Gearing up for Fall in New England with Crocs with Socks

 We are officially kicking off the fall season! It always becomes a tough transition when it comes to clothes and shoes for my girls! They live in their crocs and some easy slip-ons! I always struggle getting them back in socks! I know I can't be the only one!! My girls hate wearing socks and honestly, I do not like the look of low-cut shoes with big ole socks!  The biggest issue with them not wearing socks, is their shoes will end up getting smelly!! Plus, sweaty feet cannot be comfortable. I know I should pick my battles, but I also despise the look of crocs with socks unless it is these Crocs with Socks...and by socks, I mean Flat Socks!!  I cringe when I have to force the girls to wear their Sperry's or other slip-on shoes with socks to avoid all the drama that follows because they do not have socks on.  I was ecstatic to hear about Flat Socks! They are an absolute dream for all these trending low cut shoes, whether they be crocs, boating shoes or even their sneakers, flat socks are absolutely genius!! They go in the bottom of your croc or shoe and are moisture wicking, so you don't have sweaty and smelly feet... they still allow your foot to breathe without the hideous look of wearing them with socks! My girls are obsessed with all the patterns they offer! I'm excited that their feet will not slip around in a sweaty croc while they are at school! BEST PART.... you can treat them like a regular sock! Just toss them in the wash for an easy clean! 

We go through a lot of boating shoes and slip on shoes in this house because once they get nasty inside, they are usually tossed in the trash! My husband loves that with Flat Socks we are able to double, even triple the life span of the girls' shoes (and mine)! It's a win win for all!! My favorite insert is the Taco 'Bout it design, but there are so many to choose from! With crazy weather in this area, it can be 70* one day and a crisp 60* the next day... I love that we have the option to have fluffy or more breathable inserts for our shoes! I've had so many mamas ask me how I know how to order the right size and the easiest way I do it, is order the insert and take the original insert out of the kids' shoe and trim them with scissors for the perfect custom fit! It literally takes me thirty seconds! If for whatever reason your shoe doesn't have and insert just flip over your Flat Sock and use the guide that is given on the back! It's seriously so easy!! 

I stocked up on Flat Socks for this fall and winter! Head over to their site and let me know what your favorite design is!! This weekend we will be heading up to the Berkshires for a mini getaway with Grandma and Grandpa who came down to avoid hurricane Helene, followed by Sophia's first cheer competition of the season then straight to our second getaway to The Cape at a beautiful air bnb for a Calerese family trip! Both vacations we will be celebrating the girls upcoming 11th and 8th Birthdays!! I'll have to share with you their Boo Buckets that will be, of course, filled with a bunch of Flat Socks... they had to have the dinosaur and pink camo!! They are really obsessed hahahaha Hope you all are enjoying the start of fall! Take in all these magical moments! They really are fleeting! Don't forget to try my favorite fall crafts, here! 

Happy Fall Y'all, 

Sarah 

Benny the Bull and his Favorite Bully Sticks

 We’ve officially had Benny for six months!!!! Owning a Frenchie has been “work”, in the world of pet health that we never had to deal with. Our other two dogs did not have food or environmental allergies. Allergies are for real for our little Frenchie! Food has been challenging and we have had a lot of trial and error. Ben is quick to develop hot spots and itchy paws when food does not agree with him! We have tried several brands and feel comfortable with his dry food. His snacks have been a different story… that was until we stumbled upon Bow Wow Labs. We needed a safe bully stick that would keep Ben entertained but did not cause an allergic skin reaction. A few things we were looking for was something with a single ingredient, and zero chemicals. It was just an added bonus that Bow Wow Labs offered all that plus grass fed and hormone free bully sticks! I loved how they have a sizing chart on their website, so you are getting the right size for your animal. Our puggle once choked on a Kong treat about 10 years ago and it still haunts me!! He was fine once it was dislodged but we needed days to shake off that scare!

Back to Bennys new favorite enrichment bully sticks!! There were so many additional bonuses when it came to finding this company! Most companies that offer subscriptions do not offer one-time purchases. Given Ben’s extreme allergies getting a subscription before seeing if our French bulldog was allergic, just wasn’t an option! Now that we know the product is safe, fresh and exactly what Ben needs we can enjoy the perks of having a subscription. This includes free shipping, 10% discount and the ease of knowing Ben has a scheduled delivery of his favorite goodies! We are BUSY with getting ready for back to school and sports! Not having to worry about running out to the store is a blessing! 

For food, we have finally settled on Nutro for Ben’s dry kibble. This was with tons of trial and error the past six months (we went through 5 different brands and one vet visit!) All in all, this seems to be Ben’s safe food that he enjoys and will not have allergies. I mean this pup is picky… even down to the harness he prefers. Which I highly recommend for anyone with short snout breeds of dogs! This has completely taken restriction off from around our little guy's neck and he breathes easy on his walks!!! Along with his awesome leash that took me about a week to decide on the pattern! I love them all!! 

I’d love to know what you all have used for seasonal allergies!! That is our next battle! Spring was the worst as far as sneezing and runny eyes. He was on Benadryl frequently during this time period and prescribed an ointment for under his eyes. Ben’s vet suggested we do an allergy shot come next spring. I’m nervous to do this option, although she said it’s common with Frenchie's. Have any of you given your dog the seasonal allergy shot? Did you find it helpful? 

Looking forward to a beautiful fall with our boy!! We have never seen him with the leaves and the girls are excited to see if he will attempt to jump in a leaf pile!!! I’m excited for family themed costumes… Sophia wants us to be scary like hers last year!!!! 

Have a wonderful last few weeks of summer!!!

Sarah

Our favorite Backpacks for College & Back to School

    Summer is in full swing!!!! I LOVE being home with my girls and going on adventures!!! So far it has been jam packed but the teacher in me has my eyes on September! There is an immense amount of work that needs to get done, and I’m one of those type A personalities that likes to get it all done in advance! From clothes to backpacks! I will also be going back to FSU in the fall part time to take a few courses I was interested in. My backpacks prior have only lasted a year. I have been on the quest for something functional yet sustainable. The backpacks from Day Owl were my first choice and the ultimate  Backpack for college !! I knew my girls would love them as well…. They have slim designs that still have all the same qualities I was looking for! In general, every product that Day Owl has come up with has been top notch! 

     The biggest issue we dealt with this past school year was the Stanley trend. My girls love their Stanley's, but they would leak all the time! Reason being, they did not fit in the side pocket and would put them in the main compartment with their school supplies! Their bags were constantly wet and the things inside were getting wet! With Day Owl there is a special compartment that fits everything from a Stanley to a bottle of wine, perfect for a girls weekend on the beach hahhahaha best part, it is lined with water repellent neoprene, GAME CHANGER!! No more worrying about her books getting wet, and with Sophia and I having to bring a Chromebook daily this year, I'm extremely happy about this feature.  

     There are so many amazing colors over at Day Owl!! Which one is your favorite?!? I am patiently waiting for the sold out pine green color to come back in!! I have to have it!!! Sophia LOVES her Dusk Grey and Ari is going with the smaller version called the slim pro for second grade! Sophia is going into 5th and I've had to buy her a new bag every year as well! I’m done! I'm looking for quality now, and Day Owl is our go to! Not to mention Day Owl makes their products from recycled landfill-bound materials! I could go on and on about their mission but just google Day Owl and read up on what they are all about! Simply an amazing company that is truly making a difference globally! 

    Ari is a Tommy Bahama fan, as much as I like their clothes the backpack she chose last year just didn't hold up. We had zipper issues and the quality just didn’t meet the demands of a busy 1st grader! I absolutely adore the prints from Tommy Bahama and assumed when she picked her style she’d be good for the year… the ever changing minds of kids and trends can be quick! She complained that it didn’t go with certain outfits. Day Owl goes with everything! I love that as interest grow the girls can incorporate patches to their Day Owl bags this coming school year! 

I am super excited for this summer! Stay tuned for Back to School pictures with our Day Owl backpacks next month!!! Enjoy the rest of your July everyone!!!!! ❤️🤍💙

Solar Eclipse Party

                     SOLAR ECLIPSE PARTY 2024!!! 

Wow what a great experience it was to see!! We had the best afternoon! Our whole neighborhood came together to celebrate! We tend to make things a big deal around here! It is the magical unicorn of all neighborhoods! Like one big family!! I couldn't help but share some of our day!! Did you all see it?!?! Any followers who had full totality?? I really wish we had taken the drive to Maine but we still had a magical afternoon!! 

My must have ripped jeans and gold hoops for Spring

HAPPY MONDAY! We have such a busy few months with end of school approaching and sports! I'm so excited to jump into this spring and summer!! Arabella also competed in her first race...at the starting line of THE BOSTON MARATHON!! The most iconic places to start! There was so much excitement in the air!! It was a beautiful start to spring in New England!!

We are beyond proud of her!! After the race we went to a beautiful benefit and raised funds for The Boston Marathon!! It was casual but I wanted a touch of elegance! Picking out spring outfits have been a no brainer lately. I've really streamlined my jewelry collection and just want quality pieces so these stunning hoop earrings from Aurate are my absolute favorites! You all know Aurate is my ultimate go to for stunning pieces!! 

I'm always mixing up golds and silvers together, but I adore my staple pieces! I've also been obsessed with lace tops paired with high rise ripped jeans. Casual & Classy. Abercrombie somehow made its way back into my life... crazy it was my high school destination in 2002 and now I'm just as obsessed as an adult mother. I just ordered two pairs of these and I'm anxiously waiting for the package to arrive of these gorgeous ripped high rise jeans.  

I'm determined to downsize my clothes and only have things I wear daily! This is the year of decluttering!! My makeup mostly consists of neutral colors from Ogee and Aurate New York is my go-to for jewelry.   

What are some of your favorite hoop and huggie earrings!?! Do you have a go to makeup line?! What are your decluttering secrets!? This is the year I streamline my life. My ultimate goal for 2024!! Updates to follow and a BIG Starbucks giftbag giveaway coming as we approach the 4 million mark!! We hope you all enjoyed your Marathon Monday!!

Enjoy your spring y’all! Here is our girl on the finish line!!! You ROCKED this Arabella!!

XO, Sarah 

Power Stepping right into Spring

 Spring has sprung!!!! And we have exciting news!!!! Our family has grown by four paws 🐾 Introducing the newest member, BEN!!! Benny boy is the sweetest Frenchie! We lost our dogs due to old age in the fall, and it was completely devastating. Sammie was 19 and Joshy was 16... I know they lived the best life but there was such a huge hole in our hearts. The house felt empty, and a crazy string of events led our sweet Benny Boy home a few months later! He is everything we needed and then some! His crazy puppy antics keep us on our toes, and we are loving every second of it! 

Now that the warm weather is approaching, we are eager to get out and do all the exciting things with our new pup!!! Both girls are signed up for Spring Softball! Ralph of course will be volunteering out on the field! He’s been dealing with foot pain, and we finally found something that will give him relief! It’s these amazing top of the line insoles for plantar fasciitis. He feels like a new person, even his podiatrist recommended these insoles! They did not disappoint! He also said it’s weird being pain free… and I’m relieved because I know he will be spending hours on the softball fields with our girls!!! I can't rave enough about these! If you ever deal with foot pain or trouble with posture you need to check them out! Seriously you have to head over to PowerStep, you won't be disappointed. Even if it's just to get information, Ralph learned so much about what is causing his foot pain. Foot health is so important especially if you are a busy parent constantly on the go like us! They are all about relief and prevention! Ralph has me convinced that I need insoles as well... I don't have foot pain, but I have hip pain and after reading all the information he believes that it is rooted in my feet and how I walk! I'm going to give it a go too! These are the ones Ralph got, did I mention they are heat moldable for an exact fit! 

We have opening day in April!! Can’t believe how quick time is flying by! With both girls now into softball we knew we needed gear! We went with Academy for their sportswear and a few things from Epic Sports!! You all know I’m a sucker for anything monogrammed so I’m tempted to buy themed softball cups with their names, but I know come summer we will be right back into the thick of cheer! Ralph also thinks we have a crazy cup obsession so we will just stick with the 100 travel cups we already have hahaha Soccer has officially been dropped from our lineup hahahha I think this makes Ralph happy as he was never a soccer fan! Now we gear up for an incredible softball season before cheerleading starts in August... and you all know we go "MIA" missing in action come the busy cheer season! We can't wait.... this year NATIONALS in Florida! We know these girls can do it!! 

I hope you all have an amazing week!!!! I’m excited for this season!!! Stay tuned as I will be sharing our favorite spring recipes and activities!!  

Sarah