Review of Merkaela Wellness Box

The world can be a scary time right now, and I have to admit that I’ve been feeling quite anxious.  I’ve noticed that while in social isolation, it has been helpful to practice meditation and self-care.  Getting my mind in a peaceful place helps with my outlook on the world.  I was thrilled to work with Merkaela, an all-natural health and wellness quarterly subscription box and could not wait to get a peek at their box.

What do I love about this box?

I love that all of Merkaela’s products are hand-made in Orlando, Florida and they use ingredients you can actually pronounce. Their botanical products are made using toxic-free, nutrient-rich essential oils, butter, natural herbs, and other healthy ingredients.  These products provide you with everything you need to be on your way to a holistic approach to a clear mind, body, and spirit.

What comes in each Merkaela box?

(more…)


Review of Well Told Etched Barware

WHY TRAVELERS WILL LOVE THEM:

I love when an item in my home tells a story, sparks a memory, or makes me nostalgic of a place I’ve visited.  I was thrilled when Well Told reached out to me asking if I wanted to receive some of their etched glassware, and was so impressed when I opened the box up and saw how gorgeous they were.

WHAT IS WELL TOLD?

Well Told offers glassware and other items etched with maps from popular places around the world. They have lots of different options so there is something meaningful to everyone.

WHAT KIND OF PRODUCTS DO THEY OFFER?

(more…)


Finding the Fun in Winter

Finding the Fun in Winter

 

Before I had kids, winter meant long months of counting down the days until spring.  Then these two little winter-loving girls were born.   All of the sudden winter turned into months of being…dare I say it…outside!  Yeah…outside…in cold, wet snow for hours at a time.  All of these new items appeared in my house like hand warmers and sleds.  Snow pants somehow crept their way into my wardrobe.  So that’s when I decided to give in and try to find out what the heck people like about winter.  After all, I live in New England so I may as well join these snow-lovers! No one was as shocked as myself to discover I actually have fun outside.  My husband says the key to enjoying winter is to make sure you’re warm, and he’s right. (Don’t tell him that! Lol) With the right clothes and toys, I found so many things I loved to do out there.   Here are some of my favorites:

 

SNOW SHOEING

Talk about a no-skill-needed activity!  If you can walk, then you can snow shoe…it’s that easy! After a fresh snowfall there’s nothing more peaceful than walking through the woods or along the side of a frozen lake.  Snow shoes are pretty inexpensive and they will last you a long time.  They make great snowshoes for kids as well. It’s also good to have a nice warm hat for both adults and kids!

(more…)


Ultimate Stocking Stuffers for Men that Love Travel

Stocking stuffers are the best!  It can be tricky to buy small things to put in them, so here are 15 stocking gifts that he will love!

Ultimate Stocking Stuffers for Men that Love Travel

OVERNIGHT KIT

LEATHER LUGGAGE TAGS

HEADPHONE SPLITTER

(more…)


20 Ultimate Gifts for Men that Love Travel

Time to start shopping for those sweet men in your life that love to travel.  Guys can be hard to buy for because the gift needs to be fun, yet still practical.  Here are some Ultimate Gifts for Men that Love Travel.

Happy shopping!

DUFFEL BAG:

This beautiful leather duffel bag is perfect for packing for a weekend away.  It is well-made and sturdy, with a reinforced zipper and a thick cloth lining.  It looks like a vintage leather bag and has lots of room.  It can be used with or without the shoulder strap and can be used as a carry-on.

YETI COLSTER:

Take their koozie up a notch with this double-wall vacuum insulated holder.  It will keep their beverage cold for longer and can be used with cans and bottles. It comes in over a dozen colors.  It’s great for a BBQ, the beach, or a day out on the boat.

(more…)


Ultimate Gifts for Women that Love Travel

Christmas is the time for giving, so let me help you cross some items off your list!  The holiday season can be hectic, so I’ve come to love the ease of online shopping! I can put on my favorite PJ’s, pour a glass of wine, sit by the fire, and avoid the mobs of people at the mall. So, what do you get for that woman on your list that loves travel? Here are Ultimate Gifts for Women that Love Travel:

Jewelry Organizer

JEWELRY ORGANIZER: There’s nothing more aggravating than getting to your destination and having your jewelry all tangled up.  This case is a stylish way to organize your jewelry.  It has 7 ring rolls, 4 compartments, and 3 necklace hooks with pockets.  I love the classic combination of cream and tan, but they also have it in black.

(more…)


Ultimate Gifts for Teen Boys

One of the best things about travel is it gives you a chance to try new adventures and step away from your everyday life.  Help your teenage boy foster a love for travel with some gifts he’ll be sure to love.  As a mom of two girls, I’ve got to thank all my boy-mom friends for these Ultimate Gifts for Teen Boys.  Click links to purchase.

OVERNIGHT BAG:

This Under Armor duffel bag can be used as a weekend bag, to store sports equipment, or as a gym bag.  It is made of a sturdy material and has a padded shoulder strap. The large vented pocket are good for laundry or shoes, and it would make for a great carry-on bag on a plane.

WATERPROOF SPEAKER:

Bose makes it easy to bring your music wherever you go! The crisp, clear sound Bose is known for now comes in a waterproof portable speaker.  Play up to 6 hours of music without having to charge it.  It has a built-in speakerphone that works great.  The strap lets you hang it wherever you want.

(more…)


Ultimate Gifts for Teenage Girls

Christmas is the time for giving, so let me help you cross some items off your list!  The holiday season can be hectic, so I’ve come to love the ease of online shopping! I can put on my favorite PJ’s, pour a glass of wine, sit by the fire, and avoid the mobs of people at the mall. Here are Ultimate Gifts for Teenage Girls.

First up are the teen girls in your life.

Are you wondering what is popular with teenage girls for Christmas gifts this year?  They can be tough to shop for, but these items may be the perfect presents to put under your tree.  Here are 15 ultimate gifts for your tween/teenage girl.  Each one was approved by my girls!

Happy Shopping!

15 Perfect Gifts for the Teen Girl that Loves Travel:

PORTABLE SPEAKER:

Teens love their music and now they can bring it anywhere with this portable speaker.  It  uses a wireless, easy-to-connect Bluetooth.  It has crisp, clear sound and the mic can be used with several devices.  Girls will go nuts over the rose-gold color.

 SMARTPHONE LENS by MACTREM:

Most teens take pictures using their phone, and these lenses will let them capture their memories even better.  They connect easily and are perfect for landscapes, detailed close-ups, or unique selfies.  It’s a great value! I want them for myself!!

(more…)


15 Books that Make the Ultimate Christmas Gift

Christmas is the perfect time to share your favorite stories with friends and family.  Maybe it’s the former language arts teacher in me talking, but I think there’s nothing better than getting lost in a good book.   My favorite moments during summer are afternoons spent with the girls on the hammock as we each get lost in our own chapters. Looking for a good book for someone this Christmas?  Look no farther than this list of 15 books that make the ultimate Christmas gift. These books are full of characters you wish you could meet, lives you’re thankful you didn’t live, and endings that wish would never come.  Pick some up as gifts or as a gift for yourself that you can enjoy after the craziness of this holiday season.

Enjoy!  Happy shopping!!

Where the Crawdads Sing

By: Delia Owens

Where the Crawdads Sing: For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So, in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life – until the unthinkable happens. Click link to purchase.

That Night

By: Chevy Stevens

That Night: Toni Murphy was eighteen when she and her boyfriend, Ryan, were wrongly convicted of the murder of her younger sister. Now she is thirty-four and back in her hometown, working every day to forge and adjust to a new life on the outside. She’s doing everything in her power to avoid violating her parole and going back to prison. But nothing is making that easy – not Ryan, who is convinced he can figure out the truth; not her mother, who clearly doubts Toni’s innocence; and certainly not the group of women who made Toni’s life miserable in high school and who may have darker secrets than anyone realizes. Before Toni can truly move on, she must risk everything to find out the truth and clear her name. Click link to purchase.

(more…)


Books that Make the Ultimate Christmas Gift


Christmas is the perfect time to share your favorite stories with friends and family.  I’m always looking for good recommendations and I love to tell people about my favorites.  Maybe it’s the former language arts teacher in me talking, but I think there’s nothing better than getting lost in a good book.   My favorite moments during summer are afternoons spent with the girls on the hammock as we each get lost in our own chapters. Looking for a good book for someone this Christmas?  Look no farther.  These books are full of characters you wish you could meet, lives you wish you could live, and endings that wish would never come.  Enjoy these Books that Make the Ultimate Christmas Gift!  Happy shopping!!

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats

By: Jan-Philipp Sendker 

In The Art of Hearing Heartbeats, a successful New York lawyer suddenly disappears without a trace, neither his wife nor his daughter Julia has any idea where he might be…until they find a love letter he wrote many years ago, to a Burmese woman they have never heard of. Intent on solving the mystery and coming to terms with her father’s past, Julia decides to travel to the village where the woman lived. There she uncovers a tale of unimaginable hardship, resilience, and passion that will reaffirm the reader’s belief in the power of love to move mountains. Click link to purchase. 

The Mermaid’s Chair

By: Sue Monk Kidd

In The Mermaid Chair, Jessie Sullivan is summoned home to Egret Island to cope with her eccentric mother’s seemingly inexplicable behavior, she is living a conventional life with her husband, Hugh, a life “molded to the smallest space possible.” Jessie loves Hugh, but once on the island, she finds herself drawn to Brother Thomas, a monk about to take his final vows. Amid a rich community of unforgettable island women and the exotic beauty of marshlands, tidal creeks, and majestic egrets, Jessie grapples with the tension of desire and the struggle to deny it, with a freedom that feels overwhelmingly right and the immutable force of home and marriage. Click link to purchase

(more…)