Kiss this Year Goodbye! Love Note

I didn't plan to roll out a Love Note any time soon but when I want to give a small gift I just have to have a tag, and if I don't have another one in mind, I create it!  And then I think, maybe others would like this too?  So hopefully you do!

If there was ever a year to kiss goodbye, I'm pretty sure 2020 is it! haha  Wouldn't you love getting this from your minister-er, friend, or neighbor?  

You could fill a small bag with Hershey's Kisses, Always Lipgloss, my favorite NYX butter gloss (this color is Creme Brûlée), an EOS lip balm or Covergirl Lip product.  Or just tie up one lip product and attach the tag.  

Every one always needs a new lipgloss!  What better way to ring in the new year with a fun new tube!

I had a little hang up on wording.  I still think it should say KISS this year goodbye!  And maybe one day it will. haha but until then hopefully you still like it.

And I didn't know whether to put THIS year or LAST year.  So I did both!  Then you can have options and who doesn't love options!

Even if you don't want to print the tags you've got to check out NYX Butter Glosses, they are my favorite lip product for sure!! Happy New Year!! Here's to a better year ahead.

Find this tag 'Let's KISS this year goodbye!' HERE!

This post may contain affiliate links but all opinions are my own.

Christmas Children Books

 Livy loves books and she's especially loved all the fun Christmas books we have!  I have kept my eye out at Dollar Tree and the dollar section at Target and Walmart and have grabbed most from there.  A few have been hand me downs, some are mine from when I was younger, some are more expensive and some are very affordable.

We love books so we try to find a way around the price!  Some of Livy's favorites are the cheapest ones, and they are perfect for reading quickly which I love when it's time to go to sleep.  I store them with my Christmas decor so they are fun and new every December when I bring them out!

Merry Christmas Mouse!  is a cute one, we love What's a Christmas?, and Twas' the Night Before Christmas (these were a gift from my Mom, can't find a link sorry!), and Clifford's Christmas.  

Liv also loves The Christmas Alphabet, Jingle Bells, and The Story of Christmas (last two were more gifts from my Mom).

I try to get 1 or 2 new books every holiday to add to the collection too.  This year Santa brought Little Blue Truck's Christmas, and the elves brought Polar Express, 5 Minute Disney Christmas Stories, and I Believe in Santa Claus.

I love Christmas books and am always adding more and more to my wish list!  Let me know if you have a favorite that I should get!  

This post contains affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.

December Love Note-He is the GIFT

 I wanted to round out the year with sharing one last monthly Love Note.  I'm not sure what next year has in store for this little old blog.  I have lots of ideas with recipes, parties, kid activities and so on...so let's see how they all turn out.  Instead of monthly I might do Seasonal/Quarterly Love Notes.  We'll see!  They just take a really long time to create and post.  If you use my Love Notes let me know and I'll be more motivated to keep going!

This month I'm sharing an oldie but a goodie!  I made these for my Singles Ward Relief Society when I was in the RS Presidency for Christmas gifts for each of the women.  It was simple but reminded them of the true meaning of Christmas which I love!  

I got some Peppermint Joe Joe's at Trader Joe's and dipped them in milk or white chocolate, then topped them with different toppings, crushed peppermint, drizzled chocolate, etc. BE WARE of the Gluten Free Peppermint Joe Joe's!  We accidentally got a box a year ago and they are nasty! If you're not near a TJ"s obviously use Oreo's!  I used THESE bags to package each individual cookie.  then just tape the top down in the back.  I separated the picture from the cookies so if people had aversions or allergies they could choose to take one or not.

Along with one dipped cookie I gave them a small 3X4 picture of Christ, I found a set from Seagull Book, I found some online HERE, or I've been able to find them in store near the pictures.  Just get a small variety pack and it will make it super easyI probably got 2 packs of pictures for under $5, which covered the main cost of the whole gift.  Then wrapped it with a small ribbon to look like a gift.  They could put the picture anywhere from their journal, car, room, fridge, the list could go on and on.

You can find the "He is the GIFT!" tag-HERE!

Thankful November Love Notes

We know this Thanksgiving is going to be different than any other, but we can still show gratitude and show others we are grateful for them.  These little tags would be perfect to give to your family, friends, ministering sisters, teachers, students, etc.  All the people that you are going to miss this holiday! 

Or print them and use them as decor around your house.  Just one or two would add a touch of Thanksgiving to any room.

My mom always has chocolate turkeys at each place setting.  I'm going to miss that and so much about our usual Thanksgiving, this year.

We found these at Reams but you can find them at See's, Trader Joe's, or online HERE!  Or make your own with THIS mold.

I've had these cute Happy Thanksgiving containers for years and decided to pull them out!  This would be SO cute packed with my Chewy Cereal Mix, trail mix or any candy.

HERE is some more cute packaging options, find the Malt Balls HERE!

Or a favorite candy bar wrapped in a bow to let them know just how sweet they are!

This cute little turkey can be easily made with a little pot, some painted wood shapes, ribbon, pom pom eyes and fake leaves.

This sweet tag can be paired with anything SWEET!

Or anything really, give them this tag just to let them know that THEY are sweet!  How cute would a Thanksgiving decoration would be with any of these tags.  Like THIS, or THIS, or THIS!

Throw some treats in a cute container and put on some cute washi tape and you're good to go!

Candy corn gets a bad rap but it is real sweet!  Find a cute little container, like this small leaf tray-fill it with something sweet and pair it with this tag.

I love this little turkey clipart that can be paired with THESE little turkey decorations, or THIS or THIS!

Or that same little turkey we saw before.

Or a "turkey feather" sucker, I found these from a local candy shop but you can find these adorable turkey sucker covers HERE!

Love the idea of gifting a Gratitude Journal or Bullet Journal that they can use for the upcoming year for any reason or to list what they are grateful for.

So many options, love these mini bread loafs pans too! They'd be so cute with a mini home made bread or treats.  I love this paper option, less expensive and still so cute!

If you'd like any of these FREE printable you can find them HERE!

This post may contain affiliate links but all opinions are my own.

Soft & Fluffy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

 My MIL makes these soft, fluffy pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and my husband is obsessed with them!  They have a hint of pumpkin spice and have a cake like texture.  Super different compared to my recipe.  I'll be sharing that in a couple days, but until then this recipe is a winner.  Dallin and I disagree on which recipe is better ;) we take pumpkin chocolate chip cookies pretty seriously around here.

His mom would make them for him every fall!  No matter what!  Even while he was on his mission, and when we first got married.  

It's been a family favorite recipe i'm pretty sure for, forever!  

The only thing I did differently was adding chocolate chips to the top of the cookies for a little more chocolate! Of course!

My MIL amps up the spices depending on her preferences but this is the recipe you should definitely start with.

This is the perfect time to have your last pumpkin treats for the year.  

Give this recipe a try then make my cookies on Friday and see which one YOU like more!

Soft & Fluffy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mix:

1 C. sugar

1/2 oil

1 egg, beaten 

1 C. canned pumpkin

1 tsp. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

Add and mix:

2 C. flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

Add one bag of chocolate chips (6 oz.).  Drop by teaspoonful on a greased or parchment lined cookie sheet.  Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees.  Add extra chocolate chips to the top before or after baking for even more chocolate!

Thanksgiving Home Decor

Love the more simple, clean break from Halloween.  One of my favorite things to do on Halloween night is to watch the last somewhat scary movie (usually the last Harry Potter movie), and take down all my Halloween decorations.  Call me crazy but that stuff needs to come down ASAP!  I'm all for the warmer, cozy, happier holidays.

I love that I can reuse all the pumpkins and fall decor and just switch out a few things.  For this small shelf I added a wood pumpkin, a small floral arrangement and small pilgrim decorations to the small cake stand and fabric pumpkin I had up for Halloween already.

I love the pops of orange, cream and brown.  

And I love to create height and dimension with cake stands and layering.  How cute is THIS little cupcake stand and this larger one and this large cake stand too!?

I loved the pumpkin collage so much I just switched out a few pumpkins and kept it for another month!  Here are some pumpkins I love!  Pumpkins-1, 2, 3.  I used pumpkins I already had on hand but I love to add new ones each year.  I also used leaf picks and burlap flower picks from Dollar Tree to create a garland effect.  One day hope to have something like THIS to make it easier!  Here are links for everything else I could find, or similar:  small turkeys, wood candle sticks, cornucopia and filler.

I replaced the chevron placemats and jack-o-lantern runner with a simple burlap runner.

Swapped some ribbon on my small picture of Christ in my favorite IKEA frame (Please tell me it's just a lie that they don't have them anymore! I'm crying inside.  But I linked where you can still find them.)  Love this classic pumpkin jar.

My flowers had seen better days but you've got to take pictures when you can! haha I loved how I could bunch a few random small items and make it in to a cohesive, fun, and eye catching decor piece.  Love this tiered tray my mom gave me!  A cute little print and small decorations found in the Target Dollar Spot and made by me to pull it all together.  Oh and a cute gold tray to collect all the things! I love this vase full of flowers to add life and a pop of unexpected color too.  Here's the links or similar that I could find:  black tiered tray, small pumpkins, gold charger.

I love the layered look that I created with this tray!  Like with the cute little leaf tray!  Here's a look at the other side, seriously love that turkey I think I got from my Mom, perfect little spot for candy.

Another month, another saying on my chalkboard.  Keeping my wreaths simple with only a couple ribbons in cute little bows and a saying that fits so perfectly for this month.  My chalkboard can be found HERE, and I LOVE THESE markers.  Seriously total game changer for my chalk art!

Hoping this will be the last month with this cute little TV stand we've had for 5 year!  It's from IKEA and we got it when we first got married. We've loved it but I've always wanted something that I can keep the darn doors shut. haha

Still love this little block decor I made.  Such an easy decor item to just turn to another side!  

I thought it would be fun to start sharing more decor items I love for this season!  

Here are some of my favorites in different sections!

Home-THIS, THIS ONE, oh and THIS one!

Lawn decor-I love THIS pumpkin!

Party-How cute is THIS or THIS party pack!

Kid Activities-Turkey Stickers 

Miscellaneous-pumpkin garland, pie garland, love this felt garland that's a great price.

This post may contain affiliate links but all opinions are my own.

Boo Basket and Halloween Books

I'm all about creating and keeping new traditions and a new tradition to us is the Boo Basket!  Full of fun Halloween trinkets, activities, books and treats this basket is so fun!  I found most of the stuff in the Target Dollar Bins too!  You can make it as expensive or as affordable as you'd like.

Let's take a look in this cute little basket!  

Everything is from Target except the Where's My Mummy Book! 

I also like to give things Livy needs, like her little boots!  It makes it more fun to receive and helps fill up the basket.

Livy has some fun Halloween books and I wanted to share her favorites incase you're looking for fun Halloween books!  I'm always looking for more! haha

Here are her favorites!  I'll link what I can.  The Spooky Fashion and Trick or Treat! books were a gift.  I got the Olivia Big at Dollar Tree.  Where's My Mummy, Room on the Broom, There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat, Trick or Treat Little Pumpkin, and Pippa the Pumpkin Fair.  And we can't forget:  I Love You, Little Pumpkin!, Where's The Witch?, and The Best Halloween of All.   Liv memorized the Trick or Treat book!  haha It's not small.  The girl loves her books!

This post may contain affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.