Xmas ideas 2011---number 10 Attend your local and Community Holiday Performances

Tonight I went to our Community's Christmas Concert and it was really good.  It only cost £3.00 and was an hour and a half of getting into the Yuletide mood.

We're all quite saturated with professional entertainment that normally has a way-too-perfect ending, in films and television programmes.  Seeing a group of adults and children just having a good time singing holiday songs was a total breath of fresh entertainment air.  When they asked us all to sing along with a few songs everyone did, and if that doesn't get you into the spirit of things I don't know what will...so today's "spend more time than money" is all about supporting local performing artists, it's a win-win situation.

Here's a smorgasbord of some of the sorts of entertainment you will find on your doorstep this season...first up, a traditional choir concert:

I never had any children so was never obligated to go to all their school plays and programmes, so for me, seeing kids at their holiday play is totally enthralling---they are so energetic and cute, like in this clip:

Or look out for unusual musical shows:

How could you not enjoy a ukulele concert?

Maybe music isn't your cup of tea, try a local groups avant garde version of a nativity play: caution this one includes KRAMPUS!

Still not interested?  How about a local Panto [American friends, look out for A Christmas Carol or The Christmas Story or Peter Pan, etc. at a theatre nearby you] ? 

This one is in York and is sold out for weeks at a time:

In the USA you can attend a Christmas parade:

Or just go for a walk or drive past houses that are decorated for the holidays:

Happy entertainment enjoyment this holiday my dears, share at will, Gabrielle, 2011 xxx

Xmas ideas 2011---number 9 Making stuff for Xmas {DIY - do it yourself}

This weekend I have been away from the blog finishing yuletide gifts for family and friends.  Here's what I've accomplished since Friday:

Cakes for friends all iced and packaged waiting to send out

Soft knitted toys for the little nephews

 I am very fortunate to be confident with my creative abilities.  I learned to knit, sew, cook, draw and so on.  I know this is not the case for everyone.  I also know that not everyone appreciates the handmade gift as much as I do.  Even my husband moaned on a BBC radio talk show about how he hated handmade presents.  [sigh]


Still in the last few years there have been so many more places on the internet giving demonstrations on making crafts.  So here's a few ideas for some simple things you can still make in time for the holidays, if you have children, ask them to help, most kids find crafting fun. 


Look out for things that you might have around the house or might recycle, like these


{Before I forget, please realise that crafty demonstrations are often fronted by overly cheerful folks, don't say I didn't warn you}


I made these when I was a kid:

I made one of these last year...and it was a great centrepiece, I also made tiny ones [using only the top 6 smallest sizes] and had them on the dinner table, one for each guest:

Gotta check out anything by Martha Stewart, the American crafter diva:

At some point I looked away from the telly long enough for property programme presenter Kirsty Allsop to turn into the first lady of crafts in England, this is an interview about her new show:

You can watch her full shows here: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/kirsties-homemade-christmas/4od

Directions for making the items featured on her show are found here: http://www.channel4.com/4homes/christmas-crafts

If you love the idea of the personalised one of a kind, handmade gift but can't do it yourself, look out for Christmas markets and special events that focus on holiday craft items.  There are also websites featuring handmade items.  

Here's a few quite affordable items on sale at Etsy [I simply like these and do not profit in anyway from the highlight, just giving you an idea of what you are likely to find] It's also a great site for getting ideas from just by having a "window shop":

http://www.etsy.com/listing/56922935/christmas-tree-scented-fir-tree?ref=fp_treasury_3

http://www.etsy.com/listing/64729835/darling-paper-snowman-104-paper-mache

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61161204/father-christmas?ga_search_query=santa&ga_search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5177245

http://www.etsy.com/listing/84607456/sale-was-2500-now-2250-winter-woodland

 Hopefully this will give a wee bit of inspiration and can add to the value of a "spend more time than money" holiday.  


Ho, Ho, Ho and share at will, Gabrielle x

Xmas ideas 2011---number 8 Celebrate your family!

The newest topic for "Spend more time than money" holidays comes from a lovely experience that has been brought to the world's attention in the last two weeks via the 

http://front.moveon.org

Featuring a moving speech by Zach Wahls.  You can watch it HERE:

Today I received the following message from Zach Wahls on email:

Dear MoveOn members,

Wow, you are incredible!!

Over 15 million people have seen my testimony about my two moms before the Iowa legislature, after MoveOn sent it out last Thursday. I can't tell you how much that means to me, my moms, and my little sister, and families like ours all across the country.

I think that one of the reasons my video resonated with people is that it embodies a simple truth: love is what makes a family. It's what binds us together as we work through the hard times, so we can enjoy the good ones.

http://front.moveon.org/two-lesbians-raised-a-baby-and-this-is-what-they-got/

I'm going to keep telling that truth. But I'm only one guy. Every single person has an incredible amount of power to shape and change our world for the better, but imagine what we can do together. That's why I am asking for your help in telling this simple truth.

The folks at MoveOn and I had an idea: get as many people as possible to take their family holiday photos holding signs that say 'Love Makes a Family,' and 'Equality for ALL Families in 2012'. 

This time of year is all about family, so let's use our holiday photos to send a message of love for ALL families.

http://front.moveon.org/two-lesbians-raised-a-baby-and-now-they-want-your-family-picture-next-to-theirs-this-holiday/

 MoveOn has created a special Tumblr site where you can post your holiday pictures. It's really easy, and they are going to make a video out of all of these Love Makes a Family photos.

Just click this link to upload your photo. There are also signs that you can download and print.

You can see everyone's photos by clicking here.

While we won the battle in Iowa, my moms' rights as a married couple stop at our state's border. And I know that hundreds of thousands of other families like mine aren't lucky enough to live in a state where their parents can be married. Instead, they have to spend thousands of dollars to adopt their own kids and get power of attorney to take care of everyday life if or when something bad happens.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Occupy-Christmas/236907349699891

A lot of people out there just don't know and haven't met families like mine. And that's why I've been traveling around speaking about my two moms, and why I'm writing a book about my family.

Now I'm asking you and other folks to show the people you love that you believe in equality for all.

Will you take a family holiday photo while holding an 'Equality for ALL Families in 2012' or 'Love Makes a Family sign? Just click here for more instructions and a form to upload your family's picture:

http://lovemakesafamily.tumblr.com/submit

And check out all of the photos others have submitted.

Thanks for all the love and support.

Onward.

–Zach

P.S. I've been so honored that so many people shared the video of my testimony, and I'm working overtime to finish my book about all of this, appropriately titled "My Two Moms"—please check it out!

So if someone in your family has a digital camera, this is something you can do with your whole family, no matter what the size, or if your family is made of non-blood family members or includes members of the four-legged variety or all the same gender.  No matter how you define your family please join in!  Let’s help Zach and MoveOn define what family means to all of us.  Get out that tinsel and the old Santa hat and have a photo shoot with your most beloved ones.

Please share at will, Gabrielle, 2011 x

Xmas ideas 2011---number 7 Gifts that give twice

Today's topic for "Spend more time than money" holidays is about giving gifts that help charities raise money for their good causes.  This is not a comprehensive list, but hopefully it will reveal some ideas for gifts you may not have considered that not only will provide a nice present but will also support a cause worth championing.

If you are in the UK and still need to get some cards, here is an excellent combined Charities website of all charities selling cards:

http://www.christmas-cards.org.uk/index.php

The Woodland Trust has great tributes and great trees for purchase---in particular I think they have some really gorgeous photographic images on their cards and stationary:

http://www.woodlandtrustshop.com/products

http://www.woodlandtrustshop.com/note-cards/winter-tree-card

“The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. Thanks to the help of our members and supporters we now care for more than 1,000 woods,

covering 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to our woods is free.”

In the USA you will want to check out the American Forests website, they also do tributes and take donations but don't have a shop as such:

http://www.americanforests.org/

“American Forests, the oldest national nonprofit conservation organization in the country, advocates for the protection and expansion of America’s forests. Since 1990, we have planted nearly 40 million trees. Our goal is to work with our partners to plant an additional 25-30 million trees in forest restoration projects during the next five years. We restore watersheds to help provide clean drinking water. We replant forests destroyed by human action and by natural disasters."

There are only a few people who don't love little furry critters The RSPCA has some lovely animal-based products:

http://gifts.rspca.org.uk/

http://gifts.rspca.org.uk/real-gifts/toys/seymour-the-fox.html

"We're the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and we've been here, looking out for animals, since 1824. It's our vision to work for a world in which all humans respect and live in harmony with all other members of the animal kingdom."

If you do not live in the UK, look out for more animal charities in your local area or in the country in which you live.  If you are in the USA, try the ASPCA, they have an even more extensive range of holiday gifts:

http://www.aspca.org/

http://www.aspcaonlinestore.com/products/119102-let-it-snow-sweatshirt

“Founded in 1866, the ASPCA was the first humane organization in the Western Hemisphere. Our mission, as stated by founder Henry Bergh, is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.” The ASPCA works to rescue animals from abuse; pass humane laws and share resources with shelters nationwide.”

Would you rather support a children's charity?  Here are some worthy children's causes that purchasing your Yule gifts from can support:

http://www.angeltree.org/why-angel-tree/history

"Every child has a story. For 1.7 million American children, that story is filled with the abandonment, loneliness, and shame that comes from having a mom or dad in prison. For many, it may also include following their parents down the same destructive road to incarceration." 

The Angel tree is a charity I used to support in the 1980s & 1990s when I still lived in the USA, you simply pick a name from the Angel tree and purchase or make gifts that are given to children whose parent[s] are in prison.  It ensures that these children are given a gift when other children do.  No matter what their parent[s] have done, the children are also  victims who did nothing wrong but who will suffer sadness and isolation from their family member.

http://shop.gosh.org/

"We raise money to enable Great Ormond Street Hospital to provide world- class care for its young patients and their families and to pioneer new treatments and cures for childhood illness"

http://www.rileykids.org/

"Riley Children’s Foundation is committed to improving the health and well-being of children through philanthropic leadership in support of Riley Hospital for Children and its research programs."

[This is one is also close to my heart as I used to volunteer there doing crafts and art classes for the kids in hospital, it is a really good place and deserves support]

http://www.barnardos.org.uk/shop.htm

"Barnardo’s transforms the lives of vulnerable children across the UK through the work of our projects, our campaigning and our research expertise. We believe we can bring out the best in every child whether the issue is child poverty, sexual exploitation, disability and domestic violence."

http://www.nspccshop.co.uk/

"The NSPCC was founded in 1884 and our vision is still to end cruelty to children in the UK."

"For Folk's Sake" is selling Christmas music and all profits go to the Integrated Cancer Centre at King's College London, which combines cutting-edge cancer research with patient care. This charity supports the research and those suffering with Cancer.

http://www.forfolkssake.com/

http://forfolkssake.bandcamp.com/album/for-folks-sake-its-christmas-vol-1

http://forfolkssake.bandcamp.com/album/for-folks-sake-its-christmas-2011

This post could turn into War and Peace if I am not careful, so I will end it here. 

There are still so many, many great causes to support that I couldn’t cover here.  Please  consider looking locally for those raising money for good causes. Giving twice is doubly well-intentioned, sharing the joy and love with all [the 99%] this season.

Please share at will, Gabrielle, 2011 x

Xmas ideas 2011---number 6 Free Games for the family

While anticipating the holidays, you may have some youngsters that are getting pretty excited about Mr. Ho-Ho-Ho's visit, you can help them use their energy playing some free games online:

http://www.northpole.com/Clubhouse/Games/

This site, too, has a new game every day until the 24th, at which time all the focus goes to tracking Santa as he travels the world delivering all his goodies for all the good children, kids love this [actually so do I, but there's nothing wrong in remaining a kid at heart now is there?]

http://www.noradsanta.org/en/

Share at will---Gabrielle, 2011