Hot summer days are on the horizon. It’s time to put away the cocoa and grab a can of this yummy, carbonated beverage. Bubblr comes in numerous flavors and it’s so much better for the body than a soda pop!

Nights by the fire are waning, but it doesn’t mean that movie night at home has to take a hike! The newest version of Mary Poppins is out. If you loved the first one, I think you’ll agree that this version is the best possible rendition a Hollywood team could create. It was outstanding. 

Drum roll please for spring blooms! New York’s earliest blossoms are buttercup blooms. My hometown in South Dakota will see crocus and tulips in the near future. Click on the link to find out what blooms may be appearing soon in your growing zone! 

“Meals to your door” is becoming a staple in many homes. Our family has been using Purple Carrot (the vegan version of delivered meals) since last October. If you’re interested in trying it email me. Purple Carrot will send you a free box to try! (First come first serve!) You can decide whether or not Purple Carrot is best for you!

Hugh Jackman’s Laughing Man (free-trade) coffee is one of the best coffees I’ve tasted (We featured it in one of our monthly giveaways.) The story of the coffee’s evolution is captured in the incredible documentary Dukale’s Dream. Snuggle by the fire and check out the video. You’ll be glad you did!

This month’s give away featured a tin of amazing peanuts from the Good Earth Peanut Company. If you need a salty snack for those long, vacation drives check these guys out! (I loved their butter-toasted almonds. Perfect in a salad.)

One perk to having a young lady in the house is that someone is in the know regarding the latest and greatest beauty products. My daughter introduced me to RD+F’s Lash Boost. I. Am. Sold! This product has been the best solution I’ve found for thinning lashes!

Brunch is a “thang” in the city. And the beverage that accompanies those brunches? Mimosa! Here’s a link from Country Living with 40 Mimosa recipes to choose from. (The one I’m going to try? The Orange Sorbet!)

I’m a girly-girl so you know I list some of my fav make-up/beauty products here. One of my recent go-to’s is the lip gloss from Beauty Counter. Most glosses are heavy or sticky. This product is not and yet it still lasts.

This classic book is one of my all-time favorites for when life is doles out the difficult. It’s almost uncanny the way Cowman’s daily devotionals resonate as the reader travels through their own proverbial desert. It’s one of the best books to give to someone who’s on a hard journey.

TV in the summer time? Hmmm. Not so much. BUT sometimes you still need to veg out so here’s a recommendation. Chuck is a slightly cheesy but family friendly show about a guy who inadvertently ends up being a spy. It won’t win an Oscar but it’s perfect for when you want to relax for an hour.

There are many benefits to having honey in soap, one of them being its antimicrobial properties. Here’s a link to some of the best honey soap I’ve tried (I’m certain that the fact that it’s manufactured in South Dakota had nothing to do with my opinion of it!)

Junior’s cheesecake is a staple of New York. Last Christmas I pulled the trigger for a major splurge… I ordered their cheesecake to top off our holiday dinner. Juniors did not disappoint. Our cheesecake arrived quickly and was as fresh as if we’d ordered on site.

The Oscars is right around the corner, so movie fever is amuck. Hubs and I went to Green Book the other night. Wow. If you’re in the mood for a powerful but entertaining, feel-good movie this is it. And be on the lookout… it sounds like it’s in the running for one of the season’s best pictures!

I mentioned my affinity for this gem in a blog post and I’ve had people ask about it since. If, like me, you don’t care for the heavy stuff and you only want a dot of color then this is one of the best (affordable) moisturizers out there! 

If you come to my kitchen you will discover we have a new obsession. Italian Panko bread crumbs. Heat these bad boys up in a skillet with a little olive oil and sprinkle them on your pasta, a salad or your meat of choice. Bam! A flavor and texture explosion for your palate!

Wildflower seed is one of my favorite ways to pretty up a corner of the yard. The best part? Every year it looks different. Some years it’s the zinnias that stand out, other years it’s the daisies.

Winter time reading by the fire is over (or nearly over) BUT summertime reading by the beach is just around the corner. Harper Lee’s novel is just as culturally relevant today (integrity never goes out of style). Here’s a gentle plug for a classic that deserves to be read.

If (like me) you’ve had your fill of snow, ice and the color white then perhaps you’ll enjoy these pictures of European trees as much as I did. Apparently, there is an annual photo contest that spans all of Europe. These pics display trees that are in the running. Aaaaah, green trees. The absolute best.

Winter time means the furnace has kicked in, which also means that dry skin becomes drier. In the interest of staying ahead of the game, here’s one of the best intensive moisturizers. (It’s also known for helping with scars and stretch marks!)