DIY Custom Beaded Bracelets

This past weekend I was brainstorming some ideas for Mother's Day gifts. It's been challenging to think of gifts since I can't exactly make it out to stores. Thanks for Michael's curbside pick-up option, I thought it would be fun to get crafty this year. 

It also helps to pass the time while we are all spending more time in the house. 

I was browsing the bead selection and loved the idea of rose gold bracelets. 

Today, I am sharing this super easy DIY project that only requires a few things in addition to a pair of scissors.

WHAT YOU NEED:

elastic magic cord

alphabet beads for personalization

beads for the rest of the bracelet

 HOW TO ASSEMBLE

Step 1: Set aside the alphabet beads you'll need for your custom message/name

Step 3: Unwind the elastic and start adding filler beads. I used 25 beads before adding my alphabet beads. I added 25 more beads. *You may want to measure out your wrist to ensure it fits comfortably on your wrist. 

Step 4: Wrap the bracelet around your wrist to ensure a comfortable fit and cut the string. Leave it a bit longer so you can tie the two strings together. 

Step 5: Triple tie the knots to secure the bracelet. You can use glue to ensure the knots are more secure. 

I made sure to make a set for myself too since I had the extra beads. 

They pair perfectly with my Apple watch that is also rose gold. 

This project was fun, super easy and only cost me about $10 total for the 11 bracelets I made.

Since I have some beads leftover, and to celebrate Mother's Day, I'd love to make a custom set for one of my readers! 

TO ENTER:

1) Follow me on Instagram (@glitterandjuls)

2) Like my last three IG posts
3) Tag a friend or two

3) Comment below with your custom set request.

I'll choose a winner this week! Good luck! 

3 Tips to Staying Active with Young Kids + Matching Mother-Daughter Sets with Fabletics

Keeping up with exercise is a hard enough task for anyone, but when you have kids it's even more difficult. Most of my time is filled with mom-duties for my four young kids. I struggled with finding any time to exercise, but starting in 2020 I wanted to really focus on my health.

I've learned some things that have helped me prioritize fitness and today I'm sharing 3 tips for staying active with young kids.

[1] FIND THE RIGHT TIME: This is probably easier said that done, but I realized the best time for me to work out is when my kids are asleep. I am pretty exhausted by the end of the night after the kids go to bed so I knew evenings wouldn't work for me. But, I am a morning person so I knew sacrificing a little bit of sleep in the mornings would work best for me. Definitely, do what is best for you because you do not want to dread working out.  I found that working out in the morning is a great start to my day. I feel accomplished, I enjoy my me-time and I don't feel rushed.

[2] MAKE YOUR WORKOUTS FUN: Let's be real, not everyone looks forward to working out. But I have found ways to make workouts fun. I love dancing and high energy type workouts so when I gravitate toward dance and barre workout videos. I have a subscription to Pop Sugar Fitness on YouTube and they have some great dance workouts. I also love the Fit On app. The trainers are excellent and workouts go by so quickly when you are having fun. If you haven't had a dance sweat session with trainer Aubre Winters, I highly recommend! Also, workout to your favorite music. Pamela Reif has some great song workouts.

[3] STAY ACTIVE ALL DAY: Even when you don't have time for a structured workout, make a point to stay active anyways. If you're working, use your lunch break to take a brisk walk. I found that wearing my Apple watch helps me to stay motivated. Gotta close those rings! If you have an Apple watch, you know what I'm talking about. Another fun feature on the Apple watch is sharing your activity with friends. It becomes a friendly competition to help motivate you even more.

BONUS TIP
[4] If all else fails, GET YOUR KIDS INVOLVED: Some days are just harder to get a workout in when you have young kids. Instead of feeling defeated, get the kids involved. Especially during quarantine, we go on walks around the neighborhood at least once a day. They get to burn some much needed energy and you all get your steps in! Win-Win. And I am sure everyone benefits from the fresh air.

MATCHING MOTHER-DAUGHTER SETS WITH FABLETICS

Do you like twinning with your daughters? I thought I would do it more often, but after seeing these cute work out sets I want to twin more with my girls!

I am excited to share Fabletics and Ginger Ressler released a Mother-Daughter capsule just in time for Mother's Day. I could not be more in love with this collection.

This capsule is super fun and meant for kids to feel confident, comfortable and cute! I know I feel motivated to stay fit when I feel good in what I'm wearing. It can inspire your kids to want to focus on staying active too! 

3 Ways to Style a T-Shirt Dress

Because I needed a reason to wear real clothes, I decided to do a style session with this Target t-shirt dress. It's actually on sale today for $10.50 so with so many versatile ways to wear it, it definitely pays for itself. It comes in several other colors also. 

The first way I styled it is with a pair of statement earrings and my favorite Grayson button up tied in a knot over the dress. I added some block heels for a dressier work option, but I could totally see myself pairing it with a pair of flats too for a more casual look. 

For the next look I swapped out the earrings and added a denim vest. I've owned this vest for several years and I love being able to pair it with so much to add some texture. I slipped on a pair of sandals to complete the outfit. 

For the third look I added some Nickel & Suede earrings and tied a chambray button-up around my waist. I wore some sneakers for a super causal look. 

I can think of so many other ways to wear this dress so I am happy I bought it. I love pieces that I can wear multiple ways. What's your favorite way to style a t-shirt dress? 

Which of these three styles is your favorite?

One Month of Quarantine: What I've Learned

Yesterday marked one month of self-isolation and quarantine due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  My kids have been out of school, my husband has been working from home (I was too, before being furloughed), and Noah and I have only been out of the house for quick essential trips to the store.

During this time, this is what I've learned:

1. I've never spent so much money on groceries in my life. With 6 people in the house it is impossible to make groceries last more than a week.

2. Thank goodness for sunshine. I'm thankful we can spend some of our time outdoors. The sunshine is an instant mood booster and going for walks is a great way to get us moving. I try to get all of us out at least twice a day.

3. Kids are troopers. Through this time I don't think we have given our kids enough credit. They have had their little lives turned upside down too. Their usual structure of school and relationships has been thrown out and they have had to adjust to so much change in a short amount of time. They miss school and they miss playing with their friends. I am proud of the way my children have been handling the whole situation.

4. Americans are some creative problem-solvers. We have faced all kinds of unique challenges through this time. Hospitals are in need of PPE, Teachers are teaching from a distance, businesses are closed, etc. I have loved seeing all the stories of how everyone has found creative ways to solve all the challenges. People are sewing masks, restaurants are thinking outside of the box to serve their customers, we are using technology to help kids continue their learning and more.

5. I am over doing dishes and laundry. Anyone else?

6. I'm content with less. As a family, we used to find ourselves at Target every weekend almost. You know what happens at Target. You go in for one thing and come out spending way more. This whole situation has shown me how bad our spending habits were.

7. Self-care is so important. Spending 24/7 with your family is great and all, but it can be a lot. I have been getting up before my kids to get some alone time and it makes such a difference. During the week I use that time to get a work out in. On the weekend, I just sit with a cup of coffee and enjoy it while its still hot. Just 30 minutes is great for your mental health.

8. It is okay to give yourself a little grace. The days are long and we have so much on our plate. Whether it be the emotional burden or all the extra tasks we are adding on, it can be tough. Perfection is an illusion and it's okay to not do it all. We are all doing the best that we can.

9. It is alright to grieve. I have been on a roller coaster of emotions. I have tried to put on a brave face for my family, but some days are harder than others. I've learned that it's okay to just have a crappy day. It's okay to grieve the things that have been taken from us due to the pandemic.

10. During this time, I remain grateful. I am grateful the virus has not reached my close friends/ family members. I am grateful Noah and I still have jobs. I am grateful for the best support system anyone could ask for. The list goes on and on. This pandemic has been a great reminder that we still have so much to be grateful for.

We will all get through this. We just have to keep the faith, be kind to ourselves and others, and STAY HOME.

Quarantine and Chill: What to Watch During Corona Quarantine

Since we are self-isolating and spending more time at home, I thought I would share some of my picks for shows/movies to watch. 

On Netflix, you have to check out Tiger King. I promise you have never seen anything like it. Just when you think it's nuts, it gets even more outrageous. Another series/show to watch is Ozark. Season 3 was just released and Noah has been binging it. This is one series I need to catch up on and now that quarantine has been extended to May 30th I think I can manage it!  If you are into something more light-hearted and in the romance department, I would check out Love is Blind. It is a dating show that tests the concept of falling in love and getting engaged without ever seeing one another. 

If you have HBO, checkout Westworld. Season 3 premiered earlier this month. If you like Sci-Fi or AI, this show is right up your alley. It's one of those series that has you asking a million questions but it's really good! 

Interested in a kid-friendly movie? I took the kids (minus Mia) to see Disney's Onward when it was in the movie theatres. I didn't go into it expecting to like it that much, but it was a super cute and heart-warming movie. Because of this craziness with the corona virus, Disney + is releasing this movie early! 

One show that I cannot wait to come back is Killing Eve. I love a strong female cast and this show is so good for so many reasons. I love the love and hate relationship between the two characters and if you love crime or thriller type shows, you have to check it out! You have time to binge the first three seasons in preparation for the release of Season 4. 

I love a good show to binge or discovering a new movie. I stumbled across the movie "Yesterday" over the weekend and I really liked it. It wouldn't be a movie I'd necessary pay to watch, but it was a cute little love story with awesome Beatles music. It made me laugh too. 

My guilty pleasure shows are singing shows. I love American Idol, The Voice and Songland. If you like a feel-good makeover show, then I encourage you check out QueerEye. I love the Fab Five! 

Other great series/movies I've loved: 

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Stranger Things 

Dark

Game of Thrones

The Affair 

Outlander

Parenthood (so good!)

Curb Your Enthusiasm

The Outsider

Succession

Big Little Lies

Sharp Objects

True Detective 

What shows/movies are you guys watching?? I'd love to know! Drop some recommendations in the comments!!