Monday, November 24, 2014

Must Haves For Lil' Monsters: "But First...... Let Me Play the Selfie Game" Review #theSelfieGame #HolidayGiftGuide #Mygamestory


The selfie craze has become such an insanely popular trend among tweens, teens and adults (including those celebrities who can't seem to get enough) and with the word making it's way into the dictionary last year, a hilarious "Selfie" entitled television show, mentions in songs across various music genres and an influx of duck faces all over our Instagram feeds, it's no wonder the geniuses at USAoploy decided to create the fun, laughter induced Selfie Game that's perfect for a night in with friends and family. 
This past Halloween while friends gathered at a house party we encouraged them to partake in a costumed night of taking selfies, which turned out to be a freaking blast. The Selfie Game is super silly & pretty simple to play and although the 360 cards are pretty kid-friendly, it's better suited for those who are 13+. Honestly if you take a moment to sort through the cards prior to playing you can eliminate any of the cards you may find to be inappropriate for a younger age set. The ones featured above say:

"You just got a huge promotion" , "You were just told you have food in your teeth" and "You are cornholio" . Honestly I had to google cornholio because I had no clue of who or what that was and it turns out the term is associated with Beavis and Butt Head, if you even remember those guys. You'd more than likely want to remove that card because your lil' monsters would be too young to even know who those two are, but no worries there weren't too many that were meant for a maturer age group. 

  • First, a player draws a card and takes a picture using the included selfie frame or your own smartphone.
  • Then the other 3   players have to guess what your expression is and chose one of the 7 cards they chose that they feel best matches.
  • A point is then given to the best guesser and whoever has the most points at the end of the game is the winner. 
The Selfie game would make a great gift this holiday season for anyone who loves game nights and get-togethers because it can be played anywhere and will make for some great moments not to be forgotten. It can be found at Toys R' Us, Amazon, Calendar Club & Bam-Books-A-Million for an MSRP of $14.95. Make sure to capture all the fun and share on Instagram @theofficialSelfieGame using the hashtag #theselfiegame. You guys should also stay tuned because the Lil' Monsters and I will be hosting an awesome #LilMonstersHoliday Giveaway really soon!


Sunday, November 23, 2014

Amazing $5,000 Holiday Giveaway with Bumblebean #bumblebean #giveaway

Header_4_lighter This year we're participating in an awesome Bumblebean Holiday Giveaway that we'd love to share with you all! Bumblebean is the destination for unique brands for moms and kids. They've put together a special holiday giveaway and scavenger hunt for parents to learn more about these great brands. You will have the chance to win one of three Bumblebean bundles with up to 35 prizes in each prize pack! They'll be giving away over $5,000 worth of top baby and kids items. You're invited to be part of this amazing holiday giveaway and join in the Bumblebean fun!

How it Works

  • Giveaway will run from November 20th - December 20th.
  • Entering is easy, just click the button below to go to the entry page with full instructions.
  • 3 lucky winners will receive a bundle prize pack with 35+ hand-selected items!
  • You may also enter the "find the bean" scavenger hunt to earn extra chances to win! 3x a week we will hide the Holiday bean on Bumblebean.com. Visit this entry page on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for the new CLUE to find the hidden Holiday bean! When you find the bean, make sure to enter your answer (the link to the web page you found the bean on) in the form below to earn your extra chances to win. Clues will also be posted on Facebook so make sure to like Bumblebean.
  • Open to U.S. residents only.
  • Click on the button below to enter and see all the cool prizes! Check them out!

REMEMBER, the more points you earn the better chance you have to win! The entry page link is below. LIKE Bumblebean on Facebook to see updates and who wins!


sign up blue-2

Friday, November 21, 2014

Stay Healthy & Explore Nature at The Bronx Zoo with LifeStraw Go & CVS Gold Emblem Abound Snacks Review & #Giveaway

No matter the time of year, one place we always love to visit as a family is the Bronx Zoo and the monsters and I were really excited when we found out we were chosen to be members of of their ground-breaking Nature Play Begins at Your Zoo & Aquarium Initiative / AZA Nature Play which is a collaboration between the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and The Walt Disney Company that meets once a month for local families to enjoy nature experiences on-grounds and around the community.

This month was our second meet-up and despite it being a super chilly, early Saturday morning in November, we layered up, grabbed our tool kits, CVS Gold Emblem Abound snacks and LifeStraw Go water bottle and rode the bus from Queens to the Bronx with smiles on our faces, excited for the day of discovery. This weeks nature club activities included building animal habitats, trading items we found outdoors and meeting a box turtle named Terrance. 

                                    


                          


                     

Digging in the dirt and finding squishy worms, building homes for our plastic animals and piling up mounds of crunchy fall leaves to plop around in and throw up in the air was tons of fun for the kids, who by the end of our session were ready for snacks and really thirsty. We made sure to come to this months meeting well prepared and packed our LifeStraw Go water bottle with us for moments when we were exploring areas by the Bronx River and throughout the zoo and didn't want to stop all of our fun to grab a drink of water.



The LifeStraw Go water bottle is lightweight, durable and perfect for a variety of uses outside, whether you are a runner, hiker, camper or looking to use it daily. LifeStraw Go converts micro-biologically contaminated water into safe drinking water, removing 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria. 

LifeStraw is manufactured by Vestergaard a Swiss-based global company dedicated to improving the health of disadvantaged people with game-changing solutions that fight malaria, HIV/AIDS, diarrheal disease and neglected tropical diseases.

Did you know that 50% of the schools around the world don't have fresh water or adequate sanitation? As an educator here in NYC I've come across various reasons as to why children aren't present at school and I found it so amazing that something as simple as clean drinking water in schools could improve absenteeism by 42%

Through LifeStraw Go's Follow the Liters program, when a consumer purchases any LifeStraw Water filter a portion of the funds are used to provide one school child in Africa with safe drinking water for an entire school year. 
                  




After about two hours at the zoo, my snack monster Tristan was ready to take a break for a few treats we brought along with us from the Gold Emblem Abound line that recently launched this summer at the 7,600+ CVS/pharmacy stores found across the U.S. We recently had to do an overhaul in our snack cabinet because of Tristan's serious sweet tooth and my need to avoid flare-ups due to my Crohns disease and certain ingredients that triggered them.

 Gold Emblem Abound is an affordable, yummy tasting and healthier snack option that's free of artificial preservatives and flavors, and are made with wholesome ingredients that will leave you feeling nourished and satisfied. The line was created to cater to the dietary needs of the consumer including cholesterol free, gluten free, and high in fiber and protein.  

In between him observing their movements and trying to draw the lions and red panda's I handed Tristan a Chocolate Chunk & Chia Snack Bar and a bag of Sweet Probiotic Trail Mix and he really enjoyed it. I was surprised he didn't mind the chia seeds, I'm assuming because of the little bits of chocolate that were included and he liked the chocolate covered cranberries and creamy yogurt covered raisins mixed with the crunchy almonds in the trail mix (great for immune support), so much so that I had to remind him that he needed to save some for his brother.




        

We are hoping that you and your families decide to get outside and explore your neighborhood parks, zoos and aquariums and to help you prepare for your next outdoor adventure we are hosting a giveaway thanks to Vestergaard and CVS. Just leave a comment answering the question below and enter the simple rafflecopter for additional entries to win (1) LifeStraw water bottle, (2) boxes of Gold Emblem Snack bars and (2) bags of Gold Emblem Trail Mix. One winner, 18+ (U.S.A only) will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 4th. Lot's of Luck!

What nature filled adventure will you bring your LifeStraw Go water bottle and Gold Emblem Abound Snacks on?
a Rafflecopter giveaway




*Disclosure: The LifeStraw Go and information were provided by Vestergaard and Gold Emblem Abound Snacks were provided by CVS to facilitate this review and giveaway. No other compensation was provided.








Thursday, November 20, 2014

From the Boardroom to Happy Hour: Check Out The Of Mercer Collection #OfMercer #DellahsFashionFinds

                    


I'm always  looking for pieces that are wallet friendly but still great quality and of course, STYLISH! I find  myself scrolling through Instagram and Pinterest and eyeing the pulled together streetstyle looks and flipping through pages of my fave magazines while coveting the trends of red carpet worthy actresses and musicians only to snap back to reality, because I know I can't afford those luxurious pieces.

As a mamapreneur: blogger, wedding coordinator, assistant teacher and mama to two high energy boys I'm always on the go, running from drop offs (literally running) to a press preview or final walk through with a bride only to pick up the boys, help them with homework and on any random night possibly head back out for another press event over cocktails. Aside from wishing I could clone myself and had twice as many hours in a week, I'm always searching for clothes that are versatile and can carry me throughout my most eventful days. 


                                    


Dorie & Emelyn, The ladies behind Of Mercer both met at a welcoming party their first week at Wharton business school and realized they were both wearing the same, boring black sheath dress. It was then that they realized that women's workwear needed a revamp that wouldn't sacrifice quality because of outrageous prices or style because of office guidelines. With the help of Parsons grad and tailored clothing specialist Aja,they were able to create a well-fitted collection made of luxury Italian wool and Japanese fabrics that could carry women through the work week. What's even more amazing is that they were able to accomplish this by cutting out the middleman and retail markups allowing it's customers to indulge in great quality at price points offered below $250.

A while back I was invited to check out their week long pop-up shop here in NYC on behalf of Lady and The Blog and wanted to try everything on as I checked out the collection. My style is definitely more casual chic, I love fun blazers and statement making jewelry paired with well-fitted pants or denim and fun boots or flats, which is why I instantly gravitated to the blazer I'm pictured in above (Ironically I was wearing a sequin blazer that day). Of Mercer also has some great black and colorblocked/ printed dresses that are perfect to wear to work or to meet up with girlfriends while catching up at happy hour. 

                    
     

As a wedding coordinator, my uniform consists of all black which is sometimes really hard for me to wrap my head around, because I absolutely love color. But Of Mercer has made sure to step away from the basic black dress by focusing on trendier leather details. And since the opening of their pop up shop they have recently released their 6 piece mix and match Of Mercer jewelry collection which I was able to swoon over as well.

                                    

The Of Mercer collection is "Fashioned for Your Life & Suited for Your Budget" and has been featured in People Style Watch Magazine, InStyle Magazine and on actress Emmy Rossum. From stretchy jacquard graphic prints and edgy faux leather panels, to the unexpected yet perfect pockets on the Beacon dress, you will love their modern touch to these everyday closet staples.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Elated with Etsy: 8 Special Picks for HIM Holiday Gift Guide #holidaygiftguide



I actually like shopping for the guys in my life, between my dad, brother and hubby they all seem to have very easy, laid back taste so picking out gifts for them won't leave me internet surfing or roaming through the aisles for hours. Whether you are searching for a geeked out gift, something to help them stay groomed or a useful product they can utilize daily, Etsy has something for every fella and I thought I'd share my top 8 picks:


Which of these Etsy finds will make an awesome gift for the guy in your life?

Friday, November 14, 2014

Lil' Monsters in NYC: Great Wolf Lodge Takes Over NYC for a HOWLing Good Time #GreatWolfNYC



As a family one thing we have have yet to try, is travelling outside of the five boroughs to celebrate the holidays and we thought it was really great to get invited out to the Grand Hyatt Hotel to enjoy The Great Wolf Lodge  experience right here in NYC.  

Great Wolf Lodge is North America's largest family of indoor waterparks and they've created some really unique ways for families to have fun all year round & to celebrate Halloween and Christmas, that we were lucky enough to experience first hand.





Throughout the year visitors of the Great Wolf Lodge can enjoy food from their newest restaurant The Lodge Wood Fired Grill, which we were able to try and really enjoyed. Of course the kids were all fans of all the yummy dessert.


Scooops  kids spa is the perfect place for little girls and their moms to have fun and enjoy being sprinkled and pampered. Since I don't have girls, CJ humored me and Violet by joining me at the spa while I checked out the nail colors and scented bath bombs.




Howl-O-Ween is a great way to have guest engaged in spooktacular, engaging activities with great rates starting at $199 per night. Available at all twelve Great Wolf Lodge locations spanning Kansas City to New England throughout October, families can participate in  lots of fun seasonal thrills and chills when noting the HOWL promo code at time of booking. During Howl-O-Ween, children are free to join a trail of trick-or-treaters as they collect ghostly goodies along a spooky path, wear their most frightening costumes for a parade, attend a monster-themed dance party and end the night with some boo-bit scary stories. 

During the Great Wolf Lodge NYC takeover event, the kids posed as costumed Trick-Or-Treaters, channeled their creative juices and decorated colorful tote bags to fill with sweet candy.





With Christmas quickly approaching, checking out Great Wolf Lodge’s month-long winter celebration: Snowland (available at all Great Wolf Lodges spanning Grand Mound, Washington to Williamsburg, VA) is the perfect wintery, fun escape. Snowland offers up festive activities from visits with Santa Clause to indoor snow showers to a Polar Wolf Walk. 

For a truly sweet experience, visitors are invited to dine inside the resort’s life-size gingerbread house. Great Wolf Lodge has partnered with Just Born, makers of PEEPS, Mike and Ikes and Hot Tamales, to create the edible gingerbread house. Featuring more than 5,000 candies, 600 pounds of gingerbread dough and 1,320 pounds of sugar, the gingerbread house will be baked, iced and candied to perfection, providing the setting for a memorable holiday feast. And since this time of year is always looked at as the season of giving, it's really great that the proceeds for each meal go to charity. 

              

While getting into the Christmas spirit we all had the chance to decorate cookies and write letters to Santa and before saying goodbye, the kids were all treated to story-time which is a great feature that allows guests to come down in their pj's in the lobby of the Great Wolf Lodge to enjoy. 










I know the monsters are hoping we can head out on a road trip & bring them to Great Wolf Lodge because they had such a good time thanks to the wolf pack team. The Snowland celebration begins Nov. 29th - Jan 4th, and would make for a very special way to get into the Christmas spirit with family and friends. 

*Disclosure: opinions expressed are 100% my own, I was invited to attend and received a giftbag, no other compensation was received.


Thursday, November 6, 2014

The Savannah Sunset Collection by INGLOT #BeautyNewbie



 Disney's Tony award winning musical The Lion King has been a must see show for years,         drawing in crowds because of their talented cast who are not only amazing actors, but are beautifully skilled singers and dancers. Audiences find themselves captivated by the detailed sets, intricate and creative costumes and of course the stunning make-up that can help transform a person into their character as they grace the stage.

I am far from a make-up maven, more like a make-up virgin who seriously just learned how to apply blush a few months ago. Which was why I was so beyond excited to get the opportunity to cover for Vera Sweeney (Lady and the Blog) to preview the exclusive INGLOT collection, Savannah Sunset at The INGLOT Studio in Chelsea Market. This gorgeous, shimmery palette embodies all the magical colors of a sun setting in the African savannah and consists rich and vibrant oranges, browns and bronzes that will make anyone glow. The collection includes:
  • INGLOT Freedom System Eye shadow Paleette #606, 108r and #329
  • Face Blush #40
  • Freeom System Lipstick Palette #20 and #21
  • Nail Enamel #042
  • Secret Volume Masacaa and Inglot Felt Tip Eyeliner Pen
 I walked into the Inglot Studio and seriously felt nervous, as if somebody could read on my forehead that I didn't know a thing about beauty products. Guests enjoyed light bites & cocktails while others were eyeing the rainbow selection of products, from shadows to liners and polishes and chose their favorites while they waited for their Inglot consultant to give them a complimentary mini make-over.





Throughout the evening I watched as an actress from the show FELA, learned how to make her eyes pop for an upcoming performance she was going to be in with the Roots. I loved watching the layering of colors and the end result was gorgeous, but seemingly to difficult I think for me to achieve at home. I'm going to have to watch quite a few YouTube videos to pull off, anything close what her consultant did.






The highlight of the evening was meeting Mr. INGLOT himself, who created the brand 30 years ago to make high quality products at affordable prices & he was joined by the incredibly talented & extremely friendly performers from The Lion King on Broadway: Chondra Profit who plays Sarabi,  Bonita J. Hamilton who plays Shenzi and Ray Mercer who's part of the ensemble as a giraffe.








I'm all about great quality and affordability for anything I purchase, especially when it comes to make-up because it's just not something I purchase on a regular basis (yet) and can't justify splurging on when I know products that won't break the bank exist. Honestly my typical everyday make-up routine consists of eyeliner, mascara and gloss and if I'm going out in the evening I will most likely wear foundation and a bold lip color to step it up a notch.  I'm sure I'll want to experiment more and will definitely try to this month because thanks to Inglot and The Lion King, the hubby and I are going to see the show on Broadway which has been on our bucket list for-eva! 





The Lion King is now playing at the Minskoff Theatre (200 West 45th street, New York, NY) and INGLOT's Savannah Sunset collection with The Lion King can be found in boutique stores around the world and on Inglotusa.com. Audience members who bring their ticket to INGLOT Times Square and like INGLOT Fan page on Facebook will receive a 20% discount on their purchase or receive a free makeover from INGLOT. And stay tuned because Kaye Tuckerman (creative director of Inglot) says there will be upcoming Broadway team-ups with the beauty brand in the future! 

Disclosure: The opinions expressed are 100% my own and I received a gift bag for attending. No other compensation was received.


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