"I Love You" Box

I've said it before and I'll say it again.. I have the best in-laws EVER!

Jackson and I went to the library the other day to read and play and when we returned home, we were greeted by a package at the door. As soon as we opened it, I knew what a special gift it was; one that Jackson will cherish forever and pass down to his children.

Jackson's Great Great Uncle Dan & Aunt Paulette made him an "I Love You" Box.

For those of you unfamiliar with the concept of an I Love You Box (as I was), it's a box that's filled to the brim with pictures, stories, and special treasures from Jax's ancestors--it tells the history of our family and what makes us so unique.

Here's a few of the goodies that Dan & Paulette packed into Jackson's box:

A letter explaining the contents and concept of the box -- we're supposed to keep adding to it as time goes on and add momentos from my side of the family as well.

A thorough recap of last year's family reunion (that we unfortunately had to miss). Paulette also included the history of the family, where they came from and settled, etc. Brandon's side of the family has Schillings, Schmidtgals, Welchs, & Sandmeiers and my family has Wernsmans, Kastens, Locks, & Koepsels--Jackson comes from a long, long line of Germans!

Pictures of Martin Schilling's (1765) bible -- very cool! Paulette also included how Jax is related to Martin (Martin is Jackson's Great (x6)  Grandfather).

Old family photos -- I'm going to make copies of these to hang on our gallery wall!

The book on the left was written (& signed) by a distant relative and the book on the right tells of the experiences of immigrants at Ellis Island.

Isn't this the neatest gift?! Thank you SO much to Dan and Paulette for taking the time to compile such a cherished gift -- you warmed my heart on a cold Colorado day! I can't wait to continue adding to the box and to eventually (in the distant, distant future) make one for our grandchildren! 

What would you add to your "I Love You" box?

Dollar Store Movie Night Gift (w/FREE Printable)

Thanksgiving is now behind us which can only mean one thing..

..it's time to start focusing on Christmas (like I hadn't been ALL year)!!!

As many of you know, we recently bought our first home and had yet to meet any of our neighbors--that being said, I thought it'd be a fun idea to make a little homemade movie night kit to give to each of them as we went around introducing ourselves. They were a HIT and couldn't have been easier (or cheaper) to make!

The Dollar Tree sells these great popcorn containers (they come in sets of 2!) so I just grabbed a few sets, some movie theater candy & popcorn, and designed a little "Blockbuster" printable to stick to the front of it.

This is the perfect gift for a neighbor, Secret Santa, postal carrier, etc., and be customized to fit each recipient! Who doesn't enjoy a fun movie night in (you show me someone who doesn't and I'll show you a liar)?! 

If you like the ticket, feel free to use it! Here's the printable for it (that can be customized with your name in Photoshop, Lightroom, or whichever photo editing program you choose):

Mother's Day Gift Guide

I am so excited for my first ever Mother's Day on Sunday!

Brandon, Jax and I will be having lunch at the Cheesecake Factory with my parents, brother, Aunt & Uncle, and dear friend of the family on Saturday and then we'll be spending Sunday at my parent's house with my family and mom's besties, Diane and Sharon. It'll be a weekend for the books (and for the blog, of course)!

Before even becoming a mom, Mother's Day was one of my favorite holidays--I am blessed to have so many wonderful women in my life (mom, mothers-in-law, grandmas, aunts, friends, etc.) and Mother's Day gives me the chance to thank them for all they do. With that being said, I have always loved shopping for/making Mother's Day gifts and would like to share a few gift ideas with you!

1.) Personalized stationery (pictured stationery from Lemon Tree Paperie): I love to write (hence the blog) and drool over pretty paper, journals, and notecards--and I know I'm not the only one (can anyone else walk around Papyrus for hours without getting bored?)! Why not surprise your mom with some gorgeous personalized stationery for Mother's Day? Whether it be personalized with initials or with a picture of a special someone, mom will love it! 

2.) Baskets/Kits (picture from Green Tea Paradise): Does your mom love tea? Make her a little "Tea Lovers Kit" with a box of her favorite leaves, an oversized mug, and a pretty kettle. Baseball lover? Two tickets to see her favorite team (one for you and one for her!), a jersey, and a box of Cracker Jacks to take to the game would be one 'home run' of a gift! The great thing about making your own basket is that you can also customize the gift to fit your budget.

3.) Birchbox (or any monthly subscription service): Subscription services make a great gift because: 

~They are the gift that keep on giving (most services call for at least a 3-month subscription).

~Each box is personalized to the recipients likes and helps them discover new products.

~Who doesn't enjoy receiving happy mail?! 

4.) Domino: The Book of Decorating: If your mom enjoys decorating, is looking for some colorful inspiration, or just like big coffee table books, then Domino is the read for her. I have been eying a copy at Barnes & Noble for some time now and can vouch that it is a lovely (and practical!) book. 

5.) Hand Carved Willowtree Sculptures: I collect Willowtree sculptures because they are beautiful and because each sculpture represents a different time in my life; I was gifted "Beautiful Wishes" for my bridal shower, "Together" for our wedding, "Brother and Sister" (from my brother) for my birthday, and the "Home" & "Our Gift" statues right after Jax was born (Brandon gave them to me for Christmas). Even if your mom doesn't collect them, they will still make for a treasured gift.

Okay, I admit that most of these suggestions are gifts that I would like to receive but that's okay because I have good taste, right? Right?! but I can guarantee that your mom will love them too! Have you made/bought your mom's gift yet? What are you getting her?

'Daddy Diaper Toolbox' Baby Shower Gift

Today I'm posting about something I meant to post about after my baby shower.. back in October.

Does that show you how sidetracked I get/behind I am on blogging?

Agh.

Anyway, my dear friend Erin (who co-hosted my shower) put together this darling "Daddy Diaper Toolbox" gift for Brandon and me!

Want to know what's inside?

The Inventory Check List--let's go through it one by one..

Nose plugs: Toxic fume filter for when it doesn't smell like roses.

Tongs: Several inches of steel separation between you and the little warm wrapped gift.

Turkey Baster: For precision hiney washing.

Pacifier: Scream plug.

Baby Wipes: For cleaning baby bottom and various parts.

Diapers for Newborn: Cute as a kitten until it gets wet; then it looks & smells like a sewer rat.

Bio-Hazard Bags & Rubber Gloves: To clean up afterward (for dad's use only).

Adorable, right?! I just love fun and creative gifts and Erin knocked it out of the park!

If you're going to a baby shower anytime soon, why not make a Daddy Diaper Toolbox for the parents-to-be?! Trust me, they will love (and use) it!

Thanks Erin!!

P.S. Speaking from experience, a poncho might be a good addition to the kit (especially if you have a little boy).. :) 

Parties
Stone Gable
Daddy Space
Kathe with an E
Pint Sized Baker 
Adorned from Above 
Glamorous, Affordable Life

Valentine's Day Gift Guide (for Men)!

Is it just me or does it seem like men are impossible to buy gifts for?

I don't know what it is, but I always have the hardest time figuring out what to get Brandon for his birthday, Christmas, and, of course, Valentine's Day. Do you have that same problem? If you answered yes, don't worry--I got your back!

Here are some fun Valentine's Day gift ideas for that special guy in your life!

1.) Indoor/Outdoor Ring Toss Game ($124.99, Etsy)

Okay, this is really, really cool! What guy wouldn't love this? Just pair this game with summer, BBQ, & good friends and you're all set (you and your Valentine.. we mustn't forget who this gift guide is for)! 

2.) Mo's Bacon Bar ($7.50, Vosges Chocolate)

I actually got one of these bars for Brandon last Valentines Day--he's a big fan of bacon (who isn't?!) so I figured this would be a hit! I found it unopened and uneaten in mid-August (bacon or no bacon, he just isn't too big of a sweets guy) and took it upon myself to "try" it. It was delicious--so much so that I ended up eating the entire bar.. Oops. Anyway, if your guy is a fan of chocolate and sweets, this is the gift for him! The saltiness from the bacon and sweetness from the chocolate make for one mouthwatering gift.

3.) Smart Mass Kinetic Sand ($9.99, Think Geek)

Have you seen this sand?! I first discovered/played with it at the Las Vegas airport last September--it is really, really neat! It's really soft, sticky, and moldable; perfect for his work desk!

4.) (Real) Wood iPhone 5 ($26.95, Etsy)

Okay, I want this phone cover..that's why it made the list.

5.) Beer Tasting Tool Kit ($18, Uncommon Goods)

The kit comes with tasting notepads, blind-tasting paper sleeves, and beer cheat sheets--this gift doubles as both an awesome Valentine's Day present and as the starter to a fun date night. I realize that not everyone likes beer so if your guy isn't a fan of the hops..

6.) 9-Piece Whiskey Stone Set ($9.99, Groupon)

..he must be a fan of the harder stuff! These solid soapstone whiskey stones will keep hia favorite drink cold without watering it down--pair it with a bottle of top shelf liquor (or the cheap stuff--it still gets the job done, trust me) and you have one classy gift! 

7.) Batman Ice Cube Tray ($16.73, Amazon)

Ladies, c'mon.. your hubby doesn't like putting regular ice cubes in his water (they are so boring.. and square..)! Be "cool" and get the hubs some cubes in the shape of his favorite superhero--his favorite beverages will never be the same. 

I hope my guide gives you some inspiration for Valentine's Day--T-minus 9 days, y'all!

Easy and "Sweet" Homemade Father's Day Gift

My dad has always been really easy to buy gifts for.

Seriously, he loves anything.. and I love that he loves anything!

I always try to get him something fun and different each Father's Day so I was pumped when I found this on Pinterest last June:

(Source)

Seriously, how fun is that?!

So after church on Father's Day, my brother and I ran to the local dollar store to pick up the supplies we needed. We used the above image as our guide but ended up doing our own thing for the most part.

Here's what we came up with:

Translation: Dear Dad, We were going to send you to New York for Father's Day but our boss, Russell Stover's pet turtle was Rolo'd (rolled) over and Crunch'd (crunched) by a truck. We didn't get our Pay Day because he had to pay for the surgery, leaving us with Zero. We really Mento (meant to) have Mounds of fun on vacation so don't Snicker. Love, The 3 Musketeers.

The picture isn't too great (I took it on my phone with no intention of one day blogging it) and my hand writing isn't nearly as neat/legible as the sample one up top but my dad got a kick out of it and thought it was a "sweet" gesture (ba-dum ching!).

We bought the candy and board for about $7 and had a blast coming up with the story/assembling it.. give it a go for your dad this Father's Day!

Party, Party, I like to Party

The DIY Dreamer, Southern Lovely, The Frugal Girls, Petals to Picots, Practically Functional,