October 16, 2014

[Giveaway] Citrus Lane Gift Box Subscription

Back in March of 2013 I posted our review of Citrus Lane. We got a few months of the box, and then decided not to renew. We liked it, but we were in the process of moving and finances were tight.  I still go back and forth often about renewing our subscription.  I was recently contacted about a giveaway they are hosting through Moms Affiliate.

Interested in entering? Check it out below!



Interested in signing up for our own subscription of Citrus Lane? Just click here.

October 10, 2014

Nadine West

*Disclaimer- I did not receive these items for free. I purchased Nadine West simply because I love clothes!  All links are affiliate links, but this review is 100% my own opinions.




I have been trying out different subscription box services over the past month. They've slowly been arriving on my door step and I am loving it. It's like Christmas, but without Santa.

This time I tried out Nadine West. They are a monthly clothing service. When you create your profile on their website you can pick your style of clothes and jewelry and they send you items that fit your style.  Unlike other clothing subscription services, you don't have to pay a styling fee or anything like that. You only pay if you keep an item.


My package arrived in a cute pink envelope.  Inside was my items and a letter welcoming me to Nadine West and explaining the whole process. It had the prices for each item listed, should I decide to keep anything. Also included was a return address label, they pay shipping too!


As soon as I pulled out the shirt I loved it! I may have even said "Oh I love it" out loud to myself.  The jewelry wasn't quite my style since I'm a stay at home mom and don't go out often it was just a little to fancy for me.  




I ran upstairs and put this on over a black cami and then wasn't as happy. I still loved the tank itself, but it was too big for me. I wore it for a while to see if maybe I wouldn't mind it being too big (can you tell I really wanted to keep this)  But in the end I decided to send it back along with the jewelry. 


On the letter, they ask for comments so they can mark them in your profile so they know what you do and don't like. I just wrote that I would of kept the top had it been the right size and the jewelry was too fancy.  I also went back online and redid my style profile and adjusted my size and jewelry style. 

I sadly put everything back in the shiny pink envelope and sealed it up and put it in the mailbox.  I can't wait for next month though!! 

Wanna try out Nadine West? Just click here to sign up!


*All links are affiliate links*





October 7, 2014

Graze

A while ago I received a code for a free snack box from Graze.  They are a snack box that is delivered through the mail. You can get boxes once a week or you can change your frequency to fit your budget.


My first box arrived and it was mostly nuts, so Mike devoured those. I ordered another box (shown above) and that one had a little more variety, again Mike devoured it. He said everything was really good.   You can go through all the snacks they offer and pick if you would like to try them or never try them, which is nice so you're not getting something you wouldn't eat. 


Each box also includes the nutritional info for each snack. 

So, you want to try it out? Just click here for your first box for FREE!! If you like it and order more, you also get your 5th box FREE!! 



*I was in no way compensated for this post. I just chose to share my experience with you*

October 6, 2014

Whirlwind of wedding planning

So, Mike proposed back in May on Mother's Day.


We have yet to set a date because his work doesn't do vacation schedules until November and Mike's the newbie to the shop so he's the last to get his pick of what week he wants.  However, that hasn't stopped the planning from going on.

I have my guest list done, my dress and bridesmaid dresses picked out, flower girl dress and all the guys clothes picked out.  I haven't asked my bridesmaids yet because I haven't seen them in person and Mike hasn't asked his guys either.  I have also decided how I want my cake decorated. I think I'm going with a small cake for Mike and I to cut, but then cupcakes for everyone else.  My extended family has about 40 people in it and almost half of those are kids so I figure cupcakes are fun for them.


As far as location, that's still undecided too. I would like an outdoor ceremony but I am too scared of bad weather to have an outdoor reception. My luck it would be a severe thunderstorm that day and we would all be rain soaked.  I do have a list of places I want to check out, but until I know a date I haven't called places yet.

We had engagement pictures taken back in August and I'm going to use those to make the guest book like this. 


Here's a few of my favorites from our engagement photos. I haven't seen all of them yet, the photographer just posted about 30 of them and is getting us the rest this week. Can't wait! 




Photos were taken by Nichole Frank Photography

I also have a few ideas of center pieces and stuff for the shower. Oh, and the first thing I did was create our registry, but there's only a few items on there so far. We are registered at two stores and we're doing a honeymoon registry. I decided that since we have lived together for 8 years and we have a house full of stuff and I don't want people buying us items we won't use or don't need a honeymoon registry would be a great alternative. We are going on a cruise and the cruise line offers the registry through them for things such as dinners, room upgrades, or excursions. Can't wait! 

So I think that's all I have done since we got engaged 5 months ago. I'm already overwhelmed! 


October 3, 2014

DIY Halloween Eyeball Wreath

This wreath may be one of my favorite Halloween decorations I have. I pinned something similar on Pinterest last year, but they place they suggested to get eye balls made the wreath cost almost $60! No thank you!  I made this one for $6.  I bought several of these wreaths last year after the holiday for $0.50 each.  The eye balls were a dollar a bag from The Dollar Tree. I was so excited when I saw them there. 


I bought 7 bags of eye balls, but only needed 5 to cover the front of the wreath. I could add more around the edges but I worry they'll fall off when I have to store it after Halloween is over so I just did the front. 


I just started hot gluing them on one by one, making sure all the pupils pointed the same direction and worked my way around the wreath. 



When I was almost all the way around I hot glued a halloween ribbon on it so I would have a way to hang it up.   I held it up and filled in some of the empty looking spots and then hung it up and stared at it all day. I was so proud! 


It hangs on our front door and I did add some window cling bats so the whole door is mighty festive and ready to scare the kids. However, now that we live in the country I doubt anyone besides my family will even see it. 



I wish I would of covered the wreath with some orange or black ribbon or tulle just to hide the straw a little more, but when I started I was too excited to think about that. 



October 2, 2014

Stove Top Swiss Chicken Casserole

I've mentioned before that I like recipes with stuffing in them. It's like Thanksgiving but without eating more than you should. This casserole dish was a good one to use your left over chicken in after a holiday meal.


shredded chicken
1 pkg Swiss Cheese
1 16 oz. box pasta
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1 box chicken stuffing

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook pasta al dente'.  Mix shredded chicken, pasta, and cream of chicken soup together.  In another small bowl, mix stuffing and sour cream together. 


Spread pasta mix on bottom of baking dish.  Spread stuffing mix on top. Cover with swiss cheese slices.  


Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.