Amazing battery operated candles from Luminara

Affiliate linksLuminara candle up closeThere was a time when I lit candles each night while we were dining, watching TV, or just hanging out with friends to add a little ambiance. Now, I'm lucky if my meal is timed right so we can all eat at the same time, and by the time I flop down to watch TV for the day, the last thing I'm thinking about is lighting candles that I could potentially forget about if I fall asleep on the couch {which, I do 90% of the time}.

After having tried numerous other electronic candles, I found myself unimpressed with every single one I tried. They just didn't look like real candles when they were on, and I realized a lot of what I loved about real candles was the flicker of the flames, not just the light of the candle itself. Even when I tried "flicker" electronic candles, they just felt so fake.

But, then I found Luminara candles. I first found the candles at Pottery Barn and bought three with a gift card. Once I had a few of them at home and saw how beautiful they were placed throughout the house, I was addicted.

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Stress less with the 3-in-1 6.5qt Multicooker from Black + Decker

Sponsored postAre you in charge of bringing dishes to the potluck and you're trying to figure out how to keep your dish warm throughout the event? Or maybe you struggle with weeknight meal planning this time of year as you are running from event to event?

If you answered yes to either of those questions, I have the perfect solution for you: the 3-in-1 6.5 quart Multicooker from Black + Decker Black and Decker multicooker with lid onIf you're thinking this looks a whole lot like a slow cooker, you are technically correct. But, trust me when I say that this is so much more than the traditional slow cooker. Because it is a roaster, a baker, and a searing and sautéing machine all in one, it makes this an amazing cooking tool for quick and easy dinners without having multiple pots and pans to clean up afterwards.

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Fall Glamping fun with the family

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FallGlamping #Glamping #CollectiveBias Glamping with FreschettaMy husband and my kids love everything about camping and would do it every weekend if they could. I, on the other hand, love almost everything about not camping. Luxuries like beds, refrigeration, and running water are pretty high up on my lists of must-haves for weekend fun and I prefer to give them up only in moderation.

This is how we became glampers, or people that camp glamorously by pairing camping and luxury. The family loves being one with nature, and I love them, so glamping together suits us all.
My camping journey started with the purchase of a Weekender camper van that appealed to my bed and icebox-loving self. But while it’s great because it gets us out camping as a family, it isn’t exactly glamorous. Yet. 

We’re still working on getting my must-have list fully met by making additions to our van that add luxury without taking up precious space. So, for now we found camping buddies in my in-laws who supply the running water and a large refrigerator and who just so happen to not mind our littlest campers taking over their living space.Glamping Family

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5 minutes until dinner with the Black + Decker 5 Minute Pizza Oven & Snack Maker

Sponsored postLike most kids, my kids would eat pizza every day if I let them. Since the term “pizza” is so incredibly ambiguous, I typically make them a “pizza” variation of sorts every few weeks. Sometimes we make our own dough for crust, sometimes we use wheat pitas, English muffins, or pre-made crusts, and occasionally we get a frozen pizza as a treat. And, as varied as the crusts are, the toppings are even more so and they can change depending on our moods or what we have to get rid of in the fridge. Basically, as long as you call it pizza, it will get eaten.Pizza ovenFor us, a pizza oven actually makes a lot of sense because it allows us to take pizza to a whole new level. As soon as I saw the Black+Decker 5 Minute Pizza Oven & Snack Maker, I was already sold. I could take something that was already easy to make and make it even easier. 5 minutes to bake a fresh or frozen 12" pizza easy. That’s about the length of time I typically spend looking for matching shoes each morning. So, to make dinner in 5 minutes? Amazing, I tell you.

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Two coffemakers in one: BLACK + DECKER Café Select Dual Brew Coffeemaker with Travel Mug

Sponsored postThe last time we owned a coffee pot was before we got married. It was a cheap model we got at a discount store specifically for guests that drank coffee because neither of us were big coffee drinkers at the time. That pot got used 3, maybe 4 times, and we ended up getting rid of it in favor of a single brew machine that we could use for making individual coffees.

Fast forward over a decade and we are now big coffee drinkers, but we still don’t own a coffee pot. Since we each get up at different times in the morning, we typically each make our own single serve brew each day so that neither of us get stuck with old coffee. Black and Decker k-cup coffee makerThis all works out great until we have a house full of people and we're making cup after cup of coffee. Then, single serve k-cups feel very wasteful… and pricey. We thought about buying a new pot for this purpose and in the end it just didn't make sense to store an extra coffeemaker that only got used when we have company.

If only there was a coffeemaker that could brew individual cups as well as carafe brewing…Black and Decker coffee maker small cup Well now there is thanks to the BLACK + DECKER Café Select Dual Brew Coffeemaker that brews full 12-cup carafes of coffee as well as single serve portions in 6 different sizes.

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Make BBQ season last all year with 2-in-1 healthy grilling indoors or out from George Foreman

Sponsored postI can’t even tell you how many times our plans to grill have been thwarted by rain. Without a covered area to cook under, grilling in the rain just doesn’t sound fun and we usually end up just using the oven or the stove instead.

If only there was such thing as an indoor/outdoor grill that could safely be used both inside AND outside. Well, that’s exactly what the George Foreman 15 Serving Indoor/Outdoor Electric Grill {GFO240GM} is designed to do, and it can make it so inclement weather never ruins your next grilled meal.  George Foreman outdoor grill

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All the reasons I love the Ninja 3-in-1 Cooking System

Sponsored postFall is by far my favorite season. It’s still hot enough here in the Pacific Northwest to wear skirts and sandals some days, but then it’s boots and sweaters the next, all under the gorgeous backdrop of changing leaves and fall colors. Just look at my happy harvester, collecting vegetables for the week.  Hello, FallThe one thing that isn’t awesome? Meal planning. With unpredictable weather and high temperatures nearly every afternoon, it makes it hard to plan what kind of meals to make that won’t leave the house sweltering at the end of the day.

When a friend suggested I try slow cooking instead of heating up the oven and making our house unbearably hot, I couldn’t believe how brilliant she was. It turns out I can still have the hearty meals I’ve been pinning, but without making us all miserable by simply using an appliance I typically reserve for winter meals. 

Hello, Ninja 3-in-1 Cooking System! Ninja Cooking System on counter

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Indulge your inner gourmet with the new Samsung Chef Collection

Sponsored post basic disclosureSamsung LivingWhen we bought all of our home appliances back in 2006, we thought we knew what we were looking for. We had researched options, talked to people about their major appliances and what they liked and didn’t, and we agreed on the basics of what we didn’t want. But, we hadn’t moved into our home yet and we didn’t know some very important things about the house that would have been great to know when shopping for those big appliances.

I wish we had considered how hard it would be to get by the fridge if the doors were open, ovens that were better suited to baking, and how loud the dishwasher would be in our open concept and wood floor living space.

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What we’re playing with: the Keurig Rivo

Sponsored post basic disclosureOkay, so it's not a TOY, exactly, but that doesn't mean we're not playing with it. I mean, seriously, look at this beauty. Don't you want to play with it, too? Keurig Rivo machineYes, that's the Keurig Rivo, a single-serve espresso machine with a milk frother built right in. This is what's known as heaven for us non-coffee types who can't make a good cup of coffee to save our lives.

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