Act II, Scene I

Today we are going to fast forward to Christmas 2009.

There is a lot of collective knowledge and wisdom frequenting our blog site each day, so before the holidays pass and we - all to quickly - move on to New Years, Valentine's Day, and St. Patrick's Day, let's take a moment to answer this question...

If I know then what I know now, I will...

What?  

Based on your experience with Christmas 2008, is there an idea you saw or heard that you want to remember for next year?  A recipe you want to try, but that just ain't gonna happen in '08?  An outing or event you want to be sure to catch, but time just ran out?  A store you want to visit?  A gift idea you want to try?  A holiday decoration you want to make?  A wrapping tip or some insider information you want to be sure to remember? 

Today's the day.  

Brain dump all your "couldas," "wouldas," and "shouldas," right here at Idea Central and I will make sure they come right back atcha on Friday, November 27, 2009 - with plenty of time to make them happen next year.

Increase the value of this resource exponentially by getting as many people as you can to post their contribution.  The more people (newcomers, lurkers, and faithful veterans) who post today, the more helpful the information will be next year.

I'll start.  Last Friday, Matthew received a small treat from one of his classmates.  The festive cellophane party bag came half filled with oats, sprinkles, and sparkles.  Attached was this poem:

Magic Reindeer Dust

Come December 24, as Santa flies here from the North,

Here's what you do, it isn't hard.

Just sprinkle this stuff in your yard...

The sprinkles and sparkles draw old Santa near

and oats attract his 8 reindeer...

Then just you wait - they're on their way

P.S. Happy Holiday

There is no way I will keep track of this poem for the next 364 days, but I love the idea and want to be sure to use it next year (of course, adapted and with my own little twist).  The idea is great for a few reasons... (1) it's inexpensive, so it's doable for a class of 20 (or neighborhood kids, etc...), (2) it isn't junk food, (3) kids can help make and package the gift, and (4) it is practical.  We know exactly what to do with it and once we spread the dust tomorrow night, there will be no chatcka left behind.

As far as I am concerned, Magic Reindeer Dust is an idea worth keeping.  Now it's safely deposited in Highlowahas Brain Bank, ready to be withdrawn next Thanksgiving.  

Also, kudos to Mrs. Sampract who, if she didn't come up with the idea, kept track of it for a year until she could use it!

Now it's your turn.  Fill us up with countless comments about all the things you want to be sure and remember for the holidays in 2009!

Signing off until tomorrow...

P.S.  And since we seem to be on a movie kick... here are popcorn containers I found in the dollar bin at Target - packaged up and ready to go.  Each one only cost $2.20 to make (minus the $15.00 gift card attached to the four containers for Matthew and Jack's teachers).

Free For All Friday: Final Thoughts, Friendship Parties, and Football

T.G.I.F.

Am I the only one waking up early because of the gajillion things running through my head?  I could fill a legal pad with all the things I want to do in the next couple of weeks, if only I would write them down.  But, if I take time to make a list I have less time to check the items off my list... and on and on the cycle goes.  Instead, I'll continue the same maddening cycle, subjecting all of you to my craziness along the way.

Today's post will be reflective of my mental state... a little all over the place, but important nonetheless.

The good news is that today is Free For All Friday.  If you hate what I have to say then declare mutiny.  Take the blog over and talk about whatever is important to you.  Still looking for a gift idea, packaging suggestions, or a slogan to go along with your gift?  Let the group take a crack at it.  Find a great bargain, a new recipe, or a holiday must-have?  Share it with the rest of us.  Glad it's Friday and ready to celebrate, vent, or reflect?  Lay it on us.  We love that stuff.

As for me... here's what I got.

Final Gift Ideas:  I can't stop.  I saw a few more things I want you to know about.  First, I saw a Girlz Own Bedroom Doorbell.  $11.99 at the Owl's Nest.  Wouldn't that be a fun thing for a young girl to have on her door?  For boys (or girls)...  Zoomorphs.  Picture animal parts... all sorts of animal parts.  Arms, legs, wings, claws, beaks, tails, etc....  Now picture them as separate pieces.  Kids can use the variety of animal parts to morph their own zoo animal (thus the name).   Ssshhh... I couldn't resist buying it for Matthew ($16.99).

Kelly Montana!:  Have you seen Katie's challenge posted in yesterday's announcements? Tonight... James Madison (her school) versus Montana (your school).  Are you up for another challenge?  That's what she wants to know!  There's another ornament hanging in the balance, so let her know!  I heard her say you're "going down!"  Are you going to let her get away with that?

Virtual Baby Shower:  Kristen has generously offered to host our next Friendship Party, January 26-31.  In light of the upcoming baby arrivals, our next Friendship Party is slated to be a baby shower.  Bottom line.  We are looking for 6-8 pregnant women who will come together and form our guest list for January's party.  Kelly, Melanie, and Michelle (where are you)... you are welcome to join us.  In addition to our old standbys, we would love to pull in some new readers.  That's where all of you come in.  Who do you know that is pregnant and will you pass their name along to us?  We need 6-8 women who are due sometime between March and June or July. 

Texas Friends: Calling all women living in the North Texas area!  Kristen's sister in-law will be moving to the Dallas Metroplex area in the spring.  She's decorating a Texas Christmas tree (see post from 12/) and would love to attach the names of contacts her sister in law could call when she arrives.  If you are willing to help welcome Kristen's sister in law to our great state, please pass along your name and contact information.  Kristen's email address is: k_schnepp@hotmail.com. 

Festival of Lights and Ornament Exchange:  It's never too late to join the fun!  Here's a run down.  Festival of Lights will begin at 8:00 p.m. CST.  To participate, just email kklolkmeier@gmail.com a picture of you in front of a holiday decoration.  She must receive by tonight at 9:00 p.m (though, if she got it Saturday morning, she'd probably squeeze it in).    The Ornament Exchange will begin somewhere around 8:15 and should be done by no later than 8:40ish.  To participate in the Ornament Exchange just...

• Buy an ornament (50% off at most places right now)
  
• Send Katie a picture of it unwrapped.
  
• Send Katie a picture of it wrapped.
  
• Tune in at 8:00 this Sunday.
  

Football Throw Down:  Round One of the Football Snack Throw Down is over.  Thanks to the 14 of you who participated.  Special congratulations to Richard, Tera, Lori, Nicole, Maureen, Melanie, and Susan,  our seven skilled winners.  Here's what we have to look forward to...

• December 30, Richard vs. Tera (receive secret ingredient 12/19
  
• January 3, Nicole vs. Maureen (receive secret ingredient 12/26
  
• January 10, Melanie vs. Susan (receive secret ingredient 1/2
• January 11, winner of Richard vs. Tera goes up against Lori (who automatically advances).  Receive secret ingredient 1/2.
• January 18, winner of Nicole vs. Maureen goes up against winner of Melanie vs. Susan, (receive secret ingredient 1/9).
• February 1, SUPER BOWL!!!!! Coveted Super Bowl is awarded to the winner, (receive secret 1/16).

Cassie Goes on a Road Trip: This Monday Cassie heads on her road trip to Santa Claus, Indiana to hand postmark and deliver our Christmas cards.  Hopefully she's received a handful in the mail.  All you last-minute Louisvillians, maybe if you drop her an email at cpatterson02@bellarmine.edu, she will swing by and pick your card up before leaving on her trip.

Christmas Conversation Question:  If all else fails, how about answering today's Highlowaha Christmas Conversation Question... What is the strangest gift you ever received?

Signing off until tomorrow...

Claudia's Kids Pick: Boys Toys

It's official.  I'm allergic to my Christmas tree.  My head is clogged and my throat is sore.  That's my low for the day (good to get that out of the way early).  It's still too early to know what my "high" will be and same with my "aha."  Maybe I'll check back later tonight and let you know.

In the meantime, we have boys toys to talk about... a topic near and dear to my heart, as I have three.  

Let me preface this by saying, the list below of Claudia's Top Kid Picks assumes the boys in your life already have (1) a flashlight, (2) walkie talkies, and (3) binoculars.  These are all items that Richard - my husband - insists are a must.  Once Maslow's Hierarchy of Boys Toys is taken care of, consider my list.  

Also, let us know what you've picked out this season for the boys in you life.  Don't have any toy ideas to share?  How about answering this question from the, now-sold-out, Limited Edition Deck of Highlowaha Conversation Cards.  What is one Christmas present from your childhood you wish you still had?  Something immediately came to mind as my answer.  I'll post it in the comment section.

Schylling Grip-n-Growl

$5.99

 How about getting this for your favorite boy's bike.  When he pulls back on the grip, it sounds like the engine of his bicycle is revving.  An inexpensive, but fun treat to surprise a neighbor, nephew, or to put in a holiday grab bag.

Stomp Rocket

$15.99 ($12.99 at Owl's Nest)

Matthew first spotted this toy when some neighborhood boys were playing with it on our block.  He's wanted one ever since.  Simply attach the foam rocket to the launch tower and then jump on the launch pad.  The rockets shoots up to 100 feet in the air.  They make another one for older kids that goes up to 200 feet (kids have to be a little heavier to jump hard enough).

Skuut

$89.99 

My sister gave this bicycle to Matthew last year.  It might very well be the best present he will ever receive.  Matthew was three last Christmas and the timing for this Skuut was PERFECT!  It works just like a bicycle, only no pedals.  Matthew uses his feet to push off and glide himself from place to place.  The beauty of this is that, by virtue of "skuuting" for a year, Matthew now knows how to balance himself and learning to ride a bicycle will be made much easier.  This item is pricey, but it is worth every penny!

Frontier Safe

$11.50

 
It seems to me having a place to hide your top secret loot (marbles, coins, a whistle, pocket knife, and other boy gadgets) would be a fun gift for a favorite boy on your list.

Flip To Win Hangman

$12.95

This is another Melissa and Doug product (love them!).  I love this item, because it strikes me as fun, but practical.  Perfect for the car.  Perfect for a restaurant.  Perfect for an airplane or a doctor's office.  The pieces are attached to the board, so no worrying about lost pieces.  They also make a similarly designed Tic Tac Toe board.

Fortamajig, Single Layer

$69.95

Santa brought one of these to Matthew last year.  It is called a Fortamajig.  It's genius, really.  I wish I would have thought of it.  Imagine parachute material with velcro tabs sewn all over it.  The randomly placed velcro tabs allow your favorite little boy (or girl) to build a fort anywhere any time.  The only supplies necessary are trees branches or furniture to which the velcro loops can be attached... and a healthy dose of imagination.

Original Little Hands Card Holder

$3.99

A simple, relatively inexpensive item.  A set of these card holders with a deck of either Old Maid or Go Fish cards makes a perfect gift for someone on your list.  I've seen other brands, but this brand works the best.

That's it for today's items.  Hopefully you found something in my Top Picks that might work for one of the guys in your life.  Don't forget to answer today's question.

Signing off until tomorrow...

Santa Claudia's Top Kid Pick's: Girl's First

Announcements at the end.

Don't get me wrong, my boys are allowed to play with dolls if they want and one of Matthew's favorite colors is pink.  When I say that today we will look at items of that might be of interest to girls, it does not mean, "No Boys Allowed."  It just means the Owl's Nest had the items located in a predominantly pink section of the store.

The price range of the items featured (and photographed by Heather) are of varying prices . One thing they have in common... all, in some way, foster creativity.  I'll leave gadgets and battery operated toys to someone more qualified.

Already done with you shopping?  Let us know what you've purchased this season for the young girls in your life.  Some of us haven't even started yet (yikes, it's true!)  Also, we'll top each of the next three days of with a question from the inaugural deck of Highlowaha's Conversation Cards (SOLD OUT!).  Today's question... What is the most memorable holiday gift you remember receiving as a child?

Fingermax Finger Brushes

$16.95

Finger painting with a twist... or should I say brush?

Kids Paint Brushes

$12.95

I bought these paint brushes for Matthew a few years back and he still uses them at least a few times a month.  You can also purchase paint containers with covers in corresponding colors.  It not only reinforces differentiation of colors, but it also helps keep the red paint red and the blue paint blue.

Jewelry Box Sticky Mosaic Kit

$12.99

Heather spotted this item and I agreed that making your own jewelry box, sounded like something many young girls would think was fun.  I also love the fact that it gives her something to do over the holiday break... other than watch t.v.

Alex Link 'n Loop Scarf

$17.99

We thought of Stacie when we saw this and thought, with a little help from her, this could be a fun gift for the nine year old girl for whom we were browsing.

Fashion Design Studio by Creativity for Kids

$28.79

Fashion industry, watch out!  This kit provides all the essentials necessary for a young person to design her own clothing.  You could be inspiring the next great clothing designer!!!

Cahootie

$6.95

Why do I love this so much?  As a kid, I spent hours doing Finger Fortunes with friends.  It's relatively inexpensive, but seems to me that it would countless hours of fun.

Melissa & Doug's

Architectural Standard Unit Blocks

$42.95

 My mother bought these architectural blocks for my niece years ago.  She's eleven and still loves playing with them.  Incidentally, on our last trip to N.Y., my boys spent many an hour playing with them too.

Oriental Trading Company

Jingle Bell Rings

$4.99/dozen

This might not exactly foster creativity, but I think it makes for a great tie-on to the bow of just about any package!  I bought one mine for $2.99 (it is multi-colored), but Oriental Trading has a full dozen for only $4.99.

Announcements:

• Festival of Lights: Cassie, Maureen, Kristen, and I were the first to commit to Sunday night's fun... The Festival of Lights will begin at 8:00 and probably only go until 8:40 or so.  Surely we'll have some more takers by Friday night at 9:00 when pictures are due to Katie.  Just email her (kkolkmeier@gmail.com) a picture of you (and your family) in front of your Christmas tree, menorah, or any other meaningful holiday item.  
  
• Ornament Exchange: This will also take place on Sunday night, beginning immediately after the Festival of Lights.  To participate... simply purchase an ornament.  Take a picture of it unwrapped, then take a picture of it wrapped.  Email both to Katie at kkolkmeier@gmail.com   
  
• Yesterday's winners: I'm not sure why my original post of winners did not post.  Here's the shortened version.  Thanks to those of you who wrote a review.  Allison did not get my email in enough time to judge, so I deferred to my favorite elf.  Richard picked two numbers between 1-6 (to correspond with the six of you who participated).  Kristen and Tera were the lucky winners!
  
• Cassie Goes to Santa Claus: It's not too late!  Grab a card on the way to work.  Take some time over your lunch hour.  Zip by the post office on your way home.  In the Spirit of #218, don't miss this chance to send a child you know a Christmas card from Santa Claus, Indiana.  Cassie is road tripping to Santa Claus for us on Monday (12/15).  We want to send her with a full Santa sack.  Her address: Cassie Patterson, 103 Meadow Drive, Sellersburg, IN, 47172
  

Signing off until tomorrow...

Santa Claudia: Cooking Up a Yummy Holiday

From one favorite vice (books) to another (edible treats)!  In an effort to make the holidays magical for the children in, and around, our lives, we are spending this week exploring favorite gift ideas for kids.  If you tuned in yesterday, you saw my qualifier.  I have a bias toward gifts that foster foster creativity and leave plenty of room for a healthy dose of imagination.  Yesterday I shared favorite holiday book titles and many of you generously chimed in with favorite titles of your own.

Today we will talk about fostering the inner chef of the children we know.  We will do this early in the week also as a way of honoring and recognizing the "can-do" attitude that King Arthur's Flour exhibited this summer. While the Container Store was busy telling me why they couldn't sponsor a Highlowaha activity - thereby giving them great, POSITIVE exposure to all of you- King Arthur's Flour contacted me asking if we would like to try one of their new products for kids.  (For the full story, see post from 10/4 titled, "Just Say Yes)." 

Hard to talk about fostering the creativity in our children without talking about engaging them in the kitchen.  One night of watching the Food Network is all you need to be convinced that cooking and baking are great ways of expressing creativity.  Seems like a perfect match to me and so here we are.

If you haven't finished shopping for the children in your life, consider giving them the gift of time in the kitchen (with you or another adult, like grandma).  King Arthur's makes six kids mixes, ranging from "ABC Twists" to "Rainbow Snack Cakes," to "Chocolate Chipper" muffin mix, "Cowboy Oatmeal" muffin mix, "Snickerdoodle" cookie mix, and "Pizza Crust."  The mixes are only $5.95 per mix.  Packaged with a rolling pin ($1.00 bin at Target), a chef's hat, or an apron, and you have a great gift idea - still for under $20.00.

Last week we mentioned the value in treating a special someone in your life to an ongoing gift.  The idea being that what we don't spend in money, we make up for in sentimentality.  Cookie cutters seem like a great example of this to me.  I can't help but think what fun it would be to present a special child with a new cookie cutter each year - the idea being that we "break it in" together.  Start when the child is young and by the time they are 18, he or she has a nice little collection (not to mention a slew of memories and a well developed skill of cookie decorating).  King Arthur has a nice selection of seasonal cookie cutters.  I'm especially fond of the snowflake (packaged beautifully with the book, Snowflake Bentley).

Today I want to give away the four baking mixes, generously donated to me by King Arthur's flour.  The question is, how?

• Do I pull from my RAK box?
  
• Have you tell who you will share the treats with, so I know they will go to good use?
  
• Swap it for a fun Christmas cookie recipe that you post in the comment section?
  
• Solicit your funniest holiday kitchen story?
  
• Or, maybe I should try to repay King Arthur's Flour in some way.  I could send you to their on-line catalog and have your enter the drawing for kids mixes by reading your review of the item of your choice.
  

Don't like #1.  Too easy.  Number 2 puts me in the roll of judging one story over another.  I don't like that.  Numbers 3 and 4 are ok and could make for interesting and entertaining reading.  Suggestion #5 feels right too.  Good karma, you know?  Do something nice for our blog community and we will go out of our way to help you.  Yeah, I like #5.

Visit the website at kingarthurflour.com  

Look the on-line catalog and stop at the first thing that catches your eye.  Tell us what it is, why you like it, how much it costs, and anything else about item that you find interesting.  I'll separate the four boxes into two bundles.  I don't want to judge, so I think I'll contact Allison Furbish at King Arthur and see if she will help.  Don't fail me now readers.  Show Allison and King Arthur's what a fun, engaged, and appreciative group we are.  Reviews, reviews, reviews.  We want lots of reviews.

Announcements:

• Cassie Goes to Santa Claus:  Let's not send her empty handed.  Today or tomorrow are the last two safe days to send Cassie a card that she can bring for an authentic Santa Claus postmark.  All you have to do is fill out your card, address it to the whichever child you've picked to be the recipient. and put a stamp on it.  Then, stick it in an envelope and send it to Cassie Patterson at: 103 Meadow Drive, Sellersburg, IN, 47172.  She'll deliver cards from anyone - frequent commenters and lurkers alike!!!!  First time readers or veteran readers.  Just make sure it gets to her by Saturday.
  
• Commit:  Festival of Lights and our Ornament Exchange are this Sunday, December 14 at 8:00.  I'd love to get an idea of who is participating.  Don't be scared to commit.  Participating is easy.  Just submit a picture of you in front of holiday lights (tree, menorah, your house, etc...).  Submit it to Katie by Friday (12/12) at 9:00 at kkolkmeier@gmail.com.  To participate in the ornament exchange just submit a wrapped and unwrapped picture of your ornament to Katie by the same day and time.  We are a community.  This is a fun way to celebrate the holidays together!  Remember, this is a patch yielding event!!!!  Mary Beth, Susan, Kristen, and all you others who have recently received patchwork denim, this is the perfect chance to increase your collection of coveted patches.
  

Signing off until tomorrow...

Free For All Friday: Santa Claus is Coming to Town

T.G.I.F.  

Big sigh of relief as many of us head into a busy (but FUN) weekend of holiday planning and celebrations.  

Free for All Friday comes at the perfect time in the week for me.  Monday through Thursday is always jam packed with activity and the rigorous exchange of ideas.  On Fridays you, the readers of highlowaha, become the architects of the blog.  You drive the swap of ideas, based on the the questions you ask, the tips you solicit, or the rants and raves you chose to make.

And yet, with all that latitude... I feel especially responsible for making sure our party guests get all their holiday needs met.  After all, we're trying to make a good impression so that Lindsay, Emily, Sarah, Michelle, Nicole, and Cassie will come back to visit again and again (though, I don't think we need to worry about Cassie!).  The value of this community grows with each creative and committed newcomer we welcome into our fold.  For it is true, each time he or she shares a creative insight, we are the beneficiaries.  So... with only Friday and Saturday left to this week's Friendship Party, lets all be on our best behavior and show these women once and for all what our community is made of.

All week long we've been talking inexpensive holiday gifts and tomorrow we will resume our discussion with $5.00 ideas.  Today, in the spirit of Free for All Friday, I want to open the floor to any holiday related gift ideas or tips.  For example, early in the week Lindsay said she would deem the week successful if she received ideas for somewhat sentimental holiday gifts she could present her group of friends (all of which will be graduating in the spring).  Yesterday, Heather also made a plea for $10.00 gifts she could give her 39 year old brother and her 12 and 14 year old nephews.  It would be great if we could lighten their loads by offering up some ideas.

Do you have a holiday trick of the trade worth sharing?  If so, share with the rest of us.  Here are some examples to get your wheels turning...

I found these Avery Marking Tags at Staples for $3.00.  I thought they would be easy and fun ways to label Christmas presents.  100 come in a box.

I'm sure most of you have seen these fun holiday utensil holders.  I love to stuff the toes with treats for our dinner guests.  I spend the year looking for creative things that will fit.  Variation: Target has infant mittens in their $1.00 bins.  How about buying a couple sets of mittens and using those?  They are about the right size and come in bright colors.

Our very own Nan came up with binder idea as a way to organize her holiday tasks.  It is chock full of all her most essential information (think wedding planner meets North Pole).  Her tabs include: Wish lists, Decorations, Recipes, On the Go, Purchases, Give Thanks, Next Year, Christmas Past.  There's also a pencil case for holding receipts!

Finally, as announced in yesterday's post, Cassie P will be serving as Highlowaha Intern For a Day.  She and a friend will be road tripping to Santa Claus, Indiana where they will mail Christmas cards from THE Santa Claus post office and where our cards will receive the authentic Santa Claus postmark.  Look under Announcements for the address and date by which she needs your mail.  TODAY, however, I want to brainstorm ideas - or challenges - sure to make their road trip memorable!  Give us your ideas.  What fun (and legal) things could we ask Cassie and her friend to do along the way?  What might we want them to do once they arrive in Santa?  Are there photos we want them to take to document their adventure?  Put on your Ellen DeGeneres thinking caps and help us generate some fun. 

Announcements:

• Owl's Nest Adventure:  North Texans... shop at the Owl's Nest on Saturday and receive 10% off your purchases just by saying your with highlowaha.  Search the store for fun and unique gift ideas and then post a short review of your item on Saturday's blog.  Do those two things and receive a Highlowaha owl patch for your Patchwork Denim.  Also search the store for the hidden Ray and earn an added bonus from me.  So far, the only non-Texans for whom we will be seeking toy ideas are Kristen's 8 month old daughter and Amber's 9 month old girl (is 9 months correct Amber?).  Anybody else.
  
• Patchwork Denim: Party goers and newcomers, this explanation is for you.  "Patchwork" is your chance to earn patches for various Highlowaha fun activities and challenges.  The goal...designate something your "patchwork denim" (ie. an apron, jeans, jacket, hat, bag) and jump right in to start collecting.  The next patchwork event is Sunday, December 14 when we host Celebration of Lights.  Check out the announcements in yesterday's (12/4) post to find out exactly what you need to do.  It's easy as 1, 2, 3.  
  
• Paint the Town Red:  Do a random act of kindness.  Drink a coke and pass along your reward code to Heather.
  

Signing off until tomorrow.