Three Ways To Fit a Workout In During the Holidays

This post is sponsored by Febreze. All opinions are mine alone.

Does anyone else seriously struggle trying to make time to workout during the holidays? It can't be just me... right?? From the constant sweet treat temptations, to the busy schedules, and of course the lack of motivation with family in town, working out always gets put on the back burner. Once Cambria started to really sleep through the night and I felt more well-rested, I made a goal to workout between 5-6 times a week. I noticed working out made me feel so much better about myself. It encouraged me to make healthier eating choices, it helped me feel confident in my own skin, and overall I just felt SO much better. I have been doing really well with sticking with it up until last week. Thanksgiving, a holiday where the biggest tradition is literally to eat, really threw me off. I didn't have a set plan on how I would fit my workouts in and I quickly fell out of my routine. It's now soo much harder to get back into a routine. So, I am determined to stick to a plan for Christmas to ensure I keep healthy habits. Here's the plan...

1) Wake up a little earlier than the girls to fit my workout in. Guys, this is legitimately going to be realllyy hard for me... but I honestly think it's the best way to go about making sure I stick with it. If you have little ones, you know that working out with them around is straight up comical. It's pretty much impossible. When the girls are around I'm either cutting a workout short or only doing it halfway because they need my help every 10 seconds. So, I'm giving myself an extra hour to wake up, eat a banana, work out, and take a quick shower. Maybe you work in the morning... I challenge you to wake up earlier than normal and get your workout in! That way when the Christmas parties and family comes, you can get your workout done first thing each day and still be able to visit with friends and family after work. 

2) Keep Febreze Fabric Refresher nearby. Just like me, more and more Americans are getting serious about upping their fitness. Since we are busier than ever, we have to get creative to cram our workout (along with everything else) into our day. That being said, it's no surprise that 84% of gym goers* admit to running errands within two hours of working out. I mean, kill two birds with one stone right? You're already out! However, we forget that the smells go where we go. And if you're anything like me after a workout... there are definitely smells! For the millions who don’t have time to immediately change and wash their gear after each workout, it’s time to #FebrezeYourGear. The #FebrezeYourGear program, shows us that if it's fabric, Febreze it! All you have to do is spray Febreze Fabric Refresher on anything you wore at the gym until it is completely damp to safely and effectively clean away workout odors. Febreze Fabric Refresher with OdorClearTM Technology cleans away odors in two simple ways: 1) seeks out tough odors and 2) cleans them away by deactivating and replacing them with a light, fresh scent. Make sure to keep Febreze in your gym bag, in your car, in your personal gym, or anywhere else nearby to keep the odors where they belong... at the gym!

3) Make yourself an upbeat playlist! I have found that music motivates me more than anything when it comes to exercising. I run a lot faster, lift a lot harder, squat a lot deeper, and work a lot more efficiently if the music I am listening to leaves me feeling inspired to keep pushing. No matter what genre you love, there are some awesome songs out there to get you up and moving. I actually look forward to listening to my "special"workout songs. If you make yourself an upbeat playlist where you get to listen and decompress from holiday stress, you'll be more determined to fit it in!

I'd love to hear any of your tips and trick for staying active during the holidays! And don't forget to try out Febreze Fabric Refresher on your gym clothes and gear!

All my love,

Aleigh Joy

*Source: The Nielsen Company Fall 2015 On-Location Study.

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Creating a Calm and Collected Home With Febreze ONE

Thank you to Febreze ONE for sponsoring this post. All opinions shared are mine alone. #ad #ONEStateOfMind

Once I got married, I realized pretty quickly how many smells, good and bad, are created in a home. From steaming vegetables, to stinky bathrooms, and dirty diapers, to sweaty gym clothes, a home can quickly become filled with pungent odors that aren't appealing to, well... anyone! As much as I tried, I just couldn't eliminate these odors all together. Hunter and I both work-out throughout the week, for several more years we will be dealing with diapers and potty messes, I make dinner every single day, and the drain will often smell funny, the kids will forget to wear deodorant, the list just goes on and on! I want my family to always feel comfortable in their home, not have to avoid their daily tasks, whether they cause stinky smells or not, I also want guests to feel welcome instead of running for a more pleasant environment. So, since the first week we got married, I have been on the hunt for the perfect air freshener for our home.

I've tried candles, plug-ins, and several room sprays but without fail, their overpowering scents and aerosols always make my allergies flare up. All of the heavy perfumes make my eyes itchy and watery and I find myself sneezing for a few days before the strong scents level out. I go back and forth between wanting a fresh smelling home and wanting to avoid the allergies all of the different products cause. Not only do strong scents bother me, but they bother others as well! The last thing I want is for people to be running for the door in my home because of the strong scents and overpowering sprays of different air fresheners. Febreze conducted a recent survey where they found 91% of people would be interested in trying an air freshener that doesn't contain aerosols, dyes, and heavy perfumes. The same survey also found that 90% of people can have an improvement in mood when they are in a fresh smelling environment. Because we were clearly lacking an air freshener that would help even the most sensitive of sniffers love the air they're in. Febreze created Febreze ONE! Febreze ONE provides a simpler, lighter, and fresher way to clear the air!

Febreze ONE fabric and air mist is a first-of-its-kind product containing no aerosols, no dyes, and no heavy perfumes. I love that it contains nature-inspired, single-note scents in Bamboo, Mandarin, and Orchid. Because they are nature-inspired, they smell much more natural than other air fresheners I have used. I love that I can feel comfortable spraying these scents around my home without worrying about guests and my own kids having a negative reaction to the scent. A few places that are perfect to spray it are on bed spreads, couches, simply in the air, bathrooms, curtains, and pillows. All of these things collect and gather old smelly scents over time and could really benefit from a little pick me up that Febreze ONE offers.

I also love that, with a little creativity, Febreze ONE makes for a unique and out-of-the-box gift for weddings, bridal showers, baby showers, and more! By pairing these fresh scents with other relaxing items, the receiver will be able to create their own "ONE state of mind." In this post I paired Febreze ONE with a sound machine, an adult coloring book and pencils, herbal tea, and a cutting board for a new mother to be able to relax and find some "me time" amidst the craziness motherhood brings. It would also be great for a bridal shower for a "night before the wedding relax kit." The possibilities are endless! Febreze ONE is much more than just an air freshener, it is the gift that keeps on giving. 

What do you think your favorite scent will be??

All my love,

Aleigh Joy 

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Moving Tips and Tricks With Duck Max

Duck Brand sponsored this post. All opinions are mine alone

We have officially been in San Diego for 2 months!

Honestly, I can't believe how fast the time is already flying by and how quickly everything happened when we were moving.

I absolutely hate moving. It creates clutter, it's difficult to find anything, and figuring out which things should go in which boxes is annoying!

We knew moving while Hunter was in the middle of working two jobs and finishing college finals would be crazy but throwing a crazy toddler and a tiny baby both with colds in the mix made it pretty much impossible ha.

Most nights we stayed up til 1 or 2 am just trying to get things done while both girls were asleep.

This was our first time ever doing a "big" move instead of just across town or something, and to be honest, we felt completely clueless!

I kept calling my mom for advice and we kept learning the hard way how to pack up our lives smoothly.

So, I have decided to create this post to help any of you first time movers have a slightly smoother experience than we did ;)

Here's a few tips and tricks that will help if you plan on doing it all on your own.

Tip 1) Use quality packing materials! Since the entire process was stressful enough, we wanted to make sure our packing materials held up well so we had one less thing to worry about. We chose Duck Max Strength Packaging Tape to ensure our boxes successfully made it from one state to the next in one piece! I was so worried about boxes opening when the moving truck went over bumps or that everything would fall out the bottom when people were carrying boxes to and from the truck. I know that stuff is just that, stuff, but I just wanted to make sure we weren't going to have to replace a million things after this move. So why did we choose this tape over others? Well, it is 100x stronger than acrylic tapes for maximum adhesion and we definitely noticed this to be true! Since we aren't currently in our own place, we have been storing our boxes and opening them to find things we need constantly. It is so nice to be able to re-seal them since it is ideal for heavy duty shipping, moving and storage applications. We were also trying to move on somewhat of a budget. We weren't able to throw thousands of dollars into this move so it was awesome knowing we could get a Value-8 Pack of heavy duty, clear tape for under $20 at our local Sam's Club in the office supplies aisle! Hunter luckily worked for a moving company so we were able to find quality boxes but that is huge too! Make sure those boxes are firm and stiff so your valuables don't get smashed by other boxes. We used plenty of bubble wrap, packing paper, and cushion foam as well! All of this combined with the Duck Max Strength Packaging Tape, made for a smooth move. 

Tip 2) Let people help you! You guys, I had so many people reaching out to me asking if I needed help with the girls, help packing, help cleaning, etc... and I kept turning them down because I didn't want to be a burden. That created a lot more stress on me than I needed and a lot more work for me. I kept complaining about how difficult it was and it wasn't until I let others help me that I realized how much smoother it could have gone. So when someone offers to help, take them up on it! Trust me, it'll help a ton. 

Tip 3) Stop trying to wait until the last minute to pack your kitchen stuff. Oh my gosh, packing a kitchen is a complete nightmare! I was beyond annoyed trying to make dinners and realizing I had already packed something I needed. Or, just leaving things out that could have fit in boxes because I wasn't sure if I needed it. Just do away with the guessing games and pack that kitchen up. We ended up getting plastic cups, spoons, forks, and knives, and paper plates to use the last week so we could pack our dishes. We also got a lot of frozen microwavable things or things that didn't need to be heated up to save the trouble of waiting to pack pots and pans. I tried waiting as long as possible, but once we decided to just pack the kitchen, it made a huge difference. We had the whole thing completely packed and were able to clean it ahead of time. 

Tip 4) Make a plan for moving day. Oh moving day, it's the worst. Basically, just don't plan a single thing other than moving on that day. Trust me haha. Find someone to watch your kids or they will be running mad. We finally just gave in and let the iPad babysit Oaklyn and Cam was little enough to just lay in the swing most of the day. I had wished we were more prepared when things started to get crazy and I could feel myself getting frazzled. Plan which boxes can be taken out first and which furniture can be taken out at which times. Instruct friends on what you need help cleaning and when. Look over your cleaning checklist and make sure you plan appropriately. (we forgot that we needed to run the self clean on the oven and it took several hours, oops!)

Tip 5) Be prepared when everything is gone! Oh my gosh this was comical! We had so much on our minds that we completely forgot we still had to sleep in our empty apartment one more night. Luckily, we had little portable beds for the girls and I kept all of their bedtime stuff out to ensure they were comfortable, but we managed to forget that we had to sleep that night too! I ran out to Walmart and had to get an air mattress, we each had one little blanket because it was all we could find, I was holding up a towel while Oaklyn showered because we didn't have a shower curtain, Hunter had to attempt to fit in the bath, oh it all was just getting to the point of being hilarious. So basically, if you plan on staying another night in your empty house/apartment just make sure you're prepared!

I'll definitely be using these tips for moves to come, but luckily I think that was our biggest move we will have.

We are still unpacking and repacking boxes as we need them and I can't tell you how helpful it has been to have Extremely thick tape for heavy-duty box sealing on hand.

Make sure to head to your local Sam's Club to purchase your Duck Max Strength Packaging Tape!

So, what are your best tips for packing??

I'd love to hear!

All my love,

Aleigh Joy

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5 Tips For A First-Time Car Buyer

This post is sponsored by Cars.com. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone. #ad #CarsCom

We bought our first car just over a year and a half ago. It was something I knew was coming later on in the future, but definitely didn't expect to do right then and there. We were driving a car that belonged to Hunter's dad when we first got married. It did what we needed it to and he was happy to let us use it while Hunter was in school. Then, the unexpected happened and he passed away really unexpectedly. As a result, that car was no longer ours. Suddenly we were thrown into purchasing a new car for the first time and saying we were lost, nervous, and confused would be an understatement! So, here's some advice we have to someone purchasing a car for the first time. 

1) Set a Budget! This was key for us. We knew we wanted to stay at or around a certain budget and that helped us stay firm when talking to pushy car salesmen. I can't tell you how many times we walked away from a dealership just because they were trying to get us to go above our budget. We sat down and considered gas, maintenance, insurance, and the car payment and found were able to figure out what we could actually afford. 

2) Do Your Research! After setting a budget, it was time to actually look for a car! Neither of us really knew much about cars and to be honest, we had no clue what we were looking for in a car. Looking on Cars.com is a really great resource for first-time car buyers. It is one of the largest digital automotive platforms with tons of trusted information about all sorts of cars. You are able to research and then find a car that will fit you and your family best!

3) Phone a Friend! We kept trying to do it all on our own until we finally realized it might be best to ask what others thought. I talked to my dad and my husband talked to his brother and we felt a whole lot better after talking to them. They were able to offer insight we didn't think of and let us know what the car buying process is like before we went through it. Talking to someone we respect and love really helped us feel comfortable.

4) Ask a Million Questions! When it comes to this big of a decision, don't be afraid to ask all sorts of questions. There were a few car salesmen that I knew weren't going to give me straight answers and that made it very clear to me that I didn't want to buy a car from them. When I went to Hyundai and put my research to the test, I loved that they gave me clear answers and were very helpful. 

5) Test Drive the Car! So you like the car from the outside, but how do you like actually driving it?? I really liked our car at first glance. We looked at the inside, the outside, and I really honestly liked it. However, it wasn't until Hunter and I both drove it that we realized we really wanted it. It felt smooth, we liked how Oaklyn fit in the back seat, we liked that we were higher up, and it had a clean interior. Looking back, I wish I would've driven that car how I actually do now instead of being extra careful while test driving it ;) But seriously, drive it how you really will be driving it to see if you really like how it feels! 

Alright, those are my top 5 tips for being a first-time car buyer! What are your best tips?

All my love,

Aleigh Joy

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An Afternoon at SeaWorld, San Diego!

This post is in partnership with SeaWorld San Diego. All opinions are mine alone. 

I had been talking about taking a trip back home for a bit because I wanted one last fun trip with both grandparents for Oaklyn before she becomes a big sister. 

When Hunter finally agreed to the idea and said he would try to get work off, I got so excited and started planning fun things to do!

We decided to take one of the days we were there to visit SeaWorld San Diego.

Growing up in San Diego, I never really took advantage of all it had to offer.

I went to SeaWorld on a field trip when I was a lot younger and again with family when I was still pretty young.

So, while this trip was definitely for Oaklyn... I was just as excited to go to SeaWorld for myself ;)

Most amusement parks are kind of out of the question for us right now because I'm in my third trimester of pregnancy and Oaklyn is just a few inches shy of riding most rides. 

From what I had remembered, SeaWorld seemed like the perfect place for our family at this stage of life.

Boy was I right!

Me, Hunter, Oaklyn, and Hunter's mom all went and that is a very wide range of ages... yet we all had lots of fun!

There was something entertaining and fun for all of us and Oaklyn got to see animals she had never seen before.

When we entered the park we honestly had no idea where to go, haha.

We had a map but just kind of decided to aimlessly explore and stop at the attractions that appealed to us.

The first thing we found was the Dolphin Encounter.

Other than Oaklyn's major meltdown (ohhh toddlers) I thought it was so cool!

You can see the dolphins above water doing all their fun tricks and below water by the glass!

I think dolphins just look so friendly and fun.

They always appear to be smiling and I just love that.

There was also someone over the loudspeaker explaining facts and details about dolphins I didn't know.

I loved that it was fun and educational for all ages. 

After that we tried to map out where we went based off show times.

The first show we saw was Sea Lions Live and it was the cutest thing ever!

I was so impressed with how well they were trained for the show and how clever the script was.

Oaklyn was fascinated by these animals she had never seen before and us adults were cracking up at the hilarious jokes.

That was by far my favorite show and my top recommendation for anyone who visits Seaworld.

We had planned on doing two other shows but ended up just going to the dolphin show and it was awesome!

One thing we all loved is how they personally introduced each dolphin and said how many children they had haha.

I also loved the fun and playful interactions between the trainers and dolphins.

I loved the upbeat and positive vibe of the show.

The dolphins did so many cool tricks and Oaklyn sat pretty still through the whole thing which I would say is a win!

Hunter said he now wants to be a dolphin trainer haha ;)

Okay, let's talk about the other things you can see while at SeaWorld...

There are so many different areas dedicated to specific animals. 

We loved seeing the penguins, sting rays, dolphins, and there are so many others!

This is a perfect teaching moment with little ones to help make the trip a little educational too.

There are always plaques with info on all the animals so I was learning quite a bit as well.

I love how happy all the animals look and how playful they all were!

Now let's talk rides...

Hunter loves rides and I may even love them more than him haha.

Clearly I wasn't able to go on any rides but Hunter had a blast on the two he went on!

He rode Manta and Journey to Atlantis and absolutely loved both!

He rode Journey to Atlantis twice because the line was super short and he thought it was so much fun.

It is a coaster and a water ride combined together. 

You get a little wet going down a big drop and then do the roller coaster part. 

Manta is a roller coaster that soars dives and twists just as a sting ray would.

Oaklyn discovered a new found love for rides this trip to San Diego and kept asking to go on them at SeaWorld.

They have two places for your littles to ride some rides...

The first place is Sesame Street Bay of Play with so many fun things for your toddler to do.

They also just opened a new area called Ocean Explorer and we spent a good chunk of time there letting oaks go on the rides.

She LOVED them!

They were the perfect size and speed for her and it was so fun watching her smile through each ride.

We had such a great afternoon at SeaWorld San Diego and can't wait to go back again!

I can't believe we'll have a second kid the next time we go!

Overall, SeaWorld gets two thumbs up from our family because we loved that there was something for everyone!

What is your favorite thing to do there?

All my love,

Aleigh Joy

1

Excedrin Saves The Day + Medicine Cabinet Organization

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MoreMomentsWithExcedrin #CollectiveBias

Many of you probably already know that I do photography on the side. I usually just do it for friends and family that want a special occasion documented. I look forward to capturing moments for these special people in my life and hope that I can deliver images that perfectly preserve their memories. I had a friend ask me if I would be able to photograph her wedding this past summer and I was so excited to be there on her special day! The wedding took place in San Diego so I had to make sure to pack everything I needed. While packing I quickly grabbed some Excedrin® from my medicine cabinet because Excedrin® delivers fast headache relief and I tend to get headaches often. When we got there, I went to bed all ready for the big day ahead. It was going to be a full day of capturing every one of the beautiful moments involved in their wedding day. However, I woke up the next morning with a throbbing headache. I was so upset that on the day I really needed to be prepared and ready to go that I had a terrible headache. I knew normal pain relievers wouldn’t do the job so I didn’t even bother. When my husband and I got in the car to drive a half hour to the wedding I was feeling so discouraged and was already wishing the day was over. I went to look for my lipgloss in my purse and that’s when I found the Excedrin® I had thankfully packed! I seriously could’ve cried I was so happy! It was exactly what I needed and knew I could trust Excedrin® for fast headache relief. Headaches demand a solution, and this was the perfect one!

I opted for using Excedrin® Extra Strength (for handling those everyday headaches also known as tension type headaches) because for some, relief can happen as quickly as 15 minutes from the time you take it and I needed this relief fast! Sure enough, by the time we made it to the wedding I was feeling much better and ready to go! Everything went so smooth and I was so happy that I remembered to pack my Excedrin® Extra Strength. Excedrin Extra Strength is indicated for tension-type headaches. I felt like I could really use all my energy on being creative and getting the best images possible for the happy couple. I didn’t feel my headache for the entire span of the day and it made it so much more enjoyable. While Excedrin® Extra Strength came in handy for this special occasion, I also usually have Excedrin® Migraine on hand. Excedrin® Migraine is indicated for migraines. I’ve been getting migraines once in a blue moon since I was in high school. When one hits, I’m down for the count. When I found Excedrin® Migraine I was so happy I found a solution for my migraines that demand a solution. It usually begins to work about 30 minutes in and is such a lifesaver for me! *Disclaimer: Among OTC medicine for migraines. Symphony Health Solutions, 2016.Consult your doctor if you think you are suffering from migraines. I found both of these products very easily at my local Walmart. They were stocked with several different  Excedrin® choices and varieties.

Now let’s talk about how you can avoid the medicine cabinet mess. How many of you have needed some form of medicine in the middle of the night, or even the middle of the day, only to realize you can’t find it in your medicine cabinet?? I know I have! The worst part is I end up finding it another day when I’m looking for something else! Our medicine cabinet has always been unorganized and somewhat stressed me out. I never kept tabs on when things expire and there was no rhyme or reason to what it looked like. So, I’m going to share with you some of the ways I have managed to keep our medicine area more organized now.

1. Find the right way to store it! I know, seems so simple right? Well it took me way too long to figure out I didn’t actually need an entire cabinet dedicated to medicine, I just needed a good amount of space for the container I put it in. When we moved into a place with less cabinets, I went to find the perfect bin to hold all my medicine I could store on a shelf. I ended up finding a shower caddy for about $3 from my local Walmart. What I love about it is the size (not too big or small), the different compartments for better organization, and the handle to easily carry to the person in need. There are several other options of bins out there, just find the perfect one for you!
2. Keep that Caddy organized! Whether this requires making labels, using a permanent marker to write expiration dates, creating a specific time to update or clean it out, or just simply making better use of your space… make sure you are keeping it organized to your liking! I personally like to keep my pain relievers on one side, liquid medicine on the other, miscellaneous in another compartment (heartburn, allergy, cough drops, etc..), and kid medicine in the last compartment. So far this has worked well for us! We tend to go through medicine quick enough to not have to throw anything out.
3. Only buy medicine you know works! Throw out the others! Make sure to keep Excedrin® on hand for any moment you need fast relief from your headaches! It’s the worst when a medicine cabinet stacks up with things no one even uses. Save your pennies in other areas and only purchase what you truly need.

I’m so glad I was able to save an important day with Excedrin®. When was a time you could’ve used it??

All my love,
Aleigh Joy

2

Three Steps to an Awesome Date Night In

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MyWayToVeg #CollectiveBias

Hunter and I live away from most of our family and both grandmas. We have lots of friends here, but asking a friend to watch your child can be hard. Especially if they have kids too! We never want to inconvenience anyone and when someone other than family is watching Oaks I get super paranoid. We really try to go on a date once a week because it is so important for us to get away and remember what life was like before becoming parents, but it can definitely be difficult to find a babysitter at a convenient time. We've been really lucky to have Hunter's sister close by to watch Oaks when she's available, but occasionally a date night in is what we do to give ourselves a special night, just the two of us. I know several people think of date night in as not a fun date, but it can be super fun! So, I'm including three tips in this post to make an awesome date night in.

Step 1) Plan out a great meal

Hunter and I are total foodies. We love a good date night meal and love to taste each other's meal. We are fans of bold flavors and meals that look good. Appearance is totally huge for us ;) With the holidays here, we are trying to implement healthier dishes into our meals. When planning a date night in recently, I came across MorningStar Farms® Veggie Bowls and loved all the different flavor options. While I'm a huge fan of making my own meals and testing out new recipes, I think date night should be fun and relaxing. Veggie bowls are a convenient and a delicious "as-is" meal solution. MorningStar Farms Veggie Bowls are not only for vegetarians—they are for everyone. My husband even loved them! Veggie Bowls are made with Chik’n Strips, Steak Strips and Veggie Sausage Crumbles™. The Chik’n Strips are 100% vegan chik’n strips, lightly seasoned, and have 23g of protein with just 150 calories. Steak Strips are 100% vegan steak strips, lightly seasoned, and also offer 23g of protein at 150 calories. While Veggie bowls are perfect for a date night in, they are also good for all ages, demographics, and lifestyles. They taste good, are good for you, and are good for the world. Choose whatever meal you and your significant other really love, but I highly recommend MorningStar Farms® Veggie Bowls! We tried Chik’n Tikka Masala and Japanese Soba Noodles and they both had a really yummy flavor.

Step 2) Give yourself time to get "date night ready"

Just because you and your love aren't going out on the town, doesn't mean you can't get all dressed up! Spend a little extra time on your hair and makeup and be in one of your best dresses when he gets home. Have a vase of flowers on the table with dinner already made and you have yourself the perfect date night. Make sure you give yourself enough time to get ready for your date because if there's one thing I've learned in marriage, it's that men don't like waiting ;) Have fun with the ambiance and light some candles, turn on some music, and maybe even dim the lights if you can. Giving yourself time to get all of this ready will ensure you both have a wonderful experience dating inside your own home. Also, give yourself time to be ready to give your fully devoted attention to your loved one. I didn't think this was hard to do until I started having deadlines for my blog, a child to think about, numerous house chores, and other errands that need to be run. Make sure you get everything you need to do done ahead of time so you can be fully involved on your date. 

Step 3) Have a fun activity planned

There are actually so any fun activities out there you can do within your own home. No wasting gas, no sitting at stop lights, no loud crowds or busy restaurants... just the two of you in your house. You could set up blankets and pillows on the ground in front of the tv to make a cozy little spot that is perfect for snuggling to watch a movie. Pick out a movie you both haven't seen before and make a fun treat! You could also eat your MorningStar Farms® Veggie Bowls during this part of the date if you want! You can also do a little spa night in! Give each other massages and facials. Light some candles and give a foot rub! Have a relaxing night in. Have a game night! Buy some good 'ol board games that were your favorite growing up and play them all. You could also play video games, play 20 questions, or make one up! We also love going through old photos and reminiscing on the fun times we've had. Doing that with family videos is a blast too. One last idea is to have a workout date! Come up with some fun workouts together or find one online and get your sweat on together!

So now I want to know, what are your best date night in ideas??

All my love,

Aleigh Joy

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What to Keep in Your Medicine Cabinet This Holiday Season

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HealthySavings #CollectiveBias

As much as I absolutely love the holidays, I'll be the first to admit that they are absolutely crazy. I get so excited to put the tree up, go sledding, receive holiday cards, eat delicious food, and be surrounded by so much family each year. Right as Halloween is over, that holiday spirit kicks in over at our house and it can't be stopped. We already have our tree up, ha! However, it isn't decorated yet so all the scrooges out there can't hate too hard ;) Anyhow, amidst all the fun and holiday bliss, comes the dreaded colds and other sicknesses. It's bound to happen that someone will end up sick in our home and need a little pick me up. I don't know about you, but I think the holidays can quickly lose their magic if you are down for the count with a winter illness. 

Last year, we went home during the spring and stayed for Mother's day. It was a blast being with family and showing off our then, little baby. However, travel and all new germs meant awaited sickness. Before I knew it, I was out cold on the couch with a fever and a sore throat. It was so hard to be sick and wake up to feed my baby. Before I knew it, she had a runny nose and lost her little baby voice. It was so sad that she could hardly get any noise out when she was crying. While being there was still fun, it was pretty miserable for both of us and a fun holiday with family was quickly turned into a not so fun time for me and my sick baby. 

I've decided I now always want to make sure we're stocked and ready for any sickness. Our medicine cabinet was seriously lagging back then and it made dealing with the aches and pains of a cold even harder. I now have a bin in my medicine cabinet with essentials pertaining to every season that I can stock up on as needed. 

To "make" this bin, you literally just need to buy a cheap one from your local Walgreens. I got a little white one that is the perfect size for everything I need to kick the holiday cold this year. You can then take a sharpie and write directly on the bin, or grab a piece of paper and tape it to the bin. I just wrote "medicine" on it but you can write something fun like "This season's essentials" or something else that will help your family find just what they need. Next just stuff the bin full of everything you need and continue to refill as needed! You will be so thankful you did this next time you wake up and think, "oh no, here it comes!"

So what do I always make sure I'm stocked up on? For starters, we absolutely always have Advil® Tablets on tap ;) I have found through personal experience that nothing's stronger on tough pain. You'll be able to find Advil® Tablets at your local Walgreens among OTC pain relievers. * Use as directed. Advil® is one thing that never leaves our medicine cabinet no matter what time of year it is, but especially during the holidays. 

Another thing I have found I love to keep in our cabinet is ThermaCare ® because it helps soothe the body aches that come with a seasonal cold or flu. Unlike creams and rubs that merely mask the pain, ThermaCare® has patented heat cells that penetrate deep to increase circulation and accelerate healing. ThermaCare® Heatwraps (once activated) only take 20-30 minutes to heat up to a comforting temperature of 104 degrees F. Make sure you don't use these overnight though! *Use as directed.

Ready or not, it’s time to stock up on Pfizer products that will help out this holiday season like Centrum and Emergen-C. Ensure you are prepared when sickness strikes with products like Advil® and Robitussin. Make sure to shop at Walgreens and take advantage of the $8 in coupon savings!

So, what will you be putting in your holiday medicine bin??

All my love, 
Aleigh Joy

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Use as Directed.

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Finding the Perfect Pillows and Mixing Patterns

A trend I feared for quite some time, was mixing patterns.

I loved every outfit I saw on Pinterest where someone wore a striped shirt with a floral skirt, yet I couldn't seem to get myself to do it!

I saw it everywhere I went and I loved it more and more each time.

I loved that it broke all rules of how you are "supposed to match" and left people with the freedom to do what they want.

I also loved seeing combinations I never would've thought of myself.

There's a very good possibility your grandma won't like it... but just know I do ;)

Then I started noticing pattern mixing when it came to home decor and I fell in love.

Who would've thought throwing a whole bunch of different patterns, shapes, and sizes of pillows on a couch would look phenomenal? 

There's definitely a way to do it tastefully though.

And while I'm no pro... my mom is. 

So I asked her what some of her tips were when it came to picking the right pillows, and I added a few of my own.

Pattern:

Choose a pillow with a pattern you love. Then stay within the color scheme you want and pick another pattern. Then find a solid pillow with a common color. You can even add in a graphic (a birdcage, a bicycle, or maybe a pumpkin for fall). I also love all the pillows my mom has with words on them. You could do black and white stripes with pink and white damask. Then add in a sequin black pillow and maybe a smaller white rectangular pillow.

Size

On that last note.. let's talk about size. I think it is so important to add different sizes of pillows on your bed, couch, or anywhere else you put pillows. You aren't going to achieve that "pinterest look" without adding several different sizes. Try for a few large, a few medium, and a couple small all mixed in with each other. 

Shape

Shape is another important one. We all have bigger pillows on our bed to sleep on, but what about the decorative ones? I have 6 larger rectangle pillows so the smaller decorative ones aren't right up against my headboard. I then added 2 square pillows from Overstock, one square from Hayneedle, and one bow pillow from Target. Oh, and I'm definitely not done ;)

Those are just a few tips that will help you when deciding what pillows to add to a newly decorated space, or a space you just want to freshen up. If you need more advice or even want a consultation, here's my mom's business. Also, make sure to check Overstock.com for all your pillow needs. I found so many awesome options and I love the pillows I chose. They are all affordable and there are so many awesome brands to choose from. They have several different shapes, sizes, and patterns so you are bound to find something you like ;)

I added a few of my current favorite pillows out there with a more shabby chic/farmhouse look below... so it's now time to put your knowledge to the test... which ones will you choose to mix and match? ;)

All my love,

Aleigh Joy

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