Unique Gift Ideas From The Kids

Teaching children to create personal gifts for friends and family is an excellent way to encourage creativity and to teach that the thought is the purpose for the gift. It is so easy today for gifts to be purchased online, without even the slight inconvenience of going to the store. Convenience, in far too many cases, begins to trump consideration in gift giving. To encourage kids to create their own gifts for any occasion will start them down the right avenue and help develop integrity.

There are so many ways that a child can take his or her interests and abilities and create simple, yet thoughtful, gifts for any occasion. Birthdays, anniversaries, Easter, get well, congratulations, along with others, are all examples. This giving spirit also makes them more aware of particular events that should always be remembered or acknowledged. They will begin to look forward to the next time they can create a gift for someone.

Here are a few ideas:

   • Home Baked Treats – Everyone appreciates a little sweetness in their day. With
cookies, biscotti, cakes and pastries presentation is half of the gift. Have them place
cookies into a redesigned potato chip tube. It can be covered with paper and a
bow added. Or go to the dollar store and find little baskets, buckets or dishes and
wrap them with any see through material. Here is a great idea from the Desperate
Craftwives – using an empty aluminum foil box. Paint it or cover it with wrapping
paper and it makes a perfect cookie box. I can’t wait to have the kids try this when
giving away Christmas cookies!

    • Green gifts – Mason Jars and other clear glass containers can be turned into living
terrariums. Craft stores carry all varieties of little animals, houses and decorative
ornaments that can be placed inside. If a person is fond of a particular wild animal,
like a tiger or wolf, a little environment containing a miniature will be a big hit. This
site offers many other different uses for mason jars, some a little difficult for the kids,
but could also be fun to try.
   
    • Personally Designed Greeting Cards – Treat, an online custom greeting card site,
provides the opportunity for anyone to design a single card and create it around the
personal lifestyle, hobby or personality or the recipient. It is fun and easy and costs
less than picking a card from the rack. Kids will love doing it and anyone like a teacher,
friend or family member, or even a classroom crush, will be thrilled by receiving it. I
can’t wait to have the kids make these Valentine’s Day cards for their classmates next
year.

    • Repurposed Items – Everyone appreciates reuse of an item today. Repurposing really brings out the imagination in children. Let them create useful items from Popsicle
sticks, corks, different pasta shapes, glass jars and bottles or old jewelry. There are
literally thousands of ideas online on Pinterest, Making Friends, Frugal Café and many
more. Here are a number of ideas from Kaboose for crafts using recycled items.

There is no one person on this earth, who has a heart, who does not appreciate a handmade gift, especially from a child. That gift will never be re-gifted, squirreled away into a drawer, or wind up at Goodwill. It will be enjoyed and used as intended. The children also receive a gift in return for creating and giving. They receive the gift of accomplishment which they will own forever.


*Today's guest post was written by Jen Lopez.  She is a freelance writer, aspiring blogger and mother of two. She received a bachelor of science in journalism and public relations from West Virginia University and hopes to publish a book on parenting.

Wordless Wednesday: Merry Christmas!

Wordless Wednesday: Happy Easter!

Not Wordless Wednesday: Holiday Photo Highlights

I've been super behind on posting anything about our time during Christmas, so here are some picture highlights, spanning about 8 days, of our fun Christmas activities!

Even babies need to nurse!

Sitting by Uncle Nick in her own chair!

Hanging with Grandma

Poor girl also got the flu on Christmas Eve night.  She was all better and FULL of energy on Christmas morning after a bath...

Crazy on Christmas morning!

She loved opening all her Christmas presents!

She played in her new kitchen for hours!

The play kitchen was actually a gift for her birthday in July, but she didn't have any play food, so we had to wait until Christmas!  She LOVES it!

Mama got the flu shortly after India did, and Daddy got it a couple of days later, right as he was preparing to travel to Ghana, Africa.  NOT fun to be sick while you're traveling so far!

India missed a lot of naps, which caused her to press the limit....

...and the lack of sleep also caused some meltdowns.

Having a meltdown, but still so cute!

Beautiful girl!

In the end, Christmas was wonderful and I'd say India enjoyed her second Christmas much more than her first!  We're still sorting through gifts and toys (and preparing for a garage sale)  and even through sickness, missed naps and late nights, it was worth it all!

2012 Resolutions: A Noble Goal!

I know, I know, some people hate on resolutions because they hate feeling like failures when they miss the mark on those resolutions.  To me, that's like saying, let's never dream or venture for a goal because if I fail, I'll feel bad.  Where would we be if we didn't resolve to do something different or dream or walk out on a limb?  Maybe we do fall down, but consider

New Year's Resolutions, while not for everyone, do serve as a great time of introspection and evaluation of the course of one's life.  Of course, you don't and shouldn't wait until January 1st to begin changes in your life.  You start a new day every morning, a new minute ever minute,

My friend, Margaux, is setting monthly goals for herself, so as not to get overwhelmed with all the things she hopes to see different in her life.  I love that idea as it's not too overwhelming to pick an area of your life to fine tune for 30 days.

Last year's resolutions were more success than fail for me. 

Blog regularly.  Success.
Shop less at Walmart and purchase more WAHM stuff.  Success in that I didn't shop at Walmart as often, but fail in that I didn't support many WAHMs.  I made a lot of my own stuff instead.

Journal.  Big, fat, fail.  On my list again.

Get rid of crap.  Success after a garage sale, but now after Christmas, it's a fail again (she has grandmas, what can I say?). We're getting rid of more of India's toys now though as we only keep one toy box - everything else leaves the house!
Stop being so short with my husband.  I think, success.
Make more stuff.  SUCCESS.  I made a lot of food, clothes, hair accessories, household items, canned everything in our garden, etc.


And on to this year's resolutions:

• Enjoy my family, every season, every stage, most moments.
• JOURNAL, write, record our life.
• Tactical learning for India.  Hands-on crafts, no matter how messy, will be a part of our lives. 
• Make MORE things.  Clothes and accessories for India especially.  I want to get back into making kombucha, homemade lotions and continue making homemade bread. I'd also like to try making water kefir, so if anyone has any great tips, send them my way!  I'd love to be prepared enough to have homemade gifts made for special occasions as well. 
• Get serious about my camera.  I have a nice camera, but I need to take the time to get to know it. 
• I'm half-tempted to work on my guitar skills, but I'm not so sure I can really commit to that.  I'll put it in here anyways! 
   
  Did you keep your resolutions from 2011?  Have you made any New Year's Resolutions for 2012?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

5 Question Friday 12/16/11

Hey everyone, can you believe it's the middle of December?!?!  Christmas is fast approaching, and I hope you all are enjoying this season of Advent, relaxing and getting ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus with important people! 

Here's 5 Questions from 5 Crooked Halos - be sure to link up if you want to answer these 5 questions!

 

1. What's the best Christmas present you've ever received?

 

One time as a kid, I got skies for Christmas.  They were just kiddie ones, but I loved them!  I a practical person, so I LOVE getting make-up, underwear, socks, etc for Christmas.  So boring, but really, it makes me happy!

2. Worst/Funniest White Elephant gift ever received?

 

I've gotten a few weird ones, but nothing really stands out.  Can I tell you a secret?  I hate White Elephant gifts (again, the practical side of me is talking) and will likely skip a party that is having a White Elephant gift exchange.  Scrooge me now, people, I know. 

3. Is your Christmas tree plain and simple (white lights and matching ornaments) or is it wild and crazy (colored lights with lots of ornaments collected over the years)?

Have I mentioned I'm a little OCD?  I am.  Plain lights, matching ornaments, end of story.  I grew up receiving ornaments every year and I'm not going to lie, all those ornaments are sitting in a box labeled "Sell on eBay".  Not even cute homemade ornaments make it to my tree.  Sorry, Baby's First Christmas ornament.

4. "How" do you iron your clothes? The old fashioned iron/ironing board way, the shower, back in the dryer, etc.

 

Um, iron?  No.  Not at all.  Unless my husband is in a wedding.  And even then, 98% of the time, the dryer works just fine!

5. How much baking do you do for Christmas and what are your "must make" items? (I'm looking for recipes here, peeps...)

 

I normally join my mom and sisters for a day of baking, but with some time constraints this year, I'm not sure I will.  So that's the end of my baking.  I do make jiaozi (Chinese dumplings) every year for my family for our all appetizer dinner, and not only is the meal my FAVORITE meal throughout the whole year, the jiaozi has become a family favorite too.  But I only make it once a year!

Make your own Christmas Stocking (or for your children)!

Make your own Christmas stocking




My daughter didn't have a Christmas stocking last year but I wasn't bothered by it.  She was young and even now it isn't imperative that she have her own Christmas stocking.  But it would be really cute.

I set out on my BFF, Google, and found this tutorial, which didn't have much explanation, but left you with really cute stockings.  I knew I wanted a few things different on my stocking, but I absolutely loved the general idea!

This is a very cheap Christmas stocking, I spent less than $5 for the felt and a bag of buttons.  I had embroidery floss and sequins on hand, but even if you had to buy them, this whole project would still be less than $10 in supplies.  I started this one night after work and made it pretty quickly!  The longest part of it all was stitching the embroidery floss around the initial, but that's because I did that step last. 

Here's what you need:

Felt for stocking (half a yard was enough for me)Contrasting felt for hanging loop, initial and cuff
Embroidery floss (for edges, initial and buttons)
Buttons
Sequins
Hot glue gun
Scissors (pinking shears, if desired)
Sewing Machine


The first thing I did was use a stocking as my template on some ivory felt and cut it out.  I didn't want to freehand this one.  I wanted this stocking to be the same shape as size as our other stockings. 

If I were to do it again, I would cut three patterns instead of two.  The first one would be the front, with all the embellishments, the second would be to help hide what was in the stocking and cover up all the embroidery stitches and the third would be the backside.

Tracing and cutting out the felt

I then cut the letting 'I' out, as that is my daughter India's first initial, a small bit of felt to use as a hanging loop and the felt to make the stocking cuff.

Next I would arrange the buttons, glue them on, then use some embroidery floss to accent them.  Make sure you leave enough room to sew around the edges.
 
Then put your initial on (put all embellishments on before you sew it on) and put some pretty stitches around it with the embroidery floss.

Sew your two sides (or three) together, opposite sides together.

I wasn't sure if I was going to like the closed sides like this....

...and I didn't so I turned it right side out and used my MIL's pinking shears to cut all the edges.

(Remember, I didn't add my buttons until the end.)

At this point I sewed the cuff on, followed by the hanging loop.  I didn't want the stitch to be visible on the outside of the cuff so I sewed it onto the inside.

Now the fun begins!  Add all sorts of embellishments!  Sequins, buttons and embroidery floss made me happy!

Sit back and marvel at your cute, fun creation!  I promise, your kids will love it too!

I hope you enjoy this cheap and easy Christmas stocking!  :-)

Wordless Wednesday: Halloween Honey Bee

Jealous on Valentine's Day

It's easy to be jealous on Valentine's Day.  I know I am finding myself wanting every holiday.


Whether you are single, dating, married or widowed, it's very easy to succumb to our human tendency towards covetousness.


When you hear about the billions of dollars Americans spend annually on Valentine's Day and hear how a man spends on average over $100 on this day, sometimes it's hard not to ask "Why not me?" and "Don't I deserve the best?"


I even found myself wishing selfishly for something today, momentarily forgetting that my husband and I don't normally buy each other gifts (let's admit, most Valentine's gifts are frivolous) in order to bless others and live not in excess.  We try to follow those rules mostly, but don't worry, we aren't legalistic about it.

But there is something in me that still wants things and at the same time battles with my convictions. 


It's not that I'm not worth celebrating; it's just that we've seen too many atrocities. People dying of starvation, kids that have been maimed by their own parents, boys held as sexual slaves in monasteries, girls exploited by foreign tourists, families digging through trash and landfills to feed their children, girls as young as six years old being married off, and people devastated by the dirty water that wreaks calamity in their community. 


And these things aren't just abroad, they are right next door to us.


After seeing all that, it's still hard, all these years later to justify fancy chocolate and flowers.


I've decided that today, instead of desiring things, I will choose to be grateful, for a husband, who loves me no matter how many days I forgo shaving my legs in the winter, and who exhibits gracious love to me every day of the year.  I will be thankful he is the same behind closed doors and encourages me to live for a greater purpose that will last longer than any gift.  I will be grateful that he chooses to give to those who really need gifts, and couldn't care less about earthly possessions.  I will be grateful that he doesn't raise his voice at me ever and he respects me. 


Tonight we'll eat leftover pizza and celebrate our love with gratefulness and will hopefully be able to bless others, not out of obligation or guilt, but out of genuine belief and love. 


Isn't that the reason for it all anyway?

New Years Resolutions 2011

*I had this all ready to post on New Years, but with my Grandpa passing, I waited until now.  I hope you don't mind. :-)

Most people dislike New Years Resolutions. Why?  Well, mainly for two reasons. 

One, they don't want to conform to the general idea.  They don't want to be counted with the average person.  The idea of being an individual resonates with me in many other areas, but with New Years Resolutions, I'm ready to comply with the rest of society.

Secondly, they don't like the feeling of failure.  I think that is the most common reason.  Let me tell you - this recovering perfectionist understands!

Every year, around Thanksgiving, I begin to think about my goals for the upcoming year. 

Then, I set my New Years Resolutions and every year I fail at them.  I don't think I've ever succeeded in one.  Some of them over the years have been, but are not limited to:

• Working out
• Journaling
• Spending time reading the Bible daily
• Learn a new vocabulary word everyday (this was actually quite difficult)
• Keep my house clean (this was even MORE difficult)
• Write one snail mail letter or thank you a week
• Stop cussing (Ha, normally, just a few short months later I try to give this up for lent)

But I'm not defeated by my failures.  They served their time and purpose, and at least got me thinking (some of them months in advance) about areas in my life that I would like to see change. 

SO...

You want to know what this year's resolutions are?  Of course you do, that's why you're reading!

• Blog regularly.  I haven't decided on a "set" number of blog posts a month, but I do with to blog more often than last year.  Which shouldn't be hard considering I blogged more in the last four months of 2010 than I did in the previous eight combined.
• Shop less at Walmart!  I wish I could give up Walmart totally, but the cheap prices, oh the cheap prices.  And yes, I know why they are so cheap, and that is why I'm convicted to shop there less.  Instead, support WAHM (work at home moms) & their gorgeous creations, local businesses, and companies that help society, not hurt it. 
• Journal, journal and journal.  I love all my old journals, they are precious to me.  I have really neglected my personal journal since falling pregnant with India.  I also have a journal for her that I write in - milestones, notes of love, encouragement.  Someday, I want it to be filled with stories of her.
• Get rid of crap in my house.  You know what happens when you move from an apartment to a house? You get crap, and fill that house full of it.  Unless you are Salena or Vanessa  - then you don't.  I want to get rid of about a quarter of my stuff.  I mean, my baby can't even crawl yet, and my basement is full of toys for her!  And all the boxes of stuff I've been planning on selling on eBay?  Hello, garage sale.
• Stop being so mean to my husband.  I'm not always mean, but my husband is pretty sensitive, so I have to be careful how I say things.  I can be abrupt, and that hurts him.  I'm pretty curt or frank with him (whichever man you prefer lol!), and I need to pad my words more.  I've been working on this one for a while too.  *sigh*  I really am a work in progress.
• Make more of our stuff from GOOD products.  Clothes and accessories for India, window coverings, meals made from whole foods, more garden produce, homemade yogurt, sprouted bread, etc.

Ahhh, 2011 Resolutions are set!  Actually, maybe not set, because I love to add an extra one here or there.

Do you make New Years Resolutions?  If you do, what are they?  Have you ever stuck with any of your resolutions?

A Christmas to remember. And forget a little too.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!!  We had a few hiccups along the way, but overall, we have been blessed this Christmas season. 

India had 5 pretty Christmas outfits, all of them gifts, borrowed or hand-me-downs! 

India and cousin Brooklynn in the Christmas dresses Grandma Shelly got them.  Grandma Shelly even made their hats!

We cut back this year, and only had 4 Christmas celebrations this year.  Well, that's not totally true, because we still have two more, but at least they're not during the busy time.

India with Grandma Kay

The three of us got lots of great gifts - iTunes (or iPod tunes ;P) , Amazon, Target, Best Buy, Walmart, Hobby Lobby, movie theatre, and Pout Baby Boutique gift cards.  And of course, the much loved CASH gifts!  We got lots of other things too, which we are enjoying!

I must say, I was way more excited about India's gifts than my own!  She got 10 different books this Christmas, and for anyone that doesn't know, this girl loves to be read to!

So exciting!

I did get a bad gift this year - an abscessed front tooth. 

Ouch.  That's the part of Christmas I'd like to FORGET! 

Not my first, but hopefully my last!  Because I'm breastfeeding and allergic to a lot of medicines, it's been difficult finding antibiotics and painkillers for me.  Through the course of it all, we also found out I have adverse reactions to Codeine, too.  Which is fine with me, because it wasn't even taking away my pain! 

I didn't get tons of pictures of India at my parent's Christmas, because I was in so much pain, but here are a couple!

India is the youngest, so she got to open her gifts first.  Here is the ANXIOUS view from our seat!!

Tired India and big cousin, Zoelle.  Zoelle wore this dress for her first Christmas, also!

India also enjoyed her first snowmobile ride.  She needed a little coaxing at first, but enjoyed it!

"It's OK, honey!"

India still hasn't opened her presents from us, and it looks like it will just be her and I having our own little Christmas, since my husband is really busy, and our weekend was filled with family gatherings and emergency dentist appointments.



Back to Ms. India again....her first tooth has made it's grand appearance!  My baby is growing up!

And perhaps my favorite photo this Christmas... 

India and Grandpa Ken

I'm scheduled for a root canal this week! I know a lot of people hate root canals, but I love them, because they equal relief! I can hardly wait until I no longer look like a Who from Dr. Seuss!

Dallas is leaving for Ghana, Africa in a couple of days. He is going to speak at a youth retreat there. I'm VERY jealous that he gets to go and see some great friends, and meet many new friends. But I'll get over it. I think.

While he is gone, I'm going to start preparing and freezing baby food for when India starts solids.  I'll also blog more often too. ;-)

Would you pray for my husband as he travels to Ghana this week?  Especially pray for the kids that he'll be ministering to!   Thank you!!

Merry Christmas!

We're ready for Christmas around here!  Christmas is my favorite holiday - not because of all the celebrations, but because of the traditions.  This year we have over seven family Christmases, but we will only go to three or four.  Our goal is to participate in one celebration per family, so we still have time to celebrate as a little family of three.

I like to have most things done and prepared ahead of time, so we can enjoy all the running,  um, I mean celebrating! 

Laundry is done (mostly)?  Check.

 

Christmas music is playing? Check.

Baked goods and appetizers finished?  Check. 

 (If you're wondering what's in the Zip-loc; it's jiao zi - one of my Dad's favorites.  It's LABOR INTENSIVE.  I only make it at Christmas.  Because I love my Dad. And to the purists, who don't like my folding...my excuse is I don't have a crimper).

Dishes are clean?  Check.

Presents wrapped? Check.

 

India's Christmas dresses washed and ready for wear?  Check.

Is a healthy, happy little girl ready to be overstimulated, overtouched, overtired and turned into a little grinch on her first Christmas?  Um, wait.  Is that a booger sucker in her hand?  Yes it is.

Yeh, she's got a stuffy nose - although she thinks the booger sucker is her new BFF.  A baby with a cold wasn't on my original checklist. 

Oh well.

At least we have an easy excuse for when Great-Great Uncle So-and-So is the umpteenth person to get in her face, snap a flash picture, try to grab her, throw a toy in her face, scare her with a loud laugh, and then make her cry.  When Great-Great Uncle So-and-So asks why she won't go to sleep in the midst of it all and if he is upsetting her, we can say, "No, she just has a cold".

We wouldn't want to hurt Great-Great Uncle So-and-So's feelings. ;-)

So, from my house to yours, wherever you may be, I hope that in the midst of family and food, you can find some time to reflect upon the real purpose of Christmas. 

 I pray regularly for my readers, and my prayer for you today is that you know this God who is with us this holiday season, in a way that you have never known Him before.

God bless you all and Merry Christmas!!!

The Toy She Wanted & The Toy She Got

We decided not to get India very much for Christmas for a few reasons this year.

1. She's a baby. If it crinkles, sparkles or is brightly colored, she's entertained.
2. She has grandparents.  Enough said.

As a "gift", I planned on letting her go crazy with bright colored tissue paper.  Let her tear it up, chew on it a bit (maybe) and throw it in the air to entertain her.  It would've been her favorite gift.  Promise.

But on Black Friday, I did order her some Little Pim Chinese Language learning DVD's.  They were half off with free shipping.  Score-izzle!

The other night in an evil store, we happened upon a new toy (on clearance) for India and decided to buy that for her in addition to her Little Pim DVD's.  We decided to let her play with it (don't worry I'll re-wrap it in some bright tissue paper for Christmas day, and she'll be more than happy about the tissue paper).

Here's the toy she got.  She looked at if for about 2 minutes until....

She saw the toy she wanted!

Trying...

Success! (as mom begins to panic a little. Don't be overprotective, Genevieve. Don't.)

Still cute, but watching so it doesn't go in her m.....

...MOUTH! Ahhh!

 

I don't think I've ever dropped my camera so fast! 

(I'm actually surprised I got a picture of this)

 

The lights are taken away and the back-arching begins

Cue the tears. And drama.

"But India, you still have your NEW toy!"

Poor child.

I'm sorry I won't let you play with glass, electrically charged, lead-infused Christmas lights & now because you touched them (my fault) we both have to scrub our hands. 

If I was a good mom, I never would've let you even touch those cognitive impairing lights in the first place.  I would've just stuck with tissue paper.