Disclosure: I received a sample box in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
Who’s guilty of being inspired by Pinterest but rarely taking the time to actually craft? For me, the roadblock is usually being too lazy/not having enough time to go out and gather the necessary supplies. The Home Made Luxe craft subscription box offers a solution to would-be crafters by providing everything needed to make Pinterest-y type crafts in a box that is delivered directly to your home.
Home Made Luxe sent me the DIY Monstera Clay Bowls set to review. I was excited about this project because Monstera leaves are on-trend, and I have not worked with clay too much before.
For this project, the items included were:
Air Dry Clay
Green Paint
Gold Paint
X-Acto Knife
Foam brush
Lia Griffith Dish Template
Detail Brush
Sand paper
Written and Video Instructions.
The only additional items needed were a rolling mat and a surface on which to cut. The instructions had photographs and clear explanations for each step and were easy to follow.
Air-drying my bowl.
Once the kids saw that I was using clay, they wanted to get in on the action too. The kit came with plenty of clay to make multiple bowls or anything else that your creative mind can think of.
Here is my finished result. I opted not to paint my bowl green since I liked the neutrality of the white clay. I think using the gold paint marker to paint the edges of the bowl was my favorite part. Now I am inspired to use the gold paint marker for some other projects! I also like the versatility of the air-dry clay.
Home Made Luxe offers a wide-array of different types of crafts that can be purchased individually, or as a monthly subscription. This would make a nice gift for the crafter or would-be crafter in your life. I can also see these boxes as a good way to keep older kids occupied during the summertime.
Enter to win a Home Made Luxe Craft Box below! Please note that by entering this giveaway, you are agreeing to be added to the Home Made Luxe e-mail list.
Disclosure: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Recently I have been hearing and seeing more and more research about the connection between gut health and overall health. Therefore, I was excited to be able to have the chance to try out Gut Connection By Country Life supplements.
Isn’t this sample kit too cute? My kids went straight for the Poo Emoji Squishy, of course!
Country Life has eight different formulas of Gut Balance, all targeted at different issues such as weight, sleep, mood and stress. The three samples that I received were:
Gut Connection Immune Balance
Gut Connection Digestive Balance
Gut Connection Energy Balance
I immediately went for the Immunity Balance formula since I am all for a strong and healthy immune system! These supplements are on the large side, but I was able to swallow them without a problem. I like that these supplements are made of whole food fermentate prebiotic and do not contain any artificial ingredients. Because they contain prebiotics, they can be taken alone or along with probiotics. **Remember that you should check with your health care provide before taking supplements.**
Gut Connection by Country Life can be found at Sprouts, The Vitamin Shoppe, Natural Grocers Vitamin Cottage, and Amazon. Go here to find where Gut Connection by Country Life is sold near you.
Disclosure: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.
I have really been enjoying our summer vacation so far. It has been so nice to take a break from our busy scheduled lives. Taking a “breather” from the chaos of everyday life is a good practice for children, just as it is for adults. Zafooz cushions come are kid-friendly and designed to encourage peace, love and kindness in children.
Mindful Monkey & Lotus Ladybug
My kids found that Zafooz are perfect for cuddling, and offer a comfortable spot to rest. Sometimes it just takes a few minutes of “alone time” to collect one’s thoughts and feel re-energized to tackle the demands of the day.
Childhood today is often fueled by a go-go-go mentality which can lead to stress and health issues. Zafooz cushions encourage kids to take time to slow down and reflect, which can be beneficial to their overall well-being.
Zafooz are available for purchase at zafooz.com. Save 15% on your zafooz.com/shop purchase by using the promo code breatheBhappy. Offer valid until July 22, 2019
Disclosure: I received samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Since returning from our vacation, I have been turning my attention to cleaning and organizing our home. When I think about all that needs to be done, it feels overwhelming. However, I have been trying to break it down by concentrating on different zones. Today I am sharing a product that will help out with your refrigerator: Fridge Coasters.
Fridge Coasters are just what the name implies: “coasters” for your refrigerator. They are made from natural hard pressed wood pulp and printed with vegetable based inks. Fridge Coasters absorb drips and spills that inevitably occur in the refrigerator and eliminate moisture and odor. Once the coasters have done their job, they are easy to remove, recycle/compost and replace. They eliminate (or at least greatly reduce) the need to scrub refrigerator shelves and drawers.
Fridge Coasters come in a variety of styles and designs. The sight of these cheery liners make me smile every time I open my refrigerator. They also serve as motivation for me to keep my refrigerator organized and to toss the items that are past their prime.
Along with liners for the main shelves, there are also liners for the smaller side door compartments. My side doors were a little smaller than the liners, so I just gave them a trim with regular scissors to make them fit. Read more about Fridge Coasters and purchase them here.
I am excited when I find simple solutions to different household challenges. Let me know if you have found any products that help keep your home neat and organized!
One of my readers will win a set of Fridge Coasters in the design of their choice. Enter below!
The first park on our schedule was Hollywood Studios. The last time I visited Hollywood Studios it was called Disney-MGM Studios! The Sunday we went had Extra Magic Hours for Disney Hotel guests, so the park opened at 8 a.m. for us. Since it was our first day at the parks, it was not too difficult for us to wake up early.
Our pre-booked FastPass schedule looked like this:
9:30-10:30: Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
10:35-11:35: Star Tours
7:15-8:15: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Our plan was to “rope-drop” Slinky Dog Dash in Toy Story Land. However, we found out that the ride was down for maintenance issues and would not be open at 8 a.m.–doh! When I have a set plan in place, it is difficult for me “go with the flow”. However, I tried to have a good attitude about it and we went on Toy Story Mania! instead. We had been on this ride at California Adventure before so I had not planned on riding it here.
The queue is mostly indoors and had a lot of cute oversize toys to look at. I’m not really a fan of these shooting for points rides because inevitably someone in our family ends up feeling sad that they lost or did not do well.
It did not seem like many other rides were open before 9 a.m. We ended up just walking around and taking in some of the sights of “Hollywood Boulevard”.
We decided to check out the Star Wars Launch Bay, even though we were not quite sure what it was. There are currently no rides here. It is more of a museum and theater. However, we saw a group of people getting in line, so we followed them. It turned out to be a meet and greet for Chewbacca!
These Stormtroopers marched up and down the park and put on performances periodically throughout the day. I felt bad for how hot they must have been!
Using our first Fastpass for Rock ‘n’ Roll Rollercoaster was a success! We tapped our Magic Bands at the entrance and had a minimal wait time. This ride is kind of like Space Mountain in that it is a dark indoor roller coaster (but this one does go upside down!) n said he closed his eyes the whole time. We ended up riding it a second time in the evening, and he said he was able to open his eyes for more of the ride.
We also used our Fastpass for Star Tours. This was another ride that we were already familiar with from Disneyland.
Cuban Sandwich (Classically-pressed Roasted Pulled Pork, Sliced Ham, Swiss, Pickles and Mustard served with French Fries)
Backlot Burger (1/3 lb Angus Beef Burger topped with Barbecued Pork, Pepper Jack Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato and Pickles served with Carrot Sticks or French Fries)
Southwest Salad With Chicken (Mixed Greens topped with Grilled Chicken Breast, Crisp Wonton, Black Bean Relish and Avocado served with Vinaigrette Dressing)
We started to notice a trend with the use of pulled pork at the various park restaurants. Ordering three entrees to split between the four of us seemed to work out most of the time for our family.
As we were leaving the restaurant, a cast member that was passing by asked n if he wanted a cupcake. n was not quite sure how to react, but D said he would take it so we ended up with a free dessert! The kids liked the buttercream frosting.
After lunch we watched the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, Muppet Vision 3D, Frozen Sing Along, and the Beauty & the Beast Live Stage Show.
Indiana Jones Live Stage Show
It was nice to be able to sit down and rest our feet during the shows. While the indoor shows were especially comfortable due to the air conditioning, the outdoor shows were not too bad because they had shades to block the sun. D and the kids liked the comedic aspect of the Frozen show while I enjoyed the singing, dancing and costumes for Beauty and the Beast.
Fajita Combo Platter (Pulled Pork, Grilled Chicken and Flour Tortillas served with Black Beans, Cilantro Rice, Peppers, Onions, Sour Cream and Fire-roasted Corn Medley)
Fairfax Salad (Pulled Pork, Wedge Salad, Bacon, Fire-roasted Corn Medley, Crispy Tortilla Strips and Cheddar served with a Jalapeño Ranch Dressing)
The salad ended up being the better value here. I am not sure if our serving was an anomaly, but it had a huge portion of pulled pork (as well as a lot of cheese, as you can see).
We checked our app and saw that the wait time for Slinky Dog Dash was not too bad so we headed back to Toy Story Land. The theming for this land is really bright and cheeful. I am looking forward to seeing Toy Story 4!
We had to wait in line for a little under an hour for Slinky Dog Dash. This was probably the longest line we waited in during our five days at the parks! I really wanted to go on it since we do not have it in California. It was a smooth, cute and easy roller coaster.
I used some of my Starbucks gift cards for an after-dinner treat.
We were planning to use our last Fastpass of the day for Tower of Terror after dinner. However, our plans were once again spoiled because the ride was not operating due to maintenance issues. Since we have been on this ride at California Adventure, it was not too big of a disappointment. Since we had a Fastpass that we could not use, we were allowed to use it on another ride. That is why we were able to ride the Rock ‘n’ Roller coaster another time at night.
Tower of Terror down for maintenance issues? Noooo!
We grabbed seats in the Fantasmic amphitheater about an hour before the show started. It was nice to have actual seats instead of having to fight for space as you do at Disneyland. Fantasmic is one of my favorite shows, but I have to admit I was a bit disappointed when I compared it to the one at Disneyland. I have seen the show countless times from when I worked at Disneyland twenty-plus years ago, so the differences jumped out at me. I think the show is still pretty spectacular for those who have never seen it before, so I would still recommend staying to see it if you can.
Although this was a long day for us, starting out with Hollywood Studios was a good way to ease in to our Disney World vacation. The park is relatively compact, so going from one land to another is not too much of a trek. Our afternoon consisted mostly of watching shows, so our wait times were minimal and we were able to “rest”. I felt like we saw everything we wanted to see in one day. Once the Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge expansion opens (end of August 2019), this place is sure to become crazy!
**Products that helped us to keep cool!**
The heat and humidity in Florida during our stay was no joke! The temperatures were in the low 90’s even though it was often overcast. Keeping hydrated is essential, but we were also brought along a couple of products that helped keep us cool(er)!
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
D bought a 6-pack of these cooling towels before our trip, and I am so glad that he did! We wet them at the drinking fountain or restroom and sink, and they provided instant cooling relief. I wore them on my shoulders as a scarf and D put them on his head underneath his hat.
I like how this misting fan is compact. n was able to carry it in his backpack. They sell larger ones at the park but they seem too bulky to carry around (and I am sure they are a lot more expensive!) The mist of water combined with this fan really works!
We had an early flight to Orlando out of John Wayne airport. Can I just say how much I love SNA? So quick and easy!
We packed three carry-ons and checked one piece of luggage. Disney mailed us luggage tags beforehand since we were staying at a Disney property and we gave them our flight information beforehand. Once we checked the bag, it was delivered straight to our hotel room about three hours after our plane landed. So convenient!
Before we landed, I had everyone put on their Magic Bands. (Make sure you do not pack them in your checked luggage). After we landed, we followed the signs to the Magical Express shuttles. They scanned our Magic Bands (no other paper/receipt necessary) and directed us to the Pop Century/Art of Animation shuttle.
I checked my phone and I had a text that our room was ready, along with our room number. We were able to bypass the front check-in desk and go straight to our room. The Magic Band acted as our “key” to the room. Wow, these Magic Bands did feel like “magic”! And of course, the kids loved being able to open the room by themselves and had to take turns doing so.
The Pop Century rooms recently received a makeover, and I really liked the modern, tasteful decor. The carpetless floors made it feel cleaner as well. Although the rooms are not large, they utilize the space well. One neat feature is the desk that turns into a second queen-sized bed. I ended up sleeping on both beds during the course of our stay, and while the regular bed is more comfortable, the murphy bed is not bad.
Here are the kids demonstrating how the desk turns into a bed.
The bathroom had a good amount of storage space despite its small size.
I failed to take a picture of the cabinet to the left of the television/dresser. It contained a nice glass-front mini refrigerator, a coffee maker and additional shelving.
After settling in a bit, we ate dinner at the Pop Century cafeteria. This is n enjoying his kids’ salmon plate. We also shared a grilled chicken sandwich and chicken parmesan. The food was just ok, nothing special. However, this was the only meal we ate at the hotel (aside from a partial breakfast on our last day) so this was not a big deal for us.
After dinner we headed for the Hippy Dippy pool. Almost as soon as we arrived, it started to rain! Welcome to Florida in June, I guess. The pool was quite warm so the cool rain actually felt nice.
Our room was in the 60’s building. “Take a right at the giant Duncan yo-yo!” We were fairly close to the cafeteria and most importantly, the buses!
There is a nice lake right behind the hotel with a 1.3 mile running trail. This is D looking sad because he was not able to do much running during our vacation.
We saw the Skyliner project in progress. Eventually this will be a gondola system that connects Pop Century (along with some other hotels) with Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
Once the Skyliner project is completed (estimated Fall 2019), this will be another good reason to consider Pop Century!
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
We are back from a ten day vacation to Walt Disney World and a cruise to the Bahamas and still recovering! Whenever we travel, we are always prepared with plenty of snacks. Today I want to share about one of the snacks we brought with us: Fusions.
Fusions are unique trail mixes with elevated flavor profiles. For our plane ride, D and I brought the Hill Country BBQ Blend, which consists of maple bacon glazed pecans with bbq CrrrunchBites almonds. These snacks combine just the right amount of salty and sweet and are a good way to tide you over in between meals.
This is not your ordinary trail mix! The other interesting flavors include:
Bangkok Backpack Blend: candied ginger cashews, diced pineapple, spicy chili lime CrrrunchBites™ almonds and toasted coconut chips
Cabo Catamaran Crunch: kettle roasted chipotle almonds, sweet and salty cashews and mango-infused cranberries
Denali Mountain Mix: sweet and spicy glazed pecans, Fuji and Gala apple chips, tart Montmorency cherries and orange-infused cranberries
Fusions are Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified GF, OU Kosher and vegetarian. They come in handy resealable 3.25 oz bags, perfect for sharing! Fusions can be purchased on Amazon.
Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win three bags of Fusions trail mix (3 winners)!
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
Part 1: Setting Up My Hair Profile
I recently had the opportunity to try out Formulate shampoo and conditioner formulated just for me. My Formulate story began with a simple online survey to determine which natural ingredients would best serve my hair goals and hair type.
Soon after setting up my profile, I received a package from Formulate with my customized shampoo and conditioner.
Love the chic black and white packaging!
I chose the “Freshly Squeezed” scent with tangerine and sweet orange.
Part 2: Experiencing Hair Detox
Once I received my package, I immediately incorporated the Formulate shampoo and conditioner into my hair routine. One difference I noticed was that the shampoo and conditioner felt thinner than what I was used to, and there were not as many suds. However, this was to be expected because they do not contain sulfates. I really liked the refreshing Freshly Squeezed orange scent (you can also choose how strong you want the scent to be.)
The first couple of weeks I used the Formulate shampoo and conditioner, I noticed that my hair felt very greasy/oily and “heavy”. After doing some research, I figured out that my scalp/hair was going through detox because my hair was used to shampoos and conditioners with sulfates and parabens. Sulfates strip oil from the hair, and the scalp has to over produce oil to compensate. Therefore, when I first started using the Formulate Shampoo my scalp was still overproducing oil and it was not being stripped away.
Part 3: Healthier Hair
I am pleased to report that after surviving “hair detox”, my hair now feels and looks healthier. It is less oily, and feels thicker and softer. I guess it just took time for my scalp and hair to adjust. The communication and customer service at Formulate are excellent, and they will work with you if your formula does not meet your expectations. If you would like to give it a try, set up your profile here today!
I am also excited to announce that one of my readers will win a set of Formulate Shampoo and Conditioner customized to his or her hair goals and hair type. Enter here, and good luck! Plus, everyone else who enters will receive a $5 off coupon.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Small groups are a way for people to gather together for Bible study and fellowship. They also serve as a vehicle for spiritual growth, friendship, community and accountability. D and I have been part of a small group for over ten years now, and we have experienced the benefits as a family. Leading Small Groups, by Chris Surratt shows the reader “How to gather, launch, lead, and multiply your small group”.
Surratt and his wife have had a lot of experience leading small groups, so he has seen what works and what does not work over the years. He provides a step-by-step framework that is practical and “do-able”. This book reminded me that small groups are not supposed to be an exclusive, insular club, but outreach groups that aim to serve others and the community. I think this book would be helpful for first time small leaders as well as those with experience.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Lies Girls Believe & The Truth That Sets Them Free, by Dannah Gresh, is part of a series called “Lies [fill in the blank] Believe”. There is a book for men, women, and young women. This book for girls is meant for girls 8-12 years old. I had k read this book and I read it as well. I find that reading the same books as your kids is a great way to open up communication lines.
Lies originated in the Garden of Eden and continue to this day. This book discusses lies that girls believe about God, myself, family, sin, being a girl, boys, friendship and the future. I like that there is a wide range of topics. Even if a girl may not personally be struggling in a certain area, she may have a friend that is. Or it may be an area that becomes a struggle a few years down the road. Lies Girls Believe contains advice that is Biblically-based and advice that I, as a mom, would want my daughter to hear. The fun graphics also make it an easy and engaging read. I would recommend this book for tween girls so that they can hold on to truth instead of being deceived by lies.
