My Blogging Life (with Five Local Business Plugs) & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up #124

This is not a sponsored post.

If you are a blogger, you know that everywhere you go you are constantly on the lookout for photo opportunities. Yes, I plan outfit photo shoots on mornings when my husband and I are available to drive somewhere and sneak a quick shoot in before the day begins. But then there are those days, like weekends and holidays, when family time becomes the priority. But as a blogger, you still have photo ops on the brain!

So yesterday, my husband and I decided to load the kids up in the car and drive to Clayton, New York, which sits on the Saint Lawrence River near Lake Ontario with Canada just on the other side of the river. It is about a 30 minute drive from our house to Clayton but we took the long scenic way making the drive last closer to an hour. It was a beautiful day and our last day together as a family before my husband heads off to Louisiana for a month. And we wanted to make a detour and visit our friend’s new business in Chaumont, New York. If you need landscaping products, stop by the new Yard by Yard Supply Shop and see what’s in store. There are lots of beautiful hanging flower baskets and potted plants. I do not have a green thumb or a penchant of any sort for this type of stuff, but I do know that the work done at my house by Yard by Yard has been excellent! (First local business plug).

As a blogger, I started planning my outfit according to the location, the planned activities, and a bit of practicality…I also plan my outfits around how well they may photograph! Having just finished our Shaklee 7 Day Healthy Cleanse (I will share those details at some point this week), I am feeling a bit slimmer than normal and having been waiting to feel comfortable in this black knit body con dress. (Second local business plug). But a black body con dress usually calls for some killer heels. Well, that wasn’t happening for a walk around a river town. So I figured this was a great time to try out this whole dress and sneakers trend that we have been seeing.

The wind was a bit on the chilly side, so a jacket was necessary. And the dress is a bit more low cut in the front than I prefer. But nothing that a scarf around the neck couldn’t remedy. And we were off for an afternoon of family time. We walked along the river, took some photos, grabbed some pizza for lunch and stopped in The 1000 Islands Cruet to restock our truffle oil and truffle salt. (Third local business plug). By the way, one of our favorite things ever to make with truffle oil and truffle salt is French fries. Just a little drizzle of oil and a generous sprinkle of salt on bacon cheddar fries baked to perfection and you can seriously die a satisfied human. Yum.

Once we were all walked out, we had planned on heading into Sackets Harbor to get ice cream at Strader’s Saturday’s, Sundaes and More which is owned by Archie’s teacher. (Fourth local business plug). He was super excited to go but when I found out that she was not the one working today, his enthusiasm died a little. Sackets Harbor was a bit out of the way on our travels at this point and we were all getting a little tired and annoying each other. Plus I had a blog post to write. So instead we headed back to Watertown and grabbed some ice cream from The Cowlick. (Fifth local business plug).

And since this a #SpreadTheKindness day at Shelbee on the Edge, I encourage you to check out the local businesses I named here and throw a little social media love their way with one quick click on the like button on their Facebook pages! It will take you no time at all and it is a simple easy way to show support and kindness! I will make it even easier for you…just click the links below and like. I thank you in advance!

Yard by Yard / Shaklee (SmartChicks) / The 1000 Islands Cruet / Strader’s Saturday’s, Sundaes and More / The Cowlick

You see, I figure I have a forum for sharing and spreading kindness and by golly, I am going to do just that…no matter how random it may sometimes seem! I hope you enjoyed reading about my little family outing. It isn’t much, but it is these “not much” things in life that really matter the most!

And of course, on a family outing, I really didn’t just take photos of myself! Haha. That would be a bit too vain even for me!

Got kids? You can find some great options in themed toys at FamilyHype.

What did you all do for the holiday weekend?

And now your featured favorites from last week’s party.

Tina of 1camera1mom shared her post, The Grosvenor Guest House, Simon’s Town, from her touring trip of the Western Cape in South Africa. The landscape and scenery are absolutely stunning. And it is also so nice to see the faces of the people that surround my blogging friends with love and laughter in real life!

Tina of 1camera1mom

Marianna of The Sweetest Clementine shared her post, Maxi Dresses Under $30. How perfect is her floral maxi dress? Plus she has linked a whole bunch of other really cute ones. Go check them out!

Marianna of The Sweetest Clementine

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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Shelbee on the Edge