Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Thank you to Jane.com for sponsoring this post. All opinions remain my own. 

I can't believe that we are almost a month out until Mother's Day. Time seriously feels like it is flying on by and I wish there was a way I could make it slow down just a little. If there's one thing I've learned over the years, it's to be better prepared when it comes to gift giving. I've caught myself in too many situations where I waited last minute to get things and ended up buying something I didn't  have in mind or what I really wanted to give.

The best thing I have done for myself is to pick up things as I see them and stash them away for the occasion. It has really changed things for me and has taken off so much pressure when it comes time to gift giving. When I came across Jane.com I knew I loved the sound of it. If you aren't familiar with them, they're a website that has new boutique deals that happen daily and items that are a fraction of the price. They have everything from home decor, kids, women, beauty and wellness, and a lot of other fun finds.

Mother's Day has become such a special time for me. Not only is it the chance for me to celebrate the day with my boys, but also to share them with my mom and others. I know this day can also be incredibly sad so for many but it has really put things into perspective for me and knowing how precious life can be.

The older my boys get the more I want them to focus on giving and doing things for others. When I asked them what could they do to make this Mother's Day extra special? A spoke on behalf of both of them and said, I know! We could put on a concert. I chuckled for moment, but realized how serious they were and after thinking about it, I thought it was a great idea. They took out their guitars and decided to practice for me. Their sweet little voices filled the room and they made up some of the silliest songs that we all ended up laughing along to. I'm sure my mom and mother in-law will love to hear this concert on Mother's Day.

When I thought about what I could give the special women in my life, I looked for things that had meaning to them and what I thought they would really enjoy. This necklace that says love & be loved really caught my eye and was something I decided to get both my mom and I so we could match. I also loved this prayer journal with the perfect verse to empower us women. My mother in-law has a beach house that we visit a lot over the summer so when I saw these personalized beach bags and a pineapple necklace, I knew it was perfect for her. I couldn't help but treat myself a little early something as well. These blush moccasins were too good to pass up and you all know how I have been on a blush kick lately.

Not only is it a special day to celebrate our mothers but also all of the influential women in our lives. Here's to making every woman feel special on Mother's Day.

Dressing Your Phone Up With CaseApp

Thank you CaseApp for sponsoring this post. All opinions remain my own. 

One of the things I've loved doing over the seasons is changing out my cell phone cover. I used to go with a neutral cover or just plain black, but ever since I was introduced to CaseApp my taste has completely changed. Bring on all the fun designs and customization options!

This season I decided to go with a silver and gold theme because I love those colors for this time of year.  Of course there is nothing wrong with going with the typical red or green, or even having a big tree or your favorite lyric from a Christmas carol on the back on your case. There are so many options that you can't go wrong. Speaking of carols, does anyone else think of the song from Rudolph whenever they hear silver and gold? No? Well, that movie has been a classic for our family ever since I can remember and that's what pops into my head every time.

It's so important to me to keep my phone protected because the boys love getting their hands on it or sitting me with to watch my friends insta stories. If there are other kids in the video or someone's pet, they are easily amused. We also have fun with some of the silly filters.  

With the holidays quickly approaching, I always like to check my lists twice to make sure I didn't forget anyone. Giving a cell phone cover makes for a great stocking stuffer. With the customization options you can make it personal for that special someone or keep it simple for your good friend.

I was so stuck between this case and this case that it was hard for me to narrow them down. I knew that I wanted to go with a marble one and the gold stripe caught my eye on this one. I plan on switching to that one for the new year. I also kind of love that it matches my nail polish. A girl can always coordinate, right?

Be sure to use code BCANDID20 for 20% off your next purchase until December 20th. Tis the season to be giving. 

Starting The New Year Happy {Giveaway}

Happy New Year, friends! I hope everyone had a great time celebrating and is ready to see what 2017 has in store for all of us. 

I've never really been big on resolutions or putting pressure on myself to complete them. Instead, I like to reflect on the previous year, figure out what I enjoyed most, things I would like to change or do better—and strive for that in the year ahead. Ok, maybe it's the same difference, but for some reason the word resolution just never really vibed with me. 

This year I'm focusing on happiness. Life is too short to be upset about the small things (or large things for that matter). When I look back at life's highlights I want to feel genuinely happy. I want to know that my family and the people I care about the most were happy.

That's why this custom cell phone case from CaseApp is perfect for me to carry into the new year. 

I had a generic gold case for the longest time that was starting to peel and had pretty much seen its day. When I looked through all the different cases CaseApp offers for iphone and android phones along with the option for you to customize your own, I was hooked! 

I thought about uploading my own image (you can do that too) but I loved this shimmer case and decided to go with something different than I originally thought I wanted. Once I selected the case I used the clipart feature and found the perfect saying, be happy.

I think we can all agree that our phones are one of our best accessories, so why not have fun with different cases? I've already gotten so many compliments on this one and can't wait to break out my amazing flamingo case in the spring. I envision many days sitting on the beach with this one. Ahhh, the beach.