Search Results for: blog our holiday too

How to Survive the Holidays with Social Anxiety

The holidays are hectic. While some people do enjoy being extra busy, and more social than typical, those kinds of experiences are difficult for those who have social anxiety. One cannot simply opt-out of all social gatherings. Here are some tips to help people who have social anxiety survive the holidays. WebMD says that social anxiety disorder is also called social phobia. They describe it as “an anxiety disorder in which a person has an excessive and unreasonable fear of social situations.” A person with social anxiety disorder is afraid that he or she will make mistakes, look bad, be … Continue reading →

Touring the City on Less: Food Extravaganza

The summer and fall are great times to tour a fun city. Of course, you want to do it for less. Yesterday I shared the money-saving way to save on transportation around the city. If you missed that post, you can find it here. Today it is all about having a food extravaganza. Part of the fun of visiting a city is all of the great food that you can try. Most cities offer a variety of great food, different fusions and ethnic dishes, traditional and down home fare. It would be a shame to waste this opportunity because of … Continue reading →

Make Your Own Snow Cone Syrup

Cut down on the cost and eliminate the high fructose corn syrup when you make your own snow cone syrup. It is easy and inexpensive. What are summer days without a snow cone? This classic summer treat can bring smiles to practically any child. I remember my childhood summers. One of my favorite “toys” was my snoopy snow cone machine. It took a lot of work to get enough shaved ice to make one small snow cone, but it was worth every moment. Because my parents weren’t interested in buying any of the snow cone syrups that were available, I … Continue reading →

Toddler-Friendly Fourth of July

Not all toddlers embrace Independence Day events as enthusiastically as their older siblings.  Late nights, thunderous fireworks displays and way too many sugary snacks can lead to epic meltdowns. In order to celebrate the holiday without sending your tot over the edge, consider these low-key, yet festive Fourth of July activities: Fireworks in a Glass    Fill a tall glass with warm water.  Next, add a little cooking oil to the water.  Depending on the size of your container, one to two tablespoons should suffice.  Then, add a few drops of food coloring to the oil and water.  Gently stir the … Continue reading →

Fourth of July Fun for Less

Celebrating America’s birthday doesn’t have to send you to the poorhouse.  By opting to party at your own home this holiday, you can save money and still have fun.  To cut down on food and beverage costs, consider having a potluck and asking each guest to bring along a favorite dish to pass. Edible American Eagles Ingredients: One package of Oreos 1/2 cup white chocolate One dozen large marshmallows One cup of finely shredded coconut 12 cashews Black icing Directions: Melt the white chocolate in a bowl in the microwave. Spread the shredded coconut in an even layer on wax … Continue reading →

Cute Handmade Mother’s Day Gifts (Inexpensive, Too!)

Handmade gifts, especially when they mark milestones in your child’s life can be lovely. You’ll find yourself years from now looking at them and remembering back to earlier times. I have a small collection of these gifts, and they always make me smile. For example, there is the wax cast of my first-born’s hand when he was only two. We were at a festival, and the vendor didn’t want to cast anyone under the age of four because children that age tend not to hold still. We insisted and said we would take it, no matter how it came out. … Continue reading →

Twelve Months Post Partum: An Exercising Journey Part VII

Since I had been trying on my pre pregnancy jeans quite regularly after my the birth of my daughter only to find them too tight over and over again, it was a very pleasant surprise to find that my jeans were actually too big! However, I have noticed some size discrepancy between jeans I have owned for several years and the new sizes at the boutiques.  I confirmed my suspicion by going to my favorite clothing boutique and trying on the same skinny jean in the next size down: they fit perfectly!  Needless to say, pushing my workout routine into … Continue reading →

Time to Review Your Homeowners Insurance Policy

Did you get something big and expensive this Christmas? That new item is probably not specifically covered by your Homeowners insurance policy. Start off the new year by visiting with your insurance agent, and making sure that all the goodies that Santa brought you are covered. A good time to sit down with your insurance agent to review your homeowners policy is right now. Christmas is over, and you will want to make sure that the new, expensive, items that Santa brought you and your family will be covered by your policy. This is especially true if you got new … Continue reading →

Last Minute Holiday Preparations

The countdown is on!  Are you feeling stressed, frazzled and worried that you won’t get everything done in the next few days? The holidays are just so much more enjoyable when we aren’t overwhelmed.  But sometimes we bring it on ourselves.  So to help avoid some of this, consider the following tips for last minute holiday preparations. First, plan to have more than enough food and drink if you are hosting.  This way you don’t have to be concerned about running out and you will have plenty of leftovers for the next couple of days. Second, keep things simple.  Don’t … Continue reading →

Holiday Travel: Are You Taking Off?

Despite growing economic woes and threats of fiscal cliff diving, it appears that a good deal of Americans will be spending money to travel this holiday season. According to TripAdvisor, 45% of people living in the United States plan to travel away from home between now and the first of the year; that’s an increase of three percent from 2011. TripAdvisor’s survey results also found that 63% of travels will be on the road for Christmas and 31% for New Year’s, with 61% seeing family and 23% visiting friends.  In addition, 48% of survey respondents noted that they plan to … Continue reading →