Something is always so fun when it comes to cooking. OK, well sometimes it also means a mess to but that’s part of the fun. I am sure for the kiddos at least. This is a great dessert option, THANKSGIVING style, has minimal mess but something the kids can look forward to. This way if you have to bribe them, which I NEVER do, something will hold them over while you are cooking and they are NOT messing up the house.  This is a great kid friendly recipe.

Pumpkin Pudding

• 1 Tablespoon Whipped Topping
• 2 Tablespoons Canned pumpkin Pie Filling
• 2 Tablespoons Marshmallow Fluff
• Confectionate Sugar to Dust
• and Brown Jimmies sprinkled on top (for fun)

Each child get their own bowl to mix individual servings!

Have Fun

Share below if you have any Thanksgiving Favorites that you enjoy!

Thanksgiving is around the corner. That means it is time to be thankful and all of that good stuff. right? I mean, I try to be thankful all of the time. There is just more focus on being thankful at this time of year.  As a mom, I want to raise thankful kids.
Every year, Thanksgiving puts me in check to make sure I am not raising selfish hooligans but, humble grateful gentlemen (thankful kids). While they aren’t at the bright and shinning gentlemen yet, I do think they are doing pretty well. Maybe…..That means I am doing well too. But, Neither I, nor my boys, are perfect and there is always room to improve. Here are ideas I have gotten of the Internet and ideas we promote in our household. Hopefully, we all can raise angels with a thankful heart. Truly thankful kids.

• Point out the Positive (We try really hard to dwell on what the boys have and NOT what they don’t)

• Don’t buy your kids everything they want

• Practice what you preach (ouch…..that’s a reality check for me. Am I thankful for what I have, or am I to busy thinking about what I don’t)

• Thank you cards are a great lesson (every Christmas I mean to do this but I just crash after the holidays……maybe I will do better this year)

• Give Your Child Responsibility (Aghhhh….Guilt from the not followed through chore chart)

• Start a Turkey day diary (Great Idea)…Dedicate a notebook to things that you are thankful for. Fill it with drawings, pictures, and words that you are thankful for. Add to it year after year!

• Make a Thanksgiving Tree (we did this and it is still hanging on our wall. We will take it down this year and replace it with a new one)

• Get your child volunteering in the community(we need to have a youth volunteer league….does anyone else agree?)

What do you do to help your children to be thankful?  What are you doing to have thankful kids?

My first Thanksgiving I had a house big enough for all of my family I wanted to go ALL out.  I was all about not using the canned cranberry sauce, using something different, something fresh.  I wanted to make a lasting impact on my kids as “my” traditional dish.  I was delighted when I found this recipe and perfected it to our liking.  All though my husband is a fan of “the canned stuff”  I love how this puts me in the Holiday spirit.  It smells SO good and the whole house screams the season to be thankful is here.  I am delighted to share with you MY Cranberry Chutney with you. this is a Thanksgiving cranberry recipe  that is home made Cranberry Chutney at it’s best.

Step 1:  Mix 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar together in a sauce pan on medium heat.  Stir constantly until you are are at a slow boil.  I usually back off and let the mixture simmer as I quickly prepare for the next step.

Step 2:  Peal, Slice, and cute into bite size pieces Red delicious Apples.  (I have tried using green apples but it was to tart for our liking)  I use about 4 medium size apples but you can add another in if you are an apple liking family.  My kids like the bite size apples so I make sure to chop them fine.

Step 3:  Use a bag full of fresh cranberry’s.  I have used “from the bog” and good ol’ ocean spray.  Both work great.  My youngest actually feels by the end that the cranberrys are cherries by the completeness of the dish.

Add 2/3 cup water and 1/3 apple juice.  This is still being perfected as I normally have used 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar.

Stage 4: Mix and stir on low heat.

Step 5:  Add 4 packs of kid size raisons.  (as seen in this picture)  Add the following ingredients.

  (this is where the great smell aroma comes into play)

• 1/2 Teaspoon of ground cinnamon.  (freshly ground is the best if you feel up to it but not needed)
• 1/4 Teaspoon of ground allspice
• 1/4 Teaspoon of ground ginger
• and a few shakes of ground cloves. 

Step 6:  Sprinkle sugar on top of pan or serving dish.  I find this dish pleasing to all senses.  I love it.  Cover and serve chilled.

 

If you are lucky please try with oatmeal the next day.  It is delish.  If I do say so my self this dish it beautiful!!  I am delighted that this is “my” dish and I get to share it with you.

What I like about this recipe.  The fruits are all kept on a low heat and are not over cooked.  I really enjoy keeping things fresh.  I hope you can give the recipe a swing.  We love Cranberry Chutney.

Are you planning on spending this Valentine’s Day alone? Will you be “valentineless” on Valentine’s Day? Well, do NOT fret. Every year, my first tweet on Valentine’s Day is “Happy Valentine’s Day and Happy Eat as Much Ice Cream as YOU want Day (w/o feeling guilty)” and it is always the best tweet I make for the day. So, you may be alone on Valentine’s Day but this sure is not a day for a pity party. If you do not have a date on Valentine’s Day, then it may be time to have a special day on Valentine’s Day for YOU. No one knows you better than you, so here are 7 things that you can do if you are alone on Valentine’s Day or without a valentine.

1. Treat your Tummy Well: indulge I am a fan of good food in moderation and nothing calls for good food like a holiday. While you are seeing you friends around you eating chocolates, make sure you are getting your share but that should not be your starting point. Learn to cook something new and start with your favorite delicious breakfast. (Lori from “My Wooden Spoon” has some great recipes on her site; be sure to check them out.) Continue your day by heading out with some co-workers or meeting a family member for a triumphant lunch (you are almost halfway through the day.) Do not worry about the bill. You should figure you are saving money by not having to buy a gift. For dinner, be ready to order your favorite meal as take out to bring home. If you feel brave, stop by after work for a drink (who knows, someone else might be feeling brave too.) Enjoy your food. This day is about you. Make sure your tummy doesn’t feel left out.

2. It’s Not You; It’s Them: Volunteer today! Who says this day is about you? (ohhh wait…maybe I did…but it doesn’t have to be.) This day can be about having a big heart. Whether it is a day for walking a dog from the shelter, visiting a nursing home, or VISITING someone who has LOST his or her valentine within the year, volunteering can do the heart good. Please, do this. It will not only help you think of others, but it will help give you a purpose on a day where everyone seems to be focused on someone else. Those who have lost spouses or those who have loved ones in the military overseas can use some encouragement. Imagine what this day might be like for them.

3. Start the Year Off New: A salon visit could be in order…that is if you are daring enough to be pampered (I know, tough work.) Be bold. Go for that stylish new hairstyle. If you aren’t up for visiting you local salon, go to one where NO ONE KNOWS you and you will get full, complete service from head to toe. If you have a couple girlfriends in the same boat, stop by the beauty store. I hear dying your hair the shade of red is all the rage on Valentine’s Day (just make sure it washes out.) Hanging with some friends and pacing the isles of the beauty supply is great fun.

4. Roll with the Wind: A road trip may be necessary. “Gone with the Wind” is so yesterday and taking a road trip with the wind at your back may be the best idea for the day. Visiting a long lost friend or relative as a surprise might be a nice idea. Remember the saying, “Location, Location, Location”…Well, even out of context, visiting an old “location” or place of memories and realizing how far you have come in life since being young or just visiting a nice location with a beautiful view could hit the spot. If none of these things sound fun, plan a dream vacation for yourself instead of doing nothing on Valentine’s Day. This is a worthy way to look past the day you are in and into a vacation filled with rest, relaxation, and/or adventure.

5. Movie Mania: Make it fun and it will make you remember the “good ol’ days”! Watch a marathon of “Family Ties” or your favorite family series when you were young. Think ahead and plan your entertainment so you are not bored. Order a DVD set and be sure NOT to watch before and peek. Save the DVD’s for a fun day and make that fun day Valentine’s Day.

6. Pursue Your Passion: Dare to dream and “Crush It”! I just got finished reading “Crush It” by Gary Vanderchuk. I was excited to read it and I was even more excited when I was finished. It made me reevaluate my dreams and see if I was ignited for what I was doing in my life or if I was truly happy. It was a short read and it definitely made me think “I am going to accomplish my dreams AND CRUSH IT”!!! I obviously loved the book but if you don’t want to read this book, any book is a great way to escape reality. If you need an escape on Valentine’s Day, a book would be the way to escape.

7: Who Says This is ALL ABOUT YOU: Get a pet or pamper the pet you already have. Take your pet for a drive. Stop at Petsmart and buy something special for your animal friends. Remember, your pet (dog, cat, fish, bird, etc.) ONLY has you and would love a day devoted to just being together with you.

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. ~Ben Williams

I talk to him when I’m lonesome like; and I’m sure he understands. When he looks at me so attentively, and gently licks my hands; then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes, but I never say naught thereat. For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes, but never a friend like that. ~W. Dayton Wedgefarth

It is important to remember that Love is NEVER wasted. I live by that statement daily as I used to be a foster mom . I love to give love and truly believe that love is spelled T:I:M:E. So, don’t be jealous of the flowers and the chocolates that you may see exchanged on February 14th. You are a person worth loving and today can be your day if it is not your Valentine’s.

Photo credit: Meet-up.com

We aren’t a family that is not about gifts but we did want to take a few hours away from the Christmas day to celebrate Jesus’ birth.

Here are some ideas on what you can do to celebrate a party in honor of Jesus.

10 ways to decorate for Jesus’ Birthday

1. Wait until the kids are asleep and prepare for the party. This adds to the element of fun just as if it was a normal party.

2. Use a color scheme. I usually use Green and Red streamers. You can pick any color but make sure to use the same color on the invitations.

3. Use party streamers which is a fast put up/take down way to decorate. Use streamers in doorways. Use party streamers wrapped around the tree.

4. Layer two different shades of streamers and twist using as swags for windows and doorways!

5. Use balloons

6. Latex is fine : just add high float (a gel that seals the balloons) to keep them floating for a longer amount of time.

7. Cover tables in color and dress with glitter or cut outs of cakes or other birthday shapes.

8. Centerpiece ideas for Jesus’ birthday could include balloons or even consider the birthday cake.

9. Consider going REALLY fun and scattering glitter around. (We do this-but use at your own risk-glitter lingers for a couple vacuums but so does the memories)

10. Create artificial snow or a throw blanket for nativity set.  Use a nativity set as the center piece.

picture from parents.com

I have poured over the craft magazines and google and have found 5 of my favorite spots to find crafts to do for the Christmas Season. Here they are in no particular order.

• How to draw a nut cracker soldier

• Handmade kid friendly ornaments

• Napkin Rings to make the table festive

• Christmas Tree Center Pieces

• One of my favorite bloggers, Miranda, came up with this crafty festive idea

This year, we teamed up with Hershey to bring you a special series on Labor day posts.  Be sure to check them out.  We kept it simple and included our Labor day menu .  We also always know how to keep it fun with lots of party games including baseball for entertainment for a Labor Day Party and as always we had a creative way to invite our guests to our party too.  We had a blast including the time with Hershey and incorporating and already included ingredient into our summers into a center piece for our party.

Who doesn’t love a reason to dress up and party? When the Costume Supercenter offered us a chance to pick out a costume and review it, we jumped at the chance. In a house full of boys they all want to be pirates. To surprise my boys I searched for a pirate costume. The Costume Supercenter has a wide variety of pirate costumes for children and adults. I chose the Captain Jack Sparrow Prestige Premium Adult costume. Once it arrived I couldn’t wait to put it on and plan a swashbuckling adventure for my little pirates.

The costume looks great. I’m glad we chose the prestige version because it came with everything to make me look like a true Jack Sparrow. There were belts, vests, a coat, boot covers, pants, a hat, and a bandana with Jack Sparrow hair. Once costumed up, my boys no longer recognized their mommy. I had been transformed into the real Jack Sparrow thanks to Captain Jack Sparrow Prestige Premium Adult costume.

The belts and it’s buckles are very a little flimsy when tightening them.  The costume arrived in a timely matter in a secure shipping package.   The hat came in the package flat. I had to bend it into shape. The costume held up to a pirate adventure out in the hot sun with 15 + kids. The kids were impressed and some even scared at my realism.   We all had a great time and I hope to get some more use out of the costume.  I am sure it would make a great costume for Halloween.

Our thanks to the Costume Supercenter for providing us with the Jack Sparrow   Costume. While Party Planning Professor was provided the costume at no charge, no compensation was made, my opinion is my own and comes from my experience with the costume.



I have found the parties that are talked about for many years to come are the ones that boast the most time and involvement. If you go all out in RED, WHITE and BLUE as the guests start to arrive the decorations will set a great mood for the party. I swear by this statement, “If it looks like a party that had a lot of time and energy put into it, it really is one of the easiest ways to have a successful party happen”

Budget decorations: I always have red streamers on hand.  Did you know that Red is the most popular yet versitile color?  Think about all of the themes that can be combined with the color red. (Pirate Party, Princess Party(just add pink or Belle’s Rose, Christmas, Valentines Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day the list goes on and on.) Maybe simple paper streamers would work but investing in Red banners, or panels, or reusable streamers would be a GREAT choice for any party planner.

Think red, white and blue. You don’t have to pay for the FLAG table cloth that is $300 dollars. Think seperate red, white and blue. From table cloths, napkins, paper plates and even ice cubes, you want to have all the colors of the day come shining through. You can make your deserts and foods with these colors as well. It is possible to add color to the day but keep it simple and on a budget. The cheapest Plates are white. Just add blue and Red utensils and it will make a colorful table. I would suggest to spring for the Flag or themed napkins. What a great way to tie it all in.

Decorate your self and show that you really believe their is something to be happy about.  This is a great way to have some fun on this special day and to do something different to celebrate it.  Think of all the opportunities to be a patriotic character. Uncle Sam, Betsy Ross, One of our Founding Fathers, so many options and so many ways to “decorate”