Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas to Take the Money, Stress Out of Christmas

As you look over the list of gifts you need this holiday season, an unsettling feeling starts. How will I pay for all these gifts? How about homemade gifts?

As you look over the list of gifts you need this holiday season, an unsettling feeling starts. How will I pay for all these gifts? Gift-giving is meant to be a time for sharing how much you appreciate others, but rising prices and tight budgets take the feel-good vibes right out of gift-giving traditions. This year, take the money stress out of the holidays by turning to homemade gifts. Homemade gifts are a great way to show you appreciate someone while also adding a personal touch. Gifts don’t need to be expensive to be special. Get the family involved in the fun and you will be creating memories while making unique gifts for those who mean the most in your life. Richfield Patch explores the homemade holidays in hopes that you will find …

• Photos (1)

The Biz Buzz

Best Buy to Continue Black Friday Midnight Opening 'Tradition'

After its first midnight opening on Black Friday 2011, Best Buy plans to do it again.

After a midnight opening on Black Friday in 2011, Best Buy announced it plans to do so again Monday evening. Last year's midnight Black Friday opening was the first in the company's history. Target, Macy's and more than 70 Mall of America stores were also a part of the midnight opening club last year. In addition to letting customers get an early start on their holiday shopping lists, Best Buy said in a press release it would also be hiring 24,000 seasonal employees across its stores. *** Do you like shopping at midnight on Black Friday? Would you rather retailers stuck with "early morning" rather than "late night" openings? Take the poll below and share your thoughts in the comments section. Follow Richfield Patch on Twitter | Like us …

• Photos (1)

Photos of the Week: Sheridan Hills Partners With Barnes & Noble to Raise School Funds

Sheridan Hills Elementary School's book fair with the large retailer was Dec. 14.

In an effort to raise some additional funds, Sheridan Hills Elementary School—along with other area schools—partnered with the Edina Barnes & Noble store for a book fair Wednesday. The elementary school's choir performed a few numbers, while student council members helped wrap holiday gifts for customers. The school's principal Jodi Markworth even led storytime. A portion of sales during the fair will be given to the school. The total has not been determined yet.

• Photos (4)

PHOTOS: Richfield Best Buy, Target Midnight Openings Draw Crowds

With the Richfield Target and Best Buy opening at midnight for Black Friday, local residents line up to get the first crack at the deals.

Richfield Best Buy was bustling with activity Thursday night as "Harry Potter" played on a big screen in the parking lot and free hot beverages were served up for the hundreds of customers who were standing in line waiting for Black Friday deals. Herme Garcia and his family were first in line. According to Garcia, he and his family got their spot at 8 p.m. Wednesday and were planning on getting a 42-inch LCD television once they got in the doors. Estimates from Best Buy event staff put the crowd at about 425 people around 10 p.m. Thursday but that number was on the rise fast as people kept coming into the parking lot, forcing the line of people to wind around the back of the store and down 77th Street to the west.  On the other side of …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (33)

Top Gifts for Everybody on Your List

Richfield Patch asked local retailers their advice on the best gifts of 2011.

Sleigh bells will be ringing while registers are cha-chinging as the holiday shopping season kicks off at midnight Thanksgiving night. If you're planning on heading out to check off all those names on your list, but need some helpful ideas, Richfield Patch's Holiday Gift Guide series can help. Patch's Emily Schmidt talked with local Richfield business owners, managers and employees to get their picks for great gifts: Click on any of the above links to see what you can find locally for all the people on your list. Happy Shopping!

• Photos (1)

Top Christmas Gifts for Mom & Dad You Can Find Locally

The holidays can be a stressful time. Let Patch help you brainstorm ideas for gifts! Your parents: they brought you into this world; the least you can do is get them a nice gift for the holidays.

It can be difficult to know what to get your mom and dad, because it really does seem like they have everything. Here are a few ideas to get you started—and keep you close to home. For Mom If you’re looking to create a new gift-giving tradition (and make Christmas shopping a bit easier in years to come), consider getting Mom an Amore & Baci bracelet at Richfield's long-time jewelry store, Hub Jewelers. “You can start to build a bracelet and then add on for different occasions,” said owner Jennifer Bornholdt. “Or, you can wear [the beads] independently on a necklace or bracelet.” If you’re on a tight budget, gather the siblings and you can each pick out a bead for her. The result is a beautiful and thoughtful bracelet that she can have as a…

• Photos (1)

The Biz Buzz

Target to Open at Midnight Black Friday

Target stores nationwide bump their opening times up on Black Friday.

Richfield Target along with all other locations nationwide will be opening their doors to eager shoppers at midnight on Black Friday for the first time ever. Last year Richfield's location opened at 4 a.m. Target will join other area retailers in the jump to the midnight openings. More than 70 Mall of America stores as well as Macy's and Kohls locations also announced their plans to open at midnight.

• Photos (1)

Richfield Public Safety Hosts 2nd Annual Shop With A Cop Event

Children go with Public Safety officers to Super Target to shop for Christmas presents for their families.

Richfield area children joined Richfield Public Safety Department officers Dec. 9 for the department's second Shop With A Cop event. The purpose of the event was to provide a positive experience with law enforcement officers for children, according to Amy Dusek, community liaison in public safety. Those who participated were nominated by Richfield police officers and members of the Police/Multicultural Advisory Committee (PMAC), Dusek said. Children met officers and PMAC members at city hall and then drove with officers to the Richfield Super Target store to shop. After the shopping excursion, everyone returned to city hall to eat pizza and wrap gifts. The YMCA also donated Christmas trees to all the children's families. In addition to …

• Photos (4)