Ruth Soukup's Blog, page 123

Thrifty Thursday {Week 40}

Happy Thursday my thrifty friends!  There is less than one week left until Christmas–are you ready?

Just a heads up that next week there will be no link party, but we will be back in two weeks, on January 2nd, for the first Thrifty Thursday of 2014.  As always, I am excited to once again see all the  great budget-friendly recipes, household tips, DIY projects, last minute Christmas and New Year’s ideas you all have to share this week!

Here are the most clicked links from last week:

1. The Greenbacks Gal {5 Secret Ways to Save at Amazon}

2. From This Kitchen Table {Homemade Gift Basket Ideas}

3. Life in Grace {Old Fashioned Homemade Fudge}

4. Not your Mainstream Momma {Month Nine of Becoming Debt Free}

5. Taylor Made Ranch Blog {Closing the Loop in Charitable Giving}

6. A Life in Balance {Six Food Budget Strategies}

7. Carmel Moments {Seven Things I Don’t Need this Christmas}

8. A Worker at Home {Getting Out of a Workout Rut}

9. My Mothermode {Shopping and Saving Big for Christmas Year Round}

10. Six Figures Under {Why We Decided Against a Baby Emergency Fund}

Never linked up to a party before? Here’s how:

Scroll down, find the little blue “Add your Link” Button and click on that.
Follow the instructions on the next page – add a great image of your project and an interesting title. Make sure you link to the direct page of your budget friendly post – not the main page of your blog!
Try to visit at least a few other blogs at the party. Be sure to leave a comment to let them know you stopped by!
Please link back to this post somehow. There are badges available here; a simple text link is just fine too.

Feel free to tweet about Thrifty Thursday so others can join the fun, and don’t forget to check back here Sunday morning to see which posts have been featured this week!

Finally, if this is your first time here I also invite you to check out my eBook, How to Blog for Profit (Without Selling Your Soul).  It has more than 85 five-star reviews on Amazon, and it is an awesome resource if you are interested in building your blog, getting more traffic, or learning how to monetize. Even better, it will be ON SALE this weekend, starting tomorrow December 20th, for just $1.99!

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White Peppermint Hot Chocolate

In our family, Christmas movies and hot chocolate go hand in hand, and we are incapable of having one without the other.  Every year we look forward to getting in our PJs and watching all our favorites–The Polar Express, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, A Charlie Brown Christmas….it’s almost like a rite of passage.

Normally we just go for the little Swiss Miss packets, but this year, inspired by the success of my homemade peppermint marshmallows, I decided to get a little fancy with our hot chocolate.  Let me just tell you that it was well worth the small amount of extra effort!  My girls declared it the Best Hot Chocolate EVER and have begged me to make it for every movie since.  If you prefer brown chocolate you can substitute milk or semi-sweet chips for the white chocolate, but the rest of the instructions are the same!

Here is what you need:

1 12oz bag white chocolate chips
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
4 cups 2% milk (or soy or almond milk)
Peppermint Marshmallows (optional)

Step 1: Melt white chocolate chips in a double boiler.

Step 2: Add heavy cream to melted chocolate & mix well until heated.

Step 3: Add peppermint extract; mix well.

Step 4: Add milk, one cup at a time, whisking frequently until mixture is hot.  Serve immediately with Peppermint Marshmallows, or keep warm in crock pot.

 

    Print This!    




Recipe: White Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Summary: Warm up by the fire with this minty beverage

Ingredients

12oz bag white chocolate chips
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
4 cups 2% milk (or soy or almond milk)
Peppermint Marshmallows (optional)



Instructions

Melt white chocolate chips in a double boiler.
Add heavy cream to melted chocolate & mix well until heated.
Add peppermint extract; mix well.
Add milk, one cup at a time, whisking frequently until mixture is hot. Serve immediately with Peppermint Marshmallows, or keep warm in crock pot.

Preparation time: 5 minute(s)

Cooking time: 15 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 6

 

*   *   *

What’s your favorite Christmas movie?

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Cookie Mix in a Jar

This year I am beyond thrilled to introduce you to a revamped series here at LWSL called Handmade Holidays!  In past years I have shared my own holiday gift ideas, but this year I thought it would be fun to get some inspiration elsewhere.  I asked eight of my favorite up-and-coming bloggers to share a simple and frugal handmade gift idea.  I was so blown away by all the amazing ideas they came up with, and I think you will be too.  Each Monday, from now until Christmas, one of these talented women will be sharing their gift idea.  Please be sure to welcome them here to LWSL, and to take the time to check out their blogs.  You will be so glad you did!

*   *   *

This is a guest post is from Jamie of Love Bakes Good Cakes

Are you ready for Christmas? It’ll be here before we know it! For those of us who plan on making homemade gifts, now is the time to start planning. I’m here today to show you an easy and affordable gift idea with my Cookies in a Jar.

You may decorate your jar any way you like – with or without the fabric. Sometimes, I like to tie a small ornament on with the tag. I usually give the jar and a fresh-baked batch of cookies to the recipient – that way there are some cookies to enjoy now and some to enjoy later! You could make it an even more special gift by including a new oven mitt, a cookie scoop and/or a baking sheet!

If you would like to (and if you can find them), you can replace the chocolate chips with mini red and green M&M’s for an even more festive cookie!

 
Here is what you need:
11?3 cups quick-cooking oats
1?2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1?2 cup sugar
1?2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup chocolate chips
11?3 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1?4 tsp. salt
 

Step 1: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

Step 2: Layer the ingredients in the order given in a 1 quart wide-mouth canning jar, ending with the flour mixture. Be sure to press each layer firmly in place before adding the next layer.

Step 3: Seal jars.

Step 4: Print out the printables and decorate jars as desired.

I have included a “Christmas” and “Holiday” version of these printables. Please click the picture of the ones you would like to download and print.

Personally, I like to send my printables to a place like Staples. For less than $1.00 a page, you can get very good quality prints and save the ink in your own printer! Use double-sided tape to adhere the tags to the jars. If you would like to cover the top in fabric, be sure to cut a circle slightly larger than the top so it hangs down the sides a bit when tied on. Be sure to attach the directions to the back of the jar with double-sided sticky tape – or tie it on around the lid.




*   *   *

This is one idea for an affordable and easy homemade gift. Who would you make this for?

 

Jamie is a Food Blogger & Recipe Developer @ Love Bakes Good Cakes. She is a full-time blogger and homeschooling mom! Jamie is a food lover and recipe hoarder! She enjoys trying new recipes and firmly believe that good food is meant to be shared with family and friends!

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Weekend Wandering

Happy Sunday everyone!  Whew, it has been a crazy week full of Christmas pageants, parades, and performances, and I am really looking forward to a day of just kicking back at home with my family.  Maybe I’ll even get a chance to do some baking & try out some of these amazing recipes you’ve all been sharing!   As always,  I was blown away by all your posts this week!  It is so hard to pick favorites, but here are just a few of the posts I loved:

*   *   *

I have actually tried this Old Fashioned Homemade Fudge from Life in Grace on multiple occasions, so I can say with certainty that it really is the best fudge on the planet.  And I don’t even like fudge.

This Classic Pecan Pie from Night Owl Corner looks absolutely delicious!  My favorite!

And while are are on the subject of old-fashioned recipes, how delicious do these Old Fashioned Caramels from The Pin Junkie sound? I love the individual wrappers too!

Next these Sparkling Cranberries from Kleinworth & Co are almost too beautiful to eat!

I loved this simple and sweet Pine Cone Front Door Decor from Life a Little Sweeter. I bet the scented pine cones make her house smell delicious!

Next is a great tutorial for making Paperback Book Christmas Trees from An Extraordinary Day. These are a great last minute Christmas craft!

Isn’t this DIY Canvas Art from This Silly Girl’s Life pretty? Can you believe she did it with a Sharpie Marker? Smart!

Another fun Sharpie project! These Mustache Mugs from One Little Project are just adorable and would be such a great last minute gift with a bag of coffee.

Do you have a snooper in your family around Christmas time? Check out these Seven Strategies to Stop Snooping from This Happy Mom.

Stockings are so much fun to fill up and these 50 Stocking Stuffer Ideas from Creative Savings Blog are great – lots of ideas for every person in your family.

I love the idea of sending the girls on a Christmas Scavenger Hunt. Stuffed Suitcase shares the tradition and a free printable too.

*   *   *

What did you love this week?

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10 Last Minute Gift Ideas Under $10

I don’t know about you, but with just eleven days until Christmas I’ve still got several gifts left to buy and not a lot of cash left in my “gift” envelope to buy them with!  Luckily for you, I’ve decided to forgo being productive today in order to bring you this emergency list of ten perfectly thoughtful last minute gifts for almost anyone you can score for $10 or less.  You’re welcome.

In the interest of conserving your valuable time (and mine), all 10 items are available on Amazon, have an average rating of at least 4 stars or more, AND are all eligible for Amazon Prime, which means you can have them shipped in 2 days for free.  If you don’t have Prime, you can try it free for 30 days, which is just long enough to finish your holiday shopping!

So, without further ado, here are 10 great last minute gifts you can score for under $10.00:

1. For the Guy’s Guy:

X-Gear Multi-Function Tool-For every guy who wants to be MacGuyver, this awesome multi-function tool includes a pair of pliers, screwdriver, 2 knives, a bottle opener, and a flashlight, and comes in 5 snappy colors.  Sweet. ($9.99)

2. For the Movie Buff

Mockingjay Pendant-Your favorite movie fan or Katniss wannabe will be the coolest Kat in Panem with this super cool charm.  Who’s ready to take down the Capitol?  Bring on the hovercrafts! ($9.95)

3. For the Kid-at-Heart

Magic 8 Ball-Seriously, who doesn’t need one of these magical little decision makers to answer all of life’s toughest questions?  Should my husband cook dinner and THEN do the dishes?  Most Definitely.  Yep, that’s what I’m talking about! ($8.99)

4. For the Problem Solver

Think Fun Tilt Puzzle Game-We have several of the Think Fun puzzle games and they are all a lot of fun & really challenging.  Our favorite is Rush Hour but this Tilt Puzzle is the only one coming in under the $10 limit.  It has great reviews so it is definitely worth a shot!  ($8.48)

5. For the Budding Artist

Crayola Oil Pastels–I bought my girls some of these oil pastels on a whim last summer, and never before has an medium so captured their attention!  They absolutely LOVE creating beautiful, vivid art, and I love displaying it!  At just $5.99 you’ll have cash to spare for a sketchbook to go with it! ($5.99 for the pastels, $3.44 for the sketchbook)

6. For the Aspiring Chef

RSVP Herb Scissors.  These are so cool!  Like many wannabe chefs, I love cooking with fresh herbs but absolutely HATE chopping them!  These little scissors make mincing & chopping an absolute breeze.  This would also be great paired with a cute windowsill herb garden! ($9.99)

7. For the Techie

Power Gen Dual USB Car Charger-What do us gadget-crazy peeps love almost as much as our gadgets themselves?  More POWER!  Between the iPhone, Kindle, iPad, iPod and goodness only knows what else, there is always SOMETHING needing to be charged on the go!  This handy dandy little gizmo takes two USB cords at once, giving you twice as much bang for the buck.  Even better, it comes in 3 colors including PINK!  ($8.99)

8. For the Fashionista

Cantina Chevron Infinity Scarf-This gorgeous lightweight scarf comes in a whole rainbow of 18 different colors to choose from.  Plus the infinity style is the perfect gift for those of us who are *ahem* scarf challenged and have trouble figuring out how on earth to tie the darn things!  Love! ($8.99)

9. For the Book Lover

Eleanor & Park-Okay, so technically this is a teen novel, but if Harry Potter and The Hunger Games have taught us anything is that all the best fiction is found in the teen section!  This sweet love story was picked by Amazon‘s editors as one of the top 20 books of 2013 across all genres! ($8.94)

10. For the Competitors

Spot It Jr-We are a any-kind-of-board-or-card-game loving family, and Spot It is hands down our favorite across all genres!   If you’ve got younger kids, start with the Jr. version (the bonus is that it is a little cheaper), but kids 6 and up should have no trouble with the regular version.  ($9.29-16.99)

*   *   *

Still need more gift ideas?  Try these lists as well:

15 Gifts for Under $15
Our Top 10 Family Board Games, Ages 3-8
Kalyn’s Awesome FREE Frugal Gift Guide

*   *   *

Who’s still left on your Christmas shopping list?

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Thrifty Thursday {Week 39}

Happy Thrifty Thursday!  I spent the first half of this week in bed battling strep throat and I can’t even tell you how happy I am to finally be feeling better!  Being sick is never fun, but I wouldn’t wish strep throat on my worst enemy!  In any case, I am excited to once again see all the  great budget-friendly recipes, household tips, DIY projects, and holiday ideas you all have to share this week!

Here are the most clicked links from last week:

 

1. Ang Says {28 Chores that take 30 Seconds or Less}

2. Not your Mainstream Mamma {Month Eight of Becoming Debt Free}

3. This Silly Girl’s Life {Winter Wonderland Home Decor Ideas}

4. An Extraordinary Day {Advice for Making your House your Home}

5. Snail’s Pace Transformations {DIY Gifts for Girls}

6. Jenn’s Random Scraps {Back to School, Busy Night Casseroles, and a Basic White Sauce}

7. Coupon Crazy Girl {Cleaning Faucet Heads}

8. Couponing 101 {Ultimate List of Stocking Stuffers}

9. A Mother’s Shadow {Parents Strike Back}

10. From This Kitchen Table {Gift Ideas for 2 Year Olds}

Never linked up to a party before? Here’s how:

Scroll down, find the little blue “Add your Link” Button and click on that.
Follow the instructions on the next page – add a great image of your project and an interesting title. Make sure you link to the direct page of your budget friendly post – not the main page of your blog!
Try to visit at least a few other blogs at the party. Be sure to leave a comment to let them know you stopped by!
Please link back to this post somehow. There are badges available here; a simple text link is just fine too.

Feel free to tweet about Thrifty Thursday so others can join the fun, and don’t forget to check back here Sunday morning to see which posts have been featured this week!

Finally, if this is your first time here I also invite you to check out my new eBook, How to Blog for Profit (Without Selling Your Soul).  It is currently a bestseller on Amazon (with more than 85 five-star reviews!) and it is an awesome resource if you are interested in building your blog.

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Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars

I love me some Starbucks anytime and anywhere, but during the holidays that pretty green & white logo is even more tempting.  Not because of the Peppermint Mochas or Gingerbread Lattes, (though they are delicious), but because of the yummiest treat on the planet…..Cranberry Bliss Bars.

Mmmmmmmmm……

For those of you who haven’t been lucky enough to try one of these little gems, a Cranberry Bliss Bar is basically a blondie packed with white chocolate & cranberries, then frosted with the best frosting ever, then sprinkled with a few more bits of dried cranberry for good measure.  It is like a little bite of holiday cheer that comes in the form of a bar.  And, as if that weren’t good enough, this homemade version is super easy to whip up in just a single bowl!  If you are really short on time, you could use the store bought cream cheese frosting, but trust me when I tell you that this homemade browned butter cream cheese icing is worth the very small amount of extra effort!

Here is what you need:

1/2 recipe Browned Butter Cream Cheese Icing
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
6 ounces white chocolate chips
1/2 cup dried cranberries, plus more for sprinkling on top
baking spray

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray 8×8″ square casserole dish with cooking spray; set aside.  Melt butter in saucepan or microwave.

Step 2: Add melted butter and brown sugar to large mixing bowl; mix well.

Step 3: Add egg and vanilla; mix well.

Step 4: Add flour and salt; mix well.

Step 5: Fold in cranberries and white chocolate chips with a spatula.

Step 6: Transfer batter to baking dish; bake at 350 degrees for approximately 22-24 minutes.

Step 7: Remove from oven & let cool completely on wire rack.  Invert dish onto wire rack, then invert again onto cutting board with top facing up.

Step 8: Frost with generous layer of Browned Butter Cream Cheese Icing; sprinkle with finely chopped dried cranberry pieces.  Chill in refrigerator 1 hour; cut into bars.

 

    Print This!    



Recipe: Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars

Summary: An amazing Holiday treat for your next party!

Ingredients

1/2 recipe Browned Butter Cream Cheese Icing
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
6 ounces white chocolate chips
1/2 cup dried cranberries, plus more for sprinkling on top
baking spray



Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 8×8″ square casserole dish with cooking spray; set aside. Melt butter in saucepan or microwave.
Add melted butter and brown sugar to large mixing bowl; mix well.
Add egg and vanilla; mix well.
Add flour and salt; mix well.
Fold in cranberries and white chocolate chips with a spatula.
Transfer batter to baking dish; bake at 350 degrees for approximately 22-24 minutes.
Remove from oven & let cool completely on wire rack.
Invert dish onto wire rack, then invert again onto cutting board with top facing up.
Frost with generous layer of Browned Butter Cream Cheese Icing; sprinkle with finely chopped dried cranberry pieces. Chill in refrigerator 1 hour; cut into bars.

Preparation time: 10 minute(s)

Cooking time: 22-24

Number of servings (yield): 18

 

*   *   *

What’s your favorite Starbucks treat?

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DiY Lip Balm Tins

This year I am beyond thrilled to introduce you to a revamped series here at LWSL called Handmade Holidays!  In past years I have shared my own holiday gift ideas, but this year I thought it would be fun to get some inspiration elsewhere.  I asked eight of my favorite up-and-coming bloggers to share a simple and frugal handmade gift idea.  I was so blown away by all the amazing ideas they came up with, and I think you will be too.  Each Monday, from now until Christmas, one of these talented women will be sharing their gift idea.  Please be sure to welcome them here to LWSL, and to take the time to check out their blogs.  You will be so glad you did!

*   *   *

This is a guest post is from Eden of  Sugar and Charm .

 

Hi everyone! I?m Eden from Sugar and Charm and I?m thrilled to be sharing this easy, but really fun DIY project with all of you Living Well Spending Less readers!

If you?re anything like me, you love your lip balm! I put it on several times throughout the day to keep my lips feeling soft, especially during the winter months. My husband also has his ChapStick in his pocket at all times, so this project is intended for both men and women. Since I’m always losing lip balms everywhere or my toddler is throwing them in the garbage, I decided to make my own so there could be an endless supply!

I thoroughly enjoyed creating a lip balm, that I can customize and add ingredients like organic coconut and beeswax…two very moisturizing ingredients! And instead of buying plastic cases to store it in, you can reuse adorable mint tins! They also make the cutest homemade gifts for family, friends or coworkers. Read below for the how-to!

Here is what you need:

beeswax {you can buy this at a craft store, use a coupon if you have one too! I used a 50% coupon which made it very affordable}
coconut oil
100% essential oil {any scent, I used orange and it smells so sweet!
double broiler
cheap turkey baster {that you don’t mind ruining!}
a variety of mint tins {I found some really cool mustache tins that I made for my husband, haha! Altoid tins work great as well}
a spatula for stirring
grater
measuring spoons
rags for cleaning
 
To make 5-6 small lip balms:
6 Tablespoons Beeswax, shredded
3?4 cups coconut oil
10-15 drops 100% orange essential oil
 

Step 1: Shred the beeswax (you can microwave it for a minute to soften it) then measure the coconut oil. The key to making your own lip balm is using more coconut oil than beeswax. Beeswax is very hard, you want your lip balm to be soft so you can apply it to your lips. Otherwise when it dries it will be just as hard as the beeswax.

Step 2: Melt the beeswax and coconut oil in a double broiler or a metal bowl over a simmering pot of water. Once it?s melted add in 15 to 20 drops 100% essential oil. Any scent, but usual scents that both women and men would like are orange, mint, lemon, etc.

Step 3: Clean the mint tins you?ve gathered and dry them completely.

Step 4: Using a turkey baster, fill each tin to the top of the hinges. Let it cool before using.

Step 5: Once they’re cooled, you can tie a bow around them, throw them in a stocking or give them to your friends for Christmas. Or just keep a few extra on hand, so if you lose one or it mysteriously winds up in the garbage can you have back up!

* * *

If you could choose any flavor of lip balm what would it be? I would love to see what concoctions you would come up with!

Eden Passante started Sugar and Charm in 2010 as a way to share sweet recipes, entertaining inspiration and easy ways for adding a little charm to the everyday life. She’s a host of A&E’s Lifetime Moms- branded videos on entertaining, crafting and baking and also part of Martha’s Circle, a network of blogs chosen by Martha Stewart Editors. She lives in Los Angeles with my husband and darling baby boy, Romeo.!

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DiY Lip Balm Tins {Handmade Holidays}

This year I am beyond thrilled to introduce you to a revamped series here at LWSL called Handmade Holidays!  In past years I have shared my own holiday gift ideas, but this year I thought it would be fun to get some inspiration elsewhere.  I asked eight of my favorite up-and-coming bloggers to share a simple and frugal handmade gift idea.  I was so blown away by all the amazing ideas they came up with, and I think you will be too.  Each Monday, from now until Christmas, one of these talented women will be sharing their gift idea.  Please be sure to welcome them here to LWSL, and to take the time to check out their blogs.  You will be so glad you did!

*   *   *

This is a guest post is from Eden of  Sugar and Charm .

 

Hi everyone! I?m Eden from Sugar and Charm and I?m thrilled to be sharing this easy, but really fun DIY project with all of you Living Well Spending Less readers!

If you?re anything like me, you love your lip balm! I put it on several times throughout the day to keep my lips feeling soft, especially during the winter months. My husband also has his ChapStick in his pocket at all times, so this project is intended for both men and women. Since I’m always losing lip balms everywhere or my toddler is throwing them in the garbage, I decided to make my own so there could be an endless supply!

I thoroughly enjoyed creating a lip balm, that I can customize and add ingredients like organic coconut and beeswax…two very moisturizing ingredients! And instead of buying plastic cases to store it in, you can reuse adorable mint tins! They also make the cutest homemade gifts for family, friends or coworkers. Read below for the how-to!

Here is what you need:

beeswax {you can buy this at a craft store, use a coupon if you have one too! I used a 50% coupon which made it very affordable}
coconut oil
100% essential oil {any scent, I used orange and it smells so sweet!
double broiler
cheap turkey baster {that you don’t mind ruining!}
a variety of mint tins {I found some really cool mustache tins that I made for my husband, haha! Altoid tins work great as well}
a spatula for stirring
grater
measuring spoons
rags for cleaning
 
To make 5-6 small lip balms:
6 Tablespoons Beeswax, shredded
3?4 cups coconut oil
10-15 drops 100% orange essential oil
 

Step 1: Shred the beeswax (you can microwave it for a minute to soften it) then measure the coconut oil. The key to making your own lip balm is using more coconut oil than beeswax. Beeswax is very hard, you want your lip balm to be soft so you can apply it to your lips. Otherwise when it dries it will be just as hard as the beeswax.

Step 2: Melt the beeswax and coconut oil in a double broiler or a metal bowl over a simmering pot of water. Once it?s melted add in 15 to 20 drops 100% essential oil. Any scent, but usual scents that both women and men would like are orange, mint, lemon, etc.

Step 3: Clean the mint tins you?ve gathered and dry them completely.

Step 4: Using a turkey baster, fill each tin to the top of the hinges. Let it cool before using.

Step 5: Once they’re cooled, you can tie a bow around them, throw them in a stocking or give them to your friends for Christmas. Or just keep a few extra on hand, so if you lose one or it mysteriously winds up in the garbage can you have back up!

* * *

If you could choose any flavor of lip balm what would it be? I would love to see what concoctions you would come up with!

Eden Passante started Sugar and Charm in 2010 as a way to share sweet recipes, entertaining inspiration and easy ways for adding a little charm to the everyday life. She’s a host of A&E’s Lifetime Moms- branded videos on entertaining, crafting and baking and also part of Martha’s Circle, a network of blogs chosen by Martha Stewart Editors. She lives in Los Angeles with my husband and darling baby boy, Romeo.!

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Weekend Wandering

Happy Sunday everyone!  I hope you are all enjoying this season of Advent.   It is such a special time of year!   And speaking of the Christmas season, I was incredibly inspired by all your holiday ideas this week!  It was really hard to pick my favorites, but here are just a few of the posts I loved:

*   *   *

First of all, this Brown Sugar and Coke Glazed Ham from When is Dinner might just have to make it on the Christmas menu this year.  My husband would be in heaven!

Anything is better when it is dipped in chocolate and these Candy Cane Pretzels from Kleinworth & Co had me drooling!

How amazing do these Gingerbread Caramel Gooey Bars from Life, Love and Sugar look? YUM!

This Homemade Sugar Scrub from Detours in Life is such a simple gift idea!

Loved this Christmas Bucket List from Creative Savings Blog. Such a cute printable, & I definitely want to do everything on that list!

It is so easy to get caught up in the holiday rush so I love these ideas for Observing Advent from An Extraordinary Day.

I love how The Blissfull Bee took these dollar store trays and made them into cute Chalkboard Plates!

Thrifty Little Mom shared lots of good ideas for How to Trim Your Tree Like the Magazines.

There is no shortage of fun things to do with your Elf on the Shelf but this list of ideas from Raining Hot Coupons has some really creative ones!

Finally, you may have noticed, but I have kind-of a think for dahlias, so I absolutely ADORED these Paper Dahlias from Simple Joys!  So pretty and such a pretty addition to a simple Christmas gift!

*   *   *

What did you love this week?

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