How To Get In The Spirit Of Christmas
Filed under: Archives, At Home, At Work, Gift Ideas, Holidays, Parenting
Getting into the Christmas spirit can be difficult, especially when life happens, and time is a rare commodity.
With Christmas becoming so commercialized, it’s no wonder, some become disheartened, at this time of the year.
Catherine, a cyberspace friend of mine, asked me how I get into the Christmas spirit, so I’m answering her question, with this article.
First of all, let’s look at what Christmas is.
Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
It’s a time to worship His birth, and rejoice.
The spirit of Christmas means to share love and to give of yourself. It is not about, what you get.
To get into the Christmas spirit, try the following:
1) Listen to Christmas music. The traditional songs are beautiful. However, there are other Christmas songs that are joyful as well. For children, the Chipmunks sing silly, happy, sing-along songs. Many radio stations play Christmas music, and Christmas CDs are always available during the holidays.
Play Christmas music at home, in your car, or in your MP3 or Ipod. Learn the words, and sing along.
2) Watch Christmas movies. Currently “Deck The Halls” was recently released on video. There are many others that will get you into the Christmas spirit.
3) Christmas often means gift giving. However, a lot of people have forgotten those less fortunate. Pick a name off of the local “tree of joy”, or Ronald McDonald house, and get your children involved in picking out gifts for elders, families or other children who may otherwise be forgotten about during the holidays.
Many shelters need volunteers to serve Christmas dinner to the homeless. If you cannot give of your time, consider making a donation to your local shelters.
4) Christmas may also entail decorating the outside of your home with lights and/or lawn decor. Some people are nuts about Christmas lights, and go all out, whereas others, keep it simple and hang a star, or some garland around their front door.
Make it a family event to drive around and look at the lights.
5) Christmas trees are traditional. Some families have more than one tree, whereas others make cutting down a tree, a family affair. Decorating them with pretty ornaments or home made ones, can become a tradition for any family. Putting on the tree top, can also become a celebration.
6) Christmas stockings are often a tradition for families. Stockings can be filled with candy, small toys, games, etc. Use your imagination. Decorating or making Christmas stockings can be a fun family event.
7) Wrapping Christmas presents, to some, is a real chore. But if you get family members involved, your burden can be lessened. Put on Christmas tunes, and get children involved. Let them decorate the packages for other family members. Let their creativity emerge.
8.) Go to church on Christmas Eve. Most churches have special services, and the message usually enforces the true meaning of Christmas.
9) Display nativity scenes. Currently there is yard decor for outdoors, and indoor scenes can range from small sets to large, impressive ones.
10) Often many people bake during the holidays. Pick a few of your favorite recipes, or try new ones. Share your baked goods with neighbors, friends and relatives.
Plan a cookie exchange party, and have each person bring 6-12 cookies for each of the other guests. By the time the evening is over, you will have had a fun time, and you will leave with several dozen cookies of different varieties.
11) Take time to see Christmas through the eyes of a young child. They don’t understand how commercialized it’s become. They get excited about little things like Santa, Christmas trees, lights, and sugar cookies. Their innocence is magical.
12) Make it your goal to give meaningful gifts. Let the older children know you have a budget. Have them make a “wish list” and pick one or two items off of their list. Let them be surprised by what’s under the tree on Christmas morning.
As parents, it is our responsibility to teach children that they don’t always get everything they want, when they want it. Some things have to be earned.
13) A sure fire way to get into the Christmas spirit, is to spend time with others who have Christmas spirit. Before long, you will find it’s rubbing off on you.
To avoid getting so over whelmed during the holidays, make it your goal to shop and/or make gifts all year long. After Christmas, great buys can be found on winter items, that can easily be stored until the following year. During the year when you are in your favorite stores, take time to find a gift of two to put away until the following Christmas. This method not only spreads the expense of the holiday, but will alleviate some of the stress of last minute shopping.
Want some inexpensive gift and wrapping paper ideas, check out the following articles:
1) Last Minute Cheap Christmas Gift Ideas
2) 22 Cheap Holiday Gift Ideas
Hopefully I have answered Catherine’s question, and have helped others to find the true spirit of Christmas.
Tags: blog, Gift IdeaLast Minute Cheap Christmas Gift Ideas
Filed under: Archives, At Home, At Work, Gift Ideas, Holidays, Saving Money
If you are looking for last minute cheap, themed, Christmas gifts, here’s a list of 20 great ideas.
These last minute gifts, can be put together in a short period of time, without “breaking the bank”.
1) Reading theme: Get a magazine subscription
2) Car Detailing Theme: Buy a plastic bucket. Inside the bucket, place car washing soap, a chamois, wash mitt, window wash, tire brush, roll of paper towels, and a product like Armour-all.
3) Popcorn themed gift. Large bowl filled with a bags of microwavable popcorn, plus some popcorn seasoning. For an added bonus, a include a movie DVD
4) Pedicure theme: Line a small basket, or plastic basin, with a washcloth or hand towel. Add spa socks, Johnson’s Foot Soap, and a bottle/tube of foot lotion, and maybe some nail polish.
5) Painting theme: Fill a paint tray with a roller + handle, brush, stir stick, blue painter’s tape, etc. Add a coupon for “a free day of help painting”. Place the items in a box and wrap with white butcher paper, using the blue painter’s tape as the “ribbon. Add a blue or white bow.
Wrapped in the real estate section of the newspaper, this would also make a great house warming gift.
6) Craft Theme: Place skeins of yarn and knitting needles (or crochet hooks), in a basket. Add a “how to” book. Place items in a box, wrap with brown kraft paper and use yarn as your “ribbon”. Insert two knitting needles or crochet hooks into the “bow”.
7) Scrap booking Theme: Buy a plastic scrap book “box”. Fill it with assorted papers, stickers and embellishments. Check your local dollar store for these items. Add a pair of fancy scissors and some glue.
8.) Cooking Theme: Buy a cookbook
9) Kids Theme: Buy a toy or board game. Wrap it in the comic section of the newspaper. Use a jump rope as a “ribbon”.
10) Kids Money Theme: Instead of giving them a $20 bill. Get twenty ones. Wrap them in a box, or put them in a wallet or purse. The kids will think they’re rich, with their big “wad”. Or use Origami, and fold the money into different shapes. Make the Origami book as part of the gift.
11) Tool Themed Gift. Pick up a plastic tool box. Add a few tools and a gift card for their favorite home improvement store.
12) Quilters Themed Gift: Buy a pack of “fat quarters” (most fabric/quilting stores will have these available). Add a pair of small sewing scissors, and spools of thread. Place in a small basket. Wrap the box with piece of fabric, as an added bonus.
13) Exercise theme: Get a pedometer. Add a subscription to a “health” magazine (See #1)
14) Baking/cooking theme: Does someone love a specific recipe of yours? Make a “batch”. Deliver it in a casserole dish, or on a pretty plate (for them to keep). Include a copy of the recipe.
15) Another baking theme: Buy tubes of sugar cookie dough and cookie cutters. Add a sheet pan, rolling pin, some sprinkles, wax paper, and maybe a plastic spatula. Place in a box. Use a cookie cutter, as part of your bow decoration. Make sure to tell the recipient to open the package right away. (the prepared cookie dough needs to be refrigerated) Making, cutting, and decorating sugar cookies is a great way to get children to help in the kitchen. (Just remind them to wash their hands often)
16) College Student Theme: Buy a laundry basket (or bag). Add a small container of detergent, fabric softener, and some plastic hangers. Other “essentials” can also be added to this gift.
17) Spa Theme: Buy some candles, candle holder(s), bath salts and/or bubble bath. Add to that a CD of relaxing music, and maybe even a plush towel.
18) Cheese Theme: Buy small packages of specialty cheeses. Add a cutting board and a small knife. Include boxes of gourmet crackers, as an added bonus. (Remember to keep the cheese refrigerated)
19) Wine Theme: Purchase a bottle wine and two (or more) pretty wine glasses. Wrap the wine in a cloth wine bag or round wine box. Ask the store where you purchase the glasses from if they have a box for the glasses. Use some plastic grapes as part of your “bow” on the box of glasses.
20) Music Theme: Buy a package of blank CD’s. Add a gift card/certificate to Shop at iTunes“. Wrap it in sheet music, or sheet music looking paper.
Don’t forget those less fortunate. Pick names off of your local “tree of joy”. Involve your children, and teach them the true meaning of the holiday season. As an added incentive, donate to, and/or volunteer at the local soup kitchens, and help to serve holiday meals.
For additional inexpensive gift ideas, see: 22 Cheap Holiday Gift Ideas
Do you have other great gift ideas…themed or not?
Feel free to add them to the comment section, so they can be shared with others. 
Regifting – The Cheap Way To Give
Filed under: Archives, At Home, At Work, Gift Ideas, Holidays
Regifting, is the “art” of passing a gift you received, to another person. Some call it “recycling a gift”.
The question remains, “should you regift”, or recycle a gift?”
Whether you like a gift or not, whenever you receive a gift, the first thing you should do, is thank the giver. A hand written thank you, is always appreciated.
If you receive an article of clothing, or anything “sized”, you can always let the giver know, it is the wrong size, and you would like to exchange it.
You could also tell the giver, you have a similar item.
Asking the giver where they bought it from, so you can exchange it, isn’t rude. They may still have the receipt, or may have gotten a gift receipt.
Do not rely on the box it’s wrapped in, as many people wrap presents in miscellaneous boxes.
However, if the item is a “specialty item”, engraved, or otherwise, you may be stuck with the gift.
Passing a gift on to someone else, is pretty tacky.
Although regifting could be construed as being cheap, regifting also says that you really care about the person you are passing the gift on to.
If you have received a gift that doesn’t “suit” you, it would be better to donate it to a favorite charity, or just give it to someone who can use it.
There’s nothing worse than regifting or recycling a present, and without realizing it, years later, you give it back to the person who gave it to you.
How embarrassing would that be?
Instead of regifting or recycling a present, check out my list of 22 Cheap Holiday Gift Ideas for some great ideas.
22 Cheap Holiday Gift Ideas
Filed under: Archives, Gift Ideas, Holidays, Projects, Saving Money
Cheap holiday gift ideas are sometimes hard to come by.
With gas prices being at an all time high, real estate in a slump, people losing their jobs, and the holidays just around the corner, it may be necessary to curb spending, and revert back to finding creative, cheap holiday gift ideas.
Listed below are 22 cheap holiday gift ideas.
1) Knit a scarf or hat, or make one out of fleece.
2) Bake a cake, cookies, bars, bread, or pie. Wrap it with cellophane and ribbon, for great presentation.
3) Make a “jar” gift. Stack the dry ingredients for a simple cookie or soup recipe, in a jar. Attach the recipe, and top the jar with a pretty piece of fabric
4) If a young child needs a specific article of clothing, check with your local fabric store for material and a pattern, and sew it yourself.
5) Make hand/machine sewn pillows. Attach pretty buttons, fringe, or other embellishments to customize it to the “recipient’s decor. Quilted pillows are also an option.
6) Create a photo collage in a pretty inexpensive collage frame
7) For bird lovers, make a pine cone bird feeder.
8.) For those who like to read, purchase a gift card, and attach a bookmark to the package
9) For the cook in your life, sew an apron, and even matching towels. Towels can be made out of cotton table cloths. One large table cloth will yield at least a dozen towels. As an added embellishment, sew ribbon on the towel. Potholders are inexpensive to make, as well.
10) For young children, fill a basket with coloring books, crayons, and other goodies, from your local dollar store. With toy recalls being a major concern, check the CPSC’s (Consumer Protection Safety Commission) website for the current list.
11) For that “someone special”, create a “coupon book”. Use your computer to create coupons for such things as a back rub, foot massage, pedicure, manicure, car wash and/or detailing, ….the possibilities are endless. Get creative! Use humor. Include drawings or photos.
12) Coupon books would also be great for children to give to their parents or grandparents. They could include coupons for chores they normally don’t do.
13) For a family member or friend, frame a favorite picture. Choose a frame that will match their decor. Try processing the photo in black and white, for something different. For free photo editing, try Picasa.
14) Instead of buying gifts for everyone in a large family, “pick names” and set a budget. Plan a fun filled evening, for your gift exchange.
15) At work, draw names for a “secret Santa”. Buy for one person, set a budget, and pick a day to exchange gifts and reveal who’s “Santa” you were.
16) Burn a CD with favorite photos or music. Wrap it in a plastic CD holder.
17) Give the gift of tea or coffee. In a napkin lined basket, place a box of tea or a bag of coffee, a cup, and a package of biscotti.
18) For those who still prefer to hand write letters, buy a pretty box of stationery, and include a pretty pen. Maybe even some stamps.
19) Shop discount stores for pretty baskets of lotions and soaps. Pick a scent that the recipient likes. If you’re real creative, make handmade soaps. Attach a tag and wrap with a pretty ribbon.
20) Candles are great inexpensive gifts. Buy a candle and matching candle holder.
21) Movie tickets are inexpensive. Give a friend or family member two tickets, and a coupon for “free babysitting”. That would make for a great “date night” for parents who don’t get out much.
22) There are many beautiful ornaments on the market. Buy a pretty ornament, and an ornament holder from your local craft store.
Any gift can be made even prettier, by using beautiful ribbon. Buy a big roll at a discount store, and use it for all of your packages. Just pick a color that will match an array of holiday papers.
Wrapping paper can get expensive, but by using an alternative, you can save even more money. For ideas on cheap wrapping paper, read a previous article of mine, titled: Cheap Wrapping Paper.
Take time to wrap your gifts with love and care.
Find a box your gift will fit into. Line it with pretty tissue.
Wrapped boxes create a beautiful present. Attach a hand written card, for greater impact.
A cheap holiday gift idea, that’s well thought out, and beautifully wrapped, can hold more meaning than an expensive store bought item.
Who can put a price on that?
For great themed gift ideas, see: Last Minute Cheap Christmas Gift Ideas
Cheap Gift Idea
Filed under: Archives, Children's Crafts, Gift Ideas, Projects
Often, we need an inexpensive gift idea. Whether we want to make one, or have our children make one, knitting a scarf is one great cheap gift idea.
To knit is easy. If you don’t know how, ask your mother, grandmother, or a friend. More than likely, one of them, knows how to knit.
If no one in your circle, knows how to knit, you can go online, and find a site that shows you the basic knitting stitches. You could also pick up a book at your local bookstore, or go online to Amazon.com, and pick up a book such as: How to Knit: The Definitive Knitting Course Complete with Step-by-Step Techniques, Stitch Library, and Projects for Your Home and Family
The supplies for knitting a scarf are basic… knitting needles and yarn.
With knitting needles, the larger the number, the larger the needle. The smaller the needle, the tighter the stitch. Knitting with larger knitting needles, results in a looser knit scarf, which is also faster to complete.
Yarns for knitting come in an array of colors. Be creative. Mix two or more yarns to create a unique design. Or, take a solid color yard, and mix it with a fuzzy yarn. The result will be much different, than if you used a single strand of yarn by itself.
When using more than one yarn, pick colors that either compliment each other, or contrast each other.
Yarn and knitting needles are available in most craft stores, as well as in variety stores like WalMart.
Anyone who receives a scarf, that they know you knitted by hand, will be touched and grateful for the time, thought and effort you put into the gift. They will have an original, hand knitted by you.
Knitting is a hobby that can be done anytime you are sitting. Whether you are on an airplane, watching TV, or just relaxing, it’s easy to pick up your knitting project, and continue on. Knitting also keeps your hands busy, so you are less likely to be munching on food.
Who knew, knitting was good for the diet? 
UPDATE: For more ideas, see: 22 Cheap Holiday Gift Ideas
Cheap Wrapping Paper
Filed under: Archives, At Home, At Work, Gift Ideas, Holidays, Recycling, Saving Money
Wrapping paper can be very expensive, if you buy it at your favorite gift store. But there are ways to make cheap wrapping paper.
Two of the cheapest papers, you can buy, are brown craft paper, and white butcher wrap (paper). They both come in wide rolls. They are both fairly inexpensive.
With both the craft paper and the butcher wrap, just wrapping a gift in the plain paper would suffice. However, add some raffia ribbon, curling ribbon, or pretty fabric ribbon, and you have a beautiful package.
Children could also draw or paint on the paper, and then the paper could be used to wrap “Gramma’s gift”.
Use stamps, and stamp your favorite designs on the paper
Another cheap wrapping paper, is newspaper. Using the comic section, would make for a colorful present. Or use the black and white pages, for a different look.
If you have a large. leftover roll from seasons past, reverse the paper and use the white side. Packages wrapped in white, and complimented with a pretty ribbon and bow, can be quite elegant.
When working with white paper, clean your wrapping area prior to wrapping, to ensure the paper stays clean.
It’s not always necessary to spend a lot of money in order to wrap a gift. Look around you, the possibilities are endless.
Do you have another idea for cheap wrapping paper, leave a comment, and share your idea.
UPDATE: For inexpensive gift ideas, see: 22 Cheap Holiday Gift Ideas
Relief For My Shoulder Pain
My shoulder is sore
I do not know why
It hurts my arm
When I try to reach high
It could be a bruise
It could be bursitis
It may be a tendon
Or maybe arthritis
Some days it is painful
Some days it is not
I could try capsaicin
But that’s stinky and hot
I could call the doctor
I could call a nurse
But I recently discovered
The problem’s my purse.
Some Handbags
are heavy
Some Handbags
are light
Then add all of your stuff
And your shoulder could bite
So, I weighed my purse empty
And, I weighed my purse full
What was I thinking
I should have bought a Fossil 
Just Because Baskets and Beyond
Gift baskets are a great gift, not just for birthdays, but for other holidays and occasions, as well. Sorting through all of the pictures of gift baskets online, can be time consuming. Why not quite searching for gift baskets, and build your own? Did you know you can, at: JustBecauseBaskets.com ?
At Just Because Baskets and Beyond, customers can build their own gift basket, by selecting the container, color scheme and contents. If you’re not sure what to choose, you can pick one of the prearranged baskets designed by Just Because Baskets and Beyond.
Just Because Baskets and Beyond, has baskets for all occasions. So many choices. There’s baskets for a birthday, baby shower, corporate or real estate events, pampering, grilling, gardening, painting, and gourmet chocolate gifts, just to name a few.
Wouldn’t it be fun to get creative and send a one of a kind basket to that special person in your life. Or send a basket to your hard working secretary, foreman or parent.
Everyone wants to know they’re special, why not go to JustBecauseBaskets.com build a unique basket, and make someone smile, toady. 
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