Let's Say Thanks--Free postcards to soldiers

Xerox is printing and sending free postcards this holiday season to soldiers. Just go to:

www.letssaythanks.com

and follow the steps to make a postcard. Xerox will print and send it free!

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Before you finish Christmas Shopping for kids...

Why not check out this site:

www.healthytoys.org


It's a non-profit that tests toys for harmful chemicals. Curious about the worst toys?

WORST TOYS LIST

Before you give little ones toys, check their lists. They are not all-inclusive lists, but they do offer a testing service.

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Which Reindeer Are You?

You Are Vixen

Sexy and sultry, you're the one all the other reindeer dream about. Why You're Naughty: That fur pulling spat you got into with Dancer over Santa. Why You're Nice: Because even when you're nice, you're still delightfully naughty!

Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

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Shhhh!!!

I've written before about how we are refocusing our Christmas this year. We are not buying the usual hot toys, iPods, video games....but we are making many fun gifts and really trying to give from the heart.

SHHHH!! I did get the girls a gift:



They were a bit more than I'd planned to spend, though I spent $40 on all 3. It will be the "big" gift, packaged with their own special box of tea.

I haven't been this excited about a gift! Oh, and they are all made in England and actual antiques. How special is that?

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Large Family? Christmas?

Several years ago, we decided to reduce the Christmas stress. Our families aren't as big as some, yet the idea of buying for siblings, their families and our parents was daunting...and expensive!

Instead of trying to buy 10-$10 gifts, we decided to draw names. Not only did we allow ourselves to save money (the limit is definitely not $100), but it gave us a chance to slow down and think about the person we're buying for. Instead of buying small tokens, we take the time to really select something our family member would like.

It's not about volume, it's about the thought and effort! So every year at Thanksgiving, we draw names. At first we excluded the kids, but now I'm happy to include them in the process. It gives the children a chance to really think of a gift for their family.

What about your family? Are you stuck in the gift race, too? Or have you been able to slow down and enjoy the process?

Here's a little plug for an online service that I have absolutely nothing to do with, but I think is wonderful. You invite everyone to register, set the parameters (for instance, I set it up so a person doesn't draw another person within their immediate family (spouse, kids), and then set a date for the draw. It's all secret, easy and best of all, FREE!

www.elfster.com

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126 Days until Christmas!

Yes, I said it! It's August, and I'm counting down to Christmas.

WHY? Am I just insane?

No--well, probably--I just spent an hour today cleaning out my children's toys for a garage sale. This is after the 5 or so hours spent a couple months ago doing the same. I'm fed up. Four children under 7 = a big toy mess.

So here I am, contemplating Christmas. I don't want to be a big grinch and take away the magic of Christmas (no, that doesn't read the MOUNTAIN of Christmas [gifts]). I want to figure out how to balance Christmas so that there are presents, but not a year full of broken toys, toys my kids care nothing about, and a headache of a mess trailing behind. I want to find a way to make Christmas meaningful.

Traditions. Family. Crafts. Baking. Worship. Giving. Sharing.
It never ceases to amaze me how little my kids really care about their toys. They would much rather build a tent out of a blanket, pretend to have a broken arm (and, no, they don't play doctor with the doctor's kit I bought them, they always find some other household item to use such as a baby bib for a cast), ride bikes, swing on the swingset, color, cut, and paste. The really cool dollhouse with real curtains and stairs? Fun for a few days, then a big piece of dusty furniture for two years.

My learning curve has been rather high. There are a few toys that all of the kids have loved (Little People toy sets) and others that are just plain duds (my kids couldn't care less about Webkinz). I have had a harder time selling off the kids unwanted toys than they have. I'm the one seeing the wasted money that could have been spent on something more meaningful....like a massage (for me!).

A new year, a new attitude. I'm in search of the "perfect" gifts. Perhaps I won't accomplish my goal, but I will NOT buy the popular toys. I can hardly remember what we bought them last year; the only gifts I know they've loved are the "life-sized" princess dolls my mom bought them.

The gifts they've loved all year from mom and dad? The "car blankets" I made them. Flannel on one side, fleece on the other, they love having them to snuggle under during the cold winter months.

This year, I'm in search of fun, long-lasting and thoughtful gifts. Will I be buying toys? Not likely!

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What are your most memorable gifts? Is there a particular gift you made/gave your child that you felt was long-lasting and memorable? Please post in the comments and I will post it on this list along with a link to your blog or website.

Christmas gifts for Children

...that won't break the bank and are likely to survive until the next Christmas

Birth to 1 year
1. Blankie. They are so easy to make: cut two pieces of fabric the same size and sew together. I always make the blankies with the "tags" on the side (pieces of ribbon folded and sewn on). There is such a selection of amazingly soft material and JoAnn always has great coupons and sales.

2. Rattle. Not a traditional rattle! Empty a bottle (like the new plastic FUZE bottles with wider mouth openings) and put a few household items in it (metal screw, rubber ball, other small items) and then hot glue the lid shut. This isn't a good one to to continually put in the mouth, of course. It's a good noise maker with supervision.

3. Sophie le Giraffe. Pricey, but well worth the money. I feel comfortable letting my little one chew on her and it's very easy for the little ones to hold. Sophie is well worth the money!



1-6 Years

1. Car Blanket. I made these last year for my girls and they are precious for them, a year later. They are fleece on one side, flannel on the other, great for the chilly car rides.

2. Instant tent/playhouse. I saw this in a magazine as an ad and realized it could easily be made. Find some material on clearance and cut and sew several yards to make a large square piece of material with a slit on one side (for the tent opening). Currently, my girls use a large blanket for their tent-making needs but it's made of heavy fleece and tends to pull down. This year, I'm making one for them and including some large clips so their imagination can soar.

3. Home Made Mittens. I found this on Family Fun and I now regret getting rid of a couple wool sweaters that were accidentally thrown in the washer. VERY easy to make, just a few washes and dries, cut out a shape, sew with yarn. A good one to give to the younger ones a great one for the older crowd to make for the younger crowd. directions

4. Duplos/Legos. Karen writes: LEGOS!! My son played with them until he was about 15! Seriously!Started with DUPLOS. I think it trained him to have the engineering type mind he has now.

5. Scarves and Dressup Clothing. This is another one from Karen and I agree! They don't have to be brand new, the more vintage they are, the bigger the imagination!

Ages 7-10

1. Instant Tent/Playhouse (see above)

2. Home Made Mittens. (see above) This is also a great one for this age group to MAKE for siblings. Look for the wool sweaters at thrift shops.

3. REAL Tea Set. Karen writes: REAL tea sets for my daughter. She had "tea" from about age 5-11 with the best tea party in an antique clothing store where they got to wear the clothes for the party. This was her 11th party.

4. Legos. (see above)


Ages 11-15

1. Home Made Mittens. (see above) A great one to either give this age group or for children of this age to make for friends/siblings.

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