May Day Cookies

Blessing Others Through Celebration--The Gift Stash

I love my gift stash! 

A good gift stash is the key to staying on top of all of the gifts

that a busy mom needs throughout the year!

I've labeled the various components of my gift stash. (Click on the pic to see it bigger if you have trouble reading the labels).

Throughout the year I will pick up things that are great deals that I think my family, friends,

extended family, etc. will like and keep them in one of these boxes.  If the gift doesn't fit in one of the boxes, it will probably go in the lower part of the closet or under my bed.

The Christmas box also tends to hold adult gifts.

Since I only get to a Bath n' Body works once a year, I may stock up and keep things like little lotions or pretty stationary from the Dollar Tree in the Christmas box, but these things can be used for friend's birthdays or bridal shower prizes, etc.  My favorite places to stock up on gift stash stuff:  the Target dollar section, Health Food Store clearances, Dollar Tree, Yard Sales.

My hubby's side of the closet, which contains the remainder of the gift stash.

The kid gift box contains little gifts that I pick up with my kids or their friends in mind (usually on clearance or new from yard sales).  There are usually crayons, markers (from super-cheap back-to-school sales), notebooks, sunglasses, craft kits, books, etc.  If we get invited to a last-minute party, we have a gift ready!  We usually let our kids help us buy or make a gift for their closest friends but then we add something from this stash that we know they would like also.  This stash is really handy for special surprises to bless one of my kids that has been especially good or for grabbing some little things to wrap up for long trips in the car to MN, etc.

When guys we know from MN come out snowmobiling in the winter, I often grab little gifts out of here to send back with them for my nephews just to spoil them!

I save the many large paintings that Ali does and keep them handy for wrapping paper.

My gift bag stash!  I save all of the gift bags others give us and because I was running low recently, I bought some from the dollar store (2 for $1) and also from Walmart (10 for $5) to beef up my stash.

I have about 6-8 showers/parties coming up in the next couple of months.  I've never seen such a baby boom as this year!  So, I put all of the gifts together the other day and got them all wrapped and ready.  Here they sit, on the top of my dresser, awaiting their delivery.  A few that I'll be giving this week sit next to my night stand by my bed.

An extra-large empty formula can I had in my container stash becomes an interesting way to wrap a baby boy's gift!

My container stash sits in the pantry next to a stack of shoeboxes, which I also use for gift-giving

I save all kinds of little containers.  Blueberry boxes, frappiccino bottles, jelly jars, tins, etc.

Some of the larger containers that go on top of the box pictured above

A wedding gift for a friend's upcoming bridal shower, containing a marriage devotional book, some shower gel and body wash, massage oil, etc.

If I have a lot of weddings coming up I will stock up on a favorite marriage book (like Love and Respect) or some Taste of Home cookbooks (which can be found for excellent deals online) and throughout the year I look for lingerie clearances and bodywash that can be obtained for free with coupons!  One of my favorite things to tuck into a Lingerie Shower gift is a pregnancy test from the Dollar Tree.  Funny thing is, my roommate from college just sent the test I gave her for her shower back to me in a ziploc bag, with a positive test result!  She's due one day after me!  She included a note that said, "Here's the test you gave me for my wedding shower.  It worked!"

From my baby gift stash:

I stock up on winter hats when they are on 75% sales at the end of the season.  Little boys can be hard to buy for, but these make really cute, personalized gifts!  I made my own boys some a couple of years ago and we love them!  When I'm unsure of what to get a baby boy, I go with one of these hats and some wet wipes, diapers, or a little outfit.

Little girl hats were also on a good sale!

Throughout the year I pick up really cute clothing at rock-bottom sale prices or new-with-tags at yard sales or the thrift store.  I have a nice collection of baby outfits (although the fact that I know 42 gals having babies in 2010, 21 of whom I will be giving gifts, is depleting it rapidly!) and baby things to choose from.  Some people think that shopping from a gift stash isn't very personal and is tacky.  But if you stop to consider how few options we have anyway in our rural area, my "baby store" in my closet is probably better stocked than the local Pamida and Alco, with higher-quality products, a better deal for the recipient, at excellent prices for me, a better deal for me!  When I'm putting together a gift, I honestly consider what outfit would look best on the baby, what fits the family's style, and I don't give something that I wouldn't be thrilled to receive myself.  Certain products I have loved as a mom, like Huggies Sensitive Wet Wipes, or mesh baby feeders, or Sandra Boynton books, or Aveeno lotion are things I look for deals on so that I can stock up my baby stash with things that I can highly recommend to any new mom.  And I can't resist buying darling little Easter and Christmas dresses on $1-$3 clearance at the end of the season to await the next friend that has a little girl!

How to Start Building a Gift Stash

Yard Sale season is almost here!  Take $5 a week and hit up a few yard sales, particularly ones that advertise baby clothing.  If you don't find anything, go by the Dollar Tree or Target, if you have one in your area, and pick up a few packages of notecards, coloring books for kids, etc.  Each time you are shopping, check the store's clearance racks and buy a few things that are great deals.  If you continually add to your "store at home" by only spending $3-$5 a week, you will find it a snap to put together gifts for others throughout the year.  If you don't have the time to add little by little, my advice would be to take about $200 and place a large order on http://www.amazon.com/  or http://www.christianbook.com/ stocking up on favorite marriage books,  cookbooks, favorite children's stories, devotionals or journals, and favorite board books for babies.  If you have the money to spend, this is a hassle-free way to make sure you always have gifts ready for a variety of occasions!

Another way to beef up a gift stash, if you like crafting, is to take a day or two to craft and sew and make all kinds of gifts to put in your stash.  Some ideas include:

Hair bows and hair puffs

Bead Socks

Ruffle Socks

Ruffle Skirts

Aprons

Pillowcases

Crocheted dishrags

Tote bags

Cloth books

Scrunchies

Rice bags

Fleece scarves, hats, socks, and mittens

Leather baby shoes

Rag quilts

Fleece tie quilts

Skirts

Purses

Boxer shorts

To see the rest of the series on Blessing Others Through Celebration, go here.

Blessing Other Through Celebration---The Party Stash

The Party Stash

Throwing a successful party or celebration starts with preparation.By keeping it simple, you will help yourself avoid burn-out.  By having a basic "party stash" you won't be caught off guard by special occasions and will have less to purchase for a celebration.

When Ali turned one, I went all out and bought Elmo party decor like crazy.  She loved Elmo and it was my first birthday party ever for my first kid.  Instead of using the plates and hats up in the days following the party, I saved them in my party stash bag.  I wiped the tablecloth down and it was as good as new (we didn't have toddlers at this point!)  I had at least half of all of the plates, cups, hats, napkins, etc. leftover.  So, it was a great thing that Jeremiah liked Elmo too because guess what he got for his first birthday party?  And the great thing was, his party was free!

One time I found cute baby shower plates on clearance for pocket change.  I didn't end up using them for a year or more, but when it came time to plan a friend's baby shower, I had them ready!  Having supplies on hand is especially important when you live 30 miles from the nearest Walmart and Dollar Tree. 

How to Acquire a Party Stash

1.  Collect festive tablecloths--I have 3 basic ones I love:

White--perfect for a fancier dinner, spring brunch, tea with ladies, etc.

Red--great for Christmas parties, Valentine's festivities, January birthdays, etc.

Christmas tablecloth

This summer I would like to find a summery floral tablecloth and a Thanksgiving/Autumn-colored tablecloth to add to my collection

For kid's parties I usually use a plastic disposable one from the Dollar Tree

Look at yard sales, thrift stores, end-of-season sales and clearances, request for birthday gifts, or ask your Grandma or Mom if they have any just sitting around that they wouldn't mind donating to you

2.  Save remnant supplies from birthday parties--instead of using the extra plates and cups up in the days after a party, stash them in a party stash bag in the pantry.  Use them for future parties or for tucking into a box with dinner for a new mom when you deliver a meal, or for a fancy touch when a friend comes over for tea.

3.  Stock up when you see a sale!  Especially for things that can be used for various occasions.  If you see fancy white napkins in the Walmart clearance aisle for 50 cents, nab them!  White napkins will work for just about any party.  See peach or pink plates?  These could work for a spring brunch, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, a girl's birthday party, a baby shower, a friend's birthday, a summer barbecue, etc.  Good places to look for party supply clearances:

Dollar Stores, especially end-of-season sales where everything is half off

Walmart or Target clearance aisles

Yard Sales--it's amazing how many brand-new, unopened things can be found at yard sales

*Unless you have a specific theme in mind for someone, stick with general party colors when stocking up ahead of time.  Solid colors, neutrals, general kid themes (like balloons, bright colors, alphabet, etc.) or non-gender specific baby shower plates, etc.  Buying spiderman plates may be wise if your son becomes a spiderman maniac someday, but if he doesn't, it was a waste, even if it was on sale.  Don't buy loads of decorations that you'll never use, cheapy little party favors that parents will just throw away immediately, or items that will only make your party more complicated for you.*

4.  Invest in quality dishes that aid in hospitality.  When I was hoping to switch my dishes over to Corelle a year and a half ago, I was thrilled to see the white set on 50% markdowns after Christmas.  White may be kind of blah to some people, but for me, it was the perfect color for a variety of parties and occasions!  By changing the tablecloth, the placemats, the cups, or the dining area, I can totally alter the theme of the meal, in spite of using the same white plates.  They are so versatile!  I love them for everyday use and for fancier meals with company! 

If you entertain a lot, look for functional kitchen pieces that can be used for dinner parties or celebrations.  I love finding pottery bowls, large baskets for breads/rolls/tortillas, or wooden salad bowls at yard sales.

Blessing Others Through Celebration--Keeping Your Party Simple

 
 
Last week we covered

Preparation

If you are new to party planning or want to keep things simple because you don't have a lot of help or time, here are some tips:

• Where:  Have it at your home, a friend's house, or at your church
• Who to invite?  Invite fewer people if possible.  Focus on the people whom the person is closest to.
• What time:  Go with a time in the mid-morning or afternoon or after dinner to avoid having to serve a full meal.
• Food: Opt for one main thing, like cake or ice-cream sundaes, with some small appetizers on the side: nuts, fruit, cheese and crackers, etc.  Simple drinks: water, hot tea and coffee, pink lemonade, koolaid, milk, pop.
• Avoid games if you possibly can.  Games are fun and can make a party memorable, but if you are trying to keep things ultra simple, skip the games.
• No need for music or entertainment, unless you want to just pop a favorite CD in for some background music
• There is no need to really decorate if you want a simple party.  Decorations are the thing I probably like least.  I had fun doing a few things for my daughter, but most of the time I skip decorations or get a talented decorator friend on board with me when I do an event.  Often, they seem like a waste of time.  I've been to showers where there are tons of decorations and showers where there are none, and I think both were just as nice.  The thing that made the party special was being together, sharing in someone's joy, and blessing that person, not the decorations.  So, to keep things simple I usually limit my decorating to a nice tablecloth, a vase or two of flowers, and the occasional bouquet of balloons.
• Party supplies:  Next week we'll talk about The Party Stash.  You can keep party supplies very simple by purchasing coordinating plates and napkins and cups at the Dollar Store for a few bucks.
• Gifts:  In a couple of weeks I'll write about the gift stash and how to keep giving gifts simple for yourself. 
• Invitations: In lieu of a formal, printed invitation, it's often very appropriate to send an e-mail invite, call folks on the phone, or talk to them in person.  This could save you time AND stamps!

Next week we'll talk about The Party Stash.

Blessing Others Through Celebration--First Steps

http://www.ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk/uploads/Birthday.jpg

The first step to planning a successful celebration is that "P" word I'm forever talking about on this blog. 

PREPARATION! 

 A party doesn't plan itself! 

Starting a month or two in advance will ensure plenty of time to get everything ready.

So, grab a notebook or your home management binder, find a pen, and begin scratching down the framework for your celebration.

Who is it for?

Where will it be?

Who will be invited?

What time will this event occur?

What will be served?

Will games be played?  If so, what games?
Will there be music or entertainment?
Will there be a speech/talk or devotional?

Decorations Needed:

Party supplies Needed:
Gift(s) for the special person?

Invitations?  When will they be sent out?

And most importantly.....WHO WILL HELP YOU?????

The biggest key to throwing a successful celebration is sharing the load.  Now, if you're just planning to make a simple cake and have a bite of cake after dinner with a family member for their birthday, you may not need help.  If you're meeting friends at a restaurant for a quick bridal shower over lunch, you can skip some of the details and probably won't need to share the load.  But if you have quite a few people coming for a large birthday party, shower, etc., do not try to do the celebration yourself.  I repeat....

DO NOT TRY TO DO IT YOURSELF!

I need this reminder because I tend to be the type that would attempt to do so.

The fastest way to burnout as a "Celebration Manager" is to try to do the snacks, games, decorations, devotional, games, and coordinating  for a big event with no help. 

So....when contemplating WHO WILL HELP YOU, think about the relatives, friends, church acquaintances of the person you are throwing the party for and drop some hints or make some calls.  Many times, I have discovered that while I was planning on doing a shower for someone, their other friends were also thinking about it and it was a relief for both of us to come together and "share the load" instead of one person planning everything.  And even though I did most of the birthday party prep for Ali's Angelina Ballerina Birthday by myself, I did invite my mom to help with crowd control and serving the food, and was grateful for a few moms who stuck around and helped me with the games.  Even for a kid's birthday, which isn't on the same scale as throwing someone a large shower, it was wonderful to have help!

Events I have planned/helped plan so far this year:

Birthday party for a friend

Birthday party for my mom's 50th

Ali's Angelina Party

Birthday dinner at a restaurant for a friend

Birthday Bash for two gals in Bible Study having milestone birthdays in January

Events I have coming up so far this year:

Modesty Night for teen girls in late March

Bridal Shower for my friend Amber who eloped in November

Baby Shower for my friend Tracy

Easter Dinner with my family

Mother's Day lunch with my folks

Father's Day picnic with my folks

Baby Shower for friend in June

Celebration Picnic for my parent's 30th Anniversary

(which was last summer, but we never did get around to having a party)

Bible Study Baby Shower for a "miracle baby" in July

Attending at least 6 other baby showers this year on top of those listed above

Mother-Daughter Night at Church for teen girls and their moms

Jeremiah's 4th Birthday Party with friends

(which he currently says will be a dinosaur theme,

but we won't hold our breath as it changes often)

Justus' Second Birthday Party (with family only)

As you can see, this is going to be a busy year!  Last year it seemed everyone under the sun got married and this year there are countless people we know having babies.  There is a lot of celebrating going on! 

Which means I'd better dig out my notebook and get busy!

I'd love to hear how you prepare for a celebration and how you have shared the load with others in the past.  And what events do you have coming up this year that you are responsible for?

Next week we'll cover:

Keeping your Party Simple

Blessing Others Through Celebration

Ali holds my friend Tracy's 3 day old baby, Samantha

As the years go by, I'm discovering that one of the primary responsibilities of being a Christian woman, wife, mother, and light for Christ is "Celebration Manager."  Whether it's a birthday luncheon for a roommate, a brunch for your husband's co-workers, a shower for a friend getting married, or your children's birthday parties, every women finds herself in the midst of many celebrations during the year.

Because "celebrations" of various kinds are a frequent part of life and a tool for ministering to others, I want to spend some time focusing on how to throw a successful celebration to encourage those of you who get chills thinking about hosting a party. 

I encourage those of you young women who are still living at home to train in the area of hospitality by reading books about parties and group games, by experimenting in the kitchen, by taking a cake decorating class, by throwing birthday celebrations for your siblings, etc.  The more you practice now, the easier it will be when you are managing the celebrations in your own home someday.

So, look for a weekly post on Blessing Others Through Celebration beginning this Tuesday!