Spring is finally in the air here in Utah and I am so so happy about it! So I am beyond ready for some nice warm weather and to see the sun again! Besides loving the warm weather and seeing everything in bloom, I love seeing the new trends in Spring fashion! It is always full of the cutest prints + colors! One of my favorite things to shop for is Spring Shoes! Something about the weather being warm enough to free your feet or seeing the pops of color just gets me so excited for the season, so today I’m sharing my favorites!
Is there anything better than getting a fresh pedicure + throwing on a new pair of sandals? It completely screams summer is on its way so I love it! I am loving the fun styles this season!
I love scoping out a new pair of tennies in the spring! The colors are always the cutest but even better, it is great motivation for me to get out and exercise with my little people in the amazing weather!
Because it’s no secret that I have an obsession with flats. I love that they are such a quick option to dress up an outfit, but still so comfortable. I can easily wear them on the go with my people and feel a little more put together at the same time.
When it comes to a heel, the wedge has my vote! I absolutely love the look of them with a basic tee and jeans, but can be dressed up with a cute spring skirt.
Spring shoes are such a fun + easy way to brighten up your wardrobe! I hope you love some of these cute finds!! Also I really want to know your go-to spring/summer shoe!! So leave some of your favorites below!!
So one of my favorite sales of the season is here! This week there’s a big sale going on over at Shopbop. So today, I’m sharing some of the best items from the sale. A bunch of the pieces sold there are higher end, so this is a good chance to grab them at a discount because everything, including sale items are all on sale!! Use the code EVENT18 for up to 25% off some of the best, on trend items. I love stocking up on item I know will be perfect for the upcoming spring & summer months because them I’m all set when the warm weather finally comes!
A bunch of items below I already own and especially love because they are great staple pieces that have lasted me years!! Like this black leather jacket as well as my $88 jeans that I wear allll the time. So just click on any image below to shop the shopbop sale!!
If you’ve been following along here on the blog, you might remember that about 6 months ago I mentioned I am really trying to focus on taking better care of my skin. I kind of put it through all the tanning and sun damage as a teenager, and now that I’m getting older I have realized its time to put the investment + time into really taking care of it. I’ve been working with the team over at Form Med Spa and absolutely loving their treatments. I’ve shared some peeks into those over on my Instagram Stories and got lots of requests for more details! I thought the best way I could share and give you all the info is to highlight each treatment! So today I’m starting off with one of my very favorites, the HydraFacial.
The HydraFacial is exactly what its name says. It is a relaxing facial like procedure (PAIN FREE!) that nourishes + hydrates your face! It feels amazing and I love seeing how well it works!
The HyrdraFacial is a multi-step process. They start by cleaning your face. Once it is all cleaned up, the next steps are exfoliating + extracting. They use this little suction vacuum type of thing all over your face. It is used to extract + remove all the dead skin and impurities from your face. When they are done, you can actually see everything it removed from your face in a little tube. I know it sounds disgusting, but somehow seeing all of it is so satisfying and amazing to know it’s working.
Once the extracting is complete, they move on to nourishing. They use some amazing products on your fresh skin that include anti-oxidants, peptides, and hyaluronic acid. These combine forces to improve the look of any fine lines and wrinkles. They also give your skin a good healthy boost of nutrients it’s usually lacking.
The overall result is to reduce your pore size + redness + inflammation, as well as soothing and hydrating your skin. I have done a few of these facials now and love the way it leaves my skin feeling and looking instantly after wards. For those of you asking, the price at Form Med Spa is $165 and I honestly think the results I have seen are worth every single penny. They really take the time to help you get to know your skin better and what it needs for a healthier look and feel. Hopefully I answered all your questions, but if I missed any leave them here in the comments and I’ll add the answers here!
One of the things I probably get the most requests for is my daily routine to get ready! To make it easier and as informative as I can, I’ve been breaking it down into sections in different posts. I shared about my daily beauty routine last week + what I’m doing to invest in my skin, and my 5 minute makeup routine here! That leaves the best for last, my hair routine! I’ve been doing hair for almost 17 years now (that makes me feel old!), so you could say I’ve got my method kind of down to a perfected routine! I decided the best way to share my go to favorites is to walk you through from wet to dry + styled!
I definitely don’t keep a secret how little I wash my hair! It might seem gross to some, but it is actually good for your hair to keep some of those natural oils and not dry it out by over washing. My hair is naturally curly, so it holds my curl longer without the greasy look. So for me personally, dry shampoo is a girls best friend!
When it does come to washing my hair, I want a shampoo + conditioner that gets the job done well. My main goal in using any product is to make sure it is making my hair healthier. My favorite shampoo + conditioner is by far this one, and really it is mostly because of the amazing smell. I always buy in bulk and by the time I’m done with the giant thing, I’ll switch out to a different kind. If you stick with a professional line, you should be good no matter what you choose. They are full of healthy ingredients to boost your hair. One thing I will HIGHLY advise against is using Suave Shampoo. That is the one shampoo that will destroy your hair. If you want to rip out your color because you hate it, use that shampoo! Stay away!
This is by far my favorite go to leave in conditioner. I have used it for years and never found one that does a better job. It protects against all the heat you are about to apply to your hair through blow drying + styling. It’s second purpose is to detangle your hair. I love using it on my girls hair to get out any tangles so its not such a dramatic experience to do their hair! It also has Keratin. Keratin helps give you a smooth shiny look while making your hair stronger at the same time. Win win!
After the spray in conditioner, my next step is more Keratin with these drops. Again, I’m all about maintaining + strengthening my hair health! I can’t tell you how much Keratin should be at the top of your list for hair products. I use about a quarter size of this because my hair is thick + frizzy, but I recommend more like a dime size if you don’t have lots of hair.
And last but not least before we start drying is this smoothing balm. It is a deep conditioner in it that is amazing at smoothing my frizzy ends. I love that it moisturizes and gets in deep, but never gives you a weighed down feeling.
DRYING :
Normally I will dry my bangs so they are under control + not too curly, but besides that, I try to let my hair air dry whenever possible. If I’m in a rush and have to dry my hair, I always use this heat set first. Again this is another one to protect against heat + strengthen. I know it might seem like overkill. If your hair is fine/thin pick this or the smoothing balm, NOT both. My hair is blonde and curly so it can handle the excess, but the average person would be a grease ball with both!
Once I’m all dry, it’s time to style. Before I touch my hair with any additional heat, I go for another heat guard. I love this one because in addition to protecting your hair, it helps hold the shape of your curls. I spray a very light mist over sectioned off pieces of my hair, making sure to hit all the layers.
My most asked question about hair has got to be what I use to curl it. Here is the magic tool. Haha! I love using the 1 1/2″ to get my preferred curl size. For shorter hair, I’d go with a smaller barrel. I honestly curl my hair once a week and try not to touch it much with hot tools after that. Avoid heat on your hair whenever possible! I will touch up my sides but usually that’s about it!
I really try to limit products after my hair is dry, to keep it cleaner and lasting longer. These are my favorite go to’s.
Texture Spray : I am OBSESSED with this stuff! It is amazing. It is basically like they took a wax and made it in to a spray form. . I LOVE using it when I really want my curls to have more texture and look their best. It is my go to for date night, a photo shoot, or even church, but definitely not something I’d put in my hair every day as it would add to much grit and make for quicker washing.
Hair Spray : This stuff is the BOMB! I have never liked hairspray but had a friend recommend this one when I was in Cincinatti and I fell in love. It gets the job done but doesn’t give you that hard sticky look/feel most hairsprays do.
Dry Shampoo : It is no secret this is my most used hair product. haha! I can keep my hair looking like day 1 for almost a week with the help of this goodness. This is probably the only product I will recommend that isn’t a professional line. It is cheap + amazing and gets the job done!
I think that should wrap up my hair routine! One thing I do want to mention, and this is not at all sponsored, is to keep in mind where you are buying your hair products. You’ll notice that I linked just about everything through stores like Ulta. If you know me, you know that if I can get something on Amazon with that beautiful 2 day shipping I’m going to do it, except when it comes to hair products. I have had multiple distributors (this is of professional lines) tell me that when they have expired products they go to places like Amazon, Walmart, Target, etc.
I’m not saying everything you buy from them is going to be no good, but keep that in mind when you see an amazing deal at those places. It most likely is too good to be true. For me, hair products are something I’m willing to invest a little extra on to know they are going to work at their full potential!
So now that I’ve shared my hair routine, I’d love to hear some of your favorite hair finds! I always love trying new ones! And if you have any questions that I missed, please leave them here so I can add the answers to the post for everyone!
Spending time soaking up the sun in Arizona celebrating our anniversary has me all kinds of ready for summer! I am such a summer girl so I seriously cannot wait!! Heading to the pool (or beach even more!) with my little people is so fun, but I am well aware how much of a struggle it can be to find good swimsuits! I did a lot of research trying to find swimsuits I love for our trip, so I decided today for my Favorite Finds I’d share the styles I’m loving most!
one pieces : To me, having a good one piece is always a necessity. It is the one suit that everyone looks good in. Being a mom of 5, especially with two babies, I am at the point in life where i need suits that I can get out and play with my kids and not worry about anything falling out. And believe me, I know from experience how easy that can happen! I am loving that the one piece is so in style right now! There are tons of cute ones to choose from!
high waisted : Another option I love if you want to show a little more skin or have some variety in your look is high waisted swimsuits. They give you the feeling of a bikini, but still help tuck in and hide things you don’t want to show. I usually wear these more on girls trips or trips with just Joe + I, and not as much with my kids but love having the fun option to switch to!
stripes : Also it should come as no surprise that stripe swimsuits make my list! I am a lover of ALLLL things stripes. When it comes to swimsuits, I try to stick to vertical. Vertical stripes will always be your best friend. They are totally slimming and to me a great basic to include in your swimsuit line up!
Swimsuits may not be the funnest thing to try on, but you won’t even be thinking about that when you are making memories with your people! So get out there and have some fun!
As a mom of 5, it’s rare that I come across something new in the parenting world – especially in the baby years. I’ve been to this rodeo five times over now, so coming across something new with Harper or Houston that I haven’t already experienced with one of the others is rare. I was thrown for a loop when both Houston + Harper came along with such sensitive skin. Since their skin was so sensitive I wasn’t willing to compromise on whatever touched it. After searching and finding the things that worked best for us, I’m sharing what I’m loving most for my babies and how I care for their sensitive skin.
First up – DIAPERS…
With both Houston + Harper’s sensitive skin, we have struggled with finding the right diapers. I was thrilled when Pampers introduced the Pampers Pure Collection. They are the first of their diapers to take the already trusted leakage protection + combine it with thoughtfully selected materials. With sensitive skin, something as simple as fragrance can irritate their skin so these have been a game changer. Pampers Pure Protection diapers are free of fragrance, lotions, and parabens. I especially love that although they are gentle, they really are strong when it comes to doing their job. They hold up well, especially overnight, and we haven’t had any leaks! And major bonus, the patterns are SO cute!
WIPES…
In addition to the diapers, the Pampers Pure Collection also introduces a new line of wipes. With the same more natural approach, they are 99% water and have a touch of premium cotton – perfect for my little ones. I love knowing what I’m using to clean my babies bums, hands, and faces with, instead a list of mystery ingredients. They also pass the multi swipe without ripping test, which is a must in my book! Nobody likes a wipe that is so thin you are more stressed about what is going to get on your hand instead of getting the mess cleaned up!
SOAP + LOTION…
This one was such a struggle for us, especially with Houston. A lot of the time when sensitive skin is an issue, you also get the bonus of very dry skin. Houston would constantly have rashes and dry patches. One of my girlfriends had the same struggle with her babies. She had some great tips when it comes to bathing. First, we are trying to cut back on actual amount of baths to every other day. It helps to keep some of those helpful oils in their skin. The other biggest + most helpful tip was to be sure to lather the natural creams + lotions on when they are still a little wet from their bath, don’t completely dry. It helps lock the moisture in and fight the dry rashes.
Parenting is always full of surprises and for me sensitive skin was a big one and one I know a lot of you are going through or have been through! I’d love to hear the tried + true products that you love for your little ones sensitive skin.
Lately I’ve been getting so many questions on different details of my daily beauty routine. I thought it would be nice to finally get it all down in one easy to refer back to place. Sticking to and actually even having this whole routine has not always been the case. When we moved to Utah + Joe started his job, I felt like we were finally in a place financially where I could invest in really taking care of my skin. I haven’t always used these products, and know what its like to be in a place where drugstore products is what you can afford. So I’ve included a few on a lower budget that I loved using too!
I also want to mention that in NO WAY WHATSOEVER is this post sponsored. This is my tried and true beauty routine that works for me. It is all personal opinion, and what may work for me, may not be the best for you! I will never promote or recommend anything I don’t use + love, which is why beauty posts are actually pretty rare for me. I know what I love + stick to it, so I have actually turned down beauty promotions in the past, because I’m not going to recommend something I don’t use + love! So now that we’ve got that out of the way..haha lets talk beauty routine!
First up is face wash! I’ve told you guys before that I absolutely love Tula, and their Purifying Cleanser is no exception. I love the gel texture! My face feels so clean and refreshed, but it doesn’t leave you with that tight dry desert face feeling after using it like a lot of other face washes. It is full of probiotics to help nourish your skin to give it such a nice glow. I especially love it when my skin is drier in the winter months. For sure a product in the Tula line that I think is worth every penny, (especially with the discount code below) and personally wouldn’t be something I’d switch out for a cheaper option.
If you’ve been following along over on Instagram, you’ve seen that part of upping my skin care game has been working with the team over at Form Med Spa to try + reverse some damage, as well as prevent future issues. I’ll be sharing more about the treatments in the coming weeks, but along with those, I’ve been incorporating a little bit of their medical grade skin care line into my daily beauty routine.
I absolutely love this toner! Unlike most toners, it is a spray, and it’s amazing. I love that its a quick spritz instead of having a wetter feeling that you feel like has to dry before you can move on. The formula is meant to clear + prep your skin to absorb + more efficiently use the rest of the products in your beauty routine. And a bonus in addition to the vitamins, it also reduces wrinkles + fine lines…who can say no to that?! haha! For me, going medical grade on this is personal preference. Prior to the last 6 months or so, I have used this toner + this toner and truly love both and think they get the job done!
This Hydrating Day + Night Cream from Tula is without a doubt my very favorite item in my whole beauty routine. I love it so much I gifted it to my mom + sisters for Christmas. It is seriously the best cream I’ve ever used. I love that it is not too heavy feeling, but still gives you all the moisture you need. You never have that greasy shine that a lot of hydrating creams do, just a nice clean glow. It is full of probiotics + is like a super food for your face! If you were to invest in any one product for your beauty routine, this should hands down be the one. Plus to help make things more affordable, you can use code KAILEESPRINGto get 20% off anything from Tula!
You may have seen on my stories that Tula just came out with a new gel cream as well. I’ve been kind of rotating it instead of this day + night cream to see what I think and so far it is also really good. I love that it is completely oil free and has that gel texture like the face wash. I can’t give it my full 100% positive review yet, but I’ll update after a few weeks of use and let you know what I think! So far another winner.
You guys…do you ever wish you could go back to your teenage self and tell them to WEAR SUNSCREEN!! Like put down the baby oil at the pool and put on the dang sunscreen! It took me a lot of years, but I am just now realizing how important sunscreen really is, not just at the beach or the pool, but in our DAILY beauty routine. This is another one that I went straight to Form Spa for advice on and am so happy I did. I’ve been using this tinted sunscreen + love everything about it. Number one, it does not at all have the greasy residue that your typical sunscreen does. It has SPF 45 + protects against both UVA + UVB rays.
I love that it is combined with the tint so on days when I don’t have time to throw on makeup, if I put on this I get the smooth coverage + the sunscreen all in one. I don’t know how the magic works, but the tint works on any skin tone. I’ve used, my sisters have, and I even put some on Hunter to test it out and it always matches perfectly. It minimizes fine lines + wrinkles and really gives you such a nice glow instead of the gross sunscreen shine.
If it doesn’t work for you right now financially, sunscreen is still so important. I love this option too. Anything you can do to protect you skin!
I’m sure you’ve heard me talk about my 5 minute makeup routine, so you know I’m not a huge makeup person. I don’t really do a lot of the extra steps most people do. But there is one product I’ve been using for over 10 years and love! It is this pressed powder. I usually get it in a shade darker and use it as a bronzer. My number one reason for using it is additional sun protection, again without the greasy feel! Its a great way to finish off your makeup with a little glow + know you’ve got another layer of protection.
I think that sums up my daily beauty routine. It’s nothing too intense or time consuming. For me to be able to stick to it and do whats best for my skin, it had to be doable on a busy mama schedule. I’m really loving the combination of these products! I’d be happy to answer any questions you have about any of them! I’d love to hear your go to products too!
Friday is here which means it’s time for another round of favorite finds! If you have been following along lately, you saw that Joe + I just celebrated our 14th Anniversary in sunny Arizona! It was honestly just what we both needed! A few days of sleeping in, zero schedule, and lots of yummy food! I shared a lot of the fun details over on my Instagram Stories, but had so many requests to put everything in one spot, so for today’s Favorite Finds I’m sharing allll of our Arizona Favorites!
HOTEL…
When it comes to our Arizona Favorites, at the top of the list is definitely our hotel!! We stayed at the Andaz Scottsdale Resort + Spa and it was incredible!! Everything about it was so modern and different than anywhere we have ever stayed. The hotel rooms are broken up into individual bungalows so no stinky halls or elevator. All of the decor is so clean, simple, and modern. It was like they have created my dream hotel room! The bathroom was huge and so light and bright. Basically the whole space was the opposite of what you think of when you think hotel room. This is 100% in no way sponsored, and I’m telling you worth every single penny!
DINING…
If you follow along over on Instagram, you are well aware that the majority of our getaway was spent eating. Haha! It is no secret we love our food! Among our Arizona Favorites are these yummy stops:
Shake Shack : Oh my…this place is sooo divine! I cannot wait until the day Utah finally gets one. The burgers are so juicy and delicious and don’t even get me started on the shakes!
Gadzooks : The best Mexican Food we have probably ever had! We found it the last day of our trip and wish it would’ve been earlier so we could have had it 10 more times! The enchiladas are out of this world! I could’ve had an entire bowl of chips + salsa to myself!
Prado @ Omni : This was so delicious. Since it was our anniversary, they went above and beyond to spoil us. I am definitely on the picky side, so the chef personally came out and gave us samples of multiple dishes. Every single one was like mouth watering. The Bacon Potato Soup was for sure the best soup I’ve ever had. And the views while you eat are incredible. Such a beautiful resort.
Caketini : This is such a cute little cupcake shop. I’m a sucker for a basic Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting and this one surpassed my expectations! Super simple but super delicious.
Sweet Republic + Churn : If you read this post about Joe + I, it will come as no surprise to you that we made multiple ice cream stops. These were definitely our favorites! I wish they were down the street from me…except I would gain 10 pounds in like a day. Also they both had super yummy shakes. If I had to choose I’d probably pick the Churn Chocolate shake. But Joe’s favorite was the cookie sandwich at Churn. If you are an ice cream lover like us, you will not be disappointed in either!
MORE FOOD RECS FROM YOU GUYS!
Hillstone, Durants, ChopShop + Steak 44 : Recommendations for Best Steaks
Butters + Snooze : Recommendations for Best Breakfast/Brunch
Mission, Gadzooks, + Blanco Tacos : Recommendations for Best Mexican
Rehab Burger, Shake Shack + Zin Burger : Recommendations for Best Burger
Parlor Pizza, Magianos, North Italia, Pizzeria Bianca, + Tootee Santie : Recommendations for Best Italian/Pizza
Sugar Bowl, Baked Bear, Cremistry, Churn, + Sweet Republic : Recommendations for Best Desserts
THINGS TO DO…
Joya Spa: This place was like walking in to heaven. All of the amenities were so high end and they seriously anticipated every need. It was by far the most pampered I have ever been at a spa. We did the couples massage and loved it. I wish we would’ve arrived earlier in the day before our service to take advantage of everything they offer.
Fashion Square : Finding the best shopping is always on my to do list! Joe was a good sport to tag along. But it may have been the yummy treat stops that convinced him.
I know there are a million more fun things to do in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, but honestly we were all about relaxing so we didn’t do too much. Well relaxing and eating! I hope these Arizona Favorites are helpful! I’d love to hear your faves to add to the list too!
Easter is just about here and it has me so excited! It always means Spring is just about here and good weather is coming! Like any holiday, I try to incorporate some fun Easter traditions to make it special for my little people! Since I love hearing what you guys do to celebrate, I thought I’d share some of our favorites, as well as some new ones we are thinking about starting this year!
EASTER BASKETS…
This one probably comes as a no brainer when it comes to Easter traditions, but has always been one of my little peoples favorites. I’ll throw a few treats in, but mostly I like to stick with more practical items I know they actually need and will use throughout the coming season. I shared some of my favorite ideas over in this post!
EASTER EGG HUNT…
I know, also not anything crazy different, but we don’t do your average egg hunt. I’m not a huge fan of candy and my mom isn’t either so we do things a little different. Instead of stuffing the eggs with treats, we fill the eggs with money! Some are as small as a quarter and they go up to a few dollars! The little people absolutely love it because then they can get whatever they want! The best part is we also do an adult hunt too. Tthe stakes are a little higher and we aren’t just playing for quarters! It is such a fun Easter tradition we all really look forward to!
EASTER BREAKFAST…
Growing up my mom always made holidays really special for us. A lot of her traditions I’ve continued with my little people because I love them so much! Having a big Easter Breakfast is one of them! Every Easter we buy these huge egg plates to use for our breakfast. The little people love having a fun giant plate to fill up with cinnamon rolls, eggs, bacon…the works! I love that something as simple as a different plate makes for an Easter tradition they always talk about!
For the past 9 years we have been away from family for Joe’s school, so Easter has kind of become our friend holiday. None of our group of friends really had the money to go home for a smaller holiday, so we made it special together. Honestly, our Easter’s with them are some of my very favorite memories. I know a lot of you are in the same boat right now away from close family, but these holidays can still be something so special with simple Easter tradtiions…even if they are new ones you start this year! Since we are close to family again and in our new home, I want to start a few new traditions too! These are some of my favorite ideas, but I’d love to hear what you do!
– Egg someone! : No not with actual eggs. This cute idea is to fill plastic eggs with cute notes and treats and throw them all over a friend or neighbors yard with a note saying “you’ve been egged!” I don’t know, but sounds fun and I’m sure the people will love it.
You guys always have the BEST ideas!! So I’d love to hear some of your favorite traditions or new ones your thinking of trying this year!!
Spring is in the air and it has me so excited! Finally seeing the sun + the trees start to bloom again is my favorite time of year! I’m learning the hard way that Northern Utah weather is kind of a tease with spring one day and snow the next, but we have high hopes spring will come for real soon! With the weather changing, so are our wardrobes! Since Easter is usually one of the first signs and celebrations of spring, Spring Dresses are usually the first thing we think about! Normally I like to do a roundup of what I’m loving for myself, but since I’ve been getting a lot of requests for kids options too, I thought I’d switch things up and do a roundup of favorite Spring Dresses for the Family!
First of all, before I jump in to the roundup, I wanted to share a little tip. I’ve been getting asked a lot where I shop the most for our family. I definitely have my favorite go to stores. Shopping for such a wide range of ages can seem overwhelming. Knowing what fits your personal style + where you can find it is a game changer and has saved me so much time. For myself, I’m sure it is obvious. I love all things Nordstrom. I also love the unique pieces, especially dresses you can find at Anthropologie. For my little people it’s Nordstrom, Gap, and Abercrombie Kids. This is in no way sponsored, they are just the places I find the good quality + style that I love. Knowing places that fit you and narrowing down your search window saves so much time!
So with that in mind, here are my favorite Spring Dresses for baby all the way up to mom! Also incase you missed it I shared a bunch of Easter Basket ideas in this blog POST.
BABY…
Baby dresses are of course the easiest thing ever to buy. I swear there probably isn’t a dress out there that won’t look cute on a chubby little baby!
LITTLE GIRL…
Shopping for Hayden is probably one of my favorite age groups. She still loves all things pink and super girly, so dresses are so fun. It probably comes as no surprise that I’m not big into the frilly dresses, but we make a few exceptions. I am definitely more practical and try to go with something that I know she can wear with leggings to school or throughout the summer, not just to church.
TWEEN…
Shopping for a tween, while challenging figuring out sizing, has been such a fun change! Having a mini me that is starting to be able to shop in some of the same places as me has been so fun. Like with Hayden, we try to keep things more basic and versatile so its not a one use dress.
WOMEN…
I’m all for any excuse to get a new dress, especially a fun spring one. The colors and patterns get me so excited for warm weather. This year I am really loving the different lace overlay options, and fun patterns!
Happy Weekend! I hope you all had a great week! It’s time for another weekly update + for us it was a fun one! So Joe + I spent the first half of it celebrating our 14th Anniversary in sunny Arizona! It was honestly the first time we have gone on vacation together and I didn’t spend the entire time just thinking about our little people, so I’m making progress! Haha mom problems! But it was seriously the exact trip we needed! The weather was perfect and we had zero plans. We did a lot of eating…sitting by the pool…movie watching…and eating again. It was so great to just be together so we could just talk without any interruptions and relax. If you wanna know a little more of the random about us, head to this post because I shared 10 fun things you might not know!
I’ve also been getting bombarded with tons of requests to share all of our favorites from the trip with you! I promise I’m not ignoring you, so don’t worry! So Joe + I are going to make a list and share everything in a post next week. But be prepared for a whole lot of food….because that was the highlight of our agenda!
We got home Wednesday and planned on quickly packing all 7 of us up to head straight to St George, but decided it was too much. So Joe took the boys down and they are enjoying a weekend of baseball, while the girls and I are trying to fit in all things girly!
So as far as home updates go, we are tackling office organization this week! I am SO excited to have it done and functional! If you missed it, I shared how our kitchen + family room turned out too! We are really loving how everything is coming together. Seeing our ideas + dreams come to life has been so fun!
So that about sums up our weekly update! Also I hope you all had a great one too + enjoy your weekend with your people! Finally, don’t forget to check out the great sales happening this weekend too! I’ve listed my faves below!
WEEKEND SALES
Gap : Up to 50% off almost everything + extra 20% off with code GOBIG
Ever since I mentioned that Joe + I are from St George, I have been FLOODED with requests to share all of our favorites! It is seriously the best little place to escape to and enjoy the sun, especially if you are a few hours away in Northern Utah! It’s safe to say we are experts + definitely have some tried and true favorites! Since we (well not just joe + the boys) are visiting this weekend, I thought it would be fun to share some with you for today’s Favorite Finds!
…FAVORITE EATS…
It should come as no surprise to you that allll the food needs its own category. What can I say, we like to eat! Haha! We really aren’t such foodies at home, there is just something about vacation eating that makes it that much better! Plus having grown up in St George + having our family still living there, we’ve had a lot of years to rack up our favorites!
paulas : If you like Mexican food, you will LOVE paula’s! My Grandpa’s best friend from college owned it so it has always been a family favorite. Their chips + salsa is my absolute favorite!! We even convinced her to give us the secret recipe and we make it all the time. So so good!
pasta factory : My moms friend owns it, and it has always been one of our go to spots for big family get togethers. I love that they have a good variety. I LOVE pasta so that is my pick, but joe + the little people can still get pizza! Plus their bread twists…out of this world!
larsen’s frost top drive-in : This is the cutest little family owned drive-in. It opened back in 1965 and is the best diner/drive in menu. They have these amazingly greasy goodness fries called Picadilly Chips… my mouth is watering just thinking about them.
bear paw : If you are a big breakfast fan, you’ll love Bear Paw. This is probably my dad’s favorite place to eat in St George. They have like 10 different kinds of waffles + french toast alone, + crepes, pancakces…anything you can think of!
irmita’s : I almost can’t even believe I’m putting this one on the list. It is kind of a hole in the wall, but what it lacks in looks they make up for in taste. Joe + his brothers love it and go all the time. If you like real deal mexican food, you’ll love it!
freddy’s : This one probably isn’t new to most of you, but it had to make the cut. We love a good burger + fries, and freddy’s is probably our favorite. It is the perfect place for a family because its super affordable + has a lot of options the little people love too!
St George is FULL of fun things to do. Whether you are going with your girlfriends, family, or just your hubby, there is so much to do! I tried to narrow down all of our favorites to do as family, but really they’d be just as fun no matter who you’re with!
pioneer park : Pioneer Park is such a fun place to let your little people explore. The red rock is stunning! It is full of little nooks + boulders to crawl + climb on and get some energy out. There are amazing views of the city too!
bike/hiking trails : You don’t have to look hard to find a good trail in St George. Whether you want to take a family walk/bike ride, or try something a little more strenuous, you’ll find it there! We love going on family walks in the evenings + just enjoying the beautiful area.
tonaquint park : Tonaquint Park is by far our favorite spot in St George. It is such a FUN park. There is a huge open area that is great for running around or playing soccer. The playground area is an all abilities park, which I think is so awesome. The swings, slides, and just everything is made so even if your little ones are in a wheel chair, they can enjoy the same fun as the other kids. My little people especially love the zip line! There is also a fun train ride that goes around the whole park area that my people, especially Houston love! It is definitely a must stop if you are in the area!
town square splash pad : St George is a warm one, especially when summer rolls around. One of our favorite spots to cool down is the town square splash pad. It is not your average splash pad! In addition to the sprays + fountains, there is also a lazy river that runs down the middle. It is only a few inches deep but so fun for the little people to splash around or sit in to cool down.
children’s museum : This is right in town square next to the splash pad and a great place to cool down in the summer. It has a bunch of different “real life” interactive areas to play, like a grocery store, airplane, post office, etc. It’s only $5 and my people love it!
boating : One of our favorite things to do in St George is go boating with Joe’s family. Both Quail Creek + Sand Hollow are within about 15 minutes of St George and so fun! Sand Hollow has a great “beach area” for the little people to play or to set up a picnic area and just lounge too.
golf : St George is known for its amazing golf courses + it’s one of Joe’s favorite things to do with his brothers when we go down. There are so many good courses to choose from, but their favorite is Sand Hollow.
red moutain spa : This spa is incredible! It is actually a tradition that for Christmas my dad treats all of us girls to a mini spa day here. They have a yummy lunch that they put in a package deal with 1 or 2 services for a discounted price. It is such a gorgeous place to just relax + catch up with my favorite girls!
fiesta fun : This is a new addition to our list but quickly becoming a favorite! They have all kinds of things to do including mini golf, bowling, laser tag, go carts, pretty much you name it! We love reserving their “b lounge” for family parties. It is like your own private bowling room with 4 lanes, its own seating + bathroom. It is the perfect way to still have the bowling fun as a huge group, but keep all the little people (especially the wild babies) trapped in one space!
These are our family favorites, but I’d love to hear all of yours too so we can try them out!!
