It’s no secret that staying properly hydrated is a critical aspect to leading a healthy lifestyle. There are still many people, however, who have a tendency to neglect their daily water intake for a wide variety of reasons.....

Maybe they don't like single use plastic bottle use, but refuse to drink tap water as well. Maybe they just haven't found ways to incorporate hydration into a busy, on the go lifestyle. Maybe they just haven't found a water bottle they actually enjoy using, for whatever reason. 

With the launch of their brand new Jewel Water Bottles, Zak Designs is making sure that having a stylish water bottle to carry with you will never again be anyone’s reason for not staying hydrated.

Purchasing life insurance is something that every couple should do to protect their families. In case there was ever an emergency, you will be able to know that your loved ones are covered. The most suitable life insurance for you will be affordable and allow you to secure your loved one’s finances. If you were to suddenly pass away, having the life insurance payout will give your family a little peace of mind. It’s imperative to buy a policy that is suitable for you and your family’s needs. Take a look at the basics of purchasing a plan before you decide to purchase your life insurance.

Summer may be winding down, but it's not time to quit caring for your skin! There are still picnics and lake days left this season, and while the days may be getting shorter, we still need to protect our skin from the damage the sun can do. 
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Pura D’or 20% Professional Grade Vitamin C Serum – an Amazon’s Choice product – is rich in vitamins and minerals that are essential to forming new, healthy skin and promoting the increase of collagen. Designed for overnight use, this product acts as a dark spot remover, skin brightening agent, and anti-aging retinol serum. It has a pH of 3.0.

​The hyaluronic and ferulic acids help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, scars, and fine lines while keeping the face naturally moisturized. This makes it absolutely perfect for after a day in the summer sun.

Calling all young Potterheads! Make magic in the kitchen with easy, friendly recipes designed for kid chefs and inspired by the Harry Potter series.
Introducing The Unofficial Hogwarts Cookbook for Kids: 50 Magically Simple, Spellbinding Recipes for Young Witches and Wizards [978-1646041817; $17.95; Ulysses Press; August 2021] by Alana Al-Hatlani, a new hardcover cookbook packed with 50 delicious recipes, easy step-by-step instructions, and spellbinding full-color photographs.

Perfect for any Harry Potter fan,The Unofficial Hogwarts Cookbook for Kids will have aspiring witches and wizards brewing potions, baking stellar treats, and cooking creative dishes in no time. From breakfast all the way to dessert, this book makes any meal or snack extra special (and educational!), with recipes like Rock Cakes, Granola Bars “Owl Food,” Pumpkin Soup, Magic Star Fruit Salad, Fish & Chips, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Acid Lollipops, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Butterscotch Beer and much more!
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The Unofficial Hogwarts Cookbook for Kids is the perfect primer to get the young chefs-in-training active in the kitchen with their parents. As a family, you’ll have fun learning cooking terms and kitchen skills with recipes that range in complexity so that all kid chefs and their potions masters (or parents) can whip up something amazing.

The past year or so has been crazy for my family, and there have been all kinds of drastic life changes. The biggest change? Due to the Pandemic, my husband was laid off from a very good job in his field of expertise. Things were quite uncertain for a long time, and he took a job at a warehouse where he was overworked, underpaid, and definitely undervalued. It put a strain on life in general, as well as our wallets. 

Recently, Dan was able to find a new, much better paying job managing an automotive repair shop here in our little city. Better pay, no commute, and getting back to what he's good at? 

Heck yes! That, to me, is cause to celebrate. I am the most awesome wife ever, so of course I know that often times, the way to a man's heart is where?....Through his stomach, of course! That's why I was thrilled to present him with food gifts from Manly Man Co. to celebrate this new chapter, and his escape from Warehouse Hell. 

Those who know me are probably painfully aware that for the past few months, I have been attempting to do "Sloppy Keto." You may know all about my trips to ALDI, or about my occasional, profound sadness as I remember my old friends: bread, pasta, and potatoes. I enjoy them on cheat days, but they are no longer a part of my daily diet. 

Why sloppy Keto and not strict, one might ask?
​Wouldn't it work better if I was more strict in my attempt? 

Well, maybe.

But I don't trust myself, though, and that's the best, most honest answer I can give. You see, I had a serious eating disorder for years, and part of the disordered mindset included lots of numbers. Numbers on the scale, and obsessing over every solitary ounce gained. Every centimeter. Every inch. Obsession with calories. Fat grams. Portions. Anything numerical that could be a problem, was. And my obsession with the numbers on the scale nearly killed me. That's real talk. 

Numbers became very triggering, and this time, I am ignoring the numbers. 

I refuse to do that to myself ever again. 

So for my own sanity, I am listening to my own body more, cutting out things I know aren't helping me, and I am ignoring the numbers. In fact, I don't even own a scale these days, and refuse to have one in my home. 

Whew! We've sure had a busy summer! Between trying to keep healthy during a Pandemic that never seems to end, trips to Cedar Point, changing jobs, and trying in vain to keep the pool maintained during a global Chlorine shortage, things have been interesting to say the least! 

And now school is about to start. Where did the time go?! 

One way I like to celebrate the change of seasons is by giving my house a good, deep clean. We do remote learning, and I have found that my kiddos learn best in a clean, organized, uncluttered learning space. And once I get their learning areas clean, I tend to keep going on the rest of the house....

This is where my "secret weapon" for cleaning comes in: Pure Sky by Persik! These special, eco-friendlier products work almost like magic, with no detergents or potentially harmful chemicals at all. Pure Sky is made of literally millions of non-absorbent, intricately designed micro-strands functioning as a catchall for dirt, grime, and bacteria, that can then be easily washed away!

All you need for a super clean? Pure Sky and some plain old water. I'd love to tell you about a couple of my favorite Pure Sky products, so keep reading! 

Okay. A couple things before I spill the tea.

First, this is NOT a Sponsored Post.

While I do frequent Machine Gun Kelly's 27 Club Coffee most every time I am in Cleveland, I was NOT compensated in any way to post about this. In fact, I paid to attend this test run, and then I spent even more of my own money in this wonderful establishment on Pink Lattes and Pizza. 

A gal's gotta eat, right?! 

Next, I am fully aware that I look like a devil worshipping heathen here. Please be assured, I am NOT a Luciferian, and it's just a costume. Machine Gun Kelly's new album, Born with Horns, is set to be released soon, and my costume theme aligns with that. No need to worry, pray for my eternal soul, or assume I eat babies. I'm totally fine, and I much prefer 27 Club's Pepperoni Flatbread to babies. Truly, it's excellent. You should try it. It's Infanticide free, too! No babies, anywhere, on the menu. I promise. 

Okay, now that these disclaimers are out of the way, I have some really cool news to share! Machine Gun Kelly's coffee shop, The 27 Club, located in The Flats in Cleveland, is expanding! 

Concerts are BACK, and I am living my best life again. For me, concerts and live music in general are like going to a therapy session. Music heals the soul, and the past year without shows has been really hard on me. I never realized how much I truly needed live music until it just....wasn't there anymore. 

This season, concerts look a bit different. Many venues are requiring either full vaccination or that attendees provide proof of a recent, negative Covid test. My husband and I are both vaccinated, Team Moderna to be specific, and my 10 year old concert buddy? Well, he is more than happy to get tested as needed. He says concerts are worth it, and I wholeheartedly agree. I actually appreciate this, as this policy helps keep everyone safe....especially my 10 year old. 

Do your kids have a lot of pent up energy this summer? I know mine sure do! We have had a lot of rainy days here in NE Ohio, so a few of our trips to Cedar Point have been squashed, leaving the kids bored, disappointed, and with "nothing to do". One way we get out our disappointment while burning up some energy is by fighting with our Wubble Rumblers.

What are Wubble Rumblers, you may ask? Well, they are inflatable little guys, fashioned to look just like your child's favorite WWE® Stars and more! These are made to take a beating-literally.  

The best part? No one gets hurt! 

Battle it out with Wubble Rumblers WWE® Superstars! Made from squishy, squashy, super soft and lightweight material that’s way more elastic than typical inflatables, they’re the ultimate accessory for play fighting! Enjoy hours of adrenaline-pumping, body-slamming fun as you unleash your inner WWE® superstar! Create your own legendary matchups. Stage your own smackdowns. And get ready to squash your opponents!