Showing posts with label Friday Favorites. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friday Favorites. Show all posts

Friday, April 10, 2015

Friday Favorites: Natural Beauty Products


If you have read my blog for any length of time or know me personally then you know my commitment to healthy foods. I am BIG on cutting out all processed and artificial additives from our diet. We eat minimally processed foods (think maple syrup and honey as sweeteners over refined cane sugar) and if our food is colored in any way it's not from artificial food dye. This way of eating is not for everyone but it is how we try to eat. When it comes to other products I try and do the same. Today I am linking up with Andrea from Momfessionals and sharing my favorite natural beauty products. I am on the low key side ( I think) when it comes to makeup and hair items but I like natural and chemical free and in that area I am high maintenance. 



If I made the switch to less preservatives in food it is only fitting that what goes on my eyes, face, and lips is preservative free. I actually LOVED how this makeup covered and went on the first time I used it and I like that it really does not smell compared to other brands except for a mint scent to their lipsticks and glosses. The foundation covers my freckled face well and I like the mascara. My daily makeup routine takes about 5 minutes and 7 on a date night. I am low key but most days I brush on some foundation, blush, eye shadow, mascara, and something hydrating on my lips. On a day I try a little harder I add gloss and eyeliner. I am simple but this brand works great and does not contain paraben, synthetic fragrances or artificial oils. 



I just made the switch from Keihl's brand after realizing that my face lotion contained phenoxyethanol, a preservative and is a kin irritant and a neurotoxin, as well as two other parabens. I just don't care to have that stuff on my face and absorbed into my skin so I ditched my old products and am giving Acure a try. I admit, so far, it does not work as well as Keihl's brand so I am hoping in time I either adapt to it and like it or that I find something that works. At least I know what to look for in my face wash and lotion now. 



You can buy this as a two pack from Amazon and keep on in the kitchen and one in the bathroom. This oil is great to help heal cracked heels or as a hand cream. I don't recommend using it during day as it takes a while to absorb and is a bit more greasy but at night, with socks on your feet, or simply rubbed into your hand this works wonders at soft skin. 



Not everything is organic in this brand and I read a study that carrots really don't do a not when applied to the hair. One needs to consume carrots to improve the growth of hair but that was just one study and I am not a scientist. I do however like that the ingredients are 99% natural and paraben free. Yup, that word keeps coming up and I try my best to avoid them. This shampoo is also a new find. Some people complain of the smell but I use the baby shampoo for my kids and love it and it works well for the price point. I found $40 bottles of shampoo that in a free world I would love to purchase but on my budget this little bottle works for the kids and I. 



After I had the Brother's my hair got curly. Each of the boys made it that much more of a beachy wave like my older sisters hair. I tend to let it air dry these days and toss it in a bun the just add a few curls and go but I also will straighten it out because it looks nice and lasts me a few days. I only wash my hair 2-3 times a week and when I am using a heat tool I like to add a few spritz of this on to make my hair stay healthy. It is organic, a little goes a long way, paraben free and works! I want to try their shampoo and cream rinse but the price is just a little steep for me however, this product at about $16 for 6 months on my long hair is worth every penny. 



When I was pregnant with Shane I went the safe route with whatever came into contact with my body. This was the start of my researching products and Butter London was the rare polish I used because it is toxin free. Yup, it still has chemicals and it's not organic but I am willing to wiggle a bit in some areas. I use an organic nail polish remover and I don't paint my nails often. Blowing Raspberries is my current favorite color.



I admit I can get a little stressed. Getting a one and three year old to bed by myself most nights can wear on me but I like the smell of this Stress Away oil and it is natural. I also like Lavender and these two scents/oils have replaced my perfume. I don't use it a lot but when I do I grab a bottle of oil.



If you missed it on Wednesday, I shared a very personal story of Shane's birth. Shane had some complications during pregnancy and delivery and I love how God's hand was on his little life. If you need a little reminder of the God's grace and timing Shane's birth story is worth the read.

Have a happy weekend!



























Friday, April 3, 2015

Friday Favorites For Easter


I am linking up with Andrea from Momfessionals and sharing my favorites for Easter. Now that I have The Brothers I feel like I have a HUGE responsibility and privilege to bring the fun and learning to holidays. I want to make memories, grow their love for the Lord, and expand their understanding of the why behind holidays. This Easter season my kids are getting Easter baskets and decorating eggs but we are also doing a lot to teach that He is the reason that we live and that He is the reason for the season.



Andrea made these rolls with her little ones and I am planning on doing these Easter morning with my kids but with a little bit of a healthy twist to accommodate our commitment to healthy food. I have all the ingredients to make homemade whole wheat dough and we are filling ours with some specialty marshmallows and honey with cinnamon. I love that through cooking, something that Shane adores, I cant give my kids some tangible and visual understand of the miracle of Christ rising from the dead. Click on the link to read more about these rolls and consider joining me in making them some time this weekend to teach your kids.


Happy Easter Banner

Last year I picked up this Easter banner on clearance from William Sonoma. I normally like to make my banners like these paper bunting banners but I knew with a new baby I was going to be short on time and thought I might as well grab this and it has served us well this year and last. I love the addition of bunnies and eggs and the colors against our paint.  I like teaching The Brothers why we are happy this season. We are happy because Jesus lived!


Bunnies

Growing up I we had pet bunnies. At one point all three of us kids had our own. I was given lots of little bunnies over the years and you can find a lot of these childhood memories decorating my house during the Easter season. I like to teach about the new life that we have in Christ and seeing it mirrored in creation through baby animals, blooms, and the fresh newness of spring. 


Palm Branch

Shane came home from Sunday school with a Palm Branch shouting Hosanna all over the house as he waved his craft around. I love that his craft made such an impact and we could continue to teach that we celebrate our Savior this season.



I don't have little girls with bows in their hair and ruffled dresses but I do have two handsome sons who I still adore dressing up! Some slacks with these gingham shirts are the perfect outfit for Sunday and we might attempt a bow tie but I doubt they will keep them on. A mama can hope, right? We  




Friday, March 27, 2015

Friday Favorites: Easter Basket Fillings


Easter is just over a week away and I have been shopping this week for some fun, non candy, not to expensive basket stuffing for The Brothers. I feel like Easter baskets are a bit like Christmas Stockings and I love the little treats to make the holiday more fun. I am linking up with Andrea from Momfessionals to share my favorite Easter Basket Fillings.



Shane was given a board game for his birthday from the same company called Stack It and he loves it! I was excited to find that there are several cooperative learning games that work on hand/eye coordination, fine and gross motor skills, and team work!



It is no secret I am a sucker for P.K.Hallinan books. I adore the positive lessons and messages along with the illustration and rhyme. Keith loves being read to right now so one of these will be going in his basket.



Shane really enjoys coloring these days as well as letters. A new coloring book at a good price will make a fun addition to his basket and provide lots of entertainment for coloring time.


We may or may have not left out the markers overnight with the caps off. I figure waiting just a couple of weeks and adding them to the baskets would work. I have tried lots of markers and always come back to these.


Bubbles are a toddler favorite. With the nice weather coming up I like putting any little outdoor items like bubbles, sidewalk chalk, or even a little beach towel but this year bubbles were the winning ticket for us.



Shane is obsessed with the one jumbo puzzle he has and I am considering a second one. The Brothers are really doing a scavenger hunt as opposed to an egg hunt or basket so I can get some big items that will be used a log.



A fun new bath toy helps entertain The Brothers and avoid splashing or getting hands all over each other. Shampoo or bubble bath would be another fun idea.



Keith likes anything that makes noise right now. I am still hunting for the perfect little shaker or rattle but something similar to this looks like a good fit. 



I recycle lots of items from Shane to Keith these days but Shane's sunglasses still fit him so Keith is going to be needing a pair.



Shane outgrew his baseball cap and will be needing another one. I am a TOTAL SUCKER for a baby in a baseball cap...especially if they are named Shane or Keith!


I hope this gives you a couple ideas for Easter! I am excited to have some fun but also remember the holiday it is the day our Savior rose from the dead! Hallelujah! 




Friday, March 20, 2015

Friday Favorites: Ways To Save The Budget


I am linking up with Andrea from Momfessionals today to share my favorite household money saving items that help save on the budget! Now that I stay home with The Brothers, I am always looking for ways to cut down on the bills and sometimes spending little to save a lot is key for us. I hope that you can find one or two of our favorite was to save and start saving in your own home!



I was so skeptical of these baseball sized dryer balls but at about $16 I figured they were worth a shot after reading the positive reviews. Where I am not cutting our electric bill in half I am cutting our dryer time down on average by 1/4 and I am not spending money on dryer sheets. Additionally we do not use any chemicals with our laundry because of Shane's sensitive skin so I tossed dryer sheets out of our hose years ago. I do about 7-8 loads of laundry a week (keep in mind we cloth diaper and Brian washes his uniform at home) so that means that I am cutting down on dryer time by almost 2 full dryer cycles and because they also fluff and soften your laundry you save on products such as dryer sheets.


You will cringe at the $249 price tag when you look at this. You might thing this is money down the drain and really us just being to lazy to get out of bed at night to adjust the heat/AC of our home but this little wireless thermostat does save you on average about 20% of your energy bill. With features such as an away setting, the ability to program when you heat and when you cool your home, and a program that learns you behavior and needs then adjusts on its own you are saving. We have had ours just over two years and already saved what we invested.



This really does not count as an "item" but this app is the best program we have ever found. Brian discovered this easy way for us to keep track of our spending and communicate as we track our monthly bills. One way to save money...not spend it! If we know what we have already spent on groceries, household items, and family fun we are able to better plan and make choices to stay in budget. If you don't have this app yet I highly suggest getting it and start budgeting!


Essential Oils

As opposed to getting sick and spending more on medical bills we try and be proactive about our health and one way to do that is by using essential oils. I am still quite new to natropathic remedies but I did get sick a lot less this year but sleeping better with lavendar oil, disinfecting with lemon oil, and using Theieves as an immunity boost. We still use prescritions and go see a doctor when we are sick. In no way does this replace the care I recieve from a physcition and I still give my kids amoxacillian when our Pedicitirican writes me a prescrition but I try and use this as preventative care.



Try not and cringe to much. Making my own cleaners has been easy with the help of IHeart Organizing blogger Jen. I have saved so much money making just a couple of my own cleaning supplies such as goo gone and multi purpose cleaner. I do still buy toilet cleaner because nothing gets my toilet quite as clean but when it comes to what I wash the windows, floors, and counters with its natural and homemade and cost me pennies to make! Click on the link above and you can read all about it as well as get the recipes I use.



I wrote about how my family cloth diapers are you can read about it here. We used the same cloth diaper stash with both your boys and we have saved hundreds of dollars!



We do our best to not throw food out and cook/buy in bulk. These glass jars are freezer safe and have saved us a lot with groceries, not purchasing disposable freezer bags, and being able to buy in bulk. With a small investment you can save time and money!



Another energy saving purchase just like the Nest, these bulbs use about 85% less energy and last about 20 years so you are buying less bulbs and spending less lighting your home.












Friday, March 6, 2015

Friday Favorites: Birthday Memories

Happy Friday!

Today I celebrate my 31st birthday.

There are a few birthdays that stand out to me for a plethora of reasons. I don't have pictures from some of them but I can vividly remember lots if details from over the years. I tend to be laid back about my birthday but I love making memories with those I love. I also really like cake (not frosting just the cake) so on my birthday I break my healthy eating and enjoy a little treat which I am looking forward to tonight!

So here are a few of my stand out birthdays.

Favorite Birthday Tradition

The past couple of years my sweet sister always shows up at my house with a treat. It has became a little tradition. I love that she knows me well enough to find that perfect little perk to my day. This year she brought some all natural doughnuts and a potted red gerbera daisy. Last year she showed up with a cupcake from my favorite bakery. I love the special time I get and feel so loved that she caves out time from her day to be with me.


Last year Shane could not keep his hands off my treat! This year I am loving my bring, red, cheery flowers. 


Favorite Childhood Birthday 
My third grade birthday party my mom let me invite some friends over for a traditional Japanese dinner. I invited 4 friends from school and my 35 year old neighbor, Dawn, who came. I was so excited to have her there and that stands out to me as the best childhood memory because I felt so special having a grown up at my party.

Favorite High School Birthday

I grew up in the best neighborhood with lots of kids my age who also attended the same private school I did. For my 18th birthday, several of my friends came and kidnapped me and took me to breakfast in my PJ's...and it snowed that day. 

Favorite Gift
Brian gave me a copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar for my 21st birthday. He said he knew I would use it to help kids and make them happy one day. That book has been read to many a classrooms and now to my own babies. I love how my husband supports me.

On top of the sweet support, inside the book was a pair of tickets to see The Lion King! I love a good theater production and was pretty sold on that guy named Brian that I was dating.


Biggest Birthday Surprise
For my 16th birthday my parents took me to Red Robbin for a family dinner. However, they had invited about 10 of my girlfriends and bought us all dinner. What a surprise!

Favorite Birthday
Last year I turned 30. I had a sweet little 2 year old and a cute 6 week old and Brian got take out. It was perfect!

I am linking up with Andrea from Momfessionals today to share my Friday Birthday Favorites! 



Friday, February 27, 2015

Friday Favorites: Items For A Good Night Sleep

It's Friday!


This week I am linking up with Andrea from Momfessionals and sharing my favorites for a goodnight sleep. Brian works a late shift and our sleep hours overlap but don't align. With our little ones run running around in the morning and odd sleeping hours we had to set the mood for sleep and we found a few favorite items to make our room restful for a good nights sleep.

There're are three ways we help create an environment for sleep. First, we don't have a TV in our room. We never have had a TV in our room in our 9 years of marriage because I go to bed earlier than Brian and both of us decided it would save us lots of arguments if we kept the TV out of the bedroom. Additionally, it is helpful for us to not watch TV before we go to sleep because it makes it harder for us to fall asleep.  

Secondly, we have a no talking when the lights go out. That mean that unless there is an emergency we don't talk to each other once that bedside table lamp is switched off. Really this rule is for me because my mind runs a mile a minute at night and I need to be reminded of the no talking rule a lot. What can I say, Brian married a talker! 

Lastly, we try and have a clean room. This is again a rule for me. I can't sleep when my bedroom, or my house, is a mess. Everything feels discombobulated to me when there is laundry strewn about and I have to climb into an unmade bed. This is not for everyone but if you have my personality a little order to the bedroom can calm and relax you into a good nights sleep. 

We have four favorite items that help us sleep our best. We use a noise machine, good bedding basics,       essential oil, and black out Shanes. After 8 years of odd sleep hours and lots of testing items these four a must to help us promote sleep.



When we had Shane I had  a Cloud B Sleep Sheep and it was a nice fit him. I liked that it traveled well and the noise was very soothing. Additionally, the lamb was adorable so if looked cute in his nursery.  The challenge was the the batteries died a lot and it only lasted 45 minutes. When Keith came along we switched to a white noise maker and now there is one in everyone's bedroom. The noise is soothing air blowing and I like that there are two speeds so I can set it to low and not worry about the decibel being to loud for my baby's ears or louder for my room. Some people don't want to get a noise maker into their babies sleep routine or their own but I found my kids and Brian and I sleep better when we can't hear talking in the next room or a loud car driving by. For me this is a must!




Every year when Brian and I get a tax refund we take a small portion and get to purchase something for the house that we think we need. For us, this year, I got new pillows! We found these Allergy Wise pillows that are firm because Brian and I both have dust mite allergies and we are side sleepers. We made sure to find the right pillows for our sleeping positioning and finally purchased pillows that were dust mite safe. We also have great sheets that we wash every few days and are allergy safe and a mattress we recently replaced. 



About 8 months ago I started using essential oils and this little purple bottle has quickly become my favorite! It helps me sleep, heals skin and prevents scarring, and fights the sniffles. I don't use this every night but if I need to get to sleep and am struggling Brian and I will diffuse this in our room or rub in on the bottom of our feet and it helps aid in sleep so much.



They cost a pretty penny but black out shades, not curtains, are the best investment we made in our home. All our bedrooms have these and they are amazing. Even in Washington the sun shines right into our bedroom during the summer and getting my kids to nap or my husband to sleep later in the morning to get the sleep he needs requires a bit of darkening. We purchased ours from Lowes in the spring when they run a great sale and out of all my tools this is the best!

Those are my favorite tips and tools for a good nights sleep! I hope you get lots of rest this weekend and are ready to tackle a new week that is just around your corner.










Friday, February 13, 2015

Friday Favorites: Valentine's Day Traditions

Valentine's Day with little ones is such a fun day! I love the day of love! I try and keep the day simple but still make it special for The Brothers because I want them leaving this home filled with happy fun memories and traditions. My first year as a mama I did not really do a whole lot with my little two week old but the past two years I have been doing a couple fun traditions and am excited to share them with Keith this year! These are my favorite Valentine's Day traditions with The Brothers.

Heart Shaped Breakfast


Last year Shane got to enjoy some heart crossed buns! I made these egg free for my little man because of his food allergy and then found some natural food dye to make these holiday themed for the day!

Heart Attack


I started this last year and am going to keep on with this tradition as long as it delights The Brothers. I picked an area, the kitchen, and decorated it with hearts I had cut out. Shane came downstairs and saw our breakfast nook covered with three dozen large hearts and he was thrilled. He did not stop pointing at them and talked about them for days. I like doing something special the morning of so it's a bit like the joy and anticipation of Christmas morning. 

Valentine's Day Gift





This year The Brothers are getting books as their Valentine's Day gift. Shane loves Curious George and I was happy to find a Valentine's Day one. Keith is getting Happy Valentine's Day, Mouse! because we loved If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and we found this one in a board book edition.

 I embrace the chance to teach my little men about showing affection and love. One day I pray the little ladies they will marry one will feel cherished, delighted in, and adored by the men I am raising. I want to make a HUGE deal of heart shaped meals and cards now to model what it looks like to dote upon those we love and to let my boys feel loved. I hope our Valentine's Day cards to friends, traditional heart shaped meals, decorations, and gifts teaches them two important things to The Brothers. First, I hope they learn that their mama is so glad they are her sons. I am blessed to be their mama and love them wholeheartedly. Secondly, I hope that they feel delighted in and adored and can mirror that to their leading lady one day. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

If you missed my giveaway for a $25 gift card to Rockin' Green make sure to enter here. 

Today I am linking up with Andrea from Momfessionals.





Friday, February 6, 2015

Friday Favorites:Favorite Children's Books

Before I became The Brother's Mama I was an elementary school teacher. I graduated from my master program during a season in which teachers were not being hired and so I became a substitute teacher. Eventually my substitute work led to a long term job as an elementary school reading specialist three days a week and I continued to substitute teacher elementary classes the other two days. During this choppy and inconsistent season of jumping from classroom to classroom day after day I found some calm and cheer in my small reading groups. I fell in LOVE with teaching reading as well as rediscovering a passion for children's literature which I had not dwindled in since my undergraduate studies.

Books are imaginative, creative, adventitious, encouraging, suspenseful, humerus, eye opening, and educational. I hope books are the at the start of every child's personal story, engraved and etched into their little minds so they grow a love for reading. Today I am sharing my top picks for Infants and Preschoolers. They are what The Brothers love and I hope you do too!

Favorite Books for Infants



Good Night, Gorilla is a goofy book about a gorilla who takes the keys from the nightwatchman at the zoo and breaks himself and all the other animals out of the zoo. Mostly comprised of illustrations with very little wording, this book is wonderful for language development. Infants can point and identify various pictures to grow and expand their verbal skills. I also recommend books  like this to ESL students. 


Good Dog, Carl is one of a series about a dog named Carl who is playful and adventurous and gets into all kids of mischief. Just like Good Night, Gorilla, this book comprised of illustrations with very little wording, this book is wonderful for language development. Infants can point and identify various pictures to grow and expand their verbal skills. I also recommend books  like this to ESL students. 




Best Word Book Ever is just as the title says! It has over 1000 labeled illustrations to grow your child's vocabulary. Talking to your child teaches them first hand but if you want to show them a snowman in summer, a pumpkin in winter, and an ocean beach when you live in Colorado books like this help bridge the gap. Again, I recommend books like this to ESL students and this book grows with your child. Shane is three now and still loves to read this book because he can identify every object or person in the pictures. However, Keith, who just turned one also loves reading this one. It is hardback but the pages are paper as opposed to the board book style so it is one that offers good quality reading time with adults. 


Peek-a WHO? is a book I don't know I would have recommended before I had kids however, both The Brothers loved this book. I can't explain how much they adored this from about 6 months on. The pages have a cut out in them so you can get a peek at the next page and the last page has a mirror on it and most infants I know, including my own, love to look in the mirror at themselves. The design of this book as well as the rhyme gets little ones excited about books and reading. As a mom to little ones it is a goal to get them into reading from an early age.


Baby Faces, or any similar book, is a great way to start and teach important emotional vocabulary to your little ones before they hit two. Keith can mimic silly, happy, angry, stinky, surprised, and shy faces already. If I ask him to make a silly face his nose scrunches up and his tongue sticks out. I know this is such an important skill set to be able to associate emotional words and phrasing with facial cues so that Keith can start to verbally express himself as well as understand  facial expressions when mama or other adults make faces.


Favorite Books for Preschoolers



I am a Bunny was given to Shane as a gift when he turned one and it quickly became one of his favorite books. He loved the illustrations, the description of the seasons, and the length of the book is perfect for toddlers. Children this age love to hear the same book over and over again because it  allows a child to remember and retain the meaning of new words. Where parents may get tired of reading the same book a dozen times the repetition of the phrasing and structure of the story will help your child grasp onto new vocabulary! This one I have read easily 100 times and I still love it!


Harry the Dirty Dog is a classic book about family and friendship. Harry, who does not like baths, runs away to play and becomes so dirty his family does not recognize him when he returns home. Harry finally convinces them to give him a bath, which he hates, just so his family knows he is home. Shane love this book! It is a cute story and gets Shane excited about reading. 


Little Blue Truck is one of three in a series that has a great theme of friendship. I love Little Blue Truck Leads the Way as well which talks about not cutting, taking turns, and being kind. Some books are goofy and for fun but these two have such great lessons in them that they are the kind I want to fill my home with. Shane can recite this whole book to me word for word but more importantly is the conversation that follows about what a good friend looks like and how Shane can be a good friend to others. I also like the different animals to continue to grow and expand both The Brother's vocabulary. 


Let's Be Thankful  and several other books from P.K. Hallinan I have linked and referenced a couple times in my short time blogging. I adore the illustrations and the rhyme makes children engaged with the words. Shane had this book memorized before he turned two because we read it over and over and his vocabulary grew immensely. Shane often asked "what is that" when reading this one which is exactly what I want kids to be asking when reading with parents at this age. He learned about fireflies, cotton candy, shooting stars, and so much more. 


The Very Hungry Caterpillar is such a sweet and classic book. It is visually appealing, it has a fabulous array of vocabulary, the cutouts of this book make the layout unique and exciting, and the repetition of the wording lets children quickly become familiarity with the book. I also like how students can work with food, days of the week, sequence, and the life cycle of a butterfly. This is my favorite book of all time for so many ways. I have a copy Brian gave me for Christmas the first year we were dating and this was the theme for Shane's first birthday party! 


Today I am linking up with Andrea from Momfessionals. Some of these are personal favorites from reading with the boys and some of these are book I studied and learned about from my BA in Family and Child Psychology or during my Master in Teaching Studies.






 
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