UltimateMama started her Valentine’s Day shopping early this year to ensure everything would arrive on time. With items from Williams Sonoma, Amazon.com, and Lindt, UltimateMama’s kids will be in for a great holiday treat!
–American Girl by Williams Sonoma Cookbooks $11.99 each (from $19.95)
–Gray Malin 500 piece puzzle $20.29
–Ravensburger 300 piece puzzle $18.49
–Lindt assorted chocolates $5.99 (from $11.99)
–Disney Frozen II Holiday Mug with Double Chocolate Cocoa Mix & Marshmallow Pop $5.99 each
UltimateMama and her family are heading to Cleveland and Detroit this Easter weekend so the Easter Bunny will visit Michigan. As usual, UltimateMama will be packing only two carry on suitcases for her family of four so the Easter basket contents must be compact. In an attempt not to overdue it on the chocolate or candy front, UltimateMama spent the past few months buying a variety of fun items and accessories for her tween girls. They will be thrilled to see these “treats” in their Easter baskets on Sunday morning. Contents include:
–Lindt Chocolate Carrots (4 pack so 2 for each girl purchased at CVS on the Upper East Side for around $4.99)
–Glossier’s new Mango Balm Dotcom flavor as well as Glossier’s Mint Balm Dotcom flavor (purchased in Soho – New York City for around $12 each)
–Brandy Melville hair scrunchies (purchased in Soho – New York City for $3 each)
–LeSportsac ID card case with key ring (purchased in Honolulu, Hawaii for between $15-$20 each)
–Essie nail polish which UltimateMama can’t wait to borrow (purchased at CVS on the Upper East Side for around $8 each)
–Lanikai body mist and lotion set (purchased in Honolulu, Hawaii for under $10 per set)
–Oh K! Caviar face mask (purchased at Twist in Southampton, New York for $8 each)
UltimateMama and her girls enjoy getting everyone who walks through their door into the holiday spirit through decorations. A clever way to re-use a small metal Christmas tree is to add Easter eggs to it! Any remaining eggs could spruce up the otherwise boring base. Quick, easy, inexpensive, and incredibly pleasing to the eye!
UltimateMama NEVER runs out of wrapping paper and she NEVER pays full price for wrapping paper. Her secret? UltimateMama peruses store aisles the first few weeks in January and buys all of her wrapping paper for the year at 75% off (plus). Of course she picks cute patterns for next holiday season but also she buys solid colors that happen to be on sale (greens, reds, silvers, golds) that she uses all year long for birthday, anniversary, housewarming, graduation, and other gifts. She adds fun, seasonal ribbon and nobody ever knows that she paid less than $1.50 a roll for 80 sq ft of quality wrapping paper at CVS. Hit your local drugstore, card store, or big box retail store now!
UltimateMama and her family are heading to Tennessee and North Carolina this Easter weekend to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Dollywood so the Easter Bunny will visit The Park Vista a Doubletree by Hilton hotel in Gatlinburg, TN on Sunday morning. Trying to meet our goal of only 2 carry-on travel suitcases for our family of four, UltimateMama warned the Easter Bunny to not overdue it! After an hour in total at Michaels, T.J. Maxx, Modern State, and CVS, the Easter Bunny was equipped with all the necessary goodies for the two children. Fun, attractive, practical, and sweet, UltimateMama feels the Easter Bunny hit a home run this spring. Check it out!
Michaels: 2 Floral Gift Bags, initial luggage tags, pocket tissues
T.J. Maxx: Totes pocket umbrellas, Jelly Belly candy, Ghirardelli chocolates
Modern State: Harmonicas
CVS: Cadbury mini-eggs
UltimateMama loves her birthday cake alternative — chocolate fondue! It is decadent, easy, and fun for the whole family (regardless of age). UltimateMama served it with marshmallows, strawberries, and bananas. Other great dipping accompaniments include pineapple, apple, and angel food cake (or pound cake)!
How does UltimateMama celebrate Pi Day (March 14th or 3/14 or 3.14)? UltimateMama and her girls bake a few pumpkin pies of course! Pie = Pi! Go ahead and honor that famous irrational number before it is 3/15!
Paczki Day is today, the Tuesday before Lent begins, or “Fat Tuesday”. Celebrate your Polish pride by indulging in deep-fried dough with sweet fillings covered in powdered sugar, similar to an American doughnut or donut. All those in Manhattan who cannot make it out to Greenpoint, Brooklyn TODAY are advised to hit up Fairway Market on the Upper East Side (East 86th Street) and get their boxes (6 for $10) before they run out!
UltimateMama will have a busy day on Valentine’s Day so thanks to Fairway Market in NYC for making her holiday shopping fun, cute, and easy! Check out this great heart shaped ravioli! And, who wouldn’t want some yummy dipped strawberries?!
UltimateMama loves buying her two girls cute Valentine’s Day gifts that are not candy-related. It is always a nice surprise to have some new Living Royal socks, Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty, and Mia hair ties!
