How to Prepare for Christmas Early

Only 17 Friday's till Christmas! Yup! The time is ticking! Here are a few tips to minimize stress & have you all prepared and organized ahead of time so you can actually relax and enjoy the holiday with your family!

1. Buy in Advance!
The most well-organized people among us do their Christmas shopping months in advance.  You don’t have to worry too much about whom the presents are for; just pick up things that could suit a number of your friends or family and start stashing them away for Christmas. There are sales all year long! Take advantage of that and just buy and stash! When it comes to buying popular kid items (like Frozen themed toys) earlier the better! You are guaranteed to get it and at a decent price. I already have Elsa and Anna dolls & Elsa gown pjs stashed for my girls :)

2. Plan your meal in advance!
The last few grocery shopping days before Christmas are like hell on earth. Planning your meal in advance can help you avoid this last minute rush to the checkout.  Prices are often marked right up at this particular time, because the stores know that you will pay it no matter what.  Buy things like flour and caster sugar for your baking a few weeks in advance – they will keep for a long time.  If you have a freezer, use it! There are certain parts of your Christmas meal that you can prepare a few days in advance and freeze, freeing up your time on the day.

3. Order cards early!
I love the site Zazzle, I can always find codes for discounts on cards. Who says you have to make or get your Christmas cards in December or November? Keep an eye out on sites like Zazzle, Snapfish, etc for deals and go ahead and get your cards ordered in plenty of time!

4. Remember what's important!
For most of us, Christmas gifts are not what make it a special holiday. It’s about good food, and quality time spent with our loved ones.  It’s hard, I know, but try not to spend too much time panicking about budgeting for Christmas.  Children only care about getting the biggest and best presents if that’s what they are used to; if you go mad buying big presents for them every year, they will expect more and more each year to come. Not only that, but they will lose sight of what Christmas is really all about.  The magic of Christmas has nothing to do with how much money you spend. Make memories, that's what matters the most! Build gingerbread houses together, bake cookies, make decorations, etc. And find at least one thing you can do as a family to help others. Volunteer at the food bank, visit the local nursing home, Salvation Army has Adopt an Angel program to buy a needy child gifts, Samaratin's Purse has Operation Christmas Child that is wonderful as well. 

May you have a blessed and wonderful holiday season this year! 

Fun with food

Did you know you could leave secret messages on bananas? Yup, all you need is a toothpick! Simply “draw” your message or picture on the peel & over time the message will appear dark black! I put little messages on them for my girls lunch boxes or even when I pack a lunch for my husband! They love it!

5 -Ingredient White Chicken Chili Recipe

Nothing like a delicious warm meal on a cool day! This chili is not only delicious, but it's super easy to make! This serves 2-4 so double or triple recipe so you can have plenty left over for a freezer meal.

 

Ingredients

• 6 cups chicken broth
• 4 cups cooked shredded chicken
• 2 (15-oz) cans Great Northern beans, drained
• 2 cups salsa verde (storebought or homemade)
• 2 tsp. ground cumin
• optional toppings: diced avocado, chopped fresh cilantro, shredded cheese, chopped green onions, sour cream, crumbled tortilla chips

Method

Add chicken broth, shredded chicken, beans, salsa and cumin to a medium saucepan, and stir to combine. Heat over medium-high heat until boiling, then cover and reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for at least 5 minutes. Serve warm with desired toppings.

Grilled Asparagus Salad with Lemon-Parmesan Vinaigrette

Serves: 4

Prep Time: 10 Min

Cook Time: 5 Min

1. ¼ cup lemon juice

2. ½ cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for sprinkling

3. 1 clove garlic, finely chopped

4. ½ teaspoon dijon mustard

5. ¼ cup olive oil Salt and pepper

6. 2 bunches fresh asparagus, ends trimmed

7. ½ cup thinly sliced radishes

8. ½ cup shredded carrots

9. ½ cup edamame

10. 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

In a medium bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, cheese, garlic and mustard. Slowly stream in the oil, whisking constantly to combine. Season with salt and pepper. On a heated grill or grill pan, cook the asparagus, turning once, about 3 minutes total. In a large bowl, toss together the radishes, carrots and edamame. Top with the asparagus and bacon. Drizzle with the vinaigrette and sprinkle with parmesan.

NUTRITIONAL INFO 1 SERVING:  CALORIES 206; FAT 11.5 g (sat 5.0 g, mono 4.3 g, poly 1.0 g); PROTEIN 15.9 g; CARBS 11.7 g; FIBER 4.1 g; CHOLEST 22.0 mg; IRON 2.1 mg; SODIUM 503 mg; CALCIUM 257 mg -

Homemade Ranch Dressing

I love ranch dressing! I can eat it on most things. So I found a recipe to make your own healthy version! Enjoy :)

Healthy Frozen Summer Treat

 

These look so DELICIOUS! If you are not a fan of watermelon, use strawberries in it’s place!

Ingredients:
3 cups watermelon puree (seedless if possible)
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup chopped fresh strawberries
1 kiwi, peeled and sliced
1 peach or nectarine, diced
small handful fresh cherries, pitted and chopped

Directions:
Cut the watermelon into chunks and then puree it in a blender until smooth. Set aside. Set out about 1 dozen popsicle molds (amount needed will vary depending on size of molds). Fill each one with the chopped fresh fruit. Then pour in the watermelon puree until each mold is full to the top. Place a popsicle stick into each one. Place into your freezer and freeze for about 6 to 8 hours.

Free app to help you shop healthier!

 

I love the FREE app Fooducate! It helps you make the best decision when choosing foods/drinks. I scanned a popular 'weight loss' cereal to show that its not a wise choice. For breakfast you are better off going with a hearty oatmeal. But if you really want cereal, simply click show alternatives and the app gives you a list of foods that are similar but better options! So many neat features! Give this one a try!