As a mom, there comes a time when you just want to throw out all the stretchable clothing that carried you from pre to post pregnancy.  For me, dressing cute and being fashion forward makes me feel better emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually.  It brings out my true personality and when I wear things that make me feel good, I definitely walk differently (you know that extra kick  to your step).

My inspiration for “Saturday at The Park” was just that.  Going to the park with my kids, but not sacrificing my style sense .  I know a lot of moms (myself, included) are accustomed to wearing casual jeans and a t-shirt to the park, but how about taking it up a notch (at least, once in awhile).

Saturday Day at the Park by chopsuey11 featuring a crochet dress

Dresses crochet dress
$180 - modcloth.com

Rag Bone open toe booty
$450 - shopbop.com

Kara Ross mint jewelry
$170 - charmandchain.com

Plastic shade
$12 - fredflare.com

Summer beach hat
$17 - shopruche.com

Thom browne accessories RED WHITE
169 GBP - matchesfashion.com

Who doesn’t like crayons?  I remember collecting crayons when I was younger and making sure that every tip was just so.  Like myself, most people identify crayons with their childhood.

The word crayon dates back to 1644, however the history remains unclear where they originated from.  While Crayola was not the first company to produce crayons, they are the most recognizable brand with their trademark yellow box (I grew up using them and so are my kids).

For parents, crayons are mess-free and non-toxic, which makes everything easier and safer–plus it keeps the kids occupied for hours (in a good way).

Since kids are very familiar with crayons whether it’s using them at school, scribbling at home, or coloring at a restaurant (most chains offer crayons with a coloring menu), centering an activity around crayons is a great way to keep your kids engaged.

There are 3 in-home crayon related activities that will be fun for you and the kids.  All you need are some inexpensive household products, baking mold, and food colorants to make crayons.  With your old crayons, you can make new ones and even some candles.
Who doesn’t like crayons?  I remember collecting crayons when I was younger and making sure that every tip was just so.  Like myself, most people identify crayons with their childhood.

The word crayon dates back to 1644, however the history remains unclear where they originated from.  While Crayola was not the first company to produce crayons, they are the most recognizable brand with their trademark yellow box (I grew up using them and so are my kids).

For parents, crayons are mess-free and non-toxic, which makes everything easier and safer–plus it keeps the kids occupied for hours (in a good way).

Since kids are very familiar with crayons whether it’s using them at school, scribbling at home, or coloring at a restaurant (most chains offer crayons with a coloring menu), centering an activity around crayons is a great way to keep your kids engaged.

There are 3 in-home crayon related activities that will be fun for you and the kids.  All you need are some inexpensive household products, baking mold, and food colorants to make crayons.  With your old crayons, you can make new ones and even some candles.

Read the rest of the post at Savings.com.

Dream Big, Little Pig is the sweetest little story that will bring out the twinkle in anyone, regardless of age.  A story about Poppy the pig, who tries almost everything in her path, only to discover that ice skating is her dream.  Even though it seems that all odds are against her, she continues to stand up after every fall, to make her dreams come true.

The story of Poppy the pig, is one that most of us can relate to, whatever our dreams may be.  And to our children who are discovering themselves, a message of encouragement to go after anything their heart desires. 

When I found out that Kristi Yamaguchi wrote the book, it made me smile because it brought back memories of watching her ice skate in the Olympics.  She was one of my favorite skaters and being Asian, she was someone that I looked up to and identified with.

To read her story about being born with club feet and having to wear plaster casts on her legs, during the first year of her life, made her story even more inspirational to me.  She persevered through adversity and ultimately made her dreams come true.

My children love the story because it shows the cute, Poppy the pig, trying everything until she finds her dream.  Just the other day, I discovered my 4 year old in the closet, looking at the illustrations.  She drags the book everywhere.  So if you have children, this book is a must read!

(Disclosure: The book was provided for review purposes from the PR company and does not affect my views or feedback of the products.  This review is based solely on my personal opinion and experience and results may vary person to person.)

If you decide to hire a nanny, it will probably be one of the biggest decisions of your life (not to mention, they don’t come cheap).  Handing your baby over to someone that you don’t know on a personal level, in most cases, will be a very difficult experience.

Having a best friend that was a nanny for years with various families, I got to see first hand what it took to be a great nanny. She was dedicated, invested, and committed to the child’s well-being.

But what set her apart from the rest was that she protected and cared for each child, as if they were her own.  Of course, this is the ideal situation that all parents hope for.

Sadly, there is a flip side to it.  I’ve seen a handful of horrible nannies at various places and if it wasn’t for the child coming up to them and crying, I would have mistaken them for just another person at the park, enjoying the nice weather.

If I went down the list of everything I’ve witnessed over the years, you would most likely develop what I call, “nanny-phobia.”  To put it simply, you would be paying money to have your nanny eat at the park with her friends, talk on the phone with her boyfriend or simply dropping your child off at some other stranger’s house or other child dumping schemes as reported by NPR.

While it almost sounds all too crazy,  I’ve seen and heard enough to know that these are all real stories — not made up.  If you did a search on Google right now, you would come across blogs solely dedicated to reporting bad nannies, such as I Saw Your Nanny.

So as a parent, how do you know if you’re choosing the right nanny for your child?  There are three things you should think about, even before you sit down with a potential candidate.

Read the rest of the post here.

When I think of the military, I think of sweating soldiers on a desert wearing the least eye-appealing clothing known to man.  It’s probably a tactical choice so they won’t be spotted wherever they are (I mean seriously they blend in with the lizards, the garbage, and even, excuse me, turd). 

Let me retract, the first thing I think of is blood, M-16s making rounds, and tanks rolling across the desert hills.  Not sure the validity of my own imagery, but that’s what I’ve been fed by all the war films I’ve seen over the years.  And let me say, nothing in my imagery says fashionable, stylish, or unique (well, maybe unique–ha ha ha).

Military inspired designs have become quite popular over the years.  And even more popular because of TV shows like Army Wives, The Unit, and NCIS.  

I recall a couple fashion seasons ago, military inspired designs were all over the runway.  Designers took what was once considered war-wear into couture-esque fashion fit for the cover of Vogue.

Last year, my brother (a former officer in the US Army) sent me a package with two military-inspired bags in it and surprisingly, they were very stylish.  

The diaper bag and purse were made to fit the needs of the fashionable folks like myself.  So all you ladies that love the military print and love bags, you should definitely check these out from US Patriot Tactical.

The Army Small Purse is definitely chic and sporty.  The front of the bag has two velcro areas for you to have your own customizable nametape such as your name or anything your heart desires (completely removable depending on your mood).  The purse closes in an envelope style with a button-band closure.  It’s a purse I can see Halle Barry or Jessica Alba carrying on Melrose Ave.

The Airforce Diaper Bag is simple yet functional.  It’s large enough to carry everything your baby needs and most importantly, everything you need.  Comes in an eye-appealing Airforce print and has two large pockets for phones, keys, and other miscellaneous items.  The bag can also be customizable with name-tape options.

While I love the stylish bags, what I love even more is that the portion of the proceeds from the bags are donated to the Wounded Warrior Foundation and the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

The bags are definitely a marriage between fashion meets military and military meets charity (pretty much what the US military stands for in the purest sense).