Weekend Recap // Spring Break Edition

This past week was my kids Spring Break and although we would have loved to go somewhere warm, we opted to stay home and take our vacation over the summer.

Unfortunately, anyone that lives in Michigan or the Midwest knows that we had pretty yucky weather over the last week. Which meant that most of our week was spent hanging out inside.

We tried to make the most of it and there were a few highlights from the week that really brightend our days.

Baby Birds

We've noticed over the last few weeks, when it began to get warmer, that at some point a bird had made a nest in the clcubhouse of my kids playset. It was empty for the better part of a month, but then on Friday the kids noticed that there was a pretty blue egg in it, and wouldn't you know the next day there was 2! We are not positive what kind of bird it is, since we haven't actually seen her go to the nest, but I think they're probably Robin's Eggs. We have quite a few of them around our house, and although House Finches, Starlings, Robins, and Blue Birds all lay blue eggs, Robins are what I have seen the most of in the backyard. I don't think that you can get a better sign that Spring is on it's way then that!

Aquatic Center

Since most of the day was kind of yucky we decided that on Friday we would get of the house no matter what and head to a local Aquatic Center for the day. My son has been to this particular one before, but not my girls, so they were SUPER excited! We didn't stay real long, apparently everyone had the same idea as we did, but the kids had a blast. After we were done with the Aquatic Center, since dad also had off work, we decided to make a day of it and headed to get some lunch before we went and saw Boss Baby at the theater by us. Cute movie!

Battleship

So, as I mentioned most of the week was cold and cloudy. What else is there to do when you can't go outside and play? Play our Electronic Battleship Game of course! We've had this game for a while, but it's been a long time since we got it out. Hayden and Leah got it out one day and we had a lot of fun playing each other and teaching Charlotte how to play.

A Place to Hang Our Keys

Recently, I repainted our kitchen a more neutral color. When I did this I had to take down everything that was hanging on the walls. We had a place that we always hung our keys when we cam in the door and it also held our sunglasses and extra keys, but since I am going to a more "Farmhouse" feel to our home I wanted to get something different to put there. Plus, I have been trying to style the nooks and cranny's of our home more, instead of just hanging something or setting one thing out.

Anyway, I finally found (after a few weeks of throwing and losing my husbands our keys everywhere) a shelf with hooks that I liked and other items to style the space, at Hobby Lobby of course!

My husband couldn't hang it right away because he had to go and take care of getting a new phone, because his hadn't been working, so I took matter's into my own hands. I took the shelf and traced the back onto a piece of the paper that they used to wrap my glass pieces in. Then I traced the two nail holes that the shelf has to hang the piece. I had to find two screws that would fit the holes, since this shelf didn't come with hardware, but luckily my husbands keeps every nail and screw that we've ever had, so that wasn't a problem. So once I had done those steps I took a few pieces of blue painters tape and taped up the paper. Then I used my level and tape measure (they're pink by the way) and adjusted it until it was level and even on both sides. Once I had done that I took my screws and my drill and drilled into the holes the spots that I had previously traced, tore the paper off and from around the screws, and hung the shelf. Easy peasy! I think it turned out pretty good.

I'm hoping to have a post in the near future about how I styled the shelf, and chose the pieces that I used. Let me know what you think of it and if you have any questions in the comments. 

Raising My Tribe

Saturday night I went out with my mom to see "Beauty and the Beast", OMG SO GOOD! We went to dinner afterwards and then did a little shopping at the outdoor mall, since it has started to get a little warmer. We went into this cute little boutique Francesca's to look around. I've seen t-shirts before that said "Raising My Tribe" and always thought they were so cute, so when I saw this one as I was walking through the store, and for only $20, I scooped it up. I absolutely love the length and the criss-cross detail in the back is to die for!

Even though our Spring Break lacked sunshine and had an overabundance of clouds it was nice to be able to sleep in, lay around, and NOT have to make lunches in the morning while trying to drag three kids out of bed. Plus, we got to spend a whole day as a family and do a few other fun things together. 

What did you do on your Spring Break? Leave me a comment and let me know. 

My First VoxBox // CharmBox Review

Want to get free stuff to try out? Read on and find out how you can get free stuff just like I did!

I'm always up for new products to try. So, a few months ago when I was watching a Snapchat from one of the bloggers that I follow and she mentioned that she had just gotten a box of full size products for free, from this company to try out and review, I took notice. I'm not one to pass up free after all.

The company is called Influenster and it's completely free to sign up. Now, you are not guaranteed to get a VoxBox, but the more social savvy you are and influence you have the more likely you are to get one. That't not all the company does though. You can get coupons, post reviews of products you love or don't love, and interact with other people like you who are looking for the best products in all kinds of categories from food to fitness to beauty.

I didn't think there was a very high chance that I would get a box, but I did a bunch of the surveys (reviewing products, answering questions on what products I use/have used) and hoped for the best. To be honest I had completely forgot about it when I got an e-mail saying that I had earned the March VoxBox, which they dubbed the #CharmVoxBox. Ah!!! I was so excited! I couldn't wait to find out what was in it! Do you want to know? (Was there enough exclamation points in those last few sentences?)

WHAT'S IN THE BOX?

So, now you know what Influenster is and all the great things that you can do with it, let's find out what was in my first ever box!

Yes, you see correctly, those are Coconut Peeps! That's not all though, they are also dipped in chocolate! I was a little hesitant to try them, everyone that know me knows that I am not a Peeps fan, but these made me one!! They are delicious and have a great coconut to chocolate ratio. They still have that hint of peeps taste, so if you are a Peeps fan then you will for sure still enjoy these.

The next thing I pulled out was the McCormick's Organic Taco Mix. Now, we haven't had a chance try these out yet, but we are a huge Taco Night loving family, plus we already love the original McCormicks Taco Seasoning, so adding something we already love, but with more healthy ingredients is perfect!

My daughter yanked the next item right out of the box as soon as she saw it. It was one of Mott's Snack-and-Go Applesauce pouches. We already get these, so I know that these are a Good-to-Go item in our house. She wanted to drink it right there, but I need it to take pictures for this post...she was so EXCITED when I told her she could finally drink it, because we didn't have any at the time. She even saved some for the next day, so that she could still have some!

Right now I treat myself every other week to a manicure. That's my little treat to myself, but this next product might mean that I need to find another treat myself item. It's the Wet 'N Wild 1 Step Wonder Gel in Peri-wink-le of an Eye. I have a manicure on right now, but I will definitely be trying this out on my daughter this weekend, she's been wanting gel nails, so this is perfect.

The next product that I received was from a company that I have only heard of recently, but I think that they have been around for quite a while. It is the Eva NYC Clean It Up Shampoo and Therapy Session Hair Mask. I have a very sensitive scalp and recently starting using a very special shampoo and conditioner, so I won't be trying this, but I will be trying it out on my girls.

Last, but definitely not least was the Vera Wang Embrace perfume samples. I have been looking for a perfume for quite a while and I like the scents, so I can't wait to see how they smell on. I will definitely be trying them over the next couple of days.

So, as you can see I got a variety of products, but I feel like they definitely fit me and my family and our needs. I really hope that I get another one and I can't wait to see what is in that box!

HOW TO GET YOUR VOXBOX

Want to know how to join Influenster and try for a chance to get your own VoxBox? 

Click on this link -------> Influenster and either sign up using your Facebook Profile (what I did) or an e-mail address and get started. I can't wait to see what you boxes you get!

** I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

My Sweet Bs Blog Meaning

Well, today is Day 2 of my 30 days of blogging and I thought that I would give you a little background information on me and my blog, and most importantly where the title for my blog came from.

So, I will admit that this isn't my first blog and I have never actually blogged consistently. However, I decided about a year ago that if I was going to get serious about putting myself out there that I wanted to make sure that I made a good choice for the name. I feel like at this point in my life that my family is my center and because of my kids ages, they tend to be the main focus of the family.

Now, each of my kids have nicknames, not necessarily similar to their names, but names that they have been given by myself or my husband (mostly my husband) that seem to have stuck. Somehow, not purposely, they all ended up starting with a "B".

So, without further ado, I will introduce you to the 3 "B's".

First, came our "buddy". He is 11 and the light of my life, the one that made me a mommy, the one that gets my first go at everything (and not always the best go), and the sweetest (and only) boy. He has struggled with so many things, but he keeps going, and loves things with a passion that I wish I had even an ounce of.

Second, is our "bean", she is 9 (going on 19). I will say that this rhymes with her first name and it would make a lot more sense when you say it together. I was so nervous when I found out that I was having a girl. Up until that point I had only had a boy and he liked trains and video games. I was never a "girlie girl", which made me even more nervous, but this girl has been a joy! She is smart, and self sufficient, and ambitious. She has definitely shown me what true love is, because let me tell you, she loves from the bottom of her toes to the tippy top of her head.

Last, is our "baby". Pretty self explanatory, right? Oh has she given us a run for our money. I knew she was going to be my last, and unlike my previous two, I was a full time stay at home mom. Boy did she get used to that. I even tried to put her in "daycare" one day a week at one point to try and "socialize" her, but that lasted about 3 weeks. She is a total homebody like her mama. Even now, at 5 she is so hard to get to go to anywhere, even when I have to pick the other two up or run to the store, it normally requires some kind of bribery.

My kids are my life and are a complete joy, so it was only fitting that my blog be named after them.

Current Photo & 5 Facts About Myself

So, I have decided to try 30 days of blogging, not including the weekends. I have felt a pull to tell my story lately and what a better way to do it, then to blog about it. 

So, for the first of my 30 days I chose to tell you a few things that you may not have know about me. 

1. I have a Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology, but have never really used it in a professional capacity (several times in a non-professional manner though)
2. I never pictured myself having children before I met my husband, but now I couldn't imagine myself without all 3 of them
3. I'm pretty sure that I thrive on chaos
4. I have Alopecia Areota, which is a mild form of the Alopecia that you've probably heard about, but  mine fortunately usually will grow back and is only in small spots
5. I am a severe introvert...even on the internet

Lastly, I bet you would love to see a picture behind the 5 facts and the My Sweet Bs blog. Well, here it is...

No, but seriously here is what I look like in real life 

(as real as the YouCam Mobile app can make me look, without any real makeup on)

Just a lesson to not believe everything that you read...or see, on the internet. The 5 things about me are real, the first picture is real, the second picture is half real. 

July 16-22 // Oh Hey Friday Link-Up

It's that time of the week, TGIF! Even though I am a stay at home mom I still thoroughly enjoy Friday's and the weekend because it means that the hubby is home and I have back-up and support, and another adult to converse with. This week has been full of adjusting to being back home after being in Florida for a week with my whole extended family. 

Was finally able to get the kids to the see the ocean!

1. I like ice cream, like A LOT! 

So much so that I apparently needed to have 3 separate servings of it yesterday. Yup, you read that right, 3 times yesterday I had ice cream; after lunch, after dinner, and then at 10:30 pm when all the kids and the hubby had gone to bed and watching The Real Housewives of New Jersey just didn't seem right without a bowl of ice cream in my hands. The only thing that I can say about my obsession, was at least the first 2 servings were a low-er calorie brand, however when I originally bought them they were supposed to satisfy my ice cream craving and NOT to be eaten twice in one day.

2. God blesses us with the people we need in our life, when we need them, even if we didn't know we needed them. 

My son started summer school this week. He wasn't overly thrilled, but when he got there and met the teacher, and knew another boy, in his class I think he felt a lot better. I felt 1000 times better when I found out that his teacher was a teacher at his middle school next year and also one of the Special Education teachers, not to mention SO nice and helpful. For those that don't know, about 2 years ago our son was diagnosed with Asperger's, a form of high-functioning Autism. We have struggled over the past few years trying to get him services. He has a 504 currently, but we have been pushing for an IEP (which was denied last year, more on that another time) because he has been struggling more and more not just academically, but socially. Well, I never thought that hearing, "I worry that if he doesn't have an IEP that he will fail" would feel so good. Having people on our side, when you feel like it is you against the world trying to get help so your child can live up to his full potential, is invaluable. This teacher fell in love with my sweet, caring, intelligent boy and realized that he has every capability to do great things, but learns and expresses things differently than the school system requires. The best thing...she wants to help in any way that she can! 

3. Sometimes you just need a lazy day and you need to give yourself permission to have it. 

Isn't this self-explanatory? It's not so much that I need to explain that everyone needs a rest day, it's that as a mother and wife I need to be able to give myself the grace I need to say just relax and take a recharge day, it's okay. I think many women have trouble doing this...we feel that we need to go, go, go. Serve, serve, and serve, so much so that we forget to SERVE OURSELVES!

4. I am OUT OF SHAPE!

I started the 21 Day Fix by Beachbody yesterday and I am SORE today! I knew that I needed some work in the health department, but my thighs and butt are screaming today. I had to stop several times during the 30 minutes, but I finished and am so proud of myself. I did take a 20 minute bike ride last night with my 4 year old and that was hard…I may have remember how to ride a bike, but actually doing it was harder than I expected! All I can say is thank goodness that today is Upper Body, because I’m not sure my legs can take much more.

Yes, those are my feet, I had to lay down for a bit
after so I wouldn't pass out!

5. Follow through is NOT my strong suit, but I'm working on it.

There are just too many examples of this than I care to share. I am a people pleaser and I tend to say things that I have every intention of doing or completing, however not always in the time that one would expect or need. I tend to be a procrastinator, because the only things that tends to light a fire under my butt is the pressure of something needing to be done RIGHT NOW. Currently I am trying to complete things for Girl Scout camp coming up (next weekend). So, I have started making sure that I write everything in my planner over the last few months and have had pretty good results and follow through with that. I am still working on using it to my full advantage, but it’s a work in progress. I plan on doing a blog post on the planner I use and how it’s working for me soon, so stay tuned.

What were your 5 things from this week? Join me and link up with the FARMER'S wife for Oh Hey Friday.

Also linked up with, Andrea from Momfessionals.

Yummy Strawberry Lemonade Cookies // Recipes

Last year when we went on our Girl Scout Camping weekend all of the mom's (and 1 dad) were in charge of coming up with 1 craft and 1 meal for the weekend (they all had 1-2 partners to help). One of the moms made these cookies and I swear I had like 6 in 1 sitting, they were so good! So, I had to recreate them when I got home.

 

If you have never had these you are missing out...as long as someone else makes them for you. No really, they are worth the trouble, plus I have a tip for you.

It also is a huge help if you have a little helper to mix in the ingredients and lick the spatula for you. 

 

First, I mixed both cake batters, using the directions listed on the back of the box. Then I put them in the freezer for a bit to make them firm and easier to roll.

 

After about 30 minutes, I took them out and used a spoon to take about 1 tablespoon of each and roll them into a ball, combining them only slightly. Now, this is where it gets messy, really messy! And where my tip comes in. I was only a few balls in and my hands were a mess and it was not getting any better, because the batter starts to get softer. So, fortunately my smarty pants husband suggested that I spray my hands with Pam. It worked perfectly. It was still messy, but not even as close as it was.

 

After rolling the 2 doughs together into a ball I dipped them into 1 cup Powdered Sugar and then placed them on a baking sheet lined with tin foil (you can use parchment paper if you have that) and flattened them with a fork a little.

 

I then baked them in a preheated 375* oven for about 10 minutes or until they are slightly golden.

 

 

As you can see they were a big hit and didn't last very long!! Hope you enjoy them as much as my family did!

Here is a similar recipe from tablespoon.com, however I don't do the icing, so that is optional.

5 Goals for My Week // January 23-29

The beginning of my 2016 has been somewhat lazy...am I the only one, please say no.

I don't want this year to be the same as last year, so I decided that this week has got to be the week I have a plan and what better way then to set some goals. I set some goals for this year, but so far, have not stuck to any of them. However, it is never too late to start.

#1 Work out every day

A few months back I got the 21 day fix DVD's and I absolutely love them. I got through almost all the 21 days and lost almost 10 pounds. So, I am going to start up again. I know that it's something that I can do, since it's only 30 minutes a day. Totally doable!

#2 Finish cleaning out the basement

Oh, this one. This is a doozy. If you saw my basement you would know. I will try and be brave and post a picture or two on Instagram. I have my work space down there and we also have storage down there, but lately it has become just a place to dump anything and everything that we don't want upstairs. It needs to be wrangled.

#3 Do something from my 40 Before 40 List

I definitely don't want to wait till I turn 39 to start my list, so I'm going to try and cross something off my list this week. I'm not sure what it will be yet, but I will definitely post about it when I do.

#4 Clean out my littlest's closet and drawers

My youngest just turned 4 and got a ton of toys and clothes, so it is definitely time to clean out her stuff. She still has some stuff from the summer in her closet and her drawers are overflowing with pajamas.

This last one is part of my finance goals for the coming year. I will touch on those in a post later in the week.

#5 Find a way to make $100

With cleaning out the basement I know that I have a bunch of stuff that can be sold. So, even if I make very little on each item I think that it is doable. I use to sell Thirty-One and I have a bunch of stuff that has never been used or only for display that I plan on selling. If you're not a creeper you can request to be added to my group, For Sale by Nicole, and see what I have.

I definitely think that these goals are achievable. I am planning on posting them on the refrigerator. Do you set goals for the week?