In my time around the block (or down the sephora aisle) . . . I have tried plentyyy of different mascaras. I do receive quite a few PR packages a week too, so trust me when I say I’ve tried A LOT! Buuuut, I always come back to MAC’s Extreme Dimension. I truly believe it’s the best if you want to achieve bold lashes. If you want to try it out first, I recommend getting this travel size for $11. I also like to use GrandLASH Eyelash Growth Serumto help strengthen eyelashes. I apply it after I put my makeup on, because if I do it at night, my eyes become bloodshot.
I get a lot of questions about how I achieve my bright blonde hair color + the truth is blonde can be really tricky + it is different for EVERYONE. My hair pulls a bright color naturally so that helps in achieving this look. The other key is finding a hair stylist who really knows their stuff. Below is the process we do on my hair – i hope it helps!
Amazon has always been my go-to for getting household items, cleaning products + toys \ books + games – – – buuuuut I didn’t realize how may cute clothing options they had for ahhhmazing prices! I LOVE their athletic wear, swimwear + have recently been shopping a lot of their pieces for Summer. Check out my favorites below!
S W E E T S: the chosen one (watch on vidangel) | jon’s jesus sandals making their 2020 debut for work | jack’s big boy hair cut | steel beamssss + a roof | boating with the family | boys getting to see their sweet teachers to say goodbye | chats with jonah when he can’t fall asleep as fast as the littles | raising canes opening in utah | jack calling his bike “my box bike” | camping in capitol reef | the way rigg will walk up + hold my hand without really knowing it | amazon tank lulu dupe | designing neverland | brene brown launching a podcast | gigi pip’s summer launch | starting my poshmark | four square in the church parking lot | disney hits playlist | rigg’s loose tooth | yard games with good friends | learning more about the BLM movement + teaching my kids to be anti-racist | at home church | Utah opening back up again from COVOID-19 | evenings at the house | sunshine | seeing changes happening in the world + love!
now, the sours. because I think they are important to document + just as fun to look back on.
S O U R S: co-freaking-vid | 4 wheeler crash | jonah’s finger infection coming back | washing my memory card in my pocket | forgetting to make an appt to pick out bathtubs | lotssss of neighbors moving away | dirty fingernails always | how utterly bad i need a pedicure | seeing people be treated poorly in the news | jonah cutting off rigg’s rat tail (could also be on sweets list because it was so endearing to watch as a mother – even though i secretly loved it so much) | finding out we might not be moving in as quick as we thought | so many house decisions that i can’t seem to decide on
I always seem to grab the same 5 staples when it’s summertime. Outfits on repeat! They’re all pretty casual + comfy. So if you’re looking to keep it cool + casual this summer, consider adding a few of these pieces to your cart.
These pants are easy, lightweight + breathable for summer. I love that they’re natural + timeless. The outfit options are endless + you’ll be reaching for them over and over again.
These shorts are worth the splurge because the fit is AMAZING! I’ve searched for similar pairs but everything I find is tight in the waist, hips or through the legs. These Agolde shorts though – – – the perfect relaxed mom fit allll around. I love pairing them with a tighter top since they’re looser on the bottom or a graphic tee.
similar + less expensive option | here | here + here
AB does oversized right. I suggest ordering true to size – – – the tee will still be oversized, but not too baggy through the shoulders. The quality is also moneyyyyy.
I have been loving these from Target! I like to pick a pair that are waterproof so they’re easy to wear at the pool, but also cute enough to slip on with a pair of shorts.
Miller + Monroe are my go to allll year round. I wear them in the summer, but if you’re looking for a straw, I’d recommend ARLO! Our new summer hat, that just came out. It’s the monroe but in straw!
And now I thought it’d be fun to share some fun facts you may not know about me- let me know if any of these surprise you! 🙂
I never had braces + hate the feeling of floss between my teeth (i use a pick)
My biggest pet peeve is mean people.
I haaaate going pee. I think it’s super inconvenient + I push the limits too often – have a close call at least once a day, especially when I’m wearing my romper.
I am OCD when picking apples at the grocery store. LIKE THE PICKIEST. + I will only eat apples when they are sliced small enough.
I dread going to the dr + having them ask me my children’s birthday on a whim. Possibly incapable of retaining birthday’s in general? Not proud of it either.
PS– if number 4 had you nodding your head in agreement, first of all thank you! Glad I’m not the only one + also, let me introduce you to my favorite apple slicer. it cuts your apple into 16 slices instead of the standard 8. Perfect for kids + picky apple eaters like me!
Back with another post dedicated allllll to white sneakers, because I frigggen love em! If you’re lost – I shared a roundup of my favoriteshere. It’s safe to say I have been LIVING in white sneakers this spring, have you noticed? They’re comfy + go with E V E R Y outfit – – – casual or dressy.
The first day I bought these everlane sneakers, I wore them to the lot on a rainy day. Not your smartest move, GP. But luckily I have a secret trick for cleaning white sneakers + it works every time!
PS- Don’t throw them in your washing machine! Washing by hand will help them last a lot longer. These tips work best for leather or rubbery shoes.
HOW TO WASH WHITE SNEAKERS :
For the non rubber part of your shoe :
1 | add soap to warm water
2 | scrub your shoes, using a brush or rag with soapy water
3 | air dry
+ to clean the soles or rubber sides of your sneaker clean with a Magic Eraser (slightly damp)
Magic Eraser’s are legit Magic + my secret recipe to make your white sneakers look as good as new! If you try it, be sure to tag me on IG! I’d love to see your before + afters.
Growing up i always wanted to have a home that always smelt good when I was older. Do you remember the home in high school that smelled the best? I do – the Champlin’s + my sister married him + for some reason that always stuck with me + something I wanted in my home.
I found a sweet lady to help me deep clean my house once a month + it has helped me stay more on top of my daily tasks. I work 2 days a week + so the days I’m home with the boys I want to be more hands on + not deep cleaning my toilets.
Something I’m looking super forward to is having a place for everything. Right now it seems we tend to collect clutter often, because we outgrew our space the day we moved in. Either way I suggest getting rid of something every time you get something new. I have a dear friend who is SO GOOD at this concept. I’m slowly getting there. (poshmark sale soon?)
I can testify on how much a tidy home helps clean up my mind. Here are a few products that I have shared online, but wanted to give a home to for you to reference back later if needed.
PRODUCTS :
FOLEX CARPET CLEANER | the lady at restoration hardware led me on to this cleaner + I’ve gifted to all of my neighbors. I have used it on our car seat, carpets + even couch. It is magic + will lifts ANY stains like none other.
FELS-NAPTHA | best $1 you’ll ever spend. Only thing I have found to get chocolate frosty out + anything that has been sitting on there for a hot sec. I like to scrub both sides of the fabric where the stain is + for an extra stain remover you can set it out in the sun for a few hours when drying.
SHARK VACMOP| Just got this 2-in-1 vacuum mop + sooooo freaking stoked to try it out. I like that it can mop + vacuum for a quick clean + you don’t have to have 2 tools in your closet, under $100!
In the past I’ve used this mop, that my cleaning lady introduced me too + this vacuum if you’re looking to keep your tools separate.
MICROBAN 24 | keeps the surface clean for 24 hours after you sanitize. YES 24 HOURS. I watched it under a microscope to be sure, in Microban’s lab. Honored to partner with them this last year + I straight up asked to do another post just because I literally tell everyone I know about them. Such a game changing product!
COUNTER CLEANER | This is the cleaner I use for my kitchen countertops + have for years. It cleans really well + I love the smell.
Creating a cleaning schedule for our house has been amazing for our family + makes our lives feel less chaotic! We just do a few little tasks, daily. We don’t always follow it perfectly but implementing a schedule helps keep us on track.
Do you have a set cleaning schedule? Are your kids involved in helping clean your house or do you leave it up to a cleaning service? This is our favorite chore chart. I’d love to hear your thoughts on kids helping with chores – share below.
Whenever I find something I like that’s tie dye I buy it right then. I swear nothing stays in stock for longer than 24 hours if it’s tie dye! Here’s a couple of my current favorites that are all in stock . . . for now! If you find something you like, hurrrry + snag your size.
I don’t think I ever shared fully shared the why behind my hat brand – Gigi Pip on this space. Before I started Gigi Pip, I used to order Men’s hats because they seemed to be more minimal than all the women’s styles on the market. I saw a need for more ‘masculine’ women’s style hats. I also wanted a way to adjust them because not every head shape is the same. GIGI PIP was born.
Our brand exists “for the women who wears many hats.” I believe us women wear many hats | daughter, friend, wife, mother, business owner, student + lots more. Some are well known to the outside eye, some are more personal. Either way, we are here to help each other carry the load. I put my heart into Gigi Pip hoping that it’s a place of refuge + recharge. A place that encourages women to keep going + to be confident in the many hats they wear.
For all of you who’ve been hanging around here awhile + own a Gigi Pip hat, I’m sharing a huge tip in this post today that could change your life. Orr just make it a little easier! I’d love to know which hat you got, so leave a comment below!
How to Adjust Your Gigi Pip Hat:
After selecting the size of hat that will fit your head the best, you can than make an additional alteration that will make your hat fit even better.
Inside your hat, under the sweatband you will find a string. Pull this string to whatever size you would like + velcro down. Repeat these steps until you find the perfect fit for your head – this will help it from flying off as easy!
If your hat still doesn’t feel right or if it doesn’t have the adjustable band inside, you can buy sizing tape. Cut off about an inch + place it in your hat. Try your hat on, if it needs to be smaller, take another one inch piece + put it on. Repeat this process until you get the sizing right.
The boys have been begging to sleep at the new house since we started digging. We kept telling them we would when it got warmer – – – so here we are. It made me super nostalgic . . .
I remember these nights at grandma’s house with alll the cousins growing up. some of my very favorite memories. I foresee a lot of campouts in this backyard in our future.
We get all of our camping + outdoor gear from a super rad brand (out of Utah) Backcountry! They always have the best prices + best customer service! Hands down one of our favorite companies of allll time. Supporting small businesses is super important right now + they’re one I will stand by through and through + you’ll get a lot of rad outdoor gear, which I know you’ll all need this year.
I wanted to share what we brought along on our adventure :
CAMP CHECK LIST :
CREWNECK : this is my allll time go to sweater to throw on when we’re outdoors or camping. I love the color + I sized up so it would be oversized.
CANTEEN : y’all know I am a water drinker, so a whole evening away from home calls for a lot of water! This one will keep your drinks hot or cold for a long time!
YETI : for allll of our food + snacks, obviously the most important part of any campout!
JUAN’S JACKET: super lightweight but suppppper warm. Comes in a few more colors too!
HAT : wouldn’t be a Parrish family outing without hats! We all fight over this Backcountry trucker hat.
BOYS SHERPA JACKET : Rigg + Jack both wear this jacket + it’s one of my favorites. So warm + the camel color is still one of my favorites.
BLACK HOLE DUFFLE BAG : I’ve told you about these before, but a serious GAME CHANGER when packing. They fit tonnnnns, you can wear them as a backpack, across your shoulder or by the handles + it’s waterproof. Best part of all if you don’t need it full anymore, it folds into itself into a teeny tiny bag! A Parrish Fam Fave!!
TENT : We love this tent because it’s soooo easy to set up!
HELINOX CHAIRS : These fold down so small that they’re easy to pack along, but they are still super comfortable for chats around the bonfire.
HAMMOCK: never a campout without a hammock. All 3 of the boys love to helps set theirs up + even sleep in them!
Whether you’ve been following along for five minutes or five years, you probably know we love to be outdoors. We’re feel so blessed to live in Utah. The summer’s are beautiful + we can’t wait to soak up allll the sun! One of our oldest + most used outdoor toys + the one I get the most questions about is the Crazy Kart.
Sharing all our favorites or our wishlist below in case you’re in need of ideas for the Summer!
On that note, how are you feeling about Summer approaching? Ready for a break from this home school thing? As always, feel free to leave any questions you have below orr share your favorite kids toys below (always looking for new ones!).
My instagram handle has been WIFE | MAMA | LEMONADE HOGGER for as long as I’ve been in the digital world. I keep wanting to change it up + then I can’t make myself do it. LEMONADE is something my heart + mind visits every day. Life is full of sweets + sours. The photo above is our wedding announcement. We came across this darling little lemonade stand while we were driving to the spot for our shoot + felt like it was meant to be. Jon + I have been making lemonade all together since the day one.
One other quick throwback – I insisted the drinks at our reception were served from behind a lemonade stand. Back then it was harder for Jon to say NO to my crazy ideas, so sure enough – the night before our literal wedding day, he built, painted + drove a lemonade stand to Logan for me! He had little tiny paint dots alllll over his car for proof before we sold it!
Our kids have been the biggest part of our together dreams when it comes to business. We talk about it often – these sweet boys truly are our work hard motivator! When BROTHER reached out to partner for Lemonade Day activities do you know what I did? Yep, you guessed it. I cried. We have come full circle. In honor of Lemonade day, we got to sit down as a family + plan out our very own LEMONADE STAND! We drew out our business model, invented the lemonade flavors with funny stories that mean something to our family, Jonah drew the logo, Rigg wrote the name + our dream booth as a family. It was such a fun night, you should try it with your family! (And read to the end for details on how to enter your family into the Brother’s and Lemonade Day’s Best Stand Design Content)! Brother and Lemonade day will be choosing 3 winners!
Parents can help their kids submit lemonade stand designs here through Lemonade Day. Brother and Lemonade Day are choosing 3 winners, in 3 different age categories + each winner gets a $100 gift card to potentially help build out their lemonade stand dreams! Join with our family in teaching your kids to about entrepreneurship!
Here are a few basic business tips to help your children succeed:
GOALS : this is the one we are the most passionate about. GOALS ARE EVERYTHING. Goals are one thing that really stood out to me when I met Jon. He’s motivated, disciplined + determined to succeed. I’ve seen him cry like 4 times + one was holding our son Jonah in the hospital for the first time. A SON! And he hasn’t stopped teaching him the ways of working hard, being honest, + setting goals since that first day. We set yearly goals + monthly goals + share our highs + lows (sweets + sours) at dinner as a family each night. We try to stick with a basic thermometer graph to chart the course for whatever we are focusing on. Notice the lemonade cup printable? They got to color another step as we went through to design our business model. It’s a good object lesson as they see alllll the little things fill up the bucket + help us crush the end goal. It’s important to work backwards! If the goals are too big without a plan of attack – they won’t be as likely.
ATTENTION: Giving our kids the tools, doesn’t have to mean a budget or physical things. It’s taking the time to sit down with them – to talk through their hesitations. To let them know that they are loved no matter what. The business world is changing so much, they will pressure themselves naturally – I hope to be a soundboard + an unattached support system. Jon + I are in the thick of the grind, trying to grow 3 businesses between the 2 of us. But our family is the most important.
CONSISTENT TRUTH: I think hard working kids are harder to come by these days. It’s also hard as a parent not to just make your kid’s life utterly comfortable when you have the means to. I work 2 days a week from the office + have times during the day where I’m un-reachable to anyone outside of our home. I often bring the boys to meetings + they help empty the garbage, break down recycling + they’ve had their fair share of pulling orders. They help mop the basketball floor in Jon’s office after we play. They know how to change the oil in their motorcycles (or are currently learning) + they always order their own plates at restaurants. We don’t talk badly about people in our home. We have a Parrish Family Code + we say it every night before bed. THE LITTLE THINGS ARE THE BIG THINGS. They will remember how you made them feel before they remember what you said. Get scrappy + get down on their level. They are watching more than we think. Don’t shy away from the sweets + sours of life OR the sweets + sours of business. xx
As much as we wish we could hit the ground running with our newly designed plans, we know that the world is a little different. We had so much fun designing a lemonade stand + we plan take these little dreams to the next level in our new neighborhood. Design a stand with your kids this week! It was such a fun quarantine activity to do together at home.
