{friday 5}

March 30, 2018 xoxostacyb2 Comments

Let the lonnnggg weekend begin. Today is my last day of work till April 9th. I can’t even begin to tell you how frickin excited I am. So excited that I couldn’t even sleep last night. My brain was going a mile a minute of all the things I need to get done + can’t wait to do in the next 10 days. Bay + I cleaned the house. Washed the car. Full tank of gas. Grocery shopped. Easter baskets are complete. Eggs are filled and ready for the Easter bunny. So, I plan to drink ~~some~~ LOTS of skinny, skinny margs tonight and begin celebrating.

Don’t even trip though, I kicked butt this week and pre-blogged so you will still get your daily xoxostacyb email 🙂 Just in case you were worried..HA!

Have a great weekend. Enjoy Easter with your family. And HAPPY SPRING BREAK!!!

Before I let you go, I’ve got 5 things on my mind…..

ONE – The perfect black swimsuits // I found it ladies! I found THE perfect black one-piece. And it doesn’t cost $300! I actually found two! Both from the one, the only…..

TARGET!

And did you see Target is doing a BOGO 50% off on suits for the fam?

What that means is, you can get both for under $60! Two perfect black swimsuits!

My suit // Bay’s suit

Perfect black suit #1 // $39.99 (BOGO 50% off)

I actually bought this exact suit twice now. A tragedy happened last year. While I was at the Cache Creek Spa, I accidentally wrapped up the perfect black suit with my spa robe and threw it in the dirty hamper. Called the next day and they tossed it! Went back to Target to buy a new one….SOLD OUT! Everywhere. I even tried SF. No go. Moral of the story, get this suit. It’s super faltering. Lots of coverage. Removable neck strap. There are over 300 reviews…read them for yourself.

Mesh Inset One Piece Swimsuit

Perfect black suit #2 // $39.99 (BOGO 50% off)

This is the show stopper. Obsessed with the low scoop back. I saw this on so many bloggers on LiketoKnowit. Clicked on the link. And fell out of my seat when I saw it was Target. It comes in white too. I kinda want to order it. I did size up to a large in this one. Which worked out perfectly. I have a long torso and I didn’t want it cutting into my shoulders. It has great coverage. Removable cups. I could go on and on. Get it before it’s sold out!

Ruffled One Piece Swimsuit (comes in white)

Bay’s perfect black suit // $39.50

Since we like matching, it only made sense that we both get the perfect black suits. J.Crew suits fit Bay perfectly. And we can twin on the beach all summer long 🙂

Girls’ scalloped cropped tankini set

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Bay Bakes · Crafting · diy · Food · foodie · Holiday Whore · Holidays · Kid Food · kids · mom & me · Recipe · Spring

{easter lunchbox + bunny ear cupcakes}

March 29, 2018March 29, 2018 xoxostacyb5 Comments

It’s Thursday! You know what that means to this girl? I get to chug wine and drop the F bomb again in just three short days! Lent will be over and my sugar cleanse comes to an end. Can I get a big ol WHOOP WHOOP!!!

Perfect timing for Spring Break…lol! Thanks to Destiny, I grabbed the BEST bottle of chard I’ve ever seen. It’s called “hard chard”….I mean, it was kinda made for my girl Nikki + I!

Going to bust it open and possibly drink it from the bottle on Easter ~~afternoon~~….morning! And I’m not planning on sharing either.

In other news, it hit me last week…..

This is my last Easter Lunchbox. Excuse me while I wipe away the tears.

Pretty sure Bay’s not going to be rockin the bento box with a bunny shaped sando to Middle School.

You guys, this is proof that not everything I try is a hit. There are so many recipes + ideas + products I try that are a total FLOP! So I chuck them. But I thought I’d share some evidence.

I decided to try something different. How about a bunny quesadilla?

Sent this to Cory and he said “don’t quit your day job” and “looks like a cat” LOL!

Bay hid her chuckles. Probably because she knew I was hiding my last Easter lunchbox tears.

I may just have to start embarrassing my nephews and sending them with my crazy Holiday themed lunches. Joe would probably DIE!

So I went with the tried and true Easter egg lunch. I blogged about this back in 2016 here: {easter lunchbox love}

ANYONE can dupicate this. All you have to do is gather your kiddos fave snacks. The smaller the better.

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Crafting · diy · Gossip · Holiday Whore · Holidays · kids · mom & me

{marble + decoupage easter eggs}

March 28, 2018March 28, 2018 xoxostacyb2 Comments

Anyone in a funk today? I swear every.single.person I’ve chatted with this week has said their day has just been off. Or weird. Even the cashier at Old Navy told me, “today literally sucks!” So I googled it.

Is Mercury in retrograde?

I don’t get too caught up in things, but I knew something was up! So if your day is just not normal and you can’t figure out what is up. Blame it on Mercury! Then do something nice for yourself.

What do you do to get out of a funk or make yourself happier? Here’s what I try to do…..

Put on your fave pandora station and rock out. Dr. Dre Radio does it for me!
Go outside. It’s frickin beautiful. The sun is good for the soul.
Do something for you! Get a mani. Happy hour with a girlfriend. Buy a cute top (that’s what I always do) lol.
Give yourself a compliment. When’s the last time you did that? Look at yourself in the mirror and say “I am a bad ass b*#@ and I got this!”
Put away your phone. Unless you’re watching ashleylongshoreart hilarious videos. They always make me laugh out loud.

Smile homegirl. Tomorrow is a new day:)

And back to the regularly scheduled Easter Egg post……

I got some crap for hard boiling my Easter eggs so soon. It’s a bloggers life….lol. I do everything wayy before. Wayyy too early. That way I can share all my tips + tricks to all my peeps. So when I hard boil my eggs over a week early, that’s why. Mmmkaayyy!

One year, a while back…..Bay was probably 5 ish years old? I think. Someone got tipsy and forgot to dye the Easter eggs the night before. Because back then, I did everything last-minute. So, the Easter Bunny hid plain white hard-boiled eggs.

Don’t let this happen to you. You’ll never live it down. Trust me!

So, don’t bust a girls balls for hard-boiling + decorating Easter Eggs “too soon!” You never know the backstory….lol.

That was a lot of rambling….

Ready for the Easter Egg decorating yet?

Marble Easter Eggs //

Remember when I did the {marbled pumpkin diy} for Halloween? This is basically the same thing.

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Crafting · diy · Holiday Whore · Holidays · kids · mom & me

{diy bunny mug}

March 27, 2018March 27, 2018 xoxostacyb1 Comment

The one buck bunny mug. (Say that 5 times fast)

Remember when I was telling you how I was feeling all kinds of creative? The Spring season just does it to me. Well, I’m rubbing off on my kid. Her creativity is flowin too!

She wanted to make something Eastery. Something we can keep forever. I like that about my girl. Bay knows how crazy weird sentimental I am about Holidays.

#holidaywhore

I hit up my homie Google and gathered some ideas + supplies.

You guys, this is hands down the easiest and cheapest DIY to date.

Which translates…..perfect for kids.

Something fun for them to customize and make special.

Here’s what you’ll need:

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Adventure · Bay Bakes · California · Cool spots · family · friends · Holiday Whore · Holidays · kids · ootd · Outfit Details · Products · Spring · travel · weekend

{weekend notes}

March 26, 2018March 30, 2018 xoxostacyb8 Comments

Hello friends! It’s Monday and I woke up feeling it today. I even made it to 5am Kaia, which hasn’t happened on a Monday in a long, long time. The saying “A weekend well spent, brings a week of content” is so true! There is just something about sitting on a beach with your people that is so incredibly relaxing. Oh and I almost forgot, a marg in hand. That helps a little too!

Hope you had a good one. Here’s to the last week of March. The temps are slowly but surly rising and I can smell Spring. You can’t wipe the smile of this girls face!

Intentions for the week:

~~Dye Easter Eggs. Remember the year I forgot and the Easter Bunny hid white eggs?~~
~~Pack an Easter Lunchbox~~
~~Sign Bay up for Dynamix summer camp~~
~~Send back all the ugly things I ordered last week~~
~~Design an Easter Crudite board~~
~~Share the PERFECT one-piece bathing suit~~
Upgrade the blog (so nerve-racking)
~~Pre-blog for Spring Break since I’ll be MIA~~
Finalize San Diego plans
~~Last but certainly not least, kill it at the gym ALL week~~

Last weeks Intentions: {weekend notes}

Highlights from the weekend……

Bay Bakes. Easter cupcakes. I’ll be sharing her cute bunny ear cupcakes later this week. Super cute for an Easter kid dessert.

New product. I love anything by Kristin Ess. Her products smell so yummy. I have her shampoo + condition duo and dig them both. Stay tuned on the Rose Gold Temporary Tent review.

Packing for the beach

shorts // tee // slides // band ana // bag // hat

Stinson Beach

We hit the road for our annual Stinson Beach trip. I just love it here and don’t think I’ll ever stop coming back. Two hour drive and you arrive in the quaint town of Stinson beach. It’s a windy drive along HWY 1. When you pull into town this is your view. Miles of beach. Dreamy!

Stinson Beach 2017

Stinson Beach 2016

We always stay at the Sandpiper.

We stayed in the Cottage. With my sister and her family. 4 adults + 4 kids. We could have even squeeze a couple more. The largest room they offer. A 2 bedroom/1 bath. Full kitchen. Gas fireplace. Sleeps 8 peeps. It’s perfect.

Obsessed with the beachy vibe + decor.

I want a cowhide rug more and more every time I stay here.

Bays favorite is the dutch door. She asks if we can get one for our house every year 🙂

Isn’t the kitchen so cute? Comes stocked with all the kitchen necessities.

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Cooking · fashion · Food · foodie · friday · jcrew addict · Kid Food · kid style · kids · mom & me · ootd · Outfit Details · Products · Recipe · Spring · weekend

{friday 5}

March 23, 2018 xoxostacyb1 Comment

Happy Friday 5! I’m ready to jump up and down like the carpool girls! The sun is shining and I cant wait to burn off from work and get the weekend started! Even stuck my patron in the fridge to chill. That means Skinny Skinny Margs asap! Cheers!

It has been such a good week over here at xoxostacyb. So many new followers…it makes my heart happy! Next week I’m going to over share ALL THE THINGS Easter. So brace yourself….this Holiday Whore is going all out lol. In a good way! I think.

Here are some things I’m currently diggin…..

ONE – Currently snacking on // Why is it when I give up sugar, I crave apples? I never, ever crave fruit. And not just any apple, it has to be a honeycrisp. Super thinly sliced. Just how Bay requests her apples to be slices. Topped with my homemade almond butter. Then a dash of cinnamon. Holy apples. It’s so dang good. Try it!

Since it’s better than what I was snacking on earlier this month (girl scout cookies) I’ve been going with it here and there to curb my GS cookie craving…lol.

TWO – Currently obsessed with // This eyelash separator. I’d never even heard of such a thing till a couple of weeks ago. I started following thebeyoutybureau and she pulled one out of her bag of tricks. I was in awwww. It worked so well. So I went to Target and got myself one….Ha! I use it before I put on my mascara. Then right after I apply mascara. It’s legit! Too legit to quit!

JAPONESQUE Velvet Touch Eyelash Separator

THREE – Bay’s currently diggin // Homemade granola. Peanut Butter Granola to be exact. She tops her morning yogurt. Ice cream. Over milk. I try to not grab a handful every time she opens the jar. It’s so good. And so super easy. We ran out of the TJ’s almond granola the other day. So, I gathered ingredients from the pantry and gave it a shot.

Here’s what you’ll need:

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Cooking · Food · foodie · Healthy · Recipe

{foil packet cajun shrimp}

March 22, 2018 xoxostacyb2 Comments

Okay friends, you would never believe the crazy ass weather this morning by the looks of the sky now. Today turned out beautiful! Can we keep it like this for a bit? At least through the weekend? K, thanks!

Also, BIG thank you for all the sweet messages about yesterdays {easter basket goodies} post. I love helping a sister out and sharing all the things! My stats doubled and that made my day! So, thank you, thank you for continuing to read my daily rambles.

Now on to the recipe that I’m really here to talk about…….

My mom called me last week and said she made a Skinny Taste recipe and LOVED it. So I told her to send it over. In case you didn’t already know, we are BIG Skinny Taste fans over here. I was introduced back in my Weight Watchers days and have continued to make Gina’s skinny recipes since. Always healthy. Always fresh. And she always has nutrition facts/weight watchers points on each recipe. Makes it really easy to log meals into my fitness pal!

Anyway, we loved it. Bay requested NO shrimp, so I threw some extra sausage in her foil packet.

This recipe made 6 foil packets. Bay + I each ate one. Best part, they are freezer friendly. I stuck the other 4 in the freezer for a busy weeknight. Pop them out of the freezer. Lay on a baking sheet (always lined with foil) Then you stick them in a cold oven. Set it to 425 degrees. Once the oven reaches 425 degrees, set the timer for 35 minutes. No need to thaw/defrost. You’ve got a healthy dinner with zero work!

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family · Gift Guide · Goody bags · Holiday Gift Guide · Holiday Whore · Holidays · kids · Spring · Target

{easter basket goodies}

March 21, 2018 xoxostacyb4 Comments

All the kids want is the CHOCOLATE!! And let’s be real….all us Mama’s want our kids to fall asleep so we can steal all their Reese’s Eggs. Am I right? I like to call it “quality control.” I can’t buy them for myself, because #noselfcontrol obvi. So, I buy them for Bay. Then eat them. Ha. Makes total sense to me!

Ever since I was a kid, my parents always filled our baskets with a new swim suit + salt water sandals…and all the candy.

I totally copycat my Mom and do the same for Bay each year. I always try to throw in the realistic things that I will need to buy anyway. And with summer right around the corner, the summery basket was always the ticket.

Except this year. Bay already has new suits + flip-flops + beach towels + googles….we had to stock up earlier for her Hawaii trip.

This year the Easter Bunny is bringing her museum ticket.

Remember my Adventure + Experiences gift idea. We’re still rollin with it.

Still jazzing up the tickets with some fun goodies that I know she’ll love too. #reeseseggs

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Adventure · Cool spots · diy · family · friends · Inspiration · mom & me · Random shit · Spring · To-Do's · travel · weekend

{spring to-do’s}

March 20, 2018June 21, 2018 xoxostacyb5 Comments

And just like that, it’s SPRING! To say I am excited for the season change is an understatement. I’m sure you’re sick of hearing me talk about it. Spring always seems to be the season we wait the longest for. Rain and all, I’ve got my eye on the long warm sunny days to come!

The shift from Winter to Spring always leaves me feeling super inspired too. Always craving to create + explore after the Winter blues (which is a legit real thing). I think we all, mentally NEED Spring..lol. Everything seems to suddenly come to life. Colorful life.

Last night I threw together a Spring mood/inspiration board (pictured above) with all the images that have been catching my eye lately. Add the wooden flower from our Park Winters Garden Tour. The pretty pom-pom tassel I originally got for Bay’s Easter basket. And lastly, wrapped twine around a bunch of ranunculus to dry.

Another way Spring inspires me is by compiling our Spring list of the fun things we plan on creating + making + exploring + doing + wearing ♥

Keeping a running list is a great way to remember all seasonal things you enjoy doing or look forward to do. When we have a free weekend, I like to refer to our To-Do’s and check items off as we go.

Spring To-Do’s

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Adventure · California · Cooking · Cool spots · Decor · Food · foodie · Kitchen · mom & me · Organization · Spring · weekend

{weekend notes}

March 19, 2018March 23, 2018 xoxostacyb4 Comments

Hello, Monday!

We’re at it again. Another start to a new week. We had a super low-key weekend. Lots of sleeping in and relaxing. Extra cups of coffee. Not much on the calendar for the week (unlike last week) And I’m really happy about it.

Hope you had a great weekend. And here’s to a new week!

Intentions for the week:

~~Delete photos to clear up space on my computer + iPhone~~ – I feel lighter
~~Make someone happy~~ – Actually makes you feel happier too
~~Create a springy mood + inspiration board~~ – Check it out here: {spring to-do’s}
~~Drink 75 oz of water each day~~ – harder than you think
~~Set a pretty Easter table~~ – Done, but no help from insta stories…lol.
~~Balance checkbook (I’m off $1.83…makes me crazy)~~ – 863 hours later…damn redbox screwed me up
~~Finish up our Spring To-Do list~~ – did you read it? {spring to-do’s}
~~Asparagus soup~~ – Decided on an asparagus tart instead…stay tuned.
~~Easter brunch menu~~ – possibly not happening 🙁