Thanksgiving is about giving thanks. It’s about family and friends. But it’s equally, if not mostly, about food. Besides, thankfulness and loved ones tend to be free. Food isn’t. From birds the size of small children to complicated side dishes, the grocery bill for such a meal can become too much to bear. And as soon as you try to cut corners with cost, you probably worry that you’re cutting corners on quality, as well.
Category: Magazine Writing
Elegance on a Budget
Times are tough -- but just because your budget is a little tight, it doesn’t mean your feast has to suffer. “Thanksgiving is about abundance, so an abundance of holiday items makes a simple but beautiful accent,” said Jeanette Chasworth, certified interior designer and owner of Chasworth Place.
Fool-Proof Holiday Entertaining
Whether you are a rookie or a veteran at hosting Thanksgiving, making the most of space and seating while doting over décor can send even the most organized planner into a frenzy.
Happy Parents = Happy Kids
Too often, parents get caught in a constant whirl of kid-friendly activities, scheduling mishaps and drive-through dinners to meet the needs of their family. A 4 a.m. feeding or daily carpool can drain even the most energetic mom or dad. Between your daughter’s dance lessons, your son’s soccer practice and hours of homework and housework to wade through, your hectic schedule may lead to exhaustion and even resentment as you are consumed with your ever-changing role as a parent.
Create a Great Living Room
The name "living room" says it all: You spend most of your home life in it. But you also welcome guests there; it is the most public room of your house and the one in which you want to make a statement and reflect who you are as a family.
Home Decor’s Forgotten Holiday
While ghosts and ghouls are out and about in October, and bright lights are strewn in December in preparation for Christmas, the Thanksgiving holiday, wedged between fright night and silent night, is oft forgotten when it comes to home décor.
How to Have a Nightmare-Free Halloween
Whether it’s ghosts and goblins terrorizing your 3-year old or remnants of a mask-wearing movie slasher haunting your 6-year old, Halloween can mystify even the most well-adjusted child. The confusion gets even worse when scary villain costumes prance around ghostly yard ornaments -- yet lurking behind each neighborhood door are candy and a friendly greeting.
Why Walking is Enough
In 2008, Pam Mumper could barely walk up a flight of stairs, struggled to fit in a stadium seat and weighed in at 260 pounds. Three-and-a-half years later and 75 pounds lighter, she's able to walk four miles consecutively, trek up flights of stairs with ease and share a stadium seat with her daughter.
Teasing: When Words Hurt
It’s no secret that teasing is a natural part of life for kids. But when teasing goes too far, it’s difficult for your child to differentiate between mean words and playful banter. The temperament and personality style of the receiver is a major factor in the equation, according to Dr. Fran Walfish, child psychotherapist and author of “The Self-Aware Parent.” “If the receiver is an exquisitely sensitive person, he or she may feel deeply injured by innocent teasing,” Walfish said. Teaching your child to assess teasing and address the behavior on his own can shape his ability to handle conflict in social situations.
The School Year: Riding the Emotional Roller Coaster
When Christine Hammond picked up her first-grade daughter from school one day, she sensed that something was wrong. Her suspicions were confirmed when her daughter cried uncontrollably for 20 minutes while sitting in the car. As a concerned parent of three, Hammond patiently waited for her child to reveal that she did not earn a sticker for the week because she talked out of turn in the classroom. “Our son, the oldest, attempted to comfort her by telling her that it was OK because he never earned a sticker in all his years of school,” said Hammond, a registered mental health counseling intern and educator. Her daughter’s crying quickly turned to laughter at her brother’s remark. “No two kids are the same,” Hammond said. “So, just because one is upset, it does not mean the other will be upset over the same issue.” As a parent, you can easily recognize when your child is angry, hurt or even sleepy from a busy day. Your child, though, is not always able to recognize, absorb and accept his feelings. Fostering his ability to recognize and understand his emotions can help him succeed in school, make and maintain friendships, and even grow closer to the entire family. Read the rest of the story here - Shannon Philpott
Shannon Philpott-Sanders 