It’s been awhile since I have shared some of my favorite things. With summer approaching I figured I would share some of my favorites! Every once in awhile I will stop myself and try to appreciate a little something that makes my life easier. It can be easy to list things or items we want in our lives, but I love finding joy in things I already own. Not that I don’t love to buy something that will bless my family, but I’m trying to live in a way that I recognize little things that make my life easier.
And you can also read about my favorite things from last summer! I still love all of them!
I know I have listed this one before, BUT it’s a favorite. And I just found out that they make tumblers that would be perfect for around the pool. A common problem we have in the summer is our drinks staying cold (#AZproblems) so this seems like the perfect solution. I love having access to clean and cold water. Life is better hydrated. These will be perfect for our non stop pool days. And these cups don’t sweat so they are perfect for drinking at your desk if you don’t have the summer off.
Avenda’s Hand Relief
This is hands down (get it?) my FAVORITE hand lotion. It was designed for hair stylists who are constantly shampooing clients. This hand cream absorbs into your skin and keeps your hands soft. And with working on my backyard these past couple of months, it’s been a life saver. Digging trenches, planting flowers, and working with rocks have scratched up my hands pretty good. This hand cream has been a life saver. To purchase this product you will need to find an Aveda store or salon. If you are in Orange County I would suggest this one. Bonus: This product isn’t tested on animals.
My hubby got this for me a couple of years ago. And I was so excited to have a blender that actually blends things. But I didn’t realized how much I would love it or the two extra cup attachments. My preferred breakfast is a breakfast burrito. I’ve been trying to have more protein in the morning in my attempt to eat healthier. I know from having a type 1 diabetic son that a good breakfast can set the tone for the day. And although my breakfast burrito has some carbs (tortillas), having eggs and some bacon bits helps me eat more protein in the morning. But some mornings I don’t have an extra 20 minutes to make and eat a burrito. So I started making a chocolate protein shake instead. I love not skipping breakfast AND getting protein. Plus those extra cups mean less dishes and I can whip up a shake in like 2 minutes. I also love using them on the weekend when my hubby makes smoothies. We also use it when we make family smoothies because Draco can make his own smoothie, which makes calculating his carbs for breakfast so much easier! Plus it also comes with a food processor, perfect for jam and these truffles.
Washing Machine Timer
My friend from my old salon told me what a life saver this was years ago, back when I didn’t have a timer on my washing machine. But I recently realized that I now do and it’s a life changer! I ‘start’ a load late at night and have it start for 7:00 am. When I come downstairs in the morning I switch my clothes into the dryer. It’s not even 8 and I already have a load of laundry pretty much done. This helps our family avoid the peak hours which helps our bill AND it reduces the chances of my clothes being forgotten and thus getting smelly. And because my kids often forget the do their laundry on busy weekends I can have them get going on their laundry before they go to school . I love this time saving trick! With 6 people in our family we always have laundry to do!
We have one of these speakers in our bathroom. I love being able to listen to music while I’m in the shower. It’s great when I’m in a hurry. I know I only have a couple of songs I can listen to before I have to get out. It’s water resistant so it’s perfect for the shower, pool, or kitchen. And did I mention it’s under $15? I love that it’s small and I can bring it with me as I clean the house. With it being summer we take it outside with us when we are swimming.
Kitchen Aid Ice Cream Maker Attachment
Our family loves making ice cream during the summer. I scored a standard ice cream maker at my local thrift shop for $10. But let me tell you I LOVE my kitchen aid attachment!!! I keep my bowl in the freezer all the time so we are always ready to make ice cream. And the best part I don’t have to layer salt and ice. I just attach it to my kitchen aid. And the ice cream is so much creamier. And looks like ice cream you would buy at the store. Our most recent favorite flavor is Churro Ice Cream. It’s so delicious and easy to make! I’m going to try and make a new flavor each week this summer. So thankful my hubby got me this attachment for my birthday.
I’ve been looking for a new foundation to try since Christmas. I’ve known about Cara, a beauty blogger, for awhile now. But then she released a new make-up line that is designed to help you high light and contour your face. Click over to read her story. I love the simplicity and how quickly you can apply your make-up. As a busy mom of 4 I don’t do my make-up everyday. And I’m sure I will still have make up free days. But when I do want to do my make-up (and I want those days to be the usual) I can’t spend a lot of time on it. It’s so easy to apply. I love saving time and looking better. I just ordered my kit and I am so excited!!! My friend Tonya can help you pick the colors that work best with your skin tone. Click over and get her contact information.
These are the things that I am crazy about right now! Looking forward to a lovely summer while I spend time with my family. If you are looking for more ways to connect with your family check out this post. Summer time is the perfect time to spend time with your family and relax. Do you have a favorite summer recent find? Please share it in the comments below! I love hearing what works for other families!
Summer Favorites 2016 (and still used today)
5 Ways to Connect with your Family
Some of these items are affiliated links. You are welcomed to buy from anywhere. But I don’t mind if you buy them from here. I only share items I really like or use. Thanks for your support!