Amy’s Notebook 12.20.17

December 20th, 2017

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A home filled with books is my kind of home.

I love this trick for perfect cut-out cookies.

This 15-minute microwave caramel corn recipe looks like a fun & easy treat.

Looking forward to watching this documentary and this documentary series over the holidays!

Master a beautiful bow for those gifts under the tree.

This list of the 10 best movies of 2017 gives me ideas for our next movie night.

I treated myself to this skirt for the holidays & this faux fur vest– I can’t wait to wear it!

Loved this list of six surprising secrets of a hair stylist– especially that tip for wearing winter hats.

The loss of Phillip Seymour and the devastation of addiction– so tragic.

If you own one thing- let it be this. A beautiful reminder!

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Wow your dinner guests with this beautiful Christmas Tree Cheese Ball.

I’ve been enjoying this book as I prepare for the holidays.

This year has been rough… how about these hopeful images of 2017 to remind us of the good.

Did I mention we celebrated a birthday yesterday? Check out this trick I tried for making frosting a less messy experience!

And this was the birthday girl’s cake request this year- it was a hit.

How sweet is this adoption story?

Are you over multitasking? Check out this advice for more focused work by single-tasking.

Here’s how to REALLY thank the black women that voted Roy Moore out of office.

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What a cute neighbor gift idea!

Bookmarking these genius recipes for our menu planner- yum.

I want to make up a batch of this holiday treat to drink.

I feel like this has been the year of finding my true self. Uncomfortable? Yup! Good? Absolutely!

What was learned from not saying how busy you are for 40 days. I need to work on this one!

My hair is so dry, I’m looking forward to indulging in this beauty diy for my hair this winter.

This would make a great family gift, wouldn’t it?

This is going on my birthday wish list.

Bookmarking this list of the best television shows of the year– be sure to read the comments on this one!

I hope you enjoyed our notebook, a collection of gathered links to DIY crafts, food projects, thrifty ways to spruce up your home, and thoughtful reads. Nothing brings me more joy than to highlight other fabulous bloggers. Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration! Please note, there are affiliate links that do help support our site- thank you! xoxo

Tags: Amy's Notebook, Crafts, DIY, Recipes
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5 Ways to Make Self-Care a Priority Around the Holidays

December 18th, 2017

5 Ways to Make Self-Care a Priority Around the Holidays

This blog was sponsored by Florida Department of Citrus. Thank you for supporting the companies that support our site!

The holidays, while lovely, can be a stressful time of year. I don’t know about you, but each day has been filled with a running to-do list, a million activities, and a lot of food preparation.

Oh, and science fair.

For the love.

I will confess that I have NEVER had an issue with self-care, but I will also confess that my idea of self-care has evolved so much over the years.

Today I wanted to share with you 5 ways I make self-care a priority around the holidays and I would love to hear how you make self-care a priority in your life.

Take a “Sick Day” Once a Week

An epiphany came to me the last time I got sick. I spent an entire day at home sleeping, but wished that I was able to have a day like that when I was well and could really enjoy it. I decided to implement a once-a-week “sick day,” where I allow myself to enjoy a day just for me.

On this day, I rarely get out of my pajamas, I read all day, watch my favorite shows, don’t check email, take a nap, and indulge in crafty classes to allow space for creativity. In the evening, I do not do housework or make dinner (thank you, loads of leftovers!).

It is my FAVORITE day of the week and, believe me, if anyone interferes with mom’s “sick day,” it has to be moved to another day. I crave this day to myself.

5 Ways to Make Self-Care a Priority Around the Holidays

Indulge in a Rewarding Soak

Is anybody else crazy about magnesium and all of its benefits on the body? Adding an Epsom soak to my daily routines has been incredibly beneficial to my body AND to my mental health. Did you know that stress can be a cause of magnesium deficiency, and a lack of magnesium tends to magnify the stress reaction, worsening the problem?

The holidays can be a particularly stressful time on our bodies and contribute towards deficiencies.

In studies, adrenaline and cortisol, byproducts of the “fight or flight” reaction associated with stress and anxiety, were associated with decreased magnesium (source).

I don’t know about you, but that sounds a lot like me around the holidays!

To get the benefits add two cups of Epsom salts to your bath and soak for 15-20 minutes in warm water. While you are doing this, combine it with other healthy habits:

Meditate- Add an app like Headspace to your phone and use this time to deeply breathe and meditate. They have a ten-day free beginner program that you can use to give meditation a try. This is the perfect time to give it a spin!

Add a Smart Beverage to Your Routine- Coffee can dehydrate the body so try replenishing it with a glass of Florida Orange Juice. While you soaking in your magnesium, you can also be enjoying a glass of Florida Orange Juice. Every glass (the recommended daily intake of Florida OJ is eight ounces for adults) of Florida Orange Juice has the Amazing Five. In just one glass you have Taste, Vitamin C, Folate, Potassium and No Added Sugar. Fancy it up with a slice of orange and serve in a pretty glass to add to the experience.

Read a Book- When people ask me how I’m able to read so many books, I have to say that these soaks have been where I have done some of my best reading. A book tray has been a smart investment for this bookworm and it feels like I’m really escaping when I can dive into a little fiction.

5 Ways to Make Self-Care a Priority Around the Holidays

Add Small Indulgences to Your Daily Routines

Wrapping, cooking, organizing, and cleaning are things we are all doing to prepare for the holidays. There is no reason that these routines can’t be coupled with small indulgences though, that can make the experience a little more pleasurable. I love to upgrade my boring routine to-do list items with something that brings me joy.

Wrapping gifts?

Why not belly-laugh to ELF while you are wrapping!

DIY Orange Sugar Scrub

Doing dishes?

Add a jar of this diy orange scrub (recipe below) to your agenda and give your hands a little pampering.

Cleaning the house?

Snag an audiobook from your library, strap on some wireless headphones and your fanny pack (this is TOTALLY what I do) and listen to a great book while you clean.

Pairing something that’s pleasurable with something that is not makes tasks like these much more bearable!

Marco Polo App

Make Time for People

This is the season where we can get really swept away with spending and shopping. It has a tendency to pull us away from the heart of what the season is about and into a frenzy of bad spending. In fact, an alarming number of shoppers are still trying to pay off their debt from holiday shopping last year. Instead of giving so much, what if we all just spent more time on each other.

Don’t have time? I have the perfect solution!

The Marco Polo app, shared with me by my sister, is my new favorite way to communicate with the people I love. It’s essentially a video walkie talkie that allows you to send a video back and forth to talk to each other, but doesn’t require you to hop on FaceTime or Skype at the same time. When schedules are impossible to coordinate, this can be an amazing solution for a busy mom.

I now talk and see my sister and best friend every day and even have virtual wine dates with my girlfriends in town. You can even do big group video chats if you can’t schedule a coffee together! How cool is that?

I consider time with good friends and family to be an essential part of my self-care, especially as a work-at-home mom.

Focus on people, not presents!

Rethink Your Idea of Self-Care

The last thing that I want to say is that self-care is much more than these acts. I linked to this article in my notebook and I still am thinking about it. Self-care is setting healthy limitations that require self-discipline, setting healthy boundaries in relationships, not loading our calendar up so we get run down, and ridding our life of things that are negative or drain us.
Self-care means going to bed on time, giving yourself unscheduled spaces during the day, not going overboard on the food and drinks of the season, and saying no (even if we have to experience FOMO).

Did you notice that everything in this list is FREE? Self-care isn’t a treat yo’self experience that costs a lot, it is making time and space for things that help you feel emotionally and physically balanced!

Thank you to the Florida Department of Citrus for letting me share about these tips with you! Be sure to make Florida OJ a part of your daily routines to help boost your immune system during this fun season!

DIY Orange Sugar Scrub[url href=”undefined”][img src=”http://momadvice.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/diy-orange-sugar-scrub.jpg” width=”735″ height=”1102″ class=”aligncenter size-full” title=”DIY Orange Sugar Scrub from MomAdvice.com”][/url]

Recipe Type: Beauty

Prep time: 5 mins

Cook time: 5 mins

Total time: 10 mins

This DIY Orange Sugar Scrub is a wonderful self-care treat for your hands and body! Thank you to Florida Department of Citrus for sponsoring this fun DIY!

Ingredients

1 cup of Sugar
1/2 cup of Coconut Oil
1 teaspoon Orange Essential Oil ([url href=”http://amzn.to/2j6vEM4″ target=”_blank”]like this[/url])

Instructions

In a saucepan, heat the coconut oil over low heat, until it is melted.
In a large bowl, mix sugar, melted coconut oil, and a teaspoon of orange essential oil until fully combined.
Scoop into a mason jar (the one in the picture has been doubled) and store with an airtight lid.
When using, scoop a small amount into your hands, scrub gently (allowing the sugar to exfoliate), rinse, and pat dry.

This blog was sponsored by Florida Department of Citrus. Thank you for supporting the companies that support our site!

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Tags: DIY Orange Sugar Scrub Recipe, Orange Essential Oil Recipes, Orange Scrub with Orange Essential Oil, Self Care Around the Holidays, Self-Care for Moms
Posted in Celebrations, Cleaning, DIY, Family, Gifts, Holidays, Home, My Work, Time Management | No Comments »

Amy’s Notebook 12.12.17

December 13th, 2017

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Ohhh…this gluten-free eggplant parmesan recipe needs to go on my menu plan!

These are the shows that we all should dig into. Do you spy any favorites?

My resolution is start writing down my monthly intentions this year (and do them).

Here are 30 self-care resolutions you can take into the new year.

I love these fun ways to display your Christmas cards.

I am jotting down a list of the most binge-worthy shows on Netflix this year.

I always love peeking at other people’s favorite books of the year. Stay tuned for my gathering!

Is it freezing where you are? I just bought these leggings and they are PERFECTION for winter.

This no knead rosemary bread looks like a delicious treat for winter.

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This diy sequin pencil skirt looks like the perfect addition to the holiday wardrobe.

These salad ideas are a great way to turn a salad into comfort food. P.S.- did you also know that it is a great hangover cure?

Here are some tips to nail the beef tenderloin this year! Want another option? My Balsamic Pork Loin is just the ticket!

Snickerdoodle Fudge? Yes!!!

These mini cocktail (or mocktail) diy kits are so cute for giving.

I really want to give this detox bath recipe a spin.

I’m escaping next to my little faux fire with this book this week.

“Someone else’s beauty is not the absence of your own.” Good, good reminders!

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I am obsessed with these chunky knit blankets so this tutorial is going on my crafting bucket list.

This is the time of the year to set up your wrapping station.

Laughing that this was your top purchase this week. YOU ARE MY PEOPLE!

This is what it actually takes to quiet your anxiety.

Slime Snow Globes? What a cute gift to share with your favorite slime-lover!

Thinking about taking a social media break? Just follow these easy steps (LOL)!!

How gorgeous are these holiday wreaths? I want to make one!

Time to put my pressure cooker to work with this Honey Sesame Chicken recipe. Yum!

I hope you enjoyed our notebook, a collection of gathered links to DIY crafts, food projects, thrifty ways to spruce up your home, and thoughtful reads. Nothing brings me more joy than to highlight other fabulous bloggers. Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration! Please note, there are affiliate links that do help support our site- thank you! xoxo

Tags: Amy's Notebook, Crafts, DIY, Recipes
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Balsamic Pork Loin Sheet Pan Meal

December 12th, 2017

Balsamic Pork Loin Sheet Pan Meal from MomAdvice.com

I’m all about sheet pan meals, especially in the winter months! Today’s recipe has been prepared about a dozen times, shared with good friends and great conversation. This Balsamic Pork Loin recipe is a knock-your-socks off dinner that would be perfect for any occasion.

In fact, it is such a cinch to prepare that I double it each time I make it for our family. No joke!

Balsamic Pork Loin Recipe from MomAdvice.com

There are a few tricks I use to make preparation and clean-up a little easier. This little gadget (only $17) has made chopping garlic and herbs take seconds instead of minutes when preparing this, or any other dish with a marinade. I have such a small amount of storage in my kitchen that everything must be used and used often. I can tell you that this one is on my counter almost every day while I prepare our meal. It has saved me from A LOT of chopping this year.

The second, don’t be afraid to switch this one up and make it with your own with your own favorite vegetables. I have made this same dish with whatever produce we have on hand- baby potatoes, sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts, and carrots…just to name a few. If you have produce that needs to get to work in the kitchen, this is the recipe to do it with.

The third trick is lining your cookie sheets with parchment paper. I do the REALLY lazy way and buy these ready-to-go sheets for preparing our weeknight sheet pan meals. Anything that I can do to cut down my clean-up time is worth it, in my opinion.

The last trick, and probably the most important one, is to make sure that you use your meat thermometer to make sure the pork is cooked perfectly. The USDA recommends cooking pork to 160 degrees! I like to pull it out just a bit before that at 150 degrees because it will continue to cook while it is at rest!

Balsamic Pork Loin Recipe from MomAdvice.com

Isn’t that a beauty? Since it is easy to double, it is SO EASY to share. This has been my new go-to for anyone who is need of a meal. Pair it with this brown bag idea for giving! Who wouldn’t feel touched by that?

Be sure to put the leftovers to work too! The meat with a little pesto on top makes a mean slider and I love to reheat the veggies as a morning side with my eggs.

Looking for more sheet pan meals? We have a few great ones on the site!

Sheet Pan Lemon Paprika Chicken & Veggies

Sheet Pan Ranch Chops & Veggies

Roasted Salmon & Asparagus with Pistachio Gremolata

10 minute Fish Tacos

Roast Chicken in Bulk

Balsamic Pork Loin Sheet Pan Meal:

Balsamic Pork Loin Sheet Pan Meal

Recipe Type: Main

Author: Adapted from [url href=”https://diethood.com/garlic-rosemary-balsamic-roasted-pork-loin/” target=”_blank”]Diethood[/url]

Prep time: 20 mins

Cook time: 65 mins

Total time: 1 hour 25 mins

Serves: 6-8 servings

An easy gluten-free sheet pan meal made with just a few simple pantry ingredients. This one can be doubled to feed a crowd!

Ingredients

2 pounds boneless pork tenderloin
1/4- cup olive oil
4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 head of garlic
1/2- cup fresh rosemary leaves
salt & pepper
2 pounds of your favorite veggies (our favorite combo is sweet potatoes & brussels sprouts)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450F.
Line your sheet pan with parchment paper.
Prepare the garlic by removing the outer layer. Add these cloves to your food processor along with your rosemary, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Blend well.
Rub the pork loin on all sides with your prepared balsamic marinade (use about 3/4 of it). Place on the prepared cookie sheet.
Chop your vegetables and place them in a bowl. Add the last of the marinade to the bowl and toss them gently until they are all coated in the marinade. Be sure to add more salt and pepper for seasoning.
Spread the vegetables around the pork tenderloin, making sure that they are not overlapping and have space to cook.
Place in oven and cook for 15 minutes.
Now reduce oven to 350F.
Cook for another 50 minutes, or until done. Pork is done cooking when internal temperature 160 degrees.
Remove from oven and let stand 10 minutes.
Transfer roast to a cutting board; slice and serve with veggies. Garnish with rosemary for a finishing touch.

This post contains affiliate links that help our site! Thank you for supporting me! xoxo

Tags: Balsamic Pork Loin, Balsamic Pork Tenderloin Recipe, Holiday Pork Recipe Ideas, Rosemary Pork Loin
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Small-Budget Crushes 12.11.17

December 11th, 2017

sofia slippers (several styles and only $17.99!!)

plaid flannel (50% off today PLUS an additional 20% off with coupon code ICING)

crossover knit tee (only $10 plus can combine with coupon codes on the homepage!!)

crushed by my tbr pile (30% off plus free ship with coupon code GIFTIT)

plush robes ($20.99!! Use coupon code FRIEND for 30% off)

holiday dessert plates (less than $10- perfect for Santa’s treats!)

chelsea boots (50% off today!!)

1 year Redbook subscriptions $4.69 (great holiday gift or stocking stuffer!)

cozy sherpa blankets (only $13!!)

reebok crossfit sneakers (take 50% off entire Green Monday Collection!!)

striped flare dress (under $20!!)

wool sidewalk skirt (my FAVORITE skirt, perfect length and fabric weight, several colors under $20!!!)

air hockey table (marked down to under $40!!)

all slippers take $10 off plus free shipping with coupon code COZYSTYLE

book leggings (30% off plus free shipping with coupon code GIFTIT)

1 year popular science magazine for $4.69!! (great stocking stuffer!)

blanket plush wrap ($17.49!! Use coupon code FRIEND for 30% off)

ray ban sunglasses (half off!!)

travel packing squares (take 50% off everything in the store with coupon code GIFT)

spotted cat eye reading glasses (use coupon code NEWNOW to get 40% off- only $11.99!!)

cuisinart pressure cooker with ADDITIONAL 10% off using coupon code FRIEND

knit mesh leggings (only $9- can combine with coupon codes on the homepage!!)

striped crewneck top (use coupon code OHWHATFUN for 20-30% off, minimum spend $100)

cabin scarf (take 50% off everything at the store with coupon code GIFT)

let’s stay in bed pajama set ($19 for the set- can combine with coupon codes on the homepage)

P.S.- For every $100 you spend today at Target, you get an automatic $20 off! Score!

P.S.S.- 6PM is offering an ADDITIONAL 50% off on select merchandise. It’s a good time to snag those holiday boots for the kids!

Keep on window shopping by visiting all of my Small-Budget Crushes. This post contains affiliate links that help our site! Thank you for supporting me! xoxo

Tags: Shopping
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It’s the 3 Little Things: It’s Marvelous, A Great Read, & Documentary Love

December 8th, 2017

thanksgiving-2017-4

It’s been such a long time since I have had a happy list so I wanted to swing back in and say hello.

The Thanksgiving weekend nearly did me in this year. I hosted a Thanksgiving feast for my siblings (thank goodness for those make-ahead recipes), had Thanksgiving with my family, ended up in urgent care with a kidney infection the day after, thought I was dying, then took my practically dead self to the Nutcracker to see our little soldier perform.

Luckily, I had a few days to recuperate before hitting the road with girlfriends for a girl’s trip to Omaha.

Minus the nearly dying part, it really was a great Thanksgiving!

We opted to go smaller this year with decorating. Last year the feature in Design Mom was a big motivator to really deck the halls. This year, we purchased a smaller artificial tree (I’m madly in love with this one because of its deep branches for ornament hanging) and only got one bin of our holiday goodies out.

That frees up so much more time to lay around in our pajamas and watch holiday movies. We made it through this one and this one already! I’d love to hear what your favorites are.

Here are three other things that are making me happy!

the-marvelous-mrs-maisel

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

I can’t say I have enjoyed a show as much as The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in years.

The lead actress, Rachel Brosnahan, truly makes Mrs. Maisel come to life. She is a rich 1950’s housewife who feels like she has lost everything when she finds out her husband has been having an affair. She has supported him through his painfully awful stand-up comedian routines, at a local club, and now feels like a laughingstock herself. It leads to her drunkenly showing up in the club and wandering up on stage where she has the audience rolling. This is the start of a new life for her and we get to witness this woman coming into her own, while still flashbacking to the memories of their earlier courtship and marriage.

The way this show is shot is pretty phenomenal in itself. They manage to shoot long sequences in such unique ways that appear to be in one take. The vignettes that they can create, moving the story through the years, are jaw-dropping. The costumes and sets are absolute perfection. The plot moves quickly and is meaty!

We are plowing through the second half of the season this weekend. It has taken a lot of self-control this week to not stay up late and finish it. I think you would love this one too!

Manhattan Beach

Manhattan Beach has been on almost every top book of 2017 list ever created and now I see why. If you are looking for a compelling historical fiction read, I would highly recommend this one.

This is the first historical fiction novel from Egan, but reads almost like a thriller as you piece together the disappearance of a father. Anna Kerrigan, on the cusp of twelve years old, accompanies her father for a visit to see Dexter Styles. It is a mysterious relationship and visit that she is encouraged not to share with her family.

Later her father disappears and Anna finds herself working for the Brooklyn Naval Yard. She becomes their first female diver and is breaking the mold of what roles women have in assisting in the war. One evening she finds herself at a nightclub where she sees Dexter Styles again and begins to wonder if he might be the key to understanding her father’s disappearance.

If you enjoyed Saints for All Occasions, I think you would enjoy this one too. It surprised me as much as Sullivan’s book as Egan weaves together this compelling plot so vividly that you will have trouble putting it down.

Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George’s Creators

The most surprising and moving documentary we watched this month was Monkey Business about the creators of the Curious George series. The entire film is incredibly animated and tells a compelling story of the writers that moved me to tears. I don’t want to spoil the story for you or your family, but there was far more than meets the eye when it comes to the creation of Curious George and includes an unbelievable adventure as the couple were evacuated from Paris (with the invasion of the Nazis) and they rode bicycles with his story tucked in their bicycle basket.

This is one you could watch with the kids and the animation is absolutely ASTOUNDING. Animated from start to finish, it is so beautifully done and tells such a different story than I had ever expected. It is a timely story as it explores their struggles as immigrants. In fact, Curious George himself could be called an immigrant too.

Watch it- you won’t regret it!!

Eating: I just made another batch of this Orange Chicken last night to share while we watched another holiday movie. We ALL were in heaven with this make-at-home takeout dish. I paired it with my favorite brown rice method. So happy I have leftovers today!

Glamming It Up: I treated myself to an unlimited pass to Rent the Runway for the holidays and my birthday month (it is my big 4-0!!!) and I am having so much fun playing dress-up for the holidays. I can’t recommend this fun option enough for the season of family photos, holiday parties, and unlimited friend gatherings. A month cost me about what I would have spent on a cocktail dress for my hubby’s work party so I feel good about this investment. Plus, it doesn’t conflict with my capsule wardrobe intentions!

Contemplating: This article this week. I plan to dive deep into this one in the upcoming weeks. I think it is an important discussion and a common misconception on what self-care really means.

Giving: Book of the Month gift cards for the holidays. I’m actually not a member so I am excited that you receive a free book credit if you are the giver. I am hoarding my credit for the January selections. Did you see what I read last month? Good stuff!

Back to This: I just know you all love my frequent posts on my OCD with hair removal so I’m back to using this again after a break. Can’t believe that price and an additional $10 off this week. Painful, but effective! I’m finding pairing that with a dry brush (this is the one I use for about $4) before using it seems to help with ingrown hairs. Haven’t heard of dry brushing? This article explains the benefits.

Have a wonderful weekend! xo

*this post may contain affiliate links- I only recommend what I love though. Check out past editions of It’s the 3 Little Things!

Tags: Curious George Documentary Review, Manhattan Beach Review, Marvelous Mrs Maisel Review, Rent the Runway Unlimited Review
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Small-Budget Crushes 12.07.17

December 7th, 2017

gorgeous tote bags (50% off & free ship through 12/09- use coupon code STYLEGIFT)

leather earrings

linger art print

leopard print belt (50% off- this is a sweet deal!! Use coupon code COZYUP for the discount)

wubby vest

top coat (in two colors and 50% off!!!)

tulle and stripes

blanket scarf (only $10 (!!!) & perfect for stocking stuffing)

ruffled moto jacket

journal prompts

duster cardigans (40% off & free ship, use coupon code CARDIGIFT)

quilted gloves

headphone stand

fallon timberlake mug (SO awesome- hahaha!)

fiesta drop earrings

houseplants print

plush robe

toiletry case (50% off!!)

velvet tie back top (take 40% off with coupon code NEWNOW)

first things first coffee sleeve

moon phase earrings

velvet bow earmuffs

pho sho tee

crystal earring set (take 40% off with coupon code NEWNOW)

headphones pillowcase (perfect teen/tween gift!)

Keep on window shopping by visiting all of my Small-Budget Crushes. This post contains affiliate links that help our site! Thank you for supporting me! xoxo

Tags: Shopping
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Amy’s Notebook 12.06.17

December 6th, 2017

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I love this creative wrapping technique for the gift-giving season.

This is on my organizing to-do list.

I just might be convinced to snag a membership for the holidays!

What an adorable gathering for the holidays with friends. Bookmarking!

A simple Advent calendar idea (that won’t take up too much space!)

Speaking of Advent calendars, how amazing is this one? So thoughtful!

I’d really like to pick up journaling and this is a great guide to get started.

If you need me, you’ll probably find me curled up with this incredible book.

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How gorgeous are these centerpieces?

Swooning over these gorgeous bouquets. A cozy hygge bouquet would make the perfect gift for our out-of-town relatives!

This outdoor fireplace turned out so beautifully. I always love her style.

I’d love to dive into a bowl of these!

20 ways you made 2017 harder than it had to be. Noted.

Need a little holiday decorating inspiration? This should help!

Loving this NYE backdrop idea for the perfect photo opps.

Planning to use this tutorial to add a little greenery to our home.

Are we living in a culture of flakes? I really struggle with my patience on this one.

Curious about what type of vacuums perform the best? Check out this advice from a repair technician. I’ve never regretted this one for our family!

Is self-care becoming too selfish? I like the idea of considering your motivations behind shares!

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What a fun spin on a unique cheese board idea for the holidays!

You can bet I’ll be running to my fabric store to do this!

This garland is so stylish for the mantle.

This makes me sad to read about. We are trying to scale back this year.

This list of 19 handmade gifts look like beautiful ideas for my crafty friends.

I’m trying to work on better sleep habits this year.

I do love a good ribbon hack.

Now this recipe looks like a great way to warm up!

Beautiful ideas for making small spaces festive.

Remember, you’re in charge this holiday season.

I’m eyeing this for my Christmas wish list.

How to throw a dinner party without a table. Basically, no excuses!

Perfectly wrapped gifts thanks to this smart wrapping tutorial.

I hope you enjoyed our notebook, a collection of gathered links to DIY crafts, food projects, thrifty ways to spruce up your home, and thoughtful reads. Nothing brings me more joy than to highlight other fabulous bloggers. Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration! Please note, there are affiliate links that do help support our site- thank you! xoxo

Tags: Amy's Notebook, Crafts & Celebrations, DIY, Food & Recipes, Recipes
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November 2017 Must-Reads

December 4th, 2017

November 2017 Must-Reads from MomAdvice.com

I hope your week is off to a great start! I just got back in town and realized that I’m a bit behind on our monthly book reviews. Forgive me! This time of year is as crazy for me as I’m sure it is for you. I am hoping this list will be worth the wait and give you some fun new books to pick up for the upcoming holiday break! I can’t wait to hear what you are reading too.

Oh, don’t forget if you want to see more of what I am reading, please feel free to friend me on GoodReads! You can find me right here and I am always happy to connect with people there! There is nothing more motivating than seeing what other people are raving about and my to-be-read pile continues to grow with all of my new friends on there! In fact, many of the books featured are ones that I have found through my friends on GoodReads.

Looking to add some variety to your stack? Feel free to join our book club!

Not enough variety? Print out our Reading Challenge Worksheet to finish out your year!

As always, I’m looking forward to sharing what I enjoyed in my stack this month. Unfortunately, the holiday season slowed my roll a bit so I’m excited to hop back in it this evening with a big mug of tea in front of our Christmas lights. I hope you have lots of evenings planned like this too!

Here are 6 must-read books that I tackled in November!

When We Were Worthy by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

PSSSTTT- This one is on sale today for $1.99!!

Chamberlain & Picoult fans are sure to be captivated by this heartbreaking novel.

Worthy is a claustrophobic town that only seems to care about football and winning. When three cheerleaders are involved in a fatal car accident, the town wants someone to pay…no matter what.

Of course, nothing is exactly at what it seems and every character holds a few secrets of their own that could send the whole town into a tailspin. These views are all played out by the various viewpoints in the story from the mothers of the victims to the girl who should have been in the car with her friends. The numerous viewpoints can be a bit confusing at first, but I hit my pace after a few chapters. Whalen’s creative use of wordplay and language makes this an enjoyable read, even in the thick of my confusion.

If you want to feel a little lazy about not reaching your goals, Whalen states in her acknowledgement that she lost the use of her right hand, after an accident, and had to struggle to finish this since this happened to be her writing-hand. Basically, we all have NO excuses now!

When We Were Worthy was a solid escape! Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for sending a copy to me to review!

4 Out Of 5 Stars

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

Green’s next novel was the one that I had looked forward to the most this month. For me, this wasn’t my favorite and I found myself struggling to finish this one.

Tackling the subject of mental illness is, of course, very brave. Green crafts a character whose OCD tendencies and spiraling thought process really are beautifully done with a very raw glimpse into what it would be like to have these thoughts controlling you.

Unfortunately, this was the strongest glimmer and the YA mystery adventure, as the characters try to pursue a fugitive billionaire for cash reward, ended up being weak and didn’t hold my attention.

As a YA read, it is a great one for your kids. As an adult (not the intended audience, I can acknowledge this), it was a bit too YA for me!

3 Out Of 5 Stars

Castle of Water by Dane Huckelbridge

I’m a sucker for a good love story and I can’t rave enough about the beauty of, Castle of Water. I know that this will be on the top ten list of 2017 and I have a feeling, if you read it, it will be on yours too.

A small plane crashes in the middle of the South Pacific leaving two of the passengers stranded as they both washed ashore on a small island. If you think this sounds a bit predictable, I did too, but Huckelbridge writes a story that is anything BUT predictable as the two castaways work together to try to remain alive in the face of numerous hurdles.

The writing is surprisingly witting and laugh-out-loud funny, while still giving you that ache in your heart at all they have lost. Being stranded on an island requires a writer to really drive this story with strong characters. This character development is the heart of the story as these two seem to lift off the pages.

While the ending didn’t bring all that I had hoped, it felt truthful to the storytelling and didn’t overshadow this beautiful story! Run, run, run and get this one!

5 Out Of 5 Stars

Bonfire by Krysten Ritter

I do love a good thriller and Bonfire is an excellent debut novel from actress, producer, and writer Krysten Ritter.

This follows the story of an environmental lawyer, Abby Williams, who has been assigned a case in her hometown of Barrens, Indiana. She has been tasked with investigating Optimal Plastics, the company that supports and has its hand in every pie in town, to discover if any of their business practices have been causing health problems for the town’s residents.

Returning home is never easy and Abby has left behind a lot of secrets of her own and many stories of the bitchy mean girls that seemed to have it out for her. With loads of suspense the past and the present come full circle, as Abby becomes more and more unhinged and unreliable as the book’s narrator.

Fans of dark thrillers will love this gritty suspenseful page-turner. Don’t discredit this writer for her Hollywood creds, it’s definitely worth your time!

4 Out Of 5 Stars

Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak

If you are craving an escape from the holiday crazy, I can think of no better suggestion than an evening with, Seven Days of Us.

The entire Birch family must come together for seven long days to be locked down into quarantine for the holidays. Olivia, their daughter, is a doctor and has been treating an epidemic abroad and they need to insure that no germs are spread. The family hasn’t been together this long in years and, as we all do, everyone falls back into their old roles. Children become children again, parents resume fighting, and they all must learn to live with one another again.

Each of these family members is carrying a secret that holds detrimental consequences for the entire family. Told from their alternating perspectives, the chapters begin to twist together as these secrets are revealed.

Even in the predictable moments, this made for a highly entertaining read and is a great way to unwind over the holiday weekend. It made me smile in many of the same ways of some of my favorite holiday films. I think you will love this one!

4 Out Of 5 Stars

The Last Ballad by Wiley Cash

This new novel, from Wiley Cash, was inspired by true and heroic events of the first union and all that the crusade leaders had sacrificed to be a part of the movement. The main character, Ella May, is unable to keep her children clothed and fed on the wages she is given. With no man to help her, she receives a union flier that changes the path of her life. Within the first organized event, Ella May is asked to share her experience and becomes a poster child, of sorts, for the movement. Unfortunately, there are consequences for anyone who does not follow the protocol and Cash takes us through this difficult time in history through several different character’s eyes.

This one moved a little slower for me, but I blame the timing more than the writing. I had not paused to consider what this would look like, in the late twenties, and the heroic measures taken by those seeking fair wages. If you are looking to dive into a historical fiction book with some meat, this is a solid one!