Nicole

Holiday Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Pets

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ToPetsWithLove #CollectiveBias

Our pets are members of our family. If you haven’t met our band of rascally critters here on my blog before, let me introduce you: Roxie the West Highland White Terrier, Sassy the Shih-Tzu, Harley the Chihuahua, Shadow, our beautiful Bombay, and Boo Radley, an American Shorthair cat.

While we consider our motley crew of furry friends family, I think we love them all the more because each came into our lives as adopted pets, and as the old saying goes, who rescued who? I also like to think that our pets love us equally in return, and not just for the copious amounts of table scraps my family sneakily gives them during meals!

With the holiday season soon upon us, I wanted to make sure that we included our furry friends in this year’s Christmas festivities, and what does any full-fledged member of the family receive each holiday season? Well, a stocking, of course!

Each year I make sure that our pets have nice stockings and stocking stuffers at Christmas. This year I wanted to mix things up a bit and include a few DIY pet toys among the presents they receive.

For our cats, I made a DIY Hanging Cat Scratcher. This scratcher will hang on a doorknob and give my cats a means to harmlessly indulge their natural instinct to flex their claws and scratch. This was a very simple project to make and cost only around five dollars to create, making this a very frugal pet stocking stuffer idea.

Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

12″ section of 2″ x 4″
50′ package of sisal rope
Wood glue (not in photo)
Non-Toxic Kids Trim Paint
Paint Brush
Drill
Ribbon (optional)

To begin, make sure your board is smooth to the touch. Sand if needed. You will then need to pre-drill two holes so your scratcher can be hung. Measure out and drill 1 inch down and 2 inches apart from both the top and bottom of your board. After drilling, wipe away any dust or shavings left over with a clean cloth. You’ll now need to paint the top and bottom four inches of your board on both sides. Allow the paint to dry for 24-hours before moving on to the next step.

To create your scratcher, start two inches from the end of your board and spiral the sisal rope around the bottom of the board, gluing it in place as you go. Remember, wood glue takes a while to dry. Go slow in the beginning and gauge your work accordingly. Allow your board to dry for a full 24-hours.

Now you will need to cut a 1-foot section of rope for your handle. To make a loop, simply lace the two ends of the rope through the back side of your board and tying a knot on each side of the sisal.

Your scratcher is now ready to be hung and enjoyed. If giving this scratcher as a gift consider adding a ribbon bow to the finished project. This will make your scratcher a bit more festive.

Now for my canine companions, I created DIY Doggy Doughnut sock toys! This is another quick and inexpensive project to make as they can be made from mismatched socks or from festive holiday socks. Either way, they’re awesome!

Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

1 Pairs of Holiday Themed Socks, per doughnut
1 Pair of thick socks, per doughnut
Needle & Thread
Ribbon (optional)
Scissors

To begin, cut off the toe from all your socks. You want to have openings at both ends of your socks. Once your socks are cut lay them in lines and turn them inside out. Then place your holiday socks inside of the plain socks.

To form your donuts start by rolling the plain sock inward towards itself until you form a ring. To prevent your doughnuts from unrolling, take a needle and thread and quick stitch around the hem of the underside of the sock roll. If you have a dog that isn’t an aggressive chewer, you can skip this step altogether. To finish off your doughnuts, simply stack them up and tie them together with bakers twine or ribbon!

Once my DIY’s were done it was time to assemble my stockings. This year I decided to create two separate stockings, one for our cats and another for our dogs.

The stockings were repurposed and embellished with DIY crocheted bands, bows, and glittered star ornaments.

Now for the fun stuff! I also included lots of fun and frugal treats for my pets. Here’s everything our cats and dogs will be receiving this in their stockings:

Beggin’ Strips
Busy Bones
Chewnola Busy Bones
Purina DentaLife Sticks
Fancy Feast Purely Trays
Friskies Party Mix
Whisker Lickin’s
Rope toys
Cat Wand
Stuffing-less dog toy
Squeaker mouse

To finish everything up, I stuffed my stockings and hung them up for safe keeping on my vintage wooden ladder. This way I’m hoping to be able to keep all of these awesome treats safe in their stockings until Christmas!

Just like with my stocking stuffers, I also give my dogs the best food I can each day. I give them Beneful IncrediBites dry dog food because it has been reformulated to feature meat as it’s #1 ingredient and without any added sugar. I love that this newly reformulated recipe was created directly from the feedback of real pet owners, like myself, who demand wholesome, antioxidant-rich ingredients for their own furry family members.

As a pet owner, it’s important for me to provide my pets with foods and treats that are as tasty as they are good for them.

As you can see, Shadow and Boo really enjoy their Fancy Feast Purely cat food trays, which features real seafood, chicken, or beef, without any by-products or fillers, and the yummy Whisker Lickin’s Soft & Delicious treats.

Roxie, on the other hand, loves her Busy Chewnola Dog Treats, which provide her with a long-lasting chewy treat that’ll keep her both busy and happy this holiday season, and maybe even out the Christmas tree this year! As for Harley, he’s always game for a Beggin’ Strip, as they smell and taste like bacon because they’re made with real bacon!

Since all of my pets really enjoy eating these awesome, affordable Purina products, I made sure that I keep extra Purina treats on hand for them to enjoy for the entirety of the holiday season too!

What’s even better? When picking up everything I needed to fill my pets holiday stockings this year, I didn’t have to go out of the way as your local Kroger store is always full of all of your pet’s favorite food, treats, and toys.

From the newest Fancy Feast Purely formulations to delicious Purina DentaLife treats, you can stock up on everything your pet needs this holiday season right on the pet aisle in-store, making shopping at your neighborhood Kroger an easy way to show your pets how much you care. Even during the hectic hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

Did you know that you can help spread the holiday cheer to your furry friends with the help of Purina? Now through the end of November, take advantage of great savings on your favorite Purina pet products available at Kroger with this Coupons.com link, while supplies last.

Well, friends, I hope these tutorials gave you a few ideas for creating your own pet stockings this holiday season. Also, be sure to be sure to click here for more #ToPetsWithLove pet gift giving ideas as well!

Just remember that when it comes to buying treats to fill those stockings, by choosing quality Purina products you’ll have all your pet’s nutritional and play needs to be met. After all, they’re family and family deserves the best!

So from our furry family to yours, we wish you have a wonderful holiday season filled with lots of love and delicious pet treats from Kroger!

Please note, the above statements cannot be taken as professional veterinary advice. Please consult your veterinarian for recommendations and practices appropriate for your pet.

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DIY Holiday Cuticle Oil Tins

Is there anything more lavish than a good tin of cuticle oil? The way it feels on the nails is second to none. You may also not know how super simple it is to make your own all natural version at home, but what’s even better is that cuticle oil tins make for a fun and frugal stocking stuffer or last minute holiday gifts as well.

I always like to give away DIY cuticle oil each holiday season as I can make them not only in advance but for under three dollars I can prepare a dozen tins and give the gift of being pampered to in my life that needs it the most!

This is also an awesome zero waste project as the tins themselves are made from recycled Altoids boxes. This project is just a win-win all around.

Here’s how you can make your own giftable DIY All-Natural Cuticle Oil Tins too:

Isn’t that super simple to make? Now if you are considering giving cuticle oil tins this holiday season be sure to also give your recipient an orange stick, file, in a small pouch, for a holiday manicure kit, to go along with your tins as well. Also, be sure to pin the above instruction for reference later while making these awesome cuticle oil tins!

Here’s to the holidays,

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DIY Crochet Cowl Neck Scarf

There’s nothing that epitomizes Fall fashion more to me than a cozy crochet cowl neck scarf. Cowl neck scarves are amazing in that they look great on all body types and can be styled in endless ways making them an essential go-to cold weather accessory for everyone, especially those with capsule wardrobes!

The only drawback to these rocking scarves? They often come with very uncozy price tags. So today I’ll be sharing with you a super simple pattern to help be your most stylish self this fall and winter, with your very own chunky crochet cowl!

You can crank out a few up in any of your favorite colors to help cheer up an otherwise cold, rainy or snowy day. Also, cowls make fun and frugal holiday gifts! Consider making several to stock your gift closet with this holiday season!

The best part? Each cowl is a true one-skein project and can be made in just under two hours. Don’t you just adore quick crafting projects?

This cowl pattern is perfect in its simplicity, as the piece is worked back and forth in rows and whip stitched together at the end, turning it into an crochet infinity scarf. Also worth noting, this scarf is very long and is meant to be wrapped 2-3 times around the neck to create a bulky look.

For the pattern, I used Caron One Pound Yarn in Sunflower. I purchased my yarn for $2.94 using a half-off JoAnn Fabrics mobile coupon. This skein gave me enough yarn to make three cowls, making this a truly affordable project at only $1.00 a cowl!

You might want to also consider going through your yarn stash and seeing what leftover project skeins you may already have on hand to create this cowl as well. Keeping in mind that any bulky acrylic yarn will work for this project, keeping in mind that for this project you’ll need about 350 yards in total.

Here’s what you will need to get this project started:

-1 Skein Carson 1-Pound Chunky Yarn in Sunflower
-Size 9.0mm crochet hook
-Scissors
-Yarn or upholstery needle

7″ wide x 76″ inches long.

HDC: Half Double Crochet
Ch: Chain

So I hope you will enjoy trying your hand at making your own cowl neck scarf. Be sure to pin the pattern instructions above for easy reference while making your own scarf, and if you do try your hand at making your own, be sure to tag me on Instagram or Twitter to let me see how awesome it looks!

Also for those looking to purchase their own pre-made cowl they are also currently available in my ETSY shop. Enjoy your crocheting!

Here’s to the holidays,

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10 Freezer Meals to Give as Holiday Gifts

Believe it or not, home cooked freezer meals make for a fun and frugal holiday gifts for nearly everyone on your list. Gifting freezer meals shouldn’t be given only to new parents, new neighbors, and the bereaved. Truly anyone would enjoy a homemade meal prepared with love. Especially from you.

While I once associated the holiday season as a time to buy and receive gifts, generally believing that receiving goods from my own holiday wish list would make me happier. In reality, my life was already cluttered with a myriad of unnecessary things. What I truly needed in my life wasn’t anything material, but simply the love and friendship of family and friends during the holiday season.

This was especially true several years ago when our neighbors, out the blue, gifted us a smoked ribs and trimmings dinner. Our neighbors wanted to bless our family. They just wanted to be good neighbors.

It was through that crazy, brave, generous act of kindness that leads me to rethink my views on my own holiday gift-giving habits and the overall mass consumerism of the modern holiday season.

Did I also mention how awesome those ribs were? Every last part of that meal was savory and delicious. Even more important was the break it gave me that night. Not only was it nourishment for our bodies, but it was solace for my soul. And my holiday budget, too. That meal was given during a time when my family had first started working our way out of debt, so being blessed with a meal meant we would have more resources and ingredients to allocate back into our menu plan in the days and weeks ahead.

That meal also inspired me to come up with ways that I could pass my neighbor’s act of kindness onto others. While I was not really into the idea of cooking and delivering hot meals to friends and family for all of December, I did enjoy the thought of giving others freezer meals that they could prepare on their own schedule during the holiday season. So the idea of gift giving freezer ready meals was born!

For me, freezer cooking was a great way to save time, economize, and give the gift of great eats to those on my gift list all in one fell swoop.

It also goes without saying that you need to put the same amount of love into giftable freezer meals as you would any other gift. Consider buying inexpensive reusable dishes for your meals. Or consider gifting mason jars of soup. To do this, simply fill quart mason jars with soup up to the fill line (the etched glass line under the ring of the jar), freeze your jars until set, and then add rings, seals, fabric, and decorations as needed!

When it comes to gifting freezer meals make sure that dinner isn’t the only meal you consider. Quick, healthy breakfasts and lunches are invaluable to anyone who works a busy job or odd hours. Also, should you meal pair perfectly with bread or salad on the side, be sure to include that into your gift as well.

Moreover, never underestimate the comforting power of a good dessert. Is there anything more loving than a plate of warm banana nut muffins or chocolate cake? Consider making large batches of a favorite holiday cookie, cake, or dessert for those on your list this year!

Be sure to also remember that presentation matters. People taste their food first with their eyes! Tie a bow on each package. Add parchment paper and striped bakers twine to a jar. Consider putting food together in a small wooden crate, lined with a festive napkin, and coordinate it all together with a bow.

Now if you are ready to try your hand at giving a few freezer ready meals this holiday season here are a few recipe ideas (including some serious throwbacks from my early days of blogging) to get you started:

Crock Pot Pork Loin with Cranberries recipe

Cinco de Mayo Chicken Mole

Harvest Crockpot Apple Butter

Ms. Carol’s Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese

Freezer Cooking Baked Spaghetti, Lasagna Roll-Ups, and Chicken Parmesan

Blueberry Freezer Jam

Blueberry Butter Pecan Pancakes

So savvy savers, remember that when you give the gift of holiday freezer meals what you are really gifting others is time, comfort, good health, nourishment, and a moment of a much-needed break from the stressors of life.

More importantly, you are giving the gift of love. A freeze-it-forward kind of movement, if you will. And that’s always something worth sharing.

Now it is your turn! Are planning to gift a meal? How do you do it and what tips have you learned that you might be able to share with others? Please share them in the comments below.

Here’s to the holidays,

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Welcome to this week’s Happiness is Homemade Link Party

Welcome to Happiness is Homemade Link Party!

It’s getting cold and blustery here now – time to break out the winter coats and hats!

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? I’m not but that’s okay – that’s why I have this great link party, to help me plan!

THIS WEEK’S FEATURES

DIY Christmas Stockings from a Thriftstore Sweater from Whats Up Fagans

Pumpkin Fries with Buffalo Aeoli from My Life Cookbook

10 Crafts for Thanksgiving from Woman of Many Roles

Great Aunt Ellen’s Turtle Bars from Cooking with Carlee

MEET YOUR HOSTS

Want to follow us?

Just click on the circle to connect to our blogs!!

The rules are really simple! Make sure you visit a few other blogs and make some new friends along the way. Feel free to link up your favorite recipes, crafts or your latest DIY project. We want you you share it all! As always, please make sure to follow your hosts and co-hosts!! Link up your posts, make some friends, and earn the chance to be featured at Happiness Is Homemade Link Party! We will feature the favorite posts each week! Disclaimer: Adding your link to this link party gives permission to all 12 Hosts, along with any co-hosts, guest hosts, and participants of Happiness Is Homemade, to share your posts and pictures via social media and as features, roundups, etc. with an explicit link back to your original source. Therefore, linking up you agree to allow us to use your images on each of our blogs in features relating to Happiness is Homemade Link Party.

An InLinkz Link-up

AND HERE is the code that Brittany created for a linkup to the Thanksgiving posts you sent her and some she pulled from the link party. I did not put this code in my code for the party above so feel free to add it in somewhere. Brittany also wanted me to mention that if you still have Thanksgiving posts you’d like her to use in her little roundup to just email them to her – thanks Brittany!

We thought it would be fun addition to make a Thanksgiving special with our Happiness is Homemade Link Party. We compiled several of your links from the past week that would be perfect your Thanksgiving table.

Come on over and take a look!!

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Tips for Frugal Zero-Waste Shopping at the Farmer’s Market

As a minimalist who strives to run a zero-waste home, being able to cut down on my family’s consumable food waste is a must for my lifestyle. While I’m also still very much a savvy saver with a strict food budget, sometimes the two fields do not always mesh as beautifully as I would hope that they might.

I also live in Mississippi, and while an agrarian state, my newlywed home does not host a large selection of stores that carry natural foods and zero-waste food options in-store more difficult for my family.

Lasy year, as someone new to the zero-waste movement, I focused my buying power on avoiding purchases as a whole. While this strategy was initially economically savvy, focusing solely on living plastic-free limited the quality and availability of what we could buy as a family in our area.

When your only two grocery shopping options are Winn-Dixie and Walmart, you can sometimes feel like you are living on the island of misfit plastic storage bowls.

My focus over this past year, however, has switched from not purchasing goods to finding goods to purchase which were more in-line with my beliefs on sustainable living. This is when I discovered the joys of buying groceries and goods from my local farmer’s market!

The issue again? Finding ways to make shopping at my local farmer’s market as zero-waste as possible.

Through trial and error, I was able to find ways to make the abundance of locally sourced bulk goods and produce found at my local market align with both my vision for my family’s overall zero-waste lifestyle and our wallet too!

So, today I’m sharing my top tips for zero-waste shopping at your local farmer’s market:

Buying larger packages or bags of food, that you will eat and not waste, at a lower price-point, will always save you money. Ask merchants at your market what their bulk pricing is comparative to that by the pound. You will often be quoted savings as much as a third off their stand prices.

Plastic bags cost money. Plastic bags require recycling or being returned to a store for repurposing. Plastic bags require more effort than they are worth. So be sure to take your own reusable bags with you when purchasing goods at your local farmer’s market. Many merchants may give you a percentage off your price for bringing your own bag as well!

Think variety: canvas totes for general items, mesh bags for produce, and even insulated bags for safe transport of dairy, soy, and meat food products during warmer market days.

Look for produce that is pesticide-free, paraben-free, and of course, sticker free. The less you have to dispose of at home the zero-waste your day at the market will be.

At the farmer’s market, look to buy ugly fruits and vegetables, produce that a supermarket may refuse to carry. I often opt for this produce first. I love that these organic gems, often left untouched by other customers, can be purchased in bulk at significant savings, and most importantly, taste every bit as good as their more prima donna counterparts!

It’s a good idea to bring metal bento box containers to the farmer’s market for goods, such as berries. This will help protect them while in transit and help to prevent wilting and spoilage.

Always bring glass mason jars with you to the market. Glass jars, which comes in every conceivable shape and size, can allow you to purchase goods such as soup, kombucha, teas, juices, and prepared foods you may not have ordinarily been able to purchase otherwise.

Now before you use your jars with each vendor, politely ask to have your have your jars tared, or weighted, before you fill them with food. This is done to prevent you from having to pay for the weight of the jar and the goods your purchasing as well. This is especially important for higher ticket items such as organic coffees and teas that costs $10.00 or more per pound on their own!

Another tip? Invest in a reusable wine bottle carrier bag. These bags will help prevent glass jars from clinking together or breaking in transit.

Linen squares can be used to wrap up bread, Danish, and most non-iced baked goods for travel. Linen can also be easily washed making this an idea pastry cloth for market shopping days.

Wax-lined bags are crucial for farmer’s market shopping. They are great for carrying wet produce, cosmetic products, such shampoo bars and lotions, and homemade candles as well. Especially for goods and products that might leak out or cause cross contamination.

When merchants are ready to go home, usually after two in the afternoon, they are often ready to make deals they may not have considered much earlier in the day. A few hours of a delay can save you over half the cost of early morning shopping.

Having a cart or small wagon with you at the market will help to free up your hands while shopping and can help with safer transit to and from your car while shopping at the farmer’s market. Like at a grocery store, when you don’t have to worry about carrying the total weight of goods in-hand, you’ll be more likely to go the more zero-waste route each time you shop.

A notepad is a necessity at the market, and a digital option is always best! I use my phone to jot down merchant names, their social media accounts (as merchants often give discount codes, location directions, and products online to their followers), and market price lists.

A notepad will also help you to maintain a digital, personalized price point list to help keep your budget in mind while shopping at your local farmer’s market.

Cash is king. Especially at a farmer’s market. It costs merchant’s countless funds to run card readers. Instead use cash, use your cash as a bargaining tool when negotiating prices for higher ticket organics.

Also remember to bring along your cash envelopes with you, and stay within your budget while buying what’s fresh on the market. Think whole foods, not your whole check!

So there are my favorite tips for frugal zero-waste shopping and budgeting at my local farmer’s markets. While you may not have similar shopping choices or you may just be starting out on the zero-waste path, feel free to glean whatever ideas may help you along your way.

When it comes to zero-waste living, go slow. Be wise in your spending. Mindful of your budget. And always have fun.

Remember, this is a lifestyle, and a lesson on sustainable living.

Here’s to better days at the market,

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Urban Market Bag Review

I strive to have a zero-waste home. In fact, it’s one of my missions in life. So I’m always on the lookout for new and better products that make my household, and personal mission, easier. So when I find new brands, companies, and product lines that fall in line with my personal beliefs on sustainability, I’m always a little giddy on the inside.

So recently when I was given the opportunity to review a new line of resuable bags I jumped at the chance.

So today I want to share with you my experience with the new Urban Market Bag line.

This venture started by longtime friends, Cindy Goldberg and Kerri Stenson, a pair that have raised their children together, volunteered, planned events, and started a business based on providing the public with a smart, stylish, reusable bag, the Urban Market Bag line.

You can also find out more about these awesome entrepeneurs here.

I received the Urban Market 3-piece bag set in the rural series, which features three bags in purple, taupe, and a rich, golden brown. The bags are also available in the Urban series, a fun, funky pastel collection.

My Urban Market set arrived tucked into a drawstring pouch (each measuring 5″ x 3.5″), which contained three bags, all of which were 26″ x 12.5″ in size. From the moment I took them out of their packaging, I was a smitten kitten.

I loved the look of the bags. They are sleek, fashionable, and not loaded with slogans (which is a bonus for me), yet are large enough to accommodate the same amount of groceries that would normally fit into a large, brown paper bag.

The Urban Market bags are durable and feel good in-hand. The bags are strong enough to be sent to school with my husband’s weekday lunches, but feminine enough to be carried to a luncheon date.

Since unpacking my Urban Market bags I have used, folded, and refolded my bags numerous times and can easily return my bags back to both their initial size and to the travel pouch without issue. These bags have moved from novel to necessary, in my opinion.

I also like to use these bags for transporting tarred mason jars used in bulk shopping. They also work well for carrying heavy-weight clothing items destined for the charity shop. These bags have proven themselves to be dependable many times over.

While these machine-washable nylon bags are relatively stain-resistant, like most reusable bags, run the occassional risk of the crumb-in-the-corner syndrome. Mind you, this can easily be remedied with occasional spot treating and/or cold-rinse cycle washing and air drying.

No mater your cleaning method, these bags when laundered will be left as good as new.

It’s also worth noting that like other reusable bags, the Urban Market bags are not air-tight – so they are not great to store bread products or crunchy snacks overnight, or while traveling. But for general shopping, running to the library, or for keeping reusable bags on hand in my vehicle, they are stellar!

So what’s the only drawback? The price. My three-pack will set you back a cool $28.00. The six-pack is currently priced even more at $40.00, and neither of these prices include shipping.

However, let’s also figure long-term zero-waste savings into this equation. As many national grocery chains charge customers upwards of $0.10 per grocery bag, per shopping trip for plastic grocery sacks, the initial price tag of the Urban Market bags would quickly be offset within two seasons of weekly use.

While it’s a personal preference as to whether or not you want to pay on the front or the backend for zero-waste shopping, rest assured you will pay either way! By choosing to pay the upfront costs for quality reusable bags, such as the Urban Market bags, you will at least have the satisfaction of not adding to landfill space in the interum.

With that said, for reliable, zero-waste shopping bags I’d gladly pay $28.00 for this three-bag set for all of my home’s zero-waste shopping and errand-running storage needs. Which for me, makes the Urban Market bag line worth a shot!

So, everyone, what do you think about the Urban Market Bag line? Do you pack a waste-free or no-waste lunch or shop for groceries using resuable bags? If you do, I’d love to hear all about it below!

Here’s to intentionally being a bag lady,

Please note, I received these bags as a review sample from Urban Market Bags. All opinions are my own. Thank you.

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Nicole

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ToPetsWithLove #CollectiveBias

Please note, the above statements cannot be taken as professional veterinary advice. Please consult your veterinarian for recommendations and practices appropriate for your pet.

THIS WEEK’S FEATURES

MEET YOUR HOSTS

Please note, I received these bags as a review sample from Urban Market Bags. All opinions are my own. Thank you.

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