Wednesday, November 27, 2019

15 Gift Guides for Everyone On Your List

Hi Foxy Friends! I can't believe that the Holidays are here! I know it's so overwhelming to have to buy all the gifts for everyone! I thought it would be helpful to put together a huge gift guide for everyone on your list! I know I like a one stop shop!



Kids

For the kids in your life who has EVERYTHING, here are some non toy ideas.

I know my daughter would love any one of the gifts that Terryn has on her gift guide.

The ultimate guide for the 1-3 year olds in your life. I know that with my kids being a bit older, I've sort of lost touch of what 1-3 year olds want now and days.

Got a small creative kid? This is the list for you.


This is a great list for great education toys for the little ones in your life, any parent would love to get any of these gifts.

Teens

I'm still not quite sure what a VSCO girl is, but if you have one in your life and you're like me and have no idea what to get her, here's the list for you.

Woman

Not sure what to get the lady in your life? Here is a ton of great options!


This list is for all of the ladies in your life that helps keep you afloat in this thing called motherhood, and the best part is everything is under $25!


Know nothing about yoga like me? Then this is the gift guide you need for all of those Yogi's (is that even a word?) in your life.

Here is a gift guide for the woman in your life that take a more natural route, I know several of my friends would love anything on this list!

Men

I always find the guys in my life are so hard to buy for, Rebecca has come up with some great ideas.


Everyone

With all of the parties and things you're attending it's always nice to show up with a little hostess gift. I think it's a kind gesture to show up with something in your hands.

I always find it hard to find stocking stuffers, Shari's list is just what you need!

Stacey came up with hilarious white elephant gifts for your next party that will have everyone laughing.

Amber came  up with a really awesome list of gifts to give people with allergies. So thoughtful, as sometimes it is hard to buy for people allergic to everything!


Monday, November 25, 2019

Christmas Bucket List

Hello Foxy Friends! I can't believe that Thanksgiving is this week? Like what-the-what?! Wasn't it just Halloween? Anyway, that being said, I'm joining some friends to share our Christmas bucket list. I never usually do these, but figured, hey I have goals, let's write them down! If you have your own bucket list, join the link down below! Let's make a list, I like lists that I can then cross out.

1.  Send out Christmas Dinner Invites. I bought them, just need to send...do you sent out formal invites? This is our this year, I typically wait for Shutterfly to have free 10 cards promotion, then buy then, so I only pay for shipping, which I think this year it was $6.


I always include a photo of the kids on the back, just cause, why not, it's free part of getting a card, plus who doesn't want to see fun photos of the kids?


2. Watch The Polar Express - I'm not sure when the magic of Christmas is going to end, so we're going to watch this movie every year until the kids don't let me watch it.

3. I want to watch that new Noelle move on Netflix, I'm hoping one of the kids will watch it with me.

4. Christmas parade, each year the city next to us hosts a Christmas parade, hoping to make it over there, we've missed it the last 4 years, haha!

5.  Lights Display, I know this is going to happen, since I bought tickets already, haha

6. Friendsgiving, it's happening after Thanksgiving, so I'm going to count it as holiday.

7. Christmas Brunch with friends, also already on the calendar, is this considering cheating?

8. Oh wait, I forgot the most important one! Decorate for Christmas! Full disclosure, we put the tree up last weekend, but didn't decorate, it takes a while to fluff a 12 foot tree. But eventually it will look like this:

In case you are wondering what is in the upper left corner of the picture, it's a balloon drop for Baby Fox's birthday. It's cheap and fun thing for the kids to do to help celebrate Baby Fox's birthday (yes it's on Christmas day)


9. Gilmore Girls studio tour! I'm so excited for this one! Again cheating because I already bought tickets for this.

10. New Years Eve party...not scheduled, but I'd like to host a NYE party again this year, it was fun last year!

Okay, I think that is it for now...hopefully I can cross all of these off the list! I can't believe Christmas is in a month! So much to do...like start Christmas shopping, oops!

What have you checked off of your Christmas list already? Link up down below!

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Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Belong Lifestyle Denim Dress

Hi Foxy Friends. Guess what? I'm collaborating with Belong Lifestyle and they named a dress after me! It's called the Sarah California Dreaming Denim Dress. I have seriously been looking for the perfect denim dress for the LONGEST TIME. I think I have tried to buy no less than 8 denim dresses, and all of them have gone back. This one is PERFECT! I love that it has the tie waist that you can cinch to give it a little structure.

*Some of the links are affiliate links and I will  either receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you click on it or if you make a purchase from one of these links, I may also receive a commission on the sale of the product. Click here for my disclosure page.


Dress | Bootie | Earrings (similar) | Bracelet

And guess what?! It has pockets! All good dresses have that right?

How to style a denim


I had gotten my hair done a couple of days prior, now if only I could get my curls to look like this every time...

Casual Make up look Asian Monolid

Make up

Primer / Foundation  Blemish Concealer / Concealer (cause one can never have too much) / Lashes  / Eyebrow / Blush / Bronzer / Eyeshadow / Lipsense 


How to style a denim dress

This dress is going to be perfect to transition to Winter too, at least my California winter. Add some tights and boots and you got a completely different outfit. Then it transition back to Spring with some cute flats.

Denim dress for Fall Winter and Spring


Fall 

Winter
Dress | LeggingsBootsScarf

Spring
Dress | Flats | Hat | Bracelet

Want one yourself? Use the Code: SARAH (make sure it's all caps) for a one time use of 10% off. Know what is even better? All the prices are in Canadian money, so it really works for us Americans and the exchange rate. Their shipping is a flat $5 CAD, which means it's only $3.75 for us...heck ya! So what are you waiting for, go look at all of the pretty things and buy something for yourself!



Monday, November 18, 2019

10 Go To Hostess Gifts

Hi Foxy Friends! That season is upon us where we are going to parties and we need a hostess gift. Here are my 15 to go hostess gifts that you should just have on hand for those times that you need to grab a quick gift to take with you. I think any host or hostess would love to get something off this list!! 


*Some of the links are affiliate links and I will  either receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you click on it or if you make a purchase from one of these links, I may also receive a commission on the sale of the product. Click here for my disclosure page.



Appetizer Plates 

Moscow Mule Mug

Note Cards

Fancy Candles

Cute Pot Holder
Home Pot Holder | Fox Pot Holder | Black and White
 






So anything I need to add to my list of things to have in hand? 

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Instant Pot Stew

Hi Foxy Friends! I'm so excited to participate in a recipe blog hop today. So if you're coming from Jamie's blog, thank you for hopping on over! Our them is Soup/Stew/Chili recipes, as soon as I heard this, I knew I wanted to try to make my favorite stew recipe Instant Pot friendly. I hope after you're done reading all about my recipe you'll hop on over to Dani's blog to see what yummy thing she created.

I decided for those that are a very visual learner, I would film the recipe for you. If you are more of a reader, skip the video and go to the written out directions. Thanks for stopping by!


Ingredients You'll Need:

2-3 pounds of beef chuck
4-5 small Potatoes (I like using Yukon, but red ones would work too)
2 carrots (you can use more, but I don't particularly like car rots)
1 Onion
1 tablespoon Tomato Paste
3 Garlic cloves
1 tablespoon Flour
1/2 - 3/4 cup of Red Wine
1 cup Chicken or Beef Stock
2 Bay Leaves
1 teaspoon Thyme
Cooking Oil
Corn Starch
Peas


What To Do:

Step 1 - Brown Meat

Set Instant Pot to Saute, once hot add a small amount of oil to IP and add meat to brown. When browning don't try to turn too early, if you try to turn and it sticks, it's not ready, wait a bit and it won't stick once properly browned. I had to do mine in two batches. Put in bowl off to the side when done.


Step 2 - Add a little more oil and add diced onions. Let brown before moving on.


Step 3 - Add tomato paste and garlic, cook for 30 seconds or so, then the flour and stir.


Step 4 - Add red wine and scrap up any brown bits.




Step 5 - Add in chicken or beef stock, thyme and bay leaves.



Step 6 - Add meat back in to the pot and pour potatoes and carrots in and stir to combine as best as you can.


Step 7 - Set Instant Pot to 25 minutes of manual pressure.


Once it's done, let it naturally release for 10 minutes.

Step 8 - Release the pressure valve and open Instant Pot. Turn off Instant Pot and turn on the Saute function. Make a corn starch slurry, add a teaspoon of corn starch with enough cold water to make it a liquid. Pour into the Instant Pot and stir. It will take a minute or two for the liquid to thicken.


Step 9 - Once the liquid has thickened a bit, add in frozen peas and stir.


Let sit for a few minutes and your stew is ready to serve!


Yum!


Let me know if you try it below and what you think! I think the whole thing took a little more than an hour. Most of the work was browning the meat! Once you hit pressure cook, smooth sailing. Don't forget to go check out Dani's blog and see what she's cooking up! Let her know that I sent you over!


Thursday, November 7, 2019

Deer Make Up For A Beginner

Hi Foxy Friends! Today I am bringing you, a little late, a deer make up look. I did this for two events I went to with the kids, it was super fun to be dressed up for Halloween, without actually having to wear a costume. Make up does wonders! As I was looking around for Deer make up looks, they were all using things that I didn't have, nor did I have time to go buy, or want to buy. So I took bits and pieces here and there and put together what I thought made you look like a deer.




*Some of the links are affiliate links and I will  either receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you click on it or if you make a purchase from one of these links, I may also receive a commission on the sale of the product. Click here for my disclosure page.

Make Up Used:



Other Things Used:
Flowers - Hobby Lobby

I ended up wearing a short sleeved top because it was 90° outside...no way was I going to wear pants, a long sleeve shirt and a fur vest...

Sorry the pictures are off centered, we were late to our Halloween function and Mr. was wearing his costume and wearing this funky wig and he couldn't see anything...haha!

Easy Halloween Costume

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Sentence A Day: October Edition

Hi Foxy Friends, it's been a hot minute, but I finally remembered to fill in my dates. I love looking back at these and remembering everything we did. Check out the other ladies participating in the link up down below.

1 - Wow that workout was unexpectedly hard/good, now to keep it up...fell off the workout wagon a bit.

2 - Another workout, super sore from yesterdays workout, but felt good to get back at it.

3 - Much need MNO...forgot to take a picture with everyone, oops!


We got this one, the street was really pretty, and we got lost trying to find the restaurant, so what do you do? You take a photo.

4 - Full day of errands, dentist and then dinner at our house with friends.

5 -  Had to miss soccer games so I could help set up for Thomas House gala, so happy we raised a ton of money to help families get back on their feet.





6 - Fun birthday party at the pumpkin patch, then dinner with Aunt and Uncle makes for a great way to end the weekend.





7 - Almost took the kids to piano and as we are walking out the door remember that we changed it this week to Wednesday, phew glad I remembered.

8 - Baby Fox went to his first Cotillion class and both kids started up this season of their religious education. (Going to write a post on Cotillion next week!)





He got paired with the tallest girl there.



9 - No school today, so of course I planned for Mini Fox to go to her 6 year check up and then got both kids their flu shots, they weren't particularly happy with me.


10 - Got some hill runs in while waiting for Mini Fox's soccer practice to end, ended up being a pretty good workout in.

11 - Great way to end the day with dinner with friends.



12 - Full day of soccer, Mini Fox has her game at 11:30am while Baby Fox's game was at 5pm then take out at my favorite place.




13 - Baby Fox went to a birthday party, so we took Mini Fox and a friend to see Abominable, it was super cute and Mini Fox loved getting some time with just us.








14 - Love that our gym is next door to the kids piano class, so they get enrichment and I get to go workout.

15 - Mini Fox was Star of the Week this week at school, and today was family day, she got to show us off in her class, Baby Fox even left his class to come participate.



16 - Both kids had their parent teacher conference today both kids are doing great, learning a lot and their teachers love them, then we headed to my aunt and uncles to spend the night so we can catch our flight early in the morning. (airport we are flying out of is about an hour away from us, our flight was at 7am, yeah that's early for the kids to get up, Aunt and Uncle live 5 minutes from the airport).

17 - We're leaving on a jet plane, getting to see Curtis's family was so much fun!

18 - Mini Fox lived her best life and got to hang out with some horses for the afternoon and I'm pretty sure I've never seen her more in her element.

19 - It rained most of the day, but we still had a blast seeing my cousin play in the University of Washington game and he scored a touchdown, the kids did great sitting a quarter of the game in the rain and even though they lost, we still had so much fun.

20 - Last day in Seattle, one last breakfast with my aunt and uncle and saw Mr.'s dad one last night before taking off.

21 - Didn't go to work today, that's nice after coming back from vacation.

22 - New routine of my parents taking the kids to their church class, while I go to a circuit class then go pick them up, perfect evening.

23 - Back at my favorite workout class.

24 - Mini Fox didn't go to soccer today she had a slight fever and with it being 100° out, thought it would be best to stay home, we snuggled and watched TV instead.

25 - Kids Boo Bash (Halloween Carnival) at school and they outdid themselves, so much fun hanging with friends.


26 - One soccer game, followed by Baby Fox's belt for blue with a green strip, then Trunk or Treat at my parents church.


My dad was cooking the hot dogs, we snuck back into the kitchen to say hi.


27 - Friends Oktoberfest, was so much dang fun, I have amazing friends.







Still need to work on my front of the picture squat.


28 - 5K run while the kids were at piano lessons, I actually stopped at 3.16 miles...then realized how close I was and turned that treadmill back on.

29 - Man that workout was butt kicking, love how hard Karen pushes us.

30 - Normal Wednesday, soccer followed by my favorite workout class.

31 - Another Halloween in the books, lots of parades at the kids school, lots of candy and trick or treating and the kids didn't have school the next day makes for one amazing day.




Trading candy




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