The Mom's Cheat Sheet » Holidays

Eggnog Pancakes

admin — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:49:49 +0000

It’s New Year’s Eve! If you have any leftover Eggnog, here’s a great use for some of it. These pancakes are festive, fun, and delicious. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Eggnog Pancakes:

2 cups Egg Nog

½ tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

½ Tbsp sugar

1 cup flour

1 egg

Mix all of the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl, until batter is smooth. Pour ½ cup amounts into greased frying pan over medium heat. Flip when batter begins to bubble in the center.

Enjoy!

-Grace

Slow Down This Christmas Season

admin — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:52:18 +0000

It’s Christmastime! Everywhere we look there are people out Christmas shopping, going to parties, and preparing for the holidays. There is decorating to be done, cookies to be made, and presents to be wrapped. With this special time of year comes an increased pace to our daily lives, which can sometimes bring stress.

Now, not all stress is a bad thing. The “stress” of buying presents can be a very fun activity, and an opportunity to bless your friends and family. The business of preparing for a party can be exciting and fun, and it’s very rewarding to have friends and family over to celebrate. However, sometimes we can let the stress of this season impact us negatively, and by doing that we tend to miss a lot of what this time of the year is really about.

I tend to be a very active person. I like to go places, do things, and participate in a lot. Christmastime for me is an opportunity to engage in more activities than we normally do, whether it’s in or outside of the home. This can be fun, but I’m constantly reminding myself that sometimes less really is more. I want to slow down, but sometimes I get so caught up in wanting to create “the perfect Christmas” for my family that I lose sight of what’s important.

How can we slow down during the busiest time of the year?

Take a moment (or two, or three…) to just sit and stare at your Christmas tree. Brew some coffee or make some hot cocoa, and just sit by your tree.
We spend enough time decorating it, so take the time to really enjoy it. Sometimes it’s nice to just be still, take it all in, and quietly watch the snow fall outside.
Go for a drive and look at Christmas lights. My kids love looking at all of the decorations that people put out this time of the year. Try going for a drive “just because,” rather than on the way to or from some place. It’s nice not to rush or worry about being on time, but rather to take a cruise around the neighborhood and check out your neighbor’s cool reindeer display.
Don’t do something because you “should.” I tend to put expectations on myself that are unnecessary simply because I think that I “should” do something. If you don’t get around to doing something, that’s ok. It’s a busy time of year, and no one can get around to doing everything all of the time. If your Christmas cards don’t go out till mid January, that’s ok. If you don’t send them at all, that’s ok too.
Feel free to cut corners. Buy a gingerbread house kit, grab the pre-made sugar cookie dough, and do whatever else you can to make something enjoyable, rather than a chore. Now, if you enjoy baking things from scratch and have the chance to do this – by all means, go for it! Just make sure you are doing it because you want to, not because you feel like you can’t cut corners this time of year. I used to love going out to a Christmas tree farm and spending the day picking out the perfect tree, but since having kids my husband and I have settled for driving over to the grocery store parking lot where the Boy Scouts sell trees. One day I’d like to go back to the Christmas tree farm, but for now it works for our family to take a shortcut.
Focus on having Christmas – not doing Christmas. There are many things that go into celebrating the holiday season. Decorating the house and cooking for company can be a wonderful, fun way to celebrate, as well as traditions like gingerbread houses and baking Christmas cookies. One thing that I remind myself, though, is that I shouldn’t get so caught up in “doing” Christmas that I end up missing it. Take time to enjoy the little things, and if you need to skip something, that’s ok. It’s better to scale back and do less – but enjoy it – rather than check everything off the list but end up feeling stressed beyond belief.

With everything that goes on this time of year, it can be tempting to focus solely on getting it all done, checking things off of the “to do” list, and worry about how many shopping days are left. I encourage you to take some time to slow down, relax, and enjoy this season. It comes and goes so quickly – so take some time to stop and smell the Christmas cookies.

-Grace

Believing in Santa

admin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:11:28 +0000

I remember believing in Santa Claus for a long time. Sure, all of my friends had known for years that it was really their parents who wrapped the presents and ate the cookies, but wouldn’t listen to them. There was something magical and wonderful about looking up in the sky on Christmas Eve hoping to see a sleigh, and that wasn’t something I was in any hurry to give up.

Now that I have my own children, it’s like being a kid all over again at Christmas. I want them to have the same wonder and awe that I remember having as a child, and I hope they believe in him as long as possible. Since my girls are only two and four, I think that we have a few more years of this, but I have often wondered just how long we can stretch it out. I’ve actually worried about this, feeling a bit sad to think that there will come a day when they’ll stop believing.

This post from Mom Logic encouraged me that kids won’t necessarily stop believing in Santa anytime soon. That would be great if we had years and years of baking cookies for him the night before Christmas, telling stories about how we heard his footsteps on the rooftop, and discussing how the elves make toys. There is something magical about the story of Saint Nick, which is why I hope to continue it with my kids as long as we can.

My Kids Still Believe in Santa Claus [Mom Logic]

Magic Bars – A Suprisingly Easy Dessert

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:06:57 +0000

My husband recently attended a work Christmas party where the employees brought in baked goods and competed for a prize. Since I love to bake, we thought this would be fun to do together.

After searching through my recipes, I just couldn’t find anything I thought was suitable. I decided to look online for different recipes to try, and we came across this absolutely delicious recipe.

Although we didn’t win (we came in second, though!), I think the real prize was the leftover Magic Bars he brought home from the party. These things are amazing, and I can’t believe how easy they are to make!

Magic Bars:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1 1/3 cups sweetened flaked or shredded coconut

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (you can also mix white chocolate with milk chocolate – we did this, and they were fantastic!)

1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

1 – 14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and place the rack in the center of the oven. Have ready a 9 x 9 inch square baking pan or Pyrex dish.
Melt the butter and pour it into the bottom of your pan. Sprinkle the graham cracker crumbs evenly over the butter. Sprinkle the coconut over the crumbs. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the coconut. Sprinkle the nuts over the chocolate chips. Finally, drizzle the sweetened condensed milk over all the ingredients. Do not mix the ingredients together, just layer them.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the squares comes out clean. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Cut into squares. Store in the refrigerator. These bars can be frozen.

Enjoy!

-Grace

Magic Bars Recipe [Joy of Baking]

Christmas Gifts That Anyone Can Make

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:57:37 +0000

Everywhere I look, people seem to be Christmas shopping. Malls are packed, traffic is heavier, and the wait at Starbucks is longer. The hustle and bustle of Christmas can be fun, but sometimes I think that it detracts from what is really important during Christmas. Yes, it’s fun to find that perfect gift for your loved one and bring it home to wrap… but sometimes it’s even more meaningful to make something yourself.

Let me just say that I do not consider myself to be very crafty. I have some talents – but none that involve me spending time in craft and fabric stores. To tell the truth, those places intimidate me! However, though I may not have a knack for certain projects, I do like to try new things.

I found this post from Real Simple, and am very intrigued by it. We have quite a few people to shop for between our two families, and homemade gifts are appealing for both their sentimental nature as well as their cost effectiveness. I’m particularly interested in this Family Recipe Book, as well as the Chocolate Chunk Hot Cocoa Mix. These look projects that even I could pull off! And for those of you with a little more skill and knack for making things, take a look at the other twelve gift ideas here – this is a great list.

14 Simple, Beautiful Homemade Holiday Gifts [Real Simple]

Toy Safety This Season

admin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:33:51 +0000

Like many parents with small children, I make sure look for the safety warnings on toys as I’m Christmas shopping for my kids these days. My four year old is fine with most toys, but my two year old will sometimes stick small pieces in her mouth. She’s pretty good about not trying to chew on the little pieces anymore, but I will admit that I’ve thrown away Barbie shoes and other tiny toy parts that they won’t miss – because I’d rather not risk her choking on them.

Choking is just one of the things we moms have to think about when it comes to toys. We’ve all heard the famous phrase, “you’ll put your eye out.” I find myself tempted to say that every time my two year old finds the canon pieces that go to her Duplo circus set. This Duplo actually shoots a cannon ball out of a little canon – which they love, but makes me nervous sometimes. Usually it doesn’t bother me, but sometimes my two year old gets it stuck, and then holds it up to her eye to examine it. Yikes.

As diligent as we moms can be about toys, I think it’s important to remember that kids can manage to bump, bruise or get a “boo boo” from almost anything – no matter how well you baby-proof or how much attention you pay to toy labels. I read this blog by Brian Reid from The Post’s Parenting blog, and I really enjoyed it. I can relate to where he is coming from, and I thought I’d pass it along for you to read as well.

What do you think? How strict are you when it comes to toys?

On Parenting: Evaluating hazards of children’s toys [Washington Post]

Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies

admin — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:28:12 +0000

If you are looking for an easy, delicious cookie recipe for the holidays, then look no further. I made these cookies for my sister and a friend a couple of days ago, and they are absolutely wonderful! The peppermint chips add a holiday flair to the cookies, and throughout the year you can use this recipe by omitting the peppermint and adding more chocolate chips.

Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies:

2 ¼ cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

¾ cup white sugar

¾ cup brown sugar

2 sticks butter

1 tsp vanilla

2 large eggs

6-8 oz chocolate chips (depending on your preference)

6-8 oz Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips

Preheat Oven to 375 degrees

Mix the dry ingredients – set aside.
Mix two sugars briefly. Add the softened butter and beat until pale and fluffy.
Add vanilla – mix.
Add eggs – mix.
Add the dry ingredients (1/2 cup at a time). Don’t over beat.
Add chocolate and mint chips – mix.
Place tablespoons of batter on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 9 minutes, or until done.

Enjoy!

-Grace

Operation Christmas Child – A Great Holiday Lesson

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:00:03 +0000

National Collection Week begins this week for Operation Christmas Child, and we are excited! For those of you who are not familiar with this program, it is ministry from Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief organization. Through this program, you can send a shoebox of small gifts to a child in need – someone who may not have anything at all this Christmas. This is a wonderful opportunity to not only bless another person, but it is also a great experience for kids. Our kids love this project, and it helps them to focus on others who are in need. This a chance for a child to focus on giving gifts to another (as opposed to only thinking about what they want for Christmas), as well as a good lesson on helping those in need – and being thankful for everything we have.

For more information on Operation Christmas Child, you can visit their website at http://www.samaritanspurse.org.

What to Do With Leftover Halloween Candy – Great Ideas

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:06:29 +0000

Now that Halloween is over, we are left with more than enough leftover candy. Between trick-or-treating, the Halloween preschool party, and candy from grandparents, we have quite a bit in our pantry right now. I don’t feel too bad about munching on it for a couple of days, but after a while I really need to get rid of some of that stuff. But what am I going to do with it all?

Here are some great ideas from Alpha Mom. My favorite idea is a countdown calendar with cups of candy – something that is simple to make and requires very few supplies. This way the kids are able to space out their candy and enjoy it over the next few weeks.

Check out her simple instructions and more ideas for what to do with that leftover candy – I’m pretty excited about the calendar, and I can’t wait to get started on it!

Repurposing Your Leftover Halloween Candy [alpha mom]

Start Planning Your Christmas Shopping – And Start Clearing Out Old Toys

admin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:00:39 +0000

It may still be October, but it’s time to start thinking about Christmas. As I was watching my two year old play with her My Little Pony today, I thought about how she would enjoy one or two more and have several to play with – what a great Christmas idea for her! I started getting excited, thinking about what to get her for Christmas (and I’ll admit that my secret reason for getting My Little Ponies for her is because I used to love them when I was a child).

Not only is it time to start thinking about Christmas gifts for the kids, but it’s also time to start thinking about Christmas purging. I’m talking about going into the playroom or the basement and surveying all of your kids’ toys before you go out and buy new ones (and before you start giving grandparents ideas…). To stay organized as you add to your collection of childhood fun, I have a few thoughts on the subject.

Collect all the toys they no longer play with. When the kids are asleep, take a bag into their play area. Pull out everything you hope to either throw away or donate, and put it in the bag. Don’t do anything with this bag for a week or two, though. My rule is that if my kids actually remember some random Happy Meal toy and ask me where it is, then I’ll return it to the toy room. If they forget about it, then I will get rid of the old toys.
Remove toys that are too young for your kids. I don’t know about you, but my kids are growing up more quickly than I realize some days. I still have a bag of Mega Blocks in my toy room, even though they are moving on to Duplos and Legos. Look through your children’s toys, and pull out toys that are too young for them. Store them if you plan on having more kids, or donate/yard sale/give them away. Once in a while if my kids catch on to what I’m doing, I just remind them, “You’re a big girl, right? You have some new toys you received for your birthday. “I’m going to put away these baby toys – you’re too big for these now!” And they usually are fine with that explanation.
If you are already maxed out for space, let the grandparents know. It’s wonderful if you have family who enjoys blessing your children with many gifts, but don’t be shy about letting them know your limits. For our family, we are running out of room for larger toys. My kids have a craft table, two easels, a huge Barbie house… and the walls are closing in on us. A grandparent may really enjoy buying some huge present for your child, but if you don’t have the room in your home let them know. Mention toys that take up less space – craft supplies, puzzles, games, etc.
Before Christmas hits, have new storage/organization ready. If you’re looking at a play area that can’t hold one more toy, consider being proactive with your space. If you know what your kids are getting for Christmas, think about how to organize it now, rather than the day after Christmas. Go ahead and put up a shelf for the new games they are receiving, or assemble some storage cubes to hold new toys and stuffed animals from the grandparents.
When you go shopping for the kids, add to what they already have. If I buy my four year old some Barbie furniture for her Barbie house, it won’t take up any space or become just another random toy. She already has the doll house and the Barbie dolls, so more furniture would be pretty cool for her. Another example: my four year old recently received a bike for her birthday, so I went to Target yesterday and bought her a bike helmet, bell, and basket for her bike. She’ll love the gift, and I love that we’re not buying more toys!
Make stockings practical – but still fun, of course. Feel free to make fun of me on this one, but I like to put practical stuff in my kids’ stockings. Don’t worry – I don’t fill their stockings with diapers or plain white socks. But I do fill their stockings with cute Disney socks (Target – $1!), a new toothbrush, hair bows, and even fruit snacks. Once fall hits, I stop buying fruit snacks as regular snacks. After a couple of months without them, they think it’s a novelty to have a stocking full of Princess fruit snacks. I’m sure tricks like that won’t last very much longer, but I’ll do it while I can. Just remember that stockings don’t have to be filled with a bunch of cheap little toys. In a month’s time, these cheap little toys will be the things that you find strung along your house, stuffed in random baskets in the play area, and then they become forgotten. And then you have to pitch them next October!

As the holidays are upon us, enjoy getting ready for them. And if you shop early (now is still “early,” right?), remember to do what you can to minimize the chaos on the day the presents arrive. Although it’s always fun to head to the playroom with a bunch of new things to play with, it’s even more fun to do it knowing that toys are not coming out of your ears, and you actually may have a place for all of this new stuff!

-Grace