A Few of Our Favorite Things… {+ Giveaway!}

By now, you’re probably ALL familiar with Oprah and her well known Favorite Things episodes.  You know the drill…she brings in an audience of well deserving women, surprises them with the opportunity of a lifetime, and has her elves pass out all of HER favorite things to each lucky participant.  “And YOU get one, and YOU get one, and YOU get one…”  Well, we know of 15 incredibly deserving women who have been pouring out their heart and souls right here in Houston, and we thought that they deserved to take home some of our Favorite Things too!

HMB Fave Things - Team

On the evening of Sunday, December 14th – we were so excited to host a Holiday Party turned Favorite Things surprise for our phenomenal contributor team.  The night started with delicious eats and yummy shots {yes, on a Sunday!} and ended in a beautiful bag stuffed full of amazing take homes!  Read below to see all of the gracious and wonderful sponsors involved, and grab your holiday lists and a pen — because we have a feeling you will want to jot down some notes for your upcoming holiday parties and wish lists too!!!

Oh, and did we mention that we are giving one of YOU a bag of our favorite things too???  Read below for more info and be sure to enter soon.  Winner will be chosen on Christmas Day!!!

Houston Moms Blog Fav Things Web Graphic-01

The FoodHMB Fave Things - Sprouts

Every good party starts with delicious food, does it not?  And we LOVED our yummy catering trays provided by Sprouts Farmers Market!  We had piles of delicious freshly cubed cheeses, an overflowing plate full of sweets, and oodles of fresh fruit to round it all out.  I grabbed a few boxes of crackers to pull it all together, and ta da – the perfect cocktail party!  No dishes or prep work required.

Connect with Sprouts :: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest


HMB Fave Things - Crowning DetailsThe Details

From the tiniest of touches to the biggest of balloons, Julie with Crowning Details helped to take our Favorite Things party over the top!  Her and her team created the beautiful graphics and printables for the party {see the one above?}, put together this GORGEOUS tablescape, and brought in Steve Simpson Photography to perfectly capture it all.  It was so nice for our team to be able to focus on the fun-filled night at hand — and let Julie and Steve do all of the work!

Connect with Crowning Details :: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest

Connect with Steve Simpson Photography :: [email protected]


HMB Favorite Things…

HMB Fave Things - SarahjanesSarahjanes Oilcloth

Sarahjanes provided the most fabulous bags to hold all of our Favorite Things in.  The bags are from their popular oilcloth collection.  They’re super sturdy, easy to clean, and most of all, adorable with the many different fun print options.  The perfect gift for your fellow mommy, and a great alternative to your typical diaper bag too!

Connect with Sarajanes :: Website / Facebook / Instagram


HMB Fave Things - LIQSLIQS

We’re all busy moms…so it’s probably no surprise that every now and then, we like to let loose and have a few drinks.  Thankfully, LIQS provided us with plenty of ready to drink cocktail shots that we were able to do a toast with, and each contributor got to take one home to enjoy over the holidays too!  {These would make GREAT grown-up stocking stuffers!  Check their map for the retail store closest to you.}

Connect with LIQS :: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram


HMB Fave Things - Luke & BrandonLuke & Brandon

A local favorite, Luke & Brandon, treated us to some of their very well-known rum cakes.  They provided us with rum cakes, one of each flavor, and then spoiled us even more by sending each member of our team home with a their own personal mason-jar rum cakes. These personal sized rum cakes make the perfect gifts!

Connect with Luke & Brandon :: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram 


HMB Fave Things - May Designs May Designs

Oh, how we love the Houston based company May Designs.  But it seems that we aren’t the only ones!  After being chosen as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things this year, we were so excited to get them on board for this event too.  With their help, we were able to choose custom May Books for each and every contributor to start 2015 off with, and they were each blown away with these thoughtful and personal gifts!

Connect with May Designs :: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest


HMB Fave Things - Kismet CosmeticsKismet Cosmetics

After finding out about Kismet Cosmetics from our sister site New Orleans Moms Blog, we became fast fans too!  Their lipsticks and nail polishes come in such fun, fashion-forward colors, and their bronzing lotion {which each team member got to take home!} is absolutely phenomenal — especially during these cold winter months when our sun-kissed skin starts to fade.

Connect with Kismet Cosmetics :: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest


HMB Fave Things - Blossoms & Billows Blossoms & Billows

Aubrey from Blossoms & Billows provided us with an assortment of her sweet and beautiful prints.  She has some beautiful typography, and we’re seriously in love with everything in her Etsy shop.  From nursery art for the wee ones to invites to custom orders, Aubrey can do it all — and beautifully!

Connect with Blossoms & Billows :: Website / FacebookInstagram 


HMB Fave Things - Not KetchupNot Ketchup

Not Ketchup provided us with two full bottles of their popular and natural dipping sauce.  We love that Not Ketchup is made with ripe fruit and contains natural sweetners. The buzz online is that this sauce is great on hamburgers — we can’t wait to open our bottles and try it out!  {Find it around town at Central Market to give it a taste too!}

Connect with Not Ketchup :: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest


HMB Fave Things - Too Cute Too Cute

Another one of our beloved and long-time sponsors – Too Cute Monogrammed and Personalized Gifts always comes through with the most creative and thoughtful gift ideas!  She graciously sent us monogrammed cups for each and every team member all in coordinating colors to match our well known flower logo, and we just LOVE each and every item in stock on her sweet Etsy shop — for kids and grown-ups too!

Connect with Too Cute :: Website / Facebook / Instagram


HMB Fave Things - Blessington FarmsBlessington Farms

We are huge fans of Blessington Farms here, and we love having this gem in the Houston area.  They offer it all — slides, rides, fishing, animals.  We can’t wait for them to wear our kids out in the most awesome way possible thanks to the gift certificates they provided each team member. Their strawberry picking season just started, and it’s always a total hit for both kids and adults alike!

Connect with Blessington Farms :: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest


HMB Fave Things - Nothing Bundt Cakes Nothing Bundt Cakes

There is no doubt that we will never go hungry around here. Between the rum cakes and Nothing Bundt Cakes’ bundlets that each contributor took home, our sweet tooth has undoubtedly been satisfied. It’s no surprise that we love Nothing Bundt Cakes. They’ve treated us before at our Corsets & Cocktails event, and we haven’t stopped talking about them since.  In fact, we fall more and more in love each time — they are the perfect sweet for any party.

Connect with Nothing Bundt Cakes :: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest


HMB Fave Things - Goodnight HoustonGoodnight Houston

Local authors, Jennifer and Kyle Solak, provided each team member with an autographed copy of their book Goodnight Houston to share with their families.  This is a super fun picture book that highlights all of our favorite Houston attractions.  We’re not sure who will enjoy it more — us or the kiddos?!  Lots of local shops carry this book around town, so there is still time to snag one to put under your tree before Christmas!

Connect with Goodnight Houston :: Website / Facebook 


HMB Fave Things - Sunshine Equilibrium Sunshine Equilibrium

Nothing makes us happier than supporting local moms and small business owners which is why we were thrilled to have Sunshine Equilibrium on board to treat our most awesome team members.  Sunshine Equilibrium is an online boutique with fun accessories, some of the hottest styles in clothing, and they even have something for the kids.  Start shopping here.

 WebsiteConnect with Sunshine Equilibrium :: Website / Facebook / Instagram


HMB Fave Things - Jason's DeliJason’s Deli

We love Jason’s Deli — so do many of our wee ones.  So we were pumped to find Jason’s Deli gift cards stuffed inside our favorite things’ bags!  They have great options for adults and kids alike, and they just recently added more yumminess to their gluten-free menu in the way of J.D. Nuggetz for all the kids.

(Connect with Jason’s Deli :: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram 


Snacks { KIND – Bakery on Main – Brownie Brittle }

After each event, our contributing team always raves about the newest flavors they get to try out and the delicious snacks that they add to their repertoire.  So we decided to treat them to a few of our favorites including KIND bars, Bakery on Main granola, and bags of Brownie Brittle.  {And PS – these goodies make the PERFECT stocking stuffers too!}

Connect with KIND :: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Connect with Bakery on Main :: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest

Connect with Brownie Brittle :: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest


Well…there you have it — a few of our Favorite Things!  We are so grateful to all of our amazing sponsors for helping us to put this fabulous event together, and we are also so very grateful for each and every one of YOU for reading along and joining us in this crazy-wild and oh-so-rewarding journey called motherhood.

So as a very special treat, we are giving away some of our Favorite Things for one local reader too!  {Due to the products included, you must be available for pick-up in and around central Houston.}  

Enter below to win…

a market tote from Sarahjanes Oilcloth
a May Book with a 2015 agenda from May Designs
bronzing lotion from Kismet Cosmetics
a print from Blossoms & Billows
2 bottles of Not Ketchup – smoky date & blueberry white pepper
a custom HMB logo tumbler from Too Cute
a gift certificate to Blessington Farms – 2 admissions & 1 lb. strawberries
an autographed copy of Goodnight Houston
a pair of earrings & {1} reusable bag from Sunshine Equilibrium
a $10 gift certificate to Jason’s Deli
a KIND bar
a bag of Bakery on Main granola
a bag of Brownie Brittle

Winner :: Missy R.

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Kelly D
Kelly is the founder of Houston Moms Blog and has lived in this beautiful city nearly all of her life. She has a degree in education from Texas State University and was honored to teach special education for eight years to some of the cutest little kiddos you could ever meet. While teaching, Kelly met Cody – a tall drink of water and country boy to the core – and together, they fell in love, got married, and decided to start a family. In March 2011, they welcomed Hayes into the world, a silly but smart little boy with a story you have to read to believe. And in April 2013, their family was complete with the addition of Hadley, a super gregarious and oh-so-cute baby girl. Now, Kelly devotes her days to caring for her own little ones…and would not trade this new job of hers for the world! In her not-so-spare time, Kelly loves meeting up with her girlfriends for margaritas, failing miserably at Pinterest projects, and exploring this big old city with her two favorite little side-kicks in tow.

10 COMMENTS

  1. I’ve really been paying attention to the food I out in my body, and sauces are my downfall. I’m so curious to try the Not Ketchup!

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