Reducing Stress This Christmas

This Christmas, I am giving myself a gift by reducing stress of the holiday season.  Firstly, I started by shopping early this  year (about a month ago).  I still have a few things to get but hope to get everything wrapped up soon.  I am also going to grab stocking stuffers tomorrow night so I am not heading out at the last minute on Christmas Eve.  

I also opted out of a couple of gatherings.  I did not attend my office holiday party because it usually causes me some stress because I have to book a hotel room and stay overnight after the party because I live too far from work to take a cab (about 1 1/2 hour drive).  My firm does not pay for the room and I didn't feel like paying for it, packing and preparing to be away from the family for one night.  I heard it was a great party at a wonderful venue but I am still glad I didn't attend.  

Also, my family will not be going to a family dinner on Christmas Day.  We have been invited but declined the invitation.  I do most of the Christmas shopping, decorating, etc. so by Christmas day I am exhausted!  I enjoy staying at home and cooking and baking throughout the day and watching the kids enjoy their gifts.  Our lives are so busy and this is one of the only days of the year that we do not have to go anywhere.  I love doing that!  I hope to stay in my pyjamas the whole day.

I feel that the holiday season puts a lot of pressure on everyone - financially and emotionally.  This is not what the holiday season should be about.  Do you like to stay at home on Christmas day or do you prefer to go to family gatherings?

Great Home Security Tip

I was listening to a local radio station the other morning and there was a policewoman talking about home security and how to prevent break-ins while you are away. She gave one particular tip that I had never thought of or even heard of before. Her advice was to put your house number on the back of your house as well so that neighbours along the back of your property can immediately report a break in because they can see your house number. If you take a look at the neighbours behind your house, chances are you know the street name that they are on but you don't know the number. Think of how this would assist the police in an emergency. It would save lots of time because they wouldn't have to search for the house.

This is the time of year where people like to get away over the winter and I thought this was an excellent tip to share.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Here is a short video to celebrate Mother's Day. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.


Mother's Day - The best free videos are right here

Easter Egg Hunting Tips

Easter is fast approaching and I thought I would re-post my post on Easter Egg Hunting Tips from last year. I am excited that all of the snow has melted where I live and we will be able to have our Easter egg hunt outside this year.

Easter Egg Hunting Tips

March Break Ideas

Next week is March Break for my kids and I am starting to think about what we can do that won't cost a lot of money. Hopefully the weather will continue to be nice. The weather has been gorgeous this past week and the snow is melting quickly. Hopefully we will be able to go out for walks and bike rides and perhaps clean up the yard. I would also like to take them swimming at the Rec Centre which only costs about $10 for the whole family. A new movie has just come out called Diary of A Wimpy Kid which my 8 year old would love to see because he has read all of the books. My husband may take him to that. My 8 year old is also going to see a hockey game at the OHL level and it will be exciting for him to see some up and coming talent. The NHL games are just too expensive to go to. I am also hoping to visit my parents who live about 2 hours away from us. Other inexpensive ideas to keep the kids busy are to go bowling, to attend library workshops, do crafts, bake and decorate cookies or cupcakes, watch movies (Shrek is a favourite in our house and my kids will watch it over and over). I am also looking forward to not having to make lunches for a week!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Thanksgiving Craft

This is an easy craft that you could get your kids to decorate for your own home or take it to a hosts home. For the project you will need a paper plate, glue stick, yarn or string, scissors, colour printer, and plain paper.

Just follow this link for complete instructions and templates. Have fun!

Thanksgiving Food Bank Drive

Thanksgiving in Canada is next weekend and the food banks are urging people to donate unperishables. Some examples of items that are needed are jam, honey, diapers, powder milk, formula, pasta, pasta sauce, tuna, toiletries, etc. Another great alternative is to donate money. The use of food banks has gone up significantly since the recession hit and they need to keep up their supply over the winter months. When you are at the grocery store, why not buy a couple of extra canned goods to put into the food bank drive box. Most grocery stores have them located right in their store. You never know when you or someone you may know will need the assistance of a food bank.

Christmas Shopping

I am proud to say that I have started my Christmas shopping. I do not like leaving my shopping to the last minute and this year I am only buying things that are on sale. I was at Walmart the other day and they had the Leapfrog Tag Reader on sale for $40. So I bought that for my 5 year old. I am really watching what on spend money on this year and I will be buying more practical things like clothing and educational toys, and books. I am tired of buying junky toys that break shortly after Christmas. My 8 year old wants an MP4 player so I am trying to find that on sale right now. He wants an ipod but I don't think that he is old enough to look after something that expensive yet. Another item on my list for him this year is a Wii game. Shopping for my 2 year old will be easy. She loves clothes and books and will play with any type of toy.

The Meaning of Easter

For children, Easter is a time for chocolates, baskets, candies, and sometimes toys. But we should also explain to them the meaning of Easter and why we celebrate it. My 7 year old son had some questions about Easter and this is how I explained it to him.


Jesus died for a sin he did not commit on Easter Friday. He was ordered to die on a cross and was taken to a tomb after he died. On Easter Sunday the tomb was found empty and Jesus had come back to life (or was resurrected) and rose to live in heaven forever. Because of this, Christians believe in eternal life and Easter is a time of new life and hope. It is a special time to spend with family and to celebrate life with good food, chocolate goodies and bunnies, and coloured eggs.


I came across a poem written by Charlene Dickenson which can also help to explain Easter. It is called the Jelly Bean Prayer.


Green is for the grassy blade; Yellow is for the sun god made;
Orange is for a flame so bright; Black is for our sins not right;
Red is for the blood he gave; White is for Jesus grace. He saved;
Purple is for the hours of sorrow; Pink is for a new tomorrow;
A bag of jellybeans, so colourful and sweet, is a promise, a prayer, a loved one's treat.

HAVE A WONDERFUL EASTER!

Easter Egg Hunting Tips

Today I bought my eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt this weekend. I thought I would make a list of things that will make your egg hunt run smoothly.

1. First determine how many kids will be participating and the age groups.


2. Also determine if it will be inside or outside.


3. Estimate at least 10 eggs/child when calculating how many eggs you will need.


4. If you will be inviting guests to your egg hunt, you can ask them to bring a basket or bag and ensure that you have extras on hand for the hunt.


5. Foil eggs work well for egg hunts and so do plastic fillable eggs. You can fill them with jelly beans, chocolate eggs, M&M's, stickers, erasers, tatoos, and tiny toys. Just keep in mind that small objects will be choking hazzards for toddlers. You can also put a special message in a fillable egg that will win a child a prize (like a chocolate easter bunny).


6. Make a set of rules for the hunt and determine if the eggs will be pooled at the end and divided evenly among all children.


7. You may want to designate an area for the bigger kids so that the little ones will be able to find some eggs. It is safer to keep the eggs at or below eye level of the children.


8. If the eggs are being hid outside, ensure that they are not being placed near thorny bushes or on grass that has pesticides on it.


9. Decorate the area with streamers, balloons, and paper bunny and easter egg cutouts.


10. Prepare some refreshments for afterwards. Have water and punch ready to drink and carrot sticks and mini sandwiches for a snack.

Have fun!

The Easter Bunny And Egg Hunt

My 4 year old has already begun asking me about the Easter Bunny. What does he look like? Where does he live? How does he carry all of the eggs? So that has led me to do some research on the origins of the Easter Bunny and the significance of the egg hunt.

It is the legend of the Easter Bunny that he brings colourful eggs and candy to children on the night before Easter Sunday. It has been believed that in the 1700's people would leave colourful eggs for children in nests built out of garments. This has evolved into the famous egg hunt. Fertility is the main theme of spring and that is one of of the reasons why eggs are a symbol of Easter. The "new life" theme also extends to chicks, lambs, ducks, and of course bunnies.

The egg tradition also has its roots in Christianity. The blood of Jesus was said to have spread over some eggs that were placed at the bottom of the cross he was on, where it painted the eggs red. This is where the idea of painting the eggs comes from. The colours have evolved from red to pretty pastels.

March Break Ideas

I am trying to think of cheap ways to spend the March Break this year. My husband will be working out of town all week so we won't be together as a family. I am planning to spend a day with my parents who live out of town. I think I will also take the kids to the pool one afternoon, make Easter crafts, rent a DVD - maybe Madagascar 2, and just getting outside to enjoy the spring weather (hopefully). I also just thought about the time change this weekend so we will probably still be adjusting to that. Please post any ideas.

Family Day

Today is family day in Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. It is considered a statutory holiday so most retail business are closed today, as well as schools, and all government offices. Family Day celebrates the importance of families and family life. Today, many families will be going skating at outdoor rinks, watching movies, doing crafts, attending family day events, or travelling to visit family and friends. I may rent a movie for the kids and perhaps we will do some crafts. Because my husband is self-employed, he does not get the luxury of a paid holiday today. Please feel free to share what you will be doing today in honor of Family Day.