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This has been quite a school year and whether your kids have been in school, virtual, or a hybrid of the two, teachers have put their time in! As a former Family and Consumer Science teacher, I remember how nice it was to be appreciated with small gifts from my students. It was never the cost of the gift that mattered, but the thought that counted.
Now that I am on the other side with multiple school age children, two of them in middle school with multiple teachers, I look for frugal, useful gifts that I would have liked receiving when I was a teacher.
When I saw these travel mugs in Dollar Tree, I knew that they would make perfect teacher gifts. In fact, I have been using one of these travel mugs for weeks for my hot tea and I love it. I put it in the top rack of my dishwasher and it is sturdy and never leaks. It is a great travel mug and only cost a dollar! Plus it is so cute...I have the truck with Christmas trees mug which I think is beyond adorable.
Fill each mug with an assortment of goodies...hot cocoa packets, peppermint tea bags, candy canes, and chocolates. Put in a cute gift bag and you are good to go.
The perfect frugal teacher gift and you can get Free Shipping to your Local Store.
Some Christmas posts you might like:
My Favorite Gifts for Foodies, Moms, and Bloggers Christmas Wreath Cinnamon Sugar Pull Apart Bread The Home Ec @ Home Christmas Gift Guide Simple and Frugal Cocoa Mug Teacher Gifts Homemade Christmas Candy Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Easy Ribbon Christmas Card Holder Homemade Teacher Gifts The Best Gifts for Moms The Best Gifts for 3 to 8 year old Boys
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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my affiliate links, I will be compensated. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Since it is cyber Monday and the deals are pretty incredible today, I wanted to get this year's gift guide out there. You may find something useful in these older gift guides too. The Best Gifts for Moms, The Best Gifts for Foodies, Moms, and Bloggers, and The best gifts for 3 to 8 year old boys.
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First, I will mention Lands End because today you can get 60% off your order and free shipping on orders of $50 or more. Use code FLURRY and Pin 1234. Plus if you order through my Rakuten link today, you will earn 15% cash back. I love Lands End and I love getting cash back on things I was going to purchase anyway. I always check Rakuten before ordering anything to see if they have cash back for the particular store.
Update: As of December 1st (today), Land's End has extended this coupon code for another day so it should still work for you. Another thing I love about Land’s End is the sales. Since I love Land’s End so much, I subscribe to their email list so I get emails with great coupon codes quite frequently. I always order through Rakuten and get cash back, then I use my coupon codes from my email combined with my Rakuten cash back. I usually get at least 40% off my order with free shipping. They also have a great “on the counter” section with last call clearance items. I have been waiting for today's sale to order a few things for the boys. This morning I ordered slippers and warm lined pants plus a couple of tops for myself. I love that I can consistently order small tall shirts for myself and they always fit. If you are tall or petite, Lands End is great because they have your size. They have plus sizes too. I recently ordered Starfish slim leg pants and they are my favorite! I have two pairs and one on backorder. They are so comfortable at home and look good enough to wear out and I can order them in the tall size.
As many of you know we used to live in Murray, Ky. There is a wonderful women owned small business from Murray called Farmhouse 31. They make the cutest Christian themed shirts in what I would call a trendy modern farmhouse style. Ten percent of all of their sales go to charity and they sometimes offer an item for sale with 100% of the profits going to charity. I am an ambassador for Farmhouse 31, so if you make an order, use my coupon code FAITH10 to save 10% off your first order. Here are some of my favorites. I think the Bloom with Grace yellow hooded sweatshirt is just so cozy looking and cute!
I love my Pact Organic socks! Everyone needs socks and these are the softest, sturdiest socks. I first found out about Pact organic from a blog review I wrote a few years ago and I have loved them ever since. Their underwear is great too. My husband has their underwear and it’s his absolute favorite brand of underwear. They also have great sales this time of year and if you order through my link you will save 20% and get free shipping. You can read my full review of Pact Organic here.
These jeans will forever be one of my favorite things! Every woman needs a great pair of jeans, and these are great jeans. I have practically lived in these jeans since I first reviewed them on my blog in 2016. Yes I still wear the pair I reviewed and three more I have accumulated since then. I have a pair of Kayla jeans and three pairs of Kara jeans (two denim and one red). Both styles are wonderful, but I think the Kara is my favorite. The Kayla jeans have a mid-rise waist so they sit just below the natural waistline which means you won't have to pull them up at the waist. The Kara jeans are a lower waist and so comfortable. My favorite color is denim. Read this post for my completely honest review of prAna clothing.
As I have gotten older I have noticed that my skin needs more moisture than it used to. I have made it part of my daily routine to moisturize with a good skin cream and have tried several over the years. I generally try to use more natural products and look for creams with vitamins C and E. Last fall I started using Trim Healthy Mama Orange Silk Hydrating Cream, which my sister got me for my birthday. This is the ingredient list: Aloe Vera Gel, Infused Olive Oil, Beeswax, Coconut Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Orange Essential Oil, Calendula, Plantain, St. John’s Wort, Goldenseal, Myrrh Gum, Tea Tree Oil, Vitamin E, Safflower Seed Oil, Xanthan, Potassium Sorbate, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid. I really like this moisturizer. It feels and smells really nice and does a good job of moisturizing my skin.
My favorite, most used gift I received last year is my Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer. It is a pressure cooker, but so much more. I have also used the sauté, air fry, sous vide, and dehydrate functions. I use the air fry function the most (here is a recipe for air fryer fried green tomatoes). I have dehydrated lots of fruit this fall using the dehydrate function which is really easy to do. Here is a link to dehydrated pears and apples. And here is a YouTube video showing you how to use the Instant Pot to dehydrate pears. I love this appliance, use it a lot and plan to keep on using it so it has been a good investment for me. If you are in the market for an Instant Pot, look for cyber Monday sales. You may be able to get a good deal on it.
A few years ago, my sisters gave me an immersion blender for my birthday. They sent me a Kitchen Aid Immersion Blender and I use it all the time. I have used it so much this fall for canning apple and pear butter and use it frequently when making soups. I love my immersion blender because it so easy to use and clean. This is a great gift idea for someone who loves to cook!
Some of my favorite soup recipes that I make with my immersion blender: Butternut Squash Soup Potato and Onion Soup Red Pepper and Tomato Soup
Here are a few of my favorite kitchen items that would make great gifts for the home cook.
I hope you all find the perfect gifts for your loved ones and have time to enjoy the Christmas season and celebrate God's greatest gift, Jesus. Merry Christmas!
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I don't usually pay much attention to Prime Day, but I did see that my favorite Instant Pot Duo Crisp Pressure Cooker 11 in 1 with Air Fryer, 8 Qt (amazon link) is on sale today (Prime Day) for a super deal. Instant Pots are 33% off today so if you have been considering one, now is a good time to purchase. I received mine as a Christmas gift last year and love it. I actually use the air fryer the most, but have also done a lot of dehydrating and some pressure cooking too. Today, the one I use is $119.99 on sale from $179.95.
Here is a YouTube video of me using the dehydrating function of my Instant Pot Duo Crisp with Air Fryer so you can see what it is like.
There are lots of great Prime Day Deals including lots of kitchen deals so check it out. The Prime Day Sale ends tonight. I think you have to be a prime member to qualify for these incredible deals. I am a prime member. I started my prime membership with a free student account when I was in grad school and continued with it since we use it for amazon prime tv and free shipping. I order most of our supplements and lots of random things from amazon. It is nice for sending gifts since I don't have to pay shipping and its a lot easier than having to wrap and package and go to the post office. You can always include a gift message for free. It has been worth it for us, but wouldn't be for everyone. You can try a 30 day free trial of Amazon Prime to see if it is right for you. There are also big membership discounts if you have a qualifying EBT or Medicaid card.
I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.
I know there is a lot of talk about immune systems and trying to stay healthy these days, but did you know a balanced microbiome is important because 70% of the entire immune system is found in the gut? In addition, a healthy intestinal microbiome is a major factor in children’s growth and development.
My kids have been taking Gut Connection Kids from Country Life supplements for a few weeks and so far we like them. I actually tried them too, to see what they were like and they are easy to take sweet and sour chewables. These products are intended for children aged 4–12. However, adults can also take this product by following the directions for the 9–12 year old dosage. Younger children take two chewable tablets and older children and adults take four chewable tablets.
We were sent Gut Connection Kids digestive balance, cognitive balance, and immune balance chewable tablets. Gut Connection Kids by Country Life is a scientifically formulated range of supplements that connects the gut to individual health issues that matter.
Gut Connection Kids by Country Life is one of the first children’s formulas containing clinically studied Epicor® Whole Food Fermentate prebiotic shown to support immune and gut health. I was happy to see that the cognitive balance formula also contains Vitamin D, Folate, Vitamin B12, and Choline.
This Epicor® yeast fermentate reinforces the immune system’s first line of defense and provides FAST ACTING (within 2 hours) immune support!
This whole food fermentate prebiotic is balanced with clinically researched ingredients for your overall health.
We also got to try the Gut Connection Kids by Country Life sleep balance formula. This is a chocolate powder that you mix with milk or water and give to your child at bedtime. My two youngest children tried this and thought it helped them fall asleep better. They mixed it in a glass of milk before bedtime and liked the chocolate milk flavor.
You can find these products at countrylife.com. Save 20% off on your entire order using code MOMS20 at checkout!
Disclosure: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet. com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.
Being a mother of four boys is the most rewarding thing I have ever done. I always knew that I wanted kids and that I wanted lots of them, but it is also the hardest thing I have ever done.
Parenting is messy (so much laundry and dirt), loud, chaotic at times, challenging in big and little ways. Pretty much everyday there is a disagreement between two or three of them so I have to be a referee. But then, they also love each other, cheer for each other, and look out for each other. Sometimes they get along so well… they love to play board games, play in the creek, and visit with the neighbor’s dogs. They do all of these things together with excitement and joy.
I really enjoy calm and quiet. I could stay home all day and not talk to anyone. I am rarely home alone, but cherish any quiet peaceful moments that I get. To help me feel calm and more peaceful in my messy, chaotic, wonderful life, I have been taking CBD oil and feel that it does help me.
Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is a compound that interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system. These series of receptors regulate pain, mood, the immune system, memory, appetite, stress, and other important functions. In addition to helping me feel calm, I think CBD oil helps me with normal stress. There are just so many things on my to do list that I find it hard to wind down at night and get some rest. I make lists which helps, but part of the busy mom gig is having so many things going on and having to keep track of them all. I have been taking a little Social CBD Broad Spectrum Drops before I go to sleep each night and I feel like I can fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly.
I think Social CBD drops are really easy to take. You can add Social CBD into your favorite foods and drinks, or take it directly from the dropper. When taking from the dropper, hold under your tongue for 30–60 seconds for the most effective absorption. I take it directly from the dropper.
Social CBD Broad Spectrum Drops come in four all-natural varieties: Unflavored, Pomegranate Tea, Meyer Lemon, and Vanilla Mint. I like all of the flavored oils, but my favorite is Pomegranate Tea.
A 375 mg bottle of Social CBD Broad Spectrum Drops typically retails for $40. Use promo code MOMSMEET25 to save 25% on all Social products on their website through August 31, 2020. Have you ever tried CBD oil? Do you find it helpful? I’d love to know your thoughts.
Disclosure: This post contains referral links. If you make a purchase through my referral links, I will be compensated.
I don't usually share this kind of thing, but I am sharing my favorite cash back shopping site with you since today is cyber Monday and the deals are too good not to share. I started using Rakuten last year when I was doing my online Christmas shopping. It used to be called ebates. It is really easy to use. Simply go to Rakuten and sign up. If you sign up through my referral link, you will receive $10 when you make your first purchase of $25 at one of your favorite stores in addition to your cash back. I get the Rakuten emails which helps remind me to shop through their site for cash back.
Each time I shop online I go to Rakuten first and see if the store I am going to shop has a cash back offer that day. I click on the link for the store and shop as usual. After I make a purchase, I receive an email from Rakuten with the amount of my cash back. So far, I have earned $33.63 cash back. Since it is Cyber Monday, the cash back amounts are huge today. Some stores are 20%! My favorite stores that use Rakuten cash back are Land's End, Walmart, Shoes.com, Gap, and Amazon.
I was compensated for this post. This post also contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
I grew up in the south, but spent almost all of my adult life in the midwest until we moved to southern Kentucky for my husband's work about three years ago. I love. love, love magnolia trees! I remember climbing them as a child and enjoying their beauty when I was old enough to appreciate it. I missed them all those years so now that we are in a more southern climate where I can get magnolia leaves, I am decorating with them.
I love this simple magnolia wreath that can flow from fall right into Christmas just by changing up the mantel decorations. Plus this is so budget friendly with most of the supplies coming from Dollar Tree.
Supplies needed:
Wire wreath frame (from Dollar Tree) Floral wire Rubber bands Ribbon (also from Dollar Tree)
A big thank you to our friends the Mikulcuks for giving us magnolia cuttings!
Watch my video tutorial in which I show you how to make a magnolia leaf wreath.
I probably explained this better in the video, but you make small bundles of leaves by grouping them together and wrapping rubber bands around the stems. I used 7 leaves in each bundle. One wreath easily has over 100 leaves in it. Then you tie the stem bundles to the frame and continue until the wreath is filled in. You can always adjust leaves and add more to get the look you want. If you like, add a bow or ribbon to hang the wreath.
Linking up at Inspire Me Monday
Disclosure: I was compensated for this post. This post also contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
I've got some exciting news for all of my frugal minded readers. You can now find Hallmark cards at one of my favorite stores, Dollar Tree! If you have never been to Dollar Tree and you have a store in your area, make sure to check it out. There are lots of great products for $1 or less like these top quality Expressions From Hallmark cards for just $1.
Dollar Tree also has these great Expressions From Hallmark cards for kids! I can't wait to check out the new collection and see all the popular character cards for just $1 each!
Did you know there are over 6500 Dollar Tree stores across the nation? And now every store will carry Expressions From Hallmark cards for $1 each and Heartline a Hallmark company cards at just 2 for $1. You can't beat these deals! With hundreds of new cards to choose from, you can celebrate every moment with your friends and family without breaking the bank! Check out the wonderful assortment of Heartline cards above. So many nice choices for just 50 cents each!
For all of your greeting card needs head over to your local Dollar Tree store for the best deals on Hallmark cards. While you're there take a look around the party supplies area too. I always find great deals on gift wrapping and all the little things I need when planning a party. You can also check out www.DollarTree.com where everything's $1!
Disclosure: Sponsored post.
Anyone else hate car shopping? Do you worry about if you are getting the best deal for your money and if you are buying the right car for your family? We have purchased several vehicles new and used over the years and we always find ourselves asking these questions.
Our Story
Last summer, our transmission went out on our 2001 Honda Odyssey minivan on our way to Gulf Shores, Alabama for a family vacation. We found ourselves miles from home with some big decisions to make. (You can read more about our trip here.) We decided not to repair our minivan since the repair costs were more than the vehicle was worth. Luckily the repair shop we visited fixes up vehicles and donates them to needy families each year. They call it "Cars for Christmas". We decided to donate our car and give it new life to bless another family. At Christmas this year we received photos and a letter sharing the story of the family who received our old minivan. It was a good feeling knowing that we were able to help another family.
In the meantime, we rented a vehicle to drive home after vacation and since we owned a second car we were able to get by without a minivan for a while. A friend also loaned us a little truck (thank you Nate!) that my husband drove for a while. This meant we could take our time and do our research. We knew we would eventually need a minivan with baby #4 on the way, but we had a couple of months to make sure we were getting the right car. Since we were looking for a very specific vehicle, a "newer to us" used Honda Odyssey, it did take a little time to find the right car. We live in a more rural "small town" community so the local selection of used Honda Odysseys was slim. Thanks to the internet, we were able to find minivans, compare prices and read reviews without leaving the comfort of our home. This was a huge help not only because of the travel time involved with car shopping when you live in a rural area, but also because it is hard to take children car shopping. So we did as much research as we could online. A lot has changed since I bought my first car back in 1999!
There is so much information online now. Did you know that you can read reviews and search for the car that you are looking for at Cars.com ? There is even a price comparison tool that helps you compare price and mileage of several similar vehicles from different sellers.
We came home from the hospital with our new baby in our new (used) Honda Odyssey minivan. We literally bought this van the day our son was born. (Cutting it a little close for my comfort, but waiting patiently helped us get a good deal.) We had seen the van a couple of weeks before and my husband had done a little negotiating with the dealership owner (it was a small dealership). We originally saw this minivan online and decided it was worth the hour and a half drive to see it. So the day our son was born, my husband went back to the dealership, took the minivan to a mechanic, did some more negotiating and came home with our new van. Don't be afraid to negotiate. If you are patient and offer a lower price, they just might take it.
4 Tips for Buying a Used Car:
1. Be patient. Take your time and do your research. 2. Research online. It will save you time and money. 3. When buying a used car, always take the car to a mechanic for an inspection before buying. 4. Don't be afraid to negotiate. It could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my honest opinion on my blog. The opinions posted are my own.
I read an article recently about the impact our clothing choices have on our world. It was pretty eye opening. I generally knew that some choices were better than others, but I didn't really know why. Honestly, I lived most of my life without even thinking about the environmental impact of my clothing choices. Until recently, it didn't even cross my mind. I read another enlightening article about how clothes are potentially polluting the food supply. Love microfiber fleece? We do too, but the fibers have been found to pollute water and marine life.
Over the last year or two, I've noticed a cultural movement towards being more intentional in how we live and the choices we make. Maybe we should be more intentional concerning our clothing choices too and the impact that those choices have on textile workers, farmers, farmland, and now even the water supply. We should consider our overflowing closets too and make intentional choices based on what we really need and will wear again and again.
Luckily because of companies like PACT Organic it is getting easier to find clothing that is better for both us and the planet. PACT Organic uses organic farming practices that don't pollute the soil or water, while working with organizations that protect the well-being of people who make the clothes.
I was excited to review several pieces of PACT Organic clothing. As you can see they sent several things to try. The packages say super soft for a reason...the clothes really are super soft.
I love black leggings and have worn them for years and my new PACT Organic leggings are both soft and strong. I love that they are thicker than many of the leggings I have worn and stay comfortably in place. No tugging to keep them up. They are also nice and long. I am around 5' 10" and these leggings fit perfectly in both length and size.
My husband tried the boxer briefs. When I asked him how he liked them, he said he loved them and that they were so soft and supportive. This is a lot coming from him because he is really particular. I always tell him he should be in quality control or a food critic.
I LOVE my new PACT Organic light weight hoodie. First the color is the most beautiful blue stripe that goes with so many things. Second it is so soft and cozy. I have worn this sweatshirt many many times in the short time I have owned it.
As I have mentioned before, I am on the tall side and often have trouble finding shirts that have long enough sleeves. My new sweatshirt has wonderfully long sleeves, maybe because it has wrist slits for your thumbs which could come in handy if you are a runner. I haven't used this option, but love the sleeve length and coziness. I think my new PACT Organic hoodie might just be my favorite piece of clothing I have ever owned.
I wasn't sure if I would get much use out of my new PACT Organic camisole since I am nursing my 7 month old son, but it actually works well as a nursing tank. I wear a nursing tank every single day under my clothing so that my middle doesn't show when I lift my top shirt to nurse. What I like about this tank is that it is supportive enough to stay in place, but stretches enough to make access for nursing. The fabric is really soft, stretchy and supportive all at the same time. It doesn't loose its shape at the end of the day like some tanks do. I have found that if worn with jeans, it tends to ride up at the waist and I end up pulling it down throughout the day, but if worn with yoga type clothes (which I wear a lot), it stays in place. You can see it peaking out from underneath my shirt in the pictures above.
Check out PACT Organic and see all the cozy, comfy styles available. You can save 25% off your order with my discount code, AtHome25. There are some really cute affordably priced casual summer dresses and adorable baby things too. I just ordered some baby things for gifts and was impressed with the ease of ordering and how quickly my order shipped.
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Welcome to Home Ec @ HomeHi, I'm Faith, a former Family and Consumer Science teacher turned food blogger. I love God, my family, and food. You can usually find me in the kitchen preparing family friendly, homemade recipes and taking lots of pictures. This website uses marketing and tracking technologies. Opting out of this will opt you out of all cookies, except for those needed to run the website. Note that some products may not work as well without tracking cookies. Opt Out of CookiesFan Favorites
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