DISCLAIMER: A huge "thank you" to PlumbTile for sponsoring today's post. All opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect PlumbTile. Adulting is hard, guys. Even on the "easy" days, it is still hard. Making appointments (and remembering to go to them), feeding the pets (and the kids) every day, making sure there's no crazy looking green mystery meat growing antibiotics in the fridge, remembering where you parked in the three story parking garage... any or all of this is enough to drive a sane person not-so-sane. A woman (or man) needs a place where she (or he) can unwind and let go of all the stress of the day. A place to just sit back, relax, dim the lights, light some incense, play a "sounds of the rainforest" CD or even some Kenny G. (I'm not judging) and woosahh it all away. Sounds great, huh? Well, unfortunately the Y frowns upon this type of behavior and since nobody can afford to go to the spa every single day, why not bring a little bit of the spa home to you, instead with these tips and design ideas from PlumbTile. In the interest of full disclosure I feel I should tell you, I have never been to a day spa, but I have seen plenty of HGTV shows with those cute brothers and I am a connoisseur of all things relaxing, so I consider myself appropriately qualified to advise you on this topic. Setting the mood is key when designing a relaxing space. Start with earth tones for your base pieces, such as the vanity or sink basin. This will give the room a warm feel. Choose materials with a smooth look and feel that will give the room a "clean" appearance, without being stark white and "hospital-y". Luckily, marble and granite is becoming more and more affordable, especially for smaller uses like counter tops and basins, so if you're gonna splurge anywhere in a bathroom remodel, I highly suggest going with a natural stone. Choose a dimming light fixture if available. This simple step will go a long way in setting the mood for your dream spa bathroom. If a dimmer is not available, you could get creative and just remove a bulb from your fixture and call it even. (joking) From the lighting all the way down to the candles or potpourri you choose, this space should be a treat to all your senses. Choose flooring that is smooth and cool to the touch and place a fuzzy rug down to balance the look. The 24 inch floor tiles are super hot right now and look great in a larger space. When it comes to towels, the fluffier the better, in my opinion. You could even splurge on a heated towel rack for the ultimate home spa experience. (Or you could totally cheat and just throw your towel in the dryer for 20 minutes or so, while you're enjoying your bubble bath) Choose an "accent" color to contrast the warm earth tones of the floors and vanity. Blues and greens are really hot right now and you can find lots of bath accessories that will add a pop of color right where you need it. Think towels, toothbrush holders, waste baskets and such. One of the best things about going to the spa is the fact that it doesn't look like a hundred little gnomes live there. There are no tub toys lingering about from the night(s) before. There is no leftover bathtub paint that swore it was washable, when your Mommy senses told you it was a liar. There is no laundry laying inches from the hamper, just taunting you while you try to relax. In short, the spa is clean. I know, I get it, it is a very novel idea, but one you can totally do, I promise. Start by clearing the clutter from the counters. Hide that crap underneath the vanity like any normal person would or just throw it away. If you find a half empty tube of toothpaste with a random hair sticking out of it, in the bottom of the medicine cabinet, let it go. Just let it go. Toothpaste is only a dollar at the dollar store, you do not need that random hair infested tube of crap bringing negativity into your new zen space. Let's face it, we can't all afford a lavish spa bathroom makeover, but you can still have the spa experience at home. Treat yourself to big fluffy towels, all the smells, all the bubbles and allll the candles (or oil diffuser for safety).
Stand in the aisle and smell every single bottle of bubble bath, body wash, shampoo, conditioner there is, then bring 'em home and lock yourself in the bathroom for an hour (or more, not judging, some days are harder than others). Tell hubby he has the kids and take a minute (or sixty-five) for yourself. Grab your mp3 player or phone and all your smelly goods and just disappear. You deserve it. Being a Mom can be hard sometimes, but it is the best "job" you will ever have. Those little (and not-so-little too) people need you to be at your absolute best and you just can't do that if you're stressed to the max with no relief in sight, so treat yourself to a bubble bath tonight. It sounds like a simple fix and it is, really, but the effects will be long lasting and probably very much appreciated by your family.
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Summer break is definitely in full effect! If your family is like mine, you're probably being inundated with complaints of boredom and/or constant hunger, which is another whole different problem all its own. For a few tips on feeding your brood, check out my post, 6 tips for saving $ on your grocery budget during summer break.
Unfortunately, feeding them isn't enough, they will also want to be entertained, so here are a few inexpensive, family friendly, (hopefully) fun ideas to help keep your little angels busy and yourself relatively sane, until school starts back.
Summer is a time for your kids to relax and unwind and a time for you to make some great memories. As I've learned the hard way, our kids are only kids for a little while. Before you know it, they're graduating from high school, getting summer jobs, driving cars and all of a sudden,they don't have time for you, so make the extra effort and spend some quality time goofing off with your kids this summer.
DISCLAIMER: A huge "thank you" to Butterball for sponsoring today's post. All opinions are my own and yours may differ, because we're humans and whatnot.
Whether we like it or not, Father's Day is breathing down our necks. Soon, Dads everywhere will be begrudgingly accepting ties they don't want or need and trying to decipher the oddly shaped lump of clay little Timmy has just placed in his hands.
This year, instead of giving Dad some sub-par crap he will never use or wear, gift him your time. Yes, as cheesy as it sounds, I am suggesting you make your presence his present. Don't laugh. This has worked for me, for years.
I can almost guarantee you, if you ask a Dad what his gift was from last year, he would not remember. People don't remember gifts and material things, they remember experiences. They remember the fact that you took time out of your day to spend with them, not the money you spent on them. So instead of spending a chunk of change on an engraved golf tee he will lose or never use, why not try one (or more) of the fun ideas I have compiled below.
Being raised in the south, fishing has just always been a huge part of my life. Some of the best memories I have with my Dad were made on those early morning fishing trips. Waking up before the sun, stopping for biscuits on the way, watching, listening, learning, bonding. I never knew the patience he showed me way back then, it wasn't until I took my own kids fishing that I actually realized what it must've taken for him to not drown me on more than one occasion. Thanks, Dad.
To this day, it is still something I enjoy very much, even with my kids in tow; especially with my kids in tow. Fishing is fun, relatively inexpensive (after the initial gear purchase) and a great way to just relax and get in some good quality time. Bring a picnic lunch, some bug spray and sunscreen and make a day out of it.
On purpose. Find a trail or local greenway you've never been to before and just go exploring. Hiking is a great opportunity to talk to your Dad, catch up or maybe fix some issues you have from the past. (I'm not judging)
If hiking isn't your "thing", you could always gas up the car and take a mini road trip to somewhere you've never been. You could research places within an hour or so of your general area, or even make a weekend trip out of it. Go see the world's biggest ball of yarn or the largest cow statue in North America. Just go and have fun.
Geocaching is perfect for the Dad who loves the outdoors, but also loves his technology. It's also perfect if you have kids in tow. We have gone geocaching as a family before and everyone (except my husband, who was driving) had a blast.
If you're not familiar with geocaching, it's basically like a modern day treasure hunt using GPS. You download an app to your phone and using your GPS and pre-programmed coordinates that other users have shared, you hunt for treasures (which are usually small bubble gum machine-esque trinkets).
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Before you head out, make sure to bring trinkets of your own to leave behind, in place of the one you take. Also, please be mindful of property and nature when geocaching. Leave the area the way you found it, so others can enjoy the "thrill of the chase".
If the thought of all that fishing, hiking, road tripping and geocaching has you feeling a little bit tired, maybe you'd enjoy your day with Dad more if you just hung out together. Grab a pizza and just go sit and talk to your Dad. Look over old photo albums. Talk about some of your best childhood memories. Ask him about his childhood. Just be with him and listen.
The relationship between a grown child and their father is a very delicate one. It needs to be watered and nourished. It is often difficult to see your Dad through your new, adult eyes. He's still your hero, but you also now know he is just a human being, like you. You learn that he has feelings and a history. That his life did not begin when he had you, that he is so much more than just your Dad. If you take the time to listen, you'd be surprised what you find out about people.
The sports Dad. We all know (and love) him. He's the one who knows every word to "Rocky Top", already has his 2017-18 season pass to all the games and has more team jerseys and baseball caps than he has socks. This Dad is easy to please. Grab a case of beer, a foam finger or two and just go watch a game with him. In the comfort of your own home or at the stadium, it doesn't really matter, just do it.
If there are no games on TV worth watching, head out to your local softball field and watch the kids play, I swear there is nothing like watching a bunch of kids play ball, especially Tee ball. (I would advise against bringing the beer to the ball field)
There's nothing in the world Dads like more than eating charred meat and mayonnaise based side dishes. Trust me, I have polled many men and they always respond with the same answer... "There's nothing in the world I like more than eating charred meat and mayonnaise based side dishes."... Ok, it wasn't a scientific study and I only polled one Dad, my husband, but I digress.
Having a cookout doesn't have to be daunting task. If you can start a fire and read a thermometer, you can grill food. Even if you have zero backyard culinary experience, you can pull off an amazing cookout, with a little help from your friends at Butterball and their awesome Cookbook Plus app. The app is available on iOS or Android and is full of yummy recipes, informational videos, money saving coupons and lots of tips and tricks that will take all the stress and guesswork out of your Father's day cookout. They even have a few vegetarian recipes in there too for the non-meat eaters in the bunch. As I was perusing the app, I came across this beautiful smoked turkey breast with a chipotle rub and knew it would be perfect for a Father's day cookout. It's basically fool proof and super easy and requires little effort. See below for the full recipe.
Smoked Turkey Breast with Chipotle Rub
Ingredients: - Mesquite or hickory wood chips - 2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar - 2 tablespoons ground cumin - 1 tablespoon salt - 1 tablespoon garlic powder - 1 tablespoon smoked paprika - 2 teaspoons ground chipotle pepper - 1 teaspoon chili powder - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened - 1 (5-1/2-pound) BUTTERBALL® Fresh or Frozen Whole Turkey Breast, thawed if frozen, rinsed and patted dry Directions: 1. Prepare grill for indirect cooking over medium- high heat. Soak wood chips in water at least 30 minutes. 2. Combine brown sugar, cumin, salt, garlic powder, paprika, ground chipotle and chili powder in small bowl; mix well. Place 2tablespoons spice mixture in another small bowl; mix with butter until well combined. 3. Loosen skin over breast by gently sliding hand under skin. Spread butter mixture onto breast under skin. Rub skin and cavity of turkey with remaining spice mixture. 4. Remove some wood chips from water and place chips in small aluminum tray. Place tray under grill rack directly on heat source and allow wood to begin to smolder, about 10 minutes. 5. Place turkey on grill grid. Cover; grill 1hour. Replenish wood chips after 1hour. Grill until meat thermometer reaches 170°F when inserted into thickest part of breast not touching bone. Transfer to cutting board. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.
No matter what you decide to do for/with Dad this year, just do something. If Dad is out of state, you still have time to send him a card. Pick up the phone on Sunday and tell him you love him, tell him "Thank you for all the times you didn't kill me or call the cops on me when I was a jerkhole teenager" or whatever.
Dads sometimes get a bad rap, because they're men and not Moms, but I, for one, had a pretty kickass Dad. He took me fishing, taught me how to drive without killing me or cussing (too much), he always had time for me, even when he really didn't. He taught me right from wrong and he taught me how to hit a ball. He taught me that women are special and deserve to be treated as such. He taught me that marriage can last and people can work together for a common goal; love. Thanks, Dad for all you've done and all you continue to do. I love you! If you're looking for a cheap, no frills, electronics-free afternoon of fun for your kids, look no further. This super easy DIY pool noodle sprinkler was easy to throw together and only cost $2 to make. As I was perusing the interwebs, looking for something to do to keep myself sane for the next couple of months, I came across this awesome video from Make it and Love It. It looked easy enough and if it didn't work, I was only out two bones, sooo, I decided to give it a shot and it worked!
Micah was so excited and honestly, so was I. I really expected it to leak and be a huge mess, but it wasn't. My only "complaint" will come at the end of the month when I see my water bill. Whatever, it's a small price to pay for a few minutes of electronics free fun.
DISCLAIMER: A huge "thank you" to Butterball for sponsoring today's post. All opinions are my own and yours may differ, because we're humans and whatnot.
Even though there are still 24 days until the official start of Summer, the BBQ season is quickly creeping up on us, kicking off on Memorial day, next Monday. Since I am a Memorial Day baby, while most people are all like... "Woo-hoo...red white and blue", I'm all like... "Woo-hoo...red, white and cake".
So, in an effort to keep myself on track and not blow all the hard work I put in over the Winter, I have put together a few tips I plan to use; hopefully, they will help you too.
First things first, decide what your goals are for the upcoming months and decide how you plan to meet those goals. Are you trying to lose weight, maintain your current weight or maybe you just need to tone up a little bit.
All of these goals are achievable, even during the Summer BBQ season, with a little bit of forethought and will-power, or in my case, "won't power"... I won't eat allll the cake... only a little.
What I feel might just be the most important tip: Don't set yourself up for failure. If you know you will be attending a backyard function, plan ahead.
Ask the host(ess) what they will be serving and plan accordingly. If you know there won't be a side-dish you can eat, bring your own or bring your own low carb dessert. If your host(ess) is a friend, they are probably already aware of your diet and will not be the least bit offended by you bringing your own food. If, for some odd reason, you find yourself at a "surprise BBQ" and you had no time to plan, no worries, just adapt. For low carb'rs, this would be super easy, since most all BBQ fare is meat based, you're good. Ditch the hamburger bun, wrap that bad boy in lettuce and call it even.
My next tip... Keep moving, even if you don't want to. For me, this is the hardest one to actually stick with. If you have kids, Summer can seem a bit Groundhog's Day-esque. The same day being replayed over and over and over, for what seems like an eternity. Skipping workouts sounds more and more appealing with each passing, monotonous day, but don't do it, it's a trick! (don't ask me how I know this)
Instead of dreading your workout, try to make it something fun, something less "workout-y", more adventure-y. Something you are more likely to actually do. Make out a list of things you would normally find at a park or even in your back yard, then enlist the help of the kids to have an "eye spy" kind of adventure, looking for items on the list, like a scavenger hunt.
Or, you could pack all the kids up and head to the lake, the Y or even your (during the Summer) favorite cousin's house and go for a swim. Swimming is a great cardio workout and great for building and toning muscles and who doesn't like to play Marco Polo?!
Speaking of water... my next tip is: Stay hydrated!!! Yes, three exclamation points, three, because it is that important. Drinking water is super important for anyone, but especially those who will be outside during the next few months and especially kids and old folks. (like me) Also, limit your alcohol intake while you're outside in the heat. Save that part of the partying until you're inside. Everyone knows, passing out on concrete hurts way more than passing out on carpet. All that being said, if you still don't think you can do it on your own, ask for help. Find a support group on Facebook for the type of diet you are following. Read books. Do your research. Enlist the help of the Butterball Cookbook Plus app. This app, available on iOS or Android is full of yummy recipes, informational videos, money saving coupons and lots of tips and tricks that will take all the stress and guesswork out of eating healthy. They even have a few vegetarian recipes in there too. We love turkey, because it is a very lean protein, which is good for low carb'rs like myself, because too much protein can turn into sugar, which is highly counterproductive for this way of eating. This BLT turkey burger would be great for a Memorial Day BBQ and can even be tweaked to fit a low carb plan too, by omitting the honey and wrapping in lettuce instead of the bun or you could just go all out and call it a "cheat", I won't tell.
BLT Turkey Burger
Ingredients: - ¼ cup fat-free mayonnaise - 1-1/2 teaspoons honey - 1 teaspoon chipotle pepper sauce - 1 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro - 4 BUTTERBALL® Original Seasoned Frozen Turkey Burgers - 4 slices (1/2ounce each) reduced-fat Cheddar cheese - 4 Kaiser rolls, split and toasted - 1 cups shredded lettuce - 4 slices red onion (about 1/8-inch thick) - 4 slices tomato - 1 avocado, cut into 8 slices - 4 slices BUTTERBALL® Turkey Bacon, cooked and cut in half Directions: 1. Combine mayonnaise, honey, chipotle pepper sauce and cilantro. Refrigerate until ready to use. 2. Prepare turkey burgers according to package directions for broiling or on pre-heated grill. 3. When burgers are cooked, top each with 1 slice cheese. Broil 1 minute or until cheese is melted. 4. Spread 1-1/2 teaspoons mayonnaise mixture on cut sides of each roll. Layer each bottom half with 1/4 cup shredded lettuce, 1 slice onion and 1 slice tomato. Top each with cheese-topped burger, 2 slices avocado and 2 turkey bacon pieces. Cover each with top of roll.
When all is said and done and the Summer is fading into Fall, all we really want to do is look back and know we had an amazing Summer, making new memories with our family. No one will remember how jiggly your legs were at the beach. No one will remember how many squats or reps or burpees (what the hell even is that?!) you did.
What they will remember is the fun times you had while digging for worms in the back yard, to go fishing. They will remember the water balloon fights and the marshmallow roasting and the impromptu cookouts for no reason whatsoever, just to enjoy each other's company. They will remember the bugs and critters you saw while wandering the woods and the stories of your childhood you relayed along the way, not the size of your jeans or the size of your batwings. (ladies, you know what I'm talking about)
So get out there, enjoy your kids, enjoy the season and all the yummy deliciousness that goes along with it, because they won't be little forever and tomorrow is next year before you know it.
In celebration of the recent release of Mickey's newest adventure, "Sporty-thon", my friends at Disney have sent me these fun activity sheets and clip to share with you guys.
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