Summer — Page 7

Who’s Ready for Mom-garita Time?

That’s what I call this look I put together – the “Mom-garita.” It’s a breezy, relaxed look for summer…. Featuring a BIKINI. Yep, I’m serious. With the Nutrisystem diet this year, I’ve lost 15 pounds already, and plan to lose at least another 10 before we open our pool in mid-June. And – with the amazing support I get from the Nutrisystem team, I know I’ll be able to do it. Last year I missed a ton of pool-time fun because I was too embarrassed to show this post-baby body. But this year I’m actually excited to see myself in a swimsuit again. Good times.

How I’m Getting Bikini Ready:

There’s never just ONE change that you make to lose weight. It’s a combination of dietary changes, portion control, exercise, and mindset. I love that Nutrisystem combines all of those into one plan, making it a heck of a lot easier for me to stay on track. Here’s what I’m doing:

Following the Nutrisystem diet. I’m loving it. Especially that I get to have daily dessert! You can read my updates from the last couple of months to see my weight-loss progress so far.
Getting active. I am NOT a sporty person. At all. But, walking I can handle. So I recently started going for a 30 minute daily walk with Abby. I tell ya – pushing that stroller up the hills in our neighborhood is one heck of a workout! {Want some motivation to get active too? Learn my 5 gym bag essentials.}
Drinking more water. This is part of the Nutrisystem diet, and I even track how many bottles I drink each day in my daily log. I don’t like pop, so this wasn’t a big change. But I’ve been switching most of my other beverages – like milk and juice – to water instead. That’s a HUGE amount of calories saved.
Stay motivated and energized. I use the discussion boards A LOT on my personal Nutrisystem page, to get tips from people who are rockin’ the system, and just learn from other moms like me trying to lose the baby weight. I also made myself a big Dream Board type thing for the fridge door – it has my pre-baby “skinny pics” on it, and a bunch of great weight loss quotes.

I am uber duber excited for this summer – I mean, I always look forward to sunshine, BBQ’s, and good times. But I seriously cannot wait to reach my weight loss goals, and finally, FINALLY, be able to rock some great fashions again. It’s been a few years now….

Want to get YOUR pre-baby booty back too?

Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting Nutrisystem.com. It’s simple to get started, the foods are actually really good, with loads of variety. Heck – you even get to have chocolate cake or ice cream each night for dessert, how great is that? Get started today – it’s the best choice you’ll make this year!

READ MORE ABOUT MY NUTRISYSTEM WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY, AND FOLLOW MY WEIGHT LOSS BOARD ON PINTEREST TOO!

{Disclaimer: I’m receiving a complimentary membership and access to all Nutrisystem products and services, to review here for you. All photos, opinions, and results here are 100% my own personal experience – and may vary for others.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 8, 2012 Filed Under: Nutrisystem | 7 Comments

Are Your Kids Old Enough for a Motorcycle?

We’re a motorcycle family…

Does that surprise you? Do you picture people who ride Harley’s to be the rough ‘n tough type? Fueled by drugs and alcohol, chased by the law and their own bad reputations? Well think again – most motorcycle riders are the law abiding type, with families and good jobs – who just love to have a little bit of fun! This is me at an event we go to every year – it’s a big celebration, full of motorcycle lovers, and totally family-friendly. Good times.

Kids and motorcycles – safety first

This is my nephew – going for a super slow, and totally safe, ride around the park with a friend of mine, who’s one of the best riders that I know. {Yes, this was just a pose for the camera – they both put helmets on to ride!} My nephews LOVE motorcycles, and are always so excited to check them all out. They’re always super impressed during the “bike games” – where the riders show off their skills in some fun challenges. And of course, being little boys – they want motorcycles too, just like their daddy has! So…. What do you do when the kids in your life want a motorcycle, but are still too young to ride their own?

The Kool Rider – Makes your bike sound like a motorcycle!

Remember when we were kids, {you know, back in the old days…. with dinosaurs…} and we would use playing cards in the spokes of our bikes to make them sound louder? Well, the Kool Rider builds on that idea – but totally takes it up a notch!! It is incredibly simple to install, and they are seriously cool. My nephews are ages 5 and 8, and the older one can be hard to impress. We put this on his bike – and one of the neighbor kids came over to the fence, and told him that it sounded almost like his dad’s motorcycle. Oh man, was that a priceless moment!

Kool Riders in Action!

Isn’t this such a fun idea? They are incredibly simple to put on – my 8 year old nephew did it all by himself. The package comes with a piece of velcro that you attach around the bike’s fork, and then there’s the body of the Kool Rider that just attaches right onto that. Kids get to customize it with their choice of stickers, then pop it on and go! They’re super durable, super fun, and super affordable at only $9.95 each. {They recommend using two Kool Riders per bike – which does TOTALLY upgrade the noise level, to the total delight of the boys in our house.} This is such an awesome way to get kids up off of the couch, and into the outdoors for some active play and exercise this summer. Love it, right?

Buy the Kool Rider today on KoolRider.com! And make sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter, to stay updated on cool new products and promotions – included a Kool Rider version for toddler and beginner bikes coming soon!

Love it? Share it!

Love @HarleyDavidson, but your kids aren’t old enough yet for a bike? Try this fun alternative – sunshineandsippycups.com/2012/04/are-yo… #HarleyWomen

— SunandSipCups (@SunandSipCups) May 22, 2012

{Disclaimer: I received two complimentary Kool Riders to try out with my family, so that I could give you some honest feedback. All pictures, opinions, and thoughts are my own. We love this – and know your family will too!}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 10, 2012 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | 34 Comments

Spring Dresses are Here – Are You Ready?? #DialNutriskin

Are you ready for spring fashions?

Of course we’re all ready for the great changes that come along with spring – flowers, sunshine, fun outdoor events – but are YOU ready for spring? Spring fashion means sandals, dresses, bright colors – and smooth skin! Are YOU ready to rock your spring look? I know that for me, my skin gets a little bit neglected during those cold winter months, when it’s bundled up under loads of snuggly layers. Plus, I have pretty dry skin, and it always acts up a bit as seasons change. To be able to rock the fun spring dresses that are popping up more and more frequently at my fave shopping spots, I needed to get my skin smooth, soft, and lookin’ good again. I have so many events coming up – including a spur-of-the-moment trip to Texas in just over a week – so I’ll finally have opportunities to wear great outfits that I’ve been putting together on Polyvore, like this fun spring look above.

Shopping for Spring Fashion Essentials

There are a few things that I consider spring fashion essentials – Flip flops, sunglasses, a new pair of great wedges, a dress or two, bright accessories – and some fun beauty products including some moisturizing body lotions. You just can’t throw on those dresses if you’ve got yucky winter legs, right? I’ve heard some pretty awesome things about this new NutriSkin line of lotions from Dial, and love trying the newest products, so I was excited to give it a try.

Checking out the choices

My Walmart did NOT have a very wide selection of the new NutriSkin products to choose from – and I was pretty disappointed that they didn’t have my first choice, the Firming Replenishing style. {See the rest of our #DialNutriskin shopping trip on Google+} But that’s ok – I picked up a couple of others; I got the Extra Dry Skin version for me, and the Men’s style for the Mister. {He loves it when I remember to buy “dude products”, lol} – I had an outdoor party to attend later that week, so I was hoping that this stuff would be as good as I’d heard, and get me lookin’ good with a quickness – I had a cute denim skirt that I was eager to wear!

Lovin’ the results!!

I’m totally pleased to let you know that this stuff ROCKS!! I was totally able to let my legs out of their winter hibernation, and out into the sunshine at the party. Seriously – I used this stuff twice a day for 5 days. There is such a huge difference! I wish I could show you better photos – but since I’m working with just an iPhone for a couple weeks here, I couldn’t get any good close up photos. But if you suffer from a bit {or a lot!} of dryness, this stuff is going to get you ready for spring and summer, and all the awesome fashions that come along with it – and it’ll give you results fast. Love it, right?

Want to see more examples of great results? Check out StyleBeautyLife.com.

Follow Dial NutriSkin on Facebook & Twitter for updates on new products and promotions!

{Disclosure: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias. All photos, opinions, and results are 100% my own!}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 2, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 1 Comment

How to DIY your way to luxury outdoor living

We moved to a new home a little over a year ago, and it is such an amazing change for me – We went from a house that was super cute, but was right on a major city street in a not-so-great neighborhood, to a new home outside of the city with a HUGE 4-bay shop, wrap-around cement patio, and in-ground pool. Our first summer here last year was all about doing some basic clean up of the property – and a HUGE project getting the pool cleaned up and taken care of – But this year we’re ready to do some fun improvements! We loooove to entertain, and with the 100+ degree temps all summer here in Central Washington, our pool becomes the gathering spot for all of our friends and fam, which I love. So, I’ve picked out some totally uh-MAY-zing pics to guide me in transforming our space… They are all totally out of reach for me on my super limited budget, but they can inspire some more budget-friendly outdoor living DIY projects…

mediterranean pool design by los angeles landscape architect AMS Landscape Design Studios, Inc.

“One must maintain a little bittle of summer, even in the middle of winter.” – Henry David Thoreau

How awesome is this? From the built-in kitchen set up to the under-water bar stool seating, this is just incredible, right? We obviously are not rock stars or Mega Millions winners – yet – so this is out of reach. But, there are some cool aspects of this that we can use. One big goal of mine is to build an outdoor kitchen – and I’ve seen some awesome budget-friendly ideas like this amazingly cheap outdoor kitchen DIY using old cement blocks, or this outdoor kitchen project built around your existing BBQ. And while I can’t afford underwater seating – I can get us a few new fun fabric-covered pool chairs, so that we can carry our drinks while we float. Love those. {Plus, I use Swagbucks, and earn tons of free Amazon gift cards, so I can get at little cost.}

mediterranean patio design by los angeles design-build Alon Toker

“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” – Henry James

Doesn’t this make you long for a sunny afternoon and a good book? So perfectly lovely. But alas, my budget does not include funds for a beautiful white cabana. But, I am planning to make some pretty cushioned seating on our patio, like this fabric-covered concrete block bench. We have a ton of old block laying around, so this would be super inexpensive to build. It won’t be as luxurious as this, but it will still be a nice place to read and relax.

traditional pool design by austin architect Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects

“Summer will end soon enough, and childhood as well.” – George R.R. Martin

Something about fountains feels so childlike and magical to me. I was always so intrigued by any type of waterfall or fountain when I was a little girl. This is so beautiful, the way it falls into the pool. Love it. And I found a bunch of totally do-able outdoor fountain ideas that we can make on the cheap from TipNut.com! There are so many fun ideas on there.

asian landscape design by san francisco landscape designer Goodman Landscape Design

“It’s a smile, it’s a kiss, it’s a sip of wine … it’s summertime!” – Kenny Chesney

Since summer is all about outdoor entertaining for us, I want to have ways to connect all of our different outdoor spaces. There is a walkway from the pool area to the shop – and the guys spend a lot of time in there. We’re building a play area for the kids behind the shop, near the field – with a swing set, sandbox, and picnic area. Then we’ve got a path that winds around to the front of the house too. I love this ideas of using big stones to make a fun pathway, and this would be a lot cheaper than paving or making full brick paths. I love that it’s so simple and whimsical.

What do you think?

You can see more of my Outdoor Living ideas on Pinterest, check out my current favorite book, Backyard Idea Book: Outdoor Kitchens, Sheds & Storage, Fireplaces, Play Spaces & Pools – and be sure to follow along during the month of May, as I share tons of tips, ideas, products, and all the progress we’re making on turning our outdoor space into a super fun place. With tight budgets we’re not able to take a real vacation – so instead, I’ll show you some great frugal ways to make your own property a perfect place to spend your summer afternoons. Do you have any great ideas or tips to share? Leave me some comments!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 1, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 16 Comments

Daily Sunshine….

Today’s Quote:

“Delight in the little things.”

-Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936); poet and author.

It’s true… delight in the little things. Enjoy the sunshine, the last fall flowers, playing in the grass. The little things ARE the big things.

Make it a great day…

Posted by Meagan Paullin on September 6, 2011 Filed Under: Daily Sunshine | 1 Comment

Totally FREE Cooler Bag!

Get a FREE Cooler Bag!

All you have to do is head over and check out the Air Performance Heating website, and fill out a quick form with your shipping info.

When you’re done, you’ll get a message saying –

“Thank you for your interest in Air Performance Heating cooler bag. Your gift will arrive in the mail in the next 3 to 5 weeks.”

Super cool, right? I can always use more of these.

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Posted by Meagan Paullin on August 18, 2011 Filed Under: Freebies | 1 Comment

Kooli keeps swimsuits from snagging and buns from burning!

As many of you know, our new house has a big in-ground pool, and we were all pretty darn excited this year for summer! It’s been so much fun to be able to entertain, a lot, and the kiddo’s have a blast playing in the pool.

When Kooli contacted me to see if I’d be interested in trying out one of their cushioned mats, and sharing the info with you guys, I said of course! I hate, hate, HATE the way the rough pavement around a pool snags up the bottom of a swimsuit. I seriously have had so many suits get ruined this way. So I was pretty excited about this idea.

What is a Kooli?

A Kooli is a simple cushioned mat, made out of Neoprene, the same cool material that they make wetsuits out of. It’s really lightweight, and has a little elastic loopy band you can use to roll it up with. {I use the loop to hang it up on a little hook by the towels on the deck!}

“Kooli™ is washable, waterproof, slip proof, resistant to chlorine, sand and other similar abrasive surfaces.” That means it stands up REALLY well to the abuse that it gets out on our deck! We’ve left it out in the sun, it’s been thrown in the pool many times, and our deck is a rough concrete. But it honestly still looks totally new.

Takin’ it for a test drive…

You bet yer bottom it does! It’s such a simple idea, but it’s a seriously cool product. The kids love that it gives them a spot to sit that’s not hot, {our concrete deck and patio get SUPER hot during the afternoon} and I love that it keeps my swimsuit in good shape.

Not just for the pool!

These work really great for other events too- We have a local baseball stadium, and all of the seats are in direct sun, so the metal benches are SO hot when you sit down. We brought our Kooli along to a few of them, and used it for my littlest nephew to sit on, and it worked so great! Instead of crying because he hates those hot ol’ metal seats, he had a nice cool spot to sit… With a little bit of cushion even! {Yep, that means I needed to order more, for the rest of us!}

Get featured on their site!

You can check out more about the Kooli on their site: Kooli.com. And, if you have a Kooli of your own already, make sure to head over to their Facebook page, and share a pic of your family using the Kooli, for a chance to be featured on their website. Fun, right?

Why the Kooli Rocks:

Keeps the kids bottoms cool when sitting on the hot deck.
Keeps your {swimsuit!} bottom safe from snags!
Works great at sporting events, or anywhere you have a hot surface that the kids would have to sit.
Comes in your choice of 4 great colors.
Great quality, and can stand up to sun and chlorine while still looking new!
On sale now, for only $9.95!!

Stay tuned for more…

I am FINALLY going to get party pics up over the next week, and share some of the cool products we tested out during the party, some great recipes and crafts, and tons of fun games and ideas too! You’ll get to see the Kooli in use out by the pool, and see how much we love it!

What do you think? How would YOUR family use the Kooli??