CraftEaze

8 Perfect Handmade Gifts for a Baby Shower

March 10, 2019January 13, 2024 Jamie

Disclosure: CraftEaze is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliate sites.

So I have now reached a point in my life where many of my friends and family members are starting to have babies. So over the past few years, I have made several projects for the expecting mother. This is a list of my 8 favorite handmade gift ideas that you can make for the next baby shower you are invited too.

1. Newborn Hat

Baby Hat — Collection of college themed hats.

One of my favorite items to make is college-themed newborn hats. I have a personal Etsy store (not tied to CraftEaze) where I sell these hats. They are probably one of the most popular items in my store. These hats are pretty versatile. They can be used as a photo prop for baby pictures. They also can be worn on game day.

Since I live in Ohio, I know many people who are Ohio State fans. So a perfect baby shower gift for a friend or coworker could be an Ohio State hat along with a set of Buckeye onesies.

2. Crochet Baby Blankets

Hogwart House; baby blanket — Hogwarts inspired baby blanket that I sold on Etsy.

Baby blankets are one of my favorite project to make. I like making baby blankets because they are so much faster then blankets for adults. You can also personalize the blanket to match a nursery or an interest of the parents.

I made a Hogwarts inspired chevron baby blanket a while back using this pattern that I sold on Etsy. Each house was represented in this blanket. You can see a picture of this particular blanket at the start of this section.

I made an extra special baby blanket for my friend from college that is a Mizzou fan last year that was tiger stripped. This pattern is fairly easy and has a very cute result. You can also use this pattern to make a zebra stripe blanket for a baby girl.

3. Burp Rags

Image from: https://www.lifewithmylittles.com

Maybe you are looking for a quick project to go with your favorite baby book, teething ring, or quilted baby blanket. Burp rags are the perfect project if you know how to sew. This pattern is very easy to understand. You can even use the scraps from a baby blanket to make a couple of

4. Quilted Baby Blanket

If you have time, a cross stitch/embroidery pre-stamped quilt may be the perfect gift. There are many cute options out there ranging from the alphabet to Noah’s arc to cars and trucks. These kits can take some time to complete, so you may need to start once you hear your friend or family member is expecting.

5. Crochet Toy

Under The Sea Toys — Crochet toys from a under the sea mobile.

Another fun thing you can make for a baby shower is a crochet toy. My favorite crochet toy I have ever made is the baby octopus. The pattern I used can be found here. I like it because you can make it fairly fast. The head is also big enough that you insert a rattle noise maker.

6. Baby Mobile

Another idea that may take a little while to make is a baby mobile. The baby mobile can be made to match the nursery. I have made a couple of mobile in the past. One was an under the sea mobile that had several different sea animals hanging from the wooden structure. I also made the sport themed mobile pictured above. The third mobile was one that had 4 elephants in pastel colors.

7. Embroidery Baby Bib

If you like to embroider or cross stitch but do not have the time to make a quilt, a couple of baby bibs are the perfect gift. You can find bibs with so many different designs. Two of my favorites are this safari bibs and this frog and turtle bibs.

8. Wall Hanging

Nursery Sign — Image from:https://kingstoncrafts.com

Another project you can make for a baby shower is a cute wall hanging for the nursery. You can make a wall hanging using a Cricut. There are so many options for these types of wall hangings. You can make one with the baby name listed or one that has an inspirational quote. The instructions on this blog post is very through. It walks you through step by step to make a wall hanging.

Good luck making a baby shower gift!

Binge Worthy Netflix – Instant Hotel

February 18, 2019February 27, 2019 Jamie

I found this show on Netflix during the coldest part of January. It all started when my fiancé and I entered another dreaded Netflix show hole. We had finished Arrested Development and didn’t want to start The Office or Parks and Rec for the hundredth time. It also happened to be freezing and the ground was covered in 6″ of snow. Because it was so cold and snowy, the preview captured my attention right away.

Now this preview looked so warm. Like there was green plants in the preview and even a pool that looked so inviting. So I started the first episode. I was immediately drawn in.

So this is a reality show from Australia. There are ten couples who all rent their houses as Airbnb. They travel all around Australia to visit each other’s houses and they rate their experience. Some of the houses are near the beach, one is in the Australian wine country, and a couple of other houses were inland but had cool experiences.

The ten couples are broken into two groups. The first group of 5 couples travel to each others house and vote on the best house. The second group also consists of 5 couples who vote on the best house in their group. The two winners then compete in a grand finale which consists of two other couples from each group. So the couples who been to the house before can see if they made any changes to improve, which is balanced out with two couple (+ the other winner) who is seeing the house for the first time.

Each episode focus on a house. Each couple also leaves a welcome pack that contains activities in the area. Some of these activities include going to the beach, a crocodile watching trip, wine tasting, and a visit to a sewer treatment plant. Obviously, some activities are more appealing than others.

One of the coolest aspects of the show is that they are actual vacation rentals. Some of the houses have their own websites, others are on Airbnb or Bookings.com. This Distracify post contians information about all of the houses featured in the show.

My favorite couple was the couple whose house was the focus of the first episode. I like how the outdoor area of their house was set up with an awesome pool and seemed very relaxing. My fiancé and I felt like we had the most in common with them and they were fairly kind to the other contestants. Like they would have been a great couple to go on a wine tasting adventure with. You can find their rental here.

There were two houses that really stood out for me. The first was the home in Barossa Valley. It was in the heart of wine country and was decorated in 1950s Americana decor. The second home was a houseboat. A brother and sister own and operate this houseboat. What is really cool is you can request wakeboarding lessons during your stay from the sister. She is a professional wakeboarder. You can also take the houseboat up and down the river during your stay.

Unfortunately, since this is a reality show some of the contestants are a kind of mean toward each other. Some of the couples are more villain like then a friendly travel companion. But this isn’t a huge deal breaker for me since it was so cool seeing a place I have never visited.

I noticed that they are currently working on a second season according to the Australian press. Hopefully, we will be seeing more episodes in the future!

8 Romantic Dinner Ideas Perfect for Valentine’s Day

February 8, 2019February 18, 2019 Jamie

Valentine’s Day will be here before you know it. If you normally go out for Valentine’s Day, but this year you aren’t really feeling the crowds why not make a special dinner for your loved one at home. Or better yet, cook the meal together! This is a list of my favorite 8 romantic dinner ideas that will be perfect for Valentine’s Day.

Ribeye Steak and Shrimp with Parmesan Sauce

Surf and turf is the perfect Valentine’s Day meal and this meal is no exception. The ribeye and shrimp can either be grilled outside or cooked in a frying pan (like this one) on the stove. The parmesan sauce is savory and adds a great flavor to the meal. My favorite part about this meal is that it can be made in less than 45 minutes. You can check out the recipe here.

Chicken Parmesan

One of my fiancé’s favorite meals is chicken parmesan. It was one of hte first meals he ever cooked for me. We haven’t had it a lot recently since we are trying to eat healthier, but anytime we go out for Italian it is his go to order. This is also a great Valentine’s Day dinner idea because you can drink a bottle of wine together as you cook and eat. It is also a meal that is kid-friendly. One thing I like about this recipe is that it can be made in less than 45 minutes.

Bang Bang Chicken

So this is a meal I make a lot, but it would also be a great Valentine’s Day dinner. This meal is savory and slightly spicy. If you are feeling really adventurous, you can replace the chicken with shrimp. It also only use a handful of dishes, so there isn’t much cleanup. You can find our recipe for Bang Bang Chicken here.

Shrimp Scampi

If you are looking for a quick seafood meal to make for Valentine’s Day, then you should make shrimp scampi. This is a Red Lobster shrimp scampi recipe. You can serve the scampi with linguine and a glass of chardonnay. I normally use stemless wine glasses like these so I don’t break the glass when I am washing it. I was anti-stemless wine glasses when my fiancé first bought a set, but now I’m a convert!

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Corbon blue — Image from: comfortablefood.com

One meal I made several times in college was chicken cordon bleu. I made it several times to thank a couple of my friends for being my test audience when I was practicing for presentations. Public speaking is something that I struggle with, so I would have to practice several times. I felt listening to me talk about removing residuals from scrap used for steelmaking deserved a nice dinner.

Chicken cordon bleu is the perfect Valentine’s Day dinner because it looks fancy and difficult to make. Even though it looks like it was difficult to make, it is fairly simple. You can find the recipe here.

Pecan Crusted Salmon

Maybe you and your loved one are trying to eat healthier this year. If so, this pecan crusted salmon will be perfect for your Valentine’s Day dinner. It uses pecans as the crust, so it is low carb and perfect for the keto diet. The recipe is also very easy and quick to make. So you will spend less time in the kitchen preparing this meal, and so you can spend more time with your loved one.

Brownie Truffle-Stuffed Brownies

Ok, so I know that this isn’t really a meal recipe, but it is perfect for Valentine’s Day. These strawberries could be made with any of the previously mentioned meals as dessert with a glass of champagne. And since it is made of strawberries, they can be considered healthy, right?

Dominos

So according to my fiancé’s, this is the perfect Valentine’s Day dinner and I have to agree. One of the first years we were dating, we ordered Dominos for Valentine’s Day and watched the newest season of House of Cards (I think it was season 3). What’s great about ordering Dominos is you don’t have to cook, clean, or leave your house!

What are your plans for this Valentine’s Day?

<3 Jamie

12 Gifts For The Person Who Loves Crafts

December 5, 2018January 13, 2024 Jamie

Christmas will be here before you know it, and that means its time to go holiday shopping. I enjoy trying to find gifts for my friends and family members that I know they will love. I like to find everyone on my list a gift that they wouldn’t necessarily buy themselves, but something that they would use. For example, last year I got my mom a pi pie pan that had several digits of pi on the bottom of the pan. I also got my sister and brother-in-law a game to play with their friends on game night or at parties.

In this post, I will go over the 12 perfect gifts for the craft lover in your life. The reason that there are 12 gifts is the 12 days of Christmas. Unlike the 12 days of Christmas, this list consists of zero birds (unless you count amigurumi)!

1. Yarn Bowl

A yarn bowl is the perfect gift for the crocheter or knitter in your life. This bowl will keep the ball of yarn you are using in a container that also feeds the yarn to you. The bowl can keep the ball of yarn from rolling all over the living room. It can also act as a holder for your project. You can find some really cute yarn bowls on Etsy like this Ravenclaw bowl.

2. Fun Crochet Books

Christmas is also the perfect time to buy a loved one a fun book of crochet patterns. You can buy a book that they may not typically buy themselves. Some possible ideas are books for Amigurumi (small animals or objects) or a book full of fun modern patterns.

3. Knitting Needle and Crochet Hook Organizer

I have crochet hooks and knitting needles scattered all over the 1st floor of my house. I’m sure other people have the same problem. A portable needle and hook organizer would be the perfect solution that not only looks cute but is also functional.

4. Cricut

So on Black Friday, I bought a Cricut online from Wal-Mart. My only regret is not buying this months ago! It is so much fun to use and so far it has been easy to use. Last night my fiancée and I learned how to make vinyl stickers. I see us using this machine a lot in the future ranging from stickers to personalize our Yeti tumblers to making bumper stickers for our friends to wedding decor. I am really excited for my Cricut! It would be the perfect gift for the person in your life that like to scrapbook, make paper crafts, signs, or even things made out of felt.

5. Crochet Monthly Subscription

Another idea for the person who loves to crochet would be a subscription to a monthly subscription box. CraftEaze has a special holiday subscription with 3-12 month option. The first box will be shipped immediately after purchase and the project will be gift wrapped. This way it can be placed right under the tree. We also have another year-long subscription box which is a corner to corner mystery project. You can find this project here and it will begin in January.

6. Cricut Accessories

If the person you love already has a Cricut, you can always buy them accessories for their machines. There are some variety packs of mats. Until I bought my cricket, I didn’t know that you needed different mats depending on the material. Like fabric uses a different mat the paper. You can also get them a set of tools that they can use with the Cricut that includes scissors and a weeding tool. If they are wanting to learn how to make t-shirt, you can buy them an Easy Press.

7. Learn How To Knit or Crochet Kit

If you have a young cousin, child, niece, or nephew that you would like to get into knitting or crochet, then this kit is for you. This fuzzy knitting kit comes with yarn that is in fun, kid-friendly colors with plastic knitting needles and patterns. This is a crochet version that includes the yarn, a plastic hook, and patterns. Both are perfect kits to introduce young kids to the yarn crafts.

8. Candle Making Kit

Maybe the person who loves crafts in your life has been talking about making candles recently. Like maybe they have been dropping hints like “It would be cool to learn how to make a candle” or “Why can’t an evergreen candle come in purple?”. This kit comes with everything you would need to make a colorful scented candle.

9. Adult Coloring Books

I know it may sound cheesy, but adult coloring books are a great tool for relaxation! These books are perfect for a stocking stuffers. There are so many cool adult coloring books on the market these days ranging from Disney coloring books and Harry Potter coloring books to curse word color booking. Just don’t forget to buy the recipient a set of color pencils.

10. Jewelry Making Kit

Maybe the person you are shopping for enjoys essential oils. Why not get them a kit to teach your loved one how to make jewelry that doubles as an essential oil diffuser?

11. Soap Making Kit

If you have a child that you want to get into crafting but also provide a fun science experiment, then you should look into buying a soap making kit. This soap making kit is not only easy to use but also teaches the child about the science behind the process along with the history. So if anyone asks, you are helping teach the child about new things!

12. Tote For Their Crafts

One thing I always wish I have more of is a tote to carry my crafts from point A to point B. I’m sure other people have the same issue where they can’t find a good tote or bag to hold their project. There are so many cute totes out there. I’m sure you can find a design that fits that special someone’s personality.

Hope you are able to find the perfect gift for the craft lover in your life!

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!!

Wine Advent Calendar Part 4

December 4, 2018 Jamie

We are approaching the end of the CraftEaze Wine Advent Calendar. It has been a fun couple of weeks, but its finally time to finish the Advent calendar. Today, I will go over the wines for December 18-24. Below are the links for the first 17 wines, just in case you missed them. This week we will have a couple of sparkling wines highlighted since Christmas is so close!

These wines would be perfect to drink while watching the Hallmark Channel or Netflix. Here is the official Hallmark Channel Christmas movie line-up. These wines would also be perfect to drink while you work on some last minute Christmas gifts. A perfect quick gift idea that you can make for a friend or family member would be these boot cuffs or this laptop sleeve.

December 18 – Peaks & Tides Cabernet Sauvignon

This is a red wine that can be picked up at Aldi. So with that said it is fairly inexpensive, but also tasty. This is a dry wine that would be perfect to serve with beef, lamb, or poultry. You can smell blueberries and currents with a hint of caramel and cherries.

December 19 – Arosa Sparkling Moscato Rosé

Christmas is only 6 days away! Since it is less than a week away, I felt it is only appropriate to highlight a sparkling wine. This is a sweet sparkling rosé that can be bought at Aldi. The Sparkling Moscato Rosé has a nice strawberry flavor and would be perfect to enjoy while watching The Santa Clause.

December 20 – Villanella Pinot Grigio

This white wine would be great to serve with a nice seafood or pasta dinner. It has a peach and apple flavor that is refreshing. The pinot grigio can be bought at Aldi. This would be perfect to drink as you watch Christmas with the Kranks and try to come up with a way to free Frosty.

December 21 – Winking Owl White Zinfandel

Today is the first day of winter and also it happens to be Friday! This is one of the best Fridays of the year because for many people it is the start of Christmas vacation or an extremely long weekend. To celebrate the start to this long weekend, have a glass of this white zinfandel. This white zinfandel is sweet and has a cranberry flavor that could be enjoyed with a salad or an Asian dinner. You can find this wine at Aldi.

December 22 -Dancing Flame Red Blend

This red wine is from Chile. It tastes like blackberry and cherry and has a slight hint of spice. This wine would be perfect to drink with a steak dinner or pasta.

December 23 -Moiselle Moscato

This is one of my favorite Aldi wine. It is sweet and easy to drink. I love to drink this while working on a craft project. I think it has a peach and honey flavor. This wine also pairs well with Mexican food or dessert.

December 24 -Grandi Mori Valdobbiadene Prosecco

Today is Christmas Eve! Hopefully, you have all of your gifts wrapped and under the tree. To celebrate the end of Advent, have a glass of this prosecco. This wine is dry but is very easy to drink. It smells of honeysuckles and pear. Go ahead and buy two bottles of this wine, because you can use one bottle for mimosa to severe tomorrow at your Christmas morning brunch.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!!!!

Introducing Our Year-Long Crochet Along

November 26, 2018 Jamie

There are some big new products available here at CraftEaze. Both products would make great holiday gifts for the person in your life that loves to crochet. The two new products are a special holiday subscription box and a year-long crochet along project.

The first new product I’m going to talk about is the special holiday subscription box. This subscription box is similar to the monthly crochet subscription service, but it can be purchased for a specific time frame. We have options for 3 months, 6, months, 9 months, and 12 months subscriptions.

Since this is a special holiday edition, we will ship the first box immediately after ordering. We have an option for gift wrapping. This way, all you will need to do is put the gift-wrapped box under the tree with the special holiday card with a note stating the number of months in the subscription. We have three card options ranging from “Rustic Christmas”, “Snowman”, and “Owl Christmas”. If you would like to see cards, visit here.

The second new product is the one I’m the most excited about! It is a year-long subscription box for a corner to corner crochet along. Each month you will receive the materials and pattern for a corner to corner block. This block will be related to the month in some way. The first month is January and the block will be a snowflake.

January C2C block — The January block is a snowflake.

Each block will be approximately 17″x17″. After 12 months, you will have made 12 blocks related to the 12 months in a year. The nice thing about this project is that you can jump in at any time. If you purchase this subscription box, you will receive a box for 12 months. For the last month, you will receive the instructions for the final block along with the instructions to finish the blanket. To learn more about this crochet-along, visit here.

Happy Crafting!

Wine Advent Calendar Part 3

November 25, 2018 Jamie

This is part 3 of our special wine Advent calendar. Since I was unable to pick up an Advent wine calendar at Aldi this year, I decided to make my own wine Advent calendar. For part 3, we will go over the wines from December 11 to December 17. If you would like to get caught up, you can read the following posts:

This is a few days late because Thanksgiving was super crazy. But on a side note, I was able to say yes to my wedding dress and finished a portion of the save the dates because my mom was in town!! Since the third week of Advent is the pink candle on the Advent wreath, this week will feature 3 rosé wines, 2 white wines, and 2 red wines.

December 11 – Prophecy Rosé

The Prophecy Rosé was the subject of an in-depth wine review earlier this year. This rose is perfect for Saturday morning brunch or to drink while watching a Hallmark Christmas movie!

December 12 – Crystal Creek Cellars Chardonnay

This chardonnay can be found at Aldi. This Chardonnay is from Washington state. It smells like granny smith apples and has notes of pear, oak, and vanilla. This wine would pair well with a chicken dinner.

December 13 – Ruzzare Lambrusco

This red wine is slightly carbonated and is a sweeter wine. This wine has a strawberry and cherry flavor. It would be perfect with a pasta meal, but it is easy enough to drink alone while watching a Hallmark movie. You can find this wine at Aldi.

December 14 – Bridge Road Vineyards White Zinfandel

This is another rosé that can be bought at Aldi. This White Zinfandel is from California. It is sold in 1.5-liter bottles, so its a pretty good deal. It is a sweeter wine that has a strawberry flavor. This wine would be a good table wine for a Christmas celebration dinner with your friends.

December 15 – Landshut Riesling

This is a Riesling from Germany. It smells like honeysuckles and apples. The wine tastes like peach and apples (similar to other Rieslings). This wine would be perfect to serve with a fish dinner. You can find this Riesling at Aldi.

December 16 – Scarlet Path Lodi Zinfandel

This red wine is from California. It has notes of blueberry, black pepper, cherry, and licorice. This Zinfandel has a fruity taste that finishes slightly smokey. It would be perfect with a grilled steak. You can find this wine at Aldi.

December 17 – La Rue Côtes de Provence Rosé

This rosé is from France, but you can find it at Aldi. This wine is a dry wine, but it tastes like strawberries. It would be refreshing to drink after a hard day work while watching another Hallmark Christmas movie.

What is your favorite Aldi wine? Have we covered it yet??

Happy Crafting!

Crochet Christmas Stocking Free Pattern

November 21, 2018November 21, 2018 Jamie

The holiday season is upon us. Thanksgiving is tomorrow and then it will be time to start decorating for Christmas (unless you have already started). There are so many different holiday decorations out there from the Christmas tree to Rudolph and Frosty in the yard to nativity scenes to stockings.

2017 stocking — Christmas stocking on the fireplace mantle last year.

I will probably start to decorate for Christmas this weekend. The last several years, my fiancee and I have put stockings on the fireplace mantle. We both put small presents for each other inside the stocking each year.

I remember opening my stocking every year growing up. My sister and I stockings when we were younger had Mickey Mouse characters on top. When we moved to the new house, I remember we were able to pick out a new stocking and we picked stockings that sorta related to our personalities. A few years back my mom bought new stockings for my sister, her now-husband, my fiancee, and me that all had our names on them and matched.

The December CraftEaze crochet project will help you get into the holiday spirit! This month’s project is for a Christmas stocking that has snowflakes on it. This stocking uses bulky yarn, so it works up quickly. You should be able to make the stocking in a couple of evenings or over the weekend. The snowflakes are these cute buttons that I found at WalMart for a couple of dollars.

The crochet pattern can be found below. This stocking is worked from the toe up. We have the kit for sale on our website here. You can also buy a printer-friendly pdf on Etsy.

Materials

Abbreviations and Stitches

Ch = Chain (thecrafteaze.com/tutorials/chain)
Sc = Single Crochet (thecrafteaze.com/tutorials/singlecrochet)
Hdc = Half Double Crochet (thecrafteaze.com/tutorials/halfdoublecrochet)
Dc = Double Crochet (thecrafteaze.com/tutorials/doublecrochet)

Guage

Gauge is not super important for this project. A 4” by 4” square is approximately 13 hdc in for 12 rows.

Stocking

Toe (Work in Rounds)

Chain 15.

Round 1: Sc in 2nd chain from hook. Sc in next 13 chains. Sc in the other side of the chain you just made the sc in. Sc in next 13 chain. Join to the 1st sc. Chain 1 (28 sc).

Round 2: 2 sc in the first sc (Place marker in the first sc). Sc in next 13 sc. 2 sc in the next sc. Sc in next 13 sc. Do Not Join (30 sc).

Round 3: 2 sc in the first sc (Place marker in the first sc). Sc in next 14 sc. 2 sc in the next sc. Sc in next 14 sc. Do Not Join (32 sc).

Round 4: 2 sc in the first sc (Place marker in the first sc). Sc in next 15 sc. 2 sc in the next sc. Sc in next 15 sc. Do Not Join (34 sc).

Round 5: 2 sc in the first sc (Place marker in the first sc). Sc in next 16 sc. 2 sc in the next sc. Sc in next 16 sc. Do Not Join (36 sc).

Round 6: Sc in each sc. Place marker in the first sc. (36 sc).

Round 7: Hdc in each sc. Place marker in the first hdc. (36 hdc).

Round 8-18: Hdc in each hdc. Place marker in the first hdc. (36 hdc).

Heel (Worked in rows)

Row 19: 18 sc, turn.

Row 20: Chain 1, sc in the next 17 sc. Turn. Leave 1 sc unworked.

Row 21-25: Chain 1, sc in each sc leaving 1 sc unworked on each row. Turn. Row 25 will have 12 sc.

This is what the stocking looks like before holding the white section.

Row 26: Chain 1, sc in the each sc. Work sc into the unworked sc of the row below. Sl st into the unworked sc in the next row. Chain 1 and turn. (13 sc).

Leg (Worked in Rounds)

Round 32: Sc in each sc. Put marker in first sc (36 sc).

Round 33: Hdc in each sc. (36 hdc).

Round 34-61: Hdc in each hdc. (36 hdc).

Join the white yarn.

Round 62-68: Hdc in each hdc. (36 hdc).

Round 69: Sc in each hdc. Join to the first sc and tie off. (36 sc).

Fold over the white section to have ~1” overlay. You will tact the folded over white section using the white thread.

After tacting the white section, You will add the stars to the stocking using the white thread.

Loop To Hang Stocking

Chain 5.

Row 1: Dc in 3rd chain from the hood. DC in next 2 chains (3 dc).

Row 2: Chain 1, turn. Dc in each of the dc (3 dc).

Repeat row 2 until it is approximately 5” long.

Attach loop to stocking by sewing the two short edges together to the stocking.

Happy Crafting! And Happy Holidays!

Wine Advent Calendar Part 2

November 14, 2018November 16, 2018 Jamie

So last week we announced our special wine Advent calendar. With the announcement, we included Part 1 of our wine advent calendar. Today we will go over the wines that are perfect for the December 4 – 10. If you are interested in learning what wines were chosen for December 1-3 visit: Advent Wine Calendar Disappointment.

This week we will focus on 4 white wines and 3 red wines. Once again the wines listed can be found at Aldi, Walmart, or your local grocery store. By focusing on these locations we can find affordable wines for almost every budget.

December 4 – Chateau Ste Michelle Reisling

Today’s wine is one of my favorites! The Chateau Ste. Michelle Reisling is my go-to wine to serve with a nice dinner. It is a Washington Reisling and has a nice peach and pear taste. I wrote an in-depth wine review on this wine earlier this year. You can read it here.

December 5 – Outlander Cabernet Sauvignon

This red wine can be found at Aldi. It has a flavor that can be described as a berry or cherry with a hint of vanilla. There is a smokey finish with this wine. This wine would pair well with a steak or turkey pot pie.

December 6 – Flirty Bird Sauvignon Blanc

This wine has a flavor that can be categorized as melon, citrus, and even green apple. It is perfect to drink with dinner particular a poultry dish or seafood. If you are trying to be healthy, you can even pair this wine with a salad.

December 7 – California Roots Moscato

This wine can only be bought at Target. I love shopping at Target because they have really cute home decor items and I love their bath towels! The bath towels are so soft and if you go after college starts there are some great sales on the large towels. So the California Roots Moscato is sweet and is the perfect wine to drink with dessert. It has a peach and melon flavor. I love to drink this wine while watching Netflix. This wine has also be featured as an in-depth wine review earlier this year. You can read that wine review here.

December 8 – Alamos Malbec

This wine can also be bought at Target. This red wine is from Argentina and is great to serve with beef. It has a flavor that could be described as plum or black cherry with cocoa.

December 9 – Apothic Red Blend

This is a sweeter red wine that you can find at Walmart, Target, and the grocery store. This wine pairs well with pasta and has hints of black fruit flavors (like cherry and blackberry).

December 10 – Moiselle Moscato Spumante

This is a sparkling wine. Normally, there is no real reason to celebrate a Monday, but not today! This sparkling wine is perfect to lift up your spirits! It has a tropical flavor that would pair well with your Monday salad.

Hope you enjoyed Part 2 of our wine advent calendar!

Part 1

17 DIY Projects For Your Perfect Wedding

November 13, 2018November 16, 2018 Jamie

Most girls have dreamed about their wedding day since they were young. But sometimes our dream wedding is outside of our budget. Other times we want to be more involved in making the decoration. In both cases, DIY projects are the bride’s best friend. Keep in mind there are certain things that may be better left to the professionals, but there are many things that you can easily DIY.

1. Sand and Floral Centerpiece

This centerpiece is so cute. It would be great for a summer wedding that is at a barn or plantation house. It would also be great for a beach or vineyard wedding. The instructions for this centerpiece can be found here. Another set of instructions can be found here.

2. Christmas Ornament Centerpiece

Winter weddings can make use of many Christmas decorations. This centerpiece uses the Christmas ornaments to give the table a pop of color. You can find ornaments in your wedding colors for these centerpieces. To learn how to make this centerpiece, visit https://hisugarplum.com/christmas-ornament-centerpiece/.

3. Beach Theme Centerpiece

This centerpiece is perfect for a beach wedding. This centerpiece uses sand and a votive candle holder in addition to seashells or sea glass. The instructions for these centerpieces can be found here.

4. Winter Frosted Pinecone Centerpiece

Image from: https://www.allfreediyweddings.com/Table-Crafts/Frosted-Pinecone-Mason-Jar-Lights

This is perfect for a winter wedding. It uses pinecones as an accent. The jar is frosted to look like snow. A candle is placed inside the jar which provides a soft glow to the centerpiece. You can find the instructions here.

5. Winter Icy Branch Centerpiece

Winter Ice — Image from: https://www.allfreediyweddings.com/DIY-Wedding-Centerpieces/Icy-Branch-DIY-Table-Decorations

This is another winter wedding centerpiece. Right now I am really into winter wedding centerpieces. A large reason for my sudden interest is probably because Christmas is a little over a month away. This centerpiece can give your wedding a rustic feel. You can find the instructions here.

6. Flower Box

Image from: http://cooldiyideas.com/18-stunning-diy-rustic-wedding-decorations/

This project is so cool! It uses paintsticks to make flower box that can be used a centerpiece, by the guestbook, or on the gift table. You can find the instructions for this project here.

7. Wooden Table Numbers

Image from: https://www.sugarandspiceevents.com.au/blog/wedding-planning-styling/tribute-table-numbers/

These table numbers are very easy to make and would be perfect for a rustic wedding. You can make these table number using wood slices and a fancy stencil. You will use the stencil to draw the number in the middle of the wood slice. After tracing the number from the stencil you will paint in the number using a black paint pen.

8. Pumpkin Table Numbers

Image from: http://www.pleasureinsimplethings.com/keeping-it-neutral-with-white-party-pumpkins/

Pumpkins are the perfect decoration for fall. And these table numbers are perfect for a fall wedding. You can paint the table number (using a fancy stencil and black paint pen) on the pumpkin.

9. Beach Table Numbers

Image from: https://www.natashalh.com/how-to-make-your-own-beach-wedding-table-numbers/

These table numbers will be a great addition to your beach wedding. The numbers can be made to be as unique as you. You can find the instructions for this project here.

10.Glitter Vase

Image from: https://www.mykitchenescapades.com/glitter-vases/

If you are planning an elegant ballroom wedding or a winter wedding, these glitter vases would be the perfect centerpiece. These vases are easy to make and only uses Mod Podge and glitter. You can find detailed instructions here.

11. Marble Place Cards

Image from: https://somethingturquoise.com/2017/01/16/diy-hexagon-tile-place-cards/

These place cards can double as a place card and a coaster. These place cards can also give you a reason to wander down the tile aisle at Lowes or Home Depot and admire the pretty tiles that can be used to backsplashes. You can find the instructions here.

12. Wooden Photo Sign

This sign could be used for several different things at your wedding. It could be used to display the couple’s baby picture in addition to their engagement photo. Or you could also be used to contain the parents of the couple wedding picture in addition to the couples engagement photo. It could also be used as a tribute to those family members who could not attend the wedding. You can find the instructions for this project here.

13. Seashell Candles

These seashell candles would be perfect for a beach wedding. My fiancee’s cousin got married a year or so ago and had similar candles that used oyster shells instead of seashells. You can use these candles as part of a centerpiece or as a party favor.

14. Hot Cocoa Wedding Favor

Image from: https://greenweddingshoes.com/diy-hot-cocoa-favors/

A hot cocoa wedding favor is sure to please your guests at your winter wedding. What is really fun about this project is that you can make several different types for your guest to chose from. You can also try many amazing types of hot cocoa! You can find the instructions for these DIY hot cocoa favors here.

15. S’mores Kit Wedding Favor

Image from: https://blog.clearbags.com/2016/05/how-to-make-smores-kit-wedding-or-party.html

Who doesn’t love s’mores? An s’mores kit would be the perfect wedding favor for the couple that loves bonfires or camping. Your guest would love this tasty kit. You can learn how to make these favors here.

16. Rustic Milk Can Vase

This vase would be a perfect centerpiece for a rustic wedding. The glass milk can is painted in a color to match your wedding colors. You can buy a kit to make these vases here.

17. Glitter Mr. & Mrs. Banner

Image from: https://liagriffith.com/mr-mrs-glittering-wedding-banner/

Are you looking for a banner to display where you will be sitting for the night? This DIY banner is perfect for the couple’s chair. It is glittery enough to sparkle as the lights go down low for the dance. You can find the instructions to make this banner here.

Hope you have fun planning your dream wedding!