Christmas in July

My mother had a tendency to be early...for everything. I kind of agree, and get anxious when we don't leave early (or, God forbid, when we leave late!). But, one thing I remember her saying a lot over the years is that when we were kids she liked to get her Christmas shopping done by sometime in September. If she could do it before school started, all the better.

The poor woman can't do that anymore since it's like pulling teeth to get lists out of all four kids, spouses and grand kids. I get it. We're annoying. ;-)

But, this year, I'm hopping on the "the earlier, the better" bandwagon. With a second little one coming mid-November, my usual Black Friday fun with my sister will have to be skipped. Heck, a lot will probably get skipped. But, Chrismas fun? NEVAAAAHHHH!!

We actually have a stash that we add to throughout the year for monkey, anyway, so we'll be inspecting that to see what, if anything, we need to round it out. (Figuring out his size will be a challenge for clothes.) Dave and I have a tradition of taking a Saturday to shop together for a couple of special little guy gifts from Santa and getting coffee or lunch together, so we'll most likely drop him off to the grandparents and take the little one with us to do that again.

Otherwise, I'm already searching the interwebs for deals. There are a handful of things we need to buy for the baby, so my eyes keep wandering, but my focus is CHRISTMAS SHOPPING. Lots of online sources are touting Black Friday deals in July, so I'm hoping to stock up and get some stuff off my list sooner rather than later.

So, here's my strategy:

- Paring down. Since my side of the family is doing the "only buy stuff for the kiddos", that cuts back on the number of people we need to buy for. We will still always get something for all of our parents since they do SO much for us. I'm also hoping for "quality over quantity" for Dave and I, too, and will be setting a smaller limit than usual for ourselves and the kiddos. They'll still get stuff, but a reasonable amount, especially considering that our extended family will be getting them stuff, too.

- Infant gear. We're not buying a ton of stuff because, well, we have a lot. However, because Hadley was a summer newborn (and some of the stuff has worn out), we'll be in need of some new clothes. In advance, we'll be getting some new cloth dipes, a new carseat, and some cold weather essentials. However, we won't need a million outfits because that's what we'll get (and ask for) for Christmas, along with a couple of other baby items.

- Keep things flexible and open. It seems the closer to "Santa time" you get, the more the list grows, doesn't it? The week of Christmas, it's common for a kiddo to add one thing they RRREEEEEEAAAALLY want. Hadman was so all-over-the-place in the past that it didn't matter if Santa missed something here or there. This year, I'm asking early, working on the list *together*, and getting stuff early. However, this is why Dave and I have a shopping date closer to December -- just in case there's an item that we'd really like him to have or that he adds.

- Organization! Lists are the only way I sleep at night, I swear. So, I've got a Google Doc of my list and everyone who needs to be gifted. (I'm also going to have a list of the to-do's as far as pre-baby planning and when we get closer to the holiday, too.) Seriously, savior.  

- Do as much online as possible. Sure, I could schlep out with the 3-year-old to try to buy full-priced stuff in the stores...but isn't there a better way? Yep. Shopping during naptime in your sweat shorts with free shipping and pretty decent deals? I'd call that better!


Am I the only one who is planning for (and starting in on) Christmas now? Can you blame me, though, really? ;-) Honestly, if I don't start planning now, I'm going to put off any thoughts of what's to come (and, honestly, it makes the baby feel more "real" when planning for after he/she comes) and find myself completely unprepared.

And you know that I'm starting to browse Pinterest for simple ways to celebrate Christmas (along with space saving nursery ideas).

Driving

The first time I tried driving, my mother took me to the same spots she had taken my three siblings. We started in our church parking lot, which went quite well. She was so confident in my ability that she let me hit the mean streets of Mohawk. Everything was going fine until it started raining, hard, at which point I fiddled switches until I had my lights and wipers going. By the time we got home, we were getting angry beeps and shouts. My high-beams were on. (In retrospect, I've seen people do this and while people might get irritated, it seems like all these people were having a REALLY bad day, excessively freaking out.)

My mother was at the end of her rope. It wasn't a huge deal, but she angrily slammed the door and muttered throughout the kitchen that she "couldn't do this one more time; three was enough." I understood. She had already diligently taught my brothers and sister how to drive; her wits were shot. But, it still saddened me. 

But, then appeared a beacon. My normally quiet stepfather chimed in. "I can teach her to drive. I'm sure she'll do great." 

It was the first time that I found myself excited to spend time with him. For the previous two years, I had made life for Jerry a veritable hell under our roof. He was one of the kindest people I had ever met, yet the simple idea of him and his entrance into our family, I took like an immature brat. There was a lot of hurt in my heart and I thrust it all upon him in heaps of the silence treatment and corrections (I've always been the grammar police, but his intelligence has always been of a technical/mechanical ilk; thus, I attacked). 

So, we hit the road a few times. 

That summer, I signed up for driver's ed classes. The instructor had warned us not to do "too many lessons" since he'd have to fix incorrect driving methods. Unfortunately, I was stuck with a different fellow and had next to no skills aside from the occasional drive. He took to taunting me in other classes (a friend relayed to me) and cut my confidence down. Far. I learned next to nothing from the man but to fear driving and hold the wheel. I improved, much to his chagrin, but only from Jerry's efforts.

The only bright spot that summer were the rides I took with Jerry. Getting behind the wheel with him was a joy rather than a lesson in humility. We would listen to the oldies station (which we both enjoyed) and he would simply tell me to drive. He would sometimes lean back in the seat and pretend to take a nap; he was actually quite awake, keeping an eye on me, but silently reminding me that he trusted my driving. I only got us lost once, and he immediately knew what strange back road I had happened upon, getting us back on track without a single scold. We would often end up at a local ice cream joint before heading home. 

Any time we had an errand to run, I drove, learning how to park in the busiest of situations. He took me a couple of times to try 3-point and parallel parking; with him, it was easy and simple compared to the high-stress situation at summer school. When I suddenly returned knowing how to park, the instructor was palpably frustrated. It felt great.

I "passed" my class, but continued driving with Jerry. He brought me to my driving test and happened to know the gentleman overseeing the thing; distracted, the man signed off on my sheet before I had clicked my buckle. Luckily, I did fine (well, my parallel park was kind of crappy; I've since mastered it) and earned my license.

That winter, as a good-sized squall started outside, he called out to my mother that we needed to go pick up some ice cream. Why on Earth he wanted to get ice cream was beyond me, especially with an impending blizzard, but I went. He hopped in the driver's seat. After driving a block, he pulled over and told me to get out. We switched seats and headed to the next town, back tires shifting and sliding in the building slush. On the way home, the snow had become white-out conditions. I was at the front of a row of drivers, but he kept me calm. He explained that I should follow the ruts of the driver before me and how braking is an entirely different beast in the snow. Every time I'm caught in snow (which, in Central New York, is about half the year), I remember that experience. 

I have since learned countless other lessons from this man. He couldn't wait for me to get my first house and help me fix it up; turns out, he also ended up teaching my husband (who has been such an eager learner, I couldn't be prouder) about plumbing, electrical, and hundreds of other home improvement things. Now that Jerry's older, we find ourselves sad to think that he won't be as hands-on with any future home we finally hunt down.

But, beyond those practical lessons, he has become a guide. Time changes minds and hearts, and through his quietness, occasional common sense opinions, and dry but hilarious sense of humor, he has made himself an essential cog in our family. There was a time that I insisted that any child of mine wouldn't call him "Grandpa", but today I welcome the name (although Hadley actually refers to him as "Papa", which is just fine). There was a time I wanted Mom or maybe my dear grandfather to walk me down the aisle; on the special day, I instead asked Mom and Jerry, both, to be at my side. 

There was also a time that I could picture him outlasting all of us, with a youthful energy and endurance to undertake more puttering and heavy-duty outdoor tasks in a day than a man a quarter of his age. Unfortunately, while he's still as virile as any of us, he has been forced to slow down by some health complications. We are reminded that we will not always have our practical guide to turn to, and it brings me tears to think we'll lose another father. When I hear people younger than him complain about getting older and "not being around forever", I find myself angered that they don't do more with their youth while they have it. Jerry is no self-pitier, nor should anyone be.

So, with Father's Day upon us, I hope this year to salute not only the father of my children, whom I am grateful for on a daily basis, and all the fatherly figures who have touched our lives and hearts in so many ways, but specifically Jerry, who gets little credit for the huge job he has happily taken on. For those fathers who may not be related by blood, but have quietly fought their ways into our rude little hearts. For those fathers who had a choice, and regardless of the mountainous task ahead, took that choice to be someone's father and to fill the role.

And for teaching me how to check my oil, I thank him. 

Five Yummy Treats for Your Easter Basket

Monday, I shared with you guys what fun stuff the Easter Bunny likes to stuff H-man's basket with. Today, I thought I'd mention the "other" goodies he sometimes gets.

Yup. The food!

As I mentioned Monday, we don't go overboard on candy. He gets a little from other family members, so we try to maintain that whole "moderation" thing. If he's going to be getting a buttload from either Grandma (or even aunts or uncles who like to make him up a little bag), he doesn't need a lot at our house.

But, that bunny's gotta bring SOMETHING, right? Here are some of our favorites to include:

YumEarth Organics Gummy Bears - The ONLY things H has mentioned the Easter Bunny bringing are "fake eggs" (the plastic that we reuse every year; he's still a bit too messy for real coloring) and "real gummies". That'd be these! I can attest, too. They're delicious.

Annie's Homegrown Bunnies Baked Snack Crackers - We're not usual Annie's buyers anymore. Ever since their buy-out, we've decided to stop eating cheesy crackers. But, since this is a special occasion (and bunnies are PERFECT for Easter!), we make an exception. I'll buy little baggies to put these in so that he gets basket-sized treats. (Also works for Christmas stockings!)
Surf Sweets Organic Jelly Beans - Dave's a jellybean guy, so I'll probably grab a few bags of these for a communal bowl of yummies. We're so lucky that these are carried at our local grocery store! (I've written a couple of articles for this company, so I get pretty proud seeing their products locally.)

Annie's Homegrown Chocolate Bunny Grahams - Just like with the cheesy ones, these bunnies are perfect for celebrating the holiday. They're whole grain and may not be organic, but have far less "junk" in them. 

Justin's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups - Our little man isn't a big chocolate guy, so I'll get these to see how he feels (if they have milk chocolate, I'll get those). And if he doesn't eat them? Well, you know I'll be happy to help out. ;-)

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I just read a blog post that makes me think about today's topic, so I just thought I'd put my two cents in. The blogger pretty much thumbed her nose at people who "make" their kids eat fruits and vegetables, among other things. (We actually provide the food and if he eats it, great; if not, he won't die.) By no means do I think that everyone needs to eat this way. We're far from healthy (today's list is all processed foods!) and definitely don't go out of our way to change people's minds. I'm not here to brag about all we're doing or guilt-trip you for choosing traditional candies.

Heck, I look forward to grabbing one or two of the traditional snacks at my mom's Easter shindig (but it's just not worth it to buy an entire BAG if we're not going to eat more than a couple).

What's right for us may not be right for you. So, if your family loves Reese's peanut butter eggs, regular jellybeans, and chocolate bunnies, go for it and enjoy! Just sharing what we'll probably be including in our basket this year. :-)

On another note, what are your plans for Easter? Staying home with the family? Having extended family over? Going to an egg hunt? Can't wait to hear!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. All this means is that if you make any purchase through Amazon links above, I make a tiny percentage of the sale. Thanks for supporting us!

5+ Great Simple Ideas for Non-Food Easter Goodies

Happy Monday, guys! Can you believe Easter is in less than a week?? Today, I'm sharing a few simple ideas for Easter basket gifts, aside from the candy.

We keep the sweets at Easter to a minimum. Sure, we still enjoy a visit from the Easter Bunny, and our little man definitely gets his fill of candy (a small amount of organic from the Easter Bunny and some of the "traditional" stuff from his super generous grandmas), but as far as what he gets for the day, the candy isn't the main event.

We don't treat the holiday like the next coming of Christmas, either. It's a pretty low-key day for us. We have a couple of family events, so it's really all about the FUN FUN FUN rather than the STUFF STUFF STUFF.

That said, here are a few of our favorite non-food treats for H to find in his Easter basket that never get old:

Clockwise from top left:

Urban Infant Chunky Chalk - This will be the first year we take to the streets for some sidewalk graffiti, but isn't it fun?? Since spring is just around the corner for us (or already underway for some of you), Easter is an awesome excuse to give "think spring" gifts.

Ollie's Easter Egg - We have multiple of these Olivier Dunrea board books with feature various adorable fowl (chicks, geese, etc), but any books your little one will enjoy (Easter-related or not) will be fine. This is one area that I don't mind overdoing a bit. ;-)

Kids Tool Set - Another beckoning of springtime, these tools will allow the whole family to get their hands dirty this planting season. Yes, it's messy, but it's also incredibly fun, educational and rewarding. Toss in a couple of organic seed starter kits (from the $1 area at Target, score!) and up the excitement level.  

Zoe b Organic Fantastic Beach Toys - Any little beach toys or ball or pail will work, but we like to give any new "summertime fun" stuff at Easter time. Feel free to include a floppy hat and sunglasses if you want.

Melissa and Doug Sunny Patch Turtle Bubbles - We ALWAYS got bubbles (and jump rope, which Hadley's too small for yet) in our baskets. Even on the coldest Easter, we'd beg to go outside and blow a few bubbles. It was heaven when it was warm enough to actually do so, but most of our memories involve frozen fingers and very brief outdoor visits.  

A few more ideas...

Clothes - I know, boring, but depending on the season (and if he's already got sneakers he's using or not), we'll include a pair of sneakers or sandals, and maybe one outfit. It's a fond memory of mine to have our white canvas "play" sneakers peeking out from the top of the basket.

Stuffed animals - We're not huge stuffed animal fans, so sometimes we'll reuse a forgotten little bunny or chick here and there. May not be able to do that for much longer, though. ;-)

Coloring books and crayons/markers/watercolor paints - This one's always a hit, especially if you buy a book with some favorite characters. ;-)

Play-Doh - I know it's not super eco-friendly, but just one new canister of a new color blows his mind. Sooooo, yeah.

A figurine of some sort - We're into the Fisher-Price Little People ones, so we'll grab one of the two-packs to fit in the basket if he doesn't have too much yet. We definitely try to keep tabs on how much he's getting!

I'm hoping to be back this week to share with you some food treats that the Easter bunny does bring. We're not complete monsters, y'know. ;-) They might just give you some new ideas of what to give your little ones!

Feel free to share any additions you'd like to make in the comments!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. All this means is that if you make any purchase through Amazon links above, I make a tiny percentage of the sale. Thanks for supporting us!

  

St. Patrick's Day Green

I'm an Irish girl. Er. Irish-American. Whatever. But, still, the vast majority of my ancestors? Irish peasants. I'm fascinated and proud of the heritage.

That said, I've never used the traditional "Irish" holiday as an excuse to drink. It's an awesome holiday, of course, but the people who tend to go all out (whether Irish or not, whether they know a lick of information about St. Patrick himself) make me shake my head. I still remember going to a college class on St. Patrick's Day only to observe heads in garbage cans and bodies of passed-out people riddling the common areas. At 9AM. I'm not a prude, but... No. Words.

But, if you're planning on hitting the pubs this year, try a different green beverage before donning those green beads.

We recently tried out this recipe for super-simple "beginner's luck green smoothie." Dave hadn't jumped on the smoothie bandwagon yet, and none of us had tried a green smoothie. Of course, Hadley LOVED the thing, and Dave enjoyed his more than I expected. Our variation of the original goes like this...

Beginner's Luck Green Smoothie
(adapted from 100 Days of Real Food's recipe)2 cups spinach
1 cup milk (any kind)
1 cup water
1 banana, in chunks
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup pineapple chunks

Blend the spinach with the liquid until smooth. Then add the rest of the ingredients and blend until you've reached the consistency you prefer. (Add more liquid if you like it thinner, or use all frozen fruits or ice cubes for a thicker consistency.)

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Ours was perfectly sweet with the mix of banana, strawberries (which Hadley requested) and pineapple (although the pineapple admittedly left a few random "strands" of texture here and there), but you could drizzle in agave, honey, or a sprinkle of sugar if you need it. 

Leftovers might just help alleviate a hangover. *wink, wink*

And if you wear some green in celebration (or, um, drink green beer), here's a little trivia for you: The green (of the Irish flag) doesn't represent the green grasses and shamrocks of Ireland so much as it does the many Irish Catholics who died at the hands of Protestant rulers. In the 1700s and 1800s, while England and Ireland clashed, Irish persons were hanged for wearing green.

So, please. Wear it proudly.

Or drink it proudly, as the case may be.

Last-Minute Valentine's Day Crafts

Happy Friday the 13th! So, the one and only way that we get anything done around this place is by taking everything in several small steps. That said, it's no surprise that I just finished our Valentine's Day crafts last night. Under the wire, yeah!

I love what we did SO much and for several reasons. One, they're completely handmade. Two, they're 100% F-R-E-E. Three, they're easy enough that even H and I could do them (albeit over several days). Four, and most importantly, they're downright adorable.

Here are the Valentines we'll be giving the special ladies in H's life:

All I did was give him a white piece of construction paper to paint. We stuck the paintbrush in a mix of white and red, then random splotches of magenta which ultimately gave for mostly pink splotchfest artwork. Then, just last night, I cut the art into three strips and free-handed Xs and Os (as you can tell...fancy) that I then glued to more folded white construction paper. Instant card!

The fact that he wears my old theater shirt from my high school senior year as a smock melts my heart. That thing has splatters from every set I ever painted, and now splatters from every piece of art he has done.

Anyhoo, I love that this art was free form and simple. The only instruction he needed was "here's some paint, go at it!" He's still not great at taking directions, so the fact that I took what he created and made it into something practical is pretty rad. Oh, and it has a total Eric Carle vibe to it, which I absolutely adore.

In that last picture you'll also notice a rainbow heart stack. We started with this tutorial and simplified it to only a few colors. Simply put, I cut down a diaper box into 1", 2", 3", 4" and 5" squares, had him paint them, cut them into hearts and glued them together. Then, I punctured holes on the top and strung them with some kitchen twine, and ta-da! Cute little decoration and gift in one.

So, that's it! Cards and hanging hearts, but they were made with pudgy little fingers and love.

Did you make anything homemade to celebrate V-Day? Food? Gift? Do tell!
(I'll be back tomorrow with my clean eating challenge. Half way, folks!)

Christmas 2014 Recap

Holiday greetings, all! I've been in denial about Christmas being over; gotta ease into it like a cold pool, y'know? So, while working hard at avoiding the letdown (let's face it; it's depressing) and getting very little done otherwise, I thought I'd share a quick recap of our holiday this year.

Our actual get-togethers were awesome, and we were extremely lucky that gifts were kept in check (and what we did get were so thoughtful, sweet, and useful). By other "green mama" standards, we personally went overboard, I'm sure. By the standards of other parents, we probably did too little. But, for our purposes, it was perfect.

Here are some of the year's superlatives as far as gifts (although it's clearly NOT about the presents, but...y'know)...

Best "Free" Present - Dave and I agreed to "get" each other a free gift this year. Mine ended up being a few "gift certificate" type things (like purging/organizing/zen-ifying the office), which are fine but kind of lame. HE, however, made me stationery. Not just normal stationery, though. Included are envelopes and sheets of paper specifically to write Hadley letters, to be opened at special days (or not-so-special) throughout his life. Talk about a tear or two (or a dozen). So. Darn. Sweet. So, yeah. Dave won by a mile.

Hadley's Gifts - We also ask Hadley what he'd like to get each of us (um, separately...in secret), which is fun. His suggestions for Dave changed daily, although he always went back to, "A car. A real one. Big. For him to drive." Uh, no. Apparently he suggested the same to Dave for me. (A toy one wouldn't do.) Finally, he landed on tools, which we picked up individually at Lowe's, along with a couple of framed pictures for Dave's desk. Dave proudly bought exactly what Hadley had told him - every day - to get me: red socks and apple pie (a Hostess, which we normally wouldn't get). It was the sweetest gift, guys, seriously.

Most Successful Toys - Our little guy's not hard to please. I grabbed some last-minute wooden train tracks to add to his collection (which he's been using constantly) and any of the Lego sets he received are a huge hit. But, honestly, he seemed to enjoy absolutely everything (even some of the clothes) and is learning the "appreciation" part of the season.

Oh, and I love that he finally has a play knife (and wooden fruit that he can cut), some pie (um, I made more felt food as his "handmade from Mama" annual gift) and Santa's felt board. I'd do a tutorial for the board, but it's so simple I'd feel silly. I ended up using my upholstery stapler to staple the background felt on, then cut out simple shapes (you do NOT have to be artistic to do this!) You can even just do shapes; kids don't care!

"Made" the Holiday Present - I guess this could be considered a "free" present, too, but the best part of the holiday this year was walking into my mother's house on Christmas Day to find our out-of-town brother had traveled home to surprise ALL of us (our mom included). I immediately cried. It was insane and perfect. The fact that Hadley is still talking about the family members he now has much stronger connections to (especially Uncle Ryan, the relative that likes to rough house) is heartwarming.

The Grown-Ups' Favorites - So much of this year was about awesome experiences, I feel guilty picking my favorite gifts. I got an eco-friendly pot from my sister (which was equally touching that she thought about what I'd like rather than just getting another pot) and  renewal to Ancestry.com from my mother-in-law, but generally all those practical things (and the books from Dave) touched my heart. Oh, and "turkey joints" (a local candy) is always a super special treat. Oh, and if I had to pick for Dave, I'm pretty sure his set of Batman (the entire 1960s show) was his absolute favorite.

From our family to yours, we truly hope that you had a glorious holiday full of new and happy memories. I do hope to get myself motivated this week (I'm actually feeling a little rundown, so hope that I can keep it at bay), but if it doesn't happen until later in January, so be it. Is anyone else feeling like that this holiday season?

New Year Intentions

res-o-lu-tion (n) - a firm decision to do or not do something

in-ten-tion (n) - a thing intended; an aim or plan

I feel like there's a big, mildly depressing letdown after all the Christmas cheer and busy-ness has come and gone, and the dull, cold winter ahead can appear daunting. The one bright light in the midst of it all comes from the freshness of a new year, and along with it the opportunity for internal (and external) transformation.

I have nothing against resolutions. I've flipped and flopped about whether I'm for or against them, and I know myself well enough to admit, simply, that they're not for me. The idea behind trying to improve oneself or one's life is awesome and I'm totally on board for it, but for the sudden, rigid change that is needed to accomplish a resolution is the reason that diets don't work for many people -- it's so sudden, it's so strict and all-or-nothing, that it's near impossible to hold oneself to such high standards, no wiggle room allowed.

So, this year, I'm choosing to make intentions. As you see the definitions above, an intention seems more flexible, less strict, and even a less stressful of a decision. We can aim for a particular goal while making steps, big or small, along the way. It's definitely a slower, more intentional (see? Intention?) way of hopefully putting forth positive change in your life.

Here are some of my goals and a few of the steps I hope to take as part of this new year:

- Get healthier. I love that this isn't a specific goal beyond FEELING healthier. A little at a time, I'm hoping to get our diet even cleaner (we're currently pretty much natural and organic, but still need to eat more 'real foods') and have finally told Dave that, yes, we're going to take part in a CSA when the season comes. It wasn't worth it, financially, before because much of the stuff we'd be receiving wouldn't really be eaten by 2/3 of the family. I'm determined to make it work, though, and to start diversifying our diets. Oh, yeah, and I need to get into yoga or SOMETHING again since I've fallen off the "exercise for energy" bandwagon.

- Enjoy gardening. I've had issues with our garden (last year was a complete failure thanks to neighborhood cats), but I think that if I learn to enjoy the process of gardening, I'll be more successful with it. That said, I'll do smaller-level gardening due to the CSA I already mentioned.

- Embrace the happy. This is probably the biggest of them all. I try to do this currently, but being more present and seeking out the simple joys of our family life is a priority that needs to be appreciated. This also involves our quality of life, which means that we may be doing some house hunting and some other changes may be on the way. Even in the midst of changes, though, it's important to remember that it's not important to seek out "bigger and better," but rather to take the everyday miracles to heart.

- Write more and find opportunities to share it. I've finished the premise of one children's book and have one or two stories on simmer, in addition to the writing I do for Green Child Magazine, but would like to find other opportunities to flex those writin' muscles. It's something I've always enjoyed doing (or else I wouldn't blog, of course!), so nose to the grindstone! The steps here include regularly hunting for freelance opportunities, searching for writing competitions to enter, researching publishing options, and partaking in writing prompts. Bam.

- Blog focus. I'm still not super happy with the look of this tiny corner of the blogosphere, so I hope to work on the aesthetic. Also, though, I'd like to get the business side of things and, of course, quality content organized. Hand-in-hand with this is the fact that I've been slowly but surely saving up for a DSLR camera, so I'm itching to finally buy the thing (and take some online classes to get to know it).

- Continue to simplify. This time of year, we always do a big purge, so that's nothing that new. However, especially with the thought that we may be moving, I'm hoping to REALLY purge every last thing, keeping only what will truly serve a purpose. Simplification can also be seen figuratively...so, yeah, I hope to do that, too. ;-)


What about you guys? Share your resolutions/intentions/goals for 2015 in the comments and we'll be sure to send you positivity and support for achieving them!   

Wordless Wednesday

What better day than Christmas Eve to share a Wordless Wednesday? Here are a few moments from around our house lately...

Sharing our cookie...

Making gingerbread boys 'n girls...

This last shot is one of two handmade projects for Hadman's Christmas. I decided not to kill myself over them and chose just ONE type of felt food -- he requested "pie" for Christmas, so of course I took him quasi-literally -- and a felt board, which I'll show in the future. Oh, and Santa's giving the felt board. I've given him fake felt food in the past, so it's clearly a "parent gift." It's also pretty cool that we can keep adding to his collection depending on his interests. Oh, and the textured one is apple and the other is blueberry (or use your imagination, really). :-)

And, last but not least, our wish to you all. Thanks for reading, and we truly hope that you have a joyful holiday season.

How're things with you guys? Ready for Christmas? I've got a little last-minute wrapping and one quick project to finish, aside from a couple of recipes and probably one or two "oops, forgot that!" loose ends to tie up. We'll also drop off a neighbor gift and a treat and coffee at the police station before joining one of our family celebrations tonight. Let the fun begin!   

A Star for the Tree

It's the height in hilarity at our house that the second Hadley saw our finally upright tree after his nap (after shouting "Christmas tree!!! Goody, goody!!!"), he insisted that it needed a star on top.

Huh. Yeah. We didn't have one.

As kids, we had our own hilarious time making fun of our omni-drunk angel tree topper (um, she was always crooked, no matter what we did or shoved up her dress to straighten her out). I guess we weren't a star family back then, and I didn't think I was part of a star family now.

It's even more ironic since we're a pretty non-religious group. We feel that we're spiritual and insightful, but don't relate to one specific religion. We're all baptized Catholics, and at times (usually around Christmas), I feel the pull of mass, but all-in-all, we'd like to educate our son about morality more than doctrine. (Not that there's anything wrong with that!)

So, there he was, sweetly demanding a star topper, then again later that night, then again in the morning. After seeing some crappy store versions, I turned to Pinterest (clearly my real religion...that's a joke, guys) to see if I could figure something out.

During my star search, I also heard a sweet story about my grandmother, who would annually cut out a star out of cardboard that came from my grandfather's starched shirts, cover it in tin foil, and cut a hole in it. She'd stick it on top, pull a light up through the hole to let it "shine" and call it a day. Classic, sensible and creative. Apparently, everything my grandmother was.

So, I got to work. I cut a cereal box up to expose the two large sides. After printing off a star shape, I traced it onto each box and cut them out. Then, I creased inside each point for some dimension and glued each side together. (Before it was fully dry, I trimmed it further and pressed it together again.) Finally, I glued an empty toilet paper tube to the back.

You could paint the star, cover it in glue and glitter, or put foil on it. I decided to keep it natural this time. I'm not sure if the best part is the fact that it was totally free, that it appeased the little guy's craving for a star, or that it was a pretty old-school way to handle the issue. And not to mention eco-friendly up the wazoo!

Oh, and while I'm at it, I thought I'd share another tree that has taken up residence at our house. It'll probably be up until Valentine's Day, with how long it took me to finally toss it up.

I just cut out a tree shape from a large piece of green felt, then a textured piece for the trunk and a "skirt" from red. Then, I cut out random shapes, including a little snowman and present, and of course a star for the top. I used Command strips (the poster kinds) on the back and the "ornaments" and such attach without any adhesive (one of the best parts of felt). I've also made a felt board for pretend play as a Christmas gift, a "piece of pie" to add to his collection of fake food, and may make another piece if I find the time before Christmas eve.

Felt = the perfect toddler plaything!

So, what type of tree topper do you use in your family? We've used bows in the past, and even a scarf last year (I'd LOVE to find an old antique top hat with holly berries!), but we're always willing to change if the little guy dictates a better idea.  

Currently / 12.19.14

Hiya, folks! If you're stopping by from the linky party, thanks and it's great to see you. Here's this week's themes:

I'm currently LOVING the fact that today's the last day of school before a two-week vacation. Sure, the day's jam-packed with singing in the teacher's chorus, squeezing in a quick class, the nerves of having my husband invited into school to do one of his famous readings of "The Polar Express" (and watching my 2-year-old in the process), and my usual classes, but there isn't a real complaint in the mix. Oh, and I'm even going for one of my 2-3 times-per-year hair cuts tonight. Exciting stuff, people. Ex-citin'.

I'd like to think that READING more would be high on my list of 2015 goals, but I'm trying not to put too much pressure on myself since I always seem to have at least a half dozen books going at a time...and rarely find myself completing a single one. That said, this was shared on FB by one of my librarian buddies (for those that don't know, I'm a school librarian by day) and sparked my interest. UGH! So many great ideas to go after on that list, but to avoid the inevitable failure, I'll aim for a handful this year. Maybe that'll be doable.

Lately, I've been CHOOSING between sleep and getting projects done, and guess what's actually happening. Right. Neither. While I'm waiting for that bolt of energy to strike me motivated, I sit there spinning my wheels while staring at a computer screen (only half getting anything off-topic finished). So, I'll have to work harder than Santa's elves to get a couple of the handmade projects I've got planned for Hadley done in time!

Hopefully, I'll be DESIGNING several things in the new year: a new website, re-designing the blog (still doesn't feel quite right...what do you think?), but most importantly, myself. Internally. Not, like, a superficial makeover, but a total rehab of the good ol' interior. Mhmm.

WONDERING if I'll actually have the guts to get some stuff published this year. Wondering if I'll have the motivation and guts to write more, and to try for some freelance gigs in 2015. Wondering if it really matters. Wondering what my focus needs to be, aside from the usual musts (family and friends). But, more importantly, wondering if we'll have a white Christmas this year. (We weren't supposed to last year, but we had an unexpected, unpredicted coating that filled me with joy and excitement. This year, there's a chance for a storm, but it might include ice and rain, sooooo...)  

Do tell! What're you loving/reading/choosing/designing/wondering currently? I'd love to hear in the comments.

Linking up with the fabulous Ot & Et and Harvesting Kale. 

Gingerbread Pancakes

There's something about molasses. The mere smell or tiny taste of it automatically transports me back to my grandmother's kitchen. Her spice cabinet was filled with its scent, and I vividly recall sitting on her countertops staring into her bowl of molasses cookie dough (and occasionally giving it a stir). Her soft cookies were a family favorite.

So, it's no surprise that I'm also a gingerbread fan. Like, huge. My mother once brought gingerbread to celebrate my birthday instead of a cake in college, and it was AWESOME. There's just something about the spongy, spicy goodness (topped off with homemade whipped cream...always homemade).

I decided to make some of my "mug" pancakes in the gingerbread tradition, complete with (real) butter, (real) syrup, aaaaaand whipped cream. Yep. Let's just say they're perfect for your Christmas morning. Oh, and try using some greased cookie cutters on the griddle to make adorably festive shapes!

Gingerbread Pancakes

1 mugful flour
1 mugful milk
1 egg
about 1/8 - 1/4 c. molasses
1 tsp. cinnamon
sprinkle clove
1/4 tsp. ginger
pinch salt
1 1/2+ tsp. baking powder
1/2 baking soda
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Whisk together dry ingredients and spices. Separately, whisk egg with molasses and vanilla, then add, along with milk, to dry ingredients. Don't overmix.

Cook in greased skillet or griddle over medium heat in spoonfuls (depending on size you prefer). Flip when you see bubbles appearing.

Top with butter and syrup, cinnamon and sugar, vanilla yogurt, or a dollop of homemade whipped cream (or a variation of any of these).

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These would be a perfect holiday breakfast, along with some sausage or thick-cut bacon and sweet potato hash browns. Hope you enjoy them, too!

Welcome Back, Red

In the early days of my blog, I had a lot of red decor in my house -- and I HATED it. So, over the years I neutralized things with a white slipcover, a switch-out of pillows/curtains, and (the best part) a freshly painted no-longer-crimson dining room. I had a huge bias against anything and everything red.

But, now it's Christmastime again, and I decided to pull out some candy cane colors...mixed with some traditional neutral, vintage and woodsy items, of course. It's how I do.

I'm a great believer in picking a theme every year. It makes it way easier when I'm looking at the bins of decorations, deciding which to use (can't possibly use them all in our tiny house). It also helps me flex my creative juices, which I always find fun. I even found a few minutes to string some white and red pom-poms onto some red threat for a homemade garland (to add to a banner that I made in the fall and totally forgot to share with you...so let's pretend that's new, too, mkay?).

One of my favorite things is that everything except for that new garland (which was super cheap; under $5 with plenty of materials leftover) were free from our stash. I've had a stack of vintage Christmas cards that I bought in VT years ago that my husband loves as much as I do, so I love that I was finally able to pull them out and find a purpose for them. With all of the old-school movies were tend to pull out this time of year (okay, and throughout the year), it's very "us" to use these, with messages and images that harken back to those lovely, simpler times. 

I've added a thing here or there since these crappy cell phone pictures were taken, like building up the greens more (had to trim the tree) and I realized that the chunky trim above our built-ins is PERFECT for displaying Christmas cards, like a free ledge shelf.

So, here's a little view of our Christmas cheer this year.

Hard to see, but here's some detail...

The tree is super simple this year (it's a Toddler + Cat Tree). Looking through the pictures, I realize how many are personal touches. I grabbed some red books from our upstairs shelves and mixed them with my winter magazine collection. The beautiful, rustic blue painting in the dining room is one Dave did in high school (I know, right?!). We mixed antiques and chalkboards (did a quick reindeer sketch on my $1 board and a surprisingly simple drawing of Nest of Posies' printable) and some of my favorite all-season accessories (like mercury glass candle holders and switching out vase fillers).

I like to think this mix makes the house feel fun and festive but in a cozy, hint-of-the-modern way. Oh, and I only decorate those few spaces, usually. (No bathroom or even kitchen decor here this year.) What about you guys? Do you decorate the same way every year? Do you try new things or find comfort in the tradition of your favorite pieces? How does your place look this year?

And I totally know I don't have a tree topper. I'll actually be talking about that later this week. 

The Real Santa

Isn't it strange how belief and acceptance can come in phases? It can be applied to much in life, but for today, I'm talking Santa.

My belief in the big guy only lasted until about second grade. I wasn't out to "find out" about him. I didn't really question a single bit of it. I was riding merrily along in full belief mode, ignorant of the facts.

But, then I found myself in a storm of constant sickness. One evening, I was resting poorly in my mother's bed (to avoid getting any siblings sick), flailing around uncomfortably, when I absentmindedly fell out of bed. When what to my eyes did appear but...Teddy Ruxpin.

I furrowed my brow. Huh. Well. Maybe Mom bought him for me instead of Santa since she knew how badly I wanted him. Yeah. That.

So, on Christmas morning, when I opened the gift and noticed that the tag did, indeed, say that the gift was from the jolly man in the red suit, well...I was depressed. The fact that good ol' Teddy only lasted a week before he started speaking a low, eerie language all his own that even my grandfather couldn't fix added insult to injury.

Fast forward 25+ years. I've been excitedly attending the Candlelight Evening at a local living history museum on and off since I was a teen. At this event, it is always the coldest time you can imagine having on planet Earth, and it is always incredible. There are white bag luminaries and lanterns lit throughout the grounds, where you can visit "local shopkeepers and vendors" like the printer, doctor, pharmacist, tavern, church and more. There's a working farm with animals that you can greet, and wassail cauldrons over bonfires strewn throughout the space. Delicious comfort food is served (can you say "gingerbread"?) and you can buy handmade goodies (or more touristy stuff) at several shops, all while hearing the sound of carolers and performers wafting with the sound of horse-drawn carriages.

I mean, seriously. What's more traditionally Christmasy than that? We hear so many songs about jingle bells and horses, sharing cheer and the like, but how often can you see it in person? It's unimaginable.

The best part of all, though, is St. Nicholas. My God, guys. It's the REAL Santa. Seriously. He talks in the schoolhouse about the tradition of St. Nick, as well as telling a story about what preparations were made for Christmas in the 1800s ("saving the best apples in the cellar from the autumn harvest"), before wandering around outside for people to interact with him. When my nephew was younger and in that is-he-or-isn't-he-real phase, he saw Santa, dropped his jaw, and went up to him to say, "It's such a pleasure to meet you, sir!!" I mean, good!

So, of course, after Dave experienced this whole thing for the first time (we even dragged some friends along over the years), we decided that it would be a tradition, barring bad weather, for our family. I honestly don't recall whether we brought Hadley when he was a baby-baby (I almost think so...?), but last year was his first memorable experience (check it out here and here). It was cold and snowy - terrifyingly so on the ride home - but wonderful. He met Santa, who knew our names (!) and the rest is history. And of course we'll be visiting this year, although we have a far antsier little toddler on our hands who may or may not allow me to sit and enjoy my gingerbread (an old fashioned peppermint stick bribe may be in order), but as long as we can see THE Santa, we'll be happy.

But I WILL have my gingerbread. Oh, yes. Make no doubts about that.

I've always tried to keep the Santa concept going with my young students, although it used to be awkward and kind of difficult for me. Now that he's part of our vocabulary, though, I find myself having total dialogues with Dave (or even myself) about what Santa's life must be like, and how he gauges between a naughty deed and being a truly naughty child, and so forth. As if I'm part of a play that turns incredibly "method", I have actually started to believe again.

I mean, of course I realize how the whole thing works. Clearly. But, thanks to this little boy (and the help of a few hundred elementary students and one incredibly convincing old-fashioned Santa), the spirit of St. Nicholas is still very much alive and well in my heart.

And, really, isn't that the idea of Christmas?

So, be honest, guys. Do you believe? Has anyone else had a "rebirth" regarding the issue? Or go ahead and tell us how you found out "the truth"?  

Holiday Cleaning

Things may be fully holiday decorated at our house, but things seem more disheveled than usual. I'm pretty sure it's because we a) have a super small house, b) bring so much additional "stuff" in (like gifts, Christmas cards, wrapping, etc) this time of year, and c) didn't plan ahead and clean before the onslaught of the holidays. So, today's just a brain dump of all the "unfun" stuff to do so that my brain isn't swimming by Christmas. Let's blame my mother; she always had the house quite clean for the holidays. I always assumed it was because we were having a special guest (Santa) come; it was probably actually because of the REAL guests (family) coming. Duh, Meg.

Anyhoo, some of this I'm sure I won't get to, but I also have T-W-O whole weeks off for the holidays, so I foresee a "New Year project" or two here...

- Kitchen walls/shelves. My open shelving area is a bit of a hot mess. The dishes we use all the time are perfectly clean, but the shelves themselves have a layer of grease (which attracts more than a little dust and probably cat fur) and need a good scrubbing and reorganizing.

- Kitchen cabinets. Also in the kitchen and also in need of a good scrubbing are my cabinets. The insides are also SUPER disorganized (namely the bottom ones, which hold all cookware). Truth be told, a scrub + paint job are in order. Blah.

- The damn "V." Okay. So. Over Hadman's crib, I applied papier-mache letters that spell out "LOVE" when he was a baby. They've worked perfectly up until this point. One day, while he was supposed to be napping (that's a whole other issue lately), I hear over the monitor a weird clicking noise. Come to find out, he had pulled the "V" off of the wall and started using it as a clapper -- tearing the middle of the letter so that he could "clap" the two sides together. I. Was. Livid. He got pretty upset, too. He's still asking where the V is and I have a hard time not snarkily responding that he's responsible for the death of the V. (sigh) I don't say that. But I want to. :-\

-  Office disorganization. This is an ongoing headache. For now we've just gotta pick the place up and make it look presentable, but ultimately we've gotta figure out our storage and do a total overhaul of how we use the space.

- Gifts are messy. I love giving gifts, and even kind of enjoy wrapping them. But, keeping the joint somewhat picked up is a pain. I always end up with a bag containing tags, ribbons/bows, tape, and a pen that I use for the whole shebang, and generally keep a large box of boxes, bags, tissue paper, and gift wrap nearby, but I'm not one to schlep the whole thing down to the basement when done only to drag it back up later. Maybe I'm just lazy? We also have a HUGE gift that arrived, box in shambles, that's giving me an eye twitch.


This is all aside from the fun "responsibilities" of the holiday, of course, and the usual upkeep of the joint. Can you say floor mopping? :-( I was hoping to get a chore or two (along with a fun "chore" or two!) out of the way today, thanks to some inclement weather, but that didn't turn out to be very bad. Blah.

I didn't really do a good fall cleaning this year, so if I had I'm sure I'd be less bummed about these jobs. So, please don't take this as complaining as much as my own mental checklist of crap I have to do -- and commiserating, if you will! :-)

What about you guys? Any chores you dread doing but that you're sick of having hanging over your heads this time of year? 

 

Christmas Tree 1, Us 0

I'm a fan of real Christmas trees, I am. I even recently wrote a piece for Green Child Magazine finally answering a constant question in the green community: which is greener, a real tree or artificial? But this year, we found ourselves having a battle that found us grumbling the pluses of fake trees.

As with last year, we found our tree (and a couple of inexpensive, gorgeous wreaths) at Candella's in Marcy. It was a nerve-wracking trip home, between the line of traffic piling behind us and keeping a constant eye on the branches jutting off the car roof. When we finally got home, Hadley gave us a hell of a time going down for a nap (the time we were going to use to put the thing up).

Eventually, we started working on dragging the tree in and setting it up. The two lessons of the day are, if possible, determine how many branches REALLY need to be trimmed off the bottom of the tree when the gentleman asks how we'd like it trimmed and, um, we need a new tree stand.

Let's just say it took about an hour+ of frustrated finagling (and a couple of small pieces of scrap wood in the water bowl part of the tree stand as a makeshift support/wedge) before the tree was freestanding.

As I sit watching "White Christmas," I'm in a fowl mood, eying the unadorned tree. It's Sunday night and I now have absolutely zero motivation to even decorate the thing. But, since Had's STILL sleeping (um, it's dark out) and I know the glow of those glimmering white lights will be worth it. Coming in to the cozy glow at the end of the work day will be awesome.

But, at the moment, I'm feeling simply defeated. Oh, yes, we will buy another real one next year...but hopefully with a new stand and a keen eye for the "that one looks PERFECT!" allusion.

Who uses a faux tree here? Real? We grew up with the fake kind (and I remember some issues with those, but they were old school), but there's something about the smell of fresh pine that says "Christmas!" Oh, and I also strongly believe in white lights; not colored. ;-)    

Free (Yes, Free) Holiday Gift Ideas

I've requested to Dave that we not only do a pretty sparse budget for each other (or, at least, it's sparse to me!) this holiday season, but also to give each other one gift that costs nothing.

So, this could mean a lot of things. It could mean that you use something you've already got lying around that you haven't gotten around to giving the person. It could mean making something by hand (whether you've got the materials lying around or had to buy them, it's totally up to your standards of "strict" are). It could mean repurposing something around your house to give. Or, it could just be a huge act of kindness or unforgettable experience. The list goes on, really, but here are a few ideas...

Artsy Fartsy Stuff

Wall Collage 
This is best if you live with the individual so that you can surprise them with it, already-done. I've had a stack of Instagram prints (had a coupon, I almost think they were free or darn near close to it), but don't we all have SOME picture prints floating around that we don't know what to do with? Well, I've fallen for the personal yet organized look of a wall collage of same-sized prints. Mine just happen to be 4" x 4" but even rectangular shots (or pictures cut down to squares) can look awesome grouped sweetly on the wall. You can use that sticky tack stuff or tape (or spend a little money and get Command strips; I won't tell). 

Handmade Wall Art
Similar to the wall collage, look around and see if you have any art supplies that would help create some wall art. Maybe you have an old canvas (or an ugly one you can paint over). Or maybe you have an old embroidery ring that's begging for one of those quirky embroidered quotes (or an inside joke!) that you can hang. If you're stumped, look for simple art ideas on Etsy or Pinterest. You can keep it simple, or if you're on the artsier side, paint a family portrait or pet portrait for your receiver.

Repurpose an Old T-Shirt
You know that ratty old t-shirt that just won't go away? Or the perfect vintage shirt with an awesome logo that they can't wear anymore because they splattered paint on the bottom? Stretch it in a frame or create a quilt, pillow or bag! You'll not only give it new life, but the giftee will love that they don't have to say goodbye to it forever.

Knit a Scarf  
Again, this totally depends on your ability level and whether or not you have the materials around the house, but a scarf seems far easier than mittens or a hat, right? Think of the person's favorite color (or if you know what color their favorite winter coat is, be sure it won't clash) and get a move on!

Reuse, Reuse, Reuse
Look around and see what doesn't seem to have a life anymore. It's perfectly fine to re-gift something, especially if you personalize it a bit first. Like, you have way too many mugs in your life, so that set of white plain ones sit totally unused? Use a Sharpie (or paint pen, if you have one) to draw a design or cute quote, then cure it (may not be dishwasher safe). Or go ahead and spend a buck at the Dollar Store if you want to get new ones; I won't tell. ;-)


Nom-Noms

Favorite Cookies
You're probably making a buttload of cookies for the holidays, anyway, right? Grab a large, clean mason jar and fill 'er up. If you've got the time, feel free to add a label with a cute holiday saying (check Pinterest, there are a million), or just tie some burlap or a festive ribbon on and call it a day.

Homemade Granola 
You may already have the makings of this in your cabinet as we speak, so why not make a super big batch to dole out to all your friends and neighbors? No extra shopping needed.

Fudge
Mmm. Fudge. This pretty much goes hand-in-hand with the cookies, but I just wanted to make everyone aware: fudge. 

Favorite Meal
Make the recipient their absolute favorite meal, just be sure that it's in your grocery budget (hence, y'know, practically free ;-)). Or, make a "gift certificate" to make the individual their favorite meal after the holidays. 

Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
Okay, this may not be free, but all it really takes is the purchase of some strawberries (since we all have chocolate in our pantry, right? RIGHT??). And, I tell ya, they're a show-stopper.

Keep It Simple

Create a "Thankful Jar"
This is a great gift for birthdays, Valentine's Day, Father's/Mother's Day, and more, but I love the idea of gathering together the warm fuzzy feelings you have for a friend or family member and letting them know. I've done this for Dave (on Valentine's Day), filling a mason jar with individual ideas of why he's awesome and why we're lucky to have him. You can fill it with 365 "favorite" things about the person for them to pick each day, or 52 (one for each week), or whatever! I just printed them off using Word and cut them out; easy peasy. 

Scavenger Hunt
This could be as simple as an indoor one at your house or as complicated as sending your friend or loved one around an entire city (think: your favorite haunts). The trick is to not make it too lengthy (especially if it involves schlepping all over town in holiday traffic) and to be as witty as your brain can possibly be. Oh, and don't make the clues too hard or else you'll get a tearful phone call. Maybe. It's possible.

Homemade Coupons
This is a classic from our "we don't earn an income, what can we give to Mom?" days, but you can modernize it for your current needs. Think of what you're good at and see if you can give a "gift certificate" or book of coupons to help out. If you're a budding photographer, offer free sessions. If you love organizing, offer up a day of helping to declutter one room. If you're a cook, offer a free meal of their choosing (just wanted to see if you're paying attention; this is a repeat from above, mwahaha).

Or, if it's for someone you're a bit closer to, make a booklet of kindnesses. If they have a little one at home, make one coupon of a homemade meal, another for an afternoon of babysitting, and still another a coupon for a girls' (or boys') night out. This is also your way to spend zero dollars at the holidays but offer a nice gift for later in the year, like taking a friend out to their favorite restaurant or your sweetie out to a movie (and popcorn, of course).

Movie Night at Home
Speaking of movies, this idea would honestly make my husband's day. Gather together some popcorn (we use the loose organic kernels, so I'd put them in a simple brown paper bag with cute writing on it), a DVD or two that you already own (ours would probably involve "Citizen Kane," a William Powell flick, or a fun '80s rom-com), and anything else you like to enjoy at movies. If you drink soda, put a bottle or two in; if you snack on candy (and have some around the house), throw some in. You can bag this all up in a holiday gift bag or basket or popcorn bucket or, heck, whatever!  

Walk Down Memory Lane (Literally)
You can give a card saying that you'll be (politely) kidnapping them for a day or half a day at the person's convenience. Take them to some of the spots that have meant the most to you both over the years. For example, if I was going to kidnap my sister, we'd drive by our first home, walk the town, check out the schools, maybe "play" at the playground (although they've changed a ton over the years), and grab the makings for lunch at The Village Market (or junk food at the convenient store). For Dave, we'd probably walk around the town he used to live in, waste time at Barnes and Noble (and maybe Target), then I'd take us to lunch at one of the local places we used to eat a lot -- like Raspberries Cafe. Or, feel free to do a nature walk or hike, if your giftee is into the outdoors.

The point of going these places is to trigger positive memories and meaningful conversation. So, be ready to chat and keep things upbeat. Our hometown is a bittersweet place, but by keeping the memories realistically light, it could help to reconnect with a shared, fond past.  


What do you guys think? Have any great (free) gift ideas to add? Are any of these doable for you?