Teens Happen

7 Unavoidable Teen Happenings

It’s true, everything they say about how scary the teen years are… well, it’s all true. Can someone please tell me how I can fast forward through these head spinning, nose clogging, round the clock grocery shopping, night mare inducing teen years?? The warnings are valid for both girls and boys, teens happen. Girls are extra dramatic, hyper sensitive, know-it-alls. Boys are stinky, reckless, binge eating, hairy buffoons. I am living this teen crazed life as we speak. I have three teens, one girl and two boys. And I have two more boys to go. What was I thinking?? Why didn’t anyone try to stop me? Well I’m in it now, so I want to share with you some untold truths about teens. You may read things, or try things, and think its going to save you some hardships down the slippery slopes of teen mountain… Those things won’t help. You can try, but they really won’t shape the teen years ahead as you’d like it to.

Here are 7 unavoidable teen happening. Because the real truth is, Teens Happen.

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Radish Mama Brunches

Brunch is always a Good Idea

So I recently started a monthly brunch for foodies and bloggers. As adults, and women, it can be so challenging to make friends. Genuine friendships that last. I have finally figured out the trick. You have to start with commonalities, then hook ’em with good cooking, laughter, and an open door policy. And that is exactly what we have created with these brunches. And by we, I mean two of my new foodie gal pals, Alana and Becca. Just a couple of other foodies I met through  social media, and am now real life friends with them.

These photos are an accurate representation of the work that goes into these brunches, hosted by me, but executed by all of us. No one lady stands around. Read more

Jord Watch Giveaway

stylish womens watches by JORD watch

JORD WATCH GIVEAWAY

I can’t believe it’s almost February! This is going to be another lightening speed year. Now that the I’ve finally got a grip on 2018, I’m ready for a GIVEAWAY! One lucky lady or gent is getting a wood Jord Watch! If you’re anything like me, you are in a constant state of running behind. I know, I’m not super proud of it. I also never seem to know what day it is?? But one things I’ve always got going for me, is knowing what time it is. (Annnnd that’s also how I know I’m always running behind.) Read more

Numb is not an option…

Love  hard and Be kind

In light of this weeks events. I feel compelled to share my point of view. A perspective of love and motherhood. It has taken me this entire week to absorb the tragedy of what occurred on October 2nd, 2017, the Las Vegas massacre. With both a multitude of family and friends living there, a swollen heart is nothing close to what the real survivors of this horrific event must feel and have to deal with. Read more

Rumbi Island Grill

Date night with the kids

Rumbi Island Grill Chandler AZ

It’s not often I get out for dinner with the kids in tow. I know, I know I really should. They deserve a little spoiling here and there. But not too much. Last month, there was a blogger invite to taste test some of the new pork dishes at Rumbi Island Grill in Chandler, AZ. I was a little reluctant to go at first because I do not eat pork and my daughter is also a vegetarian. But once I mentioned it to the boys, there was really no way outta this. And I am so glad we went. As you can see by my children’s awkward faces, we don’t go out much. Or maybe it’s just their affinity for mom taking pictures of them every where we go. (Insert kid eye roll of mothers sarcasm there.) Read more

17 Ways to stay sane in the New Year

17 Ways to Stay sane and confident in 2017

Going into a new year is either really exciting or really tough. Let’s be honest, how many of us actually get through or stick to our New Years Resolutions? By a show of hands… anyone? Hey, its ok, I’m right there with you. Last year I took an entirely different approach to my New Year. And it worked, I came out of 2016 feeling like (for the first time in a long time) a winner!

Today I am going to share with you some simple changes and challenges that helped me get through another rapid year of flying time. Because the older we get the faster time races past you. These may be things you are already doing, or do every once in awhile, but by making them a little more frequent you can stay sane and even improve your confidence in 2017. Being that we are at the ’17 mark, I am sharing exactly 17 things to stay sane and confident this new year! Read more

Sharesix – Kitchen

The kitchen has a very special place in my heart, I was so excited that this months theme was “Kitchen”. My head was just buzzing around with all the ideas I had. But this month truly got the best of me. So I decided I am keeping it real and just sharing a few shots from our kitchen renovation. It has been a long and grueling process. We started this whole home renovation in 2014. We completely gutted the kitchen, all the way down to the bare bones. Just walls and concrete floors. You can see the makeshift kitchen I used for seven months HERE. I am not entirely sure how I survived it feeding a family of seven but I did. (Pats self on back.)

When we first discussed downsizing and moving into our investment home, I had one condition… the kitchen needed to be remodeled. Ok, need is a strong word, but it was poorly designed and lacked a lot cabinet space. At first we thought we’d be able to get the remodeling done prior to moving in. That thought came and went fast, we had a hard time getting our home sold. We then decided to move in during construction. Something I do not recommend. I spend most of my time in the kitchen because I love to cook. So cooking (and living) in a construction zone is quite challenging. When I started designing my kitchen I knew I wanted white cabinets. I wanted the space to feel bright and airy. Since the original kitchen didn’t have a window, installing ours above the sink really made a huge difference.

Let me tell you why the kitchen is my favorite place to be. Food is my daily therapy. Not in an eating disorder way or anything, but the flavors and variety of food really help me deal with life. (Yea and wine definitely helps me cope too.) It’s a creative therapy, I love to find new spices or ingredients and try something I’ve never tried before. Cooking is how I connect with people. If you’ve come to my house, I probably force fed you. I just can’t help it. The kitchen is where I bond with my family and friends. Where every one congregates when we have company, where we laugh, share meals and swap life stories. Its where I appreciate the circle of life in terms of food. Its my safe place. I can fail in there and know that I’ll be right back in there the next day. The kitchen is the heartbeat of my home.

Once the kitchen is all finished I plan to share more of my favorite recipes.

Finally we are starting to see the light at the end of this remodeling tunnel! Here are some shots of the kitchen progress. It’s still not done, there is a cabinet that needs to be replaced, we need base boards, and still need a backsplash. But we did just have the concrete stained grey, a temporary fix to the ugly concrete floors you see in these photos. I’ll save those photos for the final reveal. Hopefully I can find some before pictures to share as well. Before you leave be sure to jump on over to Woodsy Wonders Photography and see her awesome images from this months theme.

2016 hansencompound kitchen remodel

hansen compound kitchen remodel

hansencompound remodel

2016 hansencompound remodel

hansen compound remodel

And this cute little area is reserved for our #hansencompound quotes. This one reads “Fair is where you go to eat cotton candy and get your face painted”. A life lesson my kids all learned early on. We don’t say things like “life’s not fair”.

#hansencompound quotes

Letter board / LetterFolk
Cabinets / Burdette Cabinet CO
Appliances / Spencers
Need a handyman? Highly recommend AZ’s Best HandyMan

Sharesix – Green

Here is a greenhouse update from our Earth Day Post.

This months theme, Sharesix – Green, was chosen by me. I chose the theme Green for a number of reasons. Firstly, my favorite color is green, all shades of green. Secondly, I love growing things. One of my favorite Instagram hashtags is #growsomethinggreen. I haven’t always had a green thumb, its taken many years of patience and many plant cemeteries. Lastly, I try and live a green life through reusing, recycling, and being resourceful. I try to make as many of my own household and personal products that I can, I wouldn’t say its a real money saver, but I would say its much better for our bodies, and our environment. Read more

Earth Day Projects for Kids

An easy and inexpensive DIY project for Earth Day.

This year for Earth Day we wanted to make sure we inlcuded some giving. So we decided to gift some plants to a few of our teachers. My 3rd and 6th grader were in on the Earth giving fun.

We decided to paint some clay pots and give a plant that will grow year round and provide something other than just greenery. We chose basil, well because we love and use it all the time. (And we know it doesn’t die easily, and that’s a plus when gifting a plant.)

We went to our local Wal Mart to grab the basics; pots, plants, and soil. We didn’t plan far enough in advance to seed these plants for their teachers. But that’s a good idea for next year. We already had what we needed to paint the pots like the earth. Because getting messy is something we do a lot around here.

Aside from our gifting project, we also are trying something new at #thehansencompound. I bought a few Green Houses from IKEA. HERE & HERE. So we gathered what we needed for some seedlings. I will do a follow up post in a month or so on how that went. We planted some herbs, watermelon, peppers, and tomatoes.

In the meantime, enjoy our Earth Day Projects for Kids! Easy and Fun!

We would love to know what you did for Earth day! Please share in the comments. And if you have any tips on successful indoor green houses we welcome advice!

Pull back, home tour…

pull back, home tour, beane company home renovation

Beane Co home tour

So as some of you already know, we have moved and are in the middle of a renovation. It’s funny to see comments (after I have posted something on social media) from friends saying things like, “I can’t wait to come over”. Or, “how exciting, I bet that’s so much fun!”. Friends, family, strangers that follow me, …. this is not exactly what you call “fun“. Here are some shots inside my construction zone that are carefully and masterfully staged. I am going to give you what I’m calling the “Pull back, home tour”. I am sharing some of those pretty pictures… again. Then I am going to pull the camera lens back and let you see what it actually looks like. Stay with me. Read more