| I have this Christmas time dream that I
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| | Christmas lights and decorations. Bring
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| will be able to buy a gift for every
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| | along some treats to snack on and tune
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| person I know. The reality is my money
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| | into a station with carols to enjoy as
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| runs out long before my list of friends.
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| | you drive. If you want to have even more
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| I can get something nice for my closest
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| | fun, create a few awards for the Most
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| family, something small for a few more
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| | Elegant, Funniest, and Biggest displays.
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| relatives and close friends...and every
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| | Stop and present them to the (surprised!)
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| year the list of people my generous brain
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| | owners.A night or two before Christmas,
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| comes up with still has a long way to go.
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| | have a gift wrapping party. Set up a
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| I am learning to put my brain to work
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| | paper station, bow station and tag
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| coming up with free experience gifts -
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| | station. Go to work like an assembly
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| basically an activity I can do with
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| | line, but don't forget break time!Take
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| someone. I don't want to let the year go
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| | some young people (or young at heart) for
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| by without letting them know how much I
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| | an adventurous sledding trip. Prepare hot
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| love and appreciate them.I start by
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| | chocolate or cider in thermoses and head
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| creating special invitations (sometimes I
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| | off for some big hills. When the sledders
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| send them by email) or a homemade gift
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| | get tired, start some competition with a
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| certificate. With this I like to include
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| | snowman contest.As your Christmas gift to
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| a short note letting this person know why
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| | someone, give your time to a cause that
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| I like them and how much they mean to me.
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| | is important to them. Visit a nursing
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| Friends have told me they keep these
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| | home and present some of the residents
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| notes and treasure what I said about
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| | with homemade Christmas cards. Help sort
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| them! If the activity is going to be
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| | and make food baskets for a food pantry.
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| before Christmas, I try to get the time
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| | Work in a Christmas wrap booth that
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| set up right away since things get so
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| | benefits a charity. Volunteer as food
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| busy for most people. If it is a gift
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| | servers at shelters that provide a
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| certificate I am giving on Christmas day,
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| | Christmas dinner. This gift will not only
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| I like to schedule our activity for
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| | bless the person you do it for, but also
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| sometime in January, when things have
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| | others who you don't even know yet and
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| calmed down a little and winter boredom
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| | God, the one who cares most for the
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| needs to be exterminated.If you are like
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| | needy.Find out what free holiday
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| me, with more friends than money or if
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| | performances or events are going on in
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| you simply want to keep your Christmas
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| | your area such as a Handel's Messiah
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| less focused on material things, try some
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| | concert, school performance, living
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| of these fun experience gifts this year.
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| | nativity, etc. Pick up your friend and
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| I know you will enjoy the memories you
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| | enjoy some cultural
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| make with the people you love!Set up a
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| | entertainment.Organize a baking day with
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| crafting time for one or more children
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| | a one or two others, choosing recipes you
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| you know. Make a manger or winter scene
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| | already have ingredients for so that all
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| out of homemade playdough or clay. Make
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| | the others have to do is show up and
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| your own Christmas cards to send to
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| | start mixing up a good time. You can put
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| people. Collect pine branches and
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| | together plates or tins of treats to give
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| pinecones and make wreaths. Make and
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| | to friends and neighbors or elderly
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| decorate stockings cut out of felt or
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| | people who can't manage holiday baking
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| fabric or even old clothes. Go through
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| | any more. This Christmas experience gift
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| your house collecting items you no longer
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| | is for children, adults or whole families
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| want and help the children turn these
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| | - just tailor your choices according to
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| into presents to give. My boys are like
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| | your group. Go to the library and check
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| me - always wanting to give to more
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| | out a variety of Christmas stories. I
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| people than they can buy for. They love
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| | especially like to get ones that tell
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| it when I help them make gifts. You can
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| | about the Christmas traditions from other
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| even make Christmas gifts for their pets.
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| | cultures. Invite everyone to join you at
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| You may want to check out some idea books
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| | your home, a historical landmark
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| from the library ahead of time or you can
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| | specially decorated for the holidays (you
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| find extremely creative family craft
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| | may need prior approval) or even an
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| ideas at for every season.Hold a holiday
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| | outdoor setting if it is not too cold.
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| decorating party with an old friend, a
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| | Seat everyone as they arrive and pass
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| new neighbor family, an elderly person
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| | around snacks and punch or hot drinks.
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| living in a retirement center or anyone
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| | Read the Christmas stories aloud
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| you want to share a fun time with. You
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| | together, taking turns, if you want. Make
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| can decorate one or both of your homes.
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| | sure to "do the voices", as we used to
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| Haul out all the Christmas decorations
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| | tell my grandma!A Special Note: As I was
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| you have and together come up with fresh
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| | writing this, I realized that when you
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| new ways to use them. If you don't have
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| | invite children for one of these events,
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| anything to start with, come up with your
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| | you may also be giving a gift to the
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| own decorations. Make garlands out of
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| | parents - some free time to get things
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| loops of colored paper or popcorn. Cut
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| | done or just relax and enjoy the
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| out snowflakes and put them in the
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| | holidays. That's what I call a
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| windows. Wrap a couple of empty boxes and
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| | two-for-one special!Whoever you give to,
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| tie them with big bows. Other decorating
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| | be sure to keep your activity simple and
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| items I like are: indoor Christmas
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| | fun so that you are not too stressed out.
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| lights, sheet music of Christmas carols,
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| | Enjoy creating a great Christmas
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| evergreen branches, mittens hung on a
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| | experience gift!Melanie Farkas is the
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| string, old Christmas cards and photos
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| | Holiday Gift Lady. She has gift ideas
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| from past holiday gatherings.Invite
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| | from all over the world at her website
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| someone to go for a Christmas drive to
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| | You can find many more Christmas gift
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| see the lights. Find out ahead of time
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| | ideas there.
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| where the best neighborhoods are for
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