Author: Julie Meyers Pron

Winter finally hit us last week, and now that we’re dealing with freezing temperatures and looking ahead to months of frigid conditions, ice, and snow, I’m no longer dreaming of a White Christmas. Rather, I’m dreaming of a winter vacation someplace warm and tropical. To prepare for that delightful, dreamy break from Old Man Winter, it’s important to pack certain items and prepare the home for time away. So for those who are lucky enough to make that winter vacation to a dreamy getaway come true, here are tips to prepare our winter lives for a tropical escape. Gather Your…

Hermione is such a strong character in Harry Potter. She has wit, smarts, and courage. Where would Harry be with Sally Hermione? So when I was sent the Patronus Charmballa Bracelet from Joseph Nogucci Jewelry to review, I had to create an entire look around it. And I wanted to imagine Hermione wearing this bracelet. But a grown-up Hermione. When I put together looks, I like to smatter in a little bit of imagination. I am constantly getting ideas from books I read. This bracelet is made with charms from the Harry Potter books – so if you are a…

When it comes to travel planning, my husband and I usually try to relax by a fireplace on a cold day in the winter, tablets in hand, opening our electronic calendars, and discussing open weeks for vacation and family events. Our goals are to share what we want to do for our vacation time, what our vacation objectives are, and try to fit in as much as possible. We brainstormed for a bit. We vaguely look at prices and budgets. Then, I usually go home to research and, in time, bring it all back to the table to discuss progress…

As I finish up a relaxing one and a-half-week summer vacation, one that went off the grid (conversations included “What?! There was a hurricane three nights ago?!” and “Huh?! Everyone is evacuating the island we’re making our way to because it’s shut down!?”), I’m reflecting on what made it so peaceful, relaxing, and far too quick. I love a great theme park trip or a vacation full of exploring big cities, but a truly relaxing vacation means moving into another home and doing nothing but living and enjoying the ones you love most. Benefits of a vacation home rental No pressure There was…

Are you a goal-setter? Individually, I’m not much of one. I set short-term goals, such as I’ll clean my desk today or I’ll have my taxes completed by next week, but annually, I rarely set goals. As a parent, however, I learned that setting family-focused New Year’s Resolutions is healthy and helps parents and children to work together to achieve. January is the prime time for setting New Year’s Resolutions and goals for families. Usually, children are prompted to set goals in school independently. So working on goals as a family will help your children make another home-school connection. At home, to increase…

For me, this always happens at the last minute. Everyone is finally packed, the car is completely loaded (like… completely), and the kids are belted in for our multi-hour road trip to a fun destination when we realize I haven’t yet purchased a thank you gift for our host and hostess. While stopping for a bottle of wine is usually a doable fallback, after spending two weeks of vacation at our family vacation home in Maine, I created a new list of gifts to help me be a bit more creative the next time I need a housewarming gift, based on…

Give me a free summer weekend, and I’ll plan a barbecue celebration. Whether we invite friends over for happy hour drinks on the deck or another family for a cookout, it’s the easiest time to gather with friends and entertain. Here’s a list of items to stock up on now so that you can celebrate summer BBQs all summer long. 5 entertaining essentials for your summer BBQs Summer Beverages When you’re hosting a get-together, it’s easiest to have a signature drink made in advance so that you don’t have to continue remaking the drinks. Pre-make a few pitchers of margaritas,…

Warm up your toes with this collection of the best winter snow boots for women. Your toes will thank me during your next snow storm if you think right now and order a pair. The first Fashion Friday post of the new year… it’s becoming a tradition to share that I, once again, am caught in a snowbank without snow boots. Naturally, in looking for the best winter boots for women in 2022, I asked my research team (aka my Facebook friends) to answer the following question: What snow boots do you love so much you’d buy them again? They…

I recently finished reading If I Stay by Gayle Forman, a light-emotional young adult novel. From the publisher: In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck… A sophisticated, layered, and heartachingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make—and the ultimate choice Mia commands. What if you were comatose, having lost nearly everything? What if you were given…

I mean… who doesn’t give their kitchen gifts, right? Well… not really, but last month I featured a few favorite kitchen products that I really just can’t live without. Whether you’re making your list or just need a little upgrade, here’s a compilation of my best-loved products in my kitchen that make the perfect gift for you or someone you love. 5 Must-Have Items for your Kitchen Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast-Iron French or Dutch Oven This is definitely gift-worthy, especially if you’re gifting someone who loves to make big, one-pot meals and loves the rich taste of a stew,…