This holiday season, students and staff at De Soto High School have over a week off from school before Christmas. So in the time before Christmas, here are a few ideas to make your holiday merry and bright.

Gift Ideas

Make gifts for family and friends rather than buying them. It is much more personal and more fun! For example, it is really easy to fill a Mason jar with homemade hot chocolate mix with miniature marshmallows on top and attach a card telling the recipient how to make it. You can also do this with cookie mix and other sweet treats. Decorate the jar with festive ribbons.

Baking

Puppy Chow

For the recipe, go to www.chex.com and search Chex Muddy Buddies

Rolo Delights

Place twisty pretzels on a cookie sheet. Then put a Rolo on top. Bake at 350 degrees for three minutes. Press a pecan or an M&M into the Rolo once you take them out of the oven.

White Chocolate Peppermint Bark

In a double boiler, melt two pounds of white chocolate, then add one cup of crushed candy canes. Stir, and pour onto a cookie sheet covered in wax paper and allow to harden.

Decorations

Go all out this year! Having lots of festive decorations inside and outside can really put you and your family in the holiday spirit! For something new, try making homemade ornaments. Buy clear glass ornaments and put a little paint and glitter in the hole at the top. Seal, and shake it up!

Traditions

And finally, start a new tradition! Ditch your artificial Christmas tree and go to a Christmas tree farm with your family and choose and cut one for yourself. Other fun holiday activities include going ice skating at Crown Center or going to see the Plaza lights.

Happy Holidays!