Boston Common Coffee

During this past year, my friends have all become OBSESSED with a local coffee brewing company called Boston Common Coffee.  What drove them to fall in love with this company? The fact that they were delivering fresh coffee grinds and cold brew straight to their doorsteps during a pandemic made them an instant hit among my town. They would rave about the taste and convenience. I couldn’t wait to get back to town and try them out and I’m SO HAPPY I finally got the chance.  You have no idea how happy I was when I opened my door on a snowy February morning to find a package from them.  I can’t wait to show you what I got.

BUT FIRST…A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE COMPANY

Boston Common Coffee is a local, New England company but it ships their products all around the US. In 2019 the company was sold to David Croteau and Kevin Dogherty. As entrepreneurs, they wanted to re-invent the company to focus on online sales, wholesale coffee, cold brew, office coffee services, and charity fundraising through coffee sales. Their main goal is to maintain these high standards for their product and service.  I know their company is going to be a huge success!

OK, OK…LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT I GOT!

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My Favorite Tea Companies

Although I’ve always been an avid tea drinker, 2020 made me realize how much we all need to take time out of our day to relax, recharge, and refresh every day.  You know I always share when I find an amazing product, so I’d love to introduce you to my favorite tea companies.

Enjoy!

PAR AVION

WHY TRAVELERS WILL LOVE THEM

The Par Avion tea team travels the world in search of excellence, produced in an artisan method, hand picking and hand sorting only the finest ingredients to be prepared in small batches. Need an amazing gift for a tea lover?  Give them a Best Seller Tea Pass (starting at $15) and they will receive monthly selections of tea.

WHAT PRODUCTS DID WE GET?

Key Lime Pie ($13.99)

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Tea Products You Will Love!

My family knows if they want to get me a gift, they can’t go wrong if they get me something that involves tea.  The fun part about having tea is the process of making it.  There are so many exciting tea products that can elevate your tea experience.  Here are a few of my favorites…ENJOY!

Hiware Glass Teapot with Removable Infuser

Japanese Tetsubin Cast Iron Teapot Tea Kettle pot with Stainless Steel Infuser

COSORI Electric Gooseneck Kettle

Fu Store Stainless Steel Mesh Tea Ball 

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10 Books to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

January equals a new year and with that come new year’s resolutions.  We all have habits we want to create and vices we want to stop.  Unfortunately, studies say that about 80% of New Year’s resolutions are broken by the second week of February!  It helps if you learn new strategies that will reinforce the habit you’re trying to create.  I know it helps when I find books on the subject and spend some time every few days reading up on it.  Here are some books that may help you with your New Year’s resolutions.

Enjoy!

Prayers for Calm:

Meditations, Affirmations, and Prayers to Soothe Your Soul

By: Becca Anderson

Prayers for Calm is the perfect inspirational gift or encouragement gift. This book will help you:

Slow your racing mind in this fast-paced world.

Calm your thoughts enough to see the big picture in overwhelming situations.

Assert control over your mind and believe in yourself.

Overcome nagging worries and fears that hold you back from life.

Deepen your connection to spiritual serenity.

Discover meditative mantras and actualizing affirmations to reduce your anxiety.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK:

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More Beauty Products that Make Perfect Gifts

Beauty products are amazing gifts and I’ve been so lucky to sample so many great ones in the last few months.  Here are some of the best of the best… Enjoy!

FaceTheory

WHY TRAVELERS WILL LOVE THEM:

They make clean skincare with the actives you love – packaged sustainably and priced affordably.  They’re vegan and cruelty-free. I also love that they’re so confident in their products that if you don’t get better skin they’ll give you your money back with no returns required.  That’s confidence.

WHAT DID WE GET?

Hot Cloth Cleanser Set ($16.99)

This kit contains an Organic Muslin Face Cloth and a Vitamin C Cream Cleanser. It is free of parabens, silicones, and mineral oils. It is also vegan and cruelty-free.

This was my favorite product! mandarin scent smells fabulous and it wakes me right up in the morning! It would make an incredible Christmas gift and I am already thinking of who should get one.

Glycolic Acid Face and Body Scrub

($13.99 – 6.1 fl oz)

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Beauty Products that Make Perfect Gifts

Beauty products make the best gifts and I’d like to share a few companies that I am obsessed with.  January is also a great time to start a new skincare routine.

Enjoy!

Rosemira Organics

WHY TRAVELERS WILL LOVE THEM

Rosemira Organics products are made from the purest ingredients, plant extracts, vegetable and nut oils, and from the highest-quality essential oils. Their commitment is to provide you with the proper natural formulations to protect and balance your skin. Their products are designed to help protect and balance your skin.  I love that they never use additives, alcohol or any preservatives. They maintain a minimum standard of 98% Organic, 90% vegan (they do use honey), and they do no animal testing.

WHAT DID WE GET?

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6 Candles that Make Perfect Gifts

Candles can transform a room into a peaceful oasis for relaxation, rejuvenate you after a long day, or remind you of travels.  They are the perfect gift for anyone…your spouse, teachers, coaches, relatives, and who are we kidding…yourself! These 6 candle companies have quickly become my favorites and I’d love to share them with you.  Enjoy!

228 Grant Street Candle Co.

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THEM

I absolutely love these candles! Their fragrance profiles are inspired by nature and travel. The company’s mission is to create amazing and affordable candles featuring uniquely curated fragrance blends.  They are made with all-natural soy wax, braided cotton wicks, and scented oils, and are hand-poured.  I love that their name pays homage to the home of his late maternal grandparents in Danville, VA; a home characterized by simple acts of hospitality and the sharing of things made and grown by his grandparents.

WHAT DID WE GET?

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Product Roundup: November 2020

I don’t think self-care has ever been needed more than it does in 2020.  Now is the time for relaxation, meditation, and living your most gracious life.  I’m always on the lookout for new products I can take with me on the road, and also use when I’m home. It is important to make sure the products you’re using are healthy and not full of chemicals.  This month’s Product Roundup is filled with beauty products that will quickly become the favorite of anyone on your Christmas list.

Enjoy!

Aura Kit

WHY TRAVELERS WILL LOVE IT

This amazing subscription box will teach you to take a break from the noise of everyday life and learn how to quiet your mind, find peace, and restore your energy. The box teaches you to practice meditation, positive visualization, and daily affirmations.  2020 is a very stressful year, and this box helps you relieve tension, anxiety,  and negative emotions.

WHAT CAME IN OUR BOX?

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Review of Cooper and Kid…a Dad and Kid Craft Box

I love watching my husband making things with our daughters. It is such a special time and they have so much fun making memories with him.  It’s a great time to teach them life skills while bonding with them.  Since we have been practicing social isolation for the past few months, there has been plenty of daddy-daughter time.  We were so grateful that Cooper and Kid sent us two amazing kits to try out!  And it’s not just made for dads…I plan on getting in on some of the fun as well because these kits can be used by any adult and kid.

What do I love about Cooper and Kid?

Cooper and Kid is a monthly subscription box, but since most of the world is in social isolation, they have decided to do Coronavirus School Closing Relief Packages.  This special limited-time offer features discounted kits that are available immediately.  They arrive at your door about 3 days later and there is no further obligation to buy anything else.  I love that these kits help build creativity, character development, and promote problem solving.  However, mostly I love that it builds relationships and creates lasting memories.

GET YOUR KIDDOS OFF THOSE ELECTRONICS, GET SOME FAMILY-TIME IN, AND HAVE A BLAST!

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20 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.   Looking for a good book for someone this Christmas?  These books are full of characters you wish you could meet, lives you’re thankful you didn’t live, and endings that you wish would never come.  Pick some up as gifts or as a treat for yourself that you can enjoy after the craziness of this holiday season.

Enjoy!  Happy shopping!!

20 Books that Make the Ultimate Christmas Gift

The Silent Patient

By: Alex Michaelides

The Silent Patient: Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word.

Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.

Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations―a search for the truth that threatens to consume him….

The Henna Artist

By: Alka Joshi

The Henna Artist:  Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist—and confidante—to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own…

Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her reputation and her livelihood. As she pursues her dream of an independent life, she is startled one day when she is confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down these many years later with a high-spirited young girl in tow—a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. Still she perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those that surround her as she does.

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