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How to Stage a Perfect Family Holiday Card

December 10, 2015 By

A family holiday card is a great way to show your friends and family your beautiful home. Between finding the time take the photo and choosing the right setting, mailing the holiday card can be a daunting task. These holiday hints can help make the process much more pleasant.

Avoid Matching Outfits

Your family should be dressed in clothes that are of neutral color and similar style, but wearing the exact same outfits hides each family member’s uniqueness. Let their personality shine while still creating a cohesive look.

Choose the Right Backdrop

Your home can provide the perfect setting for your holiday card. You may choose to shoot it outside to capture the weather of the season, in front of your home’s main entryway. Alternatively, you can utilize any well-lit and well-furnished area inside the house, such as in front of the fireplace or Christmas tree.

Pick the Right Time

Time of day matters when considering the natural lighting that will make your card shine. The hour before sunset is referred to as the “golden hour” and provides stunning lighting for your card.

Clean and Prep

Once you’ve chosen a place and time, prep and check the area before shooting. This includes cleaning, straightening pictures, aligning furniture, and checking for any blemishes that would stand out in the photo.

Pose Casually

You want your holiday card to seem warm and inviting. Having your family awkwardly pose in unnatural positions can have the opposite effect. Encourage your family to be composed, but casual.

Plan for Restless Children

The last thing most children want to do is sit still, smile, and wear clothes they might find uncomfortable. To avoid difficulties be sure to choose a time of day when they’re well rested, fed, and generally complacent. Make them smile with a joke or the promise of a holiday treat.

Distract your Pets

Holiday cards are a great way to show off a new pet or keep your friends and family updated on the family’s furry friend. Pets, like children, aren’t always eager to be photographed. Have the photographer catch their attention with a treat or one of their toys.

The holidays will be here soon enough, so get started on your family’s perfect holiday card to show your relatives and friends.

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Slow Down and Enjoy Your Thanksgiving

November 25, 2015 By

By Matt Gentile

Thanksgiving is such a great holiday. Spending time with family and friends, watching your favorite sports team on the TV and of course, eating A LOT!  Turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, warm buns, corn, squash, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, broccoli…makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

In the past I would have smashed Thanksgiving dinner down like competitive eater, Geoff Esper does in our #C21EatSlow video below, but this year I’m planning on turning a new leaf.

 

Instead of eating like it’s a competition, I’m going to actually try and enjoy my food, savor the conversation and enjoy the experience.  By spending more time focused on your friends and family you may increase the time between bites and maybe even enjoy the taste of your great Aunt’s green bean casserole.

How many of us have a tendency to eat like we may not eat again for a week?  According to WebMD,

It takes approximately 20 minutes from the time you start eating for your brain to send out signals of fullness. Leisurely eating allows ample time to trigger the signal from your brain that you are full. And feeling full translates into eating less.

The benefits of a healthy lifestyle are good from a personal perspective, as well as professionally.  Working out regularly and eating slower will go a long way toward maintaining a healthier weight and optimizing mental clarity.  Here are a few tips to help you get started.

  • To master the art of slow eating, put on some music, light a few candles, turn off the TV and any other distractions, and concentrate on your meal.*
  • Youcan have your cake and eat it, too — as long as you only take a few bites. Take a bite, eat it slowly, savor it, and do nothing but enjoy the flavor, texture, and experience of the delicious dessert. You will find that one or two bites give you the sweet indulgence without a lot of extra calories.*
  • Take 15 minutes to relax, recharge, and refuel. These minibreaks can help you relieve stress, too.*
  • Push away from the table, leave the second helpings on the stove, and drink a large glass of water.*

*WebMD – http://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/slow-down-you-eat-too-fast

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10 Fun Family Lawn Games for Summer

July 23, 2015 By

Why limit your family fun this summer to board games when you have a backyard to put to use? Save Scrabble and Monopoly for rainy nights — these games may help you and the family make the most of the summertime!

Lawn Scrabble: Don’t get us wrong; we still love Scrabble. Make it a little more interesting and play a life-size Scrabble game. Cut cardboard into large square pieces, and write the letters on with a marker. Run around the yard making your moves. (via Constantly Lovestruck)

Bean Bag Toss: A classic game that will keep the whole family entertained. Simply toss bean bags through the board. Decorate your boards together as a fun family DIY project.

Jenga: Another board game come to life. Use plywood and make Jenga pieces. See who can keep the tower from toppling!

Ring Toss: Make a DIY ring toss set. Spend time testing your hand eye coordination! Warning: this game can be strangely addictive!

Mini Golf: Buy a mini golf set so you can practice your putt! Maybe take your skills to an actual mini golf course with the family after. Here’s hoping for a hole in one.

Outdoor Bowling: Set up an outdoor bowling lane and see who can get a strike!

Tag: You don’t need any accessories for a game of tag. You’ll get exercise while running around, and your kids may actually be looking forward to nap time!

Kickball: Kickball may bring back PE class flashbacks, but it’s a game the entire family will enjoy. Kick the kickball and run as fast as you can!

Water Balloon Fight: Water balloons make everything more exciting. Beat the heat with a water balloon fight!

Basketball: Can’t go wrong with the classics. If you don’t have a hoop, attach a basketball net on your garage door. Your family can play countless games of horse or just shoot hoops. Or make it a bit more interesting: Split up into teams, and have the loser prepare dinner!

We want to know your favorite family lawn games! Let us know on our Facebook page or mention us on Twitter. Enjoy summer fun as a family!

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How to Survive the Holidays With Your Family

December 18, 2014 By

The holiday season is about being grateful, giving back, and spending a copious amount of time with your family. Sometimes being around your family so much can go to your head. If you have a dysfunctional family filled with big personalities, it can be treacherous at times. Here are some tips to help you get through the holidays with your family.

1. Smile and nod: The best way to avoid probing questions and unsolicited advice is to agree. Make like a bobble head doll and smile and nod.

2. Stay in the kitchen: Hide in the kitchen. No one will come in because that means they’d have to help with setting the table or washing dishes.

3. Overpowering Christmas music: When things start to get heated at the dinner table take to the radio to blast “All I Want for Christmas is You” at a ridiculous volume. Tune out the fighting. Everyone will thank you – and hopefully start singing along.

4. The kids: Pull up a chair at the kid’s table. They’ll keep you entertained, and they don’t have strong opinions on politics or your life. They probably won’t ask you why you aren’t married yet or whether or not you are dating someone. Kids always save the day, plus they have coloring books and would rather discuss Play-doh than Plato.

5. Read a book: Get lost in a good book. There are so many good reads to help you escape the drama and make your family seem normal. For example, check out Where’d You Go, Bernadette or Beautiful Ruins.

Good luck.

 

Recommended Reading:

-8 Things You May Have Thought When Your In-Laws Stayed Over

-5 Stages of Having Your Kids Home From College

-How to Decorate Your Home for the Holidays

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