Month: December 2019

The Everything Healthy Mediterranean Cookbook by Peter Minaki

The Everything Healthy Mediterranean Cookbook by Peter Minaki

How about a cookbook full of delicious and nutritious recipes for any time of day? Meet The Everything® Healthy Mediterranean Cookbook: 300 Fresh and Simple Recipes for Better Living by Peter Minaki (Adams Media, December 2019)! * Complimentary book received for review. This post may 

How to Throw a Winter BBQ Bash

How to Throw a Winter BBQ Bash

When you want to throw a party but feel like every theme has been done already, you need something a little different. For the best get-together of the winter, why not try a winter BBQ? It’s a little unconventional, but with some good planning, you 

Quick and Easy Teacher’s Christmas Gift Idea – One Smart Cookie!

Quick and Easy Teacher’s Christmas Gift Idea – One Smart Cookie!

Quick and Easy Teacher's Christmas Gift Idea - One Smart Cookie!I’m the Mom of two children and both attend school. My son attends preschool and my daughter is in elementary school. Throughout the year I like to treat their school teachers with little thank you and holiday gifts. It’s always nice to let them know that they’re appreciated!

* This post may contain affiliate links.

For Christmas this year I made up this quick and easy gift idea by picking up a few things from our local “dollar type” of store. You can make them in any theme: Valentine’s Day, Easter, Seasonal, Holiday, etc. by just changing up the design that you select for the oven mitt.

At your local discount store (I shopped at Dollar Tree) I picked up oven mitts, silicone spatulas and a bag of Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix. Each item costs $1.00.

Additional supplies that you’ll need: scissors, ribbon and tags. You can use purchased tags or make your own. If your children are old enough you can have them write the message on the tag for their teacher.

Place the cookie mix and spatula inside the oven mitt. You’ll want to use a little bit of satin ribbon and tie your tag onto the oven mitt’s hanging loop by making a satin ribbon bow. Use scissors to trim the ribbon ends to an appropriate length.

Our hand-written tag says: Thank You for making me one SMART cookie. On the back write the child’s name and the year.

You can really get creative with this idea throughout the year. Change up the design the oven mitt and stuff it with brownie mix, cookie mix, muffin mix, a wire whisk, measuring cups, measuring spoons, spatula, etc. Once completed place it into a gift bag (from the Dollar Tree) and you’re done!

What a quick and easy gift to give to any teacher and its a gift that they can really use! You can make each one for round $4.00 to $5.00 depending on what you put inside it and that’s including buying a gift bag too!

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Three Ways to be a Responsible Pet Owner

Three Ways to be a Responsible Pet Owner

Many of us love animals – and are lucky enough to share our lives with a furry, feathered or scaly friend. We like to think that we are taking care of them properly, but are we doing the very best job that we can? Having 

Exergen Smart Glow TemporalScanner a Must-Have for New Parents

Exergen Smart Glow TemporalScanner a Must-Have for New Parents

Did you know that the only way to tell the difference between a cold and the flu is that the flu comes with a fever? That’s why you need the Exergen TemporalScanner™ for the whole family, especially for your baby. They make the perfect gift 

Visiting Thrush’s Christmas Lights in Harrisburg

Visiting Thrush’s Christmas Lights in Harrisburg

Thrush's Christmas Lights in Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaHow many of you go out during the holiday season to view Christmas lights? We started a family tradition 30+ years ago and always go out at least twice during the season. Over the years we’ve visited some really cool places and holiday light shows!

When we get together to go out to see holiday lights I prepare a snack bag (popcorn, pretzels and candy) for everyone that’s going along. I take along a big jug of hot cocoa, travel tumblers and juice boxes for the kids. We like to dress the kids in their warm pajamas and we take along several throw blankets to keep warm.

Thrush's Christmas Lights in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Thrush's Christmas Lights in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Some of the tours that we go on you stay completely in your car. There are tours that we do get out and do a walk-thru which is fun too! If you’re planning on doing one…I always recommend that you do it on a weeknight when places aren’t as crowded. This way you can take your time as you go along.

One of our favorite places to visit every year is called Thrush’s Christmas Lights on Lisa Drive in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. These home owners love Christmas and decorate their entire property with holiday lights and inflatables. There is music playing as you walk along and they like to hand out candy canes to their visitors.

Thrush's Christmas Lights in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Thrush's Christmas Lights in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

They always draw a crowd and one of the best things is that its FREE (yes FREE) to visit! We like to go every year and we enjoy taking our grandchildren along with us. It’s a magical place and it really puts you into the holiday mood! So much fun!!! Check out all of the fun photos that I’ve included in my post!

Thrush's Christmas Lights in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Do you go out to see the holiday lights? Do you have any favorite places you like to visit during the season? Do you decorate your yard with twinkling lights and inflatables? We do decorate our front yard but NOTHING like what the Thrush’s do! If you’re in the area, you definitely need to pay them a visit during the holiday season!

Shelly's Signature

Important Success Factors for Property Improvement Profits

Important Success Factors for Property Improvement Profits

When one wants to make money, the first thing in mind is to own a business, an appealing option! You’ll be your own boss, choose the amazing employees to hire, have your own schedule, and work for passion. BUT, you have to realize that there 

Kevin Sorbo and Patrick Muldoon Star in BERNIE THE DOLPHIN 2

Kevin Sorbo and Patrick Muldoon Star in BERNIE THE DOLPHIN 2

We enjoy getting our 2 grandchildren, 2 nephews and our one niece twice a month for family movie time. We like to order a pizza, serve finger foods, popcorn and their favorite beverages. It’s a nice way to spend time with them and to give