Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Disney Just Unveiled Castle Mouse Ears and They Are an Instagram Dream Come True!

Location: Disneyland
Disney just unveiled their newest set of mouse ears and they're sure to be a BIG hit for Disney fans that will likely blow up Instagram feeds everywhere! P.S. They're are not the ones I'm wearing in this post as they haven't been released yet!  However, I have all the details so continue reading below to find out more! 


Outfit Details: 

mine are limited in sizes; similar options listed below:
here (gold sequins jogger style); here (pink legging style in limited sizes); here (pink jogger style); here (black jogger style) and/or here (multi-black jogger style)  


Mickey Mouse Tank Top (old)
love this one with mickey ears in rose gold sequins; or this one with the castle in rose gold sequins


Drumroll......The newest addition to the mouse ears collection are inspired by the enchanting Sleeping Beauty's Castle and feature dazzling silver sequins ears, a gold sequins bow, and a sparkling castle shaped ornament at the center of the headband...fit for any aspiring princess young or old!  A sneak peak of this newest set of mouse ears was posted on Disney Style's Instagram account yesterday (see post below!)





A post shared by Disney Style (@disneystyle) on
Photo Credit: Disney Style

They were first revealed during a product preview at Walt Disney World's Disney Springs in late January.  According to Disney, they will become available at both the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Resort Parks sometime soon, yet a firm date has not been released.  I will certainly be on the lookout to see if they become available online at shopDisney, the official site for Disney merchandise!       

I've amassed quite the collection of Disney mouse ears over the last several years!  It's no doubt Disney fans like to get their Instagram worthy park pics in front of Cinderella's Castle wearing the most current and coveted mouse ears!  This one will surely not disappoint and I'm looking forward to the release!




I'm sharing some of my current favorite mouse ears from shopDisney below (including these rose gold sequins ones I'm wearing in today's post).  With so many fun and diverse options, you'll be sure to find what you want before your next visit to the Happiest Place on Earth!!

Say Cheers!

Hayley

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Black Panther Returns to the Big Screen Beginning February 1 and you can get FREE tickets!




Black Panther Returns to the Big Screen Beginning February 1

Disney announced today that Academy Award®-nominated and SAG® winner Black Panther will return to the big screen to celebrate Black History Month for a one-week engagement, February 1–7, at 250 participating AMC Theatres locations. To ensure that the movie is accessible to all, tickets are free for everyone, and there will be two showings per day at each participating theater.

I don't know about you, but I am so excited about this announcement!  I'm probably one in a billion people who never saw this movie (well, my husband makes 2!!  My kids have seen it and they raved about it so I don't think they will mind seeing it again!  Read below for more information and to claim your free tickets!  Act now before it sells out!! 

The Walt Disney Company will also give a $1.5 million grant to support UNCF (United Negro College Fund) in furthering its mission to help minority students access and move to and through college. For 75 years, UNCF has been providing scholarships to students in need, and this grant is part of The Walt Disney Company’s longstanding commitment to diverse communities and to expanding the pipeline of talent.

“Black Panther is groundbreaking for many reasons, including the rich diversity of voices behind its success,” said Robert A. Iger, chairman and chief executive officer, The Walt Disney Company. “The story also showcases the power of knowledge to change the world for the better, and the importance of ensuring everyone has access to it. We’re proud to provide thousands of free screenings of Black Panther in hopes it will continue to inspire audiences, and to support UNCF with a $1.5 million grant to make the dream of higher education a reality for more students.”

UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness.

“We know that providing aspiring young minority talent with scholarships and professional development opportunities is vital to making their dreams a reality,” said UNCF President and CEO Dr. Michael Lomax. “UNCF is grateful for The Walt Disney Company’s enduring commitment to expanding these types of opportunities, and we’re excited to continue to do so through our Walt Disney Company/UNCF Corporate Scholars Program. I recall the excitement we all had when Black Panther was first released and it’s fantastic that Disney is bringing the record-breaking movie back to the big screen so that we can relive that excitement. Wakanda Forever!”

Black Panther, the global cultural phenomenon that shattered box office records and finished first at the North American box office in 2018, picked up seven Oscar® nominations, including Best Picture, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Original Music Score, Best Original Song, Best Sound Mixing and Best Sound Editing. The film was honored at last night’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, earning two Actor® awards, including Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

For free tickets to the Black Panther showings and a list of AMC participating theaters, visit 

You're limited to two tickets per email address!  Register now before they are sold out!!  

All The Best,

Hayley

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Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Crabbing in Half Moon Bay and Cooking Them Up for Dinner

Location: Half Moon Bay, CA
This past Sunday, we decided to hop in the car and head out to the coast for a fun family day!  We are trying to make an effort to have a least one weekend day where we get the kids away from video games and YouTube (is Fortnite driving you crazy?) to go seek out an adventure!...This can be something simple like going to the movies, taking the kids to get Boba Milk Tea and a stroll around the mall, or hopping in the car to go exploring..which is what we chose to do this past Sunday in Half Moon Bay, CA!  



Outfit Details:

Navy blue sneakers (old) - similar here, here, and here
NYDJ white denim jeans found here - similar here and here
Navy stripe tee (old)  - similar here here, and here
Navy Blue Cardigan (old) -  similar here, here, and here
Free People red scarf found here - similar here and here
Kyi Kyi navy blue pom beanie found here - similar here and here



My husband loves to go fishing and he is an excellent cook!  He thought it would be fun to take the kids to Pillar Point Harbor so we could pick up some Dungeness crabs fresh off the commercial fishing boats that morning!  Pillar Point Harbor is about 25 miles north of San Francisco along the beautiful Highway 1 coast in Half Moon Bay, CA.  Crabbing season begins in November and concludes in June.  You can typically get a great deal on fresh catch live crabs.  Make sure you check prices from a few Captains as they sometimes vary from boat to boat.  You can generally pick up Dungeness Crab from $9-10  dollars per pound but prices vary from season to season.  You'll want to check the fish sales information at the Harbor Master's office before you bring your empty cooler to fill up with crab!  You can also get general information about the surf, tide, and weather conditions.   




Going to the coast on a winter day in January?  That means come prepared with lots of layers and possibly a raincoat.  Thankfully, the rain stayed away and the weather was quite nice in the 60's!  I love this casual red, white, and blue nautical look for winter. Who says you can't wear white after Labor Day?  I always do!  




Pillar Point Harbor is a quaint and small fishing village also known as Princeton by the Sea.  Johnson Pier and Pillar Point Marina are the center of the village.  There are some great restaurants to keep your stomach full of good food and plenty of locally owned shops to pick up your favorite beach souvenirs and trinkets.  You can also schedule whale sighting tours, rent kayaks from the HMB Kayak Company, go sports fishing, take a nature walk, and visit the famous Mavericks Surf Company where you can get fully outfitted for a little surfing fun - they even offer lessons! 



 

The picture below shows the commercial anglers weighing and bagging up our Dungeness crabs from their boat.  Make sure you bring a small cooler to keep them fresh.  You can pick up ice at the Pillar Point marina store. Have you ever tried Dungeness crabs?  I'll show you how we prepared and cooked them by the end of this post! 

 



My family and our good friend Dave!


Collin and Jack carrying their picks!



   

By 1:00 pm  and we were starving for some food!  We decided to grab a bite on site at Ketch Joanne's restaurant where we enjoyed bloody marys from the bar to start!  I'm still doing a 21 day body cleanse/detox so I cheated a little by having alcohol, but it was worth the cheat!  The Bloody Mary's were just the way I love them...spicy!  I ordered a grilled chicken salad which also could be served with crab or shrimp, my kids ordered crab quesadillas which they loved, my husband ordered the Princeton omelette, and our friend Dave had a bowl of their famous clam chowder (a must try)! Needless to say, the food and service was amazing and the dining atmosphere was spectacular!  We sat inside by the wood burning fireplace which kept us warm and cozy.  There is additional outside dining if you prefer sitting in the fresh air with your pets overlooking the marina and ocean!  Ketch Joanne's is a restaurant you don't want to miss during your visit!  


Cocktails!  Spicy Bloody Mary from Ketch Joanne's!


Old wood burning stove at Ketch Joanne's to keep your dining experience warm and cozy!


Outdoor patio seating area


When we arrived home, the guys quickly went to work cleaning and preparing the crabs! 




1)  First, you'll want to get a big pot of water boiling.  My husband likes to season the water with Old Bay Seasoning to help bring out the flavor. 


2) Next, you'll want to cut and clean the crabs.  Some people just throw the crabs in the boiling water whole.  However, our preference is to clean them first since they are bottom feeders.  You'll want to pick up the crab by their back legs so you don't get pinched and set the crab on a butcher block on their back.

3) Use a large and sharp butcher knife and carefully apply pressure to cut the crab down the middle of their body.  Don't cut the crab all the way through to their outer shell.  You only need to cut down enough to easily release the legs from their body


4) Have a bucket of clean water nearby to quickly clean and rinse the crab legs.

5) Once all your crabs are cut and cleaned you are ready to place them in the boiling water,  Boil the crab legs with the lid on for about 20 minutes until they turn red and are done. 



6)  While the crabs are boiling pull out your favorite cocktail sauce or make your own.  We use  ketchup and fresh horseradish to make a spicy dipping sauce!  

7) Once the crabs are cooked you are ready for your crab feast! It's a little work cracking the crab and digging out the meat but it's all worth it!  


I made a fresh green salad topped with our crab and balsamic dressing!  It was super delicious!


You can keep the cooked crab in your refrigerator for a few days but it's best the freeze them in sealed plastic bags if you want to save left overs!  That way they will stay fresh for your next crab feast! 

If ever you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, make sure to stop by Half Moon Bay and Pillar Point Harbor for some coastal fun!  This was a great way to spend time with our family and get outdoors!  We came home with our meal planned for dinner ocean to table!

Hope you all are having a great 2019 so far!  Please share your favorite crab recipes you like to eat and let me know if you like to see more cooking and meal preparation on San Francisco Bay Style! 

Adventure is out there!  Go get it!

xoxoxo,

Hayley






Monday, November 5, 2018

Fall & Winter Hat Trends


I love to wear hats! This obsession started at a very young age when my mom purchased a denim newsboy hat from a secondhand store.  I began wearing this hat 24x7.  Some kids develop an attachment to teddy bears, blankets, or pacifiers.  For me, it was a hat!  It became my security blanket that I never took it off or went anywhere without.  My mom would sneak in my bedroom at night just so she could wash it once in a while!  

Shop The Look:


When I started grade school, my mom warned the teacher about my hat attachment.  It wasn't a big deal in kindergarten or first grade but once I got into second grade, the teacher forced me to take it off in class.  I kicked, screamed, and cried!  I was so upset and devastated - how dare this teacher tell me I couldn't wear my trusty hat that I adored so much!  I didn't want to go back to school the next day, but my mom made me and eventually I let go of my beloved attachment.

Today I love hats just as much as I did when I was a kid (less the obsessive attachment)!  They make a great accessory to any outfit and provide serious help when your having a bad hair day!  You've probably noticed I wear hats quite a lot: straw hats in the summer, floppy wool hats in the fall, cozy knit beanies in the winter, and baseball caps for spring training!  I have a box full of them and today's post is all about my current favorite fall/winter hat styles!  

Okay, maybe I'm still a little obsessed but I can't help it!  Which one is your favorite?

Happy Shopping!

xoxoxo,

Hayley  



Friday, November 2, 2018

Fall Leaves


I hope you all had a Happy Halloween!  I can't believe it's already November!  Where does the time go?  Speaking of time, don't forget to rewind your clocks back this Sunday at 2 AM if you live in an area that participates in daylight savings.  During this time of year, we "fall back" in time which basically feels like you gain an extra hour worth of sleep and I'm down with that!  The only drawback in my opinion is how dark it gets earlier in the evening.  That doesn't leave a lot of daylight to squeeze in photos or get thse errands done after work!  

Anyway, I recently picked up this brown sweater for fall and have received so many compliments on it!  It's the perfect color that blends with the changing fall landscape and it's super cozy!  I've also received a lot of questions about my brown fisherman hat so I've included that in my shop links below.  It comes in numerous colors and I plan to pick it up in red for the holidays!

You can instantly shop all of my daily looks and products by visiting my shop page here.  Happy Shopping! I hope you all have a great weekend!   

xoxoxo,

Hayley




Thursday, September 13, 2018

Seasonal Favorites


If you haven't noticed lately, I added a new tab on the blog to capture all of my favorite seasonal products.  Since autumn is right around the corner, I'm kicking off  with "Fall Favorites".  This is a place where I can share all of my favorite fall products from clothing, shoes, bags, accessories, beauty products, holiday entertaining, and home decor for the season.

I'll be updating the products on a daily basis as I find things I love and think you will too!  Check back every Friday to see my latest finds!  Also, I'd love to hear what products are your must haves for fall!  Send me the link in the comments below and I'll be sure to add them!  

This weeks products include everything from cozy cardigans, must have boots for fall, autumn handbags under $100, and my favorite home decor finds!  You can shop all my favorites by clicking here, or browsing the shop widget below!

I hope you find something that inspires you to enjoy the season!  

Happy Fall!

Hayley  



       

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

2018 Fall Handbag Trends Under $100



I'm on a mission to find some new handbags to go with my fall outfits.  I don't want to spend a lot of money but also don't want to compromise quality.  Therefore, I'm turning to Nordstrom to help me discover this season's hottest handbag trends and styles all under $100!  What am I finding?  Rich and warm colors that blend with the changing autumn landscape and great textures that add a little interest!  From box bags, top handle bags, drawstring bags, and belt bags (yes... I said belt bags), you'll be sure to find something that meets your needs and style below! 



Happy Fall Shopping!
🍁🍃🍂    

Hayley



Tuesday, August 21, 2018

John Frieda: Your Hair Talks Make A Statement


Your hair says a lot and John Frieda hair care products help you express yourself and keep the conversation going!  Most of you know I've struggled with my hair for many years.  It's extremely fine and I've always wished for thick voluminous locks... like the beautiful bohemian hair styles you see on #hairenvy Pinterest boards!  I know...I have one!

However, the older I get, the thinner it goes!  I've tried many hair colors over the last 4 decades - I'm a natural brunette but have bounced back and forth between red, blonde, and going back to my roots.  I prefer to be blonde and of course the constant bleaching and coloring makes my hair susceptible to breakage and extremely hard to grow long.  I've tried weave in extensions for volume and length but after a year I had them removed only to find my hair damaged further.  I recently cut off several inches and now I'm on a mission to repair and restore.  I really need good products that will deep condition, protect my color, and keep my hair healthy so it will grow!





I recently had a chance to try some amazing products from the John Frieda "Sheer Blonde Go Blonder" line.  These products are specifically formulated to moisturize and gradually lighten your sunlit blonde hair!  Summer is coming to an end but that doesn't mean your sun kissed highlights need to as well!  Personally, I love my freckles and natural highlights from summer!  Each one has a story to tell!



If your hair could talk, what statement would it make?  The John Frieda Hair Care Team reached out to me recently to ask this very question and here's how I responded...

Brunette, Redhead, Blonde Repeat!

and

Try extensions, take them out, cut it short, now grow it out!  

#YourHairTalksMakeAStatement


I've included all the John Frieda hair care products I've been using over the last several months in the shop links and the short video above.  I really love the results I am seeing with my own hair and I think you will to!  Feel free to reach out and ask me any questions!  Looking forward to hearing what you think!

Thank you to John Frieda for sponsoring this post!  

xoxoxo,

Hayley