Well, hello there! My husband and I just got back from our Iceland adventures and I can’t begin to tell you how amazing it all was. If anything topped my happy list in March, it was FOR SURE visiting the Blue Lagoon and celebrating my husband’s 40th birthday.
As amazing as it all was, there really is no place like home. I couldn’t be happier to be reunited with our kids and our fur baby.
Perhaps, not as excited to be reunited with laundry, dishes, and cleaning the house.
Ah, you gotta love real life.
You will be happy to know though that I still have a few amazing reads for you put together for March so don’t miss this month’s must-reads list.
Also, can I brag for one moment before we get started on the happy list? Check out who is up for Mom Blog of the Year again this year!
I can’t tell you how honored I am and to be listed among such incredible women that I admire and respect.
Have you been missing the 3 little things list each week? Just so you know, this feature didn’t go away…it just moved over to my newsletters each week.
Sign up is super quick over here. I will even send you some free printables to help you put together this incredible home management binder.
Today I wanted to share what you might have missed this past month in one big giant happy list!!
As I have aged, I feel like my skin has gotten duller in appearance and I’ve been looking for some ways to bring the glow back to my complexion.
I discovered these Aveeno Maxglow Infusion Drops and have started adding 2 drops of this to my moisturizer and it really works at adding a subtle glow to your face.
Paired with this tool that I have in my makeup arsenal, my husband has even started commenting on my glowing skin (trust me, that NEVER happens).
I really love this stuff and a little goes a long way! I highly recommend adding these to your makeup routine!
My husband and I were married in 2000 so we thought it would be fun to relive those good old days through this amazing series you can find on Netflix.
This CNN docuseries, produced by Tom Hanks, explores each season through the pop culture, social, and political trends of a different decade, starting with the sixties.
Each decade is explored through about eight episodes and it is filled with amazing interviews with people who played some part in these stories and through the eyes of historians.
After finishing the 2000’s, we moved on to the 90’s and now are enjoying reliving our high school days. I highly recommend diving into these if you haven’t before. It has been both fun and informative!
Our home doesn’t have a lot of natural light in it and I often struggle to take photos for my feed because of it.
I happened to stumble upon this e.l.f. selfie light at Walmart and I can’t rave enough about how much light it can bring to your pictures.
It illuminates you with three settings, that ramp up the brightness, and it comes all ready to go with batteries and everything.
It is so small that it is perfect to tuck in your purse for those selfie moments with your kiddos. Priced at just $12, it is one of those inexpensive gadgets that make a huge difference in your photos.
I knew as soon as my husband found out we were headed to Iceland, he would start panicking about what items he would need to wear while we are there. Did you know that Stitch Fix now styles for men? I remembered that I read that in my emails and decided to utilize this service for his birthday gift.
If you are pulling off a surprise getaway somewhere or planning a vacation where you know your wardrobe isn’t prepared, I can’t recommend this fun service enough.
In my husband’s box, for example, were two REALLY amazing waterproof packable jackets, a heavy-duty flannel shirt, and a thick sweater.
It was just what he needed and it took the stress out of shopping for him. If you want to give the service a spin for a gentleman in your life, here’s $25 to spend on your first purchase!
If you have read my blog for a long time, you may already know about my little bell, but I had to mention again how much I love our little antique hotel bell for getting everyone to to the dinner table.
I forget that other people don’t do this so when my brother came for dinner, he started laughing when I gave it a little ding-ding-ding and the whole family came to the kitchen.
As an INFJ, I can’t stand yelling and our split-level home means that people scatter in all directions.
A little tap of the bell and everyone gathers, saving me from yelling and running around our house to find everyone.
We found our bell at an antique shop, but here is an inexpensive alternative if you can’t find one for your house. I can’t rave enough about how much I love this low-tech item.
ALDI Tikka Masala Simmering Sauce
I might be dating myself, but when I was growing up, we ate a lot of Chicken Tonight.
All you had to do was brown some chicken and then you poured the sauce over it to simmer in and called it dinner.
When I saw that ALDI was carrying a tikka masala simmering sauce, I decided to give it a try and now we eat it every couple of weeks or so.
I shared about it on Instagram Stories and had several people send me DM’s back that they decided to give it a spin after my endorsement and absolutely loved it.
The best part is that you can choose what you want to simmer with it for your own spin. Chickpeas, tofu, chicken, and shrimp all make for a delicious (and way easy!) weeknight meal. We serve it with rice and the baby naan that the store carries (it is the perfect size!) and I consider it almost like a night off from cooking.
I hope you love this sauce as much as as we do!
After dressing for one week in a dress this month (to help raise funds for Junior League!), I can tell you that my favorite slip shorts were worn and loved daily.
If you have parents with Southern roots, you know you were not allowed to be running around in a dress without a proper slip.
I can still see images of my mom shaking her head and pointing to the door when I would come out for church without a slip.
That is why I love this more modern approach with these slip shorts for helping smooth those lines and to give a clean finish underneath your dresses.
If you are not a fan of compression garments, give these a try! While still minimizing lines, they are comfortable to wear all day long!
I don’t think we can always say the same thing about Spanx- hahaha!
I also went without tights for a week and it was a CHILLY experience in the Midwest.
Spring, where are you?
Luckily, my legs weren’t turning blue thanks to my favorite beauty hack- Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs.
Simply squeeze a little on your hands and spread on your lightly moisturized (but dry) legs.
Then just use your hands to spread the make-up on your legs and it all air dries in one minute. It is truly an airbrushed leg experience and, provided you blend well and pick the right shade for your own coloring, it gives a beautiful finish to your legs.
It has a little shimmer to it too, but not overly noticeable.
The best part is that it is waterproof so if you are even at the beach, you will be fine.
You need soap to get it off, otherwise it stays right where you put it.
Since it has good staying power, one bottle usually gets me through the entire summer!
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
I was such a fan of the original cast and the work they did, but I feel like the reboot of Queer Eye is on another level!
It sounds kind of cheesy to say that each episode teaches me something, but it REALLY does.
The guys help makeover people that are often overlooked by others and embrace them with warmness and inclusion.
The ability to meet people where they are and provide solutions for them is a valuable lesson in how we help others in our life.
I, honestly, bawl through every episode because of these beautiful moments.
Through the show, they are able to teach people to embrace others with compassion and empathy.
This is one that we watch with our kids and has given us a lot to talk about- especially the focus on inclusion.
It is easy to judge others if we aren’t walking in their shoes and many of these people have felt let down by the world.
The lessons that are garnered from this are impactful and beautiful.
My favorite episodes this season (so far) have been Jones BBQ (two strong business woman who have put family first before themselves), When Robert Met Jamie (a lesson on how we talk about ourselves and present ourselves to others- really good lesson for kids!!), and Black Girl Magic (not allowing boxes and labels to determine if we are displaying characteristics of our own race & how to form family if you are rejected by your own).
You guys should watch it if you haven’t yet.
Also, thanks for coming to my Queer Eye TED Talk!
Enormously excited that I got a signed copy of Mayor Pete’s new book and that I got to hear him speak. You would have to be hiding under a rock to not know that South Bend’s mayor is getting a lot of buzz on the news as we all ready for his official announcement that he is running for President! If you are unfamiliar with him, this is one of my favorite interviews that he has done (and, yes, I’ve watched them ALL!!).
I participated in the Little Black Dress initiative to help raise funds and awareness for the work we do locally in Junior League. If you are local and interested in joining, send me a message and I’m happy to connect you! I’ve volunteered more hours than I ever have and feel more connected to my community and its organizations. REALLY excited to volunteer this month at this organization, that is making national news, through the done-in-a-day projects that this organization offers.
Loved this sunset we caught as we boarded our plane to Iceland. It is one of those little things that I will never get tired of!
Top Ten Most Visited Articles in March
- Easy Burlap Wreath Tutorial
- 3-Ingredient Instant Pot Ribs
- How to Organize Board Games
- How to Make Rice Cooker Quinoa
- Amy’s Notebook 03.07.19
- DIY Roll-Up Jigsaw Puzzle Mat
- How to Make a Blanket Scarf
- January 2019 Must-Reads
- How to Dye Plastic Eggs
- February 2019 Must-Reads
Top Ten Most Purchased Items in March
- Initial Stacking Rings
- Soft Touch Foot Peel Masks
- Belei Beauty Products
- Neck & Shoulder Relaxer
- Hilor Women’s One-Piece Swimsuit
- Jockey Slip Shorts
- Alphabet Wood Tracing Board
- Perfect Fit Open Neck T-Shirt
- iPhone Acoustic Speaker
- Women’s Drape Jogger Pants
- I Think You’re Wrong, But I’m Listening
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
- Born a Crime
- Inheritance
- A History of Loneliness
- What Alice Forgot
- What if It’s Us
- Z.
- This is Where I Leave You
- The Dry Grass of August
I hope you enjoyed this month’s round-up of March fun and I look forward to sharing more in April! I hope my month of happy brings a month of happy to you too! If this post doesn’t convince you my newsletter is fun, I’ve got nothing. Sign up over here to get this fun weekly in your inbox.
*this post may contain affiliate links- I only recommend what I love though. Check out past editions of It’s the 3 Little Things!