Bring Everyone Together With a Family Game Night

With family schedules full to the brim, it can often be challenging to find quality time to spend together. One way to create a night of fun without distractions is by planning a family game night. Parenting expert and Family Adventure Mom, Deb Geigis Berry, offers tips for sharing sweet moments of family fun during game night:

*Schedule a date and time - The best time to play is after dinner. If it's a school or work night, agree that homework and assignments will be finished so you can focus on the fun.

*Build excitement with lunchbox invitations - Turn game night into a special event by making an invitation for each family member. Simply fold a piece of paper into a card and write "Are you game?" on the cover along with the date and time of your game night inside. Place the note into lunchboxes for kids to discover.

*Sweeten Family Game Night - You can substitute playing pieces in games like Hasbro's SORRY! with different Hershey's Kisses Chocolates. Players can choose from chocolates in silver, gold, orange, purple, striped or polka-dotted foils. The iconic candy also makes the perfect treat when the game is over at the end of the night.

*Pick a game that's new to your family - It may be the next family favorite! Be sure to designate one person as "Game Captain." That person will review the rules prior to game play and present them to each of the players at the start of the night.

*Create a comfortable atmosphere and eliminate distractions - Why not play in your pajamas? Feeling comfortable boosts the enjoyment factor. Also be sure to turn off cell phones, televisions and other distracting devices during the event.

*Present a door prize - When players eat a Hershey's Kisses Chocolate, have them roll up the wrapper into a ball and place it in a small clear jar or vase. At the end of the evening, have everyone guess the number of foil balls in the jar. After the official count, award the winner (closest to the correct answer) with a prize.

"Family game night is a fun and interactive way to encourage your kids to turn off the television and spend quality time together as a family," says Berry. "Everyone loves Hershey's Kisses Chocolates and incorporating the iconic candies is a simple way to help make your family's time together even more special and memorable."

For more game night ideas, visit www.kissesfamilygamenight.com.

How To Host a Girls' Night In 'Pairing Party'

What woman doesn't need a girls' night with her best friends?  I found the idea below to sound like fun and thought you might enjoy!

You can always find a good reason to organize a girls' night in with your best friends. But why not spice up the theme of the gathering this time and host a "pairing party" featuring everyone's favorite ingredient: dark chocolate?

Pairing parties are great social events designed around the education and sampling of two ingredient themes. A pairing party combining the delicious varieties of dark chocolate with food and drinks will be a huge hit with your friends. Imagine the girls laughing over the different combinations of dark chocolate with drinks and food, making notes of their favorites and discussing the intricacies of all the flavor combinations.

As you begin planning your party, follow these guidelines to make it both educational and fun.

Tip 1. Invite your friends.
Invitations are very important for pairing parties, because you need to know exactly how many people to prepare for. A gathering of 10 to 20 is ideal. Give your party a fun name. Send invites out early, explain the purpose of the party - including the main ingredients - and request an RSVP. Invite each guest to bring a specific item.

Tip 2. Create your pairing list.
Plan the pairings that you will all sample during the party. Dark chocolate is a complex ingredient and blends well with many different flavors. For example, candied ginger and apricots taste delicious with Ghirardelli's Evening Dream 60 percent cacao Intense Dark chocolate, according to Leslie Sbrocco, author, television host and wine consultant. For drinks to compare with this treat, line up some smooth green tea, or white dessert wines like Sauternes from the Bordeaux region of France.

Tip 3. Develop an ingredient sheet.
Organize a tasting sheet, listing all the dark chocolate flavors and all food and drink ingredients that will be served during the party. On your sheet you can showcase recommended pairings - for example Sbrocco highlights framboise (a raspberry liquor) and red zinfandel with Ghirardelli's Twilight Delight 72 percent cacao Intense Dark chocolate. But also leave room on your sheet for your guests to make their own pairing preferences.

Tip 4. Determine serving ware and supplies.
Make sure you have the correct serving pieces and accessories on hand, including plenty of wine glasses and serving trays. If you decide to feature a red wine like malbec, which Sbrocco says pairs well with a savory and bold dark chocolate like Ghirardelli's Midnight Reverie 86 percent cacao, you'll want to serve the malbec slightly chilled in deep-bottomed wine glasses for best flavor. Small platters for nuts, dried fruits and even cheese varieties will also be very handy for your party. Make sure you also have plenty of corkscrews around, and provide your guests with wine glass charms so they can easily identify which glass is theirs.

Tip 5. Research everything.
Research your products and brands so you can share interesting facts about both. For example, Ghirardelli is partnering with the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) to promote the importance of early breast cancer detection. Specially marked pink ribbon packages of Intense Dark chocolates will have a code inside the package redeemable for a $1 donation to the NBCF. Enter the code at www.ghirardelli.com/intensedark for your donation to be counted. As you're serving different pairings, also educate your guests about proper serving practices for the foods and drinks.

Tip 6. Get conversations started.
Make a note of interesting conversation topics you can bring up to get discussions started, if needed. Since you'll already be chatting about breast cancer awareness, also encourage your guests to discuss the importance of early detection efforts and doing both monthly self examinations and yearly mammograms.

Hosting a pairing party is perfect for girls' night in and your party will be a hit with your friends. Before you know it, pairing parties will become a common theme for your group's gatherings.  ~Coutesy of ARA Content

Easy Ways To Incorporate Timeless Style Into Your Home

Think traditional styling is only for opulent mansions and stuffy country clubs? Well, think again. Traditional design is not only extremely accessible to incorporate into any home, but according to research by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), it's the most popular, too. Learn how to take back traditional and customize your own space.

Start out small
If the idea of transforming a large room into a traditionally styled one seems overwhelming, start on a smaller scale, like in the master bathroom. Keep the cabinets and counters neutral and add some glamour with the wall and accent colors. Favored shades in traditional decorating are jewel tones, like topaz and golds; deep reds and rose quartz; marine blues and vibrant greens. Use accessories like embroidered towels, bronze or iron bath accessory ensembles and potpourri bowls as the perfect finishing touches.

Another great way to add traditional flair to your bath is with elegant and elaborate fixtures. Look for a faucet with unique and detailed design elements, like the new Weymouth bathroom collection from Moen. From the European-influenced decorative script on the porcelain inlays to the refined top finial, this collection definitely stands apart. And just because you're incorporating stylish, traditional items, doesn't mean you have to skimp on modern functionality or features. You can reduce water usage by up to 32 percent, thanks to a water-saving aerator. Tie the whole space together by selecting an Old World finish, such as Oil Rubbed Bronze, and you'll create a traditional suite that's comforting and classic.

Difference in the details
One of the best ways to add traditional style throughout your entire home is with architectural details, like moldings, chair rails or ceiling medallions. It's easier to add these elements than you may think - and at a reasonable price. Peel and stick crown molding from Easy Crown Molding allows you to add the luxurious look of custom molding to your home. In less than one hour - and without tools - you can complete an entire room. Simply pick your desired trim style and width and get started.

Lush fabrics are also key to achieving a traditional look and feel in these spaces. But, don't be afraid of the elegance found in traditional decor. Silks, satins, velvets and brocades are going to be your go-to fabrics for pillows and upholstered furniture. Be sure to stay away from solids - mixing coordinating patterns, like florals, stripes and scrolling, add even more richness. Don't forget to make a statement with your windows, too - hang draperies that are full and heavy, and be sure to tie them back with ornate tassels for a look that is unmistakably traditional. It's often easy to find great traditional pieces at affordable prices at department stores like Macy's or Target. From pillows to curtains, bedding and even furniture, your local department store is one of the best places to start your traditional search.

Bringing traditional styling to your home is much easier - and accessible - than you think. With the right updates and additions to your space, you'll achieve a look that's timeless and refined. For more information about the new Weymouth collection from Moen, visit www.moen.com.  ~Courtesy of ARA Content

One of my favorite home decor stores to shop at is Pier1 Imports.  They have an awesome area of their site called "The Idea Room".  You can most definitely get inspired by some of their ideas!

How cute is this wall decal with birds on a branch!  Found this beauty on Etsy.  Follow the link to view details.  Wall Decal Birds on Branch Vinyl Wall Art Decal by PlanetWallArt

Plan 3D - Home Decorating and Landscape Software

The Right Design Tool Saves You Time & Money! Use plan3D to Create Your Landscaping Ideas in Lifelike 3D! Many professional designers use plan3D's Home and Landscape Design Software -- but you don't need any special training to put this great tool to use for yourself! There are no complicated commands. Just drop in trees, bushes, ferns, grass and other plants along with rocks, gravel, dirt, sidewalks, driveways and fences to get the look you want. plan3d's landscape design is extremely realistic. Want to add fences or walls? No problem with plan3D. You get different styles and sizes of wrought iron, picket, chain-link and privacy fences and posts to fill your needs. Paint them any color or apply wood finishes. Add any style brick walls with caps and retaining walls, too. You can even create a house on the side of a hill and adjust the slope of your yard. Put in retaining walls and drop the ground level to expose the water table. Click to learn more about plan3D. Plus, get 2 months FREE when you sign up for one year! Click the image to get a larger view and a brief demo. Desert and other types of terrain topography can be adjusted as desired using plan3D's landscape design tools. Drag in trees, cacti, bushes, and other vegetation -- as well as lawns, sand, gravel and rocks. Raise or lower terrain and topography as you need it to match your lot. Landscape design has never been easier!

West Elm Handknit Throw

I love anything handmade! I found this gorgeous handmade knit throw from West Elm. Doesn't it make you want to snuggle up on the couch and watch your favorite movie?

You can buy it for $59 at West Elm.