The Best Lip Products for Dry, Chapped Lips

Fall is one of my absolute favorite seasons. But as the leaves start to change colors and the temperatures start to drop, every year - without fail - my lips start to dry out and get chapped. I am always on the hunt for the best lip products for dry, chapped lips. 

Also, wearing masks seems to have made the situation worse for me as far as I can tell. Last fall brought with it the worst chapped lips I've seen in a very long time, so I kicked my quest for the perfect lip product into high gear. I was determined to have better results this fall season! So, since I have been searching to find the best solution to prevent chapped lips, I thought I would share the products that have worked for me.

This is a review of my tried-and-true recommendations for those with dry, chapped lips. I did my best to include as many different price points as I could. All of these products have worked wonders for me, but not everyone will have the same results. I hope you will find this post helpful!

Best Recovery Lip Balm for Severely Chapped Lips

I'm starting with the big guns. If you have severely chapped lips that need repair and healing, this is is the lip balm I would start with. Lanolips Original 101 Ointment Multipurpose Superbalm is a super-thick lip balm that penetrates your dry, cracked lips and seals in moisture. Made from humanely sourced, ultra medical grade lanolin, this cruelty-free lip balm gives the absolute best hydration for extremely dry and chapped lips. 

In addition to the traditional Lanolips 101, it also comes in flavor options such as strawberry, peach, green apple, and lemonaid, as well as tinted options like rose gold, bronze gold, and rhubarb. If you're looking for a tinted lip balm, this might be the best option for you.

Best Everyday Lip Balm

This lip product was at the top of my list to try simply because it's been around for decades and the formula has not changed. I wanted to find out if it lived up to all the hype - and boy did it ever! 

For severely chapped lips, Vermont's Original Bag Balm makes a great everyday lip balm because it contains ingredients like petrolatum and lanolin to lock in moisture. The Bag Balm formula has remained the same since 1988 (with only 4 ingredients and no added fragrances, colors, alcohol, parabens, or phthalates). Because this is the original, cruelty-free Bag Balm formula (only in a convenient lip balm sized tube), you can use it on any part of your body that is dry, chapped, or cracked.

If you don't need the lip balm sized tube for on-the-go use, you can order the larger sized Bag Balm in the tin. The ingredients are the same.

Best Lip Balm with SPF

Stick with me on this one - it's actually from a men's skin care line. But as far as I'm concerned, if a product works, it works. And since there's nothing inherently "male" about this (or any) lip balm, it can really work for anyone. 

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm offers SPF 25 sun protection; skin conditioners like beeswax, shea butter, and lanolin; and antioxidants that soothe and relieve dry, chapped, irritated lips. This cruelty-free lip balm also comes in flavor options such as natural mint, black tea & blackberry, grapefruit & ginger, mango & mandarin, lavender, and pineapple mint. If UVA and UVB sun protection are at the top of your list for skin care products like lip balms, then this is the right product for you! 

Best Nighttime Lip Balm

The name of this product says it all: My Favorite Night Balm. It truly is my favorite. And if you're a daytime lipstick wearer, then this product is definitely one I'd recommend for you because it works all its magic at night. Can't get any better than that!

This deep moisturizing lip balm helps repair seriously dry lips while you sleep with ingredients such as shea butter and lanolin. Apply this 8-hour recovery balm liberally before bed to hydrate your lips overnight. Developed by C.O. Bigelow, the oldest apothecary in America, it's available at their flagship store in Greenwich Village in New York City, at their online store, or at other online retailers like Bath & Body Works or Amazon. 

This is actually the only product to make my list that I've been using for YEARS. I went back to the drawing board on all of my daytime lip balm products, but I couldn't find anything to hold a candle to this nighttime lip balm. It's the OG of night balms in my book!

BONUS - Best Lip Scrub

As an added bonus, I thought I'd share another favorite lip product: Eco Lips Lip Sugar Scrub. Use this to exfoliate your lips once a week to help prevent them from getting chapped in the first place. It instantly reveals softer, smoother lips after just one use (and another bonus: it tastes good too). 

Use it at night to exfoliate dry, rough lips with sugar while conditioning them with coconut oil to get them smooth and ready to apply your nighttime lip balm. Pure and 100% gluten-free and organic, this lip scrub is made in the USA, is Fair Trade Certified, is cruelty-free, and is earth-friendly. It's available in your choice of brown sugar, mint, vanilla bean, or mint truffle flavors. Pair one of these flavored lip scrubs with an exfoliating lip brush and you're in business!

Useful Stocking Stuffer Ideas

When they say that the best things come in small packages, in this case, it's absolutely true. Don't forget that these must-have lip balms and scrubs are small enough to easily fit into a stocking, so they make great Christmas gift ideas too! They're all under $20 and some are below $10 (with discounts for buying multipacks). So it's easy to buy for everyone on your list. Fill everyone's stockings this year with something they'll love (and actually use). 

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100+ College Care Package Ideas

You might remember your first days in a college dorm room. Once your parents helped you move in boxes upon boxes of all your college essentials and they said their goodbyes, you not only had your first taste of freedom, but you might have also felt a little homesick. And of course, nothing was more welcome during that time than a care package from home!

We’ve recently sent Harris Sister Misty’s oldest daughter Charlotte off to college, which has got us thinking that maybe we should send her some goodies to let her know we’re thinking about her.

What Can I Send a Homesick College Student?

Ideas for a college care package don’t need to be super complicated or even expensive. These ideas for what to put in a college care package are things that college students need, they’re easy to find, and they’re sure to be appreciated. This list of 100+ ideas will make it easy for you to DIY your own care package for a college student.

When picking out fun things for your college student’s care package, make sure to also include a few everyday necessities. 

Homemade Food Ideas

Lots of times, college kids might appreciate some homemade food. From snack foods to cookies and candies to quick breads, these recipes are not only quick and easy to make but they will also be easy to package and send. Whip up a batch of these goodies, keep some for yourself, and share some with your favorite college student.

No Bake Choc Oat Cookies

1.      Polka-Dot Party Popcorn
2.      Autumn Trail Mix
3.      Liar-Liar Chex Mix
4.      Peanut Butter Balls
5.      No-Bake Choc Oat Cookies
6.      White Chocolate Dipped Gingersnaps
7.      Butter Cookies with Sprinkles
8.      Pumpkin White Chocolate Chip Cookies
9.      Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies
10.    No Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars
11.    Cake Walk Slash Bake Sale Brownies
12.    Red Velvet Cheesecake Swirl Brownies
13.    Lemon Blueberry Quick Bread
14.    It’s Now or Never Quick Bread
15.    Sweet Potato Pecan Bread
16.    Super Moist Pumpkin Bread
17.    Cranberry Zucchini Bread
18.    Nutella Banana Swirl Bread

Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prepackaged Food & Drink Items

Your college student will appreciate receiving any of these food, snack, and drink items. Because they are prepackaged, they have longer shelf-lives. Some of these items make convenient grab-and-go snacks and others are handy when they just don't have the energy to trudge all the way to the cafeteria for a meal. Don't forget to look for items that are easy-to-make in a dorm room with the help of a microwave!

19.    Hot Chocolate 
20.    Tea
21.    Coffee Pods
22.    Flavored Drink Mix Pouches (Kool-Aid, Gatorade, Etc.)
23.    Microwave Popcorn
24.    Protein Bars
25.    Granola Bars
26.    Beef Jerky
27.    Pringles
28.    Squeezable Applesauce
29.    Peanut Butter (Single Serve Size)
30.    Instant Oatmeal Cups
31.    Macaroni & Cheese Cups 
32.    Ramen Noodles
33.    Microwavable Rice or Pasta Side Dishes
34.    Snack Cups (Fruit, Pudding, Etc.)
35.    Pop Tarts
36.    Nuts
37.    Dried Fruit
38.    Candy
39.    Cookies (Oreos, Nutter Butters, Girl Scout Cookies, Etc.)
40.    Gum
41.    Mints
42.    Hot Sauce
43.    Canned Soup (with Pop Top Lids)
44.    Saltine Crackers
45.    Snack or Sandwich Crackers

First-Aid & Health Items

Keep your college student healthy with a supply of health and wellness items. They can stash many of these items away in a first-aid kit made from a pencil box. You can find smaller sizes of many of these items at your local dollar store that will be the perfect size for a dorm room.

46.    Tissues
47.    Cough Drops
48.    Cold Medicine
49.    Tylenol
50.    Band-Aids
51.    Antibiotic Ointment
52.    Hydrocortisone Cream
53.    Antacids
54.    Airborne or Emergen-C
55.    Multivitamins
56.    Eye Drops
57.    Hand Sanitizer (Portable / Keychain Size)
58.    Extra Face Masks

Toiletries / Self-Care Items

Help your college student keep personal care essentials in stock or help them take a break from studying with fun spa items like mud masks and sugar scrubs. 

59.    Makeup
60.    Nail Polish
61.    Nail Polish Remover Wipes
62.    Mud Masks
63.    Sugar Scrub
64.    Lotion
65.    Shampoo
66.    Conditioner
67.    Deodorant
68.    Toothbrush
69.    Toothpaste
70.    Floss
71.    Mouthwash
72.    Disposable Razors
73.    Shaving Cream
74.    Bath Pouf or Loofah
75.    Body Wash or Soap
76.    Feminine Hygiene Products
77.    Lip Balm
78.    Hair Ties
79.    Bobby Pins
80.    Sunscreen
81.    Turbi Twist Hair Towel
82.    Eyeglasses Cleaner Wipes

Extra School Supplies

These items will come in handy (especially toward the end of the semester when initial supplies might be running low). You can stock up on them at back-to-school time.

83.    Notebooks
84.    Notebook Paper
85.    Sticky Notes
86.    Tape Flags
87.    Note Cards
88.    Pens
89.    Pencils
90.    Highlighters
91.    Sharpies
92.    Stationery
93.    Stamps

Other Practical Ideas

Make sure to include some of these everyday necessities in your college student's care package. 

94.      Socks
95.      Sleep Mask
96.      Disinfectant Cleaning Wipes
97.      Tide-To-Go
98.      Laundry Detergent (Pods)
99.      Fabric Softener Sheets
100.    Roll of Quarters (if Their Dorm Has Coin-Operated Washing Machines)
101.    Lint Roller
102.    Command Hooks
103.    Paper Plates
104.    Disposable Eating Utensils

Fun Ideas

Don’t forget that sometimes fun items are the most appreciated! These items are sure to put a smile on your college student’s face.

105.    Notes from Family and Friends
106.    Photos from Home
107.    Holiday Decorations for Their Dorm Room
108.    Gift Cards to Fast Food Restaurants in the Area (Pizza, Coffee, Etc.)
109.    Favorite Magazines
110.    Brainteasers or Puzzles
111.    Card Games or Board Games
112.    College Spirit Wear from Their New School (T-Shirt, Sweatshirt, Hat, Etc.)
113.    Coffee Mug
114.    Insulated Tumbler
115.    Lottery Scratch Off Tickets

How to Pack and Ship a Care Package

Choose a Shipping Box

Before you buy any items for your care package, pick your shipping box. This is one of the most important steps because the box you choose will determine:  

• the number of items you will need to fill your care package 
• the cost of shipping

Keep in mind that priority mail boxes (which are free from the Post Office) might be your best bet. You can stuff everything you can into one box (up to 70 lbs.) and ship it anywhere in the US for one flat fee. Priority mail includes delivery between one to three business days. And it also comes with tracking and up to $50 of insurance.

Choose a Theme

If you'd like to choose a theme, do that before purchasing items for your care package. For example, if you'd like to send all Halloween-themed items or all coffee-themed items, this will narrow your shopping list. You can also decorate your shipping box to match the theme if you'd like.

Purchase Your Items (and Fill 'er Up!)

Next, purchase enough items to fill your box. If you choose to include an item like a mug or an insulated tumbler, you can always optimize space by filling the inside of the item with other small items like candy.

Package Your Box Carefully

Package your items so that they arrive as intended. Remember to purchase items that will hold up well during the shipping process. 

• Package homemade food items in a plastic container to ensure they arrive unharmed. 
• Because prepackaged food items often come in smaller packages within larger boxes, remember that you might be able to fit more items in your care package if you remove individual items from their larger packaging before adding to your shipping box.
• Make sure to pack self-care items extra carefully to ensure that they don’t leak during shipping. Package items like shampoo, conditioner, and lotion in gallon-sized Ziploc bags.
• Be careful with fragile and special items. Consider that things may melt or get ruined during shipping. Put photos, drawings, handwritten notes, etc., in Ziploc bags to keep those items safe during transit. 

Double-Check Your Address

If you're sending a package to a new student on campus, make sure you've double-checked that you've listed the address correctly on the shipping label, including any important information like the residence hall name and room number. Remember that students tend to change addresses each year, so make sure that you're not sending the package to the address you had on file for them last year (and go ahead and update your address book with their new contact information when you're sending the first package of the year).

College Care Package Tips - Final Thoughts

Remember that your college student will appreciate receiving a care package in the mail from you! If you've got a few family members that are sending items to the same student, try to spread out your packages so that they aren't all arriving at the same time. If there are any items that your college student needs, have them let you know so that you can include them in the next care package you send. 

And one final tip - your care package doesn't even have to be a fancy "package" - if they need something specific, you can just add that item to your Amazon Subscribe and Save Orders and have it delivered directly to them whenever they need it.

This post contains affiliate links.

How to Create Your Own Summer Camp at Home

Now that the summer is in full swing, I thought I would share with you a little trick we tried recently.  We created our own summer camp right here at home, and let me tell you- IT WAS A HIT!  We have a big busy summer of travel, family plans, pool time, fun activities, playdates, and on and on and on.  So when we finally slowed down for a week, and had a little time to spend at home, it was a welcome change of pace.  BUT, I didn't want my kiddo to just veg out on screen time all week either.  So I had a brilliant idea.  Why not do our own summer camp at home?  So that's just what we did.  

Here are my top tips for you if you want to give it a go at home this summer too. 

Camp T-shirts

Nothing says camp like a good camp t-shirt.  Lexi and I like to match each other to begin with.  So our closets are already filled with matching t-shirts.  Each day, I picked which shirts we would wear and we matched all week long.  If you don't already have matching t-shirts, you could totally make some for a fun camp activity.  Or, pick a theme or color scheme instead.  For example, you could all wear super hero t-shirts one day.  Or wear your red, white, and blue.  The sky is the limit.  Matching shirts made it fun for us.  Every single day, Lexi woke up and asked which shirts we were wearing today!  Here's a look at some of our matching looks from camp week.

 

Planning is Key

I figured out pretty early in this process that making a plan for the day worked best for us.  I planned each day just one day at a time.  That way if an activity took longer than expected, we could easily shift things to another day without upsetting a week's worth of plans.  My kiddo really likes arts and crafts.  And we have lots of craft kits at home.  So I knew that I would include time on our schedule each day for something arty or crafty.  I enjoy field trips, and Lexi likes to do fun things that are new, exciting, or that we just plain haven't done in a while.  So I also made sure we had time each day for a fun activity outside the house. Each night before going to bed, I plotted out the next day's camp activities and printed off a little itinerary for Lexi to find the next morning.  We began each camp day around 8:30 am and wrapped around 3 pm.  She kept us on track and marked things off our to-do list as we completed them.  This schedule worked great for us, but it's your camp- so you can design your schedule around your schedule.  That's the beauty of it!

Kids Pick for Lunch

For me, this was a no-brainer.  I knew Lexi would enjoy having the freedom to make the lunch decisions for us.  So our lunches consisted of things like Happy Meals, PB&J picnics in the back yard, and trips to the Sonic drive-in.  I was completely ok with those choices.  If you prefer to have a little more control on the lunch decisions, you could alternate kid pick and mom pick days.  Or you could provide a list of choices and let the kiddos pick from your mom-approved list.  Again, it's all up to you.  But letting Lexi pick her own lunches was super fun for her, and we ended up having some really fun meals together.  

Choosing your Activities

Your days at your summer camp can be as simple or as well planned as you like.  We began each day with projects at home ranging from art projects to making crafts to cooking up treats in the kitchen.  Once we were all finished and cleaned up from our morning activities, we had lunch and then a field trip in the afternoon. I came up with a list of all sorts of fun things for us to try our hand at.  Again, some activities were super simple, some were a little more involved, and some didn't actually make it into production.  

Here's a look at some of the things we chose to do.

Arts and Crafts

Paper Fortune Tellers

If you are a child of the 80s, you will remember these.  Although, if you are anything like me, you will also have long forgotten how to actually make one.  Thank goodness for YouTube.  Click here for the tutorial we used.  But there are ton of them out there.  We had so much fun making these, especially the fortunes.  And when we were done, we decorated them with markers and stickers.  Lexi is still asking everyone she comes across to pick a color and then a number, and then doles out their fortune to them.  

Sunprint Paper Art 

We have actually had this kit and have used it before but it's always a fun activity and one that comes together quickly.  The idea is that you collect leaves and flowers and such from the garden, then arrange them on a piece of sunprint paper.  You layer a piece of clear plexiglass on top and sit the whole thing in the sun for just a few minutes.  Once the paper has changed color, you know it's ready.  You run the paper under water and let it dry.  Your sunprint develops like magic.  It's a really cool project and the kids always enjoy it!  These kits are readily available from Amazon.

Summer Selfie Art Project 

We are long-time followers of Cassie Stephens.  She is a local art teacher right here in our part of the world.  And last year, when the world shut down, she created all sorts of art tutorials for kids and posted them on YouTube and Instagram.  We made all kinds of art with her last year.  So a quick search on her YouTube channel was just what we needed to come up with a fun art project for one morning of our summer camp week.  This is the tutorial we used to create these summer selfies.  But once you are on her channel, plan to do some poking around, because she has the best ideas for kids' art projects.  Just pull one up and go step by step through it.  Pause where you need to catch up, and resume when you are ready to move on.  So fun and so easy.  

I also printed off lots of fun and free word searches, crossword puzzles, and coloring sheets at the beginning of the week, and when we had a little extra time we worked on a few of those.  I had lots of different ones to choose from, and we completed quite a few.  They were a big hit too!  Sometimes simple is good too.   

Field Trips and Fun Outings 

Story Bus

Our school district offers a wonderful (free) summertime reading service called the Story Bus to anyone who wants to participate.  The Story Bus parks in a grocery store parking lot three times a week, and while the little ones visit the Story Bus for some reading fun, parents can get their grocery shopping knocked out.  

So we visited one day of our summer camp, and Lexi had a ball!  One of her teachers was on the bus, and Lexi lit up seeing her again!  

They picked some books and read to each other from the comfort of some pretty cozy looking bean bag chairs.  

And when it was time to go, they sent us away with bagged lunches, cartons of milk, Sonic coupons, and a free book.  It's worth a check to see if your local district does something similar, but if they don't, check with your local library.  Almost all of them offer some sort of summer reading program for kids.  They are almost always free and lots of libraries offer storytime and other fun activities throughout the summer.  

Roller skating

One afternoon, I surprised Lexi with a trip to our local roller skating rink, and it was the best time.  She is just learning to skate, and I haven't skated in years, so we ended up being a great team.  

Our roller skating rink plays fun games and has races for all age groups.  When they announced a race for kids age 9 and under, Lexi was the first one to the starting line. 

And she made a great run at it, even with that kiddy walker thing.  She wasn't first place, but she wasn't last place either.  I love her confidence! 

Between skating and racing, we played some arcade games and wouldn't you know, Lexi ended up winning the jackpot.  She cashed in all her hard earned tickets for a cute stuffed hamster, and all was right with the world.  We skated until they were literally turning off the lights for the day.  I'd say this outing was a success. 

Swimming Pool

One especially hot afternoon, we made a trip to our local swimming pool for a little fun in the sun.  

We swam and floated, and found friends, and Lexi showed me every single trick she knows in the water.  It was the perfect way to spend the afternoon.

I also have other splash pads and local water parks on my list for later this summer.  

Exploring your Town

When this mural was installed a month or so ago, I knew I was going to take Lexi for a few pictures, so I put it on one of our itineraries one day. 

There are all sorts of murals in our area and we have had fun doing this for years.  It also makes for a fun scavenger hunt.  Tell your kiddos what you are looking for and see if they can spot it.  

Other Fun Things to Try at Home

Manicures and Pedicures

We spent the better part of one camp morning having an at-home spa experience.  We picked nail colors and I polished fingers and toes with all sorts of glitter and sparkle.  You could also play with different hairstyles, or do a foot bath, test out all your lip glosses and pick your favorite flavor.  So many fun ways to play spa.  

Tie Dye

We had never done tie dye before our camp week at home, but we tried our hand at it and I have to say, the tie dye kits they sell make it super simple for even beginners like us.  We took a small field trip to our local craft store to buy our supplies and then worked on making matching t-shirts at home.  Just make sure you have newspaper down to protect your surfaces and wear gloves to keep your hands clean.  

Our shirts turned out great!  I added our names with the help of my Cricut and some iron on vinyl.  Now we have more matching t-shirts for our next camp week, or to wear anytime just because they are awesome!

Other Fun Ideas for your DIY Summer Camp

As I said, we didn't actually complete all the items on our summer camp bucket list, so we have lots of ideas left for other summer camp weeks.  Here are some of our ideas for future summer camps: 

• Paint your own pottery
• Make an iMovie
• Have a picnic at the park
• Set up water slide in the back yard
• Go for a bike ride
• Afternoon at Chuck E Cheese
• Go bowling
• Visit the local flower truck and make a flower bouquet
• Plant wildflowers
• Find a pen pal and start writing letters
• Berry picking
• Visit the local bounce house
• Go for a creek walk
• Indoor rock climbing
• Horseback riding
• Make sweet notes/ drawings for neighbors and friends
• Splash pad
• Lego party

And if that doesn't give you enough ideas, check out this Harris-Sister approved list of 100 Things to do this Summer,   

Overall, we give Summer Camp at Home a 10 out of 10.  My kiddo is still asking me when we are going to do it again.  Soon, my dear.  I promise, soon.  I hope you all are enjoying your summer too!  And if you decide to give this idea a go, comment below to let us know how you spent your time.  We would love to hear from you!

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OK to Wake Alarm Clock for Kids

I've been meaning to share this nifty little life-changing clock with you for a while now.  If you, or someone you know, have little ones (as in too young to tell time or understand that 5 am is too early to wake up for the day), then read on for how this little clock has changed my life!

Let's face it.  Sleep is important.  I am a sleeper, and thankfully, our daughter inherited that trait from me too.  She has been a good sleeper her whole life.  She was sleeping through the night at 6 weeks old.  She has always been an A+ napper- still is, and she's almost 5 years old now.  She never ever once tried to get out of her crib when she was a baby and when we switched her to a "big girl bed", she would stay there even after she woke up in the morning until I went in to get her.   

But inevitably, kids grow up and start to test to the limits.  So I decided quite a while back to install this OK to Wake Alarm Clock for her in her room.  It works like this.  You set the time on it that you decide it's ok for your child to get up and start moving about each day.  In our case, that's 7 am.  So when 7 am rolls around each day, the clock starts glowing green.  It doesn't alarm at all; it just lights up.  So if your child is still asleep, it doesn't wake them up.  But if they are awake, once it starts glowing, they know it's time to get up- or at least that it's ok to get up.  It remains lit up for 30 minutes so if they are still asleep, but they wake up within that 30 minute window, then they will see it's glowing green and it's ok to go ahead and get up.  

For our family, this clock has worked like a charm!  Lexi usually wakes up on her own around 7 am each morning anyway.  But if she wakes up a little before that, then she knows to stay in bed until the clock starts glowing at 7 am and then she gets up.  If she is still sleeping at 7 am, it turns green anyway and when she does awake, she sees that it's already lit up and comes running.  Honestly, I'm pretty sure that this clock has "reset" Lexi's internal clock to go off at 7 am, because she is like clockwork with waking up right at 7 am everyday, which is wonderful!  We have had zero issues with her getting up and moving around at weird hours of the night or early morning.  This clock is worth every penny!!

Oh, there is a nap mode on this clock too, so you can do the same thing when it's ok to wake from nap.  We don't really use that, but it's a nice feature that is available.  There is also a snooze button feature that will dim the light and cause it to light up again when the snooze period is over.  You can also press the little buttons on the clock's "feet" and it will make silly little faces. There is a night light feature on the clock if you want to use it.  And apparently, this clock can convert to a regular alarm clock once your child is ready for that.  It's cute and does have a lot of extra features on it. 

You can find these clocks on Amazon.  Check out all the information and the reviews!  It's highly rated and I'm not the only mom who swears by it.  Just passing along the good stuff to you.  This one is a winner.  Whoever invented this deserves my complete gratitude.

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Making a Costume Jewelry Christmas Tree

Well, here we are knocking on the door of another December, and thus another holly jolly holiday season.  So it's high time I share this project with you that I've been working on for some time now.  In truth, this little project is honestly YEARS in the making, though my contributions are much more recent.  May I present to you this costume jewelry Christmas tree made from my husband's grandmother's jewelry.    John has always lovingly referred to his grandmother as "Smith" and I have heard so many stories about good old Smith over the years I almost feel like I knew her myself.  She actually passed away shortly before I met John so I never had the pleasure, but working on this tree connected me in a very special way to her.  

Smith actually started this tree herself many many years ago.  John's parents saved it all this time and presented it to me along with a large bag of her jewelry several months ago, wondering if I might like to finish it.  So this is the "before" picture of the tree as I received it.  It was a large felted cone sitting atop a velvet covered box.  Several pieces of her jewelry already adorned it along with many many hand beaded straight pins and a mix of painted cockle burrs thrown in for good measure. 

This large pin that reads "Mother" was my favorite of the items that were already on the tree.  I actually ended up carefully removing all the jewelry, pins, and cockle burrs to begin with a clean slate, knowing that each of these pieces would find their own special spot on the tree once again as I started rebuilding it.   In fact, I'm pretty sure the "Mother" pin was the first thing I placed back on the tree when I started the reconstruction. 

Here you can see some of those cockle burrs, along with another favorite.  I loved the twisty turns of this watch swagged onto the tree. 

So once I removed everything from the tree, I wrapped it carefully in satin ribbon, pinning it to the tree all the way to the top.  I wanted to use all of Smith's original components, but the tree itself was very old, so the ribbon provided an extra layer of support for the tree as well as a pretty and clean backdrop to begin the process of adding the jewelry back on. 

I sorted all of her jewelry out before I started pinning to see what she had and make a little plan for myself.  She acutally had quite a few Christmas-y pieces like this Santa pin that I prominently displayed near the top.  If you look carefully to Santa's lower right side, you will also see a large gold  pin that reads "Lucille".  That was Smith's first name.  The pin near Santa's right hand bears the initials "DH".  The pin is actually from Deaconess Hospital, but since those are also my (maiden) initials, I worked it in close to the "Lucille" pin.  

I used a grouping of hat pins and stick pins to create the top of the tree.  See the initial "L" pin in the middle?  Another "L" for Lucille. 

I didn't have quite enough of Smith's jewelry to complete the tree, but thankfully John's parents also gave me a bunch of John's mom's old jewelry too.  So I supplemented with some of Jan's things here and there.  The signet pin you see her bears Jan's initials.  I love how this tree connects these generations.  It all started with Smith, sprinkled with some of her daughter's- Jan's- things, finished my me, and one day this pretty little tree will pass on to Lexi- who would have been Smith's great granddaughter. 

And here is the final product.  Just in time for Christmas!  Actually, I finished this tree back in October in time for what would have been Smith's 100th birthday this year.  

She stands nearly two feet tall with the base, but if you are hoping to recreate something similar, you could certainly make it to whatever scale works for you.  Cones in all sizes are available at your local craft store.  And this was actually very very easy to complete. I just used straight pins to attach the jewelry to the tree, so nothing is permanently attached and the pieces are all still intact.  

I'm so pleased with how she turned out.  And honestly, I don't think I will take her down after Christmas.  She is a beauty, made with love, and we will celebrate that year-round.  

Opt for Optimism

I have started a 30-day challenge called Opt for Optimism, and I am inviting you all to join me.  It's fun and completely free of charge, and very uplifting for the spirit.   The mission is simple- to put optimism into action by completing a small challenge each day for 30 days.  You know, they say if you do something for 30 days, it becomes a habit....  Some of these challenges are personal reminders.  Others are random acts of kindness.  It's all good.   Good for the soul.  Good for you and for each other.   Let's do this. 

So how does this work?  You just visit the Opt For Optimism Website, and enter your email address to sign up for the challenge.  After that, you will begin to receive a daily email with a small challenge for you to complete. It's that easy.  It's all done on the honor system so there is no one to answer to other than yourself.  But these challenges are simple and fun and will certainly get you thinking and hopefully putting those thoughts into action too.  

My first challenge was to compile a list of at least 5 things I am grateful for and post it somewhere I will see everyday.   I posted my little list on the bathroom mirror so I see it first thing each day and again before I go to bed at night.  

Today I am on a mission to leave a kind note on a stranger's car.  I already have a note tucked into my purse just waiting to hop onto someone's windshield at some point today.  I know if I received an uplifting note on my car, it would brighten up my day so much.  I hope this does the same for someone else.   Remember, you never know what others are going through and how much your light might brighten their day.

Let's all try to shine a little brighter, ok?  Today, tomorrow, always.  

Get Cooking with Mealime

Yall, I have discovered a game changing app/ Website for those of us who are shall-we-say "challenged" in the kitchen.  Or even those of you who struggle to come up with new meal ideas.  It's called Mealime, and it coins itself as the app for simple and healthy meal plans.  This app has literally converted me from someone who knew nothing in the kitchen to someone who is cooking up fabulous and healthy meals for my family every night.  I am so excited to fill my grocery cart with fresh produce and meats each week, and know that they will turn into yummy meals that we all enjoy!  Read on for lots more...

So, I discovered this app only after I had tried a couple of meal prep services.  You knows the ones- where you pick your meals for the week and the service then ships you pre-measured ingredients and full instructions for how to complete each meal.  I LOVE these plans.  They are so simple and the recipes are yummy and easy to complete.  However, the prices on some of these services is probably more than I would normally spend if I were just buying my own groceries.  And I have the time to grocery shop so that's not really an issue.  I just needed the step-by-step instructions and a great arsenal of recipe options.  Enter Mealime to the rescue!

I literally went from someone who had maybe two go-to meals to having a world of fun and new and different meal plans at my fingertips.  Oh, and these meal plans are an entire meal, not just a main dish or a side that leaves you wondering what to put with it.  It's all pre-planned out and the foods are so different and so good! Not only that, but this app prepares your entire grocery list for you, allowing you to edit it by removing items that you already have in your kitchen or by adding other items to your grocery list that may not be a part of the recipes you have chosen for the week.  So I can still add my coffee, milk, bread, and all the other usual stuff to the shopping list I created in my Mealime app.

So, here's how it works.  You log into the Mealime app, and it pulls up hundreds of recipes for you.  You can filter your results if you are looking for or avoiding specific types of foods.  Most recipes take between 30-40 minutes to complete from beginning to end.  And as someone who has tried lots of them over the past month or so, I can vouch that they are all really good. You can click on individual recipes to check them out but once you decide to add one (or more) to your meal plan for the coming week, you simply click on the button that says "Add to Meal Plan."  I usually do this at some point on Sunday afternoon.

Once I have all my meals added to my plan for the coming week, the app shows me all of my recipes in my meal plan for the week, as well as a complete grocery list.  I go through the grocery list and then take out items that I already have in my pantry, and add any other items I need to pick up while I'm at the store.  The grocery list in the Mealime app is sorted by produce, bakery, meats/ seafood, dairy/ cheese/ eggs, and so forth which keeps it super easy to navigate through your list while you are shopping.  You simply click on the items on your list to cross them off.  I typically do my grocery shopping on Monday each week.

Once I'm ready to prepare one of the meals, I pull my app back up, and click on that meal.  It provides step-by-step instructions on how to complete the recipe.  Mealime gets bonus points from me for making sure that all components of my meal finish cooking at the same time so everything is hot and ready to serve at the end of about 40 minutes.  Once I've finished making one of the meals, I can "favorite" it if I really liked it so I can come back to it again.  I also check it off in the app, that that meal is complete for the week, and it grays it out, showing only the other active meals remaining in my meal plan.

Here's a look at some of what I've been cooking up...

Shrimp Stirfry

Grilled Chicken with Mango and Red Pepper Salad

I'm so not kidding.  This app has changed my life!  And I'm sure my family is thankful for this little tool too.  :)  The basic app is free of charge to use.  However, there is an option to upgrade the service to Mealime Pro which unlocks a bunch of additional recipes and allows you to do things like make notes in the app about the recipes you made. Currently, the Pro service costs $5.99 per month or $49.99 for an annual subscription.  So far, I am doing great with just the free app.  There appear to be lots of new recipes added each time I use the app.  I might consider upgrading to Mealime Pro at some point, but for now, I'm cruising along just fine.

NY Strip with Homemade Mashed Potatoes and the BEST Wilted Spinach EVER

Caprese Salad

What else?  Let's see. You can customize your experience by choosing the types of food you like or things that you dislike.  For example, in my app I checked off things like capers, lamb, olives, and tofu for ingredients that I dislike.  I also selected a meal size of 2 servings, which I have found is more than a plenty for me and my husband with some left for our 4 year old to try things as well.  There is also an option for 4 serving meal sizes.  There is a support center and a ton of articles submitted by the online community (which are all housed in the app).  You can also email Mealime directly through the app with any questions you have.  But honestly, it is so easy to use that even a kitchen novice like me can figure it out.  So I will be willing to bet that most of you would find it super easy peasy too.

Strip Steak Fajitas on Lettuce Wraps with Homemade Guacamole

To find the Mealime app, just go to your App Store and download it to your device.  I actually put the app on my iPad first because I usually use the iPad in the kitchen to reference my recipes.  But I quickly figured out I needed the app on my phone too when I am at the grocery store to reference the grocery lists it creates for me.  As I said, the basic app is free, and totally where I would start with Mealime.  If you decide you love it as much as I do, you might consider upgrading to the Pro version down the road.  You can actually also access all your information, including your recipes, meal plans, grocery lists, and your preferences from Mealime.com.  So if you have a computer or laptop in your kitchen, you can use the website to get cooking too. I hope you will give this tool a try.  It's the best thing I've found lately, and I'm loving it.