Categories
Events Travel

Lazy days of summer – not! #travel #seniortrip #Aruba

Well this summer flew by so fast. Anyone else think so? Swim and Dive season, Beach days, my daughter’s senior trip and of course now running around trying to get everything in order for her move to college. How did that happen???

Earlier in the summer it was all things summer swim and dive season. Then onto travel. Summer is so packed and we usually do multiple trips in the summer. This year was the big senior trip for my daughter and her friends. If you haven’t heard the story we were booked to Punta Cana. Well, with everything going on there we just didn’t feel comfortable going so we rebooked to Aruba. SO GLAD WE DID. If you haven’t been you must go. We chose an all-inclusive and I would do this again. Aruba is known for its great food but we had kids with us so this was the best option and it was great. Food was really good and no worries about the dining bill! We did venture out with ATVs and went to the natural pool and baby beach. One interesting stop was the fish pedicure. It was different and weird but I loved it.

This was such a memorable trip. We were relaxed and felt safe in Aruba. Lots to do – with shopping and gambling lol. There was even entertainment at our hotel pool which everyone loved. We stayed at the Barcelo and would recommend it. We can’t wait to go back!

Here are my two favorite scenes from the trip – the pool photo and the beach view from the trip we took out to the middle of the ocean to the Tarzan boat. There was this place in the middle of the ocean that had rope swings, trampolines and high dives. Yes, I did go off the high dive. It was amazing but sometimes you have to remind yourself you are not 20 anymore, but I will always try new things!

 

Aruba – senior trip for my girl – love this island
Pool at the Barcelo Aruba – one fun place

 

 

Categories
Events graduation

Summer is right around the corner – life events! Stress! Trying new #vitamins

It has been a crazy busy time of year! It was senior year for my oldest and this last month was filled with proms, award ceremonies, sports banquets and of course graduation! I say it all the time…..time goes by so fast! Up next is college orientation – I cannot believe it.

We are so proud of all her accomplishments. She has already begun her two summer jobs and we have a few trips planned this summer and of course our beach days are ones we cherish so those will continue!

My stress level is through the roof! It took a lot of organizing, preparing, running around and meeting deadlines to get through these life events the last couple of months and that was for her mom!  I never have felt so stressed. I am trying to get back into the swing of exercise but it has always been hard for me to stick to a routine. I went to Whole Foods the other day and came across some chocolate called Good Day Chocolate 

You all know I love chocolate and this is so good! I am hoping it helps. At least it tastes good! I am also trying these stress vitamins from Olly 

I do love a good gummy and these are just the thing to eat late afternoon when I crave a sweet! Some of the multivitamins I see are so big and taste vitaminy – you know what I mean! I am on the lookout for a good multivitamin for women over 40 so let me know if you have a recommendation.

What do you do to de-stress?

I am stressed and looking for a natural way to help!

 

 

Categories
calendar Planner

Planners are not all alike – @cultivatewhatmatters #POWERSHEETS #goals #goalplanner #sponsored

Each year I buy a fresh calendar. I also like to write things down in a to do list. There are some fantastic calendar/planners out there. One that I was introduced to is not a calendar, not a to do list but an in-depth goal planner. I was so excited to receive The PowerSheets Intentional Goal Planner from Cultivate What Matters. It is a purposeful planner and it is unlike anything I have seen!  It is a powerful tool that you can use along with any calendar to help you reach your goals.

When you first open the box it is already motivating! The wire bound goal planner called PowerSheets was created by Lara Casey, the best-selling author of Make It Happen and Cultivate: A Grace-Filled Guide to Growing an Intentional Life.

There are fun stickers, quote cards and even a card to create your word of the year! The first section really encourages you to walk through your goals and then there is 12 months of goal setting worksheets to make the goals you map out a reality. It walks though what is stressing you, fears and encourages you to make out monthly action items, weekly action items and daily habits. The tending list is where you want to focus on each of these monthly, weekly and daily goals. It is like a mini life coach in each page as it asks the important questions, gets you thinking so that you will write it down.

The design of the planner is beautiful and colorful. I especially love the stickers up front to help you along the way. It really gets you thinking – from lesson learned sections to people you are grateful to what is holding you back it really helps you drill down to things that are important to you, tracking your goals – really it comes down to what do you want to cultivate? I do love the get to know me page!

The web site also offers exclusive access to a free library of downloadable Wildcard pages to help you customize your goals, including a meal planner, finance tracker, reading list, monthly calendar and budget.

Check out their website and order a PowerSheet Planner for yourself. You and your goals will be glad you did. After all and I quote from the #POWERSHEETS “Dreams Become Decisions When you Cultivate Them!

Disclosure: Cultivate What Matters sent me the PowerSheets to test out and review. As always all opinions are my own in this blog post.

Fun stickers in the #POWERSHEETS The Intentional Goal Planner
Motivational cards including in the Intentional Goal Planner #POWERSHEETS

 

Categories
calendar Planner

Planners are not all alike – @cultivatewhatmatters #POWERSHEETS #goals #goalplanner #sponsored

Each year I buy a fresh calendar. I also like to write things down in a to do list. There are some fantastic calendar/planners out there. One that I was introduced to is not a calendar, not a to do list but an in-depth goal planner. I was so excited to receive The PowerSheets Intentional Goal Planner from Cultivate What Matters. It is a purposeful planner and it is unlike anything I have seen!  It is a powerful tool that you can use along with any calendar to help you reach your goals.

When you first open the box it is already motivating! The wire bound goal planner called PowerSheets was created by Lara Casey, the best-selling author of Make It Happen and Cultivate: A Grace-Filled Guide to Growing an Intentional Life.

There are fun stickers, quote cards and even a card to create your word of the year! The first section really encourages you to walk through your goals and then there is 12 months of goal setting worksheets to make the goals you map out a reality. It walks though what is stressing you, fears and encourages you to make out monthly action items, weekly action items and daily habits. The tending list is where you want to focus on each of these monthly, weekly and daily goals. It is like a mini life coach in each page as it asks the important questions, gets you thinking so that you will write it down.

The design of the planner is beautiful and colorful. I especially love the stickers up front to help you along the way. It really gets you thinking – from lesson learned sections to people you are grateful to what is holding you back it really helps you drill down to things that are important to you, tracking your goals – really it comes down to what do you want to cultivate? I do love the get to know me page!

The web site also offers exclusive access to a free library of downloadable Wildcard pages to help you customize your goals, including a meal planner, finance tracker, reading list, monthly calendar and budget.

Check out their website and order a PowerSheet Planner for yourself. You and your goals will be glad you did. After all and I quote from the #POWERSHEETS “Dreams Become Decisions When you Cultivate Them!

Disclosure: Cultivate What Matters sent me the PowerSheets to test out and review. As always all opinions are my own in this blog post.

Fun stickers in the #POWERSHEETS The Intentional Goal Planner
Motivational cards including in the Intentional Goal Planner #POWERSHEETS

 

Categories
calendar Planner

Planners are not all alike – @cultivatewhatmatters #POWERSHEETS #goals #goalplanner #sponsored

Each year I buy a fresh calendar. I also like to write things down in a to do list. There are some fantastic calendar/planners out there. One that I was introduced to is not a calendar, not a to do list but an in-depth goal planner. I was so excited to receive The PowerSheets Intentional Goal Planner from Cultivate What Matters. It is a purposeful planner and it is unlike anything I have seen!  It is a powerful tool that you can use along with any calendar to help you reach your goals.

When you first open the box it is already motivating! The wire bound goal planner called PowerSheets was created by Lara Casey, the best-selling author of Make It Happen and Cultivate: A Grace-Filled Guide to Growing an Intentional Life.

There are fun stickers, quote cards and even a card to create your word of the year! The first section really encourages you to walk through your goals and then there is 12 months of goal setting worksheets to make the goals you map out a reality. It walks though what is stressing you, fears and encourages you to make out monthly action items, weekly action items and daily habits. The tending list is where you want to focus on each of these monthly, weekly and daily goals. It is like a mini life coach in each page as it asks the important questions, gets you thinking so that you will write it down.

The design of the planner is beautiful and colorful. I especially love the stickers up front to help you along the way. It really gets you thinking – from lesson learned sections to people you are grateful to what is holding you back it really helps you drill down to things that are important to you, tracking your goals – really it comes down to what do you want to cultivate? I do love the get to know me page!

The web site also offers exclusive access to a free library of downloadable Wildcard pages to help you customize your goals, including a meal planner, finance tracker, reading list, monthly calendar and budget.

Check out their website and order a PowerSheet Planner for yourself. You and your goals will be glad you did. After all and I quote from the #POWERSHEETS “Dreams Become Decisions When you Cultivate Them!

Disclosure: Cultivate What Matters sent me the PowerSheets to test out and review. As always all opinions are my own in this blog post.

Fun stickers in the #POWERSHEETS The Intentional Goal Planner
Motivational cards including in the Intentional Goal Planner #POWERSHEETS

 

Categories
Christmas Gifts Products t-shirt blanket Teens

Happy Holidays! A cherished gift @ProjectRepat

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! I love everything Christmas and celebrating the season. My girls are older now so gift buying can be challenging. I was so excited to work with Project Repat on a t-shirt quilt for my senior. This a must gift for kids, especially if you have a child going off to college. What precious memories of all their t-shirts on a fleece blanket. My daughter loved it! (I gave it to her as an early Christmas gift.) If you are looking for something extra special as a graduation gift and/or for next years holiday gift check them out online.

All you do is order your panel size and quilt size and color (we received the twin size), gather up your t-shirts and the company will send you instructions. You have to cut the shirt under the arm and then mail  in the front or if you want the back logo of your t-shirt mail that in. They will keep you posted on when it’s complete. It does take a bit especially during the holiday season so order ahead for next year! Moms with younger kids: save up those shirts! It really was nice to see all her memories on one blanket! Plus as thousands of textile jobs have gone overseas the company, Project Repat is helping to bring them back to the United States. The t-shirt quilt is backed with PolarTec fleece made out of recycled plastic bottles. Each yard recycles 23 plastic bottles that would otherwise end up in landfills! What a great company and great idea. We were so happy with the results.

Disclosure: The company sent me a twin blanket to review. As always, all opinions in this blog post are my own.

Close up of the custom t-shirt quilt from Project Repat
So glad I saved all the T-Shirts over the years!
Twin Size custom Project Repat T-Shirt quilt
Twin Size custom Project Repat T-Shirt quilt
Categories
pets Products Uncategorized

New puppy, new treats from @bullymake #sponsored

We have a new pup! With that comes a lot of responsibility, training and our course treats too. You may have seen photos of my Brady and heard the story- the dog we rescued from the shelter 5 years ago. The shelter said he was two and a cairn terrier and when we took him to my vet she said, “sorry to say he is about 8 or 10 YEARS OLD and more of a border terrier mixed with who knows what!”  He was my baby and we loved him and it was very hard to say goodbye in June (which we think he was 15 then!) I was very traumatized by having to make the decision and said never again will I go through that. But here we are several months later with a “lab” rescue. This time around the shelter said she is a one year old and a lab mix. My vet seems to think she is about 6 months and a black mouth cur! Anyway we are blessed to have a sweet rescue who is now safe and happy in her new home.

But boy do we need a lot of chew toys. The first several toys we got she destroyed and that is why I was so happy Bully Make sent me a sample of their a dog subscription box for big chewers! You can pick a plan and get a box once a month or every three or 6 months or even once a year. That would make a nice gift for the holidays. You may have heard about these subscription boxes on everything from make-up to clothes and now your dog can have treats delivered right to your door! The one I received was a Halloween one and Sadie just loves both of the tough chewy toys and the cookies and treats as well. It is a nice treat to open up a box of goodies for your dog. You can even send one as a gift. They even have a 14 day Bully Make guarantee!  That means if your dog destroys any toy, take a picture and send it to them. If the toy qualifies for a replacement, they will ship you a new toy for free! The company will also replace items your dog doesn’t like. Now that is great customer service. Give them a try and more information can be found here.

 

Disclosure: Bully Make sent me a box for my dog to test out. As always all opinions in this blog post are my own.

Sadie enjoying her new toy from @Bullymake
Doggy goodies from @bullymake

 

 

 

 

 

Categories
Fall

It’s Fall Y’all – #Fallishere #pumpkinspice

I cannot believe today is October 1st! Summer flew by as well as the first weeks of back to school. The weather has turned to a cool 60 and pumpkin spice is back in stores. I do love all things fall – the apple picking, cider donuts and all things pumpkin spice. I did do a grocery run at Trader Joe’s the other day. They do have the best selection of all things pumpkin! I am willing to try anything pumpkin – cakes, cookies, smoothies. It just reminds me of fall! So Happy Fall Y’All. What kinds of pumpkin treats are your favorite?

 

It's Fall!
Yummy pumpkin treats from @traderjoes
Categories
Events

@RedSox Fun events in August to do @fenwaypark #redsoxmoms #redsoxfamily

Take me out to a ball game! (or any fun event that the Boston Red Sox puts on!  There are several Boston Red Sox events coming up. Enjoy a movie and more!

A must movie night – Fenway Park will screen the original Jurassic Park in celebration of the movie’s 25th anniversary on Tuesday, August 14. Movie Night attendees will be invited to walk the warning track from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., weather and field permitting. Get your tickets here

Also on Sunday, August 12 – The Boston Red Sox will host the fifth annual “Out of the Park” on the Boston Common. “Out of the Park” is a free, family-oriented event that brings the Fenway Park experience to the community. “Out of the Park” will feature a live viewing of the 1:05 p.m. Red Sox-Orioles game, complementary food and kids and family activities. Check out the link here

On Saturday, August 18-Sunday, August 19 it’s the Fenway Rooftop Sessions, presented by vineyard vines is a new and unique way to enjoy the game. With dates throughout the season, tickets include a pregame performance from a local Boston band, and a ticket to the game. Saturday, August 18, will include a performance by City Rivals. Dalton & The Sheriffs will perform on Sunday, August 19. For more information go to the mlb website

I always love a theme night at Fenway and on Monday, August 20 The Red Sox will celebrate one of the most popular comic strips of all-time, “Peanuts,” with the annual Peanuts Night!  Peanuts Night tickets include a limited edition bobblehead of Snoopy in a Red Sox uniform!  Go here for tickets  

Also, The Red Sox will celebrate the Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning series, Game of Thrones® on August 21. Game of Thrones Night tickets include a Red Sox ‘K’ Slayer Chris Sale bobblehead, a chance to sit on the Dragonstone Throne, and the opportunity to see the Map Table of Westeros. Go here for tickets. 

Probably one of the cutest events I have been to is the  #SoxPromo: Kids Run the Bases and Wally & Tessie
Kids in attendance 14 and under will receive a pair of Wally & Tessie Headphones, and after the game, kids will have the opportunity to run the bases at Fenway Park! It is so cute and we did it such a long time ago will have to go back! More information here 

Disclosure – I am part of the #RedSoxmoms and #Redsoxfamily and help to promote different events.

Red Sox Parent
I am a Red Sox Parent

 

 

Categories
Events

@RedSox Fun events in August to do @fenwaypark #redsoxmoms #redsoxfamily

Take me out to a ball game! (or any fun event that the Boston Red Sox puts on!  There are several Boston Red Sox events coming up. Enjoy a movie and more!

A must movie night – Fenway Park will screen the original Jurassic Park in celebration of the movie’s 25th anniversary on Tuesday, August 14. Movie Night attendees will be invited to walk the warning track from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., weather and field permitting. Get your tickets here

Also on Sunday, August 12 – The Boston Red Sox will host the fifth annual “Out of the Park” on the Boston Common. “Out of the Park” is a free, family-oriented event that brings the Fenway Park experience to the community. “Out of the Park” will feature a live viewing of the 1:05 p.m. Red Sox-Orioles game, complementary food and kids and family activities. Check out the link here

On Saturday, August 18-Sunday, August 19 it’s the Fenway Rooftop Sessions, presented by vineyard vines is a new and unique way to enjoy the game. With dates throughout the season, tickets include a pregame performance from a local Boston band, and a ticket to the game. Saturday, August 18, will include a performance by City Rivals. Dalton & The Sheriffs will perform on Sunday, August 19. For more information go to the mlb website

I always love a theme night at Fenway and on Monday, August 20 The Red Sox will celebrate one of the most popular comic strips of all-time, “Peanuts,” with the annual Peanuts Night!  Peanuts Night tickets include a limited edition bobblehead of Snoopy in a Red Sox uniform!  Go here for tickets  

Also, The Red Sox will celebrate the Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning series, Game of Thrones® on August 21. Game of Thrones Night tickets include a Red Sox ‘K’ Slayer Chris Sale bobblehead, a chance to sit on the Dragonstone Throne, and the opportunity to see the Map Table of Westeros. Go here for tickets. 

Probably one of the cutest events I have been to is the  #SoxPromo: Kids Run the Bases and Wally & Tessie
Kids in attendance 14 and under will receive a pair of Wally & Tessie Headphones, and after the game, kids will have the opportunity to run the bases at Fenway Park! It is so cute and we did it such a long time ago will have to go back! More information here 

Disclosure – I am part of the #RedSoxmoms and #Redsoxfamily and help to promote different events.

Red Sox Parent
I am a Red Sox Parent