Best Online Reads

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

1. Ten proven ways to sleep better naturally via Better Relaxation.

2. A list of every pumpkin drink you can get at Starbucks this year via Bustle.

3. Nineteen things you need to do before the end of the year via The Thirty.

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Cocktails That Are Perfect For Labor Day Weekend

Will you be entertaining guests this weekend or heading over to a friend's house to bid farewell to summer? Either way, you'll want to serve or take the cocktail that will become the talk of the party. I've got a few recipes to share today that feature Sparkling Ice, the naturally-made, zero sugar, zero calorie sparkling water brand. Sparkling Ice products make it super simple to make tasty cocktails that your guests will love!

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Weekend Dispatch

We returned from a week in Rehoboth Beach on Saturday evening. After unloading the car, I decided to unpack everything. This is a different approach than I normally take. In the past, I'd set aside Sunday morning to do all the unpacking. But this year, I wanted to go into my Sunday with everything unpacked, laundered, and put away. It was such a nice feeling to know that Sunday was completely wide open to decompress from vacation and prepare to re-enter reality come Monday morning. I'm definitely planning on using this approach when we go to Captiva in November.

Now that the unpacking is finished, here's how I'll be spending my week and weekend ahead:

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What I've Bought Recently

featured:

Montauk tee | hoop earrings | straw beach hat | wrap top | curling iron | denim cutoffs | card case | seersucker dress | swimsuit | tote bag | rolling stones tank

Summer is winding now, and the summer sales are on! It's the perfect time to share a few of the things I've bought recently since many of the items are currently marked down...considerably. But hurry! These items are going FAST!

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The Books I Read In July

Thanks to an extended July 4th weekend and great weather, I was able to blow through three books this month and get a sizable chunk of my first book for August out of the way. In case you need a refresher, here's my summer reading list. I am trying to stick to it as closely as possible, but sometimes I get books from friends and I need to read that one as soon as possible so that I can pass it along to the next friend in our book group. Two of the books I read last month are on my summer reading list, and the other one was a book I picked up on sale that once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down.

Here are the three books I read in July:

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Best Online Reads

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

1. The salary you need to live alone in every major U.S. city via Apartment Therapy.

2. Life lessons we can learn from our pets via Darling,.

3. How to manage your weight as you age via Chalkboard.

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How I Stay Healthy & Fit While On Vacation

This week I am enjoying a week long vacation in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware with my sisters and their families. While this vacation means a break from work and all the other domestic obligations of home, it doesn't mean a break from my normal exercise routine. Exercise is just as important to me when on vacation as it is when I am not since my eating habits are often more haphazard and relaxed when I am away. For me, vacation is no reason to check my healthy habits at the door. In fact, it's even more of a reason to keep them intact and make them a priority.

Here are the ways I stay healthy and fit while on vacation:

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How To Carve Out A Creative Space At Home

Photo via Paige Cody on Unsplash

If you consider yourself to be something of a creative, you want your home to reflect that trait. One of the best ways to do so is by finding a space in your home to be able to use as a creative area. This could be as simple as a desk in the corner by a window, or it might be an entire room, depending on your needs.

Whatever it turns out to be, having this creative space at home can be one of the most enthralling interior design solutions possible. Here are a few things to consider when carving out the perfect creative space in your own home.

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What We're Reading

Greetings from Rehoboth Beach, my home until Saturday. We are here with my sisters and their families for a week of rest, relaxation, recharging, and family bonding. This is our 13th consecutive August doing this trip, and each year is better than the last. There is so much I look forward to on this trip from the food to the beach to fun, family times, but one of my favorites is just relaxing with a GREAT beach read. I spend a lot of time laboring over choosing a book (or two) for this trip. Part of what makes this trip memorable is the books that I read during our time here.

Here are the books we'll be reading this week:

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5 Fab Finds Under $50: Travel Edition

featured:

jewelry organizer | document holder | toiletries bag | packing cubes | tote bag organizer

Tomorrow we push off for a week in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Since we drive to Rehoboth each year, I always have a tendency to overpack. I load up the car with anything I think I might possibly use (but never do 🤦🏼‍♀️). This year I am employing a different packing strategy and packing only what we absolutely need.

In today's Fab Finds I wanted to share a few of the inexpensive packing/travel essentials that helped me achieve my packing goal.

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Best Online Reads

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

1. Five pieces of career advice you've never heard before via Marie Claire.

2. Things no person over 40 should have in their house via Yahoo!

3. The tiniest town in every state via Elle Decor.

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Augmenting Your Looks: 4 Most Popular Types of Plastic Surgery

Most of us want to look our best at all times and often turn to plastic surgery to achieve that goal. This is true for men and women alike, as more men are now opting to undergo procedures to change their appearance for the better. Yesterday I wrote about the reasons cosmetic surgery could have a positive impact on your life. Today, we are taking a look at commonly requested procedures and what each involves.

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Weekend Dispatch

We are in the throes of packing for a week in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Since we drive rather than fly for this trip, we are likely to overpack. I am trying really hard not to do that this year. On the upside, I no longer bring the beach cart or the beach toys, but this year we have an extra beach chair to haul and a slightly smaller car to travel in. We'll see how it goes. If you have any tips, send them my way.

In the meantime, here's what else I am up to this week:

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4 Reasons Cosmetic Surgery Could Positively Change Your Life

As I am nearing my 52nd birthday (it's less than 4 months away), cosmetic surgery has been on my mind. Having cosmetic surgery is never a decision to take lightly. Whether you are considering a non-invasive procedure such as injectables or something more in depth such as breast augmentation, the outcome of your surgery can change your life forever for the good or for bad. Right now, I'm merely considering a few injectables to combat fine lines and wrinkles. I've been talking to friends who have had similar procedures, and everyone has only awesome things to say about what cosmetic surgery can do for you in addition to improving your physical appearance.

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The Only Optimal Skincare Guide You'll Ever Need To Read

Did you know your skin is the largest organ on your body? It requires a lot of specialized attention. It covers our entire body from head to toe and is covered in hairs, except for our eyelids, palms and soles of our hands and feet and our lips. These hairs can alert us to how close we are to something or how close something is to us, and it helps to protect our skin.

There are many times where our skin needs a little more protection than our body hair can provide. For instance, sun protection. Our body hair is not enough to block out harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays that come from our sun. And although our body hair can alert us to the presence of a bug, it does not keep us safe from getting bitten by mosquitoes, ticks and other biting bugs.

When you are looking for ways to care for the skin that protects your body, there is a lot to think about. That’s why we’re breaking down your skin so that you will have the only optimal skincare guide you will ever need. There’s some science involved, but once you embrace your uniqueness and make a few tweaks, you will be good to go.

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How To Prepare Your Home For Fall

photo via

How nice would it be to only have to get some pumpkin spice candles in your home, and then you’ll be ready for fall? While yes, the candles are a pretty epic part of the season changing, there are some even more important things to be able to do to the home in time for fall. Some of these things can be costly if they are not looked at properly, which is not what you want as you prep for the the holidays (yes, I went there). So here are some of the things that you should be thinking about before your house transitions from the hot summer days to colder fall nights, and then freezing temperatures.

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5 Fab Finds Under $50

featured:

sunglasses | dress | sneakers | card case | top

On a budget but still want to look great? Here are 5 fab finds under $50 that won't break the bank but will keep you looking stylish and chic. Some items are even under $25!

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Best Online Reads

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

1. How to tell the difference between a cold and allergies via Oprah.

2. The simple math problem that drove an entire staff insane via Prevention.

3. How caffeine affects your migrane headaches via Bustle.

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Summer Cocktails That Are Perfect For Entertaining

As we head into Labor Day, it's likely that you'll either be hosting parties or attending a few (or both!). Either way, it's good to have a signature cocktail to serve or a fun boozy treat to bring for everyone's enjoyment.

Here are a few of my end-of-summer favorites.

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Weekend Dispatch

This past weekend ended up being very low key, which was exactly what I needed. The weekends seemed to filled to the brim lately, and I really needed some downtime to get myself organized. On Friday night, the Hubs and I went out to dinner and then stopped to see some friends who are in a band. They were playing at a local restaurant, and although it was a late night (we didn't get home until 1 am), it was fun. On Saturday morning, we hit a farmers market to stock up on produce for the week, and I finished a book and started a new one. On Sunday, we had brunch, went to a flea market and the girls and I did some quick shopping before spending the rest of the evening on our deck relaxing. It was a nice change of pace.

This week one of my sisters is coming to visit, and this weekend is my great-niece's 4th birthday party. Looking forward to enjoying some family time before we throw ourselves into preparing and packing for our trip to Rehoboth Beach.

Here's what else I am up to this week:

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Happy August ~ Letter From The Editor

They say August is the Sunday of summer. Just as Sundays are a mad dash to get done everything you didn't get accomplished on Saturday, August is the same. We always seem to spend the month trying to squeeze in all the things we didn't do in June and July and then some. August always seems to be a busy month when it should be the month where we chill and enjoy the last bits of summer.

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5 Fab Finds Under $50

featured:

tote bag | maxi dress | earrings | candle | d'orsay flats

On a budget but still want to look great? Here are 5 fab finds under $50 that won't break the bank but will keep you looking stylish and chic. Some items are even under $25!

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