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Saturday



Sparkling Cider Neighbor Gifts

Here's a quick Christmas gift idea for the neighbors that involves no baking, no packaging and no hassle. We have 16 neighbors on our dead end street, so finding something easy and inexpensive is always a plus!

Quick neighbor gifts @michellepaigeblogs.com

I simply purchased bottles of sparkling cider. It's festive, showy and fun. (Be sure to research and find the best price. The best price in my area was at Walmart for $1.97 a piece.)

Christmas gifts for the neighbors @michellepaigeblogs.com


Print off these tags add the names and tie them onto the bottles.


Sparkling cider tags @michellepaigeblogs.com

Click here to print your own tags. 
Cut apart, hole punch and tie the tags onto the bottles with curling ribbon.
Hand deliver.

Quick neighbor gifts @michellepaigeblogs.com


If you'd like to get a little fancy, tie on a little treat as well. 


Quick neighbor gifts @michellepaigeblogs.com

I tied on one of these (affiliate link) Popcornopolis popcorn cones. I usually make my favorite Candy Coated Popcorn Recipe for the neighbors (see bottom of post), but this year because of Covid, I decided not to hand make anything.

Quick neighbor gifts@michellepaigeblogs.com

The neighbors loved these! I left them on their doorsteps.

Quick neighbor gifts @michellepaigeblogs.com


Merry Christmas!  

Here's some more neighbor gift ideas--click here:

Christmas Neighbor Gifts



Click here for the amazing Candy Coated Popcorn Mix!




Want to make these tags for a New Year's Gift?
Click here to print these tags.



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Wednesday




The Annual Women's Luncheon at our church had to be moved online due to Covid restrictions. Instead of singing carols, hearing a Christmas message and eating lunch around beautifully decorated tables, the event became an online tea party. I got to help coordinate the goodie bags. Take a look.

Virtual Tea Party for a church event

The event consisted of:
-Christmas music sung by one of our church's members.
-A special Christmas message from a well-known speaker in our denomination.
-Breakout rooms online to fellowship and create an ornament with.
-More music to close our time together.

Virtual Tea Party for a church event

Tickets cost $10. Proceeds went towards the speaker, goodie bags and donating to a special organization through our church.
Women were able to purchase up to 8 tickets to buy an 'online table'. These 'table' guests were put in an online breakout group to interact together during the event.

Virtual Tea Party for a church event

2 weeks before the event, goodie bags were packaged and distributed. Women who lived locally picked up their bags at church. Others were mailed to out of town guests.

Virtual Tea Party for a church event

We advertised our event online with our church services and my friend and I made some short videos explaining the event.

Our event began at 10am and ended at noon. 
All ladies were muted until breakout groups.
Here's how our event timing worked:

10am- Welcome and Announcements
10-10:15am- Christmas carols sung by church member.
(Because everyone was muted, we were able to sing along!)
Virtual Tea Party for a church event

10:15-10:50am Christmas message
Virtual Tea Party for a church event

10:55-11:55am  Breakout rooms 'online tables'
      (conversations, ornament making, discussion on message, etc.)
11:55-12pm Prayer and Final Christmas song, dismissal.


Virtual Tea Party for a church event


Included in the goodie bags:

Virtual Tea Party for a church event
-sheet of instructions
-message note taking sheet with a church pen

Virtual Tea Party for a church event
 (affiliate links mentioned to help you locate products.)
-Twinings Christmas tea bag
-nut-free cookie
-Christmas napkin
These were enjoyed during the video message.

Virtual Tea Party for a church event
-bookmark and postcard with church related events and information.

Virtual Tea Party for a church eventVirtual Tea Party for a church event
 (affiliate links mentioned to help you locate products.)
-gift book wrapped. We gave the ladies this book.  A 12 Month Guided Journal Experience to Grow in Faith with a One Word Focus.

Virtual Tea Party for a church event
-bag of ornament making supplies with instructions.

All goodie bag supplies were packaged up in cellophane bags and tied with ribbon, a nametag and a small ball ornament.


Virtual Tea Party for a church event



The ornament craft was designed to be very simple to assemble. We didn't want anyone thinking they couldn't do this craft!

Virtual Tea Party for a church event


(affiliate links included to help you locate products.)
We used these flat wood ornament shapes with twine and designed Avery labels to fit perfectly. One for each side of the ornament.
 
Virtual Tea Party for a church event
Virtual Tea Party for a church event

(affiliate links included to help you locate products.)
Greenery stems were cut to be wrapped around the tops of the wood ornament.

Virtual Tea Party for a church event
(affiliate links included to locate products.)

Raffia ribbon was tied into bows and these plaid bows added a bit of color. The bows were applied to the ornament using Glue Dots. 
The ornament was assembled in the breakout rooms, step-by-step being completed together as a group.



Virtual Tea Party for a church event


Our Christmas Virtual Tea was wonderful! The ladies had such a great time seeing each other online. Many commented that the breakout rooms were even better than sitting around a noisy table not hearing each other.

Ladies Church Luncheon
This was a picture of my table from Christmas 2019. 


Yes, there has been some surprising blessings of having virtual events, but I still miss the in-person interactions, the hugs, smiles and fellowship of physically being together. I'm waiting impatiently for those days to come again. I know you are as well.


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Friday




Fast Food Birthday Gift Idea
My brother recently had a birthday and I was super tired of gifting him an Amazon gift card...year after year. I'm sure he was tired of that, too. So, I initiated a little creativity.


Jack in the Box gift idea


After a little research, I found out that my brother arrives to work carrying a soda from Jack in the Box. Apparently, he loves their Mellow Yellow soda fountain drink so much, that he stops by every day. I have to admit it's a strange habit I'm supporting, but I finally had a different plan than the standard Amazon card.

Jack in the Box Birthday Gift

Here's the quick gift I assembled. Take a look:

1 Jack in the Box gift card.
Jack in the Box Birthday Gift

1 cup, lid and straw from Jack in the Box.
Jack in the Box Birthday Gift

1 bag of my brother's favorite candy. Stuff the cup full of the candy and the gift card.
Jack in the Box Birthday Gift

Wrap up the cup in cellophane, tie with matching curling ribbon.
Jack in the Box Birthday Gift


Make a tag.
I love this
(aff.link) big punch. It makes instant tags.
Jack in the Box Birthday GiftJack in the Box Birthday Gift


Tie on the tag.
Now...don't you think this is much more fun than an Amazon gift card?
Jack in the Box Birthday Gift

I'd say so! Happy Birthday to my baby brother.

Jack in the Box Birthday Gift


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