Peer Review & Labor Day Coupon Code!

I received a sweet review from a fellow Etsy seller who purchased a bar of my Mulled Cider Soy Wax Melts.  It was encouraging to read what she said about my product!  Thanks, Chrissy!  Feel free to check out her review by visiting her blog, Kindred Images and Creations!  You can also view her Etsy shop, Kindred Images and Creations, by going here!

Now, onto my Labor Day Coupon Code!  Every other shopping venue seems to be offering up some savings for the upcoming holiday weekend, so I figured I'd jump on board and give you some savings too!  To save 20% on your ENTIRE order, just enter the Coupon Code: LABOROFLOVE when you check out at Grace Note Gifts!  The coupon will be good through Monday, September 3rd!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Blessings,

Grace

Grace's Easy-Peasy Texas Chili

So I'm not really a cooking enthusiast, it takes way too much time to make something fancy that is just going to be inhaled in like 30 seconds (my boys, all 3 of them, eat fast and lots...and sometimes forget to thank the cook!), so I like to make it easy-peasy on myself.  I know it's not really chili weather yet, but this Monday called for something in the aforementioned "easy-peasy" category...plus I had some stew meat in the freezer that needed to be eaten.  So, here's my recipe for slow cooker Texas Chili..."Texas" because I used big ol' chunks of beef stew meat, and if you live in Texas beef is an essential part to any meal!  ;-)

Grace's Easy-Peasy Texas Chili

2 lb. Beef Stew Meat, seasoned with salt/pepper/garlic
2 cans Chili Beans (I used the Great Value brand, more bang for your buck!)
1 can of Red Beans (again, GV brand)
1 can of Pinto Beans
1 can of Zesty Chili Style Diced Tomatoes
Seasonings of your choice...sometimes I'll add some cumin, sometimes I just leave as is
 
Dump everything into your slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours, stirring every hour or so if desired.  Reduce to low for 2 hours.  Done!  Serve with Fritos & Shredded Cheese...for an extra healthy treat add sliced avocados on top!  This dish takes basically zero work, tastes great, is budget friendly!  See, easy-peasy!

So that's what's on the menu for tonight...I've already had a bowl and I'm going back for seconds!  Mmm!  

My two lil' dudes enjoying their dinner!  My big boy gets home late, so he'll enjoy his dinner after work...that's the great thing about slow cookers, your meal never gets cold!  Happy Monday, y'all!

Blessings, Grace

"Homesick"

A few weeks ago I was talking to my youngest sister, aka Princess, who just happened to be my boys' nanny over the summer.  We were chatting after a fun (and rowdy) afternoon of chasing my little dudes around the splash park in our neighborhood.  The topic of Grace Note Gifts came up, and my lil' sis asked what new scents I was working on.  I wasn't working on anything in particular at the moment, so she had the idea for creating a line, if you will, of scents that would appeal to college aged kids (girls mostly since guys aren't really into this type of thing too much).  Some funny titles came up..."Ring by Spring, Study Break" and the like.  I thought she was really on to something!  Wax warmers along with scented wax tarts are great because unlike traditional candles you can use them in dorm rooms!  So, I would like to introduce to you my newest scent...Homesick...for those days when you want all the familiar scents of home to fragrance your life, wherever you happen to be!

 With notes of apple, cinnamon, clove & and hint of pumpkin, it's sure to remind you of good times spent at home!

This will be available in the coming weeks in my Etsy shop along with other new fragrances I'll be debuting.  

Thanks, Princess, for the inspiration!  Love you!

***If anyone is interested in getting a wax warmer to go along with their Grace Note Gifts Soy Wax Melts, please feel free to email me for a list of warmers I personally recommend!  You can reach me at: gracenotegifts@gmail.com

Blessings, Grace


 

{Favorite Finds Friday}: Sock Monkey Warmer

As you know I love candles, so you can bet I was super excited to find this little guy while I was out shopping with my boys yesterday...

I love the whimsical effect this Sock Monkey Wax Warmer has in my kitchen.  He is especially fun right now since he is warming up the "Monkey Farts" Soy Wax Melts that I made...kiwi, vanilla & bananas...Mmmm!  ;-)  

If you're interested in getting one of these whimsical warmers you can just click the photo for a link to purchase!  And if you need something yummy smelling to melt in your warmer, come check out the Soy Wax Melts section of my Etsy shop!  I'll be adding new fragrances in the coming weeks for fall, so please be sure to check back again soon!

Blessings, Grace

Summer {2012} Mantel...Finally! ;-)

Well I know it's about time I started posting some photos about what I've been up to around here...stuff aside from candles and such!  A few weeks ago I finally came up with a mantel vignette that I'm happy with.  I've played around with several over the last few months, but they all sort of bothered me by looking not quite right.  This one though suits me quite well, and I'm pretty happy about it!  I love the neutrals with the aqua...such a calm and fresh look don'tcha think?!  

I popped bits of moss and other green into some of my vintage blue Ball mason jars, painted some formerly black candlesticks various shades of blue and pale green, added some antique and newer books that fit my color scheme.  I kept a few key elements on my mantel that pretty much are standard fixtures by now...a favorite photo of my precious boys, my vintage window and the anagram painted canvas I made a few months ago.  All together I am super duper pleased with how everything came together to make this a happy place to look at in our home.  

What do you think?!!  I'm off to make a snack for my little monkey, but I'll be back soon with some more of my creative projects!

Blessings, Grace

Linking up to: 

Live, Laugh {Linky} Thursday

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

CaNdLe MaKiNg {Creating::Cooking::Curing}

A few days I posted about a couple new soy wax candle scents I was going to be making: Lemon Chiffon & Monkey Farts.  It turns out that Lemon Chiffon turned into Lemon Crème
Pie...I have a hard time just sticking with the premade fragrance oil scents that I buy, and I like to combine compatible fragrances to make my own unique scents, so that's what I did.  And voila, Lemon Crème Pie was created!  You won't find it anywhere else because it's my own Grace Note Gifts special, just like many of my other fragrances!

I thought I'd only have time to make 2 batches of candles (my boys' naps only last so long), but after creating Lemon Crème Pie & the Monkey Farts (deliciously fruity & banana scented) Soy Tarts I kept on going.  I had time to make some fresh and summery Coconut Soy Tarts & also came up with another unique fragrance...Cozy Cabin.  This is one scent I am really happy with, it's my own replication of a candle fragrance I have purchased in the past.  It went by another name of course, and my version is ever so slightly different except for the fact that mine is made with 100% Soy Wax as opposed to the candles I used to buy. 

 Cozy Cabin is a blend of pomegranate, berries & peppermint.  And the fragrance is so cozy and inviting.  I love it!  In fact, when we moved into our current home last year I had the idea to create a scent memory of our moving in.  So, I purchased the candle that inspired me to make Cozy Cabin and had it shipped to our new address.  When we first arrived to unpack our items the box had already been delivered, and as soon as we walked in the door I opened the box and lit my candle.  So now when I smell this scent it reminds me of the happy day we moved into our beautiful home.  

Here are some pics of my candle making process...creating my own unique fragrances, cooking it all up via my wax warmer and the lovely golden wax curing on my countertops!  It's such a fun process!

And here is the finished product!

As usual you can find the rest of my shop items by visiting me at Grace Note Gifts on Etsy!  Y'all have a blessed day!


Blessings, Grace

Etsy Shop Facebook App!

Happy Friday, y'all!  I hope that everyone had a great 4th of July week!  Our family enjoyed a wonderful day Wednesday...town parade, pool fun, carnival, food and fireworks!  You just can't go wrong with that kind of day!

Today's post will be short and sweet...I just wanted to share the new facebook app that I added to my Grace Note Gifts Facebook page!  You can visit my Etsy shop via Facebook by going here!

Thanks for stopping by!  I'm off to work on some new candle scents...Lemon Chiffon & Monkey Farts...lol!  My boys think that name is pretty funny!

Blessings, Grace