6 Benefits to Planting in Flower Boxes #gardening #IKEA #AskholmenFlowerBox

     This season, my husband and I have made it our goal to update our outdoor living space and try our hand at some basic herb and vegetable gardening. Years ago, we began using flower boxes to make the most of our limited outdoor space in our D.C. apartment. Now that we live in Florida and have a large yard, we still find that flower boxes are one of the best ways to grow plants and add style to our lawn and patio area. For those of you trying to decide which style of gardening is right for you, we've provided some of the biggest benefits that flower boxes and raised beds offer below. We've also included one of our favorite flower box recommendations, the IKEA Askholmen Flower Box, for its style, functionality and affordability.

Home Makeover: How to Paint Perfect Stripes on Your Wall #Wooster #paintsupplies

   This weekend, we decided to tackle one of our biggest home make-over projects of the season by adding a modern style to our guest bedroom walls. We've been wanting to try something a little more funky and fun, but my husband and I are amateurs when it comes to painting. We did our research as far as the process goes, and I think it turned out pretty great, if I do say so myself! One of the things that helped us the most was using the right painting supplies, so I've put together a quick 'How-to' below and included the Wooster painting supplies that made this project a million times easier. Check it out below!

Explaining Adoption through Storybooks: I Wished for You by Marianne Richmond #adoptionpicturebooks #SourceBooks

For those of you who have been following us through our adoption journey, you know that we have been putting a lot of thought into how we will help our children feel secure in their adoption stories. One approach that encourages bonding and provides a way to explain adoption in a kid-friendly way is through storybooks. We have begun compiling a list of adoption picture books that we personally love and one that is at the top of our list is I Wished for You, an adoption story by Marianne Richmond.

DIY Organization: Wonder Winder Cord Reeler #garageorganization #DIY

One of our top priorities during Spring cleaning this year is to tackle the garage. I'm sure many of you can relate to our daily obstacle course of random extension cords, boxes, bins and tools leaning against each wall as we make our way to the car. Marie Kondo would be very disappointed. Today, we decided to put together a plan to add function to each wall, which included wire storage shelves, hanging bars for our tools, and one of our favorite finds for extension cord storage and use, the Wonder Winder Cord Reeler. This cord organizer is so awesome that we wanted to create an individual post dedicated to it, in the hopes that it helps you all get organized as well. 

Valentine's Day 2019: Throwback Gifts with 80s Tees #80slovers #giftsforhim #giftsforher

     I love gift-giving and pride myself on finding gifts that have a personal touch to them. With Valentine's Day approaching quickly, the search is on to find gifts for my husband that let him know I'm always thinking of him. One of my favorite finds this year is a classic Danger Mouse t-shirt from 80sTees.com that he's going to absolutely love. It arrived today and I'm incredibly happy with the design and the quality of the shirt. It's a soft tee material and the graphic looks like it will hold up well in the wash. If your significant other has a thing for graphic tees or is into gaming, this site is made for them. Just beware, there are so many nostalgic shirts that you may find yourself shopping for longer than expected!

Support Your Circadian Rhythm with GE C-Sleep Smart Bulbs for the Bedroom

Those of you who follow us regularly know that with our busy lifestyle, sleep can be a struggle. Sometimes it's a little tough to get going in the morning and to wind down properly at night. It feels like our sleep cycles are out of whack: too tired to get up and too alert to go to bed. We were looking for something external that would help us get back on track and found just that with the C-Sleep Smart Bulb from GE. It works on the well-known circadian rhythm principle--timed to help you get going when you need it and come down when bedtime approaches. With three settings the bulb activates a vibrant morning light when you you awaken, then switches to an optimal soft white during the day, and eases into a warm calm light for the nighttime. As an added bonus, we also use it as a security feature when we're out of town! 

Create a Romantic Valentine's Day with Cabot Cheese...Giveaway! #cheeselovers

Valentine's Day is one of our favorite holidays! We prefer to stay home and enjoy a romantic meal together rather than dealing with all the restaurant craziness. And of course, as my fellow cheese lovers will agree, wine and cheese is a must! 

My husband and I love a good cheese platter and in our opinion, Cabot Cheese has some of the best flavored cheeses on the market. Whether we're creating a delicious cheese plate or using them to take our meals up a notch, they've become a staple in our home. We also love that we get to support a long-standing farmer co-op of hard working families throughout New England and New York in the process!

STEM Books for Babies #BabyUniversity #nevertooearly #childrensbooks

Many researchers and educators agree about the importance of giving children opportunities to investigate ideas in a variety of ways, spaces and places--and the earlier the better. With that said, this month we have been on the hunt for children's STEM books that support this philosophy.  As we began our search, we came across a fantastic board book series from Sourcebooks' Baby University. Their motto is 'STEM for the Youngest Among Us!' and we couldn't agree more. It's never too early to start exposing babies and young children to the sciences and mathematics. From the ABCs of Math to Quantum Physics, Baby University covers just about every STEM subject you can think of. We've chosen a few of our favorites to share with you below and hope that you love them as much as we do!

Explaining Foster Care Adoption thru Storybooks: Elliot by Julie Pearson #adoptionpicturebooks

Some of you may know that our family has begun navigating our way through the adoption process. We've decided to adopt through the foster care system, which is as exciting as it is daunting. With as many questions as we cross off the list, it still manages to grow longer rather than shorter. One critical question we're focusing on this week is:

How do we help our children feel secure in their foster care adoption story? 

2019 Valentine's Day Gift Guide: DERMAdoctor kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pads #skincare #skinbrightening

This Valentine's Day, give the gift of brighter, smoother, firmer skin! Skincare products are easily one of our favorite topics to discuss and this holiday, we've found a winner: DERMAdoctor kakadu C intensive vitamin C peel pads with ferulic acid & vitamin E. If you're looking for a luxury skincare gift for yourself or others, this is the one to choose. Containing the power of Kakadu plum, it delivers one of the richest natural vitamin C sources known on Earth to your skin. Whether it's a battle with hyperpigmentation, acne, skin tone, or fine lines and wrinkles, I expect that you'll love these peel pads as much as I do.