A Note of Thanks – Happy Veteran’s Day!
We want to say a big THANK YOU to those who have and are currently serving our country! Our country is very blessed to have people protecting our freedoms. We have a lot to be thankful for today.
Let us take the opportunity today to “thank” the Veterans in our lives. Also, make it a point to thank any veteran you meet today. Today provides a great venue for teaching our children who veterans are and why we have a special day set aside to honor them. We are grateful for those who serve.
Thank You! Happy Veterans Day!
Free Music Download: VeggieTales’s The Incredible Singing Christmas Tree Album
November has arrived and many people are ready to start decorating and preparing for the Christmas Holidays! Amazon is now offering FREE MP3 Downloads of Incredible Singing Christmas Tree (16 Track Album). The price to download is currently $0.00 (although the price may change at any time, please confirm amount prior to downloading). Have fun getting into the Holiday spirit with your family!
(Thanks Smart Couponing!)
Easy Recipe for Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Jake made some amazing roasted pumpkin seeds during our evening carving the pumpkins. Here is a super easy and great recipe for roasting pumpkins seeds:
- 2 c pumpkin seeds
- 2 T butter
- Sprinkle Seasoned Salt (or substitute a 1/2 package ranch package mix)
Rinse the pumpkin seeds. Saute pumpkin seeds in the butter for about 5 minutes (until they start to turn brown). Sprinkle the Seasoned Salt or Ranch Mix on the seeds. Spread seeds into a shallow baking pan and baked at 250 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes or until crispy. Stirring every 10 minutes.
We made half with the sprinkled seasoned salt and half with the ranch package mix this year. Delicious snacks for the whole family!
Fall Festivities – Pumpkin Carving
Our family enjoys celebrating the different seasons, Holidays, and events throughout the year. It has been a blast going to a variety of family friendly Fall Festivals in our area. The weekends are full of horse back riding, playing in the leaves, hayrides, bonfires, pumpkin carving and all the other fun activities while creating wonderful memories with the family.
The girls have been asking for over a month to carve pumpkins and since they were on sale recently ($3.99 for a 12 ++ pound pumpkins at BiLo) we decided to have a family night together. We had a great evening of carving pumpkins, roasting the pumpkin seeds, drinking hot apple cider and eating caramel apples. Daddy free handed the designs the girls drew out on the disposable table cloth. Everyone had a blast!
If you are wanting to find some great carving patterns that you can download here are a couple websites to check out:
Most of the designs are kid friendly (however there are a few frightful designs). There is a range from easy to difficult ones depending on what you want to do. Enjoy time with together and make it a fun celebration while creating memories together.
Family Recipe: Grandma Willa’s Fruit Punch
As the Holidays approach you may be on the look out for a great new punch recipe to brighten the celebration. Everyone loves Grandma Willa’s Fruit Punch! It is quick, easy, and the base is made in advance. The punch is slushy and has a fun fruity flavor. If you are looking for a great punch for a birthday party, family gathering, holiday, shower, wedding or just for fun try this one. You can make it in any flavor or color you want to match the occasion. We have had raspberry, orange, cherry, strawberry, grape, lime and many more flavors variations of this recipe over the years.
Grandma Willa’s Fruit Punch
1 – 6 oz package of Strawberry Gelatin (or Flavor of your Choice)
3/4 cup of Sugar
2 cups Boiling Water
1 – 46 ounce can of Pineapple Juice
6 cups Cold Water
2 liters Ginger Ale (chilled)
Optional: Add Whole Cherries, Sliced Pineapples, or Complimentary Fruit on top for extra flair.
Directions: In a 4 quart (or larger) freezer container (we save our 1 gallon ice cream containers to use), dissolve gelatin and sugar in the boiling water. Stir in pineapple juice and cold water. Cover and freeze completely. Remove from freezer at least 2 hours before serving. Place in punch bowl. Stir in the Ginger Ale just before serving. Makes 5 1/2 Quarts of Punch.
You can use any flavor or color of gelatin with this recipe. Pick what goes best for your special occasion and enjoy. Grandma’s Fruit Punch has been a hit at many of our family celebrations.
Merry Christmas!
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas! May it be a time full of great memories, delicious food, laughter and meaningful fellowship. It is an ideal time to catch up with family, friends and neighbors. Have fun catching the excitement with your kids and the people who will be sharing the Holiday with your family.We are fortunate to live in an area where there are a lot of wonderful activities. It has been neat visiting the Festival of Trees at the Hyatt, Christmas parades, driving through various neighborhoods to see all the lights and decorations, and many more fun activities. Hot chocolate, Christmas stories by the tree, and fun family activities are great traditions to start or continue. Take time to create memories with those you love whether it is doing community events or spending fun times at home.
Share a tradition or Christmas memory with us. It is awesome learning what others do to make their Holiday Season memorable. Merry Christmas!!!
A Gift of Thanks!
When is the last time you were given a thoughtful gift from the heart? A gift that made a positive impact on your life? I love Thanksgiving because it is a truly wonderful time of the year when people are thankful for all the blessings in their lives. We need to make a real effort to continue the spirit of thankfulness every day of our lives. Take time every day to make a meaningful contribution into a person’s life. Everyone desires to be appreciated and thoughtfulness for others goes a long way in both our personal and professional lives. Giving “A Gift of Thanks” does not mean it has to be time consuming, expensive, or stressful. Here are a few quick ways to express your “Gift of Thanks” and thoughtfulness to those you interact with in your day to day life:
- Share a Smile – you may be the only smile someone encounters that day. Make it a point to specifically smile at people you interact with throughout the day. Smile when you are greeting people prior to a business event, shopping at the grocery store, waiting in line, welcoming them into your home, or making an introduction.
- Give a Hug – greet a personal or professional contact with a hug. Some people love hugs and others really need a hug. This is true in both personal and business situations. A hug is more personal than a handshake and demonstrates an appreciation for the recipient. Use discernment and common sense because not everyone will be comfortable with a hug. Reserve big bear hugs for close friends and family.
- Note of Appreciation – a handwritten note of thanks, appreciation or thoughtfulness still means a lot. Whether it is a client you haven’t heard from in a couple weeks, a friend who has recently lost a loved one, a family member on your mind and heart, a birthday, or reconnecting with a business contact. Take the time to write a note and touch the lives of those connected to you.
- Call of Encouragement – use the phone as friendly reminder that you care. If they do not answer please be courteous and leave a message. New business owners are excited about their products or services, call to see how things are going for them, listen, and encourage them. A Mom with a newborn may appreciate a call from a friend to share new milestones or to encourage her. Some people love a long chit chat and others do not. Practice ways to give a “word” of encouragement while respecting their time.
- Cup of Coffee or Tea – share a cup of coffee or tea with a business contact, friend, or family member. It is important to reconnect with someone you haven’t seen in awhile. Make it a time to catch up and learn about what’s going on in their life and/or business. It is not a time to sale or pry into deep problems but a few moments to help and encourage.
Take time every day to give “A Gift of Thanks” to someone connected to you both personally and professionally. Reaching out to others will be a rewarding experience for everyone. Let’s help each other remember the importance of showing appreciation and kindness to others as a daily routine. Please share a story of how you were impacted or how you impacted another person by giving “A Gift of Thanks” with us.
Wishing you a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!
