Dollar Tree Haul | Cheap $1 Gallery Wall Art Frames

I love stores like Home Goods and Hobby Lobby for decor and wall art.  Have you been to a Dollar Tree though?  They have really stepped up their game in the home decor and accents aisle!  It's hard to believe these are all just $1 each.  I saw prints that would pretty much go with any decor theme: gorgeous landscapes, floral images, inspirational messages and so much more!  I couldn't resist grabbing some.  I plan on using some throughout the house in gallery wall displays and to gift as well!

Pictured above are just a few of my favs.  See everything I picked up in my latest youtube video. 

  

Watch on YouTube!

Influenster Charm Voxbox

Yay, another voxbox came in the mail a few weeks ago.  I've honestly lost count on how many I've received since I joined Influenster and they never disappoint!  The latest is the Charm Voxbox* and I love that it has a mix of beauty and food items.  As always, I received it complimentary in return for my honest opinions.

Check out the unboxing on YouTube and read on below to see how I liked it all.  Don't forget to head over to Influenster and sign up!

Wet n' Wild 1 Step WonderGel Nail Color

An at home mani that lasts up to 2 weeks?! I really wanted to love this but it didn't even last 24hrs! I tried this polish on clean nails; once with a base coat and once without. Both times my mani chipped after a few hours. The only positive thing I can say is the brush bristles are wide but even so, after applying two coats, the color wasn't even. Very disappointing.

Vera Wang Embrace Perfume

The scent is nice; not over powering and not too soft.  That is saying a lot since I'm very picky with wearable scents.  I really wanted to love this and give it 5 stars but it just lacks a lux Vera Wang factor I was expecting from this brand.  The scent didn't last long at all. 

McCormick Organics Taco Seasoning 

I usually make my own taco seasoning but this is great to grab for a quick weeknight dinner - one you can feel good about since it's organic!

SaveSave

Last Call for Easter!

Alrighty, who else left everything Easter for the last minute?  I know I'm not alone! 
I did a quick #targetrun  and got lucky with finding some cute items. 

We normally don't do a big family gathering but I did want to make a traditional Easter dinner.  I'm planning to try out a Pinterest recipe for Balsamic Brown Sugar Lamb Chops and serving it with some organic mashed golden potatoes.  The supermarket must have known I was coming because I found the lamb on sale, yas!  And we can't forget dessert.  My go to is always carrot cake, yum!  

Check out my Pinterest Easter Board for some last minute ideas you can try, and don't forget to watch my YouTube video to see the items I scored.  

Hope you all have a lovely Easter! xo

Target Dollar Spot Haul

Hello everyone!

I scored a bunch of clearance items from the Dollar Spot on my recent #TargetRun!

Here's a sneak peak at what I hauled in my latest YouTube video.  I'm most excited for the cloud shadow boxes and rope storage baskets.  The clouds are perfect for the gallery wall I want to do for my littlest one and the quality of the baskets just blew me away!

Check out the video to see everything I got!  

Dollar Tree Haul | Organic Non-GMO Food + Planner Goodies

Check out my first YouTube video featuring a HUGE Dollar Tree haul!  I found organic and non-GMO food.  What?!  Yes, and they were from popular name brands.  Total win!  Another find I was excited about... stickers perfect for planners.  Take a look and sound off in the comments.  What was your fav item hauled?  What are you on the hunt for?

Weeknight Dinner | Tacos with NEW Daisy Sour Cream

Tacos are such an easy and fast dinner dish, especially for a weeknight! The kids love it because they can create their own taco. And well, I had the new Daisy Sour Cream* I was dying to use! 

Yes! Sour cream now comes in squeezable packaging! It's not a bottle; more like a bag with a flip top on the bottom. It's genius and I absolutely LOVE it! I would find myself throwing away sour cream tubs after only 1 or 2 uses. It would get that watery stuff (which some might just pour out) that I found so gross. Having sour cream in a squeezable tube would make it stay fresher longer and so much easier to use. 

I threw this all together in under 30 minutes. I seasoned the grass fed ground beef with homemade taco seasoning. I let that marinate while I chopped the organic lettuce, tomatoes, and green onions. I cooked the ground beef and simultaneously got my bowls out and separated everything. I heated up the flour and corn tortillas (it really does make a difference if you heat them up covered with a moist paper towel). Done and done! 

The Daisy Sour Cream was so much easier to use than scooping it out with a spoon. The kids were more inclined to have it too! I will def not ever go back to buying it in a tub. 

* I received this product complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. Want in on the next box? Sign up here!

Influenster‬ ‪Voxbox #2

Yay! My 2nd Influenster‬ ‪Voxbox‬ has arrived! 

As soon as I opened the box, the smell of coconut hit me. It was the delicious smell of NYM's Beach Babe hair products. And wow, this #FiestaVoxBox has more stuff than the last box!  

• Arnold/Brownberry/Oroweat Heathfull Bread (coupon)
• Daisy Sour Cream (coupon)
• No. 7 Beautiful Skin Night Cream

• New York Color's Smooth Skin Bronzer
• Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Moisturizing Shampoo & Conditioner
• Outback Steakhouse (coupon for free blooming onion)
• Premier Protein 
• Suave Skin Solutions body lotion

Stay tuned for reviews!

Disclosure: "I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes." Want in on the next box? Sign up here!

‎Hello Influenster‬ ‪Voxbox!

Yay! My 1st Influenster‬ ‪Voxbox‬ has arrived! 

        

I love that I got the ‪Fresca Voxbox‬ as my first box because it literally came with products for a mini head-to-toe pampering session! I can't wait to try these products:

• Not Your Mother's Purifying Shampoo/Conditioner

• Nuetrogena Healthy Skin Boosters Daily Scrub 

• NYC Expert Last Lip Lacquer 

• Jafra Blends

• Pure Silk Shave Cream

• Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs

Disclosure: "I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."

Want in on the next box? Sign up here!

New content is coming soon!

It's been forever and a day (plus some) since I've been on my blog.

Life got in the way.  After loosing my brother to suicide, 3 big moves (two overseas!), 

and a complicated, high-rise pregnancy, I'm hoping to finally start blogging again!

Bear with me while I put this page under construction. 

xo, 

Nayrobi

Fantastic Finds | Target

Who loves Target?!

Me!!

Bulldog Lamp, $59.99
Buy Online
I'm so grabbing this once it goes on clearance! 

Bulldog Bookends, $19.99
Buy Online & Save 10%!

Trophy Vases
Large, $19.99 ($17.99 Online)
Medium, $17.99 ($14.39 Online)
Small, $14.99 ($11.99 Online)

Adesso Lightbulb Lamp
Available Online
Ori. $39.99 - On Clearance $27.98

Silverware Wall Clock
Ori. $34.99 - On Clearance $24.48
Not found online but here's a similar one

Safe Bank, $12.99

2 Drawer Nightstand
$79.99
I love the color and hardware.

Wall Art
Totally DIY! 

 Xhilaration 'Sudie' Leopard Flats
Available Online, $19.99

What have you spotted at Target?

Dollar Tree Now Accepts Coupons!

Dollar Tree is a store that many, if not all, DIY'ers love. Now that they're accepting manufacturers coupons it's just one more reason to love DT!  Read their Terms & Conditions for details.                                                                                                                                      

ShoeDazzle Surprise

How cute is this?! 

I placed an order with ShoeDazzle, created by celebrity stylist Kim Kardashian, for a pair of cognac riding boots.  Besides the ever so stylish packaging - a hot pink box - inside were two surprise gifts. 

ShoeDazzle Welcome Guide

ShoeDazzle "Dazzle Me Pink" Nail Polish

ShoeDazzle Pink/Gray Nail File

Mary Kay Nourishine Plus Café au Lait Lip Gloss

Full Size too! Retails for $14.

ShoeDazzle Irene Boots, $39.95

Fantastic Finds | Candle Holders, Lamp, Vintage Tray

As everyone knows, shopping thrift stores is always a hit or miss.

This is all new to me but so much fun since I love finding great deals.  

Allison from House of Hepworth's has a great article on everything she knows about Goodwill.

It's full of tips & info.  Did you know that some Goodwill stores buy salvage from Target?!

After reading that I searched for Goodwill Stores near me and went shopping. 

Here's what I found...

2 Matching Wooden Candle Stick Holders, $1.99 ea

A Vintage Mirrored Tray, $1.99

A Brand New Homes & Garden Lamp, $8.99

I can't decide whether to paint the candle holders white or spray paint them in a silver satin. Hmmmm

Walk in Support of Suicide Prevention

Luis M. Castillo, Jr.
April 8, 1992 - October 13, 2011

Last October, during that dark and overwhelming time, news of my brother's passing spread like wildfire. It was unexpected, but most importantly heartwarming, to see so many faces that I hadn't seen in years.  Now, nearly a year later, I hope to get the same support at the Hudson River Walk Event.

Out of the Darkness Community Walk for the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention

Where:

J.Owen Grundy Pier at Exchange Place Jersey City, New Jersey

When:Saturday October 6, 2012 Time:11:00 am - 1:00 pmCheck-in Time:10:00 am to 11:00 amOnline Registration Cutoff:10/05/2012 12:00 pmDonation Cutoff:01/01/2013 12:00 am

The Out of the Darkness Community Walks are 3-5 mile walks taking place in over 250 communities across the country this year, with the proceeds benefiting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). By walking in the Out of the Darkness Community Walks, you will be walking with thousands of other walkers nationwide to raise money for AFSP's vital research and education programs to prevent suicide and save lives, increase national awareness about depression and suicide, and provide support for survivors of suicide loss. In deciding to walk you are taking us a step closer to making suicide prevention a national priority.

Whether you can attend or not, please consider making a tax-exempt donation to the The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Even $5 can make a difference! To make a donation, click the Support Me button on my fundraising page.  

{Mommy Must-Haves} Belly Growth Chart

Seeing this will give you one of those, "Why didn't I think of that?" moments.  

The ways of recording growing bellies are well, growing.

Egg2Cake gives us a spin on a traditional growth chart...a horizontal spin!

Egg2Cake's Guesstation: Are We There Yet? Chart, $12.95

Mark the curves of growing belly every month. 

The chart flips over so you can continue using it once the baby is born.

Coach Factory

The rumors you've might have heard are true... Coach offers its Outlet prices online! 

Usually lasting 48 hours, the exclusive sale events are accessed by invitation only. 

No need to fret though, contact me here to be invited. 

(Enter Coach Factory in the subject line and include your name & email.)

The deals are better than you would find on eBay and there's no need to waste gas getting to an Coach Factory Store. 

       Here's a glimpse of what's currently on sale:

                                 

   

    

{Mommy Must-Haves} Watches for Nursing Mothers

Con Leche's Natalia Watch $115 Thanks to Con Leche, breastfeeding moms can now stop writing down breastfeeding schedules and details. Available in 3 designs, the Con Leche watches feature a violet stone which you can rotate from left to right, to let you indicate the last breast fed or pumped from. There's also a triangle which rotates to indicate the time of the last feeding. Read about all of its capabilities here.

Happy 4th of July!

July 4th just so happens to be my mother's best friends birthday. 

Happy Birthday Diana!  

Diana was throwing a - go ahead and guess, yes - a BBQ. It was the perfect excuse to make a few dozen cupcakes and give a Pinterest pin I saw a try.  

The Inspiration: Flag Fruit Cupcakes

As good as the blueberries and strawberries looked,  I decided to go without the fresh fruit since it was over 95 degrees out!  I kept my ingredients simple and turned to good ol' Duncan Hines.  No, I was not about to make cupcakes from scratch - don't judge - everyone loves boxed cake! Besides, I have never baked cupcakes from scratch before, shhhhhh. 

• Duncan Hines Red Velvet Cake Mix paired with Cream Cheese Frosting  
• Duncan Hines French Vanilla Cake Mix & Vanilla Frosting
• Red & Blue Sprinkles
• Coconut Flakes

4th of July Cupcake Flag

I wanted to use 50 cupcakes but it just didn't work out. It came out close enough though, 48 cupcakes!

Take A Break From Your Bills!

I love reading All You Magazine for their great tips.  Here's one I never thought of... taking a vacation from your bills!

Did you know you can cut costs by: 

Suspending your landline or wireless service.  Who would think to voluntarily suspend their service? 

Your landline can still dial 611 or 911 if needed, so there's no need to worry about needing information or calling for help in an emergency.  

Suspending your cable/dish service.  If your service provider doesn't allow you to suspend service, switch to the lowest cost plan while you're away.  DirectTV customers can suspend their service as long as the suspension will last less than 6 months and there's no current account balance. 

Switch your water heater to vacation mode and cut the energy use by up to 25%.  Hmm, have a bill for $100 or $75? 

There are a few things I do religiously when going away to help cut costs, such as: 

Unplug electrical appliances.  I think it's so vital for everyone to know that even though an appliance may be turned off, it still draws electricity when plugged.  Think about all those chargers that are left plugged into an outlet! Yikes!  

Before I leave the house, even for just a long weekend, I unplug my:

• microwave 
• lamps 
• tv
• computer 
• plug-in air fresheners
• fans 

Whichever way you decide to have a vacation from your bills, make sure you ask if there are any fees or time limits!  You wouldn't want to be a hit with a fee later on, it'll defeat the purpose of saving.

Healing Power of Egg Whites

I would have never thought that eggs could be a healing miracle for burns.  Eggs are known to be full of vitamins.  They are in fact a placenta, right.  Apparently, egg whites are also a natural form of collagen, which helps regenerate burned skin. 

First Aid for Burns*

  1. Spray cold water on the affected area until the heat 

is reduced and stops burning the layers of skin.

2. Spread egg whites on the affected area, 

allowing to form a protective layer. 

Story #1 

"A young man sprinkling his lawn and bushes with pesticides wanted to check the contents of the barrel to see how much pesticide remained in it.  He raised the cover and lit his lighter; the vapors inflamed and engulfed him.  He jumped from his truck, screaming.  His neighbor came out of her house with a dozen eggs, yelling: "bring me some eggs!"  She broke them, separating the whites from the yolks.  The neighbor helped her to apply the whites on the young man's face.  When the ambulance arrived and when the EMTs saw the young man, they asked who had done this.  Everyone pointed to the lady in charge.  They congratulated her and said: "You have saved his face."  By the end of the summer, the young man brought the lady a bouquet of roses to thank her.  His face was like a baby's skin."

Story #2

"A woman burned a large part of her hand with boiling water.  In spite of the pain, she ran cold faucet water on her hand, separated 2 egg white from the yolks, beat them slightly and dipped her hand in the solution.  The whites dried and formed a protective layer. She continued to apply layer upon layer of beaten egg white, during at least one hour.  By afternoon she no longer felt any pain and the next day there was hardly a trace of the burn.  10 days later, no trace was left at all and her skin had regained its normal color."

 *  Collagen dressings are created by companies such as Johnson & Johnson to treat burn wounds. 
     Click here to learn more.