Baby Prep: Nursery Tour + Paperramma Review

This is probably not breaking news to people who know me pretty well, but I'm gonna put it out there anyway: I'm a pretty particular person. {Read: Nitpicky.}

I'm a perfectionist by nature and that translates to lots of parts of my life: Organization, work-style, surroundings, etc. Sometimes being so picky causes things to take a little longer than it would for others -- like picking out nail polish colors when I get a pedicure and deciding on a color scheme for a room.

I'm learning to let go of this because I know that babies aren't all about perfection and order, so I need to get over it. But when it came down to putting together the baby's nursery, I knew I wanted something that I'd feel happy in since I'll inevitably be spending many early mornings and late nights hanging around in there.

The main issues I had with nursery planning could be categorized by three main factors: budget, space and a lack of interest for anything that looks remotely babyish.

Some people are all into themes and cutesy little things that scream "newborn", and I can understand why teeny tiny soft things can definitely bring about the warm fuzzies. But I prefer a more classic style that can easily translate to life after diapers, so it was a challenge looking for things that towed that line. These were some of the looks I had pinned when the planning first began:

Swoon. {From Eat.Sleep.Decorate.}

Found on Pinterest.

I started out with bedding because I figured that would be a good jumping off point as far as colors and styles. I found this "Make a Splash" crib bedding set from Land of Nod and thought that the colors were great and the whales gave a playful touch without overdoing the whole animal thing. With that picked out, I was able to go from there with the rest of the décor.

We live in a rental -- a three story, 2 bed 2.5 bath townhome -- so I knew there wouldn't be any wall painting to do because we didn't want to have to worry about painting it back in the future. So, picking out cute art was a must.

Enter Paperramma. Upon first glance, I immediately loved the look of their modern, fresh prints that had all the whimsy you want in a nursery with a custom twist.

I browsed their stuff and fell in love with the idea of creating a custom,"interactive" map to put over Cole's crib, but wasn't sure if I could pull off buying all the wall art I wanted and still stay within budget.  Lo and behold, I found out that they were working with bloggers and offering custom creations for those who wanted to review their Paperramma experience. How perfect! It was meant to be.

After getting accepted to work with Paperramma, they immediately started the customization process asking me things like the baby's name, date of birth, color scheme and any other special things that might be important to the design. This is where I immediately started to freak out. Because this is usually the part where I can't make up my mind, or can't express exactly what I'm looking for.

So... I emailed them with as many details as possible. I sent a picture of the bedding and asked if they could coordinate the colors {they could}, and if they could add a custom quote instead of the date of birth at the bottom {they did}. I basically mashed together two of their custom map ideas to create one perfect map to match what I had in mind.

The two maps I used for inspiration.

My custom map!

With just ONE try, they were able to capture exactly what I imagined. That never happens! Color me impressed.

I'm so excited about the fact that we can add pins to show Cole's future travels. Gotta start planning some trips soon! I'm also going to eventually add a wooden frame around the border -- that's a DIY project for when things get a bit more settled. I'm thinking a distressed gray outer frame... anyone want to come over and build it for me?!

We had a few more frames to fill over Cole's changing table, so I purchased one more print from Paperramma -- a print that holds a lot of meaning to our little family. For years, "Three Little Birds" has been our song whenever times are tough so, as soon as I saw this adorable print, I knew we had to include it in the decor.

The rest of the artwork we {will} have on the walls I made myself with PicMonkey using inspiration from other quotes I had seen during my pinning sprees. I simply created them and will have them printed and hung them in these nice frames that I purchased during Michael's BOGO sales. I repurposed an old frame I've had since college and turned it into a little clipboard frame for mementos and pictures with a quick coat of paint and some metal clips. Done and done... and on the cheap, too!

Classic white furniture {just a crib, a glider and a dresser for which I purchased a removable changing table top} and a bold striped rug easily completed the look I was going for -- clean, boyish and modern.

Side note: One of my favorite parts of Cole's room is actually his closet. I love storage and organization. I bought this piece from Walmart and it works perfectly for all the little odds and ends that need a home but that I don't necessarily want out in plain view. I now want to redo my entire closet so it's as tidy as his!

So. Much. Clothes.

There are still little things here and there that I'd like to tweak and add to, but I'm so happy with how Cole's space turned out -- and even happier that I came across Paperramma and had the amazing opportunity to work with them!

Looking for custom prints of your own? Paperramma is offering The Kitchen Prep readers $5 off any order of $50 or more! Simply type in the coupon code TKPREPBLOG14 at checkout.

A big thank you to my friends at Paperramma for creating the finishing touches for the baby's room! I'm sure I'll be making some more purchases in the future for more custom adorableness. :)

{Note: I had the baby! I wrote most of this post before he arrived, so there's not much about him in it -- except, of course, that last picture! I'll be sharing more about our new lives as parents soon!}

Snack Party! | Taste of Nature Fruit & Nut Bars

"I'm sorry for the things I said when I was hungry."

Could this easily be your life motto? Then read on, my friend.

I can tell you for sure that "hangriness" runs in my family. I have stories. There is faint recollection of my mom driving off and leaving my little sister standing on the front steps of our house during an episode of low blood sugar. That same sister, many years later, nearly had a meltdown in the streets of Little Italy during her 21st birthday trip to NYC because I couldn't make up my mind about where we'd eat lunch.

Snacks are a necessity around here.

The key is, choosing snacks that nourish and sustain before you come across a vending machine or a drive-thru window and get pulled in like a moth to the flame.

I recently got the opportunity to share one of my favorite new snacks, Taste of Nature Fruit & Nut Bars, with folks who appreciate the value of healthy snacking. My husband, who is a chiropractor, has patients who come from all walks of life -- hardcore athletes, stay-at-home mamas, retirees, you name it. But even though their day-to-day lives differ greatly from one another's, they all have a common link: They take good care of themselves. After all, that's why we get to see their smiling faces at the office every day!

I had the opportunity to sample Taste of Nature Bars after BlogHer Food in May as they were one of the goodies in our swag bags. After getting a sneak peek, I couldn't wait to receive the samples to share! The office seemed like the perfect place to share my snacking find.

Many of our patients have special diets due to lifestyle choice and/or allergies, so the fact that Taste of Nature bars are certified organic, gluten-free certified, and non-gmo, vegan, kosher and contain real, nuts, fruits and grains that you can see {all at under 200 calories} was a real plus. They've got nothing artificial, no fillers and no chemicals – what you see is what you get with these bars, which is just how I like my snacks.

Did I mention that they have 6 exciting flavors to choose from? Because they do. Brazilian Nut Festival, California Almond Valley, Quebec Cranberry Carnival, Canadian Maple Forest, Himalayan Goji Summit and Persian Pomegranate Garden make up the tantalizing options. I think the hardest decision for anyone who came in to give them a try was choosing which one they wanted first!

I set up a tasting station {and put out a little survey, just for fun} and let the magic happen.

Everyone seemed to have the same reaction after taking a nibble of the samples -- "Mmmm. These are good. Really good." And then they'd promptly scour the packaging to make sure there was nothing sneaky lurking in there, like I was trying to pull the wool over their eyes. But the secret is simple: Real Tastes Good. {Maybe that's why the company made this their tagline. Clever marketing folks.}

After chatting about which was their favorite, and how much they need something like this on the daily, and asking me where they can pick up some of these for future snacking while shoving a few free samples into their bags, {sadly, the closest store that sells them is Nutrition Cottage about 40 minutes away in Boynton & Delray! Come to Jupiter, Taste of Nature!}, they marked down their favorite flavor on my tally sheet and went on their merry way... but not before scoring some sportsy swag for outdoor fun in the sun!

{In case you were wondering, Brazilian Nut Fiesta won out over the competitors. My personal favorite is the Persian Pomegranate Garden. I'm wondering if Brazil took the lead because everyone is in a Brazilian state of mind with the World Cup happening.}

I felt like I had done my civic duty in decreasing the "hangriness" rate of our city one person at a time. Just call me superwoman.

More importantly, I now have a great recommendation when people ask me for smart snacking ideas. Because we all know what can happen when hunger catches you snackless! ;) For more information about Taste of Nature Fruit & Nut Bars, check out their site.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Fruttare Frozen Fruit Bars: #ItsAllGood!

Guess what? It's about a billion degrees outside these days. There is a brief window of coolness in the mornings and afternoons, but aside from that, it's basically sizzling {or pouring} all.the.time.

But I haven't let that stop me from enjoying the great outdoors during the summer! {Even while 5 months pregnant.} It would be criminal to give up sunshine and the long, lazy days of summer just because it's a little hot and humid. Life's too short to focus on anything but the bright side!

Blazing summer days make me extra grateful for sunnies, shade trees, the ocean breeze and refreshing snacks like Fruttare Frozen Fruit Bars.

We've gotten pretty good at packing picnic lunches for days at the beach and boating to the sandbar, so over the weekend I bundled up my Fruttare bars {with lots and lots of ice!} along with some other snacks and set out with some friends for a day on the water.

We happened to get to the boat launch around the same time as one of Florida's clockwork afternoon storms. After waiting it out for a little while and ensuring that it was safe, we set out to the sandbar where we laid out a lunch spread and let the pups splash around in the water. We were only out for a little while when the ominous clouds in the distance hinted that maybe it was time to head back... but not before getting to bust out some Fruttare bars and enjoy them before the rest of the storms swept in!

Please excuse the wind-blown boat hair. ;)

When I was given the opportunity to try Fruttare's flavors, and I couldn't help but initially choose one of their creamy Fruit & Milk varieties. Because summer = coconut in my world, I went with the Coconut and Milk flavor. It's like a tropical smoothie on a stick!

The cool combo of creamy milk and sweet coconut immediately transports you to a place of tranquility -- like a hammock hanging between palm trees or a tiki hut on an abandoned beach. Suddenly, you forget about the yucky things summer can bring like downpours, sweat, sunburns and mosquitoes... all because of a frozen fruit bar. {I'm pretty easy to please!}

So maybe the day wasn't ideal, but we sure made the best of it and had a blast, which is what life should be all about anyway!

I liked the Coconut fruit bars so much that I picked up some of the Lime fruit bars to sample, too. Though they're certainly good enough on their own, I decided to try out a little experiment and jazz them up jazz just for fun. {You know me, I can't help myself.}

With a little drizzle of white chocolate and a dip in some crushed graham crackers, these bars were transformed into icy treats that are reminiscent of key lime pie! Fun, right?

Whether you're eating Fruttare bars at home on a rainy day or cooling down with them in the sunshine, the best way to enjoy them is with family and friends as you celebrate the bright side of life! :) Fruttare Frozen Fruit Bars are available at retailers nationwide; for more information, visit their website.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Prep Praises: NatureBox {and a Giveaway!}

Whew... well, we're back from a weekend in Gainesville celebrating a Gator victory. {Woohoo!} You must be wondering how we're still fitting into our clothes around here after all of the birthday-celebrating, tailgate-cooking, cocktail-sipping fun I've been posting about lately.

So am I.

You're probably sick of hearing {reading?} me say this, but truly... it's all about balance. Though I'd like to say that we stick to a 90/10 ratio of healthy & wholesome versus decadent & splurge-worthy, once September comes around it's more like 70/30 until the New Year. Just telling it like it is.

During the times when I'm {trying to be} good, it's always nice to have go-to snacks that make choosing smarter foods easier and excite me as much as indulgent nibbles. {Especially since the average American gets 25% of their calories from snacking! Sounds like a "make-or-break" category to me!}

A while back, I was contacted by a company called NatureBox to see if I'd be interested in trying out their product. As much as I love testing out new goodies, I'm usually pretty picky about the kinds of foods I allow into our pantry... especially because so many companies find a way to sneak artificial colors, preservatives, and other not-so-good stuff into foods that would otherwise be ok.

After doing a little research and  reading about NatureBox's mission, I decided that I'd give it a try.

My NatureBox arrived filled with a cornucopia of delicious, nutritious goodies {as promised!}: Umami Roasted Nuts, Pistachio Power Clusters, Apple Orchards Granola, Toasted Sesame Stix, and Big Island Pineapple.

 

I've got to tell you, the only thing I did not like about my NatureBox was trying to keep Steve {my health-conscious hubby} from busting into the packaging and eating everything before I got a chance to check it out and take pics! I'm happy to report that he and I both enjoyed snacking on everything {his favorite was the dried pineapple slices, mine was a toss up between the granola and the Power Clusters!}.

Here are some things I loved about NatureBox:

• The packaging. It feels like a present. :) Each goody was individually packaged in a resealable pouch, too, for convenient, portable snacking and freshness. {Plus, I'm not going to lie, I sort of live by this.}
• They promise wholesome, high quality ingredients with no high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, trans fats, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, or artificial colors. Score!
• For each NatureBox purchased, they donate one meal to feed hungry children in America. Love it. 
• You get 4-6 carefully chosen snacks in each box for $19.95/month... less than you'd spend on wholesome goodies at some health food stores, and you don't even have to put real pants on and go to the store to get them. {You can also cancel your subscription whenever you want.}

I thought those NatureBox people seemed pretty cool. And guess what? They're pretty generous, too! They're letting me share a promo code for 25% off your first month subscription for the month-to-month option if you decide to give them a try! Just type in APPLE25 in the promo code box when you check out.

Guess what else? They're giving one you a chance to win a NatureBox sample of your very own! Who doesn't love a {delicious & healthy} freebie?

Check out the RaffleCopter box below to enter... and if you win, will you promise to tell me what you get in your NatureBox?? The curiosity might just drive me mad! :) Good luck and happy snacking!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

P.S. I'll be posting a recipe that uses one of my favorite NatureBox snacks later today on The Kitchen Prep's Facebook page... be sure to stop by & check it out!


*Contest Terms & Conditions*

- This giveaway is open to USA residents only starting on Monday, October 8, 2012 and ends Sunday, October 14, 2012 at 12:01 pm EST.
- One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter. Winner will be announced on the blog and on Facebook on Monday, 10/15/2012.
- Winner will be responsible for providing Name, Email, and mailing address for receipt of prize.
- Winner will have until Wednesday, October 17, 2012 to claim the prize or another winner will be chosen.
- The winner will receive a different NatureBox than the one reviewed in this post (items are chosen monthly by the NatureBox company)
- NatureBox is only able to ship to US addresses
- At this time, NatureBox is unable to customize boxes for specific dietary needs, allergies or personal preferences.

*Dislosure: I received a NatureBox sample box to review, but I was not compensated for this post. The opinions I share with you are all my own. :)

Prep Praises: Petit Amuse Curated Artisan Treats

I am not to be trusted around delicious, artisan goodies. Why? Because I will justify spending our monthly food budget on a single basket of things like handcrafted artisan Rosemary & Sea Salt crackers, small batch jams & jellies, and unique craft brews. Just too much temptation.

In a world of mass-produced foods, there is something extremely alluring about being able to buy food that has only a handful of {real!} ingredients and was produced by real people as opposed to a factory of monsterous machinery.

You know, like the stuff you {wished you could} make at home.

But honestly, who has time to scout out shops & farmer's markets across the country every month to find the best of best? {If you do, can I please come live with you? Ok, thanks.}

Enter Petit Amuse.

Remember the "care packages" you got in camp or college? The ones that were filled with your favorite homemade treats because your Mom, Grandma, or other kind soul cared enough to rescue your taste buds from Ramen Noodles or cafeteria slop?

Well, I'm convinced that Petit Amuse only hires Moms & Grannies because these little boxes are pure packages of foodie love.

For $10 a month {not your entire food budget!}, Petit Amuse will select a handful of thoughtfully made foods, and send you a sample box to explore and enjoy. It's a seriously good deal considering the fact that you probably spend way over $10 on a couple of things that were cranked out on an assembly line and contain enough preservatives to mummify a small animal.

I received my Petit Amuse sample box and tore into it with as much enthusiasm as a 5 year old ripping into her birthday gifts. And this is what awaited me on the inside:



1. Ice Wine Jelly by Caramoomel
2. Garuka Bars by Garuka Bars
3. Cha-Chas by Lark Fine Foods
4. Salted Rosemary Shortbread by Lark Fine Foods
5. Sundried Tomato & Parmesan Popcorn by Oogies Gourmet Popcorn

Such fun, tasty treats!

One of the coolest things about Petit Amuse is that they hand pick exceptional products from small batch artisan food producers, who might not have the chance to get their fabulous goods out there otherwise. And if that isn't "do-gooder" enough, they don't even mark up the price and make a profit.

Their mission is simple: To expose people who love good food {you & me} to people who make good food.

If you'd like to learn more about Petit Amuse, subscribe for a monthly delivery {or gift it to someone... how thoughtful are you!?}, or take a peek at all the yummy things they have going on, hop over to their website and check it out!

*Dislosure: I received a Petit Amuse sample box to review, but I was not compensated for this post. The opinions I share with you are all my own. :)

Prep Praises: Talenti Gelato

Oprah has her favorite things, and I have mine. Her viewing audience may be a tiny bit larger than my reading audience, but that's not going to stop me from sharing some brands and products that I think are brag-worthy. :)

Today, I'm bragging about one of my {many} food weaknesses: Gelato. I would no sooner choose a favorite family member over another than a favorite gelato, I just love the stuff that much. But in my opinion, this particular one is a stand out and deserves every bit of favoritism.

Source

My husband and I both like our ice cream and gelato exactly the same way: Vanilla. Plain. Some might even say boring. But my taste buds are purists when it comes to treats of the frozen variety. {My mother and sisters are horrified at this fact. They're from the "chunky, bits & pieces laden ice cream" school of thought. There's always a black sheep in the family...}

Anyone can make something taste good when it's loaded with chocolate chips, and cookie chunks, and ribbons of caramel. The true test is to strip it down to the basics, and then see if it's still delicious. And this Tahitian Vanilla Bean gelato is. Oh, how it is.

As I was standing in my kitchen eating spoonfuls of this last night {Stop it. I feel your judgemental eyes.}, I started assessing exactly what is so fabulous about this gelato. It is, after all, just Vanilla. How complicated can it be to get that right?

For one, the texture is SO smooth. I hate it when food people start talking about how something is so "silky" or "velvety", but there's just no other way to describe it. It's some rich stuff. Another difference is the vanilla flavor. It actually tastes like real vanilla. Like, with little bean flecks and all. It might have something to do with the fact that they import their vanilla beans from Papua, New Guinea, which apparently has the highest quality beans available. I don't know if that's true, but my tastebuds agree.

Whatever my friends over at Talenti do {No, I don't actually know these people. But anyone who makes something this tasty is definitely my friend.}, I hope they keep doing it. They make one yummy product. Run, don't walk, to your nearest store and check out their flavors. Their Caribbean Coconut is another fantastic option. Not that I've had every flavor or anything... ;)

*As a complete side note: Their containers make fantastic storage containers for leftovers. How eco-friendly. :)