Hapari Swimsuit Giveaway!

I think we are all sick of winter about now, right? What better way to kick the winter blues than to win a new swimsuit from Hapari?! I did this same giveaway last year and I decided I needed to do it again. I love Hapari and I think they make a great product.

After gestating and nursing four babies, the most important thing to me is support for the "girls." Under wire in a swimsuit is the gold standard. In the past, it has been extremely hard to find. Ashley told me about Hapari last year and when she mentioned under wire, I stopped listening. I said "take me to their store!"

The store is in American Fork, Utah and it is absolutely adorable (the dressing rooms look like cabanas). For the local girls, I recommend running down there because you can try on all the different styles. But online has everything as well.

Last year, I purchased this one:



The best part is, they have these darling skirts to wear over the swimsuits as well and everything is mix and match with the tops and the bottoms.




They have a lot of other cute options without under wire as well. This is my current favorite:



or this one:



And I love the style of this one (and it has under wire!):



And this one too..I can't decide!



I don't wear one-pieces but if I did, I would wear this one:



And guess what else? Their suits actually have pockets to slide in silicone inserts (that they sell) if you want to enhance what you already have (this concept is completely foreign to me but it may interest some of you.)



So let's get down to business...The give-away is for a $85.00 gift card to their site.

To enter, visit http://www.hapari.com/, decide on your favorite swimsuit and come back here and leave a comment either linking to your favorite swimsuit or simply type the name of it. Once you have done that, you are entered in the contest! Easy right?

You can receive up to two bonus entries if you not only link to the site, but also share it on Facebook and Twitter. Each link will count as one entry into the contest. You can provide proof by linking to each instance in the comment.

The contest will end on Thursday, February 23rd at midnight. I will pick a winner using random.org. Please leave your email address with your comment so I can contact you if you win. Good luck!

Chasing Spring

I am soooo over winter. It is cold, there is no snow this year, I've been sick for three weeks, AND, my mom (who helps me all the time) is in Hawaii for the entire month. So to put it mildly, I've got the winter blues. It's time to start thinking about Spring. At least our spring wardrobe. This is what I would be buying right now (if I had the means...)

I love Boden. Their clothes never fit me but it doesn't stop me from ordering their stuff (and then returning it all.)

I love this whole outfit..the dress, the belt, the cardigan:



I also drool over this pencil skirt-cardigan combo (totally sold out):



I have an unhealthy addiction to White House Black Market. I love this sweater jacket. I think I could wear it to work..that is if I actually worked, which I don't, but whatever:



I've got a hankerin' for some red jeans. Every guy I know hates red jeans but girls love them. These would not be for dates but for impressing my lady friends (I'm thinking I'm going to skip the bare midriff look):



For the gym, a Lululemon skirt (I may or may not have already purchased this item!) To my friends in Utah, did you hear the good news? We now have a Lululemon store at Trolley!



And don't forget a swimsuit for the tropical get-away I'm not taking..this one is from Nordstrom (I'm a sucker for black and white and polka dots)



And I think this one by Hapari is really cute too (under wire..hallelujah!)



And let's not leave the kids out. I would get Sammie this outfit at Gymboree (It would be cute for an Easter egg hunt):





And this outfit for my two little boys from Janie and Jack (matching of course)..I never get tired of plaid shorts:



And for Luke, cute swim trunks and fake Vans from Old Navy:





I have a big surprise in store for you. Check back tomorrow for an awesome "Beat the Winter Blues" swimsuit giveaway!

I Love Valentine's Day

It's Valentine's Day and I've got love on the brain. I have a friend who used to refer to Valentine's day as "single awareness day." Yes, that is true. But it was still a good day. I usually do a "What I Love..What I Don't Love" format on V day but today, it's all about my kiddos.

Here goes:

I love that Luke constructed his own lego Valentine's box with no help from me. When he came upstairs with it, he said, "isn't it cool how our family always takes Valentine's boxes to the next level?" Yes, son, it is...especially when I am not involved in them whatsoever.




I love that Sammie (who thinks she is a teenager) still wants to wear this over-the-top headband to school.



I love that Ryan asked me to marry him yesterday and I said yes. I wish he was 30 years older and not my son.



I love that Buster wore this shirt today and takes baths with me and is basically my dream date every day. He gives awesome kisses and says "night night mama" in the cutest softest voice ever.



So there you have it. I am love with these four. Happy Valentines Day!

ps. I found this post when I was looking for a pic of the Valentine boxes and it made me sad.

The People Have Spoken

You want me back! I'm flattered. I didn't even realize how long I had been gone. Life has been crazy...like really crazy..like Christmas crazy on 'roids times five. I haven't even been watching the Bachelor..that is how crazy my life has been. I miss the Bachelor. Should I be watching?

My divorce became final while I was on my girls' trip with my mom and Sammie. It was bittersweet news. I cried but I also felt relieved. The next chapter of my life can begin. The big announcement is I have started dating. And it has taken over my life. This really is a post for another day because there has been some hilarious stuff and sad stuff and dating is a completely different animal the second time around..especially in your thirties with kids, and all the technology (think texting, messaging, facebook). It takes a lot of emotional energy and time but it is a lot of fun. That post is coming. Get excited!

But mostly, I am just trying to be a good mom, dragging my trash to the gym, dealing with divorce odds and ends like getting the utilities changed over to my name (just little pain in the butt stuff), making time for friends and family, churchy stuff, and making dinner here and there (Thank Heavens for fast food!)

But I haven't given up on the blog (or your blogs!) I need to get back in. I am always writing blog posts in my head but never get around to doing them..like am I the only one who is completely sad about Heidi Klum and Seal?



I have always wondered how they ended up together but they seemed totally real and in love. I always take celebrity divorces hard. I should learn..but I never do...I am still trying to come to terms with Nick and Jessica!

So don't give up on me! I have some really fun stuff coming down the pike. My friend's dad owns all the Corner Bakery's in SLC and I am going to be doing a really cool giveaway for him! And I have another give-away in the works...maybe something I have done in the past...we'll see. Check back soon!

American Girl Doll Store aka the Time Grandma Linda Completely Blew the Wad

The whole purpose of the girls' trip was to take the little girls to the American Girl Doll Store in LA and it did not disappoint. Friday morning, we got up and drove first to South Coast Plaza, a true shopping destination. If you know anything about the Warner women, you know that for us, a beautiful shopping mall is better than any natural landmark or stuffy museum.

South Coast plaza was huge and we didn't have anywhere near enough time to do it justice. I spent a good portion of my time in Nordstrom dealing with an exchange of the awesome Hobo wallet I gave myself for Christmas. Mine was defective and I am getting a new one in the mail any day...because I know you care.



Anyhoo, after trying on swimsuits at Nordy's and spending our gymbucks at Gymboree, we met up with my sis-in-law Sarah and headed north to LA.

The American Girl store was so cute. It is in an outdoor shopping center with a trolley driving people around and palm trees...Heaven. We had the most fabulous lunch...seriously! Best food of the trip. We started with little sweet rolls, then they brought out more appetizers, our entrees and then these cute dessert plates. That little flower pot is mouse...it was all divine.



Don't think I didn't eat every thing that wasn't glued to the table. See post where I completely blew my fitness plan.



The cafe had little chairs and plates for the dolls and everything was hot pink and black! We ate out on the balcony and the weather was perfect. I never wanted to leave.



Then we shopped in the store. Just like Sammie, I found a doll that is my mini-me!



Grandma completely spoiled the little girls and they each left with a big bag of goodies:



Then we got back on the freeway and I drove two hours in the LA traffic back south (THANK GOODNESS for the Garmin!) What on earth did we do before navigation?!

My mom and I met my friends Greg and Julie for dinner at the Yard House. We had a blast and then drove back to my brother's house for the night (totally flashed out photo):



When we got there, Sammie and her cousin Kate had put out a display of their dolls and outfits...so funny!

Girls' Trip 2012 aka The Time I Totally Blew My Fitness Plan

Last week, Sammie, my mom and I went on a short girls' trip to Southern California. We met up with my sis-in-law Sarah and her daughter Kate. Both Sammie and Kate got American Girl dolls for Christmas so the point of the trip was to visit the American Girl doll store in LA. Wow. It was fantastic!



We flew in Wednesday night and ate at California Pizza kitchen. This was no small victory for me because my mom has never been a fan of CPK. But I think the chopped BBQ chicken salad and tortilla soup won her over.



I am going to divide the trip into two parts--Disneyland and LA (lucky you!)



Thursday morning we woke up bright and early and headed to Disneyland. (First time ever without a stroller!) I was able to talk a worker into letting us into the park an hour early even though we didn't have the early entry passes. There may or may not have been some deceit involved.



I have always wanted to eat lunch at the Blue Bayou...something about being on Pirates and looking up at all those lucky people eating in there and the sound of the silverware tinkling. Since we didn't have my other kids, we ate there. It was good but very expensive.



Our favorite thing was the salad...delicious. I didn't realize the Monte Cristo sandwich was deep fried and I had to kind of pick my way through it.



The rest of the day was really fun. My brother Rex and his family joined us.



Sammie loves the big rides like California Screamin' and Space Mountain. The park was really empty and we walked on most of the rides.



The weather was perfect. I am sold on Disneyland in January. The best part was that "It's a Small World" still had the lights up and the "Christmas overlay" which was adorable.



And we happened to catch a parade right at the end of the night. Disneyland doesn't do anything half-way:



On the way out of the park I got the most delicious almond hot chocolate...probably the best treat at Disneyland next to the peanut butter cookies at Pooh Corner! Tomorrow I will post about LA!

No Ifs. Ands, or Jiggly Butts (or arms)

About this time last year, I did Club Phat. It dang near ruined my life. So like an idiot, I am doing another weight loss competition again. I started last week. Honestly, I don't have a ton of weight to lose this time, I just really want to eat better, i.e. less junk, and be inspired to get in really great shape.

So my friend Kaari started a contest called Flab to Fit where we get points for working out and a point for every pound we lose. Simple. Which is what I love about it. No points for getting sleep, eating veggies, or drinking water. Which is good because I suck at all three. I love that you can get as many points as you want for working out and since I work out almost every day anyway, that one is easy.

My main goal in all of this is to lose five pounds (that I put on over Christmas) and firm up my lunch lady arms. I am a Warner. It is my destiny to carry weight in my upper arms (hi mom!) (Except Ashley, I don't know how she avoided chubby arms.) In fact, I got my body fat tested at the gym and it was 21% going off my leg and stomach measurements and freaking 26% going off the back of my ham hock arm! So I am going to be focusing on lifting more weight with my arms and eating less Oreos. Oreos=fat arms in my world.

So here is my plan (notice everything is moderation...I don't do well with hard and fast rules or strict diets.)

1. Get my can to the gym everyday for an hour.

2. Lift weights at least twice a week..focusing on my arms (increasing weight.)

3. Cut back on junk food. I have already lost 3 pounds in the first week by merely cutting back (not cutting out!) junk food. I have a serious addiction. I was eating a whore's breakfast of Oreos and diet coke and then going to work out. Insanity people! Now I eat oatmeal for breakfast...small changes make a big difference.

4. Get more protein in my diet...protein shakes, protein bars, hamburgers, Costco dogs (whatever..I don't worry about fat..for me cutting out the sugar and junk food allows me to eat whatever real food I want.)

5. I try to only drink the black acid (Diet Coke) when I go out to eat or when I really really want one.

That's it. Simple right? Six weeks and I am going to be a new woman. Let's DO THIS!