It’s party time! This time of year a lot of us will be going to at least one party or another—from graduation parties to summer holiday parties and, of course, weddings! There will be plenty of food, drink, and conversation. Festive gatherings are an excellent opportunity to catch up with family and friends. It’s also a great way to meet and socialize with new people. Hopefully, you’ll even make some new friends.
Gifts That Give Back
Every year around this time we’re all starting on our holiday gift list. We’re trying to find that gift that means something to someone; we want to make sure it’s something they’ll like and that it’s special. A great way to make sure you find something special for everyone is to shop with a company that offers the policy of “buy one, give one.” Many companies have this great way of giving back when you purchase a gift; they give the same or equal value back to a community in need.
Below are 10 companies that you can shop with this season to make every gift count:
Simple Strawberry Lemonade & Berry Sparkling Drinks
Simple sparkling juice drinks are a year-round staple at our house. My kids and I enjoy creating our own blends of refreshing and delicious juices and smoothies. Creating something new, whether it’s a drink or another recipe or a craft is a great way to spend time with any child but especially a teen.
Finding fun things to do or ways to bond with a teen can be challenging. None of the three teens I’ve raised wanted to spend much bonding time with me unless, of course, it included me driving them somewhere-preferably to the mall ready to wear down the strip on the back of my debit card. There’s a special feel about creating something from nothing that seems to break down barriers with my teens. We’re both starting a project on level playing field ready to do something, participate, and have fun. I won’t deny a little arguing goes on sometimes, but working together on a common goal creates a connection. By the time we’re done we’re always in a better mood!
Here are two of our favorite sparkling juice drinks:
Easy Semi-Sweet Apple Treat
Like many women I’m always in search of a yummy treat that satisfies my sweet tooth. Most of the time I’m an ice cream girl but every once in a while I stray from my “go to” self-indulgent snack.
During my last Pilates class all of the ladies were exchanging their favorite post work out snack and when [Read more…]
Nursery Dresser Organization
Let me just start by saying that J’s nursery dresser is currently the most organized dresser in the house. My dressers are pretty neat but not nearly as tidy as I’d like them to be.
The most useful nursery tip that I’ve come across and implemented: use a dresser [Read more…]
Packing for FL – 5 Essential Items for Summer Vacation
Summer is the perfect time to plan a vacation, especially a Florida Vacation. The kids are off school and flying is much easier without those winter layers. Tampa is always packed and Orlando is even worse. But it’s all in good fun! Except sometimes when it comes to packing. Sure we all know what to pack – toothbrush, extra underwear, bathing suit – those sorts of things make sense. But when planning for a Florida destination vacation there may be a few extras maybe you didn’t think of.
I recommend the below 5 items to make your Florida vaca a little more comfortable:
Just Got Engaged? Where to Start Planning
About a month ago I got engaged. I’ve probably been dreaming about getting married and planning a wedding for years. I can, without a doubt, say that just because I’ve been dreaming about it doesn’t mean I have any idea how to actually plan a wedding.
It’s strange because for such a long time getting married and planning a wedding was just a fantasy. Something I could plan on Pinterest without any real thought of executing it. Well now it’s really happening and I’m [Read more…]
How To Work With Family AND Get Along
My favorite place to be in the whole world is sitting around the dining room table with my family. I especially like it when we’re enjoying a meal together. But sometimes we’re talking about work. And sometimes we’re arguing about work. The lines between family and work get blurred occasionally when you run a family business.