Finding a good nanny is no easy task. When you invite someone into your home to watch your children while you’re gone you have to have a strong trust that the person is going to spend their time doing the right thing and not teaching your children things that don’t jive with your own morals and standards, and that they’ll be honest and respectful of your home and family in your absence. It’s a rather large responsibility, placing an individual in your home like that. So how do you determine who makes the cut and who doesn’t?

1.      Define your parameters
Before you even start looking for a nanny you have to determine what it is you want out of hiring one. Do you want someone who is going to watch your kids and clean the house? Do you want to provide strict instructions for them or let them do their own thing? Do you want them to take on tasks that fall outside the regular nanny duties? Defining what you want will help you choose someone who fits well into your household.

2.      Ask around
See if anyone you know has good recommendations for someone to help you out or if they know of any places that you can check out. Since you’re asking trusted sources you should be able to get honest feedback on how someone was in their home or how a particular job board or staffing agency worked out for them, which will help you begin the process of selecting someone.

3.      Do your homework
While it may seem like it’s one of those nagging tasks, taking the time to get a background check on the person is well worth it. So is calling up their references and getting their opinions on how the nanny is as a professional. You want to make sure that you’re letting someone in your home that comes highly recommended, not someone who has a history of theft or low morals.

4.      Ask about their disciplinary actions
When you’re interviewing potential candidates, ask how they go about disciplining children without telling them your own thoughts about it (otherwise they could tailor their answer to fit your own beliefs, and it’d be better to get a raw, honest answer). Making sure you see eye to eye on that is of the utmost importance.

5.      Get their certifications
Having certifications to deal with emergency situations (such as first aid certifications) is a great asset for your potential nanny to possess and can leave you assured that your child will be in good hands even if an emergency may happen to arise. Knowing that they took the time to get certified can also attest to the fact that they take their job seriously.

Hiring a nanny is a very individualized experience. Take the time to thoroughly check people out so that when you leave home you can rest easy knowing that your children are in good hands.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nancy Parker was a professional nanny and she loves to write about wide range of subjects like health, parenting, child care, babysitting, nanny background check tips etc. You can reach her at nancy.parker015@gmail.com.

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” – Proverbs 15:22

My friend, Brad, calls it their annual “Dixie Fraley talk.”  Once a year, he and his wife, Nancy, meet with their personal board of directors, which includes their CPA, attorney, and financial planner.  Brad and Nancy reveal their balance sheet, budget, giving plans for the year, along with plans to build their marriage and encourage their adult children.  Then they open it up for comments and suggestions.

Brad got the idea after hearing a talk given by Dixie Fraley, widow of Robert Fraley, a sports agent who died in the same plane crash that took the life of professional golfer Payne Stewart.  In the talk, Dixie described how Robert had organized annual meetings with trusted advisors, and how those meetings had left her well prepared to manage her financial affairs after Robert’s death.

Brad candidly acknowledges that prior to setting up their own board of directors, he had been leaving Nancy out of important financial decisions, and in some cases moving ahead with decisions she did not agree with.  Not surprisingly, finances had become a point of tension in their marriage.  By submitting to the counsel of others, Nancy gained a voice in their financial affairs.  “The meetings have made us more of a team,” Brad said.  “Really, they’ve been a marriage saver.”

Members of Brad and Nancy’s board have challenged them on everything from the number of hours brad works to how much money they keep in reserve.  Most importantly from Brad’s perspective, if anything happens to him, Nancy is on a first-name basis with a team of trusted advisors.

In Dixie Fraley’s talk, she mentioned that one million Americans lose their spouses each year, and over 80 percent of women will become widows. Financially, how prepared would your spouse be if something happened to you?  Does anyone else know your financial details, goals, and commitments?  If not, maybe it’s time to put together your own personal board of directors.

Matt Bell is the author of three personal finance books published by NavPress, including his latest: “Money & Marriage: A Complete Guide for Engaged and Newly Married Couples.”  Matt leads workshops throughout the country and blogs at www.MattAboutMoney.com.

This Broadcast: Teaching Kids to Have a Giving Spirit at Christmastime with Jill Hart of CWAHM.com

Listen Here!

With a history spanning three decades, Crown Radio programs help listeners discover how God relates to their money and their lives, addressing the challenging issues that are confronting them today. The programs give help, hope, and insight to the listeners as they learn to fulfill God’s purposes for their lives in the ways that they make and manage their money.

Each week, MoneyLife™ examines current, relevant themes from a biblical perspective and explores the practical, emotional, and relational impacts of life issues. Host and Crown’s CEO, Chuck Bentley, addresses topics related to life-stage decisions and shifting economic realities and focuses on the emotional connection of biblical truth with its practical application.

by Michelle Shaeffer

Two things that are difficult for me as a work at home mom during summertime are finding enough time to keep up with business marketing and staying focused during the time I do manage to squeeze in.  So I thought I’d share some strategies that help me stay sane when there’s sunshine, blue skies, and kids begging to go for a walk.

First, let’s talk about staying focused in the summer time.  Lots of small online businesses find themselves in a bit of a summer time lull with slower sales.  It could be because it’s harder to stay focused and on track with our marketing plans when that beach is calling for us and the kids are voting on the beach’s side.

So, what can we do?  Accept that it’s summer time and give up?  No!  Just shift strategies a bit.  Realize that it IS summer time and it is okay to let go and have some fun.  If you work to stay focused and learn to automate more of your tasks, you’ll find you can get things completed quicker and enjoy your time without feeling guilty.

If you don’t have a business coach, accountability partner or mastermind group, get one.  Right now.  Seriously, go sign up for one and then come back and finish this article.  Okay, finish reading and then go sign up.  I don’t want you to forget to return.  But you need someone to help you stay on track.  If you know you’ll have to admit to someone whether you took smart steps in your business this week, you’re more likely to take those steps.

If you don’t feel ready to spend money on a coach or mastermind group then find a “business buddy” you can partner with.  Check in once a week with your business buddy to help you stay on track.  At your weekly meeting set 2-3 goals for the upcoming week and then schedule the time and date for your next meeting so you don’t let it slide.

Next, here are some tips to help you save time by automating your marketing, social networking, and other tasks:

1.   Schedule your blog posts in advance.

On the weekend, I sit down and write up my blog posts for the upcoming week.  Depending on how much time I’ve got and what’s going on in my business (new products, promotions, etc) I’ll schedule 3-7 blog posts for the week.  By doing it at one time I can get them done in less than an hour and I don’t have to sit and write each day.

If you’re too overwhelmed, busy or otherwise distracted to blog, get in touch with other bloggers and ask them to guest post on your blog.  In exchange for a link from your site to theirs they can provide content for you.  Or check out WAHM Articles or Ezine Articles for content you can use.  Pick out the ones that will help your blog readers and schedule them to show up throughout the week on your blog.

2.   Syndicate your blog with Networked Blogs.

Networked Blogs is a fantastic way to promote your blog.  Once you’ve signed up, modify your settings so that it can automatically tweet any new blog posts to your Twitter account and also post it to your Facebook profile and/or Facebook fan page.

3.   Pre-schedule your tweets and status updates with HootSuite.

HootSuite is one of my favorite ways to stay visible online without being tied to my computer.  You can setup tweets and status updates and schedule them for the time you want them to appear.

For example, you could setup 30 of your favorite inspirational quotes to post once a day for a month to your Twitter page, Facebook profile, Facebook fan page, and LinkedIn profile.  Or you could write up a series of “how to” tips or other helpful tidbits and schedule those.  If you know you’ll have a new product or stock your shop on a certain date, setup automatic updates for that day in advance and you’ll have one less thing to remember.

These three tips will help you save time and still stay visible online.  Now time to go join a mastermind or find a business buddy.  Once you’ve done that make one of your first accountability goals to use the three strategies above.

About the Author:

And now, let me give you access to some great free resources for small businesses including 101 Free/Cheap Ways to Market Your Business, 119 Things You Can Outsource, and more at MichelleShaeffer.com

Michelle Shaeffer has been a work at home mom for more than 10 years and loves to share the tips and strategies she’s learned to help other home based business owners balance, manage, and market their businesses.

by Candi Wingate

There are many reasons that families have nannies.  Most reasons are something similar to ensuring proper, nurturing supervision of the children while the parents are otherwise occupied.  However, there is another benefit.  Did you know that nannies can help parents be better parents?

Nannies As Stress Relievers

If you delegate your routine household chores (light housekeeping, laundry, washing dishes, grocery shopping, errand running, etc.) to the nanny, then more of the time that you have at home with your children can be quality time (time reserved for interaction with your children).  Additionally, if the nanny’s relieving you of these tasks makes you feel less stress on a day-to-day basis, you will be a more relaxed, patient, nurturing parent.  Finally, there are times when parents simply need more than two hands to accomplish all that needs to be accomplished at any given time in the home (for example, what does a parent do if both of the twins are crying . . . in different rooms . . . and no other adult is at home to help?).  By having a nanny, parents have another set of hands to help them attend to concurrent issues.  In sum, by enabling more time to be spent in quality parent-child interaction, increasing a parent’s ability to be patient and nurturing, and providing an additional set of hands in times where multiple time demands are concurrent, nannies can help you be a better parent.

Media has emphasized this point.  Episodic television programs on this point include  John and Kate Plus Eight.

Nannies As Knowledge Base

Because experienced nannies have raised a larger number of children than most parents ever will, those nannies have dealt with (and learned how to respond to) a wider variety of child-rearing circumstances than most parents.  Consequently, these nannies can be viewed as experts in the field of raising children.

Additionally, many parents seek nannies who know how to perform CPR, the Heimlich maneuver, and other first aid responses.   Many nannies are well versed in nutrition.  Further, many nannies have additional credentials (i.e., a background in early childhood education, a working knowledge of child psychology, etc.).  In sum, there is much to be learned from these nannies.

Media has emphasized this point.  Episodic television programs on this point include  Nanny 911 and Super Nanny.   Movies on theme include  Nanny McPhee (2005) and even The Sound of Music (1965).

Conclusion

Most nannies are selected based on how they can relate to and care for children.  However, let us not overlook how they can help US relate to and care for our children.

About the Author:

Candi Wingate, President
Nannies4Hire
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How developing a “Take Charge” attitude can help you keep your sanity, maintain your budget and make this the best summer ever for you and your family.

By Lisa Nishimura

It is 1:30 AM and our dog Mookie wakes me from a sound sleep by putting his cold, wet nose on me to let me know he needs a potty break.  Since my husband is away on business all week, I can’t ignore the dog because one of 3 things will happen; I will wake in the morning to a mess, he will choose to let me know of his urgency by hoisting all 90 pounds of himself on top of me, or, worst of all, he will go wake the kids! As I lumber through the kitchen in my semi-comatose state a passing glance at the calendar on the refrigerator jolts me fully conscious.  MY KIDS ONLY HAVE 2 MORE DAYS OF SCHOOL!  Of course, I knew it was coming.  But as is usual for me, everything spells impending doom in the middle of the night.

Some families welcome the end of the school year and the lazy, unstructured days that come with summer break.  Our family consists of a dad with OCD, a mom with ADD and anxiety disorder, one kid with ADHD and sensory integration dysfunction and two other kids who can blow through a room faster than a cyclone. So while we welcome the beginning of summer, in our home structure, order and balance are even more important in the summer than during the school year.  I’ve identified three areas of our lives where I can “Take Charge” before school is out so I don’t spend the entire summer counting down the days until school starts again.

Take Charge of My Kitchen
Meal prep, snack time and kitchen clean up can be the biggest time sucker of all and being unprepared is a huge waste of money. Here are some ways to help get you out of the kitchen:
·    Use a meal planning service-There are lots of sites on the web that will, for a minimal fee, provide 7-days worth of dinner ideas, including recipes and a detailed shopping list.  Some will even give you an idea of what your total grocery bill will be for the week.
·    Create a well-stocked pantry-Avoid the 5 o’clock stare. You know, when you realize it’s 5 o’clock and you stare into your pantry hoping to have an epiphany about how to create a delicious, nutritious meal out of a can of lima beans, some peanut butter and some broken lasagna noodles.  There are a variety of web sites that will give you guidance on stocking your pantry so you’re not blowing your schedule or your budget running to the store to pick up “just a few things.”
·    Keep it simple-I create schedule of breakfast, lunch and snacks and recycle them throughout the summer. The kids like them and I don’t have to waste time and my mental energy to be creative in this area.  It is also easier for me to keep my pantry stocked this way because I can keep an inventory of a few familiar items instead of having five open boxes of cereal that the kids have abandoned halfway through.
·    Establish hours of operation-My kitchen opens for breakfast at 7:30 AM and closes at 9 o’clock.  Lunch begins at noon and then I close up shop at 1:30 PM. At 4:30 PM I reopen for business for late afternoon snacks and dinner preparation.  After 7 o’clock, the kitchen is closed for the day.  Without a schedule like this I would hear a chorus of “I’m hungry” all day and could very easily spend the entire day in my kitchen.

Take Charge of My Kids’ Time
This is critical for my family in the summertime.  No school, dance or sports schedules mean my kids could spend the whole summer in front of the TV or on the computer.  Here are some ideas to keep them busy and entertained:
·    Schedule organized activities–Camps and other activities can get very costly, especially with more than one child. Every year we invest $70 per child in a camp that’s run by a local church in our area.  Hundreds of kids with hearts for God attend every year and they have a blast!  Then I look for Vacation Bible Schools in our area that are free or charge a very nominal fee.  My friend calls me a VBS hopper, because over the course of one summer my kids may attend two or three VBS programs at different churches.  Ask your friends, look in your community paper, check city web sites, etc. for activities your kids your kids might enjoy.
·    Plan family getaways-We go away with my entire family for four or five days and if our budget allows we plan another vacation.  This doesn’t have to break the bank, either. Use your connections! A family from our church has a vacation home in Colorado and they have generously offered it to us for a week this summer. For the cost of gas, groceries and our activities we are a planning a great family vacation.
·    Plan your “unplanned” time-During our unscheduled weeks I combat the “What did we actually DO today?” question by establishing a game plan for these days. This includes outdoor playtime, indoor playtime, a little TV, computer or video game time, and a few days a week we go swimming or to the park. I look for coupons for free bowling, cheap admission to “open gym” or playtime at gymnastics studios or indoor amusement areas and free or dollar movies at our local theater as ways to beat the mid-day heat.  My kids also spend 30 to 45 minutes a day reading or playing quietly in their rooms. I scour the dollar stores for paper, markers, crayons, glue sticks, and other craft items so if the weather puts our outdoor time on hold they can spend the time creatively.
·    Spread it out-I try to stagger our camps, vacations, etc. so we have a week or two off in between them.  By the end of the summer my kids have had four to five really memorable experiences and we haven’t broken the bank to give them to them.  

Take Charge of My Time
I work from home because I wanted to be with my kids and because childcare for three children would eat up the majority of my salary. Since I struggle with my ADD especially when the kids are home all summer I have implemented systems to help me manage my time and balance my responsibilities.
Keep up with my calendar-It’s easy for me to let an entire day go by with little to show for it.  Calendaring is a key strategy for me.  Every night before bed I plan out my entire day, including time for work, housework, playing with the kids, and even time for lunch.  I use a calendar that breaks down the day in 15 minute increments from 8 o’clock AM to 9 o’clock PM.  Use what works for you!  If a list is sufficient for you, then use a list to keep track of your tasks.  If you need more accountability and structure use a calendar that will provide you with timeframes.
Work my business in a more kid friendly way-While my husband makes a good living we still rely on my income to help make ends meet. I have to keep prospecting and working throughout the summer, but I’ve learned that those things don’t have to get in the way of my kids having a great summer.  I make sure to pack business cards,  product samples and any literature I want to share along with the sunscreen and other essentials in my bag when we’re planning to go to a pool, park or other activity .  Then, I always have the tools I need at my disposal when I meet someone who I would like to approach.

Get in the ZONE!-One of the most misunderstood and overlooked symptoms of ADD/ADHD is the hyper-focus part of the day. This is the time of day when I could get three times as much accomplished than I could the rest of the entire day.  From talking to my other non-ADD friends it seems that this phenomena happens for them as well, but it is not as pronounced as it is for a person with ADD/ADHD.  It usually happens for me at the same time every day, but I have learned to tune in to other times when I feel really present.  I use these times wisely by focusing on activities that will have positively impact my business.  I avoid the computer  and my iPhone during these times because I can just as easily hyper-focus on time wasters, like social networking sites and email.  I have my call list printed and ready to go and then sit down and really focus on contacting potential customers.  Or, I have my thoughts jotted down in some organized fashion so I can work on an article I need to write.  If my workload is low, I may spend that period of time in turbo housework or laundry mode.

Set aside some “me” time-I have learned the hard way how important it is for me to regroup and recharge my batteries every day.  While my kids are having their quiet time I turn off the phones, TV, etc. and take half and hour to read, meditate, knit or whatever activity appeals to me that day.  I am a much better and more efficient mommy, wife and business owner when I remember to keep track of ME.

Everything seems much worse in the middle of the night, doesn’t it?  Once I reflected on the systems that I will put in place once school is out I was able to get back to sleep.  While it takes a little hard work and patience initially I always remind myself that the ends will justify my efforts.  Taking charge of my kitchen, my kids’ time and my own time allows our family to have a summer that’s filled with fun, excitement and great memories without sacrificing my business or my sanity.

I am a wife, mom to 3 elementary school aged kids and owner of a work at home business. Prior to having children I worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist and as a Health Care Consultant. I have Attention Deficit Disorder, as does at least one of our children. One of our kids is highly gifted which imposes more challenges than you would think. I love to read, I love to knit and I”m learning to crochet. Spring and Fall are my favorite seasons. I wish I lived in the country with lots of land. I love my business because it allows me to be home with my children, work with a fantastic supportive team and make a real difference in the lives of the people we serve. I am a Christian and believe with all my heart that Jesus is my Savior. I work hard everyday to honor God in everything I do!

http://wellness4urfamily.com
http://wahumommy.wordpress.com

By Kathleen Wilson

Valentine’s Day is a special day in my household, and I try to share the feeling of love and romance with all my family! One of the best ways to do that is to set a holiday table, and spend time enjoying good food and drink with your loved ones. (Include your kids in dinner, and save a special after dinner and dessert for romance!) Here are some great ideas for setting the stage for a romantic dining experience, without breaking your budget.

* Set a background for your Valentine’s Day dinner. Layer your table with fabrics to invoke the sense of a luxurious hotel. Use sheets, quilts, tablecloths and placemats in coordinating colors. Pink, red and white are all indicative of love, but so are deep jewel tones. Look around your linen closet to find what you may already own! Flat sheets can be found at the discount shop for $3!

* Invest in a roll of wire edged ribbon from the discount store. Tie bows around chair backs, glass stems, and silverware bundles for that extra touch.

* Use a paper punch and create confetti to sprinkle over the table. This is a great use for used wrapping paper, greeting cards, or even the funnies! It adds a great festive touch, and you can even put the kids to work on this one!

* Buy a few boxes of Valentine’s message hearts (they are only a $1 for three boxes!) and leave special love messages for each family member on their plate. Or use chocolate bars and cut out the letters to spell their name or initial as a sweet place card.

* Make each family member a “Scroll” of love. Write them a personal note telling them all the wonderful things you love about them, then roll it up like a scroll, and tie with the ribbon. Tie to their chair with the ribbon, or tuck in with their napkin. Make sure their names are marked on each scroll.

* Use the best dishes you own! Layer plates and soup bowls, make sure (just for tonight) there is a salad fork and a dessert spoon. Pamper your family with simple indulgences such as fresh flowers tucked in wine glasses, or a line of chocolate kisses down the center of the table. Use candles as a centerpiece, you can pick them up at a dollar shop! You may wish to save lighting them until the kids are all in bed, for safety reasons.

Just a few easy and inexpensive changes to your nightly dinnertime routine, and your loved ones will feel special and precious, as well they should.

Kathy Wilson is an author, columnist, and editor of The Budget Decorator. For thousands of free budget home decorating ideas visit her at http://www.TheBudgetDecorator.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathleen_Wilson

By Kathleen Wilson

So you just got all the holiday decorations put away (or maybe you didn’t!) and here comes another holiday… Valentines! Never fear, I have some great budget friendly ideas for quick and easy decorations you can use to dress up any room of your home and show all your loved ones how much you care!

*Dress up your everyday dining area with heart shaped placemats. Pick up some large red or pink craft foam sheets from your craft store and trace and cut a large heart shape from each one with a pair of sharp scissors. Use a gold paint pen and write a one word romantic sentiment in the center of each one, just like the “message heart” candies of our youth! Edge the hearts with squiggles and swirls, or perhaps personalize each placemat with a name of a family member. These will wipe clean with a damp cloth, and add loving style to each meal!

*Pick up four or six silk flowers and a small roll of wire edged ribbon (white, red, or pink) from your discount store and tie one flower each to the back of each of your dining chairs. Make the bow larger than you normally would for drama. The wire edge will allow you to shape the bow into a full, romantic style. Use leftover ribbon to add some romance to your front door wreath, your mailbox, or a big bow on the headboard of your bed!

*Buy an inexpensive floral bouquet from the supermarket and spilt it into two or three smaller bunches. Add some evergreen cuttings from the yard, and display it in pretty creamers, teacups, and bud vases. Flowers speak of love and family, but it doesn’t need to be a $50 bouquet of roses to add romance to the room!

*Take some time to set a romantic table for that special Valentines Day dinner, not only for that special someone, but for all the loved ones in your life! You can do this with things you already own! Layer the table coverings with quilts, tablecloths and placemats. Layer your dishware as well, with a large plate, saucer, and bowl, and tuck napkins into your drinking glasses. Don’t be afraid to mix and match your dinnerware, it adds style! Pick up a pack of paper doilies from the dollar shop, and scatter them across the table. Get the kids in on the day by giving them some red or pink giftwrap, tissue paper, or construction paper and a couple of paper punches, and allow them to make confetti to sprinkle over the table!

*Lastly, don’t forget to add candles to your Valentines home. They are inexpensive at any discount store or dollar shop, and can be displayed in groups on old picture frames as trays, or in front of mirrors to double your romantic style! Drop tealights into teacups or mason jars, and tie a ribbon around the outside.

Remember, romance is good for the soul, and it’s easy to bring a little of it into our homes to show our love for those around us!

Kathy Wilson is an author, columnist, and editor of The Budget Decorator. For thousands of free budget home decorating ideas visit her at http://www.TheBudgetDecorator.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathleen_Wilson

by Rachel Paxton

Last year our family tried out a new way to preserve Thanksgiving memories, and the result was truly a treasured keepsake.

A day or two before Thanksgiving, my daughter and I used a turkey rubber stamp to make place cards for all of our family members. We colored the place cards with colored pencils and wrote people’s names on them with a metallic gold pen.

We then cut up strips of paper to put into a small basket to distribute before Thanksgiving dinner. The day of Thanksgiving, after all of the guests had arrived, we handed out the slips of paper and asked everyone to write down something they were thankful for.

Now you should have seen the looks I got! Keep in mind that there were family members of all ages, from young teenagers to adults. Most of them looked at me like I was crazy (because this memory-making stuff is all new to them), but I told them they had to do it before they could eat.

So they all sat to write down what they were thankful for. Some came up with something very quickly, and others sat there perplexed and worried they were going to spell something wrong. Several didn’t write anything down at all.

The end result was a wide variety of very thoughtful answers. I put away the slips of paper, made sure to take some good family pictures (carving the turkey, eating dinner, visiting with each other, napping after dinner), and made sure to keep some of the place cards.

I don’t always get to my scrapbook pages immediately after an event like this. I do, however, make sure everything is in one place so that I can assemble my pages when I’m ready.

I later went to the store to buy some pre-cut Thanksgiving and fall images for my scrapbook pages, and then framed my pictures with some coordinating cardstock pieces. I then laid out two scrapbook pages with the photos, a couple of the turkey place cards, and most of the slips of paper people had written on. I tried to arrange a person’s slip of paper near their photo.

My finished project was by no means fancy or a work of art, but it will always be an irreplaceable treasured family keepsake.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of four. For scrapbooking, card making, gift-giving ideas, and more family memory-making activities, visit www.crafty-moms.com.

by Shelly Hill

For the majority of Americans, it is a tradition to serve a roasted turkey dinner for the Thanksgiving holiday…however, once the dinner is over, we are faced with a lot of turkey left-overs.

I like to freeze my left over turkey in freezer-safe 2-3 cup plastic containers. During the next few weeks, I can defrost my turkey in the microwave and make some delicious dinner recipes for my family.

Tip: You will want to remove the skin and bones from your turkey before placing it into the freezer.

The following recipes are the ones that my family enjoys the most after the Thanksgiving holiday is over.

Stir-Fry Turkey with Cranberry Glaze

1 fully cooked turkey breast, cut into strips
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons ginger
1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
4 tablespoons cranberry sauce
3 tablespoons soy sauce
salt and pepper to taste

Remove any skin from the turkey breast and thinly slice the turkey breast into strips. Heat the oil in a large preheated wok. Add the turkey strips and stir-fry for 5 minutes or until cooked through. Stir the ginger and cranberries into the wok and stir-fry for another 3 minutes or until the cranberries are soft. Add the cranberry sauce, soy sauce and season to taste with the salt and pepper, simmer the mixture for 3-5 minutes or until hot.

Turkey Salad Sandwiches

4 slices sandwich bread
1 cup cooked and diced turkey meat
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup green grapes, sliced in half
1 tablespoon low fat mayonnaise
1/4 raisins

This recipe will feed 2 people. In a large bowl, combined the diced turkey, celery, grapes, mayonnaise and raisins. Stir until all ingredients are combined. Spread salad onto your favorite style of bread. If desired, you can add slices of tomatoes and a few lettuce leaves.

Turkey Stuffed Crescent Rolls

3 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons butter
2 1/4 cups cooked and shredded turkey
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons cold milk
1 tablespoon green minced onion
1 tablespoon pimento, finely chopped
8 ounce can crescent rolls
dry bread crumbs

In a large bowl, blend together the softened cream cheese and butter. Stir in the shredded turkey, salt, pepper, onion and chopped pimento. Open the can of crescent rolls and separate the rolls into 4 rectangular pieces, sealing the perforations. Spoon the prepared mixture into the center of each rectangle and then pull the corners together and seal the edges. Brush the dough with some melted butter and sprinkle bread crumbs on top. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Shelly Hill has been working from home in Direct Sales since 1989 and is a Manager with Tupperware. Shelly enjoys cooking and baking for her friends and family. You can visit Shelly online at my.tupperware.com/Ravish30 or her recipe blog at wahmshelly.blogspot.com for additional free recipes. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

by O Quinn

Thanksgiving dinner can be a very expensive meal. But you can take steps to reduce the costs this year using a few of these ideas.

One of the easiest and best ideas when trying to save money on Thanksgiving is to make it a potluck. Have all the parties coming to dinner provide a dish. We do this EVERY year and it cuts down on costs considerably. Make a chart listing categories such as main dish, vegetables, starch, dessert, drinks, etc and note who will provide what in each category.

Another idea is to not cook more than everyone will eat. My mother loves to cook many different dishes “just in case” but this “just in case” has often turned into a waste. Do your calculations on serving sizes and don’t over feed your guests.

Shop in advance. Things like butter, canned cranberry sauce, and soup stocks (unless you make your own) tend to go on sale during holiday time. Make sure you get yours before they run out. Pick up these storable items (butter can be frozen) a week or two in advance. Search brand websites and your newspaper for coupons for even larger savings.

Make it from scratch. No need to go gourmet but making such items as your own breads, pie crusts, and such is cheaper than buying them pre-made. You can even make some in advance.

Make a grocery list before you go shopping. Do what great meal planners do. Make out that menu, with recipes and ingredients for each dish you are making. Check your pantry for what you already have on hand and then take that list with you to the grocery store. You are less likely to overshop and you won’t have that “uh-oh” look on your face come Thanksgiving day when you are making a dish and have forgotten an ingredient.

Think autumn instead of just Thanksgiving when it comes to decor. If you already decorate each year for the holidays you may have what you need on hand and there is no need to acquire new decorations. Some fall foliage from your yard decorating the front door is simple and yet so low cost. Easy and elegant. If there are children who will be coming give them construction paper, glue and scissors and have them make some great decorations for the house. They can do this the day of to keep them busy. Use it as a great learning opportunity.

Have an enjoyable, memorable Thanksgiving that doesn’t break the bank.

For more information on cleaning and organizing your home visit Homemaking Organized. And for tips on taking care of you visit Beauty for Mommy. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

by Shelly Hill

When our daughter was around 8 years old, she invited over a few friends for the day to do some crafting with us. Since it was the beginning of November, we decided to make a Thanksgiving holiday garland.

This project can be done in one afternoon. If you are doing several of them at a time (group project), I suggest precutting all of the fabric strips ahead of time.

1 roll of sisal twine (2 or 3 ply for durability)
scraps of homespun fabrics
all-purpose craft glue (or glue gun with adult supervision)
acorns, twigs, pinecones, dried pods
scissors

Step 1: Measure out the length of sisal twine that you will need to make your garland. We usually do 3 to 4 feet. Cut it from the roll. Tie each end into a loop, this way when you hang it up, you can easily do it via the loops.

Step 2: Collect scraps of homespun or various fall print fabrics. We like to use 4 to 6 different prints and/or colors. You will want to cut out strips that measure approximately 1″ wide by 4″ long, or however long you would like. I usually cut out 50 to 75 of these strips when I make a garland.

Step 3: Lay your sisal twine out across the floor. Take your strips and lay them out in front of the sisal twine and alternate your colors and prints. Let the children sit on the floor to do this part of the project. You will want to tie all of the fabric strips onto the twine until your garland is filled up. There is no wrong or right way to do this. You can make your garland as full or as sparse as you would like.

Step 4: Take a nice walk outdoors and collect some fall theme nature items, such as: pinecones (small and medium-sized), acorns, dried pods, small twigs, pieces of bark, etc. Once you have your items collected, you will want to glue several of them onto your garland. I like to space them out about every 6″ or so. Let your project dry for a few hours to make sure all of the items are glued firmly into place.

Now that your garland has been made, you can decide where to hang it. I like seeing them hung on a mantle, across a doorway or up a staircase.

Optional: If you don’t want to use found nature objects to decorate your new garland, you can visit your local craft store and purchase fall or thanksgiving items to glue onto it.

Shelly Hill is a mother and grandmother living in Pennsylvania. Shelly has been crafting for over 25 years and enjoys a variety of crafts. You can visit Shelly online at www.workathomebusinessoptions.com for craft projects for kids or her recipe blog at wahmshelly.blogspot.com for family friendly recipes. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

by Corrie Petersen

Business owners need to grow their business all the time. They don’t stop for the holidays. Sometimes it can be hard to work for growth at this time of year, but it needs to be done.

Right after Thanksgiving people start preparing for Christmas. This is the perfect time to get your business noticed or to get your products out there for people to purchase. Here are some tips and tricks that will help you grow with ease.

• Prepare ahead of time

When you plan ahead, you will accomplish more. Plan your online and offline advertising in advance. Write your ads and save all the sites you will post them to in one place so you don’t have to search. Print out your flyers ahead of time and have them ready to go so you can hand them out without a flaw.

• Blog posts

Write your blog posts and schedule them for the dates they are to go out. When you do this, you won’t even have to think about it. You will have the time to think when you do it ahead of time and you won’t make mistakes.

• Articles

Double up when you write your articles and have them ready before hand so your VA can submit them down the road and you won’t have to worry later.

• Newsletters

Prepare your newsletters in advance and schedule them to go when you want them to. Just because it’s a holiday doesn’t mean people aren’t on the computer. You still need to be in front of them and your newsletter is the best way to go.

• Button and banner ads

If you are offering a special and you are going to use button and banner ads to do this, have those done in advance. Have them created and the ad spots paid and ready to go. This way you won’t have to scramble to find places and get them paid for.

• Networking

Networking is important for business. It doesn’t matter if you do it online or offline, it needs to be done. If you know ahead of time when you are going to be networking, this will make it easier for you to be prepared with flyers, postcards, and business cards.

• Greeting cards

Sending out Thanksgiving cards is something that is not very popular to do, but it’s a nice gesture. If you can, I would suggest sending them out to your current customers. Sending them to your past customers would be good as well.

• Flyers

Some communities have a Christmas parade right after Thanksgiving or they will have a Thanksgiving parade. Be prepared with flyers to hand out. Stapling a wrapped piece of candy or a sucker to your flyer is a nice idea as well and the kids will love it. You can walk the street before the parade starts and hand them out to the people waiting or you can get a float and hand them out that way.

All of these tips can be used during any holiday or event. The big thing is to plan ahead and be ready. When you decide you want to do something, you don’t want to be stressed. Planning ahead will alleviate some, if not all, of the stress.

Corrie Petersen runs a successful Virtual Assistant business. She enjoys helping others reach their goals and dreams. Check out her website at www.virtualfreedom4you.com. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

by Darlyn Burkle

Whether you just fancy a turkey for dinner, or it’s thanksgiving and you are preparing the traditional turkey meal, you will need to get the cooking time right. Different sizes of turkey take different lengths of time to cook, and while an overcooked, dry turkey is not a very tasty meal, the alternative – an undercooked turkey and the risk of food poisoning, is even less attractive. While steaks are OK to consume rare, poultry has a much higher risk of disease from being consumed undercooked.

What to Consider

The cooking time of a turkey depends on several factors, including the method of cooking, the dish used to cook it, the size, and whether or not the turkey is being cooked from frozen or fresh.

You can get guideline cooking times from most cookbooks, and many cookery websites offer calculators that will help you work out how long the turkey will take to cook. The standard times are usually based on weight, and whether or not the turkey is fresh or frozen. Don’t forget to adjust the time – fan assisted ovens, for example, usually cook more quickly than non fan ovens.

There is one other option worth considering. You can the turkey hot line which several manufacturers have started and ask an expert what they think the best turkey cooking time is. Bear in mind however, that there are many variables which have an effect on the required cooking time, so it is always best to check the internal temperature of the turkey with a cooking thermometer. Don’t just set the timer and forget about it.

A Simple Guideline

As a rule of thumb, a 10 to 20 pound turkey should be cooked after being roasted for five hours. A bigger bird – in the 20 to 30 pound range, will need six hours of roasting time. If possible, don’t just rely on those numbers – try to use a meat thermometer to test the turkey – a fully cooked turkey should have an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Remember to baste the turkey often – or cook it in a roasting bag, so that it stays moist and does not dry out. The main course is the most important part of the meal, unless, of course, you are happy to just order pizza to replace it if it doesn’t work out!

I Choose Us.com is an exclusive website for women that provides self improvement resources and transformational tools to women who want to improve their lives and achieve their life goals. Sign up for our FREE 5-Day Women Self Improvement Mini-Course: 5 Practices Of Widely Successful Women. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

by Shelly Hill

When it comes to hosting holiday parties and family events, it is important to plan ahead and come up with a game plan several weeks before the big day or event.

Here are 10 important tips to help you enjoy a stress-free holiday party.

1. When hosting family gatherings, we tend to over invite guests. Keep your guest list manageable and only invite the amount of people that you feel you can handle. Inviting too many guests will cause over-crowding and unnecessary stress.

2. There is nothing wrong with asking others to help out by bringing a dish, dinner supplies or even showing up early or staying an hour late to help you prep or clean up after the meal.

3. Keep your decorations and decor simple. You don’t need to go all out and decorate every nook and cranny of your home or entertaining space.

4. Clean your home and entertaining space a week in advance. Then the day before the gathering, go back in and just do some light cleaning.

5. Plan your menu weeks in advance. You can precook or bake a lot of your foods and freeze them for the big day. Just thaw the day before and reheat on party day. If you don’t have time to cook and bake, consider a fully catered or partially catered meal.

6. Two weeks before the holiday gathering, draft up a supplies list. Make sure you will have enough dinner plates, bowls, serving utensils, silverware, tablecloths, chairs, etc. If you don’t have enough, there is nothing wrong with asking some of your guests to bring their supplies along.

7. Make clean up a snap by loading your dishwasher or washing dirty dishes, pots and pans as you go along. After a big meal, the last thing you want to do is spend hours in your kitchen cleaning up.

8. Ask your spouse and children to help you prepare for the family gathering. They are quite capable of cleaning the house, setting up tables and chairs and decorating, which will free you up to do the more important part…cooking and baking for your guests.

9. I like to over cook and have an abundance of food for my guests. It is better to have extra food than not have enough. Go to your local discount store and purchase several plastic food storage containers and you can send home leftovers with your party guests.

10. If you are serving alcoholic beverages, don’t over do it. Only purchase and serve enough alcoholic beverages for each guest to have two drinks. By limiting what is on hand, you won’t have to worry about intoxicated guests driving home. Make sure you have plenty of bagged ice on hand for serving beverages.

By planning out your holiday meal in advance, you can cut down on pre-party stress and anxiety. Take your time, make your lists and don’t be afraid to ask for help from family and friends. You want your holiday party to be as stress-free and as enjoyable as possible.

About the Author:
Shelly Hill is a mother and grandmother living in South Central Pennsylvania who enjoys cooking, baking and entertaining her family and friends during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays. You can visit Shelly online at my.tupperware.com/Ravish30 or her recipe blog at wahmshelly.blogspot.com for free holiday recipes and cooking tips. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

by Corrie Petersen

You know, it doesn’t matter if you work full or part time from home, it’s a struggle when the kids are out of school. When you work full time from home, you are used to having your days free while the kids are at school, to work your business. When you work part time from home, you are used to having your evenings free because the kids have homework and have to get to bed early.

When Christmas break comes around, it can be a challenge. You want to spend time with them and they want to spend time with you, so your business time may be limited. Here are a few tips that will help you get through this break and still grow your business.

First you need to realize it doesn’t matter what type of business you run, this can be done. You need to put your mind to it and schedule your time in advance and you can make it happen.

You should know exactly when the kids get out of school and you need to plan for this. You need to start preparing your business for the Christmas break right after Thanksgiving. Schedule your time wisely so you can get everything accomplished ahead of time.

• Blog posts

Most businesses have blogs that they run and post to regularly. You need to schedule your time so that you can prepare your blog posts ahead of time. If you post in your blog Monday through Friday, you will need to write two posts a day to prepare for the two or three weeks that the kids will be on break. Once you get a post done for the future, schedule it so that it will go out on the day you want it to go out. Then start again the next day and do the same process.

• Newsletters or Ezines

You need to do the same thing with your newsletters or ezines that you do with your blog posts. Decide what you are going to talk about and prepare it all ahead of time and get it scheduled. You still want your business in front of others, so you don’t want to miss sending one out because of the Christmas holiday.

• Appointments

If you are a direct sales representative or a coach, you will need to schedule your appointments in advance if it’s at all possible. That way you can plan your time accordingly and find something for the children to do while you are on your appointment.

• Preparing the children

Since you will still need to do your appointments or client work, you will need to spend some time during your day working your business. During this time you will need to find something for the kids to do so they don’t disturb you. Finding them something to do may be tricky if they are older, but it can still be done. Here are some ideas for children of different ages.

o Color sheets
o Color books
o Activity sheets
o Movies
o Board games
o Go to a friends house
o Go to the mall
o Go to a family members house
o Play outside

There are many more activities that the kids can do. Think about what they enjoy and plan for that.

Growing your business while the kids are on Christmas break is possible. If you plan your work time carefully and plan ahead you can be successful and still spend time with the kids while they are home. Enjoy!

Corrie Petersen runs a successful Virtual Assistant and Advertising business. She also has a free advertising tips newsletter that she creates to help others. Check out her website at www.virtualfreedom4you.com.
Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

by Denise Willms

Here is an easy Christmas craft your preschooler can make with a little help and supervision. Even if your preschooler isn’t always an angel, she can still help you decorate a Christmas tree with beautiful paper angels.

What you need:

Construction paper (any color)
Scissors
Pencil
Cotton ball
Items to make large and small circle patterns (plate, coin, lid)
White paper
Glue

What you do:

First, use a large circle pattern and draw a large circle on the construction paper.

Cut out the circle and fold it in half. Then cut the circle in half, along the fold.

Bend the half circle into a cone. Staple or glue the cone together. This will be the angel’s body.

Fold the sheet of white paper in half. Place a small circle pattern on the paper so that the edge of the circle is touching the fold. Trace the circle and cut it out. Do not cut across the fold. When you unfold the paper, you want to have two attached circles. This will be the angel’s face.

One of the small circles, draw a face. Glue a cotton ball on the other small circle for the angel’s hair.

Glue the bottom of each circle to the top of the angel’s body (the cone).

Now fold another piece of construction paper in half. Draw a wing that touches the fold, so that when it’s cut out you will have two wings joined together. Cut it out, unfold and glue the wings across the angel’s back. A stapler might work better.

Decorate your angel with paper doilies, glitter, or anything else you have on hand.

You can put it on top of the Christmas tree, or attach a string to the angel’s head and hang it from a branch on the Christmas tree.

Denise Willms is a homeschooling mom of two, and owner of WAHM-Articles.com. You can find more information on homeschooling at www.learnhowtohomeschool.com. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

by Tammy Embrich

There is nothing better than the sweet smell and delicious flavor of fresh homemade pies, cakes, and cookies…especially during the holidays.

Baking for the holidays should be both rewarding and fun. Get your kids involved. Have them go with you when purchasing the ingredients…make a day out of it and go for lunch. It will make the day more meaningful and also will get your children interested in actually helping to prepare your family favorite treats.

You can always take the easy way out and purchase Mrs. Smith or Sara Lee ready-made desserts. But of course, it’s just not the same as made from scratch and certainly not as much fun. If you’re like me…you want everything festive, special, and homemade. The aroma of homemade delights baking in the house gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling.

There are a lot of helpful tips to sweeten your holiday baking experience. And with the added tasks of gift buying, decorating, and planning your holiday events, some useful tips will come in handy…especially if it saves you some time in the kitchen.

Below are a few time-saving baking tips

Unfrosted cakes can be frozen for up to 4 months, but no longer. To freeze layered cakes, place the cooled layers on baking sheets, and then freeze until firm. Transport the layers to large freezer bags and then seal them in freezer wrap.

Angel food and chiffon cakes can be frozen for up to 3 months. The fragile sponge-texture may crumble and deteriorate if stored in freezer longer. Loosen wrap and thaw cakes at room temperature for 3 hours before frosting and serving.

Homemade fruit pies can be frozen for up to 4 months. For baked pies…let them cool completely. Store them in freezer bags and then seal them in freezer wrap. Thaw them at room temperature for 3 to 4 hours before serving.

For unbaked pies…it is best not to cut slits in the crust tops or brush with egg white until thawing. Before assembling pies, treat light-color fruit with ascorbic acid color-keeper. Assemble pies in metal pans. Store in large freezing bag and then seal them in freezer wrap.

To bake a frozen pie…unwrap, and cover with foil. Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 375 and bake for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake for 55 to 60 minutes until the crust is golden brown.

Cookie dough can also freeze well for 4 to 5 weeks. For sugar and butter cookies…divide dough into small sections and form into logs. Double wrap the logs with plastic wrap. When you’re ready to bake the cookies, slice the dough log in 1/4 inch slices with a sharp knife. An electric knife works really well for this.

For drop cookie dough…here is a great idea. And remember, you can do this 4 to 5 weeks ahead of time. Roll spoonfuls of the dough into balls and place on cookie sheets lined with waxed paper and put the sheets in the freezer for about an hour. Then place the dough balls into a large resealable freezer bag. When ready to use, you can then bake the frozen dough balls at the normal temperature without thawing. Just make for sure you add just a few minutes to the baking time.

Important Note: Always make for sure you label everything before storing in the freezer.

Some helpful reminder baking tips

Frozen Desserts: To make serving frozen desserts easier, dip knife in warm water before slicing

Cookie Tip: Allow cookie sheets to cool slightly between baking each batch to preven cookies from flattening and not hold shape.

Glass Baking Pans: For best results, when using glass baking pans, always reduce the oven temperature by 25 degrees.

Golden Crust: Give partially baked pies a golden crust by brushing the edges with a lightly beaten egg white.

Pumpkin Pie Tip: For real homemade pumpkin pies, picking the right sized pumpkin is important. A 6 pound pumpkin makes about 2 cups pulp. A 15-ounce can of pumpkin equals approximately 1 and 3/4 cups pulp.

Crust Tip: Too much flour or water will make a crust tough, while too much shortening will make it too crumbly.

Cinnamon Sticks: They just have a pleasant aroma and can also infuse festive holiday treats with appealing taste. For a spiced drink, simmer with cider. A cinnamon stick can also be used as a stirrer for hot cocoa, coffee…or any of your favorite drinks.

Just a few simple tips such as these can ease the stress a bit from the hustle and bustle of the holidays.

Joy and peace to you this holiday season!

About the Author:
Tammy Embrich owns and operates two work at home websites, a work at home forum, a recipe site and three blogs. She offers free work at home job leads for the job seeker, business work at home articles, tips, and more. You can visit Tammy at Work At Home Jobs and Cookin At Home. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

by Shelly Hill

When it comes to baking special desserts around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons, I like to make this Peppermint Cake. Every year I make it for our holiday parties and always receive positive reviews and requests to make it again.

It does take some time to make this dessert cake, but it will be well worth your efforts.

Peppermint Cake Recipe

2 1/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup milk
4 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 9″ round cake pan with nonstick vegetable spray. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. In a large bowl, combine the granulated sugar and softened butter with a mixer at medium speed. Whisk in the applesauce, milk, egg whites and vanilla extract. Add flour mixture to the applesauce mixture and stir until well combined. Pour batter into your prepared cake pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool cake on a wire rack. Once cool, split the cake in half horizontally to make 2 cakes.

Peppermint Frosting

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup water
2 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
3 tablespoons peppermint starlight candies, crushed

Tip: To crush candies, place 6 of them in a plastic zipper close bag and then wrap the bag in a clean dry kitchen towel. Use a maillot to smash candies.

In the top of a double boiler, whisk together granulated sugar, water, egg whites and cream of tartar. Cook over simmering water for 4 minutes or until mixture is hot and sugar is dissolved (do not boil). Remove from heat. Stir in peppermint extract. Beat with an electric mixer at high speed for 3 minutes or until mixture forms stiff peaks.

Place one cake layer on serving plate. Spread frosting on top of the layer. Top with the second layer and spread frosting on the top and sides of the cake. Sprinkle the crushed peppermint candies on the top and sides of cake.

Store cake in a cake storage container to protect it.

Shelly Hill has been working from home in Direct Sales since 1989 and is a Manager with Tupperware. Shelly enjoys cooking and baking for her friends and family. You can visit Shelly online at my.tupperware.com/Ravish30 or you can visit her Shakin ‘N Bakin recipe blog for additional free recipes at wahmshelly.blogspot.com. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

by Adriana Copaceanu

It’s that time of year again and you’re looking for a way to save some money at Christmas time. One way to not only save money but make your Christmas gifts a bit more personal is to give out homemade Christmas gifts. Making gifts for family and friends can be very rewarding and will also make sure that you are giving an original gift that they have never received before. Read on to find out a few homemade Christmas gift ideas that should help you get started.

Gift Basket – Find a good size basket line it with colored tissue paper, red and green work well. Then make up a theme for the gift basket. If you are making this for a female then you can get some nice bath soaps and crystals. Add in a few scented candles and a nice bath towel or robe, add in a nice book and you have a great gift ready to go. If it’s for a male then you can go with some wine glasses, and a nice bottle of wine, or some beer mugs and a six pack of their favorite beer. The point here is to find out what the person likes and just add that to your homemade Christmas gift basket.

Gift Jars – Making homemade Christmas gifts in a jar can be just a simple as the gift baskets. Find out what types of foods the person likes and place them in a nice jar. You can find them at any home good stores. There are especially good for someone that likes to cook. You can find all the ingredients of a favorite recipe and put them the jar. Make a nice label to put on the outside with the instructions on how to make it. This can be on a card tied to a string around the top. Use your creative side to figure out what to put inside your gift jar and it’s sure to be a hit.

Personalized Recipe Book – On the same idea as the gift jar you can find some great recipes in magazines or on the internet and gather them all together for a nice personalized recipe book. Do they love chocolate? Then find a bunch of different chocolate recipes and print them out or make copies. Place them into some clear sheets that can be placed into a 3 ring binder and your done.

Photo Album – This can be a great gift for older children. Get out your photo albums and trace back their childhood through pictures. Start from infant to today. Not only with this be a keepsake for years to come but the time spent reminiscing while looking through will bring a smile to everyone’s heart. This can also be a nice gift for a mother, grandmother, father or grandfather. Putting together a photo album of the children for them is always a terrific gift.

As you can see this is just a few of the homemade Christmas ideas that can make your next Christmas a very special day. The people you give these homemade gifts to will know that you really thought about them and came up with a unique idea just for them. Cost effective and fun to do. Don’t run around the shopping mall trying to spend as much as you can to show how much you care this Christmas. Make some homemade gifts to really show them.

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For more ideas of homemade Christmas gifts visit www.Busy-Moms-Online.com. Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com