Holiday Gift Guide for Extended Family

Your holiday gift list may consist of your husband, wife, kids, in-laws, and some friends. But what about everybody? Some of us have alot of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Sometimes it's just not possible to buy a gift for everyone in your family. You may have to be selective about who you get a gift for. And, sometimes, you know you can't get Cousin Tina a gift and leave out Cousin Mary...we don't want to start a family feud! So, maybe you should just leave everyone not in your immediate family off of your list, and just get them cards. But you wish you could get something for everyone!

Your holiday gift list may consist of your husband, wife, kids, in-laws, and some friends. But what about 'everybody'? Some of us have a lot of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Most times it's just not possible to buy a gift for everyone in your family. You may have to be selective about who you get a gift for. And, sometimes, you know you can't get Cousin Tina a gift and leave out Cousin Mary...we don't want to start a family feud!

So, maybe you should just leave everyone not in your immediate family off of your list, and just get them cards. But you wish you could get something for everyone!

Well, you can! You can get everyone something. It may not be a huge extravagant piece of jewelry...but a little something to show everyone you were thinking about them. Because we all know it's the thought that counts.
First, make a list. Write down everyone you'd love to get a gift for. Get an approximate number of how many gifts you'll need.
Second, check your budget. If your have a list of 50 people, and can spend $20 per person, good for you! Ok, back to reality! Most of us cannot do that. So, if you're like most of us, you will need to use your noggin and cut corners and save as much as we can.

Gift ideas:
Buy a big box of holiday cards. Shop around for the best prices. Sometimes you can get a great deal. If you are trying to save as much as you can, I advise getting generic and not Hallmark. Make it special by writing a cute note inside.
-You can tuck a lottery scratch-off inside. I love them! In NJ, around the Holidays, they sell a pack of six $1 scratch-offs for $5...so that's basically one free. So if you have to get 30 people gifts, you buy five packs for $25, and you get a total of 5 free...30 small gifts for $25...not too shabby!

Make your own personalized cards:
Break out your art supplies and make your own holiday cards. You can use whatever you have on hand. If you don't have anything, Michaels or AC Moore have good sales. You can use cardstock, construction paper, glue, stickers, paints, markers, and paint pens, anything you can fit into your budget.
This is also great when you have kids. They can decorate to their hearts content, and you will be spending time together

I believe that homemade and handmade gifts are the best. Think in bulk! This will be cheaper for you in the end.
Chocolate Covered Spoons. These are great to stir into coffee or hot chocolate. You can multiply the recipe to suit the amount you need.

Ingredients:
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup of either white or milk chocolate chips (If it's in your budget)
24 plastic spoons (Fit these into your budget. You can get the less expensive regular white ones, but if you can spare more money, the ones that are black or clear and more sturdy work really well for this, and look great.
Cellophane or plastic wrap
thin ribbon

Directions: How to melt the chocolate
You can do this using a double boiler, a regular pot and bowl, or the microwave and microwave safe bowl.
In the double boiler:
-Fill bottom of double boiler with water and place on low heat.
-Put semi-sweet chocolate chips in the top part of the double boiler over hot water (Not boiling!) Don't cover. Stir until smooth.
-Remove top of boiler from heat.

If you don't have a double boiler, try this:
In a regular pot with heat proof bowl:
-Simmer water on low heat in the pot
-Get a heat proof bowl that is big enough to sit on top of the pot without touching the water in the pot.
-Put semi-sweet chocolate chips in the bowl. Don't cover. Stir until smooth. Remove bowl from heat.

In the microwave:
-Melt semi-sweet chocolate pieces, in a microwave safe bowl, in microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring until smooth.

Covering the spoons:
1. Dip spoons into melted chocolate. Let excess drip back into the melted chocolate. Put spoons onto wax paper and refrigerate until chocolate hardens.
2. Following the directions above, melt the milk and white chocolates. Place chocolate into plastic bag and cut off a corner. Drizzle melted chocolate over spoons for decoration. (or you can spoon over using a back and forth motion) Refrigerate until chocolate hardens.
3. Wrap each spoon separately in cellophane or plastic wrap, tie with ribbon, and store in a cool dry place.

Creative tip: When you dip the spoons initially into the chocolate, before you put them into the refrigerator, you can add things to change the look and taste. For instance, sprinkle chunks of crushed candy canes for a peppermint kick.

Chocolate melting tip: Slowly melt chocolate over low heat. This will prevent burning and a clumpy mess

I hope by using these tips, they will spark more ideas in you. You know your own creative side, and what your family may like. Good luck and Happy Holidays!