Each week Marietta Patch’s Frugal Family offers creative ideas for family living. Whether it’s couponing, 2-for-1 deals or affordable family fun, we scour local resources to save you time as well as money.
The week after Christmas can be challenging for everyone in the family. Parents are overtired and overspent. Kids, in spite of the fact that they just got presents, often claim to be “bored” during this particular week and they, for the most part, are certainly over-stimulated at this point. In short, the entire family is stressed, even if it’s “good” stress. This week Frugal Family offers simple suggestions for enjoying the rest of the holidays, maintaining or creating new family traditions and reenergizing the body and soul for the upcoming New Year. What better way to do this than by focusing on pleasing our “senses:”Sound, Taste, Touch Sight and Smell? Read on for interesting, affordable ways to jump start your senses and starting 2013…
Take a look at our Christmas cookie recipes and share your recipes with us.
HERSHEY'S GREAT AMERICAN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES (Taken from Santa’s Favorite Cookies) 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, soft ¾ cup granulated sugar ¾ cup packed light brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 eggs 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 cup chopped nuts (optional) Heat oven to 375 degrees. In large bowl beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla until creamy. Add eggs; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating well. Stir in chips and nuts. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. …
Steps you can take to decrease your chances of being a victim.
While you're away at the malls doing some window shopping for the holidays, bear in mind that thieves are, too. Drive around and you'll see amazing displays of holiday decorations. But having those Christmas trees and scores of gifts tucked underneath in full public view 24-7 is not a good idea. "If I can see it, so can the criminals," said Atlanta Police Department Lt. Marshall Roberson, who spoke Wednesday at the November meeting of Neighborhood Planning Unit-W. "You've got to think about this stuff. Use a little common sense; don't have everything visible to the street from your window." He reminded NPU members that with the holiday season now here, folks will be receiving lots of packages. Those are tempting to thieves too and …
