Where the Wild ings Are

I have blogged about Mahar Drygoods many times. They keep adding wonderful new items that keep me coming back. Mahar Drygoods has some new fun items for the holidays.

I am in love with this reversible tree skirt!

Tabletop Tree Skirt $55

Popcorn Garland Stockings $58

Patchwork Stockings $35

Fuzzy Lollipops $6.50

They have so many wonderful gift ideas!

Sock Monkey Kit $12

Clothespin People Craft Kit $20

I am really loving these headbands from a local etsy shop, Happy Little Artist. Found on Your Heart Out. I like how different they are and would dress up the simplest of outfits.

Cute.

Wild Rose II $12.00

Purple Rockin Robin $12.00

Andreas Fav $12.00

They also make skirts for the little gals $35.00

Here are some great ideas for Thanksgiving centerpieces from Better Homes and Gardens.

More delicious Thanksgiving recipes! Holiday Recipes with a Twist from Pinch My Salt. These look wonderful, I want to try them all. Found on Kirtsy. All the recipes and dishes are here.

Cranberry Applesauce and Ginger

Martha has some lovely side dish ideas. If you are bringing a side dish to your Thanksgiving, go out on a limb and try a new recipe. If you like all the ingredients in the recipe, it will probably taste good when it’s done. If you are worried about messing it up, half the recipe and make it a few days before as a test. Plus, practice really does make perfect.

Butter Pecan Sweet Potatoes

Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing

Glazed Squash

Green Beans with Vinaigrette

Honey-Glazed Carrots (my mom makes these, yum)

Sweet Paul has photographed some very simple Thanksgiving table decor ideas. They are beautiful and so simple. Worth taking a look at. I love going to his site. He has excellent taste and is amazingly talented.

I am not normally a fan of wreaths. I just never really have a place for them or see ones I really like. These beautiful hand-made yard wreaths from The Constant Gatherer are quite exceptional. They would be such a warm invitation to your home. Found on Poppytalk.

Here is her website, Katie Runnels.

$120.00

$65.00

$120.00

$60.00

$140.00

 

My college roomie and friend Brittni requested some ideas for neighbor and friend gifts. Neighbor gifts are a struggle every year. If you are like me, you are not into making homemade caramels and cookies for 40 people. So, these are ideas that are inexpensive and with some cute packaging, would be a great gift for the neighbors. Hopefully these ideas will help. Happy Shopping!

Neighbor Gifts under $5

Wrapping Paper - Target Dollar Bin or Dollar Store $1-3
Buy some wrapping paper and throw a ribbon around it. Everyone needs cute paper to wrap up last minute gifts.

photo by Steffen Tuck

Potpourri - Green Leaf Slim Sachets - $2
This is what I gave out last year. Potpourri sachets from Green Leaf. I wrapped them up and added a generic tag. I bought a few extras, they are a great little gift to add to a bigger gift. They have a wide variety and they smell great.


Cranberry Salsa - $3
We served this at gourmet club and the recipe makes a ton. You can buy those mini canning jars and add a piece of holiday material to the top. It’s not your typical salsa, it is easy to make and looks very Christmasy. You could give them crackers and cream cheese if you wanted more, or just add a tag that tells them how to serve it. One recipe would probably fill 12-15 small jars.

1/2 pint containers

Compartment Cookie Boxes $5-10
Fill these goodie boxes with anything you want. Candy, cookies from the store or your oven. Anything you put in them would be a treat coming out of this cute box. These are 6 for $11.24. Martha has a variety of fun packages to put goodies in, available at Martha Stewart Crafts.


Wassail Ingredients $5-7
Bring a jug of apple cider and wrap a little container or bag to the top with a few cinnamon sticks and cloves to the top along with the recipe for Christmas Wassail.

Friend Gifts under $20

Soap $1.50
Soap makes a great gift because most people buy their soap in bulk from the grocery store. It’s always nice to lather up with something a little bit nicer. Dennis Anderson has a great selection and very affordable. Great stocking stuffers!

Printable Calendar $5.00
This is a fun idea. There are a variety of printable calendars on Etsy. You buy the pdf for $5 and then print the rest on your own. If you’ve got a great printer, you could do it at home. I printed one at Kinkos and it was $6. Tie them all together and you’ve got a great gift that lasts all year long.

This one is from Blue Tricycle.

Coasters $5.00
Coaster are a great gift because everyone needs them and they are not normally something you buy yourself. These are fun and would add color to any room or party. Felt Filigree Coasters $5 for 4 on Delight.com.

Reusuable Shopping Bag  $9
It’s always nice to have a reusable bag to throw things into. I’m always grabbing used grocery bags, not cute. These are darling and also available on Delight.com.

Christmas Book/Movie $15.00
Give a holiday book or movie that a friend can read or watch every year as a tradition. Try Amazon.com for the best price.

     

Tins $12.00 (for 6) These tins are also a great option. Fill them with anything from candy to a braclet. YOur friend will be able to re-use the tin for paperclips, earrings, etc. These are from Shop Bub.

FYI - Oh Sweet Sadie, a fabulous boutique filled with darling Etsy shop owners and vendors is coming to Sandy, Bountiful and Daybreak. Check it out! I’ll be there (shopping, not selling!).

You can see some of the vendors that will be there on their website, Oh Sweet Sadie.

Get all your Christmas shopping done in one spot and support the locals!

Found on Your Heart Out

It was my turn to host Gourmet Club last night. I have a new partner, Heather. She is fabulous! We chose a ‘Tastes of Fall’ theme and used birds and nature.

All of the recipes will be up on our Gourmet Club blog if you are looking for some fresh ideas for Thanksgiving or fall parties.

Here are the details…

The Invitation

The Appetizer Table

Fall Chutney with Baked Brie
(this is how it looks before you cut into it)

Here is the chutney that goes with it

And it is served with baguette bread and apples.

Autumn Leaf Pies

Cranberry Salsa with Cream Cheese and Crackers

This is the drink we served with the appetizers, Apricot Sunrise

The Table

Mushroom artichoke soup with Parmesan cheese crisps

Orange Ginger Salad

Cranberry Spritzer and Water with an orange slice

Wild Rice Stuffing

Lemon Garlic Green Beans

The cake is my husband’s grandmothers recipe and is DELISH!

Serendipity’s Frozen Hot Chocolate

The Favors

(This is what was in the box, and the button on top doubles as a hair elastic)

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Caramel Peanut Butter Apples

Fruit and Nut Popcorn Balls

The Decorations
Candles, wood blocks, birds nests, banner and branches