3 reasons why I love the CWE

I’ve had the great pleasure to participate in the Lucky to Live Here Campaign sponsored by Explore St. Louis, and I get to tell you a few reasons why I feel lucky to live in the Central West End❤️

1. The architecture<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
St. Louis has some really cool picturesque views, and I especially like the ones that are close to where I live. I love walking down Euclid and admiring the buildings and landscape. The neighborhood is so walkable and has been a go-to date night for the hubs and I or the entire family.

2. Free Attractions for the family

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Have you ever just wanted to hang out with friends that you haven’t seen in a while for a couple of hours but not spend any money? Well, we did just that when we visited the St. Louis zoo! It’s the best zoo ever, it’s free, and really close to home. Not just the zoo but Forest Park, the Science Center, and much more are all located in the Central West End. I love that we always have something fun to do close to home.

3. Great Place for Foodies

Raise your hand if you’re a foodie! Well, we definitely are and the Central West End offers an array of cuisines. From diner to fine dining and ethnic restaurants, the CWE has it all. One of my favorites is KingSide Diner. If you love breakfast you will love this place!

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only a few reasons why I feel lucky to live in the Central West. I discover new things to love all of the time. How about you? Do you like the Central West End? What’s your favorite part of St. Louis?<<<<<<<

100 teenagers + Simply Earth Essential Oils

Simply Earth Essential Oils helped me relax after and intense and amazing week with about 100 teenagers.

5 Reasons Why You Should Go to the Eckert’s Summer Concert Series

Are you looking for something new to do this summer? Well I’ve got you covered. This weekend my family and I had a date night at Eckert’s Country Farm for their annual Summer Concert Series. This was the first time we’d ever gone, and I can assure you it won’t be the last time. Each weekend during the months of June, July, and August they have a different band with a different style of music. The night we went there was a jazz band, and it was enjoyable for the entire family. Exposing our kids to different types of music at an early age is part of our parenting strategy. We both love music and want them to be able to appreciate its beauty as well. We had such an awesome time, and here’s 5 reasons why you should go too:

1. You’ve probably never gone. This can be a great time to experience something new with friends and family. It’s pretty laid back. All you need is a lawn chair, or you can reserve a table. They are limited however, and they cost, but you get prime seating and chips +salsa — yum! Also, you will hear great music from talented musicians.

2. It’s free! That’s right. It’s free for the whole family. Now that’s what I call an economical date night.

3. The food is really good! You can not bring outside food, but don’t worry, because the food there is really good, reasonably priced, and there are healthy options as well. I had this chicken salad, and it was delicious and filling!

4. There’s an area for kids! When your kids get tired of sitting still, there’s a fun area next to the stage set up just for them. They can run around until they tire themselves out! Mine sure did!

5. Don’t forget about the custard! So we were actually really full and couldn’t fit the custard in. But from the looks of the people that were eating the custard, it seemed like it was really good! Next time we go, we’ll have to try the custard!

The Summer Concert Series is a fun time for everyone. Check the calendar here to enjoy free music and great ambience.

This post was sponsored by Eckert’s Country Farm.

3 +2 = Me + You <3

So, my husband sang at a surprise wedding proposal this weekend, and I got an extreme case of nostalgia. The combination of how beautiful the surprise was and watching my husband serenade this fantastic couple almost made me drown in tears, but I couldn’t because I was a super multi-tasker that night.

I was chatting with the bride’s parents as they stood right next to me beaming with pride while catching the whole event on camera, and stuffing my kids with snacks to circumvent them from making a scene because…they were about to clown… #momlife. Never the less the proposal went off without a hitch, and she said YES!!!

Kenny and I will be celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary this year, and it really does seem like we just got hitched yesterday! Usually, we plan mini trips for our anniversary and create our marriage goals for the next year. This is something that we always look forward to, but I’ve been thinking about adding something else to our anniversary tradition. I never really thought about traditional wedding anniversary gifts until I read this article! It looks like we have some catching up to do.

Since we are ALMOST 5 years in, I’m going to share some great traditional anniversary gift ideas for the first 5 years of marriage and where to get em!

Year 1 Paper: After a year of marriage, you may need some new date night ideas. Here’s a set of cards that will help you walk down memory lane.

Year 2 Cotton

Where did your love story begin? How about engraving it on a pillow? 🙂 Get a personalized pillow here.

Year 3 Leather

Travel in-style with your Mr. and Mrs. monogrammed, made-to-order leather piece from MAHI Leather.

Year 4 Fruit/Flowers: What about a DIY Chocolate and Fruit Fondue?! Yum!

Year 5 Wood

I’m loving this rustic piece from Life On Board.

I love these gifts ideas because they are thoughtful, and they encourage the giver to reflect on why and how they fell in love. If you are married veterans, married longer than 5 years, and want to find know what customary gift category you fall into, check out this article.

Happy Anniversary!

~Xo

Hand and Heart Therapeutic Skincare

Hi! My name is Amaryllis Chambers and I am the owner of Hand and Heart Therapeutic Skincare. About a year ago, I became a mother for the first time. Though very challenging and totally life-changing, motherhood has won me over completely. I love my 15-month-old, Brendan.

During the first few months of Brendan’s life, I was so worried about everything! Like many new moms, I read every article out there about how to care for a newborn. Don’t do this, don’t do that. Don’t go here- don’t go there. As a result of my over-intake of information, I decided to make all-natural products for my son’s skincare.

When I started, I knew nothing about creating natural skincare. Now, after much research, trial and error, I’ve been able to produce a quality product. High-quality butters and therapeutic essential oils compose the make-up of the crèmes I create. Now I can soothe my son’s (and my own) skin without guilt or worry of exposing him to harsh chemicals.

The essential oil blends also provide a moment of escape. Whether its calming Lavender and Chamomile, uplifting Peppermint and Lemongrass, or soothing Neroli and Vetiver, these products are as good for your hands as they are for your heart. We also have limited edition Chocolate Body Butters just in time for Valentine’s Day- and I can not wait to share them with a lucky winner!

Special thank you to Moda Christia for believing in the product so much that she feels confident enough to share it with all of her readers.

Website: Handandhearttherapy.com

Facebook: Hand and Heart Therapeutic Skincare

IG: @handandhearttherapy

Jord Wood Watch Giveaway!

Hey family!

So, pregnancy the second time around has been different, but I’ve learned a lot when it comes to my wardrobe, and that is… Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize! I’ve been loving long fringe necklaces, head wraps, and now my new fave this Jord Wood Watches! Here are 5 reasons why I’m crushing on this brand and how you can win one of these beautiful timepieces

They’re made of real wood! Jord Wood Watches uses about 8 different types of wood to create their designs. In addition to their amazing woods, they use sapphire glass, the most luxurious and durable glass for the face of a watch.
Their designs are dope! Jord Watches focuses on creating modern designs for men and women, and to be completely honest it was very hard for me to choose.
They customize your size! When ordering your watch, you’re asked for your watch size in inches or centimeters. They even send you a copy of a ruler just in case you don’t have one. It’s great because you know the watch will fit you perfectly when it arrives!
This brand has an amazing story! I love the story of this brand. They are a group of creative people from various backgrounds that have put their talents together to make an awesome product for consumers who are concerned about sustainability and efficiency.
They’re Local! Y’all know I love to support the homegrown. I ‘m so excited that this brand is born in St. Louis and making a global impact!