You know, Greg and I have been talking a lot this week about past Thanksgivings. We just don’t seem to have the best luck with them. This year, of course, we’re stranded in a hotel. Last year we had just come home with our premature twins… so we went over to a friend’s house. The year before, Greg was deployed… so we went over to a friend’s house. Then there was the year Greg was off in training and I drove 800 miles – each way – with my two boys to be with my family. Let’s see; then there was the year Greg had his jaw wired shut, and the year we had Thanksgiving at a Chinese buffet. We did have one sweet little Thanksgiving on our own, just the three of us – in 2005. Ahhh.
Anyway, this year as I sat in our cramped hotel room watching insane advertisements for 3am sales it occurred to me that I’ve never had a Black Friday sale! And I should! After all – I’ve figured out how to create discount codes for my shopping cart. So, here they are!
If you buy at least $5.00 in patterns, you can save 10% with the discount code BLACKFRIDAY5. (That’s 50 cents off!)
If you buy at least $10.00 in patterns, you can save 25% with the discount code BLACKFRIDAY10. (That’s $2.50 off!!)
If you buy at least $20.00 in patterns, you can save 40% with the discount code BLACKFRIDAY20. (That’s $8.00 off!!!)
These codes don’t combine with each other so you can only use one at a time, but if you’ve been wanting to buy one of my patterns and feel like saving money now is your chance! These codes are valid from now until Saturday night. Happy shopping, and I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving.
PS. The Toy Bundle has five of my most popular patterns together for 15% off already – use BLACKFRIDAY10 for an additional 25% off and get $21 in patterns for only $13.50! (I’m just sayin’.)
I can’t take credit for this idea, but that just gives me the opportunity to praise it even more. Isn’t this clever?! I don’t know who first looked at their muffin pan and said, “24 cups…24 days to Christmas – it’s PERFECT!” but it really is. We recently had a crafting night at church and this was one of the projects. I didn’t even hesitate: I love advent calendars and I’ve always wanted to make one, but it’s been stuffed in my ‘eventually/never’ pile. I wasn’t going to pass up such a cute one with all the pieces ready to assemble!
By the way, you know all those paper projects you see online, perfectly and uniformly cut and put together? I’m onto you, ladies, I know your secret.
The secret? Paper punches. Really, it explains so much.
This project is very simple. You need 24 squares of stiff paper in various colors, numbers 1-24 on circles of white paper, and small strips of stick-on magnets. Embellishments like rhinestones, ribbons, snowflakes, hearts, and stars are optional, as is the “Christmas Countdown” strip at the top. We cut out our squares with a scalloped square paper punch, much like this one from Joann’s. Just glue the number circles to the squares, stick the magnet to the back, and presto! Advent calendar. You haven’t even damaged your muffin pan, so if you like, you can continue cooking with it the other eleven months of the year…although it probably won’t be as clean next year if you do that.
Now, an advent calendar is no fun without something to pull out each day. A mini muffin cup – even a deep one, like the ones we used – doesn’t offer very much room for candy or toys. After a little thought, I decided on miniature ornaments, which I of course plan to make. We’ll get a little tree for a table or shelf, and each day we’ll pull out an ornament to decorate with. The nice thing about that, as well, is that you don’t have to finish all 24 ornaments by December 1st. You only need one by the first, and another by the second, and so on. Fortunately, there’s plenty of time for that still.
We’re headed to Michael’s for ornament supplies today! (I’m excited, I haven’t been in a Michael’s for years!)
…with children. In many other circumstances, thirty days would just fly by – but when you’re staying in a hotel with your children, just making it to bedtime each day is an accomplishment. Here are some ways to do it without going to the loony bin.
1: TV
Don’t judge me.
2: Paper Airplanes
These have the advantage of being very quiet. There are a lot of sites out there with great variations, but my favorite is a classic dart. It’s simple and it flies straight and far. Here’s one site to check out for planes.
3: Bubbles
I found some little bubbles at Wal-mart that had been intended for trick or treaters – I got a pack of twelve November 1st for half off – each little bottle only has about two teaspoons of bubble solution so that even if the kids spill it the mess is minimal.
4: Coloring Books, Crayons, and Paper
Aaah, coloring. A classic quiet activity.
5: Create Private Spaces
This is the challenge, isn’t it? Staying in a confined space together for so long, we’re all just dying for some privacy and alone time. On the face of it finding privacy in a hotel room may seem impossible, but we’ve found a few spots. Sometimes the kids pretend that under the table is their house, or we build them a suitcase and pillow fort. With a blanket or two, we can even pretend we’re in different rooms!
6: Bounce on the Bed
Well, we can’t let them jump on the floor, we’ve already had one complaint from the people downstairs about the noise. Jumping on the bed is quieter, lets them get some of their energy out, and who knows? They might actually be able to tenderize this mattress a bit!
7: Go to McDonald’s
Or Burger King, or any other restaurant with a play area. It’s climate-controlled with seats, there are bathrooms and water fountains, and there’s food right there if you get hungry. For maximum time with minimum purchasing of food, eat breakfast, go, play till lunch, eat off the dollar menu, play till dinner, then go back to the hotel. I brought my Kindle, and my kids got tired of the Playplace after three and a half hours. Score.
8: Make a ‘Theater’
Do you have a laptop or portable DVD player with you? Find one of those private spaces you created earlier and put the kids in with a movie – add a bowl of popcorn for bonus points! The rest of the room will be so quiet and still, you will be amazed.
9: Tell Stories
Charlie still thinks Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is scary, which I find very endearing.
10: Read to Your Kids
Yet another way to create a little peace and quiet, as long as you don’t mind reading that book again and again.
11: Visit the Library
It’s another place to go with climate control, chairs, bathrooms and water fountains (no food, though). If you’re in a hotel, you’re not going to be able to get a library card, but you don’t need one to read there. They may also have storytime or children’s activities, so check your local library.
12: Let the Kids Pretend
Why are they hanging their dress shirts on the lamps and making those weird sounds? Turns out they’re making “Halloween” over on the nightstand. It’s not neat and tidy, but we’re not exactly entertaining guests in here. Although, that reminds me…
13: Clean Up
You will feel more sane.
14: Make Friends
If you can, find someone friendly who will let you come over. Being in a house is like taking off shoes that are too tight – it feels sooooo much better, even if it’s only for a little while.
15: Go Shopping
Don’t want to spend your money? Who cares? In stores there are new things to look at, places to walk, and you can spread out! I have my kids do jumping jacks at Wal-Mart. Then, we go to the toy department and walk through each aisle veeeery slooowly. Stay out until you’re tired enough that seeing the inside of your room again will be a relief.
16: Controlled Release of New Toys
NEW is temporarily good for happy children. If you have a stash of travel toys the kids haven’t seen recently, hide it and pull out something new when things get cranky.
17: Shop the Dollar Store
How much is a happy, quiet child worth? If you said, “At least one dollar,” you are CORRECT! Take the kids to the dollar store and tell them they can each get one thing. Even if you do that once a week, it won’t be too expensive.
18: Pack a Picnic Lunch
It’s novel. It’s outside. You were going to have peanut butter sandwiches and raisins anyway, right? Why not make it fun?
19: Go to a Park
Depending on the weather this may not be doable, but if you can get out to yet another place the kids can run and play (for free!) then everyone will feel happier.
20: Bathtime
The bathtub has the invaluable advantage of being in the only separate room we have. Bath toys, paper boats, bubble baths, ANYTHING that will get the kids to stay in for more than five minutes is worth it.
21: Take Long Showers
This thing works both ways, and you’re not paying for the hot water. Stay in until you’re good and ready to come out.
22: Write Stories with Your Kids
We have a story called “Spiderman Fights the Bad Guys” in the works. Charlie told me the story, I wrote it down, and I drew pictures for him to color. It’s a good read. Max is planning one called “Batman and Robin and All Their Vehicles.” It should be gripping.
23: Play Singing and Clapping Games
The Itsy Bitsy Spider, Patty Cake, Oh Say Say Playmate, A Sailor Went to Sea, The Wise Man and The Foolish Man, Five Little Monkeys, Old MacDonald Had a Farm, B-I-N-G-O. All. Day. Long.
24: Card Games
You have a deck of cards, right? (No? Go get one. Okay then.) Well, that means you can play War, Memory, Go Fish, Solitaire…Speed, ERS and Slap Jack are not recommended for play with small – easily frustrated – children.
25: Decorate
Get a roll of tape and suddenly those pictures your kids have been drawing can help personalize the room.
26: Food Bribes
I’m not saying it’s healthy, but Marshmallow Mateys have the kids happy when they get up in the morning, anyway. At night, they’ll eat their vegetables for nothing more than vanilla yogurt (suckers!) or a piece of leftover Halloween candy.
27: Scavenger Hunt
Who can find a dirty sock? A rattle? Trash that will be thrown away after the game? Who can see two red cars and a motorcycle drive past the window? Winner gets some Marshmallow Mateys!
28: Treasure Maps
Hide one of those new toys somewhere in the room while your kids close their eyes or wait in the bathroom. Then, give them a map to follow with landmarks around the room!
29: Crochet or Knit
How could I forget? Even if you have no supplies, cheap yarn and a hook will run you $3 at Wal-mart and you can get something to do with your hands and calm that nervous twitching your eyelid’s been doing for a week or two.
30: Love
When you’re ready to throttle each other and everyone is at the other’s throats…stop. Get a hug and a kiss and take a deep breath. Hugs and kisses all around!
