How to Plan the Perfect Christmas Party: Some Top Ideas to Make Your Event Memorable

 

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and we are full of good cheer! There's nothing like a proper celebration of the season, and if you plan a Christmas party, you know very well that it needs to be as special as possible. And whilst you can always rely on Christmas traditions and the décor you used in celebrations past, there’s no reason to stop there. In fact, there are more ideas than ever – and they can certainly add a sparkle to your Christmas event. So here’s how to plan the perfect Christmas party: some top ideas to make your event memorable.

Select your venue wisely.

The first thing on the list would be to select your venue wisely. The venue, after all, can make or break your event – especially the most amazing event of the year! When selecting a venue, it's important to consider certain requirements, such as live music or a dance floor (and these are just the beginning). You also have to consider whether the space is what you need – so make sure you have your guest list (or at least an estimate of the number of people). It would also be wise to keep a few questions in mind, such as whether the venue has a sound system, when it is available, the booking terms and conditions, and whether it has parking. Does the venue have its bar and catering facilities?

Determine a theme

Why not determine a theme if you want to give your Christmas event that extra 'wow' factor? The theme will help you decide on other aspects, such as décor, food, entertainment and activities, and so on. Some themes are also more inspired than most, such as a winter wonderland, a Christmas jumper or pyjama party, a Christmas party with Christmas characters like Santa Claus, Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, Santa's Elves, and more. Or you can celebrate in style with a Christmas carnival, and plenty of Christmas-themed stalls are available nowadays. Whatever theme works best for you, you could also seek help from fabulous party planners in Gloucestershire, like Oasis Events.

Decide on the décor

The decorations can add more ambience and personality to your event, but they can also be expensive, so take note of that. You can choose to create your décor (again, this would depend on the theme you are having), or you can rely on a professional to do it for you. If you decide to do your own thing regarding the décor, the best you can do is form a committee that will be in charge of it. This is one of the best aspects of having a theme – it can help you choose patterns, colours, and a motif much more easily. Plan ahead for the décor you need to hire from a vendor (like lighting).

Plan the entertainment

A Christmas party wouldn't be complete without the proper entertainment, so plan this wisely. You can go the traditional route with beloved Christmas games like charades, musical chairs, and musical statues. Or you can be more adventurous and have a game of Pictionary, wrap presents in a relay game, hold a Christmas-inspired treasure hunt, or have a game of Christmas bingo!

Image attributed to Pixabay.com

How to Save Money for Christmas

 

Photo by Joslyn Pickens 

When the Christmas season rolls around it is a time for gift-giving. However, before you go ahead and start spending, it is a good idea to try to save. 

With inflation rising, it's best to try to keep spending as minimal as possible. Here's a closer look at how you can control your spending this holiday season.

Create a Budget

The first step to saving money is to create a budget for the holiday season. First, write the names of all the people you want to buy gifts for and then decide how much money you want to spend on each of their gifts. 

This is an easy way to immediately control your spending. Once you have finished allocating the amount you want to spend, you can then calculate your expenditure. 

It might also be a lot more fun to try to fit the gifts you buy into the amount that you set for each person, instead of the other way around. Remember that getting gifts is simply a way to help us learn about the true meaning of Christmas. In the end, it's the thought that comes.

Use a Tracker

If you always have your phone with you a good idea will be to start using a tracker to keep your spending down this holiday season. It can be easy to say that you will think about how much you are spending in January. 

However, when January rolls around you will likely regret that you have spent so much. Getting an app on your phone to assist you with keeping track of your spending in real-time, is a good idea so that you can avoid regrets.

Start Shopping Early

One of the best things you can do is to start shopping as early as possible. The earlier you start shopping the less likely it is that you will overspend. 

Don't wait until the week of Christmas or the day before Christmas to start trying to find gifts. You are likely to end up having to buy things at more expensive prices. Take advantage of Black Friday deals and cyber week sales.

Combine Orders

If you decide to shop online you should consider combining your orders to ensure that you are getting the best value for your money. Buying all your gifts at one time and then getting them shipped out at once is the best way to avoid high shipping costs when you are purchasing gifts online.

Stay Off Your Credit Cards

Another thing you can do is try to stay off your credit cards during this time. Try to use cash instead. 

This is where making a budget becomes critical. You can then pull all the cash that you need at once.

Once that cash runs out your spending is done. Do not carry your credit cards with you when you go shopping. This will make it even easier for you not to use them if you run out of cash.

Set Up a Dedicated Christmas Account

If you typically have a lot of people you need to give gifts to at Christmas, you can set up a dedicated Christmas account. You can start putting funds in it from January so that at the end of the year you will have a good stash of cash ready to buy Christmas gifts. 

The good thing about having a separate account is that you get a debit card for that account. It helps you to separate your money. Even if you don't save in the account every month, you can decide on your budget for Christmas spending, put all the money into that account and then use your debit card. 

Shop All Year

Yes, you are trying to save money, but if you start your Christmas shopping a little bit every month by the end of the year you will already have a special gift ready for everyone.

Take advantage of all the sales that happen throughout the year and purchase something whenever you can. By the end of the year, you will have saved money and avoided the Christmas shopping rush.

Get the Gifts You Need

Getting gifts for the people you love at Christmas is critical. You don't want to disappoint anybody. However, gift-giving can rack up some very high bills. It's always a good idea to be as prepared as possible so that you can save as much money as you can for the new year. 

Tips For Making The Most Of At-Home Activities

 There are many ways that the home can be a fun environment, especially on days when it’s not possible to get outdoors. Yes, those rainy days when the household is confined to the indoor space with nothing to do.

In fact, there’s a lot that a household can get up to in the home. Here are a few tips to help take advantage of the wonderful opportunities available in the confines of your own home.

Image Source

Get creative with weekend baking and cooking

When it comes to getting into the kitchen, there’s nothing better than doing a little experimentation. On a day that doesn’t require a rush to get a meal ready, like the weekend, for example, it’s always good fun to try out some new bakes or to experiment on a new dish that you’ve wanted to try out for a while now.

With that in mind, consider what dishes are worth making during this time of year. Soups are a popular choice. Why not try this vichyssoise recipe? It’s a similar consistency to a soup and is the perfect way to try out some winter-warming dishes for all the family.

Spend some quality time with children making arts and crafts

There’s nothing better than spending some quality time with the children and getting creative. A good way to help unleash their inner arty side is by doing some arts and crafts. Get out all of the materials, including the more unusual types, and see what the children create.

An imagination and a passion for creativity can help craft some of the most talented minds, so it’s definitely worth helping children explore their creative side when possible.

Have a movie night with a favorite film and popcorn

A movie night with a favorite classic film is a good way to spend an evening, especially on the weekends. Partner it up with some popcorn or some light bites, along with a delicious tipple and you’ve got the makings of the perfect evening.

Sometimes, just lounging out in your comfies and watching television is all that’s needed to help enjoy the home and the people around you.

Spend some essential time on self-care habits

Where possible, spend some time looking after oneself. Self-care habits are important to have in place, especially as we can often neglect ourselves in the process of looking after others. Find ways to spend some time on self-care, whether that’s treating your skin to a face mask or starting a book that you’ve been meaning to get going with or even visiting Family Dental in Batavia IL for a teeth checkup.

Switch off digitally and play some board games

We’re so heavily influenced and controlled by the digital world, sometimes it’s just good to switch off. With that in mind, think about switching off completely and playing some board games. These board games can be old classics or you could always purchase some new ones to see what board games of today are like.

Making the most of the home environment is important because often enough, the modern-day family doesn’t get a lot of time in it.

How To Prepare Your Home For Guests

 With guests on the way, it can be an absolute nightmare attempting to prepare your property for their arrival. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might imagine to get your home ready for guests, no matter how high their expectations may be! This guide contains some of the best steps that you can follow to refresh and revitalize your home in record time.

So, what are you waiting for? Read on to discover more!

Image Source - Pexels 

Focus On Curb Appeal 

Your home's exterior is the first thing that a guest is going to see when they arrive at your home - what will they currently be greeted with? If you have grass growing to hip-height, a dirty driveway covered in grime, and cloudy windows riddled with condensation, then any guest is going to feel uncomfortable about visiting or spending the night inside your home. You need to take advantage of the opportunity to set the scene in the best way as soon as a guest locks eyes on your home, as you can easily entice them in rather than turn them off!

To boost your curb appeal, always start with your garden. Get in touch with a team of experts such as those at masterscapes lawn care and landscaping, as this way you won’t have to get your hands dirty. Refreshing your garden so that it can take on a more manicured feel will help to make your property appear very well looked after, so it’s a step worth taking. You should always take the time to upgrade your windows if necessary, as cracked glass, fogginess and other related issues can certainly drag your properties aesthetic value down to an all time low. Get new double glazing and be sure to keep it shiny and clean - these windows will be eye-catchers for all of the right reasons!

Prepare Their Bedroom & En Suite 

Preparing your guests bedroom and en suite bathroom should be your next focus, as you need to be able to create the most enticing, relaxing space that includes everything they could ever need while staying at your home. Make sure that they have fresh clean bed sheets, as well as a couple of extra pillows and a thick blanket that they can utilize to suit their personal preferences. It’s a good idea to consider purchasing a mini-fridge to put in their bedroom, that you can fill with drinks and snacks in case they get hungry or thirsty. 

When it comes to their en suite, think about what you would likely need when visiting a friend or family member for a few days. Hygiene products like shower gel or soap, shampoo, conditioner and hand wash are essentials that you need to purchase beforehand. Buy small, travel sized bottles - this way, your guests can open a brand new packet and you won’t have to throw heaps away. Don’t forget to provide them with a bath towel and a hand towel, as well as a bath mat to cover the floor if necessary. They’ll appreciate every small touch, as it will mean that they won’t have to come to you to ask for something.

 Thinking Cap

Dustin fans need this cap to do all of their best thinking!

Stranger Things Eggo Pop It

Make viewing night an event with this fun Stranger Things Eggo card game!

 

Ann Arbor T-shirt Co. Hawkins Middle School A.V. Club

This is such a cool shirt for Stranger Things fans! Wear it with pride any and everywhere!

 

PEZ Stranger Things Gift Set Dispensers Plus 6 Candy Refills - Lucas and Dustin Pez Dispensers

Stranger Things fans are going to love this Pez dispenser set. It is perfect for displaying after the candy has been gobbled up.

 

Monopoly Stranger Things Edition

The classic board game, Monopoly, gets a dose of weird fun with the Stranger Things edition.

 

Stranger Things Lite Brite

This lite brite is made just for fans with some iconic scenes from the first 4 seasons. See what you can create with this nostalgic toy.

 

Loungefly Stranger Things Mini Backpack

Tote all your cash and goodies around in style with this zip around wallet!

 

Stranger Things Calendar 

This wall calendar features all of the cast and scenes you love from the show. This would be such a fun and functional gift idea.

 

Things Stranger Bracelet

This charm bracelet is the perfect accessory for any fan girl!

 

Stranger Things Upside Down Capsule Toys

These upside down capsule 2 packs are perfect for a surprise gift for a serious fan!

Stranger Things Plush Blanket

This super cuddly blanket is perfect for keeping cozy during all of the new episodes.

 

Funko Action Figure: Stranger Things 3  Pack 

Add these 3 action figures to your growing collection of Stranger Things goodies. They have so much detail that it is impressive!

 

Hawkins Middle School Yearbook/Hawkins High School Yearbook

These yearbooks are so much fun to look at after a good Stranger Things binge watch!

 

Funko Ornament: Stranger Things

 Stranger Things fans are going to love adding Eleven to their tree with this Funko ornament!

 

Funko Pop! Television: Stranger Things - Steve with Hat and Ice Cream

Steve looks awesome with his hat and an ice cream in this Funko Pop figure for collectors! It would be strange if you didn't get one!

Family Safety Online - Tips Every Parent Should Know

 Keeping kids safe online does not have to be too time-consuming. The devices, apps, and programs can help you a lot, and you can keep track of any online profiles they have if you know their passwords. Here are some top tips and strategies for keeping your children safe when they use the family PC or any other online device. They can help keep your information safe too.

Make A Kids Profile On Your PC

This is a top tip for both of you. Create a user profile just for your kids and lock out certain elements or remove programs you do not want them to have access to. This lets you keep your profile too, and it can remain untouched. You can check on your kid's profile and web browsing history and also install monitoring programs if you wish.

Protecting them in this way also protects your PC activity and your private documents and email access. You may enjoy playing some classic casino games online at Jackpot Casino or play their live casino games. Having a personal profile means they do not have access to your gaming, personal documents, or programs, protecting everyone.

Keep The Screen Where You Can See It

Parenting requires a lot of different delicate balances. You want your children to grow up to be confident and independent, but you also need to keep a careful eye over them to protect them from danger and threats. This is true online as well as in the physical world. 

Make sure you can get a parent’s eye view of the screen from a distance. Give your kids a little leeway and let them do what they want to do on the computer but keep checking what they are up to. When things get loud or go quiet, that is usually a sign they are up to something they should not be. 

Communicate With Them

Talk to your children about online safety and let them know they have to take care when using the internet and the computer. This should include both communicating and interacting with strangers online, avoiding some common pitfalls. They need to be careful what they click on.

Kids are as vulnerable to spam and malware as the rest of us, and a little education goes a long way. Teach them some basic safety rules, and lay down some ground rules for online behavior and how to act around the PC.

No Social Media Until They Are Teenagers

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media services have age restrictions on accounts. A good rule of thumb is to not let your kids join a social network until they are a teenager. Even kids' versions of apps and websites can make them vulnerable to online threats.

When they do get old enough, you will have to decide how to introduce your kids to social media. Facebook is a good first step as you can monitor their profile more easily and keep an eye on their friend group.

Follow these steps, and you should have plenty of control over your young children’s online activity without having to stay over their shoulders. Their self-confidence will benefit, and so will your time management.

How to Plan the Perfect Date Night at Home

 

Image Pixabay CC0 License

Spending quality time with your partner may be something you do not get to do often. Relationship experts recommend that couples spend 70 percent of their time together and 30 percent apart. But, when you are constantly busy, achieving this balance can take time and effort. Many people find that juggling parenting, working, and all the chores mean they have very little spare time to enjoy time alone with their other halves. So, on those rare occasions when you get to spend some time together, it is a great idea to make the most of this opportunity. 

Planning a date night is the perfect way to enjoy some together time with your significant other, but making restaurant bookings in advance and deciding where to go can be a hassle. If you want to avoid trying to make arrangements and would prefer to save some cash, then planning a date night at home is the perfect solution. Read on to discover how you can plan the perfect date night at home:

Choose the Perfect Meal

It wouldn’t be date night without a delicious meal to enjoy. Preparing tasty food for you to eat is a great way to make your date night extra special and one of the most important elements of your evening. But deciding what to cook can be tricky. You do not want to choose a recipe that will require you to spend most of the evening stuck in the kitchen trying to prepare a complicated meal. However, you do not want to make something so simple that it does not feel special. If you are in doubt about what to cook, pasta is always a great choice. Preparing an extra-special pasta meal, such as this salmon pasta recipe, will enable you to create something delicious without spending too much time in the kitchen.

Prepare the Room

Setting the scene is vital when you plan to stay home but want to make the evening extra special. Tidying up the space is a great place to start. It is impossible to relax in a messy space, so having a quick tidy around the room will make a big difference. Next, you may want to create some atmosphere. Lowering the lights and using candles is a great way to make the room feel ready for the occasion. Lighting some candles will instantly help you to feel more relaxed. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a candlelit meal?

Plan Some Conversation

If you and your partner rarely spend time alone together, you want to make sure that the occasion is enjoyable. Thinking of some conversation starters ahead of time will help to ensure you don’t wind up talking about the kids all evening or arguing about chores. Or, even worse, you each spend your evening gazing at your phones. To avoid this situation, you could start by reminiscing over good times gone by or discuss exciting plans for the future to ensure the conversation keeps flowing and you have a great night.

5 Quick Tips for Reducing Cooking Times at Home

 Two women cooking noodles - Image Courtesy of Pexels

Reducing cooking times is more than convenient. It can also save you money in the kitchen. Over time, you have probably developed habits that increase your cooking times. So here are a few quick tips to help you overcome long times in the kitchen and save you some cash.

Use Modern Devices

Gadgets in the kitchen, such as electric mixers, are a godsend for saving time when preparing food. Yet there are also many timesaving and energy-efficient devices for cooking. Please don't snub your microwave. It uses almost no energy and is excellent for cooking frozen vegetables and reheating sauces. Also, air fryers (see this recipe for sweet potato fries made in an air fryer) are becoming popular because they cook as well as in an oven for a fraction of the cost.

Cut Chunks into Smaller Pieces

It can be a lengthy process to cook some cuts of meat. And slow cooking will help some things, like cheaper cuts of meat. Still, a recipe could tell you to cook a whole piece of meat or fish. But if you cut the food into smaller pieces, you can often make it faster. Cooking boneless chicken or meat will also cut down on the time it takes to cook. For example, you could quarter a chicken into pieces. If you do this, the cooking time will drop from 1 hr and 20 min to about 45 min.

Use Pan Lids

This is a simple step that often gets overlooked in the rush of making dinner. When there's a lid to keep heat in, your food will cook faster. Make it a point to cover pots and pans unless the recipe says to cook the food without a lid. This will cut down on the time it takes to cook the food. This is also a great way to help bring liquids to a boil, which is a step in many recipes such as cooking corn. And if you don't do this when you boil water for pasta, you'll be wasting money.

Defrost Food First

Adding frozen ingredients to some cookbook recipes makes them even easier to make. There's nothing wrong with this, either. But if you want to shorten the time it takes to cook, defrost the meat or vegetables before you add them to the dish. If you cook something frozen, it will take a lot longer. It can also be risky if you aren't careful. The outside of your meat can look cooked, but the middle can still be raw. This can cause severe food poisoning and illness.

Preheat Pans and Oven

Not preheating the oven and pans is another common mistake in the kitchen. Even though most recipes don't need it, it helps cut down on cooking time. When you put cold food into an oven or pan, the temperature drops in the area. Also, some foods won't caramelize as well, like meat chops. And you will mess up a steak completely. But most foods only need a few minutes to cook on the stove in a frying pan and not much more in the oven if cut into pieces.

Summary

Reducing cooking times in the kitchen gives you more to do the essential things. And it can save money. You can use cooking gadgets, cover pans with lids and always preheat.

Nashville Hot Chicken Fried Potatoes

Let me tell you about the tastiest way to make fried potatoes ever. If you like the flavors of Nashville Hot Chicken, then this is the place for you! These Nashville Hot Chicken Fried Potatoes are so good that you are going to crave them all the time. Luckily, they are easy to make and are a cheap and delicious side dish to so many dishes.

My son, sweet Rolf, is 12 years old now. He is only about 2" shorter than I am. His feet are twice the size of mine. He is so beautiful... but he has an appetite like no other. But, he is PICKY. I am always looking for ways to fill him up, and if I can get him to try something new, then that is wonderful. 

I tried this tasty and easy fried potato recipe for a side last week and my family loved it. Even Rolf. He has asked me to make these again already. You only need 5 ingredients to make these and they taste so good! Let me tell you how I made these.

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons of Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning (I like The Spice Lab's version)

1/2 cup - 1 cup Buttermilk 

1/2 cup of flour

1 -2 large potatoes

Oil for Frying

Directions:

Slice your potatoes using a slicer like pictured above. You want them to be thin.

Pour the buttermilk over your potatoes. If you are only making one large potato, use 1/2 a cup. For more potatoes, add more buttermilk.

Add 2 tablespoons of Nashville Hot Chicken seasoning to the buttermilk.

Gently toss so that the potatoes are completely covered with the buttermilk and seasoning.

Allow to rest in the fridge for an hour.

When the hour has passed (this is so important for the flavor!)

Mix the flour and the remaining 2 tablespoons of hot chicken seasoning.

Stir.

Dredge the potato slices through the flour.

You can just make a single layer of potatoes on a plate or something as you work your way through the slices of seasoned potatoes.

Pour your oil into a saucepan. 

Heat over medium heat for a few moments until the oil is hot enough to fry. I am sorry, I have no idea what temperature I had this oil. I just know how to fry potatoes in oil after all these years in a kitchen. HA!

I guess, I would say, I treated it just like I would fried chicken?

When the potatoes were nice and crispy, and golden brown, I pulled them out of the oil to drain on a paper towel. Use a slotted spoon!

Repeat with remaining potatoes, and these are the end results.

They have that whole spicy chicken vibe, but they are just potato slices. 

They are SO GOOD! 

These would be great for satisfying a fried chicken craving on a potato budget.  But, they are also just a great way to make potatoes super enticing on the side of any meal.

If you try this recipe, I hope you LOVE it! Be sure to save this to your pinterest food board. It would be great if you would share this recipe on social media.

Find more of my tasty food ideas here:

Cake Mix Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
Fool Proof 3 Ingredient Biscuits