#ihartholidays: She Liked It

This week Kevin Hart waxes poetically about his children being a bit more hip and smarter than he.



I can totally empathize.
My tween is growing up.
*wipes tear*

 This was the first year that my shopping did not take me to areas of stores bedazzled in pinks and plastic and lights. For Christmas my daughter asked for a few things that would qualify as "big girl" gifts, among them software for editing videos that she creates. After a few hiccups in school, she has proved that the software she requested will not be too much of a distraction for her school work and videos from her have been made.

The Bee has been hunched over a computer for hours creating videos that get way more views than my vlogs. It confuses me a bit because I swear at this age my sister and I were still playing with Barbies. I can remember the thrill of a new Barbie anything, dressing up the dolls and clinging to the fantasy that came secured in a pink box.

My kid...nope. She asked for computer software, books and other practical things that make me feel like I am pushing her too soon to become mature but knowing that she is becoming a young lady.


Enjoy her work and have a happy holiday!





r's note: This was a sponsored post but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

#ihartholidays: Handmade Gifts

Before the invention of my favorite time suck, er happy place, (a little thing I call Pinterest) I used to think handmade gifts were things that were not something that I would ever take part of. Handmade gifts seemed to fall into two categories: very creative and made with things from areas of the craft store that I avoided or like some last minute slapped together thing that some kid did during arts and crafts at school.

 My gifts always fell into the latter.

 But as I began to practice the art of crochet I begin to fall in love with the idea of handmade goodies! This year I made a list, checked it several times and then went on and made several new yarnthings that look quite professional.

Allow me to share them with you:
A beanie for my kid.
I added a flower and button.

Source: Uploaded by user via Rachée on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Rachée on Pinterest

A ruffle scarf made using Lion Brand's Homespun.
It was not coming out like I wanted and I threw a bit of a hissy fit.

Source: Uploaded by user via Rachée on Pinterest

A ruffle scarf using Red Heart Boutique Sashay.
It was a gift for a library patron.

Source: Uploaded by user via Rachée on Pinterest

I share all of these things not only to show off but to show that homemade can be lovely!
So take that Mr. Hart and your elephant scarf!







r's note: This is a sponsored post. I am being compensated for writing it but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

#ihartholidays: Regifting

A few years ago my sister called herself funny and gave me a Chia Pet for Christmas. Like the grateful soul that I am, I got a little upset and tossed it into a box bound for charity. She never said anything more about it but I knew she thought her gag gift was at last worthy of being considered.

Looking back I realize my behavior was terrible and childish but at the time I rationalized that I was so upset and she should have known better.

Terrible!

What do YOU do when you get a gift that is just...blech?

Instead of feeling grinchy and being a terrible example for my daughter we have been trying to repurpose and yes, the dreaded regift.

Really, regifting is like borrowing that thing your family/friend has that you have kept your eye on for a while...right?

With the invention known as Pinterest, the words repurposing and reusing there is no such thing as a "bad gift." 'Tis the season to give but I will not lie, I like receiving!


I say head to Pinterest and find a way to up cycle that ugly shirt, repurpose that terrible skirt and reuse that silly hat.

Click below and see what Kevin Hart does when he gets an ugly sweater and then leave a comment with your favorite ways to reuse, repurpose and recycle!

r's note: This is a sponsored post but all opinions are my own

#ihartholidays: Real or Fake Tree

The Bee and I are doing something different this year: we are actually hosting a party for the family, the Christmas Eve Eve shindig, and we need to get our decorating done.  This is a task for the both of us; decorations are generally a pain in the butt and midway through hanging them it stops being fun and is the work that it really is. However I have vowed to not be Scrooge this year and to woman it up and celebrate, dammit.

The other day as we left the restaurant where had dinner, we passed a pop up Christmas tree shop and I asked The Bee if she wanted to get a tree or not. Her answer was so jaded that I decided we both needed  a dose of holiday cheer and went online for decorating inspiration.

We found this cute video from Kevin Hart who voices some of the thoughts I only think and asks if trees should be real or fake.

Check out his video and then check back next week to see what my familiy's holidays plans are. Will this be the year The Bee and I use a fake tree or go for the real deal!





r's note: This is a sponsored post but all opinions are my own