Brita Filtering Bottles Make My “Must” List

Brita Water Bottle
There are a few items that I never leave at home when I travel. My Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, my Winsor & Newton Water Colour paints, my Worishofer slingbacks, my “lifesaving” Anker portable phone charger, and a new addition to the list, a Brita Filtering Bottle, available in a Soft Squeeze version or a hard sided straw version. I brought the Bottles along on my birthday trip to Seattle to try them out for this sponsored post but quickly fell in love with them, fo realz.
Brita Water BottleI am a water drinker, especially when I’m traveling. Planes, hotels, walking, sleeping, all make me thirsty. I am also cheap (errr, prudent) and nearly cry when I have to buy water for $3 each at the airport. I turn downright  tyrannical when a thirsty unnamed blog partner pulls a bottle of water out of the hotel minibar. Poor unnamed blog partner.

The problem is that I am also very picky when it comes to the taste of my water, a water connoisseur you might say if you’re feeling generous, and refuse to drink perfectly safe tap water out of any old faucet or water fountain. Blech. If any of this sounds familiar, you are going to love these Bottles too. Here’s why… (more…)

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DIY Summer Dresses for Girls


Summer and the hot weather have arrived. Time to start thinking about sewing some new dresses. Our shirred summer dress is a great option for little ones.


The classic pillow case dress is a cool summer option that you can sew during nap time.


A racerback dress is a great option for summer play indoor and outside.


The tried and true snappy toddler dress comes with a free pattern.


If you are looking for a fancier summer option, sew the one shoulder dress.


The Muu Muu is a great summer option for easy on and off. You can skip the ruffles for our muu muu take 2.


Make her a new dress from an old t-shirt with the t-shirt sundress.

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Shrimp on a Stick: A Simple, Kid-Friendly Summer Recipe (+ A Giveaway!)

Shrimp on a stick recipe

My daughter’s favorite food in the universe is a processed mess she calls “shrimp corn dogs.” I’m not gonna lie, those things are delicious. I wondered if I could make something similar with a little more health factor – baked instead of fried, fortified with more nutrition than a traditional flour batter. I experimented with a variety of different healthy cereals to create my breading and with baking vs. frying to create the ideal Shrimp on A Stick recipe. In the end, I am happy to report I was successful! I’m so excited about this recipe, I hope you try it and your kids enjoy it as much as Scarlet does.

shrimp on a stick recipe 1

These shrimp on a stick are crazy easy to make, almost mess free despite requiring breading (thank you, Ms. Stick), cook up in under 10 minutes, and don’t require any silverware to eat! The perfect summer kid food.

shrimp on a stick yum

Tell me you don’t want to try that? Get our simple, kid-friendly summer recipe for Shrimp on A Stick and details of our super fun giveaway after the jump…

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Consider South Dakota

South Dakota TourismLast month I made many hilarious jokes about how Jaime was going to South Africa and I was going to South… Dakota. Seriously though, I was excited to spend some alone time with Clare and was looking forward to visiting a few natural and man-made masterpieces like Badlands and Mount Rushmore, but I didn’t realize just how much there was to do and how beautiful it would be. We had three wonderful days in South Dakota but I left feeling like we easily could have spent a week (or even two) to see it all. We will be back South Dakota!
South Dakota TourismSouth Dakota TourismHere is what we did over three days in Rapid City and the Black Hills of South Dakota as the guests of the South Dakota Department of Tourism. If you are planning a trip to these parts, you can’t go wrong with this itinerary crafted by the experts…. (more…)

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4th of July Nail Art Tutorial


Ally, from Nail in the Coffee, is back with her newest nail tutorial for Pretty Prudent. She first shared her sweet Springing into Summer Nail Art Tutorial a couple of weeks ago. Have you tried them? Today, she’s mixing in a little nautical & patriotic with this striped 4th of July nail art. The nice thing about this cute style is that you can really do it with any colors you have on hand. Master the look now and show it off at the 4th of July BBQ.

For a little more nailspiration, check out Ally’s Retro Nails with polka-dots, and stunning pink and silver Chanel Runway Nails. See the nail and braiding fun we had at Ally’s Girly Night Extravaganza (mine are the matte purple ombre nails).

Keep reading for the full 4th of July Nail Art Tutorial after the jump…

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10 Laser Hair Removal Questions Answered

Laser hair removal is not a typical Pretty Prudent topic but when I posted on Instagram that I was nervous before going under the laser-beam, y’all had many questions and comments so I promised to fill you in on the details. I’m no expert on laser hair removal, I’ve only been for one treatment, but thankfully Jaime’s sister-in-law Stevee is a former technician so she helped me get my facts straight. Here is the scoop on eliminating hair… here, down-there and anywhere.

If you have no use for going hairless, we love you in all your natural beauty, but if constant plucking and shaving has you dreading the exposed underarms of Summer, maybe these Q&A’s will help you decide if laser hair removal is right for you.

Does it hurt?
It hurts a bit and everyone has different pain tolerance. There are also other variables like the type of machine they are using (Stevee used Candela which is one of the best) and the area of the body you are having treated. One reader responded that it felt like an elastic snap. That was accurate for me. Another mentioned bacon/grease splatter. This was also accurate although thankful not within a centimeter of my eyeball. Our own Amber described the feeling as a sunburn but that was not my experience. If you have a low tolerance for pain but want to join the hairless, a numbing cream might get you through the ordeal. Be sure you tell your tech you applied it so they clean the area prior to treatment. Apply cream 30 mins before your appointment. No Scream Cream 1 oz. comes highly recommended.

Is there any recovery?
There was no recovery time for me. My technician suggested that I not exercise for the rest of the day (which was not a problem, ha) and that if I had any discomfort, Tylenol and ice would put that to rest. I did not experience any pain afterwards. Amber did have some sunburn-like pain which was soothed with Aloe Vera gel. Don’t take any pain meds that contain aspirin up to 24 hours before treatments. Tylenol is ok, but nothing that will thin your blood. ALWAYS tell your laser tech what meds and vitamins you are on as a lot of these can affect the sensitivity and thickness of your skin.

When should I begin treatment?
They recommend starting laser hair removal… (more…)

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Easy Summer MuuMuu: Take 2

Free Girls Dress PatternA few weeks ago we shared our newest free dress pattern for the Easy Summer MuuMuu. We loved it so much that we made another. This version is simpler with no ruffles across the front but just as darling. Amber’s daughter Ramona, who is obviously a future fashion model based on those moves, is rocking her own MuuMuu made from Anna Maria Horner’s Field Study Linen in Pressed Field Peony.

Free Girls Dress Pattern

Without the ruffle, you can simply use the steps of our Peasant Dress tutorial with the pattern of the MuuMuu. for an even easier dress project!

This very forgiving pattern fits 3-6 years old. If you would like a different size, simply adjust the pattern based on a dress that fits the child.

Have you made a MuuMuu.? Send us a picture. We would love to see!

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Summer Pizza Picnic and DIY Fishing Game

Brought to you by Annie’s Homegrown Rising Crust PizzaAnnies Pizza Picnic Fishing Magnet Game
With Summer’s longer days, a picnic isn’t limited to the lunch hour, and it isn’t limited to sandwiches either. Pack a dinner picnic of healthy Annie’s Homegrown Pizza along with your favorite fruits, veggies and other quick snacks. With the time you save on dinner prep (and hello, clean-up) you can make this DIY Pizza Box Fishing Game for some family fun at twilight.

Annies Pizza Picnic Fishing Magnet Game Annies Pizza Picnic Fishing Magnet Game Annies Pizza Picnic Fishing Magnet Game

Annies Pizza Picnic Fishing Magnet Game Read on for the super simple instructions for a DIY Piza Box Fishing Game and for a coupon towards Annie’s Homegrown Pizza.
Annies Pizza Picnic Fishing Magnet Game (more…)

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