Bubble Valentine Free Printables!

Looking for another quick and easy Valentine card idea? Earlier this week I shared my free printables for Fun Dip or other candy cards How about one that does not include candy?  During the preschool years, I have found that bubbles make the perfect addition to Valentine cards and Target has the cutest set of bubble wands for $3 in the holiday section that are easily attached to these cards. Alas, this is the only photo I managed to snap during the mad rush to complete these last year and it was not the greatest on my iPhone. 

All you need is to print out these adorable cards HERE, cut them out and attach the bubble wands with double sided tape.  What a great way to celebrate the holiday!  

~Ila~

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Fun Dip Valentine with Free Printable

Looking for a way to dress up those candy valentine cards?  How about these adorable Fun Dip Valentines?  Last year my son picked out Fun Dip candy to share and I decided to make my own tags after battling with a sharpie on the actual candy! This was a very quick craft that he even helped me out with...stapler and all!

All you need is some card stock and these adorable tags found HERE.  Make a pocket with the card stock and staple and attach the tags with double sided tape.  Easy and a great way to dress up those fun dips or any other candy options this Valentine's Day!

Hope your Valentine's Day is super sweet!

~Ila~

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Clean Eating Banana Oatmeal Muffins

Snowy days often get me in baking mood and today was the perfect day to whip up a batch of  muffins.  Since I usually have a bunch of overripe bananas taking up space in my kitchen, why not try a healthy twist on one of my favorite recipes.  

These muffins are absolutely delicious and make the perfect snack anytime of day...adding a few dark chocolate chips only adds to their yumminess.  Of course, they quickly vanished in my house today right out of the oven...I'm guilty of at least two muffins today!  

Oh...and did I mention these are actually pretty healthy too???

Clean Eating Banana Oatmeal Muffins Recipe

3 cups quick cooking oats

2-3 very ripe bananas

1 cup nonfat greek yogurt

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 cup honey or sweetener of choice

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup chocolate chips or nuts or blueberries or whatever else you wish to throw in....

-Preheat oven to 350

-Place oats in blender or food processor and pulse for about 30 seconds

-Place bananas in bowl and beat for 30 seconds, add greek yogurt, eggs, vanilla, and honey and mix well.  

-Add in baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and oatmeal and mix until just combined.

-Stir in chocolate chips

-Scoop into prepared muffin pan about 3/4 of the way full

-Bake 10-15 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean

Enjoy these delicious treats!

~Ila~

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My Favorite Winter Running Gear

Cold weather have you in a running rut? If you are like me, I use to avoid running outside at all costs during the colder months but at the same time I could not manage a good run on a treadmill either.  So, this year I buckled down, invested in some quality outdoor gear and hit the ground running.....What keeps me going when the weather dips into the 20s, through snow and a little wind?  These are my favorites so far:

Nike Women's Thermal Tech Printed Run Gloves

I love these gloves so much that I use them as my normal everyday winter gloves too. They definitely keep my fingers nice and warm even on the coldest of days.

Under Armour Women's ColdGear Infrared Storm Beanie

Since most of your body heat can escape through your head, it is essential to keep your head covered in colder weather.  This beanie will not disappoint and the ponytail holder in the back is an added bonus.

Nike Women's Pro Hyperwarm Fitted Compression Tights

I tried on several brands of tights when purchasing cold weather gear and these have not been a disappointment.  These were by far the most comfortable tights I found and I love the color variety!

GapFit Motion Graphic Long Sleeve T

These are my favorite base layer tees for winter running, especially if the weather is primarily in the 20s and 30s.  I love the thumbholes too.  

Under Armour Women's Compression Mock Neck

During the coldest of days, including snow and wind, these compression mocks keep me warm and dry.  They also come in handy for other outdoor adventures during the colder months. 

Nike Women's Element Half Zip Running Shirt

This is my new favorite running shirt. I have it in several colors and love using it as a jacket over my base layer or when running errands or heading to the gym.  It is super comfortable, keeps me warm and dry and stylish all around.

SmartWool PhD Running Light Micro Socks

Yes, your toes need to be warm & dry when running too!  These smart wool socks are my favorites and I am a very picky person when it comes to socks (I rarely wear them).

ASICS Women's GT-2000 Running Shoes

It never fails but every year I buy these shoes in the latest style.  I have found these to be the lightest and most comfortable shoes. 

What winter running gear do you turn too to keep you going during the colder months?

~Ila~

A Mom's Getaway

Sometimes mom just needs a break and a little getaway...right? In the midst of a hectic schedule full of school, homework, sports, and a traveling husband, a getaway helps to restore the balance of the craziness, at least that is the hope.  So, somehow I was amazingly able to coordinate with three other moms (our husbands are all friends from college) and meet up in New York City for a quick two night trip. I'm still in shock that something major didn't come up that prevented any of us from making the journey. 

So, what exciting things did we manage to do in 2 short nights?  

Of course we enjoyed the view of Times Square from our room at the Marriott Marquis.

Some fabulous burgers and drinks at Five Napkin Burger.  It's located in the Hell's Kitchen area of New York City and highly recommended.  If you are in the area and craving some delicious fare, this will not disappoint.

A pre theater meal at Bond 45.  Honestly, you can not go wrong with this amazing Italian restaurant located just off of 45th and 7th Ave near Times Square.  I think we are all still dreaming about the mouth watering open faced lasagna and homemade tiramisu.  

A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder was a delightful Broadway show that provided some laughs and comedy along the way.  One little warning: the theater is very small and seating a little crowded but still worth it to see this amazing show.  

Of course a few toasts to enjoying a wonderful two nights away from our fabulous kids and our husbands that were able to manage and hold down the fort while we were away.  It definitely was a much  needed few days/nights of relaxation.  Of course, the wonderful foggy weather at JFK airport extended my weekend one additional night...but I'm already asking....when can we go again?  

~Ila~

Honest Company Brand Review

With a New Year we often reflect upon making changes in our lives whether it is organization of our household, exercising more, eating healthier or just becoming more health conscience in general. As a mom to 3 little boys, I am always trying different products that are more "green" and with less chemical additives in them.  This past summer I decided to try out Jessica Alba's The Honest Company and I was instantly hooked.  

Since this summer, I get my bundle every 6 weeks and love being able to pick and choose my own products each month.  Plus, this past December as a holiday gift you could add an additional item for free.  So far, I have tried a number of their products and all have become regular in our household.  

Here are my favorites so far:

Honest Laundry Detergent

I am very sensitive to laundry detergent and this one does not disappoint for the the power of cleaning and lack of irritation.  Plus the mild smell is wonderful!

Honest Bubble Bath

A capful of this bubble bath easily provides a great bubble bath for a toddler who loves bath time.  Sometimes I order two of these just to be on the safe side.

My two favorite cleaners have quickly become their Multi Surface Cleaner and the Bathroom Cleaner.  I seriously use the multi surface cleaner everywhere especially in my kitchen.  It works great on granite, our smooth top range and the kids toys!  The Bathroom Cleaner does a great job of breaking down those hard to clean residues left my 3 little boys...

need I say more!

Kids Toothpaste

This is one of the newest products we have tried and our boys love the strawberry taste.  My oldest son who is very picky likes it much more than the Tom's of Maine he says.  

As you can see in the photo above,  my free product I chose was the Organic Dish Towel. I have only had these for a few days but already love them! The turquoise color fits right at home in my kitchen too!

Hope you've enjoyed this brief overview of the Honest Company! 

I was not paid by The Honest Company to review these products nor did I receive these products for free.  This is part of my monthly bundle and all opinions expressed are solely mine.  

~Ila~

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Planning A Master Bath Remodel

If finding the perfect Christmas gift wasn't a difficult task, I decided to kick 2014 off with our master bathroom remodel.  Since we moved into our house about 18 months ago, I've been carefully pinning away ideas, products, etc. to make this 20 year old space into a serene escape.  Now that crunch time is here I never knew how difficult it would be to decide on light fixtures and faucets.  Besides the endless possibilities that exist, finding the price differential across the board has been amazing.  So before this big project gets underway, here are a few inspiration photos for our bathroom!

This master bath from Brooklyn Limestone  I adore especially those basket weave floors.

Golden Boys and Me did an awesome job on her bathroom remodel.  I love the freestanding tub!

Another beautiful job and freestanding tub option over at Living Beautifully

La Dolce Vita has some beautiful tiled walls in her master bathroom.

So....stay tuned for some decisions to be made, some progress, and of course the ultimate before/after photos.  Can't wait to share this space with you.

~Ila~