poppyseed the cool guide for all families
November • December 2015
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A Modern Thanksgiving • D.I.Y. • Holiday Gift Guide for your Littles & more
poppyseed
Issue Nine September • October 2015
publisher & owner Joey Coakley Beck jbeck@beckmediagroup.com editorial director Hayleigh Worgan hworgan@beckmediagroup.com contributors Kristi Hall, Lani Maddox Hayleigh Worgan advertising inquiries advertise@beckmediagroup.com poppyseed@beckmediagroup.com (540) 904-6800
poppyseed the cool guide for all families
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This issue is full of great ideas to help you step away from social networking and utilize common interests (and, in some cases, technology) to bring your family closer together. From party ideas and unique gifts to DIY projects and family interviews, there is enough within this issue to keep your family busy for the next two months!
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806 Wasena Avenue, Suite 101 Roanoke, VA 24015 540.904.6800 fax 540.904.6803 www.beckmediagroup.com
Poppyseed Magazine is the property of Beck Media Group LLC. It is a free publication printed bimonthly and is distributed throughout Southwest and Central Virginia and beyond. The concept and design of Poppyseed Magazine, as well as the design, advertisements, art, photos and editorial content is property of Beck Media Group LLC and may not be copied or reprinted without written permission from the publisher. ©2015 Beck Media Group LLC All Rights Reserved. PRINTED IN THE USA
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Winter is right around the corner, and we couldn’t be happier about the upcoming holiday celebrations! Regardless of the traditions in your family, the most important thing about this time of the year is that you spend time with the people you love most.
For additional DIY projects, cool gear, and fun for the whole family, visit www.beckmediagroup.com. You can also check us out on Pinterest and Facebook! Happy Holidays from our family to yours!
poppyseedmag
poppyseed
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Make these cute centerpieces!
Instructions for these cute centerpieces can be found by clicking the photo or visiting here: http://www.lovaas.com/meetingpoint-2010-11-article-02.php
Twisting up
Thanksgiving Unique ideas for a special and memorable holiday
Written by
Kristi Hall
Baking Sweet Potato casserole, pumpkin carving and catching up with distance family are just a few of the traditional fall time family doings. But this year is the year to be daring and spice up family Thanksgiving gatherings with your own twist. Below are a few suggestions on how to make family gatherings even more memorable.
Sophisticated Stuffing
Who doesn’t like a side of stuffing with their Thanksgiving meal? Now, you can shock your family with a delicious twist on a traditional dish. Try added fruits such as fresh apples or cranberries to give that kick of sweetness. Also, using turkey sausage instead of regular sausage is an easy, healthy replacement. Wheat bread instead of regular white bread is also an easy alternative! Looking for a new dish to add to your cookbook? We have been busy collecting our favorites on our Pinterest page! One of which is a Sausage, Cranberry, and Apple Stuffing from Jones Dairy Farm! Visit www.jonesdairyfarm.com for instructions on how to make this delicious recipe (and many others) for your holiday celebrations!
Picture Perfect Photo Booth
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to gather the whole family for a picture. Photo booths can be an easy, unique and fun way to capture the moment. Wrapping paper is a cheap way to create an eye catching back drop. Don’t forget the props! Many websites offer free, printable props (like www.kristendukephotography. com) that you can easily glue to popsicle sticks to give your photo that wow factor.
New Traditions
Why not add a few more traditions to your family? A family game such as Thanksgiving Trivia is a great way to test your knowledge of your family members. Get all your guest to write 2-3 random facts about themselves and place in a bowl once they arrive. Later have one person call out the facts and all the family members write their guess down. Then whoever guesses the most correctly, gets the first slice of pie! Share your unique family holiday traditions with us on our Facebook page! We may just feature them on our website! www.beckmediagroup.com
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Thanksgiving Sweets
A kitchen D.I.Y. that is fun & easy for all ages! School will be out several days this month. If you have a little extra time on your hands, it is a great opportunity to spend some time with your children in the kitchen. You can start with this adorable and easy Thanksgiving Pilgrim’s Hat Cookie Treat from www.ohsosavvymom.com!
Thanksgiving Pilgrim’s Hat Cookie Treats You will need: shortbread cookies (with fudge stripes) big marshmallows chocolate chips or melting chocolate yellow frosting*
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Melt chocolate. This can be done in a microwave, stirring frequently. Line a cookie sheet with tin foil and place all cookies upside down. Dip marshmallows in chocolate, covering all sides. Place one marshmallow on the center of each cookie. Put your cookie sheet in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to help set the chocolate quickly. Use yellow frosting to draw the “buckle” on your hat. *Visit www.ohsosavvymom.com for a Yellow Icing Recipe. www.beckmediagroup.com
It’s Time To Celebrate!
Fun party ideas for the whole family (and friends too!)
Hosting a holiday party for all ages this year? Or, maybe you are just looking for a few fun activity ideas to do with your family. Let us help you get started with a few fun ideas that we will be doing with our own families this year. Check out our list below, and let us know your fun party ideas on our Facebook page!
Hanukkah Finger Foods
There are so many delicious traditional Hanukkah recipes on Pinterest that it is hard to narrow our suggestions down to one or two. However, we are very excited about making Spiced Apple or Pear Fritter Doughnuts ( http:// www.babble.com/best-recipes/spiced-apple-or-pear-fritter-doughnuts-hanukkah/#more-19259 )! We are also excited about this Potato Latke Recipe ( http://www.cookshideout.com/2014/03/potato-latkes-eggless-vegan-recipe-with. html?m=1 )!
Potluck Party
Each guest brings one of their favorite traditional holiday dishes. This is a great way for everyone to learn about how different people celebrate during the winter season. It can also be an opportunity for your children to try new foods and learn about other cultures. There are many unique ideas for this on Pinterest if you want to explore other traditions with your family without having a party—and it is a great resource for meal planning during the busy holiday season!
Christmas Movie Marathon
Break out your family’s favorite Christmas movies. Whether you prefer “classics” like Home Alone and A Christmas Story or newer movies like The Polar Express and Elf, there are so many options for the cold winter weekends cuddled up on the couch. Instead of filling up on Holiday candy and cookies (which there will be plenty of opportunity for later!), try out this recipe for Clean Eating Caramel Popcorn ( http://www.thegraciouspantry.com/clean-eatingcaramel-popcorn/ ). It is easy to make, and you can assign jobs to each child (depending on their age) to create an extra bonding activity for the day.
Pajama Party
This can be combined with your movie marathon or made into a fun family game night! One of our favorite gifts to exchange with our families are pajamas, a fun board game, and favorite holiday candy. This creates an experience to go with the gift, which we like to think is the best gift of all. For cute holiday pajama ideas, visit www.geltfield.com or www.chasing-fireflies.com. Written by
Hayleigh Worgan www.beckmediagroup.com
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Experience Over Gifts Getting the most out of your family time
The holidays often go hand-in-hand with mass consumerism. If we are not fighting over the latest and greatest toy in the wee hours of the morning on Black Friday, we are standing in line on the day before a celebration purchasing a last minute gift. The truth is, no amount of presents will provide the same joy that quality time spent with those we love gives us. Use any of the following ideas to help your family reduce the importance of tangible gifts and create wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.
The Rule of Three
There is nothing like seeing a child’s face on Christmas morning when the tree is surrounded with gifts for them. However, at the end of the unwrapping frenzy, many children are content to play with a few of their toys—piling the rest in a corner of the living room where they will stay until they make their way to the closet or the bottom of a toy box. If you are not ready to give up purchases entirely, consider adopting the “Rule of Three.” Each child receives three gifts for the holidays. They can be any price amount that fits your budget. The reduction in gifts not only gets rid of unnecessary clutter in your home, it gives you the opportunity to seek out gifts of quality that will last your child for years to come.
Make it a Family Project
Consider donating toys and clothes to children who would otherwise go without. There are several programs that collect gifts for children and distribute them for the holidays. The more obvious being Toys for Tots (www.toysfortots.org) and the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree (www.salvationarmy.org)—both of which are excellent programs for those in need. You can also participate in the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child in which your family fills a shoebox with gifts for a boy or a girl, wraps it, and drops it off at one of several locations. Visit www.samaritanspurse.org to learn more.
Go All In
This idea can be a little controversial, and we only share it because a few of us in the office are considering trying it ourselves. Run an experiment in your family, like the one conducted in The Year without a Purchase: One Family’s Quest to Stop Shopping and Start Connecting by Scott Dannemiller. The goal is to only buy things that you absolutely have to purchase and using the money you save to fund experiences and vacations (be it to far away destinations or nearby weekend getaways). For Scott and his wife, Gabby, this meant no new clothes, books, or toys for their kids for a year. The only items they purchased were those they could eat or use up within the year (like toilet paper and shampoo). It is a tough commitment, but a great lesson for the whole family! No matter how you decide to spend your holiday season, we hope it is a time you will remember fondly for years to come. Visit our website for DIY projects and holiday ideas to keep your family busy and having fun together! Written by
Hayleigh Worgan www.beckmediagroup.com
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Holiday Gift Guid For the Little Ones:
For Preteens:
Girl Scout Cookie Oven www.toysrus.com
The Society of Seasonal Secret Keepers (for those who have outgrown the Elf on a Shelf). www.s3hq.com
WIN THESE!!!
Stay tuned to our Facebook page for details. Easy Weaving Loom www.uncommongoods.com
Little Books about Important Things www.TheMotherCo.com
Cool gift ideas for every child in your family!
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If you need a few last minute gifts to give the children (of all ages) in your family, we have you covered! Check out our favorites and stay tuned to our Facebook during the months of November and December for a chance to win some of the items listed below!
For Teens:
The Dream of the New Earth Coloring Book www.kitanie.com
JAM Classic Bluetooth Wireless Speaker www.bestbuy.com
Stocking Stuffers: Hyland’s 4Kids Bumps ’n Bruises Ointment Stick with Arnica. www.hylands.com
GoodKid Snack Bar www.goodkidfoods.com
WIN THESE!!!
Stay tuned to our Facebook page for details. www.beckmediagroup.com
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