// DIY Aca-awesome Chocolate Fondue Bar with Pitch Perfect 3

This post is in partnership with Universal Pictures

Hey Pitches! The Bellas are back for one last call in Pitch Perfect 3! Now available on Blu-ray, you can even check out the new musical performances, gag reel, and extended scenes that weren't even shown in theaters. Grab your favorite gals and throw together a #PitchesNightIn - whether it's a potluck, cocktail party, karaoke show-down, dessert bar or even slumber party, Pitch Perfect 3 is the ultimate movie to watch with your ladies. There hasn't been a single Pitch Perfect movie that I haven't absolutely adored, and this one is no exception.

Since we're gearing up to move and I'm having to say "See ya later" to my friends here in town, I've been extra sentimental. Growing up is hard when it means you have to leave people that you've grown close to. Knowing that's just how the military life works I'm trying my best to just enjoy the time I do have with whatever friends I make, and then making it a priority to remain as close as possible despite distance. Anyway, some of y'all might know of Whitney. Whitney is by far my best friend here and I honestly don't know what I would do without her. She's the person I know I can always rely on to celebrate the good times, or wade through the bad. We're both always in Mom Mode so when we get a chance to just be together as friends, without other responsibilities, we try to take advantage of it. It's never dull! But to celebrate the Pitch Perfect 3 release we whipped up this spread and had us a grand ol' time. Since Pitch Perfect really accentuates such a diverse group of women and their surprising-yet-incredible bond, Whitney and I threw together a Chocolate Fondue Bar. All of the little bits and bites are our various personality traits and while they're great on their own they are made all the more better by the bond of friendship (chocolate). Ha! Did I totally sell you on my cheesy spiel? I'm just being sentimental, but for real. Whit is my person and knowing that she won't be just 1 mile down the road anymore has me feeling all sorts of ways. I was really really glad I was able to do this with her. Such a fun little "work" project because it didn't feel like "work" at all. While we don't need an excuse to have a girls night, it was fun to have a "obligation" to take time away from life and do something fun together! Here's what we put together...

Our Fondue Bar included a pot of melted milk chocolate, Rice Krispie treats, ripple potato chips, cinnamon graham crackers, Goldfish crackers, jumbo and mini marshmallows, fruit gummies, Reese's eggs, butter popcorn, caramel popcorn, fresh kiwi, tangerines, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, chocolate chips, and sliced bananas. We also enjoyed some red moscato with our sweet treats! It was totally indulgent and such a great way to spend a Thursday! We obviously didn't eat everything (ha!) and there was loads to share with the kiddos and other friends. But we most definitely made sure we got to enjoy the spread before having to share it with anyone else. Constantly thinking like a Mom here! :P

 

Check out the trailer for Pitch Perfect 3 below, and go grab a copy to host your own girls night in! You can also check out the #PitchesNightIn tag on Instagram to see what others did to celebrate the release - get some fun ideas to throw your own bash! Happy weekend, Pitches!

// Our 2017 Holiday Cards with Basic Invite

Merry almost Christmas! It's only 7 sleeps away! Today I'm partnering up with Basic Invite to share some holiday cards I whipped up on their site. I have 6 samples to show you, though you'll quickly notice which two were my favorite haha! Basic Invite is a web-based card and invitation brand that gives you almost limitless options when it comes to customizing your own pieces. They have everything from holiday cards to wedding invitations, stationery, printed business goods, to shower invites and beyond. You can even throw a little shindig and customize an elegant party invitation. You can customize the color of your envelopes, and even the lining inside, too. You can even edit the actual wording on the cards just in case a specific design catches your eye but the verbiage isn't quite perfect. Edit the foil colors, or opt to skip the foil completely. Change up the fonts, the alignment, the paper type, all the way down to the ittiest bittiest detail. Basic Invite gives you an incredible design to start with (and keep just the way it is, if you want!), but allows you all the freedom in the world. Even a template can end up being totally 100% customized and then you'll feel like a rockstar designer.

Here are five of the six sample cards I ordered. I knew I for sure wanted to use this photo of the boys because I'm just so head over heels for it. It might definitely be one of my favorite photos of these two turkeys ever. The best part about using the same photo for each sample card was being able to see exactly how the cards changed the look of the photo. When I was creating the cards my favorite was by and far the Merry Everything foil card (second to the left, above). I loved the dot border and the phrasing - Merry Everything! To me it's even better than Happy Holidays. However it wasn't until I received the samples that I realized just how dark the fade overylay made my image (it's easiest to see in the group photo toward the bottom). It was still a stunning card, but had I not ordered the samples then I likely wouldn't have realized how dramatic the fade was. It would have been perfect had I had a slightly lighter/brighter image. It was a solid example of how you have to pick the right image for the right card. And let me just say that the ability to order a one-off sample of each card I created is definitely the best part of Basic Invite. I'm notoriously indecisive and that allowed me to have peace of mind when it came to narrowing it down and choosing my favorite. It was so much better to see the proofs in person versus on the computer screen. I can see this being especially fantastic when it comes to sending out wedding invitations or a high volume of cards. Talk about stressful to realize you've made a mistake on your cards only after you've spent the money and sent them out. Ack!

The card styles I chose were: Happy Handlettered Christmas Card // Pine Branches Holiday Card in White (and in green, too - not pictured above) // Modern Confetti Foil Holiday Card (I skipped the foil and chose a cream dot instead) // Seasonal Merry Everything Foil Card // Sparkler Holiday Christmas Card

Overall my experience with Basic Invite was a totally positive one. The creation of the cards was super incredibly easy and hassle-free, and the shipping was quick. The pricing was on par with - or better than - most of the other well-known invitation sites, but I found the ease of use to be far superior. Being able to see all 6 cards paired up with different color envelopes made the process all the better, and I can't recommend BI enough. They are definitely the premiere place to order invitations online I will absolutely be ordering from them again in the future. If you're engaged to get married then I definitely recommend checking them out because they also offer free wedding websites!

Which one is your favorite of the six samples I shared?

Happy Holidays, y'all!

xo KB

// Urban Body Jewelry (+ an IG Giveaway!)

I love me some good plugs. My ears have been stretched for roughly 12 years now (or longer?), and they've been about the size they are now (1.5 inches) for somewhere around 8 or so. I've never really been one to wear tunnels, as decorative embellishments and ornate carvings are usually what catch my eye. I used to have quite the collection of wooden plugs, but I seem to have misplaced them over the years. Since losing most of my collection I've been more of a ~creature of habit~ by wearing white acrylic plugs any time I sported jewelry. It's not rare for me to go "naked" and just let my lobes do their thing, but I jumped at the opportunity to partner up with Urban Body Jewelry so I could rock some attention grabbers once more. UBJ has a huge selection of body jewelry on their website, and it's not just plugs either. Nose rings, septum clickers, labret jewelry, you name it. The number one reason I said yes to a partnership was because of the prices! Y'all, large plugs are spendy! I'm talking $$$. Scrolling through UBJ left me kind of being all "Um, what?" Like too good to be true, right? 

I picked up a couple of pairs to give them a whirl and put them to the test. I ended up with these pink howlite stone teardrops, these adorable wooden sunflowers, a pair of white silicone plugs (a trusty fav!), and this super cute rose gold septum clicker (!!!). I was not the least bit disappointed. Everything came in its own little bag, a measuring card was included, and probably my favorite part of all: the septum clicker fit nice and snug on my nose. It didn't dangle down like so many others do. It's a real trick to try and find the perfect sizing for septum clickers, so I was elated that this one was a home-run straight off the bat. While these pieces have all held up wonderfully over the past several weeks, I rest easy knowing that if I were to misplace one or wear one down I could easily replace them because the price tag is totally easy to stomach.

Among their selection of jewelry they have over 1,200 styles of plugs, over 360 different septum clickers, thousands of nose rings, labret studs, lip rings, tongue rings, you name it. They also have a huge assortment of "fake" jewelry so you can try out a new piercing to see how it'd look, or just look the part for a fun night out on the town. You can customize your look effortlessly! 

And because I love my pieces so much, I'm stoked to be giving one of YOU the chance to start your own UBJ collection! If you'll pop over to my Instagram account (this post!), you can enter to win a $60 gift card to Urban Body Jewelry! That's plenty of dough to pick up a few pairs of plugs, some cute nose studs, a clicker or three, etc. The possibilities are endless! Just like the IG post and tag a friend or three in the comments! Each friend tagged is another entry to win! There might even been an additional way to enter, so check it out. I'll draw a random winner next Friday night on December 15th. Good luck!

A few of my favorites from UBJ: quartz roses // turquoise cabochons // sunflowers // yellow pencils // acrylic pugs // red heart glass

xo KB

// Matching 'Jamas + Holiday Traditions

This post is sponsored by Kohl’s. I was paid for this post and
received the included pajamas as compensation.

While we didn't really have Christmas traditions growing up, I've always known I wanted to have traditions with my kids. We only have a few that we commit to every year: listening to Punk Goes Christmas while decorating the tree (that's definitely one I implemented haha), each member of the family gets to pick one new ornament for our collection/tree, cinnamon rolls on Christmas Day, and matching 'jamas for the boys (that they normally open on Christmas Eve). Personally I always watch 'Love, Actually' too - usually on Christmas Eve if I can squeeze it in! It's been important to me to only incorporate traditions that are simple in nature, and easy to continue. I never want our holidays to feel like a chore. I love to create low-key activity advent calendars for the boys if I'm up for it, but some years it's just too much. I feel like we've struck a good balance overall.

In the spirit of the holiday I've partnered with Kohl's to share America's Favorite Jammies. Destination Dreamland is Carter's holiday sleepwear collection, featuring new colors and themes, like this precious polar bear and buffalo check pairing. They were so soft when I opened up the packaging. I would 100% wrap myself up in them if they came in my size. Unfortunately for me the Destination Dreamland collection only comes in baby, toddler, and little kids sizes. They have footed jamas with non-skid soles, safety tab to keep the zipper in place on one-piece fleece jamas, and elastic back heels to keep the footies on. For girls they have nightgown and doll gown sets (precious!). The pieces come in cotton, polyester, and fleece options. And the cherry on top of it all, Kohl's always has amazing sales and coupons so you can score a couple sets of these precious pajamas.

The boys were tickled pink to get their jamas early. I have to admit, seeing them all matchy matchy just makes my heart sing, and makes me wish I could get away with dressing them alike 24/7. Snapping these photos in front of the Christmas tree just makes it all the more real - Christmas is coming! Quickly! While I'm not typically a fan of cold weather or winter, I love Christmas and the excitement surrounding it. It makes the freezing temps feel a little more bearable. (Heh, bearable...get it?)

How about you and your family? Any fun holiday traditions that you try and stick to, year after year? Do you do Christmas pajamas, too?

Also, what do you call pajamas?
Jamas? Jammies? Jam Jams? PJs?
So many options!

xo KB

PS; I don't have a photo of 2015 or 2016, but here's a sweet snap of the boys on Christmas Eve 2014, wearing their matching bug pajamas from a Carter's collection. They weren't holiday themed, but oh my stars aren't they the sweetest?! My babies were so little!

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These affiliate links are not associated with Kohl’s.

// Star Studded Style Secrets: Babbleboxx

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Single Edition Media. 

All photos, words, and thoughts are my own - as always!

The one thing about awards shows that really fascinates and intrigues me is the swag bags. I've watched several shows and documentaries (if that's what you want to call them) that give a peek into what celebrities get at these shindigs. Beauty products are plentiful in those swag bags, but some celebs rack up things like impossible-to-find gadgets and luxury trips even! With so many awards shows happening in the same season, it's hard not to wonder what on earth they do with all of the stuff, ya know? (If any celebs are reading this, I'll gladly take some of it off your hands... just sayin') Anyway, I got my hands on Babbleboxx's Star Studded Style Secrets box and I was able to play "Celeb" for a short time. Babbleboxx includes products from five different brands and I thought I'd share a little bit about each one so you can see what some stars get in their goodie bags! Check out the items included below.

LumaRX Full Body Device

The LumaRX Full Body Device is an IPL hair reduction device that gives professional results in the comfort and convenience of your own home. The Full Body Device works on large areas of the body as well as the female face. LumaRX said users experienced up to 94% hair reduction after just 3 treatments. So far I've only completed the first treatment, but it was easy peasy and didn't take too long at all. The booklet that comes with the LumaRX claims large areas, such as an entire leg, could be completed in only 20 minutes. I was able to get my IPL on while catching up on some shows the other night. I'm very very much looking forward to seeing how treatments two and three go. I love that I own the device now so I can treat as needed. This was definitely a super rad thing to receive. I'm going to write a separate post about my first large-area treatment with this because I definitely learned some things and it might help you decide if it's right for you. I promise to follow up again once I've completed at least three treatments - that way you can see the results for yourself! -- If you're keen on snagging one of your own you can use the code "BB75" for $75 off the LumaRX Full Body Device (Only until March 11th though!)

DERMA E Vitamin C Concentrated Serum + Vitamin C Renewing Moisturizer

I've started to pay much more mind to my skin care routine in the last several months or so. I'm developing those lovely little fine lines under my lower eyelids and my face sucks up any and all moisture it can. Finding a moisturizer that really delivers is a pretty high priority on my list. The Concentrated Serum is a fast-absorbing, high-potency serum that includes Hyaluronic Acid which is intensely moisturizing. When it's coupled with Vitamin C, your skin becomes better protected from environmental stresses and free radical damage. You can use the Serum twice a day - morning and night - on it's own or alongside the Vitamin C Renewing Moisturizer. The Renewing Moisturizer is a lightweight, radiance-boosting day moisturizer that naturally supports collagen health and in turn minimizes the look of fine lines (yes please!) while improving the appearance of uneven skin tones. I plan to give these puppies a few weeks to work their magic and then I'll report back!

Kerastase Ciment Thermique

I'm am very familiar with Kerastase products and I've yet to be disappointed by a single one. I blow dry and heat style my hair on a very regular basis, so I try to always remember some type of thermo-protectant. This leave-in primer claims to prevent breakage by 85% and it "provides instant hair surface-flaw correction" - Well, my hair sure as heck felt smoother once I blow dried it. The Vita-Ciment formula strengthens the hair fiber from the inside out, and Vita-Topseal instantly reconstructs the hair's protective outer layer and gives damaged hair a second life. 

Winky Lux Flower Balm + Stella Marina Lipstick

OKAY! This Flower Balm is AWESOME! This lip stain applies clear and changes shades based on your skin's pH level. It creates a unique and perfect shade of pink just for you! It contains a real chrysanthemum in the color of your choice, and it smells like coconut so basically you're just going to want to rub it all over your face haha! I loved the subtle color it gave my lips. Plus it's just really really pretty. The Stella Marina lipstick is an ultra long-wearing lipstick packs an incredible amount of pigment into something that applies like a super smooth mousse, and it's even infused with natural vanilla. I honestly can't get over how freaking cute the little pill-shaped tubes are. They're like fun little novelty toys in the bottom of my purse.

Clear Eyes Pure Relief Multi-Symptom Eye Drops

Eye drops are one of those things that often fly far under the radar - being silent, secret heroes for many of us. This time of year is especially hard on my lil' peepers because of the wind! SO drying! I'm almost never not rubbing my eyes or blinking over and over to hydrate them. These Clear Eyes drops are the first preservative free eye drops in a multi-dose bottle at retail in the US. They were even the winner of the coveted Product of the Year 2017 for Eye Care based on a survey of 40,000 consumers by TNS. I have a bottle in my purse at all times, as well as a bottle in my vanity drawer. They've saved the day more than once already. (Swing by here for a $4 off coupon before March 13th!)

It was pretty neat to feel a bit like a pampered celeb for once! I still can't quite wrap my head around just how much rad swag they get, but I'm feeling pretty good about this here little Babbleboxx! It makes me feel like I need to gather up my best gal pals for an awards viewing party - we can snack on our favorite goodies, drink champagne, and pretend we're headed home with oodles and oodles of fun goodies! Stay tuned in the coming weeks to hear what I thought of these products after some real life testing! 

xo KB

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// 5 Subtle Ways To Bring Holiday Cheer Into Your Home

I've always been one of those people who admire and envy folks who have collections of holiday decor and bits and bobs. Throw pillows, wreaths, garlands, artwork, you name it. Up until this house I've always moved around - usually every 12 months as leases would end. Having the constant desire to just up and go made it pretty difficult to keep up with a lot of holiday decorations. Now that we've been in this house almost 4 years (!!!!!!) and there's no move in (my immediate) sight, I've started to feel comfortable acquiring little things here and there that I'd love to use over the years. Since I don't currently have anything really, we're starting at the bottom! Rather than throw myself full force into a bunch of stuff I don't "need," I'm finding subtle ways to bring the holiday cheer into our home. So far so good! If you're looking to decorate without your home shouting "Welcome to The Christmas Shoppe!" then check out these slightly more low-key options!

Decorate with candles in holiday scents

CANDLES! We all know how much I love candles, for real. Not only does the soft light that comes from them instantly relax me and make me feel all cozy, but the seasonal scents really put me in the holiday spirit. My absolute favorite scent for this time of year is anything evergreen - like the Balsam Fir candle I've been burning in the living room. I got this candle all of a day or two after putting up our Christmas tree so it really couldn't have come at a better time! It smells HEAVENLY! I usually light it anytime I turn on the Christmas tree because they complement each other so well. I have a few other awesome seasonal scents from Chesapeake Bay Candles including: Vanilla Biscotti (tends to move from bathroom to kitchen every so often), Cinnamon Spice (My mom was such a big fan of this one and it's rustic metal tin that I gave it to her), and Cypress and Oak (!!! - this 3-wick candle has been burning on my nightstand lately and the scent coupled with the bright, warm glow gets me alllll kinds of cozy in my bed) You can't beat decor that does overtime! All of the ones above are from the Heritage Collection by CBC - but if you're shopping for someone specific and want some other options, check out this gift guide.

Spin some holiday tunes

I love Christmas music! I rarely seek out any of the traditional holiday music because goodness knows we all get enough of that in the stores starting November 1st haha! But dedicated Christmas albums covered by my favorite artists are totally my jam. Every single year (!!!) I listen to 'Punk Goes Christmas' while decorating the tree. Hearing some of my favorite pop punk bands cover holiday classics brings an instant smile to my face. This year I also scooped up Kacey Musgraves' A Very Kacey Christmas and it. is. fantastic! It doesn't hurt that the vinyl is a translucent green, too. It looks fun and festive when spinning on the record player. Of course there's always the golden tunes from She and Him if that's more your speed. (Did you know they just released a new Christmas album?!) Something about hearing holiday classics performed by someone unexpected gives it just the perfect amount of whimsy and intrigue. (BTW, you can stream most of those above if you have an Amazon Prime account! - and if you don't have one, you should. #AMAZE!)

Add greenery around your home

Garland, wreaths, random pine boughs, whatever. You don't have to scatter poinsettia plants in every corner to get that fresh, winter look. Instead you can opt to go for a simple green garland or a plain wreath. I love to lay lighted garland along the shelf behind my couch because it brings so much color and life to a random part of my house. I also like to swap out my wreath on the front door for the seasons, and drape pine boughs on smaller shelves and decorative pieces like my moose above the tv. (Poor moose just broke one of his antlers though...)

Fill glass bowls and jars with
festive bits and bobs

Like cranberries! or pinecones! There are a few things that instantly make me think of the holidays and pinecones and cranberries are totally up there. The cranberries can bring such a fresh pop of color to any glass container. Scatter them around tea light candles, or fill vases with them for centerpieces. If the warm red color doesn't work with your decor, consider getting crafty with some pinecones! You can do all sorts of fun things like: glitter them, paint them, dip them - get creative and messy! This would be a rad project to do with any kids in your life.

Utilize wire "fairy lights" to
spruce up any area

I can't even tell you how many strands of these copper wire lights I have in my house. Like seriously. I have them wrapping around the mirror in my bedroom, donning the top of my headboard and even a cluster of them strung along the top of my bedroom window. In the living room I've wrapped them around both of my faux trees, this handmade dollhouse, and even some live plants too. My favorite thing about these lights is that they have 2 "ON" options: 1) Turn on until you turn off and 2) Turn on for 4 hours, automatically turn off, and then turn back on 24 (well, 20) hours later - for another 4 hours! I looooove this about these lights because the ones in my living room come on automatically each evening at the same time. It's such a small thing, but it always makes me happy. You can use these everywhere though. If you don't have any, get you some! (BTW, you can wrap these lights around the plain garland or wreaths up above and boom! Your garland instantly looks expensive! Then when the holidays are over, you can use the lights elsewhere!) 

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Holiday decor doesn't have to (and shouldn't be!) hokey - you know, unless that's your thing. In which case, get on with yo' bad self! ;) Decorating for the seasons should be fun, and light hearted - not a chore. Home decor is also such a relative and personal choice, too. While I may not be lounging on throw pillows with Rudolph's face sewn on them now, who's to say that won't totally be my jam down the road? My only real goal with our home is to create an environment that is welcoming, cozy, and representative of our silly little trio. I'm sort of excited to see how it evolves as the boys get older, too. For now I'll stick to my candles, wire lights and bowls filled with random stuff haha! Sounds like a solid plan, right?

How do you decorate for the holidays? 

Tag me in photos on Instagram (@kaelahbee) if you'd like to share!

xo KB

// Mind + Body + Home

I'm one of those people who really really loves candles (and you know, things that smell good in general haha) It's no uncommon to see 3 or 4 candles clustered together in random corners of my house. - I know some folks are scoffing at an open flame in a home with a toddler, but luckily he couldn't be less interested. - I recently got a package of the a few pieces from the Mind + Body Collection from Chesapeake Bay Candles, and they've all found perfect new homes. The collection has pieces named "Joy + Laughter," "Reflection + Clarity," and "Peace + Tranquility." You already feel more relaxed from just reading that, right? Ha!

I put each candle in the room I thought the most fitting for the name. Joy + Laughter is lit up in our living room, and I can't help but smile when my eye is drawn to the light and I see those goofy little grins right beside it. Those two boys certainly are my joy and my laughter. // Peace + Tranquility is currently on my bathroom vanity. I've borrowed it for a bubble bath a time or two already. A hot bubble bath is my peace and my tranquility. // Reflection + Clarity is the one on my bedside shelf. My bedroom has become my sanctuary these last several months. Sometimes it's nice to just lay in bed and think or read or just be. // Below is a quick snap to show a few of the other scents. I seriously love everything about this collection.

I love how seamlessly they all fit into our home. The frosted glass jars and the pretty pastel colors! I'll always be a candle girl, I'm sure of it. They're just so romantic and relaxing. If you're a candle person or know someone who is, definitely consider giving these a shot. The prices are so much better than other brands out there, and can I just give a shoutout to whoever packed my package?! They were so secure and that honestly might have been the most surprising part of it all haha!

xo KB