This year nearly 52 million households will be buying toys. But with this rough economy, do we have to spend money to buy that special gift for our children? Or can we do something instead which is sincere and from our heart, that will touch their little hearts even more?

My brother once took my daughter on a special outing to the Chicago Art Museum and taught her to look at pointillism with squinted eyes. It was a moment of a lifetime for my daughter that has and will stay with her, forever.

In a similar act of genuine love, my daughter once made me a birthday presentation on her computer with all my favorite family members and my favorite movie stars set to my favorite song. It was the most precious gift I could have ever received.

With these priceless gifts in mind, here are ten things you can do (FREE) this holiday:

1. Free day at local attraction with a twist
Find out when your local museum or local attraction has a free day. Now make it a personal trip by going online and researching your favorite exhibit. When your family visits the museum, educate each other and make it a private museum tour.
The Extra Yard: Dress up in the theme of the exhibit.

2. Make a family movie
There are many sites that let you upload photos of friends and family members to an animated, holiday themed online greeting card. This will be a step above typical online greeting cards with a great personal touch. Check-out this site to create yours.
The Extra Yard: Once you become an expert, show your neighbors how you did it.

3. Take the movies indoors
Instead of spending $10 a ticket to take the family to the movies, plus the cost of popcorn, soda, and candy, watch your favorite holiday movie at home and start a family tradition. If your movie selection at home is deficient, consider borrowing a DVD from the library.
The Extra Yard: Be creative. If you are watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas, dress up as “Whoville” citizens and eat “roast beast” for dinner.

4. Board game championship
Announce your family’s annual scrabble or charades (or other board game) bowl game for the holidays. Make the championship real by printing rules, game brackets, certificates for winners, and play “home” and “away” games where each family member can host a game in their own room. Just think, a “home” game gives children a reason to clean the room.
The Extra Yard: The winner gets to plan next year’s event.

5. Bake Holiday Cookies and take to neighbors
Find your favorite holiday cookie recipe and tweak it a little to make it your family’s own secret recipe. Bake cookies together, where every person has a role, e.g. the measurer, the mixer, the baker, the quality-controller, and the packer. Then take cookies to your neighbors and see them smile.
The Extra Yard: At the end of the evening, write down the secret recipe and hide it in a special place in the house.

6. Dress up dinner at home
Eating out can be special, but do we have to go out to have a special meal? Why not dress up for a special night at home? Print the menu, light some candles, and make dinner special with everyone sitting around the table.
The Extra Yard: Tip the chef by telling them the thing you love most about them.

7. Take old clothes to the local thrift store
Spend an evening helping every family member find one of two things to take to the neighborhood thrift store. Giving together as a family makes the holiday special.
The Extra Yard: Take your family’s secret cookie recipe and hot chocolate in a flask and sip as you drive to the thrift store. Take the long way home and enjoy the lights.

8. Plan a day with grandparents or at a local elderly home
Holidays become special when you create a memory for someone else. Why not plan a day with your grandparents? Drive them around and enjoy the evening listening to old time family stories. And if your grandparents are not in town, visit the local elderly homes and spread cheers by singing carols.
The Extra Yard: Take pictures of your evening together and frame it for their holiday gift.

9. Plan a Family treasure hunt
There’s nothing quite like a good treasure hunt inside the house. Have each family member hide something special and write down a clue for the rest of the family. As the evening unfolds, you will see the competitiveness overflow.
The Extra Yard: When the game is over, ask each other about your clues and laugh when you hear the reasons behind them.

10. Take a day off and give the gift of time to your child
Finally, the best gift you can give is that of time. Take a day off, turn off your cell-phone, and spend the entire day with your child. No plans, just total enjoyment.
The Extra Yard: Take lots of pictures and view them before you go to bed. You’ll have a smile on your face guaranteed.

—————-
Arjun Sen is first and foremost a dad. He is also the author of Raising a Father: Memoirs of a dad, challenged by his daughter to live for today’s special moments, the president and founder of ZenMango marketing consulting firm, and a professor at the University of Boulder. For more information visit www.raisingafather.com.

This picture shows you the very first time my husband and I ever rode a tandem together.  We arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, to visit some old and dear friends of my husband and ride an infamously difficult 100k ride in unforgiving, beyond “hilly” terrain, much of which occured on cliffs alongside the ocean.

My husband, having ridden this ride before,  found friends that could loan us a tandem.  He knew the terrain was tough and he thought it would be much more enjoyable if we could stay together , not even considering that the 700 participants when he’d last ridden it had grown to 40,000.  Had we not been on the tandem, we would have lost each other in the first 10 miles.

We enjoyed the experience so much that the next month after that 2007 ride I was birthday-gifted with our very own tandem  and we have enjoyed it immensely ever since.

The tandem is a conversation piece with the most frequent comment from other couples being, “I could never do that with my partner– we’d be fighting the entire time.” We believe that to be a myth.

Here are the top 10 reasons we both highly recommend giving your baby-daddy an unforgettable Father’s Day gift– a bicycle built for two:

10.  Motivation.  You will both find the tandem enjoyable and schedule more rides for fitness, which will be physically and emotionally healthy for the both of you.

9.  Cooperation.  There is no other option.  And when you are cooperating on such a physical plane, it serves as an example of how much smoother the ride is if we cooperate more in all areas of our lives.

8. Commiseration.  You are both doing the same exact ride.  If one’s butt cheeks hurt, chances are your partner’s do as well.  Which leads to number 7 . . .

7. Conversation.  Tandem riding facilitates talking about many things, including the quality of your ride or how to negotiate the coming terrain — in your ride and in your life.

6. Transportation.  My husband insists that, especially for the men-folk, I report on the ease of transporting the tandem.  Much to our initial disbelief ,you do not need anything but a traditional bike rack.  It fits perfectly behind our minivan or station wagon.

5. Togetherness.  It is not uncommon for one partner to be a bit more fit or antsy than the other and this is a way to stay together on your ride without feeling the least bit of resentment.

4. Progress.  We find it fun to track our progress together — wow, our average speed went up 4 mph throughout the summer!

3. Bike clothes.  Weak reason, but if you enjoy matching — there can be some fun and games picking your shirts or getting silly for an organized ride.

2. Modeling.  It’s great for the kids to see mom and dad enjoying themselves while exercising.

1. And to repeat — Togetherness.  In our busy society, what couple gets enough of it?

Trust me, this can open a whole new door in your relationship as you so intimately share the riding experience.  Give it a spin.

The GOOD: Once all the meat is on the grill, it’s hard to remember which steak you’re cooking to rare, medium rare and well done.  If you’re entertaining, the grill is even more full and keeping track is enough to make anyone’s head dizzy.  Use Grill Charms to mark the meat before it starts cooking … insert the R charm for meat you’re cooking rare, the M charm for medium and so on.  There are even charms to keep track of spicy food and then some fun generic symbols that you can give out (like a crown, dollar sign and more) so each person has their own individual charm (like wine charms for keeping track of your wine glass at a party).  The charms are serrated so they stay in the meat easily.

The BAD: These are little suckers, so be sure to keep them in their case of a small bag so you don’t lose them.

MONEY MATTERS: You can buy sets of six for $19.95, or individual charms for $4.00 each.  They can be purchased directly from the Grill Charms site and these select retail locations.

DOIN’ GOOD: Ten percent of all purchases of the Pink Collection charm set are donated to support breast cancer research.

The MOM VERDICT

Cate says: First and foremost, I love that there is a real person (and a mom, no less!) behind this company.  I’d much rather support a grassroots business than a big box chain store any day.  While I have my own methods for keeping track of food on the grill, these would make fabulous gifts for the men in your life (think Father’s Day, anniversaries, birthdays and more) … if they’re anything like the men in my life, they’re notoriously hard to shop for, but I bet they don’t have Grill Charms!  I love the idea and the enthusiasm from Leslie Haywood, the owner.  Happy shopping!

Sarah says: My technique for keeping things organized when grilling has long involved the memorization method … of course, that method isn’t so successful when your husband jumps in to help and moves everything around. Grill Charms are a great little grilling accessory that will help you easily keep track of everything on the grates. I love that these also will help you mark steaks with different glazes and whatnot too. No more settling for a compromise in this house! Grill Charms are a hit.

We hear it all the time, “Celebrating green is expensive.” No, it’s not.

It’s true that organic foods, in general cost more than their counterparts and luxe green items are available, but so are many equally fabulous, less expensive (or even free), alternatives.

Here’s the thing. We encourage everyone to assess what they already own, or can borrow; frequent garage sales and thrift shops; re-purpose items; and do everything else they can think of to make use of what’s already be purchased. But the fact is, not many Americans are going to stop shopping altogether.

The trick is to buy judiciously. Select items that are made from sustainable materials like organic cotton, hemp, sugar cane etc. Aim to purchase only things that are made by people who are paid a decent wage and treated fairly. This often means looking for items made in the U.S.A. or labeled Fair Trade. Handmade objects from recycled materials, with as little packaging as possible and that travel as short a distance as possible to get to you, make great choices. A final aspect of green in our minds is a sense of community, so check whether a percentage of the proceeds of a particular item go to a non-profit you’d like to support.

Whether you’re looking for décor, gifts or food, there are so many wonderful items out there at reasonable prices, that celebrating green and saving green are not mutually exclusive.

Here is just a taste of our favorite decorative and gift items for this holiday season. All cost $25 or less (plus shipping) and we’ve seen and “tested” them ourselves, so we think you’ll like them.

What are the holidays without lights? This year, if you’re buying, go for LEDs. These multicolor indoor-outdoor lights from www.HolidayLEDS.com, offer all the color and brightness of your old-fashioned lights, but use approximately 90% less energy than standard incandescent string lights. They last longer and do not heat up the way incandescent do, therefore lessening the risk of fire. $16.99.

We don’t know about you, but it just doesn’t feel celebratory to us without candles. But ordinary candles are made from petroleum. The smoke can be harmful to your family’s health. Instead, opt for beeswax which are long lasting, clean burning and fill your home with the aroma of honey. Big Dipper Wax Works offers them in all sizes and configurations including these holiday pillars from $11.

Pick up one of these folding recycled chopsticks bowls and center it on your holiday table surrounded with other natural objects, for a Zenlike approach to decorating. These are not only clever and quite beautiful, they are useful and when not gracing your table, can be folded flat for storage. $18 from Estore.

Fair trade items are no longer difficult to find. These cotton napkins are made in a village women’s cooperative in Indonesia. Machine washable. Global Exchange includes a card with the napkins that shares the story behind what makes them special. $22.50 for four napkins.

Got more people than plates? Instead of paper, try bamboo. These plates are much sturdier than their paper counterparts, and will biodegrade within four to six months after disposal. Made from 100% organic bamboo, a renewable resource. 7” plates, pack of 8, $7. Other sizes available.

The best gifts in our minds are edibles. No waste and taste great too! These organic Christmas cookies are not only adorable, but melt in your mouth. Perfect for friends like us who are not chocoholics. $25 for 8 cookies. Beautiful Sweets uses gorgeous, eco-friendly recyclable gift packaging. From the post-consumer recycled boxes to the organic cotton ribbon, the entire package is completely earth friendly.

If your giftees are into chocolate, you can’t do better than a gift from www.Sjaaks.com Their organic chocolates literally melt in your mouth. This darling handmade box is filled with nine cute little dark chocolate peanut butter snowmen. $16.95

If your gift recipient can’t consume your gift, at least they can compost it or, as in the case of Botanical Paperwork’s gorgeous eco-calendar, they can plant it and end up with a lovely bouquet and reuse the 5×5” metal tin container to boot. And while you’re on the site check out all their other gorgeous offerings—cards, gift tags, and seeded papers.

Have a baby on your list? How can you do better than one of these darling caps made from recycled sweaters? Available from Thinking Mama on www.Etsy.com, where you’ll find thousands of items made by hand by creative types from around the world.

About the Authors
Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are a mother-daughter team and co-authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family available at www.CelebrateGreen.NET Corey also is the founder of www.GreenHalloween.org. You’ll find loads more ideas for celebrating green on their website and in their blog.

Photograph some of your favorite dishes and include the recipes in the book that you make and you have a fabulous gift for family and friends.  You can personalize the book from beginning to end … we loved that idea!  Kodak has generously donated TWO $25 gift cards to use when purchasing their products.

Want in?  Just tell us your favorite personalized gift to give or receive in the comments below for your entry.  For an extra entry, tweet or blog about this post (and tell us).  Two winners will be chosen by random generator at 5 pm EST today.  Hop to it!

For more gift guides, check here.

When I think about gifts for sisters, the possibilities are endless.  You can focus on their favorite sports or craft activities or items that they can use to pamper themselves.  You are only limited by your imagination.  Here are a few of our favorite highlights:

When it comes to pampering, why not start at the bottom?  These PediEggs were a big hit, and a perfect small gift for your sister.  Add some of your favorite nail polish colors, nail files and pretty soaps, and you have yourself a nice little gift bag.  [Review]

I can never have enough tote bags, and use different ones for different tasks.  This bag from b. happy is definitely one of my favorites … durable, pretty and perfect for gift giving.  [Review]

Every year, I get both my mom and sister a subscription to a magazine.  Some years, it’s renewing the same one, other years it’s a whole different one.  It’s the gift that keeps on giving, month after month, and you can’t go wrong with Everyday Foods from Martha Stewart.  [Review]

Is your sister handy around the house?  Does she spend her Saturdays in Weekend Warrior mode?  Then you might want to check out these handy tool kits, which have nearly everything she’ll need for the little jobs that need to get done.  [Review]

If your sister loves gourmet items, then she will appreciate these marshmallows.  You can make a nice gift basket with these, generously sized coffee mugs and organic chocolates.  Who wouldn’t love a gift like that?  [Review]

If your sister is juggling as many balls as the rest of us, then this planner might be perfect for keeping her schedule on track and organized.  And who doesn’t love pink?  [Review]

Please note: The Voice of Mom is an independent, go-to site for moms. We are not affiliated with any of the products mentioned.

For more gift guides, check here.

With all that we know about the environment, it’s no wonder that families everywhere are trying to live a little greener. As moms, Cate and I surely understand. We want to make sure that our young families have a world to grow old in. That’s why we launched The Voice Of Mom with a focus on eco-friendly products first. And if you are looking for a few good environmentally friendly gifts for this holiday season, look no further.

Backpacks that double as stuffed friends have been around forever, and they are usually cheesy renderings of bears and cats. Not so with Ecozoo Animal Bags, which are absolutely adorable. Made of a sturdy, durable canvas, there are four animal bags available in the Ecozoo line: panda, puppy, elephant or pig. And, these aren’t just another cute bag, they are actually roomy too. $29.99 [Review] [Buy]

For the women in your life looking for a natural, eco-friendly bag, Eastsport Natural Collection is a great, roomy, durable line. Perfect for day-tripping, jaunts to the beach and more, the backpacks, messenger bags and totes are made from 100 percent cotton and even come with hang tags that contain seeds (plant them and they will actually grow!). Prices start at $45. [Review] [Buy]

Rain boots are in. Yes, I know. Crazy, right? But who wants to be running around with soggy shoes while trying to get your daughter to preschool or your son to soccer practice? No one. But forget the fisherman’s special dark green standard issue. The rain boots that are hot today come in pretty colors and cute designs, like the Hatley Horses in Pasture Boots. These comfortable boots are made with eco-friendly materials. And, as an added bonus, 20% off all of online sales for every product this month will go to the John Wayne Cancer Institute’s Breast Center in California. [Review] [Buy]

My son and I read books.  A lot.  So I can’t tell you how much I loved this True Green Kids book from the folks at National Geographic.  He is very into recycling with me, so this just brought it one more step further for him … and then some.  The book is filled with easy things to do and ones that are a bit more challenging, so it will grow with him.  Love it.  [Review] [Buy]

Another item that we loved getting introduced to is Idbids.  A small stuffed character along with a book, backpack and sneaky education … absolutely perfect.  We divvied up the set and my 9-month-old daughter snuggles with the Cloud character and my son loves the book.  Win-win and perfect for the budding eco-friendly munchkin on your list.  [Review] [Buy]

I am a big, big fan of reusable totes and have quite the growing collection.  I think, so far, my favorites have been these Envirosax, and they are constantly in my purse at the ready.  They fold up nice and easily and weigh next to nothing.  Love, love, love them.  [Review] [Buy]

Although I didn’t think I’d be a fan of The Better World Shopping Guide at first, once I cracked it open I was smitten from the first look.  This book is small enough that you can just throw into your tote bag and have at the ready any time you have a question about a company’s eco-friendly quotient.  [Review] [Buy]

Not for gift-giving by itself, this Dapple dishwashing liquid is a great stocking stuffer or something small to stick in a basket that you assemble for your favorite mom.  I didn’t know such a thing even existed before The Voice of Mom was introduced to it, but now I’m hooked.  [Review]

Today we have such an item … the Ecozoo Animal Bags from EcoGear.  Inspired from a family’s day at the beach, the company was born just a few short years ago and now has a whole line of products, perfect for everyone on your list.

The GOOD: There are four animal bags available in the Ecozoo line; you can choose from a panda, puppy, elephant or pig.  Trust me when I tell you, these are way cuter than their pictures.  The backpacks are made with materials that you can feel good about, namely organically-grown cotton, sustainable wood accents, non-toxic dyes, and recycled plastic components.  I love the uniqueness of this product – you’re not going to see many of these, if any, on the backs of the kids at your local playground, I promise you.  Inside pockets keep small items safe.

The BAD: The space inside is a little on the small side – this is not a bag that you’re going to use for your kid’s first sleepover.

MONEY MATTERS: The Ecozoo Animal Bags retail for $29.99 and can be purchased online.

The MOM VERDICT

Cate says: I loved this little bag from the moment I laid eyes on it.  While it’s not hugely spacious inside, it *is* big enough to throw some treasured items in for a long car ride with the kids … you know, the toys to keep them quiet occupied.  Or for a trip to grandma’s house.  When a friend babysat my daughter recently, I could fit everything she’d need in this bag, except for the too-big box of wipes.  The blue on the elephant is pale enough that it works just as well for girls (although my son thinks it’s too pale to be a boys’ blue).  The bag is durable beyond belief and can well stand up to the potential beating it may take with kids.  We’ll be getting a lot of use out of this one, for sure.

Sarah says: I was so excited when this bag arrived that I gave it to my three-year-old son right away. His eyes lit right up and he immediately put it on. It’s a definite hit here. (Note to self: don’t give cute backpacks to poor kid 30 min before school — where backpacks aren’t allowed.) In terms of size, I found this to be far more generously sized than most backpacks I have seen that fit my preschooler’s body. And in cuteness, this is tops. Like Cate’s family, we will be getting a lot of use out of this.