In all the talk about handmade gifts, it’s pretty clear that most of the gifts are for women and children.

If you’re planning to make gifts for Christmas, I recommend you see the ideas at Almost Frugal for handmade gifts with ribbons, embroidery, and thread. (I love this embroidered scarf.)  

My idea this week is a gift that takes only a few minutes and is easy enough for kids to help you make: Ribbon Belts.

But let’s be honest. Men don’t want ribbon belts, or anything else ribboned, embroidered, or bedazzled. Men like gear: tools and electronics in particular.

Desiree asked,
“I am really wanting to do mostly homemade gifts this year. The girls on the list are easy but I am having a hard time with ideas for guys. I would love some ideas…”

I asked Doug to help me think of handmade gifts when “crafty” isn’t a man’s style. Here is what he came up with:

Food:

• manly food like good quality beef jerkey
• peanut brittle
• chocolate chip cookies
• and oh yes, pies

Handmade soap that won’t dry his skin in the winter.

Something to keep his feet warm around the house.

One of Doug’s favorite birthday gifts ever was a time we went to the grocery store together. No matter what he put in the shopping cart, all I was allowed to say was “Mmm, looks good!” and “That will be great!” His friends came with us for fun. I know that’s not necessarily a homemade gift, but at least it wasn’t clutter, and it was something I could do for him.

Photo by sporkist

Sometimes the ideas I see for staying warm at home don’t seem to apply to me. Add insulation to the attic? Hmm. Put in efficient storm windows? I don’t think so.  

If you live in an apartment, there are still simple ways you can stay warm. It’s even more important if you live in an older building where the quaint architectural features that add the charm also bring the chill.

Let’s stay warm this winter:

1. Tape over leaky cracks along the edges of windows. (I use clear packaging tape.) Check to make sure it won’t hurt the paint, but I haven’t found it to be a problem.

2. Roll up a blanket or towel and place it under doors or windows to block drafts.

3. Put on a sweater.

4. Insulate the windows by hanging a clear vinyl shower curtain behind the drapes. We did this in one room with three exposed walls, and it really helped to stabilize the temperature.

5. Bake something.

6. Close air vents to unused spaces.

7. If you have a fireplace, make sure the damper is closed. (Speaking from experience here.)

8. Keep closet and cabinet doors closed (except for cabinets with pipes during a freeze warning).

9. Buy a programmable thermostat — you can take it with you when you move.

10. A humidifier causes the air to feel warmer.

11. Cuddle up under quilts.

12. Use a space heater, carefully.

13. Put an electric blanket on your bed.

14. Drink something hot.

15. Switch the ceiling fans to turn in reverse.

16. Cozy up with a hot water bottle.

17. Apply weather stripping to doors or windows (easy and cheap).

18. Soak in a hot bath.

19. Wear wooly socks.

20. What is your best tip to stay warm?

Photo by noahg

We’re fixing things up in our apartment this week: cleaning windows, touching up the paint, and vacuuming behind the furniture. We’ve got the windows open to bring in the fresh air before the winter cold truly sets in.  We’re trying to spruce things up before we get out the Christmas decorations.  

Waiting for the paint to dry, I found some good reading:

Keep Our Lives Simple

• Challenge: Donate 5 Things — from Simple Sapien

Nurture Our Loved Ones

• Babywearing Action! — from SortaCrunchy (I’m so glad my blogging buddy Megan is back.)
• Babywearing - it’s not just for fussy babies — from The Things You Didn’t Do (Jen’s an adventuresome mom, and her baby Nate goes along for the ride.)

Learn Practical Skills

• The chicken, the egg, and the children — from Crunchy Domestic Goddess
• Almond Biscotti — from Chez Larsson

Make Smart Money Decisions

• Manage the Family Finances by Cutting Expenses AND Increasing Income — from Simple Mom

Enjoy Peace During a Hectic Day

• Worry - The Ultimate Freeloader — from Keeper of the Home

Have a wonderful weekend!

The Sickest Who in Whoville

Taking a sick day used to sound so fun. You get to drink 7-Up, shuffle around in pajamas, and spend all day watching movies. Great, except for the part where you feel terrible.  

And once you have kids, being sick becomes a whole new reason for concern. There are no paid sick days for moms, and sick babies are pretty much the saddest thing ever. The photo is Lane with a cold on Christmas morning last year.

I’m trying to go into cold and flu season prepared this time. Here are a couple of things I’m doing to keep us healthy:

1.  A ridiculous amount of hand-washing.  Maybe 10 to 15 times a day with a bar of soap, and whenever we come home after being in public. I think hand-washing is what protected me when my coworkers refused to take sick days.  (Which reminds me… people, please take sick days.  No one wants to worry every time you cough in the next cubical or sneeze on their stapler. It’s not worth it.)

2.  Antiseptic.  When someone in our family shows the first signs of illness, I go around and disinfect the germ-prone surfaces with isopropyl rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball. I wipe the light switches, door knobs, phone, keyboard, faucets, and anything else that might have hidden germs lurking.

3.  Salt water. My granny’s remedy for sore throats is tried and true.  Dissolve a spoonful of salt into a cup of warm water and gargle with it. The salt is cleansing and helps soothe your throat. If you do it a few times when you first start feeling a sore throat, it can keep it from getting worse.

I forgot how fun it is to cut up magazines and glue with glue sticks.
 
My paper crafts project is a pop-up doll house scene for Lane. So much imagination goes into creating scenes. It’s fun to pick out pictures to include. Lane did not want to go to bed with all the paper and craft supplies everywhere.

What I love about this:

1. Making it with your child is as fun as the finished result.
2. It uses basic supplies (no special tools needed).
3. Did I mention pop-up?!

More pictures and my simple pop-up instructions are here: Craft a Pop-up Doll House Scene

Now let’s go see the wonderful things you’ve been making!

Notebooks & Gifts

Notebook by Simply Vintage Girl

Personalized Little Notebook – from Simply Vintage Girl

A Set of Botanical Prints – from A Soft Place to Land

Fabric-Covered Notebooks – from Planning With Kids

Dates to Remember Book – from Snapshots of Us

Accordion-Style Book of Days – from Life as Mom

Mini Scrapbook Albums – from Such a Time Scrapbooking

Print Art for Infants – from Frugal Front Porch

Greeting Cards

Hand-made Monogrammed Notecards – from Vintage Mommy

Holiday Cards, & Picture Block Ornament – from Kirstyn Knits

Especially for Kids

Make Your Own Wrapping Paper – from Almost Frugal

A Self-Portrait Technique for Kids – from My Many Colored Crayons

Kid-Friendly Paper Ornaments – from Domestic Cents

Stars & Ornaments

Stars by Lost Button Studio

3D Paper Stars — from Lost Button Studio

Mini Album Ornament – from Gifts by Hand

Finnish Star – from Craft Ideas

3D Paper Snowflake – from Perspicacious

For More Ideas

(A few more links I want to include.)
Envelope Books — from Martha

Handmade Story Books — from Glitter Goods

Storybook Puzzle Blocks — from Chasing Cheerios

Paper Mosaic — from Carly and the Clan

Origami Nesting Boxes — from Martha