SAVE THE DATE

Details coming Friday!!!

Zion's First Haircut & $100 Visa Giveaway {Find Great Deals on SquareSpot}

Thank you to SquareSpot for sponsoring this post! 
Visit SquareSpot to find great deals and discounts on high quality family-centric products and services.

It was finally time to take Zion in for her first hair cut.  We've put it off as much as possible because her hair has been relatively easy to handle and beautiful, crazy beautiful even.  But Easter morning confirmed the need:

Luckily, I had just signed up to try SquareSpot, an online market providing great savings and benefits for busy urban moms on a wide range of high quality goods and services in New York City.  They just so happened to have a fantastic deal for a cute little children's boutique in Brooklyn called Mini Max.

I am always looking for reasons to go to new places and experience new things in the city, and haven't been to Brooklyn in who knows how long, so I new this deal was perfect for me.  For $15 I was able to purchase a $20 gift certificate which would cover almost the entire cost of Zion's haircut.  Plus, I knew they also carried a small collection of fun eco-friendly toys and couldn't wait to have Zion pick something out on our special date.

This morning, we ventured out in the windy but warm weather…on our special date to Brooklyn for her haircut.  We enjoyed the long relaxing train ride with relatively few transfers.  Getting to Brooklyn never felt easier!  We arrived at our destination where Zion was warmly welcomed and given her choice of kid show and salon chair.  She chose a Diego video and then a yellow cab to sit in for her cut.  (Such a NYC girl already!)  I, of course, hovered and took pictures like the paparazzi, just like any first time mom would do!

There have been so many big milestones this week, all blatantly screaming at me that my little baby girl is a full on little girl now…no baby at all.  It really hasn't all hit me yet, but I am sure it is just a matter of time, in fact I can feel the "they grow up so fast" tears just waiting to be released like a torrential Spring rain.  

After Zion's haircut we took some time to pick out a couple of new toys.  First she gravitated to the tea party sets, then to the musical instruments, but in the end we took home some cute animal bath toys and a new farm puzzle.  Prices were incredibly reasonable and we both had a great time.  My expectations were far exceeded for both Mini Max, for being crazy awesome, and SquareSpot for connecting me to such a great establishment through a great offer!

Shortly after I purchased the Mini Max offer on SquareSpot, I had to go back and check out the additional deals and discounts on high quality, family-centric products and services that were being offered to make sure I didn't miss out!  They rotate new deals in and out on a weekly basis.  

source

As you know I've been working hard at losing weight and getting in shape in my weekly Meltdown series, so I simply had to purchase the Moms of Steel offer for three Fitness "Bootcamp" Stroller workouts in Central Park for the price of one!  I haven't booked my dates yet, because I am still finishing up my current program, but after such a great experience with the first offer I tried, I am sure this is going to be top notch!

One of the things I loved learning about SquareSpot was that they test each product or service so everything on the site is hand picked!  They also offer a SquareCard program that gives you discounts off hundreds of New York City services and programs!  From what I have seen so far they are constantly adding more partners to their list.  The website is super easy to use and thankfully I don't have a ton of offer emails flooding my inbox.  If you are a New York City mama I totally recommend you check them out and sign-up for an account!

Thanks to SquareSpot, one of my lovely readers is going to win a $100 Visa Gift Card!!  Will it be you?

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I was compensated for this post as a member of Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all my own. #CGSquareSpot #spon

"Pinning!" Tangerino

Welcome to "Pinning!"

A Weekly Pinterest Link-Up

(Share pins, meet others who love "Pinning", get inspired!)

First timer?  It's simple just follow these rules:

 Please follow your hosts: Courtney & Kimberly

then

 Link up your favorite pins post for the week

and

Link back to the party

<center> <a href="http://www.baxtronlife.com/search/label/Pinning" target="_blank"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gbvryU40_Qo/Ty_cGnh2JNI/AAAAAAAAB9k/iwfB9OZ7SFo/s200/PinningHalf.jpg" height="150" width="150" /></a></center>

Each week a winner will be chosen to flaunt the title of "Pinning-est" for successfully wowing us with the best Pinterest find.  The winner will be featured/announced in the following week's post!

I had such a fantastic weekend!!  Friday I went on a giant IKEA run, Saturday I got together with Kristina {From City Corporate to Suburb Mama}, one of my favorite ladies for pedicures and lunch…which led me to the inspiration for this post!  I chose Essie in Tangerine for my toes, and I'm smitten.  I have a serious color crush!  Turns out I'm not the only one!  

 

essie tangerine                            watch: unknown     

shades: mango

via Hanneli

parlor chair: cb2

dress: halston

frames: upcycle via etsy {unknown shop/product sold}

shoes: ruche

Which Spring color are you currently obsessing over!??

THANK YOU for Linking up last week!  

Are you "Pinning"?  

Come on, everyone is doing it.  

Join us MONDAYS for weekly sharing of Pinterest finds.  

Also sharing with: Loves On A Thursday, Current Crush Thursdays & Oh, How Pinteresting!

A Quick Update / Ramble

Just a simple note because I've been far too busy the past several days to prepare anything with beautiful sparkly edited photos or carefully scripted words…

 This weekend was fantastic, and wonderful and in so many ways the "turning of a page" in our lives. I want to expand on all of the details and really hope to, but for now I'm just tossing thoughts onto this page so as not to lose them.

 Friday a great friend and I went on a crazy Ikea run. Several hours later I was home beaming with joy as my husband put together our dining room table set. This table deserves a story in itself, so I will share that Thursday! Also purchased: a new bed frame and linens for us, as well as a toddler bed for Zion.

 We bought Zion a toddler bed because she started flinging herself out of her crib and had hurt herself once doing it. I wrestled with the idea of whether she was ready for it, but in the end we just decided to go for it. We didn't set it up until today, and although she skipped her nap, after only 12-15 curtain calls she was fast asleep in her bed. It will be interesting to see if she makes it all night without getting up.

 Saturday, my lovely friend Kristina and I went to get pedicures and have lunch…had such a great and encouraging time with her (as always). :)  We do church on Saturdays for now, because our church rents space from a church that doesn't have free time for us on Sundays currently.

 Sunday we had breakfast at home as a family after a mini egg hunt. Zion really got into the hunt this year, and was all about the treasures inside the eggs. We were blessed to attend a fabulous brunch with some of our church family and then finished our evening by hosting a good friend for dinner that I haven't seen in forever!

 It has been a packed, happy, joyous weekend. I'm exhausted as I write this and looking ahead at a crazy busy schedule over the next week. No slowing down any time soon.

 Hope you had a lovely weekend. :) Courtney

Follow Along Friday! Hosted by {byAimee.com}

Welcome lovelies!  Here is a fun little video to get you in the mood for our party!

we want to connect with YOU!

this week we're focusing on building & connecting on twitter. every other Friday we want to connect with you on Social Media -- Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook…

  we are featuring five fabulous blogs this week: 

how to connect:

1: "follow" byAimee via Twitter AND THE FIVE lovely FEATURED HOSTS by clicking on their buttons above or the {hosts} linked up below!   2: Link up by following two EASY steps: 
Step #1: Fill out the "submission" form below & enter your TWITTER PROFILE URL into the "URL" section. Step #2: On the next screen, select "Upload from Computer". Consider selecting your brand or logo to help build brand awareness of your blog or business. {Or your pretty face is fine too!}    3: go to as many links as you can {tweet them a little intro - tag me in your post - i am SURE they will follow back!!} come back in a few days & check out a couple more! 
  4. IF you want to share our little get together, please tweet: “follow along with @byAimeeSki today at http://wp.me/p1yWH4-cw." or you can always tell your lovely Facebook followers too! 
  5. Come back and leave a comment at the end of our post telling us who your favorite tweetie-friend is... or the friendliest tweeter... or the sweetest product offerings... or the loveliest profile image. We will be featuring some highlights later on ! thanks for stopping by today. we look forward to following along with everyone that links up! 
 {don't want to miss another one of our fancy dancy Follow Along parties? sign up for email news in the sidebar!}

Mothering a Daughter: What I Am Looking Forward To

When my dear friend Kristina asked me to write a guest post for her lovely blog, I was totally honored.  And when she asked me to write it about what I most look forward to as the mother of a daughter, I was delighted.  I hadn't actually taken the time or energy to really consider all that I am looking forward to, until now.  And honestly, writing this now as we've hit some rough patches lately, is the best thing I could have done.

It is such a privilege and a responsibility to raise a daughter.  I have always wanted to be a mom, and I can't tell you how happy I am that I had a daughter first.  She has opened my heart in ways I never imagined possible.  There are so many things I want for her to experience and enjoy in her life.

Head on over to From City Corporate to Suburb Mama to continue reading...

The Meltdown {v.14} Battling Through

Progress! Points! & Battling Through:
I thought this would be a good time to remind myself where I started and where I am now!

Measurements:Chest: 34"Arms: 10" (-.5")Waist: 25" (-.5")Hips/Butt: 36.5" (-.5")Thighs: 21" 

Weight Lost Since Last Weigh-in: 1 pound 

Total Weight Lost: 22 pounds

Inches Lost This Week: 1.5

Total Inches Lost: 35.5 inches

Points Earned:

This Week: 55

Points Balance: 342 

I've reached the dreaded "crawl" in my weight loss and inches.  I blame: Jillian Michael's.  It doesn't feel like I should be entering conservation mode because I am only working out 20 minutes a day, however; the scale and measuring tape are starting to say otherwise.  I was actually surprised to have lost any weight this week because I just feel, well, crappy for lack of a better word.

I've been feeling less energized, super moody (and its not even close to that time yet) as well as just blah over all.  Everything is pointing towards the body quite misleadingly thinking its starving.  I have to switch things up and get back to a place where my body and spirit can co-exist in harmony while walking hand in hand towards my end goal.  So how in the world am I to convince this body of mine that everything is ok?

For one, I refuse to cut back on exercise…that is just not going to happen.  I need exercise and I've got to the point where it is habit, and don't want to lose that drive.

So, what other options do I have?  Diet modification.  I thought cheating by adding a little more condiments, a little more calories here and there would be enough, but I was wrong.  Right now I'm eating on the Medifast 5&1 plan (5 Medifast meals + 1 Lean & Green meal).  The next step would be to switch to the 4&2 plan (4 Medifast meals + 2 Lean & Green meals).  

I'm sort of torn on whether I want to just finish out the 30 Day Shred without changing things up because even though I only lost 1 pound and less than 2 inches, it was still a loss.  Can I use mind over matter here or am I just delaying what will actually work?  I haven't decided what it will be yet, whether I will do one more week, finishing out the Shred, or start taking in a few more calories.  Guess you'll have to visit next week to see!!

Have you reached a plateau in your weight-loss?  How did you break out of it?  What helped you battle through!?

This Week:

I'm proud of these choices:

I'm rocking the 30 Day Shred, only 8 days left until I can say I did it!

I'd like to work more on:

Getting to bed by 10pm, most nights.

Keeping my food journal again.

Drinking half my body weight in ounces of water. 

I totally cheated when:

I've been eating these delicious sugar free Jell-o mousse cups with sugar free Cool Whip, does this count as cheating??

How did you do this week?

Want to catch up on my weight loss journey?

Muffintop Meltdown V.1-V.13

Wordless{ish} Wednesday

I forgot to publicly announce the winners of my April Ad space giveaway!  Here they are: Extra Large Ad Winner: Amy from Up Mommy Creekand my Large Ad Winners: Jill from I Know The Plans I Have For You, and Melanie from Happy Jax!!!  Please visit them and say congrats!! 

Leaving Winter Behind & Embracing Spring

I wanted to share this post with you here in case you missed it when I shared it on Imprintalish!  

As Winter comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on what I've learned in the season.  How has being limited by the weather and the elements shaped my use of time in this closing season?  What does Winter signify in life seasons?  Many things happen in the Winter months: holidays, the coming of a new year, cold, darkness, even the death and retreat of much that lives.  

With each season we are given the opportunity to reflect, reinvent and refresh according to our willingness to embrace each cycle of life.  Winter is a season of allowing what is dead to be covered over, and what is still living to be preserved in cold, quiet darkness.  Winter allows what we didn't like about our lives in the former year to be buried and forgotten.   Winter allows us to rest and reflect, to slow down and contemplate, to create warmth and light from within.

Just when we arrive to the point where we have had it with forced reflection, the coldness, the limitations of snow, ice and bone-chilling wind...signs of change emerge all around us.  The long nights begin to shorten, the sun shines more frequently and the birds begin to chirp outside our windows.  

In our hearts we ponder the next season of our lives and begin to implement the changes we've considered in our hibernation.  Some of us emerge from our Winter's rest roaring like a bear, ready to tackle the most grandiose of plans, others of us remain more reserved…cautiously surveying the climate and waiting for our chance to embark on new adventures.

In time, no matter how big or small our steps forward, we begin to see the hopes we've stored up begin to bloom.  As the buds return to the tree branches signaling the return of the leaves, so do we begin to take notice of the small beginnings of new directions in our lives.

Perhaps we've shed a few pounds and our clothes are fitting looser, or our readership has increased, or maybe our marital intimacy has begun to flourish from all those warmth-seeking Winter cuddles.  Maybe we've noticed our little ones as they've grown so quickly before our eyes, perhaps experiencing their own wonder at their very first Winter.

We find ourselves in a new place of hopefulness, getting out more frequently just to experience what had been hidden by the cold…new fresh life, new possibilities.

The last signs of Winter begin to be washed away as the cleansing rains of Spring fill the air.  Galoshes, umbrellas and wind-breaker jackets make their way to the front of our closets.  We begin to purge ourselves of all that held us back in the year before…devoting hours to cleaning, rearranging, reorganizing, and regrouping.   In the same way our minds and hearts are purged of past regrets and old patterns, creating space for new paths to be explored.

At last, we arrive in a place filled with beauty, serenity and calm.  We accept where we are, and look forward as greater things are now just on the horizon.  We press onward, making our plans for the year and feeling free to indulge in the bright shining sun.

Spring has come.  The season of rebirth captivates us by its elegant charm.  Flowers pop up beneath the remnants of leaves shed in the Fall.  Leaves open wide like outstretched hands.  Children once again fill the parks with laughter.   We walk lighter on our feet, have a new song in our hearts and smile at strangers as if to agree that Winter is gone at last.

Without being too hasty or unappreciative of all the wonders of Spring, a new thought arrives in our minds: Summer is now just a season away.

Photographs are not mine, however; I received full permission to use them from their owners!

"So Yummies!" Dessert Everyday!

I've told my husband as long as I can remember, that it does no good to keep dessert out of our house…because I have a very demanding sweet tooth!  Instead we try to make sure we have plenty of lower calorie treats waiting for me when the I'm in the mood for dessert…which is, well, almost every night.

Here are some of my favorite everyday desserts made extra special by simply adding COOL WHIP whipped topping:

Chocolate Mousse!

Recipe: 

One single serve container of Jell-O Decadence Chocolate Mousse, 

+ a big dollop of COOL WHIP right on top!  Voila!

I'm definitely not the only one in the family that enjoys their dessert!  Recently, Zion has been asking more and more for a "treat" after dinner.  I have to admit, I love love love the joy it brings when I bring out something I've baked for her and she smiles and says, "So Yummies!"

Berry Smoothies!

Recipe: 

1 Cup Frozen Berries, 

1/4 Cup Yogurt, 

1/4 Cup COOL WHIP, 

1/2 Cup of Milk - 

Blend together, 

Top with a dollop of whipped topping!

My husband has a soft spot in his heart for brownies with ice cream, but I've discovered that I can help him cut out a few calories by forgoing the ice cream and using COOL WHIP instead!  He certainly hasn't complained!

Brownie "A'La More"!

Recipe: 

Brownie Mix prepared per package directions, 

Topped with generous amounts of COOL WHIP!

I love my coffee and I love chocolate.  So when I discovered that I could make rich, creamy home-made mochas using brewed coffee and hot cocoa mix, I never turned back!  I have to say that nothing makes a homemade mocha more perfect than finishing it with a dollop of COOL WHIP and a few sprinkles.

Homemade Mocha!

Recipe:  

8oz fresh brewed coffee, 

1 packet instant cocoa mix, 

Whisk together.  

Top with a generous dollop of COOL WHIP.

Now that the weather is warming up, and fresh fruit is filling up the produce sections…I'm ready to make some delicious fruit salad.  Is there anything more enjoyable than sitting out on the deck on a warm sunny day eating a bowl of fresh fruit salad!?

Fresh Fruit Salad!

Recipe:  

A bowl of chopped fresh fruit (whatever is in season!) 

Tossed with plenty of COOL WHIP, so simple, yet so divine!

What is your go-to dessert!?  Have any simple dessert recipes to share?  I'd love to hear about it!

Sponsored posts are purely editorial content that we are pleased to have presented by a participating sponsor. Advertisers do not produce the content. I was compensated for this post as a member of Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all my own.