Archives

Ottawa: The Savvy Guide to December

Ottawa: The Savvy Guide to December

We can be so busy making the holidays magical for everyone else that we forget to stop long enough to enjoy them ourselves. Especially THIS year. Let’s make sure we soak up some festive cheer for ourselves and try to spend our energy on holiday activities that truly bring us joy. Of course, it can’t all be fun and reindeer games. So our Savvy Guide to December in Ottawa offers up ideas that will help the busiest month of the year unfold as smoothly as possible.

The Savvy Guide to December in Ottawa

Things to do in Ottawa in December - SavvyMom

GO
Get out and be merry

Why? We’re well versed in managing activities and Covid protocols so our newly (and perhaps, permanently) modified activities and events are way better than no activities and events at all. Our cities are celebrating the season so even if you’re not feeling particularly festive this year, heading out to enjoy some lights and jingle bells might do the trick. Check out these fun family things to do in December for  Ottawa.

Get Skates Sharpened - SavvyMom

DO
Get your skates sharpened

Why? Outdoor rinks are open now in Ottawa and you’ll definitely want to take part in this most Canadian family pastime. You might not be able to imagine having time for lazy circles around the pond (or the flooded tennis court, as the case may be) while you juggle holiday shopping and work, but remember that most kids have two full weeks off school before and after Christmas and you’ll be desperate for active family fun. In fact, it’s not too late to add skates to your own holiday wish list.

Non-Chocolate Advent Calendars - SavvyMom

START
The Big Countdown

Maybe it’s a good thing you forgot to grab an Advent Calendar since that chocolate can often be blech. Some of these non-chocolate Advent Calendars may still be in stock, but creating a Family Activity Advent Calendar is a festive way to work in some quality family time.

Hanukkah Prep - SavvyMom

LIGHT
The First Candle of Hanukkah on December 18

Santa’s big night is not the only festive event this month. Hanukkah runs from December 18 until December 26 so no Guide to December would be complete without sharing where to stock up on your Hanukkah supplies. Here’s a list of Judaica and Jewish shops for Ottawa.

Christmas Books - SavvyMom

READ
Classic holiday stories as a family

Why? There’s nothing like revisiting your favourite holiday tales at this time of year to put everyone in the festive spirit. Pile a few of these yuletide picks next to your little one’s bed and bring a some seasonal joy to bedtime throughout the month. We love Dr. Suess’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Little Tree by e e cummings, Stick Man by Julia Donaldson, Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama by Selina Alko, Simon and the Bear by Eric A. Kimmel, and The Sound of Kwanzaa by Dimitrea Tokunbo.

24 Elf on the Shelf Ideas - SavvyMom

SURF
Elf on the Shelf ideas

Why? Those who love finding new hiding spots for their Elf on the Shelf every night don’t need to be told about how much joy it brings to their families. But even the skeptics will have their frozen hearts melted by pictures of elves hanging from trees, sitting in candy dishes, or passed out in a bucket of popcorn. The official website has a section for kids with quizzes, games, and trivia, and one for parents with craft ideas, recipes, and ideas, but we’ve got 24 Elf on the Shelf ideas — one for every night leading up to the big night.

recipegeek-gadgets-tech_philips_viva_digital_air_fryer

GET
An Air Fryer

Why? The air fryer is the latest small kitchen appliance of the moment and, from all accounts, this one is worth the counter space. It’s basically a countertop convection oven that replicates deep-fried food using only hot air and a teeny tiny amount of oil. For heating frozen appetizers to perfection or prepping your favourite roasted vegetables, an air fryer is a kitchen gadget that’s put to great use in families looking to up their healthy meal game without giving up deliciousness.

12 Days of Holiday Cookie Recipes - SavvyMom

BAKE
12 days of Holiday Cookies

Everyone has their tried and true — is yours a classic, traditional gingerbread recipe or old-school Rice Krispie squares? But if you’re looking to shake your baking up, we’ve got 12 days of holiday cookie recipes for festive treats perfect for edible gifts or to shake up your mother-in-law’s dessert table.

DIY Gift Baskets - SavvyMom

MAKE
DIY gifts

Why? Homemade gifts are easy on the earth and the wallet, but big on love. These are the perfect token of holiday cheer to give out to friends, coworkers, teachers, coaches, and more. Spend an afternoon with the kids baking batches of holiday goodies to be packaged up in pretty tins or wrapped with a bow, parcel off DIY lavender bath salts in pretty paper bags, or choose any one of the wonderful DIY gift-ideas listed here. Not into doing it yourself? Packaging DIY gift baskets is just as thoughtful and a lot less work.

Tips to Cope with Holiday Stress - SavvyMom

10 Tips to Survive Holiday Stress

For some, holiday stress isn’t a thing. This time of year conjures up warm and fuzzy memories of being with the people they love on cozy mornings, sipping on hot chocolate in front of beckoning fireplace embers and looking forward to opening gifts and revelling in the pleasure of giving.

For many, however, this time of year is filled with dread. The memories are not so warm and fuzzy. In fact, they are sometimes heated and uncomfortable. Coming together as a family is not always as one would hope. Thoughts that this time might be different than last often fade as old tensions and unresolved issues emerge. The stress associated with wanting to fulfill another’s wish list or keeping up with an over committed schedule may prove overwhelming.

Here are 10 tips for coping with holiday stress:

  1. Change your expectations.

    Don’t expect that this year will be different or better than the last. Decide to just accept what is, for better or worse. Try to erase the images of years gone by and start fresh.

  2. Don’t try to live up to other’s expectations.

    Be who you are. If you can’t afford to give large, expensive gifts, purchase a smaller, just as thoughtful gift. Or if you feel up to it, make something yourself. These often make the most special gifts.

  3. Dress for comfort, not to impress.

    If you can’t be bothered with formal attire that you know you’re going to be uncomfortable in, then just don’t wear it. You may feel that there is an expectation to dress a certain way, but consider your own needs. You can still dress appropriately and respectfully without having to pretend to be someone you are not.

  4. Change things around.

    If you’re just keeping up with old traditions for tradition’s sake and not because they feel good, then consider changing things around. Create new traditions. For example, if you’ve always hosted a big meal and prepared everything yourself, but are tired of doing this, then consider Christmas takeout, a potluck dinner, or let someone else host.

  5. Take time for yourself.

    This time of year is typically when friends and family catch up on seeing one another. If this works for you, then enjoy. However, if you usually exit the holiday season feeling exhausted, consider spending some time on your own, or with immediate family only, to relax and unwind.

  6. Toss obligatory chores.

    If you’ve been sending holiday greeting cards to the same people every year just because you feel a sense of obligation to do so, stop. Chances are that the recipient will sense that a once a year obligatory card is just that. Send cards and gifts to only those you really care about and waste less time taking on chores you would rather do without.

  7. Do away with wish lists.

    Although wish lists may be extremely helpful for some, they are often a recipe for disappointment. When children don’t have all (or most) of their wish list fulfilled, they are bound to feel upset. Aside from the items often being big ticket ones, wish lists take away the opportunity for the giver to be creative or to think about what the recipient might want or need. Children often feel disappointed if a parent deviates from the list and ungrateful children typically leave parents feeling disappointed too.

  8. Redefine giving.

    Instead of focusing on material gift giving, discuss other options with your family. For example, spend time helping out at a soup kitchen or a food bank with your family so that you can experience the value of giving your time, which is priceless.

  9. Don’t overindulge.

    If you’re holiday stress, try not to drown your stressors by drinking or eating excessively. This will only add to your stress later on. Rather, go for a walk or vent your stress on a punching bag.

  10. See your therapist.

    Knowing the holiday stress that this time of year often brings, book a post-Christmas appointment with your therapist in advance of the holidays so that once the flurry of activity is over you can vent.

Vancouver: The Savvy Guide to December

Vancouver: The Savvy Guide to December

We can be so busy making the holidays magical for everyone else that we forget to stop long enough to enjoy them ourselves. Especially THIS year. Let’s make sure we soak up some festive cheer for ourselves and try to spend our energy on holiday activities that truly bring us joy. Of course, it can’t all be fun and reindeer games. So our Savvy Guide to December in Vancouver offers up ideas that will help the busiest month of the year unfold as smoothly as possible.

The Savvy Guide to December in Vancouver

Things to do in December in Vancouver - SavvyMom

GO
Get out and be merry

Why? We’re well versed in managing activities and Covid protocols so our newly (and perhaps, permanently) modified activities and events are way better than no activities and events at all. Our cities are celebrating the season so even if you’re not feeling particularly festive this year, heading out to enjoy some lights and jingle bells might do the trick. Check out these fun family things to do in December for Vancouver.

Get Skates Sharpened - SavvyMom

DO
Get your skates sharpened

Why? Outdoor rinks are open now in most of the Greater Vancouver Region and you’ll definitely want to take part in this most Canadian family pastime. You might not be able to imagine having time for lazy circles around the pond (or the flooded tennis court, as the case may be) while you juggle holiday shopping and work, but remember that most kids have two full weeks off school before and after Christmas and you’ll be desperate for active family fun. In fact, it’s not too late to add skates to your own holiday wish list.

Non-Chocolate Advent Calendars - SavvyMom

START
The Big Countdown

Maybe it’s a good thing you forgot to grab an Advent Calendar since that chocolate can often be blech. Some of these non-chocolate Advent Calendars may still be in stock, but creating a Family Activity Advent Calendar is a festive way to work in some quality family time.

Hanukkah Prep - SavvyMom

LIGHT
The First Candle of Hanukkah on December 18

Santa’s big night is not the only festive event this month. Hanukkah runs from December 18 until December 26 so no Guide to December would be complete without sharing where to stock up on your Hanukkah supplies. Here’s a list of Judaica and Jewish shops for Vancouver.

Christmas Books - SavvyMom

READ
Classic holiday stories as a family

Why? There’s nothing like revisiting your favourite holiday tales at this time of year to put everyone in the festive spirit. Pile a few of these yuletide picks next to your little one’s bed and bring a some seasonal joy to bedtime throughout the month. We love Dr. Suess’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Little Tree by e e cummings, Stick Man by Julia Donaldson, Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama by Selina Alko, Simon and the Bear by Eric A. Kimmel, and The Sound of Kwanzaa by Dimitrea Tokunbo.

24 Elf on the Shelf Ideas - SavvyMom

SURF
Elf on the Shelf ideas

Why? Those who love finding new hiding spots for their Elf on the Shelf every night don’t need to be told about how much joy it brings to their families. But even the skeptics will have their frozen hearts melted by pictures of elves hanging from trees, sitting in candy dishes, or passed out in a bucket of popcorn. The official website has a section for kids with quizzes, games, and trivia, and one for parents with craft ideas, recipes, and ideas, but we’ve got 24 Elf on the Shelf ideas — one for every night leading up to the big night.

recipegeek-gadgets-tech_philips_viva_digital_air_fryer

GET
An Air Fryer

Why? The air fryer is the latest small kitchen appliance of the moment and, from all accounts, this one is worth the counter space. It’s basically a countertop convection oven that replicates deep-fried food using only hot air and a teeny tiny amount of oil. For heating frozen appetizers to perfection or prepping your favourite roasted vegetables, an air fryer is a kitchen gadget that’s put to great use in families looking to up their healthy meal game without giving up deliciousness.

12 Days of Holiday Cookie Recipes - SavvyMom

BAKE
12 days of Holiday Cookies

Everyone has their tried and true — is yours a classic, traditional gingerbread recipe or old-school Rice Krispie squares? But if you’re looking to shake your baking up, we’ve got 12 days of holiday cookie recipes for festive treats perfect for edible gifts or to shake up your mother-in-law’s dessert table.

DIY Gift Baskets - SavvyMom

MAKE
DIY gifts

Why? Homemade gifts are easy on the earth and the wallet, but big on love. These are the perfect token of holiday cheer to give out to friends, coworkers, teachers, coaches, and more. Spend an afternoon with the kids baking batches of holiday goodies to be packaged up in pretty tins or wrapped with a bow, parcel off DIY lavender bath salts in pretty paper bags, or choose any one of the wonderful DIY gift-ideas listed here. Not into doing it yourself? Packaging DIY gift baskets is just as thoughtful and a lot less work.

Calgary: The Savvy Guide to December

Calgary: The Savvy Guide to December

We can be so busy making the holidays magical for everyone else that we forget to stop long enough to enjoy them ourselves. Especially THIS year. Let’s make sure we soak up some festive cheer for ourselves and try to spend our energy on holiday activities that truly bring us joy. Of course, it can’t all be fun and reindeer games. So our Savvy Guide to December in Calgary offers up ideas that will help the busiest month of the year unfold as smoothly as possible.

The Savvy Guide to December in Calgary

Things to Do in Calgary in December - SavvyMom

GO
Get out and be merry

Why? We’re well versed in managing activities and Covid protocols so our newly (and perhaps, permanently) modified activities and events are way better than no activities and events at all. Our cities are celebrating the season so even if you’re not feeling particularly festive this year, heading out to enjoy some lights and jingle bells might do the trick. Check out these fun family things to do in December for Calgary.

Get Skates Sharpened - SavvyMom

DO
Get your skates sharpened

Why? Outdoor rinks are open now in Calgary and you’ll definitely want to take part in this most Canadian family pastime. You might not be able to imagine having time for lazy circles around the pond (or the flooded tennis court, as the case may be) while you juggle holiday shopping and work, but remember that most kids have two full weeks off school before and after Christmas and you’ll be desperate for active family fun. In fact, it’s not too late to add skates to your own holiday wish list.

Non-Chocolate Advent Calendars - SavvyMom

START
The Big Countdown

Maybe it’s a good thing you forgot to grab an Advent Calendar since that chocolate can often be blech. Some of these non-chocolate Advent Calendars may still be in stock, but creating a Family Activity Advent Calendar is a festive way to work in some quality family time.

Hanukkah Prep - SavvyMom

LIGHT
The First Candle of Hanukkah on December 18

Santa’s big night is not the only festive event this month. Hanukkah runs from December 18 until December 26 so no Guide to December would be complete without sharing where to stock up on your Hanukkah supplies. Here’s a list of Judaica and Jewish shops for Calgary.

Christmas Books - SavvyMom

READ
Classic holiday stories as a family

Why? There’s nothing like revisiting your favourite holiday tales at this time of year to put everyone in the festive spirit. Pile a few of these yuletide picks next to your little one’s bed and bring a some seasonal joy to bedtime throughout the month. We love Dr. Suess’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Little Tree by e e cummings, Stick Man by Julia Donaldson, Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama by Selina Alko, Simon and the Bear by Eric A. Kimmel, and The Sound of Kwanzaa by Dimitrea Tokunbo.

24 Elf on the Shelf Ideas - SavvyMom

SURF
Elf on the Shelf ideas

Why? Those who love finding new hiding spots for their Elf on the Shelf every night don’t need to be told about how much joy it brings to their families. But even the skeptics will have their frozen hearts melted by pictures of elves hanging from trees, sitting in candy dishes, or passed out in a bucket of popcorn. The official website has a section for kids with quizzes, games, and trivia, and one for parents with craft ideas, recipes, and ideas, but we’ve got 24 Elf on the Shelf ideas — one for every night leading up to the big night.

recipegeek-gadgets-tech_philips_viva_digital_air_fryer

GET
An Air Fryer

Why? The air fryer is the latest small kitchen appliance of the moment and, from all accounts, this one is worth the counter space. It’s basically a countertop convection oven that replicates deep-fried food using only hot air and a teeny tiny amount of oil. For heating frozen appetizers to perfection or prepping your favourite roasted vegetables, an air fryer is a kitchen gadget that’s put to great use in families looking to up their healthy meal game without giving up deliciousness.

12 Days of Holiday Cookie Recipes - SavvyMom

BAKE
12 days of Holiday Cookies

Everyone has their tried and true — is yours a classic, traditional gingerbread recipe or old-school Rice Krispie squares? But if you’re looking to shake your baking up, we’ve got 12 days of holiday cookie recipes for festive treats perfect for edible gifts or to shake up your mother-in-law’s dessert table.

DIY Gift Baskets - SavvyMom

MAKE
DIY gifts

Why? Homemade gifts are easy on the earth and the wallet, but big on love. These are the perfect token of holiday cheer to give out to friends, coworkers, teachers, coaches, and more. Spend an afternoon with the kids baking batches of holiday goodies to be packaged up in pretty tins or wrapped with a bow, parcel off DIY lavender bath salts in pretty paper bags, or choose any one of the wonderful DIY gift-ideas listed here. Not into doing it yourself? Packaging DIY gift baskets is just as thoughtful and a lot less work.

Tips for Organizing Family Photos - SavvyMom

Organizing Photos? Don’t Make These Mistakes

Technology has made it easier than ever to take snapshots – we’re all walking around with a mini digital camera in our pocket at practically all times, thanks to today’s phones. Unfortunately, this also means that we can easily click it and forget it, never to look back on them again. Even if we do manage to print copies of our pictures unless we’re on top of organizing photos they can end up in a shoebox in the attic, lost to the endless march of time.

When those priceless memories are scattered every which way – on a smartphone or a laptop, on memory cards and flash drives, on multiple photo sharing websites, or stuck in shoeboxes in the closet – the joy of photography and the memories you’ve captured can become an overwhelming burden. But, it doesn’t have to be! Here are some common mistakes people make when organizing photos, and how to overcome them.

Top Mistakes When Organizing Photos

Mistake #1: Keeping every photo

While it might have made sense back in the days of printed photos to keep duplicate or even triplicate copies to share with friends and family, today’s technology means you can digitize and file these treasured keepsakes. Go ahead and scan a high quality version of your favourite snaps, and toss the additional copies.

With digital photos, you probably took more than one pic to ensure you got the shot but that means you’re wasting precious digital memory keeping multiple photos that are basically the same and only slightly different. In this case, pick your favourite one (or two) versions and delete the rest.

Mistake #2: Not preserving the story behind the photo

Another common mistake people make when organizing photos is that they don’t preserve the story behind the photo. Whether your photos are printed or digital, it’s important to write down the who, what, where, when, and why of a photo so that you can share or reminisce about the memory down the line. You can do this by creating hard copy or digital scrapbooks, highlighting special events, or, simply a year in retrospect. And if photobooks are your thing, they make wonderful, special gifts.

Mistake #3: You don’t have a digital photo hub

If you want to keep your photos organized, you need a digital photo hub – or DPH. A digital photo hub provides one central place for all your photos, even if you aren’t ready to organize them quite yet. If you have digital photos scattered across multiple devices such as computers, smartphones, memory cards, and flash drives, a DPH brings them all together.

A digital photo hub might be your computer (so long as you have ample storage), an external hard drive, or a secure digital platform. The point is to keep everything in one spot, so that you know exactly where to find a photo at any time. Every photo you take goes into your DPH, and every photo you share will come out of there.

Mistake #4: Not renaming photo files

You might think this mistake is specific to digital photos, but even if you’re scanning printed photos, it still applies. Not renaming your digital photo files makes it absolute chaos to determine what a photo is without opening the file. There’s no way you’ll ever remember what photo img00345 is. Instead, when you’re doing your monthly photo sort and backup, take the time to rename the photos you plan on keeping. Same goes for when you’re scanning photos into your system. Rename them as you add them so that you can easily identify or search for them later.

Mistake #5: You’re not transferring photos regularly

Making the time for transferring and organizing photos on a regular basis will help keep things from getting overwhelming. This can be as little as 15 minutes at the end of the week, an hour once a month, or a weekend project every quarter. No matter how you decide to tackle the task, it’s important to stay on top of it. Don’t just dump your photos into your DPH, if you can help it. Take the time to rename them, add any details, delete duplicates and bad shots, etc. As an added bonus, you’ll be clearing up room on your device to take more special photos!

Mistake 6: Not having a backup strategy

If you’ve taken the time to go through and organize your photos, you want to make sure you have a proper backup plan in place. Photographers recommend what is known as the 3-2-1 backup strategy. A 3-2-1 backup strategy means that you have a total of three copies of your photos – two of which are local (at home or in your office) but on different devices, and one copy that is kept off site. The three copies consist of your DPH plus two more copies. This might mean you have complete copies of your DPH stored on your computer and an external hard drive (at home or stored elsewhere), plus a cloud backup. This ensures that should one storage method become compromised (your drive fails or your neighbourhood is flooded) that your photos are preserved.

The Savvy Guide to December

The Savvy Guide to December

We can be so busy making the holidays magical for everyone else that we forget to stop long enough to enjoy them ourselves. Especially THIS year. Let’s make sure we soak up some festive cheer for ourselves and try to spend our energy on holiday activities that truly bring us joy. Of course, it can’t all be fun and reindeer games. So our Savvy Guide to December offers up ideas that will help the busiest month of the year unfold as smoothly as possible.

The Savvy Guide to December

Things to do in Ottawa in December - SavvyMom

GO
Get out and be merry

Why? We’re well versed in managing activities and Covid protocols so our newly (and perhaps, permanently) modified activities and events are way better than no activities and events at all. Our cities are celebrating the season so even if you’re not feeling particularly festive this year, heading out to enjoy some lights and jingle bells might do the trick. Check out these fun family things to do in December for Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, and Vancouver.

Get Skates Sharpened - SavvyMom

DO
Get your skates sharpened

Why? Outdoor rinks are open now in most of the country and you’ll definitely want to take part in this most Canadian family pastime. You might not be able to imagine having time for lazy circles around the pond (or the flooded tennis court, as the case may be) while you juggle holiday shopping and work, but remember that most kids have two full weeks off school before and after Christmas and you’ll be desperate for active family fun. In fact, it’s not too late to add skates to your own holiday wish list.

Non-Chocolate Advent Calendars - SavvyMom
Girl opens wooden advent calendar

START
The Big Countdown

Maybe it’s a good thing you forgot to grab an Advent Calendar since that chocolate can often be blech. Some of these non-chocolate Advent Calendars may still be in stock, but creating a Family Activity Advent Calendar is a festive way to work in some quality family time.

Hanukkah Prep - SavvyMom

LIGHT
The First Candle of Hanukkah on December 18

Santa’s big night is not the only festive event this month. Hanukkah runs from December 18 until December 26 so no Guide to December would be complete without sharing where to stock up on your Hanukkah supplies. Here’s a list of Judaica and Jewish shops for Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, and Vancouver.

Christmas Books - SavvyMom

READ
Classic holiday stories as a family

Why? There’s nothing like revisiting your favourite holiday tales at this time of year to put everyone in the festive spirit. Pile a few of these yuletide picks next to your little one’s bed and bring a some seasonal joy to bedtime throughout the month. We love Dr. Suess’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Little Tree by e e cummings, Stick Man by Julia Donaldson, Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama by Selina Alko, Simon and the Bear by Eric A. Kimmel, and The Sound of Kwanzaa by Dimitrea Tokunbo.

24 Elf on the Shelf Ideas - SavvyMom

SURF
Elf on the Shelf ideas

Why? Those who love finding new hiding spots for their Elf on the Shelf every night don’t need to be told about how much joy it brings to their families. But even the skeptics will have their frozen hearts melted by pictures of elves hanging from trees, sitting in candy dishes, or passed out in a bucket of popcorn. The official website has a section for kids with quizzes, games, and trivia, and one for parents with craft ideas, recipes, and ideas, but we’ve got 24 Elf on the Shelf ideas — one for every night leading up to the big night.

recipegeek-gadgets-tech_philips_viva_digital_air_fryer

GET
An Air Fryer

Why? The air fryer is the latest small kitchen appliance of the moment and, from all accounts, this one is worth the counter space. It’s basically a countertop convection oven that replicates deep-fried food using only hot air and a teeny tiny amount of oil. For heating frozen appetizers to perfection or prepping your favourite roasted vegetables, an air fryer is a kitchen gadget that’s put to great use in families looking to up their healthy meal game without giving up deliciousness.

12 Days of Holiday Cookie Recipes - SavvyMom

BAKE
12 days of Holiday Cookies

Everyone has their tried and true — is yours a classic, traditional gingerbread recipe or old-school Rice Krispie squares? But if you’re looking to shake your baking up, we’ve got 12 days of holiday cookie recipes for festive treats perfect for edible gifts or to shake up your mother-in-law’s dessert table.

DIY Gift Baskets - SavvyMom

MAKE
DIY gifts

Why? Homemade gifts are easy on the earth and the wallet, but big on love. These are the perfect token of holiday cheer to give out to friends, coworkers, teachers, coaches, and more. Spend an afternoon with the kids baking batches of holiday goodies to be packaged up in pretty tins or wrapped with a bow, parcel off DIY lavender bath salts in pretty paper bags, or choose any one of the wonderful DIY gift-ideas listed here. Not into doing it yourself? Packaging DIY gift baskets is just as thoughtful and a lot less work.

easy simple weeknight dinners

6 Quick & Easy Dinner Ideas for the Busy Holiday Season

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season doesn’t leave much time for making warm and nourishing meals at the end of a long day, does it? It doesn’t matter how many hours you log at work or in the kitchen baking holiday treats, you’re still left with children, spouses, partners and maybe even parents who need and expect a decent dinner.

Before you serve your family a meal of leftover eggnog and broken cookies—it’s been done before, trust me—try one of these quick and easy dinner ideas. These six dishes will leave you feeling satisfied and provide you with the energy you’ll need for a night of baking, gift-wrapping, cocktailing, and shopping.

Easy Dinner Ideas for the Busy Holiday Season

1. The Baked Potato Bar

Gather as many russet potatoes as people in your family (most slow cookers can hold 1-8). Scrub them well and pierce each all over with a fork. Rub potatoes with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and wrap tightly in foil. Place the potatoes into a slow cooker, cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours. Remove immediately and top with whatever you find in the fridge: shredded cheddar cheese, salsa, steamed broccoli, caramelized onions, leftover chicken, steak or bacon, baby spinach, arugula, ricotta, butter, Parmesan cheese, etc. Instant gratification is possible when potatoes are cooked in the slow cooker!

2. Ham and Cheese Strata

This rich, cheesy strata is also tasty when served at room temperature on a brunch buffet, so make it for dinner one week and serve it to your overnight guests the next. The beauty of this dish is that is can be prepped up to 12 hours in advance so make it in the morning before you go to work and remove it from the fridge when you walk in the door. To make it, grease an 8-inch square baking pan and set aside. Then, sauté a chopped onion in olive oil, cooking it just until softened. Meanwhile, in a large bowl whisk together 6 large eggs, 2 cups milk, 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Add the onions, 1 cup chopped ham, 6 cups cubed sourdough bread, and 2 cups grated cheddar or Swiss cheese and stir well. Pour into the prepared pan and cover the dish with plastic wrap. Store in the fridge for up to 12 hours. To bake, preheat the oven to 350°F, and bake for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown and set. Serve with a side salad.

3. Pasta Con Ceci

I rely on this speedy supper more than I’d like to admit, but it’s warm and comforting and quick to put on the table, and when our to-do lists are ten items too long we all need to have dishes like this at the ready. Serve with a side salad or some veggies and dip for a simple dinner the whole family—cook included—will love.

4. Apple, Bacon and Cheddar Pizzas

I like to keep cooked bacon in my fridge and freezer so I don’t have to cook some every time I want to add it to a meal. That quick prep works means this pita pizza is a meal that can literally land on the table in less than 15 minutes. For variety, try using store-bought naan in place of the pitas, and replace the cheese with shredded gruyère, or slices of Brie.

5. The Sheet Pan Supper

As I’ve stated before, sheet pan suppers will save your life and your sanity this season. Not only does laying out all your meal components onto a single pan simplify your meal times in ways you could have only dreamed, it also allows the flavours of the proteins to infuse the veggies, keeping ingredient lists short and sweet because there’s no need to add a lot of flavour enhancers to a recipe. The fact that there is only one dish (one!) for post-dinner clean up is just a testament to why we should all be taking this streamlined approach to creating an instantly impressive spread as often as possible. I’ve also figured out a way to make this meal even easier to put together: as soon as I return home from the grocery store, I chop up my broccoli, carrots, cauliflower and red onion and store them in zip top baggies in the fridge. Then, on the day I’m making my sheet pan supper, I empty the bag onto the pan, chop some potatoes, top with sausages and toss it all into the oven. Dinner done!

6. Black Bean, Corn and Goat Cheese Tacos

I submitted this recipe to a contest the former food editor of Martha Stewart Living was hosting, and it finished in the top three! She was looking for a dish that was quick cooking, nutritious and family-friendly, and I think I nailed it with this taco that makes use of common pantry and freezer items. We still make these often, usually for a quick and filling weekend lunch, but you can be sure they’ll be on my meal plan in December. P.S. If your kids aren’t crazy about radishes you can leave them off, and if goat cheese isn’t a household favourite feel free to use cheddar instead.

Now it’s your turn… what are some of your favourite quick and easy dinners to serve during the busy holiday season?

Holiday Baking Cookie Hacks

As much as I love holiday baking, I’m also a realist and know that not everyone (myself included) has the time to make every holiday cookie recipe they’ve bookmarked or pinned in the past month. In fact, it’s pretty easy to give store-bought sweets a merry makeover by dipping them in chocolate and sprinkling on fun toppings and the following tips, twists, and time-savers will leave you pretty skilled when it comes to the holiday baking cookie hack.

5 Holiday Baking Cookie Hacks

  1. Dip store-bought shortbread in dark chocolate and cover with a sprinkling of crushed candy cane. Drizzle the entire cookie with melted white chocolate for a professional finish.
  2. Make personalized monogrammed cookies by printing letters onto cardstock and cutting them out with scissors, then laying them on top of a pre-made shortbread or sugar cookie and dusting the surface with powdered sugar. Carefully remove the cutout letter before plating the cookies.
  3. Purchase frozen cookie dough and keep in the freezer until needed. Then bake the cookies just before serving. Not only will the treats be fresh and warm, but your house will smell amazing.
  4. Dip any store-bought cookie in any melted chocolate and cover with sprinkles, chopped nuts, coconut, coloured sugar, etc.
  5. Make brownie Christmas trees by using a tray of store bought brownies, a can of icing, green food colouring, assorted sprinkles and candy canes. To make the trees, cut the tray of brownies (this works best if the tray is rectangular) into 3 rows, and then cut each row into 5 triangles. Colour the icing with the food colouring, spread it over the brownie and decorate the ‘tree’ with sprinkles. Insert a straight piece of candy cane into the bottom of the triangle for the tree trunk.

Now it’s your turn to confess: what’s your favourite holiday baking hack?

Be Careful, the Holiday Traditions You Begin Because You’re Going to Be Doing Them for a Long Time - SavvyMom

Be Careful Which Holiday Traditions You Begin

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring. Except for me. I was outside stamping reindeer footprints in the snow using homemade cardboard templates I had cut out after Googling “what do reindeer feet look like.”

What can I say? My kids were young and I got caught up in the magic.

All I can say is thank goodness they were too young to remember it the following year (and after my not so fun experience freezing my keister off crawling around in the snow trying to make it look like Dasher, Dancer, and the rest of the reindeer were chilling on our front lawn, I wasn’t about to mention it) so I wasn’t stuck making footprints for the next ten years.

Which brings me to this.

Parents of children under the age of four, heed my warning.

Choose your holiday traditions carefully because once your kids hit an age where they start retaining memories, you’re going to be doing those traditions for a long time.

Be Careful, the Holiday Traditions You Begin Because You’re Going to Be Doing Them for a Long Time

Our house has the distinction of having the world’s most awful Tooth Fairy. It’s not that she would forget one of the kids had lost a tooth, it’s that she was so exhausted by the time that kid was finally in bed – No, you can NOT have another glass of water – she would fall asleep and not remember the money exchange until early in the morning, when the chances of that kid waking up whilst doing the tooth/Toonie transfer was the greatest.

Needless to say, she got caught more than a few times.

Helpful Hint: If you too are part of world’s worst Tooth Fairy group, let your kids know that the Tooth Fairy had the unfortunate experience of  accidentally waking up a few kids in the middle of the night and unintentionally scaring them, so she no longer goes into rooms while they are asleep. Have your kids leave the tooth and a note on your kitchen table in the evening, where it’s there staring you in the face when you pour your morning coffee, and become a part of the Tooth on The Table club.

When it comes to traditions, don’t get caught up in the newest trends (I’m looking at you Elf on a Shelf), instead repeat these two little words:

Know thyself.

I have nothing against Elf on the Shelf. I actually think it’s a very cool tradition and a fun way to get your kids excited for Christmas while allowing parents to be hilariously creative. But if our Tooth Fairy, who wasn’t capable of slipping a Toonie underneath a pillow, was any indication, our Elf was going to be a complete and utter failure.

Every year for my sons’ birthdays instead of giving them a card I make them a giant sign of all the reasons they are awesome and hang it on a wall for them to see as soon as they wake up. Presents are given before breakfast but they have to race through the house finding and deciphering clues to find it. This works for me because (a) I’m a morning person and have time to set the whole thing up before they get out of bed and (b) I’m really good at making rhyming clues (a talent, for sure, but not likely to ever make it on my resume).

However, I’m terrible at baking so all of our Christmas cookies are essentially things that involve melted chocolate, and my present wrapping ability is best described as “drunken frat boy.”

So now I don’t stress out trying to make magical memories baking with my kids when I know that this will only teach them new swear words, and I outsource my wrapping.

Take it from me, young parents. Know who you are and choose wisely.

There is nothing magical about being outside at 11:30pm on Christmas Eve pressing cardboard reindeer footprints into the snow when you’d rather be inside sipping Bailey’s and hot chocolate.

7 Tips to Organize Your Fridge - SavvyMom

7 Tips to Organize Your Fridge

The holiday season is all about festive fun, good cheer. and a whole lot of food. Between the makings of your family’s holiday feasts and the plethora of delicious gifts you’re destined to receive, your fridge is going to be more than a little crammed. Overstuffed Fridge Syndrome can lead to all sorts of food-related tragedies: spoiled forgotten food, messes in hard to reach places and – most heartbreakingly – dislodged jars of condiments in pieces on the kitchen floor. Thankfully, with a little forethought and some savvy organizing, you can make an overstuffed fridge work for you instead of against you. Here are our top 7 tips to organize your fridge this holiday season (or any time of year, really)…

7 Tips to Organize Your Fridge

1. START WITH A CLEAN SLATE:

Before you even write your holiday grocery list, clean out your fridge. Take everything out, clean every nook and cranny, and throw away anything that’s gone fuzzy. You probably won’t have an opportunity to do this again until sometime in mid-January, so be ruthless.

2. ANTICIPATE MESSES:

Messes happen, particularly when your fridge is stuffed. Attempting to clean a crowded fridge is an exercise in insanity, so anticipate the inevitable with a little preemptive cleaning. Line bins with paper towel to catch drips, double bag meats and store them on the bottom shelf, and keep sticky jams and syrups in removable bins for easy cleaning. If you encounter a spill, spot clean it with a sponge and a little baking soda; it will tackle the mess and freshen the fridge at the same time.

3. DON’T WASTE PRECIOUS FRIDGE SPACE ON SHELF STABLE ITEMS:

We love a cold can of pop as much as the next person. But when the fridge is fit to burst with holiday goodness, cans of cola (and beer) are better left in the pantry. You can still have a refreshing glass of your favourite pop, provided you add plenty of ice. Or keep a cooler in the garage or outside to keep drinks and other items cool that would be undesirable for your local urban creatures.

4. MOVE LEFTOVERS TO THE FRONT:

Leftovers are apart of the holiday experience, but they can overwhelm an already-stuffed fridge. All too often, a perfectly good serving of mashed potatoes or green bean casserole goes to waste because they get buried and sadly forgotten. Organize your fridge and move leftovers front and centre, so they are an easy choice for those in pursuit of a midnight snack.

5. STACK IT:

Every inch counts when your fridge is groaning with food, so it’s best to invest in stackable containers. Clear square containers are great not only because they’re stackable, but because they also give you a clear view of what they contain. You won’t have to take lengthy scans of the fridge if your inventory is easy to see. Not only will this make compiling grocery lists easier, it’ll also save you money on your energy bill.

6. ALWAYS LABEL:

Clear storage containers provide you with a good look at the leftovers you have on hand, but when you’re staring at a serving of stuffing, dating back to who knows when, a little clarity would be nice. No one likes wasting food, but food poisoning is not something you want to tango with. Simply by recording the time each container was packed you can have piece of mind about either digging in or chucking out.

7. DON’T OVERPACK:

This may be an impossible request – particularly when your fridge is housing a 15-pound turkey – but, if you can, try to leave a little space between items. When a fridge is too full it limits the flow of cool air. This results in lower efficiency, higher energy bills, and increased bacteria growth. If your fridge is consistently jam-packed it might be time to consider a roomier model or consider adding a separate freezer to the family. If these suggestions aren’t feasible, make smaller, more frequent trips to the grocery store, enlist the help of coolers or – if the weather cooperates – snow. No one is going to complain about fishing a frosty beer out of a snowdrift.