18 Fun Date Night In Ideas - Date Your Spouse Without Leaving Your House!

One thing that I've heard from many couples, that we try to follow, and I also give the advice to others is that you always need to continue to date your spouse. Don't ever lose that special spark between the two of you by always kindling that fire with fun times and special moments shared.

Dating your spouse sounds great, right? But we all know finding the time and hiring a babysitter isn't always a possibility. Here's the thing, dating doesn't have to be complicated. You don't have to do anything special. It doesn't have to mean getting gussied up and going out on the town - you can date your spouse at home.

Here's 18 ways you can plan the perfect date night in:

1. Turn your living room into a cozy indoor campground and snuggle up while telling stories.

2. Create a craft night - get creative with your boo and let it flow.

3. Get boozy and have a little cocktail sampler night, trying new beverages or your old favorites.

4. Set up a picnic in the backyard during the day and spoil each other with some foods that remind ou of your first dates.

5. Have a game night and let the competition heat things up.

6. Try something new with a little taste testing of something completely new for you guys, whether that be sushi or a new take on Korean bibimbap.

7. Stargaze and make wishes on 'shooting stars' even if you don't see any.

8. Take a trip down memory lane and look at old photos or pictures.

9. 'Go to The Game' in your own home, just DVR or watch a game live and chow down on hotdogs and nachos, maybe even surprise hubs with a beer in a cup that features his favorite team if you're feeling fancy.

10. Give each other some touch therapy! Google proper massage techniques and start rubbing!

11. Let your milkshake bring your boy to the yard, make special milkshakes or smoothies and sip with your sweetie.

12. Get into some Karaoke - Sing your heart out with no judgement, just check out youtube for your favorite songs and get to groovin' to your fav tunes!

13. Have an exclusive book club meeting, grab two of the same copies of a book from the library and read it together during the week and spend your 'date night' discussing.

14. Learn more about each other, take some personality tests online and share your results.

15. Plan your next vacation together, dream up the wildest places you could visit together or actually start booking the tickets - the choice is yours, just dream big together.

16. Redo something together, whether it's painting an old piece of furniture or reorganizing the pots and pans in your cabinets - spice things up by redoing something and making it feel new.

17. Stretch it out and renew yourselves together with some Yoga fun. Whether you are seasoned yogis or you've never even attempted to stretch, be sure to give this flexibility encouraging activity a try.

18. Make it a spa night with a bath bomb, face masks, and maybe even a steam facial - pamper both of yourselves with self-care.

Six Tips to Help You Reconnect with Your Spouse!

If you're a parent, more specifically a new parent, you know babies make your life SO full of joy, they bring so much love into our lives and well, they take up a LOT of our time too. While I love spending every second with Delainey, "I need coffee" has become my catch phrase and I have barely any time to do anything other than take care of her little wild child self, work, and well, frankly do anything more than breathe most days.

While life with a little nugget is challenging... it's a rewarding challenge and totally worth it! Another challenge I'm having lately is making sure I spend time with my husband, embracing our relationship, and never taking him for granted. I think most new parents can relate, while the love is there - it's hard to find the time to really have a deep conversation or spend time snuggled up binge watching Netflix like you used to, life is all about baby and while that's how it's supposed to be - it's also okay to love on each other some too.

So today, I'm sharing six tips to help you reconnect with your spouse! Whether or not you're a new parent or you are just looking for ways to show your other half some affection. I think you should go ahead and grab a cup of coffee and let's talk...

Tip 1: Schedule time together. I'm not saying you need to have a planner and stickers made just for a little chit-chat in the kitchen, but make plans to spend Saturday morning's drinking your coffee together while the little one is napping.

We personally like to sip on MAX Boost by MAXWELL HOUSE. Why? Because it's just the right amount of caffeine* to perk us up! MAX Boost gives us the little pep in our step we need to get through the day with our bundle of joy... and it's less expensive than our coffeehouse habit too! So, it's a win-win and so easy to make. I just pop a k-cup in and let it brew itself within seconds... amazing, delicious, and strong - just the way I like my coffee!

Tip 2: Get funny. Remember back in your school days when you had "inside jokes" with your best friends? Well, if you're like me, then your hubby is your best friend now... and those inside jokes are key to being able to make each other laugh, even on the toughest days.

Laughter is the best medicine, after all, especially as a new parent. Giggling at this "your mom" mug together like a couple of kids, is one of our little jokes we share.... because who doesn't secretly love a good "your mom" joke? Ha.

Moving on to Tip 3: Play games - Obviously not the bad kind you don't want in a relationship... I mean actual board games. Take advantage of an early bed time, maybe a nap time, or even just a little play time, to get your game on. Spend time enjoying the healthy competition and embrace the time together.

Tip 4: Thoughtful surprises - This tip, in my opinion, is the most important - it really shows you care. Do things like grab your love some roses or a new kind of coffee to try, I suggest the delicious MAX Indulge in Mocha + Salted Caramel. It’s easy next time you make a run to the store for a forgotten ingredient, grab something that makes you think of your love... or maybe take a second to leave a little note on the mirror in lipstick. It's the little things that make the difference, so no need to go grab an iPhone or a diamond ring to make your other half smile - just be sweet and think of your partner and I'm sure you'll come up with the perfect way to surprise them!

Tip 5: Talk it out - If  you don't agree on things, always try to talk it out. From parenting decisions to dinner plans, it's easy to debate and discuss and work things out. Communication is the key to a healthy relationship so be sure to take some time and talk about everything!

Tip 6: Take turns - Do something you know your partner will appreciate, like taking out the trash or waking up with the little one and making the first round of coffee. While it's not spending time together - it's helping each other and that's absolutely the sweetest gesture!

So, there you have it - 6 ways you can try and bring your partner and yourself closer. It's difficult being an adult and managing a tiny little life, but with the help of a little added caffeine* and some love and support from your spouse... it's a lot easier! Interested in trying the MAX Boost and MAX Indulge deliciousness we discussed today? Well, you can snag some of these goodies at your local Walmart for a great deal! With that said, which one will you try first?

So tell me, how do you like to connect with your other half? Do you love going to water parks together or are you more of a sit on the couch and enjoy a movie with your coffee type of couple? I'd love to hear all about your relationship in the comments below!

*1.75X More Caffeine means this product contains an average of 205mg caffeine  per serving compared to an average of 112mg caffeine of Arabica coffee.

10 Things Mindful People Do Differently

1. Nourish your body - Fuel your body with what it needs - sleep well, eat well, love well.

2. Don't always listen to yourself - Don't believe everything you think and don't ever take your thoughts too seriously. On that same note it's okay to listen to that inner voice, just don't let it hold you back from living.

3. Challenge your mindset - Don't get stuck in a rut. Try new things, do crosswords, read books, try to learn a new language. Keep your mind active and always be willing to listen to new ideas.

4. Laugh at yourself - It's okay to be ditzy, it's alright if you tripped in public... things happen. Mindful people know this and they let it go and learn to laugh, even when it's hard.

5. Don't avoid emotions, share your feelings and work through them - While mindful people laugh at their mistakes, they also own their sadness, their anger, etc. Be sure to voice your frustrations, hurts, and other emotional feelings in a productive way and work through them.

6. Listen with concentration to those around you - Intently listening will open so many doors, whether it's a new friendship or a business adventure - be sure to listen to those around you and be present.

7. Slow down and absorb information - Instead of rushing through life, checking notifications constantly, and speed reading each book you check out from the library - take some time to "smell the roses" as it were and allow yourself to slow down and enjoy life.

8. Stay curious - Spend time outdoors, do science experiments, and be a silly amount of curious at all times. Life should be fun so go down the less taken path and enjoy it.

9. Be aware that all things come and go and accept that fact - This may be the hardest part of being mindful for me. Knowing that things come and go allows you to accept life as it is and this makes living mindfully so much easier.

10. Allow yourself to take a break - While living mindfully is important, so is taking a break. It's okay to check out, turn your phone off, try not to think of anything, and just spend time in a quiet room meditating... it's actually what mindfully living is all about.

So tell me, do you live "mindfully"? I'd love to hear your intentional behaviors that help you to leave a more mindful life! Let 'em at me in the comments below!

*This post does contain affiliate links, regardless all opinions expressed above are my own.*

Mess Free "Finger Painting" - DIY DAD Father's Project

This post contains a few affiliate links, regardless all opinions expressed below are my own.

Making crafts is something I love to do with Lainey, I hope she always feels the same way. For now, we spend short little bits of time getting creative because well, she's a normal 9 month old and she likes to explore and then keep moving and exploring.

With that said, I wanted to try finger painting with her... but didn't want the mess of chasing her almost mobile self around the house with paint covered hands. SO, we got crafty and the end result is so cute. We made her daddy a little something special and she got to experience finger painting without the mess.

Hoping you can "finger paint" with your tiny tot? Here's one way you can make that happen, mess free!

For this project you will need:

Printer paper

Scissors
Non-toxic Paints in various colors

A box (or a piece of foam board would work too)
plastic wrap

To make this cute "DAD" sign you'll begin by placing two sheets of printer paper on the box or foam board.

Next add a few spots of paint on the paper, covering with plastic wrap fairly loosely, with one piece securing the paper horizontally and the other vertically.

Now, let your little one slap around on the paper - spreading the paint but not making a mess!

Once your little one is ready to move on to the next activity go ahead and clean up by removing the plastic wrap and placing the box in your recycling! Let your gorgeous creation dry, take a photo of babe with it, and have your sweetie hand it to Daddy on Father's Day.

I bet he'll cherish it and the coolest part is, it was mess free and fun to make! Now, if your little one is anything like Delainey, they're ready to move on to the next fun activity... so tell me, what kind of fun stuff do you and your little tike love doing? I'd love to hear all about it in the comments below!

Curious about Delainey Kate's outfits?

The blue flower bow is from 21 Blessings! You can score one of these beauties AND help fund the adoption of a sweet babe with down syndrome by clicking here. [save with the code 15Delainey].
Her tie dye shirt is made by mama & pants are second hand.

The dress in the other photos is from one of our favorite small shops - creekbaby & co. [use code CBCfriends to save].
Her precious mustard colored bow is from Accessories by Sabrina [mention code Delainey10 to save].
Lastly, those precious gladiators are from The Mini Princess Designs [and again, mention Delainey to save]!

The Perfect Sweet & Salty Treat: Chocolate Covered Potato Chips!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of SKOUT for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you the type of person who loves to snack on potato chips? Lately, I can relate - from indulging in hot dogs & a small bag of sour cream & onion chips, to making a dessert that involves just regular ol' original flavored potato chips, I've loved indulging in every single type of chip.

After deciding to partner with SKOUT to find some other potato chip lovers, I knew I had to share a favorite recipe of mine and it's so simple!

To make this sinfully delicious treat to share with all your friends you will need:

Original Flavor Potato Chips,

Dipping Chocolate,

& Colorful Sprinkles.

You'll begin by warming the chocolate 30 seconds on low heat (or defrost setting), stirring and heating again for 15 second intervals until it's fully melted.

Now dip each chip into the chocolate, submerging about half of the salty goodness into the sweet tasty chocolate.

Add sprinkles to each chip as you go & wait for the chocolate to set.

Serve & ENJOY!

It's that easy to make a treat every chip lover will adore! With the salty, deliciousness of original flavored potato chips and the rich, indulgence of the chocolate, it's like a snack and dessert at the same time. So delicious, so amazing, and so easy to make!

If you're wanting to make friends as easily as you made this little treat, check out SKOUT today! It's the leading global app for making new buddies and it's easy to use!

5 Powerful (and Simple) Ways to Improve Your Daily Life

This post was sponsored by Nature Made® as a part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central,
regardless all opinions expressed below are my own.

Now that I'm expecting staying healthy is a top priority for me (and my husband). Whether we're trying to implement easy new ways to fit in a little exercise or spending the entire day "nesting" and reorganizing our place, we're truly prepping ourselves and our lives for when the baby arrives. As you can imagine, we're super excited about this change in our life, so we decided to make a couple other changes in 2016:

It all started with taking vitamins. It's a simple step but with just the right nutrients for each of our bodies, Nature Made Prenatal Multi Vitamin with DHA for myself and Nature Made Super B-Complex for him, it's been hugely beneficial. Want to know the best part? It's easy to add this simple step into your daily routine, with a quick trip to Walmart you can start taking the #1 best selling brand for vitamins, minerals and supplements and change your life for the better today (without breaking the bank).

Another fairly simple change to our routine in 2016 has been spending more time outdoors. Soaking up a little bit of sun, taking deep breaths of fresh air, and reading a book to gain a bit of knowledge while chilling on our back porch has been a great contrast to binge watching TV on Netflix.

Before I mentioned that we are finding new ways to exercise this year as well, you can check out more information on one of my favorite ways to exercise here.

I also mentioned that "we've" been nesting. From decluttering spaces to rearranging furniture, we're stirring things up in our home and the benefits are tremendous. We're scrubbing, sweeping, and ridding the house of unnecessary items and it feels so good! Here's a few examples of how spring cleaning can be cute and fun.

The last step we've taken is one of the simplest but truly important, we're taking more time to talk with each other. We're talking about the little things like how our poodle is obsessed with hunting lizards while we sit on our patio to the significant things like how we plan to parent our child... It's been nice to take a little extra time to connect purposefully this year and it's something I suggest any couple make an effort to do.

Are you wanting to make a change to your daily routine that will benefit you for years to come? Click here to find out which Nature Made vitamin is right for you and you can sign up to receive daily "boosts" from Nature Made! It's that easy to make 2016 healthier year for you and your family. Plus, use the form below to register for your chance to win 1 of 20 $50 Walmart gift cards!

Nature Made Wellness 4

*I-C will randomly select 20 winners from all program entries and will handle fulfillment of the winning prizes.

FINALLY Sharing My Little Valentine's Day Secret!

You may have noticed I've been a little quiet around here lately; I'm going to be honest with you today, I've been doing my best to share awesomeness with you as often as possible, but I've been busy & I may have been keeping a little bit of a secret from you...

I'm super excited to share that we are finally expecting! Little Baby Harmon is due in September 2016 and both my husband and I are thrilled! We went home earlier this month to share our news with our family and some close family friends but I wanted to make things official and share on our blog... if I could, I'd probably shout it from a mountain top as well. I'm that excited!

If you've been following the blog recently, you may have read that we have been longing to have a little one... So as you would expect, I'm super excited to share our journey into parenthood with you! Speaking of sharing, here's our first ultrasound from when we first found out in January!

Other than a sonogram photo of our baby from a few weeks I go, I'm not sure what to share as of yet... We're going to see the doc again tomorrow so I'll have a better update soon!

For now I'll start with a little bit about the pregnancy so far: I've been SO sick, it's insane. Morning, afternoon, and evening sickness almost every day, but it'll totally be worth it! When I'm not feeling sick, I'm craving foods that satisfy my sweet tooth and oddly, mashed potatoes are a normal craving as well! My spicy food craze that I've had my entire life has come to a screeching halt and I'm suddenly craving less seasoning and meals toddlers would enjoy like chicken tenders and mac & cheese!

Beyond my sickness and cravings, we're super excited to find out if we are having a boy or a girl, as most couples are in the early months of pregnancy! While we're imagining whether we'll be buying little bows and pearls or tiny little toy cars and water guns, we're also starting to pick out names, nursery themes, and all the fun stuff we think we may want to add to the baby registry! As you can tell, we're both just a little overjoyed!

So, if you have any excellent parenting advice, tips for items we must have as new parents, or you just want to share some exciting news with me, I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!


OH & by the way, Happy Valentine's Day! It's an especially happy holiday in our house this year!

Enlightenment, Entitlement and Encouragement

I've always been a pretty big fan of Humans of New York and the messages they share. With so much enlightenment and wisdom in each post, whether it's about an elderly lady embracing her unique sense of style or a young life-saving Surgeon saying he "only handles small procedures"; there's always some sort of deep and sometimes mind-expanding message and many, many feelings inspired by their posts.

So when I saw this simple photo of a young woman's hands kind of questioning the world, I knew this post would be interesting. Let me go off on a tangent and just say that I love the photos without faces, the stories seem to be deeper and more relatable... Regardless, this post about life and the sense of entitlement that some seem to feel really hit home with me and inspired me to expand on the topic somewhat.

“I think I felt entitled to success because I’m smart and I’m good at stuff and I work hard. Maybe ‘entitled’ isn’t the...
Posted by Humans of New York on Saturday, January 16, 2016

Here in America, raised in the millennial generation, we grew up with a community telling us "we can be anything we want to be" since the time we were born, entitlement is just part of our upbringing. Even though we feel like the world should be served to us on a silver platter, life just doesn't happen that way and most of us figure that out with time. But for some reason, I feel compelled to give a little bit of advice today - for anyone working towards their goals in life, whatever they may be.

We all need to realize we need to work to become who we want to be, we need determination and drive to make things happen, and simply put, things don't just happen, we have to make them happen. We need to push ourselves, step outside of our comfort zones, and occasionally, we need to fail to succeed. I'm still learning these lessons myself; but after having a successful year in 2015, I've truly learned the importance of hard work and determination.

I'll be the first to admit that I went through many stages over the past few years where I wasn't really succeeding with blogging and/or self employment in general and I probably should have been putting my effort into other endeavors to actually help support myself & my husband. But alas, I'm a stubborn broad and I was determined to make this work and I did... but it was with a lot of effort and, I won't lie, some tears were involved too.

I can remember several people telling me to "get a job" ... and to be honest, I probably should have. But I knew with enough determination I would make things happen. I didn't feel entitled to receive money based on my blog, but I knew that if I worked hard enough at my craft... I would gain readers (like you - side note: I truly appreciate you), I would be able to work with companies, and eventually I would make an income doing something I love.

Sharing stories and my feelings with you is something that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, I found my happy place right here on the internet and I'm so proud of myself for working so hard to make things happen exactly as I wanted... but I still struggle with entitlement some days, as we all do and reality often bites me in the butt when I'm feeling that way. Luckily, even with reality's cold hard truth hitting some days, I know that committing to a goal and finally achieving that goal is the most rewarding experience I've ever felt so I keep on keeping on and so far my hard work has really paid off.

Instead of rambling on about determination, I guess what I'm saying is this: you CAN be anything you want to be and accomplish practically anything... IF, and only if, you are determined enough to make it happen. While I love encouraging kids to follow their dreams, THIS is what we should be teaching the next generation.

So tell me, what goals are you working towards in 2016? Do you have a 10-year plan that involves accomplishing some great feats? I'd love to hear all about your life, your determination, and your plans in the comments below... Plus, if you have any tips on learning to focus and achieve your goals I'm dying to hear all about them!

DIY Beach Kits for Guys: The Perfect Simple Little Gift for Him + a Great Way to Drop a Vacation Hint!

I know I say this often, but I love where I live... Florida is amazing. It's "winter" in the rest of the United States, but here in Florida we are basically living the islander lifestyle with our own separate climate! The sun is still shining and we're soaking up the UV rays all day long, with the temperature steadily sitting at a super comfortable 80+ degrees. I'm not going to lie, it's pretty much paradise here the last few weeks and I'm feeling super blessed.

I'm really trying not to rub it in though, I've lived through brutal winter weather (and even a few blizzards) before moving to paradise and I know how beautiful snow can be... But let's get real, I completely prefer a white sandy beach over a snow covered landscape any day! If you're anything like me and you don't already live here, you're likely plotting your next escape from the cold and I don't blame you one bit! Dreaming of warmer places and eventually getting to stick my toes in the sand are the only things that kept me sane while wearing snow boots and ear muffs back when I lived in the Midwest!

Whether you want a fun way to hint to your hubby that you're ready for a vacay or if you're planning a sunny stay over the holidays, I have a super fun gift idea to share! These little "dude friendly" beach kits are the perfect way to treat a man and his friends to everything guys love!

While I could have included a little bit of anything and most guys would have been happy, I think the items I decided to include are the perfect little gift items for any dude - everything a guy could want while chilling on the beach! You can gift this to your dad, your brother, or your lover and they'll all appreciate what's inside!

Speaking of what's inside, I suppose I should give you all the details on how you can make this super simple little beach kit for all the gentlemen in your life. You'll want to grab a few packs of Cubero Cigars from the convenience store, these are the most unqiue way to make sure the guys have a good time! Cubero's are natural leaf cigarillos with the perfect fusion of flavors (especially for those with sophisticated palettes) and quality satisfaction without breaking the bank!

With a variety of flavors to choose from, I decided to go with the Wine flavor, blend No. 7. Although 7 is a lucky number, what really enticed me about the Cubero Wine Cigar was the description! With naturally sweet tobacco, a distinct grape flavor, and an oak-like nuance - I'm pretty sure I chose the perfect cigar! While I won't be partaking in any cigar smoking, I love that I was able to stock up on these, so when hubby has friends in town & they need a boy's day at the beach they're all set. Do you want to sign up for free coupons and find a retailer near you that carries these special little treats? You'll want to visit Cubero Cigars website here!

After your cigar situation is taken care of, you'll want to shop for a handful of mini bar size nips at the liquor store... I think the reasoning behind this is obvious. I also suggest grabbing some soda to pair with the shots!

After your trip to the liquor store, you'll need to make a quick stop and grab a handful of koozies to keep the guys' drinks cool while lounging on the beach! You'll also want to grab little travel size deodorants and mints because we all know how stinky boys can get! Lastly, you'll want to supply him with protection - errr, not that kind of protection though... I'm talking sunglasses and a little travel size sunscreen, the two main things a dude really needs while at the beach and the two things they probably forget the most!

Now I've got a stack of these waiting for our guy friends that come visit us...

While these little beach kits are mostly intended for our house guests, I think they'll make awesome "stocking stuffer gifts" as well... I'm actually giving one to hubby instead of filling his stocking this year and I think he's most excited to get his hands on the Cubero cigars!

So, whether you and your man are both trying to quench your thirst for travel or actually booking your ticket, these little reminders of the beach will be an amazing gift for the surfer dude in your life!

Now that I've shared a fun, beachy gift idea for him. I'd love to hear where your next sunny vacation destination will be? Do you want to build a little beach kit for your man to enjoy while you are there? Don't forget to stock up on all the essentials!

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Scandinavian Tobacco Group, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #masteryourblend  http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV”