HOW TO BEAT THE SUMMER BREAK BOREDOM!

by with No Comment adventureartback to schoolfamilywellness

Have you ever felt pressure to have plans made for your time off, that ‘breaks’ during the year feel more like time on and less like time off? First it was Spring break, now we have Summer break approaching, and if you have little ones at home I almost feel like it’s easier for you to occupy your time. With my little one in college she isn’t little any more, so now Summer breaks just feel like really long weekends! ha

So today I’ve compiled my favorite things to do to beat the summer break boredom! Lets face it, you’ve probably already hiked that hike 893 times and visited that secret getaway spot enough times to know that it isn’t secret any more.

  1. Explore more – instead of googling the best places to visit, just pull up Groupon or Living Social and explore their many travel and ‘things to do’ tabs! You’ll be surprised by how spontaneous you are to go indoor sky diving on a Tuesday 😉
  2. Blaze new trails– try playing “hike roulette”, or ‘blind picnic picking’ which require only an app on your phone and a packed lunch! The way we do it is we pull up Yelp on our phones, we pick an area we want to explore and a number! Whatever number of whatever hiking trail or park corresponds with one another, we go for it! Love or hate it, you’ll be outside and enjoying new views! *Pro-tip: Geocache while you’re at it, just don’t forget to bring an item you can leave behind
  3. Take some you time – it’s totally okay to do nothing with your time off and reinvest in your own health, especially your mental health, after all it IS your time off. Take some time to be still in the morning, light some incense, do some yoga, and before you know it your routing will not only refill your personal well, but it’ll prepare you for that long awaited yoga retreat!
  4. Vacation, staycation, shmaycation – oldie but goodie, getaways are the quickest ways to put a long lasting smile on your face. You’ll reflect on what the sand felt like and what the air smelled like wherever you went to just get away. You’ll remember what your favorite meal of the trip was and how it brought you and your family closer, and you closer to feeling more positive and less weighed down by the every day mook. Shmaycation … I’m all for it
  5. Feed your inner kid – literally and figuratively! If that means pizza and movie night, paint night at home or at your favorite art shop, popcorn making and Jenga, rolling down a hill and then jumping into a strangers pool (don’t get arrested I can’t bail you out), or building a fort in your living room equipped with flashlights and finger foods, DO IT! Do all of it! It’s incredible how freeing and FREE it is to just be silly, and laugh, and be you

Summer break is only a few weeks away, what do you have planned to beat the summer boredom blues?!

 

 

 

 

COACHELLA ESSENTIAL MAKEUP SKINCARE PACKING LIST!

by with 2 Comments adventurebeautyfestivalsget the lookhealthlifestylemakeupreviewsskin caretravel

We’re in the final weekend of Coachella 2017 so I thought today I’d hook you up with my top 5 makeup and skincare essentials for your Coachella packing list! You’re not only going to be dancing in the desert, swinging under the sun and sky, and walking for miles each day, but NOW you’re gonna be prepared for all of it!

PURPLE TALE MASKS

You’re only 5 simple steps away from absolutely LOVING the skin you’re in! With the wind, the dirt, the dust, and the sun weathering you all day this weekend, you’ll definitely need this 5 step system to bring your face back to life! *you’ll get 10% off your next order if you sign up for their email list

K&K SEA SALT TEXTURE SPRAY

This sea salt spray is making a come back because I use it ALL the time! It smells like a vacation and will give your locks some body and movement! Extra point for it’s coconut sexy scent that will refresh your do after a day of struttin in the sand!

LAURA MERCIER LIGHT STRUCK

This festival season we’ve seen a lot of highlighter, glitter, and glittered highlighter! 😉 We’re obsessed with this Laura Mercier lightstruck prismatic glow palette. This cream highlighter is super light, blendable, and highly pigmented to give you that fresh Coachillin soul glow baby!

HANALEI LIP TREATMENT 

Don’t neglect your pout it’ll be lip syncing all through the weekend! With kukui oil and grape seed oil, this lip balm adds sheen while moisturizing! Yes please!

PROPLENISH COLLAGEN SATCHETS

Hydrate from the inside out why dontcha! Proplenish is my favorite collagen supplement, a powder that you can pour into any drink (I put it in my tea with fresh lemon!) and it will restore and replenish your skin from within! Do it, you’ll see the difference within a week!

Did you go to Coachella this year? What was your favorite performance?! What was your number one favorite product to pack?! Share! 

 

 

 

 

5 WAYS TO SPRING CLEAN YOUR LIFE!

by with No Comment healthhome decorinspirationlifestylepersonalwellness

Spring has S P R U N G! Have you heard?! Everyone I talk to is all buzzing about Spring time, the change in season, the change in weather, and the change they’re feeling internally. What is it about a new season that makes us feel the need to turn a new leaf? Pun intended.

So June 20th will mark mid Spring- like we’ll officially be in the middle of the season! I said June… can you believe we’re talking about JUNE?! So I thought instead of freaking out over how FAST this year is flying by, I’d chill out and share with you the top 5 ways to spring clean your life. Hey, if I have to deal with the crazy so do you 😉


FRESH FLOWERS – this is a good one. Not even gonna lie, spending the $3 at Trader Joe’s for some fresh flowers is totally worth having fresh flowers every week. Can’t put a price on attitude amirite? There’s something about the presence of flowers (like real ones) that makes a difference in your space. The color, the movement, the smell. Yes, stop and smell your flowers. Did I mention they’re only $3!

CANDLES – this is a real one. All the candles, light them. Every time you light a candle a Fragile Rock finds its way home … or something like that but it works. Use it for meditation. And to rid your space of that bad bad ju ju.

MEDITATION – this is a big one. Which moves me into the next tip which is to actually meditate. I personally don’t know how to be still and appreciate it so I’m still working on it. But even if it means you close your eyes for 10 mins and be still, practice yoga, read a book, or take some time in the car to just breathe, it all helps. Everything helps when everything hurts. Okay now I’m just being dramatic. Taking some time to regroup will allow your mind the ability to focus on the purge to come. *being super extra now

ACTUALLY SPING CLEAN – this is a literal one. Yes clean, clean your closet out, clean out your fridge, get rid of the 347 mugs you’ll never use but that you’re waiting to Insta-Story because they say things like, “Go the extra mile, it’s never crowded”. Get. it. together. Oh, no pressure I know! I hear people talk about Spring cleaning and my eyes glaze over. The last thing I want to do on a chill Saturday morning is go through all of my things and organize. But we gotta do it! We’re adulting. It’s also okay if now’s the time you purge toxic people from your life. Just blame it on cleaning out your closet.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT YOUR GOALS – this is my favorite one. It may be time to revisit your vision board, does anything need to be added or removed? Is it in a place you can see every day and not shoved behind the dresser? Does it reflect your current goals? It’s normal to look at your vision board and go “pffftttt!” LOL because where you were 6 months ago may  not be where you’re at today and that’s okay. Jot down your current feels, be realistic, and remember to think big – like still aim for those stars baby!

And that’s it! Those FIVE super simple steps to Spring cleaning your life. Mostly this is for me too because I’m stuck somewhere between learning to be still and actually cleaning 😀

 

When you Spring clean what’s the first thing you go through? Your car? Your home? Your mind space? Have you glazed over yet? 

 

 

 

 

 

EASY EASTER TREATS – DIY WITH THE KIDDOS!

by with No Comment bakingDIYfamilyfoodholidayhostingrecipes

Last year on Easter’s Eve I slipped bunny tracks under Corrine’s door, they led to the living room table where her basket was waiting filled with her favorite things. To say I’m dramatic about holidays is an understatement! I still do these fun, cheesy things for her and she’s NINETEEN! lol

It’s Easter weekend in a few days so I wanted to share one of the yummiest and EASIEST Easter treats with you! It’s a fun DIY activity you can do with the kiddos and only takes 10-15 minutes to complete!

How stinkin’ cute are these fruity pebble treats! We hand formed them into nest shapes and filled them with chocolate eggs topped with Peeps! Sugar overload but soooo worth it, I swear I just wanna make rice crispy treats with every cereal out there!

You’ll simply make the traditional “rice crispy treat” recipe and instead of the original rice crispy cereal, you’ll swap it out for any cereal you like. In this case we used Fruity Pebbles because the color combination was so pretty and festive, not to mention it tastes tangy, sweet, and all things delicious.

Top your ‘nests’ with the chocolate eggs of your choice and pop a lil Peep bunny on there to complete this yummy and easy Easter treat!

 

 

What’s your favorite Easter dessert or recipe? I personally cannot wait until we get to tye dye eggs with Corrine! Even though she doesn’t seem as excited as we are, I know she loves that I’ve continued the tradition with her. 

 

 

 

 

Antelope Valley Poppy Blooms! Travel California

by with 5 Comments adventurecommunityinspirationlifestyletravel

It’s kind of a big deal here in California when things actually bloom! So you can imagine how we straight F L O C K to sights like these poppy blooms in Antelope Valley. Fields of rolling hills and open spaces just covered in vibrant flowers –  it was an Instagram dream!

There’s distinct trails that you’ll want to trek along when visiting the blooms and if you detour off path not to worry, a park ranger will be sure to kindly redirect you LOL


How marvelous are these meadows! Pro tip: stay on track to avoid snakes (or so we hear?) and please be careful not to step on or disturb the flower beds. We saw a lot of spectators running around in them and I cringed at the thought of a crawly critter jumping up BUT also them stomping the beautiful blooms away! As our camp director once said, “leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures” lol

Leaving you with some hill-hiking fashion courtesy David, Corrine’s boyfriend who helped her capture all of these beautiful images! I hope you make your way to find some flowers and fun adventures for yourself this summer! Picnics out in nature are one of the best things ever given to us by the world, do it!

Do you have trails of blooms where you live? Does it cause quite the commotion like our breathtaking poppy fields do? Share pictures! 

 

 

 

 

STAYCATION – TRAVEL MORE!

by with No Comment adventurefamilyinspirationleisuretravelwellness

When most people think of vacations they conjure up far away islands, flights to new places, and luggage for a week long adventure. I’ll be the first to tell you that vacations are incredible and necessary these days to unplug, reset, and reconnect with the people you love. But it doesn’t always mean that you have to hop on a flight to be able to enjoy a lil R&R, staycations are the new vacation y’all!

A little getaway that’s far enough away from home to feel like a vacation yet close enough to home that you don’t have to fuss over big plans. For us, our staycation took us close to the beach one day and pool side the next. With Joe working away from home, my head stuck in a planner navigating the five weddings we have this summer (our own included), and Corrine busy with school, work, and an internship . . . we were ready to get outta dodge.

I don’t think you should ever feel guilty for wanting to escape your life for a moment. The reality is that we’re all cranking away at work, at life, and working at life! So take some time to get away and refill your well, even if that means you simply drive to another town to try out that new lunch spot, or hike an unfamiliar trail to picnic at the top. Whatever relaxation looks like to you, trust me it looks a lot like paradise! Routine is never fun, switch it up buttercup!

We happily enjoyed our little paradise away from home for the weekend, soaked up the sun poolside and then sticking our toes in the sand beachside. So of course I have to share some of my absolute must have for any daycation getaway-vacation: my sandals, my bikini cover up, my TIU sea salt spray, and of course SPF for my face, lips, and body <3

If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter than you know we also packed some champs, champagne gummies, and a ton of snacks for this staycation of ours! See the running theme here? #champs The delicious and colorful cocktails with cranberry and fig goodness was courtesy one of our favorites, Figenza! We added in some lemon wedges, a splash of bubbly, sparkling water and called it a day(cation) … see what I did there 😉 best.time.ever.

Do you go on staycation adventures? Where would you love to vacation next and when is a staycation far enough from home that you consider it a vacation? 

 

 

 

 

LOCAL EATS L.A. – VOODOO DONUTS!

by with No Comment adventurecommunityfoodreviewstravel

It’s about time I thank Portland for its sole contribution to my expanding waist line LOL Anyone else? No, just me mkayyy. Well if you’ve ever savored the flavors of Salt & Straw, relished in a creamy cheese by Tillamook , or basked in the light of the combined ice cream + Tillamook’s brand, than you too can send this post to Portland as a thank you.

A lot of Portland’s local sensations have made their way out of the big city into some of our own towns, and have I mentioned Salt & Straw yet?! Okay if that name sounds unfamiliar to you, please locate one asap, go overindulge and thank me later. In the meantime, we have our friends Karissa and Sebastian to thank for hand delivering us to this deliciousness this past weekend!

A recent addition to Los Angeles from the great city of Portland is Voodoo Donuts. I have to say, there’ve been a lot of conflicting verdicts when it comes to if the donuts are delicious or not. Can I just emphasize here . . . they’re DONUTS! I personally don’t have a palette advanced enough to turn down a donut, even if it were on the floor of a subway station. Oh I’d take a second glance! 😉

So we gave it a go after seeing a ton of Instagram photos showing off their picks at their newest location in Universal City Walk.  After a half hour wait we were there, at the front door, aroma and all! Lots of photo ops, they know what they’re doing!

And what was our ruling? Well our group was elbow deep in fried fluffy pastry bread, milk, and there were a lot of happy dances happening lol Again, they’re just donuts, who doesn’t love donuts?! But I get it, if I’m comparing Voodoo donuts to places like Dunkin Donuts, Yum Yum’s, or any other donut place, there really isn’t one.

Sorry if that’s disappointing, but honestly if you placed two donuts in front of me, one from Voodoo and one from Yum Yum’s, I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. Wrapping this up I’ll say this, Voodoo Donuts may be pricey, they may be all fancy looking with their fancy toppings, but I’ll give ’em this, they’re yummy. They make a signature donut called the Voodoo Doll and it’s damn delicious!

I suggest you make a trip over there and try a box of donuts for yourself, see how you feel about them! And don’t be alarmed but this was the only photo I got of said Voodoo Doll person, it was too delicious to wait haha

Any newness in your hood? I hear we have a new coffee shop opening much like Philz Coffee and I couldn’t be happier about it! I love coffee! I love dessert! I love food! 

 

 

 

 

MUSINGS – WHIMSY AND ROW

by with No Comment beautyhome decorhome improvementstyle

If you consider sprinkling flowers around the place decorating, than I’m an interior designer 😉 I think simple additions like fresh florals and nice smelling candles make your home cozy and inviting – it’s the little things I tell ya! Today’s post is inspired by the most effortlessly charming shop around that currently contributes to our Spring-time home makeover.

Our recent visit to Whimsy and Row was for their launch party in Venice, CA. With live music, laughs and libations, it was such a fun event and I had some of my best girls with me! Swag bags are always so appreciated especially from locally ran businesses where we get to support fellow entrepreneurs, but this swag bag was SUH-WAG-GA-LICIOUS!

Huge shout out to P.F. Candle Co., The Giving Keys, Led To Believe, and Back Beat Rags for their generosity, we’re officially fans! Check them out if you haven’t already, add their items to your wardrobe collection or set out some pieces around the house for some Spring flare!

What are some additions around your house that help welcome in a change of season? This can be in your closet or interior design! 

Stay tuned for our “How To Spring Forward” post! Slowly but surely we’ll all be prepared to declutter our lives and decorate the crap out of our homes! lol

 

 

 

FESTIVAL FASHION AND ACCESSORIES!

by with 2 Comments adventurefashionfestivalsget the looklifestylelook bookmusicstyle

Ultra Music Festival, Spring Craft Fest, C O A C H E L L A!!! Yes it’s festival season! So with festival season approaching, Spring a springin’, and new fashion trends, I thought today I’d share with you my favorite festival fashion and accessories!


Fringe is IN! And in a big way from fringe capped booties, layered fringe cross body bags, to stunning tassel key rings from Led To Believe. Swoon! There’s something playful and fun about fringe that I want to put them on everything. And don’t get me started on these gorgeous tassel earrings, the bright red adds a pop of color and will elevate any look <3 Double swoon.

But is it really a festival if you aren’t draped in floral chiffon? Maxis are all the rage and this one is dreamy, flowy, and allows for a breeze to make it’s way through all of that dessert dancing you’ll be doing!


Trendy and purposeful, a wide brimmed hat and some cute sunnies will keep the sun out of your eyes and off your face. #teamnosquinting Pro tip: don’t forget to charge your camera batteries and bring extra SD cards if you’re toting it along for the duration of the festivities. I’ve lost many a great memories due to dead batteries lol

Ahhh yes, and the shoes. Saved the best for last with these Billy Ella celestial booties! I mean, how stellar are they, just look at em! Granted, a great pair of comfortable shoes are essential for any festival trekking- but oh HEY THERE magical constellations … on my feet!


Every boot, pump, and wedge deserves to be given a chance with some good insoles, so pick you up a pair and go ahead- dance for hours baby!

I hope this inspires you to run out and grab the first tasseled-trinket, fringed n’ frolicked look and then buy yourself some festival tickets!

 

What are your current favorite festival fashion pieces?!