In this issue
Wintering Your Garden
"Fixing" Thanksgiving
Get Creative for Holiday Shopping
Wintering Your Garden
If the cold isn't here already, it's coming. And your plants are going to do more than shiver.
It doesn't matter if you have a thriving garden or a humble planter box outside a window; plants need to be treated differently in the winter.
The good news is that there are so many tools to help budding green-thumbs like you.
Check out these tips to get your plants through the cold:
iPhone - Siri can't dig up your struggling sage, but your iPhone can search for the plant by picture. Cool!
Apps - Many gardening apps like "Planta" can help identify if your plants are perennials, annuals, or move-it-indoor-ials.
Green House - Speaking of indoors, some plants can be potted and moved inside for safekeeping.
Cover It - Optional materials like mulch for ground covering can help sensitive plants survive.
Doing the work now means a bright and verdant spring. Have fun digging
"Fixing" Thanksgiving
As you may have heard, Bird is the word, and that's never more true than during Thanksgiving.
The side dishes are just as important as the main course, of course. But what to make? Lumpy mashed potatoes? Weak gravy? Or the dreaded canned cranberry sauce?
Spice up your fixings with the following ideas:
Cauliflower Stuffing - Absorbs delicious flavors, and it's low-carb!
Roasted Greens - Wilted veggies are for rabbits. Try roasting root vegetables and Brussel sprouts for a yummy alternative. Hint: Add bacon!
Mashed Sweet Potatoes - Replacing mashed potatoes and yams with something better? Yes, please!
Green Bean Casserole Bites - Wrap your cheesy green beans in bacon for a hand-held delight.
Before you know it, your family will be devouring your sides and ignoring that juicy turkey. Bon Appetit!
Get Creative for Holiday Shopping
For many of us, holiday shopping is both a tradition and a necessity. Wandering the brightly decorated aisles and hearing holiday music can evoke the warmest of feelings.
But it's also crowded, hard to find a parking space, and the toy you wanted just got snagged.
It doesn't have to be this way. Being creative and using the internet can get you ahead of the game.
Try these ideas:
Shop Small - Head to Main Street, USA, for smaller crowds and a free bag of the community feels.
Craft It - Check out local artists and craftspeople for handmade gifts that won't disappear from a shelf.
Etsy - Like a combination of the two we just mentioned, but they deliver!
Box It - Get them the gift that keeps on charging with the first round of a box set service.
You'll be calm and relaxed, and not a little bit proud of yourself. Happy gifting!