Commit to be Fit: Meaningful gifts make a difference

When it comes to gifts, my dad has always said, 'It's the thought that counts.” This Christmas you can give the gift of love with some really meaningful gifts for the most important people in your life.

Ideas for kids

' Coupon ideas for kids: Choose what game to play for family game night. A day free of chores. Stay up 20 minutes past bed time.

' Coupon ideas for time with dad: Go out to breakfast at a restaurant of child's choice. Enjoy a nature hike or bike ride. Do a woodworking project together. Go bowling.

' Coupon ideas for time with mom: Child gets to choose a sewing or craft project to do together. Go to the bookstore for a new book and a treat. Shop for and cook a recipe of the child's choice.

Ideas for partner

' List 25 things that you love about your partner or write a nice letter of appreciation. You can't put a price tag on a meaningful note.

' 'The Happiness Project Journal.” One of my good friends gave my husband and I this journal for a wedding gift and we love it. Every day we write down a couple sentences of the good things that happened that day. There is room for five years and its fun to see what we were doing a year ago.

' Recreate a special moment. Maybe it was the first bar you went to together, favorite dinner spot when you first started dating or renting the first movie you saw together.

' Massage therapy. A gift certificate for a hot stone massage, facial or 60-minute massage could be a favorite for your loved one. Sanctuary Spa in Cedar Rapids has an amazing atmosphere and great massage therapists.

Ideas for grandparents

' Have the kids make ornaments for grandparent's tree. Salt dough handprint ornaments are something you can easily make at home with just flour, salt, water and an oven. Search online for instructions.

' Create a photo calendar for 2016 or a photo book of times spent together with the grandkids and family.

' Greeting card organizer. Gather an assortment of greeting cards, stamps and a list of important family dates.

' Have kids make personalized coffee mugs. There are many online tutorials to help create a custom mug.

' Digitize VHS home videos to DVDs. This is a great way to preserve memories. Pro Video on First Avenue has helped my family with this project.

For a friend

' For her: Relaxing night in. Pick a nice bubble bath packet, a candle and her favorite type of chocolate.

' Woman or man's daily devotional with coffee beans and a coffee mug.

' 'The Five Minute Journal.” This is a great gift for your entrepreneur or go-getter on your Christmas list and can be purchased on fiveminutejournal.com for $22.95

Family activities

' Donate time to serve other families in need this Christmas.

' Have kids pick items from the Giving Tree and go shopping together for the items.

' Wrap a family game for under the tree and commit to a family game night once a week or once a month.

' Kylie Alger is a certified wellness coach and co-owner of The Well-Woman: Body, Mind & Spirit. Comments: kylie@thewellwoman.org