How to Celebrate the First Advent

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The first Advent is already this Sunday, November 27!

On years like this one, when Advent comes early, it always feels like we go straight from feasting on turkey and pecan pie to going full-on Christmas. I'm not complaining!

I've always celebrated Advent and loved it. It was an especially big deal to my mom, because she's German and the Germans do Adventszeit right. The thing that first comes to mind for me about Advent is the Adventskranz!

My mom always made ours herself, but you can buy them if you don't have much time or aren't so crafty. It's traditionally a wreath with four candles - one for each Sunday of Advent. One candle stands for hope, one for love, one for joy, and one for peace. You light one candle each Sunday and try to live that virtue even more that day!

By Jasmine

So tomorrow, the first Sunday of Advent, is all about honoring hope. People who celebrate (as I plan to again this year, after having the lowest key Christmas ever last year) will light a candle (traditionally purple, thought white, gold, and red are also common) - the Candle of Hope, also known as the Candle of Prophecy.

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5 Reasons Why I Liked The Secret Life of Pets

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'The Secret Life of Pets' is no 'Inside Out' or 'Frozen,' but it got a lot of flack from critics and I don't think that was at all warranted! I would say it's not that far under 'Finding Dory,' the other big animated release of the summer, in terms of quality and both my sister (11yo) and I enjoyed it!

Source: Giphy

If you were excited to watch the movie and now put off by the poor reviews, read on for five good reasons to give 'The Secret Life of Pets' a shot, after all!

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Travel Wrap-Up: My Trip to Germany!

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Tomorrow I start my new job at a tech startup in Cambridge, MA! I've already moved into my new apartment and love it. The location is great, my roommate is really nice, the common spaces are lovely, and (for the first time in a while) I've finally taken the time to really decorate my room in a way that reflects my personality and makes me happy!

I have a cat hanging from my light switch! So yes, I love my new home. I'm also so excited to start my new job tomorrow and learn a lot!

Before that, here's a photo dump post of some beautiful images from my summer vacation with my family in Germany! I'm already looking forward to visiting them again next summer. <3 p="">

I love strolling around the Schloss Derneburg property!

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Independence Day Eats!

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It's Independence Day weekend!

...sorry, I couldn't resist the patriotic pickup line.

I'm celebrating the long weekend with a trip to Providence, Rhode Island. It's under two hours out of Boston and can be reached with just the red line and the commuter rail, so you can get there for $20 round trip. Not bad for a long weekend getaway!

I'll share photos of Providence later, but for now here are some great holiday-themed foods to bring to your Independence Day barbecue, potluck, or any other celebration that requires food. Enjoy the yummy red, white, and blue!

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Time Savers: Tips and Tricks from Mom

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Happy hump day! As we pass over the hump of the week and the weekend comes into view, so does something very special - Mother's Day!

My mother just moved back to Germany last summer, so this is the first Mother's Day where she'll be overseas. She is an absolutely amazing mother who always was and still is there for my sisters and me when we need her. She's even there when we don't need her, but just want her.

In South Africa :) Left to right: my big sister, me, my mom (our dog below)

She also taught us all sorts of important time saving tricks:

* Pre-soak shirts in the sink if there's a stain, so you don't spend ages scrubbing.

* Organize assignments in writing, ideally in an agenda but a stray napkin will do in a pinch, to prevent midterm freak-outs.

* Have an assigned cleaning day so that you actually get it done regularly and don't have to waste hours on a deep clean when the squalor becomes unbearable.

* Always use a cast iron skillet pan when you're making pancakes.

Recipe here!

* Cook favorite meals in bulk and freeze leftovers to save on cooking time.

* Be a good person, so you don't have to waste time feeling crappy.

She definitely deserves to feel special this Mother's Day. Now that we don't live in the same country anymore, or even the same continent, gifting is a little bit trickier. But not impossible!

Whether it's to send money for a shopping trip for a spa day or a special meal out, there has to be a convenient and secure way to send money overseas. There is! Especially during holidays, like Mother's Day, it's so great that PayPal and Paypal's Xoom are a fast and secure way to send money anywhere, even overseas - like to my mom in Germany!

 Xoom is a PayPal service that powers international payments to family and friends in more than 40 countries around the world - and the number one recipient group of Xoom payments is mothers!

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Five Foods to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

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St. Patrick's Day is just around the bend!

I am 0% Irish, but holidays are fun. Especially when you can dress up and make festive foods! Here are five fun recipes from the blogosphere for St. Patrick's Day. I can't wait to try some of them!

1) Angela's Green Velvet Cheesecake Bars

Are you a fan of red velvet flavored desserts (or do you know someone who is)? This is a fun alternative that's perfect for the holiday and still delicious! It's a great option if you're having friends over for tea!

...please tell me I'm not the only twenty-something year old who enjoys afternoon tea. Tea is the new clubbing! Yes? Yes!

2) Amy's Mint Chip Sugar Cookies

Mint and chocolate are great flavors to combine any time of the year and a favorite of many, but they're absolutely perfect or St. Patrick's Day! 

These are super cute if you want to make a little gift that's easy to hand out to friends (or colleagues or teachers) on St. Patrick's Day. Just put a few cooled cookies in a clear plastic bag and tie it with a cute green ribbon for an adorable little appreciation gift for those who make you smile all year long!

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#HowWeFamily with Tylenol!

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I have received information from the makers of TYLENOL®. The opinions stated are my own. This is a sponsored post.

There's nothing quite like the holidays to bring families together.

Today even more than ever, a lot of families aren't always in the same place. Or even if we're physically in the same location, we're often worlds away with work, our electronic devices, and all the other things that keep us busy!

One of my favorite things about Christmas is that warm, glowing, loving family feeling that you can only have when you're together with, and truly present with, the people whom you love the most.

I think the Tylenol #HowWeFamily video is so touching, because it shares the stories of 11 real American families coming together for the holidays, including the family of spokesperson Gabrielle Union.

What family looks like is different for everyone. Some of us are born into our families, some of us build our families around us, and some of us have a mix of both or multiple families. Family isn't about who you love, it's about how you love!

I encourage all of you to let the holidays inspire you to focus on what truly matters. The baubles, flavors, decorations, gifts, and travels of the holidays are all absolutely wonderful. But what matters most is the invaluable time spent with loved ones.

We never know how long we will have with those we love, or when we will see them next, so we should take every opportunity to delight in the beauty of unconditional love!

How will you connect with your family this holiday season?

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Happy Holiday Hack: DIY Gifting Made Better

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Tomorrow is St. Nicholas Day! 

Since I'm half-German, that was the first official holiday day of the Christmas season for me. I always cleaned my boots the night before, placed them outside my bedroom door, and found them full of candy and fruit (clementines and apples, mostly, though sometimes I also lucked out with prunes and dates) the following morning. It was so exciting!

These aren't mine (I'm - sadly - not an owner of wooden clogs) but this is an example of a great haul for a few lucky kids!

Tomorrow is also the first night of Hanukkah! Needless to say, gifting season is upon us. 

DIY gifting is a popular way to keep holiday spending in check without missing out on the most significant part of holiday presents - the thought! Since I love to bake, my favorite DIY gifts to give are homemade baked goods. 

This year, I found a way to make my DIY baked good gifts even better! Read on to find out how to take your DIY gifts to the next level!

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Joining the Chain of Betters this Holiday Season

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November 1 is only two days away and the start of November marks the start of the holiday season for me! One of my favorite things about the holiday season, aside from the general feeling of togetherness, is how the holidays seem to inspire us to want to do good!

As we enter the festive season this year, I would like to turn the spotlight to Western Union's "Chain of Betters" as a cool way to do good this year!

The video above gives a good idea of what Western Union's "Chain of Betters" is all about, but I'll sum it up for those of us who don't click on videos when we're reading blogs (I'm guilty of that sometimes myself, so no judgment).

We live in a more global world than ever and that gives us an incredible amount of power to help even our most distant neighbors, halfway across the world!

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NYC Summer Giveaway - $100 Gift Card to Peapod.com for Grocery Delivery!

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Who's ready for summer?

I am! And that bird.

With the beautiful weather we've been having a lately, it's already prime picnic and rooftop party time in NYC. To celebrate that, and (more to the point) the recent expansion of Peapod's delivery area to include grocery delivery to all five boroughs of NYC, we're giving away a $100 gift card to Peapod.com!

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Safe City Living for the Single Girl!

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I moved to New York City last summer after graduating from Harvard and I've loved every minute. I've wanted to live in New York City since I was in middle school, so it's exciting that I finally get to live here every day!

From last summer in NYC - I can't believe it's already almost that time again!

My mom, however, does worry sometimes about me living all by myself in the big city. She gets that I'm a grown up, but everyone needs a social network for security! Friends are a great way to get that social network, but what about the safety network? When you live at home or near family, your parents check up on you more often. When you live on your own, you have to figure out a way to stay safe easily, so you can do what you want without worry!

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Merry Christmas to You and Yours!

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I hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas, regardless of where you are and with whom you are!

The holiday season is my favorite time of year and Christmas is, hands-down, my favorite day of the year.

I love running downstairs to dump out my Christmas stocking and stake out the tree.

I love being the first one up and basking in the quiet beauty of Christmas morning.

I love gathering around the tree to open presents together.



I love the look on my family's faces as they open a gift that they're particularly excited about.

I love the special feeling of opening something that someone who loves me got just for me.

I love the warmth of good cheer spreading through me.

I love all the smells and tastes of Christmas.

I love watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas and dancing around the house with my little sister, yodeling off-key Christmas carols at the top of our lungs.

I love wearing a special Christmas outfit and feeling like the luckiest girl in tthe world.

I love that on Christmas, we can all be the luckiest girl in the world.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Photos by Nina Tellier. Find more of her work here!

What are you doing today?

What are your favorite Christmas activities?

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Top Seven Holiday Movies!

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Can anyone else not believe that tomorrow is already Christmas Eve?? After it taking forever to become the holiday season (I started wishing for Christmas back in August) December has absolutely flown by! I kind of want it to slow down, just a bit, so that I can enjoy the season before it ends!

In that spirit, here are a lucky seven of my favorite Christmas movies to get into the holiday spirit! They are in no particular order, with the exception of How the Grinch Stole Christmas holding the title of Best Movie Ever.

1. Holiday in Handcuffs

C'mon, it's Melissa Joan Hart! Now that she isn't a teenage witch anymore, she's just made for sappy holiday romantic comedies!

Low as the production and plot quality may be on these quickly churned out holiday rom-coms, their my guilty pleasure. Some people like reality TV, I like sappy Christmas movies. We all have a vice!

I love all of her character's quirkiness and definitely appreciated the seriously bad hair days they threw in there for curly girl amusement.

...though, personally, I didn't see any of the appeal in the romantic hero. Why does she want to end up with him, again? He's a bit of a prick, I'll take cat lady any day thankyouverymuch.

2. Home Alone 2

Home Alone was great, too, but the second is better - especially if you're a New Yorker!

Poor Kevin, though, his family sucks. How can they keep forgetting that he exists? When you can't keep track of all of your children anymore, it's time to consider not having any more...

3. Fred Claus

Rotten Tomatoes hates it, but Rotten Tomatoes and I don't necessarily agree on movie ratings. Let's be real, Rotten Tomatoes gave The Notebook a 5.7. That patooey deserved a -3.

Fred Claus may not be the next great movie for generations to enjoy, but Vince Vaughn is a funny guy and doesn't disappoint here. Also, the sets are beautiful!

4. Arthur Christmas

The animators did a beautiful job with the artwork!

The story and the family dynamics are also just so endearing. And who doesn't love a movie that features so many funny British accents?

5. The Santa Clause

I'm not actually that huge a fan of this movie as a whole anymore, but I love how they created the North Pole.

                                

It's so magical!

6. Elf

Elf has it all - singing, reunions, family drama, embarrassing family members, fun Elf costumes, and a Macy's style Santaland!

I have always enjoyed Elf, but for some reason moving to NYC made me like it all the more.

7. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

I saved the best for last! Watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Christmas Eve, as the last Christmas movie to herald in Christmas day, is one of my favorite holiday traditions. The cinematography is stunning, the story beautiful, the friendships heartwarming, and the glitter glittery!

It has everything you could want in a Christmas movie, including some awesome songs! I love the one that they all sing around the town tree at the end.

And the little kid version of the Grinch is just too cute.

He's admittedly less adorable in stills, but the animate young Grinch is so cooingly precious!

What is your favorite holiday movie?

What kind of holiday movie do you like the best?

What do you still need to do before Christmas?

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Best Thanksgiving Desserts of 2014

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Potluck style Thanksgiving dinners are the best for a number of reasons.

It's fair division of labor, so everyone has some fun cooking, but no one's completely exhausted by dinner time.

It's fair division of costs, since everyone ends up buying some ingredients, but no one is saddled with the cost of creating an entire multi-course Thanksgiving dinner for X number of people.

It's a fair division of effort, so everyone has time to sleep in and take it easy on Thanksgiving morning, and no one is forced to get up at the crack of dawn to get to work in the kitchen.

But, quite honestly, my favorite thing about potluck Thanksgiving dinners is that I can claim volunteer for dessert. I love making desserts, they're so fun!

Here are some great recipes to try this Thanksgiving!

How about we start with a fancier, healthier pumpkin pie for the epicureans?

Bourbon Laced Pumpkin Pie with Walnut Crumb Topping

It's the walnut crumb topping that really makes it (though I'd still serve it with ice cream, instead of whipped cream, because ice cream is always the best with pie - period).

Southern Pecan Pie

Okay, so I realize this looks like a shameless plug for one of my own recipes, but it's actually really delicious. Just try it and you'll see what I mean.

If you're in the mood for something fruitier, this next recipe might be right up your alley.

Baked Apple Dumplings

Feeling international? Pay tribute to our Canadian neighbors with a Butter Tart?

Maple "Butter Tart" Pie

I'm not really sure why, but butter tart always makes me think of Harry Potter...

But back to the All-American. Are you a Pioneer Woman fan? 

Honestly, aren't we all?

Then try this: 

Caramel Apple Pie

You'll never settle for plain apple pie again. Don't forget to serve ice cream on top!

What are you serving for dessert today?

What part of the meal are you responsible for?

Are you heading out for Black Friday shopping tomorrow?

Basically, if this is Black Friday shopping:

 

- are you the cat or the kid?

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Gifts for Grads: A Gift Guide and A Contest!

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Graduation season is a super exciting time of year, especially for graduates and those who love them!

Hopefully more exciting than that...

While graduates are generally just happy to be graduating, it's pretty common for loved ones to give graduates gifts to celebrate their achievement - graduating still really is a huge achievement, even when more Americans than ever are doing it! It still takes a lot of persistence, hard work, and ambition to make it through twelve years (+preschool) of education, followed by a voluntary, and often most academically trying, four years of higher education.

As with anything else that involves gift giving, like Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, and Valentine's Day, it can be tricky to come up with a gift that is both thoughtful and useful. Clothes for a graduates new post-grad life, iTunes gift cards,  and money are some always appreciated great go-tos, but if you want to think outside of the box, it might be worth taking a look at unconventional gift sources, like eBay!

eBay not only has a great gift guide for grads, but they're also running a cool sweepstakes from now through June 15, 2014! Create your own gift wish list collections for a chance to win $500!


I made some example collections myself - take a look and feel welcome to include anything that catches your fancy in your own collection! This week's sweepstakes them is father's day gifts, so feel welcome to make those collections, too, in addition to a grad collection!

Gift wish lists are really awesome - no need to get stuck with the sort of lame gifts, like photo albums and underwear, that no one actually wants.

But most of all, have a wonderful graduation!

How did you celebrate your graduation?

What occasions do you give gifts for?

What are your most and least favorite gifts to receive?

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Sponsored - Ultra-Easy Twice Baked Potatoes Recipe!

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I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Hood. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

It's fun to try off the wall recipes and gourmet foods, but sometimes you just want classic comfort foods that are sure to please a crowd.

This recipe, an easy twice baked potatoes dish, is a great side or entree to bring to potlucks, sports watching parties (oh hey, Olympics), or anything else that calls for a classic comfort food!

I used Hood All Natural Sour Cream, a rich and creamy sour cream with no preservatives or unnatural additives to make the fluffy potato filling in the twice baked potatoes.



It adds a little tartness, which goes great with the cheese and green onion flavors, as well as makes the
consistency of the filling really smooth.



All without unnatural food products! Healthy is delicious.

To make this recipe even easier and more potluck-friendly, I used a disposable foil pan. So little clean up! So much happiness.

Ultra-Easy Twice Baked Potatoes

Makes 4 servings

* 2 large baking potatoes

* 1/2 c. Hood All Natural Sour Cream

* 1/4 c. whole milk

* 1/2 c. shredded cheese (I used a 'taco' mix that had cheddar and monterey cheeses, as well as spices!)

* 2 Tbsp. butter

* Salt, to taste (~1/4 tsp.)

* Pepper, to taste (~1/4 tsp.)

* 4 green onions, sliced

1) Bake the potatoes at 350F for 1 hour.

2) Cool for 10-15 minutes, then slice in half and scoop the insides out into a large bowl. Save the skins.

3) Add the other ingredients (except half of the cheese and half of the onions) and beat with a hand mixer until smooth and fluffy. Or, if you're a student/otherwise household-challenged, you can do it the ghetto creative way and puree it all in a blender. Because I don't have a hand mixer and my parents are The. Best. Ever. And gave me a Ninja Blender for Christmas (AHHHHHH! I'm so in love) I did it that way.

4) Spoon the filling into the skins.



They will be pretty full to overflowing, but it's not the sort of filling that melts so don't worry about piling it up.

5) Sprinkle the remaining sliced green onions and cheese shreds on the baked potatoes.

6) Return to the oven and bake for another 15 minutes at 350F.

Enjoy!

These are perfect to share. Try my recipe (above) or check out Hood's Facebook page for more fun recipes!

Love spuds? Tweet it!

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10 Reasons Why You Have To See 'The Lion King' On Broadway NOW

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The title of this post is less subtle than a female baboon in heat.

So let's get to the point, yes?

*Note - None of these photos are mine, as all digital devices (still cameras included) are prohibited in the Minskoff Theater.*

1) The hats.

Can I have all of them?

I'll be the one in lecture blocking your view with my lioness head. But you won't even mind, because it's that fierce - you'll feel blessed to bask in the glory of its presence. 

2) The acrobatic dancers.

How are you doing all of this bounding and leaping so rhythmically and synchronously without wires? And I can't even walk at night without getting intimately acquainted with the wall.

3) The colors.

Anything vaguely African is going to feature a lot of stunning oranges and golds and reds - The Lion King is no exception. There are a lot of other vivid colors, however, and all of the colors are so warm and inviting and alive. Is that a strange way to describe color? 

But they really are - it's the kind of color you can feel.

4) Rafiki's voice.

I just love Rafiki's voice. I can't explain it, maybe it's a halfrican kid thing, but he reminds me of every hilarious relation on my dad's side ever (male and female). Buyi Zama does a great job.

5) The art.

Every little detail is perfect (it is Disney, after all) but beyond the amazing hat art, baby Simba is so adorable that I wish he were for sale in the gift shop. It almost makes you want a pet baby lion (but don't, because that can only end badly). 

6) Elton John.

Did the music. DONE.

7) Julie Taymor's genius.

I seriously believe she's the most talented costume designer in the world at the moment. You don't know how much I want one of those grass dresses.

The funny thing is that you probably think I'm kidding...

8) The warm fuzzies.

That makes you miss your sisters and cousins, now, doesn't it? We totally walk out looking like that (but maybe minus the hats - we still need to get that part down. And singing in tune and with the right words). 

9) That Disney Magic.

That inexplicable heart-stirring something that only Disney productions have is definitely present. Fangirl for life.

10) The Circle of Life

Because yes, it's awesome on my 'The Lion King' Pandora station (<3 Pandora) and maybe I break into song whenever anyone has The Lion King on and it's that part of the movie. But in real life, with a ridiculously talented cast of Broadway performers harmonizing perfectly?

SOUNDGASM.

Seriously, it's no wonder The Lion King won a half dozen Tony awards in 1998. The real question is, what happened to the other half?

What's your favorite musical?

If you could be in one Disney movie, which would it be?

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