Christmas Eve Shenanigans…for all ages

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! So many lights, so much to do, you just want to be done with it all so you can sit back and enjoy the day with your family. Christmas eve is my favorite part, the anticipation of the next morning for the kids to see what Santa brought, the excitement for you to see the kids’ faces when they open that item that you worked so hard to buy and maybe even find.

For me I love the time together on Christmas eve watching Christmas movies, drinking Hot cocoa, playing games, eating our favorite munchies… Cocktail meatballs are a Christmas eve tradition with us…OMG!! guys, I’m not kidding this new Cranberry BBQ sauce it is so dang yummy! What a game changer from the grape jelly and chilis sauce meatballs… this is even easier! Just one ingredient a bottle of this sauce and a bag of meatballs for the perfect holiday meatball! SOO GOOD!

Anyway now that I’m drooling over these meatballs lets get back to getting ready for Family time.  I am obsessed with the Christmas pajama tradition… My kids are now fully grown, and I still buy them jammies and have them wear them over to my house for Christmas eve. We play reindeer games now where I team them up, dress them up and send them on a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood. They must find things, take pictures, sing carols, and make it back first to the house with their list checked off to win a prize and of course bragging rights. They love it! My future daughter in law gets so excited every year. I created this new tradition when my kids started getting older and I could see the excitement and the magic was harder for them to see. We do believe in God and Know that it is about our lord and savior Jesus Christ and that is the reason for this day, We honor and worship him and celebrate that with our family time coming together.

Nostalgia Retro Frother and Hot Chocolate Maker and Dispenser, 32 Oz, for Coffees, Lattes, Cappuccinos

I found this AMAZING festive hot chocolate maker on Amazon that will take the tearing packets and stirring individual cups out of the equation for when this crazy family of mine come rushing through the door like its the amazing race on Christmas eve, It is so cute! The hot cocoa can be made and ready to pour when they all get back from their reindeer games I found these adorable disposable Santa cups with handles too, so that I’m not scrubbing cocoa out of our mugs all season long and I have a cute cup to offer to my neighbors if I get any carolers coming our way this year! They just jumped into my cart. What a great touch for a hot cocoa bar for all the Christmas gatherings. While I was on the search for my pajamas and fun Christmas eve ideas to add this year, I came across this board game that I thought I could incorporate into our annual reindeer games and had to get it, it’s got 12 different games that we can play to earn our scavenger hunt checklist, OHHH WHAT FUN its going to be!  I don’t know about you but, I always struggle to find jammies that have everyone’s sizes. I found this set that still has a lot of sizes available so hurry if you have not grabbed any yet for your fam and check them out quick!

OK guys seriously…  one of the best things I found on my search was this HUGE cozy and snuggly family size blanket that will cover everyone! This baby will reach across the whole couch and all the peeps in your family while sipping your cocoa and watching all your favorite Christmas movies. Your family will feel Christmas wrapping around them when they see you pull this warm & Cozy out year after year! I wish I found this when my kids were younger to start this tradition earlier, however this will bring my big kids back to the couch just like they were young again, I’m so excited to cozy up with them! One day this baby will become a Grammy tradition for me and my future grandkids, aww warms my heart to think about!! So of course in my brain went there an I had to buy this adorable cookie plate for Santa for my future grand kids to put treats out at Grammys' house lol!

I will put it out and have this cute little Christmas list that comes with it for them to fill out with there little hands writing down all the things, and then have them stick it in my cute “letters to Santa mailbox” I have and get lost in their imagination. Actually I’m sure I will find a few lists in it from my adult kids too… who am I kidding? I love that Christmas eve brings out the kids in them still. So when I pull out the classic A Christmas Story to read before they all head out for the evening they humor me and sit and listen. I LOVE THAT! I also found this sweet little Christmas book Little Red SleighI hope this blog helps you all find new traditions and family fun for Christmas eve this year and every year!

HAPPY HOLLIDAYS from my family to yours, CHEERS! ~ LynnDee Lane

As an Amazon Associate. I earn from qualifying purchases.

Four Great Gift Ideas for the Ladies in your Life.

Hello! Welcome back to LynnDee lane, We appreciate you enjoying our content for life’s little details. I am so excited to write this blog today and share the awesome gifts I got for my birthday with all of you!

So I just had a birthday! It was a special birthday for me, not because my age was anything significant or a milestone, but because of the time I had with my family this year. I am bound and determined to figure out my next steps for my life with this website and affiliate marketing venture. My RAD family spent the day helping me and supporting my efforts. I am getting older and some of this stuff I am learning on the tech side is blowing my mind.

Slowly but surely, I am getting there. I have created LynnDee Lane as one of those steps to enrich my life, your lives, and my family’s life. So, no, we didn’t have a party or anything fancy. All I wanted for my birthday this year was a day to get help with my website, start creating content, and launch my first endeavor. I didn’t get to launch that day, but I did two days later with my first blog about Thanksgiving. If you haven’t read it yet, please check it out.

My birthday was as simple as turning on college football, my guys hanging out in the living room, and my sweet future daughter-in-law helping me with SOOO much. She and my son bought me this ADORABLE planner for my birthday that says “Start with a dream run with a plan,’ which couldn’t have been more relevant for me. I’m sure there are many others in my shoes, too. For me, I’m in the trial and error stage of figuring it out and losing my mind on the reg. I needed that reminder and organization that this little planner has given me. She just gets it. I have been on my phone looking up how-to videos and on the computer trying to understand it all simultaneously. It’s too much to remember. This planner is truly a blessing to go back to the good old days of just writing my list and my notes with an old fashioned pen & paper. Hallelujah! These old relics need a little love! This planner has places for dates, GOALS! (I love that), plans, priorities, and above all, inspiration. It calms me down just before I feel the need to throw the computer out a window. NOW THATS A PLANNER! I highly recommend this for any woman that is starting out with any online business. It’s been a life saver!

My awesome husband came in clutch this years with a pair of Beats ear buds! I’ve always wanted a pair! I was silently hoping that guy from Tik-Tok would come alongside of me and cut the wires on my headphones, then pull out a new pair of AirPods. I’m glad he didn’t, because I am in love with these Beats Studio Buds – True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds – Compatible with Apple & Android, Built-in Microphone, IPX4 Rating, Sweat Resistant Earphones, Class 1 Bluetooth Headphones. They are so cool and I feel so cool wearing them! I don’t even care that he was clearly trying to keep me from interrupting his shows or watching TikToks too loud. Now, I don’t hear him and all his annoying laughing at his shows either. its a win-win! These are glorious and can possibly save a marriage! Haha just kidding, love you babe!

Ok, let’s talk about my Stanley tumbler. OMG you guys, I was so excited when I saw her! I was looking for one for foreverrrr…Of course my BFF is the best and she found one for me. She always has the best luck. I could not believe how hard these Stanley cups are to find. They are in stock now at Amazon. The item of the season! This will be the perfect gift for any of the men or women in your life. They come in many different colors and they hold ice all day long. They’re tall, slender, and fit in my cup holder. They are magical. Everyone is trying to get their hands on these babies, so run don’t walk to get yours now.

So this brings me to my fourth gift that I cant wait to share with you. We as women…me as literally a year older this week can not stop trying to turn back time all over our face! My angel of a daughter got me this bottle of Watermelon Glow pink juice moisturizer This stuff is AWESOME… especially for sensitive skin. If you have the skin like me when you have to be so careful you don’t breakout. Yes, even older women breakout if they are putting yuk on their faces. This hydrating moisturizer is a game changer and its only been a week! I love it, it has this “glow recipe” that gives you that dewy fresh soft face and the scent is a very light soft watermelon, yumm! I love this new product so far. I did notice that they have a whole product line so I will definitely be trying some other products that they have to offer. This little blush pink bottle is so cute definitely 10 out of 10 for me on this product.

I hope this gave you some great ideas for holiday gifts ideas for her this year that you can’t go wrong with!

BLOG PLOT TWIST…Surprise her with something off my list, that she didn’t put on hers…she won’t even see it coming, but she will be happy it did!

As an Amazon Associate. I earn from qualifying purchases.

Happy Shopping, from my family to yours,

CHEERS! ~LynnDee Lane

Thanksgiving made easy like Sunday morning.

YES! Halloween is over…now lets get cozzzzy…GOBBLE, GOBBLE to all my creatively challenged pals! I’m here to help you find your flair. If you are like me, I need to finish one holiday before we leap into the next! My head spins when I walk into all my favorite stores and experience “hallogivingmas” where all the holidays are on a combo platter on Isle one! We are all spinning enough on this earth right now; let bring it back to simpler times. I’m here to tell you it’s ok to slow down and enjoy each season. It’s ok that Mrs. Jones has all her holiday shopping done and wrapped right after dropping the kids off for their first day of school. I applaud anyone who can pull it off. However, I find it hard to believe that she’s not trying to prove something to someone. Most of us are familiar with that I guess … anxiety is real and we don’t need to add to it by feeling unaccomplished because we cant keep up with the everchanging expectations. NO! NO! NO! set your own pace and enjoy your life.

I’m so happy you are here for some table talk on creating your perfect “stress free” Thanksgiving ambiance this holiday season. With inflation high (ugh) we have all been hit. It’s a little intimidating to spend any money right now on the fluff of creating the warmth of the day for things that are not necessarily needs, but still wanting to create a cozy and inviting vibe that brings the nostalgia back to gathering for Thanksgiving. Without taking too much out of the household budget in these uncertain times, I am here to help you get creative and create an amazing table setting without worry. I have found some amazing items on Amazon that will help kick start this vision for you and your family’s Thanksgiving memories. I think that in different parts of the country we have amazing fall foliage under our fingertips that can be used for free. Some of us just don’t have the seasons and resources like others. So, if you are like me, you may need to purchase a few key items that others can simply go out into the backyard and gather. I’m so jealous of that!

So let’s get creating thanksgiving memories around the table with some easy touches that will make everyone relax and enjoy a beautiful and inviting feeling of just being together. Let me first start by telling you that less is more these days. If you are anything like how I used to be, you might think you need perfection. If one thing was not how I envisioned it, then I was upset. Not anymore! The key is to be organized and not do things last minute. Just keep it as simple as possible. I’m hoping this blog will convince you that it doesn’t matter as much as you think. It will be ok…we can do it better, enjoy it more, and truly soak up the people that we love and that’s what’s important!  So, let’s keep it simple yet classic… Divide and conquer with the food. Have all the peeps that are coming to your gathering bring what they can help with, so that you can focus on creating the space, hosting, laughing, engaging in family games and kodak moments.

You may want to do the main course if that’s a traditional turkey or whatever that may be, as traditions are not story book pictures anymore. We had steaks last year?! what? did I really say it was ok to not have a turkey on the table?? Yes, yes I did!  It is whatever brings us around the table that means the most to me these days. Especially with the shortage of turkeys and the price that may be attached to them this year. You don’t want to add to your anxiety by being like Mrs. Krank searching for her hickory honey ham on Christmas Eve. So remember as long as the people you love are laughing around the table with full bellies, does it really matter what we are putting in them?

So, my first tip is to organize your food if it’s you that decides to plan the whole meal or if you will delegate it out. Less is more… do we really need 15 different sides? I say no, but if you are planning on extra food so everyone can take home leftovers, I get it… So get that planned so you can rest easy that there will be a feast for your guests.

My favorite part… creating your beautiful table, the heart of thanksgiving in my opinion! I like to have all the food left in the kitchen and plated in there so that there is more room on my table for ambiance, so while the plates are stacked by the food and not at the place setting I like to create the image that the table is fully set with either a charger plate, round place mat, or even if the budget is really tight scrap book paper is a great way to create this illusion. place cards are always a sweet touch to the setting you can do so many amazing options for this however, this year I will have a thankful station set up, have my guest draw a name as they walk in the door with a stack of thank you notes to write a thank you card to leave on that persons place setting as their place card a special touch and heartfelt sentiment.

I always like to have something running down the center of the table for presentation and warmth. In addition to your must have salt and pepper, butter dish and maybe a craft or pitcher of water add some height and dimensions with candles, fall pumpkins, leaves, anything that just says THANKSGIVING but not to thick it looks cluttered or too high that you can not see the person sitting across from you, don’t over think it you can not mess this up just place your items on the table and play. I attached Amazon links of cute stuff I found to inspire you, but you can absolutely use anything you already have to create your warm table.

So lets keep it easy! At this point your table is almost set. We just need the plates, napkins and cutlery in my opinion they should all get tossed! throw it away, nobody wants to spend time doing dishes. It is worth it to purchase the nice disposable items for these necessities. you can find some cute stuff that can be tossed these days! Save yourself from laundry time for napkins, polishing silver, and sink time doing dishes…we love AMAZON right? halleluiah!

My favorite part… DRINKING GLASSES, haha I bet you didn’t see that coming… it is truly the glitter for the table! this is where you go big or go home in my opinion I love to have a nice goblet or wine glass in a accent color and texture to pop on the table, they reflect the candle light and truly make the table sparkle! Purchase this staple that can be reused over and over when entertaining at any gatherings you host, either in a fun color like a bright blue or soft teal just something that off sets your fall colors scheme a bit, maybe just a neutral but a fun texture whatever vibe you like. look at your local second hand store for these as well if you have the time, it could save a lot of money and you can find unique vintage items. I hope this helps you create your special moments this Thanksgiving, I would love to hear all about it!

* when purchasing you paper napkins keep in mind the color of your beautiful new glasses making the napkins tie in the whole table décor is aesthetic to the eye!

THANKSGIVING BLOG HACK>>> cupcake tins come in so handy in creating portion size tv dinners to just pop in the oven when ready for yummy leftovers. cover with foil they stack well in the fridge and so convenient. Line the cup with a cupcake liner if you have a cold side that you need to remove before heating! Best part once again… NO DISHES! YAY YOU!

As an Amazon Associate. I earn from qualifying purchases.

Thank you for reading my first Blog! Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours…CHEERS!