Blogging

Happy Lady Happy Card Review-trying out the Happy Lady gift card at Cheesecake Factory Seattle and other merchants

Yes you can buy happiness with Happy Cards

December 17, 2018

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Happy Cards and as always the ideas and thoughts in this post are my own. So here’s a happy way to buy a great experience gift! I recently learned about Happy Cards and not only are they gift cards but they are gift cards that pair your […]

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my 12 fans visiting Santa wearing their Seahawks jerseys

Last-minute gifts and stocking stuffers that you can still order today

December 14, 2018

This Last-minute gifts list includes some items I received as samples and also contains affiliate links where I might receive a commission.  It’s the last sprint before Christmas and if you are getting really sweaty and frazzled trying to dream up gift ideas I have a last-minute gift ideas list that might help you out […]

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Staying with kids in San Francisco and renting a car is an easy way to get around. We stayed at the Courtyard Larkspur Landing Marin County Hotel and it was a perfect base to visit San Francisco with kids

Why Marin County is a great home base if you want to visit San Francisco with kids

November 9, 2018

We’ve visited San Francisco a bunch of times and it feels like we’ve done all the downtown city things.  And while downtown San Francisco is definitely a must see, sometimes when we travel with kids we need a little more space to explore.  We like to rent a car and we like to combine city […]

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Best things to do at Seatac Airport in Seattle-where to eat, shop and get your nails done while you wait for your airplane

Best things to do when you have some hours to spend at Seatac Airport

November 7, 2018

A couple weeks ago the hubby and I went on our first without-kids airplane trip together in about 10 years.  We’ve done a bunch of close to Seattle and Vancouver staycations like a couple nights at Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler or the Salish Lodge near Seattle but this was the first time we left […]

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Kamik #freeyourplay campaign helping kids have more free play outdoors with warm winter boots

Time to put a little more free play into our days thanks to warm Kamik boots

October 19, 2018

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Kamik and as always the thoughts and opinions in this expressed are my own. My 89-year old grandma came to visit us from Canada recently.  She bravely made the nearly 4 hour drive from her home to our cabin in the mountains where she […]

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Eyelash Extension from the Lash Lounge Bellevue near Seattle WA a review

When you get eyelash extensions at the Lash Lounge and life will never be the same again

October 16, 2018

Maybe it’s because I have kids who love to wake up pre-dawn even after 10 years of being on this earth or maybe it’s because I’m getting older but I am always on the look out for things to make me look more energized, fresh and awake.  I love all the skincare things.  I’m into […]

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Working and eating brunch at Eques Restaurant in the Hyatt Regency Bellevue Washington

Brunching on a weekday at Eques in the Hyatt Regency Bellevue Washington

October 5, 2018

Why do we think weekends are the only days that are made for brunch? I spent a weekday with Missy Palacol, an amazing local photographer at the Eques restaurant in The Hyatt Regency Bellevue last week and we had a blast sampling nearly everything on the menu. It was such a dreamy way to bring […]

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An officially licensed NFL cake from a local bakery for a party in Seattle

Upping my quick and easy Seahawks party game plan for #Kickoff2018

September 6, 2018

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Decopac and as always the thoughts and opinions in this expressed are my own. When fall routines start up it’s hard to predict exactly what we’re going to be doing on any given day.  We have soccer and biking and all the events that […]

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Follain is a store for clean beauty at Uvillage in Seattle they also have refillable soap

A vending machine you need to know about at Uvillage Seattle along with a few fun new stores

August 30, 2018

I love Uvillage. It’s been my favorite Seattle shopping area since we moved here about 15 years ago and I still can’t help but get swept up in the excitement of all the new stores and fun shopping experiences that keep arriving! New stores and restaurants at Uvillage in Seattle seem geared to shoppers who […]

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The Estates Wine Room in Seattle's Pioneer Square has a wine club that includes Double Canyon wines

A visit to Estates Wine Room and a wine club you might want to know about

August 27, 2018

A few weeks ago the hubby and I were invited to a wine club dinner at the Estates Wine Room.  A chef from a Seattle restaurant we love called “the Tillikum Place Cafe” was creating a meal to pair with some wines from Double Canyon and the winemaker Kate Michaud would be there as well. […]

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trying out new Pentel Pop pens when we go out to eat with kids

Making our travel memories “PoP” with Pentel #PentelPoP

July 19, 2018

Do you love pens as much as I do?  When I was in college, I had a job in our school store and I totally fell in love with all things stationery because I would see it everyday: pens, cards, erasers, EVERYTHING!  This job was dangerous because all the pens always wanted to come home […]

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Trying out the Penelope Signature Facial and Cryotherapy Coolift treatment at Penelope and the Beauty Bar in Seattle

On trying a Coolift Cryo-facial Treatment at Penelope and the Beauty Bar in Seattle

June 22, 2018

Some days in Seattle my life seems like its only about picking up all the laundry, cleaning up last nights’ dinner dishes and researching how to get the ugly carpet out of my basement.  Then some days magically end up Cinderella wonderful and I get to try fancy things.  I love when the universe lines […]

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how to become a blogger in Seattle, find out how to start a blog and maybe even make money blogging too

How to become a blogger in Seattle?

June 18, 2018

I’ve been asked this question a ton lately and I thought I better address it somewhere so I can at least send this link out as a response. And this is usually the first of two questions I get asked because right after I get asked “How do you become a blogger?” I get asked […]

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Once Again Amore Hazelnut Spread

When eating hazelnut spread is amore

May 20, 2018

I was a little hesitant to try some chocolate hazelnut spread Moms Meet sent me to try and review because I was worried I might get addicted.  I read that it had no palm oil in it (I’m trying to avoid palm oil) and it comes from Italy so it sounded too good to be […]

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the time i went to mom 2.0 and managed to forget my laptop in the hotel safe

What to do when you forget your laptop in the hotel safe when you check out (or anything else for that matter too!)

May 14, 2018

Let me start by telling you that on this particular trip I had other grown up successes.  I hung up all my clothes from my suitcase in my hotel closet and I never do that ever.  Who has time for this kind of thing on vacation anyways?  And I am always so paranoid about forgetting […]

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Beautiful Amazon Prime Packaging at Mom 2.0

When you celebrate Mother’s Day a week early with Amazon Prime and Mom 2.0

May 9, 2018

It seems almost a hundred years ago now when I was a new twin mom in Seattle and I still had a flip phone that I heard about a seemingly mythical drive through grocery store about an hour north of me. I was so envious of the people who lived nearby it who could just […]

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review of Osh Kosh spring clothes style on a trip from Seattle to vancouver with 9 year old boys

Spring Clothes from Osh Kosh that can transition from Park to Party and Bring the Fun

March 27, 2018

This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of OshKosh B’gosh; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.  There are two things we look for in clothes for my family-are they comfortable and can we wear them for multiple events?  It’s even better if the clothing we buy travels well too because […]

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Breakfast with our family in Poipu at the Koloa Landing Resort in Febuary

Planning a trip with kids to Kauai in February from Seattle

March 9, 2018

Years ago when we would travel with our family to one of the Hawaiian islands, it was just a matter of getting airfare, booking the hotel and off we would go.  If we booked a hotel near the beach, we didn’t need to plan much because there was sure to be almost guaranteed sunshine and […]

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How to take Instagram photos on your phone - tips from An Emerald City Life

Iphone Photography tips for Instagram

March 2, 2018

How much do you love the Instagram App?  I remember when I first saw the app I was so skeptical-I asked my bestie who gets me into all things social media-people really just want to see pics?  Isn’t it just Twitter in picture version?  But yes.  WE WANT ALL THE PICTURES! And suddenly Instagram is […]

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Being more mindful about purchases because of PrAna clothing

When a clothing brand reminds you to be mindful of packaging

February 25, 2018

I was really excited to try a few pieces from PrAna’s spring 2018 line-a cute black sweater and capri yoga pants-on our recent trip to Kauai. Have you heard of this clothing brand? I love so much about it-PrAna is stylish, comfortable, great for travel and easy to wear and I’ve partnered with them before […]

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