Melificent

Repairsmith

One thing I’ve really struggled with since becoming a mother is finding the time to get everything I need done. I feel like my to do list just gets longer and longer each day and trying to squeeze it all in can get very stressful and impede on what really matters, which is caring for my family and myself.

 

I commute every day (or at least I did before COVID) for work and need my car to be fully functional so that I can do my job, and also so I can pick my child up from school. Not having “a village” also makes my car even more important, since I am basically the sole individual that can “do it all.” You can feel the stress piling right? That’s why when my car breaks down, it causes all sorts of problems, from “who is going to pick up my daughter?” to “I can’t go to work today,” to ultimately, “now I have to take it in to the shop and lord knows how long it will take.” That’s where Repairsmith comes in.

 

Repairsmith is a mobile mechanic that comes to YOU rather than the other way around in a fully-equipped company van with everything they could possibly need to try and fix your vehicle. You can continue working from the comfort of your home, or have your child home with you as your car gets fixed. You don’t have to think about how long this is going to take and if you are not going to be able to complete your one million responsibilities because you are stuck at a repair shop (that may or may not have WIFI). Or worse off, have to even contemplate calling a tow truck – the mobile mechanic will come to you WHEREVER you may be so that you can get the problem fixed and be back on the road without costly and inconvenient towing needed.

 

Now during COVID, Repairsmith comes in even more clutch since most of us are working from home and can’t afford to take our car in for hours, nor do we want to be waiting in an enclosed lobby with too many people and surfaces that may be carrying germs. You will also only work with one technician (less exposure), and will also build more of a sense of trust and security with this one on one interaction.

 

I know what you are thinking already. This will probably cost a fortune due to the level of convenience, but that’s not the case! Repairsmith offers competitive pricing that’s on pair with your local shops and they do not charge convenience fees or pad the prices of their repairs. Some customers even report that they saved money using their services, which can put a smile on anyone’s face on the daily.

 

Living in the crazy rush that is modern life isn’t easy, but there are definitely ways to make it more so. Repairsmith can take the headache away from car repairs and instead make them quick, easy to schedule and effective with their OEM or OEM-equivalent parts and warranties. And who doesn’t want one less thing to worry about lately?

Chalkola

Coming at you from our corner of quarantine to share some awesome products that may help your little ones stay occupied despite so much time indoors. Luna has recently gotten into drawing (she especially loves pretending she is writing now that she can write letters), and this Chalkola mini chalkboard and set of THIRTY different colored chalk markers is just perfect for her. She had a blast drawing this scene from Moana (that’s what she told me anyways), and I can’t wait to play with them either. I think they are going to make a great addition to drive through birthdays and celebrations. Plus, I always like to have some inspirational quotes around our home, so this will be a fun and unique way to do so, while stretching my artistic muscles too!

Not only am I sharing this awesome new find with you all, but I also come bearing a coupon code. If you use MELISSALS10 you will receive 10% off your entire order! Feel free to have fun exploring all the products here (there are so many great options) and let me know if you were able to pick something out, and if so, how you are creating during this tough time!

Gluten Free Galentines

Having food allergies can be super tough on a daily basis, much less when traveling. Although I do my research beforehand and ask a lot of questions, I can still end up feeling crappy (for lack of a better word), which can be quite the buzzkill. I love a good weekend trip, especially when it’s a good weekend girls trip…to Disney. I thought it would be so fun to document the best places and spaces around Walt Disney World to get gluten free (and soy + vanilla free) treats for those of you that suffer from food allergies as well.

Oh, and I’d be going on this journey with Lizzie from @thewonderfulthingaboutlizzie while disneybounding as the ultimate Disney BFF’s: Minnie and Daisy! The mystery mousekatool was definitely FUN!

MAGIC KINGDOM

POPCORN

It’s hard to turn away a good Mickey bar (my favorite childhood treat), but I’ve learned to turn a blind eye and grab a tub of popcorn instead! If you buy one of their buckets, you will have $2 refills each time you bring it with you, which is amazing.

PETER PAN FLOAT

Storybook Treats always has really fun ice cream offerings and the Peter Pan float is one that has stood the test of time. Usually these specialty treats don’t last too long, but I think being a Dole Whip variant has helped this one! Although it is adorable, as most of you know, I am not a Dole Whip fan, but I thought maybe pairing it with lime ice cream and Sprite would be a good combo. It wasn’t for me, but it is really Instagrammable.

Honorable Mentions;

  • Dole Whip
  • Fomosa
  • Mickey Bar

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Why I Love Miami Beach

Not gonna lie, I get pretty annoyed whenever I tell someone I live in Miami, and they automatically think I live on Miami Beach. There is definitely more to Miami than the beach, but being a Miami native, there sure are a lot of amazing memories tied to it. I figured I would share some of my favorite Miami Beach memories and activities for those of you that may be visiting the Magic City soon and may want something that can’t be ticked off a traditional travel to-do list.

  1. Watch a show at The Fillmore.

My 20’s were a time for live music. I basically lived in music venues, with a perma-smile on my face and a beer in my hand swaying to my favorite bands’ music. Now I am lucky if I get to go to a show a year and am gluten intolerant, but I digress. The Fillmore Miami Beach is a beautiful Art Deco building situated on Washington Avenue that has intimately hosted many an amazing act. My most favorite memory here is going to a Justin Timberlake after show where we were resting our elbows on the stage watching JT get down with a seemingly endless amount of energy despite having come straight over to perform after his huge stadium show with Jay Z. Fun fact: I later found out that all the members of *NSYNC were watching from premium seating above.

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Geek Out: Home Is Where The Geek Is

When the hubs and I first moved out and got our own place, we thought we had to decorate it “like adults do.” This resulted in a home that looked nice, but didn’t go with our personalities at all. By the time we bought our first home, we knew that had to change. Just because we were adults and now owned a proper home, did not mean that we had to make it look a certain way. Nothing makes a house a home more than looking around and saying, “yep, this is my space.” For that reason, we started incorporating more fun elements that reflected our interests and personal style. Now people walk in and can’t say our house looks anything but us.

I love that Brad-Pitt is chilling in both shots!

Obviously, our home decor has a strong geeky theme. We buy most of our art at conventions, and enjoy figures just as much as any other nerd. What was important to us was to showcase this in a very subtle, modern and classy way. Despite being in our home for 4 years now, we still are working on it every day to make it our perfect little cave, but I’m happy to say that I love the progress we’ve made! I especially am a fan of our living room and bedroom. Wanna see?

One art wall where you can display all your fandoms in a simple, yet strategic way is great for a living room space.
I still can’t get over how amazing our Tara Mcpherson LOST piece is.

Incorporating geek is all about the little touches in a home, like our Harry Potter Pop-Up Coffee Table Book.

I always laugh at this photo op we have up in our bedroom of us with John Barrowman because it looks like we are one, big, happy family (which we could be, of course).

The little touches continue in our bedroom. My nightstand houses a Fiona figure and is graced by the beautiful Rose Tyler, as drawn by Pooka Machine of Ocho Placas Tattoo.

These are some of our new pieces that are going up this week throughout the house. I can’t sing enough praises about Artist Alley’s at conventions. They are my absolute favorite part about attending! The prints above are from Upside Down Grin & IdeaStorm Media

Some other great sites to visit for quality geeky home goods is;
Etsy
Look Human
ThinkGeek

When creating a home that is YOUR own space, you really need to sit down and think about what matters to you. Here are a few ways to do so:

 

Don’t Fall Into Trends

First and foremost, do not fall into keeping up with the newest trends. They tend to change quickly and if you do this, you will fall into the same trap that I did – just decorating my home like most adults do. The point of decorating your home for yourself is to bring you happiness every day and create a space that feels safe and like yourself, not someone else. 

 

What Are Your Interests

So, in order to skip over trends and really zero in on what you want your home to be filled with, start with your interests, like we did. Have a love for movies? How can you incorporate that into your home? Love the color gold? Add it in! Love words of positivity. Find ways to throw them in here and there. While you do not want to go overboard (or maybe you do), you can add just the right amount of your interests into your decor to make it feel like your home. 

 

Use What You Have

It can be overwhelming to start when it comes to creating a home that truly fits you – on your mind and on you wallet. To help ease the pain when it comes to your wallet, try using what you already have. Don’t like old furniture? Maybe renovate them. What about your paint color? Try painting the walls yourself.

 

Your Decor Is Not What Matters

At the end of the day, know that your decor is not what matters. What matters is that you have a safe place to live with the people you love. Keep that in mind when house hunting too. Think of the song Bones by Maren Morris: “When the bones are good, the rest don’t matter. Yeah, the paint could peel, the glass could shadder.” When looking for a home, consider the bones, not what is inside. Not sure where to start? Call up local Florida-based realtor, Erin E. King with Jax Historic Realty. Erin can help you find homes for sale in San Marco, Riverside, Avondale, Murray Hill, and other areas around the Jacksonville area. His website was created with you in mind. You want to get a clear picture about life in whatever city you are looking in for your family. That’s exactly what you will find on his website: the highest-quality property images, the most informative guides, and blogs a-plenty. He is there to help your home buying and/or selling process extremely smooth and stress-free. If you are looking for a home with good bones (because that is what matters when it comes to your home), give him a call. At the end of the day, your decor doesn’t matter: it’s what is in your home and how safe your home is.