Awesome Gifts for Expectant Parents

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.  I am not otherwise compensated for my opinions. 

If you are anywhere in the 25-40 age range, chances are, you get invited to a fair number of baby showers.  For a while, it seemed like we had a wedding invitation for every weekend of the year, but now, those have definitely morphed into baby showers.

While my first advice is always to get something off the registry, (They picked it out.  They obviously need it and want it!) some people don't like using registries.  Or maybe you just want a more personal gift.  Or the store they registered at is not in your town and you don't have time to order online.  Whatever the case, here are some great ideas for baby gifts that I have either given or received and loved!

Nursing Survival Kit

One of my friends gave this to me, and we have given it to several others since then.  If you know the mom-to-be is planning on breastfeeding, put together a basket of things she might need.  You could include:

Nursing Cover, Nursing Pads, and Lanolin for the basic needs.

      

Energy bars, a cute water cup, and a small book to make mama smile.

          

Nursing tank and burp cloths to make nursing a little easier!

       

Of course, several of those would make great gifts by themselves, but put a couple of those in a cute basket and you have a really memorable and useful present!  This is a good one for a group or hostess gift, because the more you put in there, the cuter it will be!

Fleece Nose Wipes

This may seem like a weird gift, so let me explain.  When I was pregnant, my mom gave me a bunch of cute fleece squares she had cut out for me to use as cloth baby wipes.  However, once I had Cricket, it became very obvious that they were no good as baby wipes because they didn't absorb liquid well.

I had all these cute little fleece squares sitting around, never been used, and I quickly figured out that they worked great as nose wipes for tiny, sensitive noses!  They are way softer than tissues, you can use them several times, and even toddlers can use them without tearing a hole in them every time they wipe their nose!  Two years later, we are still using them!

So here's what you do.  Get some cute fleece, like these.

  

Cut them into six inch squares, tie a dozen up in a pretty ribbon and give them along with a note saying what they are for.  No need to sew because fleece doesn't fray.  Easy, cute, and unique!  It is a great thing to keep on hand for last minute gifts!

Little Remedies Box

My sister gave this to me when I was pregnant, and I am STILL using some of the stuff in it!  This is a collection of Little Remedies products for babies and young children, like gripe water, eucalyptus rub, saline nose spray, etc.  It's great, and any new parent will greatly appreciate it!

Books

Ok, y'all knew this was coming right?  No way am I not going to talk about books.  At my baby shower, my hostess put in the invitation a request for guests to sign their name in a board book instead of a greeting card.  They are the same price or even cheaper than a card, and they are way more useful!  Plus, it is so fun to read books to Cricket and get to tell her who gave each one to her.

One of Brian's long time family friends sent us Pat the Bunny when I was pregnant, along with a list of several dozen books that she recommended or that her children had loved growing up.  What a great idea!  I made notes of a bunch of them to get as soon as I could!

I love to give books, so often I will give several of my favorites as a way to start the child's library.  This one is always in the group.

  

Whether you give a stack or just one, you can never go wrong with books!

Name Bands for Sippy Cups

I don't know if y'all have seen these, but they are rubber bracelet-looking things that go around bottles and sippy cups to label them.  The idea is that they are washable, so you don't have to take them off, and they aren't adhesive, so you don't have a gooey mess after a couple of weeks.  There are several different kinds.  The original ones are actually debossed with your child's name.  (You could also add other information like allergy alerts, phone numbers, etc.)

    

Or you could get one of these that you just write on with a permanent marker.  Either way, these are a fun and unique but practical gift that any parent will appreciate.

   

House Cleaning

I don't have a link to this, because it's more of a local thing, but it's worth mentioning.  One of my favorite gifts for friends who are about to have a baby is to pay someone to come clean their house while they are in the hospital.  That way they come home to a sparkling house and no chores to worry about!  This would be a good hostess gift or group gift, as well.

A bonus to this is that if you have friends who clean houses as a job, you are helping them out as well!  If you don't know anyone who cleans houses, you can ask your friends on Facebook for local recommendations or hire a professional service, although that will obviously be more costly.  Just make sure that this is something the expecting parents will enjoy or someone they know, since some people are hesitant to let strangers in their house for obvious reasons.  When in doubt, ask ahead of time on this one.

Closet Organizers and Hangers

This is my go-to gift right now.  I stumbled upon the realization that Amazon has literally dozens of designer closet organizers.  This is awesome because you can find some to match just about any nursery theme!  (I have been known to stalk pictures on Facebook to figure out which colors and designs will match!)  They are a decent price, too!

Closet organizers are super handy because you always end up with clothes in four or five different sizes, and this helps you keep them organized so you don't end up finding an outfit that your baby never got to wear because you didn't realize it was his size four months ago!

      

Pair them with some matching baby hangers and you have a sweet and thoughtful gift that they won't want to return!

 

I hope this gives you some good ideas for baby gifts!  What about you?  What are your favorite go-to gifts for baby showers?

Awesome Christmas Gifts for Teachers

(This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.)

Whenever we have a big holiday, or it gets to the end of the school year, I always have friends on Facebook asking what they should get their child's teacher.  So, having been a teacher for several years, I thought I would make a list of a few things we teachers love to get as gifts, and what we honestly don't love.

(Please understand that I am not trying to come across as greedy or demanding.  I loved all the gifts my kids gave me.  Please don't think that teachers are selfish and only want expensive presents or something.  I just know lots of people stress about getting something for their teachers that they will like, so I thought I'd help you out.)

First up, what NOT to get your child's teacher.

Of course, any teacher will tell you that every gift is special, and that's true in a sense.  But in another sense, there are some things that I, as your teacher friend, am telling you to pass on.  Things like...

1)  Stuff with apples all over it.

We get it.  'Apples for the teacher' was a thing, like, a hundred years ago, and people for some reason want to celebrate that by putting apples on literally everything they can sell.  Apple bags, apple ornaments, apple shirts, apple calculators, apple timers, apple water bottles!  I'm kinda surprised the teacher's bathrooms don't have apple shaped toilet paper!

Stop getting apple stuff for teachers.  It's not cute, and we already have a ton of it.

2)  School supplies

Yes, teachers have to pay for our own school supplies.  Yes, that sucks.  But when you give your child's teacher paper clips and staples for Christmas, it's kind of self-serving.  It's like giving your cleaning lady a new box of Swiffer Wipes.  Remember, teachers aren't just a job.  They're people.  I mean, I love office supplies more than most people, but still.  Do you want highlighters and pencils for Christmas?  Not particularly.

I will say, though, I have seen a few school supply gifts that were cute and fun to get.  At the beginning of the year, one student gave me small tackle box filled with all kinds of cute and unusual stuff, and they decorated the cover with my name.  That was awesome.  Also, our school had a thing where for teacher appreciation day, kids brought in Post-It notes or some other small desk item, and that was fun.

I'm just saying, for Christmas, maybe skip the pen aisle, or bump it up by getting it personalized.  (See below.)

3)  Mugs

I love mugs.  I really do.  I love to drink hot chocolate and tea and cider and really anything hot, so mugs are awesome.  Plus, mugs come in all kinds of interesting shapes and with hilarious stuff on them.  They're a great gift that isn't too personal and isn't too detached.

Unfortunately, everyone else knows that, too.  It's not that getting a mug for your teacher is bad.  It's just that each teacher has anywhere from 15-30 students, and at least half of them will get her a mug at some point in the year.

Every year.

I have enough mugs to start a small business called "Mugs with Apples and Inspirational Sayings on Them."

Pass on the mugs.

4)  Random Figurines

Again, I think we forget that teachers actually have normal lives and normal houses.  Unless you know that your child's teacher collects a specific kind of figurine, or you find a really nice one that is meaningful to him/her, don't just grab one on the shelf at Hallmark on your way to the checkout line.  A random angel covered in glitter might be pretty, but it takes up space, and it's not something that most people are into.

5)  Ornaments

Ok, this one I debated about.  I actually love the ornaments I got from my students.  Every year when I put up my tree, I think of each student who gave me those ornaments and smile.  I really do.  I remember them all.

But I do have a bunch of ornaments from students.  Like, more than two dozen.  And I only taught for six years.  Imagine how many ornaments a teacher would have after ten or fifteen or twenty years!

Plus, Christmas trees are the centerpiece of the home, and not everyone enjoys the mishmash of colorful characters and textures that I heap all over my tree.  Some people have like, color schemes and themes and stuff.  I say skip the ornaments because the other half of the class, the half that didn't give a mug?  They're giving ornaments.

6)  Bath Stuff

Most people are pretty picky about which scents they like for lotions, soaps, etc. and many people have specific products they prefer because of sensitive skin or allergies, so giving skin care items is tricky.  Unless you know for a fact that your teacher uses a particular brand and scent, skip this one in favor of something a little less personal.

I will say, though, Bath and Body Works will let you exchange products for different scents.  It's such a great idea.  Just make sure you're teacher knows about it!

7)  Ties/Tie Clips

I'm pretty sure this is the only thing people know to get male teachers.  Think outside the square knot.


Ok, now it's time for the good stuff.


What to get your child's teacher:


1)  Gift Cards

You can NEVER go wrong with a gift card.  Sure, some people think of gift cards as impersonal, but we're not talking about a gift for your grandmother here.  You have a professional relationship with your child's teacher.  Their feelings won't be hurt if you get them a gift card instead of a tangible gift.  Quite the opposite.  Teachers don't get paid a lot, and at holiday time, couldn't we all use a little extra spending money?

Here are some of my favorite gift cards I've gotten from students:

• Starbucks  (Always a good idea.  Always.)
• A Movie Theater (One mom gave me a "date night" set of gift cards for a movie and dinner.)
• The Mall (Yes, you read right.  You can get gift cards to the mall, good for any store!)
• Visa Gift Card (Basically just cash, but prettier.)
• Their Favorite Restaurant (Have your child ask.  It's cute and sweet.)
• iTunes (Only if you think they would use it.)

Gift cards are my number one recommendation when people ask what to get their child's teacher.  They're easy for you and perfect for them.  A bunch of my friends and I used to save our gift cards and use them throughout the year for special occasions.  So yeah, we really do enjoy them.

2)  Food

Teachers love food.  Most teachers I know have food stashed in at least one of their desk drawers.  You should see the frenzy that goes on in the teacher's workroom when someone brings snacks!  Food is almost always a welcome gift.  Homemade cookies, a box of nice chocolates (not a candy bar), a surprise latte in morning carpool, or even something you bought at a bakery.  The last week or two before Christmas break is usually a pretty crazy time for teachers, so a homemade lasagna or casserole can turn fast food night into surprise home cooked meal night!

I will say, though, make sure you know what kind of foods your teacher likes.  If your child's teacher has gone gluten-free, a loaf of homemade pumpkin bread wouldn't be a good idea, but maybe a fruit basket or Edible Arrangement would.  (I got an Edible Arrangement from a student one year, and I thought I had won the lottery!)

3)  A Class Gift

My class did this for me several times, and it's always just amazing.  A few weeks before Christmas, the room mom, or just someone wanting to help out, would secretly send out letters to the class saying they will be taking donations for a class gift.  (Usually the kids would let is slip or someone would give the money to me by accident, but that just makes it cuter.)

The parents used the collected money to get one bigger gift like a Visa gift card or a video recorder for the classroom or something else they knew I would like and use.  It's great because I got something really cool and it took the pressure off all the parents to come up with creative ideas on their own.  Plus, it's usually cheaper to donate $5-$10 to a group fund than to buy something yourself that often costs more.

For a simple class gift idea, get a book like one of these,

          

and have all the students sign the inside cover.  Pair it with a gift card or a couple of those designer cupcakes, and it's a thoughtful and inexpensive gift that she can actually use.  My class did this for me when I finished student teaching, and that book is still on my bookshelf.

4)  Hand Made Crafts

Let your child make something for your teacher.  She will love it.  A picture frame made out of popsicle sticks with a picture of your child and her teacher is precious.  (Put a magnet on the back.)  A yarn angel or a simple cross stitch design works, too.  Teachers appreciate the time and thoughtfulness that went into a gift like that.  After all, they know their students really well (hopefully), so they know how much it means if your daughter, who has trouble paying attention, took the time to sit down and make something herself, or your son, who hates to use cursive, wrote them a sweet card.

5)  Personalized Stuff

If you're just dying to get some school supplies for your teacher, Vistaprint has all kinds of stuff you can get personalized, like pens, notepads and notebooks, self-inking stamps (to label books, etc.), and stationery.  I had a student get me a set of blank cards with my name embossed on them because she heard me say one time that I never found stuff in stores with my name.  It was one of my favorite gifts of all time, because it is practical and very thoughtful.

For something a little higher end, I have a friend who does personalized stationery, etc.  Check out her Etsy page!

I also found this and loved it.  There are lots of places to get something engraved that could be used as a desk plate, a door sign, or a hall pass.

One of my friends does wood engraving, and he gave me a personalized sign one year, and it's just the coolest thing.  Very unique, and also useful!

6)  Jewelry or Watch

One awesome idea is a small jewelry item, as long as you know their style.  A men's watch or a woman's necklace or bracelet is a sweet gesture from one student or from the whole class that they can treasure for a long time.  I love this example:

 

It doesn't have apples, crayons, or school buses on it, and yet it is still specific to a teacher.  Just make sure it's wearable.  Remember, your teacher isn't Mrs. Frizzle.  We don't wear rocket ship earrings on Friday nights to the movies.

7)  A Basket of Things They Like

One of my friends had a student whose mother was a teacher.  At the beginning of the year, she sent all her children's teachers a survey to fill out, asking about their favorite things.  Then, throughout the year, she used that survey to get them what they want!  What a great idea!  Some ideas to ask about are:

• Favorite soft drink
• Favorite coffee/drink from Starbucks
• Favorite candy
• Favorite snack
• Favorite kind of chips
• Favorite color
• Favorite hobby
• Favorite music
• Favorite lotion/scent
• Favorite restaurant
• Other favorites

Can you imagine getting a basket full of your responses to a bunch of those questions?  Yeah.  It's pretty great.  Plus, you can use that information for the rest of the year.  Birthdays, teacher appreciation day, end of the year--whenever you need a gift idea.

These are just some general ideas.  If you know of something specific that your child's teacher is into, you could always get something in that vein.  And of course, every teacher is different, so yours might absolutely love an apple figurine or a tie with school buses all over it.  I'm not saying those people aren't out there.  I'm just saying I didn't work with them.

But seriously.  Don't over think this.  Gift cards are awesome.

Awesome Things to Bring to Someone in the Hospital

Recently, I was in the hospital for four nights, quite unexpectedly.  I'm fine now, thank you, but it was quite an ordeal at the time, especially because we were trying to get everything together for us and for Cricket, who stayed with wonderful family members while I was away.

We had several friends and family who helped us during those days, and they brought us wonderful supplies that really truly helped us get through that time.  Just having someone bring a bag of goodies to open is itself a big mood-lifter when your life becomes so routine and predictable on a hospital schedule.

This post is a collaboration between me and all the people who brought me awesome stuff.  I especially got tons of ideas from my friend Michelle Glenn, who literally came up with most of the stuff in this list.  She's awesome.

Fresh Fruit

Hospital food is gross.  Everyone knows this.  It's like the food from your middle school cafeteria, if it were put on a tray and driven around a building full of people with contagious diseases for an hour.  It's gross.

One of the things I noticed most was the lack of fresh food available.  A fruit basket or even just a container of fresh cut fruit from Publix is a welcome change from the cube steak and gravy that they serve at every other meal.  Of course, if someone is in the hospital, they might be on dietary restrictions, so check that out first, but it would at least be a welcome gift for family members staying with them.

Toiletries

Small things like ChapStick and lotion can mean a world of difference when you have tubes in your arm and a nurse waking you up every two hours to check your blood pressure.  Facial cleansing cloths would also be awesome for a girl.  Guys probably wouldn't care.  Also check to see if they need baby wipes and dry shampoo if they can't take a shower,  or toothbrushes, etc.

Comfort Items

Try adding earplugs, an eye mask, and warm fuzzy socks to make sleeping in a hospital much more bearable.  House shoes are great too, because no one ever wants to walk barefoot in a room where someone probably died.  Snuggies are a great way to stay comfy and warm while still having access to IV's.  If they're allowed to wear real clothes and not just the half-yard of fabric and twine that they call a "gown," an extra large t-shirt is comfortable and makes you feel more like a human being.

Books

If you know what kind of books they like, you can't go wrong.  One important thing to remember about bringing people things in the hospital is that usually the recovery doesn't end when they go home.  They will probably not be back to 100% for a while, so a book will come in handy, if not at the hospital, then down the road.  It's not like they go bad.

Entertainment

Entertainment is hard to come by in hospitals.  Usually, once you feel good enough to be aware of your surroundings, you start to realize how crappy it is to be cooped up in a tiny room with nothing but basic cable to entertain you.  Magazines and crossword/sudoku/puzzle books are awesome.  Cards, Bananagrams, or other simple games work, too.  Make sure to bring pencils, if needed!

Coloring Books and Crayons

Again, probably most guys, and maybe most girls, wouldn't like this, but I think that coloring books are a great anti-stress activity.  It's mindless enough that you don't really have to concentrate to do it, but you get to use pretty colors and you have something you can show off when you finish.  I colored like, five pages in one day when I was there.

Food for Significant Others

This is a huge one.  Hospitals have to provide food for the patient, but not for anyone else.  That means spouses, parents, or whoever is staying with them has to fend for themselves, either by leaving the hospital, which they probably don't want to do for fear of leaving their loved one, or by eating at the hospital cafeteria which is, as I mentioned above, gross and also ridiculously expensive.  Home-cooked meals are of course awesome, but even just getting fast food or takeout is a blessing for someone who needs to keep their focus on the patient.  Also, things like muffins, drinks, trail mix, and other snacks that can be eaten any time of day are a great idea.

Snacks for the Patient

Again, you have to check what kind of dietary restrictions they are on, but if they are on a regular diet, bring on the snacks!  Cupcakes make everyone happy, and salty snacks like crackers or pretzels are a good balance to that.  Peanut butter crackers and granola bars are great because they can substitute for a meal in a pinch or a snack when you need it.  (Check about allergies.)  Also, the only drinks they serve, at least at my hospital, are Coke, Sprite, and Diet Coke, so Gatorade, Dr. Pepper, Lemonade or whatever else you think they like would probably be welcome.

Plants

I know cut flowers are everyone's first thought, and they are awesome, especially to brighten up a dreary day, but one of my friends brought me a small potted plant with some cool purple flowers, and I loved it.  I didn't have to clean it up when it died, or figure out how to transport a vase full of water home.  My potted plant sat in the floorboard, and now it has a lovely home in my kitchen.

Gift Cards

I had several friends give us gift cards, and it was so awesome.  For one, being in the hospital is expensive, and since the spouse has to eat out at every meal, gift cards are a welcome relief.  Plus, remember that even after they go home, they will still probably not feel like cooking right away.  I even had one friend email a gift card for pizza from across the country!  How sweet is that?!  Another friend asked if I wanted a gift card for my Kindle or iTunes, which I thought was a great idea.   A new book or some new music is guaranteed to cheer anyone up!

Portable Electronics

One of my saving graces in the hospital was having my e-reader that could access the Internet, so I could still feel connected to my friends and family.  After a day or so, I borrowed an iPad, and that was even better, because I could also Skype with Cricket, whom I was missing so dearly, and watch Netflix when I gave up yet again trying to find something to watch on television.  If you know your friend doesn't have a laptop or iPad, that would be an awesome thing to let them borrow while they're there.  An iPod with music is cool, too.  Even just a portable DVD player and some DVD's would be much appreciated.


I hope that you never need this list and that all of your loved ones stay happy and healthy, but if you do need to make a goody bag for someone, I hope this helps you think of some unusual and helpful things to give them.

Things That are Awesome: Summer Baby Edition

Cricket is 15 months right now, and she just loves to be outside!  Here is a wrap-up of some of my favorite summer outdoor gear for babies and toddlers.  Any time I find myself thinking, "This thing is worth every cent!" I make a note to add it to this list!

I am an Amazon affiliate, and receive a small percentage of sales made through my site at no cost to you.  I am not otherwise compensated for my opinions.  These are all things I have used personally and enjoyed.

Fisher Price Baby Swing

Cricket loves swinging, so when I saw this swing at Aldi on sale, I snatched it up.

I absolutely love having it in our backyard.  It's hanging from a really high tree branch, which means it's always shady underneath.  Unlike the park, which has no shade whatsoever, now I can push her on the swing without getting a sunburn!

Bubble Gun

This was a purchase for my sake, not hers.  Cricket loves bubbles, like all little babies do, but I do not.  I mean, bubbles in and of themselves are cool, but if you are the one making the bubbles, your hands are all covered in soap, you're hyperventilating, and you have to stand up the whole time.

Not anymore!

Now I can satisfy Cricket's insatiable love for bubbles while still getting my lazy on.  I just squeeze the handle and a never ending stream of perfect bubbles comes out!  I will say that it is a little temperamental and doesn't always work as well as it should, but even still, this has been a sanity saver for me!

Swimways Baby Float

This thing is awesome!  It is perfect for older babies who can sit up just fine, but aren't big enough for floaties and the like.  It's a perfect little seat that they can lean back or forwards in if they want.  There is a mesh ring in the middle so they can splash in the water.  And best of all, there is a shade that clips on to protect them from the sun!  The shade can even attach to the back or the front if you need to move it.  Here's a picture of Cricket enjoying hers.

She loves it!  Totally chillaxin'.

Water Table

My mom got this for Cricket, and it is her favorite outdoor toy now.  It has really helped her strengthen her legs, too.  She has been reluctant to do a lot of walking until now, but she will stand at this table for an hour or more!  It is the perfect height for cruisers, and it comes with some cute toys.  I added some small cups, which she loves to use to dump water all over herself, of course.  At first, I would change her into her swimsuit to play with it, but it actually is less trouble just to let her stay in her play clothes and then change her when we're finished.

I highly recommend this for ages 1 yr. and up.  There are also tons of suggestions on Pinterest for other things you can do with water tables besides just put water in it, like using it for finger painting, sand, rice, small world play, etc.

Waterproof Travel Blanket

One of my friends gave me a blanket like this several years ago, and it has been just the best thing to have!  We keep it in the car so we always have it for picnics, zoo trips, Renaissance faires, or any other time we might need to sit on the ground.  It folds up into a compact little purse-like thing with a strap, making it super easy to cary, and it's water proof, so it's easier to clean and you don't have to worry about the ground being wet.  That's especially nice here in Alabama where it rains almost every day of the summer.

Although this one isn't specifically for kids, it sure is awesome to have, especially if you do have kids.  There are so many times we have used ours!

So, what outdoor gear do you just love?  I'd love to hear your recommendations, too!

Awesome Christmas Cookies

This post contains an affiliate link for your convenience.

It's Christmas in July this week at How to Be Awesome at Everything!  We've already talked about awesome DIY Christmas Gifts.  Today, it's all about cookies.

I love Christmas cookies, and not just because they are delicious.  Cookies have become my go-to present for Christmas.  Everyone loves getting cookies, and they don't cost much to make!  In fact, I'd rather get a box of cookies than a cheap gift that I know I'll never use!  They don't take up room in your house, and you have an excuse to eat treats you might not make for yourself.

I give them to Brian's coworkers, to neighbors, and of course, they are great for parties and as hostess gifts! Traditionally decorated sugar cookies are of course, classic, but they aren't the only ones I make.

This is the platter I sent to work with Brian last year at Christmastime.

The wreath cookie recipe I got from my sister-in-law, Melissa.  They are like Rice Krispies Treats, but you use Corn Flakes instead, mix in some green food coloring, and put Red Hots on top.  The lump of coal cookies are basically Rice Krispies Treats made with Oreos instead, so you know that's gonna be good.  The guys in Brian's office thought they were hilarious, too.

I gave the wreath cookies to our neighbors one year, too, and I used this tip to decorate paper plates with some ribbon to make it extra cute.

Last year I tried Andes Mint Cookies, and they were awesome.  Basically, you just make easy chocolate cookies, and then right when they come out of the oven, you set an Andes Mint on top of each one.  In about five minutes, they melt and you can spread them like icing.  Sounds good, right?  Yup.

You can't talk about Christmas cookies without bringing up gingerbread cookies!  The beauty of gingerbread men is that, while they may take a little more time to roll out and cut into shapes, they are very simple to decorate, and they are always cute!  I even saw this great idea for putting them into clear CD envelopes!

However, last year, I found the best gingerbread cookies you have ever eaten, and they don't need to be cut into shapes.   People will love them just the way they are.  Plus, the icing is amazing.  I think I made ten dozen of these last Christmas.

The thing is, I got this recipe from a book.  Not a cookbook, mind you.  A murder mystery book.

Calm down.  It wasn't death by cookies.

It was from this book:

I had to type out the recipe from the book because I couldn't find it online anywhere, but I'm afraid it's copyrighted, so I am not going to share it here.  You'll just have to go check it out at the library, or you can click on the picture there and it will take you to Amazon where you can order it. Trust me.  It's worth it!  (It's also a fun book to read.)

As you can see in the first picture at the top, I have also made Rice Krispies Treats with some Christmas sprinkles, and dipping a large marshmallow in chocolate and then sticking a peppermint stick in it makes a great "hot chocolate stirrer."

I hope this inspires you to go bake some cookies!  I am always available to taste test, and you don't have to wait for Christmas, either!

Click here for Part 1:  DIY Christmas Presents.

Click here for Part 3:  Awesome Christmas Party Ideas

Awesome DIY Christmas Presents

I always have blog angst around Christmas time because my craftiness is at an all-time high, but I can't share any of it because it's all gifts that I'm giving and have to keep secret.

Well, I have solved my problem.  It's Christmas in July this week at How to Be Awesome at Everything!   This week, I'm going to talk about all the awesome Christmas stuff that I never get to talk about in December!

Today is all about some easy and cheap DIY Christmas gifts that you'll be proud to give.

No DIY Printable Candy Bar Wrappers here!  (Yes, I've seen that suggested.)  These are actual gift-worthy projects that you will have fun doing and giving.  Plus, they are very inexpensive to do, which is of course, one of my main goals.

(Links to my sources for these projects are in the titles.)

Painted Burlap Door Hangers

This was my friend Michelle's idea, and they turned out great.  They retail at designer stores for $50 or more, but all you need is some burlap, scissors, hot glue, paint, batting, and ribbon!  The beauty is, they are supposed to look shabby chic, so you don't have to be perfect with it.  I did the football one, and I did a stocking shaped one for another friend.

Crinkle Owl

I have mentioned this one before, but I thought I'd show it again since I made it for a Christmas gift for one of Cricket's cousins.  I have very limited sewing abilities, so if I can do it, anyone can do it.  It just takes a couple of small pieces of fabric, some felt and ribbon scraps, and a piece of crinkly wrapper, like from a bag of chips or a bag of Craisins.  It took maybe thirty minutes to make from start to finish, and it's so cute!

Sharpe Decorated Plates/Mugs
(I also got part of my ideas from here.)

This has been all over Pinterest for a while.  The idea is, if you write on dishes with Sharpe markers and then put them in the oven at 150 degrees for 30 minutes, it sets the ink and becomes permanent.  Sounds great, right?

Well, it is pretty great, but not perfect.  The colors tend to fade, which was a little disappointing, but not too bad.  Also, don't put them in the dishwasher or it all washes off.  So basically, you've given them a decorative plate, not an eat-on-able plate.  Make sure you tell them that.

Also, getting a six month old baby to cooperate with paint footprints was an adventure involving two people, lots of water, and some touching up afterwards.

I also did Sharpes on a couple of mugs.  I found out what my sister and brother-in-law's favorite hot drinks were and wrote "He likes coffee" on one, and "She likes hot cider" on another.  I put a package of their favorite drink in their mug.

Cinnamon Pecans

These are just the best tasting thing ever, and the only difficult thing is not eating them all before you give them away!  I got some paper treat bags at the Dollar Tree and had some happy recipients!

Melted Snowman Ornaments

These were one of my favorite gifts to give last Christmas.  It's just Kosher salt, peppercorns, and an orange paper cone in a clear glass ornament.  So easy, but so adorable!  I will say, stock up on empty glass ornaments at the beginning of the season.  I tried to go back and get some more the week before Christmas and every craft store was sold out.  Dang Pinterest!  Why must you give your secrets away to people other than me?!

Oh, and I found those cute little gift boxes at the Dollar Tree in a set of five.  They also came with a little bag to put the box in and a little twist tie for each bag.  So cute!

Framed Quote and Picture

These were my most heartfelt gifts last year.  I made one for her Gigi, her Mimi, and her Grandma.  I printed out the quote on parchment paper and then framed a sweet picture of Cricket with each of them.  I already had the parchment paper, so I just paid for a frame and a picture.

Ornament Wreath
(I also used this site, which was really helpful.)

This was another fun one, and very inexpensive.  I just got tons of ornaments at the Dollar Tree, my hot glue gun to secure the tops, some ribbon, and a wire hanger.  The hardest part was gluing all the tops on before you start.  Well, that and getting all the glitter cleaned up.  I hate glitter.

Paper Bead Necklaces

These were time consuming, but very cheap and very cool to make.  I made paper beads out of magazine pages and then used mod podge or another clear glue to seal them.  (Make sure you dry them with a straight pin through the hole or it will seal and be difficult to thread.)

Once they were dry, I strung them into some fishing line along with some tiny plastic beads, and they came out great!  Oh, and I had to buy a set of necklace clasps.  It took a while, but they were well-received.

Mint Tray

I probably wouldn't give this as a gift by itself, but it is a great way to dress up edible gifts like cookies or cakes or whatever else you want to give.  It's so easy to make.  The only trouble I had was finding the green Starlight Mints!

Wrapping Tips

I thought I'd throw this in here, too.  I love wrapping gifts, and I love when they look nice, but I can't afford all the fancy trimmings that make them look fantastic.  No problem!  I got wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, tags, boxes, and small ornaments, all at the Dollar Tree.  The ornaments are a nice extra touch, don't you think?

I'll have more Christmas posts this week!  This makes me want to break out the hot chocolate and start on my projects for this Christmas.  How about you?

Click here for Part 2:  Awesome Christmas Cookies

Click here for Part 3: Awesome Christmas Party Ideas