I started posting these "view through my lens" posts last year to help recap each month through my iPhone shots to keep random snapshots saved and easy to find.

Because I didn't learn the first time, I had a fun time dealing with computer disaster 2.0 in early March. Thank goodness everything is up and running again! My best advice... BACK EVERYTHING UP!

Got in the mood for a little traveling, so I put together a lust list of destinations I would love to visit, as well my tips on saving cash when traveling!

Celebrated St. Patty's day with my favorite sugar cookie recipe ever! So easy to make as well!

Took the train to Dover for a little weekend getaway in New Hampshire! Oh, how I love it there!

Feeling like we're 16 and in high school again -- L and I explored beautiful NH together in L's car from high school! We stayed up in North Conway, shopped and hiked! My kind of trip! I will write a recap post in April! (:

Came home from NH to a fun little puzzle that I bought from L.L. Bean! I love everything that store sells!

Packed up for another ski trip in New Hampshire with my favorite girl in tow! Kidding, I think she would have loved it though! ;)

Squashing sisters on the mountain!

What a beautiful view!

Our first time ever riding in a gondola! It's the little things.

I have never fallen so much before. Crash, boom, splat. I don't know what was up!

Beautiful ski day, at a beautiful mountain!

Big things happening as to where my fingers are pointed. Will share later!! (:

 Arrived home and set my self up for organizing success! Me and my printables. (:

 Macy cat offered her input as to items you should buy for your cat! She always knows best!

Snapped a cute candid moment of this fluff nugget!

Tried sweetgreen for the first time ever, and am hooked. This surprises me because I like to stick to an all chocolate diet.

Looking forward to what April has in store for us!

January // February

Laundry Room Hacks

 Laundry rooms aren't really a thing here in the city which may be why I am feeling inspired to write a post all about them! A girl can dream! My laundry room goals...

via I admit, I am really good at taking freshly laundered sheets, crumpling them into a big ball, and throwing them into the linen closet storage container. I can assure you that I am quickly working to perfect my Martha Stewart sheet folding skills!

via I don't know what kind of decor people typically hang in their laundry rooms, but a laundry guide identifying wash symbols is a fun, cute and useful decoration!

via What better way to save ironing board space than to hang it on the wall like this? It saves space, is extremely accessible and makes a cute decoration as well!

via I love stuff in jars, which is why tossing all of your tide pods into a pretty cookie jar makes wanting to do laundry 10 times more fun (looking). Keep this high and out of reach if you live in a home with children, you wouldn't want them to mistake it for candy!

via If you have a front loader washing machine, install a butcher block on top to act as a folding station. Heck, you can use it for shelving as well!

via I love these drawers that have been turned into drying racks for items that should not be thrown in a dryer! They also take little no floor space!

via I love to keep dirty laundry and baskets out of sight, which is why these built-in hampers are dreamy!

What are your favorite laundry room hacks and decorations?

9 Things your cat wants you to buy for them!

Cats like to get new things just as much as we do! Whether it be a Christmas gift, birthday gift, or a random surprise, make sure your cat isn't feeling left out when their next birthday or the holidays roll around! After staring at Macy Cat for a few minutes in search for some blogging ideas, I felt inspired to document a handful of items that could potentially enhance your fur-child's life!

1. If your cat is as regal as the one that rules our home, it is of the utmost importance to outfit them with a trendy, upholstered pet sofa. It's elevated, stylish, and tufted! What more could a cat ask for!? Your cat might like this adorable one as well!
   
   
2. If your cat is a manly cat who prefers to sleep in enclosed areas, like the belly of a shark, I would recommend you running these sleeping quarters past him. This soft, fluffy and very inviting bed was designed with your furry friend in mind!
   
   
3. If your cat prefers Chinese food above all else, you should introduce these Chinese food cat toys into their life. Not only can you get cat toys shaped like sauce packets and fortune cookies that are filled with cat nip, heck they have their own fortunes too! Here's a little video that explains them.
   
   
4. These cat nip bubbles may appeal to the more active member of your cat family. The rather plump cat that lives in our house just stares at them and watches them pop.
   
   
5. When the humans are away, the cats must play. Crank up their level of fun with this groovy cat music CD. I really am curious as a cat owner what kind of music is on this CD and what it will make my cat do!?
   
   
6. If you're a busy body and your schedule inconveniences your cats chow time, it may be in your best interest to invest in an automated pet feeder and water bubbler. Nothing says "I love you" more than food and water!
   
   
7. I must admit, these next three items are things that made my life a little bit easier. Macy Cat recently got a groovy manicure when we played cat salon a couple weeks ago. She is now sporting some sparkly pink softpaws and I couldn't be happier! It's been 3+ weeks and not one has fallen off! My stomach is no longer victim to getting hole punched by the cat!
   
   
8. When it comes to keeping kitty litter within a one foot proximity of the litter box, we have failed on multiple occasions. We just haven't seemed to master this yet. I just purchased a boot tray and plan on setting the entire box on top of it. Hopefully litter will not go outside of this tray!
   
   
9. Rumor has it that cats who sport a bright orange collar are known as kitty convicts and should not leave the safety of their home. Whenever you see a cat outside roaming around with an orange color, let it be known that it is an escaped convict, and it's authorities should be notified immediately. Macy Cat sports a bright orange collar with a bell. She can be an escape artist if given the opportunity, and we all know that if that city girl got loose in Boston I would be reduced to a puddle!
   

What other cat necessities make your list?

WHO • WHAT • WHEN • WHERE • WHY

(My most recent puzzle acquisition from L.L. Bean) 
WHO

• Who remembers the book, "Make way for Ducklings"? Well, I bought the book for a friends baby shower and plan on dragging L down to the Public Garden to get a picture with the statues to put in the book with a little note. The book came in the mail the other day, and as I'm opening it in front of L, he gets this blank, expressionless face and goes... "Is there something you need to tell me?" --you would have thought he had seen a ghost! But no, no little ducklings for us for awhile.
  

WHAT

• Obsessed with these evening sandals! Such a classic and fun heel that you can wear with multiple outfits for all seasons.
  

WHEN

• My favorite containers in all of container land are currently on super sale right now! I've mentioned them before and truly love the size and quality of these trunks! I think $29.99 is a great deal for these!
  

WHERE

• Lands End. Go there now and pick up these adorable Easter basket totes! It may be post Easter, however this is exactly what I have been looking for! Plus they're only $11.99 now (and of course you should get them monogrammed).
  

WHY

• I found this article regarding reasons why you're not making money from google adsense to be an interesting read. If you're looking to monetize your blog, Google Adsense is a great place to start, and this post helps describe how it works!

Enjoy the rest of your week!

30 Days of Decluttering

While living in Boston has taught me a handful of wonderful life lessons, one of the most important lessons, and my personal favorite, is the value of a square foot! There aren't many of them here, so it is important for us to stay on top of cleaning, organizing and decluttering so that we can make the most out of our space and make our space work for us. Having too many knick knacks and randoms lying around the place gives off a cluttered and messy look making for a stressful environment.
I jump at any opportunity that helps keep our little home tidy and clean, and thought it would be fun to design a 30 days of decluttering worksheet to help keep me on track. Nothing is more fulfilling than crossing something off of a list! I recently implemented a "15 minutes of cleaning everyday" rule and also made progress by getting rid of a few things. Here's to hoping I can stick to my guns and complete this list! Feel free to follow the link below and print a worksheet off for yourself!
30 Days of Decluttering

If you're interested, I also have a handful of other printables that you may print off as well, and a bunch of kits over in my Etsy shop!

10 Ways to Cut Travel Expenses

With the traveling season upon us, I wanted to share a handful of great hacks that help us to save a couple dollars when on the road (or in the air). Traveling expenses can add up quickly, so I hope these tips lend a hand when booking your next trip! For those of you who want to manage your money all year round, Personal Capital's financial tools are a great way to help with that! L and I travel consistently throughout the year, many of our trips being trips out to Ohio to visit his family, and others being to Myrtle Beach, skiing in Vermont, and other short trips around New England. Throughout the past couple of years, I think that it is safe to say that we have slowly figured out what works and doesn't work for us. 

TRAVEL REWARDS CARD

• A travel rewards credit card is a great way to put your everyday charges towards points that can be used for flight miles and accommodations. Each card offers a unique collection of benefits, however it is rare to find one card that suits everyone. Every traveler is looking for a different travel experience making it simple to narrow down the rewards card that works best for you!

FLIGHT FLEXIBILITY

• We have had the most luck booking our flights midweek, usually on Wednesdays. While it is rare that airlines get cheaper the closer you are to your departure date, air flights do drop drastically some days so it is possible, and if you like to gamble you might luck out! For us, it is most beneficial and cost saving to book our flights as far out in advance as possible, and to also fly midweek. 

DON'T PAY TO CHECK A BAG

• Checking a bag can easily add an additional $25 to $50 onto any trip! Not many airlines allow one free checked bag anymore, so be aware of that charge! If you're able to, stick to your travel sized toiletries and pack everything into a carry on! This will also save you time when checking in, AND you won't have to wait for baggage claim. I also live in fear of my checked luggage getting lost, so that's another thing I don't have to worry about!

TRAVEL DURING THE OFF SEASON

• We LOVE to travel during the off season! Prices are bound to be lower, destinations are much less crowded, and you have a better opportunity to meet and get to know the locals. Feeling rushed, crowded and robbed blind are never good feelings... so travel during the off season!

STAY AT SMALLER, PRIVATELY OWNED HOTELS

• I do like staying at chains because I know what to expect, however they are always top dollar. Venture outside of your comfort zone and check out small, privately owned hotels, boutiques and bed and breakfast's. Not only will they more than likely be a little bit easier on your wallet, they usually provide a more interactive and personable experience for their guests. 

NEGOTIATE YOUR ROOM RATE WHEN YOU ARRIVE

• Yes. This works. Go in knowing that you are the paying customer and there are other options. I'm not saying to ask for an unreasonable amount off, but do ask what the best price available is, and compare what they are offering to what a third party may offer (Trivago, Travelocity, etc.). They will more than likely adjust the price a little bit which is certainly better than nothing!

DON'T FORGET ABOUT MEMBER DISCOUNTS

• When you go to check into a hotel or buy a travel ticket, always ask if they offer any member discounts (AAA, AARP, etc.). We always forget about this one, but it can almost always save you a dollar or two. Just the other night, L and I got a significant amount off of our stay because I am a member of AAA. Score!

VISIT HIDDEN GEMS

• Avoid visiting the popular and very expensive destinations that tend to attract tourists. Try to find the less saturated spots that may be located a little bit farther outside of the city. These places sometimes end up being the best part of the trip!

SIGHTSEEING - IT CAN BE FREE

• Every destination usually offers a free cities index which can provide you with an inexpensive day of adventure at local parks, beaches and informative tours. Take a day to explore the areas that you may have looked over in your vacation planning and indulge in some freebies!

PACK A LUNCH

• Airports, resorts and other vacation hot spots often hike up their food costs to bleed you dry. A simple lunch out could end up being two or three times the price to catch the unprepared tourist who has limited options. Go to a grocery store at the beginning of your trip and buy sandwich supplies to pack yourself and family some brown bags.

Feeling like we're 16 and in high school again -- exploring beautiful NH together in L's car from high school! Nostalgic!

P.S. Check out my travel lust list here!

Shamrock Sugar Cookies

The upcoming St. Patty's day had my holiday loving heart inspired to make my favorite sugar cookies recipe! Sloppy green frosting and all, these cookies are a STAPLE in my baking cookbook!
PROS: They keep their shape when you bake them and you do not have to cool them! They're fluffy and delicious too! CONS: There are none! Nada!
INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup granulated white sugar
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 egg
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoon baking powder

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF
2. Mix the butter and sugar until it is creamy
3. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract
4. In a separate bowl, combine the baking powder and flour. Slowly add to the wet ingredients while still mixing.
5. Roll some of the dough out onto parchment paper, measuring about 1/4 inch thick
6. Punch out your cookies using your favorite cookies cutters and then place them onto your cookie sheet with parchment paper.
7. Bake 6 to 8 minutes and let cool completely before frosting and decorating. 

Enjoy! Your stomach will thank you!!
P.S. We usually make our own frosting out of powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract and food coloring! What is your favorite sugar cookie recipe!? P.S.S. You can find similar shamrock cookie cutters here and here!