No Poo?

Have you heard of this "no poo" business? It's where you don't use traditional shampoo and conditioner and instead use a homemade concoction. I used what I think is the more common method of baking soda and water for the "shampoo," and apple cider vinegar for "conditioner." I was going to post some recipes here for ya in case you want to try that business out but I'm not going too.....because I hated it so much and all.

There are some things that you can supposedly do to make it a better experience. You can get a clarifying shampoo and that is supposed to help. You are supposed to give the whole thing 1-3 weeks. I didn't. I just couldn't. "They" say that the transition time is a pretty rough hair time.....whoever "they" are were totally not joking! I mean seriously! My roots...well, the top 4" I guess felt like a grease trap while the remaining hair felt like straw. I couldn't stick it out. I stuck it out for a whopping 10 days. It's supposed to be great!

I wanted to try it for 2 reasons. I wanted to cut out some chemicals and I wash my hair like crazy which is supposed to be not good. I run and I play outside with my kiddos....this equals nasty sweaty hair and I just can't stand it. I wash my hair almost daily. Every once in a  while some time passes but it's pretty rare. Oh...and I get split ends really bad and I thought this whole "no poo" would help. It's also supposed to magically make your hair grow super fast. Maybe it's for you. I still think it's worth a shot if you feel up to it....I just want you to know I couldn't stick it out. If you can't....don't feel bad ;-) If you do stick it out....You are pretty awesome!

Eggs...my current fave food!

This is totally random but I LOVE eggs right now! I try to get cage free (for free which is even better) but the hubs keeps forgetting to ask for them (he has been ridiculously busy lately). So if you cut up for veggies for the week then this is pretty quick and easy!

I wish I had a picture here....I'll try to add it tomorrow (I've been eating this as a meal every day).

It's not really like an omelet...I just put some veggies in a skillet add eggs and voila!

1. EVOO drizzled in skillet.
2. Throw in some minced up garlic (I like garlic so I do like 2-3 cloves). Let it sizzle for a couple of minutes to release the flavor.
3. Throw in zucchini, squash, onions, kale and sometimes tomatoes. (I usually use 2 slices each of the zucchini and squash and then chop it pretty small....I try to use equal amounts of all veggies). Let those cook for 2-5 minutes so they get soft.
4. Crack 2 eggs directly into the skillet and mix it all up.
5. Salt and pepper to taste.
6. Add some shredded mozerella after they're done and flop it in a plate.

Eat a banana or some strawberries with it.

I never realized just how easy it was to make the eggs super yummy super quick!! I get in protein and veggies and fruit in a super yummy low cal meal and that just makes it all the better!

Happy Memorial Day!

So, obviously this is a little late. 

What did you do for Memorial Day? My little family of four went to Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains. I'm not gonna lie. I am so jealous of all those that spent the holiday (especially the whole weekend) out on the lake. I LOVE the lake!!! I forgot just how much I love the lake until last year. This post is not about that though. 

We had a fantabulous time! We planned on going for a hike but the hubs and I had a little mis-communication. Well, we might have had that happen about several things (oh well). We are blessed to live close to the mountains and we really love spend time up there. Granted, not as much as we used to because gas is not cheap and we drive 2 gas guzzlers. We took the hub's gas guzzler this trip (which is very rare). We packed up a picnic and headed out to enjoy our little piece of this great country that many have fought and died for. 

If you live anywhere near the Great Smoky Mountains and have not visited.....what's wrong with you? Seriously you should! There is something for everybody in every season. There are beautiful, historical trails (if you want some serious awesomeness check out....and stay at Mt. LeConte), chalets, skiing, tubing (on snow and in creeks), camping, horseback riding, camping.....really....everything. The Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge areas are like Myrtle Beach in the Mountains. LOL! Sersiously....just go! The hubs and I are DYING to stay at LeConte Lodge again but financially aren't really able to swing it while I'm not working (well, we could but we aren't willing to give up other things......like a family beach vacay or aniversary trip....but if our anniversary were not in Oct. we would for reals do it for that). 

I'm blabbering. 

We went straight to the Cove... the girls were released out of their car seats and allowed to just hang out. (Yes, that is a seat belt positioning booster...only for her Daddy's F-350 that she rides in rarely...otherwise she's still in a 5-pt. harness.)

Victoria has a small army of toys where ever we may go.....just ignore that.....Caroline had to come....and apparently she needed a bag....and of course Monkey had to come. 

We visited some of the cabins that have been preserved and talked about how horrible it is that the tore down the house of the last person living in the Cove because it was too modern. I mean seriously how sad is that!? It is still a BIG part of history! Oh...and while walking on a trail I told Victoria to not walk in the Mud....Here's that convo (spoiler...she won).

Me: Victoria, walk over this way.

V: Why?

Me: So you don't walk through the mud.

V: Why? (yay....we are in that stage!! Dripping with sarcasm)

Me: So you don't get your sandals dirty silly!

V: Can't you just wash them? 

Me: (Crap :-/) Ummm.....Yeah....okay.....I guess....sure. You're right. I can. (I don't have a problem telling her she's right when she's right.)

We had a little picnic...in a very poorly picked area with a ton of poison ivy...so we carried the girls and wouldn't let them off the blanket.....that was covered in spiders. Yeah.....next time we'll pick a better area. 

I promise Emily had on a blue jean skirt. 

We all stood in a tree. I know. Random. Well....I thought it would be cute to get a pic of Victoria up there and she flipped out! Weirdo. Hence her daddy hanging out behind the tree. Then Emily was like....Oh I want to!!! (she didn't actually say that of course but she ran of there and pointed at and spoke jibberish), then Victoria insisted that Kev and I do the same. So there you have it...our family tree. Get it?! Family Tree?! I totally crack myself up. Poor hubs. 

And then I was done. The girls were being difficult and I was ready to go.....then there was traffic....and because we are used to this...hubs and I said..."That's bear traffic!" We did the only logical thing we could think of...pull over, take the kiddos out, and chase the bear. I kid. No we did do that but we talked about how stupid it was first. I don't have and great pics of the bear because I'm not that crazy. It was a Momma and her 2 babies and I was NOT going any where near her (no one else was that stupid either). 

It was a good day at the Cove :-) 

We went to Smoky Mountain Brewery afterwards....that sounds bad. It's family friendly. It's pretty much our fave place. 

On the way Emily went to sleep for a MUCH needed nap and Victoria informed me she was hungry and wanted strawberries. I told her to not eat too many because we were about to eat. About 5 min. later she said, "Uh-oh! Mommy, I'm sorry. I accidentally ate them all. Well, there's 1 left!" Yeah....I quartered them so 1 left meant a quarter of a berry. LOL! Oh well.....at least it was healthy food. 

When we got to the Brewery there was face painting going on and so V got a butterfly. 

As you can see....Caroline is with her pretty much at all times. She's dying for Saige....umm...ask Santa...maybe. 

Anywho.....it was a pretty perfect day! We had a great time! 

Avoiding the "Summer Slide"

I feel like I haven't been on here in forever!! I keep meaning to come visit.....sorry..

Anywho...

I have pulled the girls out of daycare (or as we call it school) for the summer. I'm not working and normal school is out for the summer so I felt like it was what we should do. Victoria will go to a Parents Day Out program starting next week though so that she does still have some social time and a little bit of "school" type work. She has made MAJOR strides this past year and I really don't want to go backwards. I want to avoid the "summer slide," but here's the problem.....she doesn't like me to teach her. She doesn't really focus well with me and it's kind of hard to dedicate the time while like monster Em's is running around. I have decided to give ABCmouse a go and I really like it! I would HIGHLY recommend that you set up an account without the little one(s) present though because it was hard to figure out a starting level without really looking into it. I chose to start on level 3 because that is the first level in her age range but I felt like it was really easy for her because it's stuff she learned awhile ago and has pretty much mastered it. Today I was just going to build her a lesson that I felt was more on her level, but thankfully I checked out the next couple of levels and BOOM....level 5 is just what she needed. She loves that she can earn tickets for things so I don't have to beg her to do it. It only goes to level 6 so I'm not sure how long we'll be using it but I'm glad we have it for now.

I also went and bought a workbook. Those things are not cheap for sure! I bought one from Target because I had the girls I didn't really feel like shopping around but I have heard they have them at the Dollar Tree has them and I know a local place called "Ollies" has them as well. I should probably check out the Dollar Tree because I drive by that place daily BUT I just hate returning something and then going to another store...buckling and unbuckling kiddos. Call me lazy....I just can't stand it. The book is great though! It is by School Zone here's a linky to their site. My favorite thing is that is covers everything in one book! While it is a little pricey..I'm just going to be honest...I will *probably* keep with this brand and get her one every summer because I really do like the layout and it goes up to grade 6. I will definitely look at other books next time I am at the other stores I mentioned but they would really have to blow this one out of the water and be a lot cheaper. I know I could find individual books that I like, but like I said.....I really like that it's all in one.