EVENTFUL: Gift Exchange Games

Hosting a Christmas party this season? Keep your friends and family entertained by spicing up the gift-giving tradition with one of these fun variations

Yankee Swap

The perfect game for shamelessly re-gifting, the Yankee Swap Gift Exchange allows guests to select and swap each other's presents when a more appealing gift has been opened.

Left/Right Game

Read a Christmas-themed ‘right/left’ story to your guests as they stand in a circle holding a gift. Guests will pass gifts when they hear the words ‘left’ or ‘right’!

Musical Gifts

Similar to Musical Chairs, guests will be eager to have a gift in their hands when the Christmas carols stop! Pass around one gift per song. The person holding the gift when the music stops, opens their gift and steps out of the circle!

Cobweb Search

With a present attached to the end of different colors of yarn, weave a large web throughout an area of the house. Guests take the free end of the yarn and traverse a winding trail under tables, through rooms, and around banisters! For an added bonus, hide presents in drawers or cupboards.

Or, for a simple, old-fashioned gift exchange, check out Elfster or Secret Santa for automatic, name-shuffling gift exchange generators!

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

Image by Goodlife Zen

EVENTFUL: Holiday Hacks for Parents

With the holiday season in full swing, save yourself some time and hassle by following several of these holiday hacks! Focus on spending time with your family and make lasting memories instead of sweating about the small stuff that makes people crazy during the winter months.

• Make Room for New Stuff

Let your kids be Santa by cleaning out their toy bins and closets, and donating all unneeded items to charity. Many schools and churches host clothing and toy drives during the holiday season, so take advantage of these events to lighten the load of ‘stuff’ in your home and spread good cheer to those in need.

• Dollar Store Decor

If simplicity is the name of your game, hit up the Dollar Store for seasonal decor or party necessities. A great place to find inexpensive, yet festive plates, napkins, and small decorations, the Dollar Store’s true beauty comes in the form of cheap wrapping paper. Why spend real money on something that’s just going to be ripped up and thrown out? Take the plunge and find the hidden treasures in the depths of the Dollar Store! For bonus points, skip gift labels for paper wrapped items. Use a marker to write the “To” and “From” on packages. Those pretty noel-boarded labels are just going to be thrown away anyway.

• Up-cycle Wrapping Paper

Instead of throwing away large pieces of discarded wrapping paper, use a paper shredder to create colorful filling for the next batch of boxed or bagged gifts. If your kids need a project, purchase some butcher paper and let them design their own stamped wrapping paper with washable paints and sponges in holiday shapes!

• Give Experiences or Continuous Gifts

Instead of purchasing more ‘stuff,’ try gifting experiences or edible presents. Think about signing a relative up for a gourmet food-of-the-month club. From pie to bacon and beyond, Amazing Clubs is a great resource for spreading holiday cheer all year long as your favorite uncle receives a new flavor of jerky or wine each month! Have a friend or family member who loves opera or enjoys going to the theater? Look into purchasing tickets for local concerts, theaters, or sporting events. If your family is large and wants to limit the amount of presents for family gatherings, suggest an ornament exchange in lieu of large gifts. Simply draw names and purchase a special ornament for the person drawn!     

• Shop Online & Create a Deadline

To save time and sanity, do a large amount of Christmas shopping and try to finish before December 15th. Shipping is usually free after spending a set amount and beats carrying boxes and bags around the mall. There are also lots of online sales and deals during the holiday season. Who doesn’t love ordering gifts from the comfort of their own couch or recliner?

• Smart Storage

Make next year’s tree decorating a snap by wrapping Christmas lights around the frame of a hanger to keep strands from tangling. Use egg cartons or small plastic cups to store and separate ornaments. Purchase a plastic or cloth, zip-up gift wrapping tote to easily store your gift wrapping rolls and supplies under the bed or hanging in a closet. Protect wreaths and awkwardly-shaped lawn decorations by placing them in old garment bags or plastic dry cleaning bags. Use the bags simply as a protective covering, or hang them up in your garage or attic for extra storage!

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

Image by Batteries in a Flash  

FRIDAY FOLER: December 4

Weekly Highlights:

Historic Anaheim Campus

Anaheim Hills Campus

North Tustin Campus

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

A to Z: The War on Germs

The first week of December marks National Handwashing Awareness Week. From the start of school in the fall to the chilling weather of winter, the holiday season is prime time for germs! They’re on every surface we touch and are quick to strike with an array of cold and flu viruses. Luckily, the transportation of germs is significantly slowed by frequent handwashing and the sanitizing of surfaces. Teaching your children - as early as possible - about the importance of handwashing and helping them to understand the purpose behind cleanliness will go a long way towards keeping your family illness free!

While schools do their best to remain clean and sanitized, it’s no surprise that a place frequented by little people are breeding grounds for bacteria. Ensuring that your child practices proper and frequent handwashing will help protect your entire family. CNN reports the top eight germiest places in schools:

Bathroom Doors

Cafeteria Trays

Unrefrigerated Lunches

Desks

Art Supplies

Sports Equipment

Playground Equipment

Drinking Fountains

Aside from instilling proper hygiene practices in your child, help him or her combat germs by keeping simple items close at hand. Purchase small bottles of alcohol-based hand sanitizer to keep in your purse, car, your child’s backpack and sports bag, and anywhere else you or your child might not have immediate access to soap and water. Keep disinfecting wipes in your car and wipe down surfaces - especially inside door handles and the steering wheel - at least once a week to provide your family with a germ-reduced environment.

Keep your kids healthy by regularly sanitizing the surfaces in your home. Today Health reports that kitchen sinks are dirtier than most bathrooms. Clean sink basins and faucets by rinsing with a bleach-water solution at least once a week. If you use sponges to clean your dishes, make sure that you frequently sanitize your sponge by rinsing with bleach and running it through your dishwasher’s drying cycle. CBS News recently curated a list of the ten germiest items in your home:

Dish Sponges & Rags

Kitchen Sinks

Toothbrush Holders

Pet Bowls

Coffee Makers

Faucet Handles

Pet Toys

Kitchen Counters

Stove Knobs

Cutting Boards   

Ward off germs and keep illness away from your holiday gatherings by perpetually sanitizing these areas of your home. Get your children in the habit of washing their hands frequently and encourage them to use hand sanitizer after playing outside, riding in shopping carts, handling public door handles, etc.

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

Image by ABC News

SNACKTIME: Pumpkins, Gourds, and Squash – Good to Eat or Use to Decorate?

The leaves may not turn brilliant colors here in southern California, but you know autumn has arrived when piles of pumpkins, warty gourds, and various shapes of squash – all in shades of green, orange, cream, and yellow make their market debut.

Pumpkins, gourds, and squash are all related, but not all are edible. Do you know the difference?

Pumpkins are versatile and are used for culinary pleasures and decorating. Roasted or canned, pumpkins contain beta carotene, vitamin C, and fiber and taste great as pumpkin pie, soup, or even added to a smoothie for a seasonal flavor and nutrition boost. Roasted pumpkins seeds make tasty and nutritious snacks!

Gourds come in an array of green, orange, and cream. Some have stripes, spots, and/or varying splotches of color with a smooth, horned, or warty surface which makes for an interesting table decoration. Ornamental gourds are not edible and are grown mainly for show. The flesh they do contain is rather tasteless and may even be bitter.

Mature gourds can be very tiny from only a few inches long to giants over several feet in length.  Depending on the size and shape, unique gourds can become festive table decorations or crafted into bird houses, ornaments, bowls, vases, and more.

Many varieties of Squash exist, but most popular include acorn, butternut, and spaghetti squash which are pretty sweet. Upcoming favorites include the Calabaza which looks like a yellow, flat pumpkin. Delicata, also called sweet potato squash because of its creamy flavor and texture, looks like a large, plump cucumber and has yellow skin and dark green pinstripes. Squash may be baked, roasted, pureed, or sautéed depending on its texture. All are good sources of beta-carotene, vitamin C, plus lutein, and zeaxanthin, which are all linked to healthy vision and optimal eye health.

So, cook a side dish or create a decoration, bird house, or ornament!

 

Contributed by Leslie K. Kay-Getzinger, MS, RD

     Regional Dietitian for Nutrition Management Services Company

Image by Bostonzest.com

EVENTFUL: Black Friday Survival Guide

The season of giving has arrived and the mad dash of holiday shopping will commence this coming Friday. If you’re planning on braving the late night shopping on Black Friday, here are a few survival tips to consider:

1. Don’t

If at all possible, don’t leave the safe, warm embrace of your house. Enjoy your turkey coma and don’t get trampled upon by mindless shoppers frantically searching for the last $50 flat screen television. Cyber Monday is a great alternative for those who seek not to be bombarded by humanity, but shop alone while snuggled in pajamas. Amazon and many department stores have plenty of online deals to satisfy savvy shoppers. If participating in Black Friday shopping is a must for you, proceed through the following rules.

2. Don’t Buy Into the Hype

Remember that stores carry a small quantity of sweet-deal items to get consumers through the door, so the chances of making a once-in-a-lifetime purchase are slim. Don’t worry though, because most of the regularly advertised deals are available frequently throughout the year.

3. Scout the Stores and Make a Plan

Make a list of stores most important to you and outline the items and/or sales that you’d like to take advantage of in each store. Plot a shopping route for easy access and efficiency. Understand parking limitations and plan an alternate route.

4. Research the Products

Sometimes a deal really is too good to be true. Research the most tantalizing sales advertisements, especially those for electronics. Is there a reason why a store would want to give away that particular brand or model of laptop? To make your trip worthwhile, make sure you’re really getting what you want and are getting the most for your money.

5. Skip Starbucks

An almost blasphemous suggestion, but skipping Starbucks will prove to be most beneficial when executing the shopping route established in Rule #3. Brew some coffee in a travel mug before leaving the house, or better yet, have two cups with your pumpkin pie. This will not only save you money on that $5 grande latte, but will save time and hassle. Remember, everyone and their mother will be pre-gaming at Starbucks. Avoid drive-through coffee shops like the Plague.

6. Get the App and Clip the Coupon

See if there are any apps for the stores you’re going to be shopping at. Think Target’s Cartwheel app. Remember to bring any coupons and membership cards, as well as install any coupon apps that will help you to save money or earn incentive while shopping. Have these items ready before getting to the checkout stand. Don’t be that guy.

7. Pack Light and Dress Tight

For the ladies, take a small purse packed with only the essentials. This will lighten the load while running through crowded store aisles and hurdling small children lying exhausted on the floor. Also, if you’re clothes shopping for yourself, wear leggings and a tank-top, with the idea of throwing clothes on for a quick fit-check, and skipping the dressing room all together.

If you must shop on Black Friday, remember these rules and don’t forget to complete your pre-shopping calisthenics in the parking lot to avoid straining a hamstring.

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

Image by 3DPrint.com

FRIDAY FOLDER: November 20

Weekly Highlights: 

Historic Anaheim Campus

 

Anaheim Hills Campus

North Tustin Campus

 

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools