The Pampered Mom's Thin Mint Homemade Ice Cream

Can we just talk about WILL POWER for a moment?  I mean seriously, I have had a FULL box of Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies in  my freezer since F E B R U A R Y!  It's literally the first thing you see when you open it up too.  I mean ... not just me, but my entire family right?!  We knew we would make homemade ice cream with the box ... so there was that to look forward to, but literally, no one even sneaked a cookie from the box ... I don't know about you, but I'm impressed!

So here it is ... the long awaited Thin Mint Homemade Ice Cream in all its glory.  And let me tell you ... there was not an ounce left after the boys got a hold of it!  This time I added a half roll into the ice cream process, and then we used some to sprinkle on the top.  Next time I'll probably add a whole role, but I didn't know how strong the flavors were going to be.

Happy Friday Eve!

  

#thinminticecream #thinmints #homemadeicecream #thepamperedmom #teamimhoff

Pampered Mom's Summer S'mores Bar

This past weekend we had a few of our neighborhood friends over for a super casual night.  The boys and I made homemade icecream and then at the last minute we decided to make some s'mores.  But not just your "usual go-to s'mores," nooo... we needed MORE!  

Our Summer S'mores bar included:
Honey, Chocolate, and Cinnomon Graham Crackers
Strawberry and Reg. Marshmallows
Hershey's Milk Chocolate, Hershey's Cookies n' Cream Chocolate, and Chocolate Mint Patties

YUMMO!

One of our favorite combos ...

Chocolate Covered Strawberries
1. Choc Graham Cracker
2. Strawberry Marshmallow
3. Milk Chocolate

 

 Hope you all Enjoy!

#smoresbar #pamperedmom #summertime

AH-Mazing Grout Cleaner - FOR CHEAP!

Ya'll ..... I can not believe this works!!!

Let me first start by saying .... if you're like me and these hard, manual tasks are daunting ... If I can do it ... so can you!!!

I have been in my home for over a year now.  I have cleaned the kitchen floors weekly since moving in, however, the grout has NEVER been cleaned!  Eeewww ... grosss ... yeah I totally know.  But in all reality, I don't have time to sit there and scrub my floors until they sparkle.  I was literally 2 seconds away from calling a company to come and clean the grout.  It was getting bad.  I mean, I have two dogs, two kids, and we use our kitchen like there is no tomorrow!  I knew it had to be done, and that's why I was really curious when I read that you can use Lysol Gel Toilet Cleaner on your grout.  Say whaaaa??  I know, I was just as curious as to how this worked as you!  I jumped in the car and headed to the nearest CVS to see if it would work.

I'm a little hesitant when using products I have never used before on floors.  I didn't want to stain them or ruin them in any way.  There were two options to choose from.  There was the Lysol Gel with Bleach and the Lysol Gel with Hydrogen Peroxide.  I had read the bleach worked well, but honestly, I wasn't willing to try it.  I get a little nervous about bleach.  So I opted for the HP.

When I got home, I tested a small area under our back door rug, just to see what I was working with. To my surprise ... It WORKED!  and with minimal effort ... [see above where I don't have a lot of time!]  Below are the exact steps I took to make my grout sparkle like the day I moved in. If you have dirty grout ... don't be ashamed :) Do what I did!!

Okay ... so this is the exact product I used.  I think I paid $3.75 for it at CVS.  You can probably find a coupon ... but again ... WHO has the time?!!??!

Steps:

1.  Prep your floors.  I swept my floors only. I didn't clean them at all, just used the hardwood floor vacuum.
2.  Take your Lysol toilet gel and apply it to your grout.  Like the photo below ...
3.  Take a bowl of water and a brush [just a reg. ol scrubbing brush you have laying around] and dip it into the water and scrub the grout.  You don't even have to scrub hard!  Just enough so the blue gel turns white and bubbly.
4.  Wipe away all the gel and water, and then refill your bowl.  Again, scrub the grout using only water and get the access away and continue to dilute the tile and grout.  [I don't know if this step is necessary, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't leaving the product on the title for too long, so I made sure to do this step each and every time.]
5. Wipe away and let the title DRY.
** The tile grout will look darker than when you started ... this is ok .. it's wet and needs to dry.  [see photo below]

Tips:

1.  Make sure to TEST a spot.  I would hate for you to try this product and it NOT work.  Don't blame me ... I told you to test first! :)
2.  Select small areas at a time. It's easy with this Gel to just keep on filling in the grout ... DON'T.  This is still a strong blue gel, and if left on too long, could stain.  Do you really want blue grout?!  So start small.  I did mine in sections and didn't have a problem.
3.  Don't leave the gel on too long.  As soon as I applied to the grout, I filled a bowl with water and got started.  I only gave the gel about a minute to work. Any longer and I would have gotten nervous it could stain.
4.  Don't skip the water and brush step #4 .. just saying :)
5.  Allow to dry for a few hours before you really examine the tile.  For me, my tile took about 2.5 hours to really dry and look clean. You will freak out for a moment when it's drying and say "what have I done, it looks worse."  If you followed these steps AND tested, you will be super pleased with the outcome!

My title grout looked so good, when the hubs got home, he noticed it RIGHT away!  That's right ladies ... it's that good!

** I have real stone tile and grey-ish grout.  It did not stain or harm my floor in anyway.

Share your own photos ... I would love to see how it worked for you!!!

#cleaning #grout #lysoltoiletgel

Mother's Day 2016

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day! Amen to all the mom's who keep their family organized, work, clean, and multi-task the family's calendar.  Lord knows I had one heck of a mentor!  Love you Mom!

I had to share this on the blog today, I couldn't let it go any longer.  This Mother's Day was rough. I had run a race on Saturday and really pushed myself too hard and ended up with a mini heat stroke.  So, needless to say, I had to really take it easy and rest.  Ryan and I picked out stone for the front of the house and he put it in while I rested.  I am totally impressed!  I just think it turned out perfect and turned our boring outside, into something we can really be proud about!

For Mother's Day he gave me a pedicure gc ... because he worked so hard, I begged him to go with me and rest his feet too ... so I had a pedi day with the hubs!  Then the  most wonderful Italian for dinner.  I was totally spoiled, but I am so blessed and appreciative of my sweet boys!

#mothersday2016  #imhoffhome  #landscape

2016 Personal and Professional Goals + Bonuses

I have been a bad, bad blogger lately.  After starting a new job, keeping house and being a taxi to and from practices/games - this mama has been worn down!  2016 has proved to have some challenges, but I am doing more things for ME!  Gosh, if felt good to say that!  I have taken on a new photography business, continued success with bridal clients for 2016 and started dipping my feet into real estate.

Hubs and I always start the year off making both professional and personal goals.  It may be things we want for ourselves, maybe personality trait changes or family goals.

This year, I thought I would share with you what I am striving for this year.  And by the way - some items may seem superficial or ridiculous, but I am a firm believer in rewarding yourself when you make it big!  It's how I keep going, it's how I push myself to be better both at home and at work!

In no particular order .. here is what I'm reaching for ...

1.  Creating an Ourdoor Oasis for my family.  I wanting to utilize are backyard as an area we all can sit, relax, eat, play, and all around enjoy.  2.  I will be working towards getting my Real Estate License this year.  3.  I have wanted this bag for SOOOO long.  It's stunning and would go with everything ... it's going to be mine!   4.  Continuing my Photography Business in all areas [families & possibly using it towards photography as well!]  5.  This is just a personal goal - I am working on getting Fit.  I am tired of being out of breath and feeling bad for myself - time to get up and do something about it!  6.  Self-Secret ... my hair only gets a little passed my shoulders and stops.  So this year, if I reach a few of my professional and personal goals - I'll be getting some nice ol' Mermaid Extensions!  Super weird of me I know, but a girl wants what she wants ;)  7.  And finally - the kids have NO clue, but we're surprising them with Disney this year ... whoop whoop. Ryan and I both have never been so this is going to be super exciting for the family!

Lots of professional goals will need to be reached to do and receive - so no time like the NOW to get on it!  Here's to 2016 ... I can't wait!

The Pampered Mom's Mimosa Bar

I don't know about you, but I wake up dreaming of a mimosa bar waiting for me in the kitchen, however, most days I am awaken by crashing cereal bowls and spilled milk ...

Here's a quick easy setup that only takes a few minutes to throw together on the rare occasion you do have something to celebrate.  Invite the girls over, set up a quick mimosa bar and hire a few cosmetologist to come over and pampered your friends.  For me, most evenings are spent rushing around after school to dinner, sports and finally home to finish homework before starting the kids nighttime routines.  Instead of trying to get the calendar to work for an evening with all your girlfriends, start thinking mornings! ... oh and mimosas!

via The Pampered Mom



Migraines + Magnesium

You all know that I don't often blog about health related topics.  Truth be told, I am not an expert nor live my life as healthy as I would like, therefore, not an expert in the field.  But today is different.  I have been struggling with Migraines for over 15 years, only to find they are getting worse as the years go on.  I am talking about the debilitating, unprovoked, nauseous, can't lift a finger headache that consumes my life without warning ... MANY times a month.

Here's the straight up truth as I know it.  I get migraines usually twice a month, not related to my menstrual cycle, therefore, VERY hard to predict when one will hit.  And hit they do.  Within moments I know I am getting one, I immediately know there is nothing I can do but to let it run it's course.  These things are for sure ... I will get very hot, sweaty, I will start to have a hard time communicating, driving is almost impossible [I have gotten sick in my car more times than I can count,] I will, without a doubt, get sick, and then I need a DARK, QUITE room to sleep until morning.  For me, 90% of my migraines happen after 5:00 PM.  For those that begin in the daytime, usually involves the sun. 

I have done a TONE of research on migraines, trying to figure out my triggers and then removing them from my diet or routine.  These have included, wine, soda and direct sunlight.  Each of these for a while has helped, but they certainly don't eliminate the migraines entirely.  It's almost as if once my body realizing I am starving it of a certain trigger, it will immediately find something else to gravitate towards.  SO frustrating. 

I have gone to the doctor many times over the years to try and get a prescription, or something I can take immediately once one begins.  Most doctors will tell me to try extra strength ibuprofen first, and then once I try that, then come back and tell them if it worked or not.  IT NEVER WORKS!  And seriously, I don't have time to come back and talk about migraines.  When you don't have them, you really aren't thinking about them all the time, at least in my experience.  Finally a few months ago, I tried speaking with a neurologist.  This individual was quick to write a prescription, however, problem was, it didn't help me.  I HATE taking pills and medicines, just because it's more of a hassle than anything.  The very next day I felt a migraine coming on, I quickly popped what I thought was my magic pill ... and nothing changed.  Same symptoms, still extremely ill and sick.  SO what was next?!  I could go down the list of prescriptions and maybe one would eventually work, OR I could starting taking things into my own hands.

After staying up what seemed like all night, I read an article about Magnesium Deficiency and Migraines.  Basically that a lot of migraine sufferers are deficient in magnesium, and if they would eat more foods known to be high in Mg, they may begin to see a change.  I was willing to try anything!!!  Guess what?  I have not had a single migraine since I started eating foods with high magnesium and taking a supplement daily.  Seriously ... gone. Not even a symptom.  How is this even possible?!

 

It is thought that magnesium plays an important role reacting to blood vessels in the brain.  Along with affecting the blood vessels, Mg is known to also affect our nervous system, muscle tissue, and heart health.  I am not a doctor, SO, before you start taking any supplement, or anything for that matter, you really should consult your physician.  All I can say is that I am healthy, I feel great, I am taking my magnesium supplement daily, along with 30 minutes of exercise a day and I have never felt better!  Are you one of the people like me who is magnesium deficient?  How would you love to get ride of migraines?!  Maybe magnesium is the answer?  Good Luck!!

[photo source]

 



This Morning ...

This is what my morning looks like today ... yours?

 

Most of the Summer mornings I am awaken by kids running around the house saying "time to get up."  But this morning ... I opened my eyes and nothing.  Both babies were still asleep and as I left their rooms after checking on them, I slipped back into the kitchen, made some coffee and grabbed some home inspiration magazines.

 

Zen.



This will probably never happen again this Summer ... but I am so grateful for this moment! :)

Fourth of July 2015

Words cannot describe how happy I am that we come back to Missouri every year for the Fourth of July.  There is something about "coming home" and being surrounded by family and friends on my favorite holiday that melts my heart!

 

There is this tree-lined driveway across from Ryan's Grandma's house [where we stay] and I always try to snap a few photos while we're there.  I LOVED the lighting, I love how sweet these two were that day and I am in awe how Braeden can pick up my camera and take a few photos as well!

 

My sweet, sweet boys.

Happy Birthday America!

This year we decided to shoot off our own fireworks, it was Epic!  The kids thought this was seriously the coolest 4th yet!

#imhoffboys

The Pampered Mom's Favorite Beauty Products of 2014

It's that time of year again, where I list my FAVORITE Beauty Products of 2014!

You may remember last year we started this tradition, and the goal is to share mine, in hopes that you will share YOURS with us as well! 

 

You can find last years Favorite Products HERE.  I won't duplicate, but YES, I still love each and everyone of the items on my list from 2013.  Some products I have changed and others I have found through trial and error.  So, here is MY list of beauty products that I have fallen in love with and that I use on an almost daily basis!

 

 

The Pampered Mom's Favorite Beauty Products of 2014

 

1. Naked 2 Eye Shadow Pallet by Urban Decay  2. Sephora Beauty Brushes  3. Clarisonic Mia 2  

4.  Aveda Dry Remedy   5. Youique 3D Fiber Mascara   6. Two Faced Brow Envy Brow Kit

7. NYX BB Cream  8. Chi Magnified Volume

 Sephora Brushes have changed my day-to-day beauty routine.  I used to use another brand's brushes and I thought they worked great.  It wasn't until I need to replace a brush that I stumbled upon one of their brushes while passing their store. It was an impromptu buy and once I got the brush home, I realized how my older brushes were WAY different. Back to the store I went to replace all my brushes.  I have never looked back!!  You can find them at Sephora Online or In Store HERE.

 

 While I was working in the office one morning, probably complaining about my hair and needing something different to keep it healthy, one of my co-workers brought this little beauty to my attention.  At first I thought the Aveda Dry Remedy would make my hair a little greasy since I have very thin fine hair ... but it was the opposite.  I use this produce every morning after my shower on towel dried hair.  You can find this product online, in store or at your nearest Aveda Salon.  To find online, click HERE.

The NYX BB Cream is new to me - but it's my favorite for MANY reasons.  #1.  The Price!  So cheap.  But also because of the way it works on my skin.  I have used probably 50 different BB Creams before this one, and I only picked this up because I was in a bind on the road.  It quickly became  my go-to.  It's light on your skin and doesn't feel like there is anything there.  I do suggest setting this product with a mineral powder like I do to keep it in place.  With all the benefits, I strongly suggest everyone use a BB Cream in place of their normal foundation which is heavy and has no benefits! I get mine at Target!

 

I also love my Chi Magnified Volume.  After moving to Texas where the wind blows daily, I needed to find a product that wouldn't be sticky on my hair, would allow my hair to actually move but still keep my curls in place.  Enter Chi!  This is a great product that keeps my thin flat hair volumnized and clean at the same time.  And for me, it lasts all day!  Event Better!!  I get mine at Ulta or you can click HERE.

 

 Two Faced Brow Envy!  Don't leave home without using!  While I was walking around Ulta one day, I asked an associate for a suggestion on Brow Kits.  She pointed me in the wrong direction, BUT a customer inside overheard and saved the day.  She came right up to me and handed me this amazing all in one kit.  It's what she used and I am SO glad I found it - or her :)  If you need it, it comes with a how-to guide to perfect brows, a stencil guide and a pallet which includes: A Blonde and Brunette Color, Setting Wax, Highlighting Cream, a brow shaper, tweezers and an angled brush.  PERFECT!  Also find this at Ulta.

 

Okay, Okay, I am a little late to jump on the bandwagon.  This amazing eye-shadow kit was always on my "wish list." But the price was too much for what I wanted to spend. BUT, one day I got a little crazy and just bought it.  I did, I am such a rebel.  Seriously though, I use it all the time and the colors look great on my skin.  There are actually 3 pallets to choose from, and since I am fair with blue eyes, I picked Naked 2.  I HIGHLY suggest!  Just do it - be a rebel like me :)  Found at Ulta.

 



If your on a budget, but looking for something to really change your skin, you have to bite the bullet like I did and purchase the Clarisonic Mia 2.  Mine came with the refreshing Gel Cleanser and I love it as well.  This pulsating brush helps to keep my skin bright and illuminated.  I only use mine once a week, but each time I use it, I feel SO good.  My skin just begs for it now.  If your like me and abuse your face by wearing makeup everyday, do your skin a favor and purchase this product.  Your skin will thank you!  You can thank me later :)  I bought mine at Ulta.

I was hesitant to add the Younique 3D Fiber Mascara to the list but when I thought about it, it really does deserve to be added.  I do not sell these lashes, but I feel like I should because they will change your life, like it did mine, if you're used to wearing fake lashes at all.  For me, I have really long lashes as is, I know, don't hate.  So I don't really wear these during the day, but if I go out at night - THIS is what I am wearing.  Seriously, I don't think I will ever wear fake lashes again, there are THAT good!  annnnd you will look AMZING with them.  A stiff price tag for mascara, but I feel like it was worth it for me.!  To purchase, find a local Youique Stylist!

 

There you have it - my TOP Favorite Beauty Products of 2014.  Again, don't forget to check out what our favorite products where last year by clicking HERE.  Share yours - I need suggestions for 2015!!