30th Birthday Gift Ideas for Him

30th Birthday Ideas for Him: A list of birthday gift ideas from men who were asked what they would like to receive for their 30th birthday!

30th Birthday Ideas for Him

Just a couple of years ago, I was right where you are…

What do I get my husband for his birthday!?

Before marriage it was,

What do I get my boyfriend for his birthday?

I totally get it. They can be SO hard to shop for, no matter what your relationship with them is.

Well, I wanted to put an end to all of the guessing games when it comes to 30th birthday ideas for a husband, good friend or even a brother or family member!

I polled a TON of men around the age of 30, to get to the bottom of it, and find out exactly what men really wanted for their 30th birthday. (Give/Take a few years if need be.)

One of my favorite gift ideas for him is this “I think you’re Red Hot!” Valentine’s gift “basket.” See how I made it for my hubby here for Valentine’s Day, but could be for a birthday or a “just because” gift:

For the Sports & Outdoorsman:

• Golf equipment
• Overnight trip to play at his favorite golf course with buddies. (Plan a trip with Expedia.)
• Sporting event tickets (Baseball, Football, Hockey)
• Fishing gear
• Hunting equipment
• CCW Class
• Grill
• Man-cave - Get him out of town, buy a tv or two and fix up a space just for him. When he comes back, surprise him with his friends already hanging out inside.

For the Handyman:

• Tools (Air tools)
• Large tool chest
• Tool box for truck
• Paint Sprayer
• LED Flashlight

For the Musician:

• Guitar
• Drums
• Tickets to a concert
• Keyboard/Piano

For the Professional:

• Cigars
• Necktie
• Cologne
• New pair of shoes
• Bottle of bourbon with nice glasses (Shop decanters)

For the Adventurer:

• “Escape the Box” – Check your area to see if this is offered. He can take some friends, get locked in a room with a one hour timer, and have to find all the clues to get out before the hour’s up.
• “Drive a Tank” – A place where he can drive a tank, and plow over cars, houses, and operate machines.
• A Mexico vacation – See what I did for my husband’s 30th birthday, with all of the little surprises along the way!

For Any Man:

• Favorite Cake (Cheesecake, Ice Cream Cake, or favorite flavor)
• Money to spend on himself
• Full body massage (Extra special from wife or girlfriend, but spa is nice too!)  If it will be from you, make sure you read up on the post I wrote, Preparing for a Romantic Weekend away with your Husband. You may just find a few tips for yourself in there!

I so hope you found a few gift ideas for the man in your life! It was so nice hearing from men, what they’d actually want for a gift for their birthday. I was completely shocked at how many actually spilled the beans. But that’s good news for us! Woot!

What to do when your husband doesn’t come home: Ways to wrap your mind around what’s going on, and the action steps that can help during a tough situation!

What to do When Your Husband Doesn’t Come Home

After writing How to Make Your Husband Want to Come Home, I’ve found so many readers stumbling upon it, looking for ways to encourage their husbands to come back home when they’ve left… after an argument.

Now, since that post is really geared towards ways to show your husband “love,” to make them excited to come back home at the end of the day, I’ve wanted to create this post for those looking for help that may be going through a tough situation with their husband at this very moment.

You May Also Love This Marriage Talk:

• 29 Tips on How to Be a Good Wife
• How to Respect Your Husband

DISCLAIMER: Although I’m no expert, and not a therapist or marriage counselor, I do love to share what I’ve learned through experience within my own marriage, and through individual AND marriage counseling. As I always recommend, seeking counsel with a professional can be one of the most beneficial things you can do in your life. Especially when you’re going through a tough time. It can not only help YOU with YOUR feelings and emotions, it can help you gain a new perspective on what may be going on with those around you who you love.

What to do When Your Husband Doesn’t Come Home

Now when I say “What to do when your husband doesn’t come home,” I’m not talking about if he said he was on his way home from work, and it’s been an hour and still hasn’t arrived.

I’m talking about the times that he is temporarily staying somewhere else, expressing that he just needs some time away, and/or you’ve noticed that he’s been avoiding coming/staying at home with you and perhaps your family.

Also read: If Your Husband Cheats and How to Make it Through

Confront the Issue

In times of struggle, or in states of confusion, confronting the actual issue can be a hard task. Letting the emotions and feelings that we are currently experiencing, can quickly overrule any logical thinking that SHOULD be taking place. But I really, really, encourage you to tell your emotions to shut the heck up, so you can think for a minute.

• What could be the actual issue at hand?
• Was there an argument that took place?
• Was there a traumatic circumstance in his life lately?
• Have you noticed he hasn’t been affectionate as much?

Start with confronting the issue, so action steps and discussion can start with the right foundation.

Sometimes we can let our emotions get to us, and we just start spit firing what we think at each other, rather than dealing with the real issue at hand. The real issue then may never come up, or other damage will be done before even getting to the current issue.

Give Him Time. Don’t Force Him.

Could he not want to come home because he just needs some time? Maybe he has no intention of leaving for good. Is it possible that he’s the type of guy that never makes time for himself, rarely hangs out with buddies, and always puts his needs on the back burner?

I know good and well the kind of mental state that I’m in if I don’t make time for myself, or have been ignoring needs that I have.

So it could be possible that he just needs some time, and if that’s the case, forcing him to give up that time can just make the problem snowball for an even bigger disaster. Giving him much needed time may be something that he’s longing for.

Ego Can be a Nasty Thing

Whew. This one has been a tough one on me. Perhaps it’s because I struggled with this one so much. I don’t know about you, but I always had to “Be right.” I had to “be right” in every argument we ever had in our marriage, and I had to do/say what I could to make him realize that I was right.

It even went so deep that I wasn’t even aware of the fact that I always had to be right. It was as if he was automatically wrong with everything he said/did, and it was a challenge to make him apologize for it.

The thought of “Well maybe we’re both in the wrong” never came up. It was always, “He’s wrong. I’m right. And even if he IS right, I won’t admit it, because that would be weak. It would mean losing the argument, and losing my upper hand at any future argument.” (I told you ego could be nasty. I lived it.)

When it comes to your husband being gone, and not wanting to come home, don’t let the ego win. Confront the issue at hand (Step #1), and tell your ego to shut up.

If that ego blocks anything that he has to tell you, it will take THAT much longer to get where you really want to be. (Where your preferred outcome rests.)

Pick up the Phone. Don’t Text

Look, I totally get it. I’m a texter, and it’s how my husband and I communicate by phone 95% of the time. But when we’ve been in the middle of an argument, or have been through a rough patch, and have tried to have conversation… texting has caused more damage than good.

The emotion and tone are completely gone from the text. Words can be turned around in ways that you or he, never intended. (i.e. Making the existing problem an even bigger one.)

Pick up the phone and talk. If he refuses to talk, and you have time-sensitive questions that need answers, keep your text short, clear as can be, and to the point. But the “blame game,” explanation and detailed conversations are best heard instead of seen.

Tip: Before you talk on the phone, make notes of what you’d like to talk about. Usually, when the conversation gets going, the emotion can be so strong that you forget important details you may want to discuss.

Don’t Assume it’s You That Did Something or it’s You That Needs to be the Only Thing to Change

After reading those first few tips, I can hear some of you saying, “Crap. It was my fault. It was all me. I shouldn’t have jumped past the issue at hand. The ego stood in front of my rational thinking. I shouldn’t have texted him.” Please, please don’t take it this way.

Did you know that whatever may be keeping him away from home may be something HE’s going through?

Don’t assume that it is your fault. Don’t assume that you are the only one who should “fix it”.

There may be something going on in him that he doesn’t even know how to communicate or explain to you.

Ready for this, and to think even deeper??? HE may not even be aware of what’s going on with himself, and what’s keeping him away from home. We all know the saying of what “assume” means. So assuming that it’s you can cause unnecessary wear and tear on yourself.

So what can you do if you’re not sure what’s going on?

After moving past assuming that it’s you being the problem, take a look through his eyes.

• Is there something that’s not right at home?
• Has work been stressful for him?
• Is there something that he’s briefly mentioned that could be the cause of him not wanting to come home?

Sit down, and grab a clear picture of what’s not right. Make notes of behaviors and actions that you’ve noticed lately.

• Is he complacent/displaced?
• Is he in a crisis?
• Could these items have been a result of a certain activity that took place?

Look at the big picture and make note of anything that sparks a question, so you can be aware of what’s actually happening.

Question Everything

I don’t mean question him with everything. Question everything that you’ve noticed and made note of.

Look, if you’ve found your way to this article because you Googled “What to do When Your Husband Doesn’t Come Home,” I can almost bet that you love him, dearly. Right? Because if you didn’t… you probably wouldn’t mind that he’s not coming home right now.

Questioning everything can that’s going on can help you have a better understanding of what may be going on.

Questioning everything may even help protect him/you/your marriage early before it gets too carried away. It may help make you aware of what’s really going on, and how to move forward in the right direction.

Should YOU Fix This?

I don’t think there have been truer words spoken to me that have given me a “Woah” moment like this one…

You can’t make anyone do anything, and you can’t keep them from themselves. But you can fix YOU.

Read that a couple of times to really let that sink in. I’ll admit, the first 20 times I heard my husband and therapist say this, I let it roll right off of my shoulder. It just wouldn’t “click,” for me. Then one day, it did. For YEARS, I’ve wanted to “fix” him. I wanted to prove that I was right. So I spent so much energy and emotion thinking, “If he would just ‘X,’ this would be so much better.” If ‘X’ would just happen for us, life would be so much easier.”

But the moment that I realized working on myself would produce WAY better results (and faster results), I started down that path. Why is it better and faster? Because again, you can’t make anyone do anything, and you can’t keep them from themselves.

But you can fix YOU. You can seek counsel. You can train your brain to focus on the reality of a situation, instead of letting the emotions and feelings overrule.

Wrap-Up

Were you looking for a list of physical action items that would miraculously make your husband come home? Things like: Dress sexy, make his favorite cookies or plan a romantic weekend away with him?

Well I’m not saying you shouldn’t do those things. But I did want to touch on an even deeper level that may last a lot longer than cookies and a sexy outfit.

Again, I’m no therapist, but rather someone that’s learning through life as I go. After marrying my high school sweetheart, we’ve had the privilege of “growing up together,” and experiencing life’s ups and downs. With the blessing of someone telling us early on that seeking counsel can make a major impact on our lives, we’ve been able to take tough times by the reins (with guidance) and take one step at a time. We’re still learning, and will continue to learn. But I hope from our experiences, you can find a bit of encouragement in whatever it may be that you’re going through right now.

This post brought to you by The Clorox Company. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Fantabulosity. 4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom: The areas that can get overlooked in the bathroom that traps that pesky smell, and how to get rid of it!

I have two little boys home. So I, along with many others in this world I’m sure, am VERY familiar with the urine smell in the bathroom. Before kiddos, I never really knew what moms meant when they said, things like, “The bathroom just always smells! Just wait Jessica… just wait.”

I’d smile and secretly roll my eyes to the ignorance of what they were talking about. Two little boys, and 5 years in to parenthood… now I’M the mom saying, “Just wait dear, just wait.” But I’m tickled to death to share how we finally CONQUERED the urine smell in our bathrooms here at home!

How to get rid of the urine smell in the bathroom…

After having a normal recap-of-the-day conversation with my husband one day, I mentioned that I was flabbergasted with the bathroom smell. I had spent HOURS in the boys bathroom that day, trying to clean everything that I could think of, to get rid of the urine smell from my potty trained (But yet not the best with “aim,”) little boys.

He said, “Well have you tried “X,” “X,” and “X?” I must have looked at him like a deer in headlights with a whole new level of excitement. My husband may have helped me finally conquer the urine smell.

I immediately ran in to the bathroom, did what he suggested, and I kid you not… the urine smell was GONE!
Months. MONTHS!! I spent trying to get rid of that “smell,” in the bathroom. My husband is officially  genius. (Don’t tell him I said that.)  So now, I’m sharing with you what finally worked!

4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom

First and foremost, I have to say I also tackled these sneaky hiding places in the bathroom with the new Scentiva by Clorox.  Guys…have you smelled this!? One of my friends came over the other day after my recent shopping trip to Target, and saw my Scentiva “haul,” of the spray and wipes, and I had to admit that I’m in love, and had to stock up. I had her smell both scents, (Tuscan Lavender and Jasmine & Hawaiian Sunshine) and she went to the store later and bought it too. When I clean with this, the amazing smell lingers for hours. I ADORE using this in the bathroom to help make it smell delightful, PLUS is has the power of Clorox clean, (Kills 99.9% of Viruses & Bacteria, Cleans, Disinfects and Deodorizes) so it’s a win-win.

1. Remove the toilet seat lid:

My husband has been building homes for years, so he will fill me in on tricks of the trade from time to time with household fixtures, and this is one of them. I had NO idea that the toilet seat would pop off so easily, and that this was a HUGE culprit of the bathroom smelling so awful.

Disclaimer: In this post, I show you a video and photos that you may not want to see if you have a weak stomach. But I feel like I MUST share it with you, so you can see what you may be missing in your very own bathroom.

See the hinge that I’m grabbing on to there? If you have a newer toilet, you may be able to just turn and twist this to unlock it. Then, when unlocked, grab the toilet seat and pull the toilet seat up, and off.

EW! Do you see that? It’s the hidden spot that I can’t get to, when I’m performing a normal cleaning operation! The urine will sneak in the crevices and just sit there, collecting.

So I grabbed a Scentiva wipe and went to town, cleaning away! When finished wiping away, simply lay the toilet seat back down, (don’t forget to wipe down the underside of the toilet seat too), and lock back in to place.
If you have an older toilet, you may have to use a screwdriver to remove the lid. 

2. Wipe Down Surrounding Furniture

When little boys are in the bathroom, (at least my little boys) they can get curious and start looking around, not really paying attention to what’s going on. So this means that at times, they can splatter and the urine will end up splashing on the items located around the toilet. The side of the vanity, the side of the bathtub, etc. The moment that I realized that I couldn’t see the urine spatter on the tub or vanity, but that it existed… changed my whole perception of cleaning. Wipe it down, even if you don’t see it!

3. Wipe the Floor

I know how much work it can be to get out the mop, and fill the bucket full of soapy water. So I usually keep the Scentiva spray and wipes, underneath the sink, and when quickly running through the bathroom for quick cleanup, I’ll wipe the floor around the toilet. Like mentioning earlier, urine can go EVERYWHERE,  and the floor around the toilet is no exception. A quick wipe down can help prevent the urine smell. This way, you won’t have to wait until it’s time to mop again.

4. Remove the Rug

 I’ve always wanted a rug in my bathroom, because it makes it feel a bit cozy. But hear me when I say, it will be one of the sneaky spots that the urine smell will hide. If you must have a rug, (like I like to have when my kiddos get out of the bath, but sometimes forget to remove it), I toss it in the washing machine. So my advice is to get rid of the rug, or wash it regularly for sure!

So happy you stopped by! I hope you found these 4 tips helpful for getting rid of the urine smell in your bathroom!

Our Home Tour:

Now that you’ve seen the most disgusting part of our home, come take a gander at the rest on our Home Tour. I promise, no more pictures of urine on the toilet. 😉

At Home Date Night Ideas: Date night ideas at home that are easy, romantic, and budget-friendly. It’s the perfect list of ideas for when a date night is needed but you don’t want to leave the house.

My husband and I try to have a date night at least once a week.

But sometimes life gets in the way and we can’t squeeze a date night in. BUT… for the times that we can, and when we prefer to stay at home… creating a “theme,” to the night, can add a little spark to the evening. Plus, keeping things at home, can REALLY help with making date nights budget-friendly. (A major perk, if you ask me!)

(If we don’t, the default method of our date night at home is: “Take-Out, movie on Netflix, and I’m asleep on the couch in 30 minutes.)

So what themes do we have up our sleeve? Well let me share those with you, in case you’re looking for a few thought starters for a date night at home too.

But first, if you haven’t read Tips for a Romantic Weekend with your Husband,” you may want to. Although “date night,” may not be a “weekend,” you may find some helpful and “ahem,” personal tips in there that may help.

Make your Own Hotel Suite

One of my FAVORITE date night’s away from home involves staying at a hotel. There’s something about the fresh crisp linens, snacks/beverages nearby, and a relaxing atmosphere of lounging and tv binge watching.

When the budget is tight, or you don’t feel like going out, creating your own hotel suite may be something that you two would love.

Fluff up the pillows and blankets, place a tray of snacks and drinks nearby, and settle in for the night. Still hungry? Have a pizza delivered. One of our favorite things to do is to have a pizza delivered from a new pizza restaurant nearby.

Want to take it another step further? Know how the hotel rooms are pitch black and you wake up in the morning, not even sure what time it is? Throw thick blankets over your bedroom windows to block out any light in the morning. Sleep in and really get the feel of a hotel room!

Massage/Spa Night at Home

I really can’t think of anyone that wouldn’t love this date night idea at home. A massage/spa night? Count me in, and you can count my husband in. Even if “physical touch,” isn’t your love language, a nice romantic massage given to you by your other half, may just be what you need after a long week.

Now you can play it low-key and just say that you’re going to give each other massages on date night, or you can go all out…

Create a “massage station,” per say, and fill a tray/table with massage oils & lotions, eye mask, and warm towels. You can even play a little relaxing music to really set the scene.

Now this doesn’t have to be a one-sided affair. You can both switch, and give each other a massage. Ladies, there are two ways you can look at this type of date night at home. 1. You can offer to massage him first, so you can relax after your massage, instead of having to get up after yours and get to work, giving him one. OR 2. You get your massage first, and he’ll probably get so wrapped up in massaging you, that it may lead to something else, and he may forget all about how you’re supposed to give him a massage. 😉

Date Morning

Sometimes switching things up from the norm, can add excitement to an occasion in itself. Instead of the standard “date night,” try reversing date night, and have a date in the morning.

Perhaps a babysitter would be easier to find in the morning, than a Saturday night? Or maybe the kids stayed at a friends house so you could go to an event with friends the night before, and you don’t have to pick them up until the afternoon?

A relaxed morning together, making breakfast, drinking coffee, or good heavens… just staying in bed all morning, cuddled up watching movies or your favorite tv series on the DVR that you need to catch up on. Date “nights,” can easily be filled with the high-maintenance expectations, but a relaxed-easy going morning may be just what the “date” doctor ordered.

Pallet Party

It sounds like something you’d hear on a “kids activities,” blog post, but you read that right. It’s a date night at home theme, that’s sure to please! It won’t take much.

Place a blanket (fuzzy is my favorite) on the floor, and line it with a row of pillows (a LOT). Make it look cozy from the start. Turn the lights down low, light a few candles, and turn that tv OFF. You can start out by having a picnic on your pallet with dinner, or just have it cozy and ready for when you finish dinner.

Turning the tv off will force that conversation, and more than likely… will lead to a little something else. Because let’s face it, if you’ve been together a while, you may not have much to talk about, unless it involves the kids or work. So silence + no distractions + nothing to say = every man’s next move.

Make a Date Jar

This is such a fun, and exciting way to keep the “spark” in date night! See how to make your own Date Night Jar and what that means!

Q&A

I’m a sucker for listening/watching Q&A’s when it comes to people that I admire. So when trying to think of new date night ideas, I thought, “Well why wouldn’t a Q&A session between the two of us be interesting, informative, and fun?!”

Even though we’ve been together 18 years, would you believe there are still things that I don’t know about him? (Or, have forgotten perhaps?) This could very well be the case with you two, as well.

My favorite thing to do is to compile at least 10 questions that I want to ask him, a couple of days before the scheduled “date night.” He will do the same, and then on date night, we take turns asking each other those questions. It’s incredibly fun, hilarious, and you may just learn something new about one another.

Need question inspiration?

• What was your favorite thing to do as a kid?

• If you only had one more day to live, what would you do, and be specific!

• If you could hang out with someone for a day, (dead/alive/famous/etc.) who would it be, and what would you want to do?

Backyard Romantic Dinner for Two

I’m not sure what it is, about dining outside. Whether we are at a restaurant, or on the beach in Mexico, there’s something about that outdoor atmosphere that gets me going. So when we’re looking for a date night at home, an easy, out of the ordinary backyard dinner, is JUST what we need.

Feel free to make it super easy, grab some takeout, and mosey outside on the back porch or patio. Or, if you’re really wanting to “snazz,” it up a bit… grab a table, candles, glassware, and prepare an oven baked steak dinner for two, and enjoy it outside together. The sounds of nature/city life is sure to spark romance and dinner conversation, a lot more than eating pizza on the couch would.

Unplugged Wine & Cheese Tasting

Although you don’t have to make sure it’s a cheese board, with a side of wine to have an “unplugged,” date night, I thought it would be a nice (fancy-schmancy) snack to chat over. But feel free to have any snack/meal/appetizer you wish. Being in the line of work that my husband is in, he’s “on-call,” 24 hours a day.

He owns his own business, and although he’s intentional about work time/home time, his phone can still be a distraction. MY phone can even be a distraction with all sorts of beeps and notifications too. So having an “unplugged,” date night, can really help us be intentional with conversation, and experience fewer distractions. Turn those phones off, or stick them in the back room.

Cooking for Two

Talking with my friend the other day, she mentioned how she and her husband LOVE to cook together on date nights. They send the kids to Grandma’s for the night, and they get creative in the kitchen. But what I love so much about this, is that they don’t make just plain ole spaghetti. They experiment with a whole new recipe. This way, the romance carries on into the “dining,” portion of their date night, and creates more conversation. The good, the bad, what they’d change about the dish next time, and so on.

My favorite part? If they create a dish that they love, when they make it again in the future, it will bring back all of those date night memories. And who knows… it may be referred to as “The Date Night,” dish. 🙂

What is YOUR Favorite Date Night Activity at Home?

Of course there is nothing wrong with lounging on the couch, watching another episode of your favorite show on Netflix with your main squeeze. But in case you’re looking for a little something “extra,” those are our favorite “out of the box,” date night ideas. I hope they inspire you!

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

DIY Housewarming Gift Basket: A bright and cheery basket filled with goodies that anyone moving in to a new home will love!

DIY Housewarming Gift Basket

It’s Spring, and that means if I can cram as much pastel and bright, beautiful colors in to just about everything I wear, create, and cook… then I’m a happy girl.

Recently, we had friends move in to a new home, and I wanted to make them a gift basket of goodies to help celebrate the big move, and that could hopefully help them until they unpack everything.

When I went to Walmart to find the goodies to build the basket with, I found the prettiest bottles of Purex® Crystals, and KNEW they’d look adorable in the gift with their bright colors! Plus, it would be a perfect item to help our friends with laundry in case they hadn’t quite unpacked their laundry supplies yet!

Gift Basket Building Tips:

If you haven’t been around here very long, then you may not know my obsession with making DIY gift baskets, when it comes to gift-giving. They just seem so personal, and full of thought. So in most of my other DIY gift basket tutorials, I explain how my two main techniques for making a gift basket look great, is:

Say “NO” to Tissue Paper:

• Using something other than tissue paper, for the fluff. Of course it’s ok anytime to use it. I just prefer to use something else if it’s going to be visible. Now, I do shove it down inside a basket to give it some “umph,” if you can’t see it. But using something like dishtowels or baby blankets, work great! Plus, it adds to the gift!

Trash the Trash:

• Take items out of the “boxey,” boring, packaging that it comes in, and remove the tags. Removing the “store-bought,” look of items can really add a “cleaner,” touch to the gift basket. But when the packaging is as adorable and decorative like the Purex Crystals… leave it! I think these made the gift basket POP with color.

A Little Decor:

As part of the housewarming gift, it’s always really nice to add a small element of “home decor.” Being able to put something decorative out in their new home, right away, can be JUST what a corner or shelf needs to make it feel homey, until they get all unpacked. Items like a small floral accent, (something seasonal, or neutral, so odds are it will fit the decor theme they’re going with) are a great choice.

Incorporate Multiple Rooms

Well this little colander, spatula, candle and soap could be it’s own little housewarming gift if you ask me. But when making a gift basket full of all kinds of items, adding in a few items for different rooms of the home, like the kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, living, etc. is always a good move.

Plus, who wouldn’t love a mini colander, and an adorable little spatula? 

Adding Flair…

Sure, items in a gift basket are cute anyway. But when you can add things like ribbon around some of the items to add a little flair… it can make it THAT much cuter. Here, we simply wrapped a ribbon around the candle to give it a little more pop of color.

In the back corner, we tucked a bottle of hand lotion that they can keep in their bathroom on the sink, for guests visiting to see the new home. Functional, AND pretty!

Basket Buying:

Then of course shopping for the basket that you put it all in, can be just as fun as finding the items to put in it. But here’s my basket-buying tip: Buy a basket or container that has open sides like this one. That way, the recipient can see right in to the basket, and not have to dig through to see what’s in there!

Making sure the items are visible right away, when you hand it to them, can add such a “wow,” factor to the overall gift!

If you love making gift baskets as much as I do, then you may want to see the other gifts I’ve created for friends and family recently:

Other Gift Ideas

As part of the Martha Stewart “Make it Martha” program, I received complimentary products to make this DIY craft. Thank you Martha!

DIY Stencil Drink Serving Tray: Using Martha Stewart’s new line of paints, we created the cutest flamingo serving tray for summer entertaining! 

DIY Drink Serving Tray

Since my childhood, I’ve been so infatuated with the creativity of Martha Stewart. She totally encompasses everything I love: DIY, cooking, home decor, flowers, and so much more. So I’m sure you can guess how I did cartwheels when I received the invitation to work with the “Make it Martha” program for Martha Stewart.

I may have jumped up and down, done a twirl, and left my husband saying “Uh, what’s going on, and why are you acting like that?” 

Here’s a peek at some of the Martha Stewart goodies that I’ve received. I canNOT wait to get to crafting a ton of DIY projects with the new line of paints and paint tools at Michaels!

DIY Stencil Drink Serving Tray Tutorial

The first craft I wanted to tackle was this drink serving tray. When the idea came to me, I knew EXACTLY where I was headed. To the FERGUSON FARM. My momma is the ultimate crafter, and she knows her way around a stencil or two. She was a huge help making this project!

This DIY tutorial was incredibly easy, since I was able to use the new adhesive stencils. Have you used these!? Oh my goodness. The adhesive helps so much with any potential paint leakage, and prevents the stencil from moving around while painting. These were MADE for people like me!

To get started, we used the following:

• White platter/tray

• Martha Stewart Crafts® Soft Gel Watercolor Paint, Pink Dahlia color

• Martha Stewart Crafts® large stencil brush set

• Martha Stewart Crafts® Adhesive Laser-Cut Stencil

• Painter’s tape

• Paper towel

• Paper plate

Peel the stencil from the adhesive paper, and place the stencil where you’d like it on the tray. We preferred it centered on ours.

Next, disburse a small amount of paint (a small amount will go a long way) on to a paper plate.

Dab the stencil brush gently into the paint, and blot it on a paper towel, twirling in a circular motion, pushing the paint up into the stencil brush.

Next, dab the brush onto the stencil, covering the stencil cut-out. Repeat the process until your craft has reached the desired look.

When you’ve finished painting the stencil cut-out, remove the stencil very carefully.

When the paint dries, it’s ready to use!

NOTE: Paint is not dishwasher or food safe!

After crafting, the boys took a break from playing in the bubbles and mud, and thought they needed to partake in my little lemonade party.

Martha Stewart Crafts® Line at Michaels

You can find all of the Martha Stewart Crafts® at Michaels.com, that I used on this DIY project here:

Pink Dahlia Martha Stewart Crafts® Watercolor Paint

Martha Stewart Crafts® Adhesive Laser-Cut Stencil, Flamingo

Martha Stewart Crafts® Stencil Brush Set, Large

Thank you!

Thank you so much for coming by! I’d LOVE to hear what you plan to stencil on your drink serving tray! Let me know below in the comments!

Home Tour Part 18 - Craftsman Home Patio Reveal: It’s an outdoor oasis surrounded by white patio curtains, with a white cushion sectional from our craftsman style home.

Craftsman Home Patio Reveal

I featured our “old” patio in our home tour a couple of years ago (see our other patio decorating ideas), and it has been a YEAR from the moment I started thinking about a new patio look, and I’m happy to say that I finally have it how I’ve wanted it. There have been incredible hurdles through this process, and the crazy part is… there’s really not much to it.

I mean, new furniture and some patio curtains. How hard can that be, right?! Well oh my goodness. This patio project quickly turned into a story similar to the storyline in the movie The Money Pit. Although I didn’t spend a lot of money on this project, it seemed as if everything kept going wrong from the start. I’d get one item figured out, and then something else would go wrong.

It definitely wasn’t as easy as the front porch of our craftsman home.

First the Furniture…

I originally ordered the new sectional to have for my Favorite Things Party, but the original seating set that I ordered never made it. (Lost in shipping.) Then after reordering, it went on back order for a few months. When I finally received it, the cushions were gray instead of white, and the furniture was black instead of brown. I kind of went a bit crazy during this time, but I must say that after about 5 months of back and forth… Wayfair sent me the white cushions, and I decided to just live with the wrong color of furniture. So, needless to say, THIS is why my patio wasn’t complete and ready to reveal last season.

Then the Patio Curtains…

I LOOOOOVE my patio curtains. (I talked about them a lot in the post about how to make DIY Patio Curtain Tie Backs) But our house is up on a hill, and the back patio can take a big gust of wind like nobody’s business. So through a bit of trial and error, I think we finally have these babies hung on hooks that can take a tornado. Bring it, mother nature!

You can buy the same patio curtains!

You can also buy the outdoor curtain rods!

Plus, get my DIY tutorial curtain tie-backs that I made for these, for under $5.00!

But I’m In Love…

Even though it has been a bit of a struggle here and there, I’m happy to say that the patio is now a place I refer to as my oasis. It’s simple and it’s relaxing.

Video Tour

Along with the photos that you’ll see below, I’ve created a quick video tour on my YouTube channel to give you an up-close visual experience too!

I’ve included links to similar furniture pieces at the end of this post, in case you’re in the market for your own patio too!

White Cushions? She-Crazy!

When shopping for a new sectional for the back patio, I knew I wanted white-white cushions. My friends thought I was crazy, and STILL think I’m crazy to have white cushions with two messy little boys at home. But I wanted to take the risk, and I’m happy to say that a year later… I’m still happy with the decision.

Scotchgard has been my best friend, and bleach and OxyClean have also been a swell thing to have on hand.

Yellow Throw Pillows

With dark brown (almost black) furniture, and white cushions and patio curtains, I had the hardest time deciding on a pillow color. But when I stopped in at World Market the other day, they had their outdoor pillows on sale and the yellow caught my eye. I’m still not 100% sure I’m going to stick with yellow, but they’ll work for now. I’ll be honest, I’m keeping my eye out for some pale pink pillows, and will just hope that my hubby doesn’t notice them. 

Floral Touch

I’m a sucker for a green plant on my patio. I’m not much of a green-thumb, so if it’s a plant that can take care of itself, that’s even better. I snagged this one at Lowe’s the day I took these photos, and my poor little flower died the next day. Looks like succulents are in my future.

Or Fake Grass…

Better than succulents, is FAKE greenery. It may not look the best, but it at least adds a pop of color and can withstand that wind and nasty weather that may come about.

I put this arrangement on my dining table. I love having this table and chairs out for when the kiddos want to eat outside or when we have people over for a cookout.

My Happy Place

The back patio is definitely my happy place. Feel free to virtually come over anytime! You’ll more than likely find me out here (yes, I’m sitting out here typing this now) if the weather is above 60 degrees here.

Sectional Details

Sectional seen here against the wall, but with gray cushions: Magari 4 Piece Deep Seating Group

Similar sectional with white cushions: Outsunny Rattan Wicker 7 pc Sectional

Similar sectional with white cushions: Varick Gallery Camron Lounge Seating Group

4-Piece Seating Group Details

Similar 4-piece seating set with gray cushions: Varick Gallery Ferreira Deep Seating Group

Similar 4-piece seating set with beige cushions: Overstock – Costway 4 Pcs Outdoor Seating Set

Similar seating set with white (or they look white) cushions: Best Choice Sectional

Tour the Other Rooms in Our Home:

Part 1: The Exterior

Part 2: The Master Bedroom

Part 3:  The Master Bath

Part 4: The Kitchen

Part 5: The Playroom

Part 6: The Guest Bath

Part 7: The Pantry

Part 8: The Patio/Deck

Part 9: The Nursery

Part 10: *Old* The Office/Craft Room

Part 11: Big Boy Room

Part 12: The NEW Nursery

Part 13: The Dining Room/Foyer

Part 14: The Guest Bedroom

Part 15: The Living Room

Part 16: New Office Reveal

Part 17:  Garage 

This post has been sitting in my drafts since July of 2017 and I never published it because it didn’t feel right. I couldn’t explain why at the time, why I didn’t put it out for the world to see… but looking back now, in 2020, I totally get it. It kind of goes hand in hand with my “God, I’m exhausted and I’m done trying to fix it” post.

It wasn’t the right time because I wasn’t the same person back then as I am now and it would have been published for the wrong reasons.

It was written with a whole different mindset than I have now and I’m so incredibly thankful to be aware of this.

However, I felt it is appropriate to publish now because although it has the same words… it has a new meaning. I’ll explain more below.

So What Was the Wrong Reason for Writing This Letter in 2017?

I wrote this originally as an apology to my friends (or who I thought were my friends – but more to come on that later) in hopes that they’d forgive me for not being the Jessica that they were used to…a redeemed chronic people pleaser here.

I even had an editor look over the blog post back in 2017 to make sure it was written “ok” and that it wouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings when I published it.

Now don’t get me wrong… I’m all about doing things for your friends and being there for them and being a kind person… and not being someone to hurt others.

But that’s not what this letter was about. This post that I wrote was about making sure I still looked “good” to them and so they (hopefully) wouldn’t talk bad about me behind my back anymore… since I had supposedly “changed”.

So with that said, let’s dive in to my 2017 post and then at the end, I’ll share more about what I’ve discovered since and I’d LOVE to hear from you how you can relate.

2017 – Post/Letter to my Friends

You could put my face on a milk carton.  When it comes to describing my current stage of life in regards to my friendships with even my closest of gal pals… you can say “I’ve gone missing.” I promise it’s not an act of being unkind. It’s a season.

This Season of Life is Full

I’m in my thirties, a mom of two littles, and my oldest is getting ready to start kindergarten.  The closer it gets to August. The pit in my stomach gets bigger and bigger, thinking about how our days are limited of when we can come and go as we please on any day of the week. I find myself spending countless hours each day, trying to diminish the pit by squeezing in as much play, and laid back activities as we can before the next stage of life hits.

For the last year or so, my husband and I have been so incredibly dedicated, focusing on reaching a level of connection that some marriages unfortunately never reach.  We attend marriage counseling once a week to set aside dedicated time to discuss important topics and to build a state of love and respect for one another that we never realized we could reach.

I’m a working momma, running my own business at home.  Emails, deadlines, hand-on creative projects for brands, and dreams of my own that I’m working towards fulfilling.

I’m a major advocate of spending time with friends.  The connections, closeness, and relatability that can come from girl time is so good for the soul.

But lately, I’ve been silent with texts and checking in. I’ve missed birthday parties. I’ve fallen short on planning that girls dinner that I’ve been saying I want to have for weeks now. I’ve slacked on planning the annual girls night party in my home. (And other ridiculous things we women tell ourselves that defines “being a good friend.” But more on that at a later date.)

Owning the Season

So if I feel so strongly about the importance of girl time, why do my friends probably think I’ve gone missing?

Because I’ve decided to take the reigns of my current season of life and control how I fill each and every day:

— I’m being intentional about spending time at home with my “babies” before sending them out the door with a backpack.

— I’m taking advantage of every moment to nurture my marriage.

— I’m wrapping my arms around every incredible opportunity coming my way, to grow and improve my business.

After being able to put my current state of mind in to words, I couldn’t help but journal my feelings about my absence, in a letter to my friends…

A Letter To My Friends:

Dear Friends,

I’m so sorry I’ve gone missing.  It’s not anything you’ve done.  It’s something I have done.  You’d be so proud of me, really. I’ve taken the reigns on items in my life that are priceless and that long for my attention.

Unscheduled days of fun with my kids before school starts; Intentional time to work on my marriage to reach a deep connection that I never knew could exist; and capturing a turning point in my business that could be something incredible for my family.

This doesn’t mean that you’re not important to me. You’re so very important to me. I cherish our friendship, deep heartfelt chats, and hilarious stories when we spend time together.  So please don’t take my absence as a hidden message of some horrible meaning or change of heart.  Please understand that this is good.  When I spend time focusing on the items that can benefit from my dedicated attention, you’ll see the love overflow in to the other areas of my life and flourish beyond measure. Know that I adore pollinating our friendship when I’m fueled on this end.

It’s a season, and I can’t wait to be there for you when you go through a season.

Signed,

Your friend that’s still here…”

Who’s There on the Flipside

So although my friends are incredibly important to me, it’s a season. It’s a season in life that I’ve chosen to be intentional about and focus on the items that are super important to me. This doesn’t mean that my friends aren’t important. This doesn’t mean that “I’m putting my friends on the back burner.”  But it does mean that it’s a time in my life that I’m going to be intentional about, that may leave my friends saying,

What in the world is going on with her?

During times like this, it’s so incredible to see who’s there after a season we have in life. Who’s there to say “Hey I’ve missed you. Tell me all about it.” And most importantly “I understand, and don’t judge you one bit.” Those are the little golden nuggets in life that can make a friendship something to cherish.

End of Letter – Now Present Day 2020

The words in the letter that I wrote are still true. I still believe them and feel like they have merit.

But you see, when I wrote that letter, those words were meant to be “excuses” in hopes that my friends would still like me, even though I chose my family over them in that moment. I’d even go so far to say that I felt “bad” that I was choosing my family over them. It’s like you could almost feel me saying,

“Please don’t forget about me and forgive me. Please still be my friend when I’m done putting my family first.”

Today, I’m ashamed I felt that way.

After going through such a difficult time these last 3 years (more to come on that later, as soon as I can figure out how to tell the long story) I’ve realized what’s important:

God, my husband, my kids, and my family.

Don’t hear what I’m not saying (my favorite quote by my favorite pastor, Bryan Mills) friends are important. In fact,

“God has created us to need people.”

Erwin Mcmanus

But real, true, genuine friends are important.

I encourage you today to really look at those you’re investing your time with… and what priorities you have set for yourself.

Now, today, I could write the same letter and send it out to my friends… but it would be to the friends that would read it and think:

“We get it. You’re going through a season and doing what’s important right now. We’ll be here on the flipside and during it if you need me.”

And you know what? I have those friends now. I’m so thankful for those friends and will NEVER ever let that go unappreciated.

It is my mission to also be that friend for them and to be understanding even when it doesn’t make sense.

A list of party supplies stores and their websites that are always a “go-to,” any time for planning a birthday party, holiday party, or any celebration!

I’m a “routine,” lovin’ gal. So when it comes to shopping for party supplies for either my own parties or when styling parties for a brand, I have my “go-to,” online party supplies stores that I frequent. I’m never disappointed and ALWAYS find something at these, that I love.

Best Party Supplies Websites

1. Shop Sweet Lulu

Whether it’s balloons, favor bags, or cute food containers, I’m a sucker for Shop Sweet Lulu products. When I styled this nacho bar party, I scored the super cute food trays, for our guests to serve themselves! They worked perfectly.

2. Amazon

Amazon has been a LIFE-SAVER when it comes to party planning. It comes to my rescue when I’m a couple of days away from party-time, and I’ve realized that I’ve forgotten that one important item I needed to decorate or finish the DIY project that I worked on for the party.

With Amazon, I can get anything from party supplies, to home decor, which is a HUGE party of my party styling techniques. I bought a ton of party goods on Amazon for our Crawfish Boil Party.

3. Etsy

Oh Etsy, how I love thee for party printables. I love Etsy for other things as well, but when it comes to party planning, printables are an easy way to add decor. I used printables from Etsy for my son’s Woodland Friends Party below. Can you see just how much printables can decorate for you!?

Don’t forget that Etsy can also be handy for DIY/Pre-Made party favors, cupcake toppers, sugar cookies, and SO MUCH more. Shop Etsy NOW!

4. Oh Happy Day

Oh my, have you visited Oh Happy Day yet? Adorable paper plates (not your average paper plates), confetti, garlands, and the list goes on. I get LOST in their online shop for hours if I’m not careful, staring at all of the beauties. Shop Oh Happy Day HERE!

I may just buy confetti from Oh Happy Day, just so I can do this when I want to celebrate something in life. Not kidding. 🙂

5. Meri Meri

Paper straws, paper treat bags, drink stirrers, and EVERYTHING party… Petite Party Studio has it. You’ll find paper straws at almost every party that I host. They can add a pop of color in a pinch, and if you’re like me… I GOTTA have a straw with my drink. In the Nautical Birthday Party that I styled for my son, I simply added paper straws to milk bottles, & it created style with little effort.

There they are! Those are my favorite websites to buy party supplies for any party that I’m hosting. At times, I’ll even check to see if they have any sale items, and stock up in advance.

Free Party Planning Checklist

Or if you haven’t downloaded your free party planning checklist yet, then you HAVE to snag that! It’s how I survive all of my party-planning days! Get my party planning checklist.

Holiday Party Planner

Are you hosting a holiday gathering? Then you’ll want to snag my Holiday Party Planner that I use to prep and prepare! I’m bound to forget something, and this helps keep me on track! Get my holiday party planner!

Stationery Station Organization: Say that Five Times… A simple way to organize cards, notepads, and writing tools, for easy access.

Stationery Station

I literally had to say that out loud 5 times, really fast, to see if I could do it. 

Hey you! You may be here for the first time as part of the blog hop that’s happening today with some of the BEST bloggers that I know. Not only are they incredibly creative, but they know how to create a workspace that can make you drool! I’m honored to be a part of something so fun and inspiring! So thank you for visiting, and let’s get on to one of my favorite aspects of my home office and craft room!

In my FULL home tour office reveal here, I briefly featured my stationery station. This has literally been one of my unintentional “favorite’s” of my home office. More times than I’d like to admit, I’ll be in a mad rush to create a “thank you,” card or a simple little note to leave for someone or attach to a birthday gift.

So instead of running around digging for a pen, cute card, and envelope, I now know exactly where to go! No more wasting time digging, and using the back of receipts for quick notes to my family.

Stationery Addiction:

This station has also helped me with my rare condition of “Stationery Addiction.” (Yes, I know this isn’t a real thing… but I’m completely addicted to grabbing super cute cards and adorable little notepads in the Target dollar spot, and the check out lane a T.J. Maxx.)

Before my stationery station, I would always THINK I needed note cards and notepads. Why? Because I was unsure of all that I already had on hand, so I figured I would go ahead and buy more “just in case.” (You SOOO know what I mean right? Please tell me I’m not alone here.)

Anyhoo, now that I have it all stored in one place, I can see exactly when I’m running low of a certain type of card, envelope, pen/marker, or notepad. My husband is very thankful that my spending has greatly reduced in the stationery department.

Rolling Cart:

I found this adorable (and office matching) rolling cart, at the ever so popular IKEA. It was super easy to put together, and it comes in adorable colors.

Want to Tour the Whole Office?

My Home Office Tour