Five simple things

Hey! Thanks for reading South North South every week. I appreciate it a lot! So this week we had a bit of a hiccup with the working in the yard and got a nice thunder storm, with real thunder, roll through the Valley. It was a nice way to fall asleep. A lot of people in the Valley freak out over thunderstorms. With being from the south, I've been in some pretty crazy thunder and lightning storms and what the Willamette Valley gets is like a tea party compared to those. Anyway, the thunder and lightning show took us out of the house to eat dinner. We grabbed a quick bite and headed to the top of Washburn Heights near Brownsville, Oregon to watch the light show and it was beautiful! With The Mr. working all weekend The Bean and I have some time on our hands to get some much needed things done. I've been following some new boards on Pinterest about living more minimal and have some great plans for us today, tomorrow, and the rest of the week to get things down to a minimum here at the Hiatt House. I would really like to have everything settled before we move from here. I can't wait to share our changes. Onward with the home searches, but meanwhile, here are the things that made this week great!

1. This Little Fairy

I had completely forgotten I had placed this fairies in my front flowerbed until I started pulling out weeds and there she was. I am not into fairies, but I really like this one because she's standing on a mushroom. My mother-in-law got this for me one Christmas. I think she fits perfectly with the other decor around the yard.

2.  These Surprise Boxes

  

With my mom being busy getting her cafe up and running in Crystal Springs, Arkansas, she hasn't had the time to get things together to mail to us for Christmas, Valentine's, and Easter. I secretly like that she lingers with sending a care package, especially for the holidays, because it makes the holidays last a long time for us. These boxes came unexpectedly and we loved it! The best part, we got t-shirts from my dad's business (Mike's Heating and Air Conditioning), and now my mom's (Crystal Springs Mercantile and Cafe)!

3. This Flowers

  

The first tree reminds me of the movie Alice in Wonderland where the army men are painting the roses red on the trees. The second is a plant called Bleeding Heart and I think it is one of the most interesting ornamental plants to ever grow.

4.  This House

We pass by this house on our bike rides and there's just something about it that makes my mind wonder about its complete history. I have had a thought on maybe bringing in some history of towns into the blog. Maybe soon.

5.  This View

It isn't a poster, it's a view of Crater Lake this past weekend. More on this road trip soon.

Extras:

1. Popsicle crafts galore!
2. Time for a new umbrella. A good umbrella.
3. Women voting.
4. Let the sunlight work for you to create art.
5. Do it Yourself Green Cleaning Kits. And a giveaway!
6. Natural Sand Pit for your backyard.
7. A new way to carry your lunch.
8. Homemade sour cream.
9. Oregon Palm Trees.
10. Wanna Get Away soon?  

What happened this time last year?

Road Trip: Hiking at Silver Creek Falls

We decided to jump in the car and take off again. This time to Silver Creek Falls in Silverton, Oregon. The day was perfect and with just a $5 parking fee, beautiful day, and hiking through a beautiful area, we couldn't resist.

Source

The trail down to the falls.

The South Falls is a waterfall that allows visitors to walk behind the falls. It's such a great experience.

Behind the falls gives you a different view of the land.

The Bean loved the small caves and rocks carved out by the water.

The wild raspberry bushes along the creek were blooming brilliantly this time of year.

It was a wonderful hike and a beautiful day to do it. You can check out more about Silver Creek Falls here and take advantage of the area anytime from now until October to see it on full display.

What happened this time last year?

Celebrate Earth Day with Honest

This post is sponsored by The Honest Company.Thank you so much for supporting this brand, which also supports this blog and our family.

In honor of Earth Day, Honest is having a Buy More, Save More event!

Earth Day is a great event that gives attention to being respectful for the environment and happens every year on April 22. This year marks 46 years that it's been a recognized event. Most people get together to recycle, compost, or plant a tree to honor mother earth and the great ways we can change our damage.

The Honest Company, with its values toward the planet, have created an event on their own to help drive you to practice a better way to live in your own home, office, and everyday life. Their products are geared toward a better living for you and your family. This year they have helped make that process a bit easier with their Buy More, Save More for Earth Day savings. Enjoy up to $40 off plus FREE shipping on qualifying orders between 4/19 and 4/24!*

The Honest Company has products that will help your family live healthier and with less impact on the planet. A few highlighted products that are my favorite are:

1.  Honest Healing Balm

2.  Honest Bathroom Cleaner

3.  Honest Bamboo Dish Brush

Buy More, Save More event:

While you're enjoying the savings for Earth Day check out the Honest essentials for your little one. 

Are you having a baby soon? If your birth plan includes a hospital delivery, here are four Honest essentials to bring that will help you have a better birth experience:

• Honest Diapers

Honest Diapers are eco-friendly, ultra absorbent and free of lotions, fragrances and latex. These diapers are also gentle, safe, and non-irritating for baby's sensitive skin. As if that wasn't wonderful enough, you'll also be able to choose from dozens of fun, colorful prints!

• Baby Arrival Gift Set

This gift set includes seven essential items made with safe and natural ingredients to make those first days even more delightful for both baby and mom. The set is wrapped in a beautiful lightweight reusable wooden box made from sustainable paulownia wood — perfect for art and crafts, diaper storage, photos, toys, and more!

• Honest organic healing balm

Hospitals can be very dry, so Honest's Healing Balm is a must-have for both mom and baby. Made with certified organic, plant-based botanicals, including coconut, olive, sunflower oils and shea butter, this salve will soothe, calm, nourish and moisturize even the most sensitive baby skin.

• Everything Tote

New parents not only need everything, they also need something to carry it all in. With over nine, thoughtfully-placed pockets, this classic handbag-style tote will keep all of her delivery day essentials organized. This tote is also very stylish, so when mom's back home, it's a great bag for transitioning from busy parent during the day to fashionista at night.

If you can't decide which product is best for yourself, or for someone else, The Honest Company also carries gift cards.

*Terms and Conditions: *$20 off $50+ purchase, $30 off $75+ purchase, and $40 off $100+ purchase on Honest.com. Limit 1 Promo Code per customer/household; family members or friends with the same address may not use this code again. Limit 2 new Bundles per customer in a single transaction with the following restrictions: if customer has 2 or more existing Bundles, promo codes are not valid toward new Bundle purchases; if customer has 1 existing Bundle, promo codes are only valid toward 1 new Bundle purchase. Excludes Gift Bundles, Gift Cards, Existing Bundles and Free Trials. Free shipping applies to standard ground shipping of eligible orders shipped within the contiguous U.S.only. Offer expires at 11:59 p.m. (PST) on 4/24/2016. Applicable promo code must be entered at checkout. Order total before taxes and shipping charges cannot exceed $1,000. Discount applied before International Surcharge, taxes and shipping charges. Cannot be combined with any other promotion. Terms subject to change at any time.

What happened this time last year?