There is something magical about Candy. If a game is a bit boring, add candy and voila! It’s now a family favorite.
Which is exactly what happened to us. ☺️
When we decided play Candyland with real candy it quickly became a family tradition. You may have already read about our Candland tradition, along with our other favorite Christmas pass times.
Once I introduced this idea for Candyland, our children wanted to play with real candy all the time.
We found we needed some house rules to turn Candyland into the coolest cooperative game ever known to man.
These simple rules made the game play more smoothly, encouraging everyone along the path to King Candy. 😊
Items Needed To Get Started
affiliate links in this article are meant to create quick, easy purchases for you. I will make a small percentage on items sold at no additional cost to you.
Candyland game – we have the 2002 edition, other versions may use different candy stops
This year when we played I realized I needed to share our ground rules. If you try out the Candyland tradition I want you to experience the game in its full glory. These additional rules keep things sane and fun.
How to Create Candyland Anticipation
Only do it once a year – for two reasons, scarcity- it keeps it special and reason two – time, who has the time to constantly get all the right candies? Am I right? Just tell your kids it’s for their own good, you love them so much you want to keep some traditions special.
No Hard Feelings or Whining
Start with the reminder that no one gets upset. Since this is for fun and to bond as a family, being upset kind of ruins it if anyone is whining. A simple reminder usually gets everyone on the same page, kids and adults.
Candy at Every Stop
One piece of candy for passing the candy image and two pieces if you land right on it. If you get sent back all the more time to gather candy.
Candyland Time Limit
Set a time limit, like 10 minutes, 15 if you’re brave. Remember, it’s still a simple game and kids start to get anxious about getting to the top where the M&M’s and stack of chocolate sticks are. A time limit helps kids stay focused.
How to Split up the Leftovers After a Game of Candyland
Setting a time limit means there’s usually still candy on the board. We split up the rest by taking turns one piece at a time (usually trying to go as fast as we can) until its all gone. This way players get to take the candies they like most and the game ends on a high note.
Pre – game set up
Gingerbread men
Since I’m pretty passionate about this whole candy authenticity thing 😉, we usually make gingerbread men earlier (like the week before). Then save some for gingerbread houses and some for the game.
Because you need to something to collect when you pass the gingerbread tree, it’s important.
Peanut butter candy
We make peanut butter candy for the Gramma Nutt stop. You can also just purchase or make peanut butter cookies.
The rest
Any other Candyland bliss, I buy at the store or you can following the affiliate links above for easy purchases.
Have a great time playing and Merry Christmas! ❤️🎄🤗
Book review on the new book from Life it or Not Blogger Sarah Leigh
How to Create a Kick A** Blog
I had the wonderful opportunity to review Sarah’s new book this month. Though my husband has blogged for years and has been showing me the ropes, I was surprised at how much I didn’t know. Sarah shares so many useful techniques in her book.
The amazing thing is she went from 0 views a day to 200-400 a day within a month. Which I admit spiked my interest. I really believe Sarah has done so well because she has a compelling story and blog that touches others AND she has done an amazing amount of research on blogging. She discusses how she implemented her blog research and how to do it best. You can read all about it in her book. It has been very useful as I am learning the ropes to get my blog up and running.
A few of Sarah’s great blog posts to check out.
I particularly liked the part about finding your target audience, which Sarah has also included useful questions to help you discover your target audience, the people you are writing for.
There was helpful information on different platforms I could use to host my site. Though I had already picked one by this point, it was useful to read through the options and make sure I had what worked best for me.
There is also great information for mapping out who you are and what your blog has to offer others – important if you want people to keep reading.
All in all I’d say this book is well written, researched and worth the read. Sit down with a pen and paper, you’ll want to take notes.
More great articles from lifeitornot.com
Sarah Leigh is a single mother to her 1-year old daughter, motivational educator and blogger at ‘Life It Or Not’. Her Parenting and Self
Growth blog helps women and mothers to be purposeful and empowered in all that they do.
Having been widely recognised for her child behaviour management techniques and social communication skills – as well as being a Wellbeing Champion and Support Group Leader, Sarah helps women to become their own inspiration and their best selves through self-awareness and positive thinking.
Her own inspiration comes from her life struggles with leaving home at 16, a diagnosis of Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure, a partially deaf daughter, a Cancer scare and single parenthood.
“ Inspiring Women to Become Their Own Inspiration “
Traditions can be the perfect glue that brings families together during the holidays. Providing anticipation in a mutually enjoyed event and peace in a well refined routine.
The best way to make traditions that fit the role of bringing loved ones together, is first to pick events that everyone enjoys (for the most part) and second the understanding that traditions can outlive their usefulness. There may come a time that you need to lay a well loved tradition to rest, but it’s ok, you can pick others that fit your new situation in life and move forward.
Today I want to share our well loved Christmas traditions in case you are looking for something else to add or try. Please don’t feel like you should do all or any of them. But I hope you will find something that inspires a family gathering.
Ours basically revolves around the advent calendar and started with the desire to not have everything be candy or a toy. I began to look for events or activities that the kids could open and be excited for.
The Christmas pajamas
We switched up the well loved tradition of pj’s on Christmas Eve and started giving them the first day of December instead. I mean kids grow fast and they need pj’s, I want them to wear Christmas themed for at least a month before it’s out of season (who am I kidding, they wear them all year anyway 😁).
Seeing Santa
This has required alot of flexibility through moving and kids getting older. While we have spent our time in long, insane lines, we have found it really adds to holiday angst and definitely does not increase family bonding. If we see a long Santa line we run the other way.
Thankfully we have found a beautiful old frontier Christmas near by with a quick visit to Santa, handbell choir or orchestra and serving of hot chocolate, every member of our family is happy.
I absolutely love it!
This year the park also told Christmas stories by the fire in an old frontier cabin. It was a perfect way to start off the season.
Gingerbread cookies
I spent a number of years being frustrated with my kids for playing with the cookie dough and making it tough. By reminding myself why we have traditions, I decided to give each child their own portion of dough and let them create to their hearts content. I reserved a portion for myself to make nice soft cookies. All frustration is gone and cookie making is fun for everyone.
There are a few community events we let come and go depending on our desire to leave the house. These range anywhere from art projects at the museum to hearing Handel’ s Messiah. My advice here, make sure traditions aren’t causing more stress by purposefully leave room to let some things slide.
Candy Land with real candy
While this was my brain child, can I really take credit for something that is practically begging to be done? It’s called Candyland for a reason and has been one of our absolute favorites. I track down all the candy one might pass on their way to King Candy and place it on the board, we all take turns collecting gingerbread men, PB cookies, candy canes, chocolate, gum drops, twizzlers, mints, lolly pops and M&M’s.
You can find the Candyland – with real candy – Ground Rules here.
Ride the Polar Express
This is the easiest, and newest tradition. I don’t know how long it will stay, but for now it’s a winner. When the kids open the advent calendar they each get a ticket to ride the Polar Express. Our son has seriously taken his ticket to school in his pocket and kept it with him all day, to make sure it doesn’t get lost. Add a hot chocolate bar and you are the most awesome parents around.
My husband makes the tickets and punches them once the movie begins.
Visit a Live Nativity
Many year ago, we were invited to attend a live nativity. It turned out we were the last car before a shift change and everyone slowly walked behind our car as we passed. We figured they were just changing shifts, but it felt like we were being surrounded by zombies. It was so funny we’ve kept going. 😂😂
Of course with the move we couldn’t find a live one near by, but we did find a Creche exhibit that is nice and I enjoy seeing all the different art forms.
Gingerbread houses
If you’ve read my other posts, you may know we save the over abundance of our kids’ Halloween candy to make gingerbread houses. I love this for two reasons, the kids still get candy, just not at much and it saves money.
Win win. 😊
See the lights
While driving around to see the lights we found it was easier to keep our kids focused and enjoying the lights if they had a goal. So before we start we let everyone pick which lit up item they are going to count, with the goal being to pick the item that has the most that year. It might be snow flakes, Santa Clause or candy canes. It makes it very exciting as all the kids are searching for their item.
Family nativity re-enactment
This has been one of my favorites, especially when the kids were younger. I’m a little sad that this may be one we outgrow soon, it doesn’t seem to be as tender when the older kids are acting it out. They are more silly and it’s best to just read the story by that point.
Homemade presents
Also one of my favorites because we love to make things. We each draw a family member’s name and make a gift for them. The gifts are usually very creative and the first to be opened Christmas morning. Go here for more homemade present ideas.
Illustrated Nativity Book
This one doesn’t happen every year, just when we feel like it, but the kids love to see how their art work has progressed. We write a simple story of Christ being born and let the kids illustrate each page. We then laminate pages, give it an official cover etc. and gift copies to grandparents.
I’m sure as the years pass we’ll add a few more traditions to replace the ones that need to go. But for the time being, I’m loving where we’re at.
Please share some of your well loved traditions. Or what is a tradition you’ve always wanted to try?
Stores know that once your wallet is open it’s alot easier to spend. Over the last few years we’ve seen advertising tactics to start the spending craze earlier and keep it going longer.
But there are steps we can implement to help slow the spending craze and have a better chance at buying what we do need and leave the fluff on the shelf.
Stop to calculate the “deal”
Everyone loves a good deal and they are out there, but how do you know if it’s truly a bargain?
Calculating sales
You can bring a calculator along or do a quick calculation trick in your head.
10% is easy, it’s $1 out of $10 or $10 out of $100. So if it’s 70% off simply figure out the 10% and triple it (or 80% off double it). A $10 item @ 70% off would be $3.
BOGO
Often, if you compare to regular price it’s often not that great of a deal, in fact you may just be buying two items at regular price.
In and Out
Did you know stores play slower music and adjust lighting to create an ambiance in which you want to stay and shop and shop… and shop?
If you are there for one item, focus and get in and out. I actually experimented with going after a workout and leaving my upbeat music playing on my earbuds. I got done grocery shopping a half hour earlier.
Take time to think about your purchase
Businesses create a sense of urgency by holding weekend sales or giving store credit with expirations to get you to spend before you miss out.
Stop and think, do I really want this kicking around my house? Will my children play with this past Christmas morning?
Imagine if you bought it where would be its new permanent place in your home.
If you feel good about all your answers, by all means get that deal, but if not, it’s ok. A deal is only a deal it if it improves your life.
Early on in our marriage while looking for an apartment we came across a pushy apartment salesperson who said, if we wanted it at that price we had to sign today (we had wanted to look around before we committed). It was so off-putting to us that we walked away. We determined there and then that if it was really that good of a deal (especially if it was a large sum of money) we should be able to think about it.
Set some ground rules
If something doesn’t have a price or the price is unclear, decide before you ask the retailer, what price you would be willing to pay. If I think an item is worth $10 and they tell me $5 – done deal, I feel awesome. But if they say it’s $20, I’ve already decided, I don’t have to make a decision in front of them (and possibly end up buying it for too much money).
If you have a lot of door-to-door salespeople adopt the rule that you don’t make large financial decisions on the doorstep. If they really want your business they will let you think about it and call them back. This will give you time to calculate for example, how much solar panels would save you or cost you before you sign. (check out 5 Ways to Stay Warm and Save money energy savings post for quick and inexpensive ways to save)
My roommate’s parents lost their home to a mortgage refinancer that came to the door and convinced her elderly father to sign and refinance.
Remember the old, but true advice
If something seems too good to be true, it usually is.
Decide today to not let yourself be rushed into a good deal – if it’s truly a good deal, it will be there in the morning.
What shopping tricks do you use to find the real bargains?
Caramel making is a science and an art. With these three easy tips you will have success every time. If you’ve ever had a batch of caramel not work out, or turn back into a block of sugar instead of a chewy consistency you know what I’m talking about, but there is a simple way to caramel bliss.
Tip #1 Substitute the cream
use sweetened condensed milk in place of cream – this makes it so you will be done in 15 minutes instead of 45 min.
Tip #2 Mix on low heat
Mix your butter, corn syrup, sweetened condensed milk together on low heat. This is important because the ingredients need to be mixed well before you increase the temperature. If you get the mixture on the sides of the pan while the heat is turned up for boiling it will change the chemical reaction in the caramel.
Mix first on low.
Tip #3 Clean the sides of the pan
Before you turn up the heat to medium high, wipe down the sides of the pan with a damp cloth. This will clean off any bits of sugar that may have splattered on the sides and keep all your caramel cooking at the same speed. You know how I said this was a science? What happens is the caramel on the sides of the pan will cook at a higher rate than the caramel in the the mixture, as you stir your caramel the cooked caramel bits on the sides will come off into the mixture and start cooking your caramel at a faster rate and actually cause your caramel to overcook without you realizing it.
Set yourself up for feeling awesome and wipe down the sides of the pan before you turn up the heat.
Homemade Caramels
You will need a candy thermometer
1 cup butter
1 16-ounce pkg (1 1/2 cups) packed brown sugar
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup corn syrup (light colored)
1 tsp vanilla (or desired flavoring)
1) Prepare:
if you want to pour into a pan and cut into caramels, line the pan with tinfoil and spray with butter
If you are carameling apples, let it cool slightly in the pan (5-10 min) then dip the apples right in the pot.
When dipping pretzel rods I also dip from the pot. Then I pour the rest onto buttered tinfoil.
2) Combine ingredients
In a heavy 3-quart pot, on low heat, melt butter, add brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk and corn syrup. Mix well, wipe down the sides of the pot and turn to medium high. Cook and stir till the mixture boils being careful to not get any splashing on the sides of the pot. You don’t have to mix fast, just constant.
3) Cook
Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pot and reduce heat to medium. Continue boiling at a moderate rate. Stirring frequently and controlled (to avoid splashing caramel up the sides.
Cook till the thermometer registers 248°, firm-ball stage (test by dripping some in a cup of cold water, it should hold shape, but remain pliable). This takes about 15 minutes.
4) Remove from heat
Remove from heat as soon as it reaches 248° degrees. Remove thermometer and stir in vanilla (or flavor of your choice)
Now you can dip food in or pour into prepared pan. After it cools, cut into rectangles and wrap into cut pieces of wax paper about 3X the size of the caramel piece and twist the end closed.
Hi, I’m Natalie. I’m a mother of four, an artist, and a DIYer that loves to reuse, recycle, and refurbish. I like power tools and teaching others how to save money while improving their home.
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