What I'm Loving....March 2016
I want to be very clear from the start....I don't blog for money. No one is giving me anything for the things I am about to tell you about. They are just things that I am really loving this month that I hope you will get excited about. Maybe one of them is just what you are looking for! I tried to include a little bit of everything in my 5 things and MY FIRST GIVEAWAY is at the end! You can click on each picture for more details on the thing I love and where to get it!
1. The Wet Brush
I am a baby when it comes to having my hair brushed. My head is very sensitive. I can't even enjoy a head massage when I get my hair washed at the salon. This is unfortunate because I would love to be able to enjoy that. When I was young, my mom had to brush my hair with a soft bristled brush. I have a lot of hair. It is thick. It was often long. I am SO sorry mom! I was in Target about a month ago shopping for my trip to Mexico where my best friend was getting married. I needed a travel brush and saw the Wet Brush hanging there. It promised pain free detangling so I grabbed it and ran. I had very little hope for this brush. It must be a marketing ploy to get me to try your brush over the 20 others hanging there. But I would buy 100 of these now. My tangles come out with no pain and no effort in a matter of seconds. It is magic I tell you, and whoever invented it should be sainted. Whether it is you who wants a new brush or you have a little girl who hates having her hair brushed out, go to the store and get one now!
2. Savor by Shauna Niequist
I've talked a lot about making small changes in life and taking baby steps to really get to what is important in life. This is one of those baby steps for me. I wanted to spend a very small amount of time on myself each day to make sure I was always working towards the best me and I wanted to do something that was contemplative so that I could really take time to reflect. I also wanted to write down a memory from the day so I would have something to look back on to celebrate the little joys in life while my babies are still babies. I wanted to savor my life in this stage even though it's a tough one. This book is the perfect baby step to do that. It is a 365 day book that gives a short reflection each day with a great question at the end. The book's tag line is, Living Abundantly Where Are, As You Are, and each day I get challenged to really unpack what is going on in my life. It takes 10 minutes to read so it doesn't require a huge life shift and I write a little sentence at the top of the page that gives a memory from that day.
3. The Day Designer Grocery List Printable Download
I hate going to the grocery store. I get overwhelmed by the packed parking lot. I get distracted by good produce. I inevitably wander in the wine aisle (because that's going to feed my family). I always forget something across the store from where I remember it and I find myself losing patience with the human race each second I have to be there. I must go with a list if there is any hope of redeeming the experience. I sit down at the beginning of my week and write out all of the ingredients I will need. Because of my personality, I would then rewrite my list (yep, you read that right) so that all of the ingredients that were together in the same section were together on my list. This took time. I don't have time. I certainly don't want to spend the time I do have writing 5 grocery lists for one trip. Then I found it! I have told you about the Day Designer before. On their website they have a great free printables area (http://daydesigner.com/collections/printable-library). There are no strings and it has some legit items. My favorite is their grocery list printable download. It has plenty of space and all of the categories that you need to make your list. It is only one sheet and makes life awesome. Try it out this week...it will change your whole shopping experience!
4. Yeti
A few years ago my husband put a Yeti cooler on his birthday list. I waltzed into Cabelas, found the coolers and went straight to the Yeti. I looked at the price tag, laughed and called my husband. Why on earth did he think that I was going to pay that much for a cooler when there was one, half the price, just 2 feet away and 3 times the size? He responded with, "It's bear proof!" Um.....we live in Denton, TX. Please tell me the last time you saw a bear in Denton, TX. Needless to say, I lost and a few years later we are the proud owner of a fleet of Yeti coolers in all sizes.
Two Christmas days ago Clay and David, my brother-in-law, received 30 oz Yeti rambler cups from my mom in their Christmas stocking. I rolled my eyes and couldn't help but curse the Yeti corporation. Someone is making an awful lot of money on poor souls like my husband who just can't help but think they are the answer to hunting needs everywhere. When I asked him why we needed this he replied, "It will keep coffee hot for days!" Um....we don't drink coffee (never have, don't like it, never will). In fact, we registered for a coffee pot for our wedding and my mom used it once.
But one night, a few months later, I heard the clink of ice going into his metal Yeti cup. I heard the water run in and then he took off for the day. When he brought the cup home the next day I saw there was ice and water. Could it be? No, that couldn't be the same ice from yesterday. But it was. I need to drink more water. It's another one of those baby steps. But I hate water. I can only drink it when its really cold. By this point, we had 2 yeti cups. The next morning I snuck the cup, put in my ice water and have never looked back. Even writing this is proof of how truly awesome it is. Because if my husband reads this (and there is only a very slim chance he will) I will be admitting he is right. Yeti is awesome.
5. The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey
About a year ago a friend of mine from church posted a recommendation for the Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey. Episode two featured Jen Hatmaker and she loved it! At the time I was commuting and thought...why not? It has changed my life in so many ways. Jamie is an Austin girl who sits down each week with some of the coolest women on earth. Some are names you have heard and many are names you are going to wish you would have heard of before now. They are all women, just like you and me, who found a passion in life and followed it. From adoption to mission work, from authors to stay at home moms. It is just like sitting down with your girlfriends and a good cocktail. You will leave filled and motivated to do great things. Listen in the car, listen while you do laundry, listen while you walk. It is fun and it will make all of those necessary life activities fun!
Bonus: The Secrets of Happy Families by Bruce Feiler
I told you that today would be my first giveaway and this is it! I have five copies of this book ready to send to five of you. Whether you want to fight smarter with your spouse, figure out how to make family dinners a reality (when time just doesn't allow) or you want to make mornings just a little easier, this is the book to read. It is funny. It is practical. It is not filled with the language of family therapists but told from a dad who has done his research and wants to share it with you. If you want to get a free copy there are a few ways to enter. Each way you enter gives you another chance at winning. Pick one or all!
1. Comment below with a time of day in your house that you wish would be easier? Is it mornings? Is it right after school when everyone is fighting? Is it bedtime? (Note: If you don't see the comments below, scroll up and click on the blog title. They should then appear at the bottom)
2. Like this blog post on Facebook and comment with something you are loving right now.
3. Like this blog post on Instagram and tag two friends that you think would love one of the items above. They can enter to win too!
The winners will be announced on Friday. Good Luck!
