Savoring Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Famous Chocolates
A box of delicious goodness has arrived!
Chocolate is a special treat at our house! I love pretty much anything chocolate so when I was sent a box of Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Famous Chocolates to try I was delighted. All Mrs. Cavanaugh’s chocolates are made with fresh ingredients without preservatives. The chocolates were rich, fresh, and melt-in-your-mouth-delicious!!!
In my package I received a 9 oz. box of the “Most Famous” chocolates as well as 4 chocolate bars:
- Roasted Almond Dark Chocolate Truffle
- Almond Coconut White Chocolate Truffle Bar
- Candy Mint Milk Chocolate Truffle Bar
- Caramel Chocolate Bar
My family has really been enjoying Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Chocolates! All of the ones we have tried have been delicious! The four of us split the Roasted Almond Dark Chocolate Truffle, it was rich and creamy. We have tried several of the “Most Famous” Chocolates from the box as well and all of them have been amazing.
If you are looking for a great Holiday gift to share with family, friends, or co-workers and they love chocolates you can send or share a box of Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Famous Chocolates with them!
The best news is you will receive extra chocolate with the Buy 1 lb Get 1 lb FREE of Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Chocolates when you use the promo code below on your order! Go to Mrs. Cavanaughs to order your chocolates today!
Use Promo Code: usfamily14
What’s your favorite kind of chocolate?
We brought our chocolates to share with family over the Thanksgiving Holiday, however, they got placed in the back of the van and I forgot to take them out with all the wedding activities that weekend (thankfully it was a cold week)! On the long drive home from Indiana the box of chocolates were discovered so we opened up the box to try them out!
Ready to taste something out of our box of chocolate goodness!
More information about Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Chocolates & Gifts:
- Like Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Facebook Page
- Follow Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Twitter Feed
- Pick up your favorite treat or learn more on Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Website
A special thanks to US Family Guide and Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Chocolates for sponsoring this post! Any specific product information was provided by US Family Guide and Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Chocolates, however, the opinions expressed in this post are our own. We received complimentary products for sharing information and our family’s experience.
Holiday Gift Giving: Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Chocolates
If you a looking for a wonderful and delicious gift to give this Holiday Season check out Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Chocolates! Everyone loves a sweet treat! It is the perfect gift and will help you check one more name off your list!
The best news is all of my readers will receive Buy 1 lb Get 1 lb FREE of Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Chocolates when you order! Go to Mrs. Cavanaughs to order your chocolates today!
Promo Code: usfamily14
There was a time when Marie Cavanaugh spent hours in her South Dakota farmhouse each Christmas season making pecan rolls and homemade chocolates for holiday gifting. “It started when my aunt sent her pecan-rolls recipe,” Mrs. Cavanaugh recalled. “I gave the recipe my own touch and started making the yummy specialties. Then I began dipping chocolates. Our friends and neighbors loved these treats, encouraging me to start a candy business. Finally, I decided it might be a good idea.'”
Her husband George and children Carla, Lorraine, Calvin, Colene and Genise rallied, helping Mrs. Cavanaugh fill demands for her homemade sweets. In 1972, the family moved to Utah, leaving good friends and their beloved cattle ranch. “It was a difficult decision, especially for George,” Mrs. Cavanaugh said. “He was excited about making our new venture, which we chose to call Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Candies, a great success. We felt Utah was blessed with good chocolates and that we would enjoy – and could compete with – those who pride themselves on making excellent chocolates.”
Millions of pounds of chocolates later, Mrs. Cavanaugh’s candies have earned a reputation for unquestionable excellence…. Ask chocolate aficionados. They will direct those seeking the best chocolates to the popular Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Candies.
When you go to Mrs. Cavanaughs you can get Buy 1 lb Get 1 lb FREE of Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Chocolates using the promo code: usfamily1
Gift Giving: Christmas Cookies in Decorative Tins
Christmas Cookies in a tin with Candy Canes on top
Our family loves baking Christmas goodies! In the past we have made large batches of goodies and delivered the items to our neighbors, family, and friends. Other years we do one or two tins whenever we are baking to give away to friends, family, or to who ever we think it may be a blessing to that week.
It is a simple gift that has been a big hit (and fun for the kids to help with too). All we have to do is bake our favorite cookie(s), put them into a decorative tin, add two candy canes on top, and deliver them. The girls love putting two candy canes on top of the tin in the shape of a heart. Making these treats bins are really easy and they always great reaction from those we have delivered the goodies to in our area.
Christmas Tins
- 1 Tin Container
- A batch of your favorite cookie(s) or candies to fill the tin (or you can do a variety of recipes)
- 2 Candy Canes
- 2 pieces of Tape
You can get any tin or plastic container in any size, shape, and color at your local dollar store this time of year. I used double-sided tape but regular tape would work too. If you are wanting to make up several tins this is a great gift to do because you can make a large batch of cookies to fill them and do an assembly line with your kids.
When we deliver items and Christmas cards to our neighbors we bundle up in our coats, put all the goodies in a big basket and walk from door to door (great exercise and fresh air for the whole family). By the time we walk door to door and spend a few minutes catching up with each neighbor an hour or two or more has gone by but we have had a blast and hopefully were a blessing to those living on our street too.
Here are some cookie recipes we have used in the past:
Peanut Butter & Candy Cane Cookie Cups
Gift Giving: Small Spontaneous Tokens of Appreciation
I love celebrations…..birthdays, Holidays, anniversaries, and more! Most of the time I have a reason to celebrate, but other times it is just as much fun to surprise someone with a special unexpected treat. Every once in awhile I will put a gift on the table or on a person’s plate or some other random place (in this case it is one sitting on Jake’s plate before dinner) for the fun of it.
It doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive to be meaningful. A favorite box of candy or a roll of coins or a sweet note to greet them on their plate when they sit down for dinner is always appreciated. It really is the thought that counts.
During the Christmas Season I like to spread out the fun, so at various times throughout the Holidays my family may find a special surprise waiting for them in random places. Yes, I do specific activities like our 12 Days of Christmas 2011 or 12 Days of Christmas 2010 to help spread out the gifts so it is not so overwhelming the day of Christmas, but these more more like small spontaneous tokens of my appreciation. How do you show appreciation and spread extra Holiday cheer in your home throughout the season?
Gift Giving: Welcome Home Basket for My Sweetheart
Basket full of goodies for my handsome man!
When Jake goes away on a business trip I try to have something special for him when he gets back home. Recently I had this basket full of goodies waiting for him on the couch upon his return. The basket included:
- Love Note
- 2 bags Original Chex Mix
- 2 pack Hand Sanitizer
- Sheets Energy Strips – Cinnamon and Berry Blast
- Peanuts
- Rolo’s wrapped in a red Love Note
Inside the wrapping paper – “I love the way you roll!”
I am thankful for a husband who loves me, works hard to provide for our family, and is an amazing Daddy to our girls. These little gifts are just one of the ways I love to remind him of how much he means to us. The kids have a blast helping pick out something special to “welcome” Daddy back home whether it is a balloon, a favorite food, special drink, sign, drawings, cards and more. Every time I try to do a different surprise and in various locations in the house to mix it up a little bit for him. I have a lot of fun doing it for him and I know it is appreciated too.
Book: Oceans Atlas by John Woodward
Oceans Atlas by John Woodward is a book that the girls have really enjoyed. It was a great gift that was given to them a couple years ago. The girls love learning about animals and the world so this has been a fun one for them. The book covers information on oceans, seas, marine pioneers, explorations, and conservation. The book includes a CD which is an extra bonus for the kids to enjoy.
Christmas Giving: 100+ Stocking Gifts under $1.00
Rolled pennies made to look like a candy for stocking stuffer gift
One of the fun parts of Christmas is opening the little items that you get in the stockings every year. I like to put both practical and fun items in the stockings. Many years while doing regular shopping and finding items on clearance or with a coupon I am done with the stockings before December even arrives. In our family we typically open the stockings on Christmas Eve before the girls go to bed that night. It gets the celebrations started and it allows the girls to “savor the moment” as they open their stockings. As they are opening the gifts they will try on new socks, read a book, paint their nails, put a pretty hair barrette in their hair or play with their little toys. As a general rule the items that go in the stockings need to be less than $1.00 and in some cases I can get items for free. Here are some ideas if you are trying to fill that last little bit of the stocking.
100+ Stocking Gifts for under $1.00
- Roll of Pennies from the Bank ($0.50)
- Candy Canes
- Chapstick
- Fingernail Polish
- Gloves
- Small Puzzles
- Coloring Books
- Slinky
- Pack of Gum
- Mints
- Erasers
- Match Box Cars
- Breath Mints
- Hand Sanitizer
- Hand Lotion
- Googly Eyes
- Fuzzy Sticks
- Crayons
- Colored Pencils
- Markers
- Glue Sticks
- Batteries
- Socks
- Jewelry
- Stickers
- Craft Items
- Playdough
- Molding Clay
- Glowsticks
- Small Toys
- Juice Box
- Barrettes
- Bows
- Headbands
- Pom Poms
- Christmas Candy
- Pens
- Pencils
- Paper Clips
- Fingernail Filer
- Scissors
- Body Mist
- Deodorant
- Perfume
- Hairspray
- Wet Wipes
- Individual Packs of Kleenex
- Bouncy Balls
- Small Notebook
- Flashlight
- Screwdriver
- Pliers
- Small Tools
- Mini Calendar
- Highlighters
- Binder Clips
- Watch
- Scarf
- Stocking Hat
- Yo-Yo
- Silly Putty
- Glow in the Dark Stars / Planets
- Kitchen Gadgets
- Magnets
- Small Games
- Playing Cards
- Sticky Notes
- USB Flash Drives
- Cookie Cutters
- Whisk
- Spatula
- Wooden Spoon
- Kitchen Towel
- Wash Cloths
- Small Christmas Cups
- Makeup
- Removable Tattoos
- Flower Seeds
- Vegetable or Fruit Seeds
- Small Book
- Sandwich Cutters
- Small Activity Book
- Key Chains
- Swiss Army Knife
- Tape Measure
- Ruler
- Coffee
- Bath Toys
- Bubble Bath
- Belt
- Underwear
- Facial Mask
- Foot Cream
- Gift Certificates (bought with rewards)
- Stationary
- Leak Proof Drink Bottles
- Ear Plugs
- Chopsticks
- Bookmarks
- Golf Balls
- Bracelets
- Earrings
- Rings
- Necklaces
- Silly Bandz
- Wallet
- Paint
- Paint Brushes
- Coasters
- Small Cookbook
- Recipe Cards
- Small Photo Album
- Packs of Hot Chocolate
- Packs of Hot Apple Cider
- Lipstick / Lip Gloss
- Brush
- Comb
- DVD
- CD
- Baseball Cards
- Ornament
- Sunglasses
- Magazine
- Snacks
- Coupons for Free Items
A lot of what you get will depend on the size of the stocking you are trying to fill. Items like socks are great for filling up the stocking where getting smaller items will take more to fill it up. If you want you could go with a “theme” and get all kitchen items or crafty type items to put into the stocking for someone who would enjoy it. You can get many of these items for free or nearly free throughout the year by checking out the clearance sections, using coupons, and rewards programs (CVS – Extra Care Bucks, Walgreens – Register Rewards, KMart – Rewards, and more).
If you need a few items but don’t have time to shop throughout the year go to Dollar Tree and pick up a multi pack of hair barrettes, chapsticks and other goodies and divide them up among the family members. Another great spot to pick up items if you are on a time crunch is in the travel / dollar sections in stores like Walmart or Target (where they have the mini bottles of items or other things people may need).
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CONGRATULATIONS to Janna Lamison
for winning
3 Music CD’s by Suzi Shelton including her newest release “Tomboy In A Princess Dress”!
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Gift Giving: Cinnamon Handprint Ornaments
Are you looking for great gifts to give but are on a tight budget? This is a simple recipe that uses a few items from your pantry and makes a thoughtful Christmas Gift. I posted this last year and it was a huge hit so I am sharing it again this year. These were inexpensive, easy to do, and the girls had a lot of fun. You probably have all the ingredients in your pantry already.
Cinnamon Handprint Ornaments:
- 2 cups Flour
- 1 cup Salt
- 5 teaspoons Cinnamon
- 3/4 cup Water
Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Stir in water gradually to make dough. If it is sticking to your hands, add more flour or if it is too crumbling add more water. Knead dough for approximately 8 minutes until smooth. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Roll out dough to desired thickness (typically between 1/4 to 3/4 inches thick).
We used a football cookie cutter for the oval (you can use a circle or anything big enough that they can fit their hands in) than lightly floured their hands before making a slight indention on the clay. We took a stamp and pressed their first initial in the bottom of each palm to help us remember who it belonged to. Since my girls are twins their hand sizes are almost the same!
After making the handprint in the clay use a straw to make a hole in the top so you can hang the ornament.
Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hour. (Thicker dough will take longer to bake). They are done when the clay is dry, you notice a slight change in color. Cool and add a ribbon of your choice!
Optional: Once cooled you can use spray on polyurethane for extra shine.
Ours still smell great even after a year. We made more than one batch since we have a large family but you can do as many as you want. With the extra dough we made Christmas ornaments so we could hang them on the tree.
Blessing Lives Everyday with Special Surprises (B.L.E.S.S.): 25 Days of Christmas Blessings (Update)
Candy Cane and B.L.E.S.S. note taped to a local ATM Machine
We have officially started our 25 Days of Christmas B.L.E.S.S. (Blessing Lives Everyday with Special Surprises) and in all honesty I think we have been blessed more by doing these activities. It has been a real joy doing these fun events everyday and it has been a great experience so far. In some cases we get to see who receives our B.L.E.S.S. gift and in other cases we will never know who is on the receiving end. We pray that whoever receives or finds these gifts will experience joy during this Holiday Season. Each night we take down the B.L.E.S.S. activity for the next day and read the verse and the activity then pray for those who have and will receive our little BLESS’ings.
Quarters taped to the toy and candy vending machines at the front of the store.
Here is what we have done so far and a couple pictures to share of our adventures:
- Day 1 – Gave a donation to the Salvation Army then passed out stickers at our local Walmart as people were coming in and out of the store. During our 45 minutes passing out stickers at Walmart we saw several friends (it was great to greet friends on their way in or out of the store). The girls gave one little girl and her Dad a sticker, the Dad reached into his Walmart bag pulled out a new container of cookies gave it to his daughter and then had her give the girls each a cookie to say “thank you” for sharing a sticker. It was so sweet, I almost cried watching the whole interaction in the middle of the Walmart store entry way!
- Day 2 – Taped a candy cane to the ATM at a local bank. Taped quarters to the toy and candy vending machines at a local store. The girls wanted to go back the next day and see if the quarters were used!
- Day 3 – Hid dollars in the toy section at the Dollar Tree, the girls loved doing this one and giggled the whole time they were hiding the dollars. They were very excited for the kid who would find a dollar hidden in the toys.
- Day 4 – Collected food for the Alms & Legs Food Pantry to help families in our local community. The girls each picked out items that they wanted to share with others. They spent a considerable amount of timing picking out the perfect cans of vegetables, fruit, and other goodies to share.
Quarter taped to the vending machine for another little kid to enjoy
One of our favorite verses this week went along with our Day 4 activity.
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. – Matthew 25:35
The verse was very specific so it was a fun one to discuss. When we discussed the verse with the girls they knew exactly what it meant. “If a person is hungry we should give them food.” They enjoyed picking out some of their favorite foods to share.
Karlie’s $1 “hidden” in the Dollar Tree toy aisle
I am super excited to see how great this B.L.E.S.S. activity is going already. It has been a true joy sharing with others (many of whom we’ll never meet). It has been a great experience and I look forward to seeing what will happen with our fun adventures this week.
Brina’s $1 “hidden” in the toy section on Dollar Tree.
The main purpose of this activity is to teach our family the joy of giving and sharing to those around us. I plan to do another update on our fun B.L.E.S.S. adventures next week. Sometimes it’s the little stuff that can make the most positive impact. I would love to hear how you are spreading the Christmas cheer this Holiday Season.
(Update) I have been asked by a number of people for a printable version of the 25 Days of Christmas B.L.E.S.S. activities, verses, and sheets to handout so here they are for your family to enjoy as well:
- 25 Days of Christmas Blessings B.L.E.S.S. – Acts of Service (we came up with more than 25 activities, around 40, then narrowed them down and decided as a family which ones to do together. I decided to give you all the activities we had listed so you can choose which ones work well for your family from the list. Just print these out on colorful paper, cut out, and place into your B.L.E.S.S. activity bags!)
- 25 Days of Christmas B.L.E.S.S handout sheets to leave on an item or to give to the person you are blessing.
