Monthly Recap- March 2023

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

Recent Buys

For Myself

• My big purchase this month was a House of Color consultation. I’ll be headed to a studio in May to find my best colors and I’m so excited. I’ve been wanting to do this for several months, so I’ll update you on the process.

• I purchased these shorts to wear under my dress for Easter. Is that what people do nowadays for slightly sheer outfits? I’ve been wearing maternity and postpartum leggings for years now, so I’m very much out of any fashion loop.

• I need to do a better job at protecting my skin and face from the sun, so I’m hoping this sun hat helps. I usually wear my hair up in the summer, so the cutout for my mom bun makes this a much better option for me.

• I absolutely love this book by Morgan Harper Nichols. It is a collection of one page poems with beautiful illustrations that are uplighting and healing. I’m trying to read one page a night before bed instead of getting drawn to my phone. I never used to look at my phone in bed because I know it is terrible sleep hygiene, but somehow I’ve gotten into the bad habit and need to stop ASAP.

For Ryan

• As the temps warm up, I know he will be reaching for white wine. We always forget to have some chilling, so I got this wine chilling wand to get a glass to the perfect temperature at the end of a long day wrangling the kids.

For the Kids

• The kids needed some new slip on tennis shoes for the spring/summer. Brinley got this sparkly pair and Vaila picked out this rainbow pair.

• This set of washi tape is adorable and will go in some Easter eggs this year.

• How could I resist these amazing sunglasses for the kids?

• These stainless steel snack cups have been an amazing purchase! We use them just about every day for school or snacks on the go. We often have a picnic snack in the summer, so this will help with transporting everyone’s food.

• This bubble gun looks awesome and we can’t wait to use it!

For the House

• I finally bought a boot dryer…in February! We have used it several times and I wish I would have purchased it sooner.

• I’m trying to make some easy swaps to lower tox cleaning products. We already use fragrance and dye free everything, but this laundry soap looks a bit better in terms of ingredients. I’m testing out a few different ones and can write up a comparison.

• I love these waterproof zip bags so much that I got another set. We store games and puzzles in them, use them to hold pom poms and other craft items, and they are the perfect way to store an extra change of clothes in the car.

• This set of spice jars is fantastic! It looks nice and the bottles can stack, so I can find what I’m looking for without having a jar of cumin come crashing toward my face. We’ve been ordering all of our spices from Thrive Market for quite a while now and love it.

What I Read In March

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

This book was raw and a fantastic description of the power that women and mothers hold. Set in 1918 and shares a nurse’s perspective of the Great Flu in Dublin. 4/5

The Path Made Clear by Oprah Winfrey

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this short read, but it was only OK. This collection of interviews had some interesting moments, but overall was not my favorite. 2/5

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll

This has been on my “Want to Read” list for a while and I just found out it was being made into a movie. It kept me interested, but wasn’t the thriller that it claims to be. Definitely some good/hard topics covered. 3/5

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

I’m not sure how we are already at the end of March when it feels like it was just Valentine’s Day! We have been simultaneously very busy and very boring this last month, but I’ll fill you in.

• We did not get to our March family date just yet and it will have to be postponed until April. Brinley was in charge of picking the activity and really wanted to head to a particular park, but we’ve been getting a lot of cold or rainy weather. Although I don’t mind getting out in the winter, wet and cold in March just makes it hard for me to get outside with the kids.

• Brinley and Vaila both reached their first 100 hours outside! I’m still wrapping up my last 15 hours and Ellette is just a little behind me.

• The kids have been loving story time at a local library, but I’ve come to the realization that 2 story times in a week is too much for me. I’m trying to balance my sanity with the mom guilt of providing opportunities for my children, so we are finishing out the next session through April and then my limit of 1 per week will come into effect.

• Although it’s been a struggle to get a solid workout in 3 days of the week, I have been taking a solo walk after the kids are in bed most nights. The 30 or so minutes by myself has been a wonderful ritual that I very much look forward to.

• We are wrapping up Spring Break with the kids. We stayed at home but still tried to make it fun with trips to local museums or parks.

• Setting a weekly reminder to add to our Memory Jar has been a perfect way for us to consistently add new memories as the year progresses. Now is a great time to start this tradition at your house- read about it here.

Make it Monday

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

• Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash. In a pan I add sweet potatoes until soft, add swish chard, spinach, or kale (or all 3) until wilted. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and then fry some eggs. You can also cook up ground sausage first if you want.

• Beef Stew via Natasha’s Kitchen. This was a wonderful new recipe that we will definitely make again. All of the prep work was up front and then I could clean or get outside with the kids. And it was absolutely delicious.

• Yogurt Taste Test/ Yogurt Bar. This idea has been a lifesaver for me and so fun for the kids. I set out a whole bunch of toppings and give each kid a bowl of yogurt (we use coconut yogurt for the dairy free people in our family). Everyone loves making different combinations and scooping their own toppings. Highly recommend.

• Sweet Potato BBQ Chicken Bowl. I can NOT stop eating this! We served this to everyone for dinner one night with sweet potato fries and shredded chicken from the Instant Pot. Top with greens and BBQ sauce and enjoy. Since then, I’ve been microwaving a sweet potato and enjoying this for lunch on repeat.

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 April

We are so happy the temperatures are finally warming up and have been spending as much time outside as possible.

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

• paper towel rolls

• shaving cream or whipped cream

• cotton balls

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. I’m hoping to get something added in April. Between a stomach bug and Ryan working over the weekend, my time to create a new product vanished.

Sending spring thoughts your way as we welcome April.

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