Jac o' lyn Murphy: holiday gifts
Showing posts with label holiday gifts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday gifts. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Holiday Gift Guide - You are getting Sleepy...

We all know how important sleep is, 
and often how hard it is to get!
Imagine giving the glorious gift of sleep this holiday season.
A few fabulous finds for a full forty winks...

In these days before Christmas, 
we all long to settle down for a long winter's nap.
  soft, fluffy knit pillow and my "secret" slumber salve 

This lotion has changed my life.  
I don't know exactly why but it's creamy and smells dreamy 
and I'm nodding off in no time...
 

There's no better way to wind down after a long day than with 
a warm cup of Sleepytime Tea.
A few sips and you'll be slumbering in seconds...

And is there anything more relaxing than pretty flowers to sooth your mind?
Chamomile tea is known for it's calming qualities 
but I feel my tension lifting by just looking at it!
Take a glimpse before you shut your eyes, then pop on a sleep mask 
and it's 
Sweet Dreams Baby...


Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Your Holiday Escape - it's game time!



We all need an escape, especially around the holidays.
For me, being with family and friends is the best way to spend time.
Imagine being in different precarious situations with them, using your brains, teamwork, 
ingenuity and logic all to escape in 60 suspenseful minutes!
Escape Room, The Game, will bring thrill and mystery to your next gathering.
It is the ideal holiday activity or gift for teens and adults ages 16 and older.


You can play 1 of 4 different escape room adventures with varying levels of difficulty: 
Prison Break, Virus, Nuclear Countdown, and Temple of the Aztec.


You and your friends, work together to solve puzzles and 
find hidden clues to break out before time is up.
The Chrono Decoder counts down from 60 minutes and creates a real escape room atmosphere.
To further enhance the game and add suspense, you can download the free Escape Room app on iPhone or Android for thematic background music and even share a photo of your team.
So fun!

Of course, one of the most important aspects of the holidays is time.
Who you spend it with, how to make the most of it, and often, how to slow it down.
Time is also crucial in Escape Room, since one hour is all you have.
After we played an exciting round of Escape Room, 
it was Pizza Time!


I simply spent a few valuable seconds jazzing up a delivery pizza.
(which was delivered right on time).
I served it on a clock platter 
(adorned with number stickers from the office supply store)
and I got my hands on black olives to mark the time.

So let the good times roll -
get your Escape Room here!







I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Friday, December 18, 2015

Homemade Gumdrop Gifts


One of my favorite parts of the holidays,
is spending a little time in the kitchen
 making gifts with my kids.
As they get older, they want to try new things,
so we decided to try a recipe we had never made before.

Something festive and unique we can drop off to family and friends...
Homemade Gumdrops.


Instead of getting a recipe out of a book, 
we thought it would be fun to follow along with a cooking show this year.
Using our new X1 Voice Remote,
we did some "research" and planned our gumdrop journey.
My daughter saw an episode of The Pioneer Woman on the Food Network,  
where Rhee Drummond made Christmas gifts. 
She didn't record it so using our voice remote we searched for it on our Xfinity X1 System.


By simply pressing the microphone button and speaking what you are looking for, 
the system looks for it instantly.
We can "Say it and See it" without taking off our kitchen mitt!

In seconds we found the episode and we got to work.
We dissolved sugar in water then added cherry jello, 
right along with The Pioneer Woman...

took a minute to pause 
(by just saying "pause" into the remote)
to make sure we understood what to do with the plain gelatin we added next...

We filled our candy molds and popped them in the refrigerator for 4 hours.



That gave us ample time to relax and watch a movie.
Our voice remote came in handy once again.
By simply saying, "Christmas Movies" into it,
 an entire screen of selections came up for us to choose from!

You can also use the feature to change channels, 
record shows, find sporting events, play shows on your DVR all by voice.
My son loves to ask it simply, 
"What should I watch?"
 and by keeping track of the shows we view, 
it makes suggestions of programming it thinks we'd like... amazing.

So after laughing with the movie Elf and watching the end of the Warriors game, 
we got back into action by pulling up the episode again and saying, "play".

we sprinkled on sugar, 

and packaged them for delivery...

It could not have been easier or more fun.


I attended an amazing holiday party at our local Xfinity store. 
Not only did they get me into the Christmas spirit with treats, cocoa, 
party favors and White Christmas playing on the big screen, 
they demonstrated all of the incredible features of the X1 system.
Stop by your store anytime and they will show you too.
You'll love it, 
"the future is awesome"

You can find the recipe for




This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of XFINITY. The opinions and text are all mine.

Friday, December 12, 2014

What does Santa get his favorite Dog?





Our holiday has gone to the dogs.
 My shopping duties are almost complete but-
What do you get the Old English Sheepdog who has everything?

This is my parent's dog Prudence.
She is the queen of their castle and everyone's favorite furry friend.
She's fashionable, fun and always wants to look her best.


I am able to pamper this pooch with the perfect present.
She can be picky, so I know these unique ideas will be a hit.


Yahoo! Style has not only inspired me for Pru,
their other awesome gift guides, 
helped me shop for 
my dad the avid reader
my husband the food lover
my daughter the music buff,
my best friend with the sweet tooth.




It is not only a great resource for gifts,
but for putting together that perfect outfit, 
knowing what trends are hot, beauty tips, pop culture and
articles like how to pre-style your lazy days
(I think they wrote that specifically for me!)...
it is a fashionably fun website.



Check out Yahoo! Style, you'll be glad you did.


Merry Christmas from Santa and Prudence!





I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

linkpartypalooza, sundayshowcase

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Hot Buttered Rum - The perfect Holiday Drink and Gift!

I created my Hot Buttered Rum drink recipe part of a sponsored post for Socialstars. 
All opinions are entirely my own. #SweetNLowStars

There is a chill in the air and one of my favorite drinks to warm up with is a 
Hot Buttered Rum.

My dad is infamous for making them
(even when it gets to a frigid 75 degrees in Southern California)
and I couldn't resist trying my own version.


It is creamy, soothing and tastes like the Holidays in a mug!
So easy to make and fun to serve.
A "butter-ball" of a spicy mixture goes in the bottom of your mug...

then topped with hot water...

and dark rum...

Sweetened up with Sweet'N Low and festive with a cinnamon stir stick, 
the cold winter doesn't stand a chance!

Package in a jar and tied with a bow, 
it is the perfect gift on it's own but pair it with a mug and rum and you will be a superstar...


Hot Buttered Rum
(makes approximately 4 servings)
cream together:
1 stick of butter at room temperature
1 packet of Sweet'N Low
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 Tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 Tablespoon nutmeg

To serve:
place one "dollop" of mixture in bottom of mugs
pour 1 1/2 cups of water in each cup, then add one ounce of dark rum
stir together and add more Sweet'N Low if needed to taste

To give:
Place in a small jar and keep refrigerated until ready to give.  Will keep at least a week.  



Wishing you a warm and buttery season!



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