Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

Here’s to sleeping comfortably!

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Our sleep has been messed up this week.

We went to a basketball game that didn’t start until a little after 9 p.m. Friday, had trouble checking into the hotel, and didn’t get in bed until 1 a.m. We spent Saturday hanging out with our friends and then went to a 7 p.m. basketball, stayed afterward a while to watch our team celebrate winning the conference tournament and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, and then drove two hours home. We didn’t get into bed until after midnight and then the time changed.

We did get some lovely Kentucky weather on Sunday and slowed down to enjoy it, but we all still struggled Monday morning. I woke up with my youngest curled up beside me. I let her stay when I saw it was 4:50 a.m. when she showed up beside me. I usually don’t let her stay unless it’s morning — which she calls “happy out” — but I was too comfy to deal with sending her back to her room.

She moved over to the other side of the bed right before my alarm went off at 6:20 and then stayed until after 8 a.m., about an hour after “the kids,” as she calls her older siblings, had left for school with Dad.

Aside from the fact I wanted to sleep more, our new sheets were part of the reason I was so snuggled comfortably in bed.

Our new sheets are California Design Den’s 600-thread count, sateen weave set. The fabric is 100% pure cotton that features yarn structure to eliminate the possibility of pilling and has extra durable fitted elastic. The corners do fit my deep, queen, pillow-top mattress well. My husband and I both like the coolness of the sheets – both the spa color and the feel even after being under the comforter.

The head/foot of the sheets is marked with a tag, which makes making the bed a quicker chore because I wasn’t left wondering which way the fitted sheet went. I also like that the sheets and pillowcases are marked with size. This would be a great convenience at my lake house, where we have different size beds.

Sold on Amazon, California Design Den has many colors and sizes of sheets available as well as duvet covers and quilt sets. (Here are all the options.)

Here’s to sleeping comfortably – regardless of what else is happening in life!

*****

California Design Den approached me about reviewing a set of sheets, but these opinions are my own – and I certainly don’t joke around about sleep.

Learning more of our stories

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Even with adoption, I know many details of my kids’ stories, but I still wanted to learn more about their ancestry – and so did they! I’ve been watching DNA tests, waiting for the prices to come down. They have, especially coupled with holiday specials, so I recently ordered all three kids the ancestry test kits from 23andMe.

The kids come with specific instructions and are simple to complete. Cate (11) and Ben (9) had no trouble filling the tube with spit, but Rachel (3) took forever and we apparently didn’t even get enough in (even though there’s a marked line) because hers wasn’t able to be tested. But 23andMe sent me a replacement kit that’s good for about a year for free. I didn’t even ask. That was just their emailed response. That’s good customer service!

The big kids loved getting their ancestry results back. I mailed them just after Thanksgiving, received an email when they were received, and then got emails less than two weeks later that the reports were ready. The reports included showed percentages of ancestry composition and a timeline of how many generations ago was the most recent ancestor from the given populations.

I ordered two more kits for Greg and myself. I’m totally intrigued by the ancestry information and look forward to learning more about mine. Greg is just being a good sport because I want to see his ancestry too!

Because all three of the kids were adopted at birth, I wanted some privacy so long-lost biological relatives couldn’t connect with us. I used their initials when I registered their kits and didn’t connect with other 23andMe users.

The ancestry DNA kits are typically $99, but they do go on sale. I paid $49 each for the kids during a Thanksgiving promotion and $69 for mine and Greg’s during another holiday promotion. The kits that test both DNA and medical are regularly $199. (You can save 10% with this link!)

*****

I paid for these kits with my own money during 23andMe’s Thanksgiving promotion and wanted to share my thoughts on the DNA testing process because several people have asked about my experience.

Documenting life on the wall

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I recently heard gallery walls weren’t the thing to do anymore. Now, I’m not decorating expert, far from it really, but I have two gallery walls happening at my house and I really love them. One of them, in fact, is actually a work in progress, so I have plans to continue adding to it.

While I’m not a decorating expert, I do like documenting memories around my house. I scrapbook, have binders for my kids’ papers I want to save and books for their school years and birthdays, and hang pictures of our family adventures all around our house.

So when MyPix2 approached me about reviewing one of their personalized photo products, I was all in. I chose a 20-inch-by-20-inch wrapped canvas. And I knew which vacation photo I wanted to use. It’s the one on the far right of the gallery wall.

My husband questioned why I love this photo because neither boy is wearing a shirt and the girls’ hair is kind of messy, but I love the snapshot moment of our time together at the British Virgin Islands stop on our Disney cruise. The memories that surface when I see life documented around our house is why I hang photos.

Setting up an account and ordering the canvas was super easy and quick. It shipped quickly, was well packaged, and looks great on my wall. Yes, the untrendy gallery wall that still in progress.

In addition to the wrapped canvas I chose, MyPix2 offers many other products, including prints, banners, greeting cards, photo books, mugs, calendars, and ornaments.

Like other photo sites, there seem to be plenty of sale options, so I’d watch for promo codes and deals before ordering to save yourself some money. I suspect I’ll order from MyPix2 again sometime – perhaps even another piece for a gallery wall.

*****

I received this wrapped canvas for free in exchange for a review. These opinions are my own and I’m happy to have it hanging on my wall.