Best Online Reads

Thursday, March 29, 2018

The ten stories from around the web that I am loving this week:

1. Seven good reasons to take a nap right now via Huffington Post.

2. Why we give better advice to our friends than to ourselves via Business Insider.

3. Why we need to go easy on ourselves more often than not via The New York Times.
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Weekend Dispatch

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

It's Easter weekend, and what was originally planned to be a long weekend with Good Friday off has changed slightly now that the kids have a snow make up day on Friday. We are shifting things around a bit, but here's what I'll be up to this weekend.
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My Favorite Post-Workout Snacks

Monday, March 26, 2018

After working out consistently (4-5 times per week) for over a year now, I've developed a post-workout routine which consists of eating a healthy snack that aids in the recovery process. I generally workout first thing in the morning, which for me is around 8:15 am until about 10:00 am. I don't eat breakfast before I workout, so I am hungry by the time I leave the gym but not hungry enough for a full meal.

After reading this article, I've been following up most of my workouts with 10-15 minutes in my gym's sauna. After a grueling workout and sweat sesh in the sauna, I drink a lot of water which fills me up too much for a full meal, but a high protein snack always help to refuel me until lunch.

I like to keep my post-workout snacks quick and easy. It needs to be something I can grab and eat or prepare quickly. Here are my favorite go-to snacks to re-fuel post workout.
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Best Online Reads

Thursday, March 22, 2018

The ten stories from around the web that I am loving this week:

1. The most incredible road to drive in every state via MSN.

2. This country will have zero waste by 2050 via GreenMatters.

3. What really happens to your clothes after you donate them via Nylon.
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5 Fab Finds Under $50

Wednesday, March 21, 2018
I'm always on the lookout for fun, inexpensive items that add flair to my home, my outfit, or my life. I've tracked down five items that every woman needs now. From entertaining to your office to your outfit of the day, any one of these items is a welcome addition to your life.
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Weekend Dispatch

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

It's finally spring, and there are lots of spring happenings going on, even if the weather isn't quite cooperating. Here on the east coast, we are ramping up for yet another Nor'easter which is promising to pack a punch with up to 8" of snow. Over it! I'm going to be in denial over here thinking about all the cute spring shoes and clothes that I am dying to wear...but can't. I'll also be doing these things this weekend:
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Currently Craving: Camo

Monday, March 19, 2018

If there's one rule in fashion that constantly rings true it's that what comes around goes around. A few years ago I bought a pair of camouflage pants at Urban Outfitters. When they became a little too tight (it happens!!), I put them away with the thought that maybe, just maybe, they'd come back into fashion one day and maybe, just maybe I'd be able to fit into them again someday. Sure enough, camo is back, and thanks to a year of working out consistently, I'll be able to fit into those pants. But now, camo is available in so much more than just pants and jackets. Here are a few fun ways to wear the camo trend.
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10 Ways To Keep Your Dog Happy and Healthy

Friday, March 16, 2018
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I talk a lot about cats around here, but that doesn't mean I don't have a tiny smidgen of dog person in me. We humans are complicated creatures. By comparison, dogs are a walk in the park...sometimes all it takes to make them happy is a literal walk in the park! Still, just because it doesn’t take a lot of effort to ensure they’re happy and healthy, there are still certain things that you need to do. Below are ten ways you can keep your friendly pooch fit and smiling.
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Best Online Reads

Thursday, March 15, 2018

The ten stories from around the web that I am loving this week:

1. Why no one says "You're welcome" anymore via Huffington Post.

2. The best and worst foods to eat before bedtime via Sleepy Bliss.

3. Netflix tricks you need to start using via Mental Floss.
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How to Deal With the Death of a Family Pet

Wednesday, March 14, 2018
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When a family pet dies, it impacts everyone in the family, and it can impact everyone in different ways. It’s up to you to make sure that you’re there to support your children because they’ll find it particularly difficult. It’s important to be sensitive to their needs and handle the situation with care. Six years ago, we had our first experience with a pet death when our beloved cat passed away after 19 years. 
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Weekend Dispatch

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

As I sit here trying to thaw out (why is winter still hanging around, anyway?), I thought I'd plan my weekend. I have big plans to start a massive clean out of our attic. I figure if I start now, I should be finished by June. Baby steps. There is so much junk up there that's leftover from the days the girls were little and would part with nothing. Now that they've outgrown that, it's time to purge. In addition to taking the first step in "Operation Attic", here's what else I'll be up to this weekend.

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What We're Reading

Monday, March 12, 2018

A few weeks ago, I finally subscribed to the Sunday New York Times. It is definitely a commitment to read the entire paper, but I spread it out over the week with the goal of finishing it before the next paper arrives. One of my favorite sections is the Book Review. I read it from cover to cover, and often more than once. I have a running list of book recs from the review, but here are the three books we are currently reading:
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Trendspotting: Lavender

Friday, March 9, 2018

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

If purple is your color, you'll be thrilled to know that Pantone's Color of the Year for 2018 is Ultra Violet. If you need a modern update to your spring wardrobe, the first thing to do is to add pretty shades of purple to it. Take a look at a few of my favorite lavender pieces this spring.
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Best Online Reads

Thursday, March 8, 2018
The ten stories from around the web that I am loving this week:

1. Should you exercise when you are sick via Time.

2. The surprising benefits of waking up early via Balance Me Beautiful.

3. How a McDonald's in Lynwood, CA is celebrating International Women's Day via Redbook.
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5 DIY Tips To Upgrade Your Bedroom

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We don't always have the budget to renovate a room to its fullest, but money isn't all you need to upgrade a room and give it new life. These 5 DIY tips are sure to turn your bedroom around and give it a brand new look.
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Easy At-Home Coffee Dates With Friends

Wednesday, March 7, 2018


Life is busy. Between jobs and families, there is often little time for anything else. But I've learned over the years that if you want something to happen, you need to make it happen. One of the areas in my life that always seems to fall to the wayside is spending time with friends. To have unstructured time with friends, you need to make a concerted effort to make it happen.

One of my favorite ways to connect with friends is a coffee date. While I love meeting up in a café and lingering over coffee and pastries,  I find that hosting a friend in my home for coffee is a much more personal and thoughtful gesture. When you share your home with someone, you share a piece of yourself. It's an experience that you don't get when you meet up in a coffee shop.


A few weeks ago I ran into a friend who was having drinks with a girlfriend while I was having dinner with my husband. We chatted for a bit since we hadn't seen each other in a while, and she told me that she had recently left her job to start her own business. She was working from home and struggling to find her place in her new environment. She asked for advice, and we promised to get together soon. A few days later I called her to come over for coffee. She gladly accepted.

One of my golden rules of entertaining is to serve a signature drink. In this case, it was the coffee, obviously. In preparation I asked her what her favorite brand and favorite roast is. In addition to serving her absolute favorite, I also offered Nestlé® Coffee-mate® The Cheesecake Factory At Home creamers as a tasty addition to our coffee.



To add a delicious blend of flavoring to our coffee, I purchase both varieties of Nestlé® Coffee-mate® The Cheesecake Factory At Home creamers: Strawberry Cheesecake and Dulce de Leche Caramel Cheesecake. The Strawberry Cheesecake flavor is the perfect blend of sweet strawberry goodness and tangy cheesecake,  just what you'd expect from the popular restaurant's cheesecake.

The Dulce de Leche Caramel Cheesecake flavor is a flavorful blend of Dulce de Leche deliciousness and tangy cheesecake. Whether you are just kicking off your day or you need an afternoon pick-me-up, Nestlé® Coffee-mate® The Cheesecake Factory At Home creamers are the perfect complement to your favorite cup of coffee.


You can find Nestlé® Coffee-mate® The Cheesecake Factory At Home creamers at your local Walmart. Learn more about Coffee-mate® creamers and find your nearest Walmart HERE.


I thoroughly enjoyed both flavors. They aren't overly sweet and add a nice, genuine flavoring to my morning coffee. I'll definitely be keeping these stocked in the fridge for coffee dates and my morning cup of java.


Now that spring is almost here, I'm planning to schedule more coffee dates like this one. Hopefully, we'll be able to enjoy our coffee and chats outside on the deck when the weather cooperates. Both my girlfriend and I agreed that every coffee date deserves Nestlé® Coffee-mate® The Cheesecake Factory At Home creamers. They add a sweetness to the occasion that other coffee add-ins seem to lack.


Celebrate spring by hosting a coffee date for you and a few friends. Head to Walmart to grab a few bottles of Nestlé® Coffee-mate® The Cheesecake Factory At Home creamers to add a sweet touch to your coffee. After all, don't your friends deserve a special treat every once in a while?
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6 Easy Ways To De-Stress Your Family

Tuesday, March 6, 2018
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We all have stressors in our lives. It's always beneficial to evaluate what's causing you stress and to do a little de-stressing from time to time. If you find that you’re always running around at 100 miles per hour, and your family is always ‘busy’, it could be time to take the steps to eradicate stress from your lives. Depending on how stressed you are, take a few steps to ensure  you’re not heading towards burn out is essential for your mental well-being.
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Weekend Dispatch



This weekend turned out to be a little less productive and a lot more relaxing than I intended. I woke up late Sunday morning after being awake for a few hours during the middle of the night, and then finally fell asleep at about 5 am. I finally woke at 9 am and reached for my iPad rather than getting out of bed. I got sucked into a movie on Amazon Prime Video and didn't get out of bed until 10:41. Yikes! Luckily, my family indulged me and no one clamored for breakfast or needed to be chaperoned anywhere. Anyway, it's good to take some time for yourself to recharge. Here's what I'll be up to this coming weekend.
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How I Am Getting A Better Night's Sleep

Monday, March 5, 2018

I've never been a good sleeper. Sleep has always been one of those things that has fallen low on my priority list. It's not that I don't think sleep is important or beneficial. It's just that there are so many other things you can be doing in the time that you are sleeping.

It's only been within the past few months that I have realized and harnessed the power of a good night's sleep. I wear a Fitbit and am able to see my sleep patterns each night. Those patterns were not impressive by any measure. I was lucky if I were getting 5 hours of sleep most nights. It wasn't until I actually experienced a good night's sleep (about 8 hours with zero wake ups and little restlessness) that I became determined to make that happen most nights of the week.

Here are the steps I've taken to get a better night's sleep:
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Happy March ~ Letter From The Editor

Friday, March 2, 2018

Who's ready for a new month? I certainly am. A new month is a fresh start. We could all use one of those, amirite? March is a good time to reassess the New Year's resolutions you made and determine how you'll move forward. Having two months of the year behind us, we can use March is a chance to set some reasonable and actionable goals for the rest of the year without being too hard on ourselves for not accomplishing everything we set forth to do at the beginning of the year.

Plus, it's time to start thinking about beefing up your spring wardrobe. It's always good to add a few pieces while tweaking a few old ones as well. And then there's spring cleaning...a dreaded task for sure. I don't really do a large scale spring cleaning. I try to keep my house "drop-in guest-ready" at all times, and I'll share a few of the ways I accomplish that. The spring and summer travel seasons are approaching, and I'll be chatting about packing hacks that I swear by, and some of my travel favorites from outfits to carry-on bags to on board entertainment.
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Best Online Reads

Thursday, March 1, 2018

The ten stories from around the web that I am loving this week:

1. How to defeat procrastination and get things done via The New York Times.

2. The 17 happiest cities in New Jersey via In Your State.

3. Why you should be using your gym's sauna via Time.
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