100 Days to Christmas » Fun

Christmas Lights & Hot Cocoa

listmama — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:01:08 +0000

Notice: I had jumped ahead somehow and published yesterday’s post that was meant for today – Happy Winter Solstice! Here is the post that should have published yesterday (it’s still a good one).

After a long week of down-to-the-wire Christmas preparations and cleaning, it is time to have a holiday evening off with the family.

The Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to tell your family to get in their warm and cozy jammies. While they are doing that, fill a thermos with some hot chocolate. Pack your thermos and enough mugs for everyone and head out to the car. Then drive around to check out the Christmas lights. Sing Christmas carols, sip hot chocolate (not too hot), and enjoy the sights of the season.

Christmas Events

listmama — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 05:01:59 +0000

December has so many opportunities to stimulate the senses. One of my favorites is attending a live event such as The Nutcracker or A Christmas Carol. Another is taking part in local events such as The Candy Cane Train (train ride with Santa) or a horse and carriage ride in Freeport.

Today’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to find a Christmas happening in your town or area and make every attempt to attend. Find an event that is child-friendly and take the entire family, or find a babysitter and make it an adults-only affair.

This week’s drawing is for 3 lucky winners to win 1 of 3 of ListPlanIt‘s ePlanners: Personal ePlanner (perfect for personal goal-setting in the New Year), Planner ePlanner (lots of time management pages to get yourself organized), and Home ePlanner (for motivation to get those home projects done this winter). To enter for your chance to win. . .

1) leave a comment on this post,

2) tell your friends & followers about 100 Days to Christmas on Facebook or Twitter(so easy to do when you use the Share This button at the bottom of this post) and leave a comment here linking to your profile,

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4) blog about 100 Days to Christmas then leave a comment here linking to your post.

5) contribute as a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

One of each of these per day please. You have until December 13 at 6 pm EST to enter. wrapping done as possible. For some added fun, call some of the girls over and make it a Gift Wrap Party! Some can wrap and some can accessorize. Be sure to label each present.

1) leave a comment on this post,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email and leave a comment here,

4) blog about 100 Days to Christmas then leave a comment here linking to your post.

5) contribute as a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

One of each of these per day please. You have until December 13 at 6 pm EST to enter.

Happy Hanukkah!

listmama — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:01:50 +0000

Today, after sunset, begins the first day of the 8-day celebration of Hanukkah. It “. . .commemorates the victory of the Maccabees, a Jewish rebel army, over the Syrians in 165 B.C.E., as well as the subsequent rededication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem. Jews around the world celebrate with eight nights of merriment. Traditions include lighting the menorah, exchanging gifts and enjoying treats cooked in oil.”

The Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to embrace an opportunity to have a new cultural experience. Prepare some potato pancakes or latkes (a traditional Hanukkah food) for dinner. Serve them with applesauce on top or on the side. Your family will love them!

1) leave a comment on this post,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email and leave a comment here,

4) blog about 100 Days to Christmas then leave a comment here linking to your post.

5) contribute as a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

1) leave a comment on this post,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email and leave a comment here,

4) blog about 100 Days to Christmas then leave a comment here linking to your post.

5) contribute as a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

One of each of these per day please. You have until December 13 at 6 pm EST to enter.

Old Fashioned with a Modern Twist

listmama — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:01:19 +0000

Whether you have a tree already or will be getting one soon, popcorn strings are a traditional decoration used to add to your family’s Christmas tree.

Today’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to pop a giant bowl of popcorn. This can be cheap and easy by adding a quarter cup of popcorn kernels to a brown paper lunch bag. Fold the top of the bag over 2 or 3 times and then microwave for about 2 minutes. Keep popping until you can string enough to make a nice garland for your tree. Pop extra for your family’s movie night. Add the topping of your choice.

* See ListPlanIt‘s List of Favorite Christmas Movies for your Family Movie Night.

Dear Santa,

listmama — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:01:26 +0000

Each year, I have helped my children write a letter to Santa telling him what they would like for Christmas. Each year, I put the letters in an envelope and tell the children that I will be mailing their letters at the Post Office. Each year, I tuck away that envelope in a folder of my Christmas Planner. And each year, I get out the previous letters to Santa and read through them and marvel at how much my children have changed. I used to write my oldest daughter’s letters for her and just let her “write” on the page after I was done. Now, she writes her own letters in a very neat, 8-year-old hand. These letters have become treasures.

Today’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to help your children write letters to Santa. Not only will it help you know what to buy for Christmas, but it is a living piece of your holiday memories. Write the letters on holiday stationery to dress them up. Have your child draw a picture of Santa or of the presents they would like.

Final Advent Preparation

listmama — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:01:23 +0000

Advent calendars abound as many people find Advent a significant part of their holiday celebration. There are so many fun ways to help children and adults keep track in the countdown to Christmas.

Today’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to locate the Advent calendar of your choice and fill it with your preference of goodie. Some families use candy or chocolate, some use trinkets, and some use activities as a filler for their Advent calendar.

* Until November 30th, buy a Print or Download Membership to ListPlanit in the next few days and get a gift certificate for 1 FREE membership of the same value! Perfect for any mom, dad, grandparent, teacher, friend, or anyone else who would benefit from the gift of organization! You must visit this page in order to qualify.

Congratulations to Kyria for winning a $25 gift card to Name Bubbles!

Make a Thankful Tree

listmama — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:01:16 +0000

Family Fun Magazine had a wonderful family project that is perfect for Thanksgiving. It makes a great way to encourage family members and even guests to think about what makes them thankful.

Today’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to take a look at Family Fun’s instructions for making your own Thankful Tree. Gather the materials and then sit down with your family to discuss what makes each member thankful. Makes a lovely decoration for your Thanksgiving celebration. Have extra materials ready for guest to add their own leaves of thankfulness to your tree.

Today is the last day to enter to win a Christmas CD. Here is a list of CDs I would like for this year.

1. What A Night! A Christmas Album by Harry Connick, Jr.(2008)
2. Noel by Josh Groban (2007)
3. A Swingin’ Christmas by Tony Bennett (2008)
4. The Christmas Collection by Amy Grant (2008)
5. White Christmas by Matt Belsante (2008)
6. Let It Snow by Michael Buble (2007)
7. And Winter Came by Enya (2008)
8. A Winter Symphony by Sarah Brightman (2008)
9. Songs of Joy & Peace by Cristina Pato, Nilson Matta, Robert Leslie III Hurst, Matt Brubeck, and Yo-Yo Ma (2008)
10. The Hotel Cafe Presents…Winter Songs by Various Artists (2008)

Could you use some new Christmas music, too? Enter to win YOUR CHOICE of one of the above Christmas CDs! You have several ways to enter:

1) leave a comment on this post,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email and leave a comment here,

4) blog about 100 Days to Christmas then leave a comment here linking to your post.

5) contribute as a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

One of each of these per day please. You have until November 22 at 6 pm EST to enter.

The Family that Plays Together. . .

listmama — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:01:15 +0000

Many families have a regular game night. This might be a specific night that they meet together to play, or it may be whatever night is most convenient and fits into their schedules. Fall is a good time to begin or renew a tradition of family game night because the days are getting shorter, the evenings cooler, and kids and parents are busy all day and need a chance to reconnect.

The Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to play a new game. Even the youngest child can have fun playing Memory or Go Fish. Everyone loves a good game of charades (think Halloween). Break out the board games that you haven’t seen in a while. Here’s a game that is perfect for October and for parents and kids alike as long as there are no more than 6 players: Spider.

To play Spider, each person needs a sheet of paper, a crayon or pencil, and 1 die (dice). Each person chooses a number from 1 to 6. The youngest person then rolls the die. If she rolls her number, then she gets to draw a circle for the body of the spider. Then the die is passed to the next person. Once each person has drawn a circle, then you start to draw the legs (8 total). If you want the game to continue, then you can then add a face. The first person who completes their Spider is the winner!

This week’s giveaway is for an assortment of eco-friendly giftsacks in a festive Christmas pattern from Wrapsacks™. Included are 4 reusable Gift Bags in at least 3 fabric designs: 1 mini, 1 small, 1 medium & 1 large. Once again, you have several ways to enter to win:

1) leave a comment on this post,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email and leave a comment here,

4) blog about 100 Days to Christmas then leave a comment here linking to your post.

5) contribute as a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

One of each of these per day please. You have until November 1 at 6 pm EST to enter.

Celebrate the Imagination

listmama — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:01:16 +0000

Even though there are still 6 days until Halloween, many parties and events will be happening today since it is the weekend before the holiday.

Today’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to enjoy the party that you may be either hosting or have been invited to. If your children are a little older, take the family out to a local event. Make the most of this fun holiday that truly promotes the exercise of imagination.

One of the symbols of the great state that I am proud to call home (Maine) is none other than L.L. Bean. Not only is their merchandise top quality, but they have a guarantee that is unequaled. And their customer service is excellent! This week’s giveaway is for a $50 gift card from L.L. Bean – perfect for holiday gift-buying. Once again, you have several ways to enter to win:

1) leave a comment on this post,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email and leave a comment here,

4) blog about 100 Days to Christmas then leave a comment here linking to your post.

5) contribute as a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

One of each of these per day please. You have until October 25 at 6 pm EST to enter.

I Believe in the Great Pumpkin!

listmama — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:01:31 +0000

What would Halloween be without the Great Pumpkin? The answer is unfathomable. For many people, it was a part of childhood memories of fall and now it can mean just as much to your children during the month of October.

The Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to get your hands on a copy of “It the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!” for your Friday Family Flick. Check to see if it airs on TV tonight, check it out at your library, look around on line for a way to instantly download it. It doesn’t last very long, but you’ll embark on a trip down memory lane as you watch it again.

Check out ListPlanIt‘s List of Great Lines from “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!”

1) leave a comment on this post,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email and leave a comment here,

4) blog about 100 Days to Christmas then leave a comment here linking to your post.

5) contribute as a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

One of each of these per day please. You have until October 25 at 6 pm EST to enter.