New Grandma and & Grandpa? We Are Going To be Grandparents
October 2, 2008
Did you just find out that you are going to be a grandparent? Congratulations! Here are some of the things that may be going through your head right now.
Every parent waits for the day their child gives them the exciting news that a grandchild is on the way. This is a chance to relive their parenting days without the need to parent. They are now free to simply enjoy all the wonderful moments they many have missed or forgotten while raising their family.
Empty nesters go through a dilemma when their children suddenly are gone. Even if the transition has taken many years to complete, suddenly they are alone. It’s time to redefine their life and who they are now. Maybe take up new hobbies they never had time for; reconnect with old friends or even make that big decision to move to a smaller house.
Whatever they are doing and however they are resolving the internal issues, it always comes back to family. Your mind is free to wonder and suddenly you are back in your child’s soccer years; or those hours spent at the ballet studio; or the hours you spent chauffeuring them to all the different activities, or the times you couldn’t make specific events because you had to work..
Then the questions start popping up; did you do enough; were you too busy; did they know how much you loved them back then? And then suddenly, after all the self doubting, living through memories you did not want to relive, you find you are going to become grandparent! Ah…this is why you have had all the memories. It’s time to pass them on to the next generation.
Now is the perfect time to tell your stories to your new grandchild. Search on the Internet, cruise your local book store and invest in a journal that best suits your needs. You’ll find hardbound, quilted, paperback and even software applications you can use on your computer. Some are made especially for recording grandparent memories.
Now all you have to worry about is how much you can fit into the journal before you decide it’s too much. Why not make the decision to create a keepsake journal for each grandchild that arrives so they each have their own grandparent journal? This way, they’ll all know how special they are and how giving you are to have shared your thoughts, feelings and your life stories with them.
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Valentine Treat Ideas
October 2, 2008
Make some of these easy Valentine Treat Ideas this year with your kids. They are perfect Valentine Gifts for the classroom. Your kids will enjoy handing these tasty Valentine Treats out to their friends.
Valentine’s Day Treats for School and Work
By Christine Steendahl
Are you as tired as I am of those little white heart-shaped candies with messages like “I like You” printed on them? Be a little creative this year and come up with some new Valentine’s Day treats to take to school and work. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Valentine’s Day Cookies
Make a batch of Sugar cookies or pick up some refrigerated dough at the grocery store. Cut them out with a heart-shaped cookie cutter and bake. Frost with a glaze of powdered sugar, water and a little red food coloring, or make it really simple and buy a container of pre-made frosting. Use some frosting pens to write messages or draw on the cookies. Add a few sprinkles and you’re set! Don’t forget to invite your kids to get involved in decorating any cookies they are taking to school. They will have a great time preparing these special treats.
Valentine’s Cup Cakes
Purchase a box of devil’s food cake mix (or your favorite flavor) and prepare according to package directions. Line muffin tins with paper liners and pour enough batter in each to fill to about 1/3 full. Top with 1 tbsp of fruit preserves (strawberry works great) then add more batter until the muffin tins are approximately ¾ filled. Bake according to cake mix directions. When they are cool, dust them with powdered sugar, or frost them and sprinkle with red-hot candy hearts.
Valentine’s Day Cake
Bake any flavor cake in a heart shaped cake form. Let cook and cut in half horizontally. Mix a few drops of red food coloring into a container of whipped topping, and spread some on the bottom layer of the cake. Add the top layer and frost the entire outside of the cake. Top with fresh berries.
Chocolate Lollipops
Get some heart-shaped lollipop molds. Melt milk chocolate, dark chocolate or white chocolate (quality chocolate chips work great). Pour the melted chocolate in the mold and add a lollipop stick. Let cool until hardened. Wrap in cellophane and tie with a little bow.
Use leftover chocolate and plastic spoons to create fancy coffee stirrers. Simply dip the plastic spoons in the melted chocolate. Let cool and repeat until you reach the desired thickness,
Both of these can be decorated by drizzling different types of melted chocolate over the finished product.
Have fun this year creating some wonderful Valentine’s Day treats. I’m sure you will come up with a delicious treat that will be a big hit in the office or the classroom.
Christine Steendahl Is The Founder Of Dine Without Whine - The Number One Online Source For Affordable And Family Friendly Weekly Meal Planning. Eliminate Your Dinner Hour Stress And Re-Discover The Pleasure Of The Dinner Hour! For A Free Sample Menu And Grocery List Visit dinewithoutwhine
We recommend:
Dine Without Whine
The family friendly menu mailer - Dinner recipes that you and your kids will love send to your inbox everyday. Christine will even create a grocery list for you. Fixing dinner every night couldn’t be easier. Give it a try!
Valentine Dinner Menu
October 2, 2008
Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to cook up something special for you and your spouse. Here are some ideas on how to create a perfect Valentine dinner menu.
With Valentine’s Day approaching, you’ve decided to cook up something special for your spouse or partner. Creating a special dinner for your valentine can be achieved in the following way.
Decide on what type of dinner you are going to prepare. In other words, make up your Valentine dinner menu. His or her favorite dish is a great place to start. Set the mood by setting a table for two with a red plastic tablecloth under a white lace cloth. Or just use a pretty linen table cloth. Have red and white candles in the center, or a bouquet of red roses as a center piece. Take out your best china, as well as red napkins.
Choose a main dish that you can prepare ahead of time, so you can enjoy the evening. Prepare a simple dessert like cheesecake with a strawberry topping, or melt some dark chocolate in a fondue pot and dip assorted fruit in it. Open a bottle of red wine and your special Valentine’s Day dinner is ready.
Now it’s time to get dressed up. After all, this is a special occasion, so pick something pretty to wear and do your hair and makeup. Perhaps you bought a special dress for the occasion, or pick one of your old-time favorites. Great! Now just before your spouse or loved one comes home, light the candles; lower the lights, and play your favorite romantic music. Pour some of the red wine, and your romantic evening is about to begin.
The Valentine dinner menu doesn’t have to be fancy. Something simple will be appreciated. This is more about spending special alone time together than anything else. It is a time to rekindle the romance; remind each other how much you love each other; and live in the moment. You don’t need ambience to express how you feel. Just being with each other is enough. But, just in case you do intend to go all out; then by all means enjoy every bit of it. Remember, it’s the little pleasures in life that mean the most. “A rose by any other name, is still a rose.”
We recommend:
Dine Without Whine
The family friendly menu mailer - Dinner recipes that you and your kids will love send to your inbox everyday. Christine will even create a grocery list for you. Fixing dinner every night couldn’t be easier. Give it a try!
