*This is a collaborative post. 

It feels like there hasn’t been much time in the past year to really spend quality time with our loved ones unless they lived in the same household. But hopefully with the vaccine and a new administration, the world will reopen safely by the end of 2021. So maybe it's time to start considering a safe travel experience with the family members you've been missing. It’ll be truly special to visit somewhere new no matter who you’re with. But when you’re surrounded by your loved ones? It’ll be even better. Let's look at some useful tips for planning that trip and all-around having a great time.




Plenty of Notice

People’s schedules can be pretty busy. Trying to organize everyone can be a challenge! As such, it’s best to give as much notice as possible to ensure everyone will be able to attend. Plus, it’s so much more fun having something to look forward to, isn’t it? Especially after this past year. How much notice you give will depend on various factors, but generally, at least three months is a good idea. Also, it’s best to have a few different date options - the one that most people can attend will be the date. 

*This is a collaborative post. 

Accidents and incidents happen all the time - they can’t be helped and we never know how they will happen or how bad they will be. It could be something minor where you are out of work for a week. On the other hand it could be something more severe where you are out of work for a few months. When things like this happen we can feel lost and let other things get on top of us. But there are ways you can protect yourself and your home in difficult times.


There are a few things you can do in day-to-day life to prepare for unexpected hard times. The main one is to have a little nest egg to be able to fall back on if you need extra finances at a moment's notice. While this can be really difficult for many people based on their income and the lack of having additional finances after paying for necessities. If saving money is a possibility for someone, saving can be made simple by putting a small contribution of money into a separate account that can be built up. Many credit unions or savings accounts even add interest to what's deposited, which can even increase the savings being stored. These times of savings can be helpful if emergency cash is needed. They say saving three months of pay is ideal in case of emergency, but honestly any little bit can help if three months seems impossible and unrealistic.


An accident at work or on the road can be a scary and overwhelming thing. And if it isn’t your fault, it can seem even more frustrating since you can’t control what happened but have to deal with the consequences. If it was on the road you may want to reach out to a truck accident lawyer as they can give legal advice on what can be done and how to look into getting compensation if it is due.


Another way to make life a little easier during a difficult time, especially for someone out of work and at home recovering, is by reviewing all the bills and outgoings. Changing companies or tariffs can possible make them cheaper. There are a bunch of different ways to reduce bills and outgoings, so it should be a top priority for anyone trying to save up for possible hard times.

 

PopSugar 2020 Reading Challenge Prompt: A book by an author who has written more than 20 books

Other PS 2020 reading prompts this would satisfy: A book that's published in 2020, A book you picked because the title caught your attention, A book with a three-word title



I’ve heard so much fanfare for the dynamic duo of Christina Lauren (which is actually two authors who write stories as one - so cool! I just found out recently). But their first book I ever stopped and picked up is In a Holidaze. I was first sold by the cute cover on NetGalley, and then declined a review copy. But lo and behold, the book made its way to Book of the Month, and I snatched it up for my BOTM pick that month.



Mae just found out that her favorite place in the world is leaving her life. For her entire life, her family and two other families they're close with have spent the holidays at this wonderful family cabin in the mountains. But that's all going away. And it's the only thing that really brings Mae joy. She leaves the cabin distraught and asking the universe for happiness. Then she and her family get in a car crash, and she wakes up... back on the airplane on the way to the cabin again. There she starts living over the same few days over and over again. What will make this time loop stop? And what will bring Mae the happiness she so hopes for?



What I didn’t realize (because I’m notorious for not reading synopses before reading books) is that this story is a Groundhog Day-esque tale set during Christmas. HELLO! That description absolutely would’ve have sold me if the cover hadn’t. I love a story of a repeated day/time sequence that only ends when the MC finally changes their ways and makes the “right” choice. It’s so fun to me to see how their actions and the impact of those actions change each time they live the same day over and over. There’s really just something about considering the consequences of your actions and how what you do and say can really change people’s lives, for better or worse. I read the whole book in a matter of hours. I was immediately sucked in and fell in love with the story. This one was a bit unique, because Mae isn’t stuck in a one-day time loop. Every time her loop starts over, she goes back almost a week, to the start of her family’s annual holiday trip.






In a Holidaze is laugh-out-loud funny, a bit of a tearjerker, a whole lot of romantic, and just the right amount of steamy to bring a blush to your cheeks. I absolutely loved this book, and will definitely be reading more books from this dynamic duo.




Goodreads rating: ★★★★☆

 

PopSugar 2020 Reading Challenge Prompt: An anthology

Other PS 2020 reading prompts this would satisfy: A book that's published in 2020, A book about or involving social media



First off, I went into Together, Apart without knowing one key thing about the short story collection - all the stories have happy endings. I start off when that because while I enjoy a good happy ending, reading through an anthology and having every single story wrap up perfectly happily was weirdly overwhelming. So while I was reading, a book with stories about the COVID pandemic nonetheless, I didn’t expect every story to have a happily ever after and instead of leaving me happy and optimistic (as it should have), it almost left me uneasy. But the point of the story collection is to provide hope in a time that often feels hopeless.

 

Feeling Festive But Not Into Pinks and Reds

Festive and Flirty Dance Date

I was compensated for this post. This post also contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Don't let the compensation fool you. I am a huge fan of Universal Standard's clothes, values, and brand.

Universal Standard (US) is my favorite brand for staple pieces in my closet. From super soft tees in a variety of colors and sleeve lengths, to the perfect puffer, to incredible jeans, and super soft dresses, this size-inclusive (00-40) brand is perfect for classic pieces that will add value to your wardrobe.

But I will be the first to admit that their prices can be a bit inaccessible for many people. Before discovering Affirm, I could rarely afford a $50 tee shirt. But these pieces are quality and the longevity you get from each piece highly outweighs buying the same $10 shirt over and over elsewhere (or even worse - finding a $10 tee you love, wearing it out, and never find it again!).

The first tee rex I got from Universal Standard was via a free promo. That was five or so years ago, and that tee still looks as fresh as the day I got it. And it felt comfy and worn-in from day one. It hasn’t stretched out or gotten weirdly faded. I’ve gotten a few extra tees since then, some jeans, overalls, dresses, leggings, a coat. And I’ve loved every single piece.


My second order from US was a mystery box. I ordered it last year, and after truly understanding the fit and quality, I’ve ordered much more. They offer $25 denim maybe once a year. They also do a recycling promotion where you can send in up to four articles of clothing to recycle and you get a $25 credit for each one! Plus you’re being sustainable by giving new life to pieces that would otherwise go into the trash. So there are ways to get more affordable pieces from their shop.


But truly the mystery box is probably the best thing you could ever purchase. You can choose from a tops box, bottoms, luxe, athleisure, dresses, a classic mix, loungewear, petites, polished, premier pieces, or a surprise box! Each box includes 3 pieces curated just for you! And this year, there are even 60+ never-before-released pieces that you could get. You can get up to three boxes (they’re super limited!). A mystery box is as low as $55 and can have a value of over $700! It’s incredible.

Last year, I even got four pieces in my surprise box. I received the Seine mid-rise skinny jeans, a foundation turtleneck in black, a merino wool sweater in orchid, and an incredible skirt that I never would have chosen for myself. Every single piece fit so well and made me feel so confident! What’s even more incredible is that their long sleeve shirts even fit my overly fat arms, which seriously never happens.

If your not sure what box to pick, let me know and we can chat through the options to figure out which one(s) may be best for you and your current situation.

And don’t forget, with Affirm you can pay nothing today and then pay a little bit over the next couple of months, making this purchase a bit more affordable. But I promise these items are worth it, and will make your closet feel much more elevated! But you'll want to hurry. Mystery boxes are limited. They're only here through February 17, and they sell out every year! Go get yours now.

 

*This is a collaborative post.

A car is probably the second biggest investment we make in our lives behind our house, and now and again it's good to take a look at our vehicle and decide what we can do to vamp it up just a bit. Just as we redecorate and kit out our houses, it's a good idea for us to kit out our car for better use as well as make it a bit more fun for ourselves and our passengers.

Let's have a look at some of the tech that can be added to your car this year that'll make it more fun and exciting to drive, as well as safer and more secure.




A dash cam

One of the first things you'll want in your car this year is a dash cam. A dash cam is a piece of tech that's able to record your dashboard at the front and the back of the car as you drive that can record anything that may happen. It's a huge piece of security if you're to get into an accident due to someone else on the road. It can help you to provide proof in court of your innocence and will ensure that the other person has to pay for the damage and not you. Doing this is incredibly important and a great investment for your vehicle.




Rear back up camera

It's always a good idea to get some safety features for your car, and you can learn more information about the safety features available for your particular model online. A rear backup camera can be very helpful especially if you aren’t 100% comfortable reversing into parking spaces, and will allow you to see where you are on the road and ensure you don’t hit anything while backing up. My Prius came with a backup cam installed and it's fantastic. I'm actually really confident in my backup skills and I often back into parking spaces and my garage - but the backup cam allows me to get closer without hitting anything behind me. It's an extra layer of convenience as well as security.




Black box

If you are someone who sticks to the speed limit all the time, a black box could be a good investment for you this year. A black box can be used to record your driving and it can significantly reduce your insurance premiums. If you're willing to have one fitted you can look to save a lot of money in relation to your vehicular costs. If you aren't comfortable getting a black box fitted for your car, plenty of insurance companies offer a similar option. I use Allstate and have the Drivewise app downloaded on my phone. It records my speeds, phone usage while driving, hard braking and late-night driving. Every six months or so, we get an actual check mailed back to us, which is often a quarter or more of the premium we pay.  




Remote-start kit

A remote-start kit is a popular tool in the car and has become more and more popular over the years. You can buy a remote-start kit for your car and will be able to start your car whenever you're close by. This can be particularly useful in winter when you want to start your car heating up while you scrape away some of the ice on the outside, or in those hot southern summers when you need to get things cooling down before you can even start to touch that interior.