Archive for the ‘Gifts’ Category

Blind Date Book Club Exchange

Wednesday, December 16th, 2015

Blind Date Book Exchange from MomAdvice.com

As a minimalist, I really love to give and get gifts that I really would love and use which can be difficult when it comes to holiday exchanges. We all, I am sure, have went home with a White Elephant gift we really did not love or spent good money on exchanges where we have felt a little disappointed in what we received in exchange. It’s tricky to not look like a Scrooge when you want to opt out to save money.

Last month though, I got a little inspiration for an idea to host a book exchange for my fellow bookworms. I visited Asheville for a conference and saw my first Blind Date Book display in person at the book shop. After snapping a photo for Instagram, I started thinking what a fun idea it would be to have a Blind Book Book Exchange for the holidays with my book club. What would an evening look like where we all brought blind dates to share?

Last night we had our exchange and it was, honestly, one of the best exchanges I have been a part of.  Perhaps, a bit nerdy, I loved going home with a great book AND a whole slew of ideas for books I’d love to check out at the library. 

Blind Date Book Exchange from MomAdvice.com

What Are Blind Date Books?

If you haven’t seen a display before, they are books that are wrapped in paper and then they have words written on them that describe what the book is about. Displays can be found at many bookstores and I have even heard that libraries do this too.  You can illustrate the paper or just write words about what makes the book special. I love this Pinterest board that shows so many ideas for a fun blind date book display. As you can see, there are many interpretations.

As someone who truly judges books by their covers, this gives you a chance to think differently, perhaps, about a book you might not have picked up before. Since it is a blind date, you are taking a bit of a risk that the money you invest may or may not pay off so you want to choose wisely.

I purchased a book at the bookstore and it sounded just like something I would love.

Guess what? It was something I already loved very much. I loved it so much that it made our top ten books of 2015.

I was happy to pass it on to someone else and, honestly, if I loved it enough to put it on my top ten, I would have been happy to own it too.

Blind Date Book Exchange from MomAdvice.com

How Do You Do a Blind Date Book Exchange?

Of course, since I have never heard that anyone has done this before, I made up my very own rules. That means, if these rules don’t work for you, feel free to make your own! It’s your blind date, friends!

Tell Everyone to Bring a Book Wrapped In Paper– I encouraged everyone to bring a book that was special to them or that they would want to read themselves. You could pass down a book that you already owned and loved or purchase a book for the exchange. Have everyone wrap their books and then write their own descriptions about them. I have found that reviews on the backs of books offer a plethora of beautiful words to use.

Draw Numbers- Write down numbers equal to the amount of people participating and have everyone draw a number.

Select Your Books– Give people time to browse the descriptions before the exchange and then start going in order of the numbers drawn. Beginning with the person who has drawn #1,  have them select their book, read the description on the outside, and then open it.

Steal Away– Just like those White Elephant exchanges, the next person in line can steal the opened book, if they are wanting to read it, or they can draw from the book pile. We allowed two steals per book to keep it fun while still moving along.

Go Home With a New Book, But Keep The Exchange Going Strong- What a treat to go home with a new read! The best part is, if your book club meets regularly, you can bring the book back to the next book club meeting and share it again with your book club members. It creates a little lending library for your group with just a small investment.  I can’t take credit for that idea though, it was thought up by my fellow book club member, Kate! Smart girl!

What Book Did I Give?

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

GAVE: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

DESCRIPTION: Worldview Changer, America’s Mandela, A Voice to the Voiceless, Thrilling, Heroic Endeavors, Compelling, Hope for Humanity, Inspiration for Change

Nonfiction can be intimidating to fiction lovers so I wanted to share this one because it read like a legal thriller and completely changed my view on people in the prison system. I couldn’t put it down and I wanted someone to read it so I could talk about the injustice of so many.

What Did I Go Home With?

Looking for Alaska by John Green

GOT: Looking for Alaska by John Green

I am really excited to dig into this- have you read it? I’ve heard such good things. I think this is the only John Green book I haven’t read yet!

Blind Date Book Exchange

This was the best exchange I’ve ever been part of  and it’s not because I invented it.

Or maybe it is.

Who is to say?

Regardless, I hope it inspires you for a fun night with your own book clubs. We look forward to making this one an annual tradition and it made for a really fun evening talking about all of our favorite books. I look forward to cozying up with my book over the winter break and I don’t even have to return it back to the library- winning!

Want to be part of a book club? Join me over here for our first online book club happening in January. We are reading this one as our first selection and I am so excited!

Have you ever taken a blind date with a book? Tell me about it!

This post contains affiliate links. I only recommend what I love, I promise!

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Celebrating St. Nicholas Day

Thursday, December 10th, 2015

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How to Celebrate St. Nicholas Day with Momadvice.com

 

This month I will be sharing some of our family’s favorite holiday traditions with you, some gorgeous shoe options for outfitting your entire family, and some refreshing new ideas for personalizing gift cards for this holiday season.

To kick things off, I wanted to show you a fun idea to bookmark for next year.

This year our family started a new tradition to celebrate St Nicholas Day which is observed in the states on December 6th.

Have you heard of St Nicholas Day? It is actually something I heard about recently from my friends and I thought it would be a sweet tradition this year to share with my kids.

 

How to Celebrate St. Nicholas Day with Momadvice.com

 

What Is St. Nicholas Day?

St. Nicholas Day is a popular holiday for children, especially children in many parts of Europe, because it is another day of sharing gifts.

What kid doesn’t love that?

In fact, in some European countries, St. Nicholas is celebrated with not only gift-giving, but it is so special that it is celebrated through parades and festivals too.

This holiday celebrating him is derived from Nicholas of Myra who officiated as a bishop in 4th century Greece.

During his lifetime he was known, in particular, for his gift-giving.

They say that he slipped coins in other people’s shoes, which accounts for many of today’s Christmas traditions that involve leaving gifts in shoes or boots today.

How to Celebrate St. Nicholas Day with Momadvice.com

The Simplest of Treats

The presents need not be grand, but are simple gestures that build up that sweet anticipation for Christmas.

Gifts like chocolates, chocolate coins, nuts, cookies, small trinket gifts, apples and oranges are just a few sweet treats that are perfect for tucking in your shoes on December 5th.

When I think of things to tuck in our shoes it reminds me of the cozy nights I spent reading with my daughter about how Christmas was celebrated in the Little House in the Big Woods.

As Laura described her thrill over a peppermint stick and a small cake made with real sugar, I remember my daughter’s wide eyes that these small offerings were the only presents they received for their Christmas.

Can you imagine anything that small feeling magical for our kids today?

It’s that nostalgia of sweet treats that is so perfectly captured through this tradition and why I wanted to share it with my two.

Less electronics and more magic, I say!

We are displaying our treats in two beautiful shoe options from Shoe Carnival.

In Indiana, it is all about cozy footwear and these are two great selections that I found for the holiday season that would be great options to wrap under your Christmas tree this year.

How to Celebrate St. Nicholas Day with Momadvice.com

The first option is the Tommy Hilfiger Charlie Duck Boots that I found for my son.

We have outgrown the days of little kid’s boots after an enormous growth spurt this year and now my son & husband can share shoes.

Duck Boots have become my new obsession because they can be worn in the Fall, Winter, & Spring making them a really great option for keeping your feet warm & dry for several seasons unlike boots that are just dedicated to snow.

I consider them to be a wise investment!

I have a pair for myself and my daughter has a beautiful pair too.

They are stylish and practical which is why I am recommending this option this Winter.

How to Celebrate St. Nicholas Day with Momadvice.com

The second pair is actually one that we featured here this summer for myself and fell in love with.

I discovered that they make Lil’ Bobs for kids with the same supportive memory foam sole that I love for my own feet.

It’s like walking on a cloud and I wish everyone could feel that way!

This trendy Bobs Pure Flex gives a nod to our pink obsession with the stripe detail on the sole, but reflects her big girl status in the print.

If my daughter is anything like me, these will be doubling for slippers because they are so darn comfortable.

You just can’t go wrong with this option and the modern prints available are beautiful and on trend.

 

How to Celebrate St. Nicholas Day with Momadvice.com

I hope that this tradition inspires you for next Christmas season and I hope these shoe options help you when selecting shoes for your kids!

 Happy Holidays!

*This post was sponsored by Shoe Carnival.  Thank you for supporting the companies that support this site!

 

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DIY Trophy Wine Topper

Thursday, December 3rd, 2015

DIY Trophy Wine Toppers from MomAdvice.com

DIY Trophy Wine Toppers from MomAdvice.com

DIY Trophy Wine Toppers from MomAdvice.com

DIY Trophy Wine Toppers from MomAdvice.com

Oh, you know I love a good hostess gift for the holidays! I am so excited to show off my DIY Wine Trophy Toppers I created for this gift-giving season. Our amazing designer, MJ from pars caeli, created these adorable free printable gift tags to customize your gift for the holidays. This is a 5-minute craft that is sure to get a good laugh from your favorite hostess and it couldn’t be easier.

While you are crafting these up, be sure to print out the trophy wife one for me- ha!

Head on over to the Kenmore blog to grab your free printable today- a holiday gift from us just for you!!

xo

The Big List of Handmade Gifts on Mom Advice

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2015

Big List of Handmade Gifts on MomAdvice.com

Since you all know I’m a crafty girl, it’s probably not hard to figure out that handmade gifts are high on my list of great things to give and receive! Over the years on Mom Advice I have complied a pretty good size archive of crafts and ideas that make great gifts any time of year, can be made easily – and sometimes really quickly – and would be perfect for your holiday gifting needs. So I decided to put them all together in one big list (that I can easily add to in the future!) to make it easy for you to find them.

You’ll find something for everyone on this list – kids, teachers, friends, family, as well as DIY projects that work for every skill level- easy to a little more involved. But never difficult, I promise!

Here’s how I’m organizing the list (and the categories are in order, so if you’re looking for kid’s gift ideas, you’ll know to scroll to the bottom):

  • Crafty Gifts
  • Knitted Gifts
  • Food Gifts
  • Fashion & Pampering Gifts
  • Kids Gifts

Crafty Gifts

DIY Paint dipped spoons make a perfect hostess or Christmas gift!

Paint-Dipped Spoon Sets

DIY Personalized Stamped Pencils 

DIY Herb & Garden Markers

Easy DIY Terrarium

DIY Monogrammed Wine Glasses

DIY Slow cooker candles on MomAdvice

Slow Cooker Citronella Candles

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spice Candles

Vintage Book Page Art

Heart String Art on Wood (free template!)

Knitting/Crochet Needle Holder from Vintage Linens

Knitted Gifts

Knitted coffee cozies made a great, stash-busting gift!
Knitted Coffee Cozies

Knitted Sweater Coffee Cozies

Knitted Wine Bottle Hat & Scarf

2 Dishcloth Patterns: Circle & Chinese Waves

4 More Dishcloth Patterns (& Homemade Cleaners to pair them with)

2 Sweet Little Baby Blankets 

Make a pair of quick knitted boot cuffs tonight!
Quick & Easy Knitted Boot Cuffs

Knitted Dovetail Cowl

Ruffled Scarf with Sashay Yarn

Snowflake Scarf from Purl Soho

7 Easy Scarves & Cowls to Knit

Knitted Headbands

3 Scarves, 2 Fingerless Gloves & 1 Hat Pattern

Learn cabling and make a Headband ear warmer to keep or give away.
Cable Knitted Ear Warmers

Violet Ruffled Shawl

How to Make the Perfect Prayer Shawl

Knitted Gap-tastic Cowl

2 Kids Knitted Hat Patterns

Food Gifts

Make chocolate coffee covered spoons.

Chocolate Coffee Spoons

No-Bake Peppermint Cheesecakes in a Jar 

Homemade Peppermint Marshmallows

Sugar & Spice Nut Mix

Oreo Biscotti 

Gingerbread Biscotti

DIY grill seasonings plus free printable labels for gift giving!
Grilling Seasoning Mixes with Printable Labels

Easy Microwave Peanut Brittle

Drink Mixes: Creamy Hot Cocoa & Vanilla Chai Tea

Quick Breads with Printable Gift Tags

Vanilla Scented Granola

Homemade Mint-Truffle Coffee Creamer

Fashion & Pampering Gifts

How to make a blanket scarf - it's easy!
How to Make a Blanket Scarf 

DIY Fitbit Bracelet Tutorial

Easy Felt Fabric Brooch

T-Shirt Flowers

Rosette Bib Necklace Tutorial 

Add cute fabric flowers to slippers to make a personalized gift.

Slippers with DIY Interchangeable Fabric Flowers

Rolled Ribbon Rosette Hair Accessory

Sweet Ribbon Rings

DIY Mojito Bath Salts 

Peppermint Bath Salts & Oatmeal Cookie Bath Soak (+ Free Printable)

Kids Gifts

DIY Book Tote with free printable designs
Library Tote Bags with Free Printables

Knitted Princess Leia Hat

Homemade Sidewalk Chalk Paint

Homemade Playdough

Kid’s Crafts: Painted Mugs

World’s Greatest Homemade Bubbles

 

See? That’s a lot! And you’ll want to pin this or bookmark it since I’ll be adding to it as I post more handmade gift ideas. Let’s get making!

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The MomAdvice Unique Holiday Gift Guide 2015: 20+ Ideas for Everyone On Your List

Saturday, November 21st, 2015

The MomAdvice Unique Holiday Gift Guide 2015: 20+ Ideas for Everyone On Your List

Each year I look forward to sharing a few fun gifts to add to your holiday wish list. This year we added a new weekly feature called It’s the 3 Little Things where you will find loads of recommendations for things that I love, but I still wanted to honor our annual list for you. Today’s list includes a few I have shared before and lots of new things that I think you will love. My promise to you is that I only share gifts that I believe will add value to your home and life, not more items to junk it up. There are gifts at all price points so I hope you find a few gift ideas that will inspire you for the giving season!

Unique Gifts for Everyone

Puffin In Bloom Collection

I have been coveting these Puffin reissued classics for our family’s bookcase for so long now that I am adding these to my Christmas wish list this year.

Little Women &  A Little Princess were two of my favorite books as a child and I would love to share this classic set with my family and dive in with these with my daughter.

Unique Christmas Gift Guide from MomAdvice.com

Adele

It is killing me to wait on purchasing this one, but Christmas is just around the corner and I would love to have Adele’s album on vinyl for our collection.

Although Hello is being way too overplayed on the radio right now,  I still can’t get enough of this lady and know that this would be an incredible addition to our collection.

Following closely behind it on my vinyl wish list is the 500 Days of Summer album since that has become one of my favorite little films.

Unique Christmas Gifts from MomAdvice.com

Ticket to Ride

Ticket to Ride is our ALL TIME favorite game in the world to play and share with friends.

Players collect train cards that enable them to claim railway routes connecting cities throughout North America.

The longer the routes, the more points they earn. Additional points come to those who can fulfill their Destination Tickets by connecting two distant cities, and to the player who builds the longest continuous railway.

For 2 to 5 players this one is recommended for ages eight and older.

Once you have the game, I highly recommend adding a couple of expansion packs on it.

The first one we added was the 1910 expansion ($21.99)  because the cards are really tiny in the board game and these give you the full-size cards.

To really create havoc on your board though, we love the Alvin & Dexter expansion pack.

Christmas Gift Guide from MomAdvice.com

Nikibiki Seamless Tops

I am obsessed with these Nikibiki seamless layers to go underneath my layers in the winter.

They are long enough to cover my rear, don’t add a lot of bulk under my sweaters, and they keep me cozy.

If you are local, check out Ali on the Boulevard to snag a few and support a local business!

These are made in the US and are a one size fits most item.

Unique Christmas Gift Ideas from MomAdvice.com

UGG Ansley Slippers

This past year, I found a pair of brand new UGG slippers on eBay and I wear them every single day without fail.

Quit throwing out cheap slippers and invest in good slippers- it is a gift that keeps on giving.

As a gift to my husband, I got him this pair too and now we are both super cozy this winter.

These UGG Ansley Slippers look delightfully cozy and I love all the colors they come in.

If you are already a proud UGG slippers owner, a fresh pair of inserts makes a lovely stocking stuffer.

MomAdvice Unique Christmas Gift Guide

Should I Wash My Hair Today? Flowchart Print

I hate washing my hair so this Should I Wash My Hair Today? Flowchart is one of the first pieces of art I picked out for our bathroom.

It makes me laugh when I see it and is always enjoyed by the guests in our home.

Poor hygiene always makes for a great ice breaker with new friends, doesn’t it?

Do you have a hair washing problem?

Consider this print from ChipperThings for a spot on your bathroom wall!

Unique Gift Ideas

Kamik Boots

I have been coveting the lace-up furry boots for our Indiana winters that so many of my friends own.

Kamik sent me these boots & my daughter received an adorable pair of Girl’s Solstice boots to sample this winter and this helped quiet my urge to spend a lot more on the Sorel boots I have been eyeing.

These Kamik Porto boots are really cozy and well constructed to keep your feet toasty while still looking stylish.

I have never had a really good pair of snow boots and always wished I did when playing outside with my kids or for our sledding days.

I am excited to break these in with my kids and tackle some hill. Half the price of Sorels and just as cute!

If you are in the market for these, I recommend sizing up one size for the perfect fit.

christmas-gift-guide-2015-4

Janet Hill ANYTHING

Janet Hill is a Clark favorite and I dream of adding one of her original oil paintings to our walls.

The English Major was a print that I asked for last year for Christmas and is one of my favorites in our home.

It would be perfect for a little girl’s room too!

My Janet Hill wish list is LONG (this one is on my list right now!).

We have 7 of her prints in our home and it is never enough.

I dare you to look at her art and not find something that speaks to you!

Carcassonne

Carcassonne

I purchased Carcassonne after playing it at Secret Door Games and we have already played it three more times this week.

This is one of those rare games that can be played with up to five people (yay for families with three kids, am I right?)

Basically, the game board is a medieval landscape built by the players as the game progresses.

The game itself is not complex (although they do have a junior edition), but it is more the point system and your own strategies they make it complex and interesting.

It reminds me of a combo of Blokus & Ticket to Ride, but medieval.

Building roads, castles, and land has now become a highly addictive game in our house.

We watched this video the first time to get the hang of it and now we can’t stop playing!

Locals can find this at Secret Door Games.

Unique Christmas Gift Ideas from MomAdvice.com

Skin Authority Cleansing System

I have tons of friends that swear by these facial brushes for helping reduce breakouts and keeping their skin looking fresh.

I am a newer convert, but am already seeing great benefits with this Skin Authority Cleansing System for my sensitive skin.

I liked the price tag on this system and appreciate that it is battery powered since we have a tiny bathroom and minimal outlets for charging.

This would make a great stocking stuffer for a teen girl in your home!

Unique Christmas Gift Ideas from MomAdvice.com

Coobie Bras

Looking for a bra that is the equivalent of your favorite yoga pants. Let me introduce you to the Coobie Bra.

There are no wire, no hooks, no clasps, and these are perfectly lightly padded. I mean, what more could a girl ask for?

It comes in the plain version  or you can get ones with a lace detail if you prefer a lacy cami look.

They are intended to fit women from a 32A to 36D, but they also make a full-size version for  just a few dollars extra if you need a little more support.

This is another great gift for a teen, yourself, or for your bestie!

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

A Man Called Ove 

If you are looking for a book that would be perfect for anyone (your mom, your grandma, your best friend, your husband, your father,  ANYONE), I must recommend, A Man Called Ove to share with them for the holidays.

 This is the most beautiful fictional book on aging that I have ever read.

It really served as a reminder to me how we all have things that happen to us that shape us as we get older and how we often neglect to listen to those layered stories of our elders.

I laughed and cried over this sweet story of Ove & the stray cat that claimed him.

The touching story of his beautiful bride and the difficulties of seeing your friends age and forget you just really pulled at my heartstrings.

Beautifully written supporting characters in the neighborhood just brought the whole story together for me and rounded out the beauty of finding “home.”

hazel and ruby knitted boot cuff

Holiday Knitted Boot Cuffs Crafternoon Kit

I love putting  my own products in my gift guides- ha!  If you do have a crafter in your family though, they will love my Holiday Knitted Boot Cuffs Kit that I created with Hazel & Ruby.

The kit comes with a recipe card to walk you through your knitting a pair of boot cuffs as well as a code on that back that you scan to access a video tutorial.

No need to understand double-pointed needles with this one since the kit provides needles that let you work this one just on smaller circulars.

This would be a fun gift for a tween, teen, or perfect girlfriend gift for them to craft or you could make the set and give it as a gift for a non-crafter.

The link to the DIY version on MomAdvice.com is here.

Harry Potter Illustrated

Harry Potter Illustrated

Jim Kay is going to be illustrating the entire Harry Potter series and the first colorful book is the Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone in this newly illustrated series.

This first one had over a hundred illustrations, but each illustration is like a million illustrations because of his incredible detail.

Watch this piece on BBC to get a peek at his technique and artistry- it is jaw-droppingly beautiful!

What is more impressive is that he is putting his own interpretation on each of these characters which I would think is one of the biggest challenges since the movie versions are so beloved.

 You will be proud to add this to your library.

Amazon seems to have trouble keeping this one on the shelves so I’m linking to Target to grab it!

Our Q&A

Our Q&A 3-Year Journal for 2 People

If strengthening your marriage is something you want to work on, this Q&A journal is a great way to bond with your spouse especially in busy seasons of your life.

Each day there is a writing prompt like, “What feels vitally important right now,” or “Do you have enough independence,” for example.

On one page, there is room for three years that gives each person the opportunity to write a line or two to answer the question.

Each year, you answer the same question so you begin to see how your answers have changed each year.

We have this on our bed and I move it to his side after I fill it out.

I look forward so much to reading his responses and it has been a good way to begin talking about things that we didn’t even know were important to each other.

Unique Gift Ideas from MomAdvice.com

Tapple

Tapple is a game that our whole family loves and every family member could play.

The object of the game is very simple and there aren’t a lot of rules.

There are a set of cards that tell you a topic like, “Pizza Toppings” or “Animals at the Zoo.”

You start the timer and then you try to think of a word that starts with each available letter on the game board that fits under that category.

If you can’t get it under the allotted time, you are out, and play continues with the remaining players.

The kids absolutely loved this and really loved making up their own categories (an option available on the cards) to create their own game like, “Words to Describe Our Cat Lulu,” or “What Mom Is Like Before Her Coffee” (hardy-har-har!).

We love this one!

bucky

Bucky

For the person who has everything, may I present to you Bucky.

We love this guy so much in our house that my husband got one for his office too.

They come in a flat package and you assemble them much like you would a very beginner LEGO set.

This cardboard guy is a statement piece in any room and comes plain or patterned.

So beautifully made that it is a treat to put him together, he is always a great conversation piece in our house.

Nerdy glasses and accessories you might want to add to him are all sold separately.

Unique Gift Ideas from MomAdvice.com

Sherpa Comforters

If you are looking for a gift that will keep your recipient cozy all winter long, these sherpa comforters are my family’s new favorite thing.

We have one on every single bed after I ordered one for my post that I was writing for BHG at Walmart.

It’s the perfect blanket- warm, but not too warm, velvety on one side, furry on the other, and a surprisingly lightweight warm layer.

These do make it a difficult bed to leave, but a delight to stay in on the weekends.

Unique Gift Ideas from MomAdvice.com

11/22/63

Have a history nut to buy for?

Give them 11/22/63 right now so they can wait with bated breath for the Hulu series to come out.

King offers up the hypothetical scenario, if you could change something in history, would you alter it?

Jake Epping discovers a secret portal to 1958 that he uses to time travel in the back pantry of a restaurant.

The goal?

See if he can alter the JFK assassination, killing Lee Oswald Harvey before he kills JFK.

Hang on tight, this is a true adventure!

Unique Gift Ideas from MomAdvice.com

Happy Socks

My husband has a million pairs of Happy Socks and they have become a go-to gift for him for the holidays from everyone in our family.

I love the trend of wildly patterned socks for men and I also  love seeing these peeking out from his normally neutral attire.

For the guy who has everything, I present Happy Socks.

Unique Gift Ideas from MomAdvice.com

What If?

What If? is the book I am recommending for the boys in your life!

Munroe explores the absolute craziest, “what if” scenarios and comes up with a truly scientific explanation of the outcome for each of them.

It is accompanied by hilarious drawings of what might occur in these scenarios, making it a perfect book for tween & teen boys who loved the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

Unique Gift Ideas from MomAdvice.com

Adult Coloring Books

I love the stress relieving trend of adult coloring books and my friend Wendy has a beautiful mandalas collection she has designed that I am hoping to give as gifts this year.

I plan to pair one of these with beautiful colored pencils for gift-giving.

This would also make a great teen or tween gift for the holidays!

I hope this little list helps as you plan your holiday shopping.

You can also find a great list of 54 handmade gifts you can make for those special people in your life!

Anything from my list on your wish list?

Share below!!

xo

This post contains affiliate links. I only recommend what I love though! Promise! 

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Fall Wreaths That Wow

Wednesday, November 18th, 2015

Fall Wreaths That Wow from MomAdvice.com

I can’t believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner!

Of course, the first thing our guests see when they pull up to our house is our front door adorned with a festive wreath for the occasion.

I have made a lot of wreaths over the years.

In fact, I used to shadow a silk florist at one of my first jobs and she taught me so much about creating beautiful wreaths.

Today I want to talk about dressing up a doorway, mirror, window, wall, or frame in your house with a fall wreath that really wows.

There is just something so great about a well-dressed door.

It doesn’t have to cost a lot to create a beautiful wreath and I have a stunning collection to share with you today of unexpected ways to decorate.

Just as a reminder, you can often find donated wreaths and various floral decor at your favorite resale store.

It’s a great place to start gathering items for your wreath projects and it is always a fun place to check for an unexpected detail.

 

 

Dye Flowers to Match Your Style

Never ever feel limited by the colors you might find at your resale shop because chances are really great that you can utilize a product like Rit Dye or even items in your pantry to achieve the colors you are after.
Songbird Blog shows you how she utilized tea to stain white roses into the natural hues she was after.
I love this so much that I can’t wait to try it on a wreath of my own!

Fake an Expensive Wreath (Inexpensively)

One of a decorator’s best kept secrets is the ability to achieve full wreaths without spending a lot of money by simply stacking them together.
I did this one year with Christmas greenery wreaths by wiring the two together to create the optical illusion of an expensive wreath.
Ella Claire shows you how to wire two wreaths together to do this with two thin wreaths to make a full and visually stunning wreath for your front door.
Consider buying not one, but two wreaths to create the look you are after!

Add Charming Detail to a Pie

Wreaths don’t just have to be on doors, in fact, imagine adding a wreath detail to a wrapped gift or homemade treat.
Proper shows you how she takes a beautiful homemade pie to another level altogether with a quick handmade wreath detail to shape over it.
What hostess wouldn’t be wowed by this charming pie?
Be sure to check Goodwill’s housewares section for beautiful pie tins that you can place your pies in for gift-giving!

Add Unexpected Texture

Wreaths don’t need to boring and flat, in fact, some of the most beautiful wreaths incorporate fluffy feathers, burlap textures, felted details, and yarn.
One of my favorite projects I have done for my own home was to replicate a ridiculously expensive Anthropologie pom-pom wreath into a beautifully affordable handmade detail for our home.
You can get the scoop on how I made this with some inexpensive yarn and a few Netflix binges.
I still count this as one of our favorite things in our home and love its cozy warmth all year-round!

Skip the Wreath, Try a Basket

Not everyone is an arranger of wreaths so I love the idea of adding that floral detail with a basket instead of a wreath form.

Four Generations One Roof adds a beautiful floral decoration in a small basket that hangs on her door.
Luckily for you, recycle shops always have loads of baskets to choose from that can be spray painted or left natural for your door decorating needs.
How fun is that?

Feed the Birds With Beauty

I can’t even begin to tell you how inspired I am by this beautiful bird seed wreath made by Infarrantly Creative for their birds.

What a thoughtful project to partner with learning about wildlife or for a day of bird-watching.
I hope to try making one of these with my kids this winter for our birds!

Add a Pop of Color

There is nothing I love more than a vibrant pop of color with an unexpected texture and The Wood Grain Cottage achieves both with this beautiful apple wreath.
I love how she weaves in natural elements to fill out the holes around these apples to create a cohesive piece.
This would be one apple gift that a teacher really would love too when thinking of gift-giving for the holiday season.
Be sure to check the store for a wreath form that you can repurpose.

Get Back to Nature

Don’t want to spend a lot to create the perfect wreath?
Consider hunting around the backyard for the perfect materials.
I love the idea of filling in these details with a little moss from the craft store!
Be sure to head to her blog to see how she secured these heavy materials!

I hope these ideas inspire you to get crafting for your own front door! Be sure to leave us a comment and let us know your favorite ways to dress a doorway!

 

Don’t miss these other wreaths from MomAdvice.com:

 

Apple Wreath Tutorial 

 

Fabric Flower Wreath

 

DIY_Peep_Wreath

Peep Wreath

 

Autumn Burlap Wreath

 

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DIY Knitted Boot Cuffs With Hazel & Ruby

Wednesday, November 4th, 2015

DIY Knitted Boot Cuffs from MomAdvice.com

Friends, I could not be more excited today to share with you my Knitted Boot Cuff Kit that I have created with Hazel & Ruby for their Holiday Crafternoon line that is available in Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft stores nationwide. It was such a great challenge for me as a crafter to design a kit like this and I have learned so much (and have a new appreciation for) about how people create these kits for the stores.

DIY Knitted Boot Cuffs from MomAdvice.com

What is Crafternoon?


The purpose of these kits is to be able to create a great gift in an afternoon for the holidays. In this kit, we have lovingly prepared everything you need to create a beautiful set of boot cuffs from lace to yarn to buttons. Instead of you spending time hunting down patterns, materials, or trying to muddle through a pattern alone, Crafternoon puts it all together to you in one easy-to-use package! Check out the video above to see what the fuss is all about!

Why I Know You Will Love This Kit

The thing that I believe really sells this kit though is a set of bamboo needles that you can use over and over again for knitting small projects in the round without the need for double-pointed needles. This particular set is typically not available in most craft and yarn stores. In fact, I have had to order my sets overseas and they cost about the price of this entire kit once I factored in shipping and the expense of the needles. This set includes my favorite needles and once you have them, you can use this pattern over and over again, adding your own unique and beautiful details to these cuffs.

DIY Knitted Boot Cuffs from MomAdvice.com

Will This Pattern Challenge Me?

I really hope so! I didn’t want to just a simple knitted pattern, although you can definitely do that with the materials provided too. I wanted to create a pattern that would help you learn a little bit of the lace technique (without that super thin yarn!), but that there are enough basic stitches that you could zone out a bit with a Netflix binge and just enough that will hold your interest and create beauty within the cuff.

DIY Knitted Boot Cuffs from MomAdvice.com

If you have never knit in the round before, these needles make it possible.  Crystal, from Money Saving Mom, shared on her Instagram feed her pride of knitting in the round for the first time thanks to this little kit. I couldn’t have been prouder of her and I know that you can do it too!

The kit not only includes step-by-step instructions, but you can also access a video where I walk you through every step of the way through this process and be accessed with the QR code on the back of your packaging or you can just watch it above! Doesn’t it feel like we are crafting together?

Amy Allen Clark from MomAdvice.com

Now hurry up and order a kit so we can knit together or order one for a holiday gift for a favorite crafter in your life. You can also pick a kit up at Jo-Ann that you can use this weeks 30% of total purchase on Wednesday AND of course they always have a 40% off coupon!

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Have fun blog-hopping through all of the beautiful Crafternoon projects! Lolly Jane has a beautiful Christmas Art Kit that she would love to share with you so swing by to see her Crafternoon project.  Be sure to check out the entire Crafternoon line from Hazel & Ruby for all of your gifting needs!

xoxo

 

Great Teacher Gifts on Small Budgets

Tuesday, July 28th, 2015

Great Teacher Gifts on Small Budgets from MomAdvice.com

I am a firm believer that it’s a great idea to start your year off right with a little treat for your teachers.
When my kids were small and I was tired, the gestures were small like a shiny apple on the first day and a handwritten note of thanks.
Through the years, I try to do grander gestures like knitted cozies and cakes made from school materials.
When talking to teachers about what gifts they love though, I am told that the act of thankfulness can be a rarity in this harried world and that is why even something as small as a note to say thanks can mean so much.
Today I want to talk about small gestures that don’t cost a lot, but could mean a lot to a teacher.
These are budget-minded projects created with a few items you can find at your local thrift store!

Craft Bookmarks From Jewelry & Buttons

Oh, I do love a good book craft and these button bookmarks are absolutely precious from peanut & olive.
The great thing about this craft is that it would be so fun to hunt for unique materials you could use whether it was from a sweater, a pretty button on a coat, a bag of odds & ends jewelry, or a pair of pretty earrings.
Pair it with a beautiful vintage school book or a stack of classic reads for the classroom for a thoughtful and inexpensive gift.

Create a Teacher Emergency Kit

If there is one thing you can always find at Goodwill it is jars for crafting. How adorable would this back-to-school emergency kit be for the first day of school.
Paint the jar lid in your favorite color, attach the free printable from Crafts Unleashed, and then fill it with a variety of emergency supplies (headache medicine, lint roller, mints, hand cream, chocolates, etc…) to get your year started off on the right foot with your child’s teacher.

Frame a Book Page

How simple and beautiful would it be to find a classic book and simply blow it up and frame it for a teacher.
As a book lover myself, I’d love a book page with the vintage illustrations like Little House in the Big Woods or Charlotte’s Web framed.
Julie Blanner shows you how she created this simple gift of a framed book page.
Placed in a simple black frame (spray painted or purchased that way), this would make a thoughtful thrifty gift.

 

Craft Some Pretty Pencils

I am a big fan of Modge Podge projects and this one is adorable.
Who knew you could wrap pencils in simple scrapbook paper to achieve such beautiful results?
Crafting Chicks shares this cute Write On printable that you could attach to a jar and fill with beautifully patterned pencils for a special teacher.
Add a stack of pretty notebooks (bought from those back-to-school specials) to pair with this pretty jar for a gift that your teacher can use and share with students in need.

Make Some Book Page Posies

Over the years, one of my favorite gifts to create and share are my book page flowers.
These look complex, but are so simple to make and they couldn’t be more inexpensive to create either.
With a book from Goodwill, you have all the materials you need to craft a beautiful bouquet of posies; or you can pair one flower with a shiny apple for a great first day for your teacher.
You can download the free printable petals over here on my site!
I hope these budget-friendly ideas have you dreaming of a fun way to start your year out right with your teachers.
If all else fails, a thank you note periodically throughout the year or time spent volunteering is always a beautiful thing for your teachers! 
 
The smallest things really do mean SO MUCH! 

What is your favorite budget-friendly teacher gift to give?

Share in the comments below!

We would love to hear about it!

This post contains affiliate links

Check out these other crafts on MomAdvice:

 

DIY Teacher Survival Kit

 

School Supplies Cake

 

Felt Flower Dry Erase Markers

 

Apple Wreath Tutorial

 

homemade-chai-tea-latte via Live Simply

Homemade Chai Tea Latte

 

 

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How to Make DIY Mojito Bath Salts

Thursday, July 23rd, 2015

What better way to focus on beauty than with a pampering bath salts recipe? Let’s celebrate this M Challenge repost of an earlier DIY project by making up a batch and use it today in a relaxing bath – preferably with a glass of wine!

How to Make Mojito Bath Salts

How to Make Mojito Bath Salts

These Mojito bath salts incorporate everything we love in a delicious mojito drink, with lots of fresh lime and mint. To really increase the mint component in these, we are adding a little mint essential oil to the mix. It’s easy to mix up an easy batch of Mojito Bath Salts that you can create with just a few items from your local grocer and craft store and makes a great addition to your beauty routine as well as a welcome handmade gift for the women in your life!

DIY Mojito Bath Salts

Supplies Needed

4 cups of Epsom Salt
2 limes, zest & juice
5-8 drops of mint essential oils (you can add more or less, depending on your preference)
2-4 tablespoons fresh mint, finely chopped
Soap colorant in green (optional)
Glass Container or Jar

How to Make MojitoBath Salts

Have you ever made your own bath salts? It’s the kind of gift (or just for you!) that sounds really impressive, but you don’t have to have any craft skills at all to create it.

Epsom salts are the key ingredient in these and can be found at your local grocer or drugstore.  The wonders of Epsom salts have been well known for hundreds of years and are said to have beneficial properties that can soothe the body. Some of the countless health benefits include relaxing the nervous system, curing skin problems, soothing back pain and aching limbs, easing muscle strain, healing cuts, treating cold and congestion, and drawing toxins from the body.

The best part though is that these are inexpensive to buy and can be customized with your favorite ingredients, whether it be mint, lavender, eucalyptus, or any other essential oils that you might have on hand.

When purchasing these ingredients for this recipe, avoid any that have added ingredients or scents and just stick to the basic Epsom salts so the scents don’t overpower the essential oils that you are adding.

Easy-to-make Mojito Bath Salts

How to Make Mojito Bath Salts

1. Pour four cups of Epsom salts in a large mixing bowl.
2. Add the zest and juice of two limes to your bowl.
3. Finely chop your mint and add these to your bowl.
4. Add 5-8 drops of essential oils. You can also add a small amount of green soap colorant, if you would like, to add a little color to your salts.
5. Mix the ingredients well and scoop into a glass jar.
6. Directions for use: Add ½ cup of Mojito Bath Salts to your bath.

Have you ever made bath salts before? What is your favorite recipe for these?

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Raise A Hand for Teachers (Felted Flower Dry Eraser Marker Bouquets)

Wednesday, July 15th, 2015

Raise A Hand for Teachers With thredUP (Felted Flower Dry Eraser Marker Bouquets) from MomAdvice.com

 

To support this fun campaign (and help with the school supplies problem that teachers face), we have crafted up the cutest Felted Flower Dry Erase Marker Bouquet that you can share with a teacher in your life. These felt flowers are so easy to create that even your child can make these (with a little assistance with the hot glue gun).

*This post is sponsored by thredUP. Thank you for supporting the companies that support this site!

As you know, since starting my fashion capsule project, I have become a huge fan of thredUP.

I buy everything there from stuff for my kids (especially those one-time use special occasion outfits), to my workout gear for the gym, to our outerwear, and beautiful clothing for a fraction of retail prices.

Nine times out of ten, if you see us wearing something… it is now from thredUP thanks to the affordability and how great it feels to get a pretty polka dotted box on our step filled with secondhand goodness.

That is why it was such an honor that they thought of me for an exciting campaign they are launching to support teachers and their classrooms for the back-to-school season.

In honor of the Raise a Hand for Teachers Program,  I wanted to share with you our nomination for a deserving teacher and also show you a fun craft you can create for back-to-school for a special teacher in YOUR life.

Raise A Hand for Teachers With thredUP (Felted Flower Dry Eraser Marker Bouquets) from MomAdvice.com

My daughter had a phenomenal school year this year and it was all thanks to Mr. Domonkos!

I got to come in weekly to volunteer in her classroom and be a quiet observer firsthand at the kind of teacher he was and how he ran his classroom which is always a treat as a mom.

I can tell you that if I had a teacher half that fun, the learning would have never felt like work.

His goals were to not only teach our children the basics, but to teach them LIFE SKILLS.

Instead of just showing them math problems on a white board, he actually gave each child different roles in the classroom (like the classroom librarian or the banker) and then they would receive a salary for their jobs.

They paid rent on their desks or they could save to buy their “home” and receive a deed for paying off their space.  Each week they were given the opportunity to save their money or spend it on trinkets in the classroom.

They weren’t just talking about math… they were learning to use math like they will when they become an adult.

When I asked my daughter what she said that he taught her, she said it was how to manage her money.

As a frugal blogger and author of my own personal finance book, this is MUSIC TO MY EARS.

Raise A Hand for Teachers With thredUP (Felted Flower Dry Eraser Marker Bouquets) from MomAdvice.com

The joy on my daughter’s face when she purchased her desk is the indescribable joy I hope to feel one day when we pay our own house off. 

From getting our kids signed up with Google accounts and having them design web pages to Sponge Bob theme music while writing about the sea to showing the kids YouTube segments to learn new math tricks, his classroom was filled with new and interactive ways to get our kids excited about learning.

I know there are many moments I didn’t get the opportunity to witness as well.

The countless hours past his job spent preparing for class as well as those moments needed to stay after to help kids who are struggling.

I am sure there were many moments sacrificed from his own family to teach our children…and we are so grateful.

The hiccuping sobs as she got off her bus on the last day of school were also indescribable as a mom.

They were because of the absence of her amazing teacher and seeing him each day. 

That has never happened before. The adoration was very real.

Do you want to put a vote in for Mr. Domonkos? We would love your support of this phenomenal teacher!

Raise A Hand for Teachers With thredUP (Felted Flower Dry Eraser Marker Bouquets) from MomAdvice.com

Do you have a special teacher in your life? You can nominate them for a cash prize through their Raise a Hand for Teachers Program (#raiseahand) today!

thredUP.com has partnered with AdoptAClassroom.org to recognize and thank teachers for their hard work and the positive impact they make each day on our children’s lives.
Why is thredUP thanking teachers? For starters, they know schools are super important to their customers.
And, they discovered that 1 in 3 teachers are actually buying clothes for students (along with  school supplies) with money from their own pockets
.
 I have no doubt our favorite teacher has been doing this too which is why we want to nominate him for this prize today!
You can nominate your favorite teacher anytime between July 15 – August 23.
Three teachers each win $2,500 for classroom supplies and $500 to thredUP. 50 runner-up winners receive $100 to thredUP.  
How incredible is this?
Today we nominate Mr. Domonkos for this award and we want you to help him win as well as nominate a worthy teacher of your own!  
Winners will be announced on Tuesday, September 8 (following Labor Day weekend)! 
Be sure to check out thredUP for ALL your back-to-school needs.
It’s a goldmine for families on a budget especially if your children have become brand-conscious or if you look for brands with longevity and that can handle your kid’s daily abuse.
They have all my favorite brands including GapKids, Janie and Jack, Lilly Pulitzer, Mini Boden, Zara Kids and more!
The best part is that the you save up to 90% off retail, so you don’t have to wait for the back-to-school sales to start to save a ton of money.

To support this fun campaign (and help with the school supplies problem that teachers face), we have crafted up the cutest Felted Flower Dry Erase Marker Bouquet that you can share with a teacher in your life. These felt flowers are so easy to create that even your child can make these (with a little assistance with the hot glue gun). Let’s get started!

Raise A Hand for Teachers With thredUP (Felted Flower Dry Eraser Marker Bouquets) from MomAdvice.com

Supplies Needed

Package of Dry Erase Markers
Felt (can match the colors in your dry erase markers)
Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks
Scissors
Jar for Storage (optional)
Raise A Hand for Teachers With thredUP (Felted Flower Dry Eraser Marker Bouquets) from MomAdvice.com

Directions to Make Felted Flowers

Begin by cutting a wavy circle out of your felt.
The bigger the circle, the bigger the flower, the smaller the circle, the smaller the flower.
If you want them all the same size, use the first one as your template for your other flowers.
Start cutting into the circle in a spiral motion.
Around and around you go with your scissors until you get to the center.
Leave the little circle at the end of your spiral intact.
It should look like this long piece of twirly felt (as we have pictured above).
It will not be perfect.
Just remember that you can trim and angle everything the way you want it when you start creating your flower.
It will look beautiful!
Starting with the end where you begin cutting, roll the felt back up.
Keep wrapping and wrapping until you get to that little circle at the end.
You can hot glue the felt as you go, but I found that the felt flower holds together well if you wrap it tightly enough.
Feel free to trim if you have any bits of felt sticking out or not laying as nicely as you like.
Raise A Hand for Teachers With thredUP (Felted Flower Dry Eraser Marker Bouquets) from MomAdvice.com
After you have wrapped your rose up, dab hot glue on the back and secure the little end flap of the flower to the base.
Apply hot glue around the end of the dry erase marker (make sure you are getting around the exterior and not into the base of the marker.
Secure your felt flower to the dry erase marker, holding it into place until it feels secure.
Repeat the process with the other dry erase markers until you have a bouquet!
Place into a jar or tie a few with twine and give your teacher a bouquet they can use for back-to-school!
Don’t forget to Raise a Hand for a Teachers today with thredUP!
We hope we have inspired you to nominate someone special and to create a fun gift for them as a thank you for all their hard work!
Felt-Flower-Dry-Erase-Markers-1

Looking for more great teacher gifts? Check out this round-up of 19 Awesome Ways to Show Teacher Appreciation! Yay!

*This post is sponsored by thredUP. Thank you for supporting the companies that support this site!
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