Amy's Easy
Entertaining Blog

I wanted to share a fun and creative list of things to do with your kids and family before Christmas. Each year we try something new. Set some time aside for the last two weeks before Christmas and try out these 10 Christmas family time ideas. I am sure you will love these fun Christmas crafts, holiday ideas, and Christmas recipes for celebrating the season. You will score some big points with your kids in the process for being present with them as a parent during such a busy season.

In those hot summer days, ice cream is one of my family's favorite things to enjoy to help us cool down. Throwing an ice cream sundae party is fun, easy, and inexpensive to pull together. If you are anything like me, all of those things make throwing an ice cream party a total win.

When I was a child, each year I looked forward to the annual 4th of July block party. I remember how exciting it was to be out way past my bedtime, eat loads of fun food, and play flashlight tag through the neighborhood streets.

Easter celebrations often bring to mind pastel color schemes and tricky dishes but I find that the simpler the celebration, the more fun our family has. Make this year your best ever Easter celebration and don’t be afraid to switch up the routines and think bolder and simpler with your décor and your dishes for a new twist on enteraining for Easter.

While Thanksgiving should be focused on our family and thankfulness, all of the logistics of menu planning and entertaining can often overshadow the importance of this season in our life. This month we asked our readers what their biggest Thanksgiving dilemmas were and what makes Thanksgiving a struggle for them in the kitchen. Today I am answering those questions and wanted to share with you some easy solutions for Thanksgiving entertaining.

I can’t really explain why I had the urge to donate blood one recent Saturday afternoon, but when I saw the American Red Cross parked outside of our local grocery store I made an immediate beeline over to the mobile donation center. The day of yard work that I had planned was put on hold for just a little while because I knew my small detour could have a significant impact on someone’s life.

In the summer months, there is nothing I love more than throwing together a backyard barbecue for our family and friends. With a smaller home, the great outdoors allows us to offer a comfortable place for our guests to spread out and enjoy themselves. Backyard barbecues can be practically effortless with a little bit of planning and preparation. I wanted to showcase some easy ideas for achieving a successful & fun backyard bash that will long be remembered.

Nutrition is an important topic for all moms and is something that I have been passionate about ever since my own college days spent taking food and nutrition courses. Who knew that nutrition would continue to be the focus of my efforts though? You see, as a mom, I am always looking for ways to make good nutrition a priority in our day-to-day family life and it continues to be a topic that is near and dear to my heart.

Thanks to social networking websites, texting, and email, staying connected to my family is easier than ever. However, even with all of these resources available, nothing could replace those times of togetherness and the company of my loved ones in person. Family reunions can offer a time of celebration of love and family in a wonderful and unique way.

I lead a very active life and I have a constant battle with hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). If I don’t keep healthy snacks tucked in my purse or gym bag, I know that I will start to feel run down, sluggish and shaky. A constant stream of smaller meals and healthy snacks offers a lot of power to help me be my best as a mom and keep up with all the things I have to do each and every day.

Ready to get organized this new year? A weekly meal plan can help you save money, time and help your whole family eat better. I love to plan our family’s meals and create fun new dinners weekly that we can look forward to. Menu planning doesn’t have to be an intimidating process because it is something that can involve your entire family!

Hosting a cookie swap does require a little of preparation, but is definitely worth the effort to create a memorable event that benefits everyone. I wanted to showcase a few frugal and creative ideas for making your Christmas cookie swap special this year!

Call me crazy, but I absolutely love hosting the Thanksgiving feast for our family! It really can be easy, but it does require a little planning and early preparation to make that happen. I am excited to share a few ideas to make this holiday easier and then share with you two new dishes you can add to your holiday table!

How sad to see summer come to an end, but is there anything more fun or symbolic to the ending of summer than a fun get together outdoors? Labor Day is a fantastic holiday to spend with your loved ones and to segue into that next season with parades, fireworks, celebrations…and of course, a fantastic backyard barbecue.

The warmer weather has arrived and that means fun in the sun and lots of outdoor entertaining for our family. I love the ease of outdoor entertaining. When else can the crumbs be taken away by the wind, where it is perfectly acceptable to eat on plastic plates, and where nature and the great outdoors can be the setting for any great party?