Showing posts with label Misadventurous Mommy's Holidays Made Easy Guide. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Misadventurous Mommy's Holidays Made Easy Guide. Show all posts
Thursday, November 4, 2010
As much as I love Halloween, I am more than a little happy that it is done and over with, why you ask? Well, because I love the holiday season, so much in fact, that I have a hard time waiting until Thanksgiving to start decorating! Since I can’t get away with decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving, I have to find other ways of getting festive and none are more fun or more yummy than The Swiss Colony. The Swiss Colony is a company that I have loved for years; known for their excellent quality and timeless appeal, Swiss Colony is a staple for many of us during the holidays and year round. I remember snagging my moms Swiss Colony catalog when I was younger and drooling over the Petits Fours and cheese and sausage gift baskets. Though much has changed since then for Swiss Colony (adding a website for one) much has stayed the same, including their amazing selection of gift baskets and yummy treats! For those of you have not had the privilege of getting to know Swiss Colony, let me be the first to introduce you!
From the Swiss Colony website:Tucked in the hills of beautiful Monroe, Wisconsin, The Swiss Colony began in the entrepreneurial spirit of a young Ray Kubly. A smart, enterprising student at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Ray wrote up an advertising campaign that detailed a business that sold cheese by mail.
After graduating, Ray took his class project and began to mold it into reality from the basement of his home in Monroe. In 1926, he mailed out handbills, which he himself designed and stamped, that advertised cuts of Wisconsin-made bulk cheeses. As orders came in, he cut the huge wheels of cheese into pieces, and wrapped and shipped them. In his first year of business, he sold all 50 packages of cheese that he had prepared.
Through the 1940s and 50s, interest in the company increased, and so did its size and profits. In 1954, Ray Kubly incorporated The Swiss Colony from the enterprise begun in his basement. Through all these years, Ray worked a regular day job outside The Swiss Colony until 1961, when he was finally able to focus full–time on his own company. Since then, The Swiss Colony and its affiliated businesses have grown by leaps and bounds, from cheese and food gifts to general merchandise encompassing several different brands.
I recently had the chance to review something from The Swiss Colony and let me just say that diet was not a word in my vocabulary for a few days! We received the Jolly Wink Santa Cake for our review. Now when I tell you that I literally had to stop a fight from breaking out in the middle of my kitchen over this cake, I am completely serious. Both of my oldest daughter earned themselves a time-out arguing over who was going to get the first piece of cake (kid you not ladies and gentlemen) and in case you’re wondering, I got the first piece sometimes it is SO cool being mom! Anyway when the cake arrived our adorably yummy Santa was packed up nice and tight so nothing happened during shipping and aside from a small crack on the surface of the cake, all was well.
Here’s a description of the cake from The Swiss Colony website:
Our skilled pastry elves fluff him up with layer upon layer of tender white cake and frothy chocolate butter creme. Then they carefully dress him all over with coats of luscious Swiss creme. Fine details are applied by hand with icing, and his famous whiskers are whipped up with delectable frosting. A visit from this St. Nick will surely be an unforgettable feast of joys.
Our Jolly Wink Santa Cake fresh out of the box!
The inside of the Jolly Wink Santa Cake…yummy, yum, yum!
I also wanted to let you guys know about a sweepstakes that The Swiss Colony has going on right now…12 Tasty Gifts of Christmas Sweepstakes! Here’s some more information about the sweepstakes:12 DAYS OF PRIZE GIVING VALUED AT OVER $2,600!
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas On Us!
From November 1 – December 11, 2010, you can enter to win in our “12 Tasty Gifts of Christmas” Sweepstakes. Each day from December 1 to December 12, we’ll select one winner of an unforgettably delicious Swiss Colony food gift plus a valuable Gift Certificate worth plenty more irresistible Swiss Colony treats. Sumptuous, hand-decorated pastries made in our very own Bakery could be yours FREE!Faithful friends like you have helped make The Swiss Colony a shining star through the years. So we’d like to show our thanks with sweepstakes prizes that celebrate the spirit of sharing!
And here is their super yummy prize list!
Buy it!
I also have a very yummy prize for one of my lovely (and I hope hungry) readers! The Swiss Colony is giving one of my readers their choice of any item on their website ($30 or less)! How’s that for putting you in the holiday spirit?
Win it: Mandatory Entry!
Extra Entries
Please leave separate comments for each extra entry!
Comment on any non-giveaway post
Enter any (or all) of the other giveaways on MIBR (please leave the name of the other giveaway(s) entered in your comment).
2 Extra Entries Each
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5 Extra Entries
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This giveaway ends on November 18, 2010 at 11:59 PM EST. One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me and claim their prize; failure to do so will result in winner forfeiting his prize and me choosing a new winner.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
A paper company that doesn’t use trees to make their paper? Yes, and it’s called Green Field Paper Company! Green Field Paper Co. is a company that is all about tree-free paper making. They offer homemade paper as well as hemp paper, but that’s not what sets Green Field Paper Company apart from their competitors, it is their seed embedded paper that they are known for!
Here’s a little more about Green Field Paper Company from their website:
Since 1992, Green Field Paper handmade paper has been crafted one sheet at a time here in San Diego, California. Our machine-made Hemp Heritage paper is manufactured in New England, home of the first American paper mills. Our handmade paper includes Grow A Note® seed embedded plantable paper, our 100% Junk Mail® infused with our own junk mail paper , Gilroy garlic paper , infused with garlic skins for an elegant look, and Java paper made with coffee chaff.
On top of all of that Green Field Paper has committed to offset 100% of their company’s electricity by purchasing wind energy credits for use in their plants and offices. Green Field Paper is not only committed to bringing their customers what they want, they are also committed to helping make the earth a cleaner, better place to live!
I received the Grow-a-Note Tree Swirl holiday cards as well as the 100% Recycled Gift Wrap –in Gifty Box for my review. First and foremost I have to say that when I saw the Grow-a-Note cards on Green Field Paper’s website I was instantly in love, but when I received my cards I just couldn’t wait to show them off! The Grow-a-Note cards from Green Field Paper Company are very unique and quite special.
Here’s what Green Field Paper says about Grow-a-Note cards:
Spread joy throughout the holidays with handmade cards that grow flowers! These seed embedded holiday cards are sure to spread cheer throughout the upcoming year!
Fun and eco-friendly, our signature Grow-a-Note cards are made with 100% post-consumer pulp and printed using soy inks. The growing instructions are printed on the back of each card and accompanied by the list of colorful wildflowers that will grow once the card is planted.
I have to say, giving someone a card that can be grown into beautiful flowers, beats regular holiday cards any day of the week! I cannot wait to start addressing envelopes and sending everyone on my list one of these beautiful cards…I’m sure they will be just as pleased receiving them as I will be sending them! And knowing that they are made using 100% recycled paper makes me feel even better!
I also received the 100% Recycled Gift Wrap –in Gifty Box to review. I am a HUGE wrapping paper freak, meaning I collect wrapping paper during the holidays like most people collect cards. I really love the Gifty Box paper from Green Field Paper, not only is the pattern very festive, it’s strong and sturdy and is going to be perfect with my red and green wrapping paper theme this year!
Of course, Green Field Paper Company has a large assortment of greeting cards, recycled gift wrap, handmade paper, and so much more! This is truly a place you MUST check out! As a matter of fact, I think they are so cool that I've decided to include them in my Holiday Gift Guide as well as my Holidays Made Easy Guide…so be sure to look for them there!
Now I have a treat for all of you lovely ladies (and gents)! Green Field Paper Company is giving one Misadventurous reader a 4 pack of Grow-a-Note Holiday Cards (design of winners choice…may choose all 4 of the same design or mix and match).
Win it: Mandatory Entry!
Please visit Green Field Paper Company and have a look around, while you;re there check out the Grow-a-Note holiday cards, come back and leave a comment on this post telling me which design(s) you like best. This is mandatory and must be completed before any extra entries are allowed!Extra Entries!
Please leave separate comments for each extra entry…also make sure you leave your email address or that it is visible in your profile…if I can’t get in touch with you, I can’t get you your prize!1 Extra Entry Each
Comment on any non-giveaway post
Enter any (or all) of the other giveaways on MIBR
2 Extra Entries Each
Follow MIBR on GFC
Follow MIBR via Email
Follow MIBR via Networked Blogs
Follow MIBR on Twitter
3 Extra Entries Each
Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (up to 3x per day per length of giveaway) don’t forget to include @Allie_23 in your tweets!
“Like” MIBR on Facebook
Share this giveaway on Facebook (up to 2x per day per length of giveaway)
5 Extra Entries
Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post
This giveaway ends on November 16 , 2010 at 11:59 PM EST. One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me and claim their prize; failure to do so will result in winner forfeiting his prize and me choosing a new winner.
Easy Entertaining
I’ve compiled a list (with a little help) of helpful tips to help you be the Hostess with the Mostess this holiday season.
Don’t try to do it all!
This used to be my biggest problem. I would offer to host Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner at my house and then take on the responsibility of cooking EVERYTHING, cleaning, making sure my guests were having a good time, making sure the kids weren’t climbing the Christmas tree and I had no time to hang out with my guests and enjoy the party! After about 3 years of hosting holiday dinners I decided that it was alright to ask for help…so I did. To my amazement my guests were more than happy to bring covered dishes and deserts, plastic silverware, and drinks and ice. As soon as I stopped putting so much pressure on myself my holiday parties became even bigger and better than they were before…and now I have time to spend with my guests and enjoy the parties…and I love that!
Make a Menu ahead of time!
This is something else that has proven to be a huge timesaver for not only me, but my guests as well. I usually set aside one day to call up my guests and find out what they would like to bring, if doubles happen I try to help my guests decide on something else by suggesting other dishes that no one has volunteered to bring yet. I find that by making a menu there are NO SURPRISES and that is always a good thing…after all, no one is going to be happy if Great Aunt Gertrude brings enough fruit cake to feed a small army!
Make sure everyone knows how much they are expected to bring!
I have had the problem before of some people cooking too much and some people not bringing enough. When I compile my menu I always tell guests how many people are coming so that they know how much to bring!
Crock Pots are your friend!
I always ask my guests to bring their crock pots with them (if their dishes are not already in them). I use them to keep the food warm while we are waiting to eat…they are a huge time saver and the mashed potatoes don’t get cold!
Do take a little help from the store!
I know that most people would prefer to make everything from scratch, but the reality is that no one has time to make pie crusts from scratch or spend hours making shrimp puffs. I always take short cuts from the store when I can…it saves me time and sanity! Some of my favorite appetizers are from Farm Rich, they seriously have everything from meatballs to mini Philly Cheese Steak bites! You MUST check them out!
Dos and Don’t of Holiday Entertaining
Do bring a hostess gift!
Even if it is something as simple as a homemade pie or cake, the hostess will definitely appreciate the gesture! You may even get an extra slice of your favorite desert out of the deal! One of my favorite hostess gifts (to give and to receive) are from The Swiss Colony…they have so many mouthwatering goodies that you’ll have a hard time choosing just one! I recommend bring your hostess a Jolly Wink Santa cake…they are so cute and SO yummy!
Do help clean up!
This is something that I cannot stress enough!!!! Even if disposable plates, forks, and cups were used there is still so much to clean up after a family gathering. Roll up your sleeves and don’t be afraid to help the hostess…she will be forever grateful!
Don’t Assume your hostess will be alright with you springing last minute guests on her!
It is a lot of work planning for any holiday get-together and most hostesses have everything down to how many cloth napkins she needs to press worked out in her head. Deciding at the last minute to bring your new boyfriend Bobby and his 4 kids to Christmas dinner unannounced is NOT alright! While most gracious hostesses would smile (through gritted teeth) and set 5 more places at the dinner table, it is wrong to expect that it will be ok. Simply calling and confirming with your hostess how many guests will be coming with you takes only a minute or two and saves your hostess so much unanticipated work!
I like to incorporate fun into our get-togethers! Every year at our annual Christmas Party we come up with a whole new set of games, stories, and fun stuff for the kids to do…and I must admit most of the adults enjoy it as well! Here are a few of our favorite games from years past!
Santa Bingo: This is ALWAYS a hit with everyone, it’s easy enough for most of the children and still a ton of fun for the adults. I’ve personally made the bingo cards and they are a breeze. Directions below:
What you need
Cardstock
Christmas stamps
Different colored ink
Cut the cardstock into bingo sized rectangles, and make a grid that is 5 across and 6 down. Across the top write SANTA. Then fill in the remaining squares with different Christmas images using the stamps. In the middle I always place a star as the free spot. We cut small squares out of cardstock to make the call slips. We always place the call slips into a red felt bag similar to Santa’s bag and we use peppermint candies or marshmallows to cover our squares. (I’ll post some more games soon!)
Don’t eat and run!
If there is one thing that irks me more than anything else when I’ve planned a beautiful dinner for family and friends, it is the Eat and Run! You know that cousin of yours who only shows up when there’s food involved, doesn’t speak a word to anyone while he’s there, but inhales your sweet potatoes casserole without a second thought? Yeah, him…I can’t stand that! Not only is eating and running rude, you’re missing out on amazing conversations and good times with family and friends by dining and dashing!
I’ll be back soon with more Holiday Entertaining Tips…in the meantime let me know how you enjoy holiday entertaining in a stress-free way!
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