|
November 27, 2021

Favorite Things Gift Guide 2021

Shutterbean Favorite Things Gift Guide- Tracy Benjamin shares her favorite things from the year!
 

It’s time for Shutterbean Favorite Things Gift Guide 2021- Another year, another list of favorites!  Everything on the list is something I own/something that’s brought value to my life this year. Here are some ways to treat yourself & others:

For the Home:

Bread Proofing Basket My sourdough bread game got taken up a notch with this bread proofing basket. The bread doesn’t stick and I love how it inadvertently creates these pretty rings on my bread because of the shape of the basket. If you have someone in your life who is getting into bread baking, this is a great gift. 

Ooni Pro Pizza Oven This was our Christmas present to ourselves last year. It has been a real blessing.  The best part is that it motivated my husband to get really into pizza making and he’s really good at it now.  HE NOW MAKES DINNER when it’s pizza night and that is worth every penny.  We haven’t ordered pizza delivery since!

Republic of Tea- Hot Apple Cider Tea–  Instant apple cider!! I am a big fan. 

Republic of Tea Vanilla Almond Tea–  You may have seen me love on this tea with my Vanilla Almond Milk Tea concoction! It’s my go-to afternoon pick-me-up. It satisfies a sugar craving immediately without having sugar! 

Silicone Muffin Pan  If you’re ever going to make egg bites and you don’t want anything to stick, this silicone muffin pan has been a real game-changer in my kitchen. They pop right out! 

Magnetic Paper Towel Roll holder-  Our paper towel roll holder took up too much of my limited counter space and I was OVER IT. I did some research and found out that they make magnetic towel roll holders you can put on your fridge and I bought this right away. I love it. I love that it doesn’t take up counter space and it’s easy to use. Hooray! 

Water bottle–  If you aren’t the greatest at drinking water, this water bottle will help you! There’s markers on the side to show you how much water you should have had to drink by a particular time. Fill it up twice every day and you’ve met your daily water intake. Also, I love the design of it. It looks like glass but isn’t!

Mom’s favorite calendar I’m continuing my Mom’s tradition by purchasing this calendar every year. She had it in her kitchen and delighted in seeing what the artwork looked like for each month. The print quality is amazing and the colors are so vibrant. I think of her every time I glance at it. 

Timer Cube I bought two of these this year and my productivity shot up! See also: my favorite productivity tools. One sits on my kitchen counter (I use it to time myself cleaning) and the other one sits on my desk so I can employ the Pomodoro technique while I’m working on my computer. 

Nakano Nakiri Knife –  This knife is a dream to work with! It has helped me immensely throughout the year. It’s a meal prep essential! Nakano was nice enough to give my readers a discount if you’d like to order! Use code SHUTTERBEAN for 20% off. 

SodaStream We drink a lot of sparkling water in our house. Even more so when it was pandemic time and we were cutting back on alcohol consumption. The trick to actually using our SodaStream is to keep extra bottles of water filled in our fridge. That way you always have cold water ready to be carbonated at the ready. 

Flexible Garden Hose One of my pet peeves is a hose that tangles. Casey did some research and found this incredible metal hose that has been such a pleasure to use. It never tangles or crimps and it’s lightweight and easy to put away. I love it! 

Imperfect Foods:   I really used this service a lot while we were in lockdown and we couldn’t go grocery shopping easily. I still use it because I find their prices very reasonable. I have to place my order before noon on Monday and it gives me a kick in the pants to do some meal planning before the week starts. It makes a great gift for people who have new babies or could use some help around the holidays. 

 

 

CONTINUE READING

|
November 26, 2021

I LOVE LISTS

Gratitude turns what we have into enough- I love lists Shutterbeanc.om

I LOVE LISTS

  1. Magical moments captured by a street photographer. 
  2. How to be the centaur of attention.
  3. This makes me want to go on a morning hike.
  4. Failed signs are kinda funny.
  5. Cleanse your eyeballs with good product design.
  6. How to feel your feelings and why you should. 
  7. I love looking through Oprah’s favorite things. 
  8. Here’s a list of things I’ve favorited on Etsy.
  9. Some tips to put your garden to bed for the winter. 
  10. Mexican pizza is the only thing I ordered at Taco Bell. 
  11. How bowling balls are made. 
  12. We watched Fight Club this week. 
  13. Time travel to Paris in 1981
  14. Here’s my favorite things gift guide from last year. 
  15. A candle to recreate the smell of a woodfire. 
  16. Stock your pantry with these canned goods. 
  17. What to do when you’re irritated and about to snap. 
  18. 5 day timelapse of 24 hours of sun in Antartica. 
  19. Ornate rugs turn into fabric puddles. 
  20. Cozy slippers:  one / two / three / four 
  21. Trader Joe’s reviews for November!
  22. Weekend Reading: Radical Acceptance

 

From today until Sunday, you can get 20% off your orders from my Etsy Shop by using the code TWENTYOFF 

If you’re doing any online shopping, you should check to see if you can get cashback through Rakuten. I’ve been using it for years. Here’s an immediate $40 when you sign up through my affiliate link!  It’s so fun to get a check in the mail every few months for shopping online.

|
November 24, 2021

Cranberry Cheese Danishes

Cranberry Cheese Danish made with leftover cranberry sauce, cream cheese & puff pastry. Find this simple showstopper on Shutterbean.com

If you find yourself with a little bit of cranberry sauce leftover from Thanksgiving this year, you can make Cranberry Cheese Danishes!  Just get yourself some cream cheese and puff pastry while you’re at the store this week (godspeed, my friend!).

Cranberry Cheese Danish made with leftover cranberry sauce, cream cheese & puff pastry. Find this simple showstopper on Shutterbean.com

When I was a kid, my favorite Aunt & Uncle spent the night at our house when we had holidays together. They always brought some type of cheese danish that my Mom heated up in the oven the next morning while we all sat around in our jammies. It was delightful and it helped make their sleepovers so much fun. These Cranberry cheese Danishes might be just the thing if you’re looking to build a new holiday tradition! 

CONTINUE READING

|
November 22, 2021

Intentions for the Week

Intentions for the Week Workbook by Tracy Benjamin now on sale!

Intentions for the Week- Week 47  in 2021

​​Happy Monday, friends!

This week is gonna be a busy one. It’s also going to be full of grief.  My Mom died during week 47 of 2017.   Sigh…. When I read that post it’s such a weird feeling. I can remember that week like it was yesterday and the holiday brings it all back up to the surface again. She loved Thanksgiving and it’s so sad that our holidays are so broken without her. 

If you’re grieving during the holiday season too, I just want to take this moment to let you know that you’re not alone. Holidays bring up a lot of feelings. Your feelings are valid and real. I hope you find a way to honor your loved ones and take care of yourself and your heart too. I see you. 

It’s a big week if you’re working in the kitchen! Here are my Intentions for the Week- 

CONTINUE READING

|
November 21, 2021

My Everyday Life Week 46

Here’s what this past week looked like- My Everyday Life Week 46

The first batch of orders went out in the mail this week! THANK YOU for ordering workbooks and calendars

My Everyday Life Week 46 of 2021- a photography series by Tracy Benjamin of Shutterbean.com

Where the magic happens (at my desk).

My Everyday Life Week 46 of 2021- a photography series by Tracy Benjamin of Shutterbean.com

In every order, I write your name on a postcard and the outside of the package. 

You inadvertently help me practice my handwriting. THANK YOU! 

My Everyday Life Week 46 of 2021- a photography series by Tracy Benjamin of Shutterbean.com

Saturday drive up north with my boys. 

My Everyday Life Week 46 of 2021- a photography series by Tracy Benjamin of Shutterbean.com

CONTINUE READING

|
November 19, 2021

I LOVE LISTS

Use What You Have- Artwork by Tracy Benjamin- I love lists

I LOVE LISTS!

  1. These landscape photos make me want to road trip.
  2. What is a barndominium?
  3. This stained class light catcher is beautiful.
  4. Disneyland is a price gouge. 
  5. What the heck is Instagram rage shake?
  6. Prom photos from the 1950s.
  7. Some old videos of Albert Einstein in color. 
  8. How film set decorators turn back time in cities. 
  9. A list of the best documentaries of 2021.
  10. A whole bunch of holiday cooking hacks.
  11. This whole mood!
  12. I love the simplicity of this home. 
  13. Gimme this Creamy Mushroom Lasagna! 
  14. I actually thought Amoeba Records was older. 
  15. How to get your kids to pick up after themselves. 
  16. I love how surreal these collages are. 
  17. Pretty Stained Glass: one / two / three / four
  18. Let’s what some mushrooms grow!
  19. Weekend reading: The Secret Language of Birthdays
  20. Here are some Thanksgiving Menu Ideas to inspire

My Intentions for the Week Calendar and the Currently 2022 Workbook  (US only) are in my Etsy shop.  If you’re international, you can buy them from my Blurb shop.

Keep in touch! Sign up for my newsletter! 

|
November 17, 2021

Sausage White Bean Soup

Sausage White Bean Soup is a weeknight staple during the colder months. Find the recipe on Shutterbean.com

One of my most favorite recipes from my website is this trusted Sausage White Bean Soup that I posted way back in 2007. I’ve been leading people to that recipe for years as it’s one of my meal prep staples.  Bringing it back into the 2020s because I wanted to give the recipe justice with new, better photos. Life is so different 14 years later!  I have a 13-year-old child! 

Sausage White Bean Soup is a weeknight staple during the colder months. Find the recipe on Shutterbean.com

Back to my favorite soup. This soup is my go-to when the weather gets cold. 

Not everyone in my family likes soup (Sigh…I know…), so I make this soup for MY lunches during the week. 

I also make it for company and when I have a Christmas soup party at my house. 

Sausage White Bean Soup is a weeknight staple during the colder months. Find the recipe on Shutterbean.com

Pair with a crusty piece of bread (or my garlic bread!)  and sprinkle with Parmesan and I’m a happy lady.  I love me some soup weather! 

CONTINUE READING