Yes I Love Walmart

Mothers Day Gifts

April 17, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

What would my mom like for Mother’s Day? That’s easy. The one thing that would make her so very happy is spending time with her children and grandchildren. She wouldn’t care if it was eating at a restaurant or working in the garden. She just wants to be with us. We’ll all really enjoy that. And no, we’re not going to put her to work!

Here are some of our gift ideas for Mother’s Day.

Spare Change Mason Jar Bank (IN STORES ONLY) $3.97

My youngest son is thrilled to be giving her this spare change jar. One of his biggest joys in life is finding money. He regularly counts all of his coins and then proudly tells us the whopping total.

She’ll like it because it’s blue (her favorite color) and is a mason jar (she loves to can fruits from her garden). Every time she drops a coin in it she’ll smile – remembering how he likes to fish a coin out from underneath something.

The Mason Jar Bank is 3 x 6” and is made of glass. It’s an actual mason jar but the lid has an opening in it to put money in. Mine would have been the pink one that said “Vacation” on it.

Stem and Tumbler (IN STORES ONLY) $4.97

This cup was picked out by my youngest daughter. She loves tumblers and drink bottles. And she’s the queen of bling. So she was completely drawn to the pretty rhinestone bedazzled flowers on it. She was sure Grandma would like the colorful flowers. It’s tall at 4 x 8”.

Photo Frame (IN STORES ONLY) $3.97

My oldest daughter found this gift. And she is dying to draw a picture to put in it. She wants to draw Grandma and us working in the garden together. Grandma will love it.

The frame looks like it’s black. But it’s not – it’s a mirror with a glittery pink heart on it. It is 6½ x 7”. The picture opening is a little over 3½ x 5½ so it’s for a 4×6 photo than can be cropped. The frame props up, but does not have a hanger –so elegant and pretty.

I Love You Grandma Charm Bracelet (IN STORES ONLY) $4.88

My oldest son will be so proud to give this beautiful bracelet to her. We loved every single charm and especially the stunning rhinestones. It’s perfect for her – so delicate and detailed.

Our Family Plaque (IN STORES ONLY) $5.97

This plaque will be from me. It will look really nice in her kitchen or on her indoor patio. I like the spring flowers on it. It’s 10 x 10 x 1”.

When you start looking for gifts for mom or grandma you might let your kids lead the way. Every gift will mean more to her and them when they put their hearts into it.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Rainbow Nails, Butterfly Flower – Directions

Rainbow Nails – Butterfly, Flower

April 13, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

I had so much fun painting these nails! The rainbow, butterfly, and flower designs are so pretty. They’re even cuter in person. I look at them often – well, a LOT. I’m excited to show them to you. Now that it’s spring, these rainbow colors give me a bright cheerful look.

My nails are still as pretty as the day I painted them. No worries about avoiding dishwashing to make them last. I tried several different designs but these were my favorite. And I kept my nails long so I’d have plenty of room for a design.

These tips will help you make dotted nail designs.

Use the right tools. Buy nail art dotting pens to paint small to large dots in such a small area. You can’t just depend on the bottle’s brush or a regular size dotter.

Zodaca Nail Art 2-Way Dotting Pens (5 piece set) $7.39 + free shipping

The size of dots are determined by:

– how hard you press the dotter onto the nail and

– the amount of paint you put on the dotter.

It takes time to do it well. If a nail doesn’t work out, take the paint off and redo it. If a dot is not in the right place, use a fine tipped tweezer to scrape it off.

Use reading glasses – so you get a magnified view of what you’re doing.

Put one or two drops at a time on a paper plate (palette) – it dries quickly. And don’t dip into the bottle – so you can control how much paint gets on the dotter.

Use or adapt a design so it fits your nail size. You can’t fit a large design on short nails.

Here are the rainbow colors you’ll need to make these designs.

Revlon™ Transforming Effects Matte Top Coat $3.97
Revlon™ Nail Enamel – Pure Pearl $3.97
Pink: Sally Hansen™ Hard as Nails™ – Heart of Stone $1.97
Orange: Sally Hansen™ Hard as Nails™ Xtreme Wear – Sun Kissed $2.46
Yellow: Sally Hansen™ Hard as Nails™ Xtreme Wear – Mellow Yellow $2.46
Green: Pure Ice™ – Wild Thing (IN STORES ONLY) $1.97
Blue: Sally Hansen™ Hard as Nails™ – Hard Bitten $1.97
Purple: Sally Hansen™ Hard as Nails™ – No Hard Feelings $1.97

This was my very first time using these special nail art dot pens – I promise! You can bet I’ll be making more designs now that I have these cool tools.

It was fun to paint a butterfly and flower design on my nails. It was so great to see it all come together.

But even if you don’t make dots, these spring colors will make your nails look cute.

You can guess what happened once my girls saw them, “Ooooh. I want that too!” They each want to be first in line to have their nails AND TOES done. : )

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Sweet Spring Eggs – Directions

Sweet Spring Eggs

April 9, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

These sweet eggs are colorful, beautiful, and delicate. They add a touch of spring to your home. And you can make them using simple materials. At our house, they decorate our fireplace mantel.

As I made them, I discovered different ways to wrap them. For my eggs, a pastel colored twine was wrapped around the Styrofoam egg.

But they can be made using yarn or embroidery floss. A satin embroidery floss would be especially pretty. You can use flower sequins too.

Here’s what you need to make them.

Floracraft™ Styrofoam™ Eggs (4 pkg) white 3-1/16 x 2-5/16” $4.33 order site to store
Hemptique™ Baker’s Twine 2 Ply Mini Spool Bag (6 pkg) creamy pastel $6.99 order site to store
Dritz™ Applique Pins Size 12, ¾” 350 ct. $2.47
Prima™ Velvet Rainbow Fabric Flowers with Pearls ¾ – 1” (24 pk) –Spring Mix $3.79 order site to store
Sheer Ribbon – pastel colors (white, yellow, pink, and blue) 1/4” wide (not available at Walmart)

If you prefer, you could use strong bright colors. Also, you can use a larger egg. This allows for even more color changes along the sides.

In the directions I explain how to wrap them and then finish them off with bows and flowers. I loved giving them that final sweet touch on top.

I plan to use bolder colors to make an egg for each of my children. They’ll be happy to see that I used their favorite colors. These eggs would be nice gifts tucked in an Easter basket too.

Have fun making your sweet spring eggs!

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Strawberry Yogurt Dipped Pretzels

April 5, 2016 by Jennifer 2 Comments

Strawberry yogurt dipped pretzels for spring! It was exciting to see these – I was head over heels for their Christmas white chocolate snowflake pretzels. And I’m a pink lovin’ girl so these had my name on them.

They have a nice light flavor, especially for kids – a sweet and salty treat. We really liked them.

In a bite there’s a hint of strawberry, the creaminess of the yogurt with a little salt from the crunch of the pretzels.

It has a gentle sweetness, with a light taste of yogurt. My youngest son kept calling it frosting.

The Bakery™ Strawberry Yogurt Dipped Pretzels 7 oz. (IN STORES ONLY) $3.00

I think you’ll like them. I loved the white chocolate pretzels, but these strawberry yogurt dipped pretzels are also very good. They would be so pretty for a wedding, birthday, tea party, or a spring sweets table.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Chic Spring Purses for You

April 2, 2016 by Jennifer 2 Comments

I knooow, it’s so hard to choose a favorite from these spring purses. I love the sweet pastel colors. They’re so chic and classy. How can you pick just one? Adorable.

George™ Knightly Belted Mini Satchel – Blue $15.97

This blue purse is super cute. The color is amazing and I like the silver chain. It has a long adjustable strap and handles that are 5” long. The purse measures 9” wide, 7½” high, and 3” deep. The lock on the front is decorative. The closure is magnetic. It has two main compartments and one inside zipper pocket.

George™ Handbag – Pewter (IN STORES ONLY) $16.97

This metallic purse is pewter but looks bronzish. I love the large hidden zipper compartment, the color, and the zipper across the front. There is a main compartment with a zipper pocket on the inside, and 2 pocket slots. It has an adjustable strap and is 10” wide, 8” tall, and 3½” deep.

George™ Dome Printed Status Satchel – Butterfly Floral $18.97

O.M.G. – So pretty. Love love this sweet butterfly purse – especially how colorful it is. Really like the large main compartment with a zipper pocket inside. This purse is obviously my favorite. The handles are 10” high, while the purse is 12” wide, 9” high, and 4” deep. It has 2 magnetic closures for 2 side compartments, and slot pockets on the outside.

George™ Katelyn Camera Crossbody Bag – Green $13.97

This crossbody bag is a fun color and design. It has a long adjustable strap with pretty gold chains. The purse is 9” wide, 6½” tall, and 2” deep. There is one main compartment and a zipper pocket on the inside and outside. They also had it in hot pink and coral.

George™ Jen Zipper Detail Quilt Satchel – Claw $16.97

They named this satchel after me! Yeah! Since I like to sew, the quilting on the front is perfect. It’s large with 3 separate main compartments, and is 12” wide, 8½” tall, and 5½” deep. The outside has one zipper pocket, a large slot, and two side pockets. The inside has 1 zipper and 2 small pockets. With the three main compartments you can keep very organized.

One of these purses may inspire you to build a spring outfit around it. I know you’ll look beautiful and chic with any one you choose.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Chocolate Peanut Butter Snack

March 30, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

This yummy chocolate peanut butter snack looked so cute with spring colors peeking out. When opening the box we smelled peanut butter right away.

The pastel colored chocolates are good. I liked the taste – similar to brand name candies.

The Bakery™ Yummy Chow 7 oz. (IN STORES ONLY) $3.00

The chow tastes good, especially when you eat the squares and candies together. You can taste the powdered sugar, some peanut butter, and only a little chocolate. I’m missing some vanilla, butter, and more chocolate in the flavor.

But, check the date on the package. Make sure they are fresh to get the best flavor and texture.

Of course, you could make this cereal mixture at home. And then add pastel brand name candies, if you like. We often make this mix as a snack, so it was nice to taste Walmart’s version.

If you want a quick finger snack for a spring party, then try this chow.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Rainbow Shortbread Cookies – Recipe

Rainbow Shortbread Cookies

March 27, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

Shortbread cookies with rainbow colors – amazing, huh. And I love these cookie stamps – the shapes are so cute.

My incredible shortbread cookies are traditionally dough colored. It was fun to change things up to make them rainbow colored. I usually bake the cookies in a pan and cut them into squares. But I worked with the recipe to add color and make them cut outs. What a happy day – when my final batch turned out perfectly.

Set of 4 Cookie Stamps (IN STORES ONLY) $2.92

I was looking at Easter decor and boom this set of cookie stamps jumped out at me. It is great to find a seasonal baking item that you like. Now, if you miss out on these cookie stamps, it’s ok, because you can use any small cookie cutter. The stamps in this set are 1¾ x 2”.

How do they taste? Amazing. They’re of course very buttery but also light and sweet. It is very hard to stop eating them. Plus, with their small size you want to eat several.

Shortbread cookies are nice to make, because everything you need is usually in your pantry.

To color the cookies, I used Americolor ™ food coloring.

Here are the details on how to make them.

In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking powder. Set aside.

Mix butter, sugar, and vanilla in a food processor. It’s very thick so every once in a while you may need to remove the lid and break up the butter to get it moving along.

Once it has fully blended and is smooth then gradually add the flour mixture. Process until combined or it’s not moving around well. Remove dough from processor to a large bowl and mix with a large spoon until all the butter is stirred in.

Divide it by putting about ¾-1 c. of the dough into six smaller bowls. Add 2 drops of the food coloring to each, except add 3 for the blue and purple bowls. (The dough gets darker as it bakes so don’t overdo the drops.) Mix with a small metal spoon until the color is worked through.

Roll into a ball and then flatten a little. Put inside a plastic zip bag and refrigerate about 30 minutes.

Take the dough out to soften and rework it into a ball.

Preheat oven to 350°. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Roll each dough out individually on a well-floured surface to ¼” thickness. Lightly flour the top of the dough to keep it from sticking to the rolling pin.

Cut shapes out by pressing down on the bottom of the cutter. (I made: pink bunny, orange butterfly, yellow chick, green egg, blue bunny, and purple butterfly.) Gently jiggle it to separate it from the other dough. (If it doesn’t lift easily your surface isn’t floured enough.)

Lift it up in the cutter to put it on a baking sheet. Check for excess flour on the bottom and brush that off or tap the side of the cutter on your counter. On the baking sheet, press down the plunger to emboss it. Lift the cutter up and press the plunger again to release the dough from the cutter.

Place them 2” apart on the baking sheet. Brush any flour off the back of the remaining dough and then reroll and cut it. Repeat with the other colors.

If a dough gets too soft to work with put it back in the fridge to chill while you work with another color. The cutter can be floured also. Clean your tools between colors.

Bake 8 minutes. Let cool. Makes about 4 dozen.

These shortbread cookies would be a hit at your picnic/egg hunt. And when you bring them, I’m pretty sure you’ll be taking home an empty plate.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Peeps Berry-Filled Tarts – Recipe

Peeps Berry-Filled Tarts

March 23, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

These tarts taste so very good. They are made of sugar-sweetened berries, whipped cream cheese, flaky crust, and frosting.

And they are super cute! The mini chocolate eyes and traditional colored sugars really give them that Peeps look.

When those things come together it’s a real treat. It may look like a cookie from the outside but inside it’s a pastry.

The filling is made easily with four different berries – blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries. You sweeten the berries with sugar and add whipped cream cheese. The filling is so delicious you’ll want to make more even after you’ve baked the tarts.

Making the tarts takes some time so I used a quick premade pie crust. This Pillsbury crust is nice and flaky. But, you can make a homemade pie crust if you’d like.

To make these tarts, you’ll need these items.

Great Value™ Whole Berry Medley 16 oz. (IN STORES ONLY) $3.86
Great Value™ Whipped Cream Cheese Spread 12 oz. (IN STORES ONLY) $3.00
Nestle Toll House™ Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Morsels 12 oz. (IN STORES ONLY) $2.22
Pillsbury™ Pie Crusts (2 ct) 14 oz (IN STORES ONLY) $2.76
Wilton™ Sprinkles Bright Sugars 3.25 oz (pink, yellow, purple, green) $4.00

My colors matched closely with the pink and purple peeps (shown on the package below). But the Bright Sugars container had some pink sugar mixed in with the purple. So, check the colors in the container before you buy it and keep it upright.

Wilton Cookie Cutter Set – Peeps (2 pcs) $1.88

I was so excited to see Wilton’s™ Peeps™ bunny and chick cookie cutter set at Walmart. The very first thing I made with them is berry filled tarts. These cookie cutters are colorful and well made. The chick is 2½” wide and the bunny is 4” tall.

Here are the details on how to make them.

Preheat oven to 400º and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Add the fruits to a food processor. Pulse for a few seconds until they are crushed up. Then add cream cheese and sugar. Mix for a few more seconds until just barely combined. Do not overblend.

Unroll the pie crusts onto a lightly floured surface. Use a rolling pin to make sure they’re smoothly rolled out.

Use the Peeps™-shaped cookie cutters to cut the dough into shapes. Continue to work the remaining dough by first brushing off any flour on the back. Roll the remaining dough out to 1/8” and cut again to get 32 shapes total. Make sure you have an even number of each kind (for top and bottom pieces).

Put 1 to 1¼ teaspoons of the filling in the center of 16 shapes. Working one at a time, wet a pastry brush with water and lightly brush all of the edges of the bottom of the shape that’s going to be on the top of the tart. Put it on top of the filling.

Gently press down on all of the edges with your fingers. Then use a fork to carefully but firmly press down on all of the edges. This seals it.

IMPORTANT: Use a toothpick to poke 3 holes in the center of each tart through the top dough.

Place them on the baking sheets. Bake for 12-13 minutes. Let cool.

Icing: Stir together the milk, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Working one tart at a time, spread icing on the cooled tarts almost to the edge.

Sprinkle colored sugar on thickly over a paper plate. Press in the tip of mini chocolate chips for eyes and a nose on the bunny. Makes 16 tarts.

The tarts were eaten up quickly. My family will want to eat them year round. The frozen berry medley and filling are so good. I plan to use them in other recipes.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

March 18, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

WOW. That’s the word we kept saying over and over – after we ate one of these little two-bite strawberry shortcake cupcakes.

The surprise when you bite into these cupcakes – is the filling inside. It is made with real strawberries – you can see the seeds.

The frosting is light and delicate – airy. It is smooth, creamy, and perfectly sweet. LOVE the frosting.

The vanilla cake is very moist. It didn’t really need frosting to be good. Delicious.

Kimberley’s Bakeshoppe™ Strawberry Shortcake Gourmet Cupcakes 9.7 oz. (12 ct) (IN STORES ONLY) $3.47

When you take a whole bite it is absolute perfection. You taste airy, moist, sweet, creamy goodness. It’s nothing like a traditional strawberry shortcake. (You know, the yellow round cakes topped with strawberries and whipped cream.)

This is truly a gourmet strawberry shortcake cupcake. It was impressive. WOW.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Easter Basket Gift Ideas

March 15, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

Every year my kids get very nice Easter baskets. They are full of gifts, sweets, and a chocolate bunny. I put the whole basket inside a large cellophane bag and tie their favorite color bow on top. It’s our tradition and I love doing it.

Here are some nice Easter gifts for kids.

Original Chocolate Scented Bunny (IN STORES ONLY) $2.98

I was so surprised to find this bunny. He is scented and smells like CHOCOLATE. What a fun new product. He is 9” tall and comes in cream or brown fur.

Floppy Pal Plush Toy – Dog (IN STORES ONLY) $9.98

This jumbo-sized dog immediately stole my heart. He is squeezable and has incredibly soft fur made of a quality plush. His satin bow says “Happy Easter”. And he is huge at 2 feet long.

Easter Basket – White (IN STORES ONLY) $7.98

This nicely made basket is so pretty!! I like how the bow ribbon is woven through the basket. I love the purple. But it also comes in pink and turquoise. It is a large size – 1 x 1½ feet. They also carry two smaller sizes.

Googly Eye Notebook, Desk Pad with Pen (IN STORES ONLY) $.97 each

This bunny notebook looks adorable with his googly eyes. It’s 4½” square. My daughter will love the flowery paper pad and the matching pen. It’s 4½ x 5½”.

Fun Sweets Cotton Candy – Classic, Jelly Bean (IN STORES ONLY) $2.00

These cotton candy containers have two flavors in them. The Classic container (on the left) is Blue Raz and Lemon. The lemon reminded me of lemon candy drops. The raspberry floss tasted more like blackberry. The lemon and raspberry together was different, but not overpowering.

The Jelly Bean tasted just like orange and grape jelly beans. It was quite a surprise at first. If you love orange and grape jellybeans, this is the container for you. I preferred the Classic (Blue Raz and Lemon). The containers are 10” tall.

Leisure Arts “Spring Wonders Color Art for Everyone” by Jo Chapman $4.43

This coloring book has 24 different designs in it. 99% of it is flowers. The pages are perforated so they can be taken out.

My oldest daughter really liked this coloring book. It has a variety of pages for you to explore. Here are two sample pages (shown side by side).

So, the fun part is looking at all the Easter treats and gifts. The hard part is trying to buy these surprises without my kids seeing them.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Colorful Easter Decor

March 12, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

I just love the Easter season because of the colors it brings to our home. Pastel and rainbow colors brighten up every room. Here are some beautiful, fun, and colorful Easter decorations.

Metallic Eggs (IN STORES ONLY) $1.98

Wouldn’t a child be thrilled to find one of these speckled metallic eggs?! I love the bright colors and metallic shine on the eggs. And with a little imagination, they could be “dinosaur” eggs.

Of course, you can fill the eggs with candy and hide them outside. Our kids still love to hunt for Easter eggs. They’re three inches long – larger than normal plastic eggs. And they come in a package of 6.

Bird Clip (IN STORES ONLY) $1.84

Aren’t these clip-on birds just stunning? They have metallic glitter on their wings. They were available in three colors, but I wish they had a pink one too. They are 5” long (9” long when you add in the plume).

Flower Potted Decor (IN STORES ONLY) $2.24

This yellow flower tugged at me. I think they have a pink one and a blue one too. It’s 8½” tall.

Vintage Bunny Decor (IN STORES ONLY) $7.84 each

Love, love these two bunnies. They’re so happy and friendly. I liked their vintage/rustic look. It would be nice to have a whole family of these. They’re both pretty big at 2 feet tall.

Glitter Decorative Eggs (IN STORES ONLY) $2.12

These large glitter and sequined eggs are incredible. They’ll nestle in nicely on my fireplace mantle. They were available in four colors – green, pink, blue, and purple. And they are 4 x 6” in size.

Welcome Bunny Felt Decor (IN STORES ONLY) $4.84

These precious bunnies are made of a very soft felt. They have wires in their ears so you can arrange them. They’re 2½ feet long, while bunny’s face is 5” wide.

Bright colors, sparkle, adorable – that’s what I want my Easter decor to look like. I hope you like my special Easter finds.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Workout Outfit – Pink, Grey, Love 4 Ever

February 29, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

It was the pink shoes. I saw them and had to build an outfit around them. The jacket was an easy match. But then I spotted these grey pants with a holographic print on them. This outfit will look so cute when I workout.

Yeah right, the words “work out” sound like I’m going to strain and sweat and build muscle. That’s not happening in this outfit. This kind of workout outfit is for wogging. What’s wogging? It’s where you jog and when you get tired you walk. Then when you’ve recovered, you jog again, etc. It’s my kind of work out.

I’m not about to tell you how long this work out goes on for. Let’s just say, when my gum loses its flavor. I did not say, when I start thinking about some leftover dessert all alone in the fridge calling my name. Nope. It’s really flavorful gum.

Faded Glory Women’s Low top Lace-up Sneaker – Pink $12.88

Since the shoes are so awesome, I’ll start with them. At first glance they look like your typical shoe but they are made with, wait for it, MEMORY FOAM inside the soles! So comfortable, no going back to a regular sole.

Plus, they’re PINK – woo hoo! Love them. Can you tell?

Hanes Women’s Fleece Full Zip Hoodie Jacket – Pale Pink $10.88

This PINK hooded jacket is very lightweight. It has pockets in the front. And the hood has a working drawstring.

No Boundaries Juniors Shelf Bra Cami – Arctic White $5.88

This little cami is stretchy and comfortable. It’s a nice bright white.

No BoundariesJuniors Graphic Yoga Pant – Charcoal $12.88

Now for the finale…! Talk about stretchy and comfortable knit pants. They’re a thin lightweight material. The elastic waist has a working drawstring. They have a wide leg but there aren’t any pockets.

One interesting thing about them is the seams and hem. The seams are made showing the raw edge on the outside. The hem isn’t tucked under and hidden. It’s a very cool street look.

The best part is the holographic silver print “LOVE 4 EVER” on them. It’s so eyecatching and pretty – OK, mesmerizing and pretty.

Just writing about his outfit makes me want to go “workout” in it. You should try wogging. But take lots of gum.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Minnie Mouse Pajamas

February 22, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

I was crossing my fingers and hoping to find cute pajamas. I found three Minnie Mouse sets to choose from – a hot pink, gray, and this black one. These pajamas are lightweight – perfect for spring.

I stood there for a good 10 minutes trying to decide on my favorite. They are all equally adorable. But Minnie’s cute smile on this one won me over.

Disney™ Minnie Mouse™ Women’s Short Sleeve Sleep Shirt – Black Soot $10.97

The pieces are sold individually so you could buy just the top or pants.

Disney™ Minnie Mouse™ Women’s Sleep Pant – Black Soot $10.97

The pants have an elastic waistband. The satin pink bow is for decoration. Pure comfort.

Women’s Fuzzy Fleece Clog Slipper – Pink $5.44

I found several pairs of hot pink slippers. But I went with these faux fur ones with a covered toe. They also come in black and leopard.

I think this outfit would be an awesome gift. It lets a woman have fun and look cute.

“He’ll sweep me off my feet. And I’ll know he’s the one, when he makes me laugh.” – Minnie

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Show Your Love With Personalized Embroidery – Directions

Show Your Love With Personalized Embroidery

February 21, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

It’s totally unexpected and fun to embroider love messages. When he wears these shorts he’ll be thinking about me all day – that’s for sure.

And once you learn how, you’ll want to put your personal touch on other things. Personalized items make great gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, or Valentine’s Day.

My kids were laughing when they saw me embroidering my husband’s boxer shorts (his underwear). But, why not give him a pair that’s personal, to make him smile (and think of you)? When we were newlyweds, he enjoyed the love notes I sewed into a pair of his boxers then.

The supplies you’ll need are:

- DMC™ embroidery floss: dark gray #413, gray #317, and red #321
- Cotton fabric
- Pencil or fabric marker
- Embroidery hoop
- Embroidery needle
- Fabric scissors
- Embroidery Hearts – Pattern

You could personalize other items in a place that’s hidden – where only he would see it. Try the inside of his hat, inside his suit, or the bottom of a dress shirt. Of course, it can be in a place that’s visible like on a t-shirt.

Your message can be simple like mine. Or it could be a wedding vow, a poem, a quote… whatever message that’s special to you.

You can include the double heart, use a single one, or draw your own symbol, or none at all.

I really liked using my own signature. That made it very personal. He’d recognize that it was my signature a mile away. The message can be entirely written in your handwriting. Or you could choose any font.

These stitches are so easy to do. I show you how to make every stitch and the heart in my directions below.

It’s fun to embroider a name or love message. You could surprise him by packing it in his luggage for a business trip – so he’ll think of you when he’s gone. Or you could mail it to him with some sweets when he’s out of town. It shows him you’re thinking of him plus, it’ll make him smile.

Embroidery Stitches (Back, Split, and Satin) – Directions

Embroidery Hearts – Pattern

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Personalized Hearts Pillow – Directions

Personalized Hearts Pillow

February 17, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

I betcha Jessica is going to looooove this personalized hearts pillow. She’ll be thrilled to see her name on such a pretty and girlie pillow. Maybe this will be her new lovie pillow that she takes everywhere. Or she could put it on the front and center spot on her bed.

I wanted something small so I bought Walmart’s travel pillow. I opened the package and felt the fabric. It’s super soft – it felt like velvet. And this would be a perfect pillow for car trips.

Here’s a look at the supplies I used.

Mainstays™ Travel Pillow 14” x 20” $3.48
Purple #Sweet Conversation Stuffed Heart (IN STORES ONLY) 98¢
Pink Smiley Conversation Stuffed Heart (IN STORES ONLY) 98¢
(2) DMC™ Embroidery Floss pink #3806 (or 603) (IN STORES ONLY) 33¢
Offray™ pink and white polka dot ribbon 3/8” x 12’ (IN STORES ONLY) $1.97
White with purple hearts ribbon 3/8” x 9’ (IN STORES ONLY) $1.00
Optional: Conversation Heart – Pattern
Optional: Pink and purple velour fabric

The hearts came off the back of two stuffed hearts (see picture above). They were easy to take apart. I used them because I liked the shapes, velour fabric, and girlie colors. (The other half won’t go to waste because I plan to make a coin purse out of the front sides.)

If you don’t see the hearts at your store, don’t worry, I’ve gotcha. I traced around them and made a pattern for you. That way you can choose any color and fabric.

I opened up the side of the pillow to slide her name in so I could trace around it. She wanted this particular font. I used a split stitch to outline her name and then satin stitched across that to fill it in – all sewn from the outside of the pillow.

BUT you don’t have to go that fancy. You can stitch the name with a simple back stitch. Either way, I’ve got you covered again, because here are my directions on how to make all three stitches. Embroidery Stitches (Back, Split, and Satin) – Directions

I’d say the most time was spent on embroidering the name. If you learn the satin stitch you can embroider words with fancy fonts OR you could stitch their signature on it.

So, you sew the hearts on, the name, and then the ribbons. And then you close the pillow.

You could order a personalized pillow like this – BUT it would cost you a lot more. Plus, it wouldn’t be nearly as soft.

I think a handmade pillow means more to both you and the person who gets it. You put your heart into it. Literally, ha ha. OOOOh I just came up with an idea…

When you sew the hearts on, write your name in pencil on the fabric that will be underneath so your name is hidden inside the heart. How sweet!

Conversation Heart – Pattern

Embroidery Stitches (Back, Split, and Satin) – Directions

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Embroidery Stitches (Back, Split, and Satin) – Directions

Personalize with Embroidery Stitches

February 14, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

Can you thread a needle and tie a knot? These easy embroidery stitches will help you personalize any cloth.

Use colors you like, sew designs, and put them on any item. I’ve put names on clothing, initials on ornaments, and designs on aprons.

And Walmart has a good selection of DMC™ embroidery floss for 33¢ each.

The three most important things for success are:

1. When stitching, only put the tip of your needle into the fabric. Then decide if that’s where you want it – before you put the needle through.

2. If you don’t like a stitch, then take it OUT and rethread your needle.

3. Every stitch has to be the same size.

I absolutely LOVE to hand sew and embroider.

And, if you give it a try, I think you will like embroidery. You could take on an embroidery kit after this. And who knows, you may end up an expert seamstress.

You can do this!

Follow the step-by-step guidance for Back, Split, and Satin stitches. Instructions and labelled photos are shown for each stitch.

Here is a beautiful pillow you can make with these stitches.

Personalized Hearts Pillow – Directions

Embroidery Hearts – Pattern

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Heart Shaped Animals on Valentines Cards – Directions

Heart Shaped Animals on Valentines Cards

February 11, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

Can you believe these ADORABLE animals are only made with hearts? My oldest daughter and I had a ridiculous amount of fun making them. When she came up with a heart that looked like cheese – I just squealed at how clever it was.

We picked an animal and both started making our own versions. We compared the two versions and then we both worked on the best design. We didn’t want to stop. There are so many different ways to make them.

We made the animals and came up with great extras for each animal. They started looking like a scene, so we added sayings and turned them into Valentine cards.

We really loved the bright colored and polka dot papers from Walmart for the animals. Here and there I did add a few patterny papers I had at home.

Colorbök™ Cardstock – Spots 12 x 12” (30 sheets) (IN STORES ONLY) $5.00
Astrobrights™ Cardstock Double Color 8.5 x 11” (25 sheets) (IN STORES ONLY)$4.22
Fiskars™ Medium 1” Heart Punch (order site to store) $11.17
Martha Stewart™ Layering Deco 1½” Heart Punch (order shipped to home) $18.42 + $7.28 shipping
Clever Lever™ Extra Jumbo Silhouette and Embossing Punch Heart Butterfly (order shipped to home) $11.39 + $6.36 shipping (for the small hearts it makes)
Jumbo lattice 2¾” heart paper punch (not available at Walmart)
Fiskars™ Large 1½” Heart Paper Punch (not available at Walmart)
Small ½” heart punch (not available at Walmart)
Marvy Uchida™ Small 3/8” heart punch (not available at Walmart)

As for all the heart punches, you don’t have to use the ones I did. You can just cut out your own hearts. I really liked using the punches that had scalloped edges.

The animals would look great on a Valentine mailbox. Or they could be used as gift tags. I plan to make really large versions to use as Valentine Party wall décor. They don’t have to just be cards – there are lots of uses for them.

In the directions I have photos of exactly how the animals were put together to make it easy for you.

I think my daughter and I should do more competitive craft making. Hee Hee. It really brought out some fun and creativity.

I hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day and that you feel loved.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Valentines Gifts Especially for Her

February 9, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

Guys, do you buy the same predictable Valentine’s Day gifts every year? Let me guess… flowers and chocolate? Now is your chance to surprise her. Here are some gift ideas for your special lady.

Swiss Miss™ Hot Cocoa Gift Pack (IN STORES ONLY) $5.98

This set of hot cocoa mixes are divine: Milk chocolate, French vanilla, Mint chocolate, and Caramel cream. There are 3 packets in each box. The ribbon and gift tag that come with it are nice.

Faded Glory™ Women’s Essential Rib Tank – Hearts $3.94

This is such a sweet tank top. It’s stretchy and comfortable. This will look cute peeking out of a sweater.

Love Heart 18″ Necklace Set (IN STORES ONLY) $4.88

These delicate heart earrings look nice. So, maybe you can find a beautiful earring and necklace set for her. And you will like the price.

Village Naturals Bath Shoppe™ Lavender and Chamomile Milk Bath (28 oz.) $3.50

What woman doesn’t love a bubble bath? This milk bath fills the tub with bubbles. But she’ll also get the moisturizing benefit of the milk protein, Aloe, and Vitamin E – not just a bubble bath. It’s a light purple and smells like lavender and chamomile. It can also be used as a body wash.

Faded Glory™ Women’s Super Minky Fleece Robe – Pink Sachet $18.88

Yes I did, I pet this robe – a lot. I could hardly stop touching it. It has pockets and is super plush. It will warm her right up. She’ll look nice in MY favorite color!

Faux Fur Footable Slipper Socks (IN STORES ONLY) $4.97

Oh my goodness. Her tootsies are going to thank me. These cute slippers have a microfleece lining and a crazy soft faux fur. They’re padded and have gripper dots on the sole. Meow!

Your lady will love whatever you pick for her. But, surprise her with gifts she won’t expect.

Just don’t forget to give her something nice.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Valentines Body Creams – Pamper Her

February 5, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

Guys, these body creams and fragrance mists are a nice gift to pamper your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day. Or girls, you can buy them just to pamper yourself. You probably do a lot for the people you love – so you deserve some pampering.

The beauty department has a whole endcap dedicated to Valentine’s Bodycology™ (or body creams).

The creams are made with a “rich butter complex”. Their website says this means they contain Shea, Cocoa, and Jojoba Butters. They claim it leaves you feeling “soft for hours”. Wow. I love their romantic names and packaging.

Let’s break the scents down…

Sweet Seduction: fresh petals and apple

Irresistibly Lovely: strawberries and pink peonies

Sweet Love: whipped cream and sweet rose

Cherish the Moment: cherry blossom blooms and fragrance

Scarlet Kiss (with pomegranate, peach, and vanilla) was my favorite

I bought both the Scarlet Kiss cream and the fragrance. They sell heart bags to gift them; the bags could hold about four items. Scarlett Kiss is also sold online in a body lotion and a foaming body wash.

Bodycology™ Scarlet Kiss Moisturizing Body Cream, 8 oz. $2.00

Bodycology™ Scarlet Kiss Fragrance Mist 8 oz. $3.97

Bodycology™ Gift Bag (IN STORES ONLY)$1.00

It’s nice to see special Bodycology™ scents for Valentines. It would be nice to see more spa/bath sets for this holiday.

It’s the day women want to feel pretty and pampered – well, I do. What does your guy do or buy that makes you feel special and pampered on Valentine’s Day?

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Valentines Day Gifts for Kids

February 3, 2016 by Jennifer 2 Comments

Valentine’s day gifts – so many good choices. You’ll find small puppies to giant teddy bears that can barely sit on a shelf.

With a lot of looking and snuggling I found clothes, jewelry, and stuffed animals for my kids.

Valentines - Gifts for Kids | yesilovewalmart.com

Floppy Beige and Pink Puppies (IN STORES ONLY) $2.98 each

This adorable beige puppy is soft. I loved his expression and how floppy he was. He has a sweet red bow and is about 7 inches tall sitting up.

The pink puppy has heart fabric on her paws and ears. She is soft to squeeze and is about 10 inches long.

Big Eye Animals – Pink Unicorn and Giraffe (IN STORES ONLY) $2.98 each

I was drawn to the happy smiles on these little guys. Both of these “Big Eye Animals” have a heart on their foot, cute tails and manes, and have metallic eyes. They are about 7 inches tall and their bows say “LOVE”.

Rainbow Horse (IN STORES ONLY) $10

I found this cutie pie in the stuffed animals area (in the toy department). I love how vibrant his rainbow colors are. He’s very soft and made of quality fur. He’s about 1½ feet long.

On Valentine’s Day I like to buy my kids heart boxes with chocolates. And I think they will love these gifts too.

Glitter Print Skirt (IN STORES ONLY) $5.88

This is the perfect skirt to show off at a Valentine’s Day party. I LOVE the glitter hearts and elastic waistband. It has a sheer outside layer over a red liner. This is an awesome skirt. I would have loved to wear it — when I was younger.

Love Bug Knee High Socks (IN STORES ONLY) $2.97

I was loving these socks for their metallic yarn and the ladybugs. You will find quite a selection of socks for Valentine’s Day.

Love 18” Necklace and Earring Set (IN STORES ONLY) $4.88

This necklace and earring set had my daughter’s name on it. She’ll be happy to add the earrings to her “when mom can brave the idea of getting her ears pierced” collection. She’s going to adore the necklace!

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Marshmallow Crisp Rice Treats

February 1, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

I was sure these marshmallow crisp rice treats were not going to impress me. But they did. My aunt had a great recipe for these treats. When I tasted hers, I was gobsmacked – they were much better than the “side of the cereal box” recipe.

These crisp rice treats from The Bakery™ (at Walmart) are sooo chewy and moist. They look pretty – dressed up with red and white sprinkles for Valentine’s Day. And the package says they are made using Rice Krispies™ cereal. Hmmm. That’s a good start.

They were sweet and fresh with a soft, chewy taste. They were a little heavy on the sprinkles, which made them crunchy, but it’s OK cuz they’re cute.

The bars are perfectly cut to about 1½ x 2½ inches – a nice size for little ones. And the box held a good amount – 24.

Marshmallow Crisp Rice Treats – The Bakery™, 18 oz. (IN STORES ONLY) $6.00

So, I like these treats, especially when I don’t have time to make my own. (Now we are busy stuffing Valentine treat bags. Let’s see – bags for TWENTY FIVE friends for each child (FOUR children). That makes, just in case you didn’t know, a HUNDRED Valentines! Whew!)

It’s a nice treat to take to a Valentine’s Day party. Or you could put the bars in individual bags and give them out to friends with Valentines.

Now about those 100 Valentines… ; )

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Window Snowflakes – Shades of Blue – Directions

Window Snowflakes – Shades of Blue

January 30, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

Snowflakes are the most delicate and beautiful thing about winter. Yet catching and viewing one snowflake is fleeting because it melts – as soon as it touches your glove. This window snowflake project will help you bring the beauty of snow inside (but not the cold!).

As a kid I loved to make snowflakes. I folded squares of paper and randomly cut into the triangle – hoping it would make a nice design. I still love cutting snowflakes but I now know how to create beautiful designs.

Here I’ll show you how to turn snowflake designs (like my Elsa Series) into a beautiful window display. Colored tissue makes them look like they’re stained glass. And they look elegant with different shades of blue.

Here are the supplies you’ll need.

Expressions from Hallmark™ Wrap it Tissue -Turquoise and Fiesta Blue (8 sheets) $1.47
Martha Stewart Crafts™ Glitter and Glue – Arctic White $5.40 (order site to store)

I bought tissue paper in the same family of blue (sky blue, light turquoise, and royal blue). But tissue papers you may have at home would work.

For your child, make their favorite color snowflakes to hang on a window. For a girls room, pink and purple would look nice. Or you could change the paper colors and make rainbow snowflakes.

I reduced each of my patterns into five smaller sizes. They range from 3 to 6 inches wide. So you may want to enlarge them.

You fold and cut them, glue them to the papers, and add glitter. Then attach them to any window.

They could be hung like a garland. On a mirror would be beautiful as well. You can make them all from one pattern, choose your favorites, or make your own.

I hung these snowflakes in a window by our dining room table. It’s a beautiful thing to look at the window and see them. When winter is over, and it’s time to take them down – we won’t miss the cold weather. But we’ll miss our colorful snowflakes.

Snowflake, Folded Paper – Directions

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Snowflake, Folded Paper – Elsa Pattern

Paper Snowflakes – Elsa Series

January 27, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

It’s snowing in my house! Well…. it feels like snow because my kitchen cupboards are COVERED with snowflakes. A LOT of snowflakes. I thought I’d make a handful, but with a lot of revisions I ended up making 50.

There’s a bit of an art to designing these “not so simple after all” snowflakes. I prefer the rounded snowflakes over sharp and pointy ones. Also, snowflakes cut from an outside edge are easier to make. It’s hard to cut through several layers on the inside.

So, I’d draw one snowflake and my oldest daughter cut them out for me (she was an angel). If we didn’t like the result, I’d redraw it, and she’d re-cut it… This went on until we created our very best snowflakes.

We decided to give them Nordic names. And we’ve named this year’s snowflakes the “Elsa Series.”

Here are the completed snowflake patterns by name. For each snowflake, two links are shown (for folded paper and full paper). All of the snowflakes are approximately 7″ by 7″.

Folded paper – Print pattern on regular paper to fold and cut.
Card stock – Print pattern on card stock and cut it out inside the lines.

Elsa

Snowflake – Elsa Pattern

Felicia

Snowflake, Folded Paper – Felicia Pattern

Snowflake – Felicia Pattern

Isabella

Snowflake, Folded Paper – Isabella Pattern

Snowflake – Isabella Pattern

Klara

Snowflake, Folded Paper – Klara Pattern

Snowflake – Klara Pattern

Luna

Snowflake, Folded Paper – Luna Pattern

Snowflake – Luna Pattern

Maria

Snowflake, Folded Paper – Maria Pattern

Snowflake – Maria Pattern

So, when we were all done, I noticed that our scissors had a tissue wrapped around the handle several times. I was so puzzled and asked my daughter why the tissue was on there. She said she didn’t want her fingers to get sore from cutting. She loved cutting out each snowflake and didn’t want to stop.

To get the best results, use these step-by-step directions to fold and cut the snowflakes.

Snowflake, Folded Paper – Directions

The fun is when you open up the triangle and you’re surprised to see the beautiful design. I hope you enjoy making these snowflakes as much as we did.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Frozen Snowflake Sugar Cookies – Recipe

Frozen Snowflake Sugar Cookies

January 25, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

I think Olaf would love these snowflake sugar cookies inspired by the movie “Frozen”. They’re chewy, moist, and perfectly sweet. The blue sugar, sparkle, and snowflake embossing makes them decadent enough for Queen Elsa.

Everyone will have a hard time keeping their hands out of the cookie jar – that’s for sure. These would be fun to serve at a “Frozen”, winter, or ice skating party.

It’s an easy recipe to make. A flour mixture is added to a creamed mixture – then the dough is scooped into balls.

Snowflake Plunger Cutter 3 pcs. Order $12.99

Now it gets fun – you roll the dough into a ball and then roll the ball in the blue colored sugar. Next, the middle size plunger (in this nifty plunger/cutter set) is gently pressed down onto the ball – to make a beautiful snowflake.

If you prefer, the dough balls can simply be rolled in white sugar. Then the balls are pressed down with the bottom of a drinking glass to flatten them. With or without the embossing, color, or sparkle these are special sugar cookies.

Here’s what you’ll need to buy (to make a large batch of three dozen).

Check to see if you have a blue food coloring in your pantry.

Walmart Grocery
AmeriColor™ Soft Gel Paste Sky Blue Food Coloring .75 oz. Order $5.49 with free shipping
Optional: Rainbow Disco Dust – not available through Walmart.

Sugar Topping

To make the sugar topping pour ¼ c. sugar into a small bowl. Add 2-3 drops of food coloring to the bowl.

With a small metal spoon, mash the lumps of color and stir until the sugar is completely colored and there are almost no color lumps. (It takes a while).

Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In another large bowl with a mixer on medium speed, cream the butter then add 1½ c. sugar. Mix these for two minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl. Add the egg and vanilla and mix one minute.

Pour in the dry ingredients a little at a time and mix thoroughly.

Using a tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop dough and then roll into 12 balls. Put the rest of the dough in an airtight container and set aside. (The balls must be moist in order to pick up the most blue sugar.)

Gently roll the balls in the blue colored sugar several times to make sure they’re fully covered. Place on the cookie sheet (spacing them 2 inches apart). Using the medium-size plunger, carefully press the circular base down on the ball to about ½ an inch in height to emboss it. Then press the plunger to emboss the center and to help it release.

Bake for 9-10 minutes. Slide the cookies/paper from the baking sheet to let them cool. (Optional: Immediately sprinkle on the Disco Dust.) Bake the remaining dough 12 balls at a time.

When I was making the cookies I kept hearing, “Are they ready yet? All of us were dying to get our hands on them. They’re popular because of how yummy they are, not just because they’re pretty.

I plan to get more plunger/cutters with other shapes. They emboss such a nice print and are easy to press. Kids will have fun helping you make the snowflakes.

Let it snow (cookies)!

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Fashionably Warm – Gloves, Scarves, Socks

January 23, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

In the winter, it’s nice to keep warm, but still be fashionable. These gloves, scarves, socks, and PJs will help you do just that.

When I was a kid, we wore thick itchy wool scarves and socks that looked better on my Dad. And they were not very colorful, soft or pretty.

It was all about being warm. Zero chance for frostbite. Zero chance of looking cute.

But, these winter items are fashionable and warm – I like that.

Essentials by Isotoner™ Casual Women’s Knit Gloves – Ivory $12.47

These gloves have a plush feel inside. They’re incredibly comfortable and warm.

Faded Glory Faux Fur Grove Stripe Terry Cowl – White (IN STORES ONLY) $7.97

To appreciate the faux fur, you have to see it up close – so luxe. It looks expensive.

You will like the softness around your neck.

Faded Glory Infinity Scarf, 2 Pack Combo – Sketchy Zebra/White (IN STORES ONLY) $4.97

The zebra scarf is so airy and delicate with a lot of fabric.

The black scarf is crocheted with a diamond pattern. It is smooth and flexible. This scarf would look so pretty with a top too.

Slipper Socks – Rainbow Polka Dot $4.97

I fell in love with these slipper socks – black with rainbow polka dots. You have to try them on. It is SOOFT to put your feet in these – plush times ten. They are padded and have gripper dots on the sole so you don’t slip. In the winter, I live in these slippers.

Air Plus™ Aloe Infused™ Socks $2.97

These socks captivate me. There is something really special about how aloe infused socks feel. It’s hard to describe. They’re soft but also smooth. You feel them moisturizing, which sounds really odd to write. But, it’s like lotion is built into the fabric.

Ladies 2 Piece Minky Fleece Rib Cuff Pajama Set – Hearts $14.00

Ladies 2 Piece Plush Pajama Set – Owl (IN STORES ONLY) $14.00

Fleece or plush for pajamas – it’s hard to decide. The heart pajamas are thinner and have a cuff around the ankle. Both are soft and comfortable. Either one would be great a Valentine’s Day gift.

I hope your winter clothes make you feel “fashionably warm”.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Glitter Nail Polish Remover Gel

January 21, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

I loooove glitter nail polish. And I like to add a glittery clear top coat too. But, getting it off my nails is usually the hard part – until now.

Glitter Nail Polish Remover Gel $2.84

Typically, I have removed glitter with liquid nail polish remover — which didn’t remove very much. And I’d end up scraping the rest off with my nail. Ugh!

But, this glitter remover gel saves me time.

And the size is right – it is a semi travel-size bottle. I like how the gel came out in a controllable way, unlike a bottle of liquid nail polish.

Here are my tips to help you get good results.

Supplies needed

cotton swabs
paper towels
timer
liquid nail polish remover

Directions

1) Apply “gelled” solution generously to nails.

They definitely mean generously. So, you need to apply more than just a small “dollop”.

Apply enough remover to fully cover the nail – including the edges.

(The first time I used this gel, I didn’t apply enough around the edges.)

The key to success: Apply a thick amount on every place you have polish. Don’t skimp!! If you have an area with a thin amount – it dries quickly and the polish won’t wipe off. Use a cotton swab to make sure a thick amount gets in every crevice. Apply to one hand at a time.

2) Let sit for 2 minutes.

Put a paper towel under your hand since some can slide off while you’re waiting.

Use a timer! Don’t guess. It has to be on there for a full 2 minutes.

3) Wipe away with a cotton ball paper towel.

Paper towels worked best to remove the gel. I found that cotton balls slide around. So did tissues, plus they left shredded tissue on the nail. Be sure to wash your hands afterwards.

The gel removes the glitter, which is the hard part. And, if any polish remains on the edges of the nail, then use liquid nail polish remover to take it off.

With this remover gel, the glitter comes off easily. It’s a gentle process.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Black Peasant, Soft Jeggings Outfit

January 17, 2016 by Jennifer 2 Comments

Have you ever tried on clothes – without finding a good choice? And then “ta da” – you put on THE ONE. That’s how I found this black peasant top and soft jeggings outfit.

And I heard, well, I think I heard, music in the dressing room when I put this on. It might have been the loudspeaker at Walmart – but I did hear music.

Faded Glory 3/4 Sleeve Woven Peasant Top – Women’s, Black Soot/Arctic White $13.44

I love this lightweight black top. It was so comfortable and easy. I liked the pattern of the material, the length, and cut of the top. It has 3/4 sleeves and is made of rayon (dry cleaning).

Faded Glory Ribbed Velour Knit Black Jegging Pants, Black $12.44

“Jegging” pants combine Denim and Spandex. So they fit like leggings but the velour and knit material are very SOFT.

Maybe I should call mine soft-gings?

This soot black velour fabric helps the top stand out. But you can find faux leather ones and some that look like jeans.

Faded Glory Charmi Flat – Women’s, Black $9.87

These are sweet little flats. I really liked how they were crocheted to have the lace-type detail around the edge. And they’re comfortable.

George Handbag, Black (IN STORES ONLY) $9.97

This handbag goes well with many of my outfits. It has an adjustable strap and zipper compartments.

Keep the Faith Charm Bracelet (IN STORES ONLY) $4.88

The Y Necklace (IN STORES ONLY) $3.00

The different crosses on the bracelet are so pretty. This Y necklace worked nicely with the top. It hangs down at just the right spot.

I know I’m going to hear music every time I put this on.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Pound Cakes – Orange Cranberry, Lemon, Carrot

January 14, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

Which pound cake is your favorite – orange cranberry, lemon, carrot, or sour cream? Do you like the zing of lemon or spices in the carrot cake? They were all very moist – that’s for sure.

Marketside Variety Pound Cake – Orange Cranberry, Lemon, Carrot, and Sour Cream 28 oz. (IN STORES ONLY) $7.48

With this variety pack you get TWO pounds of cake. AND you get to try four different kinds. I recommend cutting them with a straight edge knife, to get the best slices.

Who knew they made variety packs for pound cakes – where you could try more than one? And… who knew they were so good? We do now.

Orange Cranberry

This beautiful pound cake tied for winner. It was very flavorful. The cake had flecks of cranberry and orange zest in it.

The glaze had a perfect sweetness to match the cake. It had plump cranberries and a few walnuts on top.

The taste with the cake and glaze was perfection. My tasting buddy and I sparred over the crumbs. We wanted MORE.

Lemon

The lemon also tied for winner. It tastes like “your grandmother’s” lemon pound cake. If you attempt to bake a lemon pound cake, you want it to taste like this.

You definitely get that punch of lemon, but it’s just the right amount. There are flecks of lemon zest throughout. It has a nice yellow color.

The glaze was right there with the same lemon flavor. I could hear the crunch of the sugar crystals. It had a nice thick layer of glaze. Soooo good.

Carrot

The carrot cake was also good and came in second place. You can taste a traditional carrot cake and all of its spices. There are flecks of bright carrots in it. There is a nice balance of carrot and spices and cake.

The vanilla glaze (I’m going to guess, cream cheese) really brought it up a notch. It was sprinkled with a good amount of walnuts (which my kids picked off). We wanted more.

Sour Cream

This cake was good, but it tasted like any other vanilla cake. It was a “plain Jane” compared to the others.

There was no glaze. The “crumble” on top had the crunch of sugar but was soft. And, it didn’t have much flavor.

So, try these pound cakes – you’ll enjoy the variety. It’s a great way to taste the cakes, before you commit to buy a whole one.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Quilted Snowman Body – Directions

Quilted Snowman Ornament

January 11, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

You can turn a simple styrofoam ball into a pretty, detailed, and elegant ornament – it’s amazing.

And you have two nice options. The body of the snowman is a beautiful ornament by itself – just attach a ribbon. Or you could add another smaller all-white ball for the head. This turns it into a snowman. It’s connected with a long toothpick.

I sewed the hat together using my Snowman Hat – Pattern. Then I added the face pins, nose, scarf, and hat details.

And the snowman “looks quilted” –with no sewing. I promise! Instead, you put it together with little pins. The ribbons are pinned into little triangles from the center outward – so the pins are hidden.

After you get the center and the first star on, then it gets fun. You won’t want to put it down.

Here’s what you need to make it.

Walmart Crafts
Red Wired Ribbon – Holiday Time 1” x 15’ (IN STORES ONLY) $1.98
Green Wired Ribbon – Holiday Time 1” x 15’ (IN STORES ONLY) $1.98
Multicolored Ribbon 5/8” x 9’ (IN STORES ONLY) $1.00
Berwick Offray White Ribbon 2½” x 15’ (IN STORES ONLY) $1.97
Striped Ribbon 3/8” x 6’ (IN STORES ONLY) $.94
Flora Craft 2” Foam Balls (12 ct) $3.47
Flora Craft 3” Foam Balls (6 ct) $3.97
Dritz Applique Pins, size 12, ¾” $2.47, 2 boxes
Dritz Ball Point Pins, size 20, 1¼” (80 ct) $2.27
Dritz Ball Point Pins, size 17 (300 ct), 1-1/16” $2.97
Horizon Group Jingle Bells (55 ct) $2.97
Black Craft Felt $.23
Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue 4 oz $1.27
Black Sharpie™ Ultra Fine Point Marker $1.74
Orange tiny pom pom
4” Long Toothpick
Quilt Fiberfill
Ribbon to Hang it

He’s just adorable when he’s put together. When people see it – they’re going to think you used a sewing machine to make it – Hee Hee.

Quilted Snowman Head, Assembly – Directions

Snowman Hat – Pattern

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Perfectly Soft Gingerbread House Cookies – Recipe

Perfectly Soft Gingerbread House Cookies

January 4, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

Stop staring at my gingerbread house cookies! I know they look cute. Instead, focus on the perfectly soft cookies underneath with thick frosting on top.

These gingerbread cookies are special – they taste soooo good (And I’ve tasted a lot of different gingerbread cookies). They stay soft – they’re rolled thick and not overbaked. And they have just the right amount of spices. After you cut the dough into shapes, you can’t wait to eat them.

Directions

You probably have many of these ingredients in your pantry already – except the molasses.

- Walmart Grocery

Grandma’s™ Molasses Original – 12 oz. $2.88

In a medium bowl, stir together the sifted flour, baking soda, and all of the spices. Set aside.

In another large bowl, cream the butter, add sugar, and mix. Add the molasses and egg and beat until smooth.

With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the smooth a little at a time. Scrape the sides of the bowl and beat until fully combined and thick.

Divide and pat the dough into two balls, then flatten. Chill in an airtight container in the fridge for at least 1½ hours.

Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

To roll out cookie dough I always use two white DōStix (www.dostixonline.com – the white sticks in the photo above). They help me roll the dough out evenly and get that critical ¼ inch thickness.

Put flour underneath the dough and lightly on top as you roll it out.

Cut the shapes with a house cookie cutter or use my Gingerbread House – Pattern. It can be printed to any size; I like mine large at 4¾ x 5¼”. The cookies will be a little bigger than the pattern size – they puff up during baking.

You’ll place the pattern on the dough and trace around it with a toothpick. Then remove the pattern and use a knife to cut along the lines.

Pick it up with a metal spatula and put it on the cookie sheet’s paper. If needed, pick up any edges and stretch them back in place.

Use your knife and fingers to mold every corner exactly how you’d like it. Make sure edges are straight and the roof corners equal. (Because it’s such a soft dough – it will need tweaking.) Before reworking any remaining dough, brush flour off the bottoms of the cuttings.

Bake for 9 minutes. Slide the cookies/paper off the sheet. Let them cool completely.

You’ll want to spread my Lick it Off the Cookie Frosting – Recipe on top. It’s soft and adds sweetness and moisture to cookies.

You need these four things to decorate the gingerbread houses.

Celebration by SweetWorks Sweet Shapes Pastel Heart Candies (IN STORES ONLY) $1.00
Airheads Xtremes Sweetly Sour Candy – Rainbow Berry 4.5 oz. (IN STORES ONLY) $1.38
Wilton Sprinkles – Holiday Shapes 6 cell (IN STORES ONLY) $4.88
Confetti Sprinkles

Quilt Cookie

My inspiration for this cookie came from red and white quilts.

Wreath Cookie

Think outside the box with the sprinkles. An upside down Christmas tree can become the stem and leaves of a flower. Holly leaves can turn into a wreath.

Tree Cookie

Stacking small trees can make a large tree.

This recipe makes 9 (large) to 12 (medium) cookies. So you may want to double it.

We usually just frost them (with the boys and dad hovering / jostling to get the first one finished). But, if you want to dress them up, they’re fun to decorate.

Enjoy them, they won’t be around for long.

Gingerbread House – Pattern

Lick it Off the Cookie Frosting – Recipe

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Lick it Off the Cookie Frosting – Recipe

Lick it Off the Cookie Frosting

January 2, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

My “lick it off the cookie” frosting only has four ingredients – but adds sweetness and moisture to cookies.

I was teaching a girls group to make gingerbread cookies. The girls cut the cookies out, then their moms baked and frosted them. I noticed the moms had stopped frosting the cookies. And they were eating the cookies – a lot of cookies.

One of the moms said, and I promise you it’s true, “I would lick this frosting off a slipper.” Yes, it’s that good.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need.

Walmart Grocery
McCormick Vanilla Flavor Clear – 2 oz $4.32

I use clear vanilla so the frosting is as white as possible.

In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, cream the butter.

On low speed, gradually add the powdered sugar. Mix to combine. Then add the milk and vanilla and beat, scraping the sides of the bowl, until thick.

Mix in food coloring if desired. Spread on cookie.

This frosting is very moist, so store cookies in a single layer. It thickly covers 9 (large) to 12 (medium) cookies. So you may want to double it.

You’ll want this frosting on all your cookies and crackers. Just be careful – don’t drip it on your slippers!

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Embossed Metal Christmas Ornaments – Directions

Embossed Metal Christmas Ornaments

December 28, 2015 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

It’s so fun and addicting to make these beautiful Christmas ornaments! When you shape the metal and start to see the embossed design come through — it’s a pretty cool thing.

I’ve always liked tin ornaments – such pretty designs and so colorful. But to make them involves a large pair of metal cutters and a hammer. But, we don’t want to damage any fingers, right?

So I found this wonderful aluminum metal that is very easy to shape. It is cut with a regular pair of scissors and is embossed with a wooden stick.

The “embossing folder” (with design patterns) is placed underneath the metal and rubbed with the stick to make the design pattern raise up. It gives a texture and elegant touch to the ornament.

The ornaments can be painted, but I found permanent markers give it a nice bright color. Markers also let the shine of the metal come through.

Here are the supplies I use to make these ornaments.

ArtEmboss™ Pure Metal Sheet – Aluminum, Medium Weight 9-1/4 x 12″ $18.35 – Comes with a wooden tool. One sheet makes about 6 ornaments.
Darice™ Embossing Folder – Scroll Background 4-1/4 x 5-3/4″ $4.57 (order site to store)
Sharpie™ Fine Point Permanent Markers – Electro Pop Limited Edition 24 ct $17.88
Ribbon to hang ornament
Christmas Ornament – Patterns (snowman, tree, angel, star)

The metal sheet package comes with a wooden tool – with both a fine point tip and a flat edge. It also includes directions and tracing patterns.

Snow Girl

Here is a little snow girl I made using a bit more color. I embossed below her sweater and a swirl on her hat.

Angel

For the angel, I embossed her dress. For her wings, the same pattern was used – a raised pattern on one wing and a lowered pattern on the other.

Tree

I singled out three different swirls for the tree.

Star

With the star, I selected an area from the embossing folder that I liked. I pressed and used the entire design.

It is so much fun. You’ll probably want to make all of the ornaments yourself. But they’re an easy craft for kids to make too.

Christmas Ornament – Patterns

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Baklava – Sweet Pastry Treat

December 27, 2015 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

Oh. My. Word. My family ate this ENTIRE tray in just one day. It tasted so good – a sweet pastry treat – we wished we had another tray.

When I bought it, I figured pastry and nuts. And I thought it was a risk – maybe too many nuts – my family might not like it. But, was I surprised.

The Bakery™ Baklava Assortment (IN STORES ONLY) $ 6.00

One pastry has a walnut mixture on dough with a large fresh pecan on it. The other three pastries are made with a nut mixture in between dough.

With all three I tasted a nicely balanced bite of flaky pastry dough, a sweet filling of nuts, and drizzled icing. The nuts truly taste gourmet. The phyllo dough is crispy and flaky. It’s kind of high on the sugar scale. So a few pieces are filling but you’ll want more.

This baklava is an incredible treat. So, where has it been all my life? : – ) Somehow, we just didn’t eat it when I was growing up – but now baklava is part of my holiday tradition!

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Lip Gloss Gift Set – Shimmer

December 23, 2015 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

Treat your lips to some new gloss. It leaves a shimmer and is thick but not sticky. Lip glosses are sheer in general but these colors can still be seen.

The 10 colors give you a big range to choose from – they work year round. I’m especially fond of the burgundy and gold ones.

Secret Lace Lip Gloss Gift Set (10-piece) $9.88

The set comes with a nice metalic and clear travel case. I’m big on being able to see what’s inside a makeup bag.

Every woman would enjoy this set. But a teen girl would especially like to own the range of colors to match every MOOD. I’ve got a cutie here who’s hoping this ends up under the tree for her.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Snowman Marshmallow Popcorn Balls – Recipe

Snowman Marshmallow Popcorn Balls

December 20, 2015 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

These super cute snowman marshmallow popcorn balls are SOFT and CHEWY. Their bright smiles match the good taste – a chewy treat.

These were a huge hit at a party we had. The kids went on a selfie photo hunt. And at their final photo spot these popcorn balls were wrapped in boxes under the Christmas tree. When the kids found them, there were lots of squeals.

They are almost too cute to eat. But to make them, you melt butter and marshmallows. Then the popcorn is stirred in. To make the face, put the candy in its place and build up the popcorn around it – so the candy stays on.

Here is what you’ll need to make them.

Walmart Grocery

Pop Weaver™ Light Butter Microwave Popcorn, 8 bags $2.00
Great Value™ Mini Marshmallows 10 oz. $.96
Twizzlers™ Pull ‘n’ Peel Licorice, Cherry 14 oz. $2.23
Airheads™ Xtremes™ Sweetly Sour Candy, Rainbow Berry 4.5 oz. $1.38
Gimbal’s™ Gourmet Jelly Beans 20 oz. $3.32
Mini candy canes

Pop two bags of popcorn in the microwave at 1:45 – 2 minutes per bag. (Follow your package’s directions.) Immediately take the bag out of the microwave. Open it to prevent burning. Scoop the popcorn into a large bowl by hand. This leaves the kernels in the bottom of the bag.

In a large pot, melt butter and marshmallows on low heat. Stir constantly. (But, don’t turn up the heat to hurry it along.) As soon as the marshmallows are melted, remove from heat. Add vanilla and stir.

Pour mixture into the popcorn. Stir until the popcorn is completely covered.

Option – If you want the popcorn balls to be less chewy, then add more popcorn. So you can add ¼ bag more popcorn, if you like.

Cover hands with butter. Then form popcorn into a 3” wide ball. Press candy into popcorn. Be sure to support the candy, by building up the popcorn around it. This keeps the candy in its place or else it will fall out. The popcorn mixture firms up (if left in the bowl) – so work quickly to form the balls.

My recipe makes 8-10 three inch balls. So you may want to make two batches.

You can have fun by adding food coloring. We like to make pink popcorn balls for Valentine’s Day.

And because they taste so good – we often make this recipe without the candy decorations. But adding the candy sure makes this snowman come to life.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Winter White Casual Outfit

December 19, 2015 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

I really like the Christmas reindeer on this red tee, it was just stunning. So, I decided to highlight it with a winter white hooded casual cardigan and pants.

I love the shiny gold on the reindeer. All of the glitter on his ornaments and collar are so eye-catching.

Holiday Time Long Sleeve Tee (IN STORES ONLY) $7.88

So here is a look at the combined outfit.

No Boundaries™ Hooded Cardigan – Juniors, White (IN STORES ONLY) $14.88

I loved this soft, delicate, and see-through cardigan. It has a hood but no pockets. I usually wear a medium, but I’m ok with this larger juniors size — because it’s very roomy.

No Boundaries™ Ponte Pant – Juniors, White $13.88

So surprised to find these winter white pants. They’re definitely slimming.

George™ White Sparkle Embellished Ballet Flat – Girls $14.97

Don’t freak out but these are girls shoes – aack! They were a size 6 in girls (but fit me the same as a women’s size 8). But I didn’t care what “age group” they were in. They fit and went really well with this outfit. The faux gems on the top are so nice with the satiny material.

George™ Crossbody Clutch Handbag – Women’s, Brown (IN STORES ONLY) $9.97

I didn’t want a matchy gold purse, but a brown faux leather purse. The 24” strap doesn’t adjust so it’s a crossbody purse. It’s about 5 x 8½” with two zipper compartments, an open pouch, and a magnetic closure.

It was so much fun putting together just the right outfit. I’m thinking of you when I am having all this fun. : – )

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Gifts for Kids – Make them Smile

December 17, 2015 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

This cute little guy sings a song called “Peppermint Twist” as he jiggles and spins around – a lot. I love fun gifts for kids that make them smile.

Holiday Time Animated Snowman (IN STORES ONLY) $14.87

He’ll definitely make a little one happy. But, he may drive you bonkers — hearing the same song over and over.

“Round and round, up and down, one-two-three kick, one-two-three jump” – Yeah, the song sticks in your head. He’s about 10 x 12 inches in size. His bell rings when he turns. Or, you could buy a Santa Chicken – that plays the “Chicken Dance”, of course.

Health Touch Animal Huggable Massager $9.88

These “huggable massagers” look like stuffed animals. It was hard to pick just one – they are all so cute and soft – very huggable. You can choose six different animals: dog, giraffe, leopard, monkey, cat, or pig.

Disney™ Frozen™ Body Wash Gift Set $9.88

Look at these cute body wash characters from Frozen™. But, poor Olaf doesn’t have his “personal flurry” to keep him cool. My kids loved this movie. So I know they will still enjoy the bottles as bath toys, when the body wash runs out.

Marvel™ Avengers™ $9.88

You can also get Avengers™, Star Wars™, Despicable Me™, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™, and Disney™ princesses.

With so many good choices, it was hard to decide. So, I couldn’t walk away without buying one (or two!).

Marie Callender’s™ Cat Pancake Mix & Skillet Set $5.00

My budding chef will be tickled to unwrap this pancake mix and skillet on Christmas morning. Plus, she can make us fun pancakes as well as cookies with the kitty pan.

And since it’s made by Marie Callender’s, we hope it will last for a long time.

Despicable Me™ Minions Lip Balm with Santa Hat – Cherry, Bubble Gum Flavored (IN STORES ONLY) $1.00

My daughter has plenty of lip balms, but these are “minions” and have a very cute Santa hat.

So why would I buy her another lip balm? Because it will fit in her stocking and make her squeal. Why else?

Holiday Time Stuffed Santa (IN STORES ONLY) $5.92

This stuffed Santa is oh so precious. Love the soft fur on the bottom of his coat. He is made with a very high quality plush fabric and is over a foot tall.

Fun Sweets™ Cotton Candy – Sugar Cookie (IN STORES ONLY) $2.00

I bought two holiday cotton candy flavors: sugar cookie and hot cocoa. You don’t see the hot cocoa photographed – because it tasted like “powdered hot cocoa”.

But hold me back from eating this sugar cookie cotton candy!! It is incredible. It tastes like a really good sugar cookie. So, I’ll have to buy each of my kids one – because somehow it disappeared.

So, have fun this Christmas and give gifts that make your kids smile.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Gifts for Her or YOU!

December 17, 2015 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

Have you ever bought a Christmas gift, and loved it enough to keep it?!!! That was my dilemma when buying these gifts. This stunner heart necklace set jumped out at me. It would also be a nice gift for Valentine’s Day.

Always Sparkle 18” Heart Necklace Set (IN STORES ONLY) $4.88

The faux stones are so pretty and it’s a bit on the delicate side.

Calgon Hand Soap and Lotion – Peppermint Marshmallow (IN STORES ONLY) $4.88

Ahhh, this smelled amazing. Peppermint and marshmallows – it’s my new favorite holiday scent. I know when I get halfway through the soap — I’m going to want to add water to make it last longer. Thank heavens the lotion will last a long time. It really should come with two soaps and one lotion. : ) The other scents were: Frosty Red Velvet, Berry Jubilee, and Vanilla Snowflake.

Holiday Time Kitchen Towels (IN STORES ONLY) $2.48

It’s nice to have a towel that makes you smile, isn’t it? For a party, these towels would be fun.

Holiday Time Christmas Tee (IN STORES ONLY) $5.50.

This shirt gave me an “aww” moment. Grandma’s gonna love it and say aww too.

Poinsettia Santa (IN STORES ONLY) $7.92

No, you’re not going blind. I’m sure one of my four kiddos was tugging at me after a marathon Christmas shopping trip when I snapped this photo. And didn’t check it on our way out of the store. But trust me, when these poinsettias are in focus, they are stunning. I will put my poinsettias in this adorable pot, every year.

Original Gourmet Premium Cookies 4 oz. (IN STORES ONLY) $1.00

This is the cutest “widdle bitty” cookie tin you ever saw. I better get it in a stocking before I eat it. It looks like a normal butter cookie tin but it’s miniature in size, about 5 inches wide.

I’m still debating what I should gift or keep…

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Chocolate Bark – Peppermint, Caramel Pretzel

December 17, 2015 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

In the bakery’s holiday sweets area, I spotted these chocolate peppermint and caramel pretzel barks. Would these become my new obsession? I had to find out.

The Bakery™ Peppermint Bark with Peppermint Chips (IN STORES ONLY) $3.00

To me, the peppermint bark is the best one. The first thing you notice is how creamy and smooth it is. The white chocolate is flavored with peppermint. The dark chocolate tastes more like a milk chocolate.

We liked the crunch of the peppermint chips. It’s rich, so a little goes a long way. This small box is the perfect size for it.

It was not as good as homemade, but we liked it. It seemed to taste better when we just let it melt in our mouth.

The Bakery™ Sea Salt Caramel Pretzel Bark (IN STORES ONLY) $3.00

The sea salt caramel pretzel bark had more of a plain “toned down” flavor than the peppermint bark. I had one piece and thought it was ok to good. So, I wasn’t crazy about it. But my husband and kids liked it, so I let them eat the rest.

The pretzels give it a crunch. You taste the salt and only a faint amount of caramel. But the biggest issue for me is the dark chocolate; it was really heavy.

So we liked them, but not enough to be a favorite. If you try them, let us know what you think.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Gemmy Airblown Christmas Inflatables – 9′ Teddy Bear with Santa Outfit$99

Sparkly Cute – Snowmen, Nutcracker, Santa

December 16, 2015 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

I was super excited to see these new Christmas decor items – so many sparkly and cute things. Gotta have a door greeter – for every door, right?

Holiday Time Christmas Greeters – 33″ $19.74

Kids can move Santa’s magnetic present to mark the days until Christmas. These were about 2½ feet tall. One snowman had a yardstick to measure the snow.

Holiday Time 3-D Tinsel Snowman (IN STORES ONLY) $7.94

OMW(ord) – soooo cute! I fell in love with two little sparkly tinsel snowmen. They make me happy every time I look at them – such big smiles. I thought these two little friends belonged together. They were about a foot tall.

Holiday Time 3-D Tinsel Nutcracker – (IN STORES ONLY)$7.94

Holiday Time 3-D Tinsel Tabletop Tree $7.94

I found a tinsel nutcracker and tree just blazing in color and sparkle. His twin wears a red suit and green pants. Both are 14” tall. You can tell I was excited to see them – I couldn’t even hold my camera still. : )

Holiday Time 2-D Tinsel Snowflake Wreath (IN STORES ONLY) $7.44

The bulbs in this snowflake wreath are colorful and bright. This caught my attention – you can see it pretty far away. It’s 1½ feet wide.

I couldn’t get over this gigantic inflatable teddy bear. This big guy is a whopping 9 feet tall. He doesn’t have a smooth fabric like most inflatables. But, this bear has a furry texture so he looks like a real teddy.

We would love to see him as we’re driving past a house. I can picture my kids wanting to get out and give him a hug.

With so many choices for cute decor – it’s tough to decide.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Holiday Cookies – Pretty for a Party?

December 15, 2015 by Jennifer 20 Comments

My eyes went big and I said, “Oooooh” for this pretty box of holiday cookies. The box has a great appearance and lots of variety – so the cookies may be a nice choice for a party. BUT their taste honestly varies from OK to Good.

Holiday Cookie Assortment – The Bakery $3.98

I’ll break each cookie down…

Spritz with Sprinkles Cookie

The spritz cookie had Christmas colored sprinkles on it. This was my favorite in the whole box. It tasted like a butter cookie so it was very good.

Powdered Sugar Cookie

The powdered sugar cookies – I’d say the best flavor vibe I got from them was almond. I had hoped they were spice or gingerbread. But my husband liked the sweetness of the powdered sugar.

Pink Spritz Cookie

I expected the spritz cookie to give me a “POW” with a cherry or strawberry flavor. But it didn’t. It’s cherry but the impact was faint. It tasted good – like the spritz cookie.

Star Cookie

These star cookies are pretty. Again, I taste almond. And the colored sugar on top makes them sweet. They are as good as the spritz cookies.

Chocolate Chip Cookie

The mini chocolate chip cookies were OK, but the chocolate had little taste. So, it wasn’t in the “great chocolate chip cookie” category.

Brown Sugar Cookie

These cookies taste like cocoa, hmm… But, they seemed plain – just OK. The sugar on top adds a little sweetness.

I know, I know, I wanted this box of cookies to blow me away too. I wanted them to make me race back there to buy another one. But they didn’t. I’d eat the spritz and star cookies if I saw them at a party though.

What have you found on the Christmas treats table that you liked?

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Soft Casual Outfit – Hugs

December 12, 2015 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

This casual outfit looks good, but you’re going to looooove how soft it is. My kids hug me a ridiculous amount when I wear it — they want to snuggle in and enjoy my CLOTHES.

Both the jacket and pants are made of a super soft fuzzy fabric.

No Boundaries™ Fuzzy Hooded Jacket – Juniors, White $10.00

The white jacket has a hood and pockets. The drawstring on the hood does help you tighten it. It’s a “Juniors” but I didn’t have to go up in size. They also carry it in “Juniors Plus”.

Faded Glory™ Fuzzy Pants – Women’s, Black $9.88

The drawstring on the elastic band waist of the pants is for decoration. The pants come in other colors, but do not have pockets. It has a matching jacket without a hood.

Holiday Time Long Sleeve Tee – Women’s $7.88

The long sleeved tee was my favorite choice – so eye catching. I love the satiny red birds and the silver glitter on the snowflakes and branches. I think these Christmas tees will sell out quickly because they are so nice.

Faded Glory™ Casual Shoes – Women’s, Black $9.87

The black canvas loafers aren’t fancy but go well with this outfit.

So Charming Snowflake 18″ Necklace – Women’s, $4.88

The snowflake necklace is really special. It’s in their Christmas jewelry. I love the details on it and the faux stone on the snowflake. It’s 18” long.

Whoa, another child coming in for a hug as I write this. I may need to buy more of these jackets and pants in every color. Don’t you just love snuggle hugs?

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Smoky Eye Makeup Holiday Collection

December 10, 2015 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

Smoky eye makeup is very trendy right now. This holiday collection looked tempting so I wanted to give it a try.

Hard Candy™ Smoky Eye Collection $9.88

These beauty sets only come out once a year. And it was time to buy a special set for me. I wanted this collection to come with a diagram or directions to demonstrate how they achieved their smoky eye shown in the box photo – but it didn’t. So, let me tell you what I did and you’ll see the results below.

Mascara

I used mascara first. I like to wipe off any smudges before applying eyeshadow. The mascara applied just fine, a little on the light side. But, this is a small bottle and not a full-size mascara. So, for this set, I think the mascara will run out first.

Eye Shadow Primer

The eyeshadow primer was very smooth and velvety. It came out light skin-colored, but it didn’t show that light color on the skin as it was rubbed in.

Eye Shadow Palette

The eyeshadow looked so glittery and was one of the reasons I liked the set. But as I put it on, the glitter started spreading on my model’s cheeks. As I applied more, I realized the glitter was just on top of the eye shadow and would be less next time.

The first coats applied very thinly. To get through the glitter layer, I had to press many times to get the amount of color I needed.

I applied the lighter colors on the eyelid closest to the nose. I used darker colors as I went outward, all the way to the brow. The darkest gray color also went on the back crease of the eyelid.

Eyeliner Pencil

The eyeliner pencil glided on easily and smoothly. But, the collection did not come with a pencil sharpener.

Liquid Eyeliner

On the top eyelid, I used the liquid eyeliner. I really liked how thin the brush was. It went on smoothly and was easy to control.

Lip Gloss

The lip glosses were thick and a solid color. I started with the red. But it was a bit overwhelming for me so I gave it a gentle blot. Then I put the tan color on top.

Results

I was able to get the look of the model on the box. I really liked all of the products except the mascara could have been thicker. The color was the same in darkness. But it photographed lighter. For normal use I’d leave out the darkest color on the eyeshadow. And also not use it below the eye – to save that for a nighttime look.

My model loved getting to wear such adult makeup – she looked good. We had a lot of fun making her up, but she is not ready for adult makeup, just yet.

So, go and scour the Christmas beauty sets. There’s a good chance you’ll find something that Santa – hint hint – should buy for you.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Christmas Decor – Reindeer, Snowmen, Santa!

December 7, 2015 by Jennifer 2 Comments

The Christmas decor theme “blows it out of the park” – very cute. It features reindeer, snowmen, huggable Santa, and lots of forest animals who like to wear scarves.

Holiday Time Round Tray (IN STORES ONLY) $1.97

So cute – you won’t want to cover this tray up with cookies. This metal tray is about 12 inches wide.

Holiday Time Reindeer Towel (IN STORES ONLY) $1.94

Holiday Time Owl Potholder (IN STORES ONLY) $.88

Holiday Time Snowman Towel (IN STORES ONLY) $.88

I love the reindeer towel. It was priced higher because the fabric is thicker and more velour. These kitchen towels were there one week but gone the next.

Holiday Time Mini Ornaments (IN STORES ONLY) $1.98

The artwork on these ornaments is so detailed and pretty. The red glitter is a nice touch. They are about 2 inches wide.

Bird and Owl Paper Bags (IN STORES ONLY) $1.28 each

Merry Christmas Bag (IN STORES ONLY) $1.48 each

I wish the bird on this bag came as a figurine. The gift bags come in many sizes.

Reindeer Paper Bag (IN STORES ONLY) $1.92

Loved the close up of this reindeer.

Snowman Drink Dispenser (IN STORES ONLY) $4.97

How adorable is this drink dispenser? He would look good on a cookie jar too. They also have a Santa dispenser with a black belt around the center. My kids will be happy to see him every time they open the fridge. He’s about 12” tall.

Holiday Time Half Gallon Tin Cozy $2.94

This sweet tin container was a great find. It will look nice with some Christmas treats in it for our cookie exchange. It is about 6 inches wide.

Christmas decor is flying off the shelves. So if you see something you like, get it, or it will be gone.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Chocolate Pretzels – Heavenly

December 5, 2015 by Jennifer 2 Comments

Well, these “little angels” (I mean chocolate pretzels) are only here for a short time until they go back up to heaven… oops, I mean until January when they disappear for another 11 MONTHS!!

What is up with that? I think these pretzels should be allowed to stay year round.

Snowflake Pretzels – The Bakery™ IN STORES ONLY 3.00

These aren’t really snowflakes anyway. They’re stars that are dressed up with cute little white sprinkles to look like a snowflake. The last time I checked, the stars come out every night – not just for the month of December.

Love, love, love these pretzels. This tiny container of snowflake pretzels just isn’t big enough. It needs a bigger box. Because when you eat one, you want more, a lot more. Then your kids want to try them and you’re out. So, this is basically my portion. I’d recommend buying more than one box if you feel like you HAVE to share.

But seriously, they are heavenly. The sprinkles give an already tasty pretzel an extra sweet crunch. The white chocolate coating is perfect. Pretzels dipped in white chocolate – life just doesn’t get any better. I’ve had yogurt coated. I’ve had almond bark coated. Those aren’t even in the same class. STARS I tell you. Stars that should come out every month.

Peppermint Pretzels – The Bakery™ (IN STORES ONLY) $3.00

The taste of these peppermint pretzels delivers. They have peppermint chips instead of white sprinkles. They’re oh so good. Love the minty crunch of the peppermints with the chocolate and pretzels.

The milk chocolate reminded us of my peppermint hot cocoa recipe. I’m a white chocolate fiend so I’d prefer the whole box was white. But rest assured, I’m happy to polish off both kinds.

We found these holiday sweets at our Neighborhood Market™. I’m crossing my fingers that your Walmart carries them.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Christmas Ornaments – Take me Home

December 3, 2015 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

Just look at those smiles. These snowmen look so happy. They can’t wait for you to hang them on your tree at home. Well, I couldn’t resist.

Holiday Time Snowmen Ornaments (IN STORES ONLY) 98¢

So cute it’s hard to believe they’re under a dollar. I wish it had come in pink too. They are 4 inches tall.

Holiday Time Clip-on Ornaments (IN STORES ONLY) $1.48 each

My Mom hung clip ornaments on her trees when I was young. I definitely remember seeing birds clipped to her tree. I’ve always been a hanging ornament kind of gal until… yup, you guessed it… I saw Walmart’s selection of clip-on ornaments they have out this year.

I love me some sparkle – so I was in heaven. They have the prettiest sparkliest glitter and sequins on them. There are many different kinds. Hard to resist – so be careful, you may walk away with more than you wanted.

Holiday Time Clip-on Ornaments (IN STORES ONLY) $1.48 each

Holiday Time Snowflake Ornament (IN STORES ONLY) $1.94

Just look at these precious little snow animals – awww. How can you not bring them home? They are about 4 inches tall.

Now this snowflake made my heart stop. It’s a very thick acrylic. The goldish top snowflake has the same level of glitter as the clip-on ornaments above. The photo does not show how sparkly it is. The back has a clear faux jewel in the center. Stunning. LOVE IT.

Holiday Time Boxed Glass Ornaments (IN STORES ONLY) $4.97

Quick – avert your eyes! These amazingly bright colors may blind you. I was certainly surprised by them. I love how the white translucent glitter drips down from the ones in the center. They’re all about 2½” wide.

Holiday Time Boxed Glass Ornaments (IN STORES ONLY) $4.97

Holiday Time Snowman Ornament (IN STORES ONLY) $1.94

Here are some more boxed glass ornaments. This time they’re red and green. I liked how they matched this little snowman. He is about 5” tall.

It’s so fun finding special ornaments at Walmart. Be open to all the different kinds they have. You might be surprised – or blinded.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Parisian Cookie – Mystery Solved

November 30, 2015 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

I love mystery cookies! This one definitely spiked my interest. Is it a fig newton? It looks so dry from the outside, so kind of boring, but what is that hiding inside? What are Walmart’s bakers secretly stuffing in this cookie? Why is it called Parisian? I had to get to the bottom of it.

When I searched Parisian cookie I saw images of cookies decorated with a Paris motif. I found nothing solid that told me these are an established type of cookie. (If you’ve got additional insight or have eaten these in France, please fill us in.) So that can only mean… Walmart has a little ingenuity cooking.

There was a low probability that I would like it. It had to be made with either a fig or date filling – something elite or international. Hmm…

Parisian Cookie (IN STORES ONLY) 58¢

I cut it in half to take a picture. Now I see it a little better, it’s not entirely filled with filling, there are some air pockets. The filling sure looks like pumpkin.

Now to taste… These mysteries are best solved with lots of tasting…

It’s definitely a pumpkin cookie. How unusual. It is soft and chewy. It was cooked just right, not too hard or soft. The cookie part is very flavorful.

The filling is smooth and thick, like a very rich pumpkin pie. But it had other flavors going on so it didn’t taste only like pumpkin pie. Whatever it is, it’s subtle. The spices were perfect.

Making it this way with the air pockets gave it a nice balance. It wasn’t too heavy on the pumpkin. But, I would have liked a little bit more filling.

Altogether it was sweet but not too sweet. The combination of the cookie outside and the filling made a really nice bite. I really liked it a lot. I was so surprised.

So if it comes to your Walmart donut case, you should give it a try. I’m thinking they should change the name to Pumpkin Parisian so people know what to expect.

You can count on me to solve your deli/bakery mysteries. Somebody’s gotta do it. I hope you try a new cookie and are pleasantly surprised too.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Jeans, Boots, Cardigan – Oh My!

November 30, 2015 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

This amazing cardigan is so warm, roomy (but not bulky), comfortable, and stylish. I loved how the lapels draped down the front. So, I had to put an outfit together with it.

Just in case you were wondering, yeah right – it’s actually very hard to pose to photograph clothes — especially when you’re trying to stand just the right way to showcase everything.

It’s not natural to stand in this position for a half hour – trying to get just the right photo. Maybe it would be a good yoga position.

Faded Glory™ Open Front Jaquard Cardigan – Women’s, Black Combo $14.96

Faded Glory™ Button Front Challis Top – Women’s, Gold Leaf $12.94

No Boundaries™ Essential Skinny Jeans – Juniors, Black $13.88

The blouse is lightweight and has tabs on the three quarter length sleeves so they can be worn up or down. It drops down a little longer in the back. It’s a nice color for fall. It’s made with rayon so that does mean dry cleaning.

The jeans have a faint gray wash effect on the front and are form-fitting skinny jeans. (Don’t let the word skinny freak you out. Skinny is the kind of jeans.) They’re such a soft fabric they’re sort of in between a pant and a jean. When I got home I realized they were from the junior department. I’m glad to know that’s why I had to go up in size!

The cardigan, top, and jeans all come in a variety of colors, not just the ones shown here.

Faded Glory™ Riding Boot – Women’s, Black $29.97

George™ Croco Satchel – Black IN STORES ONLY $16.97

Necklace – Fall Festival IN STORES ONLY $5

Bracelet – Fall Festival IN STORES ONLY $5

George™ Belt IN STORES ONLY $8.00

The boots were made with a soft, lightweight, very comfortable, faux leather. They felt like I was wearing a nice pair of leather gloves. My daughter tried them on and wants them for her own. They also sell them in a brown called cognac.

The satchel was lightweight also and had a cool faux crocodile pattern on the front side. It had five large storage areas.

The necklace and bracelet are from their fall line called “Fall Festival”. I liked the belt but didn’t know if it was a little too much with this outfit. You’ll have to tell me what you think.

I hope you look beautiful in whatever you wear this fall. (Whether it involves a chain belt or not.)

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

Golden – Sally Hansen™ Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color $2.46

Fall Nail Polish – Treat Your Tootsies

November 30, 2015 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

When you’re buying nail polish and the checkout associate ooohs and aaahs over your choices – you’re on the right track. That’s what happened when I brought these beauties home.

As I looked through the nail polish at Walmart I considered what colors would work nicely for fall. At first, I was not finding my colors. None of the greens were appealing. They seemed too St. Patricksy. All of the other oranges looked too pumpkiny. The tans were boring.

So here are the nail polishes that stood out to me.

Now this one, this speaks to me – such a nice pleasant gold. It’s more classy than a typical trophy gold.

Black Out – Sally Hansen™ Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color $2.46

This is a flat black – so not my thing, but very popular still these days. How in the world did the black nail polish trend start, I ask? I’m going to guess it was a celebrity. Isn’t that how all trends start these days?

I was only focused on the colors until my daughter pointed out at home that they were mostly Sally Hansen™. Sally is making a LOT of money. Just sayin. I was surprised at how expensive the Miracle Gels are!

Spice Age (Brown) – Sally Hansen™ Miracle Gel™ Nail Color $6.74

It has a metallic/semi glittery sheen to it. Very luxe. All of the Miracle Gels™ are luxe.

Combustealble (Teal) – Sally Hansen™ Miracle Gel™ Nail Color $5.24

Yes, that’s how it’s spelled. Again, these Miracle Gel’s™ don’t come cheap but they’re stunning. Gotta have the personality or outfit to pull this off. Definitely a statement color.

Sturdy Sapphire (Blue) Sally Hansen™ Hard as Nails Nail Color– $2.00

This photographed like it’s a royal blue – but it’s darker than this. The photo just doesn’t do it justice. You have to see it in person. It’s an amazing blue with other tones in it. It’s magical. It belongs in the Miracle Gel™ price range because it’s so stunning. All right, I’ll stop gushing over it.

Rock Bottom (Purple) – Sally Hansen™ Hard as Nails Nail Color $2.00

This is truly a royal purple. Nuff said.

Unbreakable Heart (Burgundy) – Sally Hansen™ Hard as Nails Nail Color $2.00

Metallicky. Dark and mysterious. Nice for Christmas too.

Mad Women (Wine-ish) – Sally Hansen™ Miracle Gel™ Nail Color $6.71

This has some magenta in it. It has some wonderful tones in it.

Brownstone (Blush) – Sally Hansen™ Hard as Nails Nail Color $2.14

This is a nice neutral color for fall. It’s not a brown – more like a mauve.

Drive Me Crazy (Dark Orange) – Pure Ice™ Nail Polish $1.97

Fall is about the only time of year when I tend to wear orange. This was the only orange that I felt was mature. You know what I’m talking about. (I am not revealing that I secretly adore a glittery freaky neon orange that happens to be in my house. Not gonna. My toes will never tell.)

If you will excuse me, I’m going to go treat my toenails to some Sturdy Sapphire right now. They deserve it. I’m in love.

OK no more gushing today, I promise.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer

What Does This Donut Look Like to You?

November 29, 2015 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

I just happened to be glancing in the donut case and saw this puzzler. Maybe the bakers were going for an animal theme – a tiger print. It looked so fun with the orange and brown.

No, I don’t dawdle around the donut cases. I don’t daydream about what eating every kind would taste like. In fact, I don’t dream about donuts at all. Let’s just be really clear on that.

But I couldn’t figure out what the white icing was. At first I thought it was a mistake, but all of the donuts on its tray had the same print. I figured the white was the tiger’s eyes. Yet, no mouth or nose – how odd.

I’m searching for the price tag to see if the name would help. It says Bavarian Bismark Donut 58¢. Still, I’ve got nothing.

I felt sorry for it then, because it had to be “an error” and surely no one would buy it. So, just to help it find a home I thought I’d buy it. (Isn’t that how you justify buying your donuts?)

I put it in its box, then as it happened to turn when I put it in my cart, I saw this.

A B! It’s a B for Bavarian Bismark. Now I felt like a complete idiot. Here I was thinking the Walmart bakers had gone saucy. And it’s a ridiculously easy B to see.

At home I had to test the kids and see if they knew what the white icing was when it was sideways. (You know, so I wouldn’t be alone in my idiocy.) I held it up for them like the first picture.

I was shocked when every single one said it was a B. Now don’t I have smart kids? You Betcha. Little smarties.

Bavarian Bismark Donut (IN STORES ONLY) 58¢

Since I showed them, then we had to divide it up into six so everyone could taste. Yes, my teeny tiny piece was good.

The icing was just like their regular white icing in flavor. Walmart’s donuts are always a treat – soft, airy, sweet, and moist. The Bavarian cream was pretty standard – it could have used a little bit more oomph in flavor. (I’m sure oomph is a word.) I personally prefer a whipped filling over this cream. I sure wish they would sell the whipped filling kind. But if you want a cream inside your donuts, this is for you.

I don’t recommend buying these “day old later”. When the cream sits on there too long, the donut can get soggy. You’ll want to only buy these fresh.

I hope you find a donut at Walmart that makes you laugh, tastes delicious, and you get to eat more than 1/6^th of it.

See you at Walmart!

Jennifer