It's not secret that people love their subscription boxes. You can find a subscription box for just about anything these days. Anything from beauty to fashion to cats, dogs, and chickens. Yes I said chickens. There are niches out there that are so specific, you probably never thought they would work. 


Because there are so many its nearly impossible to try them all. Today I want to talk about the boxes I really, really want to try, but have to hold off until wedding stuff is behind us.. And I'm not talking specifically about the huge boxes like Ipsy and Popsugar Must Have, I'm talking about some of the smaller boxes that have popped up. Let me quit rambling and list them off.

Covert Crate: This is a lifestyle subscription box for professional women. It is delivered bimonthly and has 2 options; Girl Boss and Lady Girl Boss. Its quite pricey with pricing starting at $54.95 for the Girl Boss and $94.95 for the Lady Girl Boss but they seem so fun! The box promises to deliver office supplies, style accessories, office snacks, books, and other items to help and inspire the professional woman.

Lit Cube: Because hello, they have a Stars Hollow box! Who doesn't want a box curated with Gilmore Girls swag?! That is not all this box is about thought. They are a monthly reading box with handpicked books with a variety of genres. It is $34.95 a month. I have been eyeing this one for awhile now. Darn you no spending year due to wedding..

Lavish Bath Box: Who doesn't love a box full of bath goodies? I really love how this box has themes and some pretty great products to try. All of the products are vegan and handmade. I really would love a box like this the night before my wedding for me and my girls. So relaxing and luxurious. Ohh the wheels are turning! The box is $38.95 a month. Not bad..

calmbox: I love this box concept. It is for people who need some inner peace and care. There are things like candles, tea, and meditative items. Nothing I love more than a relaxation box! The box is $35 a month which I think is a bargain for relaxation. Am I right? I will most certainly be subscribing to this one next year!

The Kind Step: This is a new box that I am curating for stepmoms! I am so excited to share this with all of you. I have searched high and low for a box like this for myself. When I couldn't find one, I decided to live my own dream and start one! It is super niche, I get that, but it is a  niche I have a hard time finding out there. There are new mom products, mommy boxes, and everything in between, but nothing to help out a stepmom. You can expect this box to have both self care items as well as tips and advice to stepmoms from stepmoms.

I hope The Kind Step will be on your wish list this fall when we officially launch! In the meantime, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get up to date info and motivation! A sneak peak is coming soon.. but to which account, I will not tell :)

Mondays are for dreamers right? Okay, maybe not for everyone, but when you're working on your dreams, everyday seems pretty magical.


I'm FINALLY ready to share my dream that's becoming a reality. For about 2 years now I have been dreaming of starting my own business. But not just any business, a subscription box business!

I may have hinted about this in the past, but couldn't decide on a concept that worked for me. A few months ago I was sitting in my car waiting for the rain to stop when the idea came to me. It was like a light went on and everything was super clear.

I am happy to announce The Kind Step Box; a self care subscription box curated for stepmoms. Now you nay wonder why I chose that niche, but if you read my post on becoming a stepmom you will understand.

I believe self care is the best medicine for dealing with stressful situations and for anyone who is a step parent, you understand the challenges that come with being in that role.

I am in the pre-launch stage and am hoping to send out my first box this fall! Right now I am working on collecting e-mails of interested people. I invite you to sign up if you or someone you know would benefit from the box. I am working with some really amazing women to bring some pretty great items to the first box. I want this box to not only offer support for self care, but some sassy, fun items as well. Let's be honest, we all need a good laugh from time to time.

I am hoping to have a sample box put together soon so everyone can see what to expect. In the meantime it would be really amazing of you guys to sign up for my updates. I am planning to start doing weekly updates soon!

You can find updates and enter your email here: The Kind Step Subscription Box

Thank you again, and I hope you all have a wonderful week!

PS: Lets all cross our fingers that I get my wedding invites out this week.. It's on the goal list.. 

I have been wanting to write this post for a long time now. It has been one of those things that I have written over and over again and it never seems right. When I started working on a new concept and direction with this blog, I talked about starting a discussion for people who were stepmoms (or stepdads!). A place for support and advice.


When R and I started dating almost 4 years ago, I knew he had children. I had always told myself I would not date a man with children, because I did not have children of my own and was not sure I was ready for that. But life had a different plan for me. We fell in love and wanted a life together. Even with all of the struggles and heartache I have experienced through the process, I truly believe R is the man I am supposed to be with.

We moved in together last May and I was on my journey to becoming a stepmom. With a wedding coming up in September, there have been many trials and tribulations that have put lots of stress on our little family. I have had my ups and downs, but I am learning how to work through the hard times day by day. I used to allow the blame to be put on me, now I know it's not all my fault. I am apart of something that may still hurt some of the parties involved, but I am not the cause of the initial hurt if that makes sense.

Any person who has stepped into a role as a parent to a child who is not biologically theirs, knows how tough the situation can be at times. You do not only have to worry about the child(ren), but all of the other persons who are apart of the child's life. Because each situation is different, there are no real guidelines to follow, but you should know that you should never feel like it is always your fault when things go wrong. It took me a long time to realize this.

Everyone is getting used to the changes and for some, the separation of their family members is still very fresh in their minds. I would like to believe these emotions come out of their own grief and mourning of what was, and what is no longer. I want to stress that everyone involved is experiencing some form of emotion.

The road can be very challenging, yet so rewarding when you start to form a bond with your stepchildren. There are going to be times when you feel the love and times when you feel like a complete outsider. The most important thing to remember is to allow the child to move at their own pace, but remind them to be respectful in the process. It is also important that the adults around them are also respectful and positive  in this stage.

We are all human, and emotions will get in  the way sometimes, but as I have learned, staying positive and stepping away when things get heated are the best actions. It will be much easier to navigate when both parties have cooled down. This is where I have started paying attention to self care. 

Self care is so important in these situations. Life can be very stressful on a normal day, and blending  a family will have moments where the stresses can double. You could come home from a stressful work day to find children who are also stressed out, and that can be hard if you can't offer them any relief because you are "not their mom". It happens. It sometimes hurts to be pushed out.

This is when I remember it's going to be okay. I remember that I can take some time for me. It's allowed and it's essential. Self care is so important for everyone. Even taking 15 minutes a day for yourself is effective. It will make you happier. It will remind you, that even in the hard moments, you are still you. You are reminded that you still have hobbies and interests to escape to during those hard times.

Today I feel like I am in a much better place than  I was even 6 months ago. I am taking time for myself and building better relationships. I am doing my part to make sure I am being positive, yet  not allowing myself to get lost in the shuffle. I speak up when  it's necessary and step away when needed. I take responsibility for my own actions, and that is really all I can do. I can't force anyone else to act a specific way. I can't make these things happen alone.

I am looking forward to what the future holds for me. Looking forward to seeing where this journey is taking me. My journey to becoming a stepmom.

Are you a step parent? What are your experiences?

I want to thank everyone who have offered me support and kind words over the past few weeks. I am beyond grateful. I have been working endlessly to improve this space bit by bit and when life gets in the way, I want you all to know, even if my presence isn't seen here on the web, I am always striving to make this work. Make things better. 

Over the past few months I have had a vision of what I really want for this space and what I want for my life. Dreams, ideas, goals, all in once place. All finally aligning. I have never been one to believe that good things come easy. They all take time, dedication, focus, and support. 

There are days I run myself ragged trying to get it all done. I work a 9-5. I run home to work on this blog or on my side project which seems to be taking up a BIG chunk of my time. Through all this I have also dealt with life events and stress. I have looked in the mirror and not recognized myself because I feel like I have aged. Aged more than I should have in just a short year.

It is time for me to allow myself time. I need time for me. A part of my vision is making a space that is user friendly, for both me and you. I may never have a viral post or 10,000 views a day, but I am okay with that. I know blogging isn't my calling in life. It's a hobby. It's a place I can come to learn and to educate when I can. 

Moving forward I am going to implement an easier workload for me, while still working to bring great content for you. I am going to take 1 or 2 nights a week to read and comment on all of your blogs. I know I can't commit to everyday, so I don't want to put out false hope. I will continue to keep a Monday-Wednesday-Friday blog schedule. I will work on responding to blogs and emails within 48 hours. 

I also want to spend some more time on my newsletter. I really enjoyed putting together my first one that went out on Friday. I loved hearing responses from the ladies who received it. Makes me excited for the next one. If you are not signed up, you can do so here.

I will try this all for a few months and re-evaluate. See how it goes. I can't wait to see how this goes and again, I want to thank you all for sticking with me and encouraging me all along the way!