Author: lissa612@yahoo.com

Maxwells 5th Birthday: Star Wars Party

Maxwell is 5 Years OLD.  Let that sink in.  That means I have been a mom for 1,825 days!  Actually slightly more because I am writing this post about a month late.  But hey, better late than never:).  We are so proud of the little boy he has become.  Some days we can’t believe how mature he is and others, well he is only 5.  haha.  We had landed on a Star Wars theme for Maxwells party a couple months before his birthday because he was in such a phase.  Then quarantine happened and he started digging out all of his old toys again.  I am pretty sure he wanted another dinosaur party by the time his birthday actually arrived.  haha.  Whatever, you get what you get and you don’t throw a fit!!!  Jk, Jk, I considered switching themes but truthfully I was kind of excited about the stuff I had gotten to decorate, etc.  He LOVED it all anyways and had the best time!  Here are some of the fun party details!

I’m so bummed because I did not get a good picture but we made Aperol Spritz’s with BIG Star Wars Ice Cubes.  These are the molds/trays we used!  They were delicious.

I’m pretty sure Max’s favorite part was the HUGE water slide!!!  It was such a hot day we actually switched to the water slide version of a bounce house at the last minute.

(cookies are Sara’s Custom Cookies)

One of my favorite parts was all the fun yard games we had!  If you are local you must try out Backyard Shenanigans!!!  They bring all of these jumbo yard games to you for a rental fee and even come to pick them up.  It was so seamless and brought hours of entertainment.

One of my biggest party tips, if someone offers to help, take the help!!!  lol.  My neighbor made this delicious and very cool cake for Max.

And our friend Rob, made this Death Star Watermelon Fruit Salad.

I personally LOVE having a piñata at any party.  I just think it adds such an element of fun no matter the age.  This particular one is from Megans Piñata’s.  She makes all of her piñatas and they are AWESOME!!!

 

Here are some of the goods we shoved into the piñata!

Click here to shop

Balloons courtesy of Twee Partees and yours truly:))).  Storm Troopers compliments of Anagram.  Aren’t they so cool?!?!?

I love this picture.  It’s when my kids saw the ballon wall with the storm troopers for the first time.  They thought it was so cool!

The kids gave out these light sabers for treat bag items!  Didn’t get a good pic of this either.  I was obviously having too much fun.

Cheers to another year!

XOXO,

Lissa

****All links are affiliate links which means I make a small percentage of the sale****

Mother’s Day Gift Guide: Quarantine Edition

Happy Saturday!!!  Is is actually Saturday, idk, and I actually almost don’t even care.  This has all just become a big blur to me.  One of the things I’m most sad about is that I won’t be able to host my annual Mother’s Day Brunch with my mom, mother in law, and my grandmas.

But, we can all still buy practical and fun gifts to enjoy!  So I rounded up some of my favorites during quarantine.

 

Lets start with the obvious:  We all need a good coffee mug🙂

and Comfies!!  I love this set and this!

Then add the cute and cozy slippers because you know we are all still going to the mailbox!

A quarantine tee, because well, everything is fine!

A really cute t-shirt for lounging or even a zoom!  Comes in a bunch of colors

Self Care Essentials are especially important because even though we love those little humans that made us mothers, we all need Aphukenbrake!!!  By the way, this youtube video literally never gets old.  lol

A candle for bath time, and some lavender scented Epsom salts, trust me!!!

A cute wine glass for when you are enjoying that quiet relaxing bath!

And don’t forget the wine Subscription.  This is my personal favorite, click HERE for $22 off your first order!!!

And for when she(or you because lets be real also shopping for ourselves)gets out of the tub.

Self Tanning drops because we all feel better tan!

The best moisturizer

and lip gloss!  Trust me on this one, its life changing.

Dry shamps incase she(or you) chose not to wash her(your) hair!  This one is only $5 and is fabulous.

A cute necklace because well, we can wear necklaces at home!  This is a great layering one and I love this other one that you can personalize!

Last, don’t forget the comfy chair to put in the corner of her bedroom, family room, or patio!

And the cute cooler to boot!

Parker Thatch is one of my current favorite purses.  I love this denim crossbody and it sure would serve its purpose at the grocery store!

Definitely don’t forget flowers!  Bloomsybox is one of my favorites 💕.

I hope you all have the BEST Mother’s Day!!!  You deserve the world

XOXO-

Lissa

***All links are Affiliate Links which means I may make a small percentage off the purchase of these items.***

4 Uses for Peeps Marshmallows

I always buy Peeps because I think they are so cute!!!  However, truth bomb, I hate them.  haha!  They are so sugary and just do not taste good.  Obviously the kids love them so I bought a few packs and we have had fun this week!  I thought I would share 4 things we used them for!  I’ll save my favorite for last!!!

1-Peeps Puffy Paint

All you do is microwave one peep at a time in separate bowls for approximately 12 seconds.  Mix it up and paint!  I admittedly didn’t heat mine long enough and they got sticky the first time.  I also didn’t plan on doing this blog post so I don’t have the greatest pictures!

2- Peep Cupcakes

This one is pretty obvious, we just added them to the top of the cupcakes!  Aren’t they cute?!?!

3-Peep Playdough

I found this recipe here.  The kids really liked this and of course Emme was caught eating it!  lol.  Which is fine because it’s edible.

4-Peep Drinks for Easter

My favorite of all, add them to a drink!  Wether it’s got alcohol or not.  I had a ton of fun mixing drinks and food coloring.  The kids thought these were SO cool, and if we could actually have people over this year for Easter I would have these at the door upon their arrival.  I do believe you should still make it fun and do something extra special for Easter!

I hope this inspired you to use these cute little peeps for something this year!  Now, go make something cute:)))

XOXO,

Lissa

***This blog post uses affiliate links which means I may make a small commission.  Thank you for following along!***

Frozen Birthday Party

I love planning parties, I love decorating, and hosting!  Of course it’s more fun when you get to pick the theme and it’s something you are super excited for.  This year for Emerson’s third birthday it was without saying she was going to pick a Frozen theme.  Infact, she really just wanted an “Elsa” party.  So that is what she got!  When planning it out, I wanted it to be something she would love but also something I would love.  i.e. not too cheesy!!  Finally, here are all of the details.

The kids were super helpful setting up!  I think they were just so excited:).

 

We made this fun little table by using 2 boards(painting them white) and putting cinder blocks underneath.  It was super easy and the kids absolutely loved it.  It also added such a fun touch to the party!  I will definitely be using it again in the future.

When throwing a toddler party, even if it’s only for a couple of hours always add in something fun for the adults!  For the Elsa party I did a pretty basic Grazing Board and added in some frozen theme!  Check our my Full Blog Post on Grazing Board How To!  This post shares the exact items and materials, also my thought process on grazing boards.

I even added some of the Frozen II napkins for effect:).

I put my mom in charge of a Frozen themed drink for the adults and she did not disappoint!  She used this recipe she found on Pinterest and we tweaked it a bit!

Wanting to know more about all of the party favors?  Check out my full blog post on Frozen Party Favors.

Elsa was the entertainment and she was great!  All of the kids loved her.  She danced with them, sang, and even did face paint!  We used Traveling Princess Parties if you are local to us, I would highly suggest using Ashleigh!

Before the party Emme asked if Elsa was staying for lunch. We told her no because we assumed she wasn’t but to our surprise Elsa did hang out for a bit making Emme’s birthday a real fairy tale!

 

We originally were planning to order Chik-fil-a for the kids but then thought more about it and Emerson loves Happy Meals!  How fun is that?!?!  So simple, even comes with a drink.  Not sure why I haven’t thought to do this before?!?!?

Again, if you are local, I almost always order cookies from Sara’s Custom Cookies.  She does an amazing job matching my themes and they taste good!!!

Wondering about the balloon garland?  Check out this blog post with my balloon garland diy tutorial.

There was even a beautiful snow as Elsa was arriving at the party.  It really was magical, Thanks for following along!

 

XOXO,

Lissa

***All opinions are my own, there is no sponsored content, there may be an affiliate link or two in which case I earn commission if you make a purchase off of the link.***

Frozen Party Favors

Happy Happy Monday!!!  One thing I love more than an actual party is the favors.  I honestly don’t know why I love them so much because when on the receiving end it really is usually something the kids do not need and or just gets tossed in the mix of everything.  I just can’t help it and LOVE party favors!!  So for Emme’s Elsa Birthday Party, I ended up snagging a few items and put together these fun little play doh kits.  They were SO simple and the kids loved them!  Everything is linked HERE!

All you need is play doh, plastic containers, some fun things for the kids to use with the dough, and cute stickers!!!

I assembled these in about 20 mins without interruption from the kiddos.

One thing to note, I did order the large stickers, they were a tiny bit too big.  Go with the medium to ensure they do fit correctly.

I found these SUPER cute bracelets, they did take a couple weeks to come in just an fyi.  But how adorable?!?!

I always like to add some kind of cute stuffed animal that goes with the theme too.  I know we all have too many but I mean how cute is Olaf?!?!

I hope your Frozen Birthday Party is a dream come true for your little one too!

XOXO,

Lissa

***As always, all links are affiliate links.  If you purchase through them I make a small percentage.  Thank you for shopping through my links!***

DIY Balloon Garland

I LOVE Balloons, there is something so special about how fun they make a party or event.  I also always want to have everything at a party and I know that isn’t always possible from a financial aspect.  Things start adding up super fast.  For Emme’s 3rd Birthday, I took it upon myself to make a balloon garland.  This is actually my second attempt and honestly SO easy.  The first time I blew everything up on my own.  I can LOL at this now that I have an Electric Balloon Pump!!!

Click HERE to shop all of the supplies for my Balloon Garland. And watch my tutorial video below for all the simple details!

It’s seriously that easy!  And here is what we ended up doing with it.  We just tied a couple of strings where we wanted to attach it and used 3M hooks on the wall.

Check out Maxwell’s 4th Birthday party with the first Balloon Garland I attempted!

Good Luck, can’t wait to see all of yours!!!

XOXO,

Lissa

****All links are affiliate links so I may make commission off of the items you purchase. All opinions are my own****

 

Our Stay at Aloft Chicago Mag Mile

We had the pleasure of staying at the Aloft Chicago Mag Mile last weekend.  This was not our first time at an Aloft, infact it was not our first time at the Aloft Chicago Mag Mile either!  We stayed here with the kids a couple of months ago and enjoyed it so much!  For starters, I have always loved the modern and trendy feel you get when you walk into an Aloft.  The Aloft Chicago Mag Mile is extra special though!  Dusko and I met in the city of Chicago.  He lived in the South Loop and I lived in Lakeview, so the Mag Mile was a central point and an area we frequented.  I know a lot of people that live in the city avoid it but we have always been drawn to it.  So the Location of the Aloft Chicago Mag Mile is AMAZING!  It is 2 blocks east of Michigan Avenue, so you basically walk out and you are there!  Not to mention the 2 short city blocks are filled with good smelling chicago things such as Garretts Popcorn!!!  If you aren’t from Chicago do yourselves a favor and grab a bag of the “Garretts Mix.”  It’s the most wonderful blend of cheese popcorn and caramel.  Infact, it actually used to be called…..the “Chicago Mix.”

The staff at the hotel was top notch, the manager Chris welcomed us with this wonderful basket of snacks and spirits:).  And can we talk about how festive and cute the hotel tree is?!?!?!

One of the most important parts of staying at any hotel is the beds!  And I must say, these are comfy:).

Breakfast at the Aloft didn’t disappoint either.  They offer, sweet, savory, and vegetarian items.  My favorite was The Ranchero.

See what I mean about the modern and trendy feel?  Yes, I won in our game of pool!!!

Did I mention there is complimentary coffee every morning?  Because that is also super important when traveling.

The last time we stayed here we also utilized the hotel pool, which is AWESOME!!  Below are a few pics of that trip because the Aloft Chicago Mag Mile is such a great place for families too!

 

XOXO,

Lissa

***We were gifted our most recent hotel stay at the Aloft Chicago Mag Mile, all opinions are my own***

Stocking Stuffers Gift Guide

Stocking Stuffers, a girls best friend.  lol!  Who doesn’t love stocking stuffers?!?!  At my ripe old age of 38, I basically beg Santa(I mean my mom) to still get us stockings.  It was always my favorite.  I am not sure why because it is usually not anything you need!  But oh so fun!  Here are a few things I pulled together that in my opinion would be the perfect stocking!

  1.  CBD Caramels
  2. Sara Happ Dream Slip or Lip Slip
  3. Cute and Cozy Boot Socks
  4. Primally Pure Charcoal Deodorant(Code:  theblissfulmomma for 10% off)
  5. Yeti Coffee Mug
  6. Mascara
  7. Mama Necklace
  8. Brass & Unity Bracelet
  9. R+Co Dry Volume Spray
  10. Dyptique Candles
  11. Hand Cream

Happy Stuffing your Stockings!!!!

Xoxo,

Lissa

***As always, most links are affiliate links.  If you purchase through them I make a small percentage.  Thank you for shopping through my links!***

Giving Tuesday: You get what you GIVE

December is by far one of my favorite months of the year. For the most part everyone is extra cheerful, houses are brighter, the sweets are endless, and it’s the season of giving!  I LOVE to give ❤️. It warms my heart to give someone a gift you have hand selected that you think they would want and or need. But as I have grown older, I have started to understand a different kind of giving. Today on giving Tuesday I am going to share a couple of go fund me’s / organizations that are near and dear to me:). And if you feel so obliged, please donate to any one of them below. If not, that’s ok too. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Hopefully it will inspire you to give back in a way that you feel satisfied. 

Abbey, a sorority sister of mine was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Abbey is a wife and a mom of two sweet little girls. Every dollar counts ❤️   Click HERE to donate to Abbey

I met Amy in my Fit4Mom village. She’s always the one to make everyone else smile. Her youngest son, Avery Just turned 1. He was diagnosed with RMS, Rhabdomyoscarcoma, a rare muscle cancer found in children typically between the ages of 2-6.  Avery is 1% of children diagnosed with this cancer because of its location.  Due to his age, treatment is very difficult.  Click HERE to donate to Avery

One tail at a time!  My friend Stephanie set up this fundraiser and I couldn’t help but share it.  Let’s raise some money for our four legged friends ❤️. Click HERE to donate to One Tail at A Time. 

Every year I host an annual Ornament exchange with my besties. Last year I reached out to a local United Way to adopt a family as I wanted to add a “giving” element to the tradition. Only to learn I was too late. Instead they said they needed cleaning supplies to give to the mothers. So, cleaning supplies is what we raised. We were able to donate 20 buckets of cleaning supplies to local families in need and are planning to majorly surpass this number this year. During a month of over consumption of everything. A few dollars goes a long way to people that really need it. If you would like to donate to the cleaning supply fund. Please Venmo:  Alissa-Tadic

Again, thank you for taking the time to read this post. I know there are SO many organizations and people everyone is donating to.  These just happen to be at the top of my mind. 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤️, I hope you have the most wonderful holiday season ever!

Xoxo,

Lissa

Cyber Monday Deals!

Eek, Cyber Monday has always been my favorite shopping day!!!  I think I love that you can shop from home and almost all retailers offer free shipping.  Win, win!  A couple things to note:  This list is what I found online right now, 12/1/19, it is definitely subject to change.  I am going to update as I see things but click the links to be sure:).  Keeping this short so you can go shop!!!

Amazon:  Where do I begin?!?!?  This weekend we bought A Lot of tech stuff.  Echo Show, Dot, iPad, laptop!  SO Many deals!!!

Abercrombie:  50% off and Free shipping

American Eagle:  50% off all sweaters and sweatshirts and free shipping

Anthropologie:  30% off everything!

Athleta: 20% off your entire purchase!!

Beautycounter:  15% off entire purchase, free ship for $50+

Dicks Sporting Goods:  25% off and free shipping

Dyson Vacuums:  Which happens to have my FAVORITE vacuum on major sale!!!  I’m talking $150-$200 off!  And how about a Dyson blow dryer!!!!  Eek

Express:  50% off entire store plus doorbusters and free shipping!

F21:  Trust me, just click here!!  They have sweaters starting at $8!!!  And hats/gloves for $3!!! Plus free shipping and 40% off of your order.

Francescas:  50% off ALL full priced items and free shipping

Glossier:  20% off everything and up to 35% on sets!

H&M:  30% off the entire store and free ship

Jane:  If you have never seen this site, so many good deals always!!!  Especially today!

J. Crew Factory:  Up to 80% off!!! code:  add2cart

Loft:  50% off your purchase, free ship!

Madewell:  30% off the entire site, plus an additional 10% off with code: YAYINTERNET

Nordstrom:  Up to 50% off

Nordstrom Rack:  Tons of DEALS!!  and 30% off clearance

Old Navy:  50% off the entire store!!!  Plus, open a store credit card and save another 20% off!!!!

Pottery Barn:  25% off and free ship!!

Primally Pure:  20% off with code:  theblissfulmomma20

Shein:  I felt like I read this wrong, lol!  but up to 80% off and other fun price pointed items!

Spanx:  20% off entire site!!!

Soma:  30% off entire store and free ship

TARGET!!!  I mean, doorbusters galore!!!  Insta pot for $50!!!

Ulta:  So many beauty deals, gift sets, etc!

Urban Outfitters:  Spend $50, $10 off, etc. etc.  etc.  Free shipping over $50

Walmart:  ALL the deals here!!!!

Warby Parker:  Just a great gift!!!

Williams Sonoma:  25% off the entire holiday peppermint bark collection and free ship

The links above are affiliate links, so If you click on them and make a purchase, I will earn a small percentage of it.  Yippee!  Thanks in advance for reading my blog, following along, and clicking these links!  I appreciate all of you!!!

XOXO,

Lissa

 

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