Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Tag: recipes

  • Have a Spooktacular Halloween

    The following recipes and spooky craft ideas will result in one hauntingly good Halloween.

    Hauntingly Good Recipes

    • Grab your witch’s cauldron and stir up this delicious pumpkin ginger soup.
    • This tombstone taco dip is to die for. Tortilla tombstones anyone?
    • These deadly good cupcakes are easy to whip up. Bake cupcake flavors of your choosing, and once they have cooled, top them off with chocolate icing. Crush a few Oreos or chocolate cookies and sprinkle the crumbles on top of the icing to look like dirt. Next, pipe R.I.P in black icing onto the top half of a Milano cookie and stick it into the cupcake so the top part sticking out resembles a gravestone. You can also place the cookies into a brownie.
    • Eight-legged cake pops anyone? First, make a batch of cake pops and cover the outside in fine chocolate sprinkles. Then, stick eight legs out the side and top it off with two candy eyes. Creepy, crawly, delicious.
    • Make a beautiful pumpkin cake out of two bunt cakes! Bake two bunt cakes and add orange food coloring into the batter so it’s nice and vibrant when you cut into it later. Once the cakes have cooled, flip one cake upside down and ice the bottom, which is now facing up. This icing layer will help keep the two bunt cakes together. Gently place the other bunt cake on top. If it’s wobbly, you might need to use a few dowels. Then cover the entire thing in orange icing, stick a pretzel stick out of the top center for the stem, and voila, you made a pumpkin cake!
    • Creep it real with the following frighteningly delicious Halloween recipes.
    • Spooky and healthy is always an option. All you need are green apples, strawberries, peanut butter, and sunflower seeds. First, cut the apple into slices. Take each slice and cut out a sliver in the middle that will serve as the mouth. Shmear peanut butter into the sliver (the mouth) and place a thin slice of a strawberry sticking out of the bottom to look like a tongue. Use sunflower seeds to make rows of teeth and top it off with two candy eyes.
    • Trust us, you knead these spiced pumpkin doughnuts in your life.
    • Create spooky and sweet Halloween drinks that will raise your guests’ spirits.
    • Top off your cocktails with a creepy eyeball. Place a blueberry inside of a lychee, and you have the perfect Halloween cocktail.

    Deadly Décor and Party Ideas

    • No smoke machine? No problem. Take a diffuser or humidifier and carefully place it into a fake cauldron and turn it on for a smokey effect.
    • Swap out your family photos for a night and create a gallery wall of your favorite monsters. For a cohesive look consider printing them in black and white.
    • Buy a few plastic cloches at a discount store to create a few hauntingly cool displays. Place a small skeleton head in one, a few fake spiders in another, and maybe some fake eyeballs in a third.
    • Bubble, bubble, spiders, and trouble. Fill a clear glass soap dispenser with a light-colored soap and put several small plastic spiders in it to create a spooky effect.
    • Upcycle your empty tissue boxes to create spooky creatures and mischievous monsters. Transform one into Frankenstein by painting the entire thing green and topping it off with stitches and a face. Paint one orange and draw a jack-o-lantern face on the side to make a pumpkin. The kids will love gluing on googley eyes, drawing silly faces, and creating their own original creatures.
    • Fill two or three clean, sterile gloves with water, tie them up, and place them in the freezer. Leave them in until they are solid ice. Right before your guests arrive, fill your punch bowl with a delicious drink and a little bit of ice, so the liquid cools down. Take your ice hands out of the freezer, remove the glove and place your frozen creepy hands in the punch bowl for spooky ice.
    • Halloween table ideas:
      • Place a black runner down the center of the table and top it off with red rose petals, skeleton hands, and a large skull in the center.
      • Fill vases with black branches, twigs, and red roses.
      • Lay a giant skeleton along the middle of the table and fill its torso and ribcage with candy.
      • Place purple fairy lights in a clear vase to create a glowing glass centerpiece.
    • Get crafty with the kids! Let your kids stick their thumbs in orange paint and make thumbprints all over a white pumpkin. Once the paint has dried, they can paint little jack-o-lantern faces and stems onto the prints to make them all into pumpkins. You can use white paint on an orange pumpkin and paint the thumbprints to look like spooky little ghosts.
    • Buy a variety of vases at your nearby thrift store and spray paint them black. After they dry, grab a paint pen and write different potion titles on them. “Spooky Juice” “Witches Brew” “Dragons Blood”

  • Family-Friendly Winter Dinner Ideas for Busy Weeknights

    Are you searching for winter dinner ideas that are simple to make and perfect for hectic weeknights? We understand. There is nothing better than digging into hearty soups, comforting casseroles, and other filling delights when the weather is blustery. The good news is that even on wintry weeknights when busy schedules are the norm, you can still make family-friendly recipes that satisfy. Read on as we reveal some of our favorite winter dinner ideas that the whole family will love.

    Cheddar, Beef, and Potato Casserole

    If you are a fan of Shepherd’s Pie, you are going to adore Martha Stewart Living’s “Cheddar, Beef, and Potato Casserole.” The editors embraced it because they were also looking for “an ultra-comforting, family-friendly dinner recipe.” This thoroughly satisfying meal takes the classic Shepherd’s Pie idea and replaces the traditional mashed potato with a crispy hash brown topping that is too enticing to resist. On the inside, you have a “savory mixture of sautéed onions, ground beef, and mushrooms” as well as “mixed vegetables and cheddar cheese.” The bake takes approximately 40 minutes, and you will want to finish it in the broiler for a final five minutes to crisp up the topping, according to the Magazine. Don’t be surprised if this becomes one of your go-to recipes for years to come. 

    Irish Beef, Cabbage, and Potato Soup

    While this may sound more like a St. Patrick’s Day recipe than a winter dinner idea, trust us – you don’t want to wait. Real Simple raves about adding this soup to your weeknight rotation because “[this] hearty Irish fare tastes especially good on chilly winter nights” and “[from] start to finish the soup takes approximately an hour and a half.” Browning the meat and simmering the beef with the potatoes and the other fixings are the most time-consuming element of this delicious recipe, while active prep is relatively short. And as the Magazine suggests: “The payoff will be clear when your entire family asks for seconds.” 

    Quick Pork Goulash

    Goulash is another classic dish that is getting a reimagining from the food editors at Martha Stewart Living. In this case, they found a way to make this Hungarian classic in under one hour – which is impressive for goulash with this much flavor. The key to this quick winter dinner is the cut of the meat. As the Magazine explains: “By opting for quick-cooking tenderloin instead of the more common shoulder roast, the pork becomes melt-in-your-mouth tender in a fraction of the time.” They recommend serving this satiating dish over buttered egg noodles, but mashed potatoes, rice, bread, or elbow pasta are also thoroughly pleasing pairings with this rich goulash.

    Vegetarian One-Pot Pasta with Broccoli and Lemon 

    One of Martha Stewart Living’s favorite winter dinner ideas is a one-pot pasta dish that takes less than 30 minutes from start to serve. As the Magazine advises: “This vegetarian pasta dish is easy, delicious, and something everyone will love.” While the recipe is vegetarian as is, it can easily be made vegan by either eliminating the Parmesan topping or switching to grated vegan cheese. This recipe is a great way to combine a healthy eating plan with comfort food.  Plus, clean-up is a snap.

    Pea and Lettuce Soup With Ham and Cheese Tartines

    Pea soup is a winter staple, and when you combine it with ham and cheese tartines, you have a quick way to make a delicious dinner in about 25 minutes. Plus, as Real Simple points out, it’s a great way “to use that head of romaine lettuce before it spoils” in the refrigerator. It may seem strange that romaine is a secret ingredient in this bright green soup recipe, but it’s true. And while the tartines may look complicated, the most critical elements are well-made ciabatta rolls and a broiler to help you perfectly melt that cheese. 

    Boarding House Meatloaf

    Just the notion of meatloaf can make one think of childhood and warm, comfort food. It’s no surprise that one of Southern Living’s most popular winter dinner ideas is the “Easy Boarding House Meatloaf.” The Magazine describes this dish as “fresh, filling, and oh-so-easy to make;” just what you want on a cold night. While the base of this meatloaf (lean ground beef, bell peppers, and onions) is filled with flavor, it’s the homemade tangy sauce in this recipe that makes it sing. And, as the Magazine reveals: “With only 10 minutes of hands-on time, the Boarding House Meatloaf is the perfect recipe when you’re rushed to make dinner on a hectic weeknight.” 

    Chickpea and Quinoa Tortilla Soup

    This tortilla soup is an excellent choice whenever the temperatures start to dip. Real Simple loves this idea because “[the] vegetarian soup features good-for-you ingredients like quinoa and chickpeas, has big, bold flavors, and comes together in just 25 minutes.” You’ll also love the wide variety of toppings that you can add to the soup before serving, including things like avocado, cheese, and tortilla chips. And, of course, you can never go wrong with a dollop of sour cream.

    Cowboy Casserole

    If you love tater tots (or your kids do), you will want to add Southern Living’s “Cowboy Casserole” to your weeknight dinner lineup because “the layer of crunchy tater tots that line the top of this casserole is its claim to fame.” The base of the family-friendly casserole is the ground beef that is flavored with taco seasoning. This recipe gets high marks for taking everyday ingredients in the cupboard, such as black beans, pinto beans, onions, tomatoes, and garlic, and turning them into an almost magical dish that is intensely satisfying. And, of course, the tater tots drizzled with shredded cheese are the perfect topper.  

    Blackened Chicken with Broccoli Slaw

    Chicken tenders are often a hit with busy families, and Rachael Ray’s In Season agrees that these tasty treats are too tempting to skip this winter. The Magazine recommends seasoning skillet-blackened chicken tenders with Cajun seasoning and oil, as well as serving them with broccoli slaw. It’s a simple dinner idea that takes only minutes to prepare, cook, and serve. As the Magazine cheers, “this meal is perfect for busy weeknights and hungry kids!” 

    Skillet Mac and Cheese with Crispy Breadcrumbs

    Speaking of skillet dishes that the whole family will enjoy, Southern Living raves about this “Skillet Mac and Cheese with Crispy Breadcrumbs” recipe. According to the Magazine, “the skillet is the secret to the slightly crispy sides of this mac and cheese.” Of course, this is not your ordinary mac and cheese. This recipe became one of the Magazine’s favorite winter dinner ideas, in part, because it includes a sumptuous blend of “cheddar, Velveeta, and whole-milk ricotta, and a generous amount of mayonnaise, which gives it a creamy texture and a slight tanginess.” It’s topped with buttery breadcrumbs, which are added to the skillet in the last 10 minutes of the bake. We can practically taste the gooey goodness and delectable crunch of this vegetarian dish already. Yum!

  • Holiday Décor, Crafts, and Recipes – Home, Hearth and Holidays with BHGRE

    The holidays are right around the corner! Whether you’re planning an intimate dinner or a festive party, you can find ideas for spectacular crafts, inspirational decor, and recipes everyone will enjoy. 

    Holiday Décor and Crafts 

    • Hanukkah is the festival of lights, so create something that will illuminate any room. Take large glass vases, fill them with string or fairy lights, and place dreidels around the sides. It would also make a beautiful centerpiece. 

    • Have a magical feast and decorate the Hanukkah table, complete with beautiful centerpieces, napkin ideas, and decor in traditional blue and white—perfect for any celebration.  
    • Help this year’s celebration glow a little brighter and make a modern marbled menorah using concrete and copper. 
    • Pour blue gemstone vase fillers in the bottom half of different sized vases. Fill them up with water and then place floating candles on the top.
    • Discover festive DIY Christmas garland ideas for every room in your house.  

    • These Christmas decorating ideas for small spaces bring the merriment of the holiday season into even the tiniest corners, thanks to simple accents like miniature Christmas trees, homemade garlands, and pretty place settings. 
    • Spruce up your outdoor space to bring the merriment of the holidays to your home. There are plenty of holiday outdoor décor ideas for a beautiful and cozy winter to help you create a warm and welcoming beautiful scene.
    • Get your home ready for the Christmas season with these easy snowflake crafts. From snowflake wreaths to simple gift tags, these crafts shine with holiday spirit.
    • Place cinnamon sticks around a candle and wrap a piece of burlap or twine around the sticks to keep them in place. 

    • Dress up old Mason jars like jolly gnome cookie jars to deliver the sweet gift of Christmas desserts or use them to liven up your kitchen. 
    • Make a memorable Kwanzaa tabletop decoration. Add a pop of color to the table by placing fruit in a basket to represent the beautiful harvest. Some things you can incorporate to add a mix of texture are straw mats, ears of corn, and of course, the Zawadi for the last night. Make beaded napkin rings using red, black, and green beads on a wire.   

    • Buy air-dry clay to shape and construct your very own kinara. Mold yellow or brown clay into a rectangle. Before it dries, use the bottom of a candle and push it into the clay so when it dries, you can pop the candles in easily.    

    Scrumptious Holiday Recipes 

    • ‘Tis the season for easy Christmas appetizers that are ready in 25 minutes or less.  
    • Making a Caprese Christmas wreath is quick and easy to make, plus it looks incredible. Lay basil leaves in a ring to shape the wreath and place cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella balls on top of the leaves to look like ornaments. Before serving the dish, drizzle on extra virgin olive oil and top it off with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. 
    • Your family may forget to leave room for dinner once they taste this jalapeno cornbread. 
    • The best Hanukkah brisket will fall apart in your mouth. It’s so yummy; don’t be surprised if they are no leftovers.  

    • Every holiday celebration needs a moist 5-star rated cinnamon-apple cake. 
    • Donut knock it until you’ve tried these donut muffins. They are mini muffins that taste just like cinnamon sugar doughnut holes with a beautiful touch of nutmeg. 
    • Instead of assembling a gingerbread house, make gingerbread cookies and blow the roof off your party by placing the cookies around the sides of a cake as décor. 

    • Cookies are cool, but Santa gives two thumbs up to these Christmas cake pops. 
    • A chocolate-berry wreath cake draped in homemade chocolate frosting makes for a doubly delicious dessert recipe. This chocolate cake gets dressed up for the holidays with fresh berries placed to look like a festive wreath.
    • This peach cobbler will have your guests going for seconds… or thirds. Don’t forget to add a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream. 
    • Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel, I made it out of marshmallow. Take a chocolate kiss, dip the bottom into melted chocolate, and then press it onto one end of a marshmallow. Place it into the fridge for 10 minutes until it sets. Create the dreidel top by pressing a pretzel stick into the opposite end of the marshmallow. Dip the entire bottom of the dreidel into a bowl of melted chocolate and after it sets, use white chocolate to pipe on the Hebrew letters.
    • Get the party started with fabulous Christmas cocktails, from apple cider cocktails and peppermint punch to hot chocolate and unforgettable eggnog.
    • These holiday drinks will have you singing Fa la la la la la. 

  • Home, Hearth and Holidays with BHGRE®

    Transform your home into a warm and inviting space where you and your loved ones want to gather. We have compiled cozy decor inspiration, delicious recipes, memorable gift ideas, and ways to celebrate and bring joy to those around you as we head into the holiday season.

    cozy-decor
    Cozy Decor
    fall centerpiece
    Decorate Using Supplies You Already Have

     

  • Let’s Celebrate Labor Day

    Summer is coming to a close, so make sure you enjoy the warm weather and sunshine by celebrating Labor Day the right way. Below you will find fantastic craft and décor ideas, an assortment of scrumptious recipes, and tons of outdoor activities.

    Creative Labor Day Décor

    Get crafting and tap into your creative side with these excellent décor and outdoor design ideas.

    • It’s time to upcycle! Use old glass vases or mason jars to create starry candle holders. Place star-shaped stickers on the outside of a clear vase or mason jar and spray paint the vase with a color of your choosing. Once the paint has dried, remove the stickers and place a candle in the center of the vase. The light will shine through the stars and create a beautiful ambiance.
    • Check out these red, white, and blue decorating ideas to make your home super stylish.
    • Transform old tin cans into stylish decorative vases. Paint the outside of the cans or jars with red and blue stripes, and once it dries, you can glue white stars onto the outside. Use the cans as centerpieces and place flowers or utensils in them.
    • Turn your balcony into an outdoor oasis using these tips and tricks.
    • Create red, white, and blue band sand candles that are perfect for a patriotic centerpiece.
    • Spruce up your pillows and give your plain white pillows a facelift. Cut a star shape out of cardboard and use it as a stencil. Hold the stencil against the pillow and spray around it with red or blue fabric paint. The result will be pillows that will leave you starry-eyed.
    • Uncover how to transform your patio into an incredible gathering space.

    Delicious Recipes

    The recipes below will result in happy stomachs.

    • Grab a toothpick and get ready to enjoy these scrumptious small bites.
    • Fresh and easy to make, your guests will love this cilantro cucumber-melon salad.
    • Perfect pesto! From sun-dried tomato pesto to basil pesto, you can’t go wrong with any of the following quick and easy pesto recipes.
    • This buffalo-style spicy chicken sandwich is finger-licking good.
    • You’re bacon me crazy with this maple-bacon corn on the cob recipe.
    • These healthy labor day recipes will keep you satisfied.
    • Dig into this berry delicious and berry refreshing blueberry ice cream pie.
    • If you’re in the baking mood, try making a three-layered funfetti cake with a Labor Day twist. You will need to make three cakes that are the same size. Add red food coloring into one, blue into another, and leave the third as is. Once the cakes have all cooled, stack them together using your favorite icing. When you cut into the cake, you will have a red, white, and blue surprise!
    • If you’re feeling patriotic, this red, white, and blue tart is tasty and quick to make.
    • Cheers to an assortment of fresh garden cocktail recipes.
    • Bake a strawberry or raspberry pie, but fill about 1/4 of the pie with yummy blueberries. Cut stripes out of a pie crust and place them across about ¾ of the pie. Cut out a few stars from the remaining pie crust and place them on the blueberry section, the ¼ that doesn’t have stripes. The entire pie will resemble an American flag.

    All Around Fun Activities  

    Discover a variety of games and activities that will result in lots of fun.

  • Get Ready for the Summer Olympics

    The Olympics are finally right around the corner. Whether you’re a fan of gymnastics, tennis, synchronized swimming, archery, or diving, we have great ideas so you can invite a few pals over for a watch party. Uncover tasty recipes to enjoy while you cheer on your team and awesome at-home games you can play. Below is everything you’ll need to throw the ultimate Olympics watch party.

    Gold Worthy Décor and Crafts Ideas

    • Take sheets of yellow and orange tissue paper and stick them out of a silver or black paper cone, resembling a torch with flames.
    • Cause a racket with tennis-themed centerpieces. Just fill glass vases or bowls with tennis balls and add a few flowers to top it off.
    • Create golf-inspired centerpieces by placing sand at the bottom of a tall glass vase and filling it up with golf balls. Make a flagstick by cutting out a paper triangle, gluing it to the top of a chopstick or wooden dowel, and sticking it in the center of the golf balls.
    • Hang different colored ribbons from the doorways to support gymnastics.
    • If you’re looking for slam dunk décor, make a basketball-themed table using a solid orange table paper cover and white tape. Simply drape the orange cover over a rectangular table and place white tape on top to mimic the court lines.
    • Spruce up your backyard with these clever outdoor patio ideas. You can also place tiki torches around the yard to create a beautiful visual. They are easy to install, affordable, and even help repel mosquitos. While they create the perfect ambiance, make sure there is at least 6ft of clearance on all sides, and they are firmly placed into the ground.
    • Spray paint hula hoops so that they resemble the Olympic rings and hang them on your fence.
    • If you want to row up some fun, fill a kayak with ice and make it into a cooler to keep your drinks cold.
    • Visit your local party store and pick up gold and silver plates so your guests can eat like winners.

    Award-Worthy Activities

    • Check out these incredible tips for hosting an Olympics watch party.
    • Play ring toss using soda bottles and pool toy rings.
    • Set up a face-painting station with brushes, water cups, a mirror, and paper towels so your guests can paint their teams’ colors on their faces.
    • Hit the links and set up a putting green in the backyard for successful par-tee
    • Instead of archery, swap out arrows for darts. Pin or tape the tail of balloons to an old fence or wall and try to pop them using the darts. Create different difficulty levels by placing lines of tape on the floor at varying lengths from the wall.
    • Uncover tons of fun outdoor yard games. There are many fun games for the backyard that you can buy or even make yourself. Get playing.
    • Set up badminton, table tennis, or a volleyball court in your backyard and get practicing.

    Game-Changing Recipes 

    • When I dip you dip, we dip… into a bowl of these incredible recipes. Discover tons of one-bowl summer dip recipes perfect for the summer Olympics.
    • There’s a reason this pesto is so popular, but you’ll have to try it yourself.
    • Don’t go bacon my heart, instead, try these bacon-wrapped appetizers your guests will gobble down.
    • The following muffin tin appetizers are a perfect size and easy to make.
    • These fast and fresh burger recipes will make your taste buds dance.
    • Check out several quick and easy vegetarian dinners that will make everyone happy.
    • This vanilla cake with buttercream, berries, and jam is red, white, blue, and delicious.
    • Have a berry good time and a berry full stomach after whipping up this patriotic flag cake.
    • Make an ice cream bar using waffle cones, so they look like torches.
    • Bake round sugar cookies and paint them with edible gold icing so they resemble medals.
    • Create cookie rings that look like the five Olympic rings. Roll out your cookie dough and cut out circle-shaped cookies. Take a cup or shot glass, flip it upside down, place it in the center of the cookie to trace it, and cut out the center to form a ring. After they are baked and cooled, paint them blue, yellow, black, red, and green.
    • Make American flag pretzel sticks by dipping a pretzel into melted white chocolate about 5 inches. After it has cooled, dip the same end of the pretzel into melted blue chocolate about 1 inch and place white start sprinkles on the blue portion before it dries. Fill a piping bag with red icing and drizzle it back and forth across the white chocolate to create the stripes.
    • Create golf-inspired Jello shots! Make green Jello shots in small clear cocktail cups. Once they have cooled and solidified, place a small white round mint or candy in each cup to look like mini golf balls. Add a small paper triangle to the end of a toothpick to resemble the flagstick and place one in each cup.
    • Start the races and kick off your events with these delectable drink recipes.

  • Have a Fantastic Father’s Day

    Have a fantastic Father’s Day with these fun activities, delicious recipes, and of course, great gift ideas that will be sure to put a smile on his face. 

    Father’s Day Activities  

    • Host a movie night in the backyard and watch your dad’s favorite movie. Don’t forget to bring his favorite snacks. Discover how to create a cinema in your backyard and read our top-notch movie suggestions here.  
    • No matter what your father likes, make sure you reserve some time for Dear Ol’ Dad. Whether it’s fishing, painting, board games, golfing, or gardening, set aside some time to do what he enjoys.  
    • Create your own backyard bowling alley. Paint ten 2-liter soda bottles and line them up. Then grab a tennis ball or softball and get the game rolling. 
    • Create your own version of ring toss. Grab 2-3 different sized buckets and drill or nail them into a fence or wooden post. Then all you need is ping pong balls, pool rings, or anything else you can try to toss into the bucket. The more difficult the bucket the more points you get.  

    • Spend quality time outdoors with these awesome yard games.  
    • Bean bag ladder toss. Set up a ladder outside and take several steps back. Take your bean bags and try to throw them between the rungs. Each opening can be worth a different amount of points. 

    Gift Ideas for Dad  

    • Make dad a playlist. Gather all of his favorite songs and compile an awesome playlist that mean something to both of you. Here are some feel-good songs he will enjoy.  
    • If you can’t celebrate in person, order his favorite dessert or food and have it delivered to him. Nothing says “I love you” like a plate full of someone’s favorite meal.  

    Father’s Day Recipes 

    Let There be Dad Jokes  

    Write a bunch of your favorite dad jokes on sticky-notes and post them all over your home. Nothing says I love you like a ton of silly jokes.  

    • If you want to go fishing, just let minnow. Fishing you a Happy Father’s Day!  
    • You’re the gratest Dad in the world! Sorry if that sounds cheesy.  
    • How does a penguin build a house? Igloos it together.  
    • How can you tell it’s a dogwood tree? By the bark.  
    • Never buy anything with velcro, it’s a total rip-off.  
    • What happens to an illegally parked frog? It gets toad. 

  • Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

    Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in style. Below are fun activities, crafts, and recipes you can use to for a fiesta to remember.

    Let’s Taco Bout Cinco de Mayo Recipes

    • Don’t have any tortillas? These homemade flour tortillas are calling your name and easy to make using just a few ingredients you can find in your pantry. All you need is all-purpose flour, salt, water, and vegetable oil. There’s nothing better than a fresh–made tortilla hugging all your ingredients together.

    Cinco de Mayo Craft Ideas

    • Shake, shake, shake your maracas! Take plastic eggs and fill them with rice or beans. Place the eggs between the heads of two spoons and tape it in place. You can also wrap the spoons and egg in tinfoil and tape the outside for a smoother finish. Then just shake, shake, shake. Another option would be to fill empty water bottles with beans or rice and paint the outside with festive colors.
    • Create beautiful and vibrant tissue paper art that will brighten up your festivities. Let your creativity bloom with these beautiful paper flowers.
    • Get your hands in clay! Create clay pots by rolling your clay into a long rope and then starting at the bottom, coiling the rope around into the shape of a pot. Use quick-drying clay and once the clay is dry, paint it with vibrant colors.
    • No piñata, no problem. Learn how to craft your very own DIY piñata.

    • Make your very own beautiful paper flower headbands. Simply wrap a headband with green ribbon or pipe cleaners and then glue your paper flowers to the top of the band.
    • Get planting! Clean empty cans in order to paint and decorate them as planters. If you don’t have paint, wrap the outside of the cans with ribbon or colorful yarn. Fill the cans with the vibrant paper flowers you made to brighten up the room.
    • Discover tons of bright and fun Cinco de Mayo crafts that are perfect for kids. Make cute cacti out of socks or vibrant yarn banners to hang around your home.

    Cinco de Mayo Activities

    These ideas will help you throw a high-color, low-stress gathering filled with authentic fun.

    • Become the hostess with the mostess and check out these ideas for an outdoor Cinco de Mayo celebration.
    • It’s important to celebrate Cinco de Mayo respectfully. Read about the traditional Mexican holiday with a fascinating history.
    • The largest Cinco de Mayo celebration takes place in the city of Puebla, where the original battle took place. There are parades with dancing, singing, and re-enactments. Discover the beautiful traditional flowing dressings and traditional Mexican pantsuits.
    • Share these Cinco de Mayo fun facts with your kids.
    • Host a virtual happy hour with friends and family. Stir up some fun with these delicious cocktails.

  • Celebrate Mother’s Day

    Discover tons of fun and unique ways to bring a smile to the face of the special women in your life. Let’s celebrate all the moms!

    Activities Your Mom Will Love

    • If you are unable to visit, you can still share a meal over Zoom. Friends and family can also take turns sharing fond memories and things you appreciate about her.
    • Watch a movie together with “Netflix Party.”
    • Stir up some quality time and plan a virtual cooking date. If you are able to visit, spend time baking together and learn family recipes!
    • Uncover how to host the perfect Mother’s Day tea party.
    • If your mom enjoys gardening, spend a few hours soaking up the sun and creating succulent gardens together. Find a decorative stone and use a sharpie to write “I love you” for a nice final touch.

    • Pack a picnic with her favorites snacks and treats, and head to the park for a beautiful day together outside.
    • Spend the evening having a fun family game night.
    • Create a backyard cinema and watch her favorite movie outside under the stars. Don’t forget the popcorn!

    Sweet Mother’s Day Treats and Recipes

    The brunch must go on! Whether you’re in the same room or celebrating virtually, these scrumptious ideas will lead to a mouthwatering Mother’s Day.

    • If you aren’t able to visit, place a delivery order from her favorite local restaurant and video chat while you share a meal.
    • Send her a treat that will remind her of a meal you shared on a trip together.

    Share the Love

    Treat your mom, we all know she deserves it. Make sure you choose and order a gift with plenty of time to spare. Don’t forget to have it gift-wrapped!

    • Make her a playlist. You can even make a special one for each of her hobbies.
    • House plant or herbs in a cute planter.
    • Create an enticing retreat for your wife, mom, or friend. Learn how to transform your porch into a dream space she can enjoy.
    • Find a subscription she might enjoy such as a monthly book club, dinner kit, or craft box.
    • Create a basket filled with scented candles, bath bombs, and other things she can enjoy. If you’re feeling crafty, make your own bath bombs to help melt away her stress.
    • Check out these heartfelt Mother’s Day gift ideas for inspiration and ideas.
    • Make her something yourself such as this comfy DIY blanket.
    • If you can’t visit mom in person, here are sentimental gift ideas she will love.
    • Purchase a gift certificate to her favorite spa she can use whenever she wants.

  • Christmas – BHGRE Season of Sharing

    It’s the most wonderful time of the year to spread and feel cheer. Here are activities and crafts that you can try, and charity ideas that will put a twinkle in your eye.  

    Christmas Activities  

    Tis the season to partake in fun activities that will bring you and your loved one’s joy.  

    • Host virtual parties with your friends and family with a fun activity or theme. Everyone will be safe and warm in their own home but get to catch up while creating the something together. 
      • Decorate ugly sweaters. 
      • Have a cookie decorating party. 
      • Make gingerbread houses together.
    • Have a dance party and cue the happy music!  
    • Uncover six tips for hosting the best holiday party. 
    • Here are some great activities you can do together outside while practicing social distancing
      • Build snow creatures and animals. 
      • Meet at the best local hill for sledding. 
      • Ice skate at a local rink.
      • Make snow angels.  
      • Go snowshoeing or hiking.  
      • Build an igloo or snow fort.
    • These clever Christmas hacks will help you simplify the holidays and enjoy the season. 
    • Get into the holiday spirit with these awesome Christmas games. 

    Jolly Christmas Gift Ideas 

    Give a gift that will be sure to make your loved ones smile. This year try giving personal gifts or even making your own gifts for friends and family. 

    • Find a glass jar or cute bag and fill it with your loved one’s favorite things. Items you may want to include are their favorite candy, something that will remind them of a moment you shared, your favorite photo of you together, and a list of your five favorite things about them. 
    • Create a customized calendar using photos of their favorite things.  
    • Discover personal and easy crafts with photos your friends and family will appreciate.  
    • Check out these DIY Christmas gifts that will have everyone saying ho-ho-ho!  

    • We could all use a little relaxation this holiday season. Create a relaxation kit with some of the following:  
      • Create or buy candles with relaxing scents such as ylang ylang, lavender, or lemon 
      • Warm string lights 
      • A soft blanket 
      • Coloring books 
      • Make coupons such as “two hours of YOU time” and “breakfast in bed” that they can cash in whenever they want 
      • Let their skin shine with this DIY natural face mask 
      • Make them a lavender eye pillow 
      • Everyone loves bath soaks 
    • Frame a map of somewhere you went on vacation together and pin photos from that trip around the map. 
    • Photo transfers are personal, homemade, and something your loved one will treasure forever. Just pick the photo they would love and follow these photo transfer steps.  
    • Buy someone an online learning class for something they love. You can find cooking classes, wine tastings, craft classes, acting classes, exercise courses and tons more.  
    • Take drinking glasses up a few notches by etching something personal onto them. All you need is armor etch, an exacto knife, masking tape, and a set of plain beer glasses, cocktail glasses or whichever drinkware they use. One option would be to tape a stencil to the outside of the glass wherever you want the shape or letter to go. Put on gloves, dip a paint brush into the armor etch and apply a coat on the stencil carefully. Let it sit for 2-3 minutes and then wash off the etching cream and peel off the tape and stencil. You can also use the exacto knife to cut out a shape, sports logo, or anything you would like out of thick paper and tape that to the glass. Make sure the paper isn’t so thin the armor etch will go through it, otherwise just follow the same steps above.  
    • Homemade gifts from the heart… and for the stomach. Baking shows you took the time to make your loved ones something tasty. Click here for delicious Christmas baking recipes.  
    • Gift wrapping tips and tricks:  

    Christmas Crafts 

     Yule love these Christmas craft ideas. 

    • Create your own holiday party decorations. 
    • Make your Christmas tree shine with easy handmade Christmas ornaments.   
    • Let the countdown begin using advent calendars.  
    • Rudolph the red–nosed pinecone is easy to make. Use a glue gun to attach either a small red bell or red pom-pom as the nose. Cut diamond shapes out of fabric and pinch and glue together one end to shape it into ears. Twist pipe cleaners into the shape of antlers and glue them on along with goggly eyes.  
    • Create a winter wonderland in your home! Pick one room to focus on. Hang up sparkling string lights that look like stars. Buy white felt that looks like snow and cover the tables and shelves before you put out décor. Cut snowflakes out of paper and hang them all over the room. Spray pinecones with fake snow paint or splatter it with plain white paint so they look nice and frosted. Place silver and white globes in glass vases. Paint your old candlesticks white and place them on the mantle under a frosted garland.   
    • Make Christmas themed DIY mason jar snow globes.  
    • On those days it’s way too cold outside here are easy indoor crafts for kids.  
    • Snowflake craft ideas
      • No two crafts are the same, here is an assortment of snowflake crafts.  
      • Glue together popsicle sticks in the shape of a snowflake. Once it’s dry paint it white and add silver glitter to make it sparkle. If you don’t have paint, wrap a white string around each stick and make sure no part of the popsicle stick is showing. 
      • For a more natural snowflake, try this DIY natural wood snowflake.  
      • Draw a few snowflakes onto a thick piece of paper and then carefully cut them out using an exacto knife. Attach the snowflakes to an old vase and then paint the entire vase. Once it’s dry, take off the snowflakes. For an extra pop, place a candle inside and watch the light shine through the snowflakes.  
    • Learn how to make perler bead snowflakes. 
    • Get cozy and toasty with this DIY weighted blanket.  

    Christmas Recipes 

    All I want for Christmas are these scrumptious treats.   

    • Check out these four delicious hot chocolate recipes. For a snowman marshmallow topper, stick 3 marshmallows together using toothpicks. Using chocolate pipe 3 small buttons on the middle marshmallow and eyes and a smile on the top marshmallow. Give the snowman a cute little nose using a candy corn. For arms and legs use pretzel sticks. 
    • Take a sip and say ahhh with these eggnog recipes.  
    • Winter is snow laughing matter. Warm up with these winter drink recipes. 
    • Hot potato these crispy potatoes with rosemary salt are tasty.  
    • You will be stuffed and happy after eating these buttered stuffing with mushrooms. 
    • Ham for the holidays. 
    • Enjoy making and eating these Santa sugar cookie cutouts. 
    • Make your favorite pie or cake in a round pan. After you cut it into slices decorate them to look like Santa’s hat. Pipe red icing over the entire triangle slice. Then simple pipe a white ball on the top corner and the hat rim on the outside edge. 
    • Don’t miss out on this Christmas pudding recipe.  
    • These mouthwatering brown butter snickerdoodle cookie cups are 10/10.  

    Ways to Give Back 

    This holiday season open your heart and discover several ways you can make a difference.   

    • Teach your children the significance of charity. Do something generous. Donate your time or items, listen to someone in need, or reach out to those less fortunate.  
    • A lot of parents are trying to work and teach at the same time and are feeling overwhelmed. Offer tutoring services to kids that need help. 
    • Make or donate gifts to those in will not be able to afford their own this year. 
    • Dress up as Santa to bring some holiday cheer to those that are near!  
    • Create and write Christmas cards to people in nursing homes since they aren’t allowed to have visitors. You could also send them a basket with cookies or games.  

    Click here to view all the Season of Sharing articles.