The MomSpeak

Thanks to a bunch of sick kids and way too many work deadlines to count, I’m still holiday shopping for a few friends and their kids. And while I generally do everything online, I’ve hit the point where shipping something will now cost me my first born child. Not to fret, however, because sometimes the simplest gift, like a book, can be the best.

That being said, a wrapped up book or one stuffed in a gift bag can sometimes look a little chinsy. So along with giving some of my favorite books, all of which I can grab at my local bookseller, I’m adding a little something extra that’s inspired by the words themselves to make it personal and a bit more special.

For the little one

Kit Allen’s adorable “Long John’s” board book is a fave in our house. Pair it with a fun pajama set from Old Navy.

For the princess obsessed preschooler

We always get a hearty chuckle after readinng Robert Munsch’s “Paper Bag Princess.” Pair it with a tiara and a wand.

 

Ah, the holiday letter. That self-congratulatory Christmas card photocopy supplement  crowing about the family’s Nobel- and Olympic-level accomplishments over the past year. So ostentatious. So presumptuous. And so fun to read!

C’mon, admit it! You love holiday letters! I know I do. I can’t wait to hear about how much the kids have grown, and how the job’s going, and what the adventures have been. If the sender threw in a few pictures, all the better.

In my experience, very few holiday letters actually fit the obnoxious stereotype. After all, the people who send us cards ARE our friends, and it’s nice to read a little more about them than “Sincerely, Bill and Janet.” I especially love getting letters from the folks I hear from once a year. Some of my oldest friendships are sustained by the annual holiday letter, and that’s just fine with me.

A couple of years ago I sent out a holiday letter in lieu of cards. I had a great time taping a collage-like collection of photos, ribbons, fortune cookie inserts to a blank piece of printer paper. I then hand wrote a letter in the spaces that were left on the page. I took the whole thing to Kinko’s, made 100 copies onto colored paper, and only paid about $10. I didn’t even stuff the letters into envelopes. I added a personal note to each, tri-folded them, secured them with stickers, stamped and addressed them and sent them out.

I admit that I have spent way too many pennies on my kids’ Christmas outfits in years past. Lovely as they were, the truth of the matter is that they didn’t wear them enough to warrant how much I spent. Not even for that one prized photo with Santa Claus. I suppose it’s a little hard to wear velvet to the playground and then again to bed, but for what I shelled out, that’s the only way I would have gotten my money’s worth.

Since adding another kid to my brood and holding my wallet a bit tighter these days, I’ve learned that your kids can still sport festive and fantastic holiday outfits without you having pay out the nose. With a little creativity and smart shopping, you can find items that will look great on Christmas Day and some random day in February.

Just say “no” to velvet

Just because the dress is beautiful does not mean your kid will want to wear it. Not only can the fancy attire be terribly uncomfortable for your kid, but they’re darn hard to keep clean. For girls, search for a simple red, white, or even black cotton or cotton blend dress that will look great in pictures, but won’t cause them to have major tantrums after wearing it for fifteen minutes. When it comes to your little boy, grab simple basics that he’ll be able to wear for other formal functions; a white or blue button down shirt and khaki pants can go a long way.

With the economy tanking like it is, it’s no wonder that shoppers everywhere are tightening their purse strings and slashing their holiday budgets. But that doesn’t mean you can’t spread some Christmas cheer all around.  Here are some ways you can stretch your budget and still give unique, thoughtful presents to the people you care about most:

1) Know before you go.  Start your gift-giving season my making a list and checking it twice.  If you know exactly who you’re getting presents for and how much you want to spend, you’re less likely to succumb to panic buys or impulse buys. 

2) To clamp down on overspending, consider getting together with family members and setting some limits on the kinds of gifts you buy for each other:

* Set a dollar limit — $10, $20 
* Set a category limit — For example, declare 2008 to be the Year of the Book or the Great Cookie Exchange.
* Set an age limit — Give presents only to family members under 18.  
* Set a person limit — Take a cue from your office Secret Santa; each family member draws just 1 gift recipient from out of a hat.

Who knows, you could start a new family gift-giving tradition that saves you (and your entire family) some money every year.

When it comes to my own holiday traditions, my fondest memories are of those involving the various ornament making sessions with my mom and my younger brother. Each year, my crafty and creative mom would pull out a bunch of organized craft supplies and we’d create everything from beaded Christmas balls to mini-gingerbread ornaments, all of which she’s since saved and now uses to decorate her tree every year.

So as my children get older and can actually do more than just make a gigantic mess, I’ve started my own tradition of yearly ornament making. But for someone whose craft closet contains nothing more than crayons, construction paper, and a few glue sticks, the idea of making ornaments can seem like a bit of a far stretch. However, I’ve found plenty of super simple ones that require nothing more than a few simple supplies and your kid’s little hands to create – no hot glue guns, special tools, or a sewing machine.

And whether you give the ornaments as gifts, hang them on the tree, or toss them in the “ornament retirement home” (ahem), it’s the time you’re spending with your kids that can be the best part of all. Well, at least until they start fighting.

Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments

Just combine cinnamon and applesauce until it forms a dough, roll out between two pieces of wax paper, and use your favorite cookie cutters to create different shapes. Make sure to poke a hole for the ribbon, and the let dry for around 5 days. No extra decoration necessary!