{"id":739,"date":"2014-12-27T16:55:31","date_gmt":"2014-12-27T23:55:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/?page_id=739"},"modified":"2015-07-08T17:09:23","modified_gmt":"2015-07-08T23:09:23","slug":"that-indispensable-gift-box","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/that-indispensable-gift-box\/","title":{"rendered":"That Indispensable Gift Box"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-medium wp-image-5938 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/cardboard-box-155479_1280.png?resize=300%2C264&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"cardboard-box-155479_1280\" width=\"300\" height=\"264\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/cardboard-box-155479_1280.png?resize=300%2C264&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/cardboard-box-155479_1280.png?resize=1024%2C902&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/cardboard-box-155479_1280.png?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I have something tucked away in my closet that I refer to often. Here is what is does for me:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>saves me time<\/li>\n<li>stretches my money<\/li>\n<li>prevents last minute shopping trips<\/li>\n<li>gives me incentives to help motivate my children<\/li>\n<li>keeps me feeling prepared<\/li>\n<li>enables me to take advantage, at short notice, of opportunities to serve others<\/li>\n<li>provides me with unique, creative ways to show love<\/li>\n<li>makes me well prepared for weddings, birthdays, graduations, new baby and other occasions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I am talking about my <strong>&#8220;Gift Box&#8221;<\/strong>!<\/p>\n<p>This is just a discarded grocery-store apple box, but it is what I put in it that counts!<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5937\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/hang-tags-234566_1280.jpg?resize=300%2C150&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"hang-tags-234566_1280\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/hang-tags-234566_1280.jpg?resize=300%2C150&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/hang-tags-234566_1280.jpg?resize=1024%2C512&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/hang-tags-234566_1280.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Whenever I shop, I cruise the clearance racks. I have a purpose\u2014<strong>I am on the look-out to stock my gift box<\/strong>. If I see a quality product that is marked low price because it is off-season, or for other reasons, I consider it. I want top-quality gifts, not &#8220;dollar store&#8221; things. If I find something great, I buy it and stash it in my gift box, replenished to meet the next need.<\/p>\n<p>When is the best time to shop? <strong>The week after a holiday will offer some excellent bargains<\/strong> on seasonal merchandise. Don&#8217;t go the day after the holidays such as Easter, Valentine&#8217;s, St. Patrick&#8217;s Day, however, because it takes the stores a bit of time to drastically reduce it. When it goes to 75% or even 90% off the retail price, then I am ready to shop!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Change of season also provides great bargains<\/strong>. In January, all the winter clothes go on clearance making way for summer clothing. You&#8217;ll see that happen again in July and August, as the stores clear out their summer merchandise. This is a great time to pick up seasonal clothes, a baby sun hat or a beach towel, for example, that can make a nice gift.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright  wp-image-5936\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/little-girl-570865_1280.jpg?resize=217%2C326&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"little-girl-570865_1280\" width=\"217\" height=\"326\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/little-girl-570865_1280.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/little-girl-570865_1280.jpg?resize=682%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 682w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/little-girl-570865_1280.jpg?w=853&amp;ssl=1 853w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 217px) 100vw, 217px\" \/>Look at merchandise with a creative eye. Plain red, burgundy or gold Christmas decorations, tableware, or wrapping paper can serve as Valentine&#8217;s party decor. Solid or floral pastel items from Easter, such as tablecloths, dishes, arrangements can be lovely all year long. Just avoid the dead give-aways\u2014motifs such as bunnies, pumpkin faces, or candy cane stripes. Another idea: <strong>outlandish jewelry, hats or shoes can be a fun dress-up play gift that kids will love!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Can it be remodeled?<\/strong> I once bought several white super-soft bunny stuffed animals to stash in my gift box. When I needed a baby gift, I just exchanged the Easter-themed neck ribbon to either pink or blue ribbon to make an expensive (originally) and much appreciated baby gift!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Can it be used for a different purpose?<\/strong> A bed comforter that is too bright or unusual can be a fun picnic quilt to sit on. Give it for a wedding gift, complete with plastic picnic dishes tucked inside the plastic-zippered quilt bag. Include a picnic label so the receiver knows how to use it.<\/p>\n<p>I love to buy &#8220;liquor bags&#8221;! I don&#8217;t drink but these bags (sold alongside the gift wrapping or tablecloths) are very fancy\u2014made of velvet or metallic thread tapestry, decorated with tassels or sequined, and closed with a drawstring. Most people who don&#8217;t drink, (nor give liquor as a gift), just overlook those elegant bags seeing them only as what their label declares. But when they end up on the clearance rack for next to nothing, I buy all of them as long as they are gold, silver, red, etc. and not specifically Christmas-themed! They make <strong>lovely gift-wrapping bags for small items all year long<\/strong>, that will make the receiver &#8220;ooh&#8221; and &#8220;aah&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>Another great buy I stumbled upon was a clearance sale post-Christmas on candles in big glass jars with lids. I sorted through them and selected the most multi-purpose fragrances. These large, quality candles with a $15 price tag\u00a0were marked\u00a0at 90% off. . .just $1.50 each! I give these for house-warming or friendship gifts, and they make a hit. I also bought extras, (30+) to store away as an emergency light supply just in case.<\/p>\n<p>Time to get out there and go shopping to fill that very handy &#8220;gift box&#8217;!<br \/>\n<img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: 0 !important; background: transparent;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/signatures.mylivesignature.com\/54490\/257\/E095ED040C4EDD3E333135FD5DD62823.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>May I recommend:<\/b><\/p>\n<table width=\"600\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.happyhomeschooling.com\/a-small-price\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: 1px solid black;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/louisasoccer.jpg?resize=144%2C144&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"louisasoccer\" width=\"144\" height=\"144\" border=\"1\" \/><br \/>\nA Small Price<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.happyhomeschooling.com\/dont-ask-twice\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: 1px solid black;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/balls-712026_1280.jpg?resize=144%2C144&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"balls-712026_1280\" width=\"144\" height=\"144\" \/><br \/>\nDon&#8217;t Ask Twice<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.lovetolearn.net\/Metal-Jacks\" target=\"_blank\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: 1px solid black;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/12401.png?resize=144%2C144&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"12401\" width=\"144\" height=\"144\" \/><br \/>\nMetal Jacks<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; I have something tucked away in my closet that I refer to often. Here is what is does for me: saves me time stretches my money prevents last minute shopping trips gives me incentives to help motivate my children keeps me feeling prepared enables me to take advantage, at short notice, of opportunities to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5938,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7,10],"tags":[258,256,259,257],"class_list":["post-739","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-homeschooling-parenting","category-why-homeschool","tag-budget","tag-gifts","tag-presents","tag-saving-money","entry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/cardboard-box-155479_1280.png?fit=1280%2C1128&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6IrRN-bV","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":519,"url":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/rotate-your-toys\/","url_meta":{"origin":739,"position":0},"title":"Rotate Your Toys","author":"Diane Hopkins","date":"","format":false,"excerpt":"Toys are the tools of little ones! I learned in college how stimulating a child's brain led to higher intelligence, so I always wanted to have as many as good toys as possible at my house, feeling like they would help my kids brain develop. I was on the lookout\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;How to Homeschool&quot;","block_context":{"text":"How to Homeschool","link":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/category\/how-to-homeschool\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"\/images\/hth\/toybox.jpg","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":759,"url":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/making-sunday-special\/","url_meta":{"origin":739,"position":1},"title":"Making Sunday Special","author":"Diane Hopkins","date":"","format":false,"excerpt":"Ahh, the Sabbath day! How nice it is to take a break from teaching school, from big meal prep, from doing housework or shopping. I think God gave us a great gift by establishing a day of rest. I sure need it! The culture we live in has pretty much\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Molding the Heart&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Molding the Heart","link":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/category\/why-homeschool\/molding-the-heart\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/sunset-691204_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/sunset-691204_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/sunset-691204_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/sunset-691204_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/sunset-691204_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":347,"url":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/its-mom-not-fisher-price\/","url_meta":{"origin":739,"position":2},"title":"It&#8217;s Mom&#8230;Not Fisher-Price","author":"Diane Hopkins","date":"","format":false,"excerpt":"When we spend $$ for that colorful, wonderful new toy, we are hoping, wishing, and dreaming that we can delight baby or keep our toddler busy \"for hours\" like the package says. But it turns out that toys are just toys\u2014and not Mommy. No surprise. Mommy is what children really\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Nurturing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Nurturing","link":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/category\/why-homeschool\/nurturing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/lego-615239_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/lego-615239_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/lego-615239_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/lego-615239_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/lego-615239_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1102,"url":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/begin-with-the-end-in-mind\/","url_meta":{"origin":739,"position":3},"title":"Begin with the End in Mind","author":"Diane Hopkins","date":"","format":false,"excerpt":"Ever feel like you are bumbling around amidst a three-ring circus in your attempts to homeschool? There is nothing like a new baby to restore a teacher\/mother\u2019s humility in the face of her own inadequacies! For our homeschool, this chaos repeats itself every few years with the advent of a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Goals&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Goals","link":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/category\/how-to-homeschool\/homeschooling-goals\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"lovetosave1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/lovetosave1-e1430360640397.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":399,"url":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/a-small-price\/","url_meta":{"origin":739,"position":4},"title":"A Small Price","author":"Diane Hopkins","date":"","format":false,"excerpt":"It's that time of year again! Local stores are advertising 10 cent notebooks, 59 cent pencil boxes, and extra low prices on school supplies. It's time to take my homeschooled children school shopping and buy them everything they want. That might sound a bit unnecessary, and extravagant. After all, we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Concerns&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Concerns","link":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/category\/how-to-homeschool\/homeschooling-concerns\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Soccer player Louisa (8)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/louisasoccer-300x267.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1222,"url":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/demanding-toddler\/","url_meta":{"origin":739,"position":5},"title":"Demanding Toddler","author":"Diane Hopkins","date":"","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I need help! My toddler is so demanding, and takes up much of my attention and time, that I am having trouble homeschooling my other children. Answer: It's tough\u2014I sympathize! Having a bin of interesting toys for your toddler to play with on the floor while you are reading\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;How to Homeschool&quot;","block_context":{"text":"How to Homeschool","link":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/category\/how-to-homeschool\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"baby_joseph","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/baby_joseph-226x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/739","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=739"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/739\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7268,"href":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/739\/revisions\/7268"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5938"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=739"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=739"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyhomeschooling.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=739"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}