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Tiny Tokens Wrapped Up Big

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One of my fondest Christmas memories was when our family would get together with another family at the holidays, have dinner and exchange gifts.

I remember my mom’s friend, Judy, arriving with a big basket filled with beautifully wrapped packages. We’d all sit around the fire after dinner in our living room calling out names and swapping these little packages.

What I recall most wasn’t what was under the festive wrapping paper, but just the gorgeous wrapping itself. Between my mom and Judy, I was destined to carry the {take the gift wrapping to the next level} gene.

Over the years the gift bag has gained popularity and, don’t get me wrong, I use those babies like they’re going out of style. I recycle them and often times eye some super cute ones at the dollar store and throw a few in the cart. But, I love wrapping gifts the old-fashioned way with a nice roll of wrapping paper, some Scotch tape and some twine or ribbon of some sort ~ getting the corners all tucked in just so before adding a little piece of tape to secure it.

Secret: if the gift is a weird shape, I’ll throw it in a gift bag with some tissue and call it a day!

At Christmas, I like to acknowledge the special people and friends in our life with a little token to show them that we’re thinking about them at this special time of year. It doesn’t have to be much…in fact I pick up little things that I come across in my travels and tuck them away in my secret compartment in the months leading up to Christmas. Then, I wrap them up with lots of love and deliver to sweet recipients. I also like to have little tokens and goodies on-hand that I can grab at the last minute for hostess gifts and such. I most certainly like to shop and choose gifts for specific people, but it is nice to have a few neutral things waiting in the wings for last minute situations.

1. Lilly Pulitzer message board

2. Small blank journal

3. Simple pair of earrings

4. Mrs. Meyer’s soy candles {Target clearance}

5. Blank notecards

6. Wine charms

7. Scarf

These are all little things that I picked up at Target, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx or Ross for next to nothing. Always check the clearance sections first!

Other little things you can keep on hand for little gifts are…

Wine {Trader Joe’s has bottles of good wine for as low as $3.99}

Pound of holiday blend coffee

Box of holiday tea {I love TJ’s candy cane green tea & cinnamon vanilla black tea}

Statement rings for the girly girls in your life {they have cute ones at Target and Kohl’s}

Little bottle of hand soap in holiday scent for the kitchen or bathroom

Dish towels

*****

I like to use blank manila shipping labels for gift tags and doctor them up with stamps, the kids’ little drawings or washi tape. Add a “to” and a “from” and you’re done! I found mine at Office Max, but they came with a string instead of the wire which makes it a breeze to tie on packages.

{via}

*****

I have most of my fun finds ready to wrap up and give this Christmas…trying to get a head start with the gifts so I can focus on baking in a couple weeks. Plus, we never have very many wrapped gifts under our tree until Christmas Eve!

Just for old time’s sake, I may just have to find a big basket to hold all my little packages until they are ready for delivery.

Happy shopping & wrapping!

One Day & One Winner!

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Earlier this week, I decided to try to document bits and pieces of my day and follow along with Laura over at Hollywood Housewife and her One Day 2012 Project.

I stumbled across her blog awhile back while searching birthday party ideas and have been following ever since. She has amazing style and the cutest littles. When you have a moment, go over and say “Hello!”.

No one day is ever alike around here…some days I get out and exercise, some days I don’t. Some days I volunteer at the school, some days I don’t. Some days I’m productive, some days I’m not. Just depends.

On this particular day I was home all morning doing this and that around the house and running an errand before picking them up and heading to a play date. Elliott also had CCD and I had my weekly Wednesday RCIA meeting that evening.

Here are eight moments of my Wednesday…

Practicing his share for “N” day….a napkin. Exciting stuff.

Little lunches.

Future Thanksgiving place cards.

Appointment makin’.

Polka dotted lunch ~ tuna melt & cantaloupe.

The money’s going in, not coming out.

Cleaning up after our playdate.

Moo shu pork burgers for din din.

It was fun to snap pictures here and there, upload them to Instagram and follow along with others as they documented their days.

*****

And now for the winner of my blogiversary giveaway…

Congrats, Amy!

Amy has entered every. single. one. of my giveaways and I am happy to report that it’s finally her turn! Thanks, Amy for being a faithful follower and for your sweet comments over the years! Your goodies are in the mail.

Thank you to all who entered! I will be having another one soon….please stay tuned!

Have a happy, happy weekend.

XOXO

List Making, Etc.

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Hello friends and Happy Wednesday!

I don’t know about you, but I have several lists going on right now…

1. Next week’s grocery list

2. Thanksgiving Day grocery list

3. List of holiday goodies to bake

4. List of folks to deliver the holiday goodies to

5. List of gifts to buy and send

Etc.

I’m a list making fool these days.

Trying to pin down the treats I’m going to make this year for neighbors, teachers, office ladies, yard duties, lunch ladies, pediatrician’s office…

Etc.

I think I’ve come up with a few contenders and I wanted to share them with you in case you have NO idea what to bake, either…

{cake batter fudge}

With red, green & white nonpareils, of course!

 {lumps of coal ~ no-bake Oreo/marshmallow bars}

Not that anyone has been bad this year…..

{peppermint sugar cookie bars}

And you KNOW I’m going to make these!

How’s that for narrowing down all the gazillions of holiday treats on Pinterest?

*****

Have you entered my blogiversary giveaway yet? Tomorrow night at midnight is the cut-off, so please take a peek and enter before it’s too late!

Have a wonderful, blessed, productive, {Etc.} day!

XO

Handwritten Sentiments

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Get out your glittery gel pens and postage stamps, print out this cheery graphic from and write some notes to a few lucky recipients.

I’ve already printed mine out and have my list of rainbow happiness receiving peeps ready to go.

Go here to print or visit Life Rearranged to read Jeannett’s lovely description of The Happy Day Project 2012’s first task.

{hint: print “borderless”}

Thank you, Lindsay from Pen & Paint for sharing your talents with this rainbow goodness. Be sure and check out her shop full of whimsical prints to brighten up your walls!

Happy Snail Mailing!

life rearranged

Spread Some Sunshine

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In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, I like to sit back, count our blessings and acknowledge what we’re grateful for. It’s also nice to conduct random acts of kindness and spread a little sunshine.

Here’s a fun way to do that…

Starting this coming Monday, November 5th, you have the chance to participate in {The Happy Day Project} and touch the life of someone you know, someone in need or even a complete stranger. As seen below, each day has a fun task, an adorable printable graphic to adorn your treat with or pop in the mail to that unsuspecting someone and a charity that you can donate to on-line if that is more convenient.

Please go to Life Rearranged each day to download the printables and to see how Jeannett and her sweet family are spreading sunshine.

Last year I was a little tardy to the Happy Day party and participated a week or so later…doesn’t matter as long as you do it and do so with a kind & happy heart. You can read about the giftcard to someone in need here and the blessing bag assembly here.

Click here to see recaps of all the wonderfulness that was spread last year. So great. So so great.

But, I am on it this year and will be taking part with the masses. This weekend I’m going to make a list of who the handwritten notes and snail mail will go to for Monday, grab a few gift cards at local fast food restaurants for Tuesday and be on the hunt for a baked treat to deliver to deserving bodies on Wednesday. You could also {treat} someone to a morning coffee or take a friend or co-worker to lunch. It’s so much fun to see how everyone serves and carries out these heartfelt acts.

Won’t you join me for five days of spreading sunshine…..let’s have a HAPPY week together, K?

Sugar Overdose

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Wanna know what’s more sickening than stuffing your face with Laffy Taffy, Almond Joy, Snickers, York and Pay Day candy?

Going into the archives and pulling up your babies pics from every single one of their Halloweens.

Time is so cruel. So, so cruel.

A reminder to take each day and appreciate them while they are monkeys, and peacocks, and candy corns, and butterflies….

A stroll down October 31st memory lane:

{2005}

{2006}

{2007}

{2007}

{2008}

{2009}

{2009}

{2009}

{2010 ~ Fall Festival}

{2010 ~ Trick-or-Treating : ballerina & chicken}

{2011 ~ Fall Festival}

{2011 ~ Trick-or-Treating}

{2012 ~ Fall Festival}

{2012 ~ Trick-or-Treating}

*****

There you have it….eight years of costumes {some recycled!}, candy and sweet, sweet memories.

I’m in a sugar coma.

Happy Halloween!

XO

The Key To My Heart

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Tomorrow is a very special day.

Our 8 year wedding anniversary….

October 23, 2004

The perfect San Diego Fall afternoon for nuptials in Balboa Park followed by an Old Town celebration late into the evening ~ more to come on that tomorrow, but today I wanted to share with you something fitting that I purchased this morning as a little anniversary gift to us. {but only I will wear it! ha!}

{via}

I’ve been admiring Leslie’s upcycled, vintage treasures since she opened her shop {Salvage 517} and when she Insta’d that she had some new beauties listed this morning, I took a peek and knew I had to have this little key around my neck to remind me of how lucky I am to have found Jay and start our life together officially almost eight years ago.

I adore it. And I adore Leslie. I had the pleasure of meeting her briefly a year ago at Blog Sugar and from the minute I met her I knew she had a heart of gold ~ a beautiful, vintage gold heart hugged by several gorgeous beads and strung on a bright and vibrant ribbon, of course.

You can find her sweet, inspiring blog here.

Annnnnd to top it off, she owns an adorable senior citizen dachshund that looks just like Rascal.

So, go and check out her Etsy shop and pop in and say “Hello!” on her blog.

I also couldn’t resist this fabric wrapped frame housing a vintage Thanksgiving greeting for our November mantle…

Love. Love. Love.

And I love you, too, Jay! Can’t wait to celebrate with you tomorrow!

Thank you for holding the key to my heart…

XO

P’unkin Snickerdoodles

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This past weekend our OC friends came for a quick 24 hour visit.

As always, Richelle comes with a baked good in mind that never disappoints. This time it was Pumpkin Snickerdoodles. Yes, you read that correctly.

Without further ado…

Here’s what you need:

1 cup butter, room temp

1 3/4 cups sugar

2 eggs

3  cups flour

1 cup pumpkin puree {I like Libby’s}

2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 tsp. baking soda

Dash of salt

To roll cookies in:

2 tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

{Mix all three and place into a shallow bowl}

Here’s what you do:

Cream together butter, sugar and eggs. Add in cream of tartar, baking soda, flour, pumpkin and salt. Mix until blended. **Important** Dough will be sticky! Cover and chill in ‘fridge for at least an hour before you attempt to roll them.

Preheat oven to 400*.

Roll into approximate golf ball size balls {I like to use this} and coat in cinnamon/sugar/pumpkin pie spice mixture. Place onto silicone mat or parchment paper {foil is fine, too}. Bake for 9 minutes, turn oven off and leave in for 3 more minutes. Remove and place on a wire rack to cool.

Makes approximately 3 dozen.

Trust me. You NEED to make these.

The thing I absolutely love about snickerdoodles is the thin crispy crust baked on from the cinnamon sugar mixture and the soft inside ~ add in a Fall twist with the pumpkin and the pumpkin pie spice and you’ve gone to snickerdoodle heaven.

Thanks again for sharing, Richelle!

And how cute is this owl bandana? Wally World for a buck. For real.

So, go and bake up some of these for your neighbors, teachers, co-workers and wrap them up in one of these cute bandanas.

Don’t forget to save some to go with your morning coffee…

Enjoy and Happy Tuesday!

Muggings On The Rise

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Last month, Kim over at Cuppa Kim sponsored and orchestrated her second annual Mug Swap ~ where you send her your info and she pairs you up with someone to mug! The thing is…the person you get doesn’t automatically get you. That makes it fun because it keeps you in suspense and guessing, if you like that sort of thing which I do.

I secretly and casually started following my girl, Jamie {@james_town}, on Instagram and started reading her fun blog so I could get an idea of what she liked.

I learned that she had an eye and a soft spot in her heart for vintage/thrift store finds so the first place I looked was Goodwill. I immediately spotted a fun little {too little in my opinion} vintage-y piggy number that I absolutely fell in love with. It was simple, yet chic and modern, but I love that this little gal has a history. I hope that she held many cups of coffee or tea in her day and will allow Jamie to enjoy many more!

{Goodwill on right, Target on left}

Then I remembered I had seen the orange and aqua cuteness at Target so I flew over there to grab that one too since it’s more substantial and can hold more caffeine. I LOVE how the two mugs compliment each other, as well! It couldn’t have worked out more perfectly.

And you certainly cannot have a naked wrist while sipping your hot beverage of choice…

{twine wrapped bangle with felt flowers}

I had so much fun gathering little goodies to stuff in the mugs and package this up for sweet Jamie, the newlywed!

She wrote the sweetest recap of her Mug Swap experience here.

*****

On the flip side, I received my package on the most perfect day…..the day I got home from my court appearance for my lame ticket.

{which was dismissed by the way because the officer did not show. yay!}

My mugger was darling Elizabeth {@lizzymarie725} who I had already had the pleasure of “knowing” on IG.

I could kick myself that I didn’t snap a picture of the box because she had some cute paisley packaging tape on there….

My awesome{!!} mug came with the nicest card, some Caramel Pumpkin Pie coffee and a bundle of polka dotted straws! I’m super spoiled and have no problem with muggings of this kind!

My maiden voyage with my new mug most certainly called for a little dollop of whip….

Waiting for a legit Fall morning to brew the caramel pumpkin coffee.

And I will certainly think of Kim, Jamie and Elizabeth while I am sipping it!

Thanks, Kim for hosting ~ love this idea. Can’t wait for next year!

Thanks, Jamie for being my mug-ee ~ I had so much fun!

Thanks, Elizabeth for being my mugger and for absolutely spoiling me rotten!

Party Like Julie Andrews ~ My Favorite Things Party

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Pinterest is home to all sorts of fun party themes, recipes, craft ideas, DIY, etc. If you’re not on it yet, you need to be. {Pretty please} You can check out my profile here.

My Favorite Things parties are popping up on pin boards lately and two of my friends have hosted them ~ here and here.

The idea of the party is to share your favorite things with other guests and vice versa. You bring 3-5 {based on how many guests} of your favorite goodies and go home with the same amount of fun new treats. My friend, Vicki, hosted a small mama’s night on Saturday night and we sat around getting caught up, noshing on some yummy eats, sipping some mama drinks and passing around our favorite things.

I brought BBQ chicken pizza…

…and the makings for mango micheladas!

We also had homemade chicken enchiladas, Texas Trash dip and a fruit and veggie platter.

For dessert I brought my new fave, Sugar Cookie Bars…

Vicki pinned this cute idea to use cut citrus fruit in a clear vase with her favorite flowers as the centerpiece…

Here’s how it all goes down:

Choose one or two of your favorite things {we kept it at $5 or less} and buy how ever many the hostess requests. Some ladies brought 3 different items which is fine, too! {I brought three of the same thing}

Wrap them up.

At the beginning of the party, write your name on a little scrap of paper 3 times {or the same number of times as the goodies you brought} fold them up and place them into a bowl or basket.

When you’re ready to exchange, pick out the same number of names that you put in, making sure not to pick your own name or any duplicates.

Sit down and go around presenting your treats to the names you’ve picked.

Have everyone open them and talk about why it’s your fave, where you can buy it, etc.

By the end of the night you should go home with a few goods and ideas of other stuff you want to buy yourself!

Here are a few of my favorite things…

 {a big sugar cookie bar slab, sweet notecards from Michaels, Seventh Generation Lavender Floral & Mint dish soap and a bonus sampling of some Emergen-C and a little iced tea packet}

Each mama got one of the cute notecard packs, just wanted to show you the different ones ~ aren’t they adorable? Again, Michaels for $1.50!

I made some little goodie bags for my loot with some plain gift bags that I doctored up with little felt flowers, a tag and some washi tape…

{here is a tutorial for making the felt roses}

It was so fun to sit around and see what everyone brought. I came home with some B&BW Country Chic body spray, See’s Candies Scotch Kisses, Dove Dark Chocolate and Ghirardelli Mint Squares!

{The See’s Scotch Kisses? To-die-for. How have I never had those ’til now?}

Love it all, but will have to do an extra 100 miles on the elliptical to make up for all that chocolate. And at least I have my body spray for after my workouts….another scent I haven’t tried ~ Country Chic {key fragrance notes: sparkling lemon, bright wildflowers, and spring wood}!

A couple other fave things that went around on Saturday night…Red Velvet candle from Target and the ever favorite Starbucks gift card.

{you need this!}

*****

So, you need to host a MFT party! A Fall or Christmas inspired theme would be so fun…yes or yes?

Do it.

Thanks again for hosting, Vicki.

Happy Monday!

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