Holidays

How to Host Simple Kids Birthday Parties

July 25, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 8 Comments

The House Party Years ago, I met a friend for coffee. We chatted about our kid's upcoming birthdays. She shared how her daughter was made fun of for her birthday party. The school friends asked, "What kind of 'house party' will you have this year?" Implying it was less of a celebration. Mom and daughter were already excited about their plans, so thankfully the comments had little effect. The New Norm for Birthday Parties But we were shocked by the response and discussed the new norm for children's birthday parties. Party expectations start with 10-15 kids, food, cake, goodie bags, entertainment and more. She mentioned attending an indoor skydiving party at iFly. Over $600 for 12 people. Yikes! And that's just the flying part! To be fair, I'm all for experiences. In fact, I'm a huge fan of experiences, not stuff especially travel. But I fear we're setting unrealistic expectations for our kids with extravagant parties and gifts. I was once very guilty of this. When …

5 Minimalist Gift Ideas for a Clutter-Free Valentine’s Day

February 8, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 2 Comments

Did you know that the Valentine’s Day tradition of giving candy started in the 1840s by Richard Cadbury, a descendant of a British chocolate manufacturing family? With a new chocolate-making technique, Cadbury seized the opportunity to sell chocolates as part of the beloved holiday. And so began the love holiday celebrated with chocolates, flowers, and oversized teddy bears. But I must remind you that $16 billion is wasted on unwanted gifts every year. So, before you click add to cart or order over-priced flowers, let's consider some clutter-free and inexpensive options that won't ruin your budget. Make Dinner At Home During college, I waited tables at a local restaurant, as did my future husband. That's where we met and we could tell you a tale or two! As a result, we do NOT recommend eating out on Valentine's Day. Service is bad, food quality suffers, and restaurants are overcrowded with the goal of getting you in and out fast. Don't do it. Also, Valentine's Day …

How to Romjul – Guide to the Week between Christmas and New Years

December 26, 2023 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

Every year, we look forward to winter break, especially the week after Christmas (a.k.a. Romjul). We often spend it at the beach with friends. After nearly 20 years, they are the kind of people who feel like family. And together, we have raised our kids.On one of those trips, we stumbled over the term, Romjul. Romjul accurately describes our experience between Christmas and New Year's Day. And now, we have a word for it.Romjul is a Norwegian holiday that refers to the week as a tranquil time to spend at home with friends and family undisturbed by the outside world. And a great time to rest, recharge and reset for the new year. The British equivalent is Boxing Week and I love the Danish term, "Yule Vacation."According to several articles, Romjul is more than a week on the calendar, it’s a mindset, a time to cozy up with loved ones, take long restorative walks, slow down and reflect on the past year. It gives us a reason to snuggle up on the couch and watch Hallmark. Awesome! I'm in!Our …

How to Get Organized for the Holidays Now 🌲

October 23, 2023 by Amy Slenker-Smith 1 Comment

Last year, a friend admitted she didn't want to decorate for the holidays because she had too many decorations. They overwhelm her to the point she'd rather leave them in the storage room. I understand why she feels this way and even how she got to this point in her life. I've seen it in so many homes and I know she is not alone. Recently, I stopped at a big-box store to pick up trash bags. At the front door, I was greeted by a display of oversized Christmas decorations and Halloween too. And my first thought was, where do people store these things? The Holidays We watch the advertisements running. Decorations pop up everywhere. Christmas candy and novelties line the grocery store aisles. Like it or not, we are entering that time known as “let’s circle back after the holidays.” The holidays….sigh. Thanksgiving and Christmas are lumped together into a period of 6 weeks that so many people just hope to survive. What if this year was different? What if you celebrated a …

6 Easy Tips To Host a Simple 4th of July Picnic

June 26, 2023 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

July 4th is right around the corner. Maybe you're planning a picnic to celebrate. I hope so! Because I have some suggestions for hosting a simple picnic that won't leave you scrambling to do all the things and never enjoying the event. Shop Early Buy beverages and paper products in advance. I prefer to handle this labor-intensive shopping trip early. Drinks are heavy! Last-minute errands will arise for forgotten items. So deal with the non-perishables early and save time. During my weekly shopping trip, I shop for my meal plan and the picnic. I stock up on items like onions, garlic, butter, olive oil, mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard. I also buy the hot dogs and ground beef and store them in the freezer until picnic day. Let Guests Help Everyone asks this question, "What Can I Bring?" This time, be ready with an answer and make the party fun for you and your guests. Plan the menu, make a list, and delegate items to your guests when they ask. Be specific and make it easy for …

Not yet…Not Christmas Day

December 19, 2022 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

The week before Christmas is my favorite week of the holiday season. The kids are out of school, work projects wind down, school activities are over and everyone is in the holiday spirit. In my corporate days, there was an unwritten rule that after a certain date, work literally stopped. Any long-term or difficult assignments were met with the phrase, "let's circle back after the holidays." Email out-of-office replies started popping up indicating no response until January. It's the time of year when you turn off the alarm and maybe even skip the gym. Shhh! Don’t tell Santa. You ease into the day with a Hallmark movie, coffee, and a blanket. I love to turn on the tree lights first thing in the morning. It’s always evident we’re ready for a break. Time to rest and recharge. As a kid, I remember how much I looked forward to winter break. On the last day of school, my mom let me open a special present. By the time I came home for Christmas break, our house was …

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Holidays

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