How Xfinity Can Support Your Home During the Pandemic

Remember back in March when many of us thought we'd be back to our normal routines before we knew it? Well we are a solid eight months into this global pandemic and many of us are still facing new challenges and changes.

As a mom and small business owner, I feel like I'm spinning the plates even more these days. My youngest is at home doing virtual learning for school, while my college sophomore is fortunate enough to be living on campus and attending a hybrid semester of classes. Besides supporting them and running my household, I work part-time with a local non-profit and also run a small home-based business. That's a LOT of stuff going on and I know I'm not alone in this!

Last week, I had the opportunity to sit down with some of my favorite local influencers and some wonderful folks from Xfinity to talk about how they are helping small businesses and families during this pandemic. While this post is sponsored by Xfinity, all opinions are my very own, so please read on to see how Xfinity may be able to help you and your family during this pandemic.

The Latest in Simulation Gaming: Monster Truck Championship

Confession time my friends . . .I am probably letting my teenager spend too much time playing video games.  With the pandemic, it's just so easy to say "yes" especially, when he's keeping up with his virtual learning. It's such a weird parenting year - I know I'm not the only one saying yes to things I would generally try to keep to a minimum . . .in order to keep the peace. And while I feel a little guilty, I know that his growth and development are spot on and perhaps he's even learning a bit from them.  I don't know about your kids, but my teen loves those simulation games. 

He has been playing them for years, enjoying everything from trains to farm equipment. Maybe it's the imitation of real life, or the fact that you have to use your brain to play and solve some real-life problems in order to come out on top, that make them so popular. Be it the sense of achievement or openness of design, he will often choose a simulation type game when he has game-time. We were recently gifted a download of Monster Truck Championship to try out on Steam, and here's what we thought:

One Little Word 2020: Space

If you're new around here, welcome! If you've been here before, welcome back. In either case, I'm so very glad you're here.

Today is the start of a new year and a new decade . . . a fresh start, a new beginning . . .a new hope (Star Wars anyone??) Since 2008, I have selected a word to guide me in the upcoming year. One little word, that I choose to explore within my goals and dreams for the year. Ali Edwards is the mastermind behind this process, and a constant source of inspiration for me.

What's Hot in Modern Farmhouse Design and Technology

I attended the Philadelphia Magazine Design Home thanks to an invitation from Xfinity.  This is a sponsored post in partnership with Comcast.

There is no doubt that farmhouse style is hot right now, with its comfy-chic aesthetic and liberal use of neutral tones. But a term being tossed around in design circles, is "modern farmhouse". . .what does that even mean – how can a farmhouse be modern? When you typically think about a farmhouse, you may think of a rustic, old-fashioned farmhouse. But the trendy modern farmhouse look is anything but. It's full of warmth and simplicity, in the traditional farmhouse style, but it also encompasses natural textures and materials, and if you do it right, the latest in modern technology. 

Thanks to an invite from Comcast, I recently got a tour of a local modern farmhouse, that takes this design trend to the next level! Located on 2.9 acres in lovely Villanova, Pennsylvania, this 6-bedroom gem of a house sits among estates that have been around for decades. When you pull into the drive, you are greeted by a lovely home, that despite its luxurious feel, harkens back to a simpler time.

"The goal was to create a home with a formal elegance that respected the architectural past and that fit the neighborhood setting, but that had a decidedly modern appeal - a home focused on style, comfort and function, rather than formality and grandeur."

Book Review: Boss Up! by Lindsay Teague Moreno

*this post contains strong language & affiliate links

You guys . . .this book.

Let me be perfectly transparent here . . .I haven't actually MET Lindsay in person . . . yet. But I have stalked her on the interwebs for YEARS now! I think the moment I fell in love with her was watching a video she did in a Young Living series from Diamond Leaders. There was something in they way she spoke, that went straight to my heart. I immediately "Googled" her, and followed her EVERYWHERE. A Stalker is Born.

From what I've seen, Lindsay is one of those people in the world that you either love, or you don't. She's no-nonsense and wildly successful. Not gonna lie, it's really easy to feel the green-eyed jealousy monster creep in when you see her Barbie Dream House. But part of Lindsay's magic, is she shares how she got there. She's totally transparent (well maybe not 100% - but damn close) and authentic.