5 Tips to Help Reduce Stress This Holiday Season

The holidays are often touted as being “the most wonderful time of the year,” but some people are left feeling stressed out, burned-out, and counting the days until the holidays are over and life goes back to normal.

The number one way we stress ourselves out is by overthinking. There are a lot of decisions to make during the holidays, whether it’s planning meals, accommodating family members from out of town, or shopping for gifts. What are some things you can do to simplify your to-do list?

With shopping lists to check off, food to prepare, budgets to keep, and people to please, we often get so caught up in the details of trying to make everything perfect that we forget to take care of ourselves. The holidays can and should be enjoyable to you too! There are plenty of ways to increase the zen and decrease the anxiety during this year’s holiday season. 

Here are some big areas where you can infuse some simplicity and reduce stress this holiday season:

1. Events: Overscheduling is one of the main things that can quickly lead to burnout during the holiday season. You don’t need to schedule a bunch of complicated, holiday-themed outings to have fun. Plan simple activities for your family that are close to home. Cuddling up on the couch for a Christmas movie, or blasting holiday music and taking a drive around town to look at the lights can be just as fun.

2. Gifts: When it comes to buying gifts for neighbors, acquaintances, teachers, and distant family, buy the same thing, and buy it in bulk. A small candle, a simple ornament, a festive hand-soap are great options to stock up on for simple, yet thoughtful gifts. 

3. Gift Wrapping: If you don’t want to spend time on gift-wrapping…don’t! Whether you buy gifts on the internet or in a store, most places will gladly wrap your gifts for a small fee. You can also buy nice-looking but affordable gift bags and tissue paper, which makes the process foolproof, quick, and still looking festive.

4. Food: If you are in charge of preparing a lot of food, ask for help. If that's not a possibility, consider buying food from a bakery or restaurant. If you must cook, find easy, beginner-level recipes that won't take up your entire day to prepare. You don't need to slave away over complicated, fancy recipes to make great-tasting food.

5. Free Time: We are so quick to schedule time for others, but rarely do we clear a block of time for ourselves. At the beginning of each week during this holiday season, sit down with your planner or calendar and see where you can fit in some time to relax at home and enjoy yourself. Whether it’s sitting by the tree, reading a book, taking a bath or enjoying a spa day at home with Uncle Bud’s Hemp 5-Day Renewing Face Mask Kit, scheduling downtime on your calendar is a great way to make sure you have time to slow down and enjoy the holidays.

The holidays go by in a flash, but a little mindfulness can help you live in the moment and enjoy this special time of year. Take time this season to slow down. You deserve to enjoy the holidays and make happy, stress-free memories with your loved ones. It’s nice to give to others during the holiday season, but we shouldn’t forget to give ourselves the gift of time and relaxation. If you take good care of yourself, your holidays will be less stressful and more fun. After all, you deserve to enjoy some silent nights!

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How to Entertain in Style

It’s never too early to plan ahead, especially when you are expecting guests in your home. Your family and friends know and might love your style, but it can be important to spice things up now and again to impress your visitors. Factors such as lights, music and food can affect your guests experience in your home.

To remain stylish and keep your party going, consider these tips for fun and festive home entertaining.

Back to Basics.
Staying organized is key while entertaining guests in your home. Try to plan out every detail before the big event, which can allow things to go more smoothly on the big day. As you think out your plan ahead of time, making lists can be a helpful way to stay organized and ensure you get everything done. List out your guests, what needs to be picked up from the store and possible decorations you might need to buy or craft yourself. The possibilities can seem endless, but it’s important to have a plan in place before you start putting things together.

Think about Theme.
There are numerous ways your style can be shown while entertaining. One way is to pick a theme or theme-related food dishes. One way to show your theme is through decorations. Placing them throughout your home can give the party some life and help guests get into the overall theme of the party.

Light up the Party.
Transforming your home can be made simpler by changing the lighting. It’s typical for lights to be dimmed for parties to set a more relaxed mood. Other ideas include using candles, lamps or even hanging lanterns if you are entertaining outside. Make sure it’s bright enough so everyone can see, but dimmed enough to set the mood for the evening’s events.

Set the Mood with Music.
Pick music that matches your theme and inspires that same feel throughout the house. If you’re going for a fun, energetic atmosphere, try something with a quick tempo, such as pop. If you’re wanting to relax, go for subtler, soothing tones. Try making your playlist before you entertain and listen to it a few times through, that way you can know what to expect and how guests will react to your music selections.

Enjoy it.
Through all the anxiety and stress of entertainment planning, make sure you take time to enjoy yourself during the time guests are in your home. Some guests will notice if you’re not having a good time. Smile and remember to be present in the moment.

Find more entertainment tips at eLivingToday.com.

How-To Plan An Amazing Pool Party

Pool parties are a fantastic way to cool off during the hot summer months and celebrate with friends and family by your side. Pool parties bring great joy to our hearts and are a great way to celebrate a birthday, end of the school year or family reunion!

While the party itself will be of the upmost fun, preparing is very important. A party without a plan will leave you to busy to join in the fun and no one (least of all me) wants that. Follow these steps to help you plan an amazing pool party and some of the burden off of the big event. Allowing you all the time you need to sit back and enjoy the moment.

Guest List

Think about all the people you want to invite and then rethink it by counting how many the pool can actually handle. Be sure to consider the number of both adults and children as all of us tend to enjoy the splash of a great party. Yes, I know the number could be vastly different but this will save you the chaos of having an overcrowded space.

Invites

In this wondrous technology age, sending an invite can be as easy as it is free. You can create a customized photo invite online with PicMonkey or on your own PC with Photoshop. Then send it to everyone over email, via Facebook or even text. You can also print off the invite from your printer and mail it through snail mail for those that are not ready to engage the web-way.

Supplies

Think about both fun and safety. I would request that attendees be sure to bring any life jackets or swimming aids that they or their child needs. This also includes approved swim diapers for the younger ones. With this being said, there's always at least one that forgets, just does not own what they or maybe the equipment becomes damaged during the party. Keeping a few pieces available as extras is a good idea.

When it comes to fun, supplies can be simple or outrageous. Water balls, dive sticks, noodles and float are a great idea to have on hand for your upcoming pool party. If you are planning a themed event, be sure to grab things that fit the mood.

Our favorite water party is a Pirates & Mermaids. At one point in time, everyone (at least the ones I know) have dreamed of being a fish or mermaid. This often comes after a Disney movie night. Why not bring those dreams to reality a few monofins, mermaid fins at Suntailmermaid.com. These are so much fun to swim with for both kids and adults. Best of all, they can be worn with your favorite swimsuit or as part of a mermaid tail which allows everyone to join in on the fin-action.

Food

If your pool is outdoors and at your home, you have a lot of options. Homemade popsicles, hamburgers, chips & dip and fresh fruit are our go-to. You could also offer cold-cut meats and cheeses as well as a selection of veggie trays for a healthier choice. Cold drinks should be plentiful as well. Lots of waters, lemonade, tea and some sport drinks are the best for keeping you hydrated when you are hosting during the summer months.

If the pool is in a public area, be sure to check with the company on what you are allowed to bring in to the area ahead of time.

Decorations

Less is more. Keeping it light on decor is a must when water is involved. Finding paper, plastic and other items in the pool that do not belong there and could be a hazard is something you can avoid by going light in this area. Instead, used electric lanterns, high banners and themed servingware to help set the mood.

Supervision

Never leave a child unattended in the pool. Be sure to have plenty of helpful adults in or around the pool to keep an eye on things. A good rule of thumb is one adult for every 3-5 children. You could also considering hiring a lifeguard. Often the local city pools have a list of licenced individuals and could point you in the right direction.

In the end, planning for both safety and necessity will leave you open to enjoy the party with the attendees. All that is left for you to do now is eat, swim and laugh.

A New Way to Watch a Fan Favorite

If you’re an entertainment seeker looking for a love story, chances are you may be interested in watching (or re-watching) one of the most popular reality dating shows to date.

TV viewers can enjoy some of the most thrilling seasons in “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” history with the first seasons of the shows streaming on Tubi starting April 1.

Fans can relive the magic of the opening seasons of the original shows, featuring contestant Trista (Rehn) Sutter finishing runner-up in season one of “The Bachelor” before finding love as the first Bachelorette with firefighter Ryan Sutter. After 16 years of marriage, the former TV stars can relish the opportunity to enjoy the ride alongside both original fans and new viewers.

“It brings back so many memories to watch early episodes and all those rose ceremonies,” Trista said. “It’s nice that fans of the show can relive those memories with us again.”

Fans can also re-experience the Sutter wedding ceremony, “Trista & Ryan’s Wedding,” which aired as a three-episode special and drew more than 26 million viewers, making it one of the most widely viewed episodes in reality TV history. In addition to the original series that started it all, viewers will be able to stream a 2018 television event, the fifth season of “Bachelor in Paradise.”

A massive library of films and TV shows are available for viewers, all without the hassle of credit cards and subscription fees, via ad-supported streaming services like Tubi, the largest of its kind, available on virtually every platform from mobile devices to video game consoles and more. With more than 40,000 hours of offerings, including 12,000 movies and television series, viewers can indulge in genres of all kinds on the growing platform from Hollywood blockbusters to independent films and specialty content.

Find more information at Tubi.TV.

Select Wines that Match Your Style

For a novice, simply distinguishing a wine preference – white or red, sweet or dry – may be the extent of his or her comfort level. However, a more experienced wine enthusiast knows there is an entire world to explore when it comes to discovering interesting wine styles.

For example, winemakers in the Spanish wine regions of Ribera del Duero and Rueda draw on hundreds of years of history perfecting the art of winemaking. Together, these regions produce an array of flavorful, full-bodied reds and crisp, refreshing white wines. Recently, these regions have garnered attention for their wines’ value and versatility, making them solid choices for someone looking to explore and develop his or her palate without breaking the bank.

“The wines of Ribera del Duero are generally made in a more generous, international style that would make them a natural transition for a traditional drinker of Cabernet Sauvignon,” said Brahm Callahan, master sommelier and Ribera del Duero y Rueda ambassador. “The same can be said for Rueda. The wines have bright, ripe fruit, great weight and texture, and offer an excellent alternative for someone who likes Sauvignon Blanc.”

Ribera del Duero
There are 300 wineries in Ribera del Duero, which surrounds the Duero River for 100 miles across the region. The semi-arid terrain and climate create optimal ripening conditions for the Tempranillo grapes that define the region’s wines’ distinctive character. If you like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, the big, rich, bold red wines of the region may be to your liking.

• For the party host: A highly rated red that is soft juicy and impressively flavorful is sure to impress guests. Encourage guests to explore beyond their go-to with a Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero.  

• For the gift-giver: For a special occasion (either as a reward for yourself or someone else), the critically acclaimed Vega Sicilia Unico is a quality choice. This wine boasts the perfect proportion of fruit (plums and berries), tannins and acidity for a true splurge.

• For the casual wine drinker: A clean, bright blush rosé with notes of raspberries and strawberries is an enjoyable option throughout the day, from brunch to cocktail hour and onto the patio at twilight.

Rueda
One of the hallmarks of Rueda’s refreshing white wines is versatility. With just the right amount of fruit and a refreshing finish, wines from Rueda are clean, bright and complex, yet effortlessly drinkable. The region is home to 70 wineries clustered on the plateau of Castilla y Leon at a high altitude of about 2,300-2,600 feet above sea level. The difficult growing environment, mineral-filled gravel soils and abundance of sunshine help create a crisp white wine with character.

• For the environmentalist: If organic and sustainable winemaking appeals to you, Menade Verdejo is well-known as a flavorful wine made with the environment in mind. These fifth-generation sibling winemakers are pioneers in organic viticulture with an organic certification for their winery and vineyard.

• For the bubble lover: Light bubbles are perfect alone or paired with fish and fruits, and a varietal featuring the Verdejo grape is a less common but delightful way to enjoy a little bubbly.  

• For the warm weather enthusiast: A crisp, refreshing glass of an option likeVerdejo offers minerality and intense fruit flavors to unveil an intense palate with a refreshing acidity that is ideal for a hot day.

Learn more about the region and its wines at riberaruedawine.com.