Christmas Gift Giving This year, perhaps more than ever before, it’s the little things that matter most about the holiday season. Decorating our home and filling it with holiday cheer has been my focus. I have concentrated my efforts on the things within our home that I can do to create holiday cheer. I am thrilled that with everyone around to help, the decorating was done earlier than ever and shopping was completed efficiently online. This left me with time to concentrate on the little details that I relish so much. My time has been spent making our home as festive as possible for my family to enjoy. I know it’s been very difficult for my teenage children this year and, hopefully, my efforts will help make their spirits just a little brighter. Hours have been spent wrapping gifts with beautiful ribbon, candy canes, greenery and shatterproof ornaments. This year, instead of hiding all of the presents until Christmas eve, I have put them around the trees in our house, so everyone can enjoy them. I also setup stations throughout the house where they can take a quick study break from final exams, projects and paper writing. My hope is that these little spaces allow them to spend a few minutes getting into the holiday spirit. Some of my favorites are the clove and orange decorating station, our Christmas wish jar, a quick snowman gift activity, a table set up with a Christmas puzzle, and a DIY hot cocoa bar. I have also written little notes of encouragement and left them on their desk or attached them to a bathroom mirror. My Christmas wish is that these acts of love will lift my family up and help them savor the holidays this year. To fill my own bucket, I carved out time to develop ideas and make gifts for the special people in my life. These are the extraordinary people that “show up,” not just for the good times but they are the ones that lift you up when you need it most. I am so grateful to be surrounded by people like this. Acknowledging how much I value them, is what fills me with joy. I may not be able to shop at the most exclusive stores and buy everyone luxury gifts, but I do try to make sure the special people in my life know how much they mean to me. Most notably are the ceramic trees. I hope my little trees share that message of gratitude. I also put together a variety of personalized gift bags. I love using clear cellophane bags for gift giving. I always attach a personal message. Here is the list of bags I put together, with more images below: Frontline friends bag – with scented hand sanitizer, soap, a mask and Hershey’s hugs and kisses (mine were lemon, so I included a fresh lemon) Quarantine bag – festive soap and Hershey’s hugs and kisses with a note that says “Until we can hug in person, this will have to do…Be well!” Homemade cookies in pretty box Hard Cider Cocktail Party bag – Homemade Cider with cocktail napkins (fun paper or personalized linen) attached Homemade Limoncello – in a cloth wine bag & tied with a pretty ribbon and monogram accessory Cookie jars -with the dry ingredients for cookies including directions Frozen cookie dough balls and hot cocoa mix Movie night bags – with popcorn, movie box candy & cozy socks Bath bombs and sugar scrub Oranges and cloves (one made and a DIY kit with extra oranges) Holiday scent bags Hot cocoa in a recycled jar or old fashioned milk bottle (with Baileys for adults and homemade marshmallows for kids) Homemade granola Agave glazed pecans or walnuts I will miss my destination trips to see beautiful decorations. I will miss visiting the mall and wandering thru little shops to soak in the holiday glitz and glamour. In the past, I have relied on these holiday getaways and outings to energize me. They were my motivation to be the lead elf in my house. This year the holidays will be less about the places we’ve been and more about the details we put into our own spaces. Here is the message that I attached to my little tree gift. Feel free to use these words to thank the special people in your life. Most of all, I hope you have a safe and very happy holiday! Merry Christmas! May this little tree remind us, that it’s the simple things that matter most. In times like these, perhaps the smallest acts of kindness can make the biggest impact on others. Thank you for all of the kindness you have bestowed on our family this past year. Our hope, is that this tree inspires you to continue sharing simple acts of kindness. Best wishes for a happy, healthy holiday season! Love, the Dauber family,
Projects
How To Decorate Pumpkins with succulents…
These adorable pumpkins were popular last fall. We saw them at farmers markets and local shops. We were given a small palm sized pumpkin that was hollowed out and stuffed with succulents. It was adorable but only lasted for a week or so. We also found a larger pumpkin at a local farmers market that were made by attaching the succulents to a bed of Spanish moss that has been hot glued to the top of the pumpkin. That pumpkin is still intact and continues to have succulents growing on it! We liked this alternative pumpkin so much that we decided to recreate them this season and give to friends as gifts. We were able to grow the pumpkins in our garden, but you can easily find similar ones at your local pumpkin patch. You can also use an artificial pumpkin. Here is a list of items needed to make your succulent pumpkin. Pumpkin with flat top surface and minimal stem Clear Coat Spray (for preserving your pumpkin, if using a real one) Spanish moss (about 1 cup per pumpkin) A variety of succulents (either fresh or artificial) Scissors for cutting up succulents Hot glue gun and glue sticks You can find all of the project needs on our project materials page. Once you have gathered the items needed to create your pumpkin, assembling them is relatively easy. Follow these steps to create your pumpkin: Start by spraying your pumpkin with the clear coat spray to help preserve it if using a real pumpkin. This will help your pumpkin last throughout the season. While waiting for the hairspray to dry completely, prepare your succulents by cleaning the real ones or cutting apart the artificial ones. When the pumpkin is dry, start by spreading a handful of the spanish moss around the top of the pumpkin. Carefully run a bead of hot glue, about an inch from the stem, to secure the moss. Hold the moss in place until the glue cools and the moss is secured. You can always add more glue to reinforce, after all the plants have been assembled Begin by arranging the largest plants on the pumpkin. You will need to move them around until you find an arrangement that you like. Secure each with hot glue. Once the large succulents are in place, begin adding smaller ones to fill in the excess space on the moss. We typically like grouping the plants in odd numbers and allow space to see the moss through the gaps in between plants. Arrange the smaller plants before gluing them to make sure you like to placement. Once you like the arrangement, secure with glue. Remove all visible glue strings. We’re always looking for a thoughtful hostess gift or a special gift that is easy to make. These pumpkins also make beautiful autumn accent pieces. Ours will go on the back porch coffee table, be added to the pumpkin collection on my side entrance and accessorize the fall décor in our family room. With luck, they will be enjoyed by all throughout the season. In addition to home decor, we think these pumpkins, made in a variety of sizes and colors, would be wonderful centerpieces, table toppers and accent décor for a fall wedding or party. They could be added to the bar, placed on tables, and arranged throughout a venue to create a sophisticated uniform theme. How ever you choose to use them, these succulent pumpkins provide long lasting autumn charm.
