How To Get Organized After The Holidays

The holidays are a joyous time. All of that prep work and celebrating during the holidays brings joy and warm feelings to families all over the country.

Once they’re over, however, you might feel a little differently about the holidays. Remembering the organization and budgeting it takes to get your family back on track can bring feelings of a very different kind.

Getting back on track isn’t impossible, however. Follow these top tips for how to get organized after the holidays.

1. Clean out Your Refrigerator

After the holiday fun, you may have a lot of leftovers in your fridge. Not only do leftovers take up extra space in your fridge, holiday leftovers take the place of healthier foods. Instead of letting them take up space or ingesting the extra calories, take the time to clean out your refrigerator.

2. Ditch the Sweets.

They’re everywhere during the holidays so this one will be difficult to do, especially for
the kids. Although they (and maybe even you) may protest ditching them, your teeth and
health will thank you later.

You don’t need to throw spare sweets away. You could bring them to the office to share with coworkers. Another option is to teach your kids about community giving by creating care packages for those in need. 

3. Get Back on Your Exercise Routine

You might not have had time to exercise during the holidays. The season keeps many of us busy helping with school events and planning and hosting your own holiday parties. Now that the holidays are over, start again by making small goals, then gradually increase your goal until you’re back to your pre-holiday workout routine. Get your family involved by visiting local rec centers or gyms to play family-oriented games together.

4. Get Plenty of Sleep

With most holidays, you may begin to lose sleep. You and your family have so much fun, you don’t follow your normal bedtime routine. Your kids may protest at first, but getting everyone on the same bedtime routine as soon as the holidays are over will benefit everyone, including yourself.


Now that you have these great tips to get organized, you and your family will feel like your pre-holiday-selves in now time.

When it comes time to fundraise for your school or prepare spring events, contact Gifts ‘N Things. We have everything to keep you organized, no matter the season.

Simple Ways to Get Your Kids Involved in Holiday Gift-Giving

We want our kids to be generous, kind people. At this time of year, we peek around the mountains of holiday gifts and shout: “The joy is in the giving! It’s not just about getting presents!”

During a time when the gifts and treats abound, let’s not forget to turn the tables and encourage kids to participate in their own gift-giving. Kids are naturally generous, so enjoy these ways to incorporate children into the joy of giving this year.

1. Kid-friendly Shopping

With a few dollars in their pocket, children thoroughly enjoy picking out thoughtful gifts for those they love. Whether they’ve earned it themselves or parents give them some money to spend, it can be a novelty that allows them to finally give back. Organizing one of our Lil’ Shopper’s Shoppes puts everything in one place and fundraises for your school at the same time! Gifts are affordable for children to buy (down to $1) and the experience is geared toward kids; the whole process is easy to set up and operate. View some of our gifts and find out more!

2. Homemade Treasures

From handprints in clay, to decorated mugs, to special drawings, sometimes the arts and crafts are the most treasured gifts (and some of the only ones kept for posterity). Take an afternoon and try these brilliant crafts your kids can create as gifts.

3. Photo Gifts and Ornaments

Kids and adults alike love to see how kids change and grow from year to year. Begin a holiday tradition that captures that year’s memories. Photo calendars and photo books are a collection of the year’s special moments. Kids can choose the photos and even lay them out with some of the easier-to-use services. Fill out a funny end-of-year survey to capture what makes them tick. Or give the gift of annual ornaments; your family can collect them year after year and look back with fond memories each time they trim the tree.

4. Home-baked Treats

We dare you to show us a Grandpa who wouldn’t love a tin of homemade cookies! Get baking with your kids with easy recipes, then wrap up some of your treats in pretty boxes or tins for a yummy gift. Just be sure to do your baking right before the gift will be opened to ensure freshness.

5. Experiences

Part of making the holidays (and childhood) special is by creating lasting memories. Doing special activities with loved ones can be a memory-making gift – one that could easily turn into a tradition. Try ideas like a Sled-a-thon, where you test out all the nearby sledding hills, go to see A Christmas Carol on stage, plan a fancy tea party complete with gloves and petits-fours, or just sit back and let the kids decide!



From shopping for the perfect gift at a Lil’ Shopper’s Shoppe to creating a homemade masterpiece, kids will not only enjoy giving gifts, they will get to cultivate their natural generosity and holiday spirit.

Holiday Shop Success Made Simple with Help from Gifts ‘N Things

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the mere concept of planning a Holiday Shop for your school. There’s a lot that goes into a successful, well-run Holiday Shop : choosing gifts that are high-quality and popular, ordering the right amount of inventory, pricing it with a margin that’s not too low or too high, setting up the shop with tables, decoration, and more.

Luckily, that’s why we exist: we make our programs EASY and enjoyable for you! With over 40 years of experience, we know what goes into successful school fundraising and we’ve made it as simple as possible. Here’s how:

• Well-priced, high quality gifts. 85% of our items are under $5.00, making our gifts ideal for school-aged shoppers. We even offer suggested retails at different profit levels with our handy price coding system - no more guesswork! Best of all, all of our merchandise is on consignment so you only pay for what you sell.
• Easy setup, with our FREE supplies. We include everything you need to run and market your holiday shop, at no cost to your school. From hallway posters, to parent letters, budget envelopes, tablecloth to pre-priced tent cards for each item - it’s all included in your kit. New this year, we're offering an optional 37-piece decoration kit that includes aprons, hats and more to make your shop more festive!
• Stress-free management through technology! We build tools specifically to make the organizer’s life easier. Our Cash Register App lets you easily check students out, including the ability to process credit cards. Our Chairperson Website is personalized specifically for you, and allows you to track materials, re-order inventory as needed, print support materials, and more.

Learn more about how we make school fundraising and holiday shops EASY by requesting your free info kit today, or download our brochure for more information.

Autumn Activities for the Family

Autumn is the perfect time for making memories with your family. From engaging outdoor adventures to creating beautiful fall crafts, there’s no shortage of fun to be had this season. Take a look at some of our ideas for some fun autumn activities for the whole family:

Get Outside

Now that it’s the peak of autumn, it’s the perfect time to take your family for an outdoor adventure. Go on a nature walk and encourage your kids to take up a curiosity and passion for the outdoors. One great way to do is to bird watch. Encourage your kids to spot and identify as many birds as they can. Continue this curiosity at home by building a birdhouse or bird feeder together.

Collect Leaves

Another great way to encourage their interest in nature can be through leaf collecting. Encourage them to collect leaves throughout the season, identify which trees they come from, and write that information down in a leaf log. Preserve their favorite leaves between contact paper and show them how to make fun leaf rubbings, prints, and stamps.

Go Camping

Fall can be a wonderful time to go camping. Just pack your car with some vital supplies, and find the perfect setting to pitch your tent under some stunning fall foliage. Take this opportunity to make some wonderful memories. Teach them to set up a tent, build a campfire, how to fish and catch dinner, and how to roast the perfect marshmallow. Now that the days are shorter, it’s also the perfect time to stargaze. Grab a stargazing scavenger hunt (like this one) and start planning your trip.

Staple Fall Activities

If you haven’t already, treat your family to a classic fall weekend. Go apple picking and pumpkin carving, and bake delicious treats from your harvest. Explore a corn maze, fall festival, or haunted house for a thrilling weekend adventure.

Fall Crafts

Autumn is also the perfect time for crafting. Just make some hot cocoa or apple cider, light some pumpkin scented candles, and engage in an afternoon of arts and crafts with your family. Knit some new hats and scarves with older kids for when the temperature dips even lower. Have the whole family decorate the house with fun Halloween and Thanksgiving crafts.

Here are some more ideas for fall crafts:

• Collect some leaves, pinecones, and fabric to make a new front-door wreath
• Paint pumpkins for the front porch
• Make homemade Halloween costumes
• Paint some mugs with your favorite fall themes and colors
• Explore Pinterest for adorable ideas like Pumpkin Apple Stamps, DIY Twig Candles, or an Autumn Handprint Tree

Bonding with some different autumn activities will help you reconnect as a family from your busy fall schedules, while time spent outdoors hiking, camping, and exploring your community will revitalize you.

With an abundance of fun and adventure left to be had this season, start making wonderful memories that will last you a lifetime today. For more ways to celebrate the season and to start celebrating the holidays early, visit Gifts ‘N Things today.

Hosting a Spring Break Party

Spring Break is just about here, and for many parents, that means keeping kids entertained while they are out of school. Some families go on vacation, others do special activities around their hometown, but have you ever thought about throwing a spring break party with your kids? Check out some tips below for a fun-filled day of spring break activities:

Fuel up!

Take this time to make special snack time treats for your kids. Many snack time staples like wings, cheese dips, and chips, are already kid-friendly. If you invite other tiny spring-breakers over to enjoy the party, limit time spent in the kitchen by setting out a simple taco or chili bar. Adults and kids alike will love loading delicious toppings onto a steaming bowl of chili or taco meat. Check out these links for ideas for your own chili bar or taco bar.

For more recipes that are sure to score big with both adults and kids:

Corn Dog Pops

Mini Taco Bowls

Ranch and Wing Dip

Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sandwiches

Breadstick Snails

Don’t forget about these sweet treats:

Strawberry Creme Crepes

Spirit Fruit Cones

Chocolate Coconut Bars

Butterfinger Cookies

Play some Games

Have some small games and activities ready for the kids to enjoy. A face painting station can help kids get creative. Have some bright colors and simple design ideas (like flowers, baseballs, dog/cat faces, etc.) on hand. Kids can decorate their own t-shirts using markers. If you have a large group, break the ice with a fun spring-themed photo booth. Compile some flower petal hats, funny mustaches, sports gear, and other spring-themed props for a memorable time.

With weather permitting, play a game of flag football, dodgeball, or your kids’ favorite sport to liven up the party. Challenge the kids with guessing games, like memory games or the classic “how many jellybeans are in the jar” game. For older kids, make an elaborate scavenger hunt filled with different items and clues to keep them occupied all afternoon.

For more game and activity ideas and printables, check out:

Printable Bingo Cards

Coloring Sheets

Party Games

Springtime Décor

For a big event at home, you don’t have to buy elaborate decorations. With a visit to your local hardware shop and some time spent crafting with kids, you’ll have a wonderfully spirited and decorated house.

With construction paper and paint, kids can help create and decorate spring themed banners, placemats, nametags and more. They can also help decorate by taping up paper designs, hanging up streamers and paper chains, and decorating table tops with confetti. You can find green turf at most hardware shops, and decorate your buffet table like fresh spring grass. Use confetti to add flowers, ladybugs, butterflies, and more to have a festive, springtime table.

The last thing you want for your kids during their spring break is to see them planted on the couch with an electronic device attached to their hands. The added duties spring break brings can be stressful for parents, but with mounting activities, homework, and other school stress, your kids - as well as yourself - deserve a break. Give your kids a productive and fun break this year with a spring break themed party - it just might become a yearly tradition!

How to Throw a Kid-friendly New Year's Eve Bash

With the holiday season winding down, you’ll find you are turning focus from the Holiday season to New Year’s Eve. For those of us with children, New Year’s Eve parties are not all-night, champagne-filled bashes followed by a morning spent in bed enjoying the day off work. So how do you plan a memorable New Year’s Bash for you and your kids? We’ve got a few ideas:

For the littlest ones to 2nd grade, waiting until midnight will take them way past their curfews. Have a mock countdown that ends at 7 p.m. so they can get to ring in the New Year as well. Try a few of these tips:

• Bring your costume clothing and play dress up
• Fill balloons with ideas for fun games. Pop one every half hour so you will have exciting activities to look forward to enjoying
• Make your own noisemakers to ring in the New Year

For 3rd to 4th graders:

• Set up a tent in your living room and camp indoors for the night
• Grab all the pillows and blankets from around your house and create a massive pillow fort
• Compile your favorite photos from the year and create a memory matching game
• Search for your family’s best memories in a memory-filled scavenger hunt

For 5th to 8th graders:

• Grab a stack of newspapers, and have everyone create their own “Things I Hope For in the New Year to Come” collage
• Kick in the New Year with a movie marathon of your favorite movies
• Go stargazing and wish on shooting stars
• Create a celebratory balloon drop for when the clock strikes midnight - your kids can dress up as their favorite celebrity and do their best impressions

Encourage teens to celebrate at home:

• Set up karaoke in the basement and prepare to sing your heart out
• Create a festive photo booth, and props worthy of the best selfies
• Kick back at a bonfire with hot chocolate
• Prepare for a midnight countdown with sparkling juice and sparklers

Entertaining kids of all ages? Try:

• Build-your-own hot cocoa bar
• Decorate-your-own cupcake bar
• Write a list of all the best memories you had this year with family and friends
• Ring in the New Year with a dance party

The possibilities for throwing a kid-friendly New Year’s Eve Bash are endless. For even more ideas, check out these 100 Great New Year’s Activities to Do with Your Kids.

From all of us at Gifts ‘N Things, have a happy New Year!

Gifts ‘N Things Has Gift Wrap For All Occasions

No matter the occasion, Gifts ‘N Things offers gift wrap options in our brochure fundraisers for just about anything! We offer collections of matching gift wrap options, including patterns in various colors, like our popular Chevron Roll Wrap Collection with matching Chevron Gift Bags.

Coordinated gift wrap is great for Christmas morning, so everyone knows who’s gift is who’s and you can cater designs to each person’s style! See the video below to see swatches of some of our most popular winter styles and check out our Winter Wonderland catalog for all of our options and coordinating ideas.

Family Fun on the Fourth

Along with celebrating our nation’s independence, the Fourth of July is a great time to bring the community together to create fun memories with friends and family. Among the fireworks and parades, the fourth is full of excitement- especially for the kids. Activities such as creating fun crafts, making festive treats and playing outdoor games are always popular among children.

Creating crafts is always a hit with kids, no matter the age. For the younger children, try something as easy and fun as creating a Fourth of July wand, a red, white & blue wreath or simply having them decorate individual napkin holders for your Fourth of July get together. For the middle-aged children in the family, try crafts such as creating a Fourth-inspired word find or patriotic firecracker favors. These crafts are guaranteed to get your kids excited about the festive holiday.

Although kids love crafts, they also love sweets! Making fun holiday treats is always a great way to get the kids ready for the Fourth. Putting together something as simple as red, white & blue cupcakes or attempting more of a challenge with festive sugar cookie bars will light the little ones up like fireworks. Along with being fun and tasty, making treats with the kids is a great way to gain valuable family bonding time over the holiday weekend.

Playing outdoor activities is always a great way to get your kids excited about the Fourth of July.  When it comes to outdoor activities the opportunities are endless. Some hits among children are the bean bag toss, polish golf, and of course potato sack races. These games are great for getting your kids involved with the other children in the community as well as making memories for years to come.

The Fourth of July is a great summer holiday that the family will be sure to enjoy. Whether you choose to create a craft, make treats, play outdoor games or all of the above, your kids will enjoy the fourth in ways they never did before! Check out our Facebook page for even more ideas for family fun on the Fourth.

Easy Holiday Meals

The holiday season is just around the corner and we know what that means; lots of traveling, family, cooking, and even stress. Wouldn't it be nice if you could prep, and even freeze, a whole meal that is ready to go when you need it? Well, we have done just that for you!

The appetizer: Pull Apart Cheese Bread
First start by slicing the bread into cubes, combine the cheese (and any mix in’s) and stuff in into the bread. Then pour melted butter over the top, and wrap the loaf tightly. From this point you can choose to freeze the bread until it is time to use it or the bread can be stuffed a few hours ahead of when you plan to serve. It will be fine on the counter for an hour, or you can refrigerate it (wrapped in foil) for a few hours. Wait to pour the butter over the top until just before you put it in the oven.

Get the full recipe: http://bit.ly/1wwEVxZ

The side dish: Mashed Potatoes
Start this dish by peeling then cubing the potatoes.. Then, boil them until tender. Drain, and mash the potatoes then add your liquids (milk, sour cream, butter, yogurt, whatever you like) and your mix ins (bacon pieces, garlic powder, cheese, etc.). Let them cool, and freeze flat in a freezer bag. Then to reheat them spread the mashed potatoes into a baking dish and dot the mashed potatoes with butter and bake in the oven until the butter has melted and the potatoes are warm.

Get the full recipe: http://bit.ly/1uymngj

The main dish: Ham and Pea Casserole
This recipe is great for ham lovers, leftovers, and non-traditional celebrators. Simply butter a casserole dish. In a bowl, toss the ham, cornbread, peas and thyme; transfer to the baking dish. In the same bowl, beat together the milk, eggs and yolk and salt. Pour into the baking dish. Let stand for 15 minutes.  Bake until the custard is just set in the center, 40 to 45 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving or freezing. The day of you can thaw and reheat to let it warm up again.

Get the full recipe: http://bit.ly/1tW4rHm




The dessert: Mini Cheesecakes
This recipe only calls for five ingredients (not including the crust, the crust you could substitute with vanilla wafers). You will start by adding the crust (or vanilla wafers) in a mini muffin tins (use liners for easier clean up and serving) then simply mix the cheesecake batter on top of the crust and bake for fifteen minutes. Then remove from the oven, let cool and place in a freezer safe storage until time to serve. Then the morning of serving remove from freezer, Thaw for 5-10 minutes at room temperature and top as desired before serving.

Get the full recipe: http://bit.ly/1vdbzGp

We hope these recipes will not only be delicious but help you relieve some stress. If life is really getting the best of you, we are here to help. With our wonderful and delicious frozen foods. We offer so many yummy sweets that we guarantee you, your family, and friends will love and they will last! 

Do you have other tasty holiday recipes you love? Share with us and comment below!