The most wonderful time of the year can also be the most hectic and stressful time of year for many.

It can require many trips to the mall, lots of driving, working overtime before the holidays, and also dealing with a lot of family members and friends.

It can leave you a bit frazzled and tired, and make you wonder if you are going to make it through it ok and have the energy to start of the New Year on a good foot.

Something that you can do to make sure you don’t turn into the Grinch this holiday season is to give a little time back to yourself and find some time to relax and rejuvenate.

Here are seven ways to pamper yourself this holiday season so that you are feeling your best and everyone is getting a well-rested and well-cared version of you.

Take a nice long bubble bath

If it seems like your schedule is jam-packed but you know that you need just some time to yourself a bubble bath is a great way to do that while still being able to fit everything else in.

The nice thing about a bubble bath is you can do it at home anytime you have time, especially in the evening when all the kids have finally gone to sleep.

Throw in a couple of bath bombs, light a few candles, and allow yourself to relax into the warm bubbles.

Get a manicure and pedicure

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Just like getting your hair done, getting a mani and pedi feels luxurious while not necessarily being so.

Take a couple gal pals with you as well who may need a break from their hectic lives as well.

Just make sure if you are diabetic to ask your foot doctor if it’s ok to have a pedicure done to make sure you don’t get any kind of harmful infection.

Get a massage

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This is one you can do alone or with your significant other, in fact, it could be a special Christmas gift for you and them as well. Booking yourselves in for a swedish massage in St Louis Park, MN or another more relevant area can be a great way to loosen up any tension and unwind together.

It’s something you both will love and help you to both relax and feel pampered as well.

Rent a hotel room

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If you really need to get away from it all drop off the kids at their grandparents and take a staycation at a local hotel.

That way you don’t have to worry about cooking and cleaning, and you can just lounge around all night and sleep in in the morning.

Eat some yummy treats

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This is one that is great when you really can’t take any time away from everything that is going on but can instantly perk up your mood and let you indulge.

Get your hair done

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No one will question you if you say you have to get your hair touched up and it will also help you to look fresh and fabulous for your all your holiday parties.

Get your hair washed, cut, and styled and maybe even add a blowout.

You will be able to relax while everything is getting done and take some time away from the everyday tasks on your list.

Take some alone time

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Even if it just means going to the grocery store alone or taking a walk alone, take some time to be with yourself and you will find it will help to center you and find a little bit of peace and quiet.

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However, do remember that it’s okay to treat yourself now and then, as long as it’s in moderation.

Don’t Splurge

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There’s going to be a ton of super good food during your holiday gatherings, but that doesn’t mean that you have to eat it all. Just remember to be mindful while you are eating, eat slowly, and recognize when you start to get full. When are full, or close to it, stop eating. That’s the hardest part – resisting the urge to splurge on all of the good food. If it helps, just pack a plate of leftovers for later that you can enjoy when you’re hungry again.

Bring Food

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This is where that planning comes in. Most people bring at least one dish to their holiday gatherings, so you can use that as an opportunity to bring something healthy (and delicious) that fits within your diet. You might find that others are really appreciative of the healthy choice too. If you can, bring a couple of items that you can keep going back to throughout the day.

Choose Healthier Options

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Besides brings your own food, it’s likely that there will already be some healthier options at the parties as well. Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes (not too much though), veggies trays, meats and cheeses, fruits, and salads are all healthier options that tend to make an appearance for large holiday meals. Eat more of the healthy options and moderate the less healthy options.

Have a Treat Day

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Maybe for the big holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, you need to have a treat day. If there’s a day when your family or friends are having a get-together, make that you designated treat day to allow yourself some yummy holiday indulgences. Just be sure to reign it in and stick to your diet outside of the treat days that you’ve chosen.

Drink Water

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With all of the drink options available at big gatherings, it’s always best to stick to water – especially if you want to allow yourself more indulgences where food is concerned. Mixed alcoholic drinks, eggnogs, and sparkling beverages tend to have a lot of calories and sugar, so if you choose water instead, you can eat more of the food you enjoy within your diet’s restrictions. Also, drinking plenty of water will help fill you up before you eat too much too and it helps regulate your system as you deter from your standard diet.

Don’t Skip Breakfast

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On the day of a huge feast, make sure you still have a small breakfast or morning snack. If you go to a holiday gathering hungry, you’ll likely eat a lot quicker (and thus more) than your body should have in one sitting. This will help you be more mindful and be able to recognize when you are full, rather than going into full-on binge mode.

Enjoy Yourself

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This is so important! Allow yourself to have a piece of pie or some warm buttery rolls. You should enjoy your time with family, and food can play a huge part of that! Don’t go overboard, but give yourself a little leeway during this time of year.

If you’re concerned about your health through the holidays, you can always ask your family doctor to help you come up with a game plan to make it through without giving up on your endeavors.

The post How To Eat Healthy Through the Holidays appeared first on InstantELLA.

We’ve taken some classic holiday desserts and found wonderful low-sugar or even sugar-free versions of the recipe that all of your guests are sure to love.

Low-Fat Apple Pie

Cut some calories, but reminisce in this classic, because it’s just as good as it’s sugar-filled counterpart. This low-fat apple pie uses all of the traditional ingredients of an apple pie, but eliminates added sugar. You can use Splenda to add some sweetness to your tangy apples, or just use naturally sweet apples, like Honeycrisps.

Find the full recipe at Spark Recipes.

Low-Sugar Apple Cranberry Sauce

You can’t have Thanksgiving without the cranberry sauce! But it’s always loaded with sugar because cranberries can get pretty tart. This wonderful substitute to traditional cranberry sauce uses apples to sweeten up the cranberries, and significantly less sugar than you would use if the apples weren’t there. What a great, and yummy, way to cut out some sugar!

Find the full recipe at The Foodie and The Fix.

Low Carb Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse

Take a spin on a classic and give this pumpkin cheesecake mousse a whirl. It’s gluten-free, keto compliant, and it only takes 5 minutes to make! What about that doesn’t sound like the perfect Thanksgiving dessert? All you need is cream cheese, heavy cream, canned pumpkin, spices and vanilla.

Find the full recipe at Sugar-Free Mom.

Sugar-Free Candied Pecans

All you need for this yummy treat is some pecans, butter, and a sweetener of your choice. This recipe uses Swerve because it caramelizes nicely. This is another recipe that is quick to make, so you don’t have to spend hours slaving away for a perfectly delicious treat.

Find the full recipe at Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Who doesn’t love pumpkin chocolate chip cookies? This is recipe is gluten-free and sugar-free, and it is sure to wow your guests. You can certainly get your healthy dose of pumpkin spice this holiday season with these delightful treats.

Find the full recipe at My Montana Kitchen.

The post Sweet Indulgence! 5 Low-Sugar, Easy-To-Make Thanksgiving Desserts appeared first on InstantELLA.

Mini Pizza Pumpkins

Make personal pizzas with your kids. Let them decorate their own pizza like a jack-o-lantern with the toppings. The cheese makes for the perfect pumpkin color. Olives are the perfect topping for the eyes, nose, and mouth. But if your child doesn’t like olives, you can always use another topping.

Find the recipe at Play Party Plan.

Pretzel and Cheese Broomsticks

If your kids like string cheese, these are the perfect after school snack for any October day. And they are so simple and quick to put together. If you want to keep the kids busy, have them make the broomsticks themselves. They’re that easy!

Find the recipe at One Little Project.

“Boo”-Nana Pops

Make some frozen “Boo”-nana pops to get excited for Halloween. These spooky treats just take a banana, white chocolate (or vanilla yogurt for a healthier option), chocolate chips and popsicle sticks.

Find the full recipe at Skinny Taste.

Silly Apple Bites

These fun apple bites look like little green monsters. And they make such a great healthy treat! Putting these treats together would be a fantastic activity for a kids’ Halloween party. Just give each kid a plate and their ingredients and let them go to town. They’ll have so much fun and enjoy a healthy snack in the process.

Find the recipe at Fork and Beans.

Grapefruit Jack-o-Lanterns

Carving pumpkins is fun, but can you eat them? Help your kids carve a face into a grapefruit and fill it up with their favorite fruit salad. Snacks are always more fun with faces.

Find the recipe at Say Yes.

Spider Sandwiches

Whether it’s for an afterschool snack, lunch, or a party treat, these spooky spider sandwiches are just the fun healthy treat your kids need to get them in the spirit of Halloween. Make their favorite sandwich, cut it out in a circle, and use pretzels or carrot sticks for the legs.

Find the recipe at Autism Learning Felt.

Healthy “Candy Corn”

Mock up everyone’s favorite Halloween candy with similarly colored fruit with some whipped cream or yogurt on top. One piece of candy on top won’t hurt either. Use fun colors and similarities like this to encourage healthy eating.

Find the recipe at Family Fresh Meals.

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