Tag Archives: holidays

Fun Filled Festive Activities to do Before Santa Arrives

11/26/2018 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

The month of December is inching closer and closer by the minute, which means only one thing; Santa is well and truly on his way. The excitement that whirls around your household during the festive season is unbeatable and you want your family to have the best Christmas ever. There are so many exciting activities to be done before the big day arrives so grab some inspiration here and get excited for the holiday season. Your kids will be thrilled to have such a fun filled schedule over the next month, so make every second count and treasure the memories forever.

Find the Perfect Presents

One of the best parts of the pre Christmas preparations is going shopping for gifts. Take a careful look at your little one’s list to Santa and you will soon be able to see what their heart truly desires. If you’re not sure about choosing a specific toy they have requested then you might want to read some in-depth reviews online. When it comes to remote control toys and other gadget-type gifts it is always best to get a second opinion and check out the popular thoughts online.

Decorate the Tree

Heading out to choose the perfect Christmas tree with the family is probably one of the most exciting parts of the festive season, so make the most of it. You should fill an entire day with fun activities to keep the kids entertained; firstly you should head to your local garden center or tree supplier and pick out the perfect pine for your home. Once you have loaded it into the car you will be able to pull out the decorations, make some yummy hot chocolate and dress the tree beautifully ready for the big man to arrive.

Go Ice Skating

If you live near a local ice rink, whether it’s outdoor or indoor you should definitely plan a trip there this year. It’s such a wintry and Christmassy activity that nobody will be able to resist the fun that’s in store. Many local towns build makeshift ice rinks just for the holiday season so look online for the closest one to you.

Plan Your Christmas Feast

It wouldn’t be Christmas without baking festive cookies and getting messy in the kitchen. This is something that you can get all of the family involved in no matter what their age or ability. Look online for recipes for Christmas cookies or even have a go at making gingerbread house this year. You can serve these up on Christmas Day for the whole family and show everyone how much fun you had making them.

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Whether you’re getting busy in the kitchen or making a big deal out of decorating the tree, you can be sure that your fun filled festive activities are never forgotten. Christmas Day is so much more than opening up a few presents; it is about spending quality time with the people that you love. So indulge in some fun filled festive activities this winter season and you will have memories to last a lifetime.

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Perfect Gift Ideas for Your Boss

11/21/2016 R.C. Liley 1 Comment

With the holidays looming right around the corner, it’s time to start crossing to-do’s off your list. And while most friends and family may be fun and games to shop for, there’s one person on that list that doesn’t come so easy: your boss. Everyone wants to find the perfect, office-appropriate gift for their boss, but few have any idea where to start. Luckily, we’ve compiled a can’t-miss list that includes a few gifts sure to be a hit in any office.

On-the-go Coffee Press

If you often find yourself catching your boss with coffee cup in hand, they’re sure to appreciate a nice go-cup for their morning brew. But not just any go-cup will do, so step it up a notch and get them this on-the-go coffee press. It’s a great way to enjoy the morning pick me up and feels fancy, too. French presses are known for the rich, deep flavor they give coffee, so it will serve as a definite upgrade for the run of the mill cup. Simply pour hot water over the grounds, allow the coffee to steep for about three minutes, plunge down and enjoy a cup that tastes as if it was brewed straight from France. Failing that, you could even try to find the best subscription of coffee for them and pay for a few months, they’ll sure love getting regular coffee deliveries without having to pay a penny!

Mug Warmer

Also tailor-made for the coffee fanatic, this Mr. Coffee mug warmer will keep your boss’s coffee warm and spirits high. Because a long day often requires multiple cups (and nothing makes a long day worse than a cold cup of coffee), give them the gift of fresh coffee all day long. It’s easy to use; a convenient cord length makes it easy to plug in anywhere and the surface is easily cleaned. And with a price tag of just $10, you’ll be eager to pick one up for yourself as well.

Gift Certificate to His or Her Favorite Restaurant

Treat them to a night on you with a gift certificate. Do a little digging to find out what their favorite (or one of their favorite) restaurant is and give them a dinner on you. Certificates to many restaurants can be found on Gift Card Granny, or go the old fashioned route and stop by the location. If that isn’t quite your style, try finding out if a favorite band of theirs is coming in town and surprise them with tickets. Of course major bands come with major price tags, so it’s a perfect to go in with as a team. Your boss will appreciate the thought and personal touch, and it’s guaranteed to be a gift they’ll enjoy.

Custom Socks

For something truly out of the ordinary, think socks. And no, we’re not talking your average, run of the mill sneaker socks, but custom socks designed particularly with your boss in mind. Have a boss that loves sports? Check out performance men’s socks from Stance.com. Is your boss a woman who has an affinity for Star Wars? They have that too. With custom socks this cool, your boss will be the talk of the office—in the best of ways.

Gourmet Gift Basket or Wine Collection

When in doubt, stick with the classics. Because everyone loves food (and who doesn’t need a secret stash at the office) you can’t go wrong with a gift basket. Make your own out of a nice basket and fill it with some of your boss’s favorite snacks, or pick a pre-made one from places like The Manly Man Company.

You can even choose sets paired with a bottle wine to compliment different chocolates or cheeses. Or, skip the food part altogether and opt for a wine collection. Because who doesn’t need a little indulgence over the holidays?

Whether you decide on something big or small, your boss is sure to appreciate the gesture. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the egg nog. We’ve got the office gift giving covered.

Life, Parenting

You Don’t Need An Elf or A Shelf For Tradition

12/08/2015 R.C. Liley 4 Comments

The Elf on the Shelf Christmas tradition is definitely cute and fun for kids and parents, but you can just as easily start your own, less commercialized tradition too. To me, once there’s an app for that, a lot of the fun part goes away.

I prefer to keep most traditions exclusively within the family, and recently, without the intent of it becoming tradition, we created our own Elf-on-the-Shelf-like tradition with Lamby. If you are not aware of her current best plush friend, it’s the lamb (obviously) in her hand.

Lamby is always by her side unless he’s “taking a bath” in the washing machine from too much outside playtime. One night, after Avery’s usual pre-bed bath, I decided to place Lamby on the couch where he was peaking over the side. When she came running, naked straight out of the bath, there he was, staring right down the hall where she emerged.

The first time caught her off guard, but her face lit up as she proclaimed “Lamby!” as getting on to him for moving from the spot she had left him. Going Mom and I both loved seeing our wide-grinned daughter excitedly running to find Lamby and grab him to bring to bed. Thus, a tradition was born.

Every night since, I’ve been trying to find a new spot/pose for her wooly pal to be found. Now, after getting out of the bath, she’ll ask where Lamby is and my wife will say she doesn’t know and to go find him. He’s been on the couch in various areas, holding her toy kettlebell, climbing on the desk in our front entry, sitting on a balloon, and most recently, playing with blocks.

Avery has been repeating “Lamby’s playing with blocks” for the past couple days now, so I am sticking with it for now. She obviously enjoys finding her rogue Lamby.

Honestly, I’m running out of ideas. I know there is so much more I can do, but I don’t want her going on a scavenger hunt right before bed. Especially when she’s running around naked in a cold house; she can get upset in an instant. Oh wait, that’s toddlers in general.

So he doesn’t come with a book telling the story of his purpose for hiding around the house to keep tabs on our little girl for Santa or the Easter Bunny, but she love it nonetheless. Besides, Lamby is unique to us. Maybe other families have their own free versions too, but we have Lamby in our house, and that just makes it more fun to us.

Who knows, maybe she’ll want an elf as she gets older, but right now, Lamby is free and fun for all which makes it a win-win for everyone. Now, I need to find some new Lamby hiding spots since I know blocks can’t his thing every night.

Do you do Elf on the Shelf in your home?

Do you have your own version of this or any other popular/commercialized tradition?

Any thoughts on what Lamby should be doing next?