5 Tips for Caring for Poinsettias

Poinsettias are very popular in indoor, holiday decor this time of year! Many people gift them to friends and family as well. If you have some of these beautiful, red plants in your home then it’s important to know how to take care of them. Here are a few tips to consider to make your poinsettias last through the holidays!

1 – Check the soil regularly. It should not be overly wet but also not dry. It’s important to keep the soil damp.

2 – Don’t keep your poinsettias near a radiator or heating source. They will get dried out much faster this way.

3 – These beautiful, red plants prefer room-temperature water to cold water. Remember that when you’re watering.

4 – Keeping them misted regularly will help them from drying out (especially in warmer homes).

5 – If you want your poinsettia to last until next year you will need to prune it by spring time to about 10 cm. Repot it before summer and keep it in a cool, dry place until November when you can expose it to sunlight to help it bloom again.

3 Thanksgiving Games to Play With Family

Whether you are together with family or celebrating via Zoom, there are fun ways you can celebrate turkey day this year! Try one of these fun games with your family and maybe you’ll create a new tradition for years to come.

 

1 – A Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt – Get the family searching both inside and outside for a list of items and have a whole lot of fun while you search!

courtesy of confessionsofparenting.com

 

2 – Color the table! Ditch the standard table cloth and opt for one you can color. Buy one at your local party store or create your own with craft paper and a sharpie.

courtesy of amazon.com

 

3 – Act it out! You don’t have to be face to face with your family to play Thanksgiving charades. Try these free printable cards from readwritemom.com!

courtesy of readwritemom.com

5 Fun Holiday Events in New Hampshire

Ready to start celebrating the holidays? Our friends in New Hampshire have lot’s of festive local events to make their holidays bright and merry this December. Whether you are a resident in the Keene, Dover or Nashua area there is something exciting to do with the whole family.

 

1 – A Merry Little Christmas Celebration at Bretton Woods. 

There are holiday events all month long at Bretton Woods including a Christmas buffet, a holiday movie marathon, scavenger hunts and more.

 

2 – Inn to Inn Holiday Cookie Tour

Participants will not only tour inns decked in all their holiday finery offering signature holiday cookies and candies, but will receive recipes from each inn in a Holiday Recipe Cookbook to take home and a chance to win a $250 gift certificate for a getaway at the inn of their choice.

 

3 – Gift of Lights at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

A 2.5-mile drive-thru light show features the Tunnel of Lights (the 130-foot-long infield entrance and exit tunnels will be brightly lit, giving a truly memorable experience that kids of all ages will need to see to believe).

 

4 – Jingle Bell Chocolate Tour

Start this enchanted horse-drawn journey by checking in at Nestlenook’s Gazebo.  There you’ll find the entire Gazebo filled with Christmas and Holiday decorations.  Here you will pick up your first home-made chocolate treasure and a festive bag to use for any uneaten chocolates collected on your sleigh ride.  You may sit in the sleigh found in the Gazebo and have family Christmas Holiday photos taken.

 

5 – Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth

Celebrate the season by taking a stroll in downtown Portsmouth where you’ll find holiday shows, music, ice skating and shopping.

5 Tips For Taking Care of Your Real Christmas Tree

There are still 3 weeks until Christmas. Make the most of your real tree (and make sure it lasts) with these great tips!

 

1 – Give it a fresh cut on the bottom. This will re-open the tree’s source of getting water.

 

2 – Keep it away from any heat sources. Being close to heat will force the tree to dry out prematurely.

 

3 – Make sure to check the tree’s water supply every day and water it each morning.

 

4 – There is no need to add anything else to the water. Plain water gives the tree everything it needs.

 

5 – Make sure your tree stand holds enough water. It should easily hold at least one gallon of water.

Princeton’s 5 Days of Giveaways – Day 5

It’s Day 5….the final day of Princeton’s 5 Days of Giveaways! Find our tips for last-minute shopping ideas and get the final question!

 

 

It happens….we look at the calendar and it’s only a few days until Christmas and we still haven’t shopped for everyone on our list. Read these tips and ideas below if you’re in a time crunch and need gifts fast…

1 – If you don’t have time (or energy) to head to the mall in the eleventh hour, try a DIY gift instead! You can craft an ornament or bake some holiday cookies for the last people on your lists.

2 – If you can’t get out to even buy a gift card, consider printing one right from your home computer! Many stores offer online purchases and they can e-mail you your digital gift card right away.

3 – Consider gifting an experience rather than an actual gift. Head to Groupon or Living Social and purchase an outing or lesson for your friends or family members.

4 – Check store websites to see if you can pickup items that you purchase online. Some stores (like Walmart) offer free pickup until 6pm on Christmas eve of items purchased online. You can skip the search and the crowds and head right to the pickup section of the store.

5 – If all else fails….regift! You may have something at home that you haven’t opened or used that might be great use to someone on your list.

 

QUESTION 5: Do you prefer to receive gift cards or actual gifts?

Head back over to our Facebook page here and leave your answer in the comments to be entered to win a $100 gift card!

Princeton’s 5 Days of Giveaways – Day 4

It’s Day 4 of Princeton’s 5 Days of Giveaways! Guide Santa’s Reindeer to your house this Christmas Eve with this DIY Magic Reindeer Food! Watch the video below to learn how and answer today’s question to be entered to win a $100 gift card.

 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhEQaQ09OzA?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

 

QUESTION 4: What is your favorite holiday tradition?

Head back over to our Facebook page here and put your answer in the comments to be entered to win a $100 gift card!

5 Tips for Wrapping Holiday Gifts

It’s time to pull out the scissors, tape and ribbon and start wrapping those holiday gifts! If you’re feeling overwhelmed or uninspired, read these tips before you start cutting that wrapping paper!

1.If you prefer using gift bags over wrapping with paper, make sure you have enough. Count the items you have and measure their sizes before heading to the store to purchase your bags. Don’t forget the tissue paper!

via boxandwrap.com

2. Now is a good time to create a gift wrapping storage solution if you haven’t already. Plastic bins or even garment bags make for great storage. Put your paper, scissors, tape, tags, ribbon and a pen in the bin or bag so you know where everything is.

via theorganizedmom.com

3. Rather than buy a bunch of different wrapping paper patterns, try using brown craft paper to wrap your gifts. Add color and patterns by choosing different colored ribbons to your brown packages.

via eighteen25.com

4. Try adding some unique additions to your packages like bells or greens. Tie them onto your ribbon for a fancy and impressive touch on your packages.

via makeanddocrew.com

5. If you purchased wrapping paper on rolls, put empty toilet paper or paper towel roll around your roll to avoid paper rolling open and getting ripped.

via thecheesethief.com

7 Tips for Setting A Thanksgiving Table

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and if you’re hosting you are probably busy with preparations! Your turkey is thawing, your vegetables are chopped, the house is clean….now it’s time to set the table! Read these tips before you start putting out your napkins and flatware…

  1. Iron your tablecloths and napkins the day before.
  2. Wash and set aside all of your flatware and glassware the night before. Make sure to dry everything so there aren’t any spots or watermarks.
  3. Consider using place cards. It makes things easier and it makes your dinner table much more personalized. Your guests will be happy that you’ve chosen a special place for them at your meal.
  4. Add some seasonal touches by putting centerpieces on your tables. Consider flowers, candles, pumpkins or faux leaves to give your table a festive look.
  5. Keep in mind that bread plates go on the left and drinks go on the right of each place setting.
  6. Wow your guests with a festive napkin fold! Try one of these ideas
  7. Make sure to have the guests water glasses filled before they sit down. Have a full water pitcher on hand in the fridge so you can easily refill.