First of all, I know I was supposed to do the crinkle/curly look to my hair, but I was too tired and so I just wore it straight (big mistake).

I wore a teal NY & Co. romper (I love that store, when they have sales), that I bought for about $20. It was originally $40. I wore it with my pewter sandals from Bakers and a necklace by Traci Lynn.

My sister told me not to put her up on the blog, but of course I am not going to listen because I LOVE THIS PICTURE!

My niece (the little diva) Nylah and my sister Chanell.

This is actually one of my favorite drinks from BBQs.

Ingredients

• 1 pt Blue Hawaiian (frozen)
• 1 pt Strawberry Daiquiri
• 1 pt Pina Colada

In a large glass pour the blue hawaiian, followed by the pina colada, topped with the strawberry daiquiri. Click the links of each part to find out how to make each specific drink.

Here are quite a few looks that will show your patriotism (I know I went a little over board, lol I wanted to give you quite a few options.)

I absolutely adore rompers! So this set features four, simple, plain colored rompers with different shoes that can either be worn during the day or night.

This is my go to BBQ look. A pair of shorts, cute top, cute sandals and a shoulder bag. I can’t let anything get in the way of my food

There will be tons of independence day, red/white/blue themed parties this weekend, so here are some great looks for the evening.

I really love this dress…it is only $28 and it is from Top Shop! This is another night time look complete with accessories.

I hope I have inspired you to show your country some support this weekend. I am not big on red, white, and blue but I had a lot of fun making these sets. Of course you are not limited to these options here, but this weekend, go for bright colors and bold patterns. Dress up your rompers with a cute pair of heels, or dress down a dress with a cute pair of flats. Even if you don’t wear red, white, and blue still have fun showcasing your style. Show your independence through fashion.

Click here to visit my page on Polyvore to purchase any of the items or view more of my sets.

To all of the wonderful men out there who chose to take on the responsibility of fatherhood, we celebrate you today. Enjoy this day, because you deserve it!

Enjoy this day full of fun, food, family, and friends in style!

Memorial Day by Her Goody Bag featuring Forever21 jewelry

Fleet Week (started Monday May 25) If you love a man in uniform especially sailors, hit up the South Street Seaport for Fleet Week.

Dance Africa- Every year during Memorial Day Weekend the Brooklyn Academy of Music hosts the Dance Africa celebration. Enjoy great food, music, dancing and fun! You can score great items at the Bazaar. So take a trip to Brooklyn this weekend to enjoy the festivities.

Haitian Spring Fest- As we all know Haiti has suffered greatly this year because of the earthquake, but they are not letting their spirits get down! This Sunday celebrate at the Haitian-American Day Parad and Spring fest in Brooklyn.

Lower East Side Festival of the Arts- Celebrate theatre, music, poetry, and dance this weekend in LES. All events are free.

So if you and your friends are looking for something to get into, check any of the events above during the week.

Enjoy and be safe!

A Mother’s Love
There are times when only a Mother’s love
Can understand our tears,
Can soothe our disappoints
And calm all of our fears.
There are times when only a Mother’s love
Can share the joy we feel
When something we’ve dreamed about
Quite suddenly is real.
There are times when only a Mother’s faith
Can help us on life’s way
And inspire in us the confidence
We need from day to day.
For a Mother’s heart and a Mother’s faith
And a Mother’s steadfast love
Were fashioned by the Angels
And sent from God above

Author Unknown

May you enjoy this day made to remember the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Celebrate with family and friends and appreciate the life you are able to live because of him. Happy Easter!

 Ingredients

• 1 vanilla cupcake, recipe follows
• 2 to for 4 tablespoons White Fluff Frosting, recipe follows
• Pink and yellow sanding sugar
• 5 pink candied Jordan almonds
• 1 red jujube
• 1 piece green fruit-by-the-foot

Directions

Frost the cupcake. Top with pink sanding sugar. Place Jordan almonds on top in a flower petal pattern. Press a jujube candy in the center of the flower. Cut the fruit-by-the- foot to make the flower stem, press onto the cake.

 Vanilla Cupcakes:

• 2 2/3 cups sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 large eggs
• 2 large egg yolks
• 2/3 cup milk
• 2/3 cup water
• 2 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/3 cups cake flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 12-cup cupcake tins with paper liners. (To avoid cupcakes sticking if they overflow slightly, lightly spray the tops of the pans.) Put tins on a baking sheet. Set aside.

Process sugar and butter in a food processor until very creamy, scraping sides as needed, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the eggs and yolks, one at a time, pulsing after each addition. Add the milk, water, and vanilla and process to blend.

Whisk both flours, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Add the dry ingredients, in 3 batches to the wet, pulsing, and then scraping batter off the sides of the processor as needed after each addition. Process until the batter is very smooth and pourable like pancake batter, about 2 minutes.

Evenly pour the batter into the prepared cups, filling them 3/4 of the way full. Bake until the cakes are just firm and spring back when gently pressed, and the tops are golden, 18 to 25 minutes. Cool slightly in tin, and turn out of tin when cool enough to handle. Cool cupcakes completely on a rack before frosting.

Yield: 24 cupcakes

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Inactive Prep Time: 30 minutes

Ease of preparation: easy

 Fluff Frosting:

• 1/4 cup whole milk
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 5 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1/2 cup marshmallow fluff
• Pinch fine salt

Whisk the milk and vanilla extract together in a small bowl.

Slowly beat the butter and sugar, in another medium bowl, with an electric mixer until incorporated. Raise the speed to high and mix until light and fluffy, about 5 to 7 minutes. (Occasionally turn the mixer off, and scrape the sides of the bowl down with a rubber spatula.) Add the fluff and salt and reduce the speed to low. Add the milk and vanilla mixture, scrape the bowl down, and mix until fully incorporated. Raise the mixer to high and beat briefly until fluffy, about 1 to 2 minutes. Frost cupcake immediately.

Yield: 3 3/4 cups

Copyright 2009 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved

I hope this day is filled with nothing but love for each and every one of you! Thanks for all of the support!