CUTE WAY TO GIVE CASH FOR CHRISTMAS

Well I made it!  I got all my present bought and wrapped in time for Christmas.  The cookies are baked, given to others and eaten.  Christmas music has been played over and over. 
Parties have been given and attended.

So, I'm set.  Bring on Christmas!!!!!

My last gift I had to worry about was for my nephew.  I had no idea what to get him.  He kept saying he just wanted money.  I hate just giving an envelope with money in it.

Last year he wanted money too.  I ended up giving him but I wrapped up $1, $5, $10 and $20 in crape paper to look like a snowball and he had to unwrap the whole thing to get his full gift. 

He thought it was a lot of  fun. 

This year I had no idea what to do to make it fun.  Then I thought about giving him a little Christmas tree with the ornaments being made out of money.

I just folded $1, $5, $10 and $20 bills into fans and tied them on a little silver tinsel tree I got at Target.

It's going to take him awhile to get this money off.  I think he will have fun with it. 

Do you have any clever ways to give cash to someone for their present?  If so, let me know.  I would love to get some new ideas for next year because I'm sure his wish list will be the same...cash.

Merry Christmas everyone!  Hope Santa brings you everything your heart desires. 

A VERY UNIQUE CHRISTMAS TREE

I love seeing the trees all decorated at the malls.  They are so big and have beautiful ornaments and lights.

However, the tree over at South Coast Plaza on the side that used to be known as Crystal Court, is different then any other mall tree I've ever seen. 

It's very big!  Over three stories tall.

At the top of the tree is a large snow globe.

Just below the snow globe area is where all the different types of Santa, Father Christmas and St. Nicks from all over the world can be found.

As you move further down the tree, you will find a very large Santa hanging ornaments on the tree above him.

Then even further down, you will find a village of houses.  All decked out for Christmas and very detailed.

I would love to live in one of these little homes.

If you look close you can even see some shadows of people inside the houses.

Finally at the very bottom you will find a train running on a track that goes around and even through the large tree trunk.

This is a tree that you can't just glance at and see everything.  You must take some time to see all the hidden treasures.  Like the white bunnies hiding in the snow.

The tree looks totally different from every floor on the mall too.  It is so fun to go on the different levels and see what you can find.

This tree can suck you in and make you feel like you have entered a fairy tale.  It's also fun to watch the faces on the children's faces (and adults) as they walk around finding more and more cute hidden things.

This tree has been at this location for years and years.  At first I didn't like it.  It was to different.  But, as the years go on and I discover more and more about this tree, I find it becoming one of my favorite trees.

Do you have a favorite tree you go see every year?