Mrs. Weber's Neighborhood

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Shop Green Oak Village Place This Holiday Season {+ Giveaway!}

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The post below is sponsored by Green Oak Village Place. All opinions expressed belong to me.

Here we go, friends! The holiday season is kicking off, and I hope you all have your wallets ready 😉 Like many of you, I love shopping online for some things, but when it comes to most gifts, I still prefer to go to the store and see it in person.

Green Oak Village Place, located in Brighton, Michigan, is a perfect spot to do some shopping this holiday season.

I recently strolled around the shopping plaza and popped into several stores gathering ideas for gifts. I was there for several hours and barely scratched the surface of gift ideas!

A few trends I noticed while out: Blingy jewelry paired with simple clothing, bath bombs, and for the kids — all things unicorn, sloth, and slime.

I picked a few stores to highlight, but you can find the entire store directory here. It really is a great spot to shop for gifts!

HomeGoods always has an amazing selection of gifts perfect for anyone from pets to co-workers. I especially loved their selection of drink ware, which was very affordable and unique.

My kids will say their favorite thing about Green Oak Village Place is the store Five Below. I can’t blame them — we’ve gotten some amazing treasures here! I absolutely love their selection of games and DIY kits. These would be perfect for a family fun gift, or to donate this season.

I didn’t have to get too far into Justice to see what my girls would want. The selection of fun pajamas with fun hoods was off the hook and would be perfect for cuddling in this winter.

Chico’s had a great selection of dressy items, including some really neat statement jewelry pieces. I loved this simple little black dress look paired with a bit of pizazz. Perfect for keeping it classy at holiday parties!

Charming Charlie’s is always a stop for me here. They have a fantastic and affordable selection of items for teachers, nurses, and all the special women in your life. They also had a killer wall of socks with things like tacos, bacon, and more on them that would be perfect for putting small knick-knack items in!

Barnes and Noble is always a great place to shop as well. Not only is there an amazing selection of books and music, but they have some great small gift items too! I found several cute bookmarks to give as small gifts. And there is no arguing you truly can find a book of ANY topic here!

Bonus: There’s a cafe inside that serves Starbucks so you can refuel as you shop 😉

If hunger strikes while shopping, there are several options for spots to grab a bite to eat: Buffalo Wild Wings, Kerby’s Koney Island, Carino’s Italian, Rollin Stone Wood Fire Pizza, Panera Bread, Honey Baked Ham, and Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina.

ABOUT GREEN OAK VILLAGE PLACE

Green Oak Village Place is located off of US-23 in Brighton, Michigan. In addition to the stores highlighted above, the plaza is home to many other popular stores, including American Eagle, Claire’s, J.C. Penney, Rally House, Ulta, Maurices, Petco and MANY more.

Learn more about the shops by visiting Green Oak Village Place’s website and on Facebook.

GIVEAWAY

Enter to win one of TWO $25 gift cards to the store of your choice at Green Oak Village Place. Find the list of complete stores here. Must be a U.S. resident, age 18 and up to enter. Giveaway ends on December 5, 2018 at midnight.

Good luck!

P.S. If you love giveaways, make sure to join the Michigan Bloggers Giveaway Network group on Facebook!

Gift Card to Green Oak Village Place

Unique Gift Idea: Capture Time With Wave of Memories

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I received a complimentary item from Wave of Memories in exchange for my review. All opinions belong to me.

I don’t know about you all, but I’m always on the hunt for gift ideas for my hard-to-shop-for husband. So when I saw this amazing gift idea from Michigan-based Wave of Memories, I knew I had to get one for an upcoming celebration!

Kalyn, the gal behind the business, works to capture time in the form of a voice memo. I’ve seen those sound wave tattoos being shared like crazy, but I love this version since it doesn’t need to be permanently on my skin!

For my husband’s birthday and Father’s Day, I always try to give one thoughtful gift for an element of surprise. He LOVED this unique gift, and it is now on display in his office. Now when he has a tough day, he can listen to their little voices and remember who he works so hard for 😉

These would be perfect as a grandparent gift, to capture any loved one’s voice, the sound of your baby’s heartbeat, or the song you first danced to at your wedding. The possibilities truly are endless!

Here’s how it works:

  • Visit the Wave of Memories Etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/WaveOfMemories
  • Choose your design and determine wording. Current offerings include a rustic wood sign or a floating frame with a space for you to include an image inside.
  • Record a voice using your phone’s voice recorder and send it to Kalyn.
  • Receive your item.
  • Download a QR code reader and listen to your message playback.
  • Enjoy the sound wave for years to come!

Watch this video to here to hear what each of my children wanted to tell their daddy in a ‘secret message’:

Shop for your own gift here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/WaveOfMemories

DISCOUNT CODE

Get your own wave art with a sweet discount. Wave of Memories is offering my readers $10 off with the code MrsWeber10.

Shop for those here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/WaveOfMemories

Additionally, Kalyn has another business called Hangin’ Round featuring adorable wreaths. Get $5 off those orders with the code MrsWeber5.

Hangin' Round

Shop for those here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HanginRoundMI

What Etsy shops and gift are you loving lately? Drop a link and share your business!

50+ Experience Gift Ideas For Southeast Michigan Kids

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Think back to the best Christmases and birthdays of your childhood…

If you’re anything like me, toy gifts don’t stick out much, but the memories and people do.

I’ve quickly realized my kids are happy with a few gifts to open, but mostly they are just happy to feel special and spend time together. As a mom, I find it so hard to focus on them in my own house due to work, laundry, messes, etc., so I love going on adventures together, even if it’s just a quick trip to the neighborhood park.

If you’re at a loss as to what gift to get a child and they don’t have a need for more toys, I’ve put together a list of 50+ experience gift ideas for southeast Michigan kids!

Experience Gift Ideas For Southeast Michigan Kids

Of course these can be presented as gift cards, but it’s easy to up-the-ante by just including a hand written note or even including a small gift to symbolize the adventure if you think he/she would like to open something!

I hope this list gets your brain thinking less of toys and more about the lasting impact of just being together. I also have a big list of free fun if budget is a concern. Memories don’t need to cost much – promise! 😉

50+ Experience Gift Ideas For Southeast Michigan Kids

SUPPORT THE ARTS

LEARN SOMETHING NEW

GET PHYSICAL

JUST PLAY

Experience Gift Ideas For Southeast Michigan Kids

What spots would you add? I’d love to hear your suggestions in the comments!

Buy Local and Support Bundled Michigan {+ Giveaway and Discount Code!}

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I received a Bundle free of charge for this review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

I’m loving the movement to pare down holiday gift giving to experiences and local products. For those looking to support local businesses, you have to check out Michigan-based Bundled.

Here’s the scoop:

The folks behind the company — Courtney Taylor & Chelsea Gheesling of the ultra-cute blog Chick in the Mitt — search Michigan to discover the best products small businesses offer, and bundle them into themed, personalized, corporate, and even wedding, gift bundles.

Examples include gifts for baby, men, women, coffee and beer lovers, and more. Prices range from $45-$65, and most ship for free.

Bundled Michigan Examples

How beautiful would these be for a gift? Perfect for in-state and out-of-state friends and family!

I received my own limited edition holiday bundle, and I just love it to pieces! Included are:

I honestly LOVE it all, and will definitely be seeking out these companies to learn more about what they do.

What stands out to me about all the products is the fantastic quality of the items. I love everything about it — from the scents featured to the graphic design elements. They are so well thought out and each individual Bundle would be the perfect gift to surprise someone with in the mail, or given directly this holiday season.

Another reason to love Bundledthey also employ adults with disabilities from Services to Enhance Potential (STEP), a Wayne County nonprofit. By purchasing a bundle, you directly help them provide hands-on job training and paid employment to help them reach their life goals.

COUPON CODE

I’m excited to offer a coupon code for 20% any bundle! Simple use the code MICHIGANLOVE to get the discount.

Follow Bundled on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram and make sure you think of this fabulous local company next time you need a gift for friends and family!

GIVEAWAY

I am excited to give away one holiday bundle {as shown}. Shipped directly to the winner. Must be a U.S. resident. Giveaway ends on December 4, 2017 at midnight. Good luck!

Bundled Michigan

At-Home Science: Growing Caterpillars, Hatching Butterflies

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This post contains affiliate links. When you purchase items through these links, Mrs. Weber’s Neighborhood gets paid a small commission.

If you’re looking for a fun experiment to conduct with the kids or a birthday gift for this summer, I highly recommend growing caterpillars and hatching butterflies.

This cute kit from Amazon comes with everything you need – food, a butterfly house and even 5 live caterpillars. {Just try to be home when they are delivered so they don’t sit out in the heat too long!}

Our family loved watching this process, which took 2.5 weeks. The caterpillars arrived teeny tiny and we were able to watch them grow quickly, turn themselves into a chrysalis, and eventually, morph into a butterfly. I’d never seen the process myself, and it was amazing to witness — like the miracle of life happening right before our eyes! We felt lucky that all 5 of us grew healthy.

Growing Caterpillars, Hatching Butterflies

A few FYIs:

  • The little balls that appear in the caterpillar cup? Yeah, that’s poop.
  • When the butterflies emerge, it looks like blood coming out of the chrysalis {thanks for the heads up, Kalyn!} — it is actually meconium from the metamorphosis process. I put a small piece of napkin in the bottom to catch some of it.

Butterflies can live for up to a month indoors while being fed fruit or homemade nectar, which is just sugar water. We had fun holding them {careful not to touch the wings} before releasing them into the wild after ours hatched.

Aren’t they gorgeous?!

Such an easy and fun experiment and great learning tool for kids. We can’t wait to oder more caterpillars and do this over and over again now that we have the kit.

Purchase the kit here and additional caterpillars here.

What other at-home experiments have you conducted? We’re always looking for new ideas!

4 Gift Rule for Easter Baskets

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4 Gift Rule for Easter Baskets

The post below is sponsored by Peaceable Kingdom. I received products in exchange for promotion. All opinions expressed belong to me.

I’m a huge fan of the 4 gift rule for Christmas {something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read}, but what about for Easter? It’s so easy to get carried away with special occasion gifts — especially if your kids are like mine and love surprises and have the cutest reactions ever. Personally, I’d rather go a little lighter on Christmas and birthdays so we can make sure to get a little extra on Valentine’s Day and Easter, two of my other favorite holidays!

Having a plan while shopping is crucial for me so I don’t go overboard. I’ve written a list of fun Easter basket fillers, but this year I went a different route and followed this 4-Gift Rule and made sure to include an item that celebrates spring, is practical, promotes learning and, of course, candy.

Because let’s be real: If your kids are like mine, Easter = a chocolate bunny. {Don’t worry, we will be discussing the real reason our family celebrates} 😉

Following this rule, here’s what I put together this year:

4 Gift Rule for Easter Baskets

4 Gift Rule for Easter Baskets

1. Something for SPRING.

Spring is the perfect time to get outside and explore! Give your kids some new tools to have fun with. A few ideas:

  • Umbrella/rain boots
  • Sidewalk chalk
  • Bubbles
  • Kite
  • Jump rope/hula hoop
  • Yo-yo
  • Squirt gun
  • Beach toys
  • Gardening gloves/tools

2. Something PRACTICAL.

If you find yourself in need of a few new items with the season change, stock up and give them as presents. Additionally, consider getting a “basket” they can use for storage or for play. Thought starters:

  • A new outfit or pajamas for spring
  • A fun toothbrush
  • A new water bottle
  • Sunglasses
  • Hair accessories or nail polish
  • Sandals
  • Swim suit
  • A gift card to their favorite store or restaurant

3. Something CANDY.

Maybe candy for your family means organic dried fruit — that’s OK too! I try not to go overboard — we can leave that part to the grandparents 😉 Favorite treats here:

  • Pez
  • Peeps
  • Chocolate…anything {Reese’s Eggs!}
  • Yogurt raisins
  • Fruit snacks
  • Small bag of chips or trail mix

4. Something to promote LEARNING.

I love including a colorful element that encourages learning and introduces a new concept. Bonus because these items help keep kids busy!

  • Books
  • Educational magazine subscription
  • Flash cards
  • A toy that encourages imagination
  • Craft or science kit
  • Play-doh paired with pip cleaners and google eyes
  • Activity books paired with crayons or markers
  • Games that promote learning

4 Gift Rule for Easter Baskets

What’s So Funny Joke Journal | Alphabet Bingo | Zoo Animals Game | Fire Rescue Game

We love all of the cooperative games and items from Peaceable Kingdom. With bright colors and fun concepts, my kids get so excited. We love many of their games and look forward to trying some new items with the kids! Many of these items are available at large retailers. An added bonus is they replace lost, broken, or even eaten game pieces for free!

Find Peaceable Kingdom on Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest

I’m looking forward to following this rule in the years ahead. Can’t wait to see how excited the kids get this year and create some wonderful family memories. Happy Easter, friends!

What are your favorite items for Easter baskets?

Experience Gift Ideas for Michigan Couples

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I don’t know about you and your partner, but my husband and I have hit a crossroads: There are just no tangible gifts we really want any more. If we want something — we get it — simple as that {within reason of course!}.

I’m not a fancy girl and he isn’t a fancy dude, and we share the sentiment that the best gift is just time spent together.

Instead of buying each other gifts with a credit card we share, we’re always thinking ahead to a future adventure together, so I’ve put together a list of experience gift ideas for Michigan couples.

Forget the things and focus on what really matters: Making memories together.

experience-gift-ideas-for-michigan-couples

ADVENTURE

NATURE

  • Purchase an annual pass for the Metroparks and commit to exploring each one {metro Detroit}
  • Plan a fly fishing adventure at the Red Moose Lodge {Gladwin} or on another chartered tour
  • Ski, snow board or zip-line at Snow Snake {Harrison}
  • Try ice luging like an Olympian {Muskegon}
  • Plan an adventure ice climbing at a Michigan destination
  • Visit Crystal Mountain for skiing, snowshoeing, a horse-drawn carriage ride, fat tire biking and more {Thompsonville}
  • During warmer months, try your hand at FootGolf {think golf with holes fit for a soccer ball}
  • Book a Michigan campground located on the beach of one of the lakes {these book fast!}
  • Plan a getaway to visit the beautiful scenery and waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula

ROMANCE

PURE FUN

See my list of 50+ date ideas around SE Michigan and 50+ date nights in Detroit for even more fun!

What are your favorite experience gifts?

Try Bundled for Michigan-Inspired Gift Giving

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I received a Bundle free of charge for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Have you all heard of the newest local craze that is Bundled? I am SO digging it.

Here’s the scoop:

The folks behind Bundled search Michigan to discover the best products small businesses offer, and bundle them into themed, personalized and corporate gift bundles.

Current examples include gifts for baby, men, women, and Michigan/Detroit lovers. Prices range from $39-$44 and ship for free.

How beautiful would these be for a gift? I personally am eyeing that Michigan bottle opener and coaster below {hint, hint husband} 😉

Bundled from Michigan

It’s a company made from deep Michigan love, and is run by Courtney Taylor & Chelsea Gheesling of the ultra-cute blog Chick in the Mitt, and Michael Haddad of Detroit Grooming Company.

My mom’s birthday is this weekend, so I decided to nab one for her that I knew she would love — the Deluxe Ladies Bundle. What stands out to me about all the products is the stellar quality. I love everything about it — from the scents featured to the graphic design elements. I just know she is going to love it!

Bundled for Michigan Gifts

Inside each package there is also a guide to what you are getting. I love this because you bet if my mom says she loves something specific, I’ll be making note and purchasing it again.

Bundled Box

If you don’t love them enough already, they also employ adults with disabilities from Services to Enhance Potential (STEP), a Wayne County nonprofit. By purchasing a bundle, you directly help them provide hands-on job training and paid employment to help them reach their life goals.

Follow Bundled on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram and make sure you think of this fabulous local company next time you need a gift for friends and family!

What is your favorite small business to support in Michigan?

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