Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from our family to yours. May simple pleasures bring abundant joy and happiness to your life!

There are so many convenience foods out there that we’ve lived with all our lives that we forget that we can make them ourselves, just as easy and for a fraction of the price. Jello, or flavored gelatin, is one of them. We are so used to buying the little square boxes that we don’t even think of homemade versions as being possible. But look how easy, cheap, and versatile it is to make Jello at home. And just in time for the holidays, too.

Caramel dipped apples are always a sign of the holidays, but the hot caramel can give you some bad finger burns if you’re not careful. This crock pot method for Caramel Apple Dip is both simple to make and safe. And it makes great tasting caramel!

After successfully staging my home, I’m helping my friend stage her house for selling. So far, we have spent very little money by reusing pretty items that she already had or by making decorations with supplies from the local thrift store. You can do this easy project yourself with great finds from the thrift store or around the house.

Nothing is quite as spectacular as that delicious smelling, golden turkey being carried out on a platter. I remember growing up what a monumental task it was to cook the turkey for Thanksgiving dinner…or so I thought. It’s not as hard as I once thought…especially if you use a roasting bag. This is how my mom did it, how I do it, and maybe you’ll find it’ll become your tradition as well.  Give it a try and impress your family.