PinkBasis: Floral Power

Disclosure:  This post is sponsored by PinkBasis.com.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Being a lover of fashion, there are very few things that I enjoy more than shopping for clothing.  However, couple that with the fact that I'm a Frugal Fran and can be somewhat of an introvert and well, shopping can sometimes be a bit a difficult.  Thankfully, I was recently introduced to PinkBasis, a one-stop shop online clothing boutique that sells affordable and trendy fashions.  From shoes to purses to dresses, PinkBasis has a great selection of on trend pieces to choose from.

And one of my favorite trends from this season is the tropical/Hawaiian floral print.   Michelle Obama, Gabrielle Union, June Ambrose and more have all been rocking this trend.  There's just something about flowers that instantly brightens your mood.  I've been a fan of florals since I was in junior high school.

Seafoam Floral Print Sleeveless Casual Dress

So, when they ask me to send a list of items I was interested in reviewing, I couldn't resist adding this cute little number into the mix.  It was love at first sight when I saw this faux two-piece, seafoam colored dress.  The floral print is perfect without being too overwhelming.

Most of my height is in my legs and I'm always struggling to find dresses that show off my legs without being too short.  This was certainly not an issue with this dress.  Another thing I love about this dress is that it has an elastic empire waist.  So if you want to you could adjust the length of the skirt portion if you wanted my pulling the waist up or down.  The elastic waist increases the comfortability as well.

Mint Cross Strap Cork Trimmed Wedges Nubuck

There's a key hole back at the top with a gold button.  Overall, the loose fit of this dress is awesome.  You easily dress this outfit up with the right accessories, a clutch and some heels or you could dress it down by wearing flats or the cute wedges above and adding a belted cardi.  Likewise, you could add tights in the cooler months to make this dress appropriate for all seasons.  Power the floral print!

I would definitely recommend ironing this dress on low heat and drying on low to medium heat.  And if you haven't checked out PinkBasis, you should.  In fact, one lucky YUMMommy reader is going to win a $50 online gift card to PinkBasis.  All you have to do enter is use the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good luck!  The contest is open to US residents 18 & older.

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Happy Shopping!

Thankful Thursday

"Be bold, dare to call forth what you want to see happen.  Don't use your words to describe the situation, use your words to change the situation."

~ Joel Osteen

Happy Thankful Thursday!!  Can you believe this month is almost over?  There is less than a week until April gets here.  I'm sort of freaking out and happy at the same time because that means two more months until school is out and one more month until my little guy is FOUR!  Time where have you gone?

This week I'm giving thanks again for our lovely balcony garden.  Our seedlings are flourishing very well thanks to all of the warm weather and sunshine we've been having.  I'm extra thankful that my cilantro finally sprouted because I wasn't sure if it would since it took a few days longer than the others to break through the dirt. We've added bell peppers and have learned how to grow a banana tree indoors. 

The kids are having a blast learning more about gardening too.  Moo thinks we should own a farm.  LOL.  Honestly, I couldn't agree more with her.  I can only imagine all the crops we could grow if we had unlimited outdoor space.  I'm determined to make sure that the foods were consume as healthy as possible, which why organic gardening is great for us.

My niece was inducted into the Junior National Honor Society this week and I couldn't be more proud of her.  She's so smart and it's actually been recommended that she skip a grade, but she loves being with her friends.  I'm so grateful that she's continuing to do well in school and that she truly likes learning.

Last but not least I'm grateful to have such wonderful friends in the blogging world.  In the world of blogging there can definitely be more competition than collaboration, more frienemies than actual friends.  I've been blessed to somehow stumble across some true gems, who understand that we can all get farther if we support each.  When I talk about my bold dreams for YUMMommy and my life in general, they're always there with an encouraging word or offering to lend a helping hand if they can.  To them I say THANK YOU!

What are you thankful for this week?

Monster High: Haunted {Giveaway}

If you were to stop by house any given morning you'd surely catch Moo singing the theme song to Monster High.  Why?  Because that's her show of choice to watch while she waits for me to stop hitting the snooze button on the alarmclock.  What can I say, I'm not a morning person.  After she's dressed it's back to Monster High she goes until it's time to leave the house.

And after watching several of the Monster High movies with her, I have to admit that I can understand her fascination.  These are not your average monsters.  And the best part of all is that they're not scary.  Nope, Clawdeen (she's my favorite) and the gang are very fabulous.  They're fashion forward and drop-dead gorgeous.  What I also love about the Monster High movies is that they teach children, especially the girls the importance of embracing our differences and how to be a true friend.

And it just so happens that they have a NEW movie coming out on March 24th called Monster High: Haunted.  You can find all the details below.  Keep scrolling to the very end because there is a treat for you.

For the first time, the Monster High ghouls enter a mysterious Ghost World as they follow Spectra and discover an all-spirit school. But their scary-cute student bodies are hardly welcome with the very strict Principal Revenant, and she punishes Spectra with frightful detention chains that prevent her from re-joining Monster High™. Now, it’s up to the ghouls to become ghosts themselves in order to save one of their own from disappearing forever! MONSTER HIGH: HAUNTED is available on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD March 24, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Check out the movie trailer and the new music video below.

Want to win a copy?  Well you're in luck because I'm giving away three copies to three lucky YUMMommy readers.  Just use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter.  Good luck!  Open to US residents 18 & older.

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You can also purchase copies at the following retailers:

Amazon

Target

Walmart

Get Ready To Be Held CAPTIVE With David Oyelowo

Are you a fan of David Oyelowo, House of Cards, or crime dramas?  If so get ready to mark your calendars YUMMs.  Earlier this week Paramount Pictures officially announced that they have secured the distribution rights for the upcoming movie, Captive.  The filmed is based on  Ashley Smith and Stacy Mattingly's book Unlikely Angel: The Untold Story of the Atlanta Hostage Hero.  The film is currently slated for a September 18, 2015 release.

On March 11, 2005, Ashley Smith was held captive by Brian Nichols, who had broken out of the courthouse jail, killed the judge who sentenced him, the court reporter, a sheriff deputy and an FBI agent.  Nicholas ended up hiding out from the authorities by hiding out in Smith's apartment and keeping her hostage.  At the time Smith was a single mom and also struggling with a drug addiction to meth.

Smith, who will be played by Kate Mara from House of Cards, turned to her faith to help reason with Nichols and to survive the entire ordeal.  So, this is more than a crime drama.  It's a movie that will show and remind us that God is always with us and He always gives His angels charge over us.  It'll also serve as a reminder that sometimes we put in tough (and dangerous) situations for a reason.

A photo posted by David Oyelowo (@davidoyelowo) on Feb 22, 2015 at 10:37pm PST

I for one am excited to see this movie David Oyelowo, who is most known for his role as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr in the movie Selma (also from Paramount Pictures), will playing Brian Nichols, an alleged rapist.  After playing such an iconic Civil Rights activist, I'm interested to see how Oyelowo will do at playing the "bad guy."  He certainly has the acting chops to pull off dramatic roles.  The intensity in which he embodies his characters is amazing and something that I haven't seen in a long, long time.

Another reason I'm going to support this film and encourage you to do the same is because it was filmed right here in the Queen City!  Yep, Captive was filmed here in Charlotte, NC.  I'm so excited that once again my city will be on the BIG SCREEN.  If you're a Charlotte resident definitely make plans to round up some friends and see this movie on September 18th. 

Lastly, I love crime stories and movies, especially those based on real-life events.  It's always interesting to see how these crimes unfold and to find out if they ever got solved.  I'm always wondering what happened to the victims?  Did the offender get caught?  I'm really looking forward to the suspense of this movie.

I think Captive will make a great movie night for adult church groups as well.  It's the perfect conversation starter on how we as Christians can take even life-threatening situations and use our faith to help us emerge victoriously as well as to help our offenders find some redemption/forgiveness for their crimes/sins.  Again, Captive comes out on September 18, 2015 and I hope to see some of my fellow Charlotteans there!

How do feel about David Oyelowo playing a "bad guy"?  What role would you like to see him and Paramount Pictures take on next?

Thankful Thursday

"When we bring sunshine into the lives of others, we're warmed by it ourselves.  When we spill a little happiness, it splashes on us."

~ Barbara Johnson

Happy Thankful Thursday YUMMs!!  I'm going to jump right into Thankful Thursday and say that I am grateful for this lovely Spring weather that we have been having here in the Queen City.  With the exception of today and yesterday, it has been in the really 70s and low 80s.  I even had to turn the air conditioner on one day this week because it got up to 82 degrees inside.  I took a nap with JJ and we woke up misted in sweat.

I'm also thankful that we got our balcony garden planted.  We still have some pepper left to plant and want to pick up some cabbages and a strawberry plant to add to the mix.  I'm considering watermelon and squash as well because those really take no work to grow from my past experience with growing them.  Moo and JJ are too excited and have been great at remembering to water the plants and helping me move them inside at night.

If you live in a rental or apartment, please don't think that you still can't garden because you can.  Our little balcony is going to be bursting with lots of herbs and veggies this Spring.  I'm excited to have this activity to serve as a bonding time for us as a family and as a way to teach the kids about working together as team as well as showing them how our food is grown.

This week JJ's speech therapist commented on how well he's doing with talking.  She's very impressed that he's now speaking in sentences and fragments instead of just one word or grunt sounds.  I feel like his speech and vocabulary are expanding on a daily basis.  This morning we went to Target and when I was getting him out of the car he told me "wait up."  

That's a new phrase him and I had him repeat twice just make sure that's what he said.  I'm always in awe when I hear him say new words and phrases.  We've also started teaching him how to read using picture books.  Our nightly routine now is that he has ghost read with me before I do their bedtime story.  We usually stick to books with less than 10 pages.

Moo was so ready for school to be over at one point, but now she's more into it.  I think it has to do with her coming out of her social shell and her teacher being encouraging about it.  Moo is definitely like me in the sense that she has to observe people for a long time to get a feel of who they are before we welcome them into our circle.  She's made a great group of friends and I'm very thankful for that and the fact that she's loving school again.

I'm grateful for little drops of sunshine that have been spilled into my life from my friends and family.  It only takes a kind word, a funny text or a phone call to shine a little sunshine into someone else's life.  This week hasn't been hard or anything, but it was still nice to share a laugh with my loved ones.

Lastly, I'm grateful for my vision board.  It's really helping to keep me motivated and focused on what's important.  Having that visual accountability is awesome. 

What are you thankful for this week?

4 Elements For Hosting The Perfect #DisneySide Party

Disclosure: I received free products in order to host a Disney Side @Home Celebration.  The opinions expressed here are my own.

Does your family love Disney?  Planning a trip a Disney theme park?  Why not celebrate and show off your Disney Side by hosting a party?!!  We did!  This past weekend we took a break from planning our first trip to Disney World to unwind, let our hair down and party.  And today, I'm sharing 4 elements that you can use to make sure your own Disney Side party is pure perfection.

Decor

You can't have a Disney Side party without Disney themed decorations.  Our party was Mickey Mouse Clubhouse themed, which is perfect if you have a girl and a boy like me.  And you don't have to go all out.  We kept our decorations simple using themed a tablecloth, cupcake/treat holder, plates, cups and napkins.  From the ceiling we hung Mickey Mouse foil swirlers.

We didn't have to go all out with balloons and streamers.  Simple was definitely more for us.  While our kit was provided by Disney, you can pick up the items used from Walmart or a local party supply store like Party City.  I checked and both definitely carry the tablecloth, cups, plates and napkins.  And the prices are very reasonable.  None of our decorations are over $6. 

Entertainment

What's a party without entertainment?  You don't want to let your guests get bored.  It's a celebration, remember?  For our party we had games, dancing and movies.  You can find card games like Snaps and Go Fish that are Disney themed.  I'd check the Dollar Tree and Walmart for the ones in my area carry them.  Also, don't forget to check the official Disney Store if you have one in your area.

We have satellite radio and streamed Radio Disney for tunes to dance to.  You can also check out official Disney playlists on Spotify or check out the Disney Music VEVO channel on YouTube for free tunes.  For movies, you could always see if your cable company offers Disney OnDemand and let's not forget Redbox.  For a $1 each you can rent one or two of your family's favorite movies like Frozen or The Princess and the Frog.

Again, you don't have to spend a ton on entertainment.  Just make sure that whatever games, movies and music you choose it's age appropriate for the majority of your younger guests.

Favors

I was always raised that you don't throw a party without giving guests some sort of favor or take home gift.  For our party favors we created mini treat baskets.  We put in Mickey Mouse temporary tattoos, stickers, and pencils.  You make each basket gender specific by adding additional things like nail polish for girls (like the ones below) and cars for boys.

Again no need to break the bank on favors.  Walmart and the Dollar tree are my friends and will be yours too!  Keep favors simple and age appropriate.

Food

If you're planning on inviting outside family and friends be sure to get a list of everyone's food allergies.  Luckily for us, my kiddies are the only ones with food allergies.  So, it was easy for me to tailor our menu to their needs.  Again we kept it simple with fries and homemade chicken nuggets.

Also when you're planning your menu make sure that you have more finger foods than foods that require utensils.  Finger foods are a lot more kid friendly and will often times be less expensive.  Don't forget about dessert!  Whether it's fruit or cupcakes be sure to treat your guest a sweet treat.

So, what are you waiting for?  Now that you know what you need to throw your own Disney Side celebration, get to planning.  Remember, we don't need wait for special occasions to celebrate the simple joys in life.  Seize the moment and make the memories!

What is your or your child's favorite Disney character?

Thankful Thursday

"Bad company ruins good morals."

~ 1 Corinthians 15:33

Happy Thankful Thursday YUMMs!  Thankfully this week got off to great start of lovely weather and it's continued throughout the week.  Last night it got up to 80 degrees inside and I had to turn on some air.  Moo and JJ are hot natured like the Mr.  So, anything over 75 degrees makes them break a sweat.  It's been nice to not have to worry about waking up to make sure everybody is covered up and hasn't kicked off their socks because of the cold.

I'm hoping that our warm weather will flow over into next week.  We're planting a small planter of bell peppers this weekend and I'd hate for winter to pop back up and ruin our mini garden before it really gets going.  Moo's really excited about having our little herb and bell peppers growing.  She's such an outdoorsy/nature child.  JJ just loves digging in the dirt and throwing it in the air until it gets in his eyes and then he's done.

This week I'm giving thanks that my sister is recovering well from her surgery that she had last week.  Although, it was a routine procedure that took less than an hour to do, surgery is surgery when they have to put you under.  So many complications can happen, but hers went well and she's on the road to mending.  I'm thankful that my brother in-law and his family are such wonderful people because I was feeling a bit uneased since I couldn't just pack up, hop on a plane and fly to be with her.

I'm giving thanks for great company.  I've always been careful of not surrounding myself with bad company both in real life and online.  Never take for granted having friends and acquaintances who share your same morals and beliefs.  It really helps to reduce the amount of outside temptation and makes you stronger.  You end up creating a real support circle that you can trust to be there for you when you're weak or in the midst of trial.

I''m grateful that Spring (Easter) Break is almost here!  Although, we had a few snow and ice days last month, I'm ready for catch back up on my sleep.  For some reason, JJ's been waking up at night.  Then there have been a few nights when one of my neighbors had some friends come over and they decided to turn up in the parking lot!  Tuesday, I didn't fall asleep until 5 AM and then I had to wake up 7 AM.  My coffee maker got quite a workout that day.

Lastly, I'm giving thanks for opportunity.  Prayers were sent up for certain doors to be opened and they are.  I always struggle a bit with asking God for things because I feel a bit guilty.  Not because I only seek Him when I need Him, but because He's already done some much for us.  He sacrificed his ONLY child for us for goodness sake.

However, the word does say "knock and the door shall be opened,"  "ask and you shall receive."  Those are my reminders that God's giving is unlimited.  Whenever we are in need and have done our part, we should always seek Him to for a little supernatural help to get us the rest of the way if it's meant to be.

Before you go, don't forget that I'm giving away a $100 gift certificate to Portrait Innovations!  If you're overdue for getting your family pictures done professionally be sure to enter and spread the word while you're at it.

What are you thankful for this week?

3 Reasons To Visit The Easter Bunny At Portrait Innovations

Disclosure:  This post is sponsored by Portrait Innovations.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

Around here Easter and the Easter Bunny are a big deal!   I'd venture to say that they're right up there with Christmas and Thanksgiving as one of the biggest and most celebrated holidays and holiday mascots.  The lovely folks of Portrait Innovations here in Charlotte as well as Gastonia and Huntersville understand that and will be hosting a meet-and-greet with the Easter Bunny on March 16th from 3 to 6 PM. 

I'm excited to attend with the kiddies because growing up Spring Break was always referred to as Easter Break, with the number one activity on almost every child's list (including mine) being going to meet the Easter Bunny.   Now as a mom of two, I'm looking forward to Moo and JJ getting to hang out with Easter Bunny and here's three reasons why you should join us at Portrait Innovations to meet EB too!

FREE Pictures

One of the things that I love about Portrait Innovations is that they understand the importance offering customers a great deal.  Professional pictures can be costly and prices usually go up even more during the holidays. (Supply and demand)  So while other companies are hiking up their prices for our little darlings to snap pictures with the Easter Bunny aka EB, Portrait Innovations is offering them for FREE!  Yes, free as in nada, no dinero, no cash money. 

On Monday, March 16th, Portrait Innovations studios in Charlotte, Gastonia and Huntersville, you can stop in from 3-6 PM with the kiddies and get their pictures taken with EB.  Each child will receive three high-resolution photos on a CD!!  You guys already know that I'm all about good deals and this one is great!  Don't let it pass you by. 

Preserving Memories

Taking pictures is one of the greatest ways to preserve and capture memories.  Our little darlings grow up so fast and pictures give us a way of rewinding time; a way to transport ourselves back to the past.  This will be JJ's first time meeting EB and I'm beyond thrilled that it will be captured on film.

Moo is already excited about going to meet EB.  I'm counting on her excitement to help make JJ feel more at ease.  I don't anticipate any meltdowns though because the folks at Portrait Innovations are like kid whisperers in my opinion from our past personal experiences with them.

Convenience

Just like these one-stop supercenters, Portrait Innovations understands the art being convenient.  Need Spring pictures?  Want to send a special keepsake to Grandma and Grandpa?  No worries they have you covered.  No taking pictures with so and so and then having go design your cards or keepsakes at blah, blah, blah's. 

Now, you can do it all in place.  Your cards and photos can be printed in-house and your keepsakes/gifts can be ordered to ship to you or directly to your intended receiver.  Convenient right?  Speaking of convenient, how awesome is it that starting March 10th until April 12th, you rack up the savings on family photos by taking advantage of their current Spring package that includes 43 pictures, a Free 16x20 wall portrait, and 5 Spring/Easter cards for just $19.99?!  Official promotion details below. 

And the convenience factor just keeps coming because Portrait Innovations offers a vast array of seasonal backgrounds as well as props and poses to choose from.  No having to hunt down a location for your photoshoot because they can create the perfect scenery right in the studio!  Honestly, you'd never really know that the family above was really posing inside of a studio if you saw this.  The backdrop is so realistic and the wagon prop adds major cuteness.

"We're really excited to reveal our new spring backgrounds, and give families that have yet to experience a Portrait Innovations session a chance to see our fabulous studio photographers in action!" said Portrait Innovations AVP of Operations, James Richardson.  "You'll find each studio allows our customers even more creative options for one-of-a-kind portraits that your standard photography studio cannot offer.  Plus, how can you turn down free portraits with the Easter Bunny?"

Do yourself a favor, skip the long lines for the Easter Bunny at the mall and call to make your appointment today for a FREE meet and greet with EB!  Your sanity and your wallet will thank you.  Don't forget to think about taking advantage of their spring picture package either before April 12th.  You can click here for more info.

Not in the Charlotte area?  No problem, you can still get in on some Portrait Innovations goodness by entering the giveaway below for a $100 gift certificate that is good for any of their studios in the continental US!  Also, don't be afraid to call your local PI and see what specials and events they're offering.

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Thankful Thursday

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are- no more, no less.  That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought."

~Matthew 5:5 (MSG)

Happy Thursday YUMMs!  I stumbled across the quote above in the God Loves Me!: 365 Daily Devos for Boys (VeggieTales (Big Idea)) book that I read with Moo and JJ daily.  I'm so grateful to my mom who got this devotional for JJ for Christmas because the kids (and I) really love it.  Anyways, that quote resonated with me so much because as I've gotten older and my priorities have shifted, I finally feel like I'm in a place where I am truly content with who I am completely.

It hasn't been an easy road getting to this point and my journey is not over, but I'm thankful I've the learned the value and importance of loving myself as I am.  I'm thankful that while for years I struggled with trying to live up to the expectations of others- my mom, siblings, friends, etc- I've found me again.  I've found K. Elizabeth and I'm loving her!  It is my goal as a mom to help my children to learn how to be content with who they are.  I try very hard to watch the words that I say to them because while words don't break our bones like sticks and stones, they do break our spirits.

I'm giving thanks this week for the Mr and I having celebrated 10 YEARS  of being together last week.  I can't believe it's been a decade since we first made the leap be a couple.  Now we're finally married and have two of the greatest kids on this planet.  We have had some major hurdles to overcome, but at the end of the day we're still going hard for each other.  The love I feel and have always felt for him consumes and overwhelms me in a way that I can't quite put into the words.  I've tried, but somehow the words just don't do the feelings justice.

I can't say for sure what the future holds for us.  However, I do know that I'm speaking into existence that we are able to have a lifetime of love.  It's rare these days with so many people feeling like maintaining a marriage is just too much work.  When all is said and done, I want to feel confident that I hit my marriage with my best shot.

This week I'm also giving thanks for my wonderful extended family.  We all have our own lives, families and jobs that keep us in different directions, but we're always there for each other when it counts.  There's so much happening in my family right now in terms of sickness and general life changes, but we're pulling together and standing strong for one another.  I'm very grateful for the chat that I had with my aunt yesterday.

Her passion for family unity and support warms my soul.  It's a reminder that I have to continue to teach and show my kids how a family should treat each other.  Lastly, I'm giving thanks that we got to enjoy two warm days this week!  With Spring right around the corner it was nice to enjoy the sunshine and get a preview of what weather we'll (hopefully) be having once it arrives.

What's on your gratitude list this week?  Share in the comments.