Sick Kid Survival Kit

Kess got one teeny cold during her first 18 months. Now she's had 2 awful colds in the last 6 weeks. I feel like I've been in survival mode for 6 weeks - part sickness, part laziness, part Winter weather. As we head into what will be a long week of runny noses, crummy coughs & less sleep than we would like, I've been rounding up a few of my "sickie" faves. 

We are doTERRA oil users.  Thyme & Lemon diluted with coconut oils are helpful in healing little bodies. Along with On Guard & Melaleuca! We really like Breathe to help clear congestion, as well. I feel like nothing is full-proof, but these aid a ton in a speedy recovery & helping her be more comfortable.

My newest favorite medicine brand is Zarbees. It's found at most drug stores. We used the Baby Cough & Mucus during Kess' first cold, so when the signs of the 2nd hit I knew we had to grab a few more bottles. They have a nighttime medicine available with Melatonin, but it can't be used until they're 2. So that leaves us out by a few months... but, after a few nights of less than dreamy sleep, I'm half tempted to give her a half dose. #momoftheyear

Another go-to has been honey & lemon. I put some local honey into a syringe & give it to her like medicine. It helps coat her throat & helps keep her cough at bay as well. We also snagged a few honey sticks from Winco & give them to her as a "treat"... only about 1/2 of it makes it to her mouth, but it has to help, right? *babies under the age of 12 months should NOT have honey.

Some of my friends know my love for the NoseFrida - yes, it sounds disgusting, but it works! Plain & simple. One of the best remedies for a cold is to keep the nose clear. Kess can't blow her nose yet, although I'm sure she wishes she could after I swaddle her in the big quilt, hold her down & suck her snot out. It's not a pretty sight, but I sure as heck can't sleep with a yucky nose, so I know she can't either. 

We started putting a pillow in Kess' crib to help prop her up & drain her sinuses. She ends up on the opposite side of the crib sometimes, but we usually sneak back in before we go to bed & lay her head on her pillow. After a few days, she figures out that it helps her. 

Vitamin gummies are a house favorite. Kess loves all things gummy, so we give her those & she's a happy camper. She even asks for them. It's so nice when kids think they're getting a treat, but it's actually helping them. Another thing we do is "OJ Popsicles." Kess is a Popsicle lover, so we grabbed some molds from ikea & we fill them with all sorts of yummy things. Lately, it's all things orange juice & vitamin C.

I typically let Kess have a few days of "anything goes" when she's sick. Whatever snacks, treats (popsicles) she wants; we break Paci rules, we watch tons of movies & anything else we need to survive. Once I can tell she's on the mend, we jump back into our daily routine. 

Another thing that I know will help us survive is an attitude adjustment. I'm writing this section for me. I have the worst attitude when dealing with sickness. I hate being sick, but I really hate when my loves are sick. I struggle when my routine being disrupted. Normally Kess cuddles with me for a bit before bedtime, then points to her crib & she falls asleep on her own, but when she's sick - all of that goes out the window. We were up for a few hours last night, just holding, rocking & humming songs to her. Normally I would LOVE that, but after a few nights of fitful sleep, I'm ready to lay my baby down & go to sleep on my own. See, attitude adjustment... My sweet husband slept with Kess on his chest last night, until she completely crashed out & we could move her to her crib. 

What are your favorite kiddo cold remedies? We are always looking for more! Happy thoughts to all my fellow momma's who are ready for more spring weather & less viruses. 

**I am just a momma who found things that helped my family. I am not a doctor, nor do I claim the things listed above to cure cold & flu viruses**

Shop Pink Blush

When Pink Blush contacted me for a collaboration I squealed. out. loud. Not only do they have an adorable maternity line, but they also have a women's line. Can't beat that.

I wanted to pick a piece that was super versatile. I'm sure you have all gathered by now that I'm not actually a fashion blogger. What?! But, I do love me some clothes, and I really love making the most out of the clothes that I do have. I tend to buy clothes that will work on multiple occasions. (That's what you get when you and your husband are budget freaks) So when I was asked to search the Pink Blush site for something that I wanted, I scoured over every item to find something versatile, something that fit my style, something modest & something flattering. I found plenty of pieces that worked, but ultimately decided on this Bohemian Blouse. It's on SALE! Whoop!

This blouse is actually very sheer, so I threw a cap sleeved camisole underneath. I swear by these ones, they're long in length, so they tuck in great and they are made with nice, thick material. Every once in a while you can snag them at Costco 2 for $20. They're my favorite.

I played with a few outfit choices and decided these were the ones I would wear the most. 

Look 1

Look 2

Look 3

Tell me which look is your favorite over on my Instagram (@beautifuleffort) page & enter our giveaway for a chance to win a $50 gift card to Pink Blush. 

Perfectly Posh Review + a giveaway

Good morning, my friends! I'm super excited to do my first product review for you.

A few years ago, I became a Perfectly Posh Consultant and really loved the product, but push came to shove, I had too much on my plate & I had to let go of a few things. So when Renee of @poshpamperingmom asked me if I would like to test out a few products I was totally on board! 

First things first, Perfectly Posh products have no parabens, parafins, sulfates, or fillers. Say what? They have awesome ingredients and ALL of their products are under $25. That's something I can get on board with. 

The Healer - this "healing stick" is a shea butter stick & it's amazing for cracked or irritated skin. I actually use this for my hands all the time. My hands are always red and cracking from doing hair, washing my hands and using hand sanitizer. This is my go-to treatment for my hands at nighttime. I just rub my hands down, fall asleep & wake to soft handsies! ;)

Smashing Good Pumpkin Mask - This is product that was sent to me & it's amazing! I love a good face mask, you guys! I like to treat myself to a face mask when my hubby is out of town & he can't see my scary face. ;) He's seen me pregnant & puking. #truelove Alright, this mask smells so dang good, but it's not overbearing - which I love! This mask has pumpkin, witch hazel, salicylic acid, kaolin clay & tea tree oil. I think I'll be buying this one! 

Brazilian Bombshell Skindelicious Body Butter - This reminds me of a thicker body butter, the super moisturizing kind that you slather on. The smell was super subtle, but still delicious.I love a good, thick lotion, especially in winter when your skin tends to get dry & itchy. 

Day & Night You Are The One - I have a moisturizer that I really love, so I didn't anticipate loving this one very much, but guess what? This felt so good on my skin. It feels super luxurious, smooth and light. It doesn't have a super strong scent, so it's easy to wear during the day and at night (hence the name.) This product is a best seller, of which I'm not surprised. This one is also on my purchase list. 

Those are a few of my favorite products, but I can't wait to try some more. Go ahead & give my friend Renee a follow on her Instagram page (linked above.) Also, head on over to my Instagram page @beautifuleffort for a fun Perfectly Posh giveaway! You don't want to miss it! XO

Drug Store Makeup Faves

Ok, I have a love for makeup, but I don't have a love for the cost. I'm a firm believer that you get what you pay for. But sometimes I just flat can't afford all the gorgeous makeup palletes, lippies and mascaras that are flooding my feed, so today I'm sharing my favorite drug store makeup!

I feel like I have 2 looks. I tend to use my Maskcara Cosmetics Palette for special occasions & then my drug store finds for my day to day look.

I like to keep my make-up routine and fairly quick, since Kess is usually sitting on the bathroom counter brushing her teeth sucking the tooth paste off her tooth brush. It's adorable, really. I digress, I need a quick makeup routine.


e.l.f. yellow concealer Let's face it, #momlife equals tired baggies under our eyes. Yellow based concealer helps hide those purple things under your eyes. Yellow neutralizes Violet. A little color trivia for ya! ;)

e.l.f. concealer I use this over the yellow, then wherever else I need a little coverage. i.e. everywhere.

e.l.f. bronzer blush The bronzer is great for a contour. I throw a little bit of this on my hairline, under my cheekbones and on the side of my nose. Blend it in and throw the blush on. I think this blush it flattering on everyone. You can't beat the price of e.l.f. cosmetics.

Ulta Mineral Powder Foundation Ok this one is kind of cheating. Does this count as Drug Store makeup? I think it does. It's a tiny bit pricier, so if you're looking for something a little cheaper, Cover Girl has a powder foundation that works great, too. I use the Cover Girl powder or the Ulta powder in between my contour and blush. It helps blend the contour in and sets a good base before I use my blush. Two birds.

Sonia Kashuk Brow Kit This kit comes with 4 different colors that are great for blending. I use an angle brush and subtly fill in my eyebrows. I don't care for the beyond perfect, overly filled eyebrows. Keep it simple and natural, girls. ;)

Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm I recently snagged, thanks to a long day & a solo trip to Target. I kinda love it. I have a grape flavor, which gives a opaque purple tint. Love it. It's perfect to keep in my pocket to use as chap stick, but also gives the impression that I have my "stuff' together. ;)

Cover Girl eyeliner I've been using this eyeliner since high school, I don't branch out much. It's not my most favorite liner, I'll be honest, but I really love the little sponge on the end that smudges my eyeliner. Who has an eyeliner they love? Hit me with it!

Maybelline liquid eyeliner pen I also got this on my little solo trip to Target, too. Thanks Christmas money. I have been wanting to perfect the winged liner for a while now, still working on it, but I love the dark line on my top lashes. I feel so much more put together with this on. A dark liner at the base of your top lashes helps make your lashes look thicker. Bonus.

NYX Matte Spray I've heard this compared to Urban Decay All Nighter, I figured I would give it a try. I'm still a little undecided about it, but I think it helps me not sweat all my makeup off by the end of the day. Who knew how much a person could sweat just chasing around a baby? Not me.

What are some of your favorite drug store make up choices? I always need more, don't ask Matt about that though... he might disagree. ;)

Date your spouse

A big part of this blog is to try new things. Over the last year or so, Matt and I have tried a few new restaurants, date ideas, etc. Today I'm sharing our favorites...

Last weekend we went on what I consider to be my "perfect date" - (no, not April 25th) 

We hired a sitter for Kess & headed to Boise to make the 4:00 Temple Session. It felt so good to leave the world behind. I truly believe that sometimes a person needs silence to gain understanding, I felt so at peace. At the end of our temple date, we headed over to the Village at Meridian to spend some gift cards. All the restaurants were over an hour wait, so we headed to our good ol' standby - The Outback. We never turn down a bloomin' onion. ever. 

It, too was over an hour wait. Matt remember that Copper Canyon had opened back up downtown. I'm so glad he did! It wrapped up our perfect date night. The food was insanely good, the courses were timed well & the live piano music was to die for. You know those perfect dates that you don't want to end? This was mine. We talked about Kess, our future, our past - all the good stuff! 

This type of date is actually a rarity for us. We often feel guilty for leaving Kess with a sitter when we could be spending time with her, or we could go out as a family. We often feel guilty for spending money on something frivolous like eating out, instead of cooking at home. And we definitely often guilty for feeling like we desperately need a date night, when life just isn't that bad. But we have come to realize that our time together is beyond needed. It's so important to spend alone time with one another - not alone time after you get the baby down for the night & you start your Netflix cue off where you left it (although we really do love that, too.)

Of course, not all your dates have to be fancy. Like I said before, we rarely do the fancy date thing. We actually have a lofty savings goal this year, so we decided to splurge on a fancy night one last time ;) 

Our favorite cheapo date is pizza & Redbox movie, grabbing Chinese food, getting frozen yogurt or heading out with friends to have appetizers for dinner. What are you favorite date nights? I kinda want to give pottery painting a try. Or a paint & sip night, or something crafty like that. Have you ever done those? Give me the scoop! 

Friday Faves + IKEA LATT Hack

Happy Friday, my friends! We did it, we survived another week. We have been getting back on track after the holidays. We miss Matt now that he's back at work & busy busy, but we got a lot done this week!

I managed to deep clean the majority of my house & we are starting to Spring Clean a little early. Do you ever just get so annoyed by all the things you have in your house? Me too. I started a very large "donate" pile & an even bigger "throw away" pile. One of my goals for 2016 is to live a simpler life - guess I'm starting to embrace that! ;)

I wanted to share a few things with you before I sign off for the weekend! This cleaning technique for
vinyl floors has my "stay at home mom" heart singing. We have vinyl floors in our kitchen & they hold on to dirt like there is no tomorrow. No matter how many times I mop, the dirt doesn't seem to come out of the creases. So I decided to give this a try on a few "squares"... worked like a charm.  Planning on "ironing" the rest of my floors this weekend!

I've been loving these crayons for Kess' new coloring table. I know these aren't new or even super cute, but dang it, they are sturdy & I don't have little bits of crayons all over from Kess breaking them. I think they will last us a long time!

Santa left this Essie Gel-Setter top coat in my stocking this year - he knows me so well. I finally got around to trying it & love it. The finish is great & I'm excited to test out the durability over the weekend. I always feel so put together when my nails are painted, so I hate to see them chip. ;( Hopefully this top coat will extend the life of my polish a bit!

And finally - the IKEA LATT hack. I seriously love this little table.  Kess thinks she is pretty cool stuff when she sits at it. She loves to color & put stickers on her paper. She even shares her chairs with her teddy. I knew she would love this (actually, I didn't know, but I loved it so...) I bought this from IKEA when I went down to UT this summer & it's been sitting in my garage ever since. Of course, I waited until the very last minute (we were painting the second coat on Christmas Eve, yaaa...) But I think it turned out so darn cute. There are "IKEA Hacks" all over Pinterest, so I did a quick search & found some ideas. I decided to go with white & gold dipped legs. It will match her room perfectly & I think it will be easy to clean up. We decided to do the top with chalk paint, but it's already flaking off, so I recommend spraying/painting the rougher side (bottom), not the white (smooth) side.

We painted all the pieces before we put it together. Matt taped off the legs & we spray painted them with some gold spray paint. It was super easy to put together. Easiest little furniture makeover, ever! It already has crayon marks, but hey, that's what it's for right?

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope you have a great weekend! XO

Year in Review

How is it 2016? I remember thinking that 2014 was going to be a wild year because we would be having our 1st baby. She turns 2 this summer. 

2015 was a wonderful year for us. Matt blessed Kess. We moved back home to Nampa, from McCall. Matt finished his fellowship & got a great job. We were sealed for time & all eternity. Kess turned one. I went on not only 1, but 2 baby-free girls trips. We went on our 1st official camping trip as a family of 3.  Kess fell in love with playing in the pool. Kess & I survived Daddy being gone on his long hunting trip. We picked our first pumpkin. Kess was the cutest ballerina for Halloween. We chopped down our first Christmas tree as a family of 3. We survived the holidays with a 1 year old! 2015 was beyond good to us. We can't wait for what 2016 is going to bring. 

Matt & I write down our goals every year. Individually & as a couple. Our couples goals always seem to be attainable, but my personal goals tend to be blown out of proportion like... get into an exercise routine & eat healthier ;)

Although, those are on my list this year... I'm going to try to keep 2016 simple.

Fuel my body with good things, but live life - splurge occasionally. Spend less time on my phone, especially around Kess & my family. Keep truckin' through this blogging adventure with all of you - keep trying new things. Cook more; eat out less. Go on more dates with my husband. Give Kess more one on one time. Be more present with Kess. Get down on the floor and play with her. Read more, check social media less. Say my personal prayers more often. Build a closer relationship to my Father in Heaven. Tell my husband I appreciate him more. Declutter & live a simpler life. 

What are some of your goals? I would love to hear them!