Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Him

12.16.2015

I’d tell you that I cannot believe Christmas is in nine days, but that would be a lie. I have been waiting and preparing for this holiday since last year on December 26th. It’s my most favorite day of the year. What, with food, family, presents, drinks? And not necessarily in that order. I will take it all. I’ll eat all of your food, drink all of your cocktails, and open all of your presents. Or just the ones that you bought for me. You did buy me presents right?

This year we will be spending Christmas break in Hollywood, Florida. A little contrast to last year in Mexico, but as long as it has 80+ degree weather, blue skies, sunshine, and picturesque beaches – it is right up my alley. Since we’ll be celebrating Christmas there, I ordered and shipped all packages to my parents house there. Well, sort of. My stepdad may have given me the wrong address, causing ALL packages to be sent to their next door neighbor. I am hoping and praying they all make it. I mean, I’m sure their neighbors want to keep the Jelly of the Month Club subscription. We’ll have to make sure they turn that over.

In the meantime, we’re just waiting. Waiting and celebrating St. Nick day. It’s a little-known holiday that I grew up celebrating in Wisconsin, and I’ve continued the tradition with my husband. On the night of December 5th, St. Nick comes to your house and fills your stockings. When I was a child, I’d wake up to markers, crayons, coloring books, candy, etc. As adults, it’s a little different.

On December 6th, Brendan woke up to a stocking filled with all kinds of treats. Lottery tickets, alcohol, beer coozies, and all his favorite snacks. On the other hand, I woke up to an empty stocking. I think St. Nick only had room in his sack for one of us.

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Him

Mini bottles of his favorite alcohol

Boxes of his favorite candy

Funky socks

Beer Coozies

Keychains

Lottery Tickets

Granola Bars/Protein Bars

Gatorade Energy Chews / Energy Bars or Drinks

Nuts

Now that St. Nick has come and gone (and forgotten me), it’s on to Santa Claus. He’d never let a girl down. I’m hoping he doesn’t forget me this year (mom – pay real close attention here). I asked him for a private villa in Bora Bora next summer. I’ve been a real good girl.

DIY, Holidays!

Dollar Store Snowflake Door Hanger

12.09.2015

I must apologize. I have been neglecting you. With all of this Reuben nonsense going on, I don’t have a lot of extra spare time. He’s got me running around, setting up sets, moving mountains, and pouring drinks. He’s been partying nonstop since his arrival, and he only has a week and a half left. I’m sure his antics will only get crazier with each passing day, since he’ll have to get some of this energy out before he goes back to the North Pole and has to answer to a certain white-haired, slightly overweight, old guy in a red suit.

In the meantime, I’ve been stopping at the Dollar Tree every week trying to get props for Reuben. Every time I walk through the holiday aisles, I see these pretty snowflakes. Anything covered in sparkling glitter calls out to me. Doesn’t matter if its a spatula or a garden hose. If it’s covered in glitter, I must own it. So of course I couldn’t buy just one pack of these snowflakes.

Ten packages later, I arrived home with my loot. I arranged the snowflakes into a pattern I liked and smothered them in hot glue. My glue gun is now covered in glitter too. Looks like it was a win/win for me. Now I’m off…Reuben is calling.

DIY, Holidays!

Reuben is Back!

12.01.2015

You know how some parents get crazy with this whole Elf on the Shelf fiasco? I mean, come on, moving the elf from one location to the next, every night, while trying to keep up some level of creativity, all after the kids have gone to bed, but before they can succumb to their own pillows? It sounds miserable to me. Mainly because of the children part. It definitely has nothing to do with the Elf part. Because that part is definitely right up my alley.

I start planning for Reuben’s (our elf) trip to our house months in advance. Somehow I’ve upped the expectations to almost an impossible level. The first year Reuben visited my husband, he couldn’t get enough. Since then, each year has brought even more interesting antics. If you’d like to see Reuben’s previous year highlights, check out this post from last year.

So before we gear up into a new season of Reuben, let’s take a look through Reuben’s trip last year, starting with my favorite:

Elf on the Shelf - Paper Magazine Kim Kardashian — Reuben on the cover of Paper magazine. Looking a little Kardashian-like.

Elf on the Shelf - Geico Commercial, Hump Day Mike Mike Mike Mike — Geico Hump Day Commercial: “Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike”

Elf on the Shelf - Breaking Bad — Breaking Bad

Elf on the Shelf - Ghostbusters — Ghostbusters

Elf on the Shelf - Girls Gone Wild — Girls Gone Wild

Elf on the Shelf - Orange is the New Black — Orange is the New Black

Elf on the Shelf - Poltergeist — Poltergeist

Elf on the Shelf - Reuben the Packer Fan — Reuben is definitely a Packer Fan!

Elf on the Shelf - The Bachelor, Chris Harrison 2 — The Bachelor, “Ladies, it’s the final rose of the night.”

Elf on the Shelf - Titanic, Jack and Rose — Titanic, “I’m the King of the World”

We went to Mexico for Christmas last year, and there was no way we were leaving Reuben behind. He had a lot of fun on all of his Mexican adventures:

Holidays!

Easy Pumpkin Cheesecake

11.24.2015

There’s nothing like having to remind yourself to be thankful repetively, like traveling through some of the busiest airports during a holiday season. As I write, I am in between destinations, trying to find some inner peace at the Dallas airport. Screaming children, obnoxious adults, and grumpy staff will not bring me down! With a Venti Nonfat Chestnut Praline Latte, no whip, no foam, in hand, I am going to smile at every single person I make eye contact with, until the muscles in my face give out and I need a nap. Thank God that my in-laws drink too, because something tells me I’m going to need a stiff one when I arrive in Georgia tonight.

There is one undeniable bonus to spending a full day (6am-6pm) in an airport: a free, home-cooked (not by you) Thanksgiving dinner with your family. Obviously the emphasis is more on the family, and less on the food (did I mention the turkey, potatoes, stuffing, pie…shall I go on?). The only thing I’ve ever contributed to my in-laws Thanksgiving table is green bean casserole (cue the Hallelujah music). It’s not Thanksgiving without it if you ask me. I’m pretty sure it was invented by the Pilgrims, who clearly brought the Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup with them from the mainland.

In addition to the cream of mushroom, I’m also guessing they brought some pumpkin cheesecake too. It’s obviously not Thanksgiving without that either. But if you’re like me, you’ll always look for an easy way out when it comes to baking. So with the exclusion of buying a pie (erroneous!), here’s the next best, easiest option!

You’ll need the following: Two packages of cream cheese, one tub of Cool Whip, one cup of powdered sugar, and one package of Nestle Tollhouse Pumpkin Spice cookie dough. If you’d like to remain somewhat healthy, the low-fat options of the cream cheese and Cool Whip are the way to go.

Spread the cookie dough on the bottom of greased ramekins or a pie pan, and bake according to package directions. While that’s baking, mix the remaining ingredients together. When your cookies are done, pour the mix on top, and refrigerate for at least an hour. And you’re done!

Told you. Easy right? Now on to the green bean casserole!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Try to remember that you are blessed and be thankful for everything and everyone you have around your table on Thursday!

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Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Him

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Him

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Reuben is Back!

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