Christmas is a time of celebration, but itβs also a time of accumulation. The tradition of giving gifts means that by January weβve got a slew of new items in our home that we need to find a place for. Itβs very easy to discover that clutter has begun to pile up around the house after the festivities have ended.
The best way to combat this holiday untidiness is with planning ahead before you get into the thick of the gifting season. In this blog post I will outline the best ways to purge your house of unwanted items and then organize your home so that new items can be put away easily.
Read MoreThe 2019 Makerβs Mart was comprised of over seventy makers, creators, artists, and entrepreneurs. The vibe inside the market was so warm and cozy, with an incredible turn out of attendees (especially considering the rainy weather). It just goes to show that the Sacramento community is filled with diehard fans of handmade goodness!
Read MoreThe 5 Love Languages is both a theory and best selling book on how to improve your relationships with the loved ones in your life. Chapmanβs advice is simple and uncomplicated, but still very impactful and easy to implement.
In a simple summary, every individual has both primary and secondary ways that they prefer to give and receive love. As individuals we are all unique in how we express emotions, and sometimes we have a hard time communicating or acknowledging those feelings with our loved ones because we weβre aware of their particular love language.
Read MoreOctober is the true beginning of the fall season and the entire month is filled with festive Halloween events. With every passing week of the month, the childrenβs anticipation builds up for October 31st. For most families Halloween night is synonymous with the time-honored tradition of trick-or-treating. Many children celebrate Halloween by dressing up in costumes and visiting neighbors in your neighborhood in search of candy.
So why would you decide against celebrating Halloween with trick-or-treating? There are several reasons to possibly avoid taking to the streets on Halloween. Some neighborhoods are not suitable for walking door-to-door, they may be too spacious and rural. Other places may just be unsafe and not very child-friendly. Extreme weather can hinder trick-or-treating or maybe your tweens are just getting too old.
No matter what your reasons, my guide is filled with many fun and festive Halloween alternatives to trick-or-treating. My suggestions are great for children of all ages (and for adults too!). Your friends and family wonβt be disappointed with the spooky fun youβll be serving up!
Read MoreI love using blood oranges for cocktails because they add a splash of drama and color to the evening. I always prefer to use freshly-squeezed juice, and then some fruit slices as garnish. This cocktail recipe is super simple but full of sweet citrus flavor, the orange and lime really complement each other.
Read MoreThe Romanesco is very easy to prep and cook with roasting being the most preferred way to eat it. It doesnβt take too many ingredients to bring out the flavor. My recipe below has a mix of nutty, tangy and acidic flavors. Once roasted those little florets are so irresistible to pop into your mouth.
Read MoreAll around the world, many people are trying to go green or live eco-friendly lives to reduce their impact on the environment. As well as helping out the natural world, going green can also provide some personal benefits, such as saving you money and making certain aspects of your day-to-day life easier and more convenient.
There are lots of ways to become more eco-friendly at home, starting off in the kitchen. And itβs not just about eating organic food or cutting down on the amount of waste you create; there are lots of creative and clever ways to minimize your carbon footprint through kitchen cleaning, organization, and general usage. Letβs take a look at some super easy ways to get started.
Read MoreYour 30th birthday is truly a milestone event unlike any other, especially if you celebrate it while pregnant. When you enter into your 30βs era, your life tends to shift and your priorities change. You begin to settle down and focus on big picture life changes. This is all particularly true when youβre about to become a parent to a new baby.
If you happen to be celebrating your 30th birthday while pregnant, you may be wondering how you can still commemorate this special occasion. This particular birthday is known as the βDirty Thirtyβ which can imply partying with alcohol and shenanigans. Well obviously the pregnant birthday girl will be responsible and not partake in any unruly or unhealthy exploits. But donβt worry, you can still live it up and have plenty of fun.
This guide is filled with pregnancy-friendly party and activity suggestions. All of them are great choices for any point in your pregnancy, no matter what trimester youβre in during your birthday. I myself have done all of these things during my own pregnancies so I speak from experience. Trust me when I say that you can enjoy plenty of get togethers with friends and family to make your birthday memorable without compromising your baby's health.
Read MoreThis pasta salad may be easy to make, but it really delivers when it comes to flavor! Youβve got the tangy and creamy ranch sauce, smokiness from the bacon and a dash of fresh zest from the veggies. The protein from the chicken really makes this a hearty side dish, and it can even be a quick leftover main dish lunch!
Whenever I have a BBQ gathering coming up, or I need to make a potluck dish for work, this is one of my go-to recipes. If you have a busy schedule, you can make it ahead of time and leave it the refrigerator overnight. It can be served warmed up or at room temperature, either way its delicious!
Once youβve got all the ingredients purchased, prep work for this recipe just requires chopping up the veggies, cubing the chicken and mixing up the sauces. Next itβs time to cook the pasta and bacon, chop the bacon, and then mix it all up. If youβre working diligently, you can make this recipe in under 30 minutes, and it yields a large amount of pasta salad to feed a crowd.
Read MoreYou may know me as the blogger who travels all over California, but I actually do have a full-time office job working as a Marketing Manager for a Northern California surrogacy agency. I wanted to write this blog post because there are so many questions and concerns that potential surrogates have and the information available online is very limited.
Iβve seen so many happy families with their surrogacy babies and I know there are many more women out there who would make excellent surrogates. In general thereβs a shortage of qualified surrogates compared to the amount of Intended Parents waiting to get matched.
So buckle up! All of the conversations Iβve heard happen behind closed doors Iβm putting in this blog post because information is power. Your top 50 surrogacy questions answered with all brutal honesty I can muster. If thereβs something holding you back from filling out a surrogacy application, hopefully I can address your concern and put your mind at ease.
Read MoreThis light and aromatic cocktail recipe is a delight for the senses. The blood orange adds a sweet and tart zing, while the lavender and vanilla are fresh and botanical. For the for the piest de resistance, we used fresh lavender that cut ourselves on a California lavender farm.
This summer cocktail is perfect for any warm weather gathering such as the 4th of July or a grown-up birthday party. Your guests will love this smooth and refreshing cocktail which you can serve with a small food bites on a charcuterie board.
For this cocktail recipe we partnered with the expert mixologists from The Mixer who helped us deliver this elegant and elevated cocktail (and mocktail) recipe.
Read MoreAfter a long week, your brain can feel frazzled and your body may feel physically exhausted. Once you get to Sunday, the idea of doing it all again next week might overwhelm you. Take a pause, and letβs reset.
Tackling a big week might seem daunting, but using Sunday to reset your body, space, and mind might just be the answer. A Sunday reset routine can help set you up for a successful upcoming week. This article will help you reset your body, mind, and spirit. Use this list to help you get started on a successful Sunday reset!
Read MoreWhen it comes to indoor plants, letβs face it β everybody loves them! They can spruce up a place and make it look more welcoming, warm, and filled with positive energy.
However, not everyone has a knack for keeping houseplants. I have to admit that I have unintentionally killed my fair share of potted plants. I have no problems caring for my human children and my dog, but for some reason my plant babies never seen to survive more than a couple months.
For this blog post I sought out the expert advice of a botanist who could provide valuable advice and knowledge to those of us who are not born with a green thumb. Below youβll find a list of low-maintenance houseplants that can still flourish with forgetful and preoccupied caretakers.
Read MoreSo, your 40th birthday is on the horizon. Congrats! You might feel a little bewildered about this next chapter, wondering whether youβre still considered young (or over the hill). Is it time for your mid-life crisis yet? Hint - youβre as young as you feel!
Regardless, turning 40 is a remarkable milestone. It is time to reflect on your life, the past as well as the future. If youβve been living all footloose and fancy-free, maybe itβs time to finally start βadultingβ and working towards big goals and building a sustainable future.
Where your 30th birthday was about saying goodbye to the wild days of your 20s and entering the β30, flirty and thriving eraβ, your 40th birthday is going to be more about creating the ideal life for yourself with all the life experiences and wisdom youβve gained.
I myself am turning 37 years old on my next upcoming birthday. I will admit that the second half of my 30βs really snuck up on me, but Iβm doing my best to embrace this new era of womanhood. This blog post is not only things to do on your 40th birthday, but also how to approach midlife with gusto and zest for life.
Read MoreHaving a sleepover as a tween or teenager was a rite of passage for many of us American girls. They usually involve snacks, movies, makeovers, and talking for hours about crushes. Itβs an easy way of having fun and a great bonding experience.
But the fun doesnβt have to stop in adulthood. Grown women can still have sleepovers and connect, just like in the old days. While it may look a little different than when you were 13, sleepovers can form a fun part of celebrating everything from birthday milestones to graduations and bridal and bachelorette parties.
If youβre looking for a budget-friendly and nostalgic way to hang out with your girlfriends, then youβve come to the right place!
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