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If you’re planning to have New Years Eve at your house this year, I have some great New Years Eve party tips to help you throw a sophisticated and fancy celebration for the upcoming year!

Fancy New Years Eve Party tips:

Dress Code: Go into the New Year with style. Require you and your guests to dress up for the event. You don’t have to go as far as making it black tie but semi-formal to formal attire always makes the party feel a lot fancier. Suits, dresses, skirts, nice sweaters, slacks – ask your guests to dress to impress!

Food: Make a nice “nosh” spread. Prepare an appetizer tray with goat cheese, water crackers, grapes, strawberries, fig spread, different types of olives and toothpicks! For a heartier meal, try foods that can be served in small portions. If you’re not a great cook or don’t want to try your hand at something new – there are plenty of places that would be more than happy to cater. No fried food like buffalo wings, leave that for events like the super bowl.

Beverages: Champagne and wine. Try Laurent Perrier Brut for champagne and explore different white and red wines for the occasion. Have non-alcoholic beverages too – there are plenty of non alcoholic champagnes and apple ciders out there. I would stay away from hard liquor unless you have places for people to stay for the night.

Music: Before putting the television on to watch the ball drop – jazz music is always a nice touch, you don’t have to stick to that elevator jazz either you can spice things up with a little it more soulful or bluesy jazz to keep the night energized.

Games: Card Games like poker are great for events like this, but if you want a few laughs in the mix as the wine and champagne starts to kick in – try Cards Against Humanity – an adult card game sure to bring a good time.

Decorations: Golds and silvers are perfect. If you want clean up to be easy you can stick with paper and plastic, also – don’t get every single thing on the shelf that says “Happy New Year” that can be a little too tacky. If you have a porch or backyard, purchase a few sparklers to light up the night.

And there you have it! It’s really that simple to create a fancy New Years eve party especially if you and your friends have left the bar hopping scene, you brought the New Year in with a sophisticated edge!

Stomach pain or tummy aches throughout the day can affect our sleep schedule, our performance at work can negatively affect our attitudes if its regularly occurring. Abdominal pain can also be hard to judge what the source is, and it’s not as simple as just removing a particular type of food like an allergy. If the pain is severe and intense, it may be best to visit a physician and may be a symptom of a more serious condition.

However, here are some simple drinks that are great remedies to consistent tummy aches that don’t need to involve the costs or hassle of a doctor’s visit.

1. Water, but with Lemon.
This might seem obvious, but physicians recommend 8 glasses of water a day, and many drink well below that number. Drink water throughout the day, but add lemon to at least 2 – 3 of those glasses; lemon has been shown to have some benefit with abdominal pain. Water hydrates, cleanses and flushes out the system while lemon helps break down food, easing the work of stomach acids.

2. All-Natural Ginger Ale.
Ginger has been used throughout history for digestion woes, but some are averse to chewing on pure ginger root. A great way to get the benefits of ginger is simply Ginger Ale. Try to aim for a brand no high fructose corn syrup, and you have a great drink to calm an upset stomach.
3. The Rolling Treatment
Still having stomach cramps? Try this treatment! Prepare a very strong chamomile tea in the morning before breakfast. After drinking, lay down on your left side, your abdomen, and then your right side for 5 minutes each. The tea will spread through your system as you “roll,” and is one of the best natural ways to cure stomach pain. For the tea, use 1 heaping tbsp of dried chamomile flowers per cup of hot water, and you can also use 2 teabags of chamomile instead of 1 teabag for maximum effect.

And there you have it, 3 simple drinks you can make in the comfort of your home. Simple drinks like this can go a long way in getting rid of those stomach cramps for good!

More: sixdifferentways.com

I’m sure you’ve seen incense sticks, they are sold everywhere from gas stations and  convenience stores to candle shops and bookstores, but did you know there are some woods you can burn that have a natural aroma which works the same way as an incense stick purchased from a store?

Palo Santo Wood

It’s the day after Christmas, the kids are playing with their new toys, you are taking a breather after all the mayhem and it’s almost time for the new year. First, give yourself a pat on the back for doing a great job making Christmas extra spectacular this year – but there is still more preparations to be done! Don’t worry though – this will make things smoother for upcoming year.

Few Days After Christmas Checklist: 

If you have children, don’t let them open every single toy or gift they receive right away. A new toy every month or every couple of weeks will keep them entertained until Christmas rolls around next year. It also saves you from living in messy toy town for the next week and keeps the potential pleading for new things at a minimum.

Stock up on gift wrap, gift bags, tissue paper, cards and christmas supplies for next year – all the Christmas stuff is marked down and clearanced – don’t wait too long though, shelves go practically empty by the third or fourth day after Christmas.

Receive gifts you weren’t crazy about or did the kids receive double of something? Create a space in your closet, attic or basement for any extra gifts to regift for next year. Some people think its tacky but I think it’s smart, it saves you time, money and it allows someone else to really enjoy something you were only slightly excited about. Just be sure to tape a note on it reminding you who it came from – you wouldn’t want to regift it to the same person who gave you it – there is a possibility their feelings might get hurt.

Tons of leftovers? Find places to donate extra food like shelters or food kitchens. Do your research and call beforehand, most places won’t accept food that isn’t sealed or already made but if you purchased extra canned goods or anything unopened, it feels good to give to others. If you have extra already prepared food, there are plenty of people who are still in need and if you live in a city and see someone in need, there is no reason not to offer them something to eat. If not, you could freeze anything you think might not get eaten in the next or so! 

Take christmas decorations down slowly. Why the rush to send Christmas out the door right away? Slowly start to put those santa graphic hand towels and snowflake soaps back in the closet. Wait until after New Years to take the Christmas lights down. Take the wreath off the front door at the end of January. Winter doesn’t end just because Christmas does, the lights, decorations and good cheer is also meant to keep us smiling through the rest of the cold and dark winter months.

Enjoy your gifts to their fullest and enjoy how much everyone is loving the gifts you gave to them!

Christmas Day is finally here! Merry Christmas! 

While having a fully loaded christmas tree with an abundance of gifts underneath it is exciting – there are some christmas gifts that can’t come from a store. Revive the spirit of christmas today by creating a christmas wish tree that asks santa for a personal wish that can’t be bought. This is a great idea for christmas day parties or for a family activity on Christmas day!

What You’ll Need: 

• 3 large branches or a Light Up Wire Christmas Tree or simply christmas lights
• Clothes Pins
• Index Cards
• Pens

You can get a light up wire christmas tree from a craft store or hardware store. If you can’t find one you can always make your own or you can even simply use christmas light strung on the ceiling or wrapped around nearly anything. A friend of mine used 3 large branches found outside.

Use the pens and index cards for each guest or family member to write down something they wish for the upcoming year. This wish isn’t a material wish but a wish that comes from the heart.  Have them write down 3 gifts. One they want for themselves, the second to give to others (it can be specific people) and third for the whole world.

Have them use a clothes pin to attach their index card to the lights. If everyone is comfortable, have them share their wish or you can just leave them up there so as others approach the tree, they can see all the good tidings and merry wishes wanted and given for the year to come!

1 Day til’ Christmas Countdown: It was the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a – oops! we forgot to put out cookies and milk for santa!

It’s best to not wait until the last minute to get everything done before Christmas morning, especially if we have curious children who want to know if Santa is real or not – but sometimes with late deliveries, work, kids and preparations, it’s difficult to remember to get everything done. Below is a Christmas Eve checklist to make sure we have everything in order so Christmas Day is a merry day to remember!

Christmas Eve Checklist: 

Make sure the christmas tree lights are on!

Wrapped our gifts and hid them in the trunk of our car (this is the best hiding spot for kids who snoop around to see where the goods are).

Made a little area for Santa’s treats – use a small table or a fold up tv dinner table, put out milk and cookies, write a little note for santa. Don’t forget about the Santa’s reindeer! You and your kids can collect leaves, twigs and vines to put out for the reindeer to eat. 

Make sure to drink some of the milk and take a bite out of one of the cookies after the kids are asleep – leave a handmade and handwritten note from santa to your kids – make it extra special. Get rid of the reindeer food.

Make sure those kids are fast asleep – most kids get very excited the night before Christmas in anticipation for Santa, let them stay up an hour or more so they are extra sleepy, have them take a warm bath and give them some warm milk before bed. You can even play light, soothing music so they aren’t woken by any sounds.

Once you are sure they are fast asleep, quietly place the gifts under the tree

Don’t forget the stocking stuffers!

Make christmas breakfast the night before so you can just stick it in the oven to warm it on Christmas morning. This way you won’t miss any of the action.

Have a large garbage bag for recycling ready for the discarded wrapping paper to go in to make clean up easy.

Have your camera ready for christmas morning – take lots of pictures to see the smile on everyone’s faces!

Read more here: sixdifferentways.com

2 Days til’ Christmas Countdown: These beautiful christmas ornaments can be used to hang on your tree or used as decoration during the holiday season. They are fragile but very beautiful and easy to make!

What You’ll Need:

• Balloons
• Cotton String
• Fabric Stiffener
• Ribbons
• Scotch Tape

Blow up a balloon to whatever size you want your snowball string ornament to be.  Tape the end of the string to the balloon so it stays put. Wrap the string around the balloon in whatever pattern you’d like, try a lacy, nest-like pattern.

Make sure to wrap it enough times so there aren’t too many large spaces. The larger the spaces the more fragile and delicate the ornament will be. Dip it in fabric stiffener.  Allow the stiffener to dry for the amount of time as per the directions on the bottle.

Pop the balloon using a sewing needle, knife or any other sharp object. Tie a ribbon to one end of your snowball string creation and hang wherever you see fit!

3 Days til’ Christmas Countdown: Apparently slime is all the rage these days, children of all ages love to make this gooey play thing – it reminds me of the gooey toys I used to get out of the 25 cent machines at the grocery store when I was little.

Recipe Courtesy of Growing a Jeweled Rose

The cool part about slime is that kids are learning how to craft it themselves and it’s usually made out of chemical free and natural materials! The downside is it gets very messy and sticks to everything so just give make sure you keep it contained to one room or outside if you can.

For a fun and festive activity this year, you and your kids can make Christmas slime!

I recommend kids ages 6+ for this activity! But it is still safe for ages 4 and up to play with – it isn’t toxic but to be safe, keep away from the ones who are putting everything in their mouth! 

What You’ll Need:

• 2 Cups of Elmers Red Glitter Glue
• warm water
• Cinnamon extract
• 3/4 tsps borax
• 3 bowls

In one bowl, combine 2 cups of red glitter glue, cinnamon extract and 1 & 1/2 cups of water. Mix together.

In the other bowl, combine 3/4 tsps borax and 1 & 1/3 cups warm water. Mix together.

Once they are thoroughly mixed in the separate bowls. Combine them together in your 3rd bowl and mix together. It is best to mix and knead the slime with your hands which is fun for both you and your kids!

Remove the slime from the bowl and find a clean and smooth surface where you can continue kneading the slime.

If the slime is sticky – take a small amount of borax and mix it in warm water until it dissolves. Add the mixture to the slime. Start off with a small amount and continue adding until the mixture is less sticky. You don’t want to overdo it so it becomes runny. 

The slime is sparkly, smells like christmas and super fun to play with!

Tip: If you want to keep the slime contained, grab a few small containers (recycled baby food jars work great) put some slime in it and have the kids press down into the goo until they hear a “fart” noise. A lot of kids find this hilarious – this is particular good if you have rambunctious children who may want to fling the slime around the house, this keeps them entertained while keeping the slime in a safe place!

4 Days til Christmas Countdown: A very healthy and super easy snack kids can make themselves for christmas this year are Grinch Fruit Snacks – you may be thinking? ANOTHER fruit snack? But this one is made of actual real fruit, they can make it themselves and you pop on the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas as they munch on these for the full effect!

What You’ll Need:

• Banana
• Green Grapes
• Strawberries
• Mini Marshmallows
• Toothpicks
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas Movie (I prefer the animated one but you could always opt for the 2000 Ron Howard film)

If you want to show your kids how to make them, I recommend ages 5 and up, only because the toothpicks have sharp edges.

First cut the banana using a knife. Slice the banana. Place off to the side in a bowl or container. Wash the strawberries using room temperature water. Cut the tops off of the strawberries and toss in the trash. Place to the side. Wash your grapes with room temperature water. Take a toothpick, stick it through your grape, banana, strawberry then top it off with a mini marshmallow.

I thought lining the fruit up then just sticking toothpicks through would be faster but the grapes have a tendency to roll around so doing it one by one is best.

To make it easy for your kids, set up the ingredients in sort of an assembly line formation, especially if you have a multiple kids so they can work together to create their healthy Grinch Fruit Snacks!

See the rest here: sixdifferentways.com

5 Days til’ Christmas Countdown: Create your own christmas potpourri to give your home that warm and cozy aroma throughout the holiday season. You can make this whenever you are having guests, especially if you are hosting christmas eve or christmas or turn into sachets to give as gifts. Below are two ways to create a wonderful christmas potpourri.

What You’ll Need: 

• dried rose petals
• cinnamon sticks
• star anise
• whole cloves or clove essential oil
• cinnamon essential oil
• rose essential oil
• orange essential oil
• Grapeseed oil
• eucalyptus oil (optional)

If you want to make potpourri jars or sachets – Add dried rose petals, cinnamon sticks, cloves and star anise in an airtight or hermetically sealed container.

Mix together a few tbsps of grapeseed oil, a few drops of rose, orange, cinnamon and clove essential oil. Clove and cinnamon essential oil is very strong so add less drops of these then the rose or orange. Mix together – try to use something wooden, not metal, a wooden chopstick would work well, just to blend them together. Pour the oil over the dry goods in the container.

Close the container and shake together. If you want to make sure the lid of the container is sealed very tightly, you can place the lid on the container and run under very hot water but isn’t imperative for the fermenting of potpourri.  Place the container on a windowsill that receives sunlight so the heat from the sun can allow the potpourri to ferment nicely. Allow to ferment for 14 days or more, you can create individual containers to give as gifts or you can add the potpourri mixture to sachets to give to others.

If you want to make your house smell like christmas potpourri for the day – double your ingredients, add all of your ingredients to a pot with enough water to just barely cover them and allow to simmer all day. I recommend adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil as this is very beneficial for stuffy noses and sore throats, just in case any of your guests may have a little cold or a case of the sniffles.

View post: sixdifferentways.com