Holiday Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Winstead Wandering

5 Frugal Ways to Show Love on Valentine’s Day

February 1, 2016 by Abby

February 14 doesn’t have to be a day of obligatory gifts and unmet expectations. Make the day special with these 5 frugal ways to show love on Valentine’s Day.

February 14 doesn't have to be a day of obligatory gifts and unmet expectations. Make the day special with these 5 frugal ways to show love on Valentine's Day.

Valentine’s Day is a polarizing holiday. On one side, you have Team “every day should be a celebration of love.” Those people argue that February 14, is a “Hallmark holiday”, a day manufactured by greeting card companies and chocolate makers to boost sales. They say that, if you really love someone, you’ll spend all 365 days each year showing it.

On the other side, you have Team “Valentine’s Day is a day for you to lavish me with all the presents I didn’t get at Christmas”. That team asserts that… well, I’m not sure what their reasoning is.

I fall somewhere in the middle. In no way do I think V-Day should consist only of the obligatory exchange of gifts. I also don’t think it’s necessary to skip the day altogether. I think that, like Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day should serve as a reminder to treasure the things and people we should be grateful for every day.

For those of us who want to find a way to our love to the special people in our lives without breaking the bank or giving into the commercialization of the holiday, I have 5 ideas to help you out!

Hop over to Money Saving Mom for the rest of the post!

February 14 doesn't have to be a day of obligatory gifts and unmet expectations. Make the day special with these 5 frugal ways to show love on Valentine's Day.

Dark Chocolate-Dipped Clementines

December 20, 2015 by Abby

Looking for the perfect healthy snack for yourself, or a fun treat alternative to sugary goodies? Look no further than dark chocolate-dipped clementines.

Looking for the perfect healthy snack for yourself, or a fun treat alternative to sugary goodies? Look no further than dark chocolate-dipped clementines.

I’ve been having quite the love affair with Cuties lately. You know, the seedless, easy to peel clementines that are so popular this time of year?

I’m craving them like nobody’s business, eating at least four or five a day. Don’t get me wrong, I have zero complaints about craving something healthy and loaded with vitamin C. With previous pregnancies, I craved things like Burger King Whoppers and endless amounts of Juanita’s brand tortilla chips with my Granny’s homemade salsa.

That’s not to say I’m not craving anything unhealthy this time. I’ve got an unfilled hankering for some really good French fries, and I’ve been jonesing for some dark chocolate, which is where these guys come in.

It took just a few minutes for me to melt the chocolate, dip the little slices on, and sit back and admire my work. I sprinkled a few with sea salt and I added red or green sugar crystals to some others, because Christmas.

Looking for the perfect healthy snack for yourself, or a fun treat alternative to sugary goodies? Look no further than dark chocolate-dipped clementines.

Clementines are so bright and juicy; adding the swirl of dark chocolate gives you a perfect bite of flavor. These would be so great to whip up as a healthy treat for yourself, or to package and give away as a fun alternative- or addition- to traditional Christmas goodies.

If you’re not up for dipping (you should be; it’s totally easy) you could always drizzle the melted chocolate over the clementines. It would speed up an already quick process, and you could even use both white and brown chocolates. You wouldn’t get as much chocolate per bite, but they’d be healthier, your chocolate would stretch further, and they’d set up and be ready to serve or package quicker.

Looking for the perfect healthy snack for yourself, or a fun treat alternative to sugary goodies? Look no further than dark chocolate-dipped clementines.

[Read more…]

Easy No-Sew Interchangeable Bunting

December 4, 2015 by Abby

With just a few supplies and a little bit of time, you can make an easy no-sew interchangeable bunting. It’s adorable for any holiday or season.

I’ve had a lot of fun decorating our house over the last couple months. I was initially intimidated by the whole thing because there’s so much wall space, and because I don’t consider myself a decorator at all. I didn’t rush the process, which helped. Instead, I hung pieces when I felt like it, and I worked out arrangements in my head before making holes in the walls.

I don’t have a defined style. I’m okay with that; I like buying and making things that strike my fancy without worrying about what will match. One of my favorite pieces in our house is this shelf that we refer to as the mantel.

I found it at a flea market and fell in love instantly. I knew I wanted something large for the wall behind our couch, but I hadn’t seen any artwork that grabbed me. As soon as I saw this, I envisioned hanging our stockings from the hooks and changing out the items on the shelf to reflect the season.

I also knew I wanted to make a bunting. I immediately ordered two different sets of fabric: one with a fall/harvest theme and one with Christmas images. And then I got to work.

[Read more…]

Easy Holiday Dessert Recipes

November 23, 2015 by Abby

This year, don’t waste time trying to impress everyone by replicating your grandmother’s famous recipe; knock their socks off with something new, like one of these easy holiday dessert recipes.

Do you have a signature holiday dessert? If so, by all means, stick with that this year. You wouldn’t want to disappoint the people who’ve spent 364 days looking forward to it.

But maybe you don’t have a go-to holiday dessert recipe? Maybe you’re the one who always volunteers to bring paper products to the gathering. Or maybe your idea of “homemade” is arranging store-bought cookies on a platter. Maybe you’re banned from the kitchen ever since the fire incident of ‘o9.

Whatever your reason for foregoing holiday baking, it’s time that changed. The easy holiday dessert recipes compiled here are all easy and mouthwatering. Some of them don’t even require you to use the oven. Be careful, though; you just might find a new signature holiday dish.

Easy Holiday Dessert Recipes

Brown Sugar Pound Cake with Caramel Icing

This pound cake is a decadent alternative to even the most indulgent pie. The cake itself is moist, buttery, and flecked with melty toffee bits. The whole thing is smothered with the kind of rich, gooey caramel icing that you haunts your dreams in all the best ways.

Peanut Butter Cup Bars

If you don’t think it was possible for a four-ingredient dessert steal the show at a holiday gathering, give these bars a try. They’re ridiculously easy to put together- no baking!- but your friends and family will go crazy.

[Read more…]

Homemade Christmas Gifts with Photos

November 18, 2015 by Abby

Homemade Christmas gifts are the perfect way to save money and add your own special touch to every present you give.

One of the best things about having children- aside from the unconditional love and the constant companionship and the general adorableness- is the endless gift-giving possibilities. You can get away with giving all kinds of presents that are unacceptable when you’re childless: crayon scribbles that will lovingly be referred to as art and photos that will be cherished for years.

While framed photos are nice, they’re also boring. For just a little extra effort, you can create custom gifts that are both functional and sentimental. Because if there’s anything parents and grandparents love more than hanging photos of their grandkids on their walls, it’s covering every available surface with them.

[Read more…]

Easy Holiday Side Dish Recipes

November 16, 2015 by Abby

It’s totally possible to keep your stress level under control and still create a delicious meal. Here are seven easy holiday side dish recipes to help you do just that.

There’s something about holiday meal preparation that just seems synonymous with stress. Maybe it’s cooking for relatives you only see a couple times a year, or maybe it’s the pressure to create perfect memories on a day that only comes around once a year. Whatever the reason, it doesn’t have to be that way.

You can prepare mouthwatering, memorable meals for your guests while keeping your blood pressure in check. The trick is to choose dishes that are deceptively easy and crowd-pleasingly delicious. All of the recipes gathered here fit that criteria; now searching for the perfect dish is one less thing you have to worry about this holiday season.

Easy Ranch Roasted Carrots

These are the complete opposite of the mushy, flavorless carrots that are often served at holiday meals. They’re tender but still crunchy. The roasting adds a delightful carmelization, and the ranch seasonings are subtle, but present.

Twice-Baked Potato Casserole

This casserole combines everyone’s favorite baked potato toppings in a hot, cheesy dish of goodness. It’s loaded with sour cream, cream cheese, bacon, garlic, cheddar cheese, and more.

[Read more…]

Frosted Cranberry White Chocolate Cookie Bars

October 26, 2015 by Abby

A hearty oat cookie bar base, packed with cranberries and white chocolate chips, spread with a thick layer of white chocolate cream cheese frosting, and topped off with more cranberries and a white chocolate drizzle.

Frosted cranberry white chocolate cookie bars taste like home. My mom, whose cookie prowess I’ve mentioned before, makes a cranberry white chocolate oatmeal cookie that’s to die for. Like, good enough to convert cranberry and white chocolate hating people like J. Seriously, her cookies have powers.

So I texted her a couple weeks ago and asked if I could blog that recipe. She didn’t hesitate to send it to me, but the wheels in my head were already turning. My mother-in-law, a darn good cook, too, had mentioned her affection for Starbucks’ cranberry bliss bars. I checked them out and the basic idea reminded me of my mom’s cookies.

So I decided to combine the two. To make my mom’s cookies a little more holiday-friendly, I added cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange zest. I baked them in bar form, as much to save time as to mimic the coffeehouse kind. And then I smothered the whole thing in a decadent white chocolate frosting.

I’ve got to confess that I’ve never had a cranberry bliss bar, but these bars are the definition of bliss (perfect happiness; great joy). Happiness is devouring a generous square of these frosted cranberry white chocolate cookie bars.

[Read more…]

Easy Fall Stovetop Potpourri

October 7, 2015 by Abby

No messy wax or canned smells here. Just a few easy ingredients and a house filled with the crisp fragrance of fall.

Stovetop potpourri is one of the prevailing smells of my childhood. I have vivid memories of walking in the door from school and being greeted by the divine scent of simmering cinnamon and fragrant apples.

For the longest time, the moment when I pushed the door open was bittersweet. The potpourri smelled, misleadingly, like delicious baked goods. It was a disappointing thing to realize there were no sweet treats available.

My love of all things autumn grew as I got older. I began to appreciate this easy fall stovetop potpourri for what it is: a creative, economical way to bring your favorite fall scents inside, minus the additives and chemicals of candles and room sprays.

With this potpourri, you don’t have to change wax cubes or make sure you have obscure ingredients on hand. All you need is two minutes and a few pantry staples, and you’re on your way to having a home that smells unmistakably like fall.

[Read more…]

Father’s Day Gift Ideas

May 27, 2015 by Abby

A unique selection of Father’s Day gift ideas, perfect for the impossible-to-buy-for dad in your life.

1. sandalwood shaving kit
Pampering isn’t just for women anymore. Give Dad the male equivalent of a bubble bath kit with this sandalwood -scented shaving kit.

If fancy oils and creams aren’t Dad’s thing, grab this Nivea aftershave– it’s my husband’s favorite.

2. team pride toolbox
Is Dad a handyman? Does Dad wish he was a handyman? Or does Dad just jump at any opportunity to represent his favorite team? If the answer to any of those questions is yes, a team logo toolbox might be just the gift you’re looking for.

If you’re buying for a dad who’s just starting his tool collection, this toolbox will help him get started.

3. darth vader shirt decal
Come on. Darth Vader? I am your father? Star Wars gear for Father’s Day is a no-brainer. This decal is an iron-on transfer, meaning you can put it on Dad’s favorite brand of t-shirt or sweatshirt.

If you’d like to buy something ready-made, this Star Wars Darth Vader t-shirt is my favorite.

4. periodic table “father” mug
Got a chemist in your life? J. teaches high school chemistry, so he appreciates all things periodic table. This mug is just the kind of thing a science nerd would appreciate.

For a dad who likes to cook or grill, this apron is an amusing choice.

5. grill branding iron
J. loves red meat. So does my dad. For a lot of guys, grilling is an art form. What better way to brag about your barbeque prowess than to stamp your steak with your initial?

If the dad in your life is a big sports fan, maybe a logo brand is more his style.

6. men’s messenger bag
Does your dad use a briefcase? Or does he still carry his old college backpack? Upgrade him to a hip messenger bag.

If you aren’t a fan of the Backcountry bag, this one from Fossil is a sharp-looking choice.

Don’t see anything that grabs you? A few months back, I wrote a post with Valentine’s Day gift ideas, many of which would make perfect Father’s Day presents, too.

Who is the most difficult dad in your life to shop for?

(note: this post contains affiliate links; to learn more, see my disclosure policy)

how to make mom cry happy tears on mother’s day

May 4, 2015 by Abby

I conducted a poll on my Facebook page, asking my friends and followers what no- or low-cost gifts they would love to receive for Mother’s Day. The responses I received were creative and heart-warming, so I’m sharing my favorites here with you.

1. Write her a letter

Most moms, even those whose children are grown, feel unappreciated at times. One of the friends who commented on my post suggested something so sweet and simple that I wondered why I hadn’t thought of it yet myself: a handwritten letter.

Your letter could discuss any number of things: favorite memories, special lessons learned, hopes or plans for the future. If you’re a parent yourself, you could mention all the ways your mom has influenced your own parenting. If you don’t have kids, consider telling her all of the best parts of your childhood that you plan to incorporate into your own family.

Bonus points: continue the handwritten letter theme with these placemats.

2. Create a photo book

Photo albums are so 1999. These days, it’s much more efficient and fun to create a photo book online. Use your digital photos, or scan your old prints, to create a book that you can customize with text and templates. My favorite site to create photo books is Shutterfly <– (this is a referral link, but if you use it, you get a free 8 x 8 book).

Bonus points: rally your siblings and do something wild, like recreate photos from your childhood.

3. Take care of something she hates

Maybe mom loves having a clean, detailed car, but she hates washing it herself. Perhaps she’s been dreaming of repainting a room, but hasn’t yet found the time and effort. Maybe mom constantly reminisces about a memorable meal, but she lacks the skill or equipment to recreate it.

To really make Mother’s Day special for your mom, think about the projects or goals she has and how you can help her reach them. Often, the tasks she needs or wants done require more time than money, so this is an especially good option if you’re short on cash.

Bonus points: create something with your own two hands.

4. Gather everyone together

If you have siblings that are spread far and wide, gather everyone together to celebrate mom. Even if it can’t happen right on Mother’s Day, having all of her kids in one place will definitely induce happy tears. Most moms of grown children would tell you the greatest gift you can give is to get all of her babies in one place.

Bonus points: get professional photos taken while everyone is together.

5. Make it Mother’s Week

I remember wondering, when I was a kid, why there was a Mother’s Day and a Father’s Day, but no Kid’s Day. I didn’t really get it when my mom replied that “every day is Kid’s Day”.

I definitely get it now. Moms are incredibly underappreciated, so this year, fake her out by turning what she thinks is a Mother’s Day celebration into a week’s worth of love. Get her seven gifts to open, or plan seven special meals. The work you put into a weeklong show of appreciation will tell mom just how grateful you are for her.

Bonus points: create a theme for the week and center every gift, meal, or act of service around that.

Need Mother’s Day recipe inspiration? Check out these simple and tasty brunch recipes.

What Mother’s Day gift make syour mom cry happy tears?

(this post contains affiliate links; to learn more, see my disclosure policy)