Summer Clothes ... for your TODDLER GIRL

It's back to clothes here today on Kris Krumbs & Co.

Summer Clothes for your toddler girl.

Well, seeing how I've got two toddler girls right now so I figured this post is more than fitting. First we did Spring/Summer clothes for your BIG GIRL, then we did Spring/Summer clothes for your TODDLER BOY (this could also work for big boys too) and today I'm talking TODDLER GIRLS.

Today it's all about these two cuties!!!

Comfort. Comfort. Comfort.

Yes, there are a lot of cute clothes for toddler girls. I mean SO much cute stuff. But is it comfy for a toddler? Sometimes the answer, unfortunately, is no. With Kensington and Tenley I always look for things that they will be comfortable in. Tenley is slowly and VERY cautiously learning to walk and I can't have her feeling restricted. 

Let's start with DRESSES. Because all the Sass girls LOVE dresses!!

Kensington has this dress. It's light, hits right at her knee's and she's really comfortable in it. The way the straps bunch into the center the back, she never has a problem with the straps falling off her shoulders.

Here she is in the dress with leggings and a denim jacket. 

Dress: HERE

Tenley has this dress. Again, cute, comfy and functional.

She can wear it alone, with leggings and a denim jacket as well. Whatever. I LOVE navy blue so this can go with a number of leggings she already has. Tenley has a jean jacket that was passed down from Kamryn, to Kensington and now it's Tenley's. I always look at things like jackets as investment pieces.

Dress: HERE

ROMPERS

I love rompers! LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!

They look silly on me....I try them year after year and I just can't pull them off but my girls can. So these are a staple in their closets. 

I like rompers for all of my girls. They are so cute and easy. I love them for the little girls because it's a whole outfit in one piece AND they cover their diapers. I know some people don't like them because they aren't always super functional when it comes to diaper changes. Sometimes you have to take them all the way off but a lot of ones in smaller sizes come with buttons for that. I'm going to be starting potty training with Kensington in the next few weeks so, fingers crossed that won't be a problem soon.

You can find the romper above: HERE

SHORTS and TOP'S

If a romper isn't for you, or your girl a nice short and top set can go a long way. Year after year I buy the girls each just a few pairs of shorts and a bunch of tops that we can mix and match.

SHOES

You're going to notice more often than not Kensington and Tenley are barefoot. I can't keep shoes on them and/or they throw a mega fit when I try to put them on. So unless we are going somewhere like to a store or someone else's house I just let them be. Pick your battles, right??

But, we stick to sandals in the Summer.

You can find these exact sandals: HERE

I look for something that won't hurt there feet and that's neutral so they can wear them with almost all of their outfits. I have found Target and Carters to be the best place for both!

And of course, I couldn't talk Kensington and Tenley without mentioning the BOWS. I get asked over and over and over again where I get the girls bows from. Since Kamryn was 3 I've only ordered from One Stop Bow Shop. The owner of One Stop Bow Shop, Casey is THE SWEETEST. The bows are great quality, it's super fast shipping and their customer service is amazing! 9 times out of 10 you'll see my girls in the grosgrain bows. Guys, you can wash these in the washing machine!!! Seriously! I told you --- THE BEST.

Okay, I think that about covers it. I keep it simple, casual and functional.

Have a great day!!

xoxo, Kristen

Pizza Grilled Cheese :: Krumbs Eats ::

Do you love pizza?

Do you love grilled cheese?

Well, I've combined BOTH to give you a yummy easy lunch for your kiddo's (and you too)!!!!

All four of my kids love this...even Logan!! He's my pickiest! But when it's a pizza grilled cheese, how can you go wrong?!!?

I love taking the every average meal and adding a little something to make it even better! In this case that's giving a grilled cheese a pizza twist. YUM YUM YUM!!

This recipe makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of pizza sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 8 slices Italian bread
• 8 slices of mozzarella cheese
• 16 pepperoni slices

Instructions:

1. Mix pizza sauce and Italian seasoning in a small bowl. Set aside.
2. Butter one side of each of the bread slices.
3. Layer two slices of cheese on each of the 4 bread slices - butter side down.
4. Spread pizza sauce on top.
5. Add 4 pepperoni slices to each piece.
6. Add another piece of bread - butter side up.
7. Place sandwiches in a large skillet on medium-low heat.
8. Cook 3 to 4 minutes per side or until bread is browned and cheese is melted.

ENJOY!!!

So easy and absolutely delicious!

Let me know what you think! I really hope you try them. With Summer on the horizon I know I'm always looking for new things to make my kids for lunch. I'm certain this will be requested by them often! On top of the 7,000 snacks they ask for a day....Lord give me patience,

My new GO TO self tanner!

HEYY HEYY FRI-DAY!!!

I have to laugh because since the days of AOL and AIM I've been writing "heyy" with two y's and I still do it til this day. Somethings never change......

I am a beach baby! Since I can remember we've spent our summers outside, on our boat or at the beach. Growing up being able to see the ocean from our front window will do that to you. I grew up in, what I believe to be, the best neighborhood in the world. Seriously, RIGHT ON THE OCEAN. It took me until I was a teenager to really appreciate it. I appreciate it even more so as an adult. 

So, as a kid I always had sun kissed skin. I vividly remember my parents telling me: "You need a burn before you'll tan". I don't mean to make them sound irresponsible, of course they always put sunscreen on us BUT back then it really wasn't a thing. From what I remember the only bad part about a sunburn was how much it was going to hurt and then you'd peel and YUCK! That was the old school mentality. As you know, through the years they've found out how bad too much sun exposure can be for your skin. With that I have become a nut about it! I limit how much my kids are in the sun and if we are out there its sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen!! From a more vanity stand point I don't want anymore wrinkles than necessary, so I try really hard to stay out of the sun myself. 

 But, I miss my tan!!!! I've been on the hunt for a good self tanner that I can apply myself right at home. I have this odd fear of going to get a spray tan. I needed to find a good self tanner that wasn't streaky, one that looks natural & not orange and one that is easy to apply. I've tried a bunch and I was never satisfied. I either didn't like the color or it turned not even.  I had thought it was time to give up. After doing A LOT of research I came to the Dr Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Glow Pads. Guys, I LOVE them!!! The first time was a little tricky. There is definitely a learning curve. I had some area's I noticed I needed to be a little more careful and exfoliate more before applying but the second time I had it down. I really do look like I have a natural tan!! It's not too dark, I really think its the perfect color. I'm sure the darker your skin the more tan you'll look. Best part is, you'll thank me if you see me in shorts because my Casper white legs won't blind you. HA! 

Before...

And after...

See, natural, right?

Do you know what my favorite part is? My thighs are the same color as my shins. Does anyone else have that problem?!? I swear my thighs are always tanner than tan and my shins BRIGHT WHITE.

A couple pointers:

Shower and exfoliate right before you apply the towel

Pay close attention to your feet, elbows and knee's

Apply a moisturizer immediately when done

Make sure you're dry before going on with your day

I used my hair dryer on a low cool setting

If you find the first time you are streaky or your tan is not even, pay closer attention to those parts of your body next time. Use another towel to fill in in the meantime

If all else fails and you need to get it off...BABY WIPES! I'm serious...trust me.

They also make ones for your face. I haven't tried those just yet but I think they are next on my list.

You can find the body towels here: BODY
And the face wipes here: FACE

Have you used these tanning towels before? Do you have a self tanner you swear by or are you a spray tan girl?

Let me know in the comments!!

I hope you all have a happy and safe Memorial Day Weekend. 

Please make sure to take a moment to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

 This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase using a link I provide.

Sausage Egg & Cheese Breakfast Cups :: Krumbs Eats ::

At this point in my life only one of my kids is in school but next year I'll have two in school full time.  EEEKKKK!!! That means double the work to get them both out the door on time. Time to think of easy breakfast ideas!!

The Sass kids wake up and almost immediately are complaining they are hungry. Anyone else?! It's like I starved them the day before.... Anyways, I'm usually changing diapers, getting milk cups filled, packing lunches, getting kids dressed, doing hair, brushing teeth. It's go go go from the second I wake up in the morning. Yes, I could get up earlier, but I like to sleep. Yes, I could pack the lunches the night before, but I actually like alone time with my husband and after we put the kids to bed seems to be the only alone time we get. So, I do it all in the morning. 

One way I am sure I can make this just a little easier for me is to whip up my sausage, egg and cheese breakfast cups. Ahhh...yummy yummy goodness! These are SO easy to make! And remember, that's what this blog is all about....making things easier for you!! A bonus is my kids think they are adorable because they look like mini muffins. This is one thing I can make ahead of time, throw them in the freezer and just just pop them in the microwave as I need them.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground sausage

• 2 packages of crescent rolls

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

• 6 eggs

• ¼ cup milk

• ½ tsp salt

• ¼ tsp pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. Brown sausage in a skillet over medium heat, breaking it up as it cooks.
3. Spray your muffin tin with PAM.
4. Unroll crescent sheet and put one in each muffin tin spreading them into a cup. 
5. Evenly spread sausage over the dough. 
6. Sprinkle cheese on top.
7. In a bowl, whisk eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour over the top of your sausage and cheese.
8. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes until eggs are set and crust is golden.

Seriously....how easy is that?!?!

My kids love them. My husband loves them. I love them.

I made this as a casserole a few years ago for our Easter Sunday breakfast with my Dad, Dee and Zack and it was a hit as well!

I hope your family enjoys them as much as we do!!

Have the best day!!

xoxo, Kristen

Outdoor Summer Fun! :: KRUMBS KIDS ::

Today we are talking OUTDOOR SUMMER FUN with your kiddos!

Simple. Summer fun! Things you can do in your own back yard. Because isn't that the best? I don't know about you but I am all for staying home with the kids. Just the other day one of my neighbors asked me if I was going to be going to the beach everyday with my kids this summer and I just cracked up. We joked about how I would need leashes to make sure no one got away from me. Either that or a team of people. My kids are pretty well behaved for the most part but honestly, I feel much more relaxed when its four against one and I'm in my own space. So, while we may go to the beach here and there...because my husband absolutely LOVES the beach, when it's just me and the kids we will be hanging at home. But that that is NO PROBLEM! There are plenty of fun summer things we can do right here!

You all know I love budget friendly fun! 

Kids are simple little people and in my experience, it's us as parents who make things complicated.

So, let's chat about inexpensive ways to have fun outside with your kids...

My kids LOVE the sprinkler and a small kid sized pool. 

I swear in the Summer, their favorite part of the day is when Mike gets home from work and he decides to water the grass. Even better when I allow them to run through the sprinkler in their clothes. 

HELLO?!?! SO. MUCH. FUN.

We use this blow up pool. It's cheap. it fills with a decent amount of water and I don't get worried about someone getting hurt on the hard plastic that a lot of other kid sized pools are. Just keep the dogs away from it. Ryker has popped one or two of these.

And here is baby Kam on her first 4th of July in the same pool at Pappi and GranDee's house. So yes, we've been using this pool FOREVER.

Now let's talk .... SIDEWALK CHALK! Some good old fashioned fun!!

It's cheap and my kids will play for HOURS with it! It's also a great way to kill 2 birds with one stone. You're getting outside, getting fresh air and you can practice letters, numbers, sight words, etc. The kids are having so much fun they don't even realize they are learning as well. Logan LOOOOVES to learn. Seriously, one of his favorite activities is for me to write down numbers and letters and him tell me what they are. 

Bubbles!! What kids don't love bubbles?!? We do bubbles the lame way but I have friends who have bubble machines and those are a blast! 

Also, water balloons are always a huge hit! Multiple times during the summer you can find my older kids along with the other neighborhood kids getting into a water balloon fight. Sometimes the adults join in too! Kensington and Tenley just like to throw them at the ground. So really, water balloons work for all ages. These are really fun and make things so simple. Who has the time to tie as many water balloons as it takes to have fun with?!?!

Kensington and Tenley, well actually Kamryn and Logan too, LOVE to splash in water. And pour and dump and fill things and well....you get the idea. A water table is a nice way to incorporate that into our outside play as well. We are in the market for a new one this year and I think this one would be perfect! 

All 4 of my kids have the fairest skin in all the land. SERIOUSLY! My husband is 50% Italian and 25% Portuguese but as luck would have it, our babies got my skin tone. Poor kids! 

Kamryn shares my feelings on this....NOT. FAIR.

I was really hopeful they would get Mikes skin tone! So it goes without saying, sunscreen is a must! I am a NUT about protecting myself and my kids from the sun. On squirmy kids I have found a spray sunscreen to work best. For their little faces I love a roll on sunscreen. Of course waterproof is a must but again, I'm a nut so I try to reapply as often as I can. But....I'm not perfect. The Sass kids have been known to get a sunburn here or there. I apply as much as I can and still if we spend a full day in the sun they get burnt. Ah well, I try.

This year we are getting a swing set!!!! Exciting stuff for the Sass six!!! Pappi and GranDee got one for the kids for Christmas and it'll be here in just a few weeks. You can just go ahead and assume we'll be on that every. single. day.

The only thing we are missing is an in-ground pool. Ahhhh well, someday. Hopefully.

Did I miss anything? What do you do with your kids outside?

Comment and let me know! I'm always looking for fresh ideas on inexpensive things to do with the kids to mix it up!





Have a great day!!!


xoxo, Kristen















This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase using a link I provide.

I'm here --- Just busy! Super BUSY!

Heyy!!! Happy Thursday!!

I LOVE Thursdays....to me they are like a mini Friday.

My dad, however, has told me he hates Thursdays. So, there's that. HA!

I've been slacking writing over here this week. It has been a CRAZY BUSY week! We've had amazing weather, a couple sick kids, Mike's been working doubles, my brother was away for work so we were walking his dog for him, Lexi is busier than ever and my mom was up visiting. So, unfortunately I had to put Kris Krumbs & Co on the back burner for a few days. I'm hoping next week to come back in full force. 

But for today I'll leave you with this cute picture of Kensington from this morning...

I hope you're having a great week!

I'll be back next week -- xoxo

Instant Pot Cheesy American Chop :: Krumbs Eats ::

The Sasses are big pasta fans. Hello!!! I married an Italian. This seems to be a theme around here. I promise not every recipe is going to be Italian food. Actually, the real reason we eat pasta a lot is it's easy and cheap. We have 4 kids (5 including Lexi) and it can get expensive to feed a family of this size. Plus, as you all know I do whatever I can to simplify things in my life. Dinner needs to be yummy and easy!!

So, about 6 months ago my mother in law bought me the instant pot. I'll be honest, I'm still pretty intimidated by it. It has A LOT of buttons! LOL! I'm definitely partial to my crock pot and I know you can use the instant pot as a crock pot at well but I just can't bring myself to. Clearly I have attachment issues. We've only used the instant pot like 3 or 4 times but every time the meals have turned out great. I wouldn't say there's much "instant" about it. It takes awhile to heat up. Awhile is a relative term, we're talking like 10 minutes. HA! When I hear instant I think INSTANT. Silly me, I guess. But one thing I love about the instant pot is it does make things more simple and gives me less dishes to wash. This recipe I'm sharing today was super yummy! Everyone loved it! Not the healthiest but every once in awhile we all need a good hearty meal! You prepare every thing in the instant pot so super easy for clean up! Ahhh, I love simplicity! 

We LOVE american chop suey at our house. Doesn't everybody? This is an american chop suey with a cheesy twist. DELICIOUS!

Okay, here it goes....

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 lb ground beef
• 16 oz ziti (or your choice of pasta)
• 1 small onion, diced
• 24 oz jar pasta sauce (your choice)
• 4 oz shredded mozzarella
• salt and pepper

Instructions

Place the onion into the instant pot and saute. 

Add the ground beef into the pot and brown that.

Add the 24 oz jar of sauce, as well as 24 oz of water.

Add the ziti.

Set to steam for 5 minutes.

Add the 4 oz shredded mozzarella. Mix it good while still in the pan. It'll melt perfectly!

Serve with salt and pepper to taste.

SO simple!!

If you have an instant pot this one is for you. If not, I apologize. 

I'm sure you could make this easily by making the american chop, putting it in a Pyrex dish, then mixing in some mozzarella cheese and baking until the cheese melts. Easy peasy!

Let me know what you think!

Casual Spring/Summer Shoes ... for YOU

HAPPY MONDAY!!!!

We had a really busy weekend and next weekend is sure to be even busier!

Coming up....

Friday night is Lexi's junior prom and we are hosting a few of Lexi's friends and their families here before the limo picks them up. Kamryn has two birthday parties to attend, one of which is her first slumber party! My mom is coming into town AND Sunday is Mothers Day! Phew!! That's A LOT!

But on to today. Today I'm talking shoes for YOU! Yes, ladies I'm talking to you. These are some of my casual Spring/Summer shoes that I wanted to share with you if you are looking for ideas for yourself.

I have a few staples that I need in my closet to feel like I'm ready to go for Spring and Summer. Once the warmer weather hits I HATE wearing socks. Don't you?

So, first, lets talk those warm but chilly days first that you need a nice casual closed toe shoe.

My go to is always a converse. My dad cracks up that I still wear these at 30 years old but I think they are so cute. Not to mention really really comfy.

These ones are my go to. They have a much cuter fit than the traditional converse. I've had these for a couple years. Best part is you can throw them right in the wash when they get a little dingy looking and they hold up!

If it's chilly out and I'm not wearing those I wear TOMS. Who doesn't love TOMS?

I got this pair this year. They are cute, stylish and SO comfy. I love going neutral for the most part with my shoes that way I can wear them with a number of outfits.

If you're looking for a really cute and affordable lace up flat. Check out these. I got these a few weeks ago and every time I wear them I get a ton of compliments. As a stay at home mom, I don't dress up often so a shoe like this isn't worth it for me to make an investment. I will probably only wear these a handful of times. But are SO cute that I needed to share.

Now on to sandals..

I've had these Sam Edelman sandals for at least 3 years. They are timeless and have held up their shape and still look brand new! For another similar option try here and one more here.

You'll notice all the shoes I'm showing that I have (besides the lace up flats) sit around the same price point. Like $50ish. There are a few things I believe are worth the investment. One of those is shoes. You wear them again and again and again. Trust me, if you buy a good pair of shoes you are going to get your moneys worth. I also find that if I spend a little more on shoes they don't give me blisters, are wearable and comfortable right off the bat. There is nothing worse to me than wearing a brand new pair of shoes that are digging into my feet. But for those of you who don't want to make that investment I made sure to link up other options at different price points. Again, I truly believe a neutral color is key. That way you car wear them with a number of outfits. 

Now to totally contradict myself. I just got these. 

Aren't they fun?!? I wore them for the first time this weekend and they are SO comfortable! They will definitely be my new go to! These are not neutral per-say BUT I can see these with a bunch of different types of outfits. Shorts and a t-shirt, a cute sun dress, jeans, a blouse and shorts. The list goes on and on and on. I was on the hunt for a new pair of sandals with some flare. If you're looking for a similar beaded sandal check out these or these or these.

But my go-to when I'm at home with the kids....seriously I may die if they stop making these..

the classic...

Old Navy $3 flip flop.

Majority of the time you can find me chasing toddlers here at home. Running outside to get Kamryn on and off the bus. Walking the kids around the neighborhood or running to the store real quick to buy a gallon of milk. (With 4 kids we go through A LOT) If we're just hanging out then there's no need to wear a nice pair of shoes. These are actually on my feet right this very second. You can't go wrong with these....am I right or am I right?

All of the above shoes are on rotate for me these days. I love them all!

I'm definitely going to do a post on wedges and more dressy Spring/Summer shoes for date nights/birthday parties/weddings etc etc but this one got kind of long and I don't want it to go on and on and on. 

I linked up a couple similar options and even some cheaper options if you don't agree with my pay more to last longer philosophy. Some are even half the price! WOO HOO!

I hope everyone has a great day! Let me know if you like any of these or if you too have some of these! I'd love to hear from you!

xoxo,

Kristen

Life Lately

Life lately has been filled with LOTS of time outside. As I type this its raining outside so unfortunately for us, no outside play today! BUMMER! My kids are definitely outdoor kids and any chance we get we are outside!

Logan.....such a little brother!

The weather has been absolutely perfect! I am happiest when its in the 60's. It's SO comfortable. We are also a family who loves being without shoes. Flip flops and bare feet are for us!!

Speaking of bare feet...

My middles LOOOOOVE to be bare foot. I don't know what it is about these two but they are always taking off their shoes.

Tenley is getting SO big! I can hardly believe it.

Shes talking. Lots of "Mama, Dada, Bubba, Bye, Hi". 

She's also WALKING. Yep! Walking. I'd say she walks 30% of the time and is definitely more confident crawling but she is on. the. move. I can't believe my baby isn't so much of a baby anymore. I can still call her a baby right? Don't answer that. She's forever my baby....

These kiddo's keep us SO busy and we love every second of it. Well, okay not every second. They drive me crazy sometimes and they test my patience on the daily but I wouldn't trade it for the world. We are counting down the days until Kamryn is out of school for the Summer. Just a little over a month to go. I am so looking forward to lazy Summer days!! We all are. 

Well, that's life lately for the Sass Six. I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!!