fashion — MomStart

Hats Roses & A Honey-Roasted Ham Biscuits Recipe #HormelFamily

May 22, 2012 By Momstart 11 Comments

Looks like the Kentucky Derby was May 5th but that’s no reason not to continue with the southern goodness of baking and eating Kentucky Derby themed food, but before we get to the great recipe today I thought I would share with you a few hats found on pinterest perfect for the Kentucky Derby.

Source: rufflemint.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Source: roses-and-teacups.com via Melinda on Pinterest

Source: modeofgrace.blogspot.com via Melinda on Pinterest

· The Derby is frequently referred to as "The Run for the Roses" because a garland of red roses is awarded to the Kentucky Derby winner each year. The horse’s garland is made up of 554 roses, but you’ll only need a few to set the pace. Show off a dozen long-stemmed beauties in a treasured vase, or cut your roses short, in the French style, to keep a low profile among your food presentation. Carry out the theme with red napkins, candles, or paper party ware.

Hats with roses

Source: blog.zap2it.com via Lena on Pinterest

Source: womenxone.com via Melinda on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Dana on Pinterest

Honey-Roasted Ham Biscuits

Ingredients:

1 (10-ounce) can refrigerated buttermilk biscuit dough
2 cups Hormel® Cure 81® diced ham
1/2 cup honey mustard
1/4 cup finely chopped honey-roasted peanuts, divided

Directions:

Heat oven to 400°F.
Separate biscuits. Place in muffin pans, pressing gently into bottom and up sides of pan.
In bowl, combine ham, mustard and 2 tablespoons peanuts; mix well. Spoon ham mixture evenly into biscuit cups. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons peanuts.
Bake biscuits 15 to 17 minutes or until golden brown

This post is part of the campaign with Hormel Family.

Filed Under: fashion, recipe Tagged With: fashion, hats, Honey-Roasted Ham Biscuits Recipe, Hormel, hormelfamily, recipe

Celebrate National Shoe Week at Northgate Mall

May 20, 2012 By Momstart 4 Comments

This week is national shoe week. From May 21-25 it’s National Shoe Week isn’t that like the best week ever, I mean it’s a free pass to go out and go shoe shopping right? Well it should be, and your one stop shop for shoes would be any Simon Mall and our closest one is Northgate Mall. Fore more information on deals and happenings at Northgate check out the Northgate Mall’s Facebook page.

Why Northgate Mall for Shoes?

So many stores have shoes…

The major department stores Macy’s and Nordstrom’s which are right across from each other and Nordstrom’s has all of my favorite brands

UMI

TOMS

Crocs

The Specialty stores have lots of shoes in them. Claire’s has lots of really cute summer styles, flip flops, and saddles my daughter could spend hours looking around in Claire’s.

Even most of the clothing stores have lots of shoes right now, summer sandals are on sale and flip flops line the walls with all the swim suits.

And the kids aren’t left without a selection.

Crazy 8

Sketchers

While we were looking around we found a pair of roller skates inside Sketchers I want a pair of roller skates.

What did we end up buying? We got shoes for both Miles and Zoe.

I was compensated with a gift card to share my experience and opinions for National Shoe Week and what you can find at Northgate Mall.

Filed Under: fashion Tagged With: fashion, national shoe week, Northgate Mall, shoes

What Should I Wear To See The Avengers Assemble in New York? #TheAvengersEvent

April 23, 2012 By Momstart 57 Comments

On Thursday of this week I’ll be going to New York to the Tribeca Film Festival to see Marvel’s newest movie The Avengers. I just don’t know what to wear I’m getting mixed signals. It’s not red carpet ball gown, it’s more like red carpet chic. But I’ve also been told that a cocktail dress would be a good direction to go in. I really wanted to wear my new jeggins and a fancy top with high heels, but get the feeling that people think it’s not quite dressy enough. So I’m calling out to you guys my readers for help.

Choice one:

Choice two:

Choice three:

Choice four:

With one of these two heals:

I just have no fashion sense and really did feel comfortable in the jeans with heals but I don’t want to be underdressed on the red carpet. This movie is a big deal and there will be LOTS of cameras. Which outfit do you think?

This trip and expenses are covered by Disney.

Filed Under: fashion, Movie review Tagged With: Disney, fashion, Marvel, red carpet event, The Avengers, The Avengers tribeca film festival, tribeca film festival

A Fantastic Kohl’s Clothing Haul: Kohl’s Hauls of Fame

April 21, 2012 By Momstart 905 Comments

Beginning March 28, Kohl’s launched a nationwide “Hauls of Fame” contest on Facebook, encouraging consumers to shop to win and brag about the great values they’re getting at Kohl’s. I did my shopping haul at Kohl’s yesterday. I took the kids out and bought clothes for all three of us. The prices were so good I went a little overboard picking up things here and there and ended up spending $250. My goal was to only spend $100 but I needed clothes for me to wear to my next red carpet event to see the Avengers this weekend and summer clothes for the kids. I spent $100 just on myself because the jeans I purchased were not on sale. Actually that’s not true they were on sale, you don’t go to Kohl’s and pay full price that’s just silly because everything goes on sale there you might just have tot wait a week. The clothes are super cute and just in time as summer seems to have hit this weekend. The sun is out and the kids are in their shorts. Just check out my video below to see what all we got.

Last week, Kohl’s introduced its new marketing campaign, “Shop to Win,” featuring three world-class athletes – Dara Torres, Mia Hamm and Lindsey Vonn. The campaign embodies the emotions an athlete feels during competition – the surge of adrenaline, the thrill of victory and the rush of accomplishment, and parallels that to the excitement of being a savvy customer and finding the best deals on fashion solutions for the entire family.

post your haul video or photo on your blog and / or upload it to the Kohl’s “Hauls of Fame” contest at http://www.facebook.com/kohls.

Here’s my fantastic video of my Kohl’s Shopping Haul

How the Kohl’s “Hauls of Fame” contest works:

Customers can upload their haul videos or photos to the Kohl’s Facebook page.
Customers can vote on other uploaded haul videos or photos (public voting will count as part of the final score).
Each week of the promotion, five winners will receive a $500 Kohl’s gift card.

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, Deb W.

Please see the giveaway rules. I received a gift card on behalf of Kohl’s, they are also providing the gift card that I will be mailing out.

Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: fashion, giveaway, Kohl's, shopping haul, shopping haul video

Ross Dress for Less Shoe Event

April 15, 2012 By Momstart 430 Comments

Shoes, Shoes, and More Shoes!

By: Ashley

You know by now that my sister is getting married… SOON! Like, in about a month soon… good grief! In addition to making sure that the bride looks AMAZING, part of being the maid of honor/sister of the bride is following directions – the directions from the bride herself. So, when the bride says all bridesmaids need to wear metallic sandals, I know that means I need to buy some metallic sandals. Lucky for me, the Ross Dress for Less Shoe Event is in full swing!

I am a regular Ross shopper. I love going there for bags, sweaters, odds and ends for the kitchen, dress shirts for my husband, kids things, and SHOES! We have always tried to live within our means and only buy things when we need them. So when I have a reason to buy some new shoes, I am ALL OVER IT! I still try to be responsible with it though. That’s why Ross is always a go to for me. It was no different when I headed out to buy my metallic sandals.

Ross offers 20-60 percent off of department store prices every day! That means that during the Ross Shoe Event, you can find any type of spring shoe that you could possibly want at a GREAT price. After trying on SEVERAL different types of dressy metallic sandals, I finally found THE ONES! I love the wedge sandals that I found and I was honestly surprised at what a good deal they were! I actually ended up getting the wedges for me, and a pair of sandals for Atticus – and I paid less than the cost of the wedges at retail price! I came home with 2 pairs of shoes for $35! How great is that?

Is there a special spring style that you can’t wait to try on? The first thing you should do is head out to your local Ross Dress for Less store. Sometime you also might want to enter this giveaway though for a $25 Ross gift card that you could use to add something new to your wardrobe. Maybe you’re in the market for some metallic sandals too! I hear wedges and metallic colors are in!

About Ashley: Ashley is a mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend, and former teacher working to navigate through the mysterious world of Mommyia. Read more about her adventures at www.Momicles.com and follow her @Momicles2010 .

Disclosure – I was provided with a $25 gift card to Ross Dress for Less. All opinions expressed are my own and not influenced by monetary compensation.

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, Kate.

Please see the giveaway rules

Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: Dress for less, fashion, giveaway, Ross, shoe event, shoe fashion

T-Shirt Craft: Make Your Own Valentine’s Day Clothing

February 13, 2012 By Momstart 8 Comments

By: Ashley

I’ve been on the look out for simple, fun, and easy crafts that anyone can do… and that anyone can do last minute. I know that I always have these daydreams of getting my Martha Stewart on and having cute, homemade décor for whatever holiday happens to be just around the corner. It never happens though. I’m a procrastinator. I’m also a planner. Odd combination, right? Nevertheless, I’ve been lucky enough to stumble across yet another awesome craft that anyone can do for Valentine’s Day… and that you can do at the last minute.

How to Make a Valentine’s T-Shirt

You will need:

- One pre-washed t-shirt
- Fabric paint in a contrasting color
- Paper doilies (heart-shaped)
- Sponge paint dabbers
- Piece of poster or cardboard

Directions:

1. Lay the shirt out flat. Put the cardboard in between the layers of the shirt so that the paint will not bleed through.

2. Place the heart-shaped doily on the center of the shirt (or use this chance to express some artistic freedom if you’re brave).

3. Dip the sponge into the paint, dab off the excess, and begin stamping the dabber all around the doily. Use the doily as a stencil.

4. Once you have covered the entire doily area with paint, carefully remove the doily. Allow the paint to dry. Remove the cardboard and VOILA! You have a cute Valentine’s Day shirt to wear every year!

This was really easy to do and you could make shirts for you, your kids, even your dog if you wanted! If you decide to try it out, leave a comment (better yet a picture) and let us know!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

About Ashley:

Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and active with our local MOMS Club chapter. She writes her own blog at Momicles.

Filed Under: Ashley, crafts Tagged With: Ashley, clothing, crafts, fashion, how to, make your own Valentine's day shirt, Valentine's Day

A Girl and Her Fashionable Naturalizer Shoes @NaturalizerShoe #MyBlogSpark

October 3, 2011 By Momstart 455 Comments

I originally thought this post would be all about me, but no. My daughter stole the show. I was trying on these fantastic shoes that Naturalizer sent me on behalf of MyBlogSpark and she had to have them on her feet asap. Let me show you!

First they were on my feet, and I have to say, I’m not enjoying the way my legs look, but I do really love the way they look with jeans. See!

And here she is all depressed in her purple rain boots that are a size too big. They make her fall, the other ones I thought were too small, sometimes kids really do need in between sizes. Naturalizer is available in a broad range of sizes and widths from sizes 4.5 to 12 with narrow, medium and wide widths in most styles. Naturalizer boots are also offered in Wide Shaft so women with fuller or athletic calves can find tall boots with a perfect fit. I’ve always had a very hard time with boots because my calves were too big. It’s not that I’ve ever been that large but my calves were a large part of me.

Naturalizer offers a variety of styles including tall boots, loafers, wedges, pumps, platforms, flats, booties and oxfords. The fall collection from Naturalizer has something for everyone, with feminine details and styles inspired by a range of classic and contemporary trends. If you’re a shoe lover like my daughter they are sure to turn any frown upside down. Look at her transformation.

Since 1927, Naturalizer has proven that wearing the latest footwear fashions can be comfortable, stylish and affordable all in one. They are quite comfortable, I was surprised at how much so. I never ever thought heals could be comfortable.

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, Cristina W.

All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

We received samples from MyBlogSpark on behalf of Naturalizer & Brown Shoe Company to facilitate this review. All opinions are our own.

Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: fashion, giveaway, myblogspark, naturalizer, shoe, show giveaway

From Costumes to Review: The Tempest Now Available on Blu-ray

September 22, 2011 By Momstart 23 Comments

The Tempest captured my attention with words, action, and costumes. I love period pieces and the wardrobes that accompany them. I’m not saying I wish we dressed up as the Shakespearean people did but I do really love full dresses. The men’s clothing, not so much.

Here is a full peek behind the scenes with this slideshow of images of the cast, and original sketches of their costumes!

Synopsis: This modern retelling of William Shakespeare’s final masterpiece is an exciting, mystical and magical fantasy with Academy Award®-winner Helen Mirren (Best Actress, The Queen, 2006) leading a star-studded cast including Russell Brand (Get Him To The Greek) and Alfred Molina (The Sorcerer’s apprentice). Exiled to a magical island, the sorceress Prospera (Mirren) conjures up a storm that shipwrecks her enemies, and then unleashes her powers for revenge. Directed by Julie Taymor (Frida) — and complete with exclusive bonus features — The Tempest, with its innovative twist, is a supernatural dramedy filled with Shakespearean villains, lovers and fools that will leave you spellbound.

A New Wardrobe

I always love watching Shakespearean movies. I feel like I’ve been shipped off in a time capsule when they’ve been done well and The Tempest was done well. Not only that but it has a touch of supernatural with witch powers and of course a bit of romance. The Tempest is now available on Blu-ray and DVD.

Filed Under: review Tagged With: costume design, costumes, fashion, Movie review, The Tempest

Southern Living Style Easy Updates Room By Room Guide

September 10, 2011 By Momstart 107 Comments

Despite today’s tight living quarters, and tighter schedules, Southern Living Style (on sale September 13) makes Southern decor oh so simple and you all know I’m looking for simple ideas to update my bathroom. I really need more books in my life like this one, decorating is not my strong suit, neither is keeping my house clean. Oh my, but now I’m armed with Southern Living Style and I’m ready to start decorating.

Gracious hospitality, warmth and effortless elegance signify great Southern style. Like the consummate host, the well-appointed Southern home embraces guests and draws them in to linger. Tour the most inspired rooms that have graced the pages of Southern Living magazine in this 288-page guide and learn how to adopt a similar air of timeless ease, based on your personal style and budget.

Key Sou features include:

Defining Southern Style: From heirlooms to monograms, discover new ways to celebrate traditional icons.

Reclaim It! Tips to turn grandma’s attic finds into updated treasures.

Solutions: Top Southern designers offer solutions for design dilemmas.

Style on a Budget: Identify individual style and build a room around a single inspiration—the color of a scarf, the pattern of a fabric, even a tag-sale relic.

Why it Works?: A piece-by-piece deconstruction of rooms to show the key components required to achieve a particular look. From family friendly to classic, discover what to start with, top with and add to make a room personal, stylish and functional.

Southern Style File: A black book of editors’ favorite designers, retailers, and more.

Defining Southern Style: A glossary of helpful “decorator speak” terms.

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, Danielle E.

All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: Design, fashion, interior decorating, southern living, Southern Living Style, Southern Style

The Loft Outlet Clothing & Jewelry Shopping Haul

September 7, 2011 By Momstart 19 Comments

Of course I should be working on reviews and giveaways and the list goes on and on. But I had to put everything off for quite a few reasons, today was the first day of school for my kids and I wanted to spend time with them. We had family visit and that kept me very very busy. Then the final reason, the reason that really killed my work, was the flash on my camera was broken. AHHHHH. Ok, I have a new flash it arrived last night thanks to Amazon’s quick free delivery. I love being an Amazon Prime member. Anyways, enough rambling, back to the post at hand…..

I went shopping at the Loft Outlet last week. I was supposed to be doing some back to school shopping but I didn’t find anything for the kids then. Instead, I found lost of jewelry for me and one cute little cotton dress to wear on my upcoming trips. Here are some photos of the jewelry.

I’m going to LA with Disney and DreamWorks to meet the Muppets and Hugh Jackman for Real Steel. Can I say that again, I’m going to meet Hugh Jackman. Squee! So, I wanted to get a new dress and I had a gift card from the LOFT. I adore the Loft but most of the time I find their clothes are way too expensive because I’m quite frugal. I was shocked at how low the prices were in the Loft outlet. It’s good that I set a limit on myself before I went into the store because I almost went way overboard picking up dresses left and right. I purchased two necklaces and a pair of earings and a dress for 28.00. Here is a video of my Loft Outlet Shopping Haul.