Tag: Handmade Christmas Gifts

‘Tis the Season for Cookies and Crafts

Girl Scout Troopers
Christmas Eve is only two weeks away, which means no matter which holiday you celebrate, time is running out fast. In fact, if you or your friends celebrate Chanukah, time has pretty much run out already as the celebration begins at sundown on Tuesday. This means that if you haven’t found gifts for everybody on your list yet, you may be looking for some not quite last minute, but pretty close to the end ideas. Fortunately, if this is indeed the case and you’re trying to cross a few more names off your holiday list, there are a couple of awesome events this weekend that are sure to help you find presents for all of the people and/or pets in your life.

First, if you’re searching for the perfect gift for the cookie-lover in your life, the Girl Scouts of America have you covered. This is because the Girl Scout Cookie Sale actually begins today, which means that if you know someone who just can’t live without their Thin Mints ®, Caramel Delights®, Peanut Butter Patties®, Lemonades™, Cranberry Citrus Crisps, or any of the multitude of other Girl Scout cookies out there, all you need to do is find a local Girl Scout troop. Now, finding a local troop can be easier said than done in some cases, but the Girl Scouts have actually already thought of that. In fact, if you’re having trouble finding a local troop, you may want to try out the Girl Scout Cookie Finder because this handy little website (or app) will allow you to put in your information and a local troop will find you. For more information on the Girl Scout Cookie sale, including all of the cookies that are available, please visit the Girl Scouts of America website.

Secondly, if your loved one is a fan of handcrafted gifts and you can’t make it to any of the craft fairs that I mentioned last week (which with the exception of CraftBoston are still running), there is another local fair that you may want to check out. The 11th Annual SoWa Holiday Market is scheduled to take place from 11:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. on Saturday (December 13, 2014) and 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Sunday (December 14, 2014) at the Benjamin Franklin Institute on Berkeley Street in Boston. This holiday fair will feature candy, cards, candles, ceramics, clothing, coffee, glassware, jewelry, and more. For more information on the SoWa Holiday Market, please visit the SoWa Holiday Market website.

Photo credit: JD Hancock / Foter / CC BY

Girl Scouts ®, Thin Mints ®, Caramel Delights®, Peanut Butter Patties®, Lemonades™, and all associated names and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Girl Scouts of the USA.

Friday Fun: Christmas…before Thanksgiving?

Christmas Tree with Stockings

I have to admit when it comes to the holidays, I’m definitely a one holiday at a time kind of guy. Now, don’t get me wrong. I like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I just really prefer it when I can celebrate one holiday before I have to start thinking about the next one. However, if you’re one of the fine upstanding individuals who is already looking at the calendar thinking to yourself “forget the turkey, it’s time for Christmas”, Boston has everything you need to get into the Christmas spirit this weekend and then some (even if it is still a little early for some of us.)

First, if you’re a firm believer in the idea that nothing says Christmas like a Christmas tree and you really want to share the goodwill this season, Mahoney’s Garden Centers has an interesting program that you should definitely check out. You see, this weekend is not only the start of the holiday season (depending on how you look at it), but also Veteran’s Day Weekend. As a result, it is a time to honor the hard work, diligence, and sacrifice of all the men and women who are serving or who have served at home and abroad. Fortunately, Mahoney’s Trees for Troops® program will give you a way to not only get into the Christmas spirit, but will also give you a way to give back to our troops this holiday season. This is because each Mahoney’s Garden center store, starting on Monday, November 11, 2013 (Veteran’s Day), will give customers the opportunity to purchase a special Christmas tree that will be donated to a military family. Each of these trees only costs $24.50, and the store even has special cards that you can use to send a note with the tree. For more information on Mahoney’s Trees for Troops program®, please visit the Mahoney’s Garden Centers website.

Secondly, if you’re a big fan of gingerbread houses and Christmas crafts, the 27th Annual Boston Christmas Festival is definitely the place to be. This festival, which runs from Friday the 8th to Sunday the 10th, is a collection of all things Christmas, as it features a gingerbread house competition, over 300 artists and craftsman, and more handcrafted Christmas gifts and decorations than you will find anywhere else. In fact, the Festival will give you the opportunity to browse and purchase from an enormous selection of Christmas stockings, clothing, figurines, food, garden flags, jewelry, ornaments, wreaths, and other handmade goods. For more information on the 27th Annual Boston Christmas Festival, which is being held at the Seaport World Trade Center, please visit the Boston Christmas Festival’s website.

Photo credit: Foter.com / CC BY-SA