HolidAY PROJEcts

As the holidays roll around, a lot of us want to fill our days with hot cocoa and some fun projects. Join Deenie with some fantastic projects you can do with your family.

Projects For Your Covid Holiday Season

Written By Deenie Bulyalert

It is definitely that time of the year again where the weather gets colder, the days get shorter and the holidays are just around the corner. Many families get together do a lot of activities during the holiday season, but this year is a little different. Covid-19 has made a lot of annual traditions no longer a possibility. Here are some recommendations for holiday projects for you and your family during your COVID-19 holiday season.

Paint up a Snowy Storm

Are you looking to spruce up your house during the holiday season but don’t really know how to do it?I have been in the same boat. We never had a ton of extra money to make our house look festive during this time of year, but an easy way to decorate your house on a budget includes just a couple of items.

What You Need:

A Window

Acrylic Paint

Some Paint Brushes

And A Little Bit of Creativity

Oh, and maybe a cup with warm water to wash your brushes off in between colors

I’ve done this before and it’s definitely a ton of fun. It lets your creativity flow and it’s an easy activity to do with the family. You’re not wasting a ton of money on canvases just to paint something that might not turn out and it’s super easy to do. Since acrylic paint is a water-based paint, when you’re finally ready to take it off, just take some warm/hot water and a rag and wipe it. You also need some elbow grease, but it should come right off. Make sure to not get it in your clothes, though. Nobody wants to spend their holiday season scrubbing out paint stains!

Hot Chocolate Bombs that are definitely the bomb

My go-to drink during the holidays has to be the cult-classic hot chocolate. I mean, come on! It’s warm and it's chocolate with marshmallows on top. Talk about delicious! This little recipe is great for spicing up your cocoa game for the holidays.

What you need:

Silicone Spherical Mold (or whatever mold works for you)

Hot Cocoa Powder

Meltable Chocolate of your Choice

Mini Marshmallows

And whatever else you want to put in it (I recommend crushed up candy canes)

Step 1: Melt your chocolateeeeee. I recommend that you melt it in the microwave, considering that it is way faster than most methods-- but if you do it in the microwave, make sure to do it in 30-second increments and stir each time so you don’t burn your chocolate. No one likes burnt chocolate and it’s a pain to clean.

Step 2: Spoon your chocolate into your mold. You don’t want a solid ball of chocolate, just a shell. Try to get it as even as possible and be generous. If the shell walls are too thin, you're at risk of it breaking when taking it out of the mold.

Step 3: Let your chocolate harden in the refrigerator for around 30 minutes

Step 4: Take your chocolate out of the molds and put whatever you want inside, hot cocoa, mini marshmallows, peppermint, whatever tickles your fancy. Make sure to leave half of them empty so you can use it to close the chocolate bombs.

Step 5: Put a plate in the microwave or heat up a pan on the stove. When it gets hot, take one of the spherical chocolate shells (make sure it’s empty) and melt the edges just slightly on the hot plate or pan.

Step 6: Attach the melted chocolate shell to the one with your fillings inside

Step 7: Use your extra melted chocolate to seal up the sides and let the whole thing set for about 5-10 minutes.

Step 8: Put your freshly made chocolate bomb in a cup and pour hot water or milk and watch the magic happen.

Step 9: Enjoy!!!

Giving Back is the Best Gift of All

Families everywhere are struggling this year and you’ve probably seen it. I believe that the best feeling is the feeling of when we give back. This project not only teaches us that giving back is the best present we can get, but also benefits those who are struggling. It’s fairly easy, as well. You can do as much or as little as you want. Give what you can, even if it’s just to one person. A little is more than nothing. This is a little different from the other projects. What you need is only a list of what I recommend, so whatever you would like to put on it, do it. Make it come from the heart. These are great gifts to give out to the homeless-members in our community.

What I recommend:

A Cute Container

Water

Non Perishable Food

A Blanket

Socks! You can never have enough, and they're always in demand.

A Card or Letter: write something sweet.

These are only examples, you can make them however you want. It's the thought that counts.

Letter Example:

Hi, I understand that this year has been hard and I wanted to do something to help. I know it's not much but it's what I can do right now. Please keep pushing forward. It won't be easy, but I think that life is about the hardships we go through. That's what makes a better story at the end of the day. You are so amazing and I hope everything is well. If it's not, I hope and believe that one day it will be better. Even if it's not by that much. Keep your head up. The sun shines every day and there are still good people out there, even if it doesn't seem like it. Happy holidays.

Love,

A Random Stranger

It is really easy to look over the struggles of others. Some of us even look over the struggles of ourselves. Please know your feelings are valid and your struggles are valid. These holidays can be hard for so many people, but you deserve to define your holiday experience to what is safest and most joyous to you. You don't have to always be strong, because always being strong is unreasonable. Do what you can, even if it's not a lot. No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Have an amazing holiday and hopefully you do some of these projects!

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