Earth Day is just around the corner (April 22nd), and in honor of this great spinning globe we live on, I'm celebrating a few local artisans and designers who do a little good for our world. Please show them some love because without us even thinking about it, they are doing good for all of us by improving our environment.

Luisa Fernanda Nadarajah
This jewelry and fashion designer "upcycles" materials to use in her designs, and the result is stunning.  Who would think to use seatbelts, speedometer pins, and lightbulbs to form some of the most beautiful pieces? 

The Reclaimed Wood Shop
The Gaines (as in Joanna and Chip) have made shiplap walls a weekend home designer's dream project, and now you can find your reclaimed wood and reclaimed wood project inspo locally at The Reclaimed Wood Shop! Their furniture pieces are one-of-a-kind, or you can work with the staff to design your own unique piece. Or just take home so good ol' barnwood for your next Gaines' inspired project.

Hollywood Hippies Cosmetics
This one really touches my heart. As a former Child Advocate who was a voice for a child in the foster care system, I love any organization that places foster children at the center of what they do.  Owner, Brandie Seifert, was a child of the foster care system. Brandie aged out of the system and built her business  as a means to support herself.  When her Hollywood clients began asking for greener, more natural products, she created "make-up with a mission" to provide healthy products that are  fun and affordable. I could not love more how she uses her talents to support so many worthy causes!

Time to round up the family and head off to adventure / major nap times / sun and sand / whatever your family is up to this summer.

We are heading out to the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa, and couldn't be happier. Traveling with an 18 month old and a 4 year old isn't a walk in the park. In fact, there isn't much walking involved - it's almost always a sprint, except for that long 3 hour drive in the car.

To make my  escape a little easier, I swear by a packing list that I continuously add to and modify to fit my family's needs. I HATE driving 30 minutes down the road only to realize that I have forgotten something critical, like socks, or my summer beach read, or Calum's favorite binky. No, no, no. That's a terrible way to start my few days of rest and relaxation (ha).

So if you are like me, here's some peace of mind. I've linked HERE my FREE downloadable family packing list. You can customize it to your own needs and keep adding to it for years to come! (Dad is not included because he takes like 3 minutes to pack himself - then I hand him the rest of the kids' list and he jumps in and helps out - sometimes).

HERE is the .pdf version. 

And if you want to follow along with my family vacation, be sure you are following along with @htxmom on instagram!