Monthly Recap- April 2023

Grab a seat and take a minute for yourself while we catch up on April 2023.

Recent Buys

For Myself

• I’m trying to do a much better job of taking care of my skin. I finally got some Cocokind sunscreen to use as we spend more time outside.

• I was also in desperate need of some new shoes. I do a lot of running around with the kids and have been loving this Adidas pair.

• My curly hair always needs a little extra moisture, so this leave-in conditioner has been great.

• As I mentioned last month, I’m headed to a House of Color consultation in a few weeks. I’ve been purposely avoiding purchasing new clothes so I can buy more after I learn what looks best on me.

For Ryan

• Ryan likes to get outside in the warmer months and this comfort cream prevents any chafing. Talc free and a must if you work, exercise, or spend time outside.

• I got some Dr. Squatch soap for Ryan a few years ago, mainly as a gag gift, but it quickly became the only type of soap he uses. He also now exclusively uses the deodorant and we both love the toothpaste. He likes just about all of the scents and has recently been using the Star Wars and Batman collections. Use this link for $7 off your order if you are interested in trying some- it would make a great Father’s Day gift from the kids.

For the Kids

• We started swim lessons this week and got these wet brushes and these goggles to get everyone ready. The goggles are fantastic and have a bungee strap with a toggle for easy adjusting and no more goggles tanged in the hair. The brushes have worked perfectly over the last few weeks and are so cute.

• As we are spending more time in puddles now instead of snow mountains, we needed to make sure our rainboots were all the correct size. This pair has been great year after year without a super steep price point.

• Vaila wanted new “running shoes” instead of slip on tennis shoes, and they had to be pink! This hot pink pair fit the bill and she gets a lot of compliments on them!

• These water shoes are perfect post-swim lesson and can be washed in the sink as needed if we play in the sandbox. Love them!

For the House

• We are in the process of making some changes to our house and have been saving up for a few renovations. Phase 1 will include new appliances and moving our laundry area upstairs! That also means a few areas of additional storage both on the main level and in our primary bedroom. We have been laying low on the purchases in this area so we can buy what we really want when the time is right. Future phases will include new flooring, an entire wall dedicated to our pantry, an official mudroom area, a fireplace makeover, and more. I’ll definitely share as we make progress in late summer/early fall.

• A very small-scale thing I want to add- I had to order new laminating sheets this month. My laminator has been used a few times, but man is it awesome! There are so many different reasons to use it, but if you have kids at home and/or you like to do activities with any children in your life, then I would recommend getting one. I wish I would have gotten one sooner. I feel like teachers know the joys of laminating, but apparently, I was missing out. How old and motherly do I sound right now?

What I Read In March

Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living by Shauna Niequist

I really enjoyed this book which makes a very strong argument for a life full of grace, slowness, rest, and joy. I’ve made a lot of changes in my life in the last few years that often leave me feeling too slow or unproductive. This book helped me remember why I’ve made those choices and gave me a gentle reminder that I could do better in some areas. 4/5

Finding Me by Viola Davis

This book was powerful. I listened to Viola Davis read her own story and that only added to the meaning and emotion in this book. She discusses the path to finding her career, purpose, and voice while sharing insight into her childhood and inspiration along the way. 5/5

Last Month on the Blog…

Here are some of the recent activities from the blog this month. I hope you find inspiration and try one of these ideas this month.

Family Happenings

The last 2 weeks of April sped by at an inconceivable rate. Here’s what we’ve been up to:

• Ryan was finally able to cash in on the Christmas gift I gave him- 24 hours off parenting duty while I took the kids out of the house. He got to hang out with his brother, eat a meal in peace, watch baseball and WWE, and not have to wash or wipe one single person the whole night!

• We hosted 2 separate Easter celebrations and had a lovely, and warm, weekend. The cascarones (confetti eggs) were a hit and we will definitely be making this a yearly tradition.

• Vaila and Ellette have been loving story time. Our local library does a phenomenal job with programming for little ones and we have been walking/riding bikes to the library whenever we can.

• Brinly and Vaila had a dance recital! They were adorable and had so much fun.

• Brinley also started soccer this month. I’m not a soccer mom yet, but I’m also not counting it out completely just yet.

• Brinley had her first school field trip to the butterfly house at MSU. I got to chaperone, and it was awesome.

• Brinley and Vaila started swim lessons as well. This was an early birthday gift from us to them because they have been asking for months if they could learn to swim. I also signed Ellette up to start next month.

• We managed 3 simultaneous dentist appointments for all of the kids. I called Ryan in for reinforcement because I wasn’t sure how Ellette would do at her first visit, but everyone was happy as a clam. A+ for no major meltdowns and we got everyone to school on time.

• I’ve been making an effort to get out of the house after bedtime each night for a walk. It has been very centering to me, but honestly the cold and rainy weather the last week has messed up my groove. I’m going to get back in to it because I’ve been treated to some beautiful sunsets.

• We’ve spent a lot of time outside and have gotten to see an owl, worms, and geese as well as eating snacks and lunch outside when it’s warm enough.

• Ellette started riding a balance bike and absolutely loves it! She’s not fast, but is still only 19 months old and I bet she’ll be cruising around by the end of summer.

Make it Monday

Check out what we’ve been making to eat this month.

• Sushi Bowls- use your favorite protein (we used salmon and play to use tuna steaks or yellowtail next time) and add rice, seaweed, shredded carrots and cucumbers, avocado, and soy sauce to your bowl. Everyone loved this!

• Sausage Gnocchi Sheet Pan Dinner- this is one of my favorite go-to meals. Add tomatoes, uncooked gnocchi, bell peppers, garlic, olive oil, and raw Italian sausage to a sheet pan. Pop in the oven at 425 F for 25-ish minutes.

• Hawiian Chicken Sheet Pan via Beauty and the Bench Press. Clearly I’m in the sheet pan season of life right now. This was tasty and familiar enough that the kids would eat it, but also yummy and flavorful enough for the adults. Click the link for the rundown on how to make this.

• Pesto Ranch Chicken. This is a great crockpot or Instant Pot recipe and has been made so many times over the years at our house. Throw chicken breasts or thighs into your cooking pot of choice, top with dry ranch seasoning, pesto, and broth or water. Cook until the chicken is done, usually 4 hours on high/7-8 on low for the crockpot and 8 minutes for the Instant Pot. We like to put this over noodles and add some veggies for a quick and delicious dinner.

Check back next month for the recap of some of our go-to recipes or follow along on Instagram where I share our weekly favorite every Monday.

Looking Forward to May

I know it can be tough to squeeze in activities or crafts with the kids, especially if you don’t have the supplies on hand. Here is a sneak peek at some items we will be using next month. Hopefully this makes it easier to follow along and less stressful for you.

• ribbon or yarn

• paint

• paper towel rolls

• cotton swabs

Shop the Site

I have created digital downloads for some of the projects and activities from the blog! These are available to purchase from the online store. I’ll add and update items regularly, including birthday and holiday products. If you don’t see what you are looking for, let me know by sending me a message.

Here’s what we added this month:

• Spring Activity Bundle- this printable has over 20 pages of flower themed activities for the kids. Memory game, matching, counting, letters, patterns, and so much more! My kids have been loving this activity pack and I know yours will too.

Looking forward to a sunny and fun May. Cheers!

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