You Can Shine with Us

I hope you all had a great weekend!  It was way too short!  I planned on getting started on cleaning my closet but that didn't happen.  Peyton ended up having a last minute modeling gig on Saturday.  This baby is on fire!  I twisted her hair for the shoot so she rocked this rocker chic look while we did some running around.

Diet Diaries: 7 Day Low Carb Challenge

I know it's been a while since I've posted about my diet diaries but this is an EMERGENCY update.  I'm happy to report that I'm still working out at least 3 days a week.  My eating has been so-so.  I do good on Monday and Tuesday and crash and burn the rest of the week.  I was talking with a friend at work on Friday and we decided we would eat right for 7 days straight with no cheating.  We are going to ditch the bread, starch, sugar, candy, even wine!  I don't know if I'm going to submit to the wine part just yet.  That will be a long 7 days!  I posted on Instagram that I was doing this and a lot of you were down for the challenge as well so I knew I had to post something ASAP!

Mamanista Fridays: Leather

I mentioned earlier this week that I was planning on wearing a lot of black this season.  I'm kicking off my quest for this weeks Mamanista Friday leather style.  I'm also introducing you to my new "mom" bob.

New Arrivals: Love My Alannah Kid Accessories

Just as much as accessories make the outfit for us ladies, they do the same for kids.  LoveMyAlannah has been a godsend, keeping Peyton fly and fashion forward with all her accessories.  I wanted to share with some of LoveMyAlannah fly new arrivals for fall.

photo by Creative Soul Photography

All Black Everything for Fall

Since I've started blogging and reading blogs, wearing all black has gotten a bad rap.  Everyone one talks about adding pops of color and mixing patterns.  Myself included.  But black and gray are my favorite colors.  I've never been a "pink" girl.  I guess that is why Peyton doesn't wear a lot of color.  I buy what ever color looks best on me and that's usually black.  We all know that black is slimming!  I need all the "slimming" I can get.  I decided to embrace my love for black this fall and rock all Black when I feel like it.  Here are some awesome all black pieces that I have my eye on for this fall. 

Fall FabKids

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend.  Mine was pretty business.  I hosted a blogger brunch on Saturday with Lexi with the Curls and that turned out AWESOME!  I got home early Saturday evening to find that Peyton had a fever.  She was still playing and acting like nothing was wrong.  She had a fever on Thursday so I stayed home with her and she was fine Friday.  Saturday evening, we decided to take her to urgent care.  We got some meds and no more fever.  Peyton is a solider, so she'll be back to 100% in no time!  

Did you know that their are trends fashion trends in pre-K?  The current trend in Peyton's class is tutus and dresses....EVERYDAY.  FabKids has us covered with their new fall collection full of dresses with legging and skirts! 

Mamanista Fridays: Stripes

Happy Mamanista Friday!  Fall is almost here! Temps are dropping and I'm ready!  I say that now, but will be crying when the temps get in the teens.  This week for Mamanista Friday, Aracely and I kept it simple with stripes.  After getting a bad wrap from women over a size 2, stripes have made a comeback. 

Free #McCafeGrind Week + Win 1 Year of Coffee

It's FREE coffee week at McDonald's  McCafe!  Stop by a participating McDonald's to grab your free cup until September 29th! Of course, restrictions may apply so don't be trying to go back for breakfast lunch and dinner!  If you want to continue to get free McCafe coffee for a year, enter to win free coffee courtesy of McDonald's and Mommy Noire from the #McCafeGrind team that includes myself, Somaya Reece, Mia Ray, Kim Osorio and Jai Stone.  I will be picking 14 individuals to win a cup of McCafe coffee for a year.  See below for details on how to enter. 

Oprah's Life You Want Notes +Takeaways

Oprah and her posse took over Atlanta (aka Olanta) last weekend for the Life You Want Weekend.  I’m still all in my feeling after attending Oprah’s Life You Want Weekend.  I just want to hug everybody, well not everybody but you know the feeling.   With work and mommy duties, I wasn't able to attend the kickoff events that Friday.  I got my butt up super early Saturday morning to make my way to hang with Oprah for the day.   I’m not going to go into crazy details about the event other than it was AMAZING.  But I do want to share my some of my “Aha!”  moments with you.  

Boho Baby

I hope you guys enjoyed your weekend.  Didn't it fly by?  They always do!  I did get to see my one of my favorite hip hop artist of all time (and the finest), Nas at One Music fest.  I may getting too old for the festivals but I'll do anything for a glimpse of Nas!  Any who... *fans self* I was inspired by festival fashions, so Peyton rocked her wool wide brim fedora hat this weekend.

 

Mamanista Fridays: Animal Prints

Happy Mamanista Fridays!  I've decided I need to get a clone.  This week flew by and I had tons of stuff to do but only managed to get to about 20% of it.  I guess it happens to the best of us.  This post almost didn't happen either but I got my self together.  This weeks Mamanista Friday, Mama Fashion Files and I are wearing animal prints.  I'm so glad animal print is still going strong.

Low-Cal Oreo Milkshake #SweetNLowStars

I made my Sweet’N Low milkshake as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars #SweetNLowStars. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

I know summer is just about over (Yay fall!), but I love my milkshakes all year long. I’m not a big plain ice cream in a bowl eater but hand me a milkshake and watch me go HAM! Milkshakes at restaurants don’t have my best interests or waistline at heart. I was challenged with the task of making my own low-cal milkshake that will satisfy cravings and save my closet at the same time. Using Sweet’N Low, I created the guilt free Oreo milkshake!

Twinkle Toes + Cabbage Patches

It's hard to believe that Peyton started school almost a month ago!  I still feel like I'm scrambling making sure she has everything she needs.  Peyton is also taking Spanish and dance classes so the lists of items she needs keep coming!  I'm also still tightening up her fall wardrobe.  Since the weather in Atlanta is still scorching, Peyton has been expressing her back to school style through her shoes.  Her gold Twinkle Toes by Skechers are all the rave in her pre-K class.

September Issue Fashion Inspiration

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group®, InStyle, Vogue and Elle, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #inspirefallfashion  http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

September is the month of fashion finals.  New York Fashion Week is going on and the September mags hit the stands.  In late July, I start to fiend for the September issues.  September issues provide so much inspiration for the upcoming fall and winter season.  If I miss the September issues, I won't be ready for fall.  After studying my September issues of InStyle, Vogue and Elle Magazine, I was inspired to put together this fall look.

Mamanista Fridays: Booties

I always rush season changes, especially fall because it's my fave!  I'm so ready for fall I don't know what to do! I almost feel like staying in the house until it's 60 degrees out.  I'm tired of my wearing tank tops and painting my to nails.  I just want to wear boots and cute jackets.  Mama Fashion Files and I thought it would be great to incorporate some transitional pieces for Mamanista Fridays.  We pulled out our booties, a fall must have!

Before & After: Dermalogica Cooling Mask

A couple of weeks ago I shared on Instagram a new product I tried from Dermalogica to clear up a pimple.  It worked so fast that I wasn't able to take a before and after picture.  I was really shocked by the results.  Lucky for your guys, I got another pimple! Hooray!

Labor Day Style

I hope you all had a great, long Labor Day weekend!  I spent mine chillin, which I haven't done in a long time.  We even opted to order out on Monday instead of grilling.  I'm slowly cleaning out Peyton's closet getting rid of small clothes and getting her fall clothes organized.  I came across so many items that she did not wear this summer with tags.  I figured this would be the perfect weekend for Peyton to sport these cute navy gingham shorts I bought in May. SMH.