Index

AAA discounts, 83

activation fee, gift card, 84

Adagio Teas, 180

adopt needy family, 221

adults, gift ideas for, 176

adults, questions for, 130

airplane enthusiast, 180

Alfred S. Burt, 199

all-cash Christmas, 27

amarylis, 186

American Association of Fundraising Counsel, 65

American Institute of Philanthropy, 67

amnesia, selective, 17

antique store, 72

appliance box, 173

area, gift-wrapping, 189

art supply stores, 71

attitude, 24

balance beam, homemade, 173

balloons, to mark end of school for holidays, 222

bank, piggy, with starter money, 173

bargain finders, 80

baseball, sports enthusiast, 179

basket filling, paper shreds, 191

baskets, gift, 152

beauty makeover, 175, 176

Berenstain Bears Meet Santa Bear, The, 162

Best Christmas Pageant Ever, The, 162

Best Christmas Present of All, The, 161

best deal, get the, 74

Better Business Bureau, 67

Big Brothers, 68

Big Sisters, 68

birthday cake, 210

board games, 221

body powder, perfumed, 182

book on CD, 178

book-of-the-month gift, 173

books, 24, 76

for children, 160

books on CD, 173

boot print, Santa’s, 206

boundaries, for kids, 158

boutique, Christmas, 19

bows, wrinkled, 192

breakfast in bed, 177

brown paper (kraft), 190

Bubble Bath, in a jar, 128

Buche de Noel, 223

buffet, 216

business of Christmas, 25

candlelight dinner, 221

candles, 205

Candy Cane Bath Salts, in a jar, 126

card as gift, 62

cards, 192

caroling, 222

cash spending, 34

cash-saving ideas, 41

centerpiece, fruit, 209

centerpiece, wreath, 209

chains, construction paper, 209

charitable giving, 65

charities, beware of, 66

Charlie Brown Christmas, A, 163

Chelsea Premium Outlets, 83

children, older, questions for, 131

children, young, questions for 132

Chinese takeout container, 93

Christmas books for children, 160

Christmas Carol, A, 25, 163

Christmas Child, The, 162

Christmas Club, 40

Christmas in a box, 152

Christmas lights, 159

Christmas Miracle, The, 162

Christmas pageant, 222

Christmas party, family 54

Christmas pictures, 206

Christmas tree, 200

facts, 201

keep fresh, 200

types of, 201

Christmases past, 20

clothes, 77

coffee can container, 191

coffee mugs, personalize, 185

coffee party, 214

collections, 48

college students, gifts for 176

color themed basket, 177

combine holidays, 47

compassion, gift of, 62

consumable gifts, 158

consumerism, 228

cookbook, family, 148

cookie jar, filled, 94

cookie-of-the-month gift, 94

cookies, Christmas to neighbors, 222

cooking enthusiast, 181

coupon books, 158, 174

coupons, 40, 83

courage, 54

craft, Christmas, 158

craft market, 48

crafts, 79

cranberry garland, 209

create your own “debit card,” 74

creating gift, 56

currency in case of emergency, 175

damaged freight outlet, 72

day after Christmas, 222

debit card, create your own, 74

delivery fee, 84

desiccants for drying plant material, 143

Dickens, Charles, 25

dilemmas, gift-giving, 53

dinner, progressive, 213

dinner-a-month, 176

doctor, nurse play kit, 171

dog’s house, 207

doll enthusiast, 180

door, bedroom, 207

doormat decor, 207

drawing wish list, 56

drawings, kids’ 191

dressing the house, 205

dress-up play kit, 170

drying plant material, 142

eBay primer, 81

Eight Nights of Hanukkah, 162

electronics, 77

emotions, 25

English ivy, 186

entertaining, holiday, 213

entertainment play kit, 172

enthusiasts, specific gifts for, 179

envelope system, 34

envelopes, 159

Epson, 148

evenly paced holiday season, 158

event tickets, 174

expectations, realistic, 158

extreme holiday spending, 51

family Christmas letter, 150

family cookbook, 148

family gift, 146

family heritage, 159

family movies, 178

family party, 54

family recipes, 93

family time, 157

Feast of Epiphany, 223

fee, delivery, 84

fee, restocking, 89

feelings and actions, 28

fees, up-front, 84

felt, 191

first Christmas together ornament, 183

flea markets, 48

food gift, personalize, 94

framed pictures, gift wrapped, 207

fraud, return, 88

frequent-shopper programs, 83

Friendship Tea, 104

front door, 199

Frost, Robert, 228

fruit, frosted, 207

fruit centerpiece, 209

game enthusiast, 179

garden center, 72

garden harvest, preserving, 135

garlands, 209

gift, creating, 56

gift, family, 146

gift, monetary, 65

gift baskets, 152

artist’s basket, 153

bath basket, 152

bookworm basket, 152

breakfast in a basket, 153

coffee lover’s basket, 153

family fun night basket, 152

gardener’s basket, 153

gift wrap basket, 152

gourmet’s basket, 153

letter writer’s basket, 152

mother of a preschooler basket, 153

party of two basket, 152

pizza basket, 153

gift card, 40, 84, 85

activation fee, 84

dollar store, 185

laws, 86

losing value, 84

numerical rating, 86

rules for giving, 87

rules for receiving, 87

store, 84

gift certificate, 84

gift exchange, 56

office, 57

gift tag, oversized, 191

gift tree, 204

gift wrap, cost of, 189

gift-giving dilemmas, 53

gift-giving, 60

gift-giving, alternative, 68

gifts, consumable, 158

gifts, generic, 214

gifts for kids, 173

gift-wrapping area, 189

gilded fruits, vegetables, 207

giving, charitable, 65

giving food, hints for, 93

Giving USA, 65

glory days lampshade, 184

grandchildren, perpetual picture, 164

grinch, 227

grocery bags, 191

grocery store play kit, 170

guest favors, 214

gumdrop wreath, 207

handyman play kit, 171

hanging plants to dry, 143

hardware stores, 72

health food store, 72

heritage, family’s, 159

Hewlett Packard, 148

hoilday candy, decoration, 207

holiday flowers, 186

holiday lights, 223

holiday season, evenly paced, 158

holiday shelf, 106

holiday spending, extreme, 51

holiday spending plan, 33

holiday value, measuring, 157

holidays, combine, 47

home-improvement centers, 72

homekeeping play kit, 172

homemade Christmas, 166

homemade gift, 62

Horton Hears a Who, 228

house dressing, 205

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, 163, 211, 228

Hunches in Bunches, 228

Hundred Dollar Holiday, 52

“I wants” of Christmas, 153

ice ring, 215

irregulars, 83

jar gift, 108

jewelry, 78

jigsaw puzzle, 164

jigsaw puzzle, giant, 222

jingle bells, 207

joint party, 214

Journal in a Jar, 128

joy, authentic, 228

kids, four things really want for Christmas, 157

kids’ gifts, 173

kitchen pay kit, 170

Kitchen Potpourri, in a jar, 127

laws, gift cards, 86

lights, Christmas, 159

Little House on the Prairie, 58

Littlest Angel, 163

Littlest Christmas Tree, The, 162

lotion, make your own, 183

luminaries, 205, 220

lunch bags, 191

magazine ads, gift wrap, 191

mall alternatives, 71

Mall of America gift card, 84

mantel, 200

marine supply store, 72

Mary and Joseph, hiding 211

Max’s Christmas, 163

McKibben, Bill, author, 52

memory box, 177

memory jar, 184

memory quilt, 182

merchandise, general, 75

merchandise, out-of-season, 83

Merry Christmas Mom and Dad, 162

messengers, gifts as, 61

Messiah, Handel’s, 223

Microsoft, 148

microwave, to dry plants, 143

military surplus outlet, 72

mistletoe, 207

money origami, 86

moonlighting, 40

Morris’ Disappearing Bag, 163

movie date, 178

museum enthusiast, 180

names, drawing, 57

National Christmas Tree Association, The, 200

National Park Service, 179

National Retail Federation, 51

nature enthusiast, 179

neighborhood tale of fiction, 224

New Year’s Eve, 223

New York Times Large Print Weekly, 179

newspaper comics for wrapping, 190

Night Before Christmas, The, 163

night on the town, 175

night-light gift, 182

no-debt commitment, 38

non-cash items, donate, 66

nonedible gifts, in a jar, 123

non-gift giving, 55

note, handwritten, 65

Nutcracker, 163

office gift exchange, 57

office supply stores, 71

OfficeMax, 150

old toys, reuse, 48

online shopping 72

safety, 181

debit cards, 73

zero-balance credit card, 73

hidden costs, 73

return policy, 73

order, tracking, 75

order early, 75

origami, 86

ornament swap, 222

ornaments, clay, 202

ornaments, tree, 174

ornaments to exchange, 197

Other Wise Man, The, 161

outdoor decor, 210

outlet shopping, 81–82

out-of-season merchandise, 83

overdoing, 228

overindulgence, 228

packing material, 194

pageant, Christmas, 222

paid-in-full Christmas, 38

Pantry Game, The, 42

pantry survival, 39

paper, butcher, 190

paper shredder for basket filling, 191

paperwhites, 186

parade, Christmas 220

parent tribute, 183

party

after holidays, 214

family, 54

gift wrapping, 224

storytelling, 224

tree-trimming, 219

past events, record for future, 220

Payments News, 85

Peef: The Christmas Bear, 161

perfectionism, 46

Pet Tornado, 180

philanthropy enthusiast, 180

philatelic enthusiast, 180

photo album, family, 186

photo albums, grandparents, 179

photos, vintage, 185

pie plates, foil, 210

piggy bank with starter money, 173

pillows, 184

Pin the Red Nose on Rudolph game, 223

pinecones, 207

place cards, 215

place mats, 215, 220

plan, Christmas, 31

plant material, drying, 142

platters, garnish 216

play dough, in a jar, 126

play dough, make your own, 173

play kits, custom, 169

poem, favorite as a gift, 185

poinsettias, 186, 206

Polar Express, The, 162

pomander balls, 209

popcorn garland, 209

postcards, 193

pouches, velvet for gifts, 190

predict and prepare, 17

pressing flowers, 143

procrastination, 45

progressive dinner, 213

Pussycat’s Christmas, A, 162

puzzle, jigsaw, 164

puzzles for preschoolers, 174

quarters, in a jar, 185

questionnaire, 57

questions for adults, 130

questions for older children, 131

questions for young children, 132

raise cash quick, 39

ration for name drawing, 57

rebates, 40

recardulation, 30

records, charitable giving, 66

Red Cross, 68

Red Ranger Came Calling, 163

reforestation project, 68

refrigerator, organize for holidays, 216

refunds, 40

reliable family traditions, 159

restaurant play kit, 170

restaurant supply store 72

restocking fees, 89

return fraud, 88

return policies, 88

return policies, merchant, 88

ribbon alternatives, 193

river rock, 187

road maps, gift wrap, 191

Room for a Little One, 161

rooms, children’s, decorate, 206

rules, retailers’, 84

Salt Scrub, in a jar, 128

San Francisco Exploratorium, 180

sand art, layered to look like, 109

Santa, letters to, 224

Santa, Secret, 57

Santa boot prints, 206

Santa sack, 190

Santa, 221

sap seal, 200

savory treats, 120

scarf, 191

Scrooge, Ebenezer, 25

sealing wax tags, 193

seashell gifts, 182

secondhand bookstores, 178

Secret Santa, 57

senior citizens, gifts for, 178

Sewing Kit, in a jar, 124

shipping, 194

shoes, 75

shopping, outlet, 81

silica gel, reusing, 144

SilverJewelryClub.com, 78

space enthusiast, 179

spending plan, holiday, 33

Spanish moss, 207

sparkle tree, 202

spray paint, 191

Spring, in a jar, 123

staircase, 200

stamp collector kit, 174

stamps, rubber make your own, 193

Starbucks, 86

store credit, 84

Story of Holly and Ivy, The, 161

storytelling party, 224

Supermarket Sweep, 156

swap toys, 158

table, decorating, 415

table, dining, 199

tags, 192

tags, color coded, 190

Tale of Three Trees, The, 161

tax withholding, adjust, 41

tea enthusiast, 180

teenagers, gifts for 175

ten-minute rescue, 214

Thanksmas, 154

thrift shops, 47

tiles, personalized, 183

tinsel garland, 206

tipping, 63–65

Top Hits List, 165

Tower Group, 85

Toys for Tots, 57

toys, swap, 158

tradition, start a new one, 220

traditions, list of best, 159

traditions, new family, 164

traditions, reliable family, 159

trash bags, 165, 191

Treasure Box, 187

treats, homemade, 65

tree

check freshness, 200

Christmas, 200

Christmas, facts, 201

decorate with food for animals, 165

gift, 204

living, 201

tree stand, 201

trims, 192

Twister Enterprises, 180

Unplug the Christmas Machine, 157

up-front fees, 84

vacations, shop on, 48

volunteer, as family, 221

watering can, 176

We’ll Dress the House, 199

weather enthusiast, 180

what you do best, as gift, 62

Wilder, Laura Ingalls, 58

wildflower carpet, 184

wildflower seed mix, 184

windows, for holiday canvas, 220

wisdom, exercise some, 67

wish lists, drawing, 56

wrapping paper, print from computer, 191

wrapping paper tubes, 194

wrapping party, 224

wreath, gumdrop, 207

wreath, holiday, 207

wreath centerpiece, 209

X-ACTO knife to cut shapes, 190

yarnicide, 79

your life history, recipe for, 129

Yule log, 223

Recipes Index

Almond Coffee Creamer, 103

Almond Crunch, 98

Bavarian Mint Coffee Mix, 104

Bread and Butter Pickles, 142

Butterscotch Brownies, in a jar, 118

Cajun Spices, in a jar, 120

Cappuccino Mix, 104

Cereal Crunch, 94

Chai Tea Mix, 104

Chocolate Chip Cookies, in a jar, 110

Chocolate-Covered Pretzels, 97

Chocolate-Covered Raisin Cookies, in a jar, 114

Christmas Crunch, 96

Christmas Walnut Toffee, 96

Cinnamon Pancakes, in a jar, 119

Corn Bread, in a jar, 121

Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti, in a jar, 117

Dreamsicle Cookies, in a jar, 116

Dried Tomatoes, 137

Easiest Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies, in a jar, 111

Easy Candy Cane Fudge, 98

Freezer Berry Jam, 140

Freezer Strawberry Jam, 140

Friendship Tea, 104

Grilling Spices, in a jar, 120

Hawaiian Cookies, in a jar, 114

Hearty Friendship Soup, in a jar, 122

Holiday Fudge, 99

Holiday Spiced Nuts, 100

Lemon Sugar, 102

M&M Cookies, in a jar, 116

Mocha Mix, 105

Oatmeal Raisin Spice Cookies, in a jar, 112

Orange Slice Cookies, in a jar, 113

Peppermint Bark, 102

Raisin Crunch Cookies, in a jar, 115

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies, in a jar, 112

Refrigerator Pickles, 141

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds, 137

Salsa, 136

Sand Art Brownies, in a jar, 118

Santa Claus Cookies, 95

Slow Cooker Chex Mix, 101

Slow Cooker Sugared Nuts, 100

Southwestern Fiesta Dip Mix, in a jar, 122

SueSue’s Chocolate Pecans, 97

Sun-dried Tomatoes, 137

Sweet Pepper Onion Relish, 138

Trail Mix Cookies, in a jar, 110

Vanilla Sugar, 102

Zucchini Relish, 136