DISCLAIMER: Special thanks to JC Penny for sponsoring today's post. All opinions are my own. Do you hear that?! It's the clock ticking down, taunting me, reminding me that I only have 10 more days until Christmas!!! I have "some" of my shopping finished, but there is soooo much more to get done before the big day. Thanks to lifestyle expert, Limor Suss, I can rest a little bit easier, knowing I have some knowledgeable help to get me prepared. There's a running joke around my house; whenever I'm feeling especially Cinderella-y, I always joke with my family and tell them... "Ya know, I'm kind of a big deal on the internet, right?!"... well for once, I was actually right. I recently got the opportunity to ask lifestyle expert, Limor Suss a few questions about how to survive the holidays without wanting to run away from home. Here's what she had to say.... Isn't she the best?! I love her tips on setting the table the night before, to keep stress down and the one about using cute ornaments as a centerpiece and a take home gift for guests... why didn't I think of that?! Entertaining friends and family is one of the best parts of the whole Christmas season, but my very favorite part is giving gifts and seeing the look on the recipient's face, when they open the box and find exactly what they didn't want... because I am horrible at gift giving, so I usually stick to gift cards. Speaking of gift cards... the generous folks at J.C. Penny are really getting into the spirit of the season, by offering one of my lucky readers a chance to win a $75 gift card. Entering is easy, all you have to do is comment below and tell me what your favorite tip was, from the video above. Open only to US residents. Contest ends on 12-21 and all attempts will be made to get your gift card to you before Christmas, assuming you supply your address in a timely manner. Good Luck!!! ..... and the winner is... Sherri!!! Congratulations and thank you to everyone who entered!
4 Comments
DISCLAIMER: XFINITY partnered with bloggers like me for this program. As part of this program, I received compensation for my time. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about any product mentioned in these posts. XFINITY believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. XFINITY’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations. "Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go"... We all know these familiar words to the old tune, depicting a fun, horse driven sleigh ride through the woods to visit family for the holidays, but what should be a Norman Rockwell-esque trip could quickly turn into a Wes Craven-like nightmare, if you don't prepare accordingly. Road tripping with kids is not for the faint of heart, but don't let that dissuade you from trying. With a few (common sense) tips, you too can be getting your kicks on Rte 66 or I-40 or whatever road gets you to family this holiday season.
DISCLAIMER: I received the products mentioned below in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own. With only 20 days left until Christmas, most people are already starting to feel the pressure to get the perfect gift for everyone on their list. It has to be just right, nothing less than the best will do. It needs to be high quality, so it will last for a long time, but it also needs to be affordable, because people have budgets and you don't wanna spend Christmas eve with no electricity and it would also be great if it was made in the USA, but where can one find all those things? Say "Hello" to Wendell August. In a world that moves faster every day, you look forward to special occasions that allow you to pause for a moment and mark time – holidays, showers, weddings, births, graduations, just to name a few. At Wendell August, our mission is to help you celebrate and remember life’s special moments by creating heirloom-quality giftware for you to treasure. Our craft is meaningful to us because life’s moments are meaningful to you. Wendell August has a little bit of something for everyone on your list, this year. Whether you're looking for something meaningful for your Mom or something sentimental for your Dad, or maybe a little something for yourself, Wendell August has you covered. Here are a few ideas to get you started and for today only, you can score buy 2 get 2 free on jewelry and almost all items are eligible to be inscribed with your initials or a message from your heart.
DISCLOSURE: Compensation and products for review were provided by Hickory Farms via MomTrends. I received a free sample of the product for the purpose of this review and to facilitate a giveaway. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Hickory Farms. The guests are gone, the dishes are washed and put away, the leftovers are (almost) gone and the tree is up and lit... Goodbye turkey day, hello Christmas. I am such a kid when it comes to holidays; I absolutely love a reason to party and eat yummy food and spend time with my family. Growing up, family was always super important. My cousins are the very first friends I can remember having in my life. No matter the holiday, we were together. Whether it was the traditional Christmas Eve chili, the New Year's black eyed peas and greens, Easter egg hunts at my Nannie's house, the park for Memorial day cookouts or at my house for my birthday; my family has always been super close. Over the years, the kids grew up, people moved away, got married and started families of their own and we saw less and less of each other. It was sad, really, but what can you do? That's life and sometimes, you just have to go with the flow and make new traditions, which is what I have done with my own kids. While we still get together with the extended family on major holidays, I have started some new traditions with my own kids that hopefully, they will share with their kids, one day... wayyyyy in the future. A tradition doesn't have to be anything extravagant, it can be something as simple as buying a new ornament for the tree, for each child. You could also let them pick an ornament out for each other. I have done this the last few years and the kids really look forward to seeing what ornament they will get. Another fun tradition we started a few years ago is getting dressed up in our PJs, piling up in the car and driving out to see the light displays around town. One night we will do our local neighborhoods and one night we will go see the professional lights at Jellystone Park. It's a really fun way to get the kids out of the house and away from the screens, while making new memories they will (hopefully) treasure. One of my very favorite traditions is taking Micah to see Santa. There's something that is just so nostalgic and magical about seeing the jolly old guy, sitting up there on his big ol' chair, handing out candy canes and listening to the hopes and dreams of the kids... it gets me every time. (and most towns have free places you can take your kids) Another fun holiday tradition many families enjoy is baking cookies together and sharing them with friends and family. I tried this a few times, but it was kind of hard for me to get into, as I am kind of anal about my kitchen and I just couldn't get past the mess of baking with kids. I'm more of an "I'll order some cookies from Hickory Farms and have 'em shipped to you" kind of gal. Hickory Farms is America’s most famous holiday food gift brand, enjoyed by holiday shoppers seeking the perfect gifts for family and friends for over 60 years. I remember, as a child, my Mom and dad being gifted the huge boxes of assorted cheeses and summer sausage with the tiny jars of jams and jellies. Now, every time I see them in the stores, I'm instantly taken back to that time in my childhood. Whether you're looking for savory goodies like cheeses and salamis or maybe something more refined like a tea sampler, or my personal fave... cookies, Hickory Farms has you covered! Traditions don't have to be over the top or super expensive to be memorable, you just have to use your imagination and apply a little bit of effort. When your kids' kids tell you how Dad told them about the time you did this or that for him, it will all be worth it.
The awesome folks at Hickory Farms would like to be a part of your family traditions and are giving one lucky reader a Chocolate Decadence Trio of yummy delicious cookies. To win, simply comment below, telling me what your favorite holiday tradition is. I will pick a winner on Wednesday December 2nd. Good luck! DISCLAIMER: I will receive the products mentioned below, in exchange for sharing this information with my readers. The perfect friend in the pursuit of amazing coffee, Single Cup Club is like having your own "guy" in the coffee world. Each month, a box of artisan coffees is shipped right to your door for just $19. You'll experience three small batch roasted coffees with each month's box in the convenience of Kuerig compatible single serve cups. Get 25% off your Single Cup Club membership (Gift & Ongoing Membership). It's the perfect box for the coffee lover in your life, especially if that coffee lover is you! My readers get to save! 25% off Membership signup - Use code: HOLIDAY25
http://usfamilycoupons.com/coupon.php?regionid=75&bid=12277&dealid=2121 .@usfg DISCLAIMER: I will receive the products mentioned below, in exchange for sharing this information with my readers. Your best friend in the pursuit of all things hot sauce, Monthly Pepper Box is like having a miniature hot sauce festival delivered to your door every month. Each month discover savory gems of artisan hot sauces for only $22. Every box, you'll get 3 bottles of succulent heat ranging from a "Low Burn" to "Call the Fire Department" from hot sauce companies you've never heard of. Get 10% off your membership (Gift & Ongoing) at Monthly Pepper Box. It's the perfect box for the Pepper Head in your life, especially if that Pepper Head is you!
|
Follow Me on Pinterest
|