Disclaimer: We were provided our stay free in exchange for sharing our experience with you. However, below are our honest experiences and unbiased opinions - we TRULY love love love Crystal Springs!!

Crystal Springs Resort in New Jersey is one of my all time favorite family-friendly vacation spots in the Tri-State area! I've been there twice before: as a family in the summer of 2019 and as a #momcation with one of my best mom friends in February 2020 (just before Covid came to town). Put simply, this place NEVER disappoints. From the tropical indoor Biosphere pool to the delicious dining options to unique activities like puppy and goat yoga!!

​So, when we were invited back recently for a hosted stay in exchange for sharing with you all what it's like to vacation at Crystal Springs during the pandemic, I jumped at the chance! Well, I put on my mask and jumped from a socially safe distance, that is! Ha!

​Check out our highlights videos from our 1-night mini getaway at Crystal Springs, including our outing to nearby Mountain Creek for Snow Tubing, and keep reading for more details and photos of our time at Crystal Springs and what you can expect regarding pandemic safety!!

Crystal Springs is definitely making safety a priority, while still providing top notch service, activities, and dining experiences! If you've been before, you'll notice subtle changes related to pandemic safety, which are outlined in their COVID-19 Statement, and I'll go over the ones that stood out to me below:​

• Guests must fill out a waiver form, declaring that for the past 14 days they've been healthy, had no known exposure to COVID, and haven't traveled to a higher risk COVID state.
• Masks are required indoors as well as outdoors when 6-feet of social distance cannot be maintained.
• ​​Hand sanitizer stations are located all over the resort, along with friendly reminders about masks and social distance. Everyone (guests and staff) seemed to be taking this very seriously.
• You are not currently able to cross between Grand Cascades and Minerals resorts freely; you have to stick to your location's activities, and there is no shuttle offered between them. Luckily they each have great restaurants and heated indoor & outdoor pools, so it's not a big deal.
• You are not currently able to use facilities before check-in (4pm) or after check-out (11am), which makes a one-night only stay not quite as full of a vacation as it usually is. That said, the pools have long hours, so you still have time to swim in the evening after check-in and early morning before check-out if just doing one night, and you can also pay $50 extra for a late checkout.

• The pool locker rooms are currently closed, so you'll need to change and shower in your room, a minor inconvenience. Because guests can't use pools before check-in or after check-out, they're less crowded. But if nervous about unmasked indoor swimming, no worries, both Grand Cascades and Minerals have awesome outdoor "snow pools" which are kept REALLY warm and soooooo cozy!! Pro-tip, use before you get your hair wet, or bring a hat, or just keep dunking yourself under the water :) 
• The pools are being cleaned several times a day - like REALLY sanitized - fully shutting down for half an hour (4 times a day at Grand Cascades and 3 times a day at Minerals). Take note of the schedule so you don't suit up and have to wait! No reservations required, but they're for guests only (no day passes) and first come first served basis with limited capacity.

• The sauna and Grotto jacuzzi at the Biosphere were shut down, which I was disappointed to see. BUT, we had a jacuzzi tub in our hotel room, which I used after the kids went to bed, and it was amazing. Private and clean, no mask needed. Highly recommend!

• In addition to regular dining (in restaurant, pickup, outdoor, or room service), they are still offering some buffet dining options (and you'll get $30 credit toward breakfast buffet per room per night), and have gotten really smart with these! Masked staff serve the food from behind protective windows. 1 server walks from station to station with 1 guest on the other side of the shields and fills up their plate. This means it takes much longer to get your food than old-school buffets, and gets a bit complicate if you have adults ordering for themselves and their kids, but personally, I hope it stays like this always! No concerns about some rando sneezing on the food!! Love it!! My kids enjoyed the independence of being able to order for themselves, as well!

• They have a handful of really unique private enclosed outdoor dining which they're calling "Champagne Chalets" (similar to igloo dining / bubble dining). Reservations required.

• Our rooms were SPOTLESS, beautifully renovated, even the remotes were in little plastic baggies! We got adjoining rooms in Grand Cascades Lodge: Room 527 had double queen beds with a bathroom, and Room 529 was a suite with a king size bedroom, huge his-and-her sink bathroom with jacuzzi tub AND a shower, a small balcony, washer and dryer, and a separate living / dining / kitchen (bedrooms opened up to each side of this common area)! The full kitchen (oven, 4-burner stove top, coffee maker, dishwasher, fridge, freezer) is a must if you want to cook. And the large indoor dining table and small balcony table make it easy to eliminate any risk of public dining, if that concerns you. We only stayed one night so didn't have housekeeping, but for longer stays it's limited to trash pickup and replenishment of toiletries. Also, each room has individual heating and cooling systems. There was a TV in each bedroom and the living room, for a total of THREE TVs, which came in handy when our kids were getting too crazy in the morning and had to be separated for a bit (see the video LOL)!

• Glice skating was a nice outdoor activity. You grab your skates from the pro shop and they sanitize them after every use. Offered seasonally, through March 21. Reservations required - $25 per person for 45 minute session. Cute bar and fire pits out there as well, so you can watch the skaters or just hang out.

• The exotic animal show was REALLY great - it's free but you need reservations. Us adults enjoyed it as much as our kids! Very educational and we got to see a tarantula and baby American alligator, hold a huge Burmese python, and touch a hedgehog and chinchilla! SO COOL!! It was indoors in the Emerald Ballroom but families were spread out by tables and everyone wore masks so it seemed fairly safe, and was just half an hour.

• We did the "dinner and a show" which was a DELICIOUS buffet dinner and magic show in the Emerald Ballroom. I was impressed with how safely they served the food (mentioned above) though waiting in line for food took a while and guests were masked but not ideally spaced out in line. While tables were spaced out, the room was quite full for a 2-hour dinner and show where no one put masks back on after eating... I wouldn't say it was unsafe, but this is probably the only activity we did that I really wouldn't recommend for anyone super anxious about Covid.

• Some other great activities included in your stay: nightly family movies, horse drawn carriage to Cozy Corner, marshmallow roasting, petting zoo, hiking & nature trails, scavenger hunt, pony rides, putting, and golf glow.
• Some great activities (for additional fee): Glice skating, axe throwing, goat yoga, archery, paint & sip, trap & skeet shooting, arts & crafts, horse back riding, wine tastings, and activities at Mountain Creek (a short 10 minute drive). We did a session of snow tubing which was really fun!!!
• You can see the current week's schedule of activities here for a good idea of what'll be going on during the days of your visit.

Watch the highlights videos from our previous two vacations at Crystal Springs, pre-pandemic:

When you want to lose weight and/or get fit, there are many ways to go about it. Believe it or not, you can do it without forking over thousands of dollars for equipment and memberships! I'm going to share with you my favorite FREE fitness apps and some very budget-friendly products I'm loving these days on my own weight loss journey!

Disclaimer: I'm not a medical professional - PLEASE discuss any diet or fitness plans with your doctor! Safety first guys!!. Also, this post contains some affiliate links - you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking. 

First, watch my video for all the deets!! Then get the links and my personal weight loss and weight / fitness maintenance schedules below!

My Favorite FREE Apps for Fitness & Weight Loss:
i.e. the apps I'm currently using and loving!! Available for iPhone and Android!

• Fastic App: super easy way to manage your intermittent fasting, track water intake, & more!
• MyFitnessPal: great way to track calories in and out - has a HUGE database of food, drinks, and activities!
• MapMyWalk: tracks your walks/runs and calories burned, creates a map of your route, and notifies you after finishing each mile with your average time. 
• VeryFitPro: the app needed when using this awesome fitbit alternative smart watch. It tracks your steps,  your sleep, takes your heart rate. It has a sedentary alarm you can have it remind you at whatever intervals to get up and get moving (so motivating!!). You can connect to your phone to read emails and texts on your watch and get notified of phone call, and use it as a remote to have your phone take photos. Very cool!!! I'm LOVING this $20 watch (so cheap!!) and got one for my husband as well! This app and the other apps above all sync with Google Fit, so for example, your steps will sync from your watch to this app, to Google Fit, and on to MyFitnessPal. But that's cuz I'm android, there will be another roundabout way for iPhone users.

My Weight Loss Routine:

• 16/8 Intermittent Fasting (every day).
• consuming under 1200 calories per day (high protein, low carb), usually breaking the fast with BioTrust Metabogreens & Coffee blend, and an Orgain protein shake for a snack later in the day
• once a week "refeeding" day to boost the metabolism, hitting my regular caloric needs of 1800 calories.
• cardio 3-5 days a week, averaging minimum of 10k steps per day per week, with some minor to moderate weight training.
• weighing myself 2-3x a week with this Renpho smart scale, which has its own app that syncs with Google Fit.

My Weight Maintenance Routine:

• 12/12 - 16/8 Intermittent Fasting (every day).
• consuming my daily requirements of about 1800 calories.
• exercising 3-5 days a week, averaging minimum of 10k steps per day per week.
• weighing myself once a week with this Renpho smart scale, which has its own app that syncs with Google Fit.

Related Posts:

• Book review and my results after 1 month on "Always Eat After 7PM" diet
• Great Exercise Gear for Every Budget: from Kettlebells to Ellipticals

If you read my last blog post, I was knee deep in researching brands who offer an invisible clear aligner system for straightening your teeth at home. There are many out there, but ultimately I decided to go with Candid (who agreed to provide my treatment free in exchange for sharing my experience with you guys)!

**Updated 3/16/21 (new videos throughout the treatment process will be embedded at the bottom of this post!)

Disclaimer: I'm not being paid but am being provided complimentary treatment by Candid in exchange for promotion. But don't worry, all thoughts and opinions are 100% unbiased! As always, I tell it like it is!! There are also affiliate links in this post, you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.

I'll walk you through why I chose Candid, why I want to straighten my teeth at home, and the process of using their Starter Kit in my video below (or keep reading for everything in text & photos), but the video is more fun, I promise ;)

Why I chose Candid:

• They're thousands cheaper than Invisalign (who doesn't offer a virtual option), AND you can get $70 off your Starter Kit with code USJAPANFAM!
• I can do this from home, while minding 3 kids during a pandemic!
• They have really great reviews.
• They use only orthodontists (whereas some brands only use dentists, or a mixture of dentists and orthodontists).
• They have some Candid studios available if you want to get a free in-person assessment rather than do the DIY kit at home. ​
• They include teeth whitening, so after you get them straight you can get them nice and white, too!

Why I'm straightening my teeth:
My teeth are not currently a hot hot mess. I had braces when I was a teen, however I failed to continue wearing my retainer, and my teeth have been gradually moving since. My dentist recently confirmed it's normal with age for teeth to move gradually forward, and yes, my bottom teeth especially are getting crowded and bothering me. My mother's got so bad by around 60 that she had to have a tooth pulled and wore braces to straighten them out. Her dentist warned her that if she didn't, she'd start experiencing pretty major tooth damage and decay!! Knowing what happened to my mom, I was anxious to go ahead and get my teeth straightened out again, and keep them straight this time!!

Using the Candid Starter Kit:

I ordered the Candid Starter Kit online and it arrived within a few days. The package is fun, very Apple-esque in a big pretty white box. They have very detailed instructions and video tutorials for how to take your EIGHT photos and FIVE dental impressions. I felt a bit of pressure to get these right, otherwise they'll get rejected and you'll have to start over. The reason is that they'll base everything off of these - your whole treatment plan and printing your aligners. They need to see every tooth, gum line, bite from different angles, ALL OF IT!

They send a "cheek stretcher" to help you get the photos of your teeth just right, and you simply use your phone camera with a flash, upload to their website, and boom. Done. Easy peasy, though kind of horrifying seeing your teeth like that. You have to keep the cheek stretcher til you finish treatment, I'm guessing you'll have to do finished photos with it, but if I'm being honest, we'll probably play some pretty funny games with them for some future videos!!

The impressions were harder to get done but I'm fairly confident, or hopeful??, that I got some good ones. The issue is that you have to mix in your hands 2 tubs of putty and once you start mixing you have only 60 seconds before they start hardening!! So, about 30 seconds of mixing, then the next 30 seconds rolling out to a 4" line (they give you a measuring tool), putting it into the impression mold, marking it with a tooth pick where your front teeth will go, getting it into your mouth and holding it in there for 3.5 minutes. 3 times for top, 2 times for bottom. Kinda fun, kinda gross, kinda nerve wracking!! But that's it - they give you a pre-labeled no-stamp-required box and you ship them back to Ohio!

Stay tuned to my blog / social / YouTube channel as I'll be posting updates regarding if my Starter Kit was accepted or I have to redo it, starting my aligners, how they feel, etc etc!! I'm eager to hear what the orthodontist I'm assigned has to say about my treatment - I've heard most do the 22 hours a day plan but some have a nighttime only plan, and treatment usually lasts 4-6 months or so. Eeeeek!!! Wish me luck, and throw any tips, comments, or questions below!!!

Learn more about Candid here and get $70 off your Starter Kit with code USJAPANFAM!

Update 1 - March 16, 2021:
Unboxing my aligner kit, going over treatment plan, putting in first aligners, submitting first scan to my orthodontist!!

Whether fully remote or in-person, straightening your teeth with clear invisible aligners is easier than ever these days!! Treatment can take as little as 4 months, most accept HSA / FSA, and some insurance plans will even cover or reimburse you fees!

An initial impression and/or 3D images are taken and a professional comes up with your treatment plan. Typically each aligner set is worn for 2 weeks - you take it out only to eat or brush teeth, though some offer nighttime-only treatment plans. You'll be mailed a new set of aligners every couple of weeks, and gradually, your teeth will move into straight positioning! After treatment ends,  you'll need to use nighttime retainers to avoid teeth moving again.

I've seen some concerns about the safety of mail-order aligners, mostly in regard to the possibility of developing gum disease, cavities, or misaligned bite by going unmonitored by an in-person orthodontist. It doesn't seem these are likely, but can happen, so you'll want to be extra diligent about brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and getting regular in-person dental cleanings and exams, making sure they're aware that you are undergoing remote orthodontic treatment. Also, make sure that whatever company you go with, they're monitoring your bite's progression properly.

Below I'll outline the basic fees and what sets the most popular clear aligner companies apart below! Companies are listed in alphabetical order. Some of the biggest differences include whether they use dentists and/or orthodontists, what accessories they include, and whether they have in-person studios available.

​**Handy infographic comparison chart at bottom of post**

Disclaimer: This is just my personal research since I'm hoping to straighten my own teeth, and I wanted to share my findings with y'all! Prices and options may vary, contact companies directly to confirm. Affiliate links included below, you don't pay more but we'll receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking. Since publishing, I decided to proceed with Candid, who will be providing me with their full system in exchange for promotion. Stay tuned to see how it goes!!

AlignerCo

• Treatment Cost: $1,145 includes impression kit, aligners, and first set of post-treatment retainers. Alternatively: Affirm payment plan of $86/month for 12 months ($1,032) or Partial.ly $275 down and $95/month for 11 months ($1,320 total).
• Impression kit and treatment plan by dentist.
• $75 for impression kit only (if not ready to commit to treatment).
• Accepts HSA, FSA

Byte

• Start Up Cost: $95 remote impression kit, reviewed by an orthodontist who customizes your treatment plan (full refund if not a candidate).
• Treatment Cost: $1,895 (or payment plan $349 down and $83/month, 7.76 APR = $2,763 total)​
• Accept HSA, FSA, and CareCredit​
• $699 for Exclusive HyperByte (High Frequency Vibration / HFV) system that cuts treatment plan time in half.
• Choose all-day or night only treatment plan.
• Teeth whitening included.
• First set of post-treatment retainers included (ByteProtection plan for $649 - $779 provides retainers every 6 months for 5 years)​, otherwise $129 per set.
• $10 cash back with Rakuten

Candid

• Start Up Cost: $95 start up kit - you take photos and impressions and an orthodontist will contact you with treatment plan; full refund if not a candidate. (DEAL: $25 starter kit with code USJAPANFAM); OR get a free scan at a Candid Studio.
• Treatment Cost: $2,400 (DEAL: $300 off "buy it now" aligner kits)
• Payment plans as low as $399 down, $99/month for 24 months = total of $2,775.
• Accept HSA/FSA.
• $10 cash back with Rakuten (sign up here)
• Their doctors are all orthodontists - experts in clear aligner treatment, with an average of 20 years experience.

Invisalign

• No online / remote option! You'll see your Invisalign-trained orthodontist face to face every 6-8 weeks.

NewSmile

• Treatment Cost: $1,595 includes impress kit, treatment preview, aligners, retainers (worth $149), and whitening (worth $39). Refund if determined not a candidate. Holiday Sale: save $400. 
• $139 for impression kit and preview only.
• Daytime or nighttime-only plans.
• Accepts HSA, FSA

Smile Direct Club

• Start Up Cost: $65 for remote impression kit (or free 3D scan if you visit a "SmileShop"); reviewed by dentist or orthodontist; fully refundable if determined not a candidate.
• February Special: $29 Remote Impression Kit (free after rebate)
• Treatment Cost: $1,950 single pay or $250 deposit + $89/mo. for 24 months ($2386 total)
• A licensed dentist will assess your smile
• Return aligners within 30 days for a full refund.
• $99 for a set of upper/lower retainers after treatment is complete.
• 2 options: nighttime (10 hours / night) or 22 hour daytime wear.
• Accept HSA, FSA, and CareCredit
• Premium teeth whitening included
• DEAL: 15% off accessories (teeth whitener, TILE case so you don't lose retainers / aligners, UV cleaning machine, water flosser, toothpaste).

So what do you think!? Have you had braces or used a clear aligner system before? Do you want to?? Share your thoughts or experiences in a comment below!

Disclaimer: this post includes affiliate links - you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.

So if you're wondering how to clean your dishwasher, more specifically, looking into removing residue from hard water, this is the post for you! I too have that icky white film on dishes, glasses, and inside of my dishwasher! My husband even complained that the glasses SMELLED! WHAT!?

​I'm not quite up to the task of making a homemade dishwasher detergent, and read how damaging vinegar and other things can actually be for your dishwasher. But I wanted something environmentally friendly, a more natural dishwasher detergent. I checked the EWG Database, they have great guides and a huge database where they rate products' safety based on the chemicals they include (THE best to search for the best environmentally friendly cleaners).

Please note, this is NOT SPONSORED, I simply bought some products that scored REALLY well on the EWG database and seemed to have great reviews for getting rid of white film in dishwasher, and figured I'd share how they worked for me, in case they might work for you!

Supposedly Lemi Shine products use citric acid to break down hard water residue and whatever is contributing to your cloudy dishes. Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent is a great environmentally friendly dishwasher detergent (and according to GE, dish detergent packs do better than liquid, but be careful if you have little ones at home who may mistake them for candy), but the Lemishine Booster is what really really did the trick. It didn't get my glasses 100% crystal clear but got them to about a 90, and cleaned the dishwasher completely.

​Watch the video to see how they did (links under the video to purchase, if so inclined):

Do you have another technique for getting rid of white hard water residue? Are your glasses completely clear and spotless?? I'd LOVE to hear your tips, share in a comment below!!!!

If you're buying a house or thinking of renovating yours, this post is for you! Some desirable items or functions in a home are obvious, maybe they're luxuries or even conveniences you currently live without and can't wait to have (this was me lusting after a washer and dryer after living the NYC apartment life for a decade!). But there are other less well known but amazing upgrades and improvements out there that you may want to consider when buying a house, especially if you're planning to build or renovate. You may have never even heard of some of these things. Simply put, you don't know what you don't know, which is why I've put together this great list of must-haves for your dream home (compiled from lots of research on the web and many Facebook threads)! Did I miss any?? Leave a comment below!

Disclaimer: Affiliate links included below - you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.

KITCHEN

• ​Double wall ovens - great for cooking multiple items at once during holidays and when entertaining!
• Pot Filler Faucet - no more lugging heavy pots from the sink to the stove!
• Pantry Closet - more closets, everywhere, even the kitchen!
• Slide-out trash bins in cabinets for garbage / recycling / compost - keeping these out of sight but easily accessible is great, but make sure they're hands free, if an open bin of compost might get stinky, maybe a bin that you can pull out with your foot and top will open with the wave of a hand. If you're handy, you can DIY pretty easily with something like this.
• Counter-depth Refrigerator - these are very pricey but may be worth the splurge; not only do they look better not sticking out past the counters, they're also more practical since you don't have to dig to the way back.
• Extra large range hood - great for removing smoke / odor.
• Extra large (deep & wide) undermount sink - undermount sinks are flush with the counters making cleaning up very easy. Many warn against putting it in your island, however, since it can be unsightly having a massive amount of pots and dishes in there when entertaining.
• Smudge-proof stainless steel appliances - do you like constantly wiping off fingerprints and streaks from your fridge, oven, and microwave? Yeah, me neither.
• Soft-closing hinges on all cabinets and drawers - Nice and quiet. Nuff said! Feeling adventurous? Try installing these yourself!
• Garbage disposal - I haven't had one in 20 years and not a day goes by I didn't wish I had one.
• Under-cabinet lighting - looks nice and you can actually see what you're doing when cooking! You can DIY this very easily and cheaply; we "installed" these cordless LED strips in our last home. Stick the self-adhesive magnetic strips to the underside of your cabinets and the light strips latch on by magnet. Simply take down and charge by USB every few days, they even come with a remote!
• Stunning lighting - especially over the island and dining table! Check out these beautiful options at Sofary!

WHOLE HOUSE SYSTEMS (heating, cooling, plumbing)

• Radiant heat flooring - these can be a more ecologically and budget friendly way to heat your home, plus they feel SO nice on your feet!
• Central air - cooling your home may be pricier with central air, but you can use smart thermostats and zones to keep costs down a bit. Plus, by keeping rooms from getting too hot or humid, you'll lessen risk of mold.
• Central vac - this is a lesser known technology but allows you to plug a special vacuum into the wall and all debris get sucked down into a central tank rather than the vacuum's bag or bin. Personally, I prefer my cordless Dyson, but it can only go for 15 minutes at a time so you have to pick your poison...
• Tankless water heater - in our house, we have a regular water heater and it runs out pretty quickly. We can't run the dishwasher right after someone takes a shower, and can't have simultaneous or even back to back showers (with 5 people in our family this is rough). A tankless water heater is at the top of our must-have list and with it, you'll never run out of hot water again! 
• Eggshell finish paint - easier to clean, a must with kids!
• Recessed lighting - our last Brooklyn apartment had not a single ceiling light in the living room. We had to use floor lamps! FLOOR LAMPS!! Not recommended. We currently have recessed lighting everywhere and I'm obsessed!! A decorative piece (like these) in some rooms such as entry way and dining room are nice, as well. On dimmers, even better!
• TONS of outlets - min 4 per room, some with USB (you can DIY with a plug-in surge protector / outlet extender like this that includes 5 regular plugs and 4 USB ports!) 
• Eco-Friendly Electricity - think solar paneling, or geothermal. Bonus if you can sell back reserves or bank them in your generator.
• Wooden floors - carpet is harder to clean, and harbors all kinds of allergens lowering air quality. 
• Electric blinds - put them on a timer to help waking up easier, or simply shut and open with the click of a button. Consider cordless if little kids will be around. You can get them custom made and installed, or DIY with some on Amazon.

BEDROOMS

• Walk-in closet with built-in organization in main bedroom
• Double the closet size in other bedrooms
• Ceiling fans - can help cut down on heating and cooling usage

BATHROOMS

• Bidet toilets - don't knock it til you've tried it, take it from someone who's lived in Japan where bidet toilet seats are standard in every home. Also, another toilet paper shortage? No problem!
• Built in shower bench and shelving - just make sure they are designed to drain properly, we had some installed incorrectly and they held water.
• Strong exhaust system - we lived in one NYC apartment with NO bathroom exhaust (just a small window) and no air conditioning. It was a mold magnet!
• Heat lamp or floor - it's not fun freezing before or after a hot shower, or having to drag in a portable heater, am I right?
• Recessed vanity mirror with storage - it looks like a flat mirror, but it opens to provide you all the great storage of a medicine cabinet. Fab!

LIVING ROOM & LAUNDRY

• Fire place - so cozy, and can help cut down heating costs.
• Laundry room on same floor as bedrooms - having to lug laundry up and down several flights of stairs to the basement isn't fun, and if this is your forever home, imagine doing it into your 80s and 90s...

ENTRY / GARAGE / ATTIC / BASEMENT

• Mudroom - can help keep your house cleaner and tidier, and doesn't have to be an eyesore if you have proper storage. Many have it at the front entrance but personally I'd prefer by the back/garage entrance, you can even include a utility sink.
• Finished basement - what's the point of a basement if you can't use it, am I right?! Whether it's a space for the kids to hangout, an office, a guest room, man cave, or a full mother-in-law suite, there's so much potential! Not to mention it'll add huge resale value, and be a safer spot should you find yourself under tornado warning.
• Proper waterproofing of foundation / basement - up here in NY everyone talks about BDry basement and crawlspace waterproofing and encapsulation being a must-splurge, even comes with a lifetime warranty. They service as far west as Illinois, as far south as Georgia, and as far north as Maine.
• Extra spray insulation, especially in attic - will drastically cut down on heat loss and cost.
• Built-in attic stairs - or at least drop down stairs, so you can access the space more easily.
• Video doorbell with 2-way voice - Ring, Arlo, SimpliSafe, Eufy - there are tons to choose from here. We installed the Ring video doorbell in our home a few months ago and love it, see my video installation/review here!

PATIO / OUTDOORS

• ​Trex composite decking - no splinters. No sanding, fading, or painting. Trex is all the rage these days. It's eco-friendly too, made of 95% recycled compiste board. 
• Stone patio and fire pit - great for entertaining and hanging out on summer evenings!
• Outdoor electric outlets - handy for holiday lights!​​

So, yeah, just a FEW must-haves on our home shopping list! HA! Have you renovated your home to include any of the above? Love them, hate them? Are there any great home features you love and recommend that I left off? Share in a comment below!!

Valentine's Day is coming up and we're overwhelmed with gift guides promoting jewelry and flowers and all kinds of goodies to woo a loved one. Don't worry, this is not another one of those. What I've got instead is a Valentine's Gift Guide for yourself! Here are some great ideas for promoting self-care and a healthier heart!! 

**Disclaimer: unless noted, I have not personally tried the items below and hold no liability as to their quality. They're just items I found while searching and think they look great (and might buy myself!!). Make sure to discuss starting an exercise regime with your doctor. Also, links below are affiliate links, meaning you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking. It's how we bloggers make money yo! Thank you!!

IN HOME EXERCISE EQUIPMENT:
Instead of heart-shaped candies (a minute on the lips, a lifetime on the hips), how about upping your fitness game!? We're nearly a year into the pandemic, being "safe at home" and all that, so if you haven't gotten some exercise equipment for staying fit and healthy at home, now is the time!! Don't worry, there's something for every budget, whether you're doing free aerobics videos on YouTube, jumping rope in the driveway, or investing a few grand into a professional machine and subscription to live classes with peppy instructors.

• Walk while you work with a treadmill that goes under your standing desk!!

• Work out on a smooth elliptical while streaming your favorite shows (Bridgerton, anyone??)!

• Take a spin class from home on a stationary bike! 

• Don't forget some accessories to round out your in-home gym!

• And of course... some love-themed workout apparel (or lounge wear, you decide)!

Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links - you won't pay more but we'll receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking. However, this is not a sponsored post - I purchased both sets of brushes :)

Our kids' dentist recently recommended them to all upgrade to electric toothbrushes (see more tips for kids' teeth here), apparently they do a MUCH better job at cleaning teeth than traditional toothbrushes (Burst says they provide 91% better plaque removal!). Turns out, we ALL should be using them! There are several brands out there to choose from, so it can feel a bit overwhelming. One of my friends is a dental hygienist and rep for Burst, and I'd been seeing their targeted ads on Facebook (you know, the ones where they brush charcoal off of a cob of corn) and decided to bite the bullet and buy one for my husband's Christmas gift (one for myself too, of course)!

​Check out my unboxing video here:

Not only is my Rose Gold brush BEAUTIFUL, it does a great job and I'm truly loving it, as are my teeth!
Here are some key points:

• It helps you brush smarter - it has a 2 minute timer, with a quick pause every 30 seconds so you can switch zones (my 4 zones are top outside, top inside, bottom outside, bottom inside)
• Burst uses soft charcoal infused PBT nylon bristles designed to remove surface stains better. (And they are much softer than my old toothbrush, I was shocked!)
• It has 33,000 sonic vibrations per minute - super powerful without damaging gums.
• It has 3 modes: high, low, and pulsing (they call it whitening, sensitive, & massage).
• It holds a charge for FOUR WEEKS when brushing twice a day! 
• Comes with USB cable plus wall plug adapter, giving you lots of charging flexibility.
• You can subscribe so they'll send you a new brush head every 3 months ($6-7 per head)
• Lifetime warranty (as long as your subscription is active), otherwise 90 day money back guarantee.

SAVE MONEY!!

• Make sure you have Rakuten installed and you'll get 3% cash back!
• They have a DEALS page listing current deals!

BURST ORAL CARE PRODUCTS:

• Sonic Toothbrush in white, black, or rose gold
• Cordless Water Flosser in white, black, or rose gold
• Toothpaste with fluoride, without fluoride, or charcoal fluoride
• Coconut Whitening Strips
• Oral Probiotics
• Expanding Floss​

Brush their teeth and take them to the dentist. Simple enough, right? Wrong. There's SO much more to protecting your child's teeth and instilling proper oral hygiene, but it's not too tricky. Please note that I'm not a medical professional - I am happy to share what I've learned over the years and include a few of our favorite products, but please consult your child's doctor or dentist!

Disclaimer: Affiliate links included below - we receive a small commission from sales made after clicking.

1. Electric Toothbrush
These do a MUCH better job than standard tooth brushes. Talk to your child's dentist about when to switch over to electric toothbrushes (typically this is after 3 years of age). Our dentist highly recommended Philips Sonicare Children's Electric Toothbrushes, one for each kid since their germs and strep bacteria etc can collect under the removable brush part, so he advised against letting kids share the electric base and simply swapping the heads). The kids' Philips Sonicare toothbrush comes in blue or pink with 8 decorative wraps to swap out. It also has a fun free interactive app that helps kids get motivated and enjoy brushing! It retails for $39.95 - 49.95 but we found it on sale for $29.95, so shop around especially at big sales times like Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

For babies and toddlers who can't use electric toothbrushes yet, we love the MAM toothbrushes which include a protective shield! Toothpaste with fluoride is best, but not great if being swallowed. For younger toddlers, only use the amount of a grain of rice. Around age 3-6 you can increase to a pea-size amount (best not to swallow but fine if they do). Our kids love the ACT Bubble Gum!

Older kids, teens, and adults have more options for electric toothbrushes. Philips Sonicare is the name we hear most, and they have several varieties, but I personally just bought Burst for myself and my husband - it's getting great reviews from dentists and hygienists, and has a big sale through December 21:

2. Flossing
Did you realize your kids should be flossing!? I didn't, until my first child had a ton of cavities revealed at his first dental x-ray!! We immediately ran out and bought children's flossers which were a game changer - while they are wasteful and I do feel bad about that, they're super easy to use and our kids love them! I usually let them floss themselves and then I do it as well, especially between the back molars where the teeth are tight and it's harder for them to be sure they get down in between the teeth.

3. Mouth Wash
We just moved out of the city where we had fluoridated water and hadn't been using mouth wash but now we don't have fluoride in our water and our kids' new dentist just recommended mouth wash, which our kids are LOVING! We got the ACT bubble gum flavor mouthwash, you squeeze the bottle and it fills up the right dosage in the top! We then pour it into washable/reusable plastic cups so our kids don't swap germs in the bottle. They have a few flavors to choose from, have fun trying them all!

4. Avoid Certain Foods & Drinks
Avoid the following (children and adults):

• sticky sugary foods (of course candy but also "healthier" ones like dried fruit and even gummy vitamins! but if you must with this stuff, have it with a meal and then brush / floss afterwards)
• hard candy (the sugar is in the mouth too long)
• gum (unless xylitol, which actually helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease)
• juice and any drinks with sugar, citrus ones being the worst for teeth
• soda (even "diet" sugar-free ones as the carbonation allows plaque to produce more enamel attacking acid)

5. Regular Checkups
Children and adults alike should be going in for twice a year dental checkups and cleanings. But when to start? Children should go in for their first checkup by age 2, or sooner if you like! That early on, it's more about getting the child comfortable. Most pediatric dentists will have you hold the little one in your lap, and make it really fun and relaxed. They'll likely want to take x-rays by age 6, to make sure all adult teeth are accounted for, teeth are lining up nicely, and there are no abnormalities to worry about. Later on they'll keep an eye out for soft spots and things that can be corrected before needing the dreaded filling, or worse! Here's my 7 year old son's panorama x-ray from his latest checkup, pretty cool right!? The checkups are so important for staying on top of your child's dental health - the dentist will make sure you're doing all of the above things and make recommendations based on what's going on with their teeth, and allow you to ask questions about any concerns you may have!

From spectacular homes to ticketed festivals, below is an interactive map of the best 2020 Christmas Lights in Hudson Valley and Beyond, including Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, Rockland, Westchester  and Sullivan Counties as well as Long Island, NYC, and NJ!!

Please double check details / hours / costs before heading out - we did our best compiling this list but haven't confirmed each place personally. Photos were provided or grabbed from websites, we do no own copyright.

​**Have a house to add?? E-mail me the address and a photo!**

• Demarest Farms Orchard of Lights in NJ: watch our video below & grab tickets here for 32 acres of drive through lights, a photo with Santa, roasting s'mores over fire pits, and more!
• LuminoCity on Randall's Island in NYC: watch our video below and get 15% off your tickets here with code JAPAN15!
• Garner Arts Center "Let There Be Light" in Rockland County NY: watch our video below to see the extremely unique and interesting drive-thru light and art exhibition
• Cornwall Central Middle School PTO Christmas Lights List & Map

**HOW TO USE THE MAP**
- click on any pin to see photo/video and notes (green are ticketed, red are free)
- click the image on the top left of the map to show you the list of places
- click the box on the top right to "view larger map" and it'll open it up in google maps