Month: November 2017

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Black Friday

I hosted Thanksgiving for my family this year, and so I failed to update my blog as intended. I have a tried-and-true pie crust technique, holiday ideas and recipes, and more I had planned to share, but it didn’t happen and it isn’t happening today.

This is what we’re doing today. And that outlet by the baby doesn’t look covered, but it is. Full disclosure.

But I do have a few Black Friday deals to share for those of us who don’t brave the crowds but like a deal, complete with affiliate links. And I’m all about Small Business Saturday, by the way, but I also live in the middle of nowhere, so Amazon is a godsend. Without further ado, here we go.

Oh, but first: if you plan to shop online and you don’t have this app, you need it. Ebates is the easiest thing to use. Download, find the store you want, purchase as usual, receive cash back. Get $10 just for getting started! Here’s my referral link:
https://www.ebates.com/r/RINGOJ8?eeid=28187

Perhaps I’m the last human on earth who doesn’t have an Instant Pot, but it is on my Wish List. I’ve alerted my family members to this particular deal on Amazon, especially since I’ve noticed it is sold out on several other sites.

I recently bought Fairy Lights at Big Lots, thinking I had found a good deal. This is way better.

If you have a Kitchen Aid but don’t have one of these, you should. They are amazing. Freeze the bowl, throw in a simple mix of ingredients, and boom, ice cream. No rock salt or anything like that.

Everyone is mad about the Pioneer Woman, so here’s a pretty little bowl set from her line. I’m still crushing on all things Ina Garten, so I’ll be over here dreaming of East Hampton.

We like “Little Lit” books for the kids, and Little Women is one of my faves. Don’t forget the discount code at checkout!

Magna-Tiles are the coolest.

And in case his beard isn’t just for No-Shave November, here ya go.

Vitamix Blenders are apparently the stuff dreams are made of, and they are on sale! Woohoo!

That’s all I’ve got for now. I’m on Ebates now, looking at Harry & David, Kohl’s, Toys R Us, and Macy’s. Happy shopping!

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When Can I Decorate For Christmas?

Everyone I know shares the same meme in the tenth month of the year: a beautiful scene of fall leaves with the Anne of Green Gables quote, “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”

Courtesy of Pixabay.com

And as much as I agree with the sentiment and think October is beautiful, at least in my neck of the woods where we do experience a true change of seasons, I otherwise hate October. (Don’t gasp, I’ll elaborate in a moment).

So today, on the first day of November, I’m facing a bit of a conundrum.

Christmas is my favorite. Twinkly lights are my favorite. But it is not yet Thanksgiving. And decorating for Christmas and removing all the orange and brown accents from my home feels wrong this early.

But I think I’ve found the answer.

I’m going to put up my Christmas tree and add Thanksgiving décor.

Since I typically have no less than four trees decorated for Christmas, as well as wreaths and tchotchkes all over the house, this isn’t an extreme solution, and just thinking about it has me excited for the coming holidays.

Technically, it doesn’t fit into my current goals of buying only what I need, ridding of what I already own that is no longer useful, and moving toward minimalism.

But look at this pumpkin pie ornament and tell me this isn’t a good idea.

We’ve always waited until the day after Thanksgiving to decorate for Christmas. If you celebrate, when do you decorate?


*Why do I hate October? This one in particular has been filled with illness and loss, but I just generally dislike the month. My husband is a football coach and I am a sports writer, and by October, we are worn out. I pick up both kids every day until football is over, and the trip to get just one child kills an hour of my day. My household projects, which had been progressing in late summer, are once again chaos. My kids love Halloween but it always coincides with either games or deadlines and as a homebody, trick-or-treating stresses me out. I guess I feel about October as most feel about February; it’s when I most notice the loss of summer and freedom and the thrill of a new school year has worn off.