RuthAnne Strong

Friday, October 30, 2020

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.

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Halloween Decor

I can't believe that October is almost over. I am loving my Halloween decor this month. It's so fun switching up decor each month.

I love switching up these open shelves I got from Etsy, they're no longer available but I love THIS set too. Also love the look of a pumpkin collage. I used some of my favorite Target Dollar Spot cake stands, pumpkins from Target Dollar Spot and Dollar Tree, and fake leaves and flowers from Dollar Spot. I think the thing that pulls that bottom shelf all together is Handwritten Harper's hello pumpkin sign. It's honestly my favorite piece of decor for Halloween. The adorable witches are from Walmart. I stacked random books that I already had to look like spell books on top of a cute gold cake stand (linked similar, this one is totally on my wish list) and added small wooden decor I previously painted to pull it all together.

My simple table setting is all from Target Dollar Spot with some little pumpkins from Dollar Tree! I love cute things even though I'm on a budget.

I love that this section on our main floor. I have a large open room that's my kitchen, family room and dining room all in one. It's been interesting to try to figure out this space, but I think I'm starting to get the hang of it.

Love the little pops of Halloween on this little shelf too (shelf is from etsy, here's another one I love too)! Blocks made by me, rest from you guessed it Dollar Tree or Target Dollar Spot. I LOVE fake flowers from Dollar Tree. I honestly think they are so great for events and home decor and SO great for your wallet too!

My older sister is so good at finding cute Dollar Tree DIYs and this was one of them! Can you believe this was made from things from Dollar Tree? Each side is for another holiday/month!

I love to decorate our little entertainment stand too. The HOME blocks are another Dollar Tree DIY and that wire pumpkins are from Target Dollar Spot a few years ago. Real life right here. Cords, doors open, DVDs a mess this is honestly how it always is. haha

I love to switch out the ribbon on this IKEA frame (can't find them at IKEA anymore but linked the same ones I found on Amazon!) and keep that picture of Christ in our front room/general area all the time. The cute little house is another Dollar Store DIY and the ceramic pumpkin and runner are from Target Dollar Spot.

This is probably one of the areas that I didn't love this month. So many random little things but wanted to show them all. Next year I'll try something different!

Wish you could see these little Jack-o-lanterns at night. They have the cutest little flickering tea lights in them that actually look like candles!

Another favorite area is my chalkboard and wreaths. Bless my mom's heart for always letting me take ribbon from her! Thanks Mom! And how cute is that Halloween banner Brittany made me for my birthday years ago. It's one of my favorite decorations!

I do switch things up throughout the month if I don't like certain areas. The moving island never got the way I wanted and I don't know if I love this shelf but I do love this cute little witch my mom got me this year at Walmart!

My Mom has the cutest home decor and today on Instagram stories I'm showing you a little glimpse in her house this Halloween! What's your favorite part of our house this year?

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

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Boo! We Love You! Halloween Love Note

Halloween is almost here! If you're anything like my family we love to exchange little gifts for every holiday, especially between the young cousins. Think Dollar Store or Target Dollar Spot items, but usually with a cute tag!

I do Holiday preorders and last week I did Sugar Cookie Decorating Kits. This would have been so fun to Boo! a family, neighbor or friend with! And a note about preorders, keep a look out for them on my Instagram. Sometimes I have extras and sometimes I only have enough for those you preordered so plan ahead. They are sure fun for the holidays!

But even a store-bought treat would be so fun and yummy! Like Halloween Oreos!! Delicious!

These are the little gifts we are giving Livy's cousins on the Warner side.

We got these in the Target Dollar Bins and love how cute and inexpensive they are.

Also loved last years little cousin gift!

Last year I did this adorable idea and wanted to share it with you before Halloween comes. I used clear boxes that I found HERE on Amazon (thank you Amazon Prime!) and filled it with fun halloween candy and little Halloween trinkets I found at Target. Note on the clear boxes-this tag fits the 3 X 3 X 3 size perfectly. Super easy to replicate and super fun, no matter the age. Just switch up what you put in the boxes! This would even be so cute to BOO! a friend or neighbors with. Attach it to fun Halloween treat and you're set.

Find the FREE printable for the Boo! We love you! Happy Halloween tag HERE!

I left this tag blank so anyone can use it and write in who it's from, but I have had a couple requests for personalizing or designing something special with the handouts and tags I create. I would love to help, I'm going to start offering this service for $5 per tag/design! I'll send you the finished PDF you can use again and again. Reach out to me through email or send me a message on Instagram so we can get started!

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

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Back to School Home Decor & Books for Kids

Back to School started a few weeks later for us. I've always wanted school to start after Labor Day and since Liv and I are starting a little Tot school together, I thought I would make it happen. You know because I'm the teacher and all! :)

I love these open shelves from Etsy. They are so fun to decorate each month/season/holiday. Most of the decorations above were found in the Target Dollar Spot! Except for the apple on burlap, painted apple mason jars and crayon flower vase-those were made by me!

Also love this shelf/coat rack from Etsy! Also topped with lots of Target Dollar Spot items I've purchased over the years. I did make the burlap apple and the fake flowers are from Dollar Tree.

My chalkboard from Amazon is another favorite in my home! It adds so much to the room. The wreaths are from Hobby Lobby with ribbon from my cute Mom. More flowers from Dollar Tree in a cute white Target pitcher.

Had to take a closer look at the chalkboard. Loved that I used little stickers to fill in the gaps. I don't know if I totally recommend doing that though. haha The goo stuck to the chalkboard a little.

While we're here I thought I'd share Livy's favorite Back to School themed books.

We've read each of these countless times! If I had to choose her favorites it would be Pete the Cat, Biscuit Goes to School and A Bug, a Bear, and a Boy. I'll direct link them below or let you know where I found them if I can't find a link.

It's Your First Day of School Annie Claire

Pete the Cat Rocking in My School Shoes

Biscuit Goes to School

Animal School-Dollar Tree

A Bug, a Bear, and a Boy

Are You Ready for School?-Old Family Book

Even though Liv had a couple favorites we loved all of these books, and I love that most of them are very affordable!

Good luck going back to school!

Sunday, September 6, 2020

Lemon Love Notes

I thought I'd get these Lemon Love Notes up for the last glimpse of summer! These can obviously be given when it's not summer but it's also a great way to kiss summer goodbye and welcome in Fall and cooler temps!

There are quite a few Love Notes in this printable. All coordinating with lemons, so many gift options!

Whenever I go to Trader Joe's it's always a fun time! I searched for everything lemon themed. Lemon bars (not my favorite find at TJ's sadly), Lemon kitchen hand soap, Lemon Pepper seasoning, lemon shortbread bar mix, and lemon curd (theirs is so good!)

I also LOVE decor ideas! My mom got this cute jar at Hobby Lobby I believe and these super adorable and versatile lemons at Ikea, find a similar option HERE! I loooove these lemon measuring cups HERE, and this or that lemon decor from Amazon!

Shoot you could even give a lemonade making kit! Complete with a cute pitcher, lemons, and a cute wooden spoon!

Even though I wouldn't recommend TJ's Lemon Bars you could always make some from scratch, or any other lemon treat. Or pair this sweet and sour tag with a coordinating candy, like Sour Patch Kids!

Haven't tried this Lemon Shortbread Bar Mix but love the idea of giving a gift that creates memories! With this gratitude tag a journal and great pen would be such a great gift to start a gratitude journal. Saw THIS gratitude journal for such a great price, had to share!

Lemon Pepper Seasoning is such a gift that keeps on giving! Have you had this on grilled chicken? It's delicious! I usually love THIS Lemon Pepper, but after looking at Lemon Pepper on Amazon I want to try this one!! Check out those reviews!