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Dale’s Gluten Free Christmas Loaf Cake

This year instead of making one large Christmas cake as I usually do, I decided divide the mixture into two and make two loaf cakes. Since the cake tins were a little small for what I wanted, I used the tins Mick usually uses for making my gluten free bread. The idea of making to smaller cakes rather than one large one is that it will be easier to store and keep fresh. One won’t need to be cut till all of the first Christmas loaf is gone. Another advantage is if you get caught out and want a Christmas … Continue reading →

Ways to Reduce Stress on Your Marriage at Christmas

Yesterday I looked at some of the pressure on couples during the Christmas season and a couple of suggestions for easing the tension. Here are some other suggestions you might want to consider implementing. Don’t go overboard with gifts. Some people are generous by nature and love to give gifts. I admit I’m a person who loves to buy presents for those I love, so this is something I have to watch. But it can backfire and have a negative effect. The problem with going overboard is twofold. Firstly, it is not helpful if you spend more than you can … Continue reading →

Easy Christmas Loaf Cake

This is another really simple Christmas cake you can make. So if you haven’t got one made yet, this is so easy and you will love it. It contains no flour. I made mine yesterday. For any of you on special diets this one is not only gluten free, but dairy free as well. Christmas Loaf Cake This recipe makes 2 loaf cakes Ingredients 1 and a half pound dried apricots, glace cherries, pitted dates, prunes, raisins, 2 ounces of mixed peel Third cup tawny port 5 ounces chopped walnuts and cashews 3 ounces slivered almonds 4 cups almond meal … Continue reading →

More Simple Tips for Hosting a Christmas Party

If your spouse is happy to help with cooking for a Christmas Party, it can be fun to make it a family time of cooking but if it’s not their thing, don’t force the issue. You’re better to do it on your own. Another way that works well and certainly cut down the cost, is to ask each person you invite to bring a small dish, nibbles, salad, dessert, etc. Put the emphasis on small or otherwise you will end up with way too much food. This is the way parties are often organized amongst our friends. Husbands are usually … Continue reading →

Simple Tips for Hosting a Christmas Party

A Christmas party at home can be fun or it can be stressful for you and your spouse. It all depends on the way you approach it. The first thing is to decide on a date with your spouse. There’s no point setting aside a date only to find out your spouse has important meetings that day and will come home tired or will not be around or has something else planned. So communicate on the date first. Next decide together what sort of party you want. Unless you and your spouse are both at ease with the big sit … Continue reading →

10 Tips for a Green Thanksgiving

Halloween’s over, Thanksgiving is upon us, and Christmas is just a step away! It is busy time for everyone, but you can still stay green. Here are a few tips to green up your Thanksgiving: 10. Stay Home Yes, I know the holidays are usually about travel to be with family, but consider staying home. You can help reduce emissions and stress by not taking a trip this year. 9. Travel Smart Okay, I realize many will ignore #10, so if you do have to travel, travel smart. Make sure the car is working properly before leaving, check your tire … Continue reading →

Did You Ever Have One of Those Days?

Sometimes you know it’s just going to be like in the Elvis song Did you ever have one of those days – days where every thing goes wrong. The day started with my breakfast of banana, boysenberries and blueberries Mick and I had picked the day before at the berry farm and muesli all over the floor. What happened? I was working and wasn’t quite watching what I was doing, missed the desk and hey presto, breakfast was on the floor. Get another bowl and start again. Take two. Our little dog discovered she likes muesli and berries. She always … Continue reading →

5 Fun Activities

When you love someone it doesn’t really matter what you do, as long as you’re together. So today I thought I’d give some fun suggestions of things you and your spouse might do together, as it comes on to Christmas. Some of them might even help others as well. 1. Get a group together and go out caroling. Mick and I did have done this in the past with a group and it was a lot of fun. If you have someone who can play guitar or flute that’s good, but if not the carols are so well-known you don’t … Continue reading →

Playfulness in Marriage

How much is playfulness part of your marriage? Marriage can become ho hum unless we invest time and creativity and effort into it. One way of keeping your marriage fresh is maintaining playfulness. Recently on an interview Andrew Denton did with Alan Alda one of the things Alda he loves about his wife is her playfulness. That showed it the photo he had of her which was a treasured keepsake. On Saturday Mick and I put up our Christmas decorations, well all except for the tree which hasn’t been bought yet. But when we went to out the lights and … Continue reading →