Since 2007, I have been taking friends and family ice skating at The Boston Common Frog Pond rink around the holidays. Growing up in the Boston area we were always looking for new things to do near down town at the holiday season. I figured I would share this information with you. If you are looking for something different to do this New Years Eve, Frog Pond will be hosting the First Night skating spectacular at 6:00pm. Students from The Skating Club of Boston Skating Academy will be putting on a show open to the public. Season competitor’s national and local champions will be performing. Whether you are a fan of the art of Ice Skating or not, it’s a great idea for an outing. If you don’t get a chance to watch the show New Years Eve, Frog Pond is open for public use until March for Ice skating. In the past years, I’ve always parked in Malden and taken the orange line to downtown, this year we decided to find parking close to downtown, and come to find out there is a parking garage right on the common. I would recommend if you can handle the craziness of city drivers, parking in the garage near the commons was fairly inexpensive and much easier with little ones. They also have a mini cafe right on the rink, offering hot/cold refreshments and food. If you get a chance, it makes for a day trip not to mention it is right in downtown close to all the stores for shopping. I highly recommend looking into it!  Happy Skating!

Enjoying all the typical holiday foods and drinks is one of the best parts of the season and for many one of the hardest. Getting through the holidays without gaining that extra 5 lbs is easier than you think just be realistic and honest with yourself. Here’s a couple ways to cut down those holiday LB’s

Bring your favorite healthy dish to your upcoming get together. This way you’ll have a dish you know you’ll like and won’t feel guilty eat.

Cook from scratch! Whenever possible it is always best to make your dishes from scratch. This cuts out all the added fats, sodium, sugar and other unnecessary ingredients that can add to your scale.

Choose veggies instead when deciding from one of the many yummy appetizers and finger foods often available at your holiday events. This doesn’t mean you have to completely avoid those delicious pigs in a blanket but instead of two or three take one and substitute the others for a more healthy choice like carrot sticks. Avoid those creamy dips!

Try leaner meats like roasted turkey. A small portion of white meat without the skin is your best choice for your holiday meat. If you like to enjoy stuffing with your turkey cook it separate in a casserole dish to keep the added fat from the turkey soaking into it.

Water! As we all know one of the best parts of the holidays is the many different beverages like eggnog, cider, beer, wine and other cocktails and juice. It’s okay to enjoy a glass of wine or some eggnog while decorating your tree or during your meal or get together but in between these occasions drink water and lots of it. Drinking water is one of the best ways to avoid weight gain and to even lose weight.

As always continue to exercise daily, get plenty of rest, and make sure you are eating three well balanced meals per day. Good luck and happy holidays!

Attitudes at this time of year are tell-tale; the holidays are not always cheerful. Some people may be facing the first Christmas without a beloved family member. Others may be afraid that the dark memories of last year will poison this year’s celebration. Many people are alone or isolated. Still more are just stressed, tired, and financially overextended from the expectation of living up to Martha Stewart -esque festivities.

But then we see the tragedy of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT replayed and analyzed on television or filling up our Facebook feeds and it seems like there is no sense in the world, only evilness.

However, I can’t help but try to see a silver lining in this horror. In the fallout of Friday’s crisis, people are pulling closer to their loved ones, reaching out to help those whose lives were forever affected, taking a moment to slow down and be a little kinder than necessary, and cherishing the minute details of life.

And aren’t those things that bring us happiness in the long run? Isn’t a feeling of support and togetherness what the season is all about? Unquestionably, a mass shooting is horrible and distressing, but please don’t let this incident make you bitter; let it make you better. Let it give you the opportunity to reach out, to share, to mourn, to pray, to connect, to contribute, and most of all, to show love

There really is no place like home for the holidays, and even though I’ve lived in New Hampshire for thirty one years (!), Springfield Mass is still “home”. My very favorite thing to do around the holidays is to visit Forest Park in Springfield for their famous “Bright Nights at Forest Park”.

This 735 acre park has been a landmark in Springfield since the late 1800’s and is worth a trip any time of year. But for THE BEST lights display, head to the park between 11/21 and 1/1/13. For a small fee, you can pack your car with as many people as will fit and drive through a 2.6 mile route lined all around with lighted displays. Some are actually cleverly timed so they look alive (my favorite is the deer leaping across the road, or maybe it’s the frog jumping into the pond, but I do love the kids sledding down the hill…hmm can’t pick).

Add to the atmosphere by tuning in your radio to a special station that plays Christmas music (the station is listed as you enter the park) then stop at the snack area for a hot chocolate and salted pretzel (sweet and salt – is there a better combination?).

My last recommendation for the perfect outing is to have your dinner at Red Rose Pizzeria on Main Street in Springfield – great food, fun atmosphere, and another Springfield landmark.
Here are the links; check them out, get directions, pack your car, head to Springfield, and have a really great time!

http://brightnights.org
http://www.redrosepizzeria.com

Looking for something fun to do after the Holidays? Or having a hard time with finding the perfect gift? Check out the Portland Harbor Hotel Ice Bar. This year the Ice Bar is happening January 26th to the 28th. Tickets are fairly inexpensive and each ticket comes with a free drink token. The Portland Harbor Hotel has a beautiful terrace area where they set up two ice sculpted bars. The terrace is all lit up and all around are these amazing ice sculptures. As a Christmas present last year, my mom got my sister and I tickets, we had such a blast! It all starts at 5:00 and goes trough till 9:00 each night. We sipped on our Hot Buttered Rum cocktails, looked at all the sculptures and had fun mingling. You will want to dress warm that’s for sure! Inside the hotel they have complimentary hors d’oeuvres from various restaurants that are in the Old Port. There is also live entertainment as well. We had so much fun and it was just nice to do something different! Cheers to the Portland Harbor Hotel!

Take a quick peek at a video of the Ice Bar!

http://www.portlandharborhotel.com/video-icebar.php

I’ll admit, I’m a bit of a superstitious freak. I read a lot into numbers, signs and messages. For the past 2 years I was on a bus in Disney when the clock turned to 10:10am on 10/10/10 and 11:11am and pm on 11/11/11. So I’m a little disappointed that I am sitting at my desk typing this on 12/12/12 – I completely missed 12:12pm this afternoon. 🙂 What does that mean? Probably nothing more than I just wish I was in Disney to witness it for the final time. 🙂 Check out some interesting facts about today’s date!

http://glo.msn.com/relationships/the-power-of-12-12-12-8819.gallery?gt1=49006

The holidays are fully upon us. And this time of year calls for our attention from all angles – but perhaps from none more than our wallets. We’re buying gifts for friends and loved ones, raiding the grocery store for parties we’re throwing, thinking of thoughtful hostess gifts for other crazy people who decide to throw parties…and let’s not forget all those decorations that make the season so bright. But all that can add up pretty quickly and, if we’re not careful, can cause us to lose sight of our other financial responsibilities. You know, like the rent/mortgage, electric bill, and other such evil necessities. Fret not, though, because Reader’s Digest has provided us with an impressive list of <a href=”http://www.rd.com/slideshows/16-easy-and-cheap-christmas-decorating-tips/#slideshow=slide17″>32 Budget-Friendly Christmas Decorating Ideas</a>. Some of it may not work for you but, rest assured, some of this stuff will have you muttering “Why didn’t <em>I</em> think of that?!” to yourself as you scroll through. It just goes to show that you really don’t have to spend a fortune to have your home looking the a winter wonderland this season! Got any other great ideas for inexpensive decorating? Share them below!

HOLIDAY EGGNOG COOKIES
Printed from COOKS.COM
________________________________________
1 c. butter
3/4 c. sugar
1 egg
2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. rum extract
1 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. nutmeg (fresh if available)
1/4 tsp. salt
Powdered sugar
Cream butter, gradually adding sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, vanilla and rum extracts. Sift together flour, nutmeg and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to cream mixture. Shape into 1 inch balls or put mixture through a cookie press. Place on cookie sheet (ungreased) and bake in a preheated oven (350 degrees) for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from sheet and sprinkle with powdered sugar. A family tradition! Makes 2 dozen.

There is a song by Faith Hill, “Where are you Christmas?” that starts off with that question, and wondering why Christmas has gone away? They go on to question if they can’t feel Christmas because their world is changing and does that mean Christmas changes too? Later on in the song they realize that “If there is love in your heart and your mind you will feel Christmas all the time.”

This year more than ever my husband and I have felt very blessed in our lives and have decided that we don’t need or want for anything this Christmas. Instead of buying gifts for each other, we have decided this year that we want to give back to others. The gift of giving is one of the best ones you will ever receive. Think of all you are blessed with, and then start to think of others and see if there is anyone you can help instead of wanting that new electronic, or those diamond earrings you have been eyeing.

Is there a family that you know who may have fallen on hard times? Maybe a family member became ill, or lost a job. Maybe there was a new member added to the household and money is tight. Maybe a family member or coworker is all alone this Christmas season and a nice meal and a little gift may go a long way. How can you give back? Can you pay a bill for someone, or send a box of food for a Christmas dinner? Can you buy some clothes for a child in need, or grant a special Christmas wish?

As much as I love presents and gifts, I realized I’m pretty spoiled, or blessed if you want to think of it that way. I have fallen on hard times and have had friends and family pick me up and help me unexpectedly. How do I repay them? I pay it forward.

If you have never given of your time or resources during the holiday season, try it this year. I guarantee that you WILL find Christmas in the gift of giving!

I was visiting my mother in law last night and she was explaining how she was in charge of the holiday decorations at a fundraising event she was working this weekend. She’s normally someone who has a hard time being inspired by crafty projects but she came across the instructions for “candy trees” and thought she’d give it a try!

Here’s what you need to create some “candy trees” of your own….
<img src=”{filedir_2}candy-trees.gif” alt=”” height=”329″ width=”300″ />
1. Styrofoam cones (can be bought at a craft store)
2. Your favorite holiday candies
3. A hot glue gun
You can glue the candies on the cones however you’d like and they look beautiful as centerpieces (especially if you create a few in different sizes and colors). I was surprised how easy these were and how great they looked when she was finished!

How do you decorate during the holidays?