Ideas for Filling Easter Baskets for Kids

March 29, 2022
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Ideas for Filling Easter Baskets for Kids- M Loves M @marmar

Easter is coming up faster than I realized so I spent the weekend researching cute ideas for filling Easter baskets for kids. I loved last year’s baskets, which these photos are from, so they’re definitely inspiring me this year as well. Easter is on Sunday April 17th so I hope this post helps you put together your kid’s baskets, or maybe tops them off.

easter basket ideas for kids - M Loves M @marmar boys easter basket - M Loves M @marmar

Last year I included kids water bottles in both baskets. For Corinna I included flower sunglasses, this sweet bunny book, and some Critters which she has grown to love so much over the past year. Augustine got a little tool kit (which I especially loved because Jesus was a carpenter’s son), sunglasses, a book {this book would be perfect!}, and some chalk. Unfortunately, the tool kit I got is out of stock but I love this wooden one! I try not to load up candy in their baskets but we do an Easter egg hunt with some treats in plastic eggs. Augustine’s favorite are the peanut butter pretzels!

This year I’m thinking about adding bath bombs which have been a favorite of both kids and some other things they can play together like playdough, bubble toys or washable markers.

If you have a little one, this knit bunny lovey is so darling! And this pull-along duck or counting carrots game.

For Corinna, I love this bunny bag, gingham bow, or knot detail headbands. She’d probably have a lot of fun with this wooden camera too! I feel like these floral knit socks would be very practical and she needs some new pairs. Somehow socks always get lost around here…

For Augustine, I’m looking into getting him the Tractor LegoCity or a game like Jenga. This dinosaur diver pack might also be a fun encouragement for upcoming swim lessons. And baseball hats to last through summer might be a good option too!

Both kids love helping me in the kitchen so I thought about getting this Easter cupcake kit, although that would probably be something I surprise them with over the weekend. They love spontaneous baking days, and these coconut cupcakes are one of our absolute favorites. Perfect for Easter too! Another fun activity would be this paint your own eggs craft.

For clothing, I adore this bloomer set for C and button-down and khaki shorts for A. These sandals have been a favorite during recent years so I was thinking about adding them to both of their baskets. They’re great for days at the splash park!

 

cute girls easter outfit - M Loves M @marmar

 

Hopefully this post gives you some ideas for filling Easter baskets for kids! Hope you all are enjoying your week!

 

xox

Labeled:

Living, Motherhood

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I Found the Most Personalized Skincare Routine

March 10, 2022
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customized skincare products- M Loves M @marmar

Since I started blogging over a decade ago, I’ve worked with many brands and tried more products than I could possibly count. While I always love trying a new skincare product, I have never felt like it’s perfectly designed for my skin type and needs. There’s always been one area it’s fallen short – maybe the moisturizer without the SPF, or the night cream that doesn’t know how soft/hard the water is where I’ve lived. My good friend recommended Proven Skincare to me and she has the most stunning skin, so I was beyond curious to check it out. I went to their site which led me through a short but very detailed questionnaire that I really appreciated and actually enjoyed doing. I was asked questions about my skin concerns, habits that expose me to screens, and finally my zip code because of course our skin is affected by our environment. I could constantly see the ingredients changing based on my answers. Here’s a little peek at what my customization was like. I couldn’t help screenshotting because I was so fascinated!

what proven's customization looks like- M Loves M @marmar

proven skincare customization- M Loves M @marmar

Pretty cool, right? There were so many other areas that were addressed like my personal concerns, as well as my lifestyle.

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Never have I had such a thorough evaluation of my skin, not even during a fancy spa facial. I received the products and immediately started using them. While it’s only been a month and a half I just had to share my experience because I’ve been so impressed with the company and the process of customization. So far my skin seems to be responding well to the new products. I sometimes will break out when switching over to something new, but haven’t experienced that with these. My skin feels really hydrated during the end of our winter, and I feel like my skin also just looks a little but brighter. I didn’t notice that last part until I looked through some recent photos and was like wow why my skin actually looks a little different! I feel like I usually need/want to wear a foundation but I’ve had less redness that I feel like I can go without, or with a light skin tint.

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If any of you are looking for a new product, I’d encourage you to check out Proven Skincare! I think you’ll enjoy the personalization process and be just as excited to try some products designed specifically for you! Also, you can use code MARA for a discount of $80 off the retail price!! They were so sweet to share that code with me!

xox
Mara

DISCLOSURE: Thank you so much to Proven Skincare for partnering with me on this post! All thoughts and opinions, as always, are my own. Thanks so much for supporting my sponsors!

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Beauty, Skincare

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Making Meal Prep a Little Bit Easier

January 31, 2022
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DISCLOSURE: Thank you so much to Walmart for partnering with me on this post. All thoughts and opinions, as always, are my own. Thank you so much for supporting my sponsors.

best meal prepping tips - M Loves M @marmar

We’re at the end of January, and I have to say I’ve been pleasantly surprised that I’ve been able to keep up with one of my New Year’s Resolutions: meal prepping! Meal prepping is often something I forget about but then always wish that I had made the time for. Today I’m giving some of my go-to tips to make the process easy and, dare I say, fun! I definitely couldn’t do it without my favorite delivery membership either.

I feel like no matter what stage of life you’re in, our weekly schedules are busy! From dropping kids off at school, homeschooling, working the 9 to 5, working weekends, traveling, balancing multiple responsibilities, our weeks can get hectic. The one thing that’s always a given though is that we need to eat, preferably as healthfully as possible! Meal planning and prepping though is always a way I feel more organized and our weeks go so much more smoothly when this is something I prioritize.

How I’ve Been Making Meal Prep a Little Bit Easier

FIND YOUR RECIPES
On the weekends, I love to pull out my favorite cookbooks (or new cookbooks I’m borrowing from the library). Sometimes I have a tiny helper who likes to pick out his or her favorites! I’ll go through and find 5 recipes we want to make. Usually I leave 2 days empty – one for leftovers, and one for a special out meal! Besides cookbooks, I love to look on Pinterest. I have a few boards that I add to with meals we’ve made and loved, and also another one with dinners I want to make. Then, when I need an idea, I’ll go there to refresh my memory!

*bonus points for looking in the fridge/pantry first to see what needs to be used up. This week I’m trying to use up some sweet potatoes.

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MAKE A LIST
I make a list of ALL the ingredients needed (ok maybe not salt and pepper). Then I look in the fridge and pantry and cross off everything I don’t need. I use an app to make the adding and removing process a lot easier and smoother.

GROCERY SHOP
Grocery shopping tends to be a big ordeal over here because usually I’m taking the kiddos, and also trying to stay focused on my list. I usually have tiny hands reaching for chips/cookies/things I’m not planning on getting. For that reason, I’ve really come to love and rely on my Walmart+ membership. I’ve shared my love of Walmart+ in the past, and I just have to say that when it comes to meal planning, it’s incredibly helpful! When life is filled to the brim, I love that I can rely on this service for free delivery from my store ($35 order minimum. Restrictions apply), or even free shipping with no order minimum (ecludes most Marketplace items, location & freight surcharges). It’s the little things that help so so much! Walmart’s grocery section is awesome and I love that I can get free delivery of fresh groceries from the store in a pinch. I try to be super organized with my grocery list but if I run out of one thing it’s also nice to easily use the service to get what I need.

GET A HEAD START
Meal planning and meal prepping often go hand in hand. Sometimes I wish I had more time on my Sunday evenings to just do a big prep for the week. If I can, I’ll make the rice, soak the beans, and wash and dry the salad lettuce. More often than not though, I’ll usually prep the meal I’m making the night before. After the kids go to bed, I’ll go into the kitchen, read my recipe from start to finish and do as much as I can. Oftentimes I can make the recipe completely and put it in the fridge for the next day! I love when that happens. To make the process more enjoyable this is the time I love to listen to podcasts or music. It helps pass the time, and then I feel like I’m being doubly productive!

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ENLIST HELP
Augustine has been loving helping me in the kitchen, so I just got him these kid knives that will be perfect for him to use safely! I know he’s going to be such a good sous chef! And Corinna is such a wonderful helper picking out recipes and adding ingredients that I’ve measured out. She also loves to put the muffin liners in the tins! We love to bake muffins together on Mondays as a special treat that we can enjoy in the afternoons. It’s been something we’ve really looked forward to doing together.

how to get kids helping in kitchen - M Loves M @marmar healthy muffins - M Loves M @marmar

I’d love to know any tips you have been making meal prep a little bit easier. Please share below! And if you want to learn more about Walmart+ please do. It’s been a wonderful membership for our family!

SCROLL THROUGH FOR SOME FAVORITE KITCHEN ITEMS

xox

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Home, Living

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