Five tips to simplify your holiday shopping on any budget

(ARA) - The holiday season is upon us. That means the stress that comes with shopping for that perfect gift is not far behind. So, what's the best way to go about making a list, checking it twice and sticking to a budget?

Audrey McClelland is the founder of Mom Generations, an online destination for moms. She is an expert at holiday shopping for her tech-savvy husband, four boys all younger than 6, and a large extended family.

McClelland offers her top five holiday shopping tips and gift ideas that will help you conquer your holiday shopping - on budget - for everyone on your list.

1. Keep a master list. It can get overwhelming around the holidays when you are trying to decide whom to shop for. Outline everyone you need a gift for, and remember to incorporate any unexpected last-minute gifts. Then write down a realistic number on what you want to spend on each person and stick to it. Seeing it on paper will make it easier to knock items off your list while keeping your budget in check.

2. Be sure to have gifts on hand that can be given to anyone … regardless of their tastes. For example, Staples carries colorful Omnitech mini speaker pods in jewel tones for only $10 that can plug into any iPod, Sony PSP, or MP3 player, and are perfect for kids and grown-ups on the go. Digital photo ornaments in the shape of decorative balls or snowflakes make another universally likeable gift for less than $15. These are also time-savers to have on hand for office Yankee swaps, hostess gifts or any unanticipated presents you may need.

3. Don't waste time rushing from store to store. Try condensing your shopping visits to the fewest number of stores possible. Pick a shopping destination or two, and commit to buying as many gifts as you can for your list there. If you're looking for the newest tech items, Staples stores offer interactive displays that allow you to get a feel of the newest tech products before you buy, whether you're considering a Kindle for your mother-in-law or a Flip video camera for that next family vacation.

4. It's a digital world - follow your favorite shopping places on Facebook and Twitter. Many stores reward their followers with up-to-the-minute deals via these social media outlets. Stores occasionally post exclusive print-out coupons and deals specifically for their Facebook friends, and let you know about upcoming events ahead of time.

5. Check out the websites of the stores that you plan to visit before heading into the actual store. You may be surprised by the variety of products some stores offer. It also helps you to become acquainted with the product selection and can help you to nail down specific items for each person on your list, making your trip more efficient. You may even decide to purchase some items directly on the website and have them shipped to the recipient to avoid a trip to the store or post office. For example, Staples.com offers free shipment on items over $50.

"Every year, inevitably, I get caught up in the frenzy of the season," says McClelland. "However, by sticking to these tips, I can focus on the joy of gift giving and the satisfaction of knowing I did it all under budget."

Yummy Brownie Recipes

We just had our church Christmas party. I was assigned to make dessert and decided to make some brownies. It turned out real yummy. So if you're looking for a tried and tested yummy brownie recipe, try these out.

Moist Chewy Brownie

Ingredients:

• 4 oz unsweetened chocolate
• 1 cup flour (I used superfine flour)
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla essence

Directions:

• In a saucepan, melt the chocolate and butter.
• Once melted, add in the sugar. Stir it in until well blended.
• Add in the eggs gradually as you keep beating the mixture.
• Put in the vanilla essence
• Last of all add in the flour and salt.
  
• Don't forget the walnuts.
• Grease a 13" x 9" baking pan and pour in the batter.
• Bake for 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees fahrenheit. Make sure you don't over bake.
• Let it cool before your frost it or dust it with powdered sugar (optional).
  

MINT CHOCOLATE BROWNIES
This recipe comes from BYU

I forgot to take a photo of the brownies. When I remembered, only this last piece was left. The mint icing really makes it super yummy.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup margarine
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp honey
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 3/4 cup flour
• 1/2 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Mint Icing ingredients:

• 5 tbsp margarine
• Dash of salt
• 3 tbsp milk
• 1 tbsp light corn syrup (I used golden syrup)
• 2 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp mint extract
• 1-2 drops green food coloring

Directions:

• In a saucepan, melt the butter and then mix in the cocoa.
• As you wait for it to cool, mix together eggs, sugar and honey.
• In a separate container, mix the dry ingredients together - flour, baking powder and salt.
• Put the dry ingredients with the eggs, sugar, honey. Pour in the melted butter and cocoa too.
• Mix them all together until well blended.
• Add in the nuts.
• Grease a 9-13 baking pan and pour the batter in. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
  Then let cool.
  

Start preparing the mint icing.

• Add salt, corn syrup and powdered sugar to the soften margarine.
• Beat until smooth and fluffy.
• Mix in the mint extract and the food coloring.
• Gradually, add in the milk. You want to achieve a consistency slightly thinner than cake frosting.
• Once the brownies is completely cooled, you can spread the mint icing over.
• Put in the refrigerator a little while so the icing can become stiff.
• After you take it out from the fridge, smooth on a layer of chocolate icing.

Chocolate Butter Frosting Recipe
Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup milk
• 2 cups powdered sugar (sifted)

Directions:

• Heat butter, cocoa and milk over low fire.
• Turn off the heat and add it to the powdered sugar.
• Beat until nice and smooth.
  

Trip To Jeram Toi

If you're looking to go to some fun places in Negeri Sembilan, you might want to consider Jeram Toi waterfalls. You'll find it as you get on the road heading towards Jelebu. Instead of trying to describe it with words, I'll let the pictures do the talking.

From the entrance as you walk up to the pool

The kids will love the slides they've put in.

This is the deeper pool.

As you can see there's a kiddie pool and a deeper pool.

If you feel like hiking, you can keep climbing.

Nice huts available for you to rest and picnic. You can decide to play at the pool or in the stream.

We were just visiting and checking out the place this time. Will definitely come back for some wet fun.

Certified Educational Daycare

In such difficult economic times many parents would see it as a privilege to be a stay-at-home parent in America, and would be considered truly lucky. With thirty years of economic policies that have decimated the middle class, the majority of American households today require two incomes, meaning that young children must usually be relegated to daycare facilities or preschools.

Of those fortunate parents raising their children naturally, many wish to take full advantage of this opportunity by attempting to give their children a head start on learning; reading to them, engaging in educational play activities, encouraging them to read, and more. Unfortunately, very few parents can do it all.

Young children can greatly benefit from attendance at a certified day care, operated by trained, certified early childhood educators. A preschool teacher cannot replace a parent and that is not the goal of a certified day care program, but the experience of learning in a school setting during the early years can be a valuable supplement to a child's experience at a time when the brain is being shaped and developed.

Closing the Gaps

There is arguably no substitute for a loving parent-child relationship and daily interactions – but scientific methodology has an important place. This is where trained, certified early childhood educators can "fill the gaps" when it comes to a young child's development. For example, were you as a parent aware that there are five equally important areas of a young child's development? These are summed up by the acronym, "SPICE" – Social, Physical, Intellectual, Creative and Emotional.

The way a child relates to others and functions in a group setting involves social development. If you are among the increasing number of parents choosing to limit their family size to one child, the importance of socialization in a structured environment becomes apparent.

Physical development refers to building motor skills, from the gross (basic movements such as walking and running) to the fine (such as holding a writing implement).

Intellectual development is achieved through structured play, and of course means development of language and math skills as well as the child's innate sense of curiosity and wonder; Intellectual development is central to success in school later on.

Creative development addresses artistic talents in visual arts, music, storytelling and even theatrics. Although it is popular in American culture to dismiss creativity and the arts as unnecessary, creativity is the foundation self-expression and problem solving. It is arguable that without creativity, there would be no innovation nor entrepreneurship. (It was Einstein himself who said "Creativity is more important than knowledge.")

Emotional development is also frequently overlooked, even by the most devoted parents. Yet, without a sense of self, including self confidence and the discipline to deal with one's own emotional responses, a child will have difficulty functioning in society later in life.

What the future will hold

It is likely that most parents are aware of these developmental domains on an instinctive level. However, certified preschool educators are trained in the scientific theory and methodology that can make the difference between a child succeeding – and succeeding brilliantly.

Co-written by Emily Patterson and Kathleen Thomas

Emily and Kathleen are Communications Coordinators for the Atlanta day care facility, a member of the AdvancED® accredited family of Primrose Schools (located in 16 states throughout the U.S.) and part of the network of day care preschools delivering progressive, early childhood, Balanced Learning® curriculum.

How We Renovated Our Home

Finally, the stress of renovating, packing, moving and unpacking is about over. There is still some stuff to put away and picture frames to put up. The garden is also still work in progress. We had to really clear the garden from neglected plants, old pot stands, broken pots and other unwanted "stuff" left by the building contractors because there were so many mosquitoes. The mosquitoes are still around but less. My poor kids were bitten left, right and center.

Well, here are some before and after photos.

OUTSIDE VIEW

Before

After
We made the gate bigger so it would be easier for the 2nd car to park in the porch. Added an awning to keep out the sun. Changed the porch tiles. Changed the roof tiles too.

THE DRY KITCHEN

Before
After
We took out the wall tiles. Painted the walls yellow. Gave away the old cupboards and table. Put in a kitchen cabinet.

I didn't take a before photo for this part of the kitchen. Anyway, we put in cabinet doors underneath the counter top. Before, the cubicles were all open. Had to change the counter-top for the right side too because we changed the sink. That's why the right side is black and the left side is the old orange tiles.

THE WET KITCHEN

Before
When my mother renovated the house many, many years ago, she made this laundry room. The washing machine was here and she put bars near the ceiling so she could hang the clothes indoors.

After
I turned the laundry room into a wet kitchen. I put the washing machine outside. We cemented an area at the back and put an awning. So laundry is now outside.

My mom told me the workers were quite fascinated with this magnetic knife rack I bought from IKEA.

THE LIVING AREA

Before

After
We made the window smaller because that area was always hot in the afternoon. We changed the window pane to black color. Keeps the hot sun out and also gives us some privacy. We also changed the front door. It used to be a big, glass sliding door. Now we don't need curtains. And I don't need to bother washing any. Muaahahaha.
The floor went through some grinding so it nice and shiny now. We also changed the wall colors from blue to yellow. That really brightens up the house a bit.
The only thing we didn't take into consideration was the natural lighting in the house. Eliminating the big glass door and minimizing the window has made the inside of the house quite dark. DH was so focused on keeping the house cool and keeping the sun out, he didn't give much thought that we actually need some light to come in :) So, our electricity bill may be up a little because we have to turn on the lights during the daytime.

THE KIDDIE ROOM
Before

After
We put in floor tiles. Changed the window panes to dark color. Painted the walls a peachy color. It is not easy to select wall colors. The color may look nice on a chart but you don't really know how it is going to turn out. When I was choosing what colors to use, the painter and my mom kept suggesting that I use "bright" colors. Well, in the end the room looks quite ok BUT I think the kids would prefer a different color.
As you can see, no curtains here either. I don't know, should I put in some curtains?

BATHROOM

Before

After
Major changes here. Changed the wall and floor tiles. Changed the toilet too. Took out the bathtub. Installed a shower door and made that place a shower area. Cleared out all the clutter my mom had in the bathroom.

THE POND

Guess where most of my trophies ended up? Yeah, literally with the fish. There are 2 reasons for that: 1) Many of the trophies were damaged through wear and tear over the years. 2) We want to keep the inside of the house clutter free (as much as possible).
I thought I had to throw them away but DH had a better idea on how to recycle them.
So, if you want to see my golf achievements, we'll need to go see the fish.
p.s.: The ones where I took first place are NOT with the fish. I'm not that crazy.

THE RABBIT CAGE

The rabbits have a new home too. When my mom said she asked the contractor to build a rabbit hut, I didn't imagine it would be this big. Some people have suggested I put naughty children there too. Hehehehe.

Well, that's a peek to the renovation done on my house. Here are some lessons learned:

• Even after getting a quotation from the contractor, be ready to spend more. Maybe even much more, especially if it is an old house. Renovating a new house is probably not as troublesome.
  
• Get your house treated for termites regularly.
• I got better service at an obscure tile shop than I did at a big name, widely advertised shop. The big shop had a lot of variety no doubt but that made it more confusing for me. I didn't know which were floor tiles or wall tiles and for which part of the house they were for. The lady boss at the obscure shop helped me make my choices. She would say, "let's start with the kitchen wall" and then show me my choices. After that she would guide me to choose the floor tiles to match the wall. I got the task done fairly quickly and organized.
• Don't just think about making the house beautiful. It has got to be functional, practical and energy saving too. For example, DH chose white color for the exterior walls so it would reflect heat and keep the house cool.
  
• Drainage is very important. Make sure the drains are not clogged with debris from the renovation.
  
• Bathroom accessories are very expensive.
• Make sure you keep track of how much you are paying the contractor. Ask for a receipt after each payment or just jot it down on paper and have them sign it.
  

Beautiful Christmas Greeting Cards

It's December! It's the Christmas month. Time to get busy doing Christmas stuff. Don't forget to send some Christmas cards to friends and family. Don't just send a generic Christmas card, why not use a beautiful picture of your family or your kids as part of your Christmas card.

Check out how awesome your Christmas card can be. These are part of Tiny Prints 2010 Holiday Cards

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One Of the Best Christmas CD

When I think of Christmas, my immediate thoughts are of music and Christmas cookies. What would Christmas be without the well-known Christmas carols that we all love to sing along with?

40 Most Beautiful Christmas Classics CD is a lovely collection of the best known carols performed by wonderful musicians, choirs and instrumental groups. I am sure you will enjoy listening to Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, Kiri Te Kanawa, Boston Camerata, Monteverdi Choir, Dawn Upshaw and others performing and singing The Holly and the Ivy, Panis Angelicus, O Holy Night, Once in Royal David’s City, Hark the Herald’s Angels Sing, Christmas Oratorio – just to name a few.

If you are looking for a nice collection of Christmas music to get into the spirit of the season, I am sure you will enjoy the 40 Most Beautiful Christmas Classics CD. It would also make a very thoughtful present for a special friend.

Note: This is a guest review

Oreo Cheesecake

The week before we started packing up to move house, I was trying to clear the fridge. DH had bought a block of cream cheese that I had left sitting in the fridge for quite a while. I finally decided to put on my baking hat and treat the family to an oreo cheesecake.

I also got the kids to help. Giving them something to do keeps them out of trouble for a while :p

This was really yummy. Fattening, not healthy but sure yummy. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 18 Oreos. Crushed it with a blender
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 2 blockes of 250g cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 (14 oz) can condensed milk
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• Juice from 1 1/2 lemon

Directions:

• Mix in the butter with the crushed Oreos. Press into a 9 inch spring-form pan.
• Cream together the softened cream cheese with the 2 eggs and condensed milk.
• Add in the vanilla and lemon juice.
• Sprinkle more crushed Oreos on top of the batter or put broken Oreo pieces. That's up to you.
• Bake 30-45 minutes at about 220 degrees Fahrenheit. Watch the cake so it doesn't over bake. You don't want it to crack at the top.
• Take it out of the oven and let it cool before putting in the refrigerator to chill.

How To Easily Scrapbook Your Memories

It's almost the end of the year. I'm sure you've taken tons of photos and they are all lying in your harddisk. I know mine are. BabyK has already passed her 1 year birthday. I plan to do a special scrapbook of her first year. I also plan to do a family scrapbook for the year 2010. I did that for the year 2009 and printed it into a photobook.

Join Mixbook and receive a FREE photo book!

If you want to record your memories but you've never done digital scrapbooking before, don't think that it is very difficult. It can be very simple if you use the right scrapbooking software. There are templates, backgrounds and embellishments that you can easily manipulate with just a few clicks here and there. You can create scrapbook pages within minutes. Well... how long you take to design a page really depends on how fast you can make up your mind. Like for me I sometimes take a while because I can't decide which embellishment to use or where is the perfect place to put it. Then I also take my time to carefully craft out the journaling. The problem is I always have too much to say about the memory :)

Anyway, I like to use My Memories Suite Version 2! You don't need a lot of time to learn how to use the software. You can create beautiful layouts with this software. If you need scrapbooking ideas, just google and you'll find plenty.

Happy Holidays and have fun digital scrapbooking. Let me warn you that it can get quite addictive.

Give homemade gifts from the kitchen this holiday season

(ARA) - Buttery chocolate cookie dough with chocolate chunks, nuts and marshmallows. Creamy caramels with apple cider and warm spices. These are just a taste of some of the irresistible sweets you could be gifting this holiday season.


Homemade holiday gifts deserve special presentations, but these finishing touches don't have to mean a lot of extra time or money. Break out the crafting supplies, hit up a vintage shop or venture online to gather an inspired collection of packaging materials. With a few simple tips, you can create a memorable presentation worthy of the sweet, buttery goodness inside.

* Create a candy cone. To package small, individually-wrapped candies such as Spiced Apple Caramels, find some festive paper at a craft or scrapbook store. Roll it into a cone and tape it shut at the seam. Add ribbon or other decorations and then fill the cone with candy.

* Think outside the cardboard box. Consider packaging your gifts in a simple wooden box with a festive bow tied around it. Visit your local craft store for interesting containers to help you break free of the typical cardboard variety.

* Take and bake. A ready-to-bake treat such as North Pole Cookie Dough is the perfect hostess gift. Consider presenting it in disposable pint-sized ice cream containers. You can find them online or simply ask for a few from your local ice cream shop. Just don't forget to add a festive tag with baking instructions.

* Be sure to label. Use festive gift tags with the name of your recipe so your lucky friends and family know what a special treat they're receiving. Custom complimentary gift tags can be found at butterisbest.com.

Visit ButterIsBest.com to find more holiday cookie and candy recipes courtesy of America's Dairy Farmers. While there, sign up for the daily holiday cookie e-newsletter, "Better Baking with Butter," available to subscribers from Nov. 22 to Dec. 25.


Spiced Apple Caramels
Makes about 75 caramels

Ingredients:
2 cups apple cider
2/3 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon apple pie spice (If you cannot find apple pie spice, substitute 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon allspice.)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup (one stick) butter, cubed

Freshly ground cinnamon or course sea salt (optional)

Directions:
Pour cider into small saucepan and simmer over medium heat until reduced to 1/3 cup; approximately 35 to 40 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Line 8-inch square pan with buttered parchment paper or aluminum foil. In small bowl, combine heavy cream, salt, apple pie spice, cinnamon and reduced cider; set aside.

In large, heavy-bottom saucepan, combine sugar and corn syrup. Cook over low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Insert candy thermometer and simmer until syrup reaches 234 degrees.

Remove from heat, remove thermometer and very slowly whisk in cream mixture (mixture will foam and may spatter). Add cubed butter and stir or whisk until cream and butter are fully incorporated. Return pan to heat, reinsert thermometer and cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until temperature reaches 250 degrees.

Remove from heat and pour caramel into prepared pan; let mixture cool slightly, then sprinkle with freshly ground cinnamon or sea salt, if desired. Cool completely at room temperature or refrigerate until set.

Once set, remove caramel from pan lifting out by parchment paper or foil. Cut caramel into 3/4-inch squares. Wrap each piece in small wax paper square, twisting at each end. Store caramels in airtight container in cool place or refrigerate up to two weeks.


North Pole Cookie Dough
Makes three "pints" of dough or two dozen cookies

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 2/3 cups flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (two sticks) butter, softened
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chunks
1 cup roasted almonds or toasted walnuts, roughly chopped
1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows

Directions:
Place 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips in microwave-safe dish. Microwave 30 seconds on high, stir and continue to microwave in 10- to 20-second intervals, stirring after each, until chocolate is melted and smooth. Set bowl aside and cool to room temperature.

In medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. In large bowl, beat butter and both sugars using electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add melted, cooled chocolate and vanilla, blend until fully incorporated. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour mixture slowly; mixing until incorporated. Fold in chocolate chunks, nuts and mini marshmallows.

Fill pint containers with cookie dough and refrigerate up to four days or freeze up to one month. When giving as a gift, attach following baking instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons, or using small cookie scoop, onto parchment-lined baking sheets, about 1 inch apart. Flatten dough slightly using back of spoon. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until edges are lightly cracked but centers are still soft.

Remove from oven and cool slightly on baking sheet before transferring cookies to wire rack to cool completely.

Fighting Addiction

My baby is an addict. Yup, a boob addict :) Many breastfeeding mothers know what I mean.

My eldest daughter is an internet addict. Well, she would be if we didn't limit her time online. She has asked if she could have a Facebook account. My answer, a very firm "NO". I told her to wait till she was 16. Hopefully by then, we would have taught her enough to be safe online.

My 2nd son is a "scratch" addict. Every night he will ask me to scratch his back. I blame this on his grandfather who scratched his back when he was toddler to put him to sleep.

My 3rd son is a junk food addict. We made it a rule that to qualify for any junk food, he must first eat "good food". So, after finishing his meals, he will happily declare that he is eligible for ice cream, chocolate or candy. Please don't think that I have a lot of junk food lying around the house. I don't. A lot of times I try to distract him with something healthier like fruits.

My DH is a clean addict. Before I met him, I thought we only needed to mop the house once a week (sometimes once a fortnight). When we were newly married, I mopped the house twice a week. Now, the house is mopped every day.

Me, I'm probably a Facebook addict. Whenever I'm online, I always get this urge to just check if there are new updates. Oh, excuse me while I go check now. Just kidding.

Anyway, the point of this post is that there are so many "addictions" to fight. As parents, we not only fight our own addictions, we also have to fight our children's ones too. My children are still very young and so their "addictions" are not that serious. Serious addictions would be like drugs, gambling, alcohol and pornography. Those types of addiction, the best approach is prevention. We all know how difficult it is to break a bad habit.

So, as a reminder to self and to all parents, get connected with your children. Have discussions on important stuff, even on uncomfortable topics like sex education. Be firm and set rules. Educate them. Understand them. Pray for them. Guide them with love. Don't wait till they fall victim to these serious addictions before we start to do something.

Simple Potato Dish

If you are out of ideas on what to cook, you can try this very simple potato dish. My kids love it.

Recipe:

Potatoes - cut into cubes

Butter

Garlic

Italian seasoning - mixed herbs of thyme, marjoram, rosemary, oregano, basil, sage.

Directions:

Saute garlic in butter.

Put in the potatoes.

Cook till soft (you can put in a little bit of water so the potatoes don't get burnt)

Add in the herbs.

Add salt to taste.

Christmas Gifts Experiment

As I sat down for lunch with my kids this afternoon, we somehow ended up talking about Christmas gifts. K said all she wants for Christmas this year are some stationaries. She's being nice coz' she knows we've spent a lot of money on the house renovation.

Anyway, I said maybe this year we should try some different kinds of Christmas gifts. I proposed that this year the rule would be giving gifts that don't require money. D1 went "Huh? Are there such gifts?" I gave examples like how I could give him 30 minutes of my time to play badminton, playing 1 board game with K, giving daddy a service coupon for 1 car wash etc....

Don't get the wrong idea that I don't have money to get them presents. I can still buy them gifts if I want to but I thought I should run this little experiment to see if my kids can feel better the joy of giving. Maybe Christmas can be more meaningful when we strip away the materialism. Goodness knows my kids need it. There's been too much selfishness in the house lately. Too much of "I want this," "Can you but me that", "Don't take mine", etc....

This year, it is going to be a "What can I give" Christmas and not a "What am I going to get" Christmas. Let's see if I can turn things around.

Need Help To Make Thanksgiving Memorable?

Are you looking for recipes, activities and decoration tips for Thanksgiving? There's an e-book called "Thanksgiving Your Way" that has tips from 15 different bloggers. Golden information to help you make this Thanksgiving a memorable one. Check it out.

Peanut Tong Sui

A long time ago, there used to be a shop in the Seremban wet market, very near the famous beef noodle shop, that sold this white peanut "tong sui" (soupy kind of dessert). I remember it was yummy. They didn't always have it though. I don't know if the shop is still there. I'll have to go back and check.

Anyway, my brother mentioned some time back that he managed to cook it himself. As I was in the grocery store the other day, I saw the white peanuts, already shelled. So tempting I decided to try cooking it too.

The recipe is real simple. All you need to add is rock sugar. The trick is to get the peanuts nice and soft. The best and fastest way is to use a pressure cooker. Unfortunately, I don't have one. So I soaked the peanuts overnight. Then I boiled it in my slow cooker (turned it on high) and let it cook, and cook, and cook till the peanuts were fairly soft. It took about 6 hours.

My DH has never had this dessert before. He is used to eating the other kind of peanut "tong sui" which is brown in color, thick like smooth peanut butter. So when I asked him "How is it?", he answered "How is it suppose to be? It feels like eating peanuts." Sigh! Well, I enjoyed it. But I don't think I'll make it again unless I have a pressure cooker :) Hmmm... excuse to get one?

Chinese Herbs For Sore Eyes

Chinese herbs for sore eyes

I'm so glad that the case of sore eyes is now over for my family. I took the longest to heal. Up to yesterday, the vision in my left eye was blurry. There was no more redness but I was getting headaches due to my imbalanced vision - one side clear, one side blurr.

Anyway, DH also had the case of sore eyes but used chinese herbs to medicate it instead. He said it helped a lot as his infection wasn't as bad and it went away fairly quickly (within the week). Definitely cheaper than seeing the eye doctor. It was RM10 for one packet of those herbs. He bought a total of 8 packets. You put 4 rice bowls of water and boil it on low heat for 1 hour. You'll get the following:


You can get about 3 bowls of concentrated concoction. You don't have to waste the herbs. You can add more water after that and boil some more. It won't be as concentrated. The diluted concoction you drink just like you would drink water. But the real medicated concoction is the concentrated one.

How does it taste? It is not bitter. It is savory with a little bit of sour plum taste. Don't let the black color put you off. It really isn't that bad to drink.

If your infection is just beginning, you may only need 2-3 packets for the sore eyes to heal.

It's funny how as a chinese and with the chinese herb stores nearby, I didn't think to go there for a remedy. Didn't cross my mind that there would be chinese herbs for sore yes. Now I know and now you know.

Making Thanksgiving Memorable For The Family

When it comes to Thanksgiving, most people look forward to a scrumptious dinner. However, some of you moms might be wondering what you can do to make Thanksgiving a little more memorable (besides dinner). Here are some ideas for you:

• Have some together time in the kitchen. Bake some cookies and cut them out into the various shapes such as leaves, acorns and turkeys. Decorate it. Make it more meaningful by giving it away to someone who maybe needs some cheer in their life. It could be a friend going through a tough time, a new neighbor, a family who's struggling or someone who can't be with their family this holiday season.
  
  
  
  
• Besides cookies, you can opt for cupcakes or even do some cake decorating. Here is one on how to decorate a turkey cake.
  
• Play some printable Thanksgiving games such as bingo, word find and turkey trivia.
• Don't just sit in front of the tv, get out and do some sports. Get your blood pumping with some flag football, basketball or frisbee.
• Design together a nice centerpiece for the home. You could do some pumpkin painting, whip out the candles, put leaves in vases, ribbons on gourds and whatever decoration to set the mood in the home.
• For young kids, you can do a simple craft of a Thanksgiving paper chain. Write on pieces of paper the things they are grateful for and then linked them up like a chain. This can then be part of your house decoration. Another idea is to take a tree branch and put it in a vase. Secure the bottom with pebbles or acorns. Cut out paper in the shape of leaves. Write on them the things you are grateful for. Punch a hole at the top and hang them on the branch to make a Thanksgiving Tree.
  
• Write a Thanksgiving letter to each member of the family. These can become keepsakes.

Making Thanksgiving a special occasion is not all that hard. The important ingredient is quality time with family members... and of course good food too.

Keep your holidays merry without the expense

(ARA) - The holidays offer unforgettable experiences of getting together with family, exchanging gifts, sharing meals and laughter. These warm memories will stay with you for the rest of the year. But too often, the expenses you incur celebrating the season can be an unpleasant reminder for months after the festivities end.

Just because the holidays are a special time doesn't mean you need to spend exceptional amounts of money or rack up credit card debt to enjoy the season. By doing things a little differently this year, you can save some cash without turning into a scrooge.

As a mother of two, savings expert Kim Danger is well aware of the expenses that come along with holiday celebrations. The author of "Instant Bargains" recently compiled her best holiday tips in a free e-book, "Year Long Holiday Guide," available at www.UniroyalTires.com. Here are a few of her cost-saving tips for the upcoming holidays:

Fun projects to celebrate and give thanks

* Summon your inner decorator. Make your own napkin rings using brown, orange and purple construction paper and a hot glue gun to construct harvest-themed napkin holders. Also, pick out some small pumpkins that you can use as placeholders with attached nametags for your guests.

* Don't waste money on expensive bakery cupcakes. Make your own festive turkey cupcakes using a chocolate cake mix to make the turkey's body. Frost the cupcakes and dust with chocolate sprinkles. Then add peanut butter cookies to the top for the turkey's head.

* Make an heirloom for your Thanksgiving table. Using a solid color tablecloth, have each dinner guest write something they are thankful for with a permanent marker. Bring the tablecloth out each year to add to it and remember the good things in your life.

Holiday spirit-filled activities

* The month of December means a time to celebrate for many cultures and faiths. Families across the globe celebrate holidays differently from country to country. Visit www.Teacher.Scholastic.com to learn about different holiday traditions around the world.

* Since decorations are so much a part of every holiday season, think of fun and inexpensive ways to make your home more festive. Use graham crackers to create a gingerbread house or make a Kwanzaa candle holder with baby food jars. Or glue flat wooden sticks together and sprinkle with glitter to create a sparkly Star of David.

* For a fun and easy take on hot chocolate, add chocolate candies, marshmallows and a candy cane. You can also package all the ingredients as a thoughtful, but inexpensive, gift.

"No matter how you choose to spend the holidays, remember to focus on the time spent with loved ones, even with all the other distractions," says Danger. "The good times with them will be what you want to remember the most, not the cost."

For the latest information about Uniroyal Tires, visit www.UniroyalTires.com and find Uniroyal on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UniroyalTire.

November's Craft Ideas For Kids

When my kids get rowdy and start doing all sorts of nonsense, it is usually because they don't have anything better to do. Idle minds are a dangerous thing. If you need some activities to keep your kids busy, crafts are usually a good idea. So, here are some links to craft ideas for this month. Have your kids take a break from jumping on the sofa or messing up the house. Offer them some creative down time.

• Raising Olives shares her recipe for salt dough. Give your child a chance to enjoy some molding, sculpting and painting.
  
• Make paper plate sunflowers to brighten up your home. Davinie shares how she does it with her girl.
• Cute turkeys made out of pinecones from FamilyFun. There's even a video to show you how to do it.
• Another turkey craft: A Thanksgiving turkey by Crafts-For-All-Seasons. This one will look great as a centrepiece for your Thanksgiving table. There are step-by-step instructions and pictures too.
• Little Gobbler by Woman's Day. It's decorating a paper cup to look like a turkey. But more than that, you can fill the cup later with treats like popcorn. Yummm... I'm sure the kids will like that.
• Okay, enough of turkeys? How about a fingerprint fall tree craft? Really, really easy to do. Have a look at All Kids Network.

Hope you liked the suggestions. If you have anymore, please share here.
Have fun crafting.

How To Liven Your Home With Window Decorative Film

If you did not know yet, I will be moving house shortly. We have been doing house renovations and my, oh my, what a task it has been. I know in the West, many people DIY their renovations. Although we hire people to do it, it is still quite a headache as we have to decide what we want done and then monitor the contractor to see that it is done properly. Not forgetting, the pain we feel in our pockets.

Anyway, when you have your own home, you want to make it as beautiful and comfy as possible. One way to liven up your home is with window decorative film. Read on for more info.

Decorative Accents For Windows and Glass Doors

Cocoa, FL - When it comes to decorating your home, there are many inexpensive ways to enhance a room. Currently popular are decorative accents for windows and glass doors using adhesive-free window films that look like etched or stained glass. In less than 15 minutes an ordinary window, glass door or mirror can be made to look as if it cost hundreds of dollars.

Adhesive-free static films are the best to use as they are easy to apply, look good and when its time to redecorate, are very easy to remove. EtchArt's Wallpaper For Windows has decorative Centerpiece, Corner and Border designs in a versatile assortment of etched glass and stained glass looks. In addition to windows and glass doors, they can be used on mirrors, glass dining and coffee tables, entertainment center doors, shower enclosures and many other glass surfaces around home or office. (Always try to avoid using decorative window films with adhesive, they are often cheap, can be difficult to apply and are definitely difficult to remove when it is time to redecorate.)

As the name implies, "Centerpiece" designs are used to create a central focal point. Stained Glass "Centerpieces" are primarily used on windows and glass doors. Etched Glass Centerpieces have a timeless look that is subtle and goes with all room decors.

Naples Centerpiece with matching Naples corners. An easy, way to decorate a window without blocking the view.

It's easy to find places to use "Corners". Corners can be used to "frame" a Centerpiece or to give a decorative accent to the corners of windows, glass doors, glass dining and coffee tables, mirrors and many other glass surfaces around the home or office.

Doral Corner – an easy way to dress-up a window, glass door, mirror, glass tables and more.

Etched Glass "Borders" are another way to upgrade the ordinary to the extraordinary. The most common use of "Borders" is across a window or mirror (static films are unaffected by steam and moisture and can be used on bathroom mirrors and shower enclosures). Placed across the middle of the glass, "Borders" are a decorative way to help avoid walking into sliding glass doors.

Eden Border decorating a mirror. Etched glass designs are an excellent way to decorate mirrors.

Decorating your windows, glass doors and mirrors with these decorative window film accents, is an inexpensive way to dress up a room without using table, shelf or wall space. An assortment of decorative accents can be found at www.WallpaperForWindows.com

** Wallpaper For Windows! is manufactured in Cocoa, FL USA by EtchArt, LLC using Made in the USA materials.

83 Cents For One Issue Of Real Simple Magazine

I love to read magazines. Since life became hectic with little children, I only have a little time here and there to enjoy my reading. Magazines fit my reading time perfectly (reading time is usually in the bathroom).

Anyway, I just got word that Real Simple Magazine has a limited offer of 12 issues (1 year) for only USD10.00. That's a fantastic deal and you'll save lots of money since the publisher direct price is USD23.88. The offer ends November 8th, 2010 or while supplies last.

$0.83 for one issue. You gotta agree that is super cheap.

If you like great deals, this is one of them. Take up the offer before it ends.

Real Simple From the publishers of People, Health and Cooking Light. Real Simple is the new magazine for the way you want to live today. You'll find actionable solutions to streamline the way you manage your life. Systems for reducing clutter, saving time, and reducing stress.

New Milk In Town

Did you know that there's a new kind of UHT milk sitting on the store shelves? Yup, say hi to Dutch Lady Kid and School Milk.

My kids have been fortunate to receive a some boxes to sample. As soon as it entered the door, they tore at the plastic and quickly devoured one packet each. If I let them be, they would gladly drink several packets in one day. However the rule of the house is maximum 2 packets per day.

"Let me at it, let me at it quick"

So, what is this new milk by Dutch Lady? Here is a quick overview:

• It is age specific.
  Dutch Lady Kid: Fortified with essential nutrients like magnesium, Vitamin D, Vitamin A, calcium and protein, Dutch Lady Kid is designed to meet the rapid physical growth needs of children aged between 1 to 6 years old. This was developed with the understanding that children in their formative years, experience tremendous growth across all areas of development. For example, at the end of their second year, a child’s height can double & quadruple in weight.
  Dutch Lady School: Packed with Omega 3, Omega 6, Vitamin B3 and Vitamin B6 is customised for children aged 6 to 12 years old.As they begin their years in formal education, children in this age group need all the nutrients they can get to improve their attention span and enhance brain development for optimum academic performance.
  
  
• First-ever innovation for the UHT milk category.
  
  
• 3 flavours: Full Cream, Strawberry and Chocolate.
  
  
• Dutch Lady Kid comes in convenient 125ml packs while Dutch Lady School is offered in
  200ml packs.

Well, my kids don't really care that the milk's nutrients have been engineered to be age specific. What they really care is this:

D1: "Mom, I like the chocolate one the best."
K: Yeah, I like the chocolate one also. But I also like the full cream. It tastes like the real milk.
D2: I like the strawberry one.
D1: Can I take one to school?
D2: Can I drink one more?
K: Not fair-lah, he get to drink so many.

Yeah, with children, how it tastes is important. Being fair is also important; cannot allow one to drink more than the other. Sigh! With parents, value is important. Budget is also very important :)

So, what do I think of this new milk?
It is a good thing if you have children like mine who don't like formula milk. They love UHT milk though. So parents can be assured that their children are getting the right nutrients for their age.

Want to know what I really, honestly think?
What a bummer coz' now my kids won't let me drink their milk. I'm not the right age it seems :(


*I was given these products for free to sample. However I am not paid for this review.

French Beans, Short Beans?

D2 was standing on a stool watching me cut french beans.

D2: Mommy, are you cutting long beans?
Me: No, these are french beans. Long beans are this long (stretching out my hands). See, these ones are short.
D2: Oooh, short beans lah.

Poor kids, who made this world so confusing for them?

Dental danger: How to keep holiday treats from damaging teeth and braces

(ARA) - Millions of Americans will not be smiling this holiday season - and not because they discovered coal in their stockings. They will be the teens and adults whose teeth and/or braces fall victim to the hard, sticky, chewy and gummy treats that make the holidays so yummy . . . and perilous to oral health.

"The week after Halloween is one of the busiest times of year for orthodontists," says Dr. Gib Snow, a Los Angeles-based orthodontist. "Emergency visits spike as we see children, teens and even adults who have suffered dental injury or damaged metal braces as a result of eating candy and other treats. In fact, many treats that we commonly enjoy throughout the holiday season can be harmful to our teeth."

If your overall dental health is good, and you practice good oral hygiene, you can probably safely indulge in some holiday treats as long as you do so in moderation. However, if you have a history of breaking or weak teeth, have a lot of fillings or crowns, or wear metal braces, you may want to take some precautions to protect your teeth this holiday season.

Dr. Snow offers some simple tips:

• Try to avoid treats that are sticky (like taffy), extremely hard (peanut brittle), chewy (caramel) or crunchy (mixed nuts). These can break teeth, pull out fillings and compromise crowns and other forms of dental work.
  
  
• Stick with soft treats that melt in your mouth, such as peanut butter cups, chocolate kisses or - better yet - thinly sliced fruit. As with all high-fat, sugary foods, be sure to practice moderation, and brush and floss teeth after indulging.
  
  
• When you finish your holiday cocktail, or your teen polishes off a soft drink, don't chew on the ice. It can damage tooth enamel and metal braces.
  
  
• After indulging in holiday treats, brush and floss thoroughly. Adults who will be enjoying lots of caffeinated beverages for the holidays may want to consider using a teeth-whitening toothpaste.
  
  
• Consider replacing metal braces with clear, removable braces like Invisalign and Invisalign Teen. These virtually invisible aligners gradually straighten teeth without metal braces, and can make the holidays a bit easier for teens (and adults) because the aligners can be removed to enjoy holiday treats. After eating, wearers brush and floss, then pop the clear aligners back in place.
  

Teens and adults who wear metal braces are particularly at risk during the holidays, Dr. Snow points out. Many of the treats they will enjoy during holiday parties - like caramel apples, popcorn and sticky toffee - don't mix well with metal braces. Parents should consider some additional precautions:

• Candy canes are a holiday tradition, but braces-wearers should really cross them off their holiday list altogether. Biting into this hard candy can spell disaster for metal braces.
  
  
• Replace high-risk treats with safer options, like soft or liquid treats, fresh fruit, smoothies or milkshakes.
  
  
• Be especially vigilant about dental hygiene. Food trapped in, under or behind metal braces can cause staining and tooth decay.
  

Teens and adults considering orthodontic treatment should weigh all the alternatives and look for options that will best suit their lifestyle, Dr. Snow advises. Alternatives to metal braces, like Invisalign and Invisalign Teen, replace traditional wire and brackets and are equally as effective for straightening teeth, according to Snow.

"When weighing treatment options, families need to consider the many impacts of orthodontic care over the entire course of treatment, which averages about a year," says Snow. "Because clear braces are removable, there are no food restrictions and no emergency appointments for broken brackets. These can be significant factors for many families whether it's the holiday season or not. "

For more tips on oral care during the holidays and alternatives to braces, visit invisalignteen.com.