A couple of weeks ago over on Instagram, I shared what a struggle it is to shop for teen girls and actually agree on what to get!! So many of you sent in messages agreeing, and asking us to share any of our finds! So after a lot of back and forth, and a pile of returns waiting for us, we finally found some great pieces we both love!! Which kind of feels like a miracle!! Our rules were no spaghetti straps, no belly showing, and no bum showing, which was shockingly hard! But instead of me walking you through what we found, we are putting the spotlight back on Hunter with a little Teen Takeover!! She is going to highlight her top favorite trending looks for teens right now!
I really love a good frayed short, especially with distressing. But my mom doesn’t like a ton of distressing if its too high or close to the crotch area. (which I get) They are super easy short to pair with anything. Honestly I just really like the whole look and style of them. I also own some rolled up shorts…as you’ll see below. I thought these were my favorites + looked best on me. My mom on the other hand said she liked the cut offs better and now I’m realizing she was totally right! So girls listen to your moms because know… I wish I would have listened.
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:: TANK TOPS
These were really hard for me to find because the fact that I am a littler taller. All I see girls wearing are spaghetti strap or crop tops and I really wanted the same, but rules. After ordering from quite a few stores we finally some that both my parents and myself could agree on. These tanks aren’t too long or too short and the straps are thicker so it was a go with my mom.
I really love graphic tees!! I honestly loved them on my mom, so I thought I should try them and am now obsessed. You can pair them with a dressy skirt (which I learned from my mom) or leggings, jeans or cut offs. Basically anything and everything. I love that there are so many different ones to choose from. We have found a lot of cute ones here + here at really good price points. Also don’t forget you can tie them in a knot if they are too long and bulky or tuck them in all the way or do a half tuck. So play around with how you style them.
Oh my gosh!! These are my absolute favorite sandals!! They totally fit to your foot. You can get them in a regular width or narrow fit. Whatever fits your foot best. Also you can get nice leather ones, colored waterproof ones. They come in sooooo many different colors. I personally am getting the black waterproof ones for summer, because you can wear them where ever and don’t have to worry about getting them dirty or wet when you go out to the pool. They also have knock off ones at Target that my friends got last year and the white color didn’t last very long or hold up. So maybe think about getting the darker colors if you go that route.
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We hope you loved this Hunter Teen Takeover! It was so much fun for us, that we are thinking about making it a more regular occurrence. If that is something you would love, let us know what topics you want her to cover in the comments or over on Instagram!
Happy Thursday!! We officially made it to April!! While Utah’s weather is still being a little bit hormonal with the snow and sunshine, we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and starting to shed the layers. Which means we are going to be showing some skin that sure hasn’t seen the sun in a while, and that can be scary! Am I right?! There is just something about feeling tan that gives you that boost of confidence. It really helps you feel a little more on your A game. And since I have tried my fair share of allllll things tanning options, I thought we would talk all things sunless tanners today! Check out some of my tried + true tips + favorites below!
So let’s get started! Raise your hand if you are completely overwhelmed with all of the sunless tanner options out there? I swear I hear about a new one every day!! I have tried so so many, but want to share my favorites with you and why they make my top tanner list.
:: ST TROPEZ SELF TAN EXPRESS BRONZING MOUSSE + LOVING TAN DELUXE BRONZING MOUSSE
Both the st tropez mousse and the loving tan mousse options are gold when it comes to sunless tanners. I have been rotating between the two and loving them both. They give such a good dark quality color while still looking natural. They are both a mousse so they go on evenly relatively easy, aren’t streaky, and it is easy to see where you are applying it.
This stuff still just blows my mind. It is perfect for those times where you didn’t really plan ahead and need an amazing instant tan, if you don’t plan on getting wet. Think family pictures or a night out. It gives the most gorgeous color with almost a shimmer to it. It doesn’t stain your hands at all so you won’t be left with awkward tanning hands, but it can rub off a little on your clothes so use caution. My biggest tip to avoid that and really get the best color is to mix it with a little bit of lotion. It helps dilute the color a little bit and gives you such an even application. I am OBSESSED with this stuff now!
:: NORVELL SOLUTION WITH SPRAY TAN MACHINE (darkest tan)
First up is my absolute favorite of all the tanners! It is the “hardcore professional” method of a spray tan machine. This method can be intimidating to a lot of people, but I promise it is really not at all. And if you can get your husband on board to help with the harder to reach areas, you will be sold on going this route! I use this machine BUT I pair it with this solution. It is the highest quality you can get, and actually what they use on you if you were to go in to a salon and get it done. As far as color goes, you will get the darkest longest lasting tan with this method too. If I’m just going to be at home and not in and out of the water a lot, this method will last me about a week. You can buy one of these tents to spray in, but I just do it in my shower, which makes for super easy clean up! BUT… DO NOT USE THIS ON YOUR FACE. It will go SUUUUUPER dark, and I’ve shared lots of much better face friendly options below.
:: ST TROPEZ TRAVEL LOTION KIT
When things get back to normal and we all start to travel again, this gem is something you will want in your suitcase. When it comes to a beach vacation, your tan is definitely not going to last as long as being at home. You are in and out of the pool and ocean constantly, which usually adds more showering too. Lots of water equals faster fading tan. The machine above is somewhat compact and could easily be brought in your suitcase to give you a redo on your tan, but I just didn’t love the hassle. Insert this travel size gem of tanners. It is absolutely perfect to use on day 3-4 after your spray tan when it has started to fade to help maintain. I love it on its own as well for a super classic natural look that isn’t too dark.
:: FACE DROPS
Besides the contour method I’ll show in the video, these drops are my go to of the tanners for giving your face a natural tan look. I don’t like the spray tan on my face because it can get out of hand dark VERY quickly. With your face you are going to want full control over how tan it looks. I use one drop of the dark option just mixed in with my favorite moisturizer(use code KAILEE for 15 % off ). I love that it is buildable so if one drop isn’t giving you the color you want you can do one more little drop instead of a huge drastic starting point.
:: BASIC DRUG STORE LOTION
When it comes to easy peasy fool proof tanners, this lotion is AMAZING. It is the only lotion option that I’ve tried that goes on evenly and gives you a non-orangey natural looking tan.
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Now that I’ve told you the details and pros for each of my very favorite tanners, lets talks tips to getting the most out of your tan. Because if you are going to take the time to do it, you want it to last!!
:: 6 TIPS to help your tan last longer ::
#1 EXFOLIATE AND SHAVE THE NIGHT BEFORE
Exfoliating before doing any form of spray tan is HUGE when it comes to making it last. You want that nice soft fresh skin to work with to absorb the tan the most evenly across your body. I always try to exfoliate the night before I’m going to apply the tan. It is close enough to be effective, but not right before so my pores are wide open and more sensitive.
#2 MOISTURIZE YOUR DRIEST AREAS
Some people will tell you you need to apply lotion every where you are going to apply the tanner. Personally I don’t take the time to do that. I apply lotion to all the places that I know my skin is the driest. For most people that will be your elbows, knees, hands, and feet. You want to make sure you are evenly moisturized. That way the color is absorbed evenly and you don’t end up with extra dark areas!
# 3 APPLY YOUR TANNER AT NIGHT
I always always apply my tanner right before bed if possible, and then rinse when I wake up, even on the express options. It gives you a full nights sleep for it to really soak in and get you the best color. By doing it at night, you are also giving yourself the longest period of avoiding water. You won’t have to worry about needing to wash your hands or do the dishes and have your hands end up a different color than the rest of you.
But remember, no matter what people tell you, alllll the tanner options are going to transfer at least a little bit before you rinse. I have a pair of “tanning pajamas” that are long sleeve/long pants and silky that I wear after applying. I am completely covered so it won’t transfer to bedding, and I don’t have to worry about ruining multiple pairs of pajamas.
#4 GO EASY ON YOUR FACE
I personally avoid using a self tanner all over my face. To me it looks like your face is dirty, and tends to highlight the wrong areas, making you look like you have a dark unibrow or mustache. As I show in the video on IG, my tip for your face is to use the tanner as more of contour. I will just take a makeup brush, dab on the tanning mitt I used, and contour with the tanner around outside of my forehead, neck and a little on my nose. That way you are giving a more natural look and not going to dark or dirty looking on your face. I will usually use this same brush method for my hands too to avoid crazy orange tan hands.
#5 RINSE, NOT SCRUB OFF
This one might sound a little obvious to some, but it is so key in getting the most out of your tan. When you are ready to shower after your application setting period, don’t think of it as a normal shower. There should be no scrubbing or washing involved. It is basically just the last rinse cycle your car goes through at the car wash. You don’t want to scrub off all the hard work!!
#6 MOISTURIZE
The biggest tip to getting the most of your tan is to moisturize!!! As soon as you’ve done your rinse cycle, get alll the moisturizing you can in. This helps to lock in the color longer and get the best tone out of your color!
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I hope these details and tips help you feel ready to take on your tan with ease! If you are a first timer, I promise it’s not as hard as it looks. You are going to LOVE the results!!
One of the unexpected 1st world problems with the stay at home order, is a lot of women out there suddenly not being able to keep up with their eyelash extensions! Are you one of them? I for sure am! And while I am well aware how trivial this is in the grand scheme of things, it is still something on the long list of new things we are all figuring out together! So I did a little experiment for us all and tried A LOT of new mascara and serums to find the best of the best to share here with you!
So like I said, I have had eyelash extensions for years. I think we were going on 7 years before this all happened, so I haven’t bought mascara in a LONG TIME! I was actually kind of surprised by all the new varieties and selection there was with regular, volume, waterproof, colors, serums, primers, I could go on and on! So below I’ve narrowed it down to my top mascara pick in a few categories and why I love each of them!
First up, lets talk fiber mascara. This was one of the “new to me” options since I bought mascara 7 years ago. The concept of fiber mascara is the same as the original option, but it is filled with tiny fibers that stick to your lashes to help them appear more full and longer. I tried quite a few of these and the concept just isn’t my favorite. That being said, I know a lot of people LOVE the way these look on their lashes, and out of all that I tried, there were two definite front runners. First is the Shine Fiber Mascara. It is a 2 step process, and for me gave the cleanest + fullest look to your lashes. The other option I liked was the Voluminous False Fiber Lashes. Shine wins my top vote, but I did love that the false fiber lashes is only one step, making the process easier and faster!
If you want to got the quick and easy amazon prime affordable route, this combo is your dream team. It is INCREDIBLE!! I had so many people recommend this mascara and they were not wrong!! It makes your lashes look amazing and is such a great price point. It is not chunky or clumpy at all and gives you such great length. I loved it so much more than even the high end brands I tried out, but the key is definitely in using the primer. It is the secret weapon that I personally think makes this mascara so great.
If you are willing to go for a splurge, this mascara was my favorite of the higher end top dollar brands. It is definitely not drugstore pricing, but it was the only one I felt was worth the money. And the thousands of reviews on every site that sells it agree. I think its biggest selling point is actually the hour glass brush. It helps separate the lashes better to give them all a ton of volume and curl. I really liked this one for a splurge option.
Ok now that we’ve talked mascaras, lets talk serum. If you’ve had lash extensions, chances are it is because you are wishing your natural lashes were fuller or longer. A lash serum will be your new best friend. This is going to come as maybe an unpopular opinion to some, but I honestly think all serums are created pretty equally if you use the regularly as directed. I’ve used a few different ones over the years and saw similar results in each. One tip I will give, is if you can help it, I recommend starting your serum a few weeks before you take your lashes off. So they have already had a chance to start growing.
My personal favorite serum is this Babe Lash. It gave me results a little faster than any others I’ve tried, and it is quick and easy to us. You can use code KAILEE20 for 20% off! Grande Lash MD is another great option that I have heard/seen great results from.
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. . . SHOP MY FAVORITE MASCARAS, PRIMERS, AND SERUMS . . .
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:: MY GO TO DAILY PROCESS
Now that you know my favorites I just wanted to share my go to process and what has worked for me. I start by washing my face in the morning with my Tula Cleanser (code KAILEE for 15% off) to get off any excess makeup. I don’t use a makeup remover or anything fancier than that. Once the my face and lashes are clean, I will actually apply my serum. I know a lot of people think you can only do overnight. But this is a great option if you forget at night or just to remember a little easier. While I do the rest of my makeup routine, the serum is able to dry, until I get to my lashes which are usually last in the line up. I will then apply my primerfollowed by my mascara and we are good to go!
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I hope this mascara and serum round up was helpful for any of you on the hunt for some eyelash help! If you have a favorite I should try, please let me know in the comments!
Last week I mentioned that one of the best ways I have learned to turn our attitudes around at my house, especially my kids, is by serving others! There is just something about taking the focus off of you and your problems for a little while and focusing on others that brings such a positive light in to your day. When I shared this, I asked for any of your social distancing service ideas and you had some great ones!! So you guys can try them out too, I’ve listed them all below!
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:: Order surprise gifts/pick me ups and have them shipped directly to their house. Maybe your family’s favorite card game for friends, or your favorite lip gloss for a girlfriend!
:: Make care packages to drop off at the nursing home
:: Quick phone calls to check in with those you love!
:: Make snack bags for nurses to share with coworkers. Things like protein bars, gum, water flavor packets, m & m’s, etc.
:: Drop off bulk snacks at the hospital or clinics for medical team since they aren’t getting much of a break.
:: Drop off Mason Jars with fresh flowers and a bow around it to brighten someones day. This would be great at the nursing home too!
:: Make craft packets for low income families with children. It can be as simple as putting together a packet with coloring books, crayons, markers, play doh, anything!
:: Drop off groceries and supplies for elderly neighbors.
:: Draw or paint pictures for grandparents or elderly neighbors.
:: Call a lonely grandparent or elderly friend just to say hi.
:: Teach elderly parents and friends how to use delivery services, drive thru pickups, and grocery pick up.
:: Sign up with local hospital to drop off lunch or dinner for staff.
:: Send a postcard to loved ones.
:: Sew masks for those in need. I taught my kids to sew so they can help!
:: Good old fashioned snail mail to friends at school, teachers, family.
:: Donate food for the homeless.
:: Double up your dinner recipe and gift the extra portion to friends and neighbors.
:: Doorbell ditch your favorite treat or snack to neighbors and friends.
:: Go in with your neighbors to donate a bunch of snacks to a local clinic or hospital.
:: Make thank you signs and posters for the mailman.
:: Drop off a grocery gift card for a family in need.
:: Sidewalk chalk positive messages and love notes in front of your house or on a friend/neighbors driveway to let them know you are thinking of them.
:: Deliver mobile meals for those in need.
:: Drop off a small bag of necessities to those in need (toilet paper, flour, bread, diapers etc.)
:: Make “A Hero Lives Here” signs to stick in the yard of healthcare workers.
:: Deliver diapers/wipes/formula to your local child welfare agency!
:: Make posters to put in the windows or around a nursing home.
:: Offer to go to the store for a neighbor or elderly friend.
:: Drop off craft ideas your kids loved to their friends to try to help give mom a break.
:: Write letters to teenagers in addiction recovery facilities.
:: Deliver oranges to friends and family
:: Make cards and treats to drop off to elderly.
:: Be a donut fairy. Buy boxes of donuts and doorbell ditch them to your friends and neighbors.
:: Drop meals off to any healthcare or grocery workers you know.
:: Order cookie delivery for a friend to brighten their day
:: Doorbell ditch teachers to thank them for everything they do.
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I hope these social distancing service ideas are helpful and help you to bring some positivity and light to those around you! Service is always the best way to have a better day!!
Raise your hand if at least one boy in your family is rocking a new unplanned hairstyle thanks to Corona and this at stay at home order?! I think we are all looking a little rough around the edges while we aren’t able to make our typical beauty appointments, but I am here to help!!! As many of you know, I went to school for hair, and have done hair for years and years and years. So after a lot of questions and requests, I put together a hands on video tutorial full of tips that will lead to easy success and help you avoid the dreaded Corona Cut!! Check out the video below and then be sure to review a few super helpful tips I’ve included below!
:: TIPS + TRICKS TO REMEMBER ::
:: START LONG
You can always go through and cut more, but once you’ve cut it there is no going back. Start longer than you plan and go from there so you are leaving room for any edits and fixes you need to make. As I mentioned in the video, a #4 is the easiest to start with and get a nice clean blend.
:: ROLL THE CLIPPERS BACK
Out of all the tips and advice I share in the video, this is the number one thing!! I haven’t seen anyone share and it is SO important to getting a good blend! I explain and demonstrate in the video, but be sure to do this step for best results!
:: BE PREPARED WITH DISTRACTIONS
If you are gearing up to cut your kids hair, especially toddlers, be prepared!! Have a show for them to watch and a sucker for them to eat! That way they are distracted and not trying to escape. Having a client that holds still is going to be a LOT easier on you!
:: SHOP MY FAVORITE TOOLS ::
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I hope these tips + tutorial help you feel more comfortable to tackle those much needed haircuts! And even if we are back to real life soon, having this skill is a great way to save time and money in the future!
Happy Weekend everyone!! How is everyone doing on week 47 (or something like that) of social distancing? I feel like this was a good week for us with lots of family time, and I am honestly kind of feeling anxious about going back to real life. Funny how your mind shifts like that! Since we are all social distancing, that means the majority of our shopping has moved online, and the retailers are here for it! Other than Black Friday, I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many crazy good sales at one time! I tried to share most of my favorites over on Instagram, but I just kept finding so many that I decided to throw them in a post! So happy Saturday Sale Shopping Spree!
If anyone is going big in the amazing sales it is Nordstrom!! I can’t even believe the steals you can find right now on everything from shoes to beauty to kids clothes! I’ve linked my favorites below (just click on the picture to shop).
Gap is another store that has gone wild and is offering up to 75% off everything and 50% off markdowns with code PERK. I LOVE GapKids for high quality basics for my kids.
Right now you can shop the Sephora Spring Insider Sale. Depending on your status, you can save anywhere from 10%-20% off anything on the site with code SPRINGSAVE. If you aren’t an insider, you can sign up for free before you shop to save 10%.
. . . SHOP MAKEUP + SKIN FAVORITES . . .
. . . SHOP HAIR FAVORITES . . .
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:: MADEWELL
Madewellhas had so many different amazing sales over the last few weeks. They are one to watch as it changes almost daily. Today you can use code BIGTIME to save an extra 50% off sale items!
Mother’s Day is just over 2 weeks away! I cannot believe it is here already!! While this year’s celebration might feel a little weird and a little different, in some ways I feel like we have been given our dream wish list. More time with those we love most. A slowed down pace. Time to learn new things and be with our people. So as hard as all of this has been, the positives are definitely shining through too. With Mother’s Day on the mind, and things feeling a little different this year, I wanted to simplify our typical Mother’s Day gift guide. So today I’m sharing 5 items that would be perfect for just about any woman out there. Mom’s, Grandma’s, Aunts, and Girlfriends will all love them!
For most women, you can’t go wrong with simple jewelry, like these earrings. Something classic and timeless that they can easily dress up or down. You aren’t having to worry about it being their style or a color they like because it is just a simple classic gold. I love that it is a gift they can wear for years and years not matter what age they are. This pair is my go to and super affordable at under $25!
:: GRATITUDE JOURNAL
Another great Mother’s Day gift idea that is perfect for everyone is a gratitude journal. I have been loving starting my day with a positive outlook by using this one. I think as humans it is easy to find all the problems and trials, especially in this crazy time we are going through. A gratitude journal helps you to refocus and start your day in a happy way.
:: TEA TOWELS
I’ve shared about these towels quite a few times both here and over on Instagram because I love them so so much! They are the PERFECT gift for any woman in your life. Mom, Grandmas, girlfriends, sisters, anyone. They have the cutest patters to match any style, are huge, and are so absorbent. I love that they are anti-microbial so they don’t get a gross stink to them. I use them in my kitchen and bathrooms and gift them to everyone. You can use code KAILEE15 for 15% off!
:: VASE WITH PLANT/FLOWER
Everyone can use a little bright spot in their home with a cute vase and flower or plant. I love having little pops of greenery all around the house to brighten things up. A vase or platner pot is a great Mother’s Day idea because they can customize what they plant to their liking later on too! I love to keep it simple with a white one like thisor these so the plant and flower steal the spotlight.
:: SUNSCREEN
Last but not least is this face sunscreen Tula just came out with. It is no secret how much I love their products, and this sunscreen is even better than I could have imagined. It goes on super light, not greasy feeling at all, and has a great natural glow to it so it could easily replace your makeup in the summer months. And who doesn’t need a great face sunscreen?! Use code KAILEE to save 15%
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Even thought it feels a little different this year, I hope you all have a very Happy Mother’s Day and feel so loved and get to celebrate the mother figures in your life!
Raise your hand if you feel like you are always out of ideas for dinner! Yes my hand is raised too! Ha! It can be so tricky to find things your kids will love besides cereal and mac and cheese (which we have plenty of at our house!) If there is one dinner recipe I have that I can guarantee is a kid favorite, it is this Chicken Alfredo. It is so so so good. Healthy..not so much, but the perfect comfort food!
:: CHICKEN ALFREDO
This is for sure one my favorite go to quick recipes. Just thinking about this recipe makes my mouth water! It is one the whole family loves + devours so it is always on our rotation. It is far from healthy, but so dang delicious.
…Alfredo Sauce…
1/2 cube butter
4 + cloves chopped garlic
saute the two together with wooden spoon in frying pan
1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
1 cup whipping cream or half + half
add to butter/garlic mixture and heat on high until combined
Serve with chicken (or any other meat of your choice) over pasta of your choice! Don’t forget to lick up all that extra sauce…haha..you’re going to want to!
Well, we are officially over a month into this stay at home adventure!! How are you all hanging in there?! I told my girlfriend it kind of feels like I am on the Corona Coaster with how my emotions fluctuate, but overall we are doing our best to see the good. That being said, chances are you’re starting to hear the dreaded “I’m Bored” a little more often. Am I right?! Well have no fear because today we have brainstormed and put together a new list of 18 out of the box boredom busters the whole family will love!!
One of the hardest things about getting a workout in right now, is having all of our kids home! So why not make it into something fun for everyone by making it a family affair. Get creative and let them help you plan partner workouts, games, or different active ideas you can incorporate in. They will love it and you will love that they are burning some energy and making working out a good habit!
:: INDOOR CAMPOUT
While it may still be a little chilly to shoot for a backyard campout (just ask Joe and the kids) put a fun spin on it and bring camping indoors. Set up your tent in your living room or just pull out the sleeping bags! Make indoor smores (check this fun gadget out) and tell stories. Your kids will love having a “change in scenery” and will probably end up playing in the tent for hours!
:: MAKE A MOVIE THEATER
Put a fun new spin on movie night! If it is warm, maybe try a projector movie outside! If you have younger kids, do a drive in movie! Give them each a box from your most recent retail therapy and let them decorate their own “car” to come to the movie in. They will love snuggling up with blankets and pillows in their car at the drive in! For bigger kids, maybe make it a marathon or a themed movie night!
I don’t know about you, but this is something I would have LOVED as a kid. Getting to try different hair styles out on my mom or sisters and doing nails. Make it extra wild and let your kids pick out a color of this temporary hair color to change up their look! Or let them practice their nail design! Make it even better for you by adding in some massage mom practice!
:: LEARN A NEW SKILL
Out of all the things we have done during our stay at home order, this has been everyones favorite. Each of the kids made a list of skills they wanted to learn or practice while we are at home. We had everything from Hudson learning how to braid hair to Hayden learning how to sew. They are things they always wanted to try but we’ve never had the time to sit down and learn, and it has been SO SO fun!
:: HAVE A CAR WASH
Keep things simple and let them pull out the hose and rags and have a fun car wash! Another fun idea my friend does with her boys is let them have a Hot Wheels Car Wash outside. Gather all their toy cars and trucks, a few buckets of water and some soap and they will be entertained for hours meticulously taking each car through the car wash.
You can still keep your social distance and enjoy the warm fresh air together. Getting out for an hour or so every day has helped us all keep our sanity! Whether it is a quick walk around the block, or longer bike ride, breaking free from some of that Cabin Fever is a great boredom buster!
:: MAKE TIME LAPSE VIDEOS
You may have seen me talk about this over on my Instagram Stories, but it has been such a hit with Hayden! I showed her the time lapse video feature on my phone, and she is OBSESSED with cleaning now because she can watch herself in super speed mode after. Best little trick ever!! Even if its not cleaning, have them video themselves making a recipe, building a lego, or even coloring a picture. It takes something they might be getting bored of and puts the fun back into it! ** To make your own using an iphone or ipad, just open the camera app, and swipe to the left to the time lapse option.
:: HAVE YOUR OWN LEGO MASTER COMPETITION
Get out all the Legos in the house and have a friendly competition. You can break into teams and draw ideas out of a hat that you have to create in a certain amount of time. Another fun spin is Lego Pictionary. Played just like the regular version, but you have to build with Lego’s for your team to guess.
My assistant just told me this idea and I love it! Growing up, one of her friends always did a mixed up menu for her birthday party.Every one is given a menu that has “code names” for all the foods. For example slimy worms = pasta noodles. Everyone in the family places their order for the different courses through that mixed up menu and it is SO fun to see what everyone gets. Sometimes you get ice cream and no spoon, or a straw and spaghetti. You can put a fun theme with it to help you name your menu items, or just make up names that have to do with how the food looks. I promise you’ll all love it!
:: PLANT SPRING FLOWERS OR A GARDEN
Enjoy the fresh air together in the safety of your own yard and do some planting. If you are feeling ambitious, start a garden together! Let them help pick out what they want to plant and do the planting. Having that part in the decisions makes them more invested and want to help with the watering and weeding down the road. If a garden sounds like too much, just plant some spring flower pots to have around your house! Stay tuned because we will be sharing a fun kid friendly tutorial on this soon!!
:: HAVE A DANCE PARTY
Sometimes the best way to bust the boredom blues is to just dance it out. Turn the music up loud and let them loose. It works best if you and/or dad gets involved and crazy. Pull out all the karaoke stops and just have fun together. I promise it will end in giggles and boost the day for everyone.
If you haven’t seen/heard of Cupcake Wars, it is a fun show where teams create delicious cupcake creations that are judged on both taste and appearance. This would be SO fun to do as a family or let just your older kids do. Break into teams and let them get creative!! Even just baking new recipes or treats they want to learn how to make together is a great boredum buster!
:: PLAYDOH PICTIONARY
Put a fun spin on the classic pictionary but using playdoh instead of a pencil and paper. It is hilarious to see what people can create using just the dough and is so much fun!
:: PLAY BALL
I don’t know about you guys, but for us, one of the things our kids are missing most is their sports! They love and live for baseball and soccer and miss them so much! So what better way to brighten their spirits and let them get some practice in than by playing a family game of baseball, soccer, or even kickball! Burn some energy and enjoy the fresh air together!
:: TRY A NEW GAME
While this one isn’t as out of the box, it can definitely help with the boredom blues. We shared some of our favorite games the whole family will love here. If you don’t want to order a new game, google fun new games you can play with a regular deck of cards or dice. There are so many!
:: GO ON A SCAVENGER HUNT
This is such an easy idea to throw together. You can make your own custom hunt or there are lot of great lists online too! For toddlers you can keep it as simple as finding different colors, shapes, or letters. And when it warms up you can take it outside too!
:: DOORBELL DITCH YOUR FAVORITES
I don’t know about you, but I miss people so much!! Just being able to see my sisters and friends and give them a hug!! And I know my kids feel the same about their friends too. So while this isn’t quite the same as actually getting that contact with them, plan a fun doorbell ditch instead. You can make cards, make a favorite treat or dinner, or even put together a goody box of some of your favorite boredom busters for them to try! Putting it all together will be something new and fun to do, and delivering it brings so much joy!
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I hope these fun ideas help you get yourself or your kids out of their boredom blues and enjoy the time we have together! I’d love to hear some of your favorites too!
Although we are still dealing with the downs of stay at home mode, this spring weather making an appearance is giving us life!! The blue skies and bright colored blossoms are bringing me so much joy right now! With spring in the air and popping up all around us, my mind starts thinking spring fashion! Some of my favorite things to shop for are spring trends because it means we finally get to start unbundling and thinking all things swim, shorts, and sandals!! Spring shoes are one of my favorites to shop for, so today I’m sharing my top 3 shoes to style for spring!
:: SANDALS
First up is the most obvious, sandals!! I feel like my feet are so excited to finally be free of heavy socks and shoes!!! Nothing screams spring more than a fresh pedicure and cute sandals! My secret to the best go to sandal is plastic, like this pair or this pair! They don’t wear easy, and are waterproof so you can wear the same sandal to the beach, pool, or out to dinner! It is the best packing hack! So find your favorite polish (this gel with top coat is the best!) and shop some of my favorite sandals!
Who doesn’t love a cute pair of sneakers?! I love them for spring because you are finally getting outside and getting your body moving! They look so cute paired with t-shirt dress, a pair of jeans and a graphic tee or really anything! I love that they can bring a fun pop of color to your outfit too!
Last but not least is slides. If you know me you know I love a good pair of slides. They are just such a convenient versatile shoe to throw on and go. They can easily be paired with a casual jeans look, or dressed up for a date night out.
I hope you loved feeling a little splash of spring with these spring shoe styles. I wanna know what are you favorite spring shoes and other spring must haves?!
We are officially on week 5 of the stay at home social distancing life. How is everyone surviving? Are you feeling a little more put together and under control? Or still stressed to the max? I honestly feel like I’m riding the Corona Coaster and every day is different!! So today I thought to distract myself and you a little bit from everything that is going on, we would do a round up of our top 25 links you loved in March. From loungewear and family games to skincare and organization bins + baskets, we’ve broken them down by category and highlighted them all below!
First up let’s talk fashion. It seems a little crazy to even be talking about fashion when we aren’t leaving our houses, because lets be honest, most of us are functioning in our bath robes or favorite pair of leggings. But sometimes stress brings out the retail therapy in all of us, and we do a little shopping. Plus who doesn’t want to look forward to spring and summer looks?! Here are you top fashion links for March!
You guys, is it a struggle for anyone else to find the perfect denim shorts? Not so long that you are basically wearing capris, but not so short that you are showing a little bit of cheeks?! I swear I thought they didn’t exist until I found these!! They are the BEST!! The perfect length when you uncuff, and that same amazing quality you get from Madewell Jeans! Love them!!
:: A LIGHT AND BREEZY BUTTON UP
This button up is what dreams are made of. It is made of like a lineny fabric so you aren’t constantly stressing about wrinkles. I love how versatile it is. Tuck it in to a nice pair of pants and dress it up with heels, or do a front tie with some shorts and sandals for a spring summer look. Definitely a new favorite in my closet.
Social distancing made us all become a fan of loungewear real fast!! We sold out basically the entire Nasty Gal website because we all loved their sets so much! So I’m glad we are all twinning from a distance! This sweatshirt and pants was another huge hit and I don’t blame you! It is the comfiest!! I love that the top will look so cute with jeans or even shorts and the pants are a fun pop of color.
Quarantine life brought us some good sales to help with our retail therapy, and one of those was Madewell Jeans. We all went crazy over these black distressed jeans. They are for sure my go to pair and the quality is still amazing after having them for years.
:: HENLEY TOPS
I don’t even have to tell you that Henley tops were another big favorite, because I literally wore mine every day for weeks. I’m so happy knew I ordered it in so many colors. I never have to stop rotating. Haha! It really is such a great basic to have in your closet! I love this for a slightly different fit, and this one that I have in just about all the colors!
Last but for sure not least are these oversized overalls. I got hundreds of DM’s about them and they sold out so so fast! As I’m typing this there are a few sizes back in stock, but this similar pair was just as popular and such a cute fit too!
We may be staying at home, but we are still putting a lot of focus on skincare and stocking up on our favorite beauty must haves! From my favorite new bracelets we are all loving to the under eye miracle workers they are all here!
When I saw these bracelets on my friend Lisa, I had to have them. And you all felt the same way too! They give such a high end pop to any outfit, but are actually made out of a polyvinyl making them totally waterproof, and quiet so you aren’t jingling your way into every room!
:: DRY SHAMPOO
There has never been a better time to train your hair than now. And your partner in crime for doing that is for sure dry shampoo! This is my go to favorite one that works like a dream, especially when you pair it with the texture spray! Plus you get 30% off with code KAILEE.
:: CONCEALER + MAGICAL EYE BALM
These two are basically the one two punch to helping you look more awake, even on those days you feel like a zombie. The Tula Rose Glow Eye Balm is my go to. It brightens up your under eye to hide any lost hours of sleep, and has the best cooling sensation I love. Pair it with my favorite concealerand no one will know the toll homeschool is taking on you!
You know we couldn’t make it through your most loved links without a shoutout to fitness!! Getting our workouts in these days has been a little trickier and we have had to pull out a lot of new resources, but we are getting it done!! If you missed it, I shared a couple of quick at home workouts over on Instagram. As far as links you loved, my new favorite workout shorts, cutest leggings, and a pop of leopard all made the list!
These leggings were another favorite. I love the pop of a ribbed detail and that high waist band. Plus a girl can never have too many leggings right?!
:: A POP OF LEOPARD
Last but not least in the fitness category is this pop of leopard we are all going crazy for from IVL! Whether you go with the bra top, the leggings, or my personal favorite, the shorts, it is such a fun pop to your workout! And the quality is of course amazing!!
Trap us all in our house and we are all the sudden very interested in all the spring cleaning, dejunking, and organization. I don’t think I have ever had more requests for organization tips and my favorites for tackling different projects. So this month your home + organization category was almost completely taken over by some of very favorite bins + baskets to get the job done!
These two stole the show in most requested links when I shared my pantry revamp. And I don’t blame you. The clear style makes them super kid friendly to see inside and gives them such a nice uniform look. And that seal on the pop containers keeps your toddler pantry spills to a minimum.
:: BATHROOM ORGANZING CADDY
Another organizing link you loved, this time for the bathroom, was this bathroom caddy. It is a dream come true for keeping your morning routine must haves all in one easy to access place that you can just grab and store quickly. I have one for night and one for morning and I’m not sure how I functioned without them!
When you are homebound you bring the fun inside! We have had these custom made swings for years and never got around to hanging them up. But when you are stuck at home for months, you get around to things real fast and we have been loving them!! I shared a super similar option and you guys loved them as much as we do!
We have had lots of extra family time this month and as hard of an adjustment as this has all been, we are soaking up all this time together. Family games have been our go to and we are loving a few new ones! I shared all of our favorites over on this post that you guys loved just as much!
Last but not least was an oldie but a goodie. I shared this old image of Harper’s nursery on Like to Know it, and you guys went crazy over the Oilo Crib Sheet! My friend Annalisa designs all of their stuff and it is all incredible. The perfect soft colors and subtle patterns. You can snag the crib sheet + changing pad set here!
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I think that sums up your most loved links this month! I love seeing what you guys love and what resonates with you and your people!! Let me know if this is something you are interested in us continuing monthly over on my Instagram post!
Raise your hand if your family time has increased by a LOT! It is kind of crazy, but we are loving it too! I have been bombarded with requests for ideas incorporating all things FAMILY FUN!! Since I have lots of littles to entertain, I have been searching out all the fun things we can do to stay entertained. As well as help keep our sanity! A couple of weeks ago we shared some of our favorite Boredom Busters. So I thought it would be fun to continue that on and share about some of our favorite family games!! I’ve included a roundup of a few that are perfect for toddlers, as well as a bunch that the whole family will love!
click right on the image to shop
:: TODDLER FRIENDLY GAMES
First up is our favorite toddler friendly games. These are the ones we turn to that I know they will love, but I also don’t completely dread playing with them. We all know there are a few of those!! I love that just about all of these (except maybe Pie Face) have an educational aspect to them. Whether it is as simple as colors and numbers, or more complex like categorizing items I love that it teaches them something and gets there brains working. And they love it too because they are just having fun. Perfect added bonus!
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click right on the image to shop
:: FAMILY FRIENDLY GAMES
Next up is the Family Friendly games. These are the ones we reach for when we are having a game night with the bigger kids to, or with our friends (pre-social distancing). The babies still like to play along too with some help. We love these are such fun tried and true family options!
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I hope these fun family games help bring some joy to your days at home together and give you another way to enjoy this time we’ve been given with our families! And I wanna know your favorite family games too so we can snag some new ones!!
