Free printable Epiphany worksheets, Three Kings Day activities for Twelfth Night party

Jan. 6 is Epiphany, also called Three Kings Day, Dia de Reyes and Twelfth Night. On Epiphany, Catholic and Orthodox Christians celebrate the visit of the Magi (Three Kings, Wisemen) to Baby Jesus in Bethlehem. Orthodox Christian churches observe the Baptism of Jesus, called Theophany "vision of God") on Epiphany as well. Twelfth Night, not Christmas, is the major gift-giving holiday in many countries. Here are free printable Epiphany lesson plans, Three Kings Day crafts and Twelfth Night activities. In French, Latin and New Orleans traditions, Epiphany kicks off Carnivale which counts down to Mardi Gras. King Cake is eaten  Free printable Epiphany worksheets, Three Kings Day activities for Twelfth Night | Examiner.com

School Memorial Day Pageant and Party, Educational, Patriotic, Nostaglic

Memorial Day, the last Monday in May goes by several names: Remembrance Day and Decoration Day. It falls on May 26, 2014, this year. We honor fallen military and our loved ones who have passed. Teachers and homeschool families, here's an educational Memorial Day pageant planner with U.S. history tie-ins, American patriotic themes and a vintage flavor. Educational, Vintage Memorial Day Student Pageant and Party

50+ Mother's Day Gifts Priced Under $5

Mother's Day approaches and you find yourself with more special ladies to remember than money in your pocket. As a 25-year mom, let me assure you the thought really does count. Gifts aren't necessary. Having said that, I know you want to remember mom, grandmother, aunt, friend, teacher, wife, girlfriend on Mother's Day.
Well, I am also the Penny Pincher diva (visit my blog at www.pennypincherpost.blogspot.com ). And I know of hundreds nice gifts you can get under $5. When I originally wrote this I said under $10. But I realized you could find most even cheaper still at Walmart, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Sam's Club, Dollar General, Hobby Lobby, TJ Maxx, Menards, World Market and other outlets. Check sales and clearance. Here are fifty Mother's Day gift ideas for your penny wise shopping list.  50+ Mother's Day Gifts Priced Under $10 

Recycled Earth Day Crafts, Spring Birthday Party Activities

Hosting an Earth Day event? Or maybe a spring birthday party? Need cool recycled crafts? Why not repurpose that ubiquitous plastic milk jug from landfill fodder to sand toys or gardening tools? Make a set of eight tools. Perfect for Earth Day, preschool, school, scout troop, 4H group, camp and day care. Perfect small hands and young gardeners. Reuse or recycle. You will need: -two clean plastic milk jugs per child

-permanent marker

-scissors (children's Fiskars scissors work great) Read on Beach Sand and Gardening Toys from Recycled Plastic Milk Jugs

Easy, Edible, Eco-Friendly Easter Bunny Crafts

Spring is in the air! Time for Easter crafts-baskets, candy, baby animals and best of all, bunnies! Looking for cute Easter bunny-themed crafts to make? Here are three easy, ultra-cute projects for ages 2 to 102 (don't forget seniors--they love crafts too). Perfect for a secular Easter party. Easy, Edible and Eco-Friendly Easter Bunny-Themed Crafts

Easter Bunny-Themed Crafts and Snacks

Spring is the time to think Easter parties. Easter crafts-baskets, candy, baby animals and best of all, bunnies! Looking for cute Easter bunny-themed crafts to make? Here are easy cheap crafts and bunny snacks for parties. All ages will love them.  Easy, Edible and Eco-Friendly Easter Bunny-Themed Crafts

Free Printable Valentines to Cut and Color

Yea! It's almost Valentines Day party time (say the kids). Boo, more work and stuff to buy (says the tired overworked parent). Well, no need to do or buy anything, busy mom. The free printable goddess has you covered. Printable valentines cards, crafts, party decorations. Print in black and white and put those restless kids to work coloring and making their valentines. That should keep them busy for a good hour while you and I have a glass of wine. Shall I pour? :) Free (Yes Free!) Valentines to Print, Perfect for Snowbound Kids

Celebrate Chinese New Year 2014 Year of the Horse Party

Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, begins late January or early February on the western calendar. CNY 2014 starts January 31. It's Year of the Horse. Here are easy, inexpensive ideas to throw a CNY festival in class or at home. I've included horse-themed activities. Celebrate the 2014 Chinese New Year With Kids

Free Chinese New Year Year of the Horse Party Printables

Chinese New Year 2014 celebrates the Year of the Horse or Wu Ma. It begins January 31 in 2014. Hosting a CNY party? Here are free printable resources, lessons, crafts, puzzles, games, decorations. There are Kung Fu Panda and lantern festival crafts, too. Teachers and homeschoolser, use these for world connections.  Free Printable Activities for the Chinese New Year

Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Advent Party Ideas

December 8 marks the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The Immaculate Conception is one of six recognized Holy Days in the liturgical calendar. Here are free printable activities and lessons to celebrate this feast day. If you're Catholic, why not throw a party to honor the Blessed Mother? I did. Here's how. Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Advent Activities for Parents and Children
I've gone through all the noted Catholic websites and linked this article to children's liturgy activities that explore the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Our Blessed Mother. 

Five Worst Gifts for Women, With Better Alternatives

It's the holiday (or birthday) of your beloved and you did it again, didn't you? You put off shopping too long. Whatever the gift giving holiday, most guys can usually found at the store last-minute, frantically searching. And since you put off shopping so long, you'll be in a hurry and will grab the first thing you see. Guys, we women hate it when you do this. But never fear, I am here to bail you out of your own foolish mess. Here are five gifts ideas that you should avoid with alternate gifts that will always be appreciated.  Five Worst Holiday Gifts and Great Alternative Presents for Women

Uninvited to a Party? The Term Is Social Ignorance

There's more to planning a party than decorations and recipes. There's social protocol. Case in point: invitations. My daughter just told me she was "uninvited" to a party. She didn't do anything wrong, wasn't rude, was just her sweet, loving self. The hostess was asked by another invitee to exclude my daughter. And the hostess kowtowed.

I didn't think this needed saying, but there is no such thing as uninviting. Call it what you will, it translates to bad manners. In any respectable socal group, taking back invitations is socially verboten. What the hostess more accurately should have said was "I have no pride or self-respect. I'm so desperate to be popular that I'll kick my friend to the curb to please." What she in fact looks is foolish. Read more Uninvited? The Old Term Was Bad Manners

How About Amateur Wine Tasting for Girls' Night Out?

I discovered the joie de vivre of wine about 10 years ago, before it began to enjoy the girls-night-out popularity it does now! I wasn't raised with it. Few were, in our small Michigan Dutch community. And wine hadn't come into it's own for the common man till the mid-90s. My grandfather tippled his daily cream sherry, but as my grandmother was wont to point out, that was not exactly haute epicurean wine! I'd always been fascinated with world cultures in which wine was part of their tradition.

So how about, at your next bash, an amateur wine tasting? I won't say I'm a sommelier yet, but I'm learning the language. And I can steer you to some good ones. My new find is Amateur Sommelier Wine Musings: Chilean Carmenere Merlot

Homemade Printable Valentine Cards for Kids---Free!

Valentine's Day card exchanges are a rite of passage in preschool and elementary school. Homeschool groups, scout troops and religious education classes often exchange cards, too. Here are free printable DIY valentines to share. These free printable valentines come courtesy of Family Fun magazine. What's more fun than Valentine's Day card exchanges? Making your own valentine's that look completely different than everyone else's!  Free Printable Valentine's Day Card Crafts for Children

Cheap, Recycled Valentine Craft Project for Party

Valentine's Day requires us to do some writing of cards, notes or letters, so why not write with a flourish? Use this guide to design a lovely flower (or feather) pen and an attractive vase. You can make the entire project from recycled materials, purchasing or finding only the new pens or pencils and floral tape. No floral tape? Use masking tape and color in green! Read more

Back to School Party, Labor Day Social Studies Lesson Plans

Labor Day makes us think of picnics, parades and the last vacation before school starts. It's important to remember why we have a Labor Day and what it's all about. Labor Day is a day set aside to honor the work that people perform to care for loved ones and keep our country functioning. We honor too those who have lost their lives on the job, in accidents, strikes, lockouts or in the labor organizing process. Here's a classroom party planner for Labor Day Social Studies Lesson Planner. There are career day ideas, a preschool occupations unit and activities to explore the holiday.

Easy Kids 4th of July Party Planners--History, Crafts, Games, Food, Fun

Here's a blowout of crafts, games, activities, coloring pages, food and fun for 4th of July.


Check out my friend Karen Barnes' printable coloring pages article. Karen is the goddess of cool printable crafts.

And for 4th-festival sweet treats recipes, here are tummy-yummies from my pal Linda Ann Nickerson--4th of July Desserts and Treats.

My buddy Marie Anne St. Jean shares pet-friendly 4th of July picnic ideas (I love the costume ideas!).

From food guru (and all-round fun gal) Debbie Henthorn, here are No Ho-Hum Burgers--Entrees for the 4th of July.

Crafty Kay Wittenhauer shares this crocheted patriotic wreath pattern (My hat is off to yarn divas. In my hands, needles become weapons of mass destruction!)

Sylvia Cochran provides links for 4th of July history lesson plans and crafts. I love how she groups them by age-appropriate level.

Music is a must for celebrating our nation's birthday. My gal pal Carly Hart shares patriotic play list for 4th of July parties.

How about throwing an America birthday party for a fun and educational 4th of July? Children and adults of all ages will love these inexpensive games, crafts, activities and food.  Easy Kids' 4th of July Party Planner with U.S. History Ideas.

However you celebrate the 4th of July, be safe. If you're working, thanks for your contribution. 

Top 10 Fathers Day Gifts for Dads of Any Age, Interest, Budget

Written for Christmas, this article offers appropriate gifts suggestions for Father's Day, too. Why is it that holiday shopping for women is so easy, but finding gifts for men is so difficult? Fathers are especially challenging to shop for. Got a few hard-to-shop for dads on your holiday giving list? Here are the top 10 gifts that are sure to please Dad.

One of the difficult parts about shopping for dads is that some of them say, "I don't need anything for Christmas." You and he both know that you are still going to get him a gift, however. So take him at his word. Buy him a gift that he doesn't need, just for fun. The secret to holiday gift-giving for anyone, especially Dad, is to buy something special, unrelated to work and a little frivolous. Most dads don't buy many luxuries for themselves. Spoil dad a little. I don't mean that you should give dad a useless gift. Remember "Billy Big Mouth Bass," the singing fish plaque? That's not what I mean; give dad a gift which will be a special treat and still useful. Read more at Top 10 Holiday Gifts for Dads of Any Age 

Costumes, Not Booze or Food, Are the Best Part of Mardi Gras

What's the best part about Mardi Gras in New Orleans? According to the Huffington Post, most people prefer the booze cruises. I disagree. For me, Mardi Gras is all about the parades, music and best of all the wonderful costumes. Would Mardi Gras be as fun without the alcohol? Absolutely; teetotalers get to enjoy all the color and flavor without the hangover or the unpleasant after-taste. I actually have more fun because I didn't miss everything in a drunken fugue. Read more at Costumes, Not Booze or Food, Are the Best Part of Mardi Gras

Free Printable Valentines Day Craft Activities and Decorations

Free Printable Valentines Day Craft Activities and Decorations Looking for cute free Valentines Day craft activities and party decorations? Here are websites full of free printable crafts, games, party supplies, greeting cards, valentines and holiday activities. Perfect for classroom valentine exchanges and parties. These are perfect for home and classroom use, day care, senior centers, craft clubs, 4H, scouts, church groups and more. Read on...