Mama Favorites {& a giveaway!}

I haven't done a favorites round up lately and there are definitely some things I am really loving lately.

I am also planning a baby centered favorites post as well.  We have definitely found some winners in the baby department.

But first, in the mama department ;)

Now that I am home for a few weeks comfort is key and these pants have been on constant rotation.

Libby sent them to me in a little care package, along with this shirt, both are winners.

(they are so soft they put babies right to sleep!)

I generally am not a fan of sleeping in pants but these guys are a total exception.  They are SO soft and just light enough that they don't make me too hot and feel like I am not wearing anything at all. 

 I would add them to your Christmas list immediately.  I wouldn't be mad if Santa brought me another pair...I mean they are on sale and they are SO many cute options.  Just throwing it out there Santa ;) 

Another cozy item I am loving are these baseball tees from Walmart.  Mister spotted them one day and somehow now I own 3 different ones.  They are also super soft and comfy.  I sized up a medium for a roomier, lounge around fit.  So comfy I wore one the day we brought Little Mister home.

And what comes with lounging?  Snacking! Duh.

Being home all day is dangerous you guys.

First up I literally can NOT stop eating these treats, in fact I am making another batch as soon as I finish this post.   Mostly because I ate 95% of the first pan and Mister the other 5%.  They are perfect for grabbing on the go.  Or every time you open the fridge, whatever floats your boat.  I did use gluten free pretzels but I do not think that is crucial.

Another item I cannot stop eating are the Peppermint Pretzel Thins....enough said.

And one more that I think would be a great addition to your Thanksgiving treat table is Rigoni di Asiago's Nocciolata Dairy Free spread-think hazelnut goodness to put on just about anything your heart desires.  Yes please.  I haven't tried it yet but I think on top of my chocolate chip banana bread with your morning coffee Thanksgiving morning while watching the parade sounds delightful. 

If you would like a chance to win your own jar simply comment below with one of your fall favorites and Little Mister and I will randomly select a lucky winner next week!

To round out the (current) stay at home mom favorites list, we have to include tv shows. Duh.

Currently I'm catching up on Gilmore Girls before the new ones come out and The Good Wife.  Mister and I also started Good Girls Revolt.  Any other recommendations?  

PS Little Mister is 2 months old today!! Don't worry I'll have a full post dedicated to it ;)

Bumpin Around {Pink Blush Giveaway}

While there are more cute maternity clothes options than I thought there would be available, I could still use a few more resources ;)

One shop that immediately came to mind once we were pregnant was Pink Blush.  I had previously seen adorable ladies in Pink Blush items and I knew they had some of the most adorable maternity (and non maternity!) items on the market.

With the heat and humidity lately, I am constantly drawn to maternity dresses in all shapes and forms.

This dress is incredibly comfy, cozy and perfect for my growing belly.  I know this beautiful floral dress will be a staple throughout the rest of our pregnancy journey.

No photo shoot is complete with a little Floyd for you!

There is NO shortage of cute items on the Pink Blush site and I have quite the wish list going.

This off the shoulder top is too adorable for words, this kimono is perfect for our chilly office but cool enough for hot days and I have been dreaming about the perfect hospital robe and this one fits the bill. 

See, all adorable!

And lucky for you non pregnant ladies, Pink Blush offers the most adorable clothes in their regular store as well!

But wait, there's more!

The wonderful people at Pink Blush are offering Total Basset Case readers a $75 (!!) credit to their store!  How awesome is that?  Sounds like a great way to work on your fall wardrobe if you ask me!

Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Muddy Paws Effect + Giveaway

While we all love and adore Floyd, homeboy makes a mess.

Those huge ol chunky paws of his, while smelling of fritos, carry a lot of dirt on them.

Our carpets, stairs and sofa catch the brunt of it.

I do my best to stay on top of it but he is sneaky and once and awhile you just need a deep, deep clean.  

With the holidays (and friends giving) approaching, this past weekend was the perfect time to whip the house into shape.  Once I started I could not be stopped.

Thankfully this Bissell ProHeat 2x Revolution Pet showed up on our doorstep recently.  

Floyd was ecstatic.

and then he heard something outside

But really, he was stoked and very very helpful.

Soon no surface was safe in our house but I started with our bedroom.
We have sort of light carpet on there and someone in this house wakes up in the night to puke often.  This combo is not ideal.

I am very, very happy to report that the Bissell ProHeat 2x Revolution Pet totally got the stain out!

Next up were our stairs...these were in serious trouble.
Thankfully, my right hand man was not too far behind.

Such a slave driver.

Then it was on to the major culprit in our house...the sofa.
We try to deep clean our sofa a couple of times a year but we have slacked on that a little.  We LOVE the way it looks and feels after and really should do it more often.  We often put it off because it is such a tedious process.  However with the Bissell ProHeat 2x Revolution Pet it went SO quickly! I was so impressed and so pleased with the way it turned out.

Supervisor on duty.

The cleaner is so lightweight that it made using it a breeze.
I choose to go with the deep clean + antibacterial option to make sure I was getting all of the dirt and grime out of the sofa.
The dry time was also a bonus...only a few hours!

(P.s. you are also getting a sneak peek at the new pillows I made!  DIY and reveal soon!)

And the best news of all is that for every purchase of the Bissell ProHeat 2x Revolution Pet, Bissell with donate $10 to the Bissell Pet Foundation to help America's homeless pets! #yes

But wait, there's more!
Bissell is offering two product bundles (including a Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet and Bissell Deep Clean + Antibacterial formula) as a giveaway. 2 winners will be chosen at random across all communities.
To enter, leave a comment (and your email address) telling us what your favorite cleaning tips for the holiday season.

Cards for Canines {Giveaway}

You know when you find an Etsy shop you are utterly obsessed with?

And then find out they are also a super sweet person?

And it gets better...they are local, love doggies and uber talented?

Well I have that person for you...

Cards for Canines.

I was introduced to Abby of Cards for Canines via Alexis when she had her make those adorable basset business cards for me.  I was immediately smitten.

I turned right about and had Abby make a print for my mom of her adorable dog, Sophie.

It turned out SO cute.

And there is more cuteness where that came from

Adorable, right?!

This one is probably my favorite though...

I mean, c'mon!!

On top of all this adorableness, I have a special treat for you today!

Abby has graciously offered to give away a custom illustration and card package to one reader!

So fun, right?!

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment telling me what adorable pooch you would have an illustration done of.

Bonus entries if you go follow Cards for Canines on Instagram and on Facebook - just let me know you did.

I wish you all the best of luck but if you are not the lucky winner (announced next Wednesday) I suggest you quickly put an order in with Abby for Christmas gifts.  I am already planning my next order to give to every single dog lover I know this holiday season.  Check out her Etsy shop here! 

Clothe Ohio {Giveaway}

I have always been more than happy to stand behind hard working people and products that give back to the community.

Enter Clothe Ohio and I was all over it.

Their philosophy is simple...you buy a shirt, they donate a shirt.

I mean, how awesome is that?!

Not to mention, the shirts are stinkin adorable AND so soft. 

Sounds like a winner all around to me!

A few goodies recently showed up on my doorstep, in too cute wrapping (including a buckeye and a koozie!)

 After admiring the cuteness, I wasted no time putting this sweatshirt on.

And you can ask Mister, I have barely taken it off since. 

I am telling you, it is SO soft.  This is the perfect sweatshirt to transition into Spring with.  

I have taken the sweatshirt off long enough to put on my other favorite item of theirs.

I will be the first to admit I am terrible about getting around downtown and I do not know if this shirt will help me with that or not.  BUT it is super cute (and soft) so that counts for something.

Now if it came with a built in GPS, we would really be in business ;)

In order to pass along this cuteness to you guys, Clothe Ohio is giving away one shirt to a lucky reader! 

All you have to do is go like their Facebook page HERE and leave me a message saying you did and you are entered!

I will announce the winner next Monday! 

Be sure to check out the Clothe Ohio site for all of their styles and remember that for every shirt you buy, they donate one to a local Ohioan in need.  How great is that??

Shop Blue Avenue {Giveaway}

Even though I have been eyeing a few different pieces of Aztec inspired clothes, until recently, I hadn't jumped on the Aztec train yet.
I'm not really sure what I was waiting on. 

Thank goodness for Blue Avenue and this adorable cardigan.

I am now full on obsessed. And slightly wishing fall was here.  But these coolish nights we've been having in Ohio are enough for me to throw this puppy on.  

I am already planning a million a half things I can wear this with.

There's a good chance if you see me this fall, I will be in this guy.

And what is a photo shoot without a few basset hound outtakes?

Lucky for you guys, Blue Avenue has graciously offered to give away a $25 gift card to their store so you can grab a cardigan of you own! Or something equally adorable! Honestly, I want one of everything they have.  LOVE this dress. 

Rafflecopter, you know the drill.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy and Tucker Up

Oh La La {Younique Makeup Giveaway}

Mascara is probably my favorite part of my make up routine.

I love building up big, full, voluminous lashes.

As we all seem to be, I am always on a hunt for the perfect mascara.

I had recently resorted to layering 2-3 mascaras to achieve the look I wanted from multiple mascaras.

It was really becoming quite the process.

Well ladies, I have a solution for this issue, look no further.

My friend Tatiana just recently introduced me 3D fiber lashes from Younique.

This mascara is a SHOWSTOPPER.

It literally makes you look like you have false eyelashes on.

And who doesn't want that?

The mascara is made up of two different components (gel and fiber) and three, easy steps for application : gel, fiber, gel.

And repeat if you desire.  

The more you build, the more dramatic the look.

1 coat is great for work

2 for a night out

and 3 for a really special evening or party 

(in my opinion)

I will tell you the fiber step was a little strange to me at first.

The gel looks like a normal mascara and then the fibers are literally fibers on a tube (not a wet product).

So in expanded terms, the gel creates a base for the fibers, the fibers attached to the gel and build up the volume and then repeating the gel secures the fibers to your lashes.

It works best if you work with both tubes open in your hands so you can move quickly.

It is also advised that you complete one eye before you move to the next one.

And because seeing is believing, here are some pictures of moi without mascara and with.
Please be warned of two things, 1. it's really hard to take photos of mascara and look natural and 2. I hadn't had my coffee yet when I took these so my eyes aren't fully awake.

1. No mascara
2. One eye with, one without
3. One coat on both eyes
4. Two coats on both eyes

See! Fake lashes!

AND if seeing isn't believing for you, how about trying it out for yourself!
Tatiana has graciously offered to giveaway one set of 3D Fiber lashes mascara to one lucky Total Basset Case reader.
You know the drill, rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Giveaway runs through next Wednesday, winner announced next Thursday)

Contact Tatiana if you have any questions! You can also host a virtual Younique party with Tatiana via Facebook!

You can guarantee this mascara is going to look great with whatever dress I pick for our upcoming big event.

So are you sold?

Weekend Wrap Up : A Good One

Hey, a weekend wrap up post!

Remember those?

And a Monday and not a Tuesday?

It's bound to be a good week.

And a special hello to everyone visiting from Living In Yellow!! 

It was a good weekend, I know that for sure.

Friday night Mister and I had a nice night at home, made a delicious dinner (thanks to a recipe from Kait) and watched the last Scandal we needed to catch up on (come. on. Thursday.)

Saturday was a beautiful day which started with a 9 mile run and then my mama came to town!

We had not seen her since Christmas and it was so great to spend the weekend with her!

Floyd was beside himself when she showed up at the door.

Literally, beside himself. 

Homeboy LOVES Gma. 

We spent the day shopping and gabbing, what we do best ;)

We had a great dinner out and a great surprise at the end of dinner. 

When we were seated the hostess commented that she liked my shoes and I said, 'thanks! And my mom said, 'She just got them for her birthday.'

And by that she meant was that they've been out of stock forever at Nordstrom and they just appeared on my doorstep and she insisted on wearing them immediately.

But lo and behold, here came a birthday brownie at the end of our meal.

Little did they know it was closer to Mister's birthday than mine.

But, we aren't a family to turn down brownies and ice cream that appear at our table.

We may or may not have also gone to Orange Leaf afterwards.

#nojudging

I realized I hadn't had ice cream since before Christmas so mom and I had decided it was necessary long before the surprise brownie.

Sunday was errands, photo shoot with my neighbor for an awesome product I have to show you later this week and granola time. I promise I'll share the granola recipe with you.  I've been playing around with a few different ones and I think I've mastered it.

Have a great week, friends!

P.s. go enter the stellar giveaway at Living In Yellow! 

Weekend Wrap Up: Run, Run Rudolph

Eeeek it's almost Christmas!

And this past weekend was all about wrapping up loose ends and the lingering gifts.

Friday was dinner out with our neighbors and enjoying tv with just the Christmas tree on (my favorite!).

Saturday it rained. And rained. And rained.  And I ran. And ran. And ran.

But even though I looked like a drowned rat earlier, I was ecstatic because I had completed my third half marathon of the year!

My goal last January was run a 10k sometime in 2013 and here I am, 3 half marathons completed.  

That's either really cool or I've really lost it.

Or a little of both.

And to reward myself, even though I was freezing, I headed straight to Sonic because half way through the race I decided nothing sounded better than a milkshake.

And they were 1/2 off and peppermint...they were basically begging me to get one. 

Back at home, I put my shake in a different glass and sat it down and walked away for a moment...

someone decided to help themselves...

And as Mister said, 'well obviously you took the time to take a picture before getting him down.' 

To which I responded, 'well yes, incidents like this need to be documented. Duh.'

And that folks, is why I say he isn't an angel all the time.

He's been warned that Santa Paws is watching...

And the Printicular winners are...Gayle and Julie!

I'll email you ladies your coupon codes!

Have a great almost Christmas week! 

Blogging may be a little sporadic this week as we are spending time with family and Floyd is explaining himself to Santa Paws.

Floyd Chomps on Pork Chomps {Giveaway}

As we know, Floyd is the star of the show around here.

And our house.

And so when this HUGE box of goodies showed up on our doorstep, I knew it was for none other than the hound himself. 

I didn't tell Floyd but Pork Chomps contacted me and asked me to ask Floyd if he was willing to try out some of their 100% rawhide free treats.  I said, of course he would! Ol boy loves to eat!

I may have mentioned a time or two that Mr. Floyd has quite the sensitive stomach and we have to very careful about what goes in his little hound dog belly.

We do not (much to Floyd's dismay) feed him rawhides because we know they aren't good for his system.   Thankfully Pork Chomps are rawhide free, which means they good to go in our house!

These pork chomps are 99% digestible and odor, stain and mess free and we can attest to that.

The more digestible these are, the safer they are for dogs and Floyd if they were to swallow a large piece. 

And that gives this mama peace of mind.

Floyd had his first chomp sweet potato bone last weekend when we had some friends over for dinner and we did not hear a PEEP from him for at least 30 minutes.  

I know everyone thinks Floyd is an angel at all moments but that is not the case.  He is rascal a lot of the time and often into a lot of things.  He has never been a bone chewer so for him to sit, occupied for that long is a miracle and a true testament to the tastiness of these! 

His other favorite are the Baked Stripz.  I like these too because they are on the smaller size but he thinks he's getting a whole bone and keeps him busy for a while.

And as a testament to how awesome the people at Pork Chomps are they are offering a giveaway to 2 (!) of Floyd's besties!  Just comment below with the size of your dog (prize will be given based on the size of your dog s/m/l) and one thing on their Christmas list.

And for an extra entry 'like' their Facebook page here!

And if you don't win, all of your doggies told me they would love some Pork Chomps in their stockings ;)

Weekend Wrap Up : Productive

If there is one word to describe this past weekend, it's productive.

And if you know me, that's a great weekend in my books.

I managed to get a whole heck of a lot accomplished and crossed off my list these past few days and I am so happy!

Friday I ran to the mall very quickly to pick up a few Christmas gifts.

Then raced home and it was time for Catching Fire with friends!!!
We have been anxiously awaiting this movie since the second the first one ended.

Bethany may or may not have gotten us tickets approximately 2 months ago when they were first available.

It was incredible and awesome and better than I could have imagined.

I LOVED it.

Saturday I was up bright and early to run 6.5 miles with my running group.

Then I ran some errands and got my hair done...all before 12pm.

After my errands I came home to this awesome box on the porch.

 Floyd and I were both beside ourselves with the contents!! (excuse the purse and mess on the floor, as I said, we were really excited and couldn't wait to tear into our box!)

You may remember when Floyd reviewed Rachael Ray's Nutrish dog food - well they were generous enough to send some more yummy treats and bones to my sweet boy!!

They are also giving away one bag each of Nutrish Savory Bites (Floyd's favorite), Soup Bones and Soup Bones Mini to one reader! Just comment below with one thing you did this weekend.  (Winner will be announced on Wednesday)

Sunday was the most productive day of all!

I redid some of the decor in our house, hung new pictures up, did about 46 loads of laundry and whipped up some Christmas crafts.  Oh, and a trip to Target, of course! (P.s. the long sleeve Target tees are on sale this week for $6.  I would go stock up if I were you- they are my favorite!) 

For dinner we had our neighbors over for Mister's roast and mashed potatoes - so delicious.  We've started trading houses for Sunday night dinner lately and it's been such a great and delicious end to the weekend. 

Hooray for a short week!!

Pink Pink Everywhere {Giveaway}

(Wo)man o (wo)man do I have a treat for you today.
A big fat gift card, moohlah, make up (and more!) + helping a great organization...what's not great about that?

We all know it's October so why not celebrate with

If you haven't seen the pink cleats scattering the football fields of every NFL game or the umpteen amount of pink ribbons floating around Facebook lately then you might not know that it's Breast Cancer Awareness month. But have no fear because Erin from Two Thirds Hazel got a whole bunch of bloggers together to bring you a giveaway just to make sure you remember.  The point of the giveaway is to raise awareness about this deadly disease as well as to raise money for breast cancer research in order to hopefully one day end it. And what better way to do that than to throw a whole bunch of PINK prizes your way to entice you to feel yourself up to check for lumps. That's right, feel yourself up by giving yourself a breast exam! Aka the only mandatory thing you'll need to do in order to enter for your chance to win. Win what you ask? Well let's take a little peek and see the prizes shall we.

1) A $300 gift card to Victoria's Secret PINK. Or just Victoria's Secret if you so choose. But either way you'll be getting TONS of new bras to carry those lovely lady lumps of yours around in. And with this much money you might even be able to snag some new panties and a bikini or two!

2) Over $100 worth of makeup and accessories. Snag yourself a lip duo from Sephora, a few blushes, nail polish, lip balms, a makeup bag, a watch, a scarf, a rose quartz and pearl bracelet, a pink pouf from Stella and Dot and more!

3) Over $100 worth of ad space. Get your pretty face on the sidebars of some awesome blogs in order to grow your own blog and gain more exposure.

4) $60 worth of Essie nail polish. You'll get five different pink polishes as well as base and top coats. Add in a pretty pink nail file and your digits will be thanking you for months to come.

5) A set of pink Vino2Go wine glass cups. Because what better way will there be to celebrate winning this giveaway than to sit down and pour yourself a glass (or two, or five) of wine.

6) A $25 design credit. After you're done shopping for new bras, painting your nails, applying makeup, throwing on new accessories and drinking wine, go update your blog with this awesome credit.

Erin // Karly // Kallie // Melissa // Sami // Taylor // Whitney // Helene

Erin // Shanna // Chelsea // Shannon // Samantha // Jordyn // Sarah // Lauren

Lauren // Misti // Nadine // Nicole // Stephanie // Stevie // Michael // Allie

Juliette // Royal // Maddie // Sarah // Steph // Akirah // Mason // Amanda

And now that you've met all of the amazingly generous ladies behind this giveaway, I think it's about time we got to entering it. So start stripping and begin feeling because the best method of prevention is early detection. If you've never given yourself an exam and need some guidance be sure to read the following information brought to you by the National Breast Cancer Foundation on the best ways to get the job done. If you already know how to get yourself to second base then carry on and head straight down to the Rafflecopter below to enter!

1) IN THE SHOWER Using the pads of your fingers, move around your entire breast in a circular pattern moving from the outside to the center, checking the entire breast and armpit area. Check both breasts each month feeling for any lump, thickening, or hardened knot. Notice any changes and get lumps evaluated by your healthcare provider. 2) IN FRONT OF A MIRROR Visually inspect your breasts with your arms at your sides. Next, raise your arms high overhead. Look for any changes in the contour, any swelling, or dimpling of the skin, or changes in the nipples. Next, rest your palms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles. Left and right breasts will not exactly match—few women's breasts do, so look for any dimpling, puckering, or changes, particularly on one side. 3) LYING DOWN When lying down, the breast tissue spreads out evenly along the chest wall. Place a pillow under your right shoulder and your right arm behind your head. Using your left hand, move the pads of your fingers around your right breast gently in small circular motions covering the entire breast area and armpit. Use light, medium, and firm pressure. Squeeze the nipple; check for discharge and lumps. Repeat these steps for your left breast. -----------------------

Since the primary purpose of this giveaway is to spread awareness, the only thing that's mandatory in order to enter is for you to give yourself the breast exam. The second option available for entry (although definitely not mandatory) is to donate to the Susan G. Komen foundation. This option will get you the most entries because you'll be given an extra entry per every dollar you donate. A $20 donation equals 20 extra entries. Make sense? Good. So get to entering and find some pink fluffy feelings in your heart to help out a great cause!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Breast cancer has (unfortunately) touched many people in my life and even though it is evil and awful and the worst. However, I love doing whatever I can to help out such a great organization that is working towards a cure. Good luck!   

Blogtember : Dear FB friends

Day 19: An anonymous letter to your facebook friends.  Be as snarky as you like.

Dearest people I follow,

Can we just take a moment and think about what we are posting before we hit 'publish'?  

Just three seconds.
 That is all.
Just think.
Make good decisions.

And that's all I have.
I have a hard time being snarky on command.
Now, sarcastic at a drop of a hat, that I can usually do.
If I have to think about it, it's not quite as funny.
And also I feel guilty being rude.

Also I'm pooped.
Remember my play by play yesterday?
Well take that, add running 4 miles, making this and this and about 42 other things = one tired Sarah.

Also remember how I said Floyd passes out every day after our walk...I snapped evidence yesterday.

Not kidding this happens every day.
It's a three point flop, think an old western shoot out.

Speaking of Floyd, Floyd's Friends is looking for new friends!
Shoot me an email if you and your pup want to come play!

And the winner of the Road ID giveaway is Chelsea!
Which is perfect because I know she's a devoted runner and just rocked a half marathon! 


Have a great FALL weekend, friends!
Follow along with ours @totalbasetcase

Blogtember : Reivew- Road ID {Giveaway}

Day 16: Review a product

You guys are in luck today!

I have been wanting to post about this product for awhile and it happens to fall right in line with today's Blogtember prompt.

Safety is a big part of my running routine.

I always make sure I've had enough water during the day before a run so I don't pass out and stay hydrated.

I always make sure I've eaten enough during the day so I don't pass out from hunger.

I make sure my shoes are tied up tight so I don't trip.

I make sure I have the right clothes on so I don't get too cold or too hot.

And recently I've added putting on my Road ID before I head out the door.

Road ID is a simple ID tag that has your information and emergency contacts listed in case, heaven forbid, you were to encounter trouble during a run/bike/exercise/anything.  The IDs come in various forms; bracelets; ankle ids, shoe tags and shoe pouches.

Even if you aren't a runner, I've heard the great idea of getting these for your kids with emergency numbers and allergies listed on them.

All the items are made with your specific information, numbers, allergies and any information you think is necessary.  

I choose to go with the (pink, duh) wrist ID slim bracelet. 

You can put up to 5 lines of information, so it is easy to include as little or as much as you want.

It gives me, Mister, my mom and others a great piece of mind knowing (again, heaven forbid) something were to happen when I'm out on a run.  I have been encouraging all of my running buddies to order one of these.  As they say, better safe than sorry and, in this case, safety is cute and colorful, so why not?

And lucky for you, Road ID is offering $35 for you to get your very own, personalized Road ID (obviously, it would be your own, my information wouldn't do you any good, unless you too have sulfa allergy).

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Winner will be announced on Friday!

*I was not compensated for this post, just wanted to share a great product and a great company with you guys!