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Five Easy Summer Sangrias

Nothing says Summer like a nice cold Sangria. Ask me how I know. I like to call them porch cocktails to be exact and I have a whole Pinterest board devoted to those drinks that are patio/girl talk friendly. From fruity to  classic, I have you covered with recipes for the top 5 Summer sangrias to enjoy this season!

Pioneer Woman Watermelon Sangria

This Watermelon Sangria is a little intense with the cutting of the watermelon but so worth it. My advice? Make a big batch to make it worth your while.

Pioneer Woman Watermelon Sangria

 

Strawberry Sangria

A little sweet and a little citrus”y”. If you are not a fan of citrus leave out the oranges and it will still be delicious. Find the recipe here.

Strawberry Sangria

 

Classic Sangria

I haven’t tried this one but it can be made virgin by substituting the red wine with mineral grape juice. This is a Martha Stewart recipe so I’m sure it is good.

Classic Sangria

 

Sweet Tea Sangria

Yum.mers. I was a little skeptical of this one because I don’t like my sweet tea mixed with anything….including lemonade. This one was really good. Find this recipe on the Wicked Noodle

Sweet Tea Sangria

 

Raspberry Lemonade Sangria

A little on the sweet side but good. If you are not a fan of overly sweet drinks this one might not be for you but it is good. You can find the recipe here. The recipe called for frozen lemondade, I substituted with Simply Raspberry Lemonade. If you know anything about Simply juices you already know this was good!

Raspberry Lemonade Sangria

Hope this round up gives you somewhere to start with entertaining for the remainder of the Summer. Cheers!

Be sure to stop by and visit the other four wonderful ladies that make up the Fab Top Five series

Bernetta Style | Top 5 Summer Exercises for Moms

Kokoa Mag | Top 5 Ways to Stay Cool This Summer

Everyday Eyecandy | Top 5 Quick Summer Getaways from Atlanta

Fab Haute Mama | Top 5 Ice Cream Shops in Atlanta

 

SUMMERSANGRIAS

 

 

Décor

Fab Top 5 – Fall Front Porch Décor Inspiration

Fall Porch Decor Ideas

As a child, getting me to eat breakfast or any meal besides dinner was a feat. Well to be frank old habits die hard because I will still go an entire day with out eating, but back to the story. So this particular day not only was I starving but my Stepmother was cooking my favorite meal of fried pork chops, fried apples, cabbage and cornbread muffins. I probably hadn’t asked less than a million times when was dinner going to be ready so  when she finally said come eat……..

Maaaaan, I went to doing a Sound of Music, Maria in the meadow twirl with arms open and all. Well I spun a little too many times and found myself stumbling and before I knew it I cracked my forehead on the corner of the wall. Needless to say I had to wait another 20 minutes before eating. I said all of that to say, my excitement for Fall is just as intense as that twirl and wall collision.

I’ve kept out of Hobby Lobby and most craft stores because their tendency these days to put up harvest decor months before time ruins the welcoming of the season for me. Now that we are in September I just can’t contain myself. I walked the aisles of Michael’s the other day with the silliest grin on my face making note of all the new fall owl  additions I plan to make and ordering an insane amount of Bath and Body Works “Leaves” candles that would make me hoarder certified.

First up is my fall porch. Here are a few of my inspiration ideas. The pumpkins will get added later because I don’t want them to rot.

 

Fall Porch Decor

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Getting at least one cornstalk for my mailbox, not from Kroger though. They wanted $20 last year. I’ll find a farm first.

Fall porch 2

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Wait until you see what my sign is going to say.

Fall porch 4

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Pretty sure I want a big sign like that. Now to find a piece of worn wood that large.

Fall porch decor

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I absolutely love how shabby chic this looks. There will be white pumpkins….and mums

Fall Porch Decor

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I have two lantern lights on either side of my door. This is an option after we brush off the spider webs and such

 

Anybody else ready for fall?

Oh….and keep your pumpkin flavored EVERYTHING. I like mine on the porch. Last year I had 10. I’m thinking of going big this year, 50 too many or nah?!!

This was just my take on Fall. Be sure to stop by and visit the other four ladies to get their take as the Fab Top Five is talking about all things Fall!

Kita| Kokoa MagTop 5 Things to Do with Apples this Fall

MJ | Fab Haute MamaTop 5 Fall Activities for Families

Lashawn | Everyday EyecandyTop 5 Photos to Take This Fall

Bernetta | Bernetta StyleTop 5 Boots for Fall

 

Toyota Hybrid Prius
Featured Living

{Toyota Hybrid Prius Review} Top 5 Things a Mom Needs in a Compact Car

I drive an SUV and my husband drives a gas guzzling classic 1972 Cutlass. Nearly a year ago I was forced to say goodbye to my paid for Chrysler crossover. I had grand plans to transition from that crossover into a car but instead was forcefully upgraded to an SUV. While I love my SUV for travel and transporting kids, I have really been longing for a smaller, gas efficient car.

For a week I had the pleasure of testing out a Toyota Hybrid Prius and all of the reasons why I think our family needs a small, fuel efficient car were verified with the Prius. I fell in love with that little car. Let’s just say it took $15 to fill  up….and if you are cruising at a constant speed you can actually almost get 100 mpg.

Toyota Hybrid Prius

 

Yes. Your eyes do not deceive you.

To say I didn’t want to give the car back is an understatement. Here are my top 5 reasons why I think every mom could appreciate a compact car.

1. Fuel: If you’ve ever watched my vlogs you know I spend a ton of time in my car. From lessons, to school, to activities I am always moving and in an SUV moving = $$$.  On average I can easily spend $100 a week in gas. I received the car with a full tank and traveled nearly 500 miles before I had to refill it.

The car also runs solely on electric when traveling under 25mph

Toyota Hybrid Prius

 

2. Bluetooth: When you are always in your car there are creature comforts that make a busy life more comfortable. One of those things for me is music. The car allowed Bluetooth connection not just for hands free phone but also allowed you to stream music. This was big for me because I have Rhapsody and I was able stream my playlists through the radio in addition to the Satellite radio option.

Toyota Hybrid Prius

 

3. Trunk Space: I have no idea how I accumulate so much stuff in my daily travels but the short time that I had the Prius I had to transport a few things and believe it or not the trunk space did not disappoint not to mention the seats fold down for additional room. Because the trunk of the car was glass, the cover was able to pull over my items to hide them from plain sight.

Toyota Hybrid Prius

 

4. Keyless Entry: I LOOOOVED this feature. My car is newer but not that “new new” that is keyless entry. With my phone in one hand, a toddler hand in the other while trying to juggle a coffee cup and bags I just simply touched my finger to the handle and voila! Pushed the button and the car started. No digging for keys.

Toyota Hybrid Prius

 

5. Easy on the Eyes: I don’t care how functional a car is if it isn’t cute then what’s the point. That could just be my logic. I thought this was the cutest little car. I loved the color and the small size that allowed me to easily pull into parking spaces and I even was able to snag an electric car only space. I plugged in and went shopping. Going electric has its privileges obvs.

Toyota Hybrid Prius

I was a little concerned about the space but the children fit comfortably into the back, Trina and I even took the girls on a day trip and two booster seats fit comfortably.

After my time with the car if financially feasible I think having a small car is a must have in every family. Now if I can just dig up the coins to get myself one I’ll be doing good!

This month all of the Fab Top Five got the opportunity to test out vehicles. Be sure to stop by and see what each lady drove and their Fab Top Five Drives topic!

LaShawn @Everyday Eyecandy

Kita @ Kokoa Mag

Bernetta @Bernetta Style

MJ @ Fab Haute Mama

Featured Living mommy

Fab Top Gifts – Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Mother’s day is around the corner and while it is the thought that counts, a fabulous gift never hurts!

You don’t need to break the bank to find luxurious gifts; which is why all of the items below are below $100.

Hopefully you find something for your own mother, or you can use the guide to give your family some friendly inspiration on what to get you for Mother’s day!

mother's day

1. Pynk Luxe Name Plate Bar Necklace: This name plate necklace is such a fun and personalized gift. The great thing about simple pieces like this one is that you can wear it with so many different outfits. This necklace comes in silver, gold, and rose gold and the prices vary from $75-85 depending on the finish that you choose.

2. L’Occitane Weekend En Provence Almond Discovery Set: L’Occitane’s products are definitely luxurious and this sample set lets you try an array of products from their almond line for $36.

3. Abby and Grace Mug: If you and your mom have a light-hearted relationship then this fun mug is a great gift to give. It retails for $16.

4. Alex & Ani Mom Charm Bangle: You’ve probably seen these bracelets gracing the wrists of many women recently. They are so classic and Alex & Ani has released a mother’s day charm bracelet that retails for $28.

5. Street Level Reversible Tote & Wristlet Set: This faux leather tote & wristlet set is a great option for the woman who likes to toss everything into one big bag and keep moving. It’s also a good bargain, the set costs $48.

6. Edible Arrangements Chocolate Covered Fruit: If you are buying for someone who prefers edible gifts then chocolate covered fruit is always a safe bet. Edible Arrangements has a great package that is designed for Mother’s day that starts at $49.

7. Diptyque Paris Mini Candle: These candles are on the expensive side, but they are definitely worth it. Diptyque has a huge array of scents that fill any room with luxurious fragrances. Their mini candles retail for $30.

8. Kate Spade Card Holder: Card holders are an easy way of minimizing the amount of items in your wallet and with this holder designed by Kate Spade you can do it in style! This item retails for $48.

9. Anthropologie Floral Measuring Cups: Home ware doesn’t have to be boring. These adorable measuring cups cost $38 and are sure to please any woman who treasures the look of her kitchen!

10. Motivational Typography Print: Inspirational prints make for wonderful gifts, especially for women who love decor. This print ranges from $12.50-$25.50 depending on the size and the Etsy shop that it comes from, The Motivated Type, has a great range of prints to choose from.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the ladies of the Fab Top Five Series have put their spin on for Mother’s Day

Fab Haute Mama – Top 5 Gifts for New Moms

Everyday Eyecandy – Top 5 Ways to Get in the Photo with Your Children

Kokoa Mag – Top 5 Ways to Get Through Mother’s Day Without a Mother

Bernetta Style – Top 5 Gifts Moms Don’t Want for Mother’s Day