Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Getting Outdoors with BABYBJÖRN


We hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing holiday weekend! We spent a lot of our time outdoors soaking up these first few days of summer. Now that the weather has turned warmer, we are outside a lot more! I realize as a mom of three now, I need my hands free as much as possible when it comes to outdoor play. Baby wearing makes that so much easier, especially in situations that strollers aren't really useful. With The Cutes I used the original BABYBJÖRN carrier, but after long periods of time I found that my shoulders and back were so sore.  


A few weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to test out the new BABYBJÖRN Carrier One Outdoors, and let me just tell you - it's awesome! 


Over the last few weeks I have put it through fairly rigorous testing, and it has far surpassed my expectations. 

Baby wearing must! This is the best carrier for both indoors and outdoors!

I even tested it out with Little Cute, and trust me when I say she is a solid girl. 


And she drives a hard bargain when it comes to picture taking because she makes you still sing Frozen's "Let it Go" while carrying all 28 pounds of her on your back.

Complete with dance moves. That your husband feels the need to capture. If it can be comfortable though that, its a winner. :) 



You can also enter to win one as part of our #SummerScoop4Moms Giveaway!

Trust me - this is a giveaway you don't want to miss out on!


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Saturday, May 28, 2016

Gifts for Grads Under $100

School is officially out! Wahoo!


Now our children are still quite young, and this weekend marks the start of summer. For many of you though, this weekend (or in the upcoming weeks for other areas) you might have children who are about to embark on a completely different stage of life after the holiday weekend. Graduation season has commenced, and we have partnered with The Avenue to share with you some great gifts. Bonus they are all under $100! 

Check out some of our favorite Gifts for Grads Under $100 on our guest blog for The Avenue, and let us know what fun ideas you've come up as well!

Also, don't forget to check out some of our fabulous giveaways going on!

Our Celebrate Summer Giveaway with Findlay Rowe Designs ends Monday, and our #SummerScoop4Moms Giveaway ends on June 5th! 

Happy Weekend! 

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Friday, May 27, 2016

Friday Favorites: Kicking Off Summer Edition

Hey, hey!  Not only do I love Fridays, but I love Fridays leading into a holiday weekend even more!  This Friday is extra special because my kids are finally done with school and we are ready to bring on all of the fun summer stuff.  Today we're linking up with some of our favorite bloggers for Friday Favorites!  I hope y'all enjoy this Kicking Off Summer edition of Friday Favorites this week. :-) 


My oldest made a comment earlier this week that her favorite days of school are the first day and the last day.  It made me laugh, but she is about right.  Those are two pretty awesome days.  This week we celebrated the last day of school!  I love seeing everyone's comparison pictures for the first and last day of school all over social media so I played along.  I don't feel like the girls changed drastically this school year, but they both matured and grew a ton!  






Around here it's pretty much tradition to do something fun as the kids get off the bus on the last day of school.  The past two years the moms and I have greeted the kids with silly string and water balloons.  The kids love it, we love it, and even their bus driver is laughing at us all.  I'm sure he sees it and every stop though.  This year I got smart and took the easy way out filling up the water balloons. 



Have y'all seen the commercials for the thing that fills up 100 water balloons in probably less than a minute?  I tried it for the first time this week and it changed my life.  I mean really, it saved me SO much time.  Water balloons are awesome, but they usually take forever to fill and my fingers are so sore from having to tie them all.  This handy dandy invention is about the best thing ever for summertime.  I stocked up on several packages so I know we will have more water balloons in our future!  

This cool way of doing it is so easy. You just hook it to your water hose and the water goes down these little straws and fills up the balloons.  Then, get this, the balloons fall off the straws and are automatically closed and sealed with these little rubber bands.  You don't have do do any tying.  They are just ready to go. I promise it works so great and your kids will love you for it! Click HERE to order and watch the video on how it works!  




Summer means bright colors and patterns and for us that can only mean one thing...breaking out our Lilly Pulitzer.  I posted this picture of us on Instagram a week or so ago.  My girls and I were heading to a graduation party and I got so many questions about my Lilly romper.  



I will say it is my very FAVORITE piece of Lilly that I own.  I wanted it for a really long time and finally purchased it at the end of last summer.  For sizing...I am usually a small in Lilly, but I bought the medium in this romper for the length.  I'm pretty tall and it has adjustable straps, so I just felt like the medium fit best.  



Something super exciting for me happened this week...I got a new phone!!!  It was definitely one of my favorite moments this week.  To be specific, I got the phone I have been eyeing for over a year now.  My old phone was just done.  The battery was shot and I had to charge it at least twice a day.  I was out of storage and it was just time to upgrade.  My hubby had been trying to get me to wait, but I think he got tired of hearing me complain about my phone because he surprised me by ordering this rose gold version of the iPhone 6s plus for me.  

Isn't it pretty!  I love it!  The plus is SO great. I don't usually sit down at my computer until late at night so I do everything on my phone from emails to looking up things, etc.  I love having the larger screen and being able to see everything so clear.  Maybe I'm just getting old, but it is so nice to have everything so big.  True story...one time I put an emoji on something that I thought was the pointing up emoji, but instead I did the middle finger emoji.  Yikes!!!  It's because they were so dang small and I couldn't see, but now I won't have that problem.  Haha!  Also, I have been loving the nicer/newer camera that is in this phone.  Because I take a ton of pictures for the blog and just for everyday life with my phone having the better camera was a major seller for me.  


One of our favorite things to do on the blog is collaborate with other bloggers, brands, and boutiques. This week we had the opportunity to do that in two really big ways!  We have TWO giveaways going on right now to help kick off summer and we couldn't be more excited about them. The first is the Summer Scoop 4 Moms giveaway.  For this we partnered with our favorite ladies at Savvy Sassy Moms (a site we write for) and it is a really amazing prize package...over $2300 worth of stuff!  To enter visit our post HERE.


And the other great giveaway is from our favorite boutique, Findlay Rowe Designs.  If you missed our post about their store earlier this week be sure to check it out. We kicked off a new series for the blog...Mix and Mingle...and these ladies are the best!  They have the cutest things in their shop and we were swooning over everything.  The sister team was so excited about summer that they wanted to giveaway a prize pack including a Scout bag filled with summer essentials to one of our lucky readers!  To enter the giveaway see all the details HERE.


That is it for my favorites this week.  I'm off to enjoy the sunshine and start of summer.  I hope everyone has a fabulous holiday weekend and we'll see you back here on Tuesday! 
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Thursday, May 26, 2016

Kitchen Confessions: {Mini Star Pies}

So here is a confession for y'all.  If it isn't easy, I don't do it.  There used to be a time when I was all about going the extra mile.  Maybe I will get back there someday, but today isn't that day.  This week and last week have just about done me in.  I feel like I just have barely been keeping my head above water while running around like a chicken with my head cut off.  Earlier this week I showed up to the ice cream social end of the year party for Blondie with a box full of plastic forks instead of spoons.  That right there just about sums it up.  Thankfully though, all of our kids are finally done with school and we are so excited about summer.  Memorial Day is usually the kick-off for summer and we are ready to celebrate in style this year.


These adorable and delicious mini star pies are such a sweet treat and the perfect dessert to take to just about any Memorial Day gathering.  The individual servings are perfect for serving a crowd and trust me when I say they are easy.  They are really simple to put together.  If they were too involved, I promise I wouldn't have made them!


Using refrigerated pie crust a cookie cutter and a simple fruit filling, you can create a dessert that is sure to make you the star of the party.


For the full recipe and all of the step-by-step directions, check out our post on Savvy Sassy Moms!




What are some of your favorite red, white, and blue desserts? 



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Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Mix & Mingle: Findlay Rowe Designs {Giveaway}

We hinted with you on Friday's post that we had a huge week for you to celebrate summer, and yesterday we kicked it off with a bang with the Summer Scoop 4 Moms Giveaway. Well we aren't done! Summer is our absolute favorite and when we say we are going to celebrate in a huge way, we mean HUGE!

Today, we are SO excited to kick off a fun new series with you - Mix & Mingle!

Mix & Mingle is all about giving you a sneak peek at some of our favorite boutiques, stores, and restaurants, but with a twist.  Who better to learn inside secrets to what is currently hot and trendy than from the owners themselves? 

The hottest coats for Fall, the dreamiest cocktail to serve at your wedding, the latest health tips - we'll Mix & Mingle to give you all the info you need straight from those in the know. 



MEET THE LADIES OF FINDLAY ROWE...


Kicking off the series for us is one of our favorite local boutiques - Findlay Rowe Designs. We absolutely adore these ladies and their fabulous gift boutique. It oozes southern charm from the moment you walk through the door, and we know you will love getting to know them. 

Findlay Rowe Designs is owned and operated by Audrey and Barbara - sisters who also happen to be best friends. They are a fun, fashionable, and an extremely talented duo.

With over 25 years of experience in the entertaining, wedding, and floral design industries, it comes as no surprise that their gift boutique, located in Roswell, GA, is filled with fabulous from floor to ceiling.

Not only do these ladies stay on top of the current trends in home, decor, and fashion - they have enough children to keep them in check when it comes to all things "in". These savvy moms even taught us a thing or two when it came to taking a selfie. Next time you pop in their store ask them to teach you the "skinny arm" pose. :)

Aside from their obvious gift of style, Audrey and Barbara like to promote giving back to the community that supports them. At every purchase you can opt to round up to the next dollar to donate to a local charity. At the end of the month, Findlay Rowe will match the donations made. Each month a new charity is selected by their customers so make sure you cast your vote for a cause near and dear to your heart!


And just for fun - we know the Findlay Rowe ladies were meant to be our friends when we learned they have their very own CarrieBeth on staff! 

Walking around the store, you have to reel yourself in. It is jam packed with amazing goodies. From home decor to gifts to date night attire - Findlay Rowe has it all! We could spend all day lavishing over all the fabulous items Barbara and Audrey have hand picked for their boutique. Every time we visit the gift shop there are new unique items to browse and tons of great seasonal merchandise. 

Check out some of our favorite finds...


We love our peachy perfect state, and Findlay Rowe has a ton of fun hometown goodies sprinkled throughout the store. Our farmhouse loving hearts swooned over this fabulous galvanized tin tray. 


They offer a wide selection of decorative throw pillows from some of our favorite designers - MudPie, Lilly Pulitzer and Cat Studio just to name a few. 

(Pardon us as we pause to say "GO DAWGS!")


Everywhere you turn there is a fabulous surprise, and we quickly realized we literally could give something for any event we had coming up. Birthday's, graduation, hostess gifts - everything could be taken care of in one visit. How fun would these Hit the Hay pillow cases be for your little one's next sleep over? SO cute!


The women's section is absolutely amazing, and is filled with darling options for any occasion. Dresses, jewelry, shoes, and accessories tastefully decorate a large amount of the space and we literally swooned over everything. 


And this tank top cracked us up! How perfect is it?!? :)


There is also a fantastic baby and child section - perfect for shower gifts, celebrating the arrival of baby, or a little something to celebrate a little one's birthday. The highly popular (and wonderfully soft) Jelly Cat line is one of our favorites. Baby Cute highly recommends this precious little lamb available. 


And we couldn't resist. :) 

We could go on and on and on. Literally everywhere you turn there is another item you fall in love with. Our husbands might revoke our Amex's next time we visit.

With school wrapping up and the official start of summer underway, we asked the ladies to give us a little insight into what would be summer's hottest must-haves. 

WHAT'S HOT FOR SUMMER

A stylish, yet functional pool bag. 


These Scout bags are the absolute best bags to accompany you along your summer adventures. They are durable, have tons of pockets, are easy to clean, and are seriously so stinkin' cute!


The ladies informed us that the bigger Scout totes are the most popular. After testing one out ourselves, we couldn't agree more. Being able to carry everything you need for the day in one organized spot is a mom's dream! 

Summer's second must have - keeping your drink cool and your drinkware cooler!


Summer is bright, fun, and cheery - so, why not make your drink make your mood? One of summer's hottest trends is making your drink look just as stylish as you. 


The drink cup that is flying off the shelves - the Corkcicle! Barbara informed us that they can't keep these colorful stainless steel canteens in stock. They come in a wide variety of fun colors and sizes, and Barbara said, "For a personalized touch, just add a monogram!" 
Now you're speaking our language! 


Speaking of keeping your drink cold these fun Lilly Pulitzer neoprene koozies are definitely one of summer's must haves. Fun, stylish and easy to throw in your beach bag - the perfect addition to the must have list.   




Casual and fun southern style is the way to go this summer!
Brands like Southern Tide, Simply Southern, MudPie, and Southern Cross are dominating the closets of fashionable ladies everywhere. 


From the fun shifts to the easy cover-ups to colorful tees, life in the south is all about making your fashion comfortable and chic. 


Keeping things light, breezy and fun allows you to battle those hot and humid temps while still maintaining a lovely sense of style. 

Serving up entertainment in style!



Summer is filled with tons of fun events and holidays. From hosting pool parties to impromptu BBQs to Fourth of July celebrations (and everything in between) the ladies of Findlay Rowe say the Coton Colors line is a must have for entertaining in effortless style.

Audrey and Barbara walked us through the fun line of colorful platters, serving ware, vases, and picture frames with interchangeable theme plates. 



There is literally a plate for any occasion, making these useful for year round celebrations, but we loved seeing all of the fun summer options!



Comfy footwear is a must! 



Whether making multiple trips across the pool deck, spending your summer afternoons watching little league baseball, or traveling to your next vacation destination - you want your feet to be cool and cozy.

The ladies shared with us that these Southern Tide flip flops are one of their favorite finds (and Jen agrees!).

They also felt that FitKicks were the perfect travel shoe, with it's multi-purpose functionality.  Both great for making for a long trek through the airport as well as doing yoga on the beach, FitKicks are ones to pack in your suitcase this summer.

Keep sand out of those drinks!


Headed to the beach this summer? 
This monogrammed beach spike is the perfect way to keep sand where it belongs - off your drink! 
They make for the perfect gift for beach trips, girls getaways, bachelorette parties and more. 

Sunglasses are a must - and sunglass accessories are a must have!


These super cute and stylish "Frockies" make the must have list for summer. 
How CUTE are these???
These trendy southern inspired croakies from High Tide Clothing, with their adorable patterns and fun bow tie back, are a huge trend for the summer.

These are just a few of the preppy patterns available, and such a stylish way to keep your favorite pair of sunglasses safe for the summer. 


Summer reading!


What would summer be with out some fun books added to your reading list? There are a ton of great book options available, but we thought this little series was hilarious, and just what us mamas need to read after a grueling school year. 


Now that you've learned about some of summer's hottest trends, our lovely friends at Findlay Rowe wanted to continue the summer celebration with a fun giveaway! One lucky reader will be able to celebrate summer with this fabulous bag of goodies (a $125 value)! 


Included in the giveaway: 
Deano Scout Bag in Flamingo Road
 "Life is a Party in the South" tank by Simply Southern
"Hubba Hubba Meet Me at the Beach" Set of Lilly Pulitzer tumblers
Beach Spike in Aqua
Pair of FitKicks in Fuchsia/Orange


Details:
Two ways to win: (1) Leave a comment below, 
(2) Hop over to Instagram for an additional way to win!
Winner will be chosen randomly and announced on Tuesday, May 31st. All entries will be verified. Must be 18 years or older, and a U.S. resident. Winner must contact us at themagnoliamamas@gmail.com to claim prize within 48hours or another winner will be drawn.

Good luck everyone!!! We hope you enjoyed our Mix & Mingle kick off! Be sure to stop in and say hi to the ladies of Findlay Rowe Designs, and celebrate all summer long in style!

Learn more about Findlay Rowe Designs:
| website | facebook | instagram | pinterest | twitter | google+ |


Thanks for Mixing & Mingling with us!
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