Organizing your way in to 2014

How do you feel about the New Year? I think there is a spectrum of excitement- from "a new year is like a blank slate, anything is possible" all the way to "it's just another Wednesday, folks".

I'm somewhere in the middle of this excitement spectrum. I like starting new calendar's but it annoys me when I write the wrong date on something- if you received gifts for New Year's I'd ask for white out.

Regardless of your feelings about ringing in the New Year, a little organization can help you ring in 2014 calm and collected.

Here Jess and I are sharing our top 5 organizing posts of 2013! Happy organizing, and happy New Year!

1. This tip from Jess will get your kids toys organized and encourage them to pick up. Picture Toy Storage

2. Speaking of kids, now that the school year is almost half over, does anyone else have a countertop and fridge covered in kids art? I will be working on this project this week! Kids Art Photo Book

3. It's no secret that Jess and I love Erin Condren products. Here's our favorite weekly planner... Oh What a Week Planner

4. And here's our favorite way to stay organized all year long! My Life Planner

5. Some times the New Year comes with the resolution to eat healthier, or maybe to eat together as a family. Here are 2 posts to help you do just that! Monthly Meal Planning & Meal Planning Week by Week

For more organizing posts, click the word "organizing" below!

Friday Favorite: Christmas Gifts

Who's still on a Christmas high? *raises hand*

We have our last family Christmas dinner and gift exchange tonight. I love that our holiday lasts a little longer :)

I got some great goodies this year- I must have been good this year ;)

I wanted to share with you all my 2 favorite gifts that I received as a way of making everyone's holiday cheer last a bit longer!

First up, this nifty little gadget:

It's a Topper Chopper! How great is that? Now, I know that there are other ways to chop toppings for hot chocolate, ice cream, brownies, whatever, but this thing makes it a breeze! Seriously, you can put together a hot chocolate bar in 5 minutes. And it's fun.

It can even transform to be a dispenser. So cute.

I whipped up some candy cane sprinkles and some mint M&M bits for our Christmas hot chocolate!

Secondly, I'm super excited about getting PW's holiday cookbook!! Jess got one, too!

I'm already planning to make her New Year's Eve party recipes.  Whether or not I have a party... we'll see.

What was your favorite gift?

Happy Friday!!

Merry Christmas!

We hope your Christmas is full of family, love, laughter, and blessings! 

We're taking a few days off from blogging to enjoy the holiday- see you next week!

Jess & Lynns

Tip for Tuesday: Wrap Up Your Table!

Earlier this month I hosted a Cookies & Cocoa party, and we had lots of kids getting messy creative with their cookie decorating.

Let me tell you my secret to this clean-up being a cinch-

I wrapped the table with leftover wrapping paper from a year (or two, or three) ago. It was pretty and all I had to do was rip the paper off and throw it in the trash.

So simple, right?

What do you do during holiday gatherings to make clean-up or prep easier? 

Always Ready Hot Chocolate Bar

'Tis the season for... lot of things! I love this time of year because of the friends, family, traditions, and all of the love the holidays bring with them.

One of my favorite things is having friends and family over. Whether it's a fun party or just a quick visit, it's so great to be able to talk and enjoy each other's company. Another one of my favorite things are holiday movies. White Christmas was on ALL DAY on Saturday and I was lovin' it!!

Whether it's snuggling on the couch watching a movie or sitting around the kitchen table chatting with family, hot chocolate is the perfect compliment!

Here's my mommy machine secret to always having hot chocolate ready to go:

I keep hot chocolate essentials in mason jars on my bar top. These are my current faves:

• hot coco mix
• peppermint marshmallows
• candy canes
• Andes Mint chips
• white chocolate chips
• colored sugar

It blends right in with my Christmas decorations and I'm always ready to make hot chocolate- one cup or ten, I'm ready! Whipped cream is always in the fridge so the only thing I have to do to prep is warm some milk. It doesn't get easier than that.

This would make a super fun Christmas gift too! Wrap some ribbon around the mason jars and pack it all in a cute basket and you've got yourself a very thoughtful and yummy gift to give!

Kids Cookie Decorating Party

On Sunday I hosted a "Cookies & Cocoa" party for some of our friends and their families; it was so much fun and really got us into the holiday spirit!

Hosting a holiday party can get kind of stressful- so much prep work, cleaning, and last-minute details to complete. Not to mention, after the fun is over, you get to clean your house again. :)

Here are a few ways I prepped ahead and made clean-up a little easier:

I baked cookies earlier in the week and stuck them in the freezer. This was a game-changer because I wasn't spending my entire Saturday before the party baking cookies! Just stick your completely cooled cookies in a freezer bag- so simple, right? All I had to do on Sunday morning was pull them out and let them thaw a few hours before our guests arrived.

 Sprinkle Bakes has the most amazing chocolate cut-out cookie recipe. You must try it! 

Semi-Sweet Designs roll-out sugar cookie recipe is my favorite! 

I prepped our cocoa bar toppings in advance. I had a few different toppings for our hot cocoa bar that I kept in mason jars. Super easy to pull out and serve, although I did opt to put them in holiday containers for this party.

I set a treat box at each kiddo's spot at the table. These served as "to-go" boxes for all the cookies they decorated, and it worked out great! I didn't have to run around looking for containers for everyone's cookies at the end of the party.

I wrapped the cookie decorating table with wrapping paper. Super easy clean-up!

Gift it Tuesday: My Special Needs Kiddo

Buying presents for my special needs kiddo has always been a challenge. He doesn't play with a lot of toys and can easily become fixated on certain parts of toys- especially toys with flashing lights or spinning parts.

I never thought I would have to think so hard about toys and presents for my kids- I guess it just comes with the territory of being a special needs family. :) I happily accept the challenge though, because when I do choose the perfect gift for Little Dude, it makes my heart smile!

Many of the toys I find for Little Dude are online or aren't even in the toy section at all! Here is what I've come up with for him this year:

1. Body Pillow- this kid loves pillows! This would be great for a kiddo who loves hugs or having objects wrapped around his or her body. LD likes to put pillows on his lap while playing his iPad, or he likes to put one on top of his body when he's sleeping.

2. Ikea Swivel Chair - I think I really nailed it on the head with this gift. LD loves to be in small spaces and he likes to spin. This chair meets both of those needs. He can also pull down the hood and "hide", which he also loves to do! The price tag is $89.99, so this was his "big " gift. He is going to love it and I think it will trump any other kind of toy I could've come up with!

3. Go Go Smart Wheels Train Station - Many times, kids with Autism have a difficult time using their imagination. It doesn't make sense to them, so as they get older and the toys become more imagination-based, it can be really tough to find toys they will understand how to play with and enjoy. This train station set is awesome because it is a cause-and-effect type toy and the train moves on it's own by pushing down on the front of the vehicle. There is a clear purpose and my kiddo won't be left wondering what the heck he's supposed to do! 

Do you have a special needs kiddo you are buying for this year? If so, what are some of your gift ideas? I'd love to hear all about it! 

Stocking Stuffer List

It can be hard to think of stocking stuffers- here are some of our ideas!

For the Little Ones
rattles
little taggies
teether
teether biscuits
fruit and veggie pouches
fabric/soft sided books
bibs
pacifier
baby mittens
sippy cup


For the Toddlers and Preschoolers
kaleidoscope
play-doh
bubbles
craft kits (Target dollar section!)

finger puppets

window markers/crayons

coloring book

toothbrush

bath toy squirters
bracelets/dress-up jewelry
freeze-dried fruit
crayons
flash cards
bubble bath
stickers
paint brushes
little people
cars



For the Older Kids
ornament
mad-libs
nail polish
lip smackers
notebooks
books
gift cards
iPod case
elastics to make rainbow loom bracelets
batteries
gum
watch
jewelry
sunglasses
hats
gloves
scarf


For the Teens
ornament
iTunes gift card
ear buds
smart touch gloves
earrings
chapstick
nail polish
nail files
wallet
key chain
$5 gift cards for coffee or fast food
phone case
cash
watch
sunglasses
scarf
socks

Homemade Mocha

I'm the kind of person who needs coffee to kick start my morning. The problem is I don't like coffee. At least not black coffee, or even coffee with cream... No, I need a mocha to make-ah my morning.

In an effort to save time and money spent hitting up Starbucks every morning, I've crafted a recipe for a homemade mocha. If you don't like strong coffee flavor, this is for you! If you do like coffee flavor, just ease up on the amount of half and half you add.

The ingredients:

K-cup (I make a 10oz cup)

Homemade Hot Coco Mix

Half n half (or milk)
Homemade Peppermint Whipped Cream

The process:

Brew a Kcup.

Add 2 tsp. hot coco mix to your mug.

As the coffee comes out, start stirring! This helps the mix dissolve better giving the mocha better flavor.

Add half n half as you like it- I usually add a couple of tablespoons to further mask the coffee flavor.
Top with a dollop of whipped cream, I prefer peppermint. Yummy!

Now, just sit back and enjoy!!

Have a good morning!

Homemade Whipped Cream: 2 Ways!

Yesterday I shared my favorite homemade cocoa mix, and you can't have hot cocoa without a lot a little whipped cream, right?!

I have been making my own whipped cream for a while now. It's so much better than the canned stuff, and honestly, you can make it in less time than it takes to go to the store and buy a can of pre-made whipped cream!

Whipped cream is yummy as-is, but why not jazz it up a little bit for the holiday season?

Chocolate Whipped Cream
This is for the chocolate lover in your house- in my house, that would be me. 

Use my basic whipped cream recipe, but omit the sugar and vanilla.
Add in 2 tbsp. of hot cocoa mix.
Whip until peaks form.
Store in airtight container for about a week.

Peppermint Whipped Cream
Peppermint drinks mean the holiday season is here! 

Use my basic whipped cream recipe- omit vanilla.
Add 1/2 tsp. - 1 tsp. of peppermint extract. Start with a 1/2 tsp. and add if you like a stronger taste.
Whip until peaks form.
Store in airtight container for about a week.


How 'bout that? I think these are going to be a huge hit at my Cookies & Cocoa party this weekend. Can't wait to share more about that next week!

What is your favorite whipped cream? Have you ever made a flavored whipped cream? I'm always looking for new ideas! *hint hint  :)

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

My sister makes the best hot chocolate. Actually, the best part about it isn't necessarily the hot chocolate itself, but the huge mound of whipped cream and sprinkles that she piles on top of it that really tugs at my sweet tooth.

Her hot chocolate has always been a special "thing" around the holidays and I'm sure this year will be no different. I envision us taking a picture with our drinks and posting on instagram with hashtags like #hotchocolate, #sistasista, #wouldulikesomehotchocolatewithyourwhippedcreamandsprinkles, #jinglebells, #sprinklesmakeeverythingbetter,  etc. :)

Since I can't have my sister's hot chocolate every day (total bummer!), here is the recipe I use to make my own mix. No preservatives, chemicals, or junk!

If you double the recipe you'll probably have enough to last you most of the winter, depending on the size of your family and how often you make a cup o' hot chocolate.

CLMM's Hot Cocoa Mix

1 3/4 C. Sugar
1 1/4 C. Unsweetened Cocoa (I use Hershey's)
1 1/2 tsp. Sea Salt

Directions:
Whisk it all together and store in an airtight container in your pantry.
Heat 1 cup of milk until hot. Add 1 1/2- 2 tbsp. of cocoa and mix into milk until dissolved. Top with some yummy whipped cream- try my easy 5 minute recipe- and sprinkles to make it fun!

*Sometimes I mix in chopped chocolate mint candies or crushed peppermint to 1/2 of my mixture make a quick peppermint hot chocolate- so yummy! Just be sure to label your containers! 

What's your favorite way to have hot cocoa?

Friday Favorite: Kraft Paper Table Runner

Who doesn't love kraft paper? There are lots of uses for this wonderful roll of creative possibilities, a quick Pinterest search will give you ideas for days.

Today, I'm sharing my favorite way to use kraft paper! It's also a mommy machine secret because it pulls double duty- kiddo distracter and makes for easy clean up!

I keep a piece of kraft paper on my dining table {almost} all the time.  It is great to keep the kids busy when they feel like sitting down and coloring regardless of what time of day it is. It also comes in handy at meal time. I will brush crumbs off, but if we have a messy meal (like spaghetti), I can simply fold up the paper, toss it, and my table is clean! Usually, one piece of paper lasts us a few days- as long as you don't mind a few water rings, small smudges, and lots of doodles.

I like to write things on the paper to give us something to talk about at dinner too. Here, I've written "what is one thing that made you laugh today?" as a prompt. While we are eating dinner we will all answer the question!

This can easily be adapted for holiday dinners and parties- use holiday specific questions like "what is one thing you are thankful for?" and you can even write questions by each plate and the person sitting at that spot has to ask the question and answer first!

There are endless possibilities with kraft paper, but this is my "friday favorite" and one of the best mommy machine secrets in my arsenal, too.

Tip for Tuesday: Static Cling Fast Fix

It's that time of year, dry air plus dry skin and clingy fabrics... static cling is in the air!

I have found that the best way to fight static cling is also really great for your dry skin- just use lotion!

That's right, no sprays or sheets required. If you will be wearing pants or a top that has the potential to cling just put lotion on before you get dressed. If your skirt starts to cling during the day, apply a bit of lotion to your legs. Wearing tights? Lotion up before you put them on to keep layers from clinging.

How's that for a win-win? No static cling and bye-bye dry skin!

A Healthier Holiday

We all know that the holidays bring with them lots and lots of food. Sure there's fun and family too, but with all the cookies and pies and potatoes and butter and sugar... the calories can add up.

You may not always be in control of what's for dinner (Aunt Sue's sweet potatoes are great but how much butter is needed for them to taste that good?) but you can control what you eat, how much, and how active you are!

Thanksgiving starts the holiday get together season so it's good to get things started on the right foot...

1. Get active now! If you can get in a workout routine now, you will be better prepared to see it through. Schedules get busy and priorities change during the holiday season- but making physical activity a top priority sets your mind right and makes you feel better during all the festivities. Who needs to wait for a New Year's Resolution? Hit it now!

2. Size matters! portion size, that is. Be aware of how much food you are putting on your plate- take a smaller portion and go back for seconds if you want to. The Thanksgiving Day spread is delicious and bountiful- but that doesn't mean your metabolism gets faster just to compensate for the extra calories.

If you want some of everything just take a little- there will always be seconds. And take your time eating- joining in the conversation slows down your eating and gives your stomach more time to signal your brain that you are full.

3. Wait for it... Go for a walk with the family or go up and down the stairs a few times before having dessert. The turkey will make you tired so you will need a pick me up anyway, but getting in some "half-time" activity will help you to start burning the calories from dinner before you go for dessert.

You can always take that slice of pie home for later- your body can only process so many calories at once, overloading your system leads to more fat being stored for "later use". Take your time and keep moving!

4. Have fun and don't over think it. Having a healthy holiday means laughing, smiling, and being happy. Don't stress and you won't stress eat. Funny how that works, huh? Even if the only thing you are stressing is not eating too much, just thinking too much about the food you don't want to eat too much of can cause you to eat too much... did you follow that? :-) If all you're thinking about is how you don't want to eat too many mashed potatoes, your body may end up feeling deprived causing you to eat too much stuffing- oops!

So just relax and enjoy and have your game plan in place before you even turn on the oven. Go to dinner confidently and you'll conquer the holiday calorie pile up!

Thanksgiving Tips & Tricks

Thanksgiving is just around the corner- can you believe it? Here are some of our favorite Thanksgiving tips and tricks!

Prep

• Company's Coming Checklist
• Thanksgiving Hostess Checklist
• Trash Bowl

Food

• The Secret to Creamy Mashed Potatoes
• More Secrets to Creamy Mashed Potatoes
• Reinvent your Leftovers
• Vanilla Maple Cinnamon Coffee Creamer
• Pumpkin Pie Sandwich Cookies
• Bake Outside the Box
• Whipped Greek Yogurt Cream
• 5 minute Whipped Cream

Decor & Crafts

• Kids Thanksgiving Place Cards
• Thanksgiving Table Decor Inspiration

More Secrets to Creamy Mashed Potatoes

A while ago Lynns posted her secret to creamy mashed potatoes, and you guys just loved it! With Thanksgiving around the corner, I wanted to give you a few other tips to get creamy and rich potatoes. Just be sure to do these things in addition to our other tip about mashed potatoes that I mentioned above- it's an important one!

#1-  Cream cheese.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when adding cream cheese to your potatoes:

• 1 block of cream cheese for every 5 lbs. of potatoes is a great starting point. Add less or more depending on how many you're making, or your preference for richness.
• Scale back on the butter and milk- add only half of what you normally would add. 
• Do this in addition to the tip Lynns shared. 
• This is an indulgence- everything in moderation! :) 

#2-  Red potatoes. 

• The texture is much smoother than russets, which will result in a creamier texture! 

#3- Use an old school potato masher.

• Step away from that hand mixer. It may take a few extra minutes to mash the potatoes, but I promise you won't miss the "gluey" texture a hand mixer tends to create. 

My favorite way to season potatoes is with a mixture of regular sea salt and seasoned salt, as well as pepper. It's simple, but so delish! 

How do you make your potatoes? Do you add anything to mix it up on Thanksgiving, or do you make traditional mashed potatoes? 

Tip for Tuesday: Thanksgiving Table Decor

Every year I host Thanksgiving, and every year my table decor is the first to be knixed from my list of things to do. No matter how well I prepare, I seem to find myself cutting something from the list that I don't feel is "as important". Then, when the day arrives I scramble to find something to put on the table to make it fun and festive! 

I've realized that I make this much more complicated than it really is, and even the simple things can be the best! Here are a few of my inspiration pictures from across the web!

Love the simplicity of this from Just Us Four

A little rustic charm at the table- DIY or buy them here! 

White pumpkins are my favorite! Image from Good Housekeeping

I really love how different this is. You could even do mini pumpkins in here! 

Image via Good Housekeeping

How do you decorate your Thanksgiving table? 

If you don't host, what would be your favorite way to decorate?

Kid Craft: Thanksgiving Place Cards

Thanksgiving is right around the corner!

I love Thanksgiving, it's my favorite holiday. It has all the best things- family, friends, food, gratefulness, and none of the hassle or stress of gift giving.

I want to share a fun kid craft project that is kind of a mommy machine secret for 2 reasons: 1- it easily and inexpensively adds a fun touch to Thanksgiving decor, 2- it keeps the kids busy for a while so you can check a few things off your list. :-)

Speaking of lists, Jess shared an awesome Thanksgiving hostess checklist last week you should check it out!

For this fun project, to begin with, you will need card stock and fall colored crayons. Later, you will need scissors and a sharpie.

We used yellow, red, orange and brown crayons.

Little Miss was taking a nap so I sat my Little Man at the picnic table outside and told him I needed him to help me with a special project. {This would also be a great thing to do inside on a rainy day}

I asked him to draw the fall trees he saw with all the different colored leaves falling.

{I would have just given my 2 year old the crayons and let her scribble- this would give you a similar effect}

Here's what he drew :-) I helped him add some more "falling leaves" (aka lines and circles) to fill most of the page. Notice how the paper is laying "wide", not "tall" this is important for the next step.

I folded the paper in thirds the "wide" way and then in 5 sections the "long" way. See the picture to see my segments. Using scissors, I cut along the wide creases- 3 sections. Then, cut every-other fold along the long creases, giving you 2 place cards coming from each of the 3 sections (since you have 5 long creases, you won't use one of these sections). 6 place cards per page.

Don't cut every crease! You will want to make sure you leave a crease where your card will fold.

 Fold the card along the middle crease again (you already have a crease, just make it crisper). Using a sharpie, write a name on one side of the card.

 Voila!

Fun and easy place cards. You could easily add embellishments- glitter, feathers, ribbon, etc. depending on your child's skill level.

Don't forget to enter our Bouncing Woolies giveaway- you've only got a few more days!

{Friday Favorite} Bouncing Woolies + GIVEAWAY!

This post is not a sponsored post, however the giveaway is sponsored and provided by Bouncing Woolies. All opinions are my own.

I am so excited to share this product with you all! I met the owner of Bouncing Woolies when our kids were in swim lessons this summer- good times. She shared with me the product information and I knew I had to try them out! A few months ago I bought 4 BW's and I've been bouncing ever since!

I really can't believe it took me so long to find Bouncing Woolies. Since buying them for myself, I have recommended them to so many of my friends and there is a good chance some BWs will be showing up in some Christmas stockings this year!

They make great gifts for new moms, any mom really... actually, they are great gifts for anyone who has to do laundry! College students would love them because they replace expensive fabric softener or dryer sheets and they dry clothes faster.

Here's why I love them:

They are great for my family's skin sensitivity.
I bought 4 Bare Naturals Wool Dryer Balls and left them unscented. I don't have to worry about scents, dyes, or other irritants that could aggravate Little Man's eczema!

I know a lot of moms who use BWs when they dry their cloth diapers because they are safe for baby's sensitive skin.

They make our laundry fluffy.
You leave the BW's in the dryer and can completely forget about using fabric softener or dryer sheets. You won't miss those products at all! Clothes, towels, and sheets come out fluffy every time. Now that dry winter air is setting in, I have noticed a little static cling, but not as bad as drying clothes with nothing in the dryer.

photo courtesy of bouncing woolies

You now how people recommend throwing tennis balls in the dryer with comforters? With BW's you don't have to do that! They really help to keep bulky items from balling up.

Laundry dries faster!
Less drying time=saving money. Who doesn't love that? Even with just 4 BW's I have noticed a difference in drying time. The more BWs you add the faster laundry dries.

If you don't have to worry about sensitive skin issues, you can add all natural scents to your BWs and they have some super fun color combos too! Their website has some great stuff- check it out here.

I love my BWs so much that I asked the owner if she would do a giveaway because I want one of our readers to get to try these out asap! So, if you "like" Bouncing Woolies and CLMM on Facebook using the Rafflecopter entry form below, you will be entered to win a set of

2 FUNKTastic Wool Dryer Balls!

You can even chose what scent you want added!

photo courtesy of bouncing woolies

The giveaway ends on November 15th at 12:00am and the winner will be chosen at random and notified my email! We will announce the winner on Facebook so enter and cross your fingers 'cause you're going to want to win!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanksgiving Hostess Checklist

Wow, it's already November. How in the heck did that happen so fast?

Ever since my family and I moved back to Minnesota 3 years ago, we have always hosted Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve at our house. It's fun to gather family in our home, but it also takes a lot of prep and work. I find myself singing "Cinderelli, Cinderelli!" the entire week leading up to Thanksgiving. More often than not, I'm ready to pull my hair out and order pizza come Thursday morning. :)

In an effort to get me to chill out, A always asks, "What can I do to help?" and I normally look at him and say, "Do you not see the mess? Just start cleaning.". What I've come to find out about husbands, or, at least my own, is that they need direction. Hubs needs a list- a list that is detailed and extremely specific- for two reasons: #1 being he is lost without details. #2 is that his wife is a little particular (I've come to love and accept this... ha ha!). Honestly, I love lists as well, so it only makes sense to keep one that both of us can refer to while getting ready for the holidays.

In addition to the Company's Coming list we've shared on the blog, here is a list specific to hosting Thanksgiving- or any holiday, really!

3-4 weeks prior

• Decide if you'll do all the cooking, or if you'll hold a "potluck style" dinner. 
• Create guest list
• Mail invites or call/e-mail guests. If you're holding a potluck style meal, be sure to assign each person a food to bring. You can assign a category such as "dessert" or be more specific, like "pumpkin pie". 
• Take inventory of your dinnerware

2 weeks prior

• Finalize your menu. This is especially important if you're doing all the cooking! 
• Decide if you'll do a "buffet style" dinner or a "sit down" dinner.
• Test any new recipes you'll be making. 
• Create your shopping list. Be sure to include spices- they can be easily overlooked. 
• Shop for all non-perishable foods and the turkey. This way you beat the crowds! 
• Purchase tablecloths, napkins, dinnerware, center pieces, or any other decorations to make the meal fun and festive! 
• Complete any deep-cleaning tasks that you have on your to-do list. Baseboards, refrigerator, and oven-cleaning are just a few that I typically do. 

2-5 days prior

• Figure out cooking times for all the dishes you're preparing, and come up with a game plan. I always make a list so I know what time each dish should be put in the oven, on the stove, etc.
• Thaw turkey- depending on the size, you may need to start this a few days earlier. 
• Prepare pies (if they are freezer-friendly)

Day before

• Double-check to be sure you have all the ingredients you need.
• Shop for veggies and any other perishables. Wash and trim your veggies, then store in a ziploc bag in the refrigerator. 
• Prepare pies and other foods that will hold well overnight. This might include cranberry sauce or pies. 
• Do light cleaning tasks- clean bathroom, sweep and mop floors, etc. 

And that, my friends, is how I make it through being our family's Thanksgiving hostess every year!

Do you have a game plan for Thanksgiving? Will you be a guest or a hostess this year? 

Tip for Tuesday: Pinterest Ideas

There are some pretty great ideas floating around on Pinterest. We all know this.

Jess and I have created a board on our CLMM Pinterest account for "Ah ha Moments"! You know, those things that make you say "oh! That's how you do that!" or "I'd never thought of it that way. That's brilliant!"

Here are 3 of my favorites:

There wasn't a website for this, just a pic so here's the link to the pin.

This is a genius idea from Moser Moments!

Simply Healthy Family does a great job of showing how to shred chicken in your stand mixer. I do this all the time! 

Here's the link to our Ah Ha Moments board too :)