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Staying Home Sawyer

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DIY

A Glass of Wine & A Little Sunshine

9.09.2015

A Gift of Wine and SunshineAs previously mentioned, I am NOT looking forward to fall. I would forgo the PSL’s, the colored leaves, and the football for just a few more weeks of summer. Remember just a few short months ago when everyone was on Facebook complaining about the winter-never-ending, and begging for shorts weather? Now those same people are online begging for Fall, claiming they cannot wait to get their hands on everything and anything pumpkin. I am quite settled exactly where I am, thank you very much. Don’t rush me. I don’t want to wear boots with leg warmers, I’ll stick to my bikini. Good thing I live in California, we still have weeks of good weather left! (knock on wood)

Because I love sunshine so much, I’m apparently the queen of sunshine gifts. I seem to be making one of these every month, as you can see here. However, this time I wanted to change it up a little bit. I typically do a ‘Box of Sunshine,’ that is mailed to a friend or family member that needs a little brightening up. But last week, our neighbor was going through a tough time. Now, I’m not denying how great the boxes are, but what’s even better?

A Glass of Wine & A Little Sunshine

Wine. Wine and cookies. Duh. Wine and cookies make everything better. The only thing missing is a cheeseburger. But that’s definitely just me.

So I designed a new little tag for the wine bottle, tied up some cookies (with this little tag), and voila. A much more appropriate sunshine gift for your friends. This way, they can drink their troubles away. I can’t possibly be the only person that does that right?A Glass of Wine & A Little Sunshine

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Comments

  1. Carli says

    9.09.2015 at 12:57 pm

    Love this! Wine & cookies is the best combo ever.

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      9.09.2015 at 1:00 pm

      Right?!?! (Or coffee. But wine is better for the sad days!) Haha!

  2. Michelle says

    9.09.2015 at 12:59 pm

    Since I live in the freezing state of Wisconsin, (It will be snowing in less than 2 months) I expect one of these sunshine gifts at my door no later than November 1st. Thanks! 🙂

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      9.09.2015 at 1:00 pm

      Sure. Just in time for your birthday!

  3. Kristin says

    9.09.2015 at 1:06 pm

    Perfect just like you!! You’re so creative! XOXO

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      9.09.2015 at 2:26 pm

      Oh my gosh thank you so much! That is too nice! 🙂

  4. Rob says

    9.09.2015 at 1:15 pm

    I’m with you, Shauna. I would love if Summer lasted a bit longer, especially after the brutal winter that we’ve just had. I love your idea!

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      9.09.2015 at 2:26 pm

      Thank you!!! And maybe we should all just move to an island?!

  5. Kate says

    9.09.2015 at 1:24 pm

    Wine and cookies is the best combo! LOVE

    Regarding the end of summer…I am so ready lol. I’m trying to remember if I ever said I was excited for summer to begin?? I can’t imagine I did because I hate the heat! I probably did though. Don’t laugh at me:)

    xo

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      9.09.2015 at 2:25 pm

      Haha I see that from your post! But I don’t remember if you said you couldn’t wait for summer, so you’re in the clear. 😉

  6. Bobbie says

    9.09.2015 at 1:31 pm

    And it looks like my favorite cookies too….milanos!

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      9.09.2015 at 2:25 pm

      Oh they are. Only they’re not Mint ones. Those are your real favs.

  7. JoAnn Danelski says

    9.09.2015 at 4:43 pm

    you are so DARN clever. Your mama taught you well….

  8. Ashley says

    9.09.2015 at 5:27 pm

    Umm…you’re the best neighbor. Could you live by me? Though Illinois isn’t the greatest of weather places. 😉

    Oh and I love cheeseburgers, wine, and cookies too. And ice cream. ?

  9. Martina says

    9.09.2015 at 7:52 pm

    I’ll take the cookies, you could take the wine and did I hear something about a burger? Yes, please!

    It’s so weird because this is the first year that I’m not ready for Fall. I’m ready for the humidity and the bugs (oh man, THE BUGS) to leave but I’m dreading the winter. Hopefully the Farmer’s Almanac is wrong and it’s not too bad (snowy)!

  10. Shawna says

    9.10.2015 at 6:14 am

    as much as i love Autumn, i’m with you — i’d make summer last as long as possible if it were up to me. wine & sunshine is one of the best pairings a gal can think of. 🙂

  11. Ali A says

    9.10.2015 at 7:42 am

    Ha! I just wrote about my disdain for pumpkin things in my blog yesterday; mostly about how everyone is trying to hit the fast forward button and catapult themselves into Fall. Um? It’s 90 degrees out in New York; CHILL. I’m with you – the sooner Fall comes, that means winter is right behind it. And winter’s here (unlike Cali) are bruuuuuutal. So, I’m with you 🙂

    http://www.allisonarnone.com

  12. alice says

    9.15.2015 at 9:26 am

    Definitely can’t beat a bottle of wine on a bad day! xo

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      9.15.2015 at 11:46 am

      Right?! I completely agree! 🙂

  13. Trend-mixblog says

    9.16.2015 at 10:04 am

    You always have the best gift ideas! I love this one! 🙂

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      9.16.2015 at 10:12 am

      Awww thanks so much!!! Your ideas are so great too. I still am obsessing over the fabric notepads!

  14. Helen says

    9.19.2015 at 4:31 am

    You’re so creative! Please open an Etsy store with tags so I can buy from you 🙂

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      9.22.2015 at 4:07 pm

      Ohhh I would love to but I just don’t know what to sell! I like letting others use my tags if they like them, for free, because I feel like it’s so important to help make other people smile!! 🙂

      • Erin McElrath says

        9.22.2015 at 11:28 pm

        This is one of the many reasons I love you!

        • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

          9.23.2015 at 4:36 pm

          Hahaha because I know wine is better than anything else?! 🙂

          • Erin McElrath says

            9.23.2015 at 9:38 pm

            That too, duh! ?

  15. Kelly says

    9.20.2015 at 10:03 am

    I love this idea! It’s always nice to get a little bit of sunshine, and adding the cookies is such a fun little added treat! Also, I wanted to nominate you for the One Lovely Blog Award! I hope you find time to do it! 🙂
    https://mynameisnotkatie.wordpress.com/2015/09/20/one-lovely-blog-award/

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      9.22.2015 at 4:05 pm

      Thanks so much! I will check out your post now! 🙂

About Me

About Me

Hi Mamas! My name is Shauna, a 30-something (big emphasis on the 'something') new mama and wife living in Southern California. I've become a Stay At Home Mom to Sawyer, and I would do it forever if I could! I'm originally from Wisconsin and am a total Cheesehead! I'm here to share DIY's, travel tips, and baby stuff I'm sure!

Follow Us on Instagram!

stayinghomesawyer

I saw this viral template and as soon as I heard t I saw this viral template and as soon as I heard the first part I immediately thought, “that’s the worst part too.” Then I heard the rest of the audio and just felt that. It’s so true. It’s the most bittersweet thing a human being goes through. Raising children.
We always see these crazy parties on social media, We always see these crazy parties on social media, but how much do they ACTUALLY cost? If you know me, then you know I’m the most frugal person on the planet, so my parties are destined to be inexpensive. I’m going to give you the real life breakdown, with all my money saving tips. Let’s go!

(Let me know if you have any questions that I didn’t cover)

This is one of my biggest tips, which is pretty obvious I suppose. Hand make EVERYTHING. Decorations, treats, food, etc. The only time I wouldn’t suggest making your own food is if you have a huge guest list, in which case ordering Costco pizza is your best bet.

For the paper chains, I’ll be honest, they’re not cheap. Finding paper that’s inexpensive is hard. So pro tip: you don’t NEED cardstock, regular paper will be cheaper (and easier to hang). I found these packs of red at Walmart on clearance for $1.50 each. The pictured chains was three packs of 50 pages. Also pro tip: use a generic stapler to staple them into the ceiling, tape doesn’t work.

Also, because I throw parties a few times a year, I have a general stash of party supplies. I try to use similar colors so that I don’t have to store every color. I happen to have a lot of pink (because, duh, two girls). So table runners and vases and such were things I already had. If you don’t, I suggest Temu. And if you’d like to start collecting a supply for future parties, get some nice ones in white because you can always use white! 

I made this box out of 9 pieces of foam board from the Dollar Tree, one roll of wrapping paper (back wall) from the Dollar Tree, and two cans of spray paint from Walmart. If you had more time, acrylic paint would be cheaper, as my spray paint cost $13 alone. My cost for the project could have been cut in half if I used acrylic from the Dollar Tree (they have extra large bottles for $1.25). I just didn’t have time to do a few coats of acrylic.

The backdrop was made from four sheets of poster board from the Dollar Tree ($2), and one roll of Dollar Tree wrapping paper ($1.25). 

My splurge. The larger scalloped plate is from American Girl and when we were at the store I couldn’t resist. That alone brought up my total by almost $10. Ha
She turned NINE and wanted a doll party. And hones She turned NINE and wanted a doll party. And honestly? I loved every second of it.

Because I know that at this age, some girls are already asking for Sephora trips and makeup tutorials, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But there is something so special about a little girl who still wants to play with dolls, have a themed birthday party, and lean into the magic of being a kid. 

I know I can’t keep her little forever, but I can stop rushing her into growing up. There’s no prize for growing up the fastest. The world will ask her to be older, cooler, and more mature soon enough. So if she still wants the dolls, the dress-up, the silly games, and the magic of childhood, I’m going to let her.

Because one day, I know I’ll miss these days more than I can imagine. And if I can give her a few more years of being little, I’m going to cherish every single one. 

Let them be little. There’s plenty of time to grow up. 

#americangirl #americangirldoll #diyparty #americangirlparty
Save for later. PS: This is my husbands rendition Save for later.

PS: This is my husbands rendition of a “Sexy Willy Wonka.” You know, because being Aladdin, Flynn Ryder, Prince Charming…he couldn’t just be a regular guy for one year. 🤣🤣
Don’t spend today wishing for tomorrow. Find five Don’t spend today wishing for tomorrow. Find five things every night that you’re thankful for, and BE thankful for them. So much of our lives are spent waiting for the next best thing when in reality, it’s sitting right in front of us.
If there’s anything I’ve learned in this life, it’ If there’s anything I’ve learned in this life, it’s to SLOW DOWN.

So much of life is spent going, going, going. Waiting for the next stage. Telling ourselves, “Once we get through this, things will be easier.” Once the kids are older. Once life settles down. Once we have more time. But what if we’re missing the whole point? Because the moments we’re so eager to get through ARE the moments.

Today is the important stuff. The ordinary days. The messy days. The little conversations, the giggles, the routines, the chaos, the moments that don’t feel significant while we’re living them. We spend so much time wishing for the next chapter that we forget we’re already living one we’ll someday wish we could go back to.

So slow down.

Be here.
Pay attention.
Let the moment take as long as it needs to.

Because someday, these will be the days we miss.

**And if you know us personally, you know why I had to jump on this social media trend**
This is your permission slip to let the crafts be This is your permission slip to let the crafts be messy. 

They don’t need to match your house. They don’t need to be Pinterest-worthy. They don’t need to be made with a neutral color palette and a Cricut. They just need to be theirs.

Because someday I’m probably going to miss the paper scraps, the glue everywhere, the questionable color combinations, and the little masterpieces I had no idea what to do with. Let them make the ugly craft. Let them make a mess. Let them create something that looks nothing like what you had in mind.

Childhood doesn’t have to be aesthetically pleasing to be beautiful.
When you stop to think about the fact that one day When you stop to think about the fact that one day all of her toys will be someone else’s toys, she’ll be heading off to college, and all I’ll be left with are these videos…
This is NOT a post to bash moms that are happy the This is NOT a post to bash moms that are happy their kids are going back to school. My neighbors and I commiserate all summer long about how long the days are, how frustrating the kids can be, how much they’re fighting, etc. 

But my days are always like that, and even though it’s exhausting and overwhelming at times, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Even if I only have ONE moment like this a day, it’s one moment a day I could miss out on if they were in a traditional school. 

So here’s to whatever choice you are making in regards to your kids education. What’s best for YOU is most important. And what’s best for us is this.
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