Gingerbread M&Ms Christmas Bingo Fun #HolidayMM #shop #cbias

I always know the holidays are coming soon when I start thinking about gingerbread and my favorite gingerbread recipe. My kids have always loved gingerbread, and I made it for them at Christmas all the time when they were little.

I'm a grandmother to four little ones now, and so of course I make them gingerbread, too. We love the flavor, and it's one of our very favorite desserts and snacks.

We are also big M&M lovers, and when I found out that M&Ms came in new Gingerbread flavor, you know I had to rush out and buy some.

They are available exclusively at Walmart, so I went and picked up a few bags, along with some supplies that I needed to help one of my grandsons make a fun crafts project

Liam wants to give his preschool buddies a little gift for the holidays. We wanted the gift to be homemade, and easy enough to make that he could help make it. And hopefully, candy would be involved!!

I put on my thinking cap and came up with the idea of Christmas Bingo. Bingo is an easy and fun game for kids of all ages to play, and we would use the new Gingerbread M&Ms as the bingo space markers.

We put the M&Ms in a cute Gingerbread decorated bag, with enough for eating and playing.

I Googled free Christmas Bingo images and printed them out on white paper. I thought these were sweet, and of course it had to have a Gingerbread Boy on it.

Then I cut out rectangles from red poster board that were a little larger than the Bingo Cards. I didn't measure anything, so nothing is perfectly even, and that is part of the charm of receiving a home made gift from a preschooler.

Liam and I glued the Bingo papers on to the poster board pieces, and then we tried the game out. He loved it.

Who doesn't love a game when there's candy involved?

While we were making the games, Liam had to sample those yummy Gingerbread M&Ms. He had to sample lots of them.

This Christmas Bingo game was super easy to make. I already had most of the supplies at home. When I was at Walmart, I picked up the Gingerbread M&Ms, and the cute Gingerbread decorated bags.

We put some M&Ms in a bag, and then tied it with a red ribbon. We used cellophane to wrap up the Bingo cards and Bingo game cards.

Super easy and super cute. I love projects for preschoolers that come together quickly, and this one did.

Liam loves the Christmas Bingo game gifts that he'll be giving to his preschool friends during the holidays.

You can buy these yummy Gingerbread M&Ms at Walmart for a limited time, and let them be the inspiration for your own great holiday decorating ideas.

They are perfect for your favorite cookie recipe, Gingerbread house, fun crafts, and much more.

Here's a great coupon to save $1.00 off  of a bag of Gingerbread flavored M&Ms, 9.9oz, or larger.

If you need some festive holiday decorating ideas check out these fun Gingerbread M&M's crafts.  If you have some creative ideas of your own, participate in the Gingerbread M&M Instagram contest to win a great prize!

HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Upload an original image to Instagram with inspirational ideas and creations using Gingerbread M&M's to decorate and craft during the holidays, caption that image with the hashtag #HolidayMM, and share on Twitter (an “Entry”)

Wordless Wednesday - Dining Room Love

I love this picture torn out of a magazine for my future dining room.

Foo Dogs, Thrift Stores, and Why I Wish I Had A Decorator

 

 

I would like to think I am good at a few things in life, but being able to decorate a room, or even a tabletop is not one of them.

At different points in my life, I have spent a lot of money on furnishings, and them been severely disappointed that what I saw in my mind did not manifest into reality. I just don't have what it takes to make a room what I want it to be, and that is beginning to be okay with me.

As long as I have the things I need, and the things I love, I guess I will be fine. I frequently see these Foo Dogs in TJ Maxx, and I have always liked them. But once I get them home, I will probably wonder what I was thinking when I bought them. But I have started shopping at thrift stores, where my decorating mistakes might only cost me a few dollars, instead of hundreds or thousands.

 

This morning I am off to Goodwill in search of a new desk. I am frequently surprised at some of the great things that are for sale there. And I have learned to love the thrill of the hunt.

 

Happy Sunday to all!!





Pretty Holiday Wreaths

Images from Better Homes and Gardens

By Patricia

One of my absolute favorite ways to decorate for Christmas is with wreaths. I love a fresh, simple green wreath tied with a ribbon, but these certainly caught my eye.

I love the beauty and creativity of these wreaths, and would love to hang any of them on my door.

 

 

 

How Do You Decorate Your Thanksgiving Table?

By Patricia

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about not just the turkey, but how to make the table pretty and inviting as well. I was at Pottery Barn in Seattle recently and this table setting was so gorgeous that I just had to take a few pictures of it.
I think the key here is layering and an abundance of pretty things that make the table feel so welcoming. Even though the food on Thanksgiving is always the main focus, a lovely table will set a welcoming tone and make your family and guests want to linger there long after the pie is eaten.

Of course this is all a little over the top decorating, but it does give us some great ideas for our own Thanksgiving tables. I love decorating my table, and through the years my family has established a few traditions we all love. One of them is that my youngest daughter Megan makes the place cards with all of our names on them. She started doing this when she was six years old, and she did it last year at the age of twenty.
So with a little planning, it is fun and easy to make your table say welcome, and to make all your guests feel special. And that is really what sharing your table is all about.

Decorating With Brown For A Warm and Cozy Look

By Patricia


Now that November is here, it is time to cozy up our houses with warm Fall colors. I just adore the color brown, for clothing and decorating. Here are a few pictures for ideas on how you can give your house that warm and welcoming feeling.

 

Images via Little Blue Deer

Stylish and Easy Decorating Ideas

By Patricia

A couple of days ago I went to Fred Meyer to do some shopping, Fred Meyer is a chain store in Washington State. It's sort of like a combination of Target and Kmart combined.
I hadn't been here in awhile and was a little surprised to see all the great furniture and home decor items available.
Here's some great items that might get you thinking about your own decorating ideas.

World Market HGTV Living Room Makeover Inspiration

When it comes to buying furniture basics, I always like buying pieces that are very neutral in color and style. Pillows, lamps, and decor items can be brought in as accents and to introduce color. With the arrival of the fall season, I know it's it's time to bring in some warm and colorful items to help make the room more cozy and appealing.

I would love to bring in some drapes for the windows and some pretty fall colored pillows and throws. I would also love to get new end tables, and a new area rug. I want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable when they come in the door. I feel like everything is bland and boring and it's time for some new room excitement!

Whenever I walk into a World Market store, I always feel excited to see all the beautiful displays of furniture, dishware, jewelry and so much more. I have loved and shopped at World Market for years.

I would love to shop here to makeover my living room because they have so many pretty things to choose from. From their accent chairs to lamps, and wall mirrors, I always see things I want to buy there and bring home. World Market has everything I need to make my living room look great.

You can check out my great Pinterest Board for my World Market inspired Living Room Makeover. I hope one of my readers wins the World Market HGTV Passport to Style Sweepstakes! If I win I would love to have the Black Stripe Animal Shaped Dhurrie Rug and Tribal Carved Coffee Table shipped immediately!

My World Market Living Room Makeover Pinterest Board

Win a Room Makeover with World Market’s HGTV Passport to Style Sweepstakes

HGTV Passport to Style Sweepstakes

• Grand Prize package includes: A $10,000 World Market shopping spree and design consultation with an HGTV Designer
• There will also be 3 runner up prize winners that will each receive a $1,000 World Market gift card!
• The HGTV Sweepstakes runs from September 22, 2012 until October 26, 2012.
• Ifyou share the sweepstakes with 5 of your friends (via FB share or email) you can receive 5 additional bonus entries. This is part of the registration process when entering. Users can also enter daily for more chances to win.
• Enter online at http://worldmarketsweepstakes.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/worldmarket/app_315124871876517

Have you heard about the World Market Explorer Program?  It is a rewards program where member earn exclusive perks, like coupons, offers, previews, and beyond. Spend $100 on Gourmet Foods and Non-alcoholic beverages and you will receive a $10 reward that you can use to purchasing almost anything in store or online. You can also earn FREE COFFEE Rewards! (Buy 6 12oz. bags and your 7th one is free!)

What would you buy if you win the World Market HGTV Passport to Style Sweepstakes?

You can learn more about World Market and see great deals they are having by visiting them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

*This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™, but all my opinions are my own. http://cmp.ly/3/KqtZiE

Pretty Fall Decorating

I adore the fall season and decorating with candles and pumpkins and everything else that makes this time of year so special. I'm spending a little too much time lately on blog looking and Pinterest though.

          

I'm trying to finish up a few knitting projects, the book I'm reading, and staying in contact with my five grown children and their families.

This time of year makes me feel nostalgic for their childhoods and the wish to live it all over again. We can't of course, but we can remember them as children and that is almost as sweet.

By Patricia

All images from Pinterest                                                                                                    

Decorating Your Walls, Make It Personal

Photo via Sacramento Street

By Patricia

I love houses. I love the stuff that goes into those houses, and I love looking for and at all that house stuff. I am a secret wanna be decorator. Unfortunately, I don't think I have much talent for it.

I do have a talent for buying the stuff though, and loving it and using it. Which leads me to the point of this post. I love the picture above of this wall because it expresses the person who lives in this room. There is no real theme or reason here, I imagine this is what this person loves so it is on their walls.

Have you ever gone into someone's home and immediately felt that the house reflected that person perfectly? I have, and it is totally amazing how some people can do this. I think one way is to put on your walls things that have meaning, and a place in your heart.

Whether it is family photos, art you love, menus from a special restaurant, or really anything that is beautiful to you. Framed or not, if you take the time to arrange and re-arrange, you will get it right.

We all want our homes to be beautiful, and to feel like they are a safe refuge from the outside world. And it's even better when you can look around, see yourself, and know you really made your home a reflection of what's inside your heart.

Reality Decoring

Photo credit SF Girl by the Bay

                                                                             

~ By Patricia ~

I am not a decorator. But in my mind I am quite fabulous at it. I prefer shopping for the home over shopping for clothes and shoes. I love the thrill of the hunt at a flea market or thrift shop in hopes of finding that perfect little treasure for my home. I love the things I have gathered through the years that have special meaning.

I also love the junkie little things that I find at a yard sale.

I love looking at pictures of beautiful rooms, but those rooms are pretty much not going to be something I can duplicate. So I've started searching for inspiration that is more realistic for me, and maybe you too.

These pictures are helping me to get my decorating ideas together.

Photo credit Sacramento Street

Photo credit SF Girl by the Bay

Photo credit Sacramento Street

Photo credit Mod Vintage Life