An Ameri Brit Christmas

January 1, 2023 The Ameri Brit MomLeave a comment

For the first time in eleven years, I spent Christmas in the UK. This was the first time our girls celebrated Christmas overseas, and they enjoyed all of the new traditions and experiences that Christmas in the UK has to offer.

Christmas morning was spent at the Cotswold Centre, a military chalet in the west country that my brother-in-law booked for us all. This accomodation allowed each of the family members to have a space together to celebrate. Having all of the cousins together to open presents and play games was magical. We ate so much food and were spoiled by our English family members.

Although our stay was only nine days, we are thankful for the time with family and friends to refresh us as we enter the second half of the school year.

The Ameri Brit Mom

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Holiday Gift Tags

December 17, 2022 The Ameri Brit MomLeave a comment

Each Christmas Eve, I sit down with my husband and several rolls of paper, scissors, and tape to wrap all of the gifts for our family. It’s a fun time of sipping on drinks, and discussing the reactions we anticipate the next day. We work. We talk. We laugh. And it’s a fun memory of every Christmas season–one that marks the end of the hustle and the start of the relaxing gift of Christmas day. It is finished!

Our family is heading to England this Christmas and I am so excited to share some new traditions with my readers. But as we prepare to travel, I am in major prep-mode for making sure all of our gifts get to the destination and recipient without confusion. That’s why Gift Tags are so important.

This year as you sit down to wrap gifts, consider purchasing this $2.00 Holiday Gift Tag sheet to help ease the process. Print the tags onto sticker paper for easy transfer to wrapping paper, or to plain paper (just add tape).

Download holiday gift tags

The Ameri Brit Mom

Uncategorized

5 Gift Ideas for a Writer

December 5, 2022 The Ameri Brit Mom1 Comment

This is Part 2 of my gift-giving guide for the Holiday season of 2022. Last week, I shared 5 Gift Ideas for a Reader–be sure to check that out! Now, I want to give attention to the writers in our lives. These can be people who are somewhat difficult to buy for because writing requires very little in the digital age. Many writers can get by with just a computer, and for that reason it can get tricky trying to gift them the experience of writing.

These items in the list I curated are aimed at helping writers hone their skills through practicing the art of writing. The gift ideas range in price from $5-$100, and represent many facets of the writing experience.

I am not an affiliate for any of these items. All of these recommendations are things I genuinely enjoy and am choosing to share with you because I am so fond of them.

1. PaperMate InkJoy Gel 0.7

The PaperMate InkJoy Gel 0.7 are my favorite pens for writing. They glide gently across the page and without smearing or ghosting. These have become a go-to and staple in my writing life.

2. Plum Paper Planners

Lately, I’ve moved away from Bullet Journaling and into a custom-built planner from Plum Paper. Although they can get pricy, these planners can be tailored to the needs of the writer and the pages are beautiful and of great quality. I am in love with my Plum Paper planner and I use it regularly to plan out blog posts, track purchases for The Ameri Brit Mom, and to schedule out the events in my life.

3. 642 Things to Write About Book

A universal experience for all writers is the lack of ideas. When you gift a writer a book of prompts like 642 Things to Write About by the San Francisco Writer’s Grotto you help them to defeat this hurdle to their practice and help unlock ideas just waiting to be captured on the page.

4. Small, low-maintence (or artificial) plants

Plants (whether artificial or living) add to the ambiance of a writer’s space. I recommend a set of smaller artificial plants, but if your writer has a green thumb then something requiring low maintence would be best. The plants should not deter their attention from their writing, but instead help to craft an environment that keeps their butt-in-chair.

5. SkillShare Subscription

A subscription to Skillshare was my big gift from my husband in 2021. With this subscription, I was able to take courses on many of my hobbies from creatives and leaders in their fields. For example, I learned how to improve my social media marketing strategies, film lifestyle vlogs, write a modern resume, and so much more. This is the most expensive gift on the list, but worth the cost in order to help the writer in your life invest in their skills and grow their toolbox.

When you buy a gift for a writer you are investing in a hobby and lifestyle that extends far beyond pages of words. You are showing them that you value what they have to say and believe in them to launch their gift into the world.

The Ameri Brit Mom

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5 Gift Ideas for a Reader

November 29, 2022 The Ameri Brit MomLeave a comment

This holiday season I am bringing you a two-part series of gift guides for the readers and writers in your life. In these posts, I am giving you recommendations for gifts of all sizes. Whether you are willing to spend $10 or $200 on your recipient, I’ve got you covered–and in plenty of time to make online orders.

As you consider what to buy the reader in your life, be mindful of helping them create an environment that allows for the mental escape that reading requires. By setting a scene that indulges all the body’s senses, readers can find themselves quickly thrust into the world and words of the pages in front of them. When you buy a gift for a reader, you are also buying them an experience, and showing them that you value their life as a reader.

I am not an affiliate for any of these items. All of these recommendations are things I genuinely enjoy and am choosing to share with you because I am so fond of them.

1. Books

This may be the most obvious of the gifts ideas, but if you are struggling to come up with a title for the reader in your life let me offer some suggestions:

The Measure by Nikki Erlick (Bestseller)
Verity by Colleen Hoover (Thriller)
Book Lovers by Emily Henry (Romance)
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams (Historical Fiction)
Remember God by Annie F. Downs (Christian/Memoir)
Good Boundaries and Good Byes by Lysa TerKeurst (Christian/Self-Help)
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Bestseller)

2. Candles

Setting the scene for a quiet night of reading is one of my favorite ways to settle into a new book. I gather all of my comfort items and light a candle to set the ambiance. This weekend I went to a local Bath and Body Works to test their new Holiday scents for the 3-wick candles. Here are my favorites:

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
Frosted Cranberry
Sugared Snickerdoodle
Winter Candy Apple
Fresh Flurries

3. Coffee

I’ve told you all about my favorite coffee brand before, but a fresh pot of Silverbridge coffee is another way that I like to awaken my senses as I settle into a comfy spot for a session of reading. This Ohio-based coffee company crafts unique flavors with strong and delicious aromas. My favorite flavors:

Highlander Grogg
Jamaican Me Crazy
Snow Angel
Cinnamon Sticky Bun
Southern Pecan

4. Notebook

Not everyone likes to annotate as they read, but getting a beautiful notebook for the reader in your life is never a bad idea. I love to use a standard A4 notebook for journaling and notetaking. Barnes and Noble is one of my favorite online stationery shops. Many of the B&N stores are also increasing their inventory of all things a writer will love. My current favorite is this Book Lover XL Notebook from Studio Oh!

5. Noise Cancelling Headphones

In a world of noise and commotion, sometimes we need to drown out the things that try to take our peace and attention away from our reading moments. This is a more expensive gift idea, but if you are looking for quality, noise-cancelling headphones I cannot recommend the Beats Solo 3 enough. These are comfortable and amazing for setting a the mood for a tranquil reading session. Additionally, if your reader is more into audiobooks than hard copies, these can be a great way to listen without distraction.

Remember that when you buy for a reader, you are buying an experience. Your gift helps them transport into the pages of a book and walk around in another’s shoes for a bit. Consider how to best cultivate your reader’s scene by appealing to their senses–and the reader will be grateful for these thoughtful ways of providing them the peace and space for their entry into another world.

The Ameri Brit Mom

Uncategorized

My Christmas Gift

December 26, 2021 The Ameri Brit MomLeave a comment

As always, my husband found a thoughtful and perfect gift for me this year.

I am so excited about my one year subscription to SkillShare. This is an online platform for learning different skills from others through a variety of online “classes”. There are some courses on bullet journaling, blogging, hand lettering, and photography that I am so excited to dive into. Additionally, I have found classes to support me during the launching of big changes to the blog in January.

Yesterday, I took a short class on using the Cricut to make sticker sheets by Maya Madrid because I also got a new printer and sticker pages for Christmas. Hopefully, I will share more of the skills I learn using this app in 2022.

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas. We spent most of the day at home playing with and setting up our new gifts. The girls absolutely loved their new Gabby’s Dollhouse and Oculus VR headset. My husband received a full digital keyboard which he is pumped about. I am thankful for my community and church for helping me get that for him at a decent price. In the afternoon, we Facetimed our British family and visited with family in Ohio.

Our family will be heading to the beach tomorrow and I plan to share photos and memories with you to brighten your wintry news feeds. After the long semester of grad school I needed a short trip to look forward to so this trip is somewhat of a graduation gift.

Also, I am less than a week away from launching some of the changes to this blog and I want to make sure you are up-to-date with everything The Ameri Brit Mom has coming in 2022. Please consider joining the email list below to be one of the first to get all the inside information.

Join the Subscription

In the comments, I would love to hear some of your favorite gifts you received for Christmas this year.

The Ameri Brit Mom

Faith · Family · Uncategorized

Operation Christmas Child

November 13, 2018November 12, 2018 The Ameri Brit MomLeave a comment

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Operation Christmas Child is an international organization that provides financial and physical needs all over the world. It is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, an interdenominational charity. This is the twenty-fifth year that OCC has impacted global needs. I love this organization and how easy they make it to teach my children about the importance of serving and giving to others. Every year since she was two my oldest has packed shoe boxes and she looks forward to it every Christmas season.

This weekend our church hosted an Operation Christmas Child packing party. They receive donations all year and during the party families come in and help pack the boxes. My daughter loved walking along the tables with her grandparents and hand-picking items for those in need of gifts this season.

This year we packed over 500 shoe boxes as a church!

It’s not too late to get involved. This is Drop-off week for OCC. If you would like to pack a shoe box and want to know where to take it check out their website for locations. For directions on how to pack a shoebox check out their site!

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)

The Ameri Brit Mom

Family · Uncategorized

My Christmas Recap

December 29, 2016December 27, 2016 The Ameri Brit MomLeave a comment

This Christmas was such a blessing. I spent several days in celebrations with friends and family whose company I cherish. Watching my daughter as she grasped the true meaning of Christmas this year was priceless. She sang songs about Jesus’ birth and relayed the story of the wise men bringing gifts to Jesus over and over again. Over the past week our family received so many gifts and items that we were so excited about, but above all we were thankful for the gift of Jesus and what that gift has meant for our family.

Later this week we will be heading on a short vacation to Indianapolis where we will be watching the Pacers vs. Bulls NBA game. (A gift from me to my husband.) It’s been a while since we have gone on a trip so even though it isn’t a long one it is much anticipated to get away and make some memories in a new setting.

My daughter received an abundance of gifts. With clothes, multiple pairs of pajamas, Barbies, a bike, art supplies, and quite a few games she is well set for another year.

I am beyond grateful for the gifts I received. My husband purchased some jewelry and a new outfit for me. My big gift from him, however, was two-fold. He sent the first ten pages of my manuscript to author, Mindy McGinnis, who provided critiques and comments. He also heeded her advice and purchased me a year’s membership into SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). This is a national organization which also has a local chapter in Columbus which I will now be able to attend once a month. I’m nervous, but so thankful for the opportunity to network with real authors and illustrators.

I was also blessed with an abundance of other gifts:

It’s easy to focus on the material on Christmas, but this year I really tried to set my eyes on the true meaning of this Holiday. Jesus is the purpose and the reason that we are able to love and appreciate others. With His life he showed us how to treat others and how to accept love. I am so glad to have people to share my love with and to give to them is an expression of Jesus’ love in me.

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas.

The Ameri Brit Mom

Fashion · Uncategorized

Last Minute Gift Guide

December 18, 2016January 4, 2017 The Ameri Brit MomLeave a comment

Six days and counting until the BIG morning. I envy each and every one of you who have finished all of your purchases (not to mention those over achievers out there who have already wrapped your gifts too!)

If your family is anything like mine the next six days will be full of fun gathered with the people you love. Christmas dinners. Church programs. Caroling. Holiday parties with friends. All of these precious moments are truly the reason for the season. One thing that shouldn’t get in the way of these celebrations is the daunting list of gifts that may still need to be purchased.

A quick way to take care of those fashion lovers in your life is to give them the gift of style. Ordering a Stitch Fix gift card takes only a few minutes and the digital gift card will appear in your email inbox.

You can give a gift card to someone who is currently enrolled in the Stitch Fix program or you can provide an opportunity for someone to try it for the very first time. With a Stitch Fix gift card you are allowing your loved ones to create their own style from the selection of informed stylists.

As we head into the final stretch of this Christmas season don’t let gift giving be a stressor. Use my link to the Stitch Fix website and select the gift card option in the upper right hand corner. Ever since I started with Stitch Fix I have been pleased with my shipments and now that I am a Stitch Fix Influencer I may receive compensation for your purchases and for spreading the love of fashion to those of you who cross paths with me in the blogosphere.

Whatever you decide to give this Holiday Season I hope you do so with love and that you remember that the reason for this season isn’t the decking of the halls, the expenses gifts, or the football games, but rather the celebration of the things most dear to our hearts.

Merry Christmas,

The Ameri Brit Mom

Gluten-free/Paleo · Uncategorized

Christmas Crack

December 12, 2016December 11, 2016 The Ameri Brit Mom1 Comment

A few weeks ago I was dreading the Holiday season as it applies to being gluten-free. Inevitably I would receive invitations to parties with tables filled with baked goods. (Cake, why must you tempt me so?) I’ve been on the prowl for a good gluten-free recipe to use as my go to this season. I’ve tried cookie and cupcake recipes, but I’ve been hard pressed to find one I really like and that I’d be willing to share with others.

This weekend we hosted a game night. This is a somewhat new thing in our family, but we are hoping to form a habit with some of our friends where we get together and play games once a month.

I spent days trying to find a recipe for a Christmas snack to offer at game night. Then, my sister solved my problem when she offered, “Why not make Christmas Crack?” I felt so silly. I was trying to think of some elaborate, brand new recipe when Christmas Crack has been a favorite for years. I love to make and eat this treat every year and all it needed was a small tweak to make it gf friendly.

It was a huge hit at the party by the way. Luckily, I saved back a bag for my family to munch on throughout the week, because my festive Christmas tin was empty by the final hand of Dutch Blitz.

Below is the recipe for gluten free Christmas Crack. Feel free to add pretzels if you are not confined to a gf diet.

Ingredients:

-1/2 box of Rice Chex cereal

-1/2 box of Cheerios

-2 bags of Nestle white chocolate chips

-1 bag of M&Ms

-Wax paper

Directions:

Lay two long sheets of wax paper across a table
Dump bags of white chocolate chips into a large bowl. Melt the chocolate in the microwave (in 20 second increments being sure to stir after each set of 20 seconds and DO NOT LET THEM BURN.)
Once the chocolate is smooth and completed melted through, quickly add both cereals and the candy to the bowl. Mix to cover all evenly.
Pour the contents of the bowl onto the wax paper. Spread the contents into a thin layer.
Let sit for 20-30 minutes or until the chocolate has hardened.
Break the mixture into small, bite sized pieces and place into a festive Christmas tin or large Ziplock bag.

This stuff is called Christmas Crack for a reason, people–it’s pretty addictive. Eat at your own risk and enjoy!

The Ameri Brit Mom

Fashion · stitch fix · Uncategorized

Stitch Fix #9

November 25, 2016February 20, 2017 The Ameri Brit Mom1 Comment

For the first time ever my Stitch Fix actually snuck up on me and I was completely surprised when I found my box on my porch after school. I had been so caught up in my life, new diet, sick child, and school work to remember that it was about time for my next Stitch Fix to arrive.

Around the holiday season I have to tighten the budget a bit so I want you to know upfront that since it had slipped my mind I wasn’t prepared to drop a bunch of money on this Stitch Fix. In the end I only ended up purchasing one piece, but that doesn’t mean I totally hated my items. I was still rather pleased with what I received, but in November I tend to focus more on buying for others than for myself.

Here’s a look into my box.

1. Elisa Dress (Collective Concepts)/Sutro Open Knit Infinity Scarf (Octavia)

The wrap style dress is so beautiful and elegant. I love the fall hues and the fit of this piece. It’s a dress that can so easily go from professional to casual with the right accents. It pairs perfectly with the color of the scarf. I only ended up buying the dress, but if I had more of a budget to work with the scarf would have been my second choice. The color is very hot right now and it could be worn so many ways.

2. Rufus Crew Neck Blouse (41 Hawthorn)

I wasn’t a huge fan of the fit of this top. My torso is a bit long so the panel for the shirt hit in an awkward place. The black panel at the bottom was see through and I just felt like the whole top was unflattering to my body shape/figure. I loved the color scheme. Black and white tops are so easy to accessorize and dress up, but I just felt like the fit of this top made it one not worth purchasing.

3. Locklyn Cowl Neck Pullover (RD Style)

This was another top that didn’t fit quite right. The shirt was too short for my torso, so much so that if I were to lift my hands my stomach would show. It was an instant “no” for me for that very reason. If it was longer, I would have liked the concept. It was cute and warm.

4. Hampton Corduroy Skinny Jean (Edyson)

I will spare you the image of myself wearing these pants. They did not quite fit. I’m not sure if it is due to the fact that they are skinny jeans, but they were tight in all the wrong places.

It was kind of disappointing that only two pieces actually fit in this Stitch Fix, but it’s probably better for my bank account that it worked out that way. I really didn’t have the cash to buy my whole box this go around so I was happy with the outcome. I did not leave a note for my stylist this time around (like I said, it slipped my mind.) It is important to communicate your wishes with your stylist so I blame myself for the fact that I didn’t end up loving more of my pieces.

**It is also important to note that if I had wanted to there is now an option to exchange pieces on the Stitch Fix site when you go to check out. If there is a piece you love, but it is in the wrong size you can select to exchange it free of charge.

If you are thinking about giving Stitch Fix a try or know someone who is unsure about it, and you want to give them a chance to try it risk-free there are two links below for you.

First, if you want to give it a try use this link to sign up. By using my link you give me credit for referring you to Stitch Fix. I am currently a Stitch Fix Influencer which means I may be compensated for this blog post and/or your signing up if you use my link.

Secondly, if you know someone who already has Stitch Fix or is thinking about giving it a try you can give the gift of Stitch Fix for Christmas. Use this link to purchase a gift card. Once on the website, click on the Gift Cards tab.I will receive 15% commission if you use this link so I would appreciate if you used it when making a gift card purchase.

Stitch Fix has been a rewarding experience for me. I almost always love the entire box that I receive and I’ve been featured on some of their social media for my posts and experiences with the company. Let me know if you have any Stitch Fix questions.

Happy Holidays!

The Ameri Brit Mom