Happy Holidays to all of our amazing Happy Hour Mom fans and followers across the world! Without you we don’t know where we would be. You’ve followed our lives across several foreign countries, states and cities. We’ve had our ups, downs triumphs and tribulations. Through it all we always come back to HHM. We love providing a comfortable space to learn, connect and grow for women who are (or will be soon) mothers. While living in Dubai, Hungary, Lebanon, Estonia, Japan, California and Minnesota we have been able to witness motherhood on so many different levels. No matter your style, socioeconomic status, address, religion or race, “Every mom deserves a happy hour.” From the bottom of our hearts, please take the time to relax and enjoy some “me” time. We can’t be supermoms 24/7…or can we?

Looking forward to a happy and healthy 2012.

Toni Danielson

Toni Danielson, ad agency working mom of a big brown-eyed little man, wife to an amazing husband, Digital Media Lover. Blogger. Infographic-obsessed. Expat. Happy Hour Mom. BBall Wife. Not all in that order. Join me in my journey to become the ultimate Happy Hour Mom!

    

happy holidays to all the happy hour moms around the world is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

What is your gift giving style? Are you a traditionalist that prefers the classic red and green wrapped gifts filled with what is on top of your recipient’s list? Or, do you like to surprise everyone with items that they never knew they wanted? Are buying gifts for girls your hardest task during November and December?

In my family I am the keeper of all the lists. Throughout the year I keep a running list of any item I hear my friends and family say “I love this”. Why you ask? When December 22^nd rolls around certain family members (yes, all the men) come begging for me to finish their shopping. “I can’t stand the malls. Christmas shopping is a lose/lose situation. I just have no clue what to get your mother. She already has everything.” These are the statements that I hear EVERY SINGLE year. As much as I want to help, I prefer to spend the last few days putting the finishing touches on everything. From gifts for kids to adults and pets, Uncommon Goods on my screen is all I need to tackle the holidays, whether traditional or the truly unexpected. Here is a few of my favorite picks.

Kids

Construction Set Utensil Plate

Trumpette Lucy Socks, Set of 6

Men

Custom Map Belt Buckle

Chrome Clocky

Women

Custom State Necklace

Geometric Candles

or even, Frog Gifts

Toni Danielson

Toni Danielson, ad agency working mom of a big brown-eyed little man, wife to an amazing husband, Digital Media Lover. Blogger. Infographic-obsessed. Expat. Happy Hour Mom. BBall Wife. Not all in that order. Join me in my journey to become the ultimate Happy Hour Mom!

    

gift giving for all styles | uncommon goods is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

December is the best time to stock up on your favorite brands. I’m a practical shopper whether it’s for gifts or for myself. Therefore, I have a hard time paying full price for anything. I still prefer receiving things that “I want” versus things “I need.” Honestly, I’m not sure where this behavior comes from, except that I have always been an individual totally dedicated to a list, a priority list to be more specific. After living abroad for 6 years my family and I got used to a simple way of life-not needing excessive amounts of things and letting go of the yearn of luxuries because we only had two suitcases a piece.

It’s been almost two years since we have assimilated back into typical American life and I want my STUFF! I need it, want it and love it! I have tried so hard not to follow suit of all the American hoarders but I find peace in knowing that I don’t have to run out and buy shampoo immediately after we run out. It is a total awakening when my family asks what I want in my stocking this year?

In my stocking this year I WANT:

Phillip Kingsley Moisture Balancing Shampoo & Conditioner. I’ve been trying out their Philip Kingsley Kits “Try Me Duo Kits” for the past few weeks and love the way it makes my hair feel. My mom owns a hair salon so I’ve always been prive to some amazing hair products. Anything that leaves my hair soft, shiny and smelling amazing is a win in my book.

*BONUS Phillip Kingsley is having a 2 for 1 sale– essentially saving you fifty percent on your purchase.  The kits are available in both full and mini sized products.

A Sonicare toothbrush. It seems like they have been the hot ticket item flooding the circs this Cyber Monday/Black Friday season. You know you’re a mom when you want to make sure your whole family is brushing with a high-end toothbrush.

Plyers. Yep, it’s true! For all my little craft projects and such I would kill for a darling little set of plyers so that I don’t have to steal my dad’s set anymore.

Fun cleaning products. Super lame, I know. But I love trying out fun new products that may work better than the ones I have. Finding small victories in treating a new spot on my rug is what keeps me going. Again, I know, super lame.

Glittery, Muppets OPI nailpolish. I’m not a total Scrooge. Every woman wants something sparkly in their stocking…right?

What I used to get in my stocking circa 1980′s-2000′s:

Candy

Lottery Tickets

Razor blades- who likes paying so much money for these. Not me.

Makeup

Socks/Underwear

Jewelry

Gift Cards

Oh my how times have changed! What are hoping for in your christmas stocking this year?

*We were given a sample of Phillip Kinglsey to try…..and fell in love! Our beliefs are our own.

Toni Danielson

Toni Danielson, ad agency working mom of a big brown-eyed little man, wife to an amazing husband, Digital Media Lover. Blogger. Infographic-obsessed. Expat. Happy Hour Mom. BBall Wife. Not all in that order. Join me in my journey to become the ultimate Happy Hour Mom!

    

what is in your christmas stocking this year? is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

hhm behind the lens :: fun holiday photo props for baby and family is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Giving is one of the best parts of the holiday season, but it is sometimes difficult to find that perfect gift for your coworkers, teacher, or your child’s teacher. A nice pen is typical and gift cards are always nice (yes we included one in our list!), but sometimes it is nice to get creative. Here are Happy Hour Mom’s top 6 gifts for a coworker or teacher this holiday season.

1) Personalized stationery or note cards are always a great option–especially with the chic modern designs you can readily find online. We pictured a few options from Tiny Prints, but you can find many variations online, and find the perfect style and design to appeal to the taste of the teacher/coworker you have in mind.

2) Next we have an awesome planner from GetButtonedUp.com. We all need planners, but with so many options out there it is sometimes hard to find that perfect organizational schedule book/calendar. GetButtonedUp.com specializes in organization and they have done a wonderful job at creating a near-perfect planner, with all the little extras to keep your life (and mind) on track.

3) Next in line is the Knock Knock Someday Mini Sticky Set–this is a fun organizational tool for labeling quick notes and prioritizing your schedule. While not a necessity, this is one of those fun gifts that is sure to be a hit.

4) So here is the obvious choice…A Starbucks Traveling Mug and Gift Card. Not much to say here, except that it is easily accessible (drive through on your way to school or work for a last-minute pick-up!) and, well, who doesn’t love them some Starbucks?

5) Now, brace yourself for this one, it is our favorite! IdeaPaint has created the most magical paint on the planet. Forget you chalkboard painting craft, this stuff is for the pros. In fact, the Pro kit of IdeaPaint is everything you’ll need to make your walls, tables, doors, and nearly any other surface you can paint, ready for doodling, charting and note-taking. Create nifty white board circles on your office walls, or paint the tables and let the students do their math problems right on their desks. While this one is a tad bit pricey for a coworker/teacher gift, your gift will most certainly be the best of the season!

6) The Bi-Silque Double Photo Frame Cork Board is just what it says–a great addition to the office or classroom decor, with the display of two frame-worthy pics and an organizational aspect that every teacher/employee can appreciate.

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

hhm holiday gift guide | 6 gifts for a teacher or co-worker is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

The holidays are full of joy, happiness, and PARTIES! There is always that one special holiday party that you look forward to every year, and what better way to guarantee next year’s invite, than to bring an unforgettable hostess gift–or maybe you are like the majority and want to surprise your friend/family member with an amazing hostess gift just to show your appreciation–after all, that is what the season is all about, right? Regardless of your motive behind the gift, you won’t go wrong with these fun, party-friendly hostess gift options.

Every party host has table-tops to protect, so the coasters are always a safe bet. You know the host, so find a fun design that will suit his/her taste. And we all know that wine is a party staple, so showing up with your (or the hosts’) favorite glass of wine in this super modern Actual Wine Pocket, will be sure to put a smile on the recipients face.  Sticking with the wine theme, these Jingle Bell Wine Charms are perfect for the season, and a fun way to keep track of the party-goer’s wine glasses. If your host spends a lot of his/her time in the kitchen, they will surely love the Personalized Recipe Gift Set with Embosser–really, everyone should have one. These are a great way to keep track of family recipes, and pass them on from generation to generation. The Slate Cheese Serving Board is a great way to label your cheeses, and besides, who isn’t loving chalkboard everything these days?! One of my personal faves is the Nudo Italia flavored olive oils, with incredible flavors, strait from the Italian Countryside.Last, but certainly not least, find a fun board game that all of the guests can enjoy. This last one is certainly for the “fun crowd,” so you will know when the time is right to pull out the games for just the right hostess.

We’d love to hear what your favorite go-to gift is during the holiday season…

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

are you the perfect holiday party guest? 7 gifts your hostess will love… is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

What color pallette are you naturally drawn to? Do you take your everyday decor style and mirror it for the holidays? Let your style fly high this year. Whether you bring out your alter ego or take last year’s decor and push it to a new level. When you think of Christmas, New Year’s, Hanukkah or Kwanza do you see these special holidays celebrated in the classics?

Your home decor is meant to be special, unique and a reflection on your family’s way of living. Think of what your signature look would be and own it. From the tree, candles and table settings to mantles, food and cocktails. Find your holiday style this year!

Are you GLAM?

Deep, classic colors like black and white with a pop of color is always unexpected.  Introduce exotic cocktail blends and trendy prints to impress your guests. Try something new. How about a white….or even a hot pink modern Christmas tree!

Are you SHABBY CHIC?

Pale colors of yellow, pink, blue and white are always subtly sweet pared with rustic woods to make your statement. What’s old is new again. Go through some of your parents and grandparents eclectic blend of ornaments. Make new traditions while blending old, new, borrowed and blue items!

Are you AU NATUREL?

Natural hues and materials from the outdoors are an inexpensive option that still leaves room for tons of creativity. Tear down a few dying branches and take some white spray paint to them to create a conversation piece for your dining room table. Mix in some evergreen, moss and berries to make your decor feel extra warm and coozy like a cabin. Add a fire and …voila!

Prefer MINIMALISM?

Even if your idea of holiday decorating equates to a tree, a few candles and a santa hat just make sure to follow suit throughout the season. “Less can be more.”

Check out more ideas from our holiday decor vault

Bold & Beautiful Holiday Table Decor

Jewel Toned Peacock Glam 

Winter White Holiday Inspirations

Toni Danielson

Toni Danielson, ad agency working mom of a big brown-eyed little man, wife to an amazing husband, Digital Media Lover. Blogger. Infographic-obsessed. Expat. Happy Hour Mom. BBall Wife. Not all in that order. Join me in my journey to become the ultimate Happy Hour Mom!

    

what is your holiday decorating style? is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

The holiday season is officially in full swing, and many spent this past weekend decorating their homes, showering their christmas tree, and lining their landscapes with holiday cheer. The question is…did you go for the classic Christmas colors of red and green, or did you go for a modern look, with a less traditional color scheme? Holiday cheer is taking over the world, as I have been seeing Christmas decor on the shelves for weeks now here in Japan, so it is definitely time to get in the mood for Jingle Bells and Frosty. I am amazed at the amount of variety in the color options this year, as it seems the designers are stepping further and further out of the box–not sure that I have a preference either way, but it would be hard to get my husband to do cartwheels over a turquoise and pink Christmas (not sure that I could get him to do a cartwheel at all–it is a bit difficult as a 7 footer, especially in our mini Japanese abode–but you get my drift). So while it might not fly in our household, I do admire the fresh look and creative prints that come with the color palettes this season. So if you have yet to decide on this years holiday colors for your home and tree, you will enjoy our seasonal series, “Colors of the Season.”

When I think of Pink and Green decor, I immediately think baby nursery, or super girly birthday party. I love this color combo and was surprised how much I liked it the first time I saw it on a Christmas Tree. With the right ornaments and prints, you could turn this girly combo into an elegant holiday theme. You have to be careful not to pick items that are too child-like, or it will turn your living room tree into a children’s boutique display, but do it right and you will have the most original tree on the block. So what do you think, would you go pink and green this holiday season?

source: Toast and Tables

source: CountryLiving.com

source: BHG.com

source: MarthaStewart.com

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

colors of the season :: pink and green christmas is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Over the past five years, I have traveled the globe with my family and have always made a special effort to find traditional international ornaments abroad. Since we are typically living abroad during the holidays, it is pretty easy to find the traditional ornaments from the local culture. However, for those jet-setters who have settled in back at home, it is not quite as easy to find the authentic, traditional holiday decor of their favorite international destination. So you can imagine my excitement when I found these spectacular globally-inspired ornaments on PotteryBarn.com. When you can’t go authentic, why not opt for symbolic, and find a special little piece for every place of which you’ve been or dream of going. Here is a collection of what you will find at Pottery Barn:

Paper Luggage Tag Ornament Set - These vintage-inspired luggage tags are perfect for the world traveler! The three tags feature Hotel Majestic – Saigon; Hotel Londres & New York – Paris; and Hotel Astoria – Coimbra, Portugal.

Glass British Double Decker Bus Ornament – This hand-blown treasure will remind you of your bus ride through the streets of London.

Glass Glitter Globe Ornament – This hand-blown glass globe details the continents of the world in shimmering german glitter.

Glass Eiffel Tower Ornament – Flashback to those romantic, starry nights in Paris with this frosted and sparkly Eiffel Tower Ornament.

Glass Airplane Ornament - As a jet-setter you are no stranger to the cabin of an international air bus, so why not cherish your traveling ways with a glittery, hand-blown glass airplane?

Glass Luggage Ornament – You can’t leave home without your luggage, so it makes perfect sense to include these adorable glass cases with your internationally-inspired tree.

Glass French Cab Ornament – Go retro with this sexy, metallic Glass French Cab Ornament.

Glass Big Ben Ornament – Westminster’s Big Ben is a gorgeous touch to your holiday decor, with its hand-blown glass design and hand-painted finish.

Bottled Tower of Pisa Ornament – With the semblance of a bottle found at sea, the hand-blown glass surrounds  a rolled paper featuring Italy’s Leaning Tower of Pisa.

I know I am pushing it with the next ornament, in terms of internationally-inspired decor, but his German Glitter has my eyes twinkling with delight (it is “German” glitter after all…)

German Glitter Snowflake - The perfect amount of glitz for your gorgeous Christmas tree

Any faves? Leave a comment below, we would love to know where you have been or dream of going…

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

internationally-inspired christmas tree :: pottery barn is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Thanksgiving is a day for all to think about the many things in their life they are thankful for. Food, family and fun can only be best brought together with those finest details that make each holiday that much more special. When you plan your Thanksgiving recipes this year don’t forget to go the extra mile with custom Thanksgiving toothpick flags, printable partyware by Paper and Cake,  or festive wall art. If you are like me, then you’ll have family members that offer up rave reviews for those special additions and some that deem it wasted effort. Do what makes you happy. I find pleasure in making Thanksgiving an extra special holiday each year. Plus, with free Thankgiving Printables it really only takes the amount of time to hit the “print” button.

Thanksgiving Printables

Thanksgiving Freebies and Printables from Lee Lou

Paper Cake Giving Thanks

Handmade Thanksgiving Fall Printables 

I am Thankful for Printables

Retro Folk Thanksgiving Kit

Toni Danielson

Toni Danielson, ad agency working mom of a big brown-eyed little man, wife to an amazing husband, Digital Media Lover. Blogger. Infographic-obsessed. Expat. Happy Hour Mom. BBall Wife. Not all in that order. Join me in my journey to become the ultimate Happy Hour Mom!

    

top 5 free (or almost free!) thanksgiving printables is a post from: Happy Hour Mom