Here Comes The Sun

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faux wrap top | ribbon trim shorts | tassel earrings | circle bag | cold-shoulder dress | striped sweater | slide sandals 

Yellow is such a fun, happy color. It embodies sunshine and happiness. So why then do I so seldomly wear it? Part of the reason is that I am blonde, and blondes notoriously look horrible in most shades of yellow. It washes out our skin tone and certainly does little for our hair color.

But this season's yellows are bright and vibrant, shades of yellow that actually flatter blondes. I've been making an effort to add a few yellow pieces to my wardrobe to mix things up a bit and put those dark, gloomy colors of winter behind me.

Here are a few of my favorite yellow items that have seen around this spring.

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7 Reasons To Refinance Your Mortgage

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For many homeowners, refinancing is a chance for a clean slate and helps to make monthly mortgage payments much more manageable. It can suit pretty much everyone and can be a cost-effective way to make the monthly bills that much more reasonable for you and your family.

The idea of taking out a Refinance home loan is that you set up a whole new mortgage with new terms, and you pay whatever you can afford every month for your home. Maybe you've had some unexpected expenses crop up recently or you are needing money to pay for a child'd college education. They are just two of the many reasons you may choose to refinance your mortgage. If you are thinking about doing this for yourself and your family this year, here are a few other reasons to do it.

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Tips for Making Your Home More Eco-Friendly

As our knowledge on the topic of global warming grows, more and more people are turning their attention to eco-friendly living. It couldn't be more timely. With proof surfacing each day of the declining state of the Earth's health, it's time we turned out attention to saving the Earth.

Most of us are already in the habit of making small changes in our daily lives such as recycling, using public transportation when we can, and turning off lights and appliances in an effort to conserve energy.

In some cases, we can be doing more on a larger scale in our homes. The best approach is to keep it simple so that every family member can be involved with becoming overwhelmed.

Here are a few ways to reduce your carbon footprint.

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Best Online Reads

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

1. Three things to start doing before 9 AM via The Newsette.

2. What 50 year-olds wish 20 year-olds knew via Quora.

3. How tuition-free college is gaining traction in the U.S. via Good.

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How To Plan The Perfect Nursery

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One of the most exciting aspects of planning for the arrival of a new baby is designing the nursery. As the Hubs and I prepare for our oldest's 16th birthday, we are reminded of those weeks and months just prior to her birth. I was frantically working with a painter to have her room painted and feverishly ordering and assembling her furniture.

A freshly decorated and well designed nursery looks so appealing. It is a place where you will spend lots of time - your own sunny, happy place with your baby. Before we went rushing out to buy the latest equipment, we spent some time thinking about what we wanted and what the new baby needed and the look we wanted to create. As nurseries are often the smallest rooms in the house you will want to maximize the available space as much as possible.

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How To Choose A Gift That Keeps On Giving

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Sometimes, it can be tough to find the perfect gift for the right occasion. When you want to give a gift that isn’t just consumed and thrown away, where do you look? The idea of the “gift that keeps on giving” is a pretty prevalent one, but what does that really mean? The right gifts can have value long after the giving. Here are a few examples of each kind of value to help steer you in the right direction.

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My Favorite Way To Comfort a Cancer Patient

This post is sponsored by The Motherhood and Wrapped In Love. All opinions expressed are my own.

Often our first response when we hear that someone we know has been diagnosed with cancer is shock. Then we run through a list of questions in our minds. How can that be possible? Why did it happen to her? Eventually we shift from reaction mode to action mode, and we want to do something to help show our love and support.

I learned pretty quickly when my sister was diagnosed with endometrial cancer and a dear friend was diagnosed with breast cancer that any small act of kindness is greatly appreciated. A simple card with a thoughtful sentiment seems small, but in the eyes of the recipient, it's a grand gesture. Today my sister and my friend are cancer-free and have long put their days of chemotherapy treatments behind them. Although the long, dark days of chemo may no longer be part of their lives, I can safely say that my sister and friend will never forget those incredibly difficult days.

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4 Ways to Boost Your Budget So You Can Buy More Clothes

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My passion for fashion grows every day. I scroll through Instagram daily looking for inspiration for your my next great outfit. As much as I love looking for ideas, it can be costly executing those ideas, and as a result, I'm always looking for ways to improve my wardrobe on a budget. There are small tweaks you can do to boost your budget so you have more disposable income to spend on clothes. You just need to find a balance between thinking outside the box and addressing the obvious. Here are four simple ideas which can get you on your way to increasing your clothes allowance:

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5 Home Renovations You Shouldn't Do Yourself

Who else wants to totally remodel your entire home after watching home renovation and DIY shows on TV and YouTube tutorials? While there are plenty of renovations you can take on by yourself, there are also times when you need to call in the professionals. Certain jobs are better left to those with more experience and know-how than laypeople. To keep you from realizing that halfway down the process, here are 5 don't DIY tasks, for which professional help should be taken at all times.

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Best Online Reads

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

1. What the tooth fairy is paying these days via Huffington Post.

2. Fifteen sneaky ways to save money each month via Redbook.

3. Five ways to power down a busy mind via Oprah.

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Weekend Dispatch

Last weekend's weather was glorious (well, Friday and Saturday were gorgeous, anyway)! It made me wish summer would get here just a little faster. It was so nice to be outside and get a little Vitamin D naturally. While this coming weekend isn't going to be as spectacular, it's not going to be a throw away either. In addition to going to see Emma's lacrosse game on Saturday morning and my great-nephew's birthday party on Sunday, here's what else I'll be up to this weekend:

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5 Ways To Improve Your Wardrobe On A Budget

There comes a point in everyone's life, when we stand in front of our closets and think everything looks drab and boring. It's this sight that turns our shopping spree mode on, and soon we've lost our money to shoes, clothes and accessories. With all the new collections rolling out every season, it's only natural that might crave a few new things, but what about those days when your budget won't allow a new purchase and yet you want to look your very best? If you find yourself facing this situation a lot then it's time for you to look bold, beautiful and fabulous, without the need of breaking your back:

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Currently Crushing: Navy and White

Espadrilles | Earrings | Maxi Dress | Necklace | Journal | Party Bucket | Bag | Bracelet | Beach Hat | Doormat | Pillow

Navy and white is one of my favorite color combinations, especially in the summer. It's such a fresh, crisp pairing. I have touches of navy and white scattered throughout my home, and if I'm not careful, they'll take over every room. Today, I'm dedicating an entire post to my love of navy and white. Check out the items I am currently crushing on.

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Best Online Reads

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

1. The best thing to drink first thing in the morning via Coveteur.

2. Why you should wash new clothes before wearing them via Well+Good.

3. How Prince Harry and Meghan Markle plan to incorporate Princess Diana into their wedding day via Vanity Fair.

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How To Survive Living In A Small Space With Kids

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Living in a small space can be difficult enough as it is. However, when you throw young kids into the mix as well, you might find that you start to slowly lose your sanity.

Your kids won’t have as much room to spread out and play as they might like, and you could end up getting in each other’s way. Not only that, though, but they could easily get in the way when you are trying to get all your chores done. A family in a very cramped space is a recipe for disaster and you could very easily end up testing each other's patience!

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Weekend Dispatch

After enduring a never-ending winter, it seems there's light at the end of the tunnel in the form of the upcoming weekend's weather (woohoo!). With hints of 70 degrees on Saturday (and my kids have a snow make up day - yes, on the weekend!), I am planning all the outdoor activities starting with a long walk followed by enjoying an iced coffee at an outdoor café.

Here's what else is shaking this weekend.

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Playing Favorites

Playing Favorites is a monthly series where I share my latest obsessions, favorite finds, and any kind of entertainment (books, movies, TV, podcasts, and magazines) that I am loving. Here's what I am loving this month.

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Why Traveling In Luxury Matters

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I've traveled on a tight budget (a post-college trip to Europe), and I've traveled in luxury (a vacation at a five star oceanfront resort). There is a difference. Too often we look for bargain vacations, and this is perfectly understandable if you are on a strict budget. However, if you have the means or at least the time to save up to splurge, heading on an unforgettable adventure in luxury could be one of the best ways to treat yourself. After all, one of the best things you can do with your money is invest in experiences. Memorable experiences will never leave you, and indulgent vacations are always memorable.

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Best Online Reads

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

1. A brilliant tip for making small talk less painful via Cupcakes and Cashmere.

2. The most popular baby names 100 years ago via Huffington Post.

3. Commonly misused phrases that make you sound unprofessional (and uneducated) via Work+Money.

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10 Pre-Workout Snacks To Fuel Your Fitness

I'm changing things up a bit this week with my gym routine since the girls are home for spring break. Rather than going first thing in the morning, I've been hitting the gym late morning most days. Heading to the gym later than usual means I have to have a pre-workout snack. I haven't been eating a full meal (not even breakfast) since it takes a few hours after I wake up to get hungry. But a small protein-packed snack has been a must.

Here are a few of the things I think about before I reach for a pre-workout snack:

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Weekend Dispatch

This week is our spring break, and sorry to say, it's anything but spring here. We woke up to a thin blanket of snow on the ground yesterday day morning, and today is dreary and drab. Last year we spent spring break in Tucson and Phoenix, but this year, we are sticking close to home. Emma has both lacrosse practice and games this week, and we'll be traveling to Utah later this summer for a family wedding in place of our spring break trip.

Here's how we'll be spending our staycation.

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Think Pink!

I'll be the first to admit that I get stuck in color ruts when it comes to what I wear. I tend to lean towards navy, beige, black, and gray. Lately I've been making an effort to inject more color into my wardrobe. Color signifies youth, and hey, we could all use a little youthfulness now and then. Right? Spring and summer lend themselves to colorful wardrobes. Since they are warmer seasons, it's easier to find clothes that are fun, colorful, and anything but drab.

Lately I've been loving vibrant pinks. It's a nice change from the ever popular blush pink, and who can deny that it's definitely more eye catching as well? Here are few of my favorite recent pink finds:

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