Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6th-10th and if you want to show your school spirit and gratitude for our educators and school professionals, a thoughtful gift is a great way to do so. See our Teacher Appreciation Week gift inspiration below.

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

If you want to make a whole week of it, doing a color a day for your teacher with each color having some kind of “theme” is a fun idea. Kristy did this for her daughter’s teacher! For red, the first day, it’s all about the teacher….the things she likes and things to spoil her with for the days she’s not teaching. Items include a Bogg bag, apple candle, Sol de Janeiro kit, and a self-care book.

Tag: “ Roses are RED & Apples are too! You’re the best teacher ever, we’re so thankful for you.”

Orange, day two, is focused on recognizing the growth she’s given the students. She also loves to garden, so this is perfect! Orange items include drinking glasses, a succulent, a personalized planter, a mister, and a seed kit.

Tags: “ ORANGE you just such a SUN-sational teacher!“ and “Thank you for helping us grow!“

Day three is yellow, a bright and shining color, so these items show her that she’s the star to the kids. Yellow gifts include a tote, lip balm, hand sanitizer, paper weights, a t-shirt, an essential oil pen, a pillow for the reading corner, and a coffee mug, of course!

Tags: “Thank you for being the STAR that taught them to SHINE“ and “The influence of a good teacher can never be erased.”

Green, day four, is a day for the classroom! These gifts are things she can use in and around like classroom, like a utility cart, Sharpies, a label maker, a pencil sharpener, a journal, essential oils, and modular seats for the kids.

Tags: “Thank you for your Commit•Mint Involve•mint Encourage•mint Invest•mint” and “Green with envy are those who wish they had you for a teacher!“ 

Blue, the final day, is for all things lunch!! Items include a lunch carrier, a mini to-go Crockpot, a Bentgo container, a snacks bag, a sand art light that’s great for lunchtime relaxation or meditation, and a Stanley tumbler.

Tags: “Just something out of the blue to say we appreciate you!“ and “We appreciate you a whole bunch, so please enjoy some lunch!“ 

And if you’d rather do one gift on Teacher Appreciation Day (May 7th), a gift bag stuffed with self-care goodies is always a hit! Grab a tote and fill it with Sharpies, this cute acrylic desk sign, a canvas pouch with keychains, body scrub, body wash, lip balm, a lip mask, face masks, and a facial scrub!

blue green orange and red rainbow design decoration

Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6th-10th and if you want to show your school spirit and gratitude for our educators and school professionals, a thoughtful gift is a great way to do so. See our Teacher Appreciation Week gift inspiration below.

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

If you want to make a whole week of it, doing a color a day for your teacher with each color having some kind of “theme” is a fun idea. Kristy did this for her daughter’s teacher! For red, the first day, it’s all about the teacher….the things she likes and things to spoil her with for the days she’s not teaching. Items include a Bogg bag, apple candle, Sol de Janeiro kit, and a self-care book.

Tag: “ Roses are RED & Apples are too! You’re the best teacher ever, we’re so thankful for you.”

Orange, day two, is focused on recognizing the growth she’s given the students. She also loves to garden, so this is perfect! Orange items include drinking glasses, a succulent, a personalized planter, a mister, and a seed kit.

Tags: “ ORANGE you just such a SUN-sational teacher!“ and “Thank you for helping us grow!“

Day three is yellow, a bright and shining color, so these items show her that she’s the star to the kids. Yellow gifts include a tote, lip balm, hand sanitizer, paper weights, a t-shirt, an essential oil pen, a pillow for the reading corner, and a coffee mug, of course!

Tags: “Thank you for being the STAR that taught them to SHINE“ and “The influence of a good teacher can never be erased.”

Green, day four, is a day for the classroom! These gifts are things she can use in and around like classroom, like a utility cart, Sharpies, a label maker, a pencil sharpener, a journal, essential oils, and modular seats for the kids.

Tags: “Thank you for your Commit•Mint Involve•mint Encourage•mint Invest•mint” and “Green with envy are those who wish they had you for a teacher!“ 

Blue, the final day, is for all things lunch!! Items include a lunch carrier, a mini to-go Crockpot, a Bentgo container, a snacks bag, a sand art light that’s great for lunchtime relaxation or meditation, and a Stanley tumbler.

Tags: “Just something out of the blue to say we appreciate you!“ and “We appreciate you a whole bunch, so please enjoy some lunch!“ 

And if you’d rather do one gift on Teacher Appreciation Day (May 7th), a gift bag stuffed with self-care goodies is always a hit! Grab a tote and fill it with Sharpies, this cute acrylic desk sign, a canvas pouch with keychains, body scrub, body wash, lip balm, a lip mask, face masks, and a facial scrub!

Summer will be here before we know it and we’re already dreaming of all the ways we can update our wardrobes with the best styles of the season. From social festivities to days at the desk, and vacations by the water to early morning runs, Walmart has everything you need to make this a summer of fashion-forward moments. See our Walmart summer fashion inspiration below.

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

Summer = party time! Grad parties, pool parties, backyard BBQs, and holiday soirées…summer is the season of celebrations. Make sure you’re party ready with one of these gorgeous getups.

Maybe you’re all work and no play. Which is okay, but don’t ignore the benefits of a healthy work-life balance! These dresses will have you looking chic in the office, and they can definitely be worn to date night after, too!

Pool days, beach trips, and lake vacations. Whatever your preferred form of water-centric recreation, get yourself a swimsuit to rock that will steal the show.

Don’t forget your coverup! These will come in handy when you’re trying to enjoy your liquid lunch at one of those “no shirt, no shoes, no service” places.

And if you’re team #summerbod, grab a few workout pieces that will make you excited to get your sweat on.

rear view of woman sitting on a rock

Another year, another giveaway! Novembers are for celebrating, because it happens to be the month our fearless Frugal and Thriving leader Kristy was born! And the best way to celebrate yourself is celebrating others, so we’re giving away three awesome gifts this month to three of our lucky followers! See Kristy’s birthday month giveaway items below and find out how you can enter to win!

brown gift box
Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

Kristy will be gifting one lucky follower a really special gift every ten days during the month of November. How do you enter to win? There are so many ways! Help grow the Frugal and Thriving Facebook group and interact as much as you can…the more you do, the better your chances to win! Visit our giveaway page to see how you can get bonus entries – start following those F&T social channels! With Black Friday coming up and the holidays not far behind, now is the perfect time to start searching for awesome deals on great gift ideas and helping to spread the love to your family and friends. Let’s get to giving!! See the gift breakdown below.

The first giveaway – a couch console tray!! Customize your perfect console tray with this modular design that has a self-balancing, weighted cupholder, a USB charging port, and lots of storage space! The winner of this couch console tray will be announced on Friday, November 10th!

Next up, pizza at your fingertips! No more ordering delivery – this Solo pizza oven will cook you up artisan-level pizzas in as little as 90 seconds. That’s a win for everyone! The winner of this Solo pizza oven will be announced on Monday, November 20th!

And the last giveaway – a NuFACE gift set ($500 value) with a Trinity+ Device, Lip & Eye Attachment, 10oz bottle of aqua gel activator and brush! Get gorgeous, glowing skin with these aesthetician-created, clinically proven skincare products. The winner of this NuFACE skincare set will be announced on Thursday, November 30th.

That’s a wrap!! Make sure you’re following Frugal and Thriving on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, TwitterPinterest, and LTK for more chances to win and visit our giveaway page for all the ways you can get bonus entries! Good luck, everyone xo.

Another year, another giveaway! Novembers are for celebrating, because it happens to be the month our fearless Frugal and Thriving leader Kristy was born! And the best way to celebrate yourself is celebrating others, so we’re giving away three awesome gifts this month to three of our lucky followers! See Kristy’s birthday month giveaway items below and find out how you can enter to win!

brown gift box
Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

Kristy will be gifting one lucky follower a really special gift every ten days during the month of November. How do you enter to win? There are so many ways! Help grow the Frugal and Thriving Facebook group and interact as much as you can…the more you do, the better your chances to win! Visit our giveaway page to see how you can get bonus entries – start following those F&T social channels! With Black Friday coming up and the holidays not far behind, now is the perfect time to start searching for awesome deals on great gift ideas and helping to spread the love to your family and friends. Let’s get to giving!! See the gift breakdown below.

The first giveaway – a couch console tray!! Customize your perfect console tray with this modular design that has a self-balancing, weighted cupholder, a USB charging port, and lots of storage space! The winner of this couch console tray will be announced on Friday, November 10th!

Next up, pizza at your fingertips! No more ordering delivery – this Solo pizza oven will cook you up artisan-level pizzas in as little as 90 seconds. That’s a win for everyone! The winner of this Solo pizza oven will be announced on Monday, November 20th!

And the last giveaway – a NuFACE gift set ($500 value) with a Trinity+ Device, Lip & Eye Attachment, 10oz bottle of aqua gel activator and brush! Get gorgeous, glowing skin with these aesthetician-created, clinically proven skincare products. The winner of this NuFACE skincare set will be announced on Thursday, November 30th.

That’s a wrap!! Make sure you’re following Frugal and Thriving on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, TwitterPinterest, and LTK for more chances to win and visit our giveaway page for all the ways you can get bonus entries! Good luck, everyone xo.

birthday letterboard with confetti

Another year, another giveaway! Novembers are for celebrating, because it happens to be the month our fearless Frugal and Thriving leader Kristy was born! And the best way to celebrate yourself is celebrating others, so we’re giving away three awesome gifts this month to three of our lucky followers! See Kristy’s birthday month giveaway items below and find out how you can enter to win!

brown gift box
Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

Kristy will be gifting one lucky follower a really special gift every ten days during the month of November. How do you enter to win? There are so many ways! Help grow the Frugal and Thriving Facebook group and interact as much as you can…the more you do, the better your chances to win! Visit our giveaway page to see how you can get bonus entries – start following those F&T social channels! With Black Friday coming up and the holidays not far behind, now is the perfect time to start searching for awesome deals on great gift ideas and helping to spread the love to your family and friends. Let’s get to giving!! See the gift breakdown below.

The first giveaway – a couch console tray!! Customize your perfect console tray with this modular design that has a self-balancing, weighted cupholder, a USB charging port, and lots of storage space! The winner of this couch console tray will be announced on Friday, November 10th!

Next up, pizza at your fingertips! No more ordering delivery – this Solo pizza oven will cook you up artisan-level pizzas in as little as 90 seconds. That’s a win for everyone! The winner of this Solo pizza oven will be announced on Monday, November 20th!

And the last giveaway – a NuFACE gift set ($500 value) with a Trinity+ Device, Lip & Eye Attachment, 10oz bottle of aqua gel activator and brush! Get gorgeous, glowing skin with these aesthetician-created, clinically proven skincare products. The winner of this NuFACE skincare set will be announced on Thursday, November 30th.

That’s a wrap!! Make sure you’re following Frugal and Thriving on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, TwitterPinterest, and LTK for more chances to win and visit our giveaway page for all the ways you can get bonus entries! Good luck, everyone xo.

Themes, invitations, decorations, sweets, entertainment, goodie bags…yes! That’s right! I am talking about planning kids’ birthday parties! Perfect timing for this post, since both Kristy and I recently planned and celebrated our sons’ second and fourth birthdays with family and friends! We’re going to take you behind the scenes of how we put together our kids’ birthday parties!

children playing with balloons on green grass field
Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

Choosing a theme! This is where it all begins – figuring out themes has been quite fun since having four littles! Some of my son’s favorite things are balls, cars, and dinosaurs, so I knew that I would take one of those and play it up for him. I ultimately decided on a Jurassic World theme.

Kristy came up with her Super Mario theme because that is what her son is really into right now, and let’s be honest, it’s Mario…it has made a huge comeback this year and don’t act like you don’t know the words to the “Peaches” song by Jack Black! She said this was hands-down one of her favorite parties to plan…maybe it had something to do with the age (4 is one of her favorites!) or the fact that both of her kids were into this theme, and also both very into helping her out this year – a huge plus!!

Invitations! I like to use Zazzle for my invitations, and I can be pretty picky, so it took me awhile to find just the right fit for what I was looking for! I ended up going with a Two Wild Dinosaur one, and I was super happy with how they turned out!

Kristy uses these really cool digital birthday invitations from Etsy that give you such an extra flair when guests open them. It’s so fun that I’ll try one for the next planned party!

Entertainment! We usually do backyard birthday parties since we have two summer, one fall and one spring birthday, and the weather is typically nice enough to get away with it. This year we did a Jurassic World-themed bounce house from Life’s A Ball Rentals LLC and hired a local artist who does face painting and balloon twisting for our entertainment! We used Creative Juices by Kari – she’s truly amazing at what she does, and I highly recommend her as this is our second time booking her! Both of these entertainments are local to the South Jersey area and if you’re looking for an inflatable for your next event, Life’s A Ball Rentals is offering F&T followers an exclusive promo of $50 off any 1 unit when you mention this blog or Frugal & Thriving!

Kristy also had a bounce house, along with a lot of fun games and stations. She did a “pin the nose on Mario” game with prizes for the kids, a cotton candy station, and even a “create your own Mario face” station…how super is that?! She had lawn games like Connect 4, corn hole, and Jenga, as well as water tables for the kids to splash around with!

The Sweet Stuff! Yes, I am talking about the birthday cake, cupcakes, cake pops, etc. For me, I am big on doing cupcakes – they are easy, fun and the perfect size for guests! I usually go with a local baker or cottage baker because I like to support small business, but this year I went the Sam’s Club route! I went with 30-count cupcakes and a full-size cookie cake {Jurassic World theme of course}! The cupcakes had 15 of those rings that the kids could keep, but I also didn’t want anyone upset about not getting something, so of course I found these cute little dinosaur cake toppers and grabbed two packs and put them on the cupcakes that didn’t have a ring, and I placed the rest around the cookie cake! If you have a Sam’s Club membership, I do recommend their fresh bakery – they have so many themes to choose from, plus you can’t really beat the prices!

Kristy made this awesome snack station and got creative with food items that looked like items from the game – cheese balls for Fire Power, a veggie platter designed like the Fire Plant Power Up, Princess Peach Rings, Bowser Bones (lollipops), Colby jack cheese for Mystery Blocks (she put these in her absolute favorite RIGWA bowls – use exclusive code KRISTY10 for 10% off your order sitewide!!), and Mushroom Power Ups as marshmallow pops (marshmallow and melted chocolate). If you’re throwing your own Super Mario party and want some help with snack signage, check out our free printables page! She also typically uses her local grocery store (Shop Rite) for all of the catering and cake! When she placed an order in advance for pick-up, they offered her a 20% discount – this doesn’t always happen but even without the fantastic discount the food is always absolutely delicious and very reasonably priced. Her guests are always so surprised when she tells them where she got it from! She had 3 artisan sandwich platters, a salad with dressing, and veggie platter for 20 people and it only cost her $111! That’s about $5 a person! Look into your local grocery store – you might be surprised at what they offer!

Decorations! I try to play it smart when it comes to decor for a birthday party – I try not to go too overboard and I am in-between subtle and borderline close to too much. With outdoor parties, the weather can be so unpredictable, and I try to plan accordingly, so I’ll pick decor that can be used both outdoors and indoors in case I need to pivot! This year I went with some adorable dinosaur signage that I could place on our vinyl fencing or indoors on windows/doors etc., as well as some removable wall decals to place around. I added some themed mylar balloons and odds and ends I found at a local store I frequent during party planning. The last handful of parties, I have gotten into backdrops and balloon arches, so I grabbed a large themed backdrop to snap some pics!

Kristy also grabbed a backdrop and some other Mario-themed party supplies including tablecloths, a banner, and disposable plates, cups and napkins. She even made these awesome balloon towers! She says that this one stumped her for a bit – this was the first time she ever made one, and trying to make a piranha plant without directions was interesting, to say the least! TIP: if you plan this and don’t wait until the day of like she did (whoops), you can get white dot stickers and place them on the red balloons to really give it that Mario feel.

TIP: Use glue dots instead of tape when putting decorations on walls/windows/vinyl etc. It’s less of a hassle to remove and doesn’t ruin your paint/drywall/vinyl!

Outfits! I think it drove my hubby nuts in the beginning, but now with as many themed parties as we’ve hosted, he’s just used to my shenanigans, and I always have themed shirts or outfits planned for the guest of honor and mom and dad! This year was no different! I got a “Rawr! I’m 2” shirt for my son and a “Motherhood / Fatherhood is a walk in the park” shirts for myself and my hubby! I am a hat person, so I even got myself a really cute themed dino mama hat to add in a little extra somethin’…it has four little dinosaurs to represent my four littles!

Kristy made this adorable tee for her son to wear on his big day…if you have a Cricut machine, it’s super easy to design any apparel to match your theme!

Favors! I came across these little dino-themed bubbles and my son LOVES bubbles! I originally was just going to leave them out for the kiddos to grab and play, but then I found these dinosaur eggs that I just couldn’t pass up on. I originally planned on doing a dino egg dig and excavation as an activity but the weather had different plans, so I ended up putting the dino eggs and bubbles in their pinata bags for them to take home! Speaking of pinata, I ended up filling ours with my son’s favorite lollies (aka dum-dums) and packs of fruit snacks!

Kristy had adorable Mario-themed bags with all types of goodies like temporary tats, snacks, stampers, PEZ-dispensers and other Super Mario-themed party favors!

Queens of themes? Kristy and I have had fun with past party themes, so if you are looking for theme inspo, I think that we’ve got you covered! I have done: Rainbow Room, Ladybug Garden, Pumpkins & White Pumpkin Painting Party, The Big O.N.E, Luau, Frozen in Summer, Taco TWOsday, Farm Friends, Unicorn Universe, and Mermaid Adventures. Kristy has done Three Rex, TWO Infinity and Beyond, Splish-Splash Under the Sea, Minnie Mouse Clubhouse, and Minions! Happy Planning!

happy birthday balloons hanging on the wall

Themes, invitations, decorations, sweets, entertainment, goodie bags…yes! That’s right! I am talking about planning kids’ birthday parties! Perfect timing for this post, since both Kristy and I recently planned and celebrated our sons’ second and fourth birthdays with family and friends! We’re going to take you behind the scenes of how we put together our kids’ birthday parties!

children playing with balloons on green grass field
Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

Choosing a theme! This is where it all begins – figuring out themes has been quite fun since having four littles! Some of my son’s favorite things are balls, cars, and dinosaurs, so I knew that I would take one of those and play it up for him. I ultimately decided on a Jurassic World theme.

Kristy came up with her Super Mario theme because that is what her son is really into right now, and let’s be honest, it’s Mario…it has made a huge comeback this year and don’t act like you don’t know the words to the “Peaches” song by Jack Black! She said this was hands-down one of her favorite parties to plan…maybe it had something to do with the age (4 is one of her favorites!) or the fact that both of her kids were into this theme, and also both very into helping her out this year – a huge plus!!

Invitations! I like to use Zazzle for my invitations, and I can be pretty picky, so it took me awhile to find just the right fit for what I was looking for! I ended up going with a Two Wild Dinosaur one, and I was super happy with how they turned out!

Kristy uses these really cool digital birthday invitations from Etsy that give you such an extra flair when guests open them. It’s so fun that I’ll try one for the next planned party!

Entertainment! We usually do backyard birthday parties since we have two summer, one fall and one spring birthday, and the weather is typically nice enough to get away with it. This year we did a Jurassic World-themed bounce house from Life’s A Ball Rentals LLC and hired a local artist who does face painting and balloon twisting for our entertainment! We used Creative Juices by Kari – she’s truly amazing at what she does, and I highly recommend her as this is our second time booking her! Both of these entertainments are local to the South Jersey area and if you’re looking for an inflatable for your next event, Life’s A Ball Rentals is offering F&T followers an exclusive promo of $50 off any 1 unit when you mention this blog or Frugal & Thriving!

Kristy also had a bounce house, along with a lot of fun games and stations. She did a “pin the nose on Mario” game with prizes for the kids, a cotton candy station, and even a “create your own Mario face” station…how super is that?! She had lawn games like Connect 4, corn hole, and Jenga, as well as water tables for the kids to splash around with!

The Sweet Stuff! Yes, I am talking about the birthday cake, cupcakes, cake pops, etc. For me, I am big on doing cupcakes – they are easy, fun and the perfect size for guests! I usually go with a local baker or cottage baker because I like to support small business, but this year I went the Sam’s Club route! I went with 30-count cupcakes and a full-size cookie cake {Jurassic World theme of course}! The cupcakes had 15 of those rings that the kids could keep, but I also didn’t want anyone upset about not getting something, so of course I found these cute little dinosaur cake toppers and grabbed two packs and put them on the cupcakes that didn’t have a ring, and I placed the rest around the cookie cake! If you have a Sam’s Club membership, I do recommend their fresh bakery – they have so many themes to choose from, plus you can’t really beat the prices!

Kristy made this awesome snack station and got creative with food items that looked like items from the game – cheese balls for Fire Power, a veggie platter designed like the Fire Plant Power Up, Princess Peach Rings, Bowser Bones (lollipops), Colby jack cheese for Mystery Blocks (she put these in her absolute favorite RIGWA bowls – use exclusive code KRISTY10 for 10% off your order sitewide!!), and Mushroom Power Ups as marshmallow pops (marshmallow and melted chocolate). If you’re throwing your own Super Mario party and want some help with snack signage, check out our free printables page! She also typically uses her local grocery store (Shop Rite) for all of the catering and cake! When she placed an order in advance for pick-up, they offered her a 20% discount – this doesn’t always happen but even without the fantastic discount the food is always absolutely delicious and very reasonably priced. Her guests are always so surprised when she tells them where she got it from! She had 3 artisan sandwich platters, a salad with dressing, and veggie platter for 20 people and it only cost her $111! That’s about $5 a person! Look into your local grocery store – you might be surprised at what they offer!

Decorations! I try to play it smart when it comes to decor for a birthday party – I try not to go too overboard and I am in-between subtle and borderline close to too much. With outdoor parties, the weather can be so unpredictable, and I try to plan accordingly, so I’ll pick decor that can be used both outdoors and indoors in case I need to pivot! This year I went with some adorable dinosaur signage that I could place on our vinyl fencing or indoors on windows/doors etc., as well as some removable wall decals to place around. I added some themed mylar balloons and odds and ends I found at a local store I frequent during party planning. The last handful of parties, I have gotten into backdrops and balloon arches, so I grabbed a large themed backdrop to snap some pics!

Kristy also grabbed a backdrop and some other Mario-themed party supplies including tablecloths, a banner, and disposable plates, cups and napkins. She even made these awesome balloon towers! She says that this one stumped her for a bit – this was the first time she ever made one, and trying to make a piranha plant without directions was interesting, to say the least! TIP: if you plan this and don’t wait until the day of like she did (whoops), you can get white dot stickers and place them on the red balloons to really give it that Mario feel.

TIP: Use glue dots instead of tape when putting decorations on walls/windows/vinyl etc. It’s less of a hassle to remove and doesn’t ruin your paint/drywall/vinyl!

Outfits! I think it drove my hubby nuts in the beginning, but now with as many themed parties as we’ve hosted, he’s just used to my shenanigans, and I always have themed shirts or outfits planned for the guest of honor and mom and dad! This year was no different! I got a “Rawr! I’m 2” shirt for my son and a “Motherhood / Fatherhood is a walk in the park” shirts for myself and my hubby! I am a hat person, so I even got myself a really cute themed dino mama hat to add in a little extra somethin’…it has four little dinosaurs to represent my four littles!

Kristy made this adorable tee for her son to wear on his big day…if you have a Cricut machine, it’s super easy to design any apparel to match your theme!

Favors! I came across these little dino-themed bubbles and my son LOVES bubbles! I originally was just going to leave them out for the kiddos to grab and play, but then I found these dinosaur eggs that I just couldn’t pass up on. I originally planned on doing a dino egg dig and excavation as an activity but the weather had different plans, so I ended up putting the dino eggs and bubbles in their pinata bags for them to take home! Speaking of pinata, I ended up filling ours with my son’s favorite lollies (aka dum-dums) and packs of fruit snacks!

Kristy had adorable Mario-themed bags with all types of goodies like temporary tats, snacks, stampers, PEZ-dispensers and other Super Mario-themed party favors!

Queens of themes? Kristy and I have had fun with past party themes, so if you are looking for theme inspo, I think that we’ve got you covered! I have done: Rainbow Room, Ladybug Garden, Pumpkins & White Pumpkin Painting Party, The Big O.N.E, Luau, Frozen in Summer, Taco TWOsday, Farm Friends, Unicorn Universe, and Mermaid Adventures. Kristy has done Three Rex, TWO Infinity and Beyond, Splish-Splash Under the Sea, Minnie Mouse Clubhouse, and Minions! Happy Planning!

Today is our queen bee Kristy’s birthday, and we are wishing her a day filled with love and happiness! She’s a world-class mom, a dedicated wife, an awesome friend, AND a kickass businesswoman, and we are sending her wishes for a year of success and joy to come. Read on for her birthday wish list and her favorite ways to celebrate. Happy Birthday, Kristy xoxo.

The Wishlist

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

I like to put together a gift wish list for my friends and family who love to gift! This way they don’t have to stress about what to buy, and I can ask for items I really need or want. This year, I’ve got my eyes on these cozy UGG slippers, this gorgeous Brumate Winesulator set, and this sleek cookbook holder! I always tend to gravitate toward items for the home, comfy athleisure, and beauty products!

The Celebration

My husband and I packed up the kids and headed to Hershey Park for a weekend getaway to celebrate my birthday! My husband proposed here, so this place is very special to us, and we like to visit every year and make new memories!

One of our favorite activities was making our own chocolates! It was so much fun to see the process of how these mouthwatering little bites of heaven are made, and getting to create our own was such a unique opportunity.

We also visited a butterfly garden and watching these beautiful creatures flit and flutter around was so cool. We saw a bunch of different beautiful colors and patterns as the butterflies flapped their wings all around us!

The food was delicious and the drinks were to die for! This s’mores martini was the perfect nightcap – a sweet treat for dessert that really hit the spot after an indulgent dinner.

The best part of Hershey Park at this time of year is that it’s decorated for the holidays!! We made sure to check out the light show and see all of the gorgeous Christmas light displays!

Back at home, one of my favorite birthday traditions is making a delicious charcuterie board!! My daughter also looks forward to this every year and it’s become a special treat for us to share. We like to fill it with different Italian meats, all sorts of cheeses, some olives and sweet treats, and of course, crostini and crackers. This personalized wooden charcuterie board is my new favorite and right now you can grab one for 20% off with our exclusive code FNT20!

Birthday Dinner

My husband always treats me to a birthday dinner, and we like to try somewhere new every year. It’s nice to get dressed up (and take off my sweats I normally live in) and spend a little quality time with the man I love! I love this batwing cardigan with a black turtleneck, black leggings, and knee-high boots, finished off with a fun tassel necklace!

I’m so grateful for all of the blessings in my life, and getting to celebrate this special day with the people I love most is the greatest gift of all. Here’s to another great year and many more birthdays to come!

close up photo of colorful pastel balloons

Today is our queen bee Kristy’s birthday, and we are wishing her a day filled with love and happiness! She’s a world-class mom, a dedicated wife, an awesome friend, AND a kickass businesswoman, and we are sending her wishes for a year of success and joy to come. Read on for her birthday wish list and her favorite ways to celebrate. Happy Birthday, Kristy xoxo.

The Wishlist

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

I like to put together a gift wish list for my friends and family who love to gift! This way they don’t have to stress about what to buy, and I can ask for items I really need or want. This year, I’ve got my eyes on these cozy UGG slippers, this gorgeous Brumate Winesulator set, and this sleek cookbook holder! I always tend to gravitate toward items for the home, comfy athleisure, and beauty products!

The Celebration

My husband and I packed up the kids and headed to Hershey Park for a weekend getaway to celebrate my birthday! My husband proposed here, so this place is very special to us, and we like to visit every year and make new memories!

One of our favorite activities was making our own chocolates! It was so much fun to see the process of how these mouthwatering little bites of heaven are made, and getting to create our own was such a unique opportunity.

We also visited a butterfly garden and watching these beautiful creatures flit and flutter around was so cool. We saw a bunch of different beautiful colors and patterns as the butterflies flapped their wings all around us!

The food was delicious and the drinks were to die for! This s’mores martini was the perfect nightcap – a sweet treat for dessert that really hit the spot after an indulgent dinner.

The best part of Hershey Park at this time of year is that it’s decorated for the holidays!! We made sure to check out the light show and see all of the gorgeous Christmas light displays!

Back at home, one of my favorite birthday traditions is making a delicious charcuterie board!! My daughter also looks forward to this every year and it’s become a special treat for us to share. We like to fill it with different Italian meats, all sorts of cheeses, some olives and sweet treats, and of course, crostini and crackers. This personalized wooden charcuterie board is my new favorite and right now you can grab one for 20% off with our exclusive code FNT20!

Birthday Dinner

My husband always treats me to a birthday dinner, and we like to try somewhere new every year. It’s nice to get dressed up (and take off my sweats I normally live in) and spend a little quality time with the man I love! I love this batwing cardigan with a black turtleneck, black leggings, and knee-high boots, finished off with a fun tassel necklace!

I’m so grateful for all of the blessings in my life, and getting to celebrate this special day with the people I love most is the greatest gift of all. Here’s to another great year and many more birthdays to come!

It’s November and if you’ve been with us a while you know what that means – it’s Kristy’s birthday month and she’s celebrating with four weeks of giveaways! Celebrating a birthday is way more fun when you get to share the love, so Kristy is gifting four lucky followers some pretty awesome gifts. A winner will be announced every Monday throughout the month of November! See all the details below.

The Giveaway

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

Every week throughout the month of November, Kristy will be gifting one lucky follower a really special gift. How do you enter to win? It’s easy – help grow the Frugal and Thriving Facebook group!! With Black Friday deals running basically all month long, and Christmas right around the corner, now is the time to help someone else tackle their holiday lists! Make sure you’re following us and then invite your family, friends, coworkers, neighbors…anyone you think would love and enjoy the F&T community (and awesome deals, of course). Also interact as much as you can – the more you do, the better your chances to win! And visit our giveaway page to see how you can get bonus entries. A winner will be chosen every Monday in November, and that winner could be YOU! Don’t wait. Start sending those invites!!! See the gift breakdown below.

Week One

Week One’s gift is a heated eye massager! Perfect for resting those pretty peepers after a long day, this eye mask warms, massages, plays music via Bluetooth, and even helps to reduce dark eye circles!! The winner of this heated eye massager will be announced on Monday, November 7th.

Week Two

Week Two’s gift is a Ninja Air Fryer. Make delicious snacks, meals, and side dishes with minimal effort! Great for game day, holiday gatherings, or even just family dinner. The winner of the Ninja air fryer will be announced on Monday, November 14th.

Week Three

Week Three’s gift is a heated faux fur throw blanket. There’s nothing like snuggling up under a cozy blanket on a cold day, and this one is extra luxurious with its faux fur material and heating capabilities! Plug it in, turn it on, and relax into pure bliss. The winner of the heated faux fur throw blanket will be announced on Monday, November 21st.

Week Four

Week Four’s gift is a wine gift set from BrüMate. Take your wine on-the-go in a very sleek and stylish way – the set comes with an insulated wine bottle and two insulated tumblers in a gorgeous onyx leopard pattern! The winner of the Winesulator gift set will be announced on Monday, November 28th.

And there you have it!! Four amazing gifts, four weeks of giveaways, and all for you! Make sure you’re following Frugal and Thriving on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Pinterest, and LTK for more chances to win and visit our giveaway page for all the ways you can get bonus entries! Good luck, everyone xo.

happy birthday balloons hanging on the wall

It’s November and if you’ve been with us a while you know what that means – it’s Kristy’s birthday month and she’s celebrating with four weeks of giveaways! Celebrating a birthday is way more fun when you get to share the love, so Kristy is gifting four lucky followers some pretty awesome gifts. A winner will be announced every Monday throughout the month of November! See all the details below.

The Giveaway

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

Every week throughout the month of November, Kristy will be gifting one lucky follower a really special gift. How do you enter to win? It’s easy – help grow the Frugal and Thriving Facebook group!! With Black Friday deals running basically all month long, and Christmas right around the corner, now is the time to help someone else tackle their holiday lists! Make sure you’re following us and then invite your family, friends, coworkers, neighbors…anyone you think would love and enjoy the F&T community (and awesome deals, of course). Also interact as much as you can – the more you do, the better your chances to win! And visit our giveaway page to see how you can get bonus entries. A winner will be chosen every Monday in November, and that winner could be YOU! Don’t wait. Start sending those invites!!! See the gift breakdown below.

Week One

Week One’s gift is a heated eye massager! Perfect for resting those pretty peepers after a long day, this eye mask warms, massages, plays music via Bluetooth, and even helps to reduce dark eye circles!! The winner of this heated eye massager will be announced on Monday, November 7th.

Week Two

Week Two’s gift is a Ninja Air Fryer. Make delicious snacks, meals, and side dishes with minimal effort! Great for game day, holiday gatherings, or even just family dinner. The winner of the Ninja air fryer will be announced on Monday, November 14th.

Week Three

Week Three’s gift is a heated faux fur throw blanket. There’s nothing like snuggling up under a cozy blanket on a cold day, and this one is extra luxurious with its faux fur material and heating capabilities! Plug it in, turn it on, and relax into pure bliss. The winner of the heated faux fur throw blanket will be announced on Monday, November 21st.

Week Four

Week Four’s gift is a wine gift set from BrüMate. Take your wine on-the-go in a very sleek and stylish way – the set comes with an insulated wine bottle and two insulated tumblers in a gorgeous onyx leopard pattern! The winner of the Winesulator gift set will be announced on Monday, November 28th.

And there you have it!! Four amazing gifts, four weeks of giveaways, and all for you! Make sure you’re following Frugal and Thriving on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Pinterest, and LTK for more chances to win and visit our giveaway page for all the ways you can get bonus entries! Good luck, everyone xo.

Everyone deserves a little rest and relaxation now and again, especially during the holiday season when things can be so chaotic and stressful. A quick weekend away does the body and mind wonders, and some quality time in a peaceful place with your loved ones is definitely worth the investment. The Frugal and Thriving team took a girls’ getaway to the Woodloch Resort in the Poconos and we had the most restful, restorative weekend. See our trip details below.

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

A birthday is as good a reason as any to take a trip, right? As most of you may know, our leading lady Kristy recently turned 36, and we decided a girls’ weekend was the best way to celebrate her and this new year to come! We booked a Girls’ Getaway package at Woodloch Resort, which included a two-night stay in beautiful accommodations, four meals at the resort’s clubhouse (two breakfasts and two dinners), a spa credit, and an extensive list of recreational activities and entertainment. We planned to have a good balance of fun and relaxation during our two days at the resort.

We arrived late Friday afternoon, checked in, and headed straight to the luxury spa for our treatments. This spa was GOR-GEOUS….a secluded sanctuary nestled away in the middle of the woods. Complete with waterfall jacuzzies, a swimming pool, men’s and women’s saunas and steam rooms, fireplace lounges, an outdoor horizon-edge whirlpool, and SO MUCH MORE, we felt like we were walking into heaven. The facilities were quiet, pristine, and slightly magical with the surrounding views of the woodlands. Fun fact: Woodloch’s spa at The Lodge was voted as a Top Destination Spa in the World by Condé Nast Traveler’s 2021 Reader’s Choice Awards (among a ton of other awards and accolades). But – the world!! One visit to this place and you’ll easily see why. The best part? The Lodge even has accommodations so you can stay right here. That’s on our list for the next girls’ trip.

Our package included two dinners and two breakfasts. We expected to have to grab a light lunch at one of the many restaurants on the sprawling property – we were wrong. The breakfast (pictured above) was served family-style and holyyyyy food. This was for only three people! Fluffy eggs, crispy bacon and sausage, fresh fruit, deliciously seasoned potatoes, and sweet scones and pastries were all included in this indulgent spread. Needless to say, we stuffed our faces and didn’t even think about lunch come afternoon. Dinners were served a la carte from a specially curated menu of seasonal dishes and those were equally delectable. The salmon dish with spinach and kale, raisins, and olives was a favorite entrée, while the grilled Mediterranean salad was the perfect option for a lighter dinner. And everyone knows dessert is the most important part of a meal…the homemade ice cream was melt-in-your-mouth ahhhhh-mazing. We definitely regretted not bringing home gallons of that…at least now we know for next time.

Saturday was our one and only full day at the resort and we wanted to take complete advantage of it! After our hearty breakfast, we spent some time exploring the vast acreage and finding hidden little gems around the property for lots of fun (and silly) photo shoots. The scenery was stunning with the expansive, glistening lake outlined by endless trees…we were lucky enough to get some end-of-season leaf peeping in and the vibrant colors of the changing foliage were simply majestic. After a few hours of exploration, we grabbed our “Weekend Vibes” tote, posted up on one of the many outdoor decks overlooking the water, and set up a picnic around this adorable firepit. We were fortunate enough to have this scenic area all to ourselves, although with all the snacks we brought, some company to share with would have been very welcomed!!

Rosemary crackers, pita bread, baklava, olives, fruit spreads, caramel-filled chocolates, pretzels, and more cheeses than we even knew what to do with were packed in our basket. We grabbed the Picnic Gift Basket from Harry & David to bring along as well, and the chocolates were courtesy of Kristy’s mother-in-law who knew we would need a little something sweet after all of that savory! The fire kept us warm, the food kept us full, and the picturesque surroundings kept us in awe.

Speaking of being in awe, about half an hour into our quaint al fresco afternoon, while completely absorbed in spending time catching up, laughing, and counting our blessings, Kristy looked up to find this breathtaking double upside down rainbow. This was the most unique rainbow any of us had ever seen! It continued to get brighter and bigger for about 10 minutes and then slowly dissipated into the sunny blue sky. It was fleeting and ephemeral, yet left a lasting impression of good fortune and fate aligning all around us. We may have been feeling just a tad emotional, but the experience was really something special to be shared in that moment.

After our picnic we decided to try out an escape room. None of us had ever done one before, and we were both curious as to how it worked and excited to give it a go! We chose the Wizard of Oz-themed escape room because it was slightly less difficult than the Clue-themed one. We figured it was better to give ourselves a fighting chance of making it out…you get 60 minutes to solve all the clues and unlock the room. The best time to beat was 25 minutes. I voiced that I thought we could do it in 12 (I’ve always been a little ambitious and just a bit competitive). Not really knowing what to expect, we walked in, got locked in, and the timer began. No more than three minutes into our escape and we were ready to use our first of only two hints. It was a lot more challenging than we anticipated! Thankfully our escape room attendant was on our side, and gently guided us in the right direction when we got a little stuck so we didn’t have to use our clues right away. With a little teamwork, a handful of help, and a lottttt of laughs, we made it out with 10 minutes to spare – so much for finishing in 12 minutes!! This was by far one of our favorite parts of the trip, and now we’re ready to do even better next time around.

Sunday morning came way too soon, and we were having a hard time getting ready to say goodbye. Our two bedroom, two bathroom condo was already feeling like home and none of us were eager to leave our newfound haven. Kristy and I had some work to catch up on after pretty much an entire day off (we’re always thinking about you guys!!), but it was a much-needed reset. Even after a forgotten suitcase, a long drive, and a weirdly ominous polaroid found in our living room that was giving total “Blair Witch Project” vibes, this trip was one of the best weekends we had in a long time, and we’ve decided to make girls’ weekend an annual event. Getting to spend some time away with the people closest to you is a huge blessing, which we certainly don’t take for granted, and making it a priority is something we’re now conscious of. We got to celebrate a birthday, friendship, and the start of many wonderful things to come. We couldn’t ask for anything better.

Thanks for reading! We hope you enjoyed our getaway recap…what were your favorite parts? Where are you planning your next getaway and who are you bringing? Let us know! xoxo

Everyone deserves a little rest and relaxation now and again, especially during the holiday season when things can be so chaotic and stressful. A quick weekend away does the body and mind wonders, and some quality time in a peaceful place with your loved ones is definitely worth the investment. The Frugal and Thriving team took a girls’ getaway to the Woodloch Resort in the Poconos and we had the most restful, restorative weekend. See our trip details below.

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

A birthday is as good a reason as any to take a trip, right? As most of you may know, our leading lady Kristy recently turned 36, and we decided a girls’ weekend was the best way to celebrate her and this new year to come! We booked a Girls’ Getaway package at Woodloch Resort, which included a two-night stay in beautiful accommodations, four meals at the resort’s clubhouse (two breakfasts and two dinners), a spa credit, and an extensive list of recreational activities and entertainment. We planned to have a good balance of fun and relaxation during our two days at the resort.

We arrived late Friday afternoon, checked in, and headed straight to the luxury spa for our treatments. This spa was GOR-GEOUS….a secluded sanctuary nestled away in the middle of the woods. Complete with waterfall jacuzzies, a swimming pool, men’s and women’s saunas and steam rooms, fireplace lounges, an outdoor horizon-edge whirlpool, and SO MUCH MORE, we felt like we were walking into heaven. The facilities were quiet, pristine, and slightly magical with the surrounding views of the woodlands. Fun fact: Woodloch’s spa at The Lodge was voted as a Top Destination Spa in the World by Condé Nast Traveler’s 2021 Reader’s Choice Awards (among a ton of other awards and accolades). But – the world!! One visit to this place and you’ll easily see why. The best part? The Lodge even has accommodations so you can stay right here. That’s on our list for the next girls’ trip.

Our package included two dinners and two breakfasts. We expected to have to grab a light lunch at one of the many restaurants on the sprawling property – we were wrong. The breakfast (pictured above) was served family-style and holyyyyy food. This was for only three people! Fluffy eggs, crispy bacon and sausage, fresh fruit, deliciously seasoned potatoes, and sweet scones and pastries were all included in this indulgent spread. Needless to say, we stuffed our faces and didn’t even think about lunch come afternoon. Dinners were served a la carte from a specially curated menu of seasonal dishes and those were equally delectable. The salmon dish with spinach and kale, raisins, and olives was a favorite entrée, while the grilled Mediterranean salad was the perfect option for a lighter dinner. And everyone knows dessert is the most important part of a meal…the homemade ice cream was melt-in-your-mouth ahhhhh-mazing. We definitely regretted not bringing home gallons of that…at least now we know for next time.

Saturday was our one and only full day at the resort and we wanted to take complete advantage of it! After our hearty breakfast, we spent some time exploring the vast acreage and finding hidden little gems around the property for lots of fun (and silly) photo shoots. The scenery was stunning with the expansive, glistening lake outlined by endless trees…we were lucky enough to get some end-of-season leaf peeping in and the vibrant colors of the changing foliage were simply majestic. After a few hours of exploration, we grabbed our “Weekend Vibes” tote, posted up on one of the many outdoor decks overlooking the water, and set up a picnic around this adorable firepit. We were fortunate enough to have this scenic area all to ourselves, although with all the snacks we brought, some company to share with would have been very welcomed!!

Rosemary crackers, pita bread, baklava, olives, fruit spreads, caramel-filled chocolates, pretzels, and more cheeses than we even knew what to do with were packed in our basket. We grabbed the Picnic Gift Basket from Harry & David to bring along as well, and the chocolates were courtesy of Kristy’s mother-in-law who knew we would need a little something sweet after all of that savory! The fire kept us warm, the food kept us full, and the picturesque surroundings kept us in awe.

Speaking of being in awe, about half an hour into our quaint al fresco afternoon, while completely absorbed in spending time catching up, laughing, and counting our blessings, Kristy looked up to find this breathtaking double upside down rainbow. This was the most unique rainbow any of us had ever seen! It continued to get brighter and bigger for about 10 minutes and then slowly dissipated into the sunny blue sky. It was fleeting and ephemeral, yet left a lasting impression of good fortune and fate aligning all around us. We may have been feeling just a tad emotional, but the experience was really something special to be shared in that moment.

After our picnic we decided to try out an escape room. None of us had ever done one before, and we were both curious as to how it worked and excited to give it a go! We chose the Wizard of Oz-themed escape room because it was slightly less difficult than the Clue-themed one. We figured it was better to give ourselves a fighting chance of making it out…you get 60 minutes to solve all the clues and unlock the room. The best time to beat was 25 minutes. I voiced that I thought we could do it in 12 (I’ve always been a little ambitious and just a bit competitive). Not really knowing what to expect, we walked in, got locked in, and the timer began. No more than three minutes into our escape and we were ready to use our first of only two hints. It was a lot more challenging than we anticipated! Thankfully our escape room attendant was on our side, and gently guided us in the right direction when we got a little stuck so we didn’t have to use our clues right away. With a little teamwork, a handful of help, and a lottttt of laughs, we made it out with 10 minutes to spare – so much for finishing in 12 minutes!! This was by far one of our favorite parts of the trip, and now we’re ready to do even better next time around.

Sunday morning came way too soon, and we were having a hard time getting ready to say goodbye. Our two bedroom, two bathroom condo was already feeling like home and none of us were eager to leave our newfound haven. Kristy and I had some work to catch up on after pretty much an entire day off (we’re always thinking about you guys!!), but it was a much-needed reset. Even after a forgotten suitcase, a long drive, and a weirdly ominous polaroid found in our living room that was giving total “Blair Witch Project” vibes, this trip was one of the best weekends we had in a long time, and we’ve decided to make girls’ weekend an annual event. Getting to spend some time away with the people closest to you is a huge blessing, which we certainly don’t take for granted, and making it a priority is something we’re now conscious of. We got to celebrate a birthday, friendship, and the start of many wonderful things to come. We couldn’t ask for anything better.

Thanks for reading! We hope you enjoyed our getaway recap…what were your favorite parts? Where are you planning your next getaway and who are you bringing? Let us know! xoxo

Ladies and gentlemen, today is a very, very special day. It is our queen Kristy’s birthday, and we are wishing her the happiest of days and lots of love, success, and wishes granted in the year to come. I am beyond thankful to know and love this amazing mom, devoted wife, loyal friend, badass businesswoman, and all-around awesome lady and to be able to call her my mentor, boss, AND best friend. How did I get so lucky?! She’s turning 36 this year and we’re getting a glimpse of how she is spending her special day. Read on for her birthday wishlist, her favorite ways to celebrate, and what is yet to come. Happy Birthday, Kristy xoxo.

The Wishlist

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

MoroccanOil Dry Texture Spray | Kate Spade Stud Earrings | Taco vs Burrito Card Game | Large Tumbler Candle | “Firefly Lane” Book | Michael Kors Crossbody Bag | Dish Towel Set | Olive Leaf Plant | Wood and Cork Coasters | Picnic Gift Basket

This year my birthday wishlist has lots of items for the home, plus some fashion and beauty products I’ve had my eye on for a while! What’s at the top of my wishlist? This picnic basket from Harry & David (look at all those delicious snacks!!), this Michael Kors crossbody bag (cute + convenient is my favorite fashion category), and this texture spray by MoroccanOil (it gives my hair SO much volume!). I always like to put together a list of suggestions so my family and friends don’t stress over gifts, but I love surprises, too. And my favorite birthday gift is getting to spend quality time with the people I love!! See how I like to celebrate my special day below.

The Celebration

The best way to start your birthday? With a glass of chilled bubbly, of course! Moët & Chandon is one of my favorite champagnes and definitely holds a special place in my heart. Fun fact: I adopted my first dog eight years ago after enjoying a bottle of Moët, and he is aptly named after it…he’s my little angel! These days, I like to reminisce and celebrate another year of life by enjoying a nice cold flute of this champagne.

Another celebration favorite: a meat and cheese spread!! My daughter and I love to create and share these together. A few different Italian meats, a couple of gourmet cheeses, some olives, and a little crostini and you’ve got your very own restaurant-quality charcuterie! My sister gifted me this gorgeous marble and brass cheeseboard this year, and of course I couldn’t wait to use it.

Who doesn’t love a spa day?! My husband surprised me with a couple’s massage this year and let me tell you, this spa was absolutely amazing! I felt like a new woman after my massage…relaxed, rejuvenated, and ready for a delicious dinner.

This coastal chic winery is such a hidden little gem and has quickly become one of my favorite places to go for dinner and drinks. They have the best food, the finest wines, and the most beautiful vineyard and gardens. Being able to enjoy a romantic evening here with my husband was definitely a great way to celebrate!

If you know me at all then you know I LOVE a sweet treat! These caramel apples from Mrs. Prindable’s are crisp and crunchy, yet creamy and decadent, and seriously scrumptious. Between my kids, my husband, and me, these apples did NOT last long.

And my favorite way to close out the day is snuggled up on the couch with the kiddos, the pups, the hubby, and lots of blankets, obviously. We love to make popcorn, put on a holiday movie, and enjoy the fire…this living room renovation was completed recently and we can’t get enough of hanging out in here!!

The New Additon

This year was certainly a special one as we added a new member to the family!! Meet Cody – our adorable husky pup. He loves to run around in the yard, play with his doggie brother Moët, and give lots of cuddles to the kids!! This little fluff ball has brought so much joy to our family and we are so blessed to have him!

And there you have it! A little peek into how I like to celebrate my special day. I’m so grateful for everything the last year has brought me, and I’m looking forward to what 36 has in store!! I’ll also be taking a trip with my girlfriends this weekend to a resort in the Poconos for some much-needed quality time with the ladies. Stay tuned for our post on our girls’ weekend…it’s going to be a good one! – xo, Kristy

Ladies and gentlemen, today is a very, very special day. It is our queen Kristy’s birthday, and we are wishing her the happiest of days and lots of love, success, and wishes granted in the year to come. I am beyond thankful to know and love this amazing mom, devoted wife, loyal friend, badass businesswoman, and all-around awesome lady and to be able to call her my mentor, boss, AND best friend. How did I get so lucky?! She’s turning 36 this year and we’re getting a glimpse of how she is spending her special day. Read on for her birthday wishlist, her favorite ways to celebrate, and what is yet to come. Happy Birthday, Kristy xoxo.

The Wishlist

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

MoroccanOil Dry Texture Spray | Kate Spade Stud Earrings | Taco vs Burrito Card Game | Large Tumbler Candle | “Firefly Lane” Book | Michael Kors Crossbody Bag | Dish Towel Set | Olive Leaf Plant | Wood and Cork Coasters | Picnic Gift Basket

This year my birthday wishlist has lots of items for the home, plus some fashion and beauty products I’ve had my eye on for a while! What’s at the top of my wishlist? This picnic basket from Harry & David (look at all those delicious snacks!!), this Michael Kors crossbody bag (cute + convenient is my favorite fashion category), and this texture spray by MoroccanOil (it gives my hair SO much volume!). I always like to put together a list of suggestions so my family and friends don’t stress over gifts, but I love surprises, too. And my favorite birthday gift is getting to spend quality time with the people I love!! See how I like to celebrate my special day below.

The Celebration

The best way to start your birthday? With a glass of chilled bubbly, of course! Moët & Chandon is one of my favorite champagnes and definitely holds a special place in my heart. Fun fact: I adopted my first dog eight years ago after enjoying a bottle of Moët, and he is aptly named after it…he’s my little angel! These days, I like to reminisce and celebrate another year of life by enjoying a nice cold flute of this champagne.

Another celebration favorite: a meat and cheese spread!! My daughter and I love to create and share these together. A few different Italian meats, a couple of gourmet cheeses, some olives, and a little crostini and you’ve got your very own restaurant-quality charcuterie! My sister gifted me this gorgeous marble and brass cheeseboard this year, and of course I couldn’t wait to use it.

Who doesn’t love a spa day?! My husband surprised me with a couple’s massage this year and let me tell you, this spa was absolutely amazing! I felt like a new woman after my massage…relaxed, rejuvenated, and ready for a delicious dinner.

This coastal chic winery is such a hidden little gem and has quickly become one of my favorite places to go for dinner and drinks. They have the best food, the finest wines, and the most beautiful vineyard and gardens. Being able to enjoy a romantic evening here with my husband was definitely a great way to celebrate!

If you know me at all then you know I LOVE a sweet treat! These caramel apples from Mrs. Prindable’s are crisp and crunchy, yet creamy and decadent, and seriously scrumptious. Between my kids, my husband, and me, these apples did NOT last long.

And my favorite way to close out the day is snuggled up on the couch with the kiddos, the pups, the hubby, and lots of blankets, obviously. We love to make popcorn, put on a holiday movie, and enjoy the fire…this living room renovation was completed recently and we can’t get enough of hanging out in here!!

The New Additon

This year was certainly a special one as we added a new member to the family!! Meet Cody – our adorable husky pup. He loves to run around in the yard, play with his doggie brother Moët, and give lots of cuddles to the kids!! This little fluff ball has brought so much joy to our family and we are so blessed to have him!

And there you have it! A little peek into how I like to celebrate my special day. I’m so grateful for everything the last year has brought me, and I’m looking forward to what 36 has in store!! I’ll also be taking a trip with my girlfriends this weekend to a resort in the Poconos for some much-needed quality time with the ladies. Stay tuned for our post on our girls’ weekend…it’s going to be a good one! – xo, Kristy

Happy November Frugal and Thrivers! Fun fact: our queen Kristy’s favorite month is November. And why is that, you may ask? Well, it’s her birthday month, and if that’s not a good enough reason to love this month then we’re not really sure what is!! Our birthday girl is going to be the big 3-6 this year (and doesn’t look a day over 30, thanks to that carefully crafted skincare routine) but she wants to celebrate YOU this month! So she’s gifting four lucky followers some pretty awesome gifts…see all the details below.

The Giveaway

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

Every week throughout the month of November, Kristy will be gifting one lucky follower a really special gift. How do you enter to win? It’s easy – help grow the Frugal and Thriving Facebook group!! With Black Friday deals running basically all month long, and Christmas right around the corner, now is the time to help someone else tackle their holiday lists! Make sure you’re following us and then invite your family, friends, coworkers, neighbors…anyone you think would love and enjoy the F&T community (and awesome deals, of course). A winner will be chosen every Saturday in November, and that winner could be YOU! Don’t wait. Start sending those invites!!! See the gift breakdown below.

Week One

Week One’s gift is a limited edition mini Keurig! Perfect for the office, a dorm room, traveling, or just adding a little fun flair to your at-home coffee bar, this coffee maker is a caffeine lover’s dream!! The winner of this Keurig will be announced on Saturday, November 6th.

Week Two

Week Two’s gift is a $100 gift card for Crumbl Cookies. These delicious, melt-in-your-mouth treats are perfect for gifting, sharing with friends, or keeping them all to yourself (you don’t want to pass these guys up, trust us). With lots of fun seasonal flavors to choose from, these cookies will put a smile on anyone’s face! The winner of the Crumbl Cookies gift card will be announced on Saturday, November 13th.

Week Three

Week Three’s gift is a Luxe UGG throw blanket. Snuggle up in one of these super soft blankets and enjoy complete and total relaxation. Pour a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and grab some snacks because once you’re bundled up in this baby you’re not gonna wanna get out. The winner of the Luxe UGG throw blanket will be announced on Saturday, November 20th.

Week Four

Week Four’s gift is a pair of Beats by Dre. These wireless, over-the-ear headphones are noise-cancelling, Bluetooth compatible, and super durable. The rich, award-winning sound quality from these headphones makes them the ultimate portable listening device. The winner of the Beats by Dre will be announced on Saturday, November 27th.

And there you have it!! Four amazing gifts, four weeks of giveaways, and all for you! Make sure you’re following Frugal and Thriving on Facebook, and then invite, invite, invite! Good luck, everyone xo.

brown jest for you box

Happy November Frugal and Thrivers! Fun fact: our queen Kristy’s favorite month is November. And why is that, you may ask? Well, it’s her birthday month, and if that’s not a good enough reason to love this month then we’re not really sure what is!! Our birthday girl is going to be the big 3-6 this year (and doesn’t look a day over 30, thanks to that carefully crafted skincare routine) but she wants to celebrate YOU this month! So she’s gifting four lucky followers some pretty awesome gifts…see all the details below.

The Giveaway

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

Every week throughout the month of November, Kristy will be gifting one lucky follower a really special gift. How do you enter to win? It’s easy – help grow the Frugal and Thriving Facebook group!! With Black Friday deals running basically all month long, and Christmas right around the corner, now is the time to help someone else tackle their holiday lists! Make sure you’re following us and then invite your family, friends, coworkers, neighbors…anyone you think would love and enjoy the F&T community (and awesome deals, of course). A winner will be chosen every Saturday in November, and that winner could be YOU! Don’t wait. Start sending those invites!!! See the gift breakdown below.

Week One

Week One’s gift is a limited edition mini Keurig! Perfect for the office, a dorm room, traveling, or just adding a little fun flair to your at-home coffee bar, this coffee maker is a caffeine lover’s dream!! The winner of this Keurig will be announced on Saturday, November 6th.

Week Two

Week Two’s gift is a $100 gift card for Crumbl Cookies. These delicious, melt-in-your-mouth treats are perfect for gifting, sharing with friends, or keeping them all to yourself (you don’t want to pass these guys up, trust us). With lots of fun seasonal flavors to choose from, these cookies will put a smile on anyone’s face! The winner of the Crumbl Cookies gift card will be announced on Saturday, November 13th.

Week Three

Week Three’s gift is a Luxe UGG throw blanket. Snuggle up in one of these super soft blankets and enjoy complete and total relaxation. Pour a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and grab some snacks because once you’re bundled up in this baby you’re not gonna wanna get out. The winner of the Luxe UGG throw blanket will be announced on Saturday, November 20th.

Week Four

Week Four’s gift is a pair of Beats by Dre. These wireless, over-the-ear headphones are noise-cancelling, Bluetooth compatible, and super durable. The rich, award-winning sound quality from these headphones makes them the ultimate portable listening device. The winner of the Beats by Dre will be announced on Saturday, November 27th.

And there you have it!! Four amazing gifts, four weeks of giveaways, and all for you! Make sure you’re following Frugal and Thriving on Facebook, and then invite, invite, invite! Good luck, everyone xo.

Happy Birthday, Harry Potter!! If you spent your adolescent years hoping (and still do hope, kind of) to receive that exclusive and exciting letter from Hogwarts’ most beloved headmaster himself announcing your acceptance to the wizarding world’s most famous school of witchcraft and wizardry, or praying that Hagrid would show up at your doorstep and confirm what you’ve secretly known all along (you’re a wizard!! Or witch, of course) but sadly never had that wish fulfilled, we’re right there with you. What we would give to be able to explore the corridors and secret passageways of Hogwarts, sneak off to the Forbidden Forest, shop in Diagon Alley, and grab a butterbeer or two in Hogsmeade. But alas, we’ll have to keep dreaming and instead bring the magic to our everyday lives with Harry Potter home goods and apparel – it’s the next best thing! So go ahead and “accio” all these items right to you…the muggles will never understand.

Home

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

Blanket | Table Lamp | Stemless Glasses | Wizard Chess | Coffee Mug Set | Drink Tumbler | Spice Jars | Shaker Bottle | Cookbook | Trivial Pursuit | Flask | Wooden Spoon Set

Apparel and Accessories

Tank Top | Tote Bag | Socks | Women’s T-Shirt | Herbology T-Shirt | Earrings Set | Pajama Pants | Hoodie | Charm Bracelet | Dobby T-Shirt

food wood nature night

Happy Birthday, Harry Potter!! If you spent your adolescent years hoping (and still do hope, kind of) to receive that exclusive and exciting letter from Hogwarts’ most beloved headmaster himself announcing your acceptance to the wizarding world’s most famous school of witchcraft and wizardry, or praying that Hagrid would show up at your doorstep and confirm what you’ve secretly known all along (you’re a wizard!! Or witch, of course) but sadly never had that wish fulfilled, we’re right there with you. What we would give to be able to explore the corridors and secret passageways of Hogwarts, sneak off to the Forbidden Forest, shop in Diagon Alley, and grab a butterbeer or two in Hogsmeade. But alas, we’ll have to keep dreaming and instead bring the magic to our everyday lives with Harry Potter home goods and apparel – it’s the next best thing! So go ahead and “accio” all these items right to you…the muggles will never understand.

Home

Frugal and Thriving may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See full disclosure here.

Blanket | Table Lamp | Stemless Glasses | Wizard Chess | Coffee Mug Set | Drink Tumbler | Spice Jars | Shaker Bottle | Cookbook | Trivial Pursuit | Flask | Wooden Spoon Set

Apparel and Accessories

Tank Top | Tote Bag | Socks | Women’s T-Shirt | Herbology T-Shirt | Earrings Set | Pajama Pants | Hoodie | Charm Bracelet | Dobby T-Shirt