Frugal Ways to Celebrate the New Year

Here are a few suggestions:

- Go out to eat for lunch on the 31st or the 1st.
- Stay up late watching old movies with friends or a loved one.
- Buy your favorite bottle of wine and toast each other before going to bed.
- Play games with your kids, friends or loved ones until midnight.
- have a fix and eat party - start the evening with everyone fixing their favorite treat and end the evening with everyone eating.

- want to be alone?
       - take a long hot bath with candles and scented bath soap.
       - reread one of your favorite books or maybe try a new one.
       - write - you don't have to be an author to want to capture what happened in the past year.
       - enjoy the quiet and stare at the beautiful sights right outside your window.

Whatever you decide to do - make it fun and something that you will remember. After all, this is the last day of year.

Tina

CRANBERRY ALMOND BISCOTTI

Great for the day after Christmas morning.

INGREDIENTS:

2 1/4 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 eggs
2 egg whites
1 tablespoon almond or vanilla extract
1 6-ounce package Ocean Spray® Craisins® Sweetened Dried Cranberries, any flavor
3/4 cup sliced almonds

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 325ºF.

Combine dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk together eggs, egg whites and almond or vanilla extract in a separate mixing bowl. Add to dry ingredients, mixing just until moist, using an electric mixer on medium speed. Add sweetened dried cranberries and almonds; mix thoroughly.

On a floured surface, divide batter in half and pat each half into a log approximately 14-inches long and 1 1/2-inches wide. Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 30 minutes.

Reduce oven temperature to 300ºF. Cut biscotti into 1/2-inch slices. Stand upright on cookie sheet and bake for an additional 20 minutes. Let cool and store in a loosely covered container. Makes about 2 1/2 dozen.

PER SERVING (1 cookie): Cal 100 (5%DV), Fat Cal. 15, Total Fat 2grams(2.5%DV), Chol. 14mg(5%DV), Sodium 38mg(2%DV), Pot. 35mg(1%DV), Carb. 19grams(6%DV), Fiber <1gram(3%DV), Protein 2grams(4%DV), Vit. A 21IU(0%DV), Vit. C <1mg(0%DV), Calcium 18mg(2%DV), Iron <1mg(3%DV), Dietary Exchange: Fruit 1, Fat 0.5

http://www.oceanspray.com/recipes/Cranberry_Almond_Biscotti.aspx?id=266&nid=9

Have an awesome day,

Tina

Tina Tidings of Christmas Gift Ideas

Scanning the globe for just the right gift for your dog.

Might want to watch this video

http://www.reuters.com/video/2012/12/04/canines-get-their-paws-on-christmas-cake?videoId=239634292&newsChannel=oddlyEnoughNews

 

Luckily my dog is much easier to please.

 

 

No so true of the rest of my family.

 

 

As for the men in your life.

 

Sports equipment or tools. Unlike women, men don't see tools as a extension of them having to do work around the house. 

 

Tickets to some type of event is also a way you can share in the fun and get a night out. (Just a thought.)

 

Teenagers are the next hardest to buy for.

 

Electronics has always been popular for my boys but they can be very picky... might try a gift card from best buy to make it easiler.

 

 

 

Games are also a fun treat for the family. Personal, remember not to pick ones you don't enjoy. You don't want to have to play monoply if you don't like the game.

 

 

Books - now with the ereaders people can read them anywhere. Also, if you're taking a long car trip audio books are wonderful. I have spent many hours listening to Harry Potter.

 

My oldest is a big Jim Butcher fan.

 

 

Hope this help and have a wonderful holiday season,

 

Tina

 



 

History of Mistletoe

While out surfing the net I found this information about mistletoe on
http://www.merry-christmas.com/stories/mistletoe.htm

Thought it was interesting enough to share.

Mistletoe was often hung over the entrances to homes of the pagans in Scandinavian countries to keep out evil spirits. An old Scandinavian myth tells of the seemingly invulnerable god, Balder, who was struck down by a dart made from mistletoe. The tears of this mother, Frigga, became the white berries of the mistletoe, and it was decreed that the plant must never again be used as a weapon.

Frigga, who was the goddess of love, henceforth gave a kiss to anyone who passed under the mistletoe. It may be that our present custom of kissing under the mistletoe derives from this old legend.

Legend holds that the Druids, who were members of a pagan religious order in ancient Gaul, Briton and Ireland, held the mistletoe in such reverence that if enemies met under it in the forest, a truce was declared for the day. It was their belief that only happiness would enter a home when mistletoe hung over the door.

When the Yule season approached, the mistletoe was cut down from the sacred oaks by the Prince of the Druids who used a golden sickle. The mistletoe was distributed to the people who believed it possessed powers of the protection against sickness and evil. Later among Christians it came to symbolize the healing powers of Christ.


Hope you enjoy the holiday season and a cyber kiss of luck to all,

Tina

Little Brown Bottle You Shouldn't be Without

Hydrogen Peroxide.

This was written by Becky Ransey of Indiana "I would like to tell you of the benefits of that plain little old bottle of 3% peroxide you can get for under $1.00 at any drug store. My husband has been in the medical field for over 36 years, and most doctors don't tell you about peroxide, or they would lose thousands of dollars."

1. Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out. (I do it when I bathe) No more canker sores and your teeth will be whiter without expensive pastes. Use it instead of mouthwash. (Small pri nt says mouth wash and gargle right on the bottle)

2. Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of "Peroxide" to keep them free of germs.

3. Clean your counters, table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a lit tle on your dishrag when you wipe, or spray it on the counters.

4. After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria.

5. I had fungus on my feet for years - until I sprayed a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry.

6. Soak any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for five to ten minutes several times a day. My husband has seen gangrene that would not heal w ith any medicine, but was healed by soaking in peroxide.

7. Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water and keep it in every bathroom to disinfect without harming your septic system like bleach or most other disinfectants will .

8. Tilt your h ead back and spray into nostrils with your 50/50 mixture whenever you have a c old, or plugged sinuses. It will bubble and help to kill the bacteria. Hold for a few minutes then blow your nose into a tissue.

9. If you have a terrible toothache and cannot get to a dentist right away, put a capful of 3% peroxide into your mouth and hold it for ten minutes several times a day. The pain will lessen greatly.

10. And of course, if you like a natural look to your hair, spray the 50/50 solution on your wet hair after a shower and comb it through. You will not have the peroxide burnt blonde hair like the hair dye packages, but more natural highlights if your hair is a light brown, reddish, or dirty bl onde. It also lightens gradually so it's not a drastic change.

11. Put half a bottle of peroxide in your bath to help rid boils, fungu s, or other skin infections.

12. You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of white s in your laundry to wh iten them. If there is blood on clothing, pour directly on the soiled spot. Let i t sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary.

13. I use peroxide to clean my mirrors with, and there is no smearing which is why I love it so much for this.

I could go on and on. It is a little brown bottle no home should be without! With prices of most necessities rising, I'm glad there's a way to save tons of money in such a simple, healthy manner.

Have a great day,

Tina