Holiday Trip In Full Effect. What's Next On The Agenda!? World of Coca Cola!

We are only a couple of days in to our trip and I feel like I have experienced so many new things my head is spinning but the fun was just getting started. Next stop, back to Atlanta to take a tour of World of Coca Cola! 

My other sister n law, Angie, and my gorgeous niece Rachel were able to join us this time. They also live in Georgia a couple of hours away from where we were staying and Rachel was on her Thanksgiving break from college. These kids are growing up way too fast. I am glad to have moments like these while we can. 

 Being in the company of family was amazing and this place was unique! The 4-D Movie was a blast! Then there was the tasting room. Oh my goodness. There were too many options to keep track. You walk in a doorway and there are soda dispensers set up in groups of the region they are shipped to. You grab yourself a cup and try as many flavors as you like. My favorite group of products was Africa!

At the very end of the tasting experience you could fix yourself a cup of Coke based on U.S. preferences. The kids had a great time ingesting all that sugar! As for us adults, our heads were spinning so we walked around downtown Atlanta some. I saw a few note worthy buildings on our walk.

Legal Sea Foods was eye catching. I mean, I don't know about you guys but I always prefer my sea food "legal". ;-)

We grabbed a quick bite to eat then walked back to the car. As we were leaving to head back to the house, I noticed how cool the sky line looked from the parking garage at World of Coca Cola! Mark this one off the bucket list! I have seen Downtown Atlanta! WHOOOO HOOOO!! 

Another day of outings and fun in the books!

Want to visit World of Coca Cola online? Click HERE !!

Tell me what you think of it!

Stay tuned for the big finale! My husband surprised me big time!

As always, love to you all!

Stacey

We Hit The Road For Vacation and Look Who We Happen to Run In To!!!

Welcome to part one of our family adventure! For those of you just catching up, my husband was longing to spend time with his family so we decided to go spend the Thanksgiving Holiday with his family in Georgia. I have been with this man for about ten years but have not gotten to spend enough time with his side of the family and I had never been to where they live. I was very much looking forward to getting to know them better. We ended up doing so many fun things I am having to write our journey out in split up posts. I am exhausted but my heart is FULL. We made some great memories!

Starting out, as we piled in to the car to get our trip started, I was mostly just happy to have the packing done. I said a quiet prayer as we pulled away from our home that I hadn't forgotten anything important. Packing for a family our size is NO JOKE! It feels like we have to take one of every item we keep stocked at our house and it makes for a vehicle full of STUFF. I really don't know how he does it, but my husband has a way of making everything fit. It's a talent of his. It comes in handy and I am surely grateful for it. He prefers that I pile things together inside the house and once it comes time to load the car, he requests that I sit back while he arranges everything in the SUV the way he needs to. When he feels everything is secure he has me do the final walk through of the house to make sure no bags were missed then we are ready to roll out.

Once on the road, we traveled through Texas in to Louisiana pretty quickly. The scenery hadn't really changed much except that we saw some actual swamp lands up close and that was pretty interesting. Driving through Louisiana takes FOREVER though! We finally crossed the border from Louisiana in to Mississippi and BOOM, we ran in to a familiar face! 

 Driving on the freeway, we end up next to a truck and trailer hauling this really cool car. The car looked familiar but I am not a NASCAR fan like some. My husband kept telling me to really take a look at the car. He couldn't fathom that I didn't know who's car it was. It took me several double takes to realize that Dale Earnhardt Jr's car was being hauled next to us!!

So yeah, that's pretty cool!

Definitely feeling we are off to a fun start.

The rest of the road trip really wasn't that bad. Even driving with baby and toddler, but we were sure glad to arrive in Loganville.

We ended up getting to my in laws house around 9:30 P.M. We unpacked the car and did some visiting then got settled in for the night. My sister n law had a list of places she wanted us to see so we needed a good night's sleep.

Sunday morning we attended church where my brother and sister n law are members. Rosebud Baptist is a small baptist church. The people were super friendly. Sometimes you can just look at a person's eyes and tell they have the sweetest of souls and I met several folks just like that at this church. The service was great. We did things I hadn't done in forever like opened up the hymnal and sang old hymns straight from the book. Later that night we went back for the church's annual Thanksgiving dinner. The food was tasty and the fellowship was filling. We also got to listen to members of the church say what they were thankful for and it was a blessing. So far I am in love with the people in Georgia! I can only describe them as salt of the earth. A full day was complete and it was time to get the little ones down for the night so we head to the house. 

The next morning we headed in to Atlanta and went to the Zoo! 

I think Sophie's favorite part was the petting area. The child has no fear. She grabbed a brush and walked right up to a goat and started brushing. She's definitely an animal lover. Vivian got to feed a giraffe! What a neat experience! It cracked me up to see the way the giraffe kept looking at her. He even posed for the camera for me! What a guy!

For some reason, Little John couldn't wait to see the otter exhibit. It was all he kept mentioning. Me and my sarcastic self couldn't help but start cracking "otter" jokes and it started irritating Little Man so I kept doing it, of course. I mean, if you don't get on your kids nerves every now and then you should! It's really entertaining. You "otter" try it sometime......  ;-)

We were famished after leaving the zoo so we stopped at Five Guys Burgers and Fries for a bite to eat. If you've never had Five Guys, I highly recommend you try it. The burgers are juicy and delicious and they give you a ton of fries! The kids and I shared a cookies and cream milkshake too. I give it a double thumbs up!

Once we got back to the house, we watched TV for a bit. My mother n law cooked up a great dinner for us. My husband requested her meatloaf. My brother n law arrived home from work and we all enjoyed great food and conversation then it was off to bed. Another adventure awaits us in the morning. I am so grateful for this time with family and new experiences!

What were your days prior to Thanksgiving filled with?

Have you ever visited Georgia?

What is your favorite thing to do there?

As always, love to you all!!

Stacey

Exciting News From The Family Front! We Are Going On a Trip!

Boy am I excited! Here very soon, most of the family will be heading out on an adventure. I say most of us because the two older kids have to stay in town and do adult type things like work and attend college so they won't be able to go. That leaves John P (husband), myself, and the 4 youngest kids going on a vacation of sorts for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

This will be a bittersweet vacation. Bitter because I don't make it a habit of spending holidays without any one of my kids but as the older ones are becoming adults, it's becoming some what of a challenge to make sure our schedules match up. Sweet, for one thing, because I DON'T HAVE TO COOK THANKSGIVING DINNER THIS YEAR!! That rarely happens since I became a wife and Mom. I am very willing to take a season off from the cooking. I will surely enjoy the break from it so I can focus my attention on the little ones instead. 

So where are we headed, exactly? 

We are driving to GEORGIA!! The destination has a very special reason behind it. John P has family that lives there. Of course he has been to visit them before he and I met and our 9 year old has been as well but I have NEVER gotten to go. Sophie hasn't been either and they haven't gotten to meet sweet Emma (the newest addition) yet. John P and I have been together for 10 years now and though we have had the opportunity to spend quality time with MY family over the years because they live in TX, time with his family has been scarce and they have always traveled to see US. I am very lucky to have them in mine and the kids' lives. They have been very good to us even though there is distance between us and they are some wonderful people. From my sister in laws to my Mother in law. Not to mention I have some gorgeous and super smart nieces. I cannot WAIT to spend an entire week with them all on THEIR home turf. 

You will have to excuse my child like excitement. I haven't gotten out much in the 38 years since I was born. My husband was in the Navy for many years so he has been so many places it makes my head spin but me, I can count locations I have been to on one hand. We will be driving through areas I've never been in, states I have never seen and I am beside myself waiting to get the experience. Then let me mention again that I DON'T HAVE TO COOK THANKSGIVING DINNER THIS YEAR!

We live in Southeast TX. That means our drive will be Coastal-ish for most of the way until we hit Alabama and then we start the turn northward.

Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia are all states I have never been. I don't even know what the scenery is like so I am all set to have a full first timer's attitude and enjoy soaking in every thing I can set my eyes on through the car window and fully appreciate any stops we end up making for breaks until we arrive at our destination which is a town northeast of Atlanta called Loganville, GA. 

The southern part of Louisiana near Baton Rouge is an area I think might have interesting scenery for us and my 9 year old says he loves going through Mississippi. 

I am hearing that my husband's family has planned some fun activities to do while we are there. I plan on snapping as many good photos as I can for memories sake and enjoy spending time with family. Now is a great time for a get away. All this "junk" going on in the news and all over social media these past few days has me shaking my head, rolling my eyes and wagging my finger. I can't wait to share all the deets with you!

What are YOUR Thanksgiving plans?

Staying home this year or traveling? 

Drop me a comment! I would love to hear what your family will be doing!

Wish us luck and FUN and as always, love to you all.

Stacey

Ipsy Favorites From October

October means Halloween and Halloween marks the beginning of the Fall and Winter Holiday Season. In the make-up lovers world, that signifies a change in the color guard. We tend to put away the bright colors that we spent Spring and Summer using in lieu of darker hues. Deep berry, brown, and black tones as well as smokey eyes are customary. My favorite trend is a red lip! You'd be surprised at who can pull it off. It's bold but gorgeous! 

October MOTD (make-up of the day) looks are fun because you can be courageous and experimental since everyone is in the Halloween spirit. Seeing how popular Ipsy has become, I figured they would be in the Halloween spirit too so I couldn't wait to see what my bag had in it this time! I was right on target!

Isn't this bag the CUTEST!! I have had Ipsy for two months now and I am really enjoying being able to change out my on the go make-up bag monthly to go with whatever theme Ipsy has decided on. This frightful cutie was just what any beauty lover would want in their collection to carry their October go-to items.

Make-up tools that actually do their job are not dirt cheap so I was curious to try the one I received. The name of the brand is Lottie London.

The tool is sturdy and durable. Their logo is cute and I love the color! I have been using it at every eye make-up application since it arrived. It's a great addition to my collection and works really well!

Another item from the bag that I am using often since it came is the Beaute Basics Satin Taupe Eyeshadow. This one is perfect for neutral eye looks. Not too light and not too dark. 





Also included this month was an eyeliner from Nyx. Nyx is one of those brands that's considered a drug store "find". It's very budget friendly and the products are as good as some of the bigger name brands I have used. 




The name of this shade of Nyx eyeliner is Gunmetal. For anyone that likes a silver/gray eyeliner, this is a good one. 





A few more items were in the line up including a "The Balm" product that can be used as a shadow or blush called "Hot Mama!" and a leave in conditioner by Pure Brazilian. 

The shadow/blush I liked. The "Hot Mama" shade is pink which I happen to be a big fan of year round. The leave in conditioner from Pure Brazilian smells just lovely. I used it on Sophie after her bath as a detangler and it worked famously. I was able to comb through her curls very smoothly. Even better than the detangler I normally use so I am glad to have this one! 

Another awesome month of Ipsy and I would definitely say it's worth the fee. November's bag should be arriving soon! I can't wait to see what it has inside! 

Here is a link to Ipsy in case you want to check it out!

Ipsy

Signing off for now but as always, love to you all!

Stacey

Sweet Tooth? Join Me Friends. It's Dessert HEAVEN!!!

Here in Southeast Texas, we have a little slice of heaven on earth. Whether you have a sweet tooth, love having dessert after dinner or you're simply in need of some comfort in the form of decadent sweets, this place is a MUST VISIT! I still remember our first visit to this place when we moved here five years ago. I could NOT BELIEVE my eyes. I couldn't imagine ever being in another place that had any and every sweet treat I could ever want for or imagine, all in one building. I had to pinch myself so I could make sure I hadn't gone on to a better place.....

Feel free to thank me for sharing this with you later. I am happy to present to you, Rao's Bakery. Please don't send me hate mail after you get addicted and gain a few pounds. It's not my fault. I don't own the joint. I don't bake the goodies. 

What you are seeing above is just ONE of the dessert display cases. I cannot even describe to you how amazing this place is from the treats they serve, to the atmosphere, to the people that work there. I have never been disappointed. I feel like that is saying a lot since we moved from the Dallas/Ft Worth Texas area and have visited many a business over time. 

Rao's has a history that is pretty unique as well. They have been open since 1941. The "style" of the bakery is European and it prides itself on it's specialty coffee, desserts and service/atmosphere. I have tried many of their items, including the coffee, and I can safely say that I haven't been able to give anything I have tried less than five out of five stars. 

Lately I have been on a chocolate kick. So this visit I opted for a slice of Chocolate Mousse Pie. Try not to drool but yes, this pie was everything it appears and then some. I don't know about you, but to me, the crust can make or break the deal and this crust was divine in every way.

If you're not much of a chocolate fan, you can check out the many other options of cakes and pies at your disposal. The dipped strawberries are another family favorite. 

I had never tried Gelato before and never really had a desire to until I saw it the first time I walked in to this place. I never knew what I was missing. The flavors go from fruity to dessert themed to just plain fun and they will kindly give you a sample to try if you just ask nicely!

There's a good selection for those that have a preference to cookies, cupcakes or muffins as well. The sugar cookies are top notch. I craved them constantly when I was pregnant with Sophie. 

The way Rao's displays the choices they have is GREAT for kids. Sophie just walks up to the glass and points and VOILA, cupcake for the cutie! You can also grab items to go if you would rather take something home or need to get back on the road. 

I mentioned before how tasty the Gelato is. I have also admitted my love for the sugar cookies so I would be remiss if I didn't brag about the Sugar Cookie Gelato. HOLY GOODNESS. Fresh sugar cookie chunks are the star of the show. I have had it a few times now. It's good. Very, very good. My son, Little John, chose it for this latest visit.

For a one of a kind seasonal sensation, during the Mardi Gras season they make the best King Cakes in the universe. They come in several flavor options and you can even buy them and ship them out to a loved one or business contact too!

Rao's has something for everyone. Whether you want to partake in dessert after your supper, stop for coffee and a muffin at breakfast or cruise in for a quick sandwich and sweet treat for lunch, the choices are endless. You can also inquire about booking the party room for any and all occasions. 

If you want to check out the story behind the sweets you can visit the bakery here . If you want to visit a location, there are a few in Southeast Tx as well as one in the Champions area of Houston!

Send me your thoughts! 

What's your favorite place to go for a sweet treat?

Have you tried Rao's? Do you love it as much as we do?

 And know that the opinions I have shared about Rao's are mine. I haven't gotten ONE FREE THING from this blog post. I am sharing this opinion all of my own doing. As always, love to you all!

Stacey

Ipsy In Review-September 2016

You may not know it if you run in to me while I am out running errands with a huge tribe of small children surrounding me but, I love all things make-up, hair, beauty and skin care. It seems like I constantly remain in a time crunch which makes it tough for me to find time to doll myself up like I would like to and I certainly do not consider myself an expert in these areas but I thoroughly enjoy trips to places like Ulta and Sephora. I also love to peruse the beauty aisles at Wal-Greens, CVS and the grocery/retail stores I frequently shop at as well. 

I share this passion for pretty with my Mom and little sister! We are always sharing our latest finds and favorites with each other. So you can imagine my delight when my Mom decided to purchase me an Ipsy subscription for my birthday this year! 

A few years ago I had a Birchbox Subscription and I liked it for the most part but after a while it just seemed like I was becoming inundated with samples I wasn't using so I cancelled it. I have been hearing some great things about Ipsy lately and was curious to know why friends were saying it was so great. I was much like a child waiting for Santa when I got my e-mail saying my first package had shipped and I couldn't wait to see what the hype was all about. Is it worth the subscription fee? My Mom paid mine up for the next three months. After that, I will decide whether I want to continue it on my own or not. Here's a look at what I got...

First off, I want to say how impressed I was that the items came in such a cute little bag! I wasn't expecting that and it was perfect timing. Sophie decided to paint all over the one I was using with lipstick. I switched mine out with this new one and threw the old one in the washer. Side note to Mommies raising toddlers. Toddlers and expensive make-up are NOT a good combo! She used my brand new lippie I got for my Birthday from Sephora as her paint brush. I had only worn it once or twice at that point and seeing it all over the place almost made me cry! 

We are off to a great start. Looking inside, I was equally impressed that a couple of the products that came in the subscription were full sized like this Be A Bombshell Nail Polish in Holy Fuchsia. What a sweet deal?!?

I have a couple of favorites from this month's haul that I highly recommend! I am always trying out new mascaras. My lashes are almost non-existent when I don't have any product on them. Short and thin. I am super jealous of my husband, my son and the two littlest daughters. Somehow, they all ended up with these dreamy, long and thick lashes that most women would spend a mild fortune at the salon attempting to mimic. Yet, I am over at my vanity slapping on coat after coat and still, I can't quite get there.  :-(

I have come across a few brands that I think work best to help my lashes stand out and I tend to stick to those. I have to admit, I was pleased with the results this brand gave me. The name is Superhero by It Cosmetics. I recommend this if you want length. It does an amazing job providing just that! It gave me great length and no clumps!

I saved the best for last. My absolute choice for a must buy from this month's subscription is the blush I received! OMG I am in LOVE! 

Say "Hello!" to your new "go to" shade for the Fall/Winter season! This is called Autumn Glow by Bellapierre. I have lots of experience with mineral based powders and pigments and I can safely say this one is worth the Ipsy subscription on its own. I can only describe this shade as true and simply a stunner. Plus, there's nothing this neutral color can't be paired with as far as make-up and wardrobe so it's a win-win. I have worn it at every make-up application since I received it. My bag also contained a toner, which I have used and liked, and a conditioning mask treatment for the hair that I haven't used yet. 

All in all I would give a five star rating to my Ipsy this month! I am stoked that my Mom got this for me. It couldn't have been a more thoughtful gift. It's just so ME and I can't wait to get my next package. I will have all eyes on the mailbox until it arrives! Until then friends, here is a link to check out IPSY in case you want more info on signing up or what it's all about! Please know that I have not received ANY compensation for my review on these products. 

What has been a favorite Birthday Present YOU have received as an adult and why?

Do YOU have an Ipsy subscription? If so, what did you love most this month?

Leave a comment and let me know what you think. 

As always, love to you all!

Stacey

Banana Pudding Refrigerator Oatmeal!!

I am delighted. I have never been particularly creative when it comes to cooking. I can certainly follow recipes and I love to cook delicious food for the family but as far as making up my own ideas, I haven't been very successful. I am grateful for Pinterest. I get LOTS of great options for new meals to try from there. 

As I mentioned before, I went to Pinterest a few years ago looking for breakfast foods I could make ahead of time and leave in the fridge or freezer for my family to grab and eat during our hectic morning rush. One of the pins that caught my eye described a make ahead oatmeal. I tried out the recipe and it was a huge hit! I have made it several times now. Then a few weeks ago a light bulb came on. Why not make some refrigerator oatmeals that have a dessert theme?!? I recalled my husband's favorite desserts and sweet treats and came up with a few options! I can't wait to try them all! For my first try I kept it simple and sweet. So without further ado I bring to you.....

Banana Pudding Refrigerator Oatmeal!!!!

These are made in advance and left to set in the fridge overnight. Then they are ready to go in the morning. This recipe is EASY from ingredients to assembly! With a family our size, anything simple and tasty ends up being a staple in our menu and this is no exception..

Here's what you will need....

The dream team includes:

• Old Fashioned Oatmeal (not quick oats)
• Milk
• Honey
• Sugar
• Vanilla
• Vanilla Wafers-crushed up
• Greek Yogurt (Greek yogurt is a must for thickness. If you decide to use regular yogurt just know that the oatmeal will turn out more of a runny consistency)
• Cool Whip
• Banana

Notice that I made four at one time. The recipe is for ONE Mason Jar of Banana Pudding Refrigerator Oatmeal. If you need more than one jar, multiply the ingredients accordingly. 

These will only stay fresh and edible for about 3-4 days because of the bananas and yogurt so make up only what you will eat in the time frame. 

I used my meat tenderizer to crush up the vanilla wafers inside a sandwich baggie... What a therapy session! I got to get creative in the kitchen, cook for the family AND take out some pent up aggression on some cookies! It was a total win/win :-)

I have included a link to the actual printable recipe for your convenience! Leave me a comment or message me and let me know how you liked it! More Refrigerator Oatmeal creations to come! 

Printable Banana Pudding Refrigerator Oatmeal Recipe

As always, love to you all!

Stacey