Whether the weather is warm and sunny or there’s a crisp chill in the air, spending time on your deck with family and friends is a relaxing activity and time-honored tradition. It’s also something that has become even more welcome and necessary during the pandemic. Your deck not only helps extend your living space and create an oasis for mingling in the fresh air, it also adds character and style to your house. Small changes can help make your deck a more attractive and usable space, and these tips for decorating a deck on a budget will greatly assist your efforts.
Decorating Your Deck on a Budget
How to Stock a Wine Fridge on a Budget
National Drink Wine Day on February 18 is (in my humble opinion) one of the best holidays of the year. It’s a golden opportunity to look past the typical bottle of vino you normally drink and try a new varietal or vintage. Drink Wine Day is also a great time to buy lots of new wines, and while this is certainly an enjoyable activity, we all know how challenging stocking your wine fridge on a budget can be.
Spooky Halloween Cocktail Ideas
Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. Of course, Halloween is the perfect excuse to eat your weight’s worth in candy! But it is also one of the most social holidays, built around trick-or-treating with friends as kids and, as adults, Halloween parties. If you employ a few cocktail tricks (and treats!), your drinks will be the centerpiece of your Halloween party. Not ready to throw a full on monster mash? Try a haunted happy hour, a chance for friends to stop by and have one of your spooky cocktails without worrying about hosting an entire evening.
Halloween Appetizer Ideas
Having a Halloween party? While candy might take center stage this holiday, you’ll need more than just fun-sized treats to serve at your spooky bash. Luckily, we’ve rounded up some scary good appetizers, bites and dips for you to whip up this Halloween. These Halloween ‘horror d’oeuvres’ will prepare everyone for the oncoming sugar rush of trick or treating or the excitement of your costume competition. Create a fiendish spread of appetizers. Here are our top 10 tantalizing and terrifying appetizers to serve at your Halloween party this year… Any one of these recipes will knock ‘em dead!
Best Wine Pairings for Thanksgiving Dinner
When thinking of the best wine to serve for Thanksgiving dinner, your first instinct might be to pair the wine with your turkey. After all, turkey is the most iconic Thanksgiving dish and likely it’s the centerpiece of your table! However, think “outside the bird” and consider pairing your wine to your side dishes instead. After all, you’ll likely be serving more than one bottle of wine at dinner, so you might as well accommodate different tastes, preferences and dishes to pair the wine with.
Create Your Own Advent Wreath
Advent, which begins the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve, celebrates the anticipation of Christmas. Although it is most associated with the Catholic and other Christian religions, many who are not particularly religious also take part, as seen by the popularity of chocolate Advent calendars that adorn shops this time of year. The Advent wreath, on the other hand, is sometimes harder to find. But fortunately it’s easy and fun to make one of your own as a DIY craft that can also be used as a stunning display on your table for the holidays.
Ugly Sweater Party Ideas
If you are going to entertain this season, have some fun with it by hosting your very own Ugly Sweater party. These themed parties revolve around embellished, adorned, colorful, (and, yes, often) ugly sweaters designed specifically for the holiday. The Ugly Sweater theme can help make work holiday parties feel less stuffy, give friends an opportunity to be creative and get your family together for some hilarious photo opportunities.
Easy and Affordable Holiday Decor
Get into the spirit of the holiday season without spending a bundle on your decorations! Here are some simple and inexpensive décor ideas that are chic, classy and certain to get you in a merry mood. Try these easy holiday decorating ideas this year.
How to Pick the Right Air Fryer for Gifting
The key to picking out a perfect gift? Forethought. So, before heading to make your purchase, think about the gift recipient’s kitchen setup and cooking skillset. Is the gift for an experienced home chef or a newbie? Do they have favorite go-to recipes and cuisines? What kind of kitchen tools do they already own? Don’t worry if you can’t answer any of those questions – an air fryer will cover all the home-chef gift-giving bases. Both experienced and beginner home chefs find these multipurpose kitchen tools easy to use and uniquely versatile.
Lesser Known Italian Dishes to Try at Home
Authentic Italian food is simple, but never plain. Cooking in Italy focuses on preparing fresh, seasonal ingredients in ways that showcase and amplify their flavors. Although pasta is a staple in Italian cuisine, there is a large number of pastas throughout the country in many shapes, widths, sizes and flavors. Beyond lasagna, pizza and spaghetti, there is so much incredible Italian food to discover.
Health Benefits of Drinking from Copper
In addition to being beautiful, copper drinkware may offer additional benefits to overall wellness and well-being. While drinking out of a copper water bottle is popularly attributed with a wide variety of benefits, it is not regulated and there is little scientific proof. But, at the very least it is a fun way to get you to drink more water! To learn more, check out this blog:
Understanding the Different Types of Blue Cheese
If the only blue cheese you’ve ever tried is the pre-packaged clumps of blue cheese that goes on a wedge salad — get ready to have your mind blown. There are many kinds of blue cheese out there that are distinct from one another as parmesan is from gouda. To learn more, check out this blog:
Kid-Friendly Sushi Ideas
My mom was raised in Japan, so I grew up with staples of rice and nori (dried seaweed) in the house, even though we lived in North Carolina. Although you might not have previously thought that sushi was a kid-friendly food, once you see your children’s little fingers happily snacking on sushi bites, it might become a staple in your house!
Building a Balanced Cheese Board
A great cheeseboard can be the highlight of a party – or just enjoyed on a decadent night alone! Make sure you have a balance of different types of cheeses, an assortment of crackers (crackers are not one-type-fits-all!), and a selection of accompaniments for a well-balanced cheese board. To see my tips for creating the perfect cheese board, check out this blog:
Breakfast Pizza Ideas
Pizza and breakfast are likely two of your kid’s favorite food groups! So, breakfast pizza is way to combine the two much-loved categories while also providing a tasty and satisfying start to your day. Breakfast pizza takes the conventional idea of Italian-born pizza to a while new level – a treat your whole family will get excited about. Pizza can be a vessel for your favorite breakfast ingredients, showing just how delicious and versatile breakfast pizza can be.
How to Make Fritters
Most people had their go-to pandemic food. Trendsetters baked sourdough, even-busier-than-before working moms relied on Instant Pot recipes, and remote work Millenials whipped coffee. For me, I bounced between trying time-intensive, gourmet new recipes and eating microwave popcorn for dinner. Both with wine. And then I discovered fritters.
Making a Perfect Manhattan
While the martini was made famous by James Bond, the Manhattan is one of the most classic and beloved cocktails. The story goes that it was invested in the Manhattan Club in New York City around 1880. Now, the craft cocktail movement has brought Manhattan’s back into the limelight.
Kid-Friendly Melamine Dishes
I was first introduced to melamine when I bought dishes for outdoor dining and entertaining. But now, it’s my go-to for all dishes and serving trays. The hard plastic resin comes in a wide range of colors and styles, with a quality look and feel that offers a compromise between china and cheap plastic, while being sturdy enough for everyday use. Melamine dishes are more durable and lighter than ceramic, making them the perfect dishes for families with kids. Especially as your kids get older, melamine offers the ideal blend of looking and feeling high quality while being resistant to breaking, dings, and scratches. Melamine dishes are so versatile that they are perfect for the whole family!
Spring Guide to Rose Wine
Spring is right around the corner, which means it’s almost rosé season! Although rosé wine is delicious all year long, it pairs perfectly with long spring and summer days. As the weather begins to warm, a cool, crisp rosé wine offers a lovely accompaniment to afternoons in the backyard, light dinners, and chatting with friends on the porch. Whether you prefer sweet rosé wine or dry rosé wine, the clean, fresh appeal of the wine charms nearly everyone.
Breakfast Ideas to Freshen Up Your Morning
Mixing up your breakfast recipes will give you a fresh start to your day, inspiring innovation. Whether or not you believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you can make it into a memorable start, even with a busy morning competing for your attention. Leave the cereal box where it is, and think beyond traditional bland breakfast offerings to recipes with a little more creativity. Here are some ideas to upgrade your breakfast:
Easy Cinco de Mayo Appetizers
Whether to celebrate Cinco de Mayo or just to spice up Taco Tuesday, there are lots of fun and festive recipes to try. If you are having a party, you can load up a party tray with a myriad of Mexican-inspired flavors. Or, if it’s just the family, the snack tray can serve as dinner for your fiesta! Celebrate in style with a mix of familiar and new appetizers so there is something for everyone. Even if your party is smaller this year or just the family, you can still celebrate with a spread of delicious party food!
Unique Mimosa Ideas
Although you probably won’t get any complaints if you serve up traditional sparkling wine mimosas at brunch, it might be time to take your celebration up to the next level of deliciousness. Sometimes you may want to embellish the customary mimosa just a bit, and other times, you may want to change it completely. In either case, I’ve put together some mimosa recipe ideas designed to help you add a touch of sparkle to any brunch celebration.
Mothers Day Gifts for Every Kind of Mom
You don’t have to spend a lot to show moms you care; putting time and love into an inexpensive but intentionally curated gift can mean more to Mom than a pricy gift. While traditional, one-size-fits-all Mother’s Day gifts are nice, think past flowers, digital photo frames, “mom” jewelry, and anything else you can pick up at a corner store the night before the holiday. This year, think ahead for a gift that specifically suits YOUR mom.
Snacks to Glow Up Your Movie Night
Snacks may be the best part of movie night! Instead of munching on whatever stale chips you have in the back of the cupboard, glow up your movie night snacks with fresh ideas. Whether you are looking for healthier alternatives to the preservative-laded movie candy or just looking to mix it up with some new treats, there are tons of options to upgrade movie night.
St. Patrick’s Day Cocktails for 2021
St. Patrick’s Day is usually one of the biggest party days of the year, but 2021 will likely see smaller, more refined celebrations as many areas continue social distancing. If you are celebrating with friends, a festive adult beverage will help get you in the St. Patrick’s Day mood. Not sure where to start? Here are a few cocktail options that are perfect for St. Patrick’s Day. Cheers! Or, as they say in Ireland – Sláinte!
How to Celebrate the First Day of Spring
The first day of spring, the vernal equinox, is on Saturday, March 20th this year. A time for rebirth and renewal, the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere is when the Sun crosses the equator line and begins heading north. On the first day of spring, the day and night are (approximately) equal in length. With the fresh start of a new season, take the opportunity for new beginnings in many areas of your life with some ideas on how to celebrate the first day of spring.
Easter Eggs Worth Searching For
Whether you’re avoiding store-bought Easter egg dye because of the mess, the artificial colors, or you just cant find them in your local shop, there are many other creative ways you can decorate your Easter eggs. Take a look around your kitchen – you likely already have several things on hand you can use to make natural egg dye. Explore your craft kits for other inspiration stashed in your art supplies. Even day-to-day items can be repurposed to decorate Easter eggs with a little bit of thoughtful creativity!
Easter Dinner Ideas on a Budget
Easter Sunday is coming up on April 4, 2021. This year, keep your costs under control with some Easter dinner ideas that can help you save money while making the holiday more delightful than ever. Money-saving tips for an inexpensive Easter dinner menu can even inspire you to explore new dishes and think outside of the box for a memorable holiday with your family.
5 Essential Kitchen Knives
Whether you’ve bought a knife set and aren’t quite sure what to use each knife for or you are investing in your first new knives, learning a little about the types of kitchen knives can change your cooking game. Not only can using knives correctly make your life easier in the kitchen, but it can also speed up your dinner prep and open you up to new recipes and techniques.
Cutest Ways to Announce Your Pregnancy
Whether it’s your first pregnancy announcement or you’re getting a soon-to-be big brother and big sister involved, I’ve put together some ideas to help you come up with how to announce your pregnancy. Whenever you decide to share your big news with the world, make it extra-special with these adorable pregnancy announcement ideas.
8 Wines to Pair with Your Kids’ Favorite Foods
The kids are fed, bathed, brushed, and in bed. Don’t feel like cooking another dinner tonight for the adults? Instead of whipping up a grown-up meal from scratch, warm up a plate of the kids’ dinner and pour yourself a big ’ol glass of wine. Don’t have kids? No problem! Whip yourself up some chicken nuggets or mac and cheese and enjoy these pairings.
Adorable Baby Shower Gift Ideas For Moms To Be
Gift registries are a great way to give the mom-to-be a practical present, but for anyone looking for a unique baby shower gift, think outside the (gift-wrapped) box. Since some parents-to-be are forgoing in-person baby showers due to the pandemic, you might not even have a registry to defer to! I’ve rounded up some cute gift ideas for a baby shower and the mom-to-be that will get you inspired.
4 Ways to Mentally Prepare Yourself for Pregnancy & Having a Baby as a Single Mom
Much of the advice single moms get prior to pregnancy is focused on how to prepare physically for pregnancy. From prenatal vitamins to losing (or gaining) weight, there are countless resources for how to prepare your body for pregnancy. But, it’s important not to neglect preparing mentally for having a baby as well! Being strong mentally will help you during the big transition of pregnancy and birth, much more than picking out the perfect crib. Taking steps to mentally prepare yourself now can empower you as you go through the overwhelming process of having a baby as a single mom.
Your Options When You’re Single and Considering Having a Child on Your Own
Around one-third of all American children under age 18 live with an unmarried parent. Most of those single parent homes are headed by a mom. As women, we have lots of options for how to become a parent, even without a partner. While there are some disadvantages to having children on your own, there are advantages as well. For instance, when weighing the options, you can make decisions based on what you feel is right for you, without negotiating with a partner. Whatever choice is right for you, here are some options to consider when thinking about having a child on your own as a single mom by choice.
Choosing Single Motherhood
Women are now having children when they are ready, separate from their journey to find love. We can throw out the old song ‘first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in a baby carriage.’ Women can have some or all of those things in whatever order we wish.
It’s an incredibly empowering idea. Single moms taking control of our biological clocks, deciding not to get into a relationship or stay in a relationship solely to achieve our childbearing goals before time runs out. Feminism has come so far! We can even shop for sperm online! Perhaps gender norms in America will radically change as women are much more easily able to have kids without a man than men are with a woman. At the moment, though, becoming a single mom by choice is still slowly growing in popularity.
5 Questions To Ask Yourself If You’re Thinking Of Having A Baby Alone
While there are many questions to ask yourself if you are thinking of having a baby, as a single mom, you also have the advantage of making those choices quickly and decisively. Take a single mom in your life out to coffee to pick her brain about different issues, to gain a new perspective. Join an online forum to participate in discussions with other prospective single moms to get different insights. Having a baby as a single mom can be expensive and emotionally intense, so consider these five questions.
Unique Holiday Gifting Ideas for Everyone
With many of us choosing a holiday-in-place, sending a meaningful gift in your absence can help bridge the distance. Without the present of your presence, choose a gift that spreads joy and will make your friends and family think of you all season long.
Read on for some of my favorite Christmas (and Hannukkah and non-religious winter holiday) gifts that might help get you thinking of the perfect present for everyone on your list.