Category "Kids"

Teddy Bears for Kids Involved in Domestic Violence

- - $20 or Less, Catch All, Kids

My BFF, Linda, decided to donate a big box of her never-been-used teddy bears she used to have displayed in her office. Yes, she was a collector. She did not start out that way but through the years friends and family started giving her bears for birthdays, Christmases and celebrations.

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These teddy bears will be used by law enforcement to comfort children involved in domestic violence so they’ll have a best friend to hug and to hold.

Linda enjoyed her stuffed animals but thought of a much better use for them.  Children who could use their own BFF –  best friend forever.

That’s where my husband, Randy, comes into this story. He volunteers as a deputy for the Logan County Sheriff’s Office. He gives his time to assist fellow officers patrol the 750 square miles here in Logan County, and he loves it! Continue Reading

Fun Back to School Gift Ideas

- - Catch All, Kids

It’s Back to School time! Can you believe it that summer is coming to an end and some schools have already started? Me neither!

I have a few fun and must have gift ideas for starting the new school year.

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Write sweet message and place it into your child’s lunch box for them to find.

Whether your student is going to school for the first time or in their last year of elementary school, bringing lunch in a cool lunch box is often preferred. There are lunch boxes for every personality and style.

The best part of opening a cool lunch box is to see a Post-It note message from a parent that say things like: “You Rock!”, “Have a Happy Day!”, “You are my favorite 1st/2nd/ 3rd, grader!”,  “I’m proud of you!”, “You’re Awesome!”, “You make me smile!”, “You’re one smart cookie!” and “I Love You!”

The messages are endless. A simple note letting your child know how important they are and that you’re thinking of them will certainly make their day. Continue Reading

The Big 1-0 | Happy 10th Birthday Gift

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Growing up, I could not wait to turn 10 years old and thought it would never get here soon enough. I was so excited to have a two digit number, the big 1-0 for my Happy 10th Birthday! It was a big deal to turn 10. Even the word “ten” sounded so much older!

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My nephew, Carson, was also excited about turning the big 1-0 this year so my sister-in-law, Lesa, and I brainstormed about giving him 10 different experiences for his Happy 10th Birthday gift.

We purchased gift cards or certificates to local arcades for mini-golf, laser tag, bowling, kayaking, zip line, and a gift card to McDonald’s. We placed all of the gift cards and gift certificates in a new wallet and placed a $10 bill inside.

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Surprise Someone By Hiding Gifts Inside a Balloon

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Presentation! Presentation! Presentation! We are always trying to find new ways to be creative in gift giving, right? Here is one that is easy, inexpensive, colorful and makes a noise that goes POP! Gifts inside a balloon!

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Hiding an engagement ring inside a balloon is a creative way to “pop the question!”

In a previous post, I talked about a unique wedding proposal idea. Get a decorative box that has an attached lid that will perfectly fit a blown up balloon. Write or type a note that says “POP ME” and attach it by using a stick pin to the inside of the lid.

She can use the pin to pop the balloon. Place the engagement ring inside a blown up balloon, put it inside the box and close the lid. When she opens the box, pops the balloon and sees her beautiful engagement ring, that’s when you get on bended knee to “pop the question.”

Gift cards have become a common way to give a gift. Usually it is placed in a card, an envelope or a gift bag. BOOOORING!

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The Gift of an Incredible Childhood Memory

- - Experiences, Kids

When I was 12 years old, Herman’s Hermits were coming to Oklahoma City on tour. “Mrs. Brown you’ve got a lovely daughter” was my favorite Herman’s Hermits song. If no one was around, I always sang the song as if it were about me so I changed the lyrics by adding my mother’s name – “Mrs. Cathey you’ve got a lovely daughter.” LOL! I don’t believe I’ve ever told anyone that.

Oh, how I desperately wanted to go but it Herman's-Hermits-childhood-memory-gift-idea-sunburst-giftswas a “want” and not a “need” so I didn’t think to ask my parents. Besides none of my girlfriends could go. We were too young for a boy band concert!

My mother and her favorite cousin, Bob, were very close and loved each other very much. Both of their parents were deaf so Bob was one of the few family members who knew sign language and could communicate with my mother. She always thought of Bob as her younger brother.

Bob and his wife, Ann, have four children. When we would visit, my younger brothers would play with their younger children and I was entertained by their oldest daughter, Beverly. I looked up to Bev and loved spending time with her. She was a few years older, so grown up and incredibly smart!

My mother and Bob worked together at NuWay laundry in Oklahoma City, and he asked her if I would be interested in seeing Herman’s Hermits. He had a ticket for me and would pick me up to spend the night with his daughter, Bev, and her girlfriends. I couldn’t believe it! What a gift! Not only was I going to see Herman’s Hermits, I was going with girls who were older than me and already teenagers! Continue Reading

The Gift of a Second Language

My native language is Tagalog because I grew up in the Philippine Islands until the age of seven. That’s when my siblings and I moved to the United States and started our new life with our adopted parents in Enid, Oklahoma. I started going to school and as I spoke English more and more, I spoke Tagalog less and less. Then one day I forgot the entire language.

Spanish children's booksI feel really sad about the whole thing. Not only did I lose part of my heritage, I’m a believer that as global citizens we should all speak a second language.

Yes, I took French in high school and college. Je m’appelle Diana. Comment allez-vous? Je vais bien, merci!

But no, the language did not stick. I can hardly remember much at all. (What I wrote in French just now, I had to Google!) It’s much harder to learn a second language as an adult, and it didn’t help I never traveled to France where I could put it to use.

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What NOT To Do – Easter Birthday Party Gift Favor

- - Kids, Party Favors

My brother-in-law Kyle is 20 years younger than my husband Randy. Kyle was a late-in-life baby and born before Randy and I got married. When Randy found out he excitedly asked his best friend Curtis, “Guess whose pregnant?” Curtis thought Randy was talking about me and when Randy realized this he  said, “Oh no…it’s not Darlene. It’s my Mom!”

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Darlene & brothers holding live baby Easter chicks in 1960.

At the time we had been dating for almost four years when I asked Randy, “What did you expect him to think?” We have laughed many times over it. With all of that said, Kyle became my “practice kid.” I helped with the fun part of raising a child, the parties, games, gifts and party favors – the gift you give away to your guests when they leave your birthday party.

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Easter Bunny Footprints & Baskets

- - Experiences, Kids

Easter baskets have come a long way from what my brothers and I used to get. Ours would have stuffed animals, such as a small bunny, duck or yellow chicks, and chocolate candy. When my children were young, they also received stuffed animals but they were parrots, dogs and one time a seven foot snake. What can I say? They thought the Easter Bunny was awesome!Bunny-footprints-gift-idea-sunburst-gifts

As they got older, their Easter Baskets contained video games, basketballs, t-shirts of their favorite sports teams, and of course the traditional chocolate candy.

One Easter morning when my boys were little, I woke them up by saying, “Hurry! Get up and come see the Easter Bunny! I saw him leaving your baskets!”

By the time they got to the baskets at the front door, the Easter Bunny was gone but we knew he had been there because we saw his footprints going down the sidewalk.

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Nighttime Easter Egg Hunt With Flashlights

- - Experiences, Family, Kids

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I grew up in the 50s and 60s with the traditional Easter egg hunts at our church or in the backyard. My mother would hide the real eggs that my two brothers and I had decorated. (At the time, there was no such thing as the plastic eggs with treats.) We loved to hunt for Easter eggs and could do so for hours!

Nighttime Easter Egg HuntIf the weather did not cooperate, we would hide the eggs in the house. Mother always made us count the eggs to be sure we had them all. I remember not being able to find one egg for about a week. We eventually realized it had fallen behind my bedroom dresser. I can still remember that hold-your nose-awful-smell of that rotten egg! PHEW!

I followed the same tradition of Easter egg hunts with my children. I’d hide real and plastic eggs throughout the backyard and inside the house and my children never tired of  searching for them.

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