Search Results for: blog holiday drinks for kids

Traveling for the Holidays

Are you planning a road trip this Christmas? Visiting family is important during the holidays, but traveling can be a little intimidating if you are a single parent. Just loading the kids up to go to the grocery store can be a challenge. You may be feeling a little discouraged about the long drive, but here are some tips and tricks we’ve learned from our own road trips to make the journey just a little less stressful. Bring plenty of things to keep the kids entertained. Long car rides are boring, especially for children who seem to have the attention … Continue reading →

More Ways to Save Money During the Holidays

So, you’ve already filled inexpensive glass vases with lemons, limes and oranges to add pops of color to your holiday dinner table. And you’ve used the trick of arranging peppermints in a silver dish to save on costly Christmas decorations, but now you need more ideas to preserve your budget this holiday season. Here are a few money-saving ideas to help you keep more green in your pocket as we countdown to Christmas: Paper Rules: Instead of investing in high-priced seasonal decor, cover frames with Christmas-themed wrapping paper and add some bows to complete the look. Or, use patterned scrapbook … Continue reading →

Traveling For The Holidays

As the holidays get closer many people get prepared to travel to visit family for the holidays. As a single parent sometimes just getting everyone out the door on time in the morning is a challenge so traveling requires a bit of planning. First, if you are flying try to fly on less busy days and times. The flight will be much easier if your little one has some room to spread out. If you are going to be driving I always found it easier to plan most of my driving around nap times. It’s boring to sit in a … Continue reading →

How to Spice Up Your Holiday Party

Tired of the same ol’, same ol’ Christmas parties that feature tone-deaf Uncle Jack singing karaoke in the corner and Aunt Lucy forcing you to try her latest tofu creation? Then, consider hosting your own holiday fiesta this season with a spicy theme. If you don’t want to go whole hog by hosting an extravagant costume night (think elves, reindeer and Christmas movie characters), then go simple by decorating in a single color and having guests dress in red and green. Other theme options include: Hawaiian Christmas I was born and raised in Hawaii, and while we don’t typically greet … Continue reading →

Support Home-Based Business This Holiday Season

As you plan your holiday shopping this year, you may want to see how many of your gifts and other holiday purchases you can buy from home-based workers. You may think that you will only be able to purchase a gift or two from people in your local area, but I would encourage you to expand your search and look around online to see what you can find. While you may not be able to find someone who makes or sells everything that you need right in your community, there are so many home-based workers that sell all kinds of … Continue reading →

Quick and Easy Holiday Appetizers

If you are hosting a holiday party there’s no reason to make it harder on yourself by making dozens of elaborate dishes. These quick and easy appetizers are just as mouthwatering as fancier munchies. What’s more, they can be made in advance and kept in the refrigerator until party time. Happy snacking and happy holidays! ITALIAN CHEESE AND PESTO PARTY TORTE Ingredients: 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened 2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced 10 slices Provolone cheese 8 ounces pesto 3 ounces sun-dried tomatoes, chopped fine Fresh basil leaves, for garnish Directions: Mix cream cheese and garlic; … Continue reading →

Festive Holiday Salads

Growing up you get used to seeing the same dishes served on special occasions. In our family every December 25th my grandma would set out her famous Christmas Salad. It wasn’t topped with holly or filled with candy; rather she relied on fresh cranberries to kick up what eventually became known as Grandma’s Christmas Salad. Interestingly, I know a few other people who have their own versions of Christmas salads and none of those include Christmas-themed ingredients either. Not even so much as a pine nut. But, that’s the beauty of holiday cooking: free interpretation. If you are looking to … Continue reading →

Super Simple Cheese Snacks for Your Holiday Party

These aren’t your typical boring cheese and cracker snacks. Rather, the following super simple recipes (super simple because most can be made in three steps or less) are both eye and palate pleasing. The main ingredient is fresh cheese. If you live in a smaller town you might consider shopping at a specialty cheese store to get the fresh Brie needed for the following snacks. However, if you reside in a larger city you can get all the ingredients at Whole Foods or your favorite major grocery chain. JARLSBERG CHEESE SPREAD Ingredients: 2 cups Jarlsberg cheese, shredded 1 to 2 … Continue reading →

More Easy and Affordable Snacks for Your Holiday Party

Ground beef is one of the most affordable meats in the market, which is why you don’t need to wait for it to go on sale before you buy. If you are entertaining for the holidays ground beef should be at the top of your shopping list. Not only is it a budget-saver, but it’s also extremely versatile as seen in the following simple yet delicious party dishes I like to make this time of year: GROUND BEEF STUFFED JALAPENO PEPPERS Ingredients: 8 ounces ground beef 1/2 cup finely chopped white onion 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup drained canned diced … Continue reading →

Affordable Finger Foods for Your Holiday Party

Despite being in a recession, many families are still planning to host loved ones during the holiday season. Whether you are gathering to celebrate Christmas or are planning to toast the New Year, your get together will likely involve food. However, just because you’ve volunteered your home to be party central doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to impress your guests. There are hundreds of easy and affordable finger foods that make for prime party grub. The power is in the presentation. The following recipes may sound like typical finger food fare, but you can kick them up … Continue reading →