chalk.chalk.chalk

Chalkboard paint might be my favorite thing in the entire world- I am 100% obsessed with it! Everything that I own would be covered in chalkboard paint if I had the time. A chalkboard in the kitchen is a whimsical necessity for everyone, it is perfect for writing menus, recipes, to-do lists, and daily affirmations. My new kitchen was lacking wall space to hang a chalkboard, so I decided to paint the ugly pantry door into a giant one! The depth of the black color and ever changing drawings that cover it add a layer of interest and playfulness to the room. Major bonus alert. . . the large chalkboard is perfect for the kids! It keeps them busy while you are cooking + baking!

 {before}

 

{after}

check out pinterest for some other amazing ideas!

beach hair potion

Memorial day weekend is just a few days away and the ocean + sunshine are calling our names. Oh wait, we have other plans. . .  wah wah. With a BBQ on the to-do list this weekend we still want to pretend like we were at the beach all day like all of you other folks!  Here is a perfect little potion to create those salty ocean waves without actually going the the beach. We made it using ingredients that we already had in our cabinets, it other words it was FREE!

 {yep, that's us!!}

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon all natural sea salt

1 tablespoon organic coconut oil

2 cups hot water

1 tablespoon hair gel or leave in conditioner

Fill a cute spray bottle with hot water and dissolve the sea salt completely. Add the other ingredients and shake what your mama gave ya! Just kidding. But seriously, shake the bottle for 60 seconds or long enough to mix everything thoroughly. Spray the potion onto your hair // twist baby sections of hair // let dry in the sunshine. That's it!! Make sure to shake it up before each use. Here is a little more beach hair inspiration. . .

heavenly abs

As part of our get fit project we are sharing with you a dreamy ab workout that we love and do everyday! Crunches are important for firming and strengthening your gorgeous abs. In addition to this series, do a total-body strength workout to boost your overall lean muscle mass, and blast fat and calories with a consistent cardio routine (at least 30 minutes, five days a week). Don't forget to follow a healthy diet of tons of fruits and veggies!

1. do 16 standard crunches

2. bring one knee into your chest using your lower abs. holding knee in, do 8 crunches

3. straighten your leg straight up from your hip with toes pointed. do 8 crunches

4. keeping your leg up, straighten the other leg parallel to the ground with toes pointed, completely engaging your lower abdominals. do 8 crunches

*repeat steps 1-4 on the other side, lifting the opposite leg

Finish your heavenly ab workout by holding a plank for 1 minute!

Planks are probably the best all-around abs exercise. They are safe, effective, and efficient. Don't let your hips sag or your shoulders round! Make sure to do it right! Keep your elbows in line with your shoulders and tighten every muscle in your body. . . 

DIY :: S'MORE KITS

Let's just say that we are not a camping family, except for our older sister Katie. She married into a family of campers and now has bins in her garage dedicated to the "sport".  For her son's 7th birthday they rented a campsite and invited us along. We thought, hey why not make a project out of our adventure and make the kids s'more kits? We filled boxes with the standard graham crackers, hershey's chocolates, and marshmallows. Simple yes, but oh so cute! We bought fabric, cut it into squares, wrapped the boxes, and tied them to sticks for roasting. These blissful boxes of goodies would be perfect for birthday parties, wedding favors, a baby shower, or just to spice up your next camping trip. With open minds and a suitcase full of our glam-ping gear, our adventure ended up being truly divine!

Supplies for 6 boxes:

1.5 yards of fabric

6 boxes (Joannes has em)

clear bags (also from Joannes)

bakers twine (optional- I just tie it on EVERYTHING!)

1 box of marshmallows

1 box of graham crackers

1 bag of individually wrapped hershey bars

6 sticks

Box makes 2 s'mores each! When you pack your baggies put 2 graham crackers in a bag (the box should have 4 crackers total) as well as 2 marshmallows in a bag. 

Tie your box up in fabric. Watch a great tutorial here!

Grab some little helpers to hunt for the perfect roasting sticks!

Throw em' over your shoulder!

p.s. the fabric can double as a placemat/napkin. 

Trust us, you will be thankful for those after all of that ooey, gooey, goodness! 

magical morning shake

With memorial day right around the corner, we are determined to have the healthiest and most heavenly bodies possible! Let's start with a recipe for the most important meal of the day. This magical morning shake is full of fiber, protein, and yumminess to keep you full for hours. Whether you go to school, work full time,  or chase kids around all day, it is important to wake your body up correctly. If you are looking for a something to begin your day with lasting energy, that can help you lose weight, and can help in the fight against heart disease and other anxiety-inducing diseases, drink this shake!! It is pretty darn delicious too. . .

here is what you need:

1 banana

1 cup almond milk (or whatever kind of milk that you like)

a handful of raw almonds

1/4 cooked oatmeal (we used organic, plain, gluten-free instant rolled oats)

a sprinkle of cinnamon

1 scoop of ground flaxseed

1 cup of ice

optional: add fresh organic fruit like strawberries or blueberries, and hey throw in a spoon full of almond butter too!!

enjoy!!

We Heart Our Mama

DIY :: painted pots

I saw these cute itty bitty plants in terracotta pots as I was checking out at Trader Joes the other day. I am a sucker for those impulse buys at registers, but give me a good gossip mag and I will try my hardest to avoid throwing another $20 bucks worth of needless things into my cart at the last minute! Anyways, I ended up buying 3 of them with the intention of painting them in fancy neon shades. With Mother's Day approaching, my mind wanders to all of my beautiful friends that are mothers. My idea? Ding dong ditch! I am the master of leaving little gifts on the doorsteps of others. I am not gonna lie, I find pleasure in picturing them opening their doors and finding little goodies sitting on their porch all alone waiting for them. . . These are perfect for any occasion or non-occasion! Try ding dong ditching someone today. . . Stay tuned for pics of my ditches tomorrow!! In the meantime, grab your paint brush and start jazzing up those pots.

{have a mystical weekend}

trend love :: JUMP AROUND

The jumpsuit, also known as the one piece wonder of the world, is our new obsession for summer. Made for playing, this little number is super easy to throw on and can be accessorized to the max. Wear your playsuit to the beach, to a festival, to work, or around the house. The only bummer is that there is no easy access with this one, good luck in the bathroom, ha. Here are a few of our favorite ways to channel your inner Mick Jagger. . .

This one found it's way into my closet thanks to ANTHROPOLOGIE. . .

How will you wear yours?

photo credit // late afternoon . lovers in vain .  jaclyn paige

hey, kool keys

Here is a crazy simple DIY project perfect to add a little pizzazz into your everyday life. How many times a day do you pick up your keys? Why not give them a touch of love? We promise that it will make you smile inside at the sight of your pretty kool keys. . .

  

one

First things first, please take off that ugly Pet Smart plastic tag that you have on your keychain when you only go to Pet Smart twice a year! Thanks.  

Most importantly grab your favorite nail polish colors. . . one color for each key!

two

Paint a generous layer of color onto the top each key. I suppose that you could just dip the keys in paint? But I tend to live on the cautious/perfectionist side of life. . .

three

Let your keys dry completely for an hour. Be patient. Trust me, don't get aggressive on it. I did and had to start all over cause I smudged the paint. Ain't that always the way?

four

Using a gold leaf pen (got mine at Michaels) draw designs that you love on one side of your key. You could number them if you have a collection on there for easy guidance! I drew a triangle and stripes.

Enjoy!

bathroom refresh

Spring means time to freshen up the little places around the house that get a bit neglected! Show your bathroom some love and you will find yourself and your family refreshed + relaxed. Here are a few things that I picked up to create our mystical oasis. 

Go ahead and give your bathroom a facelift. . . it is worth every penny.

sechura bath towels. mod desert bath mat. demarcation shower curtain. 

losada soap dish. feather inlaid knob all from ANTHROPOLOGIE of course :)

{BEFORE}

Here is what our bathroom looked like when we bought our place last summer. And here it is. . .

{AFTER}

 We created an inexpensive vanity using IKEA kitchen cabinets complete with a farmhouse sink for triple person teeth brushing action. The funky {not in a cool way} seventies mirror was given some cheap love by building a chunky frame around the edge. We love the vintage feel of the white  hexagon tiles surrounded by gray grout on the floors and of course the mod desert bath mat.

I grabbed this expanding mirror from IKEA as well. I can't put on mascara without it. Gotta love the blossoming branches too. . .

 Dinner plates can make great make-up stations. . . oh and that little ceramic jar was hand painted by my great grandma {it keeps all of my bobby pins safe}

Berlin's bath toys belong in a vintage metal bucket of course 

{anyone with kids knows that this is only like a third of her toys}

XOXO

cinco de mayo salsa

Get ready!! Our family has been making this fresh, homemade salsa for years and it has become a staple in our fiesta dinner extravaganza!! We love our mexican food and this just completes us on so many levels. Perfect for creating a massive vegan burrito as well as the ultimate dip for your chips. Get creative with this recipe because we promise you that it is the best way to get your 5 servings of veggies!! All you need to do is chop the following organic veggies + mix:

4 roma tomatoes, 1 red onion, 1 tomatillo, 2 jalapeno peppers, 2 cups fresh corn, 1/2 cup cilantro, 2 avocados. Sprinkle a little sea salt+pepper and go to town!! P.S. Tequila and chips required. . .

{how cute is our dad's hand dipping the first chip??}

Here is the mega vegan burrito made with our salsa, spicy black bean spread (from Trader Joes) and some lettuce shreds!! YUM!! What will you create with this salsa?