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Salem Essentials: Handmade all Natural Bath Bombs

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​After a long busy and stressful day what do most people do to unwind or relax??… Take a bubble bath right!! Well now there is a new trend, bath bombs!! With the rising popularity of bath bombs they are now an essential bathroom staple and they are becoming even more popular with kids. That being said, with a world where you can easily throw some chemicals together to yeild a quick cheap product for consumers you want to find the best quality for your children. And I have done just that. 

     I have tried about 15 different bath bombs and I found the perfect one right in my own town. How cool is that!! I kept going to local festivals and this company’s name and products continued coming up so I said ok I’ll check them out, there’s a reason they are so popular. And I was so impressed with their products I decided to connect with the owner/creator and learn more. 

     The amazing company I am sharing with you is Salem Essentials and Apothecary.  Candace and Jonathan the owner/creators are located in Kernersville, NC where they handcraft small batches of natural bath and body care products. Candace the mom behind the company has been in the body care industry for more than 20 years working with labs in the skin care and beauty industry. She knows her stuff and is very conscientious about what goes into her products. She has over 2 decades of experience with all natural beauty consumer products. But more importantly back to those luscious bath bombs, they have been developed with safety and skin care being top priority. They are free of parabens, phthalates, bpa, and formaldehyde ingredients. Their products are also sourced responsibly using non GMO ingredients and free of chemical preservatives. These bath products are made using plant based dyes no synthetics, so no stains on your tub or your family. Win..win! And if that’s not enough her products are PETA certified meaning they are vegan and cruelty free!

​​    So check out their shop for more information about them and their products through http://www.salemessentials.com!! And if your still not convinced, check out their page on Instagram and enter the Salem Essentials upcoming giveaway for a chance to win a bag full of their childrens bath bombs!! I promise if you win you’ll be hooked they are by far the best and the only bath bomb my family uses. So go check them out they really are the bomb!!!​​​Also they have added their new kids Bath Bomb pack on their website…Click their link and check them out!!! ​​http://salemessentials.com

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The End of July…

At our house the summer flies by. My husband works long hours and I spend long days with my son. Then at night I will work on my blog and my clothing shop. We spend every moment of our free time outdoors at the local parks, the waterpark, or the kids museum. Doing these activities helps my son socialize, since it’s normally just he and I.  But now it’s the end of July and our schedule is becoming more regular as life slows down and we head closer to fall. 

Currently in our house 

  • We are obsessed with Salem Essentials all natural handmade bath bombs and soaps….
  • We are listening to our favorite edm djs…
  • We are eating homemade comfort food as I battle a nasty sinus infection…
  • Jackson is learning to speak using words and not angry grunts… 
  • We are in the homestretch with teething, he has four molars to go and they are coming in…
  • My new workout is shuffle dancing…
  • Jackson is learning to jump…
  • We are using essential oils on a regular basis…
  • Potty training is at a standstill…
  • We are binge watching Stranger Things on Netflix…
  • Lastly I’m on the hunt for some farm to table restaurants in my local area… 

I am looking forward to August. What’s  your family up to currently? Leave a comment below…and please subscribe to my blog as I have some awesome things coming up that you will not want to miss out on!

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Summer By The Pool

We love summertime at my house!! Especially the long days that give us more time to be outdoors…including being poolside! This year we decided to invest in season passes at our local water park, which in the long run saves us time, and money. We live 10 minutes away so it’s something I can do with my son during the day to keep him busy and me sane. But there are some good things know before venturing out to the water park or just a pool in general. Check out my list of must haves and should haves…(I learned a few the hard way)

  • First always bring sunscreen 30+or higher and if possible get the broad spectrum so most of the harmful rays are covered. I bring all natural, lotion, and spray on and I keep them in a small wet bag in case any of them leaks. I really like having the variety because some days spraying us down quick quick is easier especially with a squirmy toddler.
  • Next this seems too logical but towels!! I have taken my family swimming and packed everything but towels, it can happen!! So I always roll up three towels… it’s a space saver to roll them in my pool bag.
  • Water. You can bring one outside bottle per person, and I always put my 32 oz bottle in the bottom of my diaper bag, because you can easily get dehydrated on these sweltering hot days if you don’t drink enough fluids or water. Most people in the water and sun all day don’t realize they haven’t been taking in enough water until it’s too late. 
  • I recommend bringing some antibiotic cream and some different sized bandaids. I and Jacksons dad both have been scraped, cut, and blistered at the park and I forgot to pack these simple things we needed. So I put them both in a small ziploc bag it’s so simple.
  • For your little on bring water shoes even if they may not use them. The pavement get extremely hot and can burn those little baby feet. And most water parks have cement bottoms in the pools because it’s easier to keep up with all the wear and tear the pools can get. These concert bottoms can really scrape babies toes so always great to have the water shoes handy.
  • Optional- When we go and stay all day we will load up or stroller with any bags and Jackson and it’s so much easier to protect our items and gives him the option to walk or ride. 
  • We always bring a wrist harness. It works very well and they are super cheap on amazon. They are worth it because when the park is busy and kids are running everywhere it is very easy to get separated when walking to or from your chairs or cabana.

 It sounds like a lot but we actually only carry two bags in for 3 of us including our toddler. And it’s always easy to pack up and tote around. But more importantly we have everything we need for a day of family fun in the sun. I hope these simple tips are helpful for you and your little on any pool side or beach outing you may be venturing too this summer.  

    Please comment below if this was helpful or if you have some tips to share, and subscribe to my blog with your email so you can receive updates on upcoming posts and giveaways I’ll be hosting!! I love sharing this awesome journey of motherhood.

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    What’s for Dinner..?? Creamy Potato Leek Soup!!

      By the end of the day when it’s time to prep for dinner your tired, you’ve been cleaning, running errands, and mommying your butt off…so Im sure you want something quick and easy for dinner!! I’ve got the perfect solution to feed everyone in your family including baby!! This is a quick and easy peasy recipe that anyone, even beginners in the kitchen can make. And the best part is there isn’t much clean up after and the leftovers are great for freezing to have at a later date… 

    For this recipe you will need: 

    • 1 Leek
    • 3-5 golden russet potatoes 
    • (Optional) About 1/2 cup pre-diced butternut squash (I buy pre-cut in the produce section)
    • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
    • Green onions (for garnish) 
    • 1 cup milk
    • Salt and pepper to taste

        To begin rinse your veggies. And dice the potatoes, chop the leaves off the leeks and slice the remaining bottom of the Leek. Add these to a one large pot along with the butternut squash and fill with water until all the veggies are submerged. Now let it boil until all veggies are mostly soft.

        Next, drain the water. And you can use a hand masher, or a blender for the next step.  You will toss the cooked veggies in your blender or food processor then add the cream, milk, salt&pepper and blend!! That’s it. Pour a bowl of your creamy potato leek soup and (optional) toss some finely chopped green onions or chives on top and serve. 

         I hope that you and your family enjoy this quick fix!!! And now you can have a more free time to relax since this dish does the work itself!! It literally takes about 5 min to prep, boil for about 30 minutes on high , then blend!!! Super simple and everyone can enjoy…buon apetite’