TULA Skincare at Target - Clear Skin for Back To School

I have battled with adult acne since having to wear face masks back during COVID. I washed my mask before each time I wore it but still, the acne scars remain from years ago. Crazy it has been that long.

So, I finally braved up and asked a friend how she gets such clear, soft, beautiful glowing skin and she clued me into my favorite new brand of face wash and facial scrub, TULA.

I figure that this week, since everyone is going back to school, it would be the perfect time to tell you about my successes with finally achieving the clearest skin I have had in years.

Shop All TULA at Target Here.

TULA SO PORELESS AT TARGET - Shop Now

So, I literally waited MONTHS to finally get their scrub, because it was sold out EVERYWHERE. Now that Target carries this brand via ULTA, I assume it will be in stock for a while now, but you may want to act fast!

Built on the power of probiotic extracts & superfoods with a focus on being healthy, not perfect. Clean, cruelty-free & effective. - TULA

Below, I wish I had found THIS price on the one I ordered, but Target has their amazing Purifying Facial Cleanser - 6.7 oz for only $34.00. Find it here.

Moral of the story: GET THIS FACE WASH if you want clear, bright even skin tone without wondering if it will work. I saw results in about 2-3 days or less, and my bf Travis keeps telling me how nice my skin looks, so that is a major plus in my book. Check out all the TULA products at Target before they sell out again!

Top Camping Gear At Walmart For Under $100 - Under $50 - Under $20

If you are anything like me, you want an affordable camping product while still having a product that will last for many years. We find basically everything we need at our local Walmart and here are some of my favorite items so far:

The Coleman 6 Person Clip and Camp Dome Tent, Only $79.00.

CAMPING GEAR UNDER $10.00

This adorable mint headlamp by Ozark Trail is just adorable for under $2.00, it is sure to be a handy addition to your camping gear. It is so important to have several flashlights with you when camping and this one is perfect as a backup light. It would also be just perfect for children or for a great gift.

Mint Headlamp - ONLY $1.88 at Walmart.

We also got ourselves the below two headlamps so far they have been great. Top headlamp is the Ozark Trail 100 Lumens Headlamp for only $3.98 with also comes with batteries. The bottom headlamp is the Ozark Trail 500 Lumens Headlamp which was almost too bright and still only $8.97, but great if you will be in complete dark or just prefer to be able to see further ahead.

Below, this sweet Kids’ Camping Chair is so adorable in Mint!! Great choice for only $9.88 at Walmart.

Kids Camping Chair in Mint. Only $9.88 at Walmart, Ozark Trail.

Lightweight Day Pack Backpack for Only $4.98! I got myself one of these and use it almost every day now. This bag is great for waking the dogs to hold water bottles, or for running everyday errands. It is just perfect.

CAMPING GEAR UNDER $50.00

We have weighed the options with every single portable camping air pump and always come back to this one. It is the only one that plugs into your car AC adapter (aka the lighter thingie), and works well to blow up our giant air mattress pretty quickly. Find this at Walmart for only $13.88. This has been our most useful piece of camping equipment because it also blows up our inner tubes!!!

Below is a camping chair that I have always wanted!! It has a cooler bag on the side and I just LOVE the color of these lime green colored Adult Camping Chairs. Find them at Walmart for only $24.98.

Lime Green Camping Chair With Cooler - ONLY $24.98 at Walmart.

The below set of reusable camping cook wear is also something I never leave home without for a camping trip. These are also good for road trips and other adventures too. The utensils are very strong, and won’t bend and the collapsible bowls make the perfect addition to any campfire dinner. Find it at Walmart for only $17.97, which beats having to buy a package of single use products for each item provided here. Don’t forget the biodegradable soap!

CAMPING GEAR UNDER $100.00

We just purchased THIS TENT from Ozark Trail and WE LOVE IT SO MUCH! I love how tall it is, so I can stand up and change clothes easily. This will be easy to setup now that we had some practice. Our Queen Air Mattress fit perfectly inside of it (thankfully it fits THROUGH the door, because our smaller tent had a very small door and the mattress did not fit like it does in this one. The pups still had tons of room at the foot of the air mattress to be able to sleep comfortable. We had a fantastic night’s sleep in this tent and would recommend it to anyone! It fit two us adults and two dogs just perfectly.

Ozark Trail 6-Man Clip and Camp Dome Tent at Walmart - $79.

Get yourself a good night’s rest with THIS Coleman 22” Tritech Queen Air Mattress, shown below. DO NOT FORGET YOUR AIR PUMP (we use this one here)! You will not believe how difficult it is to find the ONE AND ONLY style of air mattress that does not require DD batteries OR does not plug in for a power source. We found this one worked with our handheld air pump that has the car charger included. This one is a winner.

Below, this Coleman Triton 2 Burner Camping Stove has also been wonderful. It’s nice to use when it is either too wet or too hot to make a campfire. The new model of the Coleman camping stove is also super easy to clean. ON SALE NOW FOR $104.51 at Walmart. Don’t forget your Propane Gas for the stove, found here.

What are YOUR all time fave camping items you can’t leave home without?

Top Jumpsuits for Late Summer and Early Fall - Under $20 - Comfortable Travel Outfits

If you are anything like me, you like to be comroftable yet feel put together while traveling. Now that the weather is getting a bot cooler at the end of summer, I wanted to share some of my fave new fashion obsessions, these glorious jumpsuits on TEMU.

You may ask yourself, what should I wear with a romper or jumpsuit outfit? Well, you should have some adorable sandals or flat white tennis shoes, leave your hair down straight, natural, or curled, and add a few bracelets and a stylish statement necklace. Always bring a cute denim jacket or similar for layering if your shoulders get chilly. You do not really have to do much to make these look stylish and the best thing of all is that they fit a wide variety of sizes!!!

I have been obsessed with these flowy, comfortable-as-can-be jumpsuits for a while now, and I am finally happy to be able to share a few with you here! Let ms know what you think! Most of these shown are under $25.00 on TEMU.

Black Jumpsuit Shown Below - ONLY $13.73

Light Blue Ruffle Layer Jumpsuit / Romper - ONLY $23.49 - Shown Below.

Black Drawstring Jumpsuit - shown below. $36.49

Blue Belle Tank Top Romper - ONLY $13.47 - Shown Below.

Pretty Tan Stretch Jumpsuit - ONLY $14.19.

Black Long Sleeve Jumpsuit - $19.99.

Textured Button Crew Jumpsuit in Blue, shown below. ONLY $15.99.

And lastly, this Cute Floral Jumpsuit - ONLY $14.27.

Below, this brown sleeveless jumper would be perfect with so many outfit ideas and accessories. $15.27.

Best Women's Hiking and Adventure Shoes & Boots from Zappos 2024

You may be asking yourself what a good pair of women’s hiking boots really looks like. You may take a look at your own outdoor adventure and hiking needs and read the list below to find a few of my favorite hiking boots found on Zappos.com.

Hiking at Pinnicle Mountain in Arkansas.

I have hiked at least a thousand or more miles in the past decade across many parts of the United States. I have experience in hiking on almost every type of trail imaginable, and often times, we bushwack through the woods with NO TRAIL AT ALL. These boots should hold up to even the toughest environments.

And remember, always make sure you keep your shoes in a dry place and ensure you set them in the sun after they have been soaked, to insure both the interior and exterior stay mold free, etc. Keeping hiking boots dry also helps the glues and materials to stay in tact rather than deteriorating from being wet and stored improperly.

All boots and shoes listed below are under $200.00. Yes that may sound like a lot but in reality, these boots should last you 5-10 years, so a good investment now enable syou to get out, get active, and get HEALTHY and not have to worry about spraining your ankle, stepping into unsavory terrain, or getting your feet soaked because your shoes are not waterproof. Yes, I have experienced every one of these situatins in the middle of the deep woods where you cannot just go change your shoes.

Some of the styles shown here are good for a more rugged hike, and some are better for general adventuring and light hiking on concrete or gravel. Most are still all waterproof AND BREATHABLE though, which is still recommended no matter what. So, head over to Zappos.com to see all their Women’s Hiking Boots here.

LOOK FOR THESE FEATURES WHEN SHOPPING FOR WOMEN’S HIKING SHOES OR BOOTS:

  • Good ankle support. Good laces.

  • High ankle features ar preferred for uneven terrain, wet terrain, and unknown terrain.

  • Select low top hiking boots for flat, smooth, even terrain that would be dry like concrete, gravel, and pavement.

  • WATERPROOF GTX (GORTEX) is breathable and a good choice for both wet and dry terrains.

  • Vibram soles are a plus.

  • Luckily, companies like Free People are considering these SUPER fashionable and finally catching onto the fact that people actually want to be able to use the goods and that they can promote healthy lifestyles.

AWESOME HIKING BOOTS FOR WOMEN:

La Sportiva Nucleo High II GTX Boot - Women's

I have personally purchased three pairs of these amazing hiking boots - see image of me in them above. I finally decided on these after ordering then returning 5 other pairs some years ago. So, these have been great in so many rugged terrains, and they don’t have to be broken in, even. They are comfortable and super supportive right off the bat. I had their blue/grey color way before, but not that I have had the tan/black/red design shown here for a couple years, I believe it matches more outfits since it has black. The first pair below is from backcountry.com, but the other shoes featured here are all from Zappos.com.

The Original Muck Boot Company Muckster Ii Mid (Blue/Quilted Floral) Women's Shoes

To be honest, in addition to my hiking boots, I never leave home without some rubber boots too. I have hiked more miles in my rubber boots than I have in any other pair of boots ever. I went through TWO pair of Hinter Rubber Boots, and yes some models re comfortable, but they are not really intended for deep woods hiking or creek crossings like a more rugged rubber boot would provide for you.

Teva Grandview GTX (Thyme) Women's Shoes

I almost purchased these, but opted to go for the ones above instead. It was a VERY difficult choice, since I just adore the design below more because it is lower scale and matched way more outfits. TEVA is still an excellent choice for cute hiking boots.

That wraps up sharing a few of my favorite hiking boots for women for 2024. There are endless options, but if you purchase a cheap pair of hiking and adventuring boots instead of investing in a decent pair, you may miss out on experiencing the joy of what a nice pair of hiking boots can truly do for you and your health. When your shoes feel great, it encourages you to want to go outside more often! ENJOY, FRIENDS!!

Super Summer Sale on NearNatureGoods on Etsy

Hey friends! I am having a SUPER SUMMER SALE on my entire ETSY shop, which can be found here. Most items are under $10, making everything more than 50% OFF per item!! Click any of the images to be taken to my Etsy shop with all the current listings. Thanks for checking out my page!

Morel Mushroom Caps - NOW ONLY $10.

Hand Sewn Cotton Market Tote Bag - NOW ONLY $15.

Boho Hand Dyed Embellished Bandanas - ONLY $5!!!

Leaf Shirt - ONLY $10.

Morel Caps - Now ONLY $10 each.

Morel Mushroom Cap in Camo - Only $10, ONLY ONE LEFT!!

100% Cotton, Hand Sewn Market Tote Bag - ONLY $15!

Vintage Veggies Grocery Market Tote Bag - 100% Hand Sewn, 100% Cotton! NOW ONLY $15.

Apple MacBook Air ON SUPER SALE

I have MANY Apple devices and love them all. I got my first Mac Laptop back when I started college and it lasted me about 7 years. I wound up gifting it to a friend who was going to college and had zero money to spend on a computer. I then purchased my second and current MacBook Pro about ten years ago and have been extremely happy with it ever since.

When I recently came across this particular deal, I was blown away. apple products are finally much more affordable than a few years ago. NOW, they are finally attainable for so many more families due to deals like the one I found here on the Apple MacBook Air 13.3 inch laptop, from Walmart.

I have seen SO many students get behind simply because their computers are JUNK. This is a great chance at a better start. PLUS, I would 110% recommend you get the 3 year apple care plan just because they will replace your laptop if anything major happens. BIG PLUS!

Last year, when Travis’ oldest niece went off to college, he purchased her a MacBook to send her off on a great start for college. It was VERY expensive, but the exact thing a young woman needed to start her life living away from home, and basically being an adult.

This year his other niece graduated and is heading off to college in August, so we together bought her a MacBook too. Both girls lost their parents about seven years ago, so Travis does his best to help any way he can. We decided both girls HAD to have the same computer or it just wouldn’t be fair, so they are both happy college students who have the BEST start they can possibly get! It is just so important to help these girls off to a great start when living away from home for their first times ever.

Check out this awesome deal at Walmart on this awesome MacBook Air 13.3” Laptop here!

Earn Extra Income From Anywhere - Monetize Your Life with Affiliate Links on Collective Voice

Earn Extra Income From Anywhere with Collective Voice.

Are you someone who is always sharing great products with friends and family on social media? Are you THE person people come to for suggestions on what to buy and where to go? Do you often get a lot of likes or comments about the things or tips you share? Then, you may be missing out on income that you deserve!

Passive affiliate income is simple. You share a link to a product once, and it “lives on” for days, weeks, months, even years. And because YOU directed the traffic there, YOU make a bit of money from their purchases. There are actually ways you can easily add monetized links into your social media posts and get a small % of income and commission from people who then purchase those items.

Seems simple enough, so lets give it a try!

You may remember the Shopstyle Collective Affiliate Network. They used to be my favorite site for earning affiliate commission in the past on high end luxury fashion items, but I was saddened to see they closed their site a while back. NOW, they have reopened their new Influencer Affiliate Network called Collective Voice, and I just LOVE what they are offering now!!

Below you can see just a few of the amazing items that Walmart has to offer you for earning commission.

Collective Voice (Formerly Shopstyle Collective)

This is DEFINITELY going to appeal to nearly everyone because you can even earn a % commission on sales from Walmart.com and MANY MORE. Here are some current WALMART AFFILIATE examples:

Here is a screenshot of their SUPER EASY account application. This is the only requirement that you have one of two of these social apps and you must connect one to fulfill your application.

  • Accessories, Baby/Toddler/Boys/Girls Apparel, Shoes, Jewelry, Mens Apparel, Intimate Apparel/Women’s Apparel- 15%

  • Furniture, Home Decor- 15%

  • Patio and Garden- 8%

  • Hardware & Toolks/Do It Yourself- 5%

  • Bedding, Bath and Shower, Home Management, Cook and Dine, Arts, Crafts, Sewing & Fabric- 10%

  • Beauty-10%

  • Pets and Supplies- 10%

  • Sporting Goods, Hardware & Tools/Do It Yourself, Stationery, Patio and Garden, Horticulture- 5%

  • Electronics- 2%

  • Toys- 5%

  • Referral SharedId is collective- 4%
    All Other- 10% 

From the items on your WALMART COMMAND CENTER page shown below, you simply click “Copy Link” and you can then easily share that with any post or photo of that item on social media or your blog.

You can even use your very own images (a.k.a. “User Created Content”) instead of the ones in the listing, with these links too - which I will detail in an upcoming post soon).

For example, the below items are linked with Shopstyle Affiliate Links with my own personal affiliate code linked behind the regular item’s website link. Here, if you click through to any of these items and purchase anything from Walmart.com on that same device for up to 30 days (this varies with each site), then I will earn a very small (4%-10%) commission on the sale. That doesn’t seem like a lot, but I do believe for some folks this can add up! So, we will revisit this in a few weeks and I will give a progress update report. I will share what is working and what is not working for this particular site! I noticed that there are only select products from Walmart.com that I could share, but I found more than a few that I loved and that fit into my lifestyle and Summer want-list!

Awesome Apple MacBook Air 13.3” in Space Grey. ON SALE NOW FOR $699.00 (WAS $959.00). PERFECT FOR BACK TO SCHOOL! I really wish we had seen this deal before we bought one for the niece last weekend.

Summer Camping Wish List from Walmart.com:

Aspen Grove 8 Person Hybrid Dome Tent - ON SALE FOR $59.00 (WAS $99.95).

And Two of these TBKLEY Folding Cots would be so great for a camping trip!!

Follow me on Pinterest here to see my Daily finds and more!

MORE AFFILIATE PROGRAMS ON COLLECTIVE VOICE:

(Search by Retailer, Brand, or Product Type.

FREE PEOPLE:

ANTHROPOLOGIE:

TARGET:

As you can see, one can really go WILD with creative posts about affiliate links with SO many retailer options. Give it a try and let me know how it goes!

Gunner Pool, Arkansas *wild & free*

We fell in love with Gunner Pool over July 4th Weekend and this has easily become our favorite local swimming spot in the Ozarks of Arkansas. We closed the place down LOL! So happy we brought our new Ozark Trails inner tubes, because we just floated the deeper parts of the creek and just walked the more shallow ones with our tubes floating behind. What a fun way to enjoy the outdoors.

 

Allez Outdoors - Skincare + SPF

Premium skincare essentials, tested on climbers, made for those who live in the elements.

I’ve fallen in love with protecting my skin! These all natural products from allez outdoors are tested by some of the toughest outdoors women and men, and have proven time and time again, they make a big difference.

Give this women owned company a try and let me know what you think! Learn More Here.

Coleman Triton 2-Burner Propane Camping Stove Review + The Best Camping Recipes

We recently got the new Coleman Triton 2-Burner Propane Camping Stove and LOVE it.

GET YOURS HERE.

We used to reply solely on making a fire to cook our camping dinners and breakfast recipes, and sometimes that was challenging if we arrive to the campsite after dark, or if it has rained and firewood is saturated.

Travis set the stove set up in ten minutes or less. The only additional items we needed was a Coleman Propane can and a lighter of some sort. You have to turn the gas going to the burner on first, then light it second. Food cooks super quickly on this stove and we would definitely recommend it.

Within minutes we were cooking our mix of chopped potatoes and onions and seasoning in a small skillet. That took some time, but only due to the fact I should have cut the potatoes smaller. Our brats cooked super quickly after that.

Just stir your veggies every few minutes to keep them cooking consistantly.

The pups are excellent helpers :)

TOP EASY AND DELICIOUS CAMPING RECIPES:

Camping Recipe: Easy Chicken Tacos by Damn Delicious

Don’t forget your camping cutlery and utensils, found here!

Cute Camping Cutlery Set, great for travel!

Simply boil water on your camping stove and add to the jars, below. Super fresh ideas here.

Try this upscale meal while camping! Bring frozen prepared shrimp and cook over the stove.

2024 Shawnee Cave Total Solar Eclipse Festival (April 5-8, 2024)

We pulled off the most incredible 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Festival at the Shawnee Cave Amphitheater last weekend and everyone is still buzzing about the festivities! We threw one heck of a good party and we have several more festivals planned for the remainder of 2024. We had the time of out lives, to say the least :) Below, I curated some of my graphics and family fun moments throughout the event. If you would like to see more of our traditional photos covering the past weekend, please visit us on Instagram or Facebook.

Above, my poster design which inspired the event t-shirts. Below, Travis and I at the Shawnee Cave.

Me and the venue owner, Alexis. Look at our shirts!!!

We had such a fantastic lineup and we made sure to personally thank each and every one of the bands for their incredible talents and hard work.

Above, we had great success with our Grateful Dead inspired graphics I made, which were completely inspired by one of our headliners, Terrapin Flyer Band - a 20+ year Grateful Dead tribute band from Chicago, IL. They played Sunday and Monday, April 7-8, and the second day (the day of the eclipse), they completely rocked the stage and played before and after the 202 Total Solar Eclipse! Below is my poster singed by every band member. What an unforgettable experience.

Below, one of the most successful and entertaining aspects of the festival was our Eclipse Eve Late Night Dance Party (another fun graphic I tested out for this one)! Midwest Music Supply’s lights and sound production got to test out their new lighting setups and it went over flawlessly! This was the great beginning to festival season.

For more information about upcoming Cave shows, visit www.ShawneeCave.fun!

Below, a great view from the Eagle’s Nest at the Shawnee Cave!

Shawnee Cave Amphitheater Venue Owners, Shane and Alexis Wade.

Travis looking fly in eclipse glasses & my t-shirt design!

Travis has been getting his setlists signed for decades :)

Frank & Gandolph

Travis shot the most amazing eclipse progression photos!

I just love this man so very much :) He was a huge support throughout the entire weekend and leading up to the festival.

Most of the photos here are just fun family pics, but if you would like to see what I have been sharing on the Shawnee Cave socials, visit them on Facebook and Instagram! Until next time, friends!

Late March 2024 Garden Updates

We started this garden for practically nothing (only the price of seeds and one bag of dirt). The cups have been working out so wonderfully. I jst wanted to keep track of our garden as it grows…I shared a photo of the dirt I am loving lately, below.

Cave City Yellow Watermelon Planted 2/28/24, pic from 3/21/24. We saved seeds from famous melons last year.

Below, you will see how incredibly fast the green beans are growing! WOW.

Garden Green Beans, planted 3/8/24, pic from 3/17/24.

Garden Green Beans, pic from 3/21/24

DIll and Sugar Daddy Peas, planted 3/8/24, pic from 3/21/24.

Sugar Daddy Peas, planted 3/8/24, pic from 3/21/24.

Velvet Queen Sunflowers, planted 3/8/24, pic from 3/21/24.

Brandywine Tomatoes and “Tomato Mix”. Our sandy soil here in Arkansas will be perfect for them. Planted 3/8/24, pic from 3/21/24 - these took a while to show but I am sure they’re going to be great.

My fave view right now… :) I am going to put together a tutorial of how we started our little seeds soon.

Organic Sugar Daddy Peas - transplanted into a 5 gallon bucket on 3/20/24. Just realizing we may need two 5 gal buckets total for the amount of these pease we actually started.

Autumn Sunflower - planted 3/8/24 - pic from 3/21/24.

Lastly, our awesome Cave City Yellow Watermelons again, which we are most proud of, planted on 2/23/24 (pic from 3/21/24). Last year, we bought one yellow and one red Cave City Watermelon, and saved the seeds very carefully. Well that was a great idea, because soon watermelon vines will be trailing ALL over our fence!

Shawnee Cave Revival - June 7-9, 2024

Yesterday, our tickets went live and on sale for our next festival, Shawnee Cave Revival! I am most excited for Greensky Bluegrass too - I remember seeing them back in Carbondale, IL at Tres Hombres when only 30 folks attended and NOW, look at them - headlining HUGE festivals and selling out large venues.

I created all the artwork for the festival, which I am so very proud of. Abive is the 18x24 poster and below is our schedule!

Below, you can check out all the Artist Frames I created using the same style as the poster. I am thrilled with this and all the bands approved them right away. So happy to be an integral part of this amazing place.

Additionally, I am in charge of working with Etix to re-design our new website, www.shawneecave.fun. Etix Rockhouse did such a fantastic job of making our venue shine. Below, is a photo of Travis and I last June at the Shawnee Cave Weekend At The Cave Festival 2023. We had the best weekend EVER.

Here is a photo of the venue at night. They have such high quality sound and light production, and I am happy to say this is somewhere we can be proud to help grow and flourish!!! If you want to learn more about the venue, please visit our website for details on Shawnee Cave Revival (June 7-9, 2024) and our incredible Shawnee Cave Total Solar Eclipse Festival (April 5-8, 2024), visit our website here, the Shawnee Cave Instagram page and Facebook page here!

Plus, they are now offering event rentals and wedding venue rentals, so stay tuned as that progresses!

Easy St. Patrick's Day Treats - Lucky Charms Pops

Want a fun and easy treat for St. Patty’s Day? Look no further! With just a few supplies you can make these pops in less than 20 minutes. By using these molds found on Amazon, I was able to easily craft the cutest holiday treats in minutes flat. The molds worked incredibly well and the chocolate came right out, easily.

INGREDIENTS:

  • Marshmallows separated from Lucky Charms

  • White chocolate bark or Ghirardelli White Chocolate

  • Sprinkles

  • Pop Mold with Sticks

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Insert pop sticks into molds (find molds here which came with the sticks). Tape the sticks into the molds, like shown below. Separate marshmallows from Lucky Charm’s Cereal and set aside. I needed 2 marshmallows per pop. Set pop molds onto baking sheet so you can move it around easily.

  2. Melt white chocolate bark until smooth. Spoon into each circle cavity in the mold and fill just covering the sticks. Tap mold on counter lightly until chocolate smooths out and no air bubbles remain. The sticks should be covered.

  3. Add 2 marshmallows to each pop then add a few sprinkles to each one.

  4. Let cool on countertop or in fridge for 20 minutes and then remove tap from molds and remove pops from molds carefully. These ones were so nice to work with, and very good quality.

  5. Individually wrap each pop in a cute treat bag or store in the fridge in an air-tight container. Enjoy!

These were so easy to complete and I definitely plan on making more cereal themed pops soon! Stay tuned for more ideas along the way!

Garden Progress + DIY Palette Garden Bed - Mid March 2024

We are in year tow of our garden here in central Arkansas, zones 7a-8b,. Last year, we started some of our garden via seed, but we started all seeds outdoors. We built our amazing DIY palette garden beds (one of which we rebuilt this year), and cannot wait to plant our little seedlings in our new garden beds once they are a bit stronger.

HERE’S WHAT WE PLANTED ON MARCH 8, 2024

Notes from the garden: 2/25 and 2/28/2024

Planted basil seeds from our garden then planted organic basil seeds from store. Also planted Cave City Yellow Watermelon (one cup grew wonderful and one did not grow at all).

3/8/2024

Planted seeds of the following: Sunflowers, Bell Peppers, Cilantro, Dill, tomatoes, peas.

3/14/2024

Seeing growth on the following: Peppers, sunflowers, and peas, cilantro.

Below, you can see some of my most cherished seedlings! Last year we went on a fun adventure near Cave City, AR. The watermelons from that city are famous so we decided to wash/dry/preserve some of those seeds from last summer. We saved both yellow watermelon, shown below, and I just started some of the red Cave City watermelons a few days ago, and I am already seeing growth on them!

Above, Cave City Watermelon Seedlings after one week, and below, after two weeks and transplanted into a larger pot.

Below, you will see one misfortune in the seedling game we are playing. Before I thought to use my plastic cups for seedlings,we purchased two type of Spinach seeds online and the Giant Noble spinach seeds from a farm in Columbus, OH barely had any growth since 2/28/24, and the American Spinach seeds I ordered elsewhere has shown less than half germination. So, perhaps it was the seeds, but maybe I over watered, or something? So, I will try these same sets of seeds in my clear plastic cups and let you all know if it is the tray or what. You never know what you are going to get!

I am wondering if it is honestly these trays or what, because most everything else I started in my cups, has been germinating within 5-7 days! Below, you can see a cup I planted our Sugar Daddy Peas in on 3/8/24 and wow they are taking OFF!

DIY Palette Garden Bed Instructions:

Materials Needed:

4 Palettes, 2 1/2” wood screws, drill, saw.

Tools We Use:

Instructions:

We cut/sawed apart a total of 4 palettes length wise, and used them to create the four sides. We used 2 1/2” wood screws to attach all the sides together. Next, we used smaller boards which were still attached to the extra pallet pieces as sides, in lieu of using weed barrier fabric like we did last year on the blue bed.

After you have reinforced the sides and made sure there is nowhere for dirst to fall out, then fill the bed with as many sticks as you can. This helps us save because we use less bags of dirt

Lastly, fill the remaining space in with bags of dirt. We like using the Miracle Grow soil if we can!

Once our seedlings are strong enough and there is no more cold weather snaps forecasted, our seedlings wil be plated outside in these beds, in an efort to have an even bigger and more varied garden than year one, last year!

I wish I had known about these exact DEWAT Tools being on sale but I provided some links to the deals below for our handheld saw and our amazing cordless handheld drill from DEWALT. They have lasted a long time.

BELOW, OUR GARDEN FROM LAST YEAR (2023)

We got tons of tomatoes and tons of basil (which grew nestled beneath all of our tomatoes, shown here.

Below, out first palette garden bed built last year, then the awesome GardenWerx bag and gardening tools Travis got me as a surprise last year. I could not find a link for them, but I included a few cute ideas below.

Can’t wait to see how the garden performs this season!

Falling Water Falls (Waterfall) - Sandgap, AR - Richland Creek Wilderness Area

Hello! I’m back from a little blogging hiatus to share with you a stunning waterfall we visited in Northwestern(ish) Arkansas called Falling Water Falls. Located in Sandgap, Arkansas, in the Richland Creek Wilderness area, this waterfall is well worth the drive. There are other beautiful waterfalls along this drive too, which we will cover in upcoming posts.

The best part, this one is actually roadside. You park very close to the waterfall, and within a few steps, you are met with a majestic, blue rushing waterfall that looks like one of the best swimming holes ever.

The Explore The Ozarks website had some great information about this place, found here.

WATERFALL INFORMATION:

  • Height: 10'

  • GPS: N35 43.317, W 92 56.964

  • USGS Quad: Smyrna

  • Distance: View from road

  • Difficulty: Easy

  • Location: Ozark National Forest

  • Ranger District: Big Piney

  • Region: Arkansas Ozarks & Boston Mountains

DETAILS & DIRECTIONS:

This beautiful little waterfall is conveniently located right next to the road, so you don't even have to get out of your car to see it! Falling Water Falls is located on, of course, Falling Water Creek, just a few miles east of Ben Hur, on Falling Water Road/FR# 1205. There is also a nice big pool that the falls spill into, and it is a popular swimming hole in the summer. This waterfall is located just south of the Richland Creek Wilderness Area, which also has numerous other beautiful waterfalls, well worth a day of exploring.

To get to Falling Water Falls, travel East on AR Hwy 16 from Pelsor/Sand Gap, which is located on Scenic Hwy 7 between Russellville and Jasper. Travel about 9 miles on AR Hwy 16 (past Pedestal Rocks/Kings Bluff) to the community of Ben Hur. About a mile east/south of Ben Hur, Turn Left onto FR# 1205/CR# 68/Upper Falling Water Road. Falling Water Falls will be 2.3 miles north on this road, and there will an area to pull off on the side of the road, right next to the falls.

To get to Falling Water Falls from the Richland Creek Campground, travel about 7 miles South on FR# 1205, and you will come to the falls on your left.

Falling Water Falls - Upper Falling Water Rd -

Sand Gap, AR 72856

 

After moving from Illinois to Arkansas last year, Travis and I are REALLY enjoying the mountains and creeks and hiking opportunities here in the Natural State.

We could imagine having a picnic or fun swimming day here soon.

Just steps from the road, you can step out onto the top of the waterfall and explore the area. Such a stunning view!

Below are a couple of cute Hiking-Inspired finds you may enjoy too. Having good boots and cute socks make a world of difference when adventuring like we do.

While we were just here for a little bit, we are definitely going back this spring, and we are really looking forward to it.

Until next time!! - Love, Katherine, Travis, Porter, and Luna

Inspired by Bubble and Fizz Co!

Aren’t you so inspired by these photos from Bubble and Fizz Co.? This incredible company offers event styling and some catering services and they look top notch. Here’s a bit from her site, “We offer packages suitable for Baby showers, Bridal Showers, Birthday parties, Weddings and more”!

Bubble and Fizz Co combines a love of sweets with a high end, dreamy aesthetic. I always had aspirations of being a dessert table stylist for events, so this is right up my alley.

I’m so drawn to this look, I hope to one day have this sort of loom and aesthetic for a small side business of my own!

Micro Ingredients - Top Healthy Recipes For Winter

This winter, I am trying to incorporate as many smoothies and healthier recipes as I can into my daily routine. Here are a few amazing smoothie, drink, and recipe ideas from my friends at Micro Ingredients!

Below, you will find some of the season’s top healthiest (and EASIEST) recipes, to keep you feeling great throughout these winter months.

Spirulina Smoothie Recipe (Above)

Recipe:

Organic Spirulina powder, Milk, Fruit and Nuts(optional).

Instructions:

  1.  Add ice to blender

  2.  Add 1 scoop of Spirulina powder

  3.  Add milk and blend!

  4.  Pour in the smoothie to a cup

  5.  Top off with your favorite fruit and enjoy!😍

Awesome Organic Beet Root Powder is a stunning pink color and can be used in smoothies and other recipes as a natural food coloring. Get yours here!

Tropical Fruit Punch Sparkling Drink (Above)

Recipe:

Organic Mango Juice Powder, Organic Lemon Juice powder, Organic Pineapple Powder, Hot water, Ice, Sparkling Water.

Instructions:

  1. Add 1 scoop of Mango juice powder

  2. Add 1 scoop of Pineapple powder

  3. Add 1 scoop of Lemon juice powder

  4. Add 1/4 of water

  5. Mix until dissolved

  6. Add Ice into the cup

  7. Add sparkling water

  8. Enjoy！

Also, this Chaga Mushroom Extract Powder, below, can be added to hot or cold drinks and compliments hot cocoa and coffee very well.

Avocado MCT Smoothie Recipe (Above)

Recipe:

Organic MCT Oil powder, Organic Stevia Powder, Ice, Milk, Avocado.

Instructions:

  1. Add half Avocado into blender

  2. Add 1 scoop of MCT Oil Powder

  3. Add 2 scoop of Stevia Sweetener

  4. Add Ice

  5. Add some Milk or Coconut Milk

  6. Blend

  7. Enjoy!

Psyllium Husk Blended Coffee Drink Recipe (Above)

Recipe:

Organic Psyllium Husk Powder, Organic Stevia Powder, Black coffee, Milk, Ice.

Instructions:

  1. Add 1 scoop Psyllium Husk powder into blender

  2. Add 2 scoops of Stevia Sweetener

  3. Add ice

  4. Add 2/3 of your favorite black coffee

  5. Add milk and blend!

  6. Pour in the drink to a cup

  7. Enjoy!

Matcha Latte Recipe (Above)

Recipe:

Organic Matcha Powder, Organic Stevia Powder, Milk, hot water.

Instructions:

  1. Add 1 scoop Matcha powder into cup

  2. Add ¼ hot water

  3. Mix until dissolved

  4. Add ¾ milk into another cup

  5. Add 2 scoops of Stevia Sweetener

  6. Mix until melted

  7. Pour dissolved Matcha

  8. Mix and Enjoy!

Above, the Organic Freeze-Dried Pomegranate Juice Powder is truly a gem! This is an amazing way to incorporate more antioxidants into your diet! Have a happy, healthy, and prosperous winter, friends!

Pink Halloween Trends

I have noticed some of the most adorable, pink-inspired Halloween ideas recently. Loving this trend!!

Pink Halloween Bark Recipe via A Bubbly Life.

Decorate your mantle for Halloween! Found via BohoFrisco.

Paint pumpkins in pastel pinks and polka dots! Found via SlowMoon.

Have a pink-themed Girl Gang party for Halloween. Found via UniGirlCo.

And, finally, the most popular on Pinterest right now…Halloween Charcuterie Boards via The House of Food.

Hope you have enjoyed these Pink Halloween-Inspired Ideas! Find more Fall-Autumn-Halloween posts by yours truly, here! Let’s connect on Pinterest!

Heron Pond - 50th Anniversary

Thrilled to be a part of this upcoming event in southern Illinois. I created the poster graphic, below, learn more about this amazing event!

Register on Eventbrite or Donate Here.

Learn more on the Friends of IL Nature Preserves Website Here.

Come celebrate the dedication of Heron Pond - Wildcat Bluff as an Illinois Nature Preserve!

The Cache River wetlands in southern Illinois represent the northernmost extent of North America’s vast Coastal Plain physiographic province. However, only ten percent of the original extent of the Cache River’s swamps and bottomland forests remain, and an even smaller fraction still resembles its historical condition.

For the diverse native species that call it home and the many people who have witnessed its splendor, Heron Pond hearkens back to the wilderness of the original Cache River swamps. Thanks to the efforts of local citizens, conservationists, and government agencies, this remarkable ecological legacy has been protected as an Illinois Nature Preserve since 1971.

We welcome you to celebrate 50 years of permanent protection for Heron Pond and its upland counterpart, Wildcat Bluff, on Saturday, April 9, 2022. This one-day event is hosted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in collaboration with the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, Friends of the Cache River Watershed, and Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves. Event highlights include informational talks by pivotal figures in the acquisition, protection, and early management of this unique site; a juried art exhibit; and field tours of Heron Pond and Wildcat Bluff. Please join us for this celebration of our irreplaceable natural heritage!

Main Ceremony

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Join us for an outdoor ceremony at the Barkhausen Wetlands Center. Ecologists Max Hutchison, John Schwegman, and Andy West will speak about the early days of the Cache River, the acquisition of Heron Pond, and the original efforts to restore and manage the site’s swamps and bottomlands.

Presentation: Natural Areas Day at Heron Pond

(2:00 PM- 2:45 PM)

Watch a pre-recorded presentation by John Schwegman on the 1972 Natural Areas Day event that celebrated the then newly dedicated Heron Pond – Wildcat Bluff Nature Preserve. John will be available after the talk to answer questions from the audience. The recording will be made available online for later viewing.

Cache River Wetlands Documentary

(1:00-1:15 PM, 1:30-1:45 PM, 3:00-3:15 PM, 3:30-3:45 PM, 4:00-4:15 PM)

Site Interpreter Molie Oliver will introduce this 12-minute video on the history of the Cache River Wetlands.

Follow our Facebook page for updates and more information about each of the event partners.

COVID Protocol

Attendance to this indoor event and other indoor displays may be capped in consideration of IDNR COVID protocols at the time of the event.

Partners

Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves, a newly founded 501(c)(3) in support of nature preserves in the state of Illinois and non-profit Friends of the Cache Watershed collaborated on coordinating this event in support of the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission (INPC) and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

Hike Descriptions:

Hike 1, Heron Pond

Free

1:00-2:30 PM at the Todd Fink Trail

Join Natural Heritage Biologist Mark Guetersloh (IDNR), John Beardsley (Illinois State Water Survey), and Dr. Jeff Hoover (Illinois Natural History Survey) for a tour of the Todd Fink trail out to the Heron Pond boardwalk. Learn about the ecology of this unique wetland and the work done to restore its hydrology. Registration required to attend and capped at 25 participants.

Hike 2, Heron Pond

Free

3:00-4:30 PM at the Todd Fink Trail

Join Natural Heritage Biologist Mark Guetersloh (IDNR), John Beardsley (Illinois State Water Survey), and Dr. Jeff Hoover (Illinois Natural History Survey) for a tour of the Todd Fink trail out to the Heron Pond boardwalk. Learn about the ecology of this unique wetland and the work done to restore its hydrology. Registration required to attend and capped at 25 participants

Hike 3, Wildcat Bluff

Free

1:00-2:30 PM at Wildcat Bluff

Join Natural Heritage Biologist Christina Feng (IDNR) and Natural Areas Preservation Specialist Kevin Sierzega (Illinois Nature Preserves Commission) on a tour of Wildcat Bluff. Learn about the natural communities that exist at this interface between bottomlands and uplands and the management being conducted to restore this incredible landscape. Registration required and capped at 20 participants per hike.

Hike 4, Wildcat Bluff

Free

3:00 -4:30 PM at Wildcat Bluff

Join Natural Heritage Biologist Christina Feng (IDNR) and Natural Areas Preservation Specialist Kevin Sierzega (Illinois Nature Preserves Commission) on a tour of Wildcat Bluff. Learn about the natural communities that exist at this interface between bottomlands and uplands and the management being conducted to restore this incredible landscape. Registration required and capped at 20 participants per hike.

Reserve your Heron Pond 50th Anniversary Fundraising T-shirt by adding it at Registration.