lots of times it's not what's IN the package as much as it is the FACT of the package. So you could get a bunch of identical gift boxes, and fill them w/ just-slightly-fancy or slightly unusual candy--not that many pieces, really, so a large bag could cover lots of people. Then do some sort of slightly fancy wrapping--use a color ink-jet printer to print out a "sleeve" that simply wraps around the middle of the box. Look at Martha Stewart Weddings for wedding-favor packing ideas.

Here are some sites that might help you. http://www.primdoodles.com/printables21.asp http://www.itsjust4u.com/popcorntopper.html http://alenkasprintables.com/jiffypop.shtml Some cute graphics http://home.att.net/~scorh3/ChristmasPage.html

Maryliz, Way back when my kids and nieces and nephews were little, our whole family would gather at my mom and dad's on Christmas Eve.....Mom always made Chop Suey. We would all gather hands and sing Silent Night and then Jingle Bells before dad handed out presents. Dad passed away in 1979 and mom couldn't handle the big house anymore, families got bigger and kids moved here and there.....it just isn't the same. Anyone who can, still gets together in the hometown of Battle Creek MI at a time when it's more convenient for all concerned. This year, it's the 29th. A lot of the family still gathers, my sister makes the chop suey and mom is the taster and tells her what is needed. The gifts are now put in individual sacks for each child and of course, mom. Every year we think this will probably be the last Christmas she'll be with us, but she prevails! GO MOM! They still sing Silent Night and Jingle Bells and usually call me so I can join in with them. Now I'm all misty eyed...... SharonG/FL

I've been reading this but hadn't posting because I don't really have any advice to offer (having our own unresolved behavioral issues). We found out last year that SS's teacher (in complete disregard of published school rules) was rewarding the class with candy if they'd behaved decently. We were not happy. I have no idea why the kids weren't just expected to behave in school (this was second grade at that time) or why the teacher felt bribery was in order for what should just be a normal requirement, but that's what she did. We briefly talked about asking her to not give SS candy, but that didn't seem fair because he's always been well-behaved in school, so not only would he have been singled out but he'd miss out as well. The problem, of course, is that the teacher instilled the belief that sweets are a reward for doing something that they should have already been doing anyway. To compound the problem, DH was rewarding SS with dessert (pudding or applesauce) but only if he ate his dinner - normal enough, but over my protestations because I could see the writing on the wall on this one. DH kept saying that it was fine because SS was so thin (he still is) - I kept saying very bad idea because he especially needs healthy food and not empty calories. And that's where we are - now SS expects sweets at both lunchtime and dinner, and feels cheated if he doesn't get them. He's not yet been sneaking them (he did once, two years ago) but I wouldn't be surprised if it comes to that - because he's now becoming accustomed to getting at least one sweet on a daily basis. If/when that time comes, I'm putting my foot down and completely banning all sweets from this house until we're all sugar-detoxed! It's appalling to me. When SS hardly ever normally was given sweets, he'd hardly ever choose to eat them - we'd always end up throwing out candy from Halloween and Easter. But after his school, of all places, acted like it was normal to eat candy every day, SS has not surprisingly been asking for a lot more sugar products. And we wonder why kids are obese and diabetic at age six now....