Zulily Costume Cuties: In Honor of National Dog Week

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

In honor of National Dog Week, which is September 24th - September 30th, Zulily is breaking out the cutest costumes around (and what better timing, with Halloween being right around the corner too!).

Don't Miss a Beat with the Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones!

Disclaimer: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

There are so many times when I need to use noise cancelling headphones and Sony makes a high quality, wireless pair, the Sony Wireless Headphones (WH-1000XM3) sold at Best Buy, that is really hard to beat. I know when I'm on the treadmill or stair climber I like my workout to be intense. If the women around me are having a conversation that goes on loudly and forever, my concentration is tapped and I don't like it, not one bit. I understand the need to socialize, and hey, got a friend you're taking with you to the gym? More power to you! But some of us need it to be quiet to concentrate fully on our workout (raising both hands in the air and jumping up and down over here), so in order to make us both happy (the Chatty Kathys and me), noise-cancelling headphones that are wireless, are definitely in order.

Weekend Warrior #ProudBasketballMom

Net. Swish. Repeat. He was on fire today. Another great game. Love this team (mostly kids from last season), love the coach, and especially love this kiddo right here who scored half of the points made today!

Celebrate Milestones All Year Round with Personalized Ornaments for You!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

What a Lovely Way to Commemorate Memories all Year Round!

Ornaments are not just for Christmas, we get them all year long to commemorate events in our lives. We pick them up in each state where we travel, and if we go out of the country, we make sure to pick some up while we are there too! Personalized Ornaments for You takes it a step further by allowing you to personalize the ornaments that are important to you. Over here, we have a whole lot of important events going on, that are definitely worth remembering on an ornament!

One Night Advent Kickstarter Campaign and Information on Giveaway

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

I guess I'm feeling Christmas-y today, which is actually a little late for me. I usually start thinking about Christmas in July, and don't stop until the big day is here. I like to make sure everyone is happy on that day and that the feelings associated with the true reason behind the holiday and being together are those that will last a lifetime. That's how it was with my grandma, and I guess that tradition just kind of stuck. In any case, 'late' or not, I am very excited to share the Kickstarter campaign that is going on right now for a super-sized advent calendar for the upcoming holidays.

Don't Forget There is a $25 Gift Card Giveaway Still Running!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

This pitcher is all that and a bag of chips! I love the fun design, it's perfect for the family get-togethers we like to have on the weekend, and now instead of buying single drinks, I have this new pitcher from Zak to make drinks in to serve. I'm thinking it's perfect for the iced coffee kit I have sitting on my counter, the super simple but delicious sounding fruit punch recipe I saw on Robin's blog, or some homemade iced tea. I'm sure before long it will have housed all 3!

Playmobil Carry Cases Spark Imaginative Play for Kids with #Giveaway

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

I guess the cat likes the Playmobil Carry Cases too (or she just follows her boy, wherever he goes). ;)

When we took our summer vacation, one of the things we brought along on our road trip was my son's Playmobil Carry Cases. They are self-contained play sets that are durable, adorable and fun. My child loves to use his imagination anyway, and nothing sparks that faster than a kit such as this, so he was delighted to be able to see that there are now new sets available to purchase (the more the better, he loves these toys). I wrote about the Playmobil Carry Cases a couple of years ago (you can find that post here), and the ones we got then, are still played with regularly today. You can't say that about a lot of toys, but you can say it about these. They have stick-tu-i-tude, or in words I didn't make up, children enjoy these items for the long-term. They also are very reasonably priced, so they are a solid playtime investment. Recommended for ages 4+ (small pieces included).

Winner Announcement

Congratulations to Natalie whose name was randomly selected by Rafflecopter as the winner of the Emeril Shoe Giveaway!

Recap: Summer Road Trip 2018!

We decided to take a road trip this summer: 15 states
Some of the places we enjoyed, others...not so much, the overall experience though: A+ awesome!

We had planned a vacation to go see my mom who lives in another state. It wasn't an unusual plan, we were going to get in the car, take the fastest way there and enjoy our visit. What did we dread the most? The time in the car!! So...my youngest came up with a plan. "Why don't we stop and visit states along the way?" What??? Duh. We had the time, so...why not??? It turned out to be a great idea! We left our state and decided to just stop where we felt like it along the way. I've blogged about our 4 favorites (Savannah, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Sandusky, Ohio; Put in Bay, Ohio), and now I just want to sum the trip up, noting a little about each state we traveled through: there were 15 in total.

Cuba Then: Revised and Expanded

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Cuba is one of those places that I really want to visit, and I feel a bit frantic about it because I know it's not so easy to go! Relations were opened during the Obama administration and are being closed during the current administration. I feel like the window to go is getting more and more narrow. I'd love to visit because I think it might be a once in a lifetime opportunity to do so. It seems though, that the only way to go is on a cruise ship, and I'm not sure I want to do it that way... which at this point doesn't matter because school and work are back in session anyway. I have time to think about it... I think. In any case, I still love to read about it, and this book, "Cube Then: Revised and Expanded" by Ramiro A. Fernandez is fantastic!

Fun Day at the Beach! Deluxe Beach Bag from All American Toys

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

It is no secret that we love the beach, and if we have a long weekend, that's where we're going. My youngest, although he hates sand sticking to him (huge pet peeve of his) always has a blast when we go too. He's at that age still (11 yesterday!) where he makes his own fun, with or without toys. That is especially true when we are at the ocean, but if you do add toys to the mix, he's a happy camper!  I love these precious years, and I know they are fleeting! That's why when I saw the Beach Basket Set at American Plastic Toys, I knew it was coming home with us. In fact, it's so nice I'll be picking up another set for my granddaughter to have at her place too! She loves the beach, and her mom and dad are always lugging around a ton of toys when they go. Having a handy, vented basket (so it's easy to get the sand out) is going to make their lives so much easier, just like it did for mine.

SoftScience Flip Flops: Practical Pretty and Perfect for Me!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

You'll appreciate all of the features that go along with these
Waterfall Stripe Women's Flip-Flops from SoftScience

I'm going to talk about the conventional things you like about shoes (design, color, comfort), but I'm also going to talk about the unusual aspects I appreciated with these new Waterfall Stripe Women's Flip-Flops. First let's talk shipping, as in shipping and handling! I ordered mine online, which I have done before with shoes, so was comfortable doing with these as well. When they arrived, they had these practical cardboard inserts though, that ensured they were keeping their shape from state to state while they were tossed and turned about in various delivery trucks on their way to me. So nice!

JumpStart: Priceless Portable Kit for Every Day and Emergency Use!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

"What's that?!," you might be asking. Well, I am happy to tell you that it is one side of the great, sturdy but flexible and small case that is holding a portion of the JumpSmart set my son now has in his truck. My son is a reliable, hard-working young man who would be able to recruit a jump easily if he needed one, with or without cables (he's not shy, not a bit), but should the chance event happen that his truck wouldn't start up, I'd rather he had a way to get it started on his own. I've said it before, I'm not overly paranoid (if I keep repeating it, does that mean that I am?!?), but I'd rather leave chance encounters with complete strangers, when you are in a vulnerable position (such as your automobile not being able to start), to the bare minimum. 

Did You Know Max Lucado Writes for Kids too? Unshakable Hope: Student Edition

Disclosure: this is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Get this book for $9.99 instead of $15.99, if you use this link (not an affiliate)!

Max Lucado is well-known to many adults, and he does have some children's books, but I'm not sure my son was familiar with him until now. Suffice it to say, he is now a fan. I gave him the latest and greatest from Lucado, the "Unshakable Hope" student edition, Promise Book.  He's been reading it non-stop from the moment he picked it up. 

Winner Announcement

Congratulations to Gloria whose name was randomly selected by Rafflecopter as the winner of the MyCharge Wireless charger giveaway.

The Sweet Nostalgia of My Hometown with My Child

Swish! There goes the ball, right towards the hoop, and it's the first thing he wanted to show his grandmother he could do when we arrived to Sandusky, Ohio.

Ecolunchbox Wraps and Containers are Practical and Stylish Too!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

The Furoshiki ECOlunchwrap is the perfect way to carry the Ecolunchbox! Why a wrap instead of plastic? ECOlunchbox is a company that prides themselves on offering you better options to carrying your lunch. If you're using cloth and Bentos that are 100% stainless steel, you have nothing to worry about. I know we see the words BPA-free and we assume our dishes are toxic free, but of course, that's not always the case. With materials like these, it doesn't even have to be a thought. 

What Makes the Bosch 100 Series Dishwashers so Amazing?

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I received a product, discount or payment in exchange for my thoughts. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

As my kids have grown up and moved out, our family has become even bigger, which I love! What that means is our parties and get-togethers involve a lot of dishes, because of course those events always include food, and a lot of it! Because they're not around as much as they were when they lived at home, I want to enjoy every minute with them that I can. That's where the Bosch dishwasher technology in all of its wonderful glory comes into play for us. They do have the world's #1 dishwasher brand, with good reason! 

First and foremost, being the quietest dishwasher brand in the U.S., visiting while in the house is still going to happen, with a zero level of stress. If you've ever been in a home that has a dishwasher running with the noise level of a 747 aircraft carrier, you understand my point. My mom has one of those (hers is definitely not a Bosch), and I'm only exaggerating a little (we can't even talk in the kitchen when it's running, no kidding!). With the Bosch 100 series, your dishwasher is going to be running silent. There are 18 sound reducing technologies in place, that make that statement fact! An InfoLight will let you know it's running, instead of a bunch of noise, and in my book that's a sound reason (haha, see what I tried to do there?) to purchase a Bosch. It's not the only reason though...

Feeling Right at Home in Charlotte, North Carolina!

We have taken quite a few road trips from Florida to Ohio and from the north back down, so I'm sure we've passed through North Carolina at some point. I do not remember however, ever taking the time to park and go exploring, so when we stopped for gas we decided to check out the first city closest to us that we liked. Turns out that city was Charlotte and we instantly felt right at home. We knew from a quick online search that we were close to quite a few museums, so we parked on Church Street at the meters (which were free because it was the weekend), and set off for a day of adventure!  

Finally a Comfortable Mat that Stays Sand Free!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Today I want to talk about the SandLite Sand-Free Mat from CGEAR. This mat has been a lifesaver to me. I love to go to the beach. The older I get, the more I crave it. I'm not sure why that is, but it is definite fact. My youngest likes the beach but gets very annoyed with the sand. He hates how it follows him everywhere. On his shoes, in his clothes, and even on his mat when we're trying to chill on the sand.

The mat has simple fasteners on it, so it stays nice and tidy in the beach bag, car, or wherever you might store it. It's also easy to fold and unfold it. I love it.  Most mats are a pain in the behind to fold or get back together. This one as I said, is HURRAH not... not even one little bit. Is that what my son loves though? No. He could care less (he'll care about such things when he's older). ;)