Articles in Simple Gifts
Somewhere, there’s a”Max and Ruby” episode that involves gingerbread. I haven’t seen it but Boots has, and it set him clamoring to make houses. Foolishly, I promised him last week that we would over the …
I’m kind of frustrated this morning because I don’t have girls. I don’t even know any girls young enough to appreciate this.
But if I did, I’d be all over the tutu tutorial – say that …
Parties in the park seem to be the rage around here of late – a rage that will be over by the time Big Guy’s birthday rolls around in 103-degree July – and today’s was …
You know the economy’s getting tight when the bounce houses and pizzas disappear from the preschool parties.
You know we’re in a recession when the crowd that usually rushes to the kid party mills – you …
It’s not exactly a seasonal favorite this time of year — except in parts of California and Florida where grills are rarely covered — but grilling recipes can be used indoors in the off season. …
I never could figure out who cookie-mix gift packs were aimed at.
Think about it: If you don’t like to bake, adding a few ingredients and turning on the oven is going to be too much …
A version of this post was originally written for another site a year ago, when the guys were 4 and 2. Their book preferences have shifted since — Big Guy’s more interested in “Your Favorite …
Citrus tree overruneth this year? Pass the bounty along – not everyone has one in their back yard.
Fruit baskets are yet another gift with a bad reputation, thanks to mail-order firms that deliver mush. It …
Here’s a variation on the homemade T-shirt/sweat shirt/tote bag theme: Homemade T-shirt/sweat shirt/tote bags (and more) crafted with the help of the little darlin’s themselves.
Granted, this is not going to be every grandparent’s thing, and …
Seeing that perfect T-shirt for Aunt Sally in your head but can’t seem to find it in stores?
It’s pretty easy to make it yourself. All you need is a computer, clip art or images, iron-on …
Bath salts get a bad rap courtesy of cheap and cheesy prefab gift baskets that proliferate around Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. It’s also a tricky gift to give early in a relationship. What? …
Try a salsa trio – hey, what were you thinking – as either a hostess gift or as a present for someone who might have a lot of guests headed their way. Or for someone …
Know a family that’s constantly on the go or planning a long trip in the near future?
You could buy a $60 travel set, complete with cup holders and desktop — $15 “accessory kit” optional. Or …
Trying to come up with a gift for the guys’ teachers two years ago was a challenge. I couldn’t think of a thing they probably didn’t already have 3,000 of. Still, Big Guy was 3 …
Before three more weeks have passed, everyone will be cookied-out. So why not give cookies folks can enjoy in January? And some tummy-warming hot cocoa mix to chase away the foggy or snowy chill, depending …
How about some fresh basil and parsley for that winter batch of pasta sauce? Or just-cut cilantro for some out-of-season salsa?
If someone on your list loves to cook, an indoor herb garden might be the …
I’ll confess: I’m a coffee snob. I analyze flavors like some people study wines. I’m also an addict: I received four pounds of coffee for Christmas last year, which was almost enough to last until …
It’s entertainment. It’s a meal. It’s fun. It’s hard to go wrong with a “Lady and the Tramp” dinner basket.
Though the price tag is a bit beyond the usual Simple Gifts budget, the idea’s too …
WARNING: Play-Doh has become an increasingly controversial toy in recent years. Three current or former sisters-in-law have banned it from their homes. So please consult parents before giving this gift. If they’ve done …
Caramel corn is a good gift with a bad reputation spawned by the turbo tins you see everywhere this time of year. I suspect some of them were manufactured when I was in high school.
People …
I started the Simple Gifts concept last year, on another blog under another name for another reason.
Last year, it was inspired by a fellow blogger on a site I moderated and her post venting …
There’s often a reason why Big Guy does the seemingly quirky things he does. A reason that makes sense only in his 5-year-old brain, but a reason nonetheless.
I usually don’t question, because if it’s genuinely ...
Parties in the park seem to be the rage around here of late – a rage that will be over by the time Big Guy’s birthday rolls around in 103-degree July – and today’s was ...
