good neighbors

i am originally a california girl. i grew up in the land where good fences make good neighbors. we knew our neighbors, at least those directly to our left and right. we could possibly borrow a cup of sugar or an egg on occasion (as long as it wasn't too often), but that pretty much summed up our neighborly social interactions. there was no front porch sitting. walks around the neighborhood could be done without acknowledging those you were passing. people pretty much stayed to themselves.

now i live in the south. to say things are different here is an understatement. neighborhoods are named. when people ask where we live, we give them the title of our neighborhood. the neighborhood becomes a part of our identity. neighbors know each other and each other's business. walking in the neighborhood is not a means of exercise. walks are social outings. fences are optional. kids play in front yards...lots and lots of kids. we know what cars each neighbor drives, how many kids they have and which floor model they live in. while all of this has taken some getting used to, i have officially decided that i live in the best neighborhood in the world. period. 

you man think i am exaggerating but i have proof to back up my statement. when i gave birth to my fourth and fifth born sons, my neighbors (they even beat out my church for this one) brought me meals for three weeks. that means meals for six. incredible. when my in-laws were in town, one neighbor brought over cookies, just so she could brag about me to my mother-in-law (my friend is a gem!). when another mother couldn't locate her son, masses of neighbors were out looking (he was eventually found...in a neighbor's house). when someone new arrives, they get visits...and sometimes treats. my kids don't lack for play dates, pool time or sleepovers. i know there are watchful eyes watching my kiddos wherever they go. if something is out of place, someone will let me know. if there is a suspicious car in the neighborhood, someone will chase it out (seriously...one mom followed a van for a good 30 minutes to make sure it was legit.) if there is a traffic jam, someone will post it on facebook (yep...neighborhood facebook page too). there are mothers who will help me at the drop of a hat. when one of our neighbors was diagnosed with cancer, dozens of neighborhood ladies stepped up to bring her a gift a week to show their support. literally...dozens of neighbors. when our lovely neighbor passed away from cancer, the neighborhood tied balloons on every mailbox so that as her sweet husband and daughter left for the funeral that day, they knew there was an entire neighborhood supporting them. 

we have bunco and book club, poker nights and ball games. we have meal trains and canned food drives. we adopt families at christmas time. we, in the most wonderful sense, do life together. we are not just neighbors, we are friends. we are not just friends, we are family. there is something so profound in that concept and i think it is worth sharing. it all goes back to the fact that we were not meant to be isolated. no one was ever meant to be an island. we are supposed to be there for one another. we are supposed to operate in community. somewhere along the line our ideas of independence and self-reliance have gotten in the way of how things were meant to be. there is something so wonderful about knowing that we are surrounded by people who support us, look out for us, and are there if we need them. it makes us feel settled and we couldn't be more thankful. 

so what if you do not live in a neighborhood like ours? that's simple: start one. be the catalyst for change in your own little portion of the world. bring cookies or fresh bread (you can do it!) to a new or new-to-you neighbor. introduce yourself to people you don't know. invite people over for coffee. offer to watch someone's kids so they can run an errand in peace (say "yes" if someone offers this!). do all those little things that you wish someone would do for you. create the kind of neighborhood you want for your children. people are craving interaction...not just on the computer or on the phone but face to face. people need hugs and plates of cookies and coffee and commiseration. so many of us are surrounded by people and completely alone. we don't have to be. give it a try. what do you have to lose but your isolation?

mmmmm, mondays: the best chocolate chips cookies ever

summertime means hours and hours of uninterrupted time with my kids. while i love spending time with them, i'm not going to pretend that they days aren't long and rough at times. i pretty much survive summer with baked goods...usually ones that involve chocolate. this week was no exception. i did share a few of these with my kids but the majority of them were my own to enjoy. they are the best chocolate chip cookies i've ever had. there is a dash of cinnamon in these that make these irresistable! enjoy!

chocolate chip cookies (the best ones ever)

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 cup flour

2 cups oats

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 (12 oz.) package chocolate chips

dash of cinnamon

preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

cream butter and sugars until smooth. add eggs and vanilla and mix well until creamy. beat one minute. add all the dry ingredients and the chocolate chips and mix well. drop by spoonful onto an ungreased baking sheet. bake at 350 degrees for 7-9 minutes. enjoy! (yields about 4 dozen cookies)

leaving a legacy

when i came back from her funeral, my lilies had just started to bloom. they were extremely late bloomers this year. i like to think it was on purpose. 

we have been blogging for a little over two years now. in that time, we have shared our experiences as we have lost friends to cancer. each friend taught us something and left a permanent imprint on our lives. my first sweet friend was lost in august of 2011. if you haven't read about leslie, she was honored in "the dreaded phone call." she left behind her amazing husband and two grown kids and managed to live to see her first grand baby. our second friend was lost in january of 2012. her story inspired "the art of being remembered." megan left behind her husband and two small children. this month, we lost our third beautiful friend to cancer. words cannot express the sadness that has come with the loss of each person but we have gained so much from each of their lives. each one of them has left an impression on us that will never be forgotten and a legacy that they are passing on to those left behind.

when i think of my friend, lara, i cannot help but be grateful for the time i knew her. we moved into our neighborhood very near to the time when her cancer was diagnosed. our now rising 1st graders grew up together. i have watched her fight through her disease. through it all, she left a beautiful legacy, a heritage for those who knew her and for her sweet daughter. when i think of lara, these are the lovely things i will remember.

she left a legacy of family. she loved her family. in a society where spouses are quick to diminish one another in the company of others, she stood out. she publicly praised and honored her husband. she was so thankful for him, for his love, for his care, for his friendship. she built up her husband and he adored her. she modeled a loving marriage for her daughter. that is a gift her sweet girl will carry with her forever. lara took time to invest in and bond with her sister, her best friend. she took time to relish in the relationships with her parents. most of all, she loved her little girl. even on days when she was not feeling well, she invested in the life of her daughter. she was there, smiling as her girl stepped off the school bus. she loved on her, created memories with her, and exemplified what a mother can be. lara recognized that her time was limited but i don't believe that is why she cherished her daughter, her husband, her sister, and her parents. that's just who she was.

she left a legacy of friendship. lara was a true friend and she inspired others around her to become better friends to others. she could make you laugh even in the midst of a horrible day. when i stepped on a school bus to yell at some screaming children (yep, i'm *that* mom), she publicly had my back and cheered me on. when our kids were in preschool and my son insisted on staying behind to clean the sinks in the bathroom because that's what's expected at home (once again...i'm *that* mom too), she praised me to others. she had just enough snark to make things interesting and to keep people laughing. she inspired a neighborhood full of women to become "supporting sisters" and secretly leave her gifts once a week. over the course of two years, there were 35 neighbors and close to 10 women from the preschool who brought her gifts. it takes an amazing friend to inspire that kind of love from others. 

she left a legacy of fortitude. i think this is true of almost anyone fighting cancer. they are the bravest, strongest, most resilient people i have ever known. she outlived and outfought the doctor's time frames. she went through countless medications and countless treatments with such grace and such courage. she fought for time, time with her husband, time with her daughter, time with her family and friends. i am so thankful for her strength. because she fought, we were all given more time with her, more memories. because of her strength and many answered prayers, her daughter has years of memories to take with her. 

she left a legacy of faith. even when things were hard, lara went to church and she brought her daughter. her little girl knew about heaven and when her mommy went there, she understood some about that amazing place. lara knew how important faith would be in her little girl's life and she planted those seeds in her daughter that will grow as years go by. what a gift that is.

when all the dust settles and all the emotions align themselves in my mind, one thing keeps resurfacing...gratitude. i am so grateful. i am grateful to have known lara and leslie. heather is grateful to have known megan. we are grateful for the time we had with each of them. we are grateful that they each left such amazing legacies for their children. their kids have a heritage of faith, of love, of strength and of laughter. we are grateful for what their lives and their deaths have taught us. we are grateful that all of their pain is over. we are inspired to leave a lasting legacy of our own. we are grateful.

mmmmm, mondays: nana's famous gluten-free chicken nuggets

 

while my kiddos are not gluten-free, my mom is and an increasing number of my children's friends are. 

these gluten-free chicken nuggets are easy to make and *freeze* beautifully as well. makes it a cinch to be able to pull some out of the freezer when a gluten-free pal comes over to play. not only are they gluten-free, but they taste *amazing*! my 3-year old, non-meat eater (by his stubbornness choice since birth will even eat them)....dare i say they are a miracle?!

•special thanks to my dear friend, wendy and her mom, "nana" for allowing me to share the recipe. xoxo•

ingredients:

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 cups gluten-free flour
half a box of rice crispies
3 eggs
6 tablespoons hidden valley ranch
canola oil
season salt to taste (we used nature's seasoning)

directions

•prepare chicken breasts by cutting them in to bite-size pieces

•add eggs and ranch dressing to a bowl and mix well (ratio is 1 egg per 2 tablespoons ranch--add more eggs and ranch depending on amount or chicken you are cooking).

•prepare a bowl of gluten-free flour.

•prepare a bowl or shallow dish of rice crispies (you can crush in a ziploc bag or just use as is).

•dredge chicken in the flour, dip into egg mixture, then dredge in rice crispies. 

•i prefer to prepare all the chicken and then fry after all are coated.

•using a large pan, fill half way with canola oil and heat. 

•once oil is heated, add the prepared nuggets. note: add chicken one piece at a time to prevent the hot oil from splattering.  

•cook chicken, a couple of minutes a side (depending on thickness and size of nugget), until golden brown and crispy on the outside and no longer pink on the inside. sprinkle with season salt and enjoy!

note: these nuggets also freeze beautifully! wait for them to cool then add to freezer ziploc bag and freeze. they are a breeze to pop a couple out when needed and microwave.

five fun things to kick off father's day weekend...

i am so thrilled to have this opportunity to share this insider news about the man of steel movie premier as part of this sponsored campaign from warner bros.

i find father's day challenging. i want to honor and love on my husband for his special day but we have entirely different ideas for the perfect gift. for mother's day, i'm thrilled to have a few moments to myself. my gifts are usually centered around giving me a break and a few moments away from my kiddos. when I'm home with five of them, who can blame my wish list? my husband, on the other hand, wants to spend quality time with the kids for father's day (who would have thought?) his work schedule doesn't allow for many special moments with the kids and those brief times he gets to spend with the fantastic five in the early mornings and late evenings leave much to be desired.

last year he asked for date nights with each of the kids for father's day. the kids loved this idea and they each were able to spend some quality daddy/kid time. this year we are approaching the weekend differently. instead of creating a bunch of smaller outings for my husband and the kids, we are enjoying a weekend of activities we can all enjoy. this works perfectly both for father's day and the first week of summer vacation. it's a win-win!

here's what we have planned...

1) thursday, june 13 - “movie night”

the new superman movie, "man of steel" is coming out just in time for father's day weekend. walmart stores are selling tickets for an advance screening of the movie. this is the perfect kick-off to the father's day weekend. while we won't be taking all the kids, (the movie is not really appropriate for toddlers and no one would appreciate my screaming child in the theaters) we will be able to take a couple of them to enjoy a “grown-up” night out. my husband and older kids are thrilled.

getting our superhero on in preparation. the baby doesn't look amused. good thing he's not invited to this portion of the party.

to get your own tickets, you can head to walmart and purchase your man of steel tickets in the electronics department. 

you will get to attend an advanced screening of the movie and, with the purchase of your ticket, you also get an exclusive digital comic book written by the author of man of steel, in addition to an exclusive opportunity to pre-order an hd digital download or blu-ray copy of the film. the man of steel screening will be shown at specified theaters on june 13th at 7 pm (early enough for some of the kids too). just check your local listings to see when it is playing. 

you can watch the official trailer here. it is definitely a dad-friendly movie. in my world of boys, it doesn't get better than this.

2) take me out to the ballgame

photo credit: erica caldwell/charlotte knights

it just so happens that my church planned tailgating at a minor league ball game on friday night of father's day weekend. remind me to thank them for helping me plan my weekend's festivities. we bought tickets for the whole family and we'll all get to sit and watch a game together. with the two little ones, we'll see how long many innings we last. still, totally worth it for some family fun time together. if you have a minor league team in your town, see if there's a home game next weekend. it's a great family night out.

you can search for a minor league team near you here:

http://www.milb.com/index.jsp

3) breakfast together

if you don't know what this pan is for, wait for the post with the recipe...oh man...is this pan dangerous.

sunday mornings are crazy at our house. we leave for church at different times and i'm the first one out the door at 6:20 am. that doesn't leave a lot of time for a father's day breakfast. we make up for it with a saturday morning breakfast. my husband is a sucker for everything sweet so these breakfasts usually involve sugar...and nutella...and butter. there's usually some batter involved in there too but those are the three major ingredients. for this weekend, we are allowed to break all the healthy rules. it's an easy environment to shower “daddy” with compliments and guide a conversation to bless him.

4) outdoor playtime

my husband loves the outdoors. he needs to get out of the house and do something away from the “normal” weekend chores and activities. this is especially the case on father's day weekend when he is craving an escape from the routine. after the sugar consumed at breakfast, an outdoor activity is a must. we are planning a trip to a walking path along a river near our house. it's a great place for the kids to ride their scooters and for us to push the strollers and talk. it's family time and grown-up time all in one. it almost feels like a date...just surrounded by children. sometimes we have to take what we can get.

5) fire pit family time

my in-laws bought us an outdoor fire pit one year. i have to admit, we don't use it very often but when we do, my family loves it. (i love it except for the smoky laundry i have to wash when we all come indoors...just keeping it real.) i bought stuff for s'mores. i figure we plan to start the day out with sugar, we might as well end it with sugar as well. it's best to go out with a father's day bang. at some point, my children will go to bed and sleep after the sugar crash. in the meantime, times around the fire are some of the best times we have talking with the kids (we usually put the baby to bed before we start to avoid the worry he would cause around a fire.) they love to talk and laugh and something about the intimacy of the fire opens them up to talk in ways they normally would not. that is father's day goodness wrapped in chocolate and marshmallows.

whatever your plans are for father's day, I hope you find time to honor the man in your life and to teach your children to do the same. father's are sometimes the forgotten parent in the grand scheme of things but they are so, so important. my husband is pretty amazing and i'm so excited to celebrate him next weekend. what about you? how will you celebrate the “dad” in your family next weekend?  

Purchase tickets to the exclusive pre-screening of Man of Steel [PG-13] on June 13th, 2013 at 7 PM at your local Walmart! Tickets can be purchased in th

e Electronics Department and include an exclusive digital comic book written by David S. Goyer, author of “Man of Steel”, as well as an exclusive opportunity to pre-order an HD digital download or Blu-Ray copy of the film.

• Go to your local Walmart
• Visit the electronics department
• Purchase your EXCLUSIVE Man of Steel prescreening tickets (available in 2D or 3D)
• Take your family to the theater location noted on your ticket and watch the EXCLUSIVE 7 p.m. premiere of Man of Steel on June 13th!

Learn more here!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Warner Bros.

a summer craft for kids of all ages: rose art color blanks

between the two of us, nellie and i have 7 kids.....and that makes for a lot of summer entertaining trying to keep them busy and happy.

we were fortunate enough to have the awesome people at rose art give us enough of their new color blanks for our kiddos to test out. color blanks are these super cool figures that are made out of a fantastic shatter-proof plastic. the individual sets come with three markers, some awesome decals and glue dots to allow for maximum creativity....and the rest is up to you.

sadly, nellie and i live on two different coast so our munchkins were not able to create together....but yesterday we both let the kiddos loose on the color blanks in california and north carolina and waited for their imaginations to run wild.

the kids all had a good time and it even kept our 3 year olds entertained! (a *huge* miracle bonus).

in the end, they each had a creature that they were proud of and are able to play with and not risk breaking ----a win-win in my book! i love that they each used their own imaginations and every figurine came out looking unique.

so, if you are looking for a fun and fairly inexpensive craft to entertain the kiddos this summer, pick up a color blanks by rose art---you will be happy that you did. 

Disclaimer: Nellie and I were provided with product samples but all opinions are solely mine and/or hers.

friday fun finds: netflix and the kiddos

I am so thrilled to have this opportunity to share my experience as part of this sponsored campaign from Netflix. While Netflix is sponsoring this post, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

about a week ago, a friend of mine asked if i could watch her sweet children while she attended her father's funeral. i was so thankful she had asked me and was absolutely willing to help in any way possible. her sweet babies are close in age to my own kids so i knew exactly what was in store for me. while my friend and her family took part in a sweet remembrance of her daddy, i sat in a little room in the back of the sanctuary with her babies where we were still able to see and hear the service but we were not seen and heard. it was perfect. the parents had so much on their plates that day that i was just grateful to be asked to help...and i came armed with a charged ipod and my netflix app. (if you're unfamiliar with the app, it's a free app and can be downloaded on multiple devices. for basic streaming, the cost is about $8.00 a month.)

the funeral service was so far over the sweet 2 and 3 year olds' heads that they were quickly antsy and needing a distraction. i passed over my iphone and the sweet little technically savvy ones jumped right on the netflix app without batting an eye. i hadn't spent a lot of time looking through the toddler programming but, seriously, i could have kissed someone in their corporate offices that day. when had netflix added a bunch of disney programming? i was so happily surprised and spent the next four hours (funeral and reception combined) moving from "mickey mouse clubhouse" to "mater's tall tales" with other pieces of disney in between. when their four year old brother joined the viewing, we just kept the party going with other choices. i have never been more thrilled with an app in my life (not to mention thankful that i came with a phone fully charged.)

armed with my new bit of netflix knowledge, i continued my love affair with the app over then next week when both of my youngest came down with a horrible virus and high fevers. the poor babies were miserable and didn't want to do anything but lay on the couch or on the recliners, snuggle and watch tv. i was able to keep them both happy with netflix again and the sweet ones loved having control of the tv viewing as well as my iphone (just for sick occasions). they were so well occupied that i actually had a chance to shower (i know, shocking!) and get some laundry done. again, i felt i should be laying a big thank you kiss on someone in corporate those days as well...if for nothing else than time to shower!

he finally got his chance...

i know it sounds as if i only use netflix as a form of childcare (sometimes that is the case, i'm not going to lie). the truth is that while i am thankful for the programming that allows me to get some things done, we also do movie night at our house and use netflix movies so we don't have to go out and rent anything. netflix has a dedicated kids section that has family favorites appropriate for children ages 2- 12. all content is selected with help from common sense media to provide ratings, reviews and information so i can easily make choices for my kiddos. as i am typing this, my kids are cuddled up together watching "the lorax" that we are streaming through our nintendo wii. they are spread out with pillows and blankets all over my family room and these moments are some of the most peaceful ones in our crazy lives. movie nights are moments when we get to be "that family"...the ones who post pictures of their kids hugging each other and holding hands on their way to school. while my kids aren't cuddling with each other, they are all in the same room and no one is trying to beat anyone else with a pillow. i'd say that's pretty much a hallmark moment for my family. all of this love and tolerance and i didn't have to leave my house to get a movie...that is nothing short of miraculous. 

so here is my public thanks to netflix. thanks for adding the new disney programming. thanks for the shower. thanks for making me a superhero when my friend needed help. thanks for entertaining my kids when they were sick. thanks for providing me with a great movie night with my family when i didn't have the energy to run one more errand today. thanks for making me look good. tell me who needs kissing in corporate. i'm on it.

what are you watching on tv with your family? netflix has family favorites from disney, disney jr., hasbro, cartoon network and dreamworks that are available to stream anytime, anywhere. and streaming is easier than you think! download the free app on your ipad, click on the netflix app on any gaming device, go to the website on your computer – and you’re in business.

check it out here!

this is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of netflix.

diy: building an outdoor room with a privacy fence

i grew up in california...the land where people believe that good fences make good neighbors. in the south, things are done differently. a lot of homes are completely without fences. backyards become big playgrounds for the neighborhood kids. people live in communities. i both love this and struggle with it at times. i absolutely love my neighbors but there are some days when i don't want to be visible for the world to see. i also like the idea of creating a space in my backyard that feels like an outdoor room. so, this is what we created...

we had an outdoor fire pit, a patio area and a metal and fabric canopy in one area of our yard. one day i'd love to build a pergola there but that will have to wait for a future post. to enclose a small portion of the patio and block off the lovely view of our outdoor garbage cans and the back gate, we put up two 8-feet sections of fence. you can purchase the 8-feet wide and 6-feet tall sections of fence at a hardware store for about $30.00 (at least that's what they cost here.) you will also need: (4) 4 x 4 fence posts, (4) 50 pound bags of cement, outdoor fence stain, some nails and a little bit of extra time.

lay your fence sections somewhere easily accessible and apply the stain first. you do not want to drip stain onto your patio area so this is a job best done elsewhere over a tarp of some sort. 

decide where you want your lengths of fence to go. you will want the good, flat side of the fence facing in and the railed section facing out. dig (4) two feet deep holes where you will place your fence posts. these holes need to be right next to your patio but they do not need to be in a specific place for the fence. as long as you are able to attach each 8-foot section of fence to (2) posts, you will be fine. each hole should be at least (1) foot in diameter and (2) feet deep.

fill each post hole with 1/2 of one of the 50 pound bags of cement. add water and mix to a thick but workable consistency. put in a fence post, making sure a flat side of the post is up against the edge of the patio. add the remaining 1/2 of the 50 pound cement bag and water. mix with the fence post in place. using a level, make sure your fence posts are perfectly vertical on all sides. allow the cement to dry. do this for all four fence posts. make sure you have stained all your fence posts the same color as your 8-foot fence pieces. 

once the cement for all four fence posts has dried, you are ready to attach your fence pieces. line up your fence pieces and use a level to make sure they are level. most patios are built with a downward grade so that water will run away from your house. you will not want to use your patio as a measurement for what is level as you'll end up with a crooked fence. using galvanized nails (i used 3 1/2 inch nails), attach the fence posts through front flat side of the fence section through the cross piece of wood and into the fence post. do this in several places along the fence post. i used two nails at the top, two in the middle and two at the bottom for each fence post. 

find some fun things to hang on your fence and decorate the space like it's a fun outdoor room. we have a ton of fun, painted pots that bring life to our patio. if you would like to learn how to paint outdoor pots so they will last, check out the diy here:  diy painted flower pots.

relax and enjoy your space. these are great areas to start an herb garden that you can use all year long...or just to sit and enjoy some beauty while your kids play. i'll take that any day.

mmmmm, mondays: southern mac-n-cheese

i am a born and raised california girl. i was transplanted to the south five years ago and, while i miss the great mexican food and in-and-out burgers that california has to offer, there are some things that are pretty amazing about the south. one of my favorite things about life here is that you can get macaroni and cheese as a side just about anywhere. it is pretty much considered a vegetable. i've tried a few recipes to replicate the goodness i can find everywhere and this is my personal favorite. if you are craving a piece of the south, make this up from yourself along with some sweet tea and you'll be ready to go. enjoy, y'all.

southern mac-and-cheese

2 pounds (2 boxes) of uncooked penne or macaroni pasta

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup flour

6 cups milk

8 cups sharp cheddar cheese

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

topping:

1 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1 cup panko bread crumbs


preheat oven to 350 degrees. spray a 9 x 13 pan with non-stick cooking spray. cook the pasta al dente (about 2 minutes less than package instructions). drain pasta, rinse in cold water, and set aside.

while pasta is cooking, prepare the cheese sauce. melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. add the flour to form a roux. add the milk and stir constantly until the milk begins to thicken (about 10-15 minutes). remove from the heat and add the cheese, salt, garlic powder, and chili powder. stir well until cheese is melted and sauce forms a thick, creamy mixture.

add the rinsed pasta to the sauce mixture and stir until well blended.

pour mixture into the prepared 9 x 13 pan (you may have a little left over). sprinkle with extra cheese, bread crumbs and chili powder. bake uncovered for 20 minutes. enjoy!

friday fun finds: hayden reis bags

a couple of weeks ago nellie and i spent the weekend surrounded by inspiring brands and bloggers at an event called mom 2.0. the fact that it was going to be held at the incredible ritz carlton in laguna niguel was a big bonus.....another bonus was having the privilege of sporting our own hayden reis bags and accessories. 

yep. all packed up headed from san diego to laguna. yes---it is only an hour drive. yes---we were only going for the weekend.....but a girl's got to be prepared. we joked and called ourselves part kardashian and part clampett. sad but true.

hayden reis is catching the attention of people everywhere, from celebs to mamas like us. hayden reis is a line of high quality bags made in the usa of fine sailcloth (water-resistant, sand-resistant and durable). they are amazing beach bags for that summer vacation you are planning or local romps to the beach....they also make a great pool bag, accessory for a park picnic or a fab weekender bag. nellie and i even used the wristlet for a pop of color while out for a dinner event! 

while we dreamed of using our bags while lounging at the pool or beach (which did happen once, briefly). the reality was that we were so inspired and fortunate to listen to so many amazing speakers, connect with brands we already loved and meet so many quality women (and men) that we ended up using our bags mostly indoors. we were on our feet for most of the days and our bags were filled to the brim with business cards, our water bottles, ipads and fantastic swag. the bags were so well made that our shoulders didn't  hurt and we had *so many* people coming up to us asking us where they could get their own hayden reis. the cute bags we sported were striped and the largest "ditty totes" style. the hayden reis line also features a range of style and sizes of bags to fit every event or lifestyle. 

look! my bag even made an appearance in the dove suite during our shoot!

another favorite feature is that the tag is attached with a super cute hair tie!! they think of everything!!

we didn't even get the chance to show off the beach buds/swimsuit bags or sunscreen bags! be sure to follow our instagram, facebook and twitter feeds because this girl is going to be at the beach and the pool *a lot* this summer and you will for sure see them popping up in pictures throughout the next few months. 

you can find hayden reis bags for purchase online and in a growing number of retail locations. you can also follow them on facebook, instagram (@haydenreis), twitter and pinterest. 

happy shopping! hope you enjoy the bags as much as we have! 

Disclaimer: Nellie and I were provided with product samples but all opinions are solely mine and/or hers.