And Then There Were 5...

Natalie’s Birthday Bash :: See Kai Run #giveaway

2013-06-19T22:45:03Z

*This post is sponsored by See Kai Run*

Since having a girl, it became official….I am a shoe fanatic! I am incredibly picky about my kids’ shoes, however, so there are only a select few of companies that I buy from. See Kai Run has been one of my favorites since Eli was born and now I’m thrilled to have an adorable little pair for Natalie! I chose the cute Devlin Smaller pair for my little baby girl and I absolutely love that they match just about everything she owns! :)

Hearts Amoré! These pink Mary Jane sandals have white, red and pink heart accents on the toe and a red leather sole. What’s not to love!

Product Features

Handcrafted from butter-soft leather

Soft suede sole with non-slip rubber pads

Adjustable hook and loop closures make shoes easy to get on and ensure a great fit

Breathable leather insole and lining

Padded collars for extra comfort

Arrives in snazzy silver packaging for easy gift giving

The amazing detailing, soft leather and cute sandal design make for the perfect pair of shoes for a little lady! I love that the sole is soft and bendable but also has two grippers on it, to prevent falls. This is a must-needed feature for new walkers.

Little miss Natalie wears these shoes just about every day. She’s crawling so the tops are a bit scuffed up but I still love them and can pair them with just about every outfit of hers! She can wear them with a dress to church or with jeans to the park.. They are the perfect shoe for her right now and I can’t wait to get her a new pair when she outgrows these! She has the smallest feet so even though she is wearing mostly 24-month clothes, the 6-9 month Smaller size fits perfectly!

BUY IT!

Check out the See Kai Run website to view all of the different styles for boys and girls, newborn to 8 years old!

WIN IT!

Enter to win a pair of Smaller shoes of your choice, right here on And Then There Were 5…!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Happy Father’s Day from MONSTERS UNIVERSITY! #MonstersU

2013-06-14T21:16:43Z

“Like” MONSTERS UNIVERSITY on Facebook: http://facebook.com/PixarMonstersUniversity

“Follow” Disney/Pixar on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DisneyPixar

Visit the website: http://www.Disney.com/MonstersU

MONSTERS UNIVERSITY releases in theaters on June 21st!

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Decade of Memories Grand Prize Winner @ExperienceKissimmee #Kiss10

2013-06-14T16:34:06Z

*I received an all expenses paid trip to Florida to attend the Decade of Memories Event from Experience Kissimmee. No monetary compensation has been received and all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

This past week, I got to spend 4 days with the 5 finalists from the Decade of Memories contest in Kissimmee, Florida. The experience was incredible and it was amazing to be able to spend some quality time getting to know each of the individual families!

On Tuesday, June 11th, there was a Big Reveal Luncheon where we were all invited to attend and finally hear the results of the contest. We had all been on pins and needles all day, anxiously awaiting to hear the verdict!

*drumroll, please*

The winner of 10 years of Kissimmee vacation is……

The Shuff Family!

The Shuff family said that they would like to visit Disney World for their first vacation, having three young children who would enjoy that park the most! Then, they want to visit different parks and attractions suited for their growing kids. It’s so wonderful that they are able to customize each of their vacation to accommodate new interests and stages!

10 whole years of vacations in the great city of Kissimmee! WOW!

During the luncheon, the CEO of Westgate Resorts, David Siegel, also announced that Westgate was gifting a one-year vacation to the four other finalists as well! How great is that?! So even though the four other families didn’t win the 10 Kissimmee vacations, they are each a winner in my book!

I feel so honored to have been able to attend this amazing trip and I can’t wait to go back to Kissimmee! Next time, I will definitely make sure to go to Disney World and I also want to check out Universal Studios as well.. There are SO many things to do in Kissimmee!

Stay tuned for more posts on the different things I did while visiting Kissimmee!

Image Source: Experience Kissimmee Facebook

Visit Experience Kissimmee to plan your Florida vacation today!

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Evening Gardening with Energizer Headlights #LightMyWay

2013-06-13T04:06:08Z

Yep. Gardening is my new obsession. I’m not going to lie. Every single day, I am out watering and tending to my garden, checking for any new things that are happening. Unfortunately, my kids are a bit crazy around the garden, when I am trying to garden when they are awake, so I try to get all my gardening in when they are down for naps or in bed for the night. My new favorite gardening accessory is actually my Energizer Trailfinder Pro 6 Headlight! When I am wearing the headlight, I can garden day or night, which adds a lot of flexibility to my schedule.

I was thrilled to find Walmart had many different options for headlights, in many price ranges; something for everyone! I chose the Trailfinder because of the great price and different features. {To see more of my shopping trip, check out my Energizer Google+ album!}

I was so impressed how easy the Energizer Trailfinder Headlight was to use and how much easier it made my gardening! My eyes are not the best and even before the sun goes all the way down, I have a bit of a hard time seeing.. The headlight made it so easy to see exactly what I was doing in my garden, when the sun was nowhere to be seen.

The pivoting feature of the light itself is a wonderful feature, ensuring the perfect angle on what you are trying to see. I also appreciated the nice, padded headpiece, which made the headlight comfortable for even extended wear.

When I went out after the sun went down, I could not see a thing until I turned my headlight on. It’s just like having a flashlight, of course, but I just loved that I had my hands free to do everything I wanted. There were not restrictions, like when I have to hold a regular flashlight in my hand or neck to see.. Hands-free is a huge plus for me!

I also liked to change to the red night vision when my eyes began to get sore from the bright LCD white light. This option is great, as most regular flashlights don’t have that option!

My evening gardening has been my favorite part of the day, now that I have my new Energizer Trailfinder Headlight! I can’t wait to use it other places as well, like camping, bike riding or hiking! This is definitely a versatile headlight! And for only less than $15, this is a must-have for the outdoor enthusiast!

See how well the Energizer Bunny really works by purchasing a headlight for yourself today!

What would you do with your Energizer Headlight??

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Cast your vote for Experience Kissimme’s Decade of Memories contest and enter to win $500! #Kiss10

2013-06-07T07:16:28Z

Over 1,500 families entered the Experience Kissimme Decade of Memories contest and now it is down to the 5 top finalists. This Saturday, Experience Kissimmee is bring all of the finalists for a visit, to try some highlights that they have to offer and on Tuesday, June 11th, the Grand Prize winner will be chosen; 10 years of Kissimmee vacations!! WOW!

I am beyond elated to announce that I will be attending this trip, along with the 5 finalists and several other bloggers, to document the amazing things that Kissimmee, Florida, has to offer! Being able to attend this trip is an incredible opportunity that was passed to me by Mariah of Formula Mom. I will be posting updates on Formula Mom, as a guest blogger, as well as on And Then There Were 5, Instagram and Twitter so make sure you follow along to stay updated every step of the way!

Now…who wants to hear more about how to WIN $500?!

Image Source: Experience Kissimmee Facebook

KISSIMMEE, FLA. (June 4, 2013) – Enter to win the Decade of Kissimmee Memories voter sweepstakes for a chance to win a $500 USD Visa Gift Card.

To enter, visit Facebook.com/ExperienceKissimmee to view and vote for a favorite Decade of Kissimmee Memories finalist video. Each daily vote cast now until June 10 at 11:59 a.m. ET is also eligible for one sweepstakes entry for a chance to win a $500 USD Visa Gift Card.

Five finalists in the Decade of Kissimmee Memories contest are relying on votes from Facebook members to win a Grand Prize that includes ten unbelievable vacations to Kissimmee, Fla. Located minutes from Orlando’s world-famous theme parks and attractions, Kissimmee offers distinctive accommodations and experiences for all. The Grand Prize winner will be announced at a live event in Kissimmee on June 11.

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.

Sweepstakes ends on 6/10/13 at 11:59 am ET. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada (excluding Quebec) or the United Kingdom who are physically located and residing therein and who are at least thirteen (13) years of age or older at the time of entry. Entrants who are under the legal age of majority in their country, state or province of primary residence must get their parent or legal guardian’s permission to participate. See Official Rules at www.decadeofmemories.com for additional eligibility restrictions, prize descriptions/restrictions/ARVs and complete details. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited. The sponsor of this Sweepstakes is Osceola County, a political subdivision of the State of Florida.

Learn more about the Decade of Kissimmee Memories contest and voter sweepstakes at www.decadeofmemories.com.

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ABOUT KISSIMMEE

Kissimmee is the gateway to fun, with access to world-famous theme parks, a diverse slate of outdoor adventures ranging from slow and easy to roller-coaster thrilling. The destination is complemented by luxurious spas, championship golfcourses, and more. All the experiences are enhanced by more than 46,000 accommodations that suit every traveler’s needs.

Source: PRESS RELEASE COURTESY OF EXPERIENCE KISSIMMEE

*Disclosure: A HUGE thank you to Experience Kissimmee for inviting me on this press trip and for paying all of my expenses. All opinions and experiences are, as always, 100% my own!*

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I’ll guard my Boba with my life {or at least with Boba Accessories!}

2013-06-07T05:57:37Z

*This post is sponsored by Boba*

It’s no secret that I am more than slightly obsessed with my Boba baby carrier! I even helped convince my local parenting store, Mother’s Haven, to start selling them! My precious Boba has been all over the place and unfortunately, it’s showing a bit of wear..

Thankfully it washes easily in the washing machine but I try not to wash it too often so it doesn’t get faded. The time it gets most dirty, though, is in the car. It gets tossed to the floor, under Natalie’s seat, and collets crumbs from the boys’ snacks. I try very hard to keep it clean but it’s hard to find a place to store it… Well, at least it WAS hard. Now, I have the awesome Boba carrier Stuff Sack that I keep it in when I’m not using it and it keeps it protected for me.

Not only does my new Stuff Sack hold my Boba carrier when not in use, it also can be used to hold other things, like toys for my kiddos in the car or an extra set of clothes.. I like that it has a slide close top and also a handle on the bottom for easy carrying and storing on a hook or on the floor.

Another one of my new favorite Boba accessories are the organic teething pads. Natalie is 11 months and got her first tooth only a few weeks ago! She has been teething FOREVER and one of her favorite places to chew is on the sides of the Boba when I’m toting her around. Good for her but it sure does get the Boba wet and slobbery..

I love that the part she puts into her mouth is 100% organic cotton, free of dyes and no scratchy velcro to poke her little face. If you have a Boba, you definitely need a pair of these reversible, Organic Teething Pads!

I am relieved that now I have these two amazing products that keep my precious Boba safe and sound when I’m using it and even when I’m not! These Boba accessories are inexpensive and are must-have additions to your Boba baby carrier!

BUY IT:

Visit the Boba website to view all of the wonderful Boba products! The Stuff Sack is only $15 and the Organic Teething Pads are only $20. If you don’t have a Boba yet, I recommend getting one 100%. There are many different colors and prints so there is for sure a carrier just right for you and your family!

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Natalie is a MAM Baby!

2013-06-05T16:32:14Z

*This post is sponsored by MAM Baby*

Since MAM was founded in 1976, their baby products have been sold across the globe, to new and seasoned parents alike. I have been purchasing MAM baby products for my kiddos since Cohen was a baby and they are definitely a brand that I trust with my little ones! So needless to say, I was thrilled to review some of their amazing products with Natalie!

We were sent:

a 7-ounce, spill-proof Trainer Cup
a MAM Cooler teether
pack of MAM Nature pacifiers
a MAM Anti-Colic, 8-ounce bottle

Even though we were sent all boy items, Natalie still rocked them! She loved the teether, sippy cup and bottle. She’s not a fan of the pacifiers but that’s ok.. We’re going to give them to a friend who is having a little boy in a few weeks and hope that he can use them instead!

She has been getting a TON of use out of the teether especially… Miss Natalie has been teething for months and just a few weeks ago pushed the first one through. The boys didn’t mind teething so much but she’s been having a hard time with it. I hate seeing her in pain so I love that I can throw the teether in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes and she can have some relief by chewing on the water-filled parts on the top!

BUY IT:

With each product from MAM being made with parents in mind and, of course, BPA-free, this is truly a company you can count on with each child! You can purchase MAM baby products in a store near you or from an online retailer {check out the Store Locator for more information}. The products are amazing, the prices are great and you will not be disappointed!

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Cheesy Potato Bacon Soup Recipe #VelveetaRecipes #CBias

2013-06-07T05:03:45Z

I am so excited to share this recipe that I made last night for dinner! I have never cooked with Velveeta cheese but was very surprised at how good it tasted and the kids absolutely loved it!!

When making my recipe and deciding where to shop, I decided on Walmart because I can always trust that they have the cheapest prices around! Elias came with me to the store and we had a fun time shopping for the ingredients together. {To read more about my shopping trip, check out my Velveeta Google+ album!}

What you need to make Cheesy Potato Bacon Soup with Velveeta:

2-pound block Velveeta Cheese (regular or 2% milk flavors)
pint organic half & half
2 cups (or so) organic chicken broth or stock
1/2 package nitrate-free bacon
4 pounds organic red potatoes
2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp pepper

Step 1: Cut 2-pound Velveeta block in half and then slice and cube into 1-inch pieces. The smaller pieces you cut, the faster they will melt in the soup pot. Put Velveeta cubes in large pot.

Step 2: Wash and chop potatoes. I leave the skins on for time-saving but you can remove them if you like. Transfer potatoes to pot.

Step 3: Pour entire pint of half & half into pot, over the cheese and potatoes. You may also use whole milk if you are looking to save calories but if you use 2% or skim milk, the soup will be too thin.. For flavor alone, I prefer the half & half over any other options.

Step 4: Next, pour about 2-3 cups of chicken broth into pot. I just freehand this and pour until the consistency looks good to me. Just make sure you have enough liquid to cover the cheese and potatoes all the way.

Step 5: Turn burner on medium-high heat until boiling and then turn to medium-low. Add onion powder and pepper and stir until evenly combined.

Step 6: While the soup is cooking, cook the bacon until crisp. Once cooked, crumble and add to soup. I used half the the package of nitrate- and nitrite-free bacon.

Step 7: Once all ingredients are in pot, let it finish cooking. Make sure to let simmer until potatoes are fully cooked. If you can easily poke them with a fork, they are perfect.

Step 8: When potatoes are done, use a potato masher and mash some of the potatoes in the soup. I left some of the potatoes whole because I like some chunks but you can mash them all for a smoother soup.

You’re done – YAY!! Let cool a bit before serving.

I paired the Cheesy Potato Bacon Soup with some sweet hawaiian rolls for dinner and the kids could not get enough {neither could I}!

I was very impressed at the ease of using the Velveeta cheese and how it just melted completely in the hot soup. The cheesy taste was a perfect combination with the milkiness, potatoes and bacon. YUM! Seriously…this soup is a must-try!

Overall, I was incredibly impressed with my first experience with Velveeta! It melted wonderfully into the soup and the cheesy taste was perfect. I will definitely be shopping for Velveeta at Walmart again very soon! Maybe next time, I can make some homemade mac-n-cheese or a breakfast fritatta… Oh, the possibilities!

For more Velveeta recipes, make sure to follow @EatLiquidGold on Twitter, as well as Velveeta on Facebook!

Get out to Walmart, pick up some Velveeta Liquid Gold and create your own recipe for the family today!

What recipe would you make with Velveeta?

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Getting Healthy for Summer

2013-06-01T23:25:56Z

With the first day of Summer rapidly approaching, I find myself thinking about our plans for lounging on the beach, playing at the parks and maybe going on a little vacation. Health also comes to my mind when I think about Summer- warm weather, swimming, swimsuits (cringe) and shorts. Ever since I had Cohen, I have struggled with my weight and so with each Summer that has passed, I have had to deal with the stress of smaller clothing and not pigging out at backyard bbq’s.

This year is going to be different. I can just feel it!

I have already lost 15 pounds since beginning my Nutrisystem journey in January and although I still have another 20-25 to lose, I am choosing to not get overwhelmed and just DO IT! I just got an awesome product in the mail for review, the BodyMedia Fit body monitoring system, and with my determination, healthy eating choices and my new BodyMedia Fit, I know that success is within my grasp!

Oh, and speaking of healthy eating choices, I will be doing something a bit crazy (for me, anyway)…..I will be joining Frecklyberry Fit’s #NoSodaSummer Challenge! I have already cut WAY back on the pop (or soda..) but still have it about once every couple weeks or so. And when the weather gets hot, the fizziness is oh, SO tempting but not this Summer! This Summer, I will be indulging in lots and LOTS of ice water and also some crisp, healthy lemonade (the kind with real ingredients, of course).. These are my favorite recipes right now:

Strawberry and Watermelon Lemonade from Frosted Bake Shop (I omit the sugar)
Naturally Flavored Water from The Yummy Life
Ginger Raspberry Honey Spritzer from Spirituality & Health

Image credit: Freckleberry Fit

So that is how I plan to get healthy for Summer! What about you?

Will you join me in the #NoSodaSummer Challenge?

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New Adventures in Gardening

2013-05-30T18:26:31Z

For Mother’s Day weekend, Hubby made me 4 awesome planter boxes, recycled from old fence boards, and I absolutely LOVE them! I have wanted a garden since we moved into our new house last year and now I finally got to plant. I chose a mix of organic seeds and starters from the store and farmer’s market to begin my adventures.

I am so excited to be growing my own food! Every day, I go water each plant and look for anything that is different. I am definitely obsessed with my new little garden! The boys are, of course, most excited for the strawberries..

I’ve even made friends with the little bugs that live in my garden. I know that eventually I’ll need to deal with pests that try to eat my garden but they seem to be doing fine at this point.. Maybe when the berries and veggies actually ripen I’ll get more bad bugs? I really have no idea.. This is a big learning experience for me and I’m excited for the journey!

I will for sure be keeping you all updated on my gardening adventures! I have also been posting a lot of pictures on my Instagram that show some of the different plants’ progress so make sure you follow me (jess_attw5) if you’d like to see those!

Do you have a garden? And if so, what do you grow?

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