Holiday Family Fun
Throughout
most of this year, we have had A LOT of family time. This kids have been home from school, some of
us have been working from home, activities that we normally would go do in the
evenings have been canceled or postponed.
The following is some fun, low cost activities to do with your family
for others in your community.
Although
clicking the heels of your shoes to transport you home is pure fantasy, finding
magic this holiday season isn’t. Here’s
a little secret….your life is now! So
when planning a home made get-together, remember these four things; be together, be kind, be optimistic, and
believe in the magic of friendship.
Be Together. The holidays give us a huge excuse to capitalize on one of life’s most important elements—socializing! So naturally, the most important things to concentrate on are the guest list and your budget. When gather the elements of your party, include things that encourager socializing:
·
Arrange a co-ed poker game.
Gather a deck of cards and a jar of coins and you’re set.
·
A Karaoke contest. Pull out some
old clothes and dress-up and sing like you favorite artist. Award fun certificates for best costume, best
vocal performance, and funniest interpretation.
·
Create a family mural. Start
with canvas, get out the paints, and ask everybody to doodle and sign holiday
messages. When it’s dry, roll it up and
send it to out of town family members, asking them to complete your holiday
work of art.
Be Kind. Work a charitable element into your gathering. Instead of picking names out of a hat for the family gift exchange, make donations to charitable funds in that family member’s name.
Be Optimistic. Ask guests to come prepared with a holiday toast about why there’s no place like home. Take Polaroid’s of guests as they enter the party and paste them in a photo album. Throughout the gathering, ask guests to finish the following sentence and write it down to include with their photo, “I’m thankful this holiday season for…..”
Believe in the magic of friendship. There’s a certain spark that happens when the right group of people get together. They exchange ideas, talk about current events and ultimately, celebrate friendship.
·
A gift of a pair of gloves is thought to strengthen a friendship. In the Victorian era, women could not accept
gifts from men except for gloves or flowers.
It’s believed that gloves bring good luck and happiness tot he recipient
and there’s no one who doesn’t appreciate a beautiful bouquet.
·
Throughout history, turquoise has been symbolic of friendship and
believed to contain enough power to turn enemies into friends. Turquoise jewelry or stones with a handmade
card explaining the meaning of turquoise makes a perfect gift.
Your home is the heart of the holidays and the place where the warmth and joys of the season begin. Most important of all, give yourself time to enjoy this most special season of the year with the ones you love
You’ve Been Jingled
The theory behind this is fun and exciting! Simply make up a plate of goodies, and deliver it. The fun is doing in anonymously and watching the recipient’s reaction! As you look on Pinterest you may find it by other names “You’ve Been Elfed” or “You’ve Been Snowballed”; but you can always add your own name to it and keep within the spirit of the holidays.
Here is what you need to do!
1.
Make a list of the people you will be delivering items to.
2.
Print out a cute little poem or write your own. Below are some websites that offer free
printables for this activity.
3.
Make up your goodies. These can
be your choice—maybe a batch of cookies, a festive bread, some soup mix with
homemade bread, a Christmas movie, popcorn and goobers. The list is endless. . . . .
4.
Wrap your goodies and include the printout of your poem.
5.
Begin delivering your goodies, stand back and watch their
reactions.
Free Printable Websites:
You’ve
Been Jingled Poem &
Printable Graphics
https://mothersniche.com/youve-been-jingled/#_a5y_p=4639492
You’ve Been Tinseled Printable Graphics
https://www.howdothejonesdoit.com/youve-tinseled/
You’ve Been Elfed Printable Graphics
http://caffeineandsaltwater.com/youve-been-elfed-work-version-free-printable/
Create a Holiday Bucket List
Some
of us may have created our very own bucket list years ago. But what is a bucket list? For some it is a list of goals they want to
accomplish in their lifetime, for others it may be things they want or places
they want to go. A bucket list is very
personal and holds special meaning to the person who created it.
Have you ever thought about creating a Family Bucket List? The holidays are the perfect time to create one! Especially with everyone together. You can always create a general bucket list for your family—vacations, home projects, etc. But how about some fun activities to do this fall and winter? Here are some fun Family Bucket List Ideas to try out! How many can you check off?
Family Fall Bucket List
Drink Apple Cider
Visit a Corn Maze
Carve a Jack-O-Lantern
Eat/Drink Pumpkin Flavored items
Step on Crunchy Leaves
Wear a Scarf
Curl up with a Book on a Cold Day
Roast Marshmallows
Bob for Apples
Warm Your Feet by a Fire
Make Soup & Grill Cheese
Make a Fall Wreath
Go to a Haunted House
Tell Ghost Stories
Watch a Scary Movie
Play Football in Your Yard
Press Leaves in a Book
Roast Pumpkin Seeds
Make Bird Feeder from Pinecones
Knit a Scarf
Fly a Kite
Make a Pumpkin Pie from Scratch
Bake for Family/Friends
Jump in a Pile of Leaves
Go on a Bike Ride
Thrift a Sweater
Plant a
Chrysanthemum
Take a Drive to See Your Fall Colors
Decorate Your Porch
Make Popcorn Balls
Make a pot of Chili
Camp in the Backyard
Outdoor Picnic
Eat Candy Corn
Can Home Grown Veggies
Stargazing
Watch a Halloween Movie
Make Stew
Thanksgiving
Craft
Visit a Farmers Market
Watch a Sunset/Sunrise
Collect Acorns
Thanksgiving Bucket List
Start a Gratitude Journal
Collect Pinecones
Drink
Apple Cider
Make Pumpkin Spice Pancakes
Take a Family Photo
Light
a Fall Scented Candle
Watch a Football Game
Play Football in Your Yard
Press Leaves in a Book
Make a Pumpkin Pie from Scratch
Eat Carmel Apples
Warm Your Feet by a Fire
Performa a Random Act of Kindness
Find a Unique Pumpkin
Cook a Family Recipe
Winter Bucket List
Make Hot Chocolate
Have Snowball Fight
Bake Cookies
Go Sledding
Cut out Snowflakes
Take a Nap
by the Fire
Make a Blanket Fort
Take a Bubble Bath
Have a
Family Game Night
Make a Snow Globe
Polar Bear Plunge
Make an
Outdoor Fire
Make S’mores
Make a Snowman
Put a Puzzle
Together
Shovel a Neighbor’s Driveway
Make Snow Angels
Make
Kits for Homeless
Start a New Show Series
Wear a Stocking Cap
Cuddle under a Blanket
Christmas Bucket List
Decorate a Gingerbread House
Visit a Christmas Tree Farm
Make an Ornament
Buy an Ugly Christmas Sweater
Bake Cookies/Goodies
Watch the Nutcracker
Do a Random Act of Kindness
Write a Letter to Santa
Make
a Christmas List
Hang Christmas Lights
Volunteer in your Town
Make Hot Chocolate
Drive around to Look at Lights
Eat a Candy Cane
Kiss Under the Mistletoe
Watch “It’s a Wonderful Life”
Sing Christmas Carols
Send
Christmas Cards
Wear Christmas Pajamas
Listen to Christmas Music
Take a Family Photo
Donate a Toy
Wrap Gifts
Hang
Stockings
Make a Handmade Gift
Make Fudge
Sit by
the Fire
Take a Photo with Santa
Read a Christmas Story
Start a Family Tradition
Decorate Your Porch
Make Eggnog
Wear
Christmas Socks
Pick out a Live Christmas Tree
Hang an Evergreen Wreath
Make a Christmas Shirt
Holiday Stress Busters
Hurry, rush, one last day
…….
We have been hear to these
words often during the holiday season.
What are we hurrying for? Why do
our televisions blare at us? Well,
because it’s the holidays; it’s suppose to be fun, enjoyable - - - -or is
it? As mothers we are the holiday
elves. We plan the plan the parties,
carry out our traditions, decorate the house, and buy all the gifts. This is no easy task. Yet we do it every year and every year we
feel tired and stressed out by the first day of Christmas. We mumble, no more in our sleep, as we dream
about the sale that got away. We love
t
he holidays but feel exhausted once they leave us. Every year we say there’s got to be a better
way. A better way for US the holiday
elves, to really enjoy the festivities without all the stress.
How can we cut back on the stress? And still make a wonderful holiday season for our families? How can we relax and eat one of the hundreds of dozens cookies we bake? How can we remember who gets what gift and still remember OUR names? And wait a minute, isn’t this about family and togetherness? Moms want to see their kids and maybe snuggle with my hubby, just once, during this the grandest of all seasons. Here’s ten stress busters which will help us have a terrific time with our families:
·
Shop on the
weekdays, not the weekends. Instead of
spending Saturday afternoon at the mall trying to find Aunt Tillie some dusting
powder take your kids to the park.
·
Don’t pack your
calendar so there’s no room for unexpected events or free time. Leave a few days completely unscheduled.
·
Remember to get a
gift for yourself and put it under your tree.
It’ll make a wonderful surprise.
·
You can’t do it
all, so don’t try. Just volunteer for
the activities you enjoy. No one is
keeping track of the overachievers.
·
Try not to be
driven by unfulfilled expectations and perfectionism. Not every house is supposed to be out of
House Beautiful magazine. The holidays
will be enjoyable because your family will be together.
·
Save diets for
later! Enjoy the delicious foods and
holiday desserts. January first will be
here soon enough.
·
Take a bubble
bath, even in the afternoon.
·
Get plenty of
sleep. If you feel tired take a nap,
this will re-energize you and you’ll feel refreshed.
·
Only buy gifts
for those you really care about.
·
Gifts are not
only bought but also found by giving of yourself. Perhaps there is a friend you haven’t seen in
a while, invite her over for tea and cookies.
·
Relax and
remember the real meaning of the holidays- family, love, and faith.