5 Minute Glitter Reindeer DIY!

We only have 25 days until Christmas, which means that - if you haven't already - you'll probably be pulling out all the decor boxes you've been storing for this most magical time of year. I don't doubt that you might also check out the local stores, for new decor pieces to add to your festive arrangements. If not, that's totally cool, but if you are I suggest not buying the decor right away. 

I know that sometimes we don't want the hassle of making stuff and we figure that we can't recreate the beauty we see in stores, but you'd be surprised what you can make with a little patience and inspiration!

I can't even tell you how many times I've walked into Target and fallen in love with their Christmas decor, only to be deterred from buying it simply due to the price. Instead of getting down in the dumps about now filling my wall with the cute reindeer pictures that would've "tied the room together" (which is what I tell myself every time I buy a new decoration piece), I decided to make my very own for a fraction of the price! Not only was it incredibly cheap, but it was insanely easy to DIY. So obviously I had to share this trick with you all and hopefully show you guys that you don't have to spend a fortune to get in the holiday spirit! 

Supplies:

White Canvas (I used a total of 3)

Gold Glitter

Red Glitter

Paper

Pencil

Mod Podge

Hairspray

Ribbon *optional*

When it comes to the white canvas', you can pick up packs of them at Michael's (on sale right now for around half off), for relatively cheap. The size of canvas will all depend on you and your preference. As for the ribbon, I chose to hang up the canvas' this way, but you could easily frame them. 

Process for REGULAR reindeer:

1. Find a reindeer (our whatever you'd like to be on your canvas) outline online, then either freehand, trace, or print it out. I found mine on Pinterest (see HERE). 

2. Cut out the inside of the reindeer outline, allowing for you to have a clean stencil. Don't worry if it's not perfect, you just need a base.

3. Trace the inside on your canvas with a pencil LIGHTLY. This will all you to make any adjustments on the canvas afterwards, without leaving any distinguishing marks. 

4. Carefully "paint" the inside of your reindeer head outlined on the canvas, making sure to not apply too much especially on the outer rim, or else you will blob the antlers together. You want enough Mod Podge to allow for the glitter to stick, but not too much for a weird looking pile of goop. If you do find that you put too much, simply dampen a paper towel and carefully dab - or wipe - away the excess glue.

5. Immediately after the Mod Podge has been "painted", sprinkle the gold glitter all over the glue area generously. DO NOT MOVE THE CANVAS. Mod Podge and glitter can slide around if you move the canvas too quickly. Just apply enough glitter on the surface and wait, preferably overnight. 

6. When it's dry - or at least mostly dry, carefully lift the canvas and tap off any extra glitter onto a paper towel or paper plate. You can reuse it. Then gently wipe away any stray glitter specks that tend to hold on for dear life on the canvas. 

7. To finish it off, spray a LIGHT coat of hairspray over the top, to allow for the glitter to firmly set onto the canvas. This will keep the glitter from shedding and creating a never-ending mess. 

Easy, right?! I know it's not TECHNICALLY 5 minutes - since you have to wait for it to dry - but the overall process - minus dry time - is approximately 5 minutes. It was so easy and while the ears may look a bit "off", I actually like them. So does my padawan. 

To make a ribbon holder, all you have to do is cut a strip of ribbon and hot glue both ends to the back of your canvas, creating a "hanger". Like I said prior, you can always frame them for extra "oomph". 

To create a Rudolph glittered reindeer, the process is very similar with a mild tweak. 

Process for Rudolph:

1. Use your reindeer stencil once again, just as you did for the regular reindeer. 

2. Trace the reindeer onto a clean canvas, only this time you need to draw a circle in the area you'd like Rudolph's bright red nose to be.

3. "Paint" the Mod Podge in the same delicate manner as I expressed for the regular reindeer, except DON'T put any glue on Rudolph's nose. 

4. Immediately after, sprinkle your glitter generously and let it dry overnight.

5. Clean off any stray glitter sparkles and then spray a light coat of hairspray, trying to avoid the circle. It's ok if a little get's in the nose area, it won't affect the outcome. 

6. After a few seconds of additional dry time, apply Mod Podge into the circle area, being aware that if you put too much glue, the glitter will start to mix in. Once your satisfied, sprinkle in some red glitter, focusing onto JUST the nose area.

7. Let it dry overnight. This is highly recommended or else you could end up with a very messed up Rudolph in need of a rhinoplasty.

8. Once you've given Rudolph ample time to dry, carefully tap off the excess glitter UPSIDE DOWN. This will reduce any stray red glitter sparkles, mixing in with the gold. If you find that a few of the red pieces are still sitting in places they shouldn't, CAREFULLY brush them off. This is why we hairspray-ed the gold glitter first, to reduce any being rubbed off. Please be aware that your nose may not be an absolute perfect circle - mine isn't - but it really won't be visible. 

9. Hairspray Rudolph's new nose and bask in the glory of your artistic skills! 

If you want to hang him with the ribbon, just repeat the process as I mentioned above and you'll have yourself a newly DIY-ed Christmas wall decor. 

I made 2 regular reindeer and 1 Rudolph, with Rudolph sitting in the middle. I absolutely love how these guys looked and if I'm being perfectly honest with you all, this will be their 3rd Christmas. That's right, I've had these bad boys for 3 years and no problem storing them. They still look fabulous if you ask me!

As you can see, I'm quite proud of my beauties and really it only cost me the price of 3 canvas', which were on sale at Michael's when I purchased them. Even at regular price and if I had purchased the glitter along with Mod Podge, it still ends up being cheaper than the reindeer I saw at Target. It just goes to show that while Target may be amazing and a curse at the same time, it doesn't have to break the bank when it comes to Christmas decor. That goes for any store really! If you see something you love, try to make it and you'll love it even more!!!

I hope you guys have had a good week so far! Don't forget to enter my Winter Giveaway HERE! There's only 2 days left to enter! Good luck Jedi's!!!

My Favorite "Budget Friendly" Christmas Outfits!!!

If you couldn't tell by my thrift hauls and the joy I [try to] express when I find a good deal, I'm am an avid "thrifter". If I can avoid paying full price for something, I most certainly will do what I can to make that happen. From walking away from a beloved item - merely because it's full price, to couponing anything and everything possible, I do my best to find good deals. Especially for clothing and holidays. 

I will however, admit that when it comes to my padawan, I tend to be quite lenient on this rule when it's regarding clothing. While I certainly do look for the best deals possible, I've been known to splurge on his clothing in the past. Particularly shoes. 

Seeing as how Christmas time is here once again - officially, I thought I'd share with you all the top 5 outfits I'll be sporting this wintery season. Now please take into consideration that although it's "cold' out here in southern California, it's not necessarily COLD like many other places. It's because of the lax weather, that I can get away with these types of outfits. If I was in a colder climate, I probably would be altering quite a few of these outfits...if not all. But for the sake of fashion, I thought I'd share my outfits with you all anyways.

I would like to say a small disclaimer though. I am in no way shape or form a "fashionista". I'm not an icon, I don't "play by the rules', I don't have an eccentric style, nor do I claim to be an influence in the clothing game. I'm merely a mother with a wardrobe that I love and wear whatever the heck I want to wear. That includes white AFTER labor day. Why? Because life is too short to be worrying about cloth all the time. 

My first outfit could be considered a "fall" look and the feet could be quite chilly, but for me this is a go-to for a simple errands day that's filled with a little sun. 

The jacket is from Ross ($6) and is a really pretty army green. Underneath you could easily wear a Christmas color shirt (red, white, graphic designed) and switch up the jeans for warm leggings. I talked about this jacket in a prior post about "Fall looks", which you can check out HERE. 

These pants are from Goodwill ($5) and the shoes are the new lace up flats that I found from Target on huge clearance (under $7, normally $25), which I briefly talked about in yesterday's post, HERE.

To "warm things up", a really simply brown boot would go nicely with this outfit or even some really cute printed rain boots. I've been looking for a nice pair of galoshes, but seeing as how it's "rainy season" here, they are a bit pricer than average. I plan on hitting the stores once Spring hits, to try and find a nice pair on clearance for next winter. Of course if I do, i'll share them with you all! For now though, it's either these flats for simple errands or even my converse. Casual, but comfortable. 

My next outfit is a typically cozy outfit that I love to wear if I'm going for a lunch or dinner. It's meant to be extremely comfy and warm, but look like I've put a little bit more effort into the whole outfit. Also, it's a "festive" type outfit that - at least to me - screams "Winter". 

The beanie is from Target ($3), which can be found in their "Dollar Section". It's extremely warm and it comes in a variety of colors. I love the little faux fur ball on top and the knit look, which is why I felt it went perfect with this sweater!

The oversized sweater - it's just a size bigger than what I normally wear - is from Amvets Thrift Store ($2) and is the epitome of comfort. It's not only soft with a cute pattern, but it's one of my favorite sweaters. I've talked about this sweater before, HERE. This sweater goes perfect with a nice pair of warm leggings, but can easily be worn with jeans as well. A faux fur vest would also go nicely on top of this, to add warmth as well. 

The boots are the only part of this outfit that aren't necessarily "budget" friendly, but they were a gift from my mom. They are my FAVORITE Doc Marten boots in the whole world and right now Goodwill - along with quite a few other thrift stores - have boots out for purchase, since it's the cold season. Since boots are easily acquired for cheap, this outfit is very easy to re-create. 

A little bonus "half-outfit" I thought I'd add, is a simple knit sweater with a faux fur vest. 

I wanted to include this to show you guys that not only can almost any Christmas sweater be jazzed up with a nice fur coat, but adding layers doesn't have to mean covering up the entire look's potential. 

This knit sweater (H&M clearance for $7) is incredibly warm and since the pattern can be seen all over the sweater - including the sleeves - it's perfect for a fur vest, because it's still visible. I talked about this one HERE.

With a nice pair of jeans - my favorite for this top duo is a dark wash - and some boots, booties, or even tennis shoes, you'll be rocking in style AND comfort in no time! 

Also, rain boots wouldn't be too shabby with this pair either. Man, I gotta find me some rain boots! To be honest, I don't really mind how they'd look, I just don't like going out in the rain and having my shoes get all wet. Albeit, we don't venture out into the world too often when it's raining, but for the times we do, you know? I like boots, what do you want from me.

My newest favorite - and final outfit for today - is this freaking awesome Christmas sweater that I found at Target on sale for only $10!!! I found it on Black Friday and instantly fell in love. I mean, it's Darth Vader (from Star Wars) AND he's wearing a scarf AND there are little AT-AT's!!!!!! It's a Star Wars Christmas sweater! How could I NOT buy it. 

I decided to include this one, because it's amazing and I wanted to show you guys a really simple way on how to further you Christmas spirit through clothing. 

Since the colors on this sweater are black, red, white, and green, you could easily pair this sweater with any of those colored jeans. This is wear the "white after Labor Day" rule get's thrown out for me, because I love wearing white for Christmas! Granted I have to be extra careful with what I eat, but regardless I love how it reminds me of snow. To be perfectly honest, I really only wear these jeans (from Ross years ago) during the Winter time. Almost every Christmas outfit goes with it and it matches my Star Wars sweater...so there. 

For shoes, I just used my Converse, which I found a while back from Goodwill ($8). These shoes go with everything! I know they are incredibly hard to keep white sometimes, but I talked about these shoes AND how to clean them back to white, HERE.

You can also wear your Christmas sweaters with regular jeans and still be just as cool. 

Really when it comes to Winter time, if you're warm and you like how you look, then who gives a rat's patootie what anyone else thinks? I got quite a few looks from pompous women that cackle at my Darth sweater, but I've also gotten "oo's and ahh's" from fellow Star Wars fans. My padawan especially loves it and it "matches" his little Star Wars Christmas shirt (which is also from Target). 

In case you were wondering what my padawan and I plan on wearing this Christmas, it's our "matching" Star Wars sweater and shirt. Only thing is, my padawan will have a long sleeve underneath his shirt, for added warmth.

If you love it, rock it. Life is too short and Christmas time is even shorter. Lord knows that if I hadn't spent so much time worrying about what other people think of my clothing choices, I probably would've had more time to sleep in. I'm just saying. 

Hopefully this has inspired you all to go out there and wear whatever the heck you want to wear, because you are beautiful no matter what fabric you put on your body! 

Don't forget to enter my Winter Box giveaway going on now! You can click HERE to see all the ways on how to enter! Good luck Jedi's and happy Tuesday!!!

P.S. 26 DAYS TI'LL CHRISTMAS!

"Moana" Movie Review AND Winter Box Giveaway!!!

Happy Monday everyone! I hope all has gone well without any trouble. For those of you that went shopping on Black Friday, I hope you're basking in the glory of your cheap finds! I stopped by Target yesterday and noticed that they still had a few TV's on sale for extremely cheap, along with a store wide 15% discount going on - including clearance. I was able to snatch up a pair of pointy lace-up flats for under $7 (normally $24.99 - shared the pic on Instagram), because they were on clearance AND the 15% off was applied to them. It's so awesome when you walk out with something you've been wanting for so incredibly cheap! 

On Saturday my mom and step-dad took my padawan and I to see the much anticipated movie, "Moana". I have to be perfectly honest with you guys, I've been super excited for this movie! I'm a Disney fan, so any movie they produce I'm almost sure to see. This was no different. After sitting down with our popcorn and embracing the wonderful music that is intertwined throughout "Moana", I now have quite a few opinions on this film. 

WARNING: Mild spoilers are sprinkled throughout this review. While I won't spoil the ending or the entire plot line, there may be a few things you'd prefer to experience for yourself. Personally I don't think they are major spoilers nor do they harm your viewing experience, but I thought I'd give this warning regardless. 

The entire movie is based on the story of a young girl (Moana), who goes through life constantly wondering who she's meant to be. Her father - the chief - has her life "planned out" as she's next in line for the "throne". She is meant to keep her people safe on the island, without ever sailing past the reef. The frustration that Moana has inside of her is very apparent, seeing as how she feels this constant connection to voyaging beyond the given restrictions. 

With a little "nudge" from her grandma, she decides to set forth and make things right for her village. A few "deadly" things start to take place in the village, so Moana's mother - while hesitant - supports her in her journey and hugs her goodbye. 

As Moana sets out to find the demi-God people once saw as a hero - and now a destroyer, she is confronted with questions, doubts, and ultimately determination. Prior to leaving, her grandmother reveals to her the truth about their ancestors, which caused this instant drive deep inside Moana.

Once Moana finds the demi-God and eventually convinces him to help her make things right, the audience then gets to witness the making of Moana as a women who's capable of truly leading her people. She's put through the ringer of tests and even gets to a breaking point - just like us all, but in the end she makes things right by deciding that there is more to people that what they merely show on the outside. Moana takes this lesson to heart as well and once she returns home, she is seen as a true hero. 

I know much of this may not make sense at this exact moment, but if you watch the movie it will. 

I was captivated by the graphics and the story line. I really enjoyed that the only "love story" that took place throughout the movie, was that of family love and earth love. The music was excellent and each song was beautifully written - just like most Disney movies. The characters grab your attention and I even had a few tearful moments. 

"Moana" holds the position of "tearjerker" and "family oriented" movie of the year for me. My favorite sideline character is the chicken by far, but as a main character, Moana is an amazing inspiration for girls and boys everywhere. To teach the children that their passions don't have to align with what makes everyone else happy, is a message I can stand behind whole-heartedly.

My overall review is this: I want to actually own this movie and re-watch it 13214564641 times. I know I didn't have this similar feeling with the "Trolls" movie (see that here), regardless of it being a good movie, but "Moana" is one that I wish to have as a hard-copy. 

Out of 5 stars, I give this movie a 10. I may be a bit biased due to my love of Disney, but I really encourage you to see this movie with your little ones. Quite a few parents - and grandparents - got a kick out of this movie, so you won't be bored out of your mind. Plus, there isn't a really annoying - yet seemingly catchy - song that your kids will be blatantly screaming out loud on the top of their lungs for months to come. So there's that too. 

Now for the giveaway...

On Friday's post (see here) I mentioned that I was hosting a giveaway this week and guess what guys? It's finally here!

This giveaway is fully hosted by myself and I have personally chose these items as a special "thank you" to you all! It's been an awesome journey so far as a blogger and I haven't even been blogging a full year yet! Seeing as how you guys have given me so much inspiration and support, I wanted to do something special for my favorite holiday, Christmas. 

Christmas is all about giving and that's exactly what I intend on doing, so without further ado, I present to you all, the TWRC Winter Box Giveaway! I wanted to include a few goodies that I thought would help give you someone special a really "cuddly" winter time. So I picked a few things that could all go together to create one awesome day off or could be spread out to allow you multiple days of relaxation. 

Inside the TWRC Winter Box, you'll find:
- 1 box of White Fudge Oreo's
- a square candle in the scent "Cashmere Creme" 
- 1 pack of 12 markers
- 1 adult coloring book called "Wild Woodland"
- 1 pair of "Have A Beary" Christmas shea-infused socks (From Bath & Body Works)
- 1 pack of 3 bath fizzers (bath bombs)
- 1 hot cocoa mix flavored "French Vanilla"
- red glitter nail polish named "Decadent"
- 3 fl. oz. body lotion in the scent "Frosted Coconut Snowball" (From Bath & Body Works)

I love each of these products and have tried/owned each one of these awesome goodies. I stand by them and I wanted to share things I knew would make for a special prize. If you want to enter, the rules are very simple and you multiple ways to enter!

WAYS TO ENTER:
1. Follow me on Instagram (@thewhiterockingchair). Find the picture of the official giveaway photo (the one I've posted with all the items spread out), like the photo, and tag someone that you think would love to win the Winter Box. 
2. On ANY social media outlet that I am on (Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest), share this blog post OR the giveaway photo, tagging me (or linking the photo to my blog page) and use #twrcwinterbox. 
3. Subscribe to my blog by email (on the right side of my blog) and then email me (you can either click the email button on the right side or simply send your email to thewhiterockingchair@gmail.com), telling me your favorite Christmas memory and why you should win the TWRC Winter Box giveaway. 

Also, please be aware that you will only be given ONE official entry on each platform. That means that if you tag 452 friends on Instagram, you'll still only get ONE entry. You can receive a total of 5 entries overall:

1 for liking, following, AND tagging a friend on Instagram
1 for sharing this blog post OR the giveaway photo on Instagram
1 for sharing this blog post OR the giveaway photo on Twitter
1 for sharing this blog post OR the giveaway photo on Pinterest
1 for subscribing to the blog through email AND emailing me

RULES:
The TWRC Winter Box Giveaway will start today (November 28th, 2016) and end December 2nd, 2016 at 11:59 PST. A winner will be chosen at random and will be announced on the social media site they've won through and/or on Monday's (December 5th, 2016) blog post. The winner will have 24 hours from the time they are announced the winner to claim the prize either by email, direct message on that social media site, or by simply commenting on the announcement's picture/announcement's blog post. 

This contest is open to all USA residents. If you are a USA resident, you will NOT be responsible for shipping. 

If you are outside of the USA, but would still like to participate for a chance to win, you may do so, but shipping cost will be your responsibility if you are declared the winner. Payments will strictly be made through PayPal and will ONLY consist of the shipping cost. The shipping cost will be required within 24 hours of claiming the prize, in order to be officially declared the winner. Once I've received your shipping cost payment via PayPal, I will send your package with a photo of the receipt as confirmation. 

The winner will be chosen at random, but will be up to my discretion. If I see that you haven't complied with the rules or you have bullied or said anything negative on any of the giveaway's photos, you will be disqualified. If you are unclear of any rules, please contact me via email, social media, or on the comment section of this blog post. I will respond as promptly as possible. 

Overall it's a very easy going contest and I really hope that you guys are as excited as I am to enter as I am to give this beauty away! I really appreciate every bit of encouragement and support from you guys and this is my little way of showing just how much you guys mean to me. 

Have an awesome week guys and good luck Jedi's! Here's to everyone who didn't fit into the "perfect" mold. You are beyond perfect, regardless if you fit into the mold or not, because you guys rock!!!!

Food Feature Friday #5: Thanksgiving Special + Special Announcement!!!

Happy Friday once again Jedi's! I swear these days are getting shorter and shorter. I'm not necessarily complaining, because it just means that these next 29 days until Christmas will fly by! Which makes me excited for the big day, but also a little bummed that the amount of anticipation for the big day will go by in a flash. Anywho...

Earlier this week I mentioned how I was so focused on cooking this past Thanksgiving Eve, I completely and totally forgot to take pictures of the glorious items I had purchased (see that post HERE). Well today I had made it my mission to take a photo of the items I cooked, that are definitely worth repurchasing for Christmas - or any holiday - feast! You have no idea how amazing these items are and while I was devastated to not have quality pics for you guys Wednesday, I tried my best to make it up to you all! Also, there is a very important announcement at this end of today's post so keep on reading!!!

For Thanksgiving Eve, I included a few "peculiar" items into this years menu. I normally like to twist up the "usual" suspects normally expected during Thanksgiving feast, so in high hopes - and with amazing results - I decided to pick out a few newbies for this years dinner! With such a delicious success, I knew I had to share these items with you all! 

The entire menu consisted of:
Corned Beef Brisket - not featured
Cornbread Stuffing 
Cranberry Sauce
4 Cheese Scalloped Potatoes
Turkey Gravy
Avocado Bacon Salad with Sweet Onion & Bacon Vinaigrette
Baked Carrots - not featured 
Sweet Hawaiian rolls - not featured
Banana Cream Pie
Vanilla Ice Cream - not featured 
Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider - not featured

Everything that is NOT featured - while still delicious - won't be discussed into today's post. It's everything that IS featured, I feel you should all purchase and devour.

First couple items on today's featured list are the cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce, and turkey gravy. While they may not be the most exciting items I've featured, they are certainly worth recognition. Both are considered common items on Thanksgiving, but these two particular items are mouth watering. 

The cornbread stuffing is a very moist dish with excellent flavors from Trader Joe's. For $3.99, you get more than enough stuffing to feed 5 people and a very distinct taste that compliments any meat - or meatless - main course. With the cornbread being the main ingredient, it's filled with an array of spices that mix excellent. Personally I wouldn't mind having this on regular days, just because. It's a side dish that can be whipped up in the same time it takes you to toast the rolls! Seeing that it's a simple and quick dish, you won't have to worry stretching your time to make a homemade stuffing, without sacrificing the authentic flavors. 

The cranberry sauce is another simple yet decadently tart side dish. If you like the tartness that cranberries usually bring to the table, this will be the perfect addition to your plate. If you prefer a sweeter cranberry, a little brown sugar and a scoop of ice cream will give you a fruity twist on your dessert for the night. While it looks jellied like the cans you find in the stores, it's not quite the same texture. It's smooth yet strong flavor makes me quite pleased to add this to turkey sandwiches or even a small salad! Regardless of the occasion. For $1.99 you can have a topping that makes for an tasty addition.

Another topping I highly recommend is the Trader Joe's turkey gravy for only $1.49. Not only can it subtly cover any meat, but it alters it's taste to - again - compliment anything that you drizzle it over. It's not just for turkey, I know that first hand. With a salty brisket, 4 cheese scalloped potatoes, and eggs with bacon the next morning, I've come to realize that this gravy is something I'd love to keep on hand in my pantry. Everyday dinner's could easily be given a little "pizzazz' with a layer of this gravy!

The next three items that are on my featured list for this week are the four cheese scalloped potatoes and the sweet onion & bacon vinaigrette from Trader Joe's, with a banana cream pie to finish off the list from Ralph's (brand is Claim Jumper and can be found at multiple grocery stores). 

*please note: The four cheese scalloped potatoes - also known as "quattro formaggio" - and the sweet onion & bacon vinaigrette were both sold out at Trader Joe's when I went to take pictures of the items, but I was able to find both items on the Trader Joe's website. The picture of the banana cream pie is mine.*

My all-time favorite find of this year's feast was by far the four cheese scalloped potatoes. This was a huge hit at the dinner, not to mention the grocery store as well! For only $4.49, you are gifted a portion big enough for 2 people in one serving. After simply warming up the potatoes in the microwave or the oven - I chose oven - you will be greeted with an intoxicating aroma of melted cheese and heaven. Pure creamy, rich, cheesy heaven. These potatoes are so good that they flew off the shelves in a few days at Trader Joe's. If you happen to see this in your store, grab at least one - possibly two - and get ready to experience a potato that not only deserves to be an every day dinner item, but a meal in itself. These are filling yet not overwhelming. I'm a cheese person, but I'm also quite picky when it comes to cheese mixtures. I have had experiences in the past with Trader Joe's "multi cheese" products being a bit too "grainy", but these are FAR from that. These potatoes are the greatest potato product I've had the good fortune to taste. Warning, they are EXTREMELY addicting. 

My second all-time favorite find this past Thanksgiving was the Trader Joe's sweet onion and bacon vinaigrette. Normally I'm not a fan of vinaigrette's, but this one was very very different. For a mere $2.99 you'll find yourself with a new love for salad. If you want to jazz up your greens, simply pour this sweet yet savory dressing on it and you'll instantly be amazed that these two items could come together to create such beauty. The bacon nor the onion is overpowering, nor do they battle each other for the power flavor. They coexist with such harmony and create a very unique taste that can only be explained as exquisite. Because neither flavor is immense, you can add some bacon or onions into your salad, without the worry of it being "too much". I added bacon and avocado to the Trader Joe's Sorrento blend salad mix, for a really crisp and fresh flavor, making this the perfect side salad to any dinner or holiday dish. 

At the end of every good meal there is a palatable dessert. This year it was a Claim Jumper banana cream pie that has been a favorite of mine for quite a while. The only necessary thing to complete this dessert is simply thawing it overnight in the fridge. So not only is it whipped with banana delight, but it's easy to "make". It has a thin layer of whipped cream on top, but don't be discouraged, it's the perfect amount for this soft crusted beauty. The sprinkled almonds on top also give this tiny crunch and subtle nut flavor that pleases almost any taste bud. The crust isn't thick or hard, but soft and flaky. The overall portions of each section throughout the pie, sit in perfect harmony with one another. A big reason why I absolutely love this pie. I'm also a big "banana lover", so this was an easy decision for me to grab for this year's dessert. Prices vary, but you can find this at Ralph's, Food 4 Less, Vons, Target, Walmart, and Smart and Final. Along with any other major grocery store chain. 

With so many featured foods this Friday, you'll have so many choices to taste. I recommend eating them, but some people may prefer certain things over others. If you do try them, please don't forget to share your pics with me on Instagram! #thewhiterockingchair

As for my special announcement...

I mentioned a while back about my upcoming giveaway that I was hosting after Thanksgiving. Well Thanksgiving has come and passed, so it's time to announce the "TWRC Winter Box" Giveaway!

I love Christmas and I love giving! So to honor each and every one of you guys, I thought I'd giveaway a very special box filled with all sorts of cuddly prizes. From special snacks to artistic goodies and a few silky smooth skin products, you'll have a chance to win a box that I've personally created to help you have a relaxing and cuddly winter! I will officially launch the giveaway on Monday with pictures that will showcase all the prizes and the official rules on how to enter. With this giveaway you will have multiple options to enter, so don't get discouraged if you aren't on social media! I've created this box with you in mind and I stand by all the products I've chosen for this giveaway! It's super awesome and I can't wait to share it with you guys! I want to have a full week of entries, but I thought waiting ti'll after the weekend would be best. 

I know it's not the "grand announcement", but hopefully it inspires you all to check back in on Monday to see the 9 prizes that you could win in Monday's "TWRC Winter Box". 

I hope you have an amazing weekend and a safe one! If you're traveling home or just resting these next few days, remember to stay awesome you beautiful Jedi's!

Happy Thanksgiving!!! I'm Thankful For...

It's finally here! The day for us to reflect on how much we have to be thankful for and the last holiday before Christmas! It's also the biggest shopping event for those who celebrate Black Friday. 

Today was a relaxing day. My uncle, padawan and I woke up fully relaxed and headed over to my dad's house around "linner" time. We ate some good food, enjoyed the family, and ended our day with hot cocoa and pie. The dinner at my dad's consisted of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, carrots, celery, olives, peppers, Brussels sprouts with bacon, rolls, fruit salad, and apple cider. All delicious if I do say so myself.

Throughout the day - although I reflect on this quite a bit in general - I started to think about how much I have to be thankful for. While my life isn't perfect are there are things I wish I could change about it sometimes - very mild things really - I am extremely grateful for what I do have. Seeing as how that's what today is all about, I thought I'd share with you all what I personally am grateful for, not to be confused with my prior blog post: "50 Things To Be Thankful For This Election" (seen HERE).

1. God - you may not believe in him (and that's totally fine, no judgment here whatsoever), but for me I've been saved so many times, I'm grateful he never gave up on me. 
2. My family (and that includes the extended members) - it's the best family I have and no matter what has happened in my life, they've always stuck with me. 
3. My friends - while I have quite a few in my little circle, they have been true friends from start to finish. 
4. I have a home - so many can't say this and not a day goes by that I don't treasure this blessing.
5. I have a car - again, not everyone can this. I'm beyond grateful to own one.
6. My health - I can walk, talk, breathe, see, and do things for myself. I think that's INCREDIBLY lucky for me to say, therefore, I'm INCREDIBLY thankful.
7. My blog - it's connected me to so many amazing people and it's given me a chance to really express my true inner self.
8. My neighbors - they could be psychotic, nosy, and horrific people, but they aren't. Far from it actually and that is something to smile about!
9. Those who have passed - I may miss them dearly, but just the fact that I had the chance to know them, makes me feel blessed.
10. There is food in my fridge - My padawan nor I go hungry and that in itself is something to be truly thankful for.
11. Technology - I don't mean iPhones and tablets, I mean technology. Because of technology, I can go out and know that if an emergency happened, I would have a cellphone to use. When I was very ill, technology gave the doctor's what they needed to help me. While technology can be a "touchy" subject to some, due to it's controversial nature, it's something I appreciate in general. 
12. My life - it has taken me a long time to finally be at peace with what my life is and that is something I thought I'd never say.
13. Me - I didn't think I would say this either, because for a long time I was unstable with my confidence. I've learned to love myself for who I truly am. 
14. You - I'm extremely thankful to each and every one of you. You have all meant the world to me. I know that I don't talk to each of you everyday and I may not ever get to meet you all (although I truly wish I could!!!!), but I want you to know that you mean so much to me.

Found HERE

In life I've come to realize that regardless who comes into your life at what time, it's those who stay that matter most. This blog has been a huge relief for me, because I never thought I'd ever find a way to express who I was. I also never thought anyone would read it and it would simply exist in the internet void, but I never gave up because I wanted to show someone - anyone - that they weren't alone. 

You don't have to be perfect, dress one way, talk a certain way, fit into a mold, or live a certain way. You should make expectations for yourself that are realistic and follow them IF they make YOU happy. If things go wrong, you don't beat yourself up, because tomorrow is a new day with no faults. 

I'm thankful that I'm here, typing this to all of you. I love you guys and if I could make a turkey feast for all of you, sit down at a long table, and just go around telling each of you how special and beautiful you all are, I would. In a heartbeat. 

I hope you guys had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I hope that you have a safe Black Friday as well. I'd love to see your guys' Turkey (or any feast) pics! Just tag me on Instagram or Twitter with #thewhiterockingchair or @thewhiterockingchair. 

Happy Thanksgiving and don't forget, you ARE a Jedi!

Thanksgiving Eve - I Messed Up!!!

First off, let me start by saying Happy Thanksgiving Eve everyone! And before I get the question, "do you know what you're celebrating?", yes. Yes I do. I - personally - am celebrating the beautiful soul of Squanto and all the Indians that died. I'm celebrating the fact that I have much to be greatful for and that my situation could always be worse, so enjoy what I have and don't bother with what I don't. Now that that's out of the way, let's get into the real story here. I messed up. 

I have a mini tradition going with my son and I. Seeing as how we have an extended family and they have their own extended families, my padawan and I celebrate thanksgiving in two parts. I cook on Thanksgiving Eve and have over my mom and step dad. On Thanksgiving day, my mom and step dad go to their extended family party (my step dads family) and I go celebrate at my dads. That way I don't have to cook at all on Thanksgiving day. While everything went off without a hitch today, I still managed to mess up. Nothing major, just ever so slightly.

You see, I always take pictures to share with you guys. Well today I intended on taking a ton of pictures, to show you all what I purchased for this year's feast at home. I even had a special plan to share a few recipes today and do a special Food Feature Friday this week. With all the hustle and bustle, I was serving up the plates of food and it dawned on me. I forgot to take pictures of what I had made and the special items! 

Food was already being devoured, plates messed up from being scarfed, and I was looking at my plate in horror. I couldn't believe I freaking forgot. I was so busy cooking, cleaning, preparing and trying to make the perfect meal, that I totally forgot to take pictures! 

In all honesty, I wanted to cry a little. But I have a plan, I'm going to go to the store, snap a few photos to show you guys the items I purchased (hopefully they're all still there!!!) and then feature them all in this weeks Food Feature Friday. Believe me when I say that everything was so good, quite a few items will be reappearing for my Christmas dinner! The overall price was unbelievably reasonable too! In fact, I have so many leftovers, we have quite a few meals for the next few days. So definitely check back for that this Friday. 

I am so sorry for my sloppy etiquette and not sharing with you guys some of the scrumptiousness. I'm going to do my best to right the wrong. I know I'm human and I deserve to have a messed up day every now and then, but I still feel a little crappy about it. No worries though, I will come through for you guys! I did however, manage to snap a picture (albeit a bit fuzzy from poor lighting) of my plate. The meal consisted of: corned beef brisket, a bacon avocado salad with a VERY special dressing (see this week's Food Feature Friday), a VERY special and unique potato dish (also on this week's Food Feature Friday), apple cider, Hawaiian rolls, baked carrots, a special stuffing (again, Food Feature Friday), and some cranberry sauce (that will be included on Food Feature Friday as well). For dessert...well you'll have to see Food Feature Friday for that too! I know it's not giving away too much, but trust me. It's going to be so freaking fantastic, you'll be well prepared for Christmas or any delayed Thanksgiving's you wish to have.

Yes it's a thing, a few of my friends do it to save money on travel tickets. 

While I don't have a super fantastic blog post for you guys today, I can tell you that I love you all and I will make it up to you! I've been telling you guys to keep your eyes open for a super special announcement coming as well. It's still coming guys and it's AWESOME!!!! Of course it involves all of you Jedi's!!!

Well I hope that you guys have had a good Thanksgiving Eve and that tomorrow goes off with success, love, and deliciousness. I'm thankful for each and every one of you, because you all rock!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

How To Make Fake Burning Wood For $1!!! - Fireplace DIY Part 2

Last week I showed you guys how to make a fake fireplace for only $1! While I highly recommend you go check out that post (see HERE), you will be left with one crucial part missing, wood. 

You can definitely skip this portion and simply just use fake candles, Christmas lights laid out on top of wood logs, or just a 3D style cut out image. For those of you who may want to have a little more realism added to your fireplace, I have the perfect solution. Fake wood that looks like it's burning! The best part is that you can complete this entire project for $1 like I did, assuming you have a few arts and crafts items lying around. Regardless, you'll be looking at an extremely cheap DIY that is easily recreate-able. With just a few minutes of your time, a little patience, and a pair of battery operated lights from Dollar Tree (see mine HERE), you can make your very own wood burning fireplace! 

For your supplies, you'll need to gather up:

Battery operated lights (Dollar Tree) - $1
Brown and black paint (you can find at Michael's for very cheap)
Thin white streamers (you can find at Dollar Tree)
Scissors
Tape
Glue (Mod Podge or Elmer's)
Paint brushes
A plate to pour the paint on
3 to 4 paper towel rolls (or any cardboard rolls)
1 to 2 toilet paper rolls

optional:
2 battery operated flame less candles
Poster paper
Hot glue gun
Popsicle Sticks

*Please note that in my picture I included a roll of plug in lights, simply because I didn't have the battery operated ones yet. You can choose to use the plug in lights, but you will need to accommodate them with these instructions and the instructions on how to make your own fake fireplace.*

Step 1: Take each individual paper towel roll and create small to medium slits/holes all around

it. This will allow for the light to shine through the painted streamer paper.

Step 2: Cut small strips of your streamer and glue them thinly over the medium sized holes. Then cut your toilet paper rolls in half AT AN ANGLE (this is important for a branch affect). Make small cuts around the edge of your half of the toilet paper roll going upwards, bending the sections outwards. This will create a surface that you can glue and/or tape your half roll to the whole roll. This will give you a small branch like section. Once you've attached your "branch", start wrapping the log with your streamer. Be sure to make a hole on the whole roll where your branch is. You will be "covering" the branches hole, but you will still need a hole to have light come it. Also, cut out a small circle of streamer paper, that matches the size of your branches. This will be attached LATER. 

Step 3: Once you've completed your logs, you will want to start painting! Mix black and brown in a very uneven/splotchy way, to give the effect of "burnt" wood. I don't recommend going full black or full brown in any one area, as it may not have a "realistic" look to it. This process is a "messy" one in the sense that it isn't meant to be perfect. Simply play around with the colors

and go to town. Wood doesn't burn perfectly nor is it perfect to begin with, so don't worry. Try it out and remember, you can always paint over sections again. After painting your "logs", go ahead and GENTLY paint your circles for your branches. I only had 2 branch spots, therefore I only painted two. I say gently in all caps, because if you are too forceful or add too much paint, you can very easily rip the streamer paper, as it's delicate when "wet".

Step 4: When your branches are dry, all that's left to do is make SMALL holes over a FEW of the areas that you covered, just to add a "hot" spot. Thread your lights through each branch carefully, while trying to have them shine through your branches and holes. This may take a little working with, but you can make it work no problem with a little patience. After your circle's are also dry, you can then carefully tape them on your branch ends, so you don't have a giant hole that just shows your cardboard rolls. 

OPTIONAL STEPS:
There are two additional features that you can recreate as well, with the optional supplies I mentioned about.

The first is a poster paper log. If you don't have any cardboard rolls, you can simply take poster paper, make a few creases in the paper when rolling - to give a "harder lined" look, glue (or tape) an overlapping fold together, then glue a streamer piece on top of the joined section. From here you can simply wrap the "log" with streamer paper, paint, then put a few flame less candles on each end facing inwards. You could potentially make a few holes prior to putting the streamer paper on like I did with the cardboard rolls, but it does compromise the structure of the paper. I chose to use my poster paper log as a "top" log. The flame less candles made it seem like the perfect "hot spot" to be placed on top.

The last additional feature is a grate. For this I would suggest looking up a fireplace grate and try to assemble as best you can using popsicle sticks and hot glue. I had to really play around with this idea and in the end - after painting it black - it came out pretty decent. I did this, because I wanted to ensure that my "logs" would stay in place. 

Overall - even though it's a little uneven and a bit wonky - I was pleased with the results! 

Really the project as a whole came out pretty

darn awesome if I do say so myself. The logs all shine with a glow and they light up the living room with a subtle, but comfy light. 

Of course it's not a "real" fireplace, but for now it will do. My son loves it and I love, so personally I think that's all that matters! I had gotten quite a few compliments on how the fireplace turned out, which is ultimately why I wanted to share this with you guys! The best part is that you can completely customized this process to your personal preference, without spending a great deal of money. It's also a really fun project to do with the kids. Best part is that you don't have to worry about an electric bill OR a fire hazard with this DIY!

Now that we have our cozy "fire", we put on a nice movie or some Christmas music, cuddle up with some hot cocoa, and enjoy the nighttime sky out our window. Who doesn't love a nice snuggle session by a "roaring" fire. Ok so maybe it doesn't roar, but it also doesn't require chopping wood logs and THAT'S something I can get behind!

"Trolls" The Movie: Comically Worth It or Waste of Time?

Happy Monday everyone! I hope your guys' weekend went splendidly. Besides making lists of things I need to complete this week and preparing for Thanksgiving on Thursday, my mother decided to take my son and I to the movies this past Saturday. It was a "spur of the moment" idea for my little padawan, who was not only surprised, but genuinely excited! The movie choice for the day was "Trolls". I will admit now, I was a bit thrilled myself, because I tend to like the funny cartoons. Call me a kid at heart, but it comes in handy when you have a kid!

Found HERE

Our little family outing took place early Saturday morning, so we could hit the first showing at 10:15 am. With snacks in hand and my padawan positioned in the perfect seat, we sat back for what I had hoped would leave me cracking up and my son smiling the whole time. 

For those of you who are unaware of the movie, it's a cartoon that features quite a few big name celebrities. The two main characters were voiced by Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick, but you'll also hear Gwen Stefani, James Cordon, Russell Brand, and Zooey Deschanel as well. The storyline itself is based around the colorful trolls (similar to the ones I played with as a child, with the crazy hair) and their fight to not be devoured by cranky monsters. With a huge battle on their hands, royalty in the mix, and a few love stories, you'll have the opportunity for so many emotions to arise. Question is, did they?

For me personally, I absolutely loved it. It wasn't an "oh my gosh, let's watch it 84,738,292,938 more times!", but it was a movie I actually felt was worth seeing. The overall story line was really well played out and I truly like how betrayal was placed cautiously (and not in an obvious way) into the story as well. The love stories were a bit predictable, but it wasn't anything overly sappy in my opinion. The music they used left me smiling and singing along (no they aren't kiddie songs). My son was laughing, smiling, and overall enjoyed himself. 

Found HERE

It's easily compared to the style of "Angry Birds" or "The Secret Life of Pets" (see that review HERE). A cartoon movie that kids can enjoy and the parents can actually laugh as well. While I definitely don't think this is a 5 star movie, nor did I enjoy it as much as "Finding Dory" for example, it was a hit for me. I was happy - even shed a tear or two...but I'm a sap at times - my padawan was happy - he's STILL talking about how much he liked it - and my mom really enjoyed the experience with us. 

To me, having my son actually sit down in one spot without getting bored, equals a success. It's a rare sight to see with a 5 year old, so when it happens, it's like watching magic. 

I would rate this as a 4 out of 5 stars on the "kids cartoon movie" scale. The music was relatable, the characters had me laughing, my son loved it, and it kept our attention. Also, I really love how now I can tell my son that you don't need to eat things to make you happy. He often tries to "convince" me, that candy is the only thing that will make him happy when he's upset about something. Now I have a movie, that he openly admits to loving, to use as a "point" in my arguments. 

Would I watch it again? Probably not, but I wouldn't be opposed to buying the DVD for my padawan and playing it in that living room for all to hear and watch. 

Have you guys seen the "Trolls" movie? If so, let me know what you think and how you would rate it! Our next movie adventure we are hoping to experience, is the upcoming Disney movie "Moana". One, it's Disney. Two, do I need another reason? 

Happy Thanksgiving week you beautiful Jedi's! Here's to good food, DIY's, and a special announcement later this week!