2013
  

10 Christmas Activities to Pin for Next Year

I love to see what projects you're up to when you link up at Sharing Time!

Here are a few Christmas projects that were linked up in December that are really cute!
You may want to pin them for next year!


Fleece Navidad Sheep by The Pin Junkie


Cucumber Christmas Tree by Kiddie Foodies


Sugar String Snowman by Kids Activities Blog


Fruity Snowmen by Kiddie Foodies


Easy Christmas Village by Naptime Rumination


Saint Nicholas Tradition shared by Mama Gets It Done
(This is so fun to see - we were just talking about this tradition
because my Dad's side of the family is Dutch :)



Felt Christmas Ornaments by Blissful Sewing


Christmas Handprint Wreath by ABC Creative Learning


Santa Treat Holder by The Pin Junkie


Christmas Cupcakes by Kiddie Foodies

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December 2013 Sharing Time & Week in Review

Welcome to the December Link Party! I hope you'll link up any fun posts from this week or month so we can see your great ideas!

First, here's the week in review:

On Monday I shared The Ultimate List of 100 Non-Toy Gift Ideas. This would be a great one to pin for later and use at birthdays, Christmas, and any other time you need a gift idea!



Heather from Notes from the Nelsens visited on Tuesday with an easy recipe for Cream Cheese Cookies!



On Christmas day, I shared this video.

Then I took a bit of a break from blogging ;)

I hope you're all enjoying your holidays! We'll be in 2014 before we know it!!



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Have a Wonderful Christmas Day!

I hope you are having a beautiful Christmas Day!

If you've got 5 minutes, this video will be worth your time.
A beautiful visual way to dwell on the reason for the celebration this day.



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Tutorial: Cream Cheese Cookies for Santa

I'm excited to welcome the beautiful Heather from Notes from the Nelsens today. I featured Heather's blog back in February and I'm happy to have her back to share a great recipe with you now :)
(Perfect for today, too- if you want to make cookies for Santa tonight!)

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Hey there! I'm Heather, and I blog over at Notes from the Nelsens.


I'm an elementary school teacher who loves Jesus, cooking, laughing, coffee, tennis, and traveling

That cute guy in the picture with me is my hubby, Matt. We started dating in high school and got married six years later after graduating from Clemson (Go TIGERS!) and Furman. We're Atlanta natives who moved back to the city after college. 

We bought our first house in 2010 and flipped the entire thing before moving in. You can check out the whole-house renovation here, learn more about us (including goofy pictures of our high school dating years) here, here, and here, and see a list of places we have traveled here.

Thanks, Heather Lynne, for inviting me to take over your page today!

Now on to the recipe...



The Ultimate List of 100 Non-Toy Gift Ideas

Stop filling your home with too many toys! End toy overwhelm today with this huge list of specific, FUN non-toy gift ideas! 

The Ultimate List of 100 Non-Toy Gift Ideas by www.RaisingMemories.com
Is this how you feel when you survey the growing collection of toys in your home?



This morning I'll be interviewed on several radio shows across Canada about the idea of a Toyless Christmas, so I thought I would share a list on the blog of Non-Toy Gift Ideas that can serve as a reference for birthdays and Christmas when you're feeling overwhelmed with toys!

There are so many non toy gifts for kids but we tend to get stuck on toys. Let's get you out of that rut!

List of 100 Specific Non-Toy Gift Ideas by www.RaisingMemories.com


100 Specific Non-Toy Gift Ideas:


Season Passes


A gift that keeps on giving, season passes are great gifts for the child who has everything and the home that has no space left!

- Zoo
- Museum
- Butterfly Conservatory
- Aviary
- Aquarium
- Amusement Park


One-Time Passes



Non Toy Experience Gift Ideas


- Movies
- Bowling
- Swimming
- Theatre Performance
- Dinner & A Show
(we went to Medieval Times)
- Go see a sporting event
- Disney On Ice
- Circus
- Ice Skating
- Roller Skating
- Mini Golf
- Concert


Experience Gifts for Kids


Non Toy Gifts for Kids

Some of the best non toy gifts for kids are the ones that create special memories and allow them to spend time with the people they love. Why not give the gift of time with the promise of a special day trip together? Here are a few ideas to get you started:

- Horse & Buggy Ride
- Train Ride
- Ice Cream Vouchers
- Special dinner out
- A Trip to the Fire Station
- A Trip to Chuckie Cheese (buy the tokens ahead of time so you have something to wrap!)
- Coupon book with "time" gifts (ie. an afternoon making cookies with mom)



Experience Gifts for Parents & Big Kids


Experience Gifts for Big Kids and Adults

We can get stuck giving physical gifts to adults and big kids too! To get you thinking about special experience gifts for parents or teenagers, I've included this list of ideas:

- Hot Air Balloon Ride
- Wine Tasting
- Zip Lining
- Helicopter Ride
- Trip to the Spa (Mani/Pedi, Massage, Facial, etc.)
- Overnight Getaway to a Spa
- Rock Climbing
- Trip to Arcade


A Class or Season of Lessons


Non Toy Gift Ideas for Kids

Lessons are excellent non toy kid gifts because they get to keep going to them week after week and they develop a skill while they're at it.  They can be excellent confidence builders! Here are a few lesson or class gift ideas:

- Swimming
- Sports
- Gymnastics
- Dance
- Karate
- Musical Instrument
- Pottery Class- or paint your own pottery
- Art Class
- Craft class (ie. knitting)
- Horseback riding lessons


Family Experience Gifts


Non Toy Gift Ideas for Families


- A night(s) away at a local hotel (with a pool)
- A hotel with an indoor waterpark
- Camping
- Road trip
- Trip to the Beach
- Give each family member the travel/camping gear, swimsuits, or other accessories needed for the experience you'll be gifting so that they have a physical item to unwrap
- Let them unwrap something that reveals where they'll be going!
(Here's how we told our girls we were going to Disney World)


Physical Gifts that aren't Toys


Non Toy Gift Ideas for Kids


- Books
- Games
- DVD
- CDs of fun kids music
- Craft kits (or supplies to make something fun for themselves!)
- Science kit
- New art supplies
- Magazine Subscription
- Monthly Craft or Science Kit Subscription
- Fun Bath Supplies (colour-changing water, crayons that write on walls, foamy soap, etc.)
- A wagon to pull kids in when you go on walks
- Stationery
- Special Christmas Tree Ornament
-Camera
- Wrist watch
- Piggy bank
- Memory/Photo Book
- Journal


Fun "Needs"




- Kid furniture
- New bedding that they really like (check out our awesome bedding- we love it!)
- Bedroom décor/Promise of a total room makeover
- New hat, mitts, etc.
- Bike
- Scooter
- PlasmaCar
- Roller skates/blades
- Basketball hoop
- Trampoline
- Swing set (for big ticket items like this, grandparents can pitch in)
- An item they need, but they wanted a more expensive version than you would normally buy (ie. boots/clothes)
- Colourful band aids
- Sled/toboggan/other winter outdoor things
- Sleeping bag
- Flashlight
- Toy box
- Personal set of scriptures
- Jewelry box

Learning Tools


- Telescope
- Magnifying glass
- Strong Magnet
- Science Kit
- Magic Kit
- Cookbook & Apron/Chef Hat
- Easel
- Chalkboard
- Gardening tools
- Bug-catching tools (better if you don't live somewhere that's snowy ;)
- Binoculars
- Globe

Other Non-Toy Gift Ideas


- Educational App they can play on your phone/iPod/tablet or Computer Game
- Items they need for lessons (costume/instrument/etc.)
- A new game for a game console
- A refill for an easy bake oven or other toy requiring refills
- A pet! (perhaps a "certificate" saying that you will go and pick one out together)
- Contribute to an education savings plan (Ideas for how to make that more Fun)
- Pet Accessories/supplies
- iTunes gift card
- grandparents can take the grandchildren for a sleepover and let their parents go on a getaway!

If you want to refer to this list in the future, you can on Pinterest for later!
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Need some Stocking Stuffer Ideas too?


100 Kid-Approved Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Stocking Stuffer Gift Ideas for Kids

Thanks for stopping by and if you're visiting for the first time, check out the "About Page" for a place to start with looking around my blog! :)



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December 2013 Sharing Time & Week in Review

Welcome to the December Link Party! I love seeing your Christmas Ideas linked up!!

First, here's the week in review:

On Monday, Trisha from Naptime Rumination showed us how to make this adorable
Felt Christmas Tree Toy.



Kim from The Kim Six Fix visited on Tuesday to show us how she made these DIY Hurricane Vases from Dollar Store items!



Wednesday I shared some thoughts and photos from meeting my new niece. :)



Thursday we had Ginger from Ginger Snap Crafts over to share 5 Cute Ornament Tutorials



And yesterday I posted the Recipe for Reindeer Food!




Only 4 more sleeps 'til Christmas!! :)

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