I wish to do something great and wonderful, but I must start by doing the little things like they were great and wonderful. - - Albert Einstein

There are times when I just want to give someone a small gift, an encouragement or a thank you,  maybe. I don't need something big or want to make a big deal about it.... just something small but special.

Do you know what I mean? Are you the same?

Sometimes you just need a small but memorable gift idea

Recently, I wanted to give my daughter-in-law a small encouragement. She had been unwell but she still kept going, home-schooled her little family and organised her ministry team for the upcoming week. 

I know that she loves liquorice but I didn't want to just hand over a pack. I know she'd still appreciate it and enjoy it. But I wanted to make it a special gift, a special memory.

So instead, I filled a clear-sided tub with liquorice allsorts and added a simple floral arrangement to the lid. It took very little time to complete and looked amazing.

Here's how to create one yourself.

Watch the instructional video below

I've created a simple instructional video that you can watch, and pause as you need, to complete the project yourself. Or... if you prefer to read instructions, I've listed the steps below.

*small container or box; *a pack of sweets, candy or dried fruit & nuts; *round mini florist foam; *small leaved greenery; *small flowers; *ribbon; * paper butterfly or other embellishment

2. Soak your mini florist foam and adhere it firmly to the top of your box.
I find the easiest way to soak the foam is to fill an eggcup with water, flip the foam upside down and rest it in the egg cup. Once the foam is soaked and heavy with water, attach it to the lid of your container or box. The mini foam has a circle of adhesive to make it easy to attach. 
(N.B. You don't have to use a round container. If you can't find one, a square box or even noodle box will work as well.)

3. Add the greenery to your arrangement first.
​Using small sprigs of greenery, push gently into the mini foam and  begin to create a ball of greenery. The greenery should not extend much beyond the edge of your lid.

Continue to add small sprigs of greenery between the ones you have already pushed into the foam.

5. Attach a strip of ribbon around your container and a bow.
The bow will sit flat on your container if you tie a separate piece of ribbon into a bow and secure with some double-sided tape.

6. Finally, add a small embellishment to the handle of your box and it's finished.
If your box doesn't have a handle, attach your embellishment to a piece of wire or short bamboo skewer and push into your arrangement.

And... it's finished! Include a small gift tag if you wish. I'm sure your beautifully presented gift will be truly memorable and appreciated.
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It can be hard to decide how to entertain the kids for a couple of hours when you are babysitting. They can get bored easily, so you need to think of something fun. Baking cakes is a fantastic way to keep them occupied while they are at your home. Here is everything you need when you are baking cakes with the grandchildren so it all goes smoothly!

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Plenty of ingredients

You need to purchase plenty of ingredients when you are baking cakes with the grandchildren. It will ensure they get a chance to make a few cakes. Also, if the first load go wrong, then you have the ingredients to make more. Also, having plenty of ingredients means you get to experiment with different flavors. You might want to make a chocolate cake, and then make a carrot cake for a healthier option. You should talk to them before you go to the store about different ideas they will love to make. Here are some fun cake ideas you could bake with the grandkids!

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Some good aprons

Another thing you need when you are baking cakes with the grandchildren is some good aprons. The kids are bound to be messy while they are making the cakes. The flour will go everywhere, and they could easily get it down their clothes. You don’t want to send them home covered in ingredients. Therefore, buy them some aprons which they can use to protect their clothes while baking.


A washable table cloth for the table

You also need to put a cloth on the table when you are baking cakes with the grandchildren. Unless you want to spend hours cleaning after, you will need to protect the table before you start. After all, they will be mixing and decorating the cakes on there, so there is bound to be some spills. You should get a washable tablecloth which you can easily wipe after.


A great mixer

You also need to get a great mixer when you are baking with the kids. You want this part to go as quickly as possible as kids can easily get bored. To make it easy, you could get an electric hand mixer which you can just hold to make the mixture smooth. You can even make the process quicker by getting a stand mixer. That way, you won’t have to do any mixing yourself. You can look online to find the 10 best kitchen stand mixers.

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A decent baking tray

Another thing you need when you are baking cakes with the grandchildren is a good baking sized tray to put the cakes on. If you are making cupcakes, you could get a cupcake baking tray which will help them make accurate shaped cupcakes. It makes it easier for them to understand where it needs to go when pouring the mixture in. Make sure you grease the baking tray first so that you can remove the cakes quickly.

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And if you think the baking day is going to be stressful, you could just skip to the end, and all just decorate cupcakes! You can buy some ready-make, or bake some before they come, then they can just enjoy decorating them!

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If you have teenagers and want to plan a trip or travel together, you might be worrying a little. What will they enjoy? What will keep them engaged, not bored, and not misbehaving! What can we do that will convince them to leave their friends (and iPads) behind for a week or two?

These are questions that many parents ask themselves as holiday time approaches. However, in order to keep the teens happy, they sometimes plan things that they as adults won’t enjoy.

This doesn’t have to be the case. There are many different trips and travel experiences that both teenagers and parents will enjoy. Let’s take a look at a handful of examples to set your brain whirring!

If there is one natural wonder in the world that truly gets people riled up with excitement, it’s the Aurora Borealis! So, the Aurora Addicts family are, as their name might suggest, addicted to the Northern Lights! As a result of this huge enthusiasm, a tour or holiday with them is one filled with excitement and the very best views. Plus, because they’re stationed there all year around, they know all the best secrets! They have an ideal 4-day package, which groups in flight and accommodation. It is suitable for ages 15+, making it ideal for a trip with older teens. There is animal interaction, through a reindeer experience and a Husky safari. Plus, more lights hunting that you can shake a branch at! Teens will be kept happy by the adventure of the trip. Meanwhile, parents will know everyone is safe and being well taken care of by your knowledgeable guides. You’ll all even be provided with thermal overalls and windproof suits while you’re out and about. One less thing to worry about for the grown-ups!

To continue the theme of animal experiences a little, how about focusing more on their conservation? For example, in places like Costa Rica, you can spend a week or two helping at a turtle conservation centre. Or how about heading to an Elephant sanctuary in Thailand, or Vietnam? By actively making a difference in the world and helping these animals out, you’ll also get a great family bonding experience. Just be ready to ward off any ‘can we adopt one!’ questions right before the journey home! This trip benefits both teens and adults as it is a fantastic lesson in giving and helping others. You are teaching your children and reminding yourself the importance of charity. Plus, teenagers can be well known for forgetting how lucky they are. This may be a good chance of reminding them of their blessings, and helping to ground them again.

Finally, let’s finish with a type of holiday, rather than an activity. Deciding the kind of accommodation to stay in can be tricky. While hotels can be expensive, camping might be a tad uncomfortable! A great solution for teens and adults is to hire a villa or house. This has several benefits. It means you get to sleep and shower in comfort. However, it also gives your teens a sense of independence and separation from you. Plus, parents get some peace, quiet and privacy!

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We all know just how valuable school is for children. It is not just a place of learning and education; it is also about learning to socialize and work with people. It’s about learning to respect teachers, and in time, making independent decisions too.

However, school time isn’t the only precious part of their year. So is the time that they have off school. During these periods, be they a few hours long or several weeks long, you should be encouraging them. Encouraging them to make the most of this time is something that you as a parent, grandparent or other relative should be doing. That’s because it is in these periods of time that your children become fully formed adults.

So, let’s take a look at exactly what you should be encouraging your children to do in order to make the most of their time off school. ​

During weekends…. Get a part time job
In most countries, you have to be 16 before you can be employed by a company. As, soon as your child reaches this age, encourage them to get a job. Make it clear that this is a fantastic opportunity for a number of reasons. Yes, they have to give up a day or two of their weekends. However, they get a lot in exchange. First and foremost, there is the chance to earn their own money! There is also the opportunity to meet new people, gain some independence and get on the career ladder.

During short holidays…. Volunteer and do work experience
If your child has just one or two weeks off school, this might restrict what they can do slightly. So, for example, just one week won’t allow time for a family vacation and for them to do their homework. So, instead, use these shorter holidays for a different purpose. Encourage your child to do some unpaid work. This might be volunteering in an area they are interested in, like animals and education. Or, it could be some valuable work experience in an area they might like to build a career in one day.

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During long holidays… Travel
We’ve touched upon the fact that short holidays may not leave much time to travel as a family. Longer holidays, or a month or more, however, do! Avoid getting sluggish and lazy by trying to find the perfect family activity holiday. This is great for trying new things and keeping health and fitness levels up. You may even discover a new hobby you want to all keep up once you get home!

During evenings…. Get homework done
Help your children develop the habit of getting homework done as soon as they arrive home. It allows them to enjoy the rest of their evening without stress and gives them a proper break from work. Help them out with a timetable and find ways to motivate them. This could be through a weekly treat, like a night at the cinema. Or, something smaller, like allowing them to pick what you have for dinner one night a week!

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Learning to sew is an enjoyable and useful hobby; you are able to create wonderful things for your friends and families, make pieces for your home, and unleash your creative side.

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