Creating New Family Traditions

November 4, 2008


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    As the winter holiday approaches, and the air outside gets colder, let it encourage you to fill the inside of your home with the warmth of the oven and family time by creating new home traditions. Allow food and family fun to start new memories of the winter holiday season rather than running endless errands that can cause you to lose that precious holiday spirit. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Making Memories in the Kitchen

  • New recipes: Try out some new winter holiday dinner recipes on your family before your big feast. A new twist on sweet potatoes, stuffing, vegetable side dish or dessert can each create a new home tradition when you find a great recipe. You’ll find a variety of recipe inspiration here on Home Made Simple. If you know you’ll be crunched for time, try searching for easy recipes to prepare ahead of time and reheat before serving. Be sure to get the kids involved and make meal preparation a family tradition. Side Dishes Turned Upside Down has plenty of unique takes on traditional holiday dishes to try.
  • Baking traditions: Make homemade pies with local fruits. This is a perfect “thank you” gift for teachers, babysitters, your neighbors and others. Warm up in front of the hot oven baking some Pleasing Pies recipes.
  • Hot dishes for dinner: To enjoy wholesome, home-cooked meals and save time, find a slow cooker recipe to use so you can simply throw it all in before you leave for work and be welcomed by the great smell after a hard day.
  • Cookie Practice: Try some new winter holiday cookie recipes early. Give them away as “thank you” gifts at Thanksgiving to your teachers, babysitters, neighbors and others.

Family Traditions

  • Start new traditions on holiday weekends: Pick a family movie to watch every year. I can still remember gathering around the TV after our holiday meal to watch a few classic movies. You can also watch a football game if your favorite NFL or college team is playing.
  • Homemade holiday gifts: Look for some fun craft activities on Home Made Simple that your family can turn into holiday homemade gifts for teachers and grandparents. Be creative and use the leaves that have fallen, pinecones and other items from nature. Here are a few Home Made Simple project ideas to get you started:

  • Holiday card photo: Start a new home tradition by picking a new style and location for the family photo you include on the winter holiday card each year. I love it when people include the entire family; it’s a great way to connect with old friends and recall fond memories. Start a tradition of where and when to take this in November, so you are on time and not rushing in December.
  • Pick your favorite photos: Look through photos from throughout the year to turn into a calendar for next year. Take time over a holiday weekend to search through your photos (either prints or online) to find your favorites as a family. Then turn them into a calendar for you and for others as a winter holiday gift. It’s a simple and easy way to capture the highlights from your year. Save your calendars from each year as keepsakes.

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