Finds Archives - Everyday Edits

Trader Joe’s Candles

May 1, 2019

What do you think of when you hear the name Trader Joe’s? Well until last week the word candles never popped into my brain! Tulips, yes! Turbinado Chocolate Almonds, yes! But candles? So, on a recent trip to Trader Joe’s, a side-eye glance caught a tin shaped container in the cleaning supplies section: candles!

I love candles almost as much as chalkboards. I write entire posts about candles, like this one. But when summer temps are in the 90’s the last thing I want is to add more heat to the kitchen. I use this same rationale when it comes to turning on the oven during the months of July and August and most of September.

These Trader Joe’s Grapefruit scented candles smell amazing! One twist of the tin lid and the candle’s scent smelled like a fresh cut grapefruit. It turns out these candles smell great even without the flame!

One of the things I pay more attention to now is how candles are made. This grapefruit scented candle was hand poured and made with a natural coconut-soy wax blend and a lead-free cotton wick. This candle smelled like grapefruit even without the flame. It could be a room, car or athletic bag freshener if you have teenage boys (or sweaty girls like me).

Even my baby girl (daughter) loved the grapefruit scent. And, then she mentioned her best friend had bought a different fragrance. What? They make other scents? Has anyone else purchased the Trader Joe’s candles? What other scents do they have where you live? Mint anyone?

5 Unexpected Favorite Finds at HomeGoods

April 3, 2019

Some of my friends have never shopped at HomeGoods. I know, right. Like how is that even possible? Like what happened in their twenties that they never discovered the therapeutic qualities of a HomeGoods field trip? Rain, snow, sleet, hail or heat- one can always find refuge from the day or weather at a HomeGoods.

My husband and I used to keep a small book with bank checks inside. We had to manually record our purchases with a ballpoint pen. And, the weekend entries always included TJMaxx/HomeGoods and Michaels.

Some things never change!

Sharing 5 Favorite Finds at HomeGoods.

The one thing these five finds have in common is they are on my list like groceries or pantry staples.

Coffee is first on my list. I love flavored coffees with the same description you might find on candles. Some of my friends raise an eyebrow, like “you buy your coffee at Home Goods?” Why not? The coffee bags have fun packaging and names.

The coffee brands are Made in the USA and are known regionally. Sometimes the brand’s name is the reason I buy a bag of coffee. The same rationale applies to my wine purchases.

A close second on my favorite HomeGoods finds is candles. I love the hunt for a great smelling candle in a cute jar. How cute is this lantern shaped candle?

Recently, I shared an easy way to up-cycle my favorite glass candle jars.

Oh, and HomeGoods has a huge selection of Made in the USA, soy and paraffin free candles too!

five-favorite- homegoods-finds-everyday-edits

Next up on my favorite finds list are hardcover books! A friend of mine is a home stager & color consultant and she is always on the hunt for hardcover books for her coffee tables.

I found a copy of Magnolia Table by Joanna Gaines recently, for 1/2 the price.

Coffee table books are great reason to put the phone down and take a break from social media.

Here is an unexpected favorite find at HomeGoods- jams and preserves! A friend turned me on to Sarabeth’s Preserves. Again, I have a thing for labels and jars.

I love the jar of this most recent find! I just need five more Blackberry Patch jars for a set of mason jar glasses!

My final favorite find is the stationery aisle. And, not just the gift wrap section. The gift card size bags and napkins are favorites too.

Home Goods has tons of wrapping paper options and gift bags. I stock up on the cutest gift bags for gift cards. And, their greeting cards are cheap. I have the best luck with cute cocktail napkins.

Suggestion: do not hesitate to purchase those funny Halloween cocktail napkins that are well stocked in September.

That hesitation will result in plain orange napkins, instead of the snarky, sassy napkins, when you host your first annual wine & witches party.

five-favorite-finds-cocktail-napkins-Homegoods-everyday-edtis

the weekend edit

March 30, 2019

Are you ready for the weekend? Denver got a little snow overnight which means April Fool’s Day came a few days early.Good thing I have a huge to do list around the house this weekend. Let’s see how much I can get done with a Hallmark movie playing in the background. I have Love, of Course in my queue to watch. The teaser was “helicopter mom follows her daughter to college…”

So as I hover over Hallmark here a few finds around the internet...

Do you need a really good chip dip for a spring thaw cocktail party? Try this one from Michael.

This recipe reminds me of our days in Ohio.

Get a head start on an Easter dessert with this recipe.

Want to figure out how to create your own labels? Check out suggestions here.

I love finding vegan friendly recipes from Heather. Check out her peanut butter cookies with chick peas. How does she do it?

You will LOVE this remodeled playhouse? It is anything but your builder grade basic.

I shared this tip to keep porch & patio cushions dry this spring!

Weekending | Fall Finds

November 10, 2018

What a month it was around our house or maybe I should say around the globe. My son and I went here for our second annual mother-son trip. And, my husband, daughter and I JUST got back from Italy. We celebrated our daughter’s college graduation (belated) and her official CPA license! Done! And, the best part she is employed at an accounting firm. #proudparents #momofmathlete

I posted a few photos during our trip to Italy on my Instagram (would love a follow and I follow back).

Look for a few fun trip recaps once I sleep more than four hours in a row.

Below is a little video taken a few doors down from the Airbnb we stayed at in Montepulciano. Speaking of a video I am late to the Instagram stories. Any suggestions? The live story throws me off my controlled environment!

With sleep in short supply and piles of laundry, I wanted to share a few top weekend finds.

I got home from Italy and found this in my inbox from Target.

I had a few apples in the fridge and fell in love with these apple-based recipes.

Nordstrom welcomed me home with a fall sale.

I am hauling out my ladder to do something like this to my son’s wall. I am a new follower to her blog.

Finally, are you looking to clear the clutter before the turkey? Check out this list to clear those cabinets this week!

If you have a post that you would love a little more attention please email me the link and it might end up in a future Weekending post!

Ciao!

Sponge Bob to Tommy John Boxer Briefs

September 21, 2018

Do you have a high school or college age son? Do you remember his first pair of big boy underwear? When our boys mastered the “stand and shoot” stance around the big boy potty, it was a huge milestone at our house. We celebrated with a trip to Target to buy Sponge Bob underwear. And in a blink of an eye, my boys traded Blue Clues briefs for the candy cane and flip-flop print boxers.

That is one of the ways I measure the stages of my boys; in underwear.

I forgot about Spiderman and Dragon Tails underwear until Tommy John reached out to me.

I jumped at the chance to include a pair of Tommy John Go-Anywhere Boxer Brief in a college care package for my son. #mylefty

Thinking of his quizzical smile when he opened the Tommy John boxer briefs was why I wanted to talk about this popular brand.

Underwear was a practical item to include in his care package for the new school year.

I smiled knowing I would get a phone call (text) about his college’s team color boxer briefs I chose from the Tommy John website.

Sidenote: The TJ brand coincidentally includes the names of two HUGE rival schools in the St. Paul/ Minneapolis area. #tommies #johnnies.

I ordered my son this pair of boxer briefs in Blackberry Cordial to match his college and tennis team uniform colors! #tommies

Okay, I admit, its difficult to find a picture of boxer briefs without blushing.

And, Tommy John’s promise of a ” no wedgie guarantee” will make for a funny, slightly awkward conversation with my son. Of course, I could ask my son if he noticed the horizontal Quick Draw® fly for quick .. um… left-hand-friendly access? Who knew this was an issue? Tommy John knew.

Not to mention, the irony of ordering boxer briefs for an um… care package. #toomuchinformationmom #stopitmom

My son’s Tommy John boxer briefs review will be a funny conversation during Thanksgiving dinner with grandma.

Moving past the cheeky puns, my Tommy John delivery included something for me and my husband.

Tommy John does not just sell underwear.

These Dotted Pinstripe Stay-Up Socks were a hit with my husband. His schedule has him in and out of investor meetings and conference calls every day. These Stay Up Socks did their job.

Source: Tommy John

I loved this Cool-Cotton Stay Tucked Camisole for me.

Tommy John’s camisoles offer the convertible hook for flexibility for racerback tops. I went with the extra smile because it would be smoother fit under bulky sweaters.

Winter is coming to Colorado.

When I shipped my son’s care package, I included a few other things and a note explaining why I sent him Blackberry boxer briefs. #momsplaining

He called me on his way to class to thank me for the care package. He loved the Tommy John boxer briefs. It turns out he had not done laundry and appreciated the brief grace period to wash a load of laundry.

Tommy John would make a great gift under the tree or fun stocking stuffers.

Care packages are a fun surprise for our college-age kids, family members, and grandparents. I had a great time discovering the Tommy John brand and learning about the founders and a popular celebrity investor. Its a brand I can get behind! #wink

Source: Tommy John

Looking for a fun idea? Check this out!

Care Package Party

Want to host a fun party? I shared a care package party I attended with moms when my daughter left for college.

The party is simple; it starts with a USPS Priority Box and wine (in a box).

**disclosure: Product provided to me by Tommy John in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own. Please see my disclosure page for more information.

Week-Ending Fall Television Season

September 15, 2018

It’s the weekend! Thoughts and prayers are with residents and first responders in North and South Carolina. We were in Charleston last spring for a college tour. It is a beautiful part of the country.

So let’s lighten the mood with a few thoughts and finds around the internet. This week-ending is all about the fall television season. Yes, I am taking a short break from pumpkins to talk about the fall television season- the fifth season in the year.

Here’s the list of all the new television shows debuting this fall.

CBS shared their fall preview here.

I have my eye on this NBC show by Amy Poehler.

Here is an interview with one of the cast members. You may recognize him from other shows. Fun fact: at one point he was married to Rory Gilmore’s best friend, Paris.

Another Gilmore Girls’ alum has his show renewed for a second season. Here is the fall television schedule for ABC.

Speaking of the Gilmore Girls…is there talk of another season? My daughter and I binged watched the most recent one over Thanksgiving two years ago. I loved Lorelai’s coat in the winter season.

Oh, and then I found this fun article of filming mistakes that may want you to rewatch it one more time.

Source: Dayton.com

First, what new shows do you have your eye on this fall? Please share in the comments so we can all binge on the fall television shows.

ps. What do we all get with the new television season? Commercials! Here’s a fun Subaru commercial series my sister texted me about earlier this week.

Weekending Video Finds for a Sunday Smile

June 3, 2018

Hi everyone! Hope you are having a fun weekend! It’s a busy weekend at our house with boys in and out, boys learning to grill and a fun night out with friends. So on this issue of Weekending, I wanted to share a few video finds for a Sunday smile. My sister-in-law sent me this first video find. I have not seen Mila before, but apparently, this little talking toddler who has a lot to say on many subjects. In this video find she vents about those girlfriends who pull a “one-upper” in the conversation.

Video Finds for a Sunday Smile

This sassy, plenty to say pre-schooler reminds me of a younger version of this hilarious mom Whoa Susanna. This video find is her rant about the need for people to wear real pants. I think she has a podcast too! This is another video find for a Sunday smile

I couldn’t figure out why I was singing “Ring my Bellllllll… Ring my Bell.” It’s from this Walmart commercial. Are any of you singing this snappy little song for no particular reason? Here’s the video find for a Sunday smile to get you singing while loading the dishwasher.

And, let’s see more of these videos with this video find trending all week!

And, can we all agree that the best way to get a Sunday smile is to spend a little time with our pets. You can’t help to smile when you see their cute faces and wagging tales.

Cheese and Jalapeno Appetizer in Queso Emergency

May 14, 2018

Hi everyone! Spring is all about BBQ’s and drinks on the patio. And, if there are drinks I have to have a few of my go-to appetizers. Up until a few weeks ago, I had a rotation of appetizers that included cream cheese, artichokes, avocados and queso. And, then I found a cheese and jalapeno appetizer that earned a coveted spot in my appetizer queue.

Recently I found this blogger who has, well, a great blog. When I read the short ingredient list for this cheese and jalapeno recipe I knew I found a great resource for new recipes (and design ideas).

I made this cheese and jalapeno appetizer for a Cinco de Mayo party and it was a hit. It’s the type of appetizer that requires a knife to scoop and a sturdy tortilla chip or Triscuit to handle the weight of the cream cheese, sharp cheddar cheese

and the heat from the jalapeno peppers.

And as if it couldn’t get any better I found the cutest white ceramic dish at our neighborhood Bundt Shoppe. Every time I go in there to buy a dozen mini bundts I buy a little something from their expanding decor section. I bought the same dish a few weeks ago for a friend’s birthday (who shares my love of appetizers). And, then a few days ago I totally scored my own Mud Pie ceramic dish when I ran in to buy mini bundts. And, there was a Mother’s Day sale so I saved 25% off the cutest appetizer inspired dish.

I now have my own queso emergency dish and if it’s filled with jalapenos and cheese no one will know until they scrape the bottom of the dish. I think this dish is a sign to double the ingredients and host a girls night!

Cheese and Jalapeno Appetizer Recipe

Jalapeno Dip Appetizer in Queso Emergency

Author: Michael at Inspired by Charm

Ingredients

2 packages of cream cheese, softened
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
An envelope of dry ranch dressing mix
1 large red pepper, finely diced
3-5 jalapeno peppers seeded and finely diced
1 bag of chips or Triscuits

Instructions

In a medium bowl mix together the cream cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, ranch dressing mix, red pepper and jalapeno peppers.
Place dip in a dish. Serve with chips or Triscuits.

Sharing to:

Lori’s Culinary Creations

My Thrift Store Addiction

Funny Cards on a Friday

May 11, 2018

My favorite thing to do when visiting cities is to find a local gift shop. And, I always search out the funny cards. Last fall, when we were dropping our son off at college, we stopped at our favorite breakfast place in Minneapolis. And after breakfast, we popped into a local gift shop. Amongst the candles and Minnesota souvenirs, there is a corner devoted to hilarious cards. My son and I took a few photos of our favorite cards, laughing out loud while we read them to each other. We ended up buying all of them because laughing with your college-age son while reading greeting cards is priceless. Continue Reading

Weekending in April and Prom

April 7, 2018

It’s Saturday and I am missing my voice after a fun prom night with the parents of my son’s best friends. Here is one of my favorite photos of my son and one of his best friends and their dates (and my son’s date’s younger sister)! Are you following this? It was a rainy, snowy day, but the rain stopped long enough for prom photos! My son and his date are the bookends in this photo. April and Prom in Denver means a strong chance of snow, rain and cold temps! But, it did not stop the fun.

Sharing Weekending in April.

More photos later, but this is a favorite taken by my son’s date’s mom! My son and his date went as friends. Or as his older sister points out they are in the friend zone.

Here’s what I am crushing on for Weekending in April. Did I find you? Hope you have a fun weekending in April.

This has nothing to do with decor, but if you are low on Vitamin D here’s a list of foods to eat.
Do you struggle with how to decorate a bookcase? Me too. Here are a few easy ideas.
I think Michael’s blog is my new favorite blog to follow. If you visit will you say hi from me!
I love following Katie’s favorites on Friday. And, the fact she has the name “preppy” in her blog title is just an instant connection.

I got some fun news when I was contacted by Scripps-Network for this image on this project.

Target Dollar Section Finds

April 6, 2018

Well Target, you did it again. You stocked the dollar-ish section with the cutest finds for spring. The dollar section is the one department we can’t click and ship from a handheld device or tablet. Can we all agree Target is a field trip for us girls (and guys) of all ages and stages? A field trip to Target is perfect; a climate-controlled environment, clearly marked bathrooms and a Starbucks in most of the stores. And, the Target dollar section is our version of the gift shop.

To be fair, we can let the dads sign up for the annual Zoo Day field trip …three days before school gets out for summer.

After a whirlwind college trip that began in Charleston and ended in Atlanta, I needed a Target fix when we got home. And, my most recent field trip to Target did not disappoint.

Look what I found in the dollar section. I think it was $3.00 and I am kicking myself for not buying more.

It’s a fancy blush hue glass mister with gold/bronze accents. There is so much cuteness in this mister.

And, it works. Sometimes the dollar picks turn out to be “you get what you paid for”outcome. But, this Target dollar section find is sturdy with a copper/bronze, dainty handle and a pump to spray my plants (or my face). wink

It’s back! This next dollar section find is back. I bought this fedora last year and wore it all spring and summer. I received so many compliments on this $5 dollar find. And, when I shared that I bought it at Target in the dollar section I got the same response from everyone, “I love Target.” Instant connection.

And, this hat is still in great shape. With its low price it’s a great one to toss in a travel bag because if it gets lost or left behind, like my fancy flat-iron, it’s not a budget breaker.

Sidenote: The hotel found my flat-iron and shipped it back to Colorado after our trip to Scottsdale last spring.

This find was not in the dollar section, at $5.99 they were close enough. And it wouldn’t be a field trip without a visit to the Home section. I found these pretty, girl, pastel file folders. They are part of the Chip and Joanna collection and they are so pretty with their spring colors.

They might motivate to keep my desk organized.

Finally, if you want to shop Target and get free shipping with cart totals of $35.00 click for free shipping.

The links in this post contain affiliate links and I will receive a (very) small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my link.

Weekending | Daylight Savings Recovery

March 17, 2018

It’s the weekend! Did anyone have a rough Monday following daylight savings? It took me until Wednesday to feel less-exhausted than usual. Especially around 2 pm, when I needed a coffee to power through the second half of the day. The flip side of daylight savings I had a burst of energy with the extra hour of sunshine! I found myself with a surge of energy and motivation not typically seen during the winter months.

Here are a few finds that kept me awake during those mid-day slumps this week. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

My husband and I were in Dublin in November.

Here’s a Dublin find to kick off the weekending.

Looking for fun spring quotes to welcome the season? Check a few here and make your own printables.

I didn’t make a printable this week, but for a few dollars, I made this. Leave a comment and I’ll send you the details.

I am addicted to my little investment app on my phone. I attached my checking/debit card to this investment app and it automatically rounds up to the next dollar. Last year, I saved over $1000 with “roundups” from everyday expenses. Jean Chatzky has mentioned it on the Today Show. Get the details here.

Looking for a snack idea? Check out this moose munch recipe.

I am in love with this home office remodel. It looks like a commercial office space.

I love these decor tips from a popular blogger.

And, here’s my DIY on my son’s bedroom closet barn doors.

New Dining Room Hutch

March 2, 2018

One of my favorite things to read is the Pottery Barn catalog. Seriously, it takes me longer to read a Pottery Barn catalog than the latest issue of People magazine. After 30 minutes I have pages torn out or tagged for inspiration. But with tuition and mortgage payments and the startup costs with my husband’s digital health company, the catalog usually ends up in the recycle bin. But, not last month. Last month I found my new dining room hutch.

The dining room hutch on my wish list since we tore out 1/2 a wall between the dining room and kitchen.

And, the irony is I didn’t find it in the catalog, I found my new dining room hutch in a hallway next to the bathrooms at Pottery Barn with a hold tag.

So I ripped the hold tag off!

Just kidding! I did not rip the hold tag off!

But, the story doesn’t end there at the store. No, I went home and checked out the details (price) and dimensions. And that’s when, in the final hours of a Sunday evening, in the top right-hand corner of my screen was a 24-hour flash sale

with a bonus round of **FREE SHIPPING.**

Sometimes non-essential dreams do come true.

I think this is where the term angel investors originated. #wink, #snarky.

Because once the hutch was in my shopping cart I got my sign from the angel investors; the Bowery reclaimed storage hutch was back ordered.

Backordered status translates to no credit card charge until the hutch shipped from Chicago.

I had time to pay it off before it shipped.

I now refer to this as mom’s angel investor club (entirely different meaning in my husband’s vernacular).

So the best part of this new dining room hutch was that it fit perfectly in my little dining room niche AND It paid in full before it shipped.

The dining room hutch was made from reclaimed wood with rough edges and dark brass hardware. It matched the industrial vibe and the existing dining room table we found on clearance years ago at a furniture store in Denver.

I finally have a place to store the dishes after we tore out the cabinets when we removed the wall. Continue Reading

HomeGoods Sled For Next Christmas

February 8, 2018

Happy Friday Eve! We made it! And, we are in the month of February! And you know what that means? There are still a few Christmas and holiday finds to be found. This week is all about a HomeGoods sled.

A few weeks ago I shared next year’s Christmas tree here.

And, then last weekend I found this sled. And, it was love at first sight. Especially when I saw the price tag. This sled pulled at my heartstrings because it reminded me of the Island of Unwanted Toys from the Christmas classic and it’s a sled. Sidenote: Name that animated show in the comments.

This sled looked like it took a hit in aisle 7 with its boards split apart. I actually put it back on the floor when I first noticed the split boards. But, then that price tag and the whole sled thing had me circling back to it. And, with further inspection, it was nothing a staple gun couldn’t pull together. It’s like a sled lift.

My husband gets really nervous after my post-Christmas sale searches. Especially when it’s February because he knows no one else wanted these finds. But, just wait until next day after Thanksgiving. The sled and the Christmas tree are going to look amazing!

What have you found in your post-Christmas sales? How long until we refer to them as pre-Christmas sales?

The Week- Ends | Favorite Super Bowl Commercials

February 3, 2018

Are you ready for the Week-End? My son attends school near Minneapolis so he is in the middle of Superbowl 52. He got tickets to attend the college player awards tonight (I don’t know the official name). My son also happened to be at the same SuperTarget in St. Paul around the same time JT (Justin Timberlake) posted his Target trip video here. If you follow me you know I love a good commercial. I shared this favorite commercial because it has nothing to do with the product that is being promoted. So with Superbowl 52 this Week-End, I wanted to share a few of my favorite Super Bowl commercials.

Favorite Super Bowl 52 Commercials

Budweiser does it again with this commercial.

For every mom who had a child try any sport, every musical instrument, or was a part of a theater production …we all know the journey. Procter & Gamble captured the emotions… and can we all admit the songs get us too!

This is a funny Super Bowl commercial getting a lot of buzz when Alexa loses her voice.

And, I love the athlete commercials. Here is a favorite because I love the song that is paired with skating favorite Nathan Chen. It’s all about the journey.

Enjoy Super Bowl 52. Cheer responsibly. And, please share your favorite Super Bowl commercials in the comments!

The Week-Ends Finds and Ideas

January 27, 2018

Happy Weekend! It’s the weekend and my husband is on a college guys ski trip! There is so much I want to get done I can’t stand it! You see when “the hubs” is away it’s time for me to …. paint. Or to spend endless hours on Pinterest with the Hallmark Channel playing in the background. The Week-Ends finds and ideas are shared below!

THE WEEK-ENDS FINDS AND IDEAS

Do you ever wonder life was like 50 years ago? Well, you can read about it in this article.

Want to go back a little further history here’s a fun vocabulary list during the Civil War.

The Week-Ends Finds and Ideas Continues:

HGTV compiled a list of 50 things to ditch in your house now. I don’t know if I agree with all of it, but let me know what you think of the extensive list! I wrote this post about one of HGTV’s suggestions.

Here’s a great post on Spring Bulbs to get ready for the warmer days ahead!

Speaking of spring, here’s a fun herb garden to make with kids, grandkids or even a mom’s night idea. I am in love with the little alphabet stamps!

I had no idea about the uses of toothpaste! Not just for pearly whites.

Stay tuned for next Week-Ends favorite new commercials! Always a popular post! Have a great Week-End!