Gifts for Baby Girl

1. Shopping Cart // from early walking days to toddlers, baby girls just love filling these up and pushing them all over the house.

2. Magnatiles // watch their fine motor skills + creativity soar with these magnetic tiles. We love these for quiet times like at church or during school!

3. Portable Sink with Running Water // my daughter played with one at a friend’s house and didn’t want to leave. The running water makes this sink so fun and practical! Can be used to teach kids to wash their own dishes.

4. Poke-a-Dot Books // These books challenge small motor movements with their fun popping circles on each page! With popular nursery songs, holiday themed and basic learning themes, you’ll definitely find one for you baby!

5. Magnetic Dress Up Doll // These magnetic dress up dolls are so fun. My daughter loves creating different outfits. I love to hear her vocabulary come out as she pretends to be the girls.

6. Balance Bike // teach them full body control but make it cute, right? Haha. I’m so into more subtle colors even for my daughter that I loved this bike when I saw it!

Girls 3-5 years

1. Balance Bike // Set your child up to not need training wheels with a balance bike!
2. Wooden Dish Set // I’m all about toys that use less plastic so this dish set is a perfect addition to any little girls life.
3. Pretend Kitchen // I think most little girls dream of a pretend kitchen! I love the minimalist look of this one and the green detail!!
4. Scooter // one of the most used toys in our home are the micro scooters. Their unique 2-front wheel design reduces falls which I’m sure every parent can appreciate!
5. Maileg Mice // these are an investment for sure, but the amount of open ended play they will provide is worth it! There are more affordable alternatives on Etsy tho!!
6. Wooden Dollhouse // Another popular gift for little girls is a dollhouse. This wooden dollhouse with multiple levels is a dupe to a more expensive option and seems so fun!

Gifts for Baby Boy

1. Doodle board // have some fun with this doodle board that can be used over and over again! Love these for traveling.

2. Balance Bike // an adorable option for your child’s first bike! They will be the cutest scooting around in this bike.

3. Climbing Ladder // not only is this climbing ladder functional and aesthetic, it will help promote motor development, creativity, and coordination/balance. And it gives parents some much needed quiet time!

4. Cleaning Set // include your child in home chores and plant the seed for serving! This adorable cleaning set will get them excited to clean!

5. Sensory Tubes // in the fidget toy family, sensory tubes open and close creating a fun sound.

6. Water Wow Coloring // When water touches the pages, colorful images appear. We use these for airplane rides, during church and just anytime! This paw patrol set is so popular right now!

Boys 3-5 years

1. Tonie Player // Saw an ad on Instagram for this and thought it was so interesting! Each character plays a unique story or song! A way to minimize screen time while giving kids the stories they love!

2. Lincoln Logs // made from real wood, Lincoln Logs allow your child to use their creativity and extend into pretend play. So fitting for the cooler weather!

3. Jungle Gym // a fun way to challenge problem solving, coordination development and enjoy the outdoors!

4. Scooter // a toy that your child will use over and over again. Worth the investment!!! Reduce falls with their unique 2-front wheel design.

5. Guess Who Board Game // This game is so fun! Ask yes or no questions to figure out your opponents character. The person that correctly guesses in the fewest turns wins! This has quickly become a family favorite!

6. Dog Man Books // Whether it’s Dog Man of another series, giving the gift of books is always a good idea! My son happens to be so into Dog Man books so I’m going to grab him a couple!

Presence over Presents

It’s nice to give kids presents if our budgets allow, and hopefully this hopefully these holiday gifts for babies and toddlers gave you some suggestions if you are stumped. Oh and check out our previous blog post for inspo on gift for your husband, gym enthusiasts and more!

A friendly reminder to never feel pressured to spend outside of your means! Ultimately what kids love the most is time with the special adults in their lives!

We love you all! Melissa + Kari

Ps. We get a tiny commission if you purchase from our links and it makes us so grateful.

The post Best Holiday Gifts for Babies and Toddlers (0-5 years) appeared first on sunkissed & grateful.

Happy November friends It’s the holiday season and that means lots of family/friend gatherings, yummy food, and of course presents! To help take the stress out of holiday gift shopping, we put together a few holiday gift guides to help you out! Whether you are shopping for your partner, bestie, or a teacher, we have ideas for you! So be sure to keep reading for some fun gift inspiration for everyone on your list! You can also find last year’s holiday gift guide HERE and HERE!

Gift Guide for the Wellness Enthusiast

We all have that special someone in our lives that is super into all things wellness, fitness, and health! Here are some gift ideas for the wellness enthusiast that will be sure to get their heart rate up in excitement! See what I did there (Insert winky face)! haha!

1// Act and Acre Gua Sha Scalp Tool: I’m sure you have heard of our love for gua sha for the face, but we just recently discovered gua sha for the scalp and are all about it! Using this gua sha stone, made of jade, helps promote circulation in the scalp, giving it an invigorating massage, which can help increase hair growth. As a postpartum momma who is still struggling with hair loss, this would be an amazing gift!

2// Saje Pocket Farmacy Essential Oil Blend Set: This is such a must-have for the wellness enthusiast! This kit includes a collection of 100% natural essential oil blends that you can keep in your car, purse, or anywhere you travel. Saje Wellness is one of my fave brands and they included some of their bestsellers to treat everyday ailments! Lululemon also has this recovery kit from Saje Wellness that would be an amazing gift too!

3// Lululemon Double Roller: Help your friend release tension with this amazing double roller! As a two-in-one roller, you can use the exterior roller to massage your arms and legs, and then pull out the interior roller to release tension in your back! Comes in three different colors and is such a great price point!

4// Bumble and bumble’s Bb.Post-Workout Dry Shampoo Mist: Revive those sweaty strands with this quick-drying dry shampoo! It will absorb oil, eliminate odor and it doesn’t leave any white cast or sticky residue! It’s the perfect post-workout product to take you from spin to brunch with your bestie!

5// Golde Matcha Turmeric Latte Superfood Blend: Give the gift of ultimate health with this superfood powder blend! Made with 7 essential superfoods with organic cacao that tastes great and has equally amazing benefits. The Turmeric is the ultimate superfood for skin and gut health, while the match, Rich in antioxidants and chlorophyll, provides a glow, detox, and a natural dose of caffeine. And the creamy coconut base is rich in MCT, which supports hair, skin, and nail health and boosts metabolism. It truly is magical and it’s vegan and keto-friendly! They also have a cacao flavor too!

6// Ice Roller for your Face: After a long night or an early morning, take this ice roller out of the freezer and roll over your face! It will help decrease puffiness, shrink pores, and can also ease tension and migraines! It’s such an inexpensive gift that makes such a big difference!

7// Be a Good Human Hat: Such a simple hat that packs a powerful message! This is the perfect hat for those who love to workout outdoors or keep the sun off their face! I also really love this smiley face hat from Etsy! It comes in so many colors and I constantly am getting asked where I got it!

8// Tangram Rookie Smart Jump Rope: How fun is this! The SmartRope Rookie syncs to your smartphone, automatically records your exercise data, programs your workout, and lets you compete with friends. Who knew a jump rope could empower you to live an active life!

9// Silk Hair Scrunchies: Say goodbye to creases after a workout with these super-soft silk scrunchies! I love to work out in these or use them while I sleep to ensure my hair stays smooth and breakage-free! Comes in a few colors and is such a fun and easy gift!

Gift Guide for Your Soul Sister

1// So Soft Sherpa Ballerina Slippers: So comfy and perfect for lounging around, these soft Sherpa slippers are so soft and only $20! Your bestie will thank you for keeping her feet warm and cozy!

2// Dae Dreamer Set: We have been big fan of Dae for quite some time now and love so many of their products! This set includes some of their best-sellers and is a great price! It sells out fast because it is just that good! I’m also a big fan of the deep-conditioner mask and the prickly pear hair oil!

3// Nodpod Weighted Eye Mask: Perfect for soothing migraines, calming anxiety, or getting that peaceful sleep, this weighted eye mask features four weighted pods that contour to your face, blocking out the light and providing soothing pressure to help relieve stress! I mean everyone needs one of these!

4// Starbucks Custom Cups: I love these cups so much!! And you know we are big fans of leopard print, so these Venti Starbucks custom cups are calling our names! At only $17, they are an inexpensive but thoughtful gift that you can give to all your besties! We also love these Gold & Rose Gold Ombre Custom Insulated Starbucks Cups! They are perfect for hot lattes!

5// Laneige All-Nighter Gift Set: Keep your besties lips super soft with this set of best-selling Laneige lip masks. This set comes with the famous All Nighter Berry lip-mask and holiday flavors, Gingersnap and Peppermint! Such an inexpensive gift that will be a major hit!

6// Aerie Oh Snap! Weekend Henley Mock Neck Sweatshirt: This sweatshirt is perfect! It fits perfectly oversized, the quality is great and the style reminds me of Free People but at a much lower price point! The sweatshirt comes in so many colors and is the perfect cozy sweater to wear on those chilly nights! It comes in so many colors and is perfect with leggings!

7// Daily Pause Spiral Journal: This journal is great! It includes daily prompts that encourages you to take moments of pause and reflection to bring mindfulness! It’s the perfect self-care journal and makes a great gift!

8// Lululemon Fleece Belt Bag: Phone, keys, wallet. Keep them close in this versatile belt bag! It’s the perfect bag to hold the essentials while you are out hiking with your bestie, grabbing a coffee or a busy mom chasing her kids at the park! And the soft fleece is PERFECT!

Gift Guide for Your Parents/In-Laws

Parents and in-laws are always the hardest to shop for, at least for me! It’s hard to figure out what exactly to get them, especially if they have it all! We found a few ideas for gifts that we think are sure to be a hit!

1// Herschel Supply Duffel Bag: This is the perfect bag for weekend getaways and adventures! If your in-laws like to travel, this cute bag comes in multiple colors and features snap-down sides that expand to allow a bit of extra packing space inside. The top handles make it easy to carry, and convenient pockets help organize essentials for a trip to the gym or a weekend getaway!

2// Smart Garden 3 Self Watering Indoor Garden: I am obsessed with this and it would make the best gift! No matter how little space you think you have, you have room to grow your own fresh herbs or vegetables in this self-watering indoor garden! It’s easy-peasy and you don’t need a green thumb!

3// Barefoot Dreams Robe: Perfect for cozy evenings at home, this cushy unisex robe is made from CozyChic, a machine-washable microfiber that won’t ever shrink or pill! It’s honestly so soft that you will probably only want to wear this!

4// Nordstrom Large Charcuterie Board: If your in-laws or parents love to host, this charcuterie board is perfect! Large enough to beautifully display the food and gather the whole family around and a great price! Win-Win!

5// Promptly Journals Autobiography Journal: I love this company and have the childhood journals for my kids! They recently came out with this autobiography journal and it would be perfect for grandparents to fill out! They can record their life story, sharing special memories that will live on forever! It’s such a sweet and sentimental journal for families to cherish!

6// Digital Photo Frame: This is the perfect gift for parents/in-laws! You simply download the Frameo app onto your smartphone to add photos wirelessly or can put in an SD card! It works with both iPhone and Android devices and once the photos are downloaded, you have your very own “rolling slide show”! It’s so cool to display over hundreds of photos in great quality!

7// Caraway Frying Pan: If your in-laws or parents love to cook, this Caraway frying pan is the perfect gift! Designed with a ceramic nonstick cooking surface to promote healthier cooking, easy food release, and quick cleanup, this pan is truly the best! I love the different colors too, especially the chic cream and navy blue color!

8// The Home Edit Book and Container Store Gift Card: Who doesn’t love a clean and organized home? I love following the Home Edit account on Instagram and they just created this book filled with tips and tricks to organize every inch of your home! Give this to your parents/in-laws with a Container Store gift card and you have the perfect gift!

Gifts Under $100

1// Vuori Performance Joggers: I love these joggers! I own a few pairs and pretty much everyone else in San Diego does too! But that’s because they started as a local Encinitas small business, are insanely comfortable, and are such good quality! You can’t go wrong giving these as a gift! You can easily give your work-from-home uniform a cozy upgrade with these soft, relaxed joggers that are also stylish enough for errands! They even have a men’s version too!

2// Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil: This hair oil is amazing! It was created by blogger Negin Mirsalehi and her hair is just amazing! Total hair goals! This oil will deeply nourish, moisturize, soften and smooth your hair! Perfect for winter!

3// The Knotted Crossbody Bag: Love this crossbody! The pockets in the front are perfect to access your phone easily and it’s the perfect bag to hold all the essentials! The knotted details add a little flair to this simple, yet chic bag!

4// Hardside 20″ Carry On Spinner Suitcase: This is the perfect gift for anyone who loves to travel! This super-affordable carry-on features a full zip-around closure that lets it expand when you need to bring home more than you left with, and interior zippered compartments for more efficient packing! And it comes in a bunch of super cute colors!

5// Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Camera: These are so fun! I have one and I love adding the polaroids to our family’s photo album! My daughters love them too! It’s the perfect gift for any age!

6// DermaFlash Ultrasonic Pore Extractor & Serum Infuser: If you know someone who loves skincare, this is such a fun product! The two-in-one ultrasonic device unclogs pores and infuses your favorite skincare products, for smaller pores and clearer skin. I mean who wouldn’t want that?

7// FM Radio Alarm Clock with Qi Wireless Charging, Pointuch Desk Bedside Clock: Obsessed with this charging station! Not only does it charge your phone, but it also serves as a bedside clock, radio, thermometer, and humidity reader and you can put a photo in it! It’s super cute for a bedside table and is a gift that you can truly give anyone!

8// Hooded Quilted Water Repellent Jacket: Everyone needs a good winter jacket! This one contours to your body, doesn’t feel big or boxy, and is waterproof! It even has straps that you can use to hang it when you aren’t wearing it! It’s definitely a high-quality jacket!

9// Driftwood Candle: How gorgeous is this driftwood candle? It’s the perfect gift for that special someone in your life who has it all! It comes in two different scents, Grapefruit Pine and Ginger Patchouli, and will last such a long time!

You Can Shop All of Our Gift Guides Below

We hope that helps make your shopping easier! We are coming out with a second round of gift guides in the next week or so if you need more ideas!

Thank you so much for all of your love and support with our blog! We have grown so much the past few months and are truly forming a little community! It makes us so happy and excited for what the future has in store!

Hope you have an amazing week!

xoxoxo,

Kari

p.s. if you do click on our links and make a purchase from our gift guides, we make a small commission. As two stay-at-home moms, we greatly appreciate the support when you do!

p.s.s. be sure to check out our most recent blog post to see how Melissa styled her favorite $22 Target jeans!

The post Holiday Gift Guides: Round One appeared first on sunkissed & grateful.

Ohhh hey! It’s been like a month or two since we have done a blog post! Life has just been so insanely busy for us both! Melissa and I are both Stay at home moms to entrepreneur husbands so that often translates to them working a ton! But we are back and are so excited to be here again! Thanks for always following along with us and giving us your love and support! We do appreciate it! I wanted to jump back into things and share my favorite things I’ve been loving this past month!

A Little Life Update

We recently moved in August, just down the street, but it still involved tons of purging, packing, organizing and unpacking! It’s been exhausting but also super fun! Our new house is super cute, has tons of natural light and we’ve been slowly starting to decorate it so stay tuned for more home decor posts!!

We also started homeschooling through a charter with my oldest daughter so it’s been fun, but also busy! We have soccer, Wild and Free nature groups and all kinds of fun field trips so it definitely keeps us busy!

And we went to Disneyland! It was so much fun! We enjoyed a week at our favorite place and it made our hearts so happy to see all of the Halloween decorations!

So that’s our little update! It’s been a busy but exciting season of life for us! A little break gave me some much needed time to get my creative juices flowing again!

My Favorite Things this Past Month

I wanted to share just a few of my favorite things I’ve been loving this past month! I always love when people share their faves because it gives me new ideas or products to try! So keep reading to see what I’ve been loving lately!

Books //

I try to make it an intention to read every day and sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn’t! This month I read two books and really loved them both!

The first book The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave was literally so good!! I even stayed up way past my bedtime two nights in a row to finish it! I don’t want to give too much away but it held my attention so well and was one of my fave books of the year!

The second book, Where the Grass Is Green and the Girls Are Pretty by Lauren Weisberger, bestselling author of Devil Wears Prada was a fun read! It’s about a college admission scandal, following your heart, and the reality of perfect lives! It was more of a fun read, but I really enjoyed it! I highly recommend both books!

Hair//

The next two things I’m loving are hair products! Since we live by the beach, we are constantly swimming in the oceans and pool! Our hair gets dry so we definitely have to keep it hydrated to prevent breakage!

I’ve been using the dae Monsoon Moisture Mask for the past few months and love it! It keeps my hair soft and silky! It also has clean ingredients, smells good and looks cute in my shower! I typically only wash my hair 2-3 times a week max so I just use a tiny bit of this every time and let it sit in my hair while I shave! My hair is definitely shinier and having less breakage!

My daughter’s have pretty wavy to curly hair, and my 5 year old has super long hair! It kept getting tangled and frizzy so I bought this leave in conditioner for curly hair by Verb and it works wonders! I just put a little in the hair after bath, brush through and let it air-dry! She gets perfect little waves with no frizz! It’s magic! I tried on my fine, straight hair and it was a little too heavy for me! So I highly recommend for wavy/straight hair!

Fitness//

With our move recently and a busy schedule it has been so hard to get consistent workouts in and I’ve been left feeling in a rut! I kept getting ads for Melissa Wood Health app so I decided to download and so the seven day free trial! I ending up loving it and now pay $9.99 a month for it!

The MWH Method is a series of slow controlled, low impact movements combining yoga and Pilates to sculpt long lean lines throughout the body. Her program offers pre and post natal workouts, beginner workouts and meditations and much more! I like that she has a schedule to follow so it keeps me on track and mixes it up! I’ve been following the schedule and then adding in an extra workout on days that I have time! It’s been so good and I feel refreshed after taking each class!

To add a little intensity to my workout when you for the challenge, I use these Bala bangles! I have them in 1lb and 2lb and love them! I also try to wear them while on walks! Such an added bonus!

Clothes//

I purchased a few things this month that I am loving! I’ve always been a big fan of one-shoulder looks and found this super cute top at revolve! It comes in quite a few colors and the material really surprised me! When I purchased I thought it was going to be a cotton t-shirt material, but it was actually a thicker polyester and spandex material! I like to wear it with my hair in a bun and some hoop earrings to give it that sexy peek of shoulder look!

I also love this ribbed workout sports bra and bottoms I got from Target recently! I’ve been wearing them non-stop and love the slate blue color! The ribbing is so cute and the high-waist super flattering! I paired it with this cute little open back shirt!

I’ve also been loving this billabong dress I got last month! You can wear it so many ways! I like to wear it with booties, a hat and a chunky cardigan! I’m wearing it with this little cardigan I picked up from Amazon and it’s such an easy and comfortable outfit! This outfit will definitely be a repeat and will probably be on my list of favorite things for a while! You can easily dress up or down!

And my last favorite clothing item this month was my Gap Cheeky High- Rise straight leg denim in black! I was actually going to order the Madewell Perfect Vintage denim in black because I love the fit, but I saw these on sale and figured I should give it a try! I’m so happy I did because I love them and got so many compliments on them! I wore them at Disneyland and they were so comfortable!! Highly-recommend! I would size down one size because they do stretch out as you wear them!

Randoms//

These PeapodMats Leakproof Mattress Pads! My oldest has been potty-trained for a few years now, but instill like to keep this mat over her mattress for extra protection! They are perfect for that potty-training time when you need some reassurance and accidents happen frequently!

I’ve also been loving line art recently!! I just purchased these prints from Etsy and they are so beautiful! These will go in my bathroom and were so inexpensive! You just buy the file, print at Office Depot/Staples and put in a frame! So easy and inexpensive!

Okay! If you made it this far, you are amazing!! Thank you! Hope you enjoyed reading and found some inspiration of books torneadnos things to try! These were just some of my favorite things this past month! Leave a comment below and let us know yours!

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Have an amazing week! You are loved, appreciated and beautiful!

Xoxoxo,

Kari

P.S. have you read our blog post about making your coffee be more sustainable?! You can find it here!

And just a disclaimer, we do make a small commission if you purchase through our links!  we are forever grateful for your support!

The post A Little Life Update and Some of My Favorite Things this Past Month appeared first on sunkissed & grateful.

I have been a self-proclaimed book nerd my entire life! It’s the ultimate self-care for me and something I make time for every single day. There is just something about cozying up, reading a good book and getting lost between the pages! I thought I’d share 5 books you need to read this summer just in case you are looking for some new reads!

1//Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand

When I think of a summer read, I automatically think of Elin Hilderbrand! She is pretty much the queen of writing summer novels! She is one of my favorite authors and a lot of her books take place in Nantucket or Montauk. It always makes those East Coast beach towns seem so appealing! I definitely want to visit after reading all of her books!

Book Description // On a perfect June day, Vivian Howe, author of thirteen beach novels and mother of three nearly grown children, is killed in a hit-and-run car accident while jogging near her home on Nantucket. She ascends to the Beyond where she’s assigned to a Person named Martha, who allows Vivi to watch what happens below for one last summer. Vivi also is granted three “nudges” to change the outcome of events on earth, and with her daughter Willa on her third miscarriage, Carson partying until all hours, and Leo currently “off again” with his high-maintenance girlfriend, she’ll have to think carefully where to use them.

From the Beyond, Vivi watches “The Chief” Ed Kapenash investigate her death, but her greatest worry is her final book, which contains a secret from her own youth that could be disastrous for her reputation. But when hidden truths come to light, Vivi’s family will have to sort out their past and present mistakes—with or without a nudge of help from above—while Vivi finally lets them grow without her.

My thoughts// Obsessed! From the moment I picked up this book, I could not put it down! It was captivating and endearing and indefinitely stayed up way past my bedtime to finish reading this! Definitely a must read this summer!

2// That Summer by Jennifer Weiner

Jennifer Weiner is another one of my favorite authors! She writes so well, her words are witty and fun, and she weaves the most magical storylines. I have read and loved all of her books, so as soon as I saw this one come out, I knew I had to pick it up!

Book Description // Daisy Shoemaker can’t sleep. With a thriving cooking business, full schedule of volunteer work, and a beautiful home in the Philadelphia suburbs, she should be content. But her teenage daughter can be a handful, her husband can be distant, her work can feel trivial, and she has lots of acquaintances, but no real friends. Still, Daisy knows she’s got it good. So why is she up all night?

While Daisy tries to identify the root of her dissatisfaction, she’s also receiving misdirected emails meant for a woman named Diana Starling, whose email address is just one punctuation mark away from her own. When Daisy’s driving carpools, Diana is chairing meetings. While Daisy’s making dinner, Diana’s making plans to reorganize corporations. Diana’s glamorous, sophisticated, single-lady life is miles away from Daisy’s simpler existence. When an apology leads to an invitation, the two women meet and become friends. But, as they get closer, we learn that their connection was not completely accidental. Who IS this other woman, and what does she want with Daisy?

My Thoughts// This book was not what I expected it to be, but I still enjoyed it! It discusses the #metoo movement, sexual assault and rape, and has some strong political viewpoints mixed in there. Because of this it does tend to fall on the heavier side of a summer read. But I did appreciate her exploring these topics and weaving them in throughout the story. While it did take me a few chapters to get into the book, I still found it was thought-provoking and held my attention

3//One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London

If you are a fan of the Bachelorette series, you will love this book! To be honest, when I first picked up this book, I had zero expectations. It just sort of looked like a fun, romantic comedy read! I like those every now and then because it just provides me with some mindless entertainment! I also definitely do judge a book by its cover when picking out books, and this one caught my eye!

Book Description// Bea Schumacher is a devastatingly stylish plus-size fashion blogger who has amazing friends, a devoted family, legions of Insta followers—and a massively broken heart. Like the rest of America, Bea indulges in her weekly obsession: the hit reality show Main Squeeze. The fantasy dates! The kiss-off rejections! The surprising amount of guys named Chad! But Bea is sick and tired of the lack of body diversity on the show.

Just when Bea has sworn off dating altogether, she gets an intriguing call: Main Squeeze wants her to be its next star, surrounded by men vying for her affections. Bea agrees, on one condition—under no circumstances will she actually fall in love. She’s in this to supercharge her career, subvert harmful beauty standards, inspire women across America, and get a free hot air balloon ride. That’s it.

But when the cameras start rolling, Bea realizes things are more complicated than she anticipated. She’s in a whirlwind of sumptuous couture, Internet culture wars, sexy suitors, and an opportunity (or two, or five) to find messy, real-life love in the midst of a made-for-TV fairy tale. In this joyful, wickedly observant debut, Bea has to decide whether it might just be worth trusting these men—and herself—for a chance to live happily ever after.

My Thoughts// I loved this book! It was such a fun and easy read, but it really did speak on an important topic in society. I loved how it talked about body diversity and harmful beauty standards, while also mixing in a bunch of fun, reality TV drama! Highly recommend this book for a fun read that was witty, informative, and endearing!

4// The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner

This was one of those books I typically wouldn’t choose, but after it was recommended a few times I caved in and rented from the library! It’s a historical fiction and is great for those who love Jane Austen and her style of writing! Also, side note, if you listen to the audiobook version, the narrator’s voice is so perfect!

Book Description // Just after the Second World War, in the small English village of Chawton, an unusual but like-minded group of people band together to attempt something remarkable.

One hundred and fifty years ago, Chawton was the final home of Jane Austen, one of England’s finest novelists. Now it’s home to a few distant relatives and their diminishing estate. With the last bit of Austen’s legacy threatened, a group of disparate individuals come together to preserve both Jane Austen’s home and her legacy. These people―a laborer, a young widow, the local doctor, and a movie star, among others―could not be more different and yet they are united in their love for the works and words of Austen. As each of them endures their own quiet struggle with loss and trauma, others from more distant tragedies, they rally together to create the Jane Austen Society.

My Thoughts // This book pleasantly surprised me. It’s a great read and has some really strong women characters that you might find super relatable. I think that there were a lot of Jane Austen references that probably went over my head, sinceI am not an avid fan. However, the four woman characters and their families still drew me in. It’s always a goal of mine to read books I normally wouldn’t gravitate towards and this one definitely checked that category! It was a fun read though and I would still recommend it to others for sure!

5// Summer Island by Kristin Hannah

I just discovered the author Kristin Hannah recently and I have loved her books! They are so good. I loved Firefly Lane and The Great Alone so I was so excited to see she came out with a new book! Her books always pack an emotional punch and this one is no different!

Book Description // Years ago, Nora Bridge walked out on her marriage and left her daughters behind. Now she is a famous talk show host. Her daughter Ruby is a struggling comedienne. The two haven’t spoken in more than a decade. Then a scandal from Nora’s past is exposed, and Ruby is offered a fortune to write a tell-all about her mother. Reluctantly, she returns to the family house on Summer Island, a home filled with frayed memories of joy and heartache. Confronting a past that includes a never-forgotten love, a sick best friend, and a mother who has harbored terrible family secrets, Ruby finally begins to understand the complex ties that bind a mother and daughter- and the healing that comes with forgiveness.

My Thoughts // Okay, so this book will definitely take you on an emotional journey! I wasn’t prepared for how much I would love this book and how much it would make me cry. It’s a compelling story of mothers and daughters and the complicated relationship of these characters. The author is so good about writing about family drama and making you see all the different views! It’s definitely a great book to read this summer!

You Can Shop All of Our Book Picks Below!

Do you have any fun summer reads we should all to our bookshelf? Let us know! We always love reading new books and getting recommendations for different genres! We hope our list of 5 Books to read this summer will inspire you to read something new!

Hope everyone is having an amazing summer! It’s going by so quickly! I can’t believe we are almost to August! Fall is almost here! So don’t forget to take advantage of the Nordstrom Sale to stock up on some fall finds! We shared some of our favorite finds in our last blog post, HERE!

As always, thank you for your support and we hope you are having a great summer!

Xoxoxo,

Kari

P.S. by clicking and purchasing through our links, we may make a small commission. Thank you for supporting us and letting us chase our dreams!

The post 5 Books You Need to Read this Summer 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.

1) Switch to reusable k-cups/pods

My first if the the 3 tips create a sustainable coffee bar is to switch to a reusable k-cup (or equivalent, like a machine that doesn’t require any pods at all!). I have a Keurig machine and it has the option to use your own coffee beans in a reusable k-cup, rather than purchasing the cups already.

Most, if not all, coffee pods are made of plastic and if you drink 1 cup a day that’s at least 7 plastic pods/week. I believe it’s even more economical to get your favorite coffee beans and use them in the reusable k-cup! We love to get coffee from local coffee shops and use in our machine. That way we are supporting local, reducing our carbon footprint and reducing our single waste plastic consumption.

If you have a Nespresso, they have a really amazing recycling program that’s free! We really wanted to get a Nespresso but HI isn’t part of the free recycling program so we opted for the Keurig. Learn more about the Nespresso recycling program if you’re interested!

Here are some coffee makers that can use the reusable k-cups or just use your favorite coffee directly!

Shop coffee makers here!

2) Compost Coffee Grounds

We recently started composting and it feels so good to have made this small sustainable change. Now instead of throwing our used coffee grounds in the trash, we are able to compost them! I’ve seen that coffee grounds make great fertilizer so even if you don’t have a compost you can sprinkle some of your coffee grounds onto your plant’s soil to help them grow! There are other creative ways to use coffee grounds and Pinterest has tons of ideas!

If you’re wanting to start composting, here are some compost bins to get you started! I definitely will be upgrading to one of these as we started off with a basic bucket haha that doesn’t This Vitamix compost bin expedites the decomposition process!! So crazy cool! While this one looks so sleek and doesn’t take up too much space.

3) Use a plastic-free/ethical plastic coffee cup

Shop compost bins here!

It’s reaaaalllly hard to avoid plastic for me. It’s everywhere! Although I’m trying to purchase plastic free alternatives, it seems like sometimes it’s very challenging. For example, finding a completely plastic free portable coffee thermos, for me was challenging.

When I discovered the brand, Keep Cup, I was very impressed with their movement, philosophy and sustainable practices.

I use my Keep Cup daily for my coffee/tea beverages. There are several color options and a cute cork hand grip. There are other more affordable ones that I want to add to my cupboard…like this plastic free cup! Here are other sustainable coffee cups you can get!!

Shop sustainable cups here!

Go small!

If you’re starting your sustainable living journey, I hope sharing these 3 tips to create a sustainable coffee bar helped inspire or motivate you to make small changes in becoming more sustainable! It’s okay to go small and make changes at your own pace! Thanks for reading! Have a beautiful day! —Melissa

Ps. Don’t forget to check our Kari’s recent post to get some matching outfits for this upcoming holiday weekend! Check out her favorite 4th of July picks here!

* thank you fo everyone who purchases using our links! we make a small commission if you purchase using our links and it means so very much to us!! We love you!

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I want to share our favorites from each library visit starting today! So here is the first summer book guide for toddlers!

The Button Book

The Button Book by Sally Nichols & Bethan Woollvin was a favorite for my 4-year-old AND my 1-year-old, and truthfully I really enjoyed it too! The reader is able to “press” a button on each page and act out the button’s prompt—-from hugs to singing—that keeps you wanting more. This book is lots of fun and will leave your kids smiling and wanting to read it again and again! It’s not long either, so reading it again and again won’t get annoying too fast haha.

Tangled

Tangled by Anne Miranda was one that my 4-year-old son really enjoyed. When a shape gets stuck in a jungle gym, other shapes try to rescue her.

I liked that it exposes the reader to different shapes and even more advanced shapes like the cone, and some I didn’t remember haha! I also liked the approach to problem solving that the author took—helping a friend and working as a team. It was also nice to see how the main character/shape handled a set-back. So while it may superficially seem like just a shape book, it actually goes deeper!

Mop Rides the Waves of Life

Mop Rides the Waves of Life by Jaimal Yogis. This was an all around favorite for everyone in our family! My one-year-old especially loved it!

Mop learns the importance of not quickly reacting with our strong emotions when undesirable situations come up. I especially loved the metaphor of emotions being like waves. It’s up to us to choose to ride the wave or duck dive. Mop is able to learn coping strategies and it shows him applying them. I find myself referencing this book to my kids and myself too.

Since we live on Kauai, I love all ocean themed books so this was a big hit for me and the artwork was really cute too. Might need to add this one to our home library!!

The Last Peach

The Last Peach by Gus Gordon is such a fun read! It follows 2 bug friends that find the last peach of the season. The friends go back and forth between wanting to enjoy the peach and preserving the peach. My kids enjoy the comical back and forth between the bugs and especially love the fun twist at the end of the book!

The Favorite Book

The Favorite Book by Bethanie Deeney Murguia is such a cute yet deep book. Written in a fun poem format it captured both my 4 and 2 year old kids!

This book helps a kid learn and reflect on how things become our favorites. And I also really liked how it teaches that every one can have different favorites (and not one is better than the other!).

The illustrations in this book are so fun and cute too making it a book that everyone can enjoy!

Reading is Powerful!

Reading is so powerful!! I want my kids to love reading and learning and I know planting these seeds when they are young is worth it!

I hope your liked my first summer book guide for toddlers…and that at least one was new for you! What are some of the books your toddler loves? Please share as I’m always looking for fun new books. Thanks for your continual love and support! It means so much! So grateful for you!

—Melissa

Shop our book list here!

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Dress # 1: Fit and Flare Puff-Sleeve Floral-Print Mini Dress for Women

I ordered this dress in a size Medium in the yellow floral print! It’s different than my usual style because it’s more of a fit and flare dress, but the description said it’s great for hourglass shapes so I added it to my cart!

My first impression trying it on was ehhh. I didn’t love it to be honest. It was just whatever, but after wearing it a little, I really started to like it. It does get a little wrinkly (nothing a little steam can’t fix) but the fit is flattering and it is long enough for me as a tall girl! I don’t really have any dress like this so it really made me feel cute and put together.

I really like the puff sleeves on the dress! You can wear it on the shoulder or off the shoulder, so you can customize your look! And with the strategically placed seams at the bust, you can definitely go without a bra or wear a bandeau/strapless style bra if you feel more comfortable. The material of the dress is also super lightweight so it’s a good option for those hot summer days!

I styled it with my Lack of Color Palma Wide Fedora and some flat sandals, but it would look super cute with a headband and a pair of white sneakers! I love these Veja Sneakers, as well as some classic Keds!

This dress was a keeper for me!

Dress #2: Tiered Tie-Front Maxi Swing Sundress for Women

First impression: loooooved the color and style of this dress! It is such an easy dress to throw on and still feel really cool and stylish! I love the ease of it and it would be a great coverup!

I would have kept it but I currently have large nursing boobs and it just wasn’t flattering in that area! There’s a lot of fabric in the stomach area, so I think it would actually be great for a pregnant/postpartum momma! It also has a tie on the neckline providing easy access for nursing! So if you are in one of those categories, this dress would be perfect for you!

I ordered a size medium, but tried on a size small in stores and the fit felt exactly the same with both dresses! So I would size down if you want to order. It also comes in a cute rainbow striped print, as well as a yellow color and a blue and white striped version!

Dress #3: Waist-Defined Slub-Knit T-Shirt Dress for Women

This dress is definitely a summer basic staple! It’s lightweight, made of cotton and is just a super flattering fit! There are so many prints and colors of this dress so you can purchase a few!

I ordered a size medium (typically a size 6-8), and it fit great! I probably could have sized down but then it would be on the shorter side!

Style it with a denim jacket and tennies (affordable leopard print option// eyelet keds // white tennies or wrap a flannel around the waist, throw on a fun hat and you are good to go! It’s perfect for park play dates, a coverup after the beach/pool or something comfortable to run errands in!

Dress #4: Fit & Flare Puff-Sleeve Tiered Midi Dress

Okay! I have to admit I am loving the puff sleeve trend! I didn’t think I would because it felt like it could be a bit overwhelming but I have two puff-sleeve dresses now and love them both!

The color I ordered in this puff-sleeve dress has already sold out. I guess it was just that good! But they do have a few other colors and prints! This was the dress that I actually got an ad for on Instagram and what drew me to the Old Navy website. Those darn Instagram ads haha!

I ordered a size medium and it fit great. It’s fitted at the top, has a defined waist and then flares out on the bottom so it’s super flattering. The square neckline is really cute, and you can even wear it off the shoulders!

This dress gives me all the romantic and bohemian vibes and would be such a good dress for family photos! You can either wear your hair high in a bun to sho off your neck or wear it down in loose waves to give it more of a romantic feel. I honestly loved this dress. And did I mention it has pockets! Eeek! I love pockets in dresses!

I definitely kept this dress and am so excited to wear it out! It’s comfortable, cute and pregnant/postpartum friendly!

Final Thoughts

Overall, I was really surprised at this order from Old Navy. I kept three of the four dresses and I used coupon codes and got all three under $60 so that’s a win!

I love mixing high-end and affordable clothing to give me a well-rounded closet! I don’t always buy trendy pieces, but when I do I like to buy them at more affordable stores like Old Navy or Target, just in case I decide after a few wears that I no longer love it! If that’s the case, I can always resell on my Poshmark account!

You Can Shop the Post Below

Thanks for following along and I hope this Old Navy dress haul could help inspire you to try something new or find some fun summer dresses without breaking the bank! Melissa also did a great post about some Target finds that are short-girl approved so be sure to check that out!

Hope you have a great weekend!

Xoxoxo,

Kari

P.S. by clicking and purchasing through our links, we may make a small commission. Thank you for supporting us and letting us chase our dreams!

The post Old Navy Dress Haul: Keep or Return appeared first on sunkissed & grateful.

We have gifts for everyone on our super comprehensive, covering everyone from the girl dad to the dad who loves the outdoors. You will find tons of different items, gifts in every budget and even some items that you can benefit from! We hope our Father’s Day Gift Guide can be useful for you!

For the Exercise Enthusiast Dad

1// Acupressure Mat Set – Acupressure mats, like this one from WTHN, are designed to press and massage hundreds of acupressure points across the body. Give this to the dad in your life to incorporate into his daily routine for the ultimate in relaxation! Be sure to sneak away and use it too! Here’s an affordable version (with great reviews) you can order from Amazon!

2// Vuori Hybrid Shorts– These shorts are the best! The fit is amazing and they are made from a quick-drying fabric, perfect for those who sweat a lot! They are also great for swimming! There are so many colors and I love supporting them because they started out as a small, local shop in Encinitas! They do run a tad bit small so maybe size up one!

3// Adidas Running Shoe – I don’t know if I’ve ever considered running shoes sexy, but these ones are definitely ticking some boxes for me! There is just something so sleek and sexy about them. But they also are great for running! Whatever you use them for, your man is sure to show up in style when wearing these!

4// Hydroflask Water Bottle– These are great gifts for any dad in your life! They are durable, come in so many colors and are literally the best at keeping your drinks ice cold! You can also order some stickers from some of your favorite shops, or Amazon has some fun sticker sets like this National Parks set or these golf enthusiast ones!

5// Leef Organics CBD Balm– This CBD balm is like Icy-Hot, minus all the yucky ingredients! Rub it on your sore muscles and it will magically take away your aches and pains. If your hubby is as active as mine, this will definitely be a great gift to keep him pain-free!

6// TRX Home Suspension System– This TRX system gives the dad in your life the power to hit his fitness goals at home or on the go. It weighs less than a pound and can be hooked up in less than a minute! Help your hubby build his core, sculpt his body and feel great. This system. lets you do more than 100 exercises using just your body weight!

7// Fitbit 4 Fitness Tracker– This sleek, swimproof tracker is packed with features that help you know your workouts and your body better like built-in GPS, Active Zone Minutes, Sp02, exercise modes and sleep tracking. Plus, with Fitbit Pay and up to 7-day battery life, you get more convenience on the go and more inspiration to reach your fitness goals! My hubby would love using this while he swims!

8// Hydro A-Game Snapback Baseball Cap – This hat might be a bit on the pricey side, but it is such a good hat that lasts, keeps the sun out (glare-reducing visor lining) and keeps sweat away! You won’t have to worry about gnarly sweat stains! I love this hat on my hubby, especially when he wears it backwards. There is just something fire about a backwards hat!

Shop Our Picks for the Exercise Enthusiast Below

For the Entrepreneur Dad

1// Tech Backpack– I love this tech backpack! It’s great for both travel and every day use! With numerous compartments, you can store everything from your laptop to your iPad and all your chargers, notebooks and supplies! This Kenneth Cole Laptop Backpack (currently on sale!) is also a great and stylish option!

2// Daily Planner– Created for business owners and other goal-oriented users, this planner is amazing! Help the dad in your life set yearly, monthly, weekly and daily goals, focus on what’s important, beat procrastination, and live with passion by gifting them this personal life calendar to keep track of all the day to day tasks and to do lists! The Five Minute Journal would also be a great gift too for entrepreneurs! When business owners can focus on gratitude, they often see positive things happen in their lives and businesses! It’s a proven fact!

3// Blue-Light Blocking Glasses– I love this pair! It’s affordable, has over 8,000 five star reviews and comes in multiple colors! If you know a dad who looks at screens a lot, this is the perfect gift!

4// Hourglass Sand Timers– These elegant yet sturdy sand timers make it easy to track your work, measure your progress, and prevent burnout with a time out. With half an hour of work and a solid 5-minute break, your hubby can stay focused and productive for longer.

5// Vitruvi Diffuser and Blends– This modern diffuser is the best! I love the simple, yet fun design! Put a diffuser by your partner’s workspace to create a relaxing, yet productive environment. Add in one of these oils from this set of four elevating essential oil blends to make his workspace feel light and energized!

6// Wireless Charging Dock– Does your hubby have all the gadgets? Mine definitely does! So I love this wireless charging dock with a phone-charging stand, a dedicated Apple Watch stand, and a wireless charging pad all built in, so you can now power up your phone, Apple Watch, and earbuds—all at the same time! It’s the best and your hubby won’t steal your phone charger any more!

7// Slim-Fit Non Iron Chambray Work Shirt– These are the best! They are wrinkle-resistant so you never have to iron, come in tons of colors and are slim-fit to show off your hubby’s amazing body! The chambray style gives it a slightly more relaxed vibe! These are great for those Zoom Meetings where you only have to dress the top half of your body!

8// Books, Books and Books– My hubby loves to read so I always try to get him a book that will focus on business growth, self-growth or mindset! I recently got him Atomic Habits and he loved it! I’m going to order Million Dollar Habits and The Entrepreneur Mind for him for this Father’s Day!

SHOP OUR PICKS FOR THE ENTREPRENEUR DAD BELOW

For The Girl Dad

1// Girl Dad T-Shirt– The perfect gift for the proud #girldad! I love the military green with large black print of this shirt! It’s great quality, made for a super-soft material fits great!

2// Personalized Photo Keychain– For a subtle yet heartfelt gift that can be taken wherever you go, this keyring is perfect! Add a photo, customize the front and you have a personalized gift sure to make his heart melt!

3// Matching Shoes– It’s so cute when daddy’s match with their kids! We have these Old Skool Vans and my daughters love when we all wear them together. There are tons of different styles and sizes, ranging from baby, kids and adults!

4// Family Bracelet– This personalized bracelet features a handsomely braided band that fastens with a sturdy silver clasp. You can customize with children’s names or any text you like! I ordered one for my husband last Father’s Day and he’s worn it ever since!

5// Portable Mini Projector– Give the gift of making memories with this portable mini projector! You can have movie nights with your family, pop some popcorn and enjoy a fun family night together. It’s currently on sale with a $25 off coupon so run!!

6// What I Love About Dad Book– I love getting books like these for my hubby! This little book contains fill-in-the-blank lines to describe why your pops is tops. Just complete each line and voilà. I have my daughters fill them out, with my help of course. I write their ages on them and plan on buying them every 5 years or so. It’s a fun way to see what your kids think about their dad over the years!

7// Father/Daughter Print– A gorgeous print created from hand drawn illustrations, sure to make your dad, grandad or special person feel truly appreciated and loved! You can frame it for them so they can keep this special keepsake on their desk, on their nightstand or use the digital file to create a screensaver for their computer.

8// Customized Book for Dad– Show Dad how much he means to you with a best-selling personalized book starring him and baby! Each dad is different, so the daddy editions of Hooray Heroes’ personalized books make the perfect emotional gift he’ll cherish forever. Don’t wait, the clock is ticking! I ordered this for David and gave it to him early! He loved it so much and even shed a few tears! The girls love it too because you can customize how everyone looks and I made the characters look just like them! They love reading it with my hubby! This is one of my favorite presents on this Father’s Day Gift Guide for sure!

SHOP OUR PICKS FOR THE GIRL DAD BELOW

For the Dad That Loves to Stay at Home

1// Shower Phone Holder- A shower phone holder?!?! I thought this was so cool! My man likes to listen to highlights while in the shower and I always get so nervous his phone will fall in haha…so I’ll definitely be getting him this!!

2// Samsung Frame TV- The TV of my dreams, um I mean his dreams With only 1 cord, this TV is so sleek you can hang it on your wall, choose an art photo and it gets transformed to a art piece!! He can still watch sports and play video games and you can enjoy how pretty it is!

3// Bocce Ball Set- Even a homebody needs to get their body movingEnjoy a fun lawn game right in your yard! Super easy to play that our toddler loves playing it with us!

4// Jogger Sweatpants-These are seriously so soft, your guy may not want to take them off. Which honestly wouldn’t be the worst thing, bc is it just me or is it something about your man in joggers that makes him extra hot?!! Haha!!

5// Manscaper– umm if he’s not already taking care of his lawn, this is a PSA that it needs to be done!

6// Grill– Make some beautiful family memories spending summer nights in the yard grilling some veggies and burgers. Change up the dinner routine and enjoy dining outdoors. Don’t forget to kiss the grill master!

7// Echo– Adding an echo to his office, kitchen, or any room really! You can link your Spotify, Netflix and even video call family from there. Super cool!

8// Dad T-Shirt– For the sentimental dads out there that love being a dad! A dad t-shirt is the perfect way for him to show his fatherhood pride to the world.

Shop our picks for the homebody dad here

For the Dad Who Likes the Finer Things in Life

1// Gucci Slides– Comfort and fashion rolled into the perfect summer slides. Whether for a day at the resort or brunch with the fam, these slides will make your man look and feel good.

2// iPad Pro– The latest and greatest iPad has so many amazing features—top of the line camera, sleek body, hi-res screen. Basically a lighter laptop!! Wanna go the extra mile, add the pen and keyboard to the gift!

3// Suit Jacket-Every man needs the perfectly fitted suit jacket in their closet. With wedding season, business meetings, country club events, this jacket will be loved and used this summer!

4// Hoverboard– For the adrenaline junkie dads out there but with cautious wives, this is perfect haha. A safe way to get him riding the chemical high! Cruise along the beach, take to the park and just enjoy the ride!

5// Polarized Sunglasses– Protect his eye health and skin while keeping him looking hot! These square frames are so flattering on all face shapes and they come in black and brown. I love how much more vibrant polarized glasses make everything look!

6// Down For it All Hoodie– This Lululemon down jacket is sleek and stylish. Headed to cooler temps this summer, snag one for your man. Also will be great for winter activities later this year.

7// Digital Picture Frame-If you’re like me and daily taking tons of family photos but never printing any out, this digital frame is the perfect solution. Place it in your husband’s work desk and add the photos you’ve taken that day so he can feel like he was there!

8// White Kicks– A summer staple that he can wear to anything! Kid lessons, coffee runs, amusement parks…literally anything!

Shop our Picks For The Lux Dad Below

For the Dad Who Loves the Outdoors

1// Hiking Footwear-Gone are the days where hiking shoes were bulky, tacky and just ugh. Enter the Teva Sandals and Adidas Hiking Shoes. I love the Teva’s for all Water activities or hikes where you will go through Water. The Adidas hiking shoes are great for trail running and all other rugged terrain!!

2// Waterproof Backpack- Thank goodness for men who carry all our things while on outdoor adventures. Protect your goods with this water proof backpack and protect his body at the same time. With a cushioned back and comfortable straps, reviews raved about its comfort!!

3// Pocket Knife/Multi-Tool– Does every guy want a pocket knife? My guy had it on his list forever and he finally got one. This one is so amazing as it can open cans, bottles, function as pliers, a screwdriver and of course cut! Great to carry when outdoors.

4// Apple Watch– Give the gift of time, activity tracking, health goals, etc. But my favorite feature is that he will get texts and calls on his wrist, so no excuses for not bringing a coffee home after his morning gym session

5// Swimsuit/ Workout Shorts– I loved the retro look of these green Swimsuit shorts! Also love that they hit above the knee and don’t have too much fabric. I just got these Vuori Kore shorts for my husband and they are so good! The color is great, super soft, versatile in usage and come above the knee. Can you tell I like short shorts on my guy?! Anyone else? Haha. Can’t go wrong with giving him either pair!

6// Daddy Hat, Gym Hat, Beach Hat– My husband loves hats! Such an easy way to accessorize for guys. I loved this Daddy Hat bc how cute is it when guys are proud of their family? This lululemon hat has reflectors, is moisture wicking and dries super fast, making it perfect for the active dad. For all the water loving dads, this straw hat will protect his face from the sun while giving him hot points! Extra hot points for wearing them backwards

7// Fitness Tee– My husband lives in fitness tees and never seems to have enough! These are buttery soft, don’t retain odor and fit so nicely!

8// Larq Water Bottle– A self cleaning water bottle that removes 99.99% of bacteria from water?!?! How amazing! It automatically self cleans every 2 hours cleaning the bottle and water to ensure only the best drinking water. Love it!

Shop our picks for the outdoorsy dad here

The Special Dads in Our Lives

We are so lucky to have married two best friends who are the best dad’s we could ever ask for! David (Kari’s hubby) and Randon (Melissa’s hubby) are the best dad’s ever! Not only are they hands-on, fun, super loving, and totally hot dad’s but they truly give being a parent their all! They are always seeking to improve their parenting skills, make every day magical, and work super hard to allow us to be stay-at-home moms! We are eternally grateful to have them be amazing fathers and role models to our kids!

It was so much fun putting together this Father’s Day Gift Guide for you all! Hope that it helps make your shopping easier or gives you some new ideas! Thank you for always supporting us and for following along on our journey! We appreciate each and every one of you! And don’t forget to check out Melissa’s awesome hack on keeping your straight lashes curled!

xoxo,

Kari and Melissa

p.s. we do make a small commission if you purchase something through one of our links! we appreciate you!

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Before kids, I would wake up in the morning and have a detailed, multi-step 45 minute to an hour morning routine to kickstart my day. I’d leisurely wake up, wash my face, sip my coffee and listen to an audiobook while I slowly put makeup on! Can’t believe I ever took that for granted!

But now as a mom of two kids who wake up pretty early, I’m lucky to get even 15 minutes to start my day! I quickly realized that I need a somewhat slower start to my day to feel ready to tackle it With a positive attitude! I’m honestly a better mom if I get a few minutes to breathe and have some me time before starting to parent!

I thought I’d share 5 habits that I’ve added to my daily morning routine that help me get energized and ready to take on the day!

1. Stretch/Move your body!

I love to start my morning off with a little stretching!! It helps lubricate my joints, wake me up, and relieve any tension or aches from the night before. This is super important for mamas, especially when you spend half the night nursing! My neck and shoulders always benefit from a good stretch!

I recently started doing the legs on the wall pose. You just lay down on you back and place your feet onto the wall! I try to do anywhere de 5-20 minutes depending on how much I have time! There are so many benefits though! It increases circulation, aids in drainage, promotes relaxation, relaxes the pelvic floor and stretches the hamstrings! It also aids in digestion! Some women say that it helps them look younger because of increased circulation! Overall, I think it has helped with my lower back pain so it’s something I really try to do everyday!

If you have more time, I highly recommend doing a 15-30 Minute workout! I really love getting those endorphins flowing and have been doing Popsugar workouts regularly! They have everything from yoga to pilates to HIIT and dance! You can really mix it up!

2. Make your bed

I know this is a simple one, but I never used to make my bed! I figured I nurse all the time in it so what’s the point! But I started doing it and have really noticed that it helps me feel more productive and calm. It starts the day off on the right foot and you have a little more of a calming space!

I think even though it’s a pretty simple task, it makes me feel as if I accomplished something and am in control. Having kids, there is a lot of chaos and adding in this simple routine to my day keeps me a little more centered and calm.

3. Journal // Write down 3 things you are grateful for, 3 affirmations and your top 3 to do’s

This has been a game changer for me! I have been writing in my five minute journal for years now and it’s brought me so much joy. Having an attitude of gratitude can really change your life so this is one thing I must do every day!

If you don’t have a five- minute journal, you can just get a notebook and write down three things you are grateful for, three affirmations and three things for your to do list! In the past, I would write down like twenty to do’s and then get so discouraged that nothing got done. Now I have learned to simplify them and just pick my top three. In doing so, I feel a sense of accomplishment and can focus my attention on those important tasks at hand!

I definitely encourage you to try and do the same! Let me know if it improves your day!

4. Hydrate!

I definitely encourage you to try and do the same! Let me know if it improves your day!

Before bed, I always fill up a 32oz water bottle and keep it next to my bed so I can start my morning off right! I drink the entire water bottle before even getting out of bed! Not only does this kickstart your digestion, but it really helps improve your complexion and rehydrate the body! 

Afterwards, I will usually either drink some warm lemon water, chlorophyll water or a green juice! This really helps ensure I am hydrating my body before I drink my cup of coffee! 

5. Put on makeup/do hair!

Game changer! Doing my hair and makeup in the morning has really helped my overall attitude and feeling. During that early postpartum phase, I definitely had those moments where I was feeling so bleh and discouraged because I wasn’t getting dressed or putting on makeup. I would walk past the mirror and few frumpy! 

I’m not saying you need to wear makeup to feel beautiful but it definitely helps make you feel more alive, especially when you are a sleep deprived zombie! 

I have mastered a quick 5-10 minute makeup routine that helps me feel put together and ready to conquer the day! Some under eye concealer, mascara, eyebrow pencil, and a little bronzer! I’ll have to share my routine one day soon! 

And make sure you change out of your pajamas! Invest in some good loungewear or some casual tees and jeans that you can wear while still chasing kids! Getting dressed really makes a world of a difference in how you feel! 

A Friendly Reminder

Remember that even just 10 minutes of a morning routine is something! It can definitely help you feel more put together, motivated and accomplished! I hope my five simple habits for your morning routine can help kickstart your day!

What’s one habit you always include in your morning routine?! 

Thanks for following along! We are so grateful for your constant support! And don’t forget to check out Melissa’s hack for amazing lashes!

xoxo,

kari

The post 5 Simple Habits to Add to your Morning Routine appeared first on sunkissed & grateful.