Fill Your Easter Basket with DIY Beauty Goodies
I really dislike store bought Easter Baskets. You know what I’m talking about, right? The cellophane wrapped cheap baskets filled with cheap items that are just going to be thrown away. That is why since my oldest daughter was a baby, I have been making their Easter baskets. Now that she is an adult and my boys are rapidly catching up to her, I am having so much fun making DIY Easter baskets with more grown up items.
Today I will focus on DIY beauty goodies to fill up your Easter baskets with. Have you ever made an Easter basket filled with DIY goodies? How did it go?
Fill Your Easter Basket with DIY Beauty Goodies
Funfetti Bath Bombs
These funfetti bath bombs will continue to be my favorite DIY beauty product. Whenever I make them for a gift I always get a genuinely awesome reaction and I have had countless request for the recipe (or for more!). They will definitely be a hit!
Peppermint Foot Soak
Foot care is vital and trust me, there is just nothing like treating yourself to a wonderful foot soak. Add peppermint to the mix? YES! This peppermint foot soak is beyond refreshing! I think everyone should spoil their feet as often as possible.
Stress Relief Bath Bombs
I can’t be the only one who needs some stress relief in their lives, right? Seriously. I am finding myself ridiculously stressed out more and more these days (I need to work on that), so for a short term I like these stress relief bath bombs. Because I know my daughter gets stressed out during finals weeks and knowing she is taking a heavy credit load in college, I know that she could use some stress relief too!
Delicious Outdoor Grilled Meals
Are you ready to fire up the Blackstone griddle or your propane grill, or maybe you are more of a charcoal grill person? I am! To say I am excited for grilling season would be putting it lightly. I am all about that outdoor life and outdoor cooking is part of that. I happen to live in a very rainy part of the Pacific Northwest though, so as soon as we get some dry weather for a change I will be all about making some of these amazing grilled recipes!
If you are ready to start enjoying delicious grilled meals, check out these delicious outdoor grilled recipes and get to grilling!
Delicious Outdoor Grilled Meals
Get outside and fire up your grill because we are about to blow your mind with these recipes!
Chicken Fajitas
I love love love these chicken fajitas! They continue to be my favorite Blackstone Griddle meal. These are packed full of flavor, healthy, and easy to make!
Blackstone BBQ Bacon Smash Burgers
If you really love a good burger, you have got to try this recipe! These Blackstone BBQ Bacon Smash Burgers are melt-in-your-mouth delicious!
Grilled Hawaiian Chicken Teriyaki
If you love a good sweet flavor with your grilled chicken, you have got to try this grilled Hawaiian Chicken Teriyaki recipe! It is mouth-watering and delicious! This one was a huge hit with my family the last time I made it.
Grilled Pineapple Pork Chops
Another delicious recipe with a sweet touch. These grilled pineapple pork chops are going to be a great main event at your next backyard BBQ. Even my non-pork-loving kiddos loved this recipe.
Grilled Crack Corn Salad
Here’s a unique and tasty side dish for your next BBQ meal! Grilled Crack Corn Salad will blow your mind, my friends!
Patty Melt Burger
If you want to take your grilling skills up a notch or two, you have got to make this recipe. This Patty Melt Burger is oozing with delicious swiss cheese and caramelized onions and will make you want to fire up that Blackstone night after night. .
Get Your Car Clean Well with These Tips
Is your car a giant mess? I swear by the end of the week filled with driving my kids all over the place, my car gets messy! Like seriously, messy. I used to drive through the car wash often, but let’s face it, that really is a waste of money. I still tend to use the vacuum at the self-serve car wash most of the time, but other than that I do most of the car washing at home now.
Are you trying to figure out if washing your car at home is for you, check out how to get your car clean well with these tips. You can get it looking quite spiffy in no time!
Get Your Car Clean Well with These Tips
Trash First
If you have busy days and busy kids, I am willing to bet that you have trash in your car. When you start working on getting it clean, start with the trash. Bring two bags to your car. Use one bag for trash and one for things that are floating around your car that you want to keep. Once you get this stuff picked up, you’ll be motivated by the idea that you can now see the floor.
Vacuum
Whether you head to the self-car wash, you use your home vacuum or if you have a car vacuum, the vacuuming is the key when it comes to getting your car looking spiffy again! Trust me, vacuuming makes all the difference. My local car wash charges just $0.75 for 6 minutes of vacuuming so I always use that since it’s so powerful. Others prefer to use home vacuums or auto vacuums though, so either way works!
Use a Microfiber Cloth
Keep a microfiber cloth on hand to keep the interior of your car clean! Those clothes work best for cleaning your dashboard and all of the hard surfaces in your car without the toxins of using cleaning wipes.
Non-Cake Options for Birthday Parties
Are you trying to think of non-cake options for birthday parties for an upcoming birthday party in your family? I hadn’t given a non-cake party a second thought until my daughter broke the news to me years ago that she doesn’t like cake.
While it may seem like cake and birthdays go hand in hand, the reality is, there are quite a few great desserts that you can enjoy instead! I like cake, but I really like other desserts too, so I have gone cake free on my birthday before and I love it. There is just something fun about doing things a little bit differently.
Non-Cake Options for Birthday Parties
Pie
Pie isn’t my favorite dessert, but it’s a classic sweet treat that many people enjoy so there’s not reason to not add this one to the list of goodies to enjoy on your birthday.
The great thing about pie is that there are virtually endless flavor ideas so you can choose your favorite for your birthday choice.
Brownies
If you like chocolate, brownies are a great alternative to cake! Who doesn’t like brownies, anyway. I love the idea of stacking them up in a fun pyramid and topping with candles or cute toys or even some candies.
Cookies
Cookies stacked up on a platter are always good, don’t you think?! I love a good chocolate chip cookie, but the great thing is, you can use multiple cookie types to create your cookie platter for your party.
Rice Crispy Treats
Oh yes! Rice Crispy Treats are a super fun alternative to cake! They are crispy and oh so fun! And they aren’t just for kids either! I am a fully grown adult and I love rice crispy treats.
Donuts
Talk about easy! If the birthday boy or girl likes donuts, head to your nearest grocery store or donut shop and grab a dozen donuts and pile them high!
4 Reasons You Should Take Multiple Shorter Vacations vs. One Long Vacation
Okay, okay, I know I have been talking about vacations a lot, but I’m so freaking ready for winter to be over! I’m all about dreaming of summertime and vacation right now! As I am trying to plan the months ahead I am trying to decide the best ways to plan our family vacations for this year.
For a while, I couldn’t decide whether or not to plan one really long vacation or multiple short ones, and I think I have determined that taking several short vacations is best for us. If you are wondering which you should be planning for your weekend, here are 4 reasons you should take multiple shorter vacations vs. one long vacation.
4 Reasons You Should Take Multiple Shorter Vacations vs. One Long Vacation
It’s Cheaper
One long vacation can often cost quite a bit of money. I know that the long vacations that I was looking at for my family were going to be anywhere from $1000-$2000 per person. Multiple weekends away won’t cost anywhere near that even combined. For us we plan weekends away camping as well as some hotel nights and vacation home weekends. The times that we rent vacation homes we almost always rent them with others so it really keeps the cost down.
It’s Less Overwhelming to Get Away
It can get really overwhelming planning a big vacation. Taking a week or more off of work is often a pretty huge decision that can create a lot of stress. If you are taking multiple small trips you are likely only taking 1 or 2 days off at a time which seems a lot easier than taking a huge block of time away at once.
Creates a Variety of Memories
Some of my family’s favorite memories are those in which we were on vacation. We have some really great memories of our big, long vacations, but we have equally great memories of those weekends away too! When you take multiple weekends away that means you get to continuously build more memories.
No Need to Wait so Long
love the excitement of an upcoming vacation, don’t you? What’s great about taking shorter vacations is that you don’t have to wait so long until you get to go enjoy your time away! When you are talking about one big trip in the future, many people have to wait months and months until that vacation arrives.
5 Reasons You Should Find a Way to Vacation Regularly
Ahhh vacation. Yes, I acknowledge that I may dream of vacations a little too often, but I’ll tell you what. A regular vacation makes a world of difference in my life. I’m not the only one either! Vacationing regularly really can do good things for you!
I am listing out 5 reasons you should find a way to vacation regularly so that you too can see how much it can help you. These aren’t the only benefits, there really are more, but these are some of the best ones!
5 Reasons You Should Find a Way to Vacation Regularly
Boosts Mental Health
You probably already know that you need to give your body and mind a break from all of the stress of work. Taking a vacation allows you to get a break from the stress and worries of work and the other daily stresses you deal with. Nothing changes in your day to day, however, taking a break away from it is crucial for your mental health. Even a few days away can make you feel refreshed when you don’t have to worry about everything for a bit.
Great Bonding Time for Your Family
Taking a vacation together makes for a great opportunity for family bonding time! Even if you are home every night, you aren’t necessarily spending quality time with them. Taking trips away with your family gives you an opportunity to do just that.
Boosts Your Physical Health
Stress is bad for your physical health. Being stressed out at work all of the time is putting tremendous pressure on your physical health. Taking a break from that helps you to allow your body some stress free time.
Also, many of us are extra motivated to look “vacation ready” so upcoming vacations often come with more physical activity and exercise. Win-win!
Helps Fight Work Burnout
Are you feeling like you are about to burn out at work? Taking a vacation can help to prevent that.
Making Memories Makes You Happier
Making memories is amazing. Seriously. A while back, I decided that I was going to make a difference in my life. I decided to put a lot more weight onto memory-making than I do buying things and boy oh boy has it made a huge difference in my life. I plan to work on making many more.
How to Plan a Vacation on a Budget
Vacations are so great. They can be an absolute blast, they are memory makers and oh my goodness, sometimes you just really need a break from the everyday rut of work and responsibility. It’s okay to acknowledge this.
The thing about vacations though is that they can get very expensive, very fast. Vacations don’t do much for you if the cost of them just creates more stress. Learning how to plan a vacation on a budget is key, my friends. It’s easier than you might think.
How to Plan a Vacation on a Budget
Be flexible with Your Dates
If you have some flexibility in when you take your vacation, then you can save big!! Obviously, its easier to take a trip during holiday weekends or the kids vacations from school, but that’s when everyone is vacationing and the resorts don’t drop their prices for those times, I assure you. If you are willing to go at different times, you’ll be shocked and how much you’ll save.
Check Out Google Flights Explore
Again, this is going to require that you are flexible with your dates, but Google Flights Explore is an amazing way to find some seriously cheap airfare! You just simply type in your nearest main airport and see what deals pop up. You can search for 1 week trips or weekend ones and you can choose the next 6 months as a whole or you can choose the next six months individually. I live on the West Coast and have found trips to Florida and other Eastern states (round trip!) for as low as $150. I also often find tickets (again, round trip) to places such as Vegas, Phoenix, Denver and Los Angeles for anywhere from $40 to $99.
Plan a Road Trip
Unless you have found some of those $40 round trip airfare trips we just talked about, road trips are almost always going to be cheaper. Check out the areas within a 3-6 hour drive around you. Is there anywhere you’d like to visit? Just because it’s close doesn’t mean you can’t have an amazing time.
4 Beauty Items Under $20 You Need to Try
Wearing makeup everyday is fun but can definitely add up! I love finding beauty items that don’t break the bank. I’ve tried a variety of beauty items over the years and have found some great ones that are all under $20. Check these out!
- Beakey 5 Piece Makeup Sponge Set. I love having these on hand to do my foundation. Right now they are on sale for around $6 with the coupon. Makeup sponges for all kinds of cosmetics foundation, BB cream, powder, concealer, isolation, liquid, etc.
- Maybelline Total Temptation Eyebrow Definer Pencil. There are so many more expensive eyebrow pencils, but I keep coming back to this one. These are around $8 or under with the coupon now available. Fill in eyebrows with this must-have defining eyebrow pencil, featuring a teardrop tip; Shape and blend with the eyebrow spoolie brush, for a softly defined natural-looking brow.
- KRADAA Painless Hair Removal Device. I love having this for peach fuzz on my face. This is right at $20 with the coupon available now. It’s super easy to use and portable to bring on vacations. The facial hair remover blade is sharp and rounded low-friction protection heads prevents skin damage.
- Flat Top Kabuki Foundation Brush by Keshima. Made with premium quality synthetic fibers – as soft as real hair, don’t absorb foundation into the brush itself, and are easily cleaned.
4 Household Cleaning Items You Need to Try
Cleaning a house is never ending. You may have it cleaned up and then the kids get home from school and BAM, it’s time for a cleanup again. No matter how many times you are cleaning your home, there are products that make it almost “fun” to clean and some of them even save me time. Check these items out!
- Shark Steam Pocket Mop Hard Floor Cleaner. I have this mop and love it. I’ve been through quite a few and this is the one to keep. The great thing about this mop is the reusable microfiber pads. You just take it off after use, throw it in the washer and dryer and then reuse. You also don’t need to buy some fancy cleaning solution to put in the mop. You just use water! I do use distilled water which helps it stay nice and clean and it should run longer.
- Bar Keepers Friend Powder Cleanser. This cleaner is amazing. If you have hard water or spot that tend to get tough stains, then give this a try. It’s safe to use on just about anything. I use this in my bathrooms- tubs, showers, sinks around the toilets, and even my kitchen sinks to give it a good shine.
- Thieves Household Cleaner by Young Living Essential Oils. This is the solution that I use all of the time on my kitchen counters and table. It’s safe and smells so good. All you need to do is get a spray bottle and add some water and a bit of this cleaner. Then spray away. A little goes a long way with this cleaner so it lasts a good long time!
- Swedish Dishcloths. My friend recently introduced me to these dishcloths and they are amazing! You can just throw them in the washer and reuse them over and over. The best thing about these is they don’t stink! I love being able to have them and reuse them throughout the day and not have strange smell coming from my sink. Give them a try!
How to Create a Vacation Budget
Are you ready to go on vacation? Me too, my friends. Me too. I am so ready to take a break away from the craziness of life and go on a trip. Everytime I go on vacation, I find myself with renewed energy and a refreshed mindset. It always makes a difference in my home life and work life too.
I have found though that setting a budget for vacations makes a huge difference in making sure that taking a vacation doesn’t create too much stress for our family. I love planning budget friendly vacations, but they can easily become not so budget friendly if you don’t plan them accordingly.
How to Create a Vacation Budget
See How Much Money You Have
Pay close attention to your finances for a few months. How much savings do you have? How much do you have in your checking account? Do you have enough to spend extra money on a trip?
Calculate the Cost of the Trip
Okay, so now that you know that you have some money free to plan a trip with, it’s time to start planning! What is it that you want to do? It’s now time to calculate the cost of that trip? Will you be flying? How much are the tickets? If you are planning a road trip vacation, now is the time to calculate the fuel expenses.
Don’t Forget About Sneaky Travel Fees
When you are calculating the cost of your trip, don’t forget to include the sneaky fees that are often forgotten about. I’m talking about fees such as luggage fees, parking fees, tips for service, resort fees, etc.
Pad Your Budget for Extra Costs
No matter what you think you’ll need for spending on vacation, add to it. You just never know when unexpected costs will occur.
5 Fun & Budget Friendly Things to do in St. George, Utah
During the winter seasons it’s always nice to escape the cold and snow and enjoy some warmer weather somewhere else. Our family loves going south to St. George, Utah. It’s a beautiful red rock community that is completely different than the Wasatch front. It’s a fun change. If you want to explore, here are 5 Fun & Budget Friendly Things to do in St. George, Utah.
- Thunder Junction Park. This park is the best that I’ve seen in the whole state! It’s fun for all ages. You can also ride a fun train around the park for a small fee. There are so many different areas to play in for all ages. There are pavilions as well to bring some food and enjoy being outside. This is an all abilities park which is made for those who need accessibility to the park.
- Hiking. There are so many different places to hike around St. George and the best part is it’s free! So check out this website and see what route would be best for your situation. If you have younger kids then the shorter ones would be perfect. Be sure to bring water and enjoy the scenery. It’s always so nice to be out in nature.
- Snake Hollow Bike Park. This is a fun bike park that has some fun trails. There are hundreds of features and four skills zones: Rattler’s Revenge (dirt jump zone), Snake Den (pump track and skills loop), Venom Drops (gravity skills) and Sidewinder Slopestyle (gravity jump trails). This is such a fun place to visit. Our kids could have stayed there for hours.
- Pioneer Park. This is seriously a favorite for our whole family. This isn’t the typical park. It’s a rock climbing adventure in open space. While there be sure to clip to the top and see the beautiful view down below. Make sure there is parental supervision while climbing. There are steep ledges, so you’ll want to climb together as a family. My little 3 year old even loved climbing around the red rocks. You can find the location here.
- Washington City Aquatic Center. We went here with my son’s soccer team and they all loved it! There is a BIG slide that circles around (and even goes outside!) that is super fun as well as slides for the younger crowd. You can check out the details here. If the place you are staying doesn’t have a pool then check this place out. It’s not too pricey which is nice and fun for the whole family.
4 Parenting Hacks that Will Help You Save Your Sanity
Do you feel exhausted and like your time is no longer your own? Yep, you are a parent then! Seriously, being a parent can be completely overwhelming, especially if you have multiple children and if those children engage in extracurricular activities. It’s exhausting to say the least.
It doesn’t have to be that way though. Check out these 4 parenting hacks that will help you save your sanity. These are honest to goodness hacks, because they aren’t difficult and you don’t have to spend a bunch of money.
4 Parenting Hacks that Will Help You Save Your Sanity
Ask for Help
I know it’s hard to ask for help, but you can do it! Ask a relative, a friend or hire a babysitter to help you on days when you really need it. This can mean you ask for help while you are home with your kids (having someone there for the sole purpose of helping you out can help tremendously), or you can take a kid free break!
Focus on Yourself
Focusing on yourself is difficult. Seriously, I get it. I understand that you are busy working hard to take care of everyone, however if you don’t take care of yourself first, you run a big risk of sickness or burnout. Even just 10 minutes dedicated to yourself can make a huge difference in your life.
Have a Schedule
Break out your phone calendar or do it the old fashioned way with a pen and a paper calendar. You may not think you need a calendar schedule, but trust me, life is so much easier when your schedule is planned in advance. This hack isn’t just for you either, this one really does help the entire family.
Take a Break
Take a break, a vacation, road trip, or anything that you can accomplish. Taking a break from your day to day responsibilities makes a huge difference in how you function on an every day basis. I always get a renewed boost of energy after a vacation.
Awesome Kitchen Organization Deals at Amazon
Is your kitchen out of control? Trust me, I get it. I have a lot of cabinet space, but I feel like I have too much to store in those cabinets. I’m trying hard to become more of a minimalist, but it’s slow going, so in the meantime, I am finding some great kitchen organization tools that are helping me get my clutter under control and helping my kitchen to look amazing.
Check out this list of awesome kitchen organization deals at Amazon and see if any of them can help you increase your organization, productivity and peace! If you don’t see how these things can bring you peace, just trust me, organization = peace in my life!
Awesome Kitchen Organization Deals at Amazon
Under Sink Organizer
Underneath my sink was literally the worst space in my entire kitchen! I was so so glad to get this under sink organizer because I can now open the cabinet doors under my sink without being stressed out about what a mess it is!
Cutting Board and Cookie Sheet Organizer
This cutting board and cookie sheet organizer can help you tackle one of the worst cabinets in most of our households! Cutting boards and cookie sheets are often a magnet for messiness, but this organizer helps!
Food Storage Containers with Lids
These food storage containers with lids are a great way to get rid of those cluttered bags and boxes in your pantry. I literally love looking at Instagram and Facebook groups and posts about kitchen organization and I LOVE all of the posts that show pantries full of these containers. They all look so amazing.
Kitchen Sink Organizer
No more stacked up sponges, rags and brushes near your sink when you have this Kitchen Sink Organizer! These are absolutely necessary for keeping your dish cleaning tools handy!
Kick the Winter Blues with These 5 Tricks
It’s nearing the end of February which means that most of us are ready for Spring. With the lack of sunlight and the colder weather, Winter can seem so long. Many people experience the winter blues especially as the winter months have gone on and on. Check out these 5 tricks that I try and do every winter to keep my spirits high and dare I say, even enjoy Winter!
- Go outside everyday. This year I have noticed more and more people walking outside during the cold days. I used to hear my mom say, “there is not a walk we can’t dress for.” That basically means that in the winter you can wear all the layers you have, bundle up, and go for a walk. Being our in nature will change your mood and somehow when you walk back inside you feel happier.
- Try a winter sport. If you live in an area with snow then use it to your benefit! Try snowshoeing, cross country skiing, downhill skiing, tubing, ice fishing, ice skating, or sledding. Look at a local second hand store for equipment or borrow some from a neighbor. Who knows, you may come to like it so much you can invest in your own gear.
- Exercise. Have you noticed that when it’s darker for longer it’s harder to get up in the mornings? I sure do! That’s my time to exercise and every morning I don’t want to get up! I notice the days that I do a quick exercise in the morning I’m happier. I can control my emotions better and my body feels so good. Is it hard? Definitely, but you’ll notice a difference in your day. If you need some motivation, then email your support people like sisters, brothers, friends or co-workers. Make an exercise motivation group where you can help each other through these darker months. I started an email with my sisters stating what exercise program I would do each morning. This way I was accountable and had people to cheer me on. Give it a try.
- Serve Others. When we forget about ourselves and think of others, our moodiness suddenly disappears. We are focusing our thoughts and energy onto someone else. You will probably also notice that other people have struggles too and sometimes they are far worse than your own. Look around in your neighborhood and community. Where could you volunteer your time and talents? Who is sad and lonely? Even a nice homemade cooked meal for someone who is struggling is a big thing. We try to shovel our neighbors driveways whenever we can. Being outside and serving really lifts the spirits. Your kids can even join in. Try making a goal for once a week to help someone in need. This will direct your focus outwards instead of keeping it on yourself.
- Do something spontaneous. If you are getting in a rut then it’s time to do something a little crazy. Look online for things to do around you. Then choose one that you normally would not do. For example, I’ve seen activities like a midnight snowshoeing, or a night triathlon or downhill snow tubing. My neighbor even mentioned to get a headlight and dress warm and then when it’s super dark at night go on a walk through our little wooded area by us and listen for owls. My brain would normally say NO! Stay in a warm house and go to bed on time. However, if you try one of these activities that you wouldn’t normally it will wake you up from your funk and put a smile on your face.
Awesome Laundry Organization Deals at Amazon
Do you ever see those awesome home organization reels on Instagram or Facebook and wish you could have a laundry room like you see in them? Well, I started to look around Amazon today and I found some really great tools that will get your laundry space looking awesome too!
Check out these awesome laundry organization deals at Amazon that I spotted and see how you can transform your space. I can’t wait to see pictures!
Awesome Laundry Organization Deals at Amazon
Magnetic Lint Bin
Do you always battle with what to do with the lint that comes out of your dryer? This Magnetic Lint Bin will keep it all in one place and it’s easy to place on your washer or dryer and easy to grab to empty it out. We actually use our lint to create fire starters for camping and for our backyard fire pit so it’s great to keep it all contained in one area like this.
Laundry Detergent Organizer
Oh my gosh I had given up on buying large bottles of laundry detergent because I absolutely hate the liquid remnants that fall onto the top of my dryer. This Laundry Detergent Organizer looks like the perfect way to avoid that. Plus, it looks pretty nice too!
Wall Mounted Clothes Hanger Rack
This Wall Mounted Clothes Hanger Rack looks like a great way to make sure and hang up your clothes right when they come out of the dryer. This is something that I desperately need help with so I think I may be ordering this one soon.
Laundry Detergent Pod Container
Do you use laundry detergent pods? This Laundry Detergent Pod Container is a great way to store them that looks better than the container that the pods come in!
3 Section Laundry Sorter
It’s important to keep your dirty laundry organized too! This 3 Section Laundry Sorter is great for that!