SOCIAL MEDIA

May 27, 2016

Summer Gallery Wall with DIY Flag Sign

Happy Friday! Today marks the unofficial start to summer and it is also the fourth Friday of the month, which means I am joining some super talented bloggers for Farmhouse Friday. Please be sure to check out their posts which all include a patriotic how-to just in time for Memorial Day weekend.
Summer gallery wall with DIY American flag, plank shiplap wall and paint-by-number
I like to update the gallery wall in our family room with the seasons and I just finished adding some summer inspired touches. The focal point of our summer gallery wall this year is the DIY American flag I made with some scrap wood. I took the pictures but never actually got around to sharing how I made it. This flag is so versatile and always finds a spot in our home during the summer months.
Summer gallery wall with DIY American flag, plank shiplap wall and paint-by-number

May 22, 2016

Living with Kids & Pets? Here's Why You Need A Dyson Light Ball Vacuum (Review)

In our busy household with 2 hairy Golden Retrievers and 3 active boys, we need a tough vacuum that can withstand daily use. The amount of dog hair I vacuum up each day is insane. When Dyson contacted me about reviewing a new vacuum, the new Dyson Light Ball, I jumped at the opportunity. We have been using a Dyson vacuum in our home for just about 10 years now. I often get asked by readers what my floor cleaning routine is with big dogs and I always recommend getting a Dyson. I was excited to receive the new vacuum to compare it to our 10 year old vacuum.
Dyson Light Ball vacuum review with golden retriever puppy

May 20, 2016

Planking a Small Accent Wall

DIY planking added to a small accent wall - www.goldenboysandme.com
We recently added some wall planks with hooks to a small wall in our family room and I am loving the difference it has made. Sometimes, just a small accent wall can go a long way in bringing a room up to date. This part of our family room was feeling a bit tired and dated to me and I think this little area gives it just the freshening up it needed.
DIY planking added to a small accent wall - www.goldenboysandme.com

May 19, 2016

Celebrating 20 Years of Marriage

Do you have that special place in your life where everything just feels "right" and you can totally relax? A place where you can share a glass of wine, a perfect sip, with a special someone? For me, it is the porch at our family's cabin in the mountains. My husband and I will be celebrating 20 years of marriage this summer and we are very excited to reach this milestone. We recently spent an evening together in our favorite spot while enjoying a glass of Chateau Ste. Michelle wine and I wrote about it in an article for SheKnows.com that you can find here.

May 16, 2016

If We Moved To...Essex, NY

We spent Spring Break in the Adirondacks the last week in April. We never get bored because there are so many places to explore in this area. Once the warm boating season comes, we tend to stay right in Schroon Lake because there is so much to do there. But this time of year, it is fun to venture out to see different places. We got in our car and took a ride up the shore of Lake Champlain. This is referred to as the Adirondack Coast in this area.
The shore of Lake Champlain with the Green Mountains of Vermont in view in Essex, NY
The shore of Lake Champlain in Essex, NY

May 10, 2016

Heading Towards Graduation

My oldest son turns 18 this week and will be graduating in a few short weeks. Yikes! Where has the time gone? I am increasingly aware that my parenting days aren't over yet. In fact, it seems like these are some of the most crucial parenting days we will experience. I wrote a post sponsored by She Knows and Anheuser-Busch on SheKnows.com about talking to our kids about drinking that you can find here. Especially since we are heading into the prom/graduation season, it is such an important topic. The post links to some fantastic resources from Anheuser-Busch Family Talk About Drinking to help get the conversation started with your own kids, for every age and stage.
Mother's Day 2016

May 8, 2016

Happy Mother's Day & A Few New Finds (all under $10!)

Hello friends! Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful moms out there. And to those of you who are missing your mom or a loved one today, I am sending you a hug. I know how hard it can be for me on Father's Day when I see everyone posting pictures with their dad. Holidays can be very bittersweet for so many.