Christmas/ Holidays/Parties/ HOME/ Simplifying

How to Slow Down & Cozy Up While Online Shopping

I have a cozy chair in my bedroom that I have found myself sitting in quite a bit lately. It is a new experience to be sitting so much during gift-giving season, but online shopping has given me the gift of slowing down and cozying up in my chair, while buying for those I love. It has been so wonderful!

You would grin at all the things I surround myself and my chair with while I shop. The chair is up in our bedroom and my Todd will peek his head in and just smile at me sitting comfy in my chair surrounded by all the things I love. He knows I am all about marinating in good atmosphere!

{view from my cozy bedroom chair}

Ways I Slow Down & Get Cozy While Online Shopping

~comfy chair (of course) with feet up

~twinkle lights hung on our bedroom window, lights low so they can show off

~a small table next to my chair to hold all- the- things within arms reach

~a bluetooth speaker for ambient Christmas music

~a warm drink by my side, always!

~an electric mug warmer to keep my drink warm – a birthday gift from my Avery and I love it!

~ journal & favorite sharpie pen to jot down notes & check my Christmas list

~my laptop

~ phone close and on the charger, to keep the world at my fingertips

~ a soft, fuzzy blanket & fuzzy socks on my feet!

~my favorite new diffuser from Frankie & Myrrh to bring a calm scent to the room.

Online Shopping with Frankie & Myrrh

I generally buy gifts for others while online shopping, but I did find just a couple for myself along the way! One of my favorite purchases was from a little shop called Frankie & Myrrh. How great is that for a shop name?

They are a small business who is known for ‘aromatherapy made fun.’ Yes, they know fun and showed on their website, in their products and in the packaging. I am just now getting into aromatherapy, so I just couldn’t resist making a purchase for myself.

a·ro·ma·ther·a·py | əˌrōməˈTHerəpē | noun. The use of essential oils and natural plant essences to achieve balance, harmony, and psychological and physical well-being.

Products

I bought their Bamboo Diffuser and 3 Essential Oils –Cinnamon, Serenity Now Blend, and Frankincense.

I sprinkled some of the cinnamon essential oil on pinecones in our enclosed porch, to welcome my holiday guests. It smells so festive! ‘Serenity Now’ is a calming blend that has spruce, orange, and frankincense is amazing when diffused my new Bamboo Diffuser and makes our home smell like Christmas! I’ve been mixing the Frankincense oil with some grapeseed oil and using it on my face as a moisturizer. I love it!

Frankie & Myrrh have what they call ‘rollies’ (essential oil mixed with a carrier oil and in a small glass jar with a roller–so convenient to just roll on!

They also have aromatherapy sprays with really witty names like:

“Serenity Now” with frankincense, spruce and orange for silent, restful bliss

“Study Buddy” a peppermint and rosemary spray for mental focus

“Hello Sunshine” a citrus and rose -a feel good spray

Their shop name and fun product names and offerings had me, but when the box came in the mail the packaging make me fall for them even harder. This is something I love about a small business shopping. Their attention to detail and their appreciation for each and every costumer really is priceless. This sure was the case with Frankie & Myrrh.

{HOW DID THEY KNOW?! (snicker)}

Packaging

I opened the box and the sticker on the bubble wrap made me laugh. It said “Reduce Your Stress, POP ME!” I then saw a note that was signed by hand. While I was admiring the note, a wonderful scent hit me. I pulled a little sachet full of dried lavender out of the package, a free added touch that made me so happy! Everything in the box was packaged carefully and cute; it just felt so personal. The labels on each essential oil made me smile, as did the witty little suggestion on their bubble wrap. All of these touches made me eager to send an order from Frankie & Myrrh to one of my friends so they could experience all of these touches, too.

PayPal

Frankie & Myrrh made it super easy to shop them. One thing I’m always looking for when online shopping is PayPal paying option, and of course, Frankie & Myrrh had it. They seem to think of everything! When I’m online shipping, the last thing I want to do is get up and get my wallet or credit card, so I especially love it when small businesses offer PayPal.

PayPal has an option called One Touch that allows you to pay for items in your shopping basket without having to enter credit card or billing details. Do what I did, and activate it here, then you won’t have to get off the couch, out of bed or out of your own comfy chair to find your wallet!

My Todd and I have been using PayPal for years now. It is easy to use, fast, painless and has always been a safe way for us to shop online, send money and receive money. We love it! PayPal always goes the extra mile–example? This holiday season, PayPal is offering free return shipping called Return Shipping On Us on its up to $30 for up to 11 purchases. So convenient!

How About You?

Did you do your Christmas shopping online? Do you have any small businesses that your love to support? Did you buy anything for yourself? Have you tried aromatherapy? Are you a PayPal fan?

Share with me in the comments!

{FOR YOUR PINNING PLEASURE!}

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Christmas/ Holidays/Parties/ Kids/Family/ Seasonal

Gift Ideas For Teen Girls

I have 3 teen girls.

WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?

It is crazy unbelievable how fast my girls have grown up. I am so thankful to be here to witness the growth! I think of these teen years, and I’m pleasantly surprised with how much fun we are having.

Don’t get me wrong, we have our share of dramatic moments, but we are growing as a family and learning how to love & accept each other even when it is hard. Sometimes this takes an exhaling of self and an inhaling of acceptance that we are all a bunch of imperfect humans learning to live closely with one another. I am Mom, learning and growing right along with my teens, and loving every moment of it!

Goodbye Littles, Hello Shopping For Teen Girls

Christmas with teen girls is so much fun. Gone are the days of shopping at Toys R Us during date night with my hubs. Gone are the days of shopping at the dollar store for stocking stuffers, tutu’s and plastic glittery heels & princess tiaras.

I still have my princesses, but they are now growing up at ages 17, 15 & 13.

Amazon Gift Ideas/Wish Lists

My teen girls now make Amazon wish lists, as requested by Mom & Dad, and send us a text to let us know when their lists are updated. Granted, they do not get everything on the list, but these wish lists sure makes “Santa’s” job by giving a heads up to what they would like, and even the reindeer get a break thanks to free shipping from Amazon Prime!

FAMILY/ FUN/DIY/ Holidays/Parties/ Kids/Family/ Parenting

Creating Space For Teens & Their Friends In Your Home

We have been very purposeful to create space and activities in our home for teens, so that our teens would invite their friends to hang out here. I vividly remember a conversation Todd and I had a few years ago about what we could do to make our home “teen friendly.” We made a list and got to work, and it has paid off.

Welcome Them In

I love seeing teens walk through our front door, and I make sure I make eye contact and welcome them in. I want every person who enters our home to feel cared for and this starts with a genuine greeting.

Create A Space Just For Them

Our basement is the designated space we have created for teens in our home. We finished our basement about 10 years ago when we first moved in, but just recently updated it to be a space where teens would thrive. We added a table for games, comfy couches, a TV for movies and video games, and a ping-pong table. We painted and added touches of decor that were simple, modern and would appeal to teens. I will feature our basement in an upcoming post.

Let Them Breathe

Yes, getting to know the teens in our home is important, but so is giving them space…lots of space! I know when I was a teen, I loved the presence of my friends parents in their homes, it made me feel safe, but I did not necessarily want them hanging out with us all of the time. Teens are all about learning how to live independently, and Todd and I work really hard at the balance of being present without being all up in their space!

Make Them a Snack

Teens palates are some of my favorite. I can make them popcorn or just set out chips and salsa, and they are happy. I like to keep ingredients for special sweet treats on hand for when a group shows up unexpected. I love using teens in my home as an excuse to make something sweet that we don’t normally have around.

These no bake Funky Fritos are an example and always a hit with teens and so simple to throw together.

Salty Sweet Peanut Butter Caramel Funky Fritos

1 cup white corn syrup

1 cup white sugar

1 cup peanut butter

1 10.5 ounce bag Fritos

M&M Chocolate Candies

Pour out the Fritos on a large shallow pan lined with greased parchment paper. Combine the corn syrup and sugar and bring to a boil (I use my microwave for this kind of chore – usually takes about 6-8 minutes for the sugar to be dissolved and you’re set!) Then stir in the PB until smooth. Pour the mixture over the chips, sprinkle with candies, and chill for about 30-60 minutes. Break apart and enjoy!

Expect Noise

Teens are loud. They just are. They like music and laughter and talking over each other. Our home is older and their noise drifts up our vents and we find ourselves turning the volume up on our own upstairs television. We find ourselves chuckling when the laughter is continuous. It’s contagious!

Have A Variety Of Things For Them To Do

Like I said above, we have the typical options for teens, like movies and video games. Our ping-pong table is pretty popular, too. We also made sure we added a table that seats at least 6 to encourage interaction and board game playing. Healthy and fun interaction is key to getting teens into our home and having such a positive experience that they keep coming back.

A new game we have that is great for teens is called Escape Room: The Game. I’m sure you have heard of The Escape Room, and now the excitement can be had right in your own home!

There are various themes within the game –Prison Break, Nuclear Countdown, Virus, Temple of the Aztec. Players have 60 minutes to work together, find hidden clues and to solve puzzles to escape from one of the 4 included rooms. To make their escape, players must correctly enter a four key combination into the Chrono Decoder. They must think quick — the clock is ticking!

My nephews recently tested it out and had a fun time putting their heads together to figure out how to escape. I’m happy to report there were no knives involved in the “Prison Break” even though one of our guys is a young entrepreneur and creates high-quality knives!

The game is challenging and takes teamwork and logic. It is for ages 16 and up. Phones can be used in a positive way, as a flashlight, calculator, or for note-taking. You can enhance the game experience by downloading the free Escape Room app on iPhone or Android for thematic background music and to share a photo of their team. You can purchase your own Escape Room here.

Get To Know Them

My 3 teens all have very different personalities from each other. I love their differences, and the friends they invite over all have their own unique personalities, too. It has been so much fun for us to get to know their friends and I am very purposeful responding to each personality that comes into our home in a way that makes them feel most comfortable.

Keep It Simple

Teens are the most forgiving of guests. They don’t care if your house isn’t perfectly clean. They are just fine if you just serve them ice water or use paper plates. They don’t notice or care if you decide to get comfy and throw your sweats on even though you have guests. They can sit with a fun board game and make it extra exciting just because they are teens. Don’t have a ping pong table? Don’t worry…teens are great at entertaining themselves.

Don’t Blink

Todd and I are well aware of just how quickly time goes by. We cannot believe our 3 teens are now 13, 15 and 17! We are really proud of them, their cousins, & the friends they chose to hang out with–yes, we are even proud of our two oldest girls’ boyfriends! They are great young men. We are so glad we made the decision to create space in our home for teens. We are holding onto every memory made in our home and are trying not to blink!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Drinks/ HOME/ Homemaking/ RECIPES/ Seasonal

5 Warming and Comforting Drink Recipes To Sip Slow and Savor

Fall is my favorite. I get all nest-y when cooler weather hits. I get out the fuzzy socks, drape my couch in snuggly blankets, light candles and make sure my Kindle is full of good reads.

I fight the hustle and bustle of life, deliberately slow down and nestle in.

I delight in evenings when we are all home together, and when it happens I make sure there is soup simmering, and often offer mugs of warm drinks after dinner.

Even when I can’t gather my 3 lovelies (as they are teenagers and often scattered), you can still find me most fall evenings with a warm mug in hand.

Here are 5 favorites that I have on rotation:

5 Warming and Comforting Drink Recipes To Sip Slow and Savor

Warming Spiced Almond Milk

1 cup almond milk

1 tablespoon almond butter

1 tablespoon almond milk creamer, vanilla flavor (optional)

1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

a pinch of ginger

a pinch of cayenne

……….

Combine all ingredients in a small pan.

Heat on the stove over medium heat until warm.

Sprinkle top with a touch of cinnamon for pretty. Sit down, inhale, and sip slow.

Hint: if you like a bit of froth on top, you can put it into a blender & blend (venting to allow steam to escape) or use a french press and plunge a few times until bubbles form.

3 Ingredient Pumpkin Spice Chai

1 cup milk (I used almond)
2 pumpkin spice teabags
3/4 cup chai concentrate, or to taste

Put milk into a saucepan. Add teabags. Steep the teabags in milk for 5-7 minutes & warm to desired temperature. Add chai concentrate. Stir. Pour into 2 mugs, sit with a loved one and sip slow.

Hint: if you don’t have pumpkin spice tea (my favorite is from Trader Joes) you can use black tea or rooibos tea and sprinkle in a little pumpkin pie spice. Also, the brand of chai I like is Oregon Chai Concentrate. Tazo is another popular brand but its cardamom flavor is too strong for my taste.

ALMOND VANILLA MAPLE SPICED MOCHA

1 cup vanilla almond milk

1/2 cup double- strength brewed coffee

1 Tbsp cocoa powder

1-2 Tbsp maple syrup

pinch of cinnamon

2-3 dashes of cayenne or a pinch of red pepper flakes

pinch of salt

……….

Brew a double strength coffee. Heat the almond milk until quite hot. Add cocoa powder. Whisk the cocoa powder into the milk, briskly stirring until all clumps have melted away. Stir in the coffee, spices and maple syrup. Adjust the sweetness and spice according to your own taste. Snuggle up in your favorite chair and sip slow.

Hint: if you don’t have vanilla flavored almond milk, just add a drop or two of vanilla extract.

Best Ever Hot Chocolate

8 oz milk of your choice (almond, soy, dairy)

3 Dove chocolates (or your favorite brand chocolate square, milk or dark, I like dark)

1-2 teaspoons Godiva Chocolate liqueur

1 1/2 teaspoons sugar (optional)

……….

Heat in microwave until hot (less than 2 minutes.) Whisk until combined.

Sit back, relax, and sip slow.

Hint: use my favorite frother to whip it up and make it extra creamy and beautiful.

Honey Lemon Ginger Tea

1/2 inch fresh ginger root, cut into slices (no need to peel)

2 wedges of lemon

1 tsp raw honey

……….

Squeeze 2 wedges of lemon into your tea cup. Add the wedges into the cup for added benefits of the oils from the lemon skin. Add 2 slices of ginger. Heat water in a tea kettle–I love my electric one that heats in minutes. Pour over ginger and lemon. Add honey and stir. Steep for a good 5 minutes. Strain, hug the mug, inhale the steam and sip slow.

Hint: both lemon wedges and ginger slices can be kept in the freezer in small mason jars. The hot water will thaw them. Also, a tea cup with an infuser like my favorite one is very handy.

{click photo for your pinning pleasure}

How about you?

What is your favorite warm drink?

HOME/ Organizing/ Seasonal

5 Steps To A Clean Pantry + Keep A Clean Home Free Printable

According to my “Keeping A Clean Home” Printable, I am due for a good seasonal pantry cleaning. It is perfect timing as the holidays are coming, so I need to see what I have and make room for the holiday cooking and baking items I need.

I will have people all up in my kitchen, opening cupboards and helping me prepare—talk about motivating! I love having a full kitchen during the holidays, but I don’t want to cringe when someone opens my pantry or cabinets! I know you feel me.

It will also be very helpful to know exactly what I have in my pantry when I am holiday menu planning, and really just meal planning in general. I get so frustrated when I buy an item just to come home and discover I already have it. Wasted time, space and money!

Speaking of money, having an organized pantry really does help save money. Not only will you buy fewer duplicates, but if you make sure all foods are in containers or airtight, they will last longer and you will have less waste. We definitely are better at eating up the food we already have when we can clearly see what is there, which keeps us from grabbing food on the go or wanting to order food in. All big-time money savers.

Last summer I made and shared with you this super helpful “Keeping a Clean Home” printable checklist. It divides tasks into Every Day, Once a Week, Once a Month, Once a Season, and Once a Year. This checklist allows me to focus in, know exactly where I am at and what needs to be done.

The chart is keeping me on track and I’m slowly working through it. I’m pretty good at the Daily, Weekly, & Monthly lists. It’s the Seasonal and Yearly lists that I really need to zero in on, which I have actually been doing! The list is on my refrigerator and I have about half of those Seasonal and Yearly items crossed off.

Would you like to print one out for yourself too?

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE ‘KEEPING A CLEAN HOME’ PRINTABLE HERE

5 Steps To A Clean Pantry

1. Remove Everything From Your Pantry

This will allow you to see what you are working with, what needs to go and clear your pantry for a good clean wipe down. This step is always entertaining, as I find all kinds of items that I didn’t know I had! I get inspired and a bit giddy about all of the possibilities of fun food I can make with the treasures I find.

2. Sort and Toss

Go through the items, start putting ‘like’ items together, then toss, toss, toss! Say goodbye to old, expired items. Don’t be afraid to get rid of items you won’t use, even if they are not expired. Donate them if you don’t want to throw them out. Use a critical eye and don’t keep anything you won’t use.

This is a good time to get rid of spices that are older than a year and bulk items that you have no idea when they expire or when you purchased them.

3. Categorize

Think “like with like.” Use the way a grocery store organizes their food as a guide to organize yours. Decide if you want to create stations, like a baking station, breakfast station or snack station. I personally always have a nuts and seeds station and an ‘oatmeal toppings’ station, as these are foods I eat every day and it is convenient to have them all gathered together in a specific area.

4. Clean

Cleaning will be a breeze with all your items out of the way. I used my DIY All-Purpose Lemon cleaner and paper towels from Viva to unleash clean in my pantry. I like using Viva Vantage because it has a scrubby texture like a terry-cloth, that is great for cleaning anything that is stuck on shelves and cabinets. They are so strong and durable that you can actually wring them out and reuse them several times! I used Viva Vantage to wipe the bottoms of my food containers and jars before placing them back in the pantry.

As you can see in the picture below, Viva not only sells textured Viva Vantage towels, but also Viva towels which have a signature soft and smooth texture, almost like an undershirt material. They are amazingly absorbent and won’t leave any residue behind. I like to use these to dry my jars and dust the tops of cans. I also use these to dry my shelves completely before returning items.

DIY All-Purpose Lemon Cleaner

1/2 c white vinegar | juice of one lemon | 2 c water

Stir to combine. Put in spray bottle.

Use the dusting vacuum attachment to get all hard-to-reach crumbs from the corners and any that fell to the floor. Now is the time to be thorough, since this is a seasonal cleaning.

5. Return Items

This is the most fun and satisfying part. Put your organized, wiped and grouped items back. Keep beauty in mind as you are arranging them on the shelves. If you use storage containers, keep them similar in color. My favorite storage containers are mason jars. I love being able to see what is inside and they look so darn cute. I also have a few favorite containers to corral smaller items. Keep it simple, keep it beautiful, and label only if it is your ‘thing.’

Now your pantry is clean and ready for the holidays. Hopefully, you have created extra room to hold all of those holiday groceries and store holiday leftovers.

How often do you clean out your pantry?

Are you having holiday guests this year?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

FUN/DIY/ Holidays/Parties/ Seasonal/ Sponsored

Tips For An Effortless Outdoor Late Summer Party

School is back in session, but that doesn’t mean that summer fun can’t continue! How about an effortless outdoor late summer party? Late summer is the perfect time to have an outdoor party, and I have a bunch of tips to make it easy and enjoyable!

I’ve often been told that I have a certain touch when it comes to entertaining, which always makes me smile. My goal is for people to feel loved and have a great time when they come over, and I accomplish this by being the queen of shortcuts! I’ve been known to sweep piles of dirt under the rug, order takeout and put it in a pretty dish (always being honest about it, of course), and just close the doors of rooms I don’t want seen, telling people if they enter, to enter at their own risk!

I’ve learned that in order for my guests to have fun, I have got to be present and willing to just– be. To let go of perfect and show up, creating lasting memories full of laughter and fun.

Thankfully I have learned some great shortcuts, tricks and tips to plan an effortless party, which really help me enjoy the party just as much as my guests do!

13 Tips For An Effortless Outdoor

Late Summer Party

USE DISPOSABLES

It is ok to take a break from doing dreaded dishes and instead use utensils, plates and napkins that you can toss. If being green is a goal of yours, there are awesome disposable products out there that are kind to the environment. The key to keeping things fun and pretty is to display them in containers that have some personality, like the above polka dot mug.

Choose disposables that match the vibe of your party. There are so many cute disposable plates and napkins out there! I especially love bringing in some color with napkins, as there are so many great prints out there.

EFFORTLESS GREEN

Cut plants and flowers are a great way to add beauty in an effortless way when entertaining. Don’t want to buy cut flowers? Grab a few cuttings from a fern or houseplant! That is what I did! Look closely at the photos and you will see that I trimmed my fern and stuck the trimmings in little jar vases. I also cut palms off of a palm plant and used them laying flat on the serving table. So simple & FREE!

CASUAL DELICIOUS BEVERAGES

If you read this blog, you know I’m all about my lemon water, but when it comes to a fun, effortless, causal party, I want my drinks to match the vibe. Enter JaM Cabernet. It is an easy-to-love, berry-licious, velvety-rich & bold wine. This wine is a luscious Cab that doesn’t need a gourmet meal…it’s right at home in a casual backyard setting and is totally my kinda JaM! I’m a wine lover, specifically red wine. JaM Cellars makes three everyday California wines with names that make me smile; Butter Chardonnay, JaM Cabernet and Toast Sparkling. JaM Cab is my favorite to chill out with. Bursting with the flavor of juicy berries, it is the best cab $20 & under, and is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Want this JaM to be your JaM too? Check the JaM Cellars Wine Finder page to find where to buy it near you.

USE FRUIT TO ADD COLOR

A favorite trick of mine to brighten up any room or table is to grab whatever fruit I have and display it in a great dish, or, like the lemons in the photo above; a great pot! It adds instant color, and often I will use fruit that can be eaten straight from the dish, like whole strawberries, grapes, peaches, plums, cherries, clementines, apples or pears. No need to do a bunch of chopping to make a fruit salad! Just set pretty dishes or jars of whole fruit out. I recently had a party and set out small, wide-mouthed mason jars filled to the brim with blueberries, and they received so many comments about how cute they looked from my guests.

BUY A VEGGIE TRAY

The veggie tray you see in the photo is under $10 from our local big box store, and comes with the yogurt ranch dip. This allows me to skip making a green leafy salad or pasta salad and the work of all that chopping, but I can still offer guests some healthy self-serve vegetables which compliment and round out any casual meal.

MAKE SELF-SERVE FOOD

By late summer, I’m ready to put the grill away but not ready to turn the oven on. This is when I pull out the slow-cooker. My 30 Minute Sloppy Joes are self-serve and can be made and kept in the slow-cooker. I even start early in the day and let the ground beef cook right in the slow cooker, then drain it and add the sloppy joe sauce ingredients. I’ve also bought a frozen foil pan of BBQ Pork from my big box store, threw it in the slow-cooker and it was ready when guests came to help themselves. Can’t get much easier than that!

BUILD A FIRE

Late summer into fall is our favorite time of year to build a small pit fire. Some evenings are starting to cool down around here, so a fire is a great way to stay warm and gather people around in one place with JaM Cab in hand, of course!

MUSIC IS A MUST

There is an article called “Summer’s not done, chill with JaM!” on the Scoop! if you are looking for a fun party playlist. Music can add instant fun to a party, and can really control the mood of a party. The above linked playlist has everything from Coldplay to Billy Joel, and one of my favorites to chill the night out with: “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran.

BLANKETS ON HAND

If the evening is expected to be cooler, take a wicker basket of rolled-up blankets outside with a chalkboard sign that says “help yourself.” Another way to use blankets while entertaining outside is to spread them out on the lawn for a casual, picnic feel.

MAKE S’MORES

Might as well take advantage of that fire and make some s’mores! We get creative around here with our s’mores and use nice thick cored apple slices in place of graham crackers and offer peanut butter cups along with the typical chocolate bar. One thing that we don’t change is the marshmallow! There is something about putting a big white marshmallow on a stick, watching it puff up and nursing it to the perfect gooey golden brown, that brings out the inner child in all of us. S’mores are another fun way to have your guests make their own and serve themselves, and are so sweet that you don’t really need much more for dessert.

CUPCAKES FOR DESSERT

If you DO want more for dessert, make cupcakes! Everybody loves a cupcake, and they are a great dessert to make ahead of time. I love how they look on a white platter, and often I will take the platter around to guests and let them grab the one they want. No need for dessert plates, just pass out a napkin with each cupcake. Use a cake mix, find some fun sprinkles & use gold or silver cupcake liners for a bit of sparkle.

Use Glass Jars

Fill them with nuts for guests to munch on before and after dinner. Put a candle or starry lights in them. Use them as casual water glasses, as containers to send leftovers home with your guests, and as vases to hold flowers or greenery. Put slices of lemon in one for guests to help themselves to for their water. Put butter or condiments in them–they will be so much prettier on a table than the bottles that most condiments come in. Yes, even ketchup and mustard can add color and beauty to a table if in a glass jar!

Lighting

Lighting is a must. Keep it simple. A few candles, some string lights or a jar of battery operated starry lights are all it takes to set a mood. When we are going to have a get-together in our backyard, I love plugging in our string lights over a sitting area, and I make sure the lightbulbs work in our spot light to light up the basket ball area. Use citronella candles to keep the bugs away and add ambient lighting at the same time. Light is important!

So there you have it. My 13 Tips To an Effortless Late Summer Party. Keep it simple! Use what you have! Good drinks, lighting and music make all the difference. Add some cut greens in jars & easy, self-serve food, and you will have a party that all will enjoy…including the hostess!

………………..

Want to know more about JaM Cellars?

Second-Generation Napa Valley vintners John and Michele are the “J” and the “M” in JaM Cellars, and I want to meet them just to tell them how much I love the clever names for their wines. They make their wines in the tradition of great California winemaking, rich bold and luscious, and in a style to enjoy with friends any day of the week.

“We take our wines seriously; we just don’t take ourselves seriously!” – JaM Cellars

Yep, I’d love to meet them…we could hang for sure!

Follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for daily wine-aspiration #JaMCellars @JamCellars.

Want to know where to find JaM Cellars near you? You can purchase JaM Cellars wine at leading grocery stores. Enter your zip code to identify local stores at JaMCellars.com/WineFinder {<–click}

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Holidays/Parties/ Homemade Gifts/ Mothers Day/ Sponsored

Why I’m Getting My Mom Butter For Mother’s Day

My Mom is the type who loves me no matter what I do–even if I were to get her butter for Mother’s Day–which is what I plan on doing. Butter as in BUTTER CHARDONNAY!

A Mother’s Day Butter Chardonnay Gift Basket

I made my Mom this fun wine gift basket for Mother’s Day, and I just might add a real tub of butter in it right before I give it to her, because, who doesn’t love butter? My Mom has a great sense of humor and would smile at my butter tub.

I know for certain that the star of the gift basket, JaM Cellars Butter Chardonnay, will bring a smile to my Mama’s face.

Isn’t she beautiful? My Mom’s name is Sharon Rose, but even though there is a beautiful flower in her name, I think she would enjoy a bottle of delicious wine over a bouquet of flowers as a Mother’s Day. She deserves a gift that will delight her and that is as fun as she is. I didn’t want a typical Mother’s Day gift for her. I wanted to personalize a gift for her that would put a smile on her face, show her that I know her and was thoughtful with what I bought her, and one that would pamper her.

I had a ton of fun choosing gifts to fill my basket, and I cannot wait for her to see them, which she will when she read this post. She is my biggest fan and has to live with me posting her gifts online before she even receives them! She won’t mind, especially after she tastes the wine! This wine melts in your mouth! It is smooth, ‘buttery,’ and drinkable with just about anything.

JaM Cellars Butter Chardonnay is 100% Chardonnay, grown in sunny California spots with just the right touch of cool from the coast. JaM Cellars uses great winemaking traditions to make easy-to-love, everyday California and Napa Valley wines. “JaM is actually short for John and Michele, second-generation vintners who own and run JaM Cellars. They have a passion and gift for making exceptional quality wines. You can find Butter Chardonnay in a store near you with the JaM Cellars WineFinder. It is at select stores across the nation including Wholefoods, Kroger & more.

How To Make A Customized Wine Gift Basket

Choose a Wine

I chose JaM Cellars Butter Chardonnay & you should too! Rich, bold, easy-to-love creamy Cali Chardonnay. It is Butter-licious, aged in a blend of oak for a lovely, long, vanilla finish that’s uniquely Butter! Especially choose this wine if the gift basket is for your Mom, because Mom’s deserve Butter!

Choose a Basket

~Choose one that fits the taste and personality of your recipient. I think my Mom is going to love this modern, gold geometric basket. If she doesn’t like the basket, no worries–I will steal it!

~Choose one that will coordinate with your wine. My item was of course, JaM Cellars Butter Chardonnay, so I chose modern & fun, gold with cool angles.

~Choose one big enough to hold all of the gifts you want to include.

Add something sparkly or something with texture

I got my love of sparkly things from my Mom so when I saw this sparkly ball I knew it would be the great added touch. It is like adding a bow to the package but it is one that is usable and will remind her of me for years to come. It was between this sparkly ball or another ball I found that was soft and fuzzy. I could not have gone wrong with either! Sparkly or soft texture would both add a great effect.

Add a candle

Wine and candles are always a good thing! I’m loving the wickless- type candles that are battery operated. My Mom adores scented candles, but she also has some sensitivities to certain scents, so I played it safe and got her a wickless candle. I found one that had the perfect saying on it. It says “You Are My Sunshine.” She IS my sunshine, and it also looked so great with the rest of the basket. I thought the gold basket has a sunburst type quality to it, plus the black, gold and yellow color scheme of the candle fits perfectly, so the word “sunshine” just works for me!

Decided On a Color & Accent Color

~ I used the color of the label of JaM Cellars Butter Chardonnay bottle for my main color

~Choose an accent color or two. Keep it minimal. I choose black, shades of gold and yellow, and grey.

Add a personal touch

I added a picture of my Mom with my niece and nephew– her grandkids. It is one of my most favorite pictures of her. A photo is always a great way to add a personal touch, and the photo frame is a great way to add color to your basket. I purposefully chose a holder for the picture that is clip board style, because my Mom makes beautiful art and I thought she could exchange the picture for her drawings if she so desired.

Add some sweets

My Mom loves butterscotch candies so I thought they would be very fitting for my Butter Chardonnay basket! She also loves chocolate so I added some and paid attention to the wrapper, making sure it would coordinate with the rest of the basket. There were other chocolates that she would like but they were in a variety of bright-colored wrappers. Coordination is key when putting together a beautiful gift basket! Choose sweets with wrappers that coordinate, and again, keep colors to a minimum to avoid clashing & get a more streamlined, professional, custom look.

Add a filler

This could be anything from shredded paper, to a set of fun cloth napkins or place mats. I chose to use soft grey tissue paper.

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I Love You, Mom!

I sure hope my Mom feels spoiled when she receives her gift. I hope she feels loved and knows what a gift she is to me. She is so fun and has always shown me how to embrace the part of myself that is free spirit. She would sing silly to me as a child, which I passed down to my children by doing the same when they were young. She giggles when something delights her and her eyes twinkle when she does. She delights in small details, that too many walk through this life and miss. I love my Mom!

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Want to know more about JaM Cellars Wines?

~Their 2014 Butter Chardonnay and 2014 JaM Cabernet won SILVER at the 2016 San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Awards.

~Follow JaM on Facebook and Instagram for daily wine-spiration.

~Sign up for their monthly newsletter called The Scoop! to get news on Butter, JaM and Toast!

~Follow/Like JaM Cellars on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter | @JaMCellars Be sure to search #JaMCellars

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What about you?

Wouldn’t you love this Butter Chardonnay Basket for Mother’s Day? Yep…me too.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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