5 Links for Santa

Here are 5 links to connect with the jolly old fellow himself...

1. Portable North Pole personalized video message from Santa.

2. Magic Santa personalized video message from Santa.

3. Late getting your letter to Santa? Email it!

4. Keep track of Santa as he travels the globe on Christmas Eve via the Norad Santa Tracker.

5. Games, recipes, crafts and other activities can be found at the North Pole.

Beyond the Fridge Door

My favourite section of the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa is a tucked away hallway, where dozens and dozens of children's drawings are hung. The Gallery often has art-making sessions for children and many are proudly taped up on the wall along with the bragging rights of "My child's artwork is hung in the National Gallery". Long before my husband and I had our own children we would wander up and down the hall admiring the artists' amusing views of the world. Sometimes we wouldn't make it into the rest of the gallery!

Today, I've rounded up some interesting ways to display and immortalize your children's artwork. Many ideas will make great gifts for the upcoming holidays. Sites like Vista Print and Zazzle can easily apply your child's artwork to mugs, mousepads, t-shirts, buttons, calendars and the list goes on. Have you done anything special with your kid's artwork?

Frame It

artwork collage

poster collage

artwork collage, cards, magnets and ornaments

Wear It

Custom sterling silver pendant

Custom sterling key chain

Use It

Amazing duvet cover made by tracing pictures with fabric markers!

custom stuffie made from drawings

Kabobs that KA-POW!

How is that for a snappy title? I'm always trying to make the children's meal more interesting and what can be more interesting than food stuffed onto a stick - a stick with a very sharp end. It's amazing what that element of danger does to improve a child's appetite. Here are some nifty kabobs...

cheese and fruit shapes kabobs

french toast kabobs

sandwich kabobs

pasta and meatballs kabobs

banana sprinkles kabobs