How To Layer To Stay Warm In Winter

The winter cold has finally set in here in the northeast, and it is not nice. With daytime temperatures barely reaching 30 degrees Fahrenheit, dressing warmly is a must. But how do you do that while staying comfortable (i.e., not drowning in layers of clothing) and still looking stylish?

ClimateRight by CuddlDuds at Walmart to the rescue! While picking up some essentials at Walmart this week, I came across this amazing brand of layering and lounging clothes that are perfect for staying warm, cozy, and comfortable.

ClimateRight at Walmart offers both a base layer collection as well as a sleepwear collection. Since I'm all about layering and staying warm while out and about running errands or exploring the city, I chose two pieces from the base layer collection. However, the sleepwear collection looks ultra comfy if you are in need of some new sleepwear.

The base layer collection includes a stretch microfiber long sleeve crew shirt with fits nicely under sweaters and sweatshirts. Although the fit is snug, it's not tight or uncomfortable, and you don't feel as if you are wearing layer upon layer once you put on a sweater.

The leggings offer the perfect fit under your favorite pair of jeans. Again, the leggings offer a snug fit (they are made of Spandex) but aren't tight or uncomfortable. The light layer was perfect under jeans in temperatures that hovered just below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Whether you choose to layer or wear alone, ClimateRight by CuddlDuds at Walmart are versatile and offer just the right amount of warmth and protection from the cold. When worn alone, they are a comfortable alternative to sleepwear.

You absolutely cannot beat the price tag on ClimateRight by CuddlDuds at Walmart. The microfiber pieces I purchased were both under $10. The sleepwear pieces range from $10 to $12, making the entire line of ClimateRight at Walmart incredibly affordable in addition to being extremely practical.

ClimateRight by CuddlDuds are available exclusively at Walmart. Shop the full assortment of layering pieces and sleepwear now on Walmart.com where you can enjoy free in-store pickup or 2-day free shipping (with a qualifying $35 purchase).

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The Importance of Unplugging During A Vacation

I know it's a bit of an oxymoron since I am writing this post as I am on vacation. However, stay with me and hear me out.

Two weeks ago as I was preparing for a two-week vacation in Florida, I was completely overwhelmed. I had so much work to do for clients in preparation of my vacation that I had little to no time to prepare posts for my own blog. I felt guilty that I couldn't get my act together enough to write even a single post and schedule it to go live while I was away. Not one post.

I resigned myself to accepting that I did everything I needed to do for clients before my vacation began and nothing for my own blog. But I still felt guilty. I have NEVER gone on vacation and ignored my personal blog. I have either pre-written posts or I have written them while away when I had a few free moments. But this time it's been different.

I've used this vacation as a chance to unplug and stay in the moment. Since I know I don't do either of those things well when I am at home, I made every effort to do them well while I was away. That's not to say I haven't posted on Instagram, Instagram Stories, and Snapchat. I mean, I can't lose all contact with the social world, right?

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Pick Me Ups To Boost Your Mood

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We all need to take 5 minutes sometimes. Often we need to take just a bit longer. So when it comes to a day off, or an evening to myself, I always choose do something that improves my mood and makes me feel as if I've taken a full day off. It don’t have to take much effort, and can often be done in 5 minutes, as long as you are enjoying yourself after a hard day or a long week.

Here’s a few ideas on the little pick me ups everyone should indulge in every once in awhile.

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4 Easy Ways To Practice Self-Care

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Being a mom isn’t easy. Life is hectic and stressful. That’s why every now and then you need to treat yourself to help improve your mood and keep your spirits up. It’s easy to get weighed down with that stress and worry that comes with daily life, but if you take the time to make your wellness a priority, you can alleviate the stress that you are under. Here are some of the ways I treat myself to when I need to improve my mood and reduce stress.

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Four Ways To Treat Yourself

As a parent, it's important to make time to treat yourself. Many moms just focus on the family, and this can mean that they neglect themselves and their own needs, and that’s never a good thing. I recently wrote about ways I practice self-care. If none of those work for you, here are few more that might be more in line with your wants and needs.

Find a Hobby That Gives You a Break

Sometimes, you just need to get out of the house and away from the stresses that you experience each day. This is a common need for parents, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. No one can be a mother and wife 100% of the time. You need to have some downtime that allows you to relax. Picking up a hobby is the great way to do that. It can be anything from swimming to pottery classes. What matters is that it helps you to relax and gives you a break from the things that often wear you down, so find a hobby that’s good for you.

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The Loves of my Life

I've been ever so patiently and anxiously waiting for Emma's and Harper's school pictures to arrive. It's one of the highlights of the school year. Although Emma has had hers since before Thanksgiving, Harper just received hers this week.

We love to lay the pictures out and compare them from one year to the next. It's amazing how much Emma has grown up since her first picture at age 3. Emma is maturing. She doesn't even look like she's 8. Excuse me! Has anyone seen my third grader? The girl in this picture looks like she's 12.

And Harper. My baby. Not much of a baby anymore. My once pudgy-cheeked little dumpling will be 5 in 2 months. She's already talking about Kindergarten, and I'm wishing she were still crawling around like a crab.

They may be growing up, but they'll always be my babies.

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Retail regret

Have you ever bought something only to discover later that you don't really want that item? You thought those earrings would love great with a particular top. But once you got home and tried them on, you wondered what you were thinking? I could list so many examples.

Conversely, have you ever passed up a purchase only to regret it later? Well, that's what I did a few days ago.

I saw these shoes at Macy's and fell in love immediately. I spotted them from 100 feet away, and as I approached, I could feel my heart beating faster and faster.

Here's what I was thinking: I can see myself in these shoes. I already have so many outfits that would be perfectly paired with these shoes. I wouldn't have to buy anything to go with them. I get lots of compliments on them. Everyone would ask me where I got them. Everyone would want them.

It gets even better. They were 30% off. They were on sale! Did I need any further justification to be these rockin' shoes? I think not.

After 20 minutes of touching, staring at, and fantasizing about how I would look in the shoes, I didn't buy them. I. Didn't. Buy. Them. I still have difficulty admitting it. I love these shoes. Now, I am regretting my decision to not purchase them. I think about them everyday. I wonder if I made the right decision. I know it's silly. They are, after all, only a pair of shoes. But still...

Do you have any retail regrets? If so, what is your biggest?

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Confessions of a Lipstickaholic

It started when I was a sophomore in college. From the first few strokes of the iridescent purple Wet 'n Wild lipstick I applied, I was hooked. Over the years, the colors and techniques have evolved, but one thing has remained constant. I MUST have my lipstick. The more shades and brands, the better. I like choices. Lots of choices.

I don't have any particular brand loyalty, but I must admit that I love, love, love M.A.C. lip color and lip liner. It's like silk on your lips. The selection of shades is hard to beat. Plus, the price is unbelievably reasonable.

At last count, I was carrying around (shhhh!, don't tell) about 46 tubes of lipstick, liners, and glosses. God, I hope my husband isn't reading this. Carrying around means in my purse, on a daily basis. I know. That is so wrong on so many levels. Take a peek at just a small sample of what I own.

This little collection is what I carry around on a daily basis! I know. It's insane, right? Believe me, if there were a 12-step program for lipstick addicts, I'd be the first one there.

My current favorite is, I have to admit, a bit of a splurge for me. It's the full-finish lip color by benefit® in the shade "finders keepers". It retails for $18.00 and can be purchased at Sephora.

I love my makeup, but I've got to have my lipstick.

What's the one makeup must-have that you can't live without?

Disclosure: I was not compensated by the aforementioned brands. The opinions expressed herein are solely mine.

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What I'm Crushing on This Week: Paris, A City Revealed

You know how I looooove to browse bookstores. Could spend all day in one. I especially love vintage book stores and the quaint ones you find tucked away in a city. Being that I'm not a city dweller, I have to be content with browsing my local Barnes and Noble or Borders. Yesterday, I did just that.

I have a love affair with Paris which began on my first trip there in the early 90's. If you've ever been there, I'm sure you can understand why I love it so. Everything about the city appeals to me, the history, the architecture, the adundance of culture, the pastries, the bread, the wine. I must have been a Parisian in a former life.

When I spied this book from across the store, at least 100 feet away, I just knew I had to have it.

Paris: A City Revealed by Mike Gerrard and Donna Dailey

Discover Paris with "Paris: A City Revealed". From the islands where it all began to its outer limits, this book records and celebrates the famous city with photographs of the unique buildings, museums, landmarks and citizens, illustrating just what it is that makes Paris so romantic and stylish. The book is divided into ten regional sections based on the arrondissements and special fold-out sections make the most of the fabulous images. Know somone with a love of Paris? This would make the perfect gift.

I've fallen in love with Paris all over again!

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Some kid-less time this weekend

I enjoyed some much needed kid-less time this weekend. But I have to admit that, sadly, sometimes I don't know how to act without my kids. I'm like a fish out of water for the first 30 minutes. Pathetic, I know.

On Saturday, we had plans to take Emma to a First Holy Communion preparation workshop. In fact, I passed up a spot at Bloggy Bootcamp Baltimore to attend this workshop. However, in the end, I ended up missing the workshop because I was sick. I needed to rest so Henry took Emma instead. I lingered in bed, took a long shower and watched Harper entertain herself. Once Emma returned, I took the girls to my niece's house for a sleepover. Woo hoo! A night without the kids.

After the drop-off, I stopped at Starbucks for a drink and headed to Home Goods for some SERIOUS browsing. I have to say that I LOVE shopping without my kids. Oh, the freedom to look at whatever I want. It's glorious.

After almost 3 hours at Home Goods, I finally headed home. I thought the hubs and I would head out for a casual dinner. Something quick. But instead we headed to one of our favorite spots. A nice surprise. Since we didn't have a reservation we were told the wait would be about an hour. We looked at each other. Did we want to wait that long? What the heck! Let's wait.

For the next 70 minutes, we sat and talked. It was like old times. Just the two of us. Dinner out. I miss that time with my husband. No distractions. No kids to bathe. No homework to review. We get so little of that kind of time together, but I think we need so much of it. At the end of a fabulous date night and after realizing how much the time together rejuvinates us as a couple, we both agreed to make the time for more date nights. Now we just need to make sure life doesn't get in our way.

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I'm published!

My writing is going to be featured on Examiner.com. Yay! I'm a published writer! I'll be writing primarily about local events, activities and goings on from a stay-at-home mom perspective. But don't let that stop you from checking out my articles. Some of them will be general parenting topics and general interest pieces.

Click here to see my profile page and read my articles. Click! Click!

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Mama's Holiday Wishlist

Today's Mama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I'm sharing this meme with you!

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wishlist this year? - a set of four cheese plates from Pier 1 Imports
- a lens for my DSLR
- Barefoot Contessa at Home cookbook (signed copy would be super nice!)
- Philosophy Hope In A Jar moisturizer
- A nice, comfy, casual sweater

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?
- A set of my daughter Emma's hand prints with this sentiment attached:
Here my hand prints are done
For everyone to view
I had so much fun
Doing this for you.

So look upon this hand print plaque
Hanging on your wall,
And memories will come back
Of me when I was small.

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?
- Handmade glycerin soap

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?
- A Cabbage Patch doll

5. What items are on your kids' wishlists this year?
- Might be easier to name what's not on the list! American Girl doll and Bitty Baby, iPod, Ugg boots, puzzles, FurReal Cat

6. What is your favorite holiday food?
- Definitely the cookies!!!!!!!!

7. What will you be handcrafting for the holidays?
- Ornaments, a small tree made of sticks and branches on which I'll hang mini glass balls.

8. What is your favorite holiday movie?
- The Holiday starring Cameron Diaz and Jude Law.

9. Favorite holiday song?
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - By Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan

10. Favorite holiday pastime?
- It's a tie between decorating and baking.

To enter to win all these cool prizes, simply answer the questions in this meme, make sure to post links back to Today's Mama and Provo Craft (use this link http://bit.ly/4ikY3c).

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My favorite flower

My favorite flower used to be the daisy. It's such a simple, pretty flower. But a few years ago, I fell head over heels for the hydrangea. They are soooo gorgeous. Although I love the enormous azalea bush we have in our backyard, sometimes I yearn for a hydrangea bush. Such a pretty flower...

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