Waterside Must Haves {Hostess Gifts Ideas from Casabella }

It's almost that time!  It's our last week of school so that means lots of lake weekends, beach getaways and fun in the sun. If you are heading to a friend's lake house or beach condo you know you can't show up empty handed.  Fun little hostess gifts will go a long way to make sure you get invited back!  

One of our favorite shops, Casabella in East Cobb, has tons of custom items for every lake and beach nearby. We love the personalized book stacks and etched glasses which make perfect hostess gifts! They have a great selection and it is all in one spot. That makes it easy for local friends to pop in, pick up what you need, and be on your way to the lake or sea. 

We put together some of our favorite waterside must haves from Casabella that make any weekend getaway just a little bit better.  We love a great waterproof bag, trendy towels, fun snacks, cute cups, drink mixes and more. 

It would be so cute to put together a little gift bag like this for a friend as a hostess gift or even just to grab all the essentials you need for your next getaway. 

Lastly, we couldn't share waterside must haves without sharing this goodness.  Good Times Slushie mixes are the easiest frozen cocktail mix you will ever try. You just mix it with the liquor suggested and you have a yummy batch that everyone can enjoy. Casabella carries an assortment of flavors and we've been lucky to taste test a few. Take our word for it, these are a must have! 

Need a fun cup to drink those adult slushies from? Casabella has you covered with lots of non-breakable options perfect for your waterside getaway!

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You're Invited: Kendra Scott East Cobb Grand Opening Party

 

Y'all we have some AMAZING news! Kendra Scott is opening a pop-up shop in Marietta! 

Even more exciting? We are hosting a special event to celebrate! 

YOU'RE INVITED!!

We've partnered with Kendra Scott to host an event to celebrate their grand opening weekend. There will be food, drinks, Fairy Hair, special gifts and discounts, and - most importantly - it is a "Kendra Gives Back" event!

THE ROCKSTARS OF CHEERABILITIES

Kendra Scott does a ton of things to support charities and local causes. We've partnered with the East Cobb store to give 20% of all proceeds from the event to the CheerAbilities teams of Rockstar Cheer Atlanta. 

As you know, three of our daughters cheer. While we attend different gyms, this is a team that no matter what gym you are affiliated with, you can't help but cheer for. 

Started as a senior project by Katilyn Boyer during her senior year of high school, she brought her vision to gym owner, Carolyn Garrison, who shared her vision that there can be a cheer program for ALL athletes and varying abilities.  Together, along with Katilyn's mother, Tracey, the CheerAbilities program which started as a group of 7 has grown into 2 teams with over 25 athletes combined. 

Katlyn and Tracy have dreams of expanding the program to more athletes and adding an additional team this season. They have worked hard to give these kids the opportunity to shine on stage, as well as give them the platform to be treated like any other athletic team. 

But like any team, there are costs involved, and both the Kendra Scott team and The Magnolia Mamas are so excited that our community is able to help in a fun, yet big, way!

GIFTS FOR YOU!

We also couldn't resist adding in a special gift or two for you! Kendra Scott has been amazing and they've decided to offer a free gift with a $75 purchase for the event too! 

Guests who spend $75 dollars will receive this gorgeous Fern Necklace for FREE! 

RSVP

You can RSVP to the special grand opening event HERE as well as learn more about what the event will offer. You can also see a super cute video of the CheerAbilities team in action!

Can't make the event? No worries! We will have a special online code for you to use that will give 20% of your purchase to the team over the course of the weekend. Stay tuned for the code!! 

We can't wait to see you there!! 

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Statement Earrings For Summer {From Amazon}

Summer is almost here and that means it is time for bright colors and fun earrings!  We love dressing up a good basic pieces with cute statement earrings and we found some really great options from Amazon all for under $20 each!  Most of these all come in multiple colors, too!

Ratan Round Disk Earrings - $6.00 

Champagne Beaded Earrings - $10.99 

Ratan Circle Earrings - $11.99 

Ratan Hoop Earrings - $16.00

White Beaded Drop Earrings - $10.99 

Blue Raffia Rectangle Earrings - $12.99 

Watermelon Beaded Earrings - $9.99

Rainbow Clay Bead Drop Earrings - $9.99

Flower Dangle Earrings - $10.99 

Yellow Raffia Earrings - $12.99 

Beaded Tassel Earrings - $6.00 

Pink Raffia Earrings - $11.99 

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4 Spring Reads

This post is sponsored by HTP Books, but all opinions are my own. 

Reading is our favorite year-round activity. We can't help but love the Spring releases though. This is typically when new books by our favorite authors are released and the covers transition from snow bedecked to a more brighter, beach-y vibe. And we are so here for that. 

Today we are sharing four great new releases that you are going to want to put on your Spring TBR piles ASAP. These are some of our all time favorite authors - the ones we pick up whenever we need "a really good" read, and don't want to waste any precious reading time on something we won't love. From thriller to romance - this stack has got your Spring reading needs covered.

4 SPRING READS

The Summer Getaway by Susan Mallery
Mallery is one of the queens of the beach read, and in her latest novel we take a peek at the mother/daughter relationship. The Summer Getaway follows a single mom and her need to getaway. Her children each have their own lives and their own demands, but she longs for freedom. Even if it is for just a short time. But as the center unit of her family, she quickly learns she can't escape them for long. 

Read this if you enjoy fictional dramas set in a gorgeous backdrop. Think Elin Hilderbrand, Susan Wigg, and Nancy Thayer. 

Summer at the Cape by RaeAnne Thayne
Thayne always gives us stories that pull at our heart strings and right off the bat Summer at the Cape does just that. The Porter sisters have experienced so many family hardships, that when Cami learns that her younger sister (and twin) has died in an accident, she rushes back to her hometown to see what can be salvaged of the remaining family relationships. Each sister must come to terms with each other, and their mother. Cami also must decide if romance with an old flame should be reignited. 

Read this if you enjoy fictional drama with a side of romance. Think Debbie Macomber and Barbara Delinsky. 

An Honest Lie by Tarryn Fisher
An Honest Lie by best selling author Tarryn Fisher is a total page turning suspense novel about a Vegas girls weekend gone wrong. This gripping and twisting story will keep you on the edge of your seat as you read that not all secrets from the past can stay there. 

Read this if you enjoy novels like The Push, Girl A, and Pretty Little Wife. 

The Wrong Victim by Allison Brennan
Brennan gives us the third book in her Quinn & Costa series with The Wrong Victim.  A group takes a chartered boat in the San Juan Islands, but twenty minutes after their departure it explodes. Now it's a race against time as the FBI has to determine whether this was a targeted act of domestic terrorism, or was one person the target and the others mere victims. With few clues to go on, are they able to stop the killer before they strike again? 

Read this if you enjoy political and organized crime thrillers. 

How amazing do all four of these novels sound? Which one will you be grabbing to read first? 

Psst...these would also make great gift ideas! We plan on sticking them in our girlfriends beach getaway goodie bags! 

HAPPY READING! 

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Everyday Organizing for Busy Moms {Laundry and Dishes}

May is for Moms and Margaritas!!! Yay for May!!! A new month means new calendar pictures and a new post in the Everyday Organizing for Busy Moms series.  

I mentioned this on Instagram stories last week, but May is one of those months that just seems to FLY by without even realizing it. Between end of the year school stuff, end of season sports stuff, and just regular life it often feels like a whirlwind!  Keeping up with everyday chores like laundry and dishes might not seem like a big deal, but I've found that not keeping up with it is when you really get into trouble. This topic is really not exciting at all, but I thought I'd share a little about how I keep up with the laundry and dishes in the hopes that even one of these tips might help one of you. 

Laundry

 

1. I know some people like to wait and do all the laundry in one day, but I'm not one of those people. I have found that doing at least one load everyday is best for my family.  

2. In most cases, I wash everyone's clothes separately meaning I don't wash two of my kids clothes together. This makes it so much easier for folding and putting away because I don't have to figure out who's socks are who's and which pair of shorts belongs to which kid. 

3. When I fold clothes I always listen to an audio book.  I despise folding and putting away clothes, but when I'm listening to a book I hardly realize that I'm doing it and it makes the time go by so much faster. 

4. Speaking folding and putting away, I only put away mine and the Mr.'s. I'm happy to do my kids laundry for them, but they each put it away and have been doing so since a really young age. I have several laundry baskets so I put each person's clothes in their own basket and usually place it outside their bedroom door during the day. The rule in my house is you have to put it away sometime that day (before bed). If I don't enforce that they just keep the basket full of clothes in their room and dig through it when they are looking for something to wear.  Plus, I need the baskets back for the next round of laundry. 

5. Make your washer work for you when you aren't around.  I always set it to run when I'm doing something else or when I'm about to leave the house to run errands so I'm not sitting around waiting on it to finish.  Then when I get home I can throw things in the dryer.  Also, most newer washers have a delayed wash setting. I love this feature! If I don't want wet clothes sitting in the washer for hours I can time when I will be back home and set it on a delayed start so it is done right before I will be getting home. Sometimes I will also set it to begin during the night so it is done first thing in the morning and I can toss things in the dryer when I get up. 

6. There are a lot of items that I don't put in the dryer and instead air dry.  I used to find all sorts of crazy places to lay them to dry and then I got really smart and spent about $20 on THIS drying rack.  Why I hadn't done this before is beyond me, but my girls and I keep this thing in constant use. I lay items like swimsuits, sports bras, Lululemon, and other items I don't want to worry about shrinking on this and then often just toss them in the dryer for a few minutes after they are dry to "fluff" them before putting them away. 

Dishes 

1. Use the dishwasher!  The Mr. and I disagree on this, but I put just about everything in the dishwasher.  Big mixing bowls, Tupperware, pots/pans, all of it. I love the dishwasher and don't mind if a big bowl is taking up the spots that 5 plates could fit.  I'm not having to wash/dry it so I'm happy to load it up with everything that I can. 

2. Run your dishwasher every night. It's one of those tasks I usually do before going to bed or just after we finish dinner. I like to run it each night and unload it each morning, generally while the kids are eating breakfast. This way you aren't stuck in the middle of the day with a full dishwasher because if that happens you would either end up leaving dirty dishes in the sink or hand washing them. Instead, if you run it each night, unload each morning, and fill it up throughout the day it keeps the rhythm going nicely. 

I know this wasn't the most exciting topic, but a necessary one because it's something that all of us deal with.  I hope some of these tips helped some of you and if you have any tips to share, I'd love to hear them because let's be honest, the laundry and dishes aren't going away! 

EVERYDAY ORGANIZING FOR BUSY MOMS 

January {Keep a Family Calendar}

February {To-Do Lists} 

March {Time Pockets}

April {Declutter}

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Book Club: April 2022

 

Another month is here and you know what that means...Book Club Day!!! Last month started gearing up for end of year craziness for school and sports, so neither of us got to read as many books as we had hoped. But, the ones we did read we really liked!  We're excited for summer break which means lazy afternoons by the pool with a book in hand, but until then we will squeeze in some reading when we can.

WHAT WE READ...

CARRIE BETH

First up for me was All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata. The main character, Aurora, was in a 14 year relationship with a musical superstar that ended abruptly, so she made her way back to her hometown in Colorado. There she meets single dad, Rhodes, and his teenage soon. 

She reconnects with some friends from her past, but the slow-burn romance and the sweet relationship she begins to form with the son are the sweetest. She hides the fact that she's got some musical talents of her own and it just so happens that Rhodes' son is an aspiring musician so they bond over that. Much of this story is set in the beautiful outdoors, so lots of references to nature, hiking as Aurora tries to connect with her late mother who was an avid hiker.  It was a sweet story that I think most would enjoy!

I couldn't wait to start on The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey. I loved this book!  Harvey's stories never disappoint me and this was no different.  

It had a historical fiction component that shared about the Vanderbilts and much of that portion of the story was set at The Biltmore.  The story flipped back and forth between past (The Vanderbilt Family) and present following 3 generations of women who's family veil is a symbol of love and long lasting relationships. That is until a grandmother helps her granddaughter become a runaway bride to save herself from making a big mistake.  

This story was entertaining, emotional, and educational!  I highly recommend it! 

I wrapped up this month with Love, Lists & Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz.  Jo is a yacht stewardess who is working her way through a 30 by 30 bucket list leading up to her 30th birthday.  

A family tragedy combined with some miscommunication land her taking care of her teenage nieces for the summer and the three of them become a team trying to work through the list while working through their grief.  Kissing a stranger as one of her list items leads her to meet a potential love interest if she is willing to open herself up to love.  This story was super cute and had some deeper messages and I really enjoyed it. 

JEN

I LOVED this book!! Pretty much anything Kristy Woodson Harvey writes, I'm reading. ASAP. 

Right from the very first chapter, I was sucked in. I’ve always been fascinated with the Biltmore and the stories it grand walls hold. So when one of my favorite authors wrote a book intertwining a bit of the Biltmore history in this dual timeline novel, I couldn’t resist.

The novel opens with a wedding weekend in the beautiful setting of the Biltmore. Everything is as beautiful as the estate itself - except the relationship. A mystery veil, a questionable groom, a secret or two waiting to be discovered...needless to say I was hooked.

The relationship between Julia and her grandmother is lovely and endearing. As the novel unfolded I realized their relationship was the true love story being written.

From start to finish The Wedding Veil is a treat in family legacy, family bonds, and perfect timing. I highly recommend you adding The Wedding Veil to your reading list right this second!!

This book gave me all the feelings. Talk about a gut wrenching, yet heartwarming story. What Matters Most takes places in picturesque Nantucket Island. As two heartbroken and grief stricken individuals cross paths, a friendship blossoms and each realizes maybe life has more in store for them.

As each character journeys on a path of healing, longtime kept secrets threaten to disrupt their newfound peace.

The story is a contemporary romance, but it’s theme is a message of forgiveness and the power of it in all different facets.

I highly enjoyed this one and recommend it for anyone looking for a page turning picker-upper.

It’s been awhile since I was so into a book I finished it in one day. Then comes along What Happened to the Bennetts. Y'all I devoured this book!

This story was fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. It’s a political thriller but the main focus is family and what lengths you would go to for those that you love.

The whole time I was reading it, I kept imagining what I would do in this same situation and how horrible it would be. But in today’s crazy world it also seems like something that could happen in real life.

WHAT'S UP NEXT...

CARRIE BETH 

Next up for me is Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score. I have no idea what it is about and I don't think I've ever ready anything by this author, but it popped up on a search and has a ton of great reviews!  I'll keep you posted! 

JEN

I'm still in a mystery/thriller mood, so I grabbed The Golden Couple to read next. I've GREAT things about this one, so stay tuned! 

WHAT DID YOU READ LAST MONTH? ANYTHING YOU LOVED THAT WE SHOULD PUT ON OUR READING LISTS? SHARE WITH US!

BOOK CLUB 2022

| January | February | March | 

BEST BOOKS OF 2021

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HAPPY READING! 

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