Please join us and let everybody know
WHAT’S UP with you this fine Wednesday!
Lots and lots of pie.
The end.
I ate a piece of pie last year that changed my life.
It tastes like JOY and MERRIMENT.
You might think I’m over-selling this, but I promise I’m not.
If you are local, go eat this pie at Emporium Pies on the square (there is also a location in the Bishop Arts District in Dallas). It’s called “Father Christmas” and it’s a peppermint cream pie with a chocolate cookie crust. I KNOW.
If you’re not local, I’m sorry.
If you go there, tell them Pinterest Told Me To sent you.
You won’t get anything, and they won’t have any idea who you are talking about…
but maybe if enough people mention me , the good people at Emporium Pies would reward me.
With pie.
Here’s hoping.
GIRLS.
We are so incredibely excited about what we’ve put together for the week.
YOUR MINDS ARE GOING TO BE BLOWN.


I don’t go out and fight the crowds, but I do shop up a storm from a couch at the ranch!
And I’m doing everything I can to help make your online shopping experience as easy as possible!
WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT
Now, to be fair, we don’t do many crafts around here, but these are ones that I treasure.
They are the first decorations I put up every Christmas and the last decorations I take down.


First step: just by the canvas sizes you like. The tree is a 16×20, the Santa is an 8×10, and the snowmen canvas is 14×14. The Christmas tree is probably my favorite.
I impressed myself with that one.


Click HERE if you want to read how we did the ones below.
And yes, that’s my foot, Carter’s foot, and Chris’s foot. And all of the accessories are scrapbook paper!
Any other GH fans out there?
I’ve watched it for as long as I can remember, and I can’t get enough of Port Charles and all the crazies that live there.
It’s particularly good right now with the whole Jake Doe is really Jason storyline!
#GHforlife
#stayoffthedocksifyoudon’twanttrouble
It’s okay to be jealous.
Speaking of Carter and presents, Nordstrom asked me to review their selection of kid’s toys like I did last year! I know that some of you are saying “WHAT? Nordstrom carries toys?
And remember, Nordstrom has free shipping and returns!
Which means I can stay out of Toys R’ Us.
AND ALL THE MAMAS SAID AMEN!
Here’s Carter with one of his school friends and our little neighbor friend playing with his Magformers last year.
I’m telling you that on play dates, with a room full of toys, the boys ALWAYS go for the Magnaforms first. Girls definitely enjoy them too (so do adults, if we’re being honest!), but boys go crazy for them.
They are pricey, but they are SO worth it.
They ignite the imagination and keep the kiddos busy for a long while!
The box says for ages 6+, but Carter has been actively playing with these since he was about 3 years old. I would say that most kids need to be at least 4 to follow the directions booklets to build certain things (which Carter loves doing), but he also has just as much just using his imagination and building his own creations! I’m telling you, these blocks are awesome.
They are definitely in Carter’s TOP 5 toys of all times.
Whenever we travel (to the ranch, to the grandparent’s house, etc.), we always take the Magformers with us. We store them in these little $5 containers from Target, and the containers make them very easy to clean up at home as well as super portable and easy throw in the car whenever we need to!
We got this precious stuffed dog for Carter’s nursery before he was even born! It stood by his crib and then it moved into his big boy room!
When working on this post and going through all of the toys online, the moment I saw this bike I texted my friend Betsy because I thought that her son had one when he was younger, and I was right.
Betsy and her hubby Steven are both cyclists, and here’s what she had to say about it:
“Hands down best purchase of his little life. He never needed training wheels because of the balance bike and could ride a real bike at 3. We even let him ride it in the house! He still rides it (some) even though he can ride a real bike.” Now THAT’S a glowing recommendation!
Here is their son Lou at his first bike rice, at just over 2 years old.
And check out THIS set I bought Carter for Christmas this year, but we went ahead and broke it out the other day after he had been sick.
He had so much fun! And truth be told, Chris and I kind of got into it as well.
Did any of you ladies have sets like this when you were younger?
I don’t mean to brag, but my sister and I even had sparkly and glittery spin art t-shirts that we made at the mall. We wore them with leggings and those little plastic things that would tie up one side.
MOM! FIND A PICTURE OF ME AND CONNER IN THESE OUTFITS!
Click HERE for the spin art set.
We tried different techniques, we mixed colors together to create new colors, and just had a bawl.
Click HERE for all the sets similar to this one! I love these interactive toys for kids
that are a bit older!
And Nordstrom even carries LEGOs now!
#blastfromthepast
If you have a dinosaur lover, click HERE for all things dinosaur (including stamps, floor puzzles, and figures to play with)!
Educational Toys HERE.
Also, you can click HERE for a grouping of BEST SELLERS!
And if you look down the left-hand side bar, you can see toys divided into the following other groups: boys, girls, wow-factor toys, and toys under $25.
Thank you to Nordstrom for sponsoring the KID’S TOYS portion of this post!
And here’s a parent tip that I’m sure most of you already use…I also like to buy a new pair of shoes, a coat, or something else my kiddo needs to put under the tree. He needs the item anyway, and it’s another gift to unwrap! Here are some shoe options:
WHAT ELSE IS NEW
And please remember to bring clothing donations for The Samaritan Inn.
My dear friend Brennan (who is one of the sweetest and most lovely people you could ever hope to know) is now the new Volunteer Coordinator for The Samaritan Inn.
I want to encourage all of you who come to the party to do a bit of a closet clean out and bring your gently worn clothes to the party! I will get them to The Samaritan Inn!
I can promise you I will have created a SUPER COMPREHENSIVE guide to help make your Black Friday shopping as easy as possible.
In fact, I will even be highlighting stores I don’t normally shop, just because I know some of you do.
It will be a ONE STOP SHOP!
xoxo,
Sheaffer 🙂
Anonymous says
First of all, I wish I was going to the ranch too – sounds awesome.
2nd thanks for the gift ideas. I'm totally getting the magformers – for my girls! They LOVED playing with these (so did all my kids of varying ages) at a relatives's house last year. Also I'm getting the karaoke machine and the spin art set! Thanks for making it easy for me. P.S. I know I said this last year, but I LOVE your handprint pictures. Just fabulous! What kind of paper did you use? It looks like it didn't crinkle from the paint.
Sheaffer says
Hi there! They are canvases! So glad the toy post was helpful! xoxo, Sheaffer 🙂
DIYbyDesign says
I'm already a fan of your blog, but now that I know you're a GH fan, I'm even more of a fan. Been watching on and off since Luke and Laura's wedding. You're right it is good right now! Have a happy thanksgiving.
Sheaffer says
YAY! GH peeps!!!!! 🙂
Andrea Pepe says
I can't believe you watch GH!!! I have been watching since High School. Love it right now! I can't wait until Elizabeth is found out. The cat fight between her and Sam and Carly is going to be EPIC. EPIC.
Sheaffer says
I KNOW ANDREA!!!!! I mean, how long can they draw this out? (The answer is like another month probably.) 🙂
Amart says
I too have been watching since high school and can't stop, won't stop!! I love all the action right now!! 🙂 #stayoffthedocksifyoudon'twanttrouble Love that hashtag! So true too!!
Narci says
So, the pic of Carter, Scout, and the stuffed dog….pretty much the cutest thing EVER!!!! love!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Um, seriously, when are we meeting for Father Christmas Pie? Monday? Monday and Tuesday? Every day next week? I'll wear my stretchy pants…
Susan Maliff says
Shaeffer…..what you just did there is WRONG on so many levels. As I was reading about that fantastic pie, I was just about drooling on my keyboard and reading as fast as I could (so I could find out how to get my hands on that pie), only to find out that I couldn't get my hands on it, as I am not local! #shameonyou
🙂
dresselfamily.blogspot.com says
I started watching Gh when I came to Canada ..and had the biggest crush on Jason ( Steve burton)..swoon lol!!!! I was sad he left.
those are all great toys.. so fun.
and that pie… oh for the love..yum
Leigh (Balancing By Faith) says
Christmas Eve service is my favorite too!!! The perfect time to stop before the crazy and quiet our hearts for why we celebrate!
JJaz says
Love GH!!! I'm about 40 episodes behind on my Dvr (which is a bit sad, and a little crazy) but I love it! Cute post!!! 🙂
Megan says
We have a strider bike too!!! Love it!! Baker started riding it about 2 months before he turned 2 and hasn't stopped since. He rides that bike almost every single day. It's a favorite at our house!!
Kate says
I love that giant stuffed dog–I think our soon-to-arrive little girl needs one 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving!
Tonya says
I love your Christmas canvases! One suggestion on the Christmas tree for anyone who decides to make one this year- add clear glitter to the fingerprint lights when the paint is still wet and the lights on your tree will sparkle. We are all about the bling here, right?!?!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Tonya
Storybook Endings in Second
Sheaffer says
What a great idea Tonya!!!!!
Lee and Anna Hogan says
We LOVE Strider bikes! My girls both rode them when they were younger and both picked up riding pedal bikes with NO problems! It took them about five minutes to figure the pedals out and they were off! My boys are riding the Striders now and have really gotten the hang of it (ages 2.5 and almost 2). Thanks for all the toy recs!
Jen says
Is it true they'll ship the pie nationwide according to their website??!!
Sheaffer says
Hey Jen, now that you say that, yes! I have heard that they do that!!!! xoxo, Sheaffer 🙂
New York Roots to Southern Boots says
Thank you for the amazing gift ideas!! I have to tell you, that I'm counting down the days for your Bachelor Recaps! They are my absolute favorite!! Happy Thanksgiving!
PS. I'm sorry if this is the second comment from me. I'm having some MAJOR technical difficulties this morning, which also explains why my link up profile picture is sideways. #linkupfail
Cassie Sugarplum says
Enough about that dang pie….I'm ready for a piece now!!! It's a date next week, yes?? And you don't fool me…you're not sleeping in this week! 😉 Happy happy thanksgiving…so thankful for you and your sweet family!
Laci Murray says
Magformers were on Zulily yesterday and j grabbed a set! Can't wait till Christmas!!
MommyLu says
I bought my daughters Magformers for Christmas last year after you mentioned them on the blog. They were 6 and 8 at the time and they still play with them. My now 9-year old asked for more for Christmas this year. They like to make little villages for their dolls to play in with them. Good for girls, too! 🙂
Sarah Kuykendall says
I never knew Nordstrom sold toys!!! My boys would love that giant dog and spin art. We swear by the Strider book. My kiddo learned to ride a two wheeler in literally two minutes
Anonymous says
What a great lookin' young man!
vanillafrog says
LOVE GH! I've always watched it, and now that they have the guy who used to play Todd on OLTL, I love it even more! Love Sonny, Jason, and all their stories and was a big fan of Elizabeth and Lucky when he was on!
Lisa B says
YES to GH! Love it and love your blog! xo