With Father's Day quickly approaching, it is time to start thinking about gift ideas for men. In celebration of the holiday, I decided to tackle a manly topic on my blog: Shaving! Most men do it, but I don't really know how to talk about it myself - so I'm going to let my husband do it. James here. When it comes to shaving, I am pretty simple in my routine. I make it easy on myself by shaving in the shower. This prevents hair falling into - and around- the sink, something that my wife doesn't really care for. I use a shaving cream designed for sensitive skin, because my face is easily irritated by a razor. The shaving usually comes last in the shower, and I only do it every other day - which also helps prevent the irritation. As far as my exact routine, I basically just lather up and go at it with the razor. Once I'm finished and out of the shower, I will splash a little … [Read more...]

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bloom.com for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine. Do you ever look at your make-up and skin care collections and wonder if you are using the best products for you? I know I do that often. I usually buy what's on sale or things I have coupons for. However, these products aren't "one size fits all" so I really need to learn what works best for me. Luckily, Bloom.com can help me with that.   Bloom.com is a social networking site all about beauty. You can sign up for free and receive tons of advice for beauty products. There is reviews on what to buy and what to avoid. You can also get advice tailored to your needs with your BeautyMatches. The helpful information found on the site can allow you to choose only the best products for your make up bag.   There are also perks for using … [Read more...]

Beautiful flower bouquets are one of the first signs of spring for me. I am not very good at keeping them alive, but I still love the blossoming flowers that thrive during the spring season. Teleflora has a nice selection of spring flowers, perfect for those that like to give vases for Mother's Day or any other event. They are also ideal for those looking to spruce up their dining room table by having a floral centerpiece. While browsing the Teleflora site for flowers perfect for this time of year, I came across my favorites: daisies. I carried a bouquet of daisies in our wedding, and I'd rather receive daisies over roses any day. I love the cheerful sunny look of the pitcher they are sold in as well. This would be great sitting on a bar or kitchen counter. Teleflora's spring collection also includes tulips, roses, daffodils, and more. Even if you don't have a green thumb, … [Read more...]

With Earth Day coming up this weekend, I wanted to take time to reflect on the things we have been doing in our own home to become more eco-friendly. We are by no means completely "green" but we are trying to conserve and become better. I've also included a few that we need to improve on or that I would like to start doing...hopefully this post will give me the push I need to get started! Turning off lights when we leave the room. We do this more for the lower costs of electricity, but every little bit counts, right? We also model this for Sawyer by telling him what we are doing. He can already turn off his bedroom light, thanks to Kidswitch. Turning off the water while brushing our teeth. This is another what we are teaching Sawyer by modeling it every time he gets his teeth brushed. Switching out the light bulbs in the home with energy efficient ones. This is slow progress, as … [Read more...]

Though we all utilize the room multiple times every day, the bathroom may not be the first thing we consider when we remember funny stories. However, there is actually potential for lots of funny stuff to happen while in this small room. So much so, that the Clorox Family (yeah, the ones that provide you with ways to clean that no-so-funny space) have recently launched a website that will give you more appreciation for the bathroom. The Clorox Lounge is all about converting a place of habit to a place of humor with a new community that features tons of comedy. The site is hosted by Sherri Shepherd, an actress, comedian, and mom, and it provides stories, giveaways, coupons, and a whole lot of laughs. The inspiration for this site came from the toilet, a commonplace for moms to run to when they need a few moments of peace. To make a huge entrance, the Clorox Lounge begins with a Last … [Read more...]

I work at home, which calls for a quiet place where I can think while I'm writing articles and blog posts, reading emails, and doing the other miscellaneous tasks that come with the job. However, until this week, I didn't have much in the way of quietness or productivity. I was working out of our master bedroom. James placed a small desk in the corner of the room, and it wasn't much, but it gave me a flat surface to rest my laptop so that I could get my work done. Most of the time though, it was easier just to sit on the bed and work. Yes, this was a disaster, as I'm not as productive sitting anywhere but at a table or desk when I work. Having a three bedroom house and one child, we have a spare bedroom. We were using it as a guest room, but since no one stays overnight, and when they do they complain the futon is too hard, we decided to clear it out and convert  it into my home … [Read more...]

Many families find themselves traveling great distances in the winter season, especially right at the holidays. It is important that you do all you can to keep yourself, your partner, and your kids safe during these travels. Esurance has recently been posting advice on their blog about winter driving. Below are a few tips for winter driving that could help you create a safer driving experience for everyone in the car. Eyes on the prize! Be sure to keep your eyes on the road at all times to avoid an accident. Though you should do this throughout the year, it's imperative that you do it during the winter. This can help you notice icy spots before you slide across them. Pack lots of entertainment! If you have children that are traveling with your during the winter, be sure that have lots of fun stuff to keep them entertained. This lessens the chances of back seat fights, which is a … [Read more...]

Wow, I spent the last several days away from my computer as much as possible, and now my site looks like a ghost town...not to mention my emails are piling up! Luckily, I have access to things from my iPhone, so I haven't completely let things go. I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas. We had a blast here - just wish it hadn't got by so quickly! We had 3 family dinners to attend prior to Christmas, and a small lunch on Christmas day. Sawyer loved all the gifts he received, particularly the play kitchen Santa brought him. I have never seen him so interested in a toy in his short little life! :) I really cannot believe that the end of 2011 is almost here. This year has really flown by. It wasn't the most spectacular one for us, but I did get to watch my son grow from an quiet, content infant to an "always on the go" toddler. It is truly remarkable how much he has grown and developed … [Read more...]