Holiday Shopping Guide

To Shop or Not to Shop?

That is quite the question.

Ya know, I wasn't going to go shopping this weekend, especially today, but I did. I woke up this morning with a sore throat and no coffee or tea, so I decided to leave the house. Before I got my 99 cent EXTRA LARGE Pumpkin coffee from Dunkin Donuts (how awesome is that?), I went to the mall. My demise..?

No way!

 I got 2 pairs of skinny jeans for $10 each at JC Penney!

JC Penney is really stepping up their game; they have some cute things in there.

I also got a cute sheer black shirt. 

And that was my Black Friday.

 

Her:

•  Striped Infinity Scarf, Jersey Knit -- $26.50 ElizaAndRo
•  Peony Petal Beaded Earrings -- $81.79  BlackMarketJewels
•  Merona Green Ostrich Clutch -- $20.69 Target

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Him:

• 16GB Apple iPad Mini -- $329.00 at Apple, $329.99 at Best Buy
• Hero3: Black Edition Surf (Waterproof GoPro!!) -- $399.99 at GoPro
•  Joseph Abboud Leather Computer Bag -- $126 (Black Friday), $180 original at JC Penney
  

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Teens:

• 16GB Apple iPod Nano - $149 at Target, $149 at Wal Mart, $138 at Apple
• Gold Tube Bracelet with Blue Cotton Cord  -- $8.60 LeiniJewelry

•  Halo 4 for Xbox -- $59.99 at Target, $59.99 at Best Buy
• La Mer Coral Triple-Wrap Watch -- $39.99 at $39.99 at Target

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Kids/Toddlers/Infants:

• Easy Bake Ultimate Oven - $38.00 at Target, $49.99 at Toys R Us, $38.00 at Wal Mart 

• Hot Wheels Terrain Twister R/C Vehicle -$79.99 at Target, $99.99 at Toys R Us,  $69.87 at Wal Mart

• LeapFrog LeapPad2 Explorer Learning Tablet - $99.99 at Target, $99.99 at Toys R Us, $99.00 at Wal Mart 

• Jake & the Neverland Pirates Musical Pirate Ship, Bucky - $38.99 at Target, $44.99 at Toys R Us, $38.89 at Wal Mart

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 For the Home:

•  Silver Oval Serving Tray Chalkboard Tray -- (Picture 1) $22 ReWorkedTreasures
•  Metal Tree Card Holder -- (Picture 2) $15 Rinnovato
•  Wedding & Anniversary Wooden Sign/Plaque -- (Picture 3) $29.45 ArkwoodUK
• Threshold Crushed Bamboo Candle Holders -- (Picture 4)  $24.99 Target 
• Threshold Windham Accent Storage Cabinet -- (Picture 5) $130 at Target

❄Happy Shopping❄

Don't forget to enter my Happy Holidays Giveaway!

Salt Dough Tutorial // Giveaway Preview

I've got the holiday itch. I want to start decorating for Christmas but I must wait until Saturday. I think I want to start decorating so early because Olivia is making Christmas exciting again. That's a pretty good reason to be early, ya?

However, instead of full on decorating, I decided to give Olivia and myself a few fun pre-holiday craft projects.

Yesterday's project was Salt Dough Ornaments.

You will need:

2 cups flour

1cup salt

1 cup warm water

A bit of extra flour to roll dough on

*This dough can be saved for a few days in the fridge*

Heat oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mix the dry ingredients together. Once mixed, slowly add the water while stirring. Lightly whisk the mixture until a soft, non sticky, dough forms.

Now it's time to knead! Knead the dough for 3-5 minutes then roll it out on a clean, lightly floured surface. Grab your favorite cookie cutters or shot glasses (makes cute little circles) and cut out your desired number of shapes. Put your dough ornaments on a nonstick baking pan, or a pan covered with parchment paper and bake for 100-135 minutes (time depends on thickness of dough) at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooking the ornaments a bit longer will give them a light tan color/rustic look.

**Don't forget to cut a small hole for ribbon or an ornament hook BEFORE baking, straws work really well for this**

Once the ornaments have cooled it's time to paint.

We used watercolors, but acrylics work really well, too.

 

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GIVEAWAY PREVIEW

 The giveaway begins tonight at Midnight EST.

One winner will receive a 2oz Organic Honey Cocoa (Beeswax and Cocoa Butter) Lotion Bar, a 2oz Natural Coffee Scrub, and a Vanilla Lip Butter tube ~ valued at $13.50

Contest is open to US and Canada residents.

Holiday Prepping & Things to Come

It's that time again.

I heard Christmas music on the radio, blah.

However, this means that it's time for egg nog, winter hats, sparkly lights, hot cocoa, family gatherings, holiday treats, and snow. 

I can't wait to make new traditions this year with my little family.  Olivia is older and can finally join in on all of the holiday fun. There's something about little kids and holidays, they make them feel magical again.

I have a lot planned for the upcoming season; things that I can't wait to share with all of my readers.

Things to look forward to:

(including a Giveaway!)

Salt Dough / Handmade Ornaments Tutorial

Amazingly Delicious Cookie and Pie Recipes

An Ultimate Shopping Guide

 A Giveaway featuring items from my Etsy Shop

'Coffee Time #1' by LittleWoodyDuck

COFFEE SCOOP Qualit... Beadz2Pleaz $49.99	Knitted mug cozy, t... shumshu $10.90	Coffee Stained Natu... PattisAnnex $18.00	Coffee Jewelry - Co... BeautifulByCha... $9.00
BOGO SALE, Food ph... Raceytay $15.00	Live Edge Walnut Ca... brandmojointer... $700.00	Natural Coffee Soa... SummerfieldSoa... $5.50	Coffee Art Print MacGregorArt $25.00
Natural Vegan Coffe... StellaKenton $14.00	Crochet coasters, S... DecoZoneStudio $22.00	Coffee Heart Orname... YanArt $45.00	Little Moons - Croc... Febystan $17.00
Vintage Brass Sugar... VirginiaVintag... $18.00	Cross stitch patter... CrossStitchFor... $4.00	Quilted Zipper Pouc... EweniqueEssent... $12.00	Ice Cream Cozy Pint... AllThingsGrann... $15.00

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