Homemade Christmas presents: Use recycled greeting cards and wrapping paper in gift crafts

Parents, are you burned out this holiday season? It's hard to keep up with kids home on winter vacation, Christmas shopping, wrapping presents, baking, cooking, decorating--oh and your job (can't forget that!) Well, how about a holiday parenting first aid kit that puts children to work in productive ways making holiday gifts? Here are homemade Christmas presents and gift crafts kids can make from recycled greeting cards, valentines and Christmas wrapping paper. Make these gifts free or super cheap with reused materials. These gift crafts are perfect for grandma and grandpa, godparents, teachers, coaches and parents!   Homemade Christmas presents: Recycled greeting cards, wrapping paper gift crafts | Examiner.com

Burned 8 y/o Safyre, sole survivor of arson fire, wants Christmas cards | Examiner.com

Do you send Christmas cards? Here's a name to add to your list--Safyre, and she is a true gem. When you read her story, you'll smile through your tears. Because this little lady has true grit in the face of staggering adversity and all Safyre asks for is Christmas cards. KSDK reported on Dec. 9, that Safyre was badly burned at 5 years old and is the sole survivor of a 2013 arson fire that killed her entire family. As you might imagine, life has not been easy for the fire orphan. Her auntie and uncle care for her, but what with scarring, surgeries, skin grafts, stares, disability, post-traumatic stress disorder, loneliness, emotional scarring from arson, fear, perhaps survivor guilt, life isn't easy. The holiday season is particularly difficult for anyone struggling with grief, loss, pain and suffering.  Burned 8 y/o Safyre, sole survivor of arson fire, wants Christmas cards | Examiner.com

Christmas work party wish list questionnaire for holiday gift exchanges | Examiner.com

Holiday gift exchanges for the Christmas work party are awkward. Trading gifts among people you don't know may seem like a pointless pain in the neck. But if you're attending a company work party and the gift exchanges are unavoidable, here are ways to make it work. Some people look forward to gift exchanges--senior citizens, developmentally disabled people, employees in small businesses, adult education students, work at home groups. A problem with gift exchanges is not knowing what to get a co-worker for the holiday work party. So have participants fill out a work party wish list questionnaire or preference profile. Here's a wish list questionnaire to print and distribute a few weeks before your holiday party. Gift suggestions based on Christmas wish list questionnaire answers are included.   Christmas work party wish list questionnaire for holiday gift exchanges | Examiner.com

Thanksgiving food basket donations: Best food drive items to give food banks

Thanksgiving is the season for giving and food pantries are a great place to donate. Is your workplace or church hosting a food drive? Here are the best donations to give food banks, canned good drives, missions and homeless shelters this holiday season. If you've worked at food banks you know that some foods are donated in over-abundance. There are also certain food basket donations you never have enough of. So give these foods and supplies to the next Thanksgiving and Christmas food drive.  Thanksgiving food basket donations: Best food drive items to give food banks | Examiner.com

Sweetest Day gifts: Budget romantic presents for lovers, couples and sweethearts

Sweetest Day is Oct. 17, 2015: it's celebrated the third Saturday in October. Here are Sweetest Day gifts and budget romantic presents for couples, lovers and sweethearts. The emphasis here is on personal, frugal and economical. Goodness knows with the holiday spending countdown starting, the last thing anyone can afford are more lavish, expensive gifts! Some ideas are sweet little homemade gifts--very much in keeping with the romantic essence of Sweetest Day.Sweetest Day gifts: Budget romantic presents for lovers, couples and sweethearts | Examiner.com

 

Calavera skull cookies recipe for Dia de los Muertos Day of the Dead | Examiner.com

Looking to scare up some spooky-good Halloween treats? Or maybe you're throwing Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) shindig and need calavera (skull) cookies. Now you could do the (kind of boring and overdone) sugar cookies shaped like skulls. Here's a hilarious Pinterest Skeleton fail cookie to illustrate how not to do it!Calavera skull cookies recipe for Dia de los Muertos Day of the Dead | Examiner.com

 

World's oldest cat is 26? Fishy tale of elderly feline shows funny syntax fail

A Live Science report on August 15, says the world's oldest cat is 26? This fishy tale of the most elderly feline shows a funny syntax fail. And that's not all in this story that smells of tuna, including the age of the old tabby. There's a question of whether "Corduroy" of Sisters, Oregon, is in fact, the eldest puss.World's oldest cat is 26? Fishy tale of elderly feline shows funny syntax fail - Grand Rapids News | Examiner.com

 

Turkish newlyweds served their wedding feast to 4,000 Syrian refugees at camp

A couple recently celebrated their wedding with 4,000 guests. It wasn't a royal wedding, nor a celebrity knot-tying. In fact, the bride and groom didn't even know their guests! Turkish newlyweds served their wedding feast to 4,000 Syrian refugees at camp. In lieu of a typical marriage celebration, the couple, Fethullah Uzumcuoglu and Esra Polat fed the hungry in a Syrian refugee camp, reported Yahoo! Canada Good News August 5.  Turkish newlyweds served their wedding feast to 4,000 Syrian refugees at camp - Grand Rapids News | Examiner.com

Memorial Day travel: Parents survival tips for holiday travel with kids

It's the Memorial Day weekend and your family is heading out for much needed vacation. But wait--traveling with kids--that sounds like more hassle than holiday. So remember these parent survival tools when traveling by car with childrenMemorial Day travel: Parents survival tips for holiday travel with kids

 

Bridal shower games and marriage advice crafts for wedding gifts, party favors

Hosting a bridal shower? Here are bridal shower games that are also gift crafts. Make marriage advice crafts and party favors with guests at shower. Then give these to the bride and groom as wedding gifts. Use these advice crafts as the bride's shower game prizes. Here are personalized shower crafts to make for brides-to-be.  Bridal shower games: Marriage advice crafts for wedding gifts, party favors

How we got our vintage wedding rings cheap under $200

When we got married in 1987, my husband and I paid for our entire wedding and reception. To cut costs, we looked for budget options including cheap wedding rings. For less than $200 we bought the engagement ring, woman's wedding ring and man's wedding ring. Here's howHow we got our vintage wedding rings cheap under $200 

 

Distinctively different Valentine's Day gifts for women, presents to impress

 Sick of the stereotypical valentine card, candy and flowers? Want to get your lady something really special? Here are distinctively different Valentine's Day presents for women. These are presents to impress her plus win you brownie points for being cultured and creative. First, ditch mainstream stores, Go under off the beaten path to local antique stores, consignment shops, secondhand retailers, even Good Will. Seriously, you'll find distinctive valentines gifts reasonably priced.Distinctively different Valentine's Day gifts for women, presents to impress - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com