The Gift of Music + Free Printable

December 7, 2018 3 Comments A Well Crafted Sponsor

Anyone else out there getting overwhelmed with the number of wants and THINGS? I am a gift giver by nature and love to see someone’s face light up with a gift I’ve given, but as my kids’ age, I’ve really begun to appreciate the “experience gift” over the next new toy. What’s great about this particular experience gift is that it is the ultimate DIY– learning a new skill!

This is the seventh day of my 12 Days of Christmas DIYs for 2018. Each day for the next twelve days I share DIY projects, recipes, entertainment, and more, that you can incorporate in your holiday season. Most will be super simple! This post is in partnership with the Hoffman Academy. I received complimentary services. All images and opinions are my own.

I am a part of several moms groups on Facebook and as this holiday season arrives there are countless posts looking for ideas for experience gifts that they can suggest to grandparents or loved ones for their children to help stave off some of the over-abundance of the season. I love this idea but have never really had great options in the past. I’d love to gift my child lessons or sports items, but I also know that it can be SUCH A huge time commitment that I hesitate to do something similar for someone I know. When I discovered Hoffman Academy, an online piano lesson site, I was super excited about the opportunity to do lessons on our own time.

A bit about Hoffman Academy

Hoffman Academy is an online piano lesson “experience,” credited with turning children, from beginner to advanced levels, into extraordinary musicians. Children develop their skill easily and quickly via the “Hoffman Method,” which focuses on learning by ear before learning by eye. Online games help with mastery of concepts and practice tracks make students feel like pros. This new way to learn the piano is engaging, entertaining and effective – and a great way to give the special gift of music, for the holidays and year round.

All of the video lessons are available for free! However, the premium package offers printables, daily practice instructions, games, and much more. Budding musicians can now receive a full year of the Hoffman Academy Premium package for $179! For Ages 5+.

** Holiday Special Update: For a limited time (ending Monday, December 14th at 11:50 PM PST) purchase a year of Hoffman Academy Premium and receive THREE additional memberships! Learn more on the Hoffman Academy website. **

The really cool part (for me at least) is that you can create a parent/mentor account and add your children (or yourself!) as students. My account has both myself and my son as students and the system will keep track of both of our progress individually. Yep, you read that right… I’m learning the piano too! I’d love to be able to break out some sweet piano skills in the middle of a party! Again, the accounts are totally free and you have access to the video lessons right off the bat. Then if you find that you’d like the premium features it is only $18 a month with $9/month per additional student.

Twelve Days of Christmas Songs

In the upcoming weeks, the Hoffman Academy will be releasing twelve different lessons featuring a different holiday tune so that you can learn a new holiday song each day! Check out some of the videos from last year’s 12 Days of Christmas Songs on the Hoffman Academy blog.

DIY Piano Experience Gift Card

You still want to make giving an experience gift as fun as giving a toy. When it is a promo code or gift card it makes it a tad hard to make it super fun.. but, you can use the attached card as a tag added to a gifted keyboard or piano or an adorbable stuffed animal as pictured above. Or, you can slip the free printable piano card into an envelope with a message about the gift.

This gift card would work perfect for a gift subscription to the Hoffman Academy, to give with tickets to a symphony concert, or as an invitation to a holiday karaoke party!

Directions for free printable piano holiday card:

Download the free printable piano card file.
Print double-sided on cardstock
On the side with the piano, cut out along the charcoal colored outer line. Fold the card down the center. Once folded you may find that you need to trim the card a bit.

Giveaways

Spring Dinner Party with Macy’s Backstage

April 12, 2018 1 Comment Giveaways

Rain or shine, I’m excited about Spring, especially when I get to use it as an excuse to have a dinner party. I partnered with Macy’s Backstage, Macy’s new off-price store within their department store, to redesign space and celebrate spring. We were challenged to create a new space using $200 or less! Challenge accepted. See more from this party and what other bloggers have done with their challenge by searching #MacysBackstage on your favorite social media platform.

Spring Dinner Party featuring Macy’s Backstage

If you’ve ever put together a tablescape then you know that things can add up. Plates, centerpieces, glassware, dinnerware, linens.. the list goes on and on. I have always been an advocate of purchasing good quality, neutral items that can be used in almost any situation. However, every now and again, you want to spruce things up a bit! I wanted to really create a lovely Spring-inspired dining area with my challenge from Macy’s Backstage.

Utilize loved finds in new ways

I had so much fun going through the home decor section of Macy’s Backstage. I really enjoy finding things that can be multi-use items. For this spring dinner party, I knew that while I wanted a spring-like feel I also didn’t want to have to store items that I could only bring out really for the spring and summer. I found really amazing deals on beautiful pots that worked great in my dinner party as a vase, wine cooler, and candle holder… but, I’ll also be able to house some fresh herbs in them or succulents. The large blue pot that is holding the flowers was seriously only $8! AMAZING prices. Oh, and that tablecloth? Yea, it was $15.

Did I meet the challenge?

For sure! Some of the table items/ glassware were ones that I already owned, but I still would have been able to meet the challenge had I supplied everything from Macy’s Backstage. I was also able to get some fun spring attire to wear at my spring dinner party. Check out my total:

Purchased:

2 Pairs of Jeans (they have clothing all the way from babies to plus size!)
3 tops
1 hat (so many fun accessories there as well!)
1 tablecloth
3 pots
1 hurricane candle holder
candles (a few!)
Water dispenser (pictured below… I’m in love.)
Serving Dish

All of that cost me $179 at Macy’s Backstage.

Macy’s Backstage Grand Opening

The Portland location for this new concept from Macy’s is located at the Llyod Center Mall. It is celebrating the grand opening on April 14th starting at 10 AM. The first 200 shoppers get a scratch-off card worth anywhere from $5 to $25 off of their Backstage purchase. Not in Portland? Macy’s Backstage is opening up across the nation in different locations. Check here to find the Macy’s Backstage near you.

More about Macy’s Backstage: The Macy’s Backstage concept was created specifically for the stylish yet cost-conscious shopper. The space features home decor, gifts, entertaining ware, kitchen goods, toys, shoes, children attire, youth attire, men’s attire, women’s attire, plus-size women’s attire, accessories, beauty products, and more.

Giveaway

Macy’s Backstage is offering one of my readers a $100 gift card. I’m giving it away over on my Instagram. Hop on over to enter to win. Giveaway ends on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 11:59 PM. I’ll message the winner on Monday, April 16th.

Happy shopping!

Cocktails

Things to Do in Portland: TOAST 2018

March 20, 2018 6 Comments Cocktails

Every March I’m excited that I live in Portland for the beautiful Spring trees in bloom, restaurants opening putting out menus with fresh seasonal items, Portland Dining Month, and the view of Mt. Hood. However, this March, I have one extra reason to be excited March is here: TOAST! The Oregon Distillers Guild is bringing back TOAST for the eighth year.

This post is written in partnership with the Oregon Distillers Guild on behalf of TOAST. All thoughts and opinions are my own. TOAST is a 21-and-over event and this post is meant for my readers interested in learning more about the TOAST event.

TOAST 2018

The 8th Annual TOAST event is presented by Bruni Glass The Tiffany Center from 5 PM to 9 PM on March 24, 2018.

Toast is where some of the best small-batch, handcrafted spirits are on display as 40+ distillers from the Northwest and five of Portland’s top chefs delight your palate during this exciting tasting event. Participants can taste from more than 150 spirits. Spirits include whiskey, gin, vodka, rum, liqueur, grappa, brandy, absinthe, aquavit, starka, baiju, and more.

Where (and when) is TOAST this year?

TOAST has changed venues a couple times over the years, each time I’ve been pleased with the location. This year, TOAST takes place at the Tiffany Center (1410 SW Morrison St. Portland, OR 97205). While TOAST took place in February last year, this year it takes place on Saturday, March 24, from 5pm-9pm.

What to expect from TOAST?

Expect to eat and drink a lot. Obviously, with over forty distillers from the Northwest, you’re gonna get to try some tasty liquors. Be prepared to imbibe safely by coming on a full stomach, drinking plenty of water, and watching how many tasters you accept. I tend to take a lap around the entire thing and make a list of the items that I truly want to try. Thankfully, the event is over several hours so when going, my husband and I take our time and check in on how we are doing often. We usually also share tasters so that we can try a sip or two of several without overdoing it.

This year’s line up of distilleries, vendors, and restaurants are getting me excited! I always try a few new-to-me distilleries as well as see what my favorites are bringing to the event. Whatever you do, don’t miss out on the vendors that are bringing tonics, syrups, bitters, and the like. I always find something my home bar is in need of! 😉

Distilleries include: 4 Spirits Distillery, 503 Distilling, Aria Gin, Backdrop Distilling Crater Lake Spirits, Big Bottom Distilling, Bull Run Distillery, Clear Creek Distillers, Crescendo, Drink Think, Drop Shop Eastside Distilling, Elixir, Freeland Spirits, Heritage Distilling Co., Hood River Distillers, House Spirits, Mcmenamins, New Basin Distilling Co., New Deal Distillery, Oregon Spirit Distillers, Pilot House Spirits, Ransom Spirits, Rogue Spirits, Rolling River Spirits, Sinister Distilling Co. Stone Barn Brandyworks, Swallowtail Spirits, Townsends, Trail Distilling, The Walter Collective, and Wanderback Distillery.

The Walter Collective (pictured above) is one of my favorites to try each year. I’m obsessed with their beautiful packaging and love their products.

Restaurants include: LeChon, Pope House Lounge, The Waiting Room, Stella Taco and Rally Pizza

The Waiting Room is back again this year and I’m thrilled because I loved their donut and chicken bites from last year!

Other vendors include: Anton Tonics, The Bitter Housewife, Raft Syrups, Portland Syrups, Interrobang Vermouth, and Sage and Sea Farms

How do I get to TOAST?

First off, let me highly recommend NOT driving to TOAST. Either bring a designated driver (tickets for DDs are only $15 and include tasty plates from chefs and non-alcoholic drinks!), take public transportation, or get a Lyft. You don’t want to even think about driving after enjoying the tastings and you don’t want to have to worry about the car in the meantime. However, if you are the DD there are several parking garages near the Tiffany Center. The MAX and buses all have stops near there as well!

How do I get tickets to TOAST?

General admission tickets are $45 and all-inclusive. Your ticket gets you entry to the event, spirit tastings, a commemorative glass, and small plates from the chefs. Go even bigger and get VIP tickets for $65, which includes 2 cocktail tickets, early entry (4pm) and the distillers after-party from 10 – 11 p.m. Designated driver tickets are available for $15 and include entry to TOAST, non-alcoholic drinks, and small plates from the chefs. Buy your tickets!

Can I buy my favorites?

Yes! In my experience, nearly all of the distilleries and vendors offer purchases there at the event. They give you a ticket and you pick your purchases up as you leave the venue– which means you don’t have to carry your items all over the venue! I tend to leave with at least a few bottles!

Are you going to TOAST this year? What are you looking forward to?

If you are not going to TOAST but are interested in seeing what is good then follow along on my Instagram stories on Saturday evening. I’ll be sharing all my favorites.

Sponsored Post

A bit about Hoffman Academy

Twelve Days of Christmas Songs

DIY Piano Experience Gift Card

Spring Dinner Party featuring Macy’s Backstage

Utilize loved finds in new ways

Did I meet the challenge?

Macy’s Backstage Grand Opening

Giveaway

TOAST 2018

The 8th Annual TOAST event is presented by Bruni Glass The Tiffany Center from 5 PM to 9 PM on March 24, 2018.

Where (and when) is TOAST this year?

What to expect from TOAST?

How do I get to TOAST?

How do I get tickets to TOAST?

Can I buy my favorites?

Are you going to TOAST this year? What are you looking forward to?