I’m so shocked and proud. Baskets for my kids are done and all ready for Easter morning. EARLY! Unheard of around here! Ha. We’ve got a busy few weeks with our girls making final college decisions so I knew I had to be on top of random things like Easter baskets and get them done early or it wouldn’t happen. I decided to share them with you today (along with a few additional items my kids already have/love) because I know shopping for teens can be hard! Between Easter and spring birthdays and graduation I’m always looking for fun gifts for teens this time of year so if you feel that way too these are a few things my kids love!

{Girl Basket: Basket / Toss Catch Game / Olaplex Shampoo / Olaplex Conditioner / Wet Brush / Hair Ties / Birdie / Waterbottle Bag / Lululemon Wristlet / Starbucks Pink Drink / Makeup Stand / Mascara / Charlotte Tilbury Lip Duo / Fenty Lip Gloss / Make-up Brushes / Supergoop Setting Powder / Dermaplaner / Laneige Lip Mask}

As my kids have grown older I buy less candy/treats for Easter and instead I just get a fun basket ready for each of them with items I know they will use/love! My girls are always so easy to shop for because we love a lot of the same things.

{Girl Basket: Basket / Toss Catch Game / Olaplex Shampoo / Olaplex Conditioner / Wet Brush / Hair Ties / Birdie / Waterbottle Bag / Lululemon Wristlet / Starbucks Pink Drink}

My kids all love the velcro toss catch game (we’ve had one for years and lost a paddle last summer!) and beloved hair products, brushes, hair ties are always a hit. The lulu wristlets I actually gave my girls for Christmas and they have loved them! They use them every day and have their keys attached instead of taking a purse to school. I hope they love the Stanley bag too! It has a place for their phone so nice to take on days they want to take a Stanley full of water to school.

{Basket / Toss Catch Game / Olaplex Shampoo / Olaplex Conditioner / Flower Bowl / Wet Brush / Hair Ties / Birdie / Waterbottle Bag / Lululemon Bag}

The flower bowl is so cute to hold jewelry on a nightstand! I also threw in birdie alarms because they are both moving out in the fall and I want them to be safe at all times! The pink drink will absolutely make Addison’s day. :)

{ Makeup Stand / Mascara / Charlotte Tilbury Lip Duo / Fenty Lip Gloss / Make-up Brushes / Supergoop Setting Powder / Dermaplaner / Laneige Lip Mask}

I’m so excited about this makeup organizer! Both of my girls have started putting their makeup on in their bedrooms sitting at their desks and it’s driving me crazy because makeup is everywhere. I’m going to help them consolidate and organize their makeup using these stylish/functional organizers. CUTE. I thought this would make a fun teen gift! Fill this organizer with favorite make-up, brushes, or lip gloss, etc. I added some of our favorites!

{Laneige Lip Mask}

Speaking of lipgloss.. this lip mask is another item we all got for Christmas and have been using and loving. My lips look/feel so good when I sleep in this!

{Basket / Star Projector / Ultimate Disc / Toss Catch Game / Easter Activity Book / Phone Stand / Roblox Gift Card / Deodorizing Balls / Vuori Shorts / Hair Paste / Mio}

Teen boys are hands down the hardest for me to shop for! If you ask Kole what he wants for a birthday or special occasion he’ll just say a Roblox gift card.. womp womp. So not fun to give! I did include one in his basket to make him happy.. ha.

{ Star Projector / Ultimate Disc }

These are both Christmas gifts for Kole that were a hit! I ordered this extra frisbee disc to have on hand for a friend/birthday party. Great options if you need a teen boy gift!

{Boy Basket: Basket / Star Projector / Ultimate Disc / Toss Catch Game / Easter Teen Activity Book / Phone Stand / Roblox Gift Card / Deodorizing Balls / Vuori Shorts / Hair Paste / Mio}

My kids all still love crossword puzzles, Sudoku, word searches, etc. so I bought them each a teen activity book. I know Kole will love this bluetooth phone stand and I included his favorite hair gel and Mio. He loves lemonade and Mio is a great sugar free option. The deodorizing balls are actually a gift for mom.. you’re welcome. Ha.

{Vuori Shorts}

I also bought him his first pair of Vuori shorts to try! If he is anything like his dad this won’t be the last pair. I can’t believe Kole is now wearing men’s small instead of kids’ XL! Feels so strange sometimes to have teenagers. I have a feeling I’ll be putting Easter baskets together for my kids right up until I switch to doing it for grandkids. Or I’ll have to turn my Easter basket efforts towards Kenny when the kids all move out. Ha. They are so fun to put together!

I hope this post gave you some fun ideas for teen gifts! Below are a few more popular items for teens. Now that my baskets are done I’m planning on sitting back and enjoying a Cadbury Egg.

Or two. Or ten.

That’s all I want in my Easter basket this year. ;)

{Basket / Earrings / Lip Gloss / Clip / Eye Masks / Hair Ties / Belt Bag / Headband / Sun Glasses}

SHOP:

{Headphones / Basket / Portable Charger / Stanley / Speaker / Sweatpants / Card Game / Rubik’s Cube / Wallet / Sunglasses}

SHOP:

Happy Sunday! I hope you love this week’s round-up! I’m sharing some CUTE spring dress options from Anthro and recent Amazon orders (our vacuum broke the night before my birthday so I ordered a new one as a gift to myself.. ha). Nordstrom has some fun new arrivals and I rounded up lots of Amazon favorites on sale. I’m also sharing my every day make-up! Lipgloss isn’t in the collage but I shared that in last week’s Saturday post HERE. It’s so good! Wrapping up this week’s Sunday Edit with your favorites from the week!

It’s late Saturday night and I’m typing this listening to the rain pouring outside. Sunday is going to be wet in San Diego! A perfect day to stay in pj’s and do a little organizing. :) Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

SHOP:

{Oven Mitt / Book Vases / Paul Mitchell Spray / Measuring Spoons / Basket / Dyson / Snack Box / Hat Clip}

SHOP:

{Set / Headphones / Picture Frame / Pillow Inserts / Sunglasses / Portable Charger / Dyson / Air Purifier / Pan Set}

SHOP:

{Foundation / Eyeliner / Eyeshadow / Mascara 1 / Mascara 2 / Tinted Sunscreen / Brow Gel / Concealer / Blush / Lash Curler}

SHOP:

{TOP: 1, 2, 3; BOTTOM: 1, 2, 3, 4}

SHOP:

{Picture Frames / Faux Flowers / Ribbed Glasses / Rug / Wreath / Gold Spoons / Chair / Trash Can / Throw Blanket}

SHOP:

{Gold Hoops / White Heels / Tan Sunglasses / Cream Bag / White Sandal / Bracelets / Woven Leather Bag / Nude Heel / Black Rattan Bag / Braided Heeled Sandal}

SHOP:

{Clear Containers / Wooden Hangers / Drawer Organizers / Label Maker / Dyson / Roomba / Dresser Organizer / Bedding Boxes}

SHOP:

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

SHOP:

{Outfits: 1, 2, 3, 4 / Trash Can / Necklace / Woven Bag / Makeup Bag / Makeup Brush Case / Brown Sandal / Woven Sandal}

SHOP:

Excited about this week’s round-up! Fun loungewear, new arrivals, swimsuits, Amazon finds, pendants, Anthro sales, St. Patricks holiday decor.. basically ALL the things. :) I hope you have time to do something you love today. Happy Sunday!

{Top: 1, 2, 3 Bottom: 1, 2, 3}

SHOP:

{Instant Pot / Outdoor Chair / Ice Maker / Linen Pants / Romper / Organized Bins}

SHOP:

{Glasses Set / Plates / Scalloped Napkins / Rattan serving dish /

napkin rings / Cake stand}

SHOP:

I love a good denim jumpsuit in the spring! Below are some cute options!

{From Left to Right: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

SHOP:

From Left to Right: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 / Sandals / Tote}

SHOP:

{Top: 1, 2, 3, 4 Bottom: 1, 2, 3, 4}

SHOP:

{Top: 1, 2, 3 Bottom: 1, 2, 3}

SHOP:

{Frames / Jumpsuit / Sweater / Vacuum / DeWalt / Grill}

SHOP:

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}

SHOP:

{Placemat / Plates / Taper candles / Serving set / wreath / taper candle holders / bowl}

SHOP:

{From Left to Right: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 / Left shoe / Right shoe}

SHOP:

{Rug / Dining table / Cabinet / Pendant light / Planter / Mirror / ceramic trays}

SHOP:

These fun items below are 20% off this weekend!

{Mini dress / midi dress / clips / canvas / sandals / sneakers / tote bag}

SHOP:

1 – SPRING

Happy Saturday! And hello new leaves. I see you there and you’re making me smile. Welcome spring! We are ready for you.

2 – TEENS

Snapped this tonight.. shoes all over the mudroom and by our front entry is always a sign it’s the weekend! Addison told me a few days ago “some” friends from school were coming over Friday evening. Friday morning she casually mentioned again some friends coming over and adds.. maybe around 30. Ha! Teens crack me up. In what world is “some” 30!? That’s helpful info to have Addison. ;)

I love all of her friends and am happy to have them over.. the conversation just made me laugh. Typical teens! I am also so amused by how they are consistently making BIG plans. Where they are going, what they are doing next weekend.. no thought about who is driving and who is paying and how it’s actually happening. They are just busy making plans.

{Faux Laurel Leaf & Sedum Wire Wreath}

On a side note my spring wreath found a new home and I kind of love it.

I kind of love teens too. They keep life interesting. :)

3 – CONSOLE/CANDLE WARMER LAMP

{Lamp/The Art of Home book/AD at 100 book/Candle Warmer Lamp/Capiz Jar Candle/Framed Canvas/Faux Eucalyptus Stems/Santorini Vase/Similar Console/Similar Baskets}

Last Saturday I shared this beautiful framed canvas I bought and here is where it landed! Perfection on a console table. I really love this canvas. It’s moody but still light.. simple but still complex.. neutral but still dramatic. It’s a perfect backdrop for any and all decor!

Another recent obsession is this cute candle warmer lamp. So fun right!? I love the style of it and the pretty marble base!

It has a small remote you can use to turn on the heat and burn the candle and you can choose a set amount of time (no more forgetting to blow out the candle!). You can also switch the cute little lamp on and decide how bright you want it.

It looks so cute lit up in the evening! And the house smells so good.

{Candle Warmer Lamp}

I love it so much I bought this white version for my bedroom. :)

4 – EASTER BASKETS

{from left to right: basket one, two, three, four/similar baskets with ears here}

Ordered these cute baskets and I’ll share how I’m using them all soon!

5 – SLOW COOKER LINERS/RECIPE

OK.. WHERE have these slow cooker liners been all of my life!? I just discovered them and talk about a game changer.

I’m sure many of you have used them before and my only question is WHY didn’t you tell me about them sooner!? Ha. You could have saved me hours of crock pot scrubbing. ;) Seriously though.. so good. I used them last weekend for the first time making our Mexican Chalupas (recipe here). I wrote that recipe blog post in May of 2011 by the way. Still blogging and still making the same easy dinners.

The only difference is now I’m not scrubbing my crock pot after. ;)

6 – ANTHRO APP SALE

{v-neck tee/cropped wide leg pants/similar madewell totes/raffia slide sandal}

These beloved cropped wide leg pants are back in stock in lots of colors and sizes! I wear them ALL the time and I’m sure you’ve noticed because they are in so many pics I share. So comfortable and flattering! There is a sale going on this weekend in the LTK app and if you shop through THIS LINK in the app you can get 20% off of any order of $100 on Anthro clothes! SCORE! When you click through my LTK link and add things to your cart you will get a promo code to use at check out. You can also get 20% off certain dinnerware and candles HERE. (You don’t have to be in the app for that one!) 

{maeve wrapped-culotte jumpsuit/kira wallet on a chain/initial pendant necklace/similar sandals here & here}

My beloved black jumpsuit is another Antho favorite! It’s popular because aside from being cute and comfortable it’s also so flattering. You can get it HERE for 20% off (just make sure you’re signed into the app and you’ll see the promo code!)

We went to dinner Friday night with friends to kick off the birthday celebrations. (Turning 47 Monday.. yikes!). :)

{small bag/medium bag}it also comes in an oversized option here}

My friend and I were laughing that we showed up with the same Anthro purse! I have the smaller version and she has the larger version. So good. I linked them here in the app so you can get the discount and shared a few other things I have my eye on too. That wraps up my 6 on Saturday!

Enjoy your weekend! :)

1 – HAPPY MARCH

It’s Saturday! And it’s March! Feeling good about both of those facts. So good I’m thinking we’re due for a fruit rainbow around here. Because why not? It’s Saturday and it’s March.

Happy Saturday and happy March to all of you! :)

2 – AFFORDABLE ART

{Left Canvas / Right Canvas}

Sharing a few things I’m loving around here including two new art prints! I’m excited about both of these.

Target Canvas

This canvas is even more beautiful in person than it looked on-line. It’s minimalistic but adds so much warmth. I ordered it for my console table but now I’m torn because it looks good in several spots in my home.

Amazon Canvas

I ordered this canvas from Amazon thinking if I didn’t like it I would return it.. ahhh! It’s SO good. I love it and love the colors and it’s perfect and I’ll show you where it’s going soon! Below are a few other great options I found at both Target and Amazon when I was looking for these! (I have most of the prints from Target and they are smaller!)

3 – SHOE LOVE

{New Balance 327 Sneakers/Retro Runner Sneaker/Bay Cutout Slide Sandal/Bambi Raffia Buckle Slide Sandal}

Last week I shared some shoes I’m loving this spring.

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 }

SHOP:

Along with other cute similar sandals!

Sam Edelman sneakers

Then these cute sneakers arrived at my house a few days later so I decided we aren’t done discussing shoes. :)

Sweater / Pants / Sneakers

I had this cute sweater and pants on the day that these sneakers showed up on my doorstep. They worked so perfectly with my outfit that I knew they were meant to be mine. :) Aside from being cute they are so comfortable! They were perfect to run around in all day and then I switched to boots in the evening for dinner out. I love sneakers. And sandals. And boots. And cute sweaters. And then I wonder why I’m struggling to keep my closet clean. Ha.

4 – SPRING BASKETS

natural woven tray / natural woven tray with handles / oval rim woven tray

Spring baskets! That work for fall and winter and summer too, but I especially love baskets like this in the spring. Perfect to hold Easter decor or tulips or lemons or outdoor dishes. I’ll share how I’m using them all soon! Probably to hold Easter decor or tulips or lemons or outdoor dishes. ;)

5 – SPRING/EASTER DECOR

Woven Basket / Bunny ceramic bowl

A few other inexpensive spring favorites!

Bunny Serving Board / Egg Serving Board

Adorable. I bought the bunny last year and he’s back in stock! With a cute egg serving board to accompany him. :)

Faux Willow Leaf Bundle

I didn’t fan these branches out very well so I’ll share a better pic soon but I really love the look of these bundles!

6 – WALKS/FRIENDS

I’m still trying to walk at 6 am as much as possible! I’ve missed a few days here and there for different reasons and I really notice a difference. The days I miss I don’t feel as happy and productive overall as I do on the days I walk early (even if I still exercise later in the day!). Walking first thing in the morning just starts my day off right. It helps me focus on getting to bed earlier the night before and I start my day drinking more water. It clears my mind and I’ve noticed I’m not as scattered during the day. A few different days friends have come with me and that has been so fun too! It’s honestly the most positive thing I’ve done for myself in such a long time and I’m loving it. :)

{similar option here & here}

One of my cute friends who came with me this week can’t believe I’m heading out alone most mornings when it’s still dark outside and dropped this gift off at my house.. ha! Now I’m really set. :) It actually is such a smart thing to always have on hand and I’m buying one for my girls to take to college next year!

Grateful for good friends who keep me safe and stylish. ;) Grateful for morning walks and the month of March and fruit rainbows and comfy sneakers and spring baskets.

Grateful for all of you. XO

Sharing a few fun things we did during our trip to Hawaii – the big island! I’m kind of laughing as I’m typing this post because of all the Hawaiian islands the big island is the one we have spent the least amount of time on! Ironic that I’m writing a post on it before Maui and Kauai where we have vacationed a lot. Hopefully this starts a trend and I can finally get around to sharing tips on the other islands in 2024. ;) We took this trip soon after Christmas 2023 and only did a few activities. We spent a lot of time just resting and relaxing by the pool and beach which was just what we needed after a busy holiday season and being sick with the flu! But I had done a lot of research and talked to many friends who had been to the big island so I will share what we did along with ideas I gathered and things we want to do next time we visit. (There will definitely be a next time.. we loved the big island!)

WHERE WE STAYED:

I’ve mentioned before that we have a timeshare with Westin in Maui which is why we vacation there often. We bought it when our oldest who is now 20 was just turning 2 years old and have absolutely loved it! It has been a great option for our family and we have loved taking our kids to the same spots through the years to relax and create memories. Kauai also has a Westin which is why we have spent more time on those two islands. The big island doesn’t have a Westin that is part of our timeshare network so we booked a week at the Waikola Beach Mariott Resort. Our travel manager (aka Kenny) spent some time looking about a year before and booked an ocean view room on Red Week.

We were really happy with the resort and I would totally recommend it! Great pools and fitness center and overall service. The room was beautiful and had everything we needed. And this view! WOW. So fun to wake up to each morning. The grounds are stunning!

My favorite thing about this resort (and our Maui Westin) is how the beach is easily accessible right off of the swimming pools. This is the fun walking path through the lava rocks that takes you from your room/pools straight to the beach. My kids are always back and forth from the pools to the ocean and I love having everything so close so that we can easily split up and then meet together again if we want to be in different places for a couple of hours. (A major advantage to travel with older kids!)

Another thing I loved about the beach right off of this resort is that they have a little rental spot with everything you could possibly need! You can rent things like snorkeling gear and kayaks by the hour so you are set for a day of effortless fun in the sun.

We were at the resort on New Years Eve and there was a band playing and some fun dinner options at the resort and close by. A few boats let off fireworks so we could see them from our room. Overall the resort was comfortable and quiet with amazing views (the sunsets were crazy good!) and we really enjoyed our time there.

WHAT WE LOVED:

All of the Hawaiian islands are so special and my very favorite thing about visiting all of them is the way they force you to just RELAX. Everything is on island time and you will automatically slow down the second you arrive. The gorgeous weather and scenery and slower pace have a way of forcing you into happy, relaxed vacation mode. :) This was definitely the same with the big island! But I noticed two things about the big island that felt different than the other islands. The first thing we noticed is how QUIET it was. Maui is full of activity and tourists and while there were definitely tourists around the big island I almost felt like a local! It’s the biggest island but it has a smaller population. Kenny and I loved how quiet and less busy it felt overall. We kept calling it the retirement island which is totally our style for vacationing at this stage in our lives!  Because it’s such a big island we had to drive longer to get to certain restaurants and activities which was also a plus for the two of us because we love driving and just enjoying the beautiful scenery. As you can guess this aspect was a negative for our teens. Ha.

The big island is also unique because of its varying environments. I have never been to one place that looks so different everywhere you go! We would drive through trees that made me feel like I was on the East Coast. Then suddenly we would be in a total desert with black lava rock. Then we drove a little further and everything was lush and green and tropical. It truly looks so different and changes so much throughout the island.

WHAT WE DID:

A few things we did! Hands down our family favorite activity was night swimming with Manta Rays in Kona. I heard this was a fun thing to do on the big island and it really was. Definitely do this if you go! You ride out on a boat or canoe depending on what company you book with and what you prefer. I mentioned that I get seasick/motion sick easily and they recommended the canoes. The guides help you get into the water with snorkel gear and grab a board with lights that you all hold on to so that you can see into the water. The Manta Rays swim right underneath you! You aren’t supposed to touch them but sometimes they touch you. It feels totally safe and is just the coolest thing to see. We all loved it! I was sitting in the front of the canoe on the way out into the ocean and turned around and snapped this picture right before we took off. It got dark quickly and water was splashing everywhere so it’s the only pic I took that night!

We hiked Akaka falls. Absolutely beautiful! It’s a really short hike that’s more like a walk that leads to a beautiful waterfall.

We spent one day visiting Volcano National Park. Lots of walks and drives and really cool things to see and learn about. It is home to two of the world’s most active volcanos and I’ve heard it’s especially incredible if you get lucky with timing and catch the volcanos in action with lava flowing. We didn’t catch that so we’ll have to check it out again next time!

Kenny took the kids on a helicopter ride over the island and they all loved it. They saw amazing scenery! I politely passed on this one because of my motion sickness (it’s bad and hits even if I’ve had dramamine sometimes!). They woke up at 5 am and were gone a few hours so I slept in and went on a walk on the beach and then they were back and we all went to breakfast. I had zero FOMO on this one and am so fine never riding in a helicopter. Ha. ;)

But such a cool experience! I was happy Kenny took the kids.. they all had a lot of fun.

Obisic Shave Ice is a popular spot and was so good! I can’t say that I liked it as much as Maui’s Shave Ice but it was a VERY close second. :) We lucked out because it was located in a mall right across the street from our resort.

Always an island favorite.

Lava Lava Beach Club is a fun restaurant that was also right next to our resort!

Located right on the beach so a beautiful spot to enjoy a meal. I can’t remember other places we ate other than the Fish and the Hog. I remember that one because of the name and the food was delicious! We don’t get too adventurous with food when we travel because we aren’t really a foodie family. My kids found a Macaroni Grill and wanted to go there every other night.. ha. I remember when Ellie was in second grade they had to write about what they did over spring break and she wrote all about how she had gone to Maui and loved it because she got to eat a hot dog at a cool restaurant called Hard Rock Cafe. Forget the whale watching, road to Hana, beautiful beaches, turtles, snorkeling and all things unique to the island.. Hard Rock Cafe was the highlight! Her teacher and I had a good laugh about that one. :)

WHAT WE HOPE TO DO NEXT TIME:

Like I said we spent a lot of time on this trip just relaxing on the beach and enjoying some down time together, but these are some other fun things I researched/heard about and would love to do during our next visit to the big island!

• Wailea Falls in Hilo
• Pololu Valley – I’ve heard the tour is really cool and to stop in Hawi on the way or way back (a cute little town) and eat lunch at Bamboo.
• Waipio Valley lookout – spectacular view and I heard to stop at Tex Drive-in for their malasadas which are the best on the island.
• Mauna Kea – road up to observatory if weather is good
• Hawaiian Botanical Garden (north of Hilo)
• Hilo Farmers Market
• KUA bay (one of the best white beaches)
• Black sand beach & Green sand beach
• Star Gazing
• Hot Glass Hawaii (book a class to make glass)

I hope this post was helpful if you are planning a trip to the big island! If you’ve been and have anything to add please do in the comments! We had the best trip and loved our time there. The kids said they would still choose Maui first, but it was a close tie as second with Kauai. Kenny and I are ready to move to the big island and retire. ;) Even the airport is outside and super chill!

ALOHA Hawaii!

Until next time.