Permission

As defined by Dictionary.com, Permission: authorization granted to do something; formal consent.

I remember a destination wedding 5+ years ago that I was a part of. There were photos of me from that trip/wedding that were shared on social media that I did not care for due to one reason or another. I too shared photos from that trip but had someone reach out asking me to remove some of the ones they were in due to how they looked. I ended up taking any that had someone else in them down; leaving a few of myself and my husband up. Because some were shared of me from the trip; I felt I had the ‘permission’ to do the same. But, since then, I feel like social media and the constant access to information; whether that information was shared by a public source or by a friend, has not helped in regards to asking someone permission to share their thoughts or images. Now, before you jump at me and say “well they shared it on a social platform so that is their permission for you to share”, I agree with you. But, because of social media and that permission being a ‘given’ since it was shared on that type of platform, I feel asking for permission in person for photos and other things has gone away. I feel permission is something that is forgotten or taken for granted.

I have some family and friends that always ask if it is ok to either take a photo or to share a photo of my daughter. Then I have others that do what they want with photos of her, and I am usually ok with what they share and with whom but, with everything going on these days, it makes me a little uneasy wondering who is looking at them. I know some might say “ok calm your mom anxiety”; and there are others who will totally agree and understand where I am coming from, both sides are warranted their opinions.

My daughter will be 4 this year. I want her to know that even being only 4, she has a voice and choices. I want her to build her confidence and independence; although sometimes I wish she was a little less independent haha!
Last year, I started asking her permission to take her photo and, recently, I have started asking her permission to share that photo. If she says no, I listen and carry on with the activity. The first time I asked and showed her the photo I wanted to share, she seemed confused as to why I was asking. I told her it was a photo of her and asked if she wanted her family and friends to see it. She listed off the people she wanted me to send it to, all excited she was able to pick who saw it. Now, there are times when she finishes a craft or does something fun, where she will ask me to take a photo to share it with them! I love knowing that she has a say over what is shared and with who.

I know social media, technology, and everything that comes along with that is going to be a HUGE part of not only growing up but a huge part in her adult life as well. Times are changing; I remember having dial-up internet and having to wait, she will never have to experience that. Since everything is literally at her fingertips, I want her to know she can decide what is shared along those platforms and what she does not want shared.

How do you feel in regards to permission along these lines? Do you feel the same as I do in regards to it being taken for granted to some extent or do you feel completely different? Would love to hear!

GÖKOTTA

Are you a morning person? You would think being a mom I would be a morning person but I am far from it. I would rather stay up late watching TV than be up with the sun. But, with that being said; I would definitely make sure to get up in the early morning to experience a peaceful morning at least once if I was on vacation, or staying in a cabin in the woods with a lake in the back.

Image from VisitSweden.com

I recently learned of the Swedish word Gökotta; “early cuckoo morning” or to wake up early in the morning so you can go outside to hear the first bids singing. On Ascension Day in Sweden, it is a tradition to go out first thing in the morning to hear beautiful cuckoo’s sing and enjoy the fresh, morning air. Having a day for this totally makes sense to me due to the fact that only 1% of waste in Sweden ends up in a landfill! 1%!!! That to me is not only legit mind blowing but amazing! I wish the rest of the world could take time to learn from this beautiful country.

Does gökotta fit you?
Not so much into listening to the birds in the early morning? Then what is your favorite morning routine?!
I know that I am for sure going to wake up on my next trip; wherever it may be, to hear the “early cuckoo morning”!

Winter

Is it just me or does anyone else feel like winter this season is never ending?! I have been loving the beautiful scenery around my house this season but I am TOTALLY over these winter weather advisories we have been having. From 6-8″ of snow over night one time to below zero temps without the wind chill, I am just over it!

Winter it self is hard but the lack of sun and fresh air doesn’t help my mental health. I try to stay focused and find things that lift my mood. One of those is scratching things off of a list. Thanks to the freezing temperatures forcing me to stay inside, I have been able to cross some things off of my winter to do list. I don’t know about you, but making a list is an essential part of my life; whether it is actually jotting one down on a piece of paper, typing one up on my phone, or making a mental one (not as reliable these days if I am being honest), I always have a list somewhere. I feel like making a list forces me to take action and get things done.

One of the main things on my list was to clean out and organize our pantry. Our pantry consists of 2 large, double door cabinets that have double sided shelves that swing out so I can access the back side. I have tackled my baking and pantry staples cabinet. The next is the breakfast and snack cabinet. Even with being halfway done, I feel so accomplished. In the process of organizing my pantry staples; I wrote down all our spices and made a list on my phone so it is readily available for me when I am looking over a recipe while writing out the grocery list.

The other things on my winter list are bigger items; renovating rooms, painting, growing my businesses, finally decorating our home, and seeing my screen time go down each week. The screen time has been hard but I am working on it.

I will have new lists come spring, summer, and fall with the hope that the things on the previous season’s list do not have to be finished up in the new season.

Do you make lists or have goals to complete during winter? Would love to hear what you are working on so I can cheer you on as you cross those things off of you list(s).

Valentine’s Day

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller, Author

When I was younger, I use to put a lot of attention and effort into Valentine’s Day and even Sweetest Day – aka the Hallmark Love holiday as I call it now! Now that I am older, I do not put as much effort/attention into these holidays; maybe a card or something loving on Valentine’s Day but that is about it. I also recently learned that Valentine’s Day has been around since the 14th century! Who knew?!

With my daughter starting school, I was surprised to receive an email stating that the annual Valentine’s Day party would be cancelled this year to help keep things safe in regards to COVID. I did not realize that these types of parties in the younger years was still a thing. I immediately felt sad that my daughter would not be able to have her first experience of the fun of passing out cute, little Valentine’s to her friends but then, immediately after that, I felt relief. I would not have to rush out the week of to gather supplies because I had either forgotten or procrastinated about it until the last minute. I honestly do not think she is aware of any other holiday aside from Easter, Christmas, Halloween, and her birthday!

Because of Valentine’s Day not being a holiday I tend to put my focus and effort into, I do not have a lot of decorations stored to pull out for February. I was putting away my winter decorations the other day because, even with getting our 1st good snow fall recently, I am already over the snowmen and snowflakes around my house. I couldn’t figure out what to do with a tiered tray I had in our main half bath so I took to Pinterest. I mean, who doesn’t right?!
I came across a super cute tray that had rolled towels, a plant, and some pillow like hearts. I immediately knew I could do something like that with Chalk Couture. I got to work.

The You Are transfer is my absolute favorite and I feel it fits my family well. Macaroni and cheese is my daughter’s go to meal – she legit asks for it every day. And coffee; well it is a staple in our household between late nights and early mornings due to being a parent. Those adorable heart cutouts are double sided; so whenever I get bored with the red and peach, I can flip them over for a different color scheme to finish off the month.

This tiered tray is a subtle nod to Valentine’s Day and it only took me 5 minutes to put together – 30 if you count Chalking the sign and hearts! So, when the end of February comes, I will not be cursing myself for going all out and having to take down decorations in every room.

Do you decorate or do anything for Valentine’s Day? I would love to hear what that is if you do!

CAUSEBOX

My Winter Causebox came!

If you are not familiar with Causebox; let me give you a quick introduction! I am an annual member; so I get 4 customizable boxes a year that are filled with high quality products that give back. Each product is ethically made, sustainable sourced, and a big importance to me; cruelty free!

So, now that I filled you in; lets dive into my Winter Box!

As you can see, each box is beautiful from the outside to how it is neatly packaged inside. The artist duo behind the Winter Box is Sacrée Frangine; two friends Célia Amroune and Aline Kpade who have been friends since they were 7 years old! The name Sacrée Frangine captures their relationship while giving a nod to sisterhood, femininity, and the women who inspired them along the way.

I received 6 items in my Winter Causebox.

Thread & Supply Cozy Cloud Wrap: This wrap is so incredibly soft! It is made with 100% recycled polyester and can easily be dressed up or used to get warm on a snuggly night in. Perfect for these cold, winter days we have been having lately!

I am always looking for a way to be more eco friendly in the kitchen. Thanks to Causebox and the Members Only Market, I am slowly able to switch things out! These Reusable Silicone Baking Sheets from Activated Eco are just another way I can limit my paper use. These are 100% food grade silicone, BPA free, and save can save 18 rolls of baking paper or foil a year!

Who here has been suffering from maskne?! I have, especially after a recent trip I took where I literally had to wear a mask 8-10 hours a day! I was excited to see this Roma Truffle Therapy Face Toner from SKIN&CO. Made with witch hazel, truffle, and rosemary; this toner cleans and removes bacteria naturally. Vegan and cruelty free and is created with Mediterranean botanical extracts that are sourced in Italy!

Being a mom, coffee is always one of the first things I lean towards when it is an option. When I saw the option to receive the True Moringa Rejuvenating Body Polish in my box, I did not hesitate to choose it as my customized option! Made with coffee beans, this body polish tightens and gently exfoliates and, thanks to the moringa oil, delays the signs of aging! And it smells AMAZING!

Winter has a major negative impact on my skin; my hands and feet especially! That is why I picked the Peony Foot Masks from Soon Skincare as another option for my box along with the Heathered Slouchy Socks from Maggie’s Organics. The Peony Foot Masks have licorice and ginger root to smooth and “spoil” my feet while helping to restore and nourish my skin which is perfect because “Soon” in Korean means smooth and pure! These masks are also vegan and cruelty free.
Maggie’s Organics is founded by Bena Burda. She believes deeply in honesty and that is why Maggie’s Organics follows “Real Fair Trade” that goes above and beyond any other certifications you find elsewhere. Did you know that cotton is only grown on 3-5% of the world’s farmland and uses 10% of the world’s pesticides and 25% of the world’s insecticides?! I had no idea!! This is why products from Maggie’s Organics have been made with organic fibers since 1992. Can’t wait to warm my feet in in these soft yet snug socks!

I also participate in the Eco-Upgrade with each Causebox I receive. Causebox has partnered with Grow Ahead to take responsibility of the company’s carbon footprint. 38 pounds of carbon is produced with each Box shipped!! Through the Eco-Upgrade with Grow Ahead, each box I receive plants a tree; so, through the Annual Membership, I “plant” 4 trees! Each tree cuts about 40lbs of carbon each year!

As it says on the back of my Causebox Good News; Let’s put the kind back in humankind! Thank you for checking in with me and seeing what I received in my Winter Causebox! If you are interested in receiving amazing products like these you can sign up here and receive $10 off a new subscription!

2020

Dear 2020,

With such a crazy, upside down year; where do I begin? I guess, I will just say thank you.

Thank you for more family time, for the small moments, and for helping us see that those moments are the most important.

Thank you for my husband, Mark, being able to continue work but also for allowing him to be able to from home.

Thank you for our family’s health. Thank you for the health of our family and friends. Thank you for those special moments we got with them this year and for the extra down time we had with our parents.

We have, and we have also seen others, miss out on experiences and memories this past year; but I feel we have gained so much more from everything.

I know not many will be saying Thank You 2020 but as crazy, scary, sad, frustrating, and anxiety filled as it was; I will cherish the memories.

Why Hello!

It has been a LONG time since I have posted anything, I have been busy over here. I had my first ever vendor tent at a local pumpkin farm so I have been preparing for that! Now that the event is over I figured it was a good time to jump back on here and share what I have been creating!!

I jumped right into my holiday stash and I haven’t turned back! I have been having so much fun creating and I am excited to see what else I come up with as the holiday’s get closer.

These Santa Approved sacks have been one of my favorite things I have created! I used these *burlap drawstring bags and I inked on Chalk Couture’s banner refill with Black Velvet, Candy Apple, and Meadow Chalkology Ink with the Santa Approved transfer. I am so excited to have one of these either under our tree or next to our fireplace this season.

These holiday pillows are my other favorite creations! These can be added to anyone’s holiday decoration stash I feel; either paired up or on their own. I created these using the following Chalkology Inks: Shimmer Silver, Candy Apple, Shimmer Gold, and Meadow. Plaid and T’Was the Night are retired transfers from last season but Christmas Sentiments and Joy To The World Hymn are available on my site!

I promise to not take such a LONG break from this blog from now on! So, with that being said be on the look out for more projects and more from me in general!

What is something you would like to see me write about?!

*commissioned link
**you can find all of the available Chalkology Inks here.

Must have for roadtrips!

We are a two vehicle family. Neither one of our vehicles has a built-in dvd player so, because a movie or a favorite show makes road trips a better experience for the whole family, we have been rigging an old portable dvd player to a suitcase, dog cage, or head rest on long road trips. I have looked into headrest mount cases for it, but because it is an older unit, it was too bulky for them. Because of the dvd players age and hassle setting it up in the car, I have been searching and asking mommy friends for recommendations for a new one.

During my searching, I came across this one.

This portable dvd player by Apeman comes with everything you need to have a successful road trip! It has a 10.5″ screen that rotates and folds flat to cover the buttons and disc compartment, a headrest mount case, remote control, car AND home charger, and it has a port to plug in gaming controllers for the bigger kids.

At first, when I saw this on *Amazon, I thought it was too good to be true. A headrest mount case plus a controller?! Not to mention all the other accessories that come with it. But I read the reviews and I couldn’t find a reason NOT to buy this! So, I waited patiently during the 2-3 days it took to arrive.

I was happily surprised when it came. The dvd player was protected in a bubble sleeve and everything was nicely organized within the box. We kept this sleeve for storage for some added protection.

We took a family trip to the zoo and gave the dvd player a try! We loaded the movie, turned the screen and folded it flat, and installed it in the headrest mount. The headrest mount was easy to install, held tight, and did not loosen or move. It also kept the player out of little hands so nothing was opened or pushed! The remote control worked GREAT! I was able to control the movie from the front safely without having to stop the car and get out to adjust anything. And it was nice not having to use an adaptor to charge it! The car charger cord was long enough to reach the charging port in the back of the car so there were no cords running throughout the car.


All in all, this was a great purchase! If you have kids and your family takes long drives or know someone who is in need of some in-car entertainment; I would highly recommend this portable player! Would make a great gift!!

*commissioned link

Fall Causebox

Causebox is committed to supporting small scale makers and artisans in an effort to end poverty while protecting the planet. Causebox is passionate about empowering women and creating opportunities for marginalized and disadvantaged populations. This is the main reason I signed up and became an annual member!

The Fall Box is filled with clean beauty standouts and sustainable swaps! I was able to customize 4 out of the 6 sustainable, ethical, and full-size products! This beautifully illustrated box is worth over $250!

My first customized item was a choice between a Waffle Bathrobe or a Waffle Towel Set; both from Bathen. My pick was the Bathrobe in charcoal. This robe is handwoven in Panipat, India and is made from 100% cotton from a Fair Trade market that follows ethical manufacturing practices.

My second customized item was a choice between a Glass Tea and Fruit Tumbler from Tease Tea or a Milky Way Lantern from Artisan Direct. My pick, as you can see in the front right of the picture above, was the Milky Way Lantern from Artisan Direct. This lantern is created by a team that is 100% led by women and was designed especially for Causebox.

My third pick was between Love Scrub by Volim, De-Stress Muscle Gel by Aromatherapy Associates, or Rose Gold Criss Cross Cuff by Tribe Alive. I love massages so I went with the De-Stress Muscle Gel by Aromatherapy Associates. It smells amazing and I could smell it before I even opened the box. The oils are hand blended in London using only the purest, most ethically sourced, natural ingredients. No harsh chemicals or unnecessary synthetics; just nature’s finest ingredients!

Did you know that about 1.3 billion makeup remover wipes are thrown away Every. Single. Day?! That is why my fourth customized item was a Set of 10 Reusable Facial Rounds by The Green Co. I use facial rounds for my toner and serums and I have been struggling to find a reusable facial round I like. These I already love! One side is bamboo for exfoliation and the other is super soft cotton! The set came with a laundry bag so I can just toss them in with my laundry. Another way I am going green and trying to be waste free.

The two items that were included in every Fall Box were a Bamboo Serve Set by Core Bamboo and a Brightening Face Serum from Way Of Will.
Did you know that bamboo is grass?! It is harvested and then within a couple years each stalk will have grown back! This Serve Set is made from organically grown and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council®) certified bamboo. I am excited to start using this serve set as it is naturally antibacterial and easy to care for by conditioning with mineral oil.
The Face Brightening Serum from Way Of Will harnesses vitamin C and vitamin A to help take my skin care to a new level. It is infused with pure-grade oils and no aluminum, parabens or artificial coloring. I am hopeful this serum will help with my new “maskne” I have started to develop as well as fight signs of aging.

Are you trying to find clean beauty and/or make sustainable swaps? Want to help empower women while making those swaps?! The Fall Box is almost sold out! Reserve Your Box Now and get $10 off! Any questions about the products in my box?! Let me know!

Kid Friendly Halloween Decoration

I have a toddler at home that touches everything! I am always worried that she will hurt herself or break something else when she touches a heavier decoration like a wooden sign. I found these cardboard fabric bolts and knew this was exactly what I needed!

I painted it black using acrylic paint. I used the the Beware transfer, Bright White and Shimmer Olive Chalkology Paste, small squeegee, a mini squeegee, and our fuzzing cloth.

Check out me creating this kid friendly Halloween decoration here!

I am so excited to start decorating for Halloween knowing my daughter will not hurt herself or break something!