Treat Holiday Cards Giveaway

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Have you sent out your cards for Christmas? Did you make your Christmas Greeting Cards? Buy them? Create them online?

(Sample of Treat Christmas Greeting Cards)
I love ordering my Christmas cards online. It is quick and easy! Treat makes it even easier because of all of their designs. I'm a photo gal so my cards will include photos. They have a lot to choose from.  Here are 3 of my favorites:

Treat is easy to navigate. I love how easy it is to personalize your entire card. 
Check out their video:

Now that you watched the video, stop over and visit Treat.com and pick out your favorite design. Come back here and leave a comment below to be entered to win 10 of your very own personalized Treat cards.
This giveaway will end on 12/16 which will give you time to get these before Christmas.
Bonus Entries by following Treat in their social media outlets. Leave a comment for each one you did. That is it! Good luck! 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TreatCardsTwitter: http://twitter.com/treatcardsPinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/treatcards/Google+: https://plus.google.com/b/117542183382899885395/
This is a sponsored post. My own opinions are expressed here. 

Cinnamon Ornaments and Gift Tags

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Are you feeling the stress of the holidays? Don't let it get in the way of having fun. Create these adorable cinnamon ornaments and gift tags for your gifts.
These things are SO EASY to make! Check out my full tutorial on the Bowdabra Blog -Kitchen Goodies: Cinnamon Ornament Gift Tags-where my project is being featured. I'd love for you to leave a comment there so that I know you took the time to stop over. If you leave a comment and have a blog, I WILL stop over and visit your blog!



Thanks and if you want to find a Bakers Dozen Healthy Holiday Checklist and over 300 other Christmas ideas, check out huge Holiday Hop of Goodies!

Torani Holiday Cheer Creamy Hot Cocoa #Torani

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Holiday Drinks can bring a lot of cheer to your party! This batch of Creamy hot cocoa always does the trick here along with a shot or two of Torani Syrup.What is your favorite holiday drink? Warm or Cold? Of course we prefer warm drinks here.  If we are having hot cocoa or coffee you can bet one of our containers of Torani is near by. Depending on the season we have several favorite syrups which we will use in our drinks. At Christmas time we love Salted Caramel, Hazelnut, Gingerbread, Peppermint, Cinnamon and Macadamia Nut.
Here is my famous Creamy Hot Cocoa Mix. It is a powder mix. Once you add it to your steamy cup of water, milk or soy milk you then splash in your favorite Torani syrup! It is a crowd pleaser over here!
Creamy Hot Cocoa Mix
Ingredients
1 large container of powdered creamer
1 large container of Nestle’s Quik powder mix
1 lb powdered sugar
1 small box of powered milk
1 teaspoon cinnamon or nutmeg
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl or jar with a lid.
To serve: Grab your favorite mug and use 1/4-1/2 cup of this mixture with 1 cup of hot water, steamed milk or soy milk. Stir in a shot or two of your favorite Torani syrup.
Top your cocoa with whipped topping, cocoa powder, cinnamon, nutmeg or powdered sugar. Cinnamon sticks, peppermint sticks, mini marshmallows and/or Hershey Kisses.
Leave a comment below on your favorite Torani Syrup or one that you want to try to win 1 of 5 coupons for $1 off your next Torani purchase. I will mail the coupons on the 21st. This offer ends 12/20. This will give you a chance to try a new flavor or buy your favorite to add some Torani Holiday Cheer into your holiday mug. You can also get a special 10% off coupon to buy Torani for yourself, friends or to giveaway as gifts!

Did you enter the Torani Holiday Cheers Contest? I'd love to know what recipe you submitted. I hope you share it with me! 
This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks & Torani. My own thoughts & recipe is shared here.

Holiday Treat French Silk Phyllo Petites & Pinterest Hop

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Tis the season for holiday treats! My kids love chocolate pie and this is a mini version, French Silk Phyllo Petites! Just the right size for kids and for the guest at my Christmas Open House.
FRENCH SILK PHYLLO PETITES


Ingredients

4 oz. Kraft Philadelphia Indulgence Milk Chocolate4 oz. marshmallow creme15 Athens® Mini Fillo Shells (1 box)1/3 cup whipped topping, for garnishDark chocolate, shaved for garnish

DirectionsIn a small mixing bowl, combine the milk chocolate cream cheese and the marshmallow creme. Mix thoroughly. Fill mini shells with one heaping teaspoon of mixture. Top each mini shell with whipped topping and chocolate shavings. Serve immediately.


I'd love for you to link up any fun projects from your blog so that I can pop in and see what you have been up to! Leave your links and join the Pinterest Party!  Check out my Christmas Crafts & Recipe Pinterest board, too! Link up anything below! IF YOU LINK Up anything Christmas, I will PIN it to my board!
HOW TO JOIN THE LINKY below- (do any of the following)
1) Pin this Party Post to Pinterest- Please! Why? To let others know about the party. It advertises the party so more people see it which in turn more people will see what you pin and give you traffic.
2) Add your Pinterest name to the linky. If you aren't on Pinterest and want an invite, leave a comment and email addy.
3) Link up anything you want to be pinned! No limit. We just ask that you make sure your post has a decent picture.
4) In turn pin a few things on the linky.
5) If you want to host the party on your blog, scroll down and take the code. Make your own Pinterest Saturday page. That way you will get more attention to your blog.
Please follow my boards on Pinterest- SusieQTpies Scraps of Life and cohost  Crystal and Company and  3 Boys and a Dog. We do follow back.

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.

Thanks for watching How to Handle Your School's Football Obsession if You're Not Football-Obsessed! If you enjoyed this video, subscribe to the Howcast YouTube channel! http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=howcast

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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.