Sustainable & Creative Living
Hot Florida summer days call for some major cool down tactics around my house. My tiny toddler works up a major sweat running around the park and blowing bubbles in the backyard. DIY Summer Popsicles are an easy and healthy way to cool down overheated children without feeling guilty about [Read more…]
Beach vacationing with a toddler is not the same vacation I took pre-baby. Back then I had 10 swimsuits and they all fit and all I cared about packing was snacks, water, and a towel. Post-baby beach vacationing, whether it’s for a week or a weekend, the packing list has [Read more…]
Meagan, Christina, and I decided to take the Plastic Free July Challenge. The goal of the Plastic Free July Challenge is to encourage people to stop single-use plastic product consumption and reduce plastic packaging (at least for the month of July). It’s also to help people become more aware of issues surrounding plastic use in our lives and to encourage new consumption habits moving forward.
Taking a trip to Colorado was definitely one of the best experiences of my life for so many reasons. We got to visit several different parts of the state, I crossed an item off my bucket list, and got to see amazing friends get married!
In part one of this series, I talked about my two days in Boulder, CO. The next part of the adventure took place in Copper Mountain. Copper Mountain is a ski resort in the Rocky Mountains.
One of my favorite treats is this Berry and Greek Yogurt Dessert. I came up with it because I love strawberry shortcake and wanted a tasty lower calorie version. I started off by just mixing and eating pureed berries with Greek yogurt (which I also still enjoy). Adding the rest of the ingredients really give it that yummy berry shortcake-ish taste.
Since I love all the different treats and foods that are served in mason jars these days, I decided to serve my Berry and Greek Yogurt in them for holidays and special occasions! Mason jars have such a quaint and cute appearance. They make just about anything look [Read more…]
Now that summer is in full swing, many of us are spending a lot more time outdoors enjoying picnics, beach days, and just hanging out in the backyard. Unfortunately, outside activities can expose us, and our loved ones, to all kinds of dangerous situations—some minor and some not so minor.
One of those situations that may seem minor, but sometimes isn’t, are Mosquito bites. Mosquitos carry and spread all kinds of diseases such as malaria, dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, West Nile virus, and Zika—to name a few. Over one million people worldwide die from Mosquito-borne diseases. Mosquitos also transmit diseases and parasites to dogs and horses.
I just got back from a week-long vacation (if you follow our social media, you may have noticed) and I received my Ipsy bag the day before I left. So I haven’t had much of a chance this past week to try anything out.
I used to like waiting a few weeks before reviewing the products so I could have a chance to try them all. But by that time I find that everyone has moved onto their excitement for the next month’s bag. So I want to share my first impressions of my June Ipsy Bag.
The glam bag itself is super cute! It’s light canvas with white polka dots and a big ol’ pair of lips on the front. It’s small and lightweight, perfect for summer!
This is my all-time favorite salad! It can be served in the summer, spring, fall, or winter. I’m making it in honor of Father’s Day for my husband because I got this recipe from his late Mother many years ago. To be exact, it was 1983. She gave me the recipe so I could bring this dish to a family Fourth of July party. I still have (and use) the original piece of scrap paper that she wrote the recipe on.
Summer is the time of year for light, fresh, and tasty salads. They can be served at lunch or dinner. They can also be served as an easy stand-alone meal or a yummy side dish at a summer holiday party or picnic. My whole family loves this Veggie and Feta Pasta Salad, especially my husband. We’ll definitely be mixing up a big bowl of it for Father’s Day. Why not make some for the special man in your life.
It’s party time! This time of year a lot of us will be going to at least one party or another—from graduation parties to summer holiday parties and, of course, weddings! There will be plenty of food, drink, and conversation. Festive gatherings are an excellent opportunity to catch up with family and friends. It’s also a great way to meet and socialize with new people. Hopefully, you’ll even make some new friends.
This month I wanted to do something a little different for my May Ipsy Review.
Every month I usually wait about 2 weeks until I review each product. I like to have time to actually use the product so I can give a fair review. That being said, I think by the time I post it everyone has moved on to their hopes and dreams for the next month’s bag.
So I want to review while it’s still fresh in everyone’s minds. I got my May Ipsy bag on May 11th, a little sooner than I usually do so I’ve had it for a few days already. And I can tell you that I’ve already used everything in my bag.
Summer is the perfect time to plan a vacation, especially a Florida Vacation. The kids are off school and flying is much easier without those winter layers. Tampa is always packed and Orlando is even worse. But it’s all in good fun! Except sometimes when it comes to packing. Sure we all know what to pack – toothbrush, extra underwear, bathing suit – those sorts of things make sense. But when planning for a Florida destination vacation there may be a few extras maybe you didn’t think of.
