Review: Johnsonville Brat Patties {Video}

When it comes to food, I am what you might call picky.

If it were up to me, I would live off of macaroni and cheese, Cheese-Its, bread, fettucini alfredo, waffles, and coffee.

I’m very unadventurous when it comes to food, and I always have been.

Then I met my fiance’, Morgan, who witnessed my first foray into the world of sushi, taught me how to use chopsticks, showed me that eating veggies wasn’t all that bad of an idea, and most of all, is diabetic.

Did you notice that there is absolutely ZERO meat up there in the list of things I would live off of?  SUPER healthy, right?  Go ahead, roll your eyes.  I deserve it.

So, for me, preparing to marry the man of my dreams also means learning to eat in a way that is healthy and supportive of the way he currently eats – low carb.  Meat.  Veggies.  You get the picture.

So, when the Walmart Moms were offered the chance to try out the new Johnsonville Brat Patties, my initial instinct was to turn it down.

And then I remembered my sweet fiance’.  And I sent him the email with one word in it.

“Interested?”

2 minutes later came the response, “YES!  These are awesome. Johnsonville Brats are seriously my FAVORITE brat.  These look awesome!  Let’s do it.”

See?  I told you he was excited.  I mean, really. How cute is he?

So we headed to Walmart to pick some up.  We were having a cookout with family, so we actually got a bunch so we could share.

We whipped up a few on the grill, and made brat and sauerkraut burgers.  They were SO yummy.  Seriously everyone devoured them.

He may not marry me after he sees that I’ve posted this photo. But hey, he posed.

We liked the Johnsonville Brat Burgers so much that we actually made them AGAIN two days later.  This time, we made a little video to share with you so that you could check out our experience with them.  Also, of note, super cute cameo by my kiddo.  Of course, I’m totally partial, but I doubt you’ll disagree!

So what do you think?  Will you try the new Johnsonville Bratwurst Patties?  Do you have any great recipes to share?  Let us know!

Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post on behalf of Johnsonville Brat Patties and the Walmart Moms.  All posts always have been and always have been filled 100% with my thoughts – that’s how I roll.  If you have any questions, feel free to drop me an email.

Fall Tip: All About Accessories

all necklaces from forever 21

Do ya need a quick wardrobe pick-me-up during this time in between seasons? I know I sure do! If you have been following along, you know that I have already started gathering ideas for my Fall Wardrobe. I also have begun saving for those “musts” and investment pieces for the season.

The problem?

I want to shop now.

The cure for my fashion itch is accessories — specifically those from Forever 21. I can load up on a variety of styles, look good on the cheap, and as it turns out-these items are usually the ones I get the most compliments on!

I’m obviously a necklace person; I love just tossing ‘em on over a simple tank, a fun romper or easy strapless dress to instantly elevate my look. Pieces with movement, layers, and tassels add a bit of texture and interest to outfits comprised of softer fabrics-a must for all the lightweight jersey we are currently wearing to keep cool! Bird accents are also something I just can’t seem to pass up-whether a feather for a Boho feel or a tiny bird charm for a sweet vibe, I’m all about the “fowl play”.  The statement collar is another silhouette I love, as it can be paired back to the simplest of outfits and take them from tame to eye-catching.

Do you have a go-to store for accessorizing frugally?

Xoom, Xoom, Xoom with Motorola

Motorola contacted me a few weeks ago and asked if I was interested in learning how the Motorola Xoom Tablet would pretty much rock my world/improve my life.  Well, if you know much about my often-unorganized, more-than-chaotic life then you know I all but tackled the computer in order to respond with a very casual “sure, I’d love that”.

When it arrived in all of its shiny, new, sleek glory, I felt myself get all tingly.  I carefully read the instructions, and then pressed the power button and watched my Xoom spring to life.  The honeycomb (the Android 3.0 operating system – which has been optimized for tablets) is pretty incredible.

I’m a heavy user of the suite of Google products, so an android-based tablet was definitely the way to go for me.  I was thrilled to see that my Google Calendar, Gmail, Google Docs, and ahem even Google + were all easily accessible from the Xoom.  I manage almost all of my editorial calendars this way, as well as share ideas with colleagues, access information on various campaigns, and keep track of all of my invoicing with the Google suite.  Accessing them all with the Xoom has made my life even easier.

Of course, the Xoom isn’t all business.  It kept my busy social calendar organized while I was at BlogHer11, making sure that I knew exactly where I was supposed to be at all times (and also giving me an excuse to politely duck out of conversations that were taking a bit too long – the calendar on my Xoom would pop up and I’d apologetically show it to whomever I was speaking with as I said my goodbyes and dashed off.  My apologies if you were one of those people – let’s just say I am not good at exits.)

I’m also obsessed with the app “Pulse” which was recommended to me by the good folks at Motorola. Pulse is a customizable news aggregator and it ROCKS. It makes it so much easier to keep up with the important things in life – you know like the upcoming Kardashian wedding, for one.

Of course, my daughter and future step-son have found their own use for my Motorola Xoom.  So much so, as a matter of fact, that my fiance’ looked at me the other day and said “We’re going to have to buy another Xoom”.  He may be right, because there is lots of Cutting of the Rope, Fruit Ninjaing, and Angry Birds flying across the screen on a daily basis.  Oh and air hockey.  And pool.  And yes, I let our 4 and 5 year old play pool on the Xoom.  I consider it a part of our preschool aged college-prep program.

Also, this may sound cheesy but I was so very thankful for our Xoom on a 4-times and 5-hours delayed airport layover – mostly because it kept my 4 year old daughter happy.  Which, in turn, makes me VERY happy.

Did I mention that the Xoom has some pretty cool video capabilities?  Check out this adorable video of my daughter singing happy birthday to me – all shot and uploaded in under 5 minutes on my Xoom.

Gosh I love that kid.

So anyway, as you have probably realized by now, I’m a huge fan of the Xoom, and not just because it showed up on my doorstep, but because it really does rock. I am certainly the envy of my tablet-less fiance’ as he sits on the couch in the evenings with his big, bulky laptop and I flick through the latest celebrity gossip, tweet, and answer emails from my slim little Motorola Xoom. Come to think of it, I think he’s right, we will need another Xoom…I just don’t think it will end up being for the kids.

Disclosure: I have a working relationship with Motorola and this was a sponsored post.

Sears Style: Fun, Fashionable, Fabulous

Last week was the much-anticipated BlogHer Conference in San Diego.  As I had mentioned in a previous post, I attended the Cheap Sally Party on Friday night as an ambassador for Sears Style.  We had such a blast all together at the party!  Even better – earlier that day I was able to take two of my girlfriends on a fun shopping trip to a local Sears where we shopped and shopped – almost until we dropped!

Well, at least until we had to switch to flats and not heels.  Ouch.

I will be the first to tell you that I was beyond pleased with the selection at Sears.  I literally had so many items that I wanted to try on that my arms were aching from carrying it all.  We had a mini fashion show in the dressing room – I’m sure the other customers were thoroughly confused – if there had been loud music blaring and lights flashing you would have sworn it was a runway show.

Oh also, not many other customers had a photographer following them around to document their shopping trip.  To make myself feel special, I like to think of it more as paparazzi.  Thanks, Sandy – you were a great paparazzo and a huge help to my ego.

I had no idea there were so many different clothing lines at Sears – Apostrophe, French Connection, Bongo, and now the Kardashian Collection, just to name a few.  I was like a kid in a candy store.

We hit the dressing rooms in a hurry – we had so many different looks to model!  In the span of about 10 minutes I suddenly felt like I was back in college, trying on clothes with my sorority sisters – flipping sizes over the door to share, giggling, and giving delicate, but honest feedback.

You know what I love most about the clothing at Sears?  It’s made for real women.  Like, y’all, I have curves.  We’re all ladies here so I can share – I’m a bit busty, and definitely have a small waist with, you know, HIPS.  Real women do.  Well, real women and Kim Kardashian.

Oh hey, she has a line at Sears, now!  Did you hear?

I love synergy.

One of the biggest compliments that I have been given lately was the one given to us by Jennifer — the Sears rep who was on the shopping trip with us.  She took one look at us in our new clothes and said “You guys look better than the models!”

And you know what?  I agree!  We ran the gamut of body types, but all three of us are built like REAL women and I loved that the clothing just fit us.  It is so nice to try on something for once that is not made for a sample size, but is made for a real woman.  Not only that, but was cut in a way that allowed me to wear a size medium, even with me being a bit busty.  The cuts all allowed for me to have a waist, hips, boobs, (ok, and maybe even a little leftover baby belly – 4 years later) but was still tailored in a classy way to fit the lines of my body.

I have no shame.  I’m in the store hamming it up for photos with a GIANT RED TAG and sensor hanging off of my dress.  Have no fear.  I bought it and wore it to the party later that night.

Ooooh, and check out my pretty shoes from the new Kardashian Collection.  I fell in love with them.  I had to have them.

They cost more than my dress.

They were worth every penny.

Of note, these shoes, like most heels, are not meant for superfluous amounts of standing.  These are “8 blockers”.  Meaning that after about 8 blocks, you’re done.  Plan accordingly.  After about 3 hours of standing in them, I switched to flats, though I did whip them back out for people to take photos of them a few times.  Because, and let’s be honest, those shoes are HOT.

What I don’t have a photo of is my fiance’ suggestively raising his eyebrow at me when he saw these shoes.  Trust me, he totally did.

All in all, partnering with Sears Style has been a match made in heaven.  We had the best time on the shopping trip together and I can’t thank the entire Sears team enough for such a great opportunity!  I hope that we had the opportunity to say hi that night at the party and that we had a chance to talk about the fact that I was dressed in head-to-toe Sears.

Leave me your thoughts – have you checked out Sears Style yet?  What are you waiting for!?

Disclosure:  This post was sponsored by Sears.  All opinions are 100% mine, and always will be.  That’s how I roll.

OM(issoni)G: Missoni for Target

image via

One of the most well-done and highly anticipated designer collaborations is on its way….Missoni for Target! Arriving in stores September 18, the zigzag-clad offerings will include items for men, women, kids, and home. Did I mention there are accessories?

Scarves!

Rain boots!

Totes!

Laptop cases!

Cosmetic bags!

Luggage!

This is sure to be one oh-so-chic collection. To shop the new Missoni collection, head online or plan to get there early-what’s your strategy for getting first dibs on Target designer collabs?

I am so excited….O M(issoni!)G!

Box Tops For Education at Walmart

As a former teacher, I’m extremely passionate about education.  Education dollars are tight, and extra money is hard to come by for simple things like markers for the white board, posters for the classroom, and even folders and pens.  Want something beyond the basics?  Well, if you’re a teacher, you most likely have to purchase it yourself.

With your own money.

Let’s face it.  Teachers already make next-to-nothing.

Box Tops for Education makes a huge different in that regard.  Students can collect the Box Tops then turn them into their teacher or school, who can then exchange them for additional funds to put towards a variety of items.  I’m sure of you are already very familiar with this awesome program and are using it at your schools.

For the month of August, you can get BONUS Box Tops for your school by shopping exclusively at Walmart.  The Box Top program has really expanded over the years and now you can buy items that have Box Tops that are suitable for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even dessert!  Really anything from Cheerios, to Pizza Rolls, to Hamburger Helper and Macaroni Grill items have Box Tops – so you can see there are lots of ways that you can support your school!

Let me know in the comments – do you use Box Tops?

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post done on behalf of the Walmart Moms.  All opinions are and always have been my own.

Inspiration: Fall 2011

It’s definitely a bit early to start stockpiling fall duds. But that doesn’t mean you can’t start collecting your thoughts and building an inspiration board so that you have a good jumping-off place when you do begin to start shopping. Living in NYC, space is limited so I can’t always create an elaborate inspiration board of magazine clippings, fabric samples or pictures. My tech-savvy and style-friendly answer is pinterest! It allows me to create an online inspiration board-everything in one place and able to be traced back for easy shopping. Here’s a peek at mine:

all images available here

As you can see, I am loving the combination of bright hues like Cobalt and Goldenrod against a saturated neutral like Cognac. You can still find me colorblocking, but this time it will always involve a deep neutral anchor. Vintage prints and silks always keep Fall from being too frumpy, and there’s nothing like a simple shoe to keep the focus all about the clothes.

What Fall trends are calling your name? Do you create inspiration boards a la pinterest or the old fashioned way?

Sears Style at the Cheap Sally Party

I started this site over 3 years ago to make fashion more accessible to the everyday woman.

To women like me.  And, hopefully, you.

That was it.  I held no overly-lofty dreams of being famous, or a bazillionaire.

Ha.  A blogger bazillionaire.  Now that’s funny.

I just thought I could help to decode the fashion world for the women who found it to be a bit, well, daunting.  I wanted to help women feel sexy in their own skin, no matter what their shape and size.

I wanted to show women that, while it’s fine to love Dior and Chanel, you can look sexy and pulled-together in items from almost anywhere, if you simply know how to shop.

So, when Sears approached me to be a brand ambassador for the Cheap Sally Party at BlogHer in San Diego, I couldn’t resist.  The mission behind Sears Style is similar to my own – to make women look good for a price that is actually affordable.

Done and done.

So, today I’ll be shopping with two of my friends, Ellen from Thrifty and Chic Mom and Jennifer from Perfectly Disheveled at a Sears in San Diego.  I’ll be helping to style them, and showing them all of the amazing, stylish options that Sears has to offer.  With brands like UK Style For French Connection, Apostrophe, Bongo, and the soon-to-come Kardashian Collection, there really are endless options.

Once we get ourselves all prettied up, we will be hanging out at the Sears Style Cabana at the Cheap Sally Party, so please be sure to stop by, say hello, and learn all about how you can rock your own style with Sears.

See you there!

Disclosure:  This post was sponsored by Sears.  All opinions are, and always have been, my own.  That’s how I roll.