After cutting, chopping, and dicing all of my fruits and vegetables I decided to make a smoothie. I started throwing in all sorts and fruit. So, I don't really have exact measurements for this recipe. But it was SO good! I just had to write it and down and share it. I desperately hope I can replicate it again. My daughter and I both loved it.
Dancing with Mint Smoothie
8 strawberries (stems on) 1 handful of watermelon 2 slices of cucumber 1/2 cup of milk 1/4 cup coconut milk 3/4 cup water 1 cup Tillamook Vanilla Huckleberry Ice Cream 1 stalk of mint (just leaves) 10 sweet cherries 1/2 banana 1/2 gala apple
Have you seen all of those super cute chalkboard signs all over Pinterest??
K, so for the longest time I thought that people were actually using chalk to make those. I even bought colored chalk to try and make some of my own..... Ya, it really didn't work out so well.
Later on, much later on... like a couple of years after this incident, I found out that they used liquid chalk. "OHHhhhhh...!!!"
And now I finally got to try them for myself!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE them!
They are so cute, and so much fun to use. You can be so creative with them. And if you use Pinterest, like I do, then you have tons of inspiration. Literally, you can spend hours trying to figure out which project you want to do first. I may know this from experience...
Kitchen Supreme sells a pack of 10 beautiful, colorful markers. It also comes with 2 spare tips, and 8 different label stickers. The spare tips are 6mm reversible tips. They have the fine side and the broad side.
They are quite easy to start using. They have an online tutorial, and each marker comes with the instructions on them as well.
It wasn't hard for me to get each marker working. The only issue I had was that my black marker came broken. I opened it and ink went everywhere. The tip was already pushed all the way in. I tried getting it to pop up, but it wouldn't. Then I extracted the tip with tweezers and placed the spare tip in it. It didn't fix it. So, I lost a marker and a tip. I was just really sad because it was my black! Black is a pretty main color and I had plans for it. But I was so pleased with everything else that this wasn't that big of a deal.
You know that first mess of an experience I was telling you about? Well, I had a small chalkboard I had purchased to write on and take pictures with my daughter each month for her first year. It was pretty beat up and so I decided to try these out on it. They recommend to not use chalk markers on porous surfaces, like chalkboard, because it can saturate and stain them.
I really screwed up the whisk, the top design, and the first line. Aaahhh! But I didn't want to try and fix my mistakes because I was afraid it would make the board look uglier. So, this was all first attempt sketch. Don't judge.
Then I started feeling really creative and decided to try them out on glass. My parents recently visited the Biltmore Estates a couple of weeks ago and had brought me back some grape juice. Today I finished off the bottle and decided to keep it. I'm all about that up-cycling trend. I thought it would be really cute with a couple of tulips in it. Instead, I tried writing on the bottle with chalk.
It was so easy to fix my mistakes. I just used a wet wipe and then dried it with a paper towel. It's still not very pretty. I'm learning.Don't pay attention to the fact that it's very off-centered either.
Last, but not least, I used it on my dry-erase board. Yes, it's simple and not so pretty, but you get the idea.
And it wipes off! No wet wipes on this surface. Just use a paper towel or tissue like you normally do with your dry-erase markers. Love it! My boards are gonna start looking so cute!
I am super-duper excited to use the labels that came with the markers. They are faux-chalkboard and STICKERS! I was thinking they would be perfect for leaving love notes on lunch boxes, doors, bathroom mirrors, or above the key-hanger. Or you can stick them on your dishes for a party! So many possibilities. Here is something I found on the web (ahem... Pinterest).
If you're looking for some additional inspiration, here are a couple of my favorites:
And if you're thinking to yourself, "I can't write with those and make it look cute."
Yes, you can!
(Too bad I didn't read this until after I did all of my little projects)
Any way you do it, Go Crazy! You can always erase it.
If you do get some markers for yourself, I want to see what you create. Leave a comment with a link so I can check it out.
And if you want the same kit that I tried, you can find them on Amazon HERE
If you're looking to have fun with your little girl this summer then I have the perfect DIY for you!
Paint a butterfly on her face.
If she's like my little girl, she will absolutely LOVE it!
Best of all, you don't have to wait in any hot lines at a fair!!
Alright, are you ready? Here we go...
1. Use purple face paint to create a shape similar to the number two. I started above her eye and created a triangle that slanted up and out.
I swooped down around her eye and along her cheek until it reached the same height as her nose.
From there I angled down towards her jawline. Almost in line with the bottom of her earlobes.
2. Once the purple has dried, use blue.
I started at the center of her face by her eyebrows. I made a smaller triangle that swooped down to the bottom of her and thinned out.
Then I did the cheek, starting at the point closest to her nose I made an elongated triangle. I followed the lines I made with the purple, but brought them in by a couple of centimeters.
3. Then I added white.
I started up at the eyebrows again. I just made a few white lines and flared them out, all starting at the same point.
Then I did the same thing on the cheeks starting next to the nose.
Finally I added random spots of white by each point next to her brows, on the outer edge of her eyes, and at the bottom point of the wing.
4. Last, but not least. I added a black accent.
I started at the brows and flared it up and out, almost like a cat-eye.
Then I came down along the edge to her eye-line and thinned it out.
I started at the crease between the wings and brought it along the edge to the lowest point and created another exaggerated point.
Finally, I brought it up along the bottom of the wing and ended about 1.5 inches from the inner edge of the wing. I tried creating a swoopy antennae, but my daughter just couldn't sit still any longer. I ended up erasing it (a million times), and decided just to do straight lines. I added a few in each direction. I did one main long one, one of medium length on the bottom, and a short thin line in the middle.
I created the identical look on the opposite side. I did not connect the antennae on both sides. I left a 1-2 cm gap.
But you can do it however you'd like. Be creative and free with your design. This is just what I liked and what worked easiest for me.
That's it!
4 colors and you're done!
I only used the paintbrush to create this look.
If you want the same face-painting kit that I used, you can find it HERE.
A couple of weekends ago I braved the County Safety Fair. Let's just say it was a scary experience with two kiddos. The crowds were insane. I honestly don't know if I'll do that again next year.
And I am a horrible mom because I did not want to wait in all of the lines. My daughter wanted to get her face painted, but the line was so long. It was very hot that day and both kids were restless and tired.
Luckily, I was given another opportunity to get my daughter's face painted. Beetastic sent me their kit to try out for free in return for an honest review. I was so nervous to try it though. I have never tried painting anyone's face before.
And would my 3-year old actually sit still long enough for me to do it??
She was quite excited about the whole experience. I gave her a couple of options for which animal she wanted me to attempt. We both agreed on the butterfly.
It took me just a little while to get the hang of how much water to wet the brush with. But once I got used to it, it was very easy. The hardest part was getting her not to move. It may not be the prettiest job in the world, but I am quite pleased with how it turned out. I am not very artistic and my daughter is very wiggly, so I call this a huge success!
And it was super easy to wipe off my mistakes. (There were plenty). I just used a baby wipe and they cleaned up easily.
After I was done, my daughter put both hands against her face in excitement and I panicked because I hadn't gotten a picture yet. Thankfully, the paint dries almost immediately. This is a good thing because it makes it easier to layer the colors.
The kit comes with eight color palettes - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, white, and black. It also comes with 2 double-sided applicators, one paintbrush, and 2 sponges. It has everything that you need. Well, except the water and baby wipes.
I loved my kit! At first I thought it was small and would only be good for a couple of uses, but this paint goes a LONG way. We hardly used any. There will be plenty to keep us entertained all summer long. Maybe we'll have a play date and do a friend's face as well.
We left it on her face all day because she absolutely loved it. She never complained about it itching or bothering her at all. I actually think she forgot about it a couple of times until she saw her reflection. And when I did take it off, it came off so easily. It took me like 2 seconds to take it off. And I didn't have to scrub at all - which I am sure she appreciated. You couldn't even tell she had anything on her face all day after I took it off. It did not stain her skin, and there was no redness, irritation, or dryness. YaY! I am so glad it was so gentle on her sensitive skin.
I absolutely loved this product!
If you and your kiddos want to skip the long lines at the fair this summer and want to give it a go at home then this is a great kit! You can find ot on Amazon HERE. Plus, Prime members get free 2-day shipping.
Have fun!
and if you want a quick how-to on the butterfly design, you can find it HERE.
I like to be soft and girly, but I also love to be toned and muscularly defined.
I believe that you can be both.
I want to have my cake and it eat it too. Literally.
I always wear gloves when I hit the weights at the gym. I've worn through quite a few pairs.
I am so thankful that I trashed my gloves and not my hands.
I've come to know that there are HUGE differences with weight-lifting gloves. Here are a few things to consider before you buy your next pair:
Are they easy to get on your hands? Are they easy to get OFF your hands? Are they affordable? Are they cute? Do they come in different sizes? Are they the right size for you? Are they easy to clean? Are they durable? Do they protect the callus-prone areas of your hands? Are they going to snag your cute workout clothes? Do they pinch your hands? Do they grip? Are they comfortable?
As you can see, there are more things to consider than "Are these workout gloves?"
I have dealt with a lot of these issues. Some of them are tolerable and some of them are downright aggravating.Don't assume the raging Hulk at the gym suffers from 'roid-rage. It's probably just his annoying gloves. Jkjk.
Most guys I know don't wear gloves at the gym because "gloves are for girls." Then again, most guys I know at the gym have grotesque hands. No way would they ever touch me with their deformed palms and fingers. If I ever go into cardiac arrest while working out, I hope somebody that wears gloves is the one performing CPR on me. Or else I might end up asphyxiating on my vomit when they bring me back from the dead. Ok, so this may be a slight exaggeration. This mainly pertains to the guys that do a lot of chin-ups or dead-lifts. This is for the guys that have raw and bloody hands that are constantly peeling off the dead remnants of their palms.
I love wearing gloves. They help me grip. I actually feel like it is easier to do chin-ups, pull-ups, dead-lifts, etc. when wearing gloves. Not because they take any of the effort away, but because I don't have to quit early because my hands are in pain.
For Fit Sake has created a weightlifting glove that is unlike any other that I have tried. They are only four-fingered. They do not wrap around your thumb. They do not cover your entire palm. And they only go up to the first joint in my fingers. They do look a little odd. And they definitely feel different.
But they work.
I like the fact that they don't cover my entire palm. It makes it so that my hands don't get nearly as hot as usual, which means less sweat. I also like that they don't go beyond the Proximal Inter-Phalangeal Joint. I have had gloves that cover this area and they feel very awkward. It makes it more difficult to get a good grip.
I wish they were a little tighter though. I like things snug and sure when I'm lifting something that weighs nearly as much as I do. I feel like I'm constantly having to readjust them. They bulge along the palm area when I make a fist. It could just be that my hands are very petite though.
The material is very breathable however. This is great because exercise gear tends to build up bacteria. I can throw mine in the wash and they turn out just fine. I don't put them in the dryer. I just let mine air-dry.
There is a honeycomb design that runs along each finger to help increase grip. It's not a ton though. As soon as you release your grip your gloves will too. Some gloves are covered in an excessive amount of grip material. This is not the case with these gloves.
If you're into Crossfit Training, rope climbing, weight-lifting, or bodybuilding then you could definitely benefit from these gloves.They will protect the delicate skin of your palms and prevent it from developing callouses or tearing. For Fit Sake's weightlifting gloves are a great alternative to taping. You have to replace them far less often; they are easier to apply; and they create less waste.
If you want to check them out for yourself, you can find them on Amazon HERE.
Robin Wagner knows this better than most people. A marriage that ended in divorce has left her as distrusting as her grumpy old cat, John Wayne. Lucky for her, she has her girlfriends that are always by her side and pushing her, if not dragging her, towards happiness. In an attempt to quiet her family and friends she attempts the internet dating scene. As always, love stinks. After weeding through the losers, perverts, and psychos she finally finds prospects and gives it a go. Though not before she runs into a friend from her past that has scars of his own.
It's a story full of comedic flare and a dash of romance. It's cheeky, witty, and surprising just like Robin.It will have you laughing, hurting, and swooning all in one. I loved the witty remarks. Even the serious moments were chalked full of repartee. I fell in love with the story as soon as I started reading.
I could relate to the main character in many ways. Here is a small excerpt from Robin's online dating profile for you to enjoy:
Favorite Food: I bet that’s like asking a mom which is her favorite kid. I totally love all kinds of food as long as it doesn’t have curry in it. Currently, I’m having a bad romance with cookie dough ice cream and boneless honey barbecue wings with ranch. But not at the same time. Shhh…they don’t know about each other.
Although I did get a little nervous. After reading the prologue and getting a couple of chapters into the book I thought I might have accidentally dipped into a XXX novel. I found relief when it never actually got into the details of her romances. There are many sexual mentions scattered about and so it is definitely an adult read. For those that are bothered by panty-dropping references this is probably not a book for you.
There is also a lot of cursing. I am usually bothered by the use of swear words. I think they are demeaning and lack purpose. Though, in this book they help to create the character. Robin is not a proper lady like her mother. She is bold, rough, and unapologetic. She knows who she is and what she wants. She is unwilling to change for anyone, especially a man. If cursing is too offensive to you then I would not recommend this book to you either.
But the story is great. I loved this novel by Paulette Oakes. It had me hooked immediately. I could not put it down. I actually kept my daughters up until 11pm just so I could finish it. It was that captivating! It is one of the best stories that I have read in a long time. Paulette is a truly talented writer.
I knew it was a good book because I was sad when it ended. Luckily, it's not completely over. It is part of the Love Me Right series. Love Hurts will be the next book. I cannot wait for it to be released so that I can continue reading and following the story. The cliffhanger was too much for me to bear.
If you're looking for your next addicting read then this is a great choice. I highly suggest this book to anyone that has ever been hurt by love or is just looking for a book that they can jump into, heart and all.
