We’re about to move into the holiday season, are you ready? When I realize Christmas is six weeks away, I’ll be honest, my heart goes into a bit of a panic! But this year, I’m switching gears a little bit and really focusing on gift giving in a different light. When I think about what the holiday season is about, regardless of which specific holiday everyone celebrates, it’s really about spreading love and joy. So today I’m sharing 10 ways that we can all spread the gift of kindness and happiness.
1. Pay It Forward In The Drive Through Line
You never know who around you might be having a hard time, and sometimes the smallest of gestures can make a huge difference! Maybe the mom behind you in the coffee line is desperately tired, but feels guilty spending money on that tall latte. You just really never know!
2. Write A Thank You Letter
This week I wrote a note to Butte County Fire, thanking them for their work battling the fires down in California. I wish I could write one to every single firefighter, but that’s obviously not realistic. You could also write a thank you letter to your local postal worker, a teacher, pastor – really anyone who you appreciate and want to lift up a little bit!
If you’re interested in writing a letter to Butte County Fire, their address is below:
176 Nelson Avenue
Oroville CA, 95965
3. Genuinely Compliment A Stranger
The key to this one is to be genuine. Don’t compliment someone if you actually don’t actually mean it! The other day I told my cashier at the grocery store that I really liked her nails, because I really did. You guys, her face lit up so fast! It’s the little things.
4. Bring Flowers To A Nursing Home or Hospital
I realize this one is a bit higher cost, but it could just be a $10 bouquet from Trader Joes or Safeway! When you deliver the flowers, you can ask the staff to give them to someone who hasn’t received any flowers, or to be enjoyed in a common area.
5. Deliver Homemade Baked Goodies To A Neighbor (Or Neighbors!)
This one is top of my list! I’ve been meaning to introduce myself to some new neighbors across the street for…two years. Oh my gosh. But this holiday season I’m going to do it! My mom used to bake goodies for new neighbors when I was growing up, and I think it’s a really nice way to say that you’re there if they ever need a cup of sugar (proverbial or literal haha!).
6. Tell Someone’s Boss They’re Doing A Good Job
So same as #3, make sure this is genuine. But how often do you have a really good experience with someone, be it the woman at the post office or a co-worker, and then move on with your day. Taking an extra two minutes to tell their boss that you really appreciate their work on whatever project will not only make them feel great, but it will probably also encourage them to keep up the good work!
7. Be The One To Shift A Negative Conversation
Sometimes this one can be really challenging and awkward. If you don’t feel comfortable being the one to move a negative conversation, maybe just take it as a challenge to not participate. There’s enough negativity floating around this world, no need to create more!
8. Volunteer At A Food Bank
There are so many people who need a little help, and I know that food banks and/or soup kitchens are always short-handed around the holidays. If you’re really strapped for time, what about picking up a few extra nonperishable items on your next trip to the store, and dropping them off? I can’t imagine how thankful I would be if I was having a hard time making ends meet.
9. Call Or Text A Friend To Let Them Know You’re Thinking Of Them
One of my friends from college randomly texted me last week, and it was such a fun surprise! It literally put a smile on my face for the rest of the evening, because I hadn’t talked with her in a really long time. It just felt nice to know that I was on her mind! How crazy simple is that? In fact, why don’t you do it right now?
10. Give A Friend A Random Gift
So this is pretty similar in concept to #9, because the whole point is letting someone know that you’re thinking about them, and that you care. When I get an unexpected gift, it tells me that they were thinking of me even if they didn’t feel like they had to, and it honestly means that much more!
I hope this list has inspired you! Writing it sure has inspired me! You can forward this article to friends by using the share buttons below – how amazing would it be if everyone participated? Have a great last few weeks of 2018 everyone!
I feel like cranberries are the unsung hero of the fall baking world. Every time fall rolls around, I make my way down a pumpkin everything rabbit hole, and don’t emerge until Christmas haha!
So this year I wanted to give this fun little berry some attention! These are the best cranberry orange muffins, and secretly way healthier than your average muffin. The tartness and natural sweetness of the cranberries allows for way less sugar, especially combined with the bright flavor of orange zest! You can find fresh cranberries in the store between October and December, but if you want to make these muffins in the off-season, frozen cranberries will do the trick.
The super secret weapon of this healthy muffin recipe? Spices! Cinnamon and cardamom are both sweet tasting spices, with no impact on the nutritional content.
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In an effort to make a healthy muffin recipe, I also replaced half of the butter with coconut oil, to reap the benefits of this super healthy fat. The coconut taste doesn’t actually come through at all, so if you don’t love coconut, fear not! On the other hand, if you prefer to use all butter (or all coconut!), go for it! 
Makes About 16 Muffins
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cardamom
Grated zest of 1 orange
1 egg
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup orange juice
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
1/4 cup pecans, chopped
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400, and grease a muffin tin. Whisk together the dry ingredients, flour through salt and set aside. Combine the wet ingredients, zest through orange juice. Add the dry ingredients, stirring until the batter just comes together. The batter will be thick. Gently fold in the cranberries and pecans, and distribute the batter into the muffin tin. This recipe makes about 16 muffins. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the muffin tops spring back when touched.
This weekend we hosted our first Friendsgiving at our house, and I had so much fun setting the table for the event! Growing up my mom and aunt would always set beautiful tables for Thanksgiving (we alternated between households), and I love how it makes the dinner feel that much more special. Even though it took a little extra time to take out the china, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy a nice table is to create!
Funny story – you might notice that the flatware is reversed. Forks are supposed to go on the left, and knife on the right. I didn’t realize that I had made an oops until our guests had already left and we were cleaning up! In a past life I would have been horrified, but you know what? We had a wonderful and fun dinner, and that’s all that really matters at the end of the day!
I absolutely love these gold votives, which add so much warmth to the table! I also use them for our advent candles in Christmas, or really any time I want the table to feel a little special! Since my color scheme was gold and burgundy, I also pulled out our gold flatware, and gold chargers to help the lace china really pop (My china is currently on sale!). For this event I used these gold chargers, but oh my gosh I’m majorly obsessing over these gold lace chargers too!
Call me old school, but I love everything about crystal. I love the look of it of course, but I also love the weight of it! For our dinner I used our Waterford wine glasses and vase. We definitely don’t use our china and crystal every day, but it really elevates the table, and transforms a dinner into an event.
I hope everyone has fun planning fun and festive Thanksgivings over the next week!
What’s the only thing better than a delicious sweet apple pie? A savory one! After our apple picking adventure this fall, I was on a mission to think of all the best apple recipes, and I think this one might be my favorite. These mini apple pies are full of sizzling bacon, crisp apples and aromatic herbs, enclosed in a delicious buttery crust. Perfect for a fall brunch or holiday appetizer!
These mini savory apple pies are really easy to make, and can be made ahead of time and warmed up when you’re ready to enjoy them! I’m serving these as an appetizer for thanksgiving, and I love that they can be done before so I can spend more time with my family.
Crust Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) cold butter, cut into 1 Tbs pieces
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup ice water
Filling Ingredients:
Six strips of bacon
One apple (I prefer tart granny smiths)
One small onion, diced
1 tsp fresh thyme, finely chopped
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Directions:
To make the crust, add the flour, salt and butter to your food processor, and pulse until the mixture resembles course crumbs. Add the ice water little by little, just until the dough forms a mass on the food processor blade. I usually only use about 1/8 cup. Divide the two into two pieces, form each piece into a flat disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and let cool in the fridge for 1-2 hours. It can stay in the fridge longer, just take it out about 15 minutes before rolling if it’s been in there a while.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees f. Lightly dust a clean, dry work surface with flour, and turn your chilled dough onto it. Sprinkle a little flour onto the dough and your rolling pin, and roll the dough out to 1/8 inch thickness. (This rolling pin is amazing, because you don’t have to guess at the thickness! It rolls your dough evenly to the specified measurement every time!). Using a biscuit cutter or small bowl, cut 4 inch circles out the dough. Lightly press each circle into the well of a standard muffin tin. Bake for 10 minutes at 425. Let cool, and reduce the temperature to 350.
To make the crust, start by frying the bacon until crispy. Remove bacon to a plate, and add the remaining ingredients, apple through black pepper. Cook in the bacon grease over medium-low heat, for about 5-10 minutes or when the onion starts to become soft and translucent. Then it’s time to stuff our crusts! Press the apple filling into each crust, making sure to get them as full as you can. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350. You’ll know they’re done when the crust is lightly golden brown.
If you’re making these ahead of time, they’re easy to reheat! Put in the oven at 250 for 20 minutes, and they’ll be heated through!
For more autumn inspiration, check out my fall fashion posts here, here and here, and my pumpkin spice latte cupcake recipe here!
Easter is on the early side this year (April 1), and it’s totally throwing me off. I feel like it was just Valentine’s Day!
I love setting a nice table, whether it’s for a special holiday or to celebrate the rare occasion that I make my family dinner without the crock pot (anyone else? anyone??). We’re heading to my parents’ for Easter dinner, so this year I decided to do a casual Easter brunch at our house.
I read an article last year about hosting vs hospitality, and it really struck a chord with me. In the past I’ve really focused on the perfect menu or an immaculate table, kind of losing sight of the whole purpose – having friends over for a good time. When I put together this table I went for a more casual feel, imagining where my friends and I would be most comfortable drinking a mimosa.
This white and blue color palette is one of my favorites because it always looks so clean and happy, and so perfect for spring just around the corner. These are my everyday plates, and I love that they’re so versatile. You can find similar ones here.
I thought these bunny ear napkin rings were way too cute to pass up (And also on sale right now)! I saw them and actually chose the coordinating chargers based off of them!
Whether you’re planning a big Easter dinner or just getting together with a few friends, I hope you have a wonderful holiday as we FINALLY move into spring!! Happy Easter everyone!
See something you like? Drop a comment below to let me know!
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