Meet & Mingle || Miss Mary's Marbles

  

It's Meet & Mingle day! Every week I'm sharing some of my favorite girlfriends and their blogs.  This is a great opportunity to see who's "behind the blog" and to get to know other bloggers.  Today, I'm so happy to share Mary from Miss Mary's Marbles with you!  I love her tagline: "Losing my marbles, but playing for keeps", aren't we all?! ;) Hope you enjoy getting to know her more with all of her answers to some fun behind-the-blog questions!

1.  Your blog name & it’s significance

My Blog name is Miss Mary's Marbles . I started blogging as a way to talk about my experience with Reiki, family life, fashion, beauty and a little bit of everything in between. The reason I named my blog this because I wanted something that was unique. I am known to be a little quirky, crazy and dramatic at times so I thought my tagline was perfect to a go along with it as well. "Losing my Marbles, by Playing for Keeps"

2.  Tell us a little about your family

I am a single mother to two daughters. They are 14 and 8.  Kyra- My oldest loves to play guitar and listen to rock music. She is a anime fanatic , and loves to play with her pokemon cards. Kyra also has ADD/ADHD and some Austism. 

 Chelsie loves to listen to Taylor Swift, Jason Derulo, and Katy Parry. She loves to go for bike rides, draw.

I also have 2 direct sales businesses I am in called One Earth and Color by Amber. You can find out more about them on my blog. 

I love to watch the tv show Reign. I am praying that it keeps going so we can find out what happens with Fary ( Francis and Mary) it is loosely based on the royal families history through the years. 

I also LOVE to paint, write poems and listen to really loud music when I can lol. A few goals I have - learn to play the violin and harp. 

3.  Currently in my shower [favorite beauty products]...

ohhhh do we have to go there? LOL There's a few products I couldn't live without in our bathroom.  Ours by Cheryl Hickey- Head to Toe body wash,  Haiku - Body Lotion. Haiku Perfume.   Avon's Moisture therapy Derma soothing body lotion for when my eczema/psoriasis flares up.  Matrix Amplify Shampoo and Conditioner so it can give me that extra "UMPH" my hair needs. Tooth brushes, tooth paste , hair brushes galore-we have 3 ladies in the house and we each have at least 2 to 3 brushes a piece.  Along with the many hair ties ( we seem to lose a lot of those too lol) Hair Straightener, Curling Iron's , Hair dryer.  Younique makeup- Love this stuff! 

4.  I never leave the house without...

My Purse! It has everything I need in it and more - and a few crystals/gemstones I keep in my pockets to bring Good Karma throughout the day.

5.  First thing you do when you have 5 minutes to yourself

Meditate. I close my eyes and meditate on everything that life has brought forth. I am grateful for everything and everyone that walks into our lives and in our hearts, and every once in a while I will have a hot cup of tea to de-stress :)

6.  Favorite cupcake   - Strawberry Shortcake :) 

7.  Top three baby items you’d recommend to new moms -

 It's been awhile for me with this one, as my girls have grown up a little. There's so many new items I wish I had when they were younger. The top baby item's I would to use are : The Baby Bullet- would have helped me a lot back in the day! Crane Cool Mist Humidifier - Penguin - the new designs are so cute! Last but certainly not least Baby Einstein - 2-in-1 Safari Adventure Gym and Tunnel - works perfectly for both girls and boys.

8.  Currently obsessed with… 

Crystals and Gemstones- Anytime I am out for a walk I'm always looking for cool stones to take home with us. OHHH and I can't forget Reign! It's been a blast learning about Mary - Queen of Scots- and how the royal family progressed through each generation. Plus I love the details of the set as it was from the 1500's .

9.  Top three meals you make for your family

Our favorites meals are anything that has Chicken or Beef in it.  We don't tend to order out too much as we prefer home made meals. 

Kyra's favorite is Honey Garlic chicken with red potatoes and corn.

Chelsie's favorite is Potatoes, Steak, and Carrots.

Mine well I have a few but to keep it to the three - lasagna- Homemade - I tend to change up the recipe all the time so it's never the same twice :) 

10.  Favorite blog & why 

Now this is a hard one for me because I follow a lot of blogs here's a list by categories to make it easier :)

Fashion -Nataliastyle, Natalie Ast - natalieast.com

Beauty - Canadian Beauty, Henna Singh - CanadianBeauty.com

Health- Fitness Cheerleader - Janice - http://fitnesscheerleader.com

Spiritual- http://www.changeyourenergy.com/

These are just some that I love to read on a weekly basis. I do have other's but these top the list :) 

Social media links:

Miss Mary's Marbles : Website

                                  : Facebook 

                                  : Twitter

                                  : IG

                                  : Pinterest

                                  : LinkedIn

                                  : Google +

Thank you so much for sharing a slice of your life with us, Mary! I just love learning about who's behind the blog...so fun, right?! Be sure to pop over to her blog and visit her social media links and follow along! 

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If you'd like to be featured for a Meet & Mingle, please contact me at thebirdsnestblogger@gmail.com.  Feel free to grab a button while you're here. ;)

Some Yumminess with Hello Fresh! {Promo code included!}

I'm stuck in a dinner rut.  My mom always laughs because I don't actually make dinner that often when Rob is working.  I'll have my sister over and cook for us or Livvy and I will go to their house and eat with them or I'll casually ask what my parents are up to for dinner on Friday nights ;) When I do cook though, I love it and I really love trying new things.  When Rob is on the day shift that all goes out the window and I'm struggling to create a weekly meal plan to cook 5-6 nights a week, #thestruggleisreal.  Anyway, I was reading one of my favorite blogs, Jones Design Company and Emily was blogging about how Hello Fresh really helped that the stress out of the what's for dinner question.  I figured I'd try it and see how we like it and we ended up really enjoying it!  For our first box, I used a $40 coupon and it's free shipping.  I'll share mine at the end of this post so you can try it too! *This post is not sponsored at all, I just wanted to share how much we liked it. 

{Pictures via Hello Fresh} 

You get to choose three meals out of five recipes provided and they also have vegetarian options, which is nice if you'd prefer meatless meals. Each week, they feature different recipes so it really never gets boring! The three meals I chose were:  Mahi Mahi with citrus herb salad, Fusilloni with fresh ricotta and ground beef, and Lemony basil chicken with artichokes and brocollini.  The box comes on Mondays and is packed full of fresh ingredients, each sectioned out for each meal. 

The first recipe I tried was the Mahi Mahi and it was SO yummy.  I love that I was able to make it quickly myself and the ingredients were so fresh.  You can also keep the recipe cards to add to your own recipe box to make again. 

The next recipe I made was the lemony basil chicken with artichokes and crispy brocollini.  It was super simple and Olivia loved it.  I added rice to make it a little heartier and the whole meal came out fresh and delicious. 

The last one I tried was the Fusilloni with ground beef and fresh ricotta.  This is a fresh spin on a classic pasta and again, very flavorful and gobbled right up.  

I think this box is perfect for busy families and also moms who just need a little shake of freshness into their meal planning.  We got the box portioned for two people and there is a bigger box available for a family of four+.  It is subscription based, but I love that you can cancel at anytime or put ordering on hold for a few weeks.  I'd love for your family to try it to so I'm linking my promo code for $40 off your first box.  With every order through the promo, our family gets a credit towards another week too so it's great all around!  

For $40 off your first box, use my referral code: CYJJT6.  Let me know if you try it, I'd love to hear! Enjoy! 

Meet & Mingle || Stingy, Thrifty, Broke

  

It's Meet & Mingle day! Every week I'm sharing some of my favorite girlfriends and their blogs.  This is a great opportunity to see who's "behind the blog" and to get to know other bloggers.  Today, I'm so happy to share Nina from Stingy, Thrifty, Broke  with you!  I love reading about great money saving tips, who doesn't, right?!  Hope you enjoy getting to know her more with all of her answers to some fun behind-the-blog questions!

Your blog name & it's significance

My blog is called Stingy, Thrifty, Broke. I started blogging so I could share my frugal ways to people. I am a very cheap person. I can’t buy anything at full price. I figured I could help others. Plus, I am studying to be a journalist. So blog writing is good practice. 

Tell us a little about your family

I am the third child. I still live with my parents, as I am currently a commuter college student. My big sister died when I was 15. I have a big brother and sister in law. I also have a three-year-old niece. I love her! 

My parents are awesome. My mom is an elementary teacher and my dad works at a doctors office.

Currently in my shower [favorite beauty products]...

I use infusium shampoo. Venus Razor. Retseliney face scrub (sold on amazon). Clarisonic

I never leave the house without... 

My purse and my phone! I have to have a huge purse. I recently got a new Coach purse for 70% off. This thing is huge. It’s the best. My phone never leaves my side. I have an iPhone 6 and I am addicted! 

First thing you do when you have 5 minutes to yourself…

I nap! I love to nap. I know that sounds silly, but I do. I wish I could take back all those naps I refused to take as a child. 

Favorite cupcake…

Hmmm. I’m not a huge fan of cake. I would much rather just eat the batter before it baked!

Currently obsessed with...

Netflix! I watch netflix all the darn time on my new apple tv (best thing ever.) Right now I’m watching X-files and Criminal Minds. Depending on if I actually want to watch or just have background noise.  

Top three meals you make for your family…

I’m not a great cook, so I don’t make much. When I do, I use the crockpot. Crockpots are my best friend. When it comes to feeding me, I like rice, mac and cheese, taco bell. 

Social media links:

https://www.facebook.com/stingythriftybroke

https://twitter.com/ninamcclain93

https://instagram.com/stingythriftybroke/

https://www.pinterest.com/ninamcclain93/

Thank you so much for sharing a slice of your life with us, Nina! I just love learning about who's behind the blog...so fun, right?! Be sure to pop over to her blog and visit her social media links and follow along! 

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If you'd like to be featured for a Meet & Mingle, please contact me at thebirdsnestblogger@gmail.com.  Feel free to grab a button while you're here. ;)

Toddler Game || Learning Shapes

Hi! I wanted to share a quick game that Olivia loves to play and it's so simple to make.  It also is great for quiet time and self-guided play. 

While teaching, I made so many file folder games for kids to use individually while I was working with a small group so I knew this would be perfect for toddlers too.  You can make them using letters, numbers, shapes, colors, really anything you'd like to reinforce.  [Sorry for the less than great photos, it was an after nap time rush]

Here's what you'll need:

1 file folder

Different colored paper

Scissors

Velcro or magnetic strips

Laminator (optional)

Directions:

1.  Cut out different shapes, then trace them onto the file folder.  Label each shape. 

2.  Laminate the shapes if possible.  I have a mini laminator, which ensures the paper will not rip or show too much wear.  You can also use cardboard if you don't laminate.  #teacheralert 

3.  Apply one side of a small square of velcro onto the traced shapes on file folder.

4.  Apply the other side of velcro to the cut out shape.

Have fun learning and playing! 

Meet & Mingle || The Fashionista Momma

  

It's Meet & Mingle day! Every week I'm sharing some of my favorite girlfriends and their blogs.  This is a great opportunity to see who's "behind the blog" and to get to know other bloggers.  This week, I'm so happy to share Megan from The Fashionista Momma with you!  I just love her blog and I love reading about all things fashion!  Hope you enjoy getting to know her more with all of her answers to some fun behind-the-blog questions!

Your blog name & it's significance

My blog is called The Fashionista Momma.  I chose this name because I started it to document my transition into the mom world through fashion.  I have always loved fashion and I struggled a lot, when I first had children, deciding what my style was going to be. 

Tell us a little about your family

I am married, with two girls.  They are 4 and 2.5 and they are total princesses. Definitely take after their mom’s love for fashion and shopping.  My poor husband is in big trouble.  We also have two dogs, a guinea pig, and a beta fish in our NYC apartment. 

Currently in my shower [favorite beauty products]...

My favorite beauty products, and what you see in my shower include: Dior Purifying foam cleanser, Redken Shampoo and Conditioner, Clarisonic Mia 2 and Strivectin SD Advanced Power Starters Age Fighting Trio.  In summer, you can add in St. Tropaz self tanner.

I never leave the house without... 

I can’t live without these items in my handbag; water, Baby Bee Hand & Face wipes, Bath & Body Works Antibacterial, and Trident Fruit Gum.  

First thing you do when you have 5 minutes to yourself…

I’m literally laughing out loud right now.  I pride myself on taking time for myself, but it has seemed to become less of a priority.  You can usually find me blogging.  

Favorite cupcake…

Oh man…. I am a CUPCAKE ADDICT.  Right now, I am obsessed with this local cupcake shop called Sweet.  They have a dark chocolate cupcake, dipped in dark chocolate ganache with a mocha frosting.  If your mouth isn’t watering right now…. We can’t be friends.  Totally kidding, but I do have seriously cupcake problem. 

Top three baby items you’d recommend to new moms…

• Ergo Baby Carrier.  Both of my girls lived in it.  It was black when I bought it and now it’s faded brown.  It is the only way you will get chores done.
• A small bouncy or swinging chair.  They take up less space than the giant swings and they work perfectly.  I traded in my swing for a small chair.
• Pacifier clip. Unless you enjoy sanitizing pacifiers every five minutes. 

Currently obsessed with...

My new Nicole Miller Artelier Pompano heels I just bought.  I have never loved a pair of shoes so much.  I’m also obsessed with my French Press.  I can’t even drink Starbucks now because I am used to the battery acid I’m making at home. 

Top three meals you make for your family…

Squash Enchiladas

Vegetarian Burrito Bowls 

Soba noodles with peanut sauce and cucumbers

Your current favorite blog: 

Barefoot Blonde

Social media links:

http://fashionistamomma.com

http://www.facebook.com/thefashionistamomma

http://www.twitter.com/fashionista_mom

http://instagram.com/fashionistamomma

http://www.pinterest.com/fashionable_mom

Thank you so much for sharing a slice of your life with us, Megan! I just love learning about who's behind the blog...so fun, right?! Be sure to pop over to her blog and visit her social media links and follow along! 

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If you'd like to be featured for a Meet & Mingle, please contact me at thebirdsnestblogger@gmail.com.  Feel free to grab a button while you're here. ;)

Our Weekend || Live Music

Hi friends!  Hope you are enjoying your weekend.  Ours has been gorgeous, with hot temperatures and cooler (slightly) mornings.  S'mores are on tonight's menu and we're soaking up some family time before we go on vacation.  Last night, we went to an outdoor concert on our village green and it was great!  I really love our town and in the summer it is hopping with fun things to do at night.  The concert started at 7pm, so we grabbed some cold drinks from our local cafe and headed to listen to music and watch the little ones dance around. 

{@thebirdsnestblog}

 

Olivia was a dancing machine and she had a blast! We met up with a few of their toddler friends and they danced through the night (ok, probably 8:45...).  The band called up all the little kids to dance in their "kid mosh pit" and it was probably the cutest thing I've seen.  

 

I can't wait to go to another one with her! This little one has some moves ;) 

Enjoy your weekend! XO