Shop Update: Passion Project

Today we are launching a new product. One that I think of as my passion project. One that will help kids with special needs. One that will give to charity. One that I have anxiously awaited sharing until I knew that it was exactly as I envisioned it.

I'd like to introduce you to the Vessel Handmade Weighted Blanket.

Beyond the pretty fabrics on this specific blanket. Further than the lush minky backing. This blanket serves a purpose. Weighted blankets have shown useful in helping kids with autism, sensory disorder, ADHD, as well as babies that have been drug exposed. For those of you who know our story with Little Man, you know how dear I hold this product.

We will be starting out with two general sizes and varying weights. As interest or demand grows, we will move on to other sizes as well. Weights will be decided on by you, according to the person using the blankets.

As far as fabrics go, we are calling it Semi-Custom. Custom because I will allow the buyer to give ideas, color schemes or themes. Only Semi because as much as I would love to promise exactly what you are envisioning, it can be very hard to locate fabrics to fit everyone's dream design.

The layout, I will work with you to an extent on a style of quilt you would like. More extravagant layouts may require additional fees but in the same sense, if you want something more simplistic, I will work with you on pricing in that regard.

As I said, the blankets listed for now will all be semi-custom. I am however working on a way to do some cost effective blankets. We have seen first hand the difference a weighted blanket can make but they can get expensive. I will be finding basic flannel fabrics and doing one fabric on each side to offer a more inexpensive option for those who need it.

To sweeten the blankets just a little more, a portion of all proceeds will be donated to TACA (Talk About Curing Autism). To learn more about TACA, visit them at tacanow.org

If you are interested in purchasing a weighted blanket of your own, simply click here to get started.

Protein Smoothie

Lately I have found myself in a weight loss rut. With only 10-15lbs left to lose, it has been a little discouraging to see the scale sit still. Instead of pouting over pounds, I have changed my mindset to toning. In other words, add muscle. Not bulk up, just go from flab to toned muscles.

After a good work out, I seem more and more drained. I decided to add a tasty protein smoothie. With chocolate. Because, it's chocolate. Of course I am using dark chocolate, as to not defeat the purpose of working out. Oh and oats, to keep myself feeling full.

This smoothie has quickly become my favorite after workout evening snack.

Ingredients:

1/2 - 1 Full Banana

2 Tbsp Peanut butter

3/4 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk

Handful of spinach

1/8 cup cracked oats

1/4 cup Dark Chocolate Chips

Ice

Simply put all of the ingredients into your Nurti-Bullet, Ninja, Blender or whatever you use. Then, enjoy!

Advertising

In the past few months, I have had a few etsy shops ask when I would be opening up the blog for sponsors/advertisers. This thought hadn't even crossed my mind to be honest. My blog has gradually grown, so I guess I hadn't realized I had reached that point.

After doing some research, I discovered that I had in fact reached that point months ago. So I did what any good business owner would do...I procrastinated. I set a number in my head that would make me comfortable with actually charging people to sponsor. Within a month I reached it. And then reached it again.

Y'all aren't helping me with this procrastinating thing. You bless me and humble me like crazy though.

All of this being said, I have decided to offer advertising here on the blog. See that new button over there that says "Your ad here"----> Starting in March, I will be opening up that space for advertisers.

I did more research on how much I should charge and what I should offer. I am so excited for this. I had procrastinated so long because I wanted to make sure I had something to offer for my sponsors. So being able to finally say it is time, oh man, is it a rush.

So here is some info on sponsorship (it can also be found in our nav bar under advertising):

 With 8,000+ unique visitors to Vessel each month, your blog or shop will be noticed by many potential customers. Although Vessel is not the largest blog around, I have found that my readers value my opinion and recommendations on products. Here are a few more reasons to advertise with Vessel Handmade:

Monthly Unique Visitors: 7,000+
Facebook Followers: 376
Twitter Peeps: 345
Pinterest Followers: 271
Instagram Followers: 556

All of my blog posts are shared through social media, resulting in increased opportunities for your ads to get viewed!

Camarones a la Ajillo

When we first got the call that there was a baby who needed a home, ethnicity meant nothing to us. When Little man was placed with us, the color of his skin was irrelevant...although the perfection of the tone made me a little envious.

It wasn't until a few months later, while talking to a mama with an older child that I realized that to him, it may be a struggle later.

What I am referring to is the confusion as to who he is. Where he came from. And do not tell me that he lives here, so he is American period. Do. Not. Go There. Little man is half Dominican. One of his birth parents was born and raised. His culture is important. It is a part of who he is.

How can I as a white mom ever show him that part of himself? I can try. I mean I will never be able to roll my R's and speak Spanish to him. Even when I try, I sound ridiculous. I can however, read him books. I can cook him food. I can figure out how on earth to style that wild hair, that turns to the most beautiful ringlet when you use the right product.

There are many things I am not looking forward to when it comes to explaining things about his ethnicity. Let me tell you one thing though, showing him his culture has been a blast! Dominicans know how to eat.

You didn't know this post was going there, did you? I mean unless you read the title. This is one of my favorite recipes that we have tried so far. I mean, of the ones I can actually eat while dieting. Queso Frito is the best food ever. You know why? Because it's Fried Cheese. I mean do you need more of an explanation?

 So indulge in Little Man's Culture with me, will you?  

Camarones a la Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp)
1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 cup butter
1 Green Bell Pepper, sliced
1 Large Onion, sliced
10 Cloves of Garlic, minced <---- yes, you read that right.
1lb. Large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 Cup tomato sauce
1 Tbsp Dried Parsley
1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions
Heat both Olive Oil and Butter over Medium heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook for about 5 minutes, or until your onions are soft and translucent.

Add garlic and cook until it becomes fragrant. Usually about 1 min. Next, add in the shrimp and cook for minutes on each side. The shrimp will turn opaque.

Stir in your tomato sauce, parsley and red pepper flakes. Cook until the sauce is warm.



Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve over rice (I use brown rice), with black beans...always black beans.

Then and Now

About a year and a half ago, I started sharing about my weight loss. I had a goal in mind and was ready to get to a healthier and happier me.

A happier me came but not because I lost the 25 pounds that I had set out to. It was because I found out I was pregnant! So instead of losing, I started gaining. In the best possible way of course.

Since having Corbin in July, I have been back at it. I haven't shared here yet. I am not sure why. I am so excited to let you know though, that I have reached my goal. And then some.

When setting that goal, I really didn't think it was possible. I was discouraged with where I was. I am still not quite happy with where I am. Even after losing a few extra pounds. Honestly, my body is just different after having kids. Go figure. The weight I am at now doesn't look like it would have pre-babies. Again, rocket science, I know.

I am setting a new goal. Not a goal that I am insistent on reaching but a pie in the sky kind of goal. I am on my second round of the 60 days Body. Mind. Spirit challenge and the weight isn't falling of as easily as it was the first time around. I'm at that point of slow and steady-ish.

Anyhow, I am coming back to you with more healthy tips and recipes as I learn myself. Ignore the unhealthy recipes I will be posting here (when I am done with the BMS challenge). I do better when I don't deprive myself.

I'd love if you'd follow along. Offer tips and advice. I will share them with other readers as they come along. I'd love to share your success stories as well.

Just for some motivation I thought I would share some before and after shots. And some numbers.

Not gonna lie, I am super embarrassed to do this. So out of my comfort zone. I see other people share their photos and I am thrilled for them, I get ready to share my own and cannot believe that I am showing the before. Eek.

This was shortly before my first post about losing weight. 34 pounds heavier than I am now. Unfortunately, I didn't take measurements back then. From the beginning of the first BMS challenge until last month, I had lost a total of 12 inches.

Looking at these pictures, the weight is obvious but the way I feel is 10x more. I can run around so much more. I am in a better mood...most of the time.

I want to continue feeling this way. So here we go to the next 10-15 pounds. I can do it. Who's with me?

Cottonelle Clean Care for the Kids

“This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Cottonelle but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #CtnlCareRoutine  http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO”

No potty talk. It's one of those rules that we have to repeat a million times a day. Maybe I'm slightly exaggerating. With my kids though; poop, fart and butt equals funny stuff. So, the no potty talk rule was born.

Today, we are breaking that rule. It's all about the potty talk right now. Why? Because I've got two in diapers, a recently potty trained 3 year old and a 5 year old who still requires some follow up after going number two. This mom wipes a whole lot of butts and it's time to hand over some of the work.

It's my goal that before I start potty training Little Man, the two big kids will wipe their own bottoms 100% on their own. With no skid marks in underwear. It's a lofty goal,I know. To top things off, I'm in a time crunch. Little man has been stripping down and wait for it...playing in his poop! So we need to get this show on the road.

Recently, we put our plans into action. I informed the kids of their new responsibility and hung some friendly reminders (sorry guests who visit our bathroom). Of course, I'd be there for back up and quality control but the actual butt wiping would be their own duty...no pun intended. Things were going great. 

And then. The messy poop came. Talon didn't bother to inform me. He just went and did his business. He wiped. Then wiped some more. Until he used an entire roll and came to get me when the toilet was overflowing. It was horrible. It happened numerous time but I was determined. I couldn't give up. Little man needs to move from diapers to pull-ups stat.

That is when I decided to make things easier on the kids and my sewage line. I went and picked up some Cottonelle Cleansing Cloths and Clean Care Toilet paper from Wal-mart.

Why didn't I think of this before. The cleansing cloths get their booties clean with minimal effort (and waste) in no time flat. A little follow up with the clean care toilet paper has them dry and feeling like the big kids they are becoming.

By golly, I think they've got it. I am down to only wiping butts that are in diapers. One problem. My excuse for potty training Little Man is gone. I can see it now, poop art everywhere. Pray for me. 

I'm gonna stick to the positives for now though. The kids are going to be able to wipe themselves from here on out!!!! I was even able to buy to go packs of the the cloths so we can stay clean in public bathrooms as well.

It couldn't have come at a better time. Currently you can visit Cottonelle for some coupons and at Wal-Mart, when you purchase BOTH Cottonelle Cleansing Cloths and Clean Care toilet paper in store during the month of February you will receive a $5 Vudu offer. If you haven't heard of Vudu, it is like RedBox and offers HD movies. Gotta love a good savings and bonuses combined!

To receive the offer you you need to do as followed:

• Take a picture of the receipt showing that you purchased both items
• text or email your picture to clean@drvsusa.com
• You will receive a text or email back with a code valid for a $5 movie credit
• you can get more information by going to www.DRVSusa.com/cottonellemovies

Smoke and Shimmer

***This is a sponsored post with CoverGirl but all opinions are my own. The Walmart gift card and information were provided by CoverGirl.***

I get e-mails or messages daily from you lovely readers and our fans on various social medias asking one simple question: "How do you do your eye make-up?". Or some variation of that question. So I thought I would do a few posts showing different ways I play with my eye shadow and eyeliner.

Today this is the look we are going to achieve. A smokey shimmery eye.


Are you ready?

What do you think? Not to difficult right?

To finish off the look I added my Mineral Powder foundation, a dark blush, filled in my eyebrows a tad and of course added a hint of color to my lips.

In this video I mentioned the bombshell collection by CoverGirl. I am loving the new products and think you should try them. So head to Wal-mart to pick them up at some ridiculously low prices. You especially need the mascara. It's the bomb.com for real.

Lucky for you, you have the chance to buy a whole bunch of it with ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS to Wal-mart. Whaaaaa? That's right, CoverGirl is giving one lucky reader a $100 gift card to Wal-mart. It could be you. So enter. And tell your friends to enter. We want to know what kind of eye you would all like to achieve. Cat eye, smokey, everyday? What's your fav?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here's a little more info on the Cover Girl products used here:
Bombshell Collection Information
Taking cues from the new wave of bombshell beauty, with sexy starlets gracing magazine covers and lingerie-inspired looks on the runways, women are craving beauty tools that will help them stand out and feel sexy. So obsessed with achieving an over-the-top lash look, many women are “cocktailing” multiple mascaras, applying several different formulas to achieve the desired volume and definition.

COVERGIRL Bombshell Volume by LashBlast™ Mascara
Bombshell Volume mascara is now the best-selling CoverGirl product at Walmart*! This entirely new mascara experience, unlike any other two-step offering available, features a first-of-its-kind Boost System that has two brushes and two formulas for MEGA VOLUME and DRAMATIC INTENSITY.  It’s time to take lashes way beyond big.  Shades: Very Black, Black, Black/Brown and Brown
-          Step 1: Extreme volume basecoat that loads on the volume with a big brush and mega-volumizing formula to thicken lashes; the result is volume that’s even and clump-free
-          Step 2: Dark, intensifying topcoat that seals the look with a dark, smooth finish; the proprietary micro-thin lacquer offers maximum impact and lasting power in just one coat

COVERGIRL Bombshell Shine Shadow by LashBlast
With big sexy Bombshell volume, you need sexy shimmer and shine shadow that lasts all night. Shine Shadows feature reflective pigments that play with light to bring dimension to any look.
-          Available in six buildable, blendable, get-me-noticed shades, each shadow is easy to apply and leaves behind a creamy shimmer finish.
-          Shades: Ice Queen, Platinum Card, Color Me Money, Gold Goddess, Copper Fling and Ooh La Lilac

COVERGIRL Bombshell Intensity Liner
Bombshell eyes can be intense – and your liner should live up to the look. 
-          Intensity Liner is a precision felt tip pen with a smooth formula that glides on for a little or a lot of deep, dark sexy. 
-          The longwear liner is available in two shades, Pitch Black Passion and Chocolate Kiss - both providing liquid intensity for 24 hours of sexy Bombshell eyes.