Signature Drink For Thanksgiving

Graphics courtesy of The Graphics Fairy

Looking for a signature drink to serve at Thanksgiving this year? Why not serve some spiced apple cider? It's easy to make and everyone is sure to enjoy the tart taste of apples dusted with cinnamon sugar mixed with some cider and spiced rum.

Buy some pre-sliced apples. Place on a cookie sheet and dust with cinnamon sugar. Then place in freezer ready to use as the 'ice cubes' in your Spiced Cider.

To make your cider use 1/2 gallon of your favorite apple cider (we like Zieglers), 1 cup dark rum (we use Capt. Morgan's), 1 cup cinnamon schnapps mixed in a glass pitcher. 

Pour spiked cider into a short glass with five or six of the frozen apple slices to act as ice. Yum! What could be better! Almost like liquid apple pie! 

Signs of The Times

That I even think signs like this need to be posted is a sign of the times. Seen on sign at local baseball practice fields:

 PLEASE REMEMBER: 

 1. These are kids. 

 2. This is a game. little 

 3. The coaches volunteer. 

 4. You do not play for the Phillies. 

 City of Philadelphia 

Department of Parks and Recreation 

 Have you ever been to a kids baseball game (or football, soccer, name any sport here) and seen a parent who needs to take a look at this sign? Parents need to sit back and relax and let the kids know that this is a GAME not war. And unfortunately too often there are those few parents who turn a simple game into WWIII. So the next time you are tempted to yell at your kid's coaches or get on your kid's case for striking out...remember, IT IS A GAME. Lighten up! Have fun!

No Texting While Driving: Surprising Data

Photo from Accuform Signs

When are we going to learn not to try and text and drive at the same time? While we often hear the dangers of our teens texting while driving, statistics from a recent survey by AT&T shows that 49% of adult commuters admit to texting while driving versus 40% of teens who text and drive.

Wow! Who knew? Despite knowing the grave risks of texting while behind the wheel, adults are still texting away. They admit that 98% of them are aware of that driving and texting is a high risk activity but they still engage in it.

Six in ten adults admit to texting more now that they did three years ago. And 40% of those who admitted to texting while driving admit that it is a habit. Let's make this our habit to break this New Year's!

We can't expect our teens to not text behind the wheel if they see us doing it. While there may be fewer accidents with adults texting simply because they are more experienced drivers, there's no excuse for anyone driving and texting. So if you are one of those adults who text and drive, put the phone on silent mode and put it in the back seat so you can't reach for it when you are behind the wheel.  And don't forget, practice what you preach!

Gift That Makes You Smile

Photo courtesy of Happy Money Saver Box of Sunshine Post

 

Have you ever been looking for a gift that will just make someone smile? We all know someone who is sick or whose family is having a hard time. So if you are looking for a way to make someone feel better on down days this is just what you need! Put together this Box of Sunshine for them. This box was designed and made by Ashley at Happy Money Saver (be sure to read the rest of her blog for other great ideas.)

 

Not only that, she has made some 'box of sunshine' printables to use on your box (which makes is so much easier than designing your own). Just fill the box with anything yellow (Ashley has some great specific ideas of frugal ways to pull this together in her post if you can't think of some on your own) or pick out your own choice of yellow gifts that will make the receipient smile.

 

Sometimes when you are in the Dollar Store just pick up that 'something yellow' to add to the box and you'll have everything you need except food products ready for when you need to send one of these.  Think of small yellow foods or drinks or candy or other items

 

I love this idea for sending to someone who is in the hospital or having a hard time. My best friend used to call things like this 'warm fuzzies' because it was something small that made the recipient feel all warm and fuzzy inside just knowing someone cared. So if you have someone you want to make smile and feel a little bit better on a down day, send them their very own box of sunshine.