Friday Favorite: 31 on the go + GIVEAWAY!!

The giveaway is closed. Stacie is our winner {Stacie, we've emailed you :)}! Thanks to all who left a comment and followed on bloglovin!!

Raise your hand if you love 31 products! **raises hand**

The first time I saw a 31 catalog I was hooked. I have hosted several parties and the items I am showing you here were all half off or free!  It is so easy to get people to buy because all of their products are so practical.

This is not a sponsored post- 31 has no clue who I am.

In the summer, when the kids aren't in school, I like to have play dates and activities to do once a week. I don't schedule too much. Just enough that the kids son't get sick and tired of our house and back yard!

I use 31 bags to keep all of our "need to take this with us when we leave the house" stuff together. With 2 kids, one who is still in diapers, there are always things that I do NOT want to forget. Depending on where we are going I have a couple of different options for organizing our things.

First up is our "quick trip" stuff.  I take this for trips to the zoo, friend's houses, errands where we will be in and out (the bank or Starbucks, for example).

The organizing pack is easy to carry (like a backpack) and has lots of compartments, many of which zip up so it is always easy to find things! I hate when everything gets mushed up at the bottom of a bag- no worries here!  This can also double as a camera bag- which is nice because I always have a spot for my camera where it won't get jumbled around.

 Great side pockets- I use these for the things I don't want leaking all over the inside :-) like water bottles and sunscreen.

The top flap opens for easy access to diapers, wipes and snacks. I also keep Benadryl in the top mesh pocket- we never leave the house without it!

The center pocket opens to reveal the other compartments inside. This is where I keep my camera and change of clothes for both kids. There are several mesh zippered compartments perfect for gum and chapstick too.

The back is a single, cross-body, strap.

Next is the organizing utility tote. This is what I pack if we are going to be gone for a whole day, or if we are going somewhere where the kids might be bored- like the mall or doctor's office.  For the most part, this holds the same stuff as above with a few extras:

I usually bring extra snacks for trips like this, I keep them separate and easy to access in the zipper pouch.

The outter compartments keep my stuff (wallet, phone, keys, etc.) easy to reach.

 Mesh pockets on each end are perfect for water bottles and sippy cups.

Last up, one of my most used "on the go" items is my littles carry-all caddy.  I keep this in my car all the time. It corrals all of the random stuff that floats around my car. Hand sanitizer, cd's, car chargers, sunglasses, extra pacifiers, chapstick, receipts ... I could go on and on.  It is great to have a catch-all that I can take out of my car, into my house to clean it out, and put it back in the car again. And it is small enough to fit in an out-of-the-way place in between the front seats.

Since it is summer vacation season, Jess and I decided we wanted to have a giveaway to help you all keep your car organized too!

The Giveaway:

One- $12 Littles Carry-All Caddy in the winner's choice of pattern {provided by Jess and me}
Tax and Shipping credit up to $10- this is enough for the littles carry-all caddy, but should the winner decide to order more than the caddy, the winner will receive a credit of $10 to be applied to tax and shipping for their order. {provided by 31 consultant, Jennifer Story}
The giveaway product must be ordered through Jennifer Story.
Any additional merchandise ordered as well as tax and shipping over $10 is the winner's responsibility.

The Rules:

All you have to do to enter, is follow us on Bloglovin (button to your right) AND then leave us a comment saying you are a follower.

Easy-peasy.

Giveaway will close and a winner will be randomly selected on Friday, June 7th after 5pm.  Winner will be notified by email (make sure you leave one with your comment) and announced on our blog.

Cut the Junk: Snack Swap

So, we've talked about "real food" breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Next up: snacks! I really think snacks are, by far, the easiest to switch over to "real food". So, if you're overwhelmed with your switch to real food, start with snacks. It's simple, I promise.

1. Carrots or celery + natural peanut butter
2. Carrots or celery + ranch dip
3. Frozen peas (my kiddos love these!)
4. Sweet potato cubes
5. Frozen grapes or blueberries (yummy dipped in yogurt, too!)
6. Greek Yogurt dipped frozen banana bites
7. Chobani Champions Tubes (stick them in the freezer for a yummy "popsicle-like" treat!)
8. Smoothies (freeze in popsicle molds in the summer!)
9. Fresh fruit + banana sauce
10. Apples + cheddar cheese
11. Apple + greek yogurt or peanut butter
12. Triscuits* + cheddar cheese cubes
13. Whole wheat toast + natural peanut butter or cream cheese & jam
14. Popcorn
15. Whole wheat blueberry muffins
16. Banana bread (use whole wheat flour and substitute applesauce for oil)
17. Almonds dusted with cinnamon sugar**
18. String cheese wrapped with a slice of ham
19. Frozen banana peanut butter sandwiches** (smashed banana and peanut butter between 2 graham squares)
20. Hard boiled eggs

**My 80/20 rule is in effect here.

*Triscuits are one of the few "processed" foods I'll buy. With just 3 ingredients and no junk, you can't go wrong!

Now you might be asking yourself: How do I make this easy? Pre-packaged snacks are super easy to grab or to hand over to your kiddo. Here's what I do: 

I'm not much for prepping for my meals on a weekly basis, but I do take the time to prep snacks. I do this for 2 reasons:

1. It saves me time from cutting up fruits and veggies multiple times a day.

2. Most importantly, when we have healthy and "real food" snacks prepped and ready to go we tend to choose them over other not-so-healthy options.

{red grapes, carrot sticks, strawberries, and cheddar cheese cubes}

I set aside about an hour every weekend to prep snacks, and sometimes it doesn't even take that long! It really depends on what I've picked up at the grocery store and if I'm prepping banana sauce or other dips. 

Stay tuned on Facebook- I post my weekly snack prep menu over there every week to keep you inspired! 

Catch up on our "Cut the Junk" series:

Week 4: Dinner Makeover

Week 3: Lunch Swap

Week 2: Breakfast Makeover 

Week 1: Food Makeover

Linking up with Real Food Wednesday at Kelly the Kitchen Kop

Tip for Tuesday: Pancakes Anytime

We are big pancake eaters around here.

I don't know anyone who has time to make pancakes every morning. I sure don't. But I also hate to buy pancakes because they are so simple to make!

In order to have homemade pancakes every morning, without having to make pancakes every morning, I double the recipe and let the extra pancakes cool on a cooling rack.

Once they are completely cool, I put them in a gallon-sized zip-close bag and stick 'em in the freezer.

Whenever we want pancakes, I take a couple out of the freezer, microwave for 30 seconds or so and there they are!

This also works for waffles.

We would love you to share your favorite tip with us. We might just try it out and feature you and your idea on Tip for Tuesday! 

Make it Memorial Day

Memorial Day is pretty special to Jess and I.

We both understand the importance of honoring military service and sacrifice.

My mom saw this clip of Bobby Dean on FoxNews, she called me up and told me to watch. I knew I had to share it with you all today!

Jess and I will be submitting recipes to cooknow.com and for EVERY recipe submitted, a donation will be made to Heros at Home.

Last week was a reminder of what, deep down, we all know. Memorial Day is yet another reminder of what it means to be an American.

American's are amazing.

We have a spirit about us that makes us compassionate, resilient, stubborn, supportive, proud, enthusiastic, and generous.

When times are tough, American's come through.

I am proud to be an American.

I am proud to support the military and their families who make such self-less sacrifices.

God bless the troops.

God bless America.

Pep Talk: One Hour All to Myself

When thinking about what it is that recharges me- my mommy-ness, my motivation, my ability to care about anything- I have found that an hour all to myself works better than anything else.

Usually, I am the last one to go to bed at night. I am a night owl. Not a morning person.  My family does not have this nocturnal tendency. Fine with me :-)

Most nights I take a whole hour to myself to sit and do absolutely nothing. I usually get lost on Pinterest or engrossed in watching Conan. Or both.

A little Pinterest, a little Conan. Good stuff.

I don't worry about the mess, the dishes, the laundry, text messages, emails, blogs, the upcoming day. I don't think, really. It is the best thing I do for myself.

I think sometimes we get so caught up in what's coming next and what we should be doing now that we forget to just relax. If we are constantly moving then we forget how glorious it can be to just sit and be still.

Take the time- maybe you don't need a whole episode of Conan, maybe a cup of coffee by yourself in the morning is your energy boost. Whatever you need, make it happen. It is worth it.

What recharges you?

Healthilicious: Cool Key Lime Bars

In April, A and I spent 5 days in Ohio celebrating the marriage of some really great friends. It was a small, low-key type wedding, but it was so much fun!

I need to take a minute to tell you how delicious their cake tasted. It was 3 layers- each a different flavor. The bottom was white-chocolate mousse, the middle was chocolate dipped strawberries, and the top was key lime. A and I each picked a different flavor, that way we could try 2 different flavors- smart, I know. But not really. I wish I would have kept my entire piece of key lime- it was a-maz-ing. Like, I want to stuff it in my coat pocket and take it all home kind of amazing. 

Ever since, I've been craving some sort of key lime pie inspired dessert. These aren't traditional key lime pie bars, but I took inspiration from my favorite recipes and healthified them. I know "healthified" isn't a word, but maybe it should be. I digress... 

If you've been reading the blog, you'll know I'm a big advocate for "real food". I use the 80/20 rule: 80% of what my family eats is "real food" and 20% is considered an indulgence. This particular recipe falls in the 20% category only because I used pre-packaged graham crackers. I had every intention to make my own, but our local grocery stores don't carry graham flour. I'll be on a hunt for it in the future, though. :)

I started off by making raspberry sauce. Although, I don't have any pictures of it. My bad.

Then I cut and squeezed some key limes. I don't recommend this method, as it took me about 12 limes and way too much time. But, it's all in the name of "real food", so I guess I should be promoting this. Umm, if you have an afternoon to yourself and have nothing else to do, use fresh key limes. If you're in a time crunch, use the bottled stuff. I won't judge, I promise. 

I crushed the graham crackers old-school style (rolling pin and ziploc) since my food processor is broken. I mixed the crumbs with melted butter and pressed into the bottom of a glass dish, and baked for 8 minutes in a 375 degree oven.

Then I mixed some greek yogurt, pure sugar, and the lime juice together. Yum- it's magic.  

I hurried to spread the yogurt mixture on top of the graham cracker crust. 

I may or may not have licked the bowl clean.

Then I dolloped some raspberry sauce over the top of the yogurt. Why raspberry sauce? Well, I once had a key lime pie that was drizzled in raspberry sauce. It was out of this world.

I used a toothpick to swirl it around. Then I licked the spoon. Do you see a pattern? 

My swirling is less than impressive- just keepin' it real, people. 

 I stuck it in the freezer until it was a soft-serve consistency and dished it up for myself and A. Then I stuck it back in the freezer and thawed it out the next day. 

It took a little over an hour for it to thaw to my liking. I don't recommend eating this completely frozen- it doesn't taste that great. But half-frozen, SO good. 

Cool Key Lime Bars

Raspberry Sauce

Crust

1 1/2 C. graham cracker crumbs (approximately 10 "sheets" of graham crackers)

1 stick butter, melted
[You could easily make this Gluten-Free by using S'moreables in place of regular graham crackers!]

Filling

2 C. plain greek yogurt

3 tbsp. pure sugar

3 tbsp. key lime juice (you can sub regular lime juice. Also, this really packs a punch, so if you want a more subtle taste, maybe go for 2 tbsp.)

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Prepare the raspberry sauce. It's important to do this first to allow time to cool.

3. Melt butter and combine with graham cracker crumbs. Press crumb mixture into 8x8 pan and bake for 8 minutes at 375 degrees. Allow to cool. Stick it in the freezer for faster cooling.

4. Mix together greek yogurt, sugar, and key lime juice.

5. Pour yogurt mixture over graham cracker crust and spread evenly.

6. Add dollops of raspberry sauce on top of yogurt mixture. Use a knife to swirl the sauce throughout the entire yogurt mix. Be careful not to pull up the graham cracker crumbs. But if you do, it's no biggie.

7. Cover with foil (or if lid, if your pan has one) and stick it in the freezer until the yogurt is a soft-serve like consistency. You can also freeze this and thaw it out when you're ready to serve. I'd give it about 30-45 minutes to thaw- depending on how warm it is in your home.

8. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to one week.

Tip for Tuesday: Ice Cream for a Crowd

Before we get to today's regularly scheduled blog post, we want to take a minute acknowledge yesterday's devastating events in Oklahoma. 

Our hearts are with those affected by the Oklahoma tornadoes, and we are praying for the city of Moore. If you have been following us, you know that Lynns is an Okie herself and I lived there for a few years while attending OSU(and my husband's entire family is in OK).  

When events like this happen, we instantly want to do something. Anything. If you're local, there are many different churches, organizations, and police departments accepting donations. 

If you want to help from a distance, please consider donating to the red cross. 

You can also text STORM to 80888 to donate $10.00 to the Salvation Army.

Please join us in prayer for all the precious families displaced, those who lost loved ones, and those working around the clock to rescue and recover those unaccounted for.

To the city of Moore, our hearts are with you.

_________________________________________________________________________________

My kiddos turned 4 in early April, and per tradition, we had a rather large birthday party. It was an "art" birthday party, so you can imagine the amount of work that went into planning, prepping, and getting everything set up.

I really try to get as much done before the party as I can- which includes pre-scooping ice cream into these super fun cups I found at Hobby Lobby! Just set up cups (paper muffin liners work too!) on a baking sheet, scoop in ice cream, cover with foil, and stick it in your freezer until you're ready to serve.

The possibilities are pretty endless with this idea- set up a toppings bar, serve alongside cake, or you could scoop ice cream into small plastic cups for super fast root beer floats at a summer BBQ. Everyone can help themselves, and you get to enjoy those 10 minutes with your guests since the work is already done.

Once you do this, you'll never go back to scooping ice cream on demand!

Clean & Lean: Mopping Arm Workout

With all the rain we have been having lately, combined with the yard that is starting to be mowed again, my tile floors have a lot more dirt to show off lately!

You know I can't have that.

I have figured out a way to isolate my arm muscles while I mop. I find myself using a little extra "elbow grease" on our floors anyway, but if I really focus on my form, my arms make this a workout!

Mopping Arm Workout

Proper Form

• Start with your feet shoulder width apart and your tummy tight (pull your abs toward your spine like you are sucking in your muffin top- or at least that's what I'm doing).
• Keep your back straight the whole time- no bending! This is the secret! You can twist, as long as you keep your tummy tight.

My feet won't move until I have to step on to the next spot on the dirty floor.

Clean & Lean

My left arm is doing all the work here. My right arm is just guiding the mop.  And my back is straight!

• While pushing the mop on the floor, really get your arms into it- even if you can't see the dirt you are scrubbing, get after it like it's your enemy! :)
• Use your arms- and just your arms- to push and scrub.
• Make sure you switch your arms so that you have one scrubbing and one guiding (see picture above)  for a couple of minutes at a time. A good rule is that every time you have to re-wet your mop, switch your arm positions.
• By keeping your abs tight you are strengthening your core, too. It takes a lot of muscles to keep your back straight while doing this so it's a great toning exercise for your arms and core!
• When you have throughly scrubbed one section of floor, take a few steps and move to the next area. You will have to move a lot since you aren't bending, your reach will be shortened.

Step It Up

If your tile surfaces aren't enough, try this same technique while vacuuming too! Can you clean all your floors using only your arms? I dare you!!

Closet Organization

I cleaned out my closet last weekend! It feels good to say that. Ha!

It was time to put the winter stuff up and bust out the Spring clothes! I have to say, there were quite a few squats, butt kicks, and butterfly arms while cleaning :)  It feels good to be so efficient!

Here's my system for cleaning out my closet {I do it a little differently for the kiddos}:

 I have lived in the same house for almost 7 years. While I love my house, I totally enjoy pretending like I am moving when it is time to clean out my closet. Crazy, huh?

It is my secret to keeping my closet functional.

I do this twice a year and it always amazes me the things that have migrated into my closet- kids toys, computer cables, pictures. It gets crazy in there so this system helps me clean and find things that I have been missing!

I always "edit" my closet as I go. I keep a pile of items to donate- anything I haven't worn goes, if I don't absolutely love it, it goes. I love to shop so I never worry about replacing things.

 Here are my organizing "zones":

That's the order I hang things. It works for me.

 

I use my shelves like a dresser. I use my dresser for out-of-season clothes.

 KC and I share these hooks. He is so sweet and only takes up 2 hooks :) That's love.

 

Done!

Cut the Junk: Dinner Makeover

Dinner is probably the easiest meal of the day for me for two reasons. The first is that I plan ahead by doing a weekly meal plan and grocery shopping once a week. The second is that I have a huge list of dinner ideas, so I'm never feeling like I'm in a rut. Well, at least most of the time I don't feel that way. 

When I decided to change the way my family eats, dinner was a little more difficult. I had to think about the ingredients in every meal and whether they met my "real food standard". Sometimes I had to ditch store bought ingredients and make them homemade... which took out the convenience and it made more work for me. I started getting a little smarter and set aside time every weekend to prep dips, sauces, and other things that needed to be homemade. This made the rest of the week super easy, and it kept us on track with our 80/20 "real food" rule. 

1. Turkey Black Bean Chili
2. Chicken & Broccoli Pizza and a mixed salad w/ homemade ranch dressing
3. Grilled Grass-Fed Burgers on 100% whole wheat buns, mixed fresh & organic fruit, homemade oven baked fries
4. Tacos (grass-fed beef or organic shredded chicken, corn tortillas), homemade refried beans, tortilla chips w/ homemade salsa
5. Baked Chicken with Herb and Cheese Breadcrumbs (use whole wheat bread crumbs), baked potato, steamed broccoli

Catch up on our "Cut the Junk" series:

Week 3: Lunch Swap

Week 2: Breakfast Makeover 

Week 1: Food Makeover

I would love to give your favorite dinner a "real food" makeover! Let me know your favorite dinner through the comment section or shoot me an e-mail at cleanleanmamma@gmail.com 

Tip for Tuesday: Teacher Gift Idea

My mom has been a teacher for over 25 years. {This qualifies my next statement} Every year, I do the same thing for my kid's teachers: on the last day of school, I give a hand-written thank you note and a gift card that I know they will be able to enjoy.

There are so many cute end of the school year teacher gifts out there- I've seen them on Pinterest. But if you take into consideration the number of kids in each class and multiply that by "cute gifts", before you know it your kid's teacher has a car full of stuff. It's all cute stuff, but how much room does one person really have?

A gift card, however, fits nicely into a wallet and can be used to buy something the teacher really wants/needs. The best part is that it can be enclosed in a note card where you (or your child) can express your sentiments in a way that is lasting and memorable.

The art of thank you note writing is disappearing. While it is so easy to send a txt or email that says "thanks!" (and I do this all the time!), how wonderful do you feel when you get a handwritten thank you note?! Knowing that the person appreciated you and your gift or gesture so much that they put time and consideration into expressing their sentiments- such a great feeling.

If you think about all the things that are asked of teachers these days and how much commitment they show to their students, I think, a well written, thoughtful thank you/appreciation note (and maybe a certificate for a massage, coffee, Target, etc.) can go a long way.

My mom always treasured the kind words parents and students gave her. She loved the "things" too, but she never had a place for everything. The gifts she has kept the longest are the sentimental ones- notes, pictures, things that were handmade with extra thought put into how she could use them.

I realize there are people who are super skilled at gift giving- they always pick up on little hints and then find the most amazing and unique gifts. Students often find very sweet items that they feel their teacher will treasure- I think this is so sweet and my mom has certainly brought me to tears with some of the explanations that came with various gifts.  There can, obviously, be exceptions to this little tip I'm giving you. All I'm saying is keep in mind that teachers get gifts a lot, from a lot of kids.

I am not a person who happens to find the exceptional gift that has to be given. I do put thought into what I give though. I know sometimes a gift card can seem like the easy way out, but it's all in how you present it! I enjoy expressing my appreciation for all of the things my son's teachers have done for him throughout the school year. I can also appreciate that being a teacher is a lot of work and sometimes it's nice to be able to spoil his teachers with a mani/pedi or shopping spree at Target to kick their summer vacation off right.

Tell us what you are getting the teachers in your life, if you can "wow" us we might just feature your gift idea next week!

Have a great Tuesday!

Healthilicious: Grandma's Banana Bread

My Grandma knows how to bake. That's for sure. She gets credit for the yummiest oatmeal cookies and, as you will soon see, her banana bread is the best. I love it. It never lasts long in our house.  Even my kids eat it up!

I love bananas. As a side note, I feel the need to point out, Jess and I don't deny our love obsession with the Pioneer Woman. This is one time I kind of disagree with her, though. She doesn't like bananas! I try to understand because I love PW, but I can't imagine not liking this super fruit ;) I usually buy some every week at the grocery store.  Sometimes I buy extra so I can make banana bread.  The best bananas to use for this recipe are the over-ripe ones.

Now, my disclaimer is that "over-ripe" to me means the bananas have lost the last hint of green color. Once there are brown spots on the banana, I'm out. Over it. Not gonna peel it anymore. Those bananas are destined for banana bread.  The riper they are the more banana flavor they will add to the banana bread and then I don't feel wasteful. *bonus*

Another bonus- and what makes this bread a healthilicious recipe- is that bananas are packed with good-for-you stuff. Bananas are a "super fruit" for many reasons, here are a few:

• Did you know that if you are prone to soreness after working out you should eat a banana? The potassium from the banana will help to take the lactic acid (stuff that makes you sore) around your muscles away.
• The bananas are a good source of fiber. Add in the whole wheat flour from this recipe and you're getting some great fiber. You know, so you can have a "regular" day **wink*wink**.
• Bananas are also really good at boosting your energy levels because they have B vitamins, another reason this bread recipe is a great choice for breakfast!

Let's bake!

Ingredients:

1 c. sugar

1/2 c. vegetable oil

2 eggs

3 bananas- smushed up {I peel them, put them on a plate, and then smash the bananas with a fork}

1 tsp. baking soda

2 c. flour {I use 3/4 c. whole wheat flour and 1-1/4 c. all purpose flour}

1/2 c. wheat germ {this is optional, if you use wheat germ, don't use whole wheat flour}

  

Directions:


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.



Combine ingredients above in the order they are listed making sure to mix each ingredient until incorporated before adding the next. Add the flour 1/2 c. at a time to make sure it is well incorporated.


Pour batter into a well greased 10" loaf pan.

Bake for an hour {check it after 50 minutes though}. The bread is done with it splits on the top and a tooth pick inserted into the middle comes out clean.

I prefer mine to be served topped with butter, but it's good plain too!

Enjoy!

Friday Favorite: Chalkboard Contact Paper

I first saw this product on Pinterest. Chalkboard is all the rage, right? But chalkboard contact paper... this could be interesting.

A quick Amazon search revealed the wonderfulness that is Chalkboard Contact Paper. There are lots of ways to use this stuff, but I thought I'd share my favorite way- this is a "friday favorite" after all.

I have an end cabinet that faces the dining room but is on the edge of the kitchen.  I put the contact paper on the cabinet and when I'm making dinner and my kids are underfoot, I give them a piece of chalk! It buys me 15 minutes or so. The chalk doesn't damage the cabinet, I just wipe it off with a microfiber cloth.

I also read on a blog that when kids hold the chalk and write on a vertical surface it builds little muscles in their wrist that help with fine motor skills! Bonus!

You can see how much we use this. It's a little worn, but not to worry... It peels right off so new stuff can be put up!

Have a great Friday!

Abe Lincoln + Starbucks + Kelly Clarkson

Remember that one time when your husband threw $5.00 at you and told you to go to Starbucks?

Oh, I do. 

It just happened on Tuesday- I was standing in the dining room and all of a sudden good ol' Abe Lincoln came flying towards me. I was thinking, "Is this a dream?".

$5.00 doesn't buy much these days, but my Venti Non-fat Decaf Iced Caramel Macchiato (say that 3 times fast!) comes in at $4.91. And that, my friends, is $5.00 well spent . I know you're all wondering why I would get decaf, because really, what's the point of coffee without the caffeine, right?  Oh, I get it. I used to think the same thing about "those people who order decaf".  I don't even want to admit the amount of caffeine I consumed shortly after my twins were born. I really should have invested in an IV and some Starbucks stock.

Anyway- that's a post for another day. 

Equally important is the fact that the nearest Starbucks is 30 minutes away, which means at least 1 hour and 15 minutes to MYSELF. And I get control of the radio. Again, "Is this a dream?".

So, I got out of my sweats, prettied myself up, and out the door I went. I plugged in my iPhone, cranked up some Kelly Clarkson, and hit the road. I grabbed my coffee and decided to hit up Hobby Lobby before heading home. Of course they had a sale (when don't they?) and of course I found a super cute teal and coral chevron picture frame. I can't pass it up- 3 of my favorite things in one frame. It was love at first sight.

I ended up being away from my house for almost 6 hours because my afternoon was full of appointments. Can I just tell you how much better I felt after getting out the house and doing something just for me? Honestly, I need to do it more often. We all do.

Today's life lesson: When your husband throws money at you and tells you to go to Starbucks (or Target, or Hobby Lobby, or... you get the point.), you listen.

What do you that is just for you?

And if you're a coffee addict, like myself, head over to our Facebook page and tell me your order! I seriously feel like I have the most complicated coffee order. Again- a post for another day.

Tip for Tuesday: Meal Planning Idea List

Making dinners every night can get exhausting and a lot of us end up in a "food rut"- eating the same dinners over and over again.

When I meal plan for the week I always reference my idea list. It jogs my memory of dishes we really love, but haven't had in a while.

My list isn't fancy. It's handwritten and kept in my kitchen so it's easily accessible to me.

Keep a list (typed or handwritten) of main dishes and sides, and add to it when you find a new recipe you love (I do this when I find a great recipe from Pinterest!). Makes meal planning much quicker and adds variety to your dinners throughout the week!

We would love you to share your favorite tip with us. We might just try it out and feature you and your idea on Tip for Tuesday! 

Clean & Lean: Dusting Squats

Have you ever looked closely at your baseboards?

I usually vacuum the baseboards a few times a year, just using the brush attachment. I figured that would get all the dust off.

Well, let me tell you...

One night, I was stressing out about a nail-biting-close-score OSU Football game I was watching on TV.  So, I did what any sensible fan would do and grabbed a damp microfiber cloth and started cleaning my baseboards. That's normal, right?

The amount of dirt that was coming off on the microfiber cloth was so disgusting I forgot about the football game for a minute and started scrubbing!

Ever since, I have made it a point to dust my baseboards with a cloth at least once a month. Of course I try to maximize my cleaning efforts so here's how I do dusting squats:

{Note: you don't have to clean baseboards, this works for any dusting as well as some lower hanging windows :-)}

Dusting Squats

Proper Form

Squats are kind of tricky so make sure you are focusing on your form.

• Start off with feet shoulder width apart & your tummy tight.
• Bend your knees as close to a 90 degree angle as you can get and push your bum out.
• Your bum will be sticking out as if you were sitting on a chair- but there's not a chair there, use your imagination :-)
• Make sure your knees DO NOT extend past your toes!

Clean & Lean

From a squat position...

• Use a damp microfiber cloth (just run it under some water- that's all you need, no chemicals!)
• Twist your shoulders (NOT your waist!)
• Bend at the waist so that you can reach your baseboard, DO NOT arch your back. Please.
• Start with your hand past one foot and slide the cloth all the way past the other foot. Like so:

Even though my shins aren't completely vertical, I make sure my knees are never past my toes.

After one "pass" like this, stand up, move a couple of steps down the wall, and repeat.

See how many rooms you can get through before your legs get shaky :-)

You can always do one room per week to get in some exercise and systematically keep your baseboards clean.

Once you've done as much as you can stand, sit back and relax knowing your baseboards are clean AND your bum will be looking better and better!