Valentine’s Day is nearly upon us and with it comes the typical parties with candy and card exchanges. It all sort of reminds me of elementary school. I did some brainstorming and came up with a few classy, slightly more mature – but nothing explicit – ideas for fun Valentine’s Day parties. Single and Loving It If you’re flying solo this Valentine’s Day, not to worry. You can throw a singles party that will be as much or more fun than any of your paired-up friend’s shindigs. Invite your single friends and tell them to invite theirs. Games and music will... (Read More ...)
For many Americans, overspending seems like a birthright. But, warns financial advisor and author Leslie Greenman, sooner or later, those bad spending habits will catch up with you. She explains why we feel compelled to overspend and provides advice for making 2012 the year you tighten your purse strings. Are you still wondering how you are going to pay off holiday bills? Studies show that many Americans will still be paying off their holiday debt months, and possibly years, after gifts have been exchanged. But let’s be honest. If overspending was a problem for us only once a year, most of... (Read More ...)
A glance at the calendar will show you that the holiday season is fast approaching. Before you know it, you’ll be counting your blessings over a generous serving of turkey and gravy, and soon after that, you’ll be making eggnog toasts and fa-la-la-ing to your heart’s content. However, if you’re slated to host one of those holiday meals, the task in front of you might fill you with more dread than holiday cheer. If that’s the case, you’re not alone. For those of us who don’t answer to the name “Martha Stewart,” figuring out who is coming to the table, what to serve, and how to... (Read More ...)
Fire up the grill and get ready for kickoff; football season is here. What goes hand-in-hand with football season? Tailgating of course. Fans everywhere are honing secret recipes and stocking up on supplies to make their party dominate the parking lot. It’s important, however, to be mindful of spending, as the festivity’s cost can quickly add up, from team memorabilia to beer and food. Before you put the finishing touches on your tailgate plans, try out a few of these thrifty tips. 1. Team Up The atmosphere at a major tailgate party is all about community, but don’t be fooled;... (Read More ...)
When Jeff Robbins first learned his youngest daughter had Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine caused by a reaction to gluten, the longtime consumer market researcher aggressively began reading up on her condition and testing the available products for a gluten-free diet. To his dismay, he quickly discovered that most of the gluten-free food options on the market were lacking in both taste and quality. Refusing to simply give up and accept the lack-luster choices available, Robbins got down to business and put together an all-star team. He approached his longtime friend... (Read More ...)
It’s that time of the year again: you finally get settled into a workable summertime routine with the kids and everything changes again. It’s back to school time and that means back to morning chaos, homework disorganization, and dealing with massive amounts of information between school and home. I’ve got some interesting tips that highlight some lesser-known ways for keeping kids organized for school, and I thought you might be able to use in a story you’re planning. It’s normal for kids to generate chaos and disorganization (it comes with the territory), but being organized is a learned... (Read More ...)
Think you can’t pull it together? You CAN! For all of our married life, it was my ex that did most of the cooking and for ALL of the holidays. My literal “Soup to Nuts Nazi” NEVER consulted with me on menu and pretty much banned me from the kitchen (“Why did I give him the boot, you ask???”). My Thanksgiving holiday role was as “staff” and party planner meant that I was responsible for issuing the invites through clean up (all the while stoking the fireplace, pumping enough heat, and throwing blankets on my 70+ year old father, up from Florida visiting... (Read More ...)
10. The dollar store is your friend. Exhibit A: a wreath from a high end store is about $40, but a wreath with supplies bought from the dollar store is about $4. Your local dollar store has more than just canned veggies and birthday cards. They are stocked full of pre-made decorations and crafty kits. 9. You are invited to a dessert hour. You don’t always have to go for the large dinner with 10 homemade items that leaves you tired and your wallet stretched. How about a dessert party or a “Holiday Open House?” This way, you can serve desserts that can be made ahead of time. 8.... (Read More ...)
O.K. We’ve all heard it a million times. If you want to get dinner on the table for your family every night of the week, all it takes is a little planning, right? But where do you start? I’m a professionally trained chef and an at-home mom. But until recently, even I didn’t know how to tackle this seemingly easy task. So let me share some of the tactics I’ve discovered for planning weeknight meals a little less stressful. Pick a protein, any protein. One night have chicken, the next beef, then pork, then chicken again, and one night fish. One night do pasta with no protein.... (Read More ...)
You know the feeling…it’s 2:00, you have to pick up the kids at 3:00 and you’re wandering the grocery aisles like a zombie. Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel (or the meal in this case) every night, take someone else’s invention and recreate it. Here are three web sites to take the guesswork out of your daily what-to-cook dilemma. Since you’re reading this, I’m guessing that you use the internet as part of your everyday life. You know how to search for sales, get driving directions, print coupons and research summer camps. But do you know where to go to... (Read More ...)
