Tag: Holiday

Favorite Holiday Things: What Are We Doing & Gifting?

by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment on Favorite Holiday Things: What Are We Doing & Gifting?

I love a good gift idea, give me all the clever, cute, fun, unique gift ideas PLEASE!! When Kendall mentioned sharing our combined list of our favorite gifts and traditions this year I thought it was genius. Reminded me of the guide we created in 2022 which you can find here if you are interested. Again, we are sharing a few of our favorite things so that you can benefit from what we’ve learned, how we’ve celebrated, and what we are looking forward to giving this year.

Shari’s Top 4 favorite things:

  1. A Sauna! I joked on my personal Instagram that I am not an influencer but if I was… I would say “BUY THE SAUNA” because let’s be honest, the benefits are extensive. Want to listen to a book all about winter and why to purchase a sauna? Check out “How to Winter” by Kari Leibowitz. But seriously, I liked above the exact sauna that my husband and I purchased and I can confidently say it was the best purchase of 2025!
  2. Tradition – Family Dinner with the Christmas “holly” Lennox set. Last year we started a tradition with some family members to celebrate our late Aunt Kory. I inherited all her Christmas Lennox dishes and I wanted a reason to use them so we call it “Aunt Kory Christmas” and we serve ham and potatoes and a variety of side dishes and exchange gifts in honor of Aunt Kory who would have beamed with joy that we kept her Christmas traditions alive! Doing something in honor of someone we love just fills my cup so full during the busy holiday season.
  3. For the kids – we are in an interesting stage of life with the big kids being pretty “big” these days and gifting for them is harder than I care to admit. I wanted to make sure I kept the magic from our 18 year old to our 3 year old so I have to be strategic with gifts they wont know about. I still follow a lot of activities listed in this past post on advent activities and try to keep the Christmas feeling alive during the month of December in our home.
  4. For my girlfriends I have had so much fun putting together a little set of my favorite things… think tiny, cute, and practical. After I gift them all I can share exactly what I am gifting but it is literally a bunch of my favorite tiny useful gadgets from travel to everyday use items. I will tell you a few… my favorite Jack Black lip balm and hand sanitizer… just to name a few. I am having so much fun putting these little sets together and can’t wait to see what my friends think of all my tried and true must-haves! Bonus they are small and actually useful!

Kendall’s Top 4 favorite things:

  1. In recent years I have embraced this time of Advent. Every year it means something different but this year in particular I have embraced the idea of spiritual preparation ahead of Christ’s birth. I’ve gone to confession, contemplated where my heart needs to be, and examined my life as a whole. It’s more somber than the typical in your face Christmas season but this focus has allowed me to open my heart in different ways. Family time, keeping things in moderation (no going overboard on gifts), and prayer have actually caused me less anxiety than I normally have. In past years I have felt like a failure for not hitting all of the things on the Christmas to do list. I was in competition with a version of myself that just doesn’t matter. Implementing little things like weekday mass, doing the Theo app at night with Rosemary, and taking moments to really sit with my husband and my family and spend time together have felt incredibly healing and emphasized the reality of what is important in our lives. Advent looks different for everyone and this is just where I am this year.
  2. Gifts. I used to love gift giving. Now, I really don’t. People already have so much stuff. My children already have so many things. This year, Issy and I are keeping things simple. We aren’t doing a lot of gifts. BUT something I do love to give people is food. I love cooking for our friends and family. I will do a few batches of different things between now and Epiphany to give to people. Think homemade salsa, cookies, etc. The storage of food is usually temporary AND it is being made with love.
  3. Every year, Issy and I watch “White Christmas.” It’s our favorite movie. We love to pour something tasty and snuggle up and get lost in Irving Berlin’s genius. This time together means so much to me. The tree is lit up, our house is cozy, the kids are safe and in bed, and Issy and I get to just be for a few hours.
  4. The Polar Express. ALL ABOARD… ALLLLLLLL ABOARD! It has become a yearly tradition to take the kids on the Polar Express. They love it. Riding a train, listening to a read aloud of the book, meeting Santa and getting their very own bell are the things that they look forward to every year and will talk about all holiday season.

Shari and Kendall’s Holiday Gift Guide

by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment on Shari and Kendall’s Holiday Gift Guide

Whether you are still shopping, need to start shopping, or are done and starting on next year, we have some gift giving ideas for you! Please note, none of these are sponsored. These are just things we like, love, and/or can’t wait to give people! Happy Holidays!

For Her:
Ember Mug- This mug keeps your drink hot! As someone who is constantly microwaving my coffee, this is probably the gift I am the most excited for this year.

Slippers– Cozy slippers end up on my wishlist and apparently most of my friends wishlists too! This is a link to the ones that I recently purchased (50% off currently Dec 2022) and I know they will last for several years because Olukai is great quality!

L.L. Bean Flannel– Cozy, chic, and practical. Add in amazing quality and you’ve made us believers that flannel can be fashionable and comfortable. 

Antique Candle Co.– I love me some yummy smells. Antique Candle Co. products are everything delicious and seasonal. I love their traditional roster of things as well as their seasonal goodies. They make great gifts but are also much fun to receive! 

Stocking stuffer ideas for her: electric hand warmer, cozy socks, hair ties, face masks, candy, lip balm, and hand lotion.

For Him:
Massaging Gun– Probably one of my husbands favorite gifts, he uses this all the time to relieve aches and pains from working out and life in general. We bought ours at Costco but this is a similar one on Amazon. Great gift idea and bonus – you can use it too.

Battery Daddy– Great gift for guys who want to organize their battery dilemma. This has been a game changer and a favorite gift of most men I know. Typically found at Costco!

Water & Wine Puzzles– Have a puzzler in your life? Have a puzzler who also happens to like wine? Then these puzzles are for you! Not only are they beautiful and challenging but they also provide really fun fact sheets about wine. Sounds like a built in date night to me… so maybe it’s a gift for both of you?

Blackstone Griddle– Ok, so this is more of a pricier item… but my husband is obsessed with his griddle. So far, Issy has made smash burgers, pancakes, bacon, eggs, grilled cheese, meats, chicken, and more things that I can’t think of right now on the griddle. Originally a grad school graduation gift, I firmly believe this would make a wonderful Christmas gift too. 

Stocking stuffer ideas: lip balm, poo pourri, back scratcher, luci lights, snacks/candy, socks, shaving accessories, grill/griddle accessories, mini bourbon bottles

For Kids/Baby:
LumiPets – Cute night light silicone animals. I saw this at a friend’s house (they had the kitty and bear) and my baby loved the lights changing colors and the soft squishy silicone. She played with it the whole time we were there. I am also getting this for my 9 year old who loves having a nightlight in her room.

Games – I am a big fan of “Cover your assets” this is a great game for all of my stepkids ages (9-15 years old) and “Throw Throw Burrito”!

The Story Orchestra Books– These are my daughter’s favorite books. I hope to get my son into them as he gets older. Not only does she learn about music and different composers but it has proven to be a really good way for her to snuggle in and find her calm before bed. They are beautifully illustrated and take you on some really wonderful adventures in the form of known stories and some brand new ones as well! Shout out to my sister, Marisa, for being the one to gift these to Rosemary and introducing me to them! 

Pajamas- I love jammies for my baby. We never have enough. I love all kinds of brands; Carters, Burt’s Bees, Nordstrom, Cat and Jack, etc. Jammas are just always appreciated and used up!

Stocking stuffer ideas: fun socks, silly puddy, yo yo, fidget toys, candy/gum, keychain, pez dispensers, board books, teethers

‘Twas a Few Days Before Christmas and…

by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment on ‘Twas a Few Days Before Christmas and…

I, Kendall, am a hot mess. Where did I put all the presents I bought over the past few months? Why am I behind on baking? Is that gift for my dad cool enough? Did I get the right thing for my husband’s stocking? Is the grocery shopping list for Christmas Day finalized?

Due to some life circumstances, I have been more sleepy than usual and, thus, I am a bit behind. Somehow today, I got my butt in gear. I found all the presents and grouped them together by person. I rifled through a storage bin to find all of the donation items for our neighborhood’s Christmas morning coat drive for charity. My Christmas shopping is officially done. Everything has shipped. Now, my husband just has to use his superior gift wrapping abilities (he’s a bit of a perfectionist) and wrap it all up. I won’t make him wrap his stuff… in fact I will probably just hand it to him since I loathe wrapping and hate the waste.

Our house smells like Christmas thanks to delicious candles. We have done Christmas-y things! We are enjoying the season as much as we can in the midst of an unsettled pandemic, nausea, exhaustion, and super cold weather. Despite being behind on a few things, I am on track to get a lot of stuff done today and tomorrow so that we are ready for Christmas Eve. This is my favorite time of the year and it’s hard for me to get too down and overwhelmed. Especially when friends drop me large boxes of cookies… that I don’t share with my family because I, Kendall, am a cookie hoarder.

Merry Holidays!

Shari’s Advent Activity List

by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment on Shari’s Advent Activity List

Nearly a decade ago I made an Activity Advent calendar for my friend. I wrote 24 activities on cards and also threw in a few gifts on random days of the advent. Most of the activities were simple and fun. If it was something that required an item that was easy to include, I would include the item (example: I’d include the Hot cocoa and a peppermint stick on the day that said “Drink hot cocoa and stir with a peppermint stick”.)

There are ways to make this activity advent even more of a gift for someone to enjoy the entire month (or you can do 12 days leading up to Christmas if you don’t want to do 24 days). You can make it simple and just send them the list for them to choose the items they like and make their own advent calendar. Maybe they could even add in their own ideas like going to a Tree Farm to get the tree, attend a Christmas Parade, or sing Christmas Carols with the neighbors. Whatever you decide, I hope this this is helpful and sparks some holiday memories for you to create!

  1. Listen to Christmas Music
  2. Drink Hot Cocoa and stir with a peppermint stick
  3. Take a drive and go look at Christmas lights on houses
  4. Build and decorate a gingerbread house
  5. Watch a Christmas Movie 
  6. Wear cozy pajamas
  7. Read a Christmas Book
  8. Bake cookies
  9. Make cut out snowflakes
  10. Dance to your favorite Christmas Song
  11. Write a Christmas Wish-List
  12. Eat your favorite seasonal holiday treats
  13. Visit a local store to buy a gift
  14. Volunteer at a Toy Drive or donate a toy 
  15. Write a Christmas card and mail it to someone 
  16. Drive to a grocery store with a salvation army ringer just to donate 
  17. Call a friend or family member you haven’t talked to in awhile
  18. Take a bubble bath 
  19. Write an “Christmas Cheer” encouraging note for someone to find
  20. Learn a Christmas joke and tell it to someone
  21. Draw or Color a Christmas scene
  22. Surprise a friend or coworker with a hot beverage
  23. Write a list of non-material things you are grateful for
  24. Light a holiday candle & make your home smell festive

Again, this is just a simple list, but you can rearrange these ideas or tweak them to fit with you and your holiday traditions. You may have even done a few of these ideas already. But no matter what, it is fun to do an activity based advent calendar and I promise you’ll make fun memories in the process! 

Kendall on Holiday Celebrations

by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment on Kendall on Holiday Celebrations

Full disclosure: I celebrate Christmas. But, I feel like the following applies to any holiday gathering or day you might be partaking in this year! 

My name is Kendall and I have an obsession with Christmas. I have inherited this said obsession from my mother and grandmother. As a kid, Christmas was magical. My grandmother had this epic tree, stunning decorations, delicious cookies, and there would be presents overflowing from underneath her tree into her whole formal dining room. It was a kid’s dream. My mom had the tradition of always setting up her tree the day after Thanksgiving. I would huff and puff at having to help my dad bring boxes up to her. But the end result of her tree was always so special. She really knew how to decorate a tree. It was worth the huff and puff. 

As the years have gone by, we have all added to our families and traditions have changed. Even being an adult has changed Christmas celebrations! Today, I have a kiddo to think about. Meals need to be timed around naps and bedtime… to a point at least. We have a fair amount of flexibility with Rosemary but there is a point of no return and, then, potentially losing the day! So, we have to be thoughtful about how we celebrate. We can’t do all the things we did growing up because Rosemary is her own kid. She is helping us carve out new traditions! She loves hot chocolate and Christmas movies. She adores warm and cozy holiday pajamas. She abhors opening gifts; she gets so overwhelmed that she can’t focus and then she goes into a complete meltdown. Thus, we have to rethink Christmas! This year, while she is still in the thick of toddlerdom, we have opted to do gifts slowly over the month and up until Three Kings on January 6th. We have also started doing chocolate advent calendars. There is even a dog advent calendar for Bella (thank you Trader Joes!). Every night Rosemary gets at least one holiday story. Our puzzle board has Christmas themed puzzles and “Run Run Rudolph” has become the Arguello house theme song. 

Logistically, celebrating a holiday can be hard. There are so many different gatherings that some days it can feel like you live out of your car instead of enjoying the day! I suggest avoiding the holiday burnout by not overcommitting to things. Prioritize what is important, compromise if you have families involved, and try to remember that the holiday season is supposed to be about being together- not being perfect. There is no such thing. As kids, we think there is but as we grow up, we know better. Food might be delayed. Presents might be stuck in a port somewhere, the tree may have some lights that are out, or maybe you just can’t make it to every gathering. This is all ok. Just enjoy the moments with the people you love. Snuggle in with a cup of cocoa or a great glass of something stronger, watch that favorite Christmas movie, and allow yourself to feel the spirit of the season. 

I would also like to take a moment to say that for some, the holidays are hard. There are a variety of reasons for why this season can be difficult for someone. I also struggle with missing loved ones and can get pretty down. If you need anything, Shari and I are here. And if you need help urgently, please reach out to a trusted source or 1-800-273-8255 (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline).

“Though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.”
– Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express

Shari On Christmas Traditions

by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment on Shari On Christmas Traditions
Shari On Christmas Traditions

What establishes a tradition? Well, Google states that it is a custom or recurring activity passed through generations. I would argue that in our minds we all have traditions that are simply considered yearly activities or events that we enjoy doing with our families. This year it may not be so easy to keep some event-based traditions alive but there is always time to create new traditions… At least that is my philosophy! 

Let’s take it back to my childhood… I have so many great memories of Christmas. Mostly the excitement to be with family, opening gifts, and decorating the Christmas tree (which was always taken down from the garage rafters and was quite the production to set up). The ornaments that pre-dated my arrival to the family were always some of my favorites and each year we would add another personal ornament to the tree. Those personalized ornaments were my favorite to hang each year after that. Although our house rarely had Christmas lights on the outside, my mom always made sure it looked like a holiday explosion inside! My mom’s love for Christmas could be an entire blog post all on its own. Our family usually made an effort to go drive through the “Christmas Lights on James Street” every year. It was a local mobile home neighborhood that would get all lit up to THE extreme; from the lawns to the rooftops, the driveways and often even the cars, the James Street houses did not disappoint. We would ohh and ahh over the bright magical displays and talk about any other neighborhoods that might also be decorated nearby, I think we just liked driving around as a family.

One Christmas tradition that stands out above the rest is decorating sugar cookies with my mom. Since my mom is an amazing cook, she would make an effort to bake and decorate sugar cookies with me. We’d pull out cookie cutters, food coloring for frosting and ALL the sprinkles in the baking cabinet. Bless my mom’s heart because it was always such a mess and I rarely helped clean it up. I remember having the best time and getting extremely excited when my dad picked out his favorite frosted cookie that happened to be one I decorated. As an adult, I like to buy the premade Gingerbread house kits for the kids and now my mom typically will still do sugar cookie decorating with the grandkids. So sweet…literally!

Are you ready for my favorite Christmas tradition OF ALL TIME? The Christmas Eve Service at my Grandparents Church, trust me it was quite the production. I still remember the smell of the church, the color of the carpet, the pews that were handmade by my Great Uncle Ed, and the slightly terrible childrens performances that made you both laugh and cringe at the same time. The youngest kids would sing “Happy Bells” which is the cutest little song when coming from a 3 year old who is simultaneously shaking the bells in their hand as fast and hard as possible. As a group (congregation) we would take out the hymnals from the back of the pew in front of us and open to whatever page we were instructed to sing “O’ Holy Night” and numerous other Christmas songs. What made this so special was the unique sound of the organ piano. They save the best for last and as you left the ushers would give you a bag full of hard candies, peanuts (with the salty shell), and an orange. I loved this Christmas tradition and even typing about it makes me ache deep down inside, I miss it so much! The church built a new building and it just doesn’t have the same feel (or smell). 

Although those are some of my more treasured traditions from childhood, the beauty of growing up is incorporating new traditions and evolving your knowledge and understanding of a holiday. Over the past few years I have poured myself into my Scandinavian heritage only to learn about the Norwegian Nisse, the Rommegrot porridge that the Nisse eats, Krumkake baking, candles and the (quite popular) concept of Hygge. It’s been so much fun to incorporate what I am learning back into my family traditions, hoping that something I am doing was what my great grandmother’s family did back in Norway. 

Traditions can be beautiful and special when passed down from generation to generation. They can be a memory that you hold dear, or they can be something you just started doing this year. I would love to know (in the comments below) what holiday traditions are your favorite? What are some traditions that you are hoping to create?

Kendall On Holiday Traditions

by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment on Kendall On Holiday Traditions
Kendall On Holiday Traditions

Tradition. Traditions. They are important to our lives- especially around the holidays. Whether it’s a big meal with family or an ugly sweater party with your closest friends, this year is a game changer for everyone. The holidays bring out a beautiful and sentimental side to people. The month of December is like a blanket of hope and generosity of spirit. 

My mom and grandma did traditions well. Decorating the trees, making Mexican Christmas cookies, shopping for gifts, hot cocoa… I miss those days. I miss the smell of it. As I got older, things changed and not all in bad ways. Life can’t stay the same! Neither can traditions. After my mom passed, we felt a little lost in terms of traditions… we never really got it “right.” There was a certain amount of pressure and shame (for me) that I couldn’t do it all the same way. Sure, we tried and we got some things right. Over time, we were okay with letting certain things go and modifying others. It was liberating to discover that we didn’t have to decorate the Christmas tree the exact same way! We got to play with the holiday season and try to figure out how to make it fun again… make it happy again. 

I feel like the Christmas of 2017 was the one that I finally started to see what I wanted the holiday to be. My husband and I were in Spain and my father-in-law was in town for Christmas. It was… simple. We watched our favorite movies, made different kinds of delectable sweets, socialized with friends, and made a Christmas Eve feast that was ON POINT. We kept the pressure low. That has very much been the key to us being happy during the season. We mostly just want to be happy- so we do the things that make us happy. We have been open to change- something that I think has made us fairly comfortable during this… crazy… year. 

This year, we have my dad with us. He’s been here in Vermont since September. We’ve decorated our home, are slowly purchasing gifts and last minute stocking stuffers, and are about to begin an intense week of baking cookies. This is also our second year of doing a Christmas puzzle. Settling down with a glass of wine or a cup of tea and focusing on a puzzle has proven to be a soothing pastime for me. It’s not just Issy and I anymore. Rosemary has started to discover the magic of the season. She is learning about the holidays through books and her favorite, so far, is “Charlie Brown’s Christmas.” She is SO my grandmother’s great granddaughter. Rosemary is also discovering the joys of snow, the perils of things freezing over, and the delights of cake pops shaped like snowmen from Starbucks. I very much want her to feel the same excitement and joy that I did as a kid. I want her to enjoy giving more than she does receiving. I want her to understand that this is the time of year where we open our wallets for not just gifts but for different causes… and sure!- this doesn’t have to be experienced only during the holidays, but it sure is a good time to show her the pleasure in giving to others. 

On Friday I have grand plans of going out and finishing ALL shopping, getting a Christmas eye brow wax, and meandering over to the wine shop to get the wine for our Christmas day meal. That’s this year’s traditions. Maybe next year, things will be different? Traditions don’t really matter… What matters is being with the people who make traditions worth doing.

Kendall’s Essential Gift Tips and Ideas For The Holiday Season

by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment on Kendall’s Essential Gift Tips and Ideas For The Holiday Season
Kendall’s Essential Gift Tips and Ideas For The Holiday Season

I have never had the knack that many do for gift giving. I work really hard to pick gifts and I am rarely confident in giving them. Is it too commercial? Hippie? Young? Old? Irrelevant? The list goes on. We are a family on a budget and I am fairly strict about sticking to it… I definitely could be stricter but that’s a whole other can of worms. Anyways, as a family on a budget, that means we need to be thoughtful about who we are gifting to and what we are gifting. Issy and I both have fairly large families and tons of friends and that can often come with budgeting problems when holiday shopping. So, here are some of my guidelines for gift giving and a look at what could possibly be in my family’s stockings this year. 

The past two years have been very expensive ones for us and so we try to be thoughtful about all gift buying. A lot of our friends and families don’t need gifts for the sake of getting gifts and we don’t like to give people things just for the sake of checking off a list. That’s not what the season is about and honestly, wasting money just to say you bought someone something is not what we are about… ever. Because of this, I am probably seen as a very inconsistent gifter. Some years, I see something and am moved to purchase it for someone… and then that person or family might not get something from us for another couple of years… and to me, that’s ok. At some point, you have to be realistic about gifts and getting gifts. I don’t want to receive something if it’s not truly from the heart… you can begin to tell when you are just a name to be checked off a list. So… 

Guidelines:

  1. Keep it real. Meaning- be realistic. Set your budget. Write down everyone you would want to give a gift to and then write out your ideas. Do some research. Price it out. Then, decide what’s realistic and reevaluate. Do this until you feel good about that list. If you don’t feel good about it in terms of authenticity, price, etc., then just don’t. Figure out something else. 
  2. If you are trying to buy gifts for a family, maybe try looking at gifts for the whole family to enjoy. OR look for a gift that the adults can share and then a gift for any potential kiddos to enjoy together. This can help keep your budget on track and keep the stress levels down of buying for too many people. I love consolidating gifts this way. 
  3. Know your audience. For example, we don’t like a ton of stuff. And the stuff we do like, we are very picky about. So buying housewares and clothing is always risky for us. But wine? Heck, yeah. We will gladly take a bottle of wine. Dish towels? YES, PLEASE. My dad loves cool art things, so I am always trying to pick something he can hang up on his wall or utilize in his home office. My husband is someone who buys what he wants for himself as he sees it. Waiting for Christmas just isn’t his thing, so as a result, I don’t get him big Christmas gifts but I do fill up on stocking stuffers for him- gum, candy, shaving things, etc. That’s joyful for him to open. 
  4. Simplicity is key. We don’t want to buy everyone multiple things… my mom is probably rolling over in her grave right now! She loved to give people a few things to open. She loved that… she loved picking gifts for people. Sorry mama, but I don’t. I like to focus on one thing (maybe two). This can be per person or per family depending on the list. It’s a bit harder when you aren’t doing smaller things but that’s also the intentionality behind the way we gift- simplicity. 

And look, trying to buy for everyone can get exhausting. This is where the art of the holiday card comes in. I love cards; all cards! Photo or regular ole’ cards- I love receiving them. In recent years, sending out holiday cards has become the main way that we manage to stay in touch with our friends and family all over the world. Early last week I sent our holiday cards off to Spain. They arrived today- well at least one family got theirs already. Sometimes something in the mail and a quick update be it letter, a short scribble, or a photo is enough. 

Gift Essentials/Ideas: 

“Essentials” differ from person to person. So the following is relevant to the people in my life. 

As I stated above, stocking stuffers are most important to my husband. This year, his stocking will have some grooming items and snacks for work- even though he is WFH, he still needs his own snacks because I don’t like him taking mine! 

Extended family members will be getting either gift cards, local gift baskets from Vermont companies (gotta support the local businesses), or a 2 or 3 month subscription box off of Cratejoy.com. Cratejoy is amazing. They have everything from tea subscription boxes to book boxes to food boxes… the list goes on… like really, they have date nights in a box, CBD boxes, and boxes of items for the bedroom (cough cough you know what I mean cough cough). My favorite thing about Cratejoy is that they also have boxes to fit most any budget.
** I am not paid to say any of that- I just really like them! 

In the past, I have done handmade gifts for friends and neighbors. This year, it just seemed too difficult (thanks, Covid-19) to make that happen while trying to keep people as safe as possible. So, that’s where a bottle of something at someone’s doorstep or simply just scheduling a Zoom call for cocktails, coffee, or tea is going to come in to play. One of my favorite parts of the holiday are the holiday parties! And since that’s out of the question, what I really want is just a moment to connect with the people I care about. 2020 has been… a trip… or should I say lack of a trip? It’s been different. It’s been stressful. Let’s make sure that we try and connect in a safe manner with the people we love. The gifts are just stuff. Stuff that we don’t need to beat ourselves up about. But taking the time to say “Hey” or “I love you?” That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

Shari’s Stocking Stuffer Guide

by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment on Shari’s Stocking Stuffer Guide
Shari’s Stocking Stuffer Guide

As a child my favorite thing to do was to dig into my stocking first thing on Christmas morning! The joy that came from that overflowing stocking was almost to par with whatever large gift I got that year. As an adult I realize that the stocking is almost always an afterthought and most people don’t tell you what they want in their stocking, let alone what they even want for Christmas. Let’s bring some joy back to the stocking gifts and the magic of packing little items in a cute sock! 

Below is a quick list of some of my go-to items when shopping for stocking stuffers. Start by listing out the names of the people you need to purchase stocking stuffers for. Are there any small items that you know they will like? For example, my dad collects pins from trips and unique places. I always try to save a pin ahead of time to put in his stocking or order a clever one off of etsy. Another example is my husband; we always have to buy him travel size items before we go on vacation, so a stocking stuffer idea for him is travel sized items he’d actually use on a trip.

Also the predictable items like candy, gift cards, and mini toys are always a good idea. But I love it when people think outside of the box and add in something unexpected yet useful like battery operated twinkle lights, small framed photos, a meaningful ornament, or a useful tool. The goal is to put items in the stocking that people will actually use and enjoy but that aren’t super expensive. Without further ado, here are my recommendations from predictable to meaningful items – I hope you find it helpful!

Stocking Stuffer ideas:

+ Gum (the kids love Big League Chew)

+ Gift cards (Coffee cards are a huge hit for adults)

+ Hair stuff (I’m currently a fan of these scalp massagers)

+ Bath bombs/Soap

+ Chapstick

+ Candy (almost everyone in our family has a favorite) 

+ Flashlight

+ Pocket knife

+ Candles

+ Twinkle lights 

+ Poo-pourri (they have small to-go versions now too)

+ Small framed photo

+ Mini toiletries or travel items

+ Stickers

+ Ornament

+ Hand Sanitizer (ahem, hello 2020)

+ Small toy or stuffed animal (I got my niece a mini unicorn one year and that was a huge hit!)

+ Tea/Cocoa packets (Or for the adults mini bottles of alcohol)

+ Reusable straws

+ Card games or mini travel games 

+ A small and real Orange (which is a family tradition) 

The list could go on and on but those are a few ideas to get you started! Get creative & enjoy!!

Thanksgiving Edition: Kendall’s Homemade Mashed Potatoes

by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment on Thanksgiving Edition: Kendall’s Homemade Mashed Potatoes
Thanksgiving Edition: Kendall’s Homemade Mashed Potatoes

It blows my mind when my family tells me that as a small kiddo (we are talking the ages of maybe 2-3) I didn’t like mashed potatoes. Like, seriously… WHAT was wrong with me. I never turn my nose up at a starch or carb. Evidence of which is on my hips.

Anyways, my mom made the BEST mashed potatoes. When she died, I vowed to figure out how she did it and replicate it. Some days, I get it just right while others, I am left wondering what I did differently. Cooking is sort of magical and even if you have a recipe, you are using your imagination to add a little more salt there or an herb as a garnish over here. It’s… fun! Thanksgiving cooking… it scares me. I am so afraid of disappointing people so I stick to my lane and I am always responsible for mashed potatoes.

Everyone has their own recipe for mashers. And in all honesty, all of them are really good. Some people add a hint of lemon or garlic while others keep the skins on or use a medley of different potatoes. Without further ado, here are my tips and tricks and recipe for mashed potatoes!

Things To Consider:
Mix it up! A lot of people I know are married to the idea that you can only use one kind of potato for mashed potatoes. My friends, this is simply not true! I love to use a medley of red, gold, AND russet.

Watch the water! One of the biggest mashed potatoes fails happens because the potatoes boil too long. Stand at attention and check your potatoes every few minutes once they’ve started really boiling. Set a timer on that smart phone if you need to… just don’t get lost and start thumbing through Facebook or Instagram because then you will really forget to check on the coveted Thanksgiving side dish.

Once they are perfectly boiled and you are mixing them together, do me a favor. DO NOT OVER MIX. That’s when the texture gets all goopy instead of whipped.

Ingredients:
4 Medium Russet (or baking) potatoes
3 Medium Yukon Gold potatoes
3 Medium red potatoes
*Mix up the medley however you want, just know you want around 5 pounds of potatoes total
8 Tablespoons of butter
1 cup of milk
Salt (I use Johnny’s Seasoning Salt because my mom did but you can also use something like Lawry’s or plain ole’ regular salt)
Pepper
Electric mixer of your choosing

Instructions:
Peel and cut the potatoes up into even sized pieces. Mine are usually about an inch thick.
Put the potatoes into your pot that you will be using for boiling.
Fill the pot with cold water until the water sits about an inch or so above the potatoes.
Throw some salt in your pot- about a tablespoon or a tablespoon and a half.
Turn the heat on high and start boiling.
Once you get a good rolling boil going turn the heat down just a smidge to keep the boil consistent.
Here is where it gets tricky, but you HAVE to watch your potatoes. In theory, your mashed potatoes should be done in about 12-15 minutes. But they might be done as soon as 10 minutes or take longer than 15 minutes. Every stove top is a little different… so watch them. The test for me is being able to take my wooden spatula and cut a potato piece in half… that shows they are soft enough.
Once your potatoes are soft enough, drain the water. Transfer your potatoes to whatever bowl you will be using for mixing.
Drop your butter in and let it melt within the hot potatoes. Also, at this stage, season with salt and pepper.
Start mixing! Once they are almost to your desired fluffy goodness point, slowly add the milk (you may not use all of it) and finish mixing.
Adjust salt and pepper to taste!

Then eat and eat and eat and don’t let anybody make you feel bad about it.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

Thanksgiving Edition: Shari’s Green Bean Casserole

by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment on Thanksgiving Edition: Shari’s Green Bean Casserole
Thanksgiving Edition: Shari’s Green Bean Casserole

When Kendall and I decided to share a pre-Thanksgiving recipe, I thought it would be super easy to choose my favorite to share with you. I was mistaken. There are too many dishes that I love and must have at the dinner table including (but definitely not limited to) stuffing, sunshine jello, salad, dinner rolls, and our family pickles- check out Shari’s family recipe here! The reason I ended up choosing the Green Bean Casserole is because it makes me think of Thanksgiving and we (my husband and I) have been asked to make it the past several years.

The beauty of the Green Bean Casserole is that you can buy all the ingredients from the store and throw it together super quickly OR you can make it from scratch. This year I told my husband that I wanted to make the cream of mushroom from scratch and he said, “Well, we don’t use cream of mushroom soup”… WHAT?! It’s true!! I just forgot. Below is the recipe we have been using the past few years and everyone raves about it! Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

Ingredients:
3-4 cans cooked & cut green beans –  Green Beans (our family cans our own green beans so I will be using two jars of those)
1 small Onion
3 tbsp Butter 
1 tbsp Flour 
4-6 oz Sour Cream 
1 dash of black pepper & salt  

Topping:
1 container – Fried Onion Pieces (Trader Joe’s 8 oz can)
1 small package of Cheddar Cheese 

Directions:

Preheat Oven to 375 degrees F.
Saute (finely chopped) onions in butter until they are translucent.
Add in flour, stir. 
In a large mixing bowl stir together green beans, onion mixture, and sour cream. Mix thoroughly.
Pour mixture into the casserole dish and add toppings (optional) fried onions and/or cheese on the top.
Bake for 15 -20 minutes.

Serve immediately!