Eva Mendes Spring Collection for New York & Company

*Today's post is in collaboration with New York & Company. All opinions are my own. 

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

EVA MENDES COLORBLOCK MAXI DRESS || NUDE STRAPPY HEELS || BAMBOO BAG || EARRINGS || BANGLES || WATCH

I love the change of seasons and when welcoming spring, I always move in the direction of brighter colors!  What can I say, color makes me happy!  With more sunlight each day and warmer temps as well, my wardrobe shifts and I start wearing more dresses too!  

For those of you who know me well and who have been following along for a while, you know how much I love and LIVE in dresses from spring through the end of summer.  I'm a dress girl...I love how versatile a dress is especially when it can be worn for both day and night!

I've always shopped at New York & Company and have found some of my absolute favorite dresses there!  Ever since Eva Mendes launched her brand with New York & Company I have been a big fan of her beautiful collections and have loved the quality and fit of her dresses.

Eva Mendes launched her spring collection and I'm smitten with the bright happy colors, bold prints, maxi styles, and simple figure flattering silhouettes.  

This bold bright colorblock maxi dress immediately caught my eye!  Not just for the happy colors but for the light airy silhouette too!  I knew immediately this would be a dress that I could wear for so many different occasions...one that's perfect with wedges for daytime wear and with heels for a night out or evening event.  Not to mention, it is the most PERFECT vacation dress too!

This dress is so gorgeous and truly looks amazing on!  I'm wearing a size small, which fit perfectly!  Can't you just see yourself wearing this dress on your next vacation or to a spring soiree?!

You must check out Eva Mendes' spring collection...I'm certain you will love everything as much as I do!  I'm also loving this Liv Strapless Dress, which comes in other colors too, this black Floral Del Mar Dress, and this Polka-Dot Wrap Dress!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day!

What to Pack for Disney

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson 

DISNEY GEAR C/O WWW.SHOPDISNEY.COM

I'll never forget the first time that we took Reins and Addison to Disney World.  We went over Thanksgiving break back in 2016 and had one of the most memorable weeks of our lives!  Since then, we have visited Disney World over fall break, 2017, and we are now heading back for our 3rd visit for spring break, 2018.  To say we have the Disney bug is an understatement...WE LOVE DISNEY!!!

Peter and I both remember the magic of Disney when we visited as children and it is even more magical now as we experience everything with our children.  It is such a happy place and we truly have no cares in the world when we are there...with the exception of when we are going to get our next Mickey ears ice cream. ;-)

We've learned something new each time that we have visited...there is so much to "know" about Disney and I'm sure many of you who are reading this may not be first timers.  If you are a Disney pro, I'd love for you to share some of your tips too...share them below by leaving a comment!  But if you are a first time Disney goer, I wanted to share just a few packing tips with you!

WHAT TO PACK FOR DISNEY 

- Clothing appropriate for the season!  This may be obvious but many people think that just because you will be in "sunny Florida" that it will be warm every day.  We have been there during various seasons and one day can be cold, the next hot, and the next raining so...you must be prepared for all weather.  Of course, I don't tell you this so you will overpack, I just recommend planing ahead and ensuring you have packed appropriately.

- Speaking of clothing...lightweight comfortable clothing and a great pair of walking shoes are a MUST.  You will be doing a TON of walking and there is nothing worse than being uncomfortable in what you are wearing and to end up with sore feet by the end of your 10 hour day (or longer).  I learned that "looking cute" should never come before comfort when at Disney...comfort is key!  Pack hats for the family as well as a change of clothes for your kiddos in your backpack (accidents happen and so do head to toe soaking water rides).  A lightweight jacket for each family member should be on you list too!

- Ponchos...purchase disposable ponchos and carry those in your backpack!  In the cooler months, you will want these when you ride the water rides and in the warmer months, you will want these in the case mother nature decides to cool you off herself.  No one wants to walk around in wet clothes or wet shoes.

- Pack a backpack...this is an absolute MUST!  It is crucial to have a backpack with all of your belongings while at the parks.  Keep in mind that many backpacks look alike and there are LOTS of black packsacks around so be sure to tie a ribbon or tag onto yours to make it easily identifiable.  This also applies to strollers!

- SNACKS, SNACKS, & SNACKS...do I need to say snacks?!  You are allowed to bring your own snacks into the parks and I highly recommend that you do that.  We still purchase special treats and snacks but having snacks for your kiddos while waiting in the long lines can be a life saver.  I pre-pack all of our snacks in little zip lock bags and then I fill our backpack each morning before heading to the parks with enough snacks to get us through the day.

- Water bottles...yes, you can still fill up your souvenir cup with other beverages but I highly recommend that you bring water bottles each day.  Fill them up with ice and water in the morning and take them each day to the parks.  You will get very thirsty, especially during the warmer months, and it is nice to have cold refreshing water handy.

- Devices (iPad/Phone)/games/chargers...the lines can get VERY long at times so I recommend that you travel with and pack  an iPad as well as some other games (think a deck of cards).  Some may not be comfortable packing their iPad but we have taken ours each time and have never had any problems.  Again, be sure to mark your backpack as well as your stroller.  We carry our backpack onto ever single ride therefore we are never leaving our iPad behind in the stroller.  Don't forget your chargers either!

- Sunscreen!  You should always wear sunscreen but especially during the warmer months.  Apply it before you arrive to the parks and apply it throughout the day.  Many of the rides have covered areas but not all are shaded so you may find yourself standing in the sun.  And don't forget your sunglasses!

- Camera...be sure to bring your camera with you and carry it in your backpack. There will be so many special moments that you will want to capture and although many people purchase the photo pass, you will want to capture your own special moments as well!

- Spray bottle...we have not had to take this before but we will be taking this on this trip to help stay cool.  It will be in the upper 80's/90's and sunny while we are there so a little squirt here and there will keep everyone cool and happy!

- Bandaids...sometimes boo boos happen or you get a blister from all of the walking so I recommend that you travel with and pack some bandaids in your backpack when you go to the parks.  This will save you the time of trying to find a first aide location within the parks!

And don't forget your magic bands or passes!

So...what do you pack for Disney?!  Do you have any great tips/tricks to share?!  I'd love to hear them!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a magical day!  We sure will!

Sun-dried Tomato Deviled Eggs - Easter Recipe

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

PINK RUFFLE TOP || DENIM || EARRINGS 

FLORAL PLATES || BUNNY PLATES || CABBAGE PLATES ||  CABBAGE PLACE MATS || NAPKINS || NAPKIN RINGS

Today I'm sharing a delicious healthy sun-dried tomato deviled egg recipe!  I recently shared an avocado deviled egg recipe and you can find that HERE as well!  I love deviled eggs but I am not a big fan of mayonnaise so I've made two versions for Easter that don't have any mayonnaise in them!

What I love most about these sundries tomato deviled eggs, besides being a healthier version of a classic recipe, is the melody of flavors!  These are sure to be a crowd pleaser!

SUN-DRIED TOMATO DEVILED EGGS

• 6 large eggs (double recipe if making more)
• 1/2 cup of non-fat plain Greek yogurt
• 2 1/2 tablespoons of chopped sun-dried tomatoes (canned/jared sun-dried tomatoes will work well)
• 1 tsp of dijon mustard
• 1 1/2 tbsp of fresh chopped basil
• 1/4 tsp table salt
• 1/8 tsp of ground pepper

DIRECTIONS

Place eggs in a deep sauce pan and fill with cold water, 1-2 inches above the eggs.  Bring to a boil and then turn off heat and cover.  Let eggs cook for approximately 15 minutes.  Remove the eggs from sauce pan and move to an ice bath to chill.  Once the eggs have cooled completely, you can then peel the eggs.  *tip...peeling can be tough so I recommend that you crack the egg all the way around as much as possible by tapping them lightly on the counter...this always makes peeling the shell much easier.

Cut your eggs in half and scoop out the yolk while keeping the egg white intact.  Transfer the egg yolks to a bowl and then add the remaining ingredients.  Stir and blend the mixture until smooth.  Fill your egg whites with the mixture.  Garnish with a piece of sun-dried tomato and basil. *tip...use an cake decorating icing bag and icing tip to squeeze the egg mixture into your egg whites.  This creates a beautiful deviled egg!

Hope you enjoy these sun-dried tomato deviled eggs!  I'd love to hear if you decide to make these for Easter and if not for Easter, deviled eggs make a great appetizers for so many other occasions!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!

It's Here...The Belk Beauty Event

*Today's post is in collaboration with Belk.  All opinions are my own.

Spring is finally here and one of the ways I like to welcome spring is by freshening up my beauty routine with some new products!  Lucky for me, and all of you, the Belk Beauty Event has kicked off and they have some of THE BEST beauty products!  Talk about perfect timing..

The Belk Beauty Event is happening now through April 1st and you can shop so many amazing beauty brands on Belk.com or at any Belk store.  Not to mention Belk will be offering free gifts with purchase, special offers & events, an exclusive Belk tote with purchase, and so much more!  I don't know about you, but I always love additional incentives for shopping!

Picking out the right beauty products can be overwhelming at times however, if you visit a Belk store there will be plenty of Belk Beauty Specialists on hand to help you select the right products for you.  They are so knowledgeable on the latest beauty trends including the best skincare products, foundation, lipstick, mascara, eyeshadow, bronzer, etc.

Being able to shop some of the best beauty brands during the Belk Beauty Event really excites me and it should excite you too!  Some of the amazing brands that are included in this event include Kiehl's, Philosophy, Laura Mercier, Clinique, Bobby Brown, Elizabeth Arden, MAC, and Urban Decay (to name a few).

I'm excited to share what I picked out from the Belk Beauty Event so let's chat more about two of my favorite brands...Kiehl's and Philosophy!

Starting with Kiehl's...I picked up the Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate and the Ginger Leaf & Hibiscus Firming Mask.  I've tried numerous Kiehl's products before, all of which I was super pleased with, but I have never tried either of these until recently.  I must say, I love love love both of these products.  Being that I am in my late 30's it has become much more of a priority to take excellent care of my skin and when I find a product that works, I tend to stick with it.  

Although it has been a short time since I started using these products, I can tell you that I know I will see a positive difference in my skin over time.  My skin has responded so well to both.  The Powerful-Strength Line Reducing Concentrate has both Vitamin Cg and Hyaluronic Acid which are both key ingredients to help minimize the look of fine lines & wrinkles and to give your skin a smoother texture and overall glow.  This product is a MUST my friends!

The Ginger Leaf & Hibiscus Firming Overnight Mask is a must have too!  I've never used an overnight mask before but I'm completely smitten with this mask.  This mask smells so good and in the morning my skin feels smooth, refreshed, and more firm! A little goes a long way and I actually recommend rubbing it into your skin versus letting it sit on the surface.  I truly think you will love this mask as much as I do!

Now let's talk for a moment about Philosophy and the two new products that I picked up at the Belk Beauty Event.  I've always loved Philosophy...their products are amazing and over the years I have mainly used their lotions and perfumes.  I've worn Amazing Grace perfume for years...it is one of my absolute favorites!

I decided to try Philosophy's Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser and their Made Simple Moisturizer.  What I love about the one-step cleanser is that it melts away my makeup (even eye makeup), it cleanses my skin, and it tones my skin all at the same time.  It breaks down makeup build up and deep cleans pores as well...what more could you possibly ask for from a daily cleanser?!

Follow up your cleansing routine with the Philosophy made simple moisturizer. This moisturize is lightweight and it leaves your skin feeling smooth and hydrated.  It is a great daily moisturizer as well and the perfect compliment to the one-step cleanser.

Have you tried these Keihl's or Philosophy products?!  I'd love to hear what you think about them.  What will you be shopping for at the Belk Beauty Event?!  If there are any products that you think I should try please let me know...I still have some shopping to do and will be taking full advantage of this event.

As always, thanks so much for stopping by...I hope you have a great day!

Easter Peep Pretzels

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

DRESS C/O VICI DOLLS (USE CODE KBSTYLED20 FOR A DISCOUNT) || EARRINGS C/O LISI LERCH 

The kids and I had so much fun making this simple Easter treat.  I had a hard time keeping their fingers out of the melted chocolate and keeping the peeps out of their reach.  For as long as I can remember, Peeps were always in my Easter basket and so we always include them in Reins and Addison's baskets and they love them too!

This year we decided to make this treat a little early as we will be traveling right up until Easter and may not have the time to make them on Easter Sunday.  Make this treat now or make it Easter weekend with your children, nieces/nephews, grandchildren, etc!

EASTER PEEP PRETZELS

Here's what you need...

- peeps, assorted colors

- pretzel rods

- 1 bag of white chocolate melts (we used confetti white chocolate melts but you can use plain white or any other pastel color)

- assorted pastel colored sprinkles

Here's how you make peep pretzels...

- line a cookie sheet with parchment paper

- heat your white chocolate melts in the microwave in 15-20 second increments until melted, stir to ensure a smooth consistency

- dip your pretzel rods into the melted white chocolate or roll them in the white chocolate on a plate *I did not have a deep enough container to dip the rods so I poured the melted chocolate onto a plate and rolled my rods.  If you do this you may have to heat the chocolate a little bit here and there to keep it nice and soft.

- place your dipped pretzel rod on the lined cookie sheet and put sprinkles on while the chocolate is still soft

- after you have dipped all of the pretzel rods that you plan to make, place them in the refrigerator to set

- one the chocolate has set (20 minutes or so) you will then attach a peep to each rod by putting a dime size drop of melted chocolate on the rod and then placing the peep onto the rod

- you will then return your cookie sheet back to the refrigerator to let the peep set as well

That's it...these peep pretzels are so easy and fun to make!  Kids really enjoy this activity and it doesn't create a big mess!

What kind of fun treats to you make this time of year?!  Do you have an special Easter traditions?

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Filling Our Easter Baskets with Lindt Chocolate

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

Ruffle Top || Denim || Open Toe Booties || Polka Dot Top || Bracelets || Ring || Watch

Chocolates c/o Lindt Chocolate

Creating Easter baskets for Reins and Addison is something that I look forward to each year!  Filling their baskets with special treats makes me just as happy and excited as it does them and this year I will be filling their baskets with Lindt Chocolate including their iconic Gold Bunny.

I personally have fond memories of enjoying Lindt Chocolate so I'm happy to pass down my love for Lindt Chocolate to our children.  I mean, what's not to love?!  Lindt Chocolate is some of the very best chocolate that I've ever had...the Lindt Lindor Truffles are delicious!

Although I'm very familiar with Lindt Chocolate, I had never visited a Lindt Chocolate Shop until recently.  Lucky for all of us that live in Nashville, well and anyone who visits, there is a Lindt Chocolate Shop at the Opry Mills Mall.  It is a beautiful chocolate shop and you can find anything and EVERYTHING that you may be looking for!

When visiting our local Lindt Chocolate Shop, I knew I was specifically looking for goodies to fill their Easter baskets with (well and maybe some truffles for myself).  A MUST for their Easter baskets?!  A Lindt Gold Bunny!  When I walked into the chocolate shop, there was an entire wall of Easter chocolates, including a broad selection of Lindt Gold Bunnies.  

The Lindt Gold Bunny comes in various sizes and various flavors like milk chocolate, dark chocolate, hazelnut, and white chocolate.  We personally love the milk chocolate Gold Bunny!  Lindt Chocolate Shops also offers a pick and mix display where you can fill a box or bag of your favorite flavored Lindor Truffles!  I filled a box of 150 truffles with flavors like blueberries and cream, strawberries and cream, red velvet, caramel, coconut, mango, raspberry, and lime!  And you wouldn't believe that 150 truffles only cost $40!!!  Talk about a treat...their Lindor Truffles are soooooo good and I have been loving the blueberries and cream truffle.  It's my favorite!

You can also find adorable lamb, bunny, and chick chocolates to fill your Easter baskets along with chocolate eggs and chocolate carrots!  They are adorable and really have made our baskets special this year!

I had such a wonderful experience visiting Nashville's Lindt Chocolate Shop and I know you all would enjoy it too!  There are 56 Lindt Chocolate Shops throughout the US so you should check to see if there is one in your area!  It's quite the experience to spend time in a chocolate shop like Lindt!!!

Will you be filling your baskets with a Lindt Gold Bunny this year?!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Sparkling Berry Spring Sangria

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

WHITE RUFFLE TOP || DENIM 

SIMILAR WOOD SERVING TRAY || BUNNY TEA TOWEL || WINE GLASSES 

I'm a big fan of sangria...if you remember, I shared a "White Christmas Sangria" right before the holidays, which is DELICIOUS by the way, and I've been excited for warmer (almost spring) days so I could share this "Sparkling Berry Spring Sangria" with you all!  

This recipe is another favorite of mine and it makes such a refreshing berry infused sangria that is perfect for any spring or summer gathering!

Of course I had Easter Sunday brunch in mind when making this cocktail...a perfect Sunday cocktail should you wish to serve one at your Easter gathering.  If not for Easter, any other Sunday or (weekend day at that) will do!

What I love most about sangria, besides its refreshing taste, is that it is so simple to make and it can even be made ahead of time (winning in the busy Mom department).

Hope you will give this one a try and if you do, please be sure to let me know what you think!

Get your wine glasses out and let's make some sangria!

SPARKLING BERRY SPRING SANGRIA

serves 4 - double or triple the recipe if serving more

• 1 bottle of sparking Rose 
• 8 ounces of club soda
• 1/4 cup Chambord (raspberry liqueur)
• 1/4 cup sugar (add more if you like yours sweeter)
• Package of fresh strawberries (cut either in half or quarters depending on the size of your berries)
• Package of fresh raspberries
• Fresh mint 

Mix all ingredients together and gently stir until sugar has dissolved some.  Then stir in several sprigs of mint leafs and refrigerate overnight or for several hours before serving.  The longer you refrigerate the more the flavors meld...I typically make my sangria the night before. 

Use a ladle to spoon the sangria mixture into your wine glasses, ensuring that you are putting some of the berries into each glass.  Garnish with fresh mint, serve, and enjoy! 

Sangria is truly that simple!  Hope you enjoy this recipe!  Pin it to Pinterest for easy access or bookmark this page!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!

Playful Easter Tablescape

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

TIE FRONT DRESS || SHOES || TASSEL EARRINGS 

TABLECLOTH || RUNNER || PLACEMATS || FLORAL DINNERWARE || BUNNY DINNERWARE || NAPKINS || NAPKIN RING || MOSS CENTERPIECE || CERAMIC BUNNIES || EGG VASES 

How will you be celebrating Easter this year?!  Are you hosting family, friends, or family & friends for Easter brunch or dinner?!  If so, I've created a colorful & playful Easter tablescape that is perfect for your Easter Sunday gatherings!

This year I wanted to create something that had a touch of whimsy to it.  Of course I always think of Reins and Addison when styling our home for the holidays because this is such a fun time for them as well!  And as much as I love all of the little details, I know that they do too!

The concept behind this tablescape started with GRASS!  I knew I wanted to recreate some of our outdoor Easter traditions, like egg hunting, and bring it indoors to our table.  In my mind, I was going to find a perfect moss runner and style the rest of the table around the moss runner.  Although I didn't end up going with a moss runner, I stumbled across this moss mat and knew that it would be perfect for the centerpiece!

To keep a clean/crisp look, I picked a solid white tablecloth and then to add a pop of color and to create long lines, I found this gorgeous yellow and white striped table runner!  As you know, I love to pair patterns so I picked out these check napkins to pair with the striped runner and the floral dinnerware.

I found both the floral and bunny dinnerware on sale and just adore both!  What I love about the floral dinnerware is that I will be able to use it after Easter as well!  I just love the colors in these plates and the floral pattern is gorgeous.  Not to mention, how cute are these sweet bunny plates?!  They come in a set of 4 and each bunny is posed a different way.  For the napkins, I found these fun springy bunny napkin rings...they are so playful and the perfect compliment to tie in the moss centerpiece.

I also knew that I wanted to style the centerpiece with white ceramic bunnies, eggs, etc. and I searched high and low for the perfect ceramic bunnies and came across these!  I loved their simple chic look so I chose a larger bunny and two small bunnies (I don't know, maybe I was envisioning a Momma and her babes ;-)).  I then strategically placed other whimsical pieces around the moss mat like this colorful wooden eggs!  And how cute are the little broken eggshell vases?!  You can use them for flower buds or even tea lights!  Lastly I placed some carrots and little chicks around the moss to complete the centerpiece!

This was such a fun tablescape to design and I'm excited to recreate it for Easter Sunday!  I hope you will find some inspiration to create your own Easter tablescape!  

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!