I know many of you might be thinking about New Year’s Resolutions. What is it about a new year that makes us all think we can succeed at everything we failed at the previous year?

Well, besides the fact we can succeed at anything, it is a fresh slate of sorts. Everything is so last year and is so not happening  again in 2013.

I feel ya. I do.

And while it’s technically not the new year yet, it is a great time to beat everyone who is also thinking of hopping on the fitness bandwagon. They won’t get on it until January 1, sooooo, you have almost a whole week to snag up the fitness apparel in the sizes you want/need. Now, as a woman who is fluffy, I am appalled at the lack of cute fitness apparel for fluffys. It’s like I have to lose weight to fit into anything from the major fitness brands. I’m looking at you, Reebok.

Well, let’s say you want fitness apparel, aren’t sizes 0-10, and don’t want to spend $70 on yoga pants (yeah, screw you Victoria’s Secret!)…then you’ve come to the right place. These are stores with super affordable, cute, fitness apparel that will fit you NOW.

1.) Walmart.com: Affordable (think $17 and under per item), cute, and with 97-cent per item shipping (or shop in store), they are a viable, SUPER affordable option for workout pants, tops and sports bras.

2.) LaneBryant.com: Not as cheap as Walmart, but with coupons, it can be (if you buy at the right time). A lot of the items are made by Reebox, oddly enough since Reebox.com only goes up to XL, but lots of the tops/pants are on sale constantly. The sports bras are FAB quality, and are usually BOGO 50% off or free. Coupons are key to maximizing your savings, but the prices are reasonable nonetheless.

3.) OldNavy.com: Free shipping on orders over $50, free returns, and loads of coupon offers every week, this another great option for affordable fitness apparel. They have a whole section of plus size fitness wear that is cute, practical and affordable. The sizing is a little funky, so you might want to order one size up/down and return one. Some items run huge, others run small.

As you can see, with these options there is no excuse to workout in ratty t-shirts and icky pants. I think investing in a 2-3 workout outfits will help make you feel good about yourself when working out, and hopefully keep you motivated because you’ll look so darn cute.

And since you’re saving on workout apparel, I’d urge you to splurge on these items:

1.) A heart rate monitor! My absolute favorite is this one. I’ve owned it for about 2 years now, and I love that it tells me if I need to work harder (or take it down a notch), plus it tells me how many calories I’ve burned. That info alone will help your weight loss goals since those online calculators tend to grossly over estimate how many calories you burn. This is money WELL spent, and Polar is an outstanding brand that will last you MANY years. Well worth the $65 or so.

2.) Good athletic shoes. Your knees, joints, and feet will thank you profusely. I’d suggest going to a running/walking store to get properly fitted for the proper shoes (over/under pronators), but if you don’t or can’t, Amazon.com’s shoe department is your friend. They offer free returns on all shoes sold by Amazon, so by a few different sizes/types, keep what fits, and send the others back. You won’t even have to leave the house. I personally love Asics, these shoes to be exact, but order shoes that will work for the type of exercise you will be doing (running/walking/dancing, indoor/outdoor).

3.) If you’re running or walking or even just planning on vacuuming as a form of exercise, a pair of bluetooth headphones will prove invaluable. Gotta love the feeling of no wires to interfere with your arm motions, plus if you get a phone call while you’re exercising, it’s really easy to just pick up the phone by pressing a button on your bluetooth headphones. Adjust volume, switch songs, talk on the phone without having to mess with your phone. Pure. Bliss. I own this pair, and they’re so luxe without the luxe price tag. They’re rechargeable, have good volume and seem pretty heavy duty.

I hope those suggestions help all of us who are a little ahem, chubby, find some cute workout clothes so we can be fit and healthy in 2013. If there’s a store I forgot about, please leave me a comment so others can see, too.

I almost forgot—if you’re shopping online, remember to click through eBates! You earn cash back on all your purchases, so if you spend $100 at Old Navy, and they’re doing 5% cash back that day, you’ll end up with $5 cash back. Every bit helps, and it’s super easy to sign up here. You can save up that cash back money to buy some smaller clothes in spring time, right? :)

What are your favorite exercise/fitness activities to do when you’re trying to get back into a fitness routine?

I’m one of those people who says happy holidays. I don’t want to offend anyone or exclude anyone’s beliefs or holiday celebrations…

^Me, Christmas 2004. Much younger, carefree and totally oblivious to how lucky I was to be young and carefree. Youth is wasted on the young!

So, happy holidays and a Merry Christmas to all of you wonderful, lovely, kick-ass readers of this little blog o’ mine.

I know the posts have been scarce, and the projects few, around here lately. It’s somewhat because of lack of time and also because it’s just a hectic time of year.

I remember starting this blog back in 2009, right before my wedding, and hardly anyone read it.

Still much of the same now, it feels, but the analytics show you all are reading. Well, 99.99% of people are reading the espresso DIY cabinet post, but I hope you all are intrigued enough to click around.

Now, 3 years later, it’s odd to know family and friends also read these pages, and I guess it’s left me feeling a bit censored. That leaves me a bit uninspired sometimes because I may come off as very vanilla, when I’m in fact not. I hate the weird looks after a rant or the judgment/guilt after admitting something one feels. I feel ashamed of some of my weight related posts because I’ll write one, and the very next evening invite a girlfriend out to go gorge on beer and nachos with me at the local watering hole. A total contradiction. I know this.

So I’ve been feeling censored, and therefore just a smidge uninspired to come home and lay it all out there on the blog like the good ole days. I’m in a funk of sorts, and the scale shows it. This morning the scale read the highest weight I have EVER been. Ever. EVER. EVER. It may as well have just read WTF so I could just know that my scale was like, “PLEASE STOP EATING OUT!”

I get the memo, Mr. Scale. Got it.

I put myself here, or actually probably Chili’s did because everything on their menu is loaded with sodium, and I gain 5 pounds for a week every time I eat there. I’m not eating there ever again, sorry friends.

But, the scale is a direct representation of how my life is going, I think. The more out of control I feel, the more I eat. WHY CAN I NOT BE HEALTHY!?!?! I’m just going to say it…I want to look good naked for once in my life. Not even for my husband, but for me. Yeah, me. I want to not be repulsed by myself. I can’t be alone in this feeling, right ladies?

I am sad. Why? I don’t know. I am so blessed. My husband just got a promotion, my dog is fantastic, my friends are amazing, family is healthy…why am I not happy? Isn’t this what everyone wants in life?

Yes.

No.

Maybe?

Sigh.

I’m unhappy, and I’m fat. Fat and unhappy. My weight gain leads me to avoid family like the plague, I avoid friends from back home who haven’t seen me since oh…60 pounds ago? See ya in 2014, friends!

I’m rambling, it’s not making sense, and I just want to figure out why I am so damn unhappy and in a funk. Stressed, beyond the normal stress level for a 27 year old woman with no kids. My stress is through the roof.

Why am I unhappy? It can’t just be my size/weight. Maybe it can. Can I really be so vain that this all has to do with my looks? Can it?

I want to be happy this holiday season. I truly love Christmas despite the sadness that surrounds it. You see, it’s the 6th anniversary of my granny’s death on Christmas Eve, and the 12th anniversary of my dad’s death on Christmas Day. Tough cards to be dealt, eh? Yeah, I know it. Still…in the bottom of my in-a-funk heart, I know they want me to be happy. Truly happy. Everyday I’m alive.

And so I will be.

Merry Christmas, and/or happy holidays from me to you.

Love,

Monica

P.S.: I promise more projects are coming. :) Thanks for always being here for me, y’all.

Just a friendly reminder that there is still time to enter my giveaway for one of 2 Lane Bryant gift cards (see my post from earlier today), but if you want to have another shot at some holiday gift cards, then you might want to listen up...

There's a super fun Twitter party coming up where curvy gals can talk about getting all gussied up for the holidays. Maybe it's that fabulous company soirée or a family event where you want to dress to impress. Whether your favorite look is glam, modern, edgy, flirty or comfy chic, Lane Bryant has it all. You may get some ideas on how to put together amazing holiday looks. It may be cold outside, but you can still be smokin' hot, ladies!

Plus Lane Bryant has amazing special offers everyday, which you can learn about on their Facebook page.

So, join the @LaneBryant “Holiday Fashion Fun” Twitter Party this Monday, 12/17 at noon PT/3pm ET! Fab prizes! RSVP to win prizes, including $30 Lane Bryant gift cards! RSVP: http://clvr.li/128tjBx

The Details:

• What: Lane Bryant “Holiday Fashion Fun” Twitter Party
• When: Mon 12/17 noon PT/3pm ET
• Where: On Twitter! CleverTweets: http://clvr.li/SYaCNf
• Follow: Hashtag #LBHoliday @CleverGirlsColl @LaneBryantRSVP here: http://clvr.li/128tjBx
• Prizes: 18, $30 Lane Bryant gift cards

I hope to participate even though I will be on the road. Yay for technology! :)

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

So, yeah, my goals of looking like Jessica Alba didn’t pan out this year. Nor last year. Nor the year before that.

I think as I get older I learn that beauty isn’t tied to a number, whether it be weight or dress size. Luckily, stores like Lane Bryant also agree with me, and they make gorgeous clothing, accessories and shoes for the modern plus size woman. Shopping in their stores is always a treat because of their friendly staff and beautiful dressing rooms, and this weekend’s shopping expedition was no exception. Lane Bryant stores leave me feeling happy and confident. I don’t want to be feel ashamed when I just want to feel pretty.

I’m trying to convince my husband we should finally DO something fun for New Year’s Eve and the holidays, so I am hoping this cute blouse, shoes and earrings will help convince him!

I already have a pair of Lane Bryant classic black pants that I can pair with my sparkly blouse, and those heels are actually very comfy. I’m so not a heels person, but they are truly gorgeous.

Lane Bryant is having tons of special surprise offers just in time for the holidays, and today’s special offer will rock your socks. Here it is:

That is a GREAT special offer. Essentially you can buy a blouse and add on shoes for $1. Or a dress and get a cute sweater for $1. That’s a lot of value, just in time for the holidays. I’ll probably head back to a Lane Bryant store today just to take advantage because I love their pants and blouses for work. Confident, comfy, chic—that’s how I feel in their clothes. And with special surprise offers like these, I have no excuse to not splurge a little. Right?

And, because I want to spread some holiday cheer, I am giving away TWO $30 Lane Bryant gift cards to 2 very lucky people. It’s super easy to win, not complicated at all…

To enter to win one of the $30 gift cards, just pin your favorite holiday look(s) from the Lane Bryant website and include the #LB12Days hashtag in the caption, and leave me the link to your pin in the comments section of this post (not the link to your pinterest account, but your actual pin URL, one entry per person regardless of pins). Also leave me your email address so I can find you and mail you this fantabulous prize.

Contest is open from right now until December 18 at noon. 18+, US only. I’ll draw a winner on the 18th, and I’ll contact them via email. They’ll have 48 hours to respond before I give up and choose another.

With so many great special offers, Lane Bryant is a great choice for beautiful, curvy gal clothes this holiday season. Happy pinning!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

This year, for some odd reason, I am having so much trouble getting my house decorated and all my holiday shopping done. I’m just not motivated!

I don’t want to be scrooge, but I think this time of year is so stressful. I’m worried about work, home, family and money. Well, I can’t fix all of those worries all at once, but I was happy to learn I could save a substantial amount of money while shopping for gifts this year. We have had a MasterCard for many years, and I just now learned about the MasterCard Marketplace. Better late than never, right?

It’s an online portal/website where people with MasterCards (we have a MasterCard debit card) can shop and get exclusive discounts to local and online retailers. There weren’t any local places near me with discount vouchers I could buy, so I took a look at their “Offers by Category” section, and I found Score Big on there. It’s a site where you name your own price on tickets to sport and concert events. I clicked on “GET OFFER” and made note of the discount code exclusively for MasterCard holders, and I snagged some super cheap tickets to an NFL football game. My hubby is OVER THE MOON excited because he is a Houston Texans FANATIC.

Not only did I save by naming my own price on Score Big…I then saved another 35% percent simply for having a MasterCard and using it at checkout. Shipping was lightning fast, probably because the game is this weekend. Eek!

I was looking around at other offers, and there are great deals to be had on gourmet gift baskets, spas, restaurants and even travel. So, if you’re on a budget and shopping at the last minute (aren’t we all?) then this might be the perfect way to get a lot accomplished quickly. Most of the merchants are still taking orders in time for Christmas/holiday delivery. I enjoyed using the MasterCard Marketplace, although I wish it would have more local offers for my area. It was easy to navigate, and I never imagined I could save money on NFL tickets just by having a MasterCard.

However, the deals change daily, so if you want something, buy it when you see it. I learned that the hard way with one of the offers.

And on a totally unrelated note, I love the MasterCard Instagram account. Lotsa pretty pictures, like this one:

Image credit: MasterCard Instagram

If you want to try your holiday luck at winning some awesome prizes, then join in on #FinishMyList party 2-3 ET 12/13 for shopping tips. Great Prizes courtesy of MasterCard!http://cbi.as/czuby

What are your tips for shopping smart and quickly during the holidays?

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias®  and MasterCard #CBias #SocialFabric #FinishMyList

During the holidays I love to bake, but I love to bake things that aren’t too complex. I don’t want to spend hours baking after spending hours at work…not my idea of fun. That’s why I love simple, delicious holiday recipes. I made cookies for a holiday baby shower, and boy are they tasty. Not crunchy, not too chewy + they have a nice sweet, yet salty flavor thanks to the Butterfinger Jingles.

I picked up a bag Butterfinger Jingles and Crunch Jingles at my local Walmart for about $2.78 a bag, and each bag comes with about 30 bells. You’ll need about 20 Butterfinger Jingles to make these simply delish Jingle Sugar Cookies. In about 20 minutes, including prep time, you’ll have tasty cookies.

Chop ‘em.

Next, mix your flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl. In a large mixer, beat your butter and sugar until they’re totally blended.

Add in your egg to the butter/sugar mixture, and continue to mix together. Slowly add in the dry ingredients.

Now your dough is ready for Butterfinger Jingles! Use a spatula to mix in all the pieces of Butterfinger into the dough.

Using a cookie scoop or a tablespoon, portion out your cookies onto a greased cookie sheet. You should end up with about 24-28 cookies.

Bake for 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees until golden brown and enjoy! You can view the full recipe for the Jingle Sugar Cookies over here.

Now, I love to eat candy, but I also use it for decorating my living room! While entertaining, I like for guests to be able to munch on stuff while hanging out, so I take some simple vase filler crystal gems and layer them about 1/3 of the way up in a glass votive holder or hurricane. I sprinkle a generous amount of Butterfinger/Crunch Jingles on top of the gems, add in a festive LED tealight and…

I end up with an instant décor piece that serves as beauty and function. The LED candlelight bounces off the crystal gems and the foil from the Crunch Jingles makes it sparkle! Add a cute little bow, and it’s instantly snazzy. They’re affordable enough to make a few to place in common areas such as living, dining, and family rooms. Each one is roughly about $3 (glass, LED votive, candy).

And by using an LED tealight my chocolates won’t melt and my guests won’t burn themselves while reaching in for a treat. One bag of Crunch Jingles can easily make 1 large centerpiece or 2-3 small ones. These are also great hostess gifts since the hostess can use the glass, gems and LED tealight long after the holidays! I currently have 3 of these in my living room, and it may explain why my pants are fitting snug these days.

As always, Pee Wee is trying to see what in the world is going on. If there is food, Pee Wee is there. Wonder where he got that from?

Nestle candy is great for baking, but don’t forget about how it can be used as décor, too. Hang candy canes on a tree, make cookie ornaments, use candies to designate/jazz up place settings at the dinner table…the options are endless and affordable. For more great holiday recipes and ideas, check out www.nestleseasonalrecipes.com

Do you use candy when baking cookies? Do you ever use it to decorate your home?

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Nestle #CBias #SocialFabric #HolidayCandy

I’ll admit it.

I pin tons of appetizer recipes. Oodles.

I make none.

Usually it’s because they require more time and ingredients than I want to invest in. I am a huge fan of effortless entertaining. I want it to be affordable, easy and without stress. During the holidays we have a lot of gatherings with our friends and family. We host game nights, TV nights, holiday soirees, etc. and this means we serve lots and lots of appetizers to nosh on.

Here’s one of my new favorites. As you can tell, the bag is ripped open. These are GOOD. I’ll admit some of the frozen appetizers leave a lot to be desired, but these Tyson Bruschetta Any’Tizers are delicious. It’s chicken, spinach, cheese, and an alfredo like sauce all gingerly nested on top of a delicious mini toasted bread.

HEAVEN.

You can find them for about $6.98 at Walmart in the area where all the appetizers are (they also have a chicken and bacon variety, which is next on my “must buy” list):

They come with about 2 dozen in a bag, which is a great value. They bake up in under 10 minutes, so they’re perfect for entertaining. Pop them in when guests arrive, serve up on a platter, and you are good to go.

And you know me, I always have a comment about calories—you can eat 3 for 170 calories (maybe pair with a salad and call it a dinner!) They are pretty meaty and the spinach doesn’t have a soggy or gross texture/taste. These are truly restaurant quality to me.

I had a friend over this weekend, and we were busy playing video games and having fun. We got hungry and I literally took 2 minutes to plop them into the oven, and 10 minutes later we were munching away.

This lil’ guy was obsessed with trying to steal them from us. He eventually succeeded. Gotta love Pee Wee’s perseverance.

And if you need more entertaining ideas or even craft ideas, you can read my post about the Holiday Celebrations 2012 eguide created by Party Bluprints Inc. & Collective Bias. It’s totally free and even features savings to some great retailers like Sears and Otter Box.

 

I may have to try this Holiday Sangria from the holiday e-guide this weekend:

Bottom line—don’t stress this holiday season! Holiday dining or entertaining doesn’t have to cost a lot or be complicated to be delicious thanks to Tyson Bruschetta.

I hope it’s an item they’ll carry year round because I am obsessed. Ya hear that Tyson? :)

What are your favorite appetizer or entertaining secrets for a quick, stress free holiday season?

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias®  and Tyson #CBias #SocialFabric #HolidayGuide

It is no secret that I love, love, love my dog. His sassy attitude translates extremely well in photos, which makes me the crazy dog mom who cannot take enough photos of him on Instagram.

When I learned that I could turn some of those literally hundreds of photos of Pee Wee into works of art, I was eager to learn more. Here are the 3 Instagram photos I turned into SnapBox prints:

 

So, let’s talk about SnapBox. It’s a service that takes any photo, even Instagram pics, and turns them into canvas prints in a box…hence SnapBox. They stand on their own (as seen above) or they can be hung on a wall.

People…they are GORGEOUS! I was nervous about the quality of my Instagram pics, but I obviously had no need to worry because they are stunning. The ordering process could not be easier—I literally ordered from my phone while laying in bed. You email the photo to snapbox@snapboxez.com, they reply within like 2 minutes with previews of what your photo would look like at various sizes, you add to cart/pay and you are DONE. In about 5 business days you have them at your door (or you can pick them up at a participating store near you), beautifully/safely packaged and they are beyond amazing.

Only FIVE days! Perfect for those last minute holiday gifts. (Note: please order by December 17 to ensure holiday delivery).

I got them as gifts for family, because everyone loves Pee Wee. No seriously. The square photo is of Pee Wee cuddling with my mom’s dog Elmo. They usually ignore each other, so that photo is truly a rare moment in time. My mom is going to LOVE that print. The next photo, seen below is of Pee Wee in the back seat of our car; we had just taken him to an outlet mall where he was just SO EXCITED to get to walk around and smell new things. The expression on his face is priceless, and it’s probably my favorite photo of him ever. His smile makes me so happy. Incredibly happy.

And the other photo is of Pee Wee just cuddling here at home in his favorite blankie. I think if Pee Wee could have chosen any photo to give to Daniel for Christmas, it’d be this one below. Daniel and Pee Wee can often be found cuddling, so it seems fitting.

The sharpness in the photos is perfect, and the prices are so affordable. People, you get these amazing prints without having to have fancy cameras or special software. These photos are straight from my Instagram feed (I even emailed them to SnapBox right from the Instagram app).

I am in love. Head over heels in love with the quality, price, ease of ordering and how quickly they got to my door. I’ll be ordering lots of these, I just know it.

So, in the spirit of giving, I am giving away a set of 3 SnapBox prints! You choose your 3 photos in any of the sizes they offer. Even shipping is included!

You can enter below using the Rafflecopter form. Contest is open from now until Friday, December 14, 2012 at midnight. Code will be emailed to winner Saturday, December 15, 2012 so that you can order in time for the holidays if you’re the lucky winner. US only, 18+, good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

 

I adore Thanksgiving because it gives me an excuse to try new recipes. My favorite recipes to try out at Thanksgiving time usually revolve around 2 of my favorite dishes: potatoes and desserts.

For these recipes that I’m going to share with you today I was asked to swap butter and use a Unilever spread instead. I chose Country Crock, and I was super pleased with the results. You’ll also be happy to know that the recipes were tested on a 13-year old boy and a 30 year old guy and they both LOVED recipes.

Because they’re that good!

First up is a super easy potato side dish that is sure to please! The end result looks fancy, but I swear it doesn’t require a ton of effort.

Cheesy Hasselback Potatoes: Serves 4

Adapted from FoodNetwork.com

Ingredients:

1. 4, 4-5 oz. potatoes (weight is before they’re peeled)
2. 3 oz. of cheese (1.5 ounces per cheese type, grated) I used gruyere and white Vermont cheddar
3. 1/2 cup of Country Crock Spread (melted)
4. Salt/Pepper to Taste
5. Bowl of water with dash of lemon juice

Steps:

1. Pre-heat your oven to 425-degrees. Rinse and peel potatoes, then soak in water with lemon juice. This keeps them from browning.

2. Once all your potatoes are peeled, thinly slice each potato about 3/4 of the way through in 1/4 inch slices like this:

I am so not a chef and my knife skills are not fab by any means, so just do your best!

3. Get your 1/2 cup of Country Crock Spread and melt it in a bowl large enough to fit your potatoes. I microwaved the Country Crock for about 30 seconds. Add a dash of salt and pepper and dunk each potato in the melted Country Crock mixture. Make sure all that yummy goodness gets into the potato layers. Reserve remaining melted Country Crock for later.

4. Pop your potatoes in the oven for about 35-40 minutes. Take them and sprinkle generously with your grated cheese and drizzle remaining melted Country Crock onto the tops of potatoes. Cook for another 15 minutes, or until fork tender and cooked all the way. Cool about 5 minutes, then serve! You end up with these wonderful potatoes that are slightly crispy on the outside, yet ooey and gooey on the inside.

So, now that you got your potatoes, you want dessert right? These 2-bite white chocolate pumpkin snickerdoodles will do the trick. Now I call these 2-bite snickerdoodles because they don’t flatten—they stay bon bon shaped! They’re dense, but have a lot of flavor and are great bite sized treats!

This recipe is also so easy that you can definitely get the kiddos involved. Look at the look of pure joy on my 13 year old brother’s face. Love that guy!

White Chocolate Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Bites: Makes 5-6 Dozen

Adapted from Six Sisters Stuff

Ingredients:

1. 1/2 cup Country Crock Spread
2. 1/2 cup shortening
3. 1 cup white sugar
4. 1/2 cup light brown sugar
5. 3/4 cup unsweetened pumpkin puree
6. 1 large egg
7. 3 1/4 cup of flour
8. 2 tsp of baking power
9. 1 tsp of baking soda
10. 1 cup white chocolate chips
11. 1/2 tsp salt
12. 1/2 tsp cinnamon
13. 1/2 tsp of pumpkin pie spice

Topping:

1. Cinnamon + sugar mixture (optional)

Steps:

1. Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees. Mix together the margarine, shortening, sugars, pumpkin, and egg. I used my KitchenAid mixer, but you could also use your hand mixer or some elbow grease. Make sure to use a large bowl though because there’s lots of dough made from this recipe (which can easily be halved).

2. Once those ingredients are mixed, incorporate remaining ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and white chocolate chips). REALLY mix it well! You don’t want to end up with cookies that have a flour aftertaste, so make sure to really work all the ingredients together well.

3. Put your dough in the freezer for about 10 minutes. This makes it easier to work with, especially if you’re using a cookie scoop, like I did.

4. Once your dough is chilled, use a cookie scoop or your hands to form into little balls. If desired, roll them into a cinnamon sugar mixture to coat. I did this on about half of my cookies, and I do think it helped amp up the flavor a bit, but you can omit this step.

5. Bake for about 8-10 minutes. They likely will not flatten, so don’t fret! Pumpkin puffs them up, but they’re still tasty. Unlike other cookies, I feel like these taste even better the day after. Once they’re out of the oven, let them cool and enjoy!

I didn’t taste or notice any difference when omitting the butter in favor of using Country Crock Spread by Unilever. It’s nice to know I can easily make that swap without sacrificing flavor. Now I know my Thanksgiving dinner will go off without a hitch!

What dishes could you use Country Crock Spread in this Thanksgiving?

Thank you to Good to Know & Unilever Spreads for being a sponsor. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I love, love, love the holidays, but trying to select gifts or plan menus for holiday soirees can be overwhelming. And daunting.

Which is why I love it when other people put together guides for me to pick and choose things from that are of good quality and value.

As a member of Social Fabric, I am excited to promote the Holiday Celebrations 2012 eguide created by Party Bluprints Inc. & Collective Bias.

The eguide contains fabulous recipes, like the Merry Mocktail pictured above (recipe on page 5) or the candied snickerdoodles seen below.

And while I love to have friends and family over during the holidays, preparing food and a menu really stresses me out. I always start off very ambitious, and then I give up and use something store bought and add a twist to it. I’ll be writing more about Tyson Bruschetta and how I incorporate this tasty new product into my party and snack rotation. It’s easy, affordable and tasty! Gotta love Any’tizers.

But besides entertaining, I also love to decorate my home, and this eguide offers a few ideas on how to DIY some décor.

And some fashion advice to make sure you dazzle at all those holiday gatherings:

I understand we’re all on a budget during the holidays, so make sure to flip through the 22-page eguide for some great savings from brands like Sears. This is a great way to save on holiday gifts for those fashionistas in your life.

The Holiday Celebrations 2012 eguide is a practical, fun, and easy way to get some ideas for holiday gifts, recipes and beauty/fashion ideas. Come back to my blog tomorrow to see 2 super easy Thanksgiving day recipes that you might want to consider adding to your Thanksgiving menu.

Do you use eguides or holiday guides to pick out gifts and prepare for the holidays?

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias®  and Tyson  #CBias #SocialFabric #HolidayGuide