The end of the year sneaks up on me every. single. year. And I’ll be honest, I never know what to get my kids teachers as a end of the year gift. I want to get them something they can use, that’s not “teacher” related but sometimes a gift card just does not feel personal enough to show my appreciation.
I’m not sure about you, but I love a cozy blanket, even in the summer. there is nothing more relaxing than sitting on the couch, curled up in a cozy blanket and watching my favorite show. While I understand it’s not realistic for most teachers over the summer, it’s still what I WISH they’d do over the summer.
So,I’m hoping to give them a head start with the coziest blanket I can find! I personally love the quality, size and price of blankets at Sam’s Club, but Walmart and Target (hello target pickup) also offer a great selection. I’ve linked everything here so you can grab this affordable, easy, usable, gift for all the teachers you need to buy for! Then print this FREE printable and you’re all set!
Shop all the things you need to create this gift here. And best yet, all is available for pick up *at my Target.
I hope you find this helpful and be sure to tag me @evieluathome on Instagram if you use this idea!
I absolutely love my morning routine. It sets the tone for my day and helps me be the best mom I can be. Right now, I’m waking up around 530am to workout and complete my morning routine and complete my quiet time.
Once my 3rd baby was sleeping through the night consistently, I was able to start this routine. Prior to that, I was NOT able to get up consistently. If you’re in a season of inconsistent sleep, I wouldn’t worry about trying to have a morning routine. When you’re up in the middle of the night, you can easily become exhausted during the day. So please do not read this and think you need to add a morning routine to your tasks. This is simply for those who feel they have the capacity to wake up and get their quiet time in. Of course, if you’re a night person, you could do these things in the evening/nightime if that works better for you.
Here’s how my morning typically goes:
525am wake up, brush teeth, change into workout clothes and make electrolyte water.
535am begin workout. I vary my workouts between Peloton workouts, mostly Barre and Pilates as well as walks/runs on the treadmill.
605/610am complete workout.
610am make coffee and sit down to complete my morning routine. Morning affirmations, prayers, daily schedule, daily goals. See free printable worksheet for more details
645am shower, get ready for the day
715am see kids off to school
If you like this routine, here is a free printable that you can use to get started.
Thursday Favs is the weekly favorite over on Instagram. here’s what I found that I loved this week!
White Quarter Zip Sweatshirt: It’s a thinner sweatshirt material, perfect for warm spring evenings or cool summer nights. I love the rose gold detail on the zipper and paired with my favorite Amazon shorts, it’s a winner!
My Favorite Amazon Denim Shorts: These are my favorite summer shorts! I wear them all summer long because they are stretchy and comfy. They run short but I personally love the length. Check them out for other colors too!
Lululemon Dupe Fanny Pack: Gah, I need to stop buying fanny packs, but I can’t. I LOVEEE this one. The color is perfect and it reminds me of the Lululemon bag, but obviously not the price tag! Grab it today!
Lululemon Dupe Shorts: Speaking of Lululemon dupes, these shorts are a dead ringer. The amazon brand, are stretchier but look almost identical on! Grab these for a fun dupe.
Silicone Bowl Covers:These have recently become a favorite of mine. These silicone food bowl covers come in a pack of 14 to fit every size container you may have. Best part is, they are microwave and dishwasher safe so no more plastic wrap needed!
Air Fryer Liners: GAME CHANGER! Stop what you are doing and order these! Your life will literally be changed forever. These are soo good and save you from having to wash your air fryer out with every use.
Packing cubes: These are genius and I wish I would’ve invented them! Stay organized and pack wisely with these compression packing cubes. This set even includes a wet/dry bag which is perfect for that last day of vacation when you want to spend time at the beach before heading to the airport!
Gold Heart Layered Necklace: This necklace is darling and I get compliments anytime I wear it. It’s actually 2 separate necklaces which is nice because you can easily change up your look. This one is personalization with your first initial which is such a nice touch.
Acrylic Rings: It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with buying trendy jewelry from Amazon. I love grabbing fun pieces that are super affordable and these fit that bill! I’ve been seeing these rings everywhere but have a feeling the trend isn’t here for long, so instead of breaking the bank, I grabbed these to get the look for less!
Frownies: Okay, this product is so intriguing to me. One of you told me about them and I ordered immediately. Unfortunately, I’m not a candidate for Botox so I have to find other ways to reduce the look of wrinkles. So far, my results have been pretty convincing.
That’s it for this week, make sure you tag me on Instagram if you grab any of these items!
Bra shopping…MIGHT be in the top 10 things I hate doing, right behind going to the gyno and taking my kids to indoor play places :-).
When ThirdLove approached me about the opportunity to try their 24/7 Classic T-shirt bra, shopping completely online, I’ll be honest, I was skeptical. I honestly thought, why not, but it won’t work for me. I’ve tried on hundreds of bras and they just don’t fit me but that’s fine, I’ll try it.
How ThirdLove is Different
The online fitting room is a set of comprehensive questions that ask questions, determining how your current bra brand fits and where tweaks in fit need to be made. While it’s a comprehensive questionnaire, it doesn’t take that much time, which is good for a busy mom like me.
Why I love my new bra
My order arrived quickly, but I’ll be honest, I was scared to try it on, from the years of being disappointed by fit in my bras, so I let it sit on my dresser for at least a week.
When I finally got the courage to try on, I was BLOWN away by the fit. What the what?! This bra fits, perfectly, and is comfortable!? No way, well maybe it’s just the first time I’m wearing it. Will it continue to be comfortable?
Indeed, it’s my absolute favorite bra now! I LOVE wearing it and literally look forward to the chance to wear it.
Motherhood. What a journey.
It truly has changed me from the inside out.
I’ve talked about some of the big changes that have come to my heart since becoming a mom. But I rarely share about the physical changes. Over the past decade, my body has changed so much and I’m learning everyday to embrace the beauty that it is.
One way, I treat myself and body well is to love the way I dress! And yes, that means even down to my undergarments :-).
I’m a busy mom, and I want a bra and underwear that fits me perfectly and makes me feel comfortable in my skin. I’m ditching the stuff made by men for men 🙄 and saying hello to made by women, FOR women.
RediHook Key Hook this is such a genius solution for small homes, apartments, offices, etc. No where to hang a key? No problem. This hook can easily be installed to your existing switch plate. It’s so easy to instal and is super functional.
Cat Eye Sunglasses These sunglasses are a top seller on Amazon right now and it’s easy to see why! I love these. They are so comfortable, not too tight on your head and make me feel sassy and fashionable!
Lightweight Cropped Puffer Vest How freaking CUTE is this cropped puffer vest?! I’m OBSESSED! Its so freaking cute and cozy! I think this would be so cute paired with biker shorts this spring too. I cannot wait to come up with every excuse to wear this!
Floral V-Neck Dress believe it or not, I think these are starting to open up which means more reasons to get dressed and ready! I LOVE this dress for Valentine’s Day, date night, girls night and more! It’s one piece and super flattering. I paired it with white cowboy boots and just LOVE the whole look.
Batwing Oversized Color Block sweater this MIGHT be the best sweater I’ve ever purchased. I’m absolutely in love! I think the color block is gorgeous. Plus, it’s insanely soft and cozy. It runs big so feel free to order down one size.
Button Down Ruffle Sweater: This sweater is soooo freaking cute. I’m loving the ruffle detail down the buttons and on the sleeves. The buttons are functional too which I feel like is a unique feature. It runs small so get your true size or size up one for comfort!
Can’t wait to see what you think of these! Shop these and more in my Amazon storefront. And make sure to tag me on Instagram if you try any of these!
I love sharing my favorite things with you. This week, I have 5 items that I know you will love.
Los Angeles Oversized T-shirt: I ordered this in XL which is up one size for me so that I could enjoy the oversized look. There are tons of different major cities to choose from. I love the apricot LA choice.
Large Claw Clip in Matte: No one is more excited that claw clips are back in style, than me. I LOVE these clips so much. I have fine, thin, short hair and these hold my hair so well but they are made for thick, long hair. So I’m confident that no matter type of hair you have, you’ll be able to use these.
Silicone Utensil Rest: This is the best way to keep your counter and stovetop clean while cooking, plus it’s dishwasher safe so you can throw it in the dishwasher with the rest of your dishes and bam! It’s clean!
Bissell Steam Shot: I grabbed this after my entire family had Covid so I could clean all the surfaces. I’m PRETTY sure it’s one of my favorite purchases of all time. It’s easy to use, lightweight and makes cleaning, so much fun! You need to grab one if you haven’t yet!
Follow me on Instagram to see Thursday Favs live! If you miss it, you can always follow my Amazon Storefront for the most up to date links!
To the mom who is overwhelmed in motherhood. I see
you.
You are the one keeping your entire family together. Working endlessly behind the scenes to make sure everyone inn your family feels cared for.
The mental load is what makes motherhood feels so heavy. It’s because even the simplest tasks are JUST what it seems. They are done with so much intention.
It’s not JUST grocery shopping. It’s making sure that you have healthy and balanced meals planned for a week at a time. and it’s not JUST a meal. It’s curating a meal that everyone will love. It’s making sure that everyone has a “safe” food. and it’s not just one meal, its 3 meals a day plus the endless supply of snacks.
It’s not JUST laundry. It’s making sure everyone has clean clothes. It’s making sure the red shirt tis ready for red shirt day. The leotard is clean for dance and the basketball shorts are ready for the game, It’s making sure that your husband is dressed for that promotion he’s up for. And of course, it’s trying to remember if the stain was pretreated before you put it in the laundry.
It’s not JUST bedtime. It’s making sure they are clean, but not too clean as to not dry out their hair and skin. it’s making sure they’ve been read enough books and that every child feels special at the end of the day. It’s praying that your mistakes that day didn’t ruin them too much.
And when the lights go down and it’s quiet in the house, it’s not time JUST to relax. There is still laundry, emails and texts to return. It’s about maintaining relationships and making sure you’re getting the self care you need.
And when it’s bedtime for mom, it’s not JUST time to go to sleep. It’s the time you remember that obscure thing you need for tomorrow, trying desperately to put it in your memory so you don’t forget. It’s remembering you never did find that cup of milk that you lost in the playroom. And now you can’t remember if you pulled the chicken out of the freezer or not.
But you’ll eventually fall asleep and do it all over tomorrow. Because it’s not just love, it’s motherhood LOVE and you’re the one that keeps the family together.
One of my favorite things about the holidays is the smells it brings. Our memories are so tightly bound to our sense of smell and can bring you right back in time.
I started making these potpourri simmer kits for myself years ago. We had just moved into our new home, the day after Thanksgiving, I was 35 weeks pregnant and desperate to make my our new house smell like ours and the holidays. So i decided to throw together some simmer kits and absolutely fell in love with them. They are easy, inexpensive and make a huge difference.
Now, I regularly give them as gifts to friends, co-workers, teachers and neighbors. I really love that I can grab all the ingredients from the regular grocery store. You can mix and match any ingredients that you want but here are my favorite:
Simmer Potpourri
Cinnamon sticks
dried orange slices (see directions below)
fresh cranberries
star anise
whole cloves
Rosemary
Dried orange slices are made easily at home. Preheat oven to 175 degrees. Then slice 2 oranges into thin slices, place on parchment lined baking sheet and bake in the oven for 4-6 hours.
Combine ingredients into small jars or paper bags. Add a cute tag with a ribbon and you’re set. You have the cutest gift to give. Make sure you set some aside to make a simmer pot for yourself. I absolutely love these little printable tags.
To make a simmer pot, simply dump the ingredients into a small saucepan and cover with water. Let simmer on the stovetop all day, adding water as needed.
If you don’t have the time or desire to grab cute jars for this project, adding the ingredients to a paper bag and secure with a little piece of ribbon.
