Posts made in December 2019

Check out the Sony Xperia 1 Smartphone + $200 Special Offer!

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

Are you on the hunt for a new cell phone, or perhaps you are looking to gift one this holiday season? Look no further! Best Buy has a spectacular offer for you on the Sony Xperia 1 smartphone! From now through December 22, you can save $200!

There are so many unique features about the Sony Xperia 1 smartphone, but I especially appreciate how you can capture stunning photos and cinematic footage. It features a triple-lens camera system and advanced autofocus technologies that make it easy to take stable, detailed images and capture 4K videos. The Sony Xperia 1 smartphone has a 6.5-inch 4K OLED touch screen that brings out the detail in captured footage and streaming videos. Talk about putting the “smart” in smartphone!

Some other notable features of the Sony Xperia 1 smartphone includes its ability to adapt to you and the way you use your phone, learning your preferences as you go. Your experience gets better over time, and it keeps things running smoother and longer. As a blogger, I also appreciate the fact that the Sony Xperia 1 smartphone provides fast web connection for downloading apps, streaming content, and staying connected on social media. I use my phone for everything, so this is a huge plus in my books! I also love the extra-large screen and how it is matched with a slim body to comfortably fit in your hand. The 21:9 extended display ensures easier multitasking and immersive viewing. Gorilla Glass 6 resists shocks and scratches. Wow! These are amazing features! In addition, the Sony Xperia 1 smartphone provides plenty of storage space for your contacts, music, apps and more. In fact, you can expand your storage by up to 512GB by adding a microSD card! (sold separately).

Are you ready to check out the Sony Xperia 1 smartphone for yourself? Don’t forget that from now through December 22, you can score a huge offer on the Sony Xperia 1 smartphone and save $200 at Best Buy! GO HERE to check it out!

Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

I don’t know about you, but the cooler temps and holiday season make me crave all the warm drinks! My recipe for Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider is one that you will definitely want to try! The flavors of apple, cranberry and orange are married together in one delicious drink! This would be so good served on Christmas morning with my Slow Cooker Cinnamon Roll Casserole!

Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider

INGREDIENTS:

2 Pounds of your Favorite Apples sliced into rings

1 Navel Orange Cut up into Segments

1 Cup of Whole Fresh Cranberries

7 Cups of Water

5-6 Whole Cinnamon Sticks

DIRECTIONS:

Place the Apples, Orange Segments, Cranberries and Water in the Slow Cooker. Mix together and Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Take all of the ingredients and mash together. (The smell will be amazing!)

Place the Mashed Cranberry/Apple mixture through a strainer. You may have to do this several times until the liquid is free of the mixture.

Pour the Cranberry Apple Cider Liquid into mugs and enjoy Hot or Cold! This is so delicious and a great take on the traditional Apple Cider!

Christmas Morning Slow Cooker Cinnamon Roll Casserole

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

If you are anything like my family and I, Christmas morning can be an exciting, yet busy time. I love to prepare a couple of casseroles so that we can sit around the table for a few minutes and enjoy the moment. One of the casseroles that we love is Christmas Morning Slow Cooker Cinnamon Roll Casserole. This is actually prepared in the slow cooker! It is so easy and delicious!

Christmas Morning Slow Cooker Cinnamon Roll Casserole

Ingredients:

  • 2 cans Cinnamon rolls
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream 
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • Icing from cinnamon roll packages

Directions:

  1. In a mixing bowl, pour in melted butter & cream.
  2. Crack two eggs.
  3. Add vanilla & cinnamon.
  4. Mix well.
  5. Cut each cinnamon roll into 4’s and place the pieces into the crockpot.
  6. Pour egg mixture over the cinnamon roll pieces.
  7. Place lid back onto the crockpot and cook on low for 2 1/2-3 hours. 
  8. Remove lid and drizzle with frosting.
  9. Serve & enjoy! This is also great with something savory served on the side! 

Barbie Malibu House Playset Only $41.48 shipped! (reg. $99.99)

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

If your little one has a Barbie playset on their wishlist, this is a super deal! Head on over to Amazon where the Barbie Malibu House Playset is on sale for $49.99. (reg. $99.99) But, this is part of the Buy $50 in select toys and get $10 off promotion. You will need to add a smaller filler item to reach the $50 threshold. 

Consider this scenario:

Add the Barbie Malibu House Playset for $49.99

Add a Elmer’s Washable No Run School Glue for $1.49 

Receive $10 off at checkout

Pay just $41.48 shipped!

DaySpring $5 Sale + Free Shipping on ANY Order!

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

I love it when this sale rolls around every year! Through December 17, DaySpring is offering a huge $5 sale on select mugs, journals and perpetual calendars. In addition, you can score Free Shipping on any order with promo code FREESHIP at checkout!

GO HERE to shop the $5 mugs.

GO HERE to shop the $5 books and journals.

GO HERE to shop the $5 perpetual calendars.

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

Tis’ the season for delicious treats! If you or someone that you love is Gluten Free, these Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are the perfect holiday treat!

Ingredients:

¾ cup unsalted butter, melted

1 ½ cup brown sugar, lightly packed

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups gluten free baking flour

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

½ cup red and green chocolate candies

 

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare a 9×13 baking dish by lining with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the melted butter and brown sugar. Beat until smooth.
  3. Add the eggs and vanilla extract. Beat until well combined.
  4. Add the gluten free baking flour, salt, and baking soda. Stir until just combined.
  5. Fold in the chocolate chips.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly. Top the batter with red and green chocolate candies.
  7. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  8. Allow to cool in the pan for at least two hours, then remove from pan by pulling the edges of the parchment paper out of the pan. Cut into squares before serving.

Fanatics: Save up to 65% Sitewide + Free Shipping!

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

If you need some Christmas ideas for the sports lovers on your gift list, today only, (12/9) Fanatics.com is offering up to 65% off site-wide and Free Shipping with promo code FREESHIP at checkout. There are so many great deals so be sure to take advantage of this deal!

Bath & Body Works Annual Candle Day is December 7th!

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

(photo credit: Bath & Body Works Instagram)

Get excited! This Saturday, December 7, is Bath and Body Works Annual Candle Day! It is rumored that all 3 wick candles will be on sale this year for $9.50 each. I would highly suggest that you call your local store to see if they will be opening early. (Most stores usually do) If you have coupons you can use those with this awesome sale to really sweeten the deal even more!

Be Prepared for Cold Season with the New Ricola Cool Relief Lemon Frost Drops!

This post is sponsored by Savings.com. 

Let’s face it. Cold and Flu season is here! I don’t know about you, but I like to be pro-active and have everything that I need right on hand for when the dreaded moment hits our household. Thankfully, I just picked up the new Cool Relief Lemon Frost Drops by Ricola at my local Walmart to help soothe my throat and keep my throat feeling its best. 

I love that Ricola Cool Relief Lemon Frost Drops cool your throat and nasal passages when you have a really bad cold and they have 3x the natural menthol content of Ricola Original Natural Herb Drops! This means that they provide Ricola’s strongest relief yet! They are soothing to the throat and have a pleasant burst of lemon flavor. I love to keep these in my purse, backpack and even the car. 

In addition, saving money on the products that my family and I use, especially during this busy holiday season is a huge plus! Click on the image below to save $0.50 off your next purchase of Ricola Cool Relief Lemon Frost Drops at Walmart. You can print the coupon 2 times and it is valid 12/02/19 – 02/01/20.

You can also be on the lookout for additional coupon savings on Ricola Cool Relief Lemon Frost Drops in your Valpak envelope. Be sure to look for the flyer below in your envelope with coupon savings found right on the back!

Be prepared for cold season and head to Walmart for the new Ricola Cool Relief Lemon Frost Drops today!

Explore The Alley at Belleair Bluffs!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of The Alley at Belleair Bluffs; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.  Please see my disclosure policy)

I recently had the amazing opportunity to explore The Alley at Belleair Bluffs here in the Tampa Bay area with my friend Marsha from Plate Girl. Located at 596 Indian Rocks Road in Belleair Bluffs, FL, this hidden gem is home to many cute, yet quaint stores that are filled with vintage and eclectic pieces as well as clothing and even delicious food options.

I actually visited this past Saturday, November 30, which was Shop Small Saturday. What fun it was for me as we toured some of the stores, and to hear from each owner as to how they began their business. It is evident to me that each owner really understands their business and takes pride in what they are doing! Everyone was so friendly and made me feel welcome!

We began our tour of The Alley at The Astoria Pastry Shop. This European Bakery has everything from homemade pastries to custom cakes, and they serve delicious ILLY coffee. We had the most delicious cappucinos and sweet treat that helped us get our day off to a great start! The Astoria Pastry Shop is so charming, and they offer both indoor and outdoor seating. It is the perfect stop for coffee with a friend, or you can pick up treats for the go!

Our next stop along the way was Petal and Vine Garden & Marketplace. This store offers exquisite floral arrangements, delectables and unique gifts. There are gift ideas for everyone on your gift list! I especially loved meeting Petals the Deer! This deer is a staple at Petal and Vine and they had him all decorated for the Christmas holidays! Whether you need fresh flowers, a gift for a friend, or a few new items to spruce up your space, be sure to check out Petal and Vine Garden & Marketplace!

Our next stop along the way was Victoria’s Parlour. This shop is unlike any that you have ever been to before and offers everything from paintings, jewelry, oriental rugs, buttons and so much more! The owner, Victoria, has a great love for oriental rugs. In fact, both her parents and grandparents were in the rug business! She has many photos of her family from years gone by showcasing their love of the rug business. Victoria also takes great pride in her button collection. You would not believe the collection of buttons that she has! I highly suggest that you stop by Victoria’s Parlour to see what goodies that she has to offer!

 

After Victoria’s Parlour, we headed over to Lemon Tree Vintage Market. This adorable store offers refreshed and repurposed furniture, the cutest home decor, gifts, clothing and more! I love all the cute lemon pieces! If you need a gift for that hard-to-buy for person, be sure to check out Lemon Tree Vintage Market. They offer something for everyone!

 

I thoroughly enjoyed our next visit along the way at Jewel Antique Mall. This mall houses over 10,000 square feet of antiques, collectibles and treasures from over 30 dealers! If you have been searching for that special something, chances are that Jewell Antique Mall has it!

We also stopped along the way to check out Reloved Resale Consignment and Shabby 2 Chic. If you are into vintage clothing, jewelry and shoes, then Reloved Resale Consignment is sure to be your new favorite stop! In addition, they offer new and designer items as well. I found a gorgeous Talbots Black Velvet Blazer on the clearance rack for $1! I also scored from the 50% off sale and purchased a brown leather Coldwater Creek jacket for only $12! If you have unwanted clothing and shoes, you can drop it off here and they will consign your items for you!

Shabby 2 Chic is such a wonderful store and I love their mission! They support single moms through Shepherd’s Village with all of the donations and items that they receive. They have the cutest designer clothing and shoes at unbeatable prices!

After all of the walking around, we needed a snack and drink so we headed to Belleair Market. Belleair Market is an establishment in the area and they are known for their selection of cigars, wines, Cuban sandwiches, snacks and so much more. The owners bought this an old convenience store six years ago, and it is now a favorite stop for so many in Belleair. I love how they take Cigar Boxes and repurpose them into gift boxes! They also offer homemade family meals like meatloaf and goulash for those nights you don’t have time to cook, as well as WonderRoast Fresh Rotisserie Chicken (one of the only left in the area) and fully catered meals for holidays or special gatherings. Belleair Market has it all! I had a delicious chicken salad sandwich made from their fresh rotisserie chicken and it was so delicious! 

Our last stop along the way was at Pallet Creations and More. This is the home to the She Shed and my friend Marsha’s space, Plate Girl. They offer stunning pieces of repurposed furniture, home decor, collectibles and more. Marsha’s space at Plate Girl is filled with plates, glassware and so many other collections. She definitely has an eye for finding gorgeous and unique pieces. Be sure to stop by and check out all the gift and home decor ideas!

No stop to The Alley at Belleair Bluffs is complete without a visit to Provence Art & Antiques. This space specializes in antique furniture, vintage accessories and creatively repurposed artisanal pieces. The garden out back is stunning. I felt like I was in a Hallmark Movie as everything was so lovely and quaint! The owner even grows fresh rosemary out front, and she was kind enough to give both Marsha and I some. It smells heavenly!

Some other shops that we did not have time to visit in The Alley are: Urban Nest Stationary, Orchid Interiors, Kay Keeling’s Art Adventure, Collum’s Antiques, Chloe’s Decor, Lady Angelo’s Art and Jewel Cafe. I will definitely be going back to explore these places for myself! 

Are you ready to go and check out The Alley at Belleair Bluffs for yourself? I have some exciting news! This Friday night, December 6, from 5-9pm, they are hosting a Winter Market! There will be vendors, live entertainment and holiday specials! Pile the family in the car and head over for a fun evening, and get some holiday shopping done while you are at it! Be sure to let them know that Heather from My Sweet Savings sent you!