20 Delicious Desserts for Any Holiday Gathering

Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner and you know what that means-family gatherings, parties, and general merriment. Are you ready to dump your diet and jump on the holiday bandwagon? Families, friends, and coworkers will gather to enjoy delicious foods and make great memories together.

At my family gatherings we feel no shame in admitting that we have dumped our healthy eating habits for a couple of months. My family gatherings usually include more desserts than actual food so you know that we love our sweets. I have to admit though that sometimes I get tired of the same old desserts year after year. So, here are twenty delicious desserts to take your holiday gatherings to the next level this year.

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1. Easy Homemade Fudge Recipe
2. Glorious Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
3. Blueberry Peach Dessert Monkfruit in the Raw
4. Tiramisu Affogato Coffee Dessert Recipe
5. Oreo Cheesecake
6. Cherry Chocolate Kiss Cookies
7. Chocolate Pudding Cake
8. Trifle Dessert Recipe
9. Decadent Black Forest Cake Recipe
10. Strawberry Refrigerator Cake
11. Vintage Blackberry Pie Pops
12. Easy Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
13. Homemade Chocolate Pudding
14. Funnel Cake Bites Recipe
15. Raspberry Tart Recipe
16. Crock-pot Blueberry Cobbler
17. Peanut Butter Gooey Bars
18. Divinely Chocolate Cake
19. Rocky Road Pudding Dessert Recipe
20. Raspberry Angel Dessert Recipe

Do you have a favorite holiday dessert? I love reading all of your comments so feel free to leave all comments, questions, and personal stories in the comment section below!

One Earth Party

Hello everyone! So, I rarely throw parties, but I cannot resist a good cause and helping to support those in need. Come join me at my One Earth Online Party on Thursday! If you feel like partying with me for a great cause, click here.

More About One Earth & Their Products

The picture above is some of their jewelry line in pink and purple sparkle. 

 Do you use coconut oil? If so, Argan oil is better than coconut oil and you can use it all over your body!

 This is Mohammed or Moho for short. He is the biggest boot designer and Moroccan tote artisan. Moho works as the Moroccan Operations Manager. 

This is a natural process of producing dyes using different types of berries in Peru.

This is Fatima. She is working in her co-operative store in Morocco to take care of her family.

 This is Lucia. She lives in Peru, just outside of Cusco. She is completely in her traditional Peruvian garb that has been woven out of alpaca and sheep wool.

 This is Mohammed from Morocco. In this picture he is making a Dainty Purse.

One year after the birth of One Earth, shoe artisans were able to make many upgrades. In the picture above, they are installing bathrooms, complete with a new bamboo roof. 

I look forward to seeing everyone there!

Baby Room Reveal

Good morning all of you lovely people! Today, I am going to do a room reveal of my little man's room. There are a lot of things that I would like to add eventually but for the moment the room is completely functional.

I tried to stick with a pretty gender neutral color scheme for the most part. I chose gray and white because I had seen a lot of baby stuff in those colors and I really liked the outcome. Plus, it was so much easier on the eyes than all of those pastel colors.

The crib was originally mine and we repainted it to match with everything else.

I tried to keep the continuing theme of owls and woodland creatures. I just loved the look of owls and figured that they would be cute and snugly for my little man's room.

If you have a baby or are expecting, what do you like to see from a nursery? I love reading all of your lovely replies so feel free to leave any comments, questions, or personal stories in the comment section below!

If you would like to see something featured on Methodical Living please send me an email at Methodicalliving@yahoo.com and I will do my best to have a post up as soon as possible!

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Free Hospital Bag Printable

Hello everyone!

I can't believe that its almost time for me to welcome my little guy into the world. I can't be more happy. I just can't wait to hold him in my arms and cuddle with him. When I started this blog, around this time last year, I would never have thought that I would be anticipating welcoming the most perfect, beautiful little guy in the world to me.

How the hospital bag checklist was born...

As a lot of you know, I'm a planner. I love lists and having a plan. And let me just say this, I get a little on edge when my plan doesn't play out. But, I am trying to remember that giving birth is not something that goes according to plan. However, I can make sure that I have everything I need packed away and waiting by the door for when I need it.

When I started packing my hospital bag, I was kind of lost at what to pack. My OBGYN had provided a small list of things to bring to the hospital, but I knew that I needed more to be fully prepared. So, I decided to sit down and really brainstorm about what I need to bring along for this joyous adventure. That's how this printable was born.

Here's what I included in my checklist:

For Mom:

-Night gown

-Slippers

-Robe

-Comfortable bra and underwear

-Nursing Bra

-Nipple cream

-Nursing Pads

-Photo ID

-Insurance Card

-Hospital Paperwork

-Marriage Liscense

-Birth Plan

-Going Home Clothes

-Snacks

-Pillow

-Foldable bag

For Dad:

-Clothes

-Wallet

-Snacks

-Comfortable clothes

-Pillow

-Photo ID

Electronics:

-Cellphones and chargers

-Laptop or tablet

-Playlist and speakers

-MP3 Player

-Camera/video camera

-Extra batteries

Toiletries for the Parents:

-Soap

-Shampoo and conditioner

-Hair Brush

-Hair ties

-Straightener

-Lotion

-Chapstick

-Make up

-Pads

-Glasses, contacts, and solution

-Tylenol

For Baby:

-3-4 outfits

-Socks

-Mittens

-Hat

-Blankets

-Daipers

-Wipes

-Baby Powder

-Car Seat (installed)

-Nursing Pillow

-Baby Book

Get Your Free Printable Hospital Bag Check List

Download the printable here.

How to download this printable:

1. Right click on the picture or on the link above and save the picture to your computer.
2. Open the printable in a Word Document.
3. Print off.
4. Check off everything and relax!

Did you include something that is not on the list in your hospital bag? Did you get to the hospital and realize you forgot something? If so, feel free to leave your comments or personal stories in the comment section below!

If there is something that you would like to see featured on Methodical Living feel free to email me at methodicalliving@yahoo.com.

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How to Clean Stainless Steel Sink Naturally

Good morning everyone!

Have you been struggling with getting your kitchen sink to shine? I was saddened and a little bit angry to find out that all of my hard work was getting me nowhere. No matter how hard I scrubbed, I wasn't able to get my sink to shine the way I wanted it too.

Luckily, I had some homemade lemon extract that I had made last year. At the time, I wanted to use it to get rid of the occasional flea. There was a time that I sprayed it on my furniture, but it didn't works as well as I had hoped. So, I put it up on a shelf and forgot about it until recently. This lemon extract is the perfect way to get my sink to shine to its fullest potential.

Here's how to make lemon extract:

1. Grate the peels of at least 3-4 lemons.
2. Cut up the rest of the lemon pieces.
3. Boil the lemons in about 2 quarts of water.
4. Bottle the mixture and let it sit for a bit.

How to get your sinks to shine:

1. Soak a paper towel in your lemon extract.
2. Wipe down your sink.
3. Watch how it shines!

I love reading all of your lovely replies so feel free to leave any comments, questions, or personal stories in the comment section below!

If you would like to see something featured on Methodical Living please send me an email at Methodicalliving@yahoo.com and I will do my best to have a post up as soon as possible!

If you would like more of Methodical Living follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest! 

Five Activities for Halloween

Halloween is a great time for children to gather tons of sugary treats, gather together, and dress up as ghouls and goblins. There are a lot of ways to celebrate this spooktacular holiday apart from knocking on the doors of strangers to get candy or exploring a cheesy haunted house. Here are my top five ways to spend Halloween.

Five Activities for Halloween

Carving Pumpkins: Carving pumpkins are a tradition that is celebrated by pretty much everyone across the nation. Personally, I am no good at making a pumpkin a great work of art. If you lack the creative skill for carving a great, big pumpkin do not let that stop you from celebrating this time long tradition every Halloween.

Watching Scary Movies: Watching scary movies on Halloween night is by far my favorite tradition. I can watch scary movies pretty much any time of the year, but Halloween is the best because of the spook factor. I just love cuddling up with my hubby, a huge bowl of popcorn, and my favorite slasher flicks. What are some of your favorite scary movies?

Bonfires: Bonfires were never really a thing until I met my husband. Actually, my husband is The Best Fire Builder. We've enjoyed fires in the rain- that's how good he is. I love bonfires and making s'mores, especially during fall. Its the best way to stay warm and enjoy some sugary treats too!

Hayrides: As a kid, I enjoyed many hayrides with my family. We would throw huge Halloween parties and ride around with a trailer filled with hay. There is no better way to celebrate Halloween and trick or treat with little kids than with a hayride.

Corn Mazes: Corn mazes are great! Its a maze made completely out of corn. And who doesn't love corn? I've been too quite a few and with my bad sense of direction I have to cheat to find my way out. Then, I get yelled at by the workers, but it is well worth it. Check online to find the best corn mazes in your area!

10 Candy Alternatives for Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner and you know what that means? It means that a flock of little children will be rushing to your door looking for treats and goodies to celebrate this beloved holiday. I know that candy is the popular choice among pretty much everybody and children have come to expect sugar laden goodies, but candy is not the only thing that children will love.

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Here are ten great alternatives to candy that children and parents will love.

1. Pencils: Pencils are a great alternative to Halloween candy. Pencils, pens, and erasers are not only a great candy alternative but they are also practical. The beginning of the school year is still new and all of the kids are looking for new, cool school gear. Plus, school gear is way cheaper than candy!
2. Trading cards: Trading cards are cheap, easy, and perfect for Halloween. Check out all different types of trading cards online and get a wide variety for the kiddos to pick and choose from!
3. Crayons: Crayons are similar to pencils. They are a practical way to celebrate Halloween and make the kiddos happy. Crayons are something that kids can carry to school and actually use. Plus, they love love crayons almost as much as candy!
4. Fruit (apples, bananas, or oranges): Fruit is not a very popular choice among kids. But parents will love you for it and honestly, the kids will have more than enough candy on Halloween. Personally, I remember that I loved getting apples or oranges as a kid, but my views were not very popular.
5. Mini coloring books: Mini coloring books are a great way to unleash creativity in every child. And what better alternative to candy is there than creativity? Small coloring books can be bought in bulk at the dollar store or online for just a few bucks which is definitely cheaper than any kind of candy. Plus, creativity doesn't cause cavities, and parents will love that!
6. Trail Mix:Trail mix is a tricky subject. There are a lot of children with allergies; so, be sure that you correctly label your trail mix or make sure the children do not have any allergies to the mix before handing it out. But, trail mix is healthier than candy and can still satisfy a sweet tooth.
7. Stickers: Stickers are probably my favorite alternative to candy this Halloween. What kid doesn't love stickers? Heck, I love stickers and I'm a grown woman, haha. Plus, stickers are a pretty cheap way to make the little ones happy. You can pick up at least a dozen sheets of stickers for just a couple of bucks.
8. Party favors: Party favors are cheap and easy. Plus, the kids love spider rings, vampire teeth, and little games. These favors can be picked up for just a few bucks and are definitely a lot cheaper than candy!
9. Glow sticks: Glow sticks are not only a “cool” alternative to candy, but they also keep the kiddies safe while they are collecting all of those sugar laden goodies. Glow sticks are not as cheap as other alternatives but they are a great choice! (link?)
10. Temporary Tattoos: Kids absolutely LOVE temporary tattoos- I know that I did when I was small. Temporary tattoos make a kid feel “cool” but come right off with some soapy water. Also, you can pick up some temporary tattoos without breaking the bank.

If you're looking for a cute way to top off theses candy alternatives, grab my free Halloween Treat Topper printable.

Do you have any go to candy alternatives for Halloween? If so, feel free to share in the comments section below!

If you would like to see something on Methodical Living or need help tackling your organizing obstacles fee free to email me at methodicalliving@yahoo.com.