It seems like someone we know is always getting married. Whether you’re a loyal member of the bride tribe or the blushing bride-to-be, honoring the big day consists of a lot more than just the wedding ceremony. From the bachelorette party to the bridal shower, planning memorable pre-marriage celebrations doesn’t have to be stressful! See our bridal celebration ideas below.
If you’re looking to plan an epic bachelorette party, why not an adults-only trip to Disney?? Kristy celebrated her sister-in-law’s upcoming nuptials with a weekend in the happiest place on Earth and had a blast! She recommends going without kids to Disney at least once in your life, because the experience is so different when you don’t have to worry about the little ones.
Make sure you grab matching magical tees, fun coordinating mouse ears, and, if you really want to get crazy, princess-themed outfits for going out at night!! We all know the bride is royalty, so what better occasion to show off your queenship.
After all of that celebrating, you’re probably going to want a little help recovery. These bachelorette party survival kits make the perfect gift for all the gals! Your bride and bridal party will be as good as new in no time with these essentials.
For a bridal shower, you’re going to want to gift something practical but something the bride wouldn’t necessarily buy for herself. How about this: a mini wine fridge with a customized wine subscription! Who wouldn’t want delicious wines delivered right to their door, especially with all that stress of wedding planning?! Don’t forget your “Miss to Mrs.” banner in case anyone forgot who all those gifts are for.
A “bride” silk robe is a must. Whether she wants to wear it on her wedding day or lounging around her house while she dreams of being the future Mrs., this is one bridal tradition you don’t want to forgo.
Games are a bridal shower must! This ring game is a fun way to get everyone involved and share a few laughs over some healthy competition.
These party favors are perfect for your bridal shower guests! Kiss the miss goodbye with Hershey’s Kisses and champagne lip balm. Pucker up!!
Want more bridal inspiration? Head to our Amazon storefront and get to planning!
It seems like someone we know is always getting married. Whether you’re a loyal member of the bride tribe or the blushing bride-to-be, honoring the big day consists of a lot more than just the wedding ceremony. From the bachelorette party to the bridal shower, planning memorable pre-marriage celebrations doesn’t have to be stressful! See our bridal celebration ideas below.
If you’re looking to plan an epic bachelorette party, why not an adults-only trip to Disney?? Kristy celebrated her sister-in-law’s upcoming nuptials with a weekend in the happiest place on Earth and had a blast! She recommends going without kids to Disney at least once in your life, because the experience is so different when you don’t have to worry about the little ones.
Make sure you grab matching magical tees, fun coordinating mouse ears, and, if you really want to get crazy, princess-themed outfits for going out at night!! We all know the bride is royalty, so what better occasion to show off your queenship.
After all of that celebrating, you’re probably going to want a little help recovery. These bachelorette party survival kits make the perfect gift for all the gals! Your bride and bridal party will be as good as new in no time with these essentials.
For a bridal shower, you’re going to want to gift something practical but something the bride wouldn’t necessarily buy for herself. How about this: a mini wine fridge with a customized wine subscription! Who wouldn’t want delicious wines delivered right to their door, especially with all that stress of wedding planning?! Don’t forget your “Miss to Mrs.” banner in case anyone forgot who all those gifts are for.
A “bride” silk robe is a must. Whether she wants to wear it on her wedding day or lounging around her house while she dreams of being the future Mrs., this is one bridal tradition you don’t want to forgo.
Games are a bridal shower must! This ring game is a fun way to get everyone involved and share a few laughs over some healthy competition.
These party favors are perfect for your bridal shower guests! Kiss the miss goodbye with Hershey’s Kisses and champagne lip balm. Pucker up!!
Want more bridal inspiration? Head to our Amazon storefront and get to planning!
If there’s one thing we know how to do at Frugal and Thriving, it’s shopping a really good sale. Our job is to be on top of the hottest and latest deals from all across the internet, and we’re rounding them up and putting them all in one place for you! See this week’s best sales from some of our favorite retailers below.
Aerie
Shop up to 30% off almost everything at Aerie!
Carter’s
Grab 40% off new arrivals from Carter’s!
Gap
Take 50% off your purchase at Gap
Michael Kors
Shop the End of Season Sale at Michael Kors and get up to 70% off!
Nike
It’s the Back to School Sale! Take 25% off select styles from Nike with code SPORT25
Old Navy
Back-to-school stock up!! Shop kids $5 tees & leggings, $6 polos & graphic tees, and $8 dress & active from Old Navy
Target
Grab college essentials starting at just $2 from Target!
Venus
Get up to 80% off thousands of styles from Venus!
Victoria’s Secret
Buy two, get one free everything at Victoria’s Secret!
Pies, cakes, doughnuts, cookies…mmmmm. Baked with sweet spices, whipped sugars, fall fruits, and lots of love, autumn treats are simply the best desserts you can make. They warm the home and the heart and bring comfort to everyone. Fall baking season is upon us and we’re sharing some fun fall recipes you can make with a few simple kitchen tools…like the KitchenAid Pro Stand Mixer. Find out more below.
The KitchenAid Pro stand mixer is a dream come true for bakers both new and experienced. Knead, whip, mix, and more – Kristy’s mixer pictured above is the 6-qt bowl mixer, which can handle up to 14 cups of all-purpose flour and triple batches of cookie dough. The bowl is wide-mouthed to make adding ingredients easy, and it comes equipped with a pouring shield to minimize spills and messes.
The mixer includes a KP26M1X Professional 600 Series stand mixer, a 6-qt stainless steel wide-mouth bowl with contoured handle, a pouring shield, a spiral dough hook, a flat beater, and a wire whip.
Recipe Inspiration
These KitchenAid recipes from Yummly.com are the perfect fall treats to make with your KitchenAid mixer and accessories!! Grab your ingredients and supplies and get to baking!
Honey Cardamom Pear Upside Down Cake
**Makes 12 Servings
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup butter (for caramel pear base)
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar (lightly packed)
- 1/4 cup honey (for caramel pear base)
- 3 medium pears (peeled, cored, quartered and sliced in 1/4″ slices)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup fine grind cornmeal
- 1 teaspoon cardamom
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup buttermilk
- 3 large eggs
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3/4 cup butter (room temp)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
- Special Equipment: KitchenAid® paddle attachment; 9” round cake pan; saucepan.
- Preheat oven to 350°F/177°C. Place a large tin foil sheet on the rack below your baking rack to catch any bubbling juices while the cake is baking.
- Make the caramel base. Melt 1/4 cup butter in a saucepan on medium high heat. Once melted, add 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup honey and gently whisk until sugar dissolves. Allow mixture to come to a heavy bubble, then reduce heat to medium and cook for another minute. Remove from heat, whisk and then spread evenly in the cake pan. Layer 2-3 pears in whatever pattern desired. Set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, cardamom, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs and 1/4 cup honey. Set aside.
- Attach the paddle attachment to your KitchenAid® Artisan Stand Mixer, and cream the 3/4 cup butter on speed 6 for one minute. Reduce speed to 4, and slowly stream in the granulated sugar. Once sugar is fully added, increase speed back to speed 6 and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add vanilla.
- Reduce mixer speed to 2 and add flour mixture to sugar mixture alternately with buttermilk mixture in three additions; beat just until blended after each addition. Spread batter evenly over pears.
- Bake in a preheated oven for about 50 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. (At 50 minutes, if the cake has browned on top but is not cooked through, you can lightly cover with foil for remaining bake time.) Remove cake from the oven and cool it on a wire rack for five minutes before inverting the cake onto a rimmed plate and releasing the cake. (NOTE: A rimmed plate is necessary to catch the juices that will release when the cake is turned over.)
- Can be served warm, or cooled completely.
Apple Cider Doughnuts
** Makes 9 Servings
Ingredients:
- 1 red apple (unpeeled, cored, chopped (202g))
- 1 cup apple cider (divided (250ml))
- 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour (425ml)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder (10ml)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (2ml)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (2ml)
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg (0.5ml)
- 1/8 teaspoon baking soda (0.5ml)
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar (75ml)
- 3 tablespoons vegetable shortening (54ml)
- 1 large eggs
- 1/4 cup buttermilk (50ml)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (2ml)
- 3 cups powdered sugar (750ml)
Directions:
- Combine apples and ¾ cup apple cider in medium saucepan; cover. Cook over medium heat 8 minutes or until softened. Uncover and continue cooking 5 minutes or until apples are tender and cider is almost completely reduced. Purée mixture with an immersion blender or in food processor until smooth. Measure the sauce; you should have ½ cup. If you have more, return to saucepan and continue cooking until reduced to ½ cup. Let cool slightly.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.Combine flour, baking powder, salt, spices and baking soda in medium bowl; set aside.
- Add granulated sugar and shortening to bowl of KitchenAid® Artisan Mini Stand Mixer. Attach bowl and Flat Beaterto mixer. Turn to Speed 4 and beat until mixture is light and fluffy. Turn to Speed 1 and gradually add egg and apple mixture.Continuing on Speed 1, add half the flour mixture, buttermilk and vanilla. After the liquid is fully incorporated, add remaining flour mixture. Mix 1 minute. The mixture will be sticky.
- Spray two 6-cavity full-sized doughnut baking pans generously with vegetable pan spray. Spoon ¼ cup batter into each cavity. Recipe will yield 9 doughnuts.Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in doughnuts comes out clean. Reserve in pan.
- Add remaining ¼ cup apple cider to small saucepan and bring to a simmer on medium heat. Transfer to medium bowl and whisk in powdered sugar until smooth.Dip each warm donut in the glaze, turning it with a fork. Transfer to cooling rack set on top of a baking sheet and let stand until glaze has set.
Pies, cakes, doughnuts, cookies…mmmmm. Baked with sweet spices, whipped sugars, fall fruits, and lots of love, autumn treats are simply the best desserts you can make. They warm the home and the heart and bring comfort to everyone. Fall baking season is upon us and we’re sharing some fun fall recipes you can make with a few simple kitchen tools…like the KitchenAid Pro Stand Mixer. Find out more below.
The KitchenAid Pro stand mixer is a dream come true for bakers both new and experienced. Knead, whip, mix, and more – Kristy’s mixer pictured above is the 6-qt bowl mixer, which can handle up to 14 cups of all-purpose flour and triple batches of cookie dough. The bowl is wide-mouthed to make adding ingredients easy, and it comes equipped with a pouring shield to minimize spills and messes.
The mixer includes a KP26M1X Professional 600 Series stand mixer, a 6-qt stainless steel wide-mouth bowl with contoured handle, a pouring shield, a spiral dough hook, a flat beater, and a wire whip.
Recipe Inspiration
These KitchenAid recipes from Yummly.com are the perfect fall treats to make with your KitchenAid mixer and accessories!! Grab your ingredients and supplies and get to baking!
Honey Cardamom Pear Upside Down Cake
**Makes 12 Servings
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup butter (for caramel pear base)
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar (lightly packed)
- 1/4 cup honey (for caramel pear base)
- 3 medium pears (peeled, cored, quartered and sliced in 1/4″ slices)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup fine grind cornmeal
- 1 teaspoon cardamom
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup buttermilk
- 3 large eggs
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3/4 cup butter (room temp)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
- Special Equipment: KitchenAid® paddle attachment; 9” round cake pan; saucepan.
- Preheat oven to 350°F/177°C. Place a large tin foil sheet on the rack below your baking rack to catch any bubbling juices while the cake is baking.
- Make the caramel base. Melt 1/4 cup butter in a saucepan on medium high heat. Once melted, add 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup honey and gently whisk until sugar dissolves. Allow mixture to come to a heavy bubble, then reduce heat to medium and cook for another minute. Remove from heat, whisk and then spread evenly in the cake pan. Layer 2-3 pears in whatever pattern desired. Set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, cardamom, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs and 1/4 cup honey. Set aside.
- Attach the paddle attachment to your KitchenAid® Artisan Stand Mixer, and cream the 3/4 cup butter on speed 6 for one minute. Reduce speed to 4, and slowly stream in the granulated sugar. Once sugar is fully added, increase speed back to speed 6 and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add vanilla.
- Reduce mixer speed to 2 and add flour mixture to sugar mixture alternately with buttermilk mixture in three additions; beat just until blended after each addition. Spread batter evenly over pears.
- Bake in a preheated oven for about 50 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. (At 50 minutes, if the cake has browned on top but is not cooked through, you can lightly cover with foil for remaining bake time.) Remove cake from the oven and cool it on a wire rack for five minutes before inverting the cake onto a rimmed plate and releasing the cake. (NOTE: A rimmed plate is necessary to catch the juices that will release when the cake is turned over.)
- Can be served warm, or cooled completely.
Apple Cider Doughnuts
** Makes 9 Servings
Ingredients:
- 1 red apple (unpeeled, cored, chopped (202g))
- 1 cup apple cider (divided (250ml))
- 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour (425ml)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder (10ml)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (2ml)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (2ml)
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg (0.5ml)
- 1/8 teaspoon baking soda (0.5ml)
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar (75ml)
- 3 tablespoons vegetable shortening (54ml)
- 1 large eggs
- 1/4 cup buttermilk (50ml)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (2ml)
- 3 cups powdered sugar (750ml)
Directions:
- Combine apples and ¾ cup apple cider in medium saucepan; cover. Cook over medium heat 8 minutes or until softened. Uncover and continue cooking 5 minutes or until apples are tender and cider is almost completely reduced. Purée mixture with an immersion blender or in food processor until smooth. Measure the sauce; you should have ½ cup. If you have more, return to saucepan and continue cooking until reduced to ½ cup. Let cool slightly.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.Combine flour, baking powder, salt, spices and baking soda in medium bowl; set aside.
- Add granulated sugar and shortening to bowl of KitchenAid® Artisan Mini Stand Mixer. Attach bowl and Flat Beaterto mixer. Turn to Speed 4 and beat until mixture is light and fluffy. Turn to Speed 1 and gradually add egg and apple mixture.Continuing on Speed 1, add half the flour mixture, buttermilk and vanilla. After the liquid is fully incorporated, add remaining flour mixture. Mix 1 minute. The mixture will be sticky.
- Spray two 6-cavity full-sized doughnut baking pans generously with vegetable pan spray. Spoon ¼ cup batter into each cavity. Recipe will yield 9 doughnuts.Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in doughnuts comes out clean. Reserve in pan.
- Add remaining ¼ cup apple cider to small saucepan and bring to a simmer on medium heat. Transfer to medium bowl and whisk in powdered sugar until smooth.Dip each warm donut in the glaze, turning it with a fork. Transfer to cooling rack set on top of a baking sheet and let stand until glaze has set.
Pies, cakes, doughnuts, cookies…mmmmm. Baked with sweet spices, whipped sugars, fall fruits, and lots of love, autumn treats are simply the best desserts you can make. They warm the home and the heart and bring comfort to everyone. Fall baking season is upon us and we’re sharing some fun fall recipes you can make with a few simple kitchen tools…like the KitchenAid Pro Stand Mixer. Find out more below.
The KitchenAid Pro stand mixer is a dream come true for bakers both new and experienced. Knead, whip, mix, and more – Kristy’s mixer pictured above is the 6-qt bowl mixer, which can handle up to 14 cups of all-purpose flour and triple batches of cookie dough. The bowl is wide-mouthed to make adding ingredients easy, and it comes equipped with a pouring shield to minimize spills and messes.
The mixer includes a KP26M1X Professional 600 Series stand mixer, a 6-qt stainless steel wide-mouth bowl with contoured handle, a pouring shield, a spiral dough hook, a flat beater, and a wire whip.
Recipe Inspiration
These KitchenAid recipes from Yummly.com are the perfect fall treats to make with your KitchenAid mixer and accessories!! Grab your ingredients and supplies and get to baking!
Honey Cardamom Pear Upside Down Cake
**Makes 12 Servings
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup butter (for caramel pear base)
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar (lightly packed)
- 1/4 cup honey (for caramel pear base)
- 3 medium pears (peeled, cored, quartered and sliced in 1/4″ slices)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup fine grind cornmeal
- 1 teaspoon cardamom
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup buttermilk
- 3 large eggs
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3/4 cup butter (room temp)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
- Special Equipment: KitchenAid® paddle attachment; 9” round cake pan; saucepan.
- Preheat oven to 350°F/177°C. Place a large tin foil sheet on the rack below your baking rack to catch any bubbling juices while the cake is baking.
- Make the caramel base. Melt 1/4 cup butter in a saucepan on medium high heat. Once melted, add 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup honey and gently whisk until sugar dissolves. Allow mixture to come to a heavy bubble, then reduce heat to medium and cook for another minute. Remove from heat, whisk and then spread evenly in the cake pan. Layer 2-3 pears in whatever pattern desired. Set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, cardamom, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs and 1/4 cup honey. Set aside.
- Attach the paddle attachment to your KitchenAid® Artisan Stand Mixer, and cream the 3/4 cup butter on speed 6 for one minute. Reduce speed to 4, and slowly stream in the granulated sugar. Once sugar is fully added, increase speed back to speed 6 and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add vanilla.
- Reduce mixer speed to 2 and add flour mixture to sugar mixture alternately with buttermilk mixture in three additions; beat just until blended after each addition. Spread batter evenly over pears.
- Bake in a preheated oven for about 50 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. (At 50 minutes, if the cake has browned on top but is not cooked through, you can lightly cover with foil for remaining bake time.) Remove cake from the oven and cool it on a wire rack for five minutes before inverting the cake onto a rimmed plate and releasing the cake. (NOTE: A rimmed plate is necessary to catch the juices that will release when the cake is turned over.)
- Can be served warm, or cooled completely.
Apple Cider Doughnuts
** Makes 9 Servings
Ingredients:
- 1 red apple (unpeeled, cored, chopped (202g))
- 1 cup apple cider (divided (250ml))
- 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour (425ml)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder (10ml)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (2ml)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (2ml)
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg (0.5ml)
- 1/8 teaspoon baking soda (0.5ml)
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar (75ml)
- 3 tablespoons vegetable shortening (54ml)
- 1 large eggs
- 1/4 cup buttermilk (50ml)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (2ml)
- 3 cups powdered sugar (750ml)
Directions:
- Combine apples and ¾ cup apple cider in medium saucepan; cover. Cook over medium heat 8 minutes or until softened. Uncover and continue cooking 5 minutes or until apples are tender and cider is almost completely reduced. Purée mixture with an immersion blender or in food processor until smooth. Measure the sauce; you should have ½ cup. If you have more, return to saucepan and continue cooking until reduced to ½ cup. Let cool slightly.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.Combine flour, baking powder, salt, spices and baking soda in medium bowl; set aside.
- Add granulated sugar and shortening to bowl of KitchenAid® Artisan Mini Stand Mixer. Attach bowl and Flat Beaterto mixer. Turn to Speed 4 and beat until mixture is light and fluffy. Turn to Speed 1 and gradually add egg and apple mixture.Continuing on Speed 1, add half the flour mixture, buttermilk and vanilla. After the liquid is fully incorporated, add remaining flour mixture. Mix 1 minute. The mixture will be sticky.
- Spray two 6-cavity full-sized doughnut baking pans generously with vegetable pan spray. Spoon ¼ cup batter into each cavity. Recipe will yield 9 doughnuts.Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in doughnuts comes out clean. Reserve in pan.
- Add remaining ¼ cup apple cider to small saucepan and bring to a simmer on medium heat. Transfer to medium bowl and whisk in powdered sugar until smooth.Dip each warm donut in the glaze, turning it with a fork. Transfer to cooling rack set on top of a baking sheet and let stand until glaze has set.
Fantastic price drop on the Kitchenaid 5qt Artisan tilt head stand mixer with glass bowl! Head on over to QVC where you grab one of these for $299.98! (If you were to purchase these separately it’d cost you $465)!
New to QVC? Use code OFFER to save $10 at checkout, second time? Try code HELLO10! (Or you could use a new email)
6 color options to choose from, this feather pink one though! 🤩
Disclosure: Thank you to QVC and Brandcycle for sponsoring today’s post. I’m so thankful to work with brands that I love and use!
Fantastic price drop on the Kitchenaid 5qt Artisan tilt head stand mixer with glass bowl! Head on over to QVC where you grab one of these for $299.98! (If you were to purchase these separately it’d cost you $465)!
New to QVC? Use code OFFER to save $10 at checkout, second time? Try code HELLO10! (Or you could use a new email)
6 color options to choose from, this feather pink one though! 🤩
Disclosure: Thank you to QVC and Brandcycle for sponsoring today’s post. I’m so thankful to work with brands that I love and use!
frugal and thriving LLC