holidays

Recipe: Bold Chex Mix

I’ve shared this recipe before, but it’s hidden on a post with other stuff, so I felt it was time to give it its own time to shine.

There are a lot of things I look forward to during the holiday season, and one of those things is this Chex Mix.

Could I make it anytime? Yes.

Do I? Nope.

It’s not fancy, but it’s something we anticipate every holiday season. Here’s how to make my bold Chex Mix.

Ingredients:
– 3 cups each of wheat, rice, and corn Chex cereal (off brand is fine!)
– 8 oz. of butter
– 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
– 2 tablespoons seasoned salt
– 1 teaspoon garlic powder
– 1 teaspoon onion powder
– whatever else you’d like to add: pretzels, nuts, crackers, etc.

Recipe:
1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
2. Melt 8 tablespoons of butter.
3. In a large bowl, combine the melted butter with the Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir.
4. Pour in the Chex cereal plus whatever additions you have.
5. Stir until the butter mixture coats the cereal well.
6. Pour cereal onto a baking sheet and spread evenly.
7. Bake for 60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
8. Transfer to parchment paper or newspaper to cool.
9. Once completely cool, store in an airtight container.

You can do this in the microwave, and it saves a lot of time. I used to do it like this, but I think the oven gives it a better flavor. If you want to microwave, do 15-20 minutes in the bowl, stirring every 5 minutes.

As you can tell from the ingredient amounts, this is a garlicky, salty Chex Mix. If you don’t like loud flavors, this will not be the recipe for you. This is like the original recipe from the side of the Chex Mix cereal box, but turned up about 10 times. Make sure you have a glass of water on standby.

I like to include a bag of this with my holiday cookie deliveries. It’s a nice savory balance to sweets. I’d make this for your next holiday party or gathering. Just set it on the table with all the other snacks and see what happens.

Then share this link with everyone because it’s gonna be a hit. I promise.

2022 Partner Gift Guide

Here’s a very specific thing Chris Graham likes to do every day: shop the clearance section of his favorite stores. He rarely buys anything, but if he receives an email about a deal, he will diligently check the links and read all the details on every item.

He is an email marketers worse nightmare: he will click those links, but he’s not going to buy anything.

He also loves to watch movie trailers, even for movies he will never, ever see. It’s a good thing he’s cute, because none of this makes sense to me.

If you’re shopping for a partner who also confuses you most of the time, here’s what I’m suggesting. These are things that make my little weirdo happy.

Disclosure: affiliate links used

Nespresso Machine (link)
You’ll notice this theme as you work your way down, but coffee is Chris Graham’s lifeblood. We have a BUNN coffeemaker (we actually just got a new one after seven years with our old one) that makes our daily coffee, but my husband requires more than just a pot of coffee most days. Enter: the Nespresso machine.

Cotopaxi Pullover (link)
If you see Chris Graham in public this winter, I’d bet money he’s wearing one of these pullovers. He’s got a few and loves them enough to keep buying more even though they’re a little pricey. (Side note if you like to shop for yourself while shopping for others: Cotopaxi has the most amazing hip packs [fanny packs?]. This bag just makes me so happy.)

Apple Music Subscription (link)
I think if I ever cancelled our Apple Music subscription, someone would file for divorce. I’m very serious.

Specialty Chip Variety Pack (link)
For Father’s Day this year, we ordered this sampler pack of chips. If you have someone in your life who loves to try new foods or flavors, this would make a fun stocking stuffer. We paired this with a random variety of unique bottled soda for the perfect afternoon snack.

Death Wish Coffee (link)
This is extreme coffee for extreme coffee people. Be careful.

Matthew Reilly Series (link)
This is a series Chris Graham consumed. If you know a reader who enjoys sci-fi adventure, this would be a good series to gift. Bonus: You don’t have to wait for anymore books to come out—the bane of my existence—because it wrapped this year.

Solar Charger Power Bank (link)
This is for anyone who spends a lot of time outside or away from electricity. Or someone who just likes to be extra prepared at all times.

Waterproof Dry Bag Set (link)
If you spend any time on the water, you need a dry bag set. We use it for canoeing/kayaking, plus the beach or pool. I took the smaller cell phone holder on my cruise in October and it was handy for excursions.

Pocket Flashlight (link)
I don’t care how many flashlights you have, you probably need another one. Chris Graham carries this pocket one at work and, I’m sure, uses it daily.

Pocket Work Light (link)
I just said you can never have enough flashlights, so here’s a cool one that has a magnet on it. You can use it for camping, working on cars, home remodeling…the possibilities are endless. As someone who spent a significant amount of my childhood holding a flashlight up for my dad to see into the engine of a car, this could be life changing for the right person.

Rolling Ball Organizer (link)
Okay, technically, I ordered this and love it, but that’s only because I love organizing and cleaning up messes while my life partner loves chaos and piles. I got this rolling ball cart for our garage and every time I walk out there, it makes me happy. This one holds all the balls you’ve got around the garage, plus it has a few baskets for smaller stuff (tennis balls, jump rope, orange cones, etc.) and hooks on the side.

Armor Car Cleaning Wipe Kit (link)
Do you know someone who loves to clean their car? Or maybe just someone you want to send a very specific message to about how dirty their car is? Car cleaning kits are the way to go. Give these out of the kindness of your heart or to be passive-aggressive, it’s up to you.

Embarrassing Stoner Pullover (link)
I can’t believe I’m telling the world wide web about this, but ’tis the season. For YEARS—probably 10 or more—the love of my life has wanted a knit Mexican-style pullover. If you grew up in the 90s, you know exactly what I’m talking about. They should have stayed there, but they did not. Chris Graham is clean and sober, but in his soul, he’s still a dirty stoner kid. While I was in Mexico this fall, he texted me and asked if I’d pick him up a pullover. He knew I couldn’t say no; I was on a not-cheap trip with a friend for a week while he stayed home. The least I could do was bring him his stoner hoodie. So I did. I picked one up from a street vendor in Costa Maya and lugged it back home. He has not taken it off since. He’s probably wearing this right now as he proofreads this for me before I publish.

East Fork Mug (link)
Following our coffee theme, these mugs are rustic and beautiful. We really don’t need anymore coffee cups, but that’s not your business.

Gerber Mini Pocket Knife (link)
Nothing more of a flex than whipping out your pocket knife anytime someone has an issue. This is the one Chris Graham carries all the time. He also loses it all the time, so good thing they’re inexpensive.

Blackstone Grill Accessories (link)
If you need a gift for someone with a Blackstone, this grill accessory set is fun. In the summer, we try to cook on ours as much as possible. That lid is good for veggies or breakfast stuff. We don’t have a spatula set yet, but that would be a good idea too.

Black Converse Sneakers (link)
I know this isn’t the case for everyone, but Chris Graham likes to wear a pair of shoes until they fall apart. He has to be bullied into buying a new pair. Adding new shoes to the list, if you too, have someone in your life who hates to buy new shoes for themselves but really needs them.

Bucket of Bungee Cords (link)
A bucket of bungee cords? Hell yes. There’s always a need to secure something down and nothing more fun than showing off an extensive bungee collection when the time calls. Total dad stuff.

State Park Pass (link to Indiana SP Pass)
I’ve linked to the Indiana state park pass, but, you know, buy one for your state, not mine. That seems silly to say, but I’ve been on the internet long enough to know that I have to. We’re buying two state park passes this year: one for Chris and our family and one for my dad who is retiring and will have a lot more time for adventures. This would be a good gift for young families too!

2022 Favorite Things

I always laugh when I make these shopping guides because they are so very specific. Do you like to garden while listening to murder podcasts and then at night turn on a lamp while wearing old man pajamas?

Well then, do I have some gift ideas for you.

Disclosure: affiliate links used

Duluth Heirloom Gardening Overalls (link)
Whether you like to work outside or just like to look like you do, these overalls are my favorite weekend outfit. They’re lightweight enough to wear in the summer and you can easily layer a long-sleeve shirt underneath if you need to. I’ve tried some of Duluth’s other overalls, but they felt too bulky. (Or perhaps they’re just made for legit outdoor people and I’m only a novice.) These are one of my favorite purchases of the year.

Turtlenecks (Land’s End or Old Navy)
I’m 41 now and my aesthetic is turtlenecks and overalls. I did not see this coming, but there’s no going back. I like the ones linked above from Land’s End and Old Navy because they have lots of color options (although, I really just like black…), and they come in long. That’s good because no one wants to see a tall person in a crop top turtleneck.

Slow Cooker with Saute Function (link)
It might seem silly to have a slow cooker on my favorites list, but hear me out: a slow cooker with a saute function will change your life. I’m so serious. So many recipes make you cook or brown something before adding it to the Crockpot and for years, I just skipped those recipes because no. I will not be cooking food to put in the slow cooker thats whole purpose is to save me time. But a slow cooker that lets me brown meat or saute veggies IN IT? I know this makes me sound like a 41-year-old mom who wears turtlenecks, but game changer.

Fleece Blanket (link)
My philosophy on blankets is there is no such thing as too many blankets. This is where Chris Graham and I disagree, but if you’ve ever seen my house, you know I am winning this argument. Also, our family still manages to fight over blankets even though we have plenty? Families are weird. When I was a kid, we had this blanket we called the “soft blanket” and everyone knew exactly which blanket it was. It was teal and had satin around the edge. I can feel it right now as I type this. That’s the power of a good blanket—and why I’m buying the one linked above for Christmas. It’s got soft blanket vibes.

The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne (link)
I forgot to add this to the picture before I finished, but it’s my favorite book of the year. Everyone should read it. I still think about this book all the time, and I read it in June. The Heart’s Invisible Furies destroyed me and gave me so much hope at the same time. This book is in my top five books of all time.

Schitt’s Creek mug (link)
I got this mug for Mother’s Day, and I use it all the time. It’s oversized, which I love, and tells everyone about one of my favorite TV shows.

Sun Hat (link)
Speaking of being 41, I wear a sun hat in the pool now. Mostly because I spend a lot of money on my face, and I don’t want to waste all that money. I love this hat because I can wear my hair up without it being weird, and it travels well.

Wooden Spoon Set (link)
First of all, I will not be referring to these as “spurtles” even though that’s, apparently, their name? Absolutely not. Last year, I began replacing all my random kitchen utensils with wooden ones. There are lots of reasons: less plastic in the kitchen, lasts longer, blah blah blah. But also, they’re just really pretty. So I did it for all the reasons, and, a year later, I don’t regret the transition. This is a fun first set if you’re looking to do the same.

Duluth Apron (link)
I do most of my shopping online because I try to never leave my house, but this summer, I ended up at a Duluth store to return some stuff. While there, I grabbed this apron. I LOVE IT. It’s a little untraditional which makes me more likely to wear it, as I’m not a big fan of the aprons that go over your head and tie. I think this one is cute and doesn’t pull on your neck and has great pockets. It’s currently on clearance, so hurry if you think you need one.

Birk Clogs (Amazon link) (Birkenstock link) (Amazon dupe link)
Are Birkenstock clogs hard to find right now? Yes. I’m still suggesting them though, because I bought some for my birthday and I have not stopped wearing them since. I went with the blush pink pictured above which sounds like a risky choice but isn’t. Think of them as a neutral and wear them with everything. I ended up buying mine from a third-party seller on Amazon because the Birkenstock site was out of everything. I’ve linked both of them above, just in case. Also, there are some really good Birk dupes out, so if they’re out of your price range, go that route. Middle school Mary Ritter had the Walmart Birk dupes and to make up for that childhood travesty, I bought myself the real ones now, but you do what you need to. No shame.

Flannel Nightgown (link)
If you follow me on Instagram, you knew this was coming. If you don’t follow me on Instagram, sorry you missed the most embarrassing vintage Land’s End old man nightgown show-and-tell. Just use your imagination. Long story short, 2022 has been the year of pajamas for me. I’ve spent my whole adult life sleeping in old t-shirts and worn out exercise pants, so this year I decided to become a pajama person. It was the next step after turtlenecks and overalls, obviously. I’m mostly into pajama pants because I don’t like my leg skin to touch while I sleep (it’s fine, don’t even worry about it), but I have been testing the nightgown waters. If you want to also, grab the flannel ones above and we can be twinsies.

Vans High Tops (link)
I’m getting bright yellow high top Vans from Santa this year. That’s all you need to know.

Gold Necklaces (link)
I don’t wear much jewelry, but I do like some dainty gold necklaces I can wear around the clock. It makes me feel less schlumpy. My routine with dainty gold necklaces is to buy a set that comes in different lengths and wear 2-3 of them all together until they no longer look gold and then replace them. The set linked above has lasted 6+ months, even with lots of time spent in the pool this summer, wearing them in the shower, and multiple dips in the ocean this fall. These necklaces won’t quit. I wear the two shorter ones all the time and just add the longest one if an outfit calls for it.

Turkish Hand Towels (link)
Turkish towels were on my list last year; I like to use the large ones as bathroom towels and beach towels. They’re quick-drying and soft. So technically, I shouldn’t add them again, but this set is the kitchen towel, which is completely different and necessary. I love to use this size in the kitchen when I need a place to dry dishes and to wipe my hands on while I’m baking/cooking because they’re bigger than normal hand towels. I also like to use them if I’m giving someone a food gift; I wrap the goodies in one of these towels as part of the gift.

Old Navy Joggers (link)
I think these are the perfect joggers. They’re lightweight and super soft. They don’t feel or look like sweatpants, which I like. You could wear these to the gym, to the store, or around the house. I grabbed a few pairs last season and was excited to see them back this year. I ordered every new color so now I have five pairs. If you see me this winter, there’s a good chance I’ll be wearing them. These come in tall, but I like the length of the regular. I want a little ankle to show and like a more fitted look with these.

Hoop Earrings (link)
I just said I don’t wear much jewelry, but here we are going over another item of jewelry. Interesting. I work from home and have to be in Zoom meetings a lot. My trick to looking like I am not wearing loose fitting lounge clothes is earrings. I realize this makes me a geriatric millennial, but I still love a big hoop. Get over it. These are lightweight and fun. I’ve worn them for a year now, and they still make me happy.

Small Desk Lamp (link)
It’s winter, which means it’s officially lamp season. I think one of the keys to a cozy home is a lamp. Lots of lamps, actually. Overhead light feels harsh and sterile, but lamps? Cozy and welcoming. Now that it’s dark at 5:00, I am in full lamp mode. I linked one I got from Target recently, but who cares where you find good lamp. They’re everywhere, go crazy.

Packing Cubes (link)
Don’t skip this one. I know what you’re thinking: no one needs packing cubes, calm down. I thought the same thing, but this summer, I was influenced by Instagram to buy some. I used them for my trip this October and, I kid you not, they’re magical. The amount of stuff I was able to pack, the amount of space I still had in my luggage, and the way things weren’t hard to find when I needed them? Packing cubes are legit. If you know someone who travels or likes to organize stuff, this is a good gift. I know it seems unnecessary, but it’s not, I swear.

Fanny Pack (link)
This didn’t make it onto the collage above, but my ByTavi bag gets so many compliments and questions. You can wear it across your body or as a fanny pack. It’s the perfect size for a night out, traveling, or concerts. I use this all the time and have a 13 year old who steals it whenever she can. (ByTavi is having really good sales right now, but if you need a discount code, use MARY15 to get 15% off.)

Vitamin C Serum (link)
We’re all wearing sunscreen everyday, right? Okay, good. Put this vitamin C serum on before the sunscreen to help combat sun damage. I’ve been using this stuff for a few years and love it. [Side note: I was at the dermatologist a last week and picked up a prescription strength vitamin C that the tech suggested. As soon as I’m done with this bottle, I’m switching to that. I’ll keep you posted on the change.]

AirPods (link)
I think every parent should have a pair of AirPods if they’re able. I listen to a lot of audiobooks and podcasts, but don’t always want my kids hearing them. I can clean the house on the weekends, drive, and a million other things with one AirPod in and still hear/interact with my kids when I need to. They’re a lifesaver.

Winter Gloves (link)
It’s a very adult thing to have nice gloves, but it feels like such a luxury to not wear those cheap cotton ones that say one-size-fits-all but really doesn’t. If you, too, are trying to be an adult right now, buy yourself some adult gloves.

Weekly Meal Planning Sheets (link)
This might not be a good idea to give someone else, but I’m adding it here in case you want them for yourself. After years of printing a sheet off the internet or just randomly writing a list on a piece of printer paper, I ordered myself this pad. It keeps me organized, has a spot where I can make grocery notes if I need to, and has enough space for me to write reminders to my family on it.

Set of Blank Cards (link)
I realize it’s 2022, but I still love sending cards in the mail. Also, we’re a family that still writes thank you notes. I think they’re important and will absolutely judge you if I send you a gift and you don’t acknowledge it. That’s rude. Finally, there’s always a last-minute party or event you need a card for. This set of blank cards has a fun variety that will work for most occasions.

Flameless Candles (link)
Yes, I had flameless candles on a list last year, but these are tapered so it’s different. I’m really loving candle holders and tapered candles right now. Fully embracing my old lady style. I’ll probably light these while wearing a turtleneck.

Cast Iron Braiser (link)
I bought a teal version of this at Costco last year, and it has become my go-to pot for cooking. It’s the perfect size and easy to clean. Plus, it’s pretty.

2023 Leather Planner (link)
This is sold out right now, which is a big bummer because I didn’t order this when I should have, but I’m a paper planner person always and forever and this is what I plan to use for 2023. Don’t actually buy this when it comes in stock until I do though, thanks.

2021 Holiday Movie Guide

In November, the Graham girls (Ellie, Harper, and myself) decided to dedicate ourselves to hours of movie watching for the sake of others. We are nothing if not givers, and we decided a great way to use our precious time would be to watch as many holiday movies as possible and then tell others about them. Think of it as our gift to the world during this challenging time.

Before we share our reviews, we need to set the stage: I don’t really watch much TV, but when colder weather comes and I can’t be outside as much, I have some free time to fill. Normally, I watched completely cringe-y holiday movies by myself while cooking or after the girls would go to bed. Surprisingly, Chris Graham wasn’t interested in joining me for these shows. Now as the girls get older, they’re joining in on the tradition. Saturday morning cartoons have been replaced with romantic holiday movies. Sunday night family movie night has turned into cheesy Christmas shows. Chris Graham is distraught. The Graham girls are ecstatic. I can’t tolerate the level of bad acting and predictable storylines ten months out of the year, but for November and December, I welcome all of it. The more horrible the better, please and thank you.

This is not a complete list. There are countless holiday movies across many streaming platforms to choose from. We’re still watching more as we speak. We’ll never get to all of them and, while we’ve resigned ourselves to this sad fact, we are not going down without a fight.

_{I bought this Echo Show 8 (affiliate link) on Black Friday to up my holiday baking game. I can’t see our living room TV from the kitchen so I normally just watch movies on my phone, but it’s annoying to go back and forth between recipes and movies, or text messages and movies. So I treated myself to an Echo Show, and I can’t tell you how ridiculously happy I am about it. Christmas music in the mornings as the girls get ready for school, recipes on the screen while I make dinner, and Netflix while I bake. I think this is the peak for me. There’s no where else to go from here.}

_{What my kitchen looked like yesterday before I started the baking marathon. Holiday movies are needed for emotional support.}

Home Sweet Home Alone (on Netflix)
The girls picked this as their first holiday movie. It’s a newer spin-off on the original Home Alone series with recognizable actors and some fun cameos. I thought another Home Alone movie was a bad idea, but this works and the girls recommend it.

Love Hard (on Netflix)
I liked this one. The main love interest is Asian and the movie pushes back on some stereotypes of love and relationships (but the main characters are both toxic in their own ways, how romantic!). I liked the diverse casting choices; there is one unimaginative storyline with the best friend who is supposed to be in AA but is often drinking in her scenes. It goes without saying that I’m just not a big fan of making light of the disease of addiction, so if that will be annoying to you, skip this one.

The Holiday (on Netflix)
Okay, this isn’t a new movie, obviously. But I’m including it on my list because it was the first Christmas movie I watched in November to kick off the holiday season, so I’m reminding you it’s great and you should watch it and it will never go out of style.

Holidate (on Netflix)
Completely predictable and definitely not for kids, but I loved it. This is the level of cheesy Christmas movie I want for everything I watch. Just fun to watch and makes a great background movie for wrapping presents or baking. (There is a lot of drinking—I mean, a LOT of drinking—in this one, just FYI.)

A California Christmas (on Netflix)
This one was actually pretty dumb, but that doesn’t disqualify it during the months of November and December. I half watched it while working on my gift guides last month, and it served its purpose perfectly. You can only pay attention to this movie half the time and know exactly what is going on.

A California Christmas: City Lights (on Netflix)
Oh look, I said A California Christmas was kinda dumb, yet I watched the sequel a few weeks later. Still kinda dumb, but—no shame—I like the escape of a really dumb movie right now. I highly recommend this coping mechanism to everyone reading this.

Jingle Jangle (on Netflix)
This one is super fun. Watch it with your whole family. This is our second year watching this one and it’s becoming part of our holiday traditions. Diverse cast AND a girl who loves science? Sold.

Holiday Calendar (on Netflix)
I really liked this one. Diverse cast, creative-yet-cheesy storyline, and fun to watch. I did my first round of holiday baking while watching, and this movie was a great companion while I mixed and baked and iced.

Ernest Saves Christmas (on Disney+)
As a child of the 80s, I take the responsibility of teaching my children about Ernest P. Worrell very seriously. So when they selected Ernest Saves Christmas as a movie one evening, I realized my job here was done. They are ready to go out into the world on their own. God speed, children. KnoWhutImean, Vern?

Let It Snow (on Netflix)
This is a movie based on the YA novel by John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson. It’s definitely for older teens; I didn’t watch this one with the girls, but as a life-long YA lover, this was delightful. It wasn’t super cheesy, which I always appreciate, and it had the feel of a classic 80’s high school movie. This is one of my favorites this year.

A Castle for Christmas (on Netflix)
This one is especially silly, but it has Brooke Shields and Cary Elwes so I was able to convince the girls to watch it with me when I said it was the guy from The Princess Bride. There are Scottish accents and local pubs wear people have a knitting club, so this was just delightful to watch. Silly, but delightful.

Single All The Way (on Netflix)
Best friends who aren’t in love with each other are madly in love with each other by the end of the movie. I did not see that coming. But I liked the shocking twist nonetheless.

Holiday in the Wild (on Netflix)
Kristin Davis and Rob Lowe? Yes, please. Full disclosure: this one has some pretty hard White savior vibes (it’s set in Africa) and that’s annoying, but it’s beautiful to watch and they fall in love! Who saw that coming?!

A Very Country Christmas (on Netflix)
I’m not even sure why I clicked on this one, I’m not a fan of country music, but I was making dinner one night and I was desperate. My favorite part was Deana Carter as the friend and orchestrator of love; while I’m not a big fan of country music, it’s against the law to not like “Strawberry Wine,” obviously.

Operation Christmas Drop (on Netflix)
Hawaii, Christmas, the US military, and another side of White savior complex. Merry Christmas, from the United States who will destroy local economies and natural resources, but then air-drop bags of rice and blankets so you can feel #blessed by our presence.

Holiday Rush (on Netflix)
The girls loved this one about a widowed father and his four children. Dad loses his job right before Christmas and things get stressful…until they learn the real meaning of the holidays. Good for kids and parents.

Holiday Home Makeover with Mr. Christmas (on Nexflix)
The girls and I binged 3 or 4 of these episodes one Saturday morning. If you like reality TV shows, makeover shows, or sad stories, this one is for you. Mr. Christmas is a professional holiday decorator and he travels around the country with his elves spreading good cheer for those who’ve experienced loss or tragedy. Christmas lights solve everything. Trust me.

A Christmas Prince + A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding + A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby (on Netflix)
I watched A Christmas Prince last year, but didn’t feel the need to continue on with the series. My children, on the other hand, went all in. They followed the Prince and his lady into marriage and babies. By the third movie, Ellie was able to predict the cheesy lines before they were said, which is just a sign that she’s learning some valuable writing lessons this holiday season.

8-Bit Christmas (on HBOMax)
This wins as best new holiday movie for me. If you’re a kid from the 80s or early 90s, please watch this. I don’t care if you have kids or not. Or maybe you were raising kids during this time period? You’ll love this one too. Nintendo, Cabbage Patch dolls, and the fashion are like taking a trip back in time. This one is funny and heartwarming. 8-Bit Christmas for everyone.

I’m spending the weekend baking through this list, and I just started Dash & Lily. It’s a series with 8 episodes (30 minutes or less). I normally avoid holiday series because I don’t want to commit to something that long, but I’ve still got hours of baking to do, and not having to pick 2-3 movies out this weekend is enough for me to take the plunge.

I hope your weekend before Christmas is filled with cozy fires, warm ovens, and good company. I hope your Christmas shopping is done, and maybe you get snow. And I hope your TV is playing silly holiday movies that distract you from the outside world for just a little bit.

DISCLOSURE: AFFILIATE LINKS USED

2021 Ultimate Holiday Baking Menu

The night before Thanksgiving, a friend and I sat at my kitchen table. We talked about kids and travel plans. We talked about changing family dynamics and grief. We talked about what we were learning, what we were struggling with, and what Christmas traditions we wanted to continue this year.

And, most importantly, we talked about what we were going to bake for the holidays. My friend showed up with a stack of recipes, ingredients to try a new cookie, and a bag of candy we needed to sample.

Holiday baking is serious business. That night, we compared notes, edited plans, and did a few experiments. Yes, the next day was Thanksgiving, but the cookies and candy we were going to eat in December were already center stage. Nothing some middle-aged moms love more than baking in December.

Here’s my 2021 plan for holiday goodies. Some of these are regulars that show up every year (looking at you, chocolate chip cookies and zesty Chex Mix) and some of them are new additions (decadent rice crispy treats and Chelsea’s chocolate peanut butter balls), but they’re all delicious and deserve a spot in your cookie jar this season.

Chocolate Chip Cookies
If I leave these out, the people will revolt. Here’s the recipe. If you follow me on IG, you can see a Reel later this week with all my tricks and tips to make them.

Decadent Rice Krispies Treats
Full disclosure, my friend Christine perfected this recipe. I’d been using a different one, because I wanted something a little more gooey than the traditional ones. Then we went camping this summer, and she brought a batch of these with her. I think my family finished off the whole container before the second night. These are grown up, richer Rice Krispie treats. A million times better than the ones you had as a kid. (Also, this recipe calls for the whole box of cereal and whole bags of mini marshmallows. Nothing more annoying than using half a box of cereal or marshmallows and then letting the rest sit until they go stale. We don’t really use those things for much else in our house, so being able to make a large batch and have nothing left to store until I decide to throw it away is a bonus.)

Ingredients:
1 box (10 oz.) of Rice Krispies
12 tablespoons of butter
3 bags (10 oz.) of mini marshmallows
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
– Melt butter in a large pot. Browning it just ups the flavor, but it’s not necessary.
– Reserve 3 cups of marshmallows then pour the rest in the pot with the butter.
– Slowly melt the marshmallows, stirring continuously.
– Once the marshmallows are melted, add the salt and vanilla.
– Remove from heat and add the Rice Krispies, stirring until the cereal is coated in the marshmallow mixture.
– Then add the remaining marshmallows into the pot and incorporate.
– Transfer the cereal mixture to a greased pan or cookie sheet covered in parchment paper. (This makes a lot! Don’t pick a small pan.)
– Spread the cereal mixture out evenly; don’t mash it down, you want the treats to be airy and gooey, not packed in and completely solid.
– Let cool and enjoy!

Extra Credit Additions:
Add in mini chocolate chips with the 3 cups of mini marshmallows if you’re feeling fancy. My friend Christine buys the bulk bags of Lucky Charms marshmallows from Rural King and throws those in there. (They also sell the tiny marshmallows, the kind you see in hot chocolate packets. Those would be fun too!) Throw in sprinkles, whatever your little heart desires. If you don’t want to add more stuff to mix in, just add the chocolate or sprinkles to the top. You can’t really mess these up.

White Chocolate Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
I first saw this recipe years ago on the side of an Ocean Spray dried cranberry package. I’ve been making them a few times a year ever since. Every time I make these, I think the dough looks too dry and I’ve done something wrong…then I try one for quality control purposes and they’re perfect. So don’t freak out if you’re used to wetter dough, these work their magic in the oven and come through in the end.

Chelsea’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
I grew up eating buckeyes at family Christmas gatherings. Both my grandmas made them, so we were never without and that made me feel #blessed. But I’d never made them; they didn’t seem like a thing I should make. It might ruin the magic. But then my friend Chelsea shared this recipe and I finally took the plunge last year. She uses Rice Krispies in her balls so they are lighter than the traditional ones you might have grown up eating. What’s great about this is you can eat more of them. One traditional buckeye and you’re done because they’re super rich. These peanut butter balls? 3-4 with ease. Don’t make these too far in advance of your holiday gathering though, because they will not last. I’m serious. Be careful.

Puppy Chow (or Muddy Buddies for people who like to be wrong)
I made a batch of Puppy Chow last year on a whim with leftover cereal, and the girls went crazy for it. I forgot how delicious it is and how fun it is to make. Here’s the recipe I used. We just sprinkled this in cookie containers as filler, but putting it in cute bags and tying it with some ribbon is a fancy touch if you’re in the mood to impress.

Chocolate-Covered Oreos
Okay, so this recipe is a little more intense than I normally do, but I love the look of the sticks with it, so I’m sharing it in case you do too. If you just want to coat some Oreos in melted chocolate and add some sprinkles, do that. This recipe has all the information you’ll need. The girls love helping with these!

Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Rods
This is similar to the Oreos, so if you like the idea of holiday treats, but baking isn’t really your jam, these should work for you. Also, they just look pretty and festive. For a fun twist, bag a few of these in a Christmas baggies and top your gifts with them.

Rolo Pretzel Turtles
These are classics and super easy. If you feel like baking is hard and everything always ends up ruined, start here. Low heat in the oven with lots of pre-made things. You’re literally just warming up some stuff. I bought my bag of Rolos too early this season and have to pick up another one this weekend to be able to make these. But no regrets, honestly. Those Rolos supported me well.

Iced Sugar Cookies
Make this dough the day before you want to roll out the cookies and bake them for the best flavor. Here’s the recipe. Ice with whatever your heart desires, you can’t really go wrong with these cookies. (Side story: this is a recipe my mom got from a friend when I was in elementary school. The lady was a home ec teacher and knew her cookies. This recipe calls for Crisco and you just have to go with it. Don’t ask questions.)

Zesty Chex Mix
My family LOVES this stuff. It’s really bold, so if you don’t like garlicky, salty treats, skip this one. For everyone else, make a few batches with this recipe and take it to all your holiday gatherings. Your breath will be kickin’ afterward, but it’s worth the sacrifice. (I normally make 3-4 batches to use up all the cereal. Otherwise, it’s just goes to waste because no one eats it for breakfast.) This one will be on Instagram this week too, if that’s your jam.

Banana Bread
I make banana bread all the time. It’s a great way to use up bananas that no one ate, and the bread freezes really well. I’ve shared before that I believe in the ministry of banana bread. If someone is hurting or sick or just having a bad Tuesday, I’ll grab a loaf or two from the freezer and deliver it to them. You can do this too or whip up a batch for Christmas morning. I use a four-loaf stone from Pampered Chef to make smaller loaves, but this recipe can be made into muffins or one giant loaf as well.

Two new recipes I’m trying this weekend:
Soft Gingerbread Cookies (link)
The girls decorated gingerbread houses about a week ago. While they were working, I realized they’ve never actually had gingerbread cookies. Harper kept licking her house, which was edible, but probably not delicious. Then I saw these, and they made my mouth water. We’re trying them out this weekend.

The Very Best Chocolate Cookies (link)
Both the gingerbread cookie recipe and this one are from Pinch of Yum. She always has recipes that look delicious, now we get to see if they actually are. (I have no doubt they’re good, I’m just being dramatic.) I need to grab a few ingredients to be able to make these and then it.is.on.

The girls and I love to spend a long weekend in December baking and watching cringe-worthy Christmas movies. We buy a few DIY Christmas ornament kits from the craft store and assemble ornaments. Sunday afternoon, we pack up all the goodies topped with homemade ornaments, jump in the car, and drive around the city dropping off packages of deliciousness to all our favorite people. We put Elf on the TV, sing Christmas carols at the top of our lungs, and try to sneak onto front porches without getting caught (with the prevalence of Ring doorbells and cameras, this is actually pretty challenging!).

For me, this is reminiscent of the Christmas cookie Tupperware my grandma would drop off every December to our house when I was a kid. We’d come home and find the huge bin sitting on the chest freezer in our garage. It was a mad dash into the house to open the container and grab your favorite sweets before someone else did (buckeyes and the green shortbread cookies with red sprinkles, please and thank you; if you chose wrong and got the chocolate coconut balls, it was acceptable to immediately barf them into the trash can. Sorry, Grandma).

I hope my friends aren’t barfing our holiday creations into the trash can, but who knows. They’re all nice enough not to mention that part if they are. But I’m actually pretty confident you could make anything on this list and it would be met with nothing but love. Last year a friend was having a particularly challenging time, so we returned to her house a few days later with another package of cookies. So maybe make a few extras and keep them on hand for holiday parties and emergency emotional support. Because, truly, everyone loves holiday treats.

Gift Ideas: Games & Puzzles

Okay, this is it. The final gift list for 2021. And this one might be the most fun?

The Grahams play a lot of games. We play games when we camp. We play games on the back porch on summer evenings. We play games a lot in the cold winter months. We also do a lot of puzzles in the winter. Winter feels like puzzle weather.

This is a list of some of our favorites. Truthfully, I had a hard time narrowing it down. Apparently, we love a lot of games and puzzles. So the main point of this post might not be to buy the ones we love (even though I think you’ll love them like we do!), but to play games with people you love and sit around a table with good snacks and an intricate puzzle with others. It actually doesn’t matter which ones you choose.

(Some of the following links are affiliates. When you use these links, I make a very small commission from your purchase. It doesn’t change the price for you. Thanks for supporting Trusty Chucks in this small way.)

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza (link)
This is our current go-to game. We played it at Thanksgiving with family and had so much fun. It was the first time we’d played it with more than just the four of us, and it’s a much better game with a 5 or 6 people. Our dogs HATE this game because it’s loud (think slapping and pounding the table). They normally hide in my office when we play. It’s also kinda rough, but that’s only if you play with very competitive people who don’t tone it down when playing with kids. Which is my whole family. (This would be a great stocking stuffer.)

LEGO Minifigure 1000 Piece Puzzle (link)
Our family tradition is puzzles for Christmas morning. Chris and I normally each get a puzzle, and the girls get one too. After presents have been opened and we’re watching movies and eating more food, someone opens up one of the puzzles and then we spend the rest of the day, on and off, completing the puzzle. By the evening, everyone has spent some time working on it and it’s done. This LEGO minifigure puzzle was Chris’ puzzle last year. If you have a LEGO fan in your family, this one is really fun.

Uno Flip (link)
We play a lot of games when we camp, and this is one of the two card games we play the most. It’s like the original Uno, but the cards are two-sided and depending on how a card is played, you might have to flip your hand and start a whole different strategy to win. This is a more cut-throat Uno, and we love it. (This would be a great stocking stuffer.)

Tenzi (link)
Harper fell in love with Tenzi at school. She finally bought it for herself this summer when we were traveling, and she plays with it often. She can mess around with the dice by herself, play with Ellie, or we can all play together. It’s a quick game if you need it to be. For a stocking stuffer this Christmas, she’s getting the 77 ways to play card set that expands the Tenzi game into all kinds of other stuff.

Monopoly Deal (link)
This is the other card game we play a lot while camping. This one is a little more intense and time consuming than Uno Flip, but it’s easy to set up and clean up and is definitely shorter than the never-ending original Monopoly game. I’m actually not a fan of Monopoly, but this one isn’t half as bad as that boring version that takes four years to play. (This would be a great stocking stuffer.)

Scrabble (link)
Oh look, the English major is telling you to buy Scrabble. Didn’t see that coming. No, but seriously, Scrabble is fun! Ellie spent time at my mom’s this weekend, and she played it for the first time. She came home telling me how fun it was, and I was personally insulted she thought she was telling me something I didn’t know. Not to give you a very personal glimpse into our marriage, but Chris and I used to play Scrabble a lot when the girls were little. They’d go to bed, and we’d stay up late playing Scrabble. Like the elderly people we were meant to be. Our Scrabble board got ruined this summer while camping, so I’m getting a new one for Christmas. HUMBLE BRAG.

Exploding Kittens (link)
Adding this to the list because it’s an Ellie Graham favorite. The cards are clever. Death is eminent, but it’s fun (and quick). I love quick games, seriously.

Jenga (link)
Don’t sleep on Jenga. (Is anyone actually sleeping on Jenga? No. I just wanted to type that.) This is fun for all ages, and doesn’t last super long. (See above for my views on quick games.) You can play a few rounds in a short amount of time, and it’s fun for kids to play by themselves. When the girls were younger, they would “practice” Jenga so they were ready the next time family game night rolled around.

A Rainbow World 1000 Piece Puzzle (link)
This is another Christmas morning puzzle. We actually like to pick up puzzles when we travel and save them for presents. This is mine from last year; we picked it up in North Carolina, I opened it Christmas morning in Indiana, and then we carried it down to Florida where we celebrated the New Year. That’s the great thing about puzzles, they can go anywhere and fill a whole evening.

Ticket to Ride (link)
Okay, full disclosure: we own this, but haven’t played it yet. We know lots of friends who love it, so I’m trusting their opinions and adding this to the list. We’ll probably break it open in December, so I’ll come back and delete this if it’s dumb. Stay tuned.

Sequence (link)
I played Sequence a lot with my family growing up. We loved the strategy of it; how we could all play, no matter what age we were (I mean, not toddlers, but 10 and up, for sure). When the girls were little, I discovered they had made a Sequence for Kids (link) version so we used to play this when the girls were younger. We passed it on to our niece, because now the Graham girls (10 & 12) are old enough to play the adult version.

Pets Rock 550 Piece Puzzle (link)
Another fun puzzle we love. This is one the girls got for Christmas a few years ago. It’s the right size to be challenging but not overwhelming for older kids. Also, it’s pop stars as cats and dogs. If you have an Adele or Katy Perry fan, this would be fun to give them.

Mexican Train Dominoes (link)
Mexican Train is another classic we’ve been playing for years. You can play with 4 or more people and it’s just basic matching, but with strategy and luck. We love this one for game nights with friends.

Follow Your Nose Puzzle (link)
Last puzzle suggestion, I promise! They just make so many great puzzles now. You don’t even need my suggestions, just Google your favorite thing (succulents, shoes, maps, etc.) and “puzzle.” You’ll find plenty of great ones. We really love dogs, so this dog puzzle was a hit.

Skip-Bo (link)
Skip-Bo is another childhood classic for me. My maternal grandparents loved playing Skip-Bo, and we played it at their house all the time. It’s good for older kids or adults, and it would be a good addition to a family game night. (Again, another great stocking stuffer.)

Finally, two games I’m buying for Christmas this year that I’ve seen lots of people talk about recently: Slapzi (link) and IncoHEARent (link). Slapzi is made by the same people who make Tenzi, but it’s cards instead of dice. Harper has her eye on this one so Santa is bring it this year. If you’re interested in both Tenzi and Slapzi, Amazon sells them together as a set. IncoHEARent is more of an adult game. They do sell a kids’ verison, but I’m buying the adult version for game night with our friends. It’s along the lines of Cards Against Humanity, so keep that in mind if you’re gifting it. It’s not for everyone.

DISCLOSURE: AFFILIATE LINKS USED

Gift Ideas: For the Porch Mom

This gift guide is a direct result of peer pressure on Instagram. This wasn’t on the original list; I only had five gift posts planned, but someone suggested this idea and a surprising number of people were like, “yes, please” so here we are. I do have one more gift guide coming tomorrow and then I’m done. These are fun, but also, I’m too lazy for this much blogging anymore. I feel accomplished with 2-3 posts a month, and this is just too much. I have set the bar too high.

Okay, some background on how this gift guide happened and the title: I love a porch. The minute it’s warm-ish outside, I will spend my mornings on the porch drinking coffee wrapped in a blanket. In the evenings after dinner, I will be on the porch if you need me. When we moved here almost five years ago, we had three porches: two small concrete slabs and one stone back patio. Currently, we still have three porches, they are just much bigger and two of them are now covered.

The small slab off our dining room became—through a remodel—the porch off our kitchen. And the slab that was once completely covered by an overgrown bush became a much bigger porch with a grill and table big enough to hold seven of us. It’s surrounded by lush (in the summer) landscaping and lit with string lights. It became an extension of our kitchen, and we eat as many meals as we can out there.

The back patio—our largest outdoor space when we moved in—got a roof, ceiling fan, and new lights last summer. It’s now a place to lounge when it rains or rest from the sun on a hot day. There’s a picnic table there, along with a couch good for napping and some cozy chairs. In the summer, I work out there as much as possible. My work is easiest with a few computer screens in front of me, but if I’m in a meeting or responding to emails, I’m probably doing it from the back porch.

And now we move on to a paragraph about my third porch. This seems excessive, I agree. It’s also why I got so many requests to do a porch mom gift guide. I know porches.

Our newest porch is the front porch. We broke up the small slab from the uncovered front stoop in the spring, had a much larger slab poured, extended the roof to cover the large porch, and then added ceiling fans, new lights, and a porch swing. I promise, I’m done building or remodeling porches now.

Probably.

I’m almost ready for the list! Just one more thing! About the “mom” title in this list. You don’t have to have kids to be a porch mom. You can be a plant mom, a dog mom, or a friend mom to enjoy this list. The suggestion came about because I literally live on my porches for 5-6 months of the year and my IG followers know this because I’m obnoxious about it. I tried to come up with a better name, but “porch sitter” felt weird and “porch person” felt creepy. You too, no matter sex, relationship status, or family dynamics, can be a porch mom.

Now, let’s get started. (Some of these are affiliate links!)

Outdoor Rug (link)
This will come up a few times, so I just want to set the record straight right now: my preference for outdoor decor is natural colors that blend in instead of stand out. I don’t want a super colorful outdoor space. I want an outdoor space that matches nature. If you feel differently, great! But this is my list and these are the things that are on my porch so that’s why everything has a neutral or natural feel. I love a good indoor/outdoor rug to anchor a sitting area. My front porch has one, my back porch does not. It makes a space feel cozy so I put one on the porch I sit on in the morning.

Rocking Chairs (link)
I stalked Facebook Marketplace for months to find two used black rocking chairs, so I understand how hard they are to find and how quickly they sell. If your budget allows, grab a set like linked here. I like the wider ones that you can add a pillow or pad to. If you’re feeling really fancy, spring for the Cracker Barrel rocking chairs. And possibly a checkers set, just to complete the look.

Porch Swing (link)
Rocking chairs AND a porch swing? I know. I know. But this is who I am. I’m linking to a really nice porch swing that you can stain or paint, but I feel like this list is a little deceiving because half the stuff on my front porch was thrifted or used. I got my porch swing from my mom’s house. She had one she wasn’t using, so I brought it home, cleaned it up, sanded it a little, and painted it a flat black. Again, I like porch furniture that blends in to the surroundings. Also, did you know rocking or swinging literally helps our brains self-regulate? (Trampolines do this too.) So this is a mental health swing, see if you can buy it with your HSA account.

Outdoor String Lights (link)
Oh look, string lights for an outdoor space. An entirely new idea I just came up with.

Umbrella Planter (link)
Okay, so don’t actually buy this one—it’s ridiculously expensive—but something like it. I thrifted a terracotta one and filled it with succulents from a planter that was overflowing. It filled in over the warm summer months and the size/shape make it perfect for adding a plant to your patio table without taking up too much space that ends up being in the way.

Patio Table and Chairs (link)
This is the table and chairs we have on our kitchen patio. I love it because it matches my other patio furniture and is really comfortable. It’s not cheap, but it’s a good patio set that will last many years so I bit the bullet. The table, which looks like wood, is metal so it doesn’t weather or rot like an actual wood table does. The cushions come off and Home Depot sells inexpensive chair covers for the winter. I used to tear down all our outdoor furniture and store it in the shed or garage for the winter, but adding more square feet to each porch made that impossible this year.

Patio Umbrella (link)
I’ve had the same (bright red floral) table umbrella for a decade. This summer, the holes got big enough that it was time to retire. I asked for an off-white/khaki colored umbrella for Christmas to keep up with the theme of blending into nature. If you know someone who loves spending as much time outside as possible, a new patio table umbrella seems like a weird suggestion, but I’m getting one and I’m delighted about it.

Blackstone Grill (link)
Full disclosure: we have the Sam’s Club version of the Blackstone and highly recommend it. You can buy either one your little heart desires, obviously, but Sam’s Club version will save you a few hundred bucks. We love this grill. We do Sunday brunch on it. I make delicious chicken fried rice on it. Plus, all the other typical grill favorites. Chris got this for Father’s Day two years ago, and we’ve never regretted the purchase. (We do still own a charcoal grill too.)

Also, Chris Graham is getting a few grill accessories for Christmas to up the grill game. This set is fun if you already have one.

Tall Planters (link)
Speaking of Chris Graham, he built me some tall planter boxes like these last summer. I fill them with ferns, and they flank my patio doors. He made some for my mom last year, because she loved them so much. If you can’t get someone to make them for you, the ones I have linked are a great substitute.

Outdoor Pillows (link)
A good porch mom has an excessive amount of two things: pillows and blankets. You can never have too many pillows, inside or out. This is a life philosophy my spouse does not understand, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

Blankets (link)
See: above, similar life philosophy, the more the merrier.

Plant Hangers (link)
Every spring my favorite local grocery chain will stock giant hanging ferns. I fill my car with them, then hang them on hooks everywhere I can. Never enough hooks. Put these in a porch mom’s stocking.

Hummingbird Feeder (link)
Porch moms love hummingbirds. 1 cup sugar + 4 cups water, boil it, let it cool, then fill your hummingbird feeder. Freak out every single time a little hummingbird stops for a drink. This will never get old.

Bird Feeder (link)
Same with birds. How many bird feeders is too many? Don’t answer that. Just don’t hang them too close to your porch—you want to see them from your porch, but not really close up—because poop.

Wind Chimes (link)
When we were in Iowa over fall break, we ended up at an Amish store where I found wind chimes I loved. That’s saying something because, while I like the idea of wind chimes, I mostly think they’re ugly. But this Amish store in the middle-of-nowhere Iowa had some I loved. I bought them and then, once in the car, realized they were made in Indiana, about an hour from my house. Meant to be.

While we were in North Carolina last year, we visited the Biltmore Estate and toured their gardens. I picked up these wind chimes, in a slightly different color then these, for my yet-to-be-built back porch. When I finally got to hang them up this summer, I was giddy. I love them.

Welcome Mat (link)
Funny or cute welcome mats are great, everyone loves them. For texture, add a larger patterned rug underneath. (Random tip: do you have a Five Below near you? I am morally opposed to junk stores like Five Below, but they have these great 3×5 woven rugs for about $5 and they’re perfect for layering under welcome mats.)

Paint-Your-Own Stepping Stone (link)
We ended up with paint-your-own stepping stones as a lockdown activity. The girls loved doing them, and I loved added them to my landscaping. This is not the exact kit I bought, I can’t find it, but this is the brand. They’ve lasted over a year and only faded slightly.

Okay, so this already completely frivolous and excessive gift guide is now going to go completely off the rails. I know this as I’m writing it. You know this as you’re reading it. Now that we’re all on the same page, let’s proceed.

Carhartt Beanie (link)
Porch moms love to go outside when the weather is a little iffy. It might be a little too breezy, a little too wet, or a little too cold, but a porch mom does not care. She just puts on a stocking cap and braves the elements.

Fluffy Bathrobe (link)
Speaking of “does not care,” porch moms will fearlessly wear their most obnoxious bathrobe on the front porch as their children catch the bus. Again, you don’t have to have children to do this. I have two bathrobes and specific jobs for each of them. I have a longer, gray bathrobe to wear when I’m getting ready to bathe or just done bathing. Very normal behavior. But then I have a shorter, very colorful, two sizes too big bathrobe for mornings. I put it on when I get up, wear it while I drink my coffee, and get the day started. Then I proudly wear it on the front porch as we wait for the bus to come. I would describe this bathrobe as “loud.” But it is so so cozy, and I will be buried in it. (The robe I’ve linked is similar to my funeral robe, but plain black. I wanted you to get the idea without drifting into discomfort and embarrassment. Also, my robe has a hood which I totally recommend. I like to put my hood on and pretend my family can’t see me when they’re being annoying.)

Oversized Coffee Mug (link)
While you’re wearing your robe on the front porch, drink coffee. That’s it. Drink coffee.

Bluetooth Speaker (link)
Chris has a slightly larger version of this bluetooth speaker, and we love it. It gets loud, syncs with no issues, and lasts forever. One day, I might have mounted bluetooth speakers on my back porch, but until then, this will do just fine.

Citronella Candles (link)
No one likes bugs while they’re living their best life on the porch. I haven’t actually tried these yet, but the reviews all say that actually work, so they’re saved in my cart for the spring. You could buy them for me right now as a Christmas gift if you’d like.

Okay, that’s it. Do with this information what you like. Also, I’m sorry.

DISCLOSURE: AFFILIATE LINKS USED

Gift Ideas: For the Camper

This week I’m doing gift suggestion lists and, if you didn’t know anything about me, these lists would tell you everything you need to know: inexpensive house stuff, books, gardening, and, now, camping.

I think you’ll like things on this list even if you don’t enjoy nature or leaving your house; the things we do camping are things you can do at home too. I mean, technically, a camper is just a house on wheels, but that makes it sound less fancy than I’d like. When we camp, we eat good food, relax, play, and explore. Those are things you can do anywhere. We just happen to be doing it with a house on wheels.

(Also! We’ve been camping for a while; this summer was our sixth year. We have accumulated a good amount of camping stuff by slowing adding things each summer. We didn’t buy our first camper and fill it with every single thing we wanted or needed. Camping—like most hobbies—can get pretty expensive. This is not a list of must-haves, this is a list of fun stuff to buy for someone who likes to camp. So don’t think these are all necessary. One of the great things about camping is you don’t actually need a lot of stuff to do it.)

Here’s our favorite camping/outdoors stuff. (Some of these are affiliate links, just FYI.)

Hello Nature Activity Cards (link)
Harper got these in her Easter basket a few years ago, and they’re great for kids who spend a lot of time outside exploring. Not everything works with the limited supplies of a camper, but there are enough here to never get bored on our weekends away. We don’t really allow our kids to spend much time on electronics, so packing stuff to keep them busy is important (we play a lot of games when we’re camping too; but we’ll talk more about those tomorrow).

Hand Warmers (link)
Sometimes we make our children go outside or hike in the cooler weather. I know, please call the authorities. These hand warmers make it a little less horrible for them. I put these in their stockings last year, and they were a hit.

Walkie Talkies (link)
Sure, your kids might have cell phones, but walkie talkies are different. This is a 4-pack so we can all have them if we need to. The girls love to explore together when we’re camping, and it makes me feel better about them wandering around when they have these. Just bring extra batteries, because they’ll play with them for hours. (They also play with these at home, both inside the house and out. Walkie talkies are just fun. Buy them for your kids.)

Fire Poker (link)
Last spring we camped with some friends and, while the weekend was fun, Chris Graham mostly fell in love with their fire poker. If you camp (or just have a fire pit in your backyard), you know how important it is to touch the fire at all times. Logs have to be moved. Things have to be adjusted constantly. Then adjusted *again* just in case. If you know someone like this, this fire poker will make their little pyro-loving heart happy.

Coffee Maker (link)
When I was first stocking the camper, I bought one of those small, four cup coffee makers. It was the biggest mistake of my life. Don’t do this; buy the regular-sized coffee maker and make lots of coffee with it. No one has time to make multiple pots of coffee when you’re camping. Spring for the big machine and find room for it. No regrets.

Small Crockpot (link)
Camping is fun, but if you’re not careful, you’ll spend all your time making food and cleaning up food. No, thank you. Especially if this is how you vacation, the last thing you want to do is the exact same things you do when you’re home. I have this small slow cooker and it’s the perfect size for a family of four. I don’t want leftovers when we’re camping, and this makes just enough for everyone to fill their bellies without a lot of extra. (I like to do chicken breasts or pork in the slow cooker; it’s easy to make sliders or tacos, etc.)

Phone Charger (link)
This might seem silly, but if you have an RV, just go ahead and spring for a few phone chargers to keep in the camper all the time. Someone is always going to forget theirs, the one in the car never makes it into the camper, and they’re not even expensive. Trust me, just buy some for the camper.

Good Fleece Blankets (link)
My motto is you can never have too many blankets, and, when you’re camping, a good fleece blanket is heaven. Use it around the campfire, on a picnic, or to layer up when you’re sleeping. I like the extra long ones because I’m tall, but the important part is that it’s a good fleece material. You can thank me later.

Comfortable Camp Chairs (link) (lowdown version Chris likes)
Please let it be known that in the year 2021, the Grahams have finally invested in quality camp chairs. We’ve spent the last six seasons in inexpensive chairs that have not let us live our best lives. That changed this year. I upped my game with a regular Kelty camp chair, and Chris went with the lowdown one. I, personally, hate that chair, but buy whatever you want. I don’t have to sit in it.

Magic Flames (link)
Nothing says campfire like purple and yellow flames. The girls love these magic flame packets you can throw in the fire to add color. They last a surprisingly long time. Just make sure you’re not planning to cook food over the fire after you throw them in.

Magnetic Spice Containers (link)
Space in an RV is limited. Especially in our first camper, we had hardly any storage space. These magnetic spice containers were great to store stuff in and stick to the oven vent. I didn’t use them for spices, but you could. And they never fell down, even on long trips.

Travel Spices Container (link)
Okay, so technically, I don’t have this, but I want it so I’m telling you about it. I’m really good at planning meals for camping and then only bringing 90% of the things I need to make the meal. And I always forget spices. I’ve finally learned to keep some stuff (taco seasoning, seasoned salt, garlic powder…) in the camper, but this little spice container would solve so many of my problems.

Quick Dry Beach Towels (link)
Speaking of limited space, I love these quick dry beach towels. I’m slowly phasing out of bulky ones and replacing them with these. They’re a little more expensive than a normal beach towel, but having a set of towels that dry really quickly and take up 1/4 of the space are worth it when you’re living that camper life.

Scissors with a Bottle Opener (link)
I love things that multitask when we’re camping. Every camper needs a good pair of scissors and these, complete with a bottle opener, are up to the task.

Backpack (link)
Yes, we have plenty of backpacks at home, but we keep a backpack in the camper for hiking or picnics. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s always nice to have an extra backpack for trips to the pool, a hike, or to take on a canoe trip. Mine is pink, but this tie dye one is pretty cool too.

Small Cooler (link)
We don’t camp with a large cooler (the fridge holds everything we need), but if we’re going to be away from camp one day, it’s always nice to have a small cooler available to keep lunch and drinks cold. Again, space is an issue, so buy something that doesn’t take up a ton of extra space.

Crocs (link)
Listen. I know this is the second time that Crocs have come up on my gift ideas. I feel the need to apologize but I won’t because this is who I am now. I mentioned I don’t leave the house in my Crocs ever, but I do need to confess I’m getting some new Crocs for Christmas to keep in the camper. Technically, they won’t leave my house…my house on wheels. I just really like wearing them, and they’re easy to slip on when I’m running in and out. We don’t wear shoes in the camper because it’s hard enough keeping everything clean without muddy shoes inside, but I do plan on wearing these bad boys in there. Again, no apologies.

Marshmallow Roasting Sticks (link)
These portable roasting sticks are great because they extend when you want to make the perfect marshmallow, and then you can store them in the bag when you’re done. Easy to clean and store; my love languages.

Head Lamps (link)
You can never have enough head lamps. At least that’s what Chris Graham says. The girls each have a few in the camper and then Chris has 3-15 packed inside and underneath. You just never really know when you’ll need a headlight on your forehead.

Battery-Powered Lantern (link)
This lantern is perfect for the picnic table at night when you’re playing cards. You don’t want a ton of light, but just enough to see how great your hand is.

Folding Camp Table (link)
I love this folding table. It fits neatly behind our couch and is really easy to set up. We use this to hold all our food for meals so the picnic table that comes with the campsite is left open for eating. I’ve had a few different folding tables and oftentimes they end up warped or uneven. I’ve had this one for two years, and it hasn’t let me down yet.

Bike Rack (link)
We are like a circus train driving down the road. Our large SUV pulling the travel trailer, then the travel trailer with the bike rack on the back. We are a sight to behold. But no regrets, because we travel with our bikes and it makes camping even more fun when you can explore parks on your bike. Harper Graham spends whole weekends biking around campgrounds. We hardly ever see her.

Foldable Hanging Drying Rack (link)
I love this compact drying rack. It holds a lot of stuff, and, if it’s wet outside, it fits in the shower. Perfect for bathing suits or wet clothes when your kids fell in the water again.

Electric Skillet (link)
Sure, cooking over a fire is fun, but if you don’t want to spend all day making food, an electric skillet is the way to go. I make many of our meals in this: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s easy to clean and gets hot fast. I ordered it online and didn’t realize how big it was, but it’s worked out great because we often camp with friends and make a lot of food.

Nalgene Bottle (link)
We keep a set of water bottles in the camper and these hold the perfect amount for a morning hike or an afternoon at the pool. Camping can be rough on water bottles so buy something that will withstand some rough adventures.

DISCLOSURE: Affiliate links used

Gift Ideas: For the Gardener

If you’ve spent any time on my blog or social media, you know I moved to the country about five years ago and accidentally became a gardener.

I say “accidentally,” because I specifically told my family that even though my grandparents were prolific gardeners, I would not be continuing the tradition when I moved into their house.

One summer.

I made it one summer before I started gardening. Now I’ve got four huge beds, freezers overflowing with food for the winter, and a garage and kitchen full of gardening supplies.

That escalated quickly.

Here are my favorite garden or garden-related products. If you know someone who gardens, wants to gardens, or just likes to make their own food, I think there’s something here they’d be excited to receive this holiday season.

(Full disclosure: You need very few things to grow a garden. All it takes to grow your own food is good dirt, some seeds, sun, and water. You don’t have to make this complicated or expensive. But like most things, I eventually did. But that first summer all I had were two boxes rescued from an abandoned rental house and some seeds. It was enough, and I grew lots of good food. So while it’s fun to get garden gadgets, it’s also not necessary. People have been growing their own food since the beginning of time. So take all of these suggestions with that in mind!)

(Another disclosure! Some of these links are affiliate links!)

Rain Gauge (link)
Nothing more exciting for a gardener than some rain. And then after the rain, checking your rain gauge to see how much rain you got. Then telling others about the rain. It’s a process. Get your favorite gardener a rain gauge if they don’t have one. They’ll love it.

Roo Gardening Apron (link)
I got this as a gift last year, and I’m obsessed with it. It holds my shears, ties, harvest, whatever I need. It’s washable and has pockets for everything you’d want while you’re in the garden. When I’m wearing this, you know I mean business.

Crocs (link)
Speaking of business, Crocs are garden business. Listen, I own a few pairs of Crocs. I’m not proud of it, but here I am, 40 years old and living my truth. And my truth is Crocs. I have a pair for gardening (with flowers on them, obviously) and a pair I wear around the house like house shoes. I’m a few years into wearing Crocs, and while I still don’t wear them in public, but I definitely wear them at home all the time. Do what you want with this important information.

Hand Shears (link)
I carry these in my apron when I’m gardening. They’re the perfect size and really strong. I’m always trimming something or tying something, and these are the best ones I’ve ever owned.

Rain Barrel (link)
Gardeners love measuring rain fall, and we also love watering things. I bought this rain barrel about four years ago, and we hooked it up to a downspout near the porch. It catches tons of water, and I use it to water my garden and flowers the whole season. It doesn’t provide a ton of pressure so I’m not sure if would be good to hook a hose to, but I fill a few watering can with it. It works well for saving water.

Homegrown & Handmade by Deborah Niemann (link)
I refer to this book all season long. It helped me learn to compost, how to make the pizza sauce my family loves, and so much more. Truthfully, this book has a lot of information I don’t need (I have no interest in raising livestock!), but the chapters I do use make it worth purchasing. I found this book at the library years ago and fell in love it with. And if someone is interested in making soap or cheese, this book can help!

Watering Can (link)
You can never have enough water jugs. Yes, I’m serious.

Tomato Cages (link)
I spent the first few years gardening with cheaper, flimsy tomato cages. Last winter, I finally invested in some nice ones, and they’re a game changer. This summer—for the very first time—I didn’t have to handle tipping cages or reinforce leaning ones as the fruit got bigger and heavier. These square ones from Gardeners.com are worth every penny.

Garden Arch (DIY link) (arch link)
Okay, so if your gardener grows any vining plant (like squash), they know how messy and out-of-control things can get. After a few years of trying to contain the chaos in beds and around them, I bought plans to make our own arches last spring. The plans are $5, and we made two with about $100. They worked wonderfully, and I loved how they looked as the plants creeped their way over them this summer. I grew butternut squash for the first time this year, and trained them to grow up one of these arches. Not complaining at all, but I had so many heavy butternut squash on the arches that one started to bend. They’re made with PVC pipe (and I spray painted them black) so they don’t break, but one of them definitely leaned a lot. So this year, I’ve asked for one of these more expensive (like shockingly pricey!) garden arches. I’m still going to use my DIY ones next year, but I’m upping my game with one of these fancy ones as well.

Cucumber Trellis (link)
I also tried a cucumber trellis for the first time this summer. It helped manage the cucumber spread, and it was pretty cool to see cucumbers hang from it. It made picking them super easy, too. If your gardener is short on space, this can help keep spread to a minimum. And they can plant stuff under it to maximize space. I planted a row of basil under the trellis this year, and it did really well.

Garden Baskets (sturdy basket link) (plastic colander basket link)
I am passionate about a garden basket. My aunt next door uses old buckets to carry her produce to the house, so this is absolutely not necessary, but I love filling a cute basket with peppers and tomatoes. I have two thrifted baskets almost ready to retire. I leave them outside on the porch, so they get weathered and eventually destroyed because they’re not technically made for outside & dirt. So I’ve been on the hunt for a new basket, but haven’t pulled the trigger yet. The basket I’m going to buy when it’s time is the food-grade wire basket linked above. I love it and found a similar one when we were traveling this fall. I’m also in love with the colander baskets you can bring inside and immediately set in the sink to rinse your veggies. I grow cherry and grape tomatoes by the bucket-full in the summer, and this plastic basket will make cleaning and prepping them a breeze. If Chris Graham is reading this, please buy me both of these for Christmas. Thank you.

Compost Bin (link)
One of the tricks to good dirt is composting. As soon as I started gardening, I invested in a compost bin. From April to October, all our coffee grounds, fruit and veggie scraps, and egg shells get thrown in with yard waste. We mix it every month or so, and then I let it sit for all of November and cook. Around the first of December, we spread all the goodness on the beds and let it sit for months until it’s time to plant again in May. It adds a ton of nutrients to the soil and makes it so rich. I have no doubt this is one of the reasons my gardens do so well year after year. (Tip: Keep this away from your house. The first year I put it next to my porch for convenience, but mice like compost. Whoops. Now ours sits behind our shed at the edge of our property.)

Compost Container for the Kitchen (link; this is not the one I have, but it’s fun!)
Again, do you need this? No. I used a large Folgers coffee canister for years to hold our kitchen scraps that needed to be taken to the compost bin outside. But this year, I bought a cute container to sit next to the coffee maker. I actually bought an ice bucket to hold our scraps. It came with a removable plastic liner, and it’s easy to cleaning. It is the perfect size to keep on the counter and take out every few days.

Food Strainer (link)
I love this strainer for tomato sauce, pizza sauce, etc. Set up is easy and running the food through is fun. You can use this for applesauce and tons of other food (if you make baby food, this would be great to have!), but I use it solely for sauces, and I have no regrets. It works great.

Food Containers for Freezing (link)
I’m just not on board with canning because I’m still scarred from the huge amount of canned goods we have in our garage from my grandma. We’ve been here five years, and we still have SO MANY jars of tomatoes and green beans and peppers on our shelves. And we literally give them away all the time and throw away stuff as it goes bad. Seriously, I’m traumatized by the amount. So I don’t can our produce, I prep and freeze things to last one winter. I’m not preparing for end times; I just want enough salsa and soup and frozen veggies to last until the garden starts producing stuff next summer. It’s a manageable amount to store in our small chest freezer, and it still allows us to give away a lot of what we grow. I use these containers to freeze stuff. I can give them away and not worry about getting them back or reuse them for a few years. They hold up well in the freezer and the dishwasher, but they’re not precious enough they can’t be thrown away if we’re camping when we use the last of something.

Stocking Stuffers for Your Favorite Gardener
gardening string (link)
gardening twist ties (link)
canning funnel (link)
Neem oil (link)
nozzle sprayer attachment (link)

DISCLOSURE: AFFILIATE LINKS USED

Gift Ideas: Books

I love books. I believe there is no such things as too many books. I think everyone should own and read more books. I love giving books as gifts as a way to shame people into reading more. If you feel the same way, you probably already know what books to give people. But maybe you need more ideas?

Let me help! (Some of these are affiliate links.)

The Next Right Thing Guided Journal by Emily P. Freeman (link) + fancy pens
The Next Right Thing Guided Journal is for anyone who enjoys journaling, has some indecision, or just likes to reflect. I love Emily’s podcast and this journal works well whether or not you’re familiar with it. Add a package of fancy pens to the gift; everyone loves a good pen.

Where Should We Camp Next? by Stephanie & Jeremy Puglisi (link) + favorite road trip snacks
If you have a friend who loves to explore the great outdoors, this book full of places to camp (trailer, tent, or cabin) across the US is a great idea. I used it to plan our Iowa trip, and it’s coming in handy for our 2022 plans as well. Fill a gift bag with your favorite road trip snacks (I prefer Sprees—NOT the chewy ones, gross—and Doritos, but you can pick whatever you want, I guess), and you’re good to go.

Our Time is Now by Stacey Abrams (link) + a donation to their favorite political cause
Abrams does a wonderful job of presenting the long history of voter suppression in the US in this book. Her work in Georgia is ground shifting. If you have a friend who loves social justice issues, this book will be a hit. Make a donation to a favorite cause in their name as well, and you know they’ll love it.

Wait For It by Jenn McKinlay (link) + sunglasses
Okay, so technically there are many fluffy, kinda predictable, romantic fiction books I could put here. Pick your favorite one (there’s a lot more to choose on my book IG account if you need more ideas!) and throw in some sunglasses. Everyone loves a beach read, even if it’s just enjoyed from the couch in the middle of winter.

American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land by Monica Hesse (link) + a water bottle
Anyone who loves true crime will LOVE this book. I was hooked from the first chapter. It feels a little like a really good serial podcast. Add in a fun water bottle, because they’re going to want to stay hydrated as they binge this interesting and heartbreaking book.

The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn’t, and Get Stuff Done by Kendra Adachi (link) + a hat
Gift The Lazy Genius Way to a friend who loves self-help stuff. I’m less and less a fan of self-help, but Adachi isn’t about telling you what to do. She’s more about helping you do whatever it is you find important. This book is full of smart and simple ideas to incorporate into your life. Or don’t! She’s pretty good about telling you if a tip doesn’t work for you, do it differently. Pick out a cute hat to go with this book; I think the most Lazy Genius thing is not washing your hair and wearing a hat all day. (This is a Mary Graham tip, not Kendra Adachi one. I’m sure she’ll add that to her next edition.)

Beautiful Boards: 50 Amazing Snack Boards for Any Occasion by Maegan Brown (link) + a charcuterie board
Full disclosure: This is what my friend got me for my birthday this year, and I loved it so much I think you probably know someone who will too. This book is beautiful to look at, has so many great ideas, and has recipes to help you get more creative with your food boards. It’s really fun. If you have a friend who loves to entertain, this is their gift. Find a fun board to wrap up with this book, then ask to be invited over for taste tests.

Flour Water Salt Yeast by Ken Forkish (link) + food scale
I realize 2020 was the year of homemade bread, but I know there are still people who haven’t made their own bread yet and would love this book. Truthfully, I got this for Christmas in 2019, tried the first bread recipe, and haven’t moved on from it. Because it’s that good. I’m sure the rest of the book is good too, I’ve just not gotten there yet. If you’re gifting this book to someone, I’d pair it with a food scale. Making bread with Forkish requires you to weigh ingredients instead of measuring, so the food scale is necessary.

Try Softer by Aundi Kolber (link) + a cozy blanket
As I stated above, I’m not a big fan of self-help books. So many of them hurt instead of help us, and we end up more overwhelmed and frustrated after them. Try Softer by Aundi Kolber is the opposite of that. Grab a copy of her book and a cozy blanket for a friend; they’ll love the way this book teaches them to be kinder and gentler with themselves. Something we could all use more of.

Broken (in the Best Possible Way) by Jenny Lawson (link) + a fun puzzle
I gave this to a friend who isn’t a big reader, and she loved it. I’m not sure who wouldn’t like Jenny Lawson, really. She’s honest and funny, wise and vulnerable. She doesn’t have it all together and doesn’t really want to. She makes her readers laugh and feel a little less odd at the same time. It might be weird to pair this book with a puzzle, but it’s a metaphor, okay?

Staples+5 by Tanorria Askew (link) & pretty measuring spoons and cups
This cookbook doesn’t come out until Nov. 22, but it will be here in time for Christmas! Staples+5 is all about using ingredients you probably have in the pantry and making delicious meals with them. I don’t care what people say about Pinterest, I will never stop buying cookbooks to fill my kitchen. It’s not the same. There’s just something better about holding a cookbook. I’d pair this with a set of pretty measuring cups or spoons BUT if you’re one of the lucky few who can order Tanorria’s homemade hot chocolate and marshmallows before she sells out, do that instead.

Feast by Firelight by Emma Frisch (link) + a s’more kit
Truthfully, this is just a beautiful book so if you have someone who likes to look at pretty books, this is for them! (Also, no shame in that.) It’s a bonus that it’s full of recipes for camping and the grill. Add in a fun s’mores kit with your favorite dark chocolate and you’ll be the hit of the party.

The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan (link) + eye masks
Really, you can’t go wrong with any Kelly Corrigan book, she’s just an incredible writer. I picked The Middle Place because it feels relevant and real for me: raising my own kids while watching my parents age. These stories are beautiful and wise, a gift to the reader. Throw in a set of those fancy gold under-eye masks, because if the person feels a connection to this book, it’s probably also time for some attention to their face.

Let Me Feed You by Rosie Daykin (link)+ a set of kitchen towels
If you have a friend who loves to bake, Let Me Feed You is a perfect gift for them. There are recipes that don’t involve baking, but I’ve especially loved the baking ones. My girls LOVE the Party Scones (so do I), and the almond blueberry cake is a frequent request for special occasions here. I’d say those two recipes alone are worth the purchase, but—good news—the whole book is amazing. I’d wrap this gift up with a set of fun kitchen towels.

Cozy Minimalist Home: More Style, Less Stuff by Myquillyn Smith (link) + a house plant
I’ve recommended this book before, and I still love it, so here we go again: Cozy Minimalist Home is a collection of tips to help you create the home you love without filling it with more and more stuff. I’m a big fan of less stuff, and this book helps you figure out to keep the things you love and get rid of the other stuff. From a practical sense, less stuff to care for and maintain frees up your life and makes more time for stuff you love—which I’m a big fan of. Give this book with a house plant, preferably something low maintenance and easy like a spider plant or a zz plant, so your friend doesn’t spend too much time caring for it.

Nobody Will Tell You This But Me by Bess Kalb (link) + a photo album
This is one of my favorite books of 2021, but I did bawl through the last few chapters, so proceed accordingly. This book about a woman and her grandmother is a beautiful story about memories, big personalities, and loss. Reading it will make the reader want to run to their older relatives, gather up all their memories and pictures, and write down all their stories. I know photo albums are very 1995, but I think they’re still important, and it feels like the perfect pairing for this bittersweet book.

Effin’ Birds by Aaron Reynolds (link) + a bird feeder
This is a good book for someone who enjoys birds and laughing. Do not buy this book for someone who dislikes a bad word and has no sense of humor—this will not work out for you. This would make a fun coffee table books for people who don’t have children who can read, but enjoy sarcasm and swear words. (Preview his IG account if you’re not sure.) I’d gift this with a fun bird feeder (I put a fun acrylic window one on this list) and maybe a bag of bird seed.

Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand (link) + a beach towel
This is another fun fiction book for anyone who loves a good story about friends, secrets, and growing up. Hilderbrand is a master storyteller and the twists in this story kept me entertained and engaged. I’d wrap this book up in a beach towel for a friend who’s taking a trip soon.

Okay, that’s it. This might be my favorite list, don’t tell the others. And, really, this could be a lot more books, but time and attention span are limiting me. If you have a favorite book, skip these ideas, and pair it with something related. It’s such a great way to share something you love with others.

DISCLOSURE: AFFILIATE LINKS USED

SHARE OUR SITE