The Ultimate Thanksgiving Recipe Swap
How LYFETYMES Can Help You Pull Off the Ultimate Thanksgiving Recipe Swap
With Thanksgiving being right around the corner and CDC releasing Thanksgiving COVID guidelines we wanted to help people around the world make early preparations for one of America’s favorite holidays - Thanksgiving. The holidays are supposed to be a time to gather with family and friends, eat delicious home-cooked dishes, and make memories. Due to COVID-19, the holidays will look a lot different.
Family being advised to not fly in for the holidays means you might not be able to hang out with your favorite aunts and cousins that would normally fly in for the holidays, or even worse you won’t be eating your aunt Linda’s famous Thanksgiving dish that you’ve been looking forward to all year. To help recreate those yummy memories LYFETYMES came up with a recipe swap Thanksgiving Party to make sure you get the famous green bean casserole you’ve been dreaming of since you devoured it last Thanksgiving.
Whether your family hosts a potluck style Thanksgiving dinner or you designate one person to cook for the day this recipe swap idea works for everyone. Decide who is going to participate in the swap and head over to LYFETYMES.com to create your Thanksgiving Recipe Swap Challange and easily share recipes.
Let’s Talk Turkey
A LYFETYMES SHARABLE URL
If you don’t have an account already. You can create a free account in seconds. There are key features on LYFETYMES you want to take advantage of the Thanksgiving recipe swap.
To begin, you will need to create a new celebration where you can be as creative as you want. Give it a fun name such as Nanna’s Make your mouth water Key Lime Pie.
Your Celebration details should be simple with the date of Thanksgiving, Create a fun Thanksgiving website you can share on social media or via text. For your website picture you can check out our new, free animated 3D invites here that you can easily download and upload to your celebration website. You can find these animated invites under the Shop Party Decor tab here. You can also edit your URL name to personalize it. Here is an example of Thanksgiving Recipe Swap
From your Celebration Dashboard, you will be able to invite the friends and family you wish to swap recipes with- add them as Co-Hosts so they can have full access to sharing pics, videos, and the menu planning page to send recipes via email.
Use the Pinspiration Boards feature to add step by step photos and videos/ link of how to make the famous dish. You can add video links!
The Goods
The menu planning feature on LYFETYMES is a favorite of mine. Not only is it great to plan the menu for any event but it also makes for a great every day easy to use grocery trip list. You can’t make nanna’s famous key lime pie without all the ingredients, so this menu planning list is a great way to share the ingredients needed with your friends and family. Your family can easily print it out and it saves you time when it comes to giving them your secret ingredient. My family and I can’t wait to try this recipe swap idea. It's a great way to stay safe at home and still eat some of your favorite dishes.
The best part? You will keep this Recipe Swap forever - Every Celebration created is kept in “Your Celebration” forever. This is a great family activity and a way to catalog your favorite family recipes forever. On Thanksgiving Day share all the recreations on your social media with your own hashtag like #lopezrecipechallange.
Have any questions or need some ideas? Reach out to us here and we are happy to help!
8 Fourth of July Party Ideas You Should Try in 2020
Fourth of July Party Ideas You Should Try In 2020!
Want to throw the Ultimate Fourth of July Party? We got you covered
Summer is right around the corner and it’s almost that time again to bring out the red, white, and blue, and pop some fireworks. There’s no better way to celebrate our nation’s independence than with a fun Fourth of July party with your close friends and family. We put together a list of party ideas to get your party started with a bang.
Have a Potluck
Is it really a party if there’s no food? Consider having a potluck for your Fourth of July party. Potlucks are a great option for large parties. As the party hosts, we like to take care of the main dishes like meat, buns, beverages, and ask our guests to bring some sides if they would like. Not only is it easier this way, but it’s also great because you end up with a variety of different, delicious dishes.
4th of July Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwiches
If you don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen or on the grill all day try these crowd-pleasing pulled pork BBQ sandwiches. The pulled pork does take a couple of hours to prep and cook so I would suggest starting on this dish the day before or even two days before your party. The day of your party just heat it up in a slow cooker and your party guests will be begging you for the recipe.
S'mores Bar
A sprinkler in one hand and a S’more in the other. If you have a fire pit in your backyard set up a S’mores bar for your party guest to enjoy once the sun goes down. Set out a variety of chocolates for your guest to choose from. Some of my favorites include Hershey’s Cookies & Cream, Dove milk Chocolate, and Reese’s Peanut Butter cups. Don’t forget the marshmallows and graham crackers. You can also swap out the traditional graham crackers for the cinnamon ones to add a unique flavor.
Set Out a Variety of Yard Games
To keep your guest and the kids entertained, set out some yard games in the backyard such as corn hole, washers, and crotchet. Take it up a notch by setting up a slip and slide and buckets for water balloons. This will help your guest beat the heat and burn off all the bbq sandwiches they ate.
You can also include a squirt gun station to add some extra fun for the kids to squirt the grown ups as they slide down. Check out First Home Love Life to find out how to DIY your own Squirt Gun Refill Station.
Fun Extras Station
A fun and games station is great for all ages and super easy to assemble. Set up and decorate a table and lay out all the cool and fun party extras for your guest to grab. Set out three mason jars labeled snap, crackle, and pop filled with bubbles, snaps, and sparklers. Also, include some cool Fourth of July temporary tattoos and some glow stick bracelets for when the sun goes down.
BombPop Cocktails
What’s better than an ice-cold cocktail on a hot day? A cocktail with a Bomb Pop in it. This easy and refreshing recipe can be made as a cocktail for the adults or as a mocktail for the kids to enjoy. It’s guaranteed to put you in the Patriotic spirit. Head on over to Freutcake.com for the recipe.
Confetti Poppers
These patriotic confetti poppers filled with red, white, and blue confetti are easy to create and will be fun for both the kids and adults. You can DIY a bunch of these poppers, count to three and hear them pop as confetti goes flying in the air.
Fourth of July Backdrop
One of my favorite things to do at parties is take pictures. Capturing memories that will last a lifetime requires the perfect picture-taking spot. This means your Fourth of July party needs a cute backdrop setup. This super fun and affordable DIY project is made using plastic tables covers, swing/ twine for assembly, and scissors. Learn how to create this fun Fourth of July backdrop for your friends and family to capture some silly moments.
Wishing you all a safe and enjoyable Fourth a July!
Handmade Mother's Day Gift Ideas
We rounded up 10 amazing gifts from Amazon Handmade that will show your mom how much you love her this Mother's Day!
If you don't live near your mom, sending flowers is a nice gesture for Mother's Day, but you can do better than that! We've rounded up the best Mother's Day gifts from Amazon Handmade that you can send directly to her to make her feel special!
Best Mother's Day Gifts From Amazon Handmade
Personalized Initial Necklace
Make your Mother's Day gift personal with a handmade necklace to represent kids and/or grandkids. This Delicate Initial Disk Necklace from MignonandMignon on Amazon Handmade starts at only $15 and comes in various finishes.
Concrete Succulent Plant Pots
These modern concrete plant pots are perfect for succulents or flowers and go with any decor. Gift your mom with this modern look with a fresh take on flowers for Mother's Day. These pots are around $55 for all three with free shipping. Bonus: each pot is handmade in the USA!
These durable and timeless pots will keep her happy for years to come.
Hand Painted Silk Scarf
Give your mother a gorgeous, one of a kind, piece of art that she can wear every day! These hand painted silk scarves will keep your mom looking stylish and feeling loved.
Personalized Handmade Soy Candle
You're pretty safe buying a candle as a gift for Mother's Day. These soy candles are handmade (hand poured!) and you can personalize the label with your mom's favorite saying, favorite quote, or your own phrase to appreciate your mom.
You can also choose from 10+ different scents! And you'll feel good gifting her a soy candle that burns clean for 40+ hours!
Sweet Throw Pillow
These sweet pillow covers can be customized: different colors for the script over pure white or off-white fabric. This sweet message in beautiful calligraphy, "home is wherever mom is" will warm her heart every time she sees it in her home.
Stunning Handmade Pillbox
What mother doesn't carry pills in her purse? Elevate her handbag with a stunning pillbox like this handmade bee themed pillbox. These works of art are made-to-order, but there's still time to get one for your mother this year!
Handmade Spa Products
Treat your mother to some at-home spa products from Amazon Handmade to brighten her every day. Made by Molly creates 100% all-natural, chemical-free skincare products in California. This fresh cuticle oil is made with vitamin E and almost oil and scented with eucalyptus and lavender (she'll feel like she's been whisked away to the spa whenever she uses it!).
Funny Tea Towel
These funny tea towels from MoonlightMakers in the Amazon Handmade store would be perfect for any occasion, but we think it's perfect for Mother's Day. "I wet my plants" is just one of their hilarious play on words in their tea towel collection.
These tea towels are hand drawn and screen printed in Asheville, North Carolina.
Laser Cut Wood Journal
If your mother is anything like ours, she likes to journal. Or, at the very least, keep a notebook handy. These stunning laser cut wood journals will wow your mom this Mother's Day. Made by Cardtorial and fulfilled through Amazon Handmade, you can have this unique gift delivered straight to her door this Mother's Day. You can choose from a variety of designs, including a monogram for her first name, or this this gorgeous heart design in the photo above.
Custom Doormat
She'll love a custom door mat for her front door! Amazon Handmade offers plenty of options from creators who will custom make a design for your mom on Mother's Day! Three Arrows Collective uses 100% natural coconut husk fiber to create these custom door mats and they only take about 4-5 days to make your order before shipping it directly to your mother!
Amazon Handmade offers artisans and creators a wonderful platform to connect with customers looking to support small business owners and/or who are looking for unique Mother's Day gift ideas. We hope we've inspired you to send your mom something handmade this year!
Looking for more Mother's Day inspiration or help finding more gift ideas? Check out our FREE planning tool to help you with any occasion, including planning a special day for Mother's Day! Click on "start planning" above to get started!
Unique Mother's Day Celebration Ideas
Make Mother's Day extra special by planning a special celebration! How to celebrate Mother's Day with more than flowers: unique parties ideas and gifts to make her feel special!
Mother's day is coming up fast and we've rounded up unique gifts and ideas for how to celebrate the mom in your life. Go beyond a flower delivery this year!
Mother's Day Celebration Ideas
Progressive Brunch Party
A lovely brunch out to celebrate your mom is a traditional way to celebrate--but if you'd prefer a more personal touch (or if you missed your chance to snag a great reservation!), plan a Mother's Day progressive brunch.
This works especially well for families with a few grown kids who live nearby so you can build in a few stops in the celebration.
Start off with mimosas or smoothies, fruit and cheese. Next up: the main course: french toast, pancakes, pastries, eggs, whatever she wants! And then finish up with more drinks, gifts, and some nice chocolate. Play simple games at each stop (How well do you know your mom?game, What's in Moms Purse? etc.)
You can also turn brunch into a "progressive dinner party," for a grown-up twist on traditional Mother's Day celebrations.
Take Mom Out to her Favorite Activity
Nothing makes mother's happier than spending time with their children--especially if it's sharing a moment together in one of her favorite places! Does she love art galleries? Or the local botanical gardens? Or a the local history museum she's been telling you about for months? Wine tasting? Tailor the idea to fit the special mom you're celebrating.
Snag some tickets and share some time with your mom. Life is busy these days and time is our most precious commodity. Share some of your time with your mom (or whichever mom you're celebrating!) and you'll make her year!
Acts of Service
Offer to plant your mom a tree or some fresh flowers and make the celebration live on past mother's day. Or, paint the bathroom she's been talking about for years. Anything that will make her life easier would go a long way in showing your mom how much you appreciate her!
Mother's Day Tea Party
Keep things light and simple with a fancy tea party. Break out the fine china she never uses and make her day! Make it a multigenerational all girl tea party, or invite the whole family. Create a 'formal' dress code to really make mom proud.
Go beyond tea and cookies and make some simple sandwiches, pastries, and a party punch.
(Making cute sandwiches isn't your thing? You can plan every detail of her mother's day party using our free tool! Find the local bakery who'll help with the menu, and more!)
Make a Video
This idea works especially well if you don't live close to your mother to celebrate in person! Gather up your favorite images from when you were kids to more modern shots and create a video set to music!
Add in video clips of you and your siblings sharing their favorite mom moments and you'll really make her feel special. (Cue the tears!!)
Breakfast in Bed
This is a popular one, especially if young kids are planning the Mother's Day celebration! It's something they can plan and do for their mother and who doesn't love breakfast in bed?
Kids will be so proud that they were able to treat their mom on her special day--just make sure cleaning up the kitchen is also part of the gift ;)
Make a Donation
Much like the 'act of service' idea above, you could make her Mother's Day special by making a contribution to her favorite charity or organization. Any amount will do!
Spa Day
Moms (especially moms with young children) rarely take time to pamper themselves. Instead of planning a big Mother's Day celebration, send her away to the Spa or a day of shopping while you handle the kids, meals, etc. This one is worth every penny as she'll return refreshed and rejuvenated and most importantly: appreciated.
Schedule a Photo Shoot
This idea will tickle every mother you are celebrating! Hire a photographer who is willing to take multi-generational group shots, as well as individual family shots. The memories and photos will warm her heart for years to come. It's the gift that keeps on giving.
Celebrating the mother's in your life this May can be a great way to really show her how much you love and appreciate her all year long, not just on Mother's Day. Use some of these unique Mother's Day Celebration ideas and really make her proud!
Planning isn't your thing? LYFETYMES has you covered! Use our FREE party planning tool here or by clicking, "start planning" above! Get inspired, plan and order food, create and send invitations, and more! We've got you covered this Mother's Day.
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