10 On Tuesday: Spring Cleaning Edition

Spring in the Midwest is a fickle season. March started out lovely and then went back and forth between cold and rainy to lovely and well it continued into April. Gross! Once Valentine's Day has come and gone I am basically ready for spring weather, spring attire and playtime to take place outdoors daily.

In hopes of inspiring the weather to remember spring had sprung, I spent last week spring cleaning. I clean the house on the regular (read weekly) but there are some tasks that don't get done on the regular. Here are 10 things to add to your cleaning routine to get your house spring ready!

1/ Refrigerator and Freezer: I emptied everything out, tossed anything that needed to be and wiped our all drawers, shelves, dispensers, etc before placing the items back in. I did this before a grocery store run so my fridge was pretty bare which made the task simple. I didn't think our fridge was dirty but it certainly was more organized and my husband noticed!!! Cue the face of shock!

2/ Behind oven, fridge and top of cabinets: These spaces just collect dust and because we don't see them often  ever they tend to get neglected. It was a simple extra step that didn't require much time or effort but the "cleanliness next to holiness" side of me just loved sucking up those dust bunnies to be banished forever!

3/ Bedding: We went beyond the typical sheet change. We washed all the bedding; pillows, mattress pads, blankets, duvets, bed skirts. It was a LOT of washing but I just think of all the unseen dust and such that was washed away.

4/ Blinds: The most tedious, painstaking task of my spring cleaning routine. Section by section, dust them off. They do get so dusty and I noticed this week when cleaning my house did seem noticeably less dusty than usual. I'm just going to attribute that to being a HUGE help!

5/ Windows and windowsills: We have our windows open a LOT during the fall and then with winter and all that moisture, the windowsills can get quite dirty. I will need to take the screens out and hose them off but that will be another weekend now that the weather has warmed up.

6/ Diffusers: We use our YL diffusers every night and I don't always clean them as often as I should. I just learned that the oils can actually build up in our diffusers over time and cause them not to work! YIKES! So I let distilled vinegar sit in them about 8 hours (put some in when you wake up), ran it with the vinegar in it for 3-5 minutes then, emptied it, used water to clean the tight spaces and rubbing alcohol on the metal disc. Super simple!

7/ Purge everything: I went through all cabinets, drawers, and closets in every room (including kitchen and bathroom, hall closets, entryway closet). I switched out clothes for a new season, got rid of tones to donate or put in our spring garage sell. That task made our whole house feel more put together.

8/ Vacuum: Walls, baseboards, corners, air vents. Vacuum EV-ER-Y-THING! Use the attachments, move the furniture, and get to work!

9/ Vacuum: No this isn't listed twice by mistake. I clean our vacuum every few months but after a spring cleaning, it needed done again. We have a shark and I empty out the canister, wash and rinse the filters and wipe out all the parts I can. We want to actually have our vacuums work well right?

10/ Light Fixtures: There are some I do pretty regularly but others I just overlook. I did them all when I cleaned. Bathrooms, hallways, entryway, bedrooms! ALL OF THEM! It wasn't too hard but it did make me want to update/replace some of them! Ha!

Here is a spring cleaning checklist I used. I broke my house into phases and it took about 3.5 days. Do you spring clean? What would you add?

Friday Favorites: Feeling Fall

The busyness of our week sure made it fly by.  That, and of course, Monday being a holiday and making the weekend extend into the work week. I love when that happens and we have an extra day all together!

Anyway, I'm linking up today and sharing some of my favorites from this past week and things that are making me feel ready for fall. 

Andrea

Amy

{O N E} 

As I posted last week, I had a hair appointment to go darker and I shared some of my cut and color choices.  I basically went with the Megan Fox color and a really textured long layered cut.  My hair lady, Tonya, totally hooked me up and I love it. Here it is making it's debut on last weekend's date night. 

{T W O}

We survived Hudson's first week of school. You can read about his first day on yesterday's post.  I sure do love that sweet boy and his excitement!

{T H R E E}

One of my very best friends had her twin babies this week!!!! I am over the moon ecstatic for her and her family.  Mama ROCKED her pregnancy. She was considered high risk twins aside, and she carried them to 37 weeks like a pro! They were born both weighing over seven pounds! No tubes, no NICU needed! They are just champs and I can not wait to meet them this weekend!!! 

{F O U R}

I like to switch out my soaps with the season. I just love how it makes our moods change. My boys love making me smell their hands after they wash! {I'm just glad they washed, ok?!} I'll be picking up these three scents today while shopping for a few other things for the boys.

{F I V E}

We love a good night around the fire.  My husband would probably have a fire every weekend but me, I love to wait until the weather gets a little cooler. And tonight is the perfect night to kick off Fire Pit Fridays with our friends!! I am cooking up a new chili recipe and making this snack mix. If you want to check out more of what I love on Pinterest, you can follow me here. 

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday!! My big two had a sleepover with Gammy and are having a day of fun so I am being uber productive..or at least that's the plan!

{O N E}
Teaser ALERT! Hudson and Beau have been sharing a room for about a year now.  A couple of months ago, we got up one morning to go to church and Andrew ran smack into Beau.  Because he was up.  Because he had climbed out of his crib! {Not good.} So we got the boys twin beds {Hudson's original big boy bed was a full size} and I have been pouring over shared big boy room ideas since.  I FINALLY found something I liked that would work with a lot of their current decor plus bedding but no headboards.  So Andrew and I built them one evening.  Yes-- one evening! I'll post next week the tutorial and room reveal!

{T W O}
Starting in December I noticed that my face seemed to be breaking out for no rhyme or reason.  For me, this is highly unusual.  I never struggled with acne or breakouts, hadn't changed my diet or my skin routine and was stumped as to what to do.  Fast forward to now, I wasn't seeing my skin get any better so I made me first ever appointment with the dermatologist.  Apparently, being pregnant and/or nursing for the past 5 years did a number on me and my skin and oh yeah, I'm old now.

Anyway- I have been using Cera Ve products as my body lotion for awhile now and LOVE IT! I use it on my boys' insanely dry, sensitive skin too.  My dermatologist introduced me to their facial line.  Y'all, check it out! They have a daytime and nighttime moisturizer and a facial cleanser.

{T H R E E}

I love these shorts! I feel like you can dress them up or down.  They come in so many colors and patterns! I am updating my summer wardrobe since I got rid of a lot when I first lost weight, and then got pregnant the following summer.  My wardrobe is in major need of an overhaul. 

{F O U R}

This is a Friday un-favorite. If you haven't watched last night's Grey's scroll on down.  I have been a faithful Grey's watcher from day one.  That's a lot of life invested into a show.  Like 10 seasons or something.  I have put up with some of my favorites being taken: Lexi, McSteamy, even Cristina.  But Derek?? McDreamy?? Really, Shonda?? I just don't really know where you are going to go from here.  Not cool.  

{F I V E}

I re-started one of my favorite workouts this week, P90x3. I did this workout last year right when I found out I was pregnant.  It is intense and effective and I love that it is 30 minutes! I really need to tone up my midsection and get ready for summer since we have a beach vacation coming up.  This is doing it! Down 4 pounds already this week! Wahoo for progress!

Have a great Friday and awesome weekend!

Linking up with Karli, April, and Andrea today!

Halloween Fun

I love Halloween.  Which is crazy because my family never really participated in Halloween when I was younger.  But I knew that when I had kids I wanted this little holiday to be full of fun, traditions, and just making memories.  I adore fall and think that Halloween is one of the best parts.  I HATE anything scary so we don't focus on that part..again, just the fun!

We are moving the weekend of Halloween this year so our entire house will be packed up.  But, Andrew and I will still be doing trick or treating and as much festive things that day. We won't be able to do everything but we will sure get in an activity, a treat, and a flick!

Here are some really fun ways to make Halloween special for your little:

{O N E | Themed Lunch}
I love making my kids meals special on holidays.  And thanks to Pinterest the ideas are endless! Here are just a few.

source: mummies/brooms/

{T W O | Craft}

We like to do lots of crafts at our house.  There are so many fun things to do with your kids no matter the age.  A few years ago we did the foot-print craft below.  But you paint pumpkins, make a stained glass pumpkin, create a candy corn man (I did this with my firsties when I taught).  I good craft is a really fun part of our day.

source via

{T H R E E | Activity}

Now that Hudson and Beau are older, I like to do activities with them to facilitate listening and learning.  This can be really simple.  The idea below can be tailored to your kids ages.  For example, I might make a pattern using candy and have Hudson re-create it, or take pieces away in the AB pattern and see if he can fill them in correctly. Then, with Beau, we may just sort the candies into like groups.   

{F O U R | Treat}

Themed treats are some of my favorite things to make.  The boys get so excited to get in the kitchen and bake with me (or really anyone who will have them!). So for the holidays I like to choose something we can make and share throughout the week.  This is a favorite of ours for sure!

{F I V E | Movie}

Every year, ABC plays It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.  I am a sucker for Charlie Brown.  I just love the whole gang! After trick or treating, checking out their loot and choosing a piece, we change the boys into their Halloween pj's and sit down to watch this together.  

What are some ways you make Halloween fun for your little ones?

Five on Friday: Oct 17

I love every time Friday comes around because, well, it's Friday. But it is also just that much closer to being our last Friday before we move.  Just two more Fridays after this week and we are moving! I can't believe it's coming up so quickly.

I'm linking up with the usual today.  So grateful for these link-ups and the blogs they have opened me up to. Truly love this blogger world!

Liz/Darci/Natasha/Christina

Erika/Narci/Andrea

Karli/Amy

{O N E}
Our sweet Gabe is 8 weeks old today.  I can't believe it has been that long since we brought our sweet boy home.  I can't believe we have been a family of five for 8 weeks. I hate how quickly it is going but at the same time I love how alert he is.  I love his smiles when he wakes up and sees me.  I love the way he stretches.  He loves to eat.  Gabe loves to be swaddled.  He is a good sleeper, finally.  He takes a good long stretch from around 8 pm to midnight or 1.  Then he goes every three hours between feedings until he gets up at 6:30 or 7.

{T W O}
The boys have decided on their Halloween costumes.  It is going to be a SUPER fun time trick-or-treating with them this year. {Hint, hint}

{T H R E E}
I've been planning Beau's birthday party.  I love that his birthday is in the fall.  We are doing a pumpkin theme this year at our new house.  I've picked out the menu and the games we will be playing.  And the cupcakes y'all--they are going to be divine! The flavors are s'more, caramel apple, and pumpkin pie! Delicious!

That's all I have this week! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.  We will be packing, packing, packing! ;)