November 30, 2011

Final Advent Preparation

25 daysAdvent 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.

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

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell us about your plans for Advent.

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November 29, 2011

Christmas Cookie & Candy Planning

26 daysFor many people, homemade cookies and candy are as much a part of Christmas as the tree or stockings. For many others, holiday cookies are always the goal, but never thought of until it is too late. Whether baking for a fun family activity, for cookies to give to Santa or for the annual Cookie Exchange you participate in every year, cookies are a fun and delicious way to celebrate the holidays.

Countdown to ChristmasToday’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to search through your cookie recipes to find the cookies you’d like to make this holiday season. Have a favorite from your childhood? Search it out. Make it a new old tradition. Once you’ve found the recipes, use a Holiday Cookie/Candy Planner* and add the ingredients to your current shopping list (or create a shopping list just for cookies and candy). Start baking now and freeze them for the holidays, or plot any cookie baking on the calendars in your holiday planner.

* Available as a download in the 100 Days to Christmas 2011 eBook.  Members to ListPlanIt.com can print or download a Holiday Cookie/Candy Planner in Holidays & Occasions for your return addresses.

See ListPlanIt’s Christmas Cookie Board on Pinterest.

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November 20, 2011

Make a Thankful Tree

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

Countdown to ChristmasToday’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to take a look at Family Fun Magazine’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. It makes a lovely decoration for your Thanksgiving celebration. Have extra materials ready for guests to add their own leaves of thankfulness to your tree.

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October 30, 2011

Celebrate the Imagination

56 daysMany parties and events will be happening today since it is the weekend before the holiday. Whether you are attending a costume party at a local church or a “haunted” house hosted in the city, Halloween is a time for fun.

Countdown to ChristmasToday’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to enjoy the party that you are either hosting or have been invited to attend. 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.

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and share your Halloween plan for fun.

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October 28, 2011

A Family That Plays Together. . .

58 daysMany families have a regular game night. This might be a specific night that you meet together to play, or it may be whatever night is most convenient and fits into your 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.

Countdown to ChristmasThe 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. If you are looking for a game that is perfect for October and for parents and kids alike (as long as there are no more than six players), you should play Spider.

To play Spider, each person needs a sheet of paper, a crayon or pencil, and one 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!

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell us about your family’s favorite games.

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October 27, 2011

Quoth the Raven “Nevermore!”

59 daysEdgar Allen Poe is one of America’s most respected poets for scary tales. If your children or grandchildren are old enough, read aloud one of his stories today.

Countdown to ChristmasThe Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to visit your local library and check out a Halloween book or video. Gather your own Halloween craft books, picture books, and maybe even start a good thriller!

What are your Halloween favorites? Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and let us know.

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October 23, 2011

Pick Your Pumpkin

62 daysThere are so many uses for a good pumpkin! They make wonderful pies and baked treats, decorations for your home and porch, soup tureens and bowls, and of course, Jack-O-Lanterns.

Countdown to ChristmasToday’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to visit your local farm stand or grocery store for the perfect carving pumpkin. Then, spread out some newspaper on the floor of the kitchen, over the kitchen table, or even on the lawn. Grab the appropriate utensils for carving such as a large, sharp knife for the top of the pumpkin, knives with smaller blades for the detail work, and a large spoon to help you scoop out the “guts”. Create a traditional design such as a face or search the internet for a more unique pattern or design. Do not forget to remove the seeds for the extra bonus of yummy Spiced Pumpkin Seeds.

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell us your favorite uses for pumpkins. Submit a photo of your best jack-o-lantern.

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October 21, 2011

I Believe in the Great Pumpkin!

65 daysWhat 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.

Countdown to ChristmasThe Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to get your hands on a copy of “It’s 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, or look around on-line for a way to instantly download it. It isn’t a very long film and you’ll embark on a trip down memory lane as you watch it again.

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell about your favorite fall/Halloween movies!

ListPlanIt.comThis week’s giveaway is one that is unlike any other we’ve ever done.  It is not a giveaway to the fans and followers of 100 Days to Christmas, but to a worthy organization, designated by fans and followers.  ListPlanIt.com wants to give $.25 for every comment that is left between today and Friday, October 21 at 6 p.m.

You have several ways to vote for your choice of charitable organizations:

1) leave a comment here and tell us which organization you think is most deserving of this award and why,

2) tell your friends & followers on Twitter about how they can vote for an organization of their choice and increase the size of the donation when you tweet, “Visit http://100DaystoChristmas.com to learn how you can vote to support your favorite charity this holiday season with @ListPlanIt!”,

3) blog about your favorite charitable organization and encourage your readers to vote at 100 Days to Christmas, then leave a comment here linking to your post.

4) follow our page on Facebook and tell our entire community that you are going to participate in this week’s giveaway by leaving the following message on our Facebook wall, “I support {your charitable organization} because {your reason}.  Visit http://100DaystoChristmas.com to learn how you can vote to support your favorite charity this holiday season!”

One of each of these per day please. You have until Friday, October 21 at 6 pm EST to enter.

100 days to christmas

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October 16, 2011

Take a Hike!

70 daysDepending on where you live, the leaves are either sporting their lovely colors or are beginning to turn from green to red, yellow, or orange, and then to brown. The air is turning crisp and we are spending more time outdoors wrapped in cozy sweaters.

Countdown to ChristmasThe Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to find a place to enjoy the fall outdoors. Go on a leaf hunt and collect the brightest leaves. Take them home and lay them down one at a time between two sheets of wax paper. Iron them on a low setting for about 30 seconds. Send them to friends in the mail or put them on display in your home to preserve the fall color throughout the year!

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell about your fall hike!

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October 9, 2011

Be a Leaf Peeper

77 daysHere in the Northeast, Columbus Day weekend is the peak for fall foliage. We have a steady stream of leaf peepers all weekend long. If you are lucky enough to live in or vacation in a place where reds, oranges, and yellows light up the trees, don’t miss the opportunity to be a leaf peeper while you can!

Countdown to ChristmasToday’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to take a fall foliage foray either in the car or by foot. Don’t put it off because you’ll find yourself waiting until it is past peak and all that is left are leaves to rake in the yard.

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