Chanel Moving Forward

A modern lifestyle blog dedicated to the moments in between

Baddest Witch in the West Halloween Costume

Looking for a perfect witch costume for your little one? This low-key witch costume is hands down one of my favorite looks for little girls. Creating a costume that isn’t store bought doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, having non-traditional costumes have always been my favorite. Inspiration is everywhere and creating your own that is unique and different is so much fun. Earlier this year I stockpiled several of the I Love Plum tutu’s and Evelyn has been wearing them all year {you may remember the red one from our Valentines Day shoot!} They come in an assortment of colors and are perfect for Holidays. For this witch costume I used the black Plum tutu and chose a velvet witch hat so the textures of the costume were different. I paired my favorite striped June & January socks with lace up ballet flats she already had in her closet. The hat was the only item I had to purchase to make this costume come to life. Evelyn is at the perfect age to play dress up and loves all things Disney and fantasy so getting her to be a witch wasn’t hard at all. If you have little girls that love to dress up, this costume is for them! Who is your favorite fictional witch? Let me know in the comments below!

Black Tutu // Velvet Witch Hat // Striped Socks // Shoes {similar}

3 Tips for a Throwing a Last Minute Birthday Celebration!

Let’s face it, at the stage of life I’m in right now most special occasions or important events fall into the “last minute” category. Between work, family, kids, pets, homework and a million other day to day tasks, it can be hard to plan in advance. However, one thing I’ve always been good at is shopping finding good deals and throwing a party. If you’ve been reading for a while, then you know how much I love to entertain. I love to celebrate and don’t need an excuse to do so!

If there’s one thing my kids love more than anything, it’s their Dad. He is the fun parent. He’s the one always down for an adventure, always down for a wrestle match or staying up late on a weekday. The kids adore him! He works so hard and we love celebrating him any chance we get. With his birthday coming up, we thought we’d have an early celebration and surprise him after work one day. I turned to www.groenerekenkamer.com/ for ideas on what to give him this year. Luckily I only had to make ONE stop to get something for this low-key party. Yes, only one. I’ve had plenty of experience hosting dinners, girls nights and throwing parties so there are a few tricks I’ve learned over the years. These are 3 of my fool proof tips that I always use!

1. Pick an easy color theme and plan ahead! I’m so guilty of doing this, but whenever I’m out and see fun paper plates, party hats, balloons or festive napkins on sale, I immediately toss them in my cart. I then store them all in a plastic party bin in our basement so I always have party goods on hand. I will not tell you how many times this has saved me. I love sticking with neutral colors because then you aren’t so limited. Another plus of buying ahead of time? It’s one less thing you have to worry about the day of a party or gathering! Knowing I always have decor on hand keeps my stress level low for sure!

2. A fruit arrangement from Edible Arrangements! My husband has never been much of a cake fan, but he loves himself chocolate and will eat just about anything covered in chocolate. Luckily, the Salted Caramel Birthday Delight from Edible® is filled with an irresistible assortment of salted caramel apple wedges, pineapple leaves, orange slices, semisweet chocolate dipped strawberries and topped with a Belgian Chocolate Pop! Edible Arrangements are made to order fresh daily and hand-crafted at one of their 1,200+ stores. They only use high quality fresh, never frozen fruit and 100% real chocolate. Oh and did I mention they deliver? For as little as $75, you can get this decadent gift from Edible® delivered fresh to your door. They make entertaining simple and stress-free and with plenty of year-round and Holiday selections, there is a fruit arrangement for every occasion. I’m a huge fan of getting food for a party catered or picking up pre-made items!

3. Fresh Flowers! Adding floral arrangements to a table scape is one of the most inexpensive ways to spruce up your party without spending a ton of money. Most grocery stores have bouquets starting at $7 so I usually buy a few of them! If you have a larger area to decorate, break them up and put in mason jars or cute glasses and vases. I also have a mixture of vintage glassware that I keep on hand for this very reason.

Do you have any last-minute tips or tricks that you use when getting ready for a party?

*Thank you to Edible Arrangements for sponsoring this post! As always, all opinions are my own*

Reading Made Fun

This post is sponsored by Epic!; all opinions are my own.

Is there anything more heartwarming than hearing your child read for the first time? Henry began learning to read earlier this year while he was in Kindergarten and I was so proud I may have cried. Now that he just entered First Grade, the reading he does is so impressive. It’s like his brain is always searching for new words to pronounce. We will be driving down the street and he will read anything he sees. If a song comes on the radio, he reads the title and the artists name. His love for learning is so strong and I hope he always has a thirst for knowledge.

Not only does Henry love reading to anyone who will listen, but I find it the most incredible when he reads to Evelyn. She is so in awe of him and wants to do everything he does. Literally everything. If Henry doesn’t have a shirt on, then she doesn’t want a shirt on. If Henry is riding his bike, she wants to ride a bike (keep in mind she is only 3). A lot of time I worry about her picking up typical boy habits from her big brother, but watching her listen to him read and her wanting to learn is something I will never worry about.

Technology is such a way of life now for young children and even myself. Schools are implementing learning on tablets and computers and Henry even has homework assigned that can only be done through an online portal. That means devices such as a wifi extender are incredibly essential in this new age of learning. As much as I love the smell and feel of a new book, we are definitely swimming in them at home. We have books everywhere and they are all ones the kids love, which in turn means they do not want to switch them out to get new books.

I’m a little ashamed to admit that this summer I wasn’t the best at reminding Henry to practice reading. In fact, I’m not sure how much reading he did do at home. Even though summer vacation should be just that, a vacation, you never want your child to fall behind. That’s why I’m grateful for products like Epic!, an award-winning digital library with unlimited access to over 25,000 books, learning videos, and more. It’s used in 87% of U.S. elementary school classrooms so your child may already be utilizing this amazing platform. The interface is extremely easy to operate and even Evelyn can go on there and navigate through all the fun books, audiobooks and learning games. There are more than just books to read on Epic!  And it’s really tailored to your child’s interests. From biographies and STEM, to animals and DIY, Epic! is a safe and fun way to learn. For only $7.99 a month, your child can have their own personalized library.

Have you tried Epic! at home or know if your child uses it at school? What ways do you encourage reading at home? Let me know in the comments! I love hearing about new, fun ways to get my kids to learn! Get your own 2 month free trial HERE using my promo code CHANEL!

The Best of Boho Chic

I’ve been on a Free People dress kick lately. Ever since I found this adorable dress last Fall and basically wore it everywhere. It is so flattering, hid everything I didn’t like and emphasized my best features. I’ve found that the majority of Free People dresses fit similar (my other current favorite is this black one) and run a little big, which means they can fit more women. I wear a size large in the Free People brand and their dresses honestly fit like a glove. This adorable white dress was purchased a few months ago and also comes in black and terra-cotta. It’s currently 40% off so the best time to buy! I’m thinking I may snag the black or terra-cotta to wear this Fall. Since it stays pretty warm into the Fall and Winter months here in Georgia, adding knee high boots and tights would be a super easy transition to really maximize the wear.

 

Dress // Monogramed C Bag, Sold Out but similar here // Pom Pom Tote Bag, Sold Out but similar here // Hat

The Resort at Longboat Key Club

As summer comes to an end, I can’t help but reminisce about my amazing visit last month to Longboat Key. I had never heard of Longboat Key until March of this year when a friend told me she was moving there. I’m not sure how I’ve gone 34 years without knowing this quaint little barrier island off the coast of Sarasota existed, but it does, and it’s beautiful. Given that the month of August is low tourist season in Florida, Longboat Key was relatively quiet, peaceful and relaxing. Basically the entire opposite of the hustle and bustle of Atlanta. I spent 8 days in Florida and despite my innate fear of alligators, I came to love it. The Resort at Longboat Key Club is conveniently located near the South entrance of the island, making the drive in from the Sarasota airport a breeze. Speaking of driving in, if jumping in the back of a random Uber isn’t your thing, then request Marcia from Longboat Limousine to pick you up because her infectious personality will make your day and possibly your week.

The photos do not do justice for how beautiful the property is. I’ve stayed in many hotels over the years and The Resort at Longboat Key Club was one of the best. The service was far greater than any other resort I’ve been to and everyone went above and beyond to make sure I had a fun and comfortable stay (like bringing 3 Amazon packages to my room that I ordered, finding me a steamer and locating a tape gun so I could send back a box of things that wouldn’t fit into my suitcase. I’m really low maintenance you guys … ). The view from my room, which overlooked the ocean and pool, was amazing, especially for sunset and sunrise. My room had a full sized refrigerator, microwave, washer/dryer, two balconies, a separate living space and dining table. It was comfortable, clean, and quiet. Not once did I hear any noise from the hallways or pool, even though I was only four stories up. Despite the red tide being prominent in the area when I visited, I saw no dead fish and the smell locals talked about didn’t bother me at all. Since The Resort at Longboat Key Club is privately owned, their stretch of beach was kept impeccably clean no matter what time of day. Drink service comes down to the beach as well so you don’t have to constantly walk back and forth.

There is plenty of parking on property if you have a car with you but if not, there is a complimentary shuttle that will take you nearly anywhere you want to go, including all the resort restaurants, the golf course, gym, even the CVS or Publix down the street. Speaking of the gym, Longboat Key Club has an impressive class schedule and fitness center. I thought chasing two kids around for the past 6 years would keep me in shape but walking into an aerobics class with women twice my age who have more endurance than me was an eye opener and very motivating. Take a class taught by Barbara at the Mind & Motion studio located on the property if you want to keep up your current workout routine, or if you’re like me, and had too many piña coladas at the pool and need to squeeze into a form fitting dress.

Among the several restaurants located in and around the resort, my personal favorite was Portofino. It overlooked the beautiful marina and had plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. The portions are huge so you’ll get use out of your room refrigerator. One important thing to note is that you either have to be a member or a guest of Longboat Key Club in order to dine in any of their restaurants. No matter where I stay, eating breakfast in bed is a must. The room service always came super fast and the food was delicious and the presentation always beautiful.

Relaxing poolside under the lush palms while enjoying the sun without the sounds of my children fighting was basically Heaven on Earth. There is poolside food and drink service which was always met with a friendly, smiling face of the Club staff. Everything is charged to your room so there is never any need to have your wallet with you.

I’ve hit my fair share of golf balls from the third level at Top Golf but I’ve never had an actual golf lesson, so having my first at Longboat Key Club was especially fun. My grandfather was an avid golfer and used to live on a golf course, so my earliest memories of golf were from him. At Longboat Key Club, they offer 30 minute or one hour lessons plus 3 hole and 9 hole playing lessons. My instructor, Jim, had the patience of a Saint and was an amazing teacher. The course was well maintained and the views are breathtaking. Longboat Key Club also has a luxurious spa and salon. On my last day I had the Resurfacing Facial which was much needed after several days in the sun and a few too many frozen drinks. The entire atmosphere and experience was relaxing and I felt so calm coming out of the spa. I only wish I had more time to spend there!

I can’t rave enough about this peaceful oasis and I’m already thinking about taking the kids down next year. The Resort is perfect for couples, families, or girlfriends. My whole experience was incredible and it could not have been a better trip. If you have any questions about the Resort, let me know and I’ll be happy to pass them along!

A huge thank you to The Resort at Longboat Key Club and Diamond PR for sponsoring this trip. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Delicious Matcha Cookies You Will Want to Make

Usually the baking bug doesn’t hit me until Fall rolls around. Frankly, I’m just too hot to do anything at all in the summer so my yearly baking romance is September – February. This year I’ve challenged myself to bake something new each week and so far this week I’ve made two new things (so basically I can quit now, right?) If you’ve been following along for a while then you know I only like to make things that are pretty easy and quick. I have very little patience when it comes to cooking and baking and the thought of spending all day in a hot kitchen with messy dishes everywhere makes my blood pressure rise. Also, like most mothers, my time is limited so I need a recipe that can be made in under an hour.

A few weeks ago I purchased some Matcha from a new company, Ritual Cosmic, and loved the taste of it in my lattes so much that I wanted to experiment more with using it in food. I knew that their Matcha was hands down the smoothest I’ve ever tasted and I was super excited to bake with it.

I’ve never baked using Matcha before so I started off with a simple and tasty cookie recipe similar to the one for Christmas cookie delivery. What I love about easy recipes like this is that they are so adaptable and you can add fun ingredients like chocolate chips, nuts or even dried fruit.

The health benefits of Matcha are endless and it’s easy to see why it has become so popular lately. It’s packed with antioxidants including the powerful EGCg, calms the mind and relaxes the body as well as boosts brain function. Henry (6) and Evelyn (3) absolutely loved these and when my husband was gone last night I may have let them eat several for dinner … #YOLO. They kept referring to the cookies as Halloween cookies so I just went along with it. I’m already contemplating making a fun Halloween cookie sandwich using purple frosting which I’ll need to perfect this month. For those concerned about the caffeine in Matcha and giving it to children: in this entire recipe there is only 1 tablespoon of Matcha which has roughly 64 mg of caffeine. Divide that up into 18-24 cookies, and each cookie contains less than 4 mg of caffeine. I assure you that my kids weren’t bouncing off the walls or had any trouble sleeping.

Here is the recipe for what the kids have been calling “Halloween Cookies” for the past 24 hours. You’ll need:

  • 1 stick butter, softened
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 Tablespoon Habitual Matcha
  • 1 Cup Sugar
  • 1 Cup Flour
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • Pinch of Salt

  • Using a hand blender, cream together the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl
  • Slowly add the eggs to the butter mixture and blend
  • In a separate bowl, stir together all the dry ingredients
  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients a little at a time. The dough should be a light green. If you feel like it needs some more color, add a tad more Matcha!
  • Chill the dough for at least an hour, or even overnight.
  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and roll the dough into balls between your hands. Place on baking sheet lined in parchment paper. Depending on the size of your rolled dough, you can get anywhere from 16-24 cookies.
  • Bake cookies for 12-15 minutes. I had to bake mine in two batches since I made 18 cookies.
  • Remove from oven and transfer to cooling rack. The cookies will be a tad soft on top so be careful not to poke or touch them because they will collapse. They will also continue to bake from the inside out for a few minutes on the cooling rack and will harden slightly, but not too much!
  • Let cool and eat immediately (if you are like me and my kids who can’t wait for anything)

Have you ever cooked or baked with Matcha before? Share your recipes if you have because now that I’ve made these, I’m obsessed with the taste and want to try all the Match things. Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Back to School Bags with Style

When back to school time hits, it seems like endless amounts of paperwork that come home with kids each day. In addition to lunches, water bottles, extra clothes and sports clothes the amount of things to keep up with can be overwhelming. Evelyn started ballet last week which she has once a week and Henry has been expressing interest in playing some sports. So now, in addition to packing their bags for school, they also need bags packed for their after school activities. We bring Evelyn’s monogrammed mini book bag from Stuck on You which is the perfect size for her and also her ballerina lunch box.

Stuck On You has all of your back to school essentials. From the most adorable mini backpacks for your toddlers first day of Mother’s morning out to bento lunch boxes and monogrammed water bottles. It’s a one stop shop for everything you need and what makes Stuck on You extra special is the variety of colors and designs you can customize. Literally everything can be created to match your child’s personality. I love the Custom Clothing Name Stamp which is amazing for labeling the kids extra clothes that stay at school. I can stamp them super fast and not have to worry about the ink smearing of washing off.. Not only do I use all Stuck On You items year round, but their monogram name labels are perfect for summer camp. I imagine Henry will be doing sleep away camp in the coming years so labeling all his belongings will be a must.

Are your kids playing any sports this Fall or have after school activities? Be sure to check out Stuck On You because they never disappoint! Happy Labor Day weekend everyone!

Thank you to Stuck on You for sponsoring this post! 

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