These are a Few of My Favorite Things…

Need to stuff that stocking for that special someone? Here are a few of the things I am loving and suggest you have under the tree this year for your music lover, traveler, organizer, sweet tooth or hometown gal.

Because We’re Texas Grown and Texas Proud: Tumbleweed TexStyles

We are a PROUD Texas family and it shows. My hubs and I both grew up in tiny Texas towns where everyone’s related, so when we find out we weren’t, we decided we took the plunge (joke.) We always brake for Whataburger, West kolaches and Allsups burritos. Our home decor includes not one, but two rooms in which a Texas flag sits as the centerpiece of the room (no lie). Our home decor includes not one, but two rooms in which a Texas flag sits as the centerpiece of the room (no lie). Heck, even my son’s first word was “y’all…”ok, it wasn’t but it would have been funny if it had since his entire nursery was draped in red, white and blue stars. …Ok, it wasn’t but it would have been funny if it had since his entire nursery was draped in red, white and blue stars.

So when I came across a shirt that said “Willie for President: Waylon for Vice” from Tumbleweed TexStyles when rolling through my Instagram feed one day, I knew I had to have it. Three days later when it came in the mail as a gift for my husband, I was kinda sad I didn’t get myself one. The shirt itself was the feel of your favorite shirt you’d been holding on to for years, but without the stains or work to get it there. And the personality possessed by all artfully creative pieces designed by the two Frisco, Texas teachers gives you the immediately feeling of driving down 35 with Pat or Robert Earl Keen playing in the background.

However, when I came across this shirt (and many more of them) I HAD to have it.  Available for both men and a special “off-the-shoulder” ladies version, the Texas Towns shirt pays homage to the many Texas towns within the state (although not all of them.  However, two special towns made the cut.  “Possum Kingdom” and “Seymour”, while not next to each other on a map, sit right together on this shirt, just like this duo.

For some people it’s in the stars, for us it’s in the shirts. Go find your own Texas love story on their website at http://tumbleweedtexstyles.com.

Because I’m OCD: Epson Portable Bluetooth Labelmaker

I firmly believe that everything should have a label and it has its place. When we moved into our home I couldn’t help but put labels on the light switch panels so I wouldn’t have to touch them all to figure out which one was the fan and which one turned off the TV. With a room devoted to bins of holiday decorations and old baby clothes (19 bins in all), you have to have a label. But it gets old running up and down the stairs to make a label, print a label, affix a label and repeat. And labeling takes on a whole new level when you have kids go to school. Everything should be labeled or you will never see it again.

That’s why the Epson Portable Bluetooth Labelmaker rocks my world. Connected to my smartphone (or your tablet), the small label printed can fit in my car, in my purse or just under my arm as I take off upstairs to organize. Using both paper and CLOTH labels, you can have every piece of kids’ clothes properly labeled with their name and every box you’ll store after Christmas affixed with a reminder of what really sits in that box. Considering it a must-have for your official “I’m going to get organized” NYE resolution.

Because there’s Always a Need for Music: AwoX StriimLIGHT 

I’m always listening to music. Whether I’m in the car, at my home office and cleaning the house, I’ve my favorite songs at work. The beat keeps me going and when I’m trying to relax, singing is how I destress and let it all out even if I can’t listen to the song on high blast. While I don’t have a system to play the music throughout the house, I do have a “lightbulb” that screws into into regular size outlet and in seconds, it plays music – while also continuing to light the space. I’d like to say I’m magic, but actually, AwoX is.

AwoX is a pioneering connected smart home company that specializes in “dual use” bulbs! It is a WiFi or Bluetooth enabled light bulb that allows you to play music through a mobile phone or tablet playlist. Now, by just turning on the lamp, you can dance to your favorite tunes. In addition, you can synchronize your sound zones around the house with several StriimLIGHT WiFi speakers.

Need a better explanation? Just watch this and rather than buying everyone a speaker for Christmas, you’ll be buying a lightbulb that does both!

Because I’m so Dang Sweet – Candy Club

I’m sure there might be many people who disagree, I can confidently say I do love surprises, sweets and subscription boxes. So much so that I did a whole segment on the best subscription boxes out there! What started off as research, actually turned into a bad habit I can’t kick which is getting new, fun stuff in the mail every month. And this subscription one is the sweetest one yet – Candy Club.

First, choose a one, three, six, or 12-month plan option.  Second, receive your box of premium, hand-picked candy delivered to your home or business every month. Last – and most important – enjoy! Selections vary each month, offering members an assortment of three different types of candy stored in novelty Candy Club containers. One month’s box may surprise recipients with Haribo® Gummi Techno Bears, Sour Power® Wild Cherry Belts, Gimbal’s® Sour Gourmet Jelly Beans and, as an added bonus, Butterfields® Peach Buds – all on a bed of Sweet’s® Salt Water Taffy. Whether you’re craving a short-term fix or long-term satisfaction, Candy Club offers the perfect solution for your insatiable sweet tooth. And the presentation is oodles of fun too – sure to make your mood or someone else’s even better when they open this up each month.

The best thing is that you can share with your friends or family. Or you can always find a place to stash those Haribo Gummi Techno Bears because they are out of this world!

Because this Gal Needs Her Sleep (even when she travels): Evolution Travel Pillow

I love to travel even if I don’t get to do it as much as like. However, when I do get to be on a plane or in the car for a long amount of time, I’m out. Like seriously out. I’m the girl you are staring out and making fun of on a flight because her head is bobing all around as I try to find the right way to find the perfect position for peace and sleep. I’ve tried many pillows in the past that I have done me well – for one flight or I lose it because it’s so big. Now I’ve found the pillow of my dreams from Cabeau. Known as the place for travelers, the Economy pillow does everything – including hold my smartphone + headphones, hold up my head and compress for easy storage.

If you are that person that travels OR know someone that is, they’ll appreciate you when they are flying a red eye and they were able to sleep in comfort.