Magnolia Mamas

Monday, June 12, 2017

#2COOL4SCHOOL Emoji Party

End of school year party idea. A fun emoji themed end of school year party. Fun ideas for a class party, house party, or a pool party. Kick off summer because you are #2Cool4School! Free emoji party printables included!

Does anyone else feel like summer break is flying by? It practically just started, but we've been so busy that we haven't had a moment to just relax and have some fun. We're fearful that before we know it, back-to-school stuff will be gearing up. Last week we finally got a chance to get our schedules aligned for some summer fun and we planned a super fun and super easy party to celebrate!

We picked a sunny day, a fun theme, and we were ready to celebrate all that summer is about. Our kids are emoji obsessed right now and with the new Emoji movie coming out at the end of the summer we knew a #2COOL4SCHOOL emoji party would be all kinds of fun.

Before the swimming began we set up a fun photo booth with props and let the kids go to town.

They were hilarious with what they picked and were all begging for a turn to be the one who got to snap the photos.

Even sweet little Baby Cute wanted a chance in the photo booth! Just look at how much fun she thought it was!

In addition to the regular photo booth we had some other fun goodies for the kids. The sunglasses and temporary tattoos were a hit!

Our snacks were simple, but perfect to fuel them up right before they burned tons of energy swimming and splashing the afternoon away.

They couldn't get in the pool fast enough and had so much fun with the emoji beach balls and squirters. We just love all of their creativity and the games they came up with using these simple, yet fun toys.

#GetTheDeets

The details for this party were so fun, and so suited to this generation. Oriental Trading is our go-to place for party necessities and they had a ton of fun emoji themed items for this occasion.

On The Download

The printables we created for this party were super easy, but thought it would be fun to share with anyone interested in hosting their own emoji themed end of school year party. Enjoy!

Download Emoji Party Sign
Download Emoji Selfie Sign
Download Emoji Yum Sign

Come spend the day with us on:

***Thank you to Oriental Trading for providing the products for this party!***

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Fashion Fix: Timely Style with Grayton Watches

I love a good accessory. Nothing compliments an outfit more. The right accessories can transform a simple t-shirt into the most elegant evening attire. If I had to pick one accessory to wear above all others, it would be a watch. Watches are my favorite and I've grown quite the collection over the years. They are so many fun options, and I love that it's a functional accessory that will always be in style.

I'm always on the hunt for a new one, and my new favorite is this nautical inspired one from Grayton Watches.

When I was introduced to Grayton Watches I instantly fell in love with several of their pieces. The traditional style and classic elegant faces are beautiful. As a lover of anything with a preppy or coastal feel, I was drawn to their fabric strap options.

I wanted something a little more casual and fun for summer, and thought this one would be perfect.

I love the navy face and striped band with the rose gold touches. The quality is superb and I love it is an automatic watch and I won't have to replace the battery ever.

Simply walking will keep it wound and in perfect time. Plus I absolutely love the look of the open back.

The watch has definitely been fun to wear, and has become a go-to for any event. It's been comfortable to wear from baseball games to playing with the kids in the yard to evening nights out.

I've received tons of compliments on it and even Mr. Cute has borrowed it a time or two.

It's the men's Fabric Strap Watch so it suits us both. I went back and forth between this one and the unisex version, but love larger faced watches so decided on the men's one. I think it's fun, and maybe one day soon I'll surprise Mr. Cute one of his own so I won't have to share. ;)

Speaking of gifts, the watch surprised me when it came wrapped so well.

The packaging was just as elegant as the watch, and if gifting one to someone I love that it's already ready to present nicely even if it has to be shipped for a someone special out of town.

I am definitely a new fan, and will be keeping my eye out on Grayton if I want to add a new watch to my ever growing accessory collection.

I've been so excited about my new watch, that my lovely new friends at Grayton Watches have given me a discount code to share with you in case you want to add one to your collection too. Use code Flcom-Grayton15%-TheMagnoliaMamas for 15% off your entire purchase.

Which Grayton Watch is your favorite?

**I was given this product by Grayton Watches in exchange for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Monday, June 5, 2017

Mix & Mingle: Threaded

Happy Monday, Friends. We just love our little blog and all of the amazing people we get to meet as a result of what we do. Our "Mix & Mingle" series is one of our absolute favorites because we love getting to share a little more about the people who help create the amazing products we come across.

Today we'd like to introduce you to Stephanie, founder and chief designer for Threaded.

When we first came across her products and her company we were immediately intrigued. She understands that sometimes along with the chaos of motherhood women can loose their sense of fashion to functionality. Especially in those early years when we're just trying to survive! However, her goal is to provide product solutions for busy women and especially moms.

She also has a strong interest in family and community. Her kids can be seen chipping in with packing and shipping during busy times and she shares her talents with the community as she teaches sewing lessons for both children and adults.

First let's get to know a little bit more about Stephanie...

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF.

I'm 49, live in VA with my 2 schnauzers, husband and 2 sons that are 16 & 11 years old. I have an MS degree in college and community counseling that I hope to one day use since I'm still paying it off! I LOVE Threaded - it's something that not only feeds my family, it also feeds my soul. How lucky is that?

IF YOU COULD VISIT ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD THAT BE?

I've never had any real drive to travel outside the US unless maybe it's a long trip in wilds of Canada. I love to develop a connection to a place and there are two places in my lifetime that I've connected with. First in my early 20's I took a 2 week backpacking trip in the canyon lands of Utah. I have never been more spiritually connected to a place in my life. Just writing about it, I can smell the red dirt, and feel wide open space. The stillness engulfs you, which is surprising considering how it is teeming with life all around you. It is a beautiful place that makes you feel beautiful yourself to be there. The second place is a small river in WV called the Cacapon River (means healing waters). This is a place I discovered with my family when we were looking for a piece of land where we could escape in the summer and fall months. I love this place and wish I could spend everyday there with my family. It is beautiful, peaceful, it smells of earth and it calms the nerves. Healing waters is the perfect name. It is a fabulous piece of land on this magical little river where my husband and I plan to retire.

WHEN YOU HAVE 30 MINUTES OF FREE TIME, HOW DO YOU SPEND THAT TIME?

Free time? What's that?

HOW DID THREADED COME TO BE?

Despite growing up around great seamstresses, it took motherhood to set my wheels in motion. The demands of motherhood and my eye for creative problem solving formed a new muse: Creating supremely functional and incredibly durable items that are life-proof and designed specifically for fashion-minded, hard-working women.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO BE CREATIVE?

Everything. Nothing. Sadness, happiness, filling a need, a random flash of color, a small brainstorm, suggestions from friends. It's a perpetual motion for me. I never stop being creative.

Now that we've shared a little more about Stephanie and Threaded, we'd love to introduce you to her amazing products! All her fabrics are sourced from American providers whenever possible and hand-selected for their beautify and durability. With every design you can expect to feel the intent behind the product and the handmade quality.

BEACH BAGS
We feel in love her with beach bags. We spend a lot of time on the boat, at the pool, or at the beach in the summers and we know that with small children we often feel like we are bringing everything with us for the day. No bag can be too big or hold too much.

Threaded's unique designs offer lots of options no matter what you are looking for! From pockets to keep us organized, waterproof liners so we are sure our things never get wet, and the durability we need!

This cute sea turtle beach bag is adorable and perfect for a day on the boat or a trip to the pool. The ship rope handles are sturdy, yet soft and you can select what design you want...anything from a crab, to a sailboat or an anchor. I picked the sea turtle because Little Mama loves everything having to do with sea turtles!

This large beach bag is made with a sweatshirt fabric so it is extra soft and the double outside pockets make it perfect for keeping things organized and easy to get to.

The interior fabric also has a bit of stretch and it has plenty of room for all our essentials.

We just love this decorative coral fabric and the nautical rope drawstring closure so we are sure nothing falls out!

CLUTCHES
Her handmade clutches are SO cute! It's not everyday we get to put away our mom bag and swap it out for something smaller, but when we do we are instantly drawn to something as stylish and fashionable as this! From animal prints to florals, she has something for just about anyone's style.

TEACHER BAGS
As a former teacher (CB) I know all of the stuff that teachers haul back and forth to school each day. A sturdy bag that looks cute and that can keep you organized is key and Threaded has so many great options for teacher bags and totes! A mix of fabrics and some with monogram options make these the perfect choice for every teacher!

AND MORE
The options are endless and Threaded offers everything from picnic blankets, infinity scarves, table runners and bridesmaid bags. Be sure to check out her site to see all that she offers!

To learn more about Threaded:

Etsy | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

Thursday, June 1, 2017

Book Club: June

Happy June y'all! June is one of our favorite months because it means Summer is here and ready to be in full swing. Summer travel. Summer sleeping in. Summer nights with friends. Summer is just plain FUN.

Summer also means more free time to read. Sort of. Long gone are the leisurely days of heading off to the beach or pool with not a care in the world and a book in hand. But we wouldn't trade it for the world. So our days are spent splashing along side our littles and our nights are spent lounging porch side catching up on the latest books in our pile.

Today's book club is jam packed with some goodness. First, we are sharing what we read last month, and then we are so excited to share with you a little something different. We are giving you a little insider information on this Summer's hottest books. We were given a little sneak peek at what's coming out this Summer, and can't wait to share our favorites with you. From beach reads to thrilling page turners, trust us when we say you will want to leave some extra room in your suitcase or beach bag when you travel this summer to pack one of these sizzling reads.

Grab your wine and here we go!

LAST MONTH'S PICK...

Last month we shared our pick was Friendship Matters, a fun look at the importance of friendship as told through personal account of two best friends and psychologists.

We loved digging into the 60 year long friendship of this duo and appreciated their witty banter back and forth through out the memoir. We enjoyed their honesty through tales of both ease of times and during disagreements.

If you are looking for a quick read on friendship or seeking how to make your current connections be a little more deeper for sustaining life long friendships this is a great book. It's short, sweet, and covers easy to read topics.

Great friends are one of the best things you can encounter in life and we highly encourage it!

WHAT ELSE WE READ...

CARRIE BETH

I started reading One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid and although I haven't had time to finish it yet, I'm loving it so far.

It's about a girl who married her high school sweet heart and built a life for themselves, seizing every opportunity for adventure and living life to the fullest. Then, the helicopter her husband is on went missing and he was never to be heard from again. Years later she is puts her life back together and is engaged to be married to a man who helped her find her second chance at true happiness. Out of the blue she gets a call that her husband has been found and is alive and learn he has been trying to come home to hear all these years.

I'm still working on this one, so stay tuned for my full review when I'm finished, but it is a page turner and a great book so far!

JEN

So excited Carrie Beth is digging into One True Loves! It has been one of my favorites I read this year (review) and already have another novel of hers ready to go for Summer!

Aside from our Book Club pick, I sneaked through one other book. May offered very little free time, and I ended up binge watching shows more than I read. Now it's summer though - so game on!

The one book I read was Miramar Bay by Davis Bunn.

It was another one I chose because of how pretty the cover was. The story followed Conner, a hollywood bad boy, and Sylvie, a small town restaurant owner with a rough family life history. Once their paths cross it's instant connection, but each have their own set of circumstances preventing them from their dreams.

Throw in a reality tv show, a broken wedding, and a drug arrest and you have the makings for an interesting book. I enjoyed the book overall. It was a fast read, and while a little unbelievable in that you never really "feel" the connection (you are just told about it), I liked how it ended.

SUMMER READING PREVIEW...

8 Must Read Books for Summer 2017. Great book suggestions for vacation reading.

HELLO, SUNSHINE by LAURA DAVE
Sunshine Mackenzie wakes up on her birthday to the biggest surprise of all - and not the good kind. An up and coming celebrity chef finds her world turned upside down, and her perfect life becomes not so perfect in this interesting tale of love, social media, and the price of insta-fame. Filled with similar humor, and wit, Hello, Sunshine is sure to be just as big a hit as Dave's previous novel Eight Hundred Grapes.

RICH PEOPLE PROBLEMS by KEVIN KWAN

Kevin Kwan's third novel depicting Singapore's favorite crazy rich family (emphasis on the crazy). Following Crazy Rich Asians, and China Rich Girlfriend, Kwan introduces Rich People Problems. When word spreads that the family matriarch, Su Yi, is ill, the entire clan closes in on her famous estate. Family jewels, large sums of money, and coveted real estate - who will inherit all? The question everyone wants an answer to sets the stage for a hilarious look at high society drama. Throw in a few family secrets, a surprise engagement, and a crazy family member (or ten) and you have the makings of the perfect summer novel.

(We loved the previous novels in this series and can't wait for the movie to come out soon. Our suggestion is to read the first two novels first so that you can catch up on all the fun drama.)

FITNESS JUNKIE by LUCY SYKES & JO PIAZZA
Sykes and Piazza wowed us last year with their fun novel The Knockoff (Carrie Beth's review & Jen's review)and we can't wait to dive in to their newest collaboration - Fitness Junkie. Janey Sweet is the CEO of an exclusive wedding dress company that she runs with her best friend Beau. Life hasn't been so smooth for Janey over the last year, and the last straw is when her bestie/business partner gives her an ultimatum over brunch - lose 30 pounds or lose your job. Janey throws herself into the world of fitness and tries anything and everything available to not lose her job or her best friend. Clay diets, secret workouts filled with celebrities, and even naked yoga - follow Janey's hilarious journey into the latest the health and wellness has to offer.

THE IDENTICALS by ELIN HILDERBRAND

Elin Hildebrand is one of the queen's of summer beach reads and this Summer she has one of her best yet coming out. The Identicals follows the tale of two identical twin sisters who couldn't be any more different in real life. One lives on Nantucket and one lives on the family home in Martha's Vineyard. After scandals, heartaches, and money troubles plague the two sisters they decide to switch islands only to realize they can't outrun their problems or settle their differences. See if the sisters are able to bury their old resentments and start fresh in Hilderbrand's latest soon to be summer hit.

SAME BEACH NEXT YEAR by DORTHEA FRANK

Dorthea Frank always takes us to the beautiful low country of South Carolina and her latest book Same Beach Next Year follows two couples on their vacation to Isle of Palms. Old flames run into each other on the beautiful island and learn the attraction is still alive, much to their respective spouses dismay. Each couple forms a bond over that first summer, and a life long friendship begins that survives heartbreak and tragedy over the course of 20 years. Follow the journey and enjoy a little low country love this summer!

INTO THE WATER by PAULA HAWKINS

Last year we were all mesmerized with Paula Hawkins thriller Girl on the Train. This summer be prepared to live on the edge of your beach seat as you dive into her latest suspense novel - Into the Water. After a mother finds her death into the tragic rivers of the town a teenage daughter is left to find her way, and a sister is forced to return to the town she vowed she would never return to. The past comes rushing forward, and secrets emerge this is sure to be another thrilling novel people will be talking about this summer.

THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO by TAYLOR JENKINS REID

Taylor Jenkins Reid is a little gem we stumbled upon earlier this year, and we are excited for her latest novel The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Monique is magazine writer who is shocked one day to realize she's been commissioned by the great hollywood starlet Evelyn Hugo to write her biography. Evelyn is ready to release the details of her scandalous personal life and career, and as past catches up with present Monique is a little more involved than she realizes. Old Hollywood glamour and hidden secrets mixed with Reid's amazing story telling style will make for a novel you'll have to pack SPF for.

16TH SEDUCTION by JAMES PATTERSON

No one does mystery and thrillers like James Patterson. His Women's Murder Club series is never a disappointment when it comes to thrilling page turners. In 16th Seduction we follow detective Lindsay Boxer in her toughest case yet. Battling both professional and personal drama, Lindsay and her husband are forced to put aside their differences when the case takes a turn a little too close to home. This emotional and suspense filled novel will have you thankful for lazy vacation mornings after staying up all night with this can't put down novel.

And there you have it - our picks for Summer! We can't wait to dig in.

What will be first up on your list?

BOOK CLUB 2017

Happy Reading!