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Holiday Crafts the Whole Family Can Make

December 18, 2015 by

While you’ll likely be doing a lot of shopping during the holidays, you can balance out all that spending with some homemade crafts that the whole family can make together. Here are four great ideas for your next holiday-themed craft night.

No-Sew Holiday Aprons [marthastewart.com]
Create pretty and protective aprons just in time to decorate cookies with this fun DIY project. New sewing is required to make these cute aprons, which makes this project ideal for tiny hands and delicate fingers. You can even make them in larger sizes to give to Grandma as a gift!

String Tree [bhg.com]
Display all of those holiday cards in style with this modern craft idea. Simply stretch multicolored string in the shape of a Christmas tree across a sturdy cork board, then tuck the cards under the string as they start rolling in.

Thanksgiving Menu [realsimple.com]
Get your crafting started early with this cute DIY Thanksgiving menu in the shape of a pumpkin pie. All it takes is some standard construction paper and seasonal decorations like wheat or berries to go around the edges. Have the little ones write the names of each dish on the center and this craft will even play double duty as a writing assignment.

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Holiday Tree Trimming Tips From the Pros

December 17, 2015 by

There’s nothing more fun during the holidays than decorating the tree with the whole family, but you may want to make this year’s tree a bit more stylish. Instead of haphazardly placing ornaments all over its branches, check out these tips for decorating a truly chic and elegant holiday tree.

  1. Real or artificial? First, you must decide if you want to invest in a real tree or stick with an artificial option. While a real tree is a bit more rustic and will make your house smell divine, an artificial tree is much easier to manage.
  2. Choose a color scheme. One of the easiest ways to make your tree look more professional is by setting a color scheme. Reds and greens are always a great choice, but all-over gold or sparkling silver are also beautiful when accented by the twinkling lights.
  3. Hang small lights first. To create a base for your tree’s decorations, first hang small, white lights evenly all over.
  4. Add solid colored ball ornaments. Next, invest in multipacks of ball ornaments in your chosen color. Hang them all over the tree, leaving even amounts of space in between each one.
  5. Add personal ornaments last. To display more personal or keepsake ornaments without them looking too cluttered, add them in the empty spaces once all of the other ornaments are already in place. Voila—the perfect holiday tree.

How to Decorate a Christmas Tree Elegantly [WikiHow]
15 Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas [HGTV]
How to Decorate a Christmas Tree [Better Homes & Gardens]

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Elegant Appetizer Recipes for Your Holiday Party

December 3, 2015 by

Just because you’re throwing a holiday party at home doesn’t mean that it has to be plain and casual. Add a bit of class to this year’s soiree by serving elegant appetizers that are just as artistic as they are tasty. Here are three great ideas that are so delicious, your guests will think you had the party catered.

Baked Prosciutto and Brie with Apple Butter [Cooking Channel TV]
The salty taste of prosciutto, the gooey texture of brie, and the sweet tang of apple butter all mingle seamlessly in these appetizer toasts. Best of all, there’s no cooking involved in the preparation, so you can throw these together right before your guests arrive.

Spinach and Goat Cheese Tartlets [Food Network]
Phyllo dough is a very popular base for many types of appetizers because it’s so versatile and easy to work with, and these tartlets are a great example. The dough forms a small cup that’s filled with goat cheese, spinach, and a number of herbs and spices that’s perfectly light and cheesy.

Mexican Shrimp Cocktail [My Recipes]
Instead of the usual creamy shrimp dip, make this cool, refreshing alternative with an adventurous Mexican fare flavor. Serve it with tortilla chips and a freshly ground pepper garnish.

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Just Add Candlelight: Romantic Valentine’s Dinner Ideas for Two

February 13, 2015 by

Whether you’re on a budget or you simply want to plan a more personalized Valentine’s Day date than dinner at a crowded restaurant, preparing a home-cooked meal for that special someone is a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday. Here are three romantic dinner ideas that are made for two—just be sure not to forget the candlelight!

Surf-and-Turf for Two [coastalliving.com]
This is normally one of the priciest dishes on the menu at an upscale restaurant, so preparing it at home is a more affordable way to enjoy an indulgent Valentine’s Day meal. With tender, juicy steak and plump scallops cooked in a champagne-butter sauce, this meal will surely elicit a thank-you kiss.

Creamy Tomato Soup [myrecipes.com]
Valentine’s Day falls at the tail end of the winter in most parts of the country, so snuggle up with your better half over a bowl of steaming hot tomato soup. Gain a few extra romance points by pairing it with grilled cheese sandwiches cut into festive heart shapes.

Mini Heart Pizzas [thenerdswife.com]
Pizza is the fastest route to just about anyone’s heart, as you’ll quickly learn when you present your special someone with these adorable (and delicious) mini pizzas. They’re baked in the shape of hearts for a more festive flair, and they’re so easy to make that even the most novice home chef can prepare them with ease.

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These Homemade Hot Cocoa Recipes Are Better Than Storebought

December 12, 2014 by

While making hot chocolate from a package is fast and easy, there’s just nothing that compares to the real deal on a cold winter afternoon. Here are three authentic hot cocoa recipes that take a bit longer to make, but are more than worth it once you take the first sip.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate [Bon Appetit]
There aren’t many ways to improve already-delicious hot chocolate, but incorporating peppermint is definitely one of them. This sweet and minty concoction uses bittersweet chocolate and peppermint extract to achieve its complex flavor, and it is topped with homemade whipped cream that will impress your holiday guests.

Homemade Hot Chocolate [Martha Stewart]
If you want to improve on the classic hot chocolate recipe, this all-natural recipe is the one to use. It calls for only four simple ingredients, and ordinary table salt acts as a secret ingredient that really makes all of the other flavors shine.

Naturally Sweetened Homemade Hot Chocolate [DIY Natural]
Cut down on the artificial sweeteners in your hot chocolate with this all-natural recipe that’s just as warm and delicious. It’s sweetened with pure maple syrup and pure vanilla extract for a rich flavor, and it doesn’t contain any of the harmful additives that store-bought hot chocolates might have.

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Where to Design Your Own Holiday Cards Online

December 4, 2014 by

Instead of sending out impersonal, store-bought holiday greeting cards this year, get creative by designing your own cards online. Whether you want to create a silly photo card or a card adorned with artistic typography, these three sites have everything that you need to make your holiday correspondence dreams a reality.

Shutterfly
This hip printing site enables you to upload one or more photos to add to its wide selection of holiday cards in all styles and sizes. The card templates range from rustic and traditional to chic and trendy, and many of them feature hand lettering, calligraphy and other popular design elements. Include a personalized message to make your cards even more unique.

Snapfish
if you’re searching for a simple card creation site that is entirely customizable, Snapfish is one of the best online options. First, the site asks you to choose the size of your cards, from traditional folding squares to more modern long, rectangular shapes. Next, the site offers a number of colorful pre-made templates that feature spaces for your family photos, and they’re worlds away from the traditional sentiments from years past.

Tinyprints
If you prefer a more minimal greeting card, Tinyprints offers a number of sleek and stylish options to choose from. The site also enables you to create a customized holiday newsletter that updates loved ones about your family’s past year.

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