Today I want to share three hair accessories that are perfect for fall!

The summer heat has finally subsided which means my signature messy bun is slowly retiring and I can actually comb my hair. Haha. If you’ve ever visited Kauai during the summer it’s very hot and humid and that isn’t the best combo for trying to make my hair look cute. Which is why I’m so excited it’s fall and much cooler weather, think low 80s/high 70s hahah. But, cool enough to try!

I’ve always enjoyed trying new ways to do my hair! I was about 10 my mom bought me a battery operated curling iron and I would curl my hair on the way to church. So, not sure that was the safest thing hahah but I was that obsessed with doing my hair! I’m excited to share 3 hair accessories that are perfect for fall!

Headband

One of my favorite ways to feel more put together is with a headband. It can be as simple as a grab-and-go hair accessory with day 2 hair or a more ornate headband with soft curls for dressier events. There really is so much you can do with a headband—low bun, beach waves, middle part, side part, etc.

So, I found many headbands that would be great for fall. Check them out below!

Clockwise from top:

Blue Pearl Embellished Headband // Faux Leather Trimmed Headband // Cable Knit Headband // Teddy Knotted Headband // Sparkling Headband Set // Braided Headband

Clockwise from top:

1 // Knotted Headband

2 // Knotted Velvet Headband

3 // Suede 3-pack

4 // Knotted Raffia Headband

5 // Wrapped Padded Headband

Clockwise from top:

1 // Suede Knotted Headband

2 // Pleated-Knotted Headband

3 // Floral Knotted Headband

4 // Braided Headband

5 // Floral Twist Headband

Hair Claws

Did anyone else spend hours doing their hair with the butterfly claw clips in junior high? I was obsessed, which is why I was so happy when hair claws made a comeback!

What’s not to love about hair claws? You can avoid the “forefathers” low pony look by using a large hair claw to create a simple updo. Use smaller claw clips to pull back half your hair in a half pony, secure a bun, or use decoratively to cover hair bands.

Hair claws are seriously so easy to use and immediately up your hair game! Here are some that I’m loving!!

Clockwise from top:

1 // Pearl Claw Clip Set

2 // Matte Claw Clip

3 // Shell Claw Clip Set

4 // Gold Rectangle Claw Clip

5 // Tortoise Shell Curved Claw Clip

Clockwise from Top:

1 // Bubble Claw Clip Set

2 // Marble Claw Clip Set

3 // Ombré Claw Clip Set

4 // Amazon Favorite

5 // Metal Claw Clip Set

6 // Matte Claw Clip

Clockwise from Top:

1 // Tortoise Clip Set

2 // Giant Ombre Claw

3 // Checkered Claw Set

4 // ivory claw clip

5 // Mini Claw Clip Set

6 // Rectangle Tortoise Claw Clip

Hair Clips

Hair clips add a subtle yet fun look go any look. I love to clip half of my hair to the side, add them to a low bun, or use to pull back small sections of hair on both side of my face. Clips can elevate any look and they for sure help me feel more put together!!!

Here are some that I’m currently really into!

Clockwise from Top:

1) Geo acetate clips // 2) Embellished Hair Clips // 3) Gold Open Shape Clips // 4) Mini Leopard Hair Clips // 5) Pearl Barrette Clip

Clockwise from top:

1 // Geometric Gold Clip

2 // Beaded Clips

3 // Silver Safety Pin Clip

4 // Pearl Slide Clips

5 // Embellished Bobby Pin Set

Fall Hair Accessories

Hope you were motivated and inspired to try some fall hair accessories!! So if you’re hesitant to try something new with your hair, I recently read a thought that said give yourself 3 tries before you decide the new thing isn’t for you!

if you’re in the mood to continue trying new things, check out Kari’s last post on her October favorites!!!

*we make a small commission if you purchase via our links. we are so grateful for every purchase! Thanks so much.

The post Hair Accessories That Are Perfect for Fall appeared first on sunkissed & grateful.

What’s not to love about Trader Joe’s? Right? I mean they have tons of organic products, pretty affordable prices, amazing customer service and the cutest selection of flowers! It’s a win-win for me and one of the many reasons I do like 85% of my grocery shopping there. I thought I would share a little Trader Joe’s haul for all you fellow TJ lovers out there! Hope you enjoy!

Since we’ve been vegan for over 10 years now, this is our typical vegan Trader Joe’s trip for my family of four. I try and get the majority of my grocery shopping done at Trader Joe’s, and then finish by getting a few things at Costco or Sprouts. And since I don’t want to take my girls grocery shopping every week, I try and get enough for two weeks of meals! So here is a little breakdown of my cart!

The Essentials: Fruits and Veggies

This varies every trip depending on what they currently have in stock that is organic, but the bulk of what I buy is from this section. We really try to eat whole foods, and stay away from processed foods because they aren’t the best for you! I have a pretty sensitive stomach so any additives will typically irritate it!

Those are pretty much the essentials that we always stock up on! But I thought I would share a few of my favorite finds that you have to try! Some are snacks and more processed, but everything in moderation for us! And some are frozen because it’s great to have something you can make quickly on a weekday when you are short on time! So here are some of my favorite Trader Joe items you need to try!!

1. Trader Joe’s Vegan Ranch Crunch Salad Kit

Okay! This has been a fan favorite for the last month I’m the Moya household! We are obsessed! The salad kit includes green cabbage and romaine lettuce, fried onions, roasted sunflower kernels, kale, red cabbage, carrots, green onions, and a vegan ranch dressing. You just put the dressing over, add the sunflower kernels and you are good to go! The flavor is amazing!

We actually love to make this salad and put it into corn tortillas! We then add vegan fish fillets and some yummy salsa and you have a delicious vegan fish taco that took less than 10 minutes to make!

The only downside with this kit is that it’s not organic! Other than that it’s pretty amazing!!!

2. Trader Joe’s Japanese Style Fried Rice

I buy like four of these at a time! My daughters are obsessed! The flavor is super good and it’s so easy to cook on a busy weeknight! And it’s only $2.99, so it’s definitely an affordable vegan meal/side dish!

The dish includes a rice base with a small amount of edamame, carrot and tofu with a savory sauce. The shredded tofu is supposed to be like a fried egg, but there’s not that much if it so we add some tofu to make it more protein filled!

We love cooking our tofu in the air fryer! Highly recommend this one, but I’ve seen amazing reviews on this one from Amazon too. In an earlier blog post (here!), I shared my favorite way to make tofu! The key to getting crispy tofu is a tofu press! Pressing tofu is THE key step when cooking tofu. When it’s pressed it absorbs marinades and crisps up more easily! This one is super affordable and works great, but I love the aesthetic appearance of this one too!

I also love to add avocado and nutritional yeast to the fried rice and tofu to give it more flavor and more nutrition! It’s so delicious! You have to try if you haven’t already!

3. Almond Butter Pretzels

Okay…I was a fan of the regular peanut butter filled pretzels, but these are just amazing! I mean who doesn’t love something a little sweet and salty. These are seriously the best though and my go to snack whenever I am craving something sweet! I really love how creamy they are inside and they are great snacks for anyone whose child has a peanut allergy!

I would just make sure you don’t eat the whole bag in one serving! It’s definitely easy to, so be mindful of that! The serving size is 8 nuggets, which contain 140 calories, 6 grams of fat, 240 milligrams of salt, 19 grams of carbs, 2 grams of fiber, and 4 grams of sugar. But it’s definitely a delicious treat!

4. Coconut Chocolate Date Bars

These delicious bars are amazing! I’m a super big fan of the fact that it only has a few ingredients and they are all real ingredients, no hard to pronounce names over here! It’s just dates, almond butter, coconut flakes, unsweetened chocolate chunks and cocoa powder! That’s it!

Each bar has 170 calories and it comes in a five-pack for $3.49, so it’s a good deal! They taste like a brownie to me and are very creamy and slightly chewy! My daughters really love these as a special treat and I can feel satisfied knowing they aren’t getting all of the additives! They are a great alternative to a brownie or dessert, or even just a little treat to put in your child’s lunchbox! These bars actually remind me of a Larabar, which Trader Joes used to carry!

Eco-Friendly Shopping Items

One bad thing about Trader Joes is that a lot of the products are wrapped in plastic! You can’t really bring your reusable produce bags and put the produce straight into them since they are already packaged. I do wish that was an option, but unfortunately, it isn’t right now! In order to combat that, I always bring my reusable bags to bag my groceries at home! It’s the little things that count!

Here’s a few of my favorite bags!

I hope this post didn’t make you too hungry and that you have a Trader Joes nearby so you can try these delicious items! Thank you for following along and we hope you have a great weekend!!

xoxoxo,

Kari

p.s. if you do click on the links and purchase an item, we make a small commission! we appreciate your support <3

The post What’s in My Cart: Trader Joe’s Haul appeared first on sunkissed & grateful.

I have long, straight lashes and have always struggled with them maintaining a curl.

Side note-In high school the girls would tease me and call me Snuffleupagus. I don’t see the resemblance haha.

When I started wearing mascara in college it took me trial and error to find a mascara that kept my lashes curled. Then when I wanted to transition to a non-toxic mascara a couple years ago, I was so reluctant bc I know my lashes are so straight and long and was scared I wouldn’t be able to find a non-toxic mascara that worked for my unique lashes. I read so many reviews and got 2 that had incredible reviews. While they do go on well and help with the curl, I would find that with all the humidity living on Kauai, my lashes still wouldn’t keep the curl ;(

During quarantine I saw some girls sharing about a hack to keep lashes curled. I wanted to try it and since I had the “secret” product I tried it right away. Guess what?!? The eyelash hack for straighg lashes that keeps lashes curled ACTUALLY WORKS!!! It’s super easy to do but I’ll break down the steps for you.

Supplies You Need to Try the Eyelash Hack For Straight Lashes That Keeps Lashes Curled

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Eyelash curler (I used this one for years!!! Recently got this more budget friendly option)

• Vaseline Petroleum Jelly or coconut oil

• your favorite mascara…mine are Honest and Ilia

Step 1

Insert lashes into curler like you normally would and press down firmly.

Step 2

While your curler is pressing down on lashes, rub Vasoline or Coconut Oil onto the lashes (exposed on curler)

Step 3

I like to change the angle of my curler to get a curl that looks like a “C” than lashes straight up like a “V”. So I’ll turn the lash curler up to about perpendicular to the floor. It doesn’t hurt at all even though it does look a little stretchy haha. For your fist time trying it, take it slow! Hopefully that’s not too confusing!

Continue curling lashes until you get your desired curl. For me since my lashes are so straight it takes a few rounds of curling.

Step 4

Apply mascara. I don’t put layers of mascara since that does weigh down the lashes so I focus on the tips of the lashes and not the base and initial curl curvature.

Honest Mascara has been my go to. It doesn’t clump and goes on so well. I wish it was waterproof bc being in the water/around water a lot it does run and isn’t cute haha so beware!

My other favorite is the Ilia mascara. The wand on this mascara is amazing and helps get product on every lash.

*I’m wearing the Ilia mascara on all of the videos in this post, just for reference.

Step 5

Repeat on other side!

Step 6

Smile, be confident and know you are beautiful with or without curled lashes

I have gotten into the practice of getting changed in the morning and at the bare minimum doing my lashes. I feel so much more confident in taking on the day when I’ve poured into myself even just a little. So please take this as a loving reminder to pour some love into your own cup with confidence!

Ready to Try the Eyelash Hack That Keeps Lashes Curled?

If you’re lashes are super straight, super long or BOTH (like mine) then please try this hack!! I want to know if it works for you too! And if you have any other tips for long, straight lashes please share!!!!

On the subject of investing in yourself, check out Kari’s post on dry brushing and incorporate more self-love into your day.

Shop the Post

Thank you so much for purchasing through our links! We make a small commission and it means the world to us! Xox, Melissa

The post Eyelash Hack That Keeps Lashes Curled! appeared first on sunkissed & grateful.

We have a wedding coming up in the next few weeks and it’s going to require a very long (13 hours!) road trip to get there. Pre-kids, I would be so excited to listen to music or podcasts, talk with the hubby and just stare out the window taking in all the views. But with kids, it’s a whole new world! I thought I would share my roadtrip essentials with you, plus a few tips and tricks to surviving a long drive with kids!

RULE # 1 // CREATE A FLEXIBLE PLAN!!

The first thing you must do is plan! Having a solid, yet flexible, plan helps things run more smoothly! Since we have a 13 hour drive, we are planning out different stops, researching parks or cool attractions along the way and finding safe places to stretch our legs and get some energy out! I usually try to plan stops every 2-3 hours unless the girls are sleeping! Some stops will be 15-30 minutes, while others will be 2 hours!

I think if you go in with a game plan, things will run a lot smoother! Just don’t be too rigid! And definitely don’t forget to have fun!

Now here are some roadtrip essentials and tips you need to survive!

1. Wear something comfortable

This is super important! No one wants to sit in a car for an extended period of time in something restrictive, too tight or just not comfortable! I love wearing a cute romper or jumpsuit or leggings, a cute band tee and an oversized sweater! I usually put the girls in something similar to me, but that can be easily layered! My hubby likes to wear joggers and a tee! Think athleisure wear and you are good to go!

Here are some of my favorite jumpsuits and outfits to stay comfy all road trip long! I’ve included some options for kids and guys too!

You Can Shop My Favorite Women’s Looks Here!

Shop My Favorite Kid’s Looks Here!

Shop My Favorite Men’s Looks Here!

2. Snacks, snacks and more snacks

This is probably the most important part of your roadtrip essentials! My girls get so hungry in the car! They are so busy and active that once they are buckled in and sitting, it’s like they finally realize just how hungry they actually are. When packing snacks, I try to find low sugar options, because we don’t need any extra energy in the car or a sugar crash! I also try to keep clear of anything that would be too sticky so it doesn’t make a mess everywhere!

Some of our favorite snacks are

• blueberries, raspberries, apples and watermelon
• trail mix
• cucumbers with lemon and salt
• vegan jerky (we like this brand)!
• almond butter and jelly sandwiches
• low sugar lollipops (we love this brand..super low sugar)!
• chips/pretzels (we love hippeas)
• freeze dried fruit (blueberries, apples, strawberries)
• fruit and veggie pouches (we love once upon a farm!)
• Ginger Chews! In case anyone gets carsick! I love these!!

We will stop a few times too to get smoothies, salads and something yummy! But having those snacks easily accessible in the car helps keep everyone hangry free!

3. A Backpack filled with Toys/Games and Books

I’ve found it super helpful to pack a bag for each of the kids and put some fun new toys in it, as well as some great travel ones! I just recently got the girls these LCD Board Tablets and they love it! My oldest loves to doodle on them and practice her letters and my youngest likes to color and then push the button to erase it all! It’s one of her favorite things! These little popping toys and these bendy straws are also great! They are fidget toys that my girls love playing with. It’s mindless but keeps them busy while they listen to music or stories!

I also love these sticker scenes, maze books and these mess free coloring pages! They are perfect for travel!

You Can Shop Our Travel Faves Here!

4. Podcasts/audiobooks

Listening to books and stories can help time go by so quickly! My 4 year old loves story podcasts so they are a must have for long car drives! When the kids fall asleep, you can turn on some adult podcasts or audiobooks!

Here are some of our Faves <3

Kids

• Reading Bug Adventures
• Story Time with Phillip and Mommy
• Molly of Denali Podcast
• Earth Rangers
• Story Spectacular Podcast

We also have been loving listening to The Magic Treehouse audiobooks and Curious George Audiobooks! We rent them from our library for free using the Libby App!

Adults

• Live Beautifully Podcast
• Wild + Free Podcast
• The Ikonns Podcast
• The Bossbabe Podcast

5. Other Important Items!

In order to make travel easier and more comfortable, having these items in your car will make everything run smoothly! These are some of my key roadtrip essentials!

• reusable water bottle – it’s important to stay hydrated on the trip! you don’t want to drink too much and have to stop to use the restroom every five minutes, but you definitely want to keep things moving! Here are some of my favorite water bottles 1// Glass Straw Cup, 2// 32 Oz Stainless Steel Water Bottle. and 3// this leopard one!
• pillow and blanket – this is more so for the kids, but it really helps them stay cozy if you have the air on or if outside temps drop!
• kids toilet and lots of baby wipes – this is also a super important one! we always travel with a portable kids toilet so we never have to take them into public bathrooms. with two kids, it is too hard and not always sanitary. it’s easy to clean, you can pull over on a side of the road, and it doesn’t take up too much space! Also bring lots of baby wipes! You can use them for both potty time, messes and to clean hands! I love these bamboo wipes and these water wipes!
• headphones – These are great for kids! We use these all the time!
• mini ipad or amazon kid’s tablet – if all else fails, then give them the ipad or tablet for some limited play or screen time! we try to limit this because we want our kids to use their imaginations and view the scenery! but if things are going south and you need a break, whip it out for a little!

Hopefully this post all about my roadtrip essentials will help make your next one run smoother! Just remember to have low expectations, enjoy the journey, make lots of memories and take lots of photos! Even the hardest trips have fun family memories attached!

As always, thanks for following along! And don’t forget to check out Melissa’s recent post about making your bathroom more sustainable! We always appreciate your support in reading out blog and our posts! Another way you can support us it by purchasing via our links. We make a small commission with each purchase and it means so much to us.

xoxoxo,

Kari

The post Roadtrip Essentials: Everything You Need to Survive a Long Drive with Kids appeared first on sunkissed & grateful.

Sustainable bathroom tip #1—Reduce your toilet paper usage

Remember last year when covid initially hit and there was a huge toilet paper shortage?? Here on Kauai our shelves were empty and relying on shipments made the situation a little more difficult and unreliable.

With the unpredictability of the toilet paper situation, we decided to finally get a bidet. My mother in law had the same thought, ordered 3, and gifted us one.

A bidet in your bathroom is one of the simple ways to make your bathroom more sustainable.

Side note: our friends have owned a bidet for years I refused to give it a try haha…I don’t know why!

If you’re unfamiliar with a bidet, it’s basically attaches to your toilet seat and to your toilet’s plumbing. Instead of using a huge wad of toilet paper, or needing to wipe multiple times, the bidet splashes water to clean you off!

I’m so sad that I went so many years without a bidet! Haha…it’s seriously so amazing! Not only do I find it more hygienic but we’ve noticed a significant decrease in our toilet paper usage!

If you’re reluctant to get one, let me tell you that it doesn’t hurt at all. And most, if not all bidets allow you to control the pressure so you can start off with super low pressure and increase with when you feel more comfortable.

This might be TMI, but I find myself waiting to handle my business till I’m at home bc of the amazing-ness of a bidet! Haha I really think everyone would love one!!

Sustainable bathroom tip #2–Transition to plastic-free razors

Most of us shave regularly and most of us use plastic razors and refill blades. It’s estimated that over 2 billion blades and refills get tossed annually in the US! Since they have a dangerous component, they can’t be recycled! Transitioning to plastic-free razors is another one of the simple ways to transition to a sustainable bathroom.

For years I have been sharing my husbands razor (which I guess is pretty sustainable too haha) but finally felt like it was time to get my own.

I kept on seeing ads for a popular magnetic razor and the marketing almost got me. Then I saw one of my favorite sustainable influencers share about her metal razor and I was sold!

The Leaf razor I got is 100% plastic free! It shaves wonderfully, comes with replacement metal blades, is made with no plastic and can be recycled!

Plastic free razors do cost a little more up front (I linked a $12 one!) but in the big picture, it is better purchase for your wallet and our planet.

Sustainable bathroom tip #3–Transition to Cotton Turkish Towels

In the past few months I began transitioning our bath towels to cotton Turkish towels.

Polyester happens to be a common material used in the traditional plush towels. Polyester happens to be plastic in material form (that is a very simplistic explanation, look it up for all the facts!). So not only do the plush towels take forever to dry in a dryer but they also let out micro plastics, that get dumped to our land,each time they are washed.

Transitioning to cotton Turkish towels is another of the simple ways to make your bathroom more sustainable.

With so much humid air here in Kauai we found that the plusher towels wouldn’t fully dry between uses and would take so much energy to fully dry in the dryer. For our situation, transitioning to cotton Turkish towels was the most sustainable option.

More about sustainability

Another thing I’ve learned about sustainability is that sometimes it’s more sustainable to keep what you have till it’s no longer in good condition, rather then getting super excited to be sustainable and throw all non-sustainable items away. Additionally up-cycling items that you no longer need and donating are other ways to be sustainable.

Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts and supporting our blog! If you haven’t read Kari’s post on sustainable swaps check it out here.

We love you guys are are so grateful for you.

Shop Post Here

Another way you can support us it by purchasing via our links. We make a small commission with each purchase and it means so much to us. Aloha.

The post 3 simple ways to make your bathroom more sustainable appeared first on sunkissed & grateful.

Swap Reese’s Eggs for Unreal Dark Chocolate PB Cups

If you haven’t tried the Unreal Dark Chocolate PB Cups they are amazing!! These go so quickly in our home that I sometimes I have to hide a couple for myself

Swap Peeps for Smash Mallow

So I’ve never actually tried a peep heheh but from my understanding it’s a marshmallow treat. A healthier Easter candy alternative for peeps would be the Smash Mallow Egg Hunt Pack. We’ve used vegan marshmallows for years and love them. We’ve used these to make rice crispy treats, s’mores and in hot chocolate and they taste better than marshmallows to me!

Swap Sour Patch Jelly Beans for Yum Earth Giggles

I love sour candy so it was very important for me to find one without dye and corn syrup. I found the Yum Earth Giggles and they are actually sour and delicious, such a win for me!!

Swap Cadbury Mini Eggs for Hu Gems

If you can overlook the fact that the Hu Gems aren’t shaped like mini eggs and try them, I’m sure you won’t regret it Hu chocolates are some of my favorites and their clean ingredient list only makes them better!!

Swap Haribo Easter Gummy Bears for Black Forest Gummy Bears

This is probably one of the easiest swaps! The Black Forest Gummy Bears Easter Edition are so yummy you wouldn’t think they were a healthier option!

Happy Easter!

If you’re looking for ways to celebrate Easter with healthier Easter candy alternatives I hope you enjoyed the post! If you’re still doing super last minute Easter shopping check our our guide here! Happy Easter, friends!

The post Healthier Easter Candy Alternatives! Swap this for that—Easter Candy Edition appeared first on sunkissed & grateful.

Purpose of 1000 Hours Outdoors

The purpose of 1000 Hours Outdoors is to have children experience nature and focus of the outdoor classroom by spending 1000 hours outdoors in one calendar year. They offer ideas how to make the outdoors fun and educational using simple activities. It has made me more intentional to get outdoors, enjoy nature and expose my kids to all the beauty and wonder in the great outdoors!

Personally I love nature and the outdoors and I hope to plant that seed in my kids. But it wasn’t always like that for me. I grew up in the hot Arizona suburbs and was exposed to the outdoors sparingly so I’m doing my best to give my children access to nature.

We live so close to the beach that we try to make daily trips and weekend family time is usually a hike, swim or bike path activity. I try not to react when my kids play with cockroaches, spiders, geckos, or crabs (but inside I’m screaming). Or over react when my son jumps off of a 6 foot high tree or my daughter rolls in a puddle. It’s part of childhood and I want them to experience it, safely of course.

Magical Reset

I don’t know about you but every time I take my kids to the beach, park or just to our backyard there is a change in them. It’s like a magical reset in them—and for me too. And to be honest, I live for those resets!

There are so many benefits to being outside—sunlight, fresh air, exposure to negative ions, nature lessons, meeting new people, seeing/experiencing new things and so many more. It’s no surprise to me how my kids’ moods and mine too, improve when we go outside.

Balance Nature & Screentime

The goal of 1000 hours outdoors can seem unrealistic and maybe for your situation it may not happen this year. But don’t let the huge goal number stop you from heading outside.

Let’s be real, some days mothering feels so isolating and tiring and screen time is the only way to regain strength and peace. I’ve been there many, many days. (And I’m slowly giving myself grace to use screen time without feeling guilty or like I’m a terrible mom…do you have guilt with screen time?)

Which is another reason why I appreciate the 1000 Hour Outside movement. The intention is to allow kids to be kids by playing outdoors, while also validating the struggle of motherhood—to balance nature and screentime.

Ideas for 1000 Hours Outdoor Activities

Typically when my kids and I head outdoors, I don’t have an activity planned and just allow my kids’ imaginations take the lead. Sometimes though, I do have something simple planned. Here are some of the activities we enjoy doing.

What do your kids love to do outside? Please share all your recommendations!

Outdoor Hour Tracker

If you’re ready to join the 1000 Hours Outdoors challenge, I created a simple tracker sheet so you can document your progress! It is in 100 hour increments so its a little easier to notice progress Find the PDF link below!

Outdoor Adventure Supplies

I wanted to share some of my kid’s favorite outdoor activities/supplies and others that seem like so much fun. Shop direct links here or at the bottom of the post.

1. Kid’s Instant Print Camera // My littles have recently shown an interest in taking photos. This kid’s camera is durable and prints photos! Perfect for nature walks and sparking their creativity!

2. Wooden Magnifying Glass // We have one and my two kids really enjoy looking through the glass! Need to add a second one so they don’t argue over the one we have haha.

3. Osprey Hiking Baby Carrier // This carrier has been used so much in our home. It’s comfortable for both child and parent. It has lots of storage, a shade, mirror and even feet stirrups. So basically the kid is riding like royalty haha.

4. Sea Turtle Kite // It has been so windy on Kauai, I think it’s the perfect time to get a family kite.

5. Bug/Butterfly Net // My kids are super interested in bugs. A net would be a great way to get some energy out while searching for bugs!

6. Bug Viewing Jar // With a magnifying lid, this jar allows kids to appreciate the small details of bugs before returning them into nature.

7. Rain Boots // My kids love jumping in puddles. Sometimes they do it barefoot but other times rain boots are the way to go! I like these and these too!!

8. Natural Basket // We own a few of these and they are the perfect size for small hands. My kids take them to the beach to pick up trash or treasures. They can be used year round for storage and holiday baskets!

9. Micro Scooter // My son is obsessed with his scooter. It’s a perfect introductory scooter since it’s steered by body weight rather than turning the handle. My 1.5 year old daughter is already learning how to ride too!

10. Giant Bubbles Wand // This kit is so fun! I feel like bubbles are fun regardless of age!! These get so huge, it’s amazing!!

11. Arts and Craft Kit // Arts and crafts are one of my go-to ways to simulate my kids’ creativity. I love that this kit has everything you’d need so you can take it to the park and have craft literally anywhere!

12. Saucer Tree Swing // I’ve seen these in yards while driving and think they look so so fun! I know my kids would be obsessed with it.

Get Outside

Maybe you don’t feel convinced to commit to 1000 hours outside but hopefully you feel inspired to get outside and make some beautiful memories with your kids in nature. Happy exploring the beautiful outdoors! Love, Melissa

P.S. Have you been following along our Nourish and Flourish 30 Day Challenge? Having one item a day that I’m focusing on has been really beneficial to me.

Shop the Post

•if you purchase from one of our links, we receive a small commission and it helps us, so thank you!

The post 1000 Hours Outdoors—An Annual Family Goal appeared first on sunkissed & grateful.

It’s March 1st!! Can you believe it? Spring is just around the corner and we are so excited for all of the new beginnings that spring brings. To help prepare, we wanted to embark on a 30 day challenge to help everyone flourish and nourish! This challenge will be made up of 30 daily prompts, focusing on your wellbeing, including mental, emotional, physical and spiritual elements!

Participating in a 30 day challenge is the perfect way to try new things, challenge yourself, and develop new habits! It keeps life feeling fun and fresh, connects you to a community (hiiii!!!) and gets you out of your comfort zone. Who knows after completing the 30 days, you might find a new passion, learn some self-love practices or simply remind yourself to take a breath every now and then!

We hope you follow along with us on this journey. Take photos and videos, share them and tag us on Instagram or Facebook! You can use our hashtag #sunkissedandgrateful so we can follow along! We can’t wait to see you nourish, flourish and bloom!

30 Days to Nourish and Flourish with Sunkissed and Grateful

Nourish and Flourish //Days 1-7

Day 1 // 100 squats – Build that Booty! This is an easy and fun way to kickstart the challenge! Take a few minutes out of your day and complete all 100 squats or break it up throughout the day. You can do them in your kitchen while cooking, in the shower or pretty much anywhere! Not only will you get those endorphins flowing but you will be strengthening your booty (quads, hamstrings, and core)! Just make sure to use proper form. Make sure your knees don’t go over your toes!

Day 2 // Practice Gratitude and List 10 Things You are Grateful for Today – It’s definitely not a secret that showing gratitude and counting your blessings is a proven way to increase happiness and reduce stress! The more you flex this gratitude muscle, the stronger it becomes and you will reap the benefits! Simply write down 10 things you are grateful for this prompt! And if you are interested in an amazing gratitude journal, we love this one!

Day 3 // Put on Your Favorite Face Mask – We actually just did a blog post about some of our favorite clean face masks to reveal glowing skin. (You can find it HERE). Not only will you show your skin some love, but you get to practice a little self-care too! It’s a win-win!

Day 4 // Screen Free Meals – I don’t know about you but I often find myself scrolling through social media while I eat, especially when I have a minute to myself. Not only does screen free meals provide a great opportunity to develop healthy eating habits, lowering mindless eating, but it also allows you time to build meaningful relationships with family and friends! So put that phone on silent, tuck it away and don’t get tempted to check it!

Day 5 // Give Yourself 3 Compliments – How hard will this be for some people? I remember when I first started incorporating this into my daily routine I felt so silly. It almost felt like bragging about myself, something I think a lot of people tend to steer away from because they want to appear more humble. But friend, this is so important for some self-love! Say it loud, say it proud. The more you pay yourself compliments, the more you will believe it and feel it! So if you are super funny, say it! If you have amazing legs, brag about it! Or if you have the kindest heart, be proud of who you are!

Day 6 // Listen to an Inspiring Podcast – Such an easy way to change your day! I’m currently loving the Live Beautifully Podcast by Katrina Scott, as well as Earn Your Happy and The Goal Digger Podcast by Jenna Kutcher.

Day 7// Pay it Forward to a Stranger – This is such a fun one! It can be super simple like buying a coffee for the person in line behind you or it could be buying flowers for a random person in a grocery store! I think sometimes we think too much about our own needs without considering how our behavior affects others. By paying it forward, we are positively affecting someone else’s day, which will most likely cause you to feel good as well. It’s an easy way to make a difference.

Nourish and Flourish // Days 8-14

Day 8 // Drink More Water – This is such a great and effective habit to adopt! Drinking water has so many benefits, including improving our skin complexion, flushing out toxins and increasing energy! Try and drink half your body weight in water and see how you feel at the end of the day!

Day 9 // Ground! Connect with Earth for at least 5 minutes – One of our favorite practices! We love grounding or earthing and the many benefits it provides! Since we live near the beach, we typically go every day, even if it’s only for 15 minutes so we can walk barefoot on the sand! Studies have found that grounding has been shown to reduce chronic pain, improve sleep, lower blood pressure and improve mood, as well as tons more! All you have to do is go barefoot, find some grass, dirt or sand, and simply absorb the earth’s energy!

Day 10 // Create a Pinterest Board of Things You Love – I don’t know about you but there is something so relaxing about pinning on Pinterest for me. I get inspired and motivated and just love to look at quotes I love and beautiful places. Make a board that inspires you, brings you happiness or simply gives you the feels!

Day 11 // Clean up Your Email Inbox – This is an easy way to feel more organized and in control of your life! I recently learned about Unroll.me, a free service that will instantly provide you with a list of all your subscription emails. You can then unsubscribe easily from whatever you don’t want!

Day 12 // Start Your Day With a Hot Lemon Water and 5 Deep Breaths – Get your glow on and your mind right with these two items! Drinking lemon water in the morning on an empty stomach is a simple thing you can add to your daily routine! With vitamin C, folate and other important vitamins, you get essential nutrients and kickstart your digestion. Don’t forget to take 5 deep breaths to set the tone for the day!

Day 13 // Buy/Pick Yourself Some Flowers– It doesn’t have to be a fancy bouquet, but do something kind for yourself! Buy or pick a pretty bouquet and show yourself some love! You are worth it!

Day 14 // Compliment A Stranger – Such an easy task, but one that brings so much joy! Have you ever received a compliment from a random stranger and just felt so good inside! When I was sixteen and really insecure about my nose, a random lady in the grocery store once told me to never get a nose job because my nose made me look exotic. It was such a kind thing for her to say and she didn’t know how much I would hold on to that! It honestly helped me grow more comfortable in my own skin and appreciate my own unique beauty!

Nourish and Flourish // Days 15-21

Day 15 // Go for a 20 minute walk – Regardless of what time it is, a 20 minute walk feels oh so good! It gets those endorphins flowing, exposes you to some sunlight (get that vitamin D baby!) and gives you time to decompress! It’s a great habit to add to your routine!

Day 16 // Create a Mood-Boosting Playlist – Music is therapy! I love the power of music and how just hearing a song can bring up a memory, change your mood or evoke an emotion! Put together some of your favorite jams and don’t forget to share them with us! We love discovering new music!

Day 17 // Try a 1-minute Plank– Planks are so good for the body! Not only does it work and strengthen the abs, but it also works the glutes, obliques, hips, back muscles and pretty much everything! It’s so beneficial to have a strong core and planks are a great way to get there! If you can’t hold it for a minute, try 30 seconds! Just challenge yourself!

Day 18 // Connect with a Family/Friend Today – Pick up your phone, shoot a text, Facetime or have a coffee date! Whatever you can do, do it! Just connect with a loved one and feel the amazing benefits that a good conversation can create! Just make sure you keep it uplifting or else you might feel drained! We don’t want any toxicity over here!

Day 19 // Take Pictures of Things Throughout Your Day that Make You Smile – Do you ever browse through your phone and see a picture and smile? We do! Usually, it’s pictures of our kids, but lately we have been taking pictures of flowers, sunsets, pretty quotes out and about and it’s felt so good! At the end of the week, I go through and save some of my favorites to a little album on my phone! It’s kind of like a digital mood board!

Day 20 // Watch the Sunset – Research shows that watching sunsets can increase your satisfaction in life, relieve stress and improve mood! I mean just looking at the majestic colors painted in the sky brings me peace! Drive to your favorite spot and watch your worries fade away!

Day 21 // Tell Your Spouse/ Significant Other 5 Things You Love About Them – Not only is this a great way to make someone feel good, it serves as a great reminder of your significant other’s amazing qualities, thus helping you appreciate them more! Plus, if your spouse has words of affirmation as their love language, you are speaking to their soul!

Nourish and Flourish // Days 22-30

Day 22 // Get Your Doodle, Color or Creativity On – Unleash your inner child and color! There is something so meditative and relaxing about this mindless activity! My husband and I have a few adult coloring books that we take out from time to time to release some stress and just zone out! It’s such an easy way to relax!

Day 23 // Complete Your Favorite Workout – We love moving our body and feeling good! It’s an easy way to improve your mood, feel strong and show your body some love! Melissa recently shared some of her favorite free home workouts so click HERE if you want to read about those! They are so good!

Day 24 // Donate 5 Items You No Longer Need – I love doing this when I feel overwhelmed! I like things to be minimal and clean, but sometimes with kids I feel like clutter piles up! To combat this, I try and go through our house regularly to identify things we no longer use or don’t need! I take it to our local donation center and I feel good knowing someone else can use it, while also restoring my minimal environment!

Day 25 // Try a New Recipe – I love to cook and try new food! It’s a fun opportunity to improve your cooking expertise, delight your taste buds and perfect your inner chef!

Day 26 // Get 15 minutes of Sun – Soak up that sun and get that Vitamin D! It’s an instant mood booster that will leave you feeling energized! Increase your immunity and your serotonin level! You will be left feeling energized, focused and warm ;)!

Day 27 // Write Down 3 Affirmations to Repeat Daily – We do this with our kids, as well as ourselves! It’s just a simple statement, said out loud (often repeated) with confidence and conviction to help you reprogram your brain! Find or create one that resonates with you!

Day 28 // Create a Bucket-List – I love a bucket list! I actually have quite a few different ones! One for Travel, one for different seasons, one for fun experiences! Create one and let it motivate you to work towards fulfilling your dreams!

Day 29 // Turn Your Phone off For One Hour – This may sound easy, but it’s actually a lot harder than it sounds! We have been so accustomed to always having our phone on us and using it as a way to browse, take in information, do research etc. that we don’t realize how often we stare at our screen! I didn’t realize how much I was on my phone until I set a daily limit! So do yourself a favor and turn it off for an hour! It’s so liberating!

Day 30 // Spend 10 minutes Learning a New Language – I downloaded the app Duolingo a few years ago and am obsessed! It’s a free app that allows you to learn so many different languages! The lessons are fun and interactive and you can win points and rewards, level up, and master a language effectively! I try and do this 10 minutes a day a few times a week! I go back and forth between Spanish, French and Italian! It’s fun, but keeps my brain challenged!

We hope you participate in our 30 days to Nourish and Flourish Challenge! If you do, please don’t forget to tag us in your daily challenges! We can’t wait to see how you feel after completing this fun challenge! It really is a great way to kickstart March!

Here’s a PDF version if you want to save it!

Thank you for following along and constantly supporting us! We appreciate you all so much!

xoxoxo,

Kari and Melissa

The post Nourish and Flourish: A 30 Day Challenge! appeared first on sunkissed & grateful.

1. My friend recently introduced me to a caffeine-free coffee blend, teeccino. You can make it in your Keurig so it fills the room with the coffee smell and you can still have that morning moment of peace before the day’s craziness starts. She had a hand held frother too and it was perfect touch to the delicious coffee! Shop coffee faves here!

2. Yesterday as I served my 4-year-old his lunch (rice, potatoes, veggies meatballs), he looked at the plate and exclaimed, “where are the greens on this plate?! No tomatoes, no carrots….” I burst out laughing. A moment I never want to forget.

3. One of my mom friends moved off island. I had recently met her but felt close and connected! Is it just me, or does it seem harder to make friends as adults?? (so then when I do meet someone where we just click, I’m extra grateful for them.)

4. Even though we’ve lived on Kauai permanently for 7 years (and seasonally since 2010), there are still beaches we haven’t visited and trails we haven’t done. That fills my adventurous heart with excitement. (Photos in this post are from the first time we went to a new beach).

5. My husband purchased a physical therapy practice March 2020, days before the COVID-19 pandemic caused our island to shut down. The sweat equity this past year has been a lot. But I saw a new side of my husband. A resilient, dedicated and passionate side I hadn’t seen before and I love him so much for it!

6. Crossing items off of my to-do list give me such a high.

7. I feel like I’m constantly cleaning and organizing! Does anyone else wish they could empty their home and start over haha?!? Wardrobe included haha….and unlimited budget, of course. 😉

8. I had terrible ab separation (like 4 fingers!!!) with my first pregnancy in 2016 and it didn’t close before I got pregnant again. This past month I’ve noticed some healing/ab closure and I’m so so happy about it!!

9. I honestly feel like I could eat Mexican food and pizza for the rest of my life and be totally happy about it.

10. In the past month I’ve been told twice I look like I’m 20! This used to get me so upset when I was 25, but now a decade later, one of the nicest things you can say to me haha!

11. I love wearing dresses! It’s a little harder these days, with 2 active kids, but they are still my favorite. Dresses are so comfortable and much less decision making goes into the outfit.

Spring Dresses Round-Up

Like I shared, I love wearing dresses. Writing about it made me realize I don’t wear them as much as I should. With an every fluctuating body (2 pregnancies in the last 4 years/nursing boobs/hormones), I haven’t updated my dresses in years, so I found some spring dresses that I’d love in my closet.

Shop spring dresses round-up here and here!

I was worried I wouldn’t have 11 things to share but it turns out there’s a lot going on in my head and heart. 🙂

Thanks for reading and learning more about me. What are some of your random thoughts or recent life experiences? Have a great day, my beautiful friend! -Melissa

ps. Also wanted to note, that if you purchase from our links we make a small commission.

The post 11 Things + Spring Dresses Round-Up appeared first on sunkissed & grateful.

How Blue Light Exposure Can Affect Your Health

Most of us spend a huge part of our lives looking at a screen—for work, entertainment, education and communication. Since screens use blue light displays, our faces and eyes are the most susceptible to damage!

Blue light exposure has been linked to eye fatigue, blurred vision, and dry eyes. Additionally, studies have shown blue light is a risk factor for the onset of a condition (age-related macular degeneration) that can lead to vision loss over time! If that alone isn’t wanting you to protect yourself from blue light exposure, there’s more!

Additionally the blue light from our screens impacts our sleep by messing with our circadian rhythm. Disrupted sleep decreases our quality of sleep and we all know how important quality sleep is to our health, mood, energy, etc.

I also read that children are also susceptible to adverse reactions from blue light exposure so it’s even more important for them to protect their eyes!

While there is conclusive evidence linking blue light exposure to increased skin damage I read that:

“The best evidence we have is that blue light ‘contributes to brown spots on the skin and hyperpigmentation such as melasma, and possibly to photoaging and the breakdown of collagen, which leads to wrinkles and skin laxity…’”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.allure.com/story/blue-light-phone-skin-effects/amp

With it being such a new topic in dermatology, I’m not sure if there are any longitudinal studies yet. However, knowing that early evidence does suggest blue light exposure has the potential to be damaging to our skin is enough for me to take protective measures.

Tula Protect and Glow

I have been using the Tula Protect and Glow cream for some months. It not only protects skin from blue light exposure but also is a sunscreen. Most sunscreens are thick leave a white residue, but not this one. It’s light and not sticky plus it is made with clean ingredients, which is something that’s super important to me.

Non-Toxic Blue Light Face Creams

I found some non-toxic blue light face creams. I wanted to share the ones I found, just in case you’re wanting to add them to your face routine!

Direct links for each cream can be found here! Links also found at the bottom on this post.

Blue Light Exposure Eye Protection

I noticed people on social media start wearing blue light glasses over the past year but never really looking into it myself. It wasn’t until talking with some friends and they shared with the me the importance blue light exposure eye protection. I ordered these glasses for me and Randon that day! They came out to about $7 each so not a huge investment for the protection they offer.

Blue Light Glasses

There are so many blue light glasses options out there. I was surprised that they can cost just as much as prescription lenses! Yikes! If that’s in your budget and you wanna do that, go for it! I did, though, find some budget friendly blue light glasses–ranging from $5 to mid $30s! Also, I shared one option for kids.

Find direct links to glasses here! Also at the bottom of this post.

Small Steps Lead to Big Changes

Protecting yourself from blue light exposure may be really low on your priority list haha it was non-existent on mine. But I think small steps lead to big changes especially when it comes to our health. Thanks for reading today’s post and hopefully you learned something new! much love, –Melissa

Shop the post here!

ps. if you purchase from our links we make a small commission! so thanks so much for supporting us!

The post How to Protect Yourself from Blue Light Exposure appeared first on sunkissed & grateful.