Tag Archives: winter

Nov20

A La Maison Hand & Body Lotion Review

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A La Maison Hand & Body Lotion Review

Hello! Today, we are going to do a review of a hand and body lotion that my mom so sweetly surprised me with that I am fricken obsessed with. While I do love my Bath & Body Works lotion, I have never used one better than A La Maison’s so I just had to share it with all of you. To help combat dry winter skin, I can’t recommend this product enough:

I have been using this lotion for the past several nights before bed and I have never had such wonderful results before. During the winter months, my hands tend to get really red no matter how much lotion I use. Although my hands aren’t super dry, red belongs on my hair and not on my hands and it can be a bit unsightly. Within three uses of A La Maison, my hands have returned to their normal shade of pale and I was simply amazed.

I love the way that this lotion feels when applying it because it is like a cold cream and I can literally feel my hands getting hydrated as soon as I rub it in. This product absorbs so quickly and I truly don’t think that my hands have ever felt or looked better. I can’t say that I am particularly fond of the Wildflower scent because it is really powdery but that is a small price to pay for beautifully soft hands all winter long. 🙂

If you suffer from dry hands during the winter, then look no further than A La Maison. I cannot sing its praises enough and am already looking forward to buying more! 😀

What is your favorite cream or lotion? How do you combat dry skin? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov17

Fun Activities To Get You In The Holiday Spirit

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Fun Activities To Get You In The Holiday Spirit

Hello! Whether snow falls in your neck of the woods or not, there is no denying that the holiday season is approaching quickly. Now is the perfect time to finish up your holiday shopping and do some fun activities to help get yourself and family into the winter spirit. No matter the weather where you are, these ideas will always be a hit:

Have A Holiday Card Drive:

Sadly, many people celebrate the holiday season alone but there are a lot of different ways to include them in the holiday season too. How about organizing a holiday card drive for your local senior living center? An abundance of season’s greetings to open on their celebrated holiday is sure to put a smile on their face. You could also select a family in need to cook a holiday meal for or donate presents to. Don’t forget local homeless and women’s shelters or soup kitchens that you could donate or lend a helping hand to. Part of the holiday season is spreading joy to others and these ideas will help you do just that.

Whether you are volunteering in your local area or traveling abroad to a location like Bali to volunteer, you are going to Make a difference on your next holiday. The holiday season is a reminder that it is more important to give than it is to get. This is something that is true all year round, though, and volunteering can help shift your mindset to always give and do what you can. It really will change your life!

Movie Night:

If holiday movies are your favorite, why not make an event of it? Invite your friends and family over for a Hallmark marathon or a screening of Elf and let the good times roll. You could do a gift swap, decorate cookies, and set up a hot chocolate bar for everyone to enjoy. If you want to make a boozy time of it, you could play the classic holiday game of setting up a Santa hat on the corner of your TV and taking a drink every time an actor ends up “wearing” it. I, myself, have never participated in this but I think it’s hilarious lol.

Holiday Lights Tour:

Grown ups and children alike love seeing holiday lights so take a tour in the evening. Go for a drive and scope out all of the wonderful decorations that different houses have set up. Bring something warm to drink, crank the carols, and experience holiday magic from the comfort of your car. You could even leave a small gift on the doorstep of whichever home was your favorite to commend them for their hard work.

Get Crafty:

I had so much fun participating in a holiday themed paint night with some of my girlfriends a couple of years ago and would love to do something like it again. Have one of your artistically inclined friends walk all of you through how to paint a winter scene or you could find a YouTube video to instruct you how. No matter if you’re the next Picasso or not, it will be a great activity to do all together. Afterwards, you can take a vote and hand out awards for the best creation, honorable mentions, and not so muches!

Bake Off:

Decorating cookies is always a hoot so how about taking it the next step further and hosting a bake off? You and your guests can make an afternoon of baking (and eating) your favorite holiday desserts together. Cakes, pies, chocolate, and an assortment of cookies can be shared and it will give you new recipe inspiration for your own holiday dinner. While the treats are baking, you can decorate a tote or goodie bag to store the sweets in for your ride home.

The holiday season is such an exciting time and the ideas above will provide you with lasting memories for years to come. Happy holidays to all!

How do you celebrate the holiday season? What is your favorite thing about the holidays? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct29

Keeping An Eye On Your Child’s Health This Winter

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Keeping An Eye On Your Child’s Health This Winter

Kids have a habit of picking up every little thing that is going around. It doesn’t matter if it is a cold or the latest dance fad. As parents, we want to make sure that our kids stay healthy so we need to keep an eye on them. Here are some ways to monitor your child’s health this winter:

Know what help is available:

Kids can have accidents and they can get sick at a moments notice so it is important to know what medical assistance is around you. Medicare On Video is a great way to understand what help you can get in the event of yourself or your kids needing help. Local hospitals are often signposted so that anyone can find them, not just the locals. And don’t forget, if you have any doubts, Google can be your friend.

Alert other parents:

It isn’t nice when our kids get sick but if they do, it is important to let the parents around us know so that they can prepare. Their kids might get lucky and skip the bug that is going around but it is always best to warn others if your kids have taken ill. If their kids became ill, you would want to know so that you can prepare. It isn’t a pleasant phone call or message to make but it is better than allowing viruses to run rampage through their group of friends. This is really useful if they are very young or have an issue with their immune system.

Fresh air:

One of the main reasons that the common cold and flues manage to do so well in the winter is because the ventilation in our schools are terrible in the winter. Every cough lets germs float in the air, and without open windows, they stay in the room. If you can, get your kids outside during the weekend and let their lungs breathe in some fresh air. Being in the fresh air helps to boost your immune system and helps to promote a healthy immune response in the body.

Pay attention to their mental health:

It’s not just your child’s physical health you need to keep an eye on in winter, it’s their mental health too. ‘Winter blues’ may not be taken seriously by some, but many people, especially young people, can develop depression and anxiety at this time of year. If you suspect your child is struggling with their mental health, consult a professional. Your doctor or a dedicated facility like the Eva Carlston Academy can provide support for your child and help them with their condition. Pay attention to your child’s mood and what’s going on in their life to help you stay tuned into potential issues.

Fresh food:

Kids get most of their nutrition through the food that they eat so make sure that they are getting plenty of healthy options. Of course, you can always add multi-vitamins if you think that will help. One of the best ways to ensure that they are getting the most out of their diet is with a wide selection of fruit throughout the day. They might not be keen on broccoli but they might love a bunch of grapes, instead.

Hopefully, you can get through this winter without any major issues and that your children continue to thrive under your watchful eye. Being sick is no fun at any time of the year but especially during the holiday season!

Featured Image By: Jupi Lu from Pixabay

Sep22

Must Haves For Your Bedroom

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Must Haves For Your Bedroom

After another long year in the pandemic lifestyle, it’s safe to say that everyone is going to want to hibernate this winter. And, where better to retreat than to your bedroom? Your bedroom should be your ultimate safe haven where you are cocooned in comfort and free to relax and be your best self. For the best in comfy cozy, consider the following in your bedroom:

Plush Bedding:

The best place to start in the bedroom is, of course, with the bed! After shopping for quality bedroom furniture for sale like your mattress and bed frame, it is time to dress the bed with comfortable and soft bedding. You can’t go wrong with light cotton sheets in the summer but during the winter, its best to adorn your bed with warm and toasty flannel or fleece.

Don’t forget comfy pillows both for sleeping and decoration. You might even want to consider a statement piece like a velvet headboard for an over the top luxury feel. That will make your queen sized bed truly fit for royalty!

Items That Sooth:

One of the first things that I bought for my bedroom in my apartment was a Himalayan Salt Lamp and I just love it! It provides the perfect glow to help you relax or set the mood for a scary movie night. Fairy lights or even sphere lights that look like the moon are also great options.

Your bedroom should have items that comfort rather than stimulate you and this can come in all shapes and forms. Think sound machines, your favorite plushie, or a photo album with pictures of your family. The bedroom is where people tend to go when they want to spend some peaceful time with themselves so save your bold pieces like loud artwork or unique patterns for the living room, instead.

Book Nook:

I don’t know about all of you, but reading before bed is one of my favorite parts of my nighttime routine. If you feel similarly, why not create a book nook in your bedroom? Stock a small bookshelf with your favorites or must reads from the library so you always have some reading material handy. A chaise lounge by a window would also be a nice touch. Cue the rain (outdoors or on a sound machine) for the ultimate reading space.

Create Calmness:

Testing out lavender or chamomile products before going to bed is always a good idea! You can sip on chamomile tea while taking a nice hot bath and crawl into bed with a cozy robe and a magazine. Or, how about some lavender scented lotion and pillow spray to help you drift off into the land of nod? Pampering yourself can be so soothing and will help put you in the right state of mind for a peaceful night’s sleep.

Think calm, soft, and soothing and you will have a bedroom fit for the royalty that you are for the most relaxing winter ever!

Sep21

Prepping Your Home For Winter

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Prepping Your Home For Winter

When the cold weather comes around, there is nothing better than cozying up on the couch with a good book or your favorite show while the snow falls. However, there is much to be done to prepare your home for winter before you can sit back and enjoy. Let’s discuss a few key things that must be done so you can stay warm, comfortable, and safe all winter long:

Check Your Heating System:

Right now is the best time to have a routine maintenance check on your heating system. The longer you wait, the more booked up your local professionals are going to be and you want to make sure your heating is in check well before the super cold weather hits. Schedule a check up ASAP so that any potential problems can be solved quickly and you and your family can stay nice and toasty this winter.

Make Roof Repairs:

One of the most critical things that you can do is get roof rejuvenation before winter. If you are handy, you can examine your roof yourself and check for leaks, cracks, and weak spots. If not, that’s okay too and you can hire a professional team to get everything back in order. You could have the best heating system in the world but that means nothing when all of that glorious warm air is escaping through your rooftop!

Pest Control:

Just as we want to retreat into the warmth when the cold weather strikes, animals do too. There are countless DIY projects that you can undertake to keep your home pest free this winter. Start by looking for entry points in and around your house that little critters can get in through and patch them up accordingly. Mice can squeeze through even the smallest spaces so you must look things over with a fine toothed comb. And, as always, if you are unsure of anything, it is best to call in the local professionals so you can rest easily and safely this winter.

All Of The Extras:

The bitter cold and snow is enough to keep anyone inside during the wintertime so make sure you have plenty to do in your home to keep you occupied! Games, books, streaming services, and literally all of the soup recipes can go a long way on a snow day!

Prepare your home for the winter now so you can hibernate with the best of them until spring!

Feb22

Whole Lotta Nothing

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Whole Lotta Nothing

Hi everyone!! Valentine’s Day has come and past and, now, I am eagerly awaiting the warm weather and (hopefully) lack of snow that comes with the spring time. It is exciting to think of the possibilities that come with spring amidst the COVID-19 pandemic because warmer weather means the opportunity to social distance with friends outside. Unfortunately, we are not quite there yet as Ohio has been getting hit with a fair amount of snow, which means a few more months of a whole lotta nothing.

Johnny and I will have been hunkered down for an entire year on March 19th and we will continue doing so until it’s considered safe. However, I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t getting a little impatient waiting for it! The excitement of the holiday season has been long gone and, while it has been nice hibernating, it will be even nicer to enjoy the sunshine and see people in person (while following all safety regulations) as opposed to on the screen of my laptop.

Despite having a whole lotta nothing going on, I still feel insanely lucky because boring is good right now. Being tucked safely into the apartment with Johnny watching our shows, listening to music, or playing games is the best thing that we can both be doing for ourselves and loved ones and I am proud of our dedication for the past year. The pandemic is a scary thing but knowing that we are both doing everything we can to protect people is really comforting to me.

If the cabin fever is starting to kick in more intensely for you in your lock down lifestyle, I get it completely. But, in a few short weeks, the sun will be shining and being outdoors with friends will be possible and I encourage all of you to keep holding on until then! Being able to say that you’re doing a whole lotta nothing during a pandemic is something to be grateful for, no matter how boring it is. Sink into the couch, start that new series on Netflix, and let the countdown till spring and better times begin!

What is your lock down lifestyle like? What are you looking forward to come spring? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb21

More Spring Flowers To Brighten Your Day

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More Spring Flowers To Brighten Your Day

Hello! At my parent’s house a few weeks ago, my dad got a bouquet of the most lovely orange and yellow tulips for the kitchen table. I was so enamored by the sunburst colors, especially in the middle of winter, and I didn’t think that anything could be prettier. That is, until I saw the beautiful arrangement that my dad made special for Valentine’s Day. The ruby red tulips he picked out were such a unique twist on traditional V-Day roses and it also rang true to my Lil Red namesake so, of course, I was smitten! Check it out:

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Whenever I see a new bouquet at my parent’s house, it never fails to put a huge smile on my face. My dad has never been known to spend more than five dollars or so on flowers but he always manages to make his arrangements look stunning and expensive. These store bought tulips are divine, yes, but they still have nothing on my dad’s wildflower bouquets fresh from his garden in the summer!

As you can tell in the pictures above, there was snow on the ground when my dad made this bouquet and the contrast of the freshly fallen snow and the fiery red flowers was like Mother Nature putting on her own personal show special for us. I can’t imagine anyone not being able to delight in beautiful, colorful flowers and I feel so lucky that I constantly get to enjoy them at my parent’s house. ❤

What is your favorite flower? Do you have a green thumb? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb6

Spring Cleaning: It’s Never Too Early To Start!

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Spring Cleaning: It’s Never Too Early To Start!

Although spring time feels like it’s just around the corner, we still have a while to go until moderate temperatures and beautiful flowers blooming. However, it is never too early to start some spring cleaning to breathe some freshness into your home after a long and claustrophobic almost year of living during a pandemic. I, myself, did a fair bit of pre-spring cleaning during a random day off last week and once I was done, the atmosphere in my apartment felt much more relaxed from pecking away at the clutter. I plan on utilizing the following mental bullet points I came up with as I continue to clean up my place:

Get Prepared:

This may seem like a no brainer to have all of the necessary supplies handy to employ in your cleaning but, sadly, it’s not for me because I always forget to buy them when I’m grocery shopping! Trust me, your motivation to clean will quickly dissipate when you realize you don’t even have a sponge. Prior to your cleaning day, make sure you have everything you will need. Whether this be renting a dumpster bin through Bins Toronto for a massive haul away or picking up all of the products to deep clean your bathroom with, it’s better to do it beforehand. This way, you won’t be scrambling (Or completely not want to clean!) on your planned spring cleaning day.

Work In Sections:

Lighten the mood of the overwhelming dread that comes with saying “I’m going to clean the house today” to “I’m going to clean the living room today”, instead. Breaking your cleaning process up into sections will make it much less daunting of a task. You will also be able to really deep clean if you work room by room as opposed to a lighter cleaning all over. Before I did my pre-spring cleaning, I decided that I wanted to put all of  my laundry away and clean the kitchen and coffee table that were both very cluttered. I set an achievable cleaning goal and I felt good about the fact that I spent the extra time to do it the best I could.

Providing individual attention to each room will make your entire house feel more open, lighter, and relaxed.

Make It Fun:

Cleaning is hard work but it doesn’t have to be a totally miserable process! I always seem to get my best cleaning done when I have music playing. Then, not only am I cleaning but I am also starring as lead vocals, back up vocals, and guitar in all of my favorite songs. Hey, whatever works! Whether it be listening to music, motivating yourself with Starbucks, or dictating your memoirs – do what you can to make cleaning an, if not enjoyable, than slightly less awful of a chore for you.

Starting your spring cleaning early will make it feel like your house fast forwarded into April and, I don’t know about you, but that sounds great to me!

Dec30

Making The Most Out Of Your Time At Home This Winter

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Making The Most Out Of Your Time At Home This Winter

Now that we are in the midst of the cold, dark winter months you are most likely spending the majority of your time cooped up at home since social distanced outdoor hang outs are out of the question. It is probably the longest time a lot of us have spent continuously at home, in the space of just a few months! However, there are ways you can turn this negative into a productive positive with the following ideas:

Learn new skills:

When is the last time that you ever had seemingly unlimited time at home? I can’t remember! Now is the best time to take up new hobbies like cooking, baking, crafting, or photography. It is also ideal for finishing those projects that you have wanted to get around to but never had the time for. Paint the guest room, redecorate the bathroom, or clean out the garage – it feels good to check items off of your to do “eventually” list!

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Keep your home nice and toasty:

At this point in your time at home, you might end up noticing jobs that need to be done around the house like when you spot a hole in the ceiling of your roof as you pack away Christmas decorations in the attic. This is when you need the assistance of Blue Spruce Roofing Company who are professional roofing experts that will be able to inspect and repair any problems you are experiencing. It’s vital to ensure that your cozy nights remain just that, nice and toasty and totally draft free.

You might also want to think about making sure that your heating is in a good state of repair. The best way to make sure of that is to call out an expert HVAC repair and installation team. They will be able to determine if there are any problems with the heating, and take whatever necessary steps to overcome the issue. That will make for a much toastier home this winter.

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Declutter your space:

Now is the ideal time to reorganize, sort through your possessions, and actually drop your bags of used items off at a local charity instead of driving around with them in the trunk of your car for months. These items could also be regifted, sold online via Facebook marketplaces, or apps like Offer Up. Free up that unnecessary clutter in your life and start afresh. If you haven’t made use of whatever you are considering letting go of in the past year then, chances are, you won’t be using it again.

Heading into 2021 gives you the opportunity to enter into a brand new year with a completely clean slate. Leave all negative vibes behind in 2020 and continue to stay safe by making the most out of your time at home. Cheers!

Featured Image By: Pexels