Sustainable & Creative Living
Around my house, there’s one thing that’s synonymous with the holidays and that’s my Grandma’s Apple Sheet Pie. For the past 15 years, I’ve been making my Grandma’s apple pie recipe exactly the way she taught me so many years ago. Up until now I never dreamed of changing it, not even a smidge! While I still didn’t change the ingredients, I did mix it up a little with these [Read more…]
Crafting is one of the most enjoyable Christmastime activities there is. Eating yummy treats is about a close second. Making these Christmas Lollipop Candies combines both of these holiday pleasures. They only need 6 ingredients so they’re super simple to make and they taste delicious. These ones are peppermint flavored but other extracts could be used to create different tastes. These Christmas Lollipop Candies can also double as DIY holiday decorations.
It’s unusually cold today in Florida which has got me thinking about the holidays. As if I wasn’t already right?! Christmas is 2 weeks away and I must admit I’m a little behind on my shopping. If you guys are anything like me, you’re still hunting for last-minute stockings stuffers for your children, friends, and family.
As a self-proclaimed shopaholic, Christmas is, of course, one of my favorite shopping holidays. There’s nothing like [Read more…]
This Christmas I decided to make my own Sock Garland Advent Calendar for my two-year old son. He may not totally understand the concept of the Advent Calendar but I can tell he loves the mystery that surrounds getting to find out what kind of surprise is in each sock. We check it every evening after dinner; it’s quite an [Read more…]
One of my favorite things about the holidays are the smells! I love everything from the cinnamon scented pinecones to the all the smells of Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.
So this year I wanted to make something that encompasses some of my favorite smells of the holidays as well as a nice hostess gift for one of the many holiday parties this season.
After a long and treacherous winter (just kidding), Spring is finally here and that means it’s time to start planting flowers and veggies, cleaning the house, and decorating for the new season. Which means my weekends are filled with [Read more…]
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, many of us will be looking for special treats and gifts for our sweeties! Of course, there will be all kinds of candy to choose from but I have a feeling that, like me and my family, many of you may still be suffering from Christmas candy overload. A good way to avoid candy overload at Valentine’s Day but still enjoy a delicious treat, is to make Chocolate Coconut Covered Strawberries.
Not only are Chocolate Coconut Covered Strawberries tasty, but with my recipe, they’re guilt-free and healthy. Chocolate Coconut Covered Strawberries are also extremely simple to make. Anyone who knows me, knows I don’t do complicated when it comes to cooking. I do, however, do delicious—and that’s what these are!
A couple of weeks ago, I was standing in line at Publix chatting with the young cashier and bagger as they rang up my groceries. I made a comment about needing to hurry up and put up my Christmas decorations. The cashier told us that her family decorated the tree on Christmas Eve. “Decorating the tree on Christmas Eve was more traditional when I was little,” I told her.
I’d like to say that I decided right then that I would slow down the decorating process and focus on really enjoying it, not just crossing it off the list–but that’s not what happened. The truth is that I just wasn’t in the mood for rushing and stressing, so I gradually decided that I wouldn’t. As I gave up worrying about when and how fast all the Christmas preparations got done, it was easier to enjoy what I was doing and become more mindful in the process. If there’s ever a time to practice mindfulness, it’s definitely at Christmastime!
Hello friends! It’s a cool 51° today- gloomy, rainy and feeling a bit more like Christmastime here in Florida. Welcome to my final Stocking Stuffer installment this holiday season- 50 Unique Stocking Stuffers for Kids. The suggested items are for kids ranging in ages 4-12. You can check out my 50 Unique Stocking Stuffers for Women and 50 Unique Stocking Stuffers for Men for some last-minute gift ideas.
Being a new mom, I must say that I had the most fun with this list of 50 Unique Stocking Stuffers for Kids. This is a list compiled of [Read more…]
Seasons greetings from sunny Florida! It’s the first week of December and it’s 80° outside! It’s sunny, warm, and beautiful while I sit comfortably inside my air conditioned house and blog about 50 Unique Stocking Stuffers for Men.
A few weeks ago I posted 50 Unique Stocking Stuffers for Women, you can check it out here.
Every year at Christmastime I have to put on my good ole thinking cap and [Read more…]
In my family, there is one holiday tradition that always reminds us that Christmas is near—Apple Sheet Pie. The warm scent of baked apples, sweet cinnamon spice, powdered sugar, vanilla glaze, and store-bought pie crust! Yes, you heard me right. I said store-bought pie crust.
If you like apple pie, then you’re going to love our version! It’s easy to make, serves a lot of people, and you can eat with your hands! Whoop Whoop!
Waiting for Christmas morning to come is almost as exciting as Christmas morning itself! This is especially true when you have small children at home, but the excitement seems to fade a bit with teenagers. They don’t always get as excited over the decorating, the baking, and the crafting.
One way to keep Christmas excitement alive for teenagers is by using an advent calendar.
As Thanksgiving and Christmas, or whichever holiday you celebrate approaches, we’re all getting into the holiday spirit! I still have my fall décor out, but I’m thinking I might start early with the Christmas decorations. I just want to enjoy my pumpkins a little longer! One thing some of us like to do to get into the spirit is watching holiday movies!
There are, of course, the classics – A Christmas Story, It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf, Love Actually and the list goes on and on. My favorite types of holiday movies are usually of the more non-traditional variety. Don’t get me wrong, there is always a place in my heart for Home Alone and The Santa Clause, BUT I can’t help but love these few others.
