Top 15 Post of 2015

Hello! Long time, no see! I have thoroughly enjoyed my time off!
I hope you have enjoyed your holidays as well!
I couldn’t let the year end without rounding up the top posts of 2015. Enjoy! :)

{wow me} wednesday #237

Hello! Welcome to {wow me} wednesday!
I’m so glad you are here. :)

I'll be taking a few weeks off for Christmas & New Years.
So that means this link up will be open until New Year's Day!
Have a very Merry Christmas! Thank you for all the support. :)

Last week I featured over 12+ Chalkboard Inspired Christmas Ideas.
You can see all of the fabulous ideas right {HERE}.

SO are you ready to PaRty?

Chocolate Drizzled Cheesecake with a Cookie Crust {recipe}

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NaturallyCheesy #CollectiveBias

Hello! It's the holidays! Wait a minute ~ Christmas is THIS week! Eek! Are you ready? I know with all the busyness of the holidays & the fun I don't want to be stuck in the kitchen. So that is why I have several simple recipes that are my go to recipes every single year. One of these recipes that our family has used over & over again is this cheesecake recipe. I absolutely love this easy recipe, & I am excited to share it with you. It's easy, tastes amazing & is super simple to whip up for any occasion. You can also change up the crust & toppings to make it a little different every single time. So today I am going to share this simple Chocolate Drizzled Cheesecake with a Cookie Crust recipe that would be perfect for Christmas or New Years. So let's get started!

DIY Ornament Display Tree {tutorial}

This post was originally seen at Craftaholics Anonymous®.

Hello! Happy Friday! A few months ago I was in charge of our church's craft night, & the lady I was working with stumbled upon this DIY Ornament Display Tree. You'll have to check out that tutorial. They made two different size trees (a large & a small), & they have very detailed instructions. I made a few tweaks to make one of my own with some scrap wood in our garage. So let's get started, & I'll show you how I made one so you can, too!

12+ Chalkboard Inspired Christmas Ideas

Hello! Hello! I am a huge fan of chalkboard & (from the looks of it!) this trend is here to stay! Yay! So today I am excited to feature 12+ Chalkboard Inspired Christmas Ideas that were linked up to the last several {wow me} wednesday parties. Remember this week's party is going strong! So if you are a blogger be sure to stop by & link up your latest projects & ideas. I'd love to see them & feature you, too! You can do all that right {HERE}. Buuuut first check out this amazing feature post with some of the best chalkboard ideas around! Enjoy!

{wow me} wednesday #236

Hello! Welcome to {wow me} wednesday!
I’m so glad you are here. :)

Last week I featured over 100+ Christmas Cookie Recipes.
Be sure to check out all of that yumminess right {HERE}.

If you haven't entered to win a Silhouette CAMEO or Mint make sure you do that right {HERE}.

I also have an amazing $100 Expressions Vinyl gift card giveaway, too. Enter right {HERE}.
You can also get a ton of stocking inspiration from some of your favorite bloggers
& learn more about the Rock Your Stockings Competition.

SO are you ready to PaRty?

The Best Train Set Ever

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Fisher-Price. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hello! I know that this time of year we are busy making list, shopping & trying to find the perfect gift for all of the loved ones in our life. If you have boys (like me!) who love Thomas the Tank Engine then I have the perfect gift idea for you! Thomas & Friends™ TrackMaster™ Shipwreck Rails Set and the Thomas & Friends DVD, Sodor’s Legend of the Lost Treasure are the perfect combination to make your little guy's eyes light up this Christmas. My boys have had a lot of train sets over the years, & this train set is literally the best train set I've seen. The movie is super cute, too! So keep reading, & I'll tell you more!

Personalized Christmas Pajamas {tutorial} + stocking blog hop

This post is brought to you by Expressions Vinyl.

I am so excited to partnering with some of my favorite bloggers & Expressions Vinyl to bring you a fun stocking blog hop with some amazing heat transfer vinyl tutorials & tons of stocking ideas. Eek! I am also just as excited to bring you this fun personalized Christmas pajama tutorial. Annnnnd did I mention that there is a little giveaway, too? Eek! There is! So let's get started. :)

Minions Ice Cream {recipe}

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MinionsMovieNight #CollectiveBias

Our family loved both Despicable Me & Despicable Me 2. So you know that my kiddos were super excited when the Minions movie came out on DVD & Blu-Ray last week. We had it written on our calendar counting down the days. ha! As soon as it came out I ran out & snagged a copy. We love having family movie nights, & this DVD was perfect for the whole family. I decided to pair the new movie with some yummy minions ice cream. So keep reading to get this yummy & super easy recipe. (You can also find some fabulous & creative minion recipes from some of your favorite bloggers right over {HERE}.) Let's get started! :)

Fa La La La Pillow {tutorial} + a HUGE Silhouette Giveaway

Good morning! Today I excited to share this easy Fa La La La La La Pillow that I shamelessly copied from a holiday pillow I saw at Target. ha! I'm also excited to be teaming up with my (affiliate) Silhouette Challenge friends to bring you an amazing collection of holiday ideas AND a huge Silhouette Giveaway. Eek! So keep reading!

Let It Snow Door Hanging {tutorial}

This post is brought to your by Make It Fun Crafts. #makeitfuncrafts

Good morning! I am excited to back with another fun craft using FloraCraft® Foam. If you been in your local Michaels store you might of noticed some cute holiday shapes like this snowflake. So let me show you how super simple & easy this sparkly Let It Snow Door Hanging was to make. So let’s get started!

100 Cookie Recipes Perfect for Christmas

Hello! You can’t have Christmas without cookies. Am I right? ;) Seriously, do you think Santa would leave any presents under the tree if you didn’t leave out some yummy cookies & a big glass of milk? ha! So today I have rounded up the ultimate cookie round up with over 100 Cookie Recipes Perfect for Christmas. Most of these were linked up to last week’s {wow me} wednesday party. Remember this week’s party is still going on. So be sure to swing by & check that out. If you are a blogger be sure to link up some of your latest projects & ideas right {HERE}. I’d love to see them & feature you, too. Buuuut first check out this yummy feature post. Enjoy! :)

{wow me} wednesday #235

Hello! Welcome to {wow me} wednesday!
I’m so glad you are here. :)

Last week I featured 15+ Hot Chocolate Recipes.
You can find all the yumminess right {HERE}.

SO are you ready to PaRty?

3 Ways to Save Money This Christmas (& Anytime!)

This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. #CashBack

Hello! Christmas is here. Everyone is shopping, shopping & doing some more shopping! Am I right? ;) ha! When you have a budget & limited amount of funds all this shopping and decorating and gift giving can get a little stressful. Today I am excited to share three ways that I am saving this Christmas & even earning a little cash back from all this shopping! ha! It’s so easy with Bank of America! You don’t need any coupons, it’s simple to use & the deals are totally tailored to you & how you shop. You can also use these tips to save money all year long! So let’s get started!

Buffalo Check Printable & Gift Idea + blog hop

Good morning! I am so excited to be participating in another fun blog hop today! You can see an amazing Christmas Home Decor hop right {HERE} that went up yesterday! :) The buffalo check trend is a new one to me! ha! The first time I heard the term buffalo check was just a few weeks ago. Now it is everywhere! So I was so excited when my friend Rachel from R&R Workshop invited me to join with her & some of my favorite bloggers in this Buffalo Check blog hop. If you don’t want to go all out buffalo plaid then these cute Buffalo Check gift tags are the perfect way to add a cute trendy look to your gift giving or print it out & put it in a cute frame on your mantel. So let’s get started!

How to Make New {Christmas} Signs Look Old #homeforChristmas

This blog hop is hosted by Hometalk.com & CountryLiving.com. Be sure to visit all the blogs in this hop for some amazing Christmas home decor ideas & projects ~ like this How to Make New Signs Look Old tutorial. Now let’s get started!

Hot Cocoa in a Reindeer Jar {gift idea}

These cute hot cocoa in a reindeer jars were first seen over at Design Dazzle.

15+ Hot Chocolate Recipes

Good morning! One our favorite things to do as a family each winter is to host a hot chocolate bar. There are some many fun variations & yummy toppings you can add to hot cocoa. So today I am excited to feature 15+ Hot Chocolate Recipes that were linked up to the last two {wow me} wednesday parties. Remember this week’s party is still going on. So be sure to swing by & check that out. If you are a blogger be sure to link up some of your latest projects & ideas right {HERE}. I’d love to see them & feature you, too. Buuuut first check out this hot & yummy feature post. Enjoy! :)

{wow me} wednesday #234

Hello! Welcome to {wow me} wednesday!
I’m so glad you are here. :)

Last week was Thanksgiving so I didn’t have a feature post.
Buuuut I did share the Silhouette Black Friday Event. Eek! :)

It’s a good one! You can get all the details {HERE}.
You can shop {HERE} & use the code GINGERSNAP at checkout.

SO are you ready to PaRty?

Washi Tape Crafts Tea Lights #washitapecrafts

I was given this amazing little book to review. I know you’ll love Washi Tape Crafts: 110 Ways to Decorate Just About Anything as much as I do! #washitapecrafts

Good morning, crafty ladies! If you are like me you probably have quite the collection of washi tape! So much tape…now what to do? That’s were Washi Tape Crafts: 110 Ways to Decorate Just About Anything by Amy Anderson comes in really handy. It is the only washi tape craft book for the whole family that’s packaged with the tape itself. Eek! This cute little book comes with ten rolls of tape (18 feet each) in custom-designed patterns made especially for the book. Washi Tape Crafts is also packed full of 110 amazing projects that include everything from one-of-a-kind gifts to home decor to jewelry to holidays and celebrations. All you have to do is tear off a piece of washi tape, stick it down, and create something fun! Like these cute little washi tape tea lights I made inspired by the book!

Mudroom Bench Makeover

This post is brought to you by DecoArt.

Hello! How was your Thanksgiving holiday? Wonderful, I hope! Ours was fantastic….I ate a little too much, but that’s OK, right? ;) Earlier last week (while cleaning the house getting ready for company) I decided to redo a bench we’ve had in our mudroom/laundry room. This little bench just didn’t fit in with the bright, fun decor we have going on in there! I decided to use Americana Decor Maxx Gloss in Aqua Waters. (This high gloss, durable paint is also available in 19 other high-gloss, trendy colors.) So keep reading to see how easy this bench was to transform!

Silhouette Black Friday SALES!!!!!

This post is brought to you by Silhouette.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It’s time for the Silhouette Black Friday promotion!!! Eek! If you have a new Silhouette on your Christmas list or know someone who would love a Silhouette (Portrait, Cameo, Mint or Curio!!!) for Christmas then you need to keep reading! Or if you can’t wait go {HERE} & use the code GINGERSNAP. ;)

{wow me} wednesday #233

Hello! Welcome to {wow me} wednesday!
I’m so glad you are here. :)

I wanted to give you a heads up that Silhouette’s Black Friday promotion starts a little early this year. It will all kick off on Thursday morning at 12:01 AM MST. So be sure to mark your calendars, set your alarms, put a note on the fridge, write it on your hand…whatever it takes….ha! & be there. You don’t want to miss out! I’ll be posting all the details right here on the blog early Thursday morning! Eek!

Last week I featured these 15 cute ideas for Christmas.
Be sure to check out all the ideas & projects right {HERE}.

Qixels ~ the Best Toy Ever!!!

Guys! I have found the best toy ever for my kiddos! Annnnd the best part of all is that it is tech-free & provides hours of creative entertainment for my kiddos! Eek! You’ve got love that. Qixels (pronounced “Quick-suls”) is a creative activity set that inspires kiddos to use their imagination with cubes that fuse together with a squirt of water to create an 8-bit world of monsters, dinosaurs, animals & lots more, all while stepping away from their screens. Qixels would make an amazing birthday gift or Christmas gift, & it would be perfect for this week. Qixels would make great entertainment for the kiddos right after Thanksgiving dinner when you just want to take a nap! ha! So keep reading, & I’ll tell you more!

Pumpkin Crunch Cake {recipe}

This post is brought to you by CansGetYouCooking.com. I am a member of the Mom It Forward Blogger Network. #cansgetYOUcooking

Hello!  We all know it’s the holidays ~ a super busy time of year. We all have lots of activities & parties to attend. I love having some go to ingredients in my “cantry” to help me out when I need a last minute dessert or dish to serve.  If you are like me by the end of the week (usually around Thursday) we are about to run out of the food in the fridge & our fresh food is either a little mushy (eewww!) or has already been gobbled up. I really love being able to turn to my cantry when I need an easy meal idea or dessert for a party. So today I am going to share our family’s favorite go to dessert ~ Pumpkin Crunch Cake. You can easily stock up on the main ingredients, & you’ll be able to whip up this dessert in no time! So let’s get started! :)

Hand-Carved Pine Trees {tutorial}

This post is brought to you by Make It: Fun® Crafts.

Good morning! Hold the presses! It’s my first Christmas craft of the year! Eek! I am so excited about the brand new holiday e-book from Make It: Fun® Crafts. It’s full of 20 projects perfect for the holidays. They are all so cute & easy to put together. Our challenge this month was to choose one of these projects & put our own spin on them! So keep reading, & I’ll show you how easy it was to make these hand-carved pine trees. I’m also sharing some of the projects from the rest of the Make It Fun Team. So let’s get started! :)

15 Cute Christmas Ideas

Good morning! Thanksgiving is next week! I can’t believe how fast this year has flown by. Before you know it Christmas will be here! Eek! So today I am excited to feature 15 Cute Christmas Ideas that were linked up to the last week’s {wow me} wednesday party. Remember this week’s party is still going on. So be sure to swing by & check that out. If you are a blogger be sure to link up some of your latest projects & ideas right {HERE}. I’d love to see them & feature you, too. Buuuut first check out this very Christmassy feature post. Enjoy! :)

{wow me} wednesday #232

Hello! Welcome to {wow me} wednesday!
I’m so glad you are here. :)

You are going to be glad you are here, too! ha!
I have a fun Christmas giveaway tonight! Eek!

Tree Classics has graciously offered to give one of YOU this pretty Kennedy Fir Harvest Wreath.
Tree Classics is celebrating it’s 40th year with some fun giveaways around blogland.
I am so excited to participate! You can tell my daughter was excited to hold the wreath!

We can’t wait to fluff it up, turn on the lights (Yes, it comes pre-lit!) & hang it on our door.

Founded in 1976, Tree Classics™ has a long history of designing the World's Finest Artificial Christmas Trees. We have since expanded our range of holiday offerings to include artificial wreaths, garlands, and various accessories. Our lasting success is a result of our dedication to quality and personal service that delights customers year after year.

To enter use the form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Groovebook ~ Free Your Photos {best gift idea ever}

This post is brought to you by Groovebook by Shutterfly. #Groovebook

Good morning! I take lots of pictures. Lots! ha! I’m sure you do, too. I take them with my camera, & those pictures usually end up on our family blog. I also take tons of pictures on my phone but sometimes I kind of feel like they get trapped in there. You know? That’s why I am so super excited about Groovebook by Shutterfly. Finally, there is an easy way to free the photos from my phone. Yay! It is so easy to do, super inexpensive & Groovebook makes great gifts, too! Just think of all the possibilities! Eek! You could make an extra book to send to grandma or gift a subscription to a friend.  I am so excited to give you all the details. So keep reading!

Pumpkin Crunch Sundae & Pie Bar Ideas

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ShareTheJoyOfPie #CollectiveBias

The holidays are a wonderful time of year! I love that we all take time to think a little bit more about others than ourselves this time of year. What a better way to do that than to share some of the comfort & yumminess you can find in Marie Callender's® Dessert Pies & Reddi-wip® with family & friends. I used both of these to make this delicious & nutty Pumpkin Crunch Sundae.

Weathered Wood Fall Sign {tutorial}

Heeeey guys! Fall is flying by, & I’m running out of time to post all my fall projects! ha! So I decided to post a rare Saturday craft with you today! This weathered wood fall sign was originally seen over on The Crafting Chicks.

 

 

Water Bottle Printables with Dasani

This post is sponsored by Dasani & the Coca-Cola Company. These cute water
bottles with printable tags with a bag of trail mix make a great party favor.

Hi there! Today I’d love show you how to make these cute party favor water bottles.  Dasani water bottles are the perfect water bottle to use for this project. They are available just about everywhere & are so easy to find. Plus Dasani makes their water bottles with 30% plant materials which makes these green-capped bottles environmentally friendly & sustainable. I love that they are 100% recyclable, too. Just look for the #greenbottlecap at your local grocery store. :)

7 Wood Projects

Good afternoon! I love wood projects. They are just so many possibilities when you have wood. You can cut it, stain it, paint it, add vinyl, do something big, make something small….the possibilities are just endless. So today I am excited to feature 7 Wood Projects that were linked up to the last two {wow me} wednesday parties. Remember this week’s party is still going on. So be sure to swing by & check that out. If you are a blogger be sure to link up some of your latest projects & ideas right {HERE}. I’d love to see them & feature you, too. Buuut first check out this creative & fun feature post all about wood. Enjoy! :)

Teaching Your Kids to Take Care of Their Smiles

I taught my children how important it is to take care of their smiles with
LISTERINE® Smart Rinse, as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars. #LISTERINE

It’s that time of year….the holidays! All the yummy goodies start to pile up with Halloween & then continue on until the New Year. While it’s fun to have your family (including the kiddos!) indulge in the holiday celebrations & treats, we still need to make sure we are taking care of our pretty smiles, too! If your kiddos are like mine sometimes they need a little motivation to get to the bathroom to floss, brush & swish those teeth. Today I am excited to share some tips that I use to get my kiddos excited about taking care of their smiles.

{wow me} wednesday #231

Hello! Welcome to {wow me} wednesday!
I’m so glad you are here. :)

Last week I featured 10 Amazing Wood Slice Projects.
You can see all of these amazing projects right {HERE}.

SO are you ready to PaRty?

Inside Out Party Favors {tutorial}

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #InsideOutMovieNight #CollectiveBias

Hello! Have you heard? Inside Out is has been released on Blu-ray/DVD. Eek! We had so much fun watching this movie at the drive this past summer, and my kiddos (& me!) couldn’t wait to see it again & again & again. ha! It’s a little too cold to be watching movies outside this time of year, but it is the perfect time to host an indoor movie night. So let me show you how to make these easy Inside Out Party Favors that would go perfect with your movie night! So let’s get started!