Christmas gifts for Grandparents...

We are down to single digits! Christmas will be here in only 8 days -- or less depending on when you are reading this! Continuing with our Last Minute Gift series we are going to be looking at Christmas gifts for Grandparents. They are those wonderful people in our lives who love us unconditionally and spoil us rotten. Grandparents are the BEST but if your grandparents are like mine --they have pretty much everything and don't want things that will just add clutter -- am I right? Well, we think we have some fantastic ideas for Christmas gifts for your grandparents.

 

The Sterling Silver Grandma Euro Bead is a wonderful (and small) gift that is compatible with any of the very popular sterling silver euro bead bracelets such as Pandora, Brighton and Camilia. This is a special gift for an amazing grandma! She will wear it proudly and cherish it for years to come! It is crafted in genuine sterling silver and the embellishment is plated with 14k gold.

 

 

Grandfathers love handkerchiefs and these Personalized Men's White Hankies are great Christmas gifts. They are crafted of 100% cotton and easily washable. These classically designed handkerchiefs feature a handsome, vertical and horizontal line trim, which create a cross hatch look in all four corners and free personalization.

 

 

This exquisite Sterling Silver Engraved Round Charm Toggle Bracelet is a finely crafted piece of jewelry. What a better way to thank the special grandmother in your life than the gift of fine jewelry. This solid sterling silver bracelet is available in 7 and 8 inch lengths and the monogram can be done in several engraving styles.

 

 

Does you granddad grill like none other? Can he put a pork loin on a charcoal grill never touch it and it comes out perfectly cooked two hours later? Yes? No? Well either way we are sure any grill loving grandfather will love this Personalized Grill Tool Gift set. This set is equipped with a grilling spatula, two-pronged fork and easy grip tongs neatly packaged inside a custom 600D polyester storing case, this outdoor cookware makes a superb gift for every grill master on your list. Includes three wood and stainless steel tools. All utensils measure 13.5 inches long. May be embroidered on the polyester carrier pouch with up to three block initials in white, light grey, tan, black, red or blue thread.

 

Now that autumn is in full swing, there are so many great fall activities that you and your family can enjoy. This is the time year when temperatures slowly begin to drop (or quickly depending on what part of the country you live in) and we start to prepare for the winter ahead.

 

 

 

So, how can you make the most of the season? We have some fantastic ideas that can help you enjoy autumn to the fullest!

 

* Go Apple Picking -- There are so many fun fall activities and apple picking is high on the "must do"  list and so many scrumptious things you can do with freshly picked apples. Not only is the experience of this type of outing is a great way to get what you'll need to make yummy apple based goodies and even gifts. Almost everyone loves apple butter and this delicious spread is great for co-workers, hostess gifts, teachers gifts, and much more! You can make fresh applesauce, apple pies, apple crisps, apple turnovers -- actually, there is even a website dedicated to apple recipes. Be sure to check it out.

 

* Visit a Pumpkin Patch -- Not only is a pumpkin patch a fantastic place to pick up pumpkins to make Jack O'Lanterns; this fall activity is also a fantastic place to pick up festive fall decorations. Items like straw bales, gourds, and corn stalks look great are easy to find at local farms and usually for a very reasonable price. There are usually animals to see, pet and sometimes even feed. Most Pumpkin patches also offer hay rides, corn mazes and some kind of pumpkin launching contraptions.

 

 

* Explore Fall Foliage -- Fall activites should always involve enjoying all that this great season has to offer. A wonderful day to do that is to take drive, hike or leisurely stroll and explore all the gorgeous colors of fall. Be sure to take your camera so you can capture some of your favorite scenes along the way.

 

 

* Rake up a pile of leaves and -- jump on in! If you have children they will LOVE this activity and it's a good way to get them to help you rake. Of course, it will take longer than if you just did it yourself -- but raking by yourself isn't as much fun. Don't let the kids have all the fun -- make sure to dive into the leaves too!

 

 * Make some Fall Crafts -- There are a lot of Halloween crafts that you can make but don't forget about autumn themed decorations and of course Thanksgiving crafts! This Thankful Tree craft is a creative way for the whole family to write all the wonderful things they are grateful for.

Halloween is about a week away. If you have thought about throwing a party for friends and family, we have some great tips on the Charming Chick blog today that can help to ensure that everyone has a ghoulishly good time.

 

 

Creepy Costumes

 

What is a Halloween party without people dressed in funny, terrifying and creative costumes? Kids love to dress up and - truth be told - adults do too. It may take a little coaxing but once they are dressed up it's hard not to feel like a kid again. To make the costume aspect even more fun and interesting, you can always include a costume contest into the party activities. Depending on how many guests you plan on having, you can do one, two, or three prize for adults and a few for the kiddos.

 

 

Dreadful Decor

 

The decorations set the stage. As soon as your guests arrive they should be greeted with festive, freaky and fabulous decor. Of course the colors orange, black, brown, white and yellow are most commonly associated with this holiday.

Scatter fake spiders and spider webs inside and out. You can also put up fake tombstones for an even creepier detail. Also, put dry ice in the punch bowl to create an ominous, foggy effect. Pictures, knickknacks, and decorations that include ghosts, goblins, zombies, Jack  O' Lanterns, and mummies are nice and spooky. Also, don't forget to have scary and suspenseful music playing in the background.

 

  

Plan some thrilling activities.

 

There are so many fun things you can plan to do during your Halloween party. Here are a few games and activities that are sure to make for a frightenly good time:

 

* Pumpkin carving

* Bobbing for Apples

* Monster Tag

* Make a Mummy

* Weave a Scary Tale 

 

 

Freaky Food

 

You'll want the food you serve at your Halloween party to be delicious and devilish. Creating these ghostly snacks can also be a lot of fun. If you are looking for some festive and unique recipies here are some great websites:

 

21 Gross Halloween Recipes ~ Parenting.com

25 Spooky Halloween Treats ~ Family Fun

Halloween Party Food Ideas ~ Better Homes and Gardens

Happy Planning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Temperatures - in most of the country - are very hot!  It is important to remember that high temps, can cause some serious health problems for many folks. Because of this, you'll want to keep cool and stay hydrated. A great way to do this, is by making sure you have water and/or other fluids with you, with you wherever go. At Charming Chick we have some stylish and functional insulated totes to make this easier for you.

  

  

Using our Personalized Navy Blue Cooler  is a great way to beat the heat. It is perfectly designed for a road trip, a day at the beach, or a picnic in the park. It will keep all your items nice and cool, so you can enjoy a refreshing drink when you need it most. It features a heavy vinyl interior, an adjustable shoulder strap, two exterior mesh pockets, a zippered outer pouch, an easy close cell phone holder, dual zippered entry for quick access and expandable cord on top for convenient clothing, bottle or magazine storage. This awesome insulated cooler also includes free personalization. Now that's cool!

The Personalized Black Insulated Cooler is another great tote that we have available at Charming Chick. It features a black vinyl exterior with a stylish silver panel. The zipper pocket, is lined with vinyl, so it can safely hold any of your valuables that you wouldn't want to get water damaged -- you can store your phone, MP3 player, keys, etc. knowing they will stay safe and dry. The insulated center pouch expands to hold ice, food, and refreshing beverages -- which will help you keep hydrated. The other great thing is that it folds flat for easy storage. Since this insulated cooler comes with free personalization -- it also makes a fantastic gift.

The last insulated cooler we are featuring today is our Aloha Cooler Tote.  This is just perfect to store your water and other beverages in when you head outside. The adjustable shoulder strap makes it easy - and comfortable - to carry with you where ever your day takes  you. This cheerful tote can also be embroidered especially for you. It is available in a variety of fonts and thread colors.

 

Stay safe. Stay Cool. Enjoy your summer!

 

Also, be sure you keep your pets out of the heat and provide lots of fresh, clean, cool water!

 

It's summertime -- which means it's time for picnics, pool parties, hiking biking, and all the other fun outdoor activities we enjoy, during this warm and wonderful season. Something else people love to do in the summer, is to plan an exciting beach getaway. Whether you are going for the day -- or for several days -- there are somethings you will not want to forget.

 

On the Charming Chick blog today, we are going to help you prepare for a fantastic day at the beach with our --Top 5 Beach Must-Haves. So -  in no particular order - here are the items you need to bring to enjoy your next beach trip.

  

{1} Beach Tote -- A roomy - and super stylish tote bag - is always a beach "must-have." You can easily tote your blanket, towels, books, food, beverages and just about anything else you need, on the beach with this great bag. This canvas tote, even has a hook to  hang your keys on. This way you won't lose them -- or have to go fishing around in the bottom of the bag to retrieve them.

{2} Protect Your Skin -- Be sure to apply sunscreen - of 30 SFP - to protect you and your loved ones from the sun's harmful rays. You'll want to re-apply every 1 to 2 hours. If you do get a burn, there are a few things you can do to soothe your sunburn pain. You'll also want to pack a first-aid kit. This can really come in handy, if anyone gets injured on the beach.

 

{3} Protect Your Eyes -- Speaking of sun, you'll also want to bring along your protective eye wear -- and if it happens to look super stylish that's even better!

{4} Family Fun Activities -- Don't forget to bring your shovels, buckets, kites, footballs, frisbees and anything else you and your family enjoy playing with on the beach! 

 

 

{5} Comfortable shoes - If you bring along shoes that are waterproof, clean-up quickly and slip on and off with ease, you'll be very glad you did! These are the best types of shoes for sandy wet beaches.

Enjoy!!!