Good Stocking Stuffers * Gift guide 2016

I've collected some wonderfully good stocking stuffers for your favorite people this holiday season. This edition of my Sweet Holidays Gift Guide is a collection of the best stocking stuffers most are on sale too!

for her...

Super cute in hearts and pink any girl would love the Too Faced Funfetti Set at HSN. It's the perfect starter set for a teen just beginning to use makeup your favorite friend or even your mom. I know I would LOVE it. The set includes a sweet blush in a heart shape, a set of 12 matte and shimmer eye shadows shadows, the prettiest mocha pink lip gloss and my all time favorite Better Than Sex mascara.

FREE Shipping too!

Check out more  Sweet Deals at HSN

Pretty in pink and green and aqua and yellow and more, every girl will want the FUJIFILM Instax Mini 8 Camera. 

FREE Shipping too!

Check out more  Sweet Deals at Walmart 

This whole set of 10 festive Cheery elf Nail Polish colors is only $10 at Target. It's perfect for you mistletoes. 

FREE Shipping!

BONUS an extra 10% off too!!

Check out more  Sweet Deals at Target

MAC has the sweetest set of bright pink handled white makeup brush just for the Christmas season. It's called their Nutcracker Sweet Essentials Brush Kit. You can buy it online at Macy's.

FREE Shipping over $25 purchase!

BONUS an extra 20% off too!!

Check out more Sweet Deals at Macy's

for him...

The Braun Series 7 790cc-4 Electric Foil Shaver with Clean & Charge Station is perfect for your guy. And you can't beat this deal at Walmart. It's $120 off !!! 

FREE Shipping too!

Check out more  Sweet Deals at Walmart 

One trend I am loving right now are these large print paisley ties. This is the MICHAEL Michael Kors Men's Creston Paisley Tie. Macy's has a nice selection for Cyber Monday. 

FREE Shipping over $25 purchase!

BONUS an extra 20% off too!!

Check out more Sweet Deals at Macy's

With the new iPhone 7 requiring a wireless earbud, a good wireless earbud it a hot gift this season. The Beats PowerBeats2 wireless in ear earphones are a great stocking stuffer. 

FREE Shipping!

BONUS an extra 10% off too!!

Check out more  Sweet Deals at Target

for the home cook & baker...

The Prepara Swiss Kitchen Multi Tool is perfect for the home cook. It even comes in a festive green color at Target.

FREE Shipping!

BONUS an extra 10% off too!!

Check out more  Sweet Deals at Target

Every Christmas we get new glasses to share our favorite holiday drinks. The cute winter sweater themed glasses from UncommonGreen are so sweet!

Check out their constellations and city etched barware too!

Hearts are my favorite and these Love Beyond Measure measuring spoons are so sweet with a dash of love, a spoonful of laughter and a heart full of stamped on each one, found at Bed Bath and Beyond for only $2.99!!

FREE Shipping!

Check out more Sweet Deals at Bed Bath and Beyond

Copper measuring cups are so pretty you will never want to hide them away in a drawer. They also make a lovely gift for your favorite baker. These are from the Martha Stewart Collection at Macy's.

FREE Shipping over $25 purchase!

BONUS an extra 20% off too!!

Check out more Sweet Deals at Macy's

Happy Holidays!

Visiting Family During the Holidays * Pottery Barn Teens

sponsored by Pottery Barn Teens

Aren't these the sweetest Pintuck Sleeping Bag + Pillowcases in Pool Sweethearts

Are your teens ready for your holiday trip to visit the family? One of my favorite things growing up was piling up in the living room with my cousins with our sleeping bags and staying up way to late whispering and laughing.
When my kids were small I decided that each of them need a good duffle for weekend trips including up to visit my grandparents on their farm especially during the holidays. Pottery Barn Teens has some great travel pieces your teens will love.

The boys will love the Rugby Stripe Sleeping Bag + Pillowcase in Blue and Navy. They also come in blue and red, blue and green, blue and orange.

PB Teens also have great coordinating travel bags to go along with the sleeping bags. The Getaway Blue and Navy Rugby Rolling Duffle Bag is pictured above. The Jet-Set Pool Hearts Carry-On Spinner pictured below.

It's always nice to be prepared with a charging kit in tote- Stay Charged Travel Accessories.

Don't forget the teens will need to bring along their own toiletries. The guys Hanging Toiletry Kit comes in the blue or a grey to coordinate with their luggage, pictured above. The girls Ultimate Hanging Toiletry, pictured below has room for makeup jewelry and more.



Bonus, they can all be personalized with monograms. Happy Holiday traveling!

Christmas Storytime Bedding * Christmas Family Traditions

As Christmas is approaching we have been thinking about our favorite Christmas family traditions and thinking of new traditions to start this year. Every year I gather all my Christmas books and place them in a basket under the Christmas tree. I have a collection of fine Christmas plush toys that sit next to the basket of books. The kids are only allowed to play with the plush toys if they sit quietly under the tree and read a book. Everyone loves this special family tradition.
This year Pottery Barn Kids has a collection of Christmas themed bedding and pajamas that go along with some of our favorite Christmas books.

I just adore the Santa's Sleigh set that goes nicely with my all time favorite Christmas book, The Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore. I can just imagine aa a kid I would have layed in bed looking at this print of santa taking off in his sleigh and how he would be coming to visit me soon.

1. Santa's Sleigh Flannel Pajamas
2. Santa's Sleigh Flannel Sheet Set
3. Santa's Sleigh Flannel Duvet Cover

Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer has been a memory for Christmas for as long as I can remember but what I remember most about Rudolph is trying to memorize all the names of the reindeer as I sang the song over and over again in the car. This original print is from the 1948 short film by Max Fleischer in 1948. Your kids will fall asleep practicing all the reindeer names in these sweet Rudolph pajamas and comforter set.

1. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer® Flannel Sheet Set
2. Buffalo Check Flannel Sheet Set
3. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer® Flannel Pajama

The good ol' Grinch. Dr. Seuss brought him to life 1956 in How the Grinch Stole Christmas and still after all these years kids to love to read about him and all the Who's in Whoville. Maybe it's the rhyming of Dr Seuss or the funny sweet characters or the grumpy silly Grinch that gets us but he always comes back to us every year.

1. Dr. Seuss's The Grinch™ Flannel Sheet Set
2. Dr. Seuss's The Grinch™ Flannel Pajama
3. Dr. Seuss's The Grinch™ Flannel Duvet Cover

Check out more sweet holiday bedding on Pottery Barn Kids.

Sweet holiday dreams to you all filled with visions of sugar plums!

Thanks to Pottery Barn Kids for sponsoring this post. 

Macy's Holiday Event Salt Lake City * Home & Entertaining

It's the most wonderful time of the year full of delicious foods, family activities and holiday traditions. I believe that traditions are very important part of family life. Most of our family traditions began 20 years ago when my family first began. We always go together to pick out a fresh Christmas Tree.

Our traditions officially started with one of our beloved traditions of reading Clement Moore's poem The Night Before Christmas in our new Christmas pajamas around the Christmas tree.  Each year we've added to the collection of The Night Before Christmas books. Everyone chooses one to use to read along. As my kids grew we added taking Christmas light rides while listening to classic Christmas songs.  As the kids got a little bit older we added watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on tv and waiting to see the Santa Claus.

Then came making candy covered gingerbread houses out of graham crackers while watching A Charlie Brown Christmas and It's Christmas Time again Charlie Brown while sipping hot cocoa.
We always fit in a Christmas play or two and a Christmas musical performance.
We still do all these cheery holiday activities as a family. Do you have a favorite Christmas time tradition?

An old tradition is back in Salt Lake City, the Christmas Candy windows. This holiday season Macy's is having my very most favorite Christmas character Snoopy, in candy!

This coming November 19 join me at this free event...
Macy's Candy Window Unveiling
Macy's City Creek in Salt Lake City
Thursday, November 19 at 6pm
S. Main Street Candy Windows

"Starting at 5pm bring the family to the women's department on 2 for festive activities like hot cocoa, face painting, balloon artistry, letter writing to santa, and much more! Plus don't miss an exclusive sneak peak of the Pioneer Theater Company's production of It Happened One Christmas. Then, just before 6pm, follow the cast outside to the Candy Windows of S. Main Street for our grand unveiling along with our very own Holiday Ambassador, Snoopy!"

 Visit Macy's Holiday Events for more info

Thanks to Macy's Department store for sponsoring this post. All opinions are mine #macysbelieve

5 Summertime Hostess Gifts * Home & Garden

Summertime is filled with bbq's, picnics, get togethers and reunions. When we think of hostess gifts for the casual outdoor parties it's a great time to give a little something to your sweet host that fits the summer occasion. Here are some hostess gift ideas that are stylish and useful too.
April

Why not bring a batch of your best strawberry lemonade in a monogrammed drink dispenser. It's a personalized gift that your host can use over and over again all summer long.
Galvanized Metal Drink Dispenser Stand

A lovely arrangement of succulents in a simple stylish container of  is always a nice gift. Succulents are easy to care for, add texture and interest to an outdoor table and are great for any summer climate. Buy a selection of succulents and arrange them yourself or buy some like the beautiful container above from Another World Plants on etsy. I found a large selection of succulents and planters on etsy.
Another World Plants

Does your host like to grill? Mix up a batch of homemade BBQ rub or buy a set of your favorites. Stone Gable has a delicious recipe for a Magic Spicy BBQ Rub.
Magic Spicy BBQ Rub Recipe

Chili Lime Rub at William Sonoma. They also have a large selection of assorted BBQ rubs.

BBQ's, summertime dinner parties and family reunions always include nice cold bottled beverages. An interesting novelty bottle opener is perfect for the hostess with the mostess. William Sonoma has a nice selection to fit your hosts personality.
Anchor Bottle Opener

Sweet and Simple Christmas Gift Guide 2013 * 25 Days of Christmas

Looking for some last minute gifts? We have a sweet selection of gifts for the foodie and those with wanderlust, for the ladies, gentleman and even a few things for the kids. Merry Christmas!

Home and Entertaining * Peppermint Mocha Sugar Body Scrub Recipe

Our Peppermint Mocha Body Scrub is a great handmade gift for a friend, sister or party hostess. It's also an easy last minute gift. 

A Simply Sweet gift you make for friends & neighbors this Holiday-Peppermint Mocha Sugar Body Scrub. The best thing about making this sweet sugar body scrub is that you most likely have all the ingredients already in your cupboards. This scrub smells so you good you will be temped to taste it and you can because it is all natural ingredients are all edible!

Benefits of this sweet scrub:
- chocolate is a natural antioxidant.
- the caffeine in coffee helps reduce the appearance of cellulite and simulates the skin to make it glow.
- the olive oil moisturizes your skin naturally.
- peppermint is a skin stimulant that also soothes.

Supplies:

• 8oz wide mouth canning jar
• white card stock paper
• establishments
• Peppermint Mocha Body Scrub printable label template
• glue gun
• 3/4 cup finely ground coffee
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 3/4 olive oil
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 3 drops pure peppermint oil

Prepare your jar by gluing the canning lid together with glue gun. Print Peppermint Mocha Body Scrub labels on white card stock and cut out or use round punch. Glue label to the top of lid. Add festive establishments. 

In a medium mixing bowl add coffee, sugar, cocoa powder, olive oil and peppermint oil. Mix together until blended. 

Click here to print the Peppermint Mocha Body Scrub Labels free!

Home & Entertaining * Christmas Candy Bar Gifts

Wrapping a favorite candy bar in a decorative paper is a tried and true gift but why not take it a bit farther.

• Choose a pretty craft paper such as the Dear Lizzy Christmas Sledding Song paper from American Crafts. I love this paper because it has the words to Jingle Bells on it as well as a cute sleighing couple. 
• Cut the paper the same size as the original wrapper. 
• Wrap paper around the candy bar. 
• Glue ends together. 
• Add a pretty ribbon such as this rouge velvet ribbon and the white small pom poms from American Crafts. 
• I added a vintage velvet holly leaf. You could add any sort of holiday embellishment.

These lovely mini-gifts are perfect for:

• party favors- use paper & ribbon that coordinates with your party colors
• gift card holders- tuck an envelope under the wrapper with a gift card. I made sure the envelope stays in place with some Glue Dots.
• attach it to some updated picture of your family and kids for Grandma & Grandpa
• have on hand to pass out to unexpected visitors
• add a tag with your guest's name and use as a place card for your holiday dinner

Merry Christmas!

post & photo by April A. founder & editor-in-chief 

Free Christmas Printable Tags * Home & Entertaining

{click here for high resolution printable Christmas gift tags}

With Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday upon us the Holiday gift buying has officially begun. Why not start the gift wrapping now and wrap as you buy your gifts. I know I often wait until Christmas eve after the kids are in bed and end up being super tired on Christmas Day. It's my goal to have all my presents wrapped well before Christmas eve so all I am left with is arranging the gifts around our lovely Christmas tree.

I created this FREE Holiday gift tags to get you started and leave a little extra change in your pocket for a Dr. Pepper or other drink of your choice while you wrap away.

Happy Holidays!
xo

April

Home & Entertaining * Candy Cane Brown Sugar Scrub Recipe

Handmade simple gifts are often the most remembered by friends and loved ones. Our Candy Cane Brown Sugar Scrub is a warm thoughtful gift for a party hostess, teacher, neighbor, sister or best friend. It takes minutes to make and smells so good!

Candy Cane Brown Sugar Scrub

• 4 cups of brown sugar
• 1 cup of olive oil
• 1 cup of almond oil
• 5 drops of pure peppermint oil
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Simply mix all ingredients together in a large glass mixing bowl. Scoop into jars. Add labels and pretty ribbon. We used American Crafts velvet Ruban premium ribbon in Scarlet.

We created these cute labels for you to print and add to your jars of Candy Cane Brown Sugar Scrub. Simply print on a white card stock paper and glue to the top of your jar with craft glue.

For Free Printable Labels click here:

Candy Cane Brown Sugar Scrub Labels

Sweet & Simple Tips:
- Add a tablespoon with a nice ribbon attached for a scoop.
- Mix it up and add lemon or lavender pure essential oils rather than peppermint for a different scent.
- Add more olive oil if your mixture seems a bit dry.

post & photo by April A. founder & editor-in-chief