THE GIFT OF REST

I am convinced that the best gift you could give any woman on Mother's Day is rest. Rest is a undoubtedly a luxury for me in this busy season of motherhood and at the top of my wish list, but sometimes when I have the opportunity to try and rest I don't know how. That might sound crazy, but it's true. So, that's why gifting items from The White Company is an amazing idea. Their high quality, timeless home and beauty products are everything you need to feel pampered and rested.

The box I received from The White Company was the most beautiful box I had ever laid eyes on. The attention to detail is impeccable. And then you open it, and it's like peeling back layers of a rose petal starting with the warmest, personal welcome from The White Company, crisp cotton pillowcases, and a silver picture frame.

When I opened the second layer I discovered an oversized terry cloth robe, a candle that smells like a bouquet of flowers and 100% cashmere socks and a throw. Just lighting a candle and wrapping myself up in all of that pretty would put me into the deepest sleep.

It only got better though when I reached the third layer. Waiting for me was the finest face and body products. Face wash, moisturizer, oil and cream all work together to make your skin feel so soft and smell delightful.

The unboxing experience was a gift alone. However, the rest that came when I shut my bedroom doors, turned on some soft music, showered and applied it all...Well, that was exactly what I was missing in my life - true pampering and rest.

The White Company is coming across the pond from Britain to the U.S. next month and opening their first store in New York City. If you're in the area, be sure to visit. And if not, you can order it all online, at The White Company. I’m excited to be working with them on some upcoming projects as well, so stay tuned for that!

Photos by Rennai Hoefer

A ONE STOP AMAZING SHOP

This post is sponsored by Bed, Bath & Beyond.

The holiday season is always a bit nutty starting with Halloween through New Year's Day, but this year feels beyond nutty. We're talking a hurricane of madness where most plans have fallen through due to sickness and work deadlines. Throw in birthdays, hosting guests and doctor visits and you can find me with the door closed practicing deep breathing. So, leisurely shopping for Christmas gifts around town as I sip a latte is but a dream. In reality, I need one stop, amazing shopping to tackle Christmas, and that's why all of our gifts for our family are from Bed, Bath & Beyond this year. They have something for everyone including our golden-doodle, Wendy. I guess you can say I've sleighed the holidays, well, at least Christmas gifts.

You have to see what I found. I even bought myself the best gift of all...(a gift that keeps on giving, of course). And, we opened up our gifts early this year, so that I could share why we love them.

ELLE: Ice Cream Maker / $19.99 - This isn't a traditional gift for kids, but it really should be. Elle's favorite food is ice cream and she loves to bake with me. This ice cream maker does all of the work for you. You just add your ingredients, and then theres a little slot to add in any mix-ins. So, this is something that your kids starting at 4 years old can pretty much do themselves with a bit of assistance measuring. It has a little storage bowl inside the machine that you can pop out and place in the freezer for easy storing. To complete the gift, you can buy a kid's apron and chef hat.

LEVI: Vtech Smart Wheels Treasure Mountain Train Set / $49.99 - Levi is really into trucks, cars and anything he can roll across the floor. This Treasure Mountain Smart train set takes things with wheels to a whole new level. It comes with a battery operated train that goes its own. The set comes with balls that he can plop through different parts of the mine onto the train. It's SO cool! Elle actually loves it just as much as Levi and she is 4. It has really is a gift they can share.

RYAN: Top Shelf Bevel 3-Piece Whiskey Set / $89.99 - Ryan is a whiskey man. We started a bar set when we were first married with a shaker, ice bucket, etc., but he didn't have a decanter for whiskey or old fashioned glasses. I thought this would be the perfect, sophisticated way to grow his tools. The beveled glass makes for a beautiful display too. We look forward to doing some holiday entertaining in the coming days, and this is perfect for it.

WENDY: Pawslife Orthopedic Step-in Dog Bed/ $59.99 - Truthfully, Wendy has not received a Christmas gift since the kids were born (yikes). Not even a special bone (oops). She is seven years old, and the dog bed we first got her is just as old, but ragged and worn out. This year we got her a new bed that is more cozy than the first. And, even though I don't like to think about Wendy getting older, I know that one day she will, and this bed will make it easier for her to get up and out of it.

ME: Nespresso Maker Bundle / $187.49 - Though this may be the most expensive gift on the list I must tell you this is a gift for the WHOLE family. Okay, more so me and Ryan, but good coffee is truly the gift that keeps on giving because I then have energy to get through my day with a smile on my face vs. a frown. Plus, we have a bit of a bad habit of frequenting coffee shops regularly, and we're really trying not to do that. Since using this Nespresso and automatic frother I haven't even thought about going to Starbucks in the past five days. It's that good, and it's going to save us money in the long run.

I also got myself this "Awesome" mug to help start my day on the right foot.

Photos by Rennai Hoefer; this post contains affiliate links. 

Father's Day Gift Ideas from Pinterest

This is the first time I get to buy a Father's Day gift for Ryan, and, of course, Pinterest is full of FABULOUS gift ideas. I'll update you all with what I picked for my awesome hubs, but watch this video of me on Good Morning Arizona to see my Father's Day Pinterest Picks. You'll also notice my friend, Cody Helgeson, modeling some simple style ideas for dad's.

A big thank you to HelloSociety for all of the help and coaching they have given me. I am very new to this whole T.V. appearance thing and couldn't do it without their help!

Follow me on Pinterest to see my latest gift finds.