If you’re here looking for our cute Candy Turkey Craft, Just look down the right hand side of the page and you’ll see the photo. Click on it for the tutorial!
We haven’t done a Friday Favorites, or a Goodie Box post in quite a while, so let me explain what it is! First and foremost, we want to make it very clear that these posts are NOT sponsored, ever. There is no advertising or promotion going on here- in these posts we simply highlight things we’re loving at the moment. Things we buy and use ourselves, things we’re always talking about on Instagram, things we want to tell our friends (you!) about. And sometimes we go out and buy all of the stuff we’re talking about (we buy it ourselves, this isn’t free stuff that’s sent to us) and we put it in a hand-packed care package (because how fun is that?!) and we mail it to one of YOU! Now, this isn’t one of those Blogger-Favorite-Things posts where we give away ipads and designer purses. It’s the little random stuff from around town that you can actually go out and buy yourself after you read about it. Stuff you can look for at Target and the mall. Because we like to keep it real around here. So let’s get on with it- eh? Here’s some of my favorite things!
1. Bath & Body Works 3 wick Candles: Kate and I have a small
hoarding problem obsession when it comes to scented candles, but not all candles are created equal. We love Bath and Body Works, not only for the endless variety of fun scents and the fact that their shipping boxes are lined in blue gingham, but for the fact that when those babies are a burnin’ the smell really does fill up your entire house. I have a lot of favorite scents, but one of my favorites these days is Tis the Season. It’s a little fruity, a little spicy, maybe a tiny hint of evergreen in there…basically it just smells like Christmas. I’m sending a mason jar size in this scent!
2. Angie’s Kettle Cooked
Crack Popcorn: People who follow me on Instagram sometimes get the impression that I work for Angie’s Popcorn. I do not. I wish I did because I’m guessing the job comes with perks like lots of free popcorn, and then I would have half of my 2013 income back (you know, the half I spent on popcorn this year). If you haven’t tried out Angie’s products, stop waiting. I actually waited, because I figured what the heck- it’s popcorn. Don’t people know you can make this stuff at home? (And we make really good popcorn.) But then I tried some. And I was addicted at first bite. Angie’s is kettle cooked, comes in amazing flavors, and most of them are just ever so slightly coated in sweet, sugary, deliciousness. Just enough to make you feel like you’re eating something naughty, but not enough to ruin your diet. They’re all fairly low calorie and come in amazing flavors. It’s seriously a dieters dream. Two of my favorite holiday specials (BOTH going in this box) are Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt, and Iced Gingerbread. The peppermint is great too, but I make enough of my own Peppermint Bark Popcorn!
3. Jif Whips Peanut butter with Chocolate Mint: I instagramed a photo of this a while back because I thought it was so, SO weird. Like, whoever even thought of this idea? Were they on drugs at the time? How did it pass focus groups? Of course I had to buy it simply because of intrigue. I like peanut butter, I like chocolate, I like mint. I like peanut butter chocolate, I like mint chocolate. But peanut butter chocolate mint?? That’s crazy talk. What a bizarre combo. I opened it expecting to be repulsed and something else happened. I ate a spoonful, and then another spoonful, and then before long I was thinking of anything and everything I could think of that I could dip in there. Graham crackers, cookies, more spoons. I’d say it’s more of a chocolate mint spread, with a hint of nuttiness. I don’t really know how to explain it, but I like it. And I want someone else to try it out too, so it’s going in the box!
4. Candy Cane Bliss Handsoap: Of all of the amazing yummy smells at Bath and Body Works, Twisted Peppermint takes the cake. This candy cane bliss spells pretty much exactly like it, only the container is cuter (if you ask me). Peppermint soap that is refreshing and yummy, and makes you want to eat candy. Enjoy it.
5. World’s Softest Socks: Do you all have a pair of these?? At Costco you can buy a 3 pack for 10 bucks and they’re literally called “World’s Softest.” Like the brand claims, it’s like walking on clouds. In the winter, when I’m hanging around the house I wear them every day, and my husband stares at my feet every time I pull them up over my skinny jeans. I don’t care; they’re the coziest socks everrrr. Also, they’re super good for sliding contests, if you happen to have family sliding contests down your hard wood hallway. Just my family? Okay then. I actually forgot to get these (along with half of my grocery list) at Costco today because I was completely sidetracked and overstimulated by the onslaught of holiday sample stations. But I did grab Target’s version, which if you ask me, are plenty cozy themselves.
6. Market Pantry Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies: Soooooooo Goooooooood. These are amazing. Pumpkin Spice Cookie. Cheesecake Filling. Find them at Target. Only during the fall months. I dare you not to finish off that entire box in one sitting. That is all.
7. Holiday Mint M&M’s: My favorite specialty variety of M&M’s. My first bag of the season is as exciting as the first snow. I could easily down an entire bag of these single-handedly. There’s a white-chocolate candycane version too, but don’t be fooled. These are the best.
8. Pacific Foods Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup: I know. Kind of random that there’s a box of soup in here. But I’m sitting here writing out this post while sipping it out of my favorite mug, like I do at least once a day, every single day. So I thought, dang. I’m tossing a box of soup in. People need to be eating this stuff. If you haven’t been buying a case of this soup on every trip to Costco, you’re missing out. It’s super rich and creamy, but also super low calorie. And it’s a work horse in the kitchen. I love it plain, but it’s awesome as a base for any other soup, or smothered over enchiladas, or loaded with sour cream and bacon. It has a great, great flavor that I can’t get enough of. There’s an open carton in my fridge just all the time. You should be able to find it in most grocery stores, or like I said, you can buy a case at Costco for a killer price.
9. Baby Lips Dr. Rescue: All of my friends are obsessed with the Baby Lips line from Maybelline. They come in sheer colors, and make your lips super soft. It now comes in medicated, giving soft pretty color with a soothing peppermint scent and tingly feel. Love it. I’m tossing in one in the coral crush color!
10. Jo’s Candies Peppermint Crunch: There was a little specialty market near my childhood home that we stopped at on almost a daily basis for last-minute things like milk and bread. They have an amazing deli and bakery, and always stock their checkout lanes with unique little finds. One thing that was constant was packs of Jo’s Candies. These dark chocolate covered lemon crunch things are amaaaazing, and we’d anxiously await every Christmas when they’d stock Jo’s Peppermint Crunch. Squares of pure holiday heaven. The centers aren’t crunchy, but they’re not soft; it’s somewhere in between and they’re awesome. My Mom would often get the little pack of 2 and quietly sneak one to me and eat the other one herself. I haven’t seen these in years, and last night when I was checking out at World Market, I heard a chorus of angels and SAW THEM. I totally yelped out loud. And then I came home with a bag full of Jo’s. I’m parting with a tiny little 2 pack because I love you. But I’m hoarding the rest.
My package is all packed up and ready to go. I just need a name and address on it! If you want me to send this YOUR way, just leave one comment in the comment field below, and tell me one of your current winter time faves. Winner will be chosen in about a week and will have 48 hours to respond to my email or a new winner will be chosen. Go!
Carmel brûlée latte from Starbucks is one of my favorites! I also am a fan of the twisted peppermint body cream from bath and body!! Did the buy three get three free all in that scent:). Carry me through the year!
One of my winter favorites is Pumpkin pudding by Jello!
Having lived by the Pacific factory (which smells like heaven) I would have to say that their soup is delicious and is a staple in my pantry. Thank you for sharing.
You had me at anything that said “mint.”
Then you had me at pumpkin
THEN you had me with the soup!
My fall favorite was short lived. Pumpkin Poptarts at Trader Joe’s! THe bad thing was that they were around only for a short time.
I love the candles from Bath & Body Works, too! I haven’t tried ’tis the season, but my current favorite is marshmallow fireside.
These all look like things I would love, so I hope I win, but one of my favorite things about winter time is the first snow of the season. It just feels magical.
Ooo those all look fabulous! My winter fav is Caramel Apple Cider with an extra dose of caramel from Star Bucks.
Burt’s Bees Body Butter!
One of my holiday favorites is the evergreen wallflower from Bath and Body. We have a faux tree and no one can tell because it smells so real!
I’m not a coffee drinker, but I love starbucks caramel apple spice drink this time of year. & I love winter sucks!
I can’t even articulate what this post has done to me. I’m up in the middle of the night, due to pregnancy-induced insomnia (and a need to eat and pee like every hour), and I’m just finally coming out of the first trimester… Which means I’m starting to like food again! Hallelujah! I hadn’t even realized it, but reading about all these treats and thinking that they sound good?! It’s a miracle. A Christmas miracle! I’ve been living off of crackers and oranges and Mac & cheese (I know), and I’ve been completely unenthusiastic about the approaching holidays, since food has been so gross to me. But no more! My mind is just racing thinking about treats and food that has all made my tummy turn for the last two months. And those socks and the candle! Oh, they would just do wonders in my hands (or on my feet and table). Our little basement apartment with its hilariously cold floor, and weird, old-basement-smell. It’s killing me. Anyway, thanks for bringing me back to reality and reminding me that I’m a human. With calorie-centered needs. One of my favorite holiday treats (even though they’re around all year) is Fererro Roche chocolates. Mmm. Give me them now!
I seem to only want/crave/love chocolate covered pretzels once it starts snowing.
Great list! Chocolate covered peppermint sticks for stirring coffee. Flavor and function!
How fun! Right now, I am loving Rold Gold peppermint dipped pretzels!
I just really like homemade pumpkin chocolate chip cookies right now. YUM!
One of my favorite things for winter, well, actually all year long, are the Bath and Body Works hand soaps. I always keep them in stock. Always. In fact I recently went to a Favorite Things party and brought a variety of Christmas scents to give away. Everyone loved them! Of course! 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway…someone is going to be very lucky!
My kids are begging me to stop at Trader Joes for a package of Peppermint Joe Joe’s. I also look forward to clementines in the winter.
I am loving the dove peppermint bark chocolate mints! Also Costco has coconut and chocolate covered almonds. I can eat a whole bag in one sitting! Divine!!
All those things look amazing. Now that its winter I have to have my hot chocolate AMD my Christie scented candles.
Mint M&Ms are my wintertime weakness. I need this box because I can’t get them living in Germany and I NEED them!
Well, one of my holiday favorites is homemade. It’s either called pumpkin sheetcake or pumpkin crumble or pumpkin cake, depending on who makes it! But I love it! Way more than pumpkin pie!!
I’ve tried the pumpkin cheesecake cookies and they are delicious. My winter fave right now are the Peppermint Joe Joe’s cookies from Trader Joe’s. They are like an Oreo cookie with peppermint filling.
Right now I love that it’s finally cold enough to really enjoy hot soup. I live in AZ and it’s been hot until just recently. So nice to enjoy something hot!
Pomegranates. Can’t get enough of them this winter. Juicy, delightful !
Whilst reading this post, I realized, I HAVE NO FAVORITES!. I need some, and quick. I’m certain I could become attached to any and all of your faves, if given the chance. Thanks!
Also not fancy, but I love Stephen’s mint hot cocoa. So good!
We sure love Trader Joe’s Iced Gingerbread Men cookies. And their $1 Chocolate Advent Calendars are great too!
Wow…this is like Oprah’s Favorites…for people who live in the real world!
I didn’t have plans to go shopping this weekend… but suddenly I have quite the urge!
my current fave is white chocolate peppermint m and ms siblings the ones in your box! this is such a nice thing that you do!
Thank you for this post! My roomie just bought the cheesecake cookies, I was wondering about those JIF whips, and I think I may have yet another reason to go to World Market this weekend!
My current winter fave is the red cups from Starbucks. I don’t know why but it makes the drinks taste better and it makes it feel like it really is the holiday season.