thesophisticatedboy

Excuse Me, Excuse Me! What Scent Is That?

Yesterday was valentines day. I wanted to show off my VDay Dress but my face is so swollen from oral surgery that I wouldn’t feel right. Sooo…I decided to give you mom’s some new scents to be on the look out for.

I use to hate perfume and trying to find one. It just wasn’t my thing and I really only liked men scents. My first perfume was actually a cologne. I figured I had to smell me all day and that is what smelt good to me so I picked a men’s scent. However, I have matured into a young woman now and I totally understand the necessity for a good perfume.

This V-Day I purchased Victoria’s Secret Night. This was a gift to myself but for the honey, and he purchased me Marc Jacobs Daisy Oh So Fresh.

NIGHT!!!! Ladies, ladies, ladies. I have not been in LOVE with a perfume in a long time but this scent did it for me. I LOVE THIS SCENT! I am not the best at describing scents so look below what the site says..

Own the Night: this provocative eau de parfum is the perfect co-star, with a warm, sparkling fragrance inspired by midnight in Paris.

Fragrance type: Floriental warm
Notes: Black plum, velvet woods and luscious apple

Daisy Oh So Fresh! My husband loves Daisy and when I asked him to pick a new scent for me this was as good as it got; an extended version of Daisy. I love a soft clean scent so it didn’t bother me too much. If you have ever owned or smelt Daisy this is a cleaner fresher version. Simply no other way to describe it. But here is what Sephora had to say….

A whimsical interpretation of the original Daisy fragrance, this scent is more fruity, more bubbly, more fun! Open the bottle and you’ll be transported to a field of sunshine that bursts with the flirty scent of flowers and the cheerful sweetness of fruits. Its light, woody base infuses a subtle but sharp glimmer of musk for an unexpected twist of radiance. Natural Raspberry, Grapefruit, Pear, Violet, Wild Rose, Apple Blossom, Musks, Cedarwood, Plum.

Even though Night has a warm undertone I would say both scents have a sweetness and softness to them making them good for the coming Spring season. I know some of you are on budgets so check out Amazon and Ebay (tip- make sure it is a US seller you are purchasing from). I think this Mommy Monday tip will keep you happy. If a hubby is around he will be delighted and if not you might just snag a cutie with these fresh scents.

P.S. Keenan does have his own colognes. Let me know if you want to know what scents I think work well for little boys

Let the Lovebug Bite Ya!

So today is Valentines day. I thought about the traditional red and pink but decided as usual to be respectfully different. Burgundy still stands true to be in the RED family and with Aztec prints ruling this coming Spring season we decide to mesh the two for this Valentines day. My lovebug bit me the day he was born, don’t let him get to you too.

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All Stressed Out!

Plaid has never been my favorite as its too common but because it’s common there is no way around it. Soooo…I try to make sure the colors are bright and stand out. I also try to make sure that the shirt has a good cut and fit. H&M tends to have a good cut but this shirt is Joe Fresh. JC Penney no longer carries this brand but they do have their own website now.

Jeans…I love a good pair of distressed jeans and Gap is known for a good pair of skinny jeans for little boys. I don’t know how I feel about skinny jeans on grown men but for a little one….It’s too cute.

I got Keenan these boots last Easter thinking they would look cute with his suit set that came with shorts. However, when the boots came in the mail they were entirely too big. But I get more compliments on these boots and they were not expensive at all. The seller is on Ebay. I will post the link below. The seller does not have the same pair but they do have some similar ones available, just remember they run big.

Similar Plaid Shirt

Similar Jeans

Similar Boots

Once Upon a Child

So last week we talked about Kid to Kid. This week I want to tell you about Once Upon a Child.

The points are the same for these two stores.

Learn your area
Sell your old clothes
Get a stamp card
Sign up the text club
Rack up on the savings.

So those are the main points but there are some differences between the two stores. I definitely do better selling at Once Upon a Child. The last time I sold here I walked out the store with $126.00. Granted each area is different but I have sold here three times and each time the amount was much greater than Kid to Kid. What I have found is that the sales are more frequent at Kid to Kid and I have more success during sales at Kid to Kid. However, when I go to Once Upon a Child I am more successful at finding higher end brands such as Janie and Jack, Lucky Brand, and (more expensive) Ralph Lauren. Just like Kid to Kid you have to learn your locations but I have been to all these stores throughout Dallas and this is my general consensus.

Also…..Did you know that Once Upon a Child was affiliated with Plato’s Closet? YEP!!! Check out all these other stores that are linked to Once Upon a Child and make sure to look for them in the area so that you can do some shopping and saving for yourself.

Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

Oh The Places You’ll Go! If you didn’t know already this is a Dr. Seuss book. Someone gave it to me and after I read it to Keenan a couple of times I realized it applied to adults, probably more so than kids. I wish I could type the whole book out for you to read but I can’t so if you get a chance, pick it up.

So as you read through this book it focuses on the highs and lows of life. You will start out on a great path and life will soar you to new heights; until it doesn’t because sometimes it won’t. Life is going to send up’s and down’s but don’t stop pushing because life is not going to stop moving. The are going to be some scary turns to unforeseen places in which we will have to go, but stopping should not be an option.

Last year I started volunteering at the Salvation Army. Sometimes I serve meals, we have decorated a room for a family to move in, but we often hold a church service there. Every time we have service the worship is AMAZING. I have heard some of the stories that these men and women have to tell. Their twist and turns include waking up in crack houses and not knowing what happened just hours before, having a gun held to ones head by someone so strung out they didn’t know what they were doing, being in the jail of physical abuse…..I can keep going but you get the picture. The location we serve at is a transition facility in which people are living in order to enter back into the real world. The horrors life has thrown them; they don’t have a home, probably no job, and most of them do not have their children with them. Yet, when we have service there they worship like God has blessed them with a billion and one dollars. Granted some of their problems were based upon their own decisions but if you be completely honest with yourself, how many of your problems are a choice of your own? Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

Life is a lesson. ONE BIG FAT CONTINUOUS LESSON! Even if the mistakes are not your fault, we all know the saying….”LIFE HAPPENS”, (please know life was not the word I wanted to use) but when it happens what are you going to do about it. You can sit there sulking life away or get up and plan to move forward because life is not going to stop moving. If you don’t want to get left COMPLETELY in the dust don’t stop. Your kids are not going to stop needing, they are not going to stop growing, and they are not going to ever not need molding. Even if they are the ones who made the mistake that affects you your love and response is what is going to keep them going. Your love and response towards your own situations is going to teach them either how to prevent those problems in their life or how to move forward when his or her problems come. OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Enjoy the ups while they last and learn the lessons from the lows life will send while you endure through it. Christian or not the bible says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” You are walking through not planted in the valley and the presence of death (in this case; life’s challenges) is a mere shadow. One thing I want to point out though…..earlier I said the people at the Salvation Army worship like God have them a billion and one dollars. I don’t know everyone’s story and some of you reading may have the same background. However, If I were a betting woman I would bet that most of you reading have a roof, your children are with you, and while it may be bad its not as bad as I mentioned. We can look at people in low places and most of them are so much more grateful and appreciative of EVERYTHING life has to offer. Don’t let your haughtiness prevent you from learning lessons from someone you may think to be lower than you. We all have a story and everyone can be used by God. As you go the places you go embrace it all and learn everything you can to embrace the good times life has to offer so that you have something to hold on to while you endure the bad times.

Stay Motivated Until Next Week

The Sophisticated Boy

Superbowl Sunday

So yesterday was the Superbowl. I know most of my friends were cute but how many of you mommy’s have fallen in to sweat pants and T-Shirts making yesterday a normal day for you. Being a mom does not mean being to boggled down to look nice….for any occasion. Every occasion is an occasion for me to be a girly girl.

Look at sports today…Every broadcast I turn to has a woman who looks like she is going to the night club as she exits stage left from her on camera display. Don’t get me wrong. I have enough going on that I am not trying to be in heels every day of the week but there are many ways to look girly and still fit the occasion.

Keep it simple and chic and fit right in with the guys. As you can see I am not a size 2 and even us big girls can look simplistic and fab for any occasion.

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Oh yes….I rep the Chiefs!!!

Are You Ready For Some Football!!!

So since it is Superbowl Sunday we thought we would give the Sophisticated Boy a sports look. Since we are KC fans and were not rooting for any team in particular…you can never go wrong with Classic Addidas.

http://www.adidas.com/us/infant_toddler-track_suits

Just Let A Kid Be A Kid

I am all down for a good suit. I love them, but at 3 years old it just seems like too much. Maybe when Keenan turns 5 I can see him rocking a three piece suite but for now I want a kid to be a kid. So for church we put a twist on the suit.

Here are links to similar items below

Blazer

Shirt

Jeans

Featured Friday – Kid to Kid

Anyone who knows me knows I love Kid to Kid. Over 75% of the shopping that I do for Keenan is here. Although, I love a good thrift store for myself so why not go there for him. I have heard some parents that say they find clothing new at stores like Kohl’s and J.C. Penney for around the same price and I would say they are correct. However, for the look that I wish Keenan to have I am more successful at different stores and often times I luck up and find items BRAND NEW at the resale shops. It did take me a while to learn ways to better my shopping experience. Although from the beginning, it rarely fails and I normally always find something.

Below are some tips to having a great shopping experience every time.

Learn Your Area

First and foremost I would tell you to Learn your area. It took me a while to figure out the best locations for me to go in Dallas. Learn which areas have “New Money” and “Old Money”. Both groups will spend money on their children but generally “Old Money” will spend more and the clothes will be nicer. Eventually “New Money” will come around but what I found is that most up and coming areas is what I would consider “New Money”. In relation to the topic this means that while they have some cash…spending it on their children is the least of their worries because they are still not fully stabilized in their new endeavors. Once they become fully established you will have more success in those areas. Also, if you have babies….don’t expect to much. I have my stores where I was successful but in most areas people are not willing to spend a lot of money on their infants.

In Dallas I find my best items in Grapevine and Arlington. There is another resale shop I like and I will tell you about that store next week.

2.Sell

You will not be able to each time you go, but hold on to your nicer clothing and resale it to the store. I have made a significant amount of money selling back to the store. They will provide you the option of cash or credit and credit is higher if you want to purchase new clothing.

3. Get a Stamp Card

Make sure you get a stamp card. Every $10 you spend you get a stamp and when you fill the card up you get 20% off. I generally save my card for a big purchase and an even bigger sale.

4. Sign up for the Text Club

Each store is privately owned so if you shop at multiple locations try to make sure you sign up for each different stores text club. Most of the locations I shop at offer the same sale but I have been to a location whose manager chose not to except the offer. So in addition to getting to know area learn your managers also. Most of the more popular locations send deals often so you will not be disappointed.

5. HAVE FUN RACKING UP ON ALL THE SAVINGS!!!!

Mid-Week Motivation

If anyone knows anything about being busy it is me. This past Sunday I went to church, attended a baby shower, then a birthday party and finished up with service at the Salvation Army. I am a wife and mother, I’m active in church, I work, I am a member of Toastmasters International, do service projects often, and I still have to make time for a happy hour or two.

In women’s ministry we are discussing a book entitle Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World written by JoAnn Weaver. 271 pages about the small story of Mary and Martha. In case you are not familiar with the story Jesus comes to the home of Mary and Martha. Mary sits at the feet of Jesus and listens intently to everything he has to say while Martha slaves in the kitchen to prepare food and serve God. Martha is irritated at the fact that Mary is not helping her and is further frustrated that Jesus notices and applauds Mary’s non-participation or assistance, but what Jesus is saying is far more important than her busy work.

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Does this apply to you? I am in no way comparing your children to Jesus but does the story apply. On the average day I go to to work, attempt to come home and cook a healthy meal, wash dishes, get a load of clothes in and one folded, vacuum, teach Keenan something, give a bath, try to exercise, and get ready for the next day. That is in addition to most days picking up and dropping him off at day care due to my husbands busy work schedule. I’m sure most of you have even more to do than what I just mentioned but the point is there are many chores and responsibilities that need to be completed and there are simply not enough hours in the day to accomplish it all. Are you getting lost in the hustle and bustle of life and neglecting your kids? I’m not criticizing…sure you talk to them and maybe they help with the chores but are you forgetting to enjoy them?

I think Keenan was just turning 2 and I was giving him a bath. He was having so much fun and I do not know what came over me but I wanted to join in the fun he was having. Completely clothed I hopped in the tub with him. For an hour we splashed water all over the place and played with toys laughing all the while. For that moment in time nothing else mattered. I’m sure that is how Mary felt sitting at the feet of Jesus so engulfed in all he had to say. At that moment in time I remember what it felt like as a child to play in the tub all the while creating an experience with Keenan. He will not remember that in a million years but I will. Not only did it remove the stress for a while, I placed the biggest smile on his face at that moment in time and I love to hear his laughter (especially when it is uncontrollable). He laughed uncontrollably for the whole hour. My husband came in from work with the biggest look of confusion on his face but I didn’t care about his judgment. It was a memory I have for life now.

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Don’t let life pass you by and wonder where the time went. I am not saying forget all about your responsibility but it is okay for a moment in time to just let it all go. Keenan is 3 and I can already see how quickly the time goes. The older he gets the fewer moments will I be afforded to take advantage of so I am learning to take advantage while I can. I have moments of fussing and molding and working but I have learned to incorporate moments that are for him and I only.

Sneak them out of school early for ice cream or bowling, pitch a tent in the living room and camp out, take a whole day to watch movies but what ever you do make it creative and sporadic. Doing so will increase the pleasure for both of you. Take advantage while you can. Martha had to realize what Mary already knew. The joy of Jesus was before her and she may never get that moment again and it was more to her benefit to enjoy it. The joys of your children are right in front of you and I guarantee while these moments will benefit you both it will benefit you more.

Stay motivated until next week.

The Sophisticated Boy