By Brigette Danielle

Hey y'all! Budget dates can be some of the best! Especially when they are long over due lol. This post contains some of the best budget date night ideas... at least IMO :).
It's safe to say that we have all had a time or two when we weren't balling out of control and we needed to keep a tight budget. Unless you are part of the 1% (they ain't reading my little ol' blog.. but if so HEEYYY lol). As a family that has been on both sides of the financial spectrum (have and have not), one thing always seems to take your mind off of the hang ups in every day life... going out and having fun! Especially date night with the hubs. Whether it's financial struggles, kids, work, health or anything really that can cause you to feel down, a moment out of reality can definitely cause a shift in your mood.
I remember when my husband and I were really young, broke and the kiddos were young, our date nights were far and few in between. Mostly due to lack of child care, coins and time.
Thankfully our kids are older and we have been blessed with more time together thanks to his new work schedule. We can enjoy more date nights without having to break the bank. So, now onto the reason you clicked this link/pin, you are looking for budget date night ideas. So, let's get to it! Indoor Budget Date Ideas:

Dinner and a Movie- Do something you would probably do any other night. Only this time, put the kids to bed early or send them to your trusted sitter. Have a date night indoors with a new movie or a classic and enjoy a quiet romantic dinner alone. Don't forget to grab that special bottle of cab.
Complete a Puzzle- Another budget date night idea you can do at home is to complete a puzzle. Find a quirky one, hard one or beautiful landscape. Spend time connecting, talking and enjoying a quiet night in.
Spa Date- Bring out the fresh towels, cucumbers and scented lotions. Create a spa like atmosphere and enjoy a relaxing date night at home without spending spa money. Places like Target, Walmart and the Dollar Tree have super cheap face masks you can buy for you and your spouse. Want to save a little bit more? Use ingredients you already have around the house! Egg whites, avocados, bananas, honey, yogurt and oatmeal are all great starting points.
Date Night Game Night- Cards, boxed games, board games or electronic ones.. games are games! Spend the night playing games and laughing the night away. Want to make it a little more interesting? Invite over some of your favorite couples and play teams.
Cook a Special Meal- There are so many online tutorials and cooking clubs, especially since covid-19. My go to for cooking videos... YouTube lol. My husband and I can get lost watching cooking videos and tutorials on YouTube, especially when we are up late and struggling to go to sleep!
Cooking Competition at Home- I actually got this idea from D'Andra Simmons (RHOD). Plan on picking a main meat (fish, chicken, beef etc), set the timer and get cooking. You each have 60 minutes to cook your item in your own way. Say you choose to make chicken. You can create a delicious cajun chicken meal and your spouse can whip up some curry chicken. Same main meat just cooked differently. This idea looked like so much fun and I am planning on doing this with my husband very soon! Should I make a video for it? Would that be entertaining to watch hahaha?

Outdoor Budget Date Ideas:

Camping- It doesn't cost much to go camping. Load up those sleeping bags, tents and camping essentials and head off to a nearby camp site
Star Gazing- This one can be done while camping or in the comfort of your own home or car. If at home, lay out some blankets and pillows on the patio or lawn before sunset. Have light snacks and get ready to gaze at God's beautiful night sky. If you plan this ahead of time, add a little twist to star gazing by printing off constellations and see how many you can find.
Hiking- Hiking is a great budget date idea. It only costs a little bit of gas and some sweat lol. Find a local hiking spot and hit the trails. You may even find your new favorite spot.
Yard Games- Like indoor game night, outdoor game night can be just as fun. Drag out the old corn hole, Frisbee or make up a new game. Either way you will be outside enjoying each others company.
Picnic- A good ol' fashioned picnic is another favorite budget date idea. Make it romantic with some candles, wines, cheese platters and soft music.
Farmer's Market- The Farmer's Market is another great place to have a budget friendly date. Check out local vendors, sample delicious food and enjoy your community.
Visit a U-Pick Farm- There are plenty of U-Pick farms open during the warmer months and Fall. Find one near you and head out to pick up some fresh produce.
DIY- Whether you are starting a new one or finishing up that one you paused 2 months ago, spend the day doing fun projects for the home.
Site Seeing- Every city has something interesting to see. In Dallas, it's the big ol' mansions and landmarks that everyone loves to gawk at. My husband and I have taken several drives around Highland Park so check out the old mansions and interesting architecture of the new ones. Don't forget to map out those land marks and murals.
Visit a Museum- Most museums are free so that makes a super budget friendly date idea. Stroll around the museum checking out the different pieces and learn about the artists.

There are so many things you can do to have fun while staying on a budget. While the fancy restaurants and symphony are great places to go on date, they may not always be within your means. I would gladly take a well planned and thought out date from any of the ones listed above.

Have you tried any of these budget date night ideas? What is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!

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Hey y'all!

Summer skin care products are essential as the summer sun starts to boil us all into a sweaty mess lol. Our skin, sensitive or not, must constantly be taken care of. Cleansing, moisturizing, detoxing... you name it.

Growing up, I didn't really struggle with acne. However, my skin was very uneven, overly sensitive and oily. As I have gotten older, I did begin to have more breakouts (acne & irritation) because I piled more makeup on daily lol. Thankfully, I have found great products that help me combat it and leave my skin cleansed and hydrated.

So, I decided to compile this list to share my favorite summer skin care products that will leave your skin refreshed as it starts to get hotter and we get sweatier.

There are tons of skin care products out there that are great for our skin but not necessarily for our skin in summer time. Summer skin care products should be light yet nourishing. Who wants to be sweaty and oily during the hot summer months? I know I don't.

I personally have combination skin as well as sensitive skin, so finding products that work and benefit my skin can be a challenge. Especially in the harsher months like winter and summer.

So, before you head out and stock up on your summer skin care essentials, take a look at some of my favorites and give them a try for yourself.

Also, if you are looking for more resources on clean and natural products for your skin, check out the Clean Beauty Gals blog for listicles full of awesome products and tips!

1. Garnier Micellar Water- This one is always on my list. This micellar water is cleanses, hydrates and is great for all skin types. I personally use this daily as well as my 12 year old daughter. It helps with her acne caused by her monthly cycle and the changes she is currently going through. I love the Garnier Micellar Water because it is inexpensive and perfect for summer.

2. Garnier Rose Water Mist- Like I said previously, rose water is one of my faves and this particular one is my go to. When ever my skin gets irritated from makeup, I grab my rose water spray and apply it all over my face. The redness and irritation subsides almost instantly. This rose water is great for summer because it is a mist so application is very quick and easy plus it dries quickly as well.

3. Thayers Witch Hazel Rose Petal- This witch hazel is the perfect toner for all skin types, especially if you struggle with acne or scarring. With hazel is gentle on skin alone, but with the added rose petal extract... it soothes even more. Rose water is one of my FAVORITE things when it comes to skin care.

4. Evian Mineral Spray- I keep a small bottle in my purse all summer long lol. This mineral spray is great for moisturizing, cleansing and more. Whenever it is hot outside and I get overly sticky or sweaty, I grab my Evian Mineral Spray. I always feel instantly refreshed.

5. Eucerin Daily Hydration Cream- Eucerin is one of my favorite brands when it comes to creams and lotions. A lot of their products are great for the areas on my skin that get really dry, Their daily hydration cream has SPF 30 so it protects against harmful uv rays and sunburns. Plus, it is light weight and not over oily which makes it great for most (if not all) skin types.

Palmer's Swivel Stick Lip Moisturizer - Cocoa Butter Formula - 0.5oz - image 1 of 6

Palmer's Swivel Stick Lip Moisturizer - Cocoa Butter Formula - 0.5oz - image 1 of 6

6. Palmer's Cocoa Butter (stick)- Cocoa butter is the OG skin care product. It heals scars, nourishes skin, helps with sun burns, evens skin tones and more. I use this in the evening to help with my minimal scarring and discoloration. Cocoa butter is pretty heavy so I would not suggest using it during the hot summer days. But at night, when you are cool and getting ready for bed... cake your face with Palmer's cocoa butter for beautiful skin!

Like I said before there are so many products that are great for your skin during the hot summer months. These are my essentials that help me keep my sensitive/ combination skin in check!

What summer skin care products do you use when it gets hotter? Have you used any of these? Let me know in the comments below!

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Hey y’all!

Earth Day is approaching and I have the perfect Earth Day craft for you and your kiddos. But before we start, what exactly is Earth Day and why is it something we participate in?

Earth Day originated in the 70’s and has become celebrated each year around the world to draw attention to our environment and how we can take care of it and keep it thriving while we inhabit it.

What can you do to celebrate Earth Day?

For starters, you can focus on minimizing waste, excessive water usage and put the 3R’s into action. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

For this craft we took the second R (reuse) and create this super easy Earth Day craft. We reused some paper that had a few printing mistakes on them from school assignments. This craft doesn’t require much and can really be done by kiddos of any age.

This Earth Day craft resembles the Earth in the palm of our hands. It serves as a reminder that while we are here, we should treat it the way we would treat our homes. Keep them clean by not littering, producing air pollution and making sure we are not using up our natural resources unnecessarily.

Now, onto the craft!

You will need:

White paper

Colored paper

Pencil

Scissors

Glue stick

Green and blue paint +paint brush (or anything you prefer)

STARTING with the white paper, trace out a medium to large sized heart. I just found one on google and traced it. The size of the heart will determine the size of your child’s hand. If they are younger, you will more than likely use a medium sized heart.

Once you trace the heart, use the green and blue paint to mimic the Earth! This doesn’t have to be accurate as it is a craft, but if you want it to be more accurate GO FOR IT! It’s easier to paint your heart before you cut it out so you can make sure it is completely covered. Once it’s painted, set aside to dry and move on to the next portion of the craft.

HANDS! It’s time to create the hands. On a different color sheet of paper, simply trace bit of your child’s hands. Once they are traced, cut them out as smoothly as possible. After you cut them out, be sure to erase any pencil lines that may still remain.

NEXT, your Earth heart, once it’s dry cut it out and and get ready for the cutest Earth Day craft!

Using the hands with both thumbs centered, fold a small flap towards the palms.

FINALLY , place the Earth heart into the crease of the flap with the painted side facing the fingers and adjust the hand cutouts to cradle the heart. Once in place, glue the tabs to the back and the bottoms of the palms/fingers onto the front of the heart.