Author:Lori

Favors with S’more Holiday Fun!

December 8
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Favor:  n.  a small, decorative gift, as a paper hat, given to each guest at a party.  I don’t know many who give paper hats anymore as the definition states…but I do know that favors are one of the many highlights that are the makings of a wonderful gathering!  So much fun to create as they are to give…and of course receive!  Often they’re a small gesture of appreciation from host to guest…a thoughtful way to show thanks for attending!  This fall a friend handed out adorable favors that were so simply cute that the idea had to be shared!  Though this favor was intended for Halloween festivities…this sweet treat could be altered to suit just about any holiday!  Check out this fabulous idea…I wish it were mine!  No matter, like all good things it brought on inspiration…hopefully it inspires you too!

a simple and sweet favor…

Easy, Peasy Pancake…Muffins!

November 27
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Happy Thanksgiving!  We hope everyone is enjoying time with family and friends, sharing good food, thankful thoughts…and relaxing!  We’ll be back next week on our regular schedule with previews of our Giggle Holiday show and a month full of good cheer!  Today we want to share a super easy-and yummy-breakfast idea that’s perfect for this holiday weekend!  If you have a house full of guests or just want to try a new twist on a breakfast favorite…take a peek at these pancake muffins!  Super quick, delicious, and so

easy peasy!

Ready, Set, Countdown!

November 24
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Even though there’s less than one week ’til the biggest shopping day of the year…you’ve still got time to create a holiday advent calendar!  A fun holiday tradition for the entire family–counting down the days until Christmas morning finally arrives!  Our family has made the advent part of our holiday traditions…I love searching for fun trinkets and treasures to fill the little bags and boxes that are cheerfully displayed and waiting to be opened!  I also love the fact that it can reinforce the idea of thoughtfulness over the actual gift!  Let’s face it…with Christmas morning following 24 days of advent-who wants to spend that kind of money and, more importantly, who wants their kids to think its a gift-giving frenzy?!  Yet still, it’s a sweet sentiment and a fun way to greet each day of December!  You can find lots of simple, inexpensive treats…especially when children are young!  But even as they grow it isn’t hard to find wonderful and thoughtful gifts…slip in a “coupon” for a special activity or a treat at their favorite restaurant!  This year we’re adding “giving coupons” to our advent with instructions for doing something nice for others tucked in amongst the tiny treats.  No matter what you choose to fill the little packages it’s a fun way to stretch that holiday cheer throughout the entire month!  So find what works for you and watch how wonderfully special an advent can be!

 get ready for the big countdown!

Favorite Things

November 21
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Both Sarah and I are always looking for cute entertaining supplies for Giggle and for personal use!  When we find great sources for things we love…we just have to share them!  If you love to bake (or just want to look like an experienced baker!) or find great joy in entertaining you should really check out fancy floursa wonderful site showcasing decorations for cookies, cakes, tables & so much more!  See what goodies just arrived in the mail–just in time to create some special treats and Christmas table decor come December…

right from the pages of fancy flours

Pass on Pie…

November 19
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Do you have anyone in your family that would take a pass on pumpkin pie?  You might even find yourself with family or guests that don’t care for any kind of pie…a dilemma in my household!  This year I decided to try something different to accompany that traditional Thanksgiving dessert…a root beer float bar!  I was inspired after finding some fabulous root beers and sodas that were perfect for the season!  A fun treat that’s so easy to do…I had a trial run recently to see just how easy it would be–and so simple it was!  Now I’m prepared to serve up something sweet to all who sit at my table…not just the pie lovers!  Take a look at this dessert alternative and let your guests pass on pie and say…”yes please!” to floats!  Of course there’s no rule that states you can’t have both!  So save room for dessert and…

add a Thanksgiving float!

…Be Seated!

November 17
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Holidays give us the opportunity to get a little fancy with our dinner gatherings!  An occasion that allows us to do it up differently than our everyday meals…getting out our china or adding details that make it feel truly special!  Thanksgiving revolves around the feast so there’s no better holiday to get creative with your table–whether you go all out or like it on the simple side–you can take any dinner up a notch by adding place cards!  Nothing polishes off a table like a seating tag…and it can be such a simple thing to do!  Even if you set your table without fanfare…plop a place card on each plate and suddenly you’ve created something special!  If you’re expecting a crowd for Thanksgiving it can also alleviate confusion or even confrontation about where your guests sit!  And we’re all about making our gatherings stress free and fun, right?  So take a look at some place card inspirations and let your guests be seated!

simple, fun & useful…place cards!

Favorite Things

November 14
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Sometimes the simple, non-extraordinary things are the most treasured!  Maybe they remind us of times past or we just like them for no real reason–plain & simple!  Whatever it may be, I’d like to share a favorite, festive item that’s so whimsical and inexpensive, loved by kids and adults alike, and conveniently located in a multitude of shops!  The honeycomb ball…available all year in party stores this humble paper sphere has been a celebratory decorating staple for decades!  Offered in a multitude of color and design this old-style orb has come back into fashion in a big way!  Check out this favorite of mine all dressed in Thanksgiving attire…

a happy holiday addition…honeycomb style!

Crunch, Munch & Nibble!

November 7
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November is often synonymous with food and house guests…family and friends paying a call for the festive feast!  Even prior to the big day it seems that everyone has food in mind…maybe it’s the change of season, large fuzzy sweaters that give permission to put on a pound or two, or maybe it’s just the fact that good food sparks great conversation and celebration!  Nevertheless, if you find yourself with a visiting crowd…make it easy for those calling your house their temporary home to pull up a chair, enjoy wonderful company, and have plenty of munchies and nibbles to sustain ’til the big turkey finale!  This is the easy part…no cooking necessary to keep those nibblers satisfied…healthy or sinful, it’s easy to find wonderful purchased treats to keep on hand while you’re entertaining!  Fill up some containers and leave out a snack bar for all to enjoy whenever the mood strikes them to

crunch, munch & nibble!

Keeping it Simple

November 5
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Come November we can’t help but think ahead a bit to Christmas…making many lists of wishes, holiday greetings, and menus for our gatherings-it’s a season that can get overwhelming!  Lets keep this month simple…making time to fill our homes with scents of comfort food, the soft glow of candlelight, and the laughter of family enjoying time well spent together!  Thanksgiving is a few weeks away–so don’t fret the decorating ahead of time!  You can add simple fall touches that will make your home feel festive without turning it into a wonderland!  (We’ll save that for December!) Today we want to share some of the easiest ideas so that you can spend your time this month

keeping it simple…

A Month Full of Thankful!

November 3
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We’re off to a good start on the holiday road!  With Halloween under our belts we march steadily toward Thanksgiving…a holiday that’s sandwiched between the glitz & glitter of spooks & Santa–but no less important!  I love Thanksgiving for many reasons…the obvious opportunity to celebrate all that we’re thankful for and to gather family & friends to share our joys-but also to take a moment between the higher profile holidays to breathe!  Thanksgiving revolves around the kitchen-the heart of the home…and even if cooking isn’t your strong suit, somehow planning menus & trying new recipes trumps decorating-so this holiday offers a much needed change of pace!  Not that decorating can’t be a fun part of the celebration…but this month we’ll try to offer ideas that are simple, soothing, and easy!  And since we’ve been sharing some favorite recipes…we’ll slip some of those in along the way!  But today we want to share a twist on a Thanksgiving tradition that keeps us reminiscent of all the things that we’ve been thankful for!  Each year at our anticipated Thanksgiving feast every member of my family takes a turn sharing a thankful thought.  Sometimes we write our blessings on paper leaves & hang them on a branch or simply place them in a pretty bowl to be displayed on the table.  This year I thought it might be nice to participate in this lovely tradition all month long!  Why wait for the feast to remember our blessings?  This is an easy way to have some fun with the entire family while reflecting on all the big (and little) things that we’re so grateful for!  So see how we extended this tradition of…

counting our blessings!