This is the third post in the Christmas series at From this Kitchen Table. (Find all the posts here.) Be sure to come back over the next few weeks to read more thoughts, get some new recipes, and receive gift ideas. You can follow us on Facebook or subscribe by e-mail to be sure you don’t miss out!

It’s December. Parties and dinners to attend. Presents or hostess gifts might be required. Every year I find myself brainstorming ideas for my church staff party and for family.

I’ve assembled some ideas that I’ve seen, received, or made. Make them simple (and super affordable) or add the optional ideas to jazz them up a bit. You could even combine a few baskets into one – Popcorn/Movie Basket and the Hot Chocolate one go together pretty well.

1. Hot Chocolate Basket

• Hot Chocolate: Purchase hot chocolate or make your own mix and package it in a small mason jar. You could also do hot chocolate balls or hot chocolate spoons
• Toppings: (place this in small jars from Hobby Lobby or little food bags)
  Marshmallows (If you feel up to it you can even make them! These look yummy or check out this recipe for peppermint marshmallows. This recipe is made with honey)
  Mini Chocolate Chips
  Sprinkles
  Carton of Heavy Whipping Cream (optional)
• A mug or two (completely optional)
• Packaging:
  Find a basket or tin (Hobby Lobby has a great selection of both you can buy on sale) or even a gift bag and arrange all the goodies!
  You can also put everything inside of the mug as packaging if you’re going to give it to a single person. Tie cellophane around it with a bow or ribbon to complete the packaging.

2. Tea Basket

I love tea but it’s not often that I splurge on a fun new flavor.

• Tea Bags Some brands to consider:
  Yogi has some amazing flavors (Egyptian Licorice is fabulous, but it’s not recommended when nursing or pregnant)
  Tazo
  Twinings
  Traditional Medicinals  (choose this or one of the next two if you want the cleanest tea)
  Numi
  Rishi
  Celestial Seasons is an option available at your local store.
• Small Jar of Honey (Optional) Buy a small glass jar and put honey in it or buy a honey sampler already packaged.
• Packaging A basket or you may put a bow on a single box or tape several boxes together and tie it with ribbon.

OR

• Loose Leaf Tea
• Stainless Tea Mesh Tea Ball
• Small Jar of Honey (Optional) Buy a small glass jar and put honey in it or buy a honey sampler already packaged.
• Packaging Leave it in it’s original packaging and tie the tea ball on with a bow or move the tea into a canister or glass jar and arranged in a small basket.

3. Ice Cream Sundae Kit

• Toppings: (Put the sauces in mason jars and place the other topping in small jars from Hobby Lobby or little food bags)
  Chopped nuts
  Hot Fudge Sauce (This recipe is super easy with sweetened condensed milk or try this one to make it from scratch)
  Caramel Sauce (Here are a couple of recipes)
  Chopped candy bars, cookies, sprinkles or whatever else you feel
  Carton of Heavy Whipping Cream (Optional)
• Ice Cream Scoop (optional)
• Ice Cream Bowls or Cones (optional)
• Packaging:
  Find a basket or tin (Hobby Lobby has a both selection of both you can buy on sale) or even just a gift bag works great and arrange all the goodies!

4. Cheese & Crackers Basket

• Assorted Cheeses (personal favorites are Havarti and Smoked Gouda)
• Crackers (a box or two)
• Summer Sausage (optional)
• Specialty Jellies (optional)
• Small cutting board and knife (optional)
• Packaging:
  If you are using the cutting board you could place everything on top of it, wrap it in cellophane, and tie a bow around it. Otherwise the basket or gift bag route is a simple way to go.

5. Nuts and Dried Fruits (Healthy Snacks) Basket

This would be another one that I would love! These are all things I enjoy snacking on but don’t always have the budget to purchase.

• Snack Ideas:
  Almonds
  Walnuts
  Pecans
  Cashews
  Dates
  Apricots
  Raisins
  Craisins
  Other dried fruits or nuts
• If you want something else to add, Lara Bars or dark chocolate are fun
• Packaging: Leave in original package, put in small food bags, tins from Hobby Lobby, or mason jars. Place in a gift bag or basket.

6. Candy/DIY Snacks Basket

• Purchase:
  Bag or bar of better quality chocolate (Ghiradelli, Lindt, a fair trade brand etc) or an assortment of them.
• Packaging: Put a bow on it or place in a small basket

Or

• Make (Your favorite candies): 
  Fudge
  Caramel Corn (My Pinterest board dedicated to caramel corn recipes)
  English Toffee (This recipe from Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures look fabulous and for a twist on traditional toffee this Salted Toffee Pretzel Bark is incredible)
  Peanut Brittle
  Truffles (Here are some recipes that look yummy)
  Candy Bark (Another recipe from Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures. Top with mini chocolate chips to avoid artificial colors)
  Chex Mix
  Dipped Pretzels
• Packaging Place each type of candy into a small plastic gift bag (Hobby Lobby has cute ones), metal tins, boxes or do all three. Place in a basket or simply put into a gift bag.

7. Movie Basket

• Movie (optional) If you know a movie they’d love you can buy it, get a Redbox digital gift card ($10 minimum), include a couple dollars to cover a Redbox rental or skip completely and focus on the snacks.
• Popcorn Supplies
  Popcorn Kernels – 1/2-1 cup of kernels in a bag, jar, or tin
  Coconut Oil – (Makes movie theater like popcorn. Order online or you can find it at Wal-Mart now) A couple of Tablespoons per 1/2 cup of popcorn in a small container
  Butter 1 stick is more than enough for 1 -1 1/2 cups of popcorn
  Sea Salt Optional, as most people will have salt they can use.
  Directions: Put oil and 3 kernels of popcorn in the bottom of a large pan with a lid and place over medium – medium high heat. When all three kernels pop add /2 cup or corn and put lid back on. Shake frequently until corn is popped. (May have to quickly empty out some of the popped corn to allow the rest to finish popping) Dump into a bowl and top with melted butter and salt to taste.
• Popcorn Seasoning (optional)
• Candy
  Add a few of their favorite movie candy bars or make these homemade Crunch or Heath Bars
• Packaging: Place all of the supplies into a large bowl (it will become the popcorn bowl!). You could find plastic or paper popcorn containers to add as well. Wrap a festive ribbon around the bowl and you are set.

8. Fruit

• Fruit Whatever you like and what’s in season: apples, oranges, cuties (my daughter would love to see a basket of these), grapefruit, pomegranate, bananas, pineapple, kiwi etc. The options are endless.
• Packaging Arrange them all in a basket and add a bow.

What homemade gift baskets have you given or received?

Be sure to come back next week for the next post in our Christmas series! You can follow us on Facebook or subscribe by e-mail to be sure you don’t miss out!

This is the second post in the Christmas series at From this Kitchen Table. (Find the first post here.) Be sure to come back over the next few weeks to read more thoughts, get some new recipes, and receive gift ideas. You can follow us on Facebook or subscribe by e-mail to be sure you don’t miss out!

Here are 10 of the ideas that I came up with for gifts for a 2 year old. There are more, so eventually this might have to have a sequal and I haven’t even touched on books!

All these you can order from Amazon (affiliate links used). Be sure to order by December 17th to be sure your presents arrive for Christmas if you are using free standard shipping!

Two toy brands that I really like are Alex Toys and Melissa and Doug

1. Thinkfun Roll and Play Board Game

This is a fun first game for your child – boy or girl! The recommended age is 18 months and up. I’d agree with that. We bought this for our daughter’s second birthday and she loved it. Easy for them to catch on to and it is not competitive. At almost 3 she will still get this out to play.

2. Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube

Our daughter was given this for Christmas last year at 22 months. It was a challenge for her, but she quickly got good at it and learned shapes (quatrefoil, parallelogram, trapezoid) she otherwise wouldn’t have. This was an excellent step up from the 5 shape plastic shape sorter she had.

3. Lauri Toddler Tote

We have several Lauri toys but not this exact set. This looks like a perfect set for your child once they are 18 months old.

4. Stars

Okay, so this one is purely a want and non educational but my daughter has the Cloud b Twilight stars and she LOVES them. Every night she wants to fall asleep with them on. We were fortunate enough to find her red ladybug stars at a garage sale and it was a few dollars well spent. The Pillow Pet Dream Lites are quite a bit cheaper and isn’t the penguin adorable? We haven’t used one personally though.

5. Peg Puzzles

Puzzles are always a hit! The pegs make it easy for little fingers to grab. We still have some puzzles that I grew up playing in our house. It’s fun to watch our daughter use the same ones. I found a Curious George puzzle and some by Melissa & Doug and Hape that look good options.

6. Stickers

What child doesn’t love color objects that they can stick all over the place? You can completely cater to your child’s interests here. This will take you to a general search.

7. Music Makers

Singing, playing the piano, picking up random sticks and banging on furniture playing drums are all things our daughter likes to do. She’d love a set like this  – might get a little loud for mom though. 🙂

8. Flash Light

Any time we get a flash light out our daughter begs to use it. She’s going to be getting a flash light this year and I know she will be thrilled. We haven’t decided which on yet, but there are lots of options on Amazon.

9. Blocks

Once she hit 2 1/2 our daughter really started to get into playing with blocks. These are a fun and creative toy. I remember building towns with my sisters using Duplo blocks when I was growing up.

If you want something a little cheaper these are another good option:

10. Bath Toys

I love bath time! I get to sit and watch the kids play while reading a few pages of a book. Win win situation. We don’t have a lot of toys but what we have gets used! I prefer not having squirt toys (are any toys with small holes) because mold will end up growing inside. Click here to go to a general search page and below are some items that my daughter would enjoy. 

What gifts have the 2 year olds in your life loved?

Be sure to come back Friday for the next post in our Christmas series! You can follow us on Facebook or subscribe by e-mail to be sure you don’t miss out!

This is the first post in the Christmas series at From this Kitchen Table. Be sure to come back over the next few weeks to read more thoughts, get some new recipes, and receive gift ideas. You can follow us on Facebook or subscribe by e-mail to be sure you don’t miss out!

How many of us feel relaxed, carefree, calm, joyous and able to enjoy the holiday season to the fullest as we pass Thanksgiving and move closer and closer to Christmas? I know that most of those adjectives aren’t ones that would come to the front of my mind.

The season starts with a tree and decorating inside and out. There’s practicing for school and church Christmas programs. Then throw in holiday parties and open houses, caroling, lots of holiday baking. Oh yeah, don’t forget you have to see everyone in your family and shop for presents too. The 25th arrives before you have time to breathe. You wake up early, paper is torn off presents, food is inhaled, the car loaded and unloaded. When it all ends you are tired and exhausted, wondering what happened to the day. You might even be a little relieved it’s all over.

Maybe it’s time to do things differently. Maybe it’s time to slow down and think about what we are doing. Maybe we should focus on the true reason for celebrating.

Do you know what? We don’t have to do every little (and big) thing that presents itself to us. We don’t have to say yes! If Christmas isn’t about the presents, cookies, parties, get togethers, performances, elaborate decorations, fancy meals and so forth we should be able to say no (even when it’s hard) without feeling guilty.

Let go of the pressures and expectations that normally come along with this month. Let go of trying to keep up with the Jones’. Even let go of having to keep every tradition.

The Action Plan:

Sit down with your husband (or by yourself if you are single) and go over your plans for Christmas and the month of December. Discuss what traditions are the most important to you, what memories you want to make. Decide how you want to handle visiting family and parents. It is so easy to carry rules and expectations with us from our past. It’s important to remember that you are your own family now. It’s okay if how we celebrate looks differently than our friend’s, neighbor’s, or sister’s way. Your kids and spouse will probably be happier with doing less if it means a more relaxed and happier mom and wife.

When, after having this conversation, you find yourself saying no to activities, don’t feel bad. Remember you are saying yes to the ones that are most important to your family and allowing yourself the sanity to enjoy them.

What steps do you take to ensure you actually enjoy the Christmas season and focus on what’s most important?

Come back tomorrow for gift ideas for a 2 year old! You can follow us on Facebook or subscribe by e-mail to be sure you don’t miss out!