5 Ways You & Your Pooch Should Prepare For Your Next Adventure Together...

Thank you Hartz® UltraGuard Pro® for sponsoring this post. Complete and trusted flea and tick prevention starts with Hartz!

It may not "officially" be summer yet, but it definitely is summer in Florida already. The heat is here, the water is perfect, the beaches are incredible, and my family is ready to go on adventures.

But here's the thing, getting prepared for adventures isn't as easy as walking out the door with this little pack of wild animals. haha. Between preparing snacks, sunscreen, and entertainment for our toddler and being sure our two pups are ready to take on the wildnerness with Hartz® UltraGuard Pro®, it's easy to see why it takes a little bit to get ready to go.

Do you have a canine companion you want to have accompany you on your next adventure? Here's 5 ways I suggest you & your pooch prepare for your next great voyage.

1. Treat your Pups - Before heading out on any adventure, we always make sure our dogs are guarded against annoying pests like fleas and ticks. After trying a few different brands we finally found the perfect fit with Hartz® UltraGuard Pro®!

Hartz® UltraGuard Pro® is the answer to your summertime worries. From topical treatments to collars, they have your back... or I suppose I should say your dog's back covered! We use the patented  and easy-to-use Pro-Glide drops and are huge fans, with Aloe infused and an easy application, my dogs and I are both huge fans!

Wondering where you can find Hartz® UltraGuard Pro®? Check out the website to find a location near you that carries it and learn more about Hartz!

2. Bring the H20 - We always bring our handy-dandy little water dispenser on all adventures with our canines. Whether it's a long walk around the park, a full day at the beach, or a day spent at the dog park - our dogs always appreciate access to water and a reusable little water dispenser is the perfect way to keep their thirst quenched!

3. Entertainment - Just like with our sweet baby girl, our dogs need entertainment when we go out. We don't let them sit and watch paw patrol though! Ha. We bring interactive toys and let our sweet girl and our darling pups get a little rowdy. We tend to bring tennis balls to play fetch, a frisbee, some seek & find type of toys, or maybe even just a rope toy for tug-of-war.

4. Leash & Collar with "dog license" (and don't forget the plastic bags too) -This is an obvious must, but we've been guilty of forgetting it in the past! Here locally we need to have their rabies tags on them anytime they leave the house, so we just attach them to their collars - which also makes them kinda musical as they move about. I'll just call that free entertainment. Ha.

Beyond the tag and collar, be sure to bring a leash and maybe even an extra one in your car or pocket - I only mention this because ours randomly broke recently and it was a moment of pure panic for a brief second. Speaking of panic, don't get busted not picking up after your pooch - bring some bags for pick up with you on your adventure!

5. Training Treats -Another type of bag you should probably grab is your treat bag! We love to bring treats on our adventures to help them remember to behave. While our dogs are pretty good anyways, they both are food motivated and will straighten up any type of misbehaving if they think they're going to get something tasty.

With all of that said, I think the most important part of preparing for any adventure is making sure your family is protected from harmful pests along the way! Apply bug spray for you and the kiddos and be sure to treat your furry kiddo with Hartz® UltraGuard Pro®!

How to Plan a Fun & Flirty Day Date

This post is sponsored by Sparkling ICE but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

So here's the scoop, I'm all about dating your spouse - even if you have kids, even if you both are busy, even if whatever... it's important to keep that connection alive and to have fun with your significant other. So... on a whim, earlier this week I planned a little day date!

I had this fun little picnic idea in mind, but when hubs finally had an afternoon off it was pouring and Delainey was cranky, so we laid her down for a nap and I decided to bring the beach vibes to our sun room and we had a little day date in there.

Wondering how I threw this day-date idea together? Totally on a whim - but here's the details:

1. Start Your Date Out Right with Sparkling Ice-

I'm not going to lie, I've been a fan of this delicious brand of beverages for a while, but when I saw they had a NEW mystery flavor I was super intrigued. I mean who doesn't love a good guessing game?

Once I noticed there's a chance to win a Holland Cruise Pack Grand Prize, as well as a ton of other prizes - I figured we might as well grab a couple to try out and give it our best guess!

First we tried it alone, then we tried it with a splash of vodka and a pineapple garnish... and can I just tell y'all, this is heavenly. If you like beachy drinks, without all that overly powerful juice flavor, then this is the cocktail for you.

We both took a few sips and we're saying cheers in no time. I mean, this stuff is GOOD! I can't pin-point the flavor other than "tropical" and "delicious", but maybe you can figure it out? Get your hands on the delicious Sparkling Ice Mystery flavor today, available at most retailers!

2. Whip Up a Quick and Delicious Dish -

We are pretty big fans of mexican food with tropical drinks so I instantly knew we had to whip up some taquitos together. We both put our hands to work in the kitchen and made the most delicious little wrapped pockets of goodness and a firey, yet tasty verde salsa!

Want that recipe? Check this post out!

3. Put on Some "Background Noise" -

Whether you're the type to have reality tv on while you talk about your day or you're more like us and prefer some streaming tunes while chatting - go ahead and put something on to set the mood. I picked a throwback station for us and it played some of our favorite songs that we used to listen to when we were dating.

4. Play Games -

Simple, fun games are always a hit in our house, especially when we are trying to wait out the rain and let our kiddo nap. We decided to play some cards today, next time maybe we'll bust out Monopoly... things always get a little crazy and competitive when we play and that's actually what makes it more fun to play with hubs more than anyone.

5. Don't Stress -

My final tip when planning your date is to "just go with the flow", I could have been upset when it started pouring rain (and admittedly, I was for a few seconds) but I decided it didn't matter where we were as long as we were together. So I put on a smile and still had a blast, even though our "date" was simple.

Want to plan a day-date in with your other half? Be sure to grab a couple of the Sparkling Ice Mystery Flavors so you guys can take turns guessing what the flavor is... and enter the sweepstakes!

28 Budget-Friendly, FUN, Family Activities to Do This Summer!

28 Budget-Friendly, FUN Family Activites to Do This Summer!

1. Have a picnic
2. Workout
3. Go for a walk
4. Volunteer
5. Take photos
   
   
   
   
6. Garden
7. Take on a new DIY project
8. Have a bonfire
9. De-clutter a crowded surface in your home
10. Set up a tent & 'camp out' 
11. Clean your garage out
12. Go for a bike ride
13. Meal plan for the week with cook books and cooking magazines
14. Visit a new playground
15. Create a new song
16. Wash your car
    
    
    
    
    
17. Go to the beach (or a body of water nearby you like a lake or a pond)
18. Browse a bookstore
19. Bake a new dish
20. Go geocaching
21. Have a dance party
22. Visit a dog park with your pooch 
23. Visit a nature center 
24. Do family 'makeovers'.
25. Have a tea party
26. Paint a masterpiece with watercolors
    
    
    
    
    
27. Have a read-a-thon
28. Run through the sprinkler/hose

The Perfected 5 Minute Morning Routine

This post is sponsored by Colgate, regardless all opinions expressed below are completely my own.

So, as you all probably have come to realize, I'm a mixture of high maintenance with equal amounts of laid back-ness. I'm a walking contradiction in the best of ways and while that may sound particularly difficult, it also means I've perfected the art of getting ready quickly.



I mean, I'm not bragging, it's basically because I like to sleep so much that I've chosen to find the best ways to make myself presentable quickly, with trial and error mainly. Sometimes I still wear sweatpants out the door and occasionally I forget to dry shampoo my mane... but all in all, I guess you could say I'm a pro at this "getting ready quick thing"! It's taken me nearly 30 years to accomplish this task, but I've done it and I want you to share in the glory - so here's how I get ready in 5 minutes.

So here's the deal, if you like sleep, if you're a procrastinator, or if you just run out of time every single morning as you get ready, here's a few ways you can cut corners in the morning without sacrificing your polished image during the day!

1. Dry Shampoo is your best friend - This is fairly evident for all of us ladies that spend time procrastinating, but dry shampoo is seriously a life saver so it's something I always have to use when I'm running behind! Use as much as you need to add some volume to your, scrunching or running your fingers through your hair as you spray. This literally only takes a minute and changes your look from sleepy to starry-eyed!

2 Brush those teeth - Speaking of seeing stars, I highly recommend scrubbing those pearly whites with the star of my morning routine - the New Colgate Essentials Toothpaste with Charcoal! I mean now that your mane is ready, it is most definitely time to get your breath fresh and clean. This may be my number one piece of advice for anyone (ever), not just those looking for a quick morning routine - We all know going out into the real world with a foul mouth is just not right... so brushing your teeth and using a minty, fresh toothpaste is vital to feeling and looking polished in the AM.

I actually found the New Colgate Essentials Toothpaste with Charcoal recently at Walmart and it's been a love affair ever since. I mean what's not to love about a toothpaste that is different in all the right ways. It really is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G and I'm actually planning on stocking up a bit and grabbing another tube with the ibotta offer that's now available! You should snag the offer and head to your local Walmart to grab a tube for your family too!

3. Mascara and lip gloss are all you need from your make up bag - Speaking of tubes, these are the only types of make up you really need to concentrate on when you have literally only have 5 minutes to get ready. It's easy to swipe on some lip gloss to provide a healthy color and sheen to your lips and applying some mascara makes your eyes look more awake and refreshed and it only takes a few seconds!

Honestly, I wish I had figured out how to do a full makeup routine in a few shorts minutes, but I will say I get more compliments on my skin and my freckles when I skip the foundation and powder, so maybe the lack of time and effort is good sometimes? You should give it a try and tell me what you think!



4. Drink at least 8 oz of water - That's right, making sure your hydrated, even in a hurry - is so important. Dehydration can cause SO many issues for your body, so making sure you are supplying yourself with enough H20 is beyond vital - everyday, even when you're running behind take a minute to chug a glass or two!

So tell me, do you have a "quick" morning routine? What does it look like? I'd love to hear all about it in the comments below!

Make a Difference with Your Water!

This post is sponsored by Brita, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

As you may or may not know, my word for this year is 'revive', so I'm doing my best to breathe life back into every aspect of my life. From sprucing up our house by changing the furniture all around to switching up our daily routines, I'm all about improving old habits and letting go of those that no longer serve me or those around me.

One way that I've recently started to revive our home (and well, our bigger 'home' a.k.a. mother nature) is making a change for the better with our new Brita pitcher. After hearing the shocking news that 2,000 water bottles are being used every single second, with each one taking 450 years to decompose, they estimate in 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish! After hearing startling facts like that, it's easy to come to the conclusion that something needs to change immediately, so that's what we did! As a family, we made a change in how we get our water and we aren't looking back.

With a quick trip to Target we all nixed our plastic-y bottle habit, grabbed a few super cool reusable bottles, and added a Brita Longlast Pitcher into our daily routines. It was an easy choice to make when I realized that our Brita not only helps save the planet, but actually helps provide us with better water than anything we were buying by the bottle.

How so? Well, Brita actually reduces 99% of the lead in tap water, as well as mercury, chlorine, benzene, and more! I can already taste the difference and the best part is, the longlast filters mean we will be able to taste the delightful difference in the water for a long while and we won't have to buy a new filter for around 6 months or so! That means we are able to save some cash each time we hit the grocery store since we no longer have to buy water!

So tell me, are you ready to ditch the plastic and get hydrated with Brita? Get the details here.

Weight Loss & Fitness Quotes to Keep You INSPIRED!

Weight loss isn't easy - it's not just about a diet or some quick fix, it's a lifestyle change. With that said, I'm embarking on a pretty strict change in my routine this week and in the spirit of staying committed to my weight loss I wanted to share with you some of my favorite weight loss quotes.

Feel free to pin to your diet Pinterest board or share on facebook - we all need a bit of jolly inspiration on occasion!

"A little progress each day, adds up to big results."

________________________________________________________________

 "You don't get what you wish for, you get what you work for."




________________________________________________________________

 "When I lost all of my excuses I found my results."




________________________________________________________________

"If it's important to you, you'll find a way. If it's not, you'll find an excuse."




________________________________________________________________

"If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results."




________________________________________________________________

"The body achieves what the mind believes."




________________________________________________________________

 "We won't be distracted by comparison if we are captivated with purpose."




________________________________________________________________

I'm learning everyday to let the space between where I am and where I want to be inspire me and not terrify me.



________________________________________________________________

DIY Simple Dreamy Rainbow Cloud Craft for Toddlers

We're always finding ways to get crafty around here. D asks me daily to make something, so when she asked me if we could make a rainbow earlier this week - I was up for the challenge. With April Showers, comes beautiful rainbows... right?

This simple rainbow craft is one we will leave up on our fridge for a while, it's so cute and makes our house feel a bit more cheery and whimsical- especially knowing how much fun Delainey had making it.


For this craft you will need:

Paper plates
Cotton Balls
Strands of Tissue Paper in a 5 pack of colors, cut into 1" wide inch pieces
Glue
Scissors

To make this beauty we simply:

I cut the paper plate in half and on the "rounded" side I had Delainey help me glue cut up strips of tissue paper in alternating colors.

Allow that to dry and then flip the plate over and add a scribble layer of glue. Fill that side in with torn up bits of cotton balls, creating your own cloud.

Allow all the glue to dry & hang on your fridge! Your little rainbow loving toddler will LOVE making this craft and seeing it hanging in your house later will bring joy too!

Refresh Your Home

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com.

There's just something so refreshing about spring, it's rejuvenating to see plants come into bloom and life blossoming again - even in Florida, it's a notable difference and one I always look forward to each year.

I don't look forward to just the spring weather, though... I actually am always eager to refresh our home in the spring time and thankfully Babbleboxx sent a bunch of goodies over to do just that!

We'll start with something I'm dying to do, freshen up the cabinets in our kitchen with N-Hance. While we haven't started this process, mainly because our house is actually a rental... I was sent a test kit and I'm here to report, this is the answer to your cabinet painting DREAMS. While they make your cabinet beautiful, they actually provide a durability that paint can't even come close to matching. I tested this out for myself, with the sample kit they sent over - I beat both samples with a hammer, scratched them with a penny, and even used some sand paper to see what damage I could do... and as you can tell - the painted "cabinet" didn't even stand a chance. The N-Hance'd cabinet is still in pretty decent condition for taking a true beating - so I know how I'll choose to refinish my cabients in the future...

And... here's some more amazing news about N-Hance, you can pick ANY color and they can match it. So if you want pink cabinets in your kitchen, have at it... or even add a touch of dark to a light kitchen with a dark espresso color - the options are endless! What color are you dreaming of? Get more info on N-Hance Wood Refinishing here.

While I'm day dreaming of a makeover for our kitchen, I'm stoked to report that my new ECOVACS DEEBOT 600 is cleaning up around the house for me. This handy little robot vacuums with ease, with smart motion technology to clean both hardwoods and carpet and compatible with Amazon Alexa, I'm not gonna lie - this little gadget is my new best friend.

Cleaning up a mess is as easy as clicking a button and with multiple cleaning modes, it's like I never have to stress about a mess again. Want more info on the best robot vacuum? Check out the ECOVACS DEEBOT 600.

The last item Babbleboxx sent over to refresh our home was the Scrub Daisy set from Scrub Daddy and if I'm being real, it's probably my most favorite item in my house right now. With such happy little details and such strong scrubbing power - what's not to LOVE about this adorable dishwand set?

These handy little sponges are not only cute, but super strong, while also being scratch-free and soap dispensing - making doing dishes an absolute breeze... no wonder they are "smiling" sponges!

Want to get yourself some new happy sponges? Check out Scrub Daddy and click HERE to save $1!

So tell me, how do you plan to refresh your home this spring?