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If you have followed along for many years, you will know that I love Diptyque candles. I have purchased many over the years, including blind buys that I haven’t loved. I decided to share my top 10 favorite Diptyque candles.
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I fired my lawn service for a robot… bad idea?? Watch my video review to see if it actually works!
We used our own money to purchase this. This is an unsponsored, unpaid, unbiased review!
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I recently purchased the MZ Wallace Crosby Sienna bag. My review is on my brand new YouTube channel! Watch the review below! Click here to go to my YouTube channel. I would really appreciate it if you subscribed!
while I have even blogging for over 10 years and have lost some interest in it, I am excited to start vlogging!! Thank you for continuing to follow and support Petite Haus!
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I have been on the hunt for a lightweight travel stroller for my preschooler. Needless to say, I am sick of lugging my UppaBaby Cruz V2 (the new V3 version it out) around. It served us well for when my daughter was smaller, but now I need something lightweight. Even though she does do a lot of walking now, I am finding that on longer walks or when it is very hot out, she really wants to be carried. She is now too heavy and big for me to carry for extended periods of time… so enter: the Bugaboo Butterfly 2! While this is a review for the Bugaboo butterfly 1, they have just discontinued it. The difference between the 1 and the new 2 is they added a small back pocket, slightly bigger wheels and more adjustments allowed in the seat position. Otherwise it seems it is the same stroller and has all of the features that I love!
I spent countless hours trying to decide on the best lightweight travel stroller. I watched every YouTube video I could find, read every article and every internet review. I ultimately chose the Bugaboo Butterfly because it looked like it could hold the tallest, heaviest child AND go in the overhead bin in many airplanes. I am trying to max out how long I can use this stroller – hoping to get through ages 4 and 5 years old with this stroller. The color we chose was desert taupe.
Now, this stroller has the highest backrest and weight limit I could find in the lightweight travel stroller category! It measures 21.5″ from seat to the top of the backrest, and then 24.5″ to the very top of the canopy from the seat. The seat itself measures about 10.5″ from the back to the front. It measures 14″ wide in the seat. It also has an adjustable leg rest, which measures also 7″, although I find I have not needed to use it. NOTE: The new bugaboo butterfly 2 seat to canopy height is 26.8”, so an additional 2 inches more than the first version!
It has an adjustable recline. This is a little annoying to move up and down when the child is in it, but it is doable. It has a very generous canopy for sunlight and then a mesh panel too to help air circulate. I found the one-handed fold to be a *little* bit harder than every video I watched. It seems like you have to push the handle bar in a little bit first to get it unlatched. Overall, though, it is a minor complaint.
Cons:
price, it is not the cheapest stroller
it does not include a cupholder or snack tray; both are sold separately. It also does not include a bumper bar – we purchased the bumper bar, but it made folding/unfolding more challenging and less compact, so we returned it.
The other strollers we considered and why I did not purchase it:
ZoeBaby Zoe Traveler (but it only holds up to 45 pounds) but the price is right. They also have a small double stroller that I would choose if I needed a stroller for 2 kids.
City Mini GT2 stroller – holds a bigger, taller child than the Bugaboo butterfly but it is not a lightweight stroller weighing 22.4 pounds, and cannot fit in the overhead bin.
Bob Stroller – if you are looking for the stroller that holds the highest weight limit at 75lb, this is your stroller. It though is not a travel stroller.
I think the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 stroller is perfect for travel, Disney World, Disneyland, Europe trips, and cruises! And I know I will probably get some comment about why I’m not making my preschooler walk. First, it’s none of your business. Second, when we are traveling, naps and sleep schedules are messed up. Sometimes the little one is tired and wants to be carried, but we have places to go and see, so a stroller is needed. This allows for a nap or just a place to sit (out of the direct sun, too!). You can buy it here at Amazon, above link is for Nordstrom.
I hope my review of what I think is the best travel stroller for preschoolers helps you. Check out my review of the Disney Aulani Resort
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We recently were fortunate enough to travel to Oahu and stay at Disney’s Aulani Hotel in Oahu, Hawaii. Here’s a quick review of our stay at the hotel.
Since having a child, we have found that our view on vacations has changed from being DINKs (dual income, no kids). We used to sit at a peaceful zen like resort – those days for us our gone – and that’s okay! Now we are embracing our full inner child to play with our actual child – and that includes staying at the Disney Aulani!
The lobby is beautiful when you walk into the hotel – big, spacious, feels like you walked into a large Hawaiian resort. My only very minor gripe is that you can’t see the ocean very well right from the lobby. Check in was very smooth and our room was ready early. Then we headed straight to the pools.
The pools are the BEST part of the hotel. The lazy river is the best lazy river I have ever been on. I went around it more times than I could count. The hotel provides the inner tubes so you don’t need to worry about lugging any over. Plus, they have life jackets free for the kids to check out if you desire. Below is a quieter pool. They have many pools and 2 water slides. They also have a splash pad (pictured above). What I did not like about the pools is people save chairs and don’t sit in them. I never saw Disney enforce the “1 hour and we will remove your stuff” policy they have posted everywhere.
The beach the hotel sits on is a man-made lagoon so the water is very tame, which is perfect for kids. I read somewhere they have nets so there aren’t supposed to be any sharks either, which is one less worry. I personally prefer other beaches but the kids certainly love this one! The hotel shares the beach with the Four Seasons next door, a wedding chapel as well.
The food and surrounding restaurants I thought were mediocre. Granted, I am vegetarian and Hawaiian cuisine is not up my alley, so I am aware of that. We did a lot of cooking ourselves as we stayed in a villa with a full kitchen.
One thing I was worried about staying here is that it would be “too Disney” and not enough Hawaiian feeling. The hotel is not “in your face Disney” – you certainly don’t feel like you’ve walked into Disneyland. That said, they do have free character meet and greets. You can choose to go to them or not. I did see a character or two walk through the pool area, but it’s only for a brief moment, like below with Mickey walking by.
The other thing they have at the hotel is their own salt water lagoon. They have viewing windows so it’s like you’re visiting an aquarium! You can snorkel in the lagoon too but that is an extra charge. I saw the line to get a spot started early int he morning and then it was sold out. I think it is great for children who want to snorkel but perhaps aren’t quite ready for the open ocean. Our daughter was too small to do this at this time.
So, is staying at the Aulani “worth it?”
I would say yes – if you have kids. Is this a hotel I would have chosen to travel to without kids? No. But, if you are a Disney fan without kids then I would say yes, worth it. But Disney certainly knows how to cater to families and the Aulani is no different. The pools are absolutely hands down the best. The cost of the hotel is certainly a decision factor. We went during low season and rented DVC points through a third party company to get a deal. Would I go here during high season peak week? No, I would not.
Now, I’m going to share a travel must have for young kids… the best little suitcase! The kids can pull it themselves. If they get tired they can ride on it and you can pull them. It can unfold into a bed on the plane! It is FANTASTIC!
below in the widget to shop are some other finds. The travel set is wonderful for the airplane! I also found the perfect swimsuit for those wanting a little more coverage but don’t want to wear a one piece!
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This is a sponsored post. These coffee themed ornaments from Old World Christmas are the perfect addition for a coffee bar refresh!
I have my tiered tray parked next to my espresso machine to store mugs, stir spoons, and sugar. Adding these coffee themed ornaments really makes the coffee bar look enticing. If only I could do latte art like the ornament!
Aren’t they adorable? I love the little details on each one. The pumpkin spice latte for my PSL lovers, the milk and foam heart on the cappuccino, and the little peppermint stick on the whipped coffee!
Old World Christmas ornaments are not just for Christmas decor. When Christmas rolls around, I’ll switch out my tiered tray for a Christmas tree and hang the ornaments on it!
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While Spring is my favorite season because all many flowers are blooming, I do love dahlia season in Summer!
I especially love these pom-pom type dahlias. The flower feels so funny when it’s held in your hand! Bringing them into the house and setting them down in the mudroom for a quick photo on the phone….
Then put them in this pretty vase by Astier de Villate and set them back in the mudroom. We got this new coat rack that I love. It looks faux bois but it is actually from a tree. I like it juxtaposed next to the ornate antique barometer.
One last little look at the flowers. Wishing you a wonderful week.
Shop similar hat racks below:
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We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.
A few years ago, when we talked into a hotel in Italy, I will never forget the amazing smell of the hotel. Ever since then, I have been obsessed with home scent. Choosing a home scent can be overwhelming, especially when standing in front shelves with many choices.
You need to first consider what fragrances you prefer. Citrus? Rose? Woody? Lavender? Gourmand? Herbal? Fruity?
The next thing to consider is where the scent is. You don’t want fragrance to overtake the smells of food in the kitchen, so pick something light or spicy – think almond, cinnamon, honey, citrus. For the bedroom, something calming such as vanilla or lavender. For living room, really anything goes! You can put your stronger scents here as this is usually a bigger room and can accept stronger scents.
Then you need to consider what kind of feeling you want to evoke. Do you want transport yourself to the Orangerie at Versailles? Or a lavender field in Provence? Or what about to Hawaii? Or transport to a spa? Your scent can change throughout the year too. The biggest example would be at Christmas, when I want my house to smell like one big giant fir tree.
Herbal/Citrus Scents:
Floral Scents:
Spicy/Woody/Gourmand:
Fresh and Fruity
For those of you who are curious, the hotel I was referring to in the opening sentence was Hotel Villa Cipressi in Varenna, Italy. The scent was “Lake Como Forget Me Not home perfume”. It is only sold at the hotel, so I guess I have to go back?
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I generally dislike January because I hate being cold. The nights are still long and the Christmas trees are gone.
I’ve been spending this January burning my new candles by Diptyque *not sponsored, fyi*.
The 3 candles I bought are limited edition for Valentine’s Day by Diptyque. They are Litchi, Artichaut, and Roses. The roses scent is not limited edition but the pretty vessel is.
Litchi was surprising as it does have a hint of rose to it.
Artichaut may have been the most surprising of all… reminding me of a pleasant day in Spring. And it smells nothing of cooked artichokes. *currently sold out, but returning Feb 8*.
I recently purchased the little cloche to keep dust off the candles. It’s also nice to just walk by, lift up the cloche, take a sniff, and enjoy the candle without burning it!
I received the cool candle holder for Christmas. The candles look so pretty burning under it! They also burn more evenly.
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I hate it when I light my candles and then wick tunnels all the way down with a large amount of unburned wax on the sides!
Well, I recently learned how to fix this problem and I had to share it with you all!
Unfortunately I was so excited to try it, I forgot to take a “before” photo. But you can see in the picture below, the different layers of unmelted on the side. If I were to continue to let this candle burn, it would just tunnel down leaving a lot of wasted wax.
It is simple: wrap aluminum foil around the edges of the candle. You will want the foil to hang over the unmelted tunneled wax you want to fix. You need to leave enough room for the flame in the center so it has enough oxygen to burn. Don’t let the flame touch the foil. You light the candle, and let it burn long enough until the wax has melted completely to the edge. Depending on how bad your tunneling is, this may take several hours, so be prepared! Be careful removing the foil as it may be hot. Do not leave burning candles unattended or near pets/children.
The size of the candle and wax quality may affect how well this works. But I say if you’re frustrated about all the wasted wax, it is worth a try! This candle below is Diptyque.
Below is the after! See, much better! There is still a tiny bit on the side. I probably should have let it burn 30 more minutes but I had places to be!
Now, the best thing to “fix” the tunneling problem is just to AVOID it happening from the beginning!
How do we do that?
First, With bougie candles, like Diptyque, you do NOT trim the wick on the first burn. It is exactly the correct length. The first burn wick has to be a little longer. I am uncertain about B&BW candle wick length and if you need to trim them first.
Second, you must let it burn long enough on the first burn so the wax is completely melted to the rim. A general rule of thumb is: for every inch diameter the vessel is, it must burn 1 hour. So a 3 inch diameter vessel must burn 3 hours. The type and quality of wax will affect this.
Other tricks to keep candles burning properly: you should trim the wick just before lighting. It should be about 1/4 inch. Don’t trim when when the wick and wax are hot/warm.
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This year’s Halloween table features a spooky cauldron brewing potions. Steam is bubbling out of the cauldron on top of a little fire.
I made the potion bottles a few years ago. You can print off the exact labels I made in this post.
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First off, disclaimer: I am not paid to write about Diptyque.
I recently stopped by in a Diptyque store and fell in love with one of their new limited edition candles.
This candle is conceived as a Parisian stroll along the Seine. We stroll along the “weeping willows and chestnut trees, passing antique shops before losing ourselves in the pages of old books found on the booksellers’ stands. At the heart of the composition, notes of polished wood, and the spicy vanilla accents of weathered books and paving stones evoke this Parisian atmosphere where art meets history” – Diptyque.
If you close your eyes, you can transport yourself along this stroll!
This candle comes with a wooden lid. The label has a rose inspired “by the compass rose carved on the forecourt of Norte-Dame de Paris”.
Is it bougie of me to write about a $100 candle? Yesssss. But I love it. And you should buy things and do things that you love. I have a weak spot with Diptyque, what can I say.
I don’t burn my Diptyque candles every day. I use them for occasions when I went to feel special. Sometimes I just go and smell them and put them back in their box, or under their cloche, or in this case, put the lid back on.
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Happy September!!
I’ve pulled my velvet pumpkins out and have them on display!
The centerpiece of this table are dried hydrangeas from my garden! Planned ahead in July and started drying them. It took about two weeks to dry.
Aren’t the pumpkins so pretty?!
This color scheme can easily be converted to Halloween with a few spooky elements.
A look at my mantel in the dining room. I ran out of deep purple pumpkins for this display. I made the chinoiserie toile pumpkins myself a few years back.
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Sponsored post. Sharing my beach themed tiered tray used as my centerpiece for my Summer table. I used these beach themed ornaments I received from Old World Christmas.
I love the pops of blue and green! I sprinkled the ornaments amongst my collection of seashells. Aren’t the cute?
I love Old World Christmas ornaments and have purchased many of them through the years! They aren’t just for Christmas- I use them also for my Easter and Halloween decor. I’ll plan to use these for a coastal theme Christmas tree in the future!
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I have an easy decor trick for you today. I set my Spring table up recently and then decided hmm… maybe I should make this my Easter table. Want to know my secret? (you’ll have to keep reading).
Let’s first take a look at my Spring table. Freshly cut flowers are from my garden. That took some planning… from last Fall. I make a reminder on my calendar to plant bulbs!
Aren’t the daffodils so pretty? They almost look like faux flowers!
And now here is my Easter table…
Ready for my easy trick? I ADDED BUNNIES. TA DAAAAA! I told you it was easy. I’ve been collecting these little Steiff bunnies for years. My mom would give me one in my Easter basket for many years and I’ve purchased a few here and there too.
I also put a little Lindt chocolate bunny on each place setting.
A picture of my mantel with a few added Spring touches on it.
By the way, this room smells AMAZING because I am burning my Diptyque Tuberose and Orange Blossom candles. SIIIIIGH. I only burn these when I want to feel extra special. Today felt like one of those days with the pretty daffodils!
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We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.
We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.
We use affiliate links in our posts and our site. This means if you make a purchase using these links, we may earn a small commission. You don’t pay a cent more than you would otherwise! Our full disclosure is available under About.
