Me in the pic above: Thinking about what to name our pizzeria and when I can match with one of the kids again. For all my fellow matchy-matchy type mamas out there I thought I’d share a roundup of my favorite companies that make mom + mini twinning a no brainer.
Snapped a few pics (because matching must be documented) while Johan and I took Griffin on a quick dinner date… we ordered cheese sticks (G’s fave), salad and drinks all around and then a pizza and salad to bring home for the rest of the crew. We were only out and about for a little over an hour but it was the perfect amount of time to sneak in some Q.T., finish a placemat word search together and give Griff our undivided attention.
More below!
That look on his face! (insert heart emoji)
10 COMPANIES THAT MAKE IT EASY TO “TWIN” WITH YOUR KIDS
Olivia + Ocean, because the best place to match is definitely at the beach or pool!
Don’t remember the last time I ate something I didn’t end up sharing with someone but I prefer it that way… and not just with the kids. Johan and I almost always share an app and main dish on date nights, an ice cream cone when we’re out for a treat and a venti coffee when we run through Starbucks. Is that weird? Ha! Maybe it’s the “me too” middle child in me?
Our speed date with Griffin has me thinking that it’s time to schedule more one-on-one (or two) kid dates. Would you guys be interested in date ideas or seeing what we end up planning?
Also, please share your thoughts on matching or shops you know that make it easy!
Can’t you just feel the warm pavement in this pic… after such a nice March (by PNW standards anyways), it’s been a rough, cold and rainy April until last week when the sun started making some appearances. Of course chunky sweaters are still a wardrobe staple but they feel more spring-ish when paired with sandals and a camisole. I’ll link outfit details below along with a little family update and a few pics from visiting Johan at the fire station the other day!
OZZIE | Last week Oz asked how I handle the younger kids touching me/my clothing with their sticky fingers. I explained that after you have a newborn that poops, pees and spits up on you, a little chocolate or smeared banana is no big deal… Would you guys agree? I think I scared him out of ever having kids, ha! In WAY bigger news, he’s decided to attend WSU in the fall (YAYYYYY!). We still have a few things to figure out but he’s put in his request for dorms and has a visit scheduled! Meanwhile we’re doing our best to help keep senioritis at bay, meet all the deadline and enjoy all the events that go on during the last few months of high school (did you guys see Johan throw Oz the “first pitch” at his game last week on Stories!? I saved it to the “ozzie” highlight if you want to see)… PSA (in case you were wondering) SENIOR YEAR IS NO JOKE PEOPLE!!!
ESPEN | Has a new mouth full of braces and it’s the cutest thing ever. Especially now that he isn’t as sore and feels like eating something other than smoothies and protein shakes. Poor guy. He’s also started flag football after school along with a new baseball team and basketball camp which has made keeping up with homework a little tricky… Love this age so much because they’re still so young and silly BUT hate how serious school and sports can get (even though I’m v thankful for both!). There’s definitely a learning curve even the second time around as we try to navigate it all. So proud of Espen for being up for the challenge!
TILLY | Also has new hardware in her mouth, lol. She’s been dying to get a retainer ever since Espen got his about a year ago and her dream is finally a reality. Although, having to keep track of a case to put said retainer in while she eats, etc. wasn’t part of that dream and has proven to be a problem that has somehow become everyone’s problem. We love you Matilda and the excitement you bring to all of our days! In other news, her love of slime, baking treats and planning sleepovers is still going strong.
GRIFFIN | Talks a lot about getting an x-box, has become besties with a boy that lives on our street (so fun!), is playing on a new soccer team and is reading like a champ which somehow just makes life so much easier. We just finished the book Double Fudge by Judy Blume. Griff loved it and I have to say, even after reading it with all three of the older kids, it never gets old!
POPPY | Is all registered for her pre-k class for next year, has been practicing her cartwheels (more like monkey jumps) endlessly, and is begging to take another ballet class (hopefully next month!). Every morning she wakes up and asks if the kids have to go to school… needless to say she is counting down the days until summer vacay!
YODER |Is working on getting his realtors license just in time to list our rental property that also happens to need a massive amount of TLC… Yesterday he somehow managed to make lots of progress on the yard with a team of 7 kids (all 5 of ours and 2 of their friends), lol. Never not impressed by his work ethic. Today he recruited my parents to help us paint the interior and then the hard part begins as we’ll have to decide what to upgrade and what to keep as is… and you guys know how indecisive I am so pray for my husband!
ME |Did you guys see the textile I designed for Olivia + Ocean!? Fabric and product design are my absolute favorite kind of design projects to create and collaborate on. Working on a few other projects lately (some collabs and some DIY’s) that I can’t wait to finish and share. Aside from work, I’ve been struggling to get over a terrible case of bronchitis (yuck)… having coughing fits and not being able to breath well is really cramping my style, ha! Prob time to head back to the doctor, huh?
Pickle ball might be the best game ever invented… Johan and I are on the hunt for a doubles league if you know of any??? ha! Just need to work on my backhand and wearing appropriate shoes.
WEARING | camisole (it’s machine wash + on sale… wearing a size 2), sweater, jeans (size down atleast one size!), shoes (bought them last spring and love these too)
If this doesn’t have you dreaming of pool days with your babes (big or small) this summer, I don’t know what will! I love Olivia + Ocean for their mission to make swimwear that fits into a mama’s lifestyle… so that in between all the towel drying, sun screening, meltdown managing, snack making and (fill in the blank) you can feel stunning, pulled together and more likely ready to play, snuggle, sunbathe or participate in a cannon ball contest.
Danielle (the mama behind O+O) puts equal thought into creating vintage-y modern swimmers for your mini that make sunny day adventures extra special and nostalgic.
All of this to say, O+O just launched the sweetest collection that includes a floral print I designed and am totally smitten with. The full collection coordinates too so you can go full mom + mini matchy-matchy or twin just a little bit.
Don’t you love it?!!! My favorite to date… Poppy will be running around in this for sure and I love the red bikini as well.
A pop of red for me too, please! So classic.
Some of my favorite memories are of heading to the pool almost daily with my mom and brothers during hot Chicago summers — I still have no idea how my mom managed to make time for h o u r s of splashing around while raising a busy family and home but I’m forever grateful that she did.
Not to get too sappy and sentimental, but it’s a good reminder that we won’t get these days of raising little humans back. Even more sobering is that our kids won’t get their childhood days back either… Thankful for companies like Olivia + Ocean that make it easier to be present and playful while we’re in the thick of it.
Earth Day is today and my kids have been sharing all kinds of new-to-them info about different ways to take care of this sweet and beautiful earth that takes such good care of us. So far they’ve picked up most of these tips from school so I thought it was time to do a little schooling at home… not that I taught them anything new, but we did do some up-cycling and planting!
Here’s how we made our UP-CYCLED TIN CAN HERB GARDEN:
You’ll Need
.5-inch and/or .75-inch alphabet stickers (we used .5-inch for the water can and .75-inch for all the other tins)
Empty tin cans (the cilantro is in a larger ‘crushed tomato’ can
Drill & bit or nail and hammer
Acrylic paint & brushes
Painter’s tape
Rocks from the yard
Soil
Plants or seeds
To Make the Cans – Clean and dry empty cans. Use a drill and bit or nail and hammer to make 3 or 4 holes in the bottom for water to drain. Place alphabet stickers as desired on can. Use painters tape for a dipped paint look, on the opposite end of the can from stickers. Paint until can is covered, drying in between coats if needed.
To Plant Herbs – Place 3 or so rocks in the bottom of can. Add soil and the plant, filling with more soil as needed.
Then water…. and try a taste of each herb.
Or make your big sis do it.
Clip sprigs anytime they are needed for a fancy drink, garnish or dish!
It’s sweet to see their passion for the earth and environment. Until they give me a hard time about using too much water or remind me that the microwave is much more efficient than the oven. Lols.
Do your kids ever so the same?
We’ve come so far from the days of ‘Give a hoot, don’t pollute’! It was such a fresh, new concept when I was young (or at least that’s how I remember it?).
One of the perks of allllll the Spring rain this month has been all the time we’ve had to whip things up in the kitchen, including these Brazilian egg + cheese mini breads. They’re delicious, gluten free, full of healthy fats and protein, slightly crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside and perfect for anytime of day. Pair with sausage, salami, or sandwich meat and fruit during the morning or afternoon as a meal or snack, and with soup or chili in the evening for dinner.
Scroll down for the recipe… it won’t disappoint! And just as a heads up, these take about an hour and a half to mix up and bake.
BRAZILIAN EGG + CHEESE BREAD – makes about 60
You’ll Need:
1 cup whole milk (or sub for other milk)
1 cup water
1/2 cup olive oil
4 cup tapioca flour
2 teaspoons salt
6 eggs, beaten
1 cup white cheddar cheese (or similar), grated
1/2 cup parmesan (or other hard cheese), grated
Here’s How:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a medium sauce pan combine milk, water and oil and bring to a boil. Stir occasionally. Meanwhile, in a stand mixer, whisk flour and salt (or do by hand).
Add liquid mixture to flour mixture and stir with a paddle attachment or spoon until well combined. Set aside to cool 5-10 minutes.
Using the whisk attachment, add egg mixture in two separate batches and whisk for 5 minutes. You can also knead egg mixture into dough by hand for 5-10 minutes.
Using a standard size cookie scoop or by hand (spray or coat lightly with oil), make dough balls (about 1-1/2 inch in size) and add to prepared baking sheet. Bake for 30-35 minutes (32 minutes worked perfect for us!). Balls should double in size and be golden on the outside. Let sit before eating so dough cooks a little more in the middle.
Serve with a side of sausage or lunch meat or sliced avocado and fruit. Would taste so good dipped in marinara sauce too!
After the first batch was done baking, Poppy quickly went to work decorating them with our lunch picks which was all her idea and I think ended up looking so cute and festive! Might need to start paying her to be my assistant, lol. (lunch picks here, here + here… a good addition to Easter baskets!)
Same, Poppy, same…. snack time forever.
I’m usually a little intimidated by making bread but these are really so simple and worth the time spent scooping and baking. All of the kids (and Johan!) will eat them too which is always a bonus… no easy feat finding a snack that everyone agrees on!
I love finding fun items to fill the kids’ Easter baskets with, but it can be soooo easy for things to get out of control, lol. There’s so much cute stuff out there and honestly, lots of things they could use now that it’s spring. So I always try to stick to a loose theme or two. This year I’m filling their baskets with activities and accessories for rainy spring days or baseball games… and of course pajamas. Always pajamas!
Shared a sneak peak on Instagram Stories yesterday if you want to go check it out! And of course Ozzie and his girlfriend are getting Easter baskets too, but they’re much more present on social media than the other kids so I didn’t want to spoil anything…
A few things I’m filling their baskets with if you need any ideas for older teenagers | a couple WSU things (like these sunnies), this cute scrunchie, bibles from She Reads Truth and He Reads Truth, water bottles, ChatBooks and bathroom caddies for the dorms as their baskets! Ha!
Cannot wait to set everyone’s basket out on Easter morning! Also can’t wait for all the egg hunting, mimosa sipping and cinnamon roll eating.
Currently trying to get out the door to a Mariner’s game with my crew on the last day of Spring Break but wanted to get this up for you guys first! Take a peek at what’s on our meal plan this week… So not ready for break to be over (why does it go so quick!?) buttttt, here’s to slowly getting back to a normal schedule and finishing up all the Easter prep!
SA | pizza picnic since the sun is supposed to come out!
SU | easter dinner with the fam… not sure what’s on the menu yet
BREAKKIE | yogurt bowls with berries, bananas, granola or muesli, chia seeds, coconut flakes, mango, dark chocolate flakes (a few ideas!), bunny pancakes (for easter or any morning this week) + a bagel bar (checkout this spread!)
LUNCH | trying to double up with ingredients so bagels (for breakkie too), quesadillas (with the help of monday’s dinner) and cookie cutter sandwiches (using ingredients from tuesday’s dinner) it is!
I’m back with another “SPRING REFRESH” post, yay! You can find the last one here. Since the dust has settled from all the new years resolutions, we’ve (hopefully) made it through flu season, schedules are getting more structured (and full) and the sun is coming out to play (yay vitamin D!) I’ve been focusing more on my workout routine and found a few things that have really helped spruce things up… Here are 3 changes I’ve recently made that have helped me stay more consistent!
SCHEDULE IT | my trick to getting just about anything done is to actually add it to my calendar + planner. When the kids were younger we had a pretty strict routine for our days and I could always count on a 30 minute block either before or after their afternoon nap where a ride in the jogging stroller (with their lunch or snack) was a good idea. After Johan got hired as a firefighter and now that we have older kids, our routine had become much less predictable and more busy so I literally have to block out a time on google calendar and in my daily planner to workout.
FIND YOUR UNIFORM | the less I have to think about working out the more likely I am to do it. I’ve found stocking my closet with enough of my go-to workout gear has been a big help! Also putting it all in the same section of my closet (instead of spread out between bins, dressers and hangers) helps keep me in autopilot. My current uniform includes my favorite leggings, a cotton tee (or one of Johan’s), a sweatshirt and a hat to keep the rain off my face.
SWITCH THINGS UP | sometimes I get into a rut simply because I’ve been doing the same workouts over and over again. I used to only go for runs so when we joined a gym after Griffin was born, I felt extra inspired. After using the Sweat app for the last couple years, adding running back into my routine felt so good (although a little slow at first, lol). One day, when everyone’s in school, I hope to sign up for workout classes. However, switching things up could mean anything from finding a workout partner to going for a hike on the weekends to deciding to train for a half marathon.
TURN YOUR “I SHOULD” INTO “I MUST” | as I was thinking back on my workout journey and the seasons I was more consistent, it occurred to me that there was a time when working out was more a matter of survival (I HAD TO!) than an item on my to do list. I truly needed the endorphins and moment of self care… So as I’ve been working on getting more consistent I’ve tried to tap into that mindset of “have to” and it’s made a huge difference the last few weeks :) I know that’s not long but feels like a small victory over here and something worth sharing… mindset is so powerful!
Another question I get asked a lot that I thought would be good to answer in this post…
Q: When do you find time to workout?
Currently Johan and I have been getting up at 5am on mornings that he has to leave for shift, to go for a run in our neighborhood. Luckily no one has woken up while we’re gone, but thankful for teenagers in the house… (there’s a whole new level of parental freedom when you can leave for 30 minutes without hiring a sitter!!!!). It’s my favorite way to start the day but just to be clear, I might be a morning person, but have NEVER been a morning worker-outer person (I prefer coffee and quiet time, lol) so the first mile and a half feels like torture! On days Johan is home from the station, I’ll often go for a run around 7 without interrupting dinner or bedtime (yay daylight savings!) and then all other days I bring my yoga mat and weighted ball outside while the kids are playing either in our backyard, at the park or before a baseball game/practice and go through a circuit workout on the SWEAT app.
I really need to work on my flexibility, lol.
Also, there are few things more awkward than taking pictures while pretending to workout. We had planned on snapping a few candid shots while going for a hike with the kids earlier that morning , but it rained buckets so we stayed home. Later that day after Oz’s baseball game the rain stopped (finally) so we took advantage, grabbed my mat and camera from the car and snapped a few pics… Sometimes you just gotta go with it, ha!
Since I’m not a fitness blogger by any means I’m always pleasantly surprised by the reaction I get from posts like these BUT love the comments and convos that take place… a good reminder that we really are in this season of life together! So please share where you’re at, what’s working for you and what you might be struggling with below.
The kids are on spring break this week so with the exception of baking with my helpers, my goal is to be in the kitchen as little as possible while still making sure everyone has plenty of healthy food to eat. I’m also guessing we’ll be handing out lots of extra snacks so stocked the pantry and fridge yesterday and plan on making lots of charcuterie platters (meat, cheese, crackers, fruit, veggies, dips and nuts).
BREAKKIE | firehouse hash (Johan doesn’t have an exact recipe, but this one is similar if you add sausage and cilantro and skip the kale), peanut butter banana blender muffins, toast and hardboiled eggs… or just a good old fashioned continental breakfast set up!
LUNCH | leftovers (are going to be good this week), I could eat cali rolls and warm edamame (sprinkled with kosher salt) for all meals, easy quesadillas
Speaking of keeping the kitchen stocked… how do you guys schedule (or not schedule) your shopping trips?
I try to stock up on Mondays, including ingredients for 2 or 3 dinners and then go again on Thursday, but we always seem to make extra trips — wondering if I should just embrace that it’s part of life with kids or try to plan a little better, lol?
Okay you guys, so I could probably come up with close to 100 fun things to do as a family in the spring butttt, sometimes long lists are more of a distraction than they are productive and since I’m trying to be more present + intentional (hey buzz words) as we get into a very busy spring, I thought I’d share a few low stress ideas to add to your calendar.
Here’s ourTOP 5 (but actually 6) FAMILY FRIENDLY SPRING ACTIVITIES:
the batting cages and putt-putt — and for kids too young to swing a club or bat, there are usually lots of things to climb on, golf balls to hold onto and holes to hide things in… also be sure to ask for a tee if needed in the batting cages!
the zoo or wildlife reserve — or save money and opt for a nature walk and scavenger hunt.
exploring new parks or beaches + bringing a grocery store picnic — bonus if there’s a place to play soccer, run around, fly kites or ride scooters! This is a fun one to do after church on sundays… throw all the scooters, blankets and balls in the car, head to church, stop at the store, then drive long enough for little ones to take a quick nap before hopping out to play!
a staycation — we aren’t usually able to travel much during the spring but a close to home road trip or overnight at a hotel feels extra special… still trying to finalize plans for spring break next week and am tempted to head to Seabrook again this year.
any spring sporting event — we love going to Mariner’s games but sometimes a minor league game with grass seating, picnic tables and a less crowded kid zone is more relaxing and fun for us parents!
BBQ’s +/or happy hour with friends at home — could become a weekend tradition to host or help plan! Since spring weather is often unpredictable having a backup plan
Just signed up for a family fun run and am hoping it will become a new spring favorite. Also wish “family bike ride” made the cut, but we haven’t had a successful bike ride since before Tilly was born, lol. We’re basically chaos on wheels.
Checked batting cages off our spring activity list Sunday night though… a few pics below!
After sitting through a dozen baseball games and practices for the older boys the past few weeks, I thought the rest of the fam deserved a chance to get some ‘at bats’ and even though they all thought I was crazy and gave me a million reasons why we shouldn’t go, I persisted and eventually got everyone in the car, ha! We ended up hitting until dark and then going out to pizza. It was a school night so you know everyone was having so much fun!
Ozzie and his smart, sweet and incredibly patient gf (you kinda have to be to hang with us!). She’s the youngest of 3 so I’m sure tagging along with Oz as the oldest of 5 has been an adjustment for her. However, she plays it off well and will do fun things for and with the kids… we love having her along for adventures!
Poppy had no interest in getting in the cage while the pitching machine was on but loved hitting off the tee! Thankful that the owner brought it over to us… We’ve been coming here for years and never thought to ask about a tee for younger kids!
Do you have any spring plans you’re excited for! What are your favorite things to do as a family once the weather warms up!?
Today we’re starting a new series that puts a spin on the usual “SPRING CLEANING” topic. Instead of focusing on cleaning up living spaces I thought it would be a welcome change to talk about small ways to hit refresh on everyday habits starting with 4 simple ways to cut back on plastic use at home. Keep in mind that this is less about being perfect or making drastic changes that are too hard to sustain, and more about making small changes that will eventually gain momentum and make a big difference.
Some of you are wayyyyyy ahead of me with these environmentally friendly habits (don’t judge, ha!) and I would love for you to chime-in, in the comments with other ideas!
Here are the 4 easy, quick and do-able ways we’re cutting back on plastic use in our home:
This adorable beeswax wrap is organic, sustainable and a great alternative to plastic wrap and even plastic bags — use to cover food before putting in the fridge or wrap up a sandwich or other snacks when you’re on the go.
Buy reusable grocery bags that are easy to store and manage so you’ll actually use them! Or is it just me that gets annoyed with floppy bags that slide around in the back of my car so they end up getting stored in the pantry and are inevitably forgotten 75% of the time? Instead of constantly feeling guilty when I make it to the checkout line and realize I’ll be choosing between paper or plastic, I finally purchased these grocery totes that I love! They are so much sturdier, fit a lot (although not as much as they look on amazon) and will even stay open which makes it so easy to store in the trunk, use for other things and unload once we’re home.
If you’re shopping with kids in-tow then lugging around reusable produce bags is probably low on the priority list, but it does get easier as the kids get older and once you have one or more that’s around school age, it can be fun to put them in charge of carrying bags and also filling them with whatever’s on your shopping list! Love this set of produce bags, but there are lots to choose from or you can DIY!
Also, for anyone that buys bulk, how do you get everything through the checkout line and home without using plastic bags?
I love these straws for the colors (easier to keep track of who’s drink is who’s) and you can see inside them to make sure they’re cleaned well — unlike metal straws which I know are great but the unknown scares me a bit, lol. The smoothie size straws (pictured) are a little extra so if you have younger ones I’d suggest the skinnier version. Bonus, you can cut the silicone to fit whatever your go-to cup is! I also bought these glass straws for Johan and me… we fancy :)
Ahhhhh, these kids! I’d do anything to make this world a better place for them and always want to be a good example too.
I’ll share all the products on instagram stories later today if you want to see them IRL. We also DIY-ed a starbucks pink drink to highlight the reusable straws that I’ll share too!
Now, I’d love to know what else you would add to the list? What small-ish environmentally friendly change should we make next?
