Rantin' & Ravin': November 2013

NOVEMBER FAVORITES!!!

Just like last month's favorites, this month's is dedicated to small businesses again!

Let's jump right in!

Juniper Tree Skin Care - I am all about natural skin creams. And Eva at Juniper Tree Skin Care makes the best! These are awesome stocking stuffers!

Knot So Crafty - Beanies are essential in our home. We always wear them! And these are just adorable for the kids!

Luv You Forever Baby Items - I love Aden + Anais swaddle blankets for my babies! I love that I can pick and choose the ones I want through Luv You Forever and get the exact collection I want!

Sugar Grenade Designs - It's no secret that I love printables! And I also love custom Christmas cards! If you are in the market for some, check out Laura's shop.

Words For The Soul - I love wood signs! It's such a great way to decorate. These are beautiful! I love them all!

I hope this gives you some good ideas for your Christmas shopping!

THANKFUL COLLECTION!!!

Here is a collection of my favorite Thanksgiving posts to date!

Fall Printables

22 Days of Thanksgiving

Thankful

Making Thanksgiving Day Fun for Kids

The Perfect Turkey

The Best Sides For Your Thanksgiving Dinner

Apple Pie Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars

Thankful Tree

Thanksgiving Kids Crafts

28 Days of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Banner

DR. SCHOLL'S® FOR HER COZY CUSHIONS!!!

Living in Florida, we don't get too many cold days.

So, when Influenster asked me to try and do a review on Dr. Scholl's® For Her Cozy Cushions, I was a little skeptical as to whether or not it would work for me.

Here is what Dr. Scholl's says:

Whether you’re looking for insoles for your favorite heels or flats, or anti-friction products to help prevent shoe rubbing and blisters, the Dr. Scholl’s® For Her line has a solution for you. The entire collection enables you to enjoy the things you want to do – not just the things you need to do – by enhancing foot comfort.

Dr. Scholl's® For Her Cozy Cushions help keep feet warm and dry while providing all-day comfort. Their multi-layer design helps insulate the foot while two plush layers provide extra cushioning. Cozy Cushions help keep feet dry by absorbing perspiration and offer superior support on hard surfaces.

Helps keep feet warm and dry

Provides support for any boot or casual shoe

Offers superior support on hard surfaces

Here is what I say:

Luckily, we have had a few cool days so I got to try them out.

I put them in some of my favorite shoes. These insoles come in one size, 6-11, and can be cut down to better fit your own shoe/foot. They have grooves that make re-sizing them quite simple. A word of caution, though—cutting the the insoles can be a bit messy as the loose fuzz does come off a little. I cut mine over the trash.

I've read other reviews that said it was a little tight once they tried them. I'm not a boot owner. No need here.

Dr. Scholl's For Her Cozy Cushions are sold at major stores that sell like products, and typically retail for about $12.49. Plus, they come with a full money-back guarantee if you are not completely satisfied (just be sure to hold on to the sales receipt and UPC code).

Dr. Scholl's® for Her
Website: http://www.drschollsforher.com (There is a $2 off coupon on the site!)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drschollsforher

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in testing purposes with Influenster on behalf of Dr. Scholl's For Her and received samples to thank me for my time. All views and opinions with regard to the products or company itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the company prior to posting.

THANKS BANNER!!!

You may or may not have noticed a pattern in my Thanksgiving holiday decor.

My colors for Thanksgiving are blue, brown and yellow.

It's not any different with my Thanks Banner.

I love my banner!

I love these colors!

Here is how to make your banner:

Supplies:

Jute Twine

Tiny Clothes Pins

Glue Stick

Scrapbook Paper -

{1 sheet - Yellow. 2 sheets - brown, 3 sheets - blue}

It’s made completely out of scrapbook paper which makes it easy and affordable. I started by cutting the paper in triangles measuring 5″x 7″.

I used this template.

When you print it, make sure to print it at half size for the big ones.

I had a friend cut me the letters from their Silhouette. If you do not have a Silhoutte, do not fear! You can use the alphabet craft stickers from any craft store.

Then glue them all together and hang!

It's pretty simple.

APPLE PIE SNICKERDOODLE COOKIE BARS!!!

Whew! That's a mouth full!

One of the things I love most about Fall is all of the baking!

We aren't really pumpkin eaters, but we LOVE apples!

Here is a yummy, fall inspired treat!

Only three ingredients - unbelievably easy & delicious

These bars are the best of both worlds … apple pie and cookies! These are a great dessert top with vanilla ice cream for an a la mode treat!

Ingredients
One 16.5 oz tube of Pillsbury refrigerated sugar cookie dough
One 20 oz. can of apple pie filling
Cinnamon sugar (1/4 cup of granulated sugar & 4 teaspoons of ground cinnamon)

Instructions
Press 2/3 of the cookie dough into the bottom of an 8x8 or 9x9 baking pan.
Sprinkle with 2/3 of the cinnamon sugar.
Spread the apple pie filling over the cookie base.
Take small amounts of the remaining cookie dough, flatten it slightly and place over the pie filling. It will not cover the pie filling completely.
Sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture.
Bake in a 350* oven until the cookie dough is baked - mine took about 35-40 minutes.
Allow bars to cool and cut into squares.

Recipe from: Just A Pinch Recipes

THANKFUL TREE!!!

Last year was our first year doing a thankful tree.

Not too bad.

But this year we opted for something different.

Remember my tree from Halloween?

Well, we kept it up and took off all of the decorations. I changed the bow and I cut out small circles and hole punched tiny holes in them. We will be hanging them on the tree like so.

Each day one person writes what they are thankful for.

We each have our own color and we rotate turns.

It's been fun and helps us to be thankful for the many blessings we have!

THANKSGIVING KID CRAFTS!!!

Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that you don't really appreciate until you have grown up.

You know spending time with family, laughing and reminiscing without the stress of holiday shopping.

As a kid, you look forward to those times of the year when you get gifts or candy... Halloween, Christmas or Easter when you get both!

But sometimes making crafts can get kids into this meaningful holiday!

Here are some fun crafts that can help bring in the grateful spirit! And some that are just fun to make!

Grateful Banner

Accordion Turkey

Give Thanks Cornucopia

Wood Scrap Turkey

Thanksgiving Clothespins

Giving Thanks Plate for Grandma and Grandpa

Finger Puppets

Headband

Turkey Prints

Gobble, Gobble

Need some more ideas for the kids, check out this post, here.

What do you do with your kids?

FALL WREATHS!!!

Fall is my most favorite time of year!

I prefer a warm wind and neutrals to the cool wind and pastels of spring.

I think one of the best ways to decorate for any season or holiday is a wreath.

Preferably, on the front door!

Do you remember when I did this wreath?