Christmas Gift Ideas

You may have seen gift guides popping up everywhere this year, and normally I don’t jump on the bandwagon. I am the kind of person that runs away from the bandwagon. Except, I love gift guides. Some people are SO EASY to shop for. And some are not. Some people LOVE shopping, and some don’t.

It’s kind of like when you don’t feel like cooking dinner, but the family needs to be fed. It sure would be easier if you knew what to cook. That’s what gift guides do; they help you get ideas for presents that you already had on your list to buy.

With the help of my grownish kids and husband, I’ve put together some gift guides for Christmas. Just in case you need ideas like me, this will give you a head start. If you want to find these exact items, simply click on the photo to find the commissionable links for those items!

Gift ideas for the casual chick:

Click the photo above to find the commissionable links for those exact items.

Gift Ideas for the outdoorsy guy:

Click the photo above to find the commissionable links for those exact items.

Gift ideas for the gym rat (fitness nut):

Click the photo above to find the commissionable links for those exact items.

Gift ideas for the traveler:

Click the photo above to find the commissionable links for those exact items.

Gift ideas for the techie:

Click the photo above to find the commissionable links for those exact items.

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A Day of Rest: Part Four, Food Prep

Welcome back to the fourth and final installment of my series, “A Day of Rest.” In Part One we talked about why your family may want to consider a day of rest, once a week, every week. (You can can catch up on part one HERE.) In Part Two we talked about preparing ahead of time for a day of rest, so that it actually happens. (You can read that post HERE.) In Part Three we talked about ways you could spend your day of rest. (You can read that post HERE.)

Today we are going a little further in depth on preparation for your day of rest, which we talked about in Part Two. Specifically, we are going to talk about meals, food, and preparing ahead of time for them. There’s something special that happens when we wake up on our day of rest and everything down to the very meals has already been taken care of. I feel like it makes it exciting and holy to know that when you wake up, no work needs to be done. Kids may get excited to wake up on Christmas Day, but I get excited to wake up on Sabbath. (By the way, you can prepare your Christmas meals with a Sabbath/Day of Rest frame of mind as well.) Read more: Exodus 16:23-24

Day of Rest meals must be planned out ahead of time in order to be successful. We don’t want to be filled with frustration or anger on the day we are supposed to be resting. Remember, you are not simply creating a day of rest for the people around you or in your household, it is also FOR YOU. Planning our meals and prepping for them can be done the day before. As I mentioned in my previous post, I do my cleaning on Thursdays, grocery shopping and errands on Fridays, and meal prep on Saturdays. If your Sabbath is Saturday, just back that schedule up one day to put you on track to be prepared.

What does it mean to have my meals prepped for our day of rest? It means that I have already done the shopping. I already know what we’re going to eat. And I have done everything ahead of time to prepare the meals, except for maybe putting them into the oven or getting the food out of the refrigerator.

Here are some ways that you can prepare your day of rest meals:

  • Select what your family will eat ahead of time.
  • Shop for all of the ingredients you’ll need.
  • Consider freezer meals, the crockpot, or make ahead meals like casseroles.
  • If you’re eating something cold, like sandwiches or salads, cut and slice all of your ingredients ahead of time.
  • Consider a “potluck” meal with other families, where each family contributes a few things (made ahead of time.)
  • Consider using paper plates to serve meals to avoid clean-up. Some people even like to use disposable aluminum bake ware.

Even if your family plans to do something like grill out, it is really easy to prep everything the day before.

Be sure to follow my Pinterest board where I pin make ahead meals and ideas.(Below) If you’d like to share a recipe that makes a great make ahead meal, please leave a comment below.

If you need to catch up or want to re-read the other installments, you can find the links below:

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A Day of Rest: Part Two, Preparation

Last week I shared my thoughts on a couple of reasons why it is so important to take a day of rest. One day a week, every week. If you missed that post, you can click HERE, to go back and read it.

So have you decided that A Day of Rest is something that you want to try? Let me begin by confessing something: sometimes (okay more than sometimes) our family’s day of rest fails. As I mentioned in the last post, I am not sharing about a day of rest to give you “rules” or to be legalistic about what can and can’t happen on your day of rest. We do our best to prepare for a day of rest, but if something happens or comes up to derail it, it doesn’t ruin everything. (Read: Mark 2:23-28) Our salvation doesn’t depend on whether or not we observed a day of rest.

Okay, now that we have that out of the way, let’s get started!

Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.

Confucius

In order for you to be successful with a day of rest, one day a week, every week – you’ll need to prepare ahead of time. What happens when we find ourselves with time on our hands (restful, leisure time), and we are not accustomed to it? We start thinking of all of the things we need to get done: the towels we left in the washer, the yard that the HOA is going to send us a letter to cut, the groceries that need to be purchased. Often we use our day of rest as the day to prepare for the week we have ahead, instead of actually resting. That’s backwards. Think of how much better you will be the rest of the week if only you can spend an entire day of rest.

What does it look like to prepare ahead of time for a day of rest? There are a few things that will be common to all of us, but there are some things that will be unique to you and your family. What are you normally doing that day? What would you be tempted to do that day instead of resting? The areas a lot of people focus on when preparing for a day of rest are: cleaning, shopping, and cooking.

If you are working full time, or you have your hands full with kids, you may need to jot down things you normally do on the weekends, and do them throughout the week. If you find yourselves making a list that you cannot possibly get done, and also take a day of rest each week, then you might want to consider that you may be overscheduling things. Maybe you have too much on your plate and you haven’t asked for help. Maybe you need to hire a few things out, or trade some time with a friend so that you can get things done.

In order to prepare my house for a day of rest, I begin preparing on Thursdays. I clean the house (bathrooms, floors, etc). I do all of the laundry that is currently dirty. (There will be more later in the week, and I will do it then.) On Thursdays I also plan out my meals for the week, and on Fridays I do the grocery shopping. I start thinking about our plans for the weekend, and see if there is something special that our family wants to do together on our day of rest. I am also trying to anticipate what work my husband and kids might be dealing with that would interfere with their day of rest. For example, if I don’t think my husband will have time to cut the grass, I’ll take care of it for him. In addition, on Fridays and Saturdays I will start to prepare our meals as much as possible ahead of time, so that all I have to do is put something into the oven to finish it, etc.

Preparing for a day of rest doesn’t need to fall on one person. Different members of the family can help with different things. Maybe your teen wants to plan the meals and create a grocery pick up order. Maybe your elementary kids can fold towels. It’s a group effort, and you’ll all benefit from the day.

If you’ve never observed a true day of rest before, it can take a while to get used to. It can also take time for your family to get on board with you. Don’t give up! Give yourself some grace, and keep tweaking things until they work for you. Once you get into the swing of things, you may want to take steps to make your day of rest more special, or sacred. In that case, you’ll want to set aside time during the week for those extra steps, too.

“Be brave enough to be bad at something new.”

What’s next? You’ve prepared for your day of rest, now what? Come back next week, and I’ll share some ways to spend your day of rest, without crossing over into the work zone again. (Further reading: Hebrews chapter 4, Matthew 11:28-30)

Abby Smolarsky3 Comments

A Day of Rest: Part One

Somehow we’ve gotten to a point where resting and recharging is looked down upon, as though it is a sign of weakness. We’ve given people (family, friends, clients) 24 hour access to our lives through social media notifications, texting, and email. Who are we kidding…of course, we got the email because we don’t set our phones down for 2 minutes. Right?

Or what about “the hustle”? Now a 40 hour work week is somehow less than “full time.” It’s not enough to have one job, you’ve got to have a side hustle, too. Between work, constantly checking our phones, and the bombardment of “news” media, our brains and life in general never stop spinning.

We weren’t meant to live like this. It’s no wonder that more and more people are suffering from mental health issues. And our immune systems become weaker when we don’t take time to care for ourselves. Worked to the bone? Yikes, not good.

“If you’re tired, learn to rest, not quit.”

So what’s the answer? How do we fix this? A day of rest. Simple as that, a day of rest. One day a week, every week, where you unplug from distractions. One day a week of no working on emails or working around the house doing laundry or yard work. A day to do nothing but rest!

Many people do this because their faith calls them to do it. A Sabbath day is one to worship and to abstain from work. Some people get half-way there by going to church to worship, but then they fall short of the rest portion. The best part! (Read: Deuteronomy 5:12-14 and Hebrews chapter 4)

Even if your faith doesn’t call you to take a day of rest, there’s no denying that it’s a good choice for your mental and physical well-being. But, it’s easier said than done, right? I mean, something always comes up. It’s true, and I am not sharing to be legalistic in any way. In the next few weeks I’ll be sharing blog posts on taking a day of rest. I won’t be sharing “rules” for observing a day of rest, or Sabbath. I’ll be sharing a starting point: How to prepare so that you can truly rest, Suggestions for how to spend your day, Recipes I like to use, and so forth.

If you weren’t raised observing a day of rest, this might be completely new for you. I hope that you’ll come back for the rest of the series. In the meantime, spend some time thinking (praying) about all of the benefits a day of rest would mean for you and your family.

Further reading: Isaiah 58:13-14, Exodus 20:8-11, Hebrews chapter 4

Abby Smolarsky3 Comments

Accepting Substitutes in Your Design Plans

Today I want to talk about what to do when you fall in love with a piece for your room that blows your budget out of the water.

We’ve all been there… You find the perfect sofa, but it’s three times what you planned on spending. Or maybe it’s the dresser, or a lamp, or a piece of artwork that is not in budget. In those cases, here’s what you need to do: accept a substitute. Yes, a substitute. Or as I like to call them over on my LiketoKnow.it – a dupe. A “dupe” is a duplicate or similar item that is almost identical, but is much more affordable.

The only time that I wouldn’t try to do this is if someone is hand-crafting a custom piece for you. But if you are buying something that is not custom made, chances are you can find something very similar in a lower price point. Let me show you an example below.

You can click any picture to find the commissionable links for sources.

These two spindle chairs are so similar that if you needed to buy the less expensive one for budget reasons, your overall room aesthetic would not be affected. I recommend searching for similar wood and fabric tones to find what is in your budget. What you are probably sacrificing in these two designs is the filling material in the cushions. Below is another example of how you can find something similar to an expensive piece that fits into your own budget.

Click any photo to find the sources for what is pictured.

As you can see the most expensive bench has a white, upholstered seat with a brass frame. There are many other options that also have white, upholstered seats with brass frames. Choosing one of the more affordable options will not change the overall design aesthetic of your room.

These dressers are similar enough to equally considered for a space. Both have brass metal accents and blue textured surfaces. What I recommend in this case to carefully compared the dimensions of the pieces to make sure their size is comparable as well. In the photos below, you can see that you will often find alternatives in lower price points. Sometimes the materials used are less expensive (leather vs. vegan leather). Other times there are slight differences in the design. But when you are working on a budget, accepting a substitute item (or dupe) will sometimes solve your design dilemmas. As always you can click any of the images to find commissionable links for sources. Never miss a dupe or design plan by following my blog, following me on LiketoKnow.it, and following me on Instagram!

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Decoupage Easter Eggs

We’re just a few days away from Easter, but there is still time to squeeze in an easy Easter craft! A few days ago I made these decoupage Easter eggs, which I plan to reuse in my Easter dĂ©cor for years to come.

To get started you will need:

  • either plain papier mache or wooden eggs from the craft store.
  • a decorative napkin with a spring-like design
  • Mod Podge
  • white paint
  • foam brushes
  • paper plates
  • wax paper

First you will want to cover your work surface with wax paper. This will protect your surface from being damaged from glue and paint, but it will also give you a place to rest your eggs or brushes if you need – they won’t stick to the wax paper if they dry there.

Next, you will want to give all of your brown papier mache (or wooden) eggs a base coat of white paint. Be sure to let them dry completely before moving on. While your eggs are drying, separate your napkins. Mine were three layers, but I only need to use the top layer with the graphics on it. After you have separated your napkins, cut or tear them into smaller pieces. Don’t worry about what the edges look like. Once your eggs are completely finished you will not see the edges.

After your painted eggs have completely dried, begin applying Mod Podge to the egg. Place pieces of napkin on top of the Mod Podge, smoothing them down and pressing the wrinkles out as you go. Once your eggs are completely covered in pieces of napkin, apply a top coat layer of Mod Podge to seal everything in place. Once they are dried, you have Easter décor to enjoy for years to come!

Here’s a one minute video to show you how to create your decoupage Easter eggs!

I’d love to see your decoupage eggs! Be sure to tag me on Instagram @ BelleAntiquarian!

Abby Smolarsky2 Comments
Easter entry table decor

Spring and Easter Decor

Good Friday is one week from today, so I thought I would share a few ways that I’ve added some little touches of Spring and Easter around our home.

If you follow me on Instagram, you may recognize this oversized glass lantern from one of my Thrifty Thursday trips. It was $6, and I knew that it would be a perfect vase for oversized flowers like these Larkspur and Aster, as well as some Gladiolus later in the season.

I’m really trying to be intentional about not having bins and bins of seasonal decor. (I only have one bin for Easter!) Flowers can make your home feel special for Easter without adding a lot of clutter. This is true for any holiday, as long as you use flowers that are in season.

And, of course, my trusty sidekicks are never too far away when I am arranging flowers. 🙂

A few little touches on our mantel…

On our entry table I used some of my jadeite and white milk glass pieces. Using them together with the dried grass and eggs makes them feel very spring-like. Everything in the photo above has been linked on my LiketoKnow.it commissionable links. You can click HERE or click on the photo above to access the links.

Another view of my jadeite and milk glass Fire King pieces. Have you decorated your home for Easter?

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Easter Basket Gift ideas for Teens

Teen Easter Basket Gift Guides

I’ve put together two teen Easter basket gift guides for you. Our 16 and 19 year olds gave me some great recommendations to share. Shopping for teens can be tricky, so we’ve taken all of the guess work out. You can find each of these gift guides over on my LiketoKnow.it page with commissionable links to everything you need for your favorite teen’s Easter basket.

Click HERE (or click on the picture below) to access our Teen Boy Easter Basket Gift Guide

Click HERE (or click on the picture below) to access our Teen Girl Easter Basket Gift Guide. Our daughter recommends the small kitchen appliance that you see. She thinks other teen girls would also enjoy using it!

I’d love to hear if you have any other teen Easter recommendations. Let me know in the comments below!

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Valentine’s Outfit Ideas

Ken has made us a Valentine’s reservation at our favorite Italian restaurant, and I can’t wait! I know with restrictions and lockdowns in place, you may not have the option to have a nice dinner out for Valentine’s Day. But one of the easiest ways to make your quiet dinner in more special is to find a special outfit to wear.

I’ve come up with four different outfit options over on my LIKEtoKNOW.it page. The thing I love most about the pieces in all 4 outfits is that they are classic and versatile. They can be mixed and matched with all kinds of outfits throughout the year. Take a look HERE!

This look above is the one I’m most excited about. There are raving reviews on all of these pieces, so I know you’re going to love them.

This look will take you from work and then out to dinner. I have to say these pumps are my favorite. They are the most comfortable heels I own.

Such a sweet outfit! It’s hard to tell from this picture, but this black top has the sweetest neckline detail. Be sure to click to see more pictures.

Again, hard to tell from the picture…but this dress has a sweetheart neckline that is flattering on all body types. The reviews for it say how nice the fabric quality is.

I can’t wait to show you which look I’m going with. But I really can’t wait to enjoy a nice dinner with my sweetie on Valentine’s Day!

All outfits linked (commissionable links) on my LIKEtoKNOW.it page!

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Valentine’s Day Table Setting

Yes, I know. It’s still January. But let me explain!

Our high schooler’s school district decided to move to digital school only this week. They’ve said it’s for one week only, so we are hopeful that next week will be back to normal. Until this point she’s been going to school in-person (we had a choice at the beginning of the school year), so this is not something we were necessarily thrilled about. Digital is not the best fit for us, but I’ve decided to do some little things this week to make it more enjoyable.

Yesterday on my way home from the gym I stopped and got her Chick fil-A for lunch. We don’t eat fast food often, only a handful of times a year, so this was a big treat. And today I decided to make breakfast a little more special.

I mean, DONUTS…yum! The tablecloth I used is one that I bought when we were in Greece a few years ago. The little Pyrex dish is one that I found on a Thrifty Thursday. (Are you following my Thrifty Thursdays on Instagram yet?) The “vases” are recycled cold pressed juice bottles. I also used lots of other little Valentine’s touches to make it a special meal just for the two of us. Talk about elevating the average Wednesday breakfast!!

Most of the Valentine’s items I used are linked on my Like to Know.it page. These plates were only $2.39, and I think they were SO worth it. To find them and everything else I’ve linked for you, click HERE.

Influencers using Like to Know.it make a very tiny commission on anything you buy from their links. (Less than 19 cents from a placemat, for example.) It takes a bit of time to source, link, and photograph everything, so your support from shopping my links is GREATLY appreciated. 🙂

To follow me on Like to know.it, find me HERE.

Abby Smolarsky1 Comment