Why My Elf is Staying on My Shelf ~ Guest post by Jen

Whether you like the idea of having a cute little elf in your home at Christmastime or you loathe that little creepy thing staring down at you, pressuring you into yet another marketing scheme, I’m sure you have heard about the elf on the shelf. That is of course unless you have been living under a rock for the past couple years.

I’m not here to persuade you to get an elf for yourself, or to tell you that yes, you are the best parent in the world because you participate in the elf on the shelf tradition. I share to explain what the elf represents in our home and what he does not.

Our family has an elf visit our home for the month of December every year. I heard about it in 2010 and thought it would be a lot of fun for my kids. This of course was before the huge elf on the shelf craze, and before I knew what I was really getting myself into. We read the book with our kids and they named him Jasper. I started out by just moving him to a different spot every night. My kids thought it was great fun and loved finding him every morning. In the next couple years the elf became extremely popular on blogs and pinterest, showcasing different ways for your elf to get into trouble or do something wildly creative. I’ll admit, being the creative person I am, I jumped on the bandwagon and our own elf, Jasper, had some pretty wild adventures. Including: roasting marshmallows, coloring in a Christmas coloring book, having a marshmallow war and going for a joyride with Barbie.

I had A LOT of fun coming up with a new adventure every night. Equally my kids loved finding what nonsense Jasper had gotten into while they slept. I did this not to show off how creative I am or how I could outdo my friends by one upping our elf adventures against theirs. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have to say, this is the most important advice I can give you on this whole elf on the shelf craze: DO NOT do it just to keep up with "The Joneses". I hate that it has been portrayed as this. To tell you the truth, if I had not gotten an elf when we did, I probably wouldn’t now. Only because of what it has become for so many people.

I understand that some people don’t want an elf because it shows your children the elf is a spy, or it teaches your kids naughty behavior. I truly believe that in whatever way you present the elf and what it represents, is how your children will perceive it. If you show your kids he is more of a spy, they will believe that. If you show your kids that he is fun and make it out to be just that, they are going to respond accordingly.

Our elf is not a threat to our children. We have never threatened them by saying, “the elf is going to tell Santa you have been naughty!” or, “the elf is Santa’s spy to see if you have been naughty or nice.” I think of our home as a safe place for my children and would never want to jeopardize their sense of security in any way. Especially by having this creepy elf watching every move they make and tattle tailing on them every night to Santa. That would scare any child! Heck, I’d be scared! Wouldn’t you hate it if someone told you that the elf watched you sneak those extra cookies after the kids went to bed? Or that you left dirty dishes in your sink all day and because of that you would not be receiving gifts on Christmas morning?

Yes, I get caught up in all the holiday madness and at times think, do I really need to add another task to my already long list? Some nights I dread that little devil in red, smirking at me, knowing that yep, I have to think of yet another creative adventure or somewhere to move him. Some nights I wake up in the middle of the night remembering, "Dang! I forgot to move that flippin elf!"  Do I sometimes want to just say, forget it, I’ll leave him in his same spot, saying to the kids, “you probably touched the elf and he lost his magic for the next couple of days.”All in order to give myself a day off? You bet I do! In fact, this year I have not been very creative with our elf at all. He usually just moves to another spot. And guess what? That’s okay! Because, honestly, this elf is not what Christmas is. Let me repeat that. This elf is not what Christmas is.

Would my kids lose all sense of faith and joy without him? No. Is the elf the only thing we use to teach our children about Christmas? No. But in our house, he represents the SPIRIT and MAGIC of Christmas. The sense of something magical happening. Christmas is about being a child again. Having the awe and wonder about all the things happening around you. The innocence of being a child again. Believing. Whether in Santa or God. The magic of it all.  That’s what it’s all about. It’s why I do it.

Now, you are all adults and can decide what holiday traditions you want to participate in. If you want to do the elf on the shelf, great! If not, great! I’m not saying that without the elf on the shelf your children won’t have that magical experience during Christmastime. But for our family, it is one of the things that bring joy in the kid’s eyes, and mine, as they experience the magic that this season brings. And however you chose to display that is up to you. Don’t let anyone, including a little stuffed elf dressed in red; influence your decision in any way.

-Jen

Monogrammed Memories- A Christmas Tree Ornament Tutorial by Guest Author Cara

One of my most favorite memories growing up always started at the beginning of the holiday: decorating my step-mom’s house for Christmas. She is the type of woman that used to (and still does) go all out for Christmas. It always started the same way, every Saturday after Thanksgiving-by unpacking her Christmas closet… yes, closet. We were blessed to have a gorgeous home with very tall ceilings, so we always got a tree that was 9 or 10 feet tall. This, obviously, means that decorating said tree was a two, if not three person job. 

Every year, my step-mom would let my dad and I put on the lights while she unpacked the ornaments. And every year, she retold the same stories about who gave her each ornament, and when-sometimes down to the date. In my childhood years, I never understood her appreciation for her hand-made collections. And when it came time to put the ornaments on the tree, I always got the same speech: “Be careful with that one, so and so gave that to me,” with almost everything I picked up.

Now that I’m older, I have my own tree, and I am starting to understand what her mild obsession with these ornaments involve; a little bit of love, for those handmade from family and friends, a special memory, for those purchased on vacation or a trip somewhere special, and even a little place in her heart, from the ornaments given to her by relatives who are no longer with us. 

Before my biological mom passed, she made ornaments for her family and friends, and gave them away each year. In the 20 years since her passing, some of those friends and relatives have given these ornaments back to me. Since my mother died when I was so young, their value to me is increased tenfold-it’s almost like having a part of her with me each Christmas when I go to hang them on my tree.

So last year, I decided that I would carry on my mother’s DIY ornament tradition, and I set out to make a special ornament for everyone on my Christmas list. I, of course, took to Pinterest for some design inspiration, and that landed me here.

I loved the way these ornaments looked when finished, and the cool marbled effect it created. But I wanted to take it up a notch, and make the ornament personal to every family I gave it to. My solution?

Monogramming!

Monogramming is the best way to give a gift that is 100% original-it really tells the receiver that you thought about them specifically when making it. But if you’re blessed with a family large enough to fill a high school gymnasium, giving a monogrammed gift to every single person can get expensive. So rather than making one of these little babies for every person in the family, I gave one to the household, and used their last name for the monogram initial.

So here’s what you’ll need:

• Acrylic Paint
• Clear Ornament
• (you can use round or flat, I went with flat because I wanted the monogram to lie evenly)
• Sticker or Paint Pen (for monogram)

Start by dripping the lightest color paint into the top, leaning the opening of the paint lid against the inside of the ornament so you get as much on the side as possible.

Work your way from lightest to darkest, filling in the gaps around the top of the ornament. When you have covered the lip of it on the inside, cover the opening with paper or cellophane (or your fingers, just be prepared to get paint on them), and start shaking that baby. I turned this one on its side and tapped it on the table to get the paint to move where I wanted it.

This was the end result. You can continue tapping until you get more of a color combination like the original one, but I really loved the way this one looked.

Then, pick the side you like best, and add your monogram.

I highly recommend letting the excess paint that is inside drip out before you put the stopper back into the top of the ornament. I inverted mine into a Kleenex box with some paper towels in the bottom of it to catch the paint.

When it’s dry, carefully stick the metal top back into the ornament, and you have a beautiful gift under $5.00. I have already given some of these to family members we see before Christmas, and the looks on their faces when I told them I made them myself meant the world to me. This project is also easy enough to let the kiddos get involved! My 3 year old had a blast “helping” mommy swirl the paint around.

Now, when they hang this ornament on their tree each year, I know that they will think of me.
And isn’t that what this season is all about?

1,000 thanks to Jessica for letting me share this with you all! If you feel so inclined, feel free to visit me more often over at my blog (www.things-that-glitter.blogspot.com).

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year!

-Cara

Keeping the Christ in Christmas: Why "Happy Holidays" Doesn't Bother Me

I was reading something the other day from a friend of mine. She was upset because her child's school Christmas party was being labeled a "holiday" party. I hear similar grievances every year. Christmas is becoming too commercial. Society is taking the "Christ" out of "Christmas". No one remembers the reason for the season.

As a woman of faith, I respectfully disagree.

I remember as a child, one of my favorite parts of Christmastime was singing in our school recital. I actually have vivid memories of the gym, the way the stage was set up, what I wore. Yes, I was that excited about singing. But I digress. One thing I remember is that we sang every type of song. We sang songs about Christmas. We sang songs about Hanukkah. We sang songs about Kwanzaa. We sang in Spanish and in French and in English. We also learned about some of the traditions behind each of these. And it was an awesome, beautiful, amazing thing.

Last night I got to witness a similar thing at my child's "winter play". They sang songs referencing all winter holidays. It was a touching moment for me to see these children coming together, celebrating the season in a spirit of unity, love and joy.

And truly, isn't that what this season, and Christmas in particular, is supposed to really be about? Love, Tolerance. Acceptance. Joy. Redemption. Charity.

I celebrate Christmas in my home. We try to keep the spirit of Jesus Christ and the celebration of His birth at the center of our home. We teach our children to do likewise. No one else can take the Christ out of our Christmas, only we can do that. The fact that I can worship freely in my home, and raise my children in the church of my choosing, is a gift I cherish with all my heart. How hypocritical would I be if I did not respect that privilege in others?

So calling it a "winter party" doesn't bother me. Saying "happy holidays" does not offend me. And it's not because I have forgotten Christmas. And it's not because I am afraid I will offend someone by acknowledging my Christian status. Rather, it is because I respect that my traditions are not everyone's traditions. My faith is not everyone's faith. But I believe that everyone is a child of God. Everyone is my spiritual brother or sister. And so whether they celebrate Christmas or Kwanzaa or Hanukkah or commercialism, my job is simply to love them.

In my mind, that is how I keep Christ in Christmas.

So to everyone I say, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays, Happy Kwanzaa, Season's Greetings and Merry Christmas. I hope that the love and peace of this season will bless us all with a greater capacity to love one another and cultivate a spirit of unity. Peace on Earth. Goodwill to men.

How to have a very Merry Christmas:

Christmas is upon us.

Are your palms sweaty? Did your pulse quicken?  Because I know I'm pretty delirious- and it's NOT because Santa's coming to town.

Gone are the days when sugar plums danced in my head.  The days when I made green and red construction paper "countdown chains" and sang all the annoying extra lyrics to Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer at the top of my lungs until my parents went legally deaf.

Now it's all about number crunching- scheduling- and the looming EXPECTATIONS.

I'm not 100% sold that our parent's generation or their parent's generation had quite the same level of holiday pressure many of us are facing today.  Mom-bloggers and new reporters alike are finding themselves more and more drawn to the topic of minimizing the holiday-buzz, going "back to the basics", and the ever-popular "true meaning" of the holiday spirit.

We talk the talk: facebook rants, head-shaking at Christmas store displays in October, and telling our friends that we don't do a lot of presents for Christmas... but how many of us are actually walking the walk?

Before you hang your head in guilt- let me give you a little pat on the back.  You're probably doing the best you can.  It's not easy in the world of Mommy-wars/Pinterest show-offs/and facebook brags.  There's a lot of amazingly awesome spectacular ideas out there.  "New" family traditions (*cough* elf on the shelf *cough*) around every corner.  There's no way you can do it all.  You just...can't.

It becomes really easy really quick to start to absolutely hate "the most wonderful time of the year".

So before you bah-humbug it all and thrown in the as-seen-on-Pinterest-personalized-cross-stitched-holiday-themed- towel...

Here are my TOP TEN WAYS TO *let yourself* ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS.

{img credit: here}

1.) Pick and Choose.

When my husband and I got married (a late November wedding), Christmas was almost immediate.  And naturally, we found ourselves in conversation about our various family traditions and Christmas memories from over the years.  The next big question: what are OUR family traditions going to be?

Whether you're married or not- this is a question everyone is eventually faced with.  What parts of Christmas do I want to make a priority each year?  Whatever you decide needs to be a personal decision, and you should stick with it! (...that's the tough part about traditions- you've got to keep going!) But don't stress over the finality of it all- you can always introduce a *new* Christmas tradition later. ;)

{img credit: here }

2.) Reflect.
Most children look forward to the holidays. (I mean- what ISN'T exciting about a day of goodies, laughter, and overall happiness?)  For some reason- over time that magic may seem to flicker and fade.  I have been witness to the magic of having children- and I have been amazed at the precious re-kindling I have felt as I experience the joy of the holidays through the eyes of a little one.

The feeling is almost intoxicating- and I'm sure many parents can relate when I say I wanted to make Christmas for my sons the BEST CHRISTMAS EVER! But before I found myself neck-deep in toy-debt I took a minute to remember my own favorite Christmas memories.  Making Christmas goodies with my family, pulling out ornaments on our advent calendar, making Christmas crafts... these were the things I remembered.  And those are the things I need to make a priority now.

3.) Ditch the criticism.

I don't know anyone who wants to be considered materialistic.  I also don't know anyone who can't understand why someone may be excited about getting a gift.  (and if they claim so- they are lying.)  While getting *stuff* isn't a healthy main-focus for anyone- I want to take a step back and remind you of this little old book.

[Learn more about Love Languages here.]

Receiving and giving gifts is a legitimate love language people.  Not any more or less valid than the others.  Just like it wouldn't be healthy to focus on purely physical touch or only on words of affirmation- I can understand how only caring about gifts could be cause for concern.  But I think we can also agree that once or twice a year (I love birthdays!) is not completely unreasonable for some people to be excited about receiving gifts!  It feels good to know someone was thinking about you- so stop feeling guilty for counting those presents under the tree.  You get a free-pass.  Just don't shove your 11 presents in the face of cousin Tilda's 4.


4.) Know when to say NO.

Many of us can relate to the concept of a hectic holiday schedule. It's like my calendar throws-up between the months of October and January.  Holiday parties, family get-togethers, catching up with friends... it doesn't take much for some of us to get a little overwhelmed.  The holidays tend to have a sense of nostalgia and sentiment unique from the rest of the year.  And that can remind us of what who is most important.  Unfortunately, that also puts a fire under our butts to hurry and spend as much time as humanly possible with those people.

Something to remind yourself of this Christmas- those people aren't going to be any less important in January...February... or June.  There may be people traveling into town exclusively for the holidays- make them a priority and save visiting with your local friends and family for the rest of the year.  If you don't take the time to relax and enjoy the holidays- you could literally make yourself sick- and then you won't have any choice but to sit at home and relax (miserably) because no one is going to want to hang-out with your snot-nosed face.  (Sorry- that was mean...)

5.)  Remember those who aren't with us- and those they left behind.
It's heartbreaking to think that during this season of joy and wonder- suicide rates are actually on the rise.  I can't think of anything worse in this life than losing a loved-one and seeing everyone around you happy and celebrating with their loved ones can be a lot like rubbing salt in a fresh wound.  Even losses years-decades old can be brought fresh to the surface with the memories embedded deeply in this magical season.

When you're in pain- it can be easy to let that pain overtake you- and any joy and laughter can seem unattainable.  It's important to let yourself feel the peace that can come with Christmas and use that peace to uplift yourself and those around you.

Find ways to keep your loved ones alive in our hearts and memories.  My father in law passed-away just before I met my husband and while I never met him- I can definitely feel his spirit in the way my husband and his family talk about him and celebrate his memory.  My father in law's birthday is December 4th so my husband and I have made it a tradition to put our tree up on that day.  It's something simple- but it's also something special and meaningful that keeps him alive in our hearts and home.

{Img Credit: here }

Also, remember that not all loss is through death.  Individuals who have faced divorce, separation, military deployment, addictions and other struggles can also feel depressed and alone this time of year.  Make it a point to recognize and remember these people.  Invite them to low-key but meaningful events and include them in activities like caroling or cookie drop-offs.  These little things can sometimes mean the world to someone who feels like the world is against them.

6.) Indulge
I can't tell you how many people tell me every year how much weight they expect to gain over the holidays- and how they are dreading the consequences.  To them, I say- stop.  Just stop.  Of course, you shouldn't stuff yourself silly every day for two months.... but two or three big Christmas meals won't make you gain 50 pounds.

Plan ahead and be responsible.  If there are only two of you in your house- you probably don't need a gallon of eggnog in your fridge at all times.  Be reasonable and have things in moderation- but when you have them ENJOY THEM.  Don't spend the entire feast complaining and dreading- let yourself taste every pepperminty chocolate-dipped piece of heaven you can get your hands on... because you deserve it!

Just stop when you're full.

7.) Minimize expenses

There are about a thousand different budgeting ideas on the web- but for some reason, Christmas always seems exempt from reason when it comes to your bank account and your heartstrings suddenly have full control over your wallet.

Look up some Christmas-budgeting ideas via sites like Pinterest and come up with a plan that works for you so those holiday bills don't sneak up on you unexpectedly.  Few things can cause stress like money troubles- don't invite them to your home this Christmas by getting carried-away with gifts, parties, decorations, and dinners.  Keep it simple and classy.  Minimalism is in style! ;)

8.) Slow down and get enough sleep

Hustle and Bustle are synonymous with the holiday season.  I admit my husband and I actually enjoy going to the mall during the Christmas season just to let ourselves get caught up in the rush for a little while.  There's something exciting about it.  Although... we try to have our shopping 100% done by that point so we can just enjoy the atmosphere without actually rushing around ourselves.

It can be fun to get caught-up in the excitement... but not when you don't have any other option and you're pressed for time in finding that "perfect" gift for a steal of a price.  Along with knowing when to say no- you need to make it a point to slow down and take things easy.  Running on high for days on end with minimal sleep is not a recommended means of being your happiest most enjoyable self.  (Can I get an "Amen!" moms?)

Instead- budget your time with a full-nights worth of rest.  There will be a few nights where you may stay up late to look at Christmas lights or visit at a work party- but don't make them a daily habit or you'll wear yourself thin and end up falling asleep in the recliner in the living room while everyone else is gleefully tearing wrapping paper to shreds.


9.) Connect and Pray

For many of us- there really is a truer-deeper meaning to Christmas- and without recognizing it we wouldn't be able to honestly enjoy it in our heart of hearts.  It's important to recognize our spiritual well-being during this beautifully touching time of year.

Christmas is about love, joy, and peace.  You should seek out people and things that accentuate those feelings and avoid those that don't.  There's no need to flaunt your higher-purpose reason for the season- it should be a sacred, personal experience.  However, while you don't want to come off holier-than-thou, you also shouldn't be afraid to share your spiritual experiences with friends and family.  Invite neighbors to service projects, sing Christmas carols at a nursing home, donate an evening of your time or some cans to a homeless shelter or soup kitchen.  Joy in good deeds is a universal experience regardless of religion or spiritual beliefs.

Don't be afraid to offend- and even more importantly... don't be offended.  

{img credit: here}

10.)  Don't expect miracles.

I remember one year being incredibly disappointed in my Christmas presents.  I was a teenager after all- so I'm not sure anything short of a million dollars would have impressed me- but it was still a bummer feeling.

We spend a month working ourselves up for one day each year.  With all the hype- there's bound to be some let-down.  Try to prep yourself beforehand.  Lower your expectations and allow yourself to be surprised and happy with the little things.

Let yourself be amazed and remember the magic.

Have a very Merry Christmas!

No Shave November- Guest post by Ashley

From Duck Dynasty to Ron Swanson, men now and days are rocking the facial hair like it’s 1886. The “mane” topic for the past few years has been the famous “No Shave November” and “Movember.” This is where men get to show off how manly they are by how bushy their ‘staches get!

Meet my awesome husband: Luke

  I, myself, have been privileged to witness my own husband and his two best friends support “Movember,” three years back, which is just growing a mustache, whereas “No shave November” is growing a full Mumford and Sons beard. I had to endure a full month of him growing an itchy caterpillar right below his nose, and every time he kissed me, I would sneeze (and if you know my side of the family, our whole bodies shake like earthquakes and we go blind for a few seconds afterwards). Although, the nice thing about his mustache, is that he would get free grilled cheese every “Mustache” Monday at the local burger joint; the only luxury of living in a small, indie college town in Idaho. Plus, who doesn’t love free food, no matter how below average it is?

We call this picture "Uncle Rico after Thanksgiving" We all know that Uncle who lazily sits and watches football after dinner.

I also fully enjoyed having children, in our church in primary that we taught; ask if Luke was my dad because he looked SO dang old. But, Luke loved his mustache so much, that we went out for a photo opt in the community showing his true ‘stache pride, and whatever he loves, I love too.  Now looking back on it, I just want to say, “Hey, Look! I stuck around! Now we’ve been married for 2 ½ years!” It’s actually scientifically proven that women find men more attractive with facial hair and I will admit, Luke looked pretty manly with that giant, thick Luigi Bros. mustache of his.

These are the "pedophiles" I'm talking about...(Luke and his friends, who are really NOT pedophiles. haha).

Despite the fact that most men with thick facial hair look like pedophiles (see picture), or lumber jacks, there’s actually a bigger issue to it all. Although it seems fun to grow out your facial hair (I mean, c’mon, what woman hasn’t imagined herself with a sweet ‘stache?), it all started in Australia in ’04 when a group of men decided not to shave for the whole month of November, to raise awareness for prostate cancer and depression amongst men. “The month of November is blocked off for a time when men and women donate the money they usually spend on shaving and grooming for a month to educate about cancer prevention, saving lives and helping to fight the battle.” I feel like, we forget that men have these stressful problems too. I, myself, have not had to endure such scary matters with any men on either side of my, or my husband’s family, but it is no laughing matter or something to shrug off. Like most women who get screened and checked at least once a year for breast cancer, men should do the same for prostate cancer, if they want to stay on top of their health.

Now, when Jess asked me to be a guest blogger on how “No Shave November” has impacted my life, I didn’t actually realize the seriousness behind it all. I thought it was some random, new hipster thing to do, but like I said, I was ignorant of the subject. So, this article is not going to turn into a depressing story or anything, but it’s important for everyone to be informed about the subject!

Please enjoy a picture of my husband posing with an old ladies fox fur coat. The coat is a long story, ask me later.

It doesn’t have to be depressing, in fact, those who participate in “No Shave November” or “Movember” have lots of fun! There’s a competition every year for the craziest beards and/or mustaches (which was on November 2, this year in Germany) and even women can participate in “No Shave November,” by not shaving their legs. I actually used to have roommates in college who would do this every year and I would get super grossed out, until I tried it the following year. Somehow, it felt fresh, liberating and you start trying to protest on how women’s standards of shaving legs should be legally banned. Then, you get married…and I’m still a newlywed and therefore am still self conscience of the spikes on my legs when I don’t shave. Too much information? Thought so  .

All in all, have fun with “No Shave November” and be aware and informed of it! And Happy “Movember” and of course Happy Thanksgiving!

Part of the World Beard and Mustache Championships

THE END…or FIN, for those fancy people out there.

Oh, and this is to show that my husband really isn’t creepy. He’s actually very handsome 

Luke & I

~ Ashley

The Notorious "Holiday" B.I.G: I'm not a Food Slayer....I just Munch A Lot.

Have you ever seen those 90's rap videos where there's a party, everyone's dancing around having a jolly ol' time enjoying the DJ's music when all of a sudden, someone unexpected walks into the party? The DJ looks up, the music comes to a screeching halt and everyone stops dancing and gives a disgusted look to the new guest?

That's how I feel about holiday food...it's the new guest. I mean- I'm on a roll in the summer. Eating healthier, exercising, and feeling great! Then the fall & holiday season comes around and it's like the new guest just crashed my health party. 

Except...I can't kick the guest out of my house because I like them. No, I love them. I want them to be here.  And I especially love holiday food. From the pumpkin chocolate chip bread in October to the good gracious Thanksgiving dinner and desserts in November, I fall victim every year to the heavenly holiday hash. And don't even get me started on the month of December. The whole month I feel like we consume more cookies than Santa Claus himself.

Now I'm not trying to be the "Notorious Holiday B.I.G food slayer" here. My problem is that I just munch A LOT. These last months of the year I love to munch on my secret stash of Halloween Reese's peanut butter cups in my freezer, Grandma's Christmas fudge in the pantry, the sliver(s) of holiday honey ham, and the oh-it's-just-a-small bowl or two...or three of pumpkin Chex mix...the madness is real! However we can still enjoy food while keeping a healthy perspective.

Here are my Seven Realistic Tips to Beat the Holiday bulge:

1) Beware of buyer’s remorse. Not the retail kind (that's for another article). I'm talking about the grocery store kind. Throughout the holiday season there are all sorts of “deals”. From black Friday ads to the mounds of coupons promising “buy one get one free” holiday promotions, it’s so hard to say “no”. I mean, it’s such a great deal…(or at least this is how I have justified it on the past). 

This season try buying just enough for what you need and that goes for food, too. Maybe you’re planing to make those delicious peanut butter cup cookies you’ve been drooling over while perusing Pinterest or you found that amazing orange & cranberry glazed turkey recipe you want to try out at the upcoming family Thanksgiving gathering. Sounds so good! But instead of stocking up on two bags of peanut butter cups with a coupon or buying that 18-pound ham, buy only the amount you need for the recipe and for the amount of people you are feeding. (You will also have sides that they can fill up on, too). If you're looking to have leftovers, remember that they could potentially turn into leftover pounds, too.

2) Plan Your Family Meal Calendar and Use it.  I can’t say enough great things about meal planning. It has honestly cut back on lots of stress & time that comes from the monotony of daily cooking for our family. When we meal plan, we know what we’re going to eat and it can help assure that our healthy eating goals will be realistically met. Try spending 30 minutes on a Sunday night planning the new week’s meals (including breakfasts and lunches).  Make a list, gather any coupons you have, and plan a trip to the grocery store. Stick with the menu you've planned and you’ll not only stick with your attempts to maintaining a healthy diet, but it might help you keep your family's monthly food budget in check, too!  There are many meal planning websites that have lots of great healthy recipes. I could go on and on about it! Hmmm....I feel another article coming on...

Image credit: homemakerschallenge.com

3) Make Time for Exercise. Finding an exercise program that truly works for me and sticking with it is an ever-going battle. 

To make an exercise program successful, I've tried making smaller and more realistic goals first. For example, I schedule three days a week (when I know I can find 25-30 minutes to exercise) and commit to it by putting the days and time I will exercise on my calendar. There are those who have that "ain't-nobody-got-time-for-that" attitude but I don't want to be one of those people...health is important and should be a priority. According to a recent report by eMarketer, as adults, we spend an average of TWO hours on our phones and tablets a day (this doesn't even include the amount of time spent watching TV..which was over FOUR hours a day). 

Even making a conscious effort to take the stairs at work or to take a 20-minute walk during your lunch break can make a big difference to your physical and mental health anytime, and of course, can relieve some stress this holiday season. Carving a turkey may be on your mind now, but unless you carve out the time in your schedule to exercise, you’ll be paying for it later. So keep up the exercise!

Image credit: Whattoexpect.com

4) Portion control & drinking lots water. I’ve already mentioned meal planning as a tool that can help with monitoring what we’re eating each day. Next, try practicing portion control. Fill the majority of your plate up with healthy vegetables first before adding other foods. Drinking water before eating and throughout your meals is not only helpful for digestion but helps us stay fuller longer. 

5) Try putting desserts and snacks away after eating, close up the kitchen and brush teeth!  Someone once told me that if I wanted to cut back on nightly snacking, I should brush my teeth after dinner. When I don't do this it's just too easy to grab a handful or two of M&Ms (darn you, Target and your amazing selection of holiday M&Ms!) When I brush my teeth after dinner, I find myself thinking more before I eat. It's also helpful when I pack up the goodies and get them out of my view. Out of sight, out of mind, right? If I feel I need a little snack later on in the evening,  I try to look for healthier options or drink a tall glass of water.

Image credit: abc.net

6) 'Tis the season to share. Every year I buy a few of those Ziploc/Glad holiday bags and containers. Why? Because I need help! If I don't share the goodies they will most definitely end up in my mouth. When making holiday goodies or if we have dinner left overs, we share with our guests to make sure we don’t have lots of leftovers that could turn into left over pounds.  Buy a few extra disposable plastic containers to pack up any extras and send the food home with your friends and families, your waist will thank you.

7) Give yourself a break and indulge a little. I leave the best for last, non? For me, it's unrealistic to think that I'm not going to bake or have special family dinners with all of the fixings over this holiday season. I LOVE to cook and bake and I feel cooking in the kitchen make some of my favorite memories with our families. So I don't get upset with myself when I have those indulgent moments....in fact, I savor them. However, as long as I'm attempting to eat healthy most days of the week and exercise, I can afford to eat a few foods I want. Plus, by restricting what I eat all the time, I turn into this guy:

Instead of this mom blissfully baking with her kids:

Image credit: www.sheknows.com

As we all venture into the holiday eating this year, may the odds ever be in your favor, may the force be with you and may you have the power to stick to our healthy goals! 

Disclaimer: I’m in no way a  dietitian/nutritionist  so pretty please consult with your doctor first before starting any diet and/or exercise program! Happy Holidays! 

Winter is Coming

I'm typing this as I watch the snow fall outside my window, thinking "I should have taken the kids to the park more" and "Why didn't we go camping one last time?"
I don't want to admit that the days of darkness and temperatures down to -60 are on the way. Last year it snowed the day before my daughters birthday, May 12. It will be a long time until we have warm weather here again.
So to make myself a little more excited, I'm going to share some of my favorite things about winters in Alaska.

 The World Ice carving Championships

 Ice Slides

 Ice Tunnels

More Ice slides, this time with sleds

 Mosquitoes that don't bite

 Sled Rides from my kids

Cool, although a bit depressing time lapse photos of how much sunlight we get in the middle of winter.

Photo courtesy of UAF

And of course, last but not least, the northern lights. I'm pretty sure this right here makes up for all of it.

Image credit: http://joey-holliday.com/

Does anyone else already have snow? What are some of  your favorite winter activities?