Our Crafty Mom

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NewAir Portable Dryer-Perfect For Apartment Living

Every so often a product comes into my life that I absolutely love! The NewAir Compact Portable Electric Dryer 36W is one such product. 

This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. This post was sponsored by NewAir however all opinions are 100% mine. Please see my full disclosure here

NewAir Portable Dryer Perfect for Apartment Living Our Crafty MomIf you’ve visited here before, you know my daughter is moving into her first apartment for her Senior Year of College. This is both frightening and exciting! She is a responsible young adult so I feel she is prepared for apartment living, but as a parent you can’t help but worry. The one thing I am so happy to be able to help with, is getting her set up in her new apartment. She has two roommates who have given me the green light with decorating. As a home decor blogger I am psyched! As with most college apartments, there is no onsite laundry facility and not a ton of room. So I was thrilled to receive this Portable Dryer from NewAir. 

NewAir Portable Dryer-Perfect For Apartment Living Our Crafty Mom

The dryer was actually delivered while I was at work and my daughter was so excited that she not only took the dryer in by herself, but also took it out of the box and set it up.

NewAir Portable Compact Dryer Perfect For Apartment Living Our Crafty Mom

She had a load of clothes done by the time I got home from work! That tells you just how easy this dryer is to put together. Basically it involves taking it out of the box and adding the vent, as well as the feet. It also comes with hardware to hang if you would like.

 

 

NewAir Portable Dryer-Perfect For Apartment Living Our Crafty Mom @newairusa #ad #apartmentliving

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Here are some of the benefits to using the NewAir Portable Electric Dryer:

Ideal For Small Spaces

Weighing only 50 pounds, this dryer is easy to install anywhere and move as needed. Not only is this perfect for apartment living or small spaces, but it would also be great for RVs and camping. As mentioned above, it also includes brackets that allow for wall mounting.

Large drying capacity

The NewAir portable dryer can dry up to 13 pounds of clothes quickly and easily!  There are four heat temperatures: air dryer; cool; warm; and hot. 

NewAir Portable Compact Dryer Our Crafty Mom

The versatile 120v plug means you can install it just about anywhere.  No installation crew needed!  This really is so convenient and will make moving day that much easier. Check out the video below for even more information on this great portable dryer:

NewAir Compact Portable Electric Dryer 36W

I hope you enjoyed this post and will visit Our Crafty Mom again. I would love it if you would subscribe to my email so you never miss a post. Have a great day!

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Highlights From BlogHer Conference 2017 – #BlogHer17

I am back from my first ever blogging conference, #BlogHer17 and what an incredible experience it was! I was lucky enough to be a Volunteer at this Conference and hope to attend again next year. BlogHer is presented by SheKnows Media and is the largest women’s blogging Conference.

The Conference was in Orlando, Florida at the beautiful Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek . Check out the stunning view of the lazy river pool:

Highlights From BlogHer Conference #BlogHer17 Our Crafty Mom

Such a perfect setting! The Conference was held over three days and was packed with activities. As it was my first time attending a blogging Conference, I was a little nervous. But my nerves were quickly calmed once I arrived at the volunteer training session. The blogging Community truly is a supportive group and from what I encountered at BlogHer the ladies I met were very friendly.  There were a few male bloggers but for the most part it was all female bloggers. What I liked about this Conference is the bloggers are not limited to one particular niche-there were bloggers covering everything from fashion to food and everything in between! 

Highlights From BlogHer Conference 2017 - #BlogHer17 Our Crafty Mom

Highlights From BlogHer Conference 2017 – #BlogHer17 Our Crafty Mom @blogher #blogher17

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There is no way I can include everything from the 3 days as it was seriously packed with information, but I will include highlights from the 3 days with some of my favorites!

Highlights From BlogHer Conference 2017 - #BlogHer17 Our Crafty Mom

Day 1

We started with the Kick-Off Keynote presented by HelloFlo and a frank conversation about women’s bodies, health, and rights. This included a conversation with  Chelsea Clinton and Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards.

Highlights From BlogHer Conference 2017 - #BlogHer17 Our Crafty MomNext up was an open conversation with SheKnows Senior Vice President Naama Bloom , comedian, actress, activist Margaret Cho and television sexpert Logan Levkoff . You know with Margaret Cho it is going to get a little wild and it most definitely did! There were lots of laughs and I really walked away from this session feeling empowered! Like I am woman hear me roar!

Highlights From BlogHer Conference 2017 - #BlogHer17 Our Crafty Mom

Next up was the Evening at the Expo and I was giddy with excitement!!

Highlights From BlogHer Conference 2017 - #BlogHer17 Our Crafty Mom

The expo hall was packed with Sponsors for us to meet and hopefully pitch an idea to collaborate on a future post. Meeting a brand in person is worth its weight in gold to a blogger. Here are just some of the Sponsors that were at the expo:

  • Best Buy
  • Zaycon Fresh
  • Ebay Partner Network
  • Princess Cruises
  • Olay
  • Purell
  • WordPress
  • PlantNite
  • Day Owl Rose

There were drink and food stations set up all throughout the expo and each sponsor had “swag” for attendees. This was such a great opportunity to not only meet and learn about different brands, but also to mix and mingle with other bloggers. Networking at its finest! They even had a photo booth set up for an early premiere of the new movie Girl’s Night! All attendees received passes in their swag bags at registration!

Highlights From BlogHer Conference 2017 - #BlogHer17 Our Crafty MomDay 2

I woke up ready to learn with a full day of sessions. The morning keynote included

Andréa Richardson from Hilton

Ananda Leeke, Founder, Digital Sisterhood Network as well as a yoga and reiki teacher, who lead us in our Mindful Moments exercises to start the day.

Gina Pell, serial entrepreneur, elaborated on her philosophy that there is a totally age-agnostic generation of people called Perennials.

The Keynote Speakers were Ana Navarro and Joy Reid – two huge news commentators who spoke to us how to use social media to get views distributed to an even wider audience.  There was an intense conversation about the influence and impact of news media in today’s landscape…especially the importance of women’s voices in that media. Next we were able to choose what session we wanted to attend for both the morning and the afternoon. I decided to attend a session presented by The IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau) which covered concepts like responsive design, the new 2017 IAB Ad Portfolio industry standards, boosting your content, viewability and ad blocking. As a Blogger, it is so important to know about ad placement and performance of ads. I definitely learned a lot from this session! I have already implemented some of these changes to my blog and have been seeing better performance!

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Lunch was provided by Walt Disney World Pandora-World of Avatar! What a great presentation! The keynote lunch speaker was Serena Williams  As part of this keynote Serena discussed the various philanthropic efforts and causes she has been both spearheading and supporting for years now. She is one busy woman!

Again, you were free to choose the session you would like to attend for the afternoon. I really wanted to focus on learning tips and tricks for growing my blog so I attended the session on Powering Up Your Business For Success. The expo hall was open this afternoon for additional opportunities. I was lucky enough to get a ticket to one of the private events for Friday night, which was a VIP pass to the Medieval Times show. I have never been and was thrilled for this opportunity!

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This was such a fun night and I met several bloggers who I really hit it off with-to the point that my new blogging buddy Amber, gave me a ride back to my hotel so I didn’t have to wait around for Uber! She was a sweetheart and I hope to keep in touch with her over social media and hopefully see her again next year.  Here we are with one of the Medieval Times Knights!

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She is the one in the pink shirt. How cute is she? Check out her lifestyle blog at Amber Downs. Thanks again for the ride Amber!

Highlights From BlogHer Conference 2017 - #BlogHer17 Our Crafty Mom 10

If you have never been to Medieval Times you should definitely add it to your bucket list. Not only was the show amazing, but the food was awesome as well. Check out their locations here. It was definitely a long day starting at 8:00 am and not getting back to the hotel until 11:30 pm but worth every moment!

Day 3


Our final day was another jam packed day filled with training sessions and additional expo time. We started with the morning Keynote Speakers including a fun series called The Pitch, where where women business owners and founders give a pitch to a high-profile panel of judges and audience. The judges were:

The winner received a year-long marketing, media, and promotional support package valued at $50,000 from SheKnows Media! Congratulations to Lynn Johnson who won the Pitch!! Next was the session that I was most looking forward to and as the room was standing room only, definitely the most popular session of the Conference. We are talking about SEO: Conquering Search Engine Algorithms. Doesn’t sound like a lot of fun, but it is so necessary in the life of a blogger. This basically determines how and if your blog is found if a relevant topic is searched. The Speakers were the dynamic father/daughter team:

Chloe Spencer, SEO and online marketing specialist

Stephan Spencer, internationally recognized SEO expert, consultant, and bestselling author. A huge highlight for me was meeting Carla Hall,  co-host of ABC’s Emmy award winning, popular lifestyle series “The Chew,” and getting a signed copy of her new cook book. She is just as sweet in person as she is on television!

Highlights From BlogHer Conference 2017 - #BlogHer17 Our Crafty Mom 16

The final day ended with a closing party to rival all closing parties!! It was held in an air conditioned tent directly on the water. As I walked to the entrance I was greeted by a waiter handing out STRAW-BER-RITA from one of the event sponsors.

Not a bad way to be greeted right? Check out the spacious tent and food display:

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Definitely the largest tent I have ever seen!

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This was the outside area:

Highlights From BlogHer Conference 2017 - #BlogHer17 Our Crafty Mom 15

In closing, the BlogHer Conference was something I would definitely attend again. I will say it was a lot to navigate for a first time attendee, but BlogHer did such a good job at making “newbies” feel welcome and included and  after my initial nerves settled,  I was able to take in all that was this incredibly informative, but also fun Conference! Thank you BlogHer!

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Dorm Room Laundry Made Easy With EcoWash

Welcome to Our Crafty Mom! Today I am sharing a great product that is perfect for Dorm Room living!  My daughter is just finishing up her Junior year of College. She lives in a single dorm room that is pretty basic. While she loves College life, one thing she does not like is doing laundry on campus. Not only is it really expensive-$4 a load-but there are only a couple of washer/dryer units, so sometimes she has to wait for a machine. Also, if she doesn’t take her clothes out right away someone may take them out.  Can anyone relate to memories of laundry on campus? Definitely not a pleasant experience.   Well, let me introduce you to the Avalon Bay EcoWash Portable Washer. 

Disclosure: EcoWash sponsored this post, but all opinions are 100% my own.

Dorm-Room-laundry-made-easy-with-EcoWash-Our-Crafty-Mom

This hand operated machine is the perfect size for dorm room or apartment living. It measures only 17.5 inches in length, 16 inches in width, and 18 inches in height  so it easily fits in the corner of a room. Plus it cleans up to 5 lbs of laundry in 2 minutes-perfect if you are in a hurry-another plus for a College Student. 

Dorm Room Laundry Made Easy With EcoWash Our Crafty Mom

We easily put this together in Amanda’s dorm room in 5 minutes! She can easily disassemble it if she needs the space, but really with it being so compact, she plans on leaving it out. 

Dorm Room Laundry Made Easy With EcoWash Our Crafty Mom

Dorm Room Laundry Made Easy With EcoWash Our Crafty Mom @airnwater #ad #ecowash

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Dorm Room Laundry Made Easy With EcoWash Our Crafty Mom 

Here are some great benefits to using the Avalon Bay EcoWash:

  • Comes with a 12-month warranty
  • Eco-Friendly
  • EcoWash cleans your clothes with gentle but effective cycles, being extra-gentle on your delicates
  • Its rugged and durable design allows it to perform superbly for years to come
  • Llightweight, hand-cranked washing machine
  • Portable washing machine makes it easy to wash clothes anywhere – RV, camps, hikes, cabin, etc.
  • The incredibly convenient EcoWash portable washer enables you to wash nearly 5lbs of clothes in just 2 minutes
  • This hand-operated machine helps you conserve water and electricity

This is also great to take camping. My Dad loves camping and I’m thinking this would make a great Father’s Day Gift! As it weighs just 5.51 lbs it is so easy to transport. 

Ecowash Our Crafty Mom

Click here to learn more about Avalon Bay EcoWash. 

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Here is a great demo so you can really see how easy this is to use:

**PIN FOR LATER**

Dorm Room Laundry Made Easy With Avalon Bay Eco Wash Our Crafty Mom

I hope you enjoyed this post Dorm Room Laundry Made Easy With EcoWash. I would love it if you would subscribe to my email so you never miss a post. Have a great day!

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Home Matters Linky Party #136

Welcome to the weekly Home Matters Linky Party. A great place to come, share your blog posts, and make new friends. 

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7 Upcycled DIY Projects For Your Outdoor Space

Welcome! We are finally having warmer weather. You know what that means? It’s time to get your outdoor space ready for Spring and Summer. Whether you have a deck, patio or porch these projects will fit into any space. Plus, they are easy on the budget-using items you probably already  have or can easily find at thrift stores or flea markets. Can I just say how happy I am that it is flea market season? I grew up going to flea markets with my parents and it is something I still do today with my grown children. You never know what you might find.

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The large deck was what really sold me on the townhouse I live in. Here is a picture of it all spruced up last year:

Spring Deck Our Crafty Mom

This is my favorite place to sit with a glass of wine, read and blog. I never tire of this view: 

7 Upcycled DIY Projects For Your Outdoor Space Our Crafty Mom

 

Let’s get to the projects!

7 Upcycled DIY Projects For Your Outdoor Space

7 Upcycled DIY Projects For Your Outdoor Space Our Crafty Mom

Washtub Herb Garden

DIY Clay Pot Rain Chain Our Crafty Mom

Clay Pot Rain Chain

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7 Upcycled DIY Projects For Your Outdoor Space Our Crafty Mom

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Remembering Mom ~25 Years Later

This is a very different post than my normal crafting or home decorating post, but it is something I really felt compelled to write. Blogging has been a creative outlet for me and I am truly thankful for that.   Today I want to honor a beautiful woman who I was fortunate enough to call Mom.  It is the 25th Anniversary of her death and it was important to acknowledge that in some way. It certainly doesn’t take an anniversary to remember her, of course I do that daily.   But 2017 brings many milestones to my family-I am turning 50, my daughter 21, my Dad 75,  so I felt this was the perfect time to share. I want my children to know these things about my Mom.  Sometimes we get so busy, we don’t take time to just remember. Today I want to remember.

Remembering Mom -25 Years Later Our Crafty Mom

Remembering Mom

  1. Your laughter- your sense of humor and love for impractical jokes is probably the thing I remember most. Thank you for passing that on to your grandson, Derek.  He has always been a “rascal” and I see you in him when he has that twinkle in his eye and is up to something! All he has to do is flash those dimples and all is forgiven. I miss your laughter.
  2. Your kind heart-this is most definitely something you passed on to your granddaughter, Amanda. Though you didn’t have much to give, you would give whatever you had. Amanda is the same way. I miss your kindness.
  3. Your forgiving nature-this is something I have struggled with over the years. I tried so many times to say Mom would forgive, or Mom wouldn’t want us to hold on to anger, but it is not easy. The what ifs are the hardest for me to overcome. But, we can’t go back and change things and we have to accept the good with the bad. I miss your forgiving nature.
  4. Your love of family-I have so many great memories, but going to Cape Cod not only growing up, but also when Derek was a baby really stands out. You were so happy to take him away for the weekend and show him off. Although you were already sick by then, you were determined to make it a fun weekend and boy was it. Seeing you at the Christmas Tree Shop was like seeing a kid in Disneyworld! Yes-you passed this on to me! I miss your love of family.
  5. Your strength-not once throughout the 5 years you fought to live (and boy did you fight) did you ever complain. Not once did you ever say “why me” or “I can’t do this”. You were determined to fit in as much as you could. Of course, all you wanted to do was spend time with your family-including your two new grandbabies. You cherished them more in 6 months of their life than some do in a lifetime. Your entire face would light up when you saw Derek and Breanna.  No matter how sick you were, you always managed to get in your hugs and kisses, blowing raspberries on their little faces or bellies. I wish your grandchildren knew you, but you live on through each of them.
  6. One of the last things you said to me was no matter how succesful we were in our jobs, what mattered to you most was that we were good Mothers. At the end of the day that is what mattered. You were proud of us for working hard, but you were adamant that no matter what we did, being a good Mother was most important. You told Lori and I to take care of your baby, JoJo. That was your main concern. Make sure she is ok. She is better than ok Mom and I know you know that. I feel you every step of the way-usually when I need you most. Just as she did for you when you were sick,  Lori stepped into the Mother role and to this day has been our strength-giving us guidance, love & sometimes a strong talking to! It hasn’t been easy, but at the end of the day Lori, Joanne and I did what you said. We stuck together through thick and thin and I know we took the most important life lesson ever from you-we are all good Mothers.  For that I know you are proud!

In Rememberance Joyce E. Lemoi 10/12/44-03/12/92

 

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