Sparkle and Shine

Take time out from holiday preparations and share one of the ways you are shining this holiday season.

Did you pick out the ultimate gift for someone on your list?

Or do you shine because of your outrageously creative wrapping job?

Did you host a great holiday party?

Or discover the perfect hostess gift?

Is your home beautifully decorated?

Or are you feeling shiny because, after years of saying you would, you finally wrote a Christmas letter?

Did you get your packages mailed on time?

Or is your new holiday outfit what has you feeling so great?

Take time to visit the Comment Section and tell us why you Shine this holiday season.

Shining off until... 

Cyber Monday

I have long said the Christmas stocking is my favorite part of the holidays. I think it is because the stocking's size and shape adds parameters requiring you to be extra thoughtful and creative about what is placed inside.

I feel the same way about the idea I am sharing today; an idea which was told to me by Heather who, in turn, learned it from long-time reader, Robin. Proof that when something shines, you can't help but want to share it.

Consider using the following guidelines for your gift giving:

Something you want

Something you need

Something you wear

Something you read

You can slice this idea up and serve it any number of ways:

Manage kid's expectations by getting them excited about one gift in each category.

Redefine the gift exchange you have with extended family by drawing a name and one category (i.e. Aunt Susie, something you need).

Get together with your significant other and rally around one theme for each of the next four years (i.e. 2011, want; 2012, need; 2013, wear; 2014, read).

Add an additional layer of challenge by combining the guidelines with yet another variable such as: the color red, something metal, the letter "w", or the recipient's birth year (i.e. want + red; need + metal; wear + "w", read + birth year).

Or how about combining the four criterion with my favorite - your Christmas stocking. Whatever you buy, it must fit inside a Christmas stocking. 

Now matter how you slice it, my prediction is that the experience of giving will be more fun and the creativity involved in buying will be even greater.

Celebrate Cyber Monday by visiting the comment section and telling us this: If you were to buy yourself something from each category, what is it you would want, need, wear, and read?

Shining off until...

Stuffing

While most of us are getting ready to stuff our turkeys, kid entrepreneur Matthew Beeny, just finished stuffing his Thanksgiving edition of On-a-Roll Party Favors.

And, while admittedly I am his proud mother, I still give them my Shine Seal of Approval.

For Thanksgiving Matthew has decided to focus a little less on tricks and treats and a little more on gratitude. Each party favor is stuffed with a Thanksgiving question to be read and answered at your holiday dinner, a small inspirational stone, and of course a couple of pieces of candy for good measure.

Beautifully decorated with tissue paper and Modge Podge, then rolled in cellophane and tied with ribbon (my contribution), his festive party favors are sure to make your table glitter and Shine.

The money saved on trinkets means we can sell a batch of ten for $22.00 or individual party favors for $2.50.  Either way, dig in and a get a serving of your own.

Placing your order, via email, to cbeeny@ckbgroup.com isn't the only way to celebrate Thanksgiving. Consider hopping over to the Comment Section and answering one of his questions...

If I was going to Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving dinner, the Peanuts character I would l most like to attend as is...

Shining off until...