6 Gifts that Keep on Giving

I don't think of myself as being hard to buy for. I like a lot of things and I'm not that hard to please. Probably my favorite gifts are those that make me know that someone was thinking about me. That could mean that they saw me in my wacky socks and knew I was a fan of bold prints, or they found something they loved themselves and thought that I might like it too. I put together this collection of six gifts that keep on giving because I wanted to share a few of my absolute favorite gifts. Each of these is gifts I could think of at least one or more people in my life would love just as much as I do. Many of the gifts either give back to a great cause or are subscriptions that will keep on giving all year long. Come check out the six gifts that keep on giving. I think you will love them as much as I do.

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Thinking Outside the Box: Gifts for Tweens and Teens That They Will Love!

This blog post is sponsored by LEGO. All opinions are my own.
I'm not sure I ever outgrew my love of toys. I had dolls on my Christmas list well into my teen years and then transitioned to working at a toy store through high school. In college, I got a bachelor's degree in child development and that really just allowed me to spend time playing with and observing kids until I had my own children. So if you're following me, I never quit playing with toys. Nope.  With the advance in technology, the time spent in childhood seems to be shrinking but thankfully, there are brands like LEGO that encourage kids to be kids. It's a brand that most of us grew up with and now we get the chance to share that with our children. 
Finding fun, engaging and unique toys for tweens and teens can be a bit challenging. There are plenty of toys that cater to younger children, but the market just seems to drop off. So how can you think outside of the box and come up with toys and gifts that will engage those tweens and teens? I've got a few ideas for you!

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Doing Good in Downtown Seattle

This time of year gets extra busy, so why not set aside 24 hours for a couples getaway? It's also the time of giving, so why not make the most of both and book an evening at the Charter Hotel Seattle, Curio Collection by Hilton and give back to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center with the Hilton Legacy Package.  I love being downtown and I love giving back, and we have all been affected by cancer in some way, so why not support this amazing partnership and enjoy your time in Seattle being pampered AND doing good.

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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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Kids These Days Are Inspiring Me to be Better

Thank you Allstate for sponsoring this post. I chose to write this post because doing good in local communities is at Allstate’s core.

Kids these days. Usually, that's a phrase older people say while shaking their head in frustration or disapproval of the younger generation. My generation though, the mamas of those kids, will be saying that phrase a little differently.

Heck, I'm already saying it differently. I'm saying it in awe and in reverence at the amazing things I'm seeing kids these days do. I see kids generously giving of their time to volunteer, kids embracing and accepting people who are different than they are, and kids advocating for social causes. Kids these days are saving the world and caring about the people who are in it. Kids these days are the next generation of leaders and change-makers and I for one don't want to stand in their way.

Kids these days are making me want to be better and it leaves me thinking that the future is bright. So, what is it about kids these days?

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