5 DIY Holiday Gifts

Last Friday I promised a post about "5 Easy DIY Holiday Gifts." Well, they're not all easy, but they're doable! I've only got official guides for three of them because I wasn't sure if the other two would work out or not. They did, so maybe I'll do real guides for the other two next year. So here they are, from easy to hard!

1. Candy Cane Marshmallows.

Check out How to Make Candy Cane Marshmallows by Chick Opinion on Snapguide.

2. Christmas Oreo Truffles.

Check out How to Make Christmas Oreo Truffles by Chick Opinion on Snapguide.

3. Sheet Music Christmas Ball Ornaments.

Check out How to Make Sheet Music Christmas Ball Ornaments by Chick Opinion on Snapguide.







4. Ho-Ho-Hot Chocolate.
It took me about two hours to figure out how to make this work, but I love it! It's a little Santa put on a bag of hot chocolate powder. Perfect for a "Secret Santa" gift or a stocking stuffer!


Supplies: 
- Skin-toned card stock
- Red card stock
- Brown paper bags
- Small bell
- 2 black beads (larger than seed beads, smaller than pony beads)
- 2 small buttons
- White furry yarn or fabric
- 2 small plastic bag
- Glue stick (for the paper)
- Mod Podge or tacky glue (for the fur)
- Black thread
- Red thread
- White thread
- Needle
- Scissors
- Regular scotch tape
- Double-sided tape
- Hot chocolate powder
- Mini marshmallows

Instructions:
1. Cut Santa face, beard, and hat shape (all connected) out of skin-toned card stock.
2. Cut hat shape out of red card stock, a little larger than skin-toned hat outline.
3. Using the glue stick, glue red hat onto larger skin-toned piece.
4. Sew bell onto end of hat using the red thread and only a couple of stitches. If you use too many, you will ruin the point of the hat. This step can be done at the very end if you don't like bell sounds. It got a little bit annoying. :)
5. While you still have red thread on your needle, sew the red buttons on Santa's cheeks.
6. Swap out the red thread for the black and sew on the eyes.
7. Using the Mod Podge or tacky glue (do not try to use the glue stick; ask me how I know that doesn't work...!), glue on the material you have chosen for the fur on the hat.
8. Cut little curls from the fur material.
9. Using the tacky glue or Mod Podge, glue the curls on for the mustache.
10. While you're letting Santa's face dry, place one of the little plastic bags in front of you with one of the corners pointing at your belly button. Sew two lines with the white thread "up" to make a little pocket shape. This is the "beard."
11. Fill it up with mini marshmallows.
12. Cut the excess of the bag off, including the zipping part of the bag.
13. Fold any excess as well as the open top to the back of the beard.
14. Tape it down.
15. Using the double-sided tape, tape the beard to the card stock face.
16. Fill the other little bag with some hot chocolate powder.
17. Wrap it with the brown paper bag.
18. Using the double-sided tape, tape the face to the bag. Whew! You're done!

5. Stockings.

I hand embroidered these with our names. I cut the letters with my Cricut and taped them on while I did their outlines. It took me about six hours to outline and fill the names, but they look great. The red outside shell is polar fleece and they're lined with white flannel. The "fur" is a remnant I found a while back that I knew would be perfect for these. It's my own pattern but I definitely didn't come up with this idea, seeing as it's been around for decades. Don't forget the bells on edge of the fur--if you try to peek in your stocking before Christmas morning the elves will hear you! ;)

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." --Gandhi

6 Gifts Men Really Want

When Christmas rolls around, I find that the men on my list are the hardest to shop for. Here are 6 things that prove to always be opened with a big smile.

1. What they have specifically asked for. A lot of time we lovely women think we know best (we're usually right!). When it comes to gifts, though, if the man in your life has specifically said, "I would really like _______ for Christmas," that's what he wants. Really. Even if we think it's incredibly low-key or we don't understand why he could want something like that, it's what he wants and he'll love it!

2. Something that hearkens back to their childhood. Last year I got my fiancé a University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux hockey jersey. He grew up in North Dakota and went to their hockey games with his family when he was young. UND just had to relinquish the name "Fighting Sioux" for political correctness reasons and I knew I wouldn't be able to get him something after the name was changed. I loved getting to see his face when he opened it! He didn't expect it and he's worn it all year.

3. Little things they wouldn't buy for themselves. Stocking stuffers can get expensive with guys, especially if they're techies. So forego the tiny expensive things and get a few stuffers they would never  even think of, but will enjoy: backscratcher brush for the shower, nail clippers that they can keep exclusively in their bathroom so they don't take yours, little bags of their favorite snacks, scented candle for their bathroom, pens (they always lose pens!), or an iTunes gift card.

4. Something that you don't necessarily like, but they do. Giving gifts is all about giving something that you know the other person will love. The first birthday my fiancé had when we were dating, I got him a Tempurpedic pillow. Boring, right?! But I knew he would love it; and he did! He still sleeps on it every night.

5. Handmade gifts from the heart. I know this might sound like something "lame" for guys, but it's really not. I made my future father-in-law a scarf last year and he loved it! Photo albums, old letters, and scrapbooks are other ways to show that you care. Coupon books for the leading gentleman in your life are always a hit.

6. Homemade food. We've all heard the saying, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." It's true. If you give them homemade food, of any sort, done up in a festive way, it will be appreciated by being eaten by lunch time...!

Have a great holiday weekend! Coming on Monday: 5 Easy Handmade Holiday Gifts.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." --Gandhi

'Tis the Season to Be...Shopping?

Black Friday that starts at 8pm on Thanksgiving night, Small Business Saturday that starts the evening of Black Friday, Cyber Monday that starts at 6pm on Sunday night...what's next? Opening presents on the 24th? Or New Year's Eve Eve parties?

Thanksgiving night I was playing cards with my future in-laws and getting ready to watch the Patriots game. We were laughing, eating too much, and talking football. The tall grandfather clock in the foyer struck eight and I laughed and said, "Oh good! Walmart's open; let's go start our shopping!" Everyone laughed and we all kind of took a minute to realize where we were and who we were with; we truly were thankful to be together in that moment.

I've done the Black Friday shopping thing before. While I understand the kinds of deals you can get when you shop on Black Friday, isn't it more important to spend time with your family instead of getting cheap gifts for them? And, let's be honest, how much of what you buy on Black Friday is really for your family? The two times I went Black Friday shopping, I did get most of the gifts on my list, but I also was sucked in by the amazing sales and bought a lot of things for myself.

It feels like we are pushed to buy buy buy for our family because that will show them that we love them. But are the presents what we really remember? I don't remember any of the gifts I got for my family on either Black Friday trip. I don't remember the things I got for myself on either trip. I don't really remember the gifts I've received for Christmases that aren't things I still use frequently (dress form, Cricut, sewing machine). I do remember the Thanksgivings and Christmases I've shared with my family in terms of conversations, dinners, and laughter.

I absolutely am about to take advantage of Cyber Monday to buy our Christmas cards. I love VistaPrint's selection and there are some great deals today. Other than that, my fiancé and I actually might be making all of the presents we give to people this year. I feel like homemade gifts mean more to family. My mom knitted me socks a couple of years ago; I still wear them and think about my mom every time I do. I've cross-stitched a couple of things for my grandparents and they framed them and hung them in their house. My dad wrote a book of poetry and gave it to us a few years ago and I still have it on my bookshelf. These gifts mean so much more than just running to the store, getting into a brawl, grabbing something off a shelf, and wrapping it.

My challenge to you (and myself) this holiday season is to take a second to stop, take stock of your family, and be grateful. My family isn't perfect, but I am so grateful to have every one of my relatives in my family. If you choose to give gifts this year, give something that you know means something both to you and the recipient of the gift.

Be in the moment every moment this holiday.

L to R: Emily (sister), me, Bridget (sister), Brandan (brother)