Workout Motivation: New Dress

There is nothing better to motivate a girl to stick to her diet/exercise routine than a new dress. This is THE dress that I am lusting over for this Spring/Summer season - although, I want it in black.  But, I don't want to buy it until I've reached my weight loss goals.  So, as a reward for my hard work, I may try to talk the hubby into buying me this when I've reached my fat loss goal.

Dress from Juicy Couture

I Heart Marshall's

Some people actually stay away from stores like TJ Maxx and Marshall's.  My BFF was afraid to go in because she didn't want to have to "dig" for what she was looking for (plus, let's face it - it just feels more 'special' at times to treat yourself to a full-priced item at Macy's).  However, our downward economy drove my reluctant friend to venture into a TJ Maxx and now she's a self-proclaimed "Maxxinista"!  And why shouldn't she be because those stores are awesome!  Why?  Because it's a little bit like a present - you don't know what you're going to get!  You may walk in one day and find a $298 BCBG dress for only $40, like I did.  The next day you might find a pair of Nine West flats marked down to 20 dollars.  Or, you could score some super cute home decor for super cheap.  Some days I go in and find nothing that interests me, but other days I score BIG TIME.  Like last week, for instance.

As my mom and I were walking up to Marshall's, I mentioned to her that I would be thrilled to find a set of high thread count, twin-sized sheets for my son's bed.  I'm ordering 'space' themed bedding from the Land of Nod, however, I did not want to pay $70 for their sheets since they were only 200 thread count.  I figured I'd settle for a set of plain, light blue sheets instead.  I wanted high-quality sheets for no more than 20 bucks...Mom looked at me like, "Yeah, right.  You'll never find that."  Well, I did!  I made my way down to the home section, turned onto the bedding isle and there they were - a set of 310 thread count, twin-sized 'space' sheets for $19.99, complete with space ships and planets in the same colors as the bedding I'm ordering!  It's as if God had been listening in on our conversation.  He knows I'm on a budget so I think He leads me to the deals :o)  I'll post a picture once I have all of his bedding in place.

Remember my Ode to a Tea Kettle?  Click that link if you didn't hear about the heart-wrenching loss of my beloved Martha Stewart tea kettle and my search for a green, vintage-style tea kettle to fill its spot.  I walked into Marshall's and was completely shocked and delighted to see the green Chantal tea kettle I had been considering.  The best part is that it was priced at $29.99 instead of $39.99 and I didn't have to pay shipping!  

The spot on my stove is no longer vacant and I'm enjoying having a tea kettle that whistles. 

It's as if God Himself had placed that green tea kettle there just for me!  Why would God care about a tea kettle???  I'm not sure, but I know He cares about me - in fact, He cares about every one of us.  I think He takes care of the little things in life at times to let us know that He cares about every aspect of our lives.  Perhaps I'm over-spiritualizing my Marshall's finds...or, perhaps I should remember the fact that God can use whatever He wants (say, a tea kettle and a set of sheets) to remind us that He's with us and that He's aware of even the smallest details of our lives.

Ode to a Tea Kettle

Saturday was a sad day in the Campbell house (mostly for me).  My sweet Hubby was boiling water in my beloved Martha Stewart tea kettle to make tea when the kids decided to throw fits and require parental intervention.

Here's my green tea kettle in all it's vintage-style glory.

After the comotion died down, Hubby realized that **GASP!** the kettle had gotten so hot that the beautiful green enamel was flaking off.  There was no use in trying to save it - so much enamel flaked off that it went to that big tea kettle heaven in the sky.  Hubby felt awful.  So awful that he said I could purchase a new tea kettle and is even willing to shell out a nice chunk of change for the tea kettle of my choice (within reason, of course).

Now that the sadness had died down, excitement is starting to build as I begin searching for a new tea kettle to fill the spot on my stove.  Here's what I'm considering:

First up is this expensive little beauty from Le Creuset.  It's similar in color and style as my old tea kettle, however, this one comes with a feature that Hubby really wants: it whistles.  You can find this kettle for $70 at Williams-Sonoma and Sur-la-Table.

Next up is this green-speckled tea kettle from none other than the stick-of-butter-lovin' Paula Deen.  Beautiful shape, nice color, although it does not whistle.  But the price is right at only $39.99 at Target.

Ella happened to be next to me while I was searching for tea kettles and this is the one she picked out.  She says I need this strawberry tea kettle.  It's only $29.99 at Target and it whistles!  I'm actually considering it....

Then there's the Chantal tea kettle from Target.  It's $39.99 and whistles, but I'm not sure if I'm in love with it or not.

Which one would you choose??

Down East Basics

After many conversations with my mom and my friend Allison about needing more casual basics in our wardrobes, I'm so excited to have discovered Down East Basics.  Their clothing is cute, casual, modern and best of all - affordable!  Here are a few items from Down East Basics that are on my Christmas list this year:

Cute stuff, right?!

Naughty Monkey

What is a girl's best friend?  The traditional answer would be diamonds, of course, but not for me.  My love?  Shoes!!!  You simply can't have enough of them (I feel the same way about purses).  Unfortunately, my budget does not allow me to purchase a lot of shoes, but a girl can dream, right?!

My new favorite shoe brand is Naughty Monkey.  They're fun, funky, a little crazy, and totally girlie.  I first saw a pair of Naughty Monkeys at Marshall's and have since seen them at Nordstrom's, Zappos.com, and Piperlime.com.  Let's take a look at some of my favorites, shall we?

First up is this gorgeous taupe boot.  I've been dreaming of a new pair of boots but I hadn't been love-struck for a pair until I saw these.

These make me want to dress up and go somewhere hip and eat sushi.

Being a mom of small children, I wear a lot of flats.  They let me look a little dressy while not having to balance on heels holding a toddler.  I'd wear these everywhere - the mall, Chick-fil-A, H-E-B, etc.

Another wear-everywhere shoe is this lovely sandal.  They sure beat a boring pair of flip-flops!  Not that I have any... :o)

I love these boots just as much as the others.  Gorgeous!

I have to admit that the "bootie" trend didn't grow on me until recently.  At first, they confused me (is it a boot? is it a pump?).  Now, I can see myself in a pair with maybe some skinny jeans or a pencil skirt.

This shoe is for the inner streetwalker in all of us.  While we women want to be loved and respected, we also want to feel a bit naughty at times.  I'd feel naughty in these shoes.  Hmm...wonder what hubby would think?

Yes - a third pair of boots that I love!  It's amazing, really - I've been keeping an eye out for new boots for the past 4 years with no luck.  And all of a sudden, I find 3 pair that I really like.  Here's what I like about this boot: being flat and having no heel, this is the perfect boot for running errands and going to the park with the kids (and I do a lot of that).  I keep thinking of how cute I'd look in them...

The prices for all these shoes are comparable to other popular brands, such as Nine West and BCBG.  If you keep your eyes open, you may catch them on sale at Zappos.com  or marked down at a Marshall's or TJMaxx. 

Should you pay for the label?

I've often wondered if I should be buying my make-up at the counters in Macy's instead of at Target.  After all, people can't tell if your eyeshadow is Chanel or Cover Girl by looking at your face, right?  After reading the following article from MSN.com, I now feel fully confident in my choice to use more budget-friendly brands of make-up.

"Q: Are designer eye shadows worth the cost or can you get the same look using drugstore eyeshadows? 

A: There are a ton of brands that offer top-quality makeup at drugstore prices—including L’Oréal, Cover Girl, and Revlon. If you’re trying out a new look (peacock blue eyes?), then experiment with something inexpensive at first. If you grow to love a trend and want to wear it regularly, then you can invest in something pricier. Sometimes, a more expensive brand can offer a wider range of colors, or really beautiful packaging (I’m a sucker for both), but the formula inside can be similar to what’s found at the drugstore."

-Ying Chu, Marie Claire Beauty Director 

I must admit that there are two things that are no-compromise items for me: mineral powder and concealer.  I buy them both from Arbonne.  They are a little pricey (concealer- $20, mineral powder- $34), but the quality is amazing (I can truly say that because I've tried every kind of face make-up under the sun from pricey Clinique to cheap Wet n' Wild).  However, when it comes to other items, such as lip gloss, eye shadow, mascara, etc., I am quite happy to save a few bucks by purchasing them at Target or H-E-B (helpful tip: H-E-B frequently offers coupons and specials on make-up - I've bought Revlon eyeshadow there for only $1.00 after using their coupon!).

My conclusion:  If you really need to flash a Chanel compact in public to boost your ego, then go ahead and spend the big bucks and make yourself feel special.  Otherwise, pick a couple pricier no-compromise items and save money on the rest by shopping at the drugstore.  You'll still look beautiful and your wallet will thank you!

A Whole New Cloth Diaperin' World

I'm new to the world of cloth diapers and let me tell you - cloth diapering ROCKS. I know all you grandma's from the days of diaper pins are thinking I've flipped my lid, but please allow me to enlighten you. My journey to cloth diapering knowledge first began at a little shop in Houston called Bebe Verde. The lady who runs the shop was so helpful and informative and made me feel totally sane and almost normal for choosing to cloth diaper my child. At first I thought the gDiapers were the best ever. While I still enjoy the gDiapers, I've found even better cloth diaper products that I love even more. They're just as easy to use as disposables - except that you wash them in the washing machine instead of throwing them away. I'm talking about the pocket diaper.


There are many brands of pocket diapers and so far my favorite is Bumgenius. Christian loves these even more than his gDiapers and I'm certain that the cozy microfleece liner has a lot to do with that. You simply place an insert inside the pocket and secure the diaper on baby as you would a regular disposable. Once diaper is wet, remove the insert and wash both the diaper and insert. If poopy, then shake solids into the toilet and wash. It's that easy!




The inserts are made out of super absorbant microfiber or microterry and they hold liquid really well. I also have a couple made out of a cotton/hemp blend that are very absorbant. Bamboo/cotton blends are also a great choice.


Another brand that I purchased and like is Happy Heinys. I found these at another eco-friendly baby boutique called The Nurtured Family. I was again fortunate enough to find their shop owner to be equally helpful and informative. The Happy Heinys work the exact same way as the Bumgenius diaper. I was lucky to find one on clearance for only $10. I love a bargain!


While I was at The Nurtured Family, I also purchased a washable swim diaper made by Imse Vimse. Anyone who has ever purchased the disposable swim diapers knows that they are SUPER expensive! You pay $10 for a small pack and if your kid likes to swim a lot, that little pack won't last long. I figured I'll save quite a bit using my $13 swim diaper.

If you really want easy cloth diapers, try the all-in-one diaper. Both Happy Heinys and Bumgenius make all-in-one diapers. They're basically the same diaper as the pocket diaper except there is no pocket. The insert is sewn in so once the diaper is wet, you throw the whole thing in the wash. I would have liked to purchase a couple of these, however, they are more pricey than the pocket diapers. No matter, though, because I'm happy with my pocket diapers and my gDiapers.

Even if I did not convert you to the world of cloth diapering, I hope that I have at least proven that:
1. I'm not crazy
2. Cloth diapers are NOT the same as they used to be.
3. You don't have to be a crazed PETA-preachin' tree-hugger to use cloth diapers.