Category Archives: Holidays & Gift Ideas

Reclaim Your Kids: Give the Gift of Imagination

Outdoor Playhouses

In a world where kids are increasingly distracted by screens and electronic toys that make imagination obsolete, there are still opportunities for parents to wow their kids and encourage creativity at the same time.  One such opportunity comes in the form of an Outdoor Playhouse.

Outdoor playhouses are available in countless shapes, sizes, and materials, but choosing one that will last for years through many children and all kinds of weather is always the most cost-effective option.  The best quality outdoor playhouses are made with non-pressure treated wood that is resistant to weather conditions, decay, and insect infestation.  Real wood makes an outdoor playhouse feel more like a cabin in the woods, a private get away for kids who need a separate, quiet space to think, play, or read.

Outdoor playhouses appeal to parents, too, because they entice children to break away from their screens and electronic toys and become engrossed in an imaginary world of their own creation.   Outdoor playhouses also encourage healthy movement and the development of positive social skills, which, in addition to creativity, have become casualties of our kids’ electronically-connected lives.

For best effect, the outdoor playhouse should be off limits to adults.  As long as their activities don’t harm themselves, other people, or anything in nature, kids should have the ultimate say in what happens in their private space.  The only strict rule parents should consider adopting when it comes to the outdoor playhouse, though, is that it must remain an electronics-free zone.  Otherwise, the benefits of the outdoor playhouse are lost.

Swinging Outdoor Beds – The Perfect Gift

Original Swing Bed

If you are looking for an amazing Christmas gifts for someone very special, I have the perfect idea. A swing bed is an amazing addition to any porch or patio. It provides the perfect outdoor area to lounge, nap, snuggle, and relax. The bed is a combination of a porch swing and a twin or full size bed. They can be made of beautiful pine, cypress, or red cedar and can be stained or painted to match your outdoor decor. The swing beds hold 800-1000 pounds, depending on how they are hung, making them perfect for the entire family! Imagine how happy your loved one will be while napping outdoors during the warm Spring and Summer months. This will definitely be a gift that they will remember forever!

Create a Unique Thanksgiving Feast!

Thanksgiving is less than one week away! Fun, family, and food are sure to make your holiday a wonderful experience. Thanksgiving food staples are sure to be on your family’s table. Sweet potatoes, stuffing, and the oh so important turkey not only satisfy your stomach, but also your soul. This year, why not try something different with your turkey? By cooking your turkey using a non-traditional method, you can get the same comforting feelings of Thanksgiving and a delicious meal while creating exciting new memories and traditions.

Electric Smoker

Smoking your turkey will create an amazing flavor and super moist meat. Electric smokers cook food more evenly than a traditional charcoal grill. They maintain a constant temperature that’s easy to control so hot spots and flare ups are never a problem. By adding smoker flavor bisquettes, you can impart the subtle flavors of everything from apple to pecan (and even bourbon!) into your turkey. Smoking is a slow process that you will find very rewarding. Smoked turkey is so delicious that it will surely become a family tradition for years to come.

Turkey Rocket Roaster

The Turkey Rocket Roaster is another fun alternative to traditional cooking methods and is great even if you are on the go this holiday season. It is a unique chamber that acts like a dutch over, cooking your turkey quickly and evenly. It uses charcoal to heat and creates that delicious, smokey flavor, but cooks in 2/3 less time than traditional methods. You can cook a 14 pound turkey in under 2 1/2 hours. This is much less time than regular grilling. It is lightweight but heavy-duty.

No matter which method you use to prepare your Thanksgiving feast, remember to take a moment to be thankful for all that you have. This is a perfect day to let go of all the things that are wrong in your life and focus on the positive. Enjoy spending time with your loved ones, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Cyber Monday Goes Green

add to cart,businesses,computing,e-commerce,Internet,online businesses,online shopping,Photographs,shopping,technology,text,World Wide Web,WWW

Shopping on “Black Friday” — a.k.a. the wild and crazy day of shopping following Thanksgiving — is not everyone’s idea of a good time.  Luckily, “Cyber Monday” exists for folks like me who prefer not to venture out to fight traffic, parking  lots, and frenzied crowds.  Shoppers stay home on Cyber Monday — the first Monday following Thanksgiving — and shop great deals online in their jammies.  That’s more like it.

According to Wikipedia, online shoppers spent $887 million on Cyber Monday in 2009.  That’s a lot of holiday gift buying, but how many of those gifts were even remotely meaningful or sustainable?  This question, posed by the Nature Conservancy, prompted a campaign to turn Cyber Monday into “Green Gift Monday.”  The goal ofbows,gifts,packages,presents,ribbons,special occasions Green Gift Monday is to encourage online shoppers to put a little more thought into choosing gifts that are environmentally responsible.  Not only does this give shoppers the opportunity to do something positive with their money, it also makes gifts more meaningful to recipients.

Whether Green Gift Monday will catch on with online shoppers is hard to say.  But, if even some portion of Cyber Monday shoppers decide to put more thought into their purchases and choose environmentally friendly gifts, then the Nature Conservancy’s campaign could still be considered a success.

Indoor Game Tables Provide Fun in All Weather Conditions

Game Table
As much as we all love being outside and enjoying beautiful weather, the cold temps do not have to take away all of your fun! You can find some really amazing indoor game tables to keep you entertained when going outdoors is not an option. They are great for all ages and will make the perfect bonding experience for multi-generational families. When my own family gets together for Thanksgiving and Christmas, we are always looking for fun ways to spend the day. These games are going to be a huge hit! Air hockey, pool, foosball, darts, and even a 20-in-1 game table are sure to offer something for every member of my family and yours. They also make perfect Christmas and birthday gifts! You will be entertained for hours – rain or shine.