Top Her Couture

Shopping, gifts, travel, wrapping, trees, tinsel, dinner preparation - the list goes on and on come the holidays.  We often are so 'wrapped' up in our to-dos that we often dismiss the bell ringers freezing outside collecting donations or forget to grab cash to put in the church basket.  Maybe you aren't like me in this sense, but are unsure how to give more and do it more frequently [not just during the holiday time]. Did you know you can have Amazon donate on your behalf every time you purchase an eligible product from them? log into smile.amazon.com using your regular Amazon credentials. It may prompt you with a pop-up box to pick your charity. If it does not prompt you, there will be a small. orange SUPPORTING banner under the search bar. If you Hover over it, it will pop-out a box.       5. Select from thousands of charities.  As you can see, I support Dreambuilders Inc in Englewood, CO which funds go to help Uganda children with school supplies and t

Have you ever wandered into Buy Buy Baby, infant/kids section, or other little person aisle and felt overwhelmed with the selection.  So much so-you second guessed every toy, playpen, and wet wipe that you had on your registry [or were thinking about purchasing yourself]? Here are some of the baby things we got the most use out of [and are still using 8 months in]: Baby Einstein Gym : $50 - What we loved about it was how it converts through baby's developmental stages.  Great for back play, has a tummy time pillow to help support while baby's feet tap on the piano, our daughter loves the mirror and other accessories that can be hung in a variety of ways, and then convert the piano for sitting.  We started our LO in this play yard at three month-now 8 months and still having a blast! Vtech Sit to Stand : $35 - This also has a lot of converting making it a great addition to our toy box.  We started using at 6 months as our daughter is quick to get the wheels rolling. 

Maybe you are an Oh-Oh-Oh-reo fanatic or hitting the Keto trail hard.  Maybe you are just a die hard cookie-holic!!   Lenny & Larry have added some new flavors and recipes for cookie lovers everywhere. Available in Vanilla & Chocolate "Introducing The Complete Cremes™ from Lenny & Larry’s . Crunchy cookies with a creamy filling offering a healthier twist on your favorite sandwich creme cookie. Each serving offers 6g plant-based proteins and 1/3 less sugar than the leading brand on equivalent serving*. *Compare 14g sugar per labeled serving of leading brand with 6-7g sugar per labeled serving of Complete Cremes." "Introducing your newest guilt-free addiction… a plant-based Keto Cookie™ with 3g net carbs! If you are living gluten free, eating keto or just watching your sugar, you will love every bite of this low-carb, vegan treat."  These also pack 8g of Protein with three delicious flavors-Chocolate Chip, PB, and Coconut! Have you tried

Putting the Mmmmmm in Mmmmmme, Lenny & Larry just released their new flavor, #saltedcaramel.  I cannot control myself with this morsel of delight.  This cookie is packed with 16g of protein and 10g of fiber and still holds true to the Lenny & Larry way: 0g Trans Fat Non-GMO No Soy Ingredients No Dairy Ingredients No Egg Vegan Kosher No High Fructose Corn Syrup No Cholesterol No Artificial Sweeteners No Sugar Alcohols Sustainable Palm Oil This is a no share all Mmmmme kind of cookie.  Get yours today at Lenny & Larry's  or try any of their other crunchy cookies, brownies, or muffins.  New customers can get 20% off their first order up to $200 by using the code in the video and be sure to follow my blog for other #LLteam releases and sales.

Pre-workout Energy! Tried a few different pre-workout boosters and my go-to is still Optimum Nutrition's Amino Energy. No crash energy Great flavors - partial to Grape , Orange , and Watermelon No beta alanine itches or rash - I happen to be very sensitive Great for post workout! I cannot get enough of this post workout treat from Dymatize - All 9 Aminos .  It magically appeared in our pantry [thanks hubbie] and decided to give it a try. Great flavor - we order Orange-Cranberry and Watermelon Non GMO, no dyes, gluten free Can be used pre, intra, and post workout Verified free of banned substances via Informed Choice Protein Protein Protein! The taste is something you may have to get used to but so glad we switched to Paleo Protein .  Check out my recipe for a great post-workout shake . Gluten Free, no hormones, paleo ingredients Natural Collagen 26g of protein per serving free of dairy, whey, and soy *As an Amazon Associate, I receive a small portion of w

Congrats!  👶 You've made it through what can be the hardest and most trying time as a new parent.  The sleep deprivation and zombification is real as you get to know your little one not to mention the constant diapers changes. As my experience goes, not all disposable diapers are created equal.  Our petite little bundle of joy transitioned from the newborn to size one a few weeks after the one month mark and found a few of the brands performed better in different sizing. Newborn sizing we 💗:  Pampers Pure These hug nicely and we only had one accident.  Can I say poo all the way up the back?  I love the pH indicator turning from yellow to blue to let you know it is wet.  The size was still a little big for our daughter, but performed well in locking moisture and preventing blowouts. Newborn sizing we disliked:  Luvs These were a great size just a little more petite than the other brands but it did not perform.  We had leakage a few times and just did not seem to

Being healthy is so important whether pregnant, training hard in the gym, or just an everyday good habit.  We recently switched our protein to PaleoPro's Aztec Vanilla Protein due to an onset of what we think are new allergies.  We also wanted better gut health from a cleaner protein.  So many brands have extra fillers and additives making it hard to pinpoint a problem if there is any and can become hard to digest. PaleoPro Protein claims: 26g of protein per serving. no dairy or whey or soy. pastured grass-fed beef. no added hormones. minimal processing. paleo ingredients. natural collagen. totally delicious. gluten free. I am not going to lie, the taste has to grow on you.  To help with the taste, my go to is an Almond Butter, Banana, Vanilla Protein Shake. Ingredients: 1 scoop  PaleoPro Protein Powder Half a Banana 1 cup of ice 1 cup almond milk [could substitute for your milk of choice] 1 tablespoon of Almond butter [could substitute for your fat

It is no surprise that Lenny & Larry's Cookies are not messing around in 2019 with new flavors and a crunchy treat.  They are one of my favorite go to snacks and can be sure to find one (or two) of these protein packed cookies in my glove box or gym bag. So far, L&L has released their crunchy cookie.  A bit-sized bag of either Cinnamon Sugar, Chocolate Chip, or Double Chocolate.  Same great taste of their Complete Cookie in a crunchy, tiny bag of joy!  They even have a sample pack if you want to try one of each flavor. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ They also released a guilt-free Chocolate Donut and Choco-Mint Complete Cookie.  The both boast a Devil's Chocolate taste. While the Choco-mint has Mint chocolate chips, the Chocolate Donut has added chocolate chips and colorful sprinkle to add to your morning cup of joe!  Which Complete Cookie is your favorite? ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤   There cookies continue to be protein packed, non-gmo, non soy, non egg, non dairy, no high

For all those beauty babes, make-up gurus, and everything in-between;  we now have a use for those old mascara bottles beyond our lashes.  We can gently wash our wands from old, used mascara bottles and send them to Wands for Wildlife.  These wands are then used on their furry friends in The Appalachian Wildlife Refuge.  It is a great way to "recycle & save wild lives!" It also makes room to try the next best mascara.  Who doesn't mind a make-up haul?! Simply wash your used wands with soap and water, dry, and send with FORM to*: Wands for Wildlife PO Box 1211 Skyland, NC 28776 * Be sure to take the package to your local usps store to ensure Wands For Wildlife is not stuck with extra postage fees.  And please no NEW wands. You can read more about this North Carolina non-profit Refuge, the Wandraiser, or how else you can help at www.appalachianwildlife.org .  For other beauty to-dos, must-haves, reviews, and more, please visit Lip Smack Beauty Bl

Meet Emma Mertens!  A 7-year-old little girl living in Hartland, Wisconsin.  She currently is battling Diffuse Intrinsic Pontile Glioma (DIPG).  DIPG is a form of cancer that affects mostly children and develops at the base of the brainstem.  Less than 10% will survive for two years after diagnosis.  This inoperable tumor has not stopped little Emma from her one love-dogs! When the diagnosis was revealed at the beginning of this year, her parents asked a few friends to send Emma pictures of their dogs as a comforting measure.  From there, the word spread like a wild fire!  Emma now has a special Facebook page, GoFundMe Page, PO Box, and exclusive email just for your 4-legged friends. Send your wags & tails to: Emma Mertens P.O. Box 230 Hartland, WI 53029 or email them to emmalovesdogs7@gmail.com For information about DIPG please visit dipg.org .

If the mushy, gushy commercials and store aisles full of treats and flowers are not enough, I am here to remind you; It is Valentine's Day!  Maybe it is a day you dread.  Maybe it is one of your favorite holidays.  Regardless of how you view the day, it is a day that can be used for all types of love.  One that is overlooked a lot is self love. Self love is required regardless of whether your heart belongs to someone or you are solo.  It allows us connect or even reconnect with ourselves on a very personal note.  Allowing this to happen can open new doors, insight, and promote that gravitational draw of more love into our environment.  Today is a good reminder that you are important and deserve all the love in the world. Here are some great ways to show some self-love on this Hallmark day: Mani-Pedi time Massage Go to the gym Take a nap Take a class whether Yoga or Art do something that interests you Do something off your Bucket List Buy yourself flowers Take a bub

With pregnancy comes a lot of change.  There is change in how you eat, exercise, think, develop, and the list goes on.  Here are few pregnancy favs & finds that may help you on your journey. Prenatal Supplements Rainbow Light Prenatal Petite Mini Tablet Not horse pills Kept iron levels normal [even when anemic prior to pregnancy] Have a line for post-natal support Purity Safeguard Natural Vitality Calm Drink Mix** Come in a variety of flavors as well as non-flavored to be added to any beverage  Great for restless leg syndrome Great magnesium supplement Have trial package of 5 to try out Great for those with constant Braxton Hicks Contractions EVLution CLA 1000 ** Supports lean muscle Great source of Omega-6 Nordic Naturals Omega-3 ** Heart & Brain Health Lemon taste just in case you get the burps Added Vitamin D3 for immune & bone support ** Please consult your doctor before taking any supplements.  Results may vary. All above supp

From specialized cells grow more cells until we have this little human breathing, crying, pooping, and laughing on the outsides of our bodies.  We tend to their needs and begin to mold them as they start to interact with the world.  With this tiny being will come new financial obligations. Not only can carrying a baby be expensive from new clothes to taking classes to name a few and added medical expenses; it also becomes costly to bring home baby.  The diapers, clothes, wipes, furniture, strollers, and so much more!  It is nice to see a few companies offering appreciation to the process of parenthood with boxes and samples that can help alleviate just a tiny bit of the costs. Amazon - FREE Welcome Box Must sign up for Prime [they usually have a free 30 day trial] Must start a Baby Registery Must purchase a minimum of $10 off that list.  This can be you or someone else. Once you have complete these steps, there will be an activated button to Get Welcome Box on your