Spring 2026 MINT Kitchen Accessories and Gadgets

If you are in the mood to brighten up your space for Spring 2026, here are a few fun Amazon Finds just for you! In this post, you may find a few affiliate links which could earn me a few % commission if you purchase these items through my links. This helps to keep this LWG blog going month to month.

Mint Kitchen design, photo source unknown.

If you can’t afford to paint your entire kitchen mint, below are some of my favorite Kitchen Accessories, easily found on Amazon with the links included below each product.

For example, this MINT colored mini fridge, below from ICEBOX brand is ONLY $139.00 on sale RIGHT NOW ON AMAZON! Grab yours here!

MINT / Pistachio colored KitchenAid Mixer, found on Amazon here, in TONS OF COLORS.

Well this is intriguing! Peel and Stick paper covering for shelves, cabinets and more. Love the natural woodgrain with the modern mint green color too. Find this super fun and unique product on Amazon from Livelynine for $29.99 for a 15.8x394in size roll.

Below is another mint colored refrigerator idea from Frigidaire.

Find this in many colors, on Amazon for $368.00.

You can never have too many oven mitts, and KITCHEN AID makes some of my longest-lasting kitchen items to date. Find yours here for only $17.99 for a set of 2.

This mint-colored can opener is also super cute, and would be easy to find in the “junk drawer” with such a cute color. Find yours here for only $11.99.

I never have enough sets of tongs, and here is a set of 2 that would be just PERFECT!! Find the Hotec Premium Stainless Steel Locking Kitchen Tongs with Silicon Tips, here on Amazon.

Hints of mint leaves and florals adorn this cute Shelf Liner. Get a roll of 17.5" x 360" for $46.99 by INNOLITES on Amazon.

This set of 7 pantry organizers would be another way to incorporate a pop of mint into your kitchen too. Find the set for only $23.99 on Amazon, from Alphx Innovations.

Set of 3 GLAD stacking mixing bowls are divine!!! Think of how cute these would be with cookie dough or cake batter inside. Find your set of bowls on Amazon, here. for only $14.99.

This mint and gold flatware set from Amazon is cute for daily meals, eating ice cream, and MORE. What a joy it would be to open my kitchen drawers and see THESE!!! JASHII Flatware set of 24 pieces, for only $29.99.

I have tossed out many of our plastic food containers, to opt into glass only. The seals are also usually better, and I can use them to heat and reheat food and other ingredients too. Opting for a matching set like the one above, helps ten fold when trying to save space in the cabinets, or when you are looking for a fitting lid - if they are all the same size, there will be NO confusion. Find your set of ten containers with lids on Amazon here for only $30.99.

This Nutribullet blender for smoothies would be great for those who like to make a smoothie to go! Wouldn’t we ALL?! Find yours today on Amazon for only $69, and you will be pleasantly surprised at just how easy cleanup is with these.

If you are in the market for some new glasses, try these cute and sturdy mint green glass ones from Koyal Wholesale on Amazon. Get a set of 6 for $29.99, perfect for Easter and beyond!!!

This Keurig K-Express MINT colored coffee maker would also make an adorable gift for any coffee lover. Find yours on Amazon here for only $69.99.

If YOU love mint as much as I do, then I hope you have enjoyed this post!! Let’s connect on Pinterest here!

The Orchid Show at Missouri Botanic Garden

For Mom’s 67th Birthday, Travis, the pups and I drove to STL to meet up with her and my sister, Ellen. We all had SUCH a great time, especially at the closing weekend of the MoBot Orchid Show. This was my first year ever attending. Travis had mentioned how amazing it was for years now, and finally, we found a weekend to attend. Even though it was raining and pouring, the indoor Orchid Show was a great bucket list item to check off the list. Also, I had the pleasure of utilizing the new Canon R8 DSLR camera that Travis got for us too. Learn more about the show on the Missouri Botanic Gardens website here.

Travis and I are on the lookout for our state’s NATIVE ORCHIDS OF ARKANSAS. There are over 30 species which we hiked for a tracked last year. This year, now that we have the camera, we are going to do it all over again!!!!! Follow along on our journey…

How In The World Do I Stay Healthy At A Desk Job?

If you are like me, sitting at a desk 40 hours a week gets a little sad and unhealthy. If you can gather form any of my previous posts about hiking and the outdoors, I am the type of person who LOVES moving around, being fit and active. Sometimes, being tied to a desk all day is NOT great for my health. I realize this is not my typical post style, but today, I just need to vent, I guess….To be honest, in a little over a year, I feel that my body is starting to give up on me…mentally and physically. The shape of my face and body have noticeably changed, and while yes I could agree that now at age 40, with my metabolism is slowing down that could be effecting me, but I have never had weight issues before, or anything like that. I never expected one year of mistreating my body like this would reign so heavily on me.. I am being open and honest here because I feel that many other women and men are in my same predicament. I am whole heartedly grateful for this position, but with little to no accessible places to hike within less than an hour from where we now live, my mind and body become a little frustrated in the whole situation. I sometimes call this me getting Stir Crazy…but I am not in a position to be able to get up and leave my desk very often, so I sit…and wait…

Rather than completely giving up, I try to maintain a healthy balance of “required” sitting in one place all day, with trying to compensate by either eating barely anything (and drinking only water) throughout the day, or trying to walk or hike after work every night humanly possible. Some days, I am too tired after work (tired and super sore/stiff muscles, from just sitting in one place all day on a computer or phone, believe it or not) to take the dogs on a walk. So, on those days, I also maintain a slightly sedentary life after work too. I never knew that sitting still could make one so tired. This is NOT A GOOD SIGN…I want to get ahold of this issue before it gets any worse.

Don’t get me wrong, Travis and I still push through being so absolutely tired every day after work. By 5pm, and still either drive an hour to the closest hiking area, or take the dogs on a walk in a nearby neighborhood in our town. But, somehow, the activity I can get in the very minimal 2-3 hours after work before we settle down, it is hard to fulfill all those needs. Yes, we could wake up an hour earlier, take a long walk and then start our day, but as much as I try, I am still not fully what you would consider a “morning person”. Also, where is the time to then also tidy up the house after work or before? PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME FIND A BALANCE… There are many times I miss living with a National Forest in my backyard, back in southern Illinois. If we ever have that opportunity to live near nature again, you had better believe I will be out there ALL THE TIME….no matter the weather.

If I joined a gym, I would either never use it, or feel completely terrible that our dogs are stuck at home even more to lay on the couch and not do anything. So, the only thing keeping me going is the hope that some…day… sooner or later, something gives. And, taking a pain reliever to simply cope with sore back and shoulders from sitting in one place all day, that would not be fair to inundate my body with chemicals just because I am not getting enough exercise. My poor dogs sit on the couch or sleep all but a few hours a day - also I am so sad for making them deal with this lifestyle most days, too. By Saturday morning, all I want to do now is to sleep or do nothing…that is unusual for me, since I THOUGHT I was someone who would rather be active than not….again, a change I am seeing in just one year’s time in myself, mentally and physically. The depression that goes along with all these racing thoughts is sometimes overwhelming too. WHAT CAN I DO?!!!

Thankfully the days are getting longer, it is staying light much later than the months before, and we are learning to just push through being so absolutely exhausted every day, and doing our best to stay healthy, BUT where is the balance now? The only local “active” job that I could fine here was at a grocery store and they paid very little per hour, and wanted only weekend hours from me, leaving me in worse shape financially and mentally than ever before. What would help me? I cannot find any more hours in the waking day…I also only sleep like 6.5-7 hours max, trying to utilize every hour, no matter what. Where do I find happiness now?

I am surely paying off my purgatory for something I did in my past life, by making sure I arrive to work on time every day and to not leave early ever. BUT, in all this time I have, sitting in one place, I would’ve hoped that by now I could figure out a better way to stay healthy, instead of spiraling into this odd fun and depression that comes with me sitting still and not being active enough, and likely not eating right anymore. WHAT SHOULD I DO? Please help, anyone…How do I balance the needs of my dogs and the needs of myself here?

DAILY SCHEDULE:

6:00am - WAKEUP, SHOWER, DRESS, HEAD TO WORK BY 7:45am

8:00am-1:00pm - WORK

1:00pm - 2:00pm - LUNCH (WALK DOGS IF POSSIBLE)

2:00pm - 4:30pm - WORK

5:00pm - ARRIVE HOME, clean, do dishes, laundry, or walk dogs until 7:30-8:00

7:30pm - finalize dinner, eat and watch TV until we go to sleep around 10:00pm. So, 2 hours or so, we "finally chill”), but some nights, I do not start relaxing until about 9:00pm, when I cannot stand up anymore.

So, for now I am struck on finding some way to compensate for all the sedentary time I am dealing with….

St. Patrick's Day Inspirations on Amazon

If you’re like me, St. Patrick’s Day symbolizes fun, festive decor, sweet treats, Spring temperatures, and perhaps a little Luck O The Irish! Whether you have a Pub Crawl to attend, a concert, a parade or after parties, below is a fun round up of thematic fun, sure to make you smile. If you know of any fun holiday events, drop a comment below.

My grandmother, Pat (short for Patricia) was born on St. Patty’s Day, so the day is always extremely special to me for that reason also. So, why not throw on some green, and no leprechauns will be able to give you a pinch LOL!! And to disclose, some of the links here are affiliate links, where I can get a very small % of the sale, to help keep this blog alive and well. Thanks for your support!!

St, Patty’s Day Costume Essentials and Accessories - Hat, Glasses, Earrings, and Necklaces - find this 6 piece set for only $25.99 on Amazon.

We have seen folks in these cute overalls at other events, and want a some for ourselves. Below, are some green and white, checkered overalls that would be so fun to sport on a sunny St. Patty’s Day!

Here is a fun option for the Men’s version of the checkered overalls. Find them on Amazon here for only $46.99.

A super easy and simple way to spruce up your attire for St. Patrick’s Day is to add some colorful sticky gems to your face, body and accessories! Update and bling out the most simple things to make for a one of a kind look. Find this 84 piece set for only $11.99 here.

Or, these fun green and white checkered flare jeans would be just as fun with a cute top or sweater. Find the Odefou Checkered Flare Jeans for Women, on Amazon here for only $38.99.

Wild Shades of Green Eyeliner are sure to stand out for the festivities! Find this SET OF 4 eyeliner pencils on Amazon for just $6.99!

Why not add some gemstones to your look, find them below.

MEICOLY St Patricks Day Accessories,Leaf Face Sticker Costume,St Patricks Day Temporary Tattoos for Kids Women,Clover Shamrock Stickers,Green Makeup Tattoo,Green Freckles Face Tattoo, 6Pcs, 2 Styles. Find this adorable accessory on Amazon for only $7.99.

Your inner child called, they said you and your crew needs these holographic gold fanny packs below…

Find these too-cool-for-school, holographic gold fanny packs on Amazon, set of 4 for only $24.99 for the set.

If you are in the drinking mood, grab a few of these can koozies in festive St. Patrick’s Day prints, found on Amazon here, 24 pieces for $21.00.

Why not enjoy some Leprechaun Kisses, in a festive green and silver wrapping, shown below.

A Few Ideas For Men on St. Patrick’s Day.

And here’s one for the guys - a 2 Piece Shamrock Suit - pretty classy if you ask me! Find this men’s suit for $69.99, here on Amazon.

For St. Patty’s Day or ANY DAY, try this fun Shamrock Baseball Cap, only $16.99 in various colors.

This unique, short sleeve button up is available in several Shamrock themed prints. Available up to size XL mens. Find yours on Amazon here for only $17.99, and you may just get LUCKY!!

Here’s another fun hat, with the trending upside down font in LUCKY. Find it here for only $22.99 in so many varieties.

These fun shorts could be worn for the holiday, for a St. Patty’s Day Pub Crawl or maybe even golfing. Find them up through Men’s size 2XL on Amazon here, for only $32.00.

Food Truck Love

Are you as inspired by adorable food or coffee trucks as I am? Here are a few amazing insta pages and others to follow NOW!

Above, read this article here: how she turned a cute, inexpensive camper into a weekend goldmine! https://www.thesun.kco.uk/fabulous/35316540/caravan-matcha-cafe-5-k-weekend.

Plus, I’ve been seeing these perfectly portioned 32 oz cups with lids that are walk-around ready (only $42.99 for a case of 240 cups) found here: https://www.webstaurantstore.com/choice-heavy-duty-32-oz-translucent-plastic-deli-container-and-lid-combo-pack-case. Just add some cute straws for instant gratitude.

BELOW, FOOD TRUCK INSTAGRAMS TO FOLLOW!!!

AND NOW FOR A LITTLE MORE INSPIRATION!!

Mardi Gras Outfit Inspirations 2026

Whether you’re attending a parade or just enjoying the celebration with your friends, here are a few festive and fun outfit inspirations for your 2026 Mardi Gras Celebrations! You can either go ALL OUT in the green/gold/purple color scheme or just sprinkle in glittery accents to enhance an already cute outfit.

Many of these images came from Pinterest without original sources listed. Many are saved to my page, so go ahead and check them out at www.pinterest.com/happysolez/pins! If you are the original content owner please let me know and I can credit you or remove them immediately!

Mardi Gras Sequin Jeans (Purple Pants from above) by SMASH Clothing Boutique.

Add a beaded top or sequin belt and a little flair to an all black base outfit.

Above, purple wigs are so fun and festive too.

Above, these classic Mardi Gras crewneck sweatshirts have just enough flair. Search for “More Glitter Ivory Fleur de Lis” on Frou Frou Frocks Boutique.

That’s a wrap, folks! Hope you gained a little bit of Mardi Gras 2026 inspiration!!!

Gingerbread Inspired Christmas

Looking for some whimsical and creative holiday decorating ideas? Look no further! Below you will find a fun assortment of gingerbread houses and other decor inspired by this cherished childhood tradition!

Above, the Sweet Savannah Hansel & Grettle House for only $1,021.00 on Horchow.com.

Above, Merry Church by The Cross Design.

Above, the Florist Shop in the European Shop Ornaments collection by Curated Home Decor.

Above, World Market has TONS of adorable ornaments under $20!

Below, this adorable website called Stacey & Travis Thread Mama has the most adorable ideas for you to see.

Below, this Handmade Clay Gingerbread House is just so pretty in pink. Find it on the Diana’s Handishop website.

Below, the three little glittery gems on the mantle come from an Etsy shop called CrankyCakesShop!

While the source of the image above is unknown, the image below was found on The Schoolhouse blog, and I could just look at the designs for hours, it’s so pretty!!

We hope you were inspired by this post, and i’m so intrigued by these miniatures that now I’m more eager than ever to create our Gingerbread house at home, next week! Happy Holidays!

Cute Sets Under $40 for Cold Weather Fashion

Matching sets are trending everywhere and now is your time to get a few new styles!! They’re so functional and will be comfy all day long, making them perfect for cooler temps ahead. All items found on TEMU app, found by searching “Women’s Set”.

What To Stream - November 2025

With Halloween season wrapping up, and the weather cooling DOWN, it's time to share a few of our favorite shows and series we are streaming now!

I Love LA is absolutely hilarious! A tight-knit friend group gathers after years apart, navigating the complexities of ambition, relationships, and how time has changed them. This show is filled with tons of off-color humor and i’m so glad I found this show! Watch on HBO Max.

VGLY on HBO Max. Despite having no money, contacts, or social standing, aspiring artist Vgly and his crew strive to break into the music business. Despite having no money, contacts, or social standing, aspiring artist Vgly and his crew strive to break into the music business. Watch on HBO Max.

Animal Kingdom leaves Netflix soon so be sure to watch the entire series ASAP! We were instantly hooked on this series about a surfer crime family of brother and their crime boss Mother, Smurf. Intense action and gorgeous Oceanside scenery makes this show one not to be missed!

Welcome to Derry on HBO Max! We started this series when it aired, beginning the week before Halloween. Before we indulged on the Derry stream, we also caught up on the other two current IT movies, also shown below. This show has been good, it could use a tiny bit more action scenes but it’s moreso telling the beginning history of the stories, based on the 50s. Love the cinematography and aesthetics of this one too!

Any good streaming suggestions? Leave them in ten comments below!

Jackson's Farm - Black Rock, AR

Cute family owned farm located in Black Rock Arkansas, offering activities, food and games for kids and families.

We visited the farm October 12, 2025 mid afternoon and it was well attended. We paid about $18 per person to enter, and everything in the entire farm was pay by card, which was great.

We took advantage of nearly every photo opportunity and even asked a few friendly patrons to shoot our photos.

Wow, the homemade lemonade was almost as tasty as my man looked!!

Pick your own bouquets reminded me of farms back in southern Illinois!

Memories of Barbie dreams as a little girl!

Dr. Seuss everything! Super cool!!

It was admittedly extremely hot throughout the day so we opted to hang under their giant overhang, providing the majority of the available shade on the property. Below, our saving graces…

We would definitely suggest this place to those who have children 10 and under, they would find endless activities to enjoy here.

Slow Cooker Italian Flank Steak + Ninja Foodie PossibleCooker PRO MC1010 - Slow Cooker Review

Last week, I compared an array of different slow cookers found on Amazon. We decided on the Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker PRO MC1010 ($129 on Amazon here: https://a.co/d/fxGOOg5).

Well, Travis told me to order whatever one I loved most, he is such a sweetheart! We made an excellent decision.

We compared all the current Ninja Slow Cooker models and while this one only came in Black, we still chose it due to Google review stating that the one that comes in cute colors was only half as powerful and only a little bit cheaper. While both the Ninja MC1010 and the MC1001 slow cooker models are 8.5qt, the more advanced cook and temperature settings made the choice easy!

Slow Cooker Flank Steak Ingredients:

2 lbs. Flank Steak

2 containers Pacific Organic Chicken Broth

Mozzetta Peperoncinis plus juice

1 packet Kinder’s Stew Seasoning

1 packet Fire & Stone Au Jus Seasoning

Above, the Kinder’s Stew Seasoning was new to us and made the meal taste great! Found at Kroger.

Instructions:

Set Ninja Slow Cooker to Low for 6 hours. Combine all ingredients in the pot and gently stir. I checked the mixture each hour and by hour 4.5-5, I very very carefully used heat proof tongs to pick up the piece of steak, shred it with a large fork and serrated knife, and then added it back to the Ninja Slow Cooker. I toasted the buns and served the delicious shredded flank steak on the buns with a side of homemade matched potatoes and a little more juice! Such a great first recipe made in our amazing new Slow Cooker!!

What shall we create next? Drop your ideas in the comments below!

20+ Halloween Snack Boards / Charcuterie Boards

Halloween is less than a week away (this Friday!!!) and I figured it would be the perfect time to share some of the most perfect Halloween Snack Boards found on Pinterest.

That’s a wrap! Hope everyone has an amazing Halloween week ahead!

Slow Cooker Comparisons

Here is my first thought since it's cute! $44.00.

https://a.co/d/bjaddDC

The one below in blue is $158.

https://a.co/d/2f4RS2w

Bella 6qt below. $39

https://a.co/d/dQudW6H

NINJA 8qt $129 below.

$88 below 4qt.

6qt below $234…

https://a.co/d/2e8zGBY

3.5qt $59

https://a.co/d/41bQjTO

Shinesty for Halloween

We love these boxers and underwear from https://www.shinesty.com! They use soft, luxurious fabrics that offer a very funny take on Halloween and could be worn well beyond too! What fun gifts these would make for that humorous Halloween-lover in your life!

They even have boy shorts for women.

20+ Savory & Sweet Halloween Food Ideas for Adults

Not every Halloween recipe needs to be sweet, so try one of the ideas below to tempt your guests into eating something spooky and new this Halloween season! These unique dishes are sure to be a hit at your next gathering or Halloween Potluck party!

20 Cute Halloween Ideas for 2025

Halloween is just weeks away and i’m excited to share these adorable Halloween ideas and inspirations with you on this gorgeous Fall evening.

Hello Pumpkin Hat would be so cute for pumpkin patch pics!

A Boo-Cuterie board would be fun! Utilize a model skeleton and showcase it bursting with awesome finger foods.

All images found on Pinterest!

Summerween At SHEIN

I've rounded up a few cute, Halloween-inspired items just for your viewing pleasure!!

Mini Fashion Rivets Punk Rock Floral Embossed Handbag Women Rhombus Shaped Sling Crossbody Bag.

Spider Web Shaped Fashion Handbag, Tote Bag, Shoulder Bag For Halloween in Black or White.

Funky Punk Style Steampunk Gothic Style Pumpkin Pattern Fashionable Crossbody Bag Pumpkin Shape.

Fashion Versatile New Contrast Color PU Leather Adjustable Strap Bat or Ghost Shaped Women Shoulder Crossbody Bag For Halloween, Halloween Purse, Perfect For Fancy Party Halloween Fashion & Gothic Fashion

Transparent Ghost Shaped Shoulder Bag, Cute & Funny Ghost Design, Crossbody Bag, Fashion Beach Bag For Women, Suitable For Party And Holiday

Hair Clips 1pc Y2K Women's Hair Claw Clip, Cute Ghost, Spider, Bat, Butterfly, Skeleton, Hair Claw, Retro Subculture Accessory Hair Accessories, Halloween Accessories, School Stuff, College

Vampire Lips Purse

Gothic Style Skull Shoulder Bag, Unisex Crossbody Bag For Halloween, Unique Personalized Makeup Masquerade Shoulder Bag

Gothic Punk Matte Black Bat Wing Hair Clip - Women's Elegant Metal Ponytail Accessories

Halloween Bath Mat For Bathroom Gothic Spider Web Pumpkin Skull Rug Non-Slip Absorbent Floor Mat For Home Back To School Fall Decor

Halloween sugar Cookie Rugs! Halloween Carpet, Pumpkin Ghost Cat Door Mat Non-Slip Floor Mat Indoor Entryway Floor Rugs

1pc/2pcs Boho Halloween Ghost Wall Hanging Decor, Macrame Fringe Spooky Ghost Ornaments, Bohemian Wall Art For Home, Living Room, Fireplace, Party, Haunted House Decoration

Halloween Decorations We've Been Dying To See You Doormat,Dancing Skeletons. HAPPY HAUNTING!

Fredericktown, MO : Brunch + Camping + Castor Shut Ins

Fredericktown, MO is home to many amazing camping and river activities. We camped at an awesome site over this past weekend, called Sycamore Springs Campground, located along the Castor River, MO. The grounds were exceptionally clean and somehow bug-free throughout our stay. The site sits on a flat, grassy space with a picnic table RIGHT ALONG THE RIVER! You feel like you get your own personal beach here, it’s awesome.

The 2 month+ heat spell finally broke a week or so ago and I was practically “chilly” overnight which was a welcome surprise. Travis and I just held each other tight and cuddled close ALLLL night. It was so dreamy.

And here’s my new bikini from SHEIN, shown above. It's fun and the fabric is just so eye catching too!

I also absolutely adore the design and layout of one particular establishment in the area so as soon as we woke from a beautiful night’s slumber in our NEW KELTY tent, we gathered our thoughts and headed into town to enjoy a fulfilling brunch that kept us full and happy most of the rest of the day. The girls even got a little snausage bite to celebrate the weekend!

OMG the breakfast hash scramble was divine, and the smoothie was incredible. The orange dream energy mixer was great to help get us through the morning too :) YUM ALL AROUND!

Sawyer’s Landing even has a cabin rentals plus a huge indoor/outdoor event space suited for weddings and more. We fell in love with their campers/tiny homes too.

We figure we would someday want the below camper setup! What a dream that would be :)

To end our portion of this Missouri adventure, we visited Castor Shut Ins, which always blows our minds. The rocks look very smooth and yes they ARE! We always bring swimsuits + our Nike shoes converted into water shoes. They’re the only brand that holds up to excessive water use. We also wash them in the washing machine on cold and air dry once we get home, after each adventure we take. Below, see the fun we had at the Shut Ins!

UNTIL NEXT TIME!!