Since most of my life has been…er, let’s say “economically challenged”, giving gifts has been more about giving something with some meaning rather than the price tag attached to it. Personalized gifts reflects just how much you know this person and what they’ll like. I learned this from my momma.

For instance, a good friend of mine is a Twilight freak. (Yeah, I know. Heh.) A gift for her would probably include some kind of Twilight memorabilia, maybe something as simple as a bookmark or coffee mug. My daughter loves to crochet, so an inexpensive gift could include yarn and a new crochet hook. Think of the hobbies or interests your friends/family like to do, and choose gifts accordingly. Believe me, they’ll love that you really put some thought into choosing a gift for them, and the price tag just won’t matter.

Unless they like precious gems and gold. Heh.

In the summer, we have tourists wanting a beach vacation. And in the winter, we have tourists wanting a beach vacation.
I live in central Florida (really? I didn’t know that) Myself, as a writer although not really fond of much of his work, I would love to visit Key West where Hemmingway had a home which is now a museum.

But my buds here tell me Miami is the place to go. Well let me give you a little info on south beach florida hotels because Miami falls into the category.

My friend K loves to go to South Beach. He lives in central Florida, his family lives in northern Florida, Jacksonville. Once a year they all head down to south beach, which apparently in Florida means Miami.

But here’s the rub. See, off season in Florida is kind of iffy. I mean, I’m pretty confused by it myself. Off season in Florida means April-June, and late Aug-Oct. We don’t have much of an off season here. Because during the winter months, we have snowbirds. They come down here the last part of Oct. early Nov. and they stay here through March. They are escaping the winter up north. Yet we also have tourists of all kinds doing the same thing. Escaping their winter wonderlands for our warmer weather. But we also do a good amount of tourists trade through Spring Break and the summer. So our off season is kind of limited.

That being said, my friend, Rueban, in NC decided he’d come down to Florida for a vacation. He came down with a few friends and decided to book a hotel when he got here. Yeah, that’s some balls, right? However, he got a great beachside hotel for $54 a night, in Miami. He came during one of the very limited off season months.

Seriously, a Florida vacation is the best…no passport needed. My sister and brother-in-law spent Christmas in Sarasota. But my brother-in-law is the best networker, so he managed to stay in a friend’s condo for half what it would normally cost him.

And here’s a tidbit. Call Ron Jon’s and tell them you are interested in their Cape Canaveral resort. If you make over $50,000 a year (it can be combined) they will give you a free weekend, no sales pitch.

Take advantage of deals. And you can have the vacation you’d always dreamed about. Except those of you who like snowy vacations. But if you want the beach, it is doable.

We take so many things for granted in our everyday life, and this time of year is no exception. For instance, we walk down to our mailbox everyday, or visit the post office to pick up our mail. Advertising, letters from loved ones, Christmas cards, packages – and the inevitable bills, of course. Do you ever stop to think how that stuff ended up in your mailbox?

The cliché is, “Through rain, snow, sleet, and dark of night…” but like so many clichés, it’s true. The United States Postal Service, the second oldest independent establishment of the United States Government, was established in 1775 and initially used to carry communication between Congress and the armies. The first Postmaster General was Benjamin Franklin, and today’s service descends from an unbroken line from the system he initially set up, serving as a basis for the service as we know it today. Read the rest of this entry »

When thinking about Christmas gifts, especially a special one for a special person, vacation may be the last thing on your mind. However, travel costs have plummeted, and booking a trip right now could cost you less than a new Wii or a diamond necklace. Travel deals are abundant this time of year, so think about planning a special trip — a weekend jaunt, a fabulous cruise — and presenting it as a Christmas gift.

We’ll post unusual and clever gift ideas throughout the month, so stay tuned!

Tis the season when holiday parties are in full swing. Regardless of how you celebrate the holidays, we’re offering up a few recipes to help you out! Even if you aren’t throwing a party yourself for friends and family, these are great take-alongs to someone else’s shin-dig.

My mother does a sausage stuffed mushroom, but since I live on the coast, I prefer this crab stuffed version.

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

3 dozen large whole mushrooms
1 can (7 1/2 ounces) crabmeat, drained, cartilage removed, flaked
1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
1 tablespoon chopped pimiento
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 cup mayonnaise

Wash mushrooms well; dry and remove stems with a sharp knife. Combine crab, parsley, and pimiento. Stir together mayonnaise and dry mustard; gently stir into crab mixture. Fill each mushroom cap with about 2 tablespoons of crab mixture. Bake at 375° for 8 to 10 minutes, or until hot. Makes 36 crab stuffed mushrooms.

This next recipe was always a part of our normal holiday baking each year, but it makes a wonderful treat for parties.

Cheese Twists

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, 1/2 (17.3-ounce) package
1/3 cup grated cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
1 large egg
All-purpose flour, for dusting

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Spread parchment paper onto three baking sheets. Thaw the pastry sheet at room temperature covered by a clean kitchen cloth, about 30 minutes. Combine cheese, olive oil, black pepper in a small mixing bowl. Stir well to mix. In another small bowl, beat the egg with a fork. On a lightly floured surface, gently unfold the pastry.

Sprinkle the pastry lightly with flour and using a rolling pin, roll into a 14 by 10-inch rectangle. Brush the top of the pastry with a beaten egg. Cut in 1/2 lengthwise to form 2 (7 by 10-inch) rectangles. Spread the cheese mixture evenly across 1 rectangle. Lay the second rectangle across the coated piece, egg side-down. With the rolling pin lightly roll the 2 sheets together to seal. With a large knife cut crosswise into strips, about 1/3-inch wide each. One at a time, grab the ends of each strip and twist in opposite directions to form a spiral. Place on the baking sheets and bake until light golden brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool until cool enough to handle. These can be served either warm or at room temperature.

What would the holidays be without a festive drink?

Hot Buttered Rum

6 cloves (whole)
1 1/2 oz. dark rum
1 generous tbsp. brown sugar
1 Cinnamon stick
Boiling water
butter
Grated nutmeg
Lemon peel

Rinse a large mug with boiling water and add brown sugar, cinnamon stick, and a lemon peel studded with cloves. Pour in a little boiling water and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add rum and fill with boiling water. Stir, then place pat of butter on top of drink, and sprinkle with grated nutmeg.

Candy Cane Martini

1 1/2 oz. vodka
1 tsp. peppermint schnapps

Mix all ingredients with ice in a shaker. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Option: Garnish with a small candy cane or create a candy cane “rimmer” with crushed candy canes.

And for those with children or just preferring the non-alcoholic drinks, try a nice punch!

Holiday Punch

1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. water
1/4 tsp. cloves
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. salt (optional)
4 c. cranberry juice or sweet cider
2 c. pineapple juice
In 3 quart saucepan, combine ingredients and bring to a boil. Add fruit juices. Serve hot. Makes 2 quarts.

For more holiday recipes and ideas be sure to sign up for our newsletter, due out around the 15th of this month.

Now, go forth and party!

Image via Wikipedia

Oh, ‘tis the season for holiday stress. The pressure is on to buy the perfect gift, cook the perfect food, decorate the perfect house. The media increases the pressure by showing perfect families having perfect holidays, with perfect relationships, perfect parties, and perfect celebrations.

No matter your religious preferences, the holidays are the biggest money-maker season in retail. Magazines, television, radio, newspapers, even in your own mailbox, you’re inundated with exhortations to buy, buy, buy. Kids beg for the most expensive and shiny gadgets and toys on the markets, because after all, that’s what their friends are getting and they must keep up.

The economic times are difficult, and instead of going into the red end of credit, here are some suggestions for keeping things low-key, inexpensive, and more in keeping with the actual meaning of the season.

• · Turn off the television. Turning off the “boob tube” or at least limiting the viewing can alleviate more stress than you realize. At least you don’t have Martha Stewart or Paula Deen looking over your shoulder and criticizing your attempts at the perfect table setting or the perfect menu. Take a break from the commercials that only want you to spend your money on some new gizmo that you’ll never use and really don’t want. Read the rest of this entry »

Image by Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage via Flickr

The holidays are rolling around again, with Thanksgiving as the warm-up. In this day and age, with the economy in the toilet, getting the gang together may be more difficult than usual. This might be the first Turkey Day you’ll spend without your loved ones near. Although there are plenty of movies depicting the holiday scene as one of joyousness and happiness, the truth is real life isn’t the movies, and this holiday season may be one big change for you.

After reaching the age of forty, you may find that the children have moved out and moved on, forming a family nucleus of their own and living too far away to visit. If you’re not planning a big shin-dig, you might be feeling lost and aimless not having a crew to cook for or clean up after. Here are some alternative suggestions to the traditional Thanksgiving festivities: Read the rest of this entry »