Monday, May 20, 2019

Monday Must-Haves- Things I bought and liked


Happy Monday all!  I hope you had a relaxing weekend and great start to your week.  We had a great weekend with much needed relaxation time.  Friday was a crazy hectic (but good) day so we wanted to relax as much as possible over the weekend.  On Saturday we first took turns taking mid morning naps, then we cleaned the house some, got new keys for Josh's car but it didn't take long at all,  my dad came to visit for a while and then we went out to dinner.  On Sunday, I finally decided to clean out and organize my closet.   I go through my clothes about once a year but haven't gotten rid of much the past few years since my weight fluctuated so much during and after 2 pregnancies.  I was ruthless this time.  I got rid of 2 trash bags full of clothes and accessories.  I sold a couple of things then donated the rest.  It feels great to walk in there now and now have no clutter.  After I did that, we went to visit my grandparents who live only about 30 minutes away.  The kids love going over there because my grandparents have so many toys and things for them to do.  The kids played in the sprinklers, drove around their cars, and spent some time digging through their pantry for snacks (they always have something good!).  We then headed to the grocery store then back home to eat dinner and crash!  What were you up to this weekend?

Today on the blog I thought I'd share my most recent "things I bought and liked".  Have you seen that Instagram account?  It's become very popular and some of her reviews are hilarious. Anyhow, here are some things I've bought and tried recently that I really like.














I started using Olaplex a few months ago actually (found here) and can really notice a difference in the texture of my hair.  It's less dry and coarse feeling than before.   I don't use it every time I wash my hair.  About every 2-3 washes I'll use something else instead just because of the price of this shampoo.  But even using it two thirds of the time I wash my hair makes a difference.

This water bottle seriously keeps my water cold almost all day.  No joke.  It doesn't leak.  It fits down in the side of my book bag that I carry a lot when I'm out with both kids.  There's nothing else to say about it other than it's great and I know I'll be using it a lot more this summer.

I bought this French basket and used it for the first time yesterday to hold the kids swimsuits and outdoor gear.  It's so roomy but not bulky when you're holding it on your shoulder.   It held both kids swimsuits, a wet/dry bag filled with stuff, a change of clothes for both kids, 2 beach towels, my wallet, a water bottle, and shoes.  The shipping was extremely fast considering it came from overseas.  I can tell it's well made and will last a while.

I bought the Native deodorant to try recently after I ran out of my other.  I have been really wanting to try a new aluminum free deodorant and read good reviews about the Native brand.  It's not the cheapest deodorant but IT WORKS.  I've been using it for about 3 weeks now and have stayed dry every day... even in the 90+ degree heat we had this past weekend!  I got the coconut & vanilla scent and it spells so good.  I'm definitely never going back to my old deodorant.

I got this picnic blanket and am in love.  It's great quality for the price and I love the blue and white stripe print.  It folds up easily and has a detachable handle.  We like to go on picnics every now and then so these blankets really come in handy.  They're also great for the beach for the family to sit on instead of spreading out 50 towels.  I have another picnic blanket from about 12 years ago that I also like but one side of it is has a very soft cotton material that always traps sand and grass.  With this new one I can just shake it off.

I posted about these mules a couple of times on Instagram.  They are comfortable, affordable, and go with tons of outfits.

I love the texture and fit of this stripe top found here.  It's a nice weight for the spring and summer weather and isn't super fitted nor too boxy, which isn't the best look on me.  It also comes in white!


Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Mother's Day Gift Ideas



Happy May!   The month of flowers, Mothers Day, Memorial Day, and so much more spring goodness.  Mother's Day is up first and approaching fast.  It seems a little early this year.  Anyone else feel that way?  Mother's Day has taken a more sentimental meaning now that I'm a mother.  I've always loved spending the day with my own mom but it's so special to now have 3, sometimes 4 generations in a room together.   On another note,  I also keep in mind that day might be bittersweet for some who no longer have their mother's here with them.  My husband lost his own mother at 19, which makes the day more emotional for him in a different way.

What do you have planned for that day?  Are you able to see your mom in person?  Do you send a special gift?  We usually attend church that day then have a nice lunch somewhere all together.  I'm currently on the hunt for a gift for my mom and grandmothers.  If you also haven't purchased a gift yet, I've rounded up some ideas below.  I own a few of these items myself!  Some are just fun, some are functional for busy moms, and some are more personal.



Tote bag: here | Shampoo: here | Morning Dress: here | Slippers: here
Platter: here | Sunglasses: here | Key Ring: here | Cookbook: here
Mules: here | Robe: here | Silhouettes: here | Monogram pouch: here
Planner: here | Candle: here | Earrings: here | Bowl: here