Friday Etsy Favorites

I love decorating for Christmas each year. One thing that I always put on the front door is a wreath. I've had the same basic one on my door for a few years that I've added different things to (and taken some things away) each year. But really, it is time to change it up!

Here is some beautiful wreaths that I would love to have hanging on my door!

Christmas Wreath with Berries and Plaid
by Horn's Handmade

Christmas Wreath with Burlap, Natural with Red Berries
by Door Decor & More

Christmas Boxwood Wreath with Burlap
by twoinspireyou

Christmas Peacock Wreath
Luxe Wreaths

Christmas White Berry Rustic Wreath
by WildRidge Design

Christmas Hydrangea Wreath
by Country Prim

Get Rid of Those Stubborn Stickers!

Recently, I finally bought some new plates. Our old ones were starting to show their wear and I saw some white square ones that I really liked. Not sure why I really like white, but I do. Probably hoping for the day when I can paint my walls white and have a crisp, clean white decor with splashes of color, ie. turquoise. But that won't be for quite some time, until my little boys get older. But I'm not complaining, they can take their time! :)

Oops, I got off topic. I was talking about plates. Well yes, under each of the plates is a sticker. Well, those stickers are really darn hard to get off. When I tried peeling it off, it would leave traces of the sticker behind and it took forever to get every.little.piece.off.

That's when a light bulb moment hit. I remember seeing a pin on Pinterest about using vinegar to remove stickers. Have I told you that I ♥ Pinterest. I could tell you here, but I'll leave that for another post.

So, I got my trusty spray bottle of vinegar and liberally sprayed it on the sticker.

I waited for about 15 minutes. Literally, the sticker peeled right off! Amazing!

And there you have it. Nice, new, stickerless plates!

I hope this post helps you with getting those darn sticky pieces of paper off!

Friday Etsy Favorites

In Canada, we celebrated Thanksgiving Day last month. And my friends in the United States will be celebrating next week. There is so much to give thanks for, not just on Thanksgiving, but throughout the whole year. I am so thankful for my family, my health, my friends, my home...

Today's Friday Etsy Favorites are some beautiful ways that we can display our thanks.

Give Thanks Polymer Clay Pumpkins
by Skyart

Give Thanks Hand Stamped Serving Fork & Spoon Set
by jessica N designs

In Everything Give Thanks Duo Cotton Pillow Covers
by Mon Mell Designs

Give Thanks Necklace
by Susan's Jewelry Designs

Give Thanks Towel
by The New Vintage Home

Healthy No Bake Cookies

I'm always on the look out for healthy snacks that I can make for our family. Pinterest is so awesome for keeping all of my recipes (and other things) organized all in on place.

I came across a recipe for Healthy No Bake Cookies and pinned it to my Healthy Snacks board, to be made at a later date.

Well last week, that later date came. I had a look at my Healthy Snacks board and decided upon what looked good to make (and what supplies I already had in my pantry).

Healthy No Bake Cookies it was then.

And I am so glad that I tried it. This recipe was so easy to make and so good. The kids loved them and little did they know that there was chia seeds and oat bran in it. Yay!

Here are all the ingredients all in one bowl.

Mix, mix, mix, mix until everything is well combined.

Then roll into little balls. I have been wanting to invest in a small cookie scoop. I have a big one, but I really want a small one...this recipe would put it to perfect use.

Put the balls on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper and place in the freezer until frozen. Then put all the frozen little balls in a bag, store in the freezer, and take one or two or three or four as needed. :)

That's it. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy...like my boys would say.

Healthy No Bake Cookies

Recipe adapted from Wit & Whistle

1/2 cup honey
2 tsp. vanilla
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup oat bran (you can substitute with wheat germ)
2 tbsp. chia seeds
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

Combine all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl, using a wooden spoon.

Spoon 20-24 small balls of dough onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet and place the cookie sheet in the freezer for at least 45 minutes.

Remove sheet from freezer and transfer the cookies from the parchment to a Tupperware dish with a good fitting lid. The best way to remove them from the parchment is to get a good grip and twist slightly.

Store in the freezer.

Friday Etsy Favorites

Today's Friday Etsy Favorites feature some fabulous Fall finds. And what better thing to make you think about Fall, then acorns!

Acorn Pendant Necklace
by Gwen Delicious Jewelry Designs

Painted Wooden Acorns
the baker's daughter

Bamboo Acorn Ring
by Graphic Spaces

Charcoal Felted Acorns
by The Bee Junkie

Autumn Acorn Necklace
by La Foret des Gemmes

Operation Christmas Child

Each year we participate in Operation Christmas Child organized through Samaritan's Purse.

As per their website, "To date, Operation Christmas Child has collected and distributed over 94 million shoe box gifts worldwide. Each shoe box gift is filled with hygiene items, school supplies, toys, and candy, is given to children regardless of gender, race, religion, or age."

It is such an awesome way to make a child's day and share God's love. I can just imagine the smiles on their faces when they open their box to discover what treasures lie within.

You can read more about this wonderful work here.

Everything Coconut

I don't know why, but I just LOVE coconut! One of my favorite things to eat at breakfast is old fashioned oats, topped with unsweetened coconut, then topped with frozen berries (blueberries, blackberries and raspberries) and a sliced apple. Then I would pour almond milk over all. Delicious!

So it's no surprise that I love to pin the coconut recipes I find onto my Pinterest boards.

Here are a few (of the many!) coconut recipes that I am itching to make.

Brownie-Bottom Coconut Chocolate Cream Cake

via Willow Bird Baking

Thin + Chewy Chocolate Drenched Coconut Oatmeal Squares

via how sweet it is

Lime and Coconut Chicken

via chaos in the kitchen

Almond Joy Cheesecake

via The Curvy Carrot

Coconut Prawns

via Life's Ambrosia