5 Fabulous Best of the Best Gifts.... That Happen To Be My Personal Favorites!

OMG! Christmas is 10 days away! AND....there are an abundance of choices out there and sometimes gift giving can be difficult. Personally, I struggle with the fact that most of the people I'm gifting don't really need anything. That leaves me with two choices, give them something I know they'll use, or something I personally love and want to share. Here are my top 5!

1. Chocolate

I LOVE chocolate. I don't know anyone who doesn't, and quite frankly, I may be a bit skeptical of any human who doesn't like the combination of red wine and dark chocolate with sea salt.

Recchiuti Confections is my personal favorite with choices like Burnt Caramel Truffle and the Noir Box. Priced below $50.00. This is truly Christmas chocolate at it's best!




 

https://www.recchiuti.com/shop/theperfectgift/26to50.html

2. Champagne

I have a few favorites and with prices from $15.00 to upwards of a thousand dollars, there is truly something for everyone. Veuve Clicquot Rose is one of my favorites and retails for around $65.00....plus the bottle is gorgeous!




3. Perfume Rollerball

My parfum du jour is currently Armani Si.....it has a light sweet smell that is absolutely lovely.



4. Stelle Audio White/Gold

This speaker is water resistant, has an 8 hour battery life and is ultra portable. It's affordable chic and Neiman's has them online.





http://www.neimanmarcus.com/Stelle-Audio-White-Gold-Go-Go-Speaker/prod179930322/p.prod?eVar4=You%20May%20Also%20Like&RST=ViewedPurchased

5.  Adopt a pet!

My pets have given me more joy than any designer bag ever could...Your local shelter could help you find the perfect fit for your family. It would certainly be a holiday to remember. This handsome boy Weiland is available at the SFSPCA. He looks like a keeper!



MERRY CHRISTMAS! XOX
 

Find the most FABULOUS things on my Sydewalk!

 

https://www.sydewalk.com/profile/PaulaLalanne/sydewalks/30/paula-five-ways-to-fabulous-nordstrom-must-haves/

 

This link will take you directly to Nordstrom! xox Happy Shopping!

 

5 Reasons Why Hi Smile Teeth is FABULOUS!

I drink coffee by the gallon and my teeth weren't looking as white as they used to be. I also noticed it more so because I've been taking lots of photos for this blog. Now, after using this system for a month I'm  excited to share it with you! Hi Smile Teeth is FABULOUS for many reasons.....Here are 5!



1. It works!

I got results quickly! After two uses, I saw a difference! 

2. It only takes 10 minutes!

It works fast! I hardly realized the time had passed so quickly. Instead of other systems that take thirty minutes or longer.....This is my ABSOLUTLEY favorite part of this system!

3. It is peroxide free!

I have sensitive teeth and it doesn't hurt!

4. You see result quickly!

After two uses I saw results.

5. Maintenance is simple!

You can purchase gel refills or use the pen.

I LOVE that this system is fast,  pain free and restored my pearly whites!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://hismileteeth.com/

 

310 Nutrition Has Me Hooked! Here are 5 Fabulous Recipes!

I have a new secret weapon! I promise I will never blog about something I don't use and believe in. With that said, I'm very excited to share what is now a regular part of my routine, 310 Nutrition Shakes...I am using the vegan formula and it is gluten free, nut free, dairy free, soy free, egg free, and sugar free! One serving is 100 calories and has a whopping 15 grams of protein!

I was looking for a healthy way to get all the nutrients I need and feel good during my busy schedule. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I noticed that I had leaned up a bit after starting them. Who wouldn't love that?! Especially now that I'm constantly posting fashion pics on Instagram! A girl needs all the help she can get... when she has an addiction to dessert!

I chose the vegan formula because I try to follow a dairy free diet, "try" being the key word here because I also have a cheese addiction that I doubt I will ever kick. I've also been known to indulge when I go out to dinner, eat half of what I bake and splurge when the mood strikes. I am not a totally irresponsible eater, I east healthy eighty percent of the time. I guess that's why this shake fits into my diet so well. It is everything I want in a meal and it is easy and yummy.

I've been experimenting with different combinations since I started drinking them and here are my go to and favorite recipes. You have to try 310 Nutrition!!! It is FABULOUS!

1. Vanilla Berry

One scoop of 310 Vanilla Shake mix

6 oz. ice cold water

6 oz. unsweetened almond milk

5 frozen strawberries 

1/2 cup frozen raspberries

1 Tbsp. honey

1/2 Tbsp. cinnamon

2. Banana Berry Smoothie

One scoop of 310 Vanilla Shake mix

6 ounces almond milk

6 ounces water

1 frozen banana

5 frozen strawberries

3. Chocolate Banana and Peanut Butter

One scoop of 310 Nutrition Vegan Chocolate

12 ounces of water

one frozen banana

1 Tbsp. Peanut butter

1/4 cup ice

4. Chocolate berry

One scoop of 310 Nutrition Vegan Chocolate

1/2 cup frozen raspberries

5 frozen strawberries

6 oz. coconut milk

6 oz. water

1/2 cup ice




5. Peanut Butter Snack bites

1 cup of  rolled oats

2 tbsp. of natural organic peanut butter

1 scoop of 310 Nutrition Vegan Vanilla Shake Mix

1 tbsp. honey

3 tbsp. chia seeds

1 tsp of cinnamon

1/3 cup of apple sauce

In a small bowl mix, roll into small bite size balls and refrigerate in an airtight container.


Tip*I carry a single serving size in a dry shaker with a bottle of water in a bag to mix. I instantly have a meal! I keep it the car if I can't eat lunch while I'm out running in a million directions. This has saved me from the cravings of hunger more than once!

I am excited to share a promo code:  T85XBQ  for a $10.00 discount! It will be the best thing you buy yourself......promise!
 

The 5 Easiest Couples Costumes Ever!

Do you have a costume party to attend? I know sometimes I'm scrambling last minute to put something together. Here are 5 fun costumes that are easy to pull off and FABULOUS!


1. Pocahontas and John Smith

This is my go-to since my hubby and I resemble these two already. However, it is also very easy to pull off with all of the fringe skirts seen everywhere from Nordstrom to H&M.  "John Smith" can wear boots, jeans and a blousy top. You can pull this one together in less than an hour.

2. Party Animals

Throw on your favorite cocktail dress and an animal mask....voila, you are now a "Party Animal". Your beau can put on a suit and mask too but if you really want to spice it up you can add a flask and party hat to the ensemble.






3. Bonnie and Clyde

While this duo may require a visit to the thrift store it still would be quite simple. A pencil skirt, cardigan, neck scarf, and barrette accompanied by a large plastic machine gun would get the point across.

 

4. Baby and Johnny (Dirty Dancing)

 

This is an easy one, grab some Keds and the rest is probably in your closet. "Johnny's" costume is also a no-brainer.

 

 

5. Sonny and Cher

The possibilities are endless. You could go all out and match, or just simply switch places if your guy is taller than you and give him a black wig. If you do this please send me pictures!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Top 5 Rules To Help Any Girl Feel Beautiful!

What is beauty really all about? I've had this topic on my mind for a while. Given that I have four daughters the subject is somewhat of a minefield on some days. Whether it's on a show they are watching, in social media, about a friend, or worst of all... in reference to themselves. We all have bad days, and watching them have bad days is like torture to me. I want to make every growing pain go away. I know I can't and I know trial builds character, still it is horrible to watch when they are down on themselves. 

 

I believe the subject of beauty is among the most difficult, because it is completely subjective. Some think the mountain ranges are the most beautiful part of nature and some think it's the sandy beaches bordering a sapphire ocean. It's no surprise that with people coming in all shapes and sizes our appearances are up for debate, scrutiny, approval, and comparison.

 

As an adult I am completely fine with this, but as a mother I want to empower my girls and teach them to question everything they are taught, read, and see. I constantly tell them to never compare themselves to anyone because it's impossible. To envy someone is such a waste of time and energy. If you want to be that person you will have to take the whole enchilada. You can't have another's face and body without having the parents they inherited it from, and the problems in that family, and the siblings they have, and so on. This simple lesson has cured many cases of envy in my house....not all, but many.

 

Still, the issue of beauty is ever present in our lives. It has been worshiped since the beginning of time in it's various forms and will be until the end of time. The standards will change but it will always be relevant.

 

This brings me to a few opinions I have about it, and how we as mothers and women can help each other. When I look around at the fact that we all come in many shapes and sizes, it is also clear that those many shapes and sizes are considered beautiful. I know we see a sliver of the population on social media and TV, but in reality, not everyone thinks everyone else is beautiful. Some men would happily pass up a Victoria's Secret model for another man...point made!

 

If this is the case, why do we believe the hype we read and hear? Shouldn't we instead be listening to the inner voice we all have, that is more often right than wrong?

 

Here are a my top 5 rules I use for helping my girls feel beautiful.

 

1. Don't criticize other women.... especially in front of your daughter.

 

I see women do this all the time to make themselves feel better, but in reality this only teaches their girls that they need to tear someone down to feel good about themselves. It becomes a beast that is never satisfied. I say starve the beast until it dies before it inhabits your daughters and takes over.

 

2. It is OK to compliment a girl for their outer beauty.

Period. Why not? A compliment is an opinion, and an opinion is subjective. Beauty is individual and should be celebrated. Plus, you just might make someone's day.  Not to mention, they may really need to hear something at that moment... you never know what others are going through.

 

3. Helping others feel good makes you more beautiful in everyway to everyone.
Compliments never get old. I love to see someone light up when I compliment them, and it makes me feel beautiful inside. 

 

4. Self-confidence makes you beautiful.
Feeling good about who you are and what you can do to help and improve something makes you shine from the inside out. Nothing is more attractive than a person with self-confidence... nothing.

 

5. This is my cardinal rule... drum roll please... DO NOT COMPARE YOURSELF TO ANYONE...EVER!

 

I am adamant about this. Comparisons are worthless and only make you feel bad...that's it, they have no other purpose. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We need to be examples for our daughters and embrace ourselves, flaws and all. I am constantly making my flaws a source of humor. I also tackle the flaws I can change, I rarely sit back and do nothing if I am unhappy with myself about something....the last thing I want to do is to teach them to complain about something and do nothing about it. Poke fun or get on your horse and ride I say!

 

We were all given our face and body in this life for a reason. We are all different for a purpose. We need to celebrate all of it in every shape, color, and form! There is beauty in EVERTHING! xoxoxo

My 5 Favorite Summer to Fall Treansitional Pieces!

The transition from Summer to Fall is tricky. In the morning you are freezing cold but by the afternoon you are boiling, peeling off the layers.....or worse, wishing you had worn something different. Here are my favorite pieces to help make this transition easier.

1. Open toe booties.....they are my favorite new staple and since you can't wear them in the rain, now is the time to enjoy!




2. Long vests.....they keep you warm and you can layer long sleeves under them and then wear them with a tank for a whole new look.










3. Rompers...yes, you read that right. You can wear them with tights in the morning but you can peel the tights off if it gets hot. Just be sure to shave your legs first!







4. Blanket scarf....it keeps you warm in the morning and can be ditched in the afternoon.



5. Capes. I love long capes on cold mornings and how they instantly make an outfit more streamlined and chic.





https://www.sydewalk.com/profile/PaulaLalanne/sydewalks/30/paula-five-ways-to-fabulous-nordstrom-must-haves/
 

Our Not So Fabulous Hike.....

Now that you have seen my girls, I feel like it is the perfect time to tell you a funny/scary thing that happened to us this weekend...sadly, Stephanie was in LA and missed the shenanigans. I was alone with Bella, Gigi and Tessa for the afternoon because my hubby was glued to the TV watching football. He usually joins us but since he lives with so many women I think he deserves a little time alone to beat his chest and eat things I wouldn't dare. So, he had a hall pass for the afternoon.

Bella is running cross country and wanted her sisters and I to go with her on the trail she runs after school. It's a truly off the beaten path five mile circle around mountains full of dust, and possibly snakes. It's pretty much the deep wilderness despite the many mountain bikers and hikers and picnic tables. I love most workouts but hiking is something we usually do with my husband, who I affectionately refer to as my pack mule on hikes. So, needless to say, this was an adventure.

The plan was for Bella to run ahead of us while we walked the trail, then she'd double back and walk the end of it with us. With a plan in hand we set off on our hike. Bella quickly disappeared on the trail running ahead while Gigi, Tessa, and I set off on the dirt trail stepping over branches and rattling on and on about a lot of everything. Suddenly, Gigi jumped up like she just saw a ripped Zuhair Murad runway gown (and yes she knows who that is) and started to cry, "MOMMY, MOMMY....LOOK!"

I looked where she was pointing, jumping away like I had just seen a spilled vial of Louboutin nail polish and also started to panic and cry. All common sense as to how to set an example for courage for my girls swiftly went out the window. Tessa, my youngest, saw Gigi and I crying and began to sympathy cry along side us. She still hadn't seen what we saw.... once she did it was a trifecta of tears and whole lotta hysteria.

A very long, freshly severed deer leg with fur and flesh was lying in the middle of the narrow trail. I eventually forced myself to calm down a little and began telling them we had to jump over it and continue on or Bella would be running in the wilderness alone. They adamantly refused, even if it meant Bella would be solo coyote bait on the trail ahead of us. All I could think to do was to call my husband and have him come down to us and move the leg but I had no cell service.

 Suddenly, as if Jesus himself appeared, an elderly fragile man with a fanny pack and hiking gear appeared. His kind face was familiar since I had him take a photo of us before we set off on our hike, and now here he was again. He saw how upset we were and offered to hold the girls hands and escort them by the leg after he kicked it aside. Shockingly, all of our hysteria marginally decreased and we all held hands as we walked the narrow trail and passed the leg . I shamelessly clung to Tessa's hand and closed my eyes as we passed it. Finally, when it was out of sight, we thanked him profusely and went on our separate ways.

I was on edge thinking that a mountain lion must be lurking in the bushes waiting for us to pass by and I was worried Bella resembled Bambi a bit too much. I began making loud roaring noises, trying to look big and scary every few minutes in an effort to scare any predators away. The girls thought I was being ridiculous but deep down inside I was terrified. I also didn't want to make them more afraid than they already were so I was partly trying to make them laugh too.

I'm completely aware that ten out of twelve moms would have remained cool and collected but that is not a description anyone would use to describe me.....especially my family.  Sweaty and parched, an hour later we were back at the car with Bella was nowhere in sight. Thankfully we both happened to have cell service once again and she told me she had gotten lost. Luckily, the nice man I should call Jesus was on the same trail as her. He stopped her and told her we had gone in the opposite direction so she turned around and was two miles behind us.

Bambi was safe and we all made it home in one piece. Not to mention our day was saved by our own guardian angel. Where ever he is I hope someday I can return the favor. He was FABULOUS!

                               
 
                               





 

My Fabulous Girls Are Joining The Blog!

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, here are a few photos of my daughters. I'm blessed to be their mom. Soon they will be joining my blog and we will have stories to tell, and style to share. Until then, here is a sneak peek into our crazy-fabulous life! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

xox  Stephanie, Bella, Gigi and Tessa!