3 Easy Ways to Remember Your Deceased Loved Ones this Holiday

If you lost a loved one, the holidays can be a pretty difficult time to go through. There are ways to incorporate them into your holidays and keep their memory alive.

When my first son died, the first Christmas just wasn't as cheerful and nothing really seemed festive. I wanted to celebrate with my son but he wasn't there. Instead, I created traditions for him on the holidays, and Christmas, that make me feel like he isn't forgotten.

Here are some of the things I do to help celebrating without him become more bearable. 

Letters in a Stocking

photo by Jim, the Photographer on Flickr

Hang their stocking anyway! Only this stocking will have a different stuffer. Write a letter to them. It doesn't matter what you write. 

You can spend the entire letter sobbing and telling them how much you miss them. You can tell them about your holiday, the Christmas tree, what you got for presents, what you ate. Write to them like you are going to mail the letter to them. Write a poem to them. Anyone who wants to write to them can join in.

Leave it in there. When the holiday is over and you pack away the stockings, pack their stocking too, letter and all. The next year, do the same thing. You will soon have a stocking diary you can read each year to see the progress you have made in the grieving process. 

Or you can do as my friend did. Each year when she unpacks the decorations. Once she is done decking the halls, she reads the letter from last year and then burns it. She says it is quite cleansing to her soul.

Special Yearly Ornaments

photo by Ben McLeod on Flickr

Buy a special ornament to commemorate each year or just one very special one for them. You can hand-make their ornaments if you like. I usually make a butterfly or a bow to add to our tree since they are symbols of my son, to me. 

Play Santa to Someone in their Honor

From Two Chums website

I never had the chance to buy my son a present for Christmas while he was alive. One year, as I stood staring at an Angel Tree, I noticed a tag for a five year old little boy. He wanted trucks and action figures. My heart melted. 

That year Brandon would have been five and suddenly, I had a great idea! I bought a 5 year old little boy a box of hot wheel cars and an action figure.

Now, whenever I have extra money around the holidays, I either go to the Angel Tree, donate to the nursing home in the area, or find a family who needs a real life Santa (although those years are rare. But SO much fun!) 

I never told the family it was me which makes it more fun. Each family member received a gift (kids get TWO!), then there was a family gift (a movie or a game), and finally, a box of food. Usually enough for a nice breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

I have only had the chance to play real life Santa for a family a couple of times but, if that doesn't put you in a good mood, nothing will! It is the best feeling EVER! 

But buying a present for a needy child is still wonderful if you can't afford to play Santa to a whole family. Pick one of the Angels on the tree that just calls to you. Or you can look for one that is the same age as your loved one, or gender, or maybe someone who wants something that reminds you of your loved one.

And it wouldn't hurt to buy two presents for the Angel Tree either. That would be a wonderful stocking letter to read the next year!

Here's hoping everyone has a Happy Holidays this year.

What are you making this holiday season?

This last Friday, I posted a question to my readers... "What are you making this holiday season? Or what would you make if you could?" While no one commented on the blog post, I did get five replies through emails and conversations around town.

Here are the results!

7 Quick Crochet Craft Ideas for Holiday Gifts

The holidays are getting closer and you still need a gift for people on your list. Why not crochet something for them? Here is my list of quick things to crochet for holiday gifts.

Quick Crochet Craft #1: Angel Ornament

This cute Angel ornament pattern would be a cute gift for someone. Add a loop at the top or just thread a wire or string to make it ready to hang on a tree.

Quick Crochet Craft #2: Can Cozy

If you have a friend that loves soda (or beer), you could crochet them a cozy to hold their can and keep their hands warm. You can find the pattern here.

Quick Crochet Craft #3: Chain Link Necklace

I love this look! This creative crochet chain link necklace can be made in a lot of colors and would look great to wear!

Quick crochet Craft #4: Sundance Slouch Hat

© Carrie Piper

These hats are pretty stylish right now. I know a lot of teens love the look. The pattern is available as a download through ravelry. 

Quick Crochet Craft #5: Hermione the Unicorn

© 2011 Dawn Toussaint

Look at this! Isn't this just the cutest thing you've ever seen! This pattern is a ravelry download also! Okay, this may not be as quick as the other projects, but how could I pass this up? It's freaking adorable!

Quick Crochet Craft #6: 90 Minute Scarf

from the blog "Craft Disasters and Other Atrocities"

Here is a scarf that only takes 90 minutes to make. Pick two coordinating colors and you'll have a scarf in no time... er, 90 minutes.

Quick Crochet Craft #7: 30 minute hat

from the blog "Craft Disasters and Other Atrocities"

Here is the hat that was designed to go along with the 90 minute scarf. In 2 hours, you can make a hat/ scarf set for a gift!

Homemade Holiday Gifts? What are you making?

I was debating on what to write for today's blog post. I was deciding whether I should share a movie or a game for hang out night when... I realized that this hang out night will be for making things for gifts for the holidays.

So, my question to everyone today is, what is something you are going to make for a gift OR what would you like to make for a gift if you could/ had enough money/ knew how to work a bejeweled machine/ [insert your reason for not making homemade gifts here]? 

You can answer by commenting to this post, or you can email me. I'll let you all know what the answers were in a few days, unless I have a ton of answers... then It'll probably be Sunday.

5 Frugal Homemade Gift Ideas for the Holidays

With Yule and Christmas coming up and having very little money to buy gifts for my family, this year I am opting to be frugal and make gifts instead. I have been searching around for ideas and found these creative frugal gifts to share with you.

Frugal Gift Idea #1: Rose made from plastic spoons

Photo Credit: Cut out + Keep

This is so beautiful  and looks like a lot of fun to make. It's a rose pendant made from plastic spoons. You'll need 17 plastic spoons, scissors, needle-nose pliers, a candle, and these directions to make this. 

Frugal Gift Idea #2: Gifts in a Jar

Photo Source: Bargain Blessings

These are adorable! You can see the idea behind these here along with many other wonderful gift in a jar ideas. 

The options for gifts in a jar aren't limited to food items either! You can make snow globes, oatmeal cookie bath soak and peppermint bath salts, child and adult journal in a jar (journal prompts) just to name a few. 

I am thinking of creating a first-aid kit in a jar and a sewing kit in a jar. I'll post pictures when I get the made.

Frugal Gift Idea #3: Paper Mache Pens

Photo Source: Paper Crafts for Children

Okay, these are meant for kids to make, but I am totally going to make some of these! They are so cute. The directions are here.

Frugal Gift Idea #4: A Heat Pack for the Neck

These can be easy to make with cute toe socks filled with rice and then sewn or tied shut. OR, you can go here and make this totally cool looking neck heat pack.

Photo Source: Ever Never Again

Frugal Gift Idea #5 Decorate A Cup

Photo Source Unknown. Email me if you know.

This is pretty cool. Take a sharpie and draw a picture on a cup (or plate), then bake the plate for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. There were so many cute pictures to choose from that I decided to just give you a link to a pinterest page to give you some ideas. 

Just an extra tip: This blogger says they are hand-wash only.

And if you love playing with sharpies, you can also make a dishtowel design with sharpies too.