I found most of my information at No Fear Preparedness. This is a great company that provides survival gear, emergency preparedness equipment, and educational resources for families like yours and mine.

1. House Fire Preparedness

House Fire Preparedness. This scary disaster takes the lives of around 4,000 Americans each year and injures many more. Time truly is of the essence in this emergency. Fire can spread through a home within five minutes. However, the heat and the smoke are more dangerous than the flames of a fire. According to No Fear Preparedness,

“Inhaling the super-hot air can sear your lungs. Fire produces poisonous gases that make you disoriented and drowsy. Instead of being awakened by a fire, you may fall into a deeper sleep. Asphyxiation is the leading cause of fire deaths, exceeding burns by a three-to-one ratio.”

So, what have you and your family done to prevent and prepare for a house fire?

Well, a smoke alarm better be at the top of your list! Remember the numbers 1, 1, 10. Clean and test once a month. Replace batteries once a year. Replace smoke alarm every 10 years.

The next thing that should be on your list is a plan that you practice.

Do you and your kids know and have a plan of what to do in the case of a fire? I remember having fire drills with my family. We’d all get tucked into bed and wait for the signal from the smoke alarm that my dad was testing. Once it went off, we’d roll out of bed and take the safest root outside. Sometimes my parents would block off routes to outside and we had to find other ways to escape.

Once outside, we practiced our favorite part. Stop, drop, and roll! Don’t run. Fire likes air, so you should smother the flame. These fire drills are a great way to implement safe practices when escaping a fire in a controlled situation.

No Fear Preparedness has more tips of what to do before and during a fire here so you and your family are fully prepared in case this disaster strikes.

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It is out with the Christmas reds and greens and in with the pinks, whites, reds, and golds of Valentine’s Day. With a day focused on showing your love for those you love the most, decorate the house, give a card, and celebrate the day with these 11 Lovely Valentine’s Day Printables. But just remember, love is a year round expression. Tell those you love what they mean to you and show it often all year long!

Which one is your favorite?

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The New Year is a perfect time to get organized. Well, let’s be honest, any time is a good time to get organized. My whole house could use some help! But taking on the WHOLE house is kind of overwhelming. Am I right? So let’s walk through 10 Simple Organization Tips To Get You Started. We will start in the bedroom, move to the bathroom, hit up the kitchen, check out important documents, and end with electronics! Sound like a plan?

Let’s get organized!

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The time in between Christmas and New Year’s Eve is short. Six days is all you get to prep for the New Year’s Eve countdown party. Hopefully this list of 12 Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Party Ideas can help you get started. We’ve got everything from countdowns, food, drink, games, and resolution activities. Just remember, in the end it is all about the people you celebrate with. Enjoy reminiscing on the past year and look forward to the year to come!

Let’s get the party started!

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Christmas time is here! It is full of snowman building, hot cocoa drinking, ornament hanging, and snowball throwing! So I decided to gather 12 Days Of Christmas Cookies that remind me of one of the best times of the year! Give them away as part of your own 12 Days of Christmas service or eat them yourself, either way, Christmas cookies are a perfect way to bring the aroma of Christmas into your home.

Let’s see what is baking, shall we?

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A few months ago we did a post on Discovering 12 New Ways to Use Baking Soda. Well, we are going to break it down further and see what baking soda has specifically to offer us in the beauty realm. Who knew there were so many wonderful things you could do to treat yourself to a personal spa day in your own home!? All because of baking soda. So with out further ado, let’s check out these 9 Beauty Tips That Will Change The Way You Use Baking Soda.

Have you tried any of these? Let us know which one is your favorite in the comments below!

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Christmas time is near! I love the falling snow, the beaming lights, the steaming hot cocoa, and the waiting for the man in the red suit. Decorating the home helps bring the magic and spirit of the season into your home. Use these 11 Festive Printable Christmas Decorations to bring some merry to your Merry Christmas!

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Do you ever find yourself constantly stepping on toys left out or picking up your little one’s room? I know my mom (bless her heart) spent a lot of time picking up after me and teaching me how to keep things clean when I was a kid. Well, I hope that after reading today’s post you will no longer have sore feet from legos hiding viciously in the carpet! Organize Your Kids Toys TODAY With These 12 Cool Ideas. I am willing to bet that your kids will be more eager to help clean up with these ideas!

What one is your favorite?

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Leaves on the ground. Pumpkin pie. Stuffing. Family traditions. Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year! I love Thanksgiving because it means I get to spend time with my family and some of my favorite food. This season is the perfect time to decorate your home to help remind you what Thanksgiving is all about! So I gathered some beautiful and fun free printables from some very talented people just for you. Let’s take a look at these 11 Happy Thanksgiving Images!

Click through to get to the source.

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Did you like Halloween as a kid? I sure did! It was an excuse to dress up and get free candy. Who wouldn’t love that? Pretty sure I was a cat like three Halloweens in a row. So with the spookiest holiday fast approaching, I thought it would be a good idea to brew up some fun! And let’s be honest, nothing is better than some tasty desserts to celebrate a holiday. So without further adieu, check out these 13 Scary Good Halloween Cakes!

Hopefully, they will give your frighteningly fun Halloween party a spooky addition!

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People’s creativity and talent amazes me. Especially when it comes to food. The flavors, colors, textures, and shapes. They are so satisfying to just stare at! Cakes are one of those art forms that I haven’t mastered yet, but I can dream! These 13 Crafty Fall Cakes capture fall in a cake.

Which one would you choose to celebrate fall?

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So by now you’ve probably perused our list of 10 Insanely Tasty Muffin-Tin Dinners and 10 Amazing Muffin-Tin Breakfasts to Try Right Now. (If you haven’t… Go. Look. Now.) So what’s next on the muffin-tin menu? Why appetizers and sides of course! There is too much goodness out there to not try one of these 10 Muffin-Tin Appetizers that are Finger-Lickin’ Good!

These muffin-tin appetizer recipes are perfect to impress your family and friends at the next get together, tailgate party, or birthday bash!

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There is this fancy little household item that can do more things than just cook. I think it is safe to say that most everyone has it in their home. It’s tucked back in the baking cupboard between the salt and the cocoa. That box that you always get mixed up with baking powder. Yes, you guessed it…baking soda! Did you know there are numerous DIY tricks you can do with baking soda? A lot more than I thought! So let’s Discover 12 New Ways To Use Baking Soda!

There are countless ways to use baking soda so I narrowed it down to three sections. For beauty. In the garden. And for cleaning. Enjoy!

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Lick away! And yes, you are welcome…

If this picture doesn’t inspire you to start making popsicles, I don’t know what will! These Real Food Rainbow Popsicles from Healthy Indulgences look divine.

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PLUS we have a Harry Potter giveaway also!  Make sure you stay with us and scroll to the very bottom of the post.

Butterbeer Shakes and Pumpkin Pasties

You are sure to fall in love with these tasty treats. The cold Butterbeer Shake’s frothy mix combined with a warm flakey Pumpkin Pastie will send you straight to The Three Broomsticks! Plus, we’ve got two versions of Pumpkin Pasties for you – a savory and a sweet one.

Pumpkin Pasties Savory and Sweet

Preparing these pasties is super easy. You’ll be able to whip these up in no time, but we’d highly recommend involving the little ones. Create a Harry Potter memory together! We still can’t get over how tasty these two versions are. Be sure to try both!

The Savory mix.

The Sweet mix.

Roll out dough and cut into circles using a cup.

Drop a spoonful of savory and sweet mixture on to your pastie cutouts. Fold over dough and press together.

Crimp the edges with a fork to make your pasties look pretty and to seal the dough together.

Ready to bake!

Hot and ready to eat! These Pumpkin Pasties are delicious with the flakey crust and soft flavor-filled insides! Don’t forget, a side of Butterbeer is a must.

Print

Pumpkin Pasties

Prep Time 40 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Servings 15 -20 pasties

Ingredients

• Savory
• 1/2 15 oz can of pumpkin puree
• 1/8 tsp sage
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/2 clove garlic minced
• 8 oz pork sausage
• Sweet
• 1/2 can pumpkin puree
• 1 tbsp butter softened
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1/3 c white chocolate chips
• 1 tbsp flour
• Egg Wash
• 2 eggs
• For both: one package refrigerated pie dough thawed

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Mix ingredients for savory and sweet pasties in separate bowls.
• For the Savory Pumpkin Pasties, cook pork sausage according to directions on package and season with a sprinkle of sage, salt, and pepper.
• Mix cooked sausage with pumpkin puree, sage, salt, pepper, and garlic. Set aside savory filling.
• For the Sweet Pumpkin Pasties, mix together pumpkin puree, softened butter, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, white chocolate chips, and flour. Set aside sweet filling.
• Roll out both prepared pie crusts until 1/4 of an inch thin and cut into circles. Use a cup to cut out circles.
• Spoon each of the different fillings into the circles of pie down and fold over, crimping the edges with a fork.
• Mark savory with two lines and sweet with a cross to differentiate.
• Place pasties on greased cookie sheet.
• Beat eggs together with a fork to make egg wash. Brush over pasties with egg wash.
• Bake for 15 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before eating.
• Enjoy!

Notes

The recipe will make 8-10 savory pasties and 8-10 sweet pasties depending on the size cup you use. Or 15-20 pasties total.
Recipe adapted from Bijoux & Bits

Butterbeer Shakes

Your ingredients are simple. Cream soda, vanilla bean ice cream, butterscotch syrup, rum extract, and Cool Whip. If you don’t like Cool Whip, feel free to use whipped cream.

Mmmm…Butterscotch…

Ready to blend! Taste test after blending and adjust as needed. Too thick? Add more cream soda. Not thick enough? Add more ice cream. Can’t taste the rum? You get the picture…

Accio Butterbeer!

Voila! Looks mouthwatering doesn’t it?

We highly recommend enjoying your Butterbeer Shakes and Pumpkin Pasties while watching or reading your favorite Harry Potter movie/book! Or the whole series. Whatever strikes your fancy!

Print

Butterbeer Shakes

Servings 1 glass

Author This Grandma Is Fun

Ingredients

• 4 heaping scoops of vanilla bean ice cream
• 1/2-3/4 cup cream soda
• 3 Tbsp butterscotch syrup
• 1/4 tsp rum extract
• Whipped cream
• Butterscotch chips

Instructions

• Place glass mug or cup in freezer to frost.
• Scoop ice cream and drop into blender.
• Pour cream soda into blender. Adjust amount based on desired thickness.
• Add butterscotch syrup and rum extract to your concoction.
• Blend on high until sufficiently mixed.
• Pour carefully into your frosted glass.
• Add a dollop of whipped cream, a small handful of butterscotch chips, and carefully drizzle more syrup to top it off!
• Sip away!
• 

Notes

Adapted from The Disney Diner

“The stories we love best do live in us forever, so whether you come back by page or by the big screen (or perhaps by kitchen), Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.”

– J.K. Rowling

If you liked these Butterbeer Shakes and Pumpkin Pasties, try our Polyjuice Potion!

Looking for more Harry Potter posts? One of our blogging friends is a huge Harry Potter enthusiast! Raegun Ramblings. Her Happy Harry Potter series is amazing! Then enter below for her Harry Potter Giveaway.  Just look at what she will be giving away!

Check out these items that will be given away.  Enter for a chance to win below!

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Save

Prize Pack #1

See more about each prize and sponsor at this giveaway post and be sure to enter the other equally awesome prize pack while you’re there! Winner must have a US address or be willing to pay for international shipping.

• Maroon and Gold Magic Wand Holster and Magic Wand (toddler, child, or adult sizes available)
• Hogwarts House Scarf (choice of which house)
• Hogwarts Graduation Year Shirt (choice of baby to adult size with custom graduation year)
• Librarian Glasses Pillow
• The Unofficial Guide to Crafting the World of Harry Potter
• Personalized Hogwarts Acceptance Letter
• Illustrated Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
• Hogwart’s House Tie Necklace (choice of colors)
• Owl Crate Upcoming August Box
• Lit Joy Crate May Box
• Classic Maillot Swimsuit SEWING PATTERN

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Clean eating meme from BuzzFeedUK

Is this your ideal version of clean eating? I know I sure wouldn’t complain if this was what being a clean eater entailed! But, alas, it is not. So if clean eating does not require one to eat their favorite food while soaking in a luxurious bubble bath (which I would fully support if that became a thing, by the way), What Is Clean Eating?

Now, I have a disclaimer. This post is by no means meant to convince you to change your whole life, but rather to simply to inform you. I say “whole life” because let’s be honest- our lives revolve around food.

We have specific time slots where our body tells us we need to eat and if we skip those times, our body is going to let us know it is not happy. Food is the center of social events. Food is what gives our bodies fuel. Food is…Ok, well you get the picture! Food is important.

So what is clean eating?

To put it simply, clean eating is generally staying away from processed and refined foods and consuming whole foods. But even this definition comes with caveats.

There is a wide spectrum of clean eaters and what people deem as whole foods/processed foods. Some say that anything with a label disqualifies it from the category of whole foods. However, in my opinion, if we are to be realistic, you probably would need to live on or near a farm to live off of that definition of whole foods.

Others say that whole foods can have a label, just stay away from those with a long list of ingredients. This tells you that the food has been processed or refined as little as possible.

I personally like the definition of what clean eating is given by Manuel Villacorte, MS, RD,

“I define a clean eater as someone whose diet consists of 80 to 90 percent whole foods, 80 to 90 percent cooking and preparing their foods from scratch, using minimally-processed foods and including superfoods in their diets.”

Read what other registered dietitians say about their definition of clean eating here.

From my research, it seems some may refer to clean eating as a diet (or use it as a diet/way to detox), but most qualify it as a lifestyle choice. So what are the shalls and shall nots of clean eating? Here is the general consensus that I discovered from my research.

What are the Thou shalts?

Thou shalt eat five to six times a day. Now, don’t go eating six big meals! It’s more like three meals and two to three snacks. The idea behind this is to have a steady intake of food that will keep your metabolism going. Hopefully, you’ll be less likely to reach for your favorite vending machine food if you’ve been eating throughout the day.

Thou shalt eat whole foods. Choose whole, natural foods when you hit up the grocery store. Again, this commandment of the clean eaters is dependent on your definition of whole foods. But the overall principle is to consume fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low fat dairy, and grass-fed/free-range meats. The types of food allowed in clean eating is where the Paleo diet vastly differs.

Thou shalt include protein, carbohydrate, and fat at every meal. We’ve heard it time and time again from our moms and teachers, it is important to have a balanced diet. I am such a slacker with this all-too-true advice. I’m always like, “Why yes of course, I’ll take another roll…” (six rolls later).

Half the battle is striving to include a variety of foods in your diet. The other half of the battle is portion control. I’d recommend checking out the recommended portion sizes from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, you’re sure to have some new food goals.

Thou shalt veggie-up. If I was to become a clean eater, this would be a struggle for me. It’s not that I don’t like veggies, I do. Rather it is remembering to include them in my diet.

Vegetables are stuffed full of vitamins and fiber, which helps you feel full and gives your bodyits needed nutrients. So making a concentrated effort to include those veggies in your diet for eating clean is key!

This Grandma Is Fun has some great clean eating Recipes to look through if you are interested in cooking up a tasty meal. Below are a few that I picked out for my meal hit list.

Stuffed Flank Steak Kabob

Mediterranean Chicken Salad and Creamy Balsamic

Healthier Chocolate Trail Mix Bites

What are the Thou shalt nots?

Thou shalt not eat processed food and refined sugars. Avoiding processed foods that have a long list of ingredients on the label is probably the best way to go. If you can’t even pronounce the ingredient, healthy eaters say to avoid it like the plague.

Try incorporating/substituting those refined grains (like white flour) with whole grains like quinoa, brown rice, whole wheat bread, oats, amaranth, and others. If refined sugar is a hard one, Elle Paula from SFGate, offers some great suggestions on How to Eliminate Refined Sugars.

Thou shalt not drink away all your calories. Drink my calories? Yes, you read right. Avoid soda, coffee, and other high calorie drinks. Also, limit your alcohol intake. The recommended limit is one drink per day for women and two for men. Strive to stick with water, low-fat/skim milk, or 100 percent fruit juice.

Thou shalt not indulge your salt, fat, and sugar cravings. Cutting back on processed foods will already help you reduce your consumption of this tantalizing trio, especially salt. Americans eat way more than the recommended 2,300 mg of sodium a day. Try to use spices instead to turn up the flavor on your meal.

Fats. You need not avoid them all together, remember there are healthy fats! Try to replace some of those common fats (whole milk, butter, sour cream, fatty cuts of meats) with olive oil, nuts, peanut butter, avocado, fish, low-fat dairy, and other yummy substitutes.

Sugar. This one can be catching-a-gazelle-kind-of-hard-thing to avoid if it is normally part of your diet, which for most it is. So start small. Look for foods without sugar as an ingredient or make sure it is listed closer to the end. Limit yourself on soda, candy, desserts, and some boxed cereals.

Some Tips

• Don’t buy it just because it says it is “clean.” Do your research because you may end up spending more money then you’re wallet can take.
• Spice it up. When switching from processed foods to whole foods, things can taste pretty bland. So dive into your spice cabinet or stock up on those much needed spices. My favorite go to spices include basil, rosemary, parsley, cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin, paprika, and dill.
• Remember, just because it’s called “clean” eating does not mean that other foods are “dirty.” Nor should we food shame those who choose not to go with the clean eating regiment. Jaclyn London, a registered dietitian, wrote a great article over at Good House Keeping addressing clean eating and this particular topic more fully.
• Don’t obsess over it. In the article I mentioned above, London recommends to embrace indulgence. If we become too obsessed with checking every little thing we eat (unless of course you have an allergy or medical condition), we forget that it’s ok to eat something we want. Like that tub of cookie dough ice cream sitting in my freezer… It’s all about moderation.

Well, I hope you learned a little bit more about exactly what is clean eating!

Clean eating is similar to the Paleo diet. To learn more about the Paleo diet and how it differs from clean eating click here!

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Well, let me first tell you that no, you don’t have to eat raw meat.

I personally had no clue what Paleo even was before I started researching it. However, my attitude toward it drastically changed as I realized all it requires. While I’m not ready by any means to jump in and become a full fledge Paleo dieter (I’d have to give up my addiction to cheese, peanut butter, brownies, ice cream, and well…sweets), I do feel a desire to be a bit more conscious about what I put into my body.

Hopefully after reading this, you can nod along with your friends and actually understand what they mean when they say, “I’m going Paelo.” Whether or not you decide to join them is your choice.

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So What Is The Paleo Diet?

To put it simply, the Paleo diet includes eating foods that our hunter gatherer ancestors who lived in the Paleolithic era consumed. It’s all about taking it back to the basics.

According to Wikipedia, the main concepts of this diet have been around for some time (well obviously back to the stone age!), but it was Loren Cordain, Ph.D., who started the Paleo movement and popularized the diet with his published book, The Paleo Diet: Lose Weight and Get Healthy By Eating the Foods You Were Designed to Eat.

Many athletes stick to this diet and it is even sometimes called the CrossFit diet. There are also many with Celiac Disease or a gluten allergy who prefer to eat Paleo. Others choose to go Paleo because of the health benefits associated with the diet.

Paleo followers may enjoy some of these health benefits:

• Weight loss
• Improvement in mental outlook
• Better cardiovascular and metabolic health
• More energy and better sleep

Other health benefits can be found here. The ultimate purpose of the Paleo diet is to enjoy a healthier, longer life.

However, there is the risk of calcium and vitamin D deficiency, as well as, a risk of toxins from consuming too much fish. Most people report experiencing a period of feeling sick for the first couple of weeks as their body adjusts to a new diet, but sometimes it is just a couple days.

So when it comes down to the nitty-gritty of it all, what can and can’t you eat? Now, not all experts agree on the same guidelines of what qualifies as Paleo and what doesn’t, but here is the general consensus from my research.

What Can You Eat?

Following this hunter-gather-diet can be a bit expensive – both in the money and time department. It takes planning, dedication, and creativity! So what’s ok to have on your Paleo menu?

• Lean meat
• Seafood
• Eggs
• Fruit
• Vegetables (non-starchy and roots)
• Nuts
• Seeds

Just so you could get a taste of what to expect in a day, I included this awesome example for a Paleo-delicious meal plan curtious of the folks over at Paleo Plan.

Breakfast
-Eggs, sausage, mushrooms, onions, garlic, and kale
-Sauteed and scrambled in coconut oil
-Avocado to top it off

Lunch
-Tossed green salad with tons of veggies (spinach, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.)
-Grilled chicken/beef/pork
-Olive oil, herb, and lemon juice dressing
-Cantaloupe, blackberries, and pecans

Snack
Leftover baked salmon and red peppers

Dinner
-Venison steak
-Steamed summer squash with lemon juice, coconut milk, and cinnamon
-Sauteed asparagus 

Dessert
-1 or 2 dates

Now, whether you are for or against diets similar to the Paleo diet, you have to give props to those who do follow them. It takes a lot of planning and preparation.

If you want to try some other great Paleo dishes, click on these recipes below.

*Disclaimer: There are some ingredients found in these recipes that don’t fully qualify as Paleo. So you can either take them out, find a replacement, or use them as part of your transitional recipe stage!

Baked Egg Tomato Cups

Roasted Squash Tacos

What Should You Avoid Eating?

Because the basic pretense of the Paleo diet originates from our great great great great great…well you get the picture…great ancestors in the Paleolithic era and what they would have eaten, there are quite a few foods we eat without thinking that are off limits.

So here is the low down on the no-nos:

• Grains
• Cereals
• Legumes
• Dairy products
• Processed foods
• Refined sugars

Obviously, this is a lot to cut out of your diet immediately. Those over at CrossFit Paradox explain nicely the idea behind this type of eating,

“It causes you to burn fat for fuel decreasing body fat, avoids storing excess glucose as fat, helps maintain hormonal balance and decreases inflammation in the body.”

So if you are trying to decide if this diet is for you, I’d highly recommend doing your own research before jumping on the Paleo bandwagon. I particularly loved reading about people’s experiences! Here is one of my favorite articles I found from Women’s Health Magazine, 7 Things No One Tells You About Going Paleo.

So now can you answer the question, “What is the Paleo diet?” Hopefully! I know I understand it a whole lot better! At least now I know what I could cook for my friends and family who are following the diet.

The Paleo diet is similar to clean eating. To learn more about the clean eating and how it differs from the Paleo diet click here.

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St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner! Here are Five Free Printables To Keep You Lucky and to add a little gold to your life.

Five Free Printables To Keep You Lucky

Stay Golden

Lucky To Be In Love

Pinch Proof

Got Luck – Black

Got Luck – White

Hope you have a wonderfully lucky St. Patrick’s Day!

Here are two more ways to bring some luck into your home.

Who doesn’t love cookies? Especially green cookies? These are sure to be a hit with everyone who tastes them!

St. Patrick’s Day

Spritz Shamrock Cookies

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10 Valentine’s Day Treats

1. Mini Cherry Heart Pies. How cute are these! Ashley from Frugal Coupon Living makes this how to simple and easy! Plus, they look great!

2. Looking for some chocolate lovin? You must try this S’mores Lava Cake from Creme de la Crumb!!

3. Here’s a twist on a classic! Pizza Pinwheel Hugs & Kisses from Recipe By Photo. This would be a great go to lunch with the kids, your spouse, that special someone, or just yourself!

4. Want something cool and tasty? Take a sip of this Strawberry Vanilla Smoothie from Rocky Mountain Bliss!

5. You can never go wrong with fruit and chocolate. Check out these delicious Chocolate-Covered Raspberries from Sugar Hero! A definite YUM in my book!

6. Speaking of fruit, take a look at these delectable Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries! These tasty treats are from The Nutmeg Nanny.

7. Want to go with something not so sugary? Try out these Sugar-Free Valentine Snacks from Two Kids Cooking! Such a good idea!

8. How about a special breakfast treat for Valentine’s Day morning? Check out these Better Than Restaurant Style Crepes! All found at Munchkin Time.

9. These are always so good at Christmas, why not spread the love to Valentine’s Day! These Valentine’s Chocolate Covered Pretzels are super cute and Love From The Oven offers a great how to tutorial!

10. Last, but not least, these Cinnamon Dessert Nachos With Salted Caramel Dip from The Flavor Bender are sure way to make your special someone just melt! My mouth just waters looking at these!

Hope you have fun making some of these 10 Valentine’s Day Treats! Enjoy your Valentine’s Day!

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10 Best Gifts for Him and Her

For Her

1. “Say I Love You” His and Hers pillowcases. Ok, is this not adorable? This would bring a big awwwwwe out of my mouth if I was given this as gift. Super sentimental. Definitely would pull at my heart strings! Find more gifts like this click here.

2. Handmade Spa Bath Bomb Fizzies. Ooo pick me! If my husband gave this to me, I would seriously be so appreciative. This gift not only says, “Take the day off you deserve it,” but it also tells me that he is aware of me and my needs. So if your special gal gets easily stressed, this is the gift for her!

3. Champion Women’s Absolute Workout Leggings. Not only are these exercise pants cute, but they are comfortable! Almost any girl would love some type of comfy pants whether it be for exercising or for lounging around the house!

4. Love Knot Rings. Most girls are all about the sentimental gifts. These rings scream sentimental. The love knot ring is a symbol of love. When she wears it, she will remember you and smile. The Infinity Knot Rings are also one of my favorites!

5. Love Coupons. Want to really make her feel special? Customize your gift to fit her personality and hobbies with these Love Coupons! Personally, I am all about the experience rather than reciving a gift. So whether it be a trip to a spa or a day of rock climbing, you will make her feel loved because you know what she loves best! (And if you don’t know…it’s ok to ask!)

For Him

1. Stance Socks. Check. These. Out. What a fun gift! Men tend to have some level of love for their socks. Stormtroopers, Vader, Yoda, or even something completely different, Stance has some pretty creative socks. You’re sure to find some that fit your man’s personality!

2. In keeping with the theme, Star Wars: The Complete Saga DVD Set is a great gift to add to your movie collection! You can never go wrong with Star Wars. However, if you are a Star Wars hater then you can always go with a different movie set. The Bourne Series is a great alternative, but hey, you know your man best.

3. Summer Sausage and Cheese Wisconsin. If I gave this to my husband, he would just melt! Something about summer sausage and cheese makes his day. This is a simple gift to get to his heart through his stomach!

4. I Love My Awesome Wife T-shirt. This would be such a funny gift! You can find other shirts that say girlfriend etc. as well. It is a gift for you and for him! Need I say more?

5. Make him a dessert! After he comes home from a long day, surprise him with a yummy treat. Try making this Two Two Easy Peach Cobbler  from Sheri at Made From Pinterest! You will find the skillet you need here. You could even do a different cobbler by making it chocolate with cherries! These Twix Cookies are also a personal favorite… Homemade desserts are a great gift!

That wraps up my list of the 10 Best Gifts for Him and Her! Happy Giving!

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1. Sequence for Kids. I love this game as an adult! Such a great idea for kids. It is recommended for ages 4 to 7 years old.

2. Professor Noggin’s The Fifty States is a fun game for kids to learn more about America! This game is better for ages 7 and up.

3. The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game! is a color matching game for ages 3 and up! It is designed to teach matching, sorting, counting, and simple math skills in a fun way!

4. Feed the Woozle. Players work together to feed the hungry Woozle. This cute game is for ages 3 and up. It teaches kids social development skills and motor skills.

5. Help the owls get home safe before the sun comes up! Hoot Owl Hoot! is a fun game that has two levels so it gets harder as your child grows older! It teaches simple strategy and social development skills with no reading required. Ages 4 and up.

6. Wild Animalopoly – A classic game, animal style!  What kid doesn’t love animals. This is a 2 to 6 players game.

7. First player to spell SMART after answering questions from the categories of Science, Math, Art, Reading, and The World. Questions are catered to grade level. Brain Quest: Smart Game is for 6 to 12 years.

8. With two levels, Zingo! teaches image and vocabulary recognition, matching, memory, concentration, and social interaction. Such a fun game for 4 to 8 years old!

9. Stone Soup helps kids work together to cook up a soup! This game helps kids with their memory and social development skills.

10. Mermaids seem to be the big thing again! In Mermaid Island, players help the mermaids get back to Mermaid Island before the Sea Witch comes! This game is better for ages 5 and up.

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30 Christmas Tree Ornaments to Make

1. The kids will have a blast making these fun Melted Crayon Ornaments from Meet the Dubiens!
2. Add an elegant touch to your Christmas tree this year with these Classy Clay Ornaments from A Beautiful Mess.

3. These Character Ornaments from Crazy Little Projects are sure to be hit with the kids! Have fun together by creating ornaments of your favorite characters!

4. Looking for something easy and cute? Try making these Yarn Ball Ornaments from Sew Wrong.

5. Collect those bottle caps! These Bottle Cap Snowmen Ornaments from Kidsomania are simply cute!

6. Each ornament maker can customize their own String Art Ornaments to hang on the tree this year! These fun ornaments were made by the Country Chic Cottage.

7. Fill the house with the aroma of Christmas by making these Cinnamon Stick Tree Ornaments found on Crafts Unleashed.

8. These ingenious Paint Chip Christmas Tree Ornaments found on My Life and Kids are creative and easy to make!

9. Check out these beautiful DIY Glitter Christmas Ornaments from Create and Babble.

10. These Wooden Nativity Ornament found on Crafting and Creativity make for a great family activity.

11. Check out this awesome tutorial by Gimme Some Oven on how to make these cute Book Page Ornaments!

12. Looking for something easy that the kids can join in on? Try these festive DIY Kids Christmas Tree Ornament from Made From Pinterest!

13. These DIY Paper Towel Roll Snowflakes from Kids Kubby are also an fun activity for the kids to do this holiday!

14. Be sure to try these fun and unique Rolled Paper Ornaments by Paper Plate and Plane!

15. Make these Personalized Scrabble Ornaments found on Life Your Way with your grand kids or kids this Christmas. They will make a great addition to your ornament collection!

16. These adorably cute Owl Ornaments For Kids from Meet the Dubiens are fun way to brighten up your tree!

17. Are your family DC Comic fans? Then you will love these awesome Superhero Ornaments by Happy Looks Good On You!

18. Wreaths are always found around the holiday season. These Mini Grey Wreath Christmas Ornaments from Domestically Blissful are a great project to do with the kids this season!

19. These Felt Mitten Ornaments found on Better Homes and Gardens will add a cozy touch to the tree this year.

20. Here is a super easy one to make! Try out these Christmas Pinecone Ornament from Shanty 2 Chic!

21. Gather up some more pinecones because you will want to make these Curious Pinecone Owl Ornaments by Lia Griffith!

22. The kids will absolutely love these Mini Snow Globe Ornament by No Biggie.

23. The Happier Homemaker provides a fun activity for kids with her DIY Kid’s Fingerprint Ornament.

24. These unique Tinkering Trees from Left Brain Craft Brain are a great way to let the kids create their own ornaments for the Christmas tree.

25. These cute Burlap Poinsettia Christmas Ornaments found on Home Talk will add a rustic look to your tree.

26. Want an outdoorsy theme for your tree? Try making these DIY Wood Slice Christmas Ornaments by Mountain Modern Life.

27. Check out these adorable Hot Chocolate Ornaments from Breakfast 4 Dinner!

28. This Stable Ornament from Adventures of a DIY Mom is an easy Christmas Craft for the kids to do!

29. These cheerful Snowman Spoon Ornaments from A Lil Bird Told Me are a crafty way to add to your tree this year.

30. Last one! Make a keepsake with the kids by creating these easy Kids Hand Print Snowman Bulbs found on Instructables.

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25 Cute Holiday Treats

1. These cute Marshmallow Snowman Treats from Flexible Dreams make for an easy and tasty activity with the grand kids where everyone can participate.

2. The holiday season simply calls for gingerbread men.  These Old Fashion Gingerbread Men from This Grandma Is Fun are a great way to help kids get creative as they make their own gingerbread men.

3. Holiday or not, popcorn is always delicious, but when it comes to Christmas time you are going to want to try this Red Velvet Popcorn from Inspired by Charm.

4.  The kids will be quick to eat this cute Fruit Christmas Tree from Ginger and Garlic.

5. Oreo cookies are always a hit with the grand kids. Don’t miss out on these adorable Sweet and Salty Reindeer Oreo Pops from Oh! Nuts!

6. Keep those Oreos on hand because you are going to want to try these tasty Melted Snowmen Oreo Balls made by The Girl Who Ate Everything.

7.  Want to keep to the snowman theme? The kids are going to love these easy Frosty Snowman Pretzels from Hungry Happenings.

8. Don’t forget the Christmas tree! Have the kids build their own Rice Krispie Treat Christmas Tree inspired by Cookies and Cups.

9. Want something more savory? Be sure to try these quick and easy Betty Crocker Pita Christmas Tree Appetizers.

10. “Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…” Don’t leave out these festive Chocolate-Covered Cherry Mice this Christmas. Such a fun idea from Not Quite Susie Homemaker.

11. These Reindeer Sandwiches found on A Spotted Pony are sure to be a hit for the kids during the holidays.

12.  Simply Shellie offers this yummy Snowman Dessert Dip that kids will love to munch on this holiday season!

13. Surprise the grand kids with these Cheesecake Stuffed Christmas Tree Cupcakes found on Tablespoon!

14. Going for a cupcake spree? Be sure to try out these adorable Reindeer Cupcakes from Your Cup of Cake.

15.  Betty Crocker’s Savory Snowman Cheese Ball is a great addition to make so you have some tasty snacks on hand at the house!

16. Make it a snow day with Gimme Some Oven’s Easy 5 Minute Easy Snow Ice Cream! The kids will love this deliciously unique recipe!

17. After a snow day, warm up with some Melted Snowman Hot Chocolate from Meet the Dubiens.

18.  The grand kids will love these bite size Santa Hat Brownies from Daisy’s World.

19. Speaking of Santa hats, put these Santa Hat Pretzels on the list to try from Free-N-Fun Christmas. They make a quick and easy snack for the kids to munch on!

20. After having a snowball fight with the kids, be sure to end on a sweet note with these buttery Snowball Cookies from Setting for Four.

21. These Festive Apple Pie Fries from Oh, Bite It! are a tasty and dipable treat that everyone will love!

22.  The holiday season isn’t complete without Santa.  Be sure to try these Sweet Strawberry Santas found on TISL Style.  They are easy to make and quick to clean up!

23. Put together these cute Banana Santa Fruit Pops with the kids from Clean and Scentsible’s Christmas Breakfast.

24. These cute Penguin Cookies from Delightful E Made will make a tasty addition to the treat bowl this holiday season!

25. Last but not least, these creative Oreo Ornaments from Miss CandiQuick are a yummy way to ring in the holiday season!

We are excited to feature this post on Simply Designing!

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