Search Results for: blog the family tree a fun holiday project for the whole family

Mother-Daughter Holiday Bonding

My daughter is just six years old, but she’s already got eye-rolling down to a science. I know this because I am typically the one she practices on. Only in her mind she’s not practicing, she’s dying–a little bit inside–each time I embarrass her by, well, being her mom. I do things like remind her to put on her hat when I drop her off at school in the dead of winter (eye roll), tell her that she is not allowed to play unless she cleans up her room (double eye roll), and sing songs from the radio during carpool … Continue reading →

Candy Cane Crafts

It’s raining candy canes in our home. We attended a number of St. Nick’s Day parties and events in the last 48 hours where my daughter raked in quite a haul of candy canes. We are now the proud owners of more than two-dozen candy canes in a variety of sizes and flavors. (Who knew Jolly Rancher made candy canes?) Two-dozen seasonal sweet treats is way too much for a 6-year-old to consume, so I talked my daughter into using some of her candy canes to make Christmas crafts. Needless to say, my Martha Stewart wannabe jumped at the chance. … Continue reading →

Genealogy – There’s An App For That!

Whether your smartphone of choice is an IPhone or an Android, there are genealogy apps available that enable you to do genealogical research anywhere. This is not surprising news. There seems to be an app for just about everything under the sun. If your phone is an Android, FamilyBee lets you take your family trees with you wherever you go. You can store an unlimited amount of family trees (that you create on your computer) on your cell phone, and you can search quickly through the stored trees for information. One especially neat feature of FamilyBee is that the family … Continue reading →

The Family Tree – A Fun Holiday Project For The Whole Family!

If you are a genealogy buff, you are probably getting excited that the holiday season is approaching. The holiday season is fun for everyone, and genealogists are no exception. Families usually get together around the holidays and when families gather, it is often inevitable that at some point there will be conversation about family history. What kinds of things can genealogists do during the holiday season? You may want to make a “Wish List” comprised of bits of genealogical information that you are seeking. Perhaps after three plates of turkey, Uncle Paul will remember the name of your great, great … Continue reading →

How to Make Homemade Christmas Wrapping Paper and Ornaments

You’ve mastered homemade wreaths, candles, and other holiday decor, but how many of you have ever made your very own Christmas wrapping paper? It’s not rocket science nor is it as difficult as some of the crafts Martha Stewart cranks out. Rather, it is the ideal project for your kids to tackle on a cold winter’s day. If you have crafty kids, then you probably have all the materials you need right in your own home. The project requires a roll of easel or butcher paper. You can choose full-size or small rolls, which are available at toy and craft … Continue reading →

How to Make a Simple and Festive Christmas Wreath

Here’s a fun holiday project my teenage cousin is working on with his classmates to present to residents at area nursing homes. These evergreen and cranberry wreaths are easy, affordable and add a festive touch to any room. The kids are working assembly line style as it does take a while to pin individual cranberries on the Styrofoam ball that decorates the wreath. However, once the cranberry application is complete you should have no problem completing the project (alone) in less than 20 minutes. EVERGREEN AND CRANBERRY CHRISTMAS WREATH Materials: For Wreath: 1 12-inch pre-made evergreen wreath form 1 thin … Continue reading →

How to Make Simple Christmas Topiaries

The economy is in the dumpster and you’re pinching pennies, but you still want to create a festive atmosphere in your home this holiday season. So how do you make that happen? Get creative with affordable materials that can be transformed into expensive-looking decorations. In the days following Thanksgiving my supermarket drastically reduced the price of fresh cranberries. I took advantage of the discount and stocked up on the festive fruit. However, instead of including all of them in holiday recipes I decided to use some for Christmas crafts. My first project is this Cranberry Christmas Topiary. The directions are … Continue reading →

Celebrities and Their Christmas Charities

It’s better to give than receive… at least that’s what some Hollywood stars are learning this holiday season. Celebs from Mel Gibson to Marcia Cross are spreading the Christmas spirit with donations to their favorite charities. If you are searching for a last-minute gift idea for your loved ones consider perusing the following list. It’s Christmas Eve after all, the perfect time to make someone else’s life a whole lot merrier. Feed the World. Marcia Cross and Teri Hatcher gave their co-workers FEED 1 bags this holiday season. The bags are designed to benefit the United Nations World Food Program’s … Continue reading →

Everyone Helps With Thanksgiving Dinner

Yesterday my oldest son and I did our shopping for Thanksgiving. Some years the whole family goes and picks out things, but we didn’t have the time yesterday. The store was so crowded that I was glad everyone had not come with us. Before shopping, we did have a mini family meeting though about the menu. We don’t change it much from year to year, but we have all agreed that we need to spice it up a little. Our traditional Thanksgiving dinner is old southern family recipes. The dishes are delicious, heavy on the butter and pecans, but also … Continue reading →

More Fabulous Fall Frugal Fun for the Whole Family

Wow! That’s a whole lot of F’s in my title, but it is true. With the weather quickly changing and all the opportunities to be outdoors or to celebrate fall, I wanted to take some time to focus on seasonal activities for the whole family. I have already given you four great places to start in Frugal Fun For Your Whole Family, but I have several more to share. Parks Now is the time to enjoy the great outdoors. Look for park activities to enjoy, even if it is just a hike or walk on a trail. Spend time looking … Continue reading →