Ways To Practice Self Care During Fertility Treatments

For many women, the journey to becoming a mother is one of the most difficult struggles they will ever face. If you are currently in the midst of IVF or other fertility treatments, you might know this difficulty all too well. About 85-90% of infertility cases are treated with drugs or surgery, and this process can be taxing. From the news of your infertility to the actual intensity of treatment, you might be feeling emotionally and physically drained. And this is why self-care is more important than ever. While a self-care ritual might be the last thing on your mind, there are steps you can take to make yourself feel calmer and in control of your situation. While there are many tips floating around the internet, here are some simple ideas to get you started. Get enough … [Read more...]

Teaching Your Teen To Drive In The Snow: Tips And Tricks

Handing the keys over to your teenager is always nerve-wracking. Your mind races as you imagine your child on the road and hope that you have taught them enough to drive safely. But this worry can be even worse during the winter, when teaching your teen to drive is especially risky. "Temperatures are dropping, and the chillier weather often brings freezing rain, ice and snow," writes Jessica Van Amburg in Family Circle. "While you may be a pro at handling icy roads, younger drivers can be caught off guard by the season's challenges." Fortunately, by teaching your child the right skills and emergency preparedness procedures, you can help ensure their safety on the road. Teaching The Basics Once you begin working with your teen on winter safety, it's important to start with the … [Read more...]

Festive Drinks for a Christmas Party from around the World

Christmas is almost around the corner, and if you simply can’t wait to take part in all those incredible parties and family gatherings – welcome to the club! Apart from giving and receiving a bunch of wonderful gifts and eating some delicious homemade meals, there’s one more thing that’s typical of the holiday season– tasty drinks that can instantly put you into a festive mood. Here are three of them that are adored all around the globe, so check them out and have at least one of them this Christmas! The delicious Italian Bombardino If you ask the Italians, a warming glass of Bombardino is at the top of the must-drink list when it comes to the holiday season, which makes this tasty drink the most popular one in this part of Europe. Basically, it’s a combo of brandy and the egg-based … [Read more...]

3 Amazing Advent Calendars for Adults

As a kid, I loved advent calendars.  I collected quite a few as I grew up and I still love them today.  We have a cute cloth one that the kids mark the days with a wooden candy cane each year.  Last year I received a more grown-up version of the advent calendar and found that I still really loved opening a new door each day to find my surprise. Here are my favorites for this year and just for you and they make excellent gifts too. I especially love the idea of giving them as a thank you or hostess gift during the holiday season. The L'Occitane Advent Calendar There is a luxury version as well that is $124 versus the $69 price for the one above. 2.  Clarins Advent Calendar Last year I went with the Tonic Candle from Clarins.  It lasted for months and made my office … [Read more...]

5 Ways to Feel Good this Holiday Season

I'm just going to say it, the holiday season is upon us!  Let's not fuss and gripe about it being earlier and earlier each year. Instead, focus on the good and all the ways we can feel good this holiday season. Source: Alisa Anton, Unsplash.com You may have noticed that things have changed around here.  Less is more? I'm not sure when it comes to blogging but I do know that serious health issues have made it impossible for me to work and the guest posts have really racked up around here.  That's fine.  While I continue to heal and still figure out what exactly has me in full body pain and fatigue daily, I'm happy to let others share their voice. Share.  That's a great way to feel good.  Share your love. Share your blessings. Share your home and whatever you have.  I love to share my … [Read more...]

The Big Three: How to Buy Your Next Car, Truck or SUV

What's the big three? It is the three big question all car buyers should be asking themselves each time they begin their search for their next vehicle. Question 1: Be honest with yourself and your partner (if you have one).  Will you be leasing or buying this vehicle? Do you like to haggle and strike a deal?  Before you even begin to do your research you have to know how much money you can spend each month on a car payment.  Do you have money for a down payment or will you be trading in a vehicle?  These answers can all affect the price of your next car, truck or SUV. For us, we will be buying our next SUV and plan to own it for the about ten plus years. That's a long time to many people in the car world today.  While I know our budget has to be under a certain amount I do try to … [Read more...]

2 Ways the 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser Help Us Create a Summer to Remember

Sunrise on the beach with the 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser. Source: Victoria Mason Toyota loves to say, "Let's go places!" And that's exactly what we did with the 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser with its V8 engine and 4WD this summer. We did a lot of traveling and spent a great deal of time together as one big family unit, especially during the month of August.  It was as if we were really feeling the waning days of summer and wanted to chase after them, even if it meant we had to get in the car and drive for hours on end to do so. I'm talking to you eclipse traffic. The Land Cruiser is part of those memories because it gave us the ability to do exactly what we wanted without sacrificing comfort or safety at any point during our two trips.  First, when we were northbound to Bethany Beach, DE … [Read more...]

Reclaim Your House After Kids Go Back To School

*Guest Post by Tracy McCubbin, Founder, dClutterfly.   It’s the most wonderful time of the year -- time to send the kids back to school and reclaim your household!  After a summer of camps and goofing around inside, your house may need a little tough love to get back into shape for the fall.  Research shows that the average American home has 300,000 items in it, and back-to-school is the perfect time to get rid of the ones that you don’t need anymore. As the kids head back to school and you take the steps to get your house back and order, I’m sharing ten of my favorite tips and tricks to declutter and organize your home this fall:   Pull out all the homework and artwork from the previous school year. Before the onslaught of this school year’s homework and … [Read more...]

Back to School Organization Tips & Tricks

With back to school just around the corner, here are 9 tips and tricks to get organized as summer comes to an end. 1 Make a list of school supplies needed and shop ahead of time. Whether your private school provides a list of necessary school supplies or you find a generic one online, make sure you bring it with you to the store. Not only is it nice to get everything in one trip, but while at the store your list will keep you focused and on track. Don’t wait until the last minute to ensure having the best selection. 2 Get your kids involved. We all know those weeks between when camp ends and school begins can be lacking activities for the kids. Turn the school supply trip to the store, into an activity - allow them to pick out their notebooks, pencil cases, and lunch box … [Read more...]

Creative Gift Ideas for the Working Moms

There are few things more challenging in life than being a working mom. They tackle each day trying to juggle the balance of childrearing, maintaining the home front, meeting deadlines and closing deals, all while dealing with the guilt of being a working mom wondering if either the kids, her husband, or her job are suffering. Moms are without a doubt the hardest-working people there are.  When it comes to Mother’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, or commemorating a special occasion, they deserve only the best.  The challenge here is knowing what to give them that they’ll really appreciate and enjoy!  Here are ten great ideas sure to please any working mom. Commuting music - if the working mom in your life has a long commute, consider buying her a boxed CD set of her favorite … [Read more...]