Gift Giving: Homemade Gifts

Here's some Homemade Gifts we've rounded up that we think would be great to give to those special people in your life this Christmas:

• Recipe Holder

• I (Teresa) have been on a Harry Potter obsession this year so I am making some things for my daugther and sister-Invisibility cloak, a sign on the wall with a Dumbledore quote or the platform 9 3/4, a sculpty Hedwig necklace, and a snitch ornament (so far this is the thoughts)
• Hats!!!! we have been loving hats and everyone always wants a new one
• Angry Birds!! We are a little slow at the Moon house but eventually we figure out what is happening in the world. I am working on these cute birds/pigs so my kids can throw them at each other and we can use boxes to make our own level
• I am planning on making Hot Chocolate mugs for our granparents. (hope they aren't reading this) I am going to buy the mug from the dollar store and then use sharpie to color on it and bake it for 30 min. I love my kids drawings so now their grandparents can enjoy ones made special for them. I might make a harry potter one too :) with his glasses and scar
  • I (Kayla) am planning on making this one day when I have kids. I saw this idea on pinterest. Go to the store and get some oven mits. At home paint your kids hands and put their hand prints on the oven mits. Then using a paint brush put the year on them. Great gifts for grandparents. 

Here is a website that has a list of some pretty awesome homemade gifts : the36thavenue

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Gift Giving: Stocking Stuffers

Sometimes figuring out what to put in those Stocking can be quite the chore! Here are a few ideas to help you out this Christmas:

Kids:

• a new toothbrush- especially one that comes with stickers that they can personalize it (This is a tradition in Tiffany's family)
• bubble bath
• Card Games like Old Maid, Go Fish, or Matching

Teenagers:

• Jewelry
• Gift Cards
• a new toothbrush
• fuzzy, fun socks
• Makeup for the Girls

Dads:

• Cologne
• Body Wash
• A new toothbrush

Moms:

• favorite perfume
• bubble bath, bath fizzes

-This doesn't go in any category per say.  Last year was a crazy year for my family.  My sister got married 3 months after me and her wedding day was two days after Christmas.  My parents did an awesome stocking for us newly weds. The stocking was huge and  it was filled with things like batteries, toothpaste, office supplies, batteries, candy, gum, and lots of things newly weds need.  I really liked what we got so much that I asked my parents to do it again this year. 

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Gift Giving: Neighbor Gifts

Do you need some simple, easy, and cheap ideas to give to your wonderful neighbors this Christmas?  We have a list of a few ideas for you.
I Love this idea!  Especially since I am a baker.  You just get an oven mitt with a pocket, a cute cookie cutter, and a packages of the Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix.  How easy of a gift is that?

(Photo Courtesy of Allrecipes)
Another easy thing is to do cookies (or brownies) in a jar.  I like to keep my old spaghetti, salsa, and jelly jars to use for just these types of things.  Just put a cute decoration around it (as simple as some christmas themed scrapbook paper), a cute bow on top and a ribbon with a recipe card.  You include all the dry ingredients in the jar (layer them for a cute look) and then the recipient adds the wet (eggs,butter,vanilla, ect.)
Allrecipes.com has a ton of recipes!  Here are a few links:  Cookies in a Jar, Brownies in a Jar

(Photo Courtesy of Allrecipes)

A few other ideas:

•  Go to the dollar store and get rolls of Christmas wrapping paper. Then make a cute gift tag that says "Don't get wrapped up in the holidays. Love the ......" Use ribbon to tie the tag to the gift wrap.

• Get a bottle of Jam either homemade or store boughten and attach a note with ribbon saying "Jam is like love-you can't spread it around without getting some on yourself! Merry Christmas! Love ___"

• Attach a cute festive note to some Bounty paper towels that says "May the "Absorbing" spirit of Christ this season, "Blot" out your problems, soak up your sorrow, and wipe away your difficulities and may the New Year bring you "Bounteous" blessings all the year through. Merry Christmas!"

•  Find a cute snowflake ornament and attach it with ribbon to a handout with this saying, "Rudolph's nose is Red, Candy is Sweet. We are way too busy, You'll have to make your own treat! Life is like a blanket of snow. Be careful how you step on it, Every step will show! Take time to chase the snowflakes this Christmas season!" Love the ___________ family

• Get a bag of Christmas M&Ms and with them attach this "These special little candies come in colors bright and fun. There's more than color to be found, A story of God's Son. The M's turn into W's, If you turn them upside down, a few more turns and E and 3's are waiting to be found. M is for the manager where Mary lay her precious boy. Little did the world know, this baby would bring great joy. The W is for the Wise men, who foloowed a bright star. The star revealed a King was born, they came, but oh, so far. In Bethlehem they found him, just has they had been told. 3 is for the gifts they brough, Frankincense, Myrrh and gold. W is alos for their worship, as they bowed before their King. Salvation is the promise given, there's nothing we can bring. Faith and works alone is how we come, He died to set us free. E is for eternity, One of God's gifts to you and me. Merry Christmas!"

• Buy a candle (any kind will do, but I would suggest a nice smelling one that the family can use) and attach this note "The candle shows man's thanks for the star log ago. It's small light is the mirror of starlight. At first, candles were placed on the tree. They were like many glowing stars shining against the dark tree. The colored lights have now taken over their rememberence. Many people place candles on their windowsills at Christmas time. This practice which originated in the Middle Ages, was intended to guide the Christ Child to Christian homes."
  
  
  Buy a metal kitchen whisk and then stuff it with kisses. Add a Tag "we wisk you a Merry Christmas"
  
  
  Make bath soaking fiz disks "soak your way through the holidays" 
  
  
  One I got from a coworker that was really cute was hand warmers. Then a quote that was about keeping warm. 
  
  
  My all time favorite to give or to get. Hand soap from bath and body works. They have great sales often with the soap and also give the cellophane bags to put them in. Try the twisted peppermint it is my (Teresa) favorite!!! Also the soap doesn't go stale like so many of the homemade gifts so if you are out of town or just slow at getting them out they store well :)

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Gift Giving: Kid Gifts

This week we are going to share some of our Gift Ideas to help you get your holiday shopping/making done. Each day will be a different topic. Hope this helps you all in having a wonderful holiday season!

Kids Gifts

• Baby Blocks
• Fleece hats (mohawks or monsters tutorial to come)
• Skylander figures-kids are loving this game and the fun figurines that go with it on sale you can find them for $5
• Online Disney Store- The thing with online versus the actual store is the online is a larger entity so they can offer larger sales and discounts that the in store sales. I learned this as we were in the store talking to a worker. She said she buys most of her things online cause the prices are better. We ordered some things recently and got almost 50% off everything
• Marshmallow Shooters- I really want to give these to all the kids/grandkids on one side of the family and then watch the wars that start!
• Bow and Arrows- After watching Brave a million times my kids really want a bow and arrow. They even cut branches and tried to sand/widdle off the bark. I think they need these fun bows. I saw one site that used black tape instead of the black foam I think the tape would last longer with my kids. Also I have ideas to alter the arrows, I can't wait to try-add an eraser top to the tip of the arrow, or a little bunch of batting covered in a square of fabric tied onto the tip to have a soft tip. After I make this with my arrow additions I will post it on our blog for you guys to see. :) 
• Legos- Legos are a classic toy. I love just the basic bricks, then the creativity is up to the kids. Of course the sets are fun too. 
• Musical instruments- I found a fun set at target. The Brand is called just b.  In this set there was a drum and inside the drum are other instruments. Every kid that has come to my has loved playing with it. 

•You can find this awesome post linked up to the following Fantastic Parties:

Foodie Friday: Bbq Chicken Pizza

This recipe is quick and easy.  I love making homemade pizza now. 

You will need:
1. Fleischmann's Pizza Crust Yeast( you can get in the baking isle at walmart and smiths.  I am sure it is at other places.  This is just where I have gotten it.
2. 1 3/4 to 2 1/4 cups of flour
3. 1/2 teaspoon sugar
4/ 3/4 teaspoon salt
5. 2/3 cup of very warm water (120 to 130 degrees)
6. 3 tablespoons of olive oil
7. Your favorite barbeque sauce
8. 1 chicken breast
9. shredded Mozzarella cheese

Directions:

To cook my chicken I boiled it until it reached 160 degrees.  I then cut it up. Put it in a bowl and poured bbq sauce over the chicken.  I then stirred it around to reach all the chicken so it soak it up. 
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees
2. Combine 1 cup of flour, yeast packet, sugar and salt in a large bowl.
3. Add WARM water and Oil. Mix until well blended
4. Gradually add flour until the dough is slightly sticky.
5. Knead on a floured surface for about 4 minutes
6. Roll onto pizza pan or cookie sheet making about a 12 inch circle
7. Put bbq sauce onto the 12 inch circle
8. Layer cheese over the bbq sauch
9. Put cooked and cut up chicken breast over the cheese
10. Put in oven for 12-15 minutes

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