Here is a fun accent for your Holiday Dinner party.... Candy Cane Hearts. I used things I already had at home.
For (1) plate decor:
This is a great idea for your teens... custom made headphones. They get to design the colors and artwork. I am going to print up a coupon for my daughter and put it under the tree for Christmas morning. The coupon will include the website address and a little note entitling her to create her very own "one of a kind" headphones. Ya know, that is always a winner, having something nobody else has!
Click Here to visit their website - currently they are offering 40%, pricing ranging from 19.99 - 34.99
This is the perfect gift for the person who has everything! The prices range from $50 and up, depending on the product and if you want 3,6,9 or 12 months. They have a huge selection of clubs...Snacks, Pickles, Chips-n-Salsa, Cigars, Beer, Liquor, Books, Puzzles, Flowers, Back to College, Golf Balls, Condiments, Bread, Pancakes and the list goes on and on. If your not sure what they want, you can get a Gift Certificate and let them browse the site for the perfect items. Just click here to see more...MonthClubStore.com
Here's a fun game I found that the whole family can enjoy... Danceopoly, using the Monopoly concept the players expand their dance studios to dance theaters, they audition for Broadway and TV reality shows. They are currently running a promotion that if you take the Dance IQ quiz on their site, you will $5.00 off the purchase. Click here to go to their site. Danceopoly.com
I was looking for some Christmas games for my neighborhood party and for my 1st grader's class party and found a great site. I have spent more time over the past few holidays trying to find new and different games to play. I am so excited to have found Christmas Games A to Z... Click here to see what I mean Printable Games for Christmas Fun. This site has oodles of games for every holiday. So I purchased the 60 Christmas Printable Games for $19.95. (Of course no shipping) Now I can go onto the site anytime I want and have access to the games for 90 days. Here are just a few of Christmas themed games... Charades, Jeopardy, Word Find, Trivia, Movie Characters, Anagrams, Scrabble, Coloring Pages, Christmas Around the World, Christmas A-Z, Santa's Cookies, Bible Babies, Right & Left, Carol Match, Reindeer Games and more, including.
6 New Year's Games !!
Kidkraft Fashion Dollhouse...SAVE 50% only $99.98 (originally $100) - Plus FREE SHIPPING
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Here's an overview of the product:
Last Christmas I really wanted a couple of nice Christmas wreaths, one to hang on the front door and one in the entry way. I had no idea how expensive the artificial one's cost. Boy was I surprised - Yes, there were some cheap, ugly small ones I could have bought from anywhere between $35 - $75. But I wanted a nice one that I could keep for years to come. The nice ones cost between $75.and $200. That's INSANE and out of my budget. So I took a few extra moments to really look at a few of the wreaths - not much to them. It really didn't look like it would be that difficult to make myself, and believe me, I had no prior experience. So I drove to the closest craft store - Michael's - and waa laa - everything I needed AND on sale. I spent less than $50.00.
I bought supplies for two types of wreaths - an artificial and a real wreath...
As the hostess of the After Dinner Drinks and Desserts portion of our Neighborhood Christmas Party, I wanted to come up with something inexpensive, but nice, to give to each of the families that attend the party. So I went to Hobby Lobby and browsed around the Christmas stuff. Just about all of it is 50% off, which in some cases were pretty good deals. I chose these sweet little resin "old fashion" Santas $2.each). They are about 3 inches tall and have an area on the back large enough for me to write a special message. I can use them as part of the table decor while we enjoy dessert, drinks and some games. The main hostess has picked a few games to play and I am going to peek around the Internet to find a few more. I'll let you know what I find.
We live on a street where 90% of our neighbors are either retired or without kids. So you would think we would be the outsiders. To the contrary, we are right in the middle of all the action. My husband and I made the conscious decision to get to know the people around us and include them in our lives. For the past two years we have had a Halloween costume party and I have to tell you, the retired folks get into it more than us young and crazy kids. Ha! Their costumes are always the best and several of them stay to the wee hours of the morning. We are very fortunate and happy to have such great neighbors and friends.
So I'm excited to say our neighbor across the street is hosting the 1st Annual Christmas Block Party. I think she is doing a great job managing the whole thing. With so many people involved (I think 18 houses) here is how she is keeping it simple and fun.... 2 Easy Steps
STEP 1
She sent out a cute flyer saying Santa Claus is coming to our Neighbor for a Party(which her husband will dress up for an appearance). Here is what she asked the group's preference:
How are you going to make your dollars stretch this Christmas - having kids, especially teenagers, it harder to get away with the inexpensive barbies and tonka trucks. My teenager and all her friends are focused on the electronics - video games, phones, cameras, ipods....
Do they already have an iPod:
PodMaxx Software will allow you "unlock" iTune music. What does that mean? With iTunes you are only allowed to transfer music onto ONE iPod, with PodMaxx you can transfer music onto multiple iPods. Saves you money and takes care of the whole family.
www.mypodmax08.com
Do they already have a Cell Phone:
Ring Factory Software will allow them to download music as a ringtone for NO CHARGE. They can create any ringtone they desire and you will save some dough. I found this out the hard way - big charges for downloading ringtones.
www.myringtonefun.com
To receive 50% off on PodMaxx and Ring Factory - just enter this priority code: Black50 at the online check out...
I don't know about the kids in your life, but in mine, if they are over 11years old, it is really hard to find gifts that they like without them telling you exactly what they want.
What happened to the old fashion way...searching and searching for just the "perfect" gift, buying the wrapping paper, the bow, the whole works. Only to find out that "that's not really what they wanted". Then you spend more time taking the "perfect' gift back. God forbid you can't find the receipt, that's always the biggest bummer. It becomes even more complicated when you are sending gifts out of state.
So instead of just buying a visa or MC gift card, I buy Gift.com Gift cards. I can personalize the note with a message and a picture- makes it a bit more fun.
Here is how it works for them:
Step 1
Your gift recipient receives an email with your gift card and a certificate with a redemption code. If you want to deliver it in person, just print the gift card yourself.
Step 2
Your recipient browses through hundreds of top merchants and picks a merchant to redeem their gift card. Because we're all about freedom of choice, they can redeem your entire gift amount at one store or split it across multiple merchants.
Step 3
Your recipient clicks on the link and enters their claim code. They can redeem some now and more later if they want, or spend it all in one shot. That's the beauty of the Gifts.Com Gift Card—the choice is all theirs.
Step 4
Depending on the merchant, they'll receive the merchant gift card via mail or email. Some gift cards are for shopping in person or at a restaurant, others can be used online.
Today I received an email from a friend asking that when I do my Christmas cards, could I take one and send it to this address:
Holiday Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456
As always, when it comes to our US Soldiers fighting today, I had a wave of emotions.. sadness, gratitude, anger and pride. There is not much I can do to stop the madness, but I can make a difference in someones life. So of course, I will be sending multiple Christmas cards to this address. I want them to be different and include a special note- maybe funny cards would be best. I am not sure, but I will do my best to touch a soldier this Christmas. I am also going to take this email to my 1st grader's teacher and ask if she would have the class make cards. Nothing like a small child's sloppy handwriting and pictures to make you smile. I know this is such a small thing, but sometimes those small things in our lives mean a lot.
If you agree, please send a card and pass this note on to your friends.
Christmas is right around the corner and if you are like me, I feel I am already behind. The gifts, the tree, the decorations and outside lights and of course the entertaining. Wheeww - it's quite a bit of work, but I love it all!!
There are a few things I do to spruce up the house for our Holiday party - simple, inexpensive and always noticed by the guests.
1. Simple flower arrangements
I always go to Costco the day before the party and pick out one or two big bundles of flowers. My rule is to keep it under $20.00 and no carnations. I have never been disappointed. This gives me enough flowers to separate them and create smaller arrangements, which I feel are better than 1 big tall one. Smaller arrangements are more versatile and give you color throughout the house, instead of in just one room. Over the years I have collected all sorts of shapes and sizes of vases (whatever I can find on the clearance shelf - TJ Maxx is a great place to look for something different.) You can also find simple vases at the dollar store - remember the flowers are the focal point not the vase.
Where do I place the flowers:
We are in the midst of cooking and preparing for our Thanksgiving feast and I have to step back and just SMILE... how lucky we are to have love, health and family! I know how much work it is and how stressful it can be to prepare such a feast, but what I try to remember is that my children will remember the mood, the feeling, THE LOVE of the day - so make sure you enjoy your day - only kind words and actions !
God Bless!
Only 4 days left - Lowest Prices of the Year....
Smart Bargains - Need to spruce up the guestroom....
KBtoys.com - this is a really good one - only good until Friday the 28th
KBtoys: Thanksgiving Specials: Up to 60% Off Select Items. (ends 11.28)
BeanBags.com - Do you remember having a Bean Bag - Well they are back and better than every. Get any size, shape or color - how about a Video Rocker? My Kid's love it and so does my Husband...
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OnlyPajamas.com - My husband got the cutest PJ set for me last year - it meant alot that he took the time to browse the site, find the perfect set and personalize it with a "love note"
Save $10 on any $75 purchase at OnlyPajamas.com with code SW-8937
Barware.com - Does your cabinet look like mine - mismatched glasses and not quite enough to go around....
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I have always prided myself on hosting great dinner parties and serving yummy food. My husband and I are a great team and work quite well together in the kitchen. He is the chef and I am the helper. Sometimes that is a little hard to swallow, the old ego gets in the way. But then reality sets in and I bow down to the king. Ha!
So every year we buy two types of pies (bakery fresh), pecan and pumpkin. I thought this would be a good area for me to focus on. Not to interfer with the King and his menu. I really wanted to try something new, so I have decided to bake my own pie. Oh boy, kind of scary!! Just to be safe I bought all the ingredients earlier this week and prepared my "sample" pie last night. My family the guinea pigs... They loved it! YESSSS! Feels really good! So I am comfortable sharing this with you. Good luck and let me know if it was good!
Apple-Cranberry Crisp Pie ala Mode
Prep time: 30 minutes - Ready in about 1 1/2 hours
Serves 8
CRUST - (dummy proof)
1 Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crust (softened as directed on package)
FILLING
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon ( I put a dash more)
1/4 teaspoon salt
5-6 cups thinly sliced, peeled medium size apples ( I used my apple peeler/corer - very easy)
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries ( I used fresh)
TOPPING
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup margarine or softened butter ( I used real butter)
1. Heat oven to 425 F. Prepare pie crust as directed on package for one-crust filled pie. Use a 9 inch pan
2. In a large bowl, combine sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Spoon into pie crust.
3. In a small bowl, combine all topping ingredients; mix with fork or pastry blender until crumbly. Sprinkle over filling. ( I used a fork)
4. Bake at 425F for 35-45 minutes or until apples are tender and topping is golden brown. Cover edges with strips of foil after 15 minutes of baking to prevent excessive browning.
5. Serve with VANILLA ICE CREAM or HEAVY CREAM on top. (we tried it both ways- both excellent)
One of my favorite parts of the holidays are all those naughty foods that taste so good. The only problem I used to run into was trying to make too many "involved recipes". Like anything you have to bring a little balance into play so you don't end up with a bunch of plates of half finished yuck that everyone gives that same little smile about before they dump it. lol.
So, remember to blend a few easy to make dishes in with the more complicated ones.
Here is one of my favorites that is suited for a party of 12 or below.
This can be an appetizer or great dessert with coffee.
Peel and halve 4 Bosc pears. (ripe but still firm)
Place in a round or square baking dish.
Pour Vanilla flavored olive oil over pears slightly covering bottom of dish.
Cover and put in the fridge, (couple hours or overnight is fine)
Pour 3 tablespoons of flavored oil into skillet, turn on med heat, let oil heat then place pears in skillet, when it starts to sizzle, cover and turn off heat.
Place on appropriate serving plate and use garnish of your choice. I like cherries.
Super simple to make appetizer dip.
8 oz cream cheese
2/3 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
3 cloves of garlic chopped or 2 tablespoons of the diced from a jar
10-2 oz bag of frozen spinach, (thawed and drained)
1 can quartered artichokes
1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese
Dump it all into crock pot, stir every once in a while and serve with chips or favorite bread.
Wanna get crazy with it, substitute the spinach with shrimpr or crab. Yum.
I have always been a working Mom until now... like many of us talented women out there, I have been sucked into the "Corporate Downsizing Fad". Sounds quite ugly, but in reality, it has given me the opportunity to step back, evaluate my life and explore new opportunities. It IS time for a change! While working, I often thought about, talked about and strategized about work/life balance and how I could make it better for other Moms. So now I have the opportunity to hopefully touch a few lives and make it a bit easier for the "working Mom". I am dedicating my time (while the girls are at school) researching the internet to find great deals, tips, ideas, etc. I look forward to building relationships with new people and would love your feedback and great ideas to share. Beth
