Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Date Night : Popcorn Frenzy
Our weekend was jam packed full of fun with our friends and kiddos and it left us exhausted. We called our Friday night out with friends out date night for the week even though we had Olivia. We went out to celebrate a birthday at one of our favorite restaurants, known mostly for it’s incredible views of the ocean. We love having our own dates, but it’s also very healthy to be able to go out with friends and interact with others which is also something we don’t make enough time for.
During the outage, Mike and I weren’t able to have a date every week because there was no time and even if there was we were wiped out! To make up for it we plan to squeeze in a few during the week after the kiddos go to bed. We did just that on Tuesday and settled in on the couch to catch up on our favorite shows and decided to have fun making some creative mixes for our popcorn.
I am a popcorn addict. I love snacking on it all the time and I can crave it in the middle of the night. Thankfully I have a husband who is happy to make it for us every time we settle in on the couch for a good movie. We always pop our own in order to dress it however we wish, but it’s almost always simple and very basic. Mike loves his popcorn drizzled with olive oil and lightly salted and I’m a traditional butter lover.
We tried a few flavor combinations just to mix it up this time. Not only was it fun and creative, but we also discovered a few new versions we love. Popcorn flavor combinations are completely endless and it’s so much fun mixing and matching traditional and nontraditional flavors for something completely different! I hope you try one or more of these and enjoy them as much as we did. Our favorite was the buffalo style!
Buffalo Style
6 cups popped popcorn
2 teaspoons hot wing sauce
2 teaspoons melted butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cilantro Lime
6 cups popped popcorn
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
4 teaspoons grapeseed oil
2 drops lime essential oil
zest of 1 lime
1/4 teaspoon salt
Italian Parmesan
6 cups popped popcorn
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
3 teaspoons olive oil
1 teaspoon italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
Monday, May 1, 2017
Our Weekend in Photos
This weekend was top-notch and summer like. Our weather was incredible and our days were spent outside soaking up the sunshine, hitting the beach and keeping cool in the sprinklers. The babes all woke up bright and early Saturday morning pushing us to start our day around 6am. They’ve been early risers this past week and we took advantage getting out of the house before eight by heading to our favorite donut shop. Kensi and Finn always get sprinkles on their donuts and mix it up by adding either strawberry, blueberry or chocolate icing.
Afterwards Kensi requested to find some seashells and so we headed to the beach. It was low tide and the sand was covered in shells which of thrilled Kensi. Finnley found two broken clam shells and quickly turned them into cars, pushing them through his sand race track. The water was still pretty cold, but it didn’t keep any of us from not dipping our toes in.
We spent the rest of our afternoon in the backyard working on the landscaping and having too much fun playing on the slip n slide. The kids have been loving all the backyard water play lately and I know they’re going to be disappointment this coming weekend since it’s suppose to be cooler and all the water will be off limits. However, I think it’s safe to say we’re ready for summer!
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Spring Cleaning
I officially got the itch to start my spring cleaning a few weeks ago. We currently have beautiful weather which makes for the perfect excuse to open the windows and let the fresh spring air fill our house. I always love the beginning of a new season as it not only makes me excited for all things new, but it sparks the motivation deep down inside me and each season is different. Summer makes me excited for water balloon fights, homemade ice cream, toes in the sand and late nights with Mike; autumn always gives me all the feels with pumpkin spice, crunchy leaves under my feet, cozy blankets and cool nights by the fire pit; winter sparks my baking addiction, arts and crafts for the cold days, layers of warm clothes and hot bowls of soup. Spring is making all things new again, like a fresh start for the year. I love decluttering and doing a deep clean throughout each room in the house. For me it’s a time to simplify.
One thing I’ve really come to simplify in our home over the last few years is our cleaning product stash. I enjoy using natural ingredients for my cleaning products rather than harsh chemicals for a couple different reasons. First of all, it’s much safer for my kids if they so happen to stumble into something. I know they’re going to be okay if they get into the white vinegar or the baking soda as opposed to bleach or a multi-purpose harsh chemical spray. Natural ingredients are also much better for the health of our home and our family. I hate spraying chemicals and then find myself coughing because it has filled the air and I’m now inhaling it. How can that possibly be good for anyone? Instead, I mix up my own cleaners using household ingredients and essential oils. Not only is it a healthier option, but they smell good as well.
For our showers and tubs I’ve tried everything over the years and I always get the best results using our simple shower spray with blue dish soap and vinegar. For me, it makes cleaning a breeze! We have removable shower heads in all our showers which makes it even easier for rinsing everything down in one easy step!
Shower + Tub Spray
1 part Dawn Blue Dish Soap
1 part White Vinegar
20 drops Lemon essential oil
Pour soap and vinegar into 16 oz spray bottle and shake gently to mix. Spray on bathtub and shower walls + floors. Lightly scrub and let sit for 10 minutes, then rinse. This makes quite a bit so don’t feel you have to use all of it to clean one shower.
I usually always have my Thieves cleaner on hand, but when I don’t this is the next best thing! Simple and definitely gets the job done!
All-Purpose Spray
2 cups water
1/2 White Vinegar
2 Tablespoons Baking Soda
20 drops Essential Oil (lemon, purification, lemongrass OR thieves)
Pour water + vinegar into spray bottle. Add baking soda + essential oil and shake to mix.
This little concoction is our little miracle worker. We have a glass stovetop which easily gets dirty every time we cook. Mixing our Thieves Household cleaner with a little baking soda removes all the burnt over spill from our pots and pans. It’s also great for cleaning inside the oven. I use my Norwex cloth to help scrub and wipe away all the mess.
Countertop Scrub
1 capful Young Living Thieves Household Cleaner
1/4 cup Baking Soda
4 drops Essential Oil
In a small bowl add baking soda, thieves cleaner and essential oil. Mix into a paste and scrub on countertops, stovetop and sink to clean. Wipe away with a warm damp cloth.
When mixing homemade cleaners, be sure to label all the bottles. Using a handy label maker like this or this works well and the labels seem to stand up well to water. I also love making our bottles look pretty with Washi Tape! There are so many colors + patterns the possibilities are endless. Plus it’s always fun to swap them out for new seasons. A few of our other favorite products include...
Young Living Thieves Household Cleaner
This is a concentrate of 30:1 and lasts for a long time. I use these glass bottles and add half a capful to my bottle and fill the rest with warm water. I keep this on hand and use it to clean my kitchen countertops, high chairs, floors, and bathrooms. It’s also an awesome stain remover for carpet!!!
Norwex Mop + Cloth + Window Cloth
I purchased these three items last spring when getting ready for my deep clean and they’ve become absolute necessities and a game changer in our home. I love the double sided mop system and it’s replaced my all my Swiffer products. The mop has a dry side for collecting crumbs and a wet side for hard core mopping. Not only does it make cleaning easy, it makes it fast. I can clean my house in record time without ever feeling like I’m cutting corners.
The Norwex Envior-cloth only needs hot water and I use it to clean my appliances, doors and base boards. I even use it to get stains out of my white sofas and velvet pillows. You can find the mop, cloth and window cloth here.
If interested in any Young Living products I use and mentioned, please email me and I’d be happy to help you get started with using essential oils products! Also, follow my Wild + Grape page on Instagram and Facebook Page for recipes and ideas of using natural products to create a healthier home!
Happy Cleaning!
XO
One thing I’ve really come to simplify in our home over the last few years is our cleaning product stash. I enjoy using natural ingredients for my cleaning products rather than harsh chemicals for a couple different reasons. First of all, it’s much safer for my kids if they so happen to stumble into something. I know they’re going to be okay if they get into the white vinegar or the baking soda as opposed to bleach or a multi-purpose harsh chemical spray. Natural ingredients are also much better for the health of our home and our family. I hate spraying chemicals and then find myself coughing because it has filled the air and I’m now inhaling it. How can that possibly be good for anyone? Instead, I mix up my own cleaners using household ingredients and essential oils. Not only is it a healthier option, but they smell good as well.
For our showers and tubs I’ve tried everything over the years and I always get the best results using our simple shower spray with blue dish soap and vinegar. For me, it makes cleaning a breeze! We have removable shower heads in all our showers which makes it even easier for rinsing everything down in one easy step!
Shower + Tub Spray
1 part Dawn Blue Dish Soap
1 part White Vinegar
20 drops Lemon essential oil
Pour soap and vinegar into 16 oz spray bottle and shake gently to mix. Spray on bathtub and shower walls + floors. Lightly scrub and let sit for 10 minutes, then rinse. This makes quite a bit so don’t feel you have to use all of it to clean one shower.
I usually always have my Thieves cleaner on hand, but when I don’t this is the next best thing! Simple and definitely gets the job done!
All-Purpose Spray
2 cups water
1/2 White Vinegar
2 Tablespoons Baking Soda
20 drops Essential Oil (lemon, purification, lemongrass OR thieves)
Pour water + vinegar into spray bottle. Add baking soda + essential oil and shake to mix.
This little concoction is our little miracle worker. We have a glass stovetop which easily gets dirty every time we cook. Mixing our Thieves Household cleaner with a little baking soda removes all the burnt over spill from our pots and pans. It’s also great for cleaning inside the oven. I use my Norwex cloth to help scrub and wipe away all the mess.
Countertop Scrub
1 capful Young Living Thieves Household Cleaner
1/4 cup Baking Soda
4 drops Essential Oil
In a small bowl add baking soda, thieves cleaner and essential oil. Mix into a paste and scrub on countertops, stovetop and sink to clean. Wipe away with a warm damp cloth.
When mixing homemade cleaners, be sure to label all the bottles. Using a handy label maker like this or this works well and the labels seem to stand up well to water. I also love making our bottles look pretty with Washi Tape! There are so many colors + patterns the possibilities are endless. Plus it’s always fun to swap them out for new seasons. A few of our other favorite products include...
Young Living Thieves Household Cleaner
This is a concentrate of 30:1 and lasts for a long time. I use these glass bottles and add half a capful to my bottle and fill the rest with warm water. I keep this on hand and use it to clean my kitchen countertops, high chairs, floors, and bathrooms. It’s also an awesome stain remover for carpet!!!
Norwex Mop + Cloth + Window Cloth
I purchased these three items last spring when getting ready for my deep clean and they’ve become absolute necessities and a game changer in our home. I love the double sided mop system and it’s replaced my all my Swiffer products. The mop has a dry side for collecting crumbs and a wet side for hard core mopping. Not only does it make cleaning easy, it makes it fast. I can clean my house in record time without ever feeling like I’m cutting corners.
The Norwex Envior-cloth only needs hot water and I use it to clean my appliances, doors and base boards. I even use it to get stains out of my white sofas and velvet pillows. You can find the mop, cloth and window cloth here.
If interested in any Young Living products I use and mentioned, please email me and I’d be happy to help you get started with using essential oils products! Also, follow my Wild + Grape page on Instagram and Facebook Page for recipes and ideas of using natural products to create a healthier home!
Happy Cleaning!
XO
Monday, April 24, 2017
Mini Swim Style
Beach season is nearly here and the pool is officially open! We spent much of our weekend outside and playing in the water and today it’s raining nonstop. My kids are so bummed and Finn even put on his swim trunks. I guess it’s his own little way of boycotting the rain.
My kids are ecstatic about spending our summer mornings playing in the sand and water. We vowed to take advantage of living at the beach this year since last year being pregnant was definitely not happening. I’ve been shopping around for each of the kids to have a couple different swim suits on hand since they’ll be living in them most of the summer. I’m obsessed with finding Kensi and Olivia matching patterns whereas Finn gets to ride out his own style.
My kids are ecstatic about spending our summer mornings playing in the sand and water. We vowed to take advantage of living at the beach this year since last year being pregnant was definitely not happening. I’ve been shopping around for each of the kids to have a couple different swim suits on hand since they’ll be living in them most of the summer. I’m obsessed with finding Kensi and Olivia matching patterns whereas Finn gets to ride out his own style.
I’m usually one to be all about pink for the girls, but lately I’ve been feeling all the shades of blue, especially in florals. We recently got a pair of the Babiators for Finn because he loves to stretch and pull sunglasses. These are nearly indestructible and if you register them within the first 30 days the company will replace them up to one year if they break or get lost....ahem...at the beach, backyard or even in my van.
We also love Saltwaters by Hoy sandals. We bought our first pair for Kensi a few years ago and they wear really well! They have a few different styles and lots of colors options. Our kids always do well them and can wear them dressed up or down. The best part...they’re water-proof!
Now it’s onto replacing a few of those sand toys that were lost and never found and hoping you have sunny skies and warm weather for a weekend of fun in the sun!
XO
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