Happy Holidays!
I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season and all of the best for 2012!
Take a moment to enjoy the simple things in life that sometimes we all take for granted. Sit back and relax during the holidays. Enjoy the lovely sights, sounds and smells and make sure to use your creative mind to make a difference in someone’s life this season.
There are many who don’t have basics that many others do, so why not consider donating useful things to those in need or choose gifts that also help a cause:
There are many others out there that also need help from those who are feeling more generous from the season, so please take a moment to think of them as well!
Simple Gift Wrapping Ideas and a Wrapping Quick Fix
Last-minute gift wrapping can make many people stress out, especially since it does take time to wrap and decorate each gift to look pretty and professional.
One simple solution is to avoid wrapping the entire gift and just add decorative details that look pretty.
For example, take a plain box, and add a strip of scrap chiyogami or wrapping paper. Tie it down with string and you’re done.
To make the paper look neat with crisp lines, simply fold in the sides a little:
Wrap it over the top of the box:
Add some string and tie a simple bow:
If you have plain paper or a plain box and just want a simple decorative touch, just tie a colourful ribbon around it and tie a simple bow:
Sometimes we misjudge the size of the paper and end up with a gap in the wrapping:
Just gather scrap pieces of paper (especially chiyogami or plain washi if you have it) and see if any match the paper you have:
Choose one and cut out a simple shape that’s large enough to cover the gap (I chose a lantern shape):
I added a cute little heart as an extra touch:
Then just drew in the last details to complete the lantern:
Done!
One Good Thing a Day – Project Day 81 – Mini Winter Landscape
Since all of our weather is rainy and pretty dull, I’ve decided to make myself a mini winter landscape -surprisingly calming.
I simply took an empty glass jar, a little soil from one of my plants, baking soda and a couple of snips from my mini potted Christmas trees. To decorate the jar lid, I just added a sequinned ribbon with double-sided tape. 2 minutes max!
End result:
One Good Thing a Day – Project Day 80 – Holiday All Around
Slowly getting into the holiday spirit but all of the lovely decorations and activities are certainly helping!
Finished shopping, wrapping and even decorated adorable cookies last night with great friends -what more could I ask for this holiday season? (Less boring work please!)
I thought there was great shopping atmosphere -which is especially significant since I absolutely HATE shopping!
Guest Post: 8 Inexpensive Last Minute Holiday Decor Ideas that No One Else Will Have Thought Of!
Decorations transform a house into a home. They are one way a family add their personal touch to an otherwise non-descript building. During the holiday season, many people have similar decorations. People will hang lights and wreaths, decorate trees and place cookies on the table. Here are eight ways to make a home uniquely festive this holiday season…even if you are in a rush and have family on their way!
1. Candy Garland
Garlands are a standard decoration, but they do not have to be created in a standard way. Rather than making traditional garlands of popcorn and cranberries, use brightly wrapped candies. Staple together a bunch of candies and hang them around the home. A single color will create a conservative look, while two colors will add more flair. However, limit the colors to two; otherwise, the garland may lose its elegance. Also, be sure to place some candies for eating nearby. Candy garlands are a lot more tempting than stale popcorn and sour cranberries.
2. Evergreen Garland
Another fun way to make garland is from evergreen boughs. These can often be gathered from a nearby park. If there are none on the ground in your area, call a tree trimming service, because they may have some to give away for free. Tying these together in a bright red fabric creates a natural garland, which can be hung indoors or outdoors.
3. Cinnamon Stick Potpourri
When decorating, people should not consider the visual sense only. The holidays are filled with music that sings to the ears and foods that taste delicious. Cinnamon Stick Potpourri can tantalize guest’s sense of smell, while adding a cute aspect to decorations. These are quick, inexpensive and easy to make. Take a few cinnamon sticks, and tie them together with festive ribbon. If they are being placed along evergreen boughs, red works best. In other places, green and plaid are also great options.
4. Teddy Bear Chair
Children will gladly help with this decoration. Send them around the house on a scavenger hunt for all the teddy bears hiding in bedrooms and closets. Then, neatly arrange your teddy bear colony on a big chair. Any drum bears can be dressed up with ribbons, and they can all hold a small, brightly wrapped present.
5. Table Setting Bow
Whenever guests are coming over for a fancy sit-down meal during the holidays, tying a bow around their place setting adds a formal, but fun aspect to the occasion. Arrange the silverware and napkin neatly on the plate, and then tie a ribbon around the ensemble. After dinner, clean ribbons can be reused at another dinner or tied around presents.
6. Christmas Plants
During this season, every plant can become a miniature Christmas tree. Hang small ornaments from any house plants, using silver or gold fabric in place of ugly hooks. Who knows, maybe miniature presents will even appear under these “trees.”
7. Doily Table Runner
This time of year is the most popular season for table runners. Yet, yours can be unique. To create a distinctive table runner, collect old doilies from anywhere they can be found: you attic, your mother’s attic, your grandmother’s attic, garage sales and Craigslist. Then, arrange them on the table. Tie them together with white string, and trim the excess string. The result will be a snowflake-like table runner that cannot be found in stores.
8. Creative Candles
Rather than spending a lot of money on decorative candles, consider decorating plain candles. Select a few white pillar candles and purchase a collection of thumbtacks or pushpins, which can be used again next year. Wrap a rubber band around the candle for a guide, and then insert the pins. For the best results, limit yourself to two different colors. After removing the rubber band, you will have a candle that no one else does.
With these eight ideas, your house will become a home unlike any other. These creative ideas allow families to express themselves, but keep them simple. Elegance is often found in simplicity. Have fun this holiday season transforming your home.
Author Bio: Zach D. writes for Design55, a UK-based, online, modern furniture shop that carries such notable lines as Alessi and Blomus.
Guest Post How-to: Create An Inexpensive Mini-Christmas Tree
As the winter holidays near, children both young and old start thinking of presents, decorating the tree and travel plans. For those of us who plan on staying at home and enjoying the company of family and friends, enjoyment of decorating the house might war with expenses often incurred during the holiday. Fortunately, low-cost options exist through simple and fun craft activities that can involve the whole family. Kids especially can enjoy many easy projects that keep them occupied and happy. These child-oriented crafts are tailored specifically for them.
DIY Mini-Christmas Trees
All you need for this craft activity is a cardboard roll, such as those from paper towels or toilet paper, depending on the height of the trees you desire. The higher the tree, however, the more pipe cleaners you need, which is the second item on the list. You might also use some tinsel, stringed popcorn and small ornaments.
Some families create mini forests of Christmas trees and use one small-bulb string of lights draped carefully across and around each tree.
Additional items needed include aluminum foil, wire cutters to trim pipe cleaners, colored construction paper if desired or markers or crayons.
Take one bare cardboard roll and cover it in one solid color. This will be the trunk of your Christmas tree, and while actual trunks are brown, if you wish to include winter and winter-holiday pictures on the trunk, a lighter color might be more appropriate. After the trunk is colored, decorate with pictures and symbols as you wish.
Next, take one pipe cleaner and snip it into four equal pieces; color if desired. Carefully insert one end about 0.25 inches into the bottom of the trunk about 0.25 inches from the bottom. Rotate one-fourth of the way around. Repeat until you have your tree brace fully inserted. Carefully bend the pipe cleaner to rest inside and outside along the trunk; splay all four outer legs out until the trunk can stand upright steadily.
Bend one end of full-length pipe cleaners and insert the bent end then rotate so the inner brace holds the pipe cleaner. Repeat and place in a random row and build your tree branches upward, trimming each row of pipe cleaner branches to a smaller size before inserting. By the mid-way point, you may be able to use your trimmed portions as the upper, shorter branches.
Decorate your mini Christmas tree with small, lightweight decorations, bulbs and ornaments you can create yourself. After designing and creating each decoration, use small, bent paperclip as your tree hooks.
Add small strands of tinsel, popcorn, candy canes and lights as you desire and display proudly as a centerpiece, on a bookshelf or table!
Making Lightweight Ornamental Figurines
Using either thin, flat cardboard, tin foil or construction paper, cut the media into the shape desired. Decorate with pictures, colors and glittered or sequined designs. Carefully insert one end of a small paperclip through the top center of the ornament and rotate the clip around until the decoration rests on the inner-most loop. Bending the other end outward only slightly, hang your ornament on the mini-tree you created.
To create a star for the top of the tree, use tin foil and fold or cut a star. Using more than one layer adds stability. Using a small cone from folded paper, pinch the top flat and connect to the back of the star. Use the bottom of the cone to seat the star atop your tree.
Congratulations! You’ve created your own DIY mini-Christmas tree and saved a fair amount of money on commercial decorations!
Article by João Mortalha. João is part of the Coupon Croc team that works hard to find the best deals, coupons and discount vouchers so that you can save money.
Guest Post: DIY Gingerbread Houses
Everyone who knows the story of Hansel and Gretel is doubtlessly aware of the appeal of gingerbread houses! My kids always loved the story, and came home for the holidays especially excited to build their own gingerbread houses. Apparently, some fellow students from their adventure boarding school were gingerbread house experts, and gave my own kids some helpful tips for creating top of the line gingerbread houses of their own.
With the holiday season rapidly approaching, now is the perfect time to spend quality time with your family by creating your own festive themed gingerbread house. Follow these quick and simple instructions to create the perfect gingerbread house for your own family. You can thank my kids for their insight later!
1) To save on cooking time, buy sheets of pre-made gingerbread. These can usually be bought from your local supermarket or at arts and crafts stores. Cut the sheets into the desired outline of the house using scissors or a knife. You can be as creative as you want here with this part; remember that it’s your house and it can be designed according to your desires.
2) Once you have cut all the walls, base and roof for your gingerbread house, you may want to cut out some squares on the side of the house to form windows. This makes for a nice touch, and makes it look a little more realistic. Before putting the house together, make sure to leave some interesting things inside.
3) Next step is putting the house together. You can use icing to glue the house together, which you can either make yourself or buy from the grocery store. Simply paste the icing along where you want the parts to stick together and then put your walls and roof into place. Voila, by now you will have the structure of your holiday gingerbread house up and running.
4) To finish off your gingerbread creation, decorate the walls and roof with icing and candy. Any kind of candy can be used, but hard candy usually looks the best. Glue the pieces of candy onto the house using icing, and use any left over icing to create patterns that look like snow. This is usually the part kids love the most, so be imaginative and remember to have fun!
Now that your gingerbread house is complete, display it somewhere prominent and where people can really admire it. Be sure to take a snapshot of you and your kids with your homemade gingerbread house. This is a family project you will want to remember! Happy Holidays!
This is a great choice as an adventure boarding school downtime activity or something to enjoy with the whole family at home.
Guest Post: 6 Winter Activities to Keep the Whole Family in Shape
For many people, winter is the most difficult season to stay healthy. Cold weather sets in and people spend less time outdoors.
There are many opportunities to eat calorie-laden foods, but few to burn those calories off. Here are six winter activities to keep the whole family in shape. These can be enjoyed by people of all ages, even younger children can even enjoy these activities with everyone.
Skiing
Snow skiing is a strictly winter sport. It is one of the most physically demanding sports, yet it can be enjoyed by almost anyone. Experts will tone their bodies, focusing on their legs and torsos, but general skiers do not need to exercise before going out. Skiing itself can be the exercise.
Families can enjoy both downhill skiing and cross-country skiing together. When deciding which a family would be best suited for, there are a couple of factors to consider.
Downhill skiing is much more expensive than cross-country. The equipment costs more and the most significant cost is the lift ticket. A cheap ticket will cost under $40.00 for a local hill but tickets in resorts can easily cost $100.00 or more.
When cross-country skiing, families might have to pay for access to a park or a trail, but these prices are insignificant in comparison to downhill skiing.
Families with little children should pack snacks and a thermos of hot chocolate if they are going cross-country skiing. Many downhill slopes have a lodge at their base, where people can duck in to get warm and eat lunch. Most cross-country trails are miles long and do not have a shelter.
Ice Skating
Going ice skating is a classic winter activity. Many parents have gone ice skating since childhood but neglect to bring their children ice skating. Skate rentals are usually only a few dollars and admission to a rink is also affordable, if not free. While skating, families will have fun weaving around each other, watching one another fall and sip hot cocoa or tea.
Christmas Light Walk
For about a month out of the year, trees, houses and businesses are decorated with beautiful lights. Driving around town is a popular way to admire everyone’s lights, but this mode does not burn any calories.
Instead of taking the car around houses, put on a hat and some mittens and take the family for a walk around a few blocks. Walking is a peaceful way to appreciate the holiday decorations, have some precious family time and get some exercise, all at once.
Snowball Fight
For the brave parents, engaging children in a snowball fight can be a blast. As family members try to hit each other with snowballs while evading other’s throws, they will get a great workout. Running around is especially difficult if the snow is deep.
In order to make sure everyone has a good time, there should be a few ground rules. Do not throw snow at anyone’s face, only make snowballs/no ice-chunks are allowed and most importantly, do not eat yellow snow….. unless your older brother does first 😛
Snowman
Building a snowman provides a workout similar to having a snowball fight but it is much more peaceful. Rolling and lifting a large a chunk of snow is not as easy as children might think. Everyone can help decorate the snowman with old winter gear or find items from the environment. Once the snowman or snowwoman is made, everyone can then make a snow angel.
Football
What better way is there to celebrate the end of the football season than with a family game? Most families will want to limit this to touch football to make sure everyone can participate. Playing on snow makes people work harder and helps even the field of talent.
Winter is a time of eating hearty foods and staying warm. This year, it does not need to be a season of gaining weight. These six activities are ways that the entire family can spend quality time together, while exercising.
Author Bio: Jason S. writes for Iron Science Whey Protein, a manufacturer of quality nutrition supplements ranging from whey protein isolate to creatine.
Guest Post: DIY Glitter Ornament
There’s nothing better than getting in the holiday spirit with some glitter and a good craft! This glitter ornament DIY craft is fun, easy, and inexpensive! Another bonus: this craft is super easy to clean up and won’t leave glitter all over everything. These look gorgeous on a tree and make great holiday gifts.
Here’s what you’ll need to get started:
clear glass ornaments
clear floor wax – make sure it’s Pledge brand with the blue cap bottle
fine glitter
cotton swabs
a paper cone funnel (or, my version: an envelope with the corner cut off)
Step 1: Remove the hangers from the top of the ornaments
Step 2: Squirt the floor wax into the ornament and swirl around the ornament to coat the insides. Don’t shake it, the wax will bubble up inside.
Step 3: Let the excess wax drip back into the bottle
Step 4: Use a cotton swab to pop any bubbles and wipe the mouth of the ornament from excess wax.
Step 5: Use the paper cone (or envelope) funnel to add the glitter into the ornament. Put quite a bit in to coat the entire ornament. Don’t worry, you’ll dump the excess out.
Step 6: Place your thumb over the mouth of the ornament and shake the glitter all around so it coats the entire ornament. Dump the excess glitter back into the container so it’s ready to go for the next round.
Step 7: Voila! Replace the ornament hook and you’ve got a gorgeous set of SPARKLY ornaments!
If you’re giving these babies as gifts, you can add a bow to the hook to dress it up a little more and find ornament sized boxes for pretty gift wrapping.
Author Bio: As a writer for Handbag Heaven. I spend most of my days accessorizing with purses and handbags, but outside of my job I spend time crafting, cooking, and shopping! The holidays are perfect for exercising my hobbies! I also enjoy spending time with my husband, family, and my precious puppy.
Guest Post: How To Have An Eco-Friendly Christmas
With all the excitement of the Christmas holiday, it can be easy to forget the green initiatives we use the rest of the year in our daily lives. Even if we do try to implement them, the commercialism of the holiday doesn’t exactly lend itself to being eco-friendly. There are ways, however, to be green this Christmas season:
1. Reduce your paper waste.
There are many ways to reduce the amount of paper waste you use during Christmas. Don’t over-wrap items, or use sturdy gift boxes that can be repurposed as storage containers and boxes for next year’s gifts. Try not to decorate with paper items, either. If you send out Christmas cards, try to use recycled paper, or better yet, don’t send out cards at all. Replace them with paperless e-cards or friendly phone calls.
2. Buy Fair Trade.
Fair Trade supports eco-friendly initiatives around the world, so lend your own support and buy Fair Trade gifts this year. Fair Trade products run the gamut from coffee and food products to linens, clothing, and alcohol. A simple Google search will turn up hundreds of licensed partners to help you find anything and everything you need for holiday gifts.
3. Buy local and handmade.
If you can’t or don’t want to go the Fair Trade route, you can reduce your environmental impact by giving local and handmade gifts. Seek out artisans in your area for gifts. You may find them at local festivals and fairs, farmer’s markets, and even through Etsy searches. Buying local reduces how much energy is expended to get your product to you, and handmade means significantly less energy went into making your products.
4. Use eco-friendly decorations.
Instead of using plastic or paper decor that will just get thrown away, try using natural items. This can include pinecones, potted plants, beeswax candles, and more. If want to get really creative, you can even repurpose old items like CDs and old Christmas cards can be used to make beautiful decorations. This isn’t just eco-friendly, but also family-friendly, as well.
5. Recycle!
When the holidays are over, don’t toss those pounds of cardboard and wrapping paper in the trash. Recycle them, along with any plastic, glass, or metal that may have accumulated. If you don’t have a recycling system in your hometown, try to get together with other families ahead of time to carpool and take your load to the nearest recycling center.
6. Give back.
Support green initiatives by giving back this holiday season. Donate to your favorite charity or adopt a child from an Angel Tree. Volunteer at a local shelter, nursing home, or hospital by spending time with residents, helping decorate, or even bringing a holiday treat. Being green is all about supporting compassion for the earth and its residents.
Go green this Christmas and make it even better than ever.
Nicole Rodgers has been blogging in the Green, technology, and fitness industries for three years. Last year Nicole decided to have a green holiday this year. She purchased ecofriendly ornaments, gifts, and etc goods in order to be green. After Christmas Nicole always makes sure to check out any cyber Monday sales in order to save money on eco gifts and ornaments for next year.
