Holiday Crafts, Recipes, and Activities

We often forget what Valentine's Day is really about. It is a holiday that has received lots of hype but often the Holiday can leave us feeling unfulfilled or with lighter pockets and nothing to show for it. Here are 8 Valentine's Ideas to Make this Valentine's Day one your kids and spouse will remember.
Valentine's Day is a day to remind our loved ones that they are special to us and loved; and a day to tell them how much we really care. It is a day to reconnect with our husband or wife, a day to hug our kids with the biggest bear hug of the year. It is a day to show our love through very simple gestures that say, "You are special and you mean the world to me. I love You or Thank You for Everything." It can often be difficult to decide what to do for Valentine's Day. What do we do differently from any other day with our kids? Or what do we get our husband (or wife) to show him we love him or her?

We're gearing up for Valentine's Day here at Ziggity Zoom.  You'll notice that we already have a great selection of free printable sheets of Valentines that can be accessed from the Ziggity Zoom homepage.  Choose from Princess, Pirate, Dragons, Mermaids, Aliens, Puppies and Cute Animals.

These can all be printed on heavyweight printer paper, then the kids can cut them out and sign their name on the back.  We have also posted a template to make your own envelopes, if you wish.

Valentine's Day crafts will be coming soon, so keep checking back in our Valentine section.  Remember that you can also encourage your child's own creativity by just getting out the construction paper, scissors and some markers or crayons.  Kids love to create so remember to encourage them at every possible moment.

It is that time again to reflect on the year that has passed and to celebrate the coming of a new year. New Year's Eve is a night of celebrating, spending time with family or friends, traditions, or making the night a special occasion. For many it is a Night to Go Out and Celebrate, for others it is a night to Stay In with family, for others it is a night to Attend a Party. No matter how you spend the evening, there are ways to cut your costs and save your money.

It is that time again to reflect on the year that has passed and to celebrate the coming of a new year.  New Year's Eve is a night of celebrating,  spending time with family or friends, traditions, or making the night a special occasion. For many it is a <strong>Night to Go Out and Celebrate, for others it is a night to Stay In with family, for others it is a night to Attend a Party.</strong>  No matter how you spend the evening, there are ways to cut your costs and save your money.

New Year's Eve is a great time to spend with family and friends and create a holiday tradition with your kids.  Make New Year's Eve Party Hats and let your kids decorate them with glitter or stickers. Take brightly Colored Paper and let your kids decorate with glue and glitter or shiny stickers. Then staple them to make a hat. You can add strips of tinsel or thin strips of tissue paper to the top of the hat to make it more festive.
New Year's Eve Noise Makers to Make for Kids Using just a colored piece of construction paper, roll lengthwise. Insert dried beans into center of the roll. Squeeze at each end, about two inches from end, and tie off with string or sparkly yarn. Decorate with Glitters or sparkly stickers. Now you and your Kids will have Noisemakers that aren't 'too' noisy but lots of fun.

Make Easy Finger Foods and Appetizers for Dinner or Evening Snacks

For Dinner Finger Foods try: Chicken Fingers on a Stick A fun and tasty meal or appetizer for kids and adults alike.

Healthy Lettuce Wraps

Christmas Fun, Activities and Decorations
Easy Christmas Candy Cane Craft Project for Kids
Help your kids make these easy Candy Cane Decorations.

Gem Jewelry Box to Keep or Give
Gem Box Craftis easy to make and a great box for a gift or a gift itself for kids' special items.

Fun and Easy Sock Snowman Project for Kids
This Sock Snowmanis super easy to make and looks adorable!

Recycled Reindeer Craft Project for Kids
Help your kids find empty bottles and items and make this great Reindeer.

Christmas Activities for Kids-Coloring Sheet, Printable Games, Recipes, and Decorations!
At Ziggity Zoom we have lots of activities for Christmas and other Holidays. We have Christmas cards, Christmas craft projects,lots of coloring sheets, printables, easy and inexpensive to make gifts and ornaments for kids to give. We love Christmas Cookies, Breakfast on Christmas, a Feast and family- we have ideas and recipes to get you through family holiday parties.

Read Bunbun's Christmas Counting Book
Read this NEW Christmas Counting Book with Your Child or Let them Flip the pages and listen to the story by themselves.

Great Christmas Activities!
Click on the links below to find Christmas crafts, coloring and ideas at ZiggityZoom.com which are perfect for home, school, a party or Christmas Break!

Christmas Fun, Activities and Decorations
Fun and Easy Christmas Tree Craft Project for Kids
Help your kids make this easy Christmas Tree Craft Project to Decorate your House or their room.

Do you need to figure out a affordable gift to give to your friends or family members without breaking the bank?  Want something they can use and that you are happy to give them?  We have a handful of easy to make gifts that cost you next to nothing to make and give to loved ones.&

Make a Wine Tasting Party Bag or Wine Placecard Table Settings

Do you have a friend or family member that loves wine?  Well if you are a wine drinker you probably have old corks in a drawer or you could go to a local wine shop and ask if they have used corks you can have.  Take 6-8 wine corks and exacto blade and cut off the a think strip of the length of each of the corks (approximately 1/10 of the cork)-just enough to get the cork to sit flat on the table.  Now cut a thin v shape groove across the length of the top of the corks (just big enough to fit a piece of paper in the groove).  For Wine Placecard Table Settings, put the cut wine corks in a cute box or bag, along with small blank placecards and a nice note about the Placecard Holders.

If you want to give a Wine Tasting Set- put the wine corks, placecards, or square notecards, along with a set of pens and 8 notepads in a lined box or a bag with instructions for hosting a Wine Tasting Party.  Another option is to include 4 wine covers and stencil a number on the cover that go above the label of the wine to hide what type of  wine it is, but most people can vote and comment on each wine, even if they see the label.  RedEnvelop sells a nice Wine Tasting Set but it is $70.00!!!!

Make Wine Charms

Wine Charms are very easy to make and they are very affordable.  You will need to purchase beads and wire rings.

Track Santa's Sleigh Online on Christmas Eve
Want to get your kids to bed on Christmas Eve? Go to www.noradsanta.org There are a few things you can read ahead of time, but the real action takes place on Christmas Eve when you can go online and see where Santa's Sleigh is at. Write Santa a Letter and Receive a Letter From Santa
Have Your Kids write Santa a Letter and either Mail it or you can take it to Macy's where there is a special Mailbox for Santa. You can even get Santa to send your kid/s a letter either by going online and paying around $8.00 for a letter from www.santaletterz.com or you could just send your child a letter from Santa yourself.
Make Reindeer Food for Santa's Reindeer
Let your kids make Reindeer food on Christmas Eve. You mix oatmeal with ,strong>colored sprinkles (can can add crushed candy canes or glitter-but those are a little bit messier)and put in a bowl or plastic bag. Before it gets dark, let your kids sprinkle your front or back porch with the Reindeer Food. Let them know it will help the Reindeer see your house from up in the sky.
You can also give the reindeer food as a little party favor for kids before Christmas. Mix up the Reindeer Food and put it in little snack baggies with a ribbon and tag, or you can use the small colored drawstring bags. Attach a tag that says:
On Christmas Eve, sprinkle the Reindeer Food by the entrance to your home. The shiny sugar will sparkle in the moonlight and the smell of oats will guide the Reindeer to your home. Merry Christmas to all!

Ice Skating at an Outdoor Rink
We took the kids Ice Skating one evening last week.  We had a blast and the kids are begging to go again.  Even our 2 year old son, loved going around the rink with us.  I enjoyed going in the evening because all the Holiday Lights are on and it feels a little more festive.  We will definitely be going back several times this season with the kids.  This is a great family activity that your kids will remember and it is great exercise and time outside.  Instead of going to the movies, try ice skating! Go to a Holiday Lights Show or Display
In many areas there are drive through Holiday Lights Shows and the cost is usually $5 or $7.00 per carload. It is fun for the kids and inexpensive. If you do not have a Light Show around, plan a night to pile the kids in the car with a snack and go in search of the best Holiday Lights at a house or Building. It can be lots of fun and keep kids looking around other evenings in search of a great house to come back to.
Go to a Holiday or Church Play
At this time of year, there are many plays about Christmas or Church Plays about Baby Jesus. Many are free or cost a minimal amount. What a great way to spend an evening together. Do something a little different and have a great time!
Go Caroling or Sing Around the Fire Kids love to sing Holiday Songs or Christmas Carols. Pull out a song book or print your favorite songs from the internet and go around to your neighbors houses (you might want to ask them ahead of time), or go to a senior home, or sing together with snacks and drinks in front of the fireplace or near the tree. Or put on Christmas Music and sing to the music.