Get Togethers (Fun for Everyone)

by Sandy // December 19, 2014 // No Comments

It wasn’t planned. It happened by chance. Over the years, though, it became sort of a tradition: bring something to our family Christmas get together that everyone could enjoy.

It started as a used-wrapping-paper-ball fight. Opening gifts at our family Christmas is chaotic, to say the least. 15+ people opening gifts at the same time, screeching, calling out names of next-gift recipients, showing our new treasure to whoever is paying attention (if anyone), admiring from a distance and someone, probably our brother, wadded up the torn-off gift wrap and threw it across the room. The person that was hit retaliated, but hit someone else. The rest is history.

We have wadded-gift-wrap fights every year now. It adds to the chaos and creates a whole lot of laughter. Irene and I wanted to provide additional laughs, so we tried to add a little something extra to our get togethers. Sometimes they’re simple, like board games. Sometimes, they’re more complex. They’re always fun.

If you’re hosting — or attending — a get together during the holidays, consider adding a small “surprise” for everyone’s enjoyment. Here’s just a few of our favourites:

SPIT BALLS:
We purchased these large, pre-made paper spit balls (No spit required. Yay!) and blowing straws and laid them around the rooms. Throughout the night, people would simply surprise someone by blowing a spit ball at them.

PLACE SETTING GIFTS:
When having guests for dinner, have a small gift at every place setting. We’ve used Victorian Paper Cones filled with treats, gourmet chocolates, small oil lamps, Christmas ornaments and fun “nose cups”.

BEARDOS:
Irene (so talented!) crocheted beardos for the men (and some of the women). Great for laughs, they are also practical gifts. My husband still wears his when walking outside on a cold day. Don’t crochet? You can ask a friend to make them or purchase them on Etsy.

UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATERS:
We purchased Ugly Christmas Sweaters for every guest. We didn’t pay any heed to size or gender. If the sweater handed to you was far too large, or too small, it added to the “ugliness”. We also brought a few musical Christmas ties. Consider having a fashion show or vote for the ugliest and have a prize.

RELEASING WISHES:
Wish lanterns are great for everyone. Light the candle, make a wish and release these paper lanterns into the night.

SLINGSHOT FLYING ANIMALS:
Each guest received a Slingshot Flying Animal. Stretch the strong rubber band in their neck and send them flying across the room while they make their animal-appropriate scream. The Christmas carols were accompanied by moo-ing, cluck-ing, and oink’ing as cows, chickens, pigs, monkeys and frogs flew through the room and bounced off our heads. My husband and I still let them fly every now and then.

DIRTY SANTA:
For the past several years, we’ve played Dirty Santa.

Everyone playing the game brings a wrapped gift worth $30-$50 and the gifts are put in a pile. We all draw a number and the person with #1 picks a gift to open from the pile. The person with #2 can choose to open another package or steal the gift from #1. Each person then chooses a gift from the pile, or steals a previously opened gift. If a gift is stolen, the person who originally had it steals from someone else or picks another gift to open. The game continues like this until everyone takes a turn opening or stealing a gift. After everyone has chosen, the person with #1 can steal from anyone (since they didn’t have a chance to steal originally). Once a gift is stolen three times, it’s retired from the game.

From memory, these are the gifts that have been stolen the most: carry-on luggage, steak knives, Christmas Vacation Moose Mugs, an engraved bottle of Woodford Reserve bourbon, bathroom rugs (odd, right?) and a movie package that contained an electric throw, several DVD’s and theater candy.

You can also opt to have a “White Elephant” Dirty Santa where gag gifts are brought and the goal is to leave with the least horrendous gift.

HIDE A PICKLE:
An old German tradition, we hide a pickle ornament on the tree. The first person to find it receives a special gift.

BEAT A PIG:
In Victorian holiday tradition, the pig is considered a symbol of good health, happiness and prosperity (which is why we always eat pork on New Year’s Day). Each year, we get a Saratoga Peppermint Pig (the best, best peppermint ever!) from Saratoga Sweets. One of the guests names the pig and we put him in a faux velvet bag. He is passed around and everyone takes turns beating him with a small hammer. Then we all get to enjoy a piece of peppermint (which is great for digestion).

TREATS:
Irene always makes a special edible treat for everyone: Homemade Flavoured Cocoa (mine was Salty Caramel Mmmmmm), Meat Rubs, Flavoured Spicy Popcorn, Caramel Corn, Angel Wings. The list goes on. Pinterest is a great source for ideas. Put together a treat for your guest to enjoy.

REINBEER:
One of the things I enjoyed most during our trip to Ireland was sampling all of the different beers. I decided to give the guests a sample. I selected beer that would be meaningful to each guest, but still new to them: German for a nephew, Scottish for my son, each beer reflecting their unique personality. Pinterest helped me make them special by gluing google eyes, pompom nose and pipe cleaner antlers on the necks of each bottle. A felt scarf finished turning the bottles of beer into Reinbeer.

CIGARS:
This was one of my personal favourites. After dinner, each guest received a cigar specially selected just for them. We brought them out on a silver-plated tray which also held the end cutter. It felt like an old-fashioned men’s club while my sister-in-law, who never smoked, puffed her fruity, petite cigarillo and my brother-in-law, who is a big man, enjoyed his torpedo. My brother, of course, had to have one bigger then everyone else’s. Being a “queen” , mine had to cost the most. Mom and the children enjoyed a box of chocolate cigars imported from Switzerland.

ICE SKATING PARTY:
One of the most complex surprises to date has been the ice skating party. My husband built a huge skating pond in the backyard. We decorated the bushes with lights. We surrounded it with hay bales (for sitting), and put fleece blankets on the bales (for warming). We bought 17 pairs of skates (believe me when I say, finding a pair of men’s size 14s is not an easy task) and made pompoms for the lady’s pairs. We got hobo pie makers for “cooking” our supper and filled thermoses with hot cocoa, coffee, chicken soup, and for the adults, a little warming nip of peppermint schnapps. Irene made CDs with ice skating songs and crocheted everyone a pair of mittens and a scarf. We also had a pair of socks and slippers selected for their personality waiting for them in the house. Inside, the house was strewn with plates of chocolates from around the world. Each guest received a copy of the CD, fleece blanket, slippers, socks, mittens and scarf. It was magical! Until 2 days before the party when the temperature rose and the ice melted. We ended up staying comfy in our socks and slippers, eating chocolates while sipping schnapps and admiring the view from indoors.

Whatever your choice, have fun together! Your guests may not remember what was for dinner, but they’ll always remember the laughs.

The Art of Giving–Part 2 (Gift Giving on a Budget)

by Irene // December 18, 2014 // No Comments

If you only have a little money to budget for Christmas gifts, don’t get frustrated! Here are some solutions that are tried and true.

THRIFT STORES AND CONSIGNMENT SHOPS:
Christmas shopping doesn’t have to be expensive. There’s no shortage of privately owned and charitable second-hand stores that have a treasure trove of things that are suitable for gift recipients on your list. Surely you have someone who appreciates the now-popular vintage style, an antiques lover, a collector or a book fanatic.

Some of my favorite gifts have come from Goodwill, St. Vincent DePaul and other thrift stores.

Not only are “second-hand boutiques” great sources for the non-traditional, White Elephant exchanges, they have a treasure trove of items that can be repurposed. Look at these examples:

The photo on the left is a large rug that our (very creative) friend, Regina, made from wool sweaters that she felted. In the center photo, Regina made this beautiful brooch, again from thrifted wool sweaters. Finally, the photo on the right is what I call a Souvenir Scarf. Sandy made these for all the ladies one Christmas. She customized each with thrifted t-shirts. Mine included University of Michigan, Las Vegas, Mardi Gras, and Jimmy Buffett.

You can save time as well as big bucks: Commit to thrifting year-round and you can avoid several days of mall craziness next Christmas!

By shopping thrift stores and second-hand boutiques, not only do you save money, but you assist in funding programs and services for people in need, you support your local economy and you do your part for the environment.

MAKE IT:
Everyone can create. Use it to make something for that special someone. I’ve crocheted gifts, made salsa, BBQ rubs and salted caramel hot chocolate. On the receiving end, there’s been homemade biscotti (yum), soap, jewelry and ornaments.

The most cherished handmade gifts are those that invoke or preserve memories. My friend, Shelley, taught me that quilts could offer some small comfort in times of grief by wrapping the quilt around you when missing your loved one. So, when Sandy made a quilt using Mom’s clothing (see Memory Quilt post) I don’t think my eyes were dry for the rest of the evening.

Putting family recipes into a scrapbook for the next generation was welcomed.

THE GIFT OF YOUR TIME:
Skip the store-bought presents and give a little bit of your time. This is a true gift of from the heart.

Food is Love. Invite them over for a special meal or one in their honor. You can promise to take them to a restaurant they’ve always wanted to try. Or how about delivering an entire meal for the family so they don’t have to cook?

Offer to help with home improvement. Whether it’s painting or landscaping, this would be welcomed by almost anyone. I remember purchasing annuals for our mother on Mother’s Day. But planting them with her direction, was the true gift.

Give a promise to create something together. I attended this Arty Party near my home. We had a little wine, some music, great fun and created something beautiful to take home. And don’t forget, the time you spend together is priceless. If you’re outside the Northern Kentucky area, I suggest you Google “art party” and include your location.

Offer your talents. If your friend or family member sucks at organizing, offer to organize a closet, an attic or basement. How about putting together their resume, making a web page or doing their taxes? Is someone on your list a clutter-bug? Offer to de-clutter and have a garage sale. Then do something together with the extra cash. Are you awesome at photography, decorating cakes, knitting or car repairs? Offer to teach that special someone. We all have talents we can share.

Share in the cause. Find out which causes are most important and offer to volunteer with them. Your gift will not only make them feel great, but you’ll help make the world a better place.

Give the gift of an experience. Tour your city on Segways. See a play together. Have a psychic tell your future. Share your first horseback ride. You get the idea!

If you’d like to make a gift-wrapped presentation, print a gift certificate or a coupon book.

Go forth and be a great Santa!

Hot Flashes? Not Anymore!

by Sandy // December 8, 2014 // No Comments

Menopause. Change of Life. Midlife Crisis. My personal favourite: Grand Climacteric. I don’t care what you call it, it sucks. There is nothing “grand” about it!

My teeth are falling out, and so is my hair. My skin is a wreck. I bloat to the point where I look 14 months pregnant. I pee like I’m 14 months pregnant, too. I love everything! No, no, wait, I hate everything. OK, maybe everything makes me cry — no, no. everything really, REALLY pisses me off — and I can’t sleep!

I would tear my hair out, but there’s so little left.

Then there’s the “personal summers”. We’re not talking 60-degree-San-Francisco-summers; we’re talking 129-degree-Saudi-Arabian-desert-summers. When a hot flash hits, it’s like someone is stoking a furnace inside of you. If I could harvest the heat that I generated, I could probably keep the town warm all winter.

Not anymore. The hot flashes were an easy fix for me.

My solution? Black Cohosh. An herb used for medicinal purposes by the Native Americans, Black Cohosh has also been used to treat hot flashes in women since the 1950s. Bought over-the-counter at the pharmacy, I simply followed the recommended dosage for a few months and the hot flashes were gone.

Of course, everything has side effects, warnings, yin that goes with yang, so I’ll provide a couple of links where you can read all about it and decide for yourself, or speak with your doctor to determine if it’s right for you.

Since my internal temperature is under control now, I’ll move on to other things. I’ll probably go trip my husband for not putting toilet paper on the roll and then cry about it for an hour.

WebMD

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)

The Art of Giving (Unique Gift Ideas)

by Irene // December 8, 2014 // 2 Comments

When we were growing up, we would often get our Christmas tree after the tree lots closed on Christmas Eve. Dad was on strike at the factory and money was tight. It was an adventure to pick through the abandoned trees and find the perfect one without spending a penny.

After Midnight Mass, we ate a meal that included meat—a gift in itself. We then opened gifts. One was a gift of necessity (underwear, sweaters or socks). We would also receive a toy from the Detroit Goodfellows, a coloring book and crayons from our neighbor’s friends and maybe a hand-crocheted dress for each of our dolls. Still, I believed in Santa even knowing he hadn’t provided these gifts.

Then, one Christmas, when I was 18-years-old, for a little while, I believed once more! There were gifts, wrapped in plain brown paper and string, under the tree that had no known origin! I had received a Wind Song Fragrance gift set and my little brother, Ray, received a table air hockey game. Our Dad immediately sat on the floor to play a game of air hockey with Ray, (another Christmas miracle). We later found out my 16-year-old sister, Sandy, used her first paychecks to purchase these wonderful gifts for us and sneak them under the tree while we all slept.

When we had children of our own, we made a conscious effort to make our children’s eyes light up when they opened their gifts from Santa. It wasn’t very difficult (except in those instances when we would wait in the cold in front of closed store doors). If they still believed, the shopping list was made while writing a letter to Santa or listening as they sat on his lap.

The “after-they-believe” phase then became much more expensive. The latest electronics (video game systems, cameras, computers, etc.) were the desired gifts. And, finally, we experienced the “can’t please ‘em” phase”. They’ll stand in the returns line on December 26^th to exchange those gifts generated from us clueless parents. I’m unsure if it’s become harder as my gift recipients have become older, or harder because I’ve become older.

So, to make gift giving a bit easier, we’ve compiled gift lists for us middle-agers. (You won’t find any shoes on the lists because Mom always said “If you buy them shoes, they’ll just walk out of your life”).

We will continually update this list, so come back often!