BACK TO SCHOOL ITEMS

I won't admit how many years it has been since I went to school (ahem), but I will give some tips on things I think are necessary for those of ya'll who are going off to school or have a little one who it off to college. This might not be the usual list of paper, pencils, and trapper keepers other people might post about, but just a few times that I remember really using at that fun time in my life.

1. Colander

If you are a parent, you hope your university student will remember all the times you cooked for them and hope they studied every thing you did. You will want them to grow a garden and wash their vegetables. Most likely, they will be making a lot of mac & cheese (or shells and cheddar in my case). So get them a quality stainless steel colander that will last for several semesters to come instead of cheap plastic that melts the first time they use the dishwasher.  #pckt

2. Sleeping Bag

You never know when a spontaneous road trip might lead to a sleep over. This mummy sleeping bag is super necessary. It is light, easy to carry, simple to pack up, and will keep you both warm and comfortable. #egoz

3. Headlamp

I went hiking, caving, and late night exploring with my roommates and friends all of the time. There were so many times we wished we had a flashlight or way to see if we stayed out after dark. My solution to this is have a handy headlamp in your bag at all times. This one from LuxoLite is fabulous because it has batteries included, adjustable strap to let you go hands free, and different light settings for whatever situation you may be in at the time. #Luxolite

4.  Charcoal Powder

Since I already told you they won't be eating their best, you might want to invest in a Coconut activated charcoal powder by Sagano. You just have to mix it with water (or ice cream and smoothies) to help aid in digestion. This powder can also be used when you brush to whiten teeth, help with burns, and exfoliate your skin. It might look scary, but I promise it is magical stuff.  #saganofresh

5. Wall Art

Don't be the boring person who looks like they just moved in because there are no decorations or wall art. Add some character to your new casa with something like this cool minimalist bear silhouette 11x14 poster. It can be framed or just place against a wall and add simple flair. It is simple and doesn't cost as much as an original Picasso, but it is simply stunning and easy to frame and hang. #InkPrintArt

6. Swissvita Micrite 3D All Use Eye Cream

We all know that students are notorious for pulling all-night study sessions. What is the best solution?   Swissvita eye cream. This serum is additive-free, alcohol-free, sulfate-free, fragrance-free, and paraben-free so you can feel safe using it. It comes in an aluminum sealed package for your protection. You can say goodbye to dark circles and puffiness around your eyes and hello to awesome grades! #SwissVita

I was given the opportunity to purchase these items at a discounted price in return for my honest opinion.

I LOVE YOU...Just Because Book #giveaway

If I meet you, then I love you. It's true. I feel life is too short NOT to tell people you love them. 

That's why I really want to share this cute book I found called I Love You Just Because. It is a 20 page board book for parents to give their children that let's kids know that their family and God love them just for who they are and that that love doesn't have to be earned.

It made for readers ages 4 - 8 years.

It is written by Donna Keith, an English teacher who began writing stories for her grandchildren. She has a few others that you can check out also that are just as adorable.

Find out more about the book on social media her: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest.

Want to win a copy for a little one in your life who needs a little reminder that they are loved?

Enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

MEXICO VACATION - DAY 3

This morning, we loaded into a van with our driver Gustavo and tour guide Jose. Our first stop was at the humble home of a shaman (he calls himself a JMan) near Chichen Itza.

 He took sat us down individually to purify us and then he bonded us a family. It was...interesting.

My favorite part of this stop was this abuela shucking corn.

We continued our journey to our next destination: Chichen Itza. The Mayans used a tons of symbolism in all of the buildings in this complex. Our guide was giving us an in-depth explanation of it all. Then some in our group needed him to speed things along so he shortened it and we started taking photos.

Climbing the ruins was closed in 2007 to the public so we weren't allowed to go to the top. I was a little bummed at how commercial/touristy the area is, but it was cool to see.

 About fifteen minutes down the road, we stopped for lunch at a small Mexican restaurant. My group was afraid eating local food would upset their stomachs...so that meant more tacos and horchata for me! 

(PS my stomach was fine.)

While we were eating lunch, a cute little parade passed. I love being immersed in a culture.

The final spot on our itinerary for the day was Ek' Balam.

 It is another Mayan village in the Yucatan with ruins that we were able to climb and enjoy.

*Here we are rocking those homemade shorts I showed you from day 1.*

 The site is known for a plaster on the tomb (on the side of a palace) of a king who was buried inside.

My favorite part was climbing to the top to enjoy the view. 

The clouds were so fluffy today I thought I was gonna die.

LINZ, AUSTRIA

Sometimes I drive 2.5 hours to another country just to take a photo of a cool memorial all by myself.

Then sometimes I turn around and drive back. It was well worth the trip.

I drove to Linz, Austria, to the Mauthausen Concentration Camp. Some people might think this isn't the happiest way to spend a Christmas vacation, but I loved the drive.

I have been to the Dachau concentration camp in Germany before and the feeling there was very heavy. I wasn't interested in going on a tour here - I came just to see this giant menorah memorial. 

 It is free to see the memorial, but you must obtain a ticket. As I was getting my ticket from the visitor center, the woman behind the desk wrote on my map and told me to go to the sculpture spot by the gorge and then walk through to the museum where I can visit two rooms for free as well. 

I went to visit the two rooms. Might as well, right?! Well, the two rooms in the museum were the killing rooms and room of names listing around 82,000 victims. Thank you, visitor center lady for a rush of emotions.

The end of my trip was a walk by a beautiful gorge surrounding the area and a look at what are called the Stairs of Death.

 It might not be the happiest place to visit and you might not get the happiest feelings there or maybe even looking at these photos, but it reminded me that I am lucky. We are lucky to be alive, to have freedom, and to learn from the past to be better people.