Category: Holidays
Celebrate, Holidays

St. Patrick’s Day Made Simple!

February 20
8 Comments

St. Patrick’s Day is one of my family’s favorite holidays…in part, because we actually have some Irish roots!  When my boys were little it would have been a travesty to not celebrate as they were convinced that they were full-blooded Irishmen!  We made Leprechaun traps, filled shoes with coins, even had to clean up the mess those pesky little Irish guys (that we never did catch) would leave behind…all such fun memories!  But now that the boys are older those sweet activities have come to an end…but not the celebrating!  I still leave coins in the shoes (replaced with dollar bills) AND make our traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner…and anyone with teenage boys will understand that serving up loads of meat is equally exciting to them as the fun & games were when they were little!  Because it has been such a tradition to celebrate in some manner throughout the years, i still try to offer up a special holiday breakfast or whimsical snacks for my my family…but ALSO try to keep it simple!  So today I’m so excited to have partnered with Grand Rapids Popcorn Company to bring you some really “poppin” sweet St. Patrick’s Day fun!  Check out these delicious and EASY ideas…

serve up some luck ‘o the Irish for St. Patrick’s Day!

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Celebrate, Holidays

Easy Chinese New Year Fun!

February 15
10 Comments

The Chinese New Year holiday is one that my family loves to celebrate!  But like I mentioned on Monday…this week has been so jam-packed with holidays it about makes my head spin!  But I couldn’t let this last holiday of the week go by unnoticed…especially since the celebratory food is one of our favorites!  There’s really nothing easier than ordering out and there’s never any shame in doing so!  If it means you have more time to decorate, relax, or just spend extra quality moments with your family and friends, letting someone else do the cooking once in a while is A-Okay with me! (besides, the cleanup is often easier too!)  So since tomorrow marks the celebration of the Chinese New Year, I’m making it simple by serving up our favorite carry-out meal with the simplest decorations…but no less festive!  Check out the super easy ideas and ring in 2018…

Chinese New Year style!

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Celebrate, Holidays, Savor

Festive & Easy Valentine Food Inspiration

February 12
10 Comments

I love to see inspiration for festive Valentine food!  Adding holiday touches is such a simple and sweet way to turn a snack, a treat table, or even a meal into something extra special!  So now that the “happy hearts” celebrations are just days away, I thought I’d share some fun finds and effortless ideas to create festive snacks for your favorite Valentines!  With this week so packed with holidays, the easier the better…in my opinion!  And easy never needs to mean less…at the end of the day it’s the thought that counts so make it simple but present it with love!  Get ready with these easy ideas…

love is in the air…and on the table!

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Celebrate, Holidays

King Cake…a Quick & Easy Substitute!

February 8
8 Comments

Preparing a Mardi Gras King Cake can be such a fun and tasty holiday tradition!  Cutting into that gooey cinnamon cake to see who finds the baby is a tradition that my family has really enjoyed over the years…but making this traditional dessert can be a bit of an undertaking!  Like any made-from-scratch bread, baking a King Cake requires kneading and rising…all worth the time invested but sometimes a good substitution needs to happen!  Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras, and Chinese New Year all occur within days of one another, and I don’t know about you but one celebration a week is about all I can handle!  But when you have family traditions to uphold, a quick fix is in order!  So today I’m going to share a REALLY easy way to make a mini King Cake…still festive, tasty, AND you can literally make it in minutes!  I’ll also share a simple DIY decoration that even the kiddos could make!  Don’t let the fact that Mardi Gras is right around the corner scare you away from celebrating…

whip up a mini King Cake…or several!

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Holidays, Savor

Nutella Krispie Treats

February 5
6 Comments

Krispie Treats are a fan favorite among kid party-goers…and I think it’s fair to say they’re a favorite with the adulting type too!  There’s something so delicious about such a simple treat, and isn’t it wonderful that they’re so easy to whip up with ingredients most of us already have in the pantry!  Krispie Treats are honestly one of my favorite go-to snacks for any occasion and it’s so easy to have a little festive fun cutting them into holiday shapes or tinting them with color!  Today I’ve done both of those things with my Valentine Krispies…but I went a little further with an effortless twist that makes them even more amazing!  Check out this easy treat that’s so yummy that your family might gobble them up before you’re even done making them!

love Krispie Treats even more…with Nutella!

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Create, Holidays

Valentine Gift Ideas!

January 29
8 Comments

If you’re looking for some fun inspiration for Valentine gift ideas…I’ve teamed up with BellaGrey Designs to bring you some trendy festivity!  I’m so thrilled to share with you some of my favorite things…Valentines and cacti!  If you haven’t noticed, succulent and cactus themes are really hot right now, which makes me extremely happy since I seem to be a little obsessed with them at the moment!  So I was over the moon when my good friend and gifted designer came up with these sweet Valentines for me to share with you!  Valentine’s Day is coming up fast, so I’d like to offer up some holiday inspiration AND the link for you to grab these darling printables so you can spread the love!

“let’s stick together”…

and have fun with Valentine gift ideas!

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Celebrate, Create, Holidays

A Galentine Celebration!

January 25
12 Comments

Valentine’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to show some heartfelt appreciation for those we love…and a Galentine Celebration is the perfect way to include our gal pals in on the fun!  This holiday isn’t just about candlelight dinners with true loves, or whimsical parties for the kiddos…friends are equally as important in our lives and I strongly believe in taking advantage of ANY opportunity to celebrate with them!  So today I’ve partnered with some creative & talented gals to bring you holiday inspiration including favor ideas, easy DIY truffles, and even some free printables for you!  So let’s get ready for some festivity with a…

“you’re the bomb” galentine celebration!

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Celebrate, Holidays

A Valentine Picnic

January 22
16 Comments

If you need to beat the winter blues, try celebrating with a Valentine picnic party!  It seems like the entire country has been blasted this year with snow and deep freezes…and I’m not sure about you but I’m ready for some bright & happy colors to remind me that spring will certainly be on its way!  Valentine’s Day will be here before we know it and you can easily create a whimsical picnic to surprise your family or friends with the help of Oriental Trading!  I’d love to share with you some of my favorite goodies perfect for dreaming of summer fun and sharing some Valentine joy at the same time!  So let’s get ready to spread out the gingham, pack up the goodies and…

share the love with a valentine picnic!

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Celebrate, Holidays

An Easy Valentine Snack Table!

January 16
10 Comments

A Valentine snack table is always a fun way to celebrate the season and it doesn’t need to be crazy elaborate to produce a smile or two from the ones you love!  This is a great thing…because this year it already seems like the time is flying by and I don’t want to miss out on any of the Valentine fun!  Whether you’re serving a treat to your kids, dishing out some sugar to guests, or having a few girls in for ladies night fun, it can be super simple to create something festive!  I’d love to share some of my favorite “tricks” for styling a simple Valentine display with easy goodies and budget friendly decorations to go with them!  All you need is a small table, a beverage cart, tray, or a clear space on your kitchen counter to display the goods!  You can keep some basic items in your pantry and whip up a wonderful treat in a pinch…so let’s let love fill the air and get started!

melt hearts with an easy valentine snack!

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Celebrate, Holidays

Easy Ideas for a New Year’s Eve Celebration!

December 28
16 Comments

A New Year’s Eve celebration is one of the most festive ways to embrace new beginnings!  Whether it’s an all out bash or a quieter version with family, it is one of my favorite ways to end the holiday season but with such hope and expectation for all the exciting adventures to come!  I’m so thrilled to have partnered with Grand Rapids Popcorn Company and Amalfi Decor to bring you some really simple but no less festive ways to set up a glamorous snack table that will fit right in to any party…big OR small!  Get ready to pop, clink, fizz and nibble your way into 2018!  The New Year is just around the corner…make it a memorable one with those you love!

pop, fizz, clink…crunch!

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