After taking down the Christmas decorations, I spiraled into a cleaning and organizing rampage. I didn’t realize how much clutter the holidays can bring from storing gifts, receiving gifts, constantly wrapping gifts, along with adding more and more decorations to our already decorated home. My small space felt full yet still cozy, so I really didn’t mind. Once the holidays wrapped up and my husband and I started clearing out the tree, decorations, and finding homes for our new gifts then we could see our living space again and wow, just wow.
I was so inspired by the sight of it that I decided everything needed to be dusted, the floors completely swept and mopped and some deep cleaning to start off the new year… which led to my post-holiday home refresh!
So how did I ring in the new year? Well thanks for asking! I rang in the new year by testing out my “new” steam mop (ahem I might have bought it in July)! It worked like a dream. My place is beautiful, clean and ready for 2022! My next tasks are to tackle each room and do the same… dust, vacuum, mop, and organize. I got most of our master bedroom accomplished as well. All in time for me to go back to the office, ha.
Coming home every day this week has been a dream come true. To see our space not cluttered but open and clean has been the best gift I could have given myself entering the new year. I wouldn’t consider myself someone who likes to clean but I love when things are tidy and in their place. So the combination of both clean and tidy is a lovely combination. So how can you do this for yourself?
It’s not rocket science or anything complex or complicated. You can follow these basic steps to get you started on a new year home refresh:
1. Simply pick one room or area in your house or apartment to start with.
2. Clean up any piles or clutter that you’ve been avoiding or letting stack up. I know you have them, we all do. Throw stuff that isn’t important away. You’d be surprised with the items you hang onto but don’t need.
3. Dust by taking items off the shelf or surface of what you’re cleaning.
4. Move furniture to sweep and/steam mop.
5. Find a place or container for things so that you can keep it organized for a longer period of time.
6. Label and group items in areas that make sense and are helpful to you.
7. Ultimately once you are done, sit back and enjoy the beauty of your own home.
This is the process I used last week to declutter and refresh my home and let me tell you… it was worth the time and effort! Happy home refresh and have a sparkling clean new year!
When trying to think of a topic to blog about this week, I felt stuck. What could I possibly talk about that would resonate with our readers, friends, and family. Honestly, we all know it is a busy season with Christmas only days away and the New Year countdown shortly after. This month is like every other month before it… just flying right on by. Then I realized the most obvious topic to talk about in this end of year madness is something I embarked on only a week ago. I decided to take a challenge at the end of the year and practice slowing down. This practice of slowness can apply to so many things you typically do. Already I have gone on a slow walk, listened to slow music, brushed my teeth slowly, took on a task at work and didn’t rush myself through it, baked cookies and just enjoyed the process and so many other things.
SLOW.
What a concept. Especially during the busiest time of year, I’m practicing going slow. Leaning into quiet, nothing, and allowing those moments to completely fill me up to the brim. Slow is something that I was forced to do when COVID initially shut down everything. My schedule was halted, my routine disrupted, and the struggle to find a new ‘busy’ began… but I am enjoying the idea of intention around doing things slower and the reflection that it brings. How would you feel if you decided to wash your hands slower, stop and take in a deep breath of fresh air, sat in silence for a few minutes, or took a nap? What does that do to your perspective, what does it do for you, and your day?
In the past week, my workplace has opened back up to most of the staff and my team has gone back. My work from home time has come to an end and I had very mixed feelings about it. I was both so excited to see my coworkers in-person again and simultaneously sad to leave the comfort and convenience of my own home. This process of slowing down has been really nice to incorporate into my work day. I notice myself slowly sipping tea, standing more than I did at home, getting outside for fresh air and walks. Although I miss being home and laying on the couch if I needed to, I am really enjoying the perks of being back in the office and I am trying to appreciate the little things as I ease back in.
This slow challenge couldn’t come at a better time (in the midst of change, the holidays, and the brink of a new year)! I challenge you to consider slowness and how you can incorporate it into your life through a simple task every day. The challenge that I am participating in is called 75 Slow if you want to look into it for yourself. The concept is simple and extremely beneficial. So Merry ‘slow’ Christmas and have a Happy ‘relaxing’ New Year, my friends!
I, Kendall, am a hot mess. Where did I put all the presents I bought over the past few months? Why am I behind on baking? Is that gift for my dad cool enough? Did I get the right thing for my husband’s stocking? Is the grocery shopping list for Christmas Day finalized?
Due to some life circumstances, I have been more sleepy than usual and, thus, I am a bit behind. Somehow today, I got my butt in gear. I found all the presents and grouped them together by person. I rifled through a storage bin to find all of the donation items for our neighborhood’s Christmas morning coat drive for charity. My Christmas shopping is officially done. Everything has shipped. Now, my husband just has to use his superior gift wrapping abilities (he’s a bit of a perfectionist) and wrap it all up. I won’t make him wrap his stuff… in fact I will probably just hand it to him since I loathe wrapping and hate the waste.
Our house smells like Christmas thanks to delicious candles. We have done Christmas-y things! We are enjoying the season as much as we can in the midst of an unsettled pandemic, nausea, exhaustion, and super cold weather. Despite being behind on a few things, I am on track to get a lot of stuff done today and tomorrow so that we are ready for Christmas Eve. This is my favorite time of the year and it’s hard for me to get too down and overwhelmed. Especially when friends drop me large boxes of cookies… that I don’t share with my family because I, Kendall, am a cookie hoarder.
December is one of my most favorite months of the year. I LOVE the holiday season. It has also become one of the most challenging months for me. As many of you know, my mother passed away a while ago. December 7th marks seven years since her passing. Every year I feel something different. Sometimes there is a peace I experience with her being gone. Some years I feel angry. This year, I feel… alone.
My mom did not believe in being a best friend to her daughters. She believed in making us tough. She wanted us to chase after everything and anything we wanted and she never wanted us to settle. Rosemary Barnett was not perfect. But she was my mom- and that’s perfect for me. I was sometimes scared to tell her things because I was worried about letting her down. Her expectations for us were pretty gosh darn high. Looking back, I am glad for it. She made me have a backbone. She encouraged me to live my life on my terms- even when other people might not like it. Mom used to say that if you change your mind just because someone else has a problem or issue with what you are saying or doing, how you can be certain of what you stand for or what it is you truly want. And she would say it all in that tone. You know what I am talking about, right? The tone that intimidates and comforts us all at once. It’s the tone of mothers.
When you experience the loss of a loved one, the emotions are all over the place. Everyone experiences grief differently. At the time of her passing, I wasn’t really able to grieve. I had to hold it together. Everyone (not just me) had lost someone; a wife, a daughter, a friend, a sister, an aunt, a cousin, a coworker, etc. My grief was also slower to appear. The realization of her not being here has hit me hard. It hit me hard when I married my husband. It hits me hard when I realize she will never meet her grandchildren. It’s almost unbearable to think too much about. She spent so much time shopping for the babies of her friends and family. She loved it. Like, LOVED it. She was an excellent gift giver (something I have not inherited). Grammy Rosemary will never get to shop for her grandbabies. That thought is a true kick in my gut.
Since having baby Rosemary, I have missed having a consistent and maternal woman in my life. The truth is, no one can take her place. Honestly I am not sure I would let anyone try. I miss her no nonsense attitude telling me to toughen up. I miss her tickling me with her toes. I miss the way she would give Bella the last of her yogurt (I can assure you Bella misses this too and to this day still goes ape sh*$ when she sees us eating yogurt- thanks for that, mom). I miss having someone to ask questions too or recall things about life when we were little. She had a knack for remembering everything. This was very helpful unless she was pulling something out of the mental filing cabinet against me!! Haha.
I am not much like my mom. I look like her. I sound like her. But I am nowhere near as strong as she was. I am nowhere near as even tempered with people as she was. Her kindness was known to everybody from her coworkers and family to the grocery store checkout clerk at the local Safeway. Having to tell people that she had passed is also what kept me pretty hardened with my grief. A few days after she had passed, she missed an eye appointment. She had seen Dr. Peck for years. He knew her and his staff knew her. Having to call and explain this to the receptionist turned into one of the hardest moments of my life. Telling my family we had let her go was excruciating. Telling her best friend, Joan, was so painful my throat hurt from holding back tears. Yet, telling Dr. Peck’s receptionist became one of the hardest moments for me when this poor woman broke down into tears… this is a woman that, sure, knew my mom but didn’t even know her as well as others. That’s when I knew my mom left an impression.
As I have grown our family, I have missed her. The truth is, it’s lonely not to have your mom to talk to. In the past year, that’s the grief emotion I have felt most: lonely. I am lonesome without my mom. I could really use her right now. I also really want to care for her. I wish I could give her all the grandbaby snuggles and kisses. I wish I could cook for her. I wish I could do something for her- the way she did everything for me.
The last feeling I want to talk about with grief is shame. Sometimes, I feel shame. I feel a little bit of shame in that it took us so long to really connect. It’s not all my fault, but I do feel bad and naive for thinking that we had all the time in the world. I also feel deep shame in wondering if I made her proud. How vain is that? Yet, it’s what I want to know most and will never get an answer to. There was a lot left unfinished for not just us but for her. She was on the cusp of doing so many things- she had plans! And I feel shame that I couldn’t help her do those things or live out those things more when she was alive. Again, thinking you have all the time in the world is normal but not always true.
To honor my mom best, I try my hardest to make Christmas a jolly time for my family. While I don’t have the talent for gift giving (or wrapping for that matter) that she did, I do know how to make the spirit of the season burst from the seams of my house just like she did. I am different from her. But I am who I am because of her. For that, I am thankful.
A few years ago I decided I didn’t want to use wrapping paper. Instead I took a deep-dive into Pinterest and looked up creative ways to reduce waste and wrap gifts. I found so many interesting and beautiful ideas. From reusing brown packing paper and decorating with twine or a sprig of dried lavender or rosemary, to wrapping gifts in tea towels or making beautiful reusable baskets. The gifts were all well received by family and friends but they took time, patience and a little extra money. Now I know that it really just takes some planning, thrifty-ness, and vision. If you have even the slightest bit of crafty creativity you could really have a lot of fun with the idea of useful gift wrapping. I know I sure enjoyed it.
Another way I have reduced, reused, and recycled during the holidays is by simply buying local items. Local honey, soaps, treats, coffee, or anything that I knew my family and friends (even my coworkers) would enjoy! I love doing these types of items especially for stocking stuffers; so easy, unique, and let’s not forget meaningful to the local artisan that made the item. This year I am purchasing a decent amount of toffee from Anytime Toffee as co-worker gifts and family stocking stuffers.
Remember nature is our greatest gift and another way to be mindful during the holidays is by giving the gift of experiences. I know of a family that is completely experience-based! That is their gift to each other every year. They saved all the money that they would have spent during the holidays to go on nature-based adventures and have visited almost all of the United States National Parks. They still decorate for Christmas and do some basic Santa gifts but in place of the bigger items they do a scavenger hunt to announce the next national park they will visit. It’s now a Christmas tradition and the kids look forward to it every year. Such a fun idea!
There are other unique ways to give gifts, maybe even a gift that keeps on giving throughout the year. My brother gifted me a subscription to the Norwegian American Newspaper and I LOVE getting it every month. It is a gift that keeps giving and puts a smile on my face way more than once a year! Are there any local subscriptions that you could gift to your family? Maybe a wine membership? There are literally subscriptions for any type of person that are unique and reasonably priced. It’s time to have fun with gift giving and think outside the box!
Whether you are consciously wrapping your gifts, buying items from local artisans, giving the gift of experience or a fun subscription, I hope you enjoy the process. I hope you enjoy the thoughtfulness that goes into giving gifts. I hope you think about what you ask others for. But mostly I hope you have a very Merry Christmas, all gifts aside.
Nearly a decade ago I made an Activity Advent calendar for my friend. I wrote 24 activities on cards and also threw in a few gifts on random days of the advent. Most of the activities were simple and fun. If it was something that required an item that was easy to include, I would include the item (example: I’d include the Hot cocoa and a peppermint stick on the day that said “Drink hot cocoa and stir with a peppermint stick”.)
There are ways to make this activity advent even more of a gift for someone to enjoy the entire month (or you can do 12 days leading up to Christmas if you don’t want to do 24 days). You can make it simple and just send them the list for them to choose the items they like and make their own advent calendar. Maybe they could even add in their own ideas like going to a Tree Farm to get the tree, attend a Christmas Parade, or sing Christmas Carols with the neighbors. Whatever you decide, I hope this this is helpful and sparks some holiday memories for you to create!
Listen to Christmas Music
Drink Hot Cocoa and stir with a peppermint stick
Take a drive and go look at Christmas lights on houses
Build and decorate a gingerbread house
Watch a Christmas Movie
Wear cozy pajamas
Read a Christmas Book
Bake cookies
Make cut out snowflakes
Dance to your favorite Christmas Song
Write a Christmas Wish-List
Eat your favorite seasonal holiday treats
Visit a local store to buy a gift
Volunteer at a Toy Drive or donate a toy
Write a Christmas card and mail it to someone
Drive to a grocery store with a salvation army ringer just to donate
Call a friend or family member you haven’t talked to in awhile
Take a bubble bath
Write an “Christmas Cheer” encouraging note for someone to find
Learn a Christmas joke and tell it to someone
Draw or Color a Christmas scene
Surprise a friend or coworker with a hot beverage
Write a list of non-material things you are grateful for
Light a holiday candle & make your home smell festive
Again, this is just a simple list, but you can rearrange these ideas or tweak them to fit with you and your holiday traditions. You may have even done a few of these ideas already. But no matter what, it is fun to do an activity based advent calendar and I promise you’ll make fun memories in the process!
Full disclosure: I celebrate Christmas. But, I feel like the following applies to any holiday gathering or day you might be partaking in this year!
My name is Kendall and I have an obsession with Christmas. I have inherited this said obsession from my mother and grandmother. As a kid, Christmas was magical. My grandmother had this epic tree, stunning decorations, delicious cookies, and there would be presents overflowing from underneath her tree into her whole formal dining room. It was a kid’s dream. My mom had the tradition of always setting up her tree the day after Thanksgiving. I would huff and puff at having to help my dad bring boxes up to her. But the end result of her tree was always so special. She really knew how to decorate a tree. It was worth the huff and puff.
As the years have gone by, we have all added to our families and traditions have changed. Even being an adult has changed Christmas celebrations! Today, I have a kiddo to think about. Meals need to be timed around naps and bedtime… to a point at least. We have a fair amount of flexibility with Rosemary but there is a point of no return and, then, potentially losing the day! So, we have to be thoughtful about how we celebrate. We can’t do all the things we did growing up because Rosemary is her own kid. She is helping us carve out new traditions! She loves hot chocolate and Christmas movies. She adores warm and cozy holiday pajamas. She abhors opening gifts; she gets so overwhelmed that she can’t focus and then she goes into a complete meltdown. Thus, we have to rethink Christmas! This year, while she is still in the thick of toddlerdom, we have opted to do gifts slowly over the month and up until Three Kings on January 6th. We have also started doing chocolate advent calendars. There is even a dog advent calendar for Bella (thank you Trader Joes!). Every night Rosemary gets at least one holiday story. Our puzzle board has Christmas themed puzzles and “Run Run Rudolph” has become the Arguello house theme song.
Logistically, celebrating a holiday can be hard. There are so many different gatherings that some days it can feel like you live out of your car instead of enjoying the day! I suggest avoiding the holiday burnout by not overcommitting to things. Prioritize what is important, compromise if you have families involved, and try to remember that the holiday season is supposed to be about being together- not being perfect. There is no such thing. As kids, we think there is but as we grow up, we know better. Food might be delayed. Presents might be stuck in a port somewhere, the tree may have some lights that are out, or maybe you just can’t make it to every gathering. This is all ok. Just enjoy the moments with the people you love. Snuggle in with a cup of cocoa or a great glass of something stronger, watch that favorite Christmas movie, and allow yourself to feel the spirit of the season.
I would also like to take a moment to say that for some, the holidays are hard. There are a variety of reasons for why this season can be difficult for someone. I also struggle with missing loved ones and can get pretty down. If you need anything, Shari and I are here. And if you need help urgently, please reach out to a trusted source or 1-800-273-8255 (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline).
“Though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.” – Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express
We. Love. Appetizers. Like, a lot. Who else is guilty of eating too many appetizers and not having enough room for the actual meal?
Us too! But, that doesn’t stop us from still serving them on the biggest day of food intake every year… THANKSGIVING!
Y’all, Thanksgiving is next week! There will be slaving away in kitchens, burnt turkeys, perfectly cooked turkeys, mashed potatoes, weird casseroles, and pie… lots of pie. Despite all of that, we still need to eat before dinner… or else we will just be hangry and what is supposed to be a meal of thankfulness could very quickly turn in to a hot bed of disaster. So, if you are entertaining this year, here are some of our favorite tried and true apps to keep out for grazing grandparents, BFFs, and third cousins.
The Classic: A Charceturie Board Meat, cheese, fruit, and crackers. Easy to assemble and easy to eat. It can also be kept out for a while which ultimately means less maintenance for you! Tip Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PNDmXXbWWQ
The Easy: Chips (or crackers) and Dip! I love to go to Costco and grab my favorite dunking treats and a few dips. Not only are there usually aways leftovers, but it’s efficient. Serve up the dips in some fun bowls and spread the crackers or chips out in a serving bowl and voila! Food. No fuss, no muss. Save the extras for that upcoming ugly sweater party in a few weeks.
The Fancy: Stuffed Dates and Fruit Grab some dates and halve them (if not pitted already, then get rid of the pit). Use a small spoon and spoon in some goat cheese to each half of the date. You can top with a fancy nut, herb, or whatever. Serve up with a side of fresh fruit. Dates are really filling and will probably fend of people’s hunger as dinner starts to run behind… because, let’s be honest, that is just what happens.
Also, if you plan on serving wine with dinner, try and provide an easy non-alcoholic drink BEFORE dinner. We love some sparkling water with fresh fruit or even a fun and festive punch. If people are guzzling too much wine, dinner can become a bit of hurried process to help get food in someones’ stomach… let’s avoid that. OR, have a cool cocktail prepped that isn’t super high in alcohol content but still tastes delicious and get’s people feeling all thankful and happy… like The Americano. It’s meant to be sipped before dinner and isn’t too strong!
Storage. I know, this isn’t the most glamorous topic but is something I have been really appreciating lately. The ability to have a place to store items and not clutter up our current living space has been life saving. We rent a storage unit to put some extra furniture that we have inherited, totes of seasonal items, and even wedding registry items that don’t quite fit in our current home (but they will someday)! The storage unit is organized chaos but is really only organized at all thanks to my husband who did most of the tetras work to get furniture, totes, and everything else to fit in nicely.
The need for a storage unit only came after my apartment flooded in 2019. I actually had to get two storage units because I had one for the “wet items” and one for the “dry items”. When I eventually moved back into my apartment I was able to toss some of the damaged items and condense everything else into one storage unit. The fact that I had the storage unit to rely on really allowed me to move back into the apartment with a more minimalist mindset. I was able to only bring back what was functional for me and my soon-to-be husband. Not to mention less is more when you are trying to clear space for kids too! We were able to utilize our apartment in a whole new way! Little did we know that shortly after all of this happened that our home would become our work-from-home office due to COVID-19.
With all that to say, we wouldn’t have made it through the flood and the moving in and out process if it hadn’t been for the storage units. Now the one storage unit is a place we go every few weeks, whether it is to get something that we need or to bring other items there. It is an extension of our home that I am extremely grateful for. We can hide the kid’s Christmas gifts there, any large item that we don’t use often enough (but we do use monthly) like our Yeti Cooler, or extra clothing like our summer and winter clothes… it is so nice to pop over and grab what we need or take things there to declutter our home.
With housing prices skyrocketing (especially in Washington state) it is honestly cheaper to get a storage unit rather than to rent a bigger place. No we don’t intend on having a storage unit forever but I highly recommend it if you feel like your area is getting too cluttered and it is hard to find certain items. Consider getting another location to store some things, spread it all out, see what you have, label it, and store it properly. What are your best storage tips and tricks?
I didn’t really start taking my skin care seriously until I was about 30. According to some, my skin is already screwed. That’s a frightening thought! When I was about 27 I started purchasing more quality skin care products but I didn’t really understand WHY I was buying all this stuff that the salesperson recommended. Was I just being oversold? It wasn’t until my pregnancy that I realized I need to take my skin’s needs seriously. After giving birth, I aged. A LOT. My skin just completely changed. I don’t mind aging- that’s normal and healthy! What I do mind is not properly giving my skin what it needs. You only get one skin and you DO need to take care of it. There is no universal skin care regime for you to follow because everyone has different skin and, therefore, different needs.
I have learned to appreciate that having healthy skin starts from the inside. I know that certain foods make me break out. Do I avoid them? Not entirely but I am more thoughtful about it and pick and choose what I feel like indulging in. Diet also plays a big part in this! You need vegetables, people! Vegetables are just wholesome for your body! Eat some. I have also discovered collagen. I am not a doctor, so speak to yours before you make any big dietary changes or try new supplements. From where I am, I can tell you that collagen has been really good for my skin with consistent use. More than that, it’s been a wonderful way to get an energy boost without having to drink any extra caffeine or energy supplements. I love the regular ole’ Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides with Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C. You can even find the big container at Costco!
Now, to the good stuff… products! All of the below (except the EltaMD) are also clean beauty brands… so you can take care of yourself and know that you are also helping the industry make good and healthy shifts in its ingredients, supply chain, and marketing.
I love me some products. I like to try new things. Below is a list of some of my favorite products all ranging in prices.
Cleansers:
First off, if you don’t double cleanse… you should try it. Especially if you wear makeup regularly. You don’t need to do this every time you cleanse but I like to do it before bed. Taking the day off is sometimes harder than you think.
This product is great for taking off makeup and getting other impurities off your face. It can be a little intense for some so this is great to have in rotation for your skin.
FRESH is amazing. They are one of my favorite all around skin care brands because it is gentle, actually works, and they are constantly updating their product ingredient list to be the most natural and effective for it’s clients.
Does the price scare you? I understand. This cleanser has an amazing, rich lather that gets your face super clean and feeling super hydrated. You do not need very much. A super small amount goes A LONG WAY. When I do purchase this product, I have it for months because I stick to using the right amount. If you can indulge, I can’t recommend this enough!
Toners/Exfoliators:
For the longest time I was using toners the wrong way. And yes, there is such a thing. I was using a toner as the extra boost to help get my makeup and daily grime off. Like, I was relying on it more than my cleanser. Insert face palm emoji here. If you are doing this- stop! Spend some more time with your cleanser or try a double cleanse.
Exfoliators are a great way to help unclog pores and help your skin care products absorb into your skin better!
I really love this product. It makes my face feel so clean and bright! It also lasts forever if you use it properly! It’s also great to spray on your face to give it a wake up if you are feeling dull.
Steep price. I know. I feel it. You can use these daily but I don’t because my skin is a little sensitive. I use these about every other day… sometimes every three. These pads are the creme de la creme. They are just delicious for your skin. Pure luxury!
Talk about expensive. For me- this is also one of the only hyaluronic acids that really work on my skin and that I SEE the results with. It is a splurge, for sure. One of the great things about all things Trish is that her products are all catered to sensitive skin types and are very gentle. This serum is one of my must-haves. But hey, my husband buys guitar pedals and band staff… I buy this. Win/Win.
I love this face oil. Sometimes, I use this as my moisturizer. But it’s also great in conjunction with one which is why this is in my serums category. This will also last you a good long while. You do not need to use this every day OR a lot of. I can sometimes keep a bottle for a year- a little more. But that’s me!
Moisturizers:
So I use one moisturizer for the daytime and one for the nighttime. During the day, I like to have one that also has SPF in it. Finding something with the right combination (not too cakey or an odd texture) can be rough. And at nighttime, I want something super hydrating and that will lock in my serums to really give my skin some TLC.
All things Trish aren’t exactly cheap. I know. This also lasts me forever (about 5 months). I just spent two months getting the last bit pumped out… don’t throw it away if you think it’s empty! Keep going! This is a great moisturizer/SPF duo and keeps my skin nice and dewy while protecting it from the sun.
Night Time Moisturizer:
I either use the seaberry oil mentioned above OR I use…
This stuff is just lovely. It feels super thick but actually feels light and moisturizing on your skin. AND- it’s super affordable. It’s my current night time favorite!
Misc.:
SPF SPF SPF. I am late to the SPF game. I really just started wearing it. Shame on me. But you all need it. So wear it. One of my favorites right now is the EltaMD UV Broad-Spectrum SPF 50+. It’s water and sweat resistant for up to 80 minutes. If I know I am going to be running around with my toddler outside or in our pool, I use this instead of my daytime moisturizer. It’s amazing and keeps me hydrated and safe!
Anyways, that’s the list. Do you have any products you love? PLEASE share! I am always looking for new stuff to try. Happy cleansing!
There is a song clip I keep hearing a lot in Instagram reels and TikTok videos. It has some catchy music that plays and then the lyrics say, “let’s skip to the good part” and the melody keeps going. It’s a fun audio and for a while I thought it was clever and cute. I liked how at the crescendo of the music, it stops when the lyrics say, “let’s skip to the good part,” which would then always wrap up with an image of something epic. Whether it was a hike with an amazing picturesque view at the end or a mother’s baby bump then showing the actual adorable smiling baby. I enjoyed watching them but for some reason it didn’t sit well with me.
After thinking about it for a little while, I realized that my issue isn’t with the catchy tune and “good part” images. My issue is that this simple audio allows you to skip over the process it took to get to that epic moment. In life, we don’t just get to “skip to the good part” and why would we? We would miss all the milestones and experiences that shaped us along the way. For example when I am hiking, I often have to remind myself mid-hill climb when I am out-of-breath and wheezing that I am not just doing this for the view. I am also doing this to prove to myself that I am capable, fit, and willing to work hard. I remind myself I can do challenging things and I will be better for it. There will be a reward at the top and regardless of the view, the reward is the accomplishment of just simply getting there!
I feel very similar about life. There are so many hard experiences that end up with a good result in the end. Everything in life is about perspective but skipping to the good part isn’t what I want to see. I want to see the journey. Even on social media, I tend to follow the accounts of people who are real and show all aspects of the process, good, bad, and in-between. I want to see the late nights studying for that doctorate degree, I want to see the sweaty gym selfie before the health magazine photoshoot, and I want to see a messy house before seeing the clean and perfect one.
We can’t skip to the good part without acknowledging what all it took to get us there. That is a disservice to ourselves and the process. It’s a reminder that the process isn’t glamorous or fun all the time. The process is usually kind of boring… it may suck and we may wish we were doing anything else, but guess what the payoff is? The payoff is THE GOOD PART… the degree, the physical health, the clean house… they all had a ‘not-sexy’ process to get there, but man, did the process make it worth it in the end!
So let’s not skip to the good part, let’s see the process, celebrate the monotony along the way, and then appreciate the end result even more for it.
It gets cold here in Vermont. Yesterday morning it was 28 degrees… and that’s not even that cold. If you are going to live in New England, there are some things you gotta do to survive your first cold weather season (November- April).
Cold weather gear. It’s expensive but worth it. You do actually need that jacket that will keep you warm up to -35 degrees. Socks, mittens, base layers, hats, pants, tops, etc… yup, you need it all.
Prepare your car. Soooo the salt from the roads (to help with snow) is known for rusting cars out. Prepare by getting your undercoat sprayed with a protective layer or washing your car often. I am talking once a week in the winter to help get all of the crud off.
Prepare your house. Make sure you have full tanks or plenty of propane or oil. If you are lucky enough to be on natural gas then disregard. While many tanks are supposed to be designed to alert companies when you are low on fuel, still keep an eye on it. It’s been known to fail.
Get a cold weather hobby. It’s easy to stay inside November 1st- April 30th. DON’T. There are so many wonderful things to do like snowshoeing, skiing, snowboarding, playing hockey, or ice fishing. And if there isn’t a ton of snow on the ground and it’s sunny, bunde yourself up and go on a walk. Vitamin D will do you good.
Don’t wait to do any of the above. Resources are slim for many right now. Things are running out and if you want or need something to get you through these cold temps, go buy them now. Don’t make me say, “I told you so.”
For many, the cold of Vermont is a major turn-off. Personally, I love it. I love the crisp air, the snow (and snowshoeing), and snuggling up with a puzzle or book at night when it’s colder than balls outside. We currently have lots of people moving here and it’s almost sweet how unprepared they are for the cold weather.
With these colder temperatures also comes some changes to our economy… businesses tend to have winter hours because not as many people are staying out as often or as late. Many just simply don’t have a ton of work in the winter because people aren’t having work done at this time. Others have taken their landscaping trucks and turned them into a private plowing service for a business parking lot. And then, there are those who were hit incredibly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic… and they need help. SO if you have any extra or unused cold weather gear, please think about donating it or putting it on FB marketplace. Please also consider reaching out to your local food bank to see what they need every few months. At present, a lot of places are trying to get stock in for Thanksgiving so that bellies can be full on November 25th. Keep checking in if you are able to. Let’s take this time to help each other out and be kind. It’s already dark and chilly outside- let’s not put that in our hearts, eh? And PLEASE, send us an email at thesaltyexchange@gmail.com if you need help. Shari and I will do our best to get you assistance if you want it.
Last year we wanted to do something special for the kids that wasn’t the traditional trick or treating since we didn’t know if they’d even be able to trick-or-treat (ahem 2020). We decided to create a scavenger hunt that was age appropriate for each kid and something we could all do together. We created clues and prizes with an epic finale. The kids LOVED it and I think it could be a fun idea to use in the future if Halloween happens to fall on a weird week day or you want to switch things up for your kiddos!
We started by writing down each kid’s name (oldest to youngest) and decided we would map out locations near our home (about a 5 mile radius and 10 mile loop which we would drive – not walk). We would pick locations that were “hard or easy” to describe and make clues for each location. We had a series of three clues ranging from vague descriptions to practically giving the location away. Each kid wanted all three clues because they thought they were so fun and they definitely were able to guess the place by the final clue.
The first location was the nearby graveyard. The second location was the soccer field and the third location was the local grocery store. The list goes on! At each location we would go to the trunk and get the “token” (a painted rock) for the location and a candy or toy that was already pre-planned out.
For example: the graveyard – the rock had an RIP headstone painted on it and we gave them each glow stick bracelets. The soccer field – the rock had a soccer ball painted on it and the kids got candy bars. The grocery store was the logo painted on the rock and they got more glowsticks to make necklaces. The other locations around town were the community garden, playground, library, firestation, park, and our neighbors house.
We did nine locations total (3 per kid) with the final location at our neighbor’s house who had large goodie bags and toys for the kids and snacks/food set up like a party. It was a fun way to end the scavenger hunt and something the kids will remember forever. They each kept their rocks and talked about how fun the scavenger hunt was for months. The other day I saw one of the rocks in their room and they said, “that was so fun!”
I am definitely not saying don’t trick-or-treat but I hope I can inspire you to do something fun or unique if Halloween falls on a weekday or seems to lack the usual spark. Scavenger hunts are also fun for kids that get “too old” for the traditional trick-or-treating. So I encourage you to think outside the box and make fun memories with your family whenever you can.
Starting in early September, Rosemary began watching Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin. A lot. Like multiple times on any given day. There are worse things for a toddler to get into so I indulged this. Now, Halloween is a few days away and I am ready to be done with the darn great pumpkin for a while. Since the big day is near we have prepared our house with the great pumpkin spirit but we have also carved our pumpkins, purchased our candy, and are doing everything we can to avoid scary movies (Issy and I are not into those- at all!).
This year, Rosemary became obsessed (thanks to a book from her Tia Dina) with Audrey Hepburn. So I did a thing. I definitely found a Breakfast at Tiffany’s outfit for toddlers. It comes complete with a tiara, earrings, gloves, and a classic Tiffany & Co. blue bag. Oh- there are even big sunglasses! She looks so stinkin’ cute- I can’t handle it.
We keep Halloween fairly simple. Issy and I aren’t big into dressing up so we definitely try to make fun memories for our kiddo. We want her to have fun with the season! This year, she and I watched “Coco.” It inspired us to create our own Dia de los Muertos altar. We have decorated it with marigolds, pumpkins, succulents, and candles. On it, we have pictures of those who have passed on. Rosemary finds the altar fun to look at and is learning about her family in a small way. She knows where her Grandma Rosemary is. She knows that Betty made my baby blanket. And sadly, she is just starting to learn about my great uncle who passed away a few weeks back. We have about 8 or so pictures up there and will be adding more relatives of some of our friends who want to add to the altar. It’s beautiful to look at despite it also being sad.
Last year, we went out of our way to make Halloween Covid safe. I prepackaged candy wearing masks AND gloves. We left everything out on a table in our driveway and despite it being 2020, it was still all gone by 8 pm (we started at 5:30 pm). This year, I won’t be doing that. We are going to leave candy in a basket and monitor it as kids come and go. Most kids are fairly honorable about how much to take so I am not worried about running out too fast. I am more worried about the rain that’s expected here in Vermont. That is just going to suck.
What are you doing to get ready for Halloween? Do you have costumes? Are you doing a party? What kind of candy do you like? Is it bad I am going to use the candy to bribe Rosemary into potty training?
I love music. I hate playing music but I love listening to music. As a kid, I was constantly in the car with people who had major differing tastes from each other. My mom loved country and pop. My dad was a rock and classical kind of man. My grandmother was a lover of all things classic like Sinatra and Bennett. Needless to say, I wasn’t allowed to really switch the station often. When I was in their car, it was their music that we listened to. This made me very tolerable and accepting of all kinds of music.
To date, I love a healthy mix of genres. I love Taylor Swift, Tony Bennett, Garth Brooks, Kendrick Lamar, John Williams, Beyonce, Marcus King, Adele, Banners, Cardi B, Bing Crosby and The Goo Goo Dolls. I like it all. I appreciate that different kinds of music fit in with different moments of my day. I always have a song for every occasion. I would have made a great person who picks music for movies. Who has that job? That must be awesome.
Anyways, it’s fall and it’s my favorite time to really curate a good and cozy playlist to get me through my day and, today, I am sharing that with you. This playlist is really a walk through my mind as different things happen during my day. There’s some calm, some pumped up fun, some classics, and even some sad stuff. Enjoy and let me know if there is anything you are currently loving in music!
The Beatles- Let It Be Tchaikovsky- ANYTHING from Swan Lake The Goo Goo Dolls- Better Days Cardi B- WAP (feat. Megan Thee Stallion) P!nk- All I Know So Far Imagine Dragons- Demons Banners- Someone To You Beyonce- Sorry Garth Brooks- We Shall Be Free Kanye West- Black Skinhead Jess Glynne- Hold My Hand Chris Stapleton- More Of You Vince Giraldi Trio- Charlie Brown theme song Sarah McLachlan- Ice Cream Marc Anthony- Vivir Mi Vida Tony Bennett- I Left My Heart In San Francisco Taylor Swift- Call It What You Want Dolly Parton- Jolene Adele- Easy On Me Howard Shore- ANYTHING from the LOTR/Hobbit movies (Ride of the Rohirrim is my jam lately) Stevie Nicks- If You Ever Did Believe Enya- Only Time Enrique Iglesias- Duele El Corazon (feat. Wisin) The Verve- Bittersweet Symphony Theme from Harry’s Game- Clannad Steve Tyrell- Give Me The Simple Life Joe Rojo (Rojo on Spotify)- Chuckanut Drive (also known as Michael’s Song. Michael was my cousin who passed away when I was a little girl. Joe played this song at my mom’s funeral and always obliged me with this song when I was shopping at the Nordstrom in Seattle, WA as one of the resident piano players).
Seriously- this is all over the place but this is the stuff I love listening to. Enjoy!
It’s my birthday week and although it is hard to know if you are going to even get gifts as an adult, it is still fun to make a list of things you want or need. Thank goodness for shareable wish-lists. Apparently I am on-trend with items this year and I just want to be WARM!
My friend had one when we went camping and I immediately knew that it was going to make it on my birthday/Christmas list. I am notoriously cold and think this rechargeable hand warmer would be the perfect addition to my warmth goals!
Okay this is a pricey item but still one that I would love to have. It’s not as much of a “need” but is more of a “want” since I already have a smaller version that I literally use everyday for the ambiance (wood stoves have my heart, even if they are fake).
The BEST jacket (but even thicker)! My favorite Arc’teryx jacket is the Atom LT Hoodie but there are times where I wish it was a smidge warmer and insert the Atom AR Hoodie. I don’t own it yet but I will eventually.
Simple, cute, and you guessed it…WARM! I am a fan of having quality and cute socks for wearing around the house, in my boots, and especially on chilly nights when I’m camping.
Full disclosure: I already own these (thanks to my husband). SheJumps is an organization near and dear to my heart and they partnered with this apparel company called Wild Rye to make the cutest girafficorn spotted base layer I have ever seen. In an effort to support the collaboration I bought them on pre-order and have waited months for the final product. Worth the wait, I love them!
Well honestly I’d take fjallraven anything but this beanie is so cute. The red was sold out so I opted for the Red Oak color because it still looks so cute! Who doesn’t want a red quality beanie in their life?!
I have tried a lot of apple watch bands and hands down this band is the best! My husband surprised me with an early birthday gift, a new apple watch and I can’t wait to get another sport loop band for it!
There you have it! A Birthday wish-list from yours truly. Is there anything on this list that you’d want too or something you’d add? Maybe this will inspire you to get a head-start on your Christmas lists, it is never too early to plan. I’d love to hear what would be on your current wish-list! Comment below.
It’s fall! It’s cold! Life starts changing from lazy summer days to busier ones. I love ANYTHING that saves me time in the kitchen. That is why one pot meals are sort of my favorite. Simple meals that you can change up a bit and rely on to feed your friends or family are what I gravitate towards these days. With that said, here is one of my favorite one pot meals!
Harvest Pasta with Sun-dried Tomato Sausage
Ingredients:
2 tbsp avocado oil (really any oil is fine)
1 package of sun-dried tomato chicken sausage (I get mine from Trader Joes) sliced up
1 red bell pepper thinly sliced
1/2 yellow onion thickly sliced
1/2 a bag (or more) of spinach
3 cloves garlic minced
1 jar Trader Joes Autumnal Harvest Creamy Pasta Sauce
1 package fusilli pasta OR 1 package of cauliflower rice (this makes it more Keto AND has the benefit of being a total 1 pot meal)
**Cheese of choice
To prepare:
First, wash all of your produce!
Then slice the vegetables that need slicing and mince the garlic that needs mincing
If making the pasta version, get your water boiling and throw in a generous of salt (and I do mean generous portion)
Once the water is boiling, throw in your pasta to cook
Meanwhile, sauté down your onion, garlic, and bell pepper (about 5-6 minutes and this is also where you can slice up your sausage) and then throw in your sliced chicken sausage to cook together for about 5 minutes
Then toss in your jar of sauce to start cooking with all of your goodies
About two minutes later throw in your spinach
Right before the fusilli is finished (so at around 6-7 minutes but all stoves may vary) remove from heat and drain before tossing the pasta into your sauce mixture
Let it cook together for about 4-5 minutes
Turn off heat, dish up, and toss with cheese!
**IF using cauliflower rice (like I did last night) add in your cauliflower rice between the vegetables sautéing down and adding in the protein and follow the rest of the steps.
Maybe it is the crisp air and the cooler mornings or the fact that fall brings the desire for warmth and comfort. Whatever it is, I tend to always take out and hug my slow cooker this time of year. Okay, I don’t hug it but I do have a new found love for it as I transition into Fall. The smell of a homemade meal that is hot and ready with minimal effort made… is there anything better? A favorite fall recipe of mine is beef stew. I think I love it so much because I don’t really need to measure, I can just take a bunch of ingredients and just throw it together. That being said, I know that most people like to follow a recipe, so I will break it down for you. I hope you enjoy my hearty beef stew recipe…
Shari’s Beef Stew:
1-2 pounds stew meat 1 bag of small carrots 2-3 potatoes (or parsnips if you want to make it more Keto friendly) 4 stalks of celery cut into half inch pieces 1 onion (cut in thicker pieces) 2 bay leaves 1 tablespoon minced garlic 2 tablespoons Worchestire sauce 4-5 cups of beef broth 2 tablespoons tomato paste (I don’t use a thickener)
Add all the ingredients to your slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours. Take out the bay leaves and serve hot. Enjoy!
Vermont in the autumn time is breathtaking. Like, breathtaking. The leaves draw in a lot of tourists from around the New England area this time of year and this year is no exception. Last year, the leaves started to turn a bit early. This year? A little later. The “peak” leaf time frame is projected to be soon- within the next 10-12 days. What this means is that the colors will be the most vibrant and dense between now and the end of next week. Today, I actually took a very out of the way road home JUST to see the leaves. And let me tell you- they. did. not. disappoint.
My backyard!
As a lover of all things fall, Vermont is the perfect place for me. Even my backyard is gorgeous this time of year… despite the dying plants that are about to get cleaned up for fall clean-up (a very big thing in Vermont). While travelling is still a little tough for some, if you happen to find yourself headed this way any time soon (or even next year), here are some fun things to check out around the state!
Smugglers Notch Road-
This is a historical path in VT. It’s also very dangerous and closes for the long winter months due to the inclement weather and the danger it poses to the road. It’s a sharp and windey path and if you come, do me a favor. SLOW DOWN. We all know you’re a tourist if we see you taking the turns on the road like a total fool (Yup- I am talking you, Massachusetts.). But, if you can- it’s worth the drive. The leaves are seriously gorgeous and make you feel like you are in a movie.
Apple Picking-
Apple picking is hot here. There are so many local orchards. Some have already picked apples so that you can buy a bag while others let you hit the trees to grab your own. The orchards are usually incredibly family friendly and offer snacks, creamies (a big thing in New England), and even have activities for kids!
Visit a Brewery-
So apparently there are brewery tours? I can’t speak to that but I am sure you can google it. What I can tell you is that this is a fantastic time to visit a brewery. The weather isn’t too hot and it’s not balls cold yet. I love a brewery with good beer AND good food. Some of my favorites include Zero Gravity, Fiddlehead, and Four Quarters.
Visit Cold Hollow Cider Mill-
Located in Waterbury, VT, Cold Hollow Cider Mill is THE place to get your apple cider donuts. You can also watch them press fresh apple cider. The smell of the place alone will make your mouth water. And for all of your touristy needs, they have a ton of stuff for you to buy to take a little bit of VT home with you or to someone else! AND across the driveway is their restaurant called, Apple Core. This belongs to Cold Hollow and is their luncheonette where you can have a delicious sandwich and sample local hard ciders. They also have a few brews on tap. Find something you like? See if it is their retail space behind the register and take it with you on your journey!
Maple Syrup-
It’s everywhere. Seriously. If you want local syrup, keep your eye out for roadside stands. If you are desperate, most grocery stores sell local stuff too. It’s EVERYWHERE! OR if you are me, you are lucky that your neighbor taps some of the trees in his backyard during the winter and makes his own… and he even shares! I call that winning.
Fall Festivals-
There a ton. Most fall festivals have great food, local artists, and general fun for the family. This weekend alone there are about 5 happening throughout Vermont. Google it and find one near you!
If you come to Vermont, come to relax and enjoy the scenery. People are friendly and welcome your company. There is so much to see, taste, and do here at this time of year. It’s hard not to enjoy it- even if you are a bit sad that the summer weather is gone for the next 7 months… There’s nothing like fall in Vermont!
Hey girlfriends, this blog post is for you. The other day I was sitting at my desk feeling emotionally exhausted from a busy and unusually stressful day at work. That same evening I knew my sweet step kids were on their way and dinner would be demanded the moment they walked through the door (I was right) and in that moment I just wanted to tag out from my life for a second. I didn’t want to reply to another email or cook dinner for anyone. What I wanted was to curl up in a ball on the couch with the fireplace going, soft music playing, and just close my eyes for an unknown amount of time.
Have you been there?
I firmly believe that as women, moms, friends, partners, and ladies in general we should get a “pass” to check out for an evening (or maybe even an entire weekend). I mean life is exhausting, I understand that life is a gift but you can’t tell me you don’t think it is a little overwhelming and exhausting at times. A break of any sort can be just the thing you need.
So what do we do when we feel this way? I am sure if you are anything like me you just take a deep breath and look forward to whatever “feels like a break” activity or time you have. That may look like the extra 30 minutes you allow yourself before the rest of your family wakes up, it could look like the extra few minutes out of your morning drive to get yourself a coffee, or it could be quite literally walking over to the couch and shutting your eyes for a bit. Whatever it looks like for you, make the time. Life is beautiful and if we are exhausting ourselves to the point of needing a break or feeling that fatigue, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY and obey it. Somehow find that break for yourself so that you can feel even an ounce more rejuvenated than you did before.
We are all collectively there, in some way, shape, or form… we all know the feeling of being “over it”. That feeling is so simply relatable across humanity which is why I decided to call it out in this blog post. I have heard it from ALL of my girlfriends at one point or another. Most of the time I hear every excuse as to why a “break” isn’t possible. The thing is, if you are feeling like you need a break it is because you do. That initial feeling of needing a break can quickly spiral into a mental breakdown and impact your overall health. It is important and mandatory that you stop pushing yourself to the side and make yourself a priority. Like I have said on other blog posts, no one is going to put you first but YOU!
So take that break. Listen to what your body and mind need. Advocate for yourself and the fact that you deserve a damn break! If you struggle with the concept of taking a break… listen to this Ted Talk by Melinda Choy.
The Salty Exchange 