Here is a great way to treat a favorite grandchild this Christmas - his very own Christmas tree decorated with his favorite things.

My wife is selling some of her Christmas tree ornament collection.(She has hundreds of ornaments!) So I helped her list some on USFreeads, http://www.usfreeads.com/catalogs/550085/.  (I’m getting ready to take the listing down because I can’t afford the postage)

Yesterday she sold a Babe Ruth ornament to a lady up in Virginia. This mom is going to make a special “NY Yankee Christmas Tree” for her eight year old daughter this Christmas. She wanted the Babe Ruth ornament for the tree. Her daughter loves Babe.

Isn’t that neat? A special tree for a child decorated around a theme about their own special interest.  Think of the possibilities: a girl that loves Barbie Dolls, a boy that is big into Scouting or skate boarding, etc, etc, etc. 

Here’s a nice thought, if you have someone you think would enjoy his or her special Christmas tree you still have plenty of time to find all the decorations. Seems like a fun little hobby collecting up all the stuff this summer. 

Thanks Mary for putting me onto this. 

Woody

Hi Folks,

For those of you that have been reading my blogs for awhile (Retirement on a Budget and Woody’s Retirement Blog) know that I believe your retirement years should contain a lot of cheering and encouraging others. What a wonderful way to spend your days.

Well, Robbie James, todays author, has a great idea – Care Packages for those recovering from surgery. No more flowers, cards, or ballons (unless they are part of your care package). 

Hey, try this the next time you want to really cheer someone up.

I would love to hear about your successes, failures and good ideas.

God Bless,
Woody 

Care Package After Surgery – What to Include

 Submitted By: Robbie T. James

 Any surgery that requires someone to undergo bed rest at the hospital or at home is serious enough to warrant sending him or her a nice care package. Sending a care package says just that – that you care and want them to get better. A care package is warmly-received whether you deliver it in person or send it via the mail.

Being on bed rest or otherwise not feeling up to par during the recovery phase after surgery is no fun for anyone. Whether the surgery was elective or done under a situation of disease or duress, recovery always involves changing one’s routine for a while. Imagine how nice it would be for your friend, family member or colleague to receive a nice package of goodies from someone who cares. Not only does the gesture express warmth – it also can just be a lot of fun to get an unexpected gift.

A good care package is all about what goes inside of it. Even though you will score points for just the thought itself, you will make him or her smile even more big and brightly if you put together a winning package.

If you are looking for what to include in a care package after surgery, here are some tips that can help:

1. Let your inner child help you choose:

Think about the situation your friend or family member is in: they are hanging around the hospital room or bedroom in their robe and PJs. They are wearing slippers. There’s lots of down time. Sounds kind of like a kid on summer vacation, right? While surgery post-op is obviously no vacation, it is definitely a change from “business as usual” for this person. So, throw your logical pre-conceptions out the window and just let your inner child guide your choices for what to include. It’s okay to be a little bit whimsical in your selections.

2. Choose items that will fill their time:

After surgery, one thing a person does have a lot of is time on their hands. The hours can pass awfully slowly when you are used to being active and busy but now are confined to a hospital bed. Choose items like games and puzzles that keep them busy. If you have the money, those little hand-held video games (usually costing $10-$15 or less) can be a great way to pass the time. Sudoku and crossword puzzles are also a kick for people who like games.

3. Pick an unusual or specialty magazine:

Right now, life is not business as usual for this person. So, why not get him or her a magazine that they may not have read in a long time. Did they like Mad Magazine as a kid 10 or 20 years ago? Maybe that would be fun. Or, get them one on knitting or extreme sports or computers or art. Surprise him or her!

4. Bring something that reminds them of friends and family:

Being all cooped up all day can be a little bit lonely. Why not bring your friend a photo album with pics from home, the office, or a recent trip? In today’s world of online photo sharing, the art of making a good physical photo album has been lost for many of us. If you don’t have lots of time to spend making an album, just buy a plastic one at the drugstore and insert 10 or 20 fun photos. The goal is to remind the surgery patient you know of people who care.

5. Include some fun foods:

Include a can, box or bag of their favorite snack food. Remember: don’t go overboard with giving food, since they may be under strict doctor’s orders to stick to a certain diet. If that’s the case, just tell them that the food is for when they get better soon.

A few more gift ideas:

a. an ice pack

b. a box of Thank You notes that they can use to thank people who have brought them gifts or visited

c. a silly piece of jewelry or novelty item

d. a pre-paid calling card so they can call an old friend

e. a prayer book or book of meditations

f. a CD or DVD

When putting together your care package, put on your “creativity” hat and get going. It can be a lot of fun to put together, and it will mean the world to your friend, family member or colleague during their time of need.

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Well, it’s time for me to dust off this blog and post some (I hope) pretty good items on it about Christmas.

The last time I used this blog was for July 4th stuff. I only use this blog occasionally as I have two other major blogs which keep me busy on a daily basis: www.retirement-on-a-budget.com and www.extraincomeezine.com . Drop by and check them out when you get a chance.

Today I have a great little article on creating gift baskets. If you are struggling for gift ideas for someone special, a gift basket is probably the answer. Gift baskets are a wonderful gift that you can make and personalize as simple or elaborate as you want. They are just as appropriate for men as they are for women and kids love to make them for their friends and teachers.   

Woody

Creating Homemade Gift Baskets For Christmas

Christmas is a time to celebrate, make merry, and indulge in giving. People enjoy giving gifts to friends, neighbors, relatives and people they work with. What a great way to spread cheer and good will.

In recent years gift baskets have grown in popularity. They are the perfect gift for personalizing and for telling people they are special. The baskets can be made in many creative ways and they can also be used at home after the gifts inside have been removed. There are many gift baskets available in gift shops, food stores, even hardware stores but you can be more creative by making gift basket at home and personalizing them with items you know the recipient will enjoy. How about creating a gift basket without an actual basket? It just requires some planning and creativity. Here are some ideas on how to create the perfect gift basket at home. The possibilities are limitless!!!

Use different containers to hold your gifts instead of a traditional basket. For example if someone in the family loves cooking then consider giving them kitchen items placed in a crock pot. Place all the items inside a stock pot or crock pot and add some glitters and a bow to make it look really special.

If there is someone in your family or circle of friends that loves fishing then how about giving him a conventional wicker tackle box filled with all sorts of fishing related items. Use the basket to stuff with goodies such as handkerchiefs, line, a coffee thermos, and any number of other items you think he would like to take with him on his next fishing trip (or an item you have heard him say he would like to have).

Women just love to be pampered so you can create a basket out of a robe and fill it with various items such as a manicure kit, eye mask, gels, lotions, and lots of other girlie stuff.

The kids can give their teachers a tote bag that hold all sorts of stuff they can use such as pens, notebooks and papers and maybe a nice little nick nack to place on their desk. They can put the gifts inside the tote bag to surprise their teacher.

Don’t forget to attach a card to your baskets with a special message and wishing them a Merry Christmas.