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This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com, but all opinions are my own.

The HOLIDAYS are here and even though I, as well as many of you, love them there’s always the uncertainty of what to get our loved ones. I have partnered with Babbleboxx.com to give you some really awesome ideas. All of these items I’m about to talk about are gifts I personally would love to get and I really like that they are not your typical gift like a scarf or gloves. These will be a big hit this Holiday!

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 1. Waterpik: Complete Care 5.0 Water Flosser and Sonic Toothbrush

Ok, I know what you are thinking – a toothbrush… as a gift???? YES! Because this isn’t your average toothbrush – this Complete Care Water Flosser offers brushing and flossing in one device with a Water Flosser and Triple Sonic Toothbrush. I never used one of these prior to receiving this and it’s a game changer. My teeth feel so much cleaner and I can’t believe I didn’t get one of these sooner. Click HERE for more information – maybe you will pick one up for yourself too.

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2. Artic Cool – Instant Cooling Shirt 

The Arctic Cool Instant Cooling Shirt uses HydroFreeze X, a fiberbased, cooling management system, to move moisture away from the skin and lower the temperature of the fabric so you can keep active and keep cool. Their apparel line has everything from tees to tanks to multiple accessories for both men and women. This would be the perfect gift for anyone in your family who loves to workout or is into activewear and gym wear. Click HERE for more information on their products.

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3. Le Tote Fashion Subscription Box / Gift Cards

This is the gift that keeps on giving for the fashion lover in your life. I’m a fan of subscription boxes in general but a Fashion subscription box?? Count me in. Basically how their program works is Members can choose to swap items ahead of delivery and keep them as long as they like. Once they are done enjoying their tote, they simply return it to receive another. Members also have an option to purchase items for 20-50 percent off retail. The box starts at $59.99 and since they work with some great brands, such as Vince Camuto, BCBGeneration and Kate Spade, you know you will receive some really chic items. I have had nothing but a great experience using their service and even purchased  a Jessica Simpson purse that was sent. Click HERE for more information.

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4. 23andMe: DNA Ancestry Kit

This might be my favorite item on this list! I think being able to find out more information about your ancestory and the genetic connection you share is beyond awesome. 23andMe believes the best gift you can give (or get!) is the chance to understand what makes someone who they are. I did this and it was super quick to send the information back out to them. It takes 6-8 weeks to get the results and I cannot wait to see! 23andMe has special holiday offers now through Dec 26th. Click HERE to see offers and order kits for yourself or your family today!

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5. Sabon: Cheers to Rose Tea Kit

One sniff and you will fall in love with this set from Sabon. This is their best-selling Body Scrub and Body Lotion packaged in a limited edition Holiday gift box. I love bath & shower products and the scent of this one makes it the ultimate gift for the beauty lover in your life. The size also makes it perfect for when on the go. Check them out HERE.

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6. Sandisk: iXpand Base

Looking for the perfect gift for the tech lover in your life – here it is! SanDisk iXpand Base is a unique, hassle-free solution that lets iPhone users automatically save photos, videos and contacts, all while charging their device. Designed with a compact form factor, iXpand Base can easily sit on a nightstand or desk, which keeps it readily available for users when their iPhone is running low on battery. I am all about an external storage and backup at the palm of my hands and that is travel friendly. I recently brought this with me to Quebec City and it was super convenient and gave me peace of mind that my pictures were stored. Click HERE for more information.

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7. FUJIFILM instax® SHARE SP-3 SQ printer

 FUJIFILM instax® SHARE SP-3 SQ printer allows you to print any photo taken with your smartphone on FUJIFILM instax® SQUARE film via the instax SHARE app. You can also print directly from some of your favorite social media sites like Instagram and Facebook. I really love this printer and think whoever receives it can do a lot of cool things with the prints. I printed out a bunch of my favorite Paris pictures and have them hanging in my office. Creating a cool photo book is a great idea too. Click HERE for more information.

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On November 8, 2017 ‘A Night for Puerto Rico’ was held at the beautiful Crystal Plaza in Livingston, NJ.

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‘A Night for Puerto Rico’ was an evening where we could get together to celebrate our love for an island that so many of us consider a second home as well as to raise money to help rebuild and help as many people as we could. 100% of the proceeds were donated to two local charities that are doing so much to help the people of Puerto Rico and have been since the day Hurricane Maria made landfall:

Hispanic Law Enforcement Society of Essex County & Tainas Undias

When the idea of hosting something to raise money for Puerto Rico popped into my mind, I wasn’t really sure what to expect or really how everything would come together… I just knew I had to help in some way. I am beyond proud of how everything came out but also THANKFUL.Thankful that so many people came out to support this event that Lissy and I put in countless hours to plan as well so many companies, brands and vendors that donated their time and merchandise to help us raise the most money possible.

Do you want to know how much we raised?!

$10,680!!!!

We were able to raise this amount because of the team that we had behind us supporting us in any way they could. I have to send a special thank you to the Janoff Family, who own and operate the Crystal Plaza, Marisol Alvarez (my mom) for the amazing decor, Robert Alvarez, owner of RAD Rhythms, for the great music, Mystical Entertainment for providing a photo booth for the evening with an incredible flower wall as the backdrop and a few of our family and friends who helped at the door. I also have to thank each and every person who donated monetarily or purchased a ticket to attend – because of you ‘A Night for Puerto Rico’ was possible.

I also owe endless thanks to all of the people and brands who donated an item to the tricky tray portion of the evening: (In no particular order) K. Macken Landscaping, The Lantern Fest, Lure Lash, Neiman Marcus Short Hills, Liberty Science Center, Montclair Museum, Melz Photography, Brooklyn Brewery, NY Red Bulls, Nubian Heritage, Munchkin, Aldo + Christina Sanchez, IT Cosmetics, Megan + Anthony Rivera, Nourished Meal Prep,  Jocelyn Russo Group, Ryan Udvarhely, Cafe Bustelo, Cyndee Rodriguez Johnson, Fitness 121, Amanda Charise Rivera, Michele Kozlow + Tommy Hilfiger Stores #230/ #188, BLO Lounge, Maria Alvarez Jamberry, Lucia Viola, Michelle Reyes, KARMA for a cure, Bloomingdales Short Hills, Craig Brady Jewelry, Away Luggage, Emily Ackerman and Maeve Grey.

We also had a great set of vendors that participated in the evening – The Favor Studio, Mary K by Christine, Mecca Medical, Dot Dot Smile by Patrice, LuLaRoe by Sabrina, Deux Amies USA, Candles by Jennifer, LuLaRoe by Surelle, and Stikz Cigar Lounge. 

Here are a few photos from the evening:

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AN UNENDING COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING

October 10th is World Mental Health Awareness Day! More than 450 million people worldwide suffer from mild to serious mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, self–esteem and financial stress – all of which disproportionately affect women around the world. Recognizing that mental health issues are one of the greatest challenges women face, Philosophy created the hope & grace initiative which pledges an unending commitment to support mental health and well being. Previously celebrity ambassadors such as Ellen Pompeo and Zelda Williams have endorsed the program.

Through inspired action, Philosophy encourages the practice of self-care, not only in soothing and replenishing the skin, but the mind and soul as well. We would love for you to take the time out of your day on World Mental Health Day with us to restore you mind with these tips from Gabrielle Bernstein, best-selling author, meditation expert, and speaker brought to you by glamour.com –

  1. Begin each day positively. Happiness is your choice, so if you wake up feeling grumpy, remember that you can choose to be happy.
  2. Think of yourself as a lighthouse: It’s OK to feel your feelings, good or bad (in fact, it’s much better than disassociating from them), but use the lighthouse idea to rise above the trauma in your life and allow it to flow freely around you.
  3. Move. The human body needs to move, and movement is imperative for the lymphatic system to work properly and to oxygenate your cells. Bounce, jump, dance, or do whatever it takes to move the tension out of your body and get your blood flowing. 

Recently, Philosophy and the hope & grace initiative for women’s mental health hosted a discussion focused on re framing well being as a key to resilience and change alongside  Monica Seles, 9-time Grand Slam singles tennis champion; former World No. 1; Wellness expert Stephanie Covington, PhD., Co-Director of the Center for Gender & Justice; Kavita Beri, MD, Fellow, Regenerative Cosmetics at TRI Princeton; and Marie-Pierre Stark-Flora, Global SVP, philosophy at Coty, Inc. spoke at the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society in Paris, France. It is here the panel discussed ways to amplify the conversation around women’s mental health.

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Where there’s hope, there’s grace. The hope & grace initiative represents an unprecedented and unending commitment by Philosophy to support mental health and well-being. Mental health issues are one of the greatest challenges women face. More than 450 million people worldwide suffer from mild to serious mental health issues – such as post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, self–esteem and financial stress – all of which disproportionately affect women around the world. With the initiative, philosophy becomes the first company to place a deep focus on this important cause and the first major beauty company to make a brand-wide commitment to dedicate 1% of its sales toward the cause. 

For every product sold (this includes all products, no limitations), Philosophy will contribute 1% of sales to the hope and grace fund, and will award multiple financial grants each year to local organizations working to empower women through promotion of mental health and well being, and the prevention and treatment of related issues.

The majority of funding from the hope and grace initiative will support community-based programs doing the most good in mental health and well being. The funds will be distributed by an independent nonprofit organization with guidance from the world’s leading practitioners and experts in mental health and well being. With an average grant size of us $25,000-$75,000, the fund will support hundreds of organizations each year and touch thousands of lives.

The priority focus for the hope & grace fund is to support community based mental health efforts working to overcome barriers to and stigma around seeking treatment for mental health issues, providing access to mental health treatment, and fostering support networks for women with mental illness.

The funds are administered by the new venture fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to supporting innovative and effective public interest projects. We accept one proposal per group, per fiscal year (June 1st – June 31st). you must be a registered 501(c) public charity to apply. to apply, please contact hopeandgracefund@newventurefund.org

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Shortly after having Victor I realized how important it was to have a nighttime routine for your little ones. It really sets the tone for bedtime and I think it eventually helps them transition into becoming better sleepers as well as helps form good habits for them as they get older. These products are my daily GO TO for Victor. As a first time mom I literally tried out and went through dozens of different brands before really falling in love and trusting everything listed here.

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As you can see, I don’t just have 1 favorite for his bath products. We are in love with all 3 of these brands and rotate them frequently.

Live Clean Baby – I was introduced to this brand a few months back and we instantly fell in love. The formula is mild which is perfect for sensitive skin and is not drying. All of their products are free of harsh chemicals, organic and cruelty free. I absolutely LOVE the way it leaves my son smelling after bath time, very fresh and clean.

Babyganics – This brand has so many great products for children. Their bubble bath is our go to, just a little goes a long way. It’s super gentle, tear free and made with some great organic ingredients. They also carry their products in travel size which is a lifesaver for when on the go.

Shea Moisture Baby – This brand is a major staple in our home for not only Victor but for myself also. While all of their products for Baby & Kids are great, our favorite hands down is the Manuka Honey & Provence Lavender. The formula is super hydrating and the Lavender and Ylang Ylang not only smell amazing but help unwind and bring a sense of calm before bed. The slumber mist is one of our favorites from this collection.

Elderberry – Victor takes a spoon of Elderberry twice a day, once in the AM and before bath time. We purchase from a local small business as they do the production and selling themselves. Elderberry is a great immunity booster which is why we use it daily. Elderberries are high in Vitamin C and also contain Vitamin A, B6 and Iron. The syrup is made with a blend of organic honey, cloves and allspice. (Please make sure to do your own research on Elderberry before using and I want to note it should not be used on children under the age of 1)

hello Kids Toothpaste – I was on the hunt for a fluoride free toothpaste and this is the winner. Victor loves the taste and it’s free of artificial sweeteners, flavors and dyes and is paraben free. It also polishes his teeth so they are brighter.

doTERRA Serenity – If you know me personally, you know we love our essential oils in my home. After bath time I roll Serenity onto Victor’s feet. I really think it helps him get a better sleep so it’s a staple in our nighttime routine. Serenity Promotes relaxation and a restful sleeping environment. (Please do your own research on essential oils before using and please remember you MUST dilute when using on children. There are many dilution guides, please follow them. If you need information on a rep to purchase feel free to message me)

FridaBaby SmileFrida – We have gone through countless numbers of toothbrushes but the SmileFrida is the absolute best. The triple brush head makes it easy for Victor to brush his teeth on his own (which he insist on doing) and gets all sides at once. I feel like this toothbrush gives a much better all around cleaning than other brushes.

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This shop/post has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company, all opinions are mine alone. #SummerRefreshment #Peapod #CollectiveBias

Here in New Jersey our winters are COLD but come summer time… it is hot, hot, hot! Therefore my family and I love to spend time outside enjoying our yard, setting up little parties and just having a great time. During these hot days I am determined to keep us hydrated and refreshed and sometimes we like a little more flavor than regular water and that is when I create my favorite summer drink… an Arnold Palmer.

What you need:

-Lemons

-Mint Leaves

-Raspberries

-Ice

-Minute Maid® Lemonade

-FUZE® tea

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Instructions:

You first want to figure out if you are looking to make a single glass or a pitcher and then just adjust ingredients to your liking. I usually like making a big pitcher so I add ice, 6 cans of FUZE® tea and 3 cans of Minute Maid® Lemonade. If you like a more tangy beverage – add an extra can of lemonade. I then drop in a few lemon slices, raspberries and mint leaves and stir. You can serve instantly or let it chill in the fridge for 30-60 minutes for the flavor from the mint to really blend in. I also like to use the lemon, raspberries and mint to garnish the glasses. Thanks to FUZE tea & Minute Maid Lemonade, Summers are definitely more refreshing! 

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This is also my go to beverage when having family get togethers or parties. It’s a drink that can be enjoyed by all of our guests, young and old. I think one of my favorite parts of entertaining in our yard is setting everything up and decorating.

First we grab a table and drape it in a cloth, I prefer to use a vinyl table cloth because they are so much easier to clean. I then add a few decorations to the front just to give the white cloth some color.

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I then bring over the large drink dispenser and set it up with some fun cups next to it and display a few lemons and flowers. DSC_0222 DSC_0246

In the center of the table I place a food platter that I make by just purchasing various sliced salami, pepperoni and 2 different types of cheese. Adding crackers to this platter brings it all together.DSC_0277

I finish off the table by adding more flowers, some fun straws, a few cans of Minute Maid® Lemonade and FUZE® tea and a dish with lemons, raspberries and mint so that our guests can garnish their beverage. 
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I absolutely love the way our table came out – what do you think?
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Thanks to Peapod, ordering items for our get togethers just got a whole lot more convenient too. With the Peapod service I can order all the thingsI need on their app or on the desktop, select a date and time of delivery and I’m done. Everything arrives on time and is fresh!

IMG_0362There’s also delivery discounts including FREE delivery, 1000s of weekly specials and a ton of features to make your food shopping experience stress-free. If you aren’t familiar with Peapod, click HERE, and you will get $20 off your first Peapod order and 60 days if FREE delivery.