Tea Runners Subscription Box

 

Tea Runners Subscription Box

 

On chilly New England mornings, I love to put my tea kettle on the stove, wrap a soft scarf around my neck, then settle down with a steaming cup of tea while I write.  It’s my morning ritual and it sets the tone for my whole day.  I also love to have a cup of tea right before my kids get home from school.  Whenever possible, I let myself have a half hour to read a book and enjoy some tea before the afternoon gets crazy with homework, sports, and making dinner. I find it resets my day.  I love to try new teas, but I seem to always go back to the same ones.  Tea Runners is a monthly tea subscription box that makes new choices for you and delivers them right to your door.

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Guest Post on Clean Fit!

Check out my guest post on Clean Fit!

Life doesn’t always happen the way you want it to and sometimes even when you’re in paradise, you can get sick. I wish you could just snap your fingers and feel better, but it’s not that easy. However, there are some things you can do to help your recovery, or at least make yourself more comfortable.

 Here are 10 things you can do when you’re sick while traveling:

Check it out here!!!

10 Things to do when You’re Sick While Traveling

10 Things to do when You’re Sick While Traveling

Life doesn’t always happen the way you want it to and sometimes even when you’re in paradise, you can get sick.  I wish you could just snap your fingers and feel better, but it’s not that easy.  However, there are some things you can do to help your recovery or at least make yourself more comfortable.  Here are 10 things you can do when you’re sick while traveling:

REST:  I know you’ve spent a long time planning this trip and have lots of adventures you want to do, but if you don’t want to be sick for your entire trip, you need to get some rest.  Grab some pillows and blankets and camp out on the couch in your hotel room.  Tell your family to have a fun day without you and spend your day recovering. 

SLEEP:  I’m sure you’re dying to get out and explore the town, but you need to get plenty of sleep. Go to bed early and sleep late.  Lack of sleep will weaken your immune system so this is the perfect time to take naps.  I always pack Nyquil in my suitcase. 

HOT SHOWERS:  A stuffy head, aching sinuses, and a nagging cough may have you feeling miserable, but a hot steamy shower will loosen the congestion and make you breathe a little easier.  You could also run hot water in the bathroom sink, hold your head over it and drape a towel over yourself to get some reliefs.  Be careful not to burn yourself.   

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10 Tips for Taking Kids to their First Concert

10 Tips for Taking Kids to their First Concert

One question you’ll be asked throughout your entire life is, “What was your first concert?”  U2…Saratoga Springs!  I knew I had a huge responsibility because if I didn’t choose wisely their response could be Kid Bop for the rest of their life.  We waited until the perfect concert and this year it happened…Ed Sheeran came to Gillette Stadium.  When we were in Ireland my girls begged us to go to Grafton Street, they squealed when they saw signs to Galway, and they want our next vacation to be Barcelona.  (All based on Ed Sheeran songs!) Yep…they LOVE him, so we knew this would be the perfect first concert and they ended up having a blast!

Here are 10 tips for taking your kids to their first concert:

APPROPRIATE: Radio stations censor their music, so you may want to do some investigating to see if the lyrics will be appropriate for kids.  Watch some YouTube videos about their concerts to see what vibe to expect. 

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Bermuda Itinerary

Newstead Belmont Hills Resort Pool

Bermuda

Sometimes you’ve got to get away and recharge without your kiddos.  You come back refreshed, unstressed, and ready to be the best parent possible.  Bermuda was the perfect location for us because it is only a 2-hour flight from Boston.  My good buddy Cynthia and I spent four fabulous nights there.  Here was our Bermuda itinerary:

Where do you fly in?

The best place to fly in is L. F. Wade International Airport

CLICK HERE TO FIND AN AMAZING FLIGHT

DAY 1

Took our flight from Boston to Bermuda.  (2-hour flight!)

Checked into our hotel, The Fourways Inn. (Read our full review of the hotel HERE)

The Fourways Inn, Bermuda

We went to the local market to buy cheese and cocktails.  We had planned on spending the rest of the afternoon by the pool, but it rained.  That was fine since we enjoyed rosé and cheese near the terrace. 

We had an amazing dinner at the restaurant.

 Dining room of The Fourways Inn

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Vine Oh! Review

 

Vine Oh!

I like to surround myself with people that have the same values as myself.  And by values, I mean WINE…you’ve got to like wine! I was so happy to review a subscription box from Vine Oh!, but I had no idea what I had coming!  It is pretty much everything I dream about…all in one box. Vine Oh! is a quarterly box that rewards today’s woman to help her recharge, unwind, and have some time just for her.  Are you kidding me?  Someone must have overheard my friends and I complaining over coffee the other day, because this is exactly what we were saying we need a little help with.  Finally, a box that pampers you and allows you to “Treat Yo’ Self” …  sorry…I’ve watched lots of episodes of Parks and Recreation lately.   

What do I love about this box?

First off, I can’t think of too many things I am happier to have delivered to my house than wine.  I almost kissed the delivery guy…almost.  Now add to that some items that every woman would want but probably wouldn’t buy because very often we seem to put others ahead of ourselves.  This box is full of treats just for you, so tell everyone else to lay off! You’ve earned it!

What comes in each box?

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Stowe Mountain Lodge

Vermont will always have a piece of my heart since it is where I went to college and also where my husband and I met.  It is the place where it all began.  As I drove through the towering mountains, all just starting to show off their autumn colors, I felt like I was running into an old friend that I didn’t realize I’d missed.  Let me tell you all about my perfect solo-getaway!

Click here to read all about it!

The Importance of Celebrating Your Anniversary

Someone once told me that ‘marriage’ should always be a verb, not a noun.  It takes hard work and it deserves to be rewarded. No one is going to hand you a medal for making it through the finish line of another year, but it should be celebrated because each year you are married brings you one step closer to defying the odds.  Anniversaries are the perfect time to appreciate each other and this partnership you have with no one else.  Sometimes work, kids, household chores, and family responsibilities will make you feel like it’s impossible to find the time to celebrate, but it’s so important that you do.  I’m no marriage expert, but here are a few things I’ve picked up about anniversaries in the last 18 years:

ALONE IS IDEAL.  When you have small kids it’s easy to just say, “Let’s bring them along.”  But we all know that when kids are there it becomes all about them.  This is the time to hire a babysitter or cash in on some favors.

NO GIFTS.  Everyone is different, but personally, I don’t need a present on my anniversary.  I feel like it’s not about giving anything except attention and time.  (Although I’ll never say no to a card!)

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Groovy Lab in a Box Subscription Box

 

Winters in New Hampshire can be brutally cold and although my girls love to play outside, there are days when Mother Nature keeps them in.  This week showed us just how cold it could get, so we decided it would be the perfect time to review Groovy Lab in a Box, a monthly subscription box that focuses on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math).

What do I love about this box?

My girls love science activities and really like when their school does STEM activities, but unfortunately, as a former teacher, I know there’s no time in the schedule to do much of it.  I love that the purpose of these boxes is to provide children with the opportunity to focus their imagination, determination, and innate inquisitive nature with a monthly STEM project.  The box was a great way for our family to fit in some bonding time while doing fun, hands-on projects.   The box allows families to investigate, brainstorm, plan, build, test, and redesign their own creations. 

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New Piece on Thrive Global!

There’s nothing better than waking up and seeing that one of my pieces is on Thrive Global, Arianna Huffington’s fabulous website.  The piece is about multigenerational travel.  Enjoy!

 

https://www.thriveglobal.com/stories/46574-multigenerational-travel