While often regarded as the most wonderful time of year, the holiday season is also an expensive spot on the calendar. Even as many families feel the squeeze of inflation and rising costs, there is hope for your budget when it comes to gatherings, gifts, food and beyond.(Family Features) Stick to a budget Beyond gifts and stocking stuffers, holiday costs can add up quickly once you factor in travel, decor, pet care, special events and more. Create an all-encompassing budget for the season then break it into segments for each type of expense, including hidden expenses like wrapping paper or…
If spending hours scouring store shelves or browsing countless websites for the perfect gift for everyone on your list seems like a daunting task, opt for a more personalized approach: a handmade gift. (Family Features) DIY mason jar gifts can be easy and affordable solutions when gift lists are running long but time is running short. Plus, crafting something for loved ones this holiday season can show them just how much you care. From canning and crafting to storage, drinkware and even gardening, Ball Honeybee Keepsake Jars can be used in a myriad of ways, including creating simple yet endearing…
One of the best loved and most sought after treats are cookies. While boxed and bagged cookies are delightful and really take virtually no work other than opening the box or bag, there is nothing like a homemade cookie. Below are some of the most scrumptious and easy cookies recipes. Get out your baking sheets, mixers, and parchment paper. It’s time to bake cookies! Chocolate Chip Chunk Cookies Serving Size: 18-24 cookies What You’ll Need: • Mixer • Parchment Paper • Unsalted Butter, room temperature- 1/2 cup • Sugar- 2 tablespoons • Sugar in the Raw- 2 tablespoons • Light…
Decorating for the holidays should be a fun, pleasant experience. So, you don’t have to start tearing down the Thanksgiving decorations the moment the last piece of turkey is eaten at dinner. Instead, start to transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas in a gradual way. When you transition your holiday décor, take your time and avoid feeling overwhelmed. Here are few simple things that you can do to transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas décor. Give Your Candles a New Look Candles are a familiar part of a home’s décor during both Thanksgiving and Christmas time. If you have brown, tan or…
A changing of the seasons may mean adjustments to your routine and updates to your home decor, but it also brings maintenance and upgrade opportunities for homeowners. As temperatures shift and seasonal weather rolls in, weatherizing can help you conserve energy, save money and improve comfort all while protecting the exterior (and interior) of your home from the elements. (Family Features) This checklist from the door experts at Masonite, a global industry leader in interior and exterior doors and door systems, can help you keep the outdoors out. Have Heating and Cooling Systems Inspected Turn to the professionals to have your…
You love you pet more than anything in this world, there’s nothing that you wouldn’t do for them. Even though you would love to take them with you everywhere you go, sometimes it’s just not possible to bring your pet along on trips. If you have big holiday plans that include travel, hire a professional pet sitter. Petting Sitters Are Professionals Of course, you trust your friends and family, but they aren’t always the best choice when it comes to pet sitters. For one, they have their own commitments and stresses to worry about. On the other hand, a professional…
November 25th, the Saturday after Thanksgiving is Small Business Saturday. American Express helps promote small business shopping around the country, making it a nationwide movement. Businesses around the country sign up to be part of the Shop Small Movement. Supports the Local Community Small Business Saturday encourages people to support local businesses in the community. This helps to drive sales at mom-and-pop stores that might normally struggle to compete with big chain department stores. Did you know that if you shop locally, the tax revenue benefits the entire community? This helps circulate the money spent back into the community, benefitting…
Thanksgiving often means an abundance of turkey leftovers. Rather than reheating the same meal repeatedly, let’s jazz things up! Repurposing your turkey leftovers can breathe new life into your post-Thanksgiving meals. Here are some quick and easy recipes that will make you excited about leftovers: 1. Turkey Pot Pie Ingredients: Leftover turkey, shredded Mixed vegetables (frozen or fresh) Pie crust (store-bought or homemade) Chicken or turkey broth Butter, flour, salt, pepper Instructions: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). In a skillet, melt butter, add flour, and cook for a minute. Pour in broth and let it thicken. Add shredded turkey…
As the year comes to a close, the weather gets colder and indoor festivities ramp up. Keeping children and their families healthy during the holidays should be a priority for everyone. (Family Features) “While gathering with friends and loved ones is an exciting and important part of the holiday season, staying healthy should still be on top of your ‘to-do’ list,” said Drs. Tress Goodwin and Joelle Simpson, KinderCare medical advisors. “Simple actions can be some of the most effective at keeping everyone healthy to ensure this season is a joyous one.” Consider these five tips from KinderCare’s medical experts…
Hosting a major holiday event is no small effort. It requires close attention to detail from planning, cooking and cleaning to entertaining guests on the big day. Fortunately, just like any good recipe, approaching your hosting duties one step at a time can allow you to create a magnificent final product. This Thanksgiving, the experts at Finish are helping hosts everywhere get organized, from the initial planning all the way through clean up, with the Ultimate Thanksgiving Timer. Created in partnership with Gaby Dalkin of “What’s Gaby Cooking,” it’s a personalized hosting timeline designed to help hosts stay on track…

