Search Results for: blog entertaining on new years eve

How to Save $200 on a New Appliance

The washing machine breaks down in the middle of a stressful week. The dryer stops tumbling. The dishwasher starts leaking right before your major party. The refrigerator just isn’t big enough to feed your family or for entertaining. Your 40-year-old stove blows up. You need a new appliance. You need it now. You don’t want to spend a fortune. The above scenarios have all happened to us within the last few years. So, you might say that we are getting pretty experienced at buying appliances. Learn from that experience with the following tips that will save you at least $200 … Continue reading →

Good News for LEGO Lovers

It’s out with the old and in with the new in Winter Haven, Florida. Merlin Entertainments, the owner and operator of Legoland, recently announced that it plans to open another park on the site of the old Cypress Gardens attraction in 2011. The former Cypress Gardens theme park (complete with water-skiing shows, botanical gardens and Southern belles in hoop dresses) closed last fall after years of declining attendance. The property is now being cleared to make way for a huge Legoland Florida, complete with a hotel, more than 50 thrill rides, shows and other attractions, including Lego models and interactive … Continue reading →

New to Food Blog but Years in the Kitchen

I’ve been cooking since I was around seven or eight years old and let me tell you that’s too many years ago to want to count them. I had a mother who encouraged me in the kitchen. Back then I cooked mostly cakes and sweet things but by my early teens, I regularly cooked meals for the family. So I guess by now I ought to have found out a bit about food to pass on. I will be writing 6 food blogs per month. For those who don’t know me, I might be new to the food blog but … Continue reading →

Spring Fever: Moose’s Version

My shepherd mix Moose is handling the change of seasons very differently from my boxer mix Lally. Lally welcomed spring with an allergy attack of massive proportions. She’s been to the vet three times, taken steroids, antihistamines, and antibiotics (plus three different kinds of skin cream) to clear things up and is FINALLY getting back to normal. For Moose, spring has been more of an emotional change. Moose isn’t the most active dog out there. My roommates and I sometimes call him “Speed Bumpy” because he’s often found sprawled and snoring. He is a dog of comfort. But the warmer … Continue reading →

A Favorite Recipe and More Tips for Stress Free Entertaining

Here are the final tips for stress free entertaining for you and your spouse, followed by the recipe of my husband’s favorite dessert. 9. If dinner feels like too much hassle, invite friends for afternoon tea at your home instead. Or invite them out for coffee at the local coffee shop 10. Check when making arrangements for a meal of afternoon tea that the person has no allergies. I once made a chicken dinner only to find out as it was being served that the person was allergic to chicken. Now I ask beforehand if they have any allergies. 11. … Continue reading →

A Jewish Pot Luck Dinner for Newcomers

I’ll never forget how yummy kibbutz food can be even if it does have too much oil. Kibbutz members are quick to complain about the food – “the soup’s too oily” or, “the mashed potatoes are too cold” but I never had a problem with it. As a buyer and manager for the dining room for seven years, the food complaints irated my husband but we both knew that sitting together with kibbutz members can spice up a dinner even if the mashed potatoes are still cold. Potluck dinners are the closest thing to the convivial atmosphere of our kibbutz … Continue reading →

“Cocooning” Phenomena Leads to New Home Trends

“Cocooning” is a national phenomena, according to an article written for a national real estate magazine. People are more inclined to stay home and surround themselves with all forms of security and comfort. This isn’t surprising, given the recent events over the last few years, with terrorist threats, war, issues with travel and a tough economy. When we are home, we can de-stress and shut out the rest of the world. This being close to home in comfort phenomena has sparked some pretty interesting home trends. Let’s take a look. Inside Out There is a large trend of indoor to … Continue reading →

Shrimp-tastic Snacks for Your New Year’s Day Party

T-minus 30 hours until my dad’s HUGE Sugar Bowl. For those of you who haven’t been following this epicurean countdown, my father (along with the rest of the state) is gearing up for the most anticipated college football game ever to be broadcast in the land of Aloha. On New Year’s Day Hawaii’s Warriors will take on the Georgia Bulldogs in New Orleans. In honor of UH’s trip to the Big Easy my dad plans to incorporate a few regional dishes in his party buffet. Besides the jambalaya he’ll be making the following shrimp dishes. Fresh shrimp is readily available … Continue reading →

Celebrating New Year’s Eve

How have your New Year’s Eve celebrations changed over the years? When we marry or have children or other major events occur in our lives, we tend to change the way we do things. I remember times where I got dressed to the nines to go out and paint the town. Sometimes, I think it would be fun to do so again, but I’ve also grown to enjoy the night at home with the kids drinking sparkling grape juice, dancing to their latest music, playing games, and watching various celebrations on TV from around the world. Going out to dinner … Continue reading →

Can Parents Ever Compete With a Teen’s Friends?

Recently, there was an article in our local newspaper that shared “surprise” information. According to the article, teens actually like hanging out with their families and value their relationships with their parents. When I brought this article up at the dinner table with my own teens, they scoffed and remarked: “Where do they get this stuff?” Regardless of whether my teens would admit to liking me in a blind study or not, in reality, most parents of teens are in direct competition with the peer group. Sure, I’ve got money and I know how to cook and do laundry, but … Continue reading →