Cinnamon & Baking Soda Ornaments

Kellie Renfroe Two favorites when it comes to homemade decorations are cinnamon and baking soda ones. Children love the fun they provide — of course parents and grandparents love them too! Cinnamon Ornaments Mix 3/4 cup to 1 cup of applesauce with one 4 ounce …

Hosting a Gingerbread House Party

There’s nothing like the fun of hosting a gingerbread house party. Invite friends and their children over for an afternoon of pure delight. Set up card tables in the kitchen, garage, or on the deck (weather permitting). Check the dollar stores for gingerbread house invitations. Ask each …

Maintaining Balance During Christmas

Determine your stress level and decide not to do more than you can handle this year. For me, this means that the amount we have decorated our home has varied. Some years, we have put lights on the outside of the house; others years we …

Christmas Around the World

An idea for a Christmas party that will also serve as a global education opportunity for your children is to have an international Christmas party. We invited our international friends and asked them to each bring a traditional food item that is typical to their …

Caramel Apples

Let neighbors and friends know what a blessing they are to you with a decadent caramel apple. Sold in stores for $10 or more, they are quite inexpensive to make–only about $1.50 each. Best of all–no cooking is required! The key to making the apples …

Christmas Eve Table Presents

Teresa Snipes Christmas Eve is always special for my family. We attend a candlelight service at our church. When we return home, we sit down in the dining room to a traditional meal of Mom’s homemade spaghetti. It’s easy to make and I can leave …

Christmas Dishes

Kristie Markham says she changes out her regular dishes during the month of December with Christmas dishes. “We use Christmas dishes all the time instead of just on Christmas Day,” she shares. If you don’t have special Christmas dishes, set the table with white plates and use red and …

A Family Christmas Dinner

Menu: Crock-pot wassail, herb turkey breast, Paula Deen Mashed Potato Bake, broccoli salad, chunky sweet potatoes, frozen cranberry salad, and Chuck’s favorite cheesecake for dessert. Crock-pot Wassail 1 (46 oz) can pineapple juice, 1 (24 oz) bottle apple cider, 1 (6 oz) can frozen orange …