1 Day Reset- Juice Cleanse with Sunshine Juice Co.

 I tried my first Juice Cleanse last week!  Initially I planned to do a 3-day cleanse, but a few things changed and I decided a 1-day cleanse would be a better first experience.  Overall it was delicious and refreshing.  It truly felt like the perfect "reset" for my body!

We have been trying to eat healthier in our home and cut back on sweets or what I like to call "filler snacks".  Ya know, the extra handful of goldfish after lunch or taste-testing desesrt while cooking dinner.  Maybe that's just me :)  I finally realized that while I am no longer pregnant or breastfeeding, my appetite is still eating for 2... and I needed to stop! This juice cleanse helped to do just that.  My appetite since the cleanse has decreased and my craving for coffee has decreased as well.  

The juices really did keep me feeling full all day long.  I actually saved the 2nd Mean Green for the next day because I couldn't drink it all!  I might have felt different after a 3 day cleanse, but I do think drinking tons of water & eating well leading up to the cleanse helped my body get through the day without any problems.  I drank all of the juices just fine- there were a couple I had to chug a little faster than the others because I didn't love the taste, but I'm still new to this juice stuff.  Hopefully I'll enjoy every one next time.  My favorite just might have been the new Sol H2O.  There is a spicy refreshing flavor that wakes you right up!

Anyways, I highly recommend trying one of the cleanses or running into Sunshine Juice Co. for a juice or smoothie this summer.  They are so kind and helpful in the store (or drive-thru!) so don't hesitate asking questions.  I can't wait to try their new summer juice flavor!

Have you ever tried a juice cleanse?  Do you have any tips for me on future cleanses? 3-day or 1-day? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Our Favorite Summer Park- Friedman Park

Our family has a new favorite spot in Evansville... well, Newburgh!  Friedman Park just opened Memorial Day weekend and we have already been several times.  It's a little tricky to find, but there are a few maps on this Facebook page {here} that are helpful.  The kids loved the swings, sand pit and unique play areas! The two large covered areas are great for an evening picnic or rent out for a party.  Patrick and JR can't wait to go fishing and biking on the trails.  The bathrooms and water fountains are a nice bonus :)

Friedman Park reminds us our favorite park in Louisville.  JR & Vera always ask to visit Nana's park, but now they ask about this one just as much.  I'm so thankful to have a new place to enjoy this summer!  See ya there!

Spring Clippings = Free Statement Decor

Of course, I love Myquillyn Smith's advice (The Nester!) to bring branches and free bouquets from your yard inside your home.  Her most recent Instagram posts have some beautiful photos showing what she brought indoors.  And her statement about azaleas {here} had me laughing!  Their blooms sure are gorgeous, but as she said... "It's their one week to shine before they go back to looking like shriveled burnt bushes in my yard." Glad I'm not the only one who thinks this :)

Have any favorite branches or spring flowers in your own yard? (or a kind neighbor?!) Take a photo and share with us! Comment below with a link to your Instagram photo or blog post.

Zoo Day with Sloane & Kiddos

Before Easter, we spent the most beautiful afternoon at the zoo!  Sloane, our friend & babysitter, met us for USI day.  I can't believe it took 4 years of living in Evansville to visit Mesker Park!  The kids did some crafts at the USI tent and got some snacks as well :) The weather could not have been more perfect for early spring.  It actually was pretty warm and those hills are NO JOKE!  JR loved the giraffes and Vera loved the "pink flamingo sign" (haha! We couldn't find the actual flamingos and she told us at the end that was her favorite!).   There weren't a ton of animals and the grounds weren't the prettiest.  There was a lot of construction and granted it's early spring, so maybe they will do some cleaning and updating soon.  I kinda felt bad for the animals, but hoping next time we go it will have improved.  It doesn't compare to the other zoos we have been to, but then again the price was like 1/4 of the other zoo costs so that was fair for the experience!  A cheap park experience where the kids can run and see some animals they wouldn't see in the forest ;) Next time we might try out the flamingo or swan paddle boats on the lake!

Sweet Sisters and a First Birthday Session- Evansville Photography

The Chapman Family- Spring Family Session

Words can't describe the love our family has for the Chapman Crew!  They are the kind of friends that are just "easy". We celebrate the crazy, walk through the tough together and laugh way too loud.  This last minute photo shoot was the perfect way to celebrate the last of winter!

Garden Party 2017- Spring Seed Planting

"I must have flowers always and always."

-Claude Monet

Starting a garden from seeds can seem a little daunting.  Honestly, most of the time it's probably not any more expensive to go ahead & buy the $2.50 Home Depot plant, rather than hassle with peat pots and seedlings hoping they survive to be transferred to your garden.  Most people do not have a garden large enough to use up all of the seeds in one packet.  So that's why I decided to have a seed planting party- to learn from friends who had done this before and share the rest in my seed packets that would have been wasted!

Last year, we had our first seed planting party {here} looking a little different than this year's brunch without kids and forecast for snow flurries :)  While I'm hoping for successful seeding again this year, truly it's more about spending time with friends and meeting new ladies in the community.  My friend, Deanna, and I invited a few friends and then they invited others... I highly recommend mixing up party guests like this.  I love watching two friends connect with each other that might not have ever met.  Or looking around my home seeing lots of new faces and everyone laughing and eating and planting!  They might have thought I was crazy serving up brunch on a mix-match of my grandma's china and then passing buckets of soil inside the house, but cleanup still was faster than lunch with my 3 kids!

I highly recommend finding a sweet friend to host parties with you! Makes it more fun and enjoyable, but it's also a major plus when she can bake like a professional :) How cute are these cookies?!

Want to host your own Seed Planting Party? Text all of your friends, have everyone bring a snack and get to planting.  Here is a good list to get you started...

-Seed Starter Soil & Spoons/Scoops
-Peat Pots or have each person bring a dozen empty egg shells in a carton
-Popsicle Sticks & markers so you can remember what you planted!
-Spray bottles (so you can mist the soil as you plant)
-Seeds! (We had each person bring 2 packets and we assigned categories like herb, veggies, etc.)

Also Kari Jobe's new album The Garden is the perfect background music!

Now we will wait and see how many of our seeds actually grow well enough to plant in the garden, but at least we had a fun ladies' brunch!

Let me know if you have a garden party with your friends & send me some photos at everydaypitpat@gmail.com. I would love to see your party and garden ideas!