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Are you ready for Christmas? Your last-minute holiday checklist

Christmas is just days away and as prepared as we think we are, there always to seems to be something we forget to do or get ready for. We’re here to help make sure that your holiday runs smoothly with a Christmas checklist you’ll want to refer to every year. Don’t forget to check it twice and then sit back and enjoy the magic of Christmas!

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Check the fridge and pantry: There is nothing worse than getting ready to prepare an amazing holiday meal only to find out that you don’t have an ingredient on hand and the stores are closed. Write down everything you plan to make and then inventory your refrigerator and pantry. Don’t forget appetizers and beverage needs.

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Remember service folks: Show your hairstylist, trash removal workers, the kid’s teachers, and all the people who make your life easier how much you appreciate them during the holidays. A gift card is a perfect way to do this allowing them to choose what’s right for them. Your delivery drivers and postal employees work especially hard this time of year, but they may not be able to accept gifts or only those valued under a certain amount. Check with your local offices to find out what they are allowed to receive. Another great idea is to leave a basket of goodies (think pre-packaged snacks, bottled water, and juice) at your door so they can grab a snack. With all the packages they are delivering, they may not have time to stop for a meal. Your gesture will be truly appreciated.

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Pick up stocking stuffers: Many times we find ourselves in a position where we could use a quick gift or stocking stuffer. Be prepared by picking up a few extra little tidbits for these very occasions. A good rule of thumb is to get something that you yourself would use, eat, or want and is not anything that would be outdated next year. That way, if you don’t give it as a gift, you can use it for yourself or keep it for next year.

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Don’t forget the pets: When busy shopping and picking out the perfect gifts for the humans in our lives, we sometimes forget about the furry critters that live with us. They like Christmas too! A couple of toys or treats for our fur-babies will make them extra happy during the hustle and bustle of the season. Most times, these gifts should be kept in an out of pet-reach place until you are ready to give them their goodies. 9 out of 10 times, under the tree is not a wise choice – trust us on this. 

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Schedule visit times: Family gatherings will be a bit different this year as large get-togethers aren’t recommended. If you have a lot of people you want to communicate with on Christmas it might be a good idea to create some kind of a schedule where can connect with them. This way you’ll be sure to share your season’s greetings with everyone you love and care about.

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Wrap it up: Are all those presents you hid throughout the house wrapped? Make one last sweep of all your favorite hiding place to make sure you’ve got them all. You don’t want to remember Christmas morning that you forgot those 2 on the top shelf in the linen closet behind the towels.

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Make your own checklist:  One of the most important things you can do is create a list of your own. Are the Christmas Morning Pajamas clean? Is your holiday music playlist ready to go? Have all the decorations been put up? There are so many things to think about. If you plan in advance and keep yourself organized you’ll be able to enjoy the very long holiday weekend with no worries!

 

Merry Christmas!

Delight Your Sweet Tooth: 8 Holiday Cookie Recipes You Should Bake Right Now!

One of the best parts of the holiday season is all the wonderful sweet treats that we get to indulge in! It’s that time of the year where we fire up the ovens and start baking all kinds of delicious cookies. Holiday cookie making is a tradition that many of us do every year. They make for thoughtful gifts, beautiful platters for your holiday get-togethers, and of course tasty snacks for everyone in the household to devour. Plus, who doesn’t love to have their home filled with the smell of cookies baking?

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There’s nothing like putting on your favorite pajamas, brewing up a hot cup of cocoa or tea, and satisfying your sweet tooth. Whether you lean more towards the traditional varieties of cookies or like to experiment with new recipes, we’ve put together some musts  you’ve got to put on your holiday baking list!

Eggnog Cookies SWP

  1. Eggnog Cookies from Spend with Pennies

A favorite holiday beverage in a chewy cookie is exactly what we crave. There’s eggnog in both the cookie and the icing! The great part about this cookie is the ability to finish them off by sprinkling a variety of different toppings over the creamy icing. You can find the recipe here at Spend with Pennies.

Raspberry Linzer

  1. Raspberry Linzer Cookies from My Recipes

What’s not to love about crispy almond cookies filled with sweet raspberry preserves? Dust with a little powdered sugar for the “snowy” vibe and you have a traditional holiday cookie that everyone will love. This recipe from My Recipes is just like grammas.

Peppermint Patty Cookies -Delish

  1. Peppermint Pattie-Stuffed Chocolate Cookies from Delish.com

This is a super easy 6 ingredient cookie that blends 2 of our favorite flavors chocolate and mint. This chewy cookie with a surprise inside is a perfect addition to your holiday cookie platter. Here’s the recipe from the folks over at Delish.com.

Pecan Crescent

  1. Pecan Crescent Butter Cookies from The Spruce Eats

No holiday is complete without these crescent moon, melt in your mouth pecan cookies. They are a very versatile treat that pair well with coffee, tea, or just by themselves. We love them as that little “something sweet” after a wonderful meal. Try this recipe with options for substitutions from The Spruce Eats.

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  1. Melted Snowman Cookies from myimperfectkitchen.com

A fun cookie to make that the kids will just love. You start with a basic sugar cookie that you can make from scratch, a mix, or refrigerated dough and decorate from there. It’s a cute alternative to the standard cut-out sugar cookie. My Imperfect Kitchen has a great recipe with step-by-step pictures to guide you through the process.

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  1. Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies from thefirstyearblog.com

If the thought of chocolate and cherries has your mouth-watering you’re not alone. These are a Pinterest favorite and the recipe from thefirstyearblog.com has amazing pictures that will have you writing ‘cherries’ on your grocery list immediately.

Pistachio

  1. Gluten-Free Pistachio Truffle Cookies from Epicurious

This sweet and salty cookie is a great way to get your sugar fix without straying from your gluten-free diet. They take a little more effort than some other recipes but the end result is a cookie you’ll want to make well beyond the holiday season. Epicurious has a detailed recipe that walks you through the process.

Gingerbread

  1. Gingerbread Men (or women, or whatever) from Taste of Home

No holiday season is complete without the traditional gingerbread cookie. Traditionally, the most popular shape is happy little guys complete with buttons and a big smile. Nowadays, any shape you desire will complete your holiday cookie display. We found one of the best recipes over at Taste of Home.

If you have a favorite recipe we’d love to have you share it with us. Post it here or on our Facebook page.

 

Happy Baking!

Looking for the perfect gift? Unique holiday gift baskets they’re gonna love!

With the holiday gift-giving season in full swing, we all have that person or people in our lives, that are either impossible to shop for, already have everything, or we’re just not finding something that screams “this is it”. Sure you can go grab a gift card, a bottle of wine, or a pre-made gift box and give those as gifts. That would be quick and easy right?

We have a better idea. Make unique gift baskets for everyone on your list this year. They are completely customizable, look beautiful, and you have complete control of their contents. Plus, we think you might have some fun making them too!

We’ll get your creative juices flowing with 10 basket ideas we plan on making this year.

BM Basket

Bloody Mary Basket. The vodka is the centerpiece of this basket so make sure you get a nice bottle. Add a bottle of Bloody Mary mix, hot sauce, seasoned salt, an array of pickled condiments, and some snack mix to round your basket out.  As a nice Added Touch, you could add personalized glasses with the recipient’s name.

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Spa Day Basket. There are no rules for this one. Fill it with scented body washes, scrubs or sugars, bath accessories, facial treatments, and even a pair of warm slippers to tie it all together. A few candles, a fragrant diffuser, and soft music CD makes this gift even more special.

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Pet Lovers Basket. Sometimes, when you give the gift to the special fur baby in someone’s life, you’re doing much more than giving the human parent something. You can fill these baskets with so many goodies like dog treats, toys, pet outfits, or even a new dish for food or water. Top it off with a beautiful frame for the human, so that they can proudly display their favorite picture of their beloved companion.

Salad Bowl

Salad Addict Gift Basket. You probably don’t want to add fresh produce to this gift, but you can give them wonderful additions to the standard salad. Think nuts, dried berries, tortilla strips, croutons, artichoke hearts, olive oils, a bottle of fancy vinegar, and don’t forget the gourmet dressings (make sure you don’t choose ones that need refrigeration). Instead of a basket, use a large salad bowl to hold everything and finish it off with serving utensils.

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The Cuddle Up Basket. This is for the person who either needs to relax or loves spending a peaceful day at home. Start with a set of pajamas, warm socks, a cozy blanket, and then include herb tea and honey or some trendy hot chocolate bombs. If you know what kind of movies they like, include a couple of Blu-ray discs.

Wine Gift

The Wine Drinkers Basket. Yep, we said a bottle of wine was quick and easy but an entire wine basket is a whole different thing. Choose good wines, and add wine glasses, wine glass charms, coasters, and chocolates. A wonderful added touch would be a gift certificate to a local cheese shop. Shopping for a beer lover instead? Swap out the wine items for craft brews, beer mugs, beef jerky, and nuts.

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The Breakfast Basket. The most important meal of the day has no rules. Pancake mix, maple syrup, bacon (make sure they can refrigerate right away), jams, breakfast biscuits, granola bars, coffee, tea, homemade sweet bread/muffins, or anything else you think they will enjoy can be added to this thoughtful gift. If you want to add some non-food items, consider coffee mugs or a gift certificate to a local restaurant for champagne brunch.

The Pickle Fanatic Basket. There are hundreds of different kinds of pickles out there. If you know someone crazy for pickles, this is a wonderful treat. You can get hot & spicy ones, sweet ones, sour ones, big pickles, and small pickles. You can even find things like pickle-flavored candy, chips, vodka, and nuts. A quick internet search of ‘pickle flavored’ will shock you. If you know someone who lives for hot sauce, you could do that instead.

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The Pasta Chef  Basket. Fill it with unique kinds of pasta, robust sauces, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pasta serving spoon, and a chef hat. Sweeten it up with Italian cookies and some limoncello.

The Barbecue Master Basket. Perfect for the king –or queen – of the grill, you can get super creative here. A nice set of BBQ tools, seasonings & rubs, barbeque sauces, hot pads, hickory or apple chips, metal skewers, and a digital meat thermometer are just some of the items you can stuff this basket with. Want to really make an impression? A gift certificate to the local meat market will make their holiday extra great!

When it comes to gift baskets, there is no right or wrongs. They are fun to make, always get a wonderful reception, and allow you to give folks exactly what they like. Come up with your own theme and fill those baskets full!

If you have creative ideas for unique gift baskets, please share them here or over on our Facebook page.

Easy Homemade Stocking Stuffers Perfect for Holiday Gift Giving

Many people are doing Thanksgiving weekend a little differently this year. Lots of folks won’t be traveling or hosting large get-togethers. Black Friday will be a more virtual event than anything else, and you’ll find yourself spending a lot of time at home with your immediate family.

So how can you spend your time after the feast is over? Enjoy a day of making homemade stocking stuffers! It’s a great way to spend fun family time, and you’ll have some wonderful gifts for the holiday season. These homemade presents will be perfect for friends, family, neighbors, teachers, and even your mail carrier or hairdresser. Pretty much anyone you’d like to share a little cheer with!

There are tons of great ideas out there, and many of them you can do with things you already have in your home. Here are some of our favorites. We hope you’ll find this fun to make and spread joy to others.

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Mint Sugar Scrub – Every gal loves beauty products and you only need a few ingredients to make this absolutely fabulous sugar scrub. All you need is ½ cup oil of your choice (we like coconut), 1/12-2 cups of sugar, 1 Tablespoon of peppermint extract, and a drop of green food color. Warm the oil in the microwave for about 20 seconds and add 1 ½ cups of sugar, the extract, and color. Mix everything until well combined (add some more sugar if it’s too moist). Pur in small mason jars and decorate with a festive ribbon or cloth under the canning lid. You can also use different essential oils or extracts (with different food colorings) to make a variety of scents.

Ornament

Salt Dough Ornaments – There is nothing more special on a tree than a one of a kind handmade ornament. Simply mix up 4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup salt, and 1 1/2 cups of warm water in a mixing bowl. Knead the dough until it is smooth. Roll it out and cut shapes with holiday cookie cutters or better yet, go freestyle. Be sure to make a hole for hanging (a straw works great) Bake for about an hour at 300°F until dry. Let them cool and then decorate!

Cinnamon Candle

Cinnamon Stick Candle Holder – Fill the air with the sweet smell of cinnamon for the holidays. It doesn’t get easier than this. Place cinnamon sticks around a candle, and hold them in place with a rubber band. Then cover the band with twine or ribbon for a beautiful, deliciously smelling gift.

Cocoa

Hot Cocoa Mix – Another stocking stuffer in a mason jar brings a sweet warm treat to all! Layer cocoa, sugar, powdered milk, and marshmallows in a jar. Decorate and share the sweet love. We found a great recipe at The Food Network

Sweater Stockings

Sweater Stockings – Want to step it up a notch? Create the actual stocking and stuff it with your handmade gifts using old sweaters. This is quite easy and they are absolutely adorable. Trace a stocking on an old sweater, cut it out, and then sew it inside out with the foldover sewn the opposite way.  Use fabric scraps, ribbon, or wood or metal house numbers to personalize.

We hope you’ll have tons of fun making these gifts! From the team at the Pajama Company, Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Be Thankful Every Day – Start a Gratitude Journal

Thanksgiving is traditionally the time of year when we express gratitude for the things we have in life. Now more than ever, starting and ending your day on a positive note can make all the difference in your mood, outlook, and mental health. Not only that, focusing on the good – both big and small – can change a person’s entire perspective on life.

 

It’s easy to focus your energy on the not-so-great things that happen to you. Sometimes we feel that if we just pull the covers over our heads, it will all go away. The truth is, ignoring the struggles in life are only a temporary reprieve. You have to learn to appreciate the positives and take in everyday things we have to be thankful for. A gratitude journal is the perfect way for you to express yourself, and bring to the forefront all the things you might otherwise take for granted.

 

Starting a gratitude journal is a relatively easy task. We’ve got some great pointers to get you started and hopefully make writing in it part of your daily routine.

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Buy an actual journal. Sure you could use a laptop or a tablet to capture your thoughts, but there’s something about ink to paper that makes keeping a journal like this, that much more special. Purchase a nice book with enough pages to write in. You’ll likely refer back to it during the lower points in life to lift your spirits so you’ll want something that holds up.

 

Make it a morning routine. Start your day by writing down what you are thankful for. One line is all you need to write. Date the page and start your first line with “I’m thankful for (you fill in the blank).

I am thankful for _________

Make it an evening routine. Right now as you manage your daily grind, things that go on around you may be nothing more than the rut of everyday life. Once you start writing in your journal that will change. You’ll take notice of what’s going on around you, and it will trigger thoughts of all the amazing things you have to be thankful for. At the end of your day when you write about them, those same things will become enhanced and your heart will fill with even more gratitude.

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Don’t skip a day. Yes, life gets busy and responsibilities take over. Don’t let that be a reason to miss logging your thoughts. Make this a good habit that you don’t want to break.

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Share your thoughts.  A gratitude journal is not a diary but rather a way for you to embrace the positive things in your life. Share these things with loved ones like your family and friends. At some point, everyone you love will become an entry in your journal. They should know how you feel about them and why you are thankful for them. You may even inspire them to start their own journals

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Pay it forward. One of the best ways to express gratitude is to do something for someone that they can be thankful for. You never know, you just might just get your very own entry in their journal.

 

We promise; starting your own gratitude journal will be one of the best things you have ever done for yourself. There’s nothing better than living life with a positive attitude and making the very best of whatever life throws at you.

 

At the pajama company, we are thankful for you, our truly valued customers. We wish you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving.

 

12 Pajama Perfect Scary Movies for Halloween Weekend

Another Holiday in 2020 is here, but you’re probably not celebrating like you normally would. With many areas of the country putting a limit on capacities and even canceling many events, how do you celebrate Halloween and still enjoy the fear factor that we crave this time of year? The answer is a scary movie marathon! It’s the perfect time to put on your favorite pajamas, grab a soft cozy blanket, pop some corn, and settle in for a spooky fright night.

With so many choices out there, it might be tough to decide what to add to your playlist. We’ve got some favorites that put us in the Halloween mood and hopefully you too. From classics to modern thrillers there’s something for everyone on this list!

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Halloween (1978)– No Halloween is complete without the original scary Halloween movie. In this classic flick, Michael Myers breaks out of a mental hospital to go back to his home town to finish the job from 15 years earlier.

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A Quiet Place (2018) – When extraterrestrial creatures take over earth and all but wipe out living creatures from the planet, the only way to survive is by not making a peep. Don’t scream while watching this movie. You never know who will hear you.

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The Birds (1963) – Alfred Hitchcock terrified an entire generation with this movie about birds that inexplicably attack the people of an entire town. You may never go outside again after seeing this movie from the master of suspense.

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Annabelle (2014) – Possessed doll, paranormal activity… Need we say more? You’ll sleep with one eye open after this one.

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Us (2019)- Imagine being haunted by yourself. In this film, a family fights doppelgangers that are out to make them dead. If you like blood and gore while sitting on the edge of your seat then this move is perfect for you.

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Children of the Corn (1984) – A creepy cult of bloodthirsty children revolt against adults in this chilling Stephen King flick. You may never go to the country again.

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Paranormal Activity (2007) – You never know what you’re getting when you purchase a new home. This couple found out the hard way that their dream house was actually a nightmare

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The Exorcist (1973) – This movie is hailed as one of the scariest films ever made for good reason. It will haunt you long after the final credits. Also, pea soup may not be something you’ll eat for quite some time.

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It (1990 or 2017)– Whichever version you choose you’ll understand very quickly why so many people hate clowns. This guy is not here to bring joy.

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The Shining (1980) – After having sheltered in place for so long, this may not be the ideal film to watch unless of course you really trust your spouse.

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The Amityville Horror (1979) – Another film about a dream house gone horribly wrong, the original version is one that many people will tell you is the scariest movie they’ve ever seen.  And that gets amplified if after seeing it you ever wake up at 3:15am.

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The House on Haunted Hill (1999) – Ever wondered what it would be like to be trapped in a haunted house overnight? Watch this movie and you’ll wonder no more. You’ll also never accept an invitation from a guy that owns an amusement park to attend a birthday party.

NOTE: The movies we listed above are best when viewed with older children or other adults. If you’re looking for younger kid-friendly movies, there are also many options available. Before making your selections, we highly recommend reading the reviews from other parents to make sure what you’ve chosen will be age-appropriate for your kids.

What’s your go-to movie for a frighteningly fun Halloween? Drop a comment here or share with the community on our Facebook page.

 

Happy Halloween!  

10 Super Easy Halloween Costumes That Include Your Face Mask

As we approach Halloween, it’s time to start thinking about costumes and how we will dress-up this year. Usually we only think of wearing masks during Halloween, but as we all know, 2020 has been far from normal. We’ve been wearing masks for months.

Luckily for us, face mask manufacturers have provided us with just about any color, style, pattern, or design you could want in a protective face covering.  This makes it really easy to incorporate them into your Halloween costume. With only minimal effort, you can have a super cool costume all while doing your part to make sure everyone around you has a safe and enjoyable holiday.

We’re quite positive there will be lots and lots of creative people out there coming up with outrageous ideas for costumes using face masks, but we’re all about simple and quick so you can spend less time designing, and more time enjoying.

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Doctor or Nurse: A simple disposable mask and some scrubs is all you need but you could always add a stethoscope if you’re a Dr. or maybe a hat for a nurse to give the costume a little extra flair. The members of the medical community are truly hero’s, so if you’d like to really stand out, we love the idea of honoring them by incorporating a big “thank you” somewhere on your outfit.

Cowboy

Cowboy/Cowgirl: Jeans, boots, and a western shirt should about do it. Then you can use a bandana print gaiter as your mask to round out the look. Want to make people laugh? Carry a hobby horse with you!

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Ninja: These warriors are usually covered from head to toe with the exception of their eyes so use your imagination when creating this fun costume. Don’t forget the (plastic) sword.

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Animal: You can find just about any animal face mask you want on the internet. From Dogs and Cats, to pigs and bears, if you’re an animal lover there’s something out there for you. A fun idea would be to create a family “zoo” where everyone is a different animal!

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Mummy: A white mask, a whole lotta gauze and you’ve got a super scary Halloween costume. Not interested in wrapping your whole body in bandages? Wear white pants and a white shirt and just wrap your face. That will make it easier to use the restroom too!

Painter/Drywaller: Again, all you need is some whites splattered with some paint if you’re a painter or some jeans and a t-shirt with a little faux drywall dust (we recommend cornstarch) and you’re ready to go. You can add the appropriate tools of the trade for some extra bling if you like!

Coal Miner: A hat with a light, a flannel shirt, a pair of jeans and some work boots should do the trick for this costume. Maybe smear a little black makeup on your mask and face for the real miner look.

Bank Robber: You can wear just about anything for this costume and a gaiter mask is the perfect accessory. Throw in a couple of water guns and your ready to go!

Clown: Some crazy clothes and a clown mouth drawn on your mask and you’re all set. You can be a happy clown or a scary clown – you’re choice. In case you’re interested, we prefer happy clowns.

Create your own: There are tons of ideas on the World Wide Web for painting up a simple disposable mask into just about anything. You can make a jack-o-lantern face, add rhinestones and go as a disco ball, or even attach fangs and go as a vampire. Use your imagination. There are no wrongs when it comes to Halloween and masks.

We’d love to see your creativity! Share your pictures on our Facebook page and have a spook-tacular Halloween!

Put Self Care at the Top of Your List

Self-care is something that should be in our routines every day. Although September is the official ‘Self Care Awareness’ month, we think that taking care of ourselves should be an everyday occurrence.

We all have tendencies to put other’s needs ahead of our own, but it is important to remember that you can’t fill someone else’s glass if your own pitcher is empty. First and foremost, we need to tend to our own well being. Focusing daily energy on your mental, physical, and emotional wellness is important for staying fresh, healthy, and happy.

Most people think of self-care as eating healthy and getting enough exercise. Of course, these are a vital part of what we would consider self-care, but it’s the little things you can do to be good to yourself every day that make a huge impact on your overall well being. The true benefits of self-care come when an individual is true to themselves and enjoying the moment.

To start incorporating daily self-care into your routine, you must first refocus and reconnect with your inner self. Remember that you deserve positive attention, and making ‘you’ time in your busy life is not selfish, it’s necessary.

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Bring joy into your life.

Sometimes it can be a difficult task to make time for joy. We spend too much time worrying about things that we have no control over and not enough time taking in the wonderful things that surround us. Making time to be happy may mean setting new goals, finishing a forgotten project, or simply daydreaming. If you enjoy creative activities, find your inspiration there. Something as simple as coloring a picture or taking a beautiful photo can be a truly joyful moment.

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Schedule ‘me’ time

This should be your #1 self-care priority. You need time to yourself to reflect on things, reorganize your thoughts, and reboot. This could be an hour in the tub, a long walk, meditation, or even a drive in the country. The most important thing is that you are alone and without the distractions of everyday life. Enjoy you!

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Get your sleep

When you’re tired you are no good to anyone, especially yourself. Being well-rested allows you to wake up fresh and focused so you can use your time efficiently. Not only does this allow you to accomplish your daily tasks, it creates even more time for you to indulge in your own self-care.

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Eat something you want

Whether it’s healthy food, comfort food, or a high-calorie meal, indulging in even a little something is definitely self-care if it makes you happy. If you go for the latter option (we love dessert) simply eat in moderation and don’t overdo it. The whole point will be lost if you indulge and then feel guilty for falling off your diet wagon. The goal is to give yourself just a little bit of satisfaction

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Make the rest up
Self-care means different things to different people. The only common denominator is that it brings one happiness. What that looks like is up to you. Just make sure to follow through every day and inject a bit of self-care into your day.

Have Fun Creating a Fall Bucket List

Fall is upon us and for many people, it’s their favorite time of year. Pumpkin spice, cozy pajamas, leaves changing colors, and cool crisp nights are just a few of things we love about the season. This year, why not create a ‘bucket list’ of activities you’d like to partake in so that you can get the most out of fall.

We’ve got 9 fantastic ideas that are on our list this year to get you started on your own:

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Go to a corn maze. This fun family activity is one you can make a whole day of. Most places that offer corn mazes have a variety of other things you can do while you’re there like petting zoos, pumpkin picking, and hayrides. You’ll quickly get the whole family in the mood for fall!

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Paint a pumpkin. One of falls most loved activities is pumpkin carving. The Halloween tradition is said to have started in the 19th century in Ireland where they carved out pumpkins, turnips, or other root vegetables and used them as lanterns. More recently, painting pumpkins has become the latest craze and the design possibilities are endless. And if you still want to enjoy the pumpkin seeds, you can still cut open the top and scoop them out, although your creations may not last as long.

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Jump in a pile of leaves. Chances are as a child you did this many times but now as an adult, you may think it’s a silly thing to do. Sure you’ve probably seen a big pile-o-leaves and thought to yourself “I’d love to jump in that” but your grown-up voice told you not to.  Tell that voice to be quiet, and go for it! It will take you back to your childhood and a simpler time.

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Go canoeing or kayaking. Autumn is a perfect time to get into a canoe or kayak and tour the fall colors from the water. The air is still warm enough and you’d get a great workout at the same time. Just make sure you dress appropriately and mind the time as the days are getting shorter.

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Can fruits and vegetables. If you’ve never done this before you’ll want to do some reading first to ensure that you do things correctly and the food will be safe for consumption later. Whether the fall bounty you preserve comes from your own garden or from a local farmers market, you’ll love that you can have the taste of summer at your fingertips throughout the long winter.

Tulips

Plant bulbs for your spring garden. Anything that blooms in spring should be planted now. This includes Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinth, and Crocus. When the snow finally melts and spring arrives next year, these are some of the first flowers that will pop their heads through the soil and say “hello spring!” The Farmer’s Almanac provides some great tips for planting correctly HERE.

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Start a giant puzzle. Soon enough you’re going to be spending a lot more time indoors so why not dive in and start a puzzle that you can work on for the whole season. Make sure it’s at least 2000 pieces to really challenge you. It’s a nice way to wind down after a busy day or have some ‘me-time’ while the kids do their homework.

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Take a fall family photo for your Christmas cards. With all the vibrant colors of the season as your backdrop, you’ll have an amazing memory that you can share with friends and family during the holidays!

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Make caramel apples. Really what tastes better than a caramel apple? We say not much! The great part of creating these sweet treats is that it’s not just about caramel and apples anymore you can dress them up with just about anything. Of course chopped nuts are a great standby, but why not try other ingredients like cookie crumbles, chocolate chips, toffee bits, colorful sprinkles, or your favorite candy. These gourmet caramel apples will be a hit with the whole family!

Now that your wheels are turning and you’re list is getting started, we’d love to hear about what your fall bucket looks like. Tell us about them here or over on our Facebook page!

 

Happy fall!

Take in Summer’s Last Call with these fun Labor Day Activities

Another summer is wrapping up, and more so this year than in the past it feels like it went way too fast. We’ll still have plenty of warm weather to enjoy, but as kids head back to school and the days get noticeably shorter, Labor Day weekend typically marks the end of summer as we usher in fall.Make the absolute most of it by fitting in all the activities you can during your 3-day weekend. This year, why not try something a little different from the usual backyard barbecue or trip to the beach. We have some great ideas that will inspire you to mix it up as you bid summer adieu.

Go apple picking.  It’s the time of year where orchards are full of delicious apples ready to be picked. Many of them will host kick-off events on Labor Day weekend complete with music, crafts, kids activities, and tastings of everything apple. Get the family together and visit your local farm. The best part is all the delicious treats you’ll be able to make when you get your harvest home!

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Go rummaging. The old saying that ‘one person’s trash is another person’s treasure’ is why millions of people visit yard/garage sales every year. You can find just about anything you need, and probably quite a few items you don’t. Labor Day weekend in many parts of the country is the last big weekend for treasure hunters so take advantage of the opportunity to pick up some goodies at deeply discounted prices. Many communities even hold neighborhood-wide sales over the weekend so check out social media or designated sites dedicated to rummage sales and plan your route. Just remember to bring a big car to transport all your hot finds home.

Yard Sale

Plan a scavenger hunt. This is a great way to get family and friends together for a full day of fun and adventure. You can make the search a full-on road trip if it’s an adults-only activity, or keep it within a smaller area if kids and families will be participating. A quick Google search will yield hundreds of ideas that you can use to customize your event.

Scavenger Hunt

Adventure trip. Print out a map of your state or particular area radius that you are willing to travel to, close your eyes, and point. This is your destination! Make a day – or a weekend of your trip and take in all the unique stops and attractions along the way. Many people don’t realize how much there is to see in your own backyard. The best approach is to map out one way of getting to your destination and an alternate way back so you get twice the sightseeing in.

Map

Go to a drive-in. Many kids today don’t even know what a drive-in theater is. With the current social distancing guidelines in place, the drive-in is making a resurgence and becoming the hip place to be. Check your area and surrounding areas to see if you have a theater nearby. If not, many ‘pop-up’ theaters are appearing all over the country. Put your pajamas on and show the kids how the old folks used to enjoy movies!

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Revive an old hobby. Most people have a hobby that they used to enjoy that just sort of fell by the wayside as life got in the way. Labor Day weekend is the perfect time to resurrect your old passion. This can be anything like playing an instrument, creating arts and crafts, cooking, collecting, or even building models. If you really want to be adventurous, take up a new hobby and find your next obsession.

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However you do Labor Day this year, make it count. Time flies way to fast these days so make every moment count.

Happy Labor Day!