If you follow me on instagram, you probably already know Delainey and I have a deep obsession with shopping small...
I would dare to say I'm borderline addicted to supporting fellow mama's with a hustler spirit. From finding awesome deals on adorable, one of a kind clothing, to having precious creations handmade with love included in our memories, there's just something so sweet about shopping small and knowing that I'm also helping another mama spend more time with her family. Lately I've realized this shop community is about so much more than the clothes though, so...
Today I want to share how one sweet mama bird in this community inspires me to be a better person, daily. Dorie Kirk, the mama & the heart behind The Baby Bird Boutique, is the definition of a strong, capable, hard-working woman and someone I admire greatly - so let me share with you just a few of the reasons I feel this way.
First, we'll start with the most heart-wrenching and heart-warming detail - a small segment of the story behind this shop -
Kale Evan was THE original baby bird that started it all and while it saddens me to say he passed 45 days into his fight, his legacy will forever continue. That's what this boutique is all about, that's the promise this Mama Bird made to her strong, little baby bird and it's one she will always keep. Dorie has already ensured this will be the case with the start of pediatric hospice in their area, while also raising funds for hypothermaic therapy, and even more heroic acts, like inspiring a random acts of kindness day on a day most would be mourning.
Do it for Kale day is the day we all celebrate and share love in honor of the original baby bird... and it's coming up soon, May 7th is the day. What kind of random acts of kindness will you take part in on that day? Whether it's helping a neighbor carry in her groceries or just dropping a few quarters in a donation jar - be sure to do something heroic in honor of one tiny little fighter and his strong and inspiring mama! (Plus, if you share with the hashtag #doit4kale, there might be a little something coming your way!)
Another reason I'm inspired by this small shop owner is her passion to create unique pieces as true to our babies little personalities as they possibly can be.
She's not afraid of pattern mixing and doing things others wouldn't dream of, think of "Carrie Bradshaw meets Elle Woods" as her style definition. She makes the fancy classic dresses that we all love, but her specialty is these adorable little rompers, halter dresses, and peplums, in the most fun, epic fabrics with the coolest trims and details I've ever seen. When I say I'm addicted to her shop, I'm not even partially kidding. Our stash is incredible and it's still growing.
If you have a little girl and love letting her colors shine through unique clothing, I guarantee you'll want to check out Dorie's shop - and just a side note, you can always use the code DELAINEY to save on your purchases!
And... While Dorie is one of the most stylish and selfless people I've ever met, she also speaks more truths than anyone else I know. She's the type of mama who won't beat around the bush, she's all for beating right into the bush and letting you know what needs to be done, but in the nicest way possible - which we need more people like that in this world.
If you're a fellow small shop owner, I think you'll be happy to hear she's started a little coaching side gig, "Build Her Up Boss", and the website & group name should be evidence enough of the type of community it is. Be sure to check it out if you need a spot to feel cheered on while also having someone to hold you reliable.
The last reason I find this Mama Bird inspiring is her hustle, her determination to make things happen. She's been through SO MUCH in her life and yet she's still succeeding and that's amazing. Her life story is hers to tell, so I won't go into detail but instead of dwelling in the past she has put her efforts into her work and it definitely shows - her shop is one to look out for and if I'm being totally honest, you should probably start your BBB collection now before they all become collectors items, because I'm certain this shop is going places!
So tell me, do you have someone in your life that you admire greatly? I think I'm going to start sharing a monthly post about people in my life that inspire me, a little "Get to Know" post each month to recognize those that deserve it... because what's better than lifting up those around us that inspire us?
On that note, I'm giving away ONE $25 The Baby Bird Boutique shop credit to one lucky mama that comments below. Be sure to enter using the giveaway tools form below so I can contact you if you are the lucky winner!
Who
else is amped for summer? With the beach nearby, pools at all our
buddies houses, and unlimited amounts of parks to explore - D and I are
totally ready for some summer fun! I've been looking at living social
deals and daydreaming about
With that said, we want to
spoil one of you with $15 to go out and have some fun! So use the
giveaway tools form below for your chance to win and leave me a comment
telling me how you'll spend that $15 if you feel so inclined!
Each giveaway has a value of a minimum of $15, however some are worth much more. Be sure to enter to win all of them because there is no limit to how many you can win. GOOD LUCK!
Today I'm partnering with Orkin and DonorChoose.org to spread the word about the Start with Science initiative. Regardless, all opinions expressed below are my own.
It's already September and that means school is back in session for all. With so many people in my life affected by school systems, from my mother in law who is a teacher, to my nieces and nephews who attend elementary school, and friends who have school aged kids, I'm constantly hearing about different schools and how their funding has been cut. It's sad to realize that our future and our children's future depends on funds that are currently limited... and with the realization that certain types of learners aren't having their needs met because a school district can't afford the items needed for classrooms, I'm just devastated.
So when I heard Orkin and DonorChoose.org partnered up for the Start with Science initiative I was ecstatic, to say the least. This initiative supports science education and helps teachers bring their classroom projects to life! With so many amazing teachers in the United States, it's easy to see why Orkin would want to help them out and spread awareness so that students can get the items their classrooms so greatly need. Actually, Orkin has donated over $325,000 to fund 1,400+
projects for more than 123,000 U.S. public school students! I love that they aren't just handing out the usual cheesy textbooks and expecting
students to teach themselves, they are using their influence to promote
STEM activities which help foster a hands-on classroom approach that
entices children to learn and most of the classrooms they've donated funds to are classrooms in need!
Speaking of classrooms in need, I was able to recently donate $250 to a classroom that I felt compelled to help out. I decided to go with Ms. Papillon's classroom in St. Petersburg, Florida after reading through a ton of requests. I decided to help out her classroom after learning she has a classroom full of diverse and curious learners that need additional accommodations in reading, writing, and math and many don't have access to the needed technology in their homes! I felt like it was imperative that they are able to access the technology while at school and wanted to do my part to help them out.
Instead of hoping for something good to happen, Ms. Papillon is requesting twenty-five Kindle Fire tablets for her kids, to help provide a one-on-one technology experience for each child student in the classroom, creating a fully integrated technology environment - something her classroom greatly needs! With the small donation I was able to make towards her request, her students will now be able to research, explore, create, and collaborate in a new way, while also developing skills for a 21st century learner.
Instead of just talking about rocks and learning about geology via a lecture, they can now "travel the world" with their tablets and learn science hands-on while also building their technology skills. While learning math in the traditional sense is tough for most kids, learning while playing a game on their tablet could be life-changing... I know when I finally took a math course via a computer in college, it changed the way I was able to work the problems and actually helped me understand. It's interesting how different students learn in different ways and I'm glad I was able to help change the way Ms. Papillon's classroom is functioning.
I'm so excited I was able to help out a classroom in my community with something they greatly need. If only I could help every classroom in my community... and I think we all feel that way. While it's not possible to help every student in every classroom, today I'm offering YOU the chance to help out a classroom in need as well. Click here to pick your favorite project to donate to and then enter to win a $50 giveaway so that you can donate to that project with the giveaway tools form below!
Thanks to Beneful for sponsoring today's discussion and helping several doggies and communities by building awesome dog parks! #FriendsofBeneful #DreamDogPark
My dogs are my little best friends, I love spoiling them and I'll be honest, being able to take them places is always a treat (for me and them). While I wish they could tag along on my trips to Target to grab them Beneful or my little jaunts over to Tampa for stuff for Delainey, they can't always come with me. That's why it's special when we make the day all about them and take them everywhere with us, like we did yesterday.
We spent a good portion of the day at our favorite dog park, fine tuning their skills with the agility course and having a great time letting them run free-as-can-be through out the entire park. The best part, in my poodle's opinion anyways, was rolling around in the muddy shade in the corner of the park.
That's the thing about our dog park, it's full of stuff for doggies to do and it's just fun to wander around with your pooch too. I know other communities aren't lucky enough to have a dog park like ours so I wanted to let you know that Beneful is doing everything they can to help you get one like ours in your community.
The Beneful Dream Dog Park Project helps further Beneful's mission of celebrating the joyful life dogs and owners share together by supporting dog park improvement and construction projects across the United States. Since 2010, they've helped bring dog park dreams to life in more than a dozen communities! In 2016, Beneful will support at least 12 dog park projects in the U.S. by improving existing parks and helping get new projects off the ground through a mix of financial support, hands-on volunteerism and shared dog park expertise. Interested in finding out more about how they can help you and your dog get a "Dream Dog Park" nearby? Click here to find out moreor to help support the cause!
This summer I'm embracing the cravings & my big ol' pregnancy belly and allowing myself to indulge in some of my favorite foods! While pizza and ice cream are all-the-time favorites, lately I've been craving a big juicy burger! Luckily, hubby and I have mastered the art of grilling up our own patties and the Hawaiian Burger recipe I'm sharing with you today is one I'll be wanting again and again all summer long!
I decided to deck these burgers out with delicious, freshly sliced pineapple and a Hawaiian BBQ sauce paired with Mezzetta Deli-Sliced Mild Pepper Rings & Feta Cheese stuffed inside the burgers and the end result is delicious! If you love a little bit of spice with a touch of delicious sweetness then you will definitely want to fix up this recipe the next time you grill out!
Start by making half of the beef into 4 "edged, bowl-shaped" patties and the other half into 4 flat patties.
Add approximately 1 tbsp feta cheese into each "bowl" patty and 3 or more mezzetta deli-sliced pepper rings.
Place the flat patties on top of bowl patties and pinch to seal the sides and flatten together.
Season each side with salt, pepper, and onion powder mixture and place on grill, cooking until desired temperature.
Remove burgers from the grill, place on buns and top with pineapple slice and Hawaiian BBQ sauce. Garnish with additional Mezzetta Peppers if desired.
ENJOY!
While this recipe is bold and will make for a delicious meal this summer, I've got something else exciting to share with you... Mezzetta is hosting a Bold, Bright Summer Giveaway bound to make you grin from ear to ear whenever you win!
One lucky winner will be rewarded with a Weber Spirit E-310 gas grill (ARV $499), a Weber 3 piece tool set, 5 jars of delicious Mezzetta Peppers, and an ultimate summer entertaining kit - everything you'll need to have the best BBQ on the block this summer!
While only one person wins the grand prize, there are still TEN more chances to win! Ten lucky "runner-ups" will win a Weber ORIGINAL KETTLE 18" charcoal grill (ARV $79), a Weber 3 piece tool set, 5 jars of Mezzetta Peppers, & an ultimate summer entertaining kit!
Don't miss your chance to win one of these awesome giveaways, just CLICK HERE and enter your information to get your name in the mix by July 15th!
Can you even believe it's January 2016? I'm still adjusting to writing a six instead of a five when I write the date and I'm totally having trouble accepting the fact that a whole year went by already... Life just flies by and that's precisely why I need coffee in my life, it gives me the little pick me up I need to keep up with it all. Since I've had my coffee already today, I've accepted that it's January and I've teamed up with a group of fantastic bloggers to celebrate with a Jeepers, It's January giveaway hop!
I love all coffee, but as you may already know, I'm a pretty big fan of Starbucks... From the convenience of their delicious K cups to their ridiculously tasty lattes served in stores, I love everything that comes from the little green mermaid.
Are you a Starbucks fan as well? Well, today's your lucky day! I'm giving away a $25 Starbucks Gift Card to ONE lucky reader. Will you win? Use the giveaway form below to enter to win:
Big Thanks to Tropical Smoothie Cafe for sponsoring today's discussion & giveaway, regardless all opinions expressed below are my own.
Eating better means you feel better, plain and simple... I just forget this little fact sometimes and I often indulge in foods that are quick and easy to prepare. While those foods tend to be tasty, they usually aren't good for you.
With fast food being my only option sometimes, I knew I had to find a healthy fix to getting food quick and that's when I started frequenting Tropical Smoothie Cafe!
Tropical Smoothie Cafe offers so many options, from delicious wraps to over-the-top smoothies! I'm always able to find something crave-worthy on their menu and I never have to worry about the ingredients throwing off my diet! I think most of us will be watching how we eat in 2016 & choosing Tropical Smoothie Cafe is an obvious answer to your cravings for something sweet without feeling guilty!
Plus, with their upcoming line of "Live Better" smoothies that will include a detox smoothie as well as Chia Banana Blasts & Immune Blasts, I'll be able to indulge in all kinds of tasty smoothies while also cleansing my system and providing it with vital nutrients! That's why I love Tropical Smoothie Cafe so much, they offer the items I want with great flavor & nutritional content while still allowing me to head off to my next errand!
With over 16 years in the smoothie business and a spirit of health & giving back to the community, Tropical Smoothie Cafe provides the local, down-home vibe in a franchise setting - something most companies just can't compete with! Have you visited your local Tropical Smoothie Cafe? Do you want to try one of their delicious smoothies or a fantastic wrap in 2016 ? Enter to win a $20 gift card with the giveaway tools form below:
Now that I've shared why I love Tropical Smoothie Cafe so much AND an awesome giveaway for you to win some goodies, I'd love to hear which menu item you want to try first in the comments below!
With Thanksgiving on Thursday, Small Business Saturday, a very peaceful Sunday, and a very busy Cyber Monday, you could say it's a busy week. From people staying up long hours and doing crazy things so they can buy presents to families gathering together from all across the country to give thanks, I'm sure we've all had a busy last couple of days and the season is just beginning!
While I'll be sharing all kinds of items in my holiday gift guide this year, today is strictly about giving. I've teamed up with a great group of bloggers to offer you an amazing giveaway hop! This isn't just a regular hop though, every single prize is either a gift card valued at $25 or more OR a $100 prize pack! That means you have the chance to win all kinds of amazing prizes and plenty of gift cards to stock up on gifts for everyone on your list in the This or That giveaway hop hosted by The Mommy Island, The Kids Did it, and The Review Wire.
"Tis the season" as they say, so I want to reward one lucky reader with a $50 Visa Gift Card! Use the giveaway tools form below to enter to win:
The holidays are officially here and that means the colder weather has finally hit Florida. While I'm excited to be spending more time cuddled up under blankets, I'm also pretty excited about all the fashion options cold weather opens up for me. From old sweaters to new fringe dusters, I'm all about rocking new fashions to keep me warm!
I'm super excited to share one of my favorite new outfits that I plan on rocking all season long! With such a fun and funky, vintage vibe - I love every single little detail about my Monroe & Main outfit.The cozy pants are the perfect fit and provide just enough winter warmth, the jacket is super fun and makes me feel a little flirty, and the top has a polished looked to it that I absolutely adore!
With stunning attention to detail in all the garments, specifically all the intricate details on the shirt and the beaded leggings, it's hard not to fall in love with this outfit. I can't wait to show this look off while running errands, spending time with family, or maybe even a dinner date with the hubs! It's also the perfect look to rock on Thanksgiving so you better believe this is what I'll be wearing!
Enough about me though, do you want to get your hands on something from Monroe & Main? Look no further...There are giveaways involved!
Do you want to spoil yourself with something from Monroe & Main as well? Don't miss your chance to win an adorable purse from one of my favorite stores! Use the giveaway tools form below:
Still Blonde after all these Years, Modly Chic, and Fashionista Events
bloggers are not responsible if prize is not delivered. We will make
every attempt to help you claim your prize.
You've learned why I love my new outfit so much and how you can add a new accessory to your closet, now I can't wait to hear all about which item from the Monroe & Main holiday collection you love the most - don't forget to leave me a comment below! Plus, enter all 25 of the awesome giveaways from the bloggers listed below as well as enter to win the main prize, a $250 shopping spree!
