Kids and Sports

Some people like their kids to play organized sports, others don't. I joined the new rankrz site today to see what it was all about. It is like my blog, only it is for everyone to rank their favorites (and worsts!) Here is the list I submitted today about my favorite reasons for kids to play sports:


1. Get their bodies moving

2. Learn to play by rules

3. Learn to be part of a team

4. Learn to listen to coach/become "coachable"

5. May develop a love for the game

6. May be something you can do as a family

7. Develop leadership abilities

8. Develop concentration and focus

9. Help build confidence

10. Gives them something constructive to do

Black Bean Salsa

I'm on a blogging kick right now about this black bean salsa . I found a recipe, adjusted it to fight my needs, and made up a huge batch of it. Here are a few of my favorite things about it:

1. delicious!

2. good for you

3. a good way to get the kids to eat their veggies

4. easy to make

5. affordable to make

6. good for snacking

7. good as a side dish

8. makes a ton!

9. the spicy-ness of the rotel

10. makes a great edible gift

Christmas Carols

As it is "beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere I go", I have been thinking of some of my favorite things about this time of year. There are so many things that really bring home the feel of the season. One of those is the Christmas carols. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. O Holy Night

2. Angels We Have Heard On High

3. Rudolph

4. Jingle Bells

5. Deck The Halls

6. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

7. Jingle Bell Rock

8. Jolly Old St. Nicholas

9. Here Comes Santa Clause

10. Joy to the World

Gift Ideas: More Books for Kids

There are so many great books for kids. Here are some more of my favorite book gift ideas for kids of all ages:

1. Holes

2. Because of Winn Dixie

3. popular movie novels (High School Musical)

4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

5. Magic Tree House series

6. Amelia Bedelia

7. Magic School Bus series

8. biographies about people in any field they are interested in, from science to basketball

9. Little House on the Prairie

10. though it may not count as a book, a magazine subscription always provides great reading material throughout the year

Gift Ideas: Books for Kids

A friend blogged about what books to give kids for Christmas . The last few years I have ordered books from Scholastic throughout the year to give to kids in our extended family. Some are seasonal and some are not. Here are a few of my favorite books-for a range of ages-to give kids for Christmas:

1. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

2. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

3. The Gift of The Magi

4. A Christmas Carol

5. The Little Prince

6. The Mouse and The Motorcycle

7. Charlotte's Web

8. Stuart Little

9. Tuck Everlasting

10. Calvin and Hobbes comic books

what to get those who have everything

My husband and I were discussing a project idea. One of the things that came up is what do you get someone who has everything. Here are a few of my favorite ideas of what to give that special person who already has everything they want:

1. time-spend time with them just visiting or doing something you both enjoy

2. coupons-these are self made and are good to redeem for services you can provide (babysitting, car wash, etc)

3. home made goodies-this is one of my all time favorites; you can make anything-salsa, bread, ice cream

4. magazine subscription-for their favorite magazine, especially something just for fun

5. gift card for somewhere they love to visit-restaurant, symphony, etc

6. silver-this is a unique investment and now is an opportune time to buy

7. your favorite book-maybe they have never read your favorite book. if they say they don't have time to read, get it for them on tape

8. classic television-now days you can buy old TV programs-I Love Lucy, Andy Griffith, Gilligan's Island

9. photos-I love to give and get photos, especially if it is of a time we shared together and the photo is a great reminder of that occasion

10. a hand written letter-this can be a letter or poem or song written especially for that person, making it truly unique and meaningful