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Friday, December 23, 2011

One of my favorite gift ideas especially for the kids is a board game such as Monopoly. It may take a little time for the kids to gain an understanding of a game this complex depending on their ages but the more kids that are involved in game play, the better because it's a lot easier to get them all to have their full attention on it when they are all involved. I can remember when my brother and my sister and I were younger and played this game. It was much funner for me when we all played together or if we had friends included than it was when there were only 2 players total.
Anybody that has ever played Monopoly knows that it takes a while to complete a single game. I can tell you one thing about this, I had so much fun during the game that I didn't even realize that we had been setting at the kitchen table playing Monopoly for 4 hours when the game was over. Four hours of game play. Four hours straight without TV. Four hours without pigging out on junk food and drinking pops because my mind was so involved in playing the game and what others were doing in the business of our game. That's what I call real time travel. It was pure joy free from worrying about what was mine or anything else a youngster may worry about. I loved those board games. We played lots of them like Sorry, Operation, Scrabble, and some were different like Battleship and Connect Four. It was pure bliss for us as brothers and sister with our friends and parents. I guess my point is we had a great time with simple board games without the TV and video games plus it was highly educational. Don't under estimate the power of a board game.
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Friday, December 9, 2011

GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFTS

How to Make Your Own Christmas Gifts

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
If your Christmas list is starting to look like a telephone book, it's time to consider making your own gifts. Here are several easy-to-make crafts that make wonderful home-made Christmas gifts.

Steps

  1. Make chocolate-covered spoons. Go to your local dollar store or discount supermarket and stock up on plastic spoons (buying some red/ green spoons and decorating them with curled ribbons would add a festive flare). Melt chocolate in the microwave on 50% power for one minute(if you have a fixed setting, do it for 30 sec.. Stir, and continue melting in 10-second increments at 50% power until smooth. Dip spoons until generously covered with chocolate. Lay them on waxed paper lined cookie sheet to cool down. If you want to get fancy, roll in crushed peppermint candies or drizzle them with melted white chocolate.
  2. Try personal photos. They can be sweet to give, and reminds them of you!
  3. Make a peppermint candle. Buy a large plain white unscented pillar candle and peppermint candies (round or stick). Unwrap the candies. Using a hot glue gun or glue dots (found at craft stores), glue candies all around the sides of the candle. It will look like candles sold for $15 and more in catalogs and fancy stores.
  4. Assemble a winter warm-up basket. Your basket can include homemade marshmallows and hot chocolate. You can purchase hand-crafted marshmallows in gourmet stores like Williams Sonoma for $15-$18 or simply make your own. Make homemade gourmet marshmallows (recipe can be found in links below). Purchase instant hot chocolate in sample sizes or in fancy tins. Buy a cheap basket at the dollar store or craft store. Line it with a decorative kitchen towel or shredded tissue paper. Fill it with hot chocolate, homemade marshmallows and, if you like, an inexpensive mug or a favorite movie. Wrap the basket in shrink wrap and use a hair dryer to blow-dry the shrink wrap on the basket to stay in place.
  5. Decorate a picture frame. Buy an inexpensive picture frame. You can use plastic, but other materials should work fine, too. Gather or buy plastic Barbie doll accessories, beads, jigsaw puzzle pieces, and other knick-knacks that symbolize the interests of the recipient. For example, for sports, you could use a plastic Barbie doll tennis shoes or plastic toy baseballs and popcorn from a doll house set.
    • Find a jigsaw puzzle with pictures of footballs or soccer on it and use those pieces. And get some sports-themed scrapbooking or card-making accessories from the craft store. Using hot glue or glue dots, glue the items on the frame. Put a special poem or message in the frame, and you've got a show-stopping gift without an extravagant price tag.
  6. Give fancy soap. Buy a glycerin soap block, found in most craft stores, divided into small cubes. Tie ribbon around the block to make a loop, turning at ninety degree angles to create each additional loop. Carefully run one scissor blade on the back of the ribbon until you have completely curled it. Repeat with the other side. They will look like gourmet soap and cost a fraction of the price.
  7. Knit a warm fuzzy scarf. It will be a lasting memory and really useful if your gift recipient(s) live somewhere cold. If you don't know how to knit, there are many websites, books, and magazines that can teach you how. Or you could go to the nearest yarn store and ask one of the people there for lessons. If you knit or crochet, consider the many other possible gifts you could make that way, too.
  8. Make a necklace. Buy an inexpensive cotton cord from the craft store along with some multi-colored beads. They are available in any craft store for a small amount. Cut 48 inches of the cord and start threading some beads into it. Rub some glue around the sewing tip to make it stiff. You will have a nice long bead necklace for the teenagers and friends on your list.
  9. Make gourmet candy apples. Buy a bag of apples, preferably Red Delicious or Granny Smith apples, as they work best for this project. Also get semi-sweet chocolate, wooden sticks or skewers, cellophane wrap, and the toppings of your choice (peanuts, coconut, cookies, etc.) Melt the chocolate in a double-boiler on the stove. Skewer the apples and dip into melted chocolate. Roll into a topping and allow to dry. Wrap in cellophane. You can use colored cellophane or add a pretty bow. These are a delicious treat for your friends and family.
  10. Take a picture of the gift receiver. Stick it in the center of a piece of cardboard using a glue gun or a glue stick. Collect picture of things the receiver likes. Make a collage of the pictures around the person's picture. This inexpensive gift is very cute for people of all ages.
  11. Personalize a shirt. This is a gift that most fathers enjoy. Write things such as "#1 Dad" on a T-shirt or sweatshirt with squeezable fabric paint. Use his favorite colors and designs. Or, you can use T-shirt transfers.
  12. Make a themed gift basket for newlyweds, college students, or new home owners you can create a gift basket with several inexpensive items from discount stores. Theme the basket for the kitchen, bath, or dorm room. Avoid a color theme unless you know what they want.
  13. Bake breads or cookies and package them in a tin or basket. Add a decorative ribbon to dress it up. If you can splurge a bit more you can include a bread knife, wooden cutting board or bread cookbook with the bread gift. For the more experienced cook you can try truffles, candies, etc. For an easy fix, buy tubes of cookie dough.
  14. Make jam. Many people like homemade jam because it tastes fresher than the store bought kind, and not so many people make jam anymore. If you like, give it with some muffins, homemade bread, or some other pastries to serve with it.
  15. Give hot chocolate mixes with a mug. Just find the ingredients you like, mix together, seal in a bag or container and give with a big mug for drinking. This is a great gift for families as you can give each person an individual mug. This is also a great just in case gift to keep at the house for a last minute hostess gift or that person you accidentally forgot. Easy to transport, it's great for giving at the office or school.
  16. Mix kitchen oils or vinegar. Combine vinegars or oils with rosemary, garlic or other herbs or spices, and pour into a decorative bottle and cork. There are many methods for doing this available online. There are also options available for marinading cheeses.
  17. Create a customized journal. Purchase an inexpensive, old-fashioned, black and white composition book (usually smaller than a regular notebook, and with the pages sewn in). Cover the book with aluminum foil, gift wrap, or fabric, wrapping the edges to the inside. Use spray adhesive to secure it to the inside of the cover. For teenagers, even duct tape (which comes in colors) can be used to cover the book. Add stickers, photos, magazine cutouts, and handwritten words (inside jokes, names of recipient's children) reflecting the recipient's interests. Write a short note on the first page about how much the recipient means to you.
  18. Make rice socks, or, if you sew, make a tidier, sewn version from scrap fabric.
  19. Give candy coated pretzels. Dip one end of a big pretzel stick in melted chocolate. Roll in either mini M&Ms, colored sprinkles, chopped nuts, or crushed candy cane. Allow to harden by placing the undipped end down in a drinking glass. Wrap in cellophane.
  20. Go for a movie theme. Buy a bucket of movie popcorn, include a box of candy and a gift card for a movie store. Makes a great last-minute gift.
  21. Give cute tea cups and saucers. Shop thrift stores, antique stores, pottery outlets, yard sales or your own cabinet for tea cups and saucers. Add several gourmet tea bags, individually packaged tea bags or fill with packets of gourmet cocoa mix packets. Wrap with cellophane and top with a holiday bow. (Hint: add a drop of glue or piece of tape to attach the saucer to the cup to prevent from slipping or breaking.) This is a great way to get rid of old china.
  22. Regift! Never be afraid to regift old gifts you've never used or opened. This can save you a lot of time and money, and you'll be getting rid of an unwanted item.
  23. Make a "water bottle bracelet". Get a water bottle. Then, you cut out a bangle from the water bottle. Glue thick ribbon on the inside. Next, go get a a map (Europe usually looks best). Glue the map to the bangle. Now, get some Mod Podge, and put a layer on it every 20 minutes (do this about 4 times.) Let it dry. Give your bracelet to the person. They will love it dearly.
  24. If your recipient has what seems like a few warehouses of small electronics, or just a few, try sewing an iPod case for example. The ideal article on how to do this can be traveled to from here. The link is [[1]]. This method can also be used on many other small electronics.

Tips

  • Shrink wrap can be purchased on rolls that look like wrapping paper rolls in most craft stores. Look for the kind you simply wrap around the basket and blow dry to seal.
  • Picture frames come in a wide variety of materials, from hard paper to wood. Hot glue one item on a small corner of the frame first to make sure it will hold.
  • Don't buy an expensive shirt; just buy a cheap t-shirt instead.
  • Most parents and grandparents would love a photo of you. Put it in a nice frame. You can get great deals on frames at stores like T J Max, Big Lots,Dollar Tree,or by a multiple pack at a club store.
  • If you have a nice photo of a friend you can give pictures as gifts. Go digging through old photo albums, scan and re-print an old photo of you and your best friend when you were kids and find a more recent picture. Use a hinged frame and put both pictures in it.
  • Go looking for great deals on frames and then print your photos to match the size frames you find. There are some really cute ones in discount bins. If you shop for the frame first you'll save money.
  • Think ahead all year. Take photos at family events, make everyone pose for it. Later in the year give everyone the photo as a Christmas present.
  • If your friends have developed a saying or if you all love a TV show or band you can create a custom T-shirt with a fun saying and a picture on it. T-shirt iron-on transfers are available for your computer printer.
  • For non-computer friendly family members you can create fun things with your printer. Make them address labels, This book belongs to: labels or any other kind of label that fits their needs. Use a family crest or photo to personalize it even more.
  • If you have a specialty food you can make it and put it in a container. Include a recipe card with the details of how to make it. If you make a sauce or marinade, bottle it and include a card for ways it can be served or used.
  • If you or your little sister/daughter subscribe to American Girl magazine, they always have good tips and crafts there, especially on the November/December magazines.

Warnings

  • Make sure that these projects fit the personality/style of the recipient.
  • If making a t-shirt make sure it is the correct size.
  • Do the math! If it will cost you $20 to get the supplies to make the present you may be better off buying a small gift. Try to make gifts utilizing items you already have or doing a craft you are already good at. This may not be the time to embark on a new craft hobby if you're not crafty. There are still inexpensive gifts you can give but embellish the wrapping or give it in a basket to make it seem more homemade...
  • If you're planning to re gift, consider the following: NEVER re gift to the person who gave it to you!!! Don't re gift if the item is opened, used, or was customized for you.

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make Your Own Christmas Gifts. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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Thursday, December 8, 2011

GREAT GIFTS!

How to Carefully Open Presents Before Christmas

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Want to look at your Christmas presents ahead of time to see if you got what you wanted? If you do than follow these steps to open them and put them back.

Steps

  1. Make sure you choose to do this when no one is around. Such as when they are at work, at school, sleeping, or gone away. If not possible, simply go into a room with a lock and hide under a blanket.
  2. Go to where the presents are and choose a present you want to see. Make sure it is yours because you don't want to mess up another persons present by accident.
  3. Observe how the gift is wrapped. This will help when you put it back together. If possible, take a photo of the present pre-unwrapping.
  4. If you don't want to mess up the gift wrapping, take a peek where there is a hole. Most wraps are translucent, so you have a hint of what you got for Christmas. Also, if you already have a prediction of what you might be getting, feel around the package for any textures that might give it away. Take care not to feel around too hard or you might rip the wrapping paper.
  5. Get a knife or scissors and cut through the tape on the edge of the gift wrap. Don't completely sever the tape; use the knife or scissors to lift the edge of the tape away from the paper. Only do this on one side. Or simply use your fingers to carefully remove the tape. Replace the tape after you have seen the present. If you cut the tape, put another piece over the cut to make it less obvious.
  6. Slide out the gift. If you are lucky, you can see the present from one side. If not, carefully slide it out, don't rip the gift wrap. If you are having trouble don't unwrap it. Only because it may be obvious that you opened it.
  7. Clean up the dirty work. After you have seen the gift, put it back exactly how it was. Wrap the gift and tape it back up. Try not to leave any signs of tampering.
  8. When you're done, put it under the tree and make sure it looks like no one has even touched it.
  9. Make sure you act surprised on Christmas day.

Tips

  • If you get caught, make up an excuse, like "I forgot which present was yours, so I had to look around for it." Act innocent.
  • Do this when you are alone.
  • When it's time to unwrap them, Act surprised and thankful even though you already saw it.
  • You can do this with as many presents you like. Just don't get caught.
  • Also do not tell anyone such as a brother, sister or friend because they may rat you out.
  • If you end up ripping the paper, here are a few tips to hiding it:
  • Try using small amounts of tape to fix the rip without making it obvious.
  • If the rip is too obvious to tape, try putting it towards the wall or the tree where it is unnoticeable; make sure you get to this first on Christmas and quickly rip it open so no one else notices the rip.
  • If the ripping is far too obvious for either of the above methods and you have the same or nearly the same wrapping paper, try re-wrapping the gift as close to the original as possible.

Warnings

  • Don't let anyone see you unwrap.
  • Don't leave any signs of tampering or unwrapping.
  • If caught, you could get in big trouble.
  • Doing this may make Christmas a bit boring, because you wouldn't have any surprises.
  • If you plan on using the gift before Christmas; be careful. If a gift is broken when you unwrap it, it will take some good lying to work your way out of it.
  • If the above occurs, try acting surprised and let down when you unwrap it on Christmas morning, not dismissing it and making sure not to make a bigger deal out of it than necessary.
  • If your parents use newspaper to wrap your gifts, if they notice one day it was wrapped with the comics and the next it was wrapped with the front page of the paper they may be on to you. Carefully rewrap it with another day's comics, it's less noticeable.
  • You may feel guilty if your parents find out that you ruined your surprises.

Things You'll Need

  • Scissors or your fingers
  • Tape to replace with the old piece (make sure it's the same kind and length)
  • A knife
  • A quiet room/privacy!
  • A lookout
  • A person who can wrap gifts

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Carefully Open Presents Before Christmas. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.
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More gift Ideas For Kids

How to Send Santa Letters

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
If your children want to send a letter to Santa, there are two choices - either send a letter by snail mail or send an email. Follow these simple steps and you'll be on your way in no time!

Steps

  1. Prepare early. When the Christmas rush begins, it can be easy to overlook sending Santa's letter on time. Doing it early can help you learn what your child is hoping to get for Christmas and gives your child something else to look forward to.
  2. Help your children write the letter if needed. If they don't know what to write, suggest that they say hello and hope that Santa is well, introduce themselves, and let Santa know what gifts they're hoping to get this year (leaving them to decide how vague or detailed a list they care to make). Try to make it an exercise in being polite, organized, and learning that we don't always get what we ask for. This is better than going on about being a "good boy or girl" which is both subjective and open to misinterpretations by the child about his or her own worth if they don't get what they asked for.
    • Read through the letter in case there is anything that doesn't make sense. Have your child correct anything that doesn't make sense but don't worry about spelling or grammar errors.
  3. Choose how you'll send the letter. The method of sending will impact the method of its creation.
    • If the letter will be sent by snail mail, have your child write it on paper and place the letter in the envelope. Let your child decorate the envelope if he or she wishes to do so.
    • If it will be sent online, it will need to be typed into the online form. If your child needs help with this, pull up another chair and have him or her sit next to you as you type; otherwise, just have them type and ask for you to check it before they submit. (This also gives you a good opportunity to take a screenshot for a keepsake.)
  4. Prepare the Santa letter for sending. The following outlines how to post or email the letter.
    • Send it by post. Write the following address on the envelope:
      • Santa Claus, Arctic Circle, 96930 Rovaniemi, Finland. Or,
      • Santa Claus, North Pole, H0H 0H0, Canada
      • Post it. Don't forget to add sufficient postage! A big part of the fun is to have your child place it into the letterbox. Make a ritual of it.
    • Send it online. Look for the site "Write Santa Claus At Home" at http://www.santa-at-home.com/writesanta.shtml. This is a free service.
      • Fill out the basic information needed stating whether it is for a boy or girl and his or her age.
      • Under "Send Santa Your List For Christmas" type the Christmas list.
      • Below the text box is an envelope, enter the child's first name and your (or the child's) email address.
      • Once you've completed the envelope form, click on "Send Your Letter To Santa".
  5. Wait. Santa will get back to you.

Tips

  • Note that not all parenting experts recommend misleading your children about the existence of Santa. Each action taken to solidify the ruse (i.e. letter writing) could serve to increase the psychological trauma when they discover the truth.
  • Remind your child to be friendly; after all, Santa always appreciates a nice letter!
  • Take your time, there's no rush.
  • Remind your child that it's important to be thoughtful and not to ask for too much; Santa can't bring everyone everything they want.
  • If you're stuck for ideas, look online at store websites. Or ask for non-material things like health, happiness, and peace. It's never too early to help your child learn the values of love and kindness.
  • If you left posting until the last minute, the postal service will very kindly send your child a letter that discusses how much Santa appreciated your child's letter and how Santa spent Christmas, with hopes that your child had a lovely time; this ensures that your child doesn't feel left out.
  • Remember be nice - Santa likes nice people

Things You'll Need

  • Computer
  • Email address
  • Gift requests
  • Envelope
  • Pen or pencil
  • Paper
  • Stamp

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Send Santa Letters. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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Gift Ideas

How to Convince Your Child That Santa Is Real

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Santa Claus is said to come down the chimney on Christmas Eve with a sack of toys and leave them for children. He is a very fun belief and puts an extra amount of excitement into your child's Christmas. However, as children get older and wiser, they start to understand that Santa is not real, and it takes a little fun out of the way Christmas used to be. To find out how to convince your child that Santa Clause is definitely real for at least one more Christmas, read on.

Steps

  1. Write a letter or two from Santa a few days before Christmas and slip it into your mailbox, to create the illusion that Santa sent it. Make the letters friendly and say things like: "Dear Timothy, Hi there! I heard you have been very good this year. That makes me proud of you. I will do my best to bring you a few fun toys this year. I could use a little help though! Can you please send me a letter of what you would like this year? Thanks a lot buddy! Santa Clause"
  2. When your child is doing something that they shouldn't, say something like "I hope Santa doesn't see what you're doing." Make it so that they do not want to disappoint Santa Clause. Or, call the house phone with your cell phone without your child knowing and pretend that Santa is on the other line!
  3. On Christmas eve when your child is asleep, put a present or two under the tree that say "To Timothy. From Santa." And, if they leave out milk and cookies, drink some of the milk, and eat half a cookie. They'll love this!
  4. If you're really trying to convince them, have your husband dress up in a convincing Santa suit and go outside. Then have him throw a football (or something of that sort) on the roof. When "Santa" comes in on Christmas, your child will be ecstatic.

Tips

  • Remember, if your child doesn't believe in Santa Claus; respect it. A child has the right to deny santa just as much as you do. A child allowed to deny santa will actually be happier.
  • Children do reach an age where there is no convincing them Santa is real. If you try to convince them when they're 10 years old, good luck!
== Warnings dont listion

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Convince Your Child That Santa Is Real. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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