Happy Hour Mom

sticky bellies :: maternity milestone photos

Shannon — Wed, 16 May 2012 06:31:55 +0000

Sticky Bellies are a fun way to keep your Facebook fans updated on your baby bump status. I love tracking the pregnancies of my girlfriends who are now living all over the world, and the best way to do it is on Facebook. The Sticky Bellies are easy to use, and can even be re-used for the first 9 months of baby milestones (check out these cute photo ideas for baby). There are so many creative ideas out there, we would love to know what our Happy Hour Moms have done to track their pregnancies. Share your ideas below, and post your bumps on our Happy Hour Mom Facebook Page, we can’t wait to see what you came up with!

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

sticky bellies :: maternity milestone photos is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

happy mother’s day!

Shannon — Sun, 13 May 2012 06:59:55 +0000

Today is meant to be a day full of love and pampering, when us moms can put ourselves first– without feeling guilty. The ultimate day full of “happy hours!” We wish you a day of relaxation, love, and “me time,” just promise us that you will let this day be about you : ) Besides, we are pretty sure you will make up for it next month on Father’s Day (they just couldn’t let us one-up em!) Have a lovely day ladies…

Shannon Hughes

happy mother’s day! is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

rainbow cinco de mayo piñata cookies

Shannon — Sat, 05 May 2012 20:57:38 +0000

These rainbow Cinco de Mayo piñata cookies are too stinkin’ cute! SheKnows.com has a thorough how-to article and video {you can watch it in the top right of this page} to guide you in making these festive treats. I found them too late for our Cinco do Mayo festivities, but I have to admit, I am ready to use these fun-filled cookies the next chance I get. I’m thinking rainbow balloons full of yummy surprises…

What shape/style would you use to take this concept to the next level? Have you done anything like this before? We’d love to hear your ideas and see your pics, so leave a comment below and send any images to shannon@happyourmom.com….

Shannon Hughes

rainbow cinco de mayo piñata cookies is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

precious hair products for kids | pk kingsley

Toni — Fri, 04 May 2012 03:16:55 +0000

When you have your new precious little babe or even a 4 year old you want only the best products to touch their skin. Elizabeth Cunnane Phillips, is a hair expert and a mother of two. She knows first hand how important good quality products can be for scalp and hair health for babies. PK Baby is super mild , colorless, non-allegenic and paraben free. Even though my little man is 4 he cries and whines when it is time to rinse out his hair. With the help of Phillip Kinglsey we have been able to make the transition from a painful bath time session to a big boy shower session where he takes charge of his new routine. I know he is clean and safe of unnecessary chemicals.

Things for you to know:

*Hair follicles begin to develop on an unborn baby at 9 week gestation.

*Within the first 4 months of life, the first coat of scalp hair is shed in a wave pattern, and hairs then begin their normal daily growing and falling cycle.

*As children get older and their hair begins to grow, a little shampoo will help to cleanse more effectively-this can be used around 4 weeks.

*It’s safe to shampoo your baby’s hair every day, providing you are using a mild shampoo.

*Daily shampooing helps to prevent the occurrence of cradle cap

*Cradle cap most commonly occurs in babies up to three months old

*It’s not necessary to condition a baby’s hair while it is relatively fine and fluffy

Toni Danielson

Toni Danielson, ad agency working mom of a big brown-eyed little man, wife to an amazing husband, Digital Media Lover. Blogger. Infographic-obsessed. Expat. Happy Hour Mom. BBall Wife. Not all in that order. Join me in my journey to become the ultimate Happy Hour Mom!

precious hair products for kids | pk kingsley is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

scent of mother’s day | phebo brazil

Toni — Wed, 02 May 2012 02:55:04 +0000

What type of gift do you get a woman who has everything? Mother’s Day is just around the corner and I have been wracking my brain for the perfect gift for the mothers and grandmothers in my life. When I think back and recall memories from my child hood I see myself cooking homemade chicken noodles and poppyseed rolls with my Grandma Goldie. Besides the smell of her delicious foods wafting from the kitchen, the smell that sticks in my head are the scents of lavender, rosemary, sage and sandalwood. When I came across the Six Mini Bar Soaps from Phebo my mind traveled back in time. Although my grandmother is no longer with us I was completely reminded of those special days we spent together. This year the most influential women in my wife will be receiving gifts that evoke memories, milestones and special days from my childhood thanks to the beautiful scents of Phebo.

Phebo is Brazil’s first established luxury perfume brand that was launched in the 1930′s and is making its way to Macy’s stores nationwide this summer. The name “Phebo” was chosen to symbolize the Greek God of the Fun and the birth of a new era in Brazilian perfumery. Besides the deep, amazing and colorful notes in each fragrance, they are a 100% vegetable-based, paraben-free, not tested on animals and produced in the Amazon.

THE FACTS:

Recommended for every type of skin
Phebo´s products have a strong fragrance with a long-lasting effect.
Phebo uses a wide range of Essential Oils, Botanicals, Herbs, Spices, Fruit Oils and Vegetable Extracts in its products

Eight fragrances to choose from:

Odor de Rosas – Yellow
Lavanda – Purple
Raiz do Oriente– Red
Brisa Tropical – Lime Green
Amazonian – Green
Frescor de Manha– Blue
Flores de Primareva – Pink
Naturelle – Orange

Each fragrance has its own benefit:

Odor de Rosas – Sophisticated
Lavanda – Calming
Raiz do Oriente – Exotic
Brisal Tropical – Energizing
Amazonian – Exuberant
Frescor de Manha – Refreshing
Flores de Primareva: Delicate
Naturelle – Relaxing

Toni Danielson

scent of mother’s day | phebo brazil is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

celebrating cinco de mayo {party time}

Toni — Tue, 01 May 2012 02:02:12 +0000

Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. May 5th commemorates their cause for freedom and democracy during the American Civil War. A common misconception is that this day is Mexico’s Independence Day, for which it is not. Celebrations in Puebla, where the legendary battle took place, are a monumental affair compared to all others in Mexico. The event is commemorated with parades and a mock-battle.

As you celebrate this holiday with tequila, brightly colored banners, tortillas, guacamole, pinatas, amazing food and dance worthy music think about what it really means. As Americans we love sharing in all the fun and festivities of our southern neighbors. Who doesn’t love another reason to party in style?

celebrating cinco de mayo {party time} is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

nike young athletes innovation summit, first class affair

Shannon — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 17:20:07 +0000

As you all know, Nike recently selected HappyHourMom as one of the lucky (blessed) blogs to take part in the Nike Young Athletes Innovation Summit. Now, ideally I would have been posting blog updates real time throughout the trip, from start to finish, but I was just having too much fun with my daughter being spoiled by the fabulous #NikeKids team. Seriously, Nike is no joke, and the trip was beyond all expectations for both myself and my daughter. Let’s start with the First Class airfare. Yes, FIRST CLASS! Now for some of you this might not be a big deal, but for someone like me who travels on both domestic and international flights several times a year, and constantly finds herself walking through those first rows of the plane with a little bit of envy and whole lot of admiration, I felt like a giddy school girl when I realized we would be traveling like rock stars. As you can see in the picture above, my daughter was just as excited! The first leg of our flight from Fresno to San Fran was on a smaller plane, so while our seats were no different, we still enjoyed walking right to the front during check-in and when going through security. As someone who frequently travels, it’s amazing how the perks of a First Class ticket helped to eases the stress from check-in to departure and everything in between. (So while I want to thank you Nike, I also think you may have ruined all future “average” flights from this point forward!)

As if the flight wasn’t amazing enough, we were greeted in Portland by a Nike Rep who then escorted us to the car that would take us to our Hotel. This is where it really started getting good. We check in at The Nines Hotel and were greeted with two invitations to breakfast the following morning. Again, I would have been content with that…but no, Nike had more planned for us! As we walked down the gorgeous corridors, my daughter felt like a queen, and couldn’t wait to find our room (Note to self: When you have to enter your key card in the elevator just to get to your floor, you know it’s got to be good!) When we entered our room, my daughter’s first reaction was that someone else forget their belongings, but I immediately knew that Nike had outdone themselves. We were greeted with Nike gear and apparel, treats, champagne, and a welcome letter with our itinerary for the following day. WooHoo! Despite the fact that it was 1AM at this point, I was wide awake with excitement and adrenaline. I tried calling my husband to tell him all about it, but of course he was out like a light, so I sat in the room like a grinning fool looking through my new goodies for about an hour before I was finally able to get some sleep. You can see all of our amazing pictures below, and stay tuned to read all about our full day of fun at the Nike Young Athletes Innovation Summit the following day (from our gourmet fancy schmancy breakfast, to the Nike paparazzi, to our inside look at the Nike World Headquarters and the Nike Sports Research Lab). You heard all about our fun and exciting adventure, now we’d like to hear about one of yours. Leave a comment below and share a fun place you have visited with your kiddos!

Kids Nike FREE Run: If your feet flex, shouldn’t your shoes flex too? Must-have flexibility for young feet.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Nike via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Nike

Shannon Hughes

nike young athletes innovation summit, first class affair is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

inside look at the nike sports research lab #nikekids

Shannon — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:01:28 +0000

Nike puts a great deal of time and energy into its research and development team, employing some of the greatest minds for the Nike Sports Research Lab. One thing was clear, after spending a day on the campus of the Nike World Headquarters–Nike as a whole has an insatiable desire to meet the needs of each consumer. With new research studies launching each year, combined with the conclusions of decade-long studies, Nike is able to utilize the information and developments from the NSRL to design products that will better meet each of our needs and lifestyles. It is amazing how science factors in to the quality and functionality of our wardrobes–from footwear, to active wear and everything in between. Because of the fact that Nike’s Sport Research Lab is home to some of its most confidential information, our tour of the lab was truly a once-in-a-lifetime, exclusive opportunity. Evident in the reactions and excitement of the Nike representatives who were hosting our tour, the are was so secure that most employees are not even allowed in the NSRL portion of the Mia Hamm building.

Not only did we have the great honor of even stepping into the building, we also met one of the individuals behind the magic, Research Director of the Nike Sports Research Lab, Jeff Pisciotta. An invaluable experience, I took away a sense of appreciation for all that goes into each Nike product. Mr. Pisciotta is the man when it comes to orthopedic biomechanics (say that five times fast!), and dove right into the analytical side of the human gait. The craziest part about the entire presentation for Nike Free ”footwear” is that he talked a whole lot about “foot” and absolutely zero about “wear!” Creating a flexible shoe with barefoot technology meant that much of the research conducted at the NSRL focused on the study of the human gait, mechanics, etc. I never realized how much thought actually went into studying the shape and build of our feet, how they function, and how that impacts (or is influenced by) the way walk and run. It was incredible to see the slides and videos showing the movement of our feet both with and without shoes, all the way down to the first steps of our children. In fact, much of the research has been used to make suitable shoes for our young children, giving them the flexibility they need to build and strengthen their “walking” muscles.

Following the presentation in the NSRL, we learned more about the different components of the lab and the kids were able to try out some of the technology in the lab that has been used by the best athletes in the world. Check this video of my daughter Kira, shot at 500 frames per second, as she kicks a soccer ball, it is SO COOL!

After our time in the NSRL, we headed back to our gorgeous gathering point/blogger station and had the pleasure of meeting and learning from, the king of the Innovation Kitchen, Innovation Director Tobie Hatfield. He elaborated on Nike’s barefoot technology, and made the connection between the research phase that Jeff Pisciotta touched on, and the innovation and development phase for a Nike Free shoe. In fact, he said that barefoot technology is the most researched technology–more than all other research combined! Here are a few pictures of Jeff Hatfield as he shares a few slides…

Take a look at the pressure distribution when we walk, and compare distribution when wearing a traditional shoe, walking barefoot, and when wearing a Nike Free shoe…

Want to meet Jeff Pisciotta and Tobie Hatfield and learn a little about Nike Free? Take a look at the video below…

This is only a small dose of what we saw and learned at the Nike Campus, so make sure you stay tuned for more great articles and behind-the-scenes pictures throughout the week!

Kids Nike FREE Run: If your feet flex, shouldn’t your shoes flex too? Must-have flexibility for young feet.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Nike via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Nike

Shannon Hughes

inside look at the nike sports research lab #nikekids is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

what is your ultimate mother’s day?

Toni — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:41:57 +0000

Being a mom is hard sometimes, ok a lot of the time. But it is single handedly the most rewarding job. To watch a little person that grew inside of you grow up to be a strong, healthy, smart and talented individual is beyond comprehension. My family takes Mother’s Day very seriously, as they should. It ends up being a day showered with love and gratitude. Now being a mother, I find myself getting excited for the extra holiday! If money and opportunities were endless, what would your ultimate mother’s day celebration look like?

Check out my Ultimate Mother’s Day Tend Pinterest board to see how my day would go. Show us some love by clicking on the pin board and LOVE by joining us on Tend!

I would awake in magical bedroom, free of clutter, dirty clothes and toys of course, somewhere near Bora Bora. My masseuse would be waiting for me as I prepare for a 2 hour hot stone massage outdoors. After I am fully relaxed I would enjoy some time to read my favorite design inspiration magazines like Sweet Paul, Anthology, Rue, Milk and Afar. While sipping on a Blueberry Lavender Mojito I’d wander outdoors for a little walk and end up spending some serious time in a chaise lounge near a pool. I’d break for lunch and feast on a fig pizza with prosciutto and arugula with the sweetest little cupcakes and french macaroons for dessert. After an uninterrupted nap I’d sort through my new Tory Burch handbag, find new outfits to go with my Kate Spade wedges and slip on my new right hand ring inspired by the birthstone I thought would reflect my son’s birthday, diamond. After dinner my family whisks me back home to reality I find my dream closet has been arranged and filled with a new wardrobe.

The next morning I wake to realize my real dream is one that experience each and every day. My son flicks my ear incessantly, looks at my with his big, brown eyes and whispers, “it’s time to wake up mommy, I love you.” All of those things would be great, but not as special as knowing that I’m a mom to that sweet little face.

Toni Danielson

what is your ultimate mother’s day? is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

kohl’s summer shopping: sunglasses, hats, bright colors…oh my!

Shannon — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:38:55 +0000

As a mom of two young children, my shopping trips often consist of loud kiddos, staring shoppers, the occasional laugh, the frequent cry, the children’s clothing department, and a giant headache. So, as I ventured into our local Kohl’s department store with my best girlfriend, I felt like a kid heading into Disneyland–no children, girl time, and the intention of heading directly to the Misses department and shopping for yours truly.

Having spent the past 6 months in Japan, this was the first time I had ventured into Kohl’s since August of 2011, and I was pleasantly surprised. For starters, I was incredibly impressed with the selection of designers and their collections. Some of my favorites included the Jennifer Lopez Collection, LC Lauren Conrad, Rock & Republic, ELLE and Apt. 9.The collections were fresh, and full of color and unique fabric/texture combinations that really caught my attention.The Jennifer Lopez Collection is complete with flowy summer tops, brights and whites, a little bit of shimmer, and a whole lot of fun–I especially loved the white peasant top and paired scalloped shorts. I often steer clear of white tops, but the Jennifer Lopez top (seen below) fits in tall the right places and I love the embroidered detail.

The LC Lauren Conrad Collection is a perfect option for updating your Summer wardrobe, with fun colors (pastels and brights), flirty layered tanks, and gorgeous sun dresses. Rock & Republic is awesome with edgy tanks, the most amazing bottoms (jean pants, skirts and shorts) with fits designed for all sizes, and the true rocker edge with controlled fringe and cut-out styles. I purchased the dark jean skinny pant because they are unbelievably comfortable and they look amazing with just about everything–perfect for a busy mom chasing her kiddos around, or dressed up for date night with the hubby.

ELLE is classic with the perfect combination of class, a variety of color, and great cardigan selections. Apt. 9 featured a variety of key looks for the Summer trends, with incredible prices that blew me away. Each and every collection offered something unique, but they all shared a high quality appeal and fantastic deals.

I came home with the Rock & Republic dark skinny jean, a flirty flower-print Rock & Republic tank, and a versatile short-sleeve Apt. 9 cardigan. I couldn’t help but add the white Jennifer Lopez Collection embroidered top to my checkout pile, and I love that it looks great with my new jeans. My final selection was based on comfort and style. I love that the skinny jeans are stretchy for added comfort, the top is flowy, yet sexy and flattering, and the gray Apt. 9 cardi can go with just about everything, adding the perfect touch for those breezy summer evenings. The best part is that the register showed almost $100 in savings, without coupons! All in all, I had an amazing day shopping with my besty, and can’t await to spend my next “happy hour” shopping at Kohl’s!

Disclosure: Bloggers received a gift card on behalf of Kohl’s via Glam Media to complete the trend look. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Kohl’s. All trademarks and service marks are owned or licensed by Kohl’s Illinois, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Kohl’s Department Stores, Inc.

Shannon Hughes

kohl’s summer shopping: sunglasses, hats, bright colors…oh my! is a post from: Happy Hour Mom