Who Said Nothing in Life is Free?

Every year Christmas comes around and brings with it the same challenging question: what to
get the kids? Sometimes your kids might have big ideas of their own, like a new bike or a fancy laptop with the capabilities to send someone to Mars (or pretty close anyway).

Whether or not they have already given you any ideas, you might be wondering what you can
give them to get their creative juices flowing. Instead of deciding on a simple material object this Christmas, try to get one of these gifts to inspire your little one’s artistic and intellectual side. Who knows, you might end up with the next Picasso!

1. Art Set

Art sets come in many shapes, sizes, and mediums. You can go with a painting set complete with brushes and paints, a canvas, and an easel. Or, you can opt for the drawer’s paradise package with all the types of colored pencils, markers, and pastels you could ever imagine.

Regardless of your choice, this Christmas gift is sure to be one your little one will cherish for a long time. Art might become their treasured hobby or future career. Even if they do not find a deep passion for art, they will definitely enjoy creating little masterpieces from time to time and will be prepared when school projects call for twenty different colored writing utensils.

2. Jewelry Maker

Many arts and crafts packages are advertised on television, but make your own jewelry kits are special. Your child will get to experiment with both their creativity and their style. They can choose from a crazy number of beads and string to construct the perfect bracelet or necklace that they will wear on their first day of school or to their best friend’s birthday party.

Along with creating the jewelry, they will have to use their math skills to measure out how long a piece must be to properly fit their wrist or yours, since they might decide to make you a beautiful Christmas gift for next year.

3. Musical Instrument

Some kids thrive on visual art while others live for music. If your child must have the radio on 24/7 or is constantly sharing their own renditions of made up songs, then getting them a musical instrument is a perfect idea.

Learning a new instrument will teach your child many new skills. They will learn how to read music, count a beat, and match pitch. While developing these skills, your child will also get to explore music, possibly for the first time, on their own creative terms. Within a year’s time, they might be writing their own songs or have started a band. Whether you are looking to get your child a musiciansfriend.com snare drum or a clarinet from your local music store, an instrument is a gift that will bring your child a great amount of creative happiness.

4. A Cookbook

Cooking may not be the first creative activity that comes to your mind, but it is one that will surely benefit your child’s life from Christmas on out. Food is an important and often highly valued part of living, and knowing how to cook scrumptious food will make your little one extremely proud of themselves.

A cookbook is a great place to start your child on the journey to learning the ways of the kitchen. Depending on their age you can start slow with easy recipes you can cook along with them. This will allow you to help them expand their knowledge on food and give them the floor to be a part of what they eat. An extra set of hands in the kitchen may also make dinnertime run more smoothly.

Making a Choice

There are a ton of Christmas gift options that can encourage your child to work their creative side. If you are having a difficult time deciding which route to take, do some investigating.

Pay attention to which subjects your child likes in school the most, or subtly mention a friend of theirs who also draws or plays the oboe and gauge their reaction. One is sure to stick out from the rest, and your child’s eyes are sure to light up on Christmas morning when they open their new path to creative freedom.

As many of you may remember, my daughter had a lot of medical issues growing up and did long stays at Florida Hospital for Children. They have a cool event coming up and I wanted to share it with you….

The Raminator, the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® record holder for the Fastest Speed for a Monster Truck, hitting a record speed of 99.10 mph will make a special stop at Florida Hospital for Children, which will soon be AdventHealth for Children. Patients and families will be able to get an up close and personal look at the monster truck and meet its owners and operators, the Hall Brothers Racing Team. The Hall Brothers will be onsite to greet guests, sign autographs and pass out mini monster trucks.

WHEN: Thursday, November 15th
10:00AM-11:30AM

WHERE: Florida Hospital for Children
601 E. Rollins St., Orlando, FL 32803

* Raminator will be parked in valet loop.

For nearly a decade, Crown Royal has shipped its iconic purple bags filled with essentials to service members overseas. This year, the brand will expand its efforts with The Crown Royal Purple Bag Project, the brand’s largest generosity commitment, inspiring people to give generously one bag at a time. Crown Royal is joining forces with country music superstar Thomas Rhett to distribute 1 million care packages to active duty service members and those affected by natural disasters by 2020.

“I am so grateful for the sacrifices our service men and women make each day for our country, so it’s an absolute honor to do what we can to help give back to them,” Thomas Rhett shared. “I’m so thrilled to team up with Crown Royal for The Purple Bag Project to help meet some of these essential needs.”

Those of legal drinking age can participate in The Crown Royal Purple Bag Project through a variety of ways such as packing a bag virtually, donating bags in-store, attending Crown Royal Generosity Hours at local bars and participating in packing events at professional football stadiums across the country. Thomas Rhett is also encouraging his fans to get involved in The Crown Royal Purple Bag Project through a random drawing sweepstakes with fundraising platform Omaze. The sweepstakes will launch later this month and offer those who enter the chance to win the opportunity to meet and pack bags with Thomas Rhett backstage at one of his upcoming concerts.

We’re all looking for ways to save big at the register. Well, I’ve found a way to make every coupon I use at my local grocery store worth an extra 25¢!

How you ask? It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1) Sign up at Swagbucks.com and use my special code SBCouponer to earn an extra 50 points, that’s 50¢ just for signing up! 
2) Head over to the Grocery Coupons page and start clipping coupons for your upcoming shopping trip 
3) Use the coupons the next time you shop at your local grocery store. You’ll earn 25 points (25¢) for every coupon you use. 

That’s it! 

All throughout November you can earn large bonuses when sign up as my referral on Swagbucks. Swagbucks is a rewards site where you earn points (called SB) for things you’re probably doing online already, like searching the web, watching videos, shopping, discovering deals, and taking surveys. Then you take those points and exchange them for gift cards to places like Amazon, Target, or PayPal cash.

When you sign up through me this month, you can earn a 300 SB bonus!

Here’s how:

1. Sign up using this link

2. Earn 300 SB total before December 1st, 2018. You’ll get a 300 SB bonus for it!

3. That’s it. It’s super easy, and Swagbucks is for real. I use it myself

On November 2, customers who order a holiday beverage of any size (like the Peppermint Mocha!) will receive a free Limited-Edition Iconic Red Reusable Cup. The offer is available at participating company-operated and licensed stores nationwide while supplies last (the reusable cup is available for purchase for $2.50 after this one-day offer).

Also , beginning Saturday, Nov 3, customers who bring their Limited-Edition Iconic Red Reusable Cup to a participating Starbucks store in the U.S. or Canada after 2 p.m. will get 50 cents off their handcrafted grande (16-ounce) holiday beverage, through Monday, Jan. 7.