family | Family Fun | holidays | motherhood

Holiday Hacks for Busy Moms

By on December 20, 2019

Isn’t it great how we moms can just sit back this time of year and let Santa take care of everything? Oh wait… 😑🙄

Christmas may be full of holiday magic and cheer, but it’s also one of the most stressful times of the year for moms. The mental burden of your family’s to-do list is heavy, and we’re all feeling that extra weight on our shoulders. Presents to buy and wrap, holiday meals to plan, groceries to purchase, food to cook, holiday outfits to coordinate, decorations to put out – it all adds up! Not to mention all of the other chores we normally do like dishes and laundry. We also have to make sure our kids have a magical Christmas – Santa pictures, gingerbread houses, elf on the shelf, stocking stuffers, an advent calendar, Christmas cookies, reindeer food – we seriously need our own fleet of elves to help with everything!

Luckily I have a few holiday hacks that can help save your sanity. I’m not saying I’m perfect (I’ll be right there with you at Target on Christmas Eve buying a last-minute gift) but I think these tips will help you save some time and energy!

Continue Reading

crafts | family | Family Fun | fun

DIY Dole Whip Body Scrub Fish Extender Gift Idea

By on December 5, 2019

One of the treats I always have to get each time we go to Disney World is a Dole Whip. I love the tropical flavors of that iconic treat! It’s the perfect thing to cool you off after a lap or two around the Magic Kingdom. It’s smooth and creamy, and sweet and sour! So a few weeks ago when I was brainstorming ideas for Fish Extender gifts for our next Disney Cruise, I thought it would be cool to do a Dole Whip scented body scrub. Scroll down to see how I made it!

Continue Reading

Christmas | Family Fun | food | friends | fun | holidays | recipe

Quick and Easy Christmas Appetizer – Hummus with Tomato and Cucumber Salad

By on November 21, 2019
Quick and Easy Christmas Appetizer - Hummus Dip with Tomato and Cucumber Salad | sunshineandholly.com

Looking for a quick and easy appetizer to serve at a holiday gathering this year?

Quick and Easy Christmas Appetizer – Hummus with Tomato and Cucumber Salad

This recipe is so simple and takes minutes to throw together. I love how festive the colors are – it’s perfect for Christmas with all the red and green! I also love that it’s a light dish. So many meals this time of year are hearty and heavy, so it’s nice to have something light and fresh.

Quick and Easy Christmas Appetizer - Hummus Dip with Tomato and Cucumber Salad | sunshineandholly.com

Click here for the recipe!

Continue Reading

fall | family | Family Fun | food | fun | holidays | recipe

Pumpkin Shaped Deviled Eggs

By on November 1, 2019
Pumpkin Shaped Deviled Eggs | sunshineandholly.com | Halloween | appetizer | savory dish | holiday

How was your Halloween? Ours was lots of fun, despite the cold weather. It was freezing last night! When we went trick-or-treating, the hubs and I brought warm Glühwein in to-go coffee mugs. It helped me keep warm from the inside out. #yum The kids had a blast going from house to house and ended up with a pretty good haul of candy. Don’t worry – I’ve already taken my “mom-tax.” (I gave you life, you give me your Reese’s!) We ended the night at our neighbor’s house. They serve a chili dinner each Halloween for a few of us, and it’s always so nice to not have to worry about cooking on Halloween. I wanted to bring a fun treat to share, so I whipped up a batch of these pumpkin shaped deviled eggs. There are lots of different recipes for these on Pinterest, but I kept mine simple. A few drops of red and yellow food coloring made the filling the perfect orange pumpkin color! They were a big hit and we didn’t bring any leftovers home. Click here for the recipe!

Witch, mermaid, and firefighter!

And don’t forget Superman!

Scary!

I found the Glühwein at Aldi! We usually have it when we go to Disney World at the Germany Pavillion in Epcot. 

 

Click here for the recipe! 

 

Pin it!

Pumpkin Shaped Deviled Eggs

 

Looking for more fun Halloween themed foods? Check out our spooky face lasagna and my jack-o-lantern pumpkin pie! 

Continue Reading

Atlanta | fall | family | Family Fun | fun | parenting

The Local Guide – Things To Check Out Around Atlanta Vol. 8

By on
The Local Guide – Things To Check Out Around Atlanta

Happy Friday! I hope you all had a great Halloween. If you’re looking for something fun to do this weekend, you’ve come to the right place. Check out my Local Guide – Things to Check Out Around Atlanta Vol. 8!

The Local Guide – Things To Check Out Around Atlanta Vol. 8

Chastain Park Arts Festival 

Chomp & Stomp Chili Cookoff in Cabbagetown

Harvest at the Station Fall Festival at Atlantic Station 

Halloween Costume Contest and Unlimited Play at Tiny Towne in Norcross

Day of the Dead Festival and Lantern Parade in Roswell

Fernbank Forest Nightwalk at Fernbank Museum

Fall Fun at Sleepy Hollow Farm in Powder Springs

Alpaca Day at the Buford Corn Maze

Anime Weekend at the Cobb Galleria Center

7th Annual Global Village Welcome Walk at Refuge Coffee in Clarkston 

Vampirina’s Boo-tastic Blowout at Warbington Farms in Cumming

Japanese Maples Colorfest at Gibbs Gardens

Atlanta Christmas Gift Show at the Atlanta Expo Center

Sensory Saturday at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta

 

Upcoming Events You Need to Put on Your Calendar:

Beech-Nut’s Million Meals at the Movies Benefitting No Kid Hungry – November 10th 

In Georgia, more than 20 percent of children are hungry. Beech-Nut is partnering with No Kid Hungry because all kids should have access to real food. Join us at the Fernbank Museum – The Giant Screen Theater on Sunday, November 10th from 7 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. for Beech-Nut’s Million Meals at the Movies – a FREE family movie night fundraiser and storytime, benefitting No Kid Hungry. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn more about food insecurity and how every dollar donated to No Kid Hungry helps hungry children across the United States. Register to reserve your space and to make a tax-deductible donation to No Kid Hungry. You can also donate on No Kid Hungry’s web site by clicking here.

Santa in Tucker

Pictures with Santa should be fun! There is nothing like driving all over Atlanta only to end up standing in a long line surrounded by grumpy toddlers and parents to make you go Grinch. Skip the expensive holiday mini sessions and the trendy Santa photos that all look the same. Instead, visit Santa while enjoying cookies, crafts, coffee, music, merrymaking, and miscellaneous Christmas magic! This year, walk into a Winter Wonderland in historic downtown Tucker and get the kind of holiday photo you really want! Click here to book a session! 

 

Continue Reading