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Christmas Tree Advent Calendar (Free Biblical Printables)

Last year, I made an Advent calendar but was not too thrilled with it. Plus it was not very practical as I wanted it to be. I decided to do a simpler one this year and make it a bit more interactive. Our kids are still too young to be able to understand dates so a visual of some sort makes the most practical sense to help them understand. Our first daughter in particular, loves the idea of a count down calendar. In fact, she is using a small chalkboard visual to count down to her birthday which is Tuesday. It usually falls right after Thanksgiving. Basically, she’s been counting down to some type of holiday or event since October. 

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advent-calendar-interactive

My original plan for this new one was very much like this that I saw in a magazine a few years ago. I ended up deciding against it for this option. I used what I had around the house to create a different idea. Personally, I’m not sure if it is my favorite idea but it is more interactive and the kids seem to be loving it already even though we have not officially started it yet. 

How I mad the Christmas Tree Advent Calendar and How we are Planning to Use it

I used sticks from the outside and specked them with white paint. Our 5 year old thought it gave the tree a snow-ish effect. Kids have such great imagination! The sticks are not too thick because I need them to fit into this bottle.

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tree-for-advent-calendar

Then days 1 through 24 were written on gold ornaments with a Sharpie. The kids picked glitter and plain ornaments so I interchanged them by starting with a plain one, then a glitter, then plain again and made a pattern. We picked out a red ornament to represent Christmas day. The marker on ornaments technique is something I learned back in college. We used to have “campus parents” and I remember one year when a group of us students went to our friends campus parent’s home for a Christmas party. While we were there, we helped decorate the tree and they had each of us choose an ornament to write our names. It’s a simple technique but not one I tend to think about when it comes to decorating for Christmas.

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Although, the Sharpie worked better on the smoother ornaments. The glitter was a bit trickier to write on so I ended up using a black crayon to write on its rougher surface. All the written ornaments will be in a basket right beside the tree so the kids could find them. To avoid the fight over who gets to put up when, we’ll just have them take a turn each day. 

advent-calendar-with-ornaments

After I made the tree, we hung all the ornaments to see how it would look. At that point, I wondered if we should leave them up and have the kids take out one down each day until there were no more. Once I gave it more thought, I decided to stick with the original plan and leave the tree bare so they can fill it each day rather than the other way around.

advent-calendar-with-sticks 

Activities and Gifts

It took a bit of thinking before I concluded how I would connect the tree with activities and small gifts. I ended up using a board to display gift boxes to represent gift days and fabric bags to represent activity days. Each box has a coordinating number with specific coordinating ornaments for when they will open a gift. For example, day 5 on the ornament coordinates with day 5 on a gift box letting us know that it will be time to open a gift. The little bags have numbers that coordinate with the ornaments too. Each bag has a tag with a picture of a chosen activity. That will let us know what activity we will do on the days chosen (they are still learning to read so pictures help). Day one for example has a picture of a Christmas book meaning we will read a Christmas story or a few stories. Day 12 has a picture with a hot cocoa mug and a candy cane letting us know it will be time to make hot cocoa. Some days in between I left open for anything random. Because we all know how busy the season could become. Putting up the ornaments may be just enough on certain days.

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Biblical Christmas Story

And of course, I could not leave out the most important part – our bible study. Yes, there are gifts, activities and all the magic of the season. But it’s great to teach the kiddos the real reason of Christmas. Smaller kids learn best through doing activities. 

We’ll go through these worksheets that I created a couple years ago. They are great for Kindergartners and pre-schoolers. My kids enjoyed these last year; one had just turned five and the other was about to turn three. There is an activity sheet for each day from Dec 1 through Christmas day. Find this set here – it’s very interactive. I did not include these in the Advent calendar activities because it is just something we’ll do. Some days we may complete one worksheet completed and other days two if they are motivated and want to get ahead. It all depends on how well everyone co-operates and what’s on the agenda. We’ll just do our best. Last year, they wanted to do a few of them each day and we did on some days. So even if we got nothing done on a day, then we had already worked ahead anyway. 

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This is another one I created a few years ago.  It was the first Christmas pack like this that I created. It’s one of my most pinned printables during the holidays. Our first daughter was only around 2 when I created it and seemed to be very advanced. Amazingly, she was able to answer the simple questions and do the simple activities (with some prompts, of course). It’s only a few activities because they were made with the smallest of kids in mind and they will only cover a few days.  

Note: This pack may be more suitable for kids around 3 to 4 years old. It all depends on how much you think the kids could understand. When I saw how much this set is pinned during each Fall and leading up to Christmas, I thought of redoing it and adding more activities for smaller kids. But the more I look at the activities, the more I love their simplicity. Find them here to download. 

christmas-printable-pack-for-preschoolers

So the Advent calendar is really not complicated.

  • On day 1, put up ornament with number 1 on it (do the same for the rest of the days until Christmas)
  • Do an activity or open a gift that coordinates with the number on the ornament (if there is an activity for that day) 
  • Daily study of the birth of Jesus story (daily or whenever the kids will sit still to listen)

It would have been nice to have something like stickers to add to the ornaments for gifts. I did not have any and figured we could just look at the board to see if there is a coordinating number.

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What do you think of this one? I know there are so many beautiful well made ones out there. But I just could not decide and had to get going with something simple.

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Christmas

Hot Cocoa Mix in a Jar – Christmas Gift Idea

I’m such aย fan of hot cocoa and all things cocoa mixes.ย I have fond memories of drinking hot cocoa nightly before going to bed while growing up. Now that it is colder outside, we’ve been drinking plenty hot cocoa. We just love it so much. Did you miss my hot cocoa and snack bar (station)? Check out the post here.

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Hot cocoa mixes are great for giving as gifts during the holidays. It’s a simple thoughtful and practical act. While it’s nice to give and receive expensive gifts, sometimes it’s the simple practical ones we end up using and appreciating the most. Think about it for a second. Do you have an expensive gift from years past sitting in one corner of your home that you barely used or never even opened? On the other hand, did someone gift you with a box of rich chocolate that you ate just within a few days of receiving it? See, sometimes it’s the simple things.

There is something I love about dry food gifts. I love looking at them and eventually taking a bite or two or three until all is done. At times, I may even admire them for a few days before digging in just because I know they will be gone quickly once opened. Hot cocoa mixes in jars are one of my favorite dry food mixes. I love looking at the layers in the jars and there are so many good ideas of how to layer them. In reality, the layered mix will have to be dumped into another bowl to be make it easier for using. But it looks pretty layered for now.

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I chose to keep this hot cocoa mix easy. It’s creamy, delish and does not require a bunch of ingredients. I used Hershey’s cocoa because I love real cocoa – and not the fake stuff. I use the word ‘real’ loosely because no cocoa is real unless it comes straight from the tree, dried, then grounded into powder. Don’t ask how I know that. I love my cocoa real creamy too. Nothing is worse than hot cocoa that tastes watery. Follow the simple steps below to make it. Then grab the free printables (if desired), print them out with the best quality ink on cardstock paper, cut and attach to the jar(s) with pretty ribbon.

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Hot Cocoa Mix in a Jar – Christmas Gift Idea
Ingredients
  • 1 cup good cocoa powder
  • 2 -1/2 to 3 cups confectioners sugar
  • Marshmallows
  • Semi sweet chocolate chips
  • Decorative holiday ribbon
  • Gift tags
  • Food jars
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, mix cocoa powder with confectioners sugar until combined.
  2. Pour mix in jars for storing.
  3. Ideas for storing:
  4. Large jars – Layer 1/2 cup cocoa in a large food jar.
  5. Top with semi-sweet chocolate chips then with a handful of marshmallows. Repeat layers.
  6. Cover jar tightly.
  7. Attach a gift tag to decorative ribbon and tie it around the top of the jars.
  8. Small jars – If using smaller jars, create only one layer or use less ingredients to make multiple layers.
  9. To serve: Bring 1/4 cup water and 3 tablespoons mix to a gentle boil, stirring constantly about 1 minute.
  10. Pour in 1 cup milk.
  11. Continue boiling and gently stirring until milk is hot.
  12. Pour hot cocoa into a mug.
  13. Top with extra toppings and enjoy.

I purposely left out adding dried milk to the recipe because I know not everyone could use any kind of milk. It will be easier to add whatever milk someone prefers in their hot cocoa.ย Basically add any kind of favorite stir-ins and toppings such as marshmallows, semi-sweet chocolate pieces, peppermint, etc for a customized drink. It’s a gift that does not take long to make but is great for bringing warmth and cozy on colder days.

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Download the free printables by clicking on this link,ย wishing-you-a-merry-christmas-printables. Writing out the instructions for making the hot cocoa from the mix is also another good option for the tags. I skipped this step, though but I made these in two sizes. Download them as many times to get the desired amount.

wishing-you-a-merry-christmas-free-printables

Do you enjoy drinking hot cocoa on colder days? What do you think of putting a mix together for someone who enjoys it just as much?

Birthdays & Parties

Hot Cocoa & Snack Bar

A hot cocoa bar is such a fun activity during the Fall and Winter months. Why not go beyond the normal cup of cocoa and create a fun bar with lots of toppings and goodies? ย 

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Set up a hot cocoa and snack bar at home on a chilly evening for your family or even friends to enjoy. It will be such a fun treat and everyone will enjoy it. Add a variety of toppings and seasonal goodies to top things off. If you are only serving your immediate family, it may be easier to have the hot cocoa already poured out in mugs especially if you have small children who cannot fix their own. But if friends are coming over and you want to go the extra mile, the hot cocoa could remain in a teapot or thermos. Setting out cocoa mix in a jar with hot milk in a thermos is also another option. I’ve always loved hot cocoa even growing up in a warmer climate. It’s not something strange to me. So it’s only natural that I would enjoy drinking it even more so when the weather is cooler. We also have a kid who can’t get enough hot cocoa when it is cold outside. Last Fall, we must have drank it on the daily (well may not but often enough).

hot-cocoa-bar-with-cookies

Decide where you’ll set it up the station. Any little corner of the home would work. It would be really nice to have something like this to greet guests who visit you as they come in from the cold. It does not even have to be this extensive – something simple with just hot cocoa and a topping or two will be just as appreciated.

The table I used was kind of narrow because it’s a console table. But I tried to pack a bunch of toppings and snacks all in one place. We were so excited to dig into this bar. My husband started getting into the snacks right away before I could even lay them out. A “hot cocoa” bar sign with a few additional holiday decor will make the table more inviting.

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The “hot cocoa bar” words on the chalkboard is kind of hidden behind the wrapping paper but it shows close up.

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The Winter Oreo cookies were a big hit! I discovered them last year and forgot all about them this year until our three year old pointed them out on a shelf during a Target shopping trip. What kid wouldn’t spy Oreo cookies in the store especially the rich red and black mix? I could not leave the store without some of it.

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Other fun goodies such as sweet homemade popcorn, homemade snowball cookies, sprinkles, peppermint sticks, peppermint M&M’S, peppermint marshmallows, were added to the table. Who knew I had so much peppermint goodies? All I really wanted were the reds and whites. But everything together tasted great with mild peppermint flavors, nothing overwhelming. I also added chocolate and caramel syrup and whipped cream and some fun plates, napkins, and cocoa stirrers for serving.

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The chocolate dipped spoons were definitely another favorite that I’m already thinking of making another batch. The kids wanted the sprinkles. I on the other hand, wanted one of each.

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hot-cocoa-bar-dipped-peppermint-spoons

I almost forgot to mention those cute printables.ย I really love the colors and how they added that extra touch to the cans of goodies and the bowls with toppings. Not that we did not know what was in them. If you are having guests over, it would be nice to have the printables just to be clear about the flavors.

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I think I might have added “the whole nine” but I’d say that the hot cocoa bar was well received. It was great having a variety of pretty options to choose from. I made this last week and I think I’ve been drinking hot cocoa everyday since, with or without toppings. But since we still have some toppings left over, it’s easy to throw in whatever flavor I feel like drinking. Seriously so good for ‘chillaxing’ on a cool – ish day.

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These can be downloaded, printed on cardstock paper, cut and use only if the same toppings and goodies are going to be served. Downloadย hot-cocoa-and-snack-bar-printablesย if needed.

hot-cocoa-and-snack-bar-printables

Other Decorations:

  • Large black and silver cans with buffalo check ribbon – New from Target (Dollar Isle)
  • Small Christmas trees with burlap wrapping – New from Target (Dollar Isle)
  • Tiny Christmas trees – New from Target (Dollar Isle)
  • Small red trucks – ย New from Target (Dollar Isle)
  • Small glittery clothespins – New from Target (Dollar Isle)
  • Buffalo Check Blanket – Last year’s from Target but had never used (Dollar Isle)
  • Chalkboard – On hand from Kohl’s
  • Red pom pom banner – Last year’s find at Target (Dollar Isle)

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Do you make hot cocoa bars during the colder season? What are some of your favorite toppings and snacks to go along with it? Stay tuned for a hot cocoa mix you can give as a gift. It was also another fun one to create.

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Decor & DIY

Mini Update in the Master Bedroom – With New Curtains and Bedding

Thank you to Designer Living for partnering with me for our Master Bedroom Mini Update. All opinions of their awesome products are 100% my own. Thank you readers for supporting the brands that support this blog.

Hi friends, can you all believe that November is going by so quickly and that the holidays are already in full swing? It’s still considerably warm here as opposed to past times. I feel like the weather has been playing tricks on us – some days cold, some days so very warm, and other days somewhere in the middle. But we’re not complaining. We’re taking all the warm we can get because winter here is noย joke!! Anyway, in preparation for cooler nights, I’ve spruced up our master bedroom a bit by adding more bedding and window curtains.

master-bedroom-with-updates

FINALLY, walls that’s not orange or yellow! It’s the only room color that makes me happy. Actually the guest room is this color and the theย kids rooms are kid friendly pink and blue so those are great, too. You all know my struggle! But this lighter color gives me all the freedom to throw in WHATEVER decor color scheme without it clashingย and looking out of sorts!!

Anyway, I don’t think I’ve shared our room since the Springย makeover in our previous home. Our summer move has thrown everything out of wack and it’s taking a while to make this house feel like home. That’s understandable. It’s considerably bigger than our former and there are soย many little spaces to organize. Our living room, front sitting room, kids rooms, entryway closets, etc have been priority and I’m getting ‘no where fast’. But our bedroom has been put on the back burner with no intention to work on it quickly. Here are a few shots of the space. It’s like a master suite in here.

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Although I was trying to spruce up other areas of our home first, I knew it was getting colder and the room was not warm enough. So I was super excited to concentrate on it a bit and add some necessities from Designer Living to make our room more cozy and warm during this season.ย It’s not fully decorated yet and it’s still pretty much a grey and white room with plenty empty space. But it is much better than what it was and I am loving walking into – putsย a smile on my face every time. Not to mention, it does not feel as cold at nights now that I’ve made it a bit more cozy.

Designer Living has really great quality home decor products for very low prices. They areย budget friendly and are a collection of top brands. It’s like having designer stuff without paying designer prices. No kidding!! I mean, I’m all about saving a penny or two on things that are durable and look nice. Aren’t you?!

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The extra layers of bedding were much needed in this space. This microfiber sheet set and pillow cases are the best, so light weight but yet so soft an comfortable. And I’m always happy to climb into bed under that large plush grey blanket. For real!! Did I mention it’s for less than $20? Seriously. We’ve only had just one quilt and one set of sheets from back in the Spring. I’m not embarrassed to say it because honestly, I was quite content to use, wash, and re-use and have less clutter. Until it got colder, temps dropped, and that cold air started ย to circulate our room during the wee hours of the night (morning). No one wants to climb out of bed to pump up the heat. What was I thinking?! This super plush blanket and sheet set makes the bedding feel less “thin” and a bit fuller for a comfortable night’s sleep.

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I also added an oh so soft fur throw and it’s the next best thing ever!! There is just something about having a soft throw against your face while you get cozy. Seriously, am I the only one who does that? This fur throw blanket is soft as a cloud! It even looks soft here in the photo. I love that it has double softness on both sides. Ever had a blanket that has only ONE soft side? Nope, not this one! Our kids think it’s the softest throw ever and want to claim it as their own. Not that they don’t already have enough blanketsย on their own. Did I use the word SOFT so many times? Yes, because it really is?!!

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master-bedroom-cozy-throw

And how about those curtains? I love love love them! I think they are beautiful and so elegant. I have a thing for elegant decor. That’s why I love things like pedestal candles and tall decorative vases. Maybe it has to do with my height!! But either way, these curtains are just the right touch to our bedroom. I don’t think I’ve ever seen curtains with ties like these. But from the moment I saw them, I did not want anything else. Where oh where were these when I was searching for curtains earlier this Fall? They are made from faux silk and come in various sizes up to 120″ long. They would be a perfect fit for our really high windows downstairs. But they are staying up here because they really make our bedroom lovely. The photos do not do them justice. I chose the size 108″ – drives me nuts to see “too short” curtains such as I have downstairs.

master-bedroom-with-beautiful-curtains

Ourย windows extend to the other side of the room which only has a TV as you may have seen in one of the before photos. My husband and I are thinking of adding a small sitting area to that corner. But again, everything takes time.

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master-bedroom-curtains

The curtains are lined which helps them to drape much better and also helps with privacy and keeping the heat inside. But they still let plenty of light in and do not make the room dark at all. My kind of curtains. I love having the shades up and the curtains drawn, but my hubby likes them all the way closed. So when he’s at work, I’ll put them up but once he comes home, he puts them down. By then it’s night time anyway so we both are having them just the way we like them.

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For the larger window, I ended up using three panels because the ties make them spring back just a tad. So when closed, there are no tiny little spots peeking through. Nothing major but I just love seeing them full.

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I also spruced up the room a bit with additional decor such as the mirrors above the night stands. Remember these nightstands that I did not get to put up during our room makeover in the Spring? I finally put them together while my husband was away on a business trip back in the summer. “Gotta” have nightstands.

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If I may say so myself (as if I have not already said it enough), the new bedding and curtain have made the room so welcoming, warm, and cozy for us. We are really loving them; my hubby even helped me figure out how to tie the curtains . They were really easy once I got the idea.

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Have you checked out Designer Living before?ย It’s worth checking out for awesome products at really good prices.

You can get 15% off all items mentioned in this post by clicking here and using code ZAN15 until 12/31/16. Note that this code cannot be combined with other offers and it’s not valid on specials, steals, or boutique items. One time use only.

Also, the fun does not stop here!! Do you enjoy Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping? You can save up to 80% off multi piece bedding sets! Deals kick off Wednesday, 11/23. Choose your own deal with codes EXTRA25 (11/23 – 11/27) and CYBER25 (11/28 – 12/4) for an extra 25% off most items site wide!

Now if these aren’t some fantastic deals with their already low prices, I don’t know what is. Think I’m gonna get shopping for some more awesome bedding and curtains myself. I really love those soft blankets:) And now that it looks better, I’m motivated to decorate it for the holidays.Pin - It New

master-bedroom-mini-updateI hope you enjoyed the tour and don’t forget to check out Designer Living for some awesome finds this holiday season. What do you think of my mini bedroom update? I’d love to know in the comments!!!

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Decor & DIY

Holiday Entertaining Made Easy (with these extras)

Thank you to At Home stores for partnering with me for today’s post. All opinions of their fabulous products are solely my own.  Thanks for supporting the brands that help keep this blog running.

Are you entertaining extended family or friends this holiday season? The holidays can be busy and sometimes stressful. Get your home Entertaining ready and avoid the last minute frazzle with these “extras”.

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1.Extra planning ahead – Planning ahead for entertaining is always ‘ great way to make sure things are in place and ready for when your guests arrive. Don’t try to just “wing it” if that is how you usually operate. Planning is the safer way.

  • Whether you use an app or write on paper, make a note of how many guests are coming and keep a list of what you will need for hosting. 
  • Make a menu and grocery shop early.
  • Prep certain foods ahead to avoid the cooking overwhelm all in one day.
  • When possible, plan for easy hassle free meals. 

These free planning printables are so pretty and so well laid out for easy holiday planning. I snagged them here

holiday-entertaining-extra-storage-planning-printables

2.Extra sprucing up –  Spend a few minutes sprucing up your space.

  • Clean areas that need to be cleaned. There is always that extra bit of cleaning that needs to be done before having guests over. Dust and wipe down corners of your home that you don’t clean everyday. 
  • Add a bit of decor. Something as simple as a jar of fresh flowers makes all the difference in a room.
  • Organize the areas that your guests will be using to make moving around easier and avoid a sense of confusion, think entryways, bathrooms, food area, etc. An entryway has such a big impact for what guests see first when they walk into your home. Create areas where they can put shoes and hang jackets (even if you are the one hanging them). 

A few weeks ago, a friend and her kids were visiting for a play date and she commented on our entryway. I had a different set up than this here but I guess it was enough to catch her attention in a good way. She actually did not even mention it immediately but did later while I was giving her a tour of the other rooms. So get that entryway organized and looking pretty for when your guests arrive.

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  • I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to organize the rest of our front entry. I have not yet come up with the perfect solution but I have done some things to make it functional. For a while I had no floor mat at the front door just because I could not decide on the kind of mat I wanted. I have this thing about mats and I like them to be just right.

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  • I also added some baskets for smaller items such as hats, gloves, and scarves. I love the size and shape of the baskets – they seem to work well.

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3.Keep extra supplies on hand – It’s always helpful to have extra supplies on hand even more so during entertaining. 

  • Think about things like dinnerware whether you are using real or fake (A.K.A. disposable). Keep them handy and keep them nearby so guests could easily find them. Nothing worse than sitting down to eat and having to get back up a million times to grab a plate, cup or a napkin for someone.

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This Baker’s Rack comes in handy for my extra supplies. It’s right next to the dinning table where food will be served so the extra supplies will be in view and in reach. It is such a cute little stand with just the right amount of shelving for holding our extras.

holiday-entertaining-extra-storage-rack

  • Extra toiletries – Who does not need them right?! 
  • Extra sitting. Even if you have to move things around to make room for extra sitting, do so. Grab a few chairs from another room and add to the room(s) where you plan to keep your guests entertained. It’s what I do all the time, especially in the dinning room.   

My front room (A.K.A. the green room) is one of the areas that lacked any kind of sitting. My husband and I have been planning to make it a sitting/reading/guest friendly area since we move. He suggested using two accent chairs in one of the corners. Everything in a new home takes time to come together so the room is a work in progress. I’ve played the moving chairs around game in this room but nothing permanently. Earlier during the Fall, I searched around for some chairs and stuff to fill the room then kind of gave up on it after being out all day one day and online for a long time. But then since the room is right at the front, I really wanted to make it a lovely little spot and a welcoming avenue. For the most part, it’s still fully furnished and not where we would like it but I’ve created this small sitting area that’s already made such a difference. 

holiday-entertaining-extra-storage-sitting-area

Now how about these fabulous chairs from At Home stores? I told my husband I wanted to go to At Home and he suggested looking at their online site first. He saw these chairs were on sale and showed them to me. Of course, I’d seen them in the store before but could not pass up the 50% off guys!! For $200, I’d say they were a total steal and we could not be happier to have these in the front room. I love love love the sales and affordability of the products from At Home stores. Now when guests come over, our front room would be somewhat ready and welcoming.

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4. Extra time – Give yourself extra time for the unexpected especially if you have young children who will need care and attention. Have a plan B just in case something does not work out as you have planned. 

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Hope these will give you some ideas and make your holiday entertaining so much easier. Now I’d like to know what kind of extra would you keep on hand for entertaining guests?

You can find most of the products I’ve listed from At Home stores over on their site by clicking on each link below.

Accent Chairs

Baker’s Rack

Storage Baskets

Mats

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Home

New Kitchen in the Playroom

Thank you to Step2 for letting me test this item as part of the Step2 toy tester program. All opinions of the product are solely my own.

It’s always nice to have a play kitchen at home for small children, especially during the colder months when they spend more time inside. Our kids love to play pretend cooks and restaurant hosts and hostesses.  We’ve added a new play kitchen to their play room and they are enjoying using it. It’s so fun to watch them get creative as they cook and serve. Sometimes they’ll even bring me “food” and will have a name for the “type” of food.  

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The former play kitchen was coming apart from various moving around and I just did not have the time to figure out how to fix it. But it was getting colder and my kids were wanting to play with their kitchen. I was ecstatic that Step2 allowed me and our kids to try out their Contemporary Chef Kitchen. It arrived within two days after I placed the order. When my husband called out to me saying that my “stuff” arrived, I had no idea to what he was referring. I was not expecting the kitchen to arrive so quickly. The kids were so excited and could not wait for it to be set up. 

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It was an easy assembly but it would have been even easier if I assembled it while the kids were asleep. They kept taking the parts and playing with them as I was trying to put the kitchen together. Once I got it set up they began playing with it right away. They have played with it on a regular basis since. 

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Look at all the centers in the kitchen, sink, fridge, stove, etc. It’s very compact – such a nice bonus to encourage lots of play. Even the utensils, cookware and serving dishes came with the kitchen. I also love that there are separate baskets and places to keep things tidy. All the kids enjoy playing with this kitchen although it is more suitable for young toddlers. Our 5 year old doesn’t mind because she loves to be a pretend cook. Baking is one of her favorite things to do just like her mom. 

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Having the stove light up and make cooking noises is a plus. It’s like an imitation of a real stove without the real fire. This makes it interactive and at the same time fun for the kids. 

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There is even a spot for a doggie. How fun is that! This little stuffed doggie has found its own spot in our home. 

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Some other bonuses of the Step2 Contemporary Chef Kitchen are that it is not very big and not heavy. It’s made from hard plastic so is very durable. This all make it easy to move around and fit in tiny corners of the home. It’s one that will not take up lots of space in a room. The neutral color is is not only gender friendly but it will not show up too bright in a room that’s not specifically made for play, such as a living room. The kitchen could be placed in a tiny corner behind a couch or any place that the kiddos could feel free to be kids and play with their kitchen.

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It’s really a neat little addition to the playroom. I’ve added a video so you could check out the demo of my girl demonstrating the use of the kitchen.

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What do you think of this new little kitchen? Do you have young kids who play with Step2 play kitchens? I would love to know in the comments. 

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Decor & DIY

Copper and Gold Thanksgiving Tablescape Plus Free Printable Tags

Hi friends, hope the time change has got you off to a good start. Me on the other hand, I’ve been a bit thrown off and hoping to spring back into action soon. But today, I have something special for you. I’ve teamed up with some of the most creative women to bring you lots of Thanksgiving tablescape inspiration! Thanks to Sabrina at Meet our Life and Kelly from North Country Nest for the invitation and for putting everything together.

thankful-table-with-lighted-candles

I’m still not sure if we are hosting Thanksgiving at our home this year. But it’s a great idea to have some things ready just in case. So I decided to come up with an idea of what the ‘feel’ of our table setting might be. You’ve seen my Fall table setting hereย where I used pinecones and gathered a few things around the house to create the table soup and salad style. For this Thanksgiving table idea, I changed out the look and made it a bit more sophisticated with lots of candles, gold, copper, and DIY items. I’m going to try to give you a quick explanation how I created this look.

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I first planned the table around a copper and gold base, some items I had on hand, others I bought for a couple bucks, and others I DIY-ed. Then I covered it with a white linen tablecloth and dressed it up.

 

I used a copper bowl I had on hand, filled it with tiny lentils, and added a mixture of faux flowers to create a centerpiece. My rustic wood charger came in handing for adding some height to this beauty. What do you think?

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I have a thing for pedestal candles and I just really love them on a Thanksgiving table setting. I gathered some that I bought earlier this Fall for my mantleย to add to the centerpiece. I also mixed in a few smaller votive candle holders from the Dollar tree.

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Tiny faux pumpkins were placed randomly to finish off the entire centerpiece. Vintage metallic paint was used to repaint a couple of them.

 

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Let’s talk about the dinnerware and the rest of the table. The plates, silverware, and Mason jars for drinking I already had on hand. I used golden chargers from the Dollar Tree (you all) as placemats. I was super happy they brought them back this year. In the past, I owned some of them but I think thy got misplaced or thrown away in a bundle when we moved back in the summer.

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The napkins got a little sprucing up with some DIY napkin rings. I used ribbon, faux fall leaves, acorns, and hot glue to whip them together. I did not put the tutorial on the blog but as you may imagine, they were super easy to do.

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I’m excited about these Thankful Prayer cards. It’s a good way to get family and friends to remember to be thankful for the many many many blessings that surround us.

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Download these 5 x 7 ย thanksgiving-prayer-cardsย for free. I was able to finally stock up on Cardstock paper a few weeks ago and I am enjoying using them to print things like these usingย the best printer settings. I finally decided to go against my husband’s don’t use up all the ink to print all your stuff and just do it. Ha ha.. I joked with him about it so he knows.

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The final DIY on the table are the gift tags. If you have extended family or friends coming over, surprise them by adding a small gift to the table. Or you can do it for your own household. They’ll appreciate it. I filled small mason jars with colorful M&Ms and tied a “Thankful for You” tag around each one. Download thankful-for-you-place-cards, print out on cardstock paper, cut and attach them to the gifts with twine or ribbon.

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You can also snag these other Fall printablesย on the wall for free, too. You’ll be able to see them up closer by clicking on the links here.

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Before your guests arrive, add some rolls and fill the cups with drinks so they can start off while they await for the rest of the dinner (restaurant style). Don’t forget to light the candles!!
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So that’s the table in a nutshell (a huge nutshell). I really love how it all came together. And I hope you enjoyed it too. We already ate on the table this past weekend. But of course, I saved the gifts for later.

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What do you think of the table? Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year? I would love to know your thoughts in the comments. And don’t forget to check out these other Thanksgiving table setting ideas from some very creative ladies by clicking on the links below. I know you will enjoy them!!

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Thanksgiving Tablescape Blog Hop

Monday

Craftivity Designs / North Country Nest / 2 Bees in a Pod / My Life From Home / Dazzle While Frazzled / The Crazy Craft Lady / What Meegan Makes

Tuesday

At Home With Zan / Our Crafty Mom / Blue i Style / Life on the Bay Bush / The Magic Brush Inc / Designers Sweet Spot

Wednesday

Meet Our Life / Celebrate & Decorate / Corner 52 / My Creative Days / Frazzled Joy / An Alli Event

 

Decor & DIY

5 Essentials for a Holiday Guest Bathroom Including a Decor Update

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #QuiltedHoliday #CollectiveBias

Are you prepping your home for guests during the holidays? I have been slowly making our home feel like home. But during the holidays there is always that extra spruce up that I love to do. It usually involves cleaning the house thoroughly and adding touches of holiday decor. Especially when we have guests coming over, I always desire to make sure our home is holiday ready so our guests could feel right at home.

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Our bathroom on the first floor needed some attention. It is just a standard bathroom with a full bath but it was not decorated or guest ready at all. When we moved in during the summer, my plan was to use it as a powder room, quick bathroom trips, and for guests when they came by. Overtime, it became the everyday bathroom because most of time is spent downstairs anyway. It became the place to give kids bath and change their clothes frequently. This made it easier than having to go upstairs when we are in a rush. It also became a store all for bath and body products. While this worked well, I did not like how cluttered the bathroom became with all kinds of random ‘necessary’ items. I wanted to organize it but was not quite sure where to begin because there are so many other organization projects going on around here.

Bathroom Before

We’ve had a few guests over for the day and this is the bathroom they used. It was time to get it organized especially as the holidays are approaching and it’s our favorite time to have guests over. We also have a separate guests bathroom in our guest bedroom which is still in the making. But having this one downstairs holiday ready will benefit our guests who do not feel like climbing the steps to get to the other bathroom while we are hanging out downstairs. Plus if guests are only coming for the day, this is the bathroom that makes more sense for them to use. I’m so glad I took the time to decorate and organize this bathroom. When I was done with it I asked my husband if it looked girly with the pops of pink. He said it looked pretty neutral to him – made my day!! Sometimes I even forget that there are four full baths in this house. Now I’m inspired to get going on the next three. 

Make your Bathroom Guest Ready for the Holidays with these Essentials 

1.Decorative Items

Updating bathroom decor will definitely take out the boring and make it more welcoming. I got some “wows’ from my family once they came in and saw the bathroom decorated. And it only took me a couple of planned out items to get the correct look. I think it looks clean, simple, and chic!! 

Tip: Bathroom decor does not need to be complicated or cluttered. Choose pieces that are trendy, beautiful and functional and will still keep your bathroom looking clean. I snagged a few ‘Target’ trendy holiday items that made this possible.

  • A shower curtain: The overall color scheme of the bathroom is drawn from this beautiful shower curtain that I found at Target. My original thought was to go with a white shower curtain but when I saw this one I knew it was coming home with me. Isn’t it beautiful?! Before I put it up I was a bit unsure if the diamonds would be too much but they are not. We really love this curtain. I might just get another one for the kids bathroom upstairs. I’m working on a similar color scheme for the girl’s bedroom.

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  • Faux flowers: There is nothing like a jar of flowers to add quick decor and beauty to a space. I used one of the gold dipped vases that I DIY-ed a few weeks ago to store the flowers.
  • Decorative plate used as a tray: Necklaces, watches, rings, or whatever nick-nacks can have their own home while the guest visits. Notice the words on the plate. It is beautiful, functional, and very encouraging. Even the toilet brush holder is pretty. It too is a bathroom necessary but of course, I had to find a beautiful one. After all, I wanted the bathroom to look like I spent time making it welcoming and not just thrown together. 
  • I also added this star candle in mercury glass votive: I love the star shape that goes along with the holidays.

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  • Tooth brush holder: I also used a gold mercury glass votive from Target as a toothbrush holder. I’m really loving these trendy gold and silver mercury glass decorative items.
  • Pretty hand soap dispenser: Encourage guests to wash their hands after using the bathroom by placing a pretty soap dispenser on or beside a hand towel.  
  • Decorative hand towel: I also added an accented hand towel because all I had on hand was white. I love how the gold compliments the rest of the decor.

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  • I also added a couple bath rugs. I chose to keep the color white because the shower curtain already has the gold accents. Again, they are acting as functional decorations. 

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2. A Welcome Basket with Extra Bath and Body Supplies

The basket should include items such as body wash, shampoo, lotion, etc. If your guest forgets something, he or she should feel free to use the supplies in the basket. I put a toothbrush and a small tube of toothpaste in the lovely votive above but they could also go into the welcome basket. Tip: Keep the toothbrush in it’s original packaging to keep it free from dust. Plus avoid your guest from feeling awkward about using a toothbrush that is opened (even if it is new). 

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To make your guest feel extra special, include a note in the welcome basket to let them know you appreciate their visit and want to make their stay enjoyable.

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Download it here: thanks-for-being-our-guest-printable

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3. Extra Bath Towels, Hand Towels, and Washcloths

I’m not sure what guest brings his own towel when he or she visits friends or family. Have some extra on hand in places where they could easily be found. You may consider areas such as on the edge of the bathtub, on a towel rack, and also in a storage basket.

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3. A Laundry Basket and Hangers

If your guest is staying over for a few days and would love to do some laundry, a laundry basket in the bathroom may be helpful. Also, having a few hangers for hanging clothes might be an added bonus.

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4. First Aid Bin or Kit: You never know when a guest may need to use something from the first aid bin. And if they have kids with them, it is always a good thing to have on hand. Put the necessaries such as bandages, skin cleaning solutions, ointments, essentials, etc.

5.Toilet Paper: Let’s face it, you could never have too much toilet paper on hand. But it’s often the thing that we sometimes run out off and have to make those quick stops at the store to purchase. My husband is the main toilet paper buyer in this house. He always counts the sheets to make sure it’s worth the money. When we first got married and I saw him doing that I was like, “what are you doing?” He explained to me how he always counts the sheets. So now even when we are  out shopping together, I will ask him to chose the toilet paper. On occasion I will pick up some rolls too but I don’t really count the sheets. I just estimate by their looks or choose the regulars and move on.

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But I have discovered a new brand of toilet tissues at Target that helps solve my non-counting sheet problem. It may become your best friend too if you are like me. It’s Quilted Northern Ultra Soft & Strongยฎ Mega Rolls with extra sheets. It’s fuller and lasts longer which makes for less trips to the store to buy toilet tissue. Don’t you just love a good find?!

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If your house will be full of guests for the holidays, you will definitely want to keep your guest bathroom perfect and put together. It does not matter if they are staying for a day or a few days. With Quilted Northern Mega Rolls you can stock up and not have to worry about running out of paper for the season (because no one wants their guest to experience a bath tissue run out!) Even better, you can snag these Quilted Northern Mega Rolls on sale by using this Cartwheel offer. You can also enter the sweepstakes to win over $1000 in Target giftcardโ„ข. ‘Tis the season for a full house โ€“ so make sure the bath tissue roll is full too with Quilted Northern Ultra Soft & Strongยฎ Mega Rolls:) 

#QuiltedHoliday Sweepstakes

quilted-northern-ultra-soft-and-strong-toilet-paperI even added these pretty labels to the extra supplies storage bins for our guests including one with Quilted Northern Mega Rolls. Don’t you just love pretty organization that is also welcoming to others? I got the labels from Target and DIY- ed the writing. It is an easier option as opposed to creating and printing them out. I understand that not everyone may have access to a home printer or may know how to create labels online. You could added these pretty labels to storage bins and customize them to your liking. 

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The labels come in white with two different neutral color rims, gold and silver. I used the gold ones for the bins.

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Use whatever color marker you prefer to write on the labels. You can even use different colors. I used black for all the bins except on the ‘extra supplies’ bin above. I used gold for the writing on that one. Personalize them more by adding dots, stars, lines, etc. The possibilities are endless.

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It’s pretty obvious what’s in some of the bins, of course. But the labels added that extra touch and clarifies the items in certain bins that they could use. Tip: Be sure to give your guests a walk-through and show them where these extra storage items. If they run out of something that is not visible, they would not be left feeling awkward to call out or search the cabinets for what they need.

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So these are my five favorite essentials to include in our bathroom to make it guest ready for the holidays. It’s nice to have a separate guest bathroom but if you don’t have one, use your everyday bath and spruce it up a little with these tips. As I mentioned before, this is our everyday bathroom downstairs but it was made guest ready for the holidays just by taking the time to include these essentials. 5-essentials-for-a-holiday-guest-bathroom-including-a-decor-update

How do you prepare your bathroom for guests during the holidays? Will you be stocking up on Quilted Northern Ultra Soft & Strong Mega Rolls to ensure you have enough toilet tissues on hand for the season? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Home

7 Places to Buy Jeans in the Fall (That are Cheap and Look Good)

I am not turning into a fashion blog, just in case you were wondering. I’m just a wanna-be fashionista. But a few weeks ago, I bought some mugs from Marshalls and the writing on one of them sparked an idea. Don’t you just love inspirational mugs with encouraging or humorous writings? I do. (I’m planning on a post about a few of them). But the idea is centered around things that encourage moms and homemakers (for lack of modern term). I have been thinking about adding posts of said idea to my blog. Sometimes as moms, wives, and homemakers we get so caught up in the daily mundane of cleaning, cooking, decorating, routines and schedules etc. that we forget to take time to enjoy what we love. A home has so much more to offer. That’s one of the reasons I re-branded my blog’s name the way I did. It’s specific enough to know that it’s about home but at the same time, broad enough that it gives me the flexibility to talk about all things home. 

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But a home is much more than doing chores, decorating, and keeping up with routines and schedules. The people that make home need attention, including mom. Yes, mom. We have a tendency to give and give to others (not bad) but we never give to ourselves. In fact, we might even feel a bit guilty (of who knows what) for even considering doing something for ourselves. Can anyone identify with this? I know I often fall into that trap. So I have been thinking about “things” that make us moms and homemakers happy. And I’m not taking about decor, personal things to motivate and lift up and help us to know that we’ve got this. I really don’t have a title for the idea and line of posts yet. Not calling it a weekly series either. I find that I am unable to keep up with weekly series and feel terrible when I get behind and cannot post. I’ll keep thinking about it to see what title I come up with. I think it will be fun and encouraging. Meanwhile, let’s talk about something I did for myself recently. I bought some Jeans!

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So what’s the big deal?!! Well, first of all who does not love a good pair of jeans? Second, my wardrobe needed a bit of updating. And in the Fall, jeans happen to be my go-to wear. So that’s why I’m excited! My husband and I used to go shopping in the Fall to update our wardrobe every year. Our favorite places to shop were stores like Nordstrom Rack, Kohl’s, JC Penny, Macy’s etc. It was something we loved doing together. Once the kids came though, every shopping spree turned into a kid clothing shopping spree. Kidding. But so it seems. That is not bad though because we love making their wardrobes a priority. And who could resist those cute little outfits and their ever-growing clothing needs? Not I!! And let’s not forget the maternity clothing. And if your kids are close in age and all born around the same season, you definitely know how it feels like you are always in maternity clothing all the time.

In any event, I decided to stop making excuses and just go shopping. I can’t tell you how many times I have made an attempt to update my wardrobe, go the store, and leave with nothing. Sometimes it gets overwhelming. What gets me the most is stores that have no form of clothing organization. Every shape and size all mixed up and you have to search through to find what fits. But most times these are the places where the clothing are the cheapest and the quality is not bad. 

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A few days ago, I popped on the TV and Dr Oz was on talking about the topic of cheap $20 vs expensive $200 dollar jeans. Of course, I listened because I was getting ready to do this post anyway. The ladies who were modeling tried on a both types of jeans and the majority of them found that they were more comfi in the cheaper jeans. I don’t know know that I have ever bought a $200 pair of jeans. To me, they all look the same. The quality may be stronger with the pricier option but I heard that the key to making your cheap jeans last longer is not to wash them regularly. I’m guilty of washing my jeans after just a couple uses. Now that you know my jeans story, let me share some of my favorite places to buy them new for less. 

1.Ross Dress for Less – All 5 of these jeans came from Ross. I chose to mix and match the colors a bit. Ross has a good selection of brand names clothing for super duper cheap. Want to know how much these cost? Just around $80 – I’d say that is a steal. The cozy faux fur scarf (pictured above) was also a find at Ross for $6.97. 

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Look at this one. Calvin Klein inspired for $11.99 – a lot less than what you probably would pay in a high-end store. 

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Another tip I heard is to choose jeans that are darker narrower and darker in color. While I am not a baggy jeans type of person, I do love fitting well and I also love them in various shades. Check out this skinny one. I’m don’t usually buy skinny jeans because I believe you could look nice in lean jeans without going skinny. But this one was only $10 and kept appearing every where I turned. I picked it up then put it back down several times. And then I decided to take it and wear it with super tall boots. Hey, it was only $10 after all really and would not matter if you’re bundled up anyway. I also figured if nothing else, I could wear in and around the house.

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2.Carson Pirie Scott – I really love the quality of clothing from Carson’s and I love to shop their sales. I used to think they were an expensive store just by their name. That is until my husband and I started shopping there and I realized how that their clothing were inexpensive. Totally love it! You can also donate clothing you no longer wear in exchange for coupons on top of their already marked down prices. On occasion, they will have a Goodwill donation box at the store and you could drop off the clothing there.

You may have seen me “modelling” this one on Instagram at one point during the summer. It is from Carson Pirie Scott and costed less than $20. My husband bought it a few years ago and it is the perfect fit. I love this pair of pants and a few others but it really was time for a bit of updating. Don’t mind my denim top in the summer – it was a quick photo shoot. I’m tall and I have long legs. I used to get the athlete/model compliment back in the day, you know. Let’s just leave that right there… ha ha! But hey, I’ll take it!! When you are young and free the “fashionista” idea sounds great. But once you cross over the second zero and got kids, that sounds like a lot to keep up with. 

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3. Macy’s – Macy’s usually have some really good sales in the Fall. We love to go there when we can.

4. JC Penny  – Penny’s also have some really good sales in the Fall and other times through out the year.

Both Macy’s and Penny’s have some really good sale racks. I love to go through and find things that look nice for a lower cost.

5. Nordstrom Rack  – If you want to wear Nordstrom clothing but can’t afford it, then try Nordstrom Rack. They are the same branch except Nordstrom Rack is more of an outlet for Nordstrom. They take the clothing that Nordstrom no longer needs and sells them at discounted prices. We used to go there all the time when we lived closer to one.

6. H&M Clothing – This is another store I imagined was pricey until I started shopping there when we went to the mall. Their line of clothing is not expensive. I also love buying cosmetic jewelry there – they sell some really nice ones at a low cost.

7. Kohl’s – Kohl’s is definitely one of my absolute favorite stores to shop (for anything). The quality is great and the prices are reasonable. Especially if you use their coupons. I love their spend $50 get back $10 in coupons. If you know how to use their system, you could really find some nice things for very low prices. Many times, I have bought stuff from Kohl’s that were practically free by finding a sale, then pairing it with a coupon and a 15% offer. You may have seen a few of these items in various posts here. But my husband and I really love their seasonal clothing sales.

So there you have it. Seven of my favorite places to shop for women’s jeans that look good and are lower priced. I’m really happy that I took the time to do a small wardrobe update. Now I have more options to choose from and my legs will thank me. And I even enjoyed typing this post. It was so more relaxing.

Where do you shop for jeans? Do you like wearing them in the Fall? Share your ideas in the comments!!

Decor & DIY

Five Ways to Make Home Warm and Cozy During the Colder Months

I love home and I love making it cozy. In the Fall, when the air starts turning chilly, I immediately start thinking about how I will add coziness and warmth to every area in our home. One of the comments I get from readers is that my home seems so cozy. So, I was recently inspired by Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Sunshine Florida to showcase how I warmed up for the colder months. I thought this would be the perfect time to share more of this subject with you. If you are not aware of Douglas Elliman, they are the fourth largest real estate firm within the US, with offices extended to forty-three countries across the globe. Iโ€™d say that is huge.

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This post is so fitting for me. As a tropical girl, I always want to be warm and cozy. I have gotten used to the weather changes here in the Midwest and I do enjoy it. (The Fall is just so beautiful). But I learned some things that seem to work well to keep our home warm and cozy during the colder months. And I am sharing five of my favorite with you today. Last year, I shared a similar post where I talked about 6 Ways to Welcome Fall into your Homes. It was a very popular post. You can find it here if you are interested. 

1. Adding Soft Blankets, Throws, Fleece and Quilts 

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Nothing says cozy than a soft blanket thrown over a chair. It is warm and inviting and is truly a necessity in the Fall and Winter. I keep lots of them in various places throughout our home. All the kids have blankets of their own, too. Our five year old thinks it is the best thing to crawl under a blanket and get cozy. I have to agree, since most of the times that is exactly what I want to do. I might have gotten myself one of the softest blankets last year. I found it at Ross dress store and let me tell you, I love that blanket.

soft-blanket

Last winter, it was my go-to blanket that I used to crawl up on the couch to type or to watch holiday movies when our kids took naps. I brought it up into our bedroom and love it on my bed. Talk about soft. One cannot go wrong with soft blankets, throws, quilts, etc during these colder season. I even extended my blanket reach beyond inside the home and into our car and van for the kids. It is something I have done since our first kid. They love to cover up with their blankets in their car seats to stay nice and toasty when we are out and about during the colder months. On occasion, you can find me doing the same thing while my husband is driving.

2. Layering with Rugs and Floor Mats

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If you have hardwood floors, you know how cold they could be during the colder months. Have you ever gotten out of bed in the early morning and stepped on cold hardwood floors? I have in our previous home. Occasionally, the temps dropped way down during the night and everything got so cold. That’s when the rugs came in handy. I know it may not be ideal to layer all over your home if all it has is hardwood floors. Choose the areas that are heavily trafficked and add a rug or two. Your feet will thank you.

By the way, if you have small kids who are constantly on the floor, I’d say go for it. They definitely will need that extra padding and warmth in their play area. And if you don’t have hardwood floors, rugs and mats are still great to have when it gets colder. They will add that extra cozy feel that just seems to go hand in hand with Fall and winter. The rug shown is one I bought last Fall for our previous home. The living room was laid with hardwood floors and I really needed to warm up the space during the cooler months. We also had a little crawler on hand. Currently, we don’t have hardwood floors but I still love laying with this rug over the carpet in the living room. In fact, I might have kept it out every season. 

3. Adding Throw pillows

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Throw pillows are great for changing the look of a room. Instantly! They really are easy decorative accents. If you find the right ones, of course. And they will add that extra coziness and warmth while providing support and comfort while laying down. So they are decorative and quite functional at the same time.

Currently, I think I have too many of them!! I have a ton of navy blues, whites, and gold, and the kids have their own purple, pink, and blue. I brought in some gold during the Fall. But now I am considering investing in a few pillow covers to change them out. The gold is nice but not sure I like it against our already oh so colorful living room. But adding a couple throw pillows is always a great way to transform a room and make it look cozy. Only a few will do. No need for a chair full and no place to sit. My couch looks filled with pillows now but I have moved the pillows to make room for sitting. 

4. Adding Indoor Heat (apart from heating and insulating)

  • Lighting the Fireplace Occasionally 

fireplace-mantel-full

Adjusting the thermometer for indoor heating and insulation during colder months is a given. But other times, the gentle glow of a lighted fireplace brings such a wonderful feeling. I love it so. Basically, if I could have the fireplace on for a few minutes every day during Fall and winter, it would be nice. We have to watch the gas and energy bills so turning it on daily is not the most practical. But it is always nice to bring in some fireplace warmth on a chilly night. The kids love to put on PJs and get all snuggly while watching the glow and getting warmed up. And we may or may not make some s’mores in the process.

  • Lighting Candles

I love having lit candles at home during the Fall whether they are scented or not. They add such ambiance to a space and really makes it so warm and inviting. 

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5. Adding Window Curtains 

window-curtain-design

Curtains are a great way to add privacy and warmth to a room and make it feel cozy. I love the look of curtains. Remember my curtain story I shared here a few weeks ago? I really do feel that they complete a room but that’s my opinion. When we moved here during the summer we ended up with so many more windows than we could imagine. I knew that I wanted to add some curtains once the weather got cooler. I did just that a few weeks ago.

window-curtain-rod

I chose curtains that are lighter as opposed to the heavier block-out type that is probably more “cold weather friendly”. Talk about keeping out that extra cold draft. All the windows have blinds so that’s a plus. But I wanted to keep the rooms bright and airy and still have that bit of sunshine peeking through the windows. It is something I have come to appreciate. In the Caribbean, opened windows are just the thing!! 

So these are five of my favorite ways to add warmth and cozy to our home during the colder months. What are some of your favorites? Would love to hear about them. 

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Gift Ideas

Unique Holiday Gift Ideas for Home and Family

This post is sponsored by Uncommon Goods. But all reviews and opinions of the products are my own.

It’s always nice to receive good gifts but I think it is an even better gesture to give good gifts, especially when they are meaningful and serve a purpose.

candles

I’ve been noticing a trend that as soon as Fall rolls around folks start talking about Christmas and gifting ideas. And I’m like, let’s just think about Fall for a little longer, shall we? At the same time, I know there are reasons to start planning early. Fall and Christmas are close to each other and sometimes they seem to run into each other. Plus with all the hustle and bustle of the holidays getting a head start is not a bad idea at all.

Do you ever find yourself buying the same typesย of gifts over and over again for certain family members onlyย in different colors or styles? Tell me I’m not the only one. Sometimes it’s not always easy to find that perfect gift. Other times, it does not help thatย some family members are hard to shop for anyway. They already have everything you could think about or they are just hard to please. That is when it’s time to start thinking outside the box for gift ideas. And I’ve got just the place to find out-of-the-box gifts with unique styles that would be great for those family members.

oven-to-table-entertaining-platter

Ever heard about Uncommon Goods? Their product lineย is nothing like I have seen. It isย seriously out of the box! Here is a little bit of what Uncommon Goods is all about. It’s a small independently owned businessย located in Brooklyn, New York where the focus is to create uniquely designed items for home and family. They also offer support to and create a platform for designers. Many of their products are handcrafted and others made from up-cycled or recycled items. Their mission is to impact the world in a positive way without harm to animals and humans and I think they are doing just that by what they create. I love it that their products are so unique and “uncommon” as their name states. You know the kind of things you wish someone would invent to make certain items more functional and even add more convenience? That’s is exactly how I would describe these “uncommon” goods. They are functional, convenient, pretty and not the everyday type of gifts. I’ve rounded up a few of these goods that I think would make wonderful (use-able)ย gifts for home and family. Check them out below.

Gifts for Mom

I don’t know about you but I have a tendency to forget to wet some ofย my plants, especially the ones on my porch. Out of site, out of mind right? When I’m busy getting stuff done inside, my porch plants get neglected. How cool is this Recycle a Bottle Plant Nanny Stake?ย I’ve never seen anything like it. Add your favorite bottle with water to the stake and it will pour out the right amount of water when the moisture has dried up. This would be such a nice gift to mom (or self) to help with the plant watering struggle. I know this would be very helpful to my plants. As a homemaker, I have come to appreciate gifts that could benefit the entire home just as much as I love ones that are for me only. What do you think about it? You can find lots more unique gift ideas for mom here.

recycle-a-bottle-plant-nanny-stake

Gifts for Dad/Husband/Men

When it comes to buying gifts for men, I tend to have a difficult time deciding what to buy. Uncommon Goods has an entire selection dedicated to men. One item that caught my eyes while browsing their site was this Pistachio Pedestal. It would make such a good gift for dad/husband’sย office. My husband loves snacking on nuts and I think this would be great to haveย on his office desk. He could fill it up with nuts and snack away as he pleases or his office visitors could snack away as they please. What do you think of this one? If you are ever stuck on knowing what gifts to buy for dad/husband or men in general, you will find loads of brilliant ideas here.

pistachio-pedestal

Gifts for Families

We often narrow our gifts to a specific person but how about something that an entire family can enjoy? I know of a lovely couple that purchases a game each Christmas so their entire family could play games. It is one of their family traditions and I think it is such a neat idea. How about these big yard diceย to add to such a game collection?ย They look so cool and are made from solid pine wood. It would definitely be fun to have some of them for family game time. I have always been a fan of games with dice. Remember Snake and Ladder? Do they still make that game for kids? I loved that game. Especially when I got to shake then roll the dice hoping they would fall on a number that would skip over the snake. But I have not seen dice so large as these jumbo ones. ย Even though they are called yard dice they will be great for indoor games as well. Uncommon Goods has lots more unique gifts for families. Click ย hereย to see more.

jumbo-yard-dice

I also really loved their kids selection of gifts. Wooden toys are a favorite around here and the ones from their store have an educational aspect to them that I love. Like these set of wooden blocksย and so much more neat ideas for the little ones in your family.

I wish I could show you a bunch more of the beautiful uniquely crafted gifts from Uncommon Goodsย but I think you should take a look around for yourself. You’ll love them and may even find something to add to your gift list. What do you think of these gift ideas? Aren’t they unique? I would love to know your thoughts in the comments.

Decor & DIY

Gold Dipped Vases

Gold dipped vases are an easy way to add a touch of class to clear glass vases. They only require a few minutes to do and is less pricier.

gold-dipped-vases

The good things about these are that the design and the color could be customized to one’s own liking. I love that they could be used for seasonal as well as for everyday decor. My vases are from the Dollar Tree. It is the one item from the Dollar tree that I like to have on hand seasonally. The sizes and style do vary. 

gold-trim-vases

Gold dipped vases are so easy to make. Although, these were not technically dipped in paint. They were sprayed but they carry the same idea as vases that were dipped in paint.

This is how to make them. What you will need:

  • clear vases
  • spray paint (color of choice)
  • painters tape
  • scissors
  • scrap paper

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Make sure the glasses are clean and dry. These are pretty new (I bought them earlier this Fall). But I have used them for another reason before deciding to paint them.

gold-vases

Decide where you want to add the paint. Use painters tape to section out the part that you want painted or to cover up the spot that you do not want painted.  

vases-gold

Cover it all the way around. Smooth the tape out. Painters tape can easily be re-positioned so if it does not look right, then remove it and replace.

gold-va

I had some gold spray paint lying around. I love this Rust-Oleum brand and always seem to get it whenever I am purchasing spray paint.

gold-paint

Layer the scrap paper in a well ventilated area, I went outside. Hold each vase over the paper then apply paint according to the directions on the spray paint can. If you are spraying the lower end of the vase, it’s OK if some of it gets to the bottom. You can remove it or cover the entire bottom with spray. You can see my tag on this one still on there. I’m bad at leaving tags on things like these. But once you are satisfied with how the paint looks, let the vases dry. Add another coat of paint if desired.

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This one looked a little rough in the beginning because I sprayed too much. I removed most of it quickly with a wet rag then sprayed it again. I did three vases and did not have that problem with the other two. Once it was dried though it looked pretty OK.

vas

I love the finished product of the vases. The gold really does add a nice accent to them. And they can be used anywhere in the home.

gold-dipped-vase

Add flowers (real or faux), rocks, shells, pinecones, acorns, any kind of decorative element that goes in a vase, and they will look very nice. And now my Dollar Tree vases do not look so Dollar Tree anymore (at least I don’t think so–). They are a bit more fancy, chic (as they say) and more stylish. And I am really linking them.

gold-dipped-vases-with-flowers

Not quite sure exactly where I want to use them yet. But you can see how I used them here on our Fall table setting in the photo below. Post here. There are many little areas in this house to be decorated and I am still playing around with ideas. 

fall-tablescape-dishes-and-cups

Again, this is a very inexpensive way to upscale and customize decor. The design could be changed out to suit one’s tastes too such as adding more lines to create a stripped look horizontally or vertically.  

diy-gold-dipped-vases

What do you think? Easy enough? Have you dipped or sprayed part of a vase in paint like these before? Let’s here it!!

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