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The Dwell Hotel, Chattanooga

November 10, 2016

Before visiting Chattanooga I had researched a few hotels in the area. My husband and I love to stay in boutique hotels when possible because they are usually independently owned and provide more intimacy over a larger chain. The Dwell Hotel is newly renovated and reopened in 2016. It’s the brainchild of Seija Ojanpera, a worldwide traveler with a background in the service industry. The hotel is now head to toe mid-century modern with a touch of old Hollywood glam.

Conveniently located to several restaurants and Warehouse Row, The Dwell Hotel offers exceptional service, a friendly staff, valet parking and incredible attention to detail. The bright colors and pleasant decor throughout the hotel bring instant happiness.

Each room is uniquely designed and different. With the original floors and bones of the building still intact, it feels like you’re staying in a bed and breakfast. We stayed in the New Yorker King Balcony Suite which has a sitting area, gas fireplace, downtown views, a soaking tub and a stand alone shower. I immediately fell in love with the bright orange and green colors that filled the room. There was even prosecco waiting for us upon our arrival (it was our anniversary weekend). I spent a good hour soaking in the amazing tub and sipping champagne nearly every day. I loved the overall relaxing vibe from our room.

Not only were we thrilled with our room and the wonderful service, but the downstairs bar and restaurant were equally as inviting. Matilda Midnight offers several specialty cocktails and appetizers that definitely hit the spot before a night out or as a night cap. I highly recommend the Pommes Frites and Spinach & Goat Cheese Cigars. The Magician craft cocktail definitely caught my eye with melon vodka, honeydew shrub, cocchi rosa and blue curacao. I love that the bar sits so conveniently hidden behind the lobby and gives guests a sense of privacy from the outside.

Located on the main floor of the Dwell is Terra Mae. With an adorable mix of retro furniture and beautiful paintings, the decor is almost as good as the food. Their menu aims to please and has everything from Belgium Waffles to Pork Cheek Benedict. Brunch at Terra Mae had me wish I was staying another night so I could indulge just one more morning. Another plus side to staying at the Dwell, the amazing breakfast is included in your stay.

If your travel plans take you to Chattanooga anytime soon, you must stay at The Dwell Hotel. It was by far the highlight of our entire trip and one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever stayed at. I cannot wait to return!

*Our stay was in partnership with the Dwell Hotel. As always, all opinions expressed are my own*

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Local Eats: Stir, Chattanooga

November 7, 2016

For our 5th wedding anniversary, my husband and I took a short weekend getaway to Chattanooga. Our first night there we had the privilege of eating at an amazing restaurant called Stir. Located on Market Street, Stir offers modern American eats, craft cocktails and a full Oyster bar. They use farm fresh, local ingredients and make everything from scratch in-house.

Stir is known for their artesianal ice and they demonstrate the process right at your table. The ice melts at a slower pace so your drinks stay colder and stronger for longer. The spherical ice ball maker is so fun to watch in action and if you have kids in your group, they will love it. All of the bartenders are so knowledgable about what they’re serving and really put in the time to make sure each drink is quality. Stir could easily survive as a craft-cocktail establishment. I started off with the Whiskey Bramble (bourbon, cherry amarascata, lemon juice, orange blossom water and sugar can syrup). I could have enjoyed them all night because those flavors together were impressive. My husband stuck with the George Dickel Barrel select and water. The drink menu at Stir is astounding. With over 300+ liquors, wine, and beer to choose from, there is something for everyone. buy tenormin online https://blackmenheal.org/wp-content/languages/new/tenormin.html no prescription

Our appetizers were the Fried Oysters Casino (bacon, parmesan, green onions, garlic, shallot and butter atop fried oysters) and the Crab Bisque (crab, sherry, basil oil, crostini, celery leaves and micro greens). Even people who don’t like oysters and crab will love these small plates. The bisque was rich, creamy and filling: perfect as a starter and for sharing. And anything with bacon, parmesan, and garlic is a win in my book. For some fun while waiting the food at the restaurant, visit dadu online and play some of their games, buy tricor online https://blackmenheal.org/wp-content/languages/new/tricor.html no prescription

If you’re a long-time reader of my blog, you know that I cannot say no to anything with scallops. Naturally, I chose the Scallop & Shrimp Mac and Cheese (cavatappi pasta, asparagus, and white truffle oil) and was blown away by all the rich flavors. The pasta dish has a generous amount of seafood and the noodles and cheese combination was out of this world. This is one of those recipes where all the ingredients truly mesh well together. I cut up the shrimp and scallops so that each bite had a little bit of everything. If I lived closer to Chattanooga I would have to get this dish once a week. My husband chose the Seared Tuna with kale, bacon, red onion, farro, basil, and sriracha potato crumbles in a citrus soy sauce. Like all their other seafood, the Tuna was fresh and seared nicely. The kale salad was phenomenal and my husband and I are not even huge kale fans. We loved the unique pairings of that dish more than anything else we tried. buy valtrex online https://blackmenheal.org/wp-content/languages/new/valtrex.html no prescription

If you are local to the Chattanooga area or plan on taking a trip there, do yourself a favor and indulge in Stir for a meal you won’t forget.

*Our meal & drinks were provided by Stir. As always, all opinions expressed are my own*

Toddler Feeding Essentials

November 4, 2016

I’m not really sure how, but Evelyn will be 2 in just over two months. She has fully embraced her independence which includes jumping off the furniture, taking her diaper off, and eating by herself. I have been testing out several different dishes and feeding sets and have rounded up my top three today. As far as sippy cups go, we are still loving these five from a few months ago.

These Nuby Stackable Bowls are so great for preparing and portioning out food to store in your fridge or pantry. I prep on Sunday with veggies, fruit or chicken so that I can easily grab healthy snacks for the kids when they are hungry and I don’t have to worry about chopping and prepping food 75 times a day. They are also ideal for road trips and park play dates. The set comes with 2 long handled spoons which are perfect for Evelyn since she is still getting accustomed to feeding herself. buy vidalista online https://blackmenheal.org/wp-content/languages/new/vidalista.html no prescription

This Zoli suction bowl feeding kit is perfect for kids like mine who love to dump their food out and throw the dish on the floor. The suction grip is so strong and definitely toddler proof. I love the divided tray which sits on top of the bowl. I use this most often if I have a sitter coming over and need to prepare dinner for the kids ahead of time. I usually add some spaghetti or other pasta in the bowl and then fruit, veggies and pepperoni in the divided tray. It’s perfectly proportioned and the silverware are great for little hands. buy vilitra online https://blackmenheal.org/wp-content/languages/new/vilitra.html no prescription

We have been trying to teach Evelyn how to use a plate for food and not throwing. So far none have passed the test except this one from B.Box Baby. Is has a non slip base, easy grip handles and is super thing for storing and stacking. They come in four fun colors and have matching beginner toddler cutlery sets to match.

Are there any toddler feeding items that you swear by? Let me know in the comments below!

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Little Red Riding Hood & The Big Bad Wolf

October 31, 2016

October has officially been the fastest month of the year. I cannot believe today is Halloween. We’ve done so many fun things this month and it’s so true that having kids makes the holidays that more fun. For the Henry & Evelyn’s duo costume this year, I chose Little Red Riding Hood & The Big Bad Wolf. It was so much fun collecting pieces to make the costumes complete. Henry’s amazing wolf hat is from Etsy as is Evelyn’s apron but everything else was found at local stores (Target mostly). This is the costume I’ve been most excited about and I love the way it turned out. What are your kids being for Halloween this year?

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Stocking Stuffers for Moms

October 28, 2016

I know that Halloween isn’t even behind us yet but I feel that as soon as November 1st hits, the holiday season seems to come and go so fast. It’s never too early to get a jump-start on your holiday shopping. I usually start selecting gifts around September to save for Christmas so that I don’t feel overwhelmed. I am currently loving these small items and they would make great stocking stuffers for moms or any lady in your life.

Baitx Made Soy Candle – I have a slight obsessed with amazing smells and always have a candle burning in my house. This new line out of California offers hand poured, phthalate free soy candles. They come in 2 sizes: 12 ounces or 4 ounces. If you have a candle lover in your life, this is the shop for her!

Nail Polish – Most moms are often too busy to enjoy a manicure, trust me. I think I only get my nails done 3 times a year. I often do them myself in the car on the way to dinner or once the kids have gone to bed. Shop Wrenn is known for their jewelry but has recently added some wonderful polish to their line. I love that it dries fast and is 5-free which means they left out the most common ingredients found in nail polish that has been linked to cancer: Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin and Camphor. buy celexa online https://blackmenheal.org/wp-content/languages/new/celexa.html no prescription

Lip Balm – This Rose Albeit Lip Balm has a sheer, floral scent and is blended with argan and marula oils. It is perfect for moms on the go who don’t have time to fuss with heavy makeup. Grab a couple so she can keep one in her diaper bag purse and car!

Fashionable Teething Necklace – I love how talented moms are turning teething accessories into fashionable jewelry for moms to wear. I love when an item can be functional without losing its style. The Mama Tribe Designs offers the most adorable, modern necklaces for your babies to chew on. They have a wide variety of shapes and colors and the silicone beads are perfect for soothing your little one’s gums. buy desyrel online https://blackmenheal.org/wp-content/languages/new/desyrel.html no prescription

Desk Accessory – Everyone needs a little reminder that they are doing okay, especially moms. Mom Guilt is a legit worry since we’re responsible for raising decent humans that the world will have to live with. I love these inspirational paperweights from Sugarboo Designs, especially the Dalai Lama verse which I keep on my nightstand table as a reminder: There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live. buy diflucan online https://blackmenheal.org/wp-content/languages/new/diflucan.html no prescription

Playground Style

October 27, 2016

Now that the weather has finally cooled off and I don’t melt every time I step outside, we have been spending more time outdoors. We are lucky enough to have a big yard for the kids to play in and Henry loves to spend hours out there after school. We have a swingset, sandbox, and two hot wheels so there is plenty for the kids to do to get some energy out. Evelyn is finally old enough to sit in a bucket swing and not the infant one and loves to be pushed. All. day. long. I swear I need a robot to just stand there and push her. In all seriousness though, how could I ever say no to that happy face?? buy effexor online https://blackmenheal.org/wp-content/languages/new/effexor.html no prescription

It can be hard to find for us girl moms to find cute playground clothes. I don’t want to sacrifice style just because my daughter wants to play outside and I also want something that is durable and comfortable. Recently I came across an adorable line of cotton rompers by Young & Free Apparel. They are so perfect for climbing, running, jumping, etc. I love how the romper is full body and completely covers Evelyn’s legs so that she doesn’t get any scratches from branches or rocks. Also, it comes in black (my favorite) and easily hides stains and spills.

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{headband // romper (c/o) // shoes}

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Halloween Toddler Activities!

October 25, 2016

Happy Tuesday, everyone! In case you missed the memo, Halloween is in SIX days! Our house has been decked out all month long and my 4-year-old wants to wear his costumes for book week day and night. The older he gets the more he can participate in festive actives which is why he usually has a few costumes to choose from. This week there are so many fun activities planned for kids in our area and I’m sharing a few of them with you so you can have a week-long Halloween celebration too!

Kroger Moonlight Madness: Several Kroger stores in the Atlanta area will be participating in a fun Moonlight Madness event this Thursday, October 27 from 4pm-7pm. Different stores throughout Atlanta will have a costume contest for kids, trick or treat at different departments, cake walk, pumpkin carving contest, cookie decoration station, a scavenger hunt, and lots of samples. The best part? It’s totally free to attend. Since we regularly shop at Kroger and it’s down the street from us, we will definitely be taking the kids there this week. We love a reason to get out of the house during their witching hours anyway!

Pumpkin Patch/Carving: Probably the most comment activity to experience with your kids in the Fall. We love to go at the beginning of the month so we can enjoy our pumpkins for all of October. We wait until just a few days before Halloween to carve them so they don’t rot. Since Halloween falls on a Monday this year, we will be carving up ours this weekend. And when I say we, I mean my husband. The kids will be painting pumpkins 🙂

Trunk or Treat: Plenty of churches and police stations host Trunk or Treats the week leading up to Halloween. They’re typically free and it’s a great way to interact with your community. Our local PD decorates squad cards, has a bounce house, prizes and even has the fire station come with a fire truck. This year the kids costumes will be very appropriate for the police station and I’m sure Henry will enjoy telling everyone that Evelyn is a criminal.

Halloween Movie Night: There are so many new and classic kid friendly Halloween movies and I love that Freeform (formerly ABC Family) plays a different one each night up until Halloween. Some of our families favorites include: Hocus Pocus, The Adams Family, It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, Bedknobs & Broomsticks, Room on the Broom, Scared Shrekless, Mickey’s Monster Musical, and Hotel Transylvania. We always spend Halloween Eve watching festive movies and eating fun snacks, like Happy Halloween donuts from our favorite local bakery. Do you have any Halloween traditions or activities that you love doing as a family? Let me know in the comments below and happy haunting!

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

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