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13 Apps to Help Your New Year’s Resolutions Stick

We are almost to the 3rd week in January also known as the point at which New Year’s Resolution’s start losing steam.

What if you had a little buddy to help turn it around and make your Resolutions stick? A friend to cheer you on and maybe walk you through how to reach your goal? With these 13 apps your cell phone or tablet can become that buddy!

Many of these apps have optional community features, where you can connect with a community to cheer on your weight loss, healthy eating, budget goals, or even gas deal finding.

Most of these apps aim to not just help but educate as well, enabling us to change our habits for good.

Diet, Eating Healthier

Fooducate

Touts itself as more than a calorie counter and exercise tracker. Fooducate will teach you how to eat “real food”. Scan the barcode of 250,000 food products and Fooducate will give a food grade of A-D, then suggest a healthier alternative.

Fooducate allows you to personalize the app with not only the usual height and weight, but food allergies, health conditions, the rate at which you hope to achieve weight loss, to name a few. However, some of the personalization may require an upgrade to the premium feature.

IOS and Android- Free

Daily Water Tracker: Hydration

With our bodies being about 60 % water, staying well hydrated is critical. Researchers have found water to aid in weight loss, improved skin, joints, and so much more.

Daily Water Tracker takes the thinking out of hydration. Choose whether to measure in ounces or milliliters. Log your water intake with the tap of a screen.

They will help you recognize your water goals and celebrate you as you work toward them.

IOS and Android- Free

Lark 24/7 Health Coach

For busy people or someone on a budget, Lark 24/7 is the Health Coach that fits into your life, purse, or pocket depending where you keep your phone.

Lark 24/7 will motivate you, communicate with you, and help to revamp your health.

Lark 24/7 has won numerous awards and it is easy to see why. As the name implies, a Lark Health Coach is available 24/7 to answer your fitness and nutrition inquiries within seconds. As well as to text motivations to you throughout the day.

Lark has free sleep and activity tracking; as well as free Stayfit coaching. From there you can move up to memberships that include nutritional coaching, mood and condition check-ins, diet analysis, blood sugar, and carb tracking.

IOS and Android- Free for basic features

Oh She Glows

The Oh She Glows app is brought to us by Angela Liddon. Angela is a New York Times best seller and award-winning food blogger. Her blog Oh She Glows is filled with gorgeously photographed plant based recipes that have been taste tested and approved by her family and friends. Her app does not disappoint.

Oh She Glows app presently has 95 plant based meals and 75 gluten free meals. As new recipes arrive to her blog, they will also make their way to the app. In addition, there are free recipe bundles for you to “unlock”.

An important note, the app allows you to filter your search by food allergy, very handy. Now go ahead and figure out how you can prepare that chard in the fridge so the whole family will enjoy it. Or is that just me?!

IOS and Android- $0 .99-1.99

Exercise More

My Fitness Pal

My Fitness Pal has been downloaded way over 1 million times, making it the most popular fitness app out there. There is not much this app doesn’t do!

My Fitness pal has exercises, they will track your water intake, food, nutrients, movement, recipe importer, food insights, goal setting, habit changing, and so, so, much more. It is a very comprehensive app, like I said, there isn’t much it doesn’t do.

IOS and Android, Starting at $9.99 a month

7 Minute Workout Challenge by Fitness Guide Inc.

With 7 Minute Workout Challenge we no longer have an excuse to not work out! Whether you are in your PJ’s or workout clothes, in 7 minutes this app guides you through 12 interval exercises.

7 Minute Workout Challenge has both male and female instructors that motivate and guide you through these effective, no equipment need exercises. The app also tracks your progress and you unlock rewards as you continue to exercise.

IOS and Android- $2.99

Down Dog by Yoga Buddhi Co.

Get your Zen on with the #1 rated app for yoga. With more than 100 classes for free, you will have plenty of time to see if you would like to pump up to a paid membership level.

Down Dog allows you to customize your yoga level and length of time you would like to practice that day. Never practiced yoga? No problem! Down Dog has an intro level class for newbies complete with detailed instructions.

On the road and afraid you might not have a good internet connection? Never fear, download your practice ahead of time. Down Dog makes it easy to practice selfcare almost anywhere.

IOS and Android- Free

Lose Weight

C25K 5K Trainer

C25K 5K Trainer is a couch to 5k trainer app. Don’t let the 5k in the title intimidate you. C25K is made for the new runner or would be runner. Their program starts out with a combination of walking and running. Their goal is to increase your confidence and stamina with 30-minute training.

This app is easy to use. It tracks your stats for you as well as being compatible with some pedometers.

If you like to listen to music while you train, C25K is compatible with Spotify, Pandora, and more.

IOS and Android- Free, 1.99 to remove ads

Noisli - Focus, Concentration & Relaxation

You might be wondering why I have included a relaxation app in the weight loss category. Science has found that stress and lack of sleep can actually cause weight gain and impede out ability to lose weight. I learned this the hard way.

The Noisli app is a color and relaxation sound app that can be useful during work or travel. Decide on the ambient noise you would like and help drowned out the noisy people around you.

You can tailor your Noisli experience by setting timers with a fade out function, selecting from a variety of sounds to suite the occasion, and it can be used offline.

A little relaxation and good sleep might just be the little extra that your weight loss plan needed.

IOS and Android- $1.99

Mediation apps Zen Friend and MindFi : Eye Opening Meditation

Mediation is another way to calm and destress our minds and bodies. Meditation also allows us some quiet time to listen to our bodies and how they are feeling so that we may better address those needs.

Doctors have found that mediation can lower high blood pressure and help you manage stress. Managing stress can help us to avoid stress eating and high cortisol levels both of which help us to hold onto unnecessary fat stores.

I’ve included two meditation apps, Zen Friend and MindFi, because I feel they both are good for novice to more experienced mediation practitioners. Both are easy to use, have timers, and the ability to track your meditations in some form. The big difference between the two is that MindFi is meant to be done with your eyes open.

MindFi has meditations as short as 3 minutes. The hope of the MindFi app is that you can use it in the office, on the train, in the bathroom, all without drawing attention to yourself. You pop in your ear buds and re-center discreetly and effectively.

Zen Friend also allows you to meditate for shorter intervals also. After your meditation, you can record your thoughts in the app and set a meditation remainder for a later date.

Both apps aim to help their users develop a schedule friendly meditation practice.

IOS and Android- Free

Save More, Spend Less

Gas Buddy

Gas Buddy is the #1 gas saving app claiming to save its users an average of $340 a year on gas.

This app allows you to filter your gas station search by price, location, and amenities such as car washes. Gas Buddy will also alert you to price hikes.

IOS and Android- Free

You Need A Budget (YNAB)

The app, You Need A Budget has a goal for you. YNAB wants to help you stop living paycheck to paycheck. Once YNAB is done, they hope to see you paying for March’s mortgage with February money. You Need A Budget is so confident, that they offer a 34 day free trial. To further show you how confident YNAB is that you will save money and learn to budget, while using their app, YNAB offer’s a 100% money back guarantee!

So how do they expect to teach us to budget and like it? They have a four-rule approach to budgeting:

  1. Give Every Dollar a Job
  2. Embrace Your True Expenses
  3. Roll with the Punches
  4. Age Your Money

YNAB syncs with your credit cards and banks. They have goal setting tools and debt paydown tools. An added bonus, they have personal support as well as over 100 free workshops. They want to teach and encourage their users to have a healthy relationship with money.

With this unique approach to budgeting, You Need A Budget’s app users, on average, save $600 in the first two months and more that $6000 in the first year.

IOS and Android- Free for the first 34 days.

Digit

Digit wants to help you start a savings account, effortlessly. If you have a goal of saving, but your mind glazes over at the mere thought, let Digit help.

Digit is a smart app that analysis your income and daily spending habits. It then moves money to your FDIC insured Digit savings account every day, if you can afford it.

You can withdraw from your saving account whenever you like, without penalty. However, if you leave the money it will accrue 1% annually, which is paid out every 3 months.

Digit securely protects your sensitive banking and personal information with Bank-level SSL 128-bit encryption.

IOS and Android- Free for the first 100 days, $2.99 after

Resolutions aren’t Easy

How are you doing with your New Year’s Resolutions? Do you already use apps to help you with your goals?

I’ll be honest, I have yet to use my crock-pot, but I did cook at home every night this week, woohoo! I am continuing to work on saving more, paying down debt, and slowly getting organized.

I look forward to hearing how all of you doing!

 

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New Year’s Resolutions and How to Keep Them

New Year's Resolutions Tips and Hacks

Happy New Year!

I’m back after a vacation hiatus. I hope your holidays were joyful and that you are having a good start to your New Year. Can you believe it’s the New Year already?!

I’ve been thinking about New Year’s resolutions lately. There’s just something about the start of a new year. For me, it feels like a chance to start fresh. I must not be alone, 60% of people polled say they plan on making New Year’s Resolutions too.

The top 6 New Year’s Resolutions for 2017 were:

  • Diet or eating healthier
  • Exercise more
  • Lose weight
  • Save More Spend Less
  • Learn a new hobby or skill
  • Get more organized

Attainable

The consensus seems to be that only 8% of people who make New Year’s resolutions actually keep them. 8% is not very many people! If we want to be one of the 8% that keep our New Year’s resolutions, according to CNBC, the trick is keep our goal attainable.

Baby Steps

We can keep our goals attainable by breaking them into baby steps. Say you are like 32% of Americans in 2017 who had the goal of saving more and spending less. Try breaking the goal down into baby steps. If you have a Starbucks habit, instead of buying 5 lattes a week purchase 1. Start a savings account by putting away $10 every paycheck. Resolve to eat in more than you eat out.

Accountability

Another suggestion, is to put the New Year’s resolution bench marks on the calendar. Resolving to eat better in 2018? If your goal is to eat 1 new vegetable a day, plan ahead of time, and assign a vegetable to each day of the week. Experts say that using our calendars help to hold us accountable and allow us to see the progress we are making.

A workout journal or food diary can also be a good way to hold ourselves accountable and see how close we are to meeting our goal.

For many of us, the reward of actually accomplishing the baby steps gives us the motivation we need to keep going and build on what we have started.

Making a New Year’s Resolution

I’ve read some good New Year’s Resolutions lately: like traveling more, saying Yes, becoming more organized, making more time for oneself. These unique resolutions inspired me to start thinking about making my own.

This year I’ve decided on some quirky resolutions and traditional ones.

  • Use My Crock Pot more
  • Save More, Spend Less
  • Paydown My Debt
  • Become More Organized

I’ve been trying to get into the habit of using my crock pot more. For me, the problem is it usually requires a little prep and organization. However, if I can become more organize, it will help me reach a goal of using my crock pot once a week. Using my crock pot even once a week will save money since we will eat out less. As I save money from spending less on food, I can put more of that toward our debt.

To be honest, prior writing this, I did not realize how my resolutions have the ability to work together! I love it when stuff like that happens.

What are your New Year’s Resolutions? Why did you choose them?

 

 

 

 

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Easy Skin Care Hacks to Keep Your Skin Looking Fresh

The holiday season is in full swing. As fun as the late nights, food, beverages, and frivolity are, they also mean added stress to our complexions.

All of those delicious, rich desserts and party foods can contribute to sebum production which promotes acne breakouts. While our favorite adult beverages and late nights, cause dry, dull skin. What’s a girl to do?

Do not fear. With a little TLC during the week, your skin will recapture its glow in time for the next holiday soirée!

Dull Skin Culprits

It isn’t just alcoholic beverages that contribute to dry, dull complexions. The holiday season tends to throw off exercise routines and water intake, contributing to our skin not looking it’s best.

First and foremost, work water back into your routine. It will help to start the process of rehydrating your skin from the inside. Shoot for 8 8oz glasses of water a day, minimum. If you know that you may be having a few alcoholic beverages that evening, up your water intake during the day, that you won’t become too dehydrated.

Don’t go to bed with your makeup on. Arriving home late after a great night, it can be hard to muster up the strength go through the whole nightly beauty routine. I completely get it! However, your skin does not. Sleeping with make up on breeds bacteria, clogs pores, which contribute to acne and dull skin. Do yourself a favor, wash that face! It will save time and frustration in the long run.

Try to get 8 hours of sleep. For some of us this target maybe laughable. Your skin isn’t laughing. While we are sleeping our bodies are busy repairing, that goes for our skin too. Do your best to reach that 8-hour target, during the week. You will be so glad you did when the weekend comes around!

Out with the Old, Exfoliate

Exfoliating is the next step to adding the pep back to our complexions and skin. Sloughing off the old skin cells reveals brighter, younger skin. Once the old skin has been buffed away, the skin will be able to more readily absorb serums and moisturizers.

For most skin types, exfoliating once a week is good enough. Exfoliating too often can aggravate, rosacea and acne.

The skin of the décolleté, neck, and face are delicate. It’s important to take special care when exfoliating these areas. Choose a facial scrub, or make one of your own, that is face specific. When applying, start at the décolleté and work your way up, using upward strokes on the application, followed by gentle circles. No tugging down ward on the skin! When it comes time to take off the facial scrub, again use upward motion so as to not pull the skin.

The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask

Two exfoliating face masks I would recommend are: The Body Shops Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Mask and a homemade Oatmeal Honey mask.

The Body Shop Purifying Mask tingles when your put it on. The charcoal draws out the impurities in the skin. The chunky texture helps to exfoliate when it is taken off.

What I love about a DIY mask or scrub is that many times everything you need is in the kitchen. I kinda love that whole instant gratification thing. And they are cheap! An oatmeal honey mask/scrub goes together quickly. Both the honey and oatmeal have anti-inflammatory properties. Honey also acts as an antiseptic and helps the skin to retain moisture. This mask is great for acne or clear skin in need of a little TLC.

Oatmeal Honey Mask or Scrub

½ C of Oatmeal

1c. of water

2 Tablespoons of honey

Optional: 2 drops of Lavender oil (relaxing and antibacterial)

Make the oatmeal as you would for breakfast. While it is still warm, add the honey and possibly lavender. Apply lukewarm or cold.

If using for exfoliating purposes, apply in circular manner, gently. Then gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth. Making sure to wipe upward as to not pull the skin.

For use as a mask: apply and leave on for 10-15minutes. Wipe off gently with a damp washcloth.

Moisture and Vitamins

Moisturizers and serums are epically important after having exfoliated.

A moisturizer with glycerin, vitamin E, or sphingolipids will help to retain moisture. For ingredients that help fight the signs of aging look for hyaluronic acid, glycolic or alpha hydroxy acid.

Serums are also a nice compliment to your skin care regime, especially when you are trying to pamper and reinvigorate your dull skin. A serum with Vitamin C is a little power house. Vitamin C helps to brighten skin, even out the skins tone, combat free radicals, prevent wrinkles, combat sun damage, and aids in collagen production. This little vitamin does a lot!

Apply your serum before your moisturizer. This allows your skin to absorb all of the good stuff that the serum offers, while the moisturizer will help to lock it all in.

All Skin Needs TLC

Exfoliating the rest of your body is so important too. The winter weather and holiday parties take their toll on the whole body.

Exfoliating isn’t just for faces, necks and décolleté. The skin on our bodies is different than that of our faces. It tends to be tougher. Exfoliating scrubs for this type of skin are generally grittier. Exfoliating your whole self once a week, with special attention to elbows and knees.

Sloughing off the old skin, will give your body the chance to renew itself too. Just like with moisturizing the face, soon after exfoliating is a perfect opportunity to moisturize. After the old cells are buffed away the body is ready to absorb the nourishment and moisture of a body crème, preferably with shea butter.

Having trouble deciding on a body scrub? Look no further than your kitchen or Amazon (they have everything).

A homemade honey scrub is so easy to throw together and great for your skin. While the sugar gently buffs away your dead skin cells, honey will draw moisture into the newly revealed skin cells.

Honey Sugar Body Scrub

1 tsp honey

¼ C. light olive oil

1 C. raw or granulated sugar.

Optional: 2 tsp citrus zest

Mix well, then store in an air tight container.

If DIY isn’t your thing, Amazon has you covered. The Majestic Pure Himalayan Salt Body Scrub with Lychee Essential Oil, is their best-selling body scrub. The lychee oil has antioxidants and vitamin C. Both help to fight free radical damage.


Another bonus of this scrub, it is cruelty free and not tested on animals. Now you can feel even better about using it!

What are some skin hacks you use during this busy time of year?

 

 

 

 

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18 Gifts Under $40 That Give Back, Something for Everyone

There are so many things that I like about the holiday season. One of my favorites, is the emphasis on giving and kindness. One way that kindness and giving can be combined, is when we give gifts that give back.

The holiday season is a time for giving and a time for budgets. We’ve compiled a list of 24 gifts from 28 different companies that give back and are all under $40! With the most inexpensive gift being $3.50.

There is something for everyone on your list. Do you need to purchase an office gift? This list has you covered! Need a gift for Grandma? Done! What about the guy in your life? We’ve got something for him too!

Our list will help you give to someone in your life, stay on budget, AND brighten the life of someone you don’t know.

How awesome, that our gifts can do two things at once, when we purchase from a company that is working to make the world a better place!

With out further ado, we give you the list:

Me to We Rafiki Bracelets

Me to We Rafiki bracelets aren’t only cool and stylish, they give back! Each bracelet is made by a woman in Kenya who is paid a fair wage.

Choose from health, water, opportunity, food, and education impact bracelets. These impacts will be felt in a developing village or here in the U.S. with WE School Programs. The jewelry comes with a tracking code so that the recipient can track the impact of their gift.

Rafiki bracelets start at $10. There are so many colors and patterns to choose from!

Soap Box Holiday Bundle

Soap Box is on a mission to sell quality, natural bath and body products while also providing quality, natural, paraben free bars of soap to people in need.

With every purchase of bath and body products, soap box will give a bar of soap.

On the back of each Soap Box product is a Hope Code. When entered, the Hope Code will show your gift recipient which Soap Box project your purchase supported. The bar of soap could be given to someone in need here in the U.S. or around the world!

For as little as $4.49 you can start changing the world.

Dopper Water bottles start at $15.50. So many cool things to say about this funky water bottle. Dopper water bottles have a “cradle to cradle” certification, BPA and toxin-free, and easy to clean. This bottle is one little eco-warrior!

With the purchase of a Dopper water bottle, 5% of your purchase is donated to the Dopper Foundation. The Dopper Foundation is “investing in universal access to safe drinking water”. Financing sustainable water projects in Nepal, is just one of its endeavors.

Fire Department Coffee

Fire Department Coffee is made by real firefighters. These guys know the importance of a good cup of coffee! Fire Department Coffee’s beans are freshly roasted for each order. If that weren’t good enough, a portion of each coffee purchase goes to support firefighter and military charities. Starting at $11.99 a pound, grab a few and support java habits and worthy causes.

Prosperity Candles, Wasabi Tin

Prosperity Candle Company employs female refugees and artisans.

Each candle is hand poured. The fragrances are made of essential oils, and these candles are vegan!

These candles are not only gorgeous, but they are providing employment opportunities for woman here and abroad. Each candle comes with name of the woman who made it and a story card.

Charity: Water Everything Tank

Charity: Water is working in 24 countries to fund clean, safe, sustainable water solutions. Profits from the gifts purchased through the Charity: Water Goods store help to fund clean water projects.

The Charity: Water Goods store has gifts ranging from cards to bicycles. Gift prices starting at $10. You are sure to find something for the kid or adult in your life, while helping to fund clean water in at risk areas of the world.

BeeLove Pure Necessities Collection

BeeLove produces all-natural raw honey and honey infused body care products.

BeeLove’s products are made by men and women returning from incarceration. When you purchase a gift from BeeLove, you are helping to fund a place that provides a stable work history, skills, and confidence for someone who wanting to re-enter the workforce.

Help BeeLove transform lives and give someone the gift of luxurious, handmade, honey-infused skin care for the holidays. With gifts starting at $5, why not grab a few stocking stuffers too?

Thistle Farms Jet Set Pack

Thistle Farms, in Tennessee, provides shelter, job training, medical care, and counseling for women who are the survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction.

Their mission is to HEAL, EMPOWER, and EMPLOY. You can help them in their mission, with the purchase of body care products, textiles, hand made leather wallets, and so, so much more. Gift’s start at $3.50 for a Chapstick that changes lives.

Vibes

Vibes High-Fidelity ear plugs are a great gift for your favorite concert goer. The ear plugs come with small, med, Lg interchangeable fit sizes, and a case all for $23.99!

Your purchase of hearing preservation ear plugs gives the gift of hearing. Vibe partners with Hear the World Foundation to provide hearing aids, funding or education, to disadvantaged people worldwide.

Lula’s Garden, Jewel Garden

Lula’s Garden offers gorgeous, unique, eco-friendly succulent gardens. The gift box they arrive in doubles as a planter, cutting down on package waste.

Succulents add a unique touch to your gift recipients home or office.

For the green thumb challenged, like myself, fear not. Succulents are easy to care for. They require very little water.

If being eco-friendly and easy to care for weren’t cool enough, Lula’s Garden supports organizations that provide access to safe drinking water.

Alex and Ami Jewelry that gives back.

Alex and Ami Piece of the Puzzle Bangle.

Alex and Ani jewelry are gorgeous, amazing, unique, and supports so many charitable organizations!

These are a great gift for the stylish person on your list, who has a cause that is close to their heart. The gold and silver bracelets start at $28, with a portion of that going to your gift recipients favorite cause.

Conscious Step Socks 3 Pack allows you to give style and give back. Whether the guy on your list is a professional or just likes great socks, this 3 pack has you covered.

These socks will cocoon your gift recipient’s feet in vegan, animal friendly, fair trade organic cotton.

While they are enjoying your gift, your purchase will have funded 2 school books, 18 months of clean water, and 6 packs of food!

That is one way to make $44.95 go far!

Purpose Jewelry, Jasmine Necklace

Purpose Jewelry is stylish, beautiful, and unique. They offer bracelets, ear rings, necklaces, and rings. They have something for any woman on your list.

If their selection weren’t enough to get excited about, Purpose Jewelry is crafted by woman rescued from human trafficking. The women, who work in Mumbai, India, and Orange County, California, are involved with the jewelry from creation to shipment. These women are earning a fair wage while gaining employable skills.

Purpose Jewelry provides education, healthcare, and counseling through their non-profit, International Sanctuary, to further help empower their female artisans.

Soma 6 Cup Water Pitcher

Soma’s sleek, stylish pitcher is a unique gift for the person on your list who has everything.

The Soma Water Pitcher holds 6 cups of filtered water, is BPA free, shatter proof, and the filter is made of 60%, plant based renewable materials all for $29!

When you purchase a Soma pitcher for that unique person in your life, your purchase supports clean water in developing countries. Soma is a sponsor of Charity: Water and partners with them on their sustainable, clean water projects.

United by Blue-Dopp Kit is water repellent, and stain resistant. This is a great travel companion for the person who likes the indoors or the outdoors.

When you purchase a United by Blue product, they pledge to remove 1 pound of trash from the world’s oceans and water ways. This purchase helps to keep the person on your list clean and our earth clean all at the same time!

Love Your Melon is known for their hip beanies and pom beanies that benefit pediatric cancer.

Love Your Melon has beanies for the hipster, mom, dad, husband, kid, wife, ect. in your life. The recipient of a Love Your Melon beanie will love their gift. They will adore that their gift is helping to give a hat to every child battling cancer in America.

Love Your Melon’s dedication to pediatric cancer extends with their Nonprofit partners, of which they give 50% of their profit from Love Your Melon products.

This a gift that would warm even the Grinch’s heart.

Pela

Pela Phone Cases for the eco-warrior on your list. They offer cool, speckled, protective cell phone cases for Android, iPhone, and Samsung Galaxy S7.

Pela is proud to manufacture cell phone cases made from sustainable bioplastics.

These cases are made of biopolymers, flax, recycled materials, and are free of BPA, lead, cadmium, and phthalates. Utilizing low-impact manufacturing, give Pela a smaller carbon foot print.

Pela doesn’t feel like it is enough to just manufacture an eco-friendly phone case, they give back to the planet too. Pela donates at least 1% of their sales to environmental non-profit groups. So many reasons for the eco-friendly person on your list to enjoy this case.

Sudara Men’s Globe Tee

Sudara clothing helps women in India who are survivors of trafficking or are at risk of human trafficking. One of Sudara’s goals is to break the cycles of trafficking. Sudara does this by providing job training, such as sewing, and employment to these survivors. Sudara employees are paid a living wage, and are given other educational opportunities.

A gift from Sudara gives the gift of a brighter future for a woman in India.

 

Giving is at the heart of the holiday season.

Is there something that you, your family, or friends do to give during this time of year?

Are you starting any new traditions this year with a focus on charity?

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Creative Hostess Gifts, Under $20

This post contains affiliate links.

 

It is the start of the holiday party season which mean it’s time for hostess gifts. A bottle of wine is almost always an acceptable gift for the host or hostess with the mostess. But what if you could give your party host something different? Something more creative? Well, we have compiled a list of inspiring, creative, and usable hostess gifts to give this holiday season.

Under $10

 

thegoldenjellybean.com

 

Homemade sugar scrub. Yes, this is a DIY, but it is not hard. Honestly, the hardest part will be choosing a cute jar. There a just so many! A nice go to, and easy to find, is a small mason jar. Use an 80% to 20% ratio of sugar (brown, white, demerara) to oil (coconut, almond, olive). If you aren’t sure if your hostess has a favorite scent, this recipe would be sure to please:

  • 1C brown or demerara sugar
  • 1/4c oil
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp honey

Martha Stewart.com

Fresh Italian Dinner Pasta Basket. Martha Stewart suggests using fresh tomatoes and herbs to put together an Italian dinner basket, or box, for your host. It’s a little DIY but can be done even if you are running short on time.

 

 

Scented Sugar jars. These add a nice splash of flavor to coffee, tea, baked good, whatever you would put sugar in. Grab a cute jar or canister, amazon has some super cool ones, put the sugar into the container, then add vanilla beans, day old lemon or orange peel. Let them sit for a day or two to infuse the scent. If you have enough jars, you could make all three and give them as a set. Easy DIY gift!

Uncommongoods

Chalk board coasters from Uncommongoods. Add in a few pieces of chalk for fun. These coasters are stylish and helpful. No more drink mix ups at your host’s house. This gift will make you a party hero.

 

 

Beautiful Soaps. Everyone uses soap, fact. Not everyone will treat themselves to beautiful soaps. Treat your host to a useful, yet gorgeous gift of hand made soaps.


Matcha. For the healthy host. For those not familiar, good matcha is pricey. Your host will thank you!


Cards Against Humanity. This is for the cheeky host or hostess. It will have everyone rolling off their chairs with laughter. For $10 a box, it is also budget friendly!

 

Tutorial via Gourmet Gab

 

Scrabble Coasters. This is a DIY, but it doesn’t take a lot of time and you don’t have to be Martha Stewart to make them! If your host is fond of something, say wine, you can have fun spelling vino, wine, ect. with the scrabble squares. Tutorial via The Gourmet Gab.

Under $15

 


Gourmet Dog Treats. For the house where dogs are people too. The doggie parent will appreciate your thoughtfulness and Fido will too.

 

World Market

 

Wine bottle candles. For the eco-friendly host, there are salvaged wine bottles reborn as candles! These are from World Market and they come in the scent of pinot, sauvignon blanc, or merlot.

 

 

Rosemary trees wrapped with fabric and tied with string. In December these are often decorated as mini Christmas trees. Add few small Christmas bulbs and viola, you have a mini Christmas tree. These Rosemary trees can often be found at your local grocery store, this time of year. Long after the holiday is over they will smell nice and your host can use them to cook with. Talk about a gift that keeps on giving!


Slate Cheese Plate. A nice round slate cheese plate is perfect for the host who lives in an apartment or a mansion. It’s big enough to hold a nice assortment of cheese and charcuterie all without taking up a lot of space. It’s a gift your hostess can use regardless of season.

 

DIY Tutorial via Inspired by Charm.

 

Bath Bombs. Treat your host and make some extra to treat yourself! Again, this is a super easy DIY, it’s vegan, and chances are you have most of ingredients in your cabinet. The only thing you might be lacking, is the bath bomb molds, don’t worry Amazon has it covered. If you don’t have time to grab a bath bomb mold, use those old plastic Easter eggs you have lying around. Tutorial via Inspired by Charm.

 

Under $20

Card Catalog, Barnes and Noble

 

Card Catalog Note Card Set. This box is perfect for the host that likes things a little retro, a little old school. Make it even more special by including a favorite recipe. It is available at Barnes and Noble.

 

Photo, Linda Pugliese

 

Salmon Cedar Plank with a Fish Turner. Add a sprig of fresh thyme for a little something extra.

Beautiful Clay Pot with Succulents. Succulents don’t take a lot of care. This little gift will brighten their home long after the party is over regardless of their green thumb.

 

Copper Mule Set. This is for the host that loves to make mixed drinks and isn’t afraid to serve them.

Under $30

 

Bersart Serving Set, Anthropologie

 

If you happen to find some more wiggle room in your hostess budget might we suggest the

Gorgeous Bersart Serving set from Anthropology. A nice gift for the elegant host.

 

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Cheap and Free Summer Fun For the Whole Family

I don’t know about you, but in the summer, I try to get the kids out of the house without breaking the bank. Cheap or free summer fun is the goal. For the most part, our summer splurge is a pool pass. We have a pass to the local Science Museum too. Even with those things my kids get bored! If left to their own devices they would play video games all day. Unfortunately for my kids they have a super mean mom that limits their tech and forces them to play outside! Gasp! I know, I’m a monster. Thankfully there are plenty of inexpensive ways to entertain the crew during the summer, sans tech.

  1. Local Parks. Local city and metro parks have free and low-cost programs during the summer months. Parks offer something for nature lovers of all ages. Some also allow geocache/letter boxing. Others offer a variety of sports too. Some may have free movie nights and a concert series. Parks aren’t just for hiking!
  2. Museum discounts. Check out the websites of your local museums. Many have a free or discount day. Also check and see if any of your credit cards or other memberships give you a discount to the local museums. A Bank of America, Merrill Lynch credit or debit card will give card holders weekend access to museums around the country. I know our science museum does the same with many museums and zoo’s around the United States. If you have one check and see if yours offers any additional perks.
  3. Cooking Classes. Williams and Sonoma and Whole Foods offer low cost cooking classes for children. Call your local store for classes and times. Also check your local YMCA and Recreation Centers.
  4. Spray Park or Splash Pad. These are free! Look at your local outdoor mall or city website. They will usually tell you if your area has free fountains and sprays for the children to play in.
  5. Outdoor Mall. Check out your local outdoor mall’s events page. They are usually filled with free family friendly concerts, movies, and activities.
  6. AMC, Cinemark, and Marcus theaters all have a summer movie series. Check eat website for days, movies, and start times. Some offer discounted snacks too! Fun tidbit, AMC, offers Sensory Friendly showings of select newly released movies.
  7. Crafting Classes. Michael’s Craft stores offers Creativity camp and classes for kiddos and adults starting at a nice and cheap $2! For crafting a little closer to home, JoAnn Fabrics has partnered with Creative Bug to bring crafting online. Hobby Lobby also offers a variety of crafting projects that can be accessed. Home depot also offers kids classes on the weekends.
  8. Reading times. If you haven’t signed up for the summer reading program at your local library, head there now! Summer reading programs are a great way to earn prizes while discovering new books. Many libraries offer summer classes and reading circles that go along with their reading program theme. Most classes are free. For those of you that have been there, done that, or simply want more reading fun, Barnes and Noble offers free story times. Scroll down and click on Visit Your Local Store and discover reading times and author events.
  9. Kick Ball. With summer upon us and the sun setting later spending time outside with the kids and other families can be a great way to take advantage of the season. Organize a kick ball game with several family friends and their kids. With school, out of session and elementary school open field or baseball field is the perfect place. Bring a cooler of Popsicle and you are set for an inexpensive night of fun that will be remembered. When my kids were younger, we did this every Wednesday all summer long with our group of friends!
  10. National Wildlife Refuges. Visit U.S. Fish and Wildlife service to find the wildlife refuge in your state. Use the website to put together a scavenger hunt to help engage the kids even more in what the wildlife refuges purpose.
  11. Bowling. Kids Bowl Free is a program that partners with area bowling alleys to offer two free games a day per child that is signed up. When the weather is too hot to play outside or too rainy, bowling is a fun way to say active.
  12. Apple. The Apple store has daily offering for kids. They also have a program called Apple Camp. Check your store for details.
  13. Pick Your Own. Picking your own fruit is one of our favorite things to do. With most of the United States having a warm winter many things are expected to be ready for harvest earlier this year. Prices for fruits will vary. Most of the U-pick farm websites I’ve used, tell the price per pound. On the rare occasion I’ve had to make a phone call.
  14. Feed the Ducks. There are many public ponds and water ways that ducks like to inhabit. You probably even know of a place. Instead of feeding them bread, which is bad for their system, grab a bag of cracked corn. The ducks will love it!