ARIZONA OUTDOOR ENTERTAINING

This post is sponsored by Hayneedle.

The best thing about living in Arizona is the weather. It's dry and sunny almost every day of the year. Even during our high temperatures we find ourselves outdoors because we have a pool, and also because we have a backyard that feels like a sanctuary. Last year, we got patio furniture so we could enjoy the space more, and this year we finished decking out our outdoor grill area thanks to Hayneedle. 

Hayneedle offers the best outdoor decor and entertaining essentials and great prices. You better believe we will be enjoying some margaritas and carne-asada this week for Cinco de Mayo. We love using our grill, and we are able to sit and enjoy each other's company while we cook using these woven bar stools. I selected these because they appeared durable, more heat resistant than metal, and brought texture to the space. I freshened them up with some color using outdoor pillows with blues and aqua. 

We also put up a living wall to cover the ugly block wall we have, as well as to have a space to plant herbs and spices. Since the area gets sun all day long and the hot days are coming, I planted lavender and rosemary for now. They will grow in almost any weather. 

We also added some green with our big planters and covered some of the boring beige stucco with our log hoop. It's functional and it adds some interest to the space.

I thought adding some lanterns to the area was a pretty way to make the bar come alive. It's also functional for evening entertaining, and the lanterns won't blow away (something to think about for outdoor styling). 

Shade is important in Arizona, so we ordered an umbrella for the bar. I like the striped pattern for interest, but I stuck with the white and tan so it didn't over power the space.

Being able to eat poolside is amazing, but safety is important too. I ordered some durable plastic plates and other entertaining essentials. You can see the rest of my selects on the Hayneedle's blog. 

Photography by Rennai Hoefer

MOTHER'S DAY PICNIC

Sometimes expectations of a delightful, carefree and easy Mother's Day can get in the way of enjoying what Mother's Day is all about. I will be the first to admit I have missed the joy of Mother's Day all together because I was busy checking off my to-do list. So, this Mother's Day we celebrated early with the help of Minute Maid. 

Instead of having brunch or dinner or even breakfast in bed, my kids prepared a picnic of yummy snacks with the help of my husband, Ryan. They washed fruit  and veggies and placed them on a platter with some baked ricotta cheese. It was simple and delightful. Watching then prepare everything made me realize all of the good I'm doing as a mom. 

Sadly, it's not often that I take a step back and realize that I'm doing a great job, so Minute Maid has started a campaign to help parents remember all of the good they are doing. I shared more about my experience over on the Minute Maid blog. You'll also find a delicious lemonade granita recipe you won't want to miss. 

If you're wondering what to do this Mother's Day or if you are even finding yourself stressing about it, try having a picnic outdoors or indoors with your kids. It's an easy no fuss way of celebrating.

Photos by Rennai Hoefer.

MOTHER DAUGHTER JEWELRY

Do you remember friendship bracelets? I always felt so special when I was given half of a necklace from my best friend. Well, they have mother-daughter necklaces now, and they are the perfect gift for Mother's Day. Carrie Saxl Jewelry makes beautiful necklaces and bracelets in all different shapes and metals, so I got one for Elle as a gift to us both.

When I gave it to Elle she couldn't wait to wear it. Not only did it feel special to her because it was a gift from me but because it looked like mommy's jewelry. She hasn't wanted to take it off since.

Check out Carrie's shop for other designs and styles.

Photos by Rennai Hoefer; Necklaces gifted to me for promotion.

GETTING A BRIGHT SMILE

After all of the orthodontia I went through (headgear, braces, retainer, etc.) you better believe I am doing everything I can to keep my pearly whites looking their best. As I have gotten older and started drinking drip coffee in the mornings, I have noticed my teeth have started to yellow. I used whitening toothpaste for a bit but I found it made my teeth very sensitive so I stopped. I have tried Crest White Strips, but they tasted terrible and were really expensive. But, recently, I tried a toothpaste that did the trick in three days. 

It's called AP24 by Nu Skin. I was skeptical about it when I started seeing friends post about in on Facebook. I thought, "Oh no. Is this another get rich quick scheme?" When a close friend of mine started selling it I had to ask her the million dollar question, "Does this stuff really work?" She said, "Yep, and it tastes like normal toothpaste and doesn't make your teeth more sensitive." Noticing I was still skeptical, she said she wold give me the toothpaste at no charge to try it as long as I gave an honest review about it. 

I accepted her challenge, and just three days after using it I saw a dramatic difference. In fact, I have been using it since then and they don't seem to be getting whiter than the white I got after three days. So, that means, you just have to use this toothpaste for three days and then return to your paste of choice. At least, that's what I have done, and the next time I see my teeth getting yellow again I'll bring this one back out because it works like a charm. 

This toothpaste is expensive compared to any normal tube you would find at a drugstore, but $20 isn't much to pay compared to expensive whitening treatments like white strips or trays. If you are in need of a brighter smile I highly recommend AP24. 

All photos were taken with my iPhone to ensure that no post editing or professional photography would alter the results. I do not make any money by promoting AP24 toothpaste.

ARE YOUR EYES HEALTHY?

This post is sponsored by Visionworks. 

A few months ago, I started experiencing blurry vision. I found myself driving at nighttime unsure of myself as the bright lights of oncoming cars blinded me. During the day I was blinking more than normal to try and refocus my eyes, and by the end of the day my eyes were tired and burning. I knew I needed to get an exam, and so I partnered with Visionworks to make sure my eyes were healthy. It was very timely too because April is Women's Eye Health Month. Who knew, right?

It had been about seven years since I had my eyes examined. We didn't have vision insurance, and so I just kept telling myself I didn't need glasses that badly. I had some glasses for reading, but I barely wore them because I felt I could read just fine without them. Truthfully, I couldn't. I just ignored the signs: tired eyes, holding objects too close and blurry vision. It turns out that my right eye with perfect vision learned to compensate for my left, and that's how I was getting by. But this past year, my right eye just started getting too tired. It was time to take care of this problem.

Setting up an eye exam with Visionworks was easy as pie. I located my nearest store, called ahead and chose a time that worked with my schedule. I filled out some paper work, and right away a technician walked me through the four different eye tests. I didn't even have to dilate my eyes because they have a new machine that can see all of the way back to your eye without dilation. It was really fast and easy. After 20 minutes I was sitting with the optometrist figuring out the right prescription for my eyes. From start to finish, it only took 45 minutes to make sure I was healthy. That's the fastest doctor appointment I have ever had.

I learned so much while I was there, and I thought I would pass along some of this helpful information with you:

1. You should be getting an annual exam if you have an existing prescription. Your eyes and prescription can change every year, so it's important to make sure nothing has changed.
2. For adults that don't need glasses, they should get their eyes checked every two years.
3. Children should get their first eye exam around the age of three, and definitely before they go to school to make sure they have the best learning experience. They will need to have their eyes dilated though, so be sure to anticipate that before the exam.
4. Certain mascaras and makeup removers can cause blurry vision. Make sure you are using the best one for your eyes and pay attention to any change in vision after use.
5. The distance that you should be holding your book or computer can be found by putting your hand to your nose and sticking your elbow straight out. If you can't read well at that distance you need to get your eyes checked.
6. Your eyes change during pregnancy and you can experience dryer eyes while carrying a child. It should go away after delivery, but if it doesn't you could have Dry Eyes Syndrome.

You can check out the below graphic for more health information. I don't know about you, but I didn't realize that I wasn't doing a good job taking care of my eyes until this appointment, and I definitely am committed to doing a better job in the future.

I got my new pair of glasses after my appointment, and I LOVE them. I tried on about 30 different pairs, and these stood out among the bunch. I'm wearing them as I type this post, and I can see much better than before. If you need new glasses you can be confident in knowing that Visionworks has everything you need in one place. I highly recommend a visit!

Photography by Rennai Hoefer.