10 Things that Make Beaches Resorts Different from Other All-Inclusive Resorts

I don't like watching the same movie more than once and I don't normally like going to the same resort for vacation multiple times, but there are times I make an exception {Bueller? Bueller?}. I just returned from my second visit to Beaches Resort in Turks and Caicos where I was invited to attend the annual conference Social Media on the Sand. The resort is located on one of the most beautiful stretches of beach {don't take my word for it, Grace Bay is voted best beach in the world year after year} and being one of the largest Beaches resorts with more than 93 acres, 21 restaurants and 10 pools to explore, there is a chance you could vacation here multiple times and never grow weary of it! 
In fact, we met several couples and families who had vacationed at this Beaches Resort dozens of times and they just kept coming back because they said it felt like family. That said, even with 18 visits under one particular guest's belt, there were a few things even they didn't know about Beaches Resort. I'm guessing, even if you've been to dozens of all-inclusive resorts and stayed at a Beaches property, there is probably something you didn't know on this list. So keep reading and let me see if I can stump you with these 10 things that make Beaches Resorts different.

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The Best Mouthwatering Hot Chocolate Recipes

There is something about winter and hot chocolate that makes sense! In the colder months, I’m always looking for new ways to whip up a classic hot chocolate treat for myself and my kids. These hot chocolate recipes take a unique perspective on the traditional hot chocolate beverage, and will leave you wanting more! Whether you are looking for a new way to spice up your hot chocolate, or just a new recipe to make, these recipes won’t disappoint! There are even some classic hot chocolate recipes in here too! Here are the best mouthwatering hot chocolate recipes that you need to make this fall and winter.

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Top 5 Snack Tips for the Family On the Go

This post has been sponsored by Fruitlove. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Five minutes. That's literally how much time my 17-year-old daughter takes to get ready for school in the morning. From the time she wakes up to the blaring ding of her alarm to walking out the front door, there isn't much lingering or deviation from any normal routine happening. Whirling dervish has been the term used to describe her since birth, and it's a term that's perfect to describe her now. Trust me, during those five minutes, you don't want to get in her way.
My fourteen-year-old son, on the other hand, likes to take his time. He will often set his alarm to give himself far more time than he needs to get ready in the morning, but I enjoy his more relaxed pace. It doesn't stress me out quite as much. I like to make sure both of my student-athletes walk out the door with plenty of on-the-go snacks like Fruitlove spoonable smoothies from Safeway {check out more details here} because it's often hours before they walk in the door of our house again. So what are the best snack ideas for kids and families on the go? I've got a list of my top five tips from years of feeding my on-the-go family. 

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The Best 5 Ingredient Crockpot Meals

Crockpot meals can be a lifesaver in the kitchen. However, sometimes you need something easy! Having a few recipes on hand that doesn’t require many ingredients can save you time and money in the kitchen. Save more money with your crockpot by adding some simple five-ingredient crockpot recipes to your meal plan! This will save you time preparing your food, and it will still taste just as good! Anyone who eats it won’t even know the difference! Fool your friends and family with these easy and straightforward crockpot meals. Here are the best five ingredient crockpot meals to make this week.

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So Which is Better, Cricut or Silhouette?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

I received a cutting machine for Christmas in 2010. I jumped onto the Silhouette bandwagon and knew for sure that this machine would take my crafting to a whole new level. And it has! At the time, Cricut had a cutting machine that was dependant on cartridges. I didn't like being limited in my designs. I liked the idea of having a design space that was only limited by my own imagination. That's not to say that there wasn't a steep learning curve. I'd spend days designing and creating birthday invitations for my daughter. At one point, I did the math and found that each invitation cost me around $115 to create!

I have watched Cricut grow and evolve through the years and from the sidelines, I saw them making some pretty amazing advancements for a cutting machine. Heck, a machine that could cut leather, fabric and felt? You've got my attention. Talk about upping your craft game! When Cricut invited me to try out one of their Cricut Explore Air™ 2 machine, and write an honest review, I jumped at the chance. So here you go, an honest review from someone who isn't new to the cutting machine game.

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10 Things I'm Buying on Amazon for Fall

It's time to get cozy and hunker down. Fall is here and while it may be unseasonably warm or cold where you live {I'm hearing rumblings of both!}, these are the things I'm wanting to buy on Amazon this fall so I'm ready for it. What's on your list?

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6 Simple Ways to Add Fixer Upper Style to Your Home This Fall

Adding seasonal décor to your home is a great way to update the look of each room without completely redecorating. And the fall is the perfect excuse to add a little bit of Fixer Upper style to your house! From natural touches to rustic finds, adding farmhouse style to your home is so easy. Here are six simple ways to add Fixer Upper style to your home this fall.

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I Was Wrong About Parenting Teenagers

We had only just met, but the first thing this mom of young girls said to me when she found out I had a 17-year-old daughter was "how bad is it?" It took me a second to figure out what she was talking about because it's been about a decade since I expressed my concern over raising teenagers with any of my friends. Once the lightbulb turned on and I realized what she was talking about, I went back to the mantra I repeat often with parents of young children and I said: "I was wrong about parenting teenagers." It's something I wish someone had told me when my three kids were younger, so now I feel like I mention this sentiment on repeat even when people don't ask for my opinion. 

I never was one to have a favorite stage of childhood. I grab infants from their parents at church, I make faces at the toddler in the grocery cart, I talk about books with the elementary-aged kid I see at the library. But if I'm honest, the people I like the most are teenagers. When I went to Ecuador with World Vision recently to watch the launch of their new Chosen campaign, I got on the ground with babies and zoomed cars around with toddlers. I taught school-aged kids how to play Jenga {they'd been playing it all wrong! What would they have ever done without me?} but it was the group of teenage volunteers that had me the most excited.

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Essential Packing List for Beaches Turks and Caicos and Other All-Inclusive Resorts

I'm excited to be heading to Beaches Turks and Caicos resort in a few days for a blog conference called Social Media on the Sand. With the experience from last year under our belt and handfuls of trips to other all-inclusive resorts {our favorite!}, I created an essential packing list for Beaches Turks and Caicos. You're going to want to take note if you are heading to Beaches or any other all-inclusive resort destination. You can thank me later!

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5 Popular Disney Money Saving Tips that Can Backfire

Taking a trip to Disney can quickly become a costly endeavor. While it can be expensive, there are also so many ways to maximize your Disney dollar and help you save money on your trip! However, there are a few money-saving tips that can quickly backfire and end up costing you more money! Here are five popular Disney money-saving tips that can backfire.

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Why Giving Kids Choices Matters

"You can choose this one or this one," I explained to my nearly three-year-old daughter, pointing to the two carefully selected {and matching} outfits I picked for her.  "I want these ones," she said, ignoring the two choices I had given her and pulling out her own option from several different drawers in her dresser as if she'd already planned the outfit out the night before. Many of our mornings ended in a power struggle over what my daughter was going to wear that day. On this particular fall day, she selected for herself a turquoise two-piece bathing suit, a navy blue pea coat, and a purple hat.  Welp, guess it's good we don't actually have to get out of the house today I thought, giving in once again. 

I didn't always give in but I knew how important it was to empower kids and let them have a choice. I wanted my kids to be able to make choices in the safety of our home. But what if kids were raised without having a choice? What if their life circumstances had taken away even their most basic choices? How could a child be preparing to make choices for their future if they weren't able to make decisions in the present?

Last week I was given the opportunity to travel with World Vision to Ecuador, where I got to see how one of the largest NGO's working in the world is empowering children and giving kids in extreme poverty the power of choice through a new initiative called Chosen.

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