Quick Ideas For Thanksgiving Day Leftovers

Quick Ideas For Thanksgiving Day Leftovers

If you are like most people, right about now you have more Thanksgiving Day leftovers than you ever wanted. After all, eating the same foods – even if they are delicious foods – can get old after the second day. So what do you do with all those leftovers? We’re offering up some ideas…

Leftover Delights:

Sandwiches – You can make turkey sandwiches with the meat as is or you can make turkey salad (made just as you would make a chicken or tuna salad- get as creative as you like!).

Turkey Soup – Make this just like you would make a traditional chicken soup. You can turn it into a turkey vegetable soup or turkey noodle soup.

Turkey Pot Pie – All you need is 2 pie shells and the contents (just combine cubed turkey, thawed frozen vegetables, diced onions, cream of chicken soup & a small amount of milk). Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees – fill first pie shell with contents, then add the second pie shell to create the top. Poke a few holes in the top of your pie and bake for about 40 – 45 minutes.

Turkey Tetrazzini – Line a 13x9 inch prepared pan with cooked egg noodles. In a large skillet sauté 6 ounces of sliced mushrooms; then mix in 2 cups diced turkey, 1 can condensed cream of celery soup, 1 cup sour cream, and small amount of salt and pepper. Spread mixture over noodles. Top off with a generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese – bake at 350 degrees for about 20 – 25 minutes.

Mashed Potato Pancakes – just add a beaten egg to 2 cups of leftover mashed potatoes. You can add shredded cheese, sugar, salt, or even add shredded vegetables. Fry pancakes in butter and enjoy!

Thanksgiving Day Casserole – This single dish is a great way to use up all or most of your leftovers. Add ingredients in layers – start with turkey, then add stuffing, followed by a layer of vegetables (whatever you might have leftover); next you can add a layer of shredded cheese or if you like and have it on hand, you can add a layer of cranberry sauce – mashed potatoes make the perfect final topping. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes.

Debbie Allen is a professional content writer and editor. She loves sharing tips about things that relate to the holiday season – in fact, she often writes about traditions like real letters from Santa and holiday decorating ideas. When she’s not writing about these topics you will find her working on her site – The Things Women Want.

Black Friday

Shopping On Black Friday

For many people the day after Thanksgiving is ‘the day’ to do Christmas shopping. If this sounds like you planning for the big day may be part of the process. In fact, you may have to get up early in order to catch the sales of the day. Stores offer extreme discounts on Black Friday and many of them start at zero-dark-thirty-am! This is definitely a time when the early bird gets the worm – or at least, the best deal!

Getting Prepared

Besides being armed with a list of gift ideas you should obviously try to get plenty of rest the night before. One of the benefits of gathering with friends and family on Thanksgiving Day is that it gives you the perfect opportunity to quiz everyone about what they would like for Christmas or to get information about sizes, color preferences, etc. Plus, because you will be so busy on Thanksgiving Day, you will likely want to go to bed early – which will make it easier to rise and shine for the earlier morning sales.

Be Where You Need To Be First

Like any worth doing – this is worth doing well – and that means you should take the effort to plan your time. Try to find out which stores are having special discounts on the items you need or want at which times. Many stores publish their bargain sales several days before Black Friday. They publish the bargain prices and store hours in major newspapers. Some stores also post their items on web sites. This makes it possible for you to go directly to the items you want, get them, pay for them and be out of the store in a short time. Plan ahead and strategize.

For example, if one store is offering a $100 discount on a TV that is usually $800 at 5 am and at the same time another store is promoting a $50 discount on a $300 stereo you will need to consider both the savings opportunities as well as your priorities. It is obvious that both stores will probably sell out of their discounted items – and you can’t be at 2 places at once. So decide which store is offering the best discount or the item that matters to you the most and go there first. Or, if possible, you go to one store and get a friend or family member to go to the other store.

Another Option

Some stores may offer their items online. The online prices might even be cheaper than the items in the stores. But do keep in mind that you only have a limited amount of time to spare – you should not waste time browsing through all the web sites. Use the online search features to find the items you need.

Consider This

One of the most practical gifts in many instances may be the gift card. This is a very practical and logical gift if you are not sure what would be the appropriate gift for the person. Gift cards are always available and in varying amounts. You can always find a gift card online.

Debbie Allen is a content writer that shares tips about holiday traditions. She believes real letters from Santa will help keep the magic of Christmas alive.

Personalized Letter From Santa Claus – The Silver Package!

Personalized Letter From Santa Claus – The Silver Package!

Package from Santa knows that not everyone wants the same things – and with that we offer 3 different personalized letter from Santa Claus packages. Today we will discuss the details of The Silver Package.

The Letter From Santa

The focus of this and every package is the personalized letter. It is important to know that when we say personalized; we really mean ‘personalized’. That is, you can make the letters as individualized as you like. We have a variety of templates to choose from – including everything from letters for newborns and children under 5 as well as inspirational letters and much more. In fact, you can edit everything or even create your own letters.

Nice List Certificate & Autographed Photos

Each Silver package comes with a personalized Nice List Certificate. But that’s not all – your child will also receive autographed photos of Santa Claus and one of Rudolph!

More Fun!

The fun doesn’t stop there! The package includes a Personalized Call from Santa plus a Personalized Santa Video! Imagine the surprise your child will feel when they hear (and see) Santa mention them on the phone call and in the video!  

Final Touches

The amazement of the package actually begins before it is opened. This is hard to explain until you see it for yourself. The shiny green packages are sent via first class mail. Your child will see the package has  a genuine North Pole stamp, Santa’s Special North Pole Return Address Label from Santa’s workshop and a Special Elf Shipping Label addressed to him/her.

One of the things that will please you most is the fact that this package is backed by a 60 day Money Back Guarantee! You really need to consider this offer!

Check Out The Silver Package Now!

Decorate With Salt Dough Ornaments

Add your own style with salt dough ornaments!

Salt dough ornaments, like the ones used to adorn this wreath, are easy to make and they will last. You can use them as Christmas tree ornaments; string them to create garlands, and much more. You’re really only limited by your imagination.

Why not get crafty, have some fun, and decorate with salt dough ornaments? It’s a project that the entire family can enjoy!

The good news is, you probably already have the things you need to make salt dough ornaments.

Supplies Needed:

[Please note: This ‘recipe’ will create enough dough to make a lot of ornaments. With that in mind, if you only plan on making a few pieces you should cut this recipe in half. Also, please remind kids that these ornaments are not intended to be eaten!]

• ·       2 cups all-purpose flour
• ·       1 cup salt
• ·       1 cup water
• ·       Cookie cutters in preferred shapes
• ·       Toothpicks
• ·       Acrylic paints in holiday colors
• ·       Paintbrushes

Prepare Dough

Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a floured surface for kneading the dough.

Combine the flour, salt and water – mix until a dough consistency is formed. Knead the dough on the prepared surface until the mixture becomes smooth and is elastic. If stickiness is noted you can sprinkle in a small amount of flour. Use caution not to use too much flour.

Use a rolling pin to roll the dough flat – it should be ¼” to ½” thick.

Cutting Shapes

Use the cookie cutters to cut the dough into the desired shapes. Toothpicks can be used to create designs/patterns in the shapes, as well as for making the hole that you will use to hang the ornament (if that is desired). Make the hole a little bigger than you actually want it, because the hole will get smaller as the dough bakes.

Bake the ornaments at 250 degrees for approximately 2 ½ hours. After baking the ornaments should be allowed to cool for several hours before they are handled.

Tip: Prepare the ornaments a day ahead of time – then spend the next day painting them. This is the fun part that kids can take part in too.

Paint Your Ornaments

You can get as creative and detailed as you like when painting the salt dough ornaments. It’s really up to you. Some people prefer a simple design and others want as many details as possible.

You may want to use 2 coats of paint on the ornaments – but again, it’s up to your and what you like. In fact, you could add details with a Sharpie pen.

Salt dough ornaments are a creative holiday decoration – the craft project is fun and it’s an inexpensive way to add a little holiday cheer to your home. Give it a try!

Debbie Allen is a professional content writer that often writes about ways to save money during the holidays. She especially likes to include tips that make typical holiday traditions like writing letters to Santa and decorating the tree seem more magical.

Before You Give That Puppy As A Christmas Gift…

Before You Give That Puppy As A Christmas Gift…

Who can resist an adorable little puppy? It really doesn’t matter what time of year it is, puppies just seem to have a way of melting your heart and making you love them. It’s not surprising that they are often thought of as the perfect gift. But before you decide to give a puppy as a Christmas gift there are some things you should consider. Actually, there are lots of things to consider – keep reading…

Puppies are irresistible - but it's important that every puppy goes to a forever home!

Does the Recipient Share Your Love?

For those of us that are dog lovers it can be difficult to imagine living without our furry friends. And when we see a friend or loved one that doesn’t have a dog we naturally want to help out – we want them to enjoy life with a dog. But as surprising as it may be, not everyone wants dogs. In fact, some people don’t even like them!

So one of the most important considerations is finding out how the intended dog-owner feels about having a dog. And not just dogs in general, but you should ask about types of dogs. For instance, some people only want small lap dogs and others prefer larger dogs and some may only want a breed that can be trained to do certain tasks or that doesn’t shed.

Is Christmas the Best Time?

Another huge consideration is timing. Christmas is already a busy time of year. A new pet needs a lot of attention. When you give a pet during the holiday season, in many cases you are taking a risk. Most people have holiday events to attend and friends and family members are stopping by. Chances are that the recipient will not have as much time as he/she would like to spend with the new pet – time that will make the dog feel at home and welcome.

In many ways this is unfair to both the dog and the new owner.

Stressful Time of Year

The holiday season is a stressful time of year. This is largely due to the many things that we try to accomplish in such a short amount of time. If we add a new pet into the mix that stress load can be multiplied. In addition, a new pet will be stressed when she first arrives at her new home. This can result in problematic behaviors that must be dealt with, which again, adds to the chaos of the moment.

The Best Gift of All

But even after reading all these considerations and cautions – although there is truth in them – if you are a dog lover, I’m sure you will agree that a new dog or puppy can be the best gift of all. Taking the time from the craziness of the holiday rush to spend some quiet time relaxing and getting to know a new pet can be soothing and it can create a sense of serenity. As our nerves are calmed and we feel less stressed we can more easily deal with the other issues related to the holiday season. So the thing is, for the right person, a dog or puppy can be an awesome gift – just do your homework before you decide to give a pet as a gift. The goal is that the pet will end up in a forever home!

Debbie Allen is a professional writer and editor that enjoys sharing content related to the holiday season. She often writes about Christmas traditions like holiday decorating, letters from Santa, and gift-giving.

Image courtesy of imagerymajestic at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Create Your Own Holiday Shoes

Create Your Own Holiday Shoes

Looking festive at holiday events is important, but it can also get expensive. Fortunately, with a little creativity, you can find lots of ways to save money on your holiday fashions and still look great. In fact, you can create your own, one of a kind holiday shoes. Want shoes that sparkle and shine like Dorothy’s in the Wizard of Oz? It’s very possible and the best is, it’s easy! Just follow along with these simple instructions.

Everyone wants to look great during the holiday season – DIY designs are a fun way to save money and give you a one-of-a-kind look; dd some sparkle to your old heels with glitter!

Getting Started

Gather one or more pairs of old pumps or high heels. A pair that is scuffed up will work just fine. All you really need to ensure is that the shoes fit and the soles are intact. You will be covering the outside with glitter. That’s where the sparkle will come from.

If you don’t have an old pair of shoes to use you can visit a second-hand shop and pick up a pair or two for a few bucks. After all, you might want to have a red glitter pair and another pair in gold or black.

The idea is to get creative and have fun with the project. You won’t be investing very much money and the craft project itself is fun.

Preparation:

This project can get messy so it is a good idea to create a work space by spreading newspaper on a flat working surface. The newspaper will ‘catch’ the overflow of glitter, which makes it easy to funnel it back into the container.

Things You Need

• ·         Shoes
• ·         Glitter
• ·         Mod Podge
• ·         Small Paint Brush
• ·         Newspaper
• ·         Painter’s Tape
• ·         Scissors
• ·         Ribbon (optional)
• ·         Clear Spray Sealant
• ·         Super Glue (optional)

Instructions:

Decide on a design for your shoes. You can cover the shoes completely in a single color of glitter or you may choose to create a pattern effect – that is, you might want the toes and heels of the shoes to be red and the rest to be black. You are the fashion designer!

If you choose to use a pattern you should use the painter’s tape to section the different areas off. It’s also a good idea to line the inside of your shoe with newspaper – this will help prevent glitter and the sealant from covering the inside your shoe.

Use the paint brush to cover the shoe or chosen section in Mod Podge. Complete one section, then you can do another.

Please note: If you want to add a bow made of ribbon at the back of the heel you should leave a space uncovered – this is where you will apply super glue to attach the bow. It is advisable to add a stitch or two through the bow to ensure that it will stay tied. You may also want to use a lighter to slightly heat the ribbon edges. This will prevent the ribbon from fraying.

After your shoes are completely covered in glitter you should take them outdoors to spray them with the sealant. Give them two generous coats.

Now is the time to add the final touch – the bow at the back of the heel if desired. Next – it’s time for you to step out in style!

Debbie Allen loves to write about DIY projects that help others save money and have fun. She believes simple Christmas traditions, like letters from Santa are the most meaningful ones.

Image courtesy of imagerymajestic at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

When You Have To Celebrate Christmas Away From Home…

When You Have To Celebrate Christmas Away From Home…

Christmas is the time when we all want to be close to the people we love the most. Many of us travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to make that happen. But even with our best efforts, sometimes life happens and because of circumstances out of our control we simply cannot be where we want to be during the holiday season. This post offers tips to make your holiday better when you have to celebrate Christmas away from home.

 Make Christmas special - no matter where you are!

Keep The Spirit Alive

Regardless of where you are or who you are with, you can make the holiday more meaningful if you keep the spirit of giving alive. Make it a goal to make someone else’s day better in some way.

Get Close To Being There

Maybe you can’t be there to enjoy all the delicious foods or to rip open gifts during the early Christmas morning mayhem, but that shouldn’t stop you from making a connection via phone or Internet. At least you can see and feel the joy in some way through the miles – it’s not the same but it is better than nothing at all.

Volunteer

No matter where you are there is some agency or community that could use some help. Volunteer some of your time. You will be welcomed and you will feel like you are a part of a group or cause. Your options are varied; for instance, you could contact any local homeless shelters, soup kitchens or nursing homes or assisted living communities.

You might also be able to work with organizations that deliver food, gifts, or just spend time with shut-ins. Check with local community services for ideas.

Adopt Someone

You can adopt a child, a senior citizen, or an entire family to care about during the holiday season. This gives you someone (or a group of people) to get to know and love in a very special way. There’s a good chance that this person (these people) will become important to you for the long term!

Attend Church

Even if you don’t usually attend church, the holiday season is a great time to ‘visit’ a church – it gives you an opportunity to get to know others and Christmas church services are always special. Most churches have special services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Postpone Christmas Celebrations

Keeping yourself busy with these activities can ‘get you through’ the holidays – then you can celebrate Christmas in your traditional fashion when you get home. For some people, this is the best solution. There’s a good chance that your family and friends won’t mind celebrating again!

Remember Your Blessings

We all have dreams of what our ideal Christmas should be like – but the reality is that Christmas is Christmas no matter where you are, who you are with, or how it turns out to be. We have to learn to make the best of things – focus on the positives in life. Rather than having regrets about the way things turned out it is much better to find something productive to do with our time and to remember our blessings.

Debbie Allen writes about Christmas traditions, letters from Santa, and other topics related to the holiday season. You can find her work at many sites across the Internet.

Image courtesy of digitalart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net