10 ULTRA EASY Valentine's Day DIY Treats, Crafts and Gifts

With the long holiday weekend ahead, I thought I publish a fun Valentine's Day post full of SUPER EASY DIY Valentine's Day crafts, gift and treat ideas so easy there's no tutorial or crazy supplies needed. Enjoy! 

#LOVE

This is a classic, that you can do year after year. Fill grandma's garden perhaps? Make a stepping stone path in the back garden?

Salt Dough Stepping Stones
This is so easy!
Mix:
1 Cup of salt
1 Cup of Flour
1/2 Cup of Water
Roll out like dough then form into a heart.
Get those little toes and a butter knife!
Once the footprints are made, use a butter knife or thin end of a fork to PRESS in the letters,  DO DO NOT drag, letters will get screwed up.

Bake @ 200F (or 100C) for 3 hours. 

Once completely cool, paint and let dry.

. 

Since so many of us have to make a class Valentine box, 
I thought I would remind you how easy it is. 

Three things: Old box. Crafting crap. Your imagination.

Speaking of class party, here's a cheap and easy heart hat. 

TIP: Forget the white plates. Find Valentine's Day Party plates!  Feeling all crafty? Kick the hat up a notch or two.

Here's another great party idea, check out these super easy heart cupcakes.

Do a family dinner everyone will love! Heart-shaped Pizza!

     Roll out the dough, then shape into a heart. 

Wanna know the fastest way to your man's heart? 
Two words: Bacon Hearts
NOTHING says I Love You, Man, like bacon hearts!

For perfect hearts, cut strips in half, then shape half a heart at a time. 

Speaking of guilty pleasures, you could always make a Cork Heart!

(I might have to do this. ON a smaller scale.)

           

Organize red to white for the perfect gradient.

And for dessert, Rice Krispie kisses. 

                                

Or, maybe peanut butter cookie hearts.

But what I really want...

Yep. I have to go make those. Now. 

Tips To Get Festive For The Holidays, Today!

I just can't get my head around the fact next week, the month-long Holiday adventure of December kicks off!

HOW?

Wasn't it just, August?

I am so not ready!

If, like me, you are freaking out and need to get your festive-on and fast, below are a few fun ways to get festive for the holidays!

Make something sentimental that will last 

If you’re hoping to do something a little different this year – or expand your outdoor Christmas decoration box, then why not consider some festive signage? Custom metal signs made for home decor are ideal in this scenario, a large red sign that reads – Santa, We've been so good! You can choose anything you want. Unless you're my husband, then, NO! You can't write THAT on a sign! – is a cute and quirky way to bring in the festive cheer – that you can bring out year after year.

Be Unconventional

There's always the hottest Christmas trend of 2018, the pineapple Christmas tree! (I swear I'm not kidding!)

Buy out the dollar store

Go to the Dollar Tree after work. Buy a bunch of holiday decorations. Go home, put them in the middle if the floor and fire uo the leaf blower. #GoodTimes

Create something classic

Remember when we were kids and most decorations were made of foil and stretched from one end of the room to the other? Nowadays it seems to be all flashing lights and stylish, designer trees that no one is allowed to touch! Well, why not bring back a classic Christmas feel – and create some pretty homemade decorations?

A wonderful activity you can do with the kids to make it extra special, something like a simple paper chain made of brightly colored card, throw on some glitter and you’re good to go. These can go anywhere too – so if your tree is looking a little sparse or you want to decorate a doorframe or mirror, coat the house with homemade crafts!  

And as the kids get older, when the decorations appear again it’s an extra special touch for you and your family to look back on and smile.

The Christmas Table

Usually, on the big day, we can’t see the table, thanks to the mountains of food, paper hats and Christmas cracker debris scattered everywhere. But before the magical day arrives there’s nothing to stop you decorating the table and letting everyone know that Christmas is just one less sleep away. Find a tablecloth that’s festive or one with a bright color that will only come out at this time of year.

And don’t forget your placements and coasters too. Not only will they look beautiful and festive, but they’ll also protect your table from the inevitable gravy drips and wine drops!

Fairy lights

Who said that twinkly lights were only for the tree? LED lights can be purchased in various lengths and sizes of bulbs, so if you’re looking for something delicate to drape over a mirror, or attach to a garland you have on your mantlepiece, fairy lights are a really special addition to any room and give it a festive feel. You don’t even have to take them down when Christmas is over!

Do This To Save Your Sanity During The Holidays

Alright, Parents, the holidays are around the corner. Your sanity is at stake. What's the plan? 

I'll tell you what my plan is, relax and pack in as much 'Me' time as possible. It never fails, from the week before Halloween to the week after Easter, I'm non-stop. My weekly schedule is so covered in different color highlighter pens, I'm convinced Moms invented them to help keep their shit straight. 

If you are totally nodding your head, thinking, Yep. Me, too. And, Amen to highlighter pens, then keep reading. It's essential that you build 'Me' time into your schedule before the holidays take over. Below are a few ways to go into the holidays with your sanity, and maybe even come out semi-sane, too. 

1. Reconnect with your partner

The holidays are a magical time. Make sure you and your partner go into them together. Reconnect now, before life gets insane. Rebuild your partnership, rekindle your love, reconnect. Try to set aside one night a week after the children have gone to bed, for just you and your partner. NO phones, no internet – just quality time together. Babble has some excellent ideas on what you can do together including cuddling up and watching your favorite TV shows, movies, cooking a yummy dinner, having a drink on the porch by candlelight.

2. Go On An Adventure

I love nothing more during my me time than escaping reality in the pages of a good book. Make a trip to your local library and check out a few fun books, magazines, and audiobooks. Go on, when was the last time you visit the library, for yourself? Remember how much you loved it? GO. Go back, my friend. The adventures await you.

3. Indulge in a little retail therapy

When was the last time you treated yourself? Like, really treated yourself? Screw buying the kids something off Amazon, buy yourself something! GOt the best damn bar of chocolate you can find and eat it, ALL BY YOURSELF! Whether it's, boots, booze, chocolates or LuLaRoe, get it!

4. Get Lost In Cyberspace

Stuck at home? No Worries, the Internet has got your back. There are plenty of fun things to do Online! Make a Pinterest board full of your favorite things. Surf Houzz, GOogle Images and everywhere in between. Dream Away... Or, if you're feeling lucky, try to win some extra holiday money on the MGM casino online. (Please, play responsibly.)

5. Enjoy a nice glass of wine

Wine-down while you wind down. Not drunkard style, but a glass or two is actually a good thing. As According to a fantastic article on the Daily Mail An adult beverage after the kids have gone to sleep is a bloody good idea.

Whatever you do, enjoy yourself and your 'me' time. The Holidays are almost here, don't go into them already crazed in a shitty relationship with last year's leggings. Get it together so you can keep it together!

Read This Before You Spend A Dime Online Holiday Shopping

1. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE AMAZON PRIME FREE 30-DAY TRIAL! If you don't have Amazon Prime, get it! New members can take advantage of a 30-Day FREE trial. Yes, you do have to give your credit card number, but once you sign up, "cancel" the Prime Membership and the clock will still run for 30 days. So no worries about remembering to cancel. 

Here is a screen shot of me canceling my 30-day free trial early, but still have the benefits through the full 30 days. 

                                               

TIP: Haven't used Amazon in a long time or not even sure what email you used? Your account may be eligible for a new free trial! Or, just start over. Sign up with a new email address, take advantage of the free 30-day prime membership and shop away in your PJs!  You also get all thePrime Extras like Free TV, Movies, Books, Music. Click the banner below to sign up now.

                                                   

2. Coupon like a crazy person.  Coupons are everywhere these days, don't buy without them, in-store and Online.  I needed a big ticket item from a big box hardware store. I went to their website, found what I wanted, then searched for a coupon code. I was able to save 20% at checkout with a coupon code I found. What made the deal even sweeter was that I opted for an in-store pickup, and by the time I got to the store, it was waiting for pick-uo. This saved me time and money. DO THIS!!!

3. GET CASH BACK ON EVERY PURCHASE! Did you know, you should be getting cash back for every online purchase you make? And I'm not talking about 1% of your purchase. Try up to 25% off your purchase! Seriously. No. Shit.

Last year, I reviewed a website that offered cash back. It worked. I REALLY got a check for the purchases I made when I shopped through the website. The problem was remembering to use the website before shopping.

Which is why EBATES has taken the online shopping world by storm with its browser button feature. Ebates created a button that installs on your web browser to easily find coupons offered on every site you shop at. INSTANTLY! The second the webpage opens, Ebates notifies you of the cashback percentage, then at checkout scans a bunch of coupon codes until the biggest savings is found and auto-enters the code.

If you learn anything from me shopping this holiday season, it to sign up for Ebates!  When the check arrives, you will thank me!

To check out or Sign up for Ebates, click Here.


Have an awesome way to save, please enter it in the comments below!  

10 Ways Save Big Money And Your Sanity This Holiday Season

Before I get started, I need you to repeat your new Holiday Shopping Mantra after me...

I WILL NOT PAY FULL PRICE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

The following tips will help you stick to that mantra.

1. Make A List.  Probably the biggest holiday shopping mistake a person can make is going shopping without a solid plan. Going to the shops with a 'loose list' of people to shop for and only a vague idea of what you want to buy is dangerous on so many levels. From over buying to completely forgetting Aunt Thelma... Everyone's been naughty, just make the damn list already!

TIP: Make a list of anyone and everyone you may want/need to buy gifts for, then add your vague gift ideas. Maybe even go so far as to just come out and ask them what they want. Then use this as your master list. Stick to it, and when that person has been taken care of, write down what you got them, and cross them off the list. Organization is key.

2. THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOU! I am so bad about shopping for myself during the holidays. So bad. As much I'm a huge fan of retail therapy, there are two major flaws with this:

1. My holiday shopping time and budget are limited.
2. The post-holiday clearance sales in January are WAY BETTER.

It's best to leave yourself out of the equation until after the holidays.

3. Leave the distractions at home.  When possible, avoid taking your child(ren) with you.  Even if this means trading all of your lunch breaks until January.  Brown bag it and shop in peace. Kids only complicate the mission with their begging, meltdowns and diaper blowouts.

4. Price shop from home.  There are way too many apps and websites available today to not to compare prices both online and in stores. Take Your Master List and price shop online before you step foot in an actual store. Write down where the best deal is, then check your list once finished for stores or websites that overlap. This can save you a bundle on shipping and time. Between the coupon apps and the compare-and-save apps, there is no reason to pay full price anymore in store or online.

Example:  I needed a big ticket item from a big box hardware store. I went to their website, found what I wanted, then searched for a coupon code.  I was able to save 20% at checkout with a coupon code I found on Ebates.  What made the deal even sweeter was that I opted for an in-store pickup.  This saved me time and money. DO THIS!!!

5. Regift it! Before you do any of the things on this list, grab a box and walk around your house filling it with crap you don't want anymore. Remember, your crap is another person's treasure. Somehow. Once you have filled the box, sit down and decide which friend/family member or what holiday party's Secret Santa you can pawn your crap gift the goods to.

6. Coupon like a crazy person.  Coupons are everywhere these days, don't buy without them! Don't just rely on coupon specific websites and apps, check the website for the store you are heading to.  So many stores will scan the coupons off your phone. If you shop at Target and don't use the Cartwheel app... bad, bad, bad.

7. Don't discount the discount sites. Websites like Amazon, Groupon, Zulily, Overstock, Wayfarer...  all will be fighting for attention this season, so capitalize on it!  Most are even offering free shipping on the smallest orders. I have each bookmarked this time of year to check quickly for steals on things on my list.

TIP: GiftCardGranny is a totally legit site to get gift cards at super discounted prices. So before you buy a gift card in a store, check Gift Card Granny first.

8.  Shop Secondhand. What does every parent have in common at 2 am on Christmas Eve/Hanukkah? They're putting together toys. So, if you are going to give your child a fully assembled toy anyway, why not just buy it secondhand, shine it up and slap a bow on it? Second-hand children's stores and higher end consignment shops have incredible deals on gently used items... so worth checking out!

9. Hit up Pinterest and get crafty. Make something for the person that has everything.  Every year I knit hats and scarves for family and friends. They all look forward to them now; some even put in orders for specific colors.

10. Never Shop Online unless you get cash back! I'm OBSESSED with Ebates. The site not only gives you cash back on purchases, it enters the best coupon code for you. No shit. If you've never checked out eBates, YOU'RE MISSING OUT!!!   I have made over $110 in cash back shopping. Some of the money has already been directly deposited in my PayPal account. Seriously, if you shop online, I cannot recommend enough signing up for Ebates. (Tip: download the browser buttons and all cash back offers and coupons are automatically offered when you start shopping on a website.)

How do you save big during the holidays? If you have any tips or tricks, please please please share them!!!!

Buy This For The Person That Already Has Everything

It's time to kick off the, First Time Mom and Dad 2017 Holiday Gift Guide! To get this party started, I'm partnering with the Canvas Factory, for the second year in a row, the quality is incredible, the price is right, and it's such a cool personalized gift.

You may remember last year's post about The Canvas Factory. I was super skeptical about how a photo would transfer to canvas. I was also skeptical because the prices for the products were so low! I chose the photo The hubs created for me for my birthday the year before. It's a family favorite.

 Below is a photo of the canvas on my wall, and a close up of the print to show the color and quality. 




Needless to say, WOW! I was amazed by how well the photo transferred to the canvas. 

The quality is so nice, no frame needed! The canvas is stretched around the wood frame, secured with nails and staples, then covered with soft felt-like tape to give the back a smooth finish. 





This year, I decided to make a collage of our first home in, Tanjil Bren, Australia. One of the hardest things about being married to someone who is literally from the other side of the world is no matter where we are, one of us is far from home. I wanted to make a collage of our first home in Australia in Tanjil Bren. It's such a special place. 

I picked out a few of my favorite photos for the collage then used the Canvas Factory's free online photo editing software to guide me through the process. It took about ten minutes total to upload, organize and order my collage. The Canvas print took about five days to arrive. 


Oh, how I love my Australian home in Tanjil Bren. It's not easy living in the 'bush', but it's so beautiful and peaceful, it's worth sharing a yard with deadly spiders, snakes and lizards. 

Both the hubs and I were over the moon with how the turned out! In fact, I love it so much, I'm going to fill the stairwell leading to the second floor with multiple collages created using favorite photos from my wedding, pregnancy and child birth,  Oliver's first year through fifth and keep building on it. I'm also giving my mom a collage of her five grandsons. Yes, five boys. No girls between my two siblings and I.

Here's a close up of the quality and clarity of the photo transfer.





The prices are fantastic, too! Canvas prints start at $11 and  if you sign up for their mail list $10 off your first order. If printing on canvas is not your thing, Canvas factory offers printing on acrylic glass or metal. 

I, one-hundred percent, wholeheartedly recommend the Canvas Factory's products. This gift idea is definitely a winner and a holiday pleaser.

To check out the many printing options offered at the Canvas Factory, click here.
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