Holidays
The History of Memorial Day
Memorial Day is an American holiday established to honor men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Military. It is observed on the last Monday in May. In 2018 it falls on May [read more]
Holidays
Gift Giving
The History of Mother’s Day
Elfster celebrates giving and no one gives more than the sometimes under-appreciated awesome moms everywhere. What better way to celebrate than to look back on the history of Mother’s Day? Mother’s Day: The Beginnings Our [read more]
Gift Giving
Mothers Day Gifts for the Woman Who Has Everything
What do you get the mom who seems to want for nothing? I find myself pondering this question every year. My mom doesn’t quite have everything, but she certainly seems to think she does, and [read more]
Gift Giving
Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas for Celebrating Earth Day
Finding eco-friendly gift ideas is a lot easier now that sustainability and environmental awareness have become so widespread. That’s something I noticed when I was choosing gifts for my friends for our annual Earth Day [read more]
Holidays
Fun Earth Day Office Party Ideas
Walking through the halls of my office building one day, I discovered something magnificent. While wandering down a rarely used hallway, I saw a door with a crack of light coming from underneath. I didn’t [read more]
Gift Giving
The Top Gift Ideas For Librarians: Celebrate National Library Workers Day
The room let off a golden, cozy glow that, when combined with its hushed atmosphere, quickly made it my favorite room in the school. The first time I saw the new library, I had visions [read more]
Holidays
St. Patricks Day Workplace Ideas for an Office Party
Last year, as I was looking up St. Patrick’s Day workplace ideas, my son suggested “snakes” as a theme. When I asked why, he picked such a weird—and creepy—theme, he said to me “St. Patrick’s [read more]
Holidays
The Best Easter Basket Ideas for a Teenager
It was Easter. The doorbell rang. My sister and I looked at each other and rolled our eyes, but we still scrambled off the couch to see who was there. Like every year since we [read more]
Gift Giving
Creative Out-of-the-Box Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas
I’ll never forget my first Valentine’s Day in high school. I was sixteen years old, head over heels for my high school sweetheart, and thrilled to finally be allowed to go on a date on [read more]
Gift Exchanges
A Cupid Worthy Valentines Day Gift Exchange Game
I’ll never forget the first time I got mail. It wasn’t in my family’s actual mailbox; I was at school, and it was Valentine’s Day. The feeling of happiness that washed over me as I [read more]
Holidays
Chinese New Year Party Games
Every year on January 1st at 12:00 am, I can be found usually wearing some outlandish dress, bright and bold red lipstick, and covered in confetti. It’s my favorite holiday, but it wasn’t until college [read more]
Gift Giving
National Have Fun at Work Day Game Ideas
I smelled the burning coffee before I saw it. My coworker Jana looked up from her desk and asked if anyone else smelled something funny; I took a big whiff, then bolted out of my [read more]
Gift Giving
Relaxing After the Holidays: Gifts to Give Yourself
Let’s face it, the holidays can be draining. Now, I absolutely love Christmas and New Years, but by the end of the festivities, I am utterly exhausted. All the shopping, traveling, cooking, feasting, and visiting [read more]
Holidays
Tips and Tricks for Throwing a Last Minute Party for New Year’s Eve
Impromptu—it’s one of my favorite words, but funnily enough, impromptu gatherings always throw me for a loop. I prefer to plan and prepare for everything well in advance, but that changed last year when my [read more]
DIY + Handmade
Traditional Kwanzaa Gift Ideas to Make Homemade
I was in college the first time I was invited to a Kwanzaa celebration. Some girls in my dorm were hosting a Kwanzaa feast in the common room and asked if I wanted to come. [read more]
Gift Giving
Hanukkah Gift Giving Etiquette Do’s and Don’ts
My best friend Sadie married the kindest, funniest, most thoughtful man. We always say she won the lottery with Evan! And while there are many things I admire about their relationship, what I find most [read more]
Holidays
Inspiring New Year’s Eve Party Games for Adults
I’m not one for wild and crazy New Year’s parties. Instead, I like to slip on a cozy pair of slippers and spend the night at home with my husband, a few close friends, and [read more]
Holidays
Fun Thanksgiving Day Games For After Dinner
A loud rumbling came from the living room. Then, suddenly, it stopped. My sister and I froze, terrified, until we heard a voice: “If you girls wanted more pie, you should have just asked!” While [read more]
Holidays
Gratitude-Inspired Thanksgiving Activities for Families
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a [read more]
Holidays
Enchanting Halloween Treat Bag Ideas for a School Classroom Party
I haven’t always loved Halloween as much as I do now. I was a timid and sensitive kid so, naturally, Halloween was never my favorite holiday. It was too scary for me and all the [read more]
Holidays
The 3 Most Spooktacular Halloween Party Games for Adults
“Is that your cat?” I asked as I scooped handfuls of candy into the younger boy’s trick-or-treat bag. The older boy, holding the cat, said, “Yup! He loves Halloween just as much as we do.” [read more]
Gift Giving
The Best Eid al-Fitr Gifts for Traditional Ramadan Gift-Giving
The sacred and solemn holiday of Ramadan is a time of prayer, of reflection, and of charity. It is a time of peace, where one prays for the world—and for themselves. It’s not for focusing [read more]
Gift Giving
Ochugen and Oseibo Gift Ideas: Japanese Customs and the Tradition of Giving
What do you say when you give someone a gift? No, not “here,” or “look, I got you a gift,” but what is your gift saying? What are the wordless messages you are passing along [read more]
DIY + Handmade
Celebrating National Sugar Cookie Day With Recipes That Kids Can Make
Comedian Gary Gulman said it best when he said, “Every cookie is a sugar cookie. A cookie without sugar is a cracker.” Sugar cookies have a reputation for being a bit basic in the baking [read more]