It’s already November!
Thanksgiving is on its way, the Christmas season is already in full swing (Christmas music here I come), and we are all getting into the holiday spirit.
Below we have some of our favorite holiday activities and ideas…great for the family!
3 Ways to Handle the Inevitable Holiday Pop-Quizzes!
Every holiday gathering seems to warrant random and inevitable quizzes for our homeschooled kids. We’ve got 3 fun and easy ways to help you manage them with grace and humor.
Holiday Stress Relief: DO’s to Simplify Christmas
Well, you know me; I am all about making things simpler so that we don’t have to work so hard. I refuse to let holiday stress steal my joy. So over the years I have discovered some ways to make the season easier, to reduce that holiday stress, so that we ALL can enjoy the celebration. I’d like to share some of those ideas with you.
DON’TS for Reducing Holiday Stress
Today want to tell you about some of the things I don’t do. These are things that I have cut out from the holiday season altogether, because they were causing too much stress for me. You might be secretly wishing to do away with some of these yourself!
Dollar Store Christmas: How to Teach Gift-Giving Without Spending Much Money
Do the holidays sneak up on you and your budget? Even with the best of intentions, sometimes December rolls around and it becomes time to freak out about how to find enough money for Christmas. Especially if you want to have your kids give gifts to one another. That can double or triple the total outlay, depending on how many kids you have!
Holiday Reading for Your Teen
Tis the season to be jolly, and what better way to spread holiday cheer than by diving into a collection of heartwarming, whimsical, and timeless tales? Our list of the top 10 books for Holiday Reading for Teens will transport you to magical worlds and warm your heart with the true spirit of the season.
It doesn’t get much better than sharing the magic and joy of Christmas, and a good book shared with your favorite people!
A Teen’s Guide to Hosting a Christmas Party
Hosting a Christmas Party doesn’t have to be complicated. I mean it really does boil down to an organized time hanging out with your favorite peeps, right?! Throwing the word “party” into the mix can make the gathering a little more stressful for the host. However, there are some simple ways to take the pressure off.
8 Winter Break Tasks for the Homeschool Mom
Listen, I realize that Christmas break is the time to relax and enjoy family. I do get that. But you and I both know that there are things that we could do during that down time that would make starting up again in January that much easier. So I’ve made a list.
My Mom’s Vintage Easy Cranberry Relish Recipe
This cranberry relish recipe passes all of my tests for greatness: it’s easy-peasy to prepare, it contains no weird ingredients, it’s cheap cheap cheap to make — and it tastes yummy! You can put it on your turkey or ham, but you can also eat it by the spoonful, which quite frankly is what I usually do.
Festive Caramel Corn
This would be the perfect snack to have while watching that favorite holiday movie or staying up late for the inevitable Christmas Eve gift-wrapping party with your gift-wrapping buddy.
The Foolproof Guide to Cooking Turkey Ahead of Time for the Holidays
I am not exaggerating when I say that this method of cooking turkey ahead of time will CHANGE YOUR LIFE. I first heard about it many years ago from a wise older lady, and I tried it — and I will NEVER go back!
Yes, it is possible to roast your holiday turkey many days (or weeks) in advance and still have tender, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth meat. In fact, I think the turkey comes out better this way than when it’s been roasted the day of the holiday.
Pumpkin Spice Power (and Free Unit Study)
Food trends come and go, but few have captured the hearts and taste buds of people quite like the pumpkin spice craze. As soon as the leaves start to change and the air turns crisp, pumpkin spice lattes, pies, and even cereal start appearing on menus and store shelves everywhere. But what’s behind this autumnal obsession? I really became intrigued with this on a cross country car trip where I was binging podcasts and happened upon 20 Years of Pumpkin Spice Power.
Is Your Teen Showing Consideration for Others?
Consideration for others ought to be a no-brainer as something to teach kids, but in this day and age, it seems not to be. Our teens may need some reminders about what that looks like.
And frankly, maybe parents, do, too. Listen for why this is perhaps more important than you realize and some ways to make it happen that you might not have thought about.
25 Ways to Celebrate Thanksgiving!
We love to celebrate Thanksgiving. At our house it means dedicated days to enjoy each other’s company, visiting, cooking and eating. While there are certain recipes that we always make and certain things we often do, we are always on the look-out for new ways to celebrate together!
Traditions are important because they give us a sense of belonging and community. Holidays help us remember our values as well as personal and collected history.
Here we’ve gathered 25 things to do to ensure that your Thanksgiving Holiday is a delightful day of gathering with friends and family!
Thanksgiving Amidst Battles
Thanksgiving is hardly a time to think of battles. We were at Gettysburg recently. It was sobering. The wheat field, the hospital, the pillars from the states erected over acres of war-torn land. It was amazing and quieting. We attended a luncheon with our State Senator who mentioned that President Lincoln declared a day of National Thanksgiving after the battle at Gettysburg.
A Day of Thanksgiving after a horrible 3-day butcher-fest.
And the pilgrims- think what you may- lost 45 of the original 102 souls who landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts. They were people who were willing to suffer and die for the hope of freedom and the right to religious liberty. Those that survived celebrated with a feast: a day of thanksgiving after a year of profound suffering, death, and loss.
We hope you enjoy these ideas for the upcoming the holiday season!
Lisa Nehring and her husband, Dr. David Nehring, a Clinical Psychologist, and Biblical Scholar speak together on a wide variety of topics, including education, classical education, vision, mission, parenting, marriage, and more.
- November Roundup: Resources for the Season - November 10, 2025
- Slow Down, Give Thanks: Reclaiming the Heart of Thanksgiving - November 6, 2025
- How to Create Homeschool High School Credits & Transcripts (Step-by-Step Guide) - October 29, 2025
