Category "Kids"

A Single Rose | One Year Old Birthday Gift Tradition

Queen Darlene - January 15, 2015 - $20 or Less, Birthday, Kids

First birthdays are a big deal, not for the child as much as it is for the parents or maybe I should say–mothers.

I was more than thrilled to celebrate my child’s first birthday! They are walking, chattering and making the cutest expressions. I watched him open (with some help) his gifts. I snapped pictures of him eating his cake and making a huge mess.

I was one proud mother! I wanted my son to have a “Happy 1st Birthday” so I could have pictures to cherish and share with him when he got older.

All of us moms understand the significance of birthdays. My son, Dustin, who is single and 33 years old doesn’t have a clue.

When Dustin’s best friend Jayson called to remind him that his daughter was having her one year old birthday party in an hour and asked if he was coming, Dustin said, “Yes, I’m on my way.”

He had forgotten all about it and hadn’t purchased a gift!

Christmas Gift Giving Passing Game

Princess Diana - December 24, 2014 - Christmas, Experiences, Kids

I have four nieces and I almost always give them some sort of experience as part of their Christmas present. So I thought it would be fun to have them play a Christmas gift giving game.

I bought four presents that cost about the same price and that all of them would like no matter which one they received. I wrapped them up but didn’t put names on any of them.

Christmas gift giving game Dirty Santa White Elephant Gift Exchange

My nieces sit in a circle and prepare to pass their gifts left and right while I read them the story about the Wright family.

I gathered my nieces together, gave each one a present, and asked them to sit in a circle. I told them the rules of the game. Every time they heard the word “left” to pass their present to the left and every time they heard the words “right” or “Wright” to pass their present to the right. I told them to listen closely because the story gets awfully crazy!

Then I began to read out loud the following story. To make it even more fun, I read it quickly!

Continue Reading

Kids Will Love “The Book With No Pictures”

Princess Diana - December 22, 2014 - $20 or Less, Kids

Kids love it when adults act silly. Silly faces and sounds will get them to laugh and giggle, and there is no more beautiful sounds than children’s laughter.

The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak is a hilarious children’s book. Children won’t care that there are zero, zilch, nada pictures or illustrations in the book because they will be laughing so hard at the person reading the book to them.

That’s because the reader has to say the silliest words and sentences like…

Blork.

Bluurf.

I am a monkey who taught myself to read.

The rule of “The Book With No Pictures” is the reader has to say all of the words in the book no matter what. That’s the rule!

7 Alternatives to Store Bought Christmas Presents for Children

Princess Diana - December 20, 2014 - Christmas, Kids

Children will naturally beg for the toys, games, electronics, and clothes they see advertised and sold in stores.

But parents and family members wishing to give more creative and unique Christmas presents will enjoy selecting from these alternatives to store-bought gifts.

RECORD YOUR OWN READ ALONG STORYBOOK

Pass on your favorite childhood books and stories to the next generation by recording yourself reading one of them out loud. Give a copy of the book and your recording as a gift. This gift idea can become an annual gift giving tradition.

THE MONEY BOX

The money box makes giving and receiving cash fun. Add a festive touch by decorating the box in Christmas wrapping paper.

Record Your Own Read-Along Story Book for Children

Princess Diana - December 2, 2014 - Baby Shower, Birthday, Christmas, Kids

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUW89v7eRo&feature=youtu.be

One of my favorite books as a child was The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. After reading it, I hugged my favorite stuffed animal even harder so that it too would become Real.

The Velveteen Rabbit book and a stuffed bunny

Pick your favorite childhood story, record yourself reading it, and give the book and the recording as a gift to a child. Pair it with a matching toy or stuffed animal if you can.

When threads on it started to come loose, I grew excited because I knew I was getting it even closer to the day the nursery magic Fairy would turn it into Real.

The Velveteen Rabbit is a timeless story about the power of love and the bond that forms between a child and his favorite toy. Now that I’m an adult, I’ve realized that it’s also a story about loving someone for who they are and not how they look and about being real to yourself and to others.

I bought a copy of The Velveteen Rabbit for each my sister’s three daughters, J’menii, Jeah and Jozlyn, so I could share this amazing story with them. On the inside page of each of their books, I wrote:

Always be real to yourself and to others because God made you one-of-a-kind. Continue Reading

Super Bungee Chair | Unique Gift for Kids

Queen Darlene - November 28, 2014 - Birthday, Christmas, Kids

Looking for that unusual gift that would be perceived as cool, fun and something no one else would have? I found it. A Super Bungee Chair by Bunjo!

My nephew is 10 years old-not a baby-not a preteen-but definitely growing up. I wanted to give him something totally different and something he would enjoy year round.

I remember how my brothers loved their bean bag chairs as kids. Their unconventional chairs looked cool, and they used them to watch TV. So when I saw the bungee chair, I knew my nephew would feel the same way.

The Super Bungee Chair is designed like a soft, flexible hammock just right for gaming, watching TV, reading or just hanging out. It also has side pockets for gaming devices, TV remotes or snacks. It looks like no other chair!

Halloween Monster & Zombie Spray

Queen Darlene - October 23, 2014 - $20 or Less, Kids, Party Favors

Older kids love dressing up in scary Halloween costumes like monsters or the latest craze – zombies! But the little ones often hate scary costumes and anything to do with monsters.

I have a fun gift idea that will help younger children get rid of any scary monsters and zombies. Monster & Zombie Spray! It’s like bug spray that gets rid of bugs but this special formula gets rid of monsters and zombies instead! It also smells good and doesn’t harm the skin.

I know, Halloween is not a typical gift giving holiday. I mean purchasing the kids’ costumes and candy is a gift in itself, right?! But… this gift is just too fun not to give!

HOW TO MAKE MONSTER & ZOMBIE SPRAY

Safety LED Lights Keep Children Visible on Halloween Night

Princess Diana - October 21, 2014 - $20 or Less, Kids

httpvh://youtu.be/R1u007zk5NI

When the sun goes down and sky turns black, the real thrills and chills of Halloween begin. I love a good scare and that’s why I pay people to scare me… at haunted houses.

On the other hand, I hate a bad scare – like a car almost running over your child while trick-or-treating because his dark-colored costume made him hard to see. Halloween is supposed to be scary, but the thought of something like that happening to my child is terrifying and sends chills up my spine!

According to SafeKids.org, children on average are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year.

Let’s be realistic, kids won’t be the ones to think about their own safety on Halloween night, so it’s up to us adults to make sure they stay visible to cars as they walk up and down the neighborhood streets trick-or-treating.

Parents and family members can make sure this happens with this thoughtful gift idea for Halloween – Safety LED Lights that blink and come in different colors and shapes so kids will think it’s cool and fun to wear.

Easy Peasy Birthday Money Box

Princess Diana - October 7, 2014 - Birthday, Graduation, Kids, Money

httpvh://youtu.be/4-foPlkBl2Y

I once found out about a family member’s birthday party the day before. I freaked out at first! What should I get a teenage boy on such short notice??

The birthday money box contains a really long strand of cash.

That’s when I thought of the perfect thoughtful gift idea that anyone can create at the last-minute – a birthday money box.

Money is something every teenager wants, and the birthday money box I could easily create with items I already had at home.

The birthday money box is fun to give and receive because when the gift recipient pulls on the card that says “PULL UP,” they will be surprised with a really long strand of cash that continues to come out as they keep pulling and pulling and pulling!

HOW TO CREATE A BIRTHDAY MONEY BOX

Here are the items you will need:

cash
small empty tissue cube box with a cute design
card stock paper
pen or printer
transparent tape

Passing on Important Life Lessons & Values

Queen Darlene - September 23, 2014 - $20 or Less, Catch All, Family, Kids

httpvh://youtu.be/wdhvo8Qhc-w

Return with Honor – The Purpose of Life – To Make a Difference!

A powerful quote to live by and an important life lesson to teach children and grandchildren.

The Lillard boys – Joe, Sam and Luke are amazing kids! They are five, seven and 11 years old. Their grandfather, Dick, is the Chairman of where I work. Not only is he my boss, he and his family have become my precious friends.

This year was the first time all three boys traveled on a business trip together with grandparents and parents to Washington, D.C. to meet with Oklahoma’s congressional delegation.

We scheduled all day meetings and the boys were troopers going from building to building, meeting to meeting and sometimes waiting long periods of time. They were respectful when they met with congressional staff and the congressmen were extremely impressed! They looked so handsome in their suits!