I love the holidays. They are truly the most wonderful time of the year. I love the atmosphere everywhere. People are so happy, the weather is cold, and there's just something about the holidays that make me so wonderfully happy that I cannot explain. (You, too?) 

One of my most favorite things about the holiday-time is gift-giving. Seriously, I get a little wild and crazy buying people gifts, and I pride myself in being a terrific gift-giver. For me, it's important to gift people with practical items that they will actually enjoy using and have a general need for. So, shopping for gifts is easy-peasy for me. It's the gift-wrapping that takes up too much time and can become complicated (especially for those oddly-shaped presents). 

While I'm not terrible at gift-wrapping, there are definitely others who have a natural talent for wrapping presents. Again, I'm not the worst, but I am definitely not one of those talented folks. So, instead of taking up too much time wrapping gifts, or just throwing things in bags (I somehow always tend to choose the wrong size), I've cut down on issues in gift-packing by using food storage containers as an easier way to pack gifts. 

Luckily, Rubbermaid TakeAlongs, available at Walmart now through December 24, are inexpensive and come in limited edition holiday colors and holiday prints. The soft lid grips the container tightly (no need for tape!), but opens easily with a large tab. What's even more is that these containers are dishwasher, freezer, and microwave-safe, so your giftee can reuse them - it's like two gifts in one! These Rubbermaid TakeAlongs are super easy to find at your local Walmart, as they are displayed on an end-cap. Impossible to miss!


Rubbermaid TakeAlongs come in a variety of sizes, so they're perfect for packing a variety of snacks, treats, and other edible gifts. So, follow along so you can learn how to perfect your gift-packing this year using Rubbermaid TakeAlongs.

This recipe is perfect for anytime, but was a hit for Thanksgiving at my parent's house. I didn't tell the guys it was "healthier" and they gobbled it up like turkey. I love Harry Potter and when my sister sent me a link to this recipe on Facebook, I knew I had to make this treat ASAP. So, I edited my version a little to be a little quicker, a little cheaper, but just as delish!






Ingredients:

2-pack of deep dish frozen pie crusts

For Filling:
12 oz of lite whipped topping, thawed
1 packet of sugar-free butterscotch instant pudding
1 1/2 cups of fat-free milk (this may vary depending on pudding packet, so check it out)
1/4 cup sugar-free caramel sauce

For Topping:
4 oz of lite whipped topping, thawed
1/2 cup marshmallow creme

Directions:

1. Cook one pie crust as directed on package and set to side to cool. Let other crust thaw.
2. Mix pudding as directed on package (make as if for pudding, not for pie.) This is where the milk directions may vary, so just make sure to follow the package directions.
3. Mix pudding with 12 oz of whipped topping and 1/4 cup of caramel sauce.
4. Dump pudding mixture into pie crust and let sit in fridge for 3-4 hours.
5. While pudding is in fridge, cut lightning bolts (or other preferred shapes) from the thawed pie crust. Bake for approximately 10 minutes at 300 degrees. Set aside.
6. Once pudding has set, mix 4 oz of whipped topping with 1/2 cup of marshmallow creme.
7. Spread marshmallow mixture onto the pudding pie.
8. Place lightning bolt cutouts on top of pie.
9. Enjoy!



Do you have any go-to dessert recipes, or any Harry Potter-related dessert ideas? Let me know in the comments!

If you've been following along with the blog for a while, you'll know that Andre and I got married in September of 2015. Since then, I have had an obsession with having print photos, for everything from scrapbooking to framing for our (eventual) gallery wall. I've tried several photo-printing services, but I haven't been as impressed with any as I am with Mpix. Our wedding photographer (who also happens to be my mom's cousin) recommended Mpix when she sent us our engagement photos, and I'm so glad she did!

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on my link and then make a purchase, I will earn a small commission.


I'm obviously a girl of many wants, with are mostly food or Harry Potter-related. Check out what I'm wishing for this Christmas!




What is it you're wishing for this year?

I was never really a fan of cranberry sauce until I tried a sub with an orange-cranberry relish on it. It completely changed my opinion. The trouble? You can literally only buy this stuff during the holidays, and sometimes it is just gone, all sold out. So, I figured out how to make a similar sauce (via crockpot!). See below how to make it yourself with just 3 ingredients, and it's sure to be a hit at your next gathering.



Ingredients:
1 bag (12 oz.) of fresh cranberries (rinsed and checked for stems)
1 cup of pulp-free orange juice (I used light - no sugar added)
2 tablespoons of sugar or sweetener (I used sweet-n-low, the pink pack)

Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients into the crockpot.
2. Cook on high for 3-4 hours.
3. Mash the cranberries, as desired. Stir.
4. Serve hot, or cool in the fridge overnight before serving.

(Sauce will thicken as it cools).



If you have leftovers, try it on a turkey and bacon sandwich on whole grain bread with gruyere (or your choice of cheese).

Do you have a simple go-to recipe for the holidays?

Last weekend, I was fortunate enough to walk in the Step Out Walk to Stop Diabetes with my sisters. The three of us rarely get a chance to spend some time together, so it was wonderful not only to get to hang out, but also that we came together with hundreds of others in the fight against diabetes.  You may recall that I posted a few months ago about living life with diabetes, so it was humbling seeing so many other people (including small children) living with the same condition and stepping out to fight it. 








The walk took place at Turner Field (the Ted), which was pretty exciting, because this season was the last season for the Braves at the Ted, as the new stadium will be opening up in Cobb County for next season. I've been to several games at the Ted, but I had never been on the field. We walked three laps around the stadium, and then got to finish out our last lap on the field, so that was definitely an exciting part of the walk!











This was the first 5k for both of my sisters, and I was so happy that we did it together! The Atlanta Step Out walk was one of the last for this year, but 2017 walks are already becoming available to register for, so you can check those out here! You can also still donate to my team via this link through December, so please feel free to donate in any amount towards the fight against diabetes.


I would definitely love to make this an annual event with my sisters, so I look forward to starting a larger team next year and raising funds for the American Diabetes Association to further awareness and research in the fight against diabetes!


What causes are near and dear to your heart? I'd love to hear about them and help to raise awareness for whatever it is you're fighting for/against!

This picture in the graphic above is from Youtube, found via Google.

If you weren't sure about going to see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the gist of this post is this: do. Go see it!

I know a ton of people were unsure about seeing the film because it doesn't have Harry and the gang, or because it's a spin-off, or perhaps because Cursed Child (was not so canon. But this movie is better than that.

So, without giving away any major spoilers, here are some things you can expect from Fantastic Beasts (and also, just some of the reasons you should get out there and go see it this weekend!).

1. Mostly adorably precious, but some kind of weird, and some pretty scary, creatures.
2. Humor. This film has tons of laughs in it, especially if you enjoy some references to the Potterverse that we all know and love.
3. A few good plot twists.
4. A canon storyline (in relation to the films). You may see some nonverbal spells(which are super difficult to master) and slight things that would be slightly off in the books, but hey, that's what films are for, right?
5. Hedwig's Theme, and an opening sequence filled with tears (depending on your fangirl/boy status).
6. Obviously, 1920s New York and MACUSA.
7. A pretty equal amount of screen time between muggles (no-majs) and magical folk.
8. A few big-name actors.
9. Some familiar names (mostly just last names in reference to people in relation to characters you already know).
10. And you get to meet Newt Scamander, who is a wonderful Hufflepuff through and through. He may be one of my favorite Potter characters ever, and I can't wait to get to know him better though the next four Fantastic films (say that five times fast).

I will also tell you, there is nothing after the credits, so you don't have to stay all the way through to the end (ya know, unless you just want to).

Another odd fact: my theatre was selling MACUSA shirts, so yes, I bought a souvenir from the movie theatre. We saw it in IMAX 3D,  which was my first ever IMAX movie, and that was pretty cool, but not necessary. The movie would have been just as great in regular ole 2D.


Anyways, make sure to get your ticket this weekend and go see it! It won't disappoint!


If and when you see it, let me know what you think in the comments below!

Well, we have just six weeks left of 2016. Mind blowing, guys. I can't even believe that Thanksgiving is next week. Apparently, this is what growing up feels like.

Also, if you weren't aware, Fantastic Beasts is premiering tonight! Woohoo! I am so dang excited. :) :) :)

Friday, 11/11: I had to pick up a case of water on my way home, so naturally, I went to Target to browse. The first thing I noticed when I walked in is that the Dollar Spot had been re-arranged. This is everyone's favorite part of the store (tell me it's not, I'll be genuinely surprised!), but does anyone else remember when everything was actually a dollar here? Then it progressed to $3, then $5, now $7 and $9. If it creeps to $10 or above, it definitely needs to be in a different part of the store. It's the DOLLAR SPOT for crying out loud. (Does anyone else feel the slightest bit aggravated about this, or just me?)

Saturday, 11/12: My sisters and I participated in a walk for diabetes, and it took place at the Ted. It was nice to get to enjoy the stadium one last time (and walk the field), since next season the Braves will be in their brand new Suntrust stadium. (PS. There will be a full post on the Step Out Walk to Stop Diabetes Monday.)

Sunday, 11/13: I convinced Andre to take some pictures together, so we at least have some nice pictures annually. This one was so random and pretty to me.

Monday, 11/14: Courage hoped up on these blankets and sat so still like this for so long. It really had me cracking up. She was like a statue! (Also, isn't she just so pretty and fluffy? I love her.)

Wednesday, 11/16: I got an odd package via inter-office mail, and it was a yummy k-cup from a friend in Admissions. How sweet, right?

How was your week?

In the past, I've talked a bit about my struggle with diabetes and what it's like to live day-to-day with a chronic condition. Today, I own the fact that I have diabetes. While I sometimes struggle with it and sometimes just want to "be normal," I've slowly embraced that it's a part of who I am. But as a child, it was tough understanding my diabetes and what that really meant. I knew part of me didn't work, but I didn't 100% grasp what it was or why it didn't work. I had this idea of the pancreas as a dump truck that delivered insulin to eat sugar, which is a pretty accurate way to describe it (and believe me, I am so grateful to the nurses and doctors and advocates at CHOA that helped me to understand what was happening to me). 

I do wish that I could've had a better understanding of the pancreas and what it does. Now that I understand the pancreas and my condition a little better, I advocate for others to understand the pancreas, especially younger children who have or are close to someone who has diabetes. Learning about the body and different conditions is important, and I really don't think that people (children and adults) learn enough about how our bodies work. I mean, we're steering them around through life, with no idea how that's even happening! In comes I Heart Guts.

I Heart Guts is a wonderful website that spills the guts on guts! Okay, okay. It sounds vulgar, but I promise you it's not! This site offers information and merchandise on over 50 different guts, ranging from skin, muscles, and joints, to internal organs, to glands. The merchandise ranges from plushes, to lapel pins, to posters, and more! You can shop by product or by your specific gut. Of course I chose the pancreas (in a plush and a lapel pin, see below), but who's to say I'll stop there? Maybe next I'll buy a uterus, or a heart of gold!






You can meet all the guts here, and use code APAPERARROW25% to get 25% off your entire order! Not to mention their shipping is super quick. I purchased my guts on Wednesday night, and even with the cheapest shipping (like $2-3), my pancreases were in my mailbox by Friday. Impressive! Whether it's for someone with a condition, someone with a broken heart, or someone who just is really into anatomy, I Heart Guts products are the perfect educational and fun gift for everyone in your life.