The Family Dinner Box of Questions

I think I’m in love with the “Box Girls”: Cece Feiler and Heidi Haddad. They came up with this idea of having a box of conversation questions (not trivia but actual conversational questions about ethics and other deep stuff) to help amuse the whole family while waiting for dinner whilst dining out (I used “whilst”—that’s got to be worth some points!). Yes, it’s possible to do this without the cards, but having cards makes it into more of a game for kids while getting them to learn the fine art of conversation about something other than the newest Miley Cyrus video or XBox game. It also keeps kids from getting bored and disruptive while dining out at restaurants where crayons and a kids’ menu aren’t provided the minute you’re seated.

Posted on 28 Jul 2008 by admin | with no comments yet

Parenting Strategies for the Holidays: Get One, Give One

As the mom of a preschooler, I can identify with any parent that complains about toy clutter. The worst type of toy clutter I’ve ever experienced is that of the toys that are no longer played with. This is where the “Get one, give one” rule comes into play.

If your young(er) child has toys they’ve outgrown, or just don’t play with anymore, allow them to pick them out of their collection, figure out if someone else can get some enjoyment out of them, and donate them to a worthy cause. If they’re beyond all hope, find a way to compassionately discharge them from your household (if there’s a way to avoid landfills, take it).

Posted on 11 Dec 2007 by Tina V. | with no comments yet

Gifts That Don’t Suck: A Small Gift-Giving Lens on Squidoo

It’s been rather busy around here this holiday season. In an attempt to make amends for the lack of posts, I’ve been trying to be a good blogger and provide some useful (and sometimes ranty) information about gift-giving. In addition to the posts here, I’ve also been turned onto a little web service known as Squidoo. It’s actually rather nice: you compose lenses, which are rather like small guides to a certain subject. The first lens I ever made was on gifts that don’t “suck”.

It’s not about being ungrateful, it’s about giving gifts that the recipient will genuinely appreciate, regardless of budget constraints. Check it out over at www.squidoo.com/giftsthatdontsuck.

Posted on 10 Dec 2007 by Tina V. | Comments are closed

Twisted Cookie Exchange: Gingerbread people, complete with missing parts

In real life, there’s nothing funny about amputation. It’s just… wrong. The rules on funny bend a little bit, though, when applied to the lives of cookies. If you live in a household like mine, with a mind like anyone in my small family possesses, it’s extremely telling when you look at which part of the gingerbread person (we respect their privacy and don’t refer to them in any gender-specific manner) gets gobbled up first. With my daughter, it’s usually the head. She’s merciful for a preschooler. My husband prefers the legs (so they can’t run away). Me? I go for whatever is sticking out, because it’s a cookie.

When I saw these cookie cutters on Baking Bites, I knew these would be an awesome addition to our holiday cookie exchange. Instead of waiting for your child to horrify friends and relatives, you can make your own, pre-bitten, twisted cookies and decorate accordingly. It may not be for the faint of heart, but if you have some fans of the horror genre, or just some sick little puppies in your circle of friends, these are a perfect gift. Just be sure to include a nice recipe (if you’re at a loss for a recipe, try Baking Bite’s Gingerbread recipe) with them, so that gingerbread people can be made and shared immediately.

Posted on 10 Dec 2007 by Tina V. | Comments are closed

Really? A “Push Present”?

Ok, so we’re deviating from the holiday format for a post to bring you what I think is one of the most ludicrous things I’ve ever heard of: the “Push Present”. Blame it on the New York Times: they ran the story that just made me gag a little bit.

Posted on 7 Dec 2007 by Tina V. | with no comments yet

Five Links to Make Great Gifts Look Even Better

I’m not exactly known for my gift-wrapping skills. Yes, I do fancy art stuff, but when it comes to wrapping presents, I’m not the neatest girl on the block. My husband, thankfully, takes this task over for me. However, I know a few good “how-tos” that can help me, and possibly you, overcome this grievous character deficiency and start wrapping.

Posted on 7 Dec 2007 by Tina V. | Comments are closed

Last Minute Hanukkah: A Gift for the Audiophile

Know someone who is really into music, spoken word, podcasts or audiobooks? If you do, and that person has an iPod, you’ve got a pretty easy combination for a gift: get them something to help them listen to their iPod in their car. Seriously — it’s like peanut butter meeting up with jelly. If you know a certain teenager who has earned their driver’s license, this would make a great gift as well.

Posted on 6 Dec 2007 by Tina V. | Comments are closed

An Argument Against Gift Cards

I know I said that gift cards are the perfect gift, but I felt I had to offer a counter-argument to the whole gift card suggestion. It seems that there are some very persuasive arguments against gift cards that may sway you toward giving cold, hard, cash for the holidays.

If you’re wondering why I may be waffling on the idea of giving gift cards, check out Seth Godin’s article, The $8 billion story/scam. After reading it, I’m a little more wary of giving the gift of store-affiliated plastic.

Posted on 5 Dec 2007 by Tina V. | Comments are closed