The Simple Life

Huge Disneyland DISCOUNT!! Discount Disneyland Tickets starts TODAY! #disneyland #getawaytoday

Let's kick off the Summer of 2017 by saving you $17 off all 3 Day Disneyland Park Hopper tickets! That will save you $17 off adult AND kid priced tickets!!! Also mention "SIMPLE" for an additional $10 off your package (tickets+hotel) placed from now til June 26, 2017. 

Also be sure to follow Get Away Today on facebook, they will be AT Disneyland doing facebook lives a couple times this week, they always have the best tips and secrets to share about making your trip the best as possible! So watch out for those updates ♥

 

a few of my favorites! army green, coral, crocheted anything and pom pom/tassel trims ✔️

#wearyourjoySPRING

Disneyland tickets are going up, SAVE with Get Away Today...

hi guys! 

i always hate to break this news to you, yes Disneyland tickets are going up again, but you can always save with Get Away Today! you know i got your back on reminders! you can book now til tomorrow and save up to $32 per ticket, depending on how many days. and as always, mention my blog code "SIMPLE" to save $10 OFF any 2 night or longer Disneyland package ♥

wishing you the best memories at disneyland in 2017!

juicing...

probably not the best time to start juicing, but i couldn't wait to start! actually let me rephrase that, there is no better time to start juicing than today! ordered my juicer and got to work. actually i started yesterday. i'm aiming for two weeks. the first thing i had to juice was pineapple, because who doesn't love fresh pineapple juice?!

i can totally do this because i'm fine without eating, UNTIL dinner. and tacos. and tortilla chips. but really it's mind over food right now. i need a reboot, bad. i gained 30 pounds in one month, yes one month, from thyroid and hormone issues. this was aug/sept of 2015. turns out i've always has them. go figure, it explains everything. last august i finally got in to see the doctor i had been wanting to see for a few years now! i made my appointment, because we finally had health insurance and it turned out that the very same week they were no longer billing insurance for visits! and they were still a month out. so i waited, and at least labs were covered. i started off with gluten free, and no sugar. sugar is fine, but no gluten... a million times harder. so i eased my way into it. i would have gluten, in the form of a roll, sandwich or maybe a cinnamon roll once a week. i mean i can't deprive myself, even though i can tell instantly how it affects my body and brain. 

so now onto juicing. i've actually wanted to do this for so long! no more wasted produce. every last bit goes through the juicer. i am definitely not much of a vegetable eater. meat and potatoes, all the way. i love potatoes!! i mean i'll eat salad and certain cooked vegetables, i prefer them raw. basically i'm lazy and hate to prep food and cook. i'd rather drink my meals, unless levi is cooking ;) so this will be great, and DAY 13 (i'm counting down to 2 weeks)is over with!

happy birthday georgina! we sure miss you! today the girls got haircuts after school. i also list track of time so i was ten minutes late picking them up from school today, geez. levi got the water lines taken care of this afternoon. 

isabella waiting for her ballet class, eating nachos in the excursion and sporting her short hair again. she tested out the jazz class after ballet, she's been begging for quite a while now. guess we will be getting home even later wednesday nights, she's adding the class!  i told her she has to promise me extra jobs and no extra attitude, we'll see how it goes. 

yay for getting this place cleaned up. early when i had taken the photo, this was the only corner that was walkable. always a mess in here, most of the times it's creative. last week our old water heater took a dump, so levi came home from work early to try and fix it. didn't work. so he replaced it with a new one, thank goodness he's a handy man ;) the water heater closet/access is actually behind that old door so all my crap had to be moved out of the way. not that i already had a mess in here any way! worked my way through and got it cleaned up and reorganized in a few hours. now to get rid of my piles and clear off my table. then i'm good again for the next creative storm. always a process! meanwhile... our water lines are backed up. either legos that went down the drain...or who knows?? i called levi again from work, so he's been home for 3 hours trying to figure it out. they say that things come in threes. i do want a new washer and dryer, ha ha! crap. better start saving.

january 11th 2016

january is moving right along. we've had more rain this winter than i've ever remembered. except california, growing up, we had some good rainstorms in january. it rained all day and night on monday and melted down the snow a good 6-8 inches. no i didn't measure, just guesstimating from the park bench out back! and now as i type it's snowing pretty good again. this is the most snow we've had since living here! well time to get back to the daily chores of life.

saturday snow day...

gulianna and jeremy spent a few hours playing outside in the snow. maybe we should have saved our trampoline and put it away for this winter!

friday...

wearing my joy with pom poms and love my snow boots with green laces ♥

snow...

well we definitely weren't expecting this much snow! i spend a good hour shoveling a path way to our wood pile. i guess it's good that it wasn't stacked next to the garage, because it would have been completely buried with all the snow that has fallen off from the roof. i only hauled 3 wheelbarrow loads back to the house. there is so much snow!! it never stopped snowing today. i found a nice surprise when i lifted the tarp, anthony's glasses, he's only been missing them for 2 weeks now... that kid. "oh, THAT'S where i left them!!!" he's lucky they didn't get crushed. we had to walk back home after school, i took the drew kids home and got stuck in their driveway. i debated whether or not to pull in. shoot! 

Trader Joe's...

i can finally say i've been to trader joe's! how i wish we had one here. i love their packaging on all their products and their story. these cookies are the BEST! ok totally not sponspored, and off to unpacking from our trip and loads of laundry.

i love mondays...

i love monday's! moving forward, lots of goals and lists to make for the week. early out day for school. being productive. and fresh powder outside is inspiring. and these green laces are everything to me ♥ i need bright and happy colors, always.

The Polka Dot Barn coupon code...

i want to always say thank you to all my customers! i am offering 25% off everything in my etsy shop for black friday, small business saturday, and cyber monday, lets just cover all of them at once! good through November 25-28th at midnight, use coupon code 'SHOPSMALL' #blackfriday #smallbusinessSaturday #cybermonday

Disneyland Black Friday Deals with Get Away Today...

 

it's that time of year again, ALREADY??!

Adults at Kids' Prices valid for travel through ALL of 2017 on all 3-day and longer Disneyland tickets. This includes both Park Hopper and 1-Park per Day tickets. So purchase now to lock in these great prices for 2017!

and save an ADDITIONAL $20 off using my code "SIMPLE" for any 2-night or longer vacation package. (2 ticket minimum) and it will work for any Southern California vacation package, not just Disneyland AND you can combine with their free night hotel specials.

$20 off is only valid during the Black Friday sale November 21-28th 2016! REMEMBER you can always LOCK DOWN your prices with Get Away Today's LAYAWAY plan for only $125 down. which is what we do! 

Legoland also has an amazing promotion right now KIDS are FREE til December 24, 2016. You can get a 1-Day LEGOLAND/Sea Life Hopper Child ticket for free with each paying adult. 

as always for more vacation ideas you can visit Get Away Today's site, it gets addicting to plan to get away!:)

 

 

Halloween iphone photos...

this year, the boys couldn't wait for everyone to go trick or treating, so they escaped without us!

gulianna wanted to be a cat, isabella was a detective, she loves her "adventure dress" and new it would make the perfect detective outfit too.(i really wanted her to be snow white, since she had the perfect haircut, and i don't think her snow white dress will fit next year!) anthony was a race car driver, and jeremy a fire fighter. i love halloween!

and trick or treating around this town is so magical, and picture perfect at every house!

anthony tried to pull one over on joe the potter, he insisted on a piece of pottery for his "treat!"

we made our way down to the soda fountain for some games, and then back to our house for our traditional taco soup dinner. usually i do it before we go trick or treating but i didn't have it ready earlier.

jeremy was so excited to go trick or treating, it was christmas morning to him every time some one answered their door! i wish they could stay this little forever ♥

story behind the photo...

these little hoodlums! it's always something every halloween! they couldn't wait to go trick or treating, so they grabbed grocery bags and took off without halloween costumes!!! i was out looking for them, i ran over to the creek first to see if they were playing there, and then got a call from a friend shortly after, it looks like they hit every house on the way to hers. life with these boys. 

Vintage Halloween Wreath...

it's true. i made this at the last minute. like i was hanging it up, as our first trick or treaters were showing up!

between orders and soccer and our st george trip, i didn't even decorate!! so i quickly made the polka dot bow, i had the burlap ribbon in my stash for a few years, just waiting for me to make it. made a junque bow for jack the skeleton, and taped one of my halloween banner's to our front door! i pinned the chalkboard halloween printable (designed by rhonna farrer)to the bow with a clothespin. it makes the wreath! i will remember to hang it up next year, EARLY, and get the full thirty one days out of it ♥  

digital frame is from rhonna's app! available here in the app store ;)

free Halloween printable...

 

hello! i needed a last minute Halloween printable...so i thought i would share it too! ♥ 

DOWNLOAD HERE.

i used a template designed from Robyn Meierotto and Heidi Swapp digital brushes.

personal use only.

 

Deals on Universal Studios-Hollywood...

book your Universal Studios Hollywood tickets through Get Away Today by October 11th, you can save up to $23 per ticket! use code "SIMPLE" to save $10 off your ticket/vacation package through Get Away Today.

Utah UEA save on Disneyland tickets...

who's ready for fall break!? i know i AM!

for anyone that is traveling to California, i have some deals for you through Get Away Today! and if you are thinking, no FURTHER like Florida, you can buy your tickets for DisneyWorld and Universal Studios Orlando through Getaway Today as well! 

October is Kids Free Month in San Diego. think Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Safari Park, and LegoLand is close by too.

be sure to mention my coupon code "SIMPLE" to save $10! 

Halloween at Disney is going on now til October 31!

ruby snap in salt lake #rubysnap

this is the cutest little brick store with the best gourmet cookies! love the name, Ruby Snap, and their packaging ♥

a must stop when you are in salt lake. right of the 600 South exit. 770 S 300 W in SLC. 

explore...

my sister is here visiting for a few days, so we showed her what's left of this neat little house after a frozen yogurt/library trip. 

jeremy's first dental checkup. 8 flossing cavities. ugh. dang it. but he was so happy to be there, that he ran straight to the back, and then returned, saying "but mom, the teefer checkers are not back there!" yes, you have to wait your turn. we got there 15 minutes early for once instead of on time, and we waited 35 min! yet when i show up exactly on time, we get to go right back. so what's the point in being early for dr appointments?!

my kids love to plan what we are going to do for family home evening. we do whatever is on the list.

this is anthony's for next week:

1. build with blocks. 
2. sing a song that you made up.
3. mom will read a book.

 

utah treats + park...

last minute trip on a whim...we went up north to pick up our teepee! (i'll post it soon, it's lovely!)and to just get out. levi is always working, so he hasn't been out for a while.

first stop: the provo bakery 

www.theprovobakery.com

we love a good donut, for me anything with chocolate, although i love a good old fashioned glazed donut too.

the boys went for a sugar cookie, the colorful frosting gets them every time! jeremy got mad because he was so excited to bite into his cookie that it jumped right out of his hand and onto the floor.

second stop: discovery park in pleasant grove

1550 N 100 E pleasant grove, ut

we haven't been to this park since we moved, the girls didn't even remember it! lots of towers and bridges, the boys had fun chasing each other all over. we met jeremy and visited for a bit while the kids played, we missed georgia this time, she had a game.  

and last... wood + hexagons #floorlove 

today as i was cleaning, i turned around to jeremy up on the counter washing dishes! he proudly shouts "mom! boys, i mean Jeremys JUST KNOW how to wash dishes. really they do!" and then i heard a glass shatter on the tile "and sorry i just bumped a glass on the floor. 

next up floors. earmuffs optional.

he was doing pretty good at cleaning the floors, until he started sucking up bigger things, which then changed to sucking up is skin and lips. ha ha!

save on tickets to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter...

hey friends...

a quick heads up on deals to help you save if you are headed Universal Studios Hollywood! Harry Potter fans! The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is opening in JUST a week!

APRIL 7th to be exact ;)

prices did increase at the gate on February 5 at Universal Studios Hollywood but because Get Away Today purchases tickets in bulk, you can still save up to $28 until April 4, 2016.

remember that you don't have to travel by the expiration date, you just need to purchase and book your date for this year. also use my code "SIMPLE" to save $10 when you book. tag us in photos on IG if you go, i'd love to see!  

i know i'm ready to head to California with this weather right about now!

Today as Anthony was eating leftover french toast from breakfast (he wanted more but didn't have time right before school) Jeremy quickly grabbed a fork to share, and Anthony said "only one" and Jeremy replied "but my brain is just telling me I want MORE!"

Jeremy enjoys his food.

Anthony 5

Jeremy 3

yesterday Anthony asked "mom why can't our house be normal hot?" normal hot? i asked. "yes, normal hot. you know not hot, just when the air is regular!" do you mean like summer? "no not summer, because that is too hot. i just want to walk inside our house and it be normal hot, and same like outside too." 

i'm guessing room temperature! yes, someday we will have central air in our house, ha ha!

back to church...

he has been begging to go to church!

"is it time to go to my church class?" 

"mom, is it our church today?"

he still has a rash, but not on his face. slowly going away!

 

Hurry and Save, Disneyland is raising ticket prices!

hello friends! 

i know a lot of you are planning a trip to Disneyland this year, and just a quick heads up, prices are going up (eeek again, i know!) but you can totally save as long as you book by March 8, 2016 and can save you up to $36 per ticket! so don't procrastinate ;)

Right now these prices will reflect Disneyland's new prices and Get Away Today's current discounted prices during the Adults at Kids' Prices months (May, August, September and November):

3-Day Park Hopper Gate Price: $295: Our price: $264 - $31 savings!

4-Day Park Hopper Gate Price: $320: Our price: $285 - $35 savings!

5-Day Park Hopper Gate Price: $335: Our price: $299 - $36 savings!

Booking your trip on the other months will still save you $20 per ticket, but you still have to book by March 8, 2016. one word: LAYAWAY!! guys, you can put $125 down to lock in your vacation! so DO IT. NOW. or if you want to call Getaway Today at 855-GET-AWAY 

also don't forget to mention my blog THE SIMPLE LIFE and use code "SIMPLE" to save $10 off ♥

saturday chores...

got my orders out first thing this morning...

came back from the post office and raked a million leaves!

front yard only. i'll have to get the backyard maybe monday. there is so many leaves! almost wish i would have raked in the fall, but no big deal. i'm too ocd to get every single leaf, ha ha!

but guess what! there is green grass under all those leaves...so the faster i rake, the faster we'll have green grass. plus i feel like i'm combing the ground...the grass needs a good combing right?! i'm so funny i know.

friday favorites...

love this little boy! he's a tough kid, totally going on with life despite his full body rash from being allergic to amoxicillin. it's even worse now. anthony and jeremy will play on this dirt hill all day long. guys, in case you didn't get the memo, kids don't need toys. they need DIRT. get out there, it's free!

also, i snuck away for some waffle love! yes i feel guilty not taking my kids, but i did bring one home for levi. and he shared. but how awesome is it that they have been coming down to ephraim, every week!! #wafflelove

i didn't go last wednesday...i was so sick with the flu.

levi moved one of the jeeps, and gave the kids a ride around the property. AND he moved the little camping trailer, so we can start to work on it!

polka dot rash...

jeremy woke up this morning with a rash all over...poor kid. i knew instantly it was from the amoxicillin. he took it for 6 days, and then i forgot to give it to him yesterday because i was cleaning ALL DAY LONG. shoot. good thing, i guess. it was bound to happen. levi is allergic to penicillin. he gets a rash all over and then his skin sheds like a snake. crap. not looking forward to this. it doesn't seem to bother him, even though he looks miserable. even is palms of his hands and the bottoms of his feet are covered. it's hard to photograph. 

this morning he jumped in the bathtub with anthony, like he always does, and i didn't notice until he got out. when i went to pick up anthony from kindergarten, i told him that jeremy was home with a really bad rash all over. anthony said "you mean the polka dots from the bathtub? i saw that jeremy had polka dots all over!" i asked him why he didn't tell me right away and he said "i didn't know they were bad!" 

it was pretty funny. polka dots. 

hello MARCH...

yes March! spring is on it's way...time for green grass and leaves. and NO MORE sickness. 

custom Relief Society picnic invite...

how cute did this invite turn out!? sounds like a fun party! to have this customized for you, send me a convo through my etsy shop ♥

custom Young Women New Beginnings invite...

this was a custom order for a friend, they are going with Lehi's dream, with the tree of life and fruit. i thought this heart tree was perfect for february ;)

isabella was going through my idea books, and it sparked art ideas for her! she was so happy to look through them and find new things to create, that's my girl!

 

almost done cleaning. how i enjoy a clean house! wish it would always stay clean. LIFE HAPPENS.

extra brownies from isabella's birthday treats for school. she told everyone that she was bringing the "best treat ever, terrel's brownies!" they are really good.

getting ready for dinner, and then we are surprising isabella with swimming tomorrow! she's almost 7 ♥

on my desk...

a lovely package going out to a special friend, who loves little lambies ♥ this is part of "the BARNYARD collection!" in my SHOP here. 

haulin' and stackin' ...

always grateful for wood. it's what keeps us warm. and it makes for a good workout too. it's good to be outside, i'd rather do outside chores than be stuck in the routine of daily inside chores, it kills me! dishes, sweeping, vacuuming, laundry, ahhh, but i do it. anthony loves pulling his wagon, he's such a good helper. it was warm today about 38 degrees, which means no coat for me! 

they love building snow caves for their cars. and jeremy LOVES eating snow. any chance he gets, he'll run out and grab a handful, clothed or not!

christmas day...

it was nice for us to stay in "the apartment" so we didn't have any early risers for christmas morning! i made them all shower and get dressed, and kept the suspense up until we walked over to my mom's! the boys got lots of hot wheels cars, jeremy was so excited and content on the first one he opened, he yelled out "team HOT WHEELS!" the boys got legos, and the girls got what they asked for: art journals, crayons (the big box with lots of crayons and a sharpener!) and gulianna really wanted a pack of magnets for her crafts ♥ santa brought gulianna an "owl beanie boo" isabella an "ariel doll" anthony planes movie "airplane, bronco" and jeremy a firetruck! star wars everything from grandma, puzzles, and new clothes too. and i can't forget to add all of their snow clothes and new snow boots, that was a small fortune in itself! they were in an out all day sledding, not minding the cold, but jeremy came in screaming and crying a few times for losing his gloves, and his hands were frozen! and the best present, we went tubing at targhee! i'll have to post those separately.

christmas eve...

we had lunch with cherry in driggs, (i forgot to take pictures!)and then hung out until my mom got off work... the kids took over for a bit! i did some errands, picked up last minute gifts at corner drug, which ended up being what i wanted, thanks sally for carrying unique gifts! then we quickly changed into church clothes at rhonda's house, and visited with cherry until we went to christmas eve mass. the highlight: jeremy yelling " but my poop is coming out now!" if only the cry room wasn't full, ha ha! then both anthony and jeremy fell asleep for the rest of the time. 

isabella forgot to grab her church coat...but still a cute picture.

then we came home and had tamales and attempted to build a gingerbread house! #traditions 

gingerbread houses in the making.

but then they didn't go so well, so anthony just started eating it! 

but he was determined to make his own, since he already made one at school!

it turned out perfect!

an idaho christmas...

where to begin! we left wednesday the 28th, and tried to hit the road before it started snowing. we had good dry roads the whole way, except between our stretch, and then again on malad pass. we made it to idaho falls by 4:30. of course we had a few stops in lehi, had to pick up some of heidi's words! the kids got to open up their gifts from grandma cherrie, between those and coloring books kept them occupied. they really are good travelers, no tv or electronics. just some good music and looking out the window! 

we came home super late, levi had just picked up his paycheck on our way out, so we did our shopping in idaho falls! we met my parents too, my mom had planned on us driving through to see the christmas lights, however the line was so ridiculously long, we skipped it all together. my kids will be waking up to uncle anthony's marine dressed mannequin, sweet dreams! 

snow...

we got snow!! and times like this i wish i had a garage to park in. although it sure is fun when chunks of snow go flying everywhere ;)

The Polka Dot Barn coupon code

i appreciate my loyal customers! 40% off all orders now through Nov 30th use coupon code SHOPSMALL40 thank you♥

last minute getaway...

after being home for thanksgiving...we felt like we needed to get out! thought about st george but then realized it was unrealistic, so we went to salt lake instead! i got orders out, came home from the post office and packed within 40 minutes and we were out! checked into our hotel, went to costco and filled up with gas under $2 a gallon, YES! jeremy and amy met us at the front runner station and we were off to salt lake. it only took a year for us to finally ride. everytime we go up, i forget that they don't run on sunday's. we checked out the new church history museum, went to city creek, with hopes of leaving our kids to shop for a minute ;) ya right! and best of all the lights. it was freezing! but yay for TRADITIONS! i love when cousins can get together, we need them back here! we made it back on the train with all 12 kids and big strollers, be proud, no one was left behind. we tried, ha ha! a few lost gloves and scarves along the way, but got lucky and found them all. a quick stop at hobby lobby, for levi, i stayed in the parking lot, i had 10 min in ross and got lucky and found a coat. we had a late dinner at red robin and went back home. short, but definetly packed in a lot of fun and chaos. they don't call it hustle and bustle for nothing!

 

 

worn out shorts...

because sometimes you have to stop and document.

these rust colored orange shorts from the gap were my favorite! i bought them for anthony, and they lasted up until now for jeremy. he has completely worn them out. he is so hard on everything! i will miss both of them wearing these ♥

on my desk...

just a few of today's orders, truly thankful for customers that enjoy purchasing from my shop!

this kid...

so independant, and alway on counters and in the fridge and cupboards searching for food!

and me sitting for once getting over this sickness that i caught from everyone, (now that they are better)and enjoying a clean house that only lasts a few minutes. i'm glad soccer was cancelled friday night, i may not have recovered so quickly!