Each July, I pack up my car and my kids and we set out for Rhode Island, my home state. It's a long day in the car but we make it work and it is all worth it when we pull into the driveway of our rental and take in the salty air. Aaaah... In April of this year, I started to worry about my beach rental deposit. The pandemic wasn't winding down. Traveling between states wasn't OK. Would our trip even happen in 2020 or would it be another thing scrapped like so many other activities? Turns out YOU CAN take a pandemic beach trip here's how we did it. Pandemic Pre-Trip Prep Work Before we left I did a ton of research about what the state we were traveling through expected of any visitors. So far we were in the clear and not expected to quarantine upon arrival. I talked to the … [Read more...]
What I Love This Week
I'm on a mission to find fun, engaging, sustainable, and easy ways to make our life more enjoyable, as well as those that give back. It's summer and it's Covid Summer #Quarantinelife still (did we really think this would still be a thing?!) so our world is different. I'm looking for new businesses to support and ways to help my community because we are all suffering, growing (PLEASE!), and finding ways to learn. Social Moms, Social Stuff I write for the website Social Moms on the regular. Here's the latest from me. 10 Black-Owned Beauty Brands You Need to Discover and How to Soothe Irritated Skin (I'm looking at you, face mask). Feeling anxious? How about eating your way to being anxiety-free? Shocking No One My Teen is Bored Looking for some fun DIY beauty ideas to … [Read more...]
News, Notes, & 1950s Fashion
What's new with all you quarantina's this week? Still staying cozy, baking, and zooming? Me either. I'm done. I am so officially done. I'm not complaining because I do actually like not driving my kids ninety-bazillion places each day and barely taking time to eat or read a book or talk with my spouse. I like our quiet evenings at home where we aren't in a rush for showers and mid-week fire pits are now a thing. However, I'm so over my roots, missing my friends, and not seeing family. That part blows. News Then this happened this past weekend. This has not sucked. It has been a ray of hope and sunshine and grace. Not going to lie, it's also a nice distraction for the kids right about now. Meet Gracie. Everyone needs a little grace. So far as Gracie comes out of her … [Read more...]
News, Notes & Favorite Earth Day Things
How is everyone doing right now? I mean, really, how are you doing? For my family here in Virginia, we have been in quarantine for over a month. We are in our second week of distance learning for our kids despite them being out since Friday, the 13th. It's been a challenge. However, we now realize that the slower pace suits us in a lot of ways. Still, we miss our friends. We miss their faces. We miss our church family. Truthfully, I'm in a full Lymes flare up the likes of which I haven't experienced since 2018 when I was in full treatment mode. I've been put on new drugs and anti-anxiety meds and I'm breaking out like a hormonal teen but I'm weeks away from turning 44. I feel so pretty! Sigh. Some days I don't know if I have got a handle on things or not. Some days I am barely … [Read more...]
3 Fun Pool Games Your Kids Can Play This Summer
As summer creeps closer and closer, parents everywhere are thinking about how they can best keep their children entertained during those long, hot days. This challenge will likely be made even more difficult by the COVID-19 outbreak, as families may need to keep practicing social distancing measures for longer than expected. If you have a pool in your backyard, then you have an excellent tool for keeping the kids active without having to leave the house. Pools offer hours of endless fun for kids and adults of any age. As swimming is the fourth most popular recreational activity in the United States, practically everyone can find something they like to do in the pool. For kids, creative pool games offer the most entertainment. Let’s take a look at a few pool games that your little ones … [Read more...]
12 Creative Ideas To Celebrate Valentine’s Day With Your Family
Valentine's Day is just around the corner, which means it's time to start thinking about ways to make this year's holiday memorable. If you're struggling to find ideas, don't worry. Here are 12 creative ideas you can use, whether you're celebrating with your spouse, children, or parents. Celebrating With Your Spouse If you plan on celebrating Valentine's Day with your spouse this year, try doing one (or more!) of these thoughtful activities. And for those who aren’t coupled up, a fuck buddy site offers a fun way to enjoy the day with someone who shares your vibe. Write Letters To One Another A great way to keep the romance alive this Valentine's Day is for you and your spouse to write romantic letters to one another. You can decide on a topic as a couple before Valentine's Day. Topics … [Read more...]
Dating After Divorce: What You Should Do Before You Swipe Right
Smoother pavements can extend pavement life by 10% to 25%, but even the course of true love never did run smooth. And when the road gets rocky, some married couples find that separation -- and eventual divorce -- is actually the best option for everyone involved. If you do decide to dissolve your union, you might want to stay single for a while. After all, you've probably got enough on your plate (and enough emotional issues to work through) without adding someone else into the mix. But when you're finally ready to get back out there, what's the protocol to dating post-divorce? A great place to start is by exploring dating after divorce tips that can help you ease into the process with confidence and clarity. For those needing family advice, make sure to contact a family law professional … [Read more...]
Costly Maintenance Mistakes Homeowners are Making this Winter
There are many things to consider when owning a home. The commute to work, changing up the layout, and maintaining the home are just some of the top things you might need to consider. Some of these things will make your home last longer, some will help your home look more like home, and others will save you money and frustration. Saving money when owning a home is always a plus, but saving money while extending the life of important components of your home is a win-win. The longer you live in your home the better you get to know it, so if after many years your HVAC unit or hot water heater start making weird noises that could be your signal to inspect them and have a professional thoroughly check them to make sure there are no malfunctions and provide ac repair or water heater repair … [Read more...]
How To Navigate The Holidays As A Divorced Parent
The holiday season can be stressful for everyone, but it's an especially complicated time for children of divorce. On average, kids will spend 277 days out of the year with their custodial parent and 88 with their non-custodial parent. However, because the holidays are a time when families come together, winter festivities can quickly turn this holly jolly time into a season of stress. If you're navigating the holidays as a divorced parent this year, here are a few tips to keep in mind to keep your stress levels and your children's under control. Have a mediator if necessary If you've gone through a recent divorce, you're not alone. Approximately 2.4 million weddings are performed every year, which is roughly 44,230 weddings every weekend. Up to 50% of those marriages will end in … [Read more...]
Skulls, Pearls and Crystals: The Best Halloween Decoration Ideas
*Disclaimer: This is a sponsored guest post. All opinions are 100% those of the guest post writer and endorsed by TMC. When the month of October finally arrives, if you are like most people, you want to put away beach towels and bathing suits and embrace pumpkin spice, sweaters, and bonfires. However, it’s also the perfect time of year to break out the festive decorations and show off your style inside and outside of your home. This Halloween do you want to abandon the typical gore and gothic décor for something vintage and boho glam? If so, you can set a glamorous stage with crystal skulls from FossilEra, unique sparkling crystals, and pearls. However, getting the right effect with these items is often more challenging than it may seem. To ensure you create the amazing … [Read more...]