One of my favorite things to do during the spring/summer is find little hidden gems nearby that are not only fun and exciting but family friendly and affordable. Southern Belle Farms is all the above and more for so many reasons. From the petting zoo barn to the slides and shows to the absolute delicious home made peach ice cream, this place has it all.

What started as a Dairy farm has become a landmark in McDonough Ga, about 30 minutes South of Atlanta. Still owned and operated by The Carter Family, Southern Belle is now a 330 Acre farm of orchards full of peaches to strawberry fields, blueberry fields and more. The Seasonal changes bring so many fun and exciting things for families and people of all ages to enjoy.

We always start our trip off at Belle’s Barn, where kids can get up close with pygmy goats, dairy cows, lambs, chickens and more. The fun little barn allows guest to grab feed for the animals as a little treat and most of the animals come right up to you for some head scratches. No worries, the animals must come to you, they aren’t forced so they definitely have the animals best interest at heart here at this little petting area. After you’re done exploring, there is a convenient hand washing station right outside the barn. Everything is super nice, clean and always well kept.

Next we head up and make sure we check in to get our bands for activities. For $10 (2 and under free) you can enjoy all the activities without worrying about paying for individuals or going back for obnoxious tickets. Once you’re in, your $10 gets you all the fun you can ask for.

We then head off towards the little corn house. The pit filled with corn is a fan fav for kids, especially mine, because it’s a little barn with a pit full of corn kernels for playing. Simply kick off their shoes and toss them in for a little bit of fun. Parents can sit on the benches inside the little barn to keep a close eye on kiddos as well!

Next we made our way towards the Big Barn slide. Unfortunately we didn’t get to test this one out because Addi was way too chicken to make her way up the hill without momma, and baby brother is much too little for the huge slide. Definitely a favorite for kids of all ages.

Right down from the barn is a neat little shaded area called MawMaw and PawPaws place. Here families can freely picnic and enjoy treats purchased from the various stands around the farm. In the summer you can find fresh squeezed lemonade, home made ice creams galore and tons of other fun things. Or bring your lunch from home and enjoy it during your fun. Always super clean and well kept, makes for an easier way to extend your fun without leaving to eat and returning.

Next you can head back over towards Belle’s Barnyard Ball where guests can challenge one another to basketball, baseball and football tosses. Feeling competitive, try your luck there. **You can find about 90% of Dad’s in this area**. Right off to the side is the Konk the Crow where you can knock those pesky crows right off their perch. All kinds of endless fun for kids a little older!

Along with those above, there is a potato launch gun, a water race, a mini puppet show theatre, tractor see-saw, tether ball and even a honey bee habitat. All right in the little area when you first walk in with plenty of grassy area for free play as well.

Right up the hill, you’ll immediately come to a big race track. Not just any race track, it’s for tractors! The little pedal cars are built to resemble tractors of all colors and are such a fav for kids. Worried your kid is too little? They have parent push handles right on the back, just make sure your kid knows how to drive. Race away here among friendly and family on the super neat little track in your very own tractor!

Next is the ultimate playground, the big jumping beans as I like to call them. HUGE jumping pillows allow kids to run and play and jump for hours in a fenced in area with tables and benches for parents to sit and watch. HELLO nap time, right? Addi always loves this little area the most.

Then you can hitch a ride on the Cow Train. A tractor will pull you in your own little cow cart around a field filled with gorgeous flowers while you kick back and enjoy to views! Perfect for kids about 2 and up or parents can sit inside the carts and hold kiddos! There is a great safety lap belt to prevent little ones from standing up and jumping out, and it doesn’t move too quickly! During the halloween season, they have all kinds of neat hay-bells painted up in halloween characters for the kids to enjoy!

Time it right and you could catch the hay-ride around the entire farm. We haven’t been able to get addi on there yet, but one day. The hay-rides run pretty often during the Fall season and usually get pretty busy too! Be sure to catch it just in time.

One of the best parts about the farm are all the neat little areas for picture opportunities and moments to sit and relax. From covered picnic tables to restrooms right on the farm ground to food stands, you could easily spend all day here with your family. The fun is endless and beyond worth the trip.

Before heading home, you have to be sure to stop at the market. Inside you can find gorgeous flowers, amazing jellies, jams and preserves made from fruits grown right there on the farm and more! The ice cream i mentioned in the beginning, you CAN NOT leave without trying the peach ice cream. Even if you aren’t a peach person (Ok hello, if you’re from GA you’re a peach person) you will love! It’s the best. You can even sit and watch little goodies being made in their own bakery as well. So during the summer, be sure to take a break from the heat and cool off in the market.

Something you don’t have to pay for to enjoy are the amazing strawberry and blueberry fields. If you’re looking for fresh berries, grab a bucket or 2 from home and head on over. Simply pay for what you pick (which is SUPER reasonable for fresh berries) or buy their pre-picked baskets full. Hello strawberry shortcakes!!

The fun is endless here, and the memories are amazing! We have been visiting Southern Belle Farms for going on 3 years now and have always been super impressed. The staff is always friendly, the grounds are well kept and clean and the activities are amazing! So if you’re looking for a fun way to spend the day with your family, they are definitely worth checking out. All their info can be found right below on their website! Click the image to head on over and plan your day trip to Southern Belle!

Before you read, please know this is an UNPAID, UNREQUESTED, UNSPONSORED blog post review on this item. I receive ZERO commissions or payouts from you purchasing this product whether you use my discount code or not and I have no benefits of you purchasing it. I’m simply sharing it with you because It’s just that good!! Also, click the pic below to be directed to my YouTube channel to watch a “How-To Video” on applying!

If you know me, you know I will preach until i’m blue in the face on staying out of the sun 100%. I am such an avid believer in protecting our body from the sun’s harmful rays and I will be this way forever. I mean, my daily makeup is a tinted SUNSCREEN and an SPF 55 powder on top you guys. I play no small games with my skin.

So when I came across Get Into The Limelight, I knew I had to check them out. I had heard other bloggers and Celebs rave about their products and felt like I had to get into the mix. So being the adventurous person I am, I reached out to to the page and low and behold it showed up to my doorstep the next week. And I immediately went to applying.

Before I get into that, I want to talk to you guys about why I even decided to give this brand new self tanner a try. Vegan, Paraben Free, Sulfate Free, Not Tested on Animals and Made in the USA. Should I continue? It has AMAZING ingredients and it’s safe to put on breast and breastfeed a baby, WHOA! I was blown away, or so I thought. And then I put it on.

So a little 411 on how I personally prep myself for self tanners; I shower and exfoliate my skin fully using a loofa or a spongelle sponge and i’m sure to get my elbows, knees. ankles and hands really well. I get out, dry off and apply a thin coat of my favorite lotion, Bum Bum cream by Sol De Janerio, and then I apply moisturizer to my face. I always focus on areas that self tanners tend to stick to more, like elbows and knees and feet and hands. This always makes my tans come out super even!

My initial reaction was that the bottle size was a good bit larger than any other brand self tanner I had used, a whole 2 oz bigger if i’m honest. Which breaks down to about 4 full body tans based on how much product I used to get a full body tan. The mitts that come with the starter kit were perfect. They were both super thick but not so much that you couldn’t get your product rubbed in, but thick enough that your hand inside the mitt was protected from product. And the best part, NO SMELL. No yucky fake tan smell. What is this black magic stuff?

Applying product was a breeze! Like i’m talking my 3 year old could apply this stuff. 3 pumps to my entire leg ( 1 upper thigh, 1 lower) and 1 pump for each arm, 1 pump for stomach and 1 pump for my back. That’s all it took for my entire body. Less than a 1/3 of what I was using when using competitive products. I also noticed the product dried quick, but not so quick that it left streaks, but quick enough that I never felt sticky or like I needed to go sit in front of a fan naked. The color guard (which helps you see where you have and have not applied the tanner) was dark enough to give me exactly where I needed to put the tanner, but not so dark that I couldn’t throw on a loose fitting outfit and run out the door if I needed to. All in all, it took me about 5 minutes to apply this to my entire body. Pic below shows the color guard after immediately applying to the left leg.

The face was a breeze. The starter kit comes with this super tiny face mitt and it made applying the tanner to my face so much faster and easier. 1/2 a pump on each side of my face, rubbed all the way into the hair line, over closed eyes, over my ears and down into my neck and done. THAT SIMPLE.

One thing I will share with you on how I set my self tanner, is I take the back side of the mitt that has no product and I will gently press the product into my skin while still damp. This gives the product a more even coverage and sets it into the skin beautifully. I picked that up from watching way way too many youtube videos on self tanning! But it works, and I always do it.

So my day after applying the tanner was this- Took a ton of collaboration pics for brand work (fully clothed in 2 different outfits), took a nap with my infant in white sheets (which by the way, ZERO stains on my sheets not even 2 hours after applying this stuff), nursed that infant without the product transferring to his skin. Then I finally showered it off about 6 hours later. Directions say you can leave it on for 8 but I was being cautious. The color did not fade, it stayed in place and I had zero wonkey spots to fix. I was so SHOOOOOK! This has magical powers in there somewhere.

The next 5 days, each night was spent taking a bubble bath in epsom salt without any product fading. My normal every night skincare routine was done without any issues (which by the way, no breakouts on my face), and I never once felt like I had to touch up any areas. So I finally decided to reapply the product tonight about 5 hours ago and I am again, blown away. I washed it off after only 3 hours this time simply because I wanted to see how the color would fade by only leaving it on half the time I did the first time, and the color still looks gorgeous. I have an Olive undertone and am very very pale skinned, but this color is GORGEOUS on me. My Instagram DM’s have blown up with people asking about it and i am SOOO excited to finally share with you! So head on over to the website by clicking the picture below, Grab the starter babe kit and use code JORDANLEE5 to make your entire kit, 8 oz bottle of Dark tan and both mitts, only $39 and free shipping.

Can’t wait to see all you’re glowing faces! XOXO-Jordan Lee

I know what you’re thinking. How is the girl who preaches against mom shamming trying to tell me how I’m a bad mom. Well, it got your attention and you’re here now so please continue to read. This is in no way to mock, shame or change others views on how they parent, I’m simply here to tell you how society views us as “Bad Mothers” by doing things we’re all doing to protect our babies. So grab some popcorn, it’s good!

1. 1. Co-Sleeping- Yep. If your child, at any age, finds their way into your beds..Bad Mom status. God forbid we just want to snuggle with our kids and fall asleep with them, and then we are all hooked. Both of our kids sleep with us, in separate beds. Does it suck? Yeah, sometimes. Do I wish I could sleep with my husband without little feet in my back all night or a baby on my boob? You bet. But these are the years that I will want back. They are only little for so long. So if you’re doing it safely, no blanket on infant, co sleeper or however you choose- no mama shamming here. Love those babies girlfriend!
   2. You DON’T let your baby Cry It Out- I can’t believe I even am mentioning this one, but you’d be shocked to know how many times I have people tell me i’m a bad mom for not letting my baby cry it out before bed. Oh, so you mean i’m a bad mom for giving up MY 30 minutes of peace and quiet before bed because I choose to go rock my crying infant back to sleep? Ok, then I don’t want to be a good mom. Babies cry because they need something. You cannot spoil them with love, i’m sorry. 3 year old? yeah, you can spoil. But if a baby is crying and stops when you hold them, it’s because HELLO, they feel safe with you. So if that makes us bad moms, then girl you DA BADDEST!
   3. Formula feeding- You know, because the labor of childbirth and pregnancy isn’t enough we are continued to be shammed while feeding our child. Some women just can’t do it. Not because they don’t want to, but they just can’t. Some can’t produce, some have a hard time connecting and some just don’t want to. Why is that ANYONE’S business today? Why does a mom who stopped breastfeeding her child have to explain her situation to you and your 300 facebook group members who decide to shame her decision. Some of you guys could watch Bambi and focus on the little scene with Thumper. And if you don’t know what i’m referring to then i’m going to need you to catch up. I couldn’t breastfeed my first. A little devil called PPD snuck up and I had to take care of myself in order to take care of my child. And I was labeled a bad mom for that. Now i’m breastfeeding an infant and suddenly a “good mom” again? some people need to have several seats on some church pews.
   4. Breastfeeding past the age of 1 OR in public- yeah, please refer to the majority of issue 3. If you judge a mom for feeding HER child, notice I said hers because that baby didn’t come out of your who-hah, then you need a lesson on keeping your mouth shut. Sorry, i’m not apologetic here. You want to tell me to go feed my child in the bathroom because a baby on my boob is ruining your dining experience then i’ll kindly tell you to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine and then I might even squirt a little of my offending boob juice in your direction. Can’t say I didn’t warn ya!
   5. Extended Rear Facing car seats- So you see this mom hauling around her 5 kids in her mini van and you see little Timmy in the backseat in a rear facing carseat and he looks like he could be maybe 3 years old… and you have the nerve to tell that mom that child needs to forward face, get in your car and drive away to your closest church and sit and have a lesson on Jesus. Extended rear facing is a thing you guys, and it saves more kids every day than you even know. Carseats these days are designed to keep our babies rear facing for well past the state laws (In my state, GA) requirement of 2 years of age. Some kids develop slower, have spine or bone issues and turning them forward facing could kill them in an accident. So why this one is even shammed blows my mind, but guess what- it is.
   6. You started solids before 6 months- lord here we go with feeding our kids again. If your pediatrician has seen your developing child and gives you the okay to start giving them a little mashed banana every once in a while, girl you go for it. Give baby what you want! But some of these facebook groups I am in I hear women literally calling other women “Ignorant, stupid, dumb” for simply making the choice to let their baby try something approved by their doctors. Because ya know, that Google degree they all have hanging on their wall tells us more about what we should and shouldn’t be doing than some rando doctor who spent 13 years of his life in college. No big deal. Feed your child when He/She is ready. For my first it was 6 months, for my second we were cleared earlier and he hates them so we are holding off. But guess what, MY BABY MY CHOICE.
   7. You don’t have your kids on a schedule- oh how DARE you let your kids stay up past 8 pm on a weekend when they should be in bed (insert major eye roll emoji). Okay LISTEN LINDA, I actually like the children I produced with MY BODY and I like spending time with them. And believe it or not I can still enjoy a glass of wine while holding my child and reading a bedtime story, I got this one. My kids will never be forced to go to sleep when they aren’t ready, they also won’t be forced to take naps if they don’t want a nap. Might I regret those decisions? I probably will. But hey, I made that decision and I deal with my kids actions. Not you. So unless you’re the one over here dealing with my 3 year old at 11 pm at night on a Saturday, keep your unwanted opinions to yourself!
   8. Child not potty trained by age 2- Okay and that’s your business why? Are you changing her diaper or am I? No she isn’t potty trained yet. But that isn’t because I haven’t tried. I have tried until she absolutely cries and I’m not doing that to my child. She isn’t ready. And if your child isn’t ready, that’s okay girl. Mine will be 3 this month and she still isn’t ready despite all efforts. Forcing a child to potty train when they aren’t ready is just more stress than it’s worth and it’s not good for kids at all. Wait until THEY are ready, not when some person that doesn’t know your child thinks they should be ready!
   9. I don’t do much with friends anymore- well, you see theres this big thing called responsibility, and believe it or not i’m actually responsible for the children I gave birth to. Who’d a thought? So no, I don’t get sitters on the weekends to go party it up with friends, but that’s okay if you do I guess. I choose to spend time with my children as their parent. So when I respectfully decline your invite to GNO or a wedding that is “adults only” don’t get all butt hurt when my response is “I’m a parent and I have children who need me”. Don’t tell me to just get a sitter. We have an AMAZING set of sisters who watch our kids when WE as their parents decide we need a break. Or we ask grandparents. No one else. We trust no one. And that’s my business, NOT YOURS.
   10. Last but not least- Spanking. And Lord Jesus hold my hand I DO NOT mean child abuse or simply beating your child. I mean discipline. I mean a pop on the bottom after you have verbally told your child not to do something. I mean letting your children know that they did something wrong by getting their attention by popping them in the appropriate place to remind them that if it happens again, their bottom gets popped. Kids these days grew up not having to pick their own switches off the tree in the backyard AND IT SHOWS. So yes, when my kids need a spanking (its hardly ever, with addi like twice in her life) you best believe I’m not above it. And if that offends you and your gang of mommy BFFs you met on the internet and don’t even know, well bless your heart. We also do much more to explain to our 3 year old that she is in the wrong, ya know like sitting her down and having a slightly dumbed down convo about right and wrong. I’m not a lazy parent here, i’m just a mom.

So do you get where I’m getting at here? NONE of us are bad moms just because society wants to pretend we are for stereotypical reasonings. I raise my kids in the way I see fit. The whole “I don’t know HOW our parents ever made it with raising kids” is bull. they did it and i’m doing it MY WAY! So thank you for your google degree unwanted un-welcomed advice, but i’m going to smile and tell you to kindly find the door! I’m basically a Black Hawk helicopter mom and I give zero craps on who I piss off while raising my kids, and you shoudn’t either! Thanks for coming to my Tedd Talk, now i’ll go have a glass of wine.

I’ve sat down about 10 times to write this blog post out and each and every time ended in puffy eyes and a very sore heart. My words here are basically word vomit and probably won’t even make sense. It’s hard to talk about to be honest. You see this isn’t something I like to bring light to too often. Sometimes I like to pretend things played out differently for my brother. Like i’ll pretend he’s still driving his same ‘ol truck traveling around chasing hail damage and calling me up asking me to hit the town in Atlanta with him on his wallet. You see, he did anything for just about anyone. Especially those he loved. There were times i’d call him needing money for lord knows what or I just needed a ride home from the bars and he would be there. Never hesitated, never asked questions, he was just there. God he loved to help others. He was kind, he was loving and he would be there. And if things had gone differently, I feel in my heart he still would. But things didn’t play out differently, so here I am sharing my story on how his addiction changed my life.

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