Creative Parenting Archives

2016 Holiday Musings #2

By Jeremiah Inc.|2017-09-01T12:08:21+00:00December 9th, 2016|Creative Living at Home, Creative Parenting, Fall Table, Health & Wellness, Holiday Table, Holidays, Spring Table, Summer Table, Winter Table|

After the Thanksgiving decorating blitz, this week has become Christmas detail week and lists are flying! Things to do, things to get, things to make and the everyday chores as well. In the midst of all of this, the reality of everyday life kicks in. There are friends to talk to, support to give to grieving friends with lost loved ones and those asking for prayers for medical tests, recovery and the unknown. This week we work on the final touches to our home that makes it uniquely ours and welcoming to all of our friends and family who come to see us. This week the Snowflakes my mom carefully has crocheted for decades and given to all her friends and especially her family and starched them to a crisp flat beauty were finally found. This are a constant in our holiday decorating and one that we treasure. With mom's recent stroke, we may not get these again in years to come so these precious treasures were [...]

Christmas decor in the Country

By Jeremiah Inc.|2017-09-01T12:09:19+00:00December 9th, 2016|Creative Living at Home, Creative Parenting, Health & Wellness, Holiday Table, Holidays, Winter Table|

There is nothing like Christmas in the country! All my life I have lived in the country, somewhere in the United States. I love the rural life and how with a little creativity we can decorate our homes and create a welcoming environment for family, friends and out of town guests. Here in Dinwiddie County Virginia we have one of the largest populations of pine tree farming in the state. This makes decorating for Christmas a joy! On our farm we are surrounded by trees, mainly pine trees. As I prepared for the Holiday Season this year, I wanted to keep a more organic and natural feel to our home, both indoors and out. Using pine boughs, cedar sprigs, pine cones, holly and berries one can create a beautiful setting while capturing the feel of the season as well. Today I jumped in our Ranger and headed for the edges of the woods. I scavenged for greenery and nature that would go well with the variety of [...]

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2016 Holiday Musing #1

By Jeremiah Inc.|2017-09-01T12:10:01+00:00November 30th, 2016|Creative Living at Home, Creative Parenting, Fall Table, Health & Wellness, Holiday Table, Holidays, Winter Table|

So the 2016 Holiday Season is here! Wait, Holiday? Yes, our society has now dubbed it the Holiday Season. In reality, this time of year is the holidays and it always has been. Some have removed Christmas from the equation and yes, that is upsetting, as Christ is the real reason for the Christmas Season. The Holiday Season for me starts the weekend before Thanksgiving and continues straight through New Year's Day. This year has been different, as each one is. For me, the holiday season is a joyous time filled with joy and excitement, plans for family and friend gatherings and so much more. As I have gotten older the holidays seem to be harder in so many ways. Many have lost loved ones at the holidays and they mourn their past and the loss of their dear one. Others have grown older and found that the Christmas Wish List carries less and less gift ideas for themselves and more for the children and grandchildren in [...]

Holiday Chex Mix

By Jeremiah Inc.|2017-09-01T12:11:11+00:00November 30th, 2016|Creative Living at Home, Creative Parenting, Fall Table, Holiday Table, Holidays, Winter Table|

Our favorite Chex Mix is old fashioned, but it's our favorite. We have carried this one on trips in Ziplock bags (sizes snack to gallon size, depending on the children's age at the time!), given these in tins, quart jars, special dollar store or Sam's Club special containers for the holidays and even made some in the summertime once in a blue moon just because! Always made between the day before or on Thanksgiving Day, this is a holiday kick starter at our home! My youngest son's eyes light up and I become the "best mom in the world" as those cake pans of precious cereal and pretzels come out of the oven! Folks, it's the little traditions we create annually that win out in the memories of our children! Make it special whatever it is that you do! Be counted on! OLD FASHIONED CHEX MIX of my childhood 2 Cups Cheerios 2 Cups Corn Chex 2 Cups Rice Chex 1 - 2 Cups Wheat Chex 2 [...]

Holiday Hot Chocolate

By Jeremiah Inc.|2017-09-01T12:11:59+00:00November 30th, 2016|Creative Living at Home, Creative Parenting, Fall Table, Holiday Table, Holidays, Winter Table|

Growing up in the 1960's we didn't have a lot of money, but we had each other. We spent countless hours making home created gifts to gift family and friends. Hot cocoa, special family favorite Christmas cookies, fruit cake, and gifts that we uniquely made ourselves from things we had available at the house or on grandma and grandpa's farm (roasted nuts, cider we had pressed in the fall, etc).My mom made a hot chocolate recipe that was in her AORN Nursing Cook Book that she had me help compile and type the submitted recipes from all the nurses in her AORN group to create this fundraiser cookbook filled with delicious recipes (the typewriter at that time was manual - oh the memories!). The original recipe here has been adapted. This recipe was the family favorite and included Nestle Quik instead of Hershey's Chocolate and has been a solid favorite every winter for our family and friends alike. Holiday Hot Cocoa Mix 2 Cups Nestle Quik 1 [...]