I have friends who used to joke that I was so health-conscious that I would someday find a way to put vegetables in Easter eggs. We all laughed at this, of course, but it’s really not a bad idea! After all, Easter eggs filled with chocolate bunnies, jelly beans, and chick-shaped marshmallows can send kids on candy binges. Fortunately, … [Read more...] about 55 Non-Candy Easter Egg Stuffers
holidays
The Miraculous in the Mundane
To the casual observer, the events that surrounded Jesus’ birth seemed pretty unremarkable—a man traveling with his betrothed, a full inn, and a babe lying in a manger. While I’m sure it was not routine for babies to be born in the stable of the inn every day, there was no impressive caravan or pageantry to accompany Jesus as He arrived. These … [Read more...] about The Miraculous in the Mundane
Gift Ideas for Teens
My husband and I have a couple of teenagers on our Christmas gift list. The more I try to brainstorm gifts for them, the more I realize how little I remember about being a teenager! After thinking on it for some time, I’ve come up with a number of fun and/or beneficial gifts for the teens in our lives. Perhaps they’ll be useful for … [Read more...] about Gift Ideas for Teens
Alternative Gift Exchange Ideas
With Thanksgiving over, many of us are searching for the perfect gifts to exchange with loved ones. If the increase in views of my Christmas in July: Alternative Gift Exchange Ideas post is any indication, then many of you are also looking for gift exchange ideas. That post is pretty brief, but I’ve identified several additional ideas … [Read more...] about Alternative Gift Exchange Ideas
Be Grateful Throughout the Year
When I saw this meme on Facebook last November I was struck by its accuracy: I initially felt a little self-righteous as I read it. After all, I don’t complain on Facebook. In taking a good, honest look at myself, though, I see that my complaining occurs in person or via phone. What about you? Do you give thanks around the … [Read more...] about Be Grateful Throughout the Year
Affordable, Easy-to-Prepare Meals for Large Groups
We have several family members coming to spend the week of Thanksgiving with us. As much as I love cooking, I’d rather spend time visiting with my loved ones than in the kitchen preparing meals. We’re also on a tight budget, so I don’t want to break the bank when purchasing foods for us to eat. I’ve been brainstorming and have come up … [Read more...] about Affordable, Easy-to-Prepare Meals for Large Groups
Christmas in July: Christmas Planning Printables
Lists are one of my favorite tools for planning in advance. In today’s installment of Christmas in July 2014, I’m sharing some planning worksheets that I created that are even more useful than lists! If you’ve missed the previous installments in this year’s Christmas in July, you can read them here and here. One list I usually start … [Read more...] about Christmas in July: Christmas Planning Printables
Christmas in July: Paying for Christmas Gifts with Credit Card Points
The cost of Christmas gifts can really add up. In today’s installment of Christmas in July 2014, we’ll look at a novel way to pay for Christmas gifts. If you missed the initial installment (which describes the purpose of Christmas in July), you can read it here. Credit cards are a contentious subject, especially among individuals who … [Read more...] about Christmas in July: Paying for Christmas Gifts with Credit Card Points
