How to Handle Your School's Football Obsession if You're Not Football-Obsessed

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Endure the mass hysteria known as football season with these mildly subversive tactics.

To complete this how-to, you will need:

Offbeat school colors
Compelling photos
"I Hate Football" group
Happy place

Step 1: Tweak the team colors

Forced to wear team colors to show your school spirit? Wear shades that are close, but a little bit off. You'll feel like less of a lemming without pissing off the football jocks.

Step 2: Ditch the pep rallies

Ditch the pep rallies however you can. If anyone asks where you were, whisper "stomach troubles" and they'll leave you alone.

No way to escape the pep rally? Stay seated when the team enters as your silent protest.

Step 3: Keep photos handy

Scan the internet for funny, weird, or shocking photos to keep on your phone. Anytime someone wants to talk football, use them to change the subject.

Step 4: Start a group

Vent with like-minded people in an "I Hate Football" group. Make plans together for game nights, when the rest of a town is at the stadium.

Step 5: Have a happy place

When all else fails, have a happy place to go to in your head when everyone around you is boring you to tears with their football obsession. And remember: sooner or later, you'll graduate!

TV star Ryan Seacrest played football for the Dunwoody High School Wildcats in Atlanta.

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Baker’s Dozen Healthy Holidays Checklist & Pinterest Holiday Hop

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Don't let the month of December wreck your healthy eating habits. The are great tips which include getting in your exercise! Have fun and focus on friends & family and not just the food! Source: CanolaInfo, Category: Recipes & Cooking
1.    Don’t fill your whole day of meals with holiday food. Keep up with your regular routine and dietary habits, especially on days when you will be attending a holiday party.

2.    Incorporate holiday flavors into the everyday foods you eat to “taste” the season. For example, try putting dried cranberries in your salad or sprinkle cinnamon onto fruit.

3.    Don’t show up to a holiday party starving. Doing so increases your risk of binging.

4.    Use a plate as a guide for portions. Fill it once or halfway twice but do not exceed a plate’s worth of food.

5.    Watch portions of food served to you. Be mindful of having too many appetizers or other foods being passed around. Set a limit, such as one of each appetizer, and stop.

6.    Enjoy the whole party experience, not just the food. Focus on the ambiance, friends and conversation while enjoying and even talking about the food.

7.    Enjoy treats in moderation. Take small bites of a dessert to savor and enjoy it. A single chocolate truffle, for example, can be very satisfying if eaten slowly.

8.    Stay hydrated and watch alcohol intake. Drink plenty of water and limit alcoholic beverages to curb calories. Staying hydrated can help prevent overeating. Setting limits on alcohol will spare empty calories.

9.    Have boundaries around when and where you eat at home. Set the table, eat in the dining room and avoid grazing around food or standing when you eat to be mindful of portions.

10.    Bring your co-workers healthy treats instead of holiday sweets. Bring in healthy and delicious alternatives to the regular office holiday fare.

11.    Store all food away from your desk so you’re not tempted to constantly or mindlessly eat.

12.    Keep up your activity and exercise routine. Exercise helps keep your metabolism revved up so you won’t feel as hungry. Plus, you will burn calories on a consistent basis!

13.    Make exercise a family event. Build togetherness and enjoy social time with your loved ones during exercise. Set goals for the family to achieve together.
The complete “Skinny Mini Holiday Desserts” Recipe Collection is available at CanolaInfo.org.

LINK UP any HOLIDAY post below! This includes Holiday Pinterest Boards, link ups, giveaways, crafts, recipes, etc. Share!!

Electronics Have Replaced Mom and Dad at the Dinner Table

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We are living in a time of electronic parenting. Does your family fit in this category? How many people bring an electronic devise to the table? 

I was out for dinner last week. My husband and I went to a family restaurant we both really like. It's low key, just the right amount of noise, and the food is wholesome and fresh. The restaurant attracts families because of the prices, but the families eating there are different than they use to be. Family dinners are fun because the whole family gets together and talks about the day's events and who said what to whom. Moms and dads can be heard laughing at their kid's antics and expressions. This particular night there was some of that interaction, but also a new interaction that I call "electronic parenting."

At several of the tables, we noted kids with ipads or phones engaged in their activity. There was absolutely no communication between mom, dad, and the kids. The kids were careful not to spill food on their electronic devices and what seemed to make the biggest impact was one time when one of the mom's almost dropped the ketchup on the child's ipad. The kid became animated and basically scolded mom. I was hopeful that if the electronics were babysitting the kids at least mom and dad would have some intimate time, but no, that wasn't the case. Mom and dad didn't really engage with each other either; dad was fidgeting with his phone or mom looked frazzled. I thought about this scenario for several days because I am concerned about what these kids' concept of family will be.

Family dinners are so important for continuing communication among the family members. Dinnertime is a time we listen to one another, are reminded of table manners and also mentored about appropriate behavior between mom, dad and kids. You don't have to eat at home to have a family dinner, but a family dinner is so much more than eating.It's important that families realize the invaluable opportunity to have an electronic-free meal. Parenting has a lot to do with setting boundaries, saying no, and also making sure you teach your child appropriate social behavior. If your child is on the phone or ipad during dinner they are in their own virtual world and not engaged with the family.

There is no doubt that we are moving in a more electronic wave for the future. Smart phones are smarter than many humans, and as we continue to evolve and grow with technology, it will be more and more important that families keep their boundaries strong to preserve the unity of family. The only way to do this is to stay engaged with your kids and your spouse, and keep sacred some of the family rituals such as family meals. Below are some suggestions for keeping your family together and engaged. Your kids may groan, but believe me, in time they will come back and thank you.

Here are some thoughts on having a family dinner: 1. As much as possible, have family meals during the week. These don't have to be done at      home; however, they should include your whole family. 2. Have a plate or a container where all electronics are dropped prior to dinner. Make sure     you silence them as the noise of a text or email incites the mind and distracts from family. 3. Conversation at the dinner table should be kept at a level where everyone can hear one     another and you can also enjoy the food. 4. Make sure you remember you are parents at the table and not  your child's friend. If a     derogatory word or motion is made at the table, correct your child/spouse. The dinner     table should remain family friendly. 5. Continue to show respect and manners with your child at the     dinner table. One of a parent's most important jobs is socializing  their child so that the     child can feel confident in their ability to demonstrate manners and respect for others.

We cannot go backwards in time, nor should we, but as we continue into the digital age there are some rituals we must keep sacred as a family. Family dinners are one of those. A family is only as strong as its leaders; so parents, it's time to parent at the dinner table. Electronics can never teach your child family values as well as a parent.

~ ~ ~ ~

Guest article from Mary Jo Rapini, MEd, LPC, who is a licensed psychotherapist and co-author with Janine J. Sherman, of Start Talking: A Girl's Guide for You and Your Mom About Health, Sex or Whatever. Read more about the book at www.StartTalkingBook.com and more about Rapini at www.maryjorapini.com. Rapini also writes the "Parents Ask" monthly column for Houston Family Magazine. Her regular segment "Body, Mind and Soul with Mary Jo" airs on Thursdays on FOX 26 Morning News Extra in Houston, and she has been a regular expert for HLN/CNN.

Meal Plan with Meal Planning Tips

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For December, my meal plan is to prepare quick meals that are tasty and can provide leftovers for the next day. We are super busy and need meals to be available in between our busy schedules. Here are some of those holiday menu ideas and sweet treats. YES friends this is a repeat from last week! We didn't even get to half of our dinner plans do to all the Holiday Activities. Sorry it is still the same but Please link up all your recipes & menus. Check out that ebook on Menu planning, too!

Thanks so much!
Monday- Sliders, Salad and Spicy Fries and Gingerbread Chocolate Eclair Dessert
Tuesday- White Cut Out Cookies and 7 Veggie Slow Cooker StewWednesday- Egg Free Egg Nog and Thai Basil Fried Rice with Chicken, Beef or Shrimp

Thursday- Creamy Hot Cocoa Mix and Tomato Ravioli Soup

Friday- Melted Snowman Cake Pops and Leftovers
Weekend-Super Hero Sandwich and leftoversFeatured Menu from last week's linky up- Pary Moppins Menu Plan
BONUS PARTY- if you have any holiday crafts, recipes, giveaways, deals, etc stop over at my Holiday Hop of Goodies and link up there, too! It is growing and I would love to see your awesome ideas there, too! 

I've linked up at OrgJunkie's Menu Plan Monday link up and always check out 3 Boys and a Dog menus. I will pin some of the below post on Pinterest as I have time! If you do pin my post, please leave a comment and I will be sure to get yours pinned. Thanks!
How to Meal Plan ebook 
One of my blogging friends, Crystal & Co just released her How To Meal Plan ebook. One of the reasons that she meals plans is to provide her family with low cost, healthy meals. If you plan, you will save money from eating out and of course time. In her ebook she explains why it is painless to meal plan! 
Here are her steps and she goes into a well laid out discussion on each one:
Step 1: Develop a Recipe Criteria-learn to get what works for your family.


Step 2: Find 21 Recipes-This would give you 3 weeks of no repeat meals. She also list 20 recipes websites (mine is included! Yay)


Step 3: Make Your Grocery List- She teaches you the importance of the list, tips to help you decide how to shop as provides wonderful grocery list tools.

Step 4: Display Your Menu- This is very important for many reasons. It makes a huge different in the success vs. failure of your prepared menu. The ebook list helpful tips on how to display the menu and why it is important.

Step 5: Putting Your Menu to Work- Crystal teaches you how to make the menu work for you! Ever have a meal plan hiccup? She gives tips on this, too! 

Meal Plan Struggles? The book is for beginners and seasoned menu plan users. It is quick and simple to follow. The book is jammed packed full of tips, recipes and resources. I loved all of the recipes, color photos of her recipes (I'm such a visual person) and full of printables! I give this ebook 2 thumbs up!

Crystal has a new How to Meal Plan Facebook Community. Check it out today!
Order the book for yourself and a friend! How to Meal Plan ebook 


Have a super weekend! Remember link up menus & recipes. I will pick to to try next week and feature you on my menu plan!

Febreze is Collecting Holiday Memories: Share Yours Today!

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Febreze wants you to take a deep breath and share the most memorable holiday SCENT from your childhood! So what is it? The smell of Christmas cookies, dinner in the oven, christmas tree smell?
Tis the season to think about your Christmas memories. What are your favorite smells? Favorite songs? How about most cherished tradition? What decoration was your favorite?
Febreze is getting excited for the holidays and wants to hear about your most cherished memories! Each day they are asking a new memory question on their Facebook Wall. They will then collect the top 10 best holiday memories from their fans. So stop over and tell them yours and they may add it to the list!
Today's Memory List question is: "Take a deep breath and share the most memorable holiday SCENT from your childhood!"
So what is yours? Feel free to leave it in the comments below. My most memorable holiday scent would have to be the scent of cookies baking! It is the season for fun treats that we only enjoy once a year. 

Febreze is running this event from 12/3-12/17 so you have a week to get in your submission. Check in daily for each new memory question. 
I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Febreze. I received a promotional item to thank me for participating

Holiday Menu Ideas & Meal Planning Tips

To contact us Click HERE

For December, my meal plan is to prepare quick meals that are tasty and can provide leftovers for the next day. We are super busy and need meals to be available in between our busy schedules. Here are some of those holiday menu ideas and sweet treats. Monday- Sliders, Salad and Spicy Fries and Gingerbread Chocolate Eclair Dessert
Tuesday- White Cut Out Cookies and 7 Veggie Slow Cooker StewWednesday- Egg Free Egg Nog and Thai Basil Fried Rice with Chicken, Beef or Shrimp

Thursday- Creamy Hot Cocoa Mix and Tomato Ravioli Soup

Friday- Melted Snowman Cake Pops and Leftovers
Weekend-Super Hero Sandwich and leftoversFeatured Menu from last week's linky up- Pary Moppins Menu Plan
BONUS PARTY- if you have any holiday crafts, recipes, giveaways, deals, etc stop over at my Holiday Hop of Goodies and link up there, too! It is growing and I would love to see your awesome ideas there, too! 

I've linked up at OrgJunkie's Menu Plan Monday link up and always check out 3 Boys and a Dog menus. I will pin some of the below post on Pinterest as I have time! If you do pin my post, please leave a comment and I will be sure to get yours pinned. Thanks!
How to Meal Plan ebook 
One of my blogging friends, Crystal & Co just released her How To Meal Plan ebook. One of the reasons that she meals plans is to provide her family with low cost, healthy meals. If you plan, you will save money from eating out and of course time. In her ebook she explains why it is painless to meal plan! 
Here are her steps and she goes into a well laid out discussion on each one:
Step 1: Develop a Recipe Criteria-learn to get what works for your family.


Step 2: Find 21 Recipes-This would give you 3 weeks of no repeat meals. She also list 20 recipes websites (mine is included! Yay)


Step 3: Make Your Grocery List- She teaches you the importance of the list, tips to help you decide how to shop as provides wonderful grocery list tools.

Step 4: Display Your Menu- This is very important for many reasons. It makes a huge different in the success vs. failure of your prepared menu. The ebook list helpful tips on how to display the menu and why it is important.

Step 5: Putting Your Menu to Work- Crystal teaches you how to make the menu work for you! Ever have a meal plan hiccup? She gives tips on this, too! 

Meal Plan Struggles? The book is for beginners and seasoned menu plan users. It is quick and simple to follow. The book is jammed packed full of tips, recipes and resources. I loved all of the recipes, color photos of her recipes (I'm such a visual person) and full of printables! I give this ebook 2 thumbs up!

Crystal has a new How to Meal Plan Facebook Community. Check it out today!
Order the book for yourself and a friend! How to Meal Plan ebook 



Have a super weekend! Remember link up menus & recipes. I will pick to to try next week and feature you on my menu plan!

Baked Chocolate Covered Cherries

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What are your favorite Holiday Treats? Here is one of our family traditions. My teen loves to help make these sweet Christmas treats.

Baked Chocolate Covered Cherries

Ingredients
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. cocoa
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. margarine, softened (sorry folks but I tried butter and margarine works best)
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
16oz jar Maraschino cherries with stems on (need about 30 cherries, separate juice from cherries)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In large bowl, stir together flour, cocoa, salt, b.powder and b. soda.
In another bowl, beat together margarine & sugar until fluffy.
Add egg & vanilla.
Gradually add dry ingredients & beat until well blended.
Shape dough into 1-2 inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet.
Press thumb into center and put in a cherry.  Cover top of cherry with more dough.
Bake 10-12 minutes and let cool completely.
While baking make frosting.

Frosting (optional)

6 oz pkg. semisweet chocolate pieces
1/2 c. sweetened condensed milk
Drained cherry juice

In a small saucepan, combine chocolate and sweetened condensed milk.
Heat until chocolate melts.
Stir in 4 tsp. of reserved cherry juice.
Once the cookies come out of the oven, spoon about 1/2-1 tsp over each cherry.

These are very yummy! They are time consuming to make but everyone loves them!