Sunshine and Sippy Cups — Page 128 — Smart Solutions for Busy Moms!

Step 2 Rollercoaster Giveaway!

Once again I’ve partnered with a great group of my fave bloggers to be able to bring you guys a pretty awesome giveaway put together by my buddy at Tales from the Nursery… Every once in awhile I see a prize so good, that I know I HAVE to get in on it to share with you all…. So here we go:

Step 2 Up & Down Roller Coaster

One of you lucky ladies will win this super sweet Step 2 Up & Down Roller Coaster – seriously, can you imagine how much fun this would be for the kids…?? You could have a blast with this through summer, and on into fall and winter. And, we’re making it pretty easy to win… Use the Rafflecopter form below. The only required entry is providing a valid email and which country you reside in. The rest are optional but the more you do, the greater your chances of winning!

Rules and Regulations and all that fun stuff

Eligibility: US/Can*
Prize: (1) US winner will have the Step2 Rollercoaster toy shipped to them via Amazon (no PO boxes!). Must be 18 years or older to enter. Entries limited to one per household.
Canada Winners: *If our winner lives in Canada, they will receive a $100 Amazon.ca GC. This is equivalent to the cost of the US prize, but this item is not available or is too expensive via Amazon.ca
When: 12:01am EST July 15, 2012 through 11:59pm EST July 30, 2012

So again, to enter – just use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form below. Enter as few – or as many! – times as you want. The more you enter the more chances you have to win. AND – if you’re feelin’ lucky, check out my big list of prizes I’ve put together for you guys to win this month, over in my sidebar. Why? Because you guys rock, so I love to find fun stuff to give you all! :)
[Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on July 15, 2012 Filed Under: Giveaways | 2 Comments

Design Trends: Black & White, Zebra, and Pretty Prints!

“Just because it’s practical doesn’t mean it can’t be cute!” – Laurie Noel Meek of Office Candy… As a professional organizer, Laurie Noel Meek had a super tough time finding a the type of fun, modern, and totally functional office and home products that she needed for her clients. So finally, she did what so many other women do when faced with a challenge that has no good solutions available – she started her own company! Office Candy has seriously cool gear that will liven up your office space, or any kids back-to-school supplies.

Hot this Fall: Zebra print supplies for home and office

How much do you LOVE this stuff, right? Black and white is always a winning color combo – every year, every season. And these fun zebra print accessories just give it a little more pizazz! I’m totally going to have to pick up one of these great file folders – such a sleek way to carry my files to meetings with clients, or even just to Starbucks to work {you know, without a bunch of kids running around the house wild while I’m trying to think….Lol}. And since I’m a bit of a clipboard junkie – I use ’em for so many things to organize our home! – the pretty selection on Office Candy makes my heart smile a bit.

Life is too short to be boring!

One of my fave products from Office Candy is this stinkin’ adorable iPhone cover from Lilly Pulitzer. I am SUCH a big fan of Lilly Pulitzer prints – so pretty and feminine, yet still modern and right on trend. I adore this preppy color combo for summer – the pink and green are just so bright and fun. And it wears well – My cell phone goes through a ton of abuse, being thrown in purses and diaper bags, traveling, and being chewed on periodically by a toddler. {And yes, I have been known to spill a drink or two on my iPhone before. I claim that my phone is lush, and does it on it’s own. But that’s another story…} A few of the “pretty” covers I’ve used ended up looking worn out really quickly, so I had to stick with my industrial looking black rubbery cover to protect it. But – I’m very excited about this one from Lilly Pulitzer. Two months in, still perfect. {The pic above is what it looks like TODAY, after two months of use.} Rockin’.

More Lilly Pulitzer Products

If you’re a big fan of Lilly Pulitzer too – check out some of the other fun supplies you can stock up on to make your office space a little prettier too! {And, wouldn’t a big basket of these goodies make an awesome gift for a new grad heading off to college this fall?} There are a couple of other prints to choose from too – all totally deliciously pretty like this.

For great tips on getting (and staying) organized, check out Laurie’s Blog, or sign up for her “Organizing Tip of the Day” weekly recap email on her Organizing site: www.LNMOrganizing.com. And you can stay updated on new products and promotions by following her on Facebook and Twitter too!

And for more awesome office inspiration and ideas – check out my board on Pinterest!

{Disclaimer: I was provided with a complimentary product from Celebrity Baby Trend Expert, Rachel Florio-Urso to evaluate for consideration on this site – Only the best products make it onto Sunshine and Sippy Cups! All opinions here are 100% my own.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on July 13, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 1 Comment

Mix it up! Simple Summer Iced Coffee Drink Recipes

Amp up your Iced Coffee this summer… So by now, you all know that I am a full-fledged coffee junkie. Yep,it’s true. Without it, I’m just a floppy jellyfish, slithering out to the kitchen to get my first dose of caffeinated deliciousness. But with coffee, I’m able to transform from a mindless jellyfish into a total Super Mom…. “Faster than a speeding toddler, more powerful than those tough-to-reach dust bunnies, able to leap tall piles of laundry in a single bound….” Yep, coffee is what I’m all about. And, while I drink and love coffee in any form, from a basic home-brewed cup o’ joe, to a beautifully blended espresso drink at a coffee house – my favorite way to drink it is a homemade iced coffee drink. So I’m going to share a few of my favorite mixes with you ladies today!

“A MORNING WITHOUT COFFEE IS LIKE…. SLEEP.” – AUTHOR UNKNOWN

There are a lot of tutorials out there on how to make cold-press iced coffee at home – but they are kind of complicated, and I didn’t always get perfect results each time. Plus – how I am supposed to follow so many steps in the morning BEFORE I’ve had any coffee, right? A muuuuuch easier solution for busy moms is to pick up a carton or two {or three…} of the new Iced Coffee by International Delight. Seriously – I have never been a fan of any type of pre-made iced coffees before, but this stuff is perfection in a carton. No lie. And while I could chug buckets of it straight any day, it’s also fun to Mix It Up – and make some fun flavor combos using International Delight’s line of creamers, plus a few other simple ingredients. My VERY favorite is my Candy Bar & Cookies Iced Coffee – the recipe is coming, just wait…

“BEHIND EVERY SUCCESSFUL WOMAN IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF COFFEE.” – STEPHANIE PIRO

First step – Head to your local grocery store to pick up a carton of this awesome iced coffee from International Delight. There are three flavors to choose from, Mocha, Original, and Vanilla. I love ’em all – and any of them will work just great in these recipes. So – I use Original. If you want it a little sweeter go with Vanilla, if you want it a little more chocolaty, then grab the Mocha. You’ll find these in the dairy section of the store – they’re usually in the cases next to the milk and coffee creamers. But – I LOVED this giant bay of iced coffee at Walmart last time I shopped – so many glorious cartons of coffee…. total #IcedDelight.

“COFFEE IS A BEVERAGE THAT PUTS ONE TO SLEEP WHEN NOT DRANK.” – ALPHONSE ALLAIS

Next step is to grab some creamer… As you can see, there are a TON of awesome flavors of International Delight creamers to choose from. For the Candy Bar and Cookies recipe, I used the Peppermint Patty flavor – but there are a bunch of other super yummy candy bar flavored creamers that would work great too – Like Heath Bar or Almond Joy. So grab a few – and experiment with some mix’en and match’en.

“No one can understand the truth until he drinks of coffee’s frothy goodness.” – Sheik Abd-al-Kadir

By now your taste buds are shouting – “Get to it lady! Show us the goods – give us the recipe for this sweet iced coffee awesomeness already!” – am I right? So, drum roll please…. Follow these easy peasy directions to make your own totally amazing Candy Bar & Cookies Iced Coffee drink this summer too:

Candy Bar & Cookies Iced Coffee Recipe

Ingredients

Crushed Ice
International Delight Iced Coffee - Original Flavor
International Delight Creamer - Peppermint Patty
Oreo Cookie Ice Cream - One Scoop
Whipped Cream
Chocolate Sprinkles
Oreo Cookie for garnish

Instructions

Fill a great big ol' glass with crushed ice.
Pour the International Delight Iced Coffee over ice, until the glass is about 3/4 full.
Add a bit of the creamer {more or less, depending on your preference} - stir it up.
Scoop up a big spoonful of Oreo Cookie ice cream, and add it on top of your drink.
Spray a bit of whipped cream, shake on a few chocolate sprinkles, and add an Oreo cookie as a garnish.
Drink it all... Then make another!

https://sunshineandsippycups.com/2012/07/mix-it-up-simple-summer-iced-coffee-drink-recipes/

“Coffee is the best thing to douse the sunrise with.” – Terri Guillemets

Like I said earlier – Don’t be afraid to Mix it Up, and amp up your summer with some cool iced coffee creations. With so many awesome flavors of iced coffee and new creamers from International Delight, it’s super easy to mix up great recipes to enjoy in those rare moments you can sneak away for a little “me time” on the patio- and they’re perfect for summer entertaining. Here are a few other ideas to help inspire your own iced coffee creativity:

Iced Coffee Milkshakes: Crushed Ice, Iced Coffee, Creamer, and 1/3 package {small size box} of instant pudding mix, blended up. Soooo good! Use any flavor combos: I like to use Original Flavor Iced Coffee, white chocolate pudding mix, and Caramel Macchiato creamer.
Cinammon Roll in a Glass: Vanilla iced coffee, Southern Butter Pecan creamer, and a dash of cinnamon mixed up over ice.
Coffee Ice Cream Soda: This rocks – Fill glasses 3/4 full with iced coffee. Pour your choice of creamer in – just a dash. Drop a spoonful of ice cream to your glass. Pour club soda over to fill and fizz. Then top with whip cream and a cherry.

See what I mean? Once you get into it, there are SO many combos you can come up with! If you experiment with these flavors, leave me a comment letting me know what recipes YOU come up with! I’ll share some favorites on my Facebook page – so let me know in the comment if it’s ok to use your name, and leave a blog link if you have one :)

Mix it up: Simple Summer Iced Coffee Recipes – including Candy Bar & Cookie Iced Coffee! sunshineandsippycups.com/2012/07/mix-it… #IcedDelight #CBias

— SunandSipCups (@SunandSipCups) July 13, 2012

For more great ideas be sure to follow International Delight on Facebook and Twitter too!

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and International Delight. #IcedDelight #CBias #SocialFabric. All photos, recipes, and opinions expressed here are 100% my own.

Posted by Meagan Paullin on July 13, 2012 Filed Under: Food | 12 Comments

Why Skyhawks Camps Rock this Summer

Some of you may remember my trip to the Nike Campus a few months ago – I was invited to bring my nephew with me, who is a seriously amazing little sports super star. He just impresses me so much… Some people have two left feet, and are super clumsy. Well folks – I have three left feet I think. Lol. I can’t run, jump, catch, or throw. So when I see him beat team records and win all his games – It’s an amazingly proud moment for this auntie. Which is why when I found out aboutSkyhawks camps coming to our area, I knew right away I had to get him signed up and involved with this….

Affordable & Fun Skill-Based Youth Sport Camps

One of the things that I love most about these camps is their focus on safety. Kids are by nature little risk takers, and when they get into competitive sports, that drive can get the best of them, and guide them to bad decisions. But the Skyhawks team totally encourages safe, fair, and positive interaction – starting with the way that the coaches meet all of the parents in the parking lot during drop off time, through guiding the kids into the rec area – until the kids are released back into their parents care again. Seriously great.

Skyhawks Sports Academy offers week-long sports camps for children between the ages of 3 and 12. Since 1979, over 1.5 million children have attended a Skyhawks Sports Camp. For over 30 years, Skyhawks has been committed to providing a safe, fun, and skill-based experience for kids. Our camps and programs are offered locally throughout over 500 communities. The format includes traditional week-long summer day camps and year-round after-school programs that range from 45 minutes to 6 hours in duration, per day.

Find a Skyhawk camp near you by visiting – Skyhawks Camp Locations.

{Disclamer: I was provided with a complimentary item as a thank you for sharing this information with you guys. Only the best products, sites, and services make it onto this site – Yep, this camp is that good!}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on July 11, 2012 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | No Comments

“Share it Maybe” Sesame Street Parody Video #Humor

“I just met you, and this is crazy – But here’s my number. So call me, maybe?”… I’m guessing that you all know this song, right? I mean, how can you escape it? It seems to be on the radio every 1- to 15 minutes, it’s on every commercial, it’s referenced non-stop around the web… And like it or not, it’s so catchy that you’ll catch yourself singing along with it every time. {I even saw a blogger who made uh-may-zingly funny business cards that read – I just met you, and this is crazy – But here’s my handle. So tweet me, maybe?” And now this tune has spread all the way to Sesame Street! Check out Cookie Monster’s version of Call Me Maybe, by Carly Rae Jepsen….

But you’ve got cookies, so share them maybe?

Can’t see this “Share it Maybe” Sesame Street Parody of “Call Me Maybe?” video? Watch it on YouTube here. I found this today in my email – I’m a subscriber to the Muppet Central forums, and get fun little updates like this once a week or so. Love it – and to be honest – I totally prefer Cookie Monster’s parody version of the song to the original. I’m a big Cookie Monster fan… :)

What do you think?

Leave a comment on this thread on Facebook, and vote for your favorite version of the video – Cookie Monster, or Carly Rae Jepsen? {And if you have any other fave parody videos, leave me the links so I can get some laughs checking them out too!}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on July 11, 2012 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | 4 Comments

Custom Little Girl’s Birthday Bash Giveaway Package – $500 Value!

The Girls are So Much Fun & Addilyn’s Turning 1 Birthday Bash Giveaway is now LIVE… This super sweet event will run from July 10th – July 31st, 2012. I am so excited to have partnered with the amazing bloggers, crafters, and brands to to bring you guys this seriously huge prize package – check it out…

Brought to you by This Girl’s No Expert, This Mom’s No Expert, Wiregrass Parenting, Swanky Moms Club and Just A Marketing Momand Co-Hosted by There’s A Contest For That, Mom ‘N Daughter Savings, Giveaway Overload, Cherished Handmade Treasures, Adian’s Brain Balance Journey & Writer, Mother, Other.

Sweet little Miss Addilyn Rose, is turning 1 year old and we are kicking off her birthday with a BANG by bringing you this CUSTOM LITTLE GIRL GIVEAWAY WORTH $500!! [Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on July 10, 2012 Filed Under: Giveaways | 10 Comments

How to Keep Your Budget for Summer Fun Right on Target

Make this year a “Big Honkin Summer”… As you’ve probably already noticed, I’m kind of an entertaining junkie once it gets to summertime. We’ve got a big in ground pool, patio, and field for kids to run in – so we’re the official gathering place of most of our friends and family. And I love that. Love-love it. And what I also love is creating cool new stuff to make the kids smile – whether it’s a new box of outdoor games, ingredients for summer parties and bbqs, or sweet gear and toys for the pool – Target is the destination for everything my family needs to make the most of summer. For real. {Remember how I told you that Target was dangerous for me? That big red eye hypnotizes me into buying so many trendy and affordable household decor and gadgets every time…}

Making the Most of Summer…

When they say, “Whether you are traveling to the beach or just want to keep the kids busy, Target has all the summer essentials at great prices to make the most of the season” – they are not lying to ya, my friends. We all know that Target is a must-shop destination for home decor and summer fashions, right? Well, they’ve also got a seriously cool selection of stuff for summer fun. If you’re ready to kick your summer up a notch, look for the big beach balls, sand buckets, and sunglasses throughout the store to guide you to sweet summer gear. I stocked up on a bunch of great goodies, so that I have something new to bring out once a week to get the kids excited again. I like to make sure they spend their time playing games outside, in real life, versus on the darn XBox all day! And there were SO many totally fun options – I got a whole kit to build our own Lemonade Stand {watch for that coming up soon – you’ll LOVE it. We’re going to set this up at our next BBQ, and let the kids sell drinks. Too fun.} We also got a giant badminton set, a golf club that the boys LOVE, and crafty supplies like the Modern Board Book kit, to keep that summer fun going even on rainy days. {This sweet craft line from Todd Oldham is amazing – and it’s all under $20 bucks!}

Creating summer memories with the kids

I love bringing a little bit of the unexpected to our normal daily routines. That’s why I love stocking up on those affordable summer toys and gear – just to have random surprises to bring out once in a while. I also have a ton of fun putting together silly foods like this – My Octopus Cupcakes. They’re super simple {I’ll put up a tips post for them tomorrow!} and were a huge hit with the kiddos at our last swim party. That’s another reason I looooove to shop at Target – Not only can I pick up the gear that I want, but they have a really great new grocery section, so I can get the snacks and treats there too. And myohmy – it’s MUCH quicker than shopping at Walmart. {You all know what I’m talking about, right?}

Use the Summerizer App for even more summer fun

You can also make the Target Facebook page your online summer destination – click on their Big Honkin’ Summer-izer App to add some fun summer flair to your photos – like this one of Abby. Cracks me up – Love this. It’s incredibly easy peasy to use, with lots of cool options, and you can share your creation right to your own Facebook albums. And – if you make a fun photo here, stop by and share it on MY blog wall too – I’d LOVE to see the fun pics you come up with. And you can even have these printed at your local Target Photo Center too, super cool.

So – Shop Target for summer fun this year. Totally affordable, absolutely adorable – keep your summertime fun budget right on target!

{Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Target and received products to facilitate my review, and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on July 10, 2012 Filed Under: Shopping | No Comments