GRANDMA’S CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE BOX

Looking for something out of the box to give for your kids or grandkids for CHRISTmas this year?  I saw this idea on FB last year and was so excited to do this for our granddaughter, Stella.   I am certain that this Grandma’s CHRISTmas Adventure Box idea or “Experience” Box idea will put a smile on her face (as well as my face) all year long. 

We have tried to simplify CHRISTmas each year, by doing the 3 CHRISTmas gift idea with our own children.  We found that this has been a bigger hit than all the boxes of toys and gifts they used to get that a week or so after they played with them would end up in the toy chest.  I also think the kids became so overwhelmed with the amount of gifts that it was stimulation overload.  

Grandma’s big adventure!

One very clever Nonna came up with a brilliant Christmas gift for her grandsons and that is where my idea stems from.  It doesn’t involve toys, batteries, or a wrapping paper, but it’s something that the entire family can enjoy throughout the year. 

Meet the Adventure Box – It is a standard box filled with 12 brown paper envelopes, each labeled and decorated. In each envelope there is everything the family needs to enjoy a monthly activity.  There are so many different things you can choose to do with your kids or grandkids.  

The Gift of Time

One month it’s a movie and out to lunch, complete with gift cards so the adventure is prepaid.  Another month is Build-A-Bear workshop.  There’s a trip to Cedar Point, a manicure, a trip to the book store, Chuck E. Cheese, camping, a picnic at the beach, pumpkin patch, baking cookies with GiGi, and the African Safari.  I left her birthday month a date where she can choose what we do – she will decide on our adventure. 

But here’s the FUN part – the kids don’t open every envelope on CHRISTmas Day.  They open one envelope on the first day of each month, meaning every month they get a surprise and a FUN adventure with GiGi (and sometimes grandpa and the whole family).  

We included a note explaining that, “this year, I give you the gift of time.” Because, let’s face it, the best gift of all is the gift of spending time with the ones you love. I don’t want to just give her presents to unwrap but the gift of my presence.  

Darlene Howell Waller shared her idea on Facebook and the world has gone mad for it! And rightfully so – what a brilliant way to bring the family together, not just for Christmas, but for every month of the year! I am so excited about this new tradition. 

Looking for more ways to make Christmas extra special this year? Check out the 25 Books of CHRISTmas tradition. 

Burger King offers one-cent Whoppers!!

Burger King wants people to download its app. So it’s sending them to McDonald’s for access to a one-cent Whopper.

Here’s how it works:

• Download the BK app 
• Drive within 600 feet of McDonalds 
• The app then offers directions to a nearby participating Burger King, where you can pick up the burger.
• Now go pick it up

This deal runs through December 12, and customers can only access it once.

DECEMBER DAILY DEVOTION!

So often God gives us dreams, but we are afraid to step out, because we don’t know how we will get the money, how will we make it work, but that is where Faith comes in.  Many times God will give you a vision and then wait to see, are you going to be obedient and completely trust him.  If he gave you the vision, he will provide. . In His timing 🙂 

GOD IS GOOD. . . ALL THE TIME!!!

25 Books of CHRISTmas

As most of you know I am now a NEW GiGi to a 4 y/o granddaughter. I am so so excited to be able to share this FIRST Official CHRISTmas with her. I have been looking for NEW traditions to start with her and all my other grandkids that I will be having in the future (which I hope are MANY!!). We want to do a lot of memory gifts or “experience/moment” gifts and this one looks FUN. The 25 days of CHRISTmas books for children was created out of a desire to slow the month of December down and focus on what is truly important. Often we get so consumed with other things and the hustle and bustle of shopping.  I think this would be a cool way to spend a lot of fun time with the children, building memories and doing meaningful things with them.

Pick 25 Books for your CHRISTmas Book Countdown

Every day in December I have picked out a book for Stella. She along with mom and dad can sit down together, maybe before bed, and read it. What makes it super special is that the book will be gift wrapped (you could number each book if you wish) and she will get to unwrap one book a day. If you have several kids, they can take turns picking the book each day. This is fun because it adds the element of surprise & kids always love to unwrap things (us adults do too who are we kidding 🙂

All the books are about wintertime or CHRISTmas!! I made sure the last few will be about Jesus’ birthday, with the very last book being “A Birthday Party of Jesus“, which I think will be just PERFECT! I love creating these new traditions and special memories with our granddaughter. We hope this will be one of her favorite family memories and it is such a simple & easy tradition to create. PLUS I had a ton of fun doing it.

It can be very frugal as you can use books you already have collected over the years. You can always look for books at garage sales and thrift stores throughout the year.

Fill a basket with books

Start by rounding up your favorite childrens CHRISTmas books, place them in a basket and either let your child choose the book each night or you choose the book for them. If you don’t have all your books ready at once, you can just keep adding in new books to the basket during the month. Since our granddaughter lives out of town, I had to have all my books at once. It was fun picking each book out and adding a special message in some of them.

Add some Special touches to your Basket 

The very first book I got her was The Grinch, and we will be taking her to see the movie on Friday. In addition, I added a Grinch stuffed animal and Grinch Jammies. I wrapped all the books up and tied her Grinch CHRISTmas ornament around all the books.

Start a NEW Family Tradition 

I am confident that our grandchildren will look forward to this tradition every year. What a fun way to share the gift of LITERACY, there’s nothing better for young children than making reading fun!! I will also be excited to see how many of our kids hand this tradition down to their grandchildren.  I have found some of the cheapest books on Amazon.com and Barnes and Nobles.  

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU!! May your day be filled with family/friend time, love, and lots of laughter!!

Here is an AWESOME deal and would also make for a great CHRISTmas gift. Head over to Amazon.com where you can snag this Hatchimals CollEGGtibles Season 2 – 12-Pack Egg Carton by Spin Master ONLY $13.91 (reg. $19.99!!)

About the product

• Hatchimals CollEGGtibles are tiny, adorable Hatchimals you can take with you wherever you go! Inside this sparkly teal egg carton you’ll find 10 in-egg and 2 out-of-egg Hatchimals CollEGGtibles
• Use your egg carton to play, display and carry your Hatchimals CollEGGtibles! Collect two or more egg cartons and you can even stack them! Featuring a glittery lid on top and nests molded into the bottom, your adorable friends will be happy inside
• To hatch your CollEGGtible, hold the egg in the palm of your hand and warm it up until the heart on the shell changes from purple to pink! Press down until your egg cracks and you see your Hatchimals CollEGGtible
• Hatchimals CollEGGtibles are for kids aged 5+
• Includes: 12 Hatchimals CollEGGtible, 1 Collector Map

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OCTOBER DAILY DEVOTION

I truly believe when Satan knows we are about to take a leap of faith in a powerful way, he comes out in full force and attacks us.  I believe the attacks are usually in areas that we are weakest at., i.e. patience, health, finances, relationships, etc.  When you are going through difficulty remember your breakthrough is coming and rather than focusing on satan, put all your energy on God knowing he will work it all together for your good.

GOD IS GOOD. . . ALL THE TIME!!

October Daily Devotion

Why is it that we think we can control the timing of things or that we know when things should happen?  So often, we become discouraged and wonder why God isn’t changing our situation.  We need to remember, that God can see the entire picture and that HIS timing is PERFECT!  If we have faith, we can trust Him that it will all work out exactly when it is supposed to and there is nobody that can stop it!  Today, if you are waiting patiently or impatiently, remember God is in control and when it is time, you can’t stop it!

GOD IS GOOD. . . ALL THE TIME!!

OCTOBER DAILY DEVOTION – 10/7

There is so much tragedy and heartbreak going on in this world, but when we keep our eyes lifted to Jesus, we can get through anything. We were never promised life would be easy, but we were promised God would be with us always. Today no matter what you are facing, know God is right beside you and keep your eyes glued to him and him alone.

GOD IS GOOD. . . ALL THE TIME!!