Even though I skipped Ben’s season (can you say snoozefest?) I adored Emily when she was on the Bachelor, and I’ve been waiting what feels like eons for the premiere of this season of The Bachelorette.

If there was ever a Bachelorette who I feel most represents my own style, Emily Maynard is it. As far back as high school my friends have asked why I’m always so dressed up and my answer is always “I’m not – this is just what I like to wear!” I have never needed an “occasion” to wear a dress – I own more dresses than anything else – and I live in high heels. I have always felt it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed – and I suspect Emily Maynard feels much the same way. Maybe it’s the fact that we are both from the South but whatever it is – I wholeheartedly approve. My favorite thing about Emily Maynard’s style is that she can effortlessly mix in her Christian Louboutin pumps with a Forever 21 dress and make it look elegant. Of course, now that she is The Bachelorette, I suspect the price tag for her fashion will not be as much of an issue (any designer in their right mind would be throwing clothing at Bachelorette Stylist, Cary Fetman) but I can’t imagine it will vary much from the uber feminine style that we have come to know and love.

A while back I saw a few tweets about Emily shopping at Towne and Reese in her hometown for some fun accessories, and with the official promo photo that was released we are already seeing one of the pieces that she chose – the Brooke Earrings from Towne and Reese in Mint. I am dying to order these earrings – they are totally affordable at $30 a pair but sadly they are on backorder until July. I think I’ll order them anyway.

Emily Maynard’s other Bachelorette promo shot has also been making waves because of the amount of people searching for her sheer pink and green tie-dyed top. Turns out it has been worn by quite a few in Hollywood and is the Gypsy05 Gili Silk Sheer Top in pink and green. It is currently being restocked as well due to high demand! It retails for $132.

I literally stalked this episode online so that I could grab a screencap of Emily’s long sleeved blue shirtdress – how great is it? Another one of her affordable looks – this dress can be snatched up (on pre-order right now) at Solow for only $90.

While I thought this pink tie-dye shirt was cute on Emily, I instantly knew that it wasn’t a part of a pajama set – turns out it’s another piece by Solow. You can find the Solow Tie-Dye Dolman Tee sale right now at Bloomingdales for $63.

I’m totally in love with Emily’s jumper that she is wearing in the promo video for this season where she is holding Ricki. Turns out it is the Silk Sweetheart Jumper by Whitney Eve – you can snatch up the same jumper until tomorrow (May 17) at Haute Look at a major discount – normally $97 dollars down to $35. I have searched high and low for this daggum jumper – trust me, this sale is your best bet of snatching it up. I couldn’t resist buying one for myself for our honeymoon in September.

I knew that Emily was a girl after my own heart – I love all things sparkly and from the looks of this dress – so does she! I’m sorry to say that Emily’s glamorous first night gown is not available online – if you want your own version of this $6,300 couture gown you’ll have to put in a custom request with Jean Fares Couture because the gown is not currently available in the United States. I loved this dress on Emily, but I have to say my favorite “first night” dress in Bachelorette history is still the one that Ashley Hebert wore last season.

I hope that you enjoyed this weeks guide to Emily Maynard’s Bachelorette Fashion. I’ll be back next week with more clothes and more IDs for you!

Read the original Ultimate Guide to Emily Maynard’s Bachelorette Fashion: Week 1 on Chic Shopper Chick.

With approximately 129 days to go until our wedding (but who’s counting? Oh, wait. Me.) we are in the midst of the most intense wedding planning that we will probably experience. Some of the things don’t seem that exciting to me – booking hotel rooms, booking a car to take us to and from the location, but some of the things, namely choosing our stationery, is something I’ve been looking forward to since pretty much the moment we got engaged (500 days ago exactly, in case you were wondering).

I’ve been so fortunate to work with Tiny Prints since the very beginning of my journey as Chic Shopper Chick, and they are my go-to stationery company. That’s why when I began looking at ordering programs, invitations, Save the Date cards, etc. I knew that I wouldn’t be looking any further than Tiny Prints’ sister company, Wedding Paper Divas. I knew that for our Save the Date Cards I wanted to make photo magnets – everyone puts these things up on their fridge anyway, right? So, I knew I wanted them to be fun, reflect our personalities, include our website address, and hopefully incorporate our wedding colors. But, before we could even think about designing them – we needed to take photos!

At the end of February we had an engagement session with our wedding photographer, Rob Greer, in Pasadena. We took those photos to make Save the Date cards. We took some really fun photos in that session – like these:

Obviously Rob knocked it out of the park for us, so we were beyond excited to take these photos and make them into our Save The Date Cards! The biggest difficulty that we had was narrowing our choices down – we had too many great photos to choose from, and too many amazing designs at Wedding Paper Divas to select from. We considered several different options – here were our finalists:

I loved this one, but Morgan didn’t think people would want us making out on their refrigerators, and I can see his point. Also, the biggest problem with this one was that we were having trouble fitting our website address on there somewhere!

In the end, this is the one that we chose – it incorporated the sea blue of our wedding, a traditional photo, a personality photo (hello iPhones), and a fun one – we’ve been practicing our dip for the wedding day! Plus, we managed to get our website address on there, which was really important to us because almost all of our guests are from out of town – they needed info on where to stay and what to do!

We also chose to create a custom embosser to seal the back of our envelopes. I struggled with this choice a bit – I went back and forth between a stamp or an embosser – but in the end I am so, so, so happy that we chose to go with the embosser. The final look was incredibly elegant and we will be able to use it on our wedding invitations as well. If you’re on the fence about this one – go for it! You won’t regret it!

What do you think of our final choice for our Save The Dates? Do you like it? Now we have the very daunting task of choosing the rest of our Wedding Stationery. I’m in love with the very cool Pocket Folds from Wedding Paper Divas – but there are so many amazing choices that it feels a bit overwhelming. I’m definitely planning on taking advantage of the 8 free samples so that we can evaluate each invite in-person before making a choice.

Stay tuned for more wedding goodness – with under 130 days to go I know I’ll be sharing a lot more info as time goes by!

Disclosure: A huge thanks to Wedding Paper Divas, who is providing all of our stationery for the wedding. All opinions are 100% my own – I wouldn’t settle for anything less than perfect for our big day!

Read the original Save The Date Cards with Wedding Paper Divas on Chic Shopper Chick.

Of course, any good adopted snail needs a comfortable place to rest his shell. So, I decided that we would build the snails a terrarium. The kids thought it was cool too – especially once they figured out how to pronounce terrarium. Say that one 5 times fast.

After school last week we headed to Walmart to drop off some prescriptions, and while we waited for them to be filled we cruised around and collected the items that we needed to make our own terrarium.

Everything you see here was purchased at Walmart. Here is the rundown of what we used:

• 1 Gallon Penny Candy Jar ($6)
• 5 lb bag of decorative stones ($5)
• Cactus Soil ($3)
• Small pot with a variety of succulents from the Garden department ($7)

We started by lining the bottom of the jar with some rocks to ventilate the soil and allow for some room for water to collect at the bottom, if necessary (I have been known to overwater my plants). Once the bottom of the jar was completely covered with a layer of stones, we moved on to the soil.

To make it easier on the kids, I dumped some of the soil into a glass bowl and used a measuring cup for them to dump the soil on top of the rocks. We ended up using about 6 cups of soil.

This is about what it should look like after you’ve added the soil – you want to leave lots of room at the top for the plants!

I chose to use succulents because they have small root systems and they don’t need a ton of water. It’s good for someone like me who either overwaters her plants, or totally forgets to water them for 2 straight weeks. For this project, I had purchased two small pots with a variety of succulents mixed together. At this point, we covered the table with paper bags and separated out the different plants from the pot. As I already mentioned, I purchased two of these, but we only ended up needing one. The other one has found a permanent home in my kitchen.

I took the plants that I separated out and placed them in the bowl with the remaining soil while we figured out a plan to replant them.

Once we had decided on our layout, we had the kids dig a shallow hole with their hands, then place the plants in their respective places. Then we just made sure each plant was surrounded by enough soil and everyone was happy with the placement before moving on.

At this point, the plants are in and all that is left to do is decorate! We chose a few of our favorite rocks from the bag to serve as decoration, but also to give the inside of the terrarium some character. Each of the kids chose a few of their favorite rocks and got to place them wherever their little hearts desired.

Ta-da! And this, my friends, is how you make a terrarium with your kids! Easy peasy lemon squeezy! I was really pleased with the result.

The kids loved it too! This was a really quick project by the way – it took 20 minutes tops from start to finish – and probably even less if you’re not taking photos with every step!

And last, but not least, meet our snails – Teach and QT (cutie). They eat tons of lettuce and apple slices and I’m pretty sure they think that they now live in snail heaven. The kids are completely fascinated by them.

We had so much fun making this terrarium with the kids, and a week later it still seems to hold just as much appeal as it did the first day. I’ve been watering the plants every other day, but after the first two weeks I plan to back it off to just twice a week. Obviously I can’t use the lid that came with the jar, so we ordered some mosquito netting to put over the mouth of the jar that keeps the snails in but still allows everyone to breathe.

What do you think – would you make a DIY terrarium?

Disclosure: This was a sponsored post by Walmart as a part of my role in the Walmart Moms. All opinions, and ideas are 100% my own.

Read the original Make Your Own Terrarium: A Fun Weekend Project With Kids on Chic Shopper Chick.

This is the first Mother’s Day that I’ve spent really, really far away from my sweet mom and because of that I tried to make it as special as I possibly could. Not too long ago I was introduced to Harry & David by my fiance’ who sends his father and stepmother a basket from Harry & David every year for Christmas – they even ask for it by name. So, when I was looking for the perfect place to find a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift for my mom, I immediately knew that it would be from Harry & David.

I probably spent 30 minutes on the website searching for the perfect gift, and eventually settled on this lovely Wooden Gift Tote – what do you think?

I’m sorry to say that this particular gift is now sold out but there are still lots of other lovely Mother’s Day gifts to choose from that will get to your mom in time for Mother’s Day! I especially love the Vintage Rose Gift Set, the Tower of Treats, or the Mother’s Day Petits Fours.

Don’t those petits fours look amazing? I love Harry & David because the gifts are all thoughtful, elegant, and so beautifully presented. Even if you live in the same town as your mom, a gift from Harry & David will still make her feel incredibly special. Of course, we are already Harry & David fans – we also sent Morgan’s stepmom an Apple Blossom Amaryllis plant from Harry & David this year as well – she loves to be in the garden and we just knew she’d love it.

You’ll find that all of these gifts vary in price to fit any budget, and some even offer free shipping! Just be sure to order your gift by 1 pm EST on Thursday May 10th to assure delivery in time for Mother’s Day!

PS – If you ever want to send me a gift, feel free to send me this delicious looking Strawberry Lemonade Cake. Yum!

Read the original Last Minute Mother’s Day Gift Idea: Harry & David on Chic Shopper Chick.

It’s certainly no secret that I’m a beauty product fanatic – and one look at my bathroom counter (much to Morgan’s dismay) proves it. I love trying new products and thanks to the influence of my sister Dawn, who writes a natural beauty blog, I also try to find products that are natural and not full of all of that gross toxic stuff that I know is not good for me or my skin.

A while back I was introduced to First Aid Beauty, also known as FAB, which is sold online and in Sephora. First Aid Beauty’s products are free of harsh chemicals and known allergens, including parabens, phthalates, alcohol, fragrances and artificial dyes. According to the FAB website:

At FAB we like to keep it simple. The packaging says what the products do, and the products do what they say. And by keeping our packaging simple, you can be assured that our resources and yours are spent on what matters: what goes in the bottle. FAB products blend serious therapeutic action with luxurious textures, so individuals with tough skin conditions no longer have to sacrifice luxury nor tolerate greasy creams and bland formulas.

I’ve been using 5 of the First Aid Beauty products for a few days now and I’m insanely impressed. My 30th birthday is fast approaching, so delaying the signs of aging is at the forefront of my mind. Because of that, it was easy to fall in love with the Uplifting Serum from First Aid Beauty which firms, sculpts, and smooths the skin. I personally saw results after two days of use, and according to FAB, your skin continues to improve the longer that you use it.

In addition, I’ve also been using the FAB 5 in 1 Eye Cream (yet another awesome product to delay aging, thank heavens) Facial Radiance Pads, the Ultra Repair Concentrate, and I’ve also been lucky to get a sneak peek at the new product from FAB, which won’t be released in Sephora stores until May 16th – the new Aloe+ Soothing Gel – which will be great for my entire family in the summer.

To celebrate FAB Moms around the country, plus the release of their all-new Aloe+ Soothing Gel, First Aid Beauty is having a Twitter party this Monday, May 7th from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm Eastern Time or from 1:30 to 2:30 pm. Yours truly will be the host, and we’ll have a number of others joining us to celebrate FAB Moms like yourself, so please join in on the fun by using the hashtag #FABMom on Twitter and you might win one of five FABMom Prize packs!

Win it! FAB has graciously offered to give one of you the chance to win their very own First Aid Beauty product collection like the one that they sent me, valued at $170! This contest will run through 11:50 pm PST on May 14, 2012. Good luck!

Read the original First Aid Beauty Celebrates FAB Moms {A Giveaway} on Chic Shopper Chick.

Honestly, I’d like to declare every week pajama week. Hey, it’s like college all over again!

You already know that I’m a milk drinker. In a major way. I’m tempted to go over to my fridge right this second and take a photo of the 4 cartons of organic milk that are currently hanging out in there, waiting to be consumed. I only say that I’m tempted because while I’d like to show you, if I do then you’d have to also bear witness to the disaster that is my refrigerator, and while I live most of my life publicly on the internet, some things just have to be off limits, you know? Like leftover Chinese food. Too personal.

Where was I? Oh! Yes, we love milk. I say we because my kids love it too. (Proud mom bragging moment in 3…2…1…) I don’t even have to flavor it for them to drink it (though I’ve never seen them turn down a glass of chocolate milk) they just love milk. And rightfully so, it’s just good.

If that isn’t reason enough for you, look, Salma Hayek starts her day off with milk, too!

In honor of Pajama Week my awesome friends with Milk Mustache sent me these super cool cow “PajaMOOS” (though I think “MOOjamas” works equally as well), a cozy Breakfast Project t-shirt, a breakfast cookbook (that my family is desperately hoping that I read – it came with a picture of Eggs Benedict on the front cover which set the bar needlessly high), a breakfast tray, some fun recipes, and a cow spotted milk frother. Oh and they sent me COW SLIPPERS. I have officially declared myself the coolest mom in this house.

Because everyone knows that what goes on the internet is not searchable forever and really simple to remove, I decided that I should model my “PajaMOOS” for you.

How great are those cow slippers? I like to call them “MOOshoes”. Kind of like the Chinese food in my fridge!

And one more photo of me in cow pajamas because, well, why not?

How awesome are those? Would you like to win your very own pair of “PajaMOOS”? I’ve got a fun gift basket to give away just like the one I received thanks to the folks who reign over everything Milk related. The winner will receive:

• A Breakfast in Bed Tray
• Breakfast recipes from MilkMustache.com
• A breakfast cookbook
• A mug and milk frother to perfect your morning latte
• A pair of PajaMOOs (Cow pajama pants & a Milk Mustache shirt)
• Cow slippers

To enter to win, just leave a comment below! I’d love to hear how you incorporate milk into your daily routine if you want to share. In your latte? In your cereal? Do you sneak sips of the kids’ chocolate milk? Share your thoughts in the comments and you could win a Milk Mustache breakfast basket!

Don’t want to wait to see if you’ve won? Follow @MilkMustache on Twitter – they’re giving away more “PajaMOOS” all week long. You can also check out Salma, The Breakfast Project, and our friends at Milk Mustache on Facebook!

Fine print: Contest ends May 7th at 11:59 pm PST. Winner will be chosen at random and you must leave a valid email address so that you can be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to respond to my email before another winner will be chosen. 18 and older only, void where prohibited, be a nice person. Thanks!

Disclosure: I was provided a prize pack for this post. Opinions are my own. I really do drink milk. I really do drink tons of milk. You should too, it’s good for you!

Read the original I’m wearing Cow Pajamas in this Post. Happy Pajama Week! {A Giveaway!} on Chic Shopper Chick.

In my case, my two Maids of Honor and one Matron of Honor (I couldn’t bear for them not to be of equal standing), also known as my sisters and soon-to-be sister-in-law, totally lucked out. Not only do I have a self-proclaimed awesome sense of style, but I also like clean, classic looks that will hopefully give my 3 favorite girls in the whole wide world a great dress that they can wear over and over again.

Which is why, when Ann Taylor offered to dress all three of the MOH’s for our wedding, all four of us squealed with excitement. I may have even danced a little bit. Ok, a lot.

I don’t think I’ve shared our color palette for the wedding here yet – it’s called “French Riviera”. To reflect this, we decided to go with navy dresses for the women, and either navy suits or navy ties for the men. Then, I had the absolutely amazingly fun task of sifting through all of the Ann Taylor Bridesmaid Dresses to decide what styles I loved the most. I settled on 3 very different favorites, all in Navy. We will either choose one of each dress for each girl, or everyone will wear the same dress, but I feel like we can’t decide until everyone tries them on.

Here are the three bridesmaid dresses that Ann Taylor is sending the ladies so that we can choose a favorite:

Dress #1: Ann Taylor Silk Dupioni Scoop Neck Bridesmaid Dress

I personally love dupioni silk and when I saw this dress I instantly fell in love with its classic silhouette. Classy, and feminine, this dress has a self-tie chiffon sash, a hidden side zipper and, bonus, even has pockets at the seams. Perfect to carry a lip gloss and some powder, and maybe even a small camera for the reception.

Dress #2: Ann Taylor Silk Georgette V-Neck Bridesmaid Dress

My sister Danielle put it perfectly when she said that this dress has a grecian goddess type feel to it which is really romantic. I love the shirred, fitted bodice with the soft, ethereal skirt. This dress is completely different from the first, and I love them both equally.

Dress #3: Ann Taylor Silk Taffeta Strapless Tea Length Bridesmaid Dress

This might be my favorite dress out of the 3. Like the first dress, it also has nice deep pockets – if my MOH’s can’t find something to fill them with I’m sure I’ll have a few requests of my own (tissue? blotting papers? lipstick?). I’m in love with the fitted bodice and full skirt, plus the strapless neckline would look amazing on all three women.

So there you have it – I have a major decision to make here but I want to wait until all three women try them on because I think that will make a difference – so I’m trying not to get attached to one in particular. I’ll be sure to keep you posted but in the meantime please let me know – which one is your favorite?

Disclosure: Ann Taylor is sending all three of my MOH’s dresses to wear in the wedding, but no additional compensation was received for this post. I’m a huge fan of Ann Taylor and am thrilled that they want to be a part of my wedding day. All opinions are 100% my own, but you already know that – I wouldn’t settle for anything less than perfect on the big day, anyway!

Read the original Ann Taylor Makes Finding The Perfect Bridesmaid Dress A Breeze on Chic Shopper Chick.

It’s not just the exterior of the resort that is amazing – the inside is dripping in luxury as well. The Private Reserve includes 2 master suites with floor to ceiling windows, offering uninterrupted views of the coral reef as well as the Indian Ocean as far as the eye can see. It was built with the environment in mind and is created from only natural materials.

The Reserve also includes it’s own spa facilities, including an indoor and outdoor treatment room, sauna, and steam room. Just in case you need it, it also includes a private, air-conditioned gymnasium.

One of my favorite areas of the Private Reserve has to be the entertaining space – with a sunken conversation pit as well as a large dining table. I also love the large daybeds and outdoor lounging areas – the Soneva Gili Private Reserve really looks like the epitome of paradise.

The kid in me is in love with the idea of a water slide that originates on the second floor of the reserve – I think every one of my “dream house” drawings as a child included one of these – I had no idea they actually existed. I’m in awe.

And if you can find me a single person who says that taking a bath in this bathtub doesn’t seem like the best idea ever invented, I’m going to be forced to give up all hope in mankind. Ok, maybe it’s not that severe but c’mon – does this look like heaven or what?

Morgan and I have already chosen to go to Bora Bora for our honeymoon, and we are beyond excited about that, but I still think I’ll add this amazing resort to my bucket list anyway – who knows where life will take me – maybe I’ll actually get to visit it one day.

Do you think my family might all want to chip in and rent this place out together? I’d be game.

What is your idea of paradise?

Photos via the Soneva Gili by Six Senses

Read the original Bucket List Travel: Soneva Gili Private Reserve in the Maldives on Chic Shopper Chick.

What? The Perfect Mint Julep for the Kentucky Derby (May 5, 2012)

What’s Chic? Pretend you’re at the Downs with the sweet smell of Mint and Bourbon under your nose.

What’s Weak? Anything but the drink. It’s almost all straight booze, so give someone else the keys if you’re enjoying one.

The Mint Julep is more than just a Derby drink in our household. You see, the Mint Julep is just as at home in the Big Easy as it is in Churchill Downs. In fact, a Mint Julep is truly a Southern tradition, and the exact way to make a perfect one brings out heated debates and opinions from all over the south. With such a beloved drink, everyone has an opinion on whether to use Rye or Whiskey, how to crush the ice, which mint leaves to use and how much muddling is too much. With this drink, even the length of the straw matters.

Esquire captures some of the history of the storied Mint Julep:

Just about every state in Dixie had its own sacrosanct way of handling the mint, the sugar, the ice, the booze. Duels were fought. Names were called.

Brushing aside all the tedious to-and-fro about brandy, rum, and rye (before the War between the States, a true southern gentleman would be hanged before he’d let whiskey pass his lips, and even after, when standards had slipped, no Marylander would build his julep with anything but rye), it’s that mint that caused most of the trouble.

As a former barkeep myself, I was taught the key to a good Mint Julep was three things: a chilled glass, simple syrup, and lots of mint. Combine that with a great Bourbon and you were in business. But as a Yankee, I’m sure we missed out on the subtleties that make for the perfect Julep. So where better to look for that perfect Mint Julep recipe than the place that makes them famous every year? The Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Kentucky. Here’s the recipe for the Early Times Mint Julep on the Kentucky Derby website:

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
2 cups water
Sprigs of fresh mint
Crushed ice
Early Times Kentucky Whisky
Silver Julep Cups

Directions

1. Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes.

2. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight.

3. Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Early Times Kentucky Whisky.

4. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

But that recipe doesn’t really go into the care and thoughtfulness that’s required to make a perfect Mint Julep. Luckily, Bill Samuels comes to our rescue. If you don’t know who Bill Samuels is, you’re not familiar with bourbon. Bill Samuels is the former President of Maker’s Mark, one of the finest bourbons made. He ran the company for 35 years, so he knows a thing or two about how to make the perfect Mint Julep. He was on The Food Network to show everyone just what goes into making the perfect Mint Julep, and you can watch the clip here:

And here’s the recipe for the perfect Mint Julep from that show:

Ingredients

4 cups bourbon
2 bunches fresh spearmint
1 cup distilled water
1 cup granulated sugar
Powdered sugar

Directions

1. To prepare mint extract, remove about 40 small mint leaves. Wash and place in a small bowl. Cover with 3 ounces bourbon. Allow the leaves to soak for 15 minutes. Then gather the leaves in paper toweling. Thoroughly wring the mint over the bowl of whisky. Dip the bundle again and repeat the process several times.

2. To prepare simple syrup, mix 1 cup of granulated sugar and 1 cup of distilled water in a small saucepan. Heat to dissolve sugar. Stir constantly so the sugar does not burn. Set aside to cool.

3. To prepare mint julep mixture, pour 3 1/2 cups of bourbon into a large glass bowl or glass pitcher. Add 1 cup of the simple syrup to the bourbon.

4. Now begin adding the mint extract 1 tablespoon at a time to the julep mixture. Each batch of mint extract is different, so you must taste and smell after each tablespoon is added. You are looking for a soft mint aroma and taste-generally about 3 tablespoons. When you think it’s right, pour the whole mixture back into the empty liter bottle and refrigerate it for at least 24 hours to “marry” the flavors.

5. To serve the julep, fill each glass (preferably a silver mint julep cup) 1/2 full with shaved ice. Insert a spring of mint and then pack in more ice to about 1-inch over the top of the cup. Then, insert a straw that has been cut to 1-inch above the top of the cup so the nose is forced close to the mint when sipping the julep.

6. When frost forms on the cup, pour the refrigerated julep mixture over the ice and add a sprinkle of powdered sugar to the top of the ice. Serve immediately.

So whether you’re in the Big Easy, Churchill Downs, or at home, now you know the secret to making the perfect Mint Julep. With that, your Kentucky Derby party is complete, and you’ve got a great story to tell your dapper guests about the sweet drinks under their nose, complete with the perfect-length straws and perfectly crushed ice. They’ll be impressed, and you’ll be known as the Derby host with the most. And if you’re up for it, you can even try out the community edition of the Mint Julep!

How do you make your Mint Juleps? Let us know in the comments. And if you make these, report back and let us know how they went over!

Image credits: delish.com, flickr4jazz, Boulder Libation

Read the original How to Make the Perfect Mint Julep for Your Kentucky Derby Party on Chic Shopper Chick.

Considering all of this, last week I looked at Morgan and I said “I think now is the perfect time for us to visit SeaWorld in San Diego” – and he agreed! So, thanks to the folks at SeaWorld, we are going to do just that tomorrow! I know that the first place we will make a beeline for is the Rocky Point Preserve – the kids are especially curious about dolphins right now and I want to make sure they get to spend time there early in the day before they are totally exhausted. I’m not sure what the feeding schedule looks like there, but I’m hoping the kids might even get to feed them.

I’m also excited because we’re planning to “Dine with Shamu” – the kiddos will not only get the chance to be about 4 feet away from Shamu, but they’ll get to ask their (millions and millions) of questions to the trainers about what they eat, how they learn, etc. We are also looking forward to seeing the Blue Horizons show with the dolphins, and Sea Lions LIVE – I am giddy just thinking of the excitement on their faces when they see this:

Here are my tips for planning a trip to SeaWorld San Diego with two preschoolers:

1) Check out the park schedule online. The schedule was super helpful in planning our day, and also in choosing which seating of “Dine with Shamu” we wanted to check out.

2) Pack a poncho. Oh yeah baby, I’m one of those. I don’t dare deprive my kids of the joy of being “in the splash zone” but I also have this fabulous hair that needs protecting. So, I’ll split the difference and sit in the splash zone – I’ll just be wearing a poncho when I do.

3) Pack extra clothes for everyone – right down to their shoes and socks. I’ve heard there are more than a few “wet” opportunities and the last thing I want are two tired, soggy kiddos who are too miserable to enjoy dinner with Shamu. Or a soggy miserable mommy. She is no fun, either.

4) Bring your own strollers. SeaWorld has strollers for rent ($12 for a single, $17 for a double), but I like to bring my own because I can keep pushing the kids virtually all the way to our car at the end of the day. Plus, it’s one less line to stand in.

5) Wear and bring sunscreen. The high tomorrow is 70, so it should be a perfect day, but both of our kids are fair and will burn easily. Also, I’m not a fan of cancer so I plan on slathering it on myself as well. Probably Morgan too, if he’ll let me.

6) Pack water bottles. You can’t bring snacks or food into SeaWorld, but you can bring your own water, which will be a huge help for us since we have two kids who get “sssooooo ttthhiiirrssssttttyyyy” at the most inconvenient times.

7) Buy tickets online. We actually already have our tickets, but if you’re looking to skip the lines and make your day go much more smoothly, consider buying your tickets in advance. It’s actually a no brainer, especially when you consider that you can save $10 by purchasing online!

The trip to SeaWorld tomorrow is a surprise for both of the kids – I’m so excited to see their reaction. Follow @ErikaB and @MorganB on Twitter tomorrow – we’ll be updating throughout the day!

Disclosure: The folks at SeaWorld are providing us with tickets for tomorrow. Our excitement however, is all our own. Ahhh! We’re going to SeaWorld!

Read the original 7 Ways To Get Ready For A Trip To SeaWorld With The Kids on Chic Shopper Chick.

The countdown to our wedding is officially on, as we now have less than 5 months until Morgan and I tie the knot and live happily ever after in wedded bliss. In the meantime, our life is virtually overrun with wedding preparations – rings, the dress, hotel, food, out of town plans, etc. So what’s the one thing that I refuse to have when I walk down the aisle?

Tan lines!

I usually wear halter-style bathing suits, but being that I’m half Italian, I tan in no time. One hour in the sun and I would create tan lines that wouldn’t go away all summer, no matter how much I tried. So, back in March I decided that any and all swimwear for this summer would have to be strapless – or bandeau style – so that I could avoid those pesky tan lines.

It makes me nervous shopping for a bathing suit online, but when I spotted the women’s swimwear line from Macy’s 2012 Fashion Collection I knew I had to have this adorable and colorful bandeau swimsuit from ABS Swimwear.

I may have a bit of a swimwear addiction (and, let’s just be honest, and overall general shopping addiction as well) so I’ve bought a few swimsuits in my day. This spring alone I’ve already purchased 3 – so a few things about this suit definitely stand out:

1. The suit is very well made. With all of the different colors being incorporated into the suit, there has to be a lot of stitching. That also means that the suit could sit funny when I put it on – but instead it looks sturdy, and there is no bunching or irregularity around the seams.

2. The material is thick. You can tell this is a high-quality swimsuit because the material is thick, unlike the flimsy suits that they sell in some other stores.

3. The top is well reinforced. I’m a bit busty, and I find that bandeau tops are one of the hardest styles for me to wear because of the lack of support. The top is incredibly well made, with a durable lining to help it hold its shape.

I’m not brave enough to post a photo of myself wearing this suit, even though I do think it looks great on. My daughter did just look over and say “hey mom – is that you? You have that suit and it looks like your hair too!” I thanked her profusely for her kindness. Out of the mouths of babes, eh?

Have you gone shopping for your swimwear this year yet? If not, be sure to check out Macy’s for great swimwear – I was honestly stunned by all of the great selections and prices, to boot!

Disclosure: I received this swimsuit free of charge from Macy’s to facilitate my review, however no further compensation was received. Opinions are and always have been my own.

Read the original Stylish Swimwear for Summer at Macy’s on Chic Shopper Chick.

I was there to shoot some video for Unilever’s newest North American product, CLEAR Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy. It was so much fun. I love my job.

I wish I could get my hair and makeup done every day. This is Clark. He rocked my hair and makeup for me today. He was also wearing some super cool bright blue kicks and capri pants and I pretty much wanted to be his new best friend.

Then there was some of this going on – sitting in to have the lights adjusted and waiting to get my mic put on. There is not a single photo where I’m not totally washed out because those lights were that bright. Also, how crazy red does my hair look in this photo?

And then, it was go time. I’m not gonna lie. My hair looked amazing. It doesn’t look like that this morning. So sad.

On top of that I got to see some of my favorite, long time friends and fellow Walmart Moms – Colleen, Christine, Caryn, and Amy. I big puffy heart them and loved spending time with them – it had been too long since I’ve seen Colleen and Amy especially.

I really loved the product for this shoot, I mentioned it above, and I’ll get to share more about it with you shortly. I can’t wait!

Read the original On the set: CLEAR Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy Video Shoot on Chic Shopper Chick.

What? Lots To Do In Line: Disneyland (iOS app) / $5.99 / Frantic Goose Applications

What’s Chic? Over 950 questions and 74 in-line scavenger hunts help your family battle the fiercest lines in Disneyland.

What’s Weak? The graphics and user experience could use some polish.

As Southern California residents, the Lehmann/Brown clan tout four, heavy-duty, annual passes to Disneyland (including parking, thank-you-very-much) and spend a decent chunk of our free time at the park. As kids who grew up no closer than a plane ride to the nearest Disney park, Erika and I take great joy in being able to take the kiddos whenever we feel like it. And while Disneyland is a magical experience, the biggest complaint we have are the lines. Particularly on popular days and during breaks, these lines can get north of an hour for the popular rides.

That’s where Lots To Do In Line comes in to save the day. With more than 950 questions across every conceivable Disneyland ride, the Lots To Do In Line app allows families to challenge one another to trivia about the ride and the line that they’re in. Part “I Spy” part trivia, these questions are fun and appropriate for every age member of the family. My favorite part? Everyone can play. Too many iPhone apps are one-person experiences. But this game is made to be played like a board game, with everyone playing together. Instead of isolating each other in their own worlds on their devices, Lots To Do In Line puts fun together at the heart of it all.

The game comes with a full-on park-wide scavenger hunt as well, and other challenges that add another layer to your Disneyland experience. If you have some adventurers in your clan, the scavenger hunt is a great way to learn more about what the park has to offer.

The app boasts:

• Over 950 questions that can only be answered in line at Disneyland
• 74 in-line treasure hunts and a park-wide scavenger hunt
• Collections of things you’ve seen in the park

My only complaint is that the design and user experience could use some help. The fonts, navigation and other elements are inconsistent, and lack polish. The way you track and keep and see scores is a bit confusing as well, and spelling and grammar issues that take away from the overall experience. But while it’s not the most polished app in the app store, these issues don’t take the fun and value out of the app. It still provides a great way for families to enjoy their time together in line.

Does Chic Dad Recommend?

I do. Even with the design nits that I mentioned above, the app seems like a great way to make lines a part of the experience instead of just dead time between the attractions. After playing with it with Erika, we can’t wait to give it a run for its money in the park. We think it’ll be a great way to keep the kids engaged and entertained while waiting in line. Lots To Do In Line is a refreshing app in its approach to entertainment. Instead of sucking one individual player into their own world, Lots To Do In Line brings the whole family together. I’m excited to try it out line, and I think you’ll find it a great addition to your Disneyland experience too.

Disclosure: I was provided a free copy of the app to review. All opinions are my own.

Read the original Lots To Do In Line Turns Long Disneyland Lines into a Game on Chic Shopper Chick.

What? Transformers the Ride 3D at Universal Studios Hollywood

What’s Chic? Autobots, Decepticons and a 3D fueled romp that puts you in the driver seat of a brand new Transformer, EVac.

What’s Weak? It’s only at Universal Studios Hollywood. East Coasters welcome to Hollywood!

Not only was I a major Transformers fan growing up, but the recent movies have led to a resurgence of these awesome machines, which means that my son is all about Transformers as well. And while he may prefer Bumblebee over Optimus, we can both agree that Transformers are awesome. Universal Studios released a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Transformers the Ride 3D, and it’s well worth the 2:45 to check it out.

Check out the video below:

The best part of the video, learning that Peter Cullen is the voice of Optimus Prime…”Autobots, roll out!” But I digress. The new ride puts you right in the middle of the action as you ride shotgun on the newest Autobot, Evac as the battle continues between good and evil. After seeing this video, a trip back to Universal Studios is now at the top of the Chic Dad Summer to-do list.

I think my son will get a kick out of it, and I definitely know that I will as well. I remember my first visit to Universal Studios as a young kid, taking the tram ride through the Battlestar Galactica attraction and shrieking in pure terror and delight when Jaws came jumping out of the water as the tram passed through Amityville. Things have come a long way now, with the rides being made with the same thought and production values as the movies themselves, and I can’t wait to share the joy and magic of the Transformers with Banks.

Does Chic Dad Recommend?

Absolutely. I can’t wait to ride Transformers the Ride 3D at Universal Studios Hollywood myself, and I’m sure the Transformer fan in your family would be thrilled to experience their favorite extraterrestrial transforming robots in a whole new way. I haven’t been to Universal Studios in a while, but after watching the behind the scenes trailer I’m excited to go and see and experience the rides all over again. Let me know if you decide to go too. See you in Hollywood!

Read the original Chic Dad’s To-Do List: Transformers the Ride 3D on Chic Shopper Chick.

JackThreads.com is like Gilt Groupe, but just for men’s clothes, and features just the casual, street-wear and business casual attire that you’ll actually wear. (Have you seen some of the guy’s stuff on Gilt Groupe? Who wears that stuff?)

What? JackThreads.com / Flash Sales for Men’s Clothing / A Thrillist Co.

What’s Chic? Great brands and designers with big discounts on the newest looks. It’s perfect for the spend-thrift hipster in all of us.

What’s Weak? As with any flash sale site the good stuff goes quick, so you have to be on your toes.

What I love about JackThreads is that there are a ton of items, with designers and products changing every day, most items are under $100 with many under $30, and they have big brands like RVCA, Rusty, Members Only and more. You can shop on the Web or via their app with super-easy checkout and returns. Plus, they’re owned by Thrillist so they’ve got guys down pat. And unlike Esquire or GQ, if you see a shirt you like, it’s probably $29.99 instead of $249. Which is important, because as much as I like my clothes, I like my money more. So I’m all for skipping the big price tags and saving on stuff that still looks good.

My style is a mix of classic men’s fashion with a dash of hipster tossed in for good measure — hipster-lite if you will — that is full of vintage tees, skinny jeans, adidas tennis shoes and includes a serious man crush for Warby Parker spectacles. And if that style sounds like you, or your husband/fiance/boyfriend, then you’ll love Jack Threads as much as I do. Definitely check it out and skip paying $130 for your skinny jeans and $80 for your button downs. It’s a great spot to shop for him as well (hint, hint Erika) even if he’s hard to shop for.

Does The Chic Dad Recommend?

I’ll admit, I’ve got a bit of an addiction to JackThreads and I think I know why. For years my mother tortured me by only letting us shop at Marshalls and TJ Maxx. She’s the ultimate Maxxanista; but their styles aren’t always fit for wannabe hipster geek teens like I was back in the day. But year after year of shopping at Marshalls has ingrained an acceptable price point for clothes that is firmly set in the sub-$50 range. JackThreads gives me the style I want at a price that makes my brain and wallet happy.

I definitely recommend heading over to JackThreads. You can dress like you spent a ton, but having the satisfaction of knowing you’re not only stylish, you’re also smart.

Read the original Chic Dad’s Secret to Staying Styled: JackThreads on Chic Shopper Chick.