gifts i love : nopalera

NOPALERA a stunning artisan natural beauty brand designed to celebrate the richness of Latina culture and the beauty of Mexico. The child of immigrants, founder Sandra Lilia Velasquez, was inspired by the nopales that were abundant around her childhood home near the CA-MX border. The nopal cactus is a highly sustainable + resilient crop and super nourishing, making it the ideal foundation for each of Nopalera’s super natural products. The nopal they use is all wild-harvested and the company’s packaging is entirely reusable or recyclable, though I don’t know why you’d want to throw away any of the AMAZING packaging. I want to wallpaper my dining room with it. Yes, I am a bit biased given my lifelong passion for Mexican Folk Art, but I’m pretty sure it’s objectively stunning.

THE DREAMY Cactus Body Polishes have a super subtle Tangerine or Hibiscus scent. They’re so gentle and not greasy and feel amazing. I also love the Botanical Lotion Bar that leaves your skin feeling so smooth. The unique ingredients are designed for maximum hydration and literally melt into your skin as you rub the bar across all of your dry bits. And I love the Dulce de Cuerpo Cactus Shower Gel, it smells a bit smoky and sexy and totally divine. Any of Nopalera’s gorgeous products would make a lovely gift on their own, but combine a few and you have yourself a REALLY special gift for just about anyone. GIFT A LITTLE HAPPINESS. xo

Nopalera

~~ Nopalera Hibiscus Cactus Flower Exfoliant ~~

~~ Nopalera Dulce de Cuerpo Shower Gel ~~

~~ Nopalera Tangerine Cactus Body Exfoliant ~~

~~ Nopalera Botanical Lotion Bar ~~

MORE IN… clean beauty + wellness

gifts i love : plus plus

OK, LOVELIES, I’m going to let you in on one of my greatest mom [and gift-giving] secrets. If you haven’t already met one of my best friends, Plus Plus, I’d like to introduce you. Plus Plus, this is my lovely friend. Lovely friend, this is Plus Plus, one of the greatest [travel] toys of all time and saver of so many restaurant meals I could never try to count. I have been dragging them with us wherever we go for about 7 years and I kid you not, I’ve never seen my boys make the same thing twice. Total strangers approach our table, initially drawn to the spectacular mix of brilliant color, but then they get sucked in to examining the boys’ magnificent creations. Even when we’re out with other kiddos, the whole lot of them get totally engrossed in building, looking up only to trade colors with the kid next to them.

MADE IN Denmark, Plus Plus’ tagline is “one shape, endless possibilities,” and I can totally attest to that truth. They are so simple in concept, but just brilliant in execution. They make sets of varying sizes and themes, but we just dump ours all together in a big, colorful mess and have at it. I put a heaping pile + a baseplate in a Stasher Bag for each of the boys and I ONLY bust them out at restaurants or traveling (that is part of the trick to keeping them exciting for 7 years). My boys have made epic battle scenes, robots, animals, machines, guys and a hundred other things. It’s just awesome to see the magical creations that come out of their expanding brains. They also have a biggie size for little hands. The colors are just so appealing and they’ve also introduced glittery and glow in the dark pieces, making it nearly impossible to resist buying *just one more* little tube even though we already have SO SO many. They’re a perfect gift, gift topper, party favor, stocking stuffer, Easter basket filler or travel surprise.

PLUS (can’t resist) the Plus Plus factory in Denmark uses 100% wind energy, has a zero-waste facility and both the toys + packaging are totally recyclable. So huge win there. They are also super easy to wash when they get dribbles of soy sauce or ketchup [or germs] on them. So, if you haven’t already met, I highly recommend getting to know my friend Plus Plus before your next adventure or when you just need a few solid minutes of quiet time. GIFT A LITTLE HAPPINESS. xo

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things i love // settling into fall

Now that we’re a few weeks into the new school year, a nice [busy] routine is starting to set in. It feels comfortable and welcome after the fun seesaw of summer days and the hubbub of starting a new year. The weather in Colorado is still hot and dry, but shouldn’t be for long and the first signs of fall are cropping up. It’s my favorite season by far for the crisp air, the changing colors, the launch of football season and the shift into heartier, slower cooking. This edition is all about helping you ease into your new routine and enjoy each moment of this glorious shoulder season. xo

Part of settling into any routine with littles means regular bath time, which can be a bit of a struggle if your babes don’t totally love the water. Well, fret no more. Bubbles & Joy is THE cutest little box of happiness that delivers a surprise package full of splishy bath time fun to keep your tinies excited about swimming around. There will be no more begging and pleading for them to hit the showers. And in addition to being SUPER fun and exciting, they’ve partnered with top notch brands to deliver the best non-toxic and natural goodies so you don’t have to worry about what else is swimming around in the tub with your little fishies. Everything they send is non-toxic, cruelty-free and has no gross chemicals. Plus all the toys are hermetically sealed so you don’t get that super grody layer of mold that grows inside most squirty kinds of bath toys. Choose from one of their adorably themed Single Boxes or a Subscription to keep the fun surprises coming. They even have a special edition Birthday Box that’s so stinking cute. Bubbles & Joy would be a super adorable gift for any little fishy [enthusiastic OR reluctant] that you love. Now go wash behind your ears.
// BUBBLES & JOY BATH BOX from $39 // Use code ALLAFLUTTER 10 for 10% off your whole order (that means if you prepay a subscription you’ll get 10% off the whole thing!)

Settling into a routine for me includes settling into meal planning. Summertime gets a bit loosy goosy in this department with the fun flow of spontaneous BBQs, travel, dinners out and a more general ‘flying by the seat of our pants’ attitude that’s super fun for a while. But now that we’re in a rhythm, it’s time to buckle down and plan out some dinners. Like. Every. Single. Night. Which can get tiresome and boring really fast, right? Well I found a solution for at least some of those nights and it is anything but boring. Omsom has paired with well-known chefs to create a variety of Asian meal starters that are super flavorful and equally easy to use. They tell you the exact ingredients you need [basically just protein + veggies] and how to easily prepare the dish and then supply ALL of the flavor you need to make a fantastic, SO not boring meal. I mean it couldn’t be easier and more delicious. We had the Larb the other night and I have Yuzu Misoyaki salmon on the menu for this week. I am so thrilled to have something new and easy to throw into the rotation. And Omsom has beautiful packaging and great sample sets that would be an awesome gift for any foodie or busy home chef you love.
// OMSOM STARTERS from $12 //

My middle schooler asked me for more body wash so I grabbed him the whole set of Boulder-based Alpine Provisions Castile Soap, Shampoo and Conditioner. Yes, I LOVE the absolutely gorgeous aluminum packaging, but I also love what’s inside (and what isn’t). Their products are not only plastic-free, they’re also organic, cruelty-free, vegan and sustainably produced and distributed. So there’s no weird stuff getting slathered on my precious little dudes. And the smell. AHHH. That’s the clincher. It’s bright and fresh and a touch masculine in the best earthy and natural way, not a ‘cloud of Axe Body Spray’ way. It truly is like a breath of fresh forest air. My husband was so jealous of the boys’ new kit I had to go get him a set, too. We have just about all of the scents in some combination and they’re all lovely. The Rosemary + Mint has a little fresh tingle to it, which my husband likes (is that TMI? Sorry, babe). They also make Deodorant, Hand Sanitizer and Lip Balm that we haven’t tried yet, but are also plastic-free and I’m sure equally lovely. And because it IS so beautifully packaged and gentle, it would make a really gorgeous gift for just about anyone, even the most sensitive littles.
// ALPINE PROVISIONS BODY + HAIR CARE $19 //

Fall in our house means football. My boys both play Flag and all of my guys love to watch the real deal any chance they get. And football watching ALWAYS means popcorn eating. It is by far the snack of choice with a little nutritional yeast sprinkled on top. MMMMM. And as passionate as my guys are about football, they feel even more strongly about their popcorn and nobody is willing to share their bowl. Which is where W&P's new Personal Poppers will come in super handy. You can microwave straight kernels in individual 4-cup servings in a cute little silicone bowl. It’s plastic-free and waste-free and that weird toxic microwave popcorn dust-free. Then the whole thing can be ‘popped’ into the dishwasher, collapsed for easy storage and used over and over again. If your crew IS willing to share, W&P also has a larger original size Popper with the same awesome benefits and 9 delicious cups of popped corn. Sko Buffs!
// W&P PERSONAL POPPER $17 //

And when we’re not watching a bunch of huge dudes crash into each other on purpose, we have found the best new family show. Bake Squad. It’s awesome. Christina Tosi, founder of Milk Bar and author of the Milk Bar: Kids Only cookbook [heart emoji] , has a new Netflix hit where 4 insanely talented bakers ‘compete’ to have their dessert served at a different special event for each episode. For anything from a kids’ birthday party to a wedding to a ‘you kicked cancer’s butt’ party, the Bake Squad turns out the most creative and mind blowing desserts and then the party’s host has to choose one to serve at the big event. It’s super fun to watch these incredible artists at work and as an added bonus, the whole Squad is super kind and encouraging and supportive of one another, which is really refreshing. It’s just fun and positive and appropriate for any age. My guys are completely hooked and so impressed with the Squad’s talent, especially after having watched many episodes of Nailed It! It’s equally entertaining but with a VERY different vibe and results. And if you love a baker who’s totally inspired by the Squad, Milk Bar: Kids Only would be an awesome gift.
// BAKE SQUAD ON NETFLIX //

Hey! Just a heads up that this post includes affiliate links that could earn me a small commission, but rest assured that I stand by all product recommendations 100%. Questions? Reach out, I’m always here for you. xo

gifts i love : super smalls

I WAS A SUPER girlie girl. I was all about clothes and makeup and Barbie and princesses. I took ice skating lessons just so I could have a Dorothy Hamill dress. I paraded around the house in my sequined dance costumes. And I would have thrown my best friend to the wolves without second thought for some Super Smalls bling. It’s shiny and stylish and adorable and made just for kids who like to rock the hardcore sparkle.

FOUNDED BY a legit fashion industry veteran and certified girl mama of three, Super Smalls mimics the look, feel and presentation of serious luxury jewelry and accessories, but is made just for all-out fun. It’s intended to spark the imagination, power up the the play and straight up wow its wearers. They make over-the-top adorable jewelry, accessories and hair bling that all take glitz and shine to the next level. It’s just plain fun and would make a seriously SHOW-STOPPING gift for any little or t(w)een that’s dazzled by sparkle. Their BFF Twin Stars Necklace Set comes with matching blingy necklaces, one for each pal, along with a super sweet guide that explains what each colorful stone represents about being a good friend. It’s so stinking cute. Super Smalls also has a massive collab with Disney and the MLB so you can really personalize your special li’l person’s gift to their passions.

GRANDMAS AND cool aunties take note, if you love a little that’s super wowed by big time sparkle, Super Smalls is a serious no-brainer AMAZING gift option. I guess it’s a good thing for my elementary school best friend that it wasn’t around when we were kids. GIFT A LITTLE HAPPINESS. xo

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gifts i love : brightland

WHEN I WAS a single gal, dinner for me was whatever looked good in the Whole Foods prepared case that night or maybe, if I was feeling ambitious, a pot of spaghetti. When I started to grow my family, my cooking repertoire slowly started to expand, too. Cooking is now obvs an everyday part of my life (more like 3-5x a day) and probs fueled 70% by love and 30% by necessity depending on the day. I’m super passionate about food and health and want to share that with my family, but I’m for sure still learning how to be a ‘good’ cook. I can follow a good recipe and am a FIRM believer that having the right tools for the job is key, be it your go-to kitchen supplies or the best ingredients you can get your hands on. It’s something I’ve been slowly and intentionally honing over the years, swapping out big piles of mostly useless gadgets for a few of the RIGHT ones. It’s the reason I buy organic when I can and the inspiration for finally splurging on some truly gorgeous Brightland Olive Oil.

I’VE HONESTLY always just bought a simple, inexpensive olive oil believing that anything coming from the Mediterranean was probably pretty good and basically all the same. Um, no. It turns out I could NOT have been more naive. When you dig in, you find out that much imported olive oil sold in the US as ‘extra virgin’ is actually nothing of the sort. It can be [and often is] rancid, moldy, contaminated with larvae and filled up with a bunch of other super junky types of oil. EEW. GROSS. It’s apparently a massive global scandal and actually super fascinating (I now want to read this book for the juicy details). The oil I was buying may not have even had the powerful polyphenols and other awesome health benefits that I was using it for in the first place. So I took the leap to something SO MUCH better. If I’m super honest, my leap started more like a casual wander fueled entirely by Brightland’s stunning branding (I’m like a barracuda drawn to shiny objects), but after learning more, I didn’t hesitate to jump and will never look back.

BRIGHTLAND produces small-batch, high quality, gorgeous olive oils with only locally-grown fruit straight from the rich Cali soil. They source all of the little gems from a family-run farm and know exactly what they’re putting into their final product. So you can rest knowing that you’re not putting mold or larvae into your Taboule. And the flavor is spectacular. It’s bright and herbaceous and so super delicious. I started with their ‘basic’ oils, Awake and Alive plus pretty Spouts for both (quickly now some of those ‘right’ kitchen gadgets). I use Awake for soups and chicken and Alive for all the veggies. Then I added Rosette (garlic) and Ardor (chili pepper) to the lineup and they’re both delicious. Ardor is SO good on roasted broccolini, potatoes and chicken. They also make two gorgeous vinegars, Parasol (champagne) and Rapture (balsamic), made with the same high standards. And they just launched a new line of raw, unfiltered honeys. California Orange Blossom and Kauai Wildflower are both made by small-batch farmers in the US and are gorgeous. Brightland has stunning sets that would be a really beautiful gift for anyone on your list who loves to cook or eat fabulous food.

SO, WHILE I still have plenty of days when I’d rather just grab something from Whole Foods, on all of the other days when I’m excited to chef it up, I’m so happy that I have the right tools for the job. GIFT A LITTLE HAPPINESS. xo

MORE IN… foodies + chefs + bakers