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Tag: Season of Sharing

  • New Year’s Eve – BHGRE Season of Sharing

    2020 has been unique. It has drastically altered our daily routines and lives, but it has also reminded us of what’s important. 2020 led to more people spending time at home with their families. It allowed nature to thrive. It led to people reconnecting with loved ones and old friends they hadn’t spoken too in a long time. Let’s go into the new year with a fresh outlook on life. Let’s go into 2021, focusing on the positive and uncovering ways to we add more good into the world. Whether you want to have a relaxing night in, or celebrate with a few friends, below are activities, crafts, recipes, and ideas on how you can give back. 

    New Year’s Activities 

    Check out these fun New Year’s activities–perfect for a relaxing night in or a small party with friends. 

    • Get decorating with these clever and easy ideas for New Year’s tables.  
    • Here are great tips and tricks for hosting a great NYE party.  
    • Instead of looking at the negative aspects of 2020, sit down and write a list of things you are thankful for from the past year. Think about the things you might not have appreciated or gotten to enjoy if it had gone differently. In 2021, start a gratitude journal. Each night before you go to sleep write down one thing you are thankful for from that day. Keeping a gratitude journal can reduce stress, increase positivity, help you sleep better, and even improve your self-esteem.   
    • If you prefer a romantic night in, take a look at these New Year’s Eve ideas for couples.   
    • Ring in 2021 with a relaxing and cozy night at home.  
    • Get it popping with a few friends with this chic champagne party.  
    • Perfect party games for all!
    • Create a family goal list for the upcoming year. Below is a list of potential things you can add: 
      • Reach out to someone you haven’t spoken to in a long time. 
      • Give back more! Visit www.volunteermatch.org for tons of ways you can virtually help out others.   
      • Spend more time as a family without screens. You can schedule a game night once a month or cook dinner together and each time have a different theme or type of cuisine.  
      • Learn how to do something new. There are tons of virtual and free classes online. 
      • Instead of a weight loss goal, try just having a goal to move around more. Dance in your room for 10 minutes a day or take a walk and enjoy nature.  
    • These New Year’s toasts will leave you feeling inspired and ready to take on the New Year.  

    New Crafts for a New Year  

    Wrap up 2020 with remarkable crafts.  

    • Ring in the New Year with this festive party decor.  
    • Create a centerpiece out of bottles. Find 4 bottles, paint them all black, and place them in a line. Using gold or silver cardstock cut out 2-0-2-1. Glue each number to a stick and then place them in the bottles in order.  
    • Create a family friendly New Year’s bash.  
    • Make your very own countdown clock using a paper plate. Paint the plate whatever color you want and paint numbers around the edge to represent the time. Make a small hole in the center of the plate. Cut two dials with arrows on the end out of cardboard and paint them a different color than the plate so you can see them. Connect the dials to the plate using a pin so the dials can rotate.  
    • End the year on a high note with homemade disco balls, firecracker centerpieces, and more DIY New Year’s Eve crafts.
    • Create personalized party favorites like confetti poppers and more with these New Year’s crafts.

    • Make your own photobooth at home! To construct your own props you’ll need scissors, heavy weight cardstock, a glue gun, and either chopsticks or plain art sticks. To create a backdrop, you can simply use a solid wall or hang up a sheet or curtain. For a more fun background add metallic balloons, hang fun streamers or string lights. The props can be anything you want! Make your own things to cut out or look up free downloadable photo booth prop designs. Use the cardstock and cut out silly mustaches, talking bubbles with funny sayings, or silly hats. After you write what you want in the talking bubbles, add glitter or anything else you want just the glue the end of a stick to the back of the prop. All that’s left is take fun photos you will cherish forever.  

     

    New Year’s Recipes 

    Before the clock strikes 12, make sure you try these delicious food and drink recipes.   

    • These drink recipes will be a hit.  
    • Stir it up with dazzling cocktails.
    • Finger-foods that are as cute as they are delicious.   
    • From sweet-and-sour to cranberry-sauced, these meatball recipes are a must-have.   
    • Check out the following New Year’s Eve party menus and recipes–great for any type of gathering you choose. 
    • Dip pretzel rods into melted white chocolate and then immediately pour silver or gold sprinkles onto the chocolate before it melts. Place the candy-coated pretzel rod onto wax paper, let it dry, and then enjoy! 
    • The best way to end 2020 would be with cakes, truffles, cookies and tons of luscious desserts. 
    • It’s no surprise that this surprise-inside New Year’s Eve cake is not only fun but tastes incredible.  

    Ways to Give Back 

    Start off the New Year by giving back. Discover several ways you can help those less fortunate.  

    • Get stirring! Bringing someone baked goods or food will surly put a smile on someone’s face! Here are several things you could whip up for a neighbor or a hungry family.  
    • Help neighbors with tasks around their home or run errands for them if you are able. People might need help raking leaves, cleaning out their gutters, shoveling snow, or picking up groceries and other items.  
    • Donate clothes and warm weather items! You might have lots of clothing you haven’t warn in years that could benefit many people. If you can purchase items many people will be in need of socks, hats, warm clothing, mittens, and blankets as it starts to get colder outside. 
    • Many parents are trying to work full time while also teaching or monitoring their children, which, to say the least, can be a bit overwhelming. Lend a helping hand by offering tutoring services. This not only helps kids learn but can allow parents to focus on work and other things. Plus, you can do it all virtually!  

  • Kwanzaa – BHGRE Season of Sharing

    Discover great ways to celebrate Kwanzaa this year. Below are activities, recipes, and crafts you can do with the ones you love. Get ready for seven great nights of celebration!  

    Kwanzaa Activities 

    Dance, decorate, and explore with these fun Kwanzaa activities.  

    • It’s time to dance! Look up traditional African dances and learn them together as a family. If you can’t be together in person, set up a virtual party with friends or family and dance together.  
    • Spend time together learning about Kwanzaa history traditions. 
    • Make an unforgettable Kwanzaa tabletop decoration. Place fruit in a basket on the table to represent the beautiful harvest and add a pop of color to the table. 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 and simply wrap them around the middle.  
    • Break out some of the zawadi from previous years and play games together as a family. 

    Kwanzaa Crafts 

     Check out fun craft ideas to get you ready for Kwanzaa.  

    • Make a handprint kinara by painting the palm of your left-hand gold, your middle, ring, and little finger red, and your index finger black. Place your hand onto a piece of paper. Then paint the palm of your right-hand hold gold, your middle, ring and little finger green and your index finger black. Place your hand on the paper overlapping the index finger where the other index fingerprint was previously placed. Then dip one of your fingertips into yellow paint and place your print at the top of each candle on the paper to look like they are lit.  
    • Buy air dry clay to shape and make your very own kinara. Mold yellow or brown clay into a rectangle and before it dries use the bottom of candles and push them into the clay so when it dries you can pop the candles in easily.   
    • Make flower vases that will brighten up the table. Take an old glass and cut corn husks to match the height of the glass. Then simply glue the corn husks to the outside of the glass and trim any overlap on the top. Then take a paint brush and paint a red, black, and green stripe around the side. All that’s left is to place beautiful flowers in it!  
    • Learn how to make a clay necklace using traditional Kwanzaa colors.  
    • Create bright and colorful tie-dye items using red, black, and green! 

    Kwanzaa Recipes 

    Here are some delicious recipes that will have your mouth watering.  

    Ways to Give Back 

    Help others and learn how you can make a difference in your local community.  

    • Collect books to donate to those less fortunate.  
    • Create gifts for those who won’t be able to afford their own this year. You can spend time together as a family making beaded jewelry and baskets.   
    • Cook and bake a few of the delicious recipes above and bring the meals to an elderly neighbor.

  • Thanksgiving – BHGRE Season of Sharing

    Thanksgiving is all about being together, enjoying yummy food, and thinking about the things we are thankful for. This year has certainly looked different, but it has also made us stop and really think about what matters most. Below are activities, recipes, and crafts you can do with the ones you love. This season don’t forget to focus on ways you can give back, be it with financial support, energy or your time. 

    Thanksgiving Activities

    Here is a wide variety of activities to try this Thanksgiving season.   

    • The small things can feel big to others. Show how much you care by sending your loved ones a card or note with the reasons you appreciate them and why you are thankful for them.  
    • Here are tips on how to have a safe thanksgiving dinner. 
    • Discover some clever ways to add fall flair to your porch.  
    • Celebrate a virtual Friendsgiving! Schedule a time that works for all of your friends. Everyone can make their own meal, or you could change it up and pick a theme such as Italian or only desserts. Don’t forget to check out these thanksgiving cocktails so you can toast and tell all your friends what you love about them.  
    • Start a new family tradition that you will always remember. Create a wall of gratitude by having everyone in your household write down what they are thankful for on sticky notes. Collect them and post them on the wall. You can date and save them to read in the following years.  

    • Make a giant Thanksgiving card out of a poster board folded in half. Take your life-sized card and have everyone write down what they are thankful and sign and date it. Every year you can read the previous ones and add to it. You can spend time as a family designing the front of the card.  
    • Whether your hosting two people or ten, here are some hosting tips to help your holiday run smoothly. 
    • Game on! Instead of watching tv, try playing some fun games such as charades, heads up, or Pictionary. 
    • Tis the season to be thankful and a great time to start a gratitude journal. Grab a notebook and every night before you go to sleep jot down one thing you are grateful for. Keeping a gratitude journal helps you appreciate things and can even make you happier.  
    • Carve out some time to eat turkey with your loved ones. Set up a video call after you carve the bird and enjoy the meal together. 
    • Enjoy the fresh Fall air and take a walk. Start a new tradition and take a walk after dinner to make room for dessert.  

    Thanksgiving Crafts  

    Thankfully we have some pretty great crafts you can try.  

    • Click here for some unbe-leaf-able crafts using leaves. You can create some leafy center pieces for Thanksgiving dinner.  
    • Put people in their place with these beautiful pumpkin place settings.  
    • Time to get crafty! Check out these 7 clever crafts ideas to liven up your home.  
    • Add flower power to your napkins. Take a few faux flowers and wrap the stems using florists’ tape. Position the arrangement on top of the napkin and attach it by wrapping a twine or ribbon around it. Floral napkin rings are a simple way to incorporate colors on neutral dinnerware.  
    • Try out these incredible and easy thanksgiving craft ideas.  
    • You will gobble up these turkey crafts. 

    • We all love the classic turkey hand we made as kids. Turn it up a notch by making it sentimental. First, have your kid trace their hand on construction paper and cut it out. Then have them write 3 things they are thankful for on it. Glue it to the back of a pinecone or small pumpkin to serve as the turkey tail. Glue googly eyes and a small yellow triangle on the front of the pinecone or pumpkin to complete your little turkey friend. You can also use feathers or leaves as a tail. 

    Thanksgiving Recipes

    Whether you’re cooking for two or ten, these recipes will have everyone smiling and satisfied. If you can try cooking extra food and giving it to those less fortunate or an elderly neighbor.  

    • Don’t let the turkey hog the spotlight. Here are some delicious recipes and ideas for sides and appetizers. 
    • For an easy yet adorable appetizer make your very own turkey face veggie tray.  
    • There’s nothing sweeter than a sweet potato casserole. 
    • Get cooking, because these are some of the best Thanksgiving recipes we’ve ever tasted.  
    • Check out these incredible desserts perfect for Thanksgiving, including a no bake pumpkin cheesecake that will knock your fuzzy socks off. 

    • Tis pumpkin season and nothings beats a classic pumpkin pie. 
    • If you want to spruce up your pie crust, try adding a few simple, yet cute designs. Try cutting out different sized leaves and placing them around the edge. You could also roll out the pie crust and cut out any design you want. Cut out little flowers, diamonds, or chevron shapes before laying it on top.  
    • Warm up with this pumpkin spice latte recipe.  
    • These turkey desserts will have you and your family shaking their tailfeathers. Dip a pretzel rod in melted chocolate that covers about half of the pretzel. You can use chocolate icing if you prefer. Before it cools, attach a ring of candy corn around the top of the rod that will look like feathers. Using fondant or white icing, pipe on small white circles for the eyes and add a small black dot in the center. For the beak, pipe on an orange or yellow triangle.

    Ways to Give Back

    Don’t just give thanks, give back, with these great ideas.  

    • Many people won’t be able to afford a luxurious Thanksgiving dinner so donate food and canned goods to those in need. You can also bake some yummy things for those less fortunate.    
    • Be neighborly and lend a hand to those in need. Check on your neighbors and see if there is anything you can help them with.  
    • Discover how to have a sustainable thanksgiving dinner.  
    • Support local restaurants by ordering your Thanksgiving meal. Many restaurants and local businesses have Thanksgiving meal deals or great options for sides and desserts. You can support them and not spend hours in the kitchen. Win-win!  

    Click here to view all the Season of Sharing articles.

       

  • Halloween – BHGRE Season of Sharing

    Halloween might look a little different this year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a Spooktacular time! From fun ways to celebrate at home to costume ideas perfect for a mask, we have you covered. Check out our scary good recipes and compilation of great Halloween movies.  

    Boo-tiful Crafts 

    • Use balloons to create fun ghosts and creatures. You can draw a ghost on white balloons, Jack-O’-Lanterns on orange balloons, or create silly monster faces using sharpies. Step it up a notch by adding googly eyes or ribbons as hair. Remember not to use a hot glue gun, or it might pop. 

    • Transform your house into a Halloween world and give every room a theme! Turn your kitchen into Frankenstein’s lab with test tubes and fill different shaped glasses with different color food coloring. Fill the room with spooky fog using dry ice. Make the living room into a pumpkin world with orange streamers, pumpkins, and Halloween decor. Convert a bedroom into a witch’s room with candles, a fake spell book, and of course witch hats. Wrap purple or green ribbons around a broom handle in case a witch wants to fly. Here are 36 free Halloween printables you can also download right now to help you decorate! 
    • Create your own monsters with the kids using empty tissue boxes. Flip them upside down and paint the outside to make fun little creatures. Try painting one green for Frankenstein, an orange one with a pumpkin face, and a white one with a skeleton smile.  
    • Click here for more clever and fun craft ideas.  
    • Make a giant spiderweb on the wall with black string.  
    • Take old white candles from your linen closet and give them a spooky twist. Take red crayons and melt them so it looks like blood is dripping down the sides.  

    • Take old ping pong balls, paint eyeballs onto them and place them all over the house.  
    • Make your own family Frankenstein. Since Frankenstein is a creation assembled from an assortment of humans… do the same. Each person in your family can contribute an article of clothing and stuff it with newspaper. Set all the “body parts” up in a chair and draw a face on a pumpkin to be the head. You will have a silly family Frankenstein. Don’t forget to give it a name! 
    • Hang spider webs all around your home. Cut out little spiders to hang in the webs and glue pictures of your family’s faces on them for some added fun.  
    • Create your own bats! Cut old coffee filters in half and paint them black. Glue a small black circle on the straight side in the middle and glue eyes onto the head.  

    No Tricks, Just Treats

    Just because you may not go trick–or–treating doesn’t mean you cannot have something good to eat. Here are some easy to make Halloween treats you can enjoy with the whole family. 

    Scary Fun Activities

    • Schedule a zoom so you and your loved ones can carve pumpkins together. Maybe make it a contest and let your friends vote for the winner on social media. 
    • If trick-or-treating is off the table instead of just giving your kids candy, try to make it fun with a candy scavenger hunt! Hide candy all over your home and give them little cards with clues written on them. Here are some to help you get started:  
      • We usually come in a pair, we go with sneakers that you wear, so come and find us if you dare (Hide candy bars in their sock drawer) 
      • I am somewhere you go to get clean, where rubber duckies can be seen (Hide candy in the bathtub) 
      • When it’s dark I make it bright, I can help you see when it’s night (Tape candy to a lamp) 
      • I am where cold things get hot, come discover what sweet treats we got (Place some candy in the microwave) 
      • I am hiding somewhere that you eat, I’m also surrounded by many seats (Tape candy under the kitchen table) 
      • Find me where you dream at night, and the bed bugs never bite (Hide candy in their bed)  
      • You can find me underneath where you like to brush your teeth (Put candy under the sink the bathroom)
    • Have the kids strut their stuff on a Halloween runway! Lay out towels or sheets and make a “red carpet” for the kiddos to rock their costumes. Don’t forget to film it and send it to your family.  
    • Costumes are meant to be seen so schedule a zoom costume party and let everyone take turns showing off their costumes.  
    • If you are not comfortable leaving home, talk to your neighbors about setting up a safe trick-or-treating situation or neighborhood block party. Everyone can set up a table outside their doors in the fresh air and have candy laid out on the table so kids can touch only the candy they are taking. People can make little individual candy grab bags as well. That way you can avoid ringing doorbells and reaching hands into candy bowls but still trick-or-treat. 
    • Tape a bunch of small orange balloons onto a wood sheet outside in the shape of a pumpkin and play darts.  
    • It will be hard to keep your laughing under wraps as you make your family members into mummies. All you need… toilet paper.  

     Hauntingly Great Costumes 

    Here is a list of costumes that work great with a face mask underneath. By wearing masks under their costumes or helmets, children might feel that Halloween is still “normal” while also staying safe. 

    • Power Rangers  
    • Astronaut  
    • Super Heroes: Spiderman, Black Panther, Iron Man, Hulk  
    • Transformers 
    • Robot 
    • Ninja 
    • Mortal Kombat characters: Subzero, Scorpion, Kitana, Milenna, Jade, Ermac, Rain 
    • Buzz Lightyear 
    • Star Wars: Chewbacca, Darth Vader 
    • Pumpkin Queen/King 
    • Knight – with helmet 
    • A Lego character   
    • Pokémon 
    • Gladiator with helmet 
    • Sonic the Hedgehog 
    • Minecraft character 
    • Bubble Boy  
    • Gorilla 
    • Alien 
    • Mummy 

    DIY Costumes and Mask Ideas

    For those of you who don’t want to wear a helmet or full-face mask another option would be to decorate your own and incorporate it into your costume. Below are some ideas you can create or spend some time making with your family. 

    • Make a mermaid mask! Glue little confetti circles on a mask slightly overlapping to make them look scales. 
    • Paint any mask to look like an animal’s mouth. Paint a dog’s mouth, a cat nose and whiskers, or cute bunny teeth.  
    • Paint the mouth like a Dia de los Muertos skull mouth and then just paint the rest of your face as you normally would.  
    • Here are some ideas for no sew halloween costumes.   
    • All fairy’s need fairy dust… so why not cover the outside of your mask with glitter? Make sure you use a non-toxic glue and that it’s completely dry before wearing it.  
    • Create a robot with an old box, flip it upside down, cut the flaps off and then glue two straws on the top as antennas. Cut out a rectangular window for eyes in the front. For the body do the same thing with a larger box and cut out two holes for the arms on either side. Paint the boxes silver or cover them in aluminum foil. For buttons and added details you can paint different colored bottle caps and glue them on the front. You can cut out gears and other things using construction paper. 
    • Here is a great DIY Lego Costume  
    • Make an Astronaut Space Helmet and blast off! 

    Pet Costume Ideas

    We all knows pets are part of the family. Do a photoshoot of your four-legged friends in their costumes so you can share them and put a smile on other people’s faces. If you don’t want to buy a costume here are a few DIY pet costume ideas. 

    • Business Pup: Take any fun fabric and cut out a cute little tie that you can attach to their collar. Add polka dots or stripes to kick it up a notch.    
    • Beanie Baby: Take red construction paper and cut out a heart. Then paint a TY in white on the heart and tie it their collar so they can be the cutest Beanie Baby on the block. 
    • Ride Em Cowboy: Repurpose an old harness and glue a small stuffed animal or lightweight toy on the back of it so it looks like it’s riding your dog. If you have an old cowboy toy even better. 
    • Martini: Find an old cone and add some olive props.  
    • Out of This World Doggo: Have fun crafting with the kids while transforming your dog into an alien. Glue googly eyes onto an old harness or take pipe cleaners and any other materials you have and attach them in fun ways.  
    • Pumpkin Poodles: Take orange felt and cut out a piece large enough to wrap around your dog’s waist. Draw a Jack-o-lantern face on the top using a black sharpie or fabric markers. Use green felt and cut out a little leaf and stem to glue or sew onto the top of the pumpkin. To attach it to your dog or cat add strings to either side of the fabric and then you can tie it around their tummy. You can also buy Velcro and adhere that to either side so you can adjust the size as needed.  
    • Super Hero: Take fabric or an old t-shirt and cut out a cape for your pet. Add a string so you can tie around their neck or attach it to a collar. As a family come up with their very own superhero name and using fabric markers write it on the top of the cape.  

    Spooktacular Halloween Movies

    Create a scary movie watching zone to spook up the experience. Hang cobwebs all over your living room and use orange or purple lights to add ambiance. Cut out a few black bats to attach to the wall and create some ghosts out of white sheets or towels.  

    Here is a list of family friendly movies (that won’t result in the kiddos crawling into your bed scared): 

    • Hocus Pocus  
    • Halloweentown 
    • The Addams Family  
    • Toy Story of Terror 
    • Twitches  
    • Hotel Transylvania 
    • Casper 
    • Super Monsters Save Halloween 
    • It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown 
    • Under Wraps 
    • The Haunted Mansion 
    • Corpse Bride 
    • The Nightmare Before Christmas 
    • Double, Double, Toil & Trouble    

    Scary movies for adults 

    • A Nightmare on Elm Street  
    • Halloween (all 900 of them) 
    • The Shining  
    • Get Out 
    • The Exorcist  
    • A Tale of Two Sisters 
    • The Blair Witch Project 
    • The Texas Chain Saw Massacre  
    • A Quiet Place    

    Ways to Give Back

    Although it’s been a tough year there are a variety of ways you can give back to your local community this Halloween.  

    • As we all know – kids grow fast. Instead of just putting old Halloween costumes in a box in your closet, donate them to those who might not be able to afford their own. 
    • If you have time and enjoy crafting, sew costumes for those who can’t afford to buy them. If you’re not an expert sewer try creating simple pieces such as super hero capes. For some costume ideas that don’t require sewing, visit the DIY costumes section above. 
    • Donate your left-over candy. Operation Gratitude is a Halloween Candy Give-Back program where you can donate candy to deployed troops, veterans, and first responders.  
    • Offer to help your elderly neighbors decorate offer their front yard. Make sure you’re following the proper safety guidelines while decorating.  
    • Some families might want to decorate their yards but not be able to afford it. Try cutting out pumpkins from simple construction paper and attaching a string so they can hang them up outside. You can repurpose old sheets or towels to make spooky ghosts. 

     

    Click here to view all the Season of Sharing articles.