'Tis the Season
Founder of MomAdvice.com and Kenmore Home Management Expert
With so much of the focus on gift-giving and receiving the latest toys, coolest gadgets and trendy must-haves it's important for families to focus on the true meaning of the season. From teaching kids the reasons we celebrate to creating gifts for everyone on your list, read on for my favorite tips and tricks for the holidays, from budgeting and gifting to baking and wrapping. They'll help keep your holidays simple and sane.
Traditions
Some of my favorite holiday memories are steeped in my own family's childhood traditions. From wearing my festive holiday pajamas to helping my mom decorate holiday cookies, my memories can help you start your own family traditions with easy at-home holiday projects.
Holiday jar
Create a holiday jar filled with activities that children can draw from leading up to the big day. Special activities might include playing outside in the snow, going to see the Christmas lights, hosting a caroling get-together or making holiday decorations.
Create a holiday jar filled with activities that children can draw from leading up to the big day. Special activities might include playing outside in the snow, going to see the Christmas lights, hosting a caroling get-together or making holiday decorations.
Stocking stuffers
Instead of filling stockings with toys and candy, have everyone write down five "gifts" each family member possesses, and share the sentiments just before opening presents.
Instead of filling stockings with toys and candy, have everyone write down five "gifts" each family member possesses, and share the sentiments just before opening presents.
Countdown with books
Buy discounted holiday books from thrift stores and wrap them in brown paper grocery bags; decorate with rubber stamps, stickers or ribbon. Each night, allow your child to unwrap a book, then read new stories together throughout the holiday season.
Buy discounted holiday books from thrift stores and wrap them in brown paper grocery bags; decorate with rubber stamps, stickers or ribbon. Each night, allow your child to unwrap a book, then read new stories together throughout the holiday season.
A time for giving
A special gift doesn't need to be expensive or flashy. Take a look at chic and cheap gifts for everyone on your list.
Siblings and school friends
A photo book is one of my favorite ways to help my children make low cost, meaningful gifts for friends and family. Buy an inexpensive photo album and create a scrapbook of their favorite things, photos of themselves, their friends and memories shared over time.
A photo book is one of my favorite ways to help my children make low cost, meaningful gifts for friends and family. Buy an inexpensive photo album and create a scrapbook of their favorite things, photos of themselves, their friends and memories shared over time.
Grandparents
Each year my family creates a detailed family photo book to share with Grandma and Grandpa. Save and make doubles of pictures from every important milestone in your child life over the year. This makes a great gift tradition to share with grandparents each year.
Each year my family creates a detailed family photo book to share with Grandma and Grandpa. Save and make doubles of pictures from every important milestone in your child life over the year. This makes a great gift tradition to share with grandparents each year.
Babysitters
Choose a gift card from one of their favorite stores, and include cards your children make especially for them.
Choose a gift card from one of their favorite stores, and include cards your children make especially for them.
Teachers and coaches
Give the gift of great food to these special people in your life. My Homemade Chai Tea Mixes, Cocoa Mixes or Pumpkin Butter Spreads are great gifts with a personal touch to share with others.
Give the gift of great food to these special people in your life. My Homemade Chai Tea Mixes, Cocoa Mixes or Pumpkin Butter Spreads are great gifts with a personal touch to share with others.
Hosts, hairdressers and postal workers
I love sharing my Spiced Pumpkin Bread or Heavenly Banana Bread packaged in decorative mini loaf pans. Tie pretty ribbon around the bread and you've got a great gift that everyone enjoys.
I love sharing my Spiced Pumpkin Bread or Heavenly Banana Bread packaged in decorative mini loaf pans. Tie pretty ribbon around the bread and you've got a great gift that everyone enjoys.
What not to forget
The last thing you want to do during the holiday rush is run out for something you've forgotten. Here's a list of items I recommend having around the house at all times so you're always prepared in a pinch.
- Tape and scissors. These are always a good idea if you need to wrap a gift, temporarily repair something, or keep kids busy with crafts.
- Wine and food items as gifts. Spend a day making food gifts. Add a homemade gift tag and tie a ribbon around a lid to offer as a great hostess gift. Pair with a nice bottle of wine and you've created a thoughtful gift.
- Cake and brownie mixes. Keep quick mixes around as easy options when unexpected guests arrive. Plus, the smell of baking goodies always makes the house smell festive during the holidays.
- Easy cleaning supplies. Use one-use wipes or baby wipes and simply throw them away after using to keep the house tidy.
- Spot remover. The more entertaining you do, the more messes are made. Keep spot removers on hand to deal with tough stains when they happen.
- Batteries. From toys to cameras to DVD players, keep batteries of all sorts and sizes around so everything is working just the way you want.
- Sticky mailing labels. Make a stack of mailing labels with your return address printed on them so all you have to do is seal and stick.
- Postal scale. They are inexpensive and great if you do a lot of shipping. You can buy postage online and have your shipper pick up the packages from your house. A postal scale can be useful in the kitchen as a food scale.
- Holiday cards. Always keep extra cards on hand; when you think you've mailed your last card, you'll think of someone you forgot!
The gift closet
For those of you who love the hustle and bustle of the holidays, good for you. For the rest of us, assembling a gift closet is an easy and worthwhile way to skip the hassle. It doesn't have to literally be in a closet; a dresser drawer or a box on a shelf works too. You'll save time and money and feel more organized.
Buy all year. Buy items when you see them on sale throughout the year and stash them away until you need them. This lets you beat the holiday rush when everyone else is out scrambling for gifts.
Keep it generic. Stock your closet with generic gifts you can use for a variety of occasions. These could be bottles of wine, candles, or other welcome gifts that are appreciated by everyone. Grab and give as a hostess gift or if someone unexpectedly drops by with a gift for you.
For the kids. Keep gifts that will be good for kids as well. Think crayons and board games, puzzles and books. Youl not only be able to use your gift closet for the holidays, but birthdays as well.
Wrap it up. Keep wrapping paper, gift bags, and ribbon stashed in the gift closet, along with a stack of generic greeting cards. Go the extra step and wrap gifts ahead of time, using sticky notes to keep track of what's inside. You'll be thoroughly prepared for any event, any time.
Speaking of packaging...
There are fun ways to create custom, inexpensive gift wrapping paper on your own and with your kids. Here are some of my favorite ways to liven up any gift.
- Go to a thrift store or odd-lot store and buy old wallpaper to wrap gifts in. Not only is this budget-friendly, but the paper is durable and comes in thousands of fun prints and colors.
- Wrap gifts in newspaper or magazine pages and add beautiful red ribbon to accessorize the package. Customize the paper based on the person you are gifting: for kids, use the comics. For a financial planner, use the stock pages. For the fashionista, wrap up the style pages.
- Brown grocery bags are a great option any time of year. Use bright ribbons and bows, stickers and rubber stamps to liven up a neutral background. Choose color themes to match the holiday or occasion.
- Search for and download gift tag templates online to save money. With several different themes and styles, you can create custom tags for all the special people in your life.
