Holiday Time=Entertaining time!

Thanks to Duncan Hines for sponsoring my writing. There's no limit to the baking possibilities, so grab your favorite Duncan Hines mix and Comstock or Wilderness fruit fillings and Bake On! www.duncanhines.com.

Hi BADD girls and guys! I'm so delighted to come to you today with a new blog post! August of this year until now has been a compete whirlwind! Now that we are in the hustle bustle time of the holiday season, I wanted to take a moment and write about one of my favorite things about this time year. Okay maybe two. The first being spending time with friends and loved ones. The other is the BAKING! Oh the glorious BAKING. Halloween until January is just the best/worst time of year for getting your grub on. When I combine that with hanging with my besties....it's a definite winning combination!

I recently attended my first cookie exchange of the year, and it was FAB! We had about 9 girls who all made homemade goodies to swap. I made Christmas Crack aka the most addicting chocolate bark in existence :)

I came home with a plate of some of the most scrumptious treats and I only had to make one! Cookie exchanges are the BOMB! The best part was we all sat around sipping cider and just chatting about our families, our future plans, and just enjoying the morning. It really was sweet. Pun totally intended :)

What are some of your favorite things to do this time of year? Do you and your cronies do anything unusual or unique? A cousin of mine goes with her friends to a "Christmas Idea House" in Arizona where you go to a fully decorated MANSION and shop for holiday decor. I could just imagine me hauling off an entire mantle display..because I so totally would and not give a rip about what anyone said about me! Ha!

I would la la LOVE to hear what you enjoy doing this time of year! Leave a comment below and give me the deets!

Happy holidays to you and yours!

xoxo-

Remember to check out Duncan Hines' website www.duncanhines.com to find some great recipes for your holiday get-together! I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective.

World's BEST waffles {waffle lady}

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Now that I'm in "the club" with a school aged child, breakfast is a hurried event with us trying to get out the door and to school on time. I have made an effort to try and pump my boy with good nutrition to start his day, but what do you know, his entree of choice is WAFFLES! How in the heck am I supposed to get goodness in my lil man when his plate is drenched in Mrs. Butterworths?! Ugh. 

Enter my friend Amanda of Crazy Moms Everywhere, and BOOM, my sticky syrupy situation has been made oh so much better! Amanda has stumbled upon the Waffle Lady, who is a mom with a fun story and an intense desire to make natural and organic waffle and packcake mixes for her and hers as well as some other TOTALLY SCRUMPTIOUS products. Waffle wonder woman sent me a box of chocolate chip waffle mix, a box of gingerbread waffle mix, and her sunflower granola. OH MY STARS! Talk about the most delicious homemade mix I have EVER tasted. It was simply tasty. I wish I had like 867 more boxes of mix because I could almost eat it out of the bowl. My kids were in heaven, and the hubbs gave them a two thumbs up as well.  For those of you who know me personally, you know that food is pretty much the number one source of my motivation for everything. I would never in a million years recommend something that I would not think was pretty awesome. And this my BADD girls, is definitely awesome!

If you would like to enter to WIN a box of Waffle Lady's California whole wheat waffle mix as well as a cup of her daily oats, leave a comment and contact e-mail on this post stating what your fam likes to nosh on at breakfast time, or hop on over to Amanda's blog here, and leave a comment to win!

Your taste buds will NOT be sad...just really really glad :)

Sending fluffy pancake hugs and sticky syrup kisses ;)

Hello BADD....how are ya?

Well well well...it is about DANG time that BADD got some love! I have been a little stressed/crazy/busy/frazzled/enjoying summer/vacationing and putting my first born in KINDERGARTEN *gasp*. I'm totally feeling like I'm a part of some new mom club now that I have a school aged child. It's pretty awesome actually! I didn't even cry all that much either! 

So now that my life has some sort of structure to it, I would like to announce what my plans are for the next little bit here on BADD, and in my crafty life in general. Remember the to do list post from awhile back? Yeah. Me too. It's time to whip it out (again) and get busy!

-The original idea for BADD was to have a daily digest of our favorite posts of the day sprinkled with our own projects/parties/etc. I'm working out a schedule to scour my google reader and deliver the best to you. for reals. It might not be daily at first, but it's gonna happen. 

- My computer that is used for cutting vinyl took a big fat vacation, but my totally smokin hot and rad husband saved the day and resurrected it...which means fall crafts and vinyl! Hollatchagurl! I'm so thrilled about this since this little snafu was what was making me absolutely BONKERS! Feels good to be back. Thank you hubbs!

-I'm looking to have a few giveaways this fall! Could be vinyl by yours truly, and hopefully some other totally sweet items that you'll want to win super badly!

- I received some AMAZING waffle mix in the mail and I cannot WAIT to post about it. Seriously delish! Stay tuned for that one!

I think that's about all this girl can take on right now. :)

Hope you all are having a wonderful week!

Silly kid photos sponsored by Plum Organics

Thanks to Plum Organics for sponsoring my post about fun kid photos and the stories behind them. Enter Plum's "Babies for Yum Caption Contest" on Facebook and you could win a $100 gift card or Plum goodies.

My kids crack me up sometimes. I've really been trying to find "joy" in the moment and just take in this stage of life, because I know i'm going to blink and it's gonna be gone. I try to capture the everyday moments, and most of my kids lives are in an album on my iPhone. I'm sure I would miss lots if my phone didn't have a camera on it. I just love technology! Last week the kids got dressed and their outfits sort of coordinated, so naturally I seized the opportunity to  TRY and get a good picture of them. the word TRY is key here. It just seems absolutely positively IMPOSSIBLE to get a decent picture, with two clean smiling faces looking straight at the lens. I sure hope this "phase" passes, because sometimes it drives me bonkers! Here's an example of what I am talking about....

It's usually Aiden, the older one, too! Why is it so hard to just look at the camera? Every time I look at this image I cant help but laugh. It's so "classic Aiden." Averie, my daughter, knows how to ham it up pretty well, and kind of LOVES looking at snapshots of herself. She definitely gets the "ultra vain" award from this group!

Although it's not a framer, this picture is perfect in its imperfection. It captures their personalities in the best way. It's where they're at, and it's who they are at this stage of life. I love them dearly!

I'm so grateful to be the mother of these two. For it's them who fuel my creativity, my desire to be better, and to try new things. I know I'm the one home with them teaching them all the things about life, but they are the ones teaching me. Do you have a photo of your little ones that just captures their silliness perfectly? I would love to see it! Email us your photo and you could be featured in our crazy kids post once school starts!

xoxo-

  

I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Juicy Deal in San Antonio!

Good morning! I am very excited to tell you about the juicy deal today from Juice in the City! When it comes to my eyebrows and my bikini line, wax is where it's at for me. Shaving is such a pain, I almost ALWAYS have horrible razor burn and rashes. I feel like ever so often I need a reshape of my brows too, so today's deal is PERFECT and a GREAT deal!

It's $30 for $65 worth of WAXING! Hooray!! Time to feel smooth and gorgeous in your swimsuit! Here's the link..

$30 for $65 Worth of Waxing at Skincare by Claudia

I know there there are BADD followers from all over the place, so I highly encourage you to check out Juice in the city and see if it's in your town! If they haven't reached you yet, send them an e-mail and let them know that you are ready for the Juice!

Have a great Thursday! Oh and in other news...down TWO POUNDS. Yes!

xoxo-

                                                                                Daily Deals on Juice in the City

Time for a change

via

There comes a time in one's life where one might be just itchin' to change SOMETHING. It could be the bedding in your bedroom, a clean out of your cabinets under your sinks, getting your yard pretty, de-cluttering, etc. For me the time has come. I need to get on some serious de-cluttering...of the junk in my body. Getting out of the shower is just not very pretty lately, and I feel like nobody but me should ever have to see the TOO MUCH junk in MY trunk. Straight ewww. Now, I'm not a big person by any means, but I am the heaviest I've ever been, and my clothes aren't comfy and I just don't feel "cute" anymore. So, yesterday I turned over a new leaf, and started getting myself off the sugar. Sugar and I have a definite love hate relationship. I'm COMPLETELY addicted and can't stop eating it. Like ever. That is the one place in my life where I have absolutely NO self control. Not to mention BAKING is one of my most favorite things to do. I look forward to Mondays simply because BADD has a Monday Munchies post, and the recipes are tried and true and absolutely FABTASTIC. Notice there was NOT a munchie post this week, I've been way to focused on my new eating plan. Wanna hear it? Great! I love to share!

I am basically eating a low carb diet all day and drinking TONS of water. For dinner, I eat a normal meal that everyone can enjoy and I even have my dessert right after. The trick is right after and then STOP. I give myself about 30 minutes to do this. The meal with high carbs/sugar has to be consumed consecutively, none of this "oh let's have brownies 30 minutes after you eat your entree." I'm trying to keep my blood sugar level at a steady level, but only letting it spike ONCE a day. And guess what? It's working!! I've shed a pound and a half and feel pretty good!

Here's an example of my day's food.

Breakfast-

2 egg omelette with veggies (red and green bell pepper) and a little low fat cheese

bottle of water

Snack-

cucumber slices lightly drizzled in ranch

crack open a new bottle of water

Lunch-

can of albacore tuna mixed with 1tsp mayo and mustard to taste

small glass of coke zero 

Snack-

baggie of baby carrots  

H2O

Dinner-

Buffalo chicken thin crust pizza

fresh dark cherries

scoop of ice cream

handful of M&Ms

small green salad ( I bagged the salad..I was veggied out)

H2O with a crystal light packet

I thought it was gonna be horrible...but I survived! I just kept telling myself, you can have it LATER tonight when you eat dinner!

I am so not a dieter, I always focus on what I can't have, and I fail miserably. So I'm thinking this little plan might work because I DO get my sugar fix, and I can adjust it to my needs. For example, if I have a baby shower or similar event, I can have my "power hour" at a different time where I eat my cake and treats and still be on track with my goals. Win win for this girl. The best part? Monday Munchies can go on without guilt! ;)

I'd ideally like to lose 15 pounds, but more importantly get rid of my addiction to sugar/breads. I'll post an update once a week and chat for a minute about my progress. Does anyone else want to join in? I'm ALL about a buddy or two to do this with me!

Here's to less junk in the trunk and kicking the sugar habit, (except for that one GLORIOUS time of day)!

xoxo-

My First Handmade Gift Exchange!

In June I participated in Craftaholics Anonymous' bi annual handmade gift exchange. I had a darling partner that is quite the seamstress!!! I was elated, because without my friend Kristen, I can't sew crap. Seriously. It's sad. Anyway, after a few emails, we both got ideas and got to work. My oh my was I PUMPED to receive my gift. It's like this girl has known me for years!

Here's what came in the mail...

This ADORBS little organizer for my shopping lists/coupons/Costco card etc. 

This AWESOMELY sewn apron just for me. She must have known I bake apronless :) Not anymore!!!

I designed and sent her this tile with one of my favorite sayings along with a few other personalized vinyl items for her home.

I had a great partner! Thanks Amber for my awesome gifts! I highly recommend this gift exchange! The next one comes in the fall, just in time for the holidays!

xoxo-