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Easter Basket Ideas

With Roman being two this year, the holidays have been a lot more exciting for him and us! We have not fully figured out all of our holiday traditions just yet, but I couldn’t wait to fill my boy’s Easter baskets! Easter morning was always magical for me as a kid, as my mom went out of her way to make it special for us. My sister and I will never forget that and have both loved curating special moments and traditions for our families. As our family grows with time, I pray we can continue to do that while still placing the emphasis of Easter on the fact that Jesus was killed for our sins and on the third day he rose again- defeating death for good! AMEN.

This year I have filled the boy’s baskets with things that I know they will like, but also with things that they need regardless of a holiday basket. I find this the most functional way to fill their baskets and to save money along the way!

Summer Prep

In order to prepare for summer, I made sure the boys had some much-needed swimwear in their baskets. Ruggedbutts is probably our favorite brand of swimwear! The quality is great and holds up well! I also tried out a new brand since Roman is older and will be swimming in the water more frequently and hopefully, more independently too. This means I need him to be safe in the water and easy to see. The bright colors were sold out at the time of my order, so I went with a new brand that seems to be quite similar. I have also included the link to our FAVORITE swim diapers below.

Activities/ Toys

Snacks and Treats

As most of you know, our two year old son has significant food allergies. This combined with the beliefs I have about nutrient dense food can make it really challenging for him to participate in holiday treats and such. Yum Earth brand has literally been a life saver for us. Not only do they provide a healthier, allergen free alternative, but they are also delicious and allow my son not to feel excluded- which truly means the world to me!

  • Honey Sticks The perfect healthy on-the-go snack!
  • Hu Chocolate Bars
  • Yum Earth Jelly Beans
  • UnReal Coconut Bars

Books

My two year old randomly loves the Little Critter series, so that’s what I filled his basket with. We do LOVE our Easter books though, so I have linked some ideas for you below.

Other Ideas

  • Toothbrush We just had Roman’s first trip to the dentist and they talked about a “big boy” toothbrush so we got a toddler electric one.
  • Toothpaste
  • Sunscreen
  • Crayons
  • Bath toys
  • Sand and/ or beach toys
  • Water shoes
  • Rain boots
  • HoneySticks Bath colors tabs
  • HoneySticks Bath crayons

Baby Basket

I couldn’t leave sweet baby James out of the Easter basket fun! Inside my mini baby basket I put:

Hopefully your Easter baskets are all set to go! If not, I hope I was able to give you some ideas to quickly put those baskets together!

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE! 💕

This post contains some Amazon affiliate links.

Blessing Hour

Pro Tip: Fresh flowers weekly to bring a little joy to your table.

Recently in our home we began practicing “blessing hour”. I noticed other women and homemakers practicing this within their home and although I never saw a full explanation of what blessing hour actually was, I was able to take a good guess based off of the content I saw. Moms and kids blasting worship and picking up before their Dad came home from work. Homeschool families jamming out while tidying up or doing chores before they jumped into their day. In the end, the goal was clear: set aside some time to care for your home (in other words, bless it).

In the past, cleaning our home with a toddler and two full-time working parents looked like keeping up with the basics when it was absolutely necessary or binge-stress-cleaning an hour before company was to arrive. As you can imagine, and maybe even relate, this did not fare well for us. It often led to tension or arguments directly before company arrived- definitely not ideal!! In addition, for me as the keeper of our home, this often meant weekends were spent checking off the to-do list. I spent Friday and Saturdays cleaning the house and catching up on the week’s tasks while Sunday was for church and grocery shopping. I never felt like there was time to rest.

This system was simply not blessing our family, so when I started my maternity leave with James we decided to give blessing hour a go. Partially this was due to my husband being aware of my mental health postpartum. He knows there are two things that make me crazy- a cluttered kitchen and dirty floors.

I explained my idea of blessing hour to him and before we knew it we were tag teaming our house with our newborn in the wrap and our two year old working right beside us. We blast worship and divvy up the work. Roman, our oldest, assists however he can and has since gotten his own toddler-size cleaning supply set. Sometimes he even asks for blessing hour!

Do we always do it for an hour? Definitely not. Like I said we have a two year old and a newborn at home so let’s be realistic. Sometimes it’s a quick ten minute tidy and sometimes it’s an hour or more. We call for blessing hour as needed throughout the week, but when Thursday and Friday come around we plan for it. This allows us to honor the Sabbath together for the first time ever- without the pressure of being productive! I have finally felt capable of turning my mom brain off, shutting down the to-do list, and resting with my family through Saturday evening.

The rest and peace that has come over our home since starting this has truly been a blessing to us. I pray you find your own “blessing hour” norm and experience that same rest that is so needed in our busy world.

Mack’s Fitness Must-Haves

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

A list of things I use (and love) for fitness training, on a budget.

Aftershocks Trekz Titanium Bone Conduction Headphones: I am that girl who BLASTS her music y’all. I used to run with noise canceling headphones and I loved them but if I am being truthful, it was not safe… at all. Wes bought me these bone conduction headphones so I could blast my music but still be aware of my surroundings and I LOVE them. I even bought a pair for my mom to use on her walks.

*In an indoor setting (like a Baileys Gym), they don’t seem loud enough because there is so much background noise. At my gym I don’t need headphones, so they are perfect for me.

Sports Bras: This year I finally found the perfect sports bra on amazon. It is actually the inspiration behind this whole post. I always search for sports bra recommendations and am shocked at the price. They are literally undergarments… This bra may not be the prettiest color or pattern, but it is supportive, super comfortable, and more importantly, budget friendly. I buy the three pack in black for $29.

Running Fanny Pack: This sounds OCD but I hate feeling uneven when I run, so pockets and arm bands have just not worked for me. This fanny pack is petite and adjustable. I adjust it before I begin running and it stays in place really well. It also has a separate compartment for a key, which is nice because I have always tied my key on my shoelace. The only con is that it is another layer of material on your stomach which makes an already HOT run, hotter. Truthfully, I love rocking a fanny pack so this item is a win-win for me.

Shorts: I can’t really say I have a favorite pair of workout shorts. I look for Old Navy’s 50% off activewear sale and purchase their shorts during that time. They fit well and have a built in liner, which is a must for me. They are not forever quality, but do hold up well for the price.

Weights: Weights can be so pricey!! I was glad I decided to go into Dicks Sporting Goods and check out what they had when I was looking for a set of 10 lb weights. I was able to get them (solid metal) for $20. Another great place to look for weights is Facebook Marketplace. You might need patience, but weight sets often come up for sale at a reasonable price. Small sidenote: Don’t be fooled into thinking you need a bunch of equipment to workout at home. There are soo many killer workouts that you can do with just your body weight!

Leggings: I have a few pairs of leggings I really enjoy running in. I have two pairs from amazon that stay up well, but do not have pockets. I recently made my first purchase with Fabletics and must say I am extremely satisfied with the quality of the leggings. They stay up very well and fit true to size. I also love the many color and style options they have available! Fabletics is a monthly subscription program if you become a VIP member, but you can skip the month at any time. If you use my link to sign up, I do earn credit on my account.

Nike Run Club App: I use this app to track all of my runs. I love that there are a variety of options and that it tracks my progress over a long period of time. I can also connect it to my apple watch screen. I highly recommend using this app whether your a pro runner or just starting out. This app is also totally… FREE. It doesn’t get more budget friendly than that!

Shirts: I recently found these workout tanks on amazon and LOVE them. I prefer a workout tank over a tee because of how much I sweat. I also like that in a tank I don’t have to keep adjusting my shirt in a movement like burpees. These tanks are affordable and come in a variety of colors. I also washed and dried them and they did not shrink or lose their softness. I ordered my normal size (medium) and they fit well.

I purchased two packs of the tanks. They come three to a pack.

Foam Roller: If you are new to working out you may be shocked by the stiffness and soreness that can follow a good workout. This soreness is NOT a bad thing and is not a reason to stop. A good foam roller helps those muscles to recover and is very popular item on amazon. We have this one and this one and use them both. The large one is a bit easier to use, but any foam roller will do. There are many videos on youtube that teach you how to use a foam roller and stretch correctly following a workout. Make sure you check them out before using one as there are some areas that should not be foam rolled.

Fall Garden Prep

I know here in Florida we are still looking at a long season of 90 degree plus days ahead, however, it is time to start thinking about your fall garden. There have definitely been a large number of people starting to garden and seed companies have been running low or out of stock completely. Here in zone 9a we do not need to start our fall seeds until September (give or take a little), however, I recommend you make a list of the things you want to grow and purchase those seeds ASAP. Northern zones are planting their seeds Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds and Annie’s Heirloom Seeds are the two companies I typically purchase from. There are many great seeds companies out there so do your research to see which one you like best.

My hope for sharing my fall garden plan and seed purchase is that you will have an idea of what you can grow and begin preparing for your (maybe first ever) fall garden. ENJOY

VEGETABLES:

This year I am planning to use every square inch of my garden (and hopefully even add on two smaller beds). My goal this fall/ winter is to significantly lower our grocery cost by growing what we eat the most of. The veggies listed in bold print are ones I have not grown successfully yet, or am just growing for the first time. The veggies marked with an * are ones that should not be transplanted, but directly sown into your garden.

  • brussels sprouts
  • lettuce varieties
  • kale
  • spinach
  • chard
  • snow pea
  • cauliflower
  • red rock cabbage
  • butternut squash
  • bok choy
  • celery
  • broccoli
  • beets *
  • carrots *
  • radishes *

HERBS

I typically don’t start my herbs from seeds. Many of them are hard to germinate and since organic varieties are so readily available I usually just buy and transplant them.

  • cilantro
  • rosemary
  • parsley
  • sage
  • thyme
  • chives
  • mint

FLOWERS

I just read that calendula does well through the fall and mine has had a rough summer so I am hoping to harvest a good amount in the fall to infuse oils.

  • calendula
  • borage
  • I try to look for varieties that have good reviews from gardeners who live near my zone. This season I ordered all my new seeds from Baker Creek.
2020 Fall Garden Planning: After going through all of the seeds I already had I made a list of what I needed. I was able to purchase almost all of the seeds on the “order” list for $31.25. It probably took me about 2 hours to complete my entire Fall plan. For reference, my garden beds are 4 feet X 8 feet.

Summer Veggies

Although garden tours are fun, they sometimes fail to show exactly what’s growing in the garden. There are MANY varieties of seeds and many different options where to purchase them from. With the hopes of clearing up any confusion and helping you know what to plant, I am going to share each vegetable I am growing in my summer garden. I know that for many people, the summer garden season is peaking and there is not time to replant summer veggies. Here in sunny Florida however, we can plant a second round of summer vegetables before getting our fall seeds sown. The first frost for my zone (zone 9a), is in December. I do plan to share a fall garden plan and seed purchasing guide but for now, here is what I am currently growing, or trying to grow in my summer garden.

Seed starting day in Spring. I love this day.

Tomatoes

I am growing a few different varieties of tomatoes this year. All of them are heirloom varieties and the majority of them are big beefsteak tomatoes.

These are all the tomato seeds I have. The black envelopes are from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds and the white envelopes are from Annie’s Heirloom Seeds. There are many great seed companies to purchase seeds from. These are just two of my favorites.
  • Striped German Tomato (78 days) : This tomato has been particularly easy for me to grow. It has the most fruit on it out of all my tomato plants and overall, I highly recommend this variety.
  • Amish Paste Tomato (80 days) : This is a smaller tomato variety, unlike the beefsteaks. This is my first year growing it and it has done fairly well. It is a good tomato for paste and canning, which is the reason I got it. It produced my very first tomato of the season, but as you know, a squirrel got it before I did.
  • Pineapple Tomato (75-95 days) : This is my first year growing this variety. Supposedly the fruit is yellow and very large, with red marbling throughout. I wouldn’t know, because I have been unsuccessful in getting any fruit from this variety. It does say it can take up to 95 days, so I am still hopeful that I will this season!
  • Cherokee Purple (80 days) : This year is my first time growing this variety. It has lots of fruit on it and I just harvested my first tomato from this plant. It was delicious! It is a Cherokee Indian Heirloom and I just think that is the most amazing thing- to be growing what Indian’s grew pre 1890’s!
  • Brandywine Tomato (80 days) : This is the average red beefsteak tomato. It is still different than what you would find at the grocery store. This is the second year I am growing this and I have yet to get any fruit from it, but it is a very popular variety. I also am not a pro gardener by any means and know that there are like a million factors that could be preventing it from producing.
  • Aunt Ruby’s Green (85 days) : I am not growing this variety this year mainly due to lack of space. It produces green beefsteak tomatoes and is a fairly popular heirloom.
  • Blueberries and Blue Gold Berries Tomato (75 days) : These are the only cherry tomato varieties I grow. They both produce heavily and consistently. Direct sunlight turns the tomatoes a blue/ purple color. The pigments are the same as those found in blueberries, making the tomato high in antioxidants. They are delicious, easy to grow, and very fun and unique! I highly recommend growing this variety. I feel like they would be especially fun for kids to grow.

Peppers


Bell Peppers:

I have had a great deal of success growing bell peppers in the south. Due to the warm weather I was able to harvest peppers pretty much all year long last year. I did not grow all of these varieties because of spacing, but the green, chocolate, and red varieties did really well for me. This year I am trying the Belgian variety for the first time.

  • California Wonder (70 days) : Green bell pepper that ripens red.
  • Orange Bell (90 days) Orange bell pepper.
  • Quadrato Giallo D’Asti (78-80 days) : Sweet yellow bell pepper.
  • Quadrato Rosso D’Asti (80-85 days) : Sweet red bell pepper from Italy.
  • Red Belgian Early Variety (50-70 days) : This plant is known for it’s high yields. Peppers can be picked early when yellow (around 50 days), or allowed to ripen and turn red.
  • Chocolate Bell (65-80 days) : My favorite variety of peppers. They are a chocolate purple color and produce a high yield.
Peppers that didn’t have time to ripen. You can see the chocolate color starting to come through on the left.

Other Peppers:

  • First banana pepper harvest and some Blue Goldberries Tomatoes
  • Banana Peppers
  • Banana Pepper (60 days) : My favorite peppers! I just planted three more for a total of 5. I’m hoping I will get enough to pickle and store through winter.
  • Craig’s Grande Jalapeno (unsure of the days) : No fruit on this plant just yet.
  • Poblano (75 days) : Plant has grown very large and strong, but has not produced any fruit yet. Can’t wait to saute these with some olive oil and sea salt. YUMMMMMMM.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers grow very quickly and produce high yields. My issue with cucumbers is that pickle worms run the show around here. I just had to pull my blonde cucumber to save my boston cucumber from being taken over as well. Neem oil is your friend with these babies! * See neem oil disclaimer *

Both varieties grow quickly and produce a high yield.
  • Boston Pickling Cucumber (57 days) : I haven’t tried pickling yet but I might this season.
  • Boothby’s Blonde Cucumber (60 days) : My favorite cucumber for slicing! It can also be pickled but I really enjoy this one fresh.
Baby Boston Cucumber. This will be ready to harvest in just a few days.

Lettuce

  • Annie’s Lettuce Blend: A mix of seeds of all types of red and green lettuces and romaines. A good option if you are going to plant a row of lettuce because you will most likely get a good variety.
  • Bronze Beauty: This is my first year growing this and I love it.
  • Buttercrunch: I got this as a free seed but I have not grown it yet.
  • Swiss Chard Vulcan: I LOVE swiss chard but have not successfully grown it this year. I just sowed a whole row of it in a shadier spot in the garden. I love to saute chard with potatoes and top with poached eggs for breakfast. I am determined to have an abundance of chard this year!
  • Malabar Spinach: The variety of spinach that I originally planted did not germinate, so I picked up a Malabar Spinach seedling at a local farm. The berries can be planted to grow another plant. I will say this spinach is quite slimy when cooked. I’m hoping the sliminess will be masked in a smoothie.
Malabar Spinach
I do plant this in a pot because it self seeds.

Beans

  • Noodle Beans on a trellis
  • Noodle bean harvest
  • Mammoth Melting Snow Pea (68-72 days) : I just direct sowed these in the garden and am hoping to have some peas by September!
  • Chinese Red Noodle Long Bean (80 days) : These are the best beans ever! For one, they are unique and HUGE. They produce heavily and are wonderful cut and sauteed with garlic and oil, like green beans. I have had issues with aphids on most of my beans. I use neem oil and a friend from Urban Pigtails Farm recommended to use soap with cayenne pepper, which seemed to work wonders. * See neem oil disclaimer *
  • Provider Bush Bean (50 days) : I just sowed these in the garden. Last year they did well and the beans were delicious raw.
  • Kurzer’s Calico Traveler Bean (90 days) : This is my first year planting this variety. The plant is loaded with beans, but none of them are large enough to harvest yet. I hope to use these in soups or salads.

Squash

  • Some of the Rampicante Zucchini I have harvested this summer.
  • This is the amount of space my one Rampicante Zucchini is taking up…No complaints here though!
  • Zucchini, noodle beans, blonde cucumber, and Blue Goldberries tomatoes.
  • Black Beauty Zucchini (52 days) : My plant got sick early on last year and I wasn’t able to harvest any zucchini. It is a very popular variety though.
  • Rampicante Zucchino Squash (70 days) : An Italian Heirloom that has taken over the garden this year. Although the fruit has not grown very large (which I think may be a problem with pollination), the plant has literally not stopped producing. It has grown about 10 feet over our fence and into my neighbor’s yard. They are now also reaping the benefits and harvesting zucchinis too! This is a must grow…if you have the space!

Melons

  • Baby Kajari Melon
    I grow these on a trellis to keep them up off the ground.
  • Kajari Melon (early variety) : Once again, I just love Indian heirlooms. This has grown easily and produces a lot of fruit. Unfortunately, I have lost every one to pickle worms. I am still not giving up on this plant though!
  • Sugar Baby Watermelon (84 days) : I planted one this year and one somehow volunteered from last year in a raised bed. No fruit yet but I am hopeful!

Eggplant

I have Black Beauty Eggplant seeds that I was unable to germinate in the spring. After the third fail, I went and purchased an eggplant seedling from one of my favorite local farms, Maggie’s Herb Farm. The plant has done very well and I just made eggplant parm with my first two eggplants. It was delicious! I am not totally sure of the variety but I would assume that it is Black Beauty.

Radishes

I used all of my Watermelon Radish seeds and I am almost through with my Annie’s Radish Mix packet. Radishes are truly the most underrated vegetable. I eat them on toast or roast them like brussel sprouts. They also grow quickly and don’t take up much space in the garden. I will note that home grown radishes are MUCH SPICIER than store bought ones. I know the heat can affect how spicy they are, but I usually roast my homegrown radishes because they are so spicy.

The radishes here are store bought, but I want to exemplify how to incorporate radishes into your diet. Here they are fresh sliced on toast with hummus.

I am definitely a beginner gardener and don’t know all the do’s and don’t of gardening. One of my favorite parts about gardening is that you don’t have to follow the rules. As an educator I do know that the best way to learn is through experience! Some of the best gardeners I follow break the rules regularly to create their own gardening methods and oftentimes they find out… it works! I know I have lots to learn but I hope this encourages you to try something new and just start planting!

*A NOTE ABOUT NEEM OIL * I have heard varying testimonies about using neem oil on your plants. Some say that neem oil can cause plants to burn, especially when applied on a sunny day. I personally use a diluted neem oil spray at night, so it has time to dry before the hot FL sun rises. I recommend doing your own research before using it in your garden.

Good, Little Gifts

  • February 17, 2019
  • March 14, 2019
  • June 26, 2020

For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

MATTHEW 7: 8

Before we purchased our first home together and after our wedding we rented a friends home in a nearby neighborhood. It was PERFECT at the time and we were grateful, to say the least, for the provision.

I was so thankful our rental home was provided for us in a time of need, however, I longed for a yard and a garden. I remember sitting on the patio of the house and looking at my 3 potted plants, daydreaming about my future garden. That same year the opportunity came for us to purchase our first home. When we finally found the perfect home and our offer was accepted (which is a whole other story and testimony to God’s goodness), we were excited to fix it up and make it our own.

Home ownership was a new experience for us and there were many things that needed fixing. The previous owners lived in our new home for almost 30 years, and although they did take wonderful care of it, they also did MANY DIY projects on things that perhaps should have been left to the pros. It’s safe to say, a garden was not high on the priority list those first few months.

Spring was coming fast and a garden was nowhere in sight. Wes was working hard on the house and at work, but he vowed to try his best to build me raised beds before summer. I recall being pushy (and perhaps a bit dramatic) with him and explaining that “gardening was a timeline and I needed to sow seeds in the spring if we wanted to harvest any food.” Thank God for my patient husband. I remember praying such silly prayers, or so I thought. God, I really want to grow food for our family. I want to have a hobby outdoors. Please, make a way Lord.

One of the tasks on the house work list was to clean out the area behind the DIY shed the previous homeowners built. The brush was overgrown up to my waist and it was a daunting task. Wes would weed wack and I would scoop up the materials and bag them. There was an immense amount of trash and SOOO MANY BUGS. Slowly but surely we cleared it out and suddenly we came upon the treasure. Underneath all the brush and dirt behind that shed were… surprise… planters. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight… EIGHT. HUGE. POTS. FOR FREE.

You may think that is no big deal but let me tell you… it is. Planters of that size and material are hundreds of dollars. As our household income relies on the salaries of a firefighter and teacher, we don’t have $800 to spend on pots.

Here is where the story gets good. Did I need a garden? No. Did I need to plant my garden in the spring? No. Did I need huge planters when Wes was doing his best to build me raised beds? No.

But God. You guys… These are words straight from the mouth of Jesus. “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be open to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You parents- if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” Matthew 7:7-11 NLT.

Some might argue coincidence but I know the truth. God delights in providing for his children. He doesn’t just answer the big stuff. He is kind and selfless, and there have been countless stories like this in my life since I decided to live for Him. Sometimes that looks like, God help me to understand who and where you are in this situation or help me to understand the Gospel the way you intended. The first time it looked like God, I want to know you and be your daughter. I know Jesus died for me so help me to know where to go from here. But many times in our day to day life it looks like my prayer for pots or a place to call home. One thing is for certain. I am blessed beyond measure that I serve a God who delights in hearing and answering his childrens’ prayers.

What to expect with seasonallymack

Before diving into what to expect here you might want to first understand where here is. My about me gives a quick overview of how my life has arrived at this moment in time and I recommend starting there.

When seasonallymack was just an idea I found myself doubting what I would share and who would read it. I began to draft a list of ideas and was surprised when they flowed onto the paper like water. It was clear seasonallymack would not focus on one specific topic, as a saw the many ideas falling into a few overlying themes.

FAITH.

God has changed my life in the most amazing and unexpected way possible. To know Him is to love Him and if I can share just a small piece of that with one person through the life he has given me than I will count it as a victory.

FITNESS.

My faith led me directly into a gym that surrounded me with a community who challenged and encouraged me. Through that place I began to understand the value in challenging myself and stepping outside of my comfort zone and see my body as the blessing it really is.

FOOD.

Then that gym took me down a path that opened my eyes to nutrition. Chains of bad habits were broken and I found freedom in kitchen creativity; creativity that led to recipes loaded with nourishment that I can’t wait to share with you.

FARM.

I use the term farming loosely here because 3 chickens and a family sized garden might be questionable under the term farm but, a girl can dream, right? The blessing of a home fell into our lap in 2018 and through many trials and errors I created a garden that has since blessed us with many meals.

Sharing these experiences in the most limited sense has opened my eyes up to the number of people who share these passions but do not know where to start. I pray that my words create an opening where a toe can be dipped, a heart can be encouraged, and an idea can be shaped into a lifestyle.