I love visiting Christmas Tree Shops for seasonal inspiration because they tend to have decorations and holiday goods on their shelves a few weeks earlier than other stores, which is always helpful for planning content for the blog. But I also love visiting there for seasonal inspiration because there is so much variety to choose from, and the prices are incredibly affordable. There is usually one item that jumps out at me and kicks off my vision for a table design and on this visit, it was a set of green wire baskets that got my wheels turning for a festive tablescape.
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Rice krispy treats are what I would consider my signature dessert – I’ve shared recipes over the years for my classic rice krispy treats, a pumpkin spice version, neapolitan flavors, and even a s’mores flavored treat! One of my favorites though is a chocolate rice krispy treat made with cocoa krispies (we are chocolate lovers at our house!). I pull out this recipe every year for the Big Game and make a big batch that are stamped out with a football cookie cutter and decorated with just a touch of white icing to make little football laces. They’re festive and kid-friendly (though grown-ups love them too), and best of all – quick and easy to make!
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My favorite Fancypants Baking Co decorated cookies are the perfect nut free, allergy-friendly treat for Valentine’s Day celebrations! The individually packaged decorated cookies are my go-to for school holiday parties, and I love the idea of incorporating them into Valentine’s gifts and giveaways. When planning for treats to bring to school parties, we have to make sure that all of the ingredients are clearly labeled as nut-free. All of the Fancypants Baking Co cookies are made in a peanut and tree-nut free facility so they’re an easy choice! On top of being allergy friendly, they’re made with fresh, wholesome, mindfully sourced ingredients, and all of the icing is dyed naturally with colors from fruits and vegetables.
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My friends at Minted shared some of their Valentine’s Day collection with me, and I’ve been having fun playing around with the sweet little cards and pairing them with special treats for festive kids valentines ideas. A few of my favorites ideas: You’re So Ex-Straw cards paired with heart crazy straws; You Brighten My Day cards paired with heart sunglasses; You are Sharp cards paired with pink pencils; and You’re a Treasure cards paired with homemade valentine’s bracelets (that Jane and I made with heart beads for some of our friends and family!). Scroll down for all of the sources, and PS: I have a discount code to share! Use XOXODOMESTIKATE for 20% Valentine’s Day cards & gifts on orders of $50+!
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Sugar and spice and everything nice! That’s what I thought when I first tried Fancypants Baking Co’s Spiced Chocolate cookies. They’re crispy little chocolate treats with a hint of cinnamon and cayenne – the perfect bite to satisfying a craving and warm you up on these cold winter days. I loved them so much that they inspired me to make homemade spiced hot chocolate to pair them with – a sweet and spiced pairing that warms up your core!
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Please note: This post was created in partnership with Coleman Natural. All opinions, images and content are my own. Thank you for supporting brands that support this site.
Spending lots of weekends at home this winter (for obvious reasons!) has gotten me on an inspired snack-kick. I love thinking up new recipes for hearty appetizers to make while watching movies or football or hanging out around the fireplace. My friends at Coleman Natural shared their No Sugar Bacon with me, and it inspired this easy snack that’s packed with flavor: crispy bacon wrapped potatoes with chives and ranch dressing.
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Over the weekend we celebrated Jane’s 5th birthday with a little party and a few close friends. For months she has been asking us to visit Paris to “try the famous bread and have a Paris picnic under the Eiffel Tower.” We would love to have made that dream come true (really, who doesn’t want to snack on baguettes and croissants in Paris?!), but ya know, pandemic life. So I decided to bring the Parisian picnic-theme to our playroom to celebrate her birthday! Sharing all of the details and sources for our cozy little mid-January Paris Picnic fete below!
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I like to take advantage of that fresh start feeling in January and use it to motivate healthy eating habits, especially coming off an indulgent holiday season. For me, it’s all about getting fresh, local ingredients into my meal plan. I have SIX tasty recipes below full of crisp, fresh, local Little Leaf Farms greens, plus ideas for reducing food waste, how to make cost-saving homemade dressings, and how to get out of a lunchtime routine rut. Get inspired with the recipes and ideas below!
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I’ve got an easy, no-bake, make-ahead holiday dessert recipe to share! It’s a layered cookie trifle, made with layers of whipped cream, chocolate mousse, and chocolate chip cookies. The ingredients get layered in a big bowl, and then finished on top with some of Fancypants Bakery snowman cookies for a festive decoration (I added some rosemary sprigs for little wintry “pine trees” too!). Get the full recipe below: 
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Let’s get into the holiday spirits! I have a soft spot in my heart for a festive bar cart, and setting mine for the holiday season is favorite pastime. A few tips to bring your bar up to Santa’s standards: 1) Bring in the decorations. I like to add garlands, bottle brush trees, and some seasonal greenery to my display so that it looks holiday-ready! 2) Add in some cocktail flair. Put some themed stirrers or paper straws, tie ribbons around the base of stemmed glassware, and put out a pretty bottle opener. 3) Go big with your garnishes. I love to use fresh rosemary sprigs, fragrant citrus slices, sugar cubes, and candied cranberries this time of year to really make the cocktails feel special! 4) Pick a signature drink. I’ve got a few of my favorite crowd-pleasing winter cocktail recipes below to get you started on your holiday sprits menu – cheers!
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