When I moved my son into his dorm for the first time 2 years ago, I was so impressed with all the amazing things the kids brought with them. From cool storage pieces and textured throw pillows, to decorative artwork and small furniture pieces and plants in chic planters, they had it all. This was no Bed Bath and Beyond project…Far from it..some of the students told me that they planned their room decor for weeks, even months!!! They visited various crafts stores, online sites and local merchants to come up with just the right accessories to glamify the otherwise bland dorm rooms. Even the boys got in on it, but more so to the tune of stripes and primary colors!! Here are a few of my favorite dorm rooms. On Friday I will have a shopping guide with some fun items to decorate your student’s dorm room just in time for back to school!!!
It’s bacckkkkkk…the Home Goods recap!! I’m really going to try to post these on a regular basis since I keep getting requests for them..I love hearing what you guys buy so please keep the notes coming. I have to say Home Goods really is at the top of their game lately. I have found so many amazing things the past few times I have stopped in to do the re-cap. I have high hopes for the merchandise assortment leading up the the holidays. All of these items were at the Port Chester location yesterday!!! Happy Shopping!!!!
Are you ready to laugh out loud, I mean are you ready for real belly laughs? Then this weeks choice, Limelight: A Novel by Amy Poeppel is for you. Here is the summary for this witty story:
Allison Brinkley—wife, mother, and former unflappable optimist—discovers that a carefully weighed decision to pack up and move her family from suburban Dallas to the glittery chaos of Manhattan may have been more complicated than she and her husband initially thought.
Allison learns that New York is unruly and bewildering, defying the notions she developed from romantic movies and a memorable childhood visit. After a humiliating call from the principal’s office and the loss of the job she was counting on, Allison begins to accept that New York may not suit her after all.
When Allison has a fender-bender, witnessed by a flock of mothers at her son’s new school, she is led to the penthouse apartment of a luxurious Central Park West building and encounters a spoiled, hungover, unsupervised teenager who looks familiar. It doesn’t take long to recognize him as Carter Reid—a famous pop star who has been cast in a new Broadway musical. Through this brush with stardom, Allison embraces a unique and unexpected opportunity that helps her find her way in the heart of Manhattan. – Amazon.com
To purchase this book or for more information, click HERE.
Recently I had the pleasure of spending the day at Cusina Casalinga, the cooking school of the amazing Sicilian chef and cookbook author, Sally Maravantano. Our menu was titled, Gifts From the Garden. I am really excited to share some of Sally’s amazing recipes and cookbook with you during the next few weeks. In the meanwhile Sally spoke of what we needed to stock an authentic Italian pantry. I have posted about pantry stocking in the past BUT Sally’s version had endless possibilities for quick, nutritious Sicilian pantry inspired meals!!!
I have become obsessed with the Nantucket Spider products. I saw them for the first time last summer at Whole Foods and because of the all natural ingredients (essential oils), the smell and light weight feel on my skin, I made my first purchase. For the past 2 summers, I have had bottle of Nantucket Spider in my purse, on my patio, at the beach, pretty much anywhere I was going, and the fear of New England bugs was looming. This year I even tried their Incense Sticks and I will NEVER EVER sit outside at night without them again. I wish they made the incense in log form so I could burn them all summer long in our fire pit!!!!!!!! Here are some of my favorite Nantucket Spider Products:
This is the original formula. It protects against all biting bugs and ticks. It is safe for all ages, including toddlers. It is made with essential oils and citronella and is DEET free!!! You can purchase the full size HERE or the purse size HERE.
This is the uber extra strength tick repellent. This is perfect for walks, hikes, trails, your back yard, anywhere where you will come in contact with deer ticks. This is also all natural, made from all essential oils, and is safe for all ages. You can purchase the full size HERE or the purse size HERE.
This is the awesome Tick Repellent spray for Dogs. I absolutely love this product. I am sooo paranoid that one of my dogs is going to get a tick because we have so many deer in our neighborhood. This smells so good and is free of any harmful chemicals. My dogs don’t mind at all when I drench them in this!! To purchase this product, click HERE.
Lastly, this is my all time favorite product, the Garden Incense Sticks. You can stick them directly in the ground or in the sand, next to a sitting area, and once they are lit, they will keep bugs away for a long while. Again, they are all natural and smell incredible. You can purchase these HERE.