Busy Girl Bath Bakery

This last year has taught me the importance of self-care and taking time out of my day to focus on myself in a calm environment.  Baths have become my new ritual…dim lights, glass of wine, soothing music. What has made the biggest difference are the bath products I started using.  Busy Girl Bath Bakery has some amazing products that I’ve loved using.  They make baths a relaxing experience.

WHY TRAVELERS WILL LOVE THEM

My daughters and I have sensitive skin, so I often think twice about using new skin lines and bath products when we are traveling, in case we have a reaction.  I love how soothing my skin felt after using these products. They smelled incredible and I love that they use natural ingredients. You will feel just like you stepped into a luxurious spa when you use these products!

They also have the most beautiful artesian soaps that would make wonderful gifts for anyone.

WHAT PRODUCTS DID WE GET?

(more…)

Peckboard Review

If you’ve ever been to my house for dinner or for a party, there’s a really good chance there was a charcutier board. I’m pretty obsessed with them! We love tasting all the different cheeses, crackers, spreads, fruit, mustards and much more goodies that go into them.  Peckboard is the perfect solution if you are a charcutier newbie or a pro that is looking for some inspiration. They give you all the material you need to create a fabulous looking board!

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THEM

Making a good board involves more than throwing some cheese out…it’s an artform.  Peckboard includes a guide to making a beautiful board. It also is a wonderful way for you to learn what different pairings you can do on a board.  I would have never thought to add a fig loaf.

It also teaches you different tips.  For example, I learned that you should take your cheese out of the fridge an hour before you’re serving it.

(more…)

Zenspiration Review

There has never been a time when I’ve needed peace, relaxation, and a sense of calm more than I do now.  I feel like we often put others first and don’t take the time for self-care.  That is where a box like Zenspiration comes to the rescue.

WHY TRAVELERS WILL LOVE THEM

I love that their company believes in community, kindness and empowerment of others through self-awareness. Those are wonderful qualities to have, especially in today’s world.

I love that the owner says, “Each Zenspiration Box is a piece of my heart, that is meant to fill your heart with what you need to awaken, evolve and align with your soul’s purpose.”

Look how beautiful this box it!

WHAT COMES IN EACH BOX?

(more…)

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!

(more…)

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)

(more…)

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 

(more…)

Adding Tea to Your Wellness Routine

One of my favorite escapes is brewing a cup of steaming tea, grabbing a fluffy blanket, and snuggling on the couch with a good book. A cup of tea is not just a drink, it is an experience.  It can be used to wake yourself up after a late night, relax after a challenging day, heal you when you’re not feeling well, and a way to join together with friends and family. For me, 2021 is all about wellness and self-care, and I can’t think of an easier way that with a cup of tea. Here are some easy ways to incorporate tea into your wellness routine:

WHY DRINK TEA?

(more…)

Ultimate Gift Guide for Women 2020

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!  Now, more than ever before, you won’t catch me browsing in any stores. From home, 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. This year is a very different year, so the list will feature gifts travelers can use at home.  So, what do you get for that woman on your list that loves travel? Enjoy this Ultimate Gift Guide for Women:

Vintage Camera Bag

Vintage Camera Bag: When traveling, my camera case often takes the pace of my purse, so I like it to be roomy and stylish.  I love the vintage look of this bag and the strap looks so comfortable.  It has deep compartments for your camera and lens. The bag can be used as a crossbody, which is the safest way to wear your purse when traveling.  I chose this bag because you can also use it as a purse when you’re not traveling.

World Map

(more…)

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.

(more…)

Olive and June Nail Polish Review

Every week in October I will be having a Travel Beauty Tuesday, where I feature some amazing beauty products that I have been using. This week is all about Olive & June, my new nail polish obsession!

When I travel, I often end up at the spa treating myself to a manicure or pedicure.  Since this pandemic has begun, I have missed getting pampered and having my nails colored.  I hate that so many polishes chip just days after using them, and I am always looking for ones that last a long time. I have been stalking following Olive and June on Instagram, drooling over their amazing colors, and I was thrilled when I got the chance to work with them.

WHAT DID I RECEIVE?

I was so excited to get The Everything Box. ($80)

(more…)