5 Under $10: Preschool Toys to Donate this Christmas

 Christmas, Giving Back  1 Response »
Dec 082015
 

This shop and my suggestions for preschool toys to donate has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BIGDeal #CollectiveBias

I’ve always felt it was important to teach Bubbles to have a kind and giving heart.  Small acts of kindness go a long way in this world, and I want her to think of others and not just herself.  I also want her to know the joy of brightening someone else’s day.

If you need ideas for preschool toys to donate, here are 5 great options!

As a family, we shop every year for gifts that we’ll donate to the various toy drives and angel trees in town.  Friends and family often comment that they would like to do something similar, but had two concerns in common.  One was the cost of giving during an already expensive time of year (and during an already tough economic climate) and the other was a lack of knowledge in what kids might like. Continue reading »

An Easy DIY Baby’s First Christmas Ornament + Stocking Ideas

 Christmas, DIY  8 Responses »
Dec 012015
 

This shop and my DIY Baby’s First Christmas Ornament project have been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. Adorableness is my nephew’s; opinions are my own. #BIGDeal #CollectiveBias

Baby’s First Christmas is always an exciting milestone.  Bubbles was ten months old for her first Christmas and treated us to the gift of her first steps on Christmas Day.  So I know that my brother and Abby must both be really looking forward to celebrating their first Christmas as parents.

Easy DIY Baby's First Christmas ornament + Christmas Stocking Ideas for Baby

We aren’t going to make it to Maine this year for Christmas (again. sadly) but I still wanted to do something a little special for Jayce.  A few years ago I made Sam & Abby a DIY Our First Christmas ornament using their wedding invitation.  I thought it might be fun to continue the ornament tradition and I decided to DIY a Baby’s First Christmas Ornament. Continue reading »

How to Create the Ultimate Kids Thanksgiving Table

 Thanksgiving  5 Responses »
Nov 102015
 

This shop and my Ultimate Kids Thanksgiving table ideas have been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone, but the fun can be yours, too! #BIGDeal #CollectiveBias

I think growing up, it’s pretty much a universal thing that kids can’t wait to graduate from the kids table to the adults table.  It’s sort of a rite of passage.  And I was definitely excited to make the move, myself, though I will be honest and say I’ll always be a little nostalgic for the seat I left behind.

How to create the Ultimate Kids Thanksgiving Table! A fun tablecloth they can color on, lots of crayons, some cute decor, and fun activities will keep them entertained throughout your whole Thanksgiving dinner.

The kids Thanksgiving table was always the place for fun.  While the grownups were using the plates I was always scared to break, at the kids table we had paper or plastic everything.  The grownups had the fancy pearl onions and creamed this or that, while the kids table had the Jell-O and chocolate pudding.  Who wouldn’t want to be at the kids Thanksgiving table? Continue reading »

See How I Conquered Home Office Organization!

 Decor, Organization  1 Response »
Oct 272015
 

This shop and my home office organization has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions and shouts of joy are mine alone. #BIGDeal #CollectiveBias

I started working from home in 2008, so I’ve had a home office for many years.  As a blogger, though, my home office organization needs have changed a great deal between now and then.  I have less need for filing cabinets and more need for, say, an area to take pictures and a place to store all my “stuff”.

Home Office Organization Ideas using inexpensive shelving units!

To say that my home office had started to get a little overrun is an understatement.  I love shopping for photography props so I had plastic tubs of dishes, linens, accessories, holiday items and more.  The main problem with this, though, is that half the time I would buy something and then promptly forget I owned it.  And if I did remember owning it, finding it was another challenge. Continue reading »

Make These Easy Pumpkin Whoopie Pies + An Exciting Announcement!

 Recipes  23 Responses »
Oct 132015
 

This shop and my Pumpkin Whoopie Pies have been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BIGDeal #CollectiveBias.

If you follow me on my social channels then you’ve already heard my exciting news. I’m very proud to say that I’m a 2015 Big Lots Brand Ambassador!

These Pumpkin Whoopie Pies are made even easier by starting with a cake mix, adding in some pumpkin, then using cream cheese frosting for filling!

There wasn’t a Big Lots in Maine when I was growing up so my first experience with the store was when I went off to college.  But there was a Big Lots not that far from campus that I visited frequently because the value and wide selection of brands was hard to beat.  When I became a Resident Advisor starting my sophomore year, Big Lots is where I would always take my residents shopping for dorm supplies, gifts, holiday decor, snacks and more. Continue reading »