Girl Scouts: Get Out the Vote (New Outdoor Badges)

Girl Scouts in the 21st century has always disappointed me in the limited number of outdoor experiences compared with when I was a girl. Yes, I was blessed to have a leader who was taking us backwoods camping by seventh grade. But there simply weren't the badge options - or that visible opportunity - for girls these days, unless you had a leader who enjoyed the outdoors.

That is slowly starting to change.

Girl Scouts is adding one new badge for the Brownie, Junior, Cadette, and Senior levels. Girls can take this short survey and help Girl Scouts of the USA choose the theme: outdoor environment, outdoor survival or outdoor recreation.

This survey runs through Nov. 30, 2014. You can vote as often as you like! The badge topic with the most votes wins!

Free e-books Friday: Christmas and Holiday Season

Since the weather outside is supposed to be frightful, I thought I'd share some free e-book readings to get you in the mood for the next set of holidays:

• Favorite Christmas Cookies 
• Homemade Christmas Gifts: 14 Gift Ideas & DIY Home Decor 
• The Perfect Pie: A Handbook for Pie Lovers 
• Mrs. Claus' Christmas Cookies: Make Impressive Holiday Treats 
• Holiday Dinners: Recipes, Articles and Equipment 
• Gingerbread Houses 
• Craft-Less Bundle: Easy, DIY, Budget Gift Ideas for Men and Boys & Greeting Card Gifts for Kids, Teens and Adults 
• Decorating for Christmas: Your Guide To Simple, Fun and Inexpensive DIY Decorations and Crafts for Christmas 
• A Paleo Christmas - Quick, Easy, and Delicious Paleo Recipes For The Holidays

Need more ideas? I'm also excited to be part of the launch team for The Queen of Free's newest e-book -Keep the Happy in Your Holidays: 21 Ways to Save Time, Money, and Your Sanity This Christmas Season. (It's not free today, but a mere $1.99 at Amazon.)

While I've worked hard the last few years to NOT have additional lingering debt after the Christmas gift-giving season, I'm always on the lookout for new ideas to save money without sacrificing our traditions. Check it out!

Nut-free, gluten-free, homemade-free? Options for School Parties

The e-mail request on the surface seemed simple enough. The room mother still needed treats for the goodie bag for the class Halloween party.

And then I got to the end of the message.

Also, please make sure none of the treats include peanuts (SEVERE peanut allergy) and 2 kids are gluten free!

Wow. That moment gave me pause. Because while I've learned to adjust to my child's friends' food allergies in real life (play dates, parties, etc.), I had no idea what to do in a classroom setting. And it was even made worse by a school rule that said no homemade treats.

At one of our local stores, I scoured product after product for ideas that might satisfy both requirements. I learned quickly that there is no labeling standard for nut-free or gluten-free products. I even asked a store employee, who asked two other employees for ideas. They just looked at me sadly.

If you're in the position of searching for last-minute party bag treats as I was, here are some ideas to get you started:

• Gluten-free candies: A list of many gluten-free and gluten-friendly candies. So apparently not all candy is off the list.
• Non-food items: Personally, I'm opposed to spider rings, stickers, plastic toys and any other item that can clutter up my home. But think about pencils, glow sticks for trick or treating, Play Dough or other ideas.
• Carmel apples
• Mandarin orange fruit cups decorated with a jack-o-lantern face on the top.
• Rice Krispy Treats
• Popcorn balls
• Clementines decorated as a jack-o-lantern
• Grape "Eyeballs"

Have other ideas for gluten-free, nut-free celebrations? Please share them below!

Skinnygirl Cocktails: Mix Up Your Celebrations

Drinking beverages of any caloric kind tend to leave me with guilt the moment they hit my lips. The caloric count. The carbohydrate count. Not to mention alcohol and what it might do to lower my guard against other foods going in my mouth.

That's why I was excited to check out Bethenny Frankel's latest book, Skinnygirl Cocktails: 100 Fun & Flirty Guilt-Free Recipes.

I'm loving the everyday and not so everyday ideas for celebrating with your friends.

Here are a couple of ideas for toasting with your friends, particularly as we celebrate the upcoming holidays:

For Halloween parties

White Crampire Blood Martini

Serves 2-3
16 ounces Skinnygirl White Cranberry Cosmo
1 1/2 ounces vodka
1/2 cup frozen backberries
black licorice twists for garnish

Combine the Cosmo, vodka and blackberries in a blender and blend until smooth. Strain into chilled martini glasses. Garnish with black licorice.

For Christmas parties

Peppermint Martini

5 ounces Skinnygirl Bare Naked Vodka or other vodka
splash of peppermint schnapps
splash of club soda
Mini candy cane, finely crushed, plus 1 short peppermint stick for garnish

Combine the vodka and peppermint schnapps with ice in a cocktail shaker and shake well. Rim a martini glass with water and the crushed candy. Strain the drink into the glass and garnish with the peppermint stick.

Recipes copyright © 2014 by Bethenny Frankel.  From the book SKINNYGIRL COCKTAILS by Bethenny Frankel, published by Touchstone, a Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Photos © 2014 by Lucy Schaeffer. Printed by permission. 

Seed sale - Seed Savers Exchange

Need an excuse to stock up for next spring? Seed Savers Exchange has a number of 2014 season heirloom seeds and organic seeds at 50 percent off. While it's a somewhat small selection, it's a way to stock up on tomato, cucumber, flower and other seeds at a reasonable price. Seed starting is just around the corner!