dbkhome on LTK

Mamas bag of tricks is not what it sounds like… I promise 😂😅

It is a literal bag of fidgets, snacks, travel games, etc. all the goodies to keep the kids from melting down when we are traveling!

I’ve shared some of my favorite small items to add for traveling with kids to your own bag of tricks, and here is what I’m adding for our upcoming trip overseas where I need just a few key items to access when we are out and about, in transit, or even back in our room.

#LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKFamily #LTKTravel

Mamas bag of tricks is not what it sounds like… I promise 😂😅 It is a literal bag of fidgets, snacks, travel games, etc. all the goodies to keep the kids from melting down when we are traveling! I’ve shared some of my favorite small items to add for traveling with kids to your own bag of tricks, and here is what I’m adding for our upcoming trip overseas where I need just a few key items to access when we are out and about, in transit, or even back in our room. LTKFindsUnder50 LTKFamily LTKTravel

Share:

Shop this post

Paid links

Big Potato OK Play - Award-Winning Travel Game for Family and Friends | 2-4 Players, Perfect for ... | Amazon (US)

Asmodee Spot It! Bluey Card Game - Fast-Paced Matching Game Featuring Bluey & Friends, Fun for Fa... | Amazon (US)

My First Wipe Clean: Games, Mazes & Drawings | Barnes & Noble

Sensory Activity Board, Silicone Fidget Toy for Stress Relief, Calming, Focus, ADHD and Autism, 6 Colors Sensory Toys Game Controller for Kids 2+ & Adults with 20 Strings | Amazon (US)

Sensory Stone Fidget Toys, 6 Pcs Quiet Worry Stone for Kids/Adults Calming, Silicone Stress Toys for Anxiety/Autism/ADHD Relief, Easter Basket Stuffers for Kids | Amazon (US)

Slug Fidget Toy Articulated Over 50 Color Choices 3D Printed | Etsy (US)

Baby Bath Toys Suction Toy: No Hole Bath Toy for Baby Toddlers - Kids Mini Sensory Fidget Suction Cup Toys for Boys Girls - Window Building Toy Travel Essentials Road Trip Activities for Kids Gifts | Amazon (US)

Extendable Magnetic Toy Montessori Toys for Kids Toddlers STEM Education Building Blocks 45PCS Ex... | Amazon (US)

20Pcs Magnetic Toys,Magnet Men for Travel Toys,Magnetic People Figures for Kids,Cute Magnets for Refrigerator,Whiteboard and Photos,Humanoid Magnetic Toys for Kids Gifts,Decorative Magnets for Locker | Amazon (US)

BrainSpark 48PCS Digit Blocks Translucent Magnetic Building Blocks, Montessori Clear Magnet Cubes for Boys Girls Stacking Block Sets Ages 3-9 | Amazon (US)

Write-On Wipe-Off My First Hidden Pictures: Find Hidden Objects, Trace the ABCs and Wipe Clean, Dy Erase Activity Book for K ids 3-6 (Write-On Wipe-Off My First Activity Books) | Amazon (US)

Curvy Paths: Trace, Color, Solve: Coloring-tracing book for boys aged 4-8 on the theme of transpo... | Amazon (US)

Vintage Cube - Rubik. Logic Games, 3D Pyramids, Triangle Cube, Puzzle Game, 1980S | Etsy (US)

Magnet Puzzles for Kids Ages 4-6 3-5, Toddler Magnetic Puzzle Book, Portable Travel Toys for Car Road Trip Activities, Valentine Gift for Boys & Girls, Preschool Classroom Learning Games (Space) | Amazon (US)

Giant UNO Card Game | Kohl's

Mattel Games Giant UNO Card Game for Kids, Adults & Family Night with Oversized & Features for 2 ... | Amazon (US)

Spiky Sensory Rings from The Original Monkey Noodle - 3 Pack - Fidget Bracelet Toys for Kids with... | Amazon (US)

1 Sand Filled Squishy Avocado - Moldable Sensory, Stress, Squeeze Fidget Toy ADHD Special Needs S... | Walmart (US)

Aokeleilei Fidget Toys Sensory Stone for Kids 6 Pack Textured Soft Worry Stone for Autism Kids Calming Fidget Stress Toys for Classroom Chew Toys for Toddler Christmas Stocking Stuffer | Amazon (US)

Easter Egg Fillers Basket Stuffers 16 Pack, Sensory Fidget Toys for Kids Toddlers, Calming Suction Toys for Autism ADHD, Classroom Students Prize Fidgets Bulk, Travel Toys for Boys Girls | Amazon (US)

Suction Cup Fidget Sensory Toys: 48 Pack Suction Cup People Toys Fidget Toy for Autism Autistic ADHD Kids Ages 3+, Creative Travel Toys Idea for Boys Girls | Amazon (US)

Mudpuppy Jungle & Safari - Tri Fold Magnetic Puzzles Featuring Two 20 Piece Jungle and Safari Themed Artwork | Amazon (US)

Travel Activities Wipe Clean Activity Book | ish Boutique

Totebook Kids Travel Educational Activity Book with Washable Markers - Car and Airplane Activities, Learning Toys for Toddlers- Reusable Stickers for Ages 4, 5, 6 (Princess & Extra Ocean Book) | Amazon (US)

Wipe Clean: Pen Control (Wipe Clean Learning Books) | Amazon (US)

Fox Chapel Publishing My Sticker Paintings Unicorns Book By Design Originals | 9 x 9.1 | Michaels® | Michaels Stores

Fox Chapel Publishing My Sticker Paintings Ocean Animals Book By Design Originals | 9" x 9.1" | Michaels® | Michaels Stores

This Pirate Needs Your Help! - (A Draw & Erase Adventure) by David Larochelle (Board Book) | Target

Crayola Bluey Color & Erase Reusable Activity Pad: Mess Free Coloring Book for Creative Travel Activities | Target

Spring Break calls for pretty waffles on a random Wednesday 🧇

#LTKfoodie #LTKmomlife #LTKHome

Finally replaced my milk frother and I’m really happy with this one and the optional attachments for different types of mixing!

Also sharing my coffee maker and other kitchen faves that I regularly use in my morning routine for shakes to coffee to steamed milk!

These gadgets would make great gifts for the coffee and protein fanatics in your life! 😉

#LTKHome #LTKGiftGuide #LTKFamily

Keeping travel memories for younger/middle elementary kids, 2 ideas:

Instax camera and a small portable journal/notebook, let them take a couple pictures every day to tape into the book and add notes. This can also allow you to have conversations in your quieter moments of travel to talk about what they captured in their photo and help them add those notes and dates to their book.

2. Get a small portable notebook, some inkpads of the same size (make sure they are washable!!), and some play doh, and use the dough to make an impression of any cool or interesting textures that catch their eye while you’re out and about. Once you have taken the imprint of the texture with your play doh, stamp the dough into the inkpad and onto your notebook! Adults can help or let the kiddos take control, and then as above, you can talk about what you stamped and make notes and add dates/locations later on.

We are attempting the second option for this trip and I will report back!

#LTKFamily #LTKTravel #LTKKids

Travel pillows with full coverage good to block out light and distractions on planes, trains, or long car rides; especially great for kids and ND people to control stimulation and visual inputs.

Plus the pillow fully cushions your head even under the chin, so the kids (and any passenger princess’s 👸🏼) can sleep without worrying about getting a kink in the neck!

Bonus tags for some neck stretchers and supports for when you get where you’re going!

#LTKFamily #LTKSaleAlert #LTKTravel

Travel gear deals!

#LTKTravel #LTKFindsUnder100 #LTKSaleAlert

We loved reading this magical, word collecting, heart warming story.

Highly recommend adding to your TBR for a bedtime chapter book to read with your kiddos! Mine are ages 8.5 and 5, you might have better luck with ages 8-10 or 12 depending on your kiddos! 💛📚

#LTKHome #LTKKids #LTKFamily

More examples of treating the ceiling with wallpaper or other accents from faux beams to paint.

You can really level up your space by adding detail to this highly underutilized surface.

#LTKStyleTip #LTKHome

Don’t be afraid of adding color, and even pattern, to your ceilings!

This is a great way to bring the eye up, make your space feel cozy and unique, and infuse character and personality!

Because your space should speak to you, and sometimes that looks like having a little fun with the design of your ceiling 😉

#LTKStyleTip #LTKHome

Building color confidence to make bolder choices that suit you and create a cozy home just for you.

Part 1- the fifth wall (the ceiling)

#LTKStyleTip #LTKHome

When you have to look presentable enough to be client facing, but you also have to be available to the contractor and trades to receive materials, move things, and make sure everything is coming together just as planned…

Leggings, a simple tank top, and a casual but nice sweater layer 👏🏼

#LTKStyleTip #LTKOver40 #LTKWorkwear

Books out 8.5 year old read (mostly on her own) part ✌🏼

Sharing her list here with all the links so you can add them to your kiddos list as well!

Also adding here a kindle. We have a kindle color tablet that I use to get some books for her on as well.

Some books we purchase, some are gifts…some are digital, some are physical… and many of them are from the library.

We have a family joke that our 5 year old is going to eat us out of house and home and our 8yo is going to read us out of house and home 😂😍

Not a bad problem to have, but we do heavily rely on our local library and ebooks as good inexpensive and/or free options.

We also always shop and stock our local free little libraries. These are good ones to add to yours if you have the ability to do so and if not, these are good books to keep your eye out for!

Happy reading!

#LTKFamily #LTKKids #LTKHome

Our now 3rd grader has read almost 50 books this summer, mostly on her own 🙌🏼

Sharing the list here with links to all the options.

There are lots of graphic novels, and some fantasy/fairy tale/mystery chapter books.

She’s 8.5, and graphix books (a graphic novel imprint of Schoolastic) are almost always a win!

I’ll post a part 2 with the ones that she read that don’t fit here!

#LTKHome #LTKKids #LTKFamily

Working on this acupuncture office in Jersey City was such a dream!

The design came together beautifully, and I’m so glad to be sharing the details with our mutual clients, friends, and fans of the space.

There are so many details that I love in this space, and the shelves behind me are high on the list.

They worked well for merchandising but they would also be lovely as library shelving to display your books, as you and game storage for a family or playroom or even as clothing display in a pretty closet!

#LTKHome #LTKSaleAlert #LTKStyleTip

The bathroom at EKAH turned out so lovely with such minimal effort.

We didn’t have it in the budget to take down the rough masculine tile that existed in the space, so we worked with it by leaning into the natural stone texture and accented it with vintage woods, soft softened brass and creamy accessories.

We had pulled some wallpapers to hopefully someday add around the tile, to blend the look and even further elevate the space, but that will come with time. For now, it’s warm and welcoming as it is 💛

We loved working on this acupuncturist space in Jersey City and it’s been so fun building these posts to share them with our mutual audiences!

#LTKHome #LTKActive #LTKStyleTip

Baking delicious little treats with and for our family is another thing that brings me joy.

This is SammyMontgoms Chocolate Zucchini Bread, I doubled the recipe and subbed the yogurt for coconut cream (to keep it dairy free).

It was sooooo good, there’s only 2 pieces left 😋

#LTKFamily #LTKHome

Slow Sundays are good for the soul 💫

We like to start our sundays with snuggles, and then shift slowly to Sunday cartoons for the kids while Pat and I make breakfast.

One of the favorites around here are mini waffles. We whip up our normal pancake batter (from Brunch with Babs) and the kids pick out the shapes for the waffle iron.

We have 2 of the mini irons so each kid can pick a pattern. We top them with a little butter, a sprinkling of powdered sugar, and fresh berries and it’s a great weekend breakfast 🧇

If you make extras, you can freeze them for easy breakfast before school 💛

#LTKFamily #LTKHome #LTKKids

This one’s a 2-for…

Snuggling up with sweets and water, watching whatever I want (well whatever P and I agree to), after the kids go to bed and it’s quiet 😮‍💨

#LTKOver40 #LTKHome

Spending time in nature is another way I elevate my mood when I’m in a funk and/or the world feels heavy.

Nature is so healing. And I got to spend time just watching in awe, this juvenile Green Heron, a bird I’ve never gotten to see before!

I usually identify birds with the little info button on my phone but you can’t go wrong with a simple bird book. Sharing some recs here!

#LTKSeasonal #LTKOver40 #LTKActive

Filling my weekend with things that bring me joy 💫

Like a fall puzzle for the family to work on together 💛

Sharing my puzzle board, the puzzle we started, and a compilation of other fall festive puzzles… plus, my kids favorites from Ravensburger puzzles, they started with the xxl size pieces and now both kids can handle most 500 piece puzzle as a family activity.

#LTKSeasonal #LTKFamily #LTKFallSale

The softness and light in this space is unmatched!

It makes me swoon Everytime I step foot through the door.

That combined with the acupuncture high after working with Erin… seriously unmatched 💆🏼‍♀️🧘🏼‍♀️

#LTKHome #LTKStyleTip #LTKActive

Reorganizing the pantry for easier lunch and snack prep now that we are fully into back to school madness 😵‍💫

This is one of the easiest things to do, and yet I always put it off… but when it’s done, packing lunches and snacks are easier, the kids can help themselves to after school snacks, and I actually know when something runs out so we can restock… unlike pulling out *multiple* empty boxes of food this morning. 🫠🫠

Sharing my faves for keeping everything organized and accessible without making myself crazy.

And almost all of the linked products are on sale 🙌🏼

#LTKFamily #LTKSaleAlert #LTKHome

Weekend mom/parent things…

Letting your kid(s) paint your nails.

And add nail art…
Pro tip… just let it happen. The polish on your skin will scrub off once dry 🤷🏼‍♀️

#LTKBeauty #LTKKids #LTKFamily

Last stop on my marathon day out of the house was to fill up gas on the way home!

My car gets soooo messy on my long days. Filled with random cups and snacks… changes of shoes…layers to get me from early chilly temps to afternoon sunshine and beyond.

I thought it would be fun to compile some compact car cleaning tools that could be easily used on the go to do a quick cleanup when you’re stopped at the gas station.

Maybe it’s my ocd speaking (again) but I always use this time for collecting all the garbage and getting it out of the car, why not take it one step further and clean up all those annoying crumbs that get stuck in those tiny spaces while we’re at it?!

I can’t be the only one 🙈

#LTKTravel #LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKOver40

Fall door update time!

Highlighting my new wreath, bc I still need to get the rest of the porch cleaned up and into shape for the season change… but back to school time had me itching to change up my wreath!

I found so many that were speaking to me, so I’m sharing them here, some real foliage that’s dried, some faux foliage, and all fall fresh 🍂

#LTKFindsUnder100 #LTKSeasonal #LTKHome

Can’t resist a good mirror selfie!

Especially in such a playfully pink bathroom 💁🏼‍♀️💫

#LTKSeasonal #LTKStyleTip #LTKWorkwear

I can’t share images from my design consult, so instead, here’s me posted up doing some work at the local coffee shop (Treehouse-if you’re in Jersey city it’s a *must*!).

After an initial consultation, I always try to get my thoughts down while they are fresh. The deliverables take me time to put together but my initial thoughts and reactions are helpful to have as a reference when I’m working on the details and designs for a space.

So, here are the tools I always have handy for a consultation, including my trusty laser measure, without which, my meetings would take drastically longer 😅🫠

#LTKHome #LTKWorkwear #LTKStyleTip

Checking in from a job site of a kitchen remodel project.

This interior designer client was out of town and we were able to manage all the details for them while they were away from the construction and noise and *stress* of the project… it’s one of my favorite ways to support our clients 💛

Anyway… bringing you along with my day, so I’ll share my outfit and a few of the accessories we’re using in this space- aka top secret design details 😉

#LTKStyleTip #LTKWorkwear #LTKHome

Random thoughts after I *finally* got out the door.

Fortunately my first meeting was willing to work around my timing and met me when I arrived.

Only pushed my day off by about 15 minutes… and these were recorded a couple weeks ago, and the meetings all went well… in case you were worried about my blazé mood 😅🙃

Also, sharing a designer tip about my glasses… buy extra pairs in bold colors and designs! AND always add a pair of prescription sunglasses to your order. You won’t regret it!!

Plus if your eyes are only changing a very small amount you can talk to your eye dr about keeping your rx the same so you can keep adding to your eyewear collection.. if that’s not an option, you can bring your favorite frames in to upgrade the lenses to your new script and keep rocking them 🤓

#LTKOver40 #LTKStyleTip #LTKWorkwear

Come along with me for a day in the life of an interior designer with a fully loaded day.

Site visit for countertop template.
Initial design consultation with new clients.
Construction meeting with contractor.

That means, I have shoe changes, and two bags… one full of snacks and one full of my gear. 😅💪🏼

#LTKItBag #LTKWorkwear #LTKMidsize

You know you’re old when you sleep in a *slightly* different position and you can’t turn your head to the right all day.

These are the tools I use to stretch my neck, back, and shoulders, when I roll the wrong way in the night or sneeze too hard. You’re welcome 🙄

#LTKActive #LTKOver40 #LTKFindsUnder50

A sketching session in the garden to refuel my creativity and my cup 🥰

Sharing my favorite on the go essentials for keeping a sketch book active so you can doodle whenever and wherever inspiration hits ⚡️

#LTKOver40 #LTKTravel #LTKFindsUnder50

Take yourself on a date!!

Last Wednesday I had the perfect day date by myself and it truly filled my cup 🥰

I started with a stop for coffee - and yes I got pumpkin (but iced, bc it’s still summer 🎃☀️)

And then I drove out to Longwood Gardens and took my time strolling through the gardens, enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells around me.

I was fully in the moment. Didn’t answer my phone or get distracted by anything, and I got enough work done in the morning, so I didn’t have to feel guilty about not checking in.

It’s been a busy summer and this day was just the reset I needed to gear up for the back to school and back to routine season.

When was the last time you took yourself on a date?!

#LTKMidsize #LTKStyleTip #LTKSeasonal