Thursday, December 19, 2019

Blogmas 2019- Day #19- How to Create a Self Care Routine

This is such a busy time of the year, Christmas parties, Christmas shopping, and family visits. That's why having a routine in place for self care and "me time" is so important. Otherwise, we all get a bit run down and out of sorts. So, today I am sharing how to create your own self care routine.




Find the time that works for you: This is different for everyone. For me, it's when the kids are finally in bed for the night. Now, this doesn't always happen when I want it too, my 2 year old usually goes to bed around 730pm and my 7 year old is usually in bed my 830pm, but some nights is bit later for both of them. I have learned to stay calm with them and they will eventually go to sleep even thought it might 10 to 15 minutes past their respective bedtimes.

Grab your essentials: For me the esstentials include; warm pjs, a good book, and a steaming cup of hot chocolate. All of this is enjoyed in the living room, sitting on the couch, curled up in a warm blanket.

Ask for help: Ask your parents to watch your kiddos for a bit so you can have time to yourself, tell your husband you need him to handle the kids or the laundry so you can get out for a but, or hire a baby sitter, Just ask for help when you need it to ensure you get the self care that you need.

Make it part of your routine: Now that you have asked to help, carved out the time, and grabbed your essentials, make it part of your daily routine. Even if it's 20 minutes!

How do you create your own self care routine?

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Blogmas 2019- Day #18- 25 Healthy Habits to Start Today

Hi Lovelies!

Welcome to Day #18 of Blogmas! Today's post is all about healthy habits. A healthy habit is acquired when we are consistently making healthy choices as part of our regular behavior. Interestingly, even people who develop healthy habits are likely to make unhealthy choices at least part of the time.



Here is a list of healthy habits that you can start today (or any day).

  • Think positive
  • Drink more water
  • GO to bed early 
  • Eat plant based foods
  • Exercise regularly
  • Practice yoga
  • Get outdoors and enjoy nature
  • Read more
  • Make a to do list
  • Snack on healthy foods
  • Make a workout plan
  • Eat a healthy breakfast
  • Set goals, long and short term 
  • Do what makes you happy
  • Try new recipes
  • Stretch before and after exercise
  • Invest in a good form roller
  • Consistently learn new things
  • Don't fear failure
  • It's okay to say No
  • Be resilient
  • Never give up on your dreams
  • Start TODAY
What are some of your healthy habits?

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Blogmas 2019- Day #17- Christmas Crunch Popcorn

Hi and welcome to Day #17 of Blogmas!!! Today's post is all about Christmas popcorn. I love popcorn, any kind of popcorn! This one is such an easy recipe, it's fun to make with the girls, and it oh so yummy!!






 Christmas Crunch Popcorn 

Ingredients

1/2 cup popping popcorn kernels, or 2 bags tender white popcorn
1 (12 oz) bag Vanilla Candy Melts (such as Wilton Candy Melts)
1 1/3 cups broken pretzel pieces
1 (12 oz) bag green and red Milk Chocolate or Mint M&Ms Red, green and white Sprinkles.

Directions

Pop popcorn in a popcorn popper into a large bowl (or alternately in the microwave if using microwave bags of popcorn) according to manufactures directions. Remove any unpopped popcorn kernels. Toss in broken pretzel pieces and M&Ms.

Melt Vanilla Candy Melts in a microwave safe bowl on 50% power in 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval until melted and smooth. Drizzle half of melted chips over popcorn mixture, then stir, tossing gently a few times with a rubber spatula. Then drizzle remaining half of melted chips over popcorn, and gently stir mixture until evenly coated (don't over stir though or your sprinkles wont stick if the white chips begin to set and harden).
Pour mixture into a single layer onto wax paper. Sprinkle entire mixture evenly with sprinkles (as many as you'd like) before vanilla chips set. Allow to cool and harden, then gently break into pieces and store in an airtight container.

Note: I was able to fill 8 - 9 1/2"x 4" party treat bags about 2/3 full with this recipe, just to let you know so you have an idea for gift giving.

P.S. I will explain later why I was MIA for so long during Blogmas. I'm going to try and stick to a schedule until the end of the year and finish Blogmas this year!








Sunday, December 15, 2019

Sunday Scoop {12/15/2019}

Hi Lovelies!

It's time for The Sunday Scoop. In today's post, I will be posting 3 things that I HAVE to do, 2 things that I HOPE to do, and one thing that I am HAPPY to do.

THE SUNDAY SCOOP 



Here's the scoop to my week:

3 THINGS THAT I HAVE TO DO
  • plan my meals for the week 
  • fold the laundry
  • make my to do list for the week
2 THINGS THAT I HOPE TO DO
  •  fold the laundry
  • write/schedule a few blog posts
1 THING THAT I AM HAPPY TO DO
  • watch a movie with my husband and kids
This week is going be just as busy as last week was. I need to plan our meals for the week and I have a trillion loads of laundry to fold.

What are you up to this week?

Friday, December 6, 2019

Blogmas 2019- Day #6- Christmas Traditions

Hello again Lovelies!

Welcome to Day #6 of Blogmas! Today's post is all about memories from past Christmases. The only happy memories that I have from my childhood center around Christmas. Growing up, we had two Christmas celebrations, one on Christmas eve and then on Christmas day. The Christmas eve celebration was always my favorite because we celebrated with German traditions. I loved the food (bratwurst and spetzula, and strawberry cake) , the presents, and just being with my Grandparents. We always went to midnight mass afterwards. It has always been my favorite way to celebrate Christmas.


Spetzula


Strawberry Cake


What are some of your memories from past Christmases?

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Blogmas 2019- Day #5- Holiday Baking

Hello Lovelies!

Welcome to day #5 of Blogmas! Today's post is all about Holiday baking, the tried and true recipes that you make every year and the ones you want to try. I always make the same cookies every year, chocolate chip, sugar, and peanut butter. This year I want to make something different, something that I have never made before... this is where the internet comes in real handy.

I did a quick search and found a few recipes that I would like to try.

Chocolate Cherry Snowballs



Snickers Chocolate Cookie Cups


Russian Tea Cakes


What are some of your favorite Christmas cookie recipes?

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Blogmas 2019- Day #3- My Favorite Christmas Movies

Hi and welcome to Day #3 of Blogmas! Today's post is all about some of my favorite Christmas movies.You know those movies that you have to watch every year, without fail, or those that best represent the season for you.

Here's my list!

1. Christmas Vacation:

As the holidays approach, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) wants to have a perfect family Christmas, so he pesters his wife, Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo), and children, as he tries to make sure everything is in line, including the tree and house decorations. However, things go awry quickly. His hick cousin, Eddie (Randy Quaid), and his family show up unplanned and start living in their camper on the Griswold property. Even worse, Clark's employers renege on the holiday bonus he needs.



2. Home Alone: 

When bratty 8-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) acts out the night before a family trip to Paris, his mother (Catherine O'Hara) makes him sleep in the attic. After the McCallisters mistakenly leave for the airport without Kevin, he awakens to an empty house and assumes his wish to have no family has come true. But his excitement sours when he realizes that two con men (Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern) plan to rob the McCallister residence, and that he alone must protect the family home.


3. Elf:

Buddy (Will Ferrell) was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa's elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn't fit in, the adult Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. As it happens, this is Walter Hobbs (James Caan), a cynical businessman. After a DNA test proves this, Walter reluctantly attempts to start a relationship with the childlike Buddy with increasingly chaotic results.


4. The Holiday:

 Dumped and depressed, English rose Iris agrees to swap homes with similarly unlucky in love Californian Amanda for a much-needed break. Iris finds herself in a palatial Hollywood mansion while Amanda navigates the lanes of a picture-perfect English village. Soon enough, both lovelorn ladies bump into local lads perfect for a romantic pick-me-up.



5. The Family Stone:

Everett Stone (Dermot Mulroney) wants to bring his girlfriend, Meredith Morton (Sarah Jessica Parker), to meet his bohemian Connecticut family at Christmas. Straitlaced Meredith, feeling she needs backup, asks her sister Julie (Claire Danes) to come along. Hoping to win the approval of her boyfriend's parents Sybil (Diane Keaton) and Kelly (Craig T. Nelson) and the rest of the family, instead Meredith succeeds only in highlighting her uptight personality and making Everett doubt his intentions.




6. The Santa Clause

Divorced dad Scott (Tim Allen) has custody of his son (Eric Lloyd) on Christmas Eve. After he accidentally kills a man in a Santa suit, they are magically transported to the North Pole, where an elf explains that Scott must take Santa's place before the next Christmas arrives. Scott thinks he's dreaming, but over the next several months he gains weight and grows an inexplicably white beard. Maybe that night at the North Pole wasn't a dream after all -- and maybe Scott has a lot of work to do.



Now, this doesn't make up my entire list, but these are the movies that I have watch every single year.

What's on your must watch movie list?



Monday, December 2, 2019

Blogmas 2019- Day #2- December 2019 Goals

December is finally here and than mean 2019 is coming to a close. So, that means it's time to share one last goals post for the year. I still have to review my goals for November and I will share that with you later. This month's goals are going to be short and sweet.



1. Read at least 2 books this month.
2. Work on my editorial calendars for January, February, March
3. Finish working on my meal planner
4. Drink more water
5. Eat healthier
6. Exercise 3 times per week
7. Enjoy the holidays with my family


What your goals for the December?

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Blogmas 2019 - Day #1- Welcome to Blogmas

Hello Lovelies!

So…It’s December 1st…WHAT!! Where did it even come from? I still feel like I am in the mindset of Halloween. The past couple of months have literally flown by. I have been focusing so much on my daughter's school activities as starting a new business with my husband. And then I blink and here it is…TIME FOR BLOGMAS.



Blogmas is kind of self-explanatory. However, I will explain it for those who do not know what it is and what it involves. Blogmas is an event which happens from December 1st until the 25th, although, it may last until the new year. Blogmas involves bloggers posting every day until Christmas. You can post whatever you like. It can be Christmassy or it can just be things that you are interested in. I like to think of Blogmas as a present for all those readers out there who get something to read every day… kind of like an advent calendar. There is also Vlogmas which is the YouTube version that requires a video or vlog every day.

I have decided that a new blog post will go live every day at 9pm to give me plenty of time to write up my posts without them being rushed. I am going to try very hard to ensure that I successfully complete Blogmas. I did finally complete Blogtober this year... so we will see how Blogmas goes.  Please let me know if you get the chance to read some. This year my Blogmas posts will include some Chrismassy content as well, mommy and lifestyle content.

Once again, welcome to Blogmas 2018!!!