SHARK BITES – Holiday Traditions
This is the time of year when creativity is at its finest. Whether you’re an expert bargain shopper, dynamic DIY crafter, or creative cook… there are never-ending ideas to make your home, holiday and parties memorable!
With the kids soon to be out of school for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, parents will want to have activities available to keep them active. Although Christmas gifts will keep them entertained… it’s the leading up to that day that needs to be planned out.
Indoor Activities:
- Decorate the Christmas tree
- Play with Lego’s
- Play with train sets
- Coloring Books
- Use chalk on black construction paper
- Read books
- Watch holiday movies
- Bake holiday cookies
- String Popcorn for the Christmas tree
- Play musical chairs
- Board games
- Snuggle and drink warm cocoa before bedtime
Outdoor Activities:
- Go to the movies
- Go for a hay ride
- See your local parades and Christmas in lights festivities
- Make ornaments
- Go bowling
- Go skating
Take a trip to a dollar store and reward your child(ren) for good behavior by letting them pick out one item. It’s cheap, but effective! Give them a freebie coupon for candy, if you have it. They’ll feel like a big kid “paying” for their own stuff! 😉
DIY!
If you’re a do-it-yourself (DIY) type of person, these below holiday ideas, just may bring the creativity out in you. Why not start a new tradition? 😉
Snow Days
“Like snow globes, apothecary jars hold tiny winter wonderlands. Stand bottlebrush trees and toy deer spray-painted gold in Epsom salts snow.”
Triple Trees
“Bring a little winter wonderland to your house with this white window box. Create the look by placing three small faux Christmas trees in a metal trough planter and decorating the planter with snowflakes. Place on a wooden bench or other high surface to raise it off the ground or floor.”
Candlestick Cones
“Top some silver candlesticks with silvery painted pinecones for a glittering display. Group several on a tray, and add some blue or silver ornaments for even more impact.
To paint pinecones, apply several thin coats of metallic silver spray paint.”
When it comes to throwing parties, be creative in your table display. Even placing food strategically on plates can be a creative gesture. Also, find out what your guests like to eat in advance. That way food and desserts will be eaten up for sure! If you are like many shoppers that use coupons, try and match up sale items with manufacturer, and store coupons. Don’t forget utilize your Carthweel app if you are shopping at Target, and well as, texted coupons. Speaking of apps— many stores have them. So make sure you have them loaded and ready to use when you get to your favorite stores.
EAT. PRAY. LOVE.
As families gather around the holiday table to pray over their food and eat… take time out to share why you are thankful for your loved ones. If at all possible, have someone record each person as you go around the table. This will make for great DVD copies to distribute to your guests at a later date, and makes for a great tradition to start. Also, documenting a baby’s first holiday will make for a great keepsake, when they are older. Don’t forget to make a wish if you get the bigger part of the wishbone! 😉
Close out your night watching a holiday movie with your family and friends, while eating dessert. Take lots of pictures for your holiday 2015 scrapbook.
Sharky wants to know:
- What’s your favorite traditional Thanksgiving side dish?
- Will you be cooking or will someone else be?
- Will you be traveling or staying home for the holidays?
Enjoy your holiday season and don’t eat too much!
And remember…
“Don’t sink with the fishes. Be the consumer in the know!”
~Sharky
What is “Shark Bites”? Shark Bites is a money-saving tips series here on FreebieShark that aims to help you and your family get the most out of your money. “Shark Bites” posts are both educational and straight to the point. Just another way FreebieShark is helping you save!
