Note NOW How To Make The Holidays Better Next Year

Christmas is always a mixed bag. Despite what you see on Facebook, I doubt that Christmas (or Hanukkah, for that matter) is blissful for everyone, every year. 

So while the holidays are fresh in your memory, why not consider how to make them better for you and your family next year? Here's how I'm going to do it:

Despite our best intentions, the holidays are rarely perfect.

Think About What Worked And Do It Again Next Year

• What presents were hits? Can you learn from those? For example, Snap Circuits (an electronics building kit) were not on my daughter's list, but she has been playing nonstop with it. Lesson for me: look for more educational activities that she'll love.
  
  
• Which activities were enjoyed the most? 
  
  
• Which foods did people absolutely LOVE?
  
  
• Who did you invite that you really would love to invite again? Or are there people you didn't invite that you'd like to next year?
  
  
• Did anyone really love something you did that you can do next year? For example, I used some of these ways to wrap gift cards and a few were a bit hit with the Teen.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Consider What Didn't Work And How You Can Change That

• What was your biggest challenge on Christmas? How can you change that for next year? For example, I really resented being The Waitress the whole friggin' day without anyone asking me for help! Next year, my husband and I have agreed that we'll be going out for Christmas dinner. That will take the pressure off me, means the people who didn't like my menu can order for themselves and we'll all have a happier holiday.
  
  
• If you have to invite someone you can't stand, how can you make the experience better? We've learned that it's easier to tolerate my mother-in-law when there are other, non-family members present; they seem to dilute the mix. So we invite friends we know tend to spend the holiday alone, to be with us. We get to spend time with them, they have fun with us, and the Voldemort is on “best” behavior in front of company.
  
  
• Are there things you did that you shouldn't do next year? For example, we have WAAAY to many decorations out this year. The living room looks cluttered and they're a pain to dust. Next year we go minimal.
  
  
• What traditions are ready to be retired? Remember that YOU make the rules for your family and you're not responsible for everyone having a good time. Change the mix up a bit if you want to and if people can't handle it, that's THEIR issue.
  
  

I'm taking notes and adding them to my Christmas card spreadsheet for next year. That way, when I take out my list, my ideas and reflections will be right there with plenty of time to take action. 

How did your Christmas go? 

10 Creative Ways To Wrap Those Gift Cards

For Christmas this year, the Teen asked for gift cards...JUST gift cards. Deep sigh...gone are the days of last-minute assembling bikes and Hot Wheels. And while gift cards are great for him and easy for us, opening them on Christmas Day is somewhat...BORING, at least for those of us who are watching. So here are

10 Creative Ways To Wrap Those Gift Cards

How CAN you wrap those gift cards?

1.   Put the card in a box and wrap that in a larger box, etc. Note, however, that this has been so overdone, it yield almost no surprise factor. Still, if you think your recipient would like it, go for it.

2.  Place the card between the paws of a stuffed animal, rubber band the animal's paws together, and then wrap the animal.

3. Wrap the card inside a pair of socks, hat, or gloves. 

4. Place the card inside the box of a common object (one of Junior's is inside an Irish Spring soap box) and then wrap it up. 

5.  Sandwich the card between two chocolate bars.

 

This has nothing to do with gift cards.  I just like reindeer.

6.  Frame the card in a Dollar Store picture frame.

7.  Place the card in a Ziploc bag then put that bag in another Ziploc bag filled with Play Doh, rice, or something squishy. Then put that bag in a box and wrap it. This will completely confuse the recipient.

8.  Stuff a balloon with the gift card and some confetti.  Blow up the balloon, tie it with ribbons and a “pop me” label. Attach a safety pin to the balloon. 

9.  Tape the gift card to some fake money and place it in a Dollar Store purse or wallet. Add a bow.

And the one I used this year: Place the gift card between two large, flat rocks. Wrap the rocks.    I can't wait to see the confusion on Junior's face when he opens his present!

Gift cards don't have to be boring!

If you'd prefer to make a gift card holder, visit this site for some nifty ideas!

Thanks for reading!

Note:  The graphics above are courtesy of Pixabay.  

A FREEBIE Kids Can Give That Adults Love To Receive

I always feel sorry for kids around the holidays, birthdays, and whenever it's customary to give someone a present. No matter how big their hearts are, they just don't have any money to spend on those they love. “Oh, it's the thought that counts,”we tell them, and that may be true, but they also know something else: that our society equates money with worth. So children still feel bad when adults take out coins and bills to buy presents and they have nothing to spend. 

Sure, kids are great at making things and older ones can re-gift one of their own possessions (jewelry, gift cards, etc.),  but I was completely ENCHANTED recently when I opened this gift from my 10 year old for my birthday:

Not only had she painted me a lovely picture in all my favorite colors, but taped to the painting was were five envelopes containing coupons she'd thought up. As you can see, they're for things like:

• painting my toes (she knows I enjoy pedicures)
• help cooking (Boy, do I need that one)
• “doing something I don't want to do”
  
  

She also stipulated that one or more “can be re-used.” BRILLIANT!

Yes, I've see coupons before, for things like “kisses,” or “taking out the trash” - thing one hopes kids would do anyway. But to have her sit down and carefully, thoughtfully think about tasks I would genuinely like help with, touched me in a way no other gift has.

–

Now to help YOUR little one, please feel free to copy and/or print out this coupon that they can embellish with a drawing or sticker, fill in and give when it's customary or just because they feel like it:

And as always:

Thanks for reading!

HersheyPark's Christmas Candylane - Here's What You Need To Know

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that my kids go to HersheyPark every summer or else they moan and whine and complain that "they're childhood is RUINED" – they love the park THAT much! (Learn more about our yearly pilgrimage and what you need to know here). But for the first time after Christmas, we decided to combine a visit to Hershey with a weekend in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Let me tell you about our trip to “The Sweetest Place On Earth.”

Noel! At HersheyPark Candy Lane

The park tends to be understandably crowded in the Summer, with tons of rides and walking.  Make no mistake - this is a big venue.  The terrain is hilly, which makes it difficult if you're pushing a stroller or the weather is 90+ degrees. 

During the Winter, it's far more manageable, since not all areas of the park are open.

At Christmas, about 30 rides are running (weather depending) and the pace is much less frenzied, which as a parent, made it more enjoyable for me. Because we'd shown the kids the Hershey website, they knew that many of their summer favorites would not be running, but there were still enough thrill rides to keep the 14-year-old and his younger sister (9) happy. In fact, the park was so calm, they were able to do many rides two or three times without a large wait! They even got to try some that are impossible (Reese's Xtreme Cup Challenge, for example) to do during the Summer because of the long, long lines.

There were two shows running while we were there; we opted to skip A Music Box Christmas, honestly, because we were having so much fun, but since I LOVE Christmas lights, did see the Noel! Light Show. The show contains hundreds of lights in the trees, on bridges, and a walkway lighting up to the beat of Christmas carols. The show lasted about 15 minutes or so and was...okay. If you're at the park and it's freezing, walk through it and don't stand there for the full performance. Oh, and the best place to see it is from the overhead bridge.

Santa wasn't there, since it was after Christmas, but his reindeer were and are not to be missed. I never realized that reindeer are actually quite small, but they were adorable and their antlers are incredibly intricate.  In chatting with the handlers, you can tell that these are animals that are cared for with affection. Apparently Santa will be coming back for his team after he, and they, rest a bit. 

There's also ice skating on a synthetic surface. The surface isn't very big, so be forewarned if your kids are experts because they WILL get bored, however, if your children have never skated before, this might be a great introduction.

Some restaurants are open with many offering hot chocolate and coffee for around $7 with refills at, I believe, $2. We opted not to buy any beverages since it wasn't that cold, plus the park does permit you to bring one bottle of water in per person.


The Hershey characters walk around and, as with the rest of the park, the staff is quite friendly. 

As I've said before, this is one of the CLEANEST amusement parks you will go to and although they do, disgustingly, permit smoking in areas of the park (WHEN will they completely ban it!), Hershey is one of the best. Do NOT expect major discounts on Hershey products or you will be sorely disappointed. Trust me: save your money and buy the products at home where they will be cheaper.

Hershey also offers, for an additional fee, the Sweet Lights Drive-Through Spectacular. Since money is tight, we opted not to do that.

One of the displays from HersheyPark's Christmas Candylane - WHEN is this park going to ban smoking!

If you can make it to HersheyPark's Christmas Candylane for a day, go because, honestly, it's not worth a 2-day pass. If it's too far to justify a one-day trip, then plan on a weekend; do the park, go to ChocolateWorld, and then investigate some of the other attractions in the area. The AACA Car Museum is a blast as is The Turkey Hill Experience where you can learn how ice cream and iced tea are made by that company – the unlimited samples are worth the visit alone!

I'm happy we visited “the Sweetest Place On Earth” as a post-Christmas vacation. The kids had fun and my husband and I found it enjoyable, too. Many times when we visit amusement parks, we're basically just the kids' chaperones while they flit from ride to ride. On this visit, because of the pace and lack of crowds, we were able to talk and bond.


If you can, visit HersheyPark Christmas Candylane. And enjoy some sweet time with YOUR family!

Some of the lights in the trees at HersheyPark - they make it magical at night!

Watch Your Garbage & Recycling - Thieves Are!

Today is Garbage Day in my neighborhood. And how convenient for it to fall the day after Christmas! Everyone has put out their trash cans, full of wrapping paper, etc. On the sides of the houses you can spot their Paper Recycling, just waiting to be picked up early next week. Some of the boxes show kids' toys, but some show expensive items like big screen televisions and computers. 

And if I know they're in your house, guess what? SO DO THIEVES!

Burglars are looking at your garbage & recycling for possible targets!

Thieves may be cruising your neighborhood looking for telltale signs of big ticket items. And, like Santa did, they're making a list or at least making a mental note of it. So what can you do?

• Don't leave boxes on the side of your house so everyone can see what you got. If possible, leave them in the garage or some other place.
  
  
  
  
• Don't put those boxes out first thing in the morning on recycling day unless you're POSITIVE the collection people come at the crack of dawn. This gives burglars less time to peruse your trash.
  
  
  
  
• Break down the boxes and place them in your recycling containers. At the very least, hide the lettering on the boxes so no one can see what was in them.

The less people know about your stuff, hopefully, the less they'll know it's in your house and can be stolen. 

Don't advertise your belongings to lessen the possibility of your home being a target for thieves!

Finally! HERE'S What To Do With Those Leftover Wonton Noodles!

We eat a LOT of Chinese food in this house and every time, I'm left with many packages of wonton noodles. You know, those crispy fried noodles you dip in duck sauce. Okay, so they're probably not the healthiest food in the world, but being the frugal mom that I am, I have trouble throwing anything out. Yes, I've given the noodles to my kids instead of chips, but I FINALLY used my noodle to come up with a recipe to use those left over ones. I vaguely remember doing something like this in my Home Economics class eons ago, so this recipe is definitely based on that. 

Here are the noodles I'm talking about:

I believe these are called wonton noodles.  If you know them by another name, please email me so I can correct this post.

And the recipe is called: 

Candied Wonton Noodles

Ingredients:

A few packages of wonton noodles

One half package (6 ounces) of Wilton Candy Melts in whatever flavor you want

Pam or non-stick spray

An 8x8 or so pan

Any other goodies you want to add (see suggestions below)

Directions: 

1,  Spray your pan with non-stick spray.

2.  Melt the candy melts in the microwave (in a glass bowl and microwave them for a minute, stir them, and if they're not melted, microwave them for 30 seconds at a time, checking them after each interval).

3.  Mix the candy into the noodles, making sure the noodles are mostly covered by the candy.

4.  Spread the resulting mixture in the pan, add any toppings (optional), and freeze for about 5 minutes.

5.  Take the candy out and either pick at it with your fingers or cut it with a knife.

Here's what it looks like.

I could see adding nuts, caramel, marshmallows, or sprinkles (like I topped the mix with above). I think I'll add whole flax seeds for additional (or any) nutrition the next time I make it.

This is a great recipe for kids to help with since it doesn't involve baking. With many of us going out for Chinese food on Christmas (my husband tells me that's what a lot of Jewish people do), there are going to be lots of leftover wonton noodles. Don't throw them away! Use them to make this delicious candy! It combines crunch with sweetness and has been a big hit in my house.

Merry Christmas! 

Celebrating The Holidays When Your Family Is TINY

My family is TINY, as in just the four of us plus my mother and my mother-in-law. I usually don't think about it, but around the Holidays, when society's emphasis is on ALL THINGS FAMILY, I feel bad. We don't have large family gatherings with tons of people running around, my kids don't get loads of presents from relatives, and on special occasions, most of our friends want to be with their own relations, not us. Still, the reality is that until my kids get married and have children of their own, the family is not going to grow; in fact, since the two mothers are older, the clan is actually going to get smaller before it get bigger. 

Having a small family is a challenge around the Holidays...it makes me sad.

Coping with all of this pressure to have FAMILY has been a real challenge for me. Even though it's silly, I feel guilty that I can't give the kids more relatives. So my husband and I have come up with our own holiday traditions, fit for the interfaith family we are.

Hanukkah

Since my husband is Jewish, he's in charge of Hanukkah. We light the menorah and say the prayers every night. We've turned Hanukkah into The Literary Holiday by giving the kids books the first night only. Hubby hides the books, turning the gift-giving into a pseudo Scavenger Hunt by giving the kids hints as to where the books are. We have a special meal and continue to light the menorah whether my husband makes it home on time or not; it's important for the kids to know that I (the non-Jewish parent) respect Dad's tradition enough to carry through whether he's home or not. 

Pre-Christmas (Okay, so it's not a holiday, but it has become it's own materialistic season.)

Seymour (as in he "sees more")

Since I am a former Catholic and we're raising the children Unitarian Universalist (which embraces all religious traditions), we have a Christmas tree and TONS of decorations. Elf-On-A-Shelf came after Thanksgiving and he delights my daughter every day as he moves from place to place. My kids get stockings which Santa fills with little things like socks, which seem to consistently disappear, and sugar-free candy. Now for the two biggies:

Christmas Eve

First, we have a special Christmas Eve dinner, usually lasagna (my son's favorite), and the kids drink special sparkling apple cider out of plastic champagne glasses.

Later, we attend our church's Christmas Eve service for children. I fell in love with this years ago when my son was a baby. Our minister starts off by pointing out that God loves the sound of children, so we shouldn't worry about keeping the little ones quiet. He also tells the Nativity with the wee folk ages 6 and under coming up to the Sanctuary and acting the story out. When my kids were younger, they were angels and shepherds; I'm sad that they're too old to participate now, but it's still fun to watch.

Depending on how we're feeling, we may go to our town hall's free Christmas Light Show. Sometimes we drive around looking for extra-special house displays as well.

My daughter (who is 9) prepares the snacks for Santa and spends quite a bit of Christmas Eve making gifts for Santa and Mrs. Claus. She also says goodbye to her Elf who will be picked up by Santa when he comes later that night. 

Christmas Day

Yep, that's a bit smaller than our family - just a bit.

The first rule is that no one can go downstairs to look at the tree until EVERYONE is out of bed. We then go downstairs where Santa has given the kids three presents (the Wise Men gave Jesus three, so that's how many the kids get as well) and we have given them one. They also see what's in their stockings.

Everyone opens one present one at a time while we all watch. Then, while the kids enjoy their presents, either hubby or I make a special breakfast (he makes THE BEST OMELETS!).  Then my daughter and I start cooking for the grandmas while my husband goes to pick them up and Junior amuses himself.  Since the Nanas LOVE to eat, and must eat early, dinner is usually over long before 5PM, so we all sit down to watch a holiday movie (often, "It's A Wonderful Life"). 

Chris Moose

Okay so it isn't a lavish celebration, but from what I hear from other people, it's also not filled with the bickering and pettiness that families with larger families experience. Our Holidays are simple and they're ours. I'm savoring this time with the children, knowing that they won't be home with us forever. 

I guess cherishing time with the family you have and not bemoaning what you don't have, is really what the Holidays are all about.

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I found two fantastic articles on celebrating holidays when you don't have a large family. Since they resonated with me, let me share them with you:

Tara-Michelle Ziniuk wrote this lovely article in which she tells about celebrating Hanukkah with her family of two.

Dresden Shumaker explains how she envies those with big families in this wonderful piece.

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Thank you for reading! Please come back again, won't you?

10 Reasons Your Elf Didn't Move Last Night (aka Mom Screwed Up)

The first few nights Seymour, our Elf-On-A-Shelf was here, I was fairly motivated.  I did a one or two of those cutesy Pinterest-things like putting Elf on a horse and giving him a mustache.   Now I'm officially sick of the little bastard.

Every night I lie in bed thinking of what I DIDN'T accomplish during the day and invariably one of those things is that I forgot to move the little idiot.  One night I know I'm either going to forget to move Seymour or will just be too lazy to get out of my nice, warm bed to do it. 

I WILL forget to move the Elf.  It's only a matter of time...

So here, for my reference and yours, are 10 excuses we can all use to explain why the Elf didn't move his damn butt last night: 

• Elf has been moving around every night and he got tired. Everyone deserves a little rest!

• He ate too many Christmas cookies and had a belly ache so he couldn't fly. He looks better now. Look! He's smiling! (The little narc is ALWAYS smiling...)

• He can see everything from that point of view, so he must like it there. 

• Santa told him to take this spot again. He has to do what Santa says, right?

• He fell asleep waiting for YOU to fall asleep.

If he's drinking this, it explains why he's always smiling...

• It was especially cold at the North Pole last night and Elf wanted to stay here where it was nice and warm.

• He was afraid of the cat. (Or baby or Daddy.)

• He heard someone moving around in their bed last night and was afraid someone would see him.

• He's playing Simon Says with Santa and Santa hasn't said “Simon Says” yet.

• He's testing you and wanted to see if you'd notice that he didn't move.  Wow!  You passed the test!  Good job!  

As much as I detest the work associated with Elf, I am loving the fact that my daughter is so completely into the magic of Christmas. 


She looks for Seymour every morning and is thrilled by his antics.  She and her carpool friends discuss what their elves have done and where they've been hiding.  Listening to Lily, seeing how much happiness Seymour brings her, makes the work associated with the Elf worth it. 


What are you favorite "my Elf didn't move" excuses?  I could probably use more...


Thanks for reading!  

Helping Kids Cope With Death Around The Holidays

My wonderful, great Aunt Winnie passed away just before Thanksgiving. Now, death itself is hard enough for anyone to deal with, but add in the upcoming holidays and it can be even more difficult for children. While Winnie was 93 and we expected the call sometime, the experience has been surreal since I don't think we're ever ready for the grieving process to begin. In the midst of it, I've been watching my children (9 and 14) deal with this in their own ways. 

My Aunt Winnie - I miss her so much!

 

Here's what I've been observing and what's been helping us all through these rough weeks:

1. Our faith: Here's where I think religion really is incredibly useful! We are an interfaith family, with my husband Jewish and me a former Catholic. Our children are being raised Unitarian Universalist; they're being taught about all faith traditions and learning to develop their own belief systems.  To some degree, they already have.  My daughter is a firm believer in reincarnation and the afterlife. The Teen believes in some semblance of the hereafter. Both kids feel the spirit lives on and this is helping them understand that in some way, our dear Aunt is still with us in Spirit.  On Christmas Eve, we'll be saying a special prayer in her honor.  

2. Talking: They're seeing me grieve and although they weren't as close to Winnie as I was, they understand the sadness inherent in death. The kids have been cutting me some slack on not being myself lately. We've talked about how much we'll miss her and have been sharing stories about what a kind, generous person she was and how much she loved us all.  My children know that it's okay to be a little sad this holiday season; healing takes time.

3. Asking questions: My daughter has been asking about the rituals associated with death more than anything else. Before the memorial service and burial yesterday, she and I were able to go into the funeral parlor early. She asked questions about the casket, the body, Mass cards, etc. I described the body much like the shells of the cicadas we saw over the summer. Because I wasn't rushed and there was no one else there, we were able to have a nice, long discussion about what she was seeing and what to expect. After the service, the nun invited us to bless the body with Holy Water and the woman was kind enough to explain to Lily why we were doing it.  Because I answered her questions honestly and in a matter-of-fact manner, there was nothing scarey about yesterday's rituals. 

Grieving is a process, not an event

4. Honoring the memory of the deceased: We've always had a memory tree (really just a corn plant) which hang with homemade ornaments containing the names of loved ones who have passed. We'll be adding an ornament in Winnie's name. Similarly, when she first died, I lit a Yahrzeit candle for her and let it burn in the fireplace. I love this Jewish tradition of burning a candle to symbolically represent the human soul (for more on this, click here). Watching the flame flicker made me feel closer to Winnie and was a loving reminder of her warm spirit. During the wake yesterday, Lily and I brought flowers to the casket because we always brought flowers to my aunt when she was alive. I plan to continue to have fresh flowers in my house so that the kids and I will be reminded of Winnie's beauty and kindness.  Our Christmas tree contains ornaments she sent us over the years.  If we cherished them before, they're even more special now.  

Grieving is a process and I fully expect more questions to pop up, especially since the kids' grandmothers (one of whom is 90) will be coming over for Christmas. I'm anticipating the need for more cuddles on both their parts, possible regressive behavior and nightmares, and the need for them to feel more secure in the upcoming weeks. If need be, I'm ready to ask our minister to intercede and help us all cope with what's happened.

Death is an inevitable event that no one likes to think about. By keeping the memories of our deceased love ones alive and letting my children constantly know that I love them, I'm hoping to help them grieve just as I am. Aunt Winnie may be gone, but she lives in our memories and her death is an opportunity for us all to grow. She gave us love and that love continues. 

~~

Resources that have been helpful to me have included:

KidsHealth (https://secure02.kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/feelings/death.html) and

http://nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/griefwar.pdf; and the National Association Of School Psychologist (http://nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/griefwar.pdf). 

Thank you for reading!

10 Stocking Stuffers For Your Teenage Boy That He'll LOVE

Every year I rack my brain trying to figure out what to put in the Teen's stocking!  Now that the simple days of Hot Wheels are over, it's much harder anticipating what might please him.  Sure, I could give Junior candy, but he gets enough sweets in the course of a day.  So after much thought, here's my list 10 things my teenage boy will probably find in his stocking come Christmas morning:

What can you put in a teenage boy's stocking that won't make him roll his eyes?

• A $5 Dunkin Donuts gift card. The DD is walkable from school and home. As my son becomes more independent, he likes to go with his friends for a hot chocolate and/or a doughnut every once in a while. And I like the fact that the cards are refillable, so HE can add money when it runs out.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Deodorant and body wash. This is a hint as well as a gift. Teen boys smell...funky. Axe seems to be the brand that all the kids in the locker room are wearing and I have actually smelled it on the boy, so I feel confident he'll actually use it. 
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  Smelling like Axe is better than smelling like sweat.

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
•  A phone charger. For some reason, these disappear around my house, especially now that Little Sister has an iPod Touch. Junior could use another charger that he can hide in his room away from Lily.    
  
  
  
  
• Socks. Sounds lame, right? Except that in my house, NO ONE wants to match socks, so these are somewhat of a commodity around here. White socks are apparently too confusing to match (the tops are different, the lengths are different, etc.). Some novelty socks will be appreciated and are EASY to match. Maybe then he'll stop stealing his little sister's “Hello Kitty” socks (I kid you not)!
  
  
  
  
• Dove Dark Chocolate. If I'm going to give him a little candy, it's going to be the antioxidant-rich dark chocolate he loves. 
  
  

  

  Research says dark chocolate is healthy.  Who am I to argue?

   
• Post-It Notes. Now that he's in high school, the teen goes through these sticky notes like they're water. Giving him his own stash will eliminate a lot of “MOM! WHERE ARE MY POST-IT NOTES?” yelling.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Texting Gloves. He knows he's going to lose at least 5 pair of gloves; I know it's more likely going to be 10. A few of these from our local Dollar Store will go a long way. The trick is to buy them in in the same color so when he loses one, it's no big deal. Again, it should save us some pain this winter.
  
  
  
  

  

  Texting gloves are great for a teenage boy!

  
  
• A Game Stop gift card. Since the kid is living online these days, I know he's going to use this. They're available starting at $10 and I know he's got others left over from birthdays, so alone or put together, he should be able to buy something he wants.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• A “League Of Legends” poster. He plays this with his friends, so I think it's time to take down some of the sports posters the kid hasn't looked at in a year (despite them adorning the walls of his room) and replace at least one with something relevant to him.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  Sometimes, I think he lives in a virtual world...

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Hand Sanitizer. Another essential that gets lost  or (thankfully) used up, keychains of this stuff may allow us to dodge a sick day or two.

All of these items are fairly inexpensive, useful and won't clutter his room with stuff I have to dust or things he'll look at once and never pick up again. And if I buy enough of them, it may make my weekly shopping a little easier as well. 

Teens are notoriously capricious, but I think I may earn a smile from my Boy with these items. Santa is being practical this year, Kid! 

 

What's going in YOUR teen boy's stocking?

3 Fantastic Product Reviews (Some Of THE BEST PRESENTS We Received For Christmas)

(Please Note: The website Bloggy Moms lists writing prompts with challenges for bloggers to write about various subjects. The prompts are interesting and fun, so I've accepted the January Blog Dare and will periodically be responding to them, though not today. My Product Reviews & Tips will always appear first so that you can read those first in case you'd rather not peruse further.)

Christmas yielded some incredibly amusing and useful presents this year and I feel compelled to share my three favorite items with you. They're not in any particular order because all are being used heavily thus far. The items are: 

A Re-Usable Travel Coffee Mug – I drink a lot of coffee and tea in the Winter and was always using those Styrofoam “To-Go” cups so I could bring hot beverages in the car. (BTW, I recently realized that those cups are really sippy cups for adults. It was yet another DUH moment in my life...) Styrofoam cups aren't good for the environment and they can be a little pricey, even if you buy them at Costco. A few weeks ago, I noticed the cup below in my local grocery store, bought it for myself, and have been using it daily ever since. It's ceramic, so it's easy to clean, dishwasher safe, and the rubber top (not pictured) doesn't get grungy like some others do. I think it cost about $6 and has been worth every penny!

 


Spot-It – This game was about $7 on Amazon and I ordered it after reading the glowing reviews listed on the website. Still, I was a bit nervous when Diva opened it because she hadn't asked for it and sometimes what other people think of something falls flat with your kid. Fortunately, this did not. Spot-It is a card game for players ages 7 and up and can be played with two to eight players. The cards contain different symbols   ( hearts, a hand, an apple, etc.) and there is always one, and only one, matching symbol between any two cards in the game. Your job is to match a symbol on your card with the symbol on another card. Sounds simple, right? Well it is, but the symbols are different sizes which makes them less obvious; for this reason, you can be staring at your card for a good 30 seconds without realizing that the matching picture is right there in your hand! Spot-It is a game of observation which is oodles of fun.  We played the game with Nana on Christmas and even brought it on a recent trip. It's one of the few games that Teen and Diva will actually play together. I'll be buying several to give out as party presents this year.

WiiFit Plus – I asked for this for Christmas since I'm getting a bit bored with my current exercise equipment.  The kids and I have been playing the various games every day since. It comes with the WiiFit board and features different activities to help with balance, strength, etc. I'm not thrilled with the massive, round avatar it gave me based on my weight and because of that, I tend to give her the finger every time I see her, but most of the games themselves are a blast. Some can be played by all family members and we're informally competing in different games to see who can upset the others (I unexpectedly blew past Diva this morning when we participated in some hula-hoop activity – yeah me!). The first few times I played, I had to ask the Teen to help me set the system up, but finally got the knack of it.  WiiFit Plus also monitors your weight but you can set up a password so no one can see it when they play (THANK GOD!). One of the activities I'm really loving is the one where you can “go for a run.” The graphics distract me from the tedium of running and I set up my little trampoline (not included) in the den and pretend I'm running on the Wii course; it would be nice to be able to choose the “venue” where I'm running, but I can live with what it's showing me. This may be the most useful gift I've ever received. Thanks, Hubby!
 

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I so appreciate your visit! Please feel free to comment and be sure to check back in in a day or so when I'll share indoor activities you can do with your kids this Winter. We had a foot of snow in this area of the country last night and since I'm now snowed in with the young'uns, I'm brainstorming ways to keep Diva amused. I'll let you know how I fared...IF I do.....

10 Christmas Jokes To Make You Go "Ho, Ho, Ho!"

I know I promised the best Christmas activity websites, and they're coming tomorrow, but I couldn't resist posting my 10 favorite Christmas jokes in the meantime.  Here they are:

1.  Why was Santa's helper depressed?
      He had low elf-esteem.

2.  What Christmas carol is the favorite of parents with small children?
       Silent Night.

3.  What do you call people who are afraid of Santa?
      Claustrophobic.

4.  There was once a great czar in Russia named Rudolph the Red.
      He was looking out the windows of his palace one day while his
      wife sat nearby embroidering. He turned to her and said, "Look
      my dear, it has begun to rain!" Without looking up she replied,
      "It's too cold to rain. It must be sleeting." The Czar shook his head
      and said, "I am the Great Czar of all the Russias, and Rudolph the
      Red knows rain, dear!"

5.  What does Santa clean his sleigh with?
      Comet.

6.  Why is Santa so good at karate?
      Because he has a black belt.

7.  How do you know when Santa's in the room?
      You can sense his presents.

8.  What's red and white, red and white, red and white?
      Santa rolling down a hill.

9.  How do sheep in Mexico greet each other on Christmas?
      "Fleece Navidad!"

10.  What do you call mail sent up the chimney on Christmas Eve?
      Black mail.


Sources:  www.theholidayspot.com, www.squiglysplayhouse.com, and my daughter's teacher.

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What are your favorite Xmas jokes?  Comment below.  And do check in with me tomorrow for some great Christmas activity sites for kids.

10 Activity Ideas For Xmas Eve Or Christmas Day (Or As My Husband Puts It, "Goy To The World!")

As I've said before, we have a very tiny extended family and as much as the four of us love being together, sometimes it's a struggle to come up with unique activities to make a holiday extra-special. Christmas is a bit easier than others because of the novelty of the presents, but let's be honest. The kids are going to spend 5 minutes playing with their toys and 15 playing with the boxes. Then what? And what if you don't celebrate the Yule? Here are some suggestions for activities that might help make Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at least a bit noteworthy, if not downright fun. Note that pre-planning in the form of research or purchasing materials may be required, but making the day special is worth the effort.

1. Have a family scavenger hunt. We've been doing this for years and my kids LOVE it. I write rhyming notes with clues leading to the next clue, and so forth, building up the excitement until the last one which leads to a prize which could be as simple as a candy cane. An example of a clue is: “This clue is clean and not a willow. You can find it under a _____ (answer: pillow).” When my daughter was little, my son would read it to her; now that she's reading, however, she can decipher some of the clues herself.
   
2. Conduct a Family Olympics. Decide on events (relay races, calisthenics, board games, etc.) and make it a competition. Winner gets to eat the first Christmas cookie.
   
3. Prepare and feast on special foods. This is the day we splurge on Costo's best and treat ourselves to hors d'ouvres for dinner. Pigs In A Blanket, anyone?
   
4. Be a tourist in your own town. More and more venues are staying open on Christmas. Call around or check online. There are also places you don't need to go in to enjoy. Visit a park, see a monument, or the outside of historic churches.
   
5. Do some family crafts. Head down to your local crafts store for the materials to paint your own t-shirt or backpack, make jewelry, decorate a trinket box, etc. Or check out Pinterest, Parents.com, Spoonful.com (http://spoonful.com/crafts) for other crafting ideas.
   
6. Play games. I mentioned in one of my Thanksgiving posts that the free Thanksgiving bingo game I'd printed out was a big hit with my daughter and her grandmothers. Here's the link to a Christmas bingo that will please young and old alike: http://familycrafts.about.com/od/printablechristmasgames/ss/Christmas-Bingo-Game-Cards.htm. That site also features mazes, coloring pages, and a Christmas Song Picture Game while and Tools For Educators offers free Christmas worksheets (http://www.toolsforeducators.com/christmas.php) that you can do with your kids. Note that these sites also offer non-Yule games which are lots of fun.
7. Read a religious story. It is a religious day, after all, even if it's not your religion. Grab a Bible or another spiritual work and give it good read. If you've got kids, it's a great day to discuss what some of the world's major religions believe.
   
8. Rent a hotel room. If it's within your budget, find a hotel (perhaps one with a spa or indoor pool) and enjoy it's facilities for a night.
   
9. Build a Gingerbread House. Part craft, part food, you don't have to be an expert to build one. CookingWithMyKid.com (http://www.cookingwithmykid.com/holiday/easy-gingerbread-house) has simple instructions on how to make one out of graham crackers.
   
10. Camp Out In Your House. Grab some sleeping bags and head to the living room or den. Picnic on an old sheet and (carefully) roast marshmallows over a candle. Pretend you're outdoors or build a tent out of blankets and sleep in there.

Again, some of these do take advanced planning, so you may want to start now.
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As always, thank you for reading! Please check back in with me on Christmas Eve for my list of some of the best online Christmas activity sites (and if your kids want to see what the reindeer are doing before Christmas, log onto the Reindeer Cam at http://reindeercam.com).