This easy fleece scarf would make the perfect first time sewing project. It’s so simple to make, and it’s for under $5 each. This is a very inexpensive project to tackle!
A few months ago I was at a marching band competition for my older two kiddos, and a lady walked by with the cutest fleece scarf on in their school colors. Of course, I thought to myself I could totally make that. And I did!
So, let’s get started!
I bought a half yard of red, black, and white fleece (our school colors). This was enough to make 3 scarfs. You can make them any color you’d like though.
First, I cut my fleece into long 7 inch wide strips, the length of the material. So I had one strip for each color. It doesn’t have to be exactly straight. You might notice mine aren’t all exactly 7 inches wide. Just do your best. This project is very forgiving. Lay the 3 strips on top of each other and pin in place.
Now it’s time to get out that sewing machine!
Then you will sew the fleece right down the middle in one long stitch.
Then you’ll take some fabric scissors and cut 1 inch strips on each side of the seam. Be careful not to cut all the way to the seam though.
Then I kind of fluffed up the scarf and tied a few knots here and there along each side to help hide the seam.
I am so excited on how it turned out! This would make a great first time sewing project to do with your girls. They’d love it!
Did you get carried away with the holiday spirit this past season? On the heels of hefty spending, the New Year is the best time to take stock of personal finance habits and make beneficial changes for the year ahead.
Here are some useful tips and tricks to spend and save wisely in 2017.
Think Long-Term
Don’t neglect the future. It’s never too early to save for retirement. In fact, the sooner you start, the better off you will be. Invest through a company-sponsored plan if possible. If not, look into IRAs that can help you grow your wealth exponentially.
Create Categorized Funds
Consider the 52-week savings challenge. In the first week, save $1, followed by $2 the second week, all the way through week 52, when you put aside $52. Sticking to this plan results in $1,378 saved at the end of the year, as well as any interest you’ve earned.
Creating a savings account for a specific purpose is a perennially sound savings strategy. Look for banks that are fee friendly, such as Ally Bank Member FDIC, ally.com, which allows you to open an Online Savings or Money Market account with no minimum and no monthly maintenance fee. You can deposit money easily through e-check deposit, direct deposit and you’ll earn interest compounded daily on your savings. In addition, putting this money in a separate account allows you to track your spending against the account balance.
Use Shopping Apps
It is incredibly easy to save money with a little online research. With a few minutes effort, you’ll find discount codes, loyalty programs or cashback websites that track your purchases and reward you for the extra step of navigating through their shopping portal instead of going straight to the big name retailers’ websites.
Reap Rewards
While no personal finance expert would advocate running up credit card bills one can’t afford, savvy consumers know how to take advantage of credit card reward programs for hotel points, airline miles or just straight cash in their pockets.
“Use credit cards that reward you for the things you buy the most,” says Diane Morais, chief executive officer and president of Ally Bank, the direct banking subsidiary of Ally Financial Inc.
There are often offers for opening a new credit card with a minimum spend, such as the Ally CashBack Credit Card, which provides a $100 bonus when you make $500 in eligible purchases during the first three billing cycles, and offers two percent cash back at gas stations and grocery stores, and one percent cash back on all other purchases — as well as 10 percent bonus on rewards that are deposited into an eligible Ally Bank account.
If you don’t want to open a new account, check your current credit cards for promotions or cash back offers, which can add up quickly on everyday purchases.
With a little homework, savvy consumers can make 2017 the year they spend strategically and save more.
In Texas, we can wear shorts on Christmas day, and the winter is not always too cold to enjoy outdoor activities or too dangerous to travel. So, if you find yourself in need of something to do with or without family, think about checking out these activities in New Braunfels, whether it be near your home or a little bit of a road trip.
Play at Fischer Park
The newest park in New Braunfels, Fischer Park is loaded with fun and educational activities, a Nature Education Center featuring two fishing ponds and The Archaeology Dig, “an area for young archaeologists to excavate and explore a combination of replica artifacts and dinosaur fossils buried in the sand.”
Children can get an opportunity to stretch their legs and get some physical activity in that they might be missing during the holiday beak at Fischer Park.
Take in the views
In New Braunfels, you can find many different views and scenery both in the city and in nature. The Faust Street Bridge, Cypress Bend Park, downtown New Braunfels’ famous gazebo, Dry Comal Creek Winery, and Vintage Oaks’ Timber Ridge Park have some of the best vistas in the city.
These views are perfect for photo opportunities and entertainment alike.
Quench Your Thirst
Looking for some time away from the kids in the Hill Country? The Texas Wine Trail includes some of the most popular wineries in Texas, and the entire area has become renowned as one of the world’s finest wine countries.
Huffington Post called the Texas Wine Country the “New Napa” for its “hours upon hours of sun and great soil” and its “perfect growing conditions for varietals better known in central Italy and France’s Rhone Valley. Today, Texas Hill Country is the second most visited wine tasting region in North American and top 10 in the world. Yet the region is just a fraction of Napa Valley with fewer than 50 vineyards and less than 300 in the entire state of Texas.”
Explore the wine trail, or, if beer is more your speed, the Hill Country Craft Beer Trail includes 17 different breweries and is based out of New Braunfels.
Discover the Live Music Scene
The Hill Country is a hotbed of live music, and many of the favorite Texas live music spots are right here in New Braunfels. The Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar is a favorite spot for a drink, a meal, and some great tunes, and is just next door to Gruene Hall. Tavern in the Grueneis a favorite spot for live music during Happy Hour on Thursdays and Fridays, and you can catch live tunes nearly every night of the week at Riley’s Tavern, Texas’ first tavern after prohibition. Top acts perform throughout the year at Whitewater Amphitheatre,New Braunfels’ popular large venue that overlooks the Guadalupe River.
Explore The Caves
In the city of New Braunfels, you’ll find impressive caves that offer a unique experience for families looking to explore. The largest caverns in the state of Texas are The Natural Bridge Caverns. Housing numerous cave formations and other unique geological features, the cave was discovered in the 1960s, but artifacts have been found dating back as far as 5,000 BC! The cave is ideal for touring all year long because it maintains a constant 70 degree Fahrenheit temperature.
Discover Gruene Historic District
Gruene is a favorite place to spend a day or evening year-round, but the town really comes alive in the winter, with beautiful holiday lights and numerous special events. You won’t want to miss live music and dancing at Gruene Hall, the oldest dance hall in the nation. Live shows with Josh Abbott Band and Ricky Skaggs and a special New Year’s Eve with Kevin Fowler are just a few of the musical highlights coming up this winter. While you’re in Gruene, don’t miss the opportunity to grab a piece of homemade fudge at Gruene General Store, one of the 40 best places to visit in Texas
Holidays are the ideal time for families to create special memories. Some of Kevin’s special memories with his grandparents were formed in the kitchen. If your grandchildren are visiting you during the holidays, why not create memories with them by letting them help you make this delicious and healthy snack.
Happy Cooking,
Kevin Wilson & Mom
Papa’s Banana Peanut Pops
Ingredients:
3 bananas, cut in thirds
2-4 ounces dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate, melted
2 tablespoons peanuts, chopped
2 teaspoons peanut butter
9 pop sticks
Wax paper
Step 1: Roll stick in peanut butter
Step 2: Poke stick in banana part, about 2/3rds of the way
Step 3: Roll banana in chocolate
Step 4: Roll banana in peanuts
Step 5: Place banana on waxed paper
Repeat 8 more times. Place pops in freezer for approximately 30 minutes. Eat and enjoy!
The new year is right upon us, whether we are ready or not, and many businesses, organizations, and individuals will be evaluating their leadership strategies from 2016. Growing in leadership is an extremely important asset to any person in a position of authority, and every business or organization should be working toward growth in leadership, goals, and values for the new year.
The better the leadership is, the better the response will be from employees and team members. If employees see consistent and purposeful growth in upper management, they are more likely to be motivated to join in with that growth than they would be to incite growth with no action from upper management.
In order to improve leadership in 2017, individuals and organizations alike should consider these five strategies.
Look back.
Take a look at the last year. What were your strategies for leading? How did you assist in resolving conflict, motivating employees, marketing products, communicating, etc.? Review the most important and beneficial strategies you used for the year and identify the strategies that may have held you back and caused you problems. One way to do this is through anonymous employee surveys. When a name is not attached, people often feel they can be honest without repercussion. If you cannot identify many strategies, take a look at number 5 in this list and make sure to implement it next year.
Discover how your leadership role has evolved.
Due to the natural course of life, your leadership role has almost inevitably changed. It is your job to discover how it has changed and whether or not that change hurt or helped your team. Using the pros and cons you developed in the looking back stage, hone in on the ways in which you specifically can change or continue to cultivate your leadership role. Does your team learn well under your style of leadership? For example, one person may be a tactile learner while another may be a verbal learner. These two individuals will not learn the same way and might even struggle learning any other way. Try taking the time to teach or communicate using all the senses and make an effort to reach employees who have difficulty understanding.
Evaluate the environment you create.
Last year, you and your team worked in an environment that was advantageous, detrimental, or somewhere in between. A leader can create the most brilliant of strategies for success and still fail to improve because the environment they cultivated was not prepared to succeed. An example of a detrimental environment would be one in which leadership is feared rather than respected. Some would say to be feared is to be respected; those people would be very wrong. If the people who need to be lead are afraid of their leaders, they will never fully understand their leader’s instructions, share in their leader’s dreams for the company’s future, or wish for the success of their leader and their workplace alike. On the other hand, it is just as important to continue to cultivate the good things your leadership has done for the working environment. No one wants to fall back because they did not realize they were doing a good thing.
Make changes.
Yes, change can be frightening. However, changing for the better can yield the most excellent results in personal and professional environments. Take this step and use the information you gathered in the past three stages to create a plan for the new year. This plan should be done in steps that are practical, so as to avoid becoming overwhelmed, and optimistic, so as to bring hope for a better future. Many new year’s resolutions are dropped because they are poorly planned, leaving a person or organization feeling like a failure because they simply took on too much at one time. Additionally, some new year’s resolutions are lost because they were not enticing enough. If you lose sight of why you are making the change, the change will become tedious and useless.
Plan for making more plans.
Take a moment to remember, even write down, how easy or hard it was for you to evaluate 2016. What strategy could you use to help you evaluate 2017 more efficiently? What strategy could you use to help your team or employees evaluate the next year better? If you keep this on your mind throughout the year, your research will be much better and your growth much easier than it may be right now.
Whatever your next endeavors may be for 2017, always be wise, hopeful, and consistent so you can continue to encourage yourself and those who look to you for leadership.
Weather not so nice today? It can be easy to feel restless when you’re spending the day indoors.
But there are plenty of ways to have fun at home. From redecorating to catching up on your favorite book, the discount experts at Dollar General are sharing some time-tested ideas for occupying your time in the “great indoors.”
Reorganize and Redecorate
Spend an afternoon organizing and adding personal touches to the rooms that your family enjoys the most. It can be a faster and more enjoyable task than you might think, if you are properly prepared.
Consider purchasing affordable, decorative baskets to hold papers, toys, books and other items that can clutter your home. Once organized, you can add accent pillows and decorative accessories like lamps, throws and pictures to complete the look.
Movie Day!
Instead of making a trip to the movie theater, bring the movie theater home — complete with all the trimmings. Gather some of your favorite movies, snacks and candies for your own little film festival. Consider sticking to a theme, like a favorite actor, genre or era. This is a great way to spend time indoors with family and friends.
Snack smart by looking for money-saving coupons. You can find great deals by downloading Dollar General digital coupons online at dollargeneral.com/coupons or through the Dollar General mobile app for smartphones. Digital coupons are an easy way to save on favorite items.
Catch Up On Reading
Spend a relaxing afternoon checking off books on your “must read” list. Set up a quiet, comfortable space for reading and be sure to leave your smartphone in another room, so you won’t be tempted by interruptions. Make it a group activity by creating reading challenges between those in your family or even joining a book club.
Whether curled up with a book or hosting friends for a movie extravaganza, never underestimate the fun you can have indoors.
Often times it can be very difficult to know how to fill the long hours that children have when they are out of school for the holidays, and trying to fill those hours paired with hosting the holidays can spell a really exhausting time for parents.
To help reduce some of that exhaustion, here are some things you can do with your children on New Year’s Eve.
0-2 years
Trying to navigate New Year’s Eve with a newborn can be tricky but do-able. If you can’t find a family member or friend to watch your child, try hosting the celebration at your own home. That way you can monitor your child and let him or her be a part of the party.
Here are a few more ideas:
Host a Baby Party: Invite over your friends and their babies. Set out baby foods and finger foods, plus festive drinks for the adults. Set out toys for the children to play, and the adults can visit and enjoy each other’s company. Before everyone leaves, stage a mock countdown and blow some noisemakers.
Look back on the year: With family and friends, take an hour to look at photos and share memories from the year.
Take a family photo: To capture baby’s first New Year or to make a memory last, snap a photo of your family. Hire a photographer or take a photo with your phone or camera. It’s a great way to look back and remember those early years.
Go out early: You don’t have to stay up till midnight to celebrate the New Year, go out early with your family and friends to have a fun evening.
3-5 years
Toddlers love dress up. This New Year’s Eve, try dressing up with your toddler with party hats and streamers or with your best attire to make the night feel fun and special. You could host a family slumber party in the living room to watch the ball drop or to enjoy a cozy night by the fire.
Another idea is to blow up balloons and put fun activities in them. Then every hour on the hour before the clock strikes midnight, pop a balloon to find an activity as family to do together. Not only will your children enjoy the evening, it is a great way to make family memories together. A few activity ideas include: have a dance party, make brownies, sing karaoke, pop your confetti poppers, make a toast, and make some noise at 12 a.m.
Plus, another idea is to set up a photobooth in your house. You can buy a roll of craft paper or use left over wrapping paper to set up as your backdrop. Raid your house for silly props – a feather boa, a top hat, or any other top prop to add flaire to the photo. Take our your phones or a camera to take silly snapshots throughout the night.
6-10 years
For this age range, children often want to be included in the adult festivities. To do this, you could set the clock back and do the midnight countdown together to help them stay on schedule. Allowing them to toast the New Year along with you using sparkling cider will also help them feel included.
Plus, Netflix is bringing a selection of special countdowns for families to enjoy together. The countdowns will be available on Dec. 28. You can countdown a couple of hours before the clock strikes midnight, so the children will go to bed on time. This is also great for younger ages.
11-15 years
At this age, children have likely received invitations from their friends for New Year’s Eve parties or have asked you to host a party. Before letting them leave for a friend’s, instruct them on being safe around fireworks and alcohol. If you are hosting a party, don’t be afraid to use fireworks if you live in a place where you can. The best way for children to learn to be safe around fireworks is to learn to in their own home.
Local Activities
If you would rather forgo hosting a party, there are plenty of activities around East Texas to entertain children or whole families.
For the whole family, Lufkin’s game store Gamer’s Hollow is having a New Year’s celebration complete with brisket, board games, give away’s, and more. Meal tickets will be $5. For more information, check out their Facebook page here.
The Skate Ranch in Lufkin and Skate-o-Rama in Nacogdoches will be hosting New Year’s Eve parties with door prizes, Dash-For-Cash competitions, and more. The Skate Ranch will be holding an event from 12-5 p.m. with a $5 admission and an event from 7 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. with a $12 admission. Skate-O-Rama will be open from 12-8 p.m. with a $6 admission. All skate rentals are extra. Parents who will just be attending to watch their kids do not have to pay admission. For more information, visit their website here.
The Woodlands will have horse drawn carriage rides and other festivities on Market Street during New Year’s Eve. For more information, visit this website.
For more of an outdoors approach, consider checking out your closest state park’s activities on New Year’s Eve. From geocaching to stargazing, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has an event for you. For more information, check out their events on their website here.
To enjoy free fireworks and friends, check out Ellen Trout Zoo’s fireworks show in Lufkin. For more information, visit the Skate Ranch and Skate-O-Rama Facebook pages.
Look the truth square in the face and let’s get back on track.
The holidays are behind us and it’s time to get started on a brand New Year.
Assessing the holiday damage on your waistline can sometimes be shocking and a little depressing. It’s OK. Take a deep breath. Look the truth square in the face and let’s get back on track.
First of all, remember, you are not alone. Most people go a little nuts over the holidays. It’s easy to do. Honestly, I think I would be sad if I didn’t get to enjoy some fudge and peppermint bark at Christmastime. I’m sure there are people who eat clean through the entire holiday season, but…..no thanks!
Good for them, but I’m glad I’m not one of them. A little indulgence isn’t going to kill me.
No matter if you went a little nuts or way nuts, there’s hope. You can get back on track!
Set your sights ahead and don’t dwell on the past. Even if you’ve tried to get back on track in the past and failed miserably, keep reaching for that goal. It’s worth it. Stay positive and forget what’s behind you. Dwelling on our past failures can set us up for yet another failure. Look ahead with optimism and hope.
Don’t make things too complicated. Eating well and getting in shape doesn’t have to be difficult or complex. Start slow if that works better for you. Get moving 15-30 minutes a day. Examine the way you’ve been eating. Most people know where their diet problems lie if they are truly honest with themselves. Start eating a little less. Eliminate the things that cause you to binge. A few simple changes in your diet and exercise habits can do wonders.
Get an accountability partner. Everyone needs a workout bestie or two. Going to a fitness class or hitting the weight room is always better with a friend. Go beyond just a workout buddy though. Find someone who will encourage you to eat well and isn’t threatened by your healthy habits. The best accountability partners are those who truly want the best for us and will talk us off the ledge when we are about to devour a pan of brownies.
Find a workout and eating plan that YOU like! No one particular eating and fitness plan is right for everyone. If everyone you know is doing a hardcore boot camp, but that’s not something you like and will stick with for the long haul, DON’T DO IT! If your friends are going gluten free, but that sounds awful to you, DON’T DO IT! It will take a little trial and error, but keep experimenting until you find what works for your life.
Slow and steady wins the race. Don’t expect to lose those 10 holiday pounds in two weeks. It will take time. Know that going forward and accept it. Be patient, patient, patient.
Expect setbacks. You may really blow it one day. You may sleep through a work out or gorge on chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant, but that’s okay. It happens. Pick yourself back up. Lace up your sneakers and get back out there. Don’t wallow in self-pity. So, you blew it. Big deal. How will you respond? THAT is what matters. THAT is what will determine if you will be successful in your health and fitness journey.
Forget about the past and get on with living healthy. Make this year the best one yet!
Photo by North Pole Head Photographer Rhonda Swanson.
They say behind every good man is a better woman, and behind the man with rosy cheeks and a beard of snow white is a woman with rosier cheeks and a chuckle that brightens even the gloomiest of days: the Mother of Christmas, Mrs. Claus.
With just hours left before the big night, we caught up with Mrs. Claus, who is doing last minute checks on the Naughty and Nice List. Across North Pole Headquarters, Santa Claus is double checking that presents are in order and ready to fly out on his sleigh tomorrow.
A photo of Mrs. Claus. Photo by North Pole Head Photographer Rhonda Swanson.
“This year has been very busy,” Mrs. Claus said. “There were more children on the Nice List than ever before. The elves have been very busy making toys for the good boys and girls.”
After she finished checking the list, Mrs. Claus sat in her rocker and threw her quilt over her legs to keep warm with the chilly evening at the North Pole. Her quilt is made of photos of her and Santa taken during their vacations after Christmas is over each year. She pointed to one photo in particular of a young Santa and Mrs. Claus smiling for the camera.
“Oh, how we love Christmas; we love presents and gifts, but we also love spending time together at the beach in Miami,” Mrs. Claus said. “I actually met Santa at the beach, oh so many years ago. It was the twinkle in his eye that caught my attention. …So, now every year we visit Miami and remember the first time we met. I sure do love Santa; he still has the same twinkle in his eye.”
Every night Mrs. Claus has a routine: She tucks the elves into bed, reads their favorite book, “The Polar Express,” to them, and then off she goes to the barn to feed the nine reindeer that lead Santa’s sleigh: Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen.
Prancer is her favorite though; he eats the most of her chocolate chip cookies, she said.
A photo of Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. Photo taken by North Pole Head Photographer Rhonda Swanson.
“The elves are more like children to me. They all call me Mama Claus. It just makes my heart so happy,” she said. “The reindeer are a very big part of our family. Without them Christmas just wouldn’t happen, especially Rudolph, with his red nose leading the way during those foggy nights. Sometimes during the spring and summer months, we’ll take the reindeer out for a ride. It’s so fun to ride in Santa’s sleigh.”
For nearly 300 years, Mrs. Claus has spent every year in the North Pole, but before she was Mother Christmas, she was known as a young girl named Martha. She grew up in London, her mother was the town’s seamstress and her father owned a Christmas tree farm. It was only fate that she would later become Mrs. Claus, she said.
“Growing up, I loved to lay in our yard at night looking for falling stars. I used to make wishes on them,” Mrs. Claus said. “I wanted to make a difference in the world, and I think I am doing just that with Christmas every year. Being the ‘Mother of Christmas’ is the greatest joy in my life and the best wish that ever came true.”
Looking back on previous years, Mrs. Claus said her favorite Christmas memory is when Head Elf Billy came to her with tears in his eyes. He shared a story about a young girl named Mia from Australia who was starting to not believe in Santa anymore.
“We just couldn’t let that happen now, could we?” Mrs. Claus said. “Unknown to my sleeping husband, Billy and I stole his sleigh, hooked Prancer up, and off to Australia we went. We flew onto the roof of Mia’s home, quietly we went down the chimney, and there was little Mia sleeping on the couch.”
A photography of Mrs. Claus and Mia. Photo by North Pole Head Photographer Rhonda Swanson.
Billy woke up Mia with a little nudge, handed her a jingle bell, and told her, “Every time you ring that bell, we will ring our bell at the North Pole.” The duo then gave Mia a swift ride on the sleigh. After a hug or two was shared and a carrot for Prancer was given, Mia went back to bed with that jingle bell in hand and a renewed belief in Santa and the magic of Christmas.
“Mia still believes,” Mrs. Claus said. “She is now a grandma and she has passed that jingle bell to her grandchildren. Every time they ring the bell, we still ring our bell.”
With time quickly passing before the big night, Mrs. Claus realized she forgot to double check one last name on the Naughty and Nice List – Owen Thornton. He is a four-year-old boy in Huntington, Texas “who loves trains and playing with his friend Ethan Ledbetter,” she said.
“Owen has had a very big year. He got a little brother right before last Christmas named Cooper. It’s been a little hard adjusting to a new brother, but he’s done very well,” Mrs. Claus said. “Owen’s been a very good boy this year; he even learned how to spell his own name. That makes me very happy.”
As the night came to a close, Mrs. Claus folded up her quilt, swept up the cookie crumbs left by Santa, gathered her belongings, and gave a quick kiss to her husband as he turned in for the night.
“We better get our rest before tomorrow comes,” she said.
With a twinkle in her eye, Mrs. Claus added, “Never stop believing in Santa Claus and the magic he brings every year to Christmas.”
Santa peaked around the corner and with a cheerful voice he said, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight.’”
After nearly 300 years of marriage, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus still love each other very much. They are excited to visit Miami this year after Christmas is over. Photo taken by North Pole Head Photographer Rhonda Swanson.
