As the anchor of what is for many a four-day holiday weekend, Thanksgiving provides an occasion for family reunions, marks the beginning of the “holiday season” that continues through Christmas and New Year’s Day and, as its name suggests, affords Americans a shared opportunity to express their gratitude for plentiful food and general abundance. Thanksgiving Day a time for reflection, gratitude Many cultures traditionally have marked a plentiful harvest with a celebration of thanks....

Parents are generally universally annoyed by the age-old “I’m hungry” and “I’m bored,” uttered by kids who either just ate, are just about to eat, or just finished doing some spectacular activity. One of the best ways to avoid those verbal potholes is to be ready for them. There are certain truths that come with holiday meals, and one of those includes bored kids who linger around the kitchen, begging for food and looking for something to do....

A bit rustic, and embracing the mix-and-match approach, this tabletop is eclectic and hip! Styled by Erin Hiemstra, featured on Apartment 34. The White Buffalo Styling Co., created an “Enchanting Autumn” outdoor table setting using lots of natural elements, especially wood. Light and airy, this tablescape was created by Lucy of Craft Berry Bush. Neutral muted selections made this simple yet classic. Festive and bright colors are so fun, Marty of Marty’s Musings even had these wood chargers made!...

Thanksgiving is my favorite time of the year, when family and friends come together and eat! As a culinary scientist, I love to geek out in the kitchen, and I can’t live without my cooking tools. (My trusty instant-read thermometer follows me wherever I go. I’m like the food-safety enforcer in the house!) I want my guests leaving well fed, happy and assured that their food has been prepared and served properly....

It is her day and if she wants to indulge her sweet tooth cravings, show her you really care. No need to rack your brain for creative Mother’s Day dessert ideas. Simply feast your eyes on our Pinterest round-up of the best edible bouquets, then get in your kitchen and let the DIY experiment begin. Chocolate strawberry rose bouquet Moms love roses. Moms love chocolate. This chocolate strawberry rose bouquet will show her just how much you love her....

Whether it’s singing Christmas carols, lighting the Advent calendar, or giving and receiving gifts, there is meaning behind these traditions that sometimes can get lost in the hustle and bustle of the season. It can be easy to be swept up in all that needs to get done and forget the real meaning behind the holiday. Let’s take a look at the significance of some special religious Christmas traditions you may already share with your family....

Need a special holiday dinner salad to wet the appetites of your family and friends? This gorgeous Mexican-inspired Christmas Eve salad, inspired by Nibbles and Feasts, is bright with festive flavor and color. A Mexican tradition, the Christmas Eve salad or Ensalada de Noche Buena, is served at midnight as part of a celebratory meal. It features a healthy array of fruits and vegetables, including pomegranate seeds, apples, oranges, roasted red beets, jicama, and lettuce....

In reality, most of us pack in the calories on Thanksgiving. With ease. ABC News, citing the Calorie Control Council, reports that Americans consume about 3,000 calories on Thanksgiving. And, that’s just for dinner. When you add in drinks and desserts, that calorie count could quickly skyrocket to 4,500 or more. And that’s why most of us feel like total gluttons when we finally push ourselves away from the table....

Every cook could use new spoons, like these hand-stamped wooden utensils by The Idea Room. Spice things up with a DIY spice kit from Family Bites. Thankful cookies in a jar from Capturing Joy will show your friends and family how much you care. Felt acorn napkin rings from Tikkido make a thoughtful and pretty gift that every hostess can put to good use. Homemade scented candles by Lemon Peony will fill the home a with sweet and spicy aroma and create a warm and cozy ambiance....

You won’t find the typical Hallmark greeting card on this list — but don’t worry, because all moms adore a gift that inspires thought, promotes growth and shows them just how much we appreciate everything they do. 1. Empowered Women Empower Women travel mug This travel coffee mug is a perfect fit for any super-mama who is constantly on the go. In addition to being lightweight and stainless steel, it’s double-walled so it keeps drinks hot and cold....

Traditionally, if it’s cooked within the turkey it’s called “stuffing” — and if it’s prepared outside of the bird, it’s called “dressing.” But for simplicity’s sake, we’re calling it all stuffing, because no matter how you cook it (or say it!), it’s all the same flavorful, delicious classic bread-based Thanksgiving side dish. Check out these 10 recipes that will have all your stuffing lovers (and even haters) raving. Stuffing with parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme “I know it seems a little odd to tie a Simon & Garfunkel song into my Thanksgiving stuffing recipe,” says Amanda of her recipe for a savory Stuffing with parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme, “but every time I reach for certain herbs on my spice rack, I can’t help but start humming that song!...

Bird flying out of an egg MORE: Free printable Easter color by number pages for kids Bunny in a basket MORE: Free printable Easter coloring pages that’ll relieve stress for adults Chick hatching out of an egg Happy Easter bunny Doves and a cross Easter bunny printable coloring page This little bunny wishes everyone a happy Easter — and offers this adorable egg to color! Egg chick for Easter coloring pages Download and color this sweet little chick tucked into a decorated Easter egg....

Parental involvement has been proven to be a key factor in academic success. According to researchers, a student’s achievement in school is directly tied to whether the family encourages learning in the home, if they get involved at the school and community levels, and if they have high expectations for their child’s schooling and future. Income and social status are not reliable predictors of a student’s academic success, contrary to popular belief....

Thankfully for all of us imbibers, the surge of fantastic craft beers and whiskeys on the market over the past few years means that we no longer have to settle for getting tipsy via bad taste. Now, delicious spirits and beers to pair, sip and savor are easy to find. What’s more, your favorite bar probably carries an excellent selection of spirits and craft beers to get creative with (and for what it’s worth, a unique pairing is always a good conversation-starter with the bartender)....

This creamy cauliflower soup makes a great Thanksgiving starter, and pairs perfectly with crusty bread rolls. The secret to this soup’s creamy texture is the addition of a potato, which is puréed along with the rest of the healthy ingredients in a blender. The soup is lightened up by using half-and-half to replace heavy cream, but does so without making the cauliflower soup lose any of its signature creaminess. Top individual bowls of this cauliflower soup recipe with freshly-chopped parsley for extra flavor and decoration....

It’s surprisingly simple to create Easter egg dye from food like blueberries, turmeric and beets. You can even vary the depth of color depending on the time you soak the eggs. We soaked ours overnight — about eight hours. And we recommend you add vinegar to any of these dye mixtures because it will help the dye bind to your egg shells. Another tip: once the eggs are dried, add a little oil (like olive or coconut) to the outside to make the color really shine....

Halloween is just around the corner and, before you know it, the TV will be playing nothing but spooky tales and all our favorite seasonal movies. “Hocus Pocus” may be 25 years old this year (yep, seriously), but even after all this time it never fails to charm. So grab the whole family together for a spooktacular dinner and movie night, “Hocus Pocus” style. Dress the part Well, this one’s easy, right?...

Love stir-fry? (Who doesn’t?) Just when you thought it couldn’t get any easier to make, this sheet-pan chicken and veggie stir-fry recipe takes the wok out of the equation. The result: A tangy, flavorful classic with no messy pans to clean. Quick, colorful, tasty and healthy, this sheet-pan recipe makes a family favorite easy to cook up any night of your busy week. If you need something new to make for dinner but don’t have the time to mess with several different pots and pans, try this!...

Spooky spider cheese ball Halloween just wouldn’t be Halloween without a few spiders strewn about. If you want the spiders to quickly disappear without needing to be flushed down the toilet, just make these spooky spider cheese balls and they’ll be out of your house in no time. Your party guests won’t want to run screaming from these delicious balls of cheesy goodness. Rather, they’ll be able to enjoy a yummy bite of spider on a cracker or some pita bread....