Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest Has Begun! VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!

First off a BIG THANK YOU to the contestants for allowing me to harass them into participating.  You guys are the best!  I must say the competition is tight!!  So, don't rush when looking through the pictures and make sure you read their bios.  

Vote on the right side tab.  Voting closes automatically Saturday, December 21, 2013 at 11:25 a.m. East Coast time.  

Good luck to the contestants!!

Here are the contestants in no particular order:

Tina Lavelle Pilek!

This West Coast gal is sporting a multi-functional sweater.  Not only is it ugly but when wearing it and baking cookies you have access to an oven mitt- this safety conscious gal has it going on!!  Her snowmen are on springs for some extra fun and her netting serve as angel wings and trash collectors.  Kudos on a job well done! (Thanks for sending so many pictures too)

Alex Sherwood

Well, there aren't any good enough words here to explain the creation below.  Inspired by a former employee's furry back, this 'man-scaped' creation can be only be the work of the good Mr. Sherwood.  This sweater creation is happy as can be.  Maybe it's a zoomed in look at Gingerbread Man's face, maybe not.  I don't think we will ever truly know.  Nice work Boss!

James Stacy
This Blue Christmas inspired creation is quite fuggly.  (Fun and Ugly!)  It jingles, sparkles, and is quite eye catching.  Would have loved to see it on the good man himself but lets be real here people-I'm lucky I was able to have participants.  Nice work!

Marisa Stacy
This outstanding creation comes from the great land of Connecticut.  Showing off her love of reindeer, gifts, and her husband, who apparently is the real Santa Claus. (Hope I didn't ruin the Santa news for anyone.)  Not only is this Ugly Christmas Sweater festive it stands out with such a lovely shade of green.  Nice job oh pregnant one!

Sarah Hildenbrand

Last but certainly not least.  This festive frock has hit all the marks; festive colors, a belt, and a fuzzy snowflake!  Take special note of her bow hair-do, very cool!  Extra kudos for taking a picture wearing the sweater too- way to follow the directions!  Nice job Miss Sarah!

Christmas Family Fun Checklist

Here is my Christmas checklist.  It's really long so cross your fingers I can get it all done!

Christmas Checklist

A little music to get you in the Christmas spirit.

• Watch and read "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"
• Make chocolate chip cookies
• Donate toys and food to local drives
• Make several ornaments
• Visit and get pictures taken with a really great Santa
• Come up with a memorable front window display
• Buy a real Christmas tree
• Host a Graham Cracker House and Ice Cream Cone (Tree) decorating party
• Mail out my holiday cards early (this one i’s tough)
• Read "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens
• Take the holidays in stride and find moments to smile
• Drive around the neighborhood at night to view everyone's Christmas lights, pick a favorite, and give them the "Best in the Neighborhood Award"
• Host a game night with friends
• Drink a Saranac Caramel Porter. One of my seasonal favorites.
• Start the 'Elf on the Shelf'
• Watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas"
• Sing the "Twelve Days of Christmas" with my family
• Listen to lots of Christmas records
• Make treats for our neighbors
• Kiss under the mistletoe (more than once)
• Make an ugly Christmas sweater
• Make a popcorn string and paper chain
• Do something from this list on December 21 (Winter Solstice) 
• Make a spiked peppermint hot chocolate
• Read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to my kiddos
• Make paper snowflakes
• Make a wreath for the front door

Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest

Yes it is that time of year folks, time to bust out those hot glue guns, rummage your way through your Grandmother's drawers, and swing through every thrift store in town.

 It's Ugly Christmas Sweater Season!  

I am hosting a contest this year via my blog.  All are welcome to participate. Rules and regulations are below.

Rules and Regulations:

-The sweater can be a sweater, sweater vest, or sweatshirt.

-The theme of the sweater must be solely Christmas.

-The sweater can be embellished as much as the maker wants.

-Safety first, be careful with any illuminated props.

-You must submit a picture to me via Facebook or email with YOU wearing the Ugly Christmas Sweater.

- Picture must be emailed to me on Facebook 

by December, 18, 2013.  

-Contest winner will be decided by viewers votes. 

(So drum up some support for your flashy classy top.)

-There will only be one winner.

-Winner will receive $10 gift card to either Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts (or if you live near me to a local coffee/tea house of your choice) - Plus bragging rights, a high five, and the pleasure of knowing they were able to create and pull off the 

2013 Ugliest Christmas Sweater! 

Please message me on Facebook or email me if you would like to participate in the contest.  By messaging me you are agreeing to participate, you allow the author to write a bio about you, and use your name on Facebook to advertise the contest.

Good luck!  Be careful with those glue guns and I look forward to seeing all of your creations!!

Small Business Saturday!! Need help holiday shopping? (Local shops worth checking out)

I am a supporter of small businesses, buying locally, and shopping at places that sell items that were grown and or made in New York.  I am for many reasons; first and foremost I just think it makes sense to support the people around you, it's a huge benefit to the local economy which has so many positive effects, you can find unique products and merchandise, and it is more environmental.  (Oh and secretly I too hope to have a small business one day so I think it is good karma!)

Here are a few people I know that have Etsy Shops, stores in New Paltz, or just love to make make their own unique items.  If you need help finding a holiday gift start with these places, even if you don't live in the Hudson Valley you are still supporting a small business owner in New York!

Spotlight

Sweet Marrilla

Owner: Kelly Mirto

Etsy Shop

 This lovely lady makes handcrafted cold press soaps, soy candles, and bees wax lip balm.  Items are sold individually and as gift sets.  She's had her shop open since April 2012.  All products very reasonably priced and are all natural- no harmful dyes or scents.  I think they would make great hostess gifts, stocking stuffer, and are worth checking out. 

  

Bounty

Owners: Mary and Keith Woodburn

http://www.bountynewyork.com/ 

This couple's love for local food lead them to starting their own small business.  Items are sold al a carte, through their bounty boxes, or through a monthly subscription.   All goods are from New York State based businesses.  Their newest item the Winter Tasting Box featuring; Oliver Kita's- Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Pretzal Bar with Toffee, Montgomery Place Orchard's- Crab Apple Jelly, Bella's Home Baked Goods-Garlic Parmesan Taralli, Tanna's- Lemon Fig Chutney, Salty Road- Peppermint Salt Water Taffy.  This sounds like a perfect gift for someone who loves to support local business or a nice treat for yourself and loved ones when you simply want to enjoy delicious and mouth watering snacks.  Don't forget to check out their other tasting boxes too!

The Red Hen Market

Owner: Nora Scandariato

Etsy Page

Facebook Page

This crafty designer and mother of two sells digital scrapbook paper packs for you scrapbook fanatics out there.  Prints are instantly downloaded to you as soon as you purchase them.  They are not just great for scrap booking but also for invitations, garland, web design, books, and many more ideas.  I love her style and approach to design.  Her shop is definitely worth checking out. 

Paisley Pisces

 Owner: Emma Stokes

Website

Facebook Page

This newly launched business tailors to baby and kid goods.  She makes adorable onesies, sells teething products, and greeting cards.  Need a baby's first Christmas or baby shower gift, Paisley Pisces is a great place to start.  This Small Business Saturday you can save 20% at her online shop on all products (excluding custom orders). Hurry, only while supplies last!  Use coupon code SBS2013 to save!

I hope I was able to inspire and connect you to a small business that will help make your holiday shopping easier.  Good luck shopping and happy holidays!!

How to survive Thanksgiving?

We are moving right along here in our house preparing for our house guests and the big day, Thanksgiving.  We are hosting this year and are very excited.  But in order to steady ourselves for the 'Big Bang' I've also been trying to enjoy the lull in between the spurts of cleaning, organizing, food shopping, and pillow fluffing.  

If you are in a similar boat or just need to pace yourself for a crazy Thanksgiving day yourself here are a few things I think will help.

• Too tired to clean anymore or feed yourself or your family.  Order in.  Get that food delivered too while you are at it.  You're not lazy, you're tired and you deserve to treat yourself.
• Do you have a never ending chore list? Are you constantly fighting off the whiny crying non sharing wacko kids?  PUT THE TV ON.  I am not a big TV person for kids but sometimes that thing needs to give off it's special glowing hypnotic power and work some magic to captivate them.  Even if you just use that time to tool around Pinterest or simply enjoy a cup of coffee it will give you some time to collect yourself and your thoughts.
• Plan ahead.  Seriously, even if you live for the last minute rush- plan ahead.  No one likes an empty handed guest, a host that is stressed out, or a haphazard day.  All of those examples will be memorable but not in a good way.   
• Give yourself permission to laugh at the mishaps and don't get stuck in grumpy-ville.  Having to run back and forth to the supermarket because you keep forgetting key ingredients for your secret family recipe for stuffing- no bigs.  Getting funny looks as you dash down the aisles scavenging your last minute items? Tell the workers there you are just squeezing in your interval workouts since it's too cold outside or you're practicing for a new season of Supermarket Sweep.  If they don't laugh no worries you will because of the strange looks they will give you.
• Cut yourself some slack and eat/drink one or two things before company comes that make you happy.  A small bowl of potato chips and your favorite beer or mini warm brie with raspberry jam and a hot chocolate with a little something special in it.  Limit your consumption but really take a moment to enjoy what you have. 
• Wear comfortable shoes.  You will be on your feet all day and wearing the right shoes will pay off.
• Give chores to people and spread the work load.  People that do not relinquish full control and make themselves martyrs just give other people stress.  Don't be that person.  
• Tune out the guests that stress you out.  A little white noise is fine- they don't have to know.  Just smile and nod. ;)
• Play a game.  A game to me is togetherness, laughs, competition, and overall good times.  All things I love.  If you don't like games find something else you like to do and make time to do it.
• Good luck!  It's 'supposed' to be a fun time so keep that in mind. ;)

5 Irrational Things I am Thankful For...

Not sure if you've noticed this on other bloggers' pages, Martha Stewart's website, or any other family/home/craft websites making lists that are super long; '450 ways to make' or '105 costumes ideas', etc. I wanted to make a list of things I am thankful for but who has time to write or read 450 things to be thankful for. I barely have time to pee during the day. Stop overwhelming me! This mass umbrella marketing needs to stop. Besides that we all know that we are all thankful for our families and our health, etc. Let's be real, of course we all are. So I have created a list of things I am thankful for that aren't your run of mill thoughts. 

5 really solid irrational things I am thankful for:

1. The 'Twilight' series because the world of readers needed poorly written books to make them feel good about how fast they can read.
2. Pumpkin Spice Latte because my dental hygienist and dentist weren't annoyed with me enough for giving myself a sugar bath this time of year.
3. Pinterest for allowing me to hoard without causing a fire hazard in my house.
4. Having multiple copies of the same children's books since my children thought that their primary source of nutrition was to eat their books for a period of time.
5. Descending from Irish and Italian families so I can eat pasta and drink beer everyday without judgement because it's in my genes.

Thanksgiving BINGO Board with a Personal Touch

Many many years ago I discovered 'Parade BINGO' through Family Fun Magazine, one of my most treasured sources for holiday craft/decoration ideas plus numerous other family activities.  It essentially is your standard BINGO game with each square having a phrase or word of something that you would see and cross off while watching the NYC Thanksgiving parade.  I think they provided 5 versions of the board that you could print out and give your children or other family members to play while they watched.  

I used there 5 boards and then created several of my own and made this an activity when I worked at a resort.  The guests really liked it.  It was a relaxed morning activity that they could casually play at their own pace and maybe win a prize.  I definitely could have used more variety of boards and a better way to regulate the legitimate wins but really they left with happy faces so that's all that mattered.  

This year I thought it would be a great spin on the idea for Thanksgiving BINGO to personalize a few boards and have them reflect a day at our or 'your' house on Thanksgiving.  Including fun phrases you know will be uttered by relatives, events that can be 'assumed' to happen, and maybe even some wishful thinking.  

Here is some BINGO background to help you plan your boards.

• Each board contains 25 boxes, the middle board being your 'FREE SPACE'
• Sit with another family member or two and come up with 24 different things you 'know' will happen or will be said during your fun family event.  All you have to do is change the order in which they are on a board to change up the probability of the different people winning at the same time. If you can and want to make it more challenging come up with more.  It just make take a little more ingenuity that's all.
• You can make a board on your computer through Microsoft Publisher or any design program- or go old school and grab some festive plain paper, a ruler, and a pencil and draw away.
• Here is a link to an already made blank BINGO board: http://tothesquareinch.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/bingo-game-blog.pdf
• Be prepared to have a few prizes or honors that you can assign to said winners.  Like first pick at the dessert table, the honor of cutting the first slice of turkey, a 'get out of dish washing' ticket,  or control over the remote for a certain amount of time.

Brainstorm Session:

Here are a few squares I came up in regards to my future event-

• Wine is spilled.
• Two kids cry at same time.
• Aunt E - tells a dirty joke.
• Gram talks about Frank Sinatra
• An adult falls asleep.

Hope this helps and you have fun with this.  I recommend start planning and making your list now to make it a quality one!