IT’S PODCAST TUESDAY!
Erika and I have a brand new episode of The Bestie Breakdown today where we break down…BLOGGING!
You asked, we’re answering. Today, we’re talking about everything from how it all started to when we’ll stop, if we make money doing this or not, whether we consider it a job, our funniest stories, how we’ve grown and changed over the years and so much more! It’s a full podcast episode on blogging today just for you! 🙂
You can listen to day HERE or on your favorite podcast platform (Spotify, Apple, etc.).
I thought I’d share the podcast deets and then…
…it’s another edition of Shay’s Random Grab Bag!
You know the drill…I pull some of your random questions and answer them all here in one little post.
If you missed Grab Bag #1, I covered everything from Kensington’s daily g-free meals, to where Andrew buys his clothes, marriage advice and more! Catch it HERE. If you missed Grab Bag #2, I cover how I handle crappy days, parenting tips, how I started my travel agency, how I pack my toiletries and how I organize my closet! You can read that one HERE. In Grab Bag #3’s post, I shared how I plan vacations for my family, more book suggestions, house cleaning tips and more #OOTD. You can catch that one HERE!
Here are the random questions from my grab bag this time…
Oh those kids of mine keep me on my toes! Here are a few new-ish tidbits about each one…
KENSINGTON:
Most likely to: be snuggled up with her dog binge watching a show.
Favorite food right now: Easter candy.
Currently watching: Saved By The Well on repeat. She’s about to start Gilmore Girls for the first time though 🙂 .
What she’s doing after school: something by herself. Kensington has always been my independent one. After a full day of school and people, she likes to have a minute to herself after school.
If she were to get into trouble, it would be because: she goes from 0 to 10 in an instant…and her parents (who are also Enneagram 8s do too!)…so one minute, she’s a 10 and the next minute, she’s all cuddly and sweet. Bahaha!
When she grows up, I think she’ll be a: nurse
SMITH:
Most likely to: be outside.
Favorite food right now: this kid is into “healthy” food. He doesn’t do sweets…give him eggs, chicken, veggies…he’s very into the healthy food right now.
Currently watching: Formula 1 on Netflix
What he’s doing after school: he’s outside! He’s on his bike, up a tree, fishing, riding his scooter, rowing…he’s outside.
If he were to get into trouble, it would be because: he’s so loud. Seriously, HE IS SO LOUD. His voice is loud. His whistle is loud. He is just like his dad. Bahahaha!
When he grows up, I think he’ll be a: prosecutor and then judge
ASHBY:
Most likely to: be outside with Smith. She loves riding her bike, walking to her friends’ houses…she’s always outdoors.
Favorite food right now: this girl loves all food, but avocados in any form reign supreme right now.
Currently watching: any sports on TV. Ashby doesn’t care what the sporting event is, she wants to watch it.
What she’s doing after school: she wants to be outdoors, kicking a soccer ball, riding her bike, blowing bubbles…just outside.
If she were to get into trouble, it would be because: she is not great at multi-tasking. If she needs to go from A to B and a television is turned on in her path, she cannot help herself but stop and watch (no matter what it is!). She gets annoyed because we’re always like “walk straight there and don’t stop” and she’s always like “I try but I can’t help it”. ha!
When she grows up, I think she’ll be a: someone that works in the front office of the New York Yankees or…I think she’ll be an MLB official.
MADELEY:
Most likely to: crafting, coloring, applying makeup…being creative!
Favorite food right now: tacos.
Currently watching: Bluey
What she’s doing after school: following me around 🙂 . She loves baking with me, cooking dinner, helping me do laundry or play with the dogs. She’s my sidekick.
If she were to get into trouble, it would be because: TBD 😉 . She is the easiest kid. Ever.
When she grows up, I think she’ll be an: artist! I don’t know whether she’ll be a comedian or a stylist, but this girl is ARTSY! She is constantly doodling, drawing and creating.
You know, we don’t have a solid regimen yet, so if you have suggestions, we’d happily take them! Kensington has tried Beauty Counter items, some Drunk Elephant products, random things we’ve picked up at the grocery store or Trader Joe’s. It’s a hodgepodge, but I would truly love to hear your recommendations!
Ohhhhhh! I LOVE PINTEREST!!! Pinterest is without a doubt my favorite form of social media. If you don’t follow me, you should! You can find me and all of my fabulous boards HERE.
When you head to my profile on Pinterest, you’ll see all of my boards and none of them will surprise you because they’re all so ME. I think that’s the key. You need to curate boards that speak directly to you. Take a look at my boards, they’re very much me. If you’re interested in tattoos or traveling to Japan or Amish furniture…whatever it is, create specific boards for those things. I like my boards to be specific, so you’ll notice that I have a general Travel board but I also have more specific All Things French and All Things British boards for those two places as I tend to pin more from there than other travel destinations. So Tip #1: make your boards about things YOU love. Tip #2: make your boards specific! Tip #3: Follow other Pinners you see pinning similar items you do. Tip #4: Check in on Pinterest every day if only to Pin one or two things. Tip #5: If you for instance, try a recipe and don’t love it or if you do love it, add a note to your existing Pin about it (to keep track) and start a board called Recipes I Pinned and Loved and move that recipe over there. See? Just make boards and keep them organized. I change my organization around monthly depending on the season. Right now, you’ll see my Easter, Spring and travel boards as those are relevant now…but come September, my boards will be Apples, Pumpkins, Fall Food, Halloween, Back to School, etc.
For this one, I’m just going to address the last part…my favorite travel wear. I’ve shared this before, but I’ll share it again, I almost always wear the same uniform when traveling…
Me about to board an 8+ hour flight to Hawaii.
1: Very comfy, stretchy dress (I wore THIS ONE to Hawaii and then the very same dress but in black on the flight home). I rarely wear jeans as I find that if it’s hot on the flight, I get really hot if I’m in jeans and extra nauseous. I’m not saying I never wear jeans…but I always try to wear a dress. I also almost always wear a black or dark colored dress in case of spills while on board. (That being said, just last week, I saw this dress in pink and thought it was SO CUTE!) If the flight is super, super long, I will wear my Spanx leggings.
2: I bring a denim jacket and large scarf. I seriously cannot think of the last trip that I didn’t bring a denim jacket and scarf in my carry on bag. If it’s cold, I can put them on or lay them across my lap, if I spill something I can cover up in it…it polishes a “rumpled in flight outfit” after you land. Love.
3: I wear stud earrings. I really try to wear studs every time so that face masks, headphones, whatever can fit over my ears without pulling at my lobes.
4: I layer on lots of necklaces and bracelets so that I don’t have to pack them 😉 .
5: I wear shoes that slip off and on really easily. Even though I have my TSA precheck clearance, you know…sometimes, the machine beeps and you have to take off your shoes or you’re in a country that doesn’t recognize TSA, so I like to easily be able to take mine off and on.
That wraps up this edition of Grab Bag!
I hope you all go listen to today’s new podcast episode and enjoy it 🙂 . I’ll see you back here tomorrow, friends! xx
Sheaffer says
Loved reading about the kids, and can’t wait to listen to this week’s Bestie Breakdown!!!
Erika Slaughter says
I totally understand Ashby! Sometimes going from point a to point b distracts me too!
Elspeth says
I love these grab bag posts! They are always so fun to read!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Andrea Hooper says
This is for Ashby! You should try this dip. Every time I make it, people rave and there are rarely leftovers! https://www.fitmittenkitchen.com/avocado-feta-dip/
Jami Hamrick says
My daughter is 14 and we use curology. By far the best purchase. We tried several different products and they would work until they wouldn’t and her skin was so sensitive. Curology has made a world of difference.
Stacie says
My 10 year old uses Spotless for her skincare regimen and is loving it!
sandi says
We have four teens between the ages of 14-19… three of them are girls. The Mary Kay Clear Proof Acne system has been a great “starter kit” for our girls. The set is priced well and the products last a long time, assuming you teach them that they don’t need a tablespoon of a product when a pea size will do. No matter what they use I’m trying to teach consistency and the importance of cleaning your face daily. They all have pretty good skin and (by choice) only wear makeup for special occasions. My girls have friends that do full faces of makeup daily; mine would rather sleep in :-). Our oldest is in college and works at Target; he has picked up some Harry’s products recently that work for him.
I have enjoyed the recent GF recipes as my husband is gluten and dairy free.
Liz says
For skin that’s breaking out- OTC Differin gel! It’s tricky because you have to be consistent AND there is a purging period where your skin will look worse before it looks better. But this is hands down the best thing we have done for my 12yo’s acne currently. We also are big Cerave fans, especially for sunscreen moisturizers.
Lauren says
OH K is going to love Gilmore Girls!!
Sarah says
We started an easy skin care routine with my 7th grader this year to set up good habits 🙂 She just cleanses and moisturizes in the morning right after her first period Athletics class. At night it’s cleanse, treat, then moisturize. My derm recommended Cetaphil, CeraVe, Vanicream, and La Roche Posay products. Differin gel too but she uses that very sparingly. And she loves Tarte Shape Tape to cover any blemishes. We tried less expensive concealer but nothing is as good as Tarte!
Carol says
So just finished listening to the Bestie Breakdown. I rarely comment about the Bestie Breakdown, but Had to stand up for Tab’s guacamole. It is the BEST EVER!! and the only one I make since finding the recipe on your blog. I make it ALL the time-made it yesterday and had your cod fish recipe, can’t think of the name right now. (the one with guacamole and peas). DELICIOUS! Also, NO to mayonnaise in guacamole–Does NOT-Should NOT be in guacamole.
Mix and Match Mama says
Thank you, thank you, thank you for seeing the sane side of that argument 😉 .
K.K. says
Love the grab bags (especially the fun facts about your kids) and the podcast. 🙂 Thanks, Shay!
Jenny B. says
As for the teen skin care…most of Arbonne’s products are certified GF. They have several different sets or you can buy single items. I believe the RE9 Prepwork line is for younger people, but don’t quote me on that. I don’t sell Arbonne, just use the products and really enjoy them. My 11 yr. old daughter also has celiac disease and Arbonne’s plant based protein powder is the only kind she likes. I love their Fizz Sticks for a yummy, fizzy, caffeinated, pick-me-up in the afternoons. Again, I don’t sell it, we’ve just found that they offer a lot of GF products we enjoy.
Kourtney says
I am so excited that Kensington is about to start Gilmore Girls. It’s my favorite and she will love it! I’ve been watching it on repeat since I was her age and I still giggle every episode.
Jessica Tribbett says
This might be a question for a post – but since you noted your kids being outside so much I wanted to ask. At what age did you start letting them go play off of your property without you? Did you wait until they (or do they) have a GPS tracking watch? What age did you let them have a tracking watch? My oldest is 7.5 and I’m struggling with how I feel about that….clearly. 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
I don’t know that I can pinpoint a specific age but it varied with each kid. Right now, Madeley is 7.5, and I don’t want her running off alone…but maybe I felt different about Smith at that age? I’m not sure…but I don’t think I have a hard and fast rule. I think it all varies on them and what they’re doing.
Michelle Diniakos says
Hey shay! Random question… remember those Halogen camis that you wear under everything? Well I am now addicted to those as well!! I love them!! But I can’t find them anymore!! Have you been able to find them? I’m desperate!!
Michelle
Mix and Match Mama says
Ugggg, I’m still wearing the old ones. I’ve been on the hunt for more but haven’t found a comparable option yet.
Emily says
Loved the grab bag comments – especially the update on the kids. So fun!
Allie says
My preteen is a boy so we’ve got a super basic skincare routine set up that he follows 90% of the time. Cetaphil Restoraderm face wash to keep his eczema at bay, followed by Cetaphil moisturizer with SPF in the AM and Cetaphil Restoraderm moisturizer in the PM. Every now & then he’ll get a little pimple & he likes to use the Peter Thomas Roth Acne Clear Invisible Dots overnight.
Olga says
Hi Shay,
Did you post about a new curling iron? I can’t seem to find post again. Did you like how it styled your hair? What brand was it?
Thank you
Mix and Match Mama says
I haven’t posted about it on my blog yet! I really do like it!!! I need to add it to my blog!
Beth says
As far as teen skincare, be sure you are using super clean products since so many have chemicals that will disrupt their hormones. The products she uses now will affect her menstrual cycle and ability to get pregnant later on. Check ALL products on the EWG app to see their score before buying. It would be good for you to check your products too. You’ll be surprised how some of them rate.
Debra says
Loved this post!! So fun to see what everyone enjoys! Thanks.
Bethany says
Cetaphil cleanser for teens!
Kacy M says
My mom had me on Clinique since high school and I’m still doing their 3 step routine and eye cream to this day (I’m in my late 20’s).