by | Sep 28, 2021 | Food |
Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. If you are hosting, then you have a lot of work to do! There is food to buy, people to invite, guests to feed. This list will give you some easy Thanksgiving ideas for your holiday feast. Keep the cooking stress-free by having some non-food activities for everyone to do while you cook. This could be anything from playing music or watching shows/movies together to a fun family game. If they’re busy, they won’t worry about how long it’ll take you to finish cooking!
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#1 Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Friends To Pitch In
Let’s face it; hosting can be expensive and time-consuming. So why don’t we try having our friends help out? Before or after the big day, ask your friends if they would like to contribute any food or drinks – this could be appetizers, side dishes (a recipe for easy chicken enchiladas available here), or even dessert (apple pie anyone?). Most people will happily agree to pitch in if they’re not too busy with their own families.
#2 If You Can’t Find What You Want At The Grocery Store, Be Creative
Thanksgiving is about tradition. We all have our family recipes for tasty dishes that are often served on Thanksgiving. Why not try making your own twist on these dishes? Maybe use an ingredient substitution or put a creative twist on it (chocolate yams, anyone?). If you’re game to be adventurous and try something new, then go for it. Who knows, you might end up with the next big food craze!
#3 Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help On Thanksgiving Day
Prepare as much food in advance as possible–whether that’s stuffing the turkey the night before or baking the pies the morning of. Preparing as much ahead of time is going to make Thanksgiving a lot less hectic for you. More than likely, cooking Thanksgiving dinner will take way longer than you think – especially if several people are helping out in the kitchen. So please ask for help. It always takes longer than you think it will, so the more people you have helped, the better. If that means assigning someone to set the table or just chopping up vegetables, then do it.
#4 Have A Backup Plan
Plan every step of what you’re going to do ahead of time, so nothing gets forgotten or left out. The more detailed your plan is, the more likely everything will go smoothly. Just in case things go wrong on Thanksgiving day – whether it’s because of a power outage or one of your guests has an allergic reaction- make sure you have a backup plan. This way, nothing ruins Thanksgiving for your friends and family members. Or worse yet, nobody gets to eat dinner at all. So make sure you figure out how you will cook dinner if something happens and make sure it involves cooking times.
Alternatively, have a second backup plan in case you run out of food. Have some backup supplies or plan on ordering pizza if everyone is still peckish after dinner!
#5 Keep It Simple
The most important thing you can do is to keep it simple. Many great easy Thanksgiving meal ideas will take little time and effort on your part. Make sure you have a plan for fixing the turkey, potatoes, salads, and stuffing. This way, nobody ends up with too much or not enough food. It’s also good to know what side dishes you want – so people know how much food to bring if they’re bringing something. It might seem like a good idea, but try to avoid changing up any of your recipes because someone in your household doesn’t like something normally used (or vice versa). If you need to eliminate an ingredient, make sure another one serves as a substitute.
Top Tip: Think About The Kids
If your guests bring their children along to your Thanksgiving feast, make sure there is something for them to eat. If they’re young enough, maybe let them help out with setting the table or getting some snacks ready. This will take away any stress from having children at the dinner and turn it into good memories and new traditions for friends and family members of all ages.
Above all else, enjoy the holiday!
You’ve been planning this for months now, so don’t let stress get in the way of your fun. Remember: The more happy friends and family around a table share a meal – no matter how big or small – the better. Make sure you have fun!
by | Sep 26, 2021 | From the Heart |
Because you spend most of your time at home, make sure it’s peaceful, relaxing, and a happy place. It’s not about investing in expensive decor or new furniture; it’s about the small things that make all the difference. Here are six simple things to do.
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Clean Your House Every Day
Don’t just clean the house when it is messy. Have a schedule, so you’ll always know what needs to be done next, and it’ll never pile up. Simple things like dusting the counters, sweeping the floor, and straightening up your room will make a big difference. Once in a while, call a professional for a deep cleaning exercise that leaves your house healthier, brighter, and smelling good.
Make Your Home a Place You Can Relax
The world can be a tricky place where you’re always under pressure to be perfect in everything you do. However, your home is where you can unwind, be yourself, and just let go. Give your home some love, put pictures of your loved ones out and decorate according to your style.
Additionally, keep plants or pets around for company, cook easy meals on the eyes, and make sounds you enjoy listening to. Filling your home with great tunes such as pink panther sheet music lightens up the mood, makes your home more inviting and calm.
Let Everyone Feel Loved and Appreciated
Happiness is infectious. When other family members are happy, you will be too. Make it a point to appreciate your family members for their excellent qualities or do something that makes them happy.
For example, if your mom likes flowers, put fresh ones every week on the dining table. Does your dad love cooking? Cook together one evening. Would your sister love to learn how to fix things around the house? Show her how to do it. Everyone has their way of expressing love, so spend time with the people you live with and love them for who they are.
Let in More Light
A brightly lit home looks happier and relaxed. Draw the curtains open during the day, get rid of the clutter on your window sill, and switch bulbs to daylight versions. Investing in a new light fixture can also help since it’s a great way to add more character and style to your home.
Take Care of Yourself
You can’t always be there for your family when you’re feeling down in the dumps- take care of yourself first. As much as possible, avoid negative people and situations. It is also essential to spend time alone to recharge your batteries and positively deal with other people.
Be Grateful Everyday
Every day, find something good in your life. Whether it’s a delicious meal your mom cooked, a nice walk during sunset, or a compliment your friend paid you. Pause and take time to appreciate the beauty in your life. Having a positive outlook will always help you feel happier about yourself and the world around you.
It’s the small things that count, so don’t neglect your home even when you spend too much time away.
by | Sep 25, 2021 | From the Heart, Inspirations |
Hey Lovely People,
I hope your day is sunny and bright.
This weekend I am celebrating my hubby’s birthday! I love you so much honey, lots of hugs and kisses. Enjoy your special day, weekend, and month!
The picture below shows my hubby in his new wedding anniversary boots and birthday aviator jacket. He never asks for anything, so it is nice to see him in some of his new favorite style pieces.
JT’s hubby in his birthday style Cowboy Boots: Tecovas Aviator jacket: Tommy Hilfiger
I wrote a short poem that I would like to share.
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday to my husband, my love, my best friend
A man of God who seeks daily to put Him first and who is not afraid to stand up for what you believe in.
A sweet man who takes time to listen.
A caring man who loves me unconditionally and looks at me deeply with those handsome blue eyes.
You are strong, steadfast, a communicator, and an encourager.
You’re my cheerleader
You always have my back
You build me up when I get down and hard on myself.
You will tell me you know what the word of God says about you.
May this year be an overabundance of God’s blessings on you
and an overflowing of prosperity.
I love you with all my heart and soul.
Love you,
JT
by | Sep 16, 2021 | Lifestyle |
Your family means the world to you, and you love them very much. You want what’s best for everyone and see them succeed and be well.
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One way to achieve this goal is to focus on living a healthy lifestyle as a family. Take some time to understand what changes you can make that will have the greatest impact and deliver life-altering results for you and your loved ones. What you do or don’t do each day matters and will influence how you feel and your appearance.
Stay Active & Get Outside
If you want to live a healthy lifestyle as a family, then you must remain active. Get outside and exercise regularly as a group. Find activities you can all enjoy and do together that get you moving and your heart rate up. There might be plenty of sports and active hobbies you can do in and around the house or you can consider joining a gym and going there together.
Cook Together
Another way you and your family can live a healthy lifestyle is to choose to cook as a group. Prepare meals and snacks together and have fun spending some quality time in the kitchen. Find low sugar healthy muffin recipes to prepare that will keep your kids full but not harm their diet. Make meals and snacks as a family and then sit down and eat together and talk and share about each other’s days.
Follow A Bedtime Routine
Sleep is essential to you to function as a parent and your kids performing well in school and being in good moods. Therefore, it should be a top priority in your household if you want to live a healthier lifestyle. Stick to a bedtime routine and try to follow a schedule, so you’re all going to bed and waking up around the same time each day. Your routine at night may include taking baths, reading books, or both. You’ll all wake up happier and ready to seize the day when you get good sleep.
Commit to Less Screen Time
You and your family can live a healthy lifestyle by committing to less screen time overall. It’ll be beneficial for your health and neck and eyes and free up time in your schedule to do other activities and hobbies. While technology can be useful for many parts of your life, it can also be quite addicting and take up a lot of your time. You may notice that your kids are not only happier and healthier but that you all have more moments to spend with the family.
Conclusion
These are some tips that will help keep you and your family living a healthy lifestyle. You’ll soon be on your way to enjoying each other more and all feeling your best. Take pleasure in the fact that you’re making positive changes that will get your family on the right track to improved health and wellbeing.
by | Sep 14, 2021 | Pets |
For those who have a less-active dog and are left wondering if the dog is right for you (as you expected playfulness and fun), then there is a solution. Dogs are not born to be lazy. They are energetic animals who love to play. Therefore, somewhere deep down in your dog is their energetic and playful self. Of which, you might want to bring out of them to make them more active. On that note, here are some tips on how to make your lazy dog more active.
Image by Dan Fador from Pixabay
Use toys
If your dog is avoiding exercise and playfulness on walks or in the house, then you will want to use toys. Toys are there for dogs to be playful as well as healthier. Using a toy like Runball will promote better health for your dog by encouraging them to play and fetch when out on a walk. Taking a toy will engage your dog and enhance their need for play, which will promote better physical health.
Assess your dog’s health
Assessing your dog’s health will help you understand if something wrong is causing them to be lazy. There could be a hidden condition that you aren’t aware of, causing them to want to lie down and rest. Before you start to encourage your dog on more walks and runs, assess your dog’s health by talking to a vet.
Try various activities (other than walking)
Although a walk is an essential part of a dog’s routine, they might feel more encouraged to participate in other activities. The same routine and route might be the possible reason for your dog being lazy.
Instead, you could try agility. This is an obstacle course-style activity that will train your dog as well as make them more active. If you perform the agility training, it will create a stronger bond between you and your dog, and they will understand that you are in control.
Change their diet
Every dog has different nutritional needs and preferences. Thus, trying different foods will help you understand if their diet is making them fatigued and lazy. Ensure that they get plenty of vitamins and minerals, as this will provide them with energy. Vitamins A, D, and E are all essential for a dog’s health and growth. Incorporating calcium-rich foods will also promote bone growth and strength.
Mental stimulation
Sometimes, a dog needs mental stimulation before they get up and get active. They might lie around all day because they are not mentally stimulated.
Try playing hide and seek or test their command skills at home so that their brains can become active, which will encourage them to be playful and might even persuade them to go on a walk. Brain training will strengthen their mental state as well as their physical state. It will create a better bond between you and your dog and make them much happier, encouraging them to be more active.
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