Nautical Party Ideas (Birthday Theme, Food & Decorations)

How to Get Beach Waves: A quick 7 easy steps on how I get beach waves with a curling wand, and the hair products that I use!

I couldn’t be more than excited to share with you, How I get beach waves in my hair! I’ve had so many people ask recently if I’d do a tutorial, and since I’m FAR from a hair stylist, I was like, “Whaaaat!? But I don’t know what I’m doing!” But then I realized you may want to see someone do their hair, that’s not a professional, so you can relate! 🙂

How to Get Beach Waves

I’ve provided photos of the step by step instructions of how to do beach waves, but I’ve also included a video tutorial at the bottom of this post, in case you’re a “watch and learn,” kinda person. 🙂

Step 1:

Grab a top layer of hair, and clip it up at the top. You’ll begin curling with the bottom layer.

Step 2:

Spray the entire bottom layer with a heat thermal spray. I use “Chi Iron Guard.” After trying a lot of brands, even being guilty of trying to get by with the generic Sally Beauty brands… Chi Iron Guard is faaar better, in my opinion.

Step 3:

I start by grabbing a one inch section, and brushing through that section, just to remove any tangles or frizz, so I’ll get a “cleaner,” curl.

Grab your pre-heated curling wand. I recommend the Bed Head Curlipops Curling Wand. It’s so easy to use, and even comes with a glove if you want to use it! 🙂

Buy the Curling Wand HERE!

*Note: You will take a different approach when working with the strands that are around the face. So when we move on to the next strand, I’m going to give you a different technique. 

Starting with the first strand that’s by your face:

   About half way up (Not all the way at the top, next to your head) you’ll place your curling wand on top of the hair at an angle, and start wrapping the hair around the wand, in an “outter,” motion. (You will be switching back and forth between each 1-inch section.)
When you’re wrapping the hair, don’t overlap the hair. Each time you wrap the hair, make sure it directly touches the wand…not rest on top of the previous wrapped-around hair.

Step 4:

After about 10 seconds, pull the curling wand straight out of the hair, while cupping your other hand underneath the curled hair, holding it for about 5 seconds, allowing the freshly curled hair to cool while it’s still in the “roll.” Gently remove your hand, and let your hair go.

Yeah! Just like that! See that first curl!?

Step 5:

Ok! Very good! Now let’s move on to the next 1-inch strand of hair, and you’ll do it a bit different this time.

Starting at the TOP of the hair (right by the head), place your curling wand UNDER the strand, and wrap the hair around, in an “over,” motion. Keep your wand “straight” in a horizontal position, and not diagonal this time.

Here’s a side view of the way it looks when you’ve wrapped the entire strand around the wand. (I did overlap a bit in this one, and I’ve slapped my hand for that. Ooops.)

Now you have two curls! Look at you go!

Step 6:

Ok! Now… on the third time, go back to curling it, and place the wand on top of the hair and wrap it around in an “under,” motion. So what you’re doing is changing back and forth after each hair strand, mixing it up, so you’re not doing ever strand in the same motion.

• • Continue on, going about your business, and finish curling out the entire bottom section of hair.

• When the bottom layer is complete, unclip the top layer, spray with your CHI Iron Guard, and begin curling the top layer of hair, remembering to ALTERNATE going over/under with each strand.

Step 7:

All curled? Excellente! Now… grab a “polish,” like the CHI Pliable Polish that I use, and put about a marble size dab of it in the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together, mixing between the fingers, just to evenly coat,

and start running your hands/fingers through your hair, breaking up the “tightness,” of the curl, and to give your hair a more “pieced,” look, rather than a curled mass of hair. 🙂

This is where I also kind of “flip,” my hair around from side to side, and add volume with my fingers by “teasing,” the hair at the crown of my head, etc.
(You may laugh, but each day, my hair decides if it wasn’t to favor the “left,” or “right,” side of my face; no matter how I style it! So, I let it determine which side it prefers that day, and run with it.)  🙂

(Now don’t look closely below, because I’m sure you can see my “grays,” starting to show up in this “30 something,” head.)

There they are! You have successfully created beach waves in your hair!

Now I do use hair spray to lock-in the beach waves on my hair. You obviously don’t HAVE to have hair spray to create beach waves, so I didn’t want to make that a step. But… it does hold the wave longer for me, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE using the Big Sexy Spray and Play, because when I “poof,” up my hair with my fingers, when I’m running the Pliable Polish in, I like to “freeze,” that volume that I’ve created.

You like that “hair spray,” action shot? Yeah, my helper Brandy was good like that. You should have seen the excitement on her face when she realized she caught that “moment,” in her photo taking process.)  😉

Are you more of a “watch and learn,” kinda person?

Well then I’ve created this video tutorial just for you!

How to Get Beach Waves Video Tutorial

I soooo hope that this was helpful for you, and that you are ready to create beach waves in your hair!

TIDBIT: You may have to reference this a couple of times, before you get the “hang,” of it. So “Pin,” this image below, so you can always reference it!

Thank you for coming by!

Take it Easy Relaxation Gift Basket Idea for Men or Women: This simple gift idea is perfect for any man or woman for ANY occasion! Who wouldn’t love a basket with an excuse to relax!

My sister’s birthday was in December, and she’s one of those, “My birthday is around Christmas, so everyone forgets about it,” kinda people. Do you know someone like this too? 😉

This year, I’m pretty excited about her gift. Not only was it so EASY… not only is it a concoction of things for relaxing…not only is it gender neutral and perfect for those men & women that are hard to shop for  in your lives… IT’S something that can be used over and over again!

Relaxation Gift Basket Idea for Men or Women

What’s Included?

I’ve done a little research for you, and found similar items to create this gift basket idea for men OR women, at the bottom of this post! So all you have to do is go snag them, and put them in the canvas basket when it comes in! 

Fur Throw:

Well I found this one at Restoration Hardware the other day, (here’s a similar fur throw) along with “down” slippers (get similar slippers).  I’m telling ya…it’s like slipping your foot in to a little slice-o-Heaven.

Coffee Mug & Tea Towel:

Then I added in the “Good Morning,” coffee mug from World Market. I also added a little tea towel from H&M, just for a little pizzazz, and in case she makes a little spill while sippin’ her coffee. Oh … coffee. That would be a really nice little addition to this gift basket too. 😉

Storage Tote:

Now we can’t forget about the adorable “storage,” tote that I found at H&M Home, to put it all in!

This gift basket idea is spot-on for any other kind of event that you’ll need a gift for.

How about:

• Valentine’s Day Gift Idea (Or you may also love this Gift Idea for a Boyfriend!)
• Mother’s Day Gift Ideas (Or see what mom really wants for Mother’s Day?)
• Father’s Day Gift Ideas
• Best Friend Gift Ideas
• Gender Neutral Secret Pal Gift

Now no worries. You don’t have to have this same tote, blanket, coffee cup, or slippers. Just find any container, and throw any kind of patterns/colors together. But I did find similar items below that would work perfect to create this gift…

Baby Gift Basket Idea: For a boy or girl, this present will be perfect for the baby shower or just to give to the mom to be!

Recently, our friends had a baby (eeeeek… she’s so precious) and I wanted to put together a little something for them to show them a little love. And since I love sharing gift ideas with you, I knew I had to share this one too!

Now if you missed my “Box of Sunshine,” gift idea, or the “Happy Pops Day,” basket, don’t forget to go check those out. Hint: You’ll find my secret to making gift baskets look fabulous, in my “Box of Sunshine,” post!

Baby Gift Basket

When I’m putting together a gift basket for a new baby, I love using YELLOW! Why? Well, because yellow is so bright and cheery and this way it works for either a boy or a girl.

Plus, if they have another kiddo, they can use the yellow for the next baby that comes along too!

Didn’t this turn out just adorable? Not because of me… but because EVERYTHING “baby,” is just adorable.

Need something fun for a baby shower? These printable parenting advice cards are so fun and a great alternative to a baby shower game.

Best Baskets for Gift Baskets:

I bought this basket a LOOONG time ago, for just this kind of thing. I love buying these, 3 or 4 at a time, to have on hand for gift giving. But I can’t even tell you where I got it. However, here are some of my favorite baskets:

World Market Gift Baskets

Pier 1 Gift Baskets

Amazon Wire Baskets

H&M Home

What to Put in a Baby Gift Basket?

Well you can put just about anything you like in a gift basket, but here are the items you’ll find in this one:

• Size 2 Diapers (To grow in to. I stacked these in to the bottom, to “lift,” the other goodies, “up.”)
• Receiving blankets – I rolled two in the back, and rolled one, for the front center, so the “owl” would add a little centerpiece
• Snack cup (my favorite baby-snack must-have.
• Teether (in the plastic case)
• Baby shampoo/body wash
• Rubber Ducky (because everyone needs one of those.)
• Book
• Sippy cup

Gift Basket Tip:

When building a gift basket, always try to stick with one “main,” color.

In this one, I decided to go with yellow. Of course there’s a little orange and pink in there too… but the big “wow,” is the yellow. I do this because then it all looks a little more uniform, rather than all over the place.

Free Printable Gift Tag: “Welcome Baby”

I have a fun surprise for you, to make your gift basket making a little easier!

When I designed my gift tag for this gift basket, I wanted to make it available to you, so you could use it.

Just print it, and cut it. You can either tape it on to your basket, or punch a hole in it like I did, and tie it with a ribbon. Get it here:

I hope you have fun getting creative and building your New Baby Gift Basket! As always, let me know if you have any questions! I love hearing from you!

Until next time,

XO!

You’ll Also Love

Sangria Gift

What new mom and dad wouldn’t love a sangria kit to take the edge off of the really stressful days?!

Pin it for Later!

More Gift Ideas

If you love making gift baskets or gifts in general, then you’ll LOVE browsing my gift ideas!

Hosting a Baby Shower?

If you’re the one with hosting duty, don’t miss the CUTEST ideas for baby showers and new moms here:

• Owl “Meet the Baby” Shower
• Mom Advice Cards – Free Printable

WHEW! There are some brutal people out there! Ever since I published this post, it has gone crazy viral and some of you are NOT afraid to speak your mind. So I feel I must explain my intentions with this post, to explain where I’m coming from.

My husband is very good to me, and does extremely nice things for me. So in return, and out of respect, I like to do nice things for him.

Have you ever heard someone say,

Be the wife your husband can’t wait to come home to at night?

No? Yes? I’ve heard it a million times, and I always try to keep advice in my head. As I would hope my husband would think the visa versa. Right?

So I began to think,

What are some things that he would love, to really make him feel special?

and this post was born.

No people, I’m not saying rewind 60 years and be a Stepford Wife. I’m just saying what I like to do for my husband to show my appreciation, and I would very well expect respect in return. Right?

So let’s carry on with this post, and maybe all of the bullies will stop “hating,” on this post. If not… sorry. This is something that works well in my marriage, and I hope it can give someone else great ideas too! If not, I’d LOVE to hear what works in your marriage. Every marriage is different.

You May Also Love This Marriage Talk:

• 29 Tips on How to Be a Good Wife
• How to Respect Your Husband
• What to do When Your Husband Doesn’t Come Home

Back to the post:

It may be a husband who is in the military and is coming home after a year stay overseas, a husband that has only been gone for 3 days, or a husband that is coming home after a long day at work.

  (P.S. You gals that have husbands gone for a super long time, I COMPLETELY adore your strength.)

A little behind the scenes…

My husband owns his own company, and like many other professions, those days as a CEO of a large company, can be excruciating. There’s nothing more that I want to do when he comes home, than to show him my appreciation for working hard. Don’t hear what I’m not saying. I’m not saying I don’t work hard.

I’m a stay at home mom, and I run and operate THIS… my blog. But I AM saying that I want to make our home a place that he’s excited to come home to, every night. ESPECIALLY when he’s been gone for a few days.

How to Make Your Husband WANT to Come Home:

So how do I do this so-called, “making him happy to come home,” thang?

Just don’t ask my husband, because he may tell you different. Haha! Kidding. Only kidding.

• 
  

  His love language.

  
  

  Every husband is different. If you read my post on the secret to a marriage, then you know that everyone has their “language,” that speaks to their heart. (Some husbands, may have more than one.) Read up on what your husbands love language is, and think about something that would fulfill that language that he speaks! 😉  You can buy the book “The Five Love Languages” HERE!

• 
  

  Be positive.

  
  

  Yes, I know real-life happens, and sometimes life throws us some curveballs. The kids were acting awful, the lawn-mower chucked a rock at the dining room window, or the bank account is in the red because it’s been a rough month. But keeping a positive attitude when he walks through that door, can really help for the later part in the evening when it’s time to have a conversation about the not-so-fun things. So when he walks through the door, maybe wait just a bit before you throw up all of the “uglies” at him.

• 
  

  Send him love notes.

  
  

  Once a day, I will try to remember to send him a love note, through text. Yeah yeah yeah… I could get up early, write him a sweet note, and stick it in his coffee cup sleeve… but that’s not going to happen. So when breakfast is over, the kids are playing on their own, I’ll send my hubby a little love note, through a text. “How did I get so lucky to deserve you?” Or something like, “I can’t wait to see you when you get home.” That little “surprise” with something nice can really make his day.

• 
  

  Ask him.

  
  

   In the evening after the kids are off to bed, many times, I’ll ask him:

I’m grabbing something to drink, do you want something?

Or before he leaves for work, I may ask him:

I’m pretty free today. Is there anything you need help with?

Not only are you doing something nice for him by offering to help him… you may also figure out some of the types of things he likes for you to do for him. He may say something like:

You wouldn’t have time to take my truck for an oil change would you? Or I’ll have to take it on Saturday, and miss the little guy’s soccer game.

What?! Who knew? I thought he liked getting out of the house on Saturday mornings by himself to get the oil changed.

• 
  

  Get fancy-schmancy.

  
  

   Now Mom, (my mom), you may want to stop reading here. I may say some things that you don’t want to read or know about your daughter.
  
  (Mom… you’re still reading aren’t you? You’re such a rebel.)
  
  As a mom, I’m usually jumping in the shower as quick as I can, while my kids sit in the bathroom floor. So tending to my female upkeep, can be considered a rare and special occasion. 🙂  Shave those legs. Don’t forget the armpits, and whatever else you shave. Paint those toe-nails. Put on that lotion that’s supposed entice your hubby in to the sheets. (But like he needs a lotion from Victoria Secret to put him in the mood.) Put on that “Woah Baby,” outfit you bought at the mall a year ago that you’ve been dreading, putting on. And surprise him with a raring and ready to go attitude. Every man may be different, but I have a feeling most would appreciate this one. 😉

Wrap Up.

I so hope I didn’t offend you, but rather give you some ideas to try and show your husband that you love and care for him. I’d love to hear what you think below! But please remember, I’m human. I’m not a computer. So although I want you to be honest, I would love for you to also be kind. XOXO

Just remember…”Be the woman your husband can’t wait to come home to.”

As a mom, wife, sister, friend, employee, boss, and whatever else society calls you… we sometimes need to be reminded what it is that makes us happy, so we can fulfill our duties with the best intentions and the way we choose and want.

DISCLAIMER from the owner/founder: “I fail each day, trying to be the “best,” mom, wife, sister, and friend. But if I can be intentional & recognize one LITTLE thing that I accomplished that day… I can be “happy,” with that, and should celebrate it.”

 My boys love… I mean… LUUUUV… hanging out with their paw paw. Hanging out with their paw paw means there are TONS of fun things in store.

You see, “Paw Paw,” lives (and operates) a beef farm, and a short trip to see him, usually includes seeing big, four-legged creatures that say “moo,” a tractor ride, and a “wade,” in the spring.

So the other day, we set out on an adventure and headed to Paw-Paw’s with a surprise in store for him. A Coke. It’s his favorite and we knew it would make his day.

In his own words:

I drink a Coke every morning for breakfast. There’s nothin’ better.

When we arrived at his house, as always… he was working outside. (He’s the hardest worker I know.)

Pulling in the drive, my boys shouted with excitement,

There he is! There’s Paw Paw!

Farming + Grandkids + Coke = Paw Paw’s Day is Made

Up on the tractor they went, handed Paw Paw his Coke, and “Mom” was no longer there. Who needs mom when you have your paw paw, and a farm anyway, right?

I sat back quietly as the boys went about their business, and got the “work,” done.

There is something absolutely heart-melting, watching your own kids, “light-up,” when they’re spending time with someone that makes you “light-up,” too.

Let’s go boys, time to feed the bulls…

I forget how little they are until I see ’em like this. Such precious babies they are. 

My dad’s big “pet,” he calls it… this bull did NOT get the memo of the photoshoot. I mean… he could have taken a dip in the creek or something before I came.

Break Time

You know, that farmin’ is hard work. It was time to take a break, and head to the creek and grab a drink…(and skip a rock or two).

No words needed… (insert this momma’s heart-melting).

Sharing a Coke with Grandpa… it just tastes better. Apparently.

Although we’ve made this trip to Paw Paw’s, a thousand and twenty-three times,  (ok not that many surely) I’ve never just grabbed my camera to capture memories of it. I’m so incredibly thankful for these simple moments that we tend to take for granted.

But now… it’s time for Mommy to enjoy hers. 😉

Until next time,

XO!

My sister and her husband are the most creative people that I know. With her creative brain, and his mad handy-man skillzzz… the two of them together, blow my mind.

If you saw the crawfish boil party that I had for my son, you already know how awesome my sister and brother-in-law are. Seriously… go look if you haven’t —-> Crawfish Boil Party

Turning a Crib in to a Dressing Room

I can’t exactly remember how the conversation came up, but when I found out that my sister and her husband took a crib, and transformed it in to a “dress-up,” area for my toddler niece… I told her that I HAD to see a picture of that. {Mainly because I couldn’t picture in my head what in the heck that they were talking about.}

After they sent this first picture… I TOTALLY knew where they were going with it. How cool is this? But just wait…

Second photo that I received…

{Isn’t that adorable? You can tell that my niece couldn’t WAIT to start hanging up her princess dresses.}

So do you see what they did there? They used the “spring,” part of the crib, as a place to hang the dresses and play clothes. BRILLIANT.

But just wait…

Umm…. Yeah. They told me that it’s still not finished {mainly because I think they are just perfectionists}, but I am FLABBERGASTED at how fabulous this turned out.

{Ahem… I bought the pink net for my niece for Christmas. Hey… I had to get a little credit for something in this DIY project, right? Ok ok… my sister even told me to buy that for her.}

So as you can see, by the perfect little model herself… she LOVES how this dressing room turned out.

I SERIOUSLY want one of these in my room. I wonder if my sister and her husband can turn my bed in to a dressing room? Here guys… here’s a tour of my master bedroom

take a look and see what you can come up with —-> Master Bedroom Tour  😉

Now you KNOW this DIY project doesn’t have to be just for girls. My sons would LOVE this, so they could put their superman and batman costumes on… anytime that they want.

 Are you dying to know how they did this transformation?  Let me know in the comments below, and I may be able to sweet talk them in to telling us… 😉

Pin it like a crazy person:

We had our sons, “Woodland Friends,” first birthday party, and it was a real “hoot.”

(No pun intended. Ok, maybe a little.)

Considering this was my second kiddo’s first birthday, I wanted to make sure that we did the same type of celebration for him, that we did for our oldest sons, first birthday. {See that party here: Airplane First Birthday Party}

So that meant inviting friends and family, extra sweets, and fun little “extras,” to make it super special. (That you’ll see below.)

Woodland Friends Party

When I decided on the Woodland Friends party theme, I knew that I better start off by contacting someone for my invitations. “Perfect Printables,” came to my rescue!

Not only did Megan run with the theme when I told her my ideas, the customer service, and production turn-around time, was impeccable! She knew I had kinda slacked, and waited until the last minute to order them, but she totally made it happen for me. “Perfect Printables,” will definitely be on my contact list for party invitations in the future!

TIP: If you’d like to design your own birthday invitation, see how you can make your own birthday invitation in Canva!

(I smudged out the address and phone number for photo purposes. I assure you that they were spot on, and “perfect.” No pun intended. Ok.. maybe a little again.)

Aren’t they adorable!?

For my oldest son’s first birthday, we asked the guests to forgo bringing a birthday gift, but if they insisted on bringing something, we would love to donate goodies to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

This time, we did the same, and donated goodies to “Operation Christmas Child.” What a wonderful organization it is, and what a great feeling imagining boys and girls opening gifts on Christmas that they may not have received otherwise. (I had Perfect Printables create a small card to include with the invites, explaining the details for the guests!)

Keeping with tradition, we like to create a time capsule for our kiddos, so guests can write a little message for the birthday boy, that they can open on their 20th birthday and read what everyone had to say! We lock it away, and he will wipe the dust off in 19 years, and see what’s been said. 🙂

Ok guys… seriously… this was the easiest party I have ever thrown. Adding in “stuffed,” forest animals, created such an easy, adorable touch to the dessert table. So if you’re planning on throwing a woodland theme party, I highly suggest grabbing stuffed animals for décor!

So let me say… I now have a major crush on The Pretty Paper Studio’s Etsy shop, and I can be pretty particular when it comes to printables for one of my parties. When I searched Etsy, and found them, I immediately fell in love. It’s almost as if they are in my brain, and know what my taste is exactly.

The Birthday Party Mega Pack, was ABSOLUTELY perfect for the direction I was going in! Water bottle covers, cupcake toppers, signs, food tents, and so much more! Fantabulous customer service, and precious designs…. make a combination that automatically adds them to my “go-to” list for party printables, and you should too! See why:

The backdrop of any dessert table is always a highlight, and I couldn’t think of a better place for the “Happy Birthday,” banner. Seriously… the colors, and modern look to the printables are just too…stinkin…cute!

Such a sweet little welcome sign, creates a warm welcome to any dessert table… don’t you think?

Let’s get in to the dessert table details, shall we?

I found the wood cake stands at Hobby Lobby, and I’m so glad that I did. I was so already preparing to head to my mom and dads farm, and “sweet talk” my dad in to becoming a lumber jack. 🙂

Ok, woodland friends or not… I still had to throw in a white porcelain cake stand {or two}. I have to squeeze in a little “girly,” in this house full of boys!

Eeeeek! The cupcake toppers were the perfect addition to the cupcakes. {I’m no baker, let alone cupcake decorator… so when I could count on The Pretty Paper Studio’s cupcake toppers, I knew I was saved!}

I can’t throw a party without having Sweet. Sassy’s cake pops. I sent over a picture that I found on Pinterest, asked if they could do it, and they were up for the challenge! So excited with the way they turned out. Delicious… as always… too!

The night before the party, I shared on my Facebook page that I had found a new love, in the sweet-snack world. I seriously cannot keep this in my house, like, EVER. Its amazingly easy to make, and even more delicious. If you’re ever looking for something quick to throw together for a party, look no further than this trail mix. Yumm-O.

S’mores Trail Mix

To make this, I simply combined a box of Golden Graham’s Cereal, a bag of miniature marshmallows, and a bag of milk chocolate or semi-sweet, chocolate chips. Of course you could adjust the quantities of each item to your liking, but I found it super easy to just use the whole box or bag of each! 🙂

I found little “S’mores,” candy, during my search for party treats. When they arrived, I saw they were a “round,” shape, and thought it would be cute to call them “stones,” to carry on the woodland {outdoor} theme.

Yep, I totally can’t take credit for these adorable little hedgehogs. I found the idea on Pinterest, AND my friend Brandy made them for me, on party day. She said they were super easy, and I couldn’t get over how stinkin’ cute they were. Right?

Was this an easy way out for a quick dessert? You bet. Hey… who doesn’t love a Kit-Kat?

I’m such a sucker for color coordinating straws. But how could I resist birch straws, for this party? Add the straw flags from The Pretty Paper Studio, and it just made perfect sense.

If space allows, I always try to incorporate an area for guests, and create a “guest central.” For this party, I had the drop off basket for gifts that were being donated, the time capsule station, and the favors for the guests to grab on their way out. This little set up worked perfect, and took out any confusion, or “missed,” items of the party.

So what were the favors? A Pinterest find of course! Smore’s-To-Go! Wrapped in “treat bag,” plastic, and tied with a party favor label, made the perfect woodland friends party favor!

No matter how good the cake pops are, how cute the decorations, how much fun my son had, or how many friends & family came by…

there is NOTHING better than the feeling of helping other boys and girls out, that may not be able to have blessings in their lives, such as birthday parties, and even a Christmas gift.

Our hearts are full, looking at this photo of all of the goodies from friends and family that will be sent to the “Operation Christmas Child,” organization this year.

It’s never too early to start teaching our children to think of others, right? 🙂

More Birthday Party Ideas for Boys

If you’re throwing a birthday party soon, our boys love fireman theme parties, nautical parties, indoor camping parties, and even a party based on their favorite food… “A nacho bar party!” Or if a slumber party is on the agenda, these boy slumber party ideas are so fun!

Vendor Credits:

Invitations: Perfect Printables

Party Printables {Banner, cupcake toppers, straw flags, sign, etc.}: The Pretty Paper Studio Etsy Shop

Cake Pops: Sweet. Sassy.

Ghost Craft for Kids: Such a fun project for the kids at Halloween. Just a few items, that you probably even have on hand, for craft time success!

When Halloween rolls around in our house, a craft is a MUST and this Ghost Halloween Craft is one of our favorites! It’s easy to make, and uses items that we usually have in our craft bin anyway!

Materials Needed:

• White Cardstock, Small Posterboard, or White Construction Paper (Card Stock is thicker, so I chose this so it would hold up better}
• Black Construction Paper
• Scissors
• Cotton Balls (amount depends on size of ghost you cut out. We used 35-40)
• Googley Eyes
• Glue (we use glue sticks to keep it less messy)

Just for fun, you’ll also love snacking on this Monster Mix or these Halloween pretzel sticks, while you’re crafting!

Instructions:

1. Start by using white cardstock, and cut a “bell” shape (or upside down “U”) and feel free to add a scalloped edge to the bottom, to give the ghost a “flowy” look.

2. Next, cut out the ghost shape with scissors.

3. Then, using black construction paper, cut out a small round or oval shape, to create the mouth of the ghost. Glue on to ghost where the mouth should go.

4. Using adhesive craft eyes, stick the eyes on to the ghost. (Or, if not adhesive eyes, glue the eyes on.)

5. Next, using glue (we use a glue stick but you can use Elmer’s glue if desired) spread glue on the white parts of the ghost.

6. Begin sticking cotton balls on to glue, pressing down to secure each ball.

7. Cover the entire ghost with as many cotton balls as it takes, making sure the eyes and mouth still show.

Then it’s done! Hang it up on the refrigerator, in their bedroom or out on a display for all the trick-or-treaters to see!

Hint: Save it for next year as a little keepsake, and you can display it for Halloween again!

Related Halloween Ideas

I also think you’ll love this pumpkin patch dessert that we love making this time of year!

Recipe

Yield: 1 ghost

Ghost Craft

Print

Ghost Craft for Kids: Such a fun project for the kids at Halloween. Just a few items, that you probably even have on hand, for craft time success!

Active Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

• white card stock (or mini poster board)
• black construction paper
• cotton balls
• glue stick (or Elmer's Glue)
• googly eyes

Tools

• scissors

Instructions

1. Start by using white cardstock, or mini white poster board, and cut out a "bell" shape or an upside-down "U" shape. Feel free to scallop the bottom if desired, or keep it straight across.
2. Next, cut out that shape with the scissors.
3. Then, using black construction paper, cut out a round or oval shape, for the ghost's mouth. Glue on.
4. Using adhesive googly eyes, stick two on the ghost. Or, if they're not adhesive, glue them on.
5. Next, using glue, spread glue on to the whites of the ghost, around the eyes and mouth.
6. Begin sticking cotton balls to glue, pressing down to secure each cotton ball.
7. Cover the entire ghost with cotton balls.
8. Allow to dry!

A flashback to when my toddler made this for the first time and I had to help him. Now, he did it all on his own!

Baby Travel Checklist: This baby traveling checklist free printable can be your lifesaver!

Traveling with a baby, can be super stressful at times. But honestly, that never kept us from planning a last minute trip with the baby, to get outta dodge. So if you’re notorious for planning last-minute trips, or you’re the “planner,” type… my free baby travel checklist  can be a HUGE life saver for you.

Baby Travel Checklist – Free Printable

A couple of weeks ago, I shared my updated “Toddler Packing List.” After updating that free printable, I knew the Baby Checklist HAD to be next. The toddler packing list went viral on Pinterest, and that told me that there’s a major need for organization when it comes to traveling with kids. I’ve also heard that tips for flying with a baby, are in high-demand from you all, so I’ll work on that asap. I’ve flown a time or two a hundred times with babies, and have learned some tricks along the way! I’d love to share those with you!

But without further ado… save my FREE baby packing travel checklist here: Baby Travel Packing Checklist

Enjoy this free printable, and remember to “pin” it here, so you have it when you need it the next time! I hope this makes your life a little easier with traveling with a baby.

Before you get to packing, make sure you see HOW I pack clothes for my kiddos when we head out on vacation too. Talk about a major life saver! You can see my little trick HERE!

If you’re on the hunt for more printables and organization printables, feel free to browse our free printables!

Greenhouse Gardening Ideas: A look at a real-life greenhouse, using old recycled items to organize and operate a DIY greenhouse operation!

What’s that saying? “If I’m half the woman she is, I’ll be lucky.” Or something like that.

As an inspiring “green-thumb,” I tend to get the jealous “bug,” when I visit my mom’s back yard, on the farm. Her greenhouse has caught the eyes of many “passer-by’s,” and is the topic of many inspiring greenhouse dreamers.

Right now, with the temps are hanging around the 80 degrees in Missouri, working INSIDE the greenhouse is out of the question.

She’s been doing most of her planting outside, but she starts her seeds for all the veggies and plants lettuce inside during the winter. The weather was stinking gorgeous the other day when I was visiting, so I decided to snap a couple of shots, in case you’ve been on the hunt for greenhouse ideas. She is the ultimate creative thinker, and I’m sure you’ll snag a few ideas…

Greenhouse Gardening Ideas

She used so many recycled pots/pans/containers, etc., to plant everything in. Keep your eye open for little DIY tricks that she created during the greenhouse building and set-up process.

Pegboards:

She lined the inside walls with pegboard to hang a lot of her tools on, including old shower organizers, old shelves, and anything she had already laying around the house. This woman is incredible at finding multiple uses out of ordinary things.

Did you SEE how she uses old plastic knives to label her veggies in the first photo? Yeah. Like that.

Tubs for Rain Water:

Although my kiddos (her grandkiddos) think that these tubs are for playing in, she uses them to catch rain water off of her roof of the greenhouse. She’ll then use the rain water to water plants, or anything else she may need water for while hanging around out there.

You can barely see the sink that her and my dad were working on at the the time I took these photos. I tell you… these two and their creations out of what’s on hand. Cinderblocks, and plywood turned outdoor greenhouse vanity.

DIY Walkway:

To keep out of the mud, she put down old plank boards to create a walkway. Even if you don’t think you’re building in a muddy area, think about all of the water that will be around when you’re watering your plants, or if you get a rainy season. You may want to think about a walkway of some sort too!

Using Old Pallets:

Using old pallets to build raised beds, has been extremely helpful when it comes to “farm critters,” strolling by to steal a bite. Not to mention that it reduces having to spend a lot of time bent over in the garden. (Can you tell I’m getting older, since that’s one of my “bonus,” thoughts of why having a tall, raised garden, is a good idea?)

My favorite part of this greenhouse, is all of the fresh-grown tomatoes that she gives us every year to make my favorite bruschetta! I won’t lie about that.

I hope you found some greenhouse gardening ideas for your own project!

Free Toddler Packing List: This checklist has saved my sanity a TON! No frantic, last minute things to worry about forgetting.

Our family loves to travel, and about 90% of the time, it’s last minute. So I’ve learned to save my sanity, by always having my toddler travel packing list, for our toddler’s items to pack his bags super quick.

This is a snapshot below of my little guy and me, when we visited Gulf Shores Alabama, when he was just an itty bitty guy. I was also horribly sick with morning sickness, at 3 months along with baby #2, so excuse the pale skin color….

Toddler Packing List

Save, and print my FREE toddler packing list here:

Toddler Travel Packing Checklist

Since we spent most of the summer traveling with the kiddo, I’ve learned A LOT from experience, so I’m also working on sharing with you all my packing list for a newborn, travel tips with kids, and toy ideas to keep your kiddos occupied on a road trip! Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and sign up for new posts, to make sure you don’t miss these FREEBIES!

As a mom, and some over 30 (pushing 40 now) I was feeling stuck for a long time on where to shop for clothes. I wasn’t sure if I’d feel silly shopping at Forever21 (but stay tuned to see what I shop for there now!) and found it hard to find a pair of jeans that didn’t make my “mom pooch” stick out like a sore… uh… thumb. (Yeah, that’s it. Sore thumb.)

Shop the overalls!

I’m a 30-somethin’ year old gal, who has two little, mud-lovin’, boys at home.

In a perfect world, I’d love to dress up every day in something like a fancy all-white trench suit, or a fun dress.

But let’s face it. I’d have that gorgeous white pants suit on, and my youngest would chuck his melted chocolate chip muffin at it, and game over.

So if I’m not wearing one of my favorite “mom life shirts“, as a mom, on-the-go, I have to think practical, versatile, and affordable. (You know, for those outfits that can’t see the light of day again, because of the chocolate chip muffin incident I mentioned a second ago.)  So when shopping at my favorite stores, I always try to keep those three main bullet points in mind:

3 Things to Keep in Mind While Shopping

There are a few things I like to keep in mind when I’m shopping for clothes and when I’m looking for stores to shop at.

• Practical

I’m a mom, so even though I’d love to play “dress up” every single day… it’s not going to happen. We may be off to the park, wrestling in the living room, or sitting and doing homeschool multiple hours a day. So I make sure to only buy clothes that I TRULY think I’ll wear.

No more “I may need that one day” conversations with myself, as I’m buying something I know good and well will just hang in the closet.

• Versatile

I work at home so I don’t want to be sitting on my laptop, wearing a pair of stiff jeans every day. So you’ll normally find me wearing a pair of comfortable jeans or even yoga pants that are suitable for going out in public. (See my tips for staying active as a stay at home mom too!)

This makes it easy to wear something comfortable at home but yet ready to hop up and run to Home Goods down the road if the mood strikes.

• Affordable

I’m notorious for trying to quickly make lunch for my kids, forgetting to my apron on. This usually results in staining one of my favorite shirts… so considering I’m almost 40 and haven’t learned my lesson yet, I have to make sure my clothes are affordable, in case I ruin them.

Clothing Stores for Moms over 30 and 40

Are there endless stores and boutiques out there that women over 30 can shop at? Of course. So just because I don’t mention them, doesn’t mean that you should stay away from it. All I’m doing is listing my favorite stores that seem to compliment the three bullet points that I shop by…

1. Target

Can I get an amen!? Target will totally come to my rescue for the best fashion finds, when I run in for shampoo. They do have styles at times that aren’t my favorite but I can usually find a t-shirt or casual top that will be a winner. (The overalls at the top of the post??? Target.)

2. H&M

It’s been a favorite for years. It’s also a “hit or miss.” Then there are also those times I walk in there, (shop online) and see a “Whaaaaa?! Is that seriously in style now?” item.

But more times than not, I find basics and super cute items that are great for mom-life and looking stylish. The red and black buffalo plaid shirt in the photo below? That came from H&M. It’s one of my faves.

See the outfit details in the photo above here: Best Leggings Ever + Red Buffalo Plaid

3. Nordstrom

Ok, don’t get scared budgeting mama. I hear you loud and clear. The name Nordstrom scared me to death for years. I didn’t even want to look over to the store window when I’d bypass it at the mall. I had heard how expensive it was and made sure to stay away from there, in case I accidentally bought something by staring at it.

That was until a good friend of mine wanted to go in to look one day, and I had already gone to the bathroom, had a Starbucks in hand, and couldn’t think of another excuse of why I couldn’t walk inside there with her.

To my surprise, she headed right towards a section of clothes that had price tags on it, that was VERY comparable to other stores that I shopped at. I couldn’t believe it. She explained to me that they have different sections of brands/designers, and there were definitely more expensive items in the store, but that I could feel safe hanging out with her in the comfortable price range area. So give it a whirl.

4. Modcloth

I’m a sucker for dresses. Sundresses at that. They tend to pull off a timeless look, aren’t too short, and can be classy, casual, and dressy all at the same time if need be. When I have a blog photo session coming up, or family photos, I make sure to check here.

I’ve had wonderful experiences with them with all of my orders too! This green dress was purchased from there, and it’s by FAR, one of my favorites. Shop Modcloth HERE!

5. Amazon

More and more these days, I find adorable clothes on Amazon. It has a HUGE selection so that can be overwhelming at times but if I have an idea of what I’m looking for (i.e. pink dress with white polka dots) and I can type that in and get a ton of results to choose from. That’s really nice, as opposed to going to some other online store and they may not even have a pink dress in stock.

Shop this pink dress I’m wearing and shop this hat from Gigi Pip hats, using code: JESSICAB10 to get 10% off!

I also love buying workout clothes from Amazon, and my white tennis shoes!

6. LOFT

I was scared of LOFT too for a long time because I thought it would be crazy expensive. But when I realized the quality of their clothes… it was a game-changer.
I may only pay $24.99 or so for a shirt at Target, and a full-price shirt at Loft may be closer to $40.00 for the same type… but it seems to last SO much longer.

Plus, LOFT is just like any online store… they run SALES and I stock up when my favorites are on sale.

What are my favorites from LOFT?

Their tops and their dresses. When I need something classy for say, a date night, I love their flowy tops that I can pair with a dark pair of denim jeans.

7. J.Crew Factory Outlet

Now I do love J.Crew, but it’s so much more enjoyable while shopping at the J. Crew Factory Outlet, simply because of the price. Everything seems to always be at least 50% off, and I feel like I’ve found a deal every time I shop online there.

I’ll mostly snag cute tops, like this adorable scalloped cami and leopard flats below, from J.Crew Factory Outlet or puffy vests in the winter season.

8. SheIn

This is a newer love, and to be honest, I didn’t really trust this store when I saw it online. Why? Because their prices just seemed way too good to be true.

But I decided to risk it and buy a couple items one day, and I was VERY pleased with it and continue to buy from here. I tend to buy a LOT of dresses from Shein and a lot of workout clothes and undergarments! Shop SheIn here!

9. American Eagle

Up until a few months ago, I hadn’t shopped at American Eagle since high school. But desperate to find jeans that weren’t high rise, I thought I’d give it a chance. I didn’t find any jeans but I did find this super cute dress and now go in there to see what I may randomly find! I can usually find something casual and super cute… if I just ignore the items that are not my style.

10. Forever21

Now, I will say that I RARELY find anything at Forever21 these days… EXCEPT swimming suits. I absolutely love how they fit and how affordable they are! They usually have the tops and bottoms separate which is nice if you need different sizes than what they may pair together themselves.

What is YOUR Favorite Store for Mom Clothes?

I SO hope that you found at least a little outfit inspiration for your mom-self, in this post!

I don’t always get to share new outfits on the blog, but I do tend to share most of them on my Instagram, so head over there for up to date trends!

See my CURRENT favorite fashion finds, and shop my Instagram HERE!

I’d love to hear what your favorite store to shop at is! Let me know in the comments below because I’d LOVE to add it to my online shopping routine.

Some of my Old Favorite Pieces

This post has been up since 2015 or so… but my thoughts and opinions have changed over the years so I’ve made sure to update accordingly. But I thought it would be fun to leave the old items up as well for a look down memory lane at some of the most popular outfits here on the blog!

See the outfit details in the photo above here: Cozy Neutrals + A Bootie Must-Have

See the outfit details in the photo above here: Vests are Best + Hunter Boots

See the outfit details of the photo above here: Dressy Trench + Winter Neutrals

This “hello summer” free printable is perfect to frame, and show off in your home, or even fun if you’re hosting a summer party and you’re looking for table decor.

I absolutley love giving you free printables to download and use, and this summer printable is no different.

What I love about this printable is that it’s simple, classic and looks good with almost any decor or color scheme you plan to use it with. I personally think it would look amazing on a table when you’re hosting, sitting next to some summer cocktails, and next to some of these delicious summer dinner ideas that may be sitting on the table too.

You could also even include a framed copy of this inside of this sunshine gift basket for an adorable touch.

I hope you enjoy this super cute summer printable. Simply click the “Download the printable HERE” button below, to get your free download that’s not watermarked! It was created as an 8.5 x 11 pdf but if your printer settings allow you to print smaller, such as a 5×7, etc. that should work too!

More Printables You’ll Love:

Don’t forget to download this “End of Summer” checklist too, to make sure you don’t forget to do your favorite things, and grab this list of summer snacks to take on your adventures!