Places to Visit and Relax When It’s Safe to Travel

The end of the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic is almost within sight thanks to promising vaccine discoveries. Very soon, you should be able to travel to other countries where you can enjoy a well-earned break. Here are some amazing places you can look forward to visiting and add to your bucket list:

Reykjavik, Iceland

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Iceland has some of the world’s most captivating natural scenery and it’s pretty easy to get there! The enchanting hills and lakes are warmed by hot volcanic springs. For complete relaxation, visit the Blue Lagoon Retreat Spa. It’s warm, pale blue pools have a naturally high content of beneficial minerals and silica. The peaceful spa and its treatments should soon make you feel relaxed and rejuvenated.

Palm Springs, California

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Palm Springs is a lush oasis in the deserts of southern California. Many spas have been built around the natural hot springs. You can treat yourself to a few invigorating spa treatments or relax in the peace and quiet of the Coachella Valley’s desert landscape. Alternatively, indulge in some long overdue retail therapy amongst the city’s amazing selection of fashionable designer boutiques.

Paris, France

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The city of romance is perfect for soaking up an atmosphere of cafe culture. Wander along the banks of the tree-lined River Seine and stop for warm croissants and coffee in the early morning sunshine. Explore the art galleries and chic designer shops of the Champs Elysee. Then relax in the beautiful, flower-filled surroundings of one of the city’s parks such as the famous Jardin des Tuileries.

Ambergris Caye, Belize

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Ambergris Caye is one of many small islands along Belize’s beautiful coastline. It’s like an idyllic tropical paradise where you can find peace and quiet. There are soft white sands, luscious palm trees and magnificent coastal views offering perfect relaxation. Try snorkeling to discover the amazing sea creatures that live amongst the coral of the nearby Hol Chan Marine Reserve.

Lake Como, Italy

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Lake Como has a tranquil atmosphere and gorgeous Alpine scenery. It is atmospheric, romantic and relaxing. Enjoy a cruise on the lake, admire beautiful sunsets or explore the fascinating villages full of Renaissance architecture. Bellagio, the lake’s main resort, has a selection of trendy boutiques, bars and cafes to relax in.

There’s no harm in treating yourself to a wonderful summer break where you can relax in beautiful surroundings with your friends or family! Just take the necessary precautions and make sure to pack your mask! 

Book Club Monday

How about a Love Story that is nothing like you would expect? Then this week’s choice, In Five Years by Rebecca Serle is for you. This is one book that you will not be able to put down nor will you be able to forget…Here is the story:

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Dannie Kohan lives her life by the numbers.

She is nothing like her lifelong best friend—the wild, whimsical, believes-in-fate Bella. Her meticulous planning seems to have paid off after she nails the most important job interview of her career and accepts her boyfriend’s marriage proposal in one fell swoop, falling asleep completely content.

But when she awakens, she’s suddenly in a different apartment, with a different ring on her finger, and beside a very different man. Dannie spends one hour exactly five years in the future before she wakes again in her own home on the brink of midnight—but it is one hour she cannot shake. In Five Years is an unforgettable love story, but it is not the one you’re expecting. – Amazon.com

For more information, or to order this book, click HERE.

Amazon Monthly Best Sellers

It has been a while since I posted any of the monthly Amazon best sellers. I happened to check up on my blog stats today and I saw how many items were trending recently in many different categories. There are some really great not to miss must-haves included this month from a killer bathing suit to a popular contact-free party surprise…..Happy Shopping!!!

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It’s really smart as things start to open up to keep this no contact tool on your keyring…

These outdoor chair covers are amazing..they protect all of your furniture/cushions from the elements!!

This Tie Dye kit is the best one..my girls have been tie dying up a storm with it.

These sunglasses have been the #1 seller and all over the internet!!!

This eye brightening stick will leave you looking refreshed all day long.

If you are looking to spruce up your patio or outdoor space, these LED outdoor lights are incredible!

This lightweight robe was one of the best sellers for the past six weeks!!!

This self tanning water has been a best seller since January!!!

If you love chopped salads, this is a must…

I loved finding this best seller bathing suit…I love all the colors too!!!!

These confetti cannons have been so popular for all the drive by B-day parties!!

These beaded bangles have been a huge seller for graduation gifts….

Rattan is so big this season…I saw a similar pair of earrings on the Aerin Lauder website!!

The Perfect BLT

June is here!!! WOOOOO HOOOOO…this has not been the summer kick off we are use to but we made it!!! I am so looking forward to a fun, safe and long summer. One of my favorite memories is spending days on the beach with one of my closest friends, JB. We always sat in the same spot on sand and shared a BLT for lunch. I am thinking this is the summer to bring back the BLT. With Picnic lunches around for a while, here is my take on what makes the perfect summer sandwich!!!

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adapted from spend with pennies

  • 4 slices bread your favorite variety (but make sure it is thick)
  • 6 slices thick-cut bacon. The bacon MUST be cooked in the OVEN so it comes out just right…WHO KNEW????!!!????
  • 2 tomatoes large, RIPE. Beefsteak or Roma are good choices!
  • 4 leaves lettuce iceberg, bibb or romaine (I LOVE bib)
  • 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • salt & pepper
  • Wash lettuce, dry and cut into thin shreds. Slice tomatoes into thick slices.
  • Cook bacon until crisp, drain on paper towel and set aside.
  • Toast bread until lightly browned, butter if desired and set aside.
  • Spread each slice of bread with 1 tablespoon mayonnaise.
  • Top with bacon, tomatoes and lettuce. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Cut in half and serve.

For the perfect bacon….

To cook bacon in the oven, preheat oven to 400°F. Place a rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Put bacon the rack and bake 18-20 minutes or until crisp.

Heavenly DIY Foot Scrub

I know, I know…you all need a pedicure. This foot scrub came highly recommended and my girls and I made it this past weekend and it is a winner!! You can easily use this everyday for a therapeutic and pampering foot spa treatment!!! Most of the items you already have around your house. And the more you use it, the softer your feet will be. Keep a jar in your shower and you will be amazed with the results!!! And during this quarantine, who does not love a DIY!!!!!!!!

INGREDIENTS

adapted from Family Savvy

  • 1/3 cup Listerine (the green version is recommended for color and smell)
  • 1/3 cup white vinegar
  • approximately 2 cups white sugar
  • 1 TB melted coconut oil (optional but helps moisturize)
  • a few drops of peppermint oil (adds A tingle and fresh smell)

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Pour sugar into small glass container.
  2. Mix vinegar and Listerine in small bowl; stir well.
  3. Pour vinegar and Listerine over sugar; stir until combined.
  4. Add coconut oil and peppermint oil.
  5. Add more sugar if needed to reach desired consistency.
  6. Use daily for soft, smooth, sandal-ready toes

4 Ways To Save Money On Home Renovations

While spending a lot of time at home things around the house can start to feel a bit old and tired fast. You may decide that it is time to do some renovations. It’s a great way to add value to your home and make everything feel more welcoming again, but improvements can be expensive. Many people find themselves in a tough situation because they want to improve their home but they don’t want to spend a lot of money. But what if you could make the changes that you want without breaking the bank? As long as you follow these tips, you can save a lot of money on home renovations.

Pixabay CCO License

Repair Instead Of Replace 

If you are renovating a room like a kitchen, for example, you may decide that you are going to replace all of the appliances in there. But that is going to get expensive very quickly, so you need to find another way. The thing is, those appliances are probably fine and if they do have any small issues, they can easily be fixed by an appliance repair company, which is a lot cheaper. As long as you take care of your appliances properly, there is no need to replace them every time you do work on your home. 

Clean Instead Of Paint 

In some cases, when paint is peeling off the walls, it’s best to strip it back and give the walls another coat of paint. However, when it comes to the exterior of your home, there may be no need to paint the walls because they may just be dirty. Moss and grime builds up over the years and even though your walls don’t look great, the paint underneath is actually in good condition. If you use a house washing service to clean the walls off, you may find that they look as good as new. This will be a lot cheaper and quicker than stripping back and painting your entire house. 

Compromise On Materials 

Imagine you’re looking at some new tiles for the bathroom and you find some that you fall in love with right away, then you check the price tag and realize that they are very expensive. If you are not willing to compromise, your renovation budget is going to be stretched. The thing is, you can get budget versions of the most expensive materials that will give the same end result. The only difference that you will be able to notice is the big difference in price, so be willing to compromise. You can also save a lot of money if you use reclaimed materials in your home instead of buying brand new. 

Set A Budget And Stick To It

If you start shopping for materials and making plans without a budget in place, your spending will spiral out of control in no time at all. But if you draw up a clear budget so you know exactly what your top limit is, you will find it a lot easier to stay under budget and work out where to spend your money. 

As part of your budget, you could consider asking for help from at least one professional in your home renovation journey. You don’t want to get the construction team in to do it all for you, and we get that/ however, there are some jobs that you shouldn’t do yourself around the home, and it’s these that you should budget for a professional. For example, you could clean out your gutter yourself, but replacing the gutter systems? That should probably be left to a team of experts who know exactly what they’re doing. This is the time you should budget that little extra so that you can afford to have someone who knows how to work a ladder check out your gutters and give you some feedback. Home renovations don’t have to be mega expensive: you just have to know when to ask for help!

Follow these simple tips and you can cut the cost of home renovations in a big way.