This is a fun way to add to the excitement of any special occasion, but particularly delightful during a pandemic period when social distancing protocols are in place, yet you want to make being shut-in festive.

We initiated “Casino Night” at 5pm in our house. We play Rummy. The first person to reach 100 is the winner. Play your favorite card game. The caveat and the exhilarating part of Casino Night is listening to our cds while we play. When the music fills the air, we know it is time to join the table.

I purchased 6 cds online that I was quite sure my husband would love and he did! I wrapped each and he got to select and open one each night leading up to Christmas. We played the new cd during our card game…. of course, we sang along to a lot of them!

Shown below are the ones purchased, but peruse the web to find those that fit your taste! Our favorite: IL DIVO Christmas Collection of their concert tour in Japan.

Special gifts can be given leading up to any holiday/birthday/anniversary adding to the anticipation for the day. Here are some other ideas of gifts leading up to a special event:

Children’s birthdays...baseball/soccer cards, costumes, books, matchbox cars, stuffed toys, unicorns, doll clothes, books, hair accessories, jewelry

Teen birthdays…small gift cards to various food places, new cell phone apps

Anniversary…photos, frame, luggage tags, DVD of years past, bottle of champagne/wine/liquor