Nicolette Brandon

Riley Reynolds is the main character in my romantic suspense novel, The Past We Thought We Knew. Take a peek to see her favorite places around the Twin Cities to visit!

As an avid reader, nothing is better than a book recommendation from a friend! Here's my list of favorites!

I LOVE to read. Like… Read 200+ books a year love to read. It's tricky to find new books, and finding a good series always makes me happy because my next read is ready to go! Here are some of my favorites!

My 10 year old is as big of a book addict as I am! I asked her for her favorite books that she would recommend and here they are!

Listen, I own a business, homeschool my child (with a busy competitive dance schedule), and manage the majority of our household day to day operations. I am BUSY. However, I always make it work and big reason for that is because I am organized. It took time for me to find my groove, but once I did it was life changing. These are the main tools that set me up for success every day.

I'm a self appointed knitting junkie! I picked up the hobby when I first started homeschooling. I needed something to do during my downtime when my kiddo was occupied. I didn't want to spend that 20minutes during speech therapy or 45 minutes during dance class mindlessly scrolling on my phone. So I taught myself to knit and 4 years later I'm absolutely in love! These are some of my go to items.

At the beginning of this year, I decided to teach myself calligraphy and hand lettering. I've done it both with calligraphy pens and brush pens. I prefer the brush pens over the standard calligraphy tips, but I've got resources for both!

These games and activities have made our homeschool journey so much fun! There are options for lots of different ages and the suggestions are sure to elevate your "cool mom" factor. There is something for everyone and it will be sure to keep your kiddos engaged and excited about learning!

Our family's favorite games! Great for education, bonding, and just plain fun!

My daughter is Harry Potter OBSESSED. She's recently discovered Potter Barn Teen has everything she could ever want for a bedroom makeover. Take a look at what she would choose if she was ever allowed a shopping spree :)

As the mom of a competition dancer, these are the things we keep in our dance bag at all times!

One of my favorite hobbies these days is watching my daughter dance. It's made even better by the amazing team of families she competes with. Still, I've learned a thing or two after her first year on the competition team. I now carry my very own survival kit. Here's what's in my bag!

My dancer is picky about her dancewear and tools! She spends over 12 hours a week at the studio and takes her training seriously. Here are the things she's used over and over.

A small sampling of some of my most loved vegan products!

A list of my favorite gardening tools! Because we live in Minnesota and can't plant until the end of May or June, we start our seeds indoors. Look for some tips and tricks within the recommendations!

These are the foods we eat in our house and enjoy. If you have allergies, ALWAYS read the ingredients! The foods we eat are free from Gluten, peanuts, tree nuts (except coconut), apples, peaches, pears, plums, nectarine, apricot, kiwi, cherry, carrot, avocado, dairy, eggs, and all meat and it's derivatives.

I'm starting the process of finding items to remodel our bathroom! This is the final list of exactly what we will be using, but it's where my inspiration is coming from. When everything is purchased, I'll update the links!

Baking has been a hobby of mine for many years. I have accumulated quite the stash of items that I use and love. Here are my favorites!

You don’t need a fancy studio setup—just a few solid tools to make yoga feel approachable, relaxing, and effective from home.

I love working out, but I'm really picky about the tools I use! They need to be high quality and durable. The last thing I want is to hurt myself because I got something cheap.

As a working stay at home mom, getting fitness into my daily routine can be incredibly difficult. I find if I have the right clothes and tools readily available, I'm much more likely to be successful. Require me to leave the house to work out? Forget about it. It's going to get pushed to the bottom of my growing list of things to do. So hopefully you find this helpful and it motivates you to get up and move!

I love to travel! It seems like I learn about something new each time I go, but these are things that I bring no matter what! Some are traditional, others are going to surprise you!

As a huge Harry Potter fan, Universal Studios Orlando is my favorite place to visit! I've been several times including for the Celebration of Harry Potter in 2018. We're gearing up to go again for the opening of Epic Universe, so here's some of my must do and see things while you're there!

Heading on a long car ride with your kiddos? We've done multiple road trips from 12-24 hours with our now 10 year old! Here's our essentials we always bring to make it most enjoyable for everyone!

From home needs, to personal needs, to fun things to do, here are my favorite local businesses in West Central Minnesota!

While I used to live right in the heart of Minneapolis, those days are gone and I go to great lengths to avoid the bustling city. These days I prefer a quieter life in my little town. Join me in exploring some of the best of what the Western Suburbs have to offer!

A list of places I trust in the Western Minneapolis suburbs. I'll add more as we find them! Leave a comment if you're looking for specific type of business and I'll see if I have a trusted recommendation to add!

Even stay at home moms deserve a wardrobe refresh! My needs have changed since leaving my office job and I find a need a bigger variety of items. Here's what's on my wardrobe refresh list!

Listen, I LOVE to be warm. If I could hang out in 80 degree weather all day every day, I would. Unfortunately, I live in Minnesota and fall is coming. The upside to that? TONS of opportunity to layer and wrap myself in cozy things to stay warm!

Fun fact, Target was my first “real” job. I worked as the store operated which was also the fitting room attendant. Needless to say, I have a soft spot for Target fashion and their game is STRONG these days! These are my favorite Target clothing pieces that are stylish, comfy, and easy on the wallet.

I've never been a fan of junk food filled basket each year for Easter. Despite our food intolerances, it's just so much sugar! If you're looking for some alternatives, you've come to the right place.

The holidays are upon us, but this list is great for birthdays or any other occasion that calls for a little something. These items are straight off my 9-year old daughter's list so the recommendations are bound to be a hit!

So many mother's day gift lists are made by random marketing companies trying to predict what moms want. Well, guess what? I'm a mom and I usually can't stand half of what's on the list! Here's what I've put on my wishlist of things I would actually enjoy.

Spend Valentine's day with your girl friends by hosting a fun little night in!

Listen, self-care is a real thing! I LOVE going to the spa just like I'm sure you do, but I struggle with the time and money when I go. I don't have endless afternoons to spend downtown, I need to be able to balance my need for relaxation with my busy schedule which usually means after 9pm. I've gotten pretty good at turning my home into a mini spa. These are my favorite little indulgences when I need a reset or just want to unwind. You don’t have to leave home (or spend $$$) to feel relaxed and pampered.

Let's face it - the days get long and they can get boring. But sometimes, it's the tiny details that can make all the difference. You know those things that just make life feel a little fancier, even if they’re not expensive? These are mine. Small upgrades that make everyday routines feel special.