Archive for the 'Kids & Family' Category

Valentine’s Day: Ten Unique and Original Ways to Celebrate

Published by
ebell
at January 21, 2010 in Holiday and Kids & Family. 0 Comments

Some people dislike Valentine’s Day, other folks relish it, but one thing’s for sure: A lot of people celebrate it!  Valentine’s Day is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the United States, with millions of couples buying chocolate, roses, or going out to a special dinner.  But what if you’re bored with the traditional Valentine’s Day routine?  Here are ten fun and original ideas to make your Valentine’s Day special and unique for you and your sweetie.

Roses
Photograph courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Idea #1:
Plan a Valentines party for those you love.  Make it a potluck to cut down on the expenses.  Decorate your house with hearts and anything red and pink.  Invite lots of people you care about, such as neighbors, friends, relatives, and their children.  It’s also particularly nice to remember those who have lost their spouses.

Idea #2:
Make Valentine treats and take them to the pediatric unit at your local hospital, a nearby nursing home, or even surprise your friends who might be spending the evening at home alone.

Idea #3:
Event tickets are a unique gift idea, and are enjoyed by almost everyone.  However, these don’t necessarily need to be used on Valentines Day or even shared with you.  Consider purchasing tickets for your loved one so he or she can go to a special event that they could enjoy themselves, such as a women’s lecture series or a fishing and camping show.  Be sure to get two tickets so they can invite a friend who shares their interest!

Idea #4:
Order dinner in and serve it on your good china.  Even better, have a family picnic on the living room floor!  Gather candles from around the house and eat by candlelight, and be sure to include the younger members of the family.

Idea #5:
Plan an evening outdoors, doing something like skiing, sledding, or snowboarding.  If you have children, go outdoors and build a snow fort in the back yard.  Dinner can occur before or after the outdoor activities, and can be something as simple as pizza at home.  End the evening with hot chocolate and cookies in front of the fire to warm everyone up again.

Idea #6:
Recreate the “good old days.”  Visit your favorite old restaurant, if it is still nearby.  If you have since moved away, call the restaurant to inquire if they will freeze and ship your favorite entrees to your home, so you can enjoy them as a special treat.

Idea #7:
Clean things up!  Have your loved one’s car cleaned and detailed.  Be sure to include a full tank of gas and a new emergency kit, if they don’t already have one.  A freshly cleaned car is something everyone can appreciate!

Idea #8:
Sleepover!  Host a sleepover for your grandkids to give their parents a much-deserved Valentine’s Day break.  Everyone benefits-you get to have special time with your grandkids, plus mom and dad have some time alone to rest and recharge.

Idea #9:
Call in the pros!  Give your loved one a gift certificate for a professional housecleaning.  Or if you are brave, surprise them having the house cleaned while they are away.  There is nothing like entering a spotless home when someone else has done all the hard work!

Idea #10:
Say it all!  Make a list of all the things you love about your special someone, including unique quirks and special secrets that only the two of you share.  Write everything down in a beautifully bound book, or write each note on a separate slip of paper, and put them all inside a special box.  This will likely become one of your spouse’s most treasured gifts.

Valentine’s is such a fun and special time of year for anyone who is in love.  Make it really special this year by doing something unexpected.  Your loved one is sure to appreciate your thought and efforts, and it will hopefully create lasting memories for the two of you to share and remember in years to come.

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Christmas Gift Ideas For Every Age Group

Published by
maduncan
at November 20, 2009 in Holiday and Kids & Family. 0 Comments

Every year, many of us go through the same struggles with holiday shopping.  Not only is gift shopping costly and time consuming, but it can be so difficult to come up with the right gift for each person on your list.  If you’re unsure what to buy for someone, think about their lifestyle or age group, as this can often be a good guide for what type of gifts you should consider.  In this article, we’ll explore some great Christmas gift ideas for various age groups:

Christmas gifts

Children:
This age group is usually the easiest to buy for, as most kids have some special toy or book that they want.  Other ideas might include a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant or ice cream shop.  Sometimes simple gifts like a flashlight for a 4 year old can provide hours of great fun and adventure.  Just remember that safety is the most important consideration when purchasing gifts for these little ones.

Teenagers:
Teens can be a little more difficult to shop for, but it doesn’t have to be impossible.  Remember that teens enjoy eating, watching movies, and listening to music.  When you consider these things, some good ideas might be gift certificates to fast food joints, movie theaters, or a CD (from the parent’s approved list, of course).  If the teen has a car, gift certificates to a local gas station are always appreciated.  When all else fails, a gift card to the shopping mall is usually a safe bet, too.

Young Adults:
Food baskets are always a hit with this group, especially since most young adults don’t do a lot of cooking for themselves, but may like to entertain others.  For someone who likes Italian, consider doing a basket with a meal such as pasta, sauce, breadsticks and wine.  Many young adults are also getting started in new apartments or perhaps their first homes, so gifts for the home or kitchen are usually well received.

New Parents:
A night out is always a great break for these folks.  A gift card to a local restaurant and tickets to an event or movie theater will be much appreciated!  If you happen to live nearby and are up for the challenge, include a certificate for a free night of babysitting.  For families with school age children, gift baskets with popcorn, pop, and movie rental coupons or a family friendly DVD are also nice ideas.  Many families also appreciate season passes to the local science center, swimming pool, or zoo.

Empty Nesters or Seniors:
If your parents fall into this category, one of the nicest gifts you can give is something to remind them of the fond memories of the past.  Consider taking old pictures or home movies and putting them on DVD.  If the gift recipient doesn’t own a DVD player, another idea would be to have photos printed and then make a nice scrapbook or photo album of a special family vacation, reunion, or holiday gathering.  This is a great way to preserve memories and make them more accessible for viewing.

If you’re really crunched for time when shopping, consider ordering some gifts online.  Not only does this save time, but it also saves gas money, and you may be able to find some real bargains that aren’t available in stores.  A little thought and recollection can help you choose the perfect gift for each person on your list while still leaving enough time for you to enjoy the holiday season, too.

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Homemade Christmas Gifts Straight from the Garden

Published by
maduncan
at November 6, 2009 in Garden, Holiday and Kids & Family. 0 Comments

During the long, hot days of summer, the last thing we think about is Christmas shopping.  After all, that’s a task we usually relegate to the month of December, right?  But the truth is, the job of shopping for Christmas gifts is something many people loathe.  Parking lots are crowded, malls are jam packed, and finding just the right gift for that special someone can take hours, or even days.  What if there was a way to get some of your Christmas gifts ready during the summertime and put them away in storage so they’ll be ready to go when the holiday season rolls around?  Before you grab your keys and jump in the car to go shopping now, stop and take a look around your own home and garden.  There may be some gift possibilities lurking right under your own nose that are homemade, thoughtful, and very inexpensive.

Many of us raise vegetable gardens in the summer, and we wind up with more fresh produce than we can possibly use.  Instead of letting it rot on the vine or giving it all away to neighbors, consider canning.  Many vegetables like fresh green beans and tomatoes can be canned and then given away as gifts at the holidays.  Fresh bell peppers can be made into relishes, and cucumbers can be pickled and canned.  Cans of fresh produce also make wonderful hostess’s gifts when you are invited to holiday parties.  Top off the jar with a colorful square of fabric and tie with a ribbon to make the gift really attractive and special.

If you enjoy cooking, consider using your fresh produce to make other items like homemade spaghetti sauce, fresh salsa, or pickle relish that can be canned.  For a really nice touch, put a couple jars of spaghetti sauce into a gift basket and then include some related items such as a pound of pasta and a loaf of fresh Italian bread.  Other nice touches might include an Italian cookbook, a bottle of good red wine or gourmet olive oil, and even some fresh parmesan cheese.  The idea of themed gift baskets based on your homemade canned goods can be expanded into other areas, too.  For example, if you’ve made some fresh salsa, include items in your gift basket like tortilla chips, margarita mix, and a bottle of good quality tequila.

Homemade gifts from the garden don’t have to be limited to only vegetables.  If you grow fruits such as blueberries, cherries, or raspberries, consider making homemade jams or pie fillings that can be canned for holiday gifts.  Nice additions to round out a gift basket with these items could include a new pie dish, or some homemade bread for toasting.  Fresh fruits can also be made into syrups that can be given as gifts along with some homemade pancake mix.  Furthermore, if you grow fresh herbs such as parsley or basil, consider making fresh pesto at the end of the summer and canning it into small jars to give as gifts.

Homemade Christmas gifts that have come from your garden make nice gift items for almost anyone.  After all, everyone enjoys good food, especially when it’s homegrown.  Even better, a gift like this is very thoughtful, and shows the recipient that you put some time and thought into what to give them.  So if you’ve got a garden that’s overflowing with fresh produce, take an afternoon and do some canning.  You’ll save yourself both time and money when December rolls around!

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