Valentine’s Day Gifts

Valentine’s Day seems to be hurling its fluffy heart-shaped self directly in our faces at break-neck speeds this year. It’s time to celebrate the “US” portion of your life. If you’re reading this and thinking “I have NO clue what to do/buy for my significant other” Don’t fret, I got you!! This is a TWO idea concept. First is to  BE HONEST, Second is to do what works best for your “US”. 

I should be honest here, I think flowers are cute and all but there was a time when a certain holiday rolled around and I had hinted to a certain gift and i just knew that I was going to get it, until I didn’t and managed to get flowers instead. I (ashamed to say) acted like a brat, and told my s/o that I really would’ve appreciated getting that thing that I had hinted to before that would’ve saved money and wouldn’t have died in a week. His response you ask?? a calm and collected “….. why didn’t you just say so, I’m not a mind reader and I’m terrible at picking up on hints… you know that…” It’s true, he sucks at noticing anything other than the obvious. He was right though, why didn’t I just ask for what I wanted rather than dance around the truth in hopes he would Sherlock Holmes that mess and then be disappointed when he didn’t?? The truth of the matter is that I felt like if I said it upfront that would make me rude or pushy but that’s not the truth at all. There’s an old expression “It’s not what you say, it’s HOW you say it” that clearly applies here. I wouldn’t dare say “Get me ____ for a gift” that’s just not me. This next piece of advice though??? This is how I make gift giving (and receiving) fluid.

I’m about to give you the “SECRET” to gift giving in a relationship that works every single time!! Ya ready?? All you need to ask for a list from your s/o and give the same one in return, simple huh? Here’s the simple details, Ask your s/o to give you a list of items or activities. You can put a price range on it or they can all be free (think picnic, hikes, alone time). Not let’s go back to the whole “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it” expression. By now my s/o know the drill we just hand over the list, but the first time or two it went a little bit more like this “Hey I’m wanting to get you something but I wanted to make sure it’s something that you’d actually want or want to do, could you give me a list of things that range in budget so that I can get an idea? If your s/0 doesn’t follow suit in asking for a list in return, take the reins and POLITELY manage to put out there that you don’t want them to feel obligated but IF they were thinking of getting/ doing something for you as well, that you would like ____ (<— fill in your own blank here). It’s important to add that if you’re not in a relationship it’s OKAY, in fact a good thing to go out and do something to make yourself happy this valentines day.

This can really work for any gift giving occasion and with any relationship brother, sister, mother, daughter, father or, son!! Give it a try and let us know how it works out for you and if you have any other advice to add we’d love to hear it!

We hope you get EGGSactly what you ask for this year 😉

  With lots of Valentine’s Day love,

    Your Chicks ❤

hearts3

**Disclaimer: None of these chicks are counselors and can’t guarantee that any method works for anyone.

Pumpkin Spice and Memories

Life literally does start over in your 40s!  This summer, I sold my house and moved from my hometown to be closer to work. I’m living in an apartment which isn’t my favorite, but house hunting is a slow process. No matter what changes, one thing remains the same; I love to bake! Baking reminds me of my sweet mamaw. She passed away when I was 21 but I can still smell the delicious baked goods that she would make. If she knew you were coming to visit, you could bet on her having your favorite meal and dessert waiting. Oh how I miss her and her sweet words of wisdom!

Somehow, I got her love of cooking and baking because my mom does not cook at all, ever!

I recently found a recipe for cookies and cream cookies and I tweaked it a bit to include the awesome fall flavor of Pumpkin Spice. Who doesn’t love Chocolate and Pumpkin Spice?!  The men in our building gave the cookies their seal of approval. Hope y’all enjoy them too!

Happy Fall Y’all!

 

pumpkin-spice-1

Pumpkin Spice Cookies and Cream Cookies

1 Vanilla Cake Mix

8 Tablespoons of butter, melted

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 oz cream cheese, softened

2 cups Pumpkin Spice Oreo Cookies (I used Trader Joe’s Brand) Chunks

1 cup white chocolate chips

1 cup chocolate chips

 

Combine cake mix, butter, egg, vanilla, and cream cheese. Beat until a soft

dough forms. Stir in Cookies and chocolate chips by hand.   Refrigerate

dough for 30 minutes to an hour. Roll into balls and bake at 350 for 10

minutes. Don’t overbake! The cookies will not look done but they are.

Enjoy!  Share a cookie and a memory!  #SassyChick