Unwrapping Experience: 10 Gift Ideas too Big to Fit Under the Christmas Tree

When it comes to gift giving, we try to give the kids more experiences than things. Try and fail, but try nonetheless. I hate cleaning, so less to have to pick up, dust, move around, or throw away is fine by me!

I've shared in the past lists that were inspired by Northeast Ohio and the Cleveland area but this is the ultimate list of experiences that you can give to your family and friends that will make them remember you all year long.

Unwrapping Experience: The Ultimate Gift Idea List too Big to Fit Under the Christmas Tree

Louisville, Homewood Suites, and First Oireachtas

About a year ago, my kids started Irish dance class.

When they started, I wasn't sure how far it would go. I found the studio on Groupon while looking for a deal on a spa day. My daughter had taken classes before, but I never took her back after winter break. So, there was a studio in our city, young energetic teachers, and her best friend was willing to try too! Seemed like a giant win.

I brought the idea up to my son about trying it for the month and he said, "Sure! Let's try for a year." He is still at it! He won't perform or compete, but he helps his sister practice.

Rowan performed at her first Feis at the start of summer. She did well, as in she got up and performed in her first official competitions. At the end of summer, her teachers asked her and her best friend to perform at Oireachtas.

What's Oireachtas? (O-ROCK-TUS)

Oireachtas translates to gathering. And, it's a dance competition when referring to Irish dance. Outside of the Irish Dance world, it is the national parliament or the legislature of the Republic of Ireland. 

This is an honor to be asked by their teachers to join an 8-hand Ceili girl team. And, my daughter performed with a mixed team with the two boys in their age group.

I didn't realize what a big deal this was when they were asked. I'm thrilled that they still want to go to class, but this is not a cheap sport when it comes to competition. Justifying the costs on a budget often overshadowed the experience for me. Seeing her perform and enjoying herself made the sacrifices worth it.

Off to Kentucky!

Are You Yeti for it? SMALLFOOT Coming Home in Time for the Holidays! Enter to Win!

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the DVD for this conversation. Opinions are my own.

Can you believe that there has never been a movie about fun-loving Yetis who discover that there really are humans in the world? And, it's a musical! 

Since receiving Smallfoot, we've watched it several times and I can honestly say, it hasn't gotten old, yet. I'm sure that it will, but for now, it's been a kick to hear the older one and the younger one singing along (and sometimes in the car) to the music.

Besides the music, the animations are large and bold, even on a smaller screen. The writing is clever and original. I mean overcoming the yeti to the human language barrier is pretty humorous.

An animated adventure for all ages, with original music and an all-star cast, Smallfoot turns a myth upside down when a bright young yeti finds something he thought didn’t exist—a human.

News of this “smallfoot” throws the simple yeti community into an uproar over what else might be out there in the big world beyond their snowy village, in an all-new story about friendship, courage and the joy of discovery.

Smallfoot stars Channing Tatum (The LEGO® Batman Movie, the Jump Street films) as the yeti, Migo, and James Corden (Trolls, The Emoji Movie) as the Smallfoot, Percy. Also starring are Zendaya (Spider-Man: Homecoming), Common (Selma), LeBron James (upcoming Space Jam 2), Danny DeVito (The Lorax, Oscar nominee for Erin Brockovich), Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin), Yara Shahidi (TV’s Black-ish), Ely Henry (TV’s Justice League Action), and Jimmy Tatro (22 Jump Street).

Enter to win a SMALLFOOT Blu-ray Combo Pack