Category: Food

12/25/2018

MERRY CHRISTMAS: HERE ARE OUR 2018 CHRISTMAS PLANS!

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Merry Christmas everyone! Hopefully you all had a relaxing and fun Christmas Day! I wanted to share with you what we are doing this Christmas. I'd love to hear from you as well, so please drop a comment below and let me know what you did for Christmas! Here are our plans!

WAKE UP AND ENJOY SOME FOOD!

This morning, I make and enjoy some treats including sausage balls, one of my favorite things! We normally do stockings at my mom's house in the morning, as we are going to see Jonathan's family today and probably won't do Christmas presents at my family's house until tonight. I always love having Christmas breakfast and just enjoying the morning before heading out!

HEAD TO JONATHAN'S GRANDPARENT'S HOUSE!

On Jonathan's side of the family, they get together on Christmas Eve at his mom's parents' house and meet up again the next day for some food and gifts for the little ones. It is a nice time to get together and hang out with cousins. Afterward, we will probably go to Jonathan's parents' house where we will exchange gifts with them!

HOPEFULLY SEEING MY GRANDPA!

If you're a loyal reader, you may remember me mentioning that my grandpa has been in several hospitals and rehab facilities this year. I really would like to see him on Christmas, but I don't really know what the plan is. He may be able to come home on Christmas, or he might have to stay where he is and we may need to go and see him.

Regardless, it wouldn't be Christmas if we didn't see him if we could, so I'm hoping we can go and be with him for a bit this year instead of leaving him wherever he is all by himself. I'm hoping that this will give him the strength he needs to work hard in rehab so he can come home, but it is all up to God! Please continue to pray for him!

PRESENTS WITH MY FAMILY!

We will probably put dinner on to cook while we open gifts at my mom's house. Jonathan and I will also exchange presents at this point! I always get so excited to exchange presents with everyone because it is so great to see the look on people's faces when you give them something they will love!

CHRISTMAS DINNER

Time for dinner! At the end of the day, we will no doubt enjoy some food and maybe even watch a Christmas movie. We may also be playing around with our stocking stuffers or presents this year, so I'm super excited. The food is my second favorite thing apart from giving gifts to people!

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12/13/2018

5 OF OUR CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS YOU SHOULD TRY THIS YEAR

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I absolutely love traditions when it comes to Christmas, and I've actually carried some of my traditions from growing up into my marriage and we will do them with our children one day!

So, sit back, grab a snack, and check out these five Christmas traditions you need to add to your Christmas celebrations this year!

1. ADDING A NEW ORNAMENT

When I was growing up, my mom and grandparents would always choose a new ornament for my brother and I each year. The ornament always reflected our year in some fashion. Jonathan and I now do this one. It is great as a young married couple as we can continue to grow our tree decor, and it would be so cute with children in the mix!!

2. TREAT-MAKING

For me, and for anyone who loves baking or making things in the kitchen, this tradition will be loads of fun. Each year, we make a set of treats and finger foods the night before Christmas so that we have them to enjoy Christmas morning. My favorite are sausage balls and my chocolate oatmeal cookies! They aren't great for your waistline, but you have to treat yourself sometimes! We don't have egg nog though!

3. READING THE CHRISTMAS STORIES

Jonathan's family on his mom's side gets together Christmas Eve and have breakfast for dinner. After eating, his grandpa reads the Christmas story in the Bible of Jesus' birth and then reads the traditional Christmas story poem. It is so great if you have smaller children because it shows the importance of both stories and gets everyone excited for the celebrations the next day!

4. WHOLE FAMILY GET-TOGETHER

Both of our families do this, but my family does a potluck. This is my grandpa's side of the family. We get together each Christmas Eve and have a potluck. Santa makes a visit for the children and the children usually sing Christmas carols to everyone else at some point during the night. It is a great way to enjoy different foods and have a mini reunion with your family!

5. GO SEE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

There are a ton of places around the U.S. and I believe in the UK where you can go and see Christmas lights. My family usually goes to Tanglewood Park's Festival of Lights, but I think we will all go somewhere different this year. Jonathan and I have already been to Tanglewood together this year. I highly recommend doing this to get into the Christmas spirit!

CONCLUSION

I hope that you will try out some of these traditions. If you do, please take a picture and tag me in it on social media. I am @gemusiclover on Instagram and Twitter, and I'd love to see your versions of these traditions!

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12/11/2018

6 HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS PARTY IDEAS FOR YOUR WINTER GET-TOGETHER

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The winter season is a time to get together with friends and family to celebrate the year. So, you may find yourself planning a few get-togethers or parties that will happen closer to the holidays.

But, I wanted to inspire you to try something that may be new to you: a different way to celebrate. I hope you enjoy these unique Christmas party ideas.

1. A PAINTING PARTY

Painting is a unique and fun way to spend time with friends and family this season. Simply choose a fairly easy scene or character to paint, have some food and drinks, and you've got yourself a great get together with a take away that you can either put in your home or give to a loved one for Christmas! You decide.

2. A BAKING PARTY

My mom and our friends did this last year and it was so much fun. Each of us brought the ingredients for various treats and we made them together! At the end of the day, we put our creations into tins from the dollar store and took them to our respective homes to enjoy on Christmas with our family members. I absolutely love this idea because you may just stumble upon a new recipe that you and your family loves!

3. A CAROL-AND-KARAOKE NIGHT

Honestly, who doesn't like singing Christmas songs at the top of their lungs? I know I do! Have a get together where you each perform a Christmas song. Make it extra festive by choosing one and teaching it to everyone. You can then take your karaoke on the road and fa-la-la your way throughout the neighborhood, spreading Christmas cheer to all who will hear.

4. WHITE ELEPHANT GIFT EXCHANGE

I am actually set to do this next week with my coworkers. Set a price range for your gifts. The standard price range is normally $5 or $10 for these things, but set your own! Each person will bring a gift and you will draw numbers to see who will choose first. The gift can be stolen twice before the last person who has it can keep it. It is a fun and interesting gift exchange idea!

5. A PJ PARTY

Nothing says the holidays like kicking back with some hot chocolate in your PJs for some Christmas fun! Have everyone wear festive pajamas and bring sleepover snacks. You can amp up the cheer by having a holiday movie marathon during your PJ party, or you can bake or craft various Christmas DIY gifts while you're all together. It is a cozy and fun way to spend time with your friends and family this year.

6. CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD

This fun and educational party can help you learn and celebrate the ways people celebrate Christmas all around the world. You can do various activities that people in other countries do, or you can simply eat traditional Christmas foods from around the world.

On WhyChristmas.com, you can click the flag of various countries to see how they celebrate Christmas each year. It is such a unique way to celebrate!

CONCLUSION

I really love these Christmas party ideas, but I'm afraid I won't be hosting my own this year. Maybe in the future I will! But, if you're planning to host a party, I hope you'll consider these unique party ideas!

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11/30/2018

NOVEMBER 2018 FAVORITES

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Yet another month has gone by, so now it is time again for another monthly favorites blog. Keep reading to find out more about the products, services, or entertainment I've loved this past month!

BEAUTY PRODUCTS

I always like to try a new beauty product or two each month to see if I like something more than I like the product I'm already using.

E.L.F. LIP EXFOLIATOR, SWEET CHERRY | $3

It's starting to get a little colder where I live, and you know what that means: my lips are SUFFERING!

Luckily, my lips aren't chapped, they're just dry. I decided to give the lip exfoliator from e.l.f. a try and I ended up liking it. At first, I thought it seemed really creamy, but that was just the top layer coating. After a few rubs on your lips, you will get to the exfoliator. I thought it was perfect for lips (not to coarse but not to fine either) and it smelled great.

I loved the scent as well, but I didn't see any other ones at Target when I purchased it. But, you can visit the e.l.f. website to

DOVE BODY WASH | $8.94

I recently tried some Dove body wash and I loved it. It is really great for dry skin, which I suffer from immensely.

The body wash is also sulfate free. I also like that it has a cleaner scent that is somewhat neutral so that I can use my Bath and Body Works lotions without having contrasting scents!

So, if you're looking for a moisturizing body wash, I think you should try this Dove body wash. I use my body wash with that purple scrubby.

ENTERTAINMENT

Here are a few things in the entertainment category that I've loved this month:

NOBODY'S FOOL

Ever since I saw her in Girl's Trip, I've loved Tiffany Haddish. So, when I saw that she would be in Nobody's Fool, I decided that I wanted to see it.

The storyline follows Danika, a businesswoman who is dating a man she has never met. Her sister, who was recently let out of jail, decides that Danika is being catfished and invites Neiv and Max from the show by the same name to come and investigate. But, Danika tells them they are wrong. The story takes several turns and I know you will love it as much as I did.

DAZ GAMES

As for the YouTube channel I've loved most this month, that would have to be Daz games. I've always been a huge fan of Daz, but I've gotten into watching him more lately. He does use some language, so be advised before watching this with younger children. He's really funny and I love watching him play horror games because of his reactions.

FOOD

Thanksgiving is all about the food. Here is what I loved this month:

TURKEY, DUH!

Oh my goodness. I've had so much turkey this month. It all started Nov. 19 when my job had a free turkey dinner for faculty and staff and their families. It was delicious.

Then, of course, there was the meals with our families, which was great as always. Turkey is so good, but it makes you so tired!!

NON-VISIBLE THINGS

Not everything that I loved this month was visible, so I wanted to share some of the things that have helped me this month that aren't tangible.

ORGANIZATION

Whenever I start to feel stressed or as if there is too much going on, I like to start organizing. Not only does it take my mind off of the stress, but it also helps me put everything in its place so that it looks nice and I know where it is. My favorite places to organize are my work office and my home office. These are probably the most stressful places, so it is good to calm them with organization.

GOD'S PRESENCE

I don't talk about this too often because I strongly believe that we are now in a place where God is moving and working during each church service. That's not to say that I never felt anything in our old church, but this is something different. I come out of each service feeling emptied of my woes and feeling God so strong in my heart. I'm so thankful for that!

TIME TO JUST BREATHE

November was an insanely busy and stressful month for me. We remodeled and cleaned my mom and grandma's rooms and I had a huge project that I only had about two weeks to work on. I'm thankful that everything went off without a hitch, but I'm even more thankful for the time I had following the project where I could just relax and take it easy. If I was going full-speed like that all of the time, I don't know what I'd do.

CONCLUSION

As I said, it was a busy and stressful month, so that's really all that I have for you for this month's favorites blog. Since December is next and I'm sure I'll be getting some new presents, I am sure the monthly favorites blog will be much longer.

Don't forget that blogmas is coming and I'm participating. I'm also doing a Tweetmas tag in December. You can find details about that on my Twitter feed. I hope you'll check it out!

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10/31/2018

MY HALLOWEEN PLANS 2018

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Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, and I would normally celebrate a bit differently than I am this year. So, this year, I have a bit of a different plan. Check out below for my Halloween plans and check out some of my dream Halloween plans after that.

Without further ado, keep reading for more about my plans:

THIS MORNING

BUT FIRST, COFFEE

You can't go wrong when you start your morning off with coffee, especially on a crisp fall day that happens to fall (LOL) on Halloween.

I'm just having a basic cup of coffee with French Vanilla creamer and maybe a dash of pumpkin spice.

TICK-OR-TREAT BAGS

Right off the bat (LOL) this morning, I delivered some Halloween treats to all of my coworkers. These are from my "Calories in Halloween Candy" blog post I did last Wednesday, so you should most definitely check that out in the link above.

These had a sucker, some Milky Ways, Tootsie Rolls, Snickers, Reese's Cups, Twix, and a few other candies.

The bags were left over from my Mother-in-Law's 50th birthday party several months ago. I made the tags with scrapbook paper. I also wrote some cute little punny saying on the inside of them. I hope all of my coworkers really liked them!

THROUGHOUT THE DAY

TAKE A WALK IN THE FALL AIR

I have the privilege of working on a beautiful campus, so I'm going to make a point to get out and go for a walk today.

Some of the leaves are already changing and falling, and the weather is honestly perfect.

LISTEN TO MY FAVORITE TRUE CRIME YOUTUBE CHANNELS

Nothing is spookier than scary things that have happened in real life. I am going to spend my afternoon listening to true crimes stories while I work.

Some of my favorites have been Eleanor Neale and Bella Fiori.

I will also be catching up on scary stories and paranormal investigations from LoeyLane and Hailey Reese. I've linked their channel's URLs to their names, so click and check out some of their videos. Also, please subscribe to support them if you like their content. They are all fabulous and do such a good job with their research!

THIS EVENING

I usually like to hand out candy to trick-or-treaters, but last year I only got two and bought a ton of candy that ended up going to waste. So this year, unfortunately, we've decided not to hand out candy. I'm hoping that we one day live in a place that has a ton of trick-or-treaters so we can do something nice for the local children! I'm talking Grav3yardgirl big!

MAKE DINNER AND SNACKS

I'm honestly not sure what we are going to have for dinner. I didn't actually make plans to have anything super festive this year. I do know that there will be lots of popcorn and hopefully some chocolate.

Whatever we have to eat will be delicious and filling, but we will have to leave room for snacks because we will also be having a...

MINI MOVIE MARATHON

Unfortunately, Halloween falls on a Wednesday, so we can't stay up all night watching a ton of movies. We have decided that we will watch Sweeny Todd and Hocus Pocus.

Depending on when Jonathan gets home from work, we might also watch another movie. But, this is the plan for now.

If you'd like to check out some of the movies that I suggest, head over to the "Movies" sub-tab under entertainment and check out my ultimate Halloween movie playlist!

CONCLUSION

Those are the extent of our plans this Halloween. I promised I would talk a little bit about my dream Halloween plans. I would really like to one day throw a murder mystery Halloween party. However, if I do this, I want it to be big and really nice. I'm talking catered, in a nice place we rent out, etc.

I just love the idea of a murder mystery dinner party. It is fun and everyone gets fed!

What are you doing this Halloween, or what have you done? Let me know in the comments below.

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7/29/2018

JULY FAVORITES 2018

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Another month gone, and even more great products, services, and entertainment to brag on! Let's get into this list!

* Be sure to click the title of the products, services, and entertainment to shop for them today! *

HEALTH AND BEAUTY PRODUCTS

Health and beauty have been a big part of my life in these past few months. Here are some of the best products I've come across in the past month:

Soo'AE Revive Gold Peel Off Mask | $6.98

I've been trying more now than I ever have to take better care of myself in as many ways as possible. This month, I focused on my skin care routine. I have previously used the charcoal peel off mask from this brand and was really happy with the results, so I was excited when I saw a gold face mask from the same brand.

The product applies well with a silicone-tipped applicator, and it smells like citrus fruits. It leaves you feeling clean and refreshed.

The only downside of this product is that it comes in such a small bottle. I only used the charcoal mask about five times before I ran out, but it was fairly inexpensive!

L'Oreal Paris Total Cover Foundation | $10.97

I bragged on this product's cousin last month, but I ran out of that product and wanted to find something new. I found a matte foundation that wasn't really giving me the coverage I wanted. So, when I saw this full-coverage option in the brand I loved last month, I decided to purchase it and give it a go.

This make-up really does stay on all day, and a little goes a long way, so you don't have to worry about wasting the product and having to use a lot in one sitting. I got the lightest shade, because I'm literally the shade of a ghost. The only downside is that there are only about 12 shades, so it doesn't cater to everyone's skin, but maybe they will extend the shades that they offer if enough people seem interested.

FOOD!

I'm a total foodie, and I was afraid that that part of me would have to change when I changed my diet. Luckily, God made lots of amazing food, even food I can experience on my diet. Check out these awesome foods that I love!

OH SNAP! Pickling Co. Dilly Bites | $0.99

So, because Jonathan and I live hours away from our families, we often find ourselves traveling A LOT! When we stop at the gas station, we normally grab a snack for the road.

However, as most of you know, gas station snacks aren't too kind on the waistline, so I desperately searched for something that could satisfy my craving for salt without adding too many calories.

Pickle-lovers rejoice! The gas station near us now sells these beauties, which are sliced pickles with no brine added, and they basically just have sodium. They are so good, and Jonathan said he saw a spicy-flavored packet last time we were in the gas station!

Bass Pro Shops Original Beef and Cheese Sticks | $0.99

Another great salty snack for people who are trying to cut out lots of carbs but still stocking up on snacks at a gas station are these beef and cheese sticks.

I have to admit that eating non-refrigerated cheese was a little weird. The cheese was really brittle, but it tasted good with the beef jerky, so I can't complain too much!

This snack does contain some fat, but there are no carbs, which makes it a great snack for people on the Keto diet or a low-carb diet like myself.

Trust me, you're going to want to save your carbs for this next treat!

Gabbie's Low-Carb Peanut Butter Pie | PRICELESS!

So, I had to throw one of my own creations on here. This little treat is the perfect way to indulge your sweet tooth without loosening your belt.

This simple three-ingredient pie can be enjoyed about an hour after you make it, and you can either may your own low-carb crust, use whole graham crackers as the crust (if you have a few carbs to spare), or you can do like I did and pour some of your creamy peanut butter pie mix into these tiny, perfectly-portioned graham cracker crusts.

If you want the recipe for this, come back to my blog next week, when I'll share how to make this delicious treat!

ENTERTAINMENT

Who doesn't like to be entertained? In this section, you'll learn my favorite movie, song, and YouTube channel from the month of July!

Equalizer 2

If you are a fan of action movies, you'll absolutely love the newest Equalizer movie, starring Denzel Washington.

The plot follows Robert McCall, a man with a military background who enacts justice for people who can't seem to do it for themselves. In this movie, McCall helps a woman who was sexually assaulted, a troubled young man, and a Holocaust survivor, all while trying to solve the murder case associated with a dear friend who was killed while she was on the job.

DDU-DU DDU-DU | BLACKPINK

I have an addiction: it's KPOP.

It started when my best friend Lauren introduced me to BTS in college. I really only like BTS, EXO, and BLACKPINK.

This song is honestly so lively and fun to listen to, even if you aren't sure what the singers are saying. They rap, they sing, they dance! You'll love BLACKPINK and their energy. I'll live a link to the YouTube video for the song below. Speaking of the video KPOP videos are so much better than American music videos. Check it out for yourself!

Grav3yardgirl | YouTube Channel Fav!

Grav3yardgirl, also known as Bunny, has always been one of my favorite YouTubers. She teamed up with Shane Dawson recently to change up her channel, and I'm loving Bunny 2.0.

My favorite video is actually one of her more recent ones. She and her partner go to this graffiti park in Texas and show us parts of the city like you've never seen them before. Check it out and subscribe for awesome content!

That's it, that's all of them!

If you enjoyed this list, I hope you will keep following my blog for more each month and new content on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays!

Love you guys!

LEGAL: All photos are my own or taken from Pixabay.com, a creative commons website that requires no attribution for photos. Video sharing is copyright friendly as all creators get the views and ad revenue, not myself.

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​lifestyle

MERRY CHRISTMAS: HERE ARE OUR 2018 CHRISTMAS PLANS!

WAKE UP AND ENJOY SOME FOOD!

HEAD TO JONATHAN'S GRANDPARENT'S HOUSE!

HOPEFULLY SEEING MY GRANDPA!

PRESENTS WITH MY FAMILY!

CHRISTMAS DINNER

5 OF OUR CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS YOU SHOULD TRY THIS YEAR

1. ADDING A NEW ORNAMENT

2. TREAT-MAKING

3. READING THE CHRISTMAS STORIES

4. WHOLE FAMILY GET-TOGETHER

5. GO SEE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

CONCLUSION

6 HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS PARTY IDEAS FOR YOUR WINTER GET-TOGETHER

1. A PAINTING PARTY

2. A BAKING PARTY

3. A CAROL-AND-KARAOKE NIGHT

4. WHITE ELEPHANT GIFT EXCHANGE

5. A PJ PARTY

6. CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD

CONCLUSION

NOVEMBER 2018 FAVORITES

BEAUTY PRODUCTS

E.L.F. LIP EXFOLIATOR, SWEET CHERRY | $3

DOVE BODY WASH | $8.94

ENTERTAINMENT

NOBODY'S FOOL

DAZ GAMES

FOOD

TURKEY, DUH!

NON-VISIBLE THINGS

ORGANIZATION

GOD'S PRESENCE

TIME TO JUST BREATHE

CONCLUSION

MY HALLOWEEN PLANS 2018

THIS MORNING

BUT FIRST, COFFEE

TICK-OR-TREAT BAGS

THROUGHOUT THE DAY

TAKE A WALK IN THE FALL AIR

LISTEN TO MY FAVORITE TRUE CRIME YOUTUBE CHANNELS

THIS EVENING

MAKE DINNER AND SNACKS

MINI MOVIE MARATHON

CONCLUSION

JULY FAVORITES 2018

HEALTH AND BEAUTY PRODUCTS

Soo'AE Revive Gold Peel Off Mask | $6.98

L'Oreal Paris Total Cover Foundation | $10.97

FOOD!

OH SNAP! Pickling Co. Dilly Bites | $0.99

Bass Pro Shops Original Beef and Cheese Sticks | $0.99

Gabbie's Low-Carb Peanut Butter Pie | PRICELESS!

ENTERTAINMENT

Equalizer 2

DDU-DU DDU-DU | BLACKPINK

Grav3yardgirl | YouTube Channel Fav!

That's it, that's all of them!

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