Holidays Archives - Page 16 of 17

Advent {Day 10}: Snack Mix (Gift Idea Series)

December 10, 2011 by Jules 1 Comment

Today I'd like to focus on waste management employees {I don't know the PC term for trashman...sorry!}.

These people serve me in unimaginable ways! I can't thank them enough for taking care of all the TRASH I don't want to deal with. Really!
A few years ago when I was asking some friends how to make sure they knew I'd left a gift so it didn't accidentally get thrown away they said, "You know our trashmen are prisoners, right?" {NOT all are} and I my reply was, and still is, "YEP! Even more of a reason I want to show them extra love especially around Christ birthday!!!" Let give them something to crunch and munch on while they travel around town.

Wanna know How-To Decorating Cans? Click over HERE for step by step instructions.!

Filling Cans

Snack Mix:

Make snack mix (my favorites are chex mix or muddy buddies) {recipe link(s)}
Place desired colored tissue paper inside
Add snack mix
Place bow on top of the lid or printable tag (click Girly Lid Tag for free printable)
To be sure they recognize their gift, tie some balloons on the can and place it on top of your trashcan the day of your neighborhood trash pick up. {You don't want it to accidentally get trashed ;o) } ---> not necessarily birthday ones though...

Not too many people remember those who serve them silently {well...as silent as you can be in that noisy truck} so take the time to show your gratitude with a simple gift that will show the love of Christ and make someone feel appreciated.

Do you have any other tints for making sure these early rising, quick workers recognize their gift?

Filed Under: Baking and Cooking, Gifts Ideas, Holidays

Advent {Day 9}: Sugar Cookies (Gift Ideas Series)

December 9, 2011 by Jules Leave a Comment

Today I want to focus on Teachers! School teachers, Sunday school teachers, nursery workers, daycare workers, AWANA teachers, dance teachers, coaches, etc.

SPOILER ALERT! Teacher's every where are just as ready as your children, if not more so, for Christmas break! Yep. It's true. They have worked so hard teaching out little ones and they are looking forward to a tiny break. I appreciate all that they do every week. They are reliable. And they aiding me by assisting in my education of my child. A great way to thank them for all their hard work is with a meaningful gift!

Wanna know How-To Decorating Cans? Click over HERE for step by step instructions.

Filling Cans

Shaped Cookies:

Make any shape cookies you enjoy (smaller than 3" around)
Place desired tissue paper inside
Add cookies
Place bow on top of the lid or printable tag (click lid tag STAR for free printable

These people in our lives love getting gifts {as simple as they may be} just to feel appreciated. Wouldn't you? Homemade adds that special touch as well.

Who make your life easier by serving you? How are you going to show you're thankful for them this season?

Filed Under: Gifts Ideas, Holidays, The Ones about Post Series Tagged With: Advent, Christmas, Cookie, homemade gifts, Printables, Teacher, WIC

Advent {Day 8}: UpCycle Gift Wrap

December 8, 2011 by Jules 1 Comment

Any WIC mamma's out there? Being a WIC mamma myself, I know we have to "buy" those tiny 12.5oz Imfamil Premium formula cans. I end up with piles of these adorable sized cans (7 a month to be exact). Anyone else out there enjoy finding fun new up-cycle crafts for them? I DO!

Last year these became our neighbor, mail carrier, and sanitation department gifts! This year they may even be teacher gifts for our Sunday school and Cubbie teachers as well as nursery workers.

I'd love to share with you several gifts that fit perfectly into these miniscule containers at minimal cost!

Decorating Cans

Always wash cans after emptying/using all the formula
Make sure to wash and save the scoop just in case
Let dry overnight
Choose paper according to your desired theme (scrap wrapping paper, construction paper, etc)
Measure, cut, tape
Add embellishments to the lid
(bows of any kind, your own homemade tag, or my printables are available in the post series: "Gift Ideas")

Other items you may be able to stock up on fast are baby food jars. If you have babies then they are going through possibly 3 or more jars of food a day(if you're not doing homemade, which we've done before). Those are another great idea for re-purposing!

Decorating Baby Food Jars

Always wash jar after emptying
Make sure to wash and save the lid as well
Let dry overnight
Add embellishments to the side of the jar. This helps cover the left over sticky from the former label and takes away from the fact that its baby food jar. Wrap it all the way around the jar or just make a small 1'' x 1.5'' label. I like using Mod Pog to glue the paper on but tap will work as well.
(you can make a simple homemade tag, or my printables are available in the post series: "Gift Ideas")
Fill the jar with gift before sealing lid off with embellishments.
Click HERE for ideas to fill your jars.
Choose paper according to your desired theme that will cover the lid.
(tissue paper seems to work the best but scrap wrapping paper, construction paper, etc will work as well)
Measure, cut, and strap the paper over the lid with ribbon
(curling ribbon works great and is cheap but any handy ribbon you have will work)

Hope this helps those out there like my family that LOVE giving gifts, fun wrapping, and homemade items!

Anyone else out there have some great up-cycled ideas you would like to share?

Filed Under: Gifts Ideas, The Ones about Post Series Tagged With: baby food jar, decorating, formula cans, gift ideas, Gift wrapping, up cycling, WIC

Advent {Day 7}: Sprinkle Joy @ Home

December 7, 2011 by Jules Leave a Comment

Have you dug out your Christmas "stuff" yet?

Yep, WE HAVE! We actually sprinkled it around our house the weekend before Thanksgiving. My husband LOVES the Christmas season! {Like a little kids in a candy store} Can you tell by the amount of Christmas stuff we own?

The girls were super excited about decorating! We always love to put on some loud Christmas music to dance to while we break it all out and get in the Christmas mood!

We have several Christmas toys but THIS is easily the most played with one {Veggie Tale Nativity Scene}:

We also like to dress up in Christmas-ness!

We like to trade off between our Christmas CD collection, Air1.com Christmas channel, and our collection of Christmas movies during our marry decorating!

We have sentimental stuff, homemade stuff, just plain cute stuff. Here is how we decided to sprinkle all of it around our house this year:

{Entry}

{Living Room}

{Dinning Room}

{Kitchen}

{Playroom}

Thanks for taking the tour of our winter wonderland!

How are you and your family spending your time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas?

Filed Under: Holidays, The ones about the Rothacher Home

Advent {Day 5}: HIPPY Christmas Party

December 5, 2011 by Jules 2 Comments

I don't do solo very well....

Tonight was Maggie's HIPPY Christmas party. I told myself when we started doing this program that one of the reasons we were doing it was for her to have another social outlet. Since we are going to homeschool I feel like I need to make this a priority now.

But...

Matt had an Athletic Banquet tonight. Same time.

Today was terribly rainy, windy, yucky! We'd had our typically terrible Wal-Mart trip, short naps, and attempted to do a little of our HIPPY work while incorporating gift making. Ugg

Needless to say, when it came time to pack the car and head out the door for the party I was less than thrilled about the outing. I hadn't even told Mags about it as to not have to hear questioning from the riddler all day. I so wanted to skip. Sitting there trying to decided if it was 'worth' it I decided not only for my childs social needs but for mine as well, we'd headed out on this evening venture.

When pulling out of the driveway at 4:45 I question my memory..."5 or 5:30?" I pulled in and there on the elementary school sign said 5.
Darn.
I was gonna go grab a hot chocolate.

We loaded the double stroller with a baby and a toddler, diaper bag, cups, camera, gift for our "HIPPY lady" and in we went. {Praising God the rain storm had stopped}

We were early.

It didn't really start until 5:30. I know, some of you are thinking, "Good for you!" and other know exactly the feeling I'm about to tell all you early birds about, "Crap." When a mom of 3 gets somewhere 30 minutes early with minimal support at a new environment, not toddler/baby friendly, and has to wait...........................................................yeah. Things could melt down fast.

I let Mags play with her sweet friend Natally and her big sis who arrived early as well. But the toddler and baby remained in the stroller as long as possible. I fed Jamin his baby food {slowly}, pulled him out of the carseat and propped him up in the stroller seat to eat some cereal. Delaying the "CUP!!!" and "MORE PeeeeeZ!" feasco I gave Izzie some cereal as well while she gazed at the table of snack-like dinner yummies just a few feet away.

And I'm out.

I'd delayed as long as possible. More kids were showing up so I needed Mags to sit with me at the cafeteria table, Izzie was no longer satisfied with the handful of Cheerios and received her cup, and Jamin needed his bottle {my last trick up my sleeve to keep him content in the stroller}. The time now, you ask? 5:25. Actually, if felt like that but I honestly don't know since I was counting babies over and over again like a loon. Mags used the elementary school potty for the 1st time. Izzie's diaper leaked, I changed her in the hallway, and her poor pants were wet the rest of the night. J made it, content with cereal thus far.

5:40- YES! I got kicked off. We got in line {all 4 of us} to grab some lunch meat, diced cheeses, and olives! Headed back to the table where we'd set up camp. Maggie and Izzie sat by me picking at their dinner and chugging their juice cups and J finally got his bottle, shaking milk all over himself, as usual, when he has about an ounce left. I chatted with a few friends and got to relax watching my girls making the normal meal mess all over the table knowing I didn't have to be the one to clean it up.

6ish we went to find Santa and get our picture taken. Surprisingly everyone was okay with that. I think watching all the other kids crawl up there, playing with their friends while waiting and the candy cane at the end were all pieces to the puzzle that is a calm Santa picture! J went straight to him. Izzie didn't want to sit on his lap {she wanted to feel his costume as if he were a doll} but that was probably better {remember wet pants?}. Since Mags saw Izzie didn't want to sit but she knew we all needed to be in the picture she easily let me put her on his knee. Izzie wouldn't stop checking out his suit long enough to turn around and cheese. Oh well.

After grabbing some crafts to take home and loading all of our belongings we made it back in the van by 7ish. Not to shabby. *side note: SCORE! We didn't ruin anyone's Santa belief even though several parents were talking to their children about Santa bringing them gifts and Mags is usually a walking spoiler alert ;o)