10.28.2021

HOME ORGANIZATION WITH OPEN SPACES

Organization is something I'm really passionate about... but I'm just really bad at it. Haha. That could all change now though. A few months ago I came across a brand called Open Spaces while scrolling Instagram one day, and I was needless to say... obsessed.

I'm all about clean lines and neutral colors and well, I really, really love baskets to put things in (maybe a bit too much, to my husband's dismay lol), it makes organization so much easier and makes a space look pretty awesome too if you ask me. Open Spaces really knocks it out of the park by checking off all the boxes (literally haha) of things I love and look for when it comes to aesthetic and functionality in our home. They've got the nice neutral colors, natural wood lids for their containers, wire metal baskets... yep, pretty much perfection.


So first can we just talk about these containers and baskets? I love them, okay? For whatever is it that you need organized, they're gonna take your organization to the next level. I love these Medium Storage Bins for easy LEGO blocks storage and small Barbie accessories, these Small Storage Bins are absolute perfection for bathroom storage (they are pretty much perfect for skin care, makeup, and feminine products).

The thing I love most about baskets and bins is everything has a place. It makes staying organized so much easier because you have no excuse to not put something back in it's place and where it belongs, your home and space stays cleaner and your mind less stressed, and of course you always know where to look when you need that one thing, so you don't have to search your entire home for it and still not find it. Put it in a basket and easy peasy lemon squeezy, you automatically know where it is every single time!


These Large Wire Storage Baskets are also another favorite of mine from Open Spaces: they're just the right amount of classic mixed with modern, and great for storing blankets and bedding and clothing... they're just great, mkay?

But can we also just take a minute to chat about and appreciate this Entryway Rack? It's honestly the shoe rack of my dreams. Modern, crisp clean lines, super heavy duty and sturdy, high quality (no paint gonna chip off this beauty), and it holds shoes so nicely! I love that you can use this for so many things, from shoe storage to toy storage, to book storage, to bin organization, the possibilities are really endless!


If organization isn't your strong suit (and even if it is), you're gonna wanna head over to Open Spaces HERE to check out all of their awesome products (and beautiful colorways) and grab some for all your home organizing needs!

10.21.2021

CURRENTLY LOVING...

Happy almost weekend! It's been busy, busy, busy over here recently and I promise I'll share more soon and stop being so cryptic haha. There are big things in the works for our family and I'm so stoked to share in a couple of weeks! We've been trying to enjoy the autumn weather, but goodness am I ever NOT ready for full on cold. It was 35 degrees here a couple of mornings ago and I am just not here for that haha. I'm all about summer and autumn is nice too, but almost freezing weather, that's a big nope from me; about the only freezing thing I'm currently interested in hearing about is the chocolate gelato I got today from our favorite local gelato shop lol! Anyways, without further ado, here are some favorites we are currently loving! Hope you love them too!


If you've been around since before Bodhi was born, you might remember me sharing about PUJ before, we were big fans of the brand then and nothing has really changed, we still love their products! Their "Hug" hooded towels are at the top of our love list, they are just like being wrapped in a big cozy warm hug (even better if they're right out of the dryer) and the kids both adore them. It's their favorite part about getting out of the bath (because let's face it, getting out of the bath is never fun, but these make it not so bad), and they love getting all cozy in them. They'll sometimes stay wrapped up in them even after getting dried off and getting their pajamas on, they're cozy while watching a show or reading a book too! We currently have the Big Hug towels for both kiddos, and we also had the baby hug towels when Bodhi was an infant. Puj also makes kid sized washcloths (these Puj Fresh washcloths) that we also love for bath time! They're so crazy soft and I might even love them as much as the kiddos do haha! Another great product that we've always loved from Puj (and need to get a couple more in the future) are these Puj PhillUp Cups! They're perfect for drinking water, rinsing after brushing your teeth, washing kiddos hair, and even as bath toys (which I'm absolutely certain is bodhi's favorite use for them). Find Puj products HERE or at Target here!



We are an ocean family, there is no denying that. I love finding clothing that compliments that lifestyle and one day while scrolling Instagram, I came across the cutest little shop, Mom of a Grom! Of course I immediately was like ooooh over all of their adorable designs. Bella saw this Surf like a Girl tee and "needed" it, like it wasn't just a want, it was apparently a need. Haha. Some of her biggest role models that she looks up to are surfers (and skateboarders) like Bethany Hamilton and Sky Brown, so she is beyond stoked to wear this tee and also can't wait to learn to surf this next summer. I chose this SWELL toddler tee for Bodhi and I think it's just perfect for him! It's definitely going to be a staple in his wardrobe this next summer, and will even be great this fall and winter with a long sleeve tee layered underneath. They have all the cutest tees (and hats) for all of the little surfer and skater groms in your life, find all of their rad designs HERE and find their Instagram here!



Pehr has been a part of our family for literally years, since Bella was a teeny tiny toddler. I think I ended up winning a product of theirs in a giveaway on Instagram which is how I found out about them and it al just kinda spiraled from there (considering how many products of theirs we own at this point, but it's a good kinda spiral haha). Blankets, bedding, decorative pillows (I have a whale one I bought from them several years ago that I've been saving for when Bodhi finally has his own room), pillow inserts, mobiles, quilts, swaddles, bibs... we've pretty nearly had it all at one point or another haha. Their storage though... the bins and hampers and pints and I mean.... I could go on. I love those on  another level. They have been used for so many things over the years in our home, toy baskets, blanket and swaddle storage, skateboard helmet and protective gear storage, books, stuffed animals, accessories, and even pretend play! Bella and Bodhi love dumping the toys out and pretending that the big hamper storage containers are bathtubs and swimming pools, they love turning them upside down and using them for hide and seek, they're really just a great item with so many uses! I'm really excited about these new Daisy storage bins we've just added to our collection, they are so cute and have such a fun and whimsical look to them. We chose the Novelty Pint which is perfect for small throw blankets and favorite dolls, and this Novelty Mini size is absolute perfection for hair accessories, art supplies and favorite stuffies! Also, not that I needed another reason to love Pehr, buuuut they have also recently started selling clothing! Say whaaaat?! Yep, they now have the cutest little outfits and pajamas. Cue the excitement right there because pajamas are my jam! Bodhi's jam too apparently, he absolutely loves these little Rocketman Toddler Pajamas and asks to wear them constantly now, they're super soft so I really don't blame him, plus they are made from organic fabric which I love! Find all of the amazingness from Pehr HERE!



I first discovered kombucha about 7 years ago after a friend shared about it on Instagram, I tried it and have loved it as an occasional treat ever since! It's so good, a really great alternative to sodas and sugary drinks and it also has health benefits that I love. What I am not a huge fan of though is super strong tasting kombuchas. I've had a few here and there that tasted like straight up carbonated vinegar and needless to say, I wasn't in love with those haha. The milder tasting ones are more my vibe and the ones I tend to love the most, and I recently found a new kombucha brand that I dare say might be my most favorite kombucha brand ever! Rowdy Mermaid! Have you ever heard of them? I came across them and was of course my ocean loving soul was drawn to their name and logo, I mean, have you ever seen cuter branding? And the taste is even better! It's mild, but packed with flavor! The kids even love it, they think it's a super fun treat and I love that they can get some extra good live cultures for gut health when they drink it instead of sugar and artificial color filled garbage. Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha was created to be less sugary, less acidic, less "vinegary" and safer for your entire family, I think they truly knocked it out of the park with their taste and formulation (you can read more about the origins of Rowdy Mermaid HERE). Rowdy Mermaid was kind enough to send over a variety of their amazing kombuchas and we are fans for life! We have loved all of the flavors but a few of our favorites have been Savory Peach, Alpine Lavender, and Rowdy Belly (Bella and Bodhi's favorite), and on the top of the list of ones I really want to try is their Grapefruit Rise Kombucha, the not yet released Hibiscus Pulse, and their new Rowdy Mermaid Adaptonic sparkling immunity tonics! They also sell super rad merch, and this Rowdy Tee Shirt is one of my favorites that's currently in heavy rotation in my wardrobe, it's literally one of the softest tees I've ever owned and so comfortable! Find out more on their website here and find Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha at a location near you by using their store locater HERE!

10.15.2021

FRIDAY FAVES

Hey friends!  Wow has it ever been a busy week! We've gotten so much done, and thankfully one of the things marked off on my to-do list is this post! You all know I love sharing my favorite things with you aaaaand there may be a discount code for one of the brands too! Not many things planned for this weekend other than marking more things off of our to-do list (holiday gift guides are also in the works and I'm just a litttttle excited about them), spending time with my husband and kiddos, maybe making some homemade cinnamon rolls, and hoping the weather is nice enough to get a little bit of surfskating in and spend some time outdoors seeing the beautiful autumn leaves that are starting to change colors! What are your weekend plans?



I haven't really added a lot of items so my closet this year, I've actually probably donated of half of my clothes in the past few months because they were just hanging there not being worn and I thought to myself what was the point of having them if they weren't being used. So going forward I've been trying to be more intentional about the items I am adding in. Only adding items that are high quality, even if that means spending a bit more and owning less, buying something only if I truly LOVE it and can see myself wearing it for a long time and not purchasing just because it was on sale for a good deal or cheap or trendy, only adding in the things that speak to me, that make my soul happy every time I wear them and that I actually enjoy wearing! No more uncomfortable clothes, items that are colors I dislike, things that maybe I'll fit into someday, stuff that's are too big for me, clothes that I don't really love as much as I could or hardly ever reach for. One thing I HAVE added to my wardrobe recently is this beautiful and outrageously comfortable piece from IMBODHI! It's the peak of comfort, pretty sure it's illegal in some countries for clothing to be this comfortable (okay, kinda joking about that one haha), but ya get my drift, it's just a super nice, super awesome piece of clothing! It's the Bōdhi Jumper in Oatmeal in case you were wondering, and also in case you were about to ask, yes, you absolutely NEED it in your closet, trust me, I'm pretty sure it's not a want, but a need. Perfect for lounging, running errands, pretty much whatever! IMBODHI likes to call it their "Do-Everything-Outfit" and I'd be inclined to agree, it's the perfect minimalist outfit. Oh wait, you weren't convinced just yet? Maybe this'll do it... it's made from environmentally friendly plant based fabrics (tencel, which is created from eucalyptus fivers)! How rad is that?! You won't need to worry about constantly shedding microplastics into the environment and it's also so breathable for your skin! All of IMBODHI's products are ethically hand cut and sewn by a small team of women in San Francisco, California, AND all of their products are shipped in 100% recycled, recyclable, and reusable packaging! They sell some more beautiful designs too, I know this Lila Romper in Chartreuse is definitely catching my eye! Check out IMBODHI and all of their beautiful clothing HERE!



I'm just gonna say it, I'm literally a fan of EVERYTHING that The Lyfestyle Co. offers. I mean all the things I've tried anyway, buuuut if the products I own are any evidence of how amazing all the rest of their products are, then I'm pretty positive that literally everyone in the world needs to know about them as soon as possible. Take their Beach Mist After Sun Spray for example: during our last trip to Lake Erie, I miiiight have gotten a little bit too much sun. I thought I was fine until I got home and realized how red the back of my legs were (ouch!), literally on fire, so I thought to myself, why not give this spray a try and see if it's all it's cracked up to be. When I tell you this product is what sold me. Within 3 hours of the first spray, my sunburn was 50% gone, done a second spray a little while later and within an hour I'd say it was a good 75% gone. I decided what could one more application before bed hurt... I kid you not, my sunburn (which was pretty bad mind you) was completely 100% GONE the next morning when I woke up. Like are you kidding me, it's such amazing stuff and it's a product I plan to make sure we always have on hand from here on out. Also really loving their 100% Natural Brow Oil, I haven't used it as consistently as I'd like (chalk that up to mom brain and our everyday busy life that has been extra busy as of late) but I have noticed a difference in my brows since I've started using it when I remember (usually a couple nights a week). I wish I would have taken a before photo so I could share an "in progress" photo so you could see the difference, but it's absolutely made a change in my brows that have been a bit sparse since I overplucked them in my early teens ages go haha. The Lyfestyle Co. also sent over this Detox Hair Serum (which is amazing for split ends, dry scalp and color treated hair) and this Refresh Dry Shampoo (which works wonderfully well and the only 4 ingredients are are a legit yessss from me) AND this Bamboo Body Polish that smalls absolutely divine and is perfect for any skin that needs a gentle exfoliation! I of course LOVE that all of their products are all free of parabens, sulfates and harsh chemicals, and are created with positivity and good vibes in mind! Check out their entire collection of lovely products HERE!



Our kiddos absolutely LOVE popsicles (love is probably not even a strong enough word haha)! Personally, I love them too (lime and lemon have always been favorite flavors of mine), but I'm not always a fan all of the ingredients, especially the artificial food dyes (my kiddos always seem to be drawn to the red popsicles and that never goes well), and let's not forget loads of corn syrup that they're filled with (and I'm not even going to mention how each one is wrapped in plastic... oops, I guess I did mention it lol). Thankfully, I have been able to start making some of our own since one of our favorite brands, Zoku, recently sent some super awesome reusable popsicle molds our way! I'm so stoked to create fun and healthier options for the kiddos now that we have these Mini Pop Molds (such a fun shape and absolutely perfect for little hands) and this Mod Pops Mold (absolutely loving these for bigger popsicles). Fill up the molds with your liquid of choice or homemade popsicle mixture, pop them in the freezer and voila you have homemade popsicles! It only takes around 6 to 8 hours to freeze to completion, and both style of molds come with built in "drip guards" for the sticks so you don't have to worry about getting messy while you enjoy your homemade treats! Zoku also sent over this 11 Piece Neat Stack set nesting food storage containers which I am really excited to start using! They are leak proof, dishwasher, freezer and microwave safe, color coded (especially great for meal and snack prep if you're trying to eat healthy) and they also come with a freezer ice pack to help keep your food fresh for longer if you're out and about! A couple of our other favorite Zoku products are these two toned items, this stainless steel water bottle is awesome (I have the Ash color and it's so pretty in real life), love this reusable straw (that comes with a carry case small enough to fit in your pocket or attach to your keychain), and my husband's most favorite, this 12 oz stainless steel tumbler. We have been trying to stay on a budget lately even more than usual and this tumbler has been a lifesaver for him to bring a coffee from home to work so he doesn't have to stop and buy one (it's already saved us so much money). He has a 45+ minute commute everyday to work and he loves that his coffee is still hot when he gets there every morning! Check out all of Zoku's amazing products HERE!



I love drinking water, but drinking something different when you're working out and feel like you're dying just hits different, ya know? I've been known to grab a popular brand of sports drink at the grocery store in the past, and I know, I know, it's full of artificial junk so I've been looking for something healthier to replace it with. Liquid I.V. was kind enough to send some over and I literally LOVE it! It tastes good, is hydrating, hits the spot during workouts, and is actually good for you! What exactly is Liquid I.V.Liquid I.V. is a Non-GMO electrolyte drink mix that utilizes breakthrough science of Cellular Transport Technology (CTT) to deliver hydration and other key nutrients into your bloodstream faster and more efficiently than water alone! I'm all about things that get the job done more efficiently so just knowing that is one of the reasons I'm loving is so much, not to mention the taste! I've tried Pina Colada, Watermelon, Lemon Lime, and Acai Berry so far and all of the flavors have been stellar! Acai Berry is my favorite out of all of them, with Watermelon being a close second! Liquid I.V. is great tasting Non-GMO and is a formulated mix that uses a specific ratio of sodium, glucose, and potassium to deliver water and other essential nutrients directly into your bloodstream. Liquid I.V. contains 3 times more electrolytes than traditional sports drinks and less than half the sugar and calories too! It also contains 110% daily value of Vitamin C, Potassium, B3, B5, B6, B12. Liquid I.V. is also Non-GMO, vegan, gluten/soy/dairy free and contains no artificial sweeteners, preservatives, colors or flavors! Find out more about the science behind Liquid I.V. here, and shop all of their flavors and products HERE! Make sure to use my code THEJOYFULTRIBE for 25% off plus free shipping!