Happy Boxing Day!

Morning All

A Happy Boxing Day to you and yours!

Well all the presents have been delivered around the world and Santa and his reindeers are having a well earned rest! But don't worry they will soon be starting their preparations for next Christmas and will be back later in the New Year with lots of advice for us all.

Before we go for 2005 Santa knows that lots of people start to think about making New Year resolutions and planning for the New Year in the next few days and he has a few places that you may want to take a look at to help you:

• If you are thinking about a "new you" in 2006 then Santa recommends then you check out all the fascinating articles on "Self Improvement" that he has found for you. You can have a look by clicking here!
• Did you propose or get proposed to on Christmas Day? Or are you starting to prepare for a Wedding or Civil Partnership in 2006? Santa offers his congratulations and knows that you will find lots of helpful hints and tips which you can find by clicking here.
• Determined to improve your Time Management in 2006? Well you will find lots of helpful information just by clicking Time Management now!
• This the time of year when lots of people start to think about tracing their family trees. Well if you are very quick you will be able to pick up The Genealogy Guide before the price goes back to it's normal level!

Thank you for supporting Santa's Advice Blog during 2005 and for being such loyal readers! You never know Santa might just be back to wish you all a Happy New Year!

Take care

Paul

Christmas Day!

Evening All

Hope that you have had a really great day. We have certainly enjoyed ourselves and are now looking forward to a relaxed and sleepy evening!

Take care

Paul

Christmas Day has Dawned

Good Morning!

The great Day has finally arrived and Santa has delivered the presents for everyone all around the World! Children everywhere (and a few adults) will be shouting with joy at receiving the things they wanted!

May we wish you a very Happy and Blessed Christmas. As we celebrate the Feast of the Birth of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ spare a moment amongst the celebrations to remember those around the world for whom today brings no presents and joy.

Christ came for us all and implores us to walk with our brothers and sisters in their difficulties as He walks with us in all our difficulties.

May God bless and keep you and your loved ones in this coming year and always and may the power of His Love bring you true joy.

Happy Christmas!

Paul

Follow Santa's Progress!

Morning All again!

If you want to track our friend Santa on his journey around the world then you can by clicking on this link: Track Santa Live

Happy Christmas Eve!

Take care

Paul

Ho, Ho, Ho, The legend of Santa Claus

Good Christmas Eve Morning!

Well the big Day is almost upon us! In less than 24 hours Santa will have visited! We will be rejoicing in the celebrations of the birth of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in a stable in Bethlehem. Carols will be sung and turkey will be cooking!

As the children prepare for Santa I thought it would be nice to think again about the legend of Santa Claus!

Who doesn’t love the jolly old man dressed in red with his big belly and snowy white beard. The holidays will find Santa Claus everywhere. At the mall, private parties, decorating a lawn or landing on a roof, but do you know where he originated?

The original Santa Claus was St. Nicholas. He is the patron saint of sailors, Sicily, Greece and Russia, and of course children. St. Nicholas was born in Turkey in the fourth century and became widely known for his generosity and devoting his life to Christianity. The Romans imprisoned and tortured him for his beliefs. When Constantine became emperor of Rome, he released Nicholas. St. Nicholas went on giving presents to the poor and especially to the children, explaining Christmas to children as he passed them out.

His name is derived from Sinter Klaas, which is the Dutch name for the mythical saint. Santa Claus is part of the Christmas tradition throughout the English-speaking world, as well as Japan and Latin America.

Other names he is known by are:

• Father Christmas
• Saint Nick
• Kris Kringle
• Saint Nicholas
• Papa Noel
• Noel Father

Clement C. Moore is given credit for creating Santa Claus, as we know him today. When his famous poem “The Night before Christmas” was published, it gave a vivid image of what the famous man looked like and became the modern Santa Claus as the jolly fat man with a white beard and red suit.

Most parents that celebrate Christmas actively try to convince their children of Santa’s existence. They are usually successful until an older sibling or friend whispers the horrifying words, “There is no Santa Claus.” Parents at least try to keep the source of their presents a secret and give Santa Claus the credit for bringing the gifts.

Father Christmas originated in Britain and remains the British name for Santa Claus. He was pictured as a well-fed man in a long green, fur-lined robe. He was known to typify the spirit of cheer at Christmas and was represented as “The Spirit of Christmas Present in A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens.

It’s an American tradition for children to leave Santa Claus milk and cookies on his yearly visit and of course, a carrot for Santa’s reindeer. He is known to fit down any chimney and if there isn’t a fireplace in the home, he will create one especially for Christmas Eve. He leaves the same way he came after leaving gifts under the tree and filling all the stockings left by hopeful children.

Many Christian churches discourage the focus on Santa Claus as they feel it takes away from the real focus of the holiday, which is the birth of Jesus. No one knows the actual birth date of Jesus but a clerical decision was made to keep a religious focus into some of the more carnal festivities that people were indulging in during the Yule festivals that originated in by the Romans and Germans.

The myth of Santa Claus is not only perpetuated by parents, but also by the media, malls, and even the post office. Canada has a special zip code for letters to Santa. It is HOH OHO. Many letters and requests are received by the post office every year. Postal workers or volunteers sometimes answer letters. There are special websites for Santa so children can send e-mails to Santa requesting gifts and telling him how good they’ve been the previous year.

One of the more popular Santa Claus comes to town in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. He rides in the last float and then takes up residency in a large portion of one floor. You can find Santa everywhere during the Holidays but Macy’s Santa was made famous in several movies.
Legend has Santa Claus living at the North Pole with Mrs. Claus and the elves.

The elves are the production workers that work year-round to make all the toys requested by the millions of children throughout the world. At first, all toys were handmade individually by each elf, but in the modern world, it has been mechanized and toys are created assembly line style.

In whatever form you picture Santa Claus, he is an integral part of the Christmas tradition. He will remain a part as long as the myth of Santa Clause is repeated to each generation.

Take care and may God bless you and your loved ones

Paul

Forests, Trees and Christmas: How Perspective Can Reduce Holiday Stress

Evening All

When one suffers a lack of perspective, it said that he or she might be unable to “see the forest through the trees.” In other words, their attention to small parts may prevent them from gaining an understanding of the whole. It is possible to get too bogged down in details and to allow the mind to exaggerate their importance. When it comes to the holidays, there are many of us who have a hard time seeing the bigger picture and it can lead to a great deal of stress.

By becoming too focused on smaller parts of the holiday experience, we lose track of the greater meaning of the season and create highly stressful situations. There are some of us, for instance, who may spend hours obsessing over outdoor holiday decorations. Are those lights right? Is that figure in its proper place? Etc. It’s find to take pride in one’s holiday decorations, of course, but it is possible to become so focused on the perfect display and to become so frustrated at the process that one begins to lose track of how that one aspect of the season fits into the bigger picture.

Another example, and one to which many of us can relate, is gift shopping. The idea of freely giving to others during the holidays should be a source of fun and joy. Too often, however, it degrades into a trying and frustrating exercise. The simple act of giving somehow becomes a high-pressure activity that seems to consume us. Instead of enjoying this one component of the holidays, we allow it to consume a disproportionate amount of our attention and consideration. Finding the “perfect gift” becomes an intense process, devoid of pleasure.

The problem, in both instances, is the same. We lose track of the holiday forest as we become single-mindedly focused on one Christmas tree. We begin to see each part of holiday preparation and every aspect of holiday activities as ends in and of themselves, as opposed to small means to the greater end of a pleasurable holiday.

This loss of perspective is one of the greatest causes of holiday stress. We begin to believe that successful completion of every single holiday task or challenge is integral to having a successful Christmas. Every single part of the equation, from wreath hanging to making an extra pie is perceived as a matter of great importance. Not surprisingly, we find ourselves jumping from project to project in a state of high stress. Somewhere, amidst all of those individual tasks, we lose track of the essence of the holidays completely.

Some may argue that each step along the way is important. Perhaps, to some extent every little thing we do does have the chance to improve our holidays. However, if we reflect on Christmases past, we generally don’t remember the small mistakes or tiny incorrect details. Do you remember if every strand of lights on the tree were in perfect synchronicity on your favorite past holiday? Can you ever remember a year when the holiday dinner was completely ruined by one burned dish? Have you ever felt a holiday was ruined by a poor gift-wrapping job? Generally, those smaller features—the individual trees of the Christmas forest—are far less important in building holiday memories than interactions between people.

By stepping back when we begin to feel stressed about any part of the holidays and trying to visualize the overall holiday forest, we can reduce our stress levels considerably. A sense of perspective allows us to realize that correcting a somewhat sloppy gift-wrapping job is not the highest of our priorities or essential to a great Christmas. By seeing the full forest instead of giving our attention to individual trees we are better able to relax, enjoy and celebrate the season.

If you start to feel particularly stressed this holiday season, take a moment to ask yourself whether the source of your stress is really an issue of great importance. Try to visualize your holidays as a whole instead of focusing on the single matter at hand. Chances are that a bit of perspective will allow you to relax and enjoy the season a bit more.

Take care

Paul

Developing Your Own Holiday Food Traditions

Evening All

The big day gets ever closer! :-)

Every holiday season, many of us look forward to eating special treats made using long-held and cherished family recipes. Many families have holiday food traditions they hold dear. There are those who cannot imagine a holiday without Grandma’s date pinwheel cookies or Great Uncle Peter’s cornbread stuffing. Year after year, we enjoy these treats and use them as a way to stay connected with our families and personal histories.

More than mere sustenance, the traditional foods we enjoy year after year are a source of family pride and lead to conversations about family members and fond memories of holidays past. Family food traditions can be one of the most important parts of the holiday season for many people.

There was once, however, a time in each and every family history before those recipes existed. Grandma had to make those date pinwheel cookies for the first time. When she did, she may have placed them right next to sugar cookies made with her Grandma’s secret recipe, having no idea they would become such an integral part of the holiday. Great Uncle Peter’s cornbread stuffing only came about because Great Aunt Beth was sick years ago and he had to come up with some way to stuff a bird himself on Christmas morning. His reliance on a simple recipe card with a few personal touches started a family tradition, too. Grandma and Great Uncle Peter didn’t intent to create a longstanding tradition that generation after generation would enjoy. They simply hoped that they could add a little bit to the holiday meal by doing something different.

The holiday food traditions to which we now look forward were the byproducts of experimentation. The creators of the original dishes may have never intended to make them again. They just happened to feel like doing something different or adding something new to the holiday table.

Holiday food traditions are special to many of us, and it is wonderful to experience those comforting recipes each and every holiday. It’s a great idea, however, to remember how those traditions began. By realizing the source of those traditions, we can be spurred to create our own.

This holiday season consider doing something new. Think about adding a different plate to the dinner or treat table. Make a side dish not generally found on your holiday table or produce a cookie with which you are not familiar. Try a few new ideas and see what happens. Some of the new notions may not be universally well received. Others may be enjoyed, but not to the extent of your family’s holiday classics. One, however, might receive such rave reviews that you decide to try it again next year.

Over time, that simple decision to experiment may turn into part of your family’s traditional holiday table. The new cookie recipe you find in a holiday recipe collection this year may eventually become a staple item that your great-grandchildren cannot imagine missing.

Traditions are important and enjoyable. They form part of the essence of one’s family. Wouldn’t it be nice to add your generation’s mark to the food traditions you all hold so dear? Inventing new holiday traditions has no precise formula. One cannot really intentionally “design” a new holiday food tradition. They tend to grow over time. However, new traditions do require a willingness to prepare an inventive new dish. This holiday season, consider your potential role as a creator of a meaningful holiday tradition and add something new to the holiday feast.

Take care

Paul

Being the Happy Host: Tips to Make the Day Run Smoothly!

Morning All

You’re at a friend’s house, casually having your drink at hand, discussing topics of interest with friendly men and women. After a few laughs, and exchanges of personal experiences, you noticed that all of a sudden the mood changes and now all eyes are on you.

For reasons clearly not picked up by you, you find yourself in the middle of agreeing to host a party with an innumerable number of guests. Amidst the panic, and fear you so carefully glossed over, you realize what you have just committed yourself to, and now you must carry it out. Oh yes, that word that strikes fear to so many of our hearts, the three syllable silencer, commitment! Now what are you going to do? Don’t panic, it’s ok because you’ve got a natural aptitude to making things happen, and you can do it… but here’s a few pointers just in case.

Make sure you have that list, and check it twice, but the part about finding out who’s naughty and nice is a sure way to learn about how your day will turn out. So what is that list all about? Well, this list is the most crucial first step any host/hostess can bank on for direction, guidance, and even trouble shooting.

On this list you’ll have to make sure you include some of the basic essentials, these are, the date, time, and location of your social event. So that means, first and foremost, you will need to have answers to these three fundamentals before you can even proceed to further planning.

Following which, should include a list of people that you expect will show up to your social, and for each guest that you’ve included on that list, make sure to anticipate a guest for that guest; so if your list contains 20 people, make sure you anticipate 40, just to be on the safe side. But who and how will you choose your guests? Some are obvious, this’ll your close and not so close friends and family perhaps, but then there are the acquaintances.

Which one to include and which one to nix is definitely a rather difficult task, as the last thing you’d want to do is to come across selective and limiting. The happy host knows who on that list is welcome to the event, as well as those who may not be so welcome, so choose wisely. Sometimes, extending a very last-minute invitation may be the perfect solution. It will allow your other guests to know that you’ve still extended the invite to them, but you just did not have the opportunity to extend it sooner.

Trouble shooting is something all good hosts/hostesses will consider in their planning. Things to take into consideration are; will there be a need for an emergency designated driver? Or what happens if party crashers (uninvited guests) show up? A good host/hostess will make every attempt to ensure that there wouldn’t be any uninvited surprises, but that’s definitely not always possible.

Typically you have two options, one more realistic than the other. You can either limit or eliminate surprises that could occur on your event day, but since it’s near impossible to account for every factor that can go wrong, your best bet is to reduce and limit it as much of it as physically possible. So start thinking what all can go wrong and try to compensate for it.
Another thing to consider is will there be a theme to this event? Do you want a costume party, or just a casual friendly evening?

This is a simple, but rather important question because it will determine whether or not your evening will require additional details such as decorations to set the stage, music to keep the theme alive, and food that will enhance the ambience.

So now that the majority of the planning is complete, the next thing to consider is the little but important things like selecting the appropriate decorations, music and food for your event. Be mindful that you’ll need something that fits the occasion, but will not come across as overdone.
Once you’ve planned and prepared, you will find yourself a happy host in whatever drama that comes your way.

Take care

Paul

Setting the Ultimate Christmas Table

Morning All

If you want to set your Christmas table with flair this year, but are very unsure of how to do it, why not take the easy approach and theme your table? It will add a touch of elegance to a dull and uninspiring look. Make your table an inspiring master piece that reflects your personality of attitude and sentimentalities about celebrating the Christmas season at your house. Don’t be afraid to be different, and use your creative side when decorating for the ultimate Christmas table. There are plenty of resources available for you to check out when it comes to setting a theme type dinner table. The internet is a wonderful resource along with TV decorating shows, and even the local hometown library.

Begin at the beginning by writing down the approximate number of guests, whether they are personal friends or extended family members. Always make sure that you have the required seating for all, and if necessary move some furniture out, or rearrange your dining area for the proper amount of seating. You can add smaller satellite tables for adults, and place the children at a kitchen bar with the same miniaturized but lovely decorations too. A serving table can be added in an ante room and decorated too. If your crowd is really large make sure to create a seating arrangement according to age and interest, this entices good conversation and pleasantries. Seating table arrangements also negate any chances that a guest that might not get along with certain individuals, or parties will not cause any holiday ruckus, which can definitely disrupt the celebration.

After considering your holiday seating arrangements think about how your intended decorations will affect the flow of interaction on your guests and family members. Take the advice of a few standard rules for center pieces especially. Ensure that your guests can visually see and hear others seated across from them. This comes in handy with guests that might be hard of hearing or visually impaired. Also, young children at a table need guidance and assistance for the unexpected spills and food accidents. When thinking about setting a table with a center piece, eliminate any tall or obstructive works of art for your table. Think low to the table top, and don’t overdo too much, sometimes less is more. After all if it worked for Jacqueline Kennedy’s White House parties and dinners, and it will work for you.

There are as many different types of themed holiday Christmas tables as your imagination can create. One great themed table setting if you’re a kid at heart, or if you’re are having children in attendance, is to decorate with Santa Claus in mind. Your dinner ware and serving dishes can be the traditional matching sets of holiday themes available on the market, such as holly and berries, or Santa on a sleigh with reindeer, but there are other alternatives.

Bold red or green edging for all pieces on your table will be charming with a center piece of Santa on a sleigh, or lots of red and green Christmas balls in low vases, and over flowing onto the table. A small wired formed tree with miniature decorations and greenery add a nice touch too. Then again a long lasting battery operated traditional tree, and some coordinated topiary trees in the corners will brighten up a holiday safely. A fully stuffed stocking with garland encircling it can be used for strictly decorative purposes, or special gifts can be given out after the dinner is completed. Another themed type of table can be geared more toward the adults.

One uniquely beautiful theme is a white Christmas theme. This theme idea enhances either the setting outside, or creates memories of Christmas past for the family and guest members in attendance. Again as with the Santa themed idea, coordinate your dishware with the themed idea. Traditionally ice blue dish ware and silver ware will begin the look for a white Christmas themed table. A small ice sculpture and frolicking bears in miniature with a soft drink will leave your guests laughing. Complete the look by adding large cut out snowflakes on a darker or lighter blue table cloth, along with snow flake napkins rings. Silver plated accessories and special ordered holiday stem wear of cut glass with snow flakes complete the look. Obviously too any over lay to a traditional table cloth can be in a lace pattern in place of cut out snowflakes or graffiti.

Finally, themed table decorations can include religiously inspired ideas. White, gold or royal purple dishware in use, with wooden napkin ring holders and crosses, relay what the season is really about. If you’re animal lover delicate lamb and lion decorations for the center piece remind guests and family about the celebration of Christmas. Don’t forget this can be modified to include only angelic beings with a star feature, or a mixture of animals and angels watching over a rough hewn manger. Use plenty of synthetic angel hair to top off the table decoration.

However you decide to set your table remember to have fun. Start early in planning and let your personality shine through. Christmas is a time for reflection and new beginnings, so take these thoughts to heart, and your table will have that magical feeling of you. Your guests will want to back again and again to see your new table decorations, and to experience the good food and happy times at your house.

Take care

Paul

A reminder of the true meaning of Christmas

Morning All

The true meaning of Christmas is sometimes crowded out by the frenzy of buying and gift giving. Our children are assaulted on all sides by the secular version of Santa Clause and the TV commercials showing them the latest toys and games. How can we teach our children the true meaning of Christmas, without taking away all the secular revelry?

One way to do that is to celebrate Advent. Advent traditionally starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Eve. The four weeks leading up to Christmas Day is considered advent. The length of the season depends on which day Christmas falls on for that year. It can last from 22 to 28 days. There are so many ways to make Christmas special and give your children the true meaning. Advent can be the start of daily Bible readings that lead up to the birth of Jesus. Each week has special verses that lead to Christmas Day.

Explain to your child that the gift of the baby Jesus is why we celebrate Christmas and give gifts to others.

Keep an advent calendar and as each day goes by, celebrate that special day with a favorite Bible verse, or Christmas Carol. The countdown to Christmas is visible and the reason for Christmas is reinforced daily.

When Christmas cards begin arriving, make them into an Advent wreath and use your prayer time to pray for the senders of the cards. This can instill in a child the need to pray for others, and to thank God for the gift of friends and family.

Engage your whole family in an Advent service project. Collect money or food to give to local charities that see an increased need at this time. Call the Salvation Army for names of families who need “adopted” for the Holiday. Encourage your child to share their good fortune by giving a gift to a child who is needy. The Salvation Army has set up an Angel tree in the mall and a child’s name appears on each paper ornament. Help your child to choose a name and buy a gift for that child to have on Christmas Day. Let your child see you donate to a church’s gift giving project, or send a special package to a missionary family.

The nativity set is also an important part of Christmas traditions. Let your child help set it up and tell them stories about the animals as you set them out. One tradition is to set up the manger scene and each day move the figures in a little closer to Baby Jesus’ manger.

Have a craft time when all the family gets together to make a craft that will be a new ornament on the tree or a new Christmas decoration they will treasure from year to year.

Sing the Christmas carols with your children. The songs of Christmas that we grew up with are still out there for us to enjoy with our children. Take them as a group to sing carols in a nursing home. The people in nursing homes love children and Christmas and sometimes don’t have family members or young children in their own families to visit them. Adopt a grandma or grandpa from the inhabitants of the home. The staff can tell you who gets visitors and who doesn’t. Let your child pick out a small gift to give them, help them to wrap it and make it special for them. Give them a sense of giving and the good feeling it provides.

On Christmas Eve, we conclude the celebration of the Advent season. A birthday cake for Jesus and the Happy Birthday song will reinforce that Christmas is the time we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Prepare a nativity play, or put on your own nativity scene complete with little angels and your family pets as part of the scenery.

Christmas Day is an important time to instill in your child the true meaning of Christmas. Start with a prayer of thanks for the most wonderful gift of all, and have each of them say a word of thanks for another family member. Instead of rushing to drag the gifts from under the tree, prayer and family time will help your child realize that Christmas is about the greatest gift of all. The birth of Jesus

Take care and God bless

Paul

Lighting Your House: Making the Neighbours Jealous

Morning All!

When you think of Christmas bright colored lights immediately come to mind, but in recent years though white lights are just as popular too. If you want to go all out this year and decorate with beautiful lights for Christmas you will find many different kinds of lighting styles and options. The trick is to not break your bank account, and not to over do with to many lights or the wrong kind, unless that is you want to look like one of those houses that everybody drives by to glare at because in truth its way over done. However, one person’s style might not be another’s. Whatever lighting styles you pick make sure it’s one that you can live with throughout the holiday season.

For light decorations outside at Christmas you can begin looking at your house from the curb side, and visually take note of all the places that you would like to decorate. Write down your thoughts and considerations on paper, this will make it much easier to shop and decorate. Ask your self what colors would complement my house, and how much space do I have to properly show off my spirit of Christmas? Also, consider if you want to theme it, or just go with the flow and see what develops. Either approach is ok, but most people find that by using a theme their yard and front door decoration of lights presents a neater appearance from the street.

Traditional theme choices are of course Santa, elves and reindeer, Nutcracker, snowmen, Christmas villages, candy canes, ginger bread man, stars, trains or manger scenes. Unique themes can reflect you interest such as a holiday theme of boats or old wagons and horses. Its good to mix it up and several themes work very well together, such as a Christmas village and Santa. Just make sure it doesn’t get to thematically busy, or you will loose the general overall feeling that you want to present.

Next consider your color palette of white, single colored, or a mixture, and whether you want to purchase flashing, dimming, or a steady on lighting option. In certain conditions depending on the area and emphasis a mixture of colors can look very appropriate, but in most cases a theme color approach is best, this also applies to the use of the light pattern display. After the critical decisions of placement, theme type, and color lighting options have been decided on, your next move is to decide on the different types of house lights and lawn decorations that you want to use. As you can see being well prepared in advance will make this part a much easier process to deal with. You will have a plethora of choices and styles to consider.

The traditional bulb type lights are sure please, but neon lights in a rope style are fast becoming the rage for Christmas. They give a very neat and uniform appearance because of its design. Roof eves on houses and garages are the place to put your new lights, and drop down icicle lights are used a lot too. Specially designed lights for hedges and bushes really accentuate the front, and make the lights appear even and symmetrical in placement. Extra lighting options include having a banner designed that will wish everyone a merry Christmas, or some other type of a holiday wish. Lighted wreaths look very good on roofs with high peaks, and placed just above the door front. Outdoor rated lighted garland along a fence, or wrapped around a front porch pole carriage light is very elegant. Don’t forget the lawn decorations too.

Your theme choice now becomes obvious once you stake your lawn decorations. There are static or animated lawn sculptures which will add the awe to those driving by or walking. Some are now made that are 3 –D, animated, flashing and talking! Inflatable Christmas items of your traditional thematic choice are readily available on stores or on the internet, however if your theme is very niche you will either need to have it made, or special order it in time for Christmas. Other choices for decorating your lawn can include such things as lighted archways that would look great in a garden or darkened pathway.

It is a sure thing that after careful consideration and planning you will have a yard that is not only pleasing to your eye, but to the neighbors as well. In fact they may just stroll over after the holidays and ask how did you do it? You might just sense a little jealousy, but consider it a true compliment because you have done your homework and presented a yard master piece that all have enjoyed looking at throughout the holiday season.

Take care

Paul

Preparing the Perfect Holiday Meal

Morning All

The holidays quickly come upon us each year. It seems that every year there is less time available for us to enjoy the celebratory activities of Christmas. There are so many holiday celebrations that we would like to participate in, or in a lot of cases we are required to by circumstance. Add in the stress of preparing the main meal and desserts for the holidays, and you the designated cook might find yourself wondering how you are going to do this. There are solutions to the potentially stressful event, and the key is just organizing and implementing them so you will enjoy the day’s festivities too.

Whether you’re cooking for Thanksgiving or Christmas make sure to take the Santa approach very early for the meal preparation – sit down and write out the different types of foods that you would like to include for the meal. At first your list might be long, but over time it will become shorter as items are checked off or rearranged. Expert chefs and those with extensive experience recommend starting as early as two months before the event. After all you start saving early in the year for Christmas gifts, and often begin your holiday shopping in July, so why take advantage of this time to begin to prepare for the holiday meal time.

There are many other ways in conjunction with a standard meal preparation list you can cut down on stress, and even the expense of the meal. For example, you can delegate to others within the family certain dishes such as those for the dessert bar. Desserts are always a part of the main event, and need as much attention to it. If you know of a special dessert that you think others will like, or a favorite of yours, ask them to contribute a special pie, cake or candy on the holiday. Make sure to include the standard and favorites, such as pumpkin pie, or a unique cake such as red velvet or butter nut delight. Take into account too those that might have special dessert requirements, such as diabetics or those allergic to certain ingredients such as nuts or eggs.

Spend a few minutes researching on the internet and cook books for delicious replacements that will make their holiday yummy too. There are the other options of ordering from a bakery, but be sure to check out of the ingredients. Other options to the overly sweet dessert offerings are fresh fruit, such as cantaloupe, strawberries or fresh apples along with low fat and sugar free toppings like whip cream.

The meal wouldn’t be complete without a varied option of healthy and nutritious vegetables. They can be cooked in your traditional on the stove top or in the oven, but think of adding a tray of fresh cut vegetables to add color, and a healthy attitude to your table. Again, you may preorder from a local deli or mart, but if you plan right most raw vegetables can be cut and cleaned twenty four hours in advance. If you want to use fresh vegetables for your stove preparation of traditional fares, you can store for example, sweet potatoes after they are cleaned and skinned right in your refrigerator up to twenty four hours before cooking. Just pop into the oven after mashing and add a dash of brown sugar with marshmallows. Other necessities of a holiday feast like stuffing or dressing can be made up too ahead of time, even if your considering going traditional and stuffing the turkey and baking. Fantastic vegetable entrées can be presented in a multitude of ways.

Of course the center attraction for any holiday meal is the meat. Many families prefer the traditional for the Thanksgiving holiday of turkey. However, if you want to be creative or stick to cultural based foods there are options of for example, Italian spaghetti and some sweet wine and fresh garlic bread. In other areas of the country such as in the agrarian south, open season for turkey hunting can present a nice fat round turkey for your dinner table. It can then be cleaned by the lucky hunter and stored early to eat on Thanksgiving or Christmas day. Deciding on your meat should be thought out early in advance. There are options of special ordering from your local meat department, or buying a few weeks ahead and freezing. Quick fix meats can be bought on the hoof pre baked, and then just warmed in the oven for a juicy delight. Other types of meats such as baked hams or hens are good to fix ahead, and refrigerated and kept juicy with a brown or light colored chicken broth.

There are so many options to create your perfect and stress free holiday meal celebration, just remember to start early and delegate what you feel that you might not be able to handle. A good idea is to begin testing a few of your holiday creations if you feel you must fix them. That way you will never feel that your dinner is not what you want it to be, and you can set back and smile knowing you did your very best.

Take care

Paul

Will you marry me? Christmas Proposal Ideas!

Morning All

Christmas is a time of love, family and giving. What better time is there to get engaged? By asking your darling to marry you during the holiday season, you are emphasizing even more how much you care about them and want to spend the most important moments of your life with them. The engagement ring is also an ideal Christmas gift.

Oftentimes it is the ones that you love the most that are the hardest to shop for, but an engagement ring is something they will love no matter what. When you choose the ring, make sure that it makes you think of them and they will think that it’s perfect. So we’ve established the good points of proposing around Christmas, but now it’s time to explore Christmas proposal ideas. How do you ask the most important question of your life and make it special and memorable? There are three things to keep in mind in order to pull off your proposal perfectly. Keep it intimate, involve the right people, and make it your own.

Sometimes it seems like a good idea to proclaim your love very publicly to prove your sincerity. The proposal is not the time for showing off though. At Christmas time especially, people tend to be family oriented. They want cozy evenings by the fire and hushed and pleasant conversations among the people that they love the most. In many parts of the country and most years, you can find snow at Christmas. One romantic possibility is to take your sweetheart out for a walk in the snow.

It softens the scenery and makes for a gorgeous backdrop to set the stage. Even better would be a moonlit walk through the snow. The light on the white carpet will light up the darkness just enough to create a mysteriously beautiful scene. Being alone together in such a magical setting will make the proposal of setting out in a new life together an even more concrete and thrilling idea than it would be otherwise.

Making a proposal intimate is certainly worthwhile, but it is also important to involve the right people. Considering involving the family is a definite possibility and will not intrude on the intimacy of the moment. If you and your love are close to your families, consider wrapping the ring as a gift. To make sure everyone is attentive, you and your future partner's father can arrange for that gift to be opened first. To increase the anticipation, try a miniature scavenger hunt. The first gift can be an envelope with a clue inside such as, “Under the Couch Cushion” or “You’re Favorite Childhood Toy.” Hide as many clues as you wish and make the last one, “The Person For you!” When they make their way back to you, be ready on one knee with a ring.

When you do decide how to propose, make some aspect of it your very own. If you take that walk in the snow, end up in a place that is significant to both of you, or go someplace neither of you have ever been. That way it will belong equally to each of you and will be a starting place for your life together. If you set up a Christmas Eve family scavenger hunt, make the clues significant to your relationship. When you finally ask, don’t simply say “Will you marry me?” Tell them exactly how you feel about them and ask them if they feel the same way about you. Don’t be afraid to let them talk and don’t forget to say “I love you.”

Christmas is a beautiful and magical time to propose marriage. Wherever and however you ask, just remember the three guidelines. Keep it intimate and make sure that you are able to clearly demonstrate the commitment you are offering. Don’t forget to involve the people who you care about and who care about you. While you don’t need to propose in front of the family, make sure that they know as soon as possible. Finally, make sure that you make the day, and especially the moment, memorable and specific to your relationship. Remember those three things and you’re sure to have an unforgettable proposal.

Take care

Paul

Christmas Decorating Ideas You Haven’t Thought Of!

Morning All

When your mother said to use your imagination on any new project or situation that you may encounter in life – always take her advice to heart. It’s true that experience is the best teacher, but to get it you need to be creative and flexible.

This is no where better exemplified than in decorating your home for the Christmas holidays that are quickly approaching. Many things can limit your ability to purchase decorating paraphernalia, but all you have to do is look around your home and at few discount stores, and you will find good bargains and supplies for decorating the interior inexpensively.

Also, don’t forget to look search in your attic and storage areas for some of your forgotten things that are very appropriate for decorating at Christmas.

While you’re digging around through your long forgotten stuff take note of not only old Christmas set outs and ornaments, but pull out some toys too. Nothing can be more charming than proudly displaying around your tree a train set from long ago. If it doesn’t run, tinker with it until it does. If all is lost let it set stationary for you to enjoy. Dolls are another thing to decorate with, and they are very charming placed in a high backed chair or highchair, with larger presents stacked around their feet and miniature gifts on the tray. Old board games and other items such as metal spinning tops will fill the void under a tree, or even extenuate the types of papers on the all ready wrapped gifts. If your lucky enough to find your families old stockings, spice them up by adding miniature bells and glitter paint their names on the front.

Your tree can be jazzed up too by purchasing a few inexpensive copper coated cookie cutters, and adding a bow and gold hook to hang. While you’re at it take some time to find some red and green floral sticks, and tie a bow around the top. Secure with wire and place them in the front of your plants. Coffee table tops and end tables are very easy to decorate, but just make sure that there is plenty of room if the area is heavily used.

Buy some inexpensive graduated stemmed heavy cut glasses, and fill them with either colorful candies or nuts. Often many people prefer a choice of both because salty nuts off set the highly sugared taste of the candy. Don’t forget to wrap with a tiny bow on the stems. Collections such as old world Santa’s or nativity scenes can be new or old, and placed on a shelf or mantle piece for enjoyment. Other types of Santa displays that are popular are the nested Santa’s which are famous in certain European countries. Kids really love to look and play with these. An original or imitation milk bottle can be cleaned and painted, and faux cookies can be left out for Santa to eat on his way out. Place anywhere there is not any heavy hand traffic, just to prevent accidents.

There are other areas of your house that you need to decorate too. Christmas colored scented gel candles and a small basket full of cinnamon sticks with small decorative hand towels in a theme are very decorative and useful. Holiday cooking smells can stink up a house, and certainly guests and family members appreciate the wonderful scents and extra holiday hand towels in place. Glass decorated with washable soaps with scenes of winter around the edge of a large bathroom mirror, will make everyone remember to smile and to be thankful for all that they have at Christmas time. Don’t miss the bedrooms for kids and adults a like. Door areas can be framed with garland and a red ribbon wrapped into it, and is extremely attractive with holiday lights entwined in them. Kids can cut out with scissors on heavy construction paper Santa’s and snowmen, and hang in their windows.

Decorating for Christmas does not have to be brain wracking, costly and exhausting. There are so many different decorating ideas that you can use, and as time goes by you will find other types of materials, and new ideas to use when getting ready for the holiday season. Just sit back and relax while decorating, and remember to enjoy the holiday of Christmas day because it only comes around once a year.

Take care

Paul

Setting the Ultimate Christmas Table

Morning All

If you want to set your Christmas table with flair this year, but are very unsure of how to do it, why not take the easy approach and theme your table? It will add a touch of elegance to a dull and uninspiring look. Make your table an inspiring master piece that reflects your personality of attitude and sentimentalities about celebrating the Christmas season at your house. Don’t be afraid to be different, and use your creative side when decorating for the ultimate Christmas table. There are plenty of resources available for you to check out when it comes to setting a theme type dinner table. The internet is a wonderful resource along with TV decorating shows, and even the local library.

Begin at the beginning by writing down the approximate number of guests, whether they are personal friends or extended family members. Always make sure that you have the required seating for all, and if necessary move some furniture out, or rearrange your dining area for the proper amount of seating. You can add smaller satellite tables for adults, and place the children at a kitchen bar with the same miniaturized but lovely decorations too. A serving table can be added in an ante room and decorated too.

If your crowd is really large make sure to create a seating arrangement according to age and interest, this entices good conversation and pleasantries. Seating table arrangements also negate any chances that a guest that might not get along with certain individuals, or parties will not cause any holiday ruckus, which can definitely disrupt the celebration.

After considering your holiday seating arrangements think about how your intended decorations will affect the flow of interaction on your guests and family members. Take the advice of a few standard rules for center pieces especially. Ensure that your guests can visually see and hear others seated across from them. This comes in handy with guests that might be hard of hearing or visually impaired. Also, young children at a table need guidance and assistance for the unexpected spills and food accidents. When thinking about setting a table with a center piece, eliminate any tall or obstructive works of art for your table. Think low to the table top, and don’t overdo too much, sometimes less is more. After all if it worked for Jacqueline Kennedy’s White House parties and dinners, and it will work for you.

There are as many different types of themed holiday Christmas tables as your imagination can create. One great themed table setting if you’re a kid at heart, or if you’re are having children in attendance, is to decorate with Santa Claus in mind. Your dinner ware and serving dishes can be the traditional matching sets of holiday themes available on the market, such as holly and berries, or Santa on a sleigh with reindeer, but there are other alternatives. Bold red or green edging for all pieces on your table will be charming with a center piece of Santa on a sleigh, or lots of red and green Christmas balls in low vases, and over flowing onto the table. A small wired formed tree with miniature decorations and greenery add a nice touch too. Then again a long lasting battery operated traditional tree, and some coordinated topiary trees in the corners will brighten up a holiday safely. A fully stuffed stocking with garland encircling it can be used for strictly decorative purposes, or special gifts can be given out after the dinner is completed.

Another themed type of table can be geared more toward the adults. One uniquely beautiful theme is a white Christmas theme. This theme idea enhances either the setting outside, or creates memories of Christmas past for the family and guest members in attendance. Again as with the Santa themed idea, coordinate your dishware with the themed idea. Traditionally ice blue dish ware and silver ware will begin the look for a white Christmas themed table. A small ice sculpture and frolicking bears in miniature with a soft drink will leave your guests laughing. Complete the look by adding large cut out snowflakes on a darker or lighter blue table cloth, along with snow flake napkins rings. Silver plated accessories and special ordered holiday stem wear of cut glass with snow flakes complete the look. Obviously too any over lay to a traditional table cloth can be in a lace pattern in place of cut out snowflakes or graffiti.

Finally, themed table decorations can include religiously inspired ideas. White, gold or royal purple dishware in use, with wooden napkin ring holders and crosses, relay what the season is really about. If you’re animal lover delicate lamb and lion decorations for the center piece remind guests and family about the celebration of Christmas. Don’t forget this can be modified to include only angelic beings with a star feature, or a mixture of animals and angels watching over a rough hewn manger. Use plenty of synthetic angel hair to top off the table decoration
However you decide to set your table remember to have fun. Start early in planning and let your personality shine through. Christmas is a time for reflection and new beginnings, so take these thoughts to heart, and your table will have that magical feeling of you. Your guests will want to back again and again to see your new table decorations, and to experience the good food and happy times at your house.

Take care

Paul

Christmas Games and Activities

Morning All

The Christmas holidays are a time of expectation and joy for young and old alike. If you’re feeling that your celebrations have become routine and boring, there are plenty of ways that you can spice up your holiday season. There are so many things that can be experienced from creating new holiday traditions, such as making new memories for you and your family and friends to reminiscence about again and again. The benefits are numerous, and there is not a shortage of ideas that you can implement this Christmas season and add to next year.

Depending on the occasion you can modify and creatively explore any of the activities you would like to do. For example, any Christmas games or craft activities can be either for adult or church centered party groups, family night, your child friends, or just for a personal one on one experience with the child in your life. Inspirationally you may center all of your activities on a theme, and you may choose to center the activities on a secular or religious viewpoint. Then again you may also choose, depending on the appropriateness and circumstance of the occasion to mix it up, but investigate the different options for both.

The focus of Christmas is usually in most households centered on children, and this time of year for them is a magical experience. Not only can Christmas day be the day for anticipation of fun, but all through the month can be. Opportune times exist for creating memories that last, such as bad weather, winter school breaks, sick days, and sleepovers as a time to not only entertain, but to learn about personal abilities and creativity too.

If your child is going to have a few friends over during the month of December, why not create, or search around for some Christmas time tongue twisters? Also, there are numerous songs to sing about the holidays, so dig out some carol sheet music and sing. Sick days are no fun for kids, so if they are able use some old fashioned crayons and coloring books, add some stickers and a Christmas story to pass the time away. Creative times can be spent independently playing and learning holiday crossword puzzles and mazes. Personal or party time games and activities can be done with board games, such as bingo, scrap booking, or even in the kitchen. Making special candies like taffy or food for Santa’s reindeer can be healthy and nutritious by munching on a few carrots before leaving them for Rudolph.

There are no shortages for ideas on games and activities, and places to shop for your supplies. Crafts and party idea books can be found in most book stores, discount stores such as Wal-Mart, craft supply stores, and even many free articles in newsletters on the internet can lead you in the right direction for new Christmas celebratory ideas. You don’t have to break the bank account either to have lots of fun for the holidays either.

Many ideas are free on the internet and you can use a lot of the household products in your home to make crafts. Items such as construction paper, glue, markers, scissors, cotton balls and paper plates can be made into face masks for Christmas characters such as an elf or a Santa face. There are other ways to create new traditions for your family such as inspiring them to take their crafts and use them as gifts for the less fortunate. May be a lonely neighbor, or a child or adult that needs a little compassion would be thrilled to receive them.

Christmas games and activities bring back the magic for adults and inspire children to dream. However, more importantly it teaches valuable lessons about not only creativity, and the necessary skills of problem solving, but it solidifies a sense of unity with in the family and community.

Its life long lessons hopefully developing into unselfish habits of cooperation and thinking about the welfare of others. The time spent with others exemplify what the real meaning of the spirit of Christmas is - loving and treating others as we would like to be treated. Through your Christmas games and activities your holiday season will be one with a real spice of life and love. Remember, there are no better types of traditions than those.

Take care

Paul

“A Shovel? I love it!” Gifts for the Gardener

Morning All!

Do you have a gardener you need to buy a gift for? The holidays are perfect times to buy gifts for the gardener. They will have time to decide how they want to use the gift and where by the time spring rolls out. You don’t have to look far to find suitable gifts for gardeners. Several on-line websites have wonderful gardening gifts including PK eBooks where you can find a variety of eBooks aimed at the gardener. Your local hardware store or home improvement store will also have a good line of gifts for that special gardener in your life.

You can buy practical gifts such as a shovel or trowel, garden hoses or other digging and planting tools. You also will find whimsical items to add that extra special touch to a garden.

A basket full of items for the gardener is also a great gift idea. You can buy one already made or you can personalize it by adding your own special touches. A basket with just essentials is a good choice. It could include gloves, poison oak/ivy medication, fertilizer, twister ties, rain gauge, and disposable towels. You could also include an Old Farmers Almanac to let your favorite gardener know the best time to plant their vegetables and flowers.

Books on gardening are also a good gift for the gardener in your family. Gardening books can be found anywhere and found in a variety of topics. Choose specialty garden books, such as vegetable gardens, wild flower gardens, or formal gardens. Buy a book on the subject of perennials and annuals. Which flowers are best suited for your climate? How to buy the plants that are best suited for your soil type. These and dozens of other questions can be answered in the many books on gardening available to purchase. Your local bookstore will have a whole section devoted to gardening books.

Does your gardener want to attract butterflies or hummingbirds? There are appropriate types of flowers to plant to draw them to the garden. You also will find delightful hummingbird feeders that will keep these beautiful birds coming back again and again.

Garden stones are another popular article for gardeners. Garden stones can be unusual shapes, colorful and can be personalized. Kits are available to make garden stones with a child’s handprint and their name added to it. What a wonderful memory that would make both for the child and for the gardener. Round garden stones can be bought and painted with the family name to make an extra special gift for a garden lover. You can even put the year the marriage was established or maybe the year that the garden was started. Personalization can make an ordinary gift something very special.

On the practical side, there are hundreds of gifts to choose from such as special boxes to store your garden hoses and hose carts. Fertilizer sprinklers and water sprinklers are also good gifts. One of the cutest water sprinklers I found was in the shape of a Tractor.

Another popular item for gardens is the gazing ball. They can be found in all sizes and colors and add a special touch to the garden. Holders for the gazing balls come in different shapes, sizes and materials. One of my favorites is a little angel holding a small gazing ball.

Wind spinners and flags are also popular for the gardener. Wind spinners can be purchased in a variety of colors such as the rainbow spinner and a patriotic, red, white, and blue spinner. Flags can be changed throughout the year changing with the seasons. You will find a large variety of garden flags and are popular because they can be changed frequently to give the garden a different look.

Looking for something a little more exotic? You can find exotic plants such as the amaryllis exotica, or unusual items such as the shitake mushroom log. How about an Italian herb garden or a ginkgo tree growing kit?

Animal or angel statues of any size are also great gifts. Birdbaths are another added attraction to a garden. Whatever your gardeners tastes are, there are gifts out there for everyone.

Take care

Paul

Online Presents for All!

Evening All

We have had a lot of coverage here in the UK about a massive increase in the number of people who are using the internet to purchase their Christmas Presents this year! With that in mind we have been looking around hand have found various products that we think might appeal to the online present buyer.

Here's a few that we thought you might find of interest.

The Spirit of the Season

For those who like to be reminded of the true meaning of the season and have an interest in some of the thinking about Christ the eBook Jesus The Man and His work will prove fascinating. For those who would like to share their Faith you can do no better than giving them a great resource to help them which we think Teach the Bible to Change Lives will certainly hit the mark! Alternatively you might want to take a look at Daily Bible Readings and finally you might want to have a look at the lovely Christmas Imaginings which looks at the Christmas Story from the perspective of Mary and Joseph.

For the Sporty Sorts!

There are lots of products which will appeal to the Sports enthusiast and to be truthful far too many to list without sending everyone to sleep! However, here are a few that we think really do stand out. If you have a golfer in the family then you couldn't do better than take a look at Easy to Learn Golf Swing which every Golfer will appreciate and why not really make their Christmas by buying them The Perfect Golf Swing!

Many people make New Year Resolutions to improve their exercise routine so why not give them an extra little nudge with The Beginner's Weight Training Routine or maybe some Dumbell Routines and Exercises!

If the sporty type in your family prefers the slightly more sedate type of sport then why not have a look at Long Lost Fly Fishing Secrets which is certain to please!

That's all for now and we will bring you a few more ideas in a few days time - in plenty of time for the big day!

Take care

Paul

Unique Christmas card Ideas

Morning All

They are a familiar part of every Christmas. You line them up along the mantle, across the TV and on top of the refrigerator. Sometimes the only updates you get from old friends and distant family are in the yearly Christmas card. More often than you might like to admit, a Christmas card is the only news your friends and family get from you over the year. We are busy people and we get busier all the time.

Christmas cards are somehow the one bit of writing on the list of communication “to do” list that we actually get done. For that reason, it is nice to make them special. Are you looking for unique Christmas card ideas to personalize your updates and warm wishes this year? With just a little time and creativity, you will send out treasured, eye-catching and heartwarming Christmas cards.

One common practice for individualizing Christmas cards is to include a family picture. It really is a great idea. The recipients gaze long and hard at those photos, trying to figure out how you and especially your children have changed so much. To make your Christmas cards truly unique, try experimenting with those family photos. Instead of dressing up and making a visit to the photographer, look through the candid shots you’ve taken. They are often more natural and show your family as they really are. Maybe you ride horses or bicycles. You’ve probably got pictures of your kids at the zoo or playing basketball. You might have a vacation picture of your family together, but you might just want to reprint and put pictures of individuals together.

The mixed and matched photos will give the impression of a patchwork quilt, full of memories and love. The cards can be quickly printed in order to make as many copies as you need.
If you have a little more time, the collage idea can be taken to a different level. You probably have stashed away somewhere all of the Christmas cards you’ve received for the last six or seven years. Pull those out and start looking through them. You’ll get one more chance to relive them, but then be ready to tell them goodbye. Cutting up the cards and reassembling them will create beautiful and unique patterns. Glue the random pieces to a stiff piece of paper and you will be inventing new designs and patterns to suit your own taste.

To finish these cards off, you can add photographs or trinkets to the outside. As long as you can find big enough envelopes (and you can experiment with size) you don’t even have to keep the chunks of old cards within the confines of a traditional card’s shape. Let your imagination run wild. These cards will definitely stand out of the row along the top of someone’s television.
When the work of constructing the outside is done, a truly unique card will have your inscription on its inside, instead of one from the greeting card company. Don’t be afraid to write things that you really think and feel instead of the traditional “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

Use your sense of humor and let the real you shine through. Have your family help you too. The more personality you stuff into those cards, the better. It may require more time and effort than usual, but your work will be worth it. Who knows? With your homemade cards, you may just spark some effort on the other end as well. In return you may see some traditional letters and more frequent information from your loved ones.

You may not look forward to choosing Christmas cards when you take a look at the huge Christmas card selection at the local department or greeting card store. There are so many to choose from, and yet they all seem the same. You’ve been looking at cards long enough that the sentiment in them is hardly personal and even far from relevant to your own personality. Instead of buying a package of Christmas cards this year, try making your own.

Starting with the couple of ideas here, you’ll be able to think of many more to individualize your handiwork. It is guaranteed that no one will have seen them or anything like them before. You’ll get a smile, maybe a chuckle, and even possibly a letter in return.

Take care

Paul

Make Her Smile: A Gift Giving Guide for the Men!

Morning All

Buying the perfect holiday gift for your sweetheart may be a difficult task, but it really does not have to be. Knowing a few things about the art of buying a woman a gift can be helpful, and make your shopping trip more pleasurable. The following paragraphs will give some tips on finding the perfect holiday gift for your sweetheart.

The first tip in making your shopping trip easier is never buy gifts you would like to receive and expect she will be thrilled with it. For example, she probably does not desire that new John Deer tractor. But if tractors happen to be her thing, be sure buy the tractor she wants, not the one you prefer to have.

Next, never buy your sweetheart household appliances, or something that will make house work easier, as that perfect holiday gift. She probably will not appreciate the gift very much, and she is likely to move your things out to the dog house. This includes buy cleaning products as that special gift, like that extra large jug of tide that she has been waiting for it to go on sale, or the big bottle of window cleaner you got a great deal on. These are not good gift ideas for that someone special and should be avoided at all costs.

Something else you should always remember when trying to find the perfect holiday gift for your special someone is that a Chia Pet, or a house plant, is not a romantic gift. Your sister might like to receive a Chia Pet or house plant from you from you, and maybe your cousin, but it is probably safe to say that your sweetheart will certainly be expecting something a little more personal as that perfect holiday gift from you. Avoiding Chia Pets and house plants is always a good idea when shopping for a gift for your sweetheart.

When shopping for that someone special, nightwear is a great holiday gift idea. But avoid the flannels and the granny panties. Receiving that type of nightwear as a gift from you will likely make her think that you do not find her desirable. Buy her the sexy stuff if you choose nightwear as the perfect holiday gift choice for your sweetheart. You can not go wrong in purchasing sexy undergarments.

If you are looking for jewelry for your sweetheart for Christmas, always remember that imitation diamond does not cut it ... glass that is. Buy the diamonds. Imagine the embarrassment your other half will feel, when she tests her new ring in front of all her friends, by trying to cut glass. Women do that and she will realize it is a fake. Imagine how long that would land you in the dog house! It is always wise to avoid imitation diamonds when searching out that perfect holiday gift for your lover.

If you are thinking about buying your special someone clothes, please reconsider that idea. Do not buy her clothes. Men may think they have a good fashion sense, and some of them do. But in all reality, you have no clue as to what a woman finds fashionable. If you give her clothes, she will probably show appreciation, but do not ever expect her to wear the clothes anywhere.

You should never underestimate the power of presentation. Hire someone to wrap that perfect gift, once you find it. Pretty paper, nice boxes, and bows that sparkle will set the stage, and increase your sweetheart's anticipation and excitement. Always remember, duct tape is not acceptable, and plastic grocery bags do not make good gift bags. If you hire someone to wrap that perfect gift, you are sure to put a smile on her face.

Last but certainly not least, listen to your partner. Women are constantly dropping very detailed hints about what they want for Christmas. If you just pay attention, your sweetheart will probably tell you what to buy for her. You can never go wrong that way.

Buying the perfect holiday gift for your special someone can be very difficult, and sometimes men do not make the right choices. Following the above guide will help you to make her smile this holiday season.

Take care

Paul

10 Gifts for the Teenage Girl

Morning All

Buying a Christmas gift for a teenage girl can almost be intimidating. With her quickly changing moods, likes, and dislikes, it can almost seem impossible to find something that she will like. Luckily, there are a few mainstays that most any teenage girl would love to have.

1. Earrings

Earrings are a gift that most any girl will love. Stud earrings are often the best choice, as they can be used to accessorize any wardrobe, no matter the style. In addition, semi-precious stone, gold and silver studs are relatively inexpensive, making them a great choice for a stylish gift on a low budget.

2. Disposable camera

Disposable cameras are another great gift for girls. Girls love to create, and capture, fun memories. A disposable camera makes it easy for a girl to take pictures of her friends – without the worry of losing an expensive digital camera. Make sure to provide money for development of the pictures, too.

3. Scrap booking accessories

Scrap booking is quickly becoming a popular trend, especially among teenage girls. With all of the great scrap booking paper available a style that is personal and meaningful for the teenage girl on your list should be easy to find. Don’t forget to buy stickers and some of the scissors that cut fun and interesting designs. A teenage girl can spend hours going through her favorite photos and creating her own memory book.

4. Scented candles

Scented candles are a favorite among teenage girls. Scented candles can be used as a decorative piece in the teenage girl’s room. With so many colors available, it is easy to find one that will match her décor. Scented candles also will provide her with a sweet, soothing aroma that will give her a sense of sophistication and maturity. These are also great to light when doing homework or when healing a broken heart.

5. Bubble baths and bath soaps

What teenage girl doesn’t love spending hours on end in the bathroom pampering her self? With bubble baths and bath soaps, she can relax in the tub and feel like the princess she always knew she was. Bubble baths and bath soaps come in amazing variety of scents. Buy a few different scents and let her choose a scent that fits her mood for each day.

6. Magazine subscription

A magazine subscription is a great way to personalize a Christmas gift, yet provide a little variety. For the fashion conscience teenage girl, many magazines are available that address trends in teenage fashion. For the musically inclined girl or for the rocker girl, a variety of magazines exist that provide information about the latest bands and music reviews. The possibilities in magazines are endless. No matter her style or taste, a magazine to suit her is out there.

7. Fleece blanket

Just about every teenage girl likes to snuggle up in warm blanket, particularly on cold winter nights. Teenage girls like to have ownership, so having her personal blanket makes this gift even better. Many fleece blankets come as sets with pillows, as well. In addition, fleece blankets are available in a wide variety of patterns and characters, making a fleece blanket available for any teenage girl on your list.

8. Perfume

With so many scents to choose from, there is bound to be one that is right for the teenage girl on your Christmas list. Many fragrances available are relatively inexpensive, as well, making it easy to experiment with a variety of scents to find one that is right for her.

9. Posters

Teenage girls love to decorate their rooms and make them their own. Posters are a great way to personalize any bedroom. For girlie-girls, many beautiful posters are available – ranging from romantic scenes, to flowers, to poetry. For the rocker type, a multitude of posters exist for rock bands. For the movie aficionado, posters from popular movies, and characters from these movies, are available. For the girl that loves fantasy, dragon, castle, and other medieval posters exist. No matter her style, you can find a poster to match.

10. Locket

Start a new tradition with a locket. Place a picture of you and her inside, and ask her to pass the locket down to her daughter. This gift will create treasured memories for generations to come.
Teenage girls can be difficult to shop for at Christmas time. But sticking to these helpful hints will ensure a happy Christmas for both you and for her.

Take care

Paul

10 Gifts for the Teenage Boy

Morning All

On the surface, teenage boys seem like they would be easy to shop for at Christmas time. Unfortunately, this isn’t always true. For those of you who are struggling to find the perfect gift for the teenage boy on your Christmas list, read on to find some helpful Christmas gift ideas.

1. Team Jersey

Most teenage boys are into some sort of sport – whether it is basketball, football, baseball, or even NASCAR – he is sure to have a favorite team or sports figure. Buy him a jersey from his team. To make this gift even better, find a jersey with the number of his favorite player.

2. Jewelry

Yes, that says jewelry. Many guys are into some form of jewelry. For rocker guys, tribal or beaded necklaces will be a hit. These guys might also like stud or hoop earrings. Preppy guys often like to wear fashionable rings or bracelets. If you aren’t so sure about jewelry, try a watch. With such a wide variety of watch styles available, it should be easy to find one to fit any teenage boys taste.

3. Best buy gift certificate

Teenage boys love their gadgets and entertainment equipment. A gift certificate to Best Buy will give him an excuse to look at all of their TV’s, stereo equipment, and computers. He can also find his favorite music and video games here. If you don’t have a Best Buy in your area, the teenage boy on your list can still go shopping there on line.

4. Jeans

Teenage boys love their jeans. Just make sure you buy the style he likes. Some teenage boys like snug-fitting jeans, while others like their jeans to be baggie. Yet others prefer carpenter or painter jeans. Whatever the style, he is sure to have worn out the ones he has and in need of more!

5. Snowboard

Winter provides the perfect opportunity for snowboarding and simple snowboards can be purchased at a relatively low price. Most teenage boys love the thrill of conquering a new challenge – and snowboarding gives him a way to release some energy and jazz up the winter months.

6. Portable CD player

What teenage boy doesn’t love his music? No matter his taste in music, the teenage boy on your list is most likely passionate about his bands. Buy him a portable CD player and he can listen to his music anytime, anywhere – and spare you from having to listen to it, as well.

7. Paintball gun

Some natural instinct in teenage boys drives them to want to hunt each other down! Feed this instinct by purchasing paintball guns and paintballs. Many low-cost complete kits can be purchased at retail stores. Just be sure he is wearing old clothes when he goes outside to enjoy his paintball gun – his clothes will surely be filled with paint when he is done.

8. Video game magazine subscription

Teenage boys are suckers for video games. If he has a game system, such as X-Box, PlayStation, or Nintendo, purchase a subscription to the corresponding game system magazine. These magazines provide great information and screen shots about upcoming games, ratings of current games, and demo discs. With demo discs, he can play portions of games before they ever come out, which helps him decide what games he really likes – and what games will just be a waste of your money.

9. Car accessories

If the teenage boy on your list is old enough to drive and has his own car, buying car accessories is a sure win. This could even be a great gift for the teenage boy who is not driving yet. Every teenage boy dreams of owning his first set of wheels. By car wax and other cleaning supplies for him so he can pamper his new toy. Or, buy him seat covers or other decorative accessories to give his car that personal touch.

10. Black light lamp

A current trend among teenage boys is black light lamps. Get him one for his room and see what strange glows it creates. Many posters and other decorative accessories are also available that light up nicely with a black light.

Finding the perfect gift for a teenage boy can be daunting, but with a little creativity and shopping savvy, it is possible to find a gift that will make him say, “…that is so cool!”

Take care

Paul

Every Father’s Secret Wish List

Morning All

What is on your Father’s secret wish list? All men must have a special list of items they would like for Christmas. Here is a just a few of what might be on a wish list for a man.

The first one I would put on the list is a trip to baseball spring training. They would go with a bunch of friends, who were also fans of the same team; watch games and socialize with the players. Remember this is a “wish” list. Going along with the same theme, how about a trip to a baseball or football camp for adults? These camps are usually hosted by former players and allow them to fulfill their dreams of playing as a pro player.

Another item on the wish list for men would be a hunting trip or a fishing extravaganza. Maybe their dream is to go to the wilds of Alaska to hunt, or to go deep-sea fishing. A guided tour for a hunting party and a professional fisherman to give tips and help catching the “big one” are great gifts

Maybe your Father’s wish list includes a new fishing boat, new gear, or a new camping trailer. The great outdoors beckons them and these might be items they are wishing for to make their time outdoors more memorable and fun. Strapped for cash? How about a new tent, Coleman stove, and lanterns. A new sleeping bag to keep him warm and cozy on his nights out in the woods could be his favorite wish.

How about a golf outing in the Carolinas? If your Father enjoys golf, a trip to golf in the middle of winter could be just his cup of tea. Ok, can’t send him on a trip? There are other things that can make a golfing Father happy. Personalized tees and golf balls a new putter or a new golf bag is suggestions to make your Father happy. If you live in a warm climate already, you could buy him a golfing pass to one of your local golf courses.

One famous Father was given the gift of his first car, fully restored, and given to him by a loving family. His wish might be an accessory to a car he has or is rebuilding.

On a practical note, one wish he might have is to have a handyman come to his home and complete all those little “honey do” lists that have been waiting for him to complete. Just think a professional to come in, repair the dripping faucet, or replace the old showerhead. Clearing up the lists could give your Father some extra time to spend with his children, have a little relaxing time or maybe read the latest novel he hasn’t had time to read yet.

Ah, season tickets to his favorite team. That has to be a big one on the Father wish list. Imagine the thrill of being able to root for his team at all the home games in one of the best seats in the house.

Another wish on a Father’s list is a little more practical. I believe that wish would be to be able to spend more time with his family. Go to more soccer games, drive his daughter to her dance class and take his wife out for a night on the town. Father’s are usually the main support of the family and it’s very important for him to know that he’s loved and appreciated. Feel free to give him an extra hug, or a promise to do one of his chores. A coupon book made by his family could include coupons that he could redeem for a little free time.

Here are some coupon ideas for you.

• I will take out the rubbish for the week.
• I will mow the grass this week.
• I will wash the car and clean it out.
• I will fix you a hearty special breakfast.
• One free weekend pass to do whatever you want.

I know there are many other ideas that would only pertain to your Dad. What do you think his wishes are?

One father I know was pleased to receive a key ring made with his grandchildren’s picture encased in plastic. He carried it around for several years and only recently took them off his key ring because the pictures were so outdated.

Craft gifts made by their children will be treasured when the child gives them and made with their own hands.

Hope that helps!

Take care

Paul

Every Mother’s Secret Wish List

Morning All

Did you miss me yesterday? Sorry that I wasn't around but I am sure there was plenty for you to catch up on!

Family unity. The one thing in our world that’s the most important is for our families to get along. No matter what the ages of our children, we want them to be friends. One of the best days of the year is the one-day set aside for family and extended family to get together to celebrate Christmas. For us, it’s the last Saturday before Christmas, unless that falls on Christmas Eve.

It’s our attempt to avoid conflict with the other sides of families and children who wish to have their own Christmas with their loved ones at their own home. It’s an attempt to bring siblings, cousins, and in-laws and out-laws together for one happy night of fun.

A family portrait. Again, this has special meaning for any Mom who has children and grandchildren scattered around the globe. My secret wish is for all my grandchildren to be photographed together, all thirteen.

Handmade items from children and grandchildren. You know the saying “it’s the thought that counts.” It’s true; some of my most treasured possessions are the ones that were handcrafted by my children and grandchildren.

A Gift Certificate at a day spa. Included in this special package could be a facial, massage, haircut, pedicure, and manicure. Just to be pampered with candles shining, soft music playing and all the attention devoted to you. What a wonderful way to relax and so welcoming for that Mom that goes to every sports event, school event and plays chauffer to her children at all hours of the day and night.

Flowers. Flowers are an indulgence that we as mothers rarely do for ourselves. How special that one single red rose is when you find it at your place at the table. A bouquet of fresh flowers setting on the mantle is a delightful surprise at the end of a long day. They don’t need to be expensive; they could be a bunch of wild flowers from the field just outside of town.

A maid for a day. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to leave for the day and to come home and find your home sparkling clean from top to bottom? My secret wish is for the “maid fairy” to visit my house and do the little things that I don’t seem to find time to do. Those baseboards? Done. The fridge cleaned out? Sparkling. Imagine coming home to find all of the knick-knacks cleaned and shining.

A Pamper Me Gift Basket. If your budget doesn’t include enough money for a day spa visit, do the next best thing. Provide a basket with all the necessary items to pamper Mom. Bubble Bath, soothing lotion, candles, and potpourri. Give her an hour or so to relax in the tub with the door locked and not a thing to worry about.

Little Love Coupons. This is a unique idea that can be made on any home computer system or hand made by any member of the family. The coupons can include such items as: a back and neck massage, I will do the dishes coupon, we’re going out to dinner, a shopping spree by you for you. Some of the most important little items could include a hug when you need an extra one, a kiss when you’re feeling sad and an extra long distance phone call to a loved one who is far away. There are tons of possibilities for these Love Coupon Books. Create one specifically for your Mom.

Personalized gifts. The hardest thing for a Mom to do is buy something for her. If you or your Mom has an unusual spelling of your name then personalized gifts are extremely hard to find. However, what about a frame that has I Love Mom engraved on it, or special refrigerator magnet that can be personalized by a vendor at a local craft mall. On the other end of the scale, you can have purses, coin purses, and briefcases personalized with your Mom’s initials.

Appreciation. The single most important item on this list is appreciation. Mother’s do a lot of behind the scenes activities that largely go unnoticed. Be prepared to give your Mom an extra hug and a thank you for that special meal she cooked for you, for taking you to all those ballgames you were involved in, and items she gave up to give you those name brand games.

I believe that Mother’s Secret Wishes are specific to each Mother.

Take care

Paul

Themed Christmas Trees: Make Yours Unique

A very early Good Morning to all!

Off to London for a couple of days so here's a very early message from me today!

Everything has a theme, or idea. Easter’s theme is colorful, light shades. Television shows have theme songs. Brand names and businesses have signature moves and themes. Christmas’s theme is the mix of red and green.

Christmas trees will always be a main attraction in any household. You invite the family over for the day; have the turkey in the oven, carols playing through the stereo system, decorations hung throughout the rooms, the smell of steaming hot chocolate filtering through the kitchen. And then everyone goes into the main room and sees a stick with leaves with an angel glued on top because it wouldn’t stay on any other way. Doesn’t exactly fit the picture, does it?

Trees should be the center of attention in a room; it should be the first thing you notice and the easiest thing to remember in detail. Themed trees are an even more amusing conversation starter.

Your tree should represent you and your sensibilities. If you want to start simple, try going for a snowflake themed tree. You can get snowflake shaped lights to string along, thin garland with glittering ‘snow’, or any other kind of decoration that can support your theme.

If you want something a bit more difficult, try a kid’s tree, if it’ll be in a children’s room or if there are lots of kids coming over. You can tie on crayons, toys, dice, playing cards (the ace of spades, perhaps?), or plastic cars. Rather than an angel on top, try an anime figure from a television show that your kid likes or that is quite popular at the moment.

Perhaps for something more oriented for adults, a vehicle themed tree is in order. Each decoration could be a plastic car of a different model, color, or brand. An oil bucket could steady the base of the tree, and a car hood ornament could be the top angel.

A musically themed tree could draw the eye as well. Ornamental, glittering markings such as treble clefs, or bass clefs could be your angel. You can purchase miniature instruments at most music stores, usually in the form of key chains. Pencils and erasers can be decorated with musical items too, and they’ll add a different kind of look to your tree.

For something more personal, you could find something that your friends associate with you and act on it. Are you an addicted to shopping? Most large stores will either give away free or sell for a small fee little items with the name of the shop on it. Key chains are normally the most common, and they work perfectly! Miniature shopping bags (or actual ones that are a bit on the small side that can be hung at the bottom of the tree) are cute, inexpensive and will look perfect for a humorous decoration.

Receipts will add to the look (especially if they have some nearly outrageously expensive prices on them!) as long as they don’t have Christmas gifts on them, right along with price tags. Shoeboxes could decorate the bottom of the tree, or heavy catalogues for the season, with perhaps a jewelry box or two hung above. You could top the tree with a Paper Mache angel made out of flyers you received in the mail.

Your personality will be reflected with whatever theme you chose, so take time to choose and make sure it is something you’re willing to spend some money on, although it shouldn’t end up being too much.

Say you’re a teacher and want to jazz up the classroom for the holidays. You might decide to get a tree, most likely a plastic or small on, and theme it with textbooks, both miniature and regular sized. Having a bright red pen and cap hanging will be a cool reminder to students seeing as it’s only used for less that expected marks. Everyday school supplies such as pencils and pens, calculators, liquid correctors or erasers could dazzle your tree.

Whatever you end up choosing, whether it is a sports gone wild theme or politics and the government, make sure it fits in with the room it’s in. Having a tree with children’s toys on it shouldn’t be in the main room amongst your guests, but it’ll be a treat for your kid to decorate. Think of as a way to surprise your guests—in a good way.

Take care

Paul

Not So White Christmas: Getting in the Holiday Spirit when there is No Snow

Morning All!

You’re in bed, dreaming of a white Christmas. All your life you’ve only enjoyed pleasant memories of your Christmases being white and fun, with sleigh rides down the ravine and hot chocolate around the bonfire after a few hours of skating on the lake. Snow balls flying across the snow covered field, your friends on the receiving end. The glistening snow reflecting rays of light on its refreshing surface, painting such a radiating image in your mind, you find yourself consumed in the imagery.

Without realizing, you cry out, I’ll be home for Christmas. So loud was your statement that you’ve clearly startled yourself awake. Cautiously, you look around you to try and identify where you are. Slowly, you begin to recall again where you are, and nothing has changed. Lying in bed, in your Californian apartment, you realize, this is it. This will be your first Christmas here, with sunshine, and occasional rain, in a sometimes cool, but without snow environment. So the question is how can you keep your holiday spirit now that tradition is broken, and new ones must be set?

Cheer up, there’s always something you can do to be a little more festive, and celebrate the holidays this year. But coming from a history of pleasant memories of a fondness of snowflakes and winter activities it will require a little or lot more effort and work than that in previous years. So here’s what you can do.

Families and friends are the key to successful holiday celebrations. They tend to be associated with the best holiday memories, so they will definitely be the key here too. First of all, if there’s no way that you can spend the holiday season with your family; make sure you surround yourself in the company of many good friends. If you have not met very many of them in your new area of residence, here’s your chance to get out there and make yourself known. Chances are there will be a good number of people who share your same disposition, that is, trying to be festive but are having trouble with it. Try to use that to your advantage. Commonality is the easiest and most powerful way to get to know people and build friendships.

Nothing sets the mood like good Christmas classics both movies and music. Venture an evening out with the Christmas classics: A Christmas Carol or A Charlie Brown Christmas will definitely lift your spirits, and help you feel more Christmassy. To add a little more festivity, just listen to some Christmas carols. By now, you should have a few tunes up your sleeves, if nothing else, to get yourself started. You can jingle bell rock the season, just by keeping yourself involved in the holiday spirit which becomes so contagious during this time of the year.

Why not bring Christmas to you by simply digging into a little bit of holiday decorating?

Setting up a Christmas tree is always a great place to start. Even without the real white snow, there’s much that you can do to create that atmosphere. For instance, faux snow is something that will give you the same look as real snow, except of course you can’t expect it to feel like the real thing. Then you can deck the halls, and share a cup of holiday cheer with those around you. Strategically placing the infamous and traditional mistletoes around your place will help you and your visitors to greet one another more affectionately and may even make things a little more fun this holiday season.

With all that said, it is clear that tradition is something we all treasure and value dearly no matter where we are, or in what walks of life we might be at. However, when traditions must be broken, and new ones introduced, it is important to keep an open mind, an optimistic outlook, and a good attitude. Nothing is ever going to replace your traditions, or pleasant memories, but there’s always room for growth. Adapting to changes in your new lifestyle is a challenging task, but it can be achieved so long as you go into it with a willing disposition.

Take care

Paul

Christmas Games and Activities

Morning All!

The Christmas holidays are a time of expectation and joy for young and old alike. If you’re feeling that your celebrations have become routine and boring, there are plenty of ways that you can spice up your holiday season. There are so many things that can be experienced from creating new holiday traditions, such as making new memories for you and your family and friends to reminiscence about again and again.

The benefits are numerous, and there is not a shortage of ideas that you can implement this Christmas season and add to next year.

Depending on the occasion you can modify and creatively explore any of the activities you would like to do. For example, any Christmas games or craft activities can be either for adult or church centered party groups, family night, your child friends, or just for a personal one on one experience with the child in your life. Inspirationally you may center all of your activities on a theme, and you may choose to center the activities on a secular or religious viewpoint. Then again you may also choose, depending on the appropriateness and circumstance of the occasion to mix it up, but investigate the different options for both.

The focus of Christmas is usually in most households centered on children, and this time of year for them is a magical experience. Not only can Christmas day be the day for anticipation of fun, but all through the month can be. Opportune times exist for creating memories that last, such as bad weather, winter school breaks, sick days, and sleepovers as a time to not only entertain, but to learn about personal abilities and creativity too.

If your child is going to have a few friends over during the month of December, why not create, or search around for some Christmas time tongue twisters? Also, there are numerous songs to sing about the holidays, so dig out some carol sheet music and sing. Sick days are no fun for kids, so if they are able use some ole fashioned crayons and coloring books, add some stickers and a Christmas story to pass the time away. Creative times can be spent independently playing and learning holiday crossword puzzles and mazes. Personal or party time games and activities can be done with board games, such as bingo, scrap booking, or even in the kitchen. Making special candies like taffy or food for Santa’s reindeer can be healthy and nutritious by munching on a few carrots before leaving them for Rudolph.

There are no shortages for ideas on games and activities, and places to shop for your supplies. Crafts and party idea books can be found in most book stores, discount stores such as Wal-Mart, craft supply stores, and even many free articles in newsletters on the internet can lead you in the right direction for new Christmas celebratory ideas. You don’t have to break the bank account either to have lots of fun for the holidays either.

Many ideas are free on the internet and you can use a lot of the household products in your home to make crafts. Items such as construction paper, glue, markers, scissors, cotton balls and paper plates can be made into face masks for Christmas characters such as an elf or a Santa face. There are other ways to create new traditions for your family such as inspiring them to take their crafts and use them as gifts for the less fortunate. May be a lonely neighbor, or a child or adult that needs a little compassion would be thrilled to receive them.

Christmas games and activities bring back the magic for adults and inspire children to dream. However, more importantly it teaches valuable lessons about not only creativity, and the necessary skills of problem solving, but it solidifies a sense of unity with in the family and community. Its life long lessons hopefully develop into unselfish habits of cooperation and thinking about the welfare of others.

The time spent with others exemplify what the real meaning of the spirit of Christmas is - loving and treating others as we would like to be treated. Through your Christmas games and activities your holiday season will be one with a real spice of life and love. Remember, there are no better types of traditions than those.

Take care

Paul