As you likely know, we live near the beach... and we love it here. Although... If I could choose any place in the world to live, it would be ON the beach with the ocean breeze and sea mist billowing through the windows - but I'm definitely not complaining about being a few miles away either, I just like to find ways to make our little place feel a bit more beachy when I can.
From white washed walls and shabby chic furniture in our living room, to a mermaid themed bathroom - we are all about keeping this little shack of ours beachy and cozy. I have a thing for blue tones and I pretty much would call Delainey's room a shine to mermaids... so it's safe to say every inch of our house is a bit beachy...
Enough about our house though, are you looking for ways to bring the beach to your home? Here's one way I bet you haven't tried yet --- CLEANING!
That's right, you can start cleaning with a bit of Pacific Breeze & Coconuts. One of the most creative ways to bring the beach to your home is to sanitize and disinfect with THE BEST smelling products. Not only will your house be clean, but you'll always feel like you're taking a refreshing deep breath by the sea.
If you're like me, coconut is your go-to scent when thinking of beach days. Maybe it's a mixture of the thought of a pina coloda or a little bit of reminiscing on how amazing sunscreen smells- but this paradise scented line of cleaners makes me feel like I'm at the beach, even when I'm at home having to do chores!
Not only does this amazing CLOROX® Scentiva line smell like paradise, it leaves my bathroom glistening like a little piece of sea glass while also killing 99.9% of bacteria and viruses! So I'm fully on-board with a little coconut cleaning, do you want to give this coconut paradise line of cleaners a try, you can find the entire Clorox Scentiva line at Target - get the details here!
The best part is, you can clean every inch of your bathroom with this line - using the Clorox Scentiva Multi-Purpose cleaner to wipe down the sink, the Toilet Cleaning Gel to sanitize your throne, and the Foam Cleaner to clean your tub, your whole bathroom will be refreshingly clean and smell refreshing as well!
So tell me, are you ready to clean with coconuts and bring a piece of the beach to your home with Clorox Scentiva? Do you have any other creative ways to bring the beach indoors? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!
This post is sponsored by Happy Family but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
I have one extra happy little adventurer on my hands today. But "why?", you may ask...
Well, she spent the day being the leader of the pack, so to speak. We let D be in charge of all of our activities. From choosing her own breakfast, to wondering around the garden, to shopping for her favorite foods and getting to try some new ones, she truly got to lead the way and she was all too happy to play the leader.
Want to encourage your toddler to start playing the role of a leader as well, here's five ways we encourage her to take the lead (while still keeping her safe, of course)...
1. Express Creativity & Learn - We try to do a creative project or something STEM related at least once a day, from finger painting to making slime - me and my sidekick are always trying new things and making a mess. I let her do her own thing with a paint brush and I typically give her free reign of our creative process, this allows her to enjoy the activity and it also produces some amazing art work and cool results with our experiments.
2. Try New Things - Speaking of experiments, encouraging Delainey to try new things is always at the top of our list of activities. From letting her try sushi (a veggie roll, nothing raw yet) to encouraging her to find her own way on a new playground, I want D to know NEW is okay!
Today she decided she wanted to try Happy Tot Super Morning Bowls and I would say she's a pretty big fan! We chopped up some fruit to add a pretty touch to this already delicious meal and she pretty much devoured it like it was dessert - the best part is, there's no added sugars! Want to encourage your little one to try something new? Here's a coupon to save on the NEW Happy Tot Super Morning Bowls!
So far, she's proven to like most new things including these delicious, healthy bowls. I'm hoping by encouraging her to try new things, she'll always embrace change and want to explore all kinds of new, exciting things in her life.
3. Choose Her Own Path - Speaking of exploring, choosing the way we go while on a walk, picking which aisles we wonder while in the store, or just being in charge of what toys we play with means a lot to her... and it's an easy way to encourage leadership.
A lot of times, we let her wander and play as she pleases as long as she's not hurting anything, especially in the house. Daddy is on the braver side and he lets her climb, explore and wander without having an eye on her always... I'm a bit more helicopter parent-ish (learning to change that) and I like to at least go from room to room with her, regardless - we let her choose what toys she wants to play with most of the time and encourage her to test new skills and learn.
4. Chores - While we are on the topic of new skills - Yes, D is only 19 months old and she's already doing chores. She may not be the best at sweeping, but when she wants to - we let her help clean. It's also her job to help daddy take out the trash and she is pretty keen on helping daddy pull weeds too. It's not as though we're making her work, she enjoys taking care of these jobs (or at least helping with them) and we enjoy watching her gain independence and growing.
So tell me, how do you encourage your toddler to be independent? I'd love to hear all about it in the comments below! Plus, don't miss your chance to try the NEW Super Morning Bowls with this coupon!
If you follow me on instagram, you probably already know Delainey and I have a deep obsession with shopping small...
I would dare to say I'm borderline addicted to supporting fellow mama's with a hustler spirit. From finding awesome deals on adorable, one of a kind clothing, to having precious creations handmade with love included in our memories, there's just something so sweet about shopping small and knowing that I'm also helping another mama spend more time with her family. Lately I've realized this shop community is about so much more than the clothes though, so...
Today I want to share how one sweet mama bird in this community inspires me to be a better person, daily. Dorie Kirk, the mama & the heart behind The Baby Bird Boutique, is the definition of a strong, capable, hard-working woman and someone I admire greatly - so let me share with you just a few of the reasons I feel this way.
First, we'll start with the most heart-wrenching and heart-warming detail - a small segment of the story behind this shop -
Kale Evan was THE original baby bird that started it all and while it saddens me to say he passed 45 days into his fight, his legacy will forever continue. That's what this boutique is all about, that's the promise this Mama Bird made to her strong, little baby bird and it's one she will always keep. Dorie has already ensured this will be the case with the start of pediatric hospice in their area, while also raising funds for hypothermaic therapy, and even more heroic acts, like inspiring a random acts of kindness day on a day most would be mourning.
Do it for Kale day is the day we all celebrate and share love in honor of the original baby bird... and it's coming up soon, May 7th is the day. What kind of random acts of kindness will you take part in on that day? Whether it's helping a neighbor carry in her groceries or just dropping a few quarters in a donation jar - be sure to do something heroic in honor of one tiny little fighter and his strong and inspiring mama! (Plus, if you share with the hashtag #doit4kale, there might be a little something coming your way!)
Another reason I'm inspired by this small shop owner is her passion to create unique pieces as true to our babies little personalities as they possibly can be.
She's not afraid of pattern mixing and doing things others wouldn't dream of, think of "Carrie Bradshaw meets Elle Woods" as her style definition. She makes the fancy classic dresses that we all love, but her specialty is these adorable little rompers, halter dresses, and peplums, in the most fun, epic fabrics with the coolest trims and details I've ever seen. When I say I'm addicted to her shop, I'm not even partially kidding. Our stash is incredible and it's still growing.
If you have a little girl and love letting her colors shine through unique clothing, I guarantee you'll want to check out Dorie's shop - and just a side note, you can always use the code DELAINEY to save on your purchases!
And... While Dorie is one of the most stylish and selfless people I've ever met, she also speaks more truths than anyone else I know. She's the type of mama who won't beat around the bush, she's all for beating right into the bush and letting you know what needs to be done, but in the nicest way possible - which we need more people like that in this world.
If you're a fellow small shop owner, I think you'll be happy to hear she's started a little coaching side gig, "Build Her Up Boss", and the website & group name should be evidence enough of the type of community it is. Be sure to check it out if you need a spot to feel cheered on while also having someone to hold you reliable.
The last reason I find this Mama Bird inspiring is her hustle, her determination to make things happen. She's been through SO MUCH in her life and yet she's still succeeding and that's amazing. Her life story is hers to tell, so I won't go into detail but instead of dwelling in the past she has put her efforts into her work and it definitely shows - her shop is one to look out for and if I'm being totally honest, you should probably start your BBB collection now before they all become collectors items, because I'm certain this shop is going places!
So tell me, do you have someone in your life that you admire greatly? I think I'm going to start sharing a monthly post about people in my life that inspire me, a little "Get to Know" post each month to recognize those that deserve it... because what's better than lifting up those around us that inspire us?
On that note, I'm giving away ONE $25 The Baby Bird Boutique shop credit to one lucky mama that comments below. Be sure to enter using the giveaway tools form below so I can contact you if you are the lucky winner!
Life is messy, we all know this... especially when kids are in the picture! From daily food fights with herself during lunch, to encouraging her creative spirit with crafts and other activities, I'm always cleaning up after my little blessing and her messes...
Today I want to share with you one of many ways we love to make messes... and how we clean it up in seconds! But First, we'll start with the fun stuff... We had a blast making this abstract painting. From wandering around trying to find some pretty pieces of nature to include to smacking a sponge into the canvas, we both loved every second of this craft.
For this project you will need:
Canvas
Paint in a variety of colros
Tape or Hot glue
3-8 items from nature - think leaves, roots, weeds from your yard, etc... (Confession: I sent hubby to trim a neighbors palm so we could have a good variety of items. LOL. Get creative!)
Water in a spray bottle
Paint brushes and/or sponges Libman Freedom Spray Mop & Cleaner
To get started, you'll want to trim up your leaves, branches, or other items and make sure they are a going to be easy enough to paint or sponge paint over. I will say, the flatter the item the better print it will create!
Attach to the canvas with a tiny dot of hot glue or a small folded piece of tape to try and secure it in place.
Next, you'll use your sponge or paint brush to apply the paint. Wild strokes are preferred... thank goodness D has the best little wild hands to help provide those! If you have a little one, let them go nuts... We just made our pretty new piece of art on the ground & cleaned up with our Libman mop shortly after completing our project.
Finally add some of the water from the spray bottle and swirl and blend it onto the canvas with a sponge or the brush... helping the colors to flow into one another.
Now, tell me, isn't this the most gorgeous piece of abstract art you've ever seen an 18 month old helpcreate? We definitely think so!
As you can imagine, paint is messy with a crazy, independent toddler, that's why the last step in our project is cleaning up! I just removed the plants from the painting and tossed them. Then, I grabbed our Libman Freedom Spray mop and it cleaned up our mess in just seconds. A few sprays and our wood floors were shining like they had never met Delainey!
The best part is, it's so easy to mop with this baby, that I can clean while she's snacking... I quickly grab it and go to town and by the time she says she is done... so am I! We both run out and throw the microfiber pad into the washer... and then it's ready to take on her next mess in just one quick wash!
Interested in finding out how Libman can make your DIY project clean up and spring cleaning a little easier? Check this out and sign up for their mailing list to snag a coupon on your new favorite cleaning supply!
