Blushblog

Let's bring in 2011 + Sidenote on Beverly Hills Housewives

It's almost time to ring in 2011.  If you're like me, you're over the super expensive club parties.  It'll probably be just as much fun to get everyone together at home.  If so, here are some ideas to help ring in the New Year.  Most of us spent so much time and energy putting Christmas together.  Let's relax a little with New Years.


Food
If you want to have a carefree New Years Eve and don't feel like cooking, pick up a few platters.  I love the nuggets from Chic Fil-A.  I've found that the nuggets go further than tenders.  Here are some other ideas.

• If you're having a small group, make it a potluck. 
  
• You can order pizza and have it cut into squares.  Put it on a white serving dish.  Looks great.
  
• Go to your favorite warehouse superstore and pick up little bites that you only  have to heat up.  

People have eaten so heavy for Christmas, you can serve heavy hors d'oeuvre for New Years.  Order the nuggets for the kids and let them have their own party in the basement or upstairs.

After midnight, cook up eggs with cheese and baked french toast.  Baked french toast is my Favorite!  Here's the recipe from Paula Deene

Drinks
I love this drink.  I call it Cranberry Goodness.  I never measure anything, so change the ingredients to your liking. 


1/4 Vodka (make it a good one.  My fave is Grey Goose)
2/4 Champagne
Top off with Cranberry Juice

Trust me.  Yummy.  I'm sure that someone came up with this a long time ago, but I started drinking it based on ingredients in front of me.

As I've mentioned before, my new favorite bubbly is Barefoot Moscato Bubbly. Not too sweet, not too bitter.  Try that or the Rose'.  It's great for those that find traditional Champagne too bitter.

 

Eat! Drink! Have a great time!  Play spades, Poker, and Wii.  Set your playlist in advance.  Say goodbye to 2010 with fun.

Oh and for the kids.  Make a playlist and set out a bunch of games for the kids.  Give them their own space and let em loose.  Don't forget to have someone check in on them every once in a while.

Beverly Hills Housewives Sidenote
Umm did any of you see that Camille sent a "termination" text to Kyle saying that they wouldn't be using Mauricio anymore.  Ok.  I know that you're mad, but that was so classless.  Keep business, business.  I'm sorry that Kelsey treated her like yesterday's newspaper, that had to hurt bad, but that doesn't excuse childlike behavior.  Also, did the behavior of the real Allison DuBois affect your desire to watch the TV show Medium that is based on her?  She needs to lay off of the juice.

It's Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve Blushing Ladies

Have you finished your shopping.  I can't list all of my presents because too many of my family members read my blog.  However, I will show you what I purchased my mother.  My mom will not open a bottle of wine if you paid her.  The openers are too complicated.  So I've made things easier.  I've purchased the Rabbit Electronic Wine Opener.  I did my research and it has gotten rave reviews.

I purchased it for $49.99 from Bed, Bath, and Beyond.  Of course I used my trusty 25% off coupon.  Also ladies, if you purchase something from BB&B and forget your coupon, you can take the receipt back with your coupon and they will refund your money.  If you used a card, they will put it back on your card.  If you use cash, they will give you the cash difference.  I love them!

I will be playing white elephant/dirty santa (it has so many names) with my family tonight.  I'll let you know what I get.

We started the morning with Mimosas.  I love this holiday.


Have a great holiday!

Happy Earth Day!

It's Earth Day!  I think that you should plant something today.  Start a compost.  If nothing else, visit your local greenhouse, Home Depot, Lowes, or local garden center and buy a plant, herb, tree, or flower and see how long you can keep it alive.  I'm famous for killing indoor plants, but I'm usually ok with outdoor vegetation.  Go figure. 

But forget what you heard, I know that capitalism has taken over every major holiday.  And it's sad, but I'm not going to ignore a deal and i'm always going to pass them on to my friends.  

Here are some deals that I found on Yahoo, ABC News, and Google.

• Gain free admission into all 392 U.S. national parks now through Sunday, April 25.
  
• Trade in six plastic bottles or soda cans for a free hat made from recycled bottles at the Disney Store on April 22.
  
• Babies R Us will give you a free reusable tote bag if you bring a valid coupon (PDF) into its stores through April 22. Plus, you'll get a 25% discount off all the clothing and shoes you can fit into the bag.
  
• Evos is giving away free organic milkshakes served in biodegradable cups on Earth Day. The healthy fast-food chain has locations in California, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.
  
• Origins is offering a trade-in program on Earth Day only. Bring one of your current skin-care product bottles -- empty or full, from any brand -- to an Origins counter and receive a free full-size cleanser. Choose from Checks and Balances Frothy face wash or Perfect World antioxidant cleanser with white tea.
  
• Get a chance to win a $20,000 green home makeover by registering on the Purex website by April 30.
  
• Enter a sweepstakes to win 1 of 10 smart fortwo vehicles by making a pledge to help protect the environment on Safeway's website through April 27.
  
• Sign up for the Drive Home Green sweepstakes on Target's website through the end of the month. The grand prize is a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. You could also win bicycles, electric scooters, a national park trip, and other prizes.
  
• Add a green pledge to the Sierra Club's Earth Day map for a chance to win a trip for two to Hawaii.

There are also plenty of opportunities for Earth Day discounts. Here are few:

• Travelocity is offering up to 40% off prices at 40 green hotels across the globe.
  
• Travelzoo is giving discounts on U.S.-based, LEED-certified hotels.
  
• Walgreens will refill your printer cartridge for $1 instead of its usual $12 on April 22 only. It's also offering a 22 percent discount on its green products through April 30.
  
• Amazon is offering up to 34% off some of its Earth Day reads.
  
• Drugstore.com is offering up to 40% off products from its "green and natural" store through April 23.
  
• Numi Organic Teas is giving a 20% discount on April 22 -- just enter Eday40 at checkout.
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Cash for Appliances

Did you know that more than 70 percent of the energy used in homes powers appliances, refrigerators, heating, cooling and water heating? 

To help families save on utility bills and conserve energy, each state has created a rebate program in which families can trade in old appliances for money to buy more efficient products. Several states have chosen to launch their programs on Earth Day. For details on your state's program, click HERE.

Hanes

If you can't spend Earth Day planting trees, let Hanes do it for you. If you buy three Hanes products, the Arbor Day Foundation will plant a tree. And you'll get a free Earth Day T-shirt in the process.

The offer is good through May 1. Visit the promotion's website for more information

Pottery Barn Kids

At 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. today, Pottery Barn Kids is celebrating Earth Day with giveaways, story time and other activities