Tween Girl Gift Guide

You asked, so I delivered - The Ultimate Tween Girl Gift Guide! 

I know that not all tween girls are going to be into the same stuff, so I tried adding lots of different kinds of things that my kids already have, want for Christmas or that their friends love!

Hopefully you can get some good ideas off of the things I have listed here, and snag some great gifts for the tween girl in your life. Happy Shopping!

1. BFF Q&A's; A Journal - This is SO cute! Perfect for sisters or best friends! There are questions on each page with cues to draw or write back to each other with your thoughts and feelings.

2. Colorful Super Soft Fluffy Slime - My girls are STILL obsessed with slime, so this seemed perfectly appropriate! Lots of colors and 

3. Jumbo Panda Squishy Toy - I'll be honest, I don't get it. That being said, Aubrielle is OBSESSED with them. These squishy little toys are all the rage, and she can't get enough of them. This time she specifically asked for a panda. lol. (shrug)

4. Animal Cable Bites - My girls asked for these a few months ago. I had NO idea what they were talking about. I finally found them a few and they're pretty dang cute. Plus they help keep their phone cords from bending and then fraying over time. Cute stocking stuffer eh?

5. Bopit Handheld Game - The girls play this with their cousins for HOURS when at my Mom and Dad's house. It's hilarious to watch them try to beat each other on leveling up. Plus it's an interactive game, which I love!

6. Clear Jewelry Holder - Matches any room decor and holds up to 30 necklaces/bracelets, plus it has a little tray for earrings and rings!

7. Sound Activated Disco Ball Party Light Pack - These are just freakin' fun! The remote makes changing the lighting effects easy, and you'll be surprised with how much effect these two little lights give off in a large space. Awesome for dance parties, birthdays, etc!

8. Vegan, Essential Oil, Natural, Fizzy Bath Bombs - organic, luxury bath bombs with shea and cocoa butter to help soften your skin. These are also great, because they don't leave gross residue in the tub afterwards.

9. Hey Girl Hey Mini Dish - Our signature saying on a cute ceramic dish! Great for jewelry or a drop zone for spare change.

10. Five Crowns Score Sheet Book - Must-have partner for the Five Crowns card game that I promise your kids are going to fall in love with!

11. Five Crowns Card Game - A super easy to learn, rummy style-type card game for ages 8+. It's really addicting and fun to play! 

12. Ultimate Slime DIY Recipe Book - If your kids are into the slime tutorials so they can make their own?... this book is awesome!

13. Galaxy Putty Slime - Just some cool lookin' slime that will be perfect inside stockings this year!

14. Pura Vida Bracelets - Waterproof, colorful and can be sized to fit any wrist. There are TONS of options to choose from!

15. Dohm Sound Machine - We have one in each of our rooms. They're the best, most soothing sound machines. They drown out everything and don't collect dust like a fan would. If you have a baby or toddler, this is also the magical machine that will keep them sleeping longer, PROMISE!

16. DOSS Touch Wireless Bluetooth V4.0 Portable Speaker - The perfect wireless, portable speaker with over 10,000 reviews on Amazon and an almost 5-star rating! Great for setting in the bathroom while getting ready each morning! 

17. Bathpack Detangling Brush (Use code "houseofsmiths" for free shipping over $10) - The best $5 you'll ever spend on your hair. It's bristles are longer and closer together than a Wet Brush, and the bottom plastic cushion doesn't collapse as easily - which means it's great for thick hair too!    

18. Chameleon Deluxe Marker Set - The twins asked for this as part of their "big present" this year. They're both REALLY into drawing and coloring, and they've seen these Chameleon markers everywhere and are dying to get their hands on them. 

19. Brooklyn & Bailey Scrunchies (Use code "HOS10" for 10% off!)- In their hair, on their wrists... scrunchies are the old school, hot, new trend for tweens. We have every color, and they're a MUST HAVE accessory for my girlies! These scrunchies also come apart so you can choose to wear them plain or with the cute little bunny ear bow feature!

20. Brooklyn & Bailey Girl Next Door Mascara (Use code "HOS10" for 10% off!)- My girls swear by this mascara. They LOVE it, and it definitely lengthens their natural lash! Plus it lasts quite a while before I have to buy more.

Favorite Things 2018

It's been WAY too long since I posted a favorites thing post - so I've been working hard for the past two days to get this new one up, just in time for you to forward it to all of the people who will be showering you with gifts this Christmas😜
Enjoy!!

1. Shine Makeup Removing Cloths (Use code "HOFS10" for 10% off! Plus free shipping the entire month of December!)

These are magical, and they've saved me from using twice as much cleanser! (that's money in the BANK!) I used to wash my face 2 times every night. Once to get the makeup off, and then another time to REALLY get the makeup off and to actually let all the good skincare properties that my cleanser offered, work into my skin. Now?... I just wet one of these reusable makeup cloths in warm water, wipe it across my face, and the makeup literally melts away!!! I was shocked. It got off my super long-wear lipsticks, waterproof bottom lash mascara, and ALL my full coverage makeup. This is my new, absolute favorite, sensitive skin, non-chemical, eco-friendly skincare find of the year. And you better believe I have my tweens using them too. Because even if they're too lazy to wash, tone and lotion up... at least they can wipe all their makeup off at the end of the day to help alleviate breakouts! 

2. Shine Fiber Brow (Use code "HOFS10" for 10% off + free shipping!)- I've talked about this product a LOT on Instagram, because it's my must-have brow finishing gel. I use it alone when I'm going for a tamed, yet natural brow look. And on top of any other brow pencils or powders when I'm wanting everything to look a tad more dramatic or defined. Either way, this product leaves you with beautiful filled brows that STAY in place all day. 

3. Shine Long Wear Eyeliner (Use code "HOFS10" for 10% off + free shipping!)- My go-to, buttery soft eyeliner that actually stays put in my waterline.

4. Tightline Waterproof Black Mascara Primer - An everyday makeup essential that works wonders on my thin, (basically non-existent) bottom lashes. The formula is waterproof, and the applicator is teeny-tiny, so you can really get to those individual bottom lashes, without making a mess on your skin with those other bulky mascara wands. 

5. MAC Fix+ Spray - The perfect skin refresher and powdery makeup melter. I use this spray after all of my powders are on my face, to help "melt" everything beautifully together so that I have a more skin-like finish, instead of a cakey, powdery mess! It works WONDERS and smells AWESOME.

6. Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray - My holy grail makeup setting spray. If you wear makeup, you NEED a makeup setting spray. A spray of this on your face after ALL of your makeup is on, seals EVERYTHING into place and helps your look you worked so hard on, last ALL DAY.  

7. MaryKay Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover (free shipping on orders over $25) - I have THEE most sensitive eyes, and I could honestly squirt this stuff directly into my eye, and it wouldn't irritate it. (I don't recommend that... I'm just sayin'). If you have itchy, dry or sensitive skin around your eyes - THIS is the makeup remover for you. It's contact wearer friendly, it doesn't leave a gross oily residue behind, and it gets EVERYTHING off! Just soak a cotton pad with a little solution, hold it over your closed eye for a few seconds, and you can swipe away any kind of pesky makeup. I especially love this product for my waterline eyeliner. Because I can get all up in my eye with this solution, and never have a problem with stinging.

8. MaryKay Satin Hands Set - This makes an awesome gift, and it works perfectly on dry hands. The trio includes a super hydrating emollient cream, a gentle scrub and a rich finishing lotion. 

9. MaryKay Satin Lips Duo - It's like the Satin Hands, but for you LIPS! I searched high and low a few months ago for the perfect lip scrub, that didn't feel like sandpaper. THIS is it. It's super fine and gentle on my lips, but totally does the job of scrubbing off any dry skin. Then the thick, creamy lip balm after?... SO GOOD. I use the scrub once a week and keep the lip balm in my purse. 

10. Dose of Color Matte Lipstick - No crumbly, dry lips here. Just really beautiful, soft matte lip color that does a pretty great job in the long-wear department too. They have really great muted, neutral tones as well. 

11. BoxyCharm Beauty Subscription Box - My one and only beauty subscription box (so far) that I think is worth the money; and I'm LOVING it. Full sized items with a complete rundown of what they are and how they work best.

12. Ulta Gift Card - Always a good gift to ask for, or give!!! Satisfaction guaranteed! 

I Found It for You - the Best Pest Control Company!

Spiders, mice, snails... and pretty much any other creepy, crawly or furry critter - is a big NO NO in my book. ESPECIALLY when they're IN my house.

I legitimately have anxiety about seeing a mouse in my house, and LOATH killing spiders.
Even though I'm trying SO HARD to be brave about it now as a single-parent (aka: the only resident critter killer in this house, because my girls won't do it)... I still, may or may not have made the neighbor boy come over a handful of times to kill the bugs for me that are bigger than a pencil eraser.
😬
That being said, I've only hired out pest control once before, and let's just say I wasn't impressed -  BUT, as a newly single parent, solo critter killer and homeowner... I decided that I needed to ACTUALLY have someone come preemptively take care of things for me (mostly so I didn't have to bug the poor neighbor kid so often).
Enter Moxie Pest Control!!
(pssst... mention just seeing this, and they'll give you $100 off) 🙌

I met the cute husband and wife duo who run Moxie here in Utah at an event I was attending, and LOVED them immediately. They were so nice, honest about what they could help me with, and promised me the best customer service and pest control treatments EVER.
(plus I found out, they have more 5 star reviews than any other pest control company in Utah)
🙋- sign me up!

Chafing Cream on Yo' Face!? - YUP!

I promise you I haven't gone crazy, and if you're like my friend Liz then I also need to say... no, this isn't a joke. lol.

You read it right. I am 100% recommending that you put crotch cream on yo' face.

Okay, it's not REALLY crotch cream, but it's from Monistat, and you know when you hear that brand the first thing you think of is anything that has to do with issues going on down in your lady town.

So even though this chafing relief powder gel can really go anywhere on your body to prevent rashes or irritation from daily skin friction... it still screams "crotch cream" to me😬 

Okay, good, we're on the same page - so let me blow your mind by telling you that this Monistat Chafing Powder Gel is now here to replace my favorite (expensive) Smashbox face primer, FOREVER.

Here's why...

Long Lasting Drugstore Lipstick I Love!

In a sea of LipSense (which is so great, but doesn't really work well with my skin), I'm just a makeup-lovin' girl trying to find a really awesome, non-drying, non-crumbly, long-lasting lipstick! There are TONS of options, and I've tried lots, so I'll keep you posted on which ones I find along the way that I love (and ones I don't).

Recently I've had lots of questions specifically about the Super Stay Matte Ink from Maybelline that I tested out and chatted about a few weeks ago on my Insta stories. So I wanted to share my thoughts and some color swatches with you!

First off, there are 10 colors in this line, so not a huge range...

But the 4 below that I've purchased and tried are all REALLY pretty!

Pro's:

- I LOVE how saturated the colors are. You don't need a ton of coats for great coverage. 

- The applicator tip is nice and pointed, so it's a lot easier to get a crisp outer edge on your lip line.

- It's not SO matte that it dries out your lips.

- There is no dry crumbly mess as the color wears throughout the day.

- It lasts a LONG time!

Everything Colourpop! - because affordable, good quality makeup...duh!

It's done! I did it! A complete guild to Colourpop Cosmetics! What you guys on insta-stories have been asking for over and over again - see!? I deliver!

Okay, before we get into the "nitty-gritty" (name that movie), I want to chat super quick about a couple of things. Especially for those of you who are wondering what the heck Colourpop even is. lol

1. The TOP reason I love Colourpop so much, is because it's crazy affordable, and the quality of the makeup is actually really good! I LOVE makeup, but I hate that it can cost you an arm and a leg to try something new. This is NOT the case here. 

2. There is always FREE SHIPPING on orders over $30.

3. Colourpop is constantly launching new products, and they almost ALWAYS have deals or fun, limited time products being introduced. PLUS, you can sign up for their newsletters and get a $5 off coupon code.

4. Colourpop has always only been online, until recently when they announced they were coming to Sephora. I still feel like they'll have a better selection online, so I'd say that's your best bet.

5. If you're not already, follow Colourpop on Instagram. They always have live swatches of their products so you can get a better idea of what everything looks like, and you'll be one of the first to know when new things hit the shop.

5. This has nothing to do with Colourpop... but you guys... PLEASE go out of your comfort zone and try new makeup. I stuck with the same blush, mascara, mauve lipstick and brown shadow for over 6 years, and trying new colors and trends has totally boosted my confidence and makes getting ready FUN! I realize this won't be the case for everyone, but you DESERVE $30 worth of makeup you want to try... JUST because! 

I had (and still have) no idea what the crap I'm doing with half of my makeup, but it's been fun to figure it out and see what looks good and what doesn't. So take the leap ladies!

Ooookay, here we go!

The coulourpop concealer is definitely a competitor in the "awesome coverage" realm. It does what it says. Crease proof, full coverage and blendable. For $6, it's definitely worth the try!

One thing to note with these... they oxidize on the skin after a few seconds. Meaning, they go darker than what you see in the tube and apply. Once the warmth of your skin reacts with the concealer, it darkens. So I advise you go a shade lighter than you think!

Colourpop Concealers I bought:

Light 20 (probably could of stood to do the 15)

Medium 30 - for when I was tanner.

Smooth Summer Legs Favorites!

Hey... it may seem simple and silly, but soft legs are are a MUST in the summer, so I wanted to share my favorites for getting silky smooth skin. 

The Razor:

I've tried 'em all, trust me. The Costco specials, the disposable cheap-o's, the "gonna make you the softest woman in all the land" razor, with an inch thick weird clump of lotion stuff around the edges. blehhh. And I keep coming back to this BiC Flex 5 Hybrid. I think I like more than anything how it feels in my hand, and the razor seems to last me quite a bit longer than some others.  

The Shaving Cream:

I'm OBSESSED with this Cremo Coconut Mango shave cream. It smells AMAZING, and makes my skin feel like butter! It's a bit different than you'd think. It doesn't lather, and it's not sudsy. Hmm... it's hard to compare it to anything else... so... just try it, I'm thinking you'll love it just as much as I do!! lol!

Coconut and Brown Butter Rice Crispy Treats + My New Favorite Cake Stand!

Uh... yeah, you read that right... and daaaaang, these babies are SO GOOD!

Softly chewy, (is that a thing? lol) laced in marshmallow gooeyness, with bits of sweet coconut throughout! You've gotta try these bad boys😛.
And let's just go ahead and take my word for it okay? Because taking a photo that captures the YUMMINESS of these amazing treats, was a joke 🙈

14 Tablespoons of butter - BROWNED. (this will give your treat a nutty, more delicious flavor!)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1.5 cups of sweetened, shredded coconut
2 16oz bags of mini marshmallows
8 cups of crispy cereal

Over medium/low heat brown the butter. It will smell nutty and wonderful once browned!

Take off the heat and add vanilla and coconut.

Then add all of your marshmallows and stir until everything is incorporated and becomes a smooth, white substance... with bits of yummy coconut, of course!

My Flawless Face Foundation Must Haves!

I've been talking a TON about beauty products I LOVE on Instagram stories, and so like I promised to all of you there who wanted and needed more permanent links to reference, I'm sharing my flawless-face foundation faves here!
They are basically my go-to products that have helped me disguise my active adult acne, previous acne scars and even those stupid age spots😁. Who knew being in your 30's would be soooo glamorous! ugh lol

So here we go! I've listed each product, why I use it and an amazon link to purchase it (amazon prime users UNITE! lol) OR you can get all of these at Ulta, if you'd rather just walk in and buy them!

The BEST Liquid Eyeliner!

Straight across, winged, top, bottom or both... the perfect, waterproof, long-lasting liquid eyeliner is a MUST! And yet, the words "liquid" and "eyeliner" in one sentence, used to leave me more like...

😳 No, but for real. 

I was using a foam tipped applicator, with this little pot that you dip it in.... ugh, it was a mess. I totally gave up. BUT then I came across THIS miracle product a few years ago, and it's the BEST!

Beating the Heat - Iced Crio Bru to Go!

I've partnered with Huhtamaki Inc. for the Chinet® brand to create this post! Enjoy!

I've been embracing Summer this year, even though I tend not to be an "extreme heat" person. Oh, by the way... to me, extreme heat is ANYTHING over 89 degrees. lol

On the hottest days, I tend to loath going anywhere but the pool. Mostly because its the only appropriate place that you can be half naked, without getting strange or disapproving stares.

It's true... just trust me. Nobody wants to see ALLLL of that at Costco, no matter how great you think you look. 

So when I KNOW I have to go out and run errands in the heat, I prepare myself with one of my favorite, cold, energy-filled, Summery drinks. Iced Crio Bru!

Crio Bru is a coffee alternative, that I typically drink hot, but in the Summer time, it's AWESOME brewed and cold too! It's made from premium cocoa beans that are 100% natural, filled with antioxidants, minerals and theobromine (a natural energy stimulate, that unlike caffeine, doesn't make you jittery). It's low in calories, carbs, and has no fat, sugar, sodium or gluten... until I add it, of course. HA!

Because you can't get this drink at any coffee house (yet), I always make it at home, and prepare extra so I can keep it in the fridge.

Here's how I make it:

- French Press (or coffee maker)

- Boiling Water

- Crio Bru (there are lots of different varieties)

- Almond Milk

- Coconut Sugar

- Whipped Cream

- Ice

- Insulated Comfort Cup® by Chinet®

Crio Bru is a ground cocoa bean, so I just keep mine in an air tight container I picked up at Ikea.

I put two scoops (scooper comes with the Crio Bru) of grounds into my french press, enough boiling water to fill my press almost to the top, and then stir everything really well with a spoon. Then I place my lid press just gently onto the surface, to keep in the heat in, while it is brewing. Wait at least 10 minutes for everything to brew well, before pushing the press down to extract all the grounds. 

Healthy Hair Favorites!

We've got a PLETHORA of hair in this family, so I'm always testing out LOTS of different hair care products. Like... LOTS. (that's not half of it....yikes!)

Look... don't mock the hair care drawer craziness. There's some DANG GOOD stuff in here!

As a former hair stylist, I'm basically addicted to anything that says, "Smoother, healthier, stronger hair." LOL. Yup, that's pretty much EVERY bottle of ANYTHING nowadays. 

So that being said, I've got a handful of DEFINITE favorites. And believe me, I'm picky, so I hope you take my word for it when I say you've GOT TO TRY THEM... because this gang of girls LOVES them!

Favorite Shampoo and Conditioners:

Minted Modern Art Over the Mantel!

Taking down holiday decorations is my favorite.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE all of the festivities that the holidays bring, but holy crap, there is a LOT of stuff that accumulates during those few months that I'm MORE than happy to put back in storage, donate or toss. 

Getting a house put back together with all of it's everyday items just feels so good - don't you think!?

That being said, a few months ago I ordered some amazing framed art from Minted, and I've been itching to hang it somewhere awesome - so, after all of the holiday decor was down off of our mantel, I thought I'd give this little spot in our home a shot!

Aaaaand, I love it!

I've been a bit obsessed with bright, contrasting hues lately, so when I initially spotted this colorful little hummingbird, I KNEW which direction I was going to go with the other prints I ordered to compliment it.

Smart Season LED, Hidden Lighting for the Holidays!

We're finally spilling all the details about our fab new LED, flat strand, hidden Christmas lighting, installed by the awesome guys over at Smart Seasons Lighting!

If you remember from our Instagram feed, we showed you a picture of these LED lighting strips, before they went on our home.

These state of the art, smart Christmas lights are permanently installed, and include a bluetooth controller box that sits in our garage, so you can manipulate the lighting right from the Smart Seasons app on your phone!

A Personalized Christmas with The Vintage Pearl!

Have you guys started shopping for Christmas yet?
I have - and I'm not afraid to admit it :)

I've currently got some Costco special, oversized pillow pets and book sets shoved up in a linen closet with a blanket covering them. LOL. Yup, that's how we roll.

This year I had a few more personalized gifts in mind that I wanted to get going on, and so of course I headed straight to The Vintage Pearl website, and booyah! - was NOT disappointed.

Come on! Look how adorable all of these gift ideas are!? They're totally unique and tell such a special story, for whoever is receiving them!

There's something about personalizing a gift that feels WAY more special than just a plain piece of jewelry, am I right!?

Recently I got a set of rings made for me and my best friend, and we both wear them everyday.

We constantly say, "Love you more!" and then the other will say "Love you most!", so I thought it would be special, instead of just engraving something generic, to put these simple little words on a stack of rings for us to each wear. 

She's a silver girl, and I love gold, so this little gift worked PERFECTLY, and I was beyond thrilled with her excited reaction when I surprised her with them!!!

Personalization/custom order cutoff for The Vintage Pearl is on December 7th, so get GOING people! lol

Use code SMITH20, to get 20% off of your entire order until Sunday December 5th.

We also have an awesome giveaway on our Instagram page for 2 $50 gift certificates, so head on over there and enter to win! We'll be announcing the two winners on Thursday. So go, go, GO!

Happy Christmas Shopping!

5 Better Rest Must Haves!

If you haven't figured it out by now, I'm slightly obsessed with a good nights sleep.
Yes, it's a "thing" for me.
If I'm going to stop shopping, browsing Instagram, playing with my kids or catching up on my favorite TV shows.... JUST to sleep!.... then it better be AWESOME!
Don't get me wrong, I LOOOOOVE sleep, but not all sleeping situations are created equal.
I'm NOT a couch sleeper.
I'm NOT a sit-up-and-doze-off sleeper.
And I'm definitely NOT a car, train, bus or plane sleeper. (we all know my issues with motion sickness. bleeehk!)

I don't know how everyone else is, but when I nap or sleep, I need COMPLETE comfort. Cason is the same way - so we have both been on a journey the past almost 11 years of our married lives, to come up with the perfect "Better Rest MUST HAVES!"

Let's get real, most of the time my bed is occupied by laundry that needs to be folded...

but when it finally IS time for sleeping, here are our 5 gotta have items to getting the perfect nights rest.

#1 - The #1 Best Mattress
I won't go into much detail on this one, because we've talked about it twice now, but a FABULOUS mattress is the bread and butter to the better bed experience. (say that 5 times fast...)
We ONLY sleep on Tuft & Needle mattresses now, and have WAY too many good nights sleeps not to!

You can check out both of our Tuft & Needle reviews here:
King Sized Mattress Review
Queen Sized Mattress Video Review

#2 - The Softeset Sheets
Yes, this is PIVOTAL! Great sheets are SO important you guys - and we've found the BEST ones (or so we think). They're from PerfectLinens.com

Tuft & Needle Mattress Review... Review - Ask and Ye Shall Receive!

The questions keep flyyyying in about our Tuft & Needle mattress review that we did a few months back!

Here are a few specific ones we've gotten recently:

"How do you like it? Is it holding up to your expectations?  We are in need of a mattress so badly.  Mine is over 10 years old and with small children we need a really good mattress.  We need better sleep (even if it is with the kiddos in bed!)!"

"I was wondering if you could give me and update on how you are liking/disliking your Tuft and Needle mattress?"

"I have been researching your Tuft and Needle post. My husband and I have both had back surgery 
We have struggled with mattresses ever since we upgraded to a king. I want your nitty gritty honest opinion from both of you."

You can read all about our last review here on the king sized mattress we got for our master bedroom, but since we just got another queen size, for our youngest daughter this past month, we decided to answer even more of your questions through a detailed video!

We also took pictures along the way, so you could witness the entire process again. You can see all of photos we took at the end of the video.

Cooking In & Getting Our Kids on Board with New Foods!

This post was sponsored by Blue Apron // We strive to only partner with and endorse companies who promote products and messages that we already love, and know you can appreciate too!

I was thinking about it the other day and I realized that it's been over 4 years since I've been a full-time stay at home Mom. 

I've always had another job, or something else going on outside my everyday mommy and wifely duties, and I just feel SO lucky to finally be able to focus on my kids, my husband, my house and myself again - with NO work stress!

All of that being said, there are definitely things that I'm noticing I need to make big improvements on.

* Patience

* Laundry

* Continuing to get ready for the day even though I have no plans to go anywhere. ha! (it just makes me feel better about life in general, if I have my hair done and makeup on)

* Working out regularly 

And last but definitely not least... 

* COOKING. 

For the last handful of years we've gotten into some really bad habits with eating out. I'm talkin' like 3-4 times a week people :( 

And let's get real, when you are constantly eating out, no matter HOW many good choices you try to make, you always feel either unsatisfied or grossly stuffed. Not to mention that theres something to be said about making dinner in your own home with your family that just brings everyone together and makes a home feel... homey!

I definitely struggle with dinnertime more than any other meal. I think it's because by the end of the day I'm tired, out of creativity and don't feel like cleaning up a huge mess. If I plan ahead (which I'm trying to get better at) then it's about a MILLION times better for everyone; and throwing in a couple of totally unique, freshly picked and 100% ready-to-cook meals from Blue Apron each week, can pretty much make you feel like a gourmet chef with no extra shopping needed.

We're in love :)

If you want to try out a couple of these awesome dinners for yourself, go for it! They're offering two FREE meals off of your first Blue Apron order.

I'm anxious to still try the Crispy Eggplant Pitas, Spicy Thai Chicken Noodle Soup and Brown Butter & Butternut Squash Gnocchi. YUM!

This leads me to my next point. Something I've been strongly enforcing around here the past year has been a love for ALL types of foods; not just carbs, cheese and chicken. ughhhh. I swear, those are the only things offered to our kiddos when you go out nowadays.

Fruits, veggies, different types of grains and spices/sauces are SO important for kids to try as they grow up. I think it has really helped my girls to become better adjusted to situations where they have to eat meals that are offered outside of our home. Plus, it has really expanded their taste range, and even THEY are surprised at the things they end up liking! 

The BIGGEST tip that I can give any parent who struggles with the typical kid(s), who doesn't love stepping out of their food comfort zone, is to get THEM involved in dinner planning and preparing WITH you. I feel like when my girls know what exactly goes into their foods and they can help cut, chop or cook it up, they are way more likely to eat it.

Yes. This can take an insane amount of patiences, and sometimes double your meal prep time, so I'm not saying do this EVERY night, but maybe just on nights where you know they might have a tougher time with select ingredients or new flavors.