Home Decor Tips to Style to Your Home When You Are Renting

May 20, 2013 By 2 Comments

Home Decor Tips

FTC DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT Crunchy Frugalista aims to provide unbiased editorials. However, I wish to disclose that from time to time I may receive free products or other compensation from companies for blogger reviews.

The things that makes a house a home is how you decorate it. These home decor tips are going to show you how I keep my home stylish yet practical while renting (plus raising my three kids!) Even though we are renting right now, doesn’t mean that we can’t make it feel like a cozy place to live. It just means the changes that we make can’t involve paint or more permanent changes!

The additional challenge is when you have kids in the home. Even though my kids are older, they can still wreak havoc on my house. Table cloths, tables, floors yep they all require CONSTANT cleaning because we all know kids are messy! Who has time for that? So these tips are a way to fit into a busy moms schedule as well. Practical yet beautiful!

Home Decor Tip

Home Decor Tips to Style Your Home!

Make personal pieces: Find some crafts that you love, and then learn how to make them knockouts! To of my favorite crafts I have ever made I feature in my home. One is my “LOVE” word art piece. It’s a super simple craft piece that I made using scrapbook card stock paper and a frame I got at Goodwill. It’s a great piece but cost me less than a few dollars!

My other favorite is the my “make your own chalkboard“! It’s made from an old cabinet door I bought from my local Habitat from Humanity Restore. Each season I change the message which adds a personal touch to the home.

Home Decor Tips

 Buy a few unique anchor pieces: Buy a few anchor pieces that you could accent your home with, and keep out of the general traffic of children. I have fallen in love with old windows and doors. Right now I have an old window that I sit in the corner of my living room. In my last home, I made it a mantle piece with a wreath over the top (which I changed seasonally). It’s unique and can be decorated for the seasons or your mood to bring a pop of color into the home.

Home Decor Tips

Celebrate pops of color:  Grab a bright throw pillow and/or blanket. Find an amazing piece of ceramic or glass to bring a pop of color to your living room. These are non-permanent changes that can make a great difference. Plus, most of these are easily washed or out of the way of children to prevent extra hassle in your decor theme.

Adorn your walls with some amazing photos: Photography happens to be one of my new hobbies. When I need a new decoration for my wall, I head out into nature and grab some great shots. Check out this one of the Minehaha Falls. I am going to make a larger print and grab a frame from Goodwill. Spend $2-$3 for an amazing piece that will start conversations with your house guests.

Minehaha FallsUse Command Strips to hang your pictures: (Thanks Denise and Ashley) If you don’t want to poke holes in your walls, grab some Command Strips! Amazon always has some really great deals on them. They are strong and they don’t harm the walls. We use them right now for my son’s Hot Wheels car sets that go on the wall.

 

With these few tips, you can make your house a home. We all know that it’s hard to be stylish and be a mom. Life is so hectic, but anytime you think your life is crazy make sure to think about Pretty Wicked Moms (a new series on Lifetime premiering June 4th at 10pm ET!) to see how crazy life can be. Check out the trailer and you are sure to feel better about the “chaos” in your house! These moms are full of drama and sass, but still keep it stylish!

What are some of your favorite home decor tips for renters?

Filed Under: Entertainment, Featured Post, Frugal Tips Tagged With: , ,

Ways to Avoid Stress During Party Planning Season + GREAT Giveaway!

May 16, 2013 By 2 Comments
aura cacia

Disclosure: I did receive free products from Aura Cacia to facilitate this review, but the wit and genius are 100% my own.

Party planning season is right around the corner. It’s time for weddings, graduations, and of course summer parties! Parties can be a great way to spend time with your family and friends, but if you are the one doing all the planning it can be really stressful. Honestly for me that’s why Mr. Crunchy and I usually keep our parties pretty small and intimate.

aura cacia

When I get really stressed out, like gonna pull my hair out stressed out, I pull a few tools from my stress relief tool box. One of those tools is my essential oil collection from Aura Cacia. I say collection because I have been using their essential oils for years. A friend of mine back in California was an herbologist and got me started using essential oils to improve my life.

Since I tend to be a bit of a stress bucket, I try to keep things in the house that are soothing. When I am in my office working or planning my next party, I get out my favorite Aura Cacia blend to relax me a bit. (Trust me it works) One of my favorite things to do for stress relief are these tips:

  • Add 3 drops of ylang ylang to sweet almond oil to create a natural perfume.
  • Place 1-2 drops of ylang ylang on pillow at night for sweet dreaming.
  • Add 7-10 drops of ylang ylang to tub for a relaxing, sensual bath experience.
  • Combine 2 drops ylang ylang and 4 drops bergamot per ounce of water for an uplifting mood mister.aura cacia

Aura Cacia has added some pretty awesomesauce new products to their line throughout the year. One of my favorites is the new aromatherapy room diffuser. They have these great reusable pads that you can put drops of your favorite essential oil on and let them waft through your room. Mine is in my office. It’s a great blend of lavendar and ylang ylang to calm my stress ball butt down.

To learn more about Aura Cacia, make sure to check out their website and their social media channels

 

Now for the really exciting part! You can get to win your very own Aura Cacia “Choose Calm” kit! This great kit includes:

  • Ylang Ylang III Essential Oil
  • Euphoric Ylang Ylang Massage Oil
  • Sensual Cinnamon & Ylang Ylang Foam Bath
  • Euphoric Ylang Ylang Mineral Bath
  • Aromatherapy Room Diffuser

 

Filed Under: Featured Post, Life Tagged With: ,

Composting In Small Spaces: An Urban Gardening Tip

May 15, 2013 By 5 Comments
composting

For the past few years, I have been dabbling with the idea of composting. We have also thought a lot about homesteading. You know, getting back to basics. Days when all food was made from scratch, and you knew exactly where your food was coming from. Food is more wholesome this way, and it also minimizes your carbon footprint since most of your food is grown and/or local. It doesn’t have to travel thousands of miles to get to you, so there is no depletion of nutrients.

composting

When I begin conquests like this, I tend to bite off a bit more than I can chew. It’s what I am and what I do, but this time I promised to do some research and get things done properly. Off to the library I went, to get an arsenal of books to quench my thirst for knowledge. I wanted to be Suzy Q homesteader even though my yard isn’t the best place for crops. (That’s why I need the urban gardening books.)

I read book after book about how to raise your own chickens, pick which vegetables and fruits to grow. Even how to grow fruits and vegetables right from the ones that you have on your table. (I am a growing my own pineapple right now )

With knowledge in hand, I am ready to take on spring! Grabbing my overalls and proverbial pitch fork, I am ready to become one with the Earth and open my own homestead. Wait, there’s a problem I live in the middle of a city.

Let the Composting Begin

Nevertheless, I am not going to let my city dweller status stop me! I have decided my first homesteading adventure is going to be setting up my own compost pile. This is actually going to be really simple to do. To make your own outdoor compost bin, you don’t need any fancy contraption all you need is a large outdoor plastic trash can with a lid.

If you want to take on the challenge too check out how to make your own compost bin. To get your compost started, make sure to drill holes about 12 inches from the bottom and drill all the way around. Once you have down that put it in an area that it won’t get knocked over. If you are going to be placing it on the ground, drill holes in the bottom to welcome worms to come in and help make vermicompost. It decomposes things faster, plus its some of the best compost you can have!

Now you are ready to start composting. Put table scraps in your compost, make sure to leave out anything with dairy or meat in it. Once you start using your compost, you want to make sure to have an even mixture of brown and green byproducts. Green would be things like table scraps, and brown would be yard waste like leaves and twigs. It’s really important to layer your compost evenly between the two for it to  properly compost down.

Ready to Start Your Own?

It will take probably about a full year for your compost to be ready, but it helps reduce the amount of garbage goes to the landfill dramatically. Plus, when your compost is ready you will have some of the best plant fertilizer and you won’t have to spend a penny for it!

Now go ahead, and get started. Now is the perfect time to get your plans together on how to start your own compost piles and make your gardens look fabulous!

 

Filed Under: Featured Post Tagged With:

10 Quick Ways to Spruce Up an Outfit

May 9, 2013 By 2 Comments
Cents of Style

Disclosure: This Post Contains Affiliate Links

You guys know that the last few weeks I have worked on putting myself first. Well, this week I am happy to report that I have made it a full week with getting up, actually showering before noon, getting dressed (no yoga pants DON’T count), and even throwing on some eyeliner a time or two.

I feel SO much better now that I have been doing this. It’s amazing that the small things make you feel better. It also got me thinking. What other small ways can you spruce up yourself. Nope, it’s not always the outside that makes you feel better that is true, but for right now I am sharing tips that put an extra little spring in your step.

Feel Fab Friday

 

Last week, we talked about 7 tips to make you feel better about yourself. This week, I wanted to share 10 quick ways to spruce up your outfit. I am a complete low maintenance kind of girl, but I LOVE finding something fun to wear or do to myself that is just “me.” You know, that fun accessory or quirk that just makes you feel great! Also you guys know I am SO not about to break the bank to look great, so of course all of these tips are going to be frugal as well!

10 Quick Ways to Spruce Up an Outfit

1. Stacking Bracelets: Grab some funky bracelets and mix it up! Mix glam with casual. Just whatever YOU like. It’s about finding your taste, not mine or what some fashion magazine says to like. Personally, I love these stackable bracelets (yep, totally hooked on their stuff now)

Cents of Style

Look how bright and colorful that is! Love it. Plus, because it’s Feel Fabulous Friday you can get 5 bracelets for only $15.99 shipped. (They are regularly $60!) Make sure to look around, they have tons of great bracelets. Just enter coupon code STACKED at checkout.

2. Add a Funky Purse: I love cruising Goodwill. That is probably why “Thrift Shop” by Maclemore is one of my songs at the moment! Get creative think outside of the box. Plus, if you score it at the thrift shop, you know it won’t break the bank.

3. Find new outfits in your own closet: Have you been wearing the same thing day in and day out? Come on admit it, we have ALL done it. Well, head to your own closet and mix and match until you find a cute new outfit. It’s like going shopping without spending the dough.

4. Earrings, Dahling: I am an accessory junky. I love the ones that look fab with my jeans and tshirts or I can dress up for something a little bit more fancy. Plus, it’s an inexpensive way to add a little bling!

5. Layers: In Minnesota, it’s all about the layers. You can create tons of different outfits just by changing your layers. I am a sucker for my zip up hoodie sweaters. Yeah, total dork I know ;)

Charming Charlie Ring

6. Funky Ring Baby: I have fallen in love with those obscenely large rings, but my requirement is they HAVE to be comfortable. Charming Charlie’s has a great selection of inexpensive rings that are stretchy on the back and mold to your finger. That’s what I wore to the Iron Man 3 premiere. It was awesome.

7. Funky flats are your friend: I love shoes that you can wear with multiple outfits (see the trend here). My Lindsay Phillips ballet flats are a new favorite. They sell these awesome clips that you can mix and match to create different looks. The shoes are a bit pricey at $60, but they are worth every penny. They are one of the most comfy ever! If you are going to spend a little money I would spend it here.

8. Nails are the way to go: No, I am not talking full blown nail art. Just find a funky nail shade you like and paint your nails and/or your toes. Remember, I am a simple gal. (Well that and I have crazy unsteady hands!)

9. Dare to be different: I am all about unique style. No, I am not talking about People of Walmart kind of style, but spruce up your outfit by exploring things YOU like! If you like stripes with polka dots, wear it! Who cares what anyone else thinks :)

10. Wear Something From the Heart: Wear something you made or has sentimental value to you. One of my favorite things to wear is a cool broach that my grandfather gave me for Christmas last year. It’s a little funky, and totally not something I would normally wear but it reminds me of him every time I wear it!

 

What’s YOUR favorite ways to spruce up an outfit?

 

Want to read more great articles like this one? Make sure to check out all the Feel Fab Friday posts here at Crunchy Frugalista

Filed Under: Fashion, Featured Post Tagged With: , ,

It’s The Little Things that Make You Feel Better About Yourself

May 2, 2013 By 3 Comments
7 tips to feel better about yourself

Disclosure: I did receive a free bauble from Cents of Style, but the super power installed in the necklace are 100% mine.

My trip to LA was an absolute once in a lifetime opportunity, but you know what there was ONE major thing getting in my way. ME! Having to take pictures of myself, at my heaviest non pregnant weight, was one of THE hardest things I have had to do. This may sound like something trivial, but when you have struggled with self esteem issues your whole life it can feel like the world is caving in on you.

Why Am I So MEAN?

Don’t get me wrong, I think I am a pretty awesome chick. I am ok with my personality, my saracatic wit, and my sense of loyalty to my friends and family. It’s the exterior that I STILL having a hard time accepting. Hearing myself talk to myself, NO I don’t mean voices in your head kinda talk, I am downright MEAN to myself sometimes. (Read more at the bottom for 7 tips to feel better about yourself and stop being so mean!)

iron man 3 premiere

Over the course of the trip, I had absolutely no problem passing out compliments to 24 other bloggers that were on the trip. We were a beautiful group of all different types of women. Big, small, short, tall, young, old(er). It was a beautiful thing. Then why couldn’t I get over MYSELF and just let me be?

Are You a Priority?

It was about midway through the trip that my friend Vera, from Lady and the Blog, said something that really clicked. We were talking about our websites, her’s happens to be fashion. It wasn’t her fashion that intrigued me, but her philosophy behind the fashion. It’s all about putting ourselves back on the “to do” list. She shared she had an ah hah moment a few years back after having her children that she didn’t even recognize the woman in the mirror anymore (ok we all know we have had that moment). So, she decided to make herself a priority again.

How many of you have said that but never actually done it? I know I have. It’s been pretty obvious for years that taking care of myself hasn’t been a priority for years. Come on, I will be the first to admit I am the stereotypical work at home mom. Coffee is my breakfast of choice and jammie pants my work attire. If a brush hits my rats nest head of hair, it’s been a good day!

feel better about yourself

 

When I got home, I vowed to make a change. I have spent all this time learning more about mindful eating, and it’s high time that I make myself a priority. I need to find the little things that make me feel better about myself. Since I have been back, that’s exactly what I have been doing, and you know what? It’s amazing how much a neat accessory, some eyeliner, a shower, and some alone time in the morning makes you feel so amazing!

Last week, I got this really  neat necklace from Cents of Style and it’s become my new happy moment. It’s not because of vanity, it’s because it’s fun! The necklace is not something I would’ve picked for myself because I’ve never felt fashionable, (still really don’t) but it’s FUN! It’s bright, it’s colorful and it screams that I love me!

The first day I wore the necklace, it inspired me to actually get dressed AND blow dry my hair. I even managed to throw on a little eye liner. Just taking that 20 minutes to actually put together something nice to wear, fix my hair, and spend some time on myself made me realize just how much I hadn’t been spending any time on myself. Auto pilot was my method of transportation, with detours through “you are wearing that” city and “don’t even think about going out of the house in that” boulevard. (I mean I was one step above People of Walmart.com folks ;) )

Cents of Style

This necklace has come to symbolize hope, it’s kinda like my new super power. While the new bauble is fabulous, it’s not because it’s an accessory. It’s because it proved to myself that I DO need to make myself a priority and just how good it feels when I do. It feels really great, and I need to build the habit of putting more “me” into the daily schedule!

Now what about you? Have you ever felt this way? Come on, be honest?! Need some inspiration then? Here are some tips on how to grab those little things that make you feel a little bit better about yourself everyday!

7 tips to feel better about yourself

1. 15 minutes of me time: Before the kids get up, or after they go to bed spend 15 minutes of “me” time. Just 15 minutes where you can unwind doing whatever you want.

2. Be Kind to Yourself: All those compliments you so freely give to others, turn it around and say them to yourself.

3. Smile and Laugh: When you are having a rough day, remember life is too short and SMILE!

4. Get Dressed: No matter how busy you are, always try to get dressed. Yeah, it’s fun some days to stay in yoga pants, but try to get showered and dressed! It’s amazing how something simple like that will put a spring in your step.

5. Change it up: Buy yourself something fun! My mint and coral flower necklace from Cents of Style was my latest treat! (provided by Cents of Style).  Find something you wouldn’t normally buy, and make it fun!

6. Write down what you like about yourself: This is a trick I did with my daughter when she had problems with bullies. Take some time a few times a week and write a list of things you love about you! It may be hard at first, but eventually you will be amazed at how long the list is!

7. Be Thankful for your body: No matter what your body looks like, be thankful for it and honor it. Move it when you feel like moving, embrace the changes in your body that have come with growing older or having children. Think of all the amazing adventures that your body has helped you have!

As a treat to you guys, I just might start sharing more of my goodies and baubles that I find that make me feel fabulous! It’s all about making you look and feel your best :) . Remember it’s the small things that do that! (Plus, who doesn’t like a deal or two on a beautiful goodies??)

To kick off Crunchy’s Feel Fabulous Friday, make sure to check out these Cents of Style deals :) (Use coupon code MINTED)

Pearl Bangle Bracelets $4.49 shipped (Reg. $10.95) 

Julia Scarf $8.95 shipped (Reg. $14.95)

TONS of Other goodies starting at $4.95 shipped

 In case you didn’t see it at the top (do you even read the top?), I did receive a free necklace from Cents of Style. All super powers and opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Fashion, Featured Post, Weight Loss Tagged With: , , , ,

Crockpot Snack Mix Recipe!

April 23, 2013 By 17 Comments
Slow-Cooker

 Slow Cooker Snack Mix Main

 

Hey Crunchy Frugalista readers, I’m Wendy from Around My Family Table.  I wish I were hanging out with Ashley this week in Hollywood with Robert Downey Jr. {swoon}, but alas I’m here with this fabulous slow cooker recipe for y’all!  I cook mostly from scratch recipes that are perfect for families.  My recipes are easy and most are kid friendly too!

Slow Cooker Snack Mix Main

I love snack mixes and this one does not disappoint. {Promise!} But making it in the slow cooker was a brilliant idea, if I do say so!  If you don’t know, I’m in Phoenix…saying it’s HOT here in the summer is an understatement.  I hate turning on my oven for any amount of time in the summer…seriously it heats up the whole house; however, sometimes I just need a good snack mix.

Slow Cooker Snack Mix

My slow cooker snack mix is made to be gluten free and vegan, but it can easily be adapted for anyone.  Just use regular butter and substitute Cheerios for the Puffins.  I think everyone likes rice cereal though…ya know, Rice Chex!  Also, if you are vegan then please double check the Worcestershire sauce ingredients…mine is vegan, but I’ve heard some might not be.

Slow Cooker Snack Mix

I mentioned that I love a good snack mix.  This one is perfect…just enough seasoning, the right amount of salt, and not too spicy.  In fact, I had to hide the bag of snack mix because I kept nibbling on it and I think Hubbyman would divorce me if I don’t save him some.

 

Slow Cooker Snack Mix

I would love to have y’all over to my table…find me at AroundMyFamilyTable.com, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Google +.

 

Print
Crockpot Snack Mix Recipe! (Allergy Friendly)

Ingredients

  • 5 cups rice cereal
  • 1 cup Puffins cereal (or Cheerios if not needing gluten-free)
  • 1 cup thin pretzels (gluten free, I prefer Glutino brand)
  • 1 cup peanuts
  • 1 stick (1/2 cup) Earth Balance “butter” (or butter)
  • 4 tbls Worcestershire sauce
  • Dash Tobasco
  • ½ tsp seasoning salt
  • ½ tsp garlic salt
  • ½ tsp onion salt

Instructions

  1. In a large slow cooker, combine first 4 ingredients.
  2. In a microwave safe bowl, melt “butter” for about 30 seconds in microwave or until completely melted. Add remaining ingredients and stir well combine. Pour over cereal mix and mix well.
  3. Turn on slow cooker to high heat and cook uncovered for 1 hour then turn to low to cook for an additional 1 hour. Stir every 30 minutes.
  4. Turn out onto paper towels and let cool. Store mix in a ziptop baggie for up to 1 week.

 

 

Filed Under: Featured Post, Recipes Tagged With: , ,

10 Tips for Budget Gift Shopping

April 18, 2013 By 11 Comments
budget shoppoing

I am blogging on behalf of Visa Prepaid and received compensation for my time from Visa for sharing my views in this post, but the views expressed here are solely mine, not Visa’s. Discover more at http://www.VisaPrepaid.com or view more Visa Prepaid videos at http://www.youtube.com/visaprepaid.

 

April is almost over, and May and June are right around the corner! That means graduation and wedding season are almost here, but how are you planning to stay within your budget when it comes to buying gifts this year.

Staying in my budget has always been a challenge for me. It’s actually one of the things that prompted me to look into frugal ways to buy gifts when I first started Crunchy Frugalista. I love giving gifts, and sometimes it was SO hard not to buy something that was more than I planned to spend. (especially if I knew someone would love to have it)

budget shoppoing

Over time, I came up with some ways to make sure that I stayed within my budget. That way I didn’t feel guilt about blowing my budget, and my wallet didn’t hurt just to make someone else’s day. Gift giving should be about the thought, not breaking the bank!

If you have the same problems that I did, make sure to check out these 10 tips to stay on budget when you are buying gifts this year. You will end up being happy you didn’t exceed your budget, plus you will still be able to find your friends and family fabulous gifts to celebrate their special occasion!

10 Tips to Stay Within Your Gift Budget

1. Use Their Gift Registry For Inspiration: Just because someone registers for something doesn’t mean you have to get them exactly that item. (Though many would argue with me) Use their gift registry to gauge their needs, wants, and tastes then get creative.

2. Make Something: Make something unique that you know they would love. Have something around the house that could easily be crafted into an amazing gift? Then gift that! Just make sure a lot of thought has gone into it!

3. Hit The Sales: Each year when items are on seasonal clearance, I grab a few items that would make excellent wedding or graduation gifts. We have a “gift closet” where I can grab an item that would make a perfect gift. Plus, I normally saved at least 75% off the item!

4. Visa Prepaid Cards: Load your budget on your  Visa Prepaid card, and make sure it’s the only card you take to the store. That way, you have exactly what you can afford to spend. There’s no worry about overspending because you have exactly what you are willing to spend with you! These cards are super easy to load, and even easier to use! They have saved me many times throughout the years!

 

5. Regifting isn’t a bad thing: If you got something over the years that you have never used, but you know someone would really love to have it; regift it! No, that doesn’t mean hand those ugly Christmas socks down. Make sure your regifting is thoughtful and appropriate for the event.

6. Thrift Shops are Your Friends: Some of my most amazing gifts I have actually found at thrift shops or estate sales. You can find some great quality items at deep discounts, and your friends and family will never know where you got it! Just make sure to give the items a thorough inspection before buying.

7. Coupons aren’t just for groceries: A lot of big box stores that feature wedding items also have coupons! Make sure to check out the store and their coupon policy before you shop. It’s could save you a bundle.

8. Barter: Do you have a skill that would benefits a local shop owner? Ask if they would be willing to trade your gift for your time! This works best with locally owned shops. Sometimes the extra help is worth more than the cost of the item.

9. Gift your Time: If your budget is really tight, offer your services. Make a cute coupon booklet offering to help with the event or doing something for your loved one. When Mr. Crunchy was unemployed we made coupon booklets for our local friends, and they loved them.

10. Buy Into a Gift with Other Friends and Family: If you know a large item is at the top of their wishlist, pool your resources! Get together with other friends and family to buy the item. Be upfront with how much you can contribute!

 

Gift giving is truly one of my favorite things to do, and I love the challenge of finding an amazing gift that I paid virtually nothing for. Take these ten tips and strut your frugalista stuff! You are the only one that will know how much you paid, and it will be awesome when you see how much they rave!

What are some of your favorite ways to stay in your budget when budget gift shopping?

Filed Under: Featured Post, Frugal Tips Tagged With: , ,

Enjoy the Emerald Coast of Florida with Hilton Sandestin

April 17, 2013 By 19 Comments
Sandestin Hilton

Disclosure:My daughter and I did receive an all expenses paid trip to Hilton Sandestin resort, but all opinions are my own

Enjoy a Stay on Florida’s Emerald Coast

Hilton Sandestin

My eldest daughter and I had the opportunity to visit the Hilton Sandestin in Destin, Florida. Located on the Emerald Coast of Florida, this hotel is an amazing place to stay whether it’s for a romantic getaway or a vacation with the family.

The hotel rooms were perfect for families. In our suite, there was an amazing ocean front view, with walk out balcony. The suite also featured a king size bed with cute bunk beds for the kids! They even had TWO televisions. That is a must in our family so we don’t have hear the kids whine about what we are watching! You also had a great refrigerator and microwave that made eating more frugally possible during your stay! Though you probably won’t be in the room much it’s great to have such amazing accomodations.

Spas, Pools, and Beaches: Oh My!

Hilton Sandestin

One of the things I loved about Hilton Sandestin is that you could stay at the hotel and not have to go anywhere else during your vacation. There are enough activities for the kids, on the beach, or at the pool to keep you busy the whole time you are there.

Before you head out for a day in the sun, you have to check out the spa services at the Serenity by the sea Spa. This top of the line spa features a great relaxation area in both the men’s and women’s locker rooms, where you can spend all day in a plush robe while you sip beverages and eat healthy snacks. If you have need to release some tension make sure to  relax in the hot tub or sauna! Trust me spending the day away in this quiet oasis is worth it!

Hilton Sandestin

After you visit the spa, head out to one of the three pools at the  Hilton Sandestin. There are two outdoor and one indoor pools, plus an indoor and outdoor whirlpool. All of the pool decks were amazingly clean with ample seating and plenty of umbrellas for shade. You could even rent cabanas to spend the whole day out of the sun. (There might be an extra charge for the cabanas boys ;) )

When I say the hotel is on the beach, I mean LITERALLY right on the beach. There are two boardwalks heading right down to the white sugar beaches. You could opt to rent chairs and umbrellas or bring your own. There is always an amazing breeze down by the water, and it was one of our favorite ways to relax!

Award Winning Dining

Hilton Sandestin

After spending all day on the beach who isn’t hungry? The hotel is home to six amazing restaurants with something your whole family can enjoy! My daughter and I have VERY different tastes when it comes to food, and during our entire stay we enjoyed every single meal. The breakfast buffet alone went for miles I swear!

Ever heard the saying “if you leave hungry it’s your own fault?” Well, that is certainly the truth here. There is fine dining at the Seagar’s award winning restaurant, or grab a quick bite to eat the pool at Picnix! My daughter’s favorite restaurant was actually the Barefoot grill right by the pool. You can grab a bite to eat with a beautiful view of the ocean.

Fun for the Kids

Hilton Sandestin

If you just need a break from the kids, or want them to have an adventure of their own, the Hilton Sandestin  also features a great Kids Krew program. It’s located in the lower lobby and offers a variety of different programs for kids ages 5-12. My daughter was on the older end of the scale, but she still had a blast. During our stay she decorated her own Kids Krew t-shirt and a great frisbee that we could play on the beach with. The Kids Krew staff were great with the kids and really seemed to love what they do, which made the kids have even more fun!

Our Overall Experience

Though the Hilton line of hotels tend to be on the pricier side, I would have to say that the Hilton Sandestin  is worth EVERY penny. The friendly, courteous staff and the amazing location make it a perfect place to get away from home without having to bounce all over the place. There is enough fun activities, amazing food, and gorgeous beach for your whole family to enjoy. Keiran and I really can’t wait to take our whole family back to Hilton Sandestin so they can enjoy the experience we had!

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5 Ways Journaling Can Help You Lose Weight

April 12, 2013 By 9 Comments
Ecojot Jumbo Journals

We have all heard about how journaling can help you lose weight, but what you don’t know is that it should be a tool without judgement! Mindful eating takes a different approach to journaling. It’s not something to beat yourself up with. It’s a tool to help you understand your body and it’s needs.

The last few weeks, I have spent getting rid of the dieting mentality. You know that angry little person that sits on your shoulder and tells you what you “should” or “shouldn’t” eat. It gangs up with the one that looks in the mirror and tells you how “fat” you look today. They are quite the evil duo, and I have to say good riddance! They have tried to creep up on me the last few weeks, but this Crunchy mama is laying the smack down on those two!

journaling for weight loss

The next thing I want to work on is journaling when I am eating more mindfully. My relationship with food has been so awful over the years, that I almost fear being hungry. It’s completely foreign to me to forget about food and just listen for my body to tell me to eat. Honestly, I probably couldn’t tell you 100% what my hunger signals truly are. That’s why I am grabbing a journal and figuring this out!

Personally, I love my Ecojot jumbo journals for this. My favorite one has a great quote from Winston Churchill that says “Never, Never, Never, Give Up!” It gets me motivated when sometimes I feel like all this is too much work. So, I am committing for the next few weeks to attach my jumbo journal to my hip! Every time I take time to eat, it needs to be a utensil like my fork or spoon.

Ecojot Jumbo Journals

You can also print sheets out to journal your meals as well. I have made a free printable food journal for you to show you what is important to pay attention to. We aren’t talking about calories and fat grams, but how you feel before, during, and after the meal!

Weight loss is never the first goal when it comes to mindful eating, but if you are eating more because you aren’t listening to your body it can be a by product of your more intuitive eating approach. That’s why I wanted to share 5 ways journaling can help you lose weight on your mindful eating journey.

1. Learn Your Hunger Signals: If you have been overeating most of your life, journaling will help you recognize your hunger signals. It will also help you realize just how hungry you are. Getting too hungry is just going to lead to overeating because your body is afraid you are trying to starve it. This is a great way to learn the happy medium.

2. Learn When You are Full: Who hasn’t eaten to only realize they ate way too much? Paying attention to how you feel and writing it down will help you gauge when you should stop eating because your body is satisfied.

3.Learn What Foods You TRULY Enjoy: Binge eaters normally eat so fast that they really don’t taste their foods. With journaling, you might actually find some of your “favorites” really aren’t foods you enjoy as much as others. Learning what you truly love and crave will bring the joy back to eating, and you will find yourself satisfied eating less.

4. Learn What Motivates You to Eat: Emotional eaters eat for tons of reasons that aren’t biologically related. By journaling you are sure to find patterns when you are searching for food and you aren’t truly hungry. Journaling will help you recognize these patterns and look for other ways to cope that don’t involve food.

5. Learn How Certain Foods Make You Feel: When you journal what you eat, and how you feel afterwards, you can quickly figure out how you feel when you eat certain types of food. If your goals is to have more energy, you might just find some foods aren’t your friends when it comes to that area. You also might find new foods that make you feel alive and please your palatte.

 Make sure to print your free printable food journal to help you record all of your meals!

Want to read more posts like this one? Make sure to check out all of the Intuitive Eating posts on Crunchy Frugalista filled with great tips, recipes, and ideas on how to find peace with food and your weight!

Filed Under: Featured Post, Weight Loss Tagged With: , , ,

How To Make Your Own Terrarium

April 8, 2013 By 10 Comments
how to make your own terrarium

Every Earth Day the kids and I try to figure out new projects to do. This year we wanted to figure out how to make your own terrarium. Since we just moved we didn’t want to make anything really large, instead we grabbed some quart size ball jars and had a blast!

how to make your own terrarium

Making your own terrarium is really easy. It’s also a lot of fun. It costs us less than $5 for each terrarium, and the kids now have a little bit of the outdoors that they can take care of in their rooms! Let’s get started!

how to make your own terrarium

Supplies

  • Quart Sized Ball Jar
  • Sheet Moss
  • Organic Potting Soil
  • River pebbles
  • Activated Charcoal (only if you are closing your terrarium)
  • Small succulents or ferns (ask your local gardening store for plants good for a small terrarium)
how to make your own terrarium

Directions:

  • Make sure your jar is nice and clean before you start!
  • At the bottom add a thin layer of river pebbles. This will help act as your drainage
  • Next, place a layer of the sheet moss.
  • Now it’s time to add an inch or two of potting soil!
  • Then you add your plants! Make sure they are all covered with dirt.
  • To finish off your terrarium, add a layer of sheet moss over the dirt.
  • Then decorate with any extras. We opted to throw in a few extra pebbbles, and my son added his Lego man to watch guard!
  • Add water and watch your terrarium grow!
how to make your own terrarium

 

Whether it’s Earth Day, or you are just looking for a fun activity for the kids, this is a great easy activity to show your children a mini eco-system. Water it as necessary and give it a little sunshine. You will have your own little mini garden in no time!

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Decluttering the Chaos with Rubbermaid All Access Organizers

April 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment
All Access

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Rubbermaid® All AccessTM Organizers for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Moving to a new house is awesome, that is until you realize you have NO place to put all of the junk you have acquired over the years! We have been in our new house for over a month, and there is still stuff ALL over the place! It’s nuts! (makes my OCD itch!)

All Access

With my OCD in high gear, I have been cruising the wonderful Internet looking for some products that are going to help me tame the chaos. My main source of frustration is that most boxes don’t have a way for you to get to the stuff while the boxes are still stacked! That’s where Rubbermaid® All AccessTM storage containers are here to save the day!

I really need some boxes to get my daughter’s room in order! We had to get rid of their dresser and right now there stuff is ALL over the floor! The girls are realy going to like these boxes because you can get to the stuff while the boxes are still stacked. Plus, there are a bunch of different sizes and colors! My girls are so different that there is no way of pleasing them both with one color!

The cool part is that you can grab Rubbermaid® All AccessTM storage containers at Walmart stores across the country, so you don’t have to go to some specialty shop to get them! I can’t wait to give them a whirl in the girls room. It will definitely help my spring cleaning, and make my OCD calm down a little bit!

Want other spring cleaning tips? Make sure to check out Crunchy’s 10 Tips to Easy Green Spring Cleaning!

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