Gobble gobble! Raise your hand if you’re getting excited about the upcoming holidays! Thanksgiving crafts are always a favorite around here. I love turkey crafts for Thanksgiving and today we have a brand new one...
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There are two things that always grab my attention: 1) a charming cottage and 2) houses with history. So I was excited to see this one in Savannah, Georgia, which happens to be both! They don’t get much charming than this one, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Not only […]
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No matter what the occasion, or if it’s just regular weeknight, easy tomato Bruschetta and Mozzarella Chips are a great dish to add some color and excitement to your table. Bruschetta is always a crowd...
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Delicious Bacon and Egg Breakfast Pockets made with puff pastry! This is a quick breakfast recipe that can also be frozen! A frozen pocket that goes into the microwave to magically turn into a flaky...
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Girls trips are the best! A few days off of mom duty—no diapers, no cooking, and no whining. Every woman deserves to take some time off with her gals and here are some tips on how to pull off a successful girls trip so you can reach optimal rest and relaxation.
We recently planned a girls trip to Destin, Florida in the early fall when the tourist season was winding down, but the weather was still gorgeous. We stayed at The Henderson which is right across from the most beautiful white sand beach that Destin has to offer.
If you’re looking for a place to stay in Destin, The Henderson is our favorite! It’s luxurious, with beautiful rooms and amenities like two pools (one adult-only and one family-friendly), plenty of on-site dining options, and as mentioned, it’s just steps away from what feels like your own private beach as The Henderson sits next to a lovely state park. It was the perfect getaway for a girls trip and with the following tips, the trip went off better than we all imagined.
The more organized you are before you leave, the better you’ll feel on your girls trip. For moms, this means a lot. Sometimes it seems a gargantuan task just getting ready to leave your family. You’ve got to make sure they don’t starve while you’re gone, ensure that your kids have a ride to their various activities, and get what feels like a hundred ducks in a row.
For the six of us, going on a three-day girls trip meant leaving 20 kids and endless responsibilities, but because we prepared before-hand, once we got there, we were all able to completely relax.
You are there to relax. It’s a buzz kill when someone in the group is always on the phone, too tightly connected to what’s going on at home. Unless there’s some emergency, keep phone calls to a minimum while on your girls trip. Maybe that means a quick phone call in the morning and then one again at night when you’re winding down, but when kids are constantly calling when you’re on a girls vacay, it’s not really a vacation after all.
The absolute best part of the trip happened on our drive from the airport to The Henderson. Shelley got a text from our cousin Abby which said, “What?! Where are you guys going? I wanna come!”
“Tell her to come!” we all said, not really expecting her to take the bait.
To our complete shock, in less than three hours Abby was on a flight to Destin to join our girls trip! It was the most amazing display of spontaneity ever! In fact, that spontaneity inspired us the entire trip to leap out of our comfort zones and try things like paddle fit and an early morning beach yoga class (which is complimentary at The Henderson).
So treat a girls trip as a chance to let go and YOLO.
One of the most successful things about our girls trip was our slush fund. At the start of the trip, we each pitched in a hundred bucks to a prepaid Visa so that we had about $600 to spend on food, drinks, and entertainment. The slush fund made us feel more connected and yes, more spontaneous. We’d get a bunch of appetizers to share and call it dinner and grab a ton of cold drinks to take to the beach.
Having a slush fund eliminates the awkward and sometimes tedious task of keeping track of what you owe everyone. So instead of worrying, it was communal fun.
Traveling with a group can be trickier than traveling alone or with your spouse. And especially on a girls trip, you have to be conscientious of the gals in your group. Someone may have a gluten sensitivity which may effect the places you eat. Maybe someone in the group has bad knees which alters the activities you choose.
Being supportive and loving toward each other’s idiosyncrasies will help your girls trip go much smoother.
Finally, when you’re on a a girls trip, just leave your worries behind. It makes all the difference in the world on what kind of vacation you’ll have. Don’t think about that impending deadline at work or any of the tasks waiting for you when you get back. If you need help fully relaxing, book a spa treatment.
{Above: The Salamander Spa at The Henderson is absolute heaven.}
Or just go lay out by the pool. Read a book; sip a cold drink. Do all the things you can’t do at home without being interrupted. Oh, and don’t feel guilty about it—you’re not allowed!
Every woman needs a girls trip, at least yearly in my opinion. Destin is a lovely girls trip destination and The Henderson is an amazing place to stay there. Now is the perfect time to book your stay at The Henderson with its Non-Stop Summer Package.
From now through December 2019, the resort is offering a complimentary third night. Yep, your third night is FREE!!
So whether you’re heading to Florida, Hawaii, or some place else…gather your gal pals and make it happen.
*This post was sponsored by The Henderson. All opinions are my own {and I will rave about it until the sun sets}.
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When it comes to the holidays, I love easy, quick, and inexpensive DIY gift ideas. Today we made these adorable DIY Christmas Soap Bottles. They look unbelievably amazing, will make everyone smile, and they cost...
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*We are crazy-excited to partner with HappyxNature, Kate Hudson’s new clothing line and tell you three reasons it’s like nothing else out there!
If you’re a Kate Hudson fan like I am (I mean, who wasn’t cheering her on in How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days?), you probably already know about and love her athleisure line Fabletics. But did you know Kate Hudson has a brand new clothing line that is fun, vibrant, and insanely chic? It’s called HappyxNature (pronounced “Happy By Nature”) and it’s unique for three reasons that are going to make you fall in love!
From the moment I first heard about HappyxNature, I’ve been completely obsessed. It’s NOT a subscription; you can shop as you wish and not only are the clothes high-fashion and incredibly gorgeous, but they have a cool secret too.
How cool is that? The HappyxNature story is inspired by a love of nature and all things natural. Have you ever taken a walk down a forest path or watched the sun set over a white sandy beach? Nature makes beauty look effortless and HxN’s mission is to make both you and nature happy with easy, free-spirited fashion that is always eco-aware.
HxN is always looking for opportunities to turn plastic waste into fashion and focuses on finding solutions to plastic pollution and waste reduction by working with recycling leaders around the world.
You’d never guess that this gorgeous blouse is made from recycled polyester!
No other clothing line is doing what HappyxNature is doing in terms of fashion and sustainability. Now that’s something to want to be a part of!
HappyxNature even uses eco-friendly fabric tags and shipping bags that are biodegradable and they’ll decompose in just 12-18 months!
When you shop around, you’ll find fun prints inspired by nature and effortless fabrics that move, flow, and just feel good. The Halley Sweater Dress in Lava pulls inspiration from wild berries.
This Anouk Blouse is one of my favorites. It is so light and airy! The caramel color reminds me of leaves turning in the fall.
{Model is 5’10” and wearing a small in caramel.}
Talk about the perfect “mom” jean…these ultra high-waist corset skinny jeans are awesome. And the cool thing about these jeans is that they’re made from recycled bottles! You’d never know because they look and feel like a dream.
{Model is 5’10” and wearing a size 25. I’d say these jeans fit true to size.}
Check out all HappyxNature Kate Hudson jeans here.
Sustainability aside, Kate Hudson’s new clothing line is so fun and so chic! HappyxNature is like nothing else you’ll find on the internet. It’s a step above. It’s all your friends raving about that dress or that blouse and then dying to know where you got it. You can find our favorites here:
Clover Sweater in frosty green heather (model is wearing a small)
Ultra high-waist corset skinny jeans
Anouk Blouse in caramel (It comes in navy and white as well.)
Halley Sweater Dress in Lava
The whole collection is to-die for, so go find that perfect piece that speaks to you! It’s always free shipping and free returns.
Feel good in what you’re wearing and feel good about what you’re wearing. Check out Kate Hudson’s new clothing line HappyxNature and fall in love with the more natural side of fashion.
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Mexican Chicken and Rice Dinner Recipe – an easy and delicious meal! This dinner recipe is made in one baking dish and is done just in 30 minutes making clean up a breeze. Perfect for...
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**This post is sponsored by Relay and Republic Wireless. All opinions are our own! We have been talking about Relay for QUITE some time and are truly HUGE fans!**
I don’t remember the details exactly – I was only about 6 years old.
But, I do remember the feeling of complete fear not seeing or knowing where my mom went and having NO way to communicate with her.
As a mother, that fear is obviously even more intense when I think about anything happening to my kids or them feeling that same fear!
I don’t care if you have little kids, bigger kids, or teens, there is one thing we all have in common as women – we worry about our kids.
Of course, no one wants to operate life in fear! Not only is that not good for our children, it’s not good for ourselves!
That is why finding the right tools is SO important.
What if I told you there was a way to better communicate with your kids, keep track of them, and provide peace of mind for you?
What if I told you they DON’T need any kind of smartphone?
As my kids have gotten a bit older, and one entered middle school, I was finding I needed the ability to communicate with them better when they’re “away”. Sports practices at night, study halls after school etc., etc. The problem was, I did NOT want to hand my child the responsibility of a cell phone. For my family, I don’t feel like cell phones in my kids’ hands is the answer.
Wherever you stand on the issue, perhaps you too are looking for an alternative?
I started doing some research and found RELAY.
I’m not being dramatic when I say, it was a literal answer to a mom’s prayer.
I’m excited to tell you more about it because I KNOW so many of you have been interested when I’ve talked about it in the past. I know my “real life” friends have been asking non stop as they see my kids with them!
PLUS, starting today, they are 15% off HERE.
I like to compare Relay to a cross between a cell phone and a walkie talkie. It’s a screen free device that allows you to communicate directly with those you choose via another Relay device or a cell phone with the Relay app.
It’s similar to a walkie talkie; however, you’re using 4G cell phone service, so you can communicate from ANYWHERE in the US. My husband and I were on a trip in Florida and could talk directly with our kids at grandmas just using the Relay app on our phone, that was connected to our kids’ Relay devices. They could hear us on the devices and we could hear them on our phones!
Your child can contact a friend or family member with a Relay device, once you’ve set up a channel that connects them. No screens necessary.
Your child simply presses one button and speaks a message—then you instantly receive it on your Relay phone app. And it’s just as easy for you to reply
What if you’re not around when your kid talks to you via Relay?
What if your kid is in the bathroom and leaves his Relay on his desk?
Both of you are able to leave messages and play them back when you return! This way, you never miss an important message from one another!
This is one of my personal favorite features!
You can link several different Relays or phones with the Relay app together into a group. My husband, myself and our two Relay devices are all in a group. You can talk to individual Relays OR you can talk to the whole group. My family LOVES all talking to one another. It’s like a big group chat!
Anywhere your child goes, you can find them using the GPA tracker on the Relay device.
This summer, my son was involved at the county fair. He’s almost 11, and I wanted to be able to give him a little more freedom. He loved bumming around with his group of awesome friends, but honestly, I didn’t think he was old enough to wander around completely alone. Plus logistically, how would I reach or find him if we needed to feed his animal? Grab lunch? Leave for the night? How would he check in to let me know he was safe? I was super grateful for the GPA tracker because I knew where he was at all time! All I had to do was pull up the Relay App on my phone and it would show me where his device/he was!
Not to mention, if your younger child ever gets lost, you can track them quickly! This is especially useful to us when traveling….I haven’t lost a kid yet, but we all know it does happen to even the most watchful parent/grandparent. In just a split second when you think they’re right behind you as you walk away, and they’re still busy staring at the candy in the store. That heart gripping terror can be avoided!
When our kids are really young, we do things like set up baby gates and fences to keep them in or out of a safety zone. When they’re a bit bigger, we tell them things like “Don’t leave the backyard!” Then they get to an age where boundaries are a little less literal. The Relay app on your phone allows you to set virtual “fences” or areas in which your child is supposed to stay. When they leave those areas, you are alerted.
For example, you drop your 9 year old off at the ball fields for practice and tell him NOT to leave the fields. If you set the geofencing to that area, if he leaves the ball fields, you will be alerted.
If something, heaven forbid, more serious would occur, the Relay allows the user to set out an immediate SOS alert. This is a quick, and attention getting way to reach you quickly!
Of course, with no screen, you don’t need to worry about your kiddo being “glued” to his device like some. Yet, the Relay does have some fun features that kids love. Daily Jokes, a music player, even a language translator – there’s a little something for everyone!
This is one concern I did have and I have to say, I’ve been impressed with the durability. It’s durable, water resistant and if it’s survived my rough kids, I feel like it will for anyone!
I was concerned about my children LOSING their Relay. It’s a good size – small enough to be portable, but big enough to have a decent battery life. That being said I was excited to see all of these accessories offered. From the armband to the lanyard, there are several options for every kid and activity! My 11 year old preferred the lanyard so he could wear the Relay under his shirt. I like the armbands for younger kids as mine seemed to keep them on a bit better.
The cool thing is, Relays are SO affordable. I’m always shocked to hear what parents are paying for some of their kids’ devices. Normally the actual device will run you around $49.99, but right now, you can get them on a rare 15% off sale HERE making them EVEN more affordable!
Connecting the device to the 4g service will cost you only $9.99/month with NO CONTRACTS REQUIRED! Under $10 for incredible peace of mind? That’ll be the BIGGEST no brainer purchase of the year. Worth every penny for me personally!
(I will warn you, they have been known to SELL OUT as soon as they go on sale. Relays are truly a HOT item!)
I truly can’t say enough good things about Relay devices.
I feel like I can give my kids more freedom while still keeping track of them and most importantly, keeping the lines of communication open.
The Relay has enabled me to have a little peace of mind as we navigate the ever changing waters of parenthood.
It’s one of my favorite product discoveries of the year and is soon to be one of yours!
The post Worried About Your Kids? The One Tool That Gave Me Peace of Mind. appeared first on How Does She.
Got some zucchini? THIS is the way to eat it all up! Baked Parmesan Zucchini is one of those versatile side dishes that you can make alongside several dinners. Tender zucchini rounds baked to absolute...
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UTV plowing deep snow How much snow can a UTV push? Let's see if it can plow 8" of heavy wet snow on long runs over a gravel drive...
