ChaCha DIY Holiday Projects!

If you find yourself cursing under your breath as you string lights – you aren’t alone!

Decorating for the holidays should be fun, and not stressful. Yet, many ChaCha women strive to find something new and creative to do with their old decorations. Recently, I was told about the website Pinterist, which shows amazing decorating ideas as well as day-to-day things like recipes, clothes, and do- it-yourself projects. Check it out and enjoy some of their ChaCha creative ideas!http://pinterest.com/

We all eventually love our end result, but getting there (with a few trips to Michaels Arts and Crafts in-between) seems to be the ChaCha trouble. So, I recommend this DIY project…drink white wine (or Perrier mineral water) and save the bottles! Remove the labels. Wrap the mid-section of the bottle with a silver or gold wrapping paper and then add a thin bow or ribbon around the paper. Add a taper candle to the top and you have created a lovely ambiance. If you have a glass cutter, you can also cut the length of the bottles to have varying heights. How fun, classy, and easy to do – that’s my idea of a ChaCha DIY project!

Another easy decorating idea is using candy as a filler for vases. Stick with a ChaCha color theme, for example white pretzels, white gumballs, white rock candy sticks, etc. You can fill in with marshmallows, sugar cubes, Epson salt, white/silver ornaments, and the fake snow also. A single color unifies and has a powerful effect. Of course, red is the season’s color with the cranberries, candy-candies, and poinsettias, would work great too. A hot ChaCha chocolate or smores station is always cute too in vases, Hershey Chocolate Bars, Graham Crackers, and Marshmallows, and loose Chocolate mix. Add some holiday mugs, and your guests will want to stay!

Please let me know about your latest holiday DIY project and you will be entered to win a handmade ChaCha Bella ring! Contact Suzanne at S@chachabella.com

If you aren’t sure what to ChaCha say on Thanksgiving Day, I found this great prayer written by Scott Wesemann. During these difficult economic times, I find people more appreciative of everything. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and can find many things that make you thankful.

A Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Lord, so often times, as any other day
When we sit down to our meal and pray

We hurry along and make fast the blessing
Thanks, amen. Now please pass the dressing

We're slaves to the olfactory overload
We must rush our prayer before the food gets cold

But Lord, I'd like to take a few minutes more
To really give thanks to what I'm thankful for

For my family, my health, a nice soft bed
My friends, my freedom, a roof over my head

I'm thankful right now to be surrounded by those
Whose lives touch me more than they'll ever possibly know

Thankful Lord, that You've blessed me beyond measure
Thankful that in my heart lives life's greatest treasure

That You, dear Jesus, reside in that place
And I'm ever so grateful for Your unending grace

So please, heavenly Father, bless this food You've provided
And bless each and every person invited

Amen!

ChaCha Girls love Pink, but is it OK for Turkey meat on Thanksgiving?

According to the USDA, The color of cooked poultry is not always a sure sign of its safety. Only by using a food thermometer can one accurately determine that poultry has reached a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F throughout the product. Turkey can remain pink even after cooking to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F. And, the meat of smoked turkey is always PINK.

For more detailed information with all the ChaCha technical information, please visit
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/is_pink_turkey_meat_safe/index.asp

As you will read, there are many reasons turkey may be pink, so, please be safe, use the meat thermometer to ensure the temperature is 165 °F. More tips on ChaCha holidays. Coming Soon!