Thursday, January 15, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Gift Giving In Tough Economical Times
Okay, financially speaking, we’re probably all singing the blues right now. Not only nationally, but also globally, people in all economic stratas are feeling, if not a pinch, at least a little nudge in the wrong direction. Many of us are talking around the water cooler at work or the dinner table at home about reining in our spending. Personally, I don’t think this is a bad idea at all. Much of society has been living beyond what they could comfortably afford. Sooner or later that lifestyle is going to catch up. But I don’t believe that we should go around with our chins on our chest, preaching nothing but doom and gloom. We have a financial challenge and we’re going to meet that challenge. In the meantime, we all need to remember that the things we enjoy in life can, and should continue.
If travel is what you want to give your lover as a gift and it is way beyond anything affordable right now, how about a travel book of a desired destination (Tuscany, perhaps)? If finances allow, include dinner at a local Italian restaurant. If finances don’t allow for the dinner, don’t despair. Get in the kitchen and whip up a big pot of spaghetti; throw in a bottle of Two-Buck Chuck and you are looking at a delicious, creative evening.
Say the recipient of your gift is your 5-year-old son. He’s going through an artistic phase and every item advertised on television or in those endless catalogs that continue to arrive in the mail at this time of year that has anything at all to do with drawing pictures, he wants it! And we’re not talking about a box of crayons here. Don’t allow yourself to become caught up in all the advertisements thrown your way. Be creative. Give your child a unique gift. Actually, give him 12 unique gifts. On the 25th of each month in 2009, present young Junior with a wrapped package and a promise to spend a half hour on that very day he receives it enjoying it with him. All well and good, you say, but I can’t think of two gifts that I can afford, let alone 12! Following are suggestions, many of which can be found at your local dollar store.
• A box of crayons. Despite what the television commercials would have
you believe, a child can still find hours of entertainment with a box of
crayons. If your child has crayons already, think outside the box (I know, I
just couldn’t resist!) – get him a box of neon colors, or skin tone colors, or
colored pencils instead of crayons.
• An inexpensive coloring book. These can be found at the dollar store very
inexpensively. Look for one that displays an interest of his – Spiderman, dogs,
word play.
• Sidewalk chalk.
• A pad of colored construction paper, a pair of safety scissors for a young child and
a glue stick.
• Clay or play doh. (And don’t be tricked into believing you need all the special tools
sold in the same aisle – a few items from your kitchen drawer will work just fine.) You can also find the recipe for a play doh substitute on the internet. (familyfun.com)
• Finger paint. If you go to your local newspaper office they may give you a roll of
newsprint. It will last forever!
• Squiggly eyes, glitter, a couple of squares of felt. Then take your tyke on a walk and
collect rocks that together you can turn into pet rocks. Have fun naming them. Don’t be surprised if you both actually become rather attached to your new pets.
• A disposable camera (or let him use your digital camera). Go to a park and let him take pictures with minimal instruction from you. After the pictures are developed or
copied, provide your budding artist with some pieces of cardboard or card stock and suggest he create his own photo album.
• Find some old magazines and provide the safety scissors. Let him cut out pictures while you explain what a collage is (many pictures with a common theme). Then he can glue the pictures on a large sheet of card stock or paper while he explains to
you the reason he chose each one. Believe me, there’s a story in this one!
• This one’s lots of fun! Visit this website: familyfun.com They have recipes for
playing with one’s food. In other words, making art from food – and you get to
eat it!
• Go to your local hobby shop and purchase a package of popsickle sticks. Add
some glue and you’ll be amazed at what might appear on your work table.
• You’ll need a large piece of paper for this one. The newsprint would be perfect.
Have you child lie down on the paper while you trace around him. Then have him
paint the person you’ve traced. Watch closely to see how he perceives himself.
• Pompoms, squiggly eyes, pipe cleaners and glue. Your child can create an entire village.
There, I’ve given you enough ideas for the entire year plus one extra. I’m sure you can come up with many more. But remember that a vital part of this gift is the time you share with your little van Gogh! It’s priceless.
Finally, I’m going to take you to the other end of the age spectrum. This happens to be the end I inhabit so I feel very confident with these suggestions. Those of us who are moving past our ‘middle years’ simply don’t need more things. In fact, we’re trying to get rid of many of the things we have accumulated. Here are a few ideas of things we do need:
We need to know that you care about us. Vow that you will phone us once a month, just to chat. Make the call during a time when you won’t feel that after “hello” you’ll need to rush off.
We need to be able to enjoy a meal that we haven’t opened a can or carton and popped into the microwave. When you prepare a family meal, make a little extra. If it’s for someone who lives in the neighborhood it would be a nice gesture to bring it over on a tray at mealtime, still hot and fragrant, maybe with a flower on the tray. We understand that you probably can’t stay, but the effort to make it extra special will be appreciated.
Sometimes we need to have errands run. Do you have four hours on a Saturday that you could promise if we supplied you with a list, you could run errands for us?
We need to know that our checkbook is balanced. Can you do that for us?
Some of us have failing eyesight. Maybe a grandchild can come by every so often and read to us. If not a book, perhaps a magazine article or some articles from the newspaper.
Most of all, we need to know that we have done something worthy during our lives. Maybe sending a card or a phone call reminding us of a memory you have valued of something we might have said or done.
Sometimes it takes a little effort; sometimes you just forget – but if it’s true, please tell us that you love us.
Okay, financially speaking, we’re probably all singing the blues right now. Not only nationally, but also globally, people in all economic stratas are feeling, if not a pinch, at least a little nudge in the wrong direction. Many of us are talking around the water cooler at work or the dinner table at home about reining in our spending. Personally, I don’t think this is a bad idea at all. Much of society has been living beyond what they could comfortably afford. Sooner or later that lifestyle is going to catch up. But I don’t believe that we should go around with our chins on our chest, preaching nothing but doom and gloom. We have a financial challenge and we’re going to meet that challenge. In the meantime, we all need to remember that the things we enjoy in life can, and should continue.
If travel is what you want to give your lover as a gift and it is way beyond anything affordable right now, how about a travel book of a desired destination (Tuscany, perhaps)? If finances allow, include dinner at a local Italian restaurant. If finances don’t allow for the dinner, don’t despair. Get in the kitchen and whip up a big pot of spaghetti; throw in a bottle of Two-Buck Chuck and you are looking at a delicious, creative evening.
Say the recipient of your gift is your 5-year-old son. He’s going through an artistic phase and every item advertised on television or in those endless catalogs that continue to arrive in the mail at this time of year that has anything at all to do with drawing pictures, he wants it! And we’re not talking about a box of crayons here. Don’t allow yourself to become caught up in all the advertisements thrown your way. Be creative. Give your child a unique gift. Actually, give him 12 unique gifts. On the 25th of each month in 2009, present young Junior with a wrapped package and a promise to spend a half hour on that very day he receives it enjoying it with him. All well and good, you say, but I can’t think of two gifts that I can afford, let alone 12! Following are suggestions, many of which can be found at your local dollar store.
• A box of crayons. Despite what the television commercials would have
you believe, a child can still find hours of entertainment with a box of
crayons. If your child has crayons already, think outside the box (I know, I
just couldn’t resist!) – get him a box of neon colors, or skin tone colors, or
colored pencils instead of crayons.
• An inexpensive coloring book. These can be found at the dollar store very
inexpensively. Look for one that displays an interest of his – Spiderman, dogs,
word play.
• Sidewalk chalk.
• A pad of colored construction paper, a pair of safety scissors for a young child and
a glue stick.
• Clay or play doh. (And don’t be tricked into believing you need all the special tools
sold in the same aisle – a few items from your kitchen drawer will work just fine.) You can also find the recipe for a play doh substitute on the internet. (familyfun.com)
• Finger paint. If you go to your local newspaper office they may give you a roll of
newsprint. It will last forever!
• Squiggly eyes, glitter, a couple of squares of felt. Then take your tyke on a walk and
collect rocks that together you can turn into pet rocks. Have fun naming them. Don’t be surprised if you both actually become rather attached to your new pets.
• A disposable camera (or let him use your digital camera). Go to a park and let him take pictures with minimal instruction from you. After the pictures are developed or
copied, provide your budding artist with some pieces of cardboard or card stock and suggest he create his own photo album.
• Find some old magazines and provide the safety scissors. Let him cut out pictures while you explain what a collage is (many pictures with a common theme). Then he can glue the pictures on a large sheet of card stock or paper while he explains to
you the reason he chose each one. Believe me, there’s a story in this one!
• This one’s lots of fun! Visit this website: familyfun.com They have recipes for
playing with one’s food. In other words, making art from food – and you get to
eat it!
• Go to your local hobby shop and purchase a package of popsickle sticks. Add
some glue and you’ll be amazed at what might appear on your work table.
• You’ll need a large piece of paper for this one. The newsprint would be perfect.
Have you child lie down on the paper while you trace around him. Then have him
paint the person you’ve traced. Watch closely to see how he perceives himself.
• Pompoms, squiggly eyes, pipe cleaners and glue. Your child can create an entire village.
There, I’ve given you enough ideas for the entire year plus one extra. I’m sure you can come up with many more. But remember that a vital part of this gift is the time you share with your little van Gogh! It’s priceless.
Finally, I’m going to take you to the other end of the age spectrum. This happens to be the end I inhabit so I feel very confident with these suggestions. Those of us who are moving past our ‘middle years’ simply don’t need more things. In fact, we’re trying to get rid of many of the things we have accumulated. Here are a few ideas of things we do need:
We need to know that you care about us. Vow that you will phone us once a month, just to chat. Make the call during a time when you won’t feel that after “hello” you’ll need to rush off.
We need to be able to enjoy a meal that we haven’t opened a can or carton and popped into the microwave. When you prepare a family meal, make a little extra. If it’s for someone who lives in the neighborhood it would be a nice gesture to bring it over on a tray at mealtime, still hot and fragrant, maybe with a flower on the tray. We understand that you probably can’t stay, but the effort to make it extra special will be appreciated.
Sometimes we need to have errands run. Do you have four hours on a Saturday that you could promise if we supplied you with a list, you could run errands for us?
We need to know that our checkbook is balanced. Can you do that for us?
Some of us have failing eyesight. Maybe a grandchild can come by every so often and read to us. If not a book, perhaps a magazine article or some articles from the newspaper.
Most of all, we need to know that we have done something worthy during our lives. Maybe sending a card or a phone call reminding us of a memory you have valued of something we might have said or done.
Sometimes it takes a little effort; sometimes you just forget – but if it’s true, please tell us that you love us.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Celebrating Your Memories Outside the Box!
For those of you who read this blog last week, you may recall that I was making plans to sort through old photos as a winter project. I also promised that I would share with you a marvelous idea. I suggest that as soon as you finish reading this, you visit this website: www.tabithageary.com. This woman has developed a product that every family will want to have – for every member of the family! She has taken the concept of scrapbooking and combined it with the concept of a photo album, and thrown in that unique blend of love found within each family. She then creates a book that I promise will just blow you away.
I’ve seen her work and it’s absolutely amazing, so amazing that her company has been named a finalist for the Martha Stewart "Dreamers into Doers" contest.
This is a product that has the potential to go so far beyond a family album. In this time in our country’s history, when so many of our young people are far off fighting a war that we all wish would end, this book could make a huge difference to their emotional well being.
For the families who have lost a special member and want to make sure that person is never forgotten, this book can link the generations.
To record a special vacation, an achievement, a moment in time, check out Tabitha’s website today. Oh! And the very best part is you can just cart in all those photos and momentos and Tabitha and her staff will put it all together for you!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Celebrating Memories
Okay, everyone, as much as you wish to remain in denial, the facts are clear. Summer is over and we are moving well into the fall season. Nothing wrong with that! Fall is a beautiful time of year. The air is a little crisp, leaves are turning colors and there are even a few special holidays ahead. Halloween is great fun for old and young alike. That’s followed by Thanksgiving – my personal favorite holiday of the entire year. But we all know that as we move into December, anything can happen. The weather can make dramatic changes and we may find ourselves indoors more than we’d like to be. Even those pampered souls in sunny southern California may experience several days of rain (please, let it rain!) What to do with all that indoor time? You know you always promise yourself to clean out the closets, basement, drawers and cupboards. Maybe you’ll even do a bit of that this year, but you should have one or two fun projects lined up for the encroaching hibernation season. And if you need supplies for those projects, the day of the first blizzard is not the best time to go out shopping.
Promise yourself that in the next two weeks, you will choose a project you’d enjoy working on and do a little research to determine what you will need to begin and complete that project. Make a list and go out and purchase those supplies now. Then you’ll be ready. I’ve already determined what my project will be. I want to arrange my photographs. While going through boxes to estimate just what I’m going to need in the way of photo albums I began thumbing through old photos. Nothing can eat into a day like going through old photos. But what a terrific way to spend one’s time.
Early in 2008 our family lost a very special member. My husband’s great-aunt passed away at the age of 102. I miss her every day. Peggy Berlin, more than anyone I know, always had a way of making me feel not only special, but worthy. A hug from Peggy was a loving gift. She also told the best stories. Please humor me for a moment while I share one of her stories with you.
Well, I’ve gotten a little sidetracked here, but the message I want to leave you with is this: Go through those old photos and memorabilia. Look at them closely. Remember the people from your past. Maybe even shed a tear or two. But appreciate having had those certain people in your life and celebrate that bond.
Be sure to come back next week for some terrific ideas to save, enhance and treasure memories.
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