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Christmas Break Boredom Busters

Today is the last day of school for many kids in our area.  Their Christmas break begins this afternoon and I’m sure they couldn’t be happier.  Their parents, on the other hand, may not share the same feeling. A week from now those same kids may be climbing the walls looking for ways to keep busy.  If you fear boredom will get the best of your brood before Santa flies into town, consider putting your kids to work making these simple and inexpensive holiday decorations that you can use to brighten up your home or give as gifts: Pretty Presents:  … Continue reading →

Fun Christmas Competitions Among Friends

What’s a little competition amongst friends? If you can maintain some perspective, a little friendly rivalry during the holiday season can be fun. This is especially true if you are hosting a Christmas party.  Playing games and setting up a few holiday-themed contests allow you to keep spirits high.  Your guests will surely leave your home smiling after participating in the following festive activities: Scavenger Hunt:  Use a bunch of holiday items, such as tree ornaments, stuffed snowmen, and jarred holiday spices as the objects your guests have to hunt for in and around your home. Santa Scamper:  Players race … Continue reading →

Get Your Holiday Game On

  Tis the season to party. The holidays are a time for festive family fun.  However, the key successful entertaining is to have a host of activities on hand for guests of all ages. The following Christmas-themed games and projects are sure to keep your guests in the holiday spirit long after they leave your home: Christmas Sing-Off:  Instead of bundling up to go caroling outdoors, host a karaoke contest inside using holiday-themed tunes.  Or, you could have your guests split into groups and sing favorite songs a cappella. Trivia:  Go online to retrieve a bunch of holiday-themed trivia questions, … Continue reading →

Ways to Spice Up Your Seasonal Celebrations

Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, there’s only so much eating, talking and TV watching that can be done before your guests start to twitch. Don’t let your holiday bash be the bummer of the season. Instead, pump up your party by planning a slew of festive activities that will keep boredom at bay. Some seasonal favorites include: Paper Bag Snowmen: This activity is ideal for young guests. Simply place some white paper bags, fiberfill, yarn, markers, crayons, buttons, glue and stickers on a craft table. Then, have the kids place fiberfill in the bags; tie off with … Continue reading →

Sweet Stocking Stuffers

When I was growing up, Santa would always leave an apple or an orange in the foot of my stocking. I figured that he wanted me to get to the good stuff (see: chocolate and small toys) first before I reached in for the good-for-you stuff. It took me another decade to realize that the reason Santa placed the fruits in the foot of the stocking was to help keep the oversized decorated sock’s form. These days, Santa still keeps with tradition by using apples, oranges and pears to fill the foot of my daughter’s stocking. Only, instead of store-bought … Continue reading →

Sharing Holiday Laughs

Christmas is no fun when the laugh’s on you. Whether guests are giggling because your seasonal souffle took a nosedive on the kitchen floor or the dog dove into the Christmas Prime Rib before you got the chance to carve it, you never want the highlight of your holiday get-together to be a mishap. Instead of the laughs centering on an accident, let your guests make merry playing the following fun games with a seasonal twist: Gift Swap: This is not your traditional gift exchange with family members. Rather, the game features a candy bar (or other small item that … Continue reading →

Deck the Halls Without Breaking the Bank

TLC’s new holiday program is trying to convince me that I should drop $25,000 on a Christmas tree made from deer antlers. No offense to the Kentucky cowboy who hand crafts these extreme trees, but even if I had 25 grand, I still wouldn’t fork it over for a pointy structure made from 100 dropped deer antlers and a bunch of PVC pipes. Heck, I’m not even spending 25 bucks on my seasonal decor. Rather, I’ve found ways to make my home look festive for the holidays without draining my wallet. With a little time and even less crafting skills, … Continue reading →

Homemade Holiday Decorations for the Craft-Challenged

I am no Martha Stewart, but that doesn’t stop me from having fun tackling artsy holiday projects to display during this magical time of the year. Shortly after Thanksgiving, my 7-year-old and I took on a candy cane craft project we first saw hanging at a Ben Franklin store. Nearly three weeks later we are finally done putting together the seasonal showpiece. Okay, it didn’t really take us three full weeks to craft the minty, blinged out wreath. It just seems that way. Truth be told, you could easily construct the sweet masterpiece in a single afternoon. Here’s what you … Continue reading →

Get Your Holiday Game On

It’s the most wonderful time of the year; time to make merry, rock around the Christmas tree and fa-la-la-la in perfect harmony with friends and family members. The holidays are known for festive get-togethers complete with music, laughter and fun. If you are hosting the clan this year for the holidays, now is the time to get your game plan in order. While you don’t have to construct an elaborate itinerary of activities, you should have at least a few games on hand, especially if you are hosting a party with young children. Keep the seasonal shindig joyful by having … Continue reading →

Cool Candy Cane Creations

They are the quintessential Christmas candy that will hook you with a simple lick. However, these days candy canes are not just for eating; rather, your entire family can have fun by using the sweet treats as decorations during the holiday season. With the economy still in the dumpster, many people are looking for affordable ways to spruce up their homes in time for Christmas. Candy canes are an inexpensive item that can be purchased in bulk and used to create the following festive items: Candy Cane Vase: Unwrap mini candy canes and glue them end-to-end around the top and … Continue reading →