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The Need for Change – In Three Areas

Happy New Year friends! Hope you all had a lovely holiday season with your family and friends.

Generally, once the holidays are over and the new year rolls in, people start thinking about new year’s resolutions. Honestly, I have not done them in a while. I used to do them a long time ago (well not very long – I am only in my 30’s). But I found myself creating long lists of random goals that I could not fulfill. I wore a coat of guilt for as long as the year lasted until it was time to make new resolutions again. As a result, I opted not to make long lists of unattainable goals in hopes that I could master them overnight. Rather, I am going for smaller changes to better myself and those around me. The key is to remember that changes may not happen over night. It takes work, motivation, discipline, and a whole lot of prayer. Trying to make drastic changes overnight only sets us up for failure.

In fact, I have already started working on some of these changes. It does not have to be a new year to do something good for the sake of your well being and for those around you, does it? Here are what I have been working on.

1). Saying NO: The other day, my husband told me that I was doing too much. Although I did not welcome the comment at that moment, I have to admit that he was right. As I considered the truth behind his “rebuke”, I started thinking about what I could cut back on and when I should say “no”. You see, I have a tendency to play superwoman and say ‘yes’ to many things. Earlier this year, when I had a newborn, I was forced to say “no” quite a bit and it really helped my sanity. I turned down a lot of invitations to events because I felt it was too much for me, especially if they involved going out with the kids at nights. That was a big no, no, for me then. But as the baby grew and began to be more mobile I fell right back into my ‘yes’ trap.

After my husband’s comment, I felt that something had to give. I could not keep up with juggling marriage, motherhood, homemaking, blogging, and even babysitting another little girl (not even three years old). Truthfully, I thought I’d be able to babysit and still keep up with everything else. But me saying ‘yes’ to babysitting (in all good standing) meant I was unconsciously saying ‘no’ to many of my own family’s events. So I had to give it up.

As for the blog, I’ll have to say ‘no’ to random postings and learn to plan better. Honestly, while I would like to blog about every thought that comes to my mind, I really need to find my niche and stick to it. It’s an area I have been struggling with for the longest time. And I have narrowed down some. But there is still room for improvement. Plus, it’s better for the blogging world anyway.

2). Getting a Good Planner: Here is my big secret, I do not have a planner on my phone! I know, in this day on age who’s using paper right? Me. Call me old fashioned but I still love writing my daily to do list down on paper. However, I find myself not been able to keep up with planners. I usually start off with them really well but then I tend to slack off at some point. I really would like to be more organized in this area because I think it will help me keep in line with my family’s schedules and events. I would also love to be able to keep up with a good blog planner to help me be a little bit more focused in this area, too.

3. Being Content with Less: It seems like the more I organize our home and de-clutter it, the more stuff I see blinding our way. Hmmn….. I wonder what is causing that? Could it be that the amount of stuff I bring back in after I declutter is outweighing what I got rid off? I think so. Now grant it, while I love shopping, I really do not go out and buy tons of stuff. Maybe just an item or two here and there that I find on sale. Most times, I cannot determine what I want so I walk out of the store with nothing. Or I bring something home and take it back two days later. Drives my husband nuts! I think part of my struggle is that I am still trying to figure out what colors and style of decor I want for this house. In our previous home, my decor was pretty much set. I feel like now that I have more space, I am constantly battling how I want to organize and decorate. Yep, my struggle is real.

Anyway, I really want to practice living with less. The saying that “less is more” is truly a great statement. Have you decorated for Christmas? And have you already taken down all your decor? Doesn’t your space feel so much less cluttered now? It’s like a breath of fresh air swept across my home after I took down our decor. So see how “less is more” could be applied here? Less decor, more space. That is what I mean. I want to be more content and I want to teach our children to be more content. Having more and more does not bring happiness. It only makes our lives cluttered whether it be mentally or physically. In addition, being content with less means that we may be able to give more to others in need. I personally have experienced this and it truly is a good feeling to help those who need it. I want to get back to being content with less.

So these are a few changes I have been working on. Like I mentioned earlier, I don’t expect them to happen overnight. But I am approaching each one with a slow, steady, and persevering attitude. How about you? Have you been making any new changes lately? I would love to know about them in the comments.

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Christmas Recap, 2015

Welcome back friends! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with their family and friends celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and making memories. I have to admit, that our Christmas this year was very low key. If you remember, last year I was expecting and felt that I took on way too much than my poor body allowed. Plus we had just moved into a new home a few months prior and were still trying to find our way around the home and make it ours. Even so, after I had the baby at the end of December (he will be one on Wednesday, could you imagine) and things were a bit settled, I thought that this Christmas I would be able to do more.

Well, the house was decorated and we did a few activities but nothing like I planned. I felt like last year and the years prior we did more and kept up with most of our favorite Christmas traditions. The one thing we really love doing as a family on Christmas is going light watching. Even that was skipped this year. Well, maybe not totally because we see the lights as we drive through the neighborhood all the time. But it is definitely not the same as making it a special event and sipping on hot coca while on our way.

Despite our circumstances, I am so very thankful for the hope that was brought to us during what we celebrate as Christmas. I used to love Christmas as a kid. But watching our kids excitement grow throughout the season is one of the best things. Their excitement over everything Christmas – the lights, the gifts, the baking, the giving, the activities, just about everything. Through it all, we want to make sure that our Children understand the true meaning of Christmas. With that in mind, the girls and I were able to do the Christmas story again using the printables I created last year. I printed out this one from the year prior for our 2 year old but we did not get to it (it gets pinned like crazy around Christmas time, though). The girls did an amazing job learning Matthew 1:21, understanding it in their own language, of course.

And as we read each verse daily or sometimes we bundled a few verses together, they did the printable activities that went along with each one. We then cut them out and glued them to a black poster board to create a manger scene. It was so much fun to watch our 5 year old daughter point to the pictures and retell the story.

Remember this Advent calendar I made for the kids this year? We were able to use it to count down to Christmas. Once again, the kids seemed to understand it. When we got down to about 5 days before Christmas, one child exclaimed “Look mama, we are almost there to Christmas!”

Here are some photos of the kids Christmas events.

On December 22, our second daughter turned 3. We try to keep birthdays and holidays separate. So in the midst of Christmas we did a family party for her. I also had one of her special friends come over for a fun play date with her, the Friday prior.

Then on Wednesday, the Eve of the Eve, my husband was out someplace so I did another activity with the girls. We watched Frozen and drank hot cocoa and tea and ate Christmas cookies. After watching Frozen a gazillion times in the past, it was sort of nice to bring it out as a refresh for the girls. Their interest seemed to have come back again. And of course, you gotta have a princess dress on for this event – it’s Christmas after all!

I have drank so much hot cocoa this season it is so not funny – enough to last a decade. It is definitely one of my favorite cold weather drinks.

Every Christmas Eve, during the day, we like to do an outside activity as a family. This year, we were heading to the Mall early to beat the crowds but that plan did not work out so we went to Chuck E Cheese instead. The girls were ecstatic!

Then on Christmas Eve night, we have started doing an activity where we open a gift, usually containing a new set of pajamas and some other fun activities during the night. But like I said earlier, things were a bit different this year. So instead, I allowed the girls to wear new outfits to bed that I had bought a little earlier. They were super excited! Here they are on Christmas morn, opening their first gift while wearing the outfits.

I loved receiving this very special personalized gift from a little girl that I babysit a few days a week.

I prepared dinner early (it was just our family) and my girls did so well eating from “big people” plates. It was so cute to watch. They sat quietly and ate with etiquette as if they were out at some fancy high end restaurant.

I did not get a chance to put the tablescape up on the blog but here is a shot of the full thing.

Christmas night we decorated a gingerbread house. Or tried to:=) Hey, it was so relaxing – the girls kept saying, how much fun they were having.

And of course, the best part is getting to eat it. At least part of it. I kept the bulk of it for another day but threw it out two days ago. I could not bare to watch the kids eat all that sweet.

These are just a few other random shots of the day’s events. And of course, this little boy’s play was just as normal. Christmas? What’s that! He will be one tomorrow, you all. I just cannot believe how fast he is growing.

Anyway, while I would like to show you a bunch of photos, my computer does not want to cooperate so I guess that’s enough for now.

How was your Christmas? I would love to know how it went in the comments below!

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Easy Skillet Bowtie Pasta

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

Around our home, the holidays are usually filled with plenty cooking and lots of parties. Our three kids all have birthdays during this time. One is two days after Thanksgiving, one three days before Christmas, and the other one, five days after Christmas. We tend to celebrate all the kids birthdays and make it a point to keep their birthday and holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas separate, no matter how large or small the celebration may be. Not to mention, my husband and I celebrate our wedding anniversary in the middle of December, too.

Because the holidays are usually so busy with all kinds of parties, projects and obligations, the last thing I want to do is slave over meals in the kitchen all day. At the same time though, I do not want to spend money on eating out all the time. Neither do I want to feed my family junk. So I am always looking for short cuts to cook quick, easy, yet hearty meals for my family during the holidays.

ConAgra canned foods have always been a go-to, easy way to prepare meals when I am in a crunch like that. Hunt’s tomato products are perfect for preparing hearty, healthy, quick, delicious, and not to mention stress-free recipes for family meals and entertaining during the busy holiday season. Coupled together with PAM olive oil cooking spray, my easy healthy holiday meals are set!

I always have a bunch of Hunt’s tomato products like crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, etc. in my pantry so I never run out until the next grocery trip. I usually get all my Hunt’s products from Walmart, which is only a stone throw away from our home. But even so, I do not want to be running back and forth to the store, so I tend to stock up whenever I go shopping.

Yesterday, we celebrated our second daughter’s birthday. And let me tell you, it was not the easiest day trying to finish up her party details and taking care of our three little ones plus another baby sitting anther child that I watch a couple days a week. At one point, I thought I was going nuts and just could not keep up anymore. I found myself in the laundry room with a baby in one hand, just standing there starring. I wanted to escape it all! Not that there was not any laundry to be done, either. But I felt it was more pleasant to look at than the world of birthday decor, kids toys, and dishes that were waiting to be taken cared off. Literally, I was on my feet in the kitchen from the time I woke up until around 4 pm. Our daughter’s party was only with our immediate family but because it is in the middle of the holidays, it was a bit hectic. Preparing this quick tasty dinner with Hunt’s tomato products from ConAgra really was a huge time saver in the midst of my chaotic holiday/birthday evening.

Also, I love that ConAgra also carries PAM cooking spray which added to my easy meal preparation. Their cooking spray is not only great for spraying and greasing pans. It is good for sauteing foods, too! And with Extra Virgin olive oil who could resist, right?

To make my Easy Skillet Bowtie Pasta dinner, I used their Classic Skillet Lasagna recipe and modified it to our taste. I began by browning my meat in a sauce pan. Then I added my tomato products and some seasonings (see recipe below). Look how rich and red that looks already.

Then I added cooked bowtie pasta and mozzarella cheese. And the meal was pretty much done!

Really, it was that easy and dinner was ready in under 30 minutes. And I really needed easy in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the season.

Easy Skillet Bowtie Pasta

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 30 mins

Total time: 40 mins

Serves: 6

Make your holiday meal preparation easy with this quick, hearty, and healthy skillet bowtie pasta using ConAgra canned food products!

Ingredients

8 ounces bowtie pasta
1 pound ground beef
1 28 ounce can Hunt’s diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano
1 8 ounce can Hunt’s tomato sauce
3 tablespoons Hunt’s tomato paste
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon crushed basil
1 tablespoon crushed oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1-1/2 mozzarella cheese
PAM cooking spray

Instructions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, while pasta is cooking prepare meat sauce. Spray a large skillet with a generous amount of Pam cooking spray (1 to 2 tablespoons).
Saute onions over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
Add ground ground beef and cook until browned and the meat is no longer pink.
Drain out the oils.
Return the skillet to the stove and add in Hunt’s diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, basil, and oregano. Add in salt and pepper. Stir until fully combined. Add in the bowtie pasta and stir. Stir in one cup of mozzarella cheese and top with a sprinkle of basil, if desired.
Remove meal from the pot and pour into a large serving dish.
Top with remaining mozzarella cheese and extra basil.

So tell me, have you tried ConAgra canned food products to make your holiday meal preparation easier? What are some of your favorite easy recipes to create with Hunt’s tomato products. I would love to know your thoughts in the comments! Find more easy and delicious holiday meal inspiration at ConAgra.

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Vege Mac & Cheese Bowl Dinner for Minions Movie Night

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

How do you plan for the release of a big movie? I have to tell you, I am not much of a big movie release planner. But when it comes to the minions, I sure am! Our kids are fascinated with anything minions! Last year, around this time, all they ever wanted to watch was Despicable Me 2, EVERY S.E.C.O.N.D of the day (or so it seemed). And I confess, that most of the times I allowed them to watch it. Preferably, in the evenings. I was expecting a little one and by the time December hit, I was way too tired to even deny it. I have a little secret for you, too. I think my husband was one of the biggest fans! In fact, he is the one who introduced the kids to the movie. They all think the minions are funny. And who doesn’t? Those cute little guys with those big goggles, speaking in funny tones got the entire family laughing.

So when I heard of the new release of the Minions movie on Blu-Ray/DVD on December 8, 2015, I knew it would be a good fit for a family movie night. I knew they would be thrilled. And I was right. After I purchased the movie Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack and brought it home, my family could not wait to see it. It even comes with three mini movies making it more exciting to watch.

I figured it would only be fitting to host a dinner and a movie night so we could all sit and enjoy this new creation of Minions © 2015 Universal Studios. All rights reserved. Nothing like a good movie and a good dinner to go along with it! I waited until my husband was home on the weekend to host the event. Nope, we could not leave him out of this one! Inspired by all things “yellow and short”, I figured Vege Mac and Cheese bowls would be a great fit for this event (using corn kernels as the vegetable). Vege Mac and Cheese and Minions movie on a cozy day made for a wonderful family time together.

Once I got all my ingredients together (as listed in the recipe below), I began to prepare this delicious Vege Mac and Cheese dinner. First, I boiled the macaroni and corn together, drained and set them aside.

Then I made a cheese sauce and added to the macaroni and corn. I also mixed in the rest of the ingredients.

Then I sprayed four 10″ round baking dishes, placed the mixture equally in the bowls then topped each one with extra cheese.

I then placed them on a baking sheet lined with foil and baked at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. I love that they do not take long to bake and to hold together. Also, I love how cheesy they turned out!

To make this yummy Vege Mac & Cheese dinner, follow the instructions via this recipe.

Minions

Ingredients

1 -1/4 cup of Elbow macaroni
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1 cup milk
2 cups cheddar cheese
1 egg beaten
3 Tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease 4 regular sized ramekins dishes or one large baking dish and set aside.
Cook macaroni according to the instructions on the package.
Corn kernels could be cooked separately but I went ahead and cooked them together.
Drain and set aside.
Melt butter in a small skillet. Add milk and 1-1/2 cups cheese to the skillet.
Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until cheese melts.
Combine cheese mixture with macaroni.
Add egg and mustard.
Season with salt and pepper to your desired taste.
Pour mixture into baking dishes.
Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until cheese melts and pasta has began to brown.
Serve warm.

After they have cooled a little, then it was time to dig in!

I added a couple side dishes and gathered the entire family for a little feasting time! Since the girls are little, I did not give them a bowl of Mac & Cheese. Instead, I scooped out some unto their plates.

Here is the hubs digging in!

After everyone was filled, blankets and cookies were the only items needed to get the Minions movie going!!

I think they enjoyed it. Thanks to Illumination Entertainment for the inspiration to create this yummy Vege Mac & Cheese dinner to go along with the Minions movie and for making our dinner and movie night a success.

So tell me, is your family excited about the release of the new Minions movie? What’s one of your favorite movie night recipes? I would love to hear about it in the comments!

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Decor & DIY

Holiday Home Tour 2015

It’s that time of the year again folks! It is time for a walk through our somewhat decorated Christmas home. I know I am behind with this post in the blogging world but you know what, I am OK with that. Everyone has different responsibilities on their plates. In fact, I debated whether I wanted to do a tour this year or not but I finally settled on doing one. Not sure how long I could keep up with these tours because they are a lot of work but I do love them, though. Plus trying to keep a house looking possible with three little ones while I take photos is not the easiest. This post was weeks in the making. Eventually, I bribed my kiddos with an Oreo cookie while I take photos and even then, I could find a kid or two showing up in photographing areas and destroying everything in their paths. But now, I think they have gotten used to the decor and things stay in their place, for the most part. Or go ask the baby – he’ll probably tell you differently!

Most of my decor this year are either DIY, re-purposed, or frugal sale finds. At first, I did not know how things were going to come together. I wanted to do all neutral with gold, green, and specks of silver. But my stash said otherwise. So red became part of my decor, too. And since I did not want to go out and spend a ton on Christmas decor, I figured I would work with my stash for one room and do neutral for another room. I am loving the red pops among the green and gold. Christmas and red go together!

This B.E.L.I.E.V.E. sign was one of my DIYs this year.

Now that you have seen the front porch, come on in and let me show you around. There are lots of photos to go around!

I have no formal separate entryway, so I added a few items to make it work for us. I am loving this little ottoman we recently purchased as a sitting area for putting on and taking off shoes. It is a great storage piece, too.

And I set you a plate of Winter Oreos and a jar of milk because you may be hungry by the time you are finished with this tour. You are welcome!

Here is another DIY chalkboard piece I did a few months ago.

I added a few other nick-nacks and this entryway was Christmas ready.

Most of the items on this side of the room are frugal finds. Well, the TV stand is probably the only thing we paid full price for last year. The TV itself (40 inches) was a win from one of my husband’s business travel conference raffles.

I still have not gotten around to refresh the photo gallery yet. Our newest addition as of last year is still not on this wall. These are photos of the girls the past three years.

I am loving those little $3 trees from Target that frame the TV.

Moving on to other angles of the living room. The lighting in my home is never the best you all. Pretty much, there are no installed lights in the living room; I use only floor lights. Who does that?! Some people need to put more thought into building homes…Or maybe we needed to put more thought into buying:)

My Hobby Lobby sale find from last year, for less than $5.

I already had most of the items on here on hand. The lanterns I recently bought at Target for $3.

Also, this little end table along with two other matching end tables were repainted white a few weeks ago.

I am loving the deer themed pieces this season, too.

I ordered this deer head pillow cover along with another one via Amazon earlier this Fall. Both pieces cost about $7 bucks total because they are from China. They are well made and had very good reviews. Plus they got here faster than I expected.

I found this mirror at At Home stores – on sale, of course! This wall needed some decor.

Remember this DIY centerpiece I shared a few days ago? So simple, frugal, and yet so elegant!

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We love our new Christmas tree. It is probably the most expensive investment we made in Christmas decor this year. Well, expensive like way less than $100 on sale at Big Lots. I was tired of just all green trees plus I felt like the one we had last year – well let’s just say I gave it away! Oh, and that large coffee table? For $22 at IKEA earlier this Spring, I’d say we did well. It was sold “as is” for two missing screws which my husband added in under a minute. And don’t forget to check out my 4 easy tips on how to beautify and old chair!

And our Thankful Tree we made during this Fall was spray painted white and is re-purposed here to hold tiny stockings. And these photos are from early February with our new addition to the family. (He is all grown now of course, and almost one)! This season’s family photos have not yet made it to our decor – I still have to work on those.

Some of the ornaments on this tree were from last year but we each chose a piece that we like this year to add to it. These snowman are a couple of what my kids chose. Their handprinted ornaments that they made last year is going on another tree for their room. Along with several other new and older ones they made.

I chose this buffalo plaid gift box but one of the girls seems to love it more than I do!

My reindeer find from TJ Max/Home Goods last year made it’s way under the tree again.

Let’s move on guys into the kitchen and family room. You know what, I think I am gonna stop talking and just let you view the photos. It’s late and I am tired. If you have any questions about an item let me know in the comments. I’ll be happy to give you a reply.

But first, grab some hot coca from this hot coca bar! And no, I did not paint the tray. I found it on sale around $7 at Ross during the Spring. I had not realized that the black was actually chalkboard until I was decorating for Christmas and decided I need something to write on.

Even the kids play kitchen area got a little decorating.

I said I would stop talking but if you sent me a Christmas card in the past or now, you may just see your photo on this frame here or in the basket below. It is such a fun piece to look at – oh the smiles and happy faces of each family!

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Don’t even ask how this reindeer over the moon looking thing came together. At least that is what the kids say it looks like. And I have to agree. But it was totally not intentional.

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christmas tour 46

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I sure wish my photos were much clearer. But with poor home lighting and not so great of a camera we take what we could get.

Here is my favorite photo of all – at least they are all looking in this one! Hope you had a wonderful time view our Christmas home and merry wishes for the season!

It’s your turn. Do you decorate much for Christmas? What are your favorite colors to use? I would love to know your thoughts in the comments.

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Holiday Entertaining & Spreading Joy with Coca-Cola

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

There is something about Coca-Cola and entertaining that go together, especially during the holidays. It’s such a versatile drink that can even be used in cooking to give additional flavor to foods.

This is the drink that made our holiday home every year in my childhood home. Christmas was not Christmas without a good twenty-four pack of glass bottle Coca-Cola. And it could not be any other type of Coke, it had to be these exact ones! They are perfect for holiday entertaining with family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and the ones who mean most to you during the holidays. From drinking, to cooking, to crafting, to gifting you name it.

I can remember my dad going to the store and bringing home a case (like we called it) or two of this drink for Christmas. It made everyone happy. If these drinks were not home by the eve of Christmas eve then we were all worried. But we were never disappointed though, because somehow, we always ended up having a case (24 pack) of Coca-Cola by Christmas day. Coke de Mexico 355ml bottles, 24 pack at Sam’s Club is made with no high fructose corn syrup, only with real sugar, making them an even better choice for holiday entertaining. Not to mention, Sam’s Club is also running a special sale of $3.98 for 4-pack, 2-liter Coke and Diet Coke during the holiday season.

So this Christmas, when my husband told me he was having a Christmas party at work, I thought it would be a great idea to spread some joy to his co-workers using Coca-Cola as my main compliment.

I first decided to make some Coca-Cola brownie stars. My original intent was to bake up a delicious Coca-Cola holiday ham (one of our favorites) but my husband said he was supposed to bring in a dessert. So I settled on brownie squares instead. And who does not like brownies?! It is such a great treat that really compliments any party, too.

To make the brownies, I mixed the dry and wet ingredients in separate bowls (see recipe below).

Then I combined both mixtures and added a tablespoon of Coca-Cola to the mix for flavoring.

I then spread the mixture unto a cookie sheet and baked it at 350 degrees about 18-20 minutes. I used a cookie sheet because I was not going for chunky brownies – it’s easier to use a cookie cutter with flatter brownies. Also, immediately after the pan of brownie was removed from the oven I sprinkled it with some more Coca-Cola. This is another practice we did with fruit cake in the Caribbean. It is supposed to keep the cake moist.

Then once the brownie was cooled, I cut it into stars using a large and a small cookie cutter.

Don’t sweat it if some of them don’t turn out exactly as equally as the others. Because they are a bit moist, this will happen.

A dusting of powdered sugar really gave the brownie stars a festive look, too.

These little Coca-Cola brownie stars are sure to entertain any holiday crowd. And like we did growing up, don’t just serve these brownies alone. Serve them with a bottle of Coca-Cola and your testers will be happy.

Holiday Entertaining & Spreading Joy with Coca Cola

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
2 eggs
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 Teaspoon salt
1 cup plus 1 Tablespoon Coca-Cola (Coke de Mexico)
Powdered Sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray or grease with butter and set aside.
In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, & salt until combined.
In a separate larger bowl, mix together the sugar, oil, and eggs.
Add dry ingredients with the wet and stir until fully combined.
Stir in 1 Tablespoon Coca-Cola. Pour mixture into baking pan and bake 18 – 20 minutes.
Remove from oven and immediately drench with 1/2 to 3/4 cups extra Coca-Cola.
Allow to cool.
Use star cookie cutters to cut out the shapes. Place stars on a serving tray and dust with powdered sugar.

On that note, I also decided that a Coca-Cola for every one in the party would be appropriate. So I wrapped the box the bottles came in with pretty gold and white snowflake wrapping paper and placed the filled bottles back into the box.

I also added a little mini-snow flake ornament to each one and included some gold and white straws. Yes, I am keeping a consistent color scheme going here.

I just could not throw away these empty Coca-Cola glass bottles. In my original home town they would take them back to the stores where they would be sent off for recycling. Instead, I decided to do something fun and creative with them to make centerpieces for our holiday entertaining table decor. I was so pleased with how these turned out that I wanted to use them everywhere in our home.

They are really simple to make. Here are the materials I used:

Empty washed & dried Coca-Cola glass bottles
A roll of burlap
Decorative flowers
Ribbon (thin)
A hot glue gun
A pair of scissors
A measuring tape
A Sharpie

First, I used the tape measure to determine the length of each piece of burlap. I did this by measuring the red & white space of the Coca-Cola bottle. It was a little under 2 inches so I rounded it up to 2 inches for each piece of burlap. Then I lightly marked the spot with a Sharpie.

Then I went ahead and cut them out.

Second, I added hot glue to one end of the bottle in the red area, then hot glued a piece of burlap onto the spot. I added more glue and sealed the burlap all the way around the area.

It should look like this. Really, it only takes a few minutes to create these centerpieces.

Third, I cut out lengths of ribbon to fit around the bottles, then hot glued each one around the center of the burlap.

Note: It is best to keep the ends of the burlap and the ribbon in the same spot. It will look neater.

Once I had the ribbon in place, I hot glued a decorative flower on each bottle. I glued them just a tad slanted. Again, I added the flower where the ends of the burlap and ribbon meet. It really made it look much neater.

I was amazed at the final product. These decorative flowers with the glitter really helped the piece to pop. I used longer flowers with stems but short petals with no stems will work well, too.

Here is a closer look at what both sides look like in this next image.

And as you may have already noticed, I was going for a coordinated look. I chose green, gold, & silver because that is part of my decorating color scheme this season. I filled each bottle with Epsom salt (just the bottom, until it reached the burlap).

Truly, I could not be more pleased with how these glass bottled Coca-Cola work well for holiday entertaining and spreading joy to others. My husband was truly pleased with how everything turned out.

Have you used Coca-Cola during your holiday entertaining? I would love to know of your favorite holiday Coca-Cola recipe or craft ideas. And be sure to check out Coke de Mexico at Sam’s Club to help spread joy to those who mean most to you during the holidays.

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DIY “Believe” Holiday Porch Sign

DIY signs are everywhere and this B.E.L.I.E.V.E sign is no exception. I have seen them on Pinterest and on Instagram. I have no idea what steps others use to create theirs because I don’t think I ever intended to make one. But recently, as I was scrolling through Instagram I spotted another one. Truthfully, I really like these signs so I figured that one will look cool on the porch along with our Christmas decor. I gave it “a go” using my own creations. And this is how it turned out!

I thought of polishing and straightening up the letters a bit more but I figured it was good enough for me. It is not meant to be perfect – just a readable sign that looks possible enough for front door decor. I think it turned out great! These are the materials I used to make this sign:

3 ft scrap wood from Home Depot (a little over $2 for a piece around 12 ft. I had it cut down to size)
White spray paint
Red spray paint
Painters tape
Sandpaper
Measuring tape
Pencil
Scissors
Newspaper

The paints should be made for outdoor use to stand up to the changing weather conditions. Also, the wood is indoor material but the outdoor paint would help it hold up longer.

With that said, the first thing I did was spray a coat or two of White paint over the wood. It was already primed white so that was helpful in getting my “almost finished” can of white spray paint to stretch. Note: I sprayed it white because I wanted the letters to show up white. If you want the letters to show up red, then start with red paint or blue or green, gold, or whatever color you prefer. See a similar sign I made earlier this year here.

OK – so call me crazy for using painters tape for this but I could not find the size of vinyl letters I wanted to use. And I did not want to go around in stores searching so I figured I would give it a try with painters tape. Hey if all failed, paint is an easy fix. Just paint over and start all over again with better letters!

To figure out equal spacing of the letters, I divided the length of the piece of wood by the number of letters in the word “believe”. So 3ft is 36 inches and the word “believe” has 7 letters, making this 36 divided by 7 resulting in 5 inches per each space (leaving an extra inch hanging). That way, I knew that each letter needs to be within at least 5 inches of spacing. I took the measuring tape and measured 5 inches apart for each letter and marked the spots lightly with a pencil (easier to erase). Remember that extra inch? I divided it in half between the top and the bottom ends of the piece of wood, leaving half each both top and bottom before I began measuring for the letters.

Once I was done measuring, I used painters tape to form letters and taped them in order unto the wood.

Forming a “B” was kind of technical because of the curved edges.

Once all the letters were safely taped, I layered the wood on newspaper and used the red paint to spray over it a couple of coats with drying time in between. Spray the entire surface, covering the letters, too.

Then when it is fully dried, the painters tape was easy to peel off with no residue!

Like I mentioned earlier, the “B” was tricky to work with so I had to get creative once I removed the original tape.

Painters tape is square so I made some curved edges (instruction #2).
Then I covered the entire “B” to prevent it from getting sprayed over again (instruction #3).
Next, I peeled off the curved pieces (instruction #4).
Finally, I sprayed the little holes with red paint (instruction #5) and allowed it to dry then peeled off the rest of the tape.

Some of the edges of the letters were uneven because I was doing this in a hurry. Plus I had a baby in arms for part of the time I was adding the letters. I used a little paint and a tiny paint brush to straighten them up just a tiny bit.

Now it is time for a little sanding.

The edges were lightly sanded to give it a little bit of a distressed look. My original intent was to do more sanding to make it really distressed but then I decided to leave it alone. I think it looks great!

Here it is hanging out on our front door. You all know I cannot wait to show you a full reveal of our Christmas front porch. But as it is, it is taking me longer to decorate this year with little kids and all kinds of crazy projects! There is also the fact that once I get decorations in place, I got a baby who thinks it is funny to use them as toys and throw everything all over the place!!

What do you think? Would you have gone for perfection and through the stress to find vinyl or do you think this painters tape idea worked well enough to call it a sign? I would love to know your thoughts in the comments!

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10 of the Best Non-Toy Christmas Gifts for Kids

Christmas is coming and ~~the goose is getting fat~~ kids everywhere are looking forward to what gifts they will receive. As parents, we want to load them up with lots and lots of gifts because we think it will make them happy! Toys are one of the most common gifts given to kids at Christmas time. But lo, sometimes the kids play with them for a day or two and forget about them altogether! And other times, they chose to play with the gift boxes rather than the actual gifts. Anyone with me on this one?

Non Toy Christmas Gift Ideas

Have we really stopped to consider what is really best for our children’s growth and development? Or what the kids would really like to have? Here is a quick scenario: Our eldest daughter now 5, has been wanting a bike since she was about 18 months old. And she did have a little second-hand one just before she turned 2. We still have not officially gotten her a real bike yet. But you know what, when we moved here to our now home, the sellers left a new tricycle here and our daughter (3 years old at the time) took off on that thing like a pro. She loves it! But of course, she is now too old for that itty-bitty kiddy bike. We are in the process of getting her a new one for her birthday (turned 5 last week). My point is, I find that kids play with stuff they like more than what we think they would like. So take note of what seems to interest them and what’s best for their development before purchasing all kinds of random stuff for them.

While I am not against toys (my kids have lots), I think too many is overrated, brings clutter, and I’ll admit, sometimes a waste of money. Last Christmas, we considered before buying. There was not much toys being given (if any at all). About a week or two before Christmas, I took the girls to Walmart and had them pick out something they like from the toy section. They both picked out little dolls. And you know what, they played with the little dolls for as much as they can. And still do today. Because that is what they wanted. Then for Christmas gifts, we bought them beautiful clothing and artwork. These they really enjoyed. Even today, the art work is still very much appreciated. And of course, the clothing is worn. They still love them!

If you are wondering what to give to your kids, here are TEN of the best non-toy gifts you can give to them. These are written in no particular order. And note that our kids range from 11 months old to 5 years so use your judgement for older children.

1). A Specific Need: Is there something your child really needs? Not just a want but a true need. Maybe a new winter jacket to beat the cold or a new pair of shoes, or a new backpack or whatever other need they may have.

2). Books: Most kids I know love to read books or love having books read to them. Books with lots of beautiful photo illustrations are great for little ones. They love looking at the photos and figuring out what is happening. Recorded story books on CDs are always a favorite, too.

3). Favorite Outing Pass: Do your kids love going to a special place – the zoo, museum or waterpark? While this is not something tangible to hang unto they will remember the fun time they had. Have you ever heard a kid say that was the best toy car ever? Nope, but the best outing is often spoken off long after it has ended.

4). Clothing: One of the gifts we gave to our kids last year is clothing. Tip: buy them a size up and they can wear them for a while.

5). Class Enrollment: Enroll your kids in a specific class – let them go and learn something! Here are a few that I love and I have been considering for our girls: music lessons, swim class, gymnastic, or ballet. If you have little boys, you may consider a sport such as baseball, soccer, swim, music, or gymnastics, too. Our little boy is only 11 months old so these do not apply to him yet.

6). Art Work: Age appropriate coloring material or painting materials are good art resources for little ones. They can learn to express their abilities while creating art.

7). Craft Kit: Let’s face it – kids love creating stuff. A craft kit (age appropriate) would be a great gift for a little one. You can even create one by coordinating some crafty items together if you cannot find one in store that you think they would like.

8). Music: My kids love music and it is such a great way to introduce them to the ‘Arts’. A good CD along with a CD player would be a nice gift for a kid.

9). Gift Cards: While little kids may not understand gift cards, you can take them to the store to have them chose something they like.

10). Love: While this may be an intangible gift, it definitely is one of the best you can give to a kid. For we know, that love covers all things!

These are some of the best non-toy gifts you can give to a child for Christmas that I have considered.

What would you add to this list? Share your thoughts in the comments below!!

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Establishing Holiday Traditions Plus $20 Giveaway

Baking cookies with our little girls is one of my favorite Christmas traditions. Another Christmas tradition we started a few years ago is giving to others. So I was thrilled to jump on the Betty Crocker Spread Cheer Christmas campaign as this will be a way to incorporate both traditions. It is really a nice gesture to surprise someone (a friend, neighbor, relative, or someone in need) with a freshly baked batch of wonderful Christmas cookies.

Betty Crocker cookie mixes make cookies so easy to bake and give back to those who mean a lot to us. They provide that sweet treat without needing extra time and without going through the hassle of some long grocery list and extra baking time. With all the baking that goes on in our home during the holidays, I am really looking for shortcuts and for easy. Plus, I am not good at coming up with from-scratch cookie recipes anyway, so Betty Crocker helps me out in both areas.

About 2 weeks ago, I used a packet of Betty Crocker Sugar cookie mix to bake cookies for my daughter’s birthday party. I bought the mix about a month earlier and it was just sitting in my pantry waiting to be used. Everyone loved the cookies. They were so easy to throw together and they were buttery and just the right texture. So when this new opportunity to #spread cheer came around I could not pass up on it, knowing the quality of Betty Crocker cookie mixes! These #spreadcheer mixes come in three different varieties, sugar cookie, peanut butter, and chocolate chip. For inspiration on all the lovely easy recipes you can make with Betty Crocker cookie mixes, see here.

I bought the sugar cookie mix at my local my local Meijer Grocery Store. And also bought chocolate chips, too. Because really, who resist a good chocolate chip cookie? Not I! But all I need to bake this batch of cookies was one pouch of Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie mix, 1 stick butter, an egg, and about 8 minutes of baking time. Really, it is that simple. Follow the instructions on the package for mixing and baking!

Getting the kids involved in the baking process is a great way to help them learn and be involved in the entire #spreadcheer opportunity. Our girls were supper excited to help out as usual. And I was happy to let them help!

Because it is Christmas, we added red and green icing and a sprinkling of course sugar on some.

They did a fabulous job helping me. And of course, testing them out, too!

As you can see, I am really no professional cookie decorator. But it is fun to make traditions and memories as we bake and cook together. And it does not have to be perfect to spread some cheer. Does it?

You can also use these free coloring pages for cookie shaping ideas. The kids will have fun coloring them.

When the icing was dried we packaged our cookies in Christmas-y items to give to our friends. We used these pretty #spreadcheer printables from Betty Crocker to make it extra special.

The printables come in lone large size and various smaller sizes.

Our friends had no idea we were doing this but they were so happy to receive the cookies. Only one kid was willing to take a photo, though. Gotta love that cute little face!

So now it’s your turn. You can make one person happy this Christmas by spreading some cheer to them, too. Betty Crocker is offering a $0.50 cent discount coupon code on any one Betty Crocker™ Cookie Mix. Snag your coupon here. And also, one of my readers will win $20 to help purchase #spreadcheer products at their local Meijer grocery store. Let’s keep the cheer going, shall we?

Simply fill out your information below to enter. And don’t forget to print out those pretty and free #spreadcheer printables from Betty Crocker to include in your packaging. Use the hastag #SpreadCheer when sharing on social media. Now go spread some cheer!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How will you spread some cheer to someone this holiday season? I would love to know your thoughts in the comments!

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Weekend Happenings & 6 Reasons to Give Thanks!

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever (Psalm 107:).

It is almost Thanksgiving and we are definitely in a “Thankful” mood. The bible says that in everything we should give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and Thanksgiving time is always a great reminder of that verse. Because despite our current circumstances we have so much to be thankful for, especially here in the US. With that in mind, here are 6 things I am thankful for as I reflect over this past weekend.

A time to give thanks 2

Strength in time of need: Over the past two weeks, a wave of sickness (cold, cough, and fever virus) seemed to have swept throughout our home. It went from one kid to the next and then unto the parents. Most of us are doing better from this – the hubs is still fighting it as he got it last. The baby was doing somewhat better but just came down with a terrible ear infection. Needless to say, we were encouraged by our pediatrician to make a hospital visit with him for treatment last night. But you know, in the midst of this, I am thankful that the two girls are doing better and that God gave me the strength to take care of them, even when I was not feeling to well myself. I am also grateful for the wisdom God gives to doctors and nurses to know how to best help us when our health is not the best. Also, I am so grateful that my husband has time off from work until after Thanksgiving. We can help each other out with the little sick ones in our lives.
The change of the season/First Snowfall: I am thankful for the beautiful snow. Although it does get messy when we get piles and piles of it, it is still a beautiful thing to watch. This past weekend, we were graced with the first snowfall of the season. Not just a dusting or flurry like we normally do on the first fall, but real heavy fluffy snow – storm and all! Here is a view from out front – ya, we got a little park for the kids to play, right out front.

I think a bunch of us were sort of thrown off by the amount of snow we received on this first fall. It was in the news that there was a warning but who knew? Our cars were parked outside and covered in snow. And my kids winter outfits are almost two small on them. I usually buy a size up and they have already used the jackets for two years. The snow pants though, I bought their actual sizes last year because they were made big. And their bigger hats were in the van so I found these small ones in a store away bin so they could at least go out to play. And let’s not forget the boots. They are cute and cozy but they are made of fabric. All their cute little boots are great for Fall and winter but for playing outside like this, we got to have some rain or heavier snow boots. But no kid could pass up a good snowfall – this was just a few hours before we threw a birthday party for one of our kids (see below). I told you, this storm came upon us unprepared. Well, I guess I better head down to the store to get my kids some more snow gears. But just like that Fall in Chicago is gone!

All two photos above are the front yard view and here is it from another angle. I just love this one with those trees by by neighbor!

3. Our first daughter’s birthday party: Yes, despite our cold virus and snow storm, we still were able to pull off our oldest daughter’s birthday party this past Saturday. No germs were flying around though, because by then, the girls were already feeling much better. And the hubs did not get sick until after the party. All the invited kids showed up despite the weather. This is Chicago people do not cancel events unless there is a serious blizzard! And I mean SERIOUS! So we kept the party and everyone came in royal princess gowns and all! Yea! She turns 5 at the end of the month but with the possibility of her friends being out of town the week of Thanksgiving, we pushed her party back one week earlier. Hopefully, I will have more photos up soon.

4. Family: Family is everything, isn’t it. As my kids say, “family sticks together”! I am so thankful for family who will stand behind us no matter how much we mess up. You know what I mean? The times when you feel you have blown it, or you’re the worst parent in the world, or whatever the case may be. Then someone hugs you and says, “you’re the best mom ever”. Really.

5. A home: It is truly a blessing to have a place to call home, especially during unfriendly weather conditions. Got snow? You’ll be thankful for a warm cozy come where you can hideout and watch the snowfall from indoors or where you can retreat after a long difficult day at work. Here is a shot from our backyard in the early morning, this past weekend.

6. YOU, my readers: Yes, I am blessed to be able to share part of our little corner of the world with people like you. Thankful that you take time of your busy day to pop on over and read my posts and give encouragement to keep going! So thank you and hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!

These are six things I am thankful for today as I reflect on the past weekend. There are so many more but we don’t need to drag along this post.

What are you thankful for today? Let’s share a blessing in the comments below and be encouraged by each other!

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US Cooking Conversion Chart Printable – For All Your Holiday Cooking & Baking Needs and Beyond

It seems like every so often when I am in the middle of cooking, I always have to run to my phone or computer to find out the equivalent of certain measurements. Especially ones like 5/8 cup or 7/8 cup. Seriously, I could never remember what those mean. In the grand scheme of things, I could put a meal together without actually using measuring tools, kind of like my mom does, you know. Just throw ingredients together and make a meal turn out delicious. (By the way, my hubby says every time I cook like this the meals seem to turn out better. But then of course, they never taste the same the second time around because I keep changing the ingredients (more or less of something).

But anyway, with the world of recipes out there to try and not wanting to mess up, I try to use the exact amount of ingredients recommended by someone who created a recipe. It’s probably not a good idea to throw ingredients together in hopes that the food turns out the way it is supposed to when using someone else’s recipe. Especially for baking. So to help me remember some of the hard to remember cooking measurements equivalents, I have made a printable that I will keep close by. Because frankly, it is annoying to always have to look up measurements up every time. I get the 1/4 cup, the 1/2 cup, 3/4 cup etc. but anything off line with an 8 at the end (1/8, 5/8, 7/8 etc.) throws me completely off.

About two years ago, I printed off something on line and kept it on the refrigerator and it was a great help. But we move last year and I never really put much effort into printing another one. Until recently, when Fall arrived and the amount of cooking and baking that comes the holidays I figured I would make me one to my liking.

I used a chalkboard background and made it in three different colors. Here it is in red.

And in blue.

It will be great framed or on the refrigerator. Or just some place close for when you are cooking.

US measurement chart on the fridge

To download a free PDF copy of this US Cooking Conversion Chart in one of three colors (or all three colors), click on this link, US Cooking Conversion Chart. Because if you are like me and find yourself frequently needing to look up certain equivalents, you might just need a printable like this. You are welcome!

So tell me, could you use something like this every now and again? Especially during this busy time of the year? Or do you just throw ingredients together? I would love to know your thoughts in the comments below.

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10 Thanksgiving Dinner Make-Ahead Food Preparations to Cut Down on Thanksgiving Day Stress

Ever since I got married, Thanksgiving alternated between my in-law’s home or ours. But for the past two to four years, I have been hosting. I was one of those who waited “ON THE DAY OF” before even beginning to cook because I like all foods freshly made! Well, you know what happens, it seemed like I was in the kitchen all day trying to prepare meals. But last year, I wised up a little after reading a blog post on early prepping. I do not even remember where I saw the post or all that was involved but I do know one thing, it really made Thanksgiving Day cooking easier and faster. And this year, I have even began to prep a few smaller things to help with the process. Let’s not to far out of the way, we still want fresh and tasty. And you all may be ahead of the game already on this one.

But if you are the main cook for Thanksgiving, here are 10 foods you can prep the night before and some, even days before Thanksgiving:

Turkey or Meat: Be sure to purchase your turkey early (or whatever meat you will use). And give it enough time to defrost.
Vegetables: I learned a trick earlier this year that potatoes can be peeled and placed in a big bowl of water in the fridge overnight. This will keep them from browning. Do the same for other vegetables like squash, carrots, corn, fresh green beans, etc.
Cranberry: To have nice and cold cranberries on the day of, why not prep them the night before or even a few days early and put them in the fridge? If you purchase canned, just opened them, place them in your serving bowl, and cover with foil. Or if you are going to use fresh, cook them a few days or the night before. Be sure to store them in the fridge. Cranberries taste better when they are cold.
Breads/Rolls: There are so many overnight rolls recipe floating around. Find a good one to prep before. Or even overnight cinnamon rolls or french toast casserole for breakfast. Corn bread could be made the day before, too.
Toppings: Dry ingredients for oatmeal or nut toppings for dishes like sweet potato casseroles can be mixed ahead. All you need to do when it is time to make is add the butter (if using) to the topping and you are good to go.
Stuffing mix: I am not a huge fan of pre-mix stuffing but getting most of the main ingredients together for “good ole” home-cooked stuffing before the day of could really help ease the cooking.
Cold Salads: Don’t wait a few hours on the day of to start scrambling – hoping your cold salads would be cold by the time dinner is ready. Prepare them the night before.
Spices/Seasoning Mixes: Most spices and seasoning mixes (dry or wet) can be mixed days before or at least for a day before the actual use. You know those recipes that is really worth creating but require a ton of spices and seasonings to add in? Mixing them before will definitely be a huge help to your Thanksgiving Day cooking.
Desserts: In my opinion, pretty much all desserts could be made ahead especially cold desserts like cheesecakes and frozen pies. Other pies like Pecan pies can be baked ahead. Or if you prefer on the day of pies, you can make the dough ahead. Just freeze it and thaw it in the refrigerator a few hours before using.
Drinks: If you are going to make special drinks, make them ahead and store them in the refrigerator. If using pre-made drinks, don’t forget to store them in the fridge. Or make ahead your ice to serve your drinks.

And so you ask yourself, won’t I still be tired if I spend all night prepping for the big day? Maybe so, but at least you will know when your family and friends are gathered, you will not be spending all day trying to prepare food to serve them. You can at least spend some time with them talking, playing or watching games or whatever traditions you have set up for Thanksgiving Day. And if you start earlier than just the night before (a week or a few consecutive days before), you will definitely cut down on the amount of work you will put in the night before Thanksgiving prepping for dinner.

So I would like to know, what other foods do you or would you make ahead for Thanksgiving dinner? I would love to know your thoughts in the comments.

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Non Toy Christmas Gift Ideas

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