At My Place

AT MY

PLACE WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE? Variety- it’s what you’ll find within the pages of this issue: food, home décor, books, crafts and more….

LOOKING AHEAD With holidays looming, you’ll find ideas to help with your planning over the next few weeks.

Find information, ideas and inspiration in this issue but please, feel free to share it with your friends.

13 pages

CONTENTS Simple ways to add colour and style to your home as you plan ahead for the holidays‌ plus tips to delight your guests.

04

05 12

Things to do now that will help later

06

Delicious & healthy start to the day

09

A Christmas planning to-do list

10

Simple ways to delight guests

Develop your skills in gift wrapping techniques and drawing & lettering‌. Plus hints for health and fitness that will add huge value to your personal well-being later.

06

This issue is jampacked with ideas, articles and information that I hope will encourage and delight you.

Plus, there are links to more information online.

I hope that you will be inspired to try some of these ideas and build a legacy of family fun and warm memories.

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11 13

Notes from the

Editor’s Desk Christmas decorations have been hanging in the stores for weeks. We’re used to that, although we’re always surprised how early they appear. But I think I just accepted, and yes, enjoyed the displays without really thinking through how quickly the weeks were disappearing. And now, I really have to start my holiday planning in earnest! Are you the same? Well.. I hope you’ll find ideas aplenty in this issue. Just click on the highlighted links or images within the magazine for more information.

Find information, ideas and inspiration for both you and your family so that you will be ready for the holiday season ahead.

Anne

(Yep... affiliate links are included which means, if you buy through me, I get some coffee money ... though not enough for the raisin toast, as well.

Things to do now..

If you’re very young right now, then you may think that anti-ageing articles and tips don’t apply to you. Those are for older people right? Wrong! ​In reality, those articles apply to you more than anyone else! After all, it’s too late to prevent ageing once you are already feeling and looking a lot older.

Life Style

Health & Fitness

There are many lifestyle changes that seem insignificant but make a big difference long-term: sufficient sleep- UV protection- good skin careongoing learning and self development. You can read more about these tips and hints here.

Nutrition plays an enormous role in looking and feeling young. For instance, a healthy breakfast can affect your entire day. Drinking plenty of water will keep you wellhydrated, maintain an alert mind and even help you slim. Regular exercise is also important.

Invest a little time now to develop simple, positive habits and it will pay real dividends in the years to come.

You'll look and feel great. You can find some simple ideas here.

If you'd like more ideas about looking your best regardless of age, you might like to check out The Ultimate AntiAgeing Guide, now available from my online store.

A CREATIVE JOURNAL

SIMPLY GRATEFUL 'Life is short. Time is fast. No replay.

No rewind. So enjoy every moment as it comes.'

CREATE A FAMILY LEGACY There are so many benefits of taking time to maintain a gratitude journal... better sleep, fewer symptoms of illness, increased happiness.

But it's also an amazing way to remember those moments that matter. And... it's the greatest way to share with your family and leave a legacy of special family memories..

HOW DO I START? The Simply Grateful- a creative journal is the easiest way to start. It encourages you with prompts, questions and suggestions to reflect on the many ways that you have been blessed. You'll find places to record lists or add notes. And, there are reflective style questions. Plus, you’ll find space to doodle & colour in to help you relax and de-stress.

HEALTHY & DELICIOUS A smoothie is an amazing breakfast for anyone who needs to grab something and run. Pour your smoothie in a blender bottle or an insulated cup to take it with you to the office or school. Adding frozen banana or other fruit, or ice to your smoothie will make sure it stays cool even if you aren’t able to drink it right away. It’s easy, too, to add some protein and a bit of healthy fat to your smoothies by using nut butter or Greek Yogurt and flax seeds. I also like to add some coconut cream.

BREAKFAST SMOOTHIES One of the reasons I love smoothies for breakfast is because they help me start my day off right with a boost of nutrition. It’s much easier to ensure you get at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies per day when a big chunk of it is in your breakfast smoothie. Plus these smoothies are made with real, unprocessed foods. That alone is a big improvement from the usual breakfast choice of cereal, toast, or breakfast sandwiches.

Smoothie Bowl Recipes Smoothie Bowls are as tasty as icecream or frozen yoghut but so much more healthy. And who could resist the idea of eating an Almond Butter and Raspberry Smoothie?

How about some of these: Coconut, Banana and Mango or perhaps Chocolate Hazelnut Hemp or again, Superfood Avocado Smoothie with Cashew Cream?

Healthy & delicious toppings Smoothie bowl toppings add a real flavor punch to your healthy smoothie and I love the various topping recipes from Half Baked Harvest. You can even find a grain-free granola topping for those who must avoid gluten.

You can top a smoothie with coconut, nuts, seeds, cacao nibs, granola, fresh fruit or even some crumbled muffin. The MinimalistBaker has a few more ideas to check out!

Other healthy ideas Breakfast is no longer just a bowl of cereal or porridge or a boiled egg with toast. Mayver’s presents recipes from Chocolate Banana Oats to Breakfast tacos or Blueberry and Fig Salad. Why not try a Breakfast Wrap or Corn & Ricotta Fritters from Food to Love?

TODDLERS’

Do you have toddlers, little ones under 5? Do you struggle with sharing the story of God's truth and love with these little ones?

What if I could tell you how to share Bible truths in such a simple way that even the smallest child will understand? What if there was a way that you could show your toddlers how God loves them and explain, in real ways, how He cares for them and their troubles?

Easy! It's done for you!

Mary Gross Davis and Rose Publishing have created a series of devotional books for kids of all ages that does all this and more, even for two and three-year-olds.

​1. Each lesson begins with a simple story to read that little ones will enjoy and relate to. It helps them see God as real and personal. Each story is short .... to keep the attention of your toddler.

2. There is a simple prayer to encourage your child to talk with God plus a Bible verse.

3. The 'Talk About It' segment provides some simple questions to reinforce understanding and help you child apply the Bible truth to their own life.

4. Last, there are some ideas presented in the 'Try This!' segment. It help you continue to apply the story and Bible truth in a fun way. The suggestion may be to act out something, play a game, look for something special, draw or discuss some aspect of the story.

I wouldn't like to conclude without mentioning the illustrations by Olga & Aleksey Ivanov. They are lovely- bright and colourful, and they really add interest and appeal to the devotion book. There are more in the series for older kids.

YOU CAN FIND THE BOOK HERE>>>>>

READY FOR TO-DO LIST CHRISTMAS? Perhaps the most important thing to do this month, with the holiday season so close to hand, is to start planning now. 1. Start your master plan. Actually, although you can make one yourself, there are plenty of FREE ones available to download and begin using immediately. Yu can find one HERE.

2. Write everything on your calendar. Planning is great, but if you don’t add a date to a task, you’ll forget it.

3. Write your Christmas cards in the evening, when you have fewer interruptions.

4. Wrap your gifts as you buy them. You can find some wrapping idea HERE. 5. Search for holiday recipes and add them to your menu planner. Start HERE. 6. Start your craft gifts now. If you plan to make something special, you need to begin now.

7. Organise thank you gifts now..who you need to thank and what you will give. eg. teachers, volunteers, 8. Start your decorating now.

EXPECTING GUESTS?

Simple things to do Quick tips Freshen up your home and your guest room with brisk spring clean. But don’t stop there.

Consider adding a couple of extras: a fragrant candle- a jug of infused water- a delicious nibble mix and a couple of beautiful blossoms look good on the side table. Leave a soft fluffy towel folded on the bed, and how about adding a small gift box of toiletries? More ideas here‌

Simple things to prepare Organise early A big part of any visit is the food served for guests. This can be tricky with so many struggling with food intolerances. Menus that allow guests to choose their own will make it easy for you to serve. Try planning your menu around food that can be prepared beforehand. It means that you can spend more time with your guests , not the kitchen so consider buffets or barbecues.

Ready for the Holidays?

Freshen up your home and add a few special touches now in preparation for the holiday season. Do it now before your life and schedule becomes too frenetic.

Add some special touches to your home It’s easy to get caught up in meal planning, decorations and gifts at this time of the year. But don‘t forget that a few special touches to the room can really brighten the room and set the mood for a relaxed holiday time with friends and family. Consider lighting, cushions and tableware. Softer lighting and a fresh fragrance can be easily added with candles or lanterns on tables or lighting up a corner. (Don’t forget to extinguish candles before leaving the room and ensuring there is nothing flammable nearby.

Inspiring chalk designs have grown in popularity from café-style designs to stationery and home decor.

Love

Lily & Val? Chalk Style colouring books by Valerie McKeehan

How to create

CHALK LETTERING Learn to draw in chalk Now you can create your own chalk expressions in time for Christmas. Make your own lettered cards or framed art with the book, The Complete Book of Chalk Lettering, by Valerie McKeehan (Val).

This book includes practice pages with a fold-out ‘blackboard’. More than 60 lessons teach basic lettering plus layout design and adding shadows and dimension.

Family memories Chalk drawing colouring books for adults If you love chalk drawing but don’t feel you can create your own, why not relax and colour in one of the beautiful designs

by Valerie McKeehan’s Chalk Style Botanicals colouring book, or her Chalk Style Expressions.

The Keepsake Kitchen Diary is a wonderful idea.

So many of our memories involve food. Now you can record both your treasured memories and the people and events.

Healthy Desserts

Chocolate Treats

HEALTHY CHOCOLATE RECIPES Healthy chocolate desserts When you decide to change your lifestyle and eat more healthily, the first item most cross off their list is usually desserts. And sure… desserts can contain a heap of calories. During the holiday season, it’s hard to avoid all those delicious sweet treats and desserts. But there are healthy versions. Check out some of these options and I think you’ll be surprised just how tasty they are: Cherry Chocolate Chip IceCream- Nutella Fudge Protein Bars- No Bake Energy Bites- Chocolate Peanut Butter Avocardo Pudding- Roasted Strawberry Rhubarb and Yoghurt Parfaits.

Healthy Chocolate snacks It’s hard to believe but chocolate can actually be good for you if it’s eaten in a healthy way. Chocolate is a good source of anti-oxidants. It can lower your risk of heart disease and can even help you lose weight. Here are some ways you can enjoy chocolate in a healthy way: Caramel Roasted Cashews Chocolate Squares- Instant Chocolate Chia Pudding- Almond Chocolate Chip Granola Bars- Ricotta Chocolate Chip Banana and Chia Pancakes. Why not add some of these healthier versions of chocolate treats to your holiday dinner planning?

Thank you for taking the time to read this small magazine. I hope you will enjoyed all the articles presented and that many will enrich your day. Please share it with your friends and look forward to the next issue coming soon..