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Cozy Chic Mommy

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Mahalo lovelies

APPLE PICKING AT LAWRENCE FARMS

     Whoever decided to create 'apple picking' as an activity for people to do is genius! It is one of the best fall activities to do with your kids. You can choose to do a scavenger hunt while you are there by creating a print up of things to find that you know will be there.

Lawrence Farms has the perfect set up for all ages. They have a variety of produce to choose from and little houses for the kids to play in as well as a horse to pet. If you are planning on picking up a lot of food, you can rent one of their wagons or bring your own. We had a blast and cannot wait to go back!

TRIP TO TEXAS

Never have I ever been on such a long trip with the kids and I have to tell you it was a success! Ben has to do a lot of traveling for his job right now and that means staying in hotels, driving rental cars, and eating out. I didn't want to be home without him, so we tagged along and got to enjoy all that traveling has to offer. 

We started off in Dallas for a few days and got to delight in some food that you all saw me post on my Instagram; Hopdoddy, SouthPaw, and Cafe Express. We also got to swim at the hotel and play at an outdoor splash pad at one of the nearby parks. Riley had a ball and so did we! After just a few days in Dallas we headed over to Houston where we hotel hopped from one Marriott Spring Hill to a Marriott Residence Inn right in the heart of Houston. It was the best decision. We were in walking distance to so many neat shops and great food places. We also got to enjoy leisurely walks inside the Galleria Mall and their little play gym for Riley to climb all over. 

In between our trip, Riley turned two! We took her to Sea World in San Antonio on her birthday and ended it with dinner at Olive Garden. It was such a treat to see the look on her face when she saw the whales and dolphins jumping out of the water. She was so happy and I could see that we made her day!

How did we travel from city to city you might ask? In a little sedan! It wasn't the nicest car I have ever been in, but we made it work. We brought Riley's iPad with us, so she could watch movies, and we made sure to have lots of snack for her to choose from like: popcorn, chips, apples, gummies, pretzels, and cookies (we have experienced healthier road trips). I definitely recommend going on a trip or many trips for that matter with kids. The experiences and memories are ones that will last forever. Don't wait. Get out there and start living! Your kids will adjust. 

SHIFT DRESS: PINK BLUSH

Dress Pink Blush | Sunnies Loft | Shoes J Crew Factory

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     Traveling this summer has been quite enjoyable and I have been able to check off a lot of items from my summer bucket list. Recently, my husband and I explored the Bull Run Winery in Virginia, where we did a wine tasting consisting of: six white wines, five reds, and three sweet wines. They were absolutely delicious! Our favorite wines are their Riesling, 2013 Merlot, and their Peach wine. The best part about their wine tasting is that you get to take home a complimentary wine glass with their logo. We ended up liking their Riesling so much that we bought a bottle to take home and drink on a special occasion. 

     In getting ready to head out to the Winery, I grabbed my easy breezy shift dress from Pink Blush. I wanted to wear something that felt effortless to keep me cool in the humidity. I was looking to make a bold statement; nothing too fancy, but nothing too casual either. This dress has the best of both worlds and here is why: the crochet neckline says "I'm comfy and laid back" while the blue color block says "watch out, I'm here and I'm fabulous."

     You can receive 20% off your first purchase at Pink Blush right NOW when you sign up with your email. 

FIT & FLARE SCALLOP DRESS

Dress Pink Blush | Sunnies LOFT | Shoes Jack Rogers

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     Our trip to Georgia was a success! The kids were really great on the drive down to Georgia and Riley only had two short melt downs when her iPad ran out of battery. I was honestly surprised as to how well the trip went. I thought that it was going to be worse. If anything, I feel like I was the whiney one on the trip. I was so focused on making sure the kids had what they needed for the trip that I completely neglected my own needs. I felt antsy and discontent. I didn't know what to do with myself. 

     After arriving in Georgia we were greeted with a hug of heat and a slobbery kiss from humidity. The weather was beautiful the first day we got there, but extremely hot. To kill some time before the rehearsal dinner, we decided to walk around the mall and stroll through the park. I wore this Pink Blush scallop dress during our exploration and felt like a southern bell. I kept imagining one of Nicholas Sparks' novels and his dewy evenings or warm sunny days where the main female character is looking fabulous. 

     The fit and flare shape of this dress makes me look like I have a small waistline and after having kids I surely appreciate this illusion; your body starts to look flabby and deformed. It is quite comical to see yourself in the mirror and not recognize your own body, so this dress is a fashion life saver. If you are looking for something cute and flirty, this is the perfect dress for you.  

STAND UP PADDLE & FREE LESSON IN HAWAII

Stand up paddling in Kahala

Stand up paddling in Kahala

Stand up paddling at Pokai Bay

Pokai Bay with Uncle George

Equipment:

• Paddle
• Surfboard
• Swimsuit 
• Sunscreen

     Stand up paddle, also referred to as 'SUP', is a water sport similar to surfing where you stand up on a surfboard and use a paddle to glide and steer through the water. Stand up paddle requires you to use a board that fits your height requirements, so make sure you are purchasing a board that is long enough to keep you stable on the water. Your paddle should also be a specific length; with your paddle upside down, the neck should meet the height of your forehead. 

     Stand up paddle has become a popular outdoor sport in the last couple of years and is continuing to grow. Most people in Hawaii go SUPing instead of running and paddle out to little 'mokes' or islands. I have also seen people doing yoga on stand up paddles, so be sure to look up SUP clubs in your area through Facebook and other social media outlets. 

     The best water to stand up paddle in is calm water with little to no current for easy steering. My favorite spot to stand up paddle is at Pokai Bay in Waianae. I love paddling in the bay with all of the sea turtles and fish and also for the free equipment we are able to use. There is a local man, Uncle George, who gives free SUP lessons and lets you use his equipment for free at Pokai Bay. He gives you all the necessary skills to successfully and safely paddle across the bay and can help you to fine tune your skills if you are not a novice. I highly recommend looking him up and contacting him through his Facebook page. 

PILLBOX HIKE WITH OUR ERGOBABY

     On one of our last days in Hawaii, we went on our favorite hike; The Pillboxes. The Pillbox trail is located in Lanikai, Hawaii. This trail is a shorter distance and has great views of the beach. Facing the ocean, you will see the twin islands, which locals refer to as the 'mokes'. A lot of people kayak and take stand up paddles to the islands for a little adventure. Some of our friends have spotted sharks on their paddle over there, but none of our friends have ever been bothered by them. 

     I was a little nervous about going on some parts of the hike because of all the rocks and steep slippery parts, but I managed to come out a champ. I was surprised at how easy of a hike it was for me at 33 weeks pregnant.  I definitely recommend doing this hike if you are pregnant and want to get some exercise.

     My husband was able to take our daughter up to the pillboxes by wearing the ergobaby carrier. It made it so easy to take her with us. The ergobaby carrier is a staple item in our home, because it makes a lot of activities available for us to participate in. We can both be hands free and still have our daughter with us. We are considering buying another carrier for when our son comes, so we can still get out of the house and stay active. Our ergobaby carrier has made life with our baby more enjoyable and we find it to be very comfortable. The padding on the shoulders are thick and lightweight and the placement of the waist band sits in the perfect spot for being mobile. If you don't have one already, you should buy one!