SnOMG
We had 19″ of snow fall within the last 48 hours - can you say snOMG??? Anyone care to join me on the patio for a tall fruity drink?
Archive for Holidays
Fun and Funky Easter Basket Fillers
What does the Easter Bunny put in your kids Easter baskets? Here it is usually some basic Easter candy, an outfit or jammies for spring, and a few goofy toys. As I have been doing some research (to help the Easter Bunny out, you know) I have come across some pretty cute ideas.
These are some serious Bunny Slippers with attitude!!
How about a Giant PEZ White Easter Bunny that weighs almost 2 Pounds? It plays music and holds a whole bunch of PEZ. You can get it in additional designs - like a bunny, Hello Kitty and Star Wars Clone Trooper.
Bunny Paratroopers are sure to make even the big boys laugh. They will have fun launching the Easter Bunny from all heights and watching him parachute to the ground.
Author David A Carter gets into the season with Easter Bugs : A Springtime Pop-up.
Need a blast from your own childhood? Try a 1970’s Easter Retro Candy Gift Box - other decades are available, too!
Who would have thought you could enjoy those cute little Peeps without having to actually eat the marshmallow cuties? Enter Peeps Lip Balm - Vanilla Marshmallow Cream (yes, it comes in other flavors, too)
INeed traditional cute and cuddly? Check out the cutest Easter plush and stuffed animals at Doll Diaries and for absolutely free Easter printables visit Printables4Kids.com.
Hoppy Easter!
Clutter Free and Last Minute Gift Ideas
Last year I posted the ultimate clutter-free gift giving list for everyone you know because I feel like as a society we have become all about the stuff and less about substance. As we get into the prime time for holiday shopping, keep these ideas in mind - the people on your gift giving list will thank you - not only for your thoughtfulness, but also because they don’t have to put the gift away.
This is also a great list to give to aunts and uncles, grandparents, and friends, too.
For the Kids
- Movie tickets
make a great clutter free gift. We rarely go to the movies, so movie tickets are a huge treat for my kids.
- Make coupons for tuition for sports lessons, a drama class, or new activity. Five years ago we gave our kids ice skating lessons for Christmas. They loved it and it sparked an interest in my son - he is now in his third season on the ice hockey team.
- Coupons for a day with Dad (or Mom) - or for a special dinner out, bowling afternoon, round of putt putt, etc. The gift of time is the best one you can give.
- Magazine subscriptions or book club memberships are gifts that keep giving through out the year. Kids love to get mail! (We like Tessy & Tab Reading Club for Preschoolers, Zoobooks
, Highlights for Kids Magazine
, Discovery Girls, Popular Science just to name a few)
- An iTunes gift card will give them the opportunity to fill that iPod nano with the tunes they love.
For Teachers, Coaches, and Such
Gift certificate to a local cafe, coffee shop or restaurant.- Teachers spend a lot of their own money buying supplies for their own classrooms. Teachers love gift certificates for a teacher supply store.
- Put together a gift box of stickers, small prizes, pencils
and the like for the teacher to use as rewards and incentives in the classroom. (DEAL ALERT from SmileMakers who have the best stickers: Save 20% off your entire order. Enter Promo Code: AFILT21
)
- Treat your child’s teacher by sending in breakfast or lunch one day - be sure to include a note expressing your appreciation for all they do all year long.
- Designher Gals has the coolest notepads, stickers and cards that you can completely customize to look like your child’s teacher. Guaranteed to be a huge hit!!
For All the Other Grown Ups in Your Life
Grown ups like movies, too. Treat them to a movie night out (complete with babysitting services) or for movie nights in, try a Netflix.comsubscription. Dress up the gift with some packets of microwave popcorn and theater size candy and you have a fun gift for just about anyone on your list.
- Tickets to a favorite sporting event are always a hit. I gave my husband tickets to a Pittsburgh Penguins hockey game last year and he had a great time! StubHub Gift Certificates
are perfect because StubHub is the best source for tickets to sporting events and concerts.
- Tickets for an upcoming concert, show, or similar event - do your research and this can be a very appreciated gift! (see my recommendation for StubHub above)
- Gift certificate for a local car wash.
- Gift certificate for house cleaning. You can also make your own coupons and give your own cleaning services - especially for an older family member who would love the extra help and the company.
- Treat a friend to a spa facial, manicure or pedicure.
- Indulge in a hobby - spring for golf lessons, sign you and your honey up for ballroom dance lessons, or a pottery class. This make take some research, but the recipient of the gift will certainly know you care.
Not only are all of these items clutter-free, you can get them last minute and make them budget friendly. One note, if you are purchasing a gift card for someone on your list make sure the retailer will be in business for a while. Millions of gift cards go unused every year.
It’s Time to Elf Yourself Again
For the past few years Office Max has joined forces with JibJab.com to create Elf Yourself - a super fun way to get in the holiday spirit. You can upload the pictures of you and a few of your friends, transform yourselves in to elves, then pick the dance that fits your mood - like disco, Charleston, country and so on. You can’t but to laugh! And you really like your elf self, this year you can even purchase a memento or two.
What are you waiting for? Go Elf Yourself!
M&M’s Meet the Addams Family
Just in time for Halloween, the M&M’s are appealing to our childhood memories and teaming up with the Addams Family. Check out the kooky commercial. Then go have some fun making your own M&M character!
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