A thirty-something gal from Pennsylvania who loves her chihuahuas and blogs about simplifying life, organizing your home, getting your finances in order.
Click the links below to learn more about me or figure out where to start. Keep scrolling to see my latest blog posts!
So obviously if you've been following along you know that our wedding is this week. Actually, our ceremony is tomorrow and our reception party is on Saturday. I can not wait!!! Tomorrow we will be at the judge's office by 10 am and then we're going to lunch afterwards with our parents. Then I think we'll just relax the rest of the day because Friday will be nuts. The rental chairs and tables are being delivered Friday and that's the day for me to make all final arrangements. Setting things up, moving stuff out of the garage into the basement, and cleaning the house and garage from top to bottom. I can not wait to share photos with you guys and I have a post coming up next month about how I got married on a budget and I'll break down the cost for every little detail. Let me just say, I didn't want to go over $2,500 and we stayed under that so YAY!!!! This will be the last post until after the wedding. Thanks for following along and supporting me on my journey to do things different. Follow along on social media if you wanna see some pics and videos over the next few days! I'm on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (EllenR886). Signing off from my last blog post as an unmarried gal!
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You probably are used to seeing my monthly date night pictures on social media by now, so you know that my relationship is very important to me. I always say, make sure that no matter how busy you are, you still schedule time for you and your partner. It doesn't matter if it's going out for dinner or staying in and watching a movie - time together is important. Today though, I want to show you how date night just got more fun!
I am such a homebody so staying home for date night wouldn't bother me at all. If you are the same way then you really need to try Crated with Love. Crated with Love is actually a monthly subscription service that sends you a date night box each month. It's just $19.99 a month which is a great deal! And shipping in the US is free. That's for the basic membership. You can also sign up for the Diamond Membership where you will get some free swag along with the activities and games, and you'll get access to bonus date content. You can even gift it to someone (hello Christmas, Weddings, etc.) where for $59.99 you can send two date boxes to a couple of your choice and even customize a note and the ship date.
So what's inside a Crated with Love box? Well it comes with 4 games or activities that focus on having fun while spending quality time with your significant other. It's everything you need to play the games and solve the puzzles and it's very interactive. So let me show you what came in my Crated with Love Date Night box.
Each box comes with a booklet that explains how to do each activity and what order to do them in. The first activity was making up a story by inserting words that we get from the other person. You fill in the blanks and then read the story. It was super fun and we even got silly with it!
The second challenge was really fun. We had a little stop watch timer and the challenge was to finish each other sentences. It was one of those things where each person says a word to keep the story going. It was getting harder and harder by the end but we did really good and our stories were hilarious! We couldn't stop laughing!
Next up was a really fun game where we each got 5 cards and then we'd pull one main card from the deck. Whatever the main word is, you have to put one of your cards down next to it, making a perfect pair. The pairs will grow from there.
So I put down cats, because cats are weird, like Johnny Depp lol. Then James put down dogs because obviously cats and dogs are a good match. It was really fun and it was a good brain exercise.
Last up was a puzzle that had word games on it. It was actually double the fun because you have to put each part of the puzzle together first in order to see each word game.
The finished puzzle was really pretty too. Overall, this was an excellent way to spend time together and it was very fun. We didn't have time to be on our phones and we didn't care to because we wanted to solve the riddles and puzzles before us. The night was filled with lots of laughs and that's exactly what we all need sometimes.
If I were you, I would put Crated with Love on your Christmas List this year! Trust me, you won't regret it!
Since it's the changing of the seasons it's also time to switch your wardrobe to more Fall appropriate clothing. This also means it's a good time to do one of my favorite activities - PURGING! I put a list together of how to purge your items so that you don't have to do it next Summer!
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So I finally got my FabFitFun Fall box and did an unboxing even with a video but by the time I had it all ready I was informed that the Fall box is now sold out. So before I start to show you all of the stuff from my box I wanted to give you info. You can still get the Editor's box which is basically a selection of the editor's favorite items. It's slightly cheaper. But either way, you can get $10 off your first box if you use the code TREAT here.
The FabFitFun box comes out 4 times a year and is packed with amazing items that are all pricey and full sized. For instance this month's box valued was at least $330! Each box features a variety of items relating to fashion, beauty, fitness, and more! I love that it's a mix of things and there's even surveys on their website for you to fill out so they know what colors and items you would like the most. Doing these surveys helps tailor your box to meet YOUR needs.
It's so exciting getting so many awesome goodies in the mail.
Here is my unboxing video.
And here's a closer look at all of my items!
Organic Carbon + Coconut Teeth Whitening Powder and Toothbrush - How cool! A natural way to whiten teeth with the power of activated charcoal. This is perfect for me since I adore wine and coffee but despise what it does to my teeth. Average value $43.95.
Deco Miami Lavender Cuticle Oil - This stuff is awesome. I was in dire need of a cuticle oil anyways but this one is amazing because it has argan oil and bamboo extract! It basically softens and moisturizes the cuticle of your nails. The value of this product is $12.50.
Trestique Matte Color + Shiny Balm Lip Crayon - Lip crayons are a favorite of mine because it makes it so easy to apply color and I just love that it's a 2-in-1 product. It has a value of $28!
Mer-Sea & Co. Scarf - This is the most comfortable scarf ever! It's a polyester knit and it is SO WARM!!!!! It's got a value of $98! And the company that makes it has teamed up with water.org which is a charity to make clean water available to women and their families in developing countries. Seriously this scarf is my favorite item.
B-Low the Belt Mia Belt in tan - I love this belt. It's 100% made of synthetic leather and has a round buckle hardware which keeps it sleek and stylish. This would be perfect to wear over a long cardigan where you would loop it through the hole once to get a nice sleek look. It's got a value of $55.
Private Party Gym Bag - Not only is there an adorable phrase on this bag but I love the denim wash and the nice cotton handles. The zipper compartment on the outside seals everything tightly inside and there's even an inner pocket to keep things safe. It's got a value of $59.
Cottonelle FreshCare Flushable Cleansing Cloths - This is great to carry in my purse or in a gym bag. It's always a good idea to keep these on hand whether it's to freshen up or just for emergencies.
Mytagalongs Hot and Cold Gel Pack - This is so adorable because it has a cute little catch phrase on each side and it actually is very practical. You can either freeze or heat it and then place it where you want relief. Then you just sit back and relax. The value is $15.
So again, this box is TOTALLY worth it! Make sure you sign up ASAP so you can get the Winter Box- or even check out the Editor Box.
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It's that time of year again! Halloween is right around the corner and it's one of my favorite holidays when it comes to celebrating with my dogs. That's probably because it's hilarious and so entertaining to dress a dog up in a costume and watch them play.
So today I put together some tips for having the best Halloween ever with your furry friend! And throughout this post I'll have photos of my various dog costumes over the years to inspire you.
Pick a Fun but Practical Costume
Whether you make your own costume or you purchase one at the store, make sure it's practical. Your dog (for safety reasons) should still be able to see out of it and walk around in it. And you want to make sure there's some way to keep your dog on a leash, whether it's making sure there's a leash clip on the outside of the costume or being able to reach your dog's collar with a leash even with the costume on. Be mindful of the weather if you live somewhere that stays warm even in the Fall. You don't want your dog overheating because you put a ridiculous costume on them, right?
Offer Treats Anytime your dog is in a costume or at a Halloween party, you want to make them feel comfortable and reward any good behavior. I always keep treats handy. In fact, Bil-Jac Dessert Jacs treats are a fall favorite right now because they are pumpkin flavored! They are also the perfect little size to quickly reward the pups.
Keep a Close Watch
This time of year can be full of a lot of things that can spook your dog, causing them to run off or even to get nippy. If you are in a public place around a lot of people, make sure you look for signs of distress from your dog. Sometimes they can anxious and overwhelmed by all the people and the attention. Also make sure you watch for people trying to feed your dog candy or something else they shouldn't be eating.
Mind the Temperatures
If you are in an area that can get really chilly in October, only bring your dog along if they can handle the cold weather. The last thing you want is to come home from a fun outdoor party with your dog and have them catch a cold.
Have Fun
Now is the perfect time to remember to just relax and enjoy time with your dog. I love letting my dogs interact with the neighborhood kids on Trick or Treat night. And I love socializing them with other dogs if we attend dog costume events. I don't force anything but I keep myself happy so that it rubs off on my dogs.
Respect
You have to remember that some animals will FREAK OUT when a person with a mask or costume is around them. You have to understand it from their point of view. They can't see a clear face, they smell something weird (costumes always have a bizarre odor to them) and it can be just plain overwhelming to a dog. That's why I always keep my Bil-Jac treats handy to keep them calm and happy.
And here's another cute photo of Pixie as a lion, because she's just so darn adorable!
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It's nothing to be ashamed of because we ALL have to deal with it at some point in our lives. You know what I'm talking about too. Maybe it's itching or maybe it's abnormal discharge but there are some common signs that come about and leave you freaking out because you know a yeast infection is popping up! One time, I actually had a job interview the next day when a yeast infection came about. I was freaking out. Like how was I supposed to sit there and not itch? How was I supposed to get sleep the night before? How was I to survive? It was my own fault too because that day I had been swimming with friends and stayed in my wet bikini bottoms for a couple of hours since we were in and out of the pool. I had to run out late at night to get treatment and I was frazzled the next morning before my interview. It was the most difficult 60 minute interview of my entire life. I seriously felt like I was sweating the whole time. After that horrible experience it was the last straw and I knew I had to be more prepared with the proper treatment and the ideal ways to at least try and prevent another one from coming. So here are some tips to try to prevent yeast infections through proper hygiene. Unscented Soap When washing "down there" make sure you use a gentle, unscented soap. Your wonderful body creates all sorts of bacteria to keep itself clean so trying to use harsh products to strip away the bacteria will actually do more harm than good.
Breathable Undies There are so many adorable styles of underwear but nothing is more stylish than THE PROPER underwear. A breathable cotton panty that isn't too tight is perfect to keep yeast infections away. I mean think about it, don't you want air getting down there? Duh! Avoid Moisture So remember how I said I got a yeast infection once from a wet bathing suit? Yeah, it's true. It can also happen from sweaty gym clothes. Take my advice - as soon as you're done swimming, change into something dry. And as soon as you're done getting sweaty at the gym, change into fresh clean underwear or shower immediately. Seriously, you can thank me later.
Eating Right Honestly, a proper diet will help your body get the bacteria it needs to keep everything clean down there. So always be mindful of what you put in your mouth and make sure you're eating wholesome foods.
Still, no matter how hard you try, sometimes a yeast infection still arises. Luckily for you, MONISTAT® has a line of products to help cure this awkward yet all too common issue. They have products in different dosage strengths for treatment like 1 day, 3 days, or even 7 days and their treatment forms range from creams to suppositories.
MONISTAT® is my go to product. It relieves symptoms up to four times faster and works on more strains of yeast than the leading prescription treatment. There are also less drug interactions than the leading prescription pill. I ALWAYS have MONISTAT® on hand because it's important to be prepared. MONISTAT® is actually the #1 doctor recommended OTC brand with a long-term record of success. It's been used to treat yeast infections for over 40 years! That's a pretty good track record. And of course always remember to read and keep the carton so you can read all the warnings and dosing information. And always use MONISTAT® products as directed. You can find MONISTAT® in drugstores nationwide!
Today, I'm going to help you be a little more prepared because I'm offering a $25 VISA gift card from MONISTAT® so you ladies can stock up for emergencies!
