2013 Gift Guide for Breaking Bad Fans

* This post contains affiliate links.

When Breaking Bad first aired several years ago, I didn't think it was the show for me. A chem teacher? Turned drug maker?

C'mon.

Then the years passed. And the fan base grew. And soon the final season began. I found many of my friends were big fans, and as the series finale grew closer, I knew I was missing out on something big. So a few days before the series finale aired, I decided to start at Season 1, episode 1 thanks to Netflix.

And ZOMG.

I was hooked from the first episode and I spent several days hitting myself over the head for not getting into Breaking Bad sooner. I couldn't watch episodes fast enough. I watched the clock until the kiddos were in bed and zipped through as many episodes as time and space would allow (read: two or three). Around the same time my friend, Becky, of Crafty Garden Mama also started the series. So we would chat and agonize and generally taunt whoever was furthest behind.

Riveted. I was riveted to the television, episode after episode. Finally, the 6th season was upon me and Netflix only had the first half. GAH!  So I, of course, bought the final episodes off of amazon.  And the ending was perfect. Absolutely perfect.

So, with Breaking Bad fresh on my mind, I figured there might be a few more committed fans out there who would appreciate true gifts from the heart. Gifts that only Breaking Bad fans could embrace and adore.

Rock Candy Crystal Growing Kit

I know my readers aren't really into meth.  But we are into candy, and rock candy is the perfect less-lethal sugary substitute! So, please. Don't make meth. But if you decide to get into the rock candy business, be sure to send me a barrel.

Heisenberg Fedora

It worked for Walt, right?

Call Bell

For some, it is the best means of communication.

Round Bottom Florence Boiling Flask

Just in case you need to…boil…something…

Or make the coolest snow globe EVER.

Hello Kitty cell phone case

Impress your friends with the cell phone case gifted by a smarmy lawyer named Saul. And I won't tell if you are actually a HK fan...

Roomba

If it was capable enough to clean Jesse's rave-stricken party house, it's good enough for your home.

Rocks and Minerals Collection

Hank became quite enamored with collecting rocks…er…minerals…er…gems…. 

Either way, you should brush up on your gemology, because Hank Schrader is a man to impress.

Periodic Table of Elements Poster

While it's important to know your elements, it's more important to be able to make your initials with the proper elemental abbreviations.

Door Knocker

So that everyone knows YOU ARE the one who KNOCKS.

Citizen Brick Super Lab Lego Set

Go big or go home, right? If you're going to be the ultimate Breaking Bad fan, you need to be able to build the Fring Laundry Facility Super Lab in your own home. With legos.

~~~~~

Ok, Ultimate Breaking Bad fans!  

What would YOU add to the Epic Breaking Bad Gift Guide?


For more gift ideas, check out my other Gift Guides:

• Sherlock Fan Gift Guide
• Gifts For Kids Who Love To Code
• New Girl Fan Gift Guide
• American Made Gift Guide for Guys
• Gifts for Moms Who Run

Take Time to Give Back During the Holidays #MotivationMonday

I've been encouraging you for the past few Mondays on "taking time" during the holidays: Take time to REFLECT, take time to HAVE FUN. This week I'm going to challenge us all to shift our focus from what we can get to what we can give.

It's easy to spend most of our holiday considering what gifts we need to get for our loved ones. And if we are honest with ourselves, we may even be dreaming a bit about what we might be receiving from others.

It's easy to forget, though, that there are many people and families in our own communities that are in need: need of help, need of resources, and, most of all, in need of love.

Take some time today to consider how you (or your family!) might find opportunities to give back to your community and be the blessing someone was not expecting this holiday season.

Here are a few ideas to get your hearts pumping:

Ringing the bell and collecting 

donations with Salvation Army

*

Volunteering or donating 

with your local food cupboard

*

Pulling together a quick 

toy drive for Toys for Tots

*

Getting a group together to 

carol at local nursing homes

* 

Asking your school guidance counselors 

if you can anonymously donate 

to a family in need at your school.

*

Bless an Angel Tree family in your community 

(to find one in your community, call 1-800-55-ANGEL)

*

Donating gifts to a local Children's Hospital.

*

Donating turkeys or hams to your 

local homeless shelter or food bank

Do you have an elderly neighbor who lives alone and could use some holiday cheer? Bring by a gift basket or invite them over for dinner. Is there someone at your church who is sick and can't decorate their home for the holiday? Surprise them by showing up with all the decor trimmings!

There are countless ways to serve and give back to your community. And don't forget to bring your kids along. They learn from a young age about compassion, kindness and love.

How are YOU giving back to your community this holiday?

~~~~~

Take Time to Have Fun During the Holidays #MotivationMonday

Holidays should be all about fun and festivities, right?

But as I shared last week, we've become a culture who is more interested in wracking the most debt, buying the best gifts and generally giving ourselves an ulcer before New Years Day. I encouraged everyone last week to take time to reflect during the holidays.

This week?

This week I want you to have FUN during the holidays!

Yes, I know, that in general holidays are fun. They are full of food and gifts and people we love. But just as the chaos steals away from our joy, it also hinders our ability to enjoy. The holidays are stressful. Fun, but stressful. I always have this great ideal in my mind of what the holidays will be. With two kids, they should be majestic and magical. 

Yet, it never is.

November flies by and it's all we can do to hold on to our hats before it's Christmas morning. We gripe about getting our gift lists together, then brave the crowds to go shopping, which only makes us cranky. The baking with kids always seems like it should be memorable, but I usually end up frustrated that flour gets everywhere and neither girl listens well to instructions. We enjoy the line up of so many parties, but stress over babysitting and fitting it all in.

Friends?

This holiday season, let's let it all go.

This holiday season, I want to embrace the flour on the counters. I want to smile amidst the crowds of shoppers. I want to revel in the perfect gifts for loved ones. And I want to party like it's 1999 at every holiday gathering.

This holiday season, I want to treasure making memories with my family.

So a few days ago, Hubby and I sat down and made a list of all the fun things we wanted to do with the girls. This doesn't include the fun things we can enjoy without the kids, like grown-up parties, dinners out, and buying and wrapping gifts. Activities and attractions we want to experience as a family, no matter what melt-downs or missed naps or messes will most likely ensue. 

Experiences that will no doubt make memories.

Here is our running list (to be added to as inspiration arises):

Macy's Light Show in #Philly

I first heard about this light show from my friend Jen. They go into the city every year with their kids, enjoying an overnight that includes a visit to the Wanamaker building to see this fabulous show. I'm a sissy when it comes to having my kids get off schedule or miss naps, but I finally succumbed last year and took the girls. IT WAS PHENOMENAL. The show lasts about 10 minutes or so, and it's all lights and songs and magic. Chica and Bug were mesmerized. And I want to make it a yearly holiday pilgrimage! We might consider strolling a few blocks down afterwards to catch the Comcast Holiday Spectacular, which I hear is awesome as well.

Longwood Gardens Christmas light display

I know, I know. I live 5 minutes down the road. But I am in no way biased: A Longwood Christmas is an attraction not to be missed. I'd even say if you live within a 2 hour drive, it is worth the trip. Over a million lights show off the beautifully decorated gardens. Catch a holiday-themed illuminated fountain show, or meander through the exquisite Conservatory where they have literally, decked the halls. All visitors need a timed ticket, so make plans in advance. 

Also, consider making a day of it: head into Historic Kennett Square to visit all the fantastic Kennett Square Merchants to do Christmas shopping and grab a tasty bite to eat. 

Also also? If you do this, call me. I'll seriously come meet you for a cuppa coffee.

Movie night watching The Polar Express with hot cocoa

The book, The Polar Express , is one I enjoyed as a child. So why not snuggle up under some blankets with hot cocoa and watch the book come alive in a movie? Some have mentioned the movie can be intense for younger kids. If that's the case, I may have an alternative holiday movie handy to enjoy. I will also vow to just laugh if any hot cocoa is spilled.

http://blissfullydomestic.com

Making handmade ornaments for family

The handmade gifts I've been given over the years are some of my most cherished ornaments on our tree. I love that they remind me of people and places I love, and I appreciate that time and energy went into creating them. Last year, the girls and I whipped up a batch of Reindeer Fingerprint Ornaments. I may make the fingerprint ornaments a tradition, or I may try something new this year. I've pinned a bunch of ideas onto my Christmas Ideas board on Pinterest. I'll take a vote from the girls and let you know what we come up with.

Baking Christmas Cookies

This is a necessity, right? As an Italian, it's practically religion. So far on my list are childhood favorites, Pizzelles and Chocolate Chips Cookies. I am also considering Ricotta Cheese Cookies (or the even more awesome Nutella version), Sugar Cookies and Gingerbread Cookies. 

Any others I should add to my list?  

Visit to Christmas in Hershey

This is actually only a possibility, as we may not be able to make it happen this year. I've wanted to take the girls to Hershey at Christmas since they were born. It has a special significance to me, as my family used to go every Winter Break for 3 days, leaving the day after Christmas. As a kid, Hershey Park is magical. During the holidays? It's nothing short of epic. Rides, food, decorations, lights. And since we stayed overnight, the Hershey Lodge had many special activities planned for guests, including chocolate bingo! 

I want my girls to experience this fun holiday place too. So we may go up for the day if we can find the time in our schedule. If not, we'll make plans for our own overnight mini-vacay next December!

~~~~~

There are so many things that steal joy and squash the Christmas Spirit this time of year. How will you be reclaiming the holidays?

What is on YOUR "Holiday Bucket List?"

Make sure to check out last week's post: Take Time to REFLECT During the Holidays!

~~~~~

Holiday Party Menu #DiscoverIssuu

I was selected for this opportunity as part of the Girls' Lunch Out network. All views expressed are entirely my own, and were not influenced or directed by either Girls' Lunch Out or Issuu.


Can we all agree that one of the best things about the holidays is food?

Right?

Sure, yeah: family, friends, christmas movies, peaceloveharmony, blah blah blah. But get me to a holiday party with a beautiful spread of appetizers and desserts? 

Consider me filled with Holiday Joy.

I love that this time of year affords me the opportunity to scout out and try new recipes, as well as cherish tried and true dishes that have graced my holidays for ages. I often turn to my food magazine collection for inspiration. 

What, you don't have a food magazine collection?

Or, rather, addiction?

This problem started a few years ago when Amazon had this fantabulous $5 magazine sale. And I kind of subscribed to several publications. And by "several" I mean 12.  Everything from vegetarian and gourmet food to fitness and backpacking. I couldn't help myself.

The only problem with having subscriptions of so many magazines is, like, what do you do with them once you are done? I can't part with food magazines. The idea of chucking any number of scrumptious recipes that I've never had a chance to try pains me. I've taken to cutting out recipes, which has become a messy and disorganized way to keep recipes I find in my magazine collection.

So imagine my joy of learning about Issuu.

::cue angels singing and trumpets trumpeting::

Issuu is the digital way to organize all of the great things you find in magazines all online. No hoards of paper sitting in corners or cutting out recipes you find. Instead, you create stacks (think of them as categories or "playlists" of content), and add content that fits the theme. Follow other user's stacks and over time you'll find magazines and articles recommended for you.  Think Pinterest but for magazines.

I'm pretty sure they created it just for me. 

But I'll let you use it too.

So back to holiday menu planning.

I utilized some of my old traditional recipes as well as recipes I found on Issuu after searching for food.  HOLY INSPIRATION.  I need to throw at least 3 parties just to make all these recipes and serve it to friends.  

(Want to come? You are totes invited0

Like, hello, Kennett Square Mushroom Bruschetta from Aimee Olexy of Talula's Table on page 6 of Fig Kennett Holiday 2013 (I know. I'm biased):

Or this recipe for Mulled Cider in Home for the Holidays:

Yum, right?


So here is a quick menu I put together, whether you need one recipe to take to a party or you need all the recipes because you are hosting the party yourself!

Appetizers

Kennett Square Mushroom Bruschetta

Asparagus Roll-Ups

Cheese and Vegetable Spread with Dips and Crackers

Main Meal

Slow Cooker Dilled Shredded Beef Sandwiches

Chicken Satay Skewers

Side Dishes

Spinach Salad with Gorgonzola, Pistachios and Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette

Mashed Potatoes

Dessert

Cannoli Dip

Fruit Pizza

Pistachio Tart Cherry Chocolate Bark

Oatmeal Caramelitas

Beverages

Mulled Cider

Jingle Juice

Pomegranate Martinis

All of these recipes would stand out great alone if you need something to show up to a party with, but together make a bang-up holiday party menu!

Thank you to Issuu for new inspiration and much online magazine browsing to come!

What recipes are on YOUR Holiday Party Menu?

To #DiscoverIssuu to find your own holiday menu inspiration, you can connect with them:


Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest
Web

Top 10 Holiday Movies/Shows to Watch

There are many things that make holidays special:

Family.
Friends.
Traditions.
Food. 
Music. 

We love the opportunity to see and celebrate with people we don't normally get to spend time with. We enjoy the traditions of gift swaps, hanging up stocking and decorating the tree. We gobble up the cookies that seem to taste a little more special this time of year. And impatiently wait for radio stations to begin playing Christmas music.

There is another experience we anxiously anticipate during the holidays: Holiday Movies and TV Specials.

I look forward to these holiday-themed forms of entertainment all year long. Because let's be honest: watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (the claymation version, of course, because no other will compare) in July just seems wrong. The annual Watching of Holiday Entertainment is just another tradition to get excited about. It brings back memories of watching those very shows or movies as a child.

Unfortunately, media has capitalized on this phenomenon and vomited a gagillion Christmas movies and specials. You could watch some holiday-themed movie at any hour of the day from the week of Thanksgiving until New Years. And I'm going to say it: Many of these new movies are crap. 

Hallmark Channel, ABC Family and Lifetime, I'm looking at you. 

How many movies does one need to endure that revolve around unrequited love reuniting under the mistletoe? Holiday engagements? And Golden Retrievers saving Christmas? A third sequel to Frosty?

Answer: Not many.

So I've compiled a short list of the Must-See Holiday Movies/Specials that I can't miss each year. All of the movies on my list meet strict criteria (i.e.: revolve around the holiday of Christmas, bring seasonal cheer, and other crap like that). Some may be obscure, but have significance to me from my own life or childhood. 

Here is the list, in no particular order:

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

(Claymation version)

Frosty the Snowman

A Charlie Brown Christmas

A Christmas Story

White Christmas

The Holiday

A Garfield Christmas Special

Claymation Christmas with the California Raisins

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas

(cartoon NOT Jim Carrey)

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

And I cannot forget one of my all-time favorites (which will make this a bonus #11):

Elf

This is not a complete list, mind you. There are quite a few more I love watching and jump at the chance to view. These are the movies I need to watch to make my Christmas Season complete.

Since I have already missed quite a few opportunities to DVR some of my faves (many are on after the girls are asleep, unfortunately), I wanted to share a great resource. My bloggy (and real life) friend, Jenn, of Jersey Family Fun has an exhaustive and complete Holiday Show Schedule. Just pick the day from Rudolph's Roundup, and find out what specials are on! Thanks Jenn!

Also - SOME of these ARE available on Netflix Streaming!

What movies are on YOUR Top 10 Holiday Movies/Shows list?