Spring has truly sprung! April brought a little rain, so much sunshine, and promises of summer on the way! We had a busy month prepping for our business’ prime season, so we found some balance playing outdoors with the girls. No agenda, no place to be, just good old fun outdoor play. The sunshine is so refreshing after a long winter and we are going to ride the outdoor play-all-day mantra for the next six months straight. Since the month seemed to fly by, I’ll keep this monthly recap short and sweet!
Below are a few of my favourite things for April!
April Inspiration
The outdoor farmer’s market has returned! Fresh flowers, fresh produce, and all things local. This is by far our favourite weekend family activity and has become part of our weekend routine. We love seeing our go-to vendors and of course enjoying some tasty treats!
I absolutely love my new custom market bag c/o of Apolis. I love how my custom message turned out! This actually might be my summer mantra. The company behind these beautiful bags is pretty amazing, too. Apolois, meaning global citizen, is a socially motivated lifestyle brand that empowers communities worldwide. Their model of Advocacy Through Industry is “founded on the simple idea that people can live better lives when they are given equal access to the global marketplace.”
This incredibly sturdy (and stylish) market bag is made from 100% recyclable jute fiber and has waterproof lining and reinforced leather handles. Crafted in Saidpur, Bangladesh, the bags are part of a co-op project that provides fair-wage jobs for Bangladesh women. The community also receives a portion of the profits for social and educational projects. A great product and a great mission- this is an inspiring company I want to support!
April Recipe
With life getting extra busy these days we need quick, easy, and healthy on-the-go snacks. I’ll confess– I also cleaned out my cupboards this weekend (hello spring cleaning!) to find a few items that needed to be used: honey, dates, an abundance of oats, and a food processor (that I swore I needed, but had yet to use).
After browsing for a great recipe I used this base. I subbed the sunflower butter for natural peanut butter because the girls are peanut butter crazy! I also subbed the dried nuts or fruits for 1 cup of roasted almonds, cashews, mini chocolate chips, and a handful of raisins. Sooo I pretty much did whatever I wanted. The base turned out great and I plan to test out more substitutions for the 1 cup of dried fruit/nuts and different combos for the nut butter and sweetner!
April Activity
We’ve been spending a ton of time outside exploring with the kids. Last month I shared about simply getting outside on the nature trails. This month I’m excited to share our super easy kindness rock craft that can be incorporated into walks, hikes, and park visits! The kids loved this activity and we plan to recycle it all summer. And the best part? The supplies are minimal!
And, that’s a wrap! This monthly post is part of a series with the lovely Amanda, over at Sweet Peas and Dust Bunnies, to share a bit about life lately. Head on over and check out her monthly recap! And be sure to following along at #monthlymotherhoodfaves to see what we’re up to!
xo,
Raina
I’m definitely looking forward to some Farmers markets again too!
Aren’t they the best? Our whole family enjoys going! Happy spring!
I love farmers markets!!! So glad it’s finally getting warmer!
Us too!! Markets and sunny weather are all we need!
That bag is fantastic for the farmer’s markets! I’m SO looking forward to summer!
Thanks! I knew instantly what words I wanted to design on it– perfect for weekend markets!
Awh your photos are so adorable!
http://www.chelsya.com
Thanks so much!
I am so happy that the warmer weather is back! I love going to the farmer’s market with my family too. I’m so excited to do this again. Yay!!!
What a lovely recap! It makes me crave summer just reading it and looking at the gorgeous pictures!
Love this list! And that shopping bag is so cute! LOVE it!
We have also been soaking up the weather now that it has turned nice. I love to see kids able to explore outside. Looks like they are having a great time!
Farmers market season is the best!! And I love that cute bag too 🙂
I am looking forward to the farmers market this season! BTW that is the cutest bag!
The farmers market is the best! And thank you- my new favourite accessory!
An Apolis bag has been on my wishlist for forever!
They are the best!
I love that you altered your recipe, and it still turned out great!
Thanks Adrianne! I don’t usually wing it on recipes, but this worked out perfectly!
Love the bag! It would be perfect for my local farmer’s market trips! I am always struggling with the right type of bag when shopping.
This bag is THE one! So easy to carry and fits everything! We will be ditching our stroller from here on out and just using this bag for market trips (and the kiddos can run!)
Those snacks look so yummy! I often do a pantry cleanse and experiment with recipes! I’ve found a few of my favorites that way!
They are so good! And it feels great to not waste all those ingredients that have been lost in the pantry!
I am also loving all of the fresh flowers and produce that spring brings! Such a treat to go home with a bag full of veggies and blooms!
Yes! The market just makes me so happy!