Best Online Reads

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

1. Why you should never put a hot pan under the faucet via Huffington Post.

2. Why we retain information better when we write it down via NPR.

3. Seven things to do around your home when Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend via Real Simple.

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Weekend Dispatch

We are two days into this week and it already seems like it's been too long. We're wrapping up field hockey today with the last game of the season. It's been rewarding to see Harper learn, play, and embrace a new-to-her sport. And I'm still trying to learn the rules so I can understand what's going on!

Early tomorrow morning, Harper leaves for a field trip to Washington, D.C. with her 8th grade class. So, we've been busy packing and prepping her for the trip. She's super excited, and I'm super excited for her. I can't wait to get her back home on Friday so we can hear all about her adventures. But for now, this is what I'm up to this week:

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5 Fab Finds Under $50: Weekend Bags

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The holidays are coming, and for many of us, that means weekend trips to visit and spread holiday cheer to family and friends. When you're traveling for a few days, a suitcase isn't always a practical option.  They tend to be cumbersome and take up unnecessary space in the car (or train or plane). In this case, it's best to pack your belongings in a weekend bag. Weekend bags offer plenty of space for toiletries and several changes of clothes that you'll use and wear over the course of a few days. Plus, there are so many cute styles and prints that blow any suitcase away.

Here are a few of my favorite weekend bags under $50:

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Best Online Reads

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

1. How to take a mental break without leaving your desk via Domino.

2. The difference between white and orange cheddar cheese via Huffington Post.

3. Eleven first dates that don't involve coffee or alcohol via Bustle.

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Weekend Dispatch

It has become a sort of tradition for us to go out for breakfast on Sunday mornings. It's a great way to kick off the last day of and to bid farewell to the weekend. Plus, it ensures we are up and out the door on a day when we normally might be lazy and linger around the house until 2 PM. On Sunday, we tried Kitchen 35 in Manasquan. It was formerly the Atlantis Diner, which had closed its doors a while ago. I was pleasantly surprised. Inside, it looks like your typical diner, but the food is anything but. I had the goat toast (shown above), and it was delicious. It's a tasty combination of hummus, olive tapenade, roasted red peppers, and goat cheese on perfect toasted Italian bread. I'll definitely be returning soon!

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

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Loving Lately: Multicolored Manis

Right now, the trendiest nail color is "all of them". The more colors you have on your nails, the more chic your mani will be. If you're anything like me and find it's an exhausting decision deciding which nail color to choose, you'll be happy to know that it's perfectly acceptable (and incredibly stylish) to  choose 5 colors.

The two manis that are incredibly popular at the moment are the rainbow mani and the gradient mani. The rainbow mani is each nail is painted a wildly different color. The gradient mani is each nail is painted a different shade within the same color family.

Here are a few of my favorite manis:

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Fab Finds Under $50: Products That Support Breast Cancer Research

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pura vida bracelets | the north face beanie | it foundation brush | bloomingdale's bag | vineyard vines tee

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and if you are looking for a way to give back and get something in return, there are a few companies who are paying it forward for this special cause. This week's Fab Finds includes a handful of products that support breast cancer research and give back to a good cause.

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Best Online Reads

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

1. How to fold a fitted sheet via Your Best Digs.

2. Thirty-five coconut oil beauty products you can make at home via FragranceX.

3. Five ways to boost your energy via Fitbit.

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The Books I Read In September

Last month, I made one final push to get through a few books from my summer reading list. I veered from the list slightly after having been given books by friends and family and finding a few bargain books at the store, but I really tried to stick as closely to the list as possible. By summer's end (September 21) I read a total of 13 books with six of those being from my summer reading list. I didn't tackle every book on my summer reading list, but I did exceed my reading goal of 12 books.

Here are the books I read in September:

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How To Draft-Proof Your Home To Keep It Warm This Winter

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Winter is coming! And if you haven't thought about draft-proofing your home before, it's time to start thinking about it. Most homes, especially older ones, have a lot of small gaps that let cold air in. If you don’t plug these gaps around your home, it will be a lot harder to keep the warm air in and the cold air out. Plus, you may have an issue with noise pollution as well. That’s why draft-proofing is one of the best ways to make your home more eco-friendly and create a better atmosphere at the same time. Here are some of the best ways to draft-proof your home.

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Splurge vs. Save: Trending Sweaters

The leaves are turning, and there's a chill in the air. You know what that means? It's sweater weather! Time to stock up for the winter. Whether you are on a limited budget or the sky's the limit, I'm sharing three trending sweaters with different price points to match your budget and wear with anything!

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Best Online Reads

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

1. Which airlines to fly because of the free snacks via Huffington Post.

2. Seven celebrities you never knew were roommates via Apartment Therapy.

3. The food stylist trick for keeping apples from browning via The Kitchn.

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Weekend Dispatch

Last weekend we participated in our sixth JDRF OneWalk to benefit type 1 diabetes. We began walking in October 2014 after Harper was diagnosed earlier that year. The walk supports fundraising efforts to find a cure for type 1 diabetes and was held in Avon-By-The-Sea, New Jersey. It attracts thousands of walkers who share a connection to type 1 diabetes. I love the walk for the camaraderie. This can be a lonely disease, and seeing the support at the walk and meeting other families who have type 1 diabetes is inspiring. This weekend I'll be writing thank you notes for all those who donated to our team's fundraising efforts.

Here's what else I'm up to this weekend:

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Top 6 Gifts to Give Your Mom on Her Birthday

With your mother’s birthday around the corner, you’re growing frantic about what to give her. You love her dearly and want to give her the best gift to remember this birthday and to have a great day. But what should you give her? How should you thank her for all the love, care and concern she showers you with each day? Try retracing the gifts you gave her in the past years and change things up a bit. We’ve compiled a list of the top 6 presents you can gift your mother this year on her birthday.

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5 Fab Finds Under $50: Camo Trend

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sweater | messenger bag | flip flops | joggers | vest

The first thing you might think of when you think of camo print is a pair of cargo pants. They are iconic. But this season, camo is popping up on all sorts of pieces from bags to shoes to tees, and more. Here are a few of my favorite latest camo finds.

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How To Return To Work After Having a Baby Without Exhausting Yourself

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Plenty of parents decide that the best thing for them and their family is to go back to work after taking some time off to care for their families. While this might not be the ideal situation for many people, there are people who both want or have no choice but to head back to work when their kids are young. The struggle that many new parents have is trying to juggle work and family. After all, doing either of those things on their own can often lead to you feeling pretty run down. Trying to do both can leave you completely exhausted.

Exhaustion might just seem like a problem because it means that you lack the energy to do the things that you really want to do, and that's definitely true, but the dangers that it presents to your health can be much more significant than that. Exhaustion can lower your immune system, making your more susceptible to illness, as well as causing weight gain, depression, and a whole host of other symptoms.

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Best Online Reads

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

1. Genius couples costumes for Halloween via Good Housekeeping.

2. A simple tweak to your morning routine to make you more productive via Domino.

3. The correct way to apply dry shampoo via Makeup.com

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10 Pumpkin Recipes To Make This Fall

Pumpkin season is here! Some of my may have waited all year for this, while others are turning their noses up at all things pumpkin. I fall somewhere between the two extremes. I love pumpkin-flavored desserts, but I'm not a big fan of artificially flavored pumpkin food items (pumpkin spice cereal, lattes, candy, etc). Big give me a home baked pumpkin pie, and I am all over it!

I've rounded up ten of my favorite pumpkin recipes to make this fall. Here they are, in no particular order.

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