Disclosure & Privacy Policy

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Disclaimer

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All views expressed on this website are my own.

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Disclosure & Privacy Policy

Dill Pickle Gift Idea (Valentine)

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one of these links and make a purchase, I receive a small commission on the sale at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Today I have two free Valentine gift tag options for you.  A "regular" gift tag and one if you have a dill pickle lover in your life.

Note:  You can go old school and attach the "punny" tag to a jar of their favorite Dill pickles OR you can think outside the box and gift Pickle Chips, Pickle Candy, Pickle Soda Pop, etc.

I used these pickles - notice that they are "hot & spicy".  😀

 

Here are some other fun ideas from Etsy:

• Dill Pickle Lip Balm
• Pickle Margarita Drink Mix
• Dill Pickle Spice Blend
• Dill Pickle Scented Candle
• Dill Pickle Saltwater Taffy

Simply click the link below and download the tags to your computer.  Print the tags on a color printer and trim them to size.  Either punch a hole and tie it onto your DILL-ightful pickle-themed gift OR simply use a tape loop on the back of the tag.

Free Printable Dill Gift Tags (Landscape, 6 tags per sheet)

If you plan to give a more traditional gift, you might like this generic tag:

Free Printable Valentine Gift Tags (Landscape, 6 tags per sheet)

Enjoy!  Karen

Here is a similar Christmas Dill Pickle version:

Or a Christmas Gherkin Pickle version:

Gift Tags | Free Printable (Valentine), Holiday | Valentine's Day

Christmas Carnival Fish Bowl Game

 Today I am sharing an easy Fish Bowl game that I plan to

use at my upcoming "Christmas Carnival"!

This post may contain affiliate links.  If you click on one of these links and make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  Read my full disclosure policy here.  As an Amazon Associate, I also earn from qualifying purchases at Amazon.com.

My immediate family will play the Fish Bowl game on Christmas Eve, but it is portable enough that it can also "go on the road" (if we are able to get together with our extended family this year).

**********************

I purchased eight small Bubble Ball Vases from the Dollar Tree.

My bowls happen to fit perfectly into one of my old Longaberger baskets which makes it portable for me.  However, you could use any box that fits or no box at all (just space them out on your table similar to what I did here: 3, 2, 3 with the edges touching).  A lot of balls will bounce around and fall into the empty spaces between the bowls.

Use one of those large tri-fold presentation boards for the backdrop.  It helps to keep the ping-pong balls somewhat contained.  They still bounce all over the place, but that is part of the fun.  (You can also buy ping-pong balls at the dollar store.)

Pro-tip:  I made a loop with blue painter's tape to attach the sign.  Yay!  The sign was removable and it didn't harm the board.  Since we will only be playing one game at a time, I plan to re-use the board for other games that I will share in upcoming posts.

You can download/print the free signs at Carnivalsavers.com.  Note:  To make them sturdier, I trimmed them a bit and matted them on a piece of black cardstock, but you wouldn't have to...

How is this for a one-handed iPhone action shot?!?  It took me a couple of tries to get the ball in focus.  😀  The players can either try to toss the ball in OR bounce it in.

Prizes:  You know how they used to give real goldfish as prizes at some of the carnivals back in the day?  Well, how cute are these little soaps from Etsy?  You can choose your scent, tag colors, ribbon/rafia, and add custom text.  (My tag choice was "carnival with ribbon", and custom text:  2020 Christmas Carnival)  They are even cuter in person!

If you like this idea, you can get them here:  Seaside Soap Kitchen

I'm sure everyone in my family will get a kick out of the fish!  I ordered Cucumber Melon and they do smell good, but in hindsight I probably should have ordered unscented (in case I take the show on the road).  My sis-in-law is very sensitive to smells.

That's it for Christmas Carnival Game #1...

Easy-peasy and cute!  Karen

P.S.  I also ordered these cute boxes for everyone to put their "prizes" in.  The fish soap fits perfectly.  They are easy to put together and fun for a summer or winter carnival!

Games | Christmas Carnival

Favorite Easy Net Worth Calculator

As we are getting closer to retirement age, I was looking for an easy way to find out where we were truly at financially.  Were we on track to retire?  

Everything I read said you needed eight times, nine times, even ten times your current salary saved up.  Did we have that?  If not, how much money did we actually have?

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one of these links and make a purchase, I receive a small commission on the sale at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Image source: Fidelity.com 

Even though I am the "bill-payer" of the family, I truly didn't know.  Just like you, we had random asset accounts scattered around (banks, retirement and stock accounts), plus various liability accounts (credit cards, mortgage and car payments).  I looked around for an easy net worth calculator where I could link all of my accounts and I found one that I really like (it's free)!  When I started it was called Personal Capital, but it is now called Empower.

Initially, I was a little hesitant to start linking my accounts and adding my passwords; however it was easy to do and the multi-factor authentication makes me feel secure.

Linking simply means that you add your login information for each account that you have.

Things like:

• Checking/Savings Accounts (for each bank that you use)
• Retirement Account Information (401K, IRA, Mutual Funds)
• Individual Stock Account Information (Etrade, in my case)
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
• Mortgage, Home Equity Loans
• Car & Student Loans
• Whatever other asset/liability accounts that you have...

Most accounts will update automatically each time you log-in, but a few need you to authenticate inside Empower each time.  (One of mine is Huntington Bank, so every couple of weeks I just click "fix account" and enter the code texted to my phone to get it to update.)

Note:  Since I am the person who pays the bills, my husband doesn't know much about any of these accounts.  This is a nice SINGLE login spot where you can direct them if there is ever a need for them to take over.

You can click on individual accounts and get up to date transaction history, but Empower also emails me a "Daily Financial Monitor".  I can see all of the transactions that happened in my linked accounts every day (which is very eye-opening).  Once a month, they also send me a graph of this month's spending vs. last month's (also very eye-opening).

Here is a snip of our total net worth.  Of course, there is quite a bit of volatility in the stock market, so if that part makes you nervous just don't login very often.  😀  Even though there are clearly ups and downs, the overall trend is going up (which is good).  It will even tell you what it thinks your house is worth in the current market (using Zestimate).  Your house is a valuable addition to your overall net worth that we sometimes forget about.

I truly love this tool!  It is giving me confidence that I know where all of our money is and that we can actually start contemplating retirement.  Empower is simply a wonderful tool to help you get financially organized once and for all.

Note:  If you are the future executor of someone's estate, do yourself a favor and get them to start an account too!

Cheers!

Karen

Click here to get started with Empower.

It's FREE!

Favorites

Free Photo - Bless Our Nest

 Today I am sharing an original photograph for your "Farmhouse Decor" needs.

This post may contain affiliate links.  If you click on one of these links and make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  Read my full disclosure policy here.

My dad passed away unexpectedly in 2011, leaving behind a house and barn with 50+ years of collections and possessions.  It took us many years to help my mom clean and whittle everything down.  During that time, my husband came across my dad's old ladder leaning against the side of the pole barn with a beautiful nest on it.  He called us over to see it and took some pictures for me because he is taller than I am!

It was nice closure for us and I think the picture is cool, so I'd like to share it with you.  I rarely print photos anymore, but when I do I use Mpix.  They do a beautiful job, so I highly recommend them (not an affiliate).

Here is what the picture looks like in my house.  The photo is sized to be printed as a 5x7, but I have it matted in a larger wall frame.

GIFT IDEAS

If you have a girlfriend who likes Farmhouse Decor, a 5x7 framed photo would be an inexpensive gift.  You could also give her a small glass bird (like this one) to go with it.

I also think this photo would make a fun wedding gift with a check attached to the back of the frame.  Wouldn't this be a nice way to help the happy couple "bless their nest" together?

Click here to download the picture (for personal use only).

I like to think that Joanna Gaines from Fixer Upper would approve.

Enjoy!  Karen

Gift Ideas | Girlfriends, Gift Ideas | Money

Free Printable Turtle Gift Tags

A free printable gift tag to help you SHELL-EBRATE

the holiday season in a TURTLE-Y awesome way!

This post may contain affiliate links.  If you click on one of these links and make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  Read my full disclosure policy here.

This post was originally done in 2020 for my "Ten Days of Gifting"; however it was rather COVID-specific.  I've redone the tags so that they can be used any year because I still like the "Turtle" gift idea variations.

Download/print TURTLE-Y awesome Gift Tag (4 per sheet)

Consumable gift ideas to go along with this free printable...

• Turtles Candy

• Magic Shell Ice Cream Toppper

• Turtle Wax

• Homemade Rolo's Turtle Candy

Turtle Inspiration from Etsy that would also be cute with this tag:

• Candle with Turtle Wax Melt on Top
• Gemstone Turtle
• Yoga Turtle
• Handmade Turtle Coasters

Hoping you have a SHELL of a good time sprinkled with some Santa magic this holiday season!  Karen

*******************************************

Original 2020 Version

Well, 2020 has been quite a year, hasn't it?!?  Here is a free printable gift tag that kind of sums up my feelings about it.  As noted in my "You bet GIRAFFE" post, I'm not perfect with the "no swearing" thing, but I do try to use less offensive "substitute" words most of the time.  Case in point...2020 - What the SHELL?!?  I love the face on this little guy...

This is another tag for my upcoming "Ten Days of Gifting".  The simple gift idea is to buy Turtles Candy.  I found it at Walgreens (even on sale for Christmas)!

Another cute idea would be to pair this tag with that "Magic Shell" for ice cream product (or include both gifts)!  There are lots of brands and lots of different flavors that you can find at your local grocery store.  This would be a fun gift for your friends, coworkers or even to ding-dong ditch on your neighbors doorstep.  (Perfect social distancing in action!)

ding-dong ditch  A children's prank in which a doorbell of a home is rung, and then the pranksters run away before the occupants of the home open the door.

My family is used to how my mind works, so hopefully they will think this gift is funny ('punny' as we call it).

Download/print WHAT THE SHELL gift tag (4 per sheet)

Looking forward to some TURTLE-Y good news in 2021!  💚 Karen

P.S.  If you want to make your own (yummy) Rolo turtles instead, here is a how-to post!

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

Gift Ideas | Christmas, Gift Tags | Free Printable (Christmas)

You Bet "GIRAFFE" Gift Tag

 Another free printable gift tag for you!  This one features a giraffe and will be one of my "Ten Days of Gifting"!

This post may contain affiliate links.  If you click on one of these links and make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  Read my full disclosure policy here.

Sometimes I feel like the dad from A Christmas Story when he is working on the furnace (the movie with Ralphie and the BB gun).  I am not a big fan of swearing, but sometimes it feels like no other word will do.  Having said that, my family knows that my preferred method is for everyone to try and use "substitute" words.

Apparently my kids grew up hearing me say, "Doggone it!"  When my first child started saying, "Don gone it!" (with feeling), I couldn't imagine where the little cherub had heard it...until I started listening to myself.  (We still say "Don gone it!")  😄

When I saw this use for the word "GIRAFFE", I thought it was funny!  I looked on Etsy for giraffe-themed items and ended up ordering this cute giraffe ornament.

As we sit here in November of 2020, you kind of start thinking about your own mortality.  I am hoping that someday when I am long gone, my kids will laugh when they find this ornament in their stash and think of me saying, "You bet GIRAFFE I wish you a Merry Christmas!"  

I simply punched a hole in the top left corner and tied the tag onto the giraffe's neck.  The seller gives you little brown paper bags for each ornament.

Download/print the "You bet GIRAFFE" tags (4 per sheet)

Do I wish you a Merry Christmas, too?  You bet GIRAFFE I do!  💗Karen

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Gift Ideas | Christmas, Gift Tags | Free Printable (Christmas)

EASY TEN DAYS OF GIFTING HOW-TO

I am excited to finally share the concept for the "Ten Days of Gifting"!

It is fun, easy, AND customizable!!!

This post may contain affiliate links.  If you click on one of these links and make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  Read my full disclosure policy here.  As an Amazon Associate, I also earn from qualifying purchases at Amazon.com.

Because 2020 has been such a weird year and because I have adult children who mainly want money for Christmas (I get it, but boring), I wanted to do something different/extra this year.  I considered using some Pinterest version of the Twelve Days of Christmas, but I don't like the song, the potential gift ideas were too limiting (and weird?), and I'm picky about rhyme schemes having just the right "flow".  I thought about writing my own "Twelve Days", but I didn't want the added stress of that (and somehow twelve gifts seemed excessive, but ten feels just right)!  Goldilocks syndrome?!?

Anyway, I plowed ahead and merrily started creating free printable gift tags for things I thought my family would like or might be amused by.  My subconscious continued to think about how I could "gift" these items in an EASY and FUN way. And then...

Lightbulb moment!

Why not put the gift with the cute tag inside a simple numbered bag and write ONE introductory rhyme that explains the whole thing?!?

Download/print the Explanation Tag (2 per sheet)

Did you notice that the explanation tags reference the Polar Express?  I made these little printable tickets years ago and I love them so much that I set them out every year!

You can get the free tags from The Crafted Sparrow.

Punch a hole and tie on a ribbon and a little silver (or red) bell.  Silver is "more correct" per the story, but my people won't know that.  If you have a circle punch, turn it upside down and line up the 1/4 circle edge with the line on the tag for a clean line.  If you don't have a punch, use a sharp scissor to trim the fancy edge.  You can either add the ticket favor as an "extra" in gift bag #1 or attach it to the top of the wrapped package along with the explanation (like I did).

To Wrap:

(As shown in the first photo) I placed the gift bags in a large box and lined the packages up in two rows (1-5 and 6-10).  I taped the box closed and carefully wrapped the top and sides without flipping the box over.  You will need to keep track of "which side is up".

Gift How-To:

For the gifts, I purchased these simple white lunch bags and I like them a lot!

They are larger than normal lunch bags and all of my gifts fit inside.  The only downside is that they are a tiny bit see through, so I did wrap everything in white tissue paper to keep everyone from trying to guess what the next gift would be.  I will absolutely purchase these bags again!  I am going to try my hand at making luminaries with the leftovers.  Plus, I can "style" them for any upcoming holiday or birthday gifting opportunity.

The best part of this idea???  You can copy my gifts OR you can customize what you choose to give inside each bag.  The rhyme/bags/numbers will work for anything you put inside (with or without a fun gift tag attached).  Look on Pinterest for other gift ideas if any of mine don't work for you.

If you want to copy me exactly, I basically alternated food/drink gifts with non-edible presents.  I've linked to the posts with the free tags below.

• December 15th, #1, Beer or Root Beer
• December 16th, #2, Candle
• December 17th, #3, Baked Goods or Brownie Mix
• December 18th, #4, Ornament (Giraffe)
• December 19th, #5, Irish Whiskey/Baileys
• December 20th, #6, Hand Soap
• December 21st, #7, Turtles Candy
• December 22nd, #8, Mouthwash (or Basketball)
• December 23rd, #9, Pickle Chips
• December 24th, #10, Tissue

Note:  If they have a beloved pet, you might want to use these optional tags to gift them a new cat toy or dog treats.

Here are the numbered tags for the outside of the bags.  You know me, just in case you are a "Twelve Days" person, I've got you covered!  But I personally will only be using numbers 1-10 for my Ten Days of Gifting.  I didn't fool around with ribbon, I simply folded the bag over and used two staples to attach each tag.

Download/print the Ten Days of Gifting Tags

I have to admit that I avoided watching The Polar Express for years.  When I finally watched it, I really did like it (so I laughed at myself for being so stubborn).

Josh Groban's "Believe" is now one of my favorite Christmas songs.

Here is a basic plot summary if you don't remember the movie:

One Christmas Eve many years ago, a boy lies in bed, listening hard for the bells of Santa’s sleigh, which he has been told by a friend do not exist. Later that night he hears not bells but a very different sound. He looks out of his window and is astounded to see a steam engine parked in front of his house. The conductor invites him to board the Polar Express, a train filled with children on their way to the North Pole. The boy and his companions journey past tiny towns and forests full of wild creatures. They travel up and around mountains and across the Great Polar Ice Cap to the magical city at the North Pole. The train takes the children to the center of the city, where Santa and the elves have gathered for the giving of the first gift of Christmas. The boy is chosen to receive this first gift. Knowing that he can choose anything in the world, he decides on a simple gift: one silver bell from Santa’s sleigh. Santa cuts a bell from a reindeer’s harness and the delighted boy slips it into his bathrobe pocket as the clock strikes midnight and the reindeer pull the sleigh into the sky.

When the children return to the train, the boy realizes the bell has fallen through a hole in his pocket. Heartbroken, he is returned to his home. In the morning, his little sister finds one small box with the boy’s name on it among the presents below the Christmas tree. Inside is the silver bell! The boy and his sister are enchanted by its beautiful sound, but their parents cannot hear it. The boy continues to believe in the spirit of Christmas and is able to hear the sweet ringing of the bell even as an adult.  (Courtesy of houghtonmifflinbooks.com)

I made one more tag that will be an extra present in the #10 gift bag.  This tag will be wrapped with the signs that my sweet friend, Cindy, made for me. I love that my family will be able to set the signs out each year and be reminded that the word "Believe" can have two different meanings at Christmastime (Santa and Jesus).

Download/print Search the Skies Tag (4 per sheet)

I'd like my family to always remember the wonder of Christmas (and never be too old to hear the bell ring or search the skies on Christmas Eve)!

I can think of all sorts of people who you could gift this to: family, friends, neighbors, or co-workers, but please also consider your older friends/family in nursing homes, too.  2020 has been an especially lonely year for them.  😢   You will have to check on local rules, but wouldn't it be fun to drop off a big wrapped box with ten little gifts inside?  That way your loved one could look forward to opening one gift each day leading up to Christmas. 

I would love it if you would share this idea.  If you do try it this year, please let me know and list your alternate gift ideas in the comment section!

I do "believe" that the Ten Days of Gifting may become a new tradition for my family!  The numbered tags and gift bags would be the same from year to year, but the actual presents inside would be different.

I love, love, love this easy idea (and I hope you do, too)!

Merry Christmas!

💖 Karen

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Holiday | Christmas