Tiny home accommodations, a water park, 4 pools, a lazy river, splash pad, putt putt course, sports courts, dog park, a jumping pillow for kids, beach volleyball, arcade, mini bowling, fitness center, beach shuttle transportation and scheduled events/activities for all ages? Such a place exists and it’s just a short drive from North Carolina.
Located in Conway, SC, Carolina Pines is a beautiful RV Resort. But wait, you don’t have to have an RV to stay. There are 4-5 types of cottages (aka, tiny homes) you can rent that will accommodate families (handicap accessible is available).
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As someone who grew up camping on many family vacations from beaches to the mountains, this was taking that experience to the next level.
Our first trip was in 2021. We went in late April as a surprise for our oldest’s birthday. Picking up our son a little early from school just to tell him we were going on a surprise family birthday trip is such a fun memory for me. Having never heard of the place, he didn’t know what was coming.
Our boys are busy bodies. From sun up to sun down, there isn’t much time of rest and for that reason, I opted we didn’t rent a golf cart and packed their scooters. I’m so thankful we did this because the tiny home rental was just a short walk from the main attractions. There are bike racks all over the resort for kids to park scooters and bikes.
Our first two trips to Carolina Pines had perfect weather so we were able to enjoy all of the amenities. Check-in is at 3PM; however, you can arrive early and pay a small fee to enjoy the resort amenities. The Welcome Center is beautifully decorated and has very nice bathrooms that you can quickly change into your bathing suits after you check-in. Personally, I recommend arriving early if you can. This will give you an opportunity to drive around the entire property to familiarize yourself with where everything is and make a plan for what you want to do first.
Your days will be filled with so many memories from all they have to offer. On the go kids will love the main waterpark attraction, pictured here.
Newly added are these two plunge slides and a large lazy river.
The waterpark, putt-putt and bouncy pillow all open at 10AM. Sports courts are always open.
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The Serenity Pool has a hot tub, lap pool, and one additional pool with chair loungers in a shallow pool. In our visits, this pool is not as busy and somewhat relaxing if you need to take a break from the waterpark.
Should you have rain impede on your plans, I suggest making the trip to Ripley’s Aquarium. It is just a short drive and will provide hours of entertainment. The shark tunnel alone was amazing.
A couple of tips when planning your visit:
Note the dates of when the waterpark is open and closed for the season.
Pack snacks, basic needs for making poolside lunches (bread, deli meat/cheese, PB&J, fresh fruit), ziplock bags, and possible meals for grilling as each home has charcoal grills.
Things you’ll need for grilling that are easy to pack, lighter, small bag of charcoal, and roasting skewers for marshmallows over the fire pit. If you’d rather, the general store at the resort has these items.
Coffee drinkers, pack filters and coffee. Each home has a coffee pot but you will have to provide the filters and beans for that cup of joe.
Pack basic needs for the pool: towels, sunscreen, puddle jumpers if needed, etc.
Pack sound machine & pack n play for the littlest ones.
Plan ahead. You can get a better deal and have more options of availability if you book well in advance. The homes book quickly!
Be prepared to plan a return visit! We’ve had so many friends and family visit Carolina Pines after we fist went based on our recommendation and they’ve since been back many times.
If you have specific questions about what home may accommodate your family best, I’ll be happy to try and help you make that decision.
One final recommendation while you’re at Carolina Pines. Try dinner at Ella’s, located in Calabash for a traditional seafood meal. It was a childhood favorite for my husband which he was thrilled to introduce the boys to. Easy to say they were happy.
Comment if you have been to Carolina Pines and any tips you may have learned on your visits.
What was once an item listed on our project list, the powder room, it quickly became an active project when my husband walked into the garage and returned inside with a hammer and crowbar. He took to a corner in the bathroom and began an attempt at removing 1/4 round and baseboards. All I needed to get going on this particular project was him taking that first step and saying “let’s start checking off these projects.”
DIYs are fun but now with 3 kids, we have to be strategic in planning when we can tackle projects -between his work travel and kid schedules.
Goals for this project:
Try to be budget friendly, afterall, it is just a powder room
Source a local company to fabricate a new granite countertop for the existing vanity. This granite was going to the dump, and we scooped it up!
Find new faucet, lighting and accessories
Add vertical shiplap
Fresh coat of paint
Project Mood Board
You can find links to the lights, hardware, and faucet here, Product Links. The final faucet we went with can be found here. We have been very pleased with it. In fact, I installed it apart from connecting the drain to the p trap. I’m thankful for my dad who came over to connect them and teach me how they work.
First we demoed by taking out all 1/4 round, baseboards, disconnecting the water supply and removing the vanity.
We ended up having to purchase this set to help in removing the 1/4 round and baseboards. Even still, it proved to be challenging because the installers used 3 inch nails which is excessive in my opinion.
As you can see, the before was just “blah” and didn’t fit our style at all. As for the layout of the bathroom, we would have never designed it this way but we had to work with it.
After the space was cleared out, I painted the top 1/4 section of the walls White Dove and the crown molding, and ceiling. Then we added in new baseboards, 1×8 primed pine as the MDF was limited for us.
After baseboards and paint, we added a 1×4 piece of trim that was our finishing cap and would act as the point where we measured for each vertical shiplap board.
At this point in the project, I had also switched out the light fixture but had not yet purchased new light bulbs that were a softer lume.
Once we both cut down our shiplap to size for our first wall, I painted the edges of each piece prior to nailing them to the wall. As I did this, my husband marked the studs on the walls.
As paint was drying on the walls, I decided to update the existing vanity and strip the brown stain. I saw this inspirational photo which solidified my decision. Our granite was very similar in coloring.
I first tried a couple rounds of oven cleaner as stripper but I didn’t love the results. You can see the beginning process in the left photo. Next, I went the route of Citri Strip and it did much better. I also coated the doors with Citri Strip and wrapped them in plastic wrap to let them sit overnight before scraping off the product and stain. The result revealed a beautiful color that was very similar to what I was hoping for.
With a little grit, I cleaned up the corners to get it to match using steel wool and 220 grit sandpaper.
Where this vanity got tricky was the fact that I had to update the side panels. They were not made of real wood but had a veneer finish; therefore, stipping them of stain wasn’t an option. I had to replace the side panels with new 1/2 inch sheets of plywood. We were out of scrap wood that met the size requirements so I purchased 2×4 sheets from Home Depot and cut those down to size. Without using a table saw, I used a guide, clamps and my skill saw to trim it to size. I feel much more comfortable with this tool vs. a table saw.
This also allowed me to try out my new router tool to create a ledge for the cabinet shelf to rest in, just as it did on the original side panels. This was such a fun tool to use. I look forward to future projects when we can try out different bits that it came with.
After the new side panels were cut to size and the ledge routed, I had the task of matching the stain to the stripped down vanity color. I did this with a combination of Special Walnut, watered down white paint as a white wash, and Dark Walnut. I ended up doing 2 more additional coats of dark walnut to darken it up more and found the perfect match.
After stain, the side panel was attached with wood glue and 1 inch brad nails. I then finished it off with 1 coats of clear Matte Polycrylic. This is my favorite poly and is easy to work with. Tip: Between coats, you have to use 220 grit sandpaper to get the smoothest finish.
Check out the progression of adding the vanity back into the space, the counters, doors, faucet and new handle pulls.
Adding in the finishing touches was one of my favorite parts. To fill the dead corner space, I found this giant snake plant at Home Depot for $22! The plant stand was an awesome find at Marshalls.
My favorite piece is the room is this watercolor lily. It was a gift to my grandparents by one of their church members. They had is framed by a local business who made a special pocket on the backside to hold the card that was handwritten and included with the art. The special note is a reminder of the impact they had on so many lives and that motivates me to live life to the fullest.
Before we look at the completed space in its entirety, let’s remember where we started again:
What do you think about the Powder Room transformation? Would you believe it was completed for less than $600? Most of that cost went to lumbar because we went with primed pine vs primed MDF.
I hope this inspires you to make the most of your space and transform it with a little paint and a little elbow grease. The before and after can be exactly like your mood board.
Let’s be honest, buying for your significant other can sometimes be the hardest thing. At least in my case, my husband is one who rarely shops or needs anything but when he does want something, he goes out and buys it. It is usually right before a special occasion too.
Does this sound familiar to you also?
When we celebrated our 9 year anniversary last October, I wanted to find a date night experience that went along with a traditional gift for a 9 year anniversary. Traditional gifts include either pottery/willow and modern gifts of leather.
I’ve always wanted to have a hands on experience making pottery pieces. After doing some research of local potters and studios, I found one who was able to accomodate my workshop request. Not only did she accommodate, she went above and beyond to make our date night a fun and memorable experience.
I met Caitlin of Porch Dog Pots at a local market that I was also attending as a vendor.
Aren’t these pieces beautiful?
Caitlin had us each choose a piece of pottery that we wanted to customize. That was hard to do because we loved all of the options. Ultimately, I went with a platter and my husband choose a thumbprint tumbler.
I also knew I wanted my platter to be stamped with our wedding date in Roman Numerals. Caitlin created custom stamps to accommodate this request. My husband wanted to stamp his mug with a Lab, representative of our beautiful chocolate lab, London.
We had the opportunity to throw clay, form a new mold, carve into clay, stamp sample pieces, ink on the bottom of our pieces, ect. Caitlin was so very patient with us as we practiced & messed up molds. She was prepared and brought multiple pieces in the event we did mess up but also, she taught us the beauty in working with clay is that you can sometimes work it to hide the mistakes and fix the problem.
Walking away from our date night, my husband grabbed my hand and said he had the best time and thanked me for everything. That my friends is success when the man your buying for needs nothing! It was an evening we won’t forget and we will always be reminded of it each time we use our customized pieces.
This date night could be a great option for Valentine’s that is coming up. A potter may not be able to accomodate on such short notice but you may be able to give a giftcard for the experience for a future date!
I hope this idea helps you in planning fun and memorable date nights with your significant other!
If at all possible, I highly recommend traveling to Disney in or around January. In the past three years, we’ve always had mild weather in the low 80’s to upper 70’s. While temps can dip below that in January, the averages are still lovely.
In addition to milder weather, the crowds aren’t nearly as bad as summer months when EVERYONE is traveling during summer breaks.
Lastly, most resorts run specials during this time. We were lucky to snag a deal at the Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Admittedly, we have been spoiled in the fact that we stayed at Disney’s Grande Floridian the 2 years prior. That wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for my husband having work obligations there.
What we love about both resorts, there is a running path connecting the two and a course you can run for additional mileage. Not to mention, it’s fun getting lost running around the resorts themselves. We also found the convenience of the monorail at these resorts ideal. With two little ones, it makes getting to places so much easier. You can also view the Magic Kingdom fireworks show nightly from each resort, music included as they have speakers projecting the full show for your enjoyment.
When considering where you’d like to stay, I highly recommend researching the cost to park a vehicle, sometimes at the resorts, but also at the parks you’ll be visiting. You may find it’s worth staying at a resort that is on the monorail.
You don’t need a car at Disney! When you stay at one of Disney’s resorts, you can sign up for Disney’s Magical Express, a bus service that takes you round-trip from the airport to your resort, for free. I understand why families do Disney. They make it so simple to travel with children without needing so many things. (No need for car seats on the buses.)
We booked flights with Southwest Airline points so that wasn’t a cost to us. If you have a credit card with rewards, check to see if your travels can benefit.
Tips for visiting Disney Parks on a budget:
Pack a bag solely dedicated to food. Snack items you and your littles enjoy such as flatbread rounds, peanut butter/almond butter and jelly, protein bars, ziplock bags, oatmeal, granola bars, fresh fruit, Chomps, raw nuts, cheez its, etc.
Pack paper plates, napkins, and bowls. They will be used in the hotel room.
Resorts have serving sized peanut butter, jellys, cream cheese, and plasticware at the cafe bars, for FREE.
Pack empty water bottles that you can fill up on resort.
Pack a compact/foldable cooler for your daily lunches and snacks in the parks. (Unless you have a stroller rental, see below, where it is included.) YES, parks allow them! They just check any bags and coolers thoroughly at security before entering.
Pack plenty of sanitizer, Clorox wipes and wet napkins.
Don’t hassle with packing a stroller. A friend of mine told me about Kingdom Strollers 3 years ago. It’s a stroller rental service that I cannot live without when doing Disney!
I’m excited to share Kingdom Strollers has provided me with a custom link for you to book your rental, HERE .
Cleanliness is my main care when renting. Three years renting with them, the stroller always looks brand new. They take pride in their process for sanitizing their strollers which you can read about on their site.
We always get the double Bob. Our most recent stay we reserved it for 4 nights, I added the insurance for $25 for the duration of the rental and paid around $90-100. To me, that’s worth not having to hassle bringing our own single stroller and having 2 kids fighting over who gets to ride. (Plus the risk of it getting damaged when checked at the airline.)
Also included are the drink holders, a cooler, and rain cover for the entire stroller. They deliver to your hotel and pick up from your hotel. You can also have it delivered to the airport! Their customer service is phenomenal. They’ve always been early for their deliveries, send convenient text reminders about your pick-ups and returns, and always have the friendliest staff to greet you. Need to cancel or change your reservation? They don’t penalize you and are happy to accommodate your requests.
Simple Tips for Planning:
Book your travel
Reserve your accomodations
Book your park tickets
Download the Disney app & easily link your reservations and tickets.
Determine which parks you are visiting which day then reserve your 3 Fast Passes (per person)
Tip: After you use your 3 Fast Passes, you can book additional reservations for more rides in the same day. Keep this in mind when planning out your day because you won’t have access to additional FPs until all reservations are completed.
Use the app to view showtimes for each park, parades happen throughout the days at Magic Kingdom and are always fun to enjoy. Plan to arrive a little early to get a good spot.
Use the app to view when buses are arriving at your resort to take you to each park.
Use the app to make dinner reservations. The character breakfast at Ohana at the Polynesian is popular. We experienced Chef Mickey our first trip. It was fun, but they are expensive. It’s an all you can eat buffet so we planned for it to be a late lunch to serve as our lunch and dinner that day. Their is also a character meal at The Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom. All of these options can be accessed via the monograil. Chef Mickey is in The Contemporary Hotel and can be accessed by monorail or the walking path from Magic Kingdom.
Once basic reservations are made, you can make an itinerary. I make a loose schedule and allow for the day to happen in lieu of holding to a tight schedule. That’s just not fun for anyone.
A Suggested Schedule:
Magic Kingdom – Day 1
Hollywood Studios – Day 2
Animal Kingdom – Day 3
I recommend this order because Magic Kingdom is a heavy walking day with the most rides. It is truly magical from the moment you walk in.
We discovered that Fantasyland in Magic Kingdom isn’t as busy first thing in the morning. Arrive when the park opens, ride Dumbo, The Barnstormer, Meet Donald, Goofy, Daisy and Minnie Mouse at Pete’s Silly Slideshow (short lines at this time), make a FP reservation for “it’s a small world”, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The Mad Tea Party and Carousel are always fun too.
There is a nice shaded boardwalk that surrounds Tom Sawyer’s Island. It’s about this time in the day when the kids are ready for a snack and we let them enjoy a Mickey Ice Cream after.
Our boys always love The Jungle Cruise. Try to make a FP reservation for this ride also.
*Tip – If you’re traveling with a little one that is too short for a ride, a cast member will offer you a Ride Swap. They scanned our bands to allow for my husband and I to take turns riding with our oldest and also gave us FP to make this swap happen quickly. This is available at any of the parks.
Be sure to catch one of the park parades and shows in front of the castle. The muppet show in Libertyland is also fun to watch. Both also provide an opportunity for rest. There is a nice faux grassy lawn area in front of The Crystal Palace & Casey’s Corner where we have enjoyed our picnic lunch and the parade at the same time.
*If traveling with a baby and/or a child with sensory sensitivities, there is a Baby Care Center in this same area. Read about the facility resources here.
Plan to make Magic Kingdom an all day experience and include the night show at the castle.
Day 2 at Hollywood Studios is kind of a chill day. Make your FP reservations for the Slinky Dog Roller Coaster and Alien Saucers.
*There is a beverage cart in the line for the Slinky Dog Roller Coaster – adult beverages included.
If you’re a Star Wars fan, we were told you need to get there at opening if you want to experience Rise of the Resistance. There are only so many slots they can accomodate for the day. Once you get your booking time and they are all reserved, there will not be another opportunity. We’re not followers of Star Wars but we were blown away by the expansion of Galaxy’s Edge. You might as well have been in the movie, it was unreal!
There are so many great shows at Hollywood Studios, Frozen, Beauty & the Beast, 3-D Muppet Show, and Indiana Jones just to name a few.
Day 3 at Animal Kingdom is also another pretty chill day. Be sure to make a FP reservation for the Kilimanjaro Safari, an up close encounter with African wildlife you won’t believe.
We went straight to the Tree of Life when we first arrived and were able to walk straight into the It’s a Bug’s Life show. You can look at the available showtimes for this online. From there, we had a 10-11AM FP arrival time for The Lion King, a must.
If you are in need of a little extra coffee, there is a Starbucks called “Creature Comforts” on the way into Africa. Drinks are allowed in the Lion King Show.
Make a FP reservation for The Lion King. We didn’t have any inclination as to what this show would be like but it blew us away. There are times when the cast members are interactive with the audience. If you want your littles to have the possibility of standing alongside a showman, try sitting on the edge of a row.
After the show, we made our way to Rafiki’s Planet Watch. There, we hopped on a train that had views of some African wildlife, Ostrich, Elephant, etc. Once we arrived, we enjoyed a nice shaded path to a fun petting yard for little ones.
I also recommend exploring the other trails in Africa. You will see so much wildlife, it’s as if you’re at a dedicated zoo.
Up! is a fantastic show. Our boys are lovers of nature so they enjoyed the interactive show and close encounters with real life birds. We didn’t realize this show was so interactive. If you want to be a part of the show, try to sit on the end of the rows in the middle two sections. I won’t give away the surprise, but just know it’s REALLY COOL.
You’ll also find 2 rides in Asia, Everest and the Rapids. FP reservations would be good to have.
The River of Lights show is now open and a wonderful evening show to experience before leaving the park for the day. Either arrive early or make a FP reservation. Might I also suggest you choose seating with easy access to the exit.
We spent our last day poolside at the resort and loved the time to decompress and relax after all of the park excitement. We were lucky to have warm weather and enjoyed the pool everyday we were there. The kids in particular loved the slides at the main pool. I admit, they were fun!
Because our Disney Magical Express didn’t depart until 4:30, we had a full day poolside. We retrieved our bags from the bell service with plenty of time to change into clothes for the trip home.
Time together as a family and making unforgettable memories was so special. The ear to ear smiles our boys kept on their faces the entire time, the open mouthed laughs of excitement on rides, saying “yes” when they wanted the Mickey Ice Creams, the best bedtime stories told by daddy each night, and extra snuggles and love from the boys are all things I will never forget.
Valentines is my second favorite holiday. Perhaps it’s because my birthday falls 2 days after the day of love or the fact that I now realize I love the color pink, but I find so much joy in what the day brings.
Making the day special for your significant other, your children and your children’s classmates can be fun. It can also be a little stressful if you have an allergy kid like we do. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get a little anxiety over the treats our peanut allergy boy may receive and fear he may come in contact.
This allergy friendly Valentine treat made to look like a piece of candy will sure make for some happy kids. The Made Good granola bars are also free from the top 8 allergens and are in fact, delicious!
I created a simple printable available in two color schemes, neutral & traditional Valentine, that you can download for FREE by clicking, VALENTINE PRINTABLE.
Also included is a printable made to fit an 8×10 frame for a simple Valentine decor addition to your home.
If you want to create this same Valentine treat, below you’ll find a list of materials needed.
1 box of Made Good granola bars – found in the Valentine section of Target (It’s a 30 count for $6.99.)
1 bundle of tissue paper that you will cut down to size – slightly larger than the mini granola bars to allow for extra space for tying off the ends
String, yarn or ribbon that you may have at home
Printed Valentine tags, cut and hole punched to easily attach to the treats
I’d love to see how you make these tags work for your Valentine giftables. Be sure to tag @4havenssake on Instagram & Facebook where I will reshare all ideas for others to see as well.
The key to a successful month commiting to the requirements of Whole 30 is to set the goal with friends, a family member and your spouse/significant other.
Last January, my womans small group and a close friend of mine, Ashley, committed to trying Whole 30. For some it was the first time ever and for others, it wasn’t. Ashley really helped me to kick things off with a bang because she’s one heck of a meal planner, including planning for left overs from dinners, and had recently completed Whole 30 so had so many recipe recommendations.
It’s my hope that this can be a resource for you if you’re considering to do Whole 30. Pinterest can be overwhelming with ideas, all of which require different ingredients. My list of favorite recipes will help to streamline your meal planning and take the burden off of buying so many ingredients that can really add up.
It is important to understand what you CANNOT have for the duration, apart from no alcohol, grains, dairy, added sugars, other ingredients need attention when you’re grocery shopping. I’ve never known how much sugar was added to SO MUCH of what we buy. For example, meats, bacon, sausages, etc. There’s no need to add sugar to meat, manufacturers. Let me tell you, compliant Whole 30 bacon is so much better.
I benefited from this lifestyle and saw my carpal tunnel symptoms disappear completely by the end of the first 2 weeks. Most of the things you cannot have on Whole 30 are inflammatories.
Focus on simple ingredients you can cook with and should have as staples. This can be done for relatively cheap now that most groceries, including Walmart, stock them.
Buy:
Tapioca Starch (optional unless you tackle the casserole recipe below)
Coconut Aminos (Trader Joes for less than $3)
Rice Wine Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar
Garlic
Almond Butter (Costco – It’s also Peanut Free and huge in volume for $8)
Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
Ghee
Nutritional Yeast
Coconut Oil
Olive Oil
Primal Mayo
Compliant Salad Dressings – Primal Kitchen and Tessa Mae’s
Nut Pod’s Creamer – Vanilla is my favorite, Hazelnut is second. Can be found at most groceries now
I also recommend you buying TRUE ROOTS by Kristin Cavallari. I wish I had this cookbook prior to starting whole 30 because it has more than 100 recipes free of gluten, dairy, and refined sugar.
Below I’m listing out our favorite Whole 30 Recipes, 95% of them we have kept in rotation after the 30 day commitment where we’ve maintained an 80/20 lifestyle. (Holidays aside, okay?)
Hands down our favorite Whole 30 Recipe. For the chili sauce drizzle, I use Primal Mayo, Franks Red Hot Sauce, and garlic powder to taste. (Thanks to the suggestion from my friend, Ashley.) I also like to stretch our money and find that buying a head of purple and green cabbage each will let you cook this meal 2-3 times vs. buying bagged cabbage.)
Sweet Potato Hash from True Roots cookbook
I substitute out the breakfast sausage and apple for compliant Chicken Apple Sausage (which you’ll find in multiple recipes i’m suggesting)
This recipe is almost identical, just add 1 heaping cup of kale (stems removed) and cook until wilted as the final step.
Chicken Apple Sausage Stir-fry from the kitchen of Ashley
1 package of chicken apple sausage, cut into slices
1 large vidalia onion (or yellow), sliced
1-2 bell peppers
1 tbsp of coconut oil/olive oil
2 gloves of garlic minced
Trader Joes Sauerkraut
Add oil, onion, bell pepper, garlic to a large skillet. Cook until fork tender and/or onions are translucent. Add in sliced sausage and cook until warm.
Serve in a bowl and top with 1-2 tbsp of sauerkraut
Marinated Grilled Turkey Tenderloin
2 compliant tenderloins (1 package from Trader Joes)
1 tbsp of Dijon Mustard
2 cloves of minced garlic
1/4 cup of rice wine vinegar
2-3 tbsp of coconut aminos
Add all ingredients to a gallon ziplock back, allow to marinate all day until grilling. Pair with Roasted vegetables, cauliflower veggie rice, sauteed asparagus.
Loaded Veggie Rice
Grate 1/2 head of cauliflower (After this is prepped, it can be frozen to make it easy to cook when needed in the future.)
Add olive oil to a skillet with 1/2 bag of frozen peas and carrots and any additional veggies you may have on hand that are family favorites. Cook for 5-8 minutes then add in grated cauliflower.
Season with minced garlic, seasalt and pepper.
Add protein – either cooked shrimp or leftover turkey tenderloin
Chicken Fajitas – in lettuce boats or over Salad – From my kitchen
6 chicken tenderloins, sliced thin
1 large onion sliced
1-2 Bell Peppers sliced (we like to use 1 green and 1 red)
For Fajita Seasoning:
Mix 2 tbsp of olive oil, 1 tbsp of chili powder, 1 tsp of cumin, 2 cloves of minced garlic, a few shakes of chili pepper flakes, a few shakes of paprika, sea salt and pepper, mix in a bowl and add to a skillet of all ingredients mentioned above. Cover and simmer on med-low until chicken is cooked thoroughly.
Meanwhile, make my famous guac.
2 ripe avocados
Juice of 1 lime
1-2 cloves of garlic
Sea Salt to taste
Fresh Cilantro – Mix and mash all ingredients until blended.
Serve fajita mix in salad boats or over a bed of mixed greens and top with fresh guac and fresh cilantro
BBQ – From the kitchen of Ashley
Kirkland pulled pork (it’s compliant), top with Tessa Mae’s BBQ Sauce
Slaw mix from Trader Joes – mix with vinegar, Primal Mayo, and seasoning to taste
Top bbq with slaw
Serve alongside roasted diced sweet potato
Breakfast Casserole
6-7 eggs
Handful of spinach
Bell pepper & Onion for a Western Style (top with Franks Red Hot and avocado slices once cooked…so good.)
Any left over veggies you have on hand
Seasalt, pepper to taste
Bake in pie dish at 350 until center is firm. Aprox 20-25 min. Cut into pie slices and eat for breakfast each morning.
Hardboiled Eggs & Prosciutto
This one is as easy as it sounds for breakfast. Find compliant prosciutto at Costco in bulk, wrap 1/2 piece around an egg and enjoy. I like to top each bite with Frank’s Red Hot. (I put that ___ on everything)
Another tip, look at your family favorite recipes and determine if they can be made compliant with different ingredients. ie- My homemade spaghetti sauce can be made compliant by purchasing canned goods that don’t have added sugars and served over a bed of zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash.
Keep meals simple. Grill or bake protein & serve with fresh vegetables. Use leftover protein over a salad for lunch the next day.
Best of luck to you. I know you can be successful!
As a small business owner, I fully understand the impact of shopping small and having the support of your local community and the community that can be built online.
My favorite holiday guide is below along with sales/promos these businesses may be offering during Small Business Saturday.
If you have not already attended a local maker/vendor market in your community, I encourage you to look up a schedule of events happening this Holiday Season. Attending as a vendor is always the highlight of owning a small business. It is a way to connect with customers face to face & discover other amazing artisans in the community.
The Homestead Haven – Offering 30% off on Small Business Saturday. Specializing in curated & meaningful home decor items. A portion of all proceeds is donated to a charitable cause each quarter. The gift that keeps on giving. Shop the Together is our favorite place to be, as pictured, and other favorited items.
Elle Woods Co. – Beautiful reclaimed home decor which can also be customized. Each piece is unique and skillfully curated with so much passion and an eye for design. Shop her shirts & sweatshirt sale going on now.
Pierce & Hide – Leather earrings & statement jewelry. Small Biz Saturday – Buy 2 get 1 Free. This mom boss is a total inspiration! Not only does she strive to offer affordable & beautiful jewels, she has used her shop to help others in need by offering special sales and then donates to charitable causes. This B2G1 sale is a great way to shop for others & treat yourself at the same time!
Greenhouse Picker Sisters – Specialty events and styling. One visit to their warehouse for a Galentine’s event with Restored for Moms, I knew they were my kind of people. Their selection of decor that you can choose from your event is un-believable! Prepare to be in awe of their stunning creations. If you’re in need of an event planner, they are your gals.
Honor & Grace – Beautiful special collection handcrafted bows for girls (mamas too). Two mom bosses who are spreading so much goodness with their curated goods & positive messages found in their posts.
Porch Dog Pots – Locally made (NC) ceramics. They are SO beautiful! Having recently spent time with Caitlin for a special anniversary date night with my husband, I can attest to the craft involved in curating these beautiful pieces. She went above and beyond to make our workshop special. Find her at local holiday markets here in NC.
-I’ll be sharing a blog post on how you can give the gift of experience with your spouse to celebrate an anniversary involving the traditional gift of pottery.
Herban Roots – Crafted organic skincare that bridges the gap between luxury and natural efficacy. Did I mention she’s a total mom boss?! Upon opening my Everything Salve, I was transported to memories at the spa. The fresh scent and quality product has become part of my daily regime. They have everything you need to start/end your day with a pure skincare regime.
Confetti Scout Gifts – So many sales and free shipping available in her shop! Owner, Jill, and mom boss, is ALL about spreading HAPPINESS & LOVE through our unique, handmade Confetti Art, and decor! One visit to her shop and you will have all. the. feels of happiness & love.
Freshly Pressed– Custom SANTA LETTERS for your littles?! Need I say more? Oh but her shop offers so much more. See her post (Santa letter as pictured above) for a chance to win a letter from Santa, a coupon for 20% off custom stationary and qualify for a giveaway of a half-dozen box of Christmas cookies by @ohsugarcookiecompany! Custom stationery – letterpress, design, and calligraphy. One visit to her Instagram and you’ll want to redo your wedding all over again just to have her customized invitations.
Linden Handcrafted– 20% off with code Thankful20. Hand-casted concrete products that are repurposeful. Their all natural soy scented candles are divine! I’m currently burning the Blue Spruce which smells like Christmas. Once burned completely, the mold can be used as a planter! How cool is that?! They also offer unique home decor goods. If you love a good candle & also love adding new plants to your home, you will want to shop these small batch products.
The Grinch made me do it. Who knew our traditional Friday family movie night would result in my favorite Christmas decor addition in our home? Contrary to the Grinch’s view of Christmas, the movie put me in the Christmas spirit early which I’m not complaining about. Whoville is so whimsical and unique which inspired me to doodle a few Christmas trees.
A few doodles later, I then turned them into a printable with a imple Christmas saying that I wanted to share with others. If you like to add simple holiday decor to your home, you can download the printables below.
These are made to fit an 8×10 frame and/or a 5×7 matte for an 8×10 frame if you wish to add a layered look to the frame.
I’d love to see how you style your printable. Be sure to comment on this post how you plan to use it and also tag @4havenssake on Instagram and Facebook!
Let’s be honest, if you have kids and/or nieces and nephews, kids bring new life back into Christmas. I can remember the first Christmas our first born was old enough to understand the meaning of Christmas and Santa. The pure shock and excitement on his face as he peered into the living room from the upstairs loft and then squealed “Wow! Santa came!”, is something I will never forget.
Now our boys are ages 5 & 3 so I predict this year might be one of the best Christmases yet.
I’ve gathered some of their favorite toys in the below gift guide that I hope will help with your gift giving this year. Below the image are labeled items with links I’ve sourced for the best deals at the time. Also included are a few items not pictured that are great gift ideas.
Magic Sketch Pad – Works well for carefree doodling and a learning tool with the interchangeable inserts.
Kindle Fire HD for Kids– Easily download learning apps, have access to Prime movies when traveling all while your little one can easily hold their very own tablet because of the easy grip cover.
Strider Balance Bike– I kid you not, our oldest went straight from this bike to a big boy bike without training wheels or assistance. I nervously was forced to let go as he confidently said “I’ve got it mom, let go!” Then off he went around our cul de sac. We cannot say enough about starting your little off with one of these bikes.
3 Wheel Scooter– The three wheels are much easier to learn on. Another go-to favorite for both of our boys.
Magic Tracks with Remote Control Car – Options to build and change the tracks with easy to snap pieces. The best part about this one, they glow in the dark and the car has headlights. This toy has provided hours of entertainment for our boys. Highly recommend!
Dance Ribbon Streamers – We first saw these at our downtown music events. The family shared ribbons with our boys which then provided endless entertainment as they twirled ribbons, danced and made new friends. Great stocking stuffer idea also.
Magna Tiles – Hands down worth the investment. You can add on with other Magna tile bundles at anytime making this a gift that lasts for years. Our oldest has made some of the most impressive builds with these. They allow for your children’s imagination to run wild. Smaller start kit can be found HERE.
Dig It Up Eggs – Fun activity on a rainy day or a perfectly sunny day spent outside.
Fishing Pole – This has been the perfect starter pole for our kiddos (Spider Man themed of course). The rubber fish bait is a perfect weight for them to cast and reel back in before the real hooks and bait are added to the line for actual fishing.
Golf Clubs – This has been requested from Santa this year. Based on research, these appear to be a great starter set.
Golf Shoes – A great addition if your little is serious about the sport and taking lessons.
Ride on Plasma Car – Fun for all. We have had family friendly races down the driveway on two of these. You must get one for each kiddo.
Step 2 Roller Coaster – A fun activity to set up on a sunny day, birthday parties, and when friends are over for playdates.
Nature Bound Bug Catcher – Our boys love the outdoors and catching bugs. I like that this bug vacuum keeps the bugs from their hands. The chamber can be closed off then attached to the bug box lid, reopening the chamber for the bug to enter safely into the box.
Saucer Swing – fun and relaxing swing the kids love.
Walkie Talkies – Again, another toy that has provided hours of entertainment. Not to mention, it’s fun for parents to join in the fun.
Little Tikes Trampoline – A great way for the littles to burn energy when outdoor play isn’t always the option. We have ours on the screened in porch as the weather has been fairly mild this Fall.
Here’s to hoping you and yours have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Shopping for my husband & other men in my life (my dad, father-in-law, etc) has never been easy. They always seem to have it all because they typically buy when they need/want something leaving the gift-giving task more of a challenge.
I’ve put together some of my husband’s favorite items that I hope will serve as a starting point for you as you create your shopping lists.
Patagonia Better Sweater Vest– Both Stylish and warm, this vest will keep your man warm when you don’t need the full coat. It also layers well under a jacket for extra body warmth.
Patagonia Nano Puff Vest– Because vests are best and keep you warm. They are favorites of ours as NC winters are somewhat mild. Worn solo or layered with a jacket.
Magnetic Car Mount for Phone – Great stocking stuffer. Provides safety and keeps the phone accessible while driving.
Bike Cleats – Needed with Cycling Shoes. Favorite cleat options of ours that make snapping in and out of pedals easy but a tight enough clip in that you won’t pop out without trying.
Suncloud Polorized Optic – (a Smith’s sunglass owned company and a fraction of the price) They are my husbands go-to with so many style options.
Carry-on Spinner Bag with USB – 4 wheels is the only way for a roller bag. A favorite for that traveling businessman in your life.
Gatemouth Toiletry Bag– Necessity to keep toiletry items together and easily accessible when traveling.
Weber 1200 Gas Grill – Compact, easy to travel with for tailgating or camping, small enough for a porch, and a great grill for perfect cooking. I personally love it because of the ease to lite it.
Grill Rolling Cart – Folds down flat for easy storing with your grill still locked int.
Bristle Free Grill Brush – No fear of bristles getting into your food with this brush. Cleans the grill better too.
Daniel Wellington Classic St. Mawes Watch – This watch looks great worn casually and with business attire. My husband loves this classic style and the thin face – no issues with the face getting caught on his shirt sleeves.
Personalized Monogram Watch Box – For the watch collector – personalized and a nice accent piece for your loved one to display his beloved watches.
DJI Drone – For the tech lover. My husband has had his for 3 years and loves that he can also navigate the drone via phone & ipad (for larger display screen). Takes wonderful pictures and videos.
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