Dining Out During the Holidays

January 5, 2019 by Leave a Comment

 

 

 

When it comes to Christmas holidays, it’s not uncommon to find people torn between going out for dinners or whipping up a storm in the kitchen. There are pros and cons to each.  However, ultimately what you settle for has a lot to do with the type of family you are.  Let’s look at both sides of the spectrum:

Relaxation vs. activities together

Going out for dinners or ordering takeout removes the hustle of grocery shopping.  Furthermore, it eliminates cooking and the cleaning up that comes afterwards. Depending on where you live,  you’ll have many options on where you can have dinner.  Affordable prices makes going out for dinner a great option.  Additionally, it will give you more free time to relax. However, not all families see going out as a viable option. For some, preparing meals and trying out new recipes that capture the Christmas spirit is a better option.  It creates an opportunity to bond.  Also, listening to someone go on about a car accident lawyer in Vancouver  doesn’t seem too bad when you’re distracted.

What’s your budget?

Making a meal at home is cheaper.  Even so, people opt to dine out during the holiday because of the perceived convenience. You certainly don’t have to cook or even clean to enjoy a meal.  Furthermore, it frees up time for other things that you enjoy doing. It can even be considered less stressful when you factor in the size of the family too.  However, there are those people who save up all year to have a holiday dinner out.   If you have the budget to eat out go for it. If you don’t, discovering how to make new meals is also a thing.

What does everyone want?

When considering dining out during the holidays or preparing a meal at home, consider everyone in the final decision.  Dining out during the holidays can be fun, but missing a home-cooked meal and leftovers can be disappointing. Have a conversation with everyone, and come up with a list of things that will keep things fun.  A lovely suggestion would be having the best of both worlds.  Consider a holiday destination where you can can feast on a home-cooked meal.

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The Nutcracker Activity Sheets

October 3, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Today, I’m sharing parenting advice on The Nutcracker activity sheets for kids. The Nutcracker is one of my favorite ballets.  Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms will be a Christmas classic forever.  I can’t wait to take my granddaughter to see The Nutcracker during the holidays.  She just completed her first year of ballet.

 

 

The Nutcracker

 

First, I remember seeing The Nutcracker as a little girl around the holidays.  We had favorites like Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, and the Charlie Brown Christmas.  But, I fell in love with the ballet and the music.

 

The Nutcracker Activity Sheets:

 

Sugar Plum Fairy

Next, my daughter danced in Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker.  Her first ballet was The Nutcracker.  I remember her costumes like it was yesterday.  She was a flower and snowflake.  The costumes were beautiful.  My granddaughter is dancing now.  So, I’m looking forward to taking her to the movie in November.  For those unfamiliar with The Nutcracker, it’s about a little girl named Clara.

 

The Nutcracker

Misty Copeland is the Prima Ballerina and Mackenzie Foy is the doll Clara.  All Clara wants is a key – a one-of-a-kind key that will unlock a box that holds a priceless gift. A golden thread, presented to her at her Godfather Drosselmeyer’s (Morgan Freeman) annual holiday party, leads to the coveted key.

 

The Nutcracker Soldiers

 

But, the key disappears into a strange world.  Clara follows and it’s there that she encounters a soldier named Phillip (Jayden Fowora-Knight).  Additionally, there’s a gang of mice and the regents who preside over three Realms.  So, The Four Realms include the following: Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers and Land of Sweets. Clara and the solider Phillip must brave the ominous Fourth Realm.  Additionally, The Fourth Realm is home to the tyrant Mother Ginger (Helen Mirren).  Finally, Clara and Phillip hope to retrieve Clara’s key and return harmony to the unstable world.

Also, the movie stars Keira Knightley as the Sugar Plum Fairy.  The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is directed by Lasse Hallström and Joe Johnston.   E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale is the inspiration for the movie.

 

The Nutcracker

So, in anticipation of the movie coming to theatres in November, we have a fun activity pack.  The pack includes coloring pages, a maze and spot the difference sheet.  Most importantly, save the date!

 

The Soldier Philip

 

God Father Drosslemeyer

We hope you enjoy watching The Nutcracker this holiday season.  Additionally, we hope that your children will enjoy coloring and playing the activity sheets.  You can download them here.

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10 Amazon Prime Holiday Movies for Kids

December 24, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Today, I’m sharing parenting advice on holiday movies for kids.  The holidays are here!  That means the kids will be home for the next two weeks, and we will need to occupy them.   It doesn’t take long for kids to lose interest and become bored.  If they’re not bored, it’s probably because they’re on an electronic device somewhere.  If you want them to take a break from the electronics, check out these Amazon Prime Holiday Movies for Kids.  They’re perfect for watching on Christmas Eve and anytime during the holiday season.  You can  you watch them on the Kindle, table or PC if you are a prime member.  So, check out our list:

 

 

Amazon Prime Holiday Movies

 

The holidays are here!  That means the kids will be home for the next two weeks, and we will need to occupy them.   It doesn’t take long for kids to lose interest and become bored.  If they’re not bored, it’s probably because they’re on an electronic device somewhere.  If you want them to take a break from the electronics, check out these Amazon Prime Holiday Movies for Kids.  They’re perfect for watching on Christmas Eve and anytime during the holiday season.  You can  you watch them on the Kindle, table or PC if you are a prime member.

 

Holiday Movies for Kids:

 

All I Want for Christmas Is You – First, this all-new movie features Mariah Carey’s music and narration in a story about little Mariah’s Christmas wish for a puppy.

If You Give a Mouse a Christmas Cookie – If it’s holiday time in Mouse’s house then, that means Christmas cookies (including a special one for Santa, of course), caroling…and one nearly-destroyed holiday pageant.  Can they save the holiday pageant?

The Elf on the Shelf Presents:  An Elf’s Story – Add this one to your list of holiday movies for kids.  Chippey is assigned by Santa to restore Taylor McTuttle’s belief in Christmas magic.  Can he restore Chippey’s belief as Santa asked him to do?

The Snowy Day – Furthermore, Peter goes on a magical, snowy walk to his Nana’s house to bring home their Christmas Eve dinner.  What will he encounter on his magic walk?

A Christmas Tree Miracle –  Next, a family learns that miracles do come true if you only believe! A holiday movie for the whole family.

Christmas in New York – Ari has vague memories of a decorated tree and the gifts exchanged on one particular day of the year. A wise owl reveals to Ari and his friends that it is all about Christmas!

Click, Clack, Moo:  The Farm Christmas  – Additionally, it’s Christmas time and the farm animals have a problem: how to buy Farmer Brown the present of his dreams – a Tumbletron 300 clothes dryer.  How will the solve the problem?

Operation Christmas List – 12-year-old Barney has got a plan to beat the Christmas rush and buy the entire stock of the most sought after gift, Crabby Mousie doll!  Barney and his friends sneak into the mall afterhours, but things don’t go as planned.

A Country Christmas – Last, Santa loses his magical powers and becomes stranded in a barn.  Two children from the  farming community help him save Christmas.

The Cabbage Patch Kids First Christmas – Last, the Cabbage Patch Kids leave their patch to search for the Christmas spirit.

Finally, we hope that you enjoyed our list of holiday movies for kids and will select a few for movie night in your home.  You may also like:  30+ Rich and Delicious Hot Chocolate Recipes and 21 Christmas Movies recommended by Cosmopolitan.

 

 

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9 Favorite Holiday Movies

November 19, 2014 by

 

favorite holiday movies, holiday movies, Christmas movie, favorite Christmas movies

 

Watching holiday movies is a great way for me to get in the holiday spirit.  So, I thought I would share some of my favorites with you.  Hopefully, my posts will motivate you to get into the Christmas spirit too.

Watching holiday movies is my first step toward preparing for the holiday season. I watch the movies while I decorate the house and trim the tree. My favorite Christmas movie list changes from year to year.  I always seem to find another movie or 2 to add to the list.  Most importantly, they have become a holiday tradition for me.  So, the first movie on the list is a must for me. You guessed it, A Christmas Story with Ralphie.  You know the adorable little boy who wanted the Red Ryder BB Gun from Santa.  I watch this movie all day and laugh. The Eggnog and Bacardi contribute to the laughter too I’m sure.  But, the movie is a great holiday treat.

Additionally, I probably have every word memorized from the movie.  I’ve watched this movie during the holidays since my daughter was a little girl.  She’s approaching 39 years.  If my daughter and I are not together, my daughter calls me on Christmas day and says “Mom, Ralphie is on”.  Do you ever wonder how they choose the people to play the roles in movies?  They couldn’t have found better people to play the Parker’s in A Christmas Story.  My grandson is following in my footsteps.  He watches the movie with me and has received his own DVD so he can watch it when his heart desires. Here’s the remainder of my Favorite Christmas Movie List:

  • A Christmas Story with Peter Billingsley and Melinda Dillion.  My all time favorite Christmas movie.  One of my employee’s has a miniature leg lamp in her office.  Too funny.
  • National Lampoon’s Christmas with Chevy Chase.  What an idiot!  Need I say more.
  • Deck the Halls with Danny Devito.  Great music and light shows in this movie.
  • Christmas With The Kranks with Jamie Lee Kurtis, Tim Allen and Dan Aykroyd.  I love how the neighbors come together in this movie and demonstrate that giving is better than receiving.
  • Home Alone with Macaulay Culkin in this movie, but I have to give Joe Pesci and his side kick their props too.
  • Bad Santa with Billy Bob Thorton, Bernie Mac and John Ritter.  How can you go through the holiday season without seeing a drunk Santa.
  • A Boyfriend for Christmas – This is one of favorite Hallmark Movies with Patrick Muldoon and Kelli Williams.  Who doesn’t love a romantic Christmas movie. Kelli Williams wishes for a boyfriend for Christmas. Santa delivers, but things don’t go as planned.
  • Undercover Christmas – Another romantic Christmas favorite from Hallmark with Jamie Gertz and Shawn Christian. You like eye candy, Shawn Christian doesn’t disappoint in this FBI undercover agent type movie who falls in love with the prime witness in a major case.
  • Last Holiday with Queen Latifah and LL Cool J star in this movie.  I love Queen Latifah and how she demonstrates courage when she believes her life is coming to an end way too soon.
  • It’s a Wonderful Life – Jimmy Stewart was wonderful in this movie.  Sometimes when we think we want more, something happens in our life that teaches us that we should appreciate the one that we have.   

Finally, I regress back to my childhood during the holiday season.  I love the movies, the Christmas tree, the lights and spending time with family and friends. What are your favorite holiday movies, I may want to check them out and add them to my list.  You may also like 13 Fun and Frugal Christmas Gift Wrap Ideas.

 

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