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Seasonal Fun for Families on a Budget

What family doesn’t enjoy spending quality time in the great outdoors soaking up the fantastic fall weather? Most of us would love to explore the far reaches of the country during this most magnificent time of the year, but not all of us have the financial resources to do so in a grand way. Luckily, you don’t have to be rich to enjoy the wealth of natural gems offered this time of year. Instead of dropping hundreds of dollars on a family getaway, consider sticking closer to home and attending free local fall-themed festivals, such as: California: Fortuna’s annual Apple … Continue reading →

Halloween and the Escape Artist

Halloween can be a day with more tricks than treats if you share your home with a four-legged escape artist. Picture it: Halloween 2004. Moose, Lally, and I were living in New Jersey with my grandmother. My grandmother turned out the lights before I even got home from work, signaling trick-or-treaters that we were out of candy. Because we still had candy and I was bursting with Halloween cheer, I turned the lights back on. As soon as I opened the door for the very first trick-or-treater, Moose snuck out and took off. I dropped my candy bowl by the … Continue reading →

More Easy Thanksgiving Pumpkin Crafts

Pumpkins are traditionally used as Halloween decorations, but when placed strategically they can really liven up a Thanksgiving display as well. Fresh pumpkins can still be purchased at most grocery stores and some local farms, though they are not as readily accessible as they were in September and October. If you can get your hands on fresh pumpkins (for the right price), consider crafting the following Thanksgiving-themed decorations: PUMPKIN TURKEYS This project is kid-friendly and serves as a great craft to complete while your Thanksgiving turkey is cooking. Materials: Small Pumpkins Ice Pick Lollipops Colored Construction Paper Markers Directions: Poke … Continue reading →

Thanksgiving Pumpkin Crafts for Kids

Just because Halloween is over doesn’t mean you should rid your home of pumpkins. Thanksgiving is an ideal time to showcase the fresh orange globes in a seasonal display. Unfortunately, most stores stop selling pumpkins the day after Halloween. This sad fact means most parents have to get creative when it comes to setting up a Thanksgiving pumpkin display. The following simple salt dough pumpkin art project was a bonafide hit with our preschool playgroup last year. All you’re doing is whipping up a batch of salt dough and shaping it into miniature pumpkins. Once the pumpkins are formed the … Continue reading →

Fall Art Projects Featuring Squash

The price of squash is so incredibly low right now; stores are practically giving them away. I wonder if store managers know that the unusually shaped gourds have uses beyond Halloween? Squashes, gourds and pumpkins are ideal for Thanksgiving decorating. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the following art projects (tailored for older children and adults) that will help transform your dull dining room table into a seasonal masterpiece. Note: Adult supervision is recommended for the following crafts. SQUASH GEESE Your kids will have a blast carving ordinary squash into cute geese. Once the project is complete use the … Continue reading →

Decorating Tips For Your Thanksgiving Dinner Table—Part 1

By now I’m sure you have your Thanksgiving menu set. But, how are you doing on styling your dining room table for the big feast? On the years that my parents hosted the Thanksgiving festivities my mom used to fret about the table decorations. My dad tried to convince her that the turkey was an adequate centerpiece and flowers were really not necessary, and no one paid attention to how the candles were arranged or if the napkins matched the tablecloth. All my mom heard was: “blah, blah, blah, yada, yada, yada…” and on she went trying to put together … Continue reading →

Halloween in Japan

Happy Halloween! It’s finally here… the day it seems our family (well, at least my daughter) has been anxiously anticipating for months. The house is decorated. The treats are made. The costumes are ready. In just a few hours, ghosts, ghouls, pumpkins and princesses will take to the streets here in the United States, but have you ever wondered what the holiday is like in other parts of the world? In Japan, 2006, marks the first year Halloween will be celebrated throughout the entire the land of the rising sun. Little known two decades ago, Halloween is now becoming a … Continue reading →

Preparing Your Yard For Fall—Part 2: Pruning and Planting

If you thought prepping your home’s interior for the change of seasons took a lot of planning and work, you must not have started tackling your yard. Readying your yard for autumn can be just as challenging and labor intensive. However, if you start early and create a checklist you will likely have everything done in time for Christmas (I’m kidding). In all seriousness, creating a master plan will go a long way in helping you accomplish the following tasks: Fall Pruning Fall’s cool weather provides the ideal climate to get outside and prune those woody plants. However, don’t get … Continue reading →

Preparing Your Yard For Fall—Part 1: Leaves, Leaves… EVERYWHERE!

Autumn gets it’s nickname for a good reason—falling leaves are EVERYWHERE. Currently, in my region of the country, we are about two weeks away from the leaves reaching their peak color potential. Then, it’s all down hill from there. By this time next month we’ll be lucky if we can even see our trees from under the snow (I’m exaggerating–well, slightly, but such is life in Wisconsin). I recently, provided tips for getting various rooms in your home ready for autumn, so now I am moving outdoors. Yards and gardens need to be prepped for the change in season as … Continue reading →

Seasonal Decorating—Getting Your Home Ready For Fall—Part 2

In my previous blog: “Seasonal Decorating—Getting Your Home Ready For Fall—Part 1” I provided tips on how you can transform your home from its sunny summer themed décor to a fall showcase of rich warm hues. As I mentioned earlier, the transition can be done quickly, easily and affordably. Here are more seasonal decorating ideas that will help you fall into fall. BATHROOMS · Surround your sink and tub with coordinated, fall-themed candles. I saw several candles at our local department store that featured dried leaves petrified in the candles wax. If that doesn’t intrigue you, consider sticking to a … Continue reading →