Christmas Crafts to Do With Kids

If you like Christmas crafts there is no shortage of directions for how-to projects both on and online. On the Internet there is lots of inspiration for crafts. Do a little surfing and you will find do it yourself projects for every type of craft imaginable. Women's magazines are also full of ideas for projects you at this time of the year.
I like to keep it simple. Try baking your own shortbread cookies, decorating them with colored icing and decorative silver balls and stringing them on shiny ribbon or fish line. I let the kids cut out the shapes.
One good shortbread recipe can provide you with loads of cheap and creative looking cookie Christmas tree decorations. You can buy shapes like Christmas trees, Christmas balls, snowmen and angels as cookie cutters from a store. Even the youngest of kids can do this. Perhaps the easiest shape to make out of shortbread is the Christmas ball. Simply cut the ball shape out of the dough with the rim of a glass and lavishly decorate it with candy glitter.
You can also make your own Christmas tree garlands. This is one of those ancient crafts that can be a group activity for you and your family. Simply stringing popcorn on a string makes very attractive garlands. You can also try stringing nuts or cranberries on string as well (but make sure your kid is old enough to handle that needle. Garlands can also be made out of gold or aluminum foil that is cut up and twisted in loops that hook into each other.
It is also fun to make your own Christmas tree decorations. These types of crafts can be made from almost anything including Styrofoam, play dough, cookin' crystals and ribbons. One clever idea is to buy a box of plain glass balls and then make patterns with glue on their sides. The idea is that you then roll them in glitter to create a sparkling yet merry pattern.
If you are really ambitious you can also try making your own Christmas candles. One of the simplest ways is to buy sheets of beeswax and then roll them up to create unique one of a kind candle centerpieces. You can also melt wax in a double boiler and make your own candles. There are commercial scents such as pine and cinnamon available on the market that is specifically created for making these types of Christmas crafts smell nice. You can also buy Christmas candle molds in the shapes of popular holiday motifs such as evergreen trees, snowmen and stars.
Sitting around with your family to make Christmas crafts together, even it if it is as simple as handmade Christmas cards is a great way to strengthen your loving bonds with each other at holiday time.

High Tech Stuff For New Moms

I don't really have time to explore new gadgets and in fact I have usually found that taking the time to learn how a new gadget works can eat up my time. However there are some that are definitely useful out there on the market.
However my girlfriend bought the Portable Video and Sounds Monitor by Bebe Sounds. This is a wireless system that can be had for only about two hundred bucks. It is small, hand held and has crystal clear audio and video – the clearest I have ever seen. The image on the screen is also color which is not like the usual black and white ones found on the internet so you can really get an idea of what is going on. You can also use up to four lenses with this system so there are four channels on the monitor.
Bebe Sounds has another great invention. It is called the Remote Fever Monitor which measures the baby's body temperature at all times. You simply attach it to your baby's diaper but so that it is also against the skin and if your baby should happen to develop a fever the remote's alarm goes off. No more waiting for someone to get really sick before you discover the fever.
Easidream is another neat system. Babies that think they are still in the womb sleep better and cry less. This is a handy mom’s helper that attempts to replicate the conditions of the womb in your baby’s cot. It consists of a pneumatic system that can gently move the cot mattress, plus a sound-and-light module. The rocking motion and the teddy bear that you clip over the mattress helps keep your baby secure and calm. Of course this type of product does not really come with any type of guarantee. What works to keep one kid calm at night may not work on another.
Does your baby start yelling every time you wipe him or her down with a cold disposable wipe. The key is to warm them up so they have nothing to scream about. Everfresh makes a unit called the Ultimate Wipes Warmer which comes with something called an EverFresh system that stops bacteria from growing on them…
Do you really hate mixing in those dirty diapers with your family's washing? If so then you might want to consider buying an Avanti Mini Personal Washing Machine. This washer might be the thing for you because it allows you to be eco-friendly without having to risk tainting of the rest of your clothes with baby do do. This little washer sits on top of a table top and it also helps you get rid of the smelly diaper pail. All in all this makes life much more hygienic.