News Years Resolution - Whole30, Get Healthy NOW!

Since my first Whole30, almost six months ago, I have slipped back into my former eating habits. I wouldn't say that I'm eating super unhealthy, but I'm not eating fully paleo. I don't eat rice and I don't eat a ton of dairy or refined sugars, but I do eat other grains and some sugar and a fair amount of cheese. The silly thing is that I know that I feel better, sleep better, look better while eating a fully paleo diet, but I have been lazy.

So, I'm doing it again!

This time I am roping some of my wonderful friends and family members into this crazy journey to ride along with me! I know that this experience will make a huge difference in their lives and well as opening up a brand new view point of what "healthy" means. I am so excited to have some partners in crime this time around.

I am committed to these people having as great of an experience as I had the first time around. I understand that not everyone takes to this lifestyle shift the same way. It is so so hard to forget what our culture says is "healthy" and eat what is actually good for our bodies. We have been eating foods for our whole lives that are considered healthy and they are actually the total opposite. Its tough to unlearn that. But that is the beauty of the Whole30. It cleans out  all of that old stuff and creates a brand new habit of eating.

I learned so much about my body and the foods that I eat and how those foods effect my everyday life through my first Whole30 and I am so excited to start my next one.

The group that have committed to joining me this time is a pretty good mix of foodies. There are a few people who have done the Whole30 at least once, and a few who are paleo vets. There are also a few who are totally new to the idea, other that hearing my praises. I am so excited for these newbies to take this on! I just can't wait to hear about their experiences.

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To ensure everyone's success, I have started a Facebook group where everyone can post pictures, recipes, questions, tips, links, and inspiration. We also have an Instagram hashtag #WHOLE302014FTW so we can easily post pics of our fabulous meals. I will continue pinning paleo recipes and recipes that can easily be modified to fit the Whole30 guidelines on Pinterest. I am going to create a list of my favorite recipes (a request from my aunt), and I am going to be updating on here as often as I can. Posting recipes and a weekly update just as I did last time.

I want to challenge anyone who is even a little interested in taking on a Whole30 journey that this is your time! Don't wait, just jump in! Its really not as hard as you might think it would be. Grab some friends (everyone is looking to "get healthy" this time of year!) and create a support group. Use our hashtag and follow this blog for inspiration.

I am so excited to start my Whole30 and I can't wait to make this journey with some really wonderful people.

Check out my previous Whole30 posts:
My Whole30 Journey - Week 1
My Whole30 Journey - Week 2
My Whole30 Journey - Week 3
My Whole30 Journey - Week 4
My Whole30 Journey - Reintroduction
My Whole30 Journey - Conclusion
My Whole30 Journey - Tips and Trickspin

Dressing for Everyday - Double Breasted Coat with Brocade Pants

I love love love clothes. I love them so much that I have been wearing them for most of my life! Hehe :)

But for reals, clothes are great. I mean I was a costume designer for years. I spent most of my adult life (and even before that) studying, making, researching, designing, and styling clothes. I would love to do more blogging about fashion. I want to be able to offer a look into dressing for real life.

As I have said before my sister, Annie, is pretty much the coolest person I know. For reals. She is beautiful and has a great wardrobe. She has a wonderful eye for classic fashion. So, I asked her to work with me to do some fashion posts.

We want to show how we work fashion into our different lifestyles on a budget. Annie is a college student who is a major free-spirit. She spends her days going to class, studying, hanging out with friends, drinking coffee and making art. I am a mom. I spend my days doing laundry, feeding a constantly hungry two year old, juggling an infant, and changing diapers. I think we cover a good amount of lifestyles.

We are both pretty classic dressers. Annie is a little more trendy than I am. But we both tend lean vintage whenever we can. We believe that dressing for your body and in items that make you feel great is the key to endless style. And endless style is the goal! (Or not looking bad in photos 15 years from now is the goal.)

Annie an I truly believe that clothes can change your life. So, we are going to start posting some really great outfits to be inspired by. We want to show how putting together a great wardrobe can be easy, fun and if you are smart, it won't break the bank! The first look Annie put together is a mix of thrifted, vintage, sale and designer pieces. Its perfect! Exactly the way we like to dress.

Its a classic look with a few modern elements thrown in for some sass. The coat (ZARA) is the most expensive part of this look and it was a gift. Aren't those gold buttons and zippers to die for? The pants have a great subtle brocade pattern to them which is so classic and the shape of the pants shows off Annie's figure and her cute red ballet flats. Under her ZARA coat she is wearing a little cream lace shell she found in a hole-in-the-wall vintage shop in Ireland for about the same amount as an Irish pint. And her blazer is a thrifted H&M, it brings the whole thing together with a slight sheen and a button right at the waist to highlight her smallest area. Oh, and her gloves are from Cracker Barrel, my mom said that I had to make sure you all knew that fun fact.

I love this look for everyday, running around town, picking up groceries, getting coffee, taking the kids to soccer, etc... Its a great look, but its also easy. And easy is good for busy lives.

Top ........ Cream Lace Shell ........ Vintage (here's a similar one at Express)
Blazer ........ Denim Blazer ........ Thrifted H&M (old, but here's a similar one at J. Crew)
Pants ........ Black Brocade Cigarette ........ Target (old, but here's a similar one from Sanctuary at Zappos)
Shoes ........ Red Flats ........ Thrifted (here's a similar pair from Tory Burch at Farfetch)
Coat ........ Black with Gold Buttons ........ ZARA (here's a similar one from ZARA)
Gloves ........ Black ........ Cracker Barrel (*smile*)

Healthy Chocolate Christmas Bark (Paleo friendly and full of Superfoods!)

Everyone loves Christmas and all the wonderful foods that goes along with the season. But it can be H E double-hockey-sticks on your waistline. So, to keep that belt loop where it is and not end up with a tummy ache at the end of the day, try making this super easy AND healthy chocolate Christmas bark.

The great thing about chocolate bark is that you can pretty much do whatever you like! I added so many great flavors and healthy ingredients to this recipe. Crunchy toasted nuts, sweet and tart dried cherries, crispy cocoa nibs, and some lovely flaked sea salt for that little bit of extra wonderfulness (technical term.)

I chose these toppings because of their wonderful flavors and health benefits. Lets talk healthy desert for a minute.

• Dark Chocolate has tons of antioxidants and lowers blood pressure. (According to webmd.com) 
• Almonds lower cholesterol and the risk of hearth disease, protects against diabetes, supplies good, heart healthy fats as well as manganese, copper and riboflavin. (According to whfoods.com) 
• Coconut is very low in carbs especially for a fruit. (Oh, didn't you know coconut was a fruit? Yeah, I didn't know that until recently.) Its high in good fats, protein, and fiber. It also has lots of vitamins and minerals. (According to livestrong.com)
• Cherries are an excellent source of potassium, as well as being an inflammation reducer , good for painful gout and arthritis. They can also help you sleep, help lower blood pressure and get rid of excess sodium in the blood stream. (According to foxnews.com)
• Cocoa Nibs increase the amount of endorphins in the body which can help improve a bad mood. It can also help with insulin sensitivity, as well as PMS, cramps, and they can give a great caffeine jolt. (According to livestrong.com)
• Sea Salt may not be any "healthier" than regular table salt, but it is much more natural and tastes better. Sea salt is made by evaporating the liquid from ocean (or other  naturally salty water) and collecting the leftover salt. This salt usually contains natural minerals, flavors and some times color. (According to mayoclinic.com)

If you don't like any of these items than just don't use them. If there is something else that you just love add it on!

I used Enjoy Life's mini chocolate chips because they are dairy, soy and nut free. You can use a different kind of chocolate chips if you like, but be aware that they won't be as paleo approved. You could also use really good chocolate bars, such as Ghirardelli, as long as it was really dark chocolate (at least 75% cocoa.)

Its best to chop and toast the nuts and coconut before melting the chocolate. Also have all of your ingredients ready before melting the chocolate because you want to work quickly while the chocolate is still soft enough to take on the other ingredients. You can toast all of the nuts and coconut together in one pan, but watch it carefully because the coconut is going to brown up very fast.

This bark comes together so quickly, all you have to do is melt the chocolate and spread it out into a thin layer on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Sprinkle with nuts, cherries, cocoa nibs and sea salt. Then the hardest part is waiting for the bark to harden. I stuck it outside in the snow to speed up the process, but the fridge would work too :)

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Healthy Chocolate Christmas Bark
(Paleo friendly and full of Superfoods!)

• Two 10oz. bags of Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips (or really good, really dark chocolate chopped up)
• 1/2 cup pecans, chopped and toasted
• 1/2 cup almonds, chopped and toasted
• 1/2 cup falked coconut, toasted
• 1/2 cup dried cherries, no added sugar
• 2 tablespoons cocoa nibs
• 2 teaspoons fine flaked sea salt

Toast nuts and coconut according to the directions on the package. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Have all ingredients ready before moving on.

Melt the chocolate over a double boiler, in a pot on the stove, or in the microwave (add a bit of coconut oil if using a microwave.) Watch the chocolate very carefully while melting, do not let it burn.

Once melted, pour onto parchment-lined cookie sheet and spread out into a thin and even layer. Sprinkle with nuts, coconut, cherries, cocoa nibs and finally sea salt. 

Let the chocolate cool and harden fully (the fridge helps) and then break into pieces.

Store in an air tight container.

Homemade Crazy Crayons - A Homemade Stocking Stuffer

I have made these homemade crayons a few times for gifts. They are such a wonderful gift, all colorful and shaped like hearts. I made some for my niece for her birthday a few years ago and also made a batch for a college care package that I sent to my sister (check out this notebook doodle treasure bag I made to put the crayons in!) And this year J is getting some in his stocking!

Anyone with kids has a ton of broken crayons in a box somewhere. Homemade crayons are the perfect solution! Take the broken and sad crayons and turn them into beautiful new crayons, perfect for little toddler hands (and big kid imaginations!)

before...

after!!!

These crayons are really easy to put together. The hardest part is peeling the crayons. I found that if you are having trouble getting the paper off of your crayons, just soak them in some cold water for a few minutes. That should make it easier. If that doesn't work use an Xacto knife or a vegetable peeler and very carefully peel off the paper.

Homemade Crazy Crayons

What you will need:

• a bunch of old crayons
• a cutting board
• a large kitchen knife
• a mini muffin tin or silicone candy mold (oven safe)

Preheat the oven to 170F. If using a flexible silicone mold, place it on a cookie sheet for stability.

Peel all of the paper off of the crayons. Soak crayons in cold water if the paper is being stubborn.

Cut the crayons into pea sized bits. 

Arrange the crayons in your mold, you can do any combination of colors you like! (J loved helping me fill the cups with chopped crayon bits!) Fill the cups as full as possible, the crayons will melt together and will not overflow.

Bake at 170F for 15-20 minutes, just until the crayons have melted.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before removing from the mold. If you are using a metal mold and you are having trouble getting them to pop out, just stick the mold in the freezer for a few minutes and then they should pop out very easily. 

35 Stocking Stuffers for the Hostess

We are going out of town for Christmas this year. So, to keep things simple we have decided to just do stockings. No big presents. If it doesn't fit in a stocking its out.

I actually really love this idea. Its a challenge, and its fun. I am being creative with what I stuff into our little stockings. And its a great reminder to focus on the real meaning of Christmas and not on the amount or size of the gifts.

I did a post yesterday about homemade stocking stuffers, stocking stuffers for everyone, for him, for her, for the kids and the babies. Check them out!

So, without farther ado, here is my running list of great stocking stuffers for the most gracious hostesses on your list! 

1. candles
2. napkin rings
3. napkins
4. wine glass charms
5. corkscrew 
6. coasters
7. measuring cups and spoons
8. spiral vegetable cutter
9. bottle opener
10. wine bottle stopper
11. coffee mug
12. whiskey rocks/reusable ice cubes
13. fancy fridge magnets
14. small picture frames
15. jelly spoons
16. cheese knife
17. throw pillow cover (no pillow, obviously)
18. tea towels
19. dryer balls
20. tea infuser
21. salt and pepper shakers
22. pie/cake server
23. cookie stamp
24. edible spray paint
25. whisk
26. pastry cutter
27. cookie dough or ice cream scoop
28. rolling pin
29. silicone rolling pin rings
30. silicone muffin liners
31. tongs
32. microplane grater
33. citrus zester
34. citrus juicer
35. pastry brush

Here are the items that are featured in this post:

Coltellerie Berti handmade knive
shophorne.com

Suck Uk kitchen gadgets tool
$16 - houseoffraser.co.uk

Meri Meri kitchen gadgets tool
surlatable.com

Kate Spade candles candleholder
katespade.com

UO Coffee
urbanoutfitters.com

Fred M Cup Measuring Matroyshkas, Set of 6 Dry Measuring Cups
amazon.com

Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Greek Chicken

I posted this pic on Instagram and Facebook about a month ago with this caption: 

"Roasted spaghetti squash with Greek chicken, tomatoes, spinach, feta cheese and pine nuts. Food porn! Who wants the recipe?"

Got a lot of people asking for the recipe. My mother-in-law even texted me for the recipe the next day so she could make it for dinner.

I had every intention of getting the recipe up here on Domestic 360 ASAP, and it just hasn't happened until now. No excuses, just haven't gotten around to it. Other posts took priority. I am finally getting around to posting this really easy, super yummy and healthy dinner recipe.

If you want to make this a Paleo dish, just leave out the pine buts and cut back on the cheese.
Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Greek Chicken

• 1 spaghetti squash
• 3 chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized chunks
• 1 cup diced fresh tomatoes or 1 can diced tomatoes, drained of most of the liquid 
• 1 bag of fresh baby spinach
• 2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 tablespoon Greek seasoning (I used Pampered Chef but you can make your own using this recipe)
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
• a few drizzles of extra virgin olive oil (the really good stuff!)
• 1/4 balsamic vinegar, or balsamic vinaigrette
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion (I didn't include because we don't like onions)
• 1/2 cup chopped bell pepper (red, yellow or orange)
• 1/2 cup slivered Kalamata olives (no pits, obviously)
• 3 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
• 1/2 cup feta cheese (or a little more according to your tastes)

Preheat oven to 425F.

Cut the squash in half long way. Scrape out the seeds and the bit of stringy flesh that surrounds the seeds. I usually use a grapefruit spoon for this. Put the two squash halves cut side up in a glass baking dish. brush the inside of the squash with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add about one inch of water to the baking dish. Bake at 425F, until the squash is tender, about 45  minutes to one hour.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, saute garlic and onions with some olive oil until tender and onion is translucent. Add chicken, Greek seasoning, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook until done, no pink!

Add tomatoes, spinach and bell peppers and cook until the spinach is wilted. Remove from  heat. Stir in lemon zest, pine nuts and olives. 

Once the squash is cooked, scrape the flesh to loosen the strands. Fill the squash with the chicken mixture and top with lots of feta cheese. Put it back in the oven and bake until the cheese just starts to brown. 

Stocking stuffers for the Kids

We are going out of town for Christmas this year. So, to keep things simple we have decided to just do stockings. No big presents. If it doesn't fit in a stocking its out.

I actually really love this idea. Its a challenge, and its fun. I am being creative with what I stuff into our little stockings. And its a great reminder to focus on the real meaning of Christmas and not on the amount or size of the gifts.

I did a post yesterday about homemade stocking stuffers, stocking stuffers for everyone, for him, for her, and the babies. Check them out!

So, without farther ado, here is my running list of great stocking stuffers for everyone on your list! 

Please feel free to add on in the comments!

1. army men or ballet girls
2. small balls
3. small instruments (kazoo, tambourine, jingle bells, maracas) 
4. travel-size board games
5. crayons
6. markers
7. stickers
8. paint and  brushes
9. stencils
10. match book cars
11. small figurines/bobble heads
12. shoes (for little feet!)
13. temporary tattoos
14. jewelry
15. walkie talkies (do they still make these?)
16. cool band-aids
17. crazy straws
18. glow-in-the-dark ceiling stars
19. small piggy bank (and some money to start the collection!)
20. Legos
21. trains
22. whoopee cushion
23. Jacobs ladder
24. hacky sack
25. Rubik's Cube
26. action figure
27. doll
28. magic towel (the just-add-water kind)
29. friendship bracelet kit
30. treasures bag (pretty much any nice bag or small purse for tiny treasures)
31. magnifying glass
32. balloons
33. scrunchies
34. bean bags
35. alphabet magnets 
36. crazy scissors
37. nail decals
38. matching memory game 
39. night light
40. flash cards
41. silly putty
42. sippy cup
43. water bottle
44. plastic flatware 
45. character washcloth buddy
46. bath crayons
47. bath toys
48. blocks
49. spinning tops
50. jacks
51. bouncy balls
52. water gun
53. paper airplane kit (roll up some paper and call it a kit. then show them how to make airplanes and spend the afternoon flying them around)
54. finger puppets
55. magic wands
56. sidewalk chalk
57. magic tricks
58. fancy shoe laces
59. paper punches in cool shapes
60. stamps and ink pads
61. henna
62. roll of silver dollars
63. bandana
64. doll clothes

Stocking Stuffers for Her

We are going out of town for Christmas this year. So, to keep things simple we have decided to just do stockings. No big presents. If it doesn't fit in a stocking its out.

I actually really love this idea. Its a challenge, and its fun. I am being creative with what I stuff into our little stockings. And its a great reminder to focus on the real meaning of Christmas and not on the amount or size of the gifts.

I did a post yesterday about homemade stocking stuffers, stocking stuffers for everyone, for him, the kids, and the babies. Check them out!

So, without farther ado, here is my running list of great stocking stuffers for everyone on your list! 

Please feel free to add on in the comments!

1. fat quarters
2. beautiful buttons
3. vintage notions (ribbon, lace, patches, etc...)
4. beads
5. yarn
6. crochet hook/knitting needles
7. pattern for sewing, crocheting, or knitting
8. nice xacto knife (Martha Stweart has a really nice one)
9. nice sewing scissors or snips (Gingher makes the best) 
10. washi tape
11. garden seeds
12. belt
13. watch
14. jewelry (that goes without saying)
15. jewelry holder (a ring bowl is great!)
16. nail grooming kit
17. nail polish
18. makeup (lip gloss is always a winner!)
19. perfume
20. wallet/change purse/wristlet
21. pocket mirror
22. hair chalk
23. tights
24. fold-up ballet flats
25. fancy tweezers
26. Matryoshka Russian nesting dolls

Stocking Stuffers for Everyone

We are going out of town for Christmas this year. So, to keep things simple we have decided to just do stockings. No big presents. If it doesn't fit in a stocking its out.

I actually really love this idea. Its a challenge, and its fun. I am being creative with what I stuff into our little stockings. And its a great reminder to focus on the real meaning of Christmas and not on the amount or size of the gifts.

I did a post yesterday about homemade stocking stuffers, stocking stuffers for him, her, the kids, and the babies. Check them out!

So, without farther ado, here is my running list of great stocking stuffers for everyone on your list! 

Please feel free to add on in the comments!

1. camera strap
2. coffee cozy
3. stationary
4. beautiful pen
5. notebook/journal
6. small books (board books for kids are great!)
7. gourmet spices/salts
8. gourmet food items (fancy peanut butter, local honey, chocolate, beef jerky, hot sauce, marshmallows, macarons, squeeze pouches, etc...)
9. coffee/tea/hot chocolate
10. keys to a new car (haha! had to throw that one in there!)
11. airplane tickets (*smile*)
12. tickets to the theatre, the ballet, the opera, or the symphony
13. handmade soaps
14. body scrubs 
15. lotion
16. chap stick 
17. facial mud (for an at home spa day)
18. comb/hair brush
19. electric toothbrush
20. gift cards 
21. socks
22. underwear (keep it classy folks)
23. gloves/mittens
24. scarves
25. hats
26. flip flops
27. flashlights (and batteries)
28. sunglasses
29. glasses case
30. passport cover
31. key ring
32. ear buds
33. cell phone case
34. cell phone charger
35. cell phone speaker
36. cedar shoe sachets
37. lavender sachets (for the sock drawer)
38. pocket callendar
39. small bible
40. post-it notes 
41. push pins
42. deck of cards
43. Uno
44. magic 8 ball (!!!)
45. duct tape
46. book mark

Stocking Stuffers for Baby

We are going out of town for Christmas this year. So, to keep things simple we have decided to just do stockings. No big presents. If it doesn't fit in a stocking its out.

I actually really love this idea. Its a challenge, and its fun. I am being creative with what I stuff into our little stockings. And its a great reminder to focus on the real meaning of Christmas and not on the amount or size of the gifts.

I did a post yesterday about homemade stocking stuffers, stocking stuffers for him, her, the kids, and for everyone. Check them out!

So, without farther ado, here is my running list of great stocking stuffers for everyone on your list!

1. teething ring
2. pacifiers and clip
3. plastic keys
4. bibs
5. headbands/hair clips
6. stuffed animals
7. rattles
8. freeze dried fruit
9. puffs
10. taggie blanket

Stocking Stuffers for Him

We are going out of town for Christmas this year. So, to keep things simple we have decided to just do stockings. No big presents. If it doesn't fit in a stocking its out.

I actually really love this idea. Its a challenge, and its fun. I am being creative with what I stuff into our little stockings. And its a great reminder to focus on the real meaning of Christmas and not on the amount or size of the gifts.

I did a post yesterday about homemade stocking stuffers, stocking stuffers for everyone,  for her, for the kids and the babies. Check them out!

So, without farther ado, here is my running list of great stocking stuffers for the men on your list! 

Please feel free to add on in the comments!

1. guitar picks
2. guitar pick punch
3. hip flask
4. golf balls
5. golf club covers
6. golf/baseball/football gloves
7. ammo (if he's into that kind of thing)
8. tools (screw driver/hammer)
9. fishing lure 
10. pocket knife
11. shoe shine kit
12. necktie/bow tie
13. tie clip
14. lapel pin
15. pocket square
16. cuff links
17. money clip
18. watch
19. wallet
20. belt
21. belt buckle
22. after shave
23. mustache wax/beard oil
24. shaving kit (the old fashioned kind, with a brush and all!)
25. matches (waterproof and in a container for those outdoor adventures)
26. compass  
27. cologne
28. cigar
29. cigar cutter

45 Homemade Stocking Stuffers

19 days until Christmas!

Here is a great list of little gifts you can make to fill up those stocking that have been hung by the chimney with care.

*UPDATE (12/10/13) - I realized that I should have included links to the tutorials for all of these ideas so you can just click to the link and get crafting! Quick note about tutorial links: There are tons of really great tutorials floating around the internet machine and I just linked to a few of them. Also, I haven't tried all of these yet so please don't blame me if they don't work :)

1. headband (t-shirt head band from A Beautiful Mess)
2. hair clips (here is a beautiful pearl clip inspired by Chanel from Clones n' Clowns) 
3. small dollies or softies (check out my mermaid dolly tutorial review)
4. Peter Pan collar necklace (glamorous necklace tutorial from A French Diary for your Zooey Deschanel wannabe!)
5. sleep mask (Breakfast at Tiffany's Holly Golightly sleep sleep mask tutorial from Oh Lovely Lolo)
6. crayon roll-up-also for markers, pencils, paintbrushes, knitting needles, makeup brushes, etc... (use my tutorial)
7. brooches (sweet sequin heart brooch tutorial from Vivid Please)
8. friendship bracelet covered ear buds (for tangle-free earbud cords use this tutorial from Kiss Me Awake)
9. animal masks (crazy cute raccoon felt mask tutorial from Mom Spark)
10. felt food (apartment therapy's list of free tutorials)
11. i-spy bag (great for little minds! tutorial from A Little of This, A Little of That)
12. painted/dyed wooden spoons (love this idea to add a little color to your kitchen, tutorial from tessacotton)
13. washclothes (my mom crochets washcloths on long road trips and while watching sports with my dad. I have a few that she has made and I love them! I use them for cleaning and for bathing. make some with some lovely cotton yarn for yourself using this tutorial from Ball Hank n' Skein)
14. scraper sponge (these are wonderful for getting stubborn grime off of pots and pans, even non-stick! here's a tutorial from Maggie's Crochet)
15. treasures bag (use my notebook doodle treasures bag tutorial)
16. homemade crayons (use my homemade crazy crayons tutorial)
17. body sugar scrub (so many recipes to choose from, this one from Wellness Mama sound good!)
18. homemade lotion (here is a whipped body lotion from The Bikini Gardener) 
19. homemade soaps (this is a tutorial for beautiful purple marbled lavender soap is from Lovin' Soap)
20. coupon wallet (there is probably a good free tutorial for a coupon wallet out there somewhere but the reviews on this instant download by iSew on Etsy makes it worth the $8)
21. pickle aka mini emergency kit (make one of these mini emergency kit for anyone, but especially those with kids. its full of everything you could need to get out of a pickle :) Use this DIY tutorial from Tidy Mom or make up your own!)
22. fruit preserves/jelly/jam (every year my cousin makes jelly to give out to all the households in the family, I can easily say that that jar hardly makes it into the new year before its gone! here is a recipe for crockpot apple butter from The Brown Eyed Baker [she is my favorite food blogger!])
23. camera strap (check out my tutorial review)
24. coffee cozy (here are my doughnut cozy tutorial, rocket ship cozy tutorial, conversation heart cozy tutorial)
25. pincushion (one can never have too many pincousions! This tutorial fromPaper. String. Cloth. is so cute and looks pretty simple to put together, you could make one for every stocking on your list!)
26. needle book (I've made a few of these over my sewing lifetime and I could use a few more! Use this tutorial by Jessy Ratfink on instructables.com)
27. Peter Pan /Robin Hood hat (I recently made this for my nephew for his Halloween costume, it turned out really well and was super easy! I used this pattern and tutorial from Sew in Harmony)
28. hot chocolate spoons (I remember seeing these in a coffee shop when I was a little girl and thinking they were the most magical thing ever! Make some using this tutorial from A Beautiful Mess to flavor warm milk for hot chocolate or coffee for wonderful mocha.)
29. sunglasses case (use my Audrey sunglasses case tutorial)
30. reusable lunch bags (i'm planning on making a few of these for my kiddos when we get to the school age. I love the idea of not throwing away plastic baggies every day. use this tutorial from i heart nap time)
31. marble maze (what a great little toy for busy toddler minds! use this tutorial from Our Little Corner of the World)
32. Altoids box Thumbelina bed (this would probably be super easy to make up a pattern for, but save yourself the trouble and buy this one from mmmcrafts on etsy for $8!)
33. lost tooth pillow (this monster tooth fairy pillow is just too darn cute for words! email Just Another Hang Up for the PDF)
34. finger puppets (there are tons of finger puppet patterns out there, but I am loving these cute little penguin puppets. they remind me of the penguins from Mary Poppins. use the free PDF from Red Roof Patterns)
35. matching memory game (I remember loving memory games as a kid and this tutorial by Craftiness is Not Optional looks so simple and inexpensive)
36. quite book (this is a highly personalizable gift. you can make pretty much anything you want for you little person. check out How to Make a Quite Book for more info)
37. neck tie (the Hubs is one of those dads who wheres a lot of ties, I love the idea of making him one that is just his style and personalized. use this tutorial from Molly's Sketchbook over at The Purl Bee)
38. bow tie (check out my tutorial review)
39. scarf (this is such an easy and quick t-shirt infinity scarf tutorial)
40. hat (crocheting a hat can be such a relaxing thing to do while watching a movie or chatting with friends,check out these 38 free crochet hat patterns for beginners on All Free Crochet)
41. gloves/mittens (up-cycle a sweater and make these beautiful felted wool mittens using this downloadable PDF from RebeccaMeaDesigns on etsy for $8)
42. socks (I have never made socks, but I wish I had some cozy homemade knitted socks. especially if they had a great Fair Isle design. *hint hint mom* use this great tulip sock knitting pattern from Whit's Knits over at the The Purl Bee)
43. Sharpie painted coffee mug (I made a mug for the Hubs last January for his birthday. it said, "COFFEE IS FOR CLOSERS" and he loves it. I would recommend using a special oil-based paint pen specifically for using on glass. get some really good tips and tricks from DIYopolis and a full tutorial from A Beautiful Mess)
44. gift card envelope with a fabulous gift card (use my tutorial)
45. coasters (use my kiwi coasters tutorial)

I love stocking stuffers! Hope this  list is inspiring and that it gets you crafting and filling those stockings!

If you have any more ideas or if you have a tutorial on your blog leave a comment and I will add it to the list.

XOXO,

Coco

Mermaid Dolly

Has anyone else noticed that there are only 20 days until Christmas?!?!

Last year I was super good about making as many gifts as I could. I also blogged a Christmas post every day leading up to Christmas. It was great! I posted most of the tutorials for the gifts that I made last year before Christmas day. This meant that the pictures of the gifts I was giving were on the blog before they were unwrapped by the people they were made for. I kind of figured that most of my family wouldn't read my blog and they would still be surprised. Turns out they do read it, and I ruined Christmas. Okay, maybe not ruined, but I learned my lesson. I won't be doing the same thing this year. I will, however, be posting some great Christmas tips so make sure you are following (Bloglovin', Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and by email!) so you don't miss anything!

I am really behind on my gift making this year. Really, really behind! I have made one gift. Out of 26. Yup. 26. I will have to average more than one gift a day to get these done on time for the big 25th. SCREAM!!! 

Oh well, it is what it is. My family is wonderful and they will all understand. Right, family? You won't be mad? Please don't disown me for not having your gifts finished in time to put them under the tree.

Because I don't want to spoil any surprises, today I am going to share a little dolly that I made for the Hubby's cousin's daughter. We saw them for Thanksgiving and that's when we gave it to her so she has seen it and I am not ruining Christmas by posting this. She is about 18 months old so I knew a little dolly would be just perfect! 

I've been so into mermaids recently. Who isn't into mermaids?

This is the cutest little mermaid dolly (thank you Wee Wonderfuls by Hillary Lang!) I made this little treasure in about an hour and a half. Love it! 

I love making my own patterns, but I also love to find great patterns and tutorials that someone else has already figured out. I saw this little mermaid on someone else's blog and fell in love with its sweet style and petite size. Its perfect for little hands to love. It also makes a great stocking stuffer, in fact I am planning on making one to put in A's stocking (that is if I have time.) 

I would totally recommend this book. Wee Wonderfuls by Hillary Lang (check out her blog, too!) is full of great patterns for really sweet little toys. I am so glad I got the book. Her patterns are really easy to follow and the dolls are so cute! I'm thinking about working through the book and making every doll, a la Julie and Julia. But not until after the holidays!

What are you working on this holiday season? Are you like me, and have bitten of a little more than you can chew? Are you going to finish in time to open on Christmas morning? 

Good luck!

XOXO,

Coco