Ring in the new year spending time playing together as a family! My friends at Craig’s Cruisers are offering two great New Year’s Eve parties for you to choose from! The first event takes place New Year’s Eve from 4 – 8 p.m. and the second is New Year’s Eve from 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. For $24.99 per person or $125 for six people you’ll get Craig’s Special New Year’s Eve Feast at the All-You-Can-Eat Pizza, Pasta and Salad Buffet, unlimited go-karts, laser tag, bumper cards, high ropes course and frog hopper! If one of your New Year’s resolution is to make more time for family time-here’s just one great idea to kick-off 2011!!

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Looking for something to do with the kids during Winter Break?  Here are some fun family events taking place over the next two weeks.

Christmas & Holiday Traditions Around the World
Now through Sunday, January 9
Frederik Meijer Gardens – Grand Rapids
www.meijergardens.org
See over 40 international trees, 300,000 lights, strolling carolers and a holiday express train exhibit.

Snowflake Break Days
Now through Sunday, January 2
Public Museum of Grand Rapids
www.grmuseum.org
A special buy-one-get-one admission ticket continues through next weekend.  Enjoy discounted rates, free carousel rides, free crafts and fun activities.

Tubing at Pando
Now through Sunday, January 1
Pando Winter Sports Park – Rockford
www.pandopark.com
The park is open from 10am-10pm over Winter Break for tubing.

Cirque De Noel
Thursday, December 23 at 7:30pm
DeVos Performance Hall – Grand Rapids
www.grsymphony.org
The Grand Rapids Symphony performs holiday classics along with acrobats, jugglers and aerialists.

Night at Your Museum
Monday, December 27 from 6-9pm
Public Museum of Grand Rapids
www.grmuseum.org
Characters will come to life on all three floors of the museum.  Kids will get a flashlight and have the evening to explore!  Cost is $20 per person and includes dinner.

½ Off Kroc Center Day Passes
Monday, December 27 through Thursday, December 30
Salvation Army Kroc Center – Grand Rapids
http://www.usc.salvationarmy.org/grandrapidskroc
Kids get in for $2.50 and adults for $3.50 for full use of the facility.

Learn to Luge
Monday, December 27 through Thursday, December 30
Muskegon Winter Sports Complex
www.msports.org
Have you ever wanted to learn to luge?  Now is your chance.  Classes are held at Noon and 3:30pm.  While you’re there you can also ice skate or check out the sledding hills.

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These simple, yet flavorful, brunch recipes will help to make your holidays stress free.  Dress them with festive décor and holiday china and enjoy a great meal with family and/or friends.

Baked Peach French Toast – Serves 10

2/3 cup packed Meijer brown sugar

1/4 cup Meijer butter or margarine

2 tbsp. water (or juice from fruit)

2 (15 ounce) cans Delmonte Lite sliced peaches, drained

12-16 (1/2 inch thick) slices day-old Multi-grain, Whole Wheat or French bread

5 eggs

1 cup Meijer fat free milk

1 tbsp. Meijer pure vanilla extract

2 tsp. McCormick ground cinnamon

Optional ingredients:  Mix in 1 cup chopped pecans, 1 sliced banana or 1 cup fresh raspberries with peach mixture.

1. In a saucepan, stir together brown sugar, butter and water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.  Remove from heat.  Add peaches and stir well to coat.
2. Layer half of the bread slices into a 9”x13” baking dish, pour peach mixture evenly over bread slices. Top with remaining slices of bread.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and vanilla. Slowly pour over the bread slices to coat evenly. Sprinkle cinnamon over the top. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.
4. Remove the dish from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Turn bread pieces and sprinkle with lightly with additional cinnamon.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
5. Bake 30-40 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown. Spoon out portions to serve.

Serving suggestion: Top with a dollop of Dannon vanilla yogurt and a side of Canadian bacon

Nutrition Information per serving: Calories 261, Fat 8g, Saturated fat 3.5g, Cholesterol 106mg, Sodium 326mg, Carbohydrate 40g, Fiber 2.5g,  Protein 9g.

Cheddar N Ham Muffins - Serves 9

3/4 cup 2% Kraft sharp Cheddar cheese

1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese

1-3/4 cup reduced fat all-purpose baking mix

1 cup Meijer fat free milk

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1/4 cup lean ham, finely chopped

1/4 cup chopped green onion

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Mix cheeses, milk and baking mix together.  Add pepper, ham and green onion.
2. Mix well and spoon into lined muffin pans 1/2 full.  Bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.

Nutrition Information per serving:  Calories 140, Fat 4 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 7 mg, Sodium 435 mg, Carbohydrates 16 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 7g.

Recipe adapted from United Dairy Industries of Michigan, www.UDIM.org.

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I want to take a moment to wish those of you who have been faithful blog readers a Merry Christmas. I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of the Maranda blogging team this year and have appreciated your thoughts, encouragement and feedback as well! I continue to welcome your ideas and sharing of your personal experiences as we enter into a New Year…

This time of year there are so many moments to take advantage of and memories to create, not to mention multiple parties, people, and treats to enjoy! Along with all of these good things, the holidays can also be a time of experiencing heightened anxiety. I want to pass along some tips that you can practice as you encounter some of the anxiety that tends to creep into the delight of this season.

1. Be aware of how anxiety shows up in you. Your signs of anxiety might be physical (heart beating fast, face getting flushed), emotional (getting weepy or irritable), or cognitive (having thoughts such as “I can’t do this anymore!” or “Get me out of here!”). Knowing how anxiety shows up in you can help you understand how you can take care of yourself.
2. When you feel anxious, accept the anxiety. This might sound strange, but when you recognize and accept the anxiety instead of becoming resistant to it, it will likely begin to decrease.
3. Don’t judge your anxiety. Just because you feel anxious does not mean you are a “bad person” or that you are “weak.” Anxiety is something you experience, it is not who you are.
4. Breathe normally and slowly. If possible, separate yourself from the situation that you are in for a couple of minutes. Slow down. Tell yourself that anxiety is a normal part of the human experience and that you will be able to function with it. Surprise yourself with how you handle these moments…

For more information on behavioral health issues or to seek assistance, go to www.pinerest.org.

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The Gerald R. Ford Museum has a cool exhibit this Christmas.  Over 20 Christmas trees are on display all decorated by local community organizations.

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One of the community trees on display at the Gerald R. Ford Museum is decorated by the John Ball Zoo Society. Check out the tree and see how you can help support the zoo this holiday.

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Santa recently made a stop at Century Park Learning Center in Grandville to visit a special group of children.

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Recently Meijer held a special holiday shopping event!  Maranda stopped by with the Maranda Cam to get some yummy recipes and talk to shoppers.

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Shari Steinbach visited a class at Ridge Park Charter Academy to show how holiday treats can be tasty and healthy!

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With the shopping, parties and family gathering, the holiday season can be overwhelming.  Our friends from Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services have some great advice on not stressing out this year.

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