YumSugar

5 Must Dos to Prevent Weight Gain This Holiday

Leta Shy — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:16:57 PST

Even if you are watching your weight during the holiday season, it doesn't mean that you have to skip out on all the fun. We've rounded up five super important tips so you can enjoy the holiday without packing on the pounds. Read on for our tips for preventing weight gain over the holidays!

Cranberries Coming Out of Your Ears?

YumSugar — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:00:14 PST

Every year I inevitably buy too many bags of fresh cranberries in an effort to prepare for any potential Thanksgiving problems. I end up with way too many cranberries and nothing to do with them. But just because Thanksgiving is over doesn't mean we can't still appreciate that tart little berry, right? Fresh cranberries typically appear in grocery stores from October through December. That gives us three whole months to enjoy them! So before you toss that poor bag of fresh cranberries, think outside the box a little and use them up! From cranberry vodka to cranberry sorbet (or cranberry sorbet topped with cranberry vodka – how's that for cranberry appreciation?), here are five things to do with cranberries, even when it's not Thanksgiving.

Keep it simple and whip up a zesty cranberry sauce (like the one you'd serve at Thanksgiving) but instead of serving it with turkey, spread it on toast or crepes!
Make your own cranberry vodka and serve it at your next cocktail party! Your guests will be beyond impressed.

Keep on reading for more!

She Kneads You and 4 Other Ways Cats Show They Care

Morgan Ashley Parker — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:29:18 PST

OK, pets can't speak and say why they're grateful but I'm betting they'd thank us for yums and snuggles right off the bat . . . if they could. How do they show appreciation without using words? Find out when you start this slideshow.

What's the Least Healthy Thing You Did This Holiday?

Leta Shy — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 05:06:15 PST

Now that Thanksgiving's over, it's time to continue the holiday eating and drinking festivities in earnest. Before you become discouraged about any Thanksgiving Day indulgences and abandoned, well-meaning diet plans, there's good news: first, one day of indulgent eating will not ruin an otherwise healthy diet, and second, sticking to your regular exercise routine during the holidays can ensure that you don't pack on any pounds.

Hopefully our recommendations for making a few simple, healthier choices during the holiday helped keep your Thanksgiving dinner from resembling the average 4,500-calorie plate, but if you're still feeling a little bit guilty about your overloaded Thanksgiving plate, now's the time to share, commiserate, and motivate. So tell us: whether you skipped any and all workouts in favor of pie or couldn't stop reaching for the leftovers, what's the least healthy thing you did this holiday weekend?

All That Glitters Is Gold

Casa Community — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 08:00:46 PST

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member designingmainstreet from the Su Casa group:

I'm in love with gold decorations for this holiday season. So much, that I decide to spray paint a pine cone or two - ok eight! - in a smooth gold finish.

After cutting some ribbon in various lengths, I used some hot glue to adhere the ribbon to the pine cones. Then I hung them up to shine!

This was a really easy and inexpensive project to do at home and it's a great alternative to making a traditional wreath.

For more step by step instructions and photos visit me at Designing Main Street!

Be sure to post your own holiday decorating projects in the Su Casa group!

What Did You Buy on Black Friday?

Anna Monette Roberts — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 03:20:16 PST

You woke up ridiculously early and lined up to be one of the first to enter the stores. Now that everything on your gift list is crossed off, tell us what you bought this year on Black Friday. Share the amazing steals you found in the comments below.

Which Thanksgiving Leftovers Are Allowed on the Plane?

SavvySugar — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 09:29:26 PST

Can you imagine watching a container of your mom's famous cranberry sauce being thrown into the garbage? Me neither. After all, many of us think leftovers are the best part of Thanksgiving.

If the plane ride home from your Thanksgiving destination is quick enough that leftovers will survive the travel time, it's a given that you'll want to take that home-cooked goodness back to your own kitchen table. Don't let your giddy anticipation of a day-after feast get squashed by TSA regulations; learn which items will pass safely through security.

Thanksgiving Leftovers: Turkey & Cranberry Sauce Pizza

Lauren Hendrickson — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 04:38:12 PST

Post-Thanksgiving, it's always tough to figure out what to do with all of those leftovers. Rather than re-creating the same plate you had the day before, give a leftover Thanksgiving pizza pie a try! This turkey, pesto, and cranberry pizza is a hearty meal with plenty of savory and sweet flavors. I used a caramelized onion cranberry sauce but if you had just a plain cranberry on Turkey Day, quickly sauté some onions to mix in; they'll add an edginess to the pizza. Mozzarella, goat cheese, or ricotta would all be a great choice for a cheesy topping - just pick your favorite! Pull out that pizza stone and give your leftovers a makeover with this creative pizza recipe.

Thanksgiving Leftovers: Turkey Pot Pie

Lauren Hendrickson — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 03:06:59 PST

Sitting on a mound of leftover turkey? No worries! Bake up a tasty turkey pot pie that's bound to satisfy the whole family. When it comes to pot-pie filling, once you have your roux, you can use the leftover turkey or even experiment with using the leftover side dishes too. I kept my pot pie really simple with onions, celery, and leftover roasted sweet potatoes but I can only imagine that if your family's stocked up on cream of mushroom soup, green beans, or brussels sprouts, they'd be great addition to a pot pie, too.

To keep things really stress-free, pull out the food processor for this incredibly simple flaky pastry crust - or, easier yet, pick up some premade pie dough. Don't let those leftovers go to waste; instead, read more to get the recipe for this comforting leftover turkey pot pie.

How Many Pieces of Thanksgiving Pie Did You Eat?

Michele Foley — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 03:06:20 PST

My Thanksgiving spread consisted of four pies: pumpkin, apple, chocolate cream, and key lime. I only ate one type of pie, but I did have two regular-sized pieces of it. Adding to that, I also ate another slice for breakfast. What can I say, I get weak in the knees for pumpkin pie! To compensate for part of my pie indulgences (or the fact that I'll have another slice tonight), I'm spending a portion of my day hiking and at spin class - nothing like a little pie to get me moving!

Source: Flickr user nightmare