14 HOLIDAY MENU & GATHERING HACKS | KIDS, MEALS, CLEANING | FRUGAL FIT MOM
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I know when it’s time to get together it can be overwhelming to host, so here are my favorite tips and tricks to help you stay calm during those family gatherings!
My oven is a small wall oven that only has one rack, so I bought the three tiered oven rack (and this is the sad part) it was too tall for the oven. Womp, Womp, Womp.
It may just be us or a Hispanic thing but I love knowing that no matter where the festivities are the cleaning falls on everyone not just the host. Everyone steps up to sweep, wash dishes, gather and/or throw away trash in the big trash can outside, fold tables and chairs, literally everything. It's a life and sanity saver.
My company comes and stays for several days during the holidays. Now I haven't listened to the whole video yet so maybe you will address that later on
Do you guys have Ticket to Ride? That’s a great board game!
Just don’t cook that Marie Callendar’s pie like Sharon did. 🤣 🔥 🥧 🔥 🤣
Thank you for this and for making "chapters". Love it!
From experience you can’t put regular mashed potatoes in a crockpot at 9 AM and serve them at 3. You get something that looks like wallpaper paste. And tastes worse. It’s when your nine year old points to the crockpot and askes “what’s that.” Side note, I was not the cook. But if you enhance with something to stabilize them such as cream cheese you will have better luck. But 6 hours might still be a reach.
That’s the only way to eat pumpkin pie, right?……❤️
I don't I'd ever hire anyone to DEclean my house.
Thanksgiving we kept it simple. It's just me and kids they wanted 🌮 tacos I work double shift so we had tacos for Thanksgiving
I hear one tub of cool whip for slice of pie 🤣😂💕.. and it ok to make bakery look like you made..been there done that
I have MS. I’m getting a local cafe to cater Xmas dinner. No cooking. Yay.
For our Christmas, we have company for a week (at least). It’s truly a Griswold Christmas! So yes, I must clean everywhere before & after! 🤣🎄🔥🤣
NO CHRISTINE! No, no, no! The drawer below your oven is NOT A WARMING DRAWER unless you have a very specific model. Trust me…..I sell appliances for a living and I’m so tired of people calling to say their warming drawer doesn’t have a button to control the temp. Does the small drawer on your oven have a handle and a designated button? If not, it’s for storage. The warming drawer can be set as high as 240 degrees so you need a control switch and handle to prevent burns.
We live 4hrs away from our home town. If we cooked before the trip, I worried about keeping the food at a safe temp for the 4-6hr drive (holiday + I45 = 😱🤯🤬).
When we finally get there, it's late & we're exhausted, so cooking is a no-go.
About 20yrs ago we started supplying paper goods… plates, cups, bowls, paper towels, toilet paper …for the hosting home. With 30-40 people in & out over 3 or 4 days, this has been a huge help to our families. We come from country folk, so clean up is as easy as a trip to the burn barrel. LOL
“It’s a bundt”……”a bonnnnt?”….. “ A BUNDT. A bundt”
My little tip is cook your crescent rolls first, set them aside, and warm them up later! Cheaper than store bought bread and then you don’t need to worry about timing later. Or buy sweet Hawaiian rolls and they need like 2-3 mins in the oven.
I agree about the dishes! I loath that my in law side(my parents were the same) do all dishes immediately post meal. Why can we visit instead?
Like what is actually going to happen if the dishes sit? At my house when I host I will start one load, then stack the rest or let them soak in dish pans on the counter. I will not allow wash, dry, and put away when we're supposed to be gathering.
The next day I slowly pick away at the dish stack and I never feel overwhelmed. My husband said growing up the kids always had to wait until the dishes were done including dried & put away before opening presents.
I personally think that's a shitty xmas memory.
Your video came just in time. We have been planning our first family gathering for next weekend. Thankfully I’m not hosting but would like to help her any way I can. I’m going to check on the small projects and see how that might work,
This was a great video!!
💖👼🏻🌺
I love that pic of you and the boys screaming lol so funny
Please have the kids more in your videos they are so adorable 🥰
Ya a I made a list for Thanksgiving which I had never done. Time, temps, when to thaw turkey breast etc. prepped a few things ahead if time. Last year I did everything on T day & was exhausted by dinnertime. Took it easier on myself this year. Will do the same for Christmas😊
Great video ❤️👍
In newer ovens the manual says it is just a storage drawer now…
Hearing about different ways to keep kids busy/occupied has always been strange to me, since I grew up taking my entertainment with me. Books, video games, cards…
Great ideas!Gee I wish I knew you when my kids were younger, I always learn something from your videos. I just discovered you recently, thanks for always making me smile and lol!
Always have take away containers so love ones can take food home with them.
ok but do you have any tips for keeping the warming drawer from getting so grodie? mine always has dust and crumbs somehow and it’s icky in there
Happy Holidays to your family too. 🎄
Set up game zone holiday themed with a card table or coffee table with all your suggestions with that old TV from your basement or attic you never got rid of have that playing in there zone with popcorn and such ,get them old DVds out they don't have to have the big TV. I get my Old nintendo and Sega out and it's hooked up around the holidays you won't believe how much fun ALL can have with old TV and gaming systems
Our Christmas menu this year – frozen lasagna with Olive Garden salad and breadsticks.
My frying and sauce pans are in the drawer, not my muffin tins. Lol.
I really enjoyed this video. Hugs from Spain!
My family likes to do “blind” taste tests (you don’t really have to have a blindfold) and guess what they’re eating or drinking. We’ve done a lot of beers and wines, but you could do Christmas cookie samples or candies and have the kids included. You just need someone to have the answer key and hand out samples, and let people write down their answers!
Happy Holidays & thank you!! I’ve been watching your
Videos for about a year! I just signed my second lease on my ritzy upstairs condo thingy! I was just wondering if you ever do household products. I understand saving money on food … but cleaning & beauty products costs a fortune also! Any massive (or minimal what is this song) advice? Otherwise thank you! You’ve helped me
Get through this much! 👀⏰🍪😎 phone✌️
*kids activity – puff pastry with cookie cutters then brush with egg wash and cinnamon sugar.
Cheap and time efficient fun.
Great video
The warming drawer at the bottom of my stove is nasty my house is nasty we live on a corner soon as the car goes by the house bills up with dirt I have crappy windows Landlord don’t fix nothing I would never put my food in that bottom drawer ever I’ll stick it in the oven and turn the oven off right now nope nope nope nope nope if you pull out the drawer and there’s dirt in it and in our case it was nasty critters I live in Florida no I’m not putting food in there
My boyfriend's brother just did this one on Thanksgiving. If you know there's going to be a lot of food left over and don't want to cram that many leftovers into your fridge buy some of those disposable tin baking pans with lids and tell your guests to take whatever they'd like home with them. Every couple got their own tin and my boyfriend even took a whole turkey leg in ours. Less food for his brother to put away at the end of the night and we didn't have to cook dinner the next day!
My sister house is Thanksgiving every year but she sends a text to every body on what they need to bring. She knows who can do what. I drive the farthest but still on list. I also already cook my turkey. We sliced it up and made a nice platter and wrapped well and freeze till Christmas so easy to do ahead. I make alot of sides and treats than freeze. No store after the 20th. Kids out of school and stores are crazy. For one month you can try Wal-Mart deliver or free shipping for free perfect this time of year and if need to cancel next month.
Just Smiling At You! With A Giggle….. Yuppers
Wrong. Not holding muffin tins. Holding the lids to my pots. Lol.
Christine, we are a family group of 20+ and this was so helpful. Thank you!
PS we have a basketball hoop in the driveway and hockey nets/equip so we tell the kids to dress warm 😉😄