Christmas is coming like it or not and a big part of the Christmas season is coming up with special Christmas  Decor  to set your home apart, and a Christmas Door Decor to welcome your guests, not break the bank and be easy to pull off, lasting throughout the entire holiday season.  At Anything Joe's we have great personalized Christmas Door Decor solutions!

If you are a theme lover, then beginning with your Christmas Door Decor, guests and family should follow your theme throughout the holiday house.  Your front door is what a passing neighbor or your Christmas party guests see first and maybe their only impression of how you and your family celebrate.  Flashing lights and Santa Claus probably means there are kids about and classic greenery, red berries and big red bow speak of a more relaxed and classic Christmas celebration. As they enter, carry the theme throughout with touches of Holiday cheer that carry the theme.  We like using pieces from years past and have Christmas items saved from Moms and and Grandmoms to keep the family traditions going.

At our home we are big into the greenery and lights.  Since the door is usually the first thing up and the last thing down, we make sure this decoration is long lasting.  Artificial greenery is put around the door first with a sprinkling of lights.  Close to the Christmas parties, live greenery is added.  We always save the extra branches from our live tree to mix in around the door and throughout the house.  Nothing is more welcoming during the holidays than the smell of fresh clipped evergreens.  This Christmas Banner idea is perfect too if you have a street facing wall or a wall space beside your front door.

Last year at Anything Joe's we began offering personalized Christmas Door Decor of personalized Christmas Banners.  We changed our own front door decor from a wreath on the door to a Christmas Banner, personalized with our family name.  This was a welcome change, totally unique (no one else in the neighborhood had one) and easy to put up receiving many compliments.  We still had the greenery around the door, lights, but the large banner hung with red ribbon was eyecatching and the family name adds that custom touch. We followed this approach at the back door with a smaller complimentary Christmas banner with a splash of greenery. 

The whole concept is topped off with a hand painted whimsical Christmas Family Portrait Canvas.  We used this as the centerpiece for our Christmas Buffet, but it could just as easily be used at the front door.  Each family member was included.  We used the one with everyone peeking out from behind the tree, but there are four choices.

Maybe these thoughts on Christmas Door Decor will give spark your decorating genius to take a new approach this year.  Have a wonderful time coming up with your Holiday Door Decorations!  We're here to help if we can!

Lets face it, Halloween has to be one of the most fun holidays to decorate for, especially when you have kids around the house.  They love everything spooky and gross, but you'd like to have something special to celebrate family, yet in keeping with the Halloween Spirit!  So if you're looking for a fun new element for your Halloween decor.  Anything Joe's has come up with a great new decorative Halloween Sign, personalized with charicatures of you and your family, Stick man style!

Anything Joe's has long been known for the "Mom Purse" with the stick family kids.  We are taking it a step further this year and creating totally unique Holiday Gfits.  Our hand painted Halloween Sign for the Family is a wonderfully fun way to celebrate family at this spooky holiday.  Painted on Artist Canvas Board and hung with cute grosgrain ribbon, this 10" x 20" sign will look perfect by your front door or on the Halloween Party Buffet.

Each is custom painted with the family members as you describe them, tell us their costume, hair color, include the pets too if you like, and we take it from there,  the fuller the canvas the better.  Here is pictured a Dad as the knight and Mom as the queen and three little boys, two as sport figures and one as a pirate.  The boys wanted the dog included too.

While you will love this as part of your Halloween Decor, the kids will love seeing these charicature stick figures of themselves.  We thought this was an extra special Family Halloween Celebration idea that you'd want to see!  If you're crafty, you can create yourself, or just save the time and let us do it for you!

If you need other unique Halloween Ideas, click here to view all the options!

Now that school is back in, the next big holiday on the kids minds will be Halloween!  The one day of the year, when asking for candy is cool and acting out and dressing up is accepted by parents, teachers and friends alike!  This is  a kids dream of a holiday!  A holiday where their unique and creative ideas can shine!

Halloween ideas are rampant, but will take some serious thought and preparation from both the kids and the parents.  Who or what are you going to be this year is the first big question.  Next, are you going to create your own Halloween costume or just buy off the shelf?  Lets hope you can help create their own Halloween costume!    Whether it is their favorite pop star, a simple ghost with a sheet and two eyes cut out, most costumes can be created from items right in your own closet or attic and these will be the most memorable and also the most affordable.

Of course this is not an option for everyone, but there are ways to still make it a Personalized Halloween even  if you can't stitch up a costume.  And the candy, how are you going to carry it??  A halloween bucket, bag or if you're expecting a big haul, how about a pillowcase!

At Anything Joe's Personalized Gifts for Kids, we've featured bags, of every size, but the cutest and most enduring choice for a Halloween Candy tote idea are the personalized Halloween Buckets hand painted by our artists. 

These sturdy Halloween buckets, 10"H   come in Black, Orange and Dark Purple and are personalized with the child's name, a Halloween Candy design and feature a nylon rope handle.  Strong enough to carry anyones take on Halloween evening!  This is a great way to make their Halloween experience more personal.  The buckets can also be used over and over for several years and they are a great place to store the Halloween Candy until it's all gone.

Need a more customized theme?  We can do this too, we can do something to match their Princess Costume, Super Hero, or whatever character they envision!

These Personalized Halloween Buckets are also great for whoever greets at your front door to pass out the candy.  Another choice for your Front Door Ghoul would be our personalized Halloween Snack Bowl.  This can be painted with the family name, such as, "THE JOHNSON'S TREATS" and will look great as you dish out the candy or on your counter for the Halloween Party!

OK, so now that we have that out of the way, we always like to include our

Top Halloween Safety Tips:

So, as you prepare your child for the Candy Grab Night, remind them of these points and then be sure to escort your little trick-or-treater on his rounds or make sure that there is a responsible adult present with them.

1. Stay on the sidewalk, if there is one, if not, stick close to the curb, facing oncoming traffic.
2. Choose the safest route, not the shortest! Emphasize the importance of crossing only at corners. Crossing mid-block increases your risk of an accident.
3. Remind kids to look both ways (left-right-left) before crossing the street, and don't assume that motorists will yield to you.
4. Limit your territory to familiar streets and neighbors. Make it clear if certain areas or houses are off-limits. There's advantages to trick-or-treating with a group: there's safety in numbers, and it's more fun!
5. Halloween is a great time to remind kids about stranger danger! Teach your child to be polite but cautious around neighbors they haven't met, and to never, ever enter a stranger's home or car.
6. Beware of black cats…and other nocturnal critters. Halloween, with its constantly ringing doorbells and throngs of people, can make even calm pets nervous. Advise your child to steer clear of pets he or she doesn't know, and consider removing your own pet from all the action.
7. This one is never popular…but don't let kids sample their treats until you inspect them. To lessen the disappointment, serve up a fun, Halloween-themed meal first. How about a Worm Sandwich (hot dogs cut into squiggly strips, curled up on a bun)? Or Spaghetti and Eyeballs (with strategically-placed olives embedded into the meatballs)?
8. Set rules regarding candy consumption, starting on Halloween night. It's no coincidence that physicians see a rise in upset stomachs after Halloween!  A great idea we heard was to once you get home, divide the candy into 7 bags, ziplock sandwich sized, so they will have a weeks worth of candy.  Keep it in the kitchen in a safe, unreachable place and divvy it out each day!  Anything left over seven days worth, divide into bags and take to the local nursing home or shelter, they will appreciate it so much!
9. Spook-proof your yard for visiting trick-or-treaters. Clear the walkway of wet leaves and other obstacles; turn on all the lights. If your decorations require extension cords, get them out of the way.
10. As far as Jack o' Lanterns go, never let young children near carving tools. Non-toxic paint, stickers, and push-in picks are safe decorating alternatives. Or let your child draw the face, while you do the carving. Instead of candles, illuminate your pumpkin with a safe, battery-operated alternative.
11. Falls are the leading cause of accidental injuries on Halloween, according to the National Safety Council. So shorten that hem, leave the high heels home, and make sure you think safety!
12. Get the pictures before you start!  Stay focused on helping them have a great time!

This time of year our minds start preparing for the next upcoming Holiday, EASTER!

The Easter tradition at our house include a personal visit by Peter Rabbit who left our full to the brim Easter Basket on the front steps (bunnies don't do chimneys and can't open the door my Mom said).  Along with the basket he would scatter a trail of eggs for us to find before we began dressing in our Easter finery and heading off to church, our pockets full of chocolate that always melted before we could eat it.

We now see more and more that this holiday has become one of gift giving, but the key is still the Easter Basket.  But the basket is now larger and a container for many other gifts, along with the candy.

Our three favorites this year are our Sol Totes, a "croc bag" that is made of the same material as a croc and will serve as their purse or beach tote all summer.  So in these days of watching the budget, it is a two fold gift that will be a hit and used all spring and summer on beach, lake or pool trips.

Our next favorite is the traditional personalized wicker Easter Basket for kids with the Chambray liner.  This is a traditional gift that will bring excitement to Easter morning.  Large, deep and lightweight this basket will become part of your Easter Tradition.

Last but not least are our pesonalized Easter Basket bags that are the perfect size for filling and for the Easter Egg Hunt and when the holiday is over, "crush flat" for storage until next year.

So happy Easter Basket filling and Easter Egg Hunts to all!

Here's a great new idea for a Personalized Easter Basket that will have year round use, the Sol Tote or better known as the Croc Bag will be perfect for the Easter Bunny to use for delivering his treats.

Looking for a useful personalized Gift to serve as their Easter Basket? This is the best choice around. Make a wonderful presentation and then they can use it all year as a purse, beach tote, shower caddy, boat bag, etc.

This will definitely be the coolest Easter Bunny Delivery on the block!

Easter is just around the corner and this means the Easter Bunny needs a way to deliver his goodies. Having a special Easter Basket is one of the year's highlights for children. When I was a child the Easter Bunny would just leave the basket of chocolate and candies on our front steps and it was such a thrill to open the front door Easter Sunday morning to see what he had left for me. My Mom would say that he might have dropped some eggs in the bushes, so we would then head to search and find even more treasures! We would then dress in our Easter best and head out to the Easter Morning Service at church, pockets full of treats!

Some things don't change, but we are finding that Easter has become a little more elaborate in the Gift Giving area. Parents and grandparents alike are wanting the Easter Bunny to deliver his goodies in containers that have more than a one time use. We offer Easter Baskets with gingham liners, plastic Easter Buckets and fabric Easter Bags, all uniquely personalized and decorated by our artists, but still fairly traditional.

This year though we have found the perfect Easter Basket idea, the Sol Tote, perfect to hold all the Easter Treats the Bunny can muster up and can be used right into the spring and summer and bringing lots of smiles and comments as to what a clever guy the Easter Bunny is! These rubbery totes are made of the same material as the popular "Crocs Shoes" and the bottom of the bag even looks like the bottom of the Crocs. Your kids will even call it the Croc Bag!

Our Personalized Sol Tote with the Easter Bunny "Fobbz" will be a big hit for the Easter Bunny to deliver his goodies and then it can be used year round. The Sol Tote makes a great gift bag, shopping bag, college shower caddy, diaper bag, garden tote, bath tub toy holder, book bag, lunch tote, beach bag, etc. So this is an Easter Basket that is perfect for any age. Not only do our colorful waterproof totes get attention, but our interchangeable Fobbz allow you to express your own style or interest.
 

Practical and waterproof. What mom could ask for more in a bag that's as versatile as your imagination and your needs. Made from the same type of material as Crocs, Sol Totes are also easy to personalize with their own charms called Fobbz, ranging from cool and funky to pretty and feminine, to playful kids' charms.

These fun bags come in two sizes, large which is perfect for adults and older kids and the small which is purse sized for tweeners or tote size for little kids The large would be a perfect go-to mom bag for carrying toddler gear and it's also roomy enough for a diaper bag for the beach or picnics. These will be incredible as a beach bag, and great for a tote for teachers to carry to and from school. The small size Sol Tote would be an excellent graduation gift for someone heading off to college as a shower caddy, and cool tween's will love this as a personalized purse.

The photo shows the Sol Tote with the Easter Bunny Fobbz. Fobbz are "add-ons" that you can put on the bag much like the Crocs Jibbitz. There are several of these to choose from to personalize the Sol Tote even more than just their name. So put on your thinking cap and make your Easter Bunny list now so that he can deliver them on Easter Morning this year. He'll be the most popular Easter Bunny in town!

To view go to: http://www.anythingjoes.com

OK, so I'm not a poet, but we do have some really neat unique personalized Valentine Gifts.   Why not give something useful instead of just flowers, cards or candy.  Better yet combine any of these and have a wonderful gift.

Our personalized acrylic tumblers are perfect small gifts to fill with candy and give those special folks who need to know they are on your list! 

Of course any of our Personalized Gifts are great choices of gifts.  A personalized tote for Mom would be a wonderfully unique Valentines Gift.

Browse through the many choices of unqique personalized gifts at Anything Joe's

The answer to that question would be a resounding yes.  Just ask almost any parent who has found out about Elf on the Shelf or the kids who wake up to find him every pre Christmas morning.

Every so often a Christmas Tradition takes hold and becomes a part of our lives.  In the last six years there has been a tradition revived by a mother/daughter team that has brought excitement and good behavior home for the holidays!  Author Carol Abersold began this tradition with her family in the '70's and a few years back 'packaged' the idea and made it easy for everyone to start this same tradition with their children.  We began selling this item a few years back and it is always sell out by the end of the first couple of weeks of December, but folks still try to track it down.  It's called the Elf on the Shelf! 

The Elf on the Shelf concept is simple, but must be followed closely to be a success in your home.  After purchasing the elf set, you study first so you know what parts of the story to emphasize when telling.  Pick a quiet night and make it a family event, invite the Grandparents over and have the best storyteller read the book to the kids. 

In the story the Elf, Your Elf, must be named to become magic.  Thereafter, each night he will report into to Santa, telling if you've been good or bad and then before you awake he returns to his watch, but he will land in a different spot, so each morning the kids get up to see where he has landed....this is how you know he is magic!  Now you can't touch him or play with him because he will lose his magic....he just sits and watches all day long!

This tradition is growing each and every year and has now been adopted into daycares, schools and thousands of homes across the land.  The best success stories of course come from the kids and here is our favorite that we've heard in our store:

A little boy came in and told us, "hey I got one of those elves!  His name is Ruckus.  Last year, one time I was so bad, that elf didn't come back for two days!  So I had to straighten up and then he came back!  Mom said he was embarrassed that I had been so bad!"

Christmas traditions are fun to build and see how they grow each year.  It might be through decorating your family Christmas tree with  personalized Christmas Ornaments or decorating the front Holiday Doors.  And who could leave out hanging your personalized Christmas stockings on the mantle, it all adds up to family fun and Christmas traditions to last a lifetime.

It is always exciting when a company so well known for their children's gifts comes out with something new.

This year Stephen Joseph Gifts, maker of the popular quilted toddler backpacks, has introduced their very first lineup of Christmas products, of the same quality and kid friendly designs featured on their backpacks.

The Stephen Joseph Christmas Stockings and Quilted Christmas Aprons feature several cute Christmas Stocking designs to choose from, Santa, Snowman, Reindeer and Christmas Tree.  These are the designs that your kids will love to call "My Stocking" year after year.

Their quilted Christmas aprons are perfect for those days before the holiday when they spend the afternoon with Grandmother baking cookies or as your hostess' assitant at the Christmas party.

Because this was Stephen Joseph's first year at producing their Quilted Christmas lineup, they only ordered enough to fill their initial orders, so these items will be in short supply.

At Anything Joe's, Personalized Gifts for Kids, we feature many personalized gifts that are perfect under your Christmas tree and all year round.  So if you are looking for fun new Christmas ideas take a look, we are sure you can find a unique personalized gift for your family and friends.

Every year as we move into the Holiday Season, you will be bombarded with invitations to attend numerous Christmas and New Year's Parties thrown by friends, co-workers, employers and family that are "must attends". 

There may be some of these parties you feel lucky to have been included in the guest list and want to do everything just right from the RSVP to the outfit to the Hostess Gift that etiquette demands you bring... or does it. 

We weren't sure, so we did our homework and this is what Emily Post recommends:

"When should I bring a host or hostess gift?

Drop In or Cocktail parties
Host and Hostess gifts are completely optional for cocktail parties so it's up to you.  A bottle of wine or a batch of blueberry muffins for the next morning—or something seasonal, like an ornament—would be thoughtful. Be sure to enclose a gift card so the host won’t wonder whose thought it was that counts.

Dinner party
Yes, bring a gift, but keep it simple and under $25. Anything that distracts the host may be a nuisance. A bottle of wine, a small potted plant, a flower arrangement already in a vase, candles, or soaps are better bets. Present the gift to your host when you arrive, or leave it on an entry way table if your host isn’t there to greet you.

Casual get together such as brunch
Gifts are optional. You may choose instead to bring something to the meal—a side dish, dessert or drink. But ask: just showing up with a tray of Danish puts the host on the spot.

Overnight stay
A gift is mandatory. You can present the gift upon your arrival, during your stay, or after your exit. Consider giving your hosts something you note in the course of your visit that would be right for them, like a tray Holiday Tray.  The longer the stay, the more expensive or elaborate the gift. For example, for a weekend stay, you may decide to send flowers. If you’ve stayed for three nights or more, a gift certificate to the host’s favorite spa or restaurant would be a good bet.

What do you give the host who has everything?
Everyone likes a thank-you. Even the simplest token can have an impact—flowers, homemade jam, or a batch of your fabulous chocolate cookies.

Should you send something if you're not attending?
There’s no need to send a gift to a host or hostess if you’re not attending the event.

If I call a host the next day to thank her, must I also send a note? Is an email acceptable?
A call the next day is always thoughtful. For a dinner party, a phone call is enough. For informal gatherings among close friends, either a call or an email is fine. But after an overnight visit, a handwritten note is the way to go.

If a dinner party guest brings me a special gift, should I acknowledge that thank-you gesture with a thank-you note?
A verbal thanks is sufficient.  But if you didn’t get to thank your guests at the party, you do need either to call or to drop a short note so that your guest knows you received the gift.

If I bring a gift or a contribution to a dinner, do I still need to send a thank-you note afterward?
If you’ve brought a gift or contributed to dinner and said thanks verbally for a wonderful evening, a written note isn’t necessary.

Perfect Holiday Hostess Gifts from Anything Joe's

• Personalized Family Christmas Ornaments
• Christmas Platters
• Wine Bottle Collar
• Cookie or Cheeze plates, perhaps with the host’s monogram
• Christmas Banner

When to give?
If it’s a dinner party, offer your gift when you arrive. Overnight guests can give upon arrival or during their stay. A gift can also be sent once you return home, once you’ve had a chance to see what the host may need."

So enjoy your parties and remeber that the act of giving a gift will enhance your Holiday experience as much or more than those receiving the gift!

(Host and Hostess Gift Etiquette rules adapted from the Emily Post Web Site)

Christmas Traditions can be treasures that will last for a lifetime.  We all have them, whether its when you put up the Christmas tree, how you decorate, the Christmas ornaments you hang,  the food you serve, the Cookies for Santa Claus and his reindeer....   Whether you have a new family or just want to develop Christmas traditions that will be carried on by your children we have some great ideas.

When I was growing up, there was a particular routine that is still the basis for my Christmas traditions.  My Dad had three holiday jobs, actually four.  Put up the outside lights on the shrubs, light the Christmas Door Decorations,  bring in the live Christmas tree and set it up and then of course, he cooked the turkey and the ham for Christmas Eve Dinner and Christmas Day dinners.

Everything else was left up to me and Mom.  We did all the decorating, hauling down box after box of Christmas ornaments, lights, nativities, and assorted Christmas "doodads" from the attic.  It usually was a two day process.  Day one, lights and tinsel on the tree, Christmas Door   When it came to putting the ornaments on the tree, each one had a story...."this was on our first tree, this was one your brother made, we got this on vacation.  My Mom's pride and joy was a personalized Christmas ornament  purchased on a fall trip to the mountains with all of our names on it.   It was a family of hillbillies, straw hats and all, hauling a Christmas tree.  Corny, literally since it was made of corn cobs, but she loved it.

Today there are personalized Christmas ornaments available to represent every member of your family.   There are personalized Christmas ornaments for ballerinas, athletes, nurses, firemen and your hair dresser.  You start with Baby's First Christmas.  Then each year as they grow or as they mature,  you add a Christmas ornament that reflects their favorite thing at this stage of life.  For a little boy, it may start with a Train engine,  then move to a race car, then Soccer Star and finally to an Our First Christmas for him and the fiance. 

A great gift for any family, yours, neighbors or coworkers are the personalized family Christmas ornaments as I mentioned earlier.  Ones with a place for Dad, Mom and the Kids or for just the Grandkids.  There are elves, snowmen, stockings, kids in the bed, etc.

One last Christmas Tradition that is growing in popularity is the Elf on the Shelf.  This hardbound book comes with your own "family elf" who will be reporting back and forth to Santa each and every night to tell if you've been good or bad.  Now every house needs one of these for the holidays and the kids love to search for him each day to see where he landed after his report to the North Pole.

A neat family tradition you could start is to get the basic tree all deocrated, but just after you light the tree, let each child place "their" personalized Christmas ornament on the tree as the finisthing touch.  Of course some may need some help, but it will make your tree more special and as you sit back and enjoy the tree after everyone else goes to bed, you will see not just a Christmas Tree but your family.   So send that elf off to the North Pole and enjoy your cozy and  wonderful Christmas tradition.