Author |
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Friday, December 11, 2009 - 12:34 am
Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate it! I hope you have a wonderful holiday spent with family and friends.
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Panda
Member
07-15-2005
| Friday, December 11, 2009 - 8:09 am
Thanks for the link for the letter, Wargod! Here's another cute one for the kids: http://www.mdmgames.net/npnWalgreens/
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Happymom
Member
01-20-2003
| Friday, December 11, 2009 - 11:10 am
DF! Love your story! Happy Hanukkah! War, very cute about the two front teeth! Christy, that is funny! I'm going to tell that to everyone I know who work in retail! I hope to wrap some presents this weekend. I'm in a great mood, but still don't feel like it's Christmas time.
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Dipo
Member
04-23-2002
| Friday, December 11, 2009 - 11:27 am
What's your holiday dinner? I am trying to get some ideas for something simple, not really interested in ham, turkey or roast, LOL.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Friday, December 11, 2009 - 11:34 am
Our holiday dinner is spent with bil's Italian family, Dipo. Spaghetti with three different kinds of sausage, lasagna, manicotti. Sauces that take days to make. Lots and lots of Italian food, plus some of the more traditional things like ham and a roast. Totally awesome.
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Mameblanche
Member
08-24-2002
| Friday, December 11, 2009 - 12:29 pm
Tom Lehrer sings Hanukkah in Santa Monica, click and enjoy! 
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Couchtomato
Member
09-09-2008
| Friday, December 11, 2009 - 3:52 pm
~~Happy Hanukkah!!!~~
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Biscottiii
Member
05-29-2004
| Saturday, December 12, 2009 - 4:46 am
Peter, Paul and Mary - Light One Candle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yZ1zxtbOJE From Holiday Concert - 1988 No matter how many times I have seen this, it always gives me goosebumps. Sadly we lost Mary in this past year, but PP&M were so ... sorry I can't think of the words to express, but their song does it so well.
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Konamouse
Member
07-16-2001
| Saturday, December 12, 2009 - 3:15 pm
1st night down, 7 to go! Happy Hannukka!

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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Saturday, December 12, 2009 - 11:28 pm
Between yesterday and today, I've nearly got all the shopping done. Sis and I hit a couple stores last night, but the bigger part was done today. I have to say most of it, including a trip to Walmart was fairly easy and quick, not too busy or insane. Our last stop though was a little discount clothing store we've been going to for the kids. Great store, great prices. Today though a horrible nightmare. Very, very crowded, people reaching in front of you to grab things, but worst of all, they only had four registers open and three of the cashiers were still training! Line wrapped all the way around the store and we stood there for a good hour and a half. If it wasn't for the fact that I'd searched so long for what I was looking for, and finally found those items, I'd have left. Figured it'd just get worse in the coming days though. At this point all we have left is Darren and I doing a little shopping for each other and my middle niece. I could use a few more stocking stuffers for Caleb, but I seem to be having problems with finding stuff for him. This is the kids last week of school so I'm planning on spending Monday/Tuesday getting everything wrapped. That will make me very happy cuz then all I have to do til Christmas is the fun stuff.
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Biscottiii
Member
05-29-2004
| Sunday, December 13, 2009 - 12:19 am
I just had an idea for a relatively inexpensive but very personalized gift for a Mom or Grandma. Buy a sweatshirt or t-shirt. Trace around the kids' hands with pencil (test first, but black or red inkpens sometimes bleeds in), then squeeze a Scribble around the handprint, and put the kid's name inside. I was posting to Julieboo in another thread, but here's the info about Scribbles: Julie, once you sew or stitch the panel on, one thing to try is the "Scribbles 3D Paint" or similar brand (99cents @ Joanne's fabric & crafts last time I bought). Comes in all sorts of colors and also glitters. Wears like iron in the washer & dryer, I've got sweatshirts that have lasted for years. It comes in 1-oz bottle with nozzle-nose-tip, so you just squeeze around the picture and it edges it off - plus prevents raveling. Looks like glue, but once it drys looks really cool! Buy extras and return what you don't need. Warning: EVERY time you use a Scribble, after you shake well, be sure to squeeze out first over scrap or paper, before using on your project. It often has an air bubble that wants to go 'splat' until you get beyond that point. Also, that gives you a better chance to get a feel for how hard to squeeze to get a consistent line.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Monday, December 14, 2009 - 12:14 am
Can someone help me out with a not so important question? My youngest niece (2) is my big helper at my aunts when I go to clean and give aunt her shower. Niece helps dust and picks stuff up, helps pick out aunts clothes, and helps with the upkeep of aunts oxy machine (she carries tubing and filters for me.) I try to make sure I always have some change in my pocket to pay her. I had thought she was saving the change in her piggy bank, but sis told me she didn't have one and had been putting it in her big sisters piggy bank. She's got plenty of toys and her birthday was in Sept so plenty of newer clothes and I thought for Christmas I'd get her a piggy bank of her own. Found one at Michaels for like $7, medium size and one of those you either paint or draw/write on with permanent markers. I decorated it today, it's cutish for a 2 year old, lol. Now we're having a family argument (in a fun way.) When we were kids, we didn't get a new piggy bank or wallet without finding money in it, so natural for me, I'm giving a piggy, I'm putting some change in it. My thought is to match how much I spent on her sisters (about $20 each) so $7 for the piggy, $13 in change. Dakota thinks $20 in change would be good. Darren says get a roll of pennies and that'll be good. Caleb says take the money I plan on giving her and just give it to him, he's older and can use it, all she's gonna do is save it, lol. Caleb's idea ain't gonna happen, I know that much, lol! How much would ya'll put in it? Or none at all?
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Biscottiii
Member
05-29-2004
| Monday, December 14, 2009 - 12:30 am
She's only (2) ya say? I agree with Darren, one roll of pennies is good and she will be delighted! Shaking the bank, that will make plenty of noise. Then, when you pay in the future you can add an extra quarter or something each time to make up the difference. You don't want to fill up the bank already, needs room to add her 'stash'. ETA: Then, if you were to find some pajamas or shirt with "Pigs" on it, you could pick them up to match her piggy bank possibly. I used to collect pigs so I know they make them.
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Monday, December 14, 2009 - 8:08 am
Since she is only two, I'd go with either the roll of pennies (or even a half roll) or even just a few coins. The noise is going to be more important to her than knowing the payout total.
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Monday, December 14, 2009 - 8:45 am
My aunt sent this to me today: There is one Christmas Carol that is a mystery to most. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas? From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember. -The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ. -Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments. -Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love. -The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. -The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament. -The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation. -Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy. -The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes. -Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control. -The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments. -The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples. -The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed. So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on if you wish. Merry Twelve Days of Christmas Everyone
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Monday, December 14, 2009 - 8:47 am
War: How about a roll of pennies, one of nickels and one of dimes. She will be occupied for a long time putting them in on her own.
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Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Monday, December 14, 2009 - 9:02 am
Love the Piggy Bank idea. Caleb's too funny. 
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Merrysea
Moderator
08-13-2004
| Monday, December 14, 2009 - 9:58 am
I've always just found a penny in my new piggy banks or wallets, so your niece is pretty lucky no matter which of the ideas (other than Caleb's, of course!) that you go with.
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Prisonerno6
Member
08-31-2002
| Monday, December 14, 2009 - 10:05 am
At the risk of being a Grinch: http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/music/12days.asp for a more accurate history lesson.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Monday, December 14, 2009 - 12:51 pm
Thanks ya'll. I think I'll go with a roll of pennies and a roll of nickles. She doesn't sleep in jammies (strips them off in the middle of the night) but she loves her blankies so I will see if I can find a soft blankie for her.
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Twiggyish
Member
08-14-2000
| Monday, December 14, 2009 - 1:19 pm
My Favorite Things gift.. Don't know what to buy that special someone? Try this..make a list of at least 5 things that you know they like. These things can be small like favorite candy, cookie, place they like to eat (gift card)..etc Then, gather these things and put into a basket or wrap individually and put into a wrapped gift box. Put a note on it telling the person that each item in the box was specially chosen from things they love. This gift could be as expensive or inexpensive as you like, as it's the thought that counts. The person knows you spent time on them. An example: We used to buy my dad all sorts of things for his gift. We knew he loved a certain candy, so we'd go to the one place that sold it. He loved a certain cookie, so I'd make a batch of his favorites (Toll House) and wrap them up. He had a favorite type of golf ball, so in would go a package of golf balls and then a glove or something else we knew he'd use. Each item was wrapped with a bow and put into the box. He always loved his gift, because it was all chosen for him. My daughter's friend did this for his little brother. He went to the Dollar Store, and bought all sorts of little things he knew his brother would love. Then put it all in a fun bag. The child had a ball opening all the things. I think the kid spent about 12.00 for the whole gift, but it was a big hit! For my mother: I've gone to places like a bath store and bought her favorite hand soap. I've added a kitchen gadget that I know she'd love, a recipe book and so on. That year I wrapped it in a pretty basket with a big bow. She loved it.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Monday, December 14, 2009 - 2:50 pm
Well, went to Walmart and went by their money center, they didn't have any rolls of change (pfft, money center my butt!) I don't feel like a run to the bank, so I came home and checked and have about $4 in change in my money jar that I'll toss in her piggy. I want to get it wrapped today or tomorrow so that'll do. While out, I hit a couple other stores and finished my Christmas shopping except for one gift that's not even mine (Darren's gift from my aunt.) Happy little camper here, except that now I have to wrap it all. Very, very happy though I can put the shopping part behind me and get to the rest of the fun stuff, which kicks off Wednesday with Caleb's Christmas concert.
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Happymom
Member
01-20-2003
| Tuesday, December 15, 2009 - 10:30 am
War, I'm so envious that you are done with shopping! Bisc, I love the hand print on the shirt idea! Escapee, that was very interesting, thanks for posting it. Twiggy, the favorite things idea is a great idea! I found some more ideas on tiphero.com: The gift of food, The gift of nature (make a wreath), craft (Christmas ornament), experience, time They also had a link to thinkgeek.com. It had unusual gifts for under $10. Amazon.com still has free super saver shipping for 2 more days. Well, they always have it but if you want it there for Christmas, you only have 2 more days for it to ship free.(It does not apply to every item, but there are many that are eligible for it if you spend $25 or more.) I wish I was further along in getting ready for Christmas. Oh well...doing the best I can.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Tuesday, December 15, 2009 - 3:39 pm
Heh, Happymom, it's rare for me to be done this early. Twiggy, your post reminds me of an article I read the other day (wish I could remember where) about gift ideas for elderly relatives/friends/neighbors. It was talking about how a lot of elderly people don't need or want more "stuff," since they probably had all they could use and gave ideas for gifts. Goodie baskets. Food baskets--I thought that one was pretty interesting since they suggested things like cans of tuna or salmon, crackers, bread, etc. Idea behind it being that some elderly people (I thought about my aunt) couldn't or shouldn't cook for themselves anymore and here's some easy things to put together for a meal. Another idea was a basket or bag of neccessities, things you wouldn't normally think to buy as a present....light bulbs, batteries, deodarant, stamps. Again I thought about my aunt, without sis and I to go shopping anytime she needs it, those are the types of items she would do without a lot of times. ---Elderly, in this case, being those who are not just older, but those who don't get out much to do their own shopping.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - 8:50 pm
Tonight was a blast...Caleb's Christmas concert was tonight and the kids were wonderful. The beginner kids have only been playing 3 months and did such a great job, especially considering most of them had never played before they started this class. The advanced class really blew me away. I knew how well Caleb has been doing and how much he's improved since he started, but hearing the whole group of them was really impressive. Really fun concert too with a great selection of songs (Winter Wonderland, Jingle Bells, Silent Night, etc) and then all of them finished off with Feliz Navidad, which was a group sing. Doubly impressed the teacher got the boys to sing, lol. My two older nieces and Dakota went with me (Darren's in class and sis had to study for a final exam she has tomorrow) and me and the girls had a blast. Middle niece was up dancing during the last song. Totally a fun Christmas activity.
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