This is a fun platter for the holidays gathering,  decorating the Christmas tree,  or holiday movie night.   Here are some tips on how to make your charcuterie board looks as great as it tastes.

Some ideas for your cocoa/treat board:

• Of course your going to start with your favorite cocoa powder,  (use homemade or store bought)
• A few toppings that might be fun,  peppermint, caramel, mini chocolate chips,  sprinkles, nuts,  waffle cone crumbles,  marshmallow.  So many possibilities!
• Add straws, and stir sticks.
• Add cookies, pretzels, candy, and popcorn are just a few great complementary snacking options.  (best if you pick out smaller sized items)
• You can also add whip cream, chocolate and caramel for drizzle.

I recommend laying out your board, platter or plate.  Always start with the larges container in this case cocoa mix.  Then add 3-4 small containers spaced out use these containers for small items like sprinkles, mini chocolate chip and small candy.

Then just fill in with treats and toppings, to cover the entire board.   I like to make sure alternate different color tones to create a nice contrast on you board. Most of all have fun with it.  Enjoy!

The post Holiday Hot Cocoa and Treat Charcuterie Board appeared first on Gather Lemons.

Looking for a unique, family-friendly activity this Summer? The Pacific Northwest is a great place to learn to catch and cook crabs! This activity is suitable for all ages and with a few tips in hand, you’ll be able to reach your catch limit in less than two hours! 

Here is what you will need!

• License: You can either get an annual license or a 15-day license. These are both sold online through the state, or at a sporting goods store. If you are crabbing for red crab, you will only need a Shellfish License and aren’t required to record how many you catch. With Dungeness Crabs, you need a Fishing License and a Catch Record Card that you will need to turn in at the end of the season. Kids 15 and younger do not need a license, but will need to submit a Catch Record. You can easily submit these online. Be sure to keep your Catch Record on you to avoid the $80 fine! 
• Trap: There are two options here!
  • Crab Net Traps (perfect if you’re trying to catch off a pier!)   
  • Crab Cage (can use off pier or boat). 
• Tongs
• Gauge
• Bucket
• Cooler filled with ice (to help calm down any feisty crabs!)
• Bait (fish head, chicken drum sticks)
• Zip ties
• Gloves

The first of the season typically starts in early July and runs until around Labor Day. There are some restrictions on which days you can go crabbing, and this will vary by location. It’s best to check regulations for your area before you go. Regulations for Washington can be viewed here.

Our family goes crabbing in the Des Moines area, which is Zone 11.  Here, you can only go crabbing on Sundays and Mondays to protect the supply.  There are a few different places in the area, like Redondo or the Des Moines Marina. We prefer the marina because you can go crabbing right off the pier.  I like to drop my net cages and tie them off, then head over to The Quarterdeck! This is an amazing coffeeshop located just a few yards away from the pier! You can expect to catch Red Rock Crab off the pier in Des Moines. Although if you go out in the boat you will have more luck catching Dungeness. However, crabbing by boat requires a lot more gear and there are more restrictions that you may want to research. 

The basic restrictions are as follows:

• Limit 6 per day per person/per license
• Shell size needs to be 6.25” for Dungeness and 5’ for red rock
• You can only catch the males

Let go crabbing!

First you will want to zip tie your bait (I use chicken legs) to the bottom of you crab net. (2-3 legs is preferred.) Have one person hold on to the end of the rope,  the other person throws the net like a frisbee.  Once it reaches the bottom, tie your tope to the railing and set a timer for 15-20 minutes.

When the timer goes off, pull up your net! You will need to move quickly to keep the crab from climbing out. Using your tongs, add your catch to the bucket.  Measure your crabs to make sure their bodies are over 5 inches and that they are all males. (Your measuring tool should have a diagram showing you what to look for and how to tell if you have a male or female.) Add the keepers to a cooler full of ice and throw the rest back.  

Repeat this process as many times as you’d like or until you get to your catch limit for the day.

Extra tips:

If possible, I would get two net traps. Some areas can do better than others so I like to put may traps in two different areas of the pier to cover more area. 

For the most part, the further down the pier you go, the better chances you will have of catching something!  It can get pretty windy at the end of the pier so I usually stick to about midway down.

Once you get home with your catch, you’ll want to put them in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. Then, using a canning pot with wire rack, I drop the crab into boiling water and cook with the lid on for 15 minutes. Your crab will be a bright red when it is fully cooked. 

Once your crab is fully cooked, you’ll want to add it to an ice water bath. You can either freeze as is or clean and enjoy right away!

To clean your crab, simply pull the top of the shell from the back of the crab, rinse out and remove all of that yellowish-green goo, and you’re all set! Melt some butter and squeeze a bit of lemon and add salt.  Crack, dip and enjoy!!!

Red Rock Crab is much more flaky then Dungeness so it can take a bit more work to remove it from the shell but the is so sweet and delicious, it’s worth it!

The post How to Catch and Cook Your Own Crab in the PNW appeared first on Gather Lemons.

Tarte has a great buy two, get one free sale and they are also offering free shipping.  Now would be a great time to buy the popular Shape Tape concealer! This is my all-time favorite concealer, it works so well! To get this deal, just head over to Tarte and add at least three items to your cart, when checking out use the code FREE at checkout. 

Almost everything on the Tarte site is included in this great sale. If an item qualifies you will see the buy 2, get 1 free message on the product page. The buy 2, get 1 FREE sale even applies to their sale items and we are sharing a few scenarios with you.

If you have a teen that wants to give cute little gifts to their friends for Christmas, buy 3 of these Hygge & Kisses Tarteist REMIX Lip Gloss Trio sets and gift the gloss individually. These are on a huge markdown! This sale makes these only $1.78 each when you buy 3 sets.

Here is a great scenario with some of the marked down items:

Gift & Glitz Color Collection $32 (reg $69) ~ $110 value
Pretty & Prosperous Color Collection $32 (reg $50) ~ $98 value
Be a Mermaid & Make Waves Eyeshadow Palette $29 (reg $42)
Buy 2, get 1 FREE (-$29)
Final Price = $21.33 each

Another Tarte product I love is their Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara, it has become my go-to mascara. Another bonus you can score is a FREE bag when you spend $75 or more. This offer is valid while supplies last. 

The post Tarte Buy 2, Get 1 Free + Free Shipping appeared first on Gather Lemons.

Dunja Wedge Sandal $10.49 with code CLEARSKIES (comp value $90) – This color is now sold out!

Spirit Espadrille Wedge Sandal $13.99 with code CLEARSKIES (comp value $65)

Romola Sandal $5.59 with code CLEARSKIES (comp value $50)

Pensa Bootie $20.99 with code CLEARSKIES (comp value $70)

Dehbi Bucket Bag $10.49 with code CLEARSKIES (comp value $88)

Kissing Minnie Flip Flop $2.79 with code CLEARSKIES (comp value $12)

Wave Toddler & Youth Water Shoe $6.99 with code CLEARSKIES (comp value $20)

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We finally have some information regarding the reopening of Disney World!  The Disney World reopening dates for the parks are as follows:

Magic Kingdom – July 11

Animal Kingdom – July 11

Epcot – July 15

Hollywood Studios – July 15

While the parks will be open there will be some safety measures put into place to ensure there won’t be overcrowding.  Guests and cast members will be required to wear face masks.  It’s also my understanding that cast members and guests will get temperature checks. Inside the parks, character meet-and-greets will be paused and play areas will be temporarily closed.  Parades, fireworks and other events that tend to create crowds will be temporarily suspended.  Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique will not be available either.

Guests will need to reserve park entry in advance and reservations will be limited.  Details of the new reservation system will be coming soon.   Tickets are currently not being sold for Disney World and new hotel reservations are not available at this time.  Current Disney World ticket holders and annual passholders will gain access to the reservation system first.

The Disney Springs area opened select stores and restaurants on May 20th.

I’m curious to hear if you plan to visit Disney World this year, or if you plan to wait until things are back to more of a normal routine? If you do have plans to visit Disney World sometime in the future, make sure you check out my post for discount Disney World tickets and package deals.

The post Disney World Reopening Date appeared first on Gather Lemons.

With so much down time at home these days I have been getting crafty with my Cricut.  My most recent project is a bag specifically for books that we need to return to the library. I keep the bag on a hook in our laundry room and the kids know when they are done reading a book they are supposed to place it in the bag. We haven’t quite yet got down the “put it in the bag” part of the plan, but we are working on it.

I love the idea of having one central place where we can store our library books and then when it’d time to return them we just grab the bag and go.

My husband went to a trade show and got this plain white tote bag as part of his swag.  I knew I could dress it up with my Cricut machine to make it a prettier.   I used a floral printed iron and and cut out the words  “RETURN THESE BOOKS.” with an all capital block font.

Next I use my Cricut Easy Press to iron the image onto the bag.  The whole process took less than 30 minutes and I am super happy with the results.

Using my Cricut Maker to make iron-ons for bags and clothing is probably one of the things I use my Cricut for the most, it’s so much fun to personalize your own items.   Cricut currently has a sale on some of their popular machines if you are interested in taking the plunge and getting a Cricut machine for yourself. I seriously love mine!   The Cricut Explore Air 2 is only $179 for the machine, they also have some bundle options that will also save you money on some supplies too.  Here are the different options for the machines,  I have previously owned the Cricut Explore Air, but upgraded to the Cricut Maker last year.  

Cricut Explore Air 2

Cricut Explore Air 2 Bundles

Cricut Maker

Here are a few other Cricut projects I have created:

• Darth Vader Drawstring Bag
• Disney Treat Coin Purses
• Faux Leather Keychains
• Dollar Store Travel Notebook

The post “Return These Books” Library Book Bag appeared first on Gather Lemons.

These Jars are so fun and really simple to make.  The finished product looks great and can be used for all sorts of things. What will you use them for?

Here is what you need:

• Canning jars
• Chalk paint 
• Clear wax top coat 
• Painter’s tape
• Sponge paint brush
• Sand paper

Start with clean and dry canning jars.  Paint the outside of the jars with white chalk paint, it will probably take about 2 coats.  Let them dry completely .  I bought this kit on Amazon and it gives you 12 different colors!  They normally come is much larger jars which means the price can add up quickly if you are wanting more than one color.  The 2oz jars are perfect for this project.   I made about 5 jars total and still had some left of all the colors I used.

Now add painter’s tape and place around the jar so you can paint the stripes on the jar.   Use a sponge brush to paint the color you have chosen on the jar.  You will need two coats of paint. Let dry.  Next with sand paper go over the entire jar so that the lettering is visible, and it has a more rustic look to the jars.  Then finish off with Clear Wax.  Let dry.

These fun jars can be used as a vase, for planted herbs, storing pencils, paint brushes or other craft supplies. They are super cute and look great displayed just about anywhere!  Enjoy!

The post Chalk Paint Mason Jars appeared first on Gather Lemons.

Wow!  Both Disneyland & Disney World Resort have extended their closures until further notice. Disneyland Resort will work with guests who wish to change or cancel their visits, and will provide refunds to those who have hotel bookings during this closure period. They anticipate heavy call volume over the next several days and appreciate guests’ patience as they work hard to respond to all inquiries.  If you are an Disneyland Passholder, your pass will be extended by the amount of days they were closed.

If you booked your vacation through our partners at Get Away Today, you can check out their FAQ and they will help you reschedule your trip or cancel if necessary. They will be reaching out to customers as needed.

The post Disneyland Closure Extended appeared first on Gather Lemons.

With everyone staying home we have been doing a lot more family movie nights thanks to Disney+.   You can sign up for a free trial of Disney+ with a valid credit card.   If you are a Star Wars fan, the first thing you will want to watch is the Mandalorian, you can see what the craze is about with Baby Yoda.  Disney is releasing Onward for home viewing early so you can view it on Disney+ on April 3rd.  (Onward will also be available for digital download March 20th).

You also have the option to bundle Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for only $12.99 a month. If you are already paying for Hulu this is a great way to add the Disney+ service.   

Here are some of our favorites on Disney+ right now:

• Mandalorian
• Frozen 2
• Onward (available 4/3, we saw this in theaters and loved it)
• Wizards of Waverly Place (my daughter is having fun watching her favorite childhood show)
• The World According to Jeff Goldblum
• Black Panther + tons of Marvel movies
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars
• The Emperor’s New Groove

The post Our Favorites on Disney+ (Free Trial) appeared first on Gather Lemons.

Looking for a fun activity to keep the kids entertained outdoors? We’ve created a fun printable to help you kids get outside and have some fun. Simply print this free Outdoor Scavenger Hunt printable, give them a pencil and send them on a scavenger hunt.

This printable can be used in your own backyard, in the park or on a hike.   Click here to access the Outdoor Scavenger Hunt printable and print.

The post Outdoor Scavenger Hunt (Free Printable) appeared first on Gather Lemons.

Disneyland announced that it would be closing for the month and now Disney World has also made the decision to close.   You can read the press release regarding Disneyland closing, they will close on March 14th.

Disney World will close at the end of business on March 15th and remain closed through the end of the month.   Disney employees will be paid during the closure. The hotels and retail complexes at Walt Disney World will remain open.

If you had trip planned during this time you can refer to this page for details on waiving cancellation fees, extending tickets expiration dates, extending annual passes and more.

The post Disney World Closing appeared first on Gather Lemons.

For one day only Alaska Airlines is having a BOGO flight sale, to get the discount you need to enter the code LETSBOGO in the discount code field. The discount is valid 12/20 only.

There are lots of exceptions, but you can find some amazing deals.   Check out the complete list of cities with the discounts.  In order to get the special pricing you will need to fly on Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday and you will need to choose a departure and return dates between January 7-February 12, 2020, and enter 2 travelers.

I was able to check on flight prices to California for a visit Disneyland and I was able to find a flight that would be only $82.61 round trip per person!!!  That is crazy good!!  They have flights to Hawaii from California that are included too, fly to cities in Hawaii Monday through Wednesday.

If you’d love to take a quick trip to Disneyland this may be your time to do it!  Especially if you are flying from the Seattle airport because they offer so many flights to California.  Don’t forget the new Rise of Resistance ride in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge opens in Disneyland on January 17th!

If you do plan to visit Disneyland, I recommend booking your trip through Get Away Today, you can purchase individual tickets or a package deal that includes tickets and a hotel.  The Get Away Today vacation packages often beat the prices of booking your hotel and buying tickets separately.   You can save an extra $10 off the low package price by using the discount code THRIVING10 at checkout. 

Don’t forget to check out all our Disneyland posts too!

• Hotel reviews of all the hotels we’ve used around Disneyland
• Complete Guide to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
• Ultimate Guide to Disneyland Snacks
• Complete Guide to Pixar Pier
• Make a custom lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop
• Tips for One Day at Disneyland
• Saving Money when Dining at Disneyland
• 10 of the Best Places to eat Lunch at Disneyland
• 10 of the Best Places to eat Breakfast at Disneyland
• Our visit to Club 33
• Mickey Tic Tac Toe in a Bag
• 7 Reasons I Prefer Disneyland over Disney World

The post Alaska Airlines BOGO Flight Sale (12/20 only) appeared first on Gather Lemons.

My daughter attends college in Idaho and she sent me this photo yesterday with the text “It’s officially ‘show nothing but your eyes’ weather” . We thought it would be fun to do a round up on some fun and fashionable beanies so you can stay warm this winter too.

Allie received the Arctic Paw Cable Knit Beanie with Faux Fur Pompom Ears as a gift and she get’s compliments on it all the time.  It comes in more than a dozen colors.  It’s just plain fun!  Everybody needs a little fun when it’s freezing outside.

I really like the basic look of the Enjoy Holiday 1981 Thick Warm Beanie. It’s classic and would go with anything. There are a dozen colors to choose from and it’s priced under $10 and there is also a coupon you can clip to save an extra 7%.

I love the look of the Brook + Bay Faux Fur Pom Pom Beanie.  The pattern on the stitching is so pretty.  It comes in seven colors and it’s currently priced under $10.

If you are the type of person that doesn’t want a pom pom on their beanie, the C.C Trendy Warm Chunky Soft Stretch Cable Knit Beanie it a great option. It comes in dozens of colors (use the drop down menu to see them all).  It also has thousands of great reviews.  This has been a popular seller for years, it’s a classic hat.

The Brook + Bay Slouchy Cable Knit Beanie is priced under $8 and also comes in lots of great colors.  It has hundreds of great reviews!

This Alepo Womens Winter Beanie looks like a winner! It’s cute and it has a warm fleece lining!  Lots of colors and great reviews.

Chunky knits are in right now and this  Chunky Cable Knit Pompom Beanie would be a great option. There are 15 great color options.

If you want a beanie with a little flair, you can go for the CC Winter Fall Trendy Chunky Stretchy Cable Knit Beanie which has animal print or buffalo plaid along the edge.  I’m not an animal print kind of girl, but I love the buffalo plaid ones.

The post Cute Beanies for Fall & Winter appeared first on Gather Lemons.

Green Toys Farm Playset $19.99 (reg $49.99)

ALEX Toys Little Hands String A Farm $6.45 (reg $16.50)

Melissa & Doug Farm Cube Puzzle $6.90 (reg $12.99)

Melissa & Doug Stacking Train $8.99 (reg $16.99)

14 Piece Tegu Magnetic Wooden Block Set $24.50 (reg $35.00)

Hape Kid’s Wooden Toy Ukulele $18.76 (reg $29.99)

Melissa & Doug Stamp-a-Scene Wooden Stamp Set $9.99 (reg $19.99)

Hape Gourmet Play Kitchen Wooden Play Set $11.89 (reg $18.69)

42 Piece Tegu Magnetic Wooden Block Set $68.51 (reg $109.99)

Melissa & Doug Let’s Play House! Wash & Dry Dish Set, 4 Place Settings $12.00 (reg $19.99)

LEGO Star Wars Episode VIII Kylo Ren’s Tie Fighter $45.84 (reg $79.99)

Save nearly 40% on the LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Yoda’s Hut, it’s $18.99 (reg $29.99).

You can save nearly 40% on the LEGO City Police Mobile Command Center Truck and pick this up for $30.99 (reg $49.99).

How cute is this LEGO Friends Andrea’s Heart Box? It’s only $4.99 (reg $7.99).

The LEGO Star Wars: A New Hope Escape Pod vs. Dewback Microfighters is 40% off and $11.99 (reg $19.99).

The LEGO Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets Aragog’s Lair is 40% off and priced at $9.00 (reg $14.99).

The LEGO Marvel Spider-Man: Doc Ock Diamond Heist is 40% off and priced at $17.99 (reg $29.99).

Save 38% on the LEGO Super Heroes Avengers: Infinity War The Hulkbuster Smash-Up, it’s $18.48 (reg $29.99).

Nerf Official: Lazer Tag Phoenix LTX Tagger 2-pack $44.79 (reg $63.99)

One Night Ultimate Werewolf $10.35 (reg $24.99)

Melissa & Doug Suspend Family Game $9.34 (reg $16.99)

7 Wonders Game $28.99 (reg $49.99)

Unstable Unicorns Base Game $12.30 (reg $20.00)

Exploding Kittens $13.99 (reg $19.99)

Spot It! JR. Animals $6.99 (reg $9.99)

The post Best of Toy & Gift Deals for Kids appeared first on Gather Lemons.

Shopping for clothes is definitely a necessity.  I love the feeling of a well put together outfit, it makes me feel great!  Honestly, I just don’t have the time to spend hours in the mall to find the perfect outfit.  When I do end up at the mall, more often than not I end up leaving empty handed.   Trying to find a perfect style, great fit and a price you can live with can be tricky.  I’m sure I’m not the only one that has this problem.

Nowadays I have gone to buying most of my things online.   If it saves me a trip to the store it is a total win!  When it comes to shopping for clothes there is a real benefit to being able to try items on.  

I have been on the fence about trying a clothing subscription.  I finally decided to give a subscription service a try when I was headed out on a date night with my husband and I was underwhelmed with the options in my closet.  I decided to give Stitch Fix a try.  My concerns were whether or not somebody else would be able to put together a great outfit based on my style.  Would I enjoy their selections?   Would the items fit?  Would it save me time?

I signed up with Stitch Fix, filled out the questionnaire and my first box arrived about two weeks later.   I was super excited to see what was sent.  Usually when you get boxes delivered you know what’s inside, this was an actual surprise. It’s kind of like Christmas!  When I opened the box, it was put together nicely, and it included all the information on how the subscription works. 

I received 1 light sweater, 1 blouse, 1 light  cardigan, skinny jeans, and booties.    My first impression was that I genuinely liked everything they sent.  I wasn’t sure that I would like some of the items based on fit though,  I wasn’t sure about the skinny jean thing.  But I thought what the heck and starting trying everything on.  I have so say I was quite surprised I like just about everything.  Out of all 5 Items, 4 of them fit perfectly. 

Here is what was included in my box:

Lena Released hem super skinny jeans  $78   When I first saw these jeans I wasn’t sure I would like it.  But after trying them on I was surprised they fit great!  I am pretty short and even the petite jeans are usually too long.  But these actually fit!  The length was perfect they were soft and had a bit of stretch so they were super comfy.  Needless to say I keep these.   I am seriously thrilled to have a great pair of jeans that fit well and I don’t have to hem them.  

Liala Jayde Bowie 3/4 sleeve dolman knit top $58  I really liked the color of this top, but it would not have been something I think I would have picked out at a store or online.  I actually liked it a lot.  I had a $150.00 budget in mind for this box and since  I liked a couple item a bit better I didn’t keep this one.   However, I do think it would make a great addition to my wardrobe.  Gotta stick to the budget though!

Evolution By Cyrus Stassi colorblock open cardigan $68.00   I do love sweater cardigans and this piece was no exception.  The cardigan was lightweight, and I loved the cut.  I thought the design was very flattering.  However the sleeves were way too long for me, and for that reason I didn’t keep it.

Collective Concepts Blouse $58  I really liked this blouse even though I am not much of a floral print kind of person (which makes absolutely no sense now that I think about it, I am a florist and own a flower shop.  Why don’t I love floral prints?).  I actually thought this was the perfect blouse for me, it’s a great navy blue color (I love blue) and it has just a bit of floral to give it a feminine touch.    It was dressy,  but also casual, I think it’s super versatile.   The one draw back is the stitching down the front is  see through so I will have to wear a camisole underneath it.  Since I already have a camisole,  it worked for me.  This one was a keeper!

Diba Lovely Suede Bootie $70  I did like these booties,  they fit was great.  I did not keep them for a couple reasons.  One I have something similar in a grey color,  two I live in Seattle so suede shoes especially in a light color are not a good combination with our rainy weather.  I sent these back.

What I really liked:

• The Style card, it helps you put together outfits that look amazing together with other optional items you may already have.
• Personal stylist
• Lots of options to pick a price point, style, and fitting issues.
• Lots of options for frequency pick from 2-3 weeks, monthly, every other month or every 3 months.
• It’s a great way to take a risk and find a style you may have not picked out.  You may actually end up loving it.
• The ability to opt out of certain things like shoes, jewelry, etc.

This is how to get started, if you want to give Stitch Fix a try.

• Go to Stitch Fix  and fill out the style questionnaire.  It is pretty extensive questionnaire, asking lots of questions on sizing, style, taste.  They will also ask if you want accessories like purses, jewelry, etc.
• Receive your first box within about 2 weeks.  It will include 5 Items based on your taste and style.
• Send back what you don’t want within 3 business days.  There is a 20.00 styling fee.  However,  the styling free is credited towards your purchase.  So if you keep just one item you can apply the styling fee towards your purchase.   You also do not pay to return the items you do not want to keep.  They provide a return bag,  you just add the unwanted items, seal the bag and drop off at the post office with in 3 days.

My honest opinion based off of my first box is that I love it.  I feel like every other month is a great fit for me.  I love that I am able to grow my wardrobe with new and fun styles that are a great fit and I don’t even have to leave my home to find them.  I also like that I can try new styles that maybe I would not have been open to originally.  I can’t wait to see what’s in my next box!

The post Review of Stitch Fix – Great Option for Busy Women or Those that Hate to Shop appeared first on Gather Lemons.