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Cooling Bedding that REALLY Works! Elegear arc-chill keeps you cool at night!

This post about staying cool at night with cooling bedding from Elegear arc-chill contains affiliate links. Thanks for reading, be sure to share.

Best Cooling Bedding

Are you one of those people who get super hot at night when they sleep? I mean, right now during the summer months we’re all struggling to beat the heat – but for a lot of people {like me!}, getting overheated at night is a year-round problem. Luckily, I’ve tested a few products and have a rad solution to share with you guys. Elegear arc-chill cooling technology, crafted into really luxe – but also really AFFORDABLE! – bedding options. So good, seriously. Keep reading to see how it works, why you need this, and how to get a deal on your own cool new bedding too. ;)

Cooling blankets

I’m a chronically ill single momma in my 40s – so, getting good rest is a challenge. Creating a peaceful, comfy bedroom to relax in is a top priority – and obviously, the actual bed in the room is the centerpiece of it all. I get super hot when I sleep, even in the winter; I’m one of those people who sleep with a fan on them, year-round. But, I also like the feel of a blanket on me, you know? So, I use a lot of layers on my bed, so I have options at night.

gray cooling comforter

This gray cooling comforter from Elegear arc-chill is THE perfect busy mom solution. It’s thin enough to keep you cool, yet has enough fluffy weight to feel good at night. I wish I could put into words how magical this thing is – you really have to feel it yourself to fully get it. But it’s like… immediately, you slip yourself under it at bedtime and it’s…. this soft, silky, cool feel. The blanket itself is super smooth, and they use this… well… literally “cool” technology to keep you cool, all night. Even if you’re like me and get hot flashes sometimes, or live in an area where it’s so hot your AC has a tough time keeping up, or just like to be extra cold at night. I’ve just never, ever had a blanket quite like this!

Best Cooling Comforter on a budget

Here’s how this works to keep you cool – a mix of science and freaking magic, I think, lol:

  • The Elegear cooling blanket uses Japanese Arc-Chill cool technology fabric to brilliantly absorb and release body heat, and reduce skin temperature by 2-5°C instantly. (Ordinary cooling fibers only have a cooling rating of 0.2). I swear, you will notice it the very second you have it against your skin.
  • Both sides of this Summer blanket are made of Japanese cooling fibers and jade-based fibers to make the cooling quilt super soft, silky and have no static. I’m a huge fan of the healing properties of jade in general, so seeing it included in this cooling comforter was a big selling point for me. And, I wear very little when I sleep {I toss and turn a ton, and am always so darn overheated} so it’s really important to me that BOTH sides of a blanket/comforter are really smooth and soft.
  • This Summer quilt is filled with DARCON fibers to form a 3-D hollow structure which works to adjust the humidity and temperature, thus provides you with the coziest sleeping environment. Weighing only 5.02 lb, the Elegear cooling comforter is fluffy and lightweight. Its super-soft touch feels like silk, but is cooler and more breathable than silk. With good elasticity {it has a unique stretchy feel to it}, and a pleasant weight {light so you stay cool/but enough heft to have that safe, secure, cocoon feeling}, the cool comforter helps you relax and enjoy a high-quality sleep. Imagine a weighted blanket but filled with magical fluffiness, which will make sense when you try this, I swear. Like a marshmallow. 
  • This lightweight cooling comforter is wrinkle-resistant and uses single needle stitching technology to make the fiberfill stay in place and prevent it from shifting and clumping, which is the WORST thing in a comforter, isn’t it? The cooling comforter is machine washable too, without color fading, shrinkage, or pilling. We’ve been using it for MONTHS, and as you can see – it still looks as good as new.
  • It comes in a few different shades and sizes – my bed is a queen sized mattress, with a memory foam topper. And this works easily as a comforter on it’s own, as a blanket under other patterned comforters, or as a throw folded across the bed. In the smaller size, it’s perfect on the couch for movie nights, or summer camping trips. I imagine this would be SUCH a winner for kids going off to college, or stuffy dorm rooms.

Perfect blanket

We are obsessed with blankets in my house – but I can say, seriously, that I’ve just never had anything quite like this. It’s definitely a unique technology – the cooling part is SO needed, but it also works great under other blankets to keep you warm, and that 3-D hollow structure they use inside the blanket is just incredible. It’s my go-to blanket to snuggle under when reading my book every night. 

Cat approved bedding

This blanket is cat-approved too, if that matters to you, lol. But seriously – if you have pets, you know that their claws can do a lot of damage to your bedding, with snags and stuff. But this holds up great, even when they claw at it to jump up on the bed. I have 5 wild little cats, a tweenager, and a blind old man dog – but this is sturdy enough to withstand all of them. And it looks and feels so LUXURIOUS for such a workhorse of a blanket.

Have I convinced you yet? :) Here’s how to get your own cooling blanket:

You can buy this exact same blanket on Amazon: Elegear Arc-chill Japanese tech cooling comforter blanket. Read the other reviews, you’ll see everyone agrees – it’s got a 4.3 out of 5 rating. You can see more of their products online in the Elegear shop on Amazon too; they have other cooling blankets, pillows, sheets, and more. Right now there’s a sale on this comforter $59.99, and a bonus coupon you can click to add on top of that – but hurry, I’m not sure how long that will last!

If you’d rather go straight to their website, you can also order directly from them here: Elegear Shop Online. They have a ton of really great summer deals going on right now, especially if you’re buying more than one item.

You can also go learn more about the brand and the products on their Instagram pages – Elegear has it’s own page, and there’s another specifically for the Arc-chill technology they use. And you can pop over to my Instagram too, and see the Reel I made about this cooling blanket.

If you have any questions – feel free to leave comments below! And share this with any friends you know who could use this info. :)

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DIY Luau Flower Hair Clips and Beach Bag

Kids crafts that are cheap, easy, cute, and super fun? That’s what we’re all about! Add in some inspiration from our fave Disney film and some great supplies from Dollar Tree – Winning!!

This Dollar Tree DIY Luau Flower Hair Clip and Beach Bag super awesome craft tutorial is a partnership with DollarTree.com, #DollarTree, and contains affiliate links that support this site. :)

DIY Luau Flower Accessories - #DollarTree DIY

I love DIY and crafting and making things. I’m on a budget. A very, very tight budget. So – we do a lot of creating and upcycling around here. So this project is SO “us” – it’s thrifty, really simple to make, easy to customize with different materials, is something useful, and it’s just fun. All of the supplies are from Dollar Tree. This is an awesome project to do on your own, or with a big group, which is what we did. For just $2 in supplies per kiddo, every girl went home with a new set of handmade luau flower summer accessories!

[Read more…]

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Makeover Your Outdoor Space this Summer!

Big thank you to Pier 1 and Mom Central for partnering with me to show off the coolest summer entertaining and patio decor! #Pier1OutdoorParty #Sponsored #MC

You guys know by now how much I love to entertain. And how much I loooove to be able to entertain outdoors. We have an inground pool, a big garden and play area, and a pretty large concrete patio right off the kitchen. But, with twenty seven zillion kids here each day – plus what feels like just as many dogs – the patio was in need of some serious love. So I “shopped” through our garage for things we weren’t using, scoured the house for a few more useful pieces, then went window shopping online at Pier 1 for extra inspiration.

make over your outdoor space - bright colors, fun, party

I knew I wanted more color. Lots of fun, bright, cheerful colors. Orange, red, blue, yellow, pink. And that’s totally what Pier 1 is all about this summer! Don’t you love it? So much happiness in this collection of outdoor oasis goodies. So, then I set out to our local store to see what else they had for me to check out….

Outdoor seating

One of the first things I noticed was their awesomesauce collection of outdoor seating – I mean, how could this gorgeously bright-colored set of cushions not totally brighten your day each morning, right? Love the mix of colors, textures, and patterns. SO much fun!

Super colorful outdoor cushions

And they’ve got pretty much the most ginormous selection of colors and styles and prints for patio cushions that you can imagine. {Do you want to guess which ones I picked out? Stay tuned to see if you’re right… :)} The prices are awesome, there’s almost always a sale, and the quality is really great. I always look for things like loose strings, unfinished stitching, pattern print pieces that don’t match, etc – but these were all awesome. And I swear, I probably touched almost every single one of these while trying to decide, lol.

And – if you’re not a fan of bright and bold, they have lots of options for more subdued colors too. I absolutely love this blue combo of more natural blues and whites. Simple, classic, but still so summer. So – when shopping at Pier 1, there’s totally something for everyone. Click over to Instagram to check out another fave of mine that’s in more simple, cool, calm colors. There are so many types of pretty :)

Once you have seating and cushion-y goodness taken care of, you need accessories, am-I-right-or-am-I-right? I mean, what girl doesn’t love some accessories? Here are some of the options:

  • Hanging lanterns and beautiful outdoor art.
  • Solar lights, battery-operated party lights, and outdoor candles.
  • Beautiful servingware that’s as functional as it is gorgeous.
  • Gorgeous trays, perfect for transporting food and drinks from indoors to out.
  • Awesome ways to serve those drinks – mason jar style drinking glasses or fancy stemware. Beautiful pitchers or casual dispensers. Platters, serving bowls, chip and dip trays, and more!

Again, something for everyone :) And of course, we can’t talk accessories without talking about table accessories – like place mats, dishes, napkins, and stemware. Check out my current favorite that we’re using right now….

Summer place setting idea - yellow and green

So fresh and pretty and summery!! I love the look of layered napkins – and honestly, who doesn’t need that, really? One to lay across your lap, but another to wipe your fingers on. Because you really don’t want to wipe your fingers on the one that’s setting on your clothes, right? Add in a totally casual place mat that will wash and wear well, plus some fun dishes and a beautiful glass for wine – you can’t lose :)

Outdoor lighting at night

But even on the sunniest of days, the lights go down. So – you need some awesome outdoor lighting, right? I picked up some gorgeous lanterns at Pier 1, plus this totally beautiful color-changing, battery-operated, lotus flower candle. It can also float in water, and I can’t wait to set up a pretty centerpiece with it soon. But even just sitting on the table, it rocks. Totally sets a mood as it cycles in between colors. Definitely one I’ll be stocking up on now that I’ve seen it in action.

I also got some awesome battery-operated lights to line the gazebo on our patio. Aren’t these so pretty? And there are LOADS of options at Pier 1 stores or on their website. Like, loads. And, here’s a peek at how some of my Pier 1 lighting looks even when not turned on, during the day – my super cool citronela candle, and lanterns.

And…. How do you entertain without some food, right? So, I made up this super simple and super yummy watermelon salad for our recent BBQ – on a gorgeously simple Pier 1 white serving dish. LOVE.

Make sure to check out the amazing goods and super summer sales at Pier 1 today – even if you don’t have a local store, you can shop Pier 1 online here. And leave me some comments below with YOUR favorite summer entertaining ideas, or trends you love for outdoor decor :)

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Cool Ways to Save Summer Memories

I received a set of products from HP to help us have more summer fun – and am so excited to share them with you! #HPFamilyTime.

“In the happiest of our childhood memories, our parents were happy, too.” – Robert Brault… I love this quote. It seems so appropriate for summer, since that’s the time that most of us truly try to slow down, enjoy life, and cherish the little moments and memories. Snuggling with the littles in a hammock. Lazing the day away on the water. Picking dandelions. Or just swinging on the swing set, staring at the clouds. Good times, right?

For me, photos are so darn important. They are what help me keep those small summer moments fresh. I love to browse my photos books, see prints on the wall, share pics with friends. And now, I have a super duper easy peasy new way to do that – My HP ENVY 5530 e-All-in-One printer! It is absolute must for every busy mom out there this summer, seriously.

HP Envy All-In-One Printer

Yes, this is a printer. Not the first thing you think of when you picture must-have’s for summer fun. But seriously – You are going to fall in love. Keep reading to learn why…

Summer graphic using HP products [Read more…]

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Make this a Forever Summer!

Big thank you to The Motherhood and Oshkosh B’gosh for sending me a #ForeverSummer package so that we could share our summer fun with you!

It’s summer time – finally. It feels like spring took forever to get here, and even once it arrived, it was so cold and dreary. But then one day, like a switch had flipped – the sunshine arrived! We opened the pool a few weeks earlier than usual, the kids just got out of school {my nephews spend the summer break with me} – and we’re ready for fun.

Forever Summer - Kids Fashion - #ForeverSummer

We’d hoped for a trip to the beach this summer, somewhere on the Oregon Coast. But, it’s not going to work out for us. But just because there’s no beach doesn’t mean there’s no fun! We’ve got a big in ground pool, sprinklers, water balloons – and the Mister even helped me build a SUPER fun Kiddie Car Wash out of PVC pipe. It’s like a big ride-through sprinkler for the kids, and they love it. {Directions coming soon, but you can see it in the video below – so keep reading :)}

Oshkosh Kid's Summer Fashions

So – since most of our summer fun is spent outdoors and around the water, I was SUPER excited to stock up on summer swimwear for Abby. We headed out for a daytrip about an hour and a half away, to visit Oshkosh in North Bend, Washington. And seriously – how darn cute is this stuff? I mean, I want someone to make this whole outfit in MY size! So fun. Watch the video below to see it in action – her funny dance moves at the beginning are my favorite part!

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How Tech Can Help Your Family Have More Summer Fun

I received a set of products from HP to help us have more summer fun – and am so excited to share them with you! #HPFamilyTime

“Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.” – Sam Keen… Ahhhh, summer. Here in central Washington state, we have four very distinct seasons, which I love. As I’ve gotten to travel around the country the past few years, I appreciate our weather even more: As much as I adore the sunshine, I would be bored of it if that’s all I ever saw. But right now, after a chilly spring, I am SO incredibly ready for Mother Nature to bring on the heat and the sun. {When you talk about summer, do you start to hear Olaf singing the summer song in your head? Tell me it’s not just me…. #FrozenMusicIsSoAddicting.}

So, as the weather here is finally warming up, and I’m doing my own dreaming of summer – it’s time for us to plan our summer adventures! We bought a camper last year, and want to plan a couple of big camping trips with friends. I’m hoping to have my brother and his kids join us at the end of summer for a trip to Great Wolf Lodge, here in Washington. And – in the next few weeks Mike and I will load up the girls and head out on a road trip. Somewhere within a few hours from here, but we haven’t decided where yet. Maybe a trip to the zoo over near Seattle, or a fun trip to see the Bavarian charm of Leavenworth. The Pacific Northwest has so many gorgeous places to visit – it’s hard to choose!

One thing I DO know about our trip is that we’ll be bringing some amazing technology along with us. Yes, I’m a big fan of spending “unplugged” family time together – but I’m also a total tech junkie, and love how it can add so much more enjoyment to a trip. Check out my new love – the amazing new HP Pavilion x360:

  • You can transition seamlessly from working, to video chatting, to browsing the web, to watching a movie, to playing a game, to reading a book on a single touch device that is priced about the same as an entry level touch notebook.
  • It converts to let you work and play in the ideal mode: from notebook to stand to tent to tablet mode, just by flipping the screen. {Which is where the “360” part of it’s name comes from.}
  • When you need to get some work done – answer email, write a paper, prepare a presentation – it’s a notebook. This is important, since I always have work to do, and Mike’s oldest daughter will have summer school courses to keep up with.
  • When you want to watch a movie, fold it and watch a movie without the keyboard in the way – it’s an entertainment viewer. Perfect for keeping Abby entertained on a long car ride.
  • When you want to play a touch based game turn it to “tent mode” – it’s a game screen.
  • When you want to relax and surf the web, read a book or have fun with You Tube – it’s a tablet (keyboard is disabled when in tablet mode.) And it’s small enough to fit into my purse, to grab at a moment’s notice if we have a toddler meltdown approaching.

HP 360 - the All-in-one computer every family needs!

This bad boy is going to make traveling with kids, while keeping up with work, so much easier. It’s so super versatile, very lightweight and easy to grab and go – and how fun is the color? So bright and cheerful – which is what summer fun is all about. Awesome, right?

Summer family fun - pool time!

“Hey! It’s summer! Be free and happy and danceful and uninhibited and now-y!” – Terri Guillemets

We’re also planning a lot of “Staycation” style fun this year too. As you can see – the pool is almost ready to go. We’re hoping to open it up for the first swim party this weekend – my birthday is Thursday, Mike’s oldest daughter’s birthday is Friday, it’ll be Memorial Day weekend – it all combines into a great big reason to celebrate. {Not that I need a reason. You know me. I like to party.} I’m putting together a summer bucket list for the kids and I {I’ll be posting it soon – stay tuned!} And I’ve been collecting some super fun ideas on my Summer Family Fun board on Pinterest too, so be sure to check that out. And this all-in-once PC from HP is going to bring a ton of fun to our staycation adventures too:

  • Abby and I can snuggle in and watch evening movies in the hammock.
  • I can keep up with emails while laying out by the pool.
  • I can make party playlists and bring this out to the patio – it’s got amazing Beats Audio sound, which rocks.
  • We can use the built-in web cam to Skype with grandpa, and help him feel like he’s a part of our summer fun, even if he’s far away.
  • I just bought Abby a subscription for ABCMouse.com, and she’s having SO much more fun doing the activities on this awesome touchscreen tablet than she would have on my regular laptop.

I hate to sound old, but… When I was a kid, I remember getting our first Atari, and playing River Raid. I remember the first time I ever got to use a computer, in 3rd grade, and thought that playing Oregon Trail was about the coolest, most high-tech thing ever. Technology has sure come a long way, baby. And – be sure come back next week to learn more about the uh-MAY-zing things our new printer can do, how to get your ink auto-magically sent to you before you run out, and more. And follow the #HPFamilyTime hashtag to see regular updates of how we’re using these fab tech tools to make this summer more memorable! Or if you can’t wait, take a peek here at some of the links to the products to learn more right now:

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How to Organize Your Pool Supplies

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Rubbermaid, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #FastTrack http://my-disclosur.es/RgFrEH….

“Hi. My name is Meagan, and I have an organizational problem.” – It’s true. But I guess I should say I have a couple of organizational problems. As in – I have some pretty hard core OCD when it comes to how I like things to be arranged and sorted and displayed, which can annoy the people who live with me. I also have the problem that over the past 4 years, my home has been like a game of musical chairs – My mom moved in, bringing her dogs. Then my brother remodeled my basement and moved in with the kids. Then I found out I was pregnant. Then my Mister moved in – and WE got a dog. And then I had a baby. And then we moved and bought a new house. Then my brother moved out the next year. My mom only stays here part time now. My Mister’s oldest daughter moved in. Then out, to go to college. Then his middle daughter moved in. And we got another dog. Craziness, right? With all of the moving and swapping rooms and storing people’s stuff and on and on – the house is not the temple of color-coded organization that I would like. {To say the least, lol.} But, this is the year of getting things caught up!

{Update: This was written in 2014, it’s now 2019, and our house is JUST Abby and I, plus the same dog, but two new cats. Calmer, quieter-ish, and more consistently organized. But recently this post has gone bonkers, getting shared all over Pinterest. So, I thought I’d update y’all a little, if you’re new here!}

How to organize pool supplies and gear [Read more…]

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