Advice from Santa!

Happy New Year

2006-01-01T13:00:00.000Z

Afternoon All

Just a quick note to wish you a very Happy, Healthy, Peaceful and Prosperous New Year for 2006.

I hope that everything you want to achieve in 2006 comes your way!

To keep up-to-date with everything we are doing in 2006 and to be ready for Santa again make sure that you bookmark Paul's Ponderings right now!

Take care and God Bless

Paul

Happy Boxing Day!

2005-12-26T10:29:00.000Z

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!

2005-12-25T17:49:00.000Z

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

2005-12-25T09:36:00.000Z

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!

2005-12-24T11:17:00.000Z

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

2005-12-24T09:03:00.000Z

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

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

2005-12-23T19:59:00.000Z

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

2005-12-23T19:56:00.000Z

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!

2005-12-23T07:56:00.000Z

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

2005-12-22T06:32:00.000Z

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

2005-12-21T06:51:00.000Z

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

2005-12-20T06:50:00.000Z

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

2005-12-19T07:02:00.000Z

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!

2005-12-18T09:04:00.000Z

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!

2005-12-17T08:21:00.000Z

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

2005-12-16T06:57:00.000Z

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

2005-12-15T06:49:00.000Z

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

2005-12-14T06:29:00.000Z

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!

2005-12-13T19:37:00.000Z

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

2005-12-13T06:43:00.000Z

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!

2005-12-12T06:42:00.000Z

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

2005-12-11T11:01:00.000Z

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

2005-12-11T10:57:00.000Z

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

2005-12-10T11:55:00.000Z

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

2005-12-09T06:45:00.000Z

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

2005-12-07T05:02:00.000Z

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

2005-12-06T07:00:00.000Z

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

2005-12-05T08:49:00.000Z

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

Unique Christmas card Ideas

2005-12-04T10:05:00.000Z

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

Tied In Knots: How to Make the Perfect Bow

2005-12-03T08:47:00.000Z

Morning All

Would you like to give your friends and family the perfect gifts this holiday season? Of course, the perfect gift starts with the inside. The toy for the new baby or the piece of grandma’s childhood will be fun to shop for. When you have made your purchases though, the wrapping will also be an important addition to the Christmas gift.

This year, why not add a personal touch, and learn how to make the perfect bow for each wonderful gift? Using your own expertise in artful taste and color and pattern coordination, you can create a truly gorgeous spread under the tree.

The first step in making your own bows is to buy some ribbon that coordinates with your wrapping paper. If you find a good sale, buy all of it that looks good to you. That way you’ll have some to use for future birthday parties, baby showers and more Christmas celebrations. Not all ribbon will hold itself into bows. Depending on your patience level, you might want to choose ribbon that is stiff rather than not and rough rather than slippery.

As you gain more experience, your options for ribbon styles will increase. When choosing ribbon, also pay attention to how they look together. You will, as already mentioned, want them to coordinate with the wrapping on your packages, but you may want more than one option for each type of wrapping so that you can experiment with the appearance of more than one color of ribbon in the same bow. If your wrapping paper is a solid color, you can also choose ribbons with patterns for a lively-looking bow. Finally, you should decide on the preferred width for the colors, styles and patterns of ribbons you have chosen. While narrow ribbon may produce more intricate bows, I recommend wider ribbon. One to one and a half inches is an easy width to work with in order to create elegant bows.

A simple and perfect Christmas bow starts with a wrapped package and plenty of ribbon. Take enough ribbon to wrap around the entire package two and a half times. Start at the top, with the ribbon centered on the package, and wrap it to the bottom. At the bottom of the package, cross the two ends of the ribbon and wrap one around the other. Pull the ribbon tight so that it lies smoothly across the top of the package. Next, take the two ends and wrap them back up to the top of the package. If your ribbon is stiff and rough enough, tie the two ends in a simple knot. If not, hold them tightly in a knot and either staple it to the package, or hot glue it to the wrapping.

What you should have now is a package, crossed with ribbon. Experiment with the placement of the cross. You may want it centered, moved more to one side or up in the corner of the gift. Next, we will make the bow.

Take an arm’s length of the same, or coordinating, ribbon. Start with one end and lay it over your knot on the top of the package. Fold over four inches of the ribbon one direction and then the other. You are making a pile of loops. When you have used all of the ribbon, tie the two ends that you initially wrapped the package with around the middle of the bow. Again, if the ribbon won’t hold itself in a knot, use hot glue. You may trim the ends or curl them.

Feel free to experiment with tying more ends to the initial knot so there is more to curl. Also, try spinning the bow’s loops a little bit before you tie it to add an interesting flair with different layers. Use your imagination to add colors and variations to each package’s bow.

Making your own Christmas bows is fun and rewarding. Choosing your materials and making original creations is an exciting process. The people you love will also appreciate the effort you put into making their gifts truly beautiful. Your gifts will be received with anticipation.

Don’t be surprised if you see children and adults alike walking around this year’s Christmas party, wearing your bows.

Take care

Paul

Christmas Stories and Activities for the Teacher

2005-12-02T06:52:00.000Z

Morning All

You can always tell Christmas is just around the corner when you go to your favorite store and see reindeer-oriented decorations hung up right beside the Halloween ones—in September.
As educators around the globe, it’s our responsibility to push open the wonders of the world to our students, especially when the holidays come around. Students in younger grades constantly get distracted and we’re the ones that get to scrounge around for fun activities to amuse them with.

One of the most famous of said Christmas activities is to write a letter to Santa Claus. We see it happen in advertisements on the television, in the theaters, and it keeps that touch of belief left in us. The kids love it and it gets everyone in the spirit of the holidays. The best way is to get an older class to read the letters and respond to them. It might not seem as heart-warming, but the kids get ecstatic when they open their response.

Another way to keep the younger kids occupied is the craft angle. Coloring might be good for the wee ones, but it won’t work for long. Cutting out snowflakes by folding paper is a classic—and it works too! Tree decorations, cards, and snowmen will keep their little hands busy for a while at least.

The older kids are a bit tougher. They consider themselves old enough so that the ole ‘be good or you’ll get coal in the stocking’ lecture doesn’t work so much and they need those touch more specific tasks and instructions. Coloring just won’t cut it, much to everyone’s dismay. (Although there is a reason that snowflakes are such a classic!)

If there’s a spare bulletin board in the class, try making a mural out of construction paper. One group does the fireplace, another does Santa, another does a table with a glass of milk and cookies, another does the tree, and so on and so on until everything gets stapled up together to make one big mural. It’s a great project because it shows teamwork at its best.

Another fun project is to get a bunch of mini-pumpkins, the ones that you can hold in the palm of your hand. Cut out the middle of it, including the stem (you’ll need a semi-sharp knife, which if why this is meant for older students), and then try to clean out the inside of the pumpkin without widening the hole. Then you get a pair of candles and can stick them inside to make beautiful festive candleholders. It doesn’t take long and makes a good Christmas gift.

If you have a smaller group, or one that you believe can handle things well, try making the candles as well. Each student needs one sheet of wax eighteen by eight and a half inches. Cut the sheet diagonally from eleven inches to seven inches. Take one piece and put a hair dryer on it for a few minutes until it’s warm enough to be maneuverable and place a wick slightly longer than the longest side at the longest side and slowly roll it along until you get one candle with a spiraling upper half. If you do the same with the other piece of wax, you will then have a matching set.

Christmas is celebrated in different ways around the world, and there are plenty of stories on the Internet and in books that can show your students the multiple cultures throughout the planet we call home. Try going for stories that the kids can relate to without going overboard with descriptions. Foreign customs can be hard to understand, so try for moderation.

The Holiday greeting of “Merry Christmas” can be translated into millions of different languages, and each is native to a certain country or region. ‘Joyeux Noël’ is French, ‘Mo'adim Lesimkha’ is Hebrew, ‘Buon Natale’ is Italian, and ‘Feliz Navidad’ is Spanish. There are plenty of activities on the Internet and in books with lists of other languages. There are lots of games, matching, rhyming, and others, that you can create. And pronouncing the words is always fun too!

Whatever you decide to do, you can try to incorporate it in only a few subjects. Not all kids are gung-ho about Christmas, and every day school work still needs to be around. But all in all, make sure it’s fun. The best way to end school for the holiday break isn’t just to tie up loose ends, but to make them into pretty bows too.

Take care

Paul

Saving Money but enjoying a wonderful Christmas!

2005-12-01T07:01:00.000Z

Morning All

Christmas can be an expensive time of years, especially for families who are on a fixed income, and for families with only one income. The following paragraphs will explain how to cut some of the costs of Christmas by making homemade gifts, and will help ensure that the spirit of Christmas is not hampered by excessive financial burden.

Making homemade gifts is a great idea to cut the costs of Christmas. Homemade gifts are not only less expensive, but they are often more meaningful, because of the love and effort put into making the homemade gift. This article will take a look at some popular homemade gift ideas, the average cost of materials, and how to actually make them.

Do you know someone who is an avid bird watcher, or someone who just enjoys feeding the birds? A homemade bird feeder may be the perfect cost efficient Christmas gift for them. All it takes is an empty gallon milk jug (rinsed out good), a pair of scissors, glue, some artificial flowers, and two colored pencils (any color).

Total cost of these supplies is less than $5.00. First rinse out the milk jug real good, using hot soapy water. Rinse it again in cold water, to make sure all the soap is out of the milk jug. Cut a large opening in the front of the jug, leaving about two inches at the bottom of the milk jug. Cut the artificial flowers off of the stems, and decorate the jug with the flowers. The very last step is to insert the colored pencils into the two inch space under the opening you already cut out of the milk jug. The pencils will act as perches for the birds. For an extra dollar, you can even include a bag of wild bird seed to this gift.

For young nieces, nephews, or even younger siblings, a homemade coffee can wish bank can be a great inexpensive gift idea. The necessary supplies are an empty coffee can, the color comics from the Sunday newspaper, glue, a pair of scissors, and glitter. The cost of materials is under $5.00. All you have to do is cut out the comics, and decorate the can with the child's favorite comics and add some glitter. Cut a small slit in the top of the can, and there you go a cost efficient gift that any kid would love.

Do you burn a lot of candles throughout the year? Saving the last little bit of wax from the burned down candle will be useful. When you have enough saved, melt all the wax together in a double boiler (or microwave if you watch it closely). Crayons can be added to the wax to give it a different color. When the wax is totally melted, pour it into small mason jars. Insert pieces of cotton yarn as wicks, and tie a pretty bow around the jar. What a wonderful gift this could be, and it was made with stuff most people have laying around their house.

Here is a good homemade gift idea for grandma, grandpa, and any family member. Save empty paper towel rolls, and decorate them for Christmas, or let the children decorate them. Then take pictures of each of the kids or family portraits, roll them up, and insert them inside the paper towel holder. Family members will love this homemade gift and it only costs as much as the portraits.

The last homemade gift idea is for any child you may feel the need to buy for. Children love pet rocks, and they are cheap and easy to make. Find some smooth, flat rocks and clean them with warm soapy water. Make sure they are completely dry before starting. Make faces on the rocks using wiggly eyes, and permanent markers. Hair can be made with cotton yarn.

Receiving a family of pet rocks will brighten any child's Christmas, and they are very cheap to make.

Christmas can be a stressful time of year, simply because of the financial burden it inflicts on some. Making homemade gifts can be very cost efficient, and can save you money!

Take care

Paul

Homemade Gifts from the Kiddies

2005-11-30T07:01:00.000Z

Morning All

Hope that your preparations for Christmas are going well?!

Kids love being a part of the festive holiday season of Christmas, and by letting them make gifts for others it teaches them so much. They learn how to create, organize, and the value of hard work to achieve their goals. More importantly it gives them a moral compass of giving through love and compassion for others.

There are easy homemade gifts that young children can make to give to family, friends and neighbors. By taking a few moments out of your busy holiday schedule, you can exemplify the true spirit of love not only for others, but for your kids as well. Besides these easy craft gift ideas are inexpensive and a lot of fun to make. So create a new family tradition of homemade gift making with your kid.

Simplified gifts for kids to make at Christmas can be most anything. For example, give your kid a chance to make a handy latch hook rug for someone they love. Most major discount stores carry them, and you can start your kid off with a small sized one to give as a gift. Designs include everything from a cat to flowers. There are no little pieces of dangerous items to keep up with such as needles or sharp scissors. The tiny yard threads can be separated into small storage containers and dispensed as needed. The latch hook itself has no sharp parts to be concerned with; however you may want to warn your kid not to run with the curved tool.

The canvas is clearly marked with the placement of colored yarn, and the back can be taped, and later quick stitched by you so it will hold securely. Another fun homemade gift that your kid can make is fleece scarves. Material can be found at different fabric and craft stores. The material comes in a variety of designs, both solid and different holiday print themes. With a little help from you kids can cut and measure the width and length desired. Edges can be left plain or cut into short strips on the end to add a little flare. Kids can even wrap it their selves too by rolling it tightly and securing it with a ribbon.

Another type of homemade gift kids can make for Christmas time is by painting a light weight balsa wood type box, which then can be decorated for storing small personal items such as stamps or trinkets. Small colored beads or faux jewels can be glued on the lid, and a picture of them can be placed on the inside of the box top. A cardboard bottom can be added for extra support along with a felt lining to jazz it up. Dating the top of the box will make it a keepsake for sure. Kids like to give other box type gifts such as the clear plastic formed boxes.

Many companies on the internet carry them, and for a little extra you can buy one with a slit in the top that would make a great piggy bank gift for their friends. Again, this box can be painted with permanent paint, and glue can be applied to stick a multi colored ribbon on it. Kids might like to add a penny into the box to keep their friends guessing.

Other types of gifts for kids to make can be easy ribbon bookmarks or even ribbon jewelry. Also, plain pillow covers for the bed can be decorated by your kid by dipping their hands in paint and printing their name on the pillow. Grand parents really love these types of gifts from their grandkids because it’s not only useful, but it’s very close to their hearts every night they lay down for the night. You can help your kid create all of these easy projects quickly, and it will mean so much to them and to others, especially for those that live far away.

Just remember to let your kid do as much as they can because they want to be able to say they made it themselves, even though it’s tempting to correct the small mistakes they may make, it’s just as easy to look away knowing they made it with all of the love in their hearts – which is the true spirit of Christmas.

Take care

Paul

Christmas Caroling: Singing in the Snow

2005-11-29T06:55:00.000Z

Morning Alll!

Everyone can enjoy the sweet sound of children of all ages singing their little hearts out to a lone guitar—no matter how out of tune they might be. They don’t have to be children either, adults can have some mighty fine voices too.

Carolers never quite have that same heartfelt warmth about them like on television, so don’t allow that to put you off your game. Usually once you get going, you don’t want to stop right up until the hot chocolate is brought out.

Choose your place carefully, that is, provided you’re not going door to door. You’ll want to select a place that is frequently populated, even into the later hours of the evening, but is a good enough area that you’re not worried about getting mugged. That can really put a damper on your Christmas cheer. If you are going to say, set up camp outside a business, make sure to check with the business owner first, just in case.

No matter where you decide to go, make sure that you are fully prepared. Everyone can enjoy a mug of something steaming after being out in the cold, and it is best not to disappoint. There’s always the chance that someone will forget the lyrics to ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ and will mumble it up too. Little booklets are handy for a good reason.

If you plan to have a musical instrument there to help keep the pitch right on target, it’s best to get a proper music stand to hold any and all sheet music that might be needed. A guitar works especially well because then the guitarist can sing too, but other instruments might sound prettier to go with the occasion. Flutes work perfectly because most carols have a higher melody that it can reach easily, or perhaps a clarinet or two to keep things in perspective. Saxophones can really spruce up your singing but they’re best with jazz styled songs.

If you don’t have enough musicians to add some harmonic tunes, or you don’t have enough people in general to sing, then don’t worry too much. So long as your carolers have a vague sense of the song, they’ll be able to fumble around the melody well enough.

When deciding upon your repertoire, make sure to go overboard and overstock. The worst thing that can happen is being out in the snow, singing until your voice cracks, only to find that unless you want to repeat some more songs, you don’t have any others. You might only get half of them done before the younger ones decide they’d like to get out of the cold weather, but it’s better to be prepared in the long run. The last thing you want is to be caught short.

Some of the best carols to sing aren’t necessarily the classics. Sure ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’, or ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ might sound pretty, but it’s always nice to have some more, cough, amusing refrains. ‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus’ is guaranteed to plaster a grin on a passerby’s face.

For some really, cough, intriguing harmonies, try taking a traditional carol and changing the lyrics around to make it humorous. The kids, not to mention the adults, will get a kick out of turning ‘Silent Night’ into ‘Jailbird Flight’. Or you can start from scratch and get your own lyrics and hymn. Unfortunately, that’s not nearly as easy as we’d like it to be. Luckily, we can always use the Internet to find some entertaining like ‘I’m Getting Nuttin’ for Christmas!’

‘I’m Getting Nuttin’ for Christmas’ is about a kid who does lots of pranks like ‘I spilled some ink on Mommy’s rug; I made Tommy eat a bug! Bought some gum with a penny slug; somebody snitched on me!’ The chorus repeats the title, says Mommy and Daddy are mad. This repeats using the title again, and then admits ‘Cause I ain’t been nuttin’ but bad!’

No matter where you go or what you sing, keep the spirit of the season alive and going. Caroling is an age-long tradition—and there’s a good reason it has lasted so long and is close to so many hearts. The kids will thank you for it later.

Take care!

Paul

Holiday Shopping Online: Tips for Buying Online

2005-11-28T07:51:00.000Z

Morning again!

With Christmas quickly approaching, more and more people are turning to the Internet to make holiday purchases. But, where are the best places to shop? How can you be sure your purchases will be secure? What happens if something you buy online needs to be returned? Read on to find some helpful tips for holiday shopping online.

Where to Shop

Finding an online store is the easy part. Most major retailers have an online store and many additional stores can be found only online. To shop at a specific store, simply type the store name into a search engine and you will be sure to find the store right away. In general, stores that you are familiar with are the best places to shop online. This is because you have a greater assurance that these stores provide a secure shopping experience and that they will back their products. In addition, making an exchange or returning an item is much easier, because it can be taken back to the “real world” store.

But, there are many great stores that are only found online. Many of these stores provide great deals, especially since they don’t have the costly overhead expenses of maintaining a real store. Before making a purchase over the Internet at one of these stores, however, be sure the store provides a secure connection. This reduces, and almost eliminates, the possibility of someone hacking into your personal information. Finding out if a store provides a secure connection is not difficult, as it will proudly display this fact at its virtual checkout line.

In addition, most computers will actually inform you that you are entering into a secure area. This is especially true if you have a virus protector, such as Norton or McAfee, on your computer (and if you are spending time browsing the Internet, you should certainly have one of these).

The best thing about finding stores online is that you can shop anywhere in the world. This opens up your gift buying opportunities – making it possible to buy for even the hardest to buy for person on your list!

Look for Hidden Charges

Just like when shopping at real stores, it is best to comparison shop when shopping online. Many online stores offer competitive prices. At the same time, shopping online can incur hidden charges. Be sure to check into shipping and handling charges. Some online stores provide free shipping and handling while others can be quite costly. Also, don’t forget about taxes, some stores already add these costs in their price quote while others do not.

Purchasing an Item

Once you have found the perfect Christmas gift, and completed your comparison shopping, it’s time to make your purchase. Most online stores will let you use a credit card to make a purchase. This can be done directly on the site. Other online stores will require that you fax your credit card information.

For those without a credit card, or who are not comfortable using a credit card online, most stores have a check or money order policy. The advantage of using a credit card, however, is that most credit cards will remove a charge if there is a dispute over a charge, which provides you with extra protection when making an online purchase.

After completing your purchase, be sure to print out your order. This serves as your receipt and provides proof of your purchase. The order should also include a confirmation number, which makes it easier for you to check on and track your order.

Returning an Item

If you do decide to make a purchase from an online store that does not have a real store in your area, make sure to protect yourself and only buy from stores with a clear, stated return policy. It should also provide details as to how to file a complaint if merchandise is damaged or fails to meet expectations.

Also, look for virtual stores that include complete contact information, including an address, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address. Avoid stores that only provide a PO Box number. A store with a real street address is more likely to be legitimate and have your best interest in mind.

If you do run into a problem with a product, communicate with the online retailer through letters or e-mails, and be sure to keep copies of the correspondence.

Online shopping can reduce the stress of holiday shopping. By being a smart consumer, you can find the best deals, access a wider variety of goods, and enjoy a spectacular Christmas.

Take care

Paul

10 Christmas Gifts That Anyone Will Love

2005-11-28T07:49:00.000Z

Morning All

With Christmas right around the corner, the pressure is on to find the perfect gift for the people on our holiday lists. But, finding the perfect gift can sometimes be more difficult than it seems. Luckily, your problems have been solved. Read on to discover 10 Christmas gifts that anyone will love.

1. Scented candles, incense, and scented oils
Scented candles and incense are an old favorite standby. With their pleasant scent and subtle ability to create a warm, relaxing atmosphere, how can you go wrong with scented candles and incense? Some scented candles can be costly. But, many dollar stores stock a variety of attractive scented candles, candleholders, and incense. Furthermore, they come in a wide array of scents to suit anybody’s taste.

Scented oils and oil diffusers are not as common as scented candles and incense. They can, however, still provide an alluring aroma and offer a slight change from traditional candles. In addition, diffusers come in a variety of designs to suit a person’s personal style.

2. Massage
Everyone enjoys the pleasure of a stress-reducing massage. It soothes aching muscles and rejuvenates both the mind and body. One easy way to provide the gift of massage is to buy a massage chair. Massage chairs create a kneading action, similar to that provided by a professional masseuse. Many have different speed settings to adjust the intensity of the massage and to focus on specific areas.

Or, take the gift of massage to a higher level. Buy that special someone on your list a gift certificate to a certified massage therapist. Better still, for a more approach, buy a few bottles of massage oil and place them in an attractive basket and give it as a gift – then provide the massage yourself!

3. Chocolate
Most everyone loves chocolate. To top it off, current research has indicated that eating quality, plain chocolate helps protect the body from high blood pressure, heart disease, and other health problems. Satisfy your loved one’s sweet tooth while showing you care by improving his health!

4. Sleepwear
Sleep is something we all do! Furthermore, there is nothing better than getting a good, restful night’s sleep. Help that person on your list get to sleep with some nice, cozy pajamas, a comfy robe or a warm pair of slippers. Or, for a sexy night’s sleep, buy that someone special a set of silky night gown or boxers – a Christmas gift you’ll both enjoy!

5. Plants or flowers
By the time Christmas rolls around, many people are suffering from a case of the winter blues. Help liven up someone’s winter by purchasing a new plant or a flower arrangement – remind your loved one that spring is right around the corner!

6. Music
Music also offers an escape from reality. Even if you don’t know what bands your loved one enjoys, you can rarely go wrong when purchasing a classical CD or a new age selection. These CD’s will help your loved one relax and perhaps even help her get to sleep on a restless night.

7. Bath oil
A wide variety of bath oils are available for both men and women. Not only does it provide for a sweet-smelling bath, but it can provide for a much-needed aromatherapy session of relaxation after a long day.

8. Yoga or gym memberships
Provide that special person on your list with a fun way to burn off excess energy, relieve stress, and stay healthy. Purchase a gift certificate to a local gym or nearby yoga class. To take it a step further, create a basket with a yoga mat, videos, a towel, and a water bottle.

9. Quilts
Everyone appreciates a nice, warm quilt – especially during the winter months of Christmastime. Buy a quilt for someone on your list and he will remember you every time he snuggles up to it in bed or covers up in front of the TV.

10. Herbal tea and flavored coffee
Herbal tea and coffee come in a vast array of flavors. In addition, herbal tea can serve many purposes – from teas to relax the body and aid with sleeping to teas that reenergize the body. Put together a decorated box filled with a variety of tea and coffee flavors and recipient will think of you for months to come as he sips away at the variety of flavors.

Christmas is a time to share and give. With these holiday tips, you will be sure to have a wonderful Christmas to remember.

Take care

Paul

I hate wrappping presents!

2005-11-27T10:21:00.000Z

Morning All

I don't know about you but I am not good at wrapping presents! I look at the wonderful way that some people manage to wrap presents and think - if only!

Well here are a few tips that you might find helpful if you are in the same boat as me!

Traditionally, when you think of gift wrapping, you visualize ribbons, wrapping paper, tape, and scissors. But in our modern society, we need to accommodate modern people as well. As working men and women, some of us don’t have the time to properly wrap gifts, as well, for whatever reason, some of us just don’t enjoy elaborate gift wrapping. For those of us who fit this latter profile, know that you have options. We will be giving tips about the traditional as well as not so traditional alternatives in gift wrapping, to ensure that your gift giving will be a success no matter which profile you fall under.

For the traditionalists who enjoy the classical gift wrapping, you will need your wrapping paper, tape, scissor, and ribbon. First of all, you’ll need to select an appropriate style of wrapping paper, so for what occasion are you giving this gift? Nowadays, wrapping papers come in many different varieties, from birthdays and weddings, to Easter and Christmas. So make sure you choose one that gives the right impression. You’ll want one that communicates to the recipient what the purpose is for you to send him/her a gift.

Now, how do you keep your paper strait and aligned? Many companies offer wrapping paper with grids marked on its backside of the design; cut along these lines and you can be confident that there wouldn’t be a jig-saw edge to match the flat side. These grids also come in handy when you’re trying to measure how much wrapping paper you’ll need to cut out, so use them as much as you can, that’s what they’re there for.

After making sure that the wrapping paper you measured out is one and half times the size of the object on every dimension, you can proceed with the taping. First you’ll want to put a piece of tape exactly in the middle where both ends of the wrapping paper meets. Next, you’ll ensure the fit is snug on all sides, and secure the centre connecting point with more tape to keep the form rigid. Now you crease the ends, knocking in two end flaps that are parallel to the other, establishing a triangular fold in the middle of both sides. Reinforce the crease; fold the triangle flap from bottom to top, then finish sealing the edge by overlapping the top triangle flap over the bottom one, and tape. Ribbons are optional, but if you choose to use them, make sure that you curl them with the non-sharp end of the scissors.

But what if you’re not a traditionalist? Well, we’ve got some ideas for you that will save you all the hassle with traditional wrapping while still “wrapping” your present.

Chances are, you don’t have the time to do the wrapping, but you still want to give a gift that’s aesthetically pleasing, so here’s what you can do. Look for an alternative that you’ll be satisfied with. Although alternatives to paper wrapping are not as common, or may not be as economical, they are definitely are available. One thing you can use is fabric. A fabric bag, or design material will create a warm and unique experience for the recipient. Make sure that the material fully covers the gift, so that it can be sealed by a single strip of ribbon. This’ll make gesture that this is intended to be an extra special. Finish off the wrapping by making a simple bow.

Decorated boxes provide for a quick and easy way to deliver your gift without having to deal with the hassle of paper gift wrapping. The key here is making sure your gift is appropriately sized for the box. Stuff the interior with tissue wrap, close the lid and finish with a simple ribbon tied into a bow.

The last option that we’ll mention here are gift bags. They convey the message of convenience with a flare of elegance. Gift bags are easy, and quick. Just place your parcel in the bag, and crunch up tissue papers to top off the bag and voila. No ribbon required.

So no matter how busy or inept you feel, there is a way for you to wrap a pretty present.

Take care and happy wrapping!

Paul

Buying for those you work with

2005-11-27T10:18:00.000Z

Morning All

Have you given any thought to what you buy for those you work with?

It is difficult every holiday season to find the perfect gifts for your co-workers. You do not want to seem like a Scrooge, yet you can not spend your entire holiday budget on the office and have nothing left for the family. You may also be faced with the common dilemma that despite the five days a week you spend with these people, you are not quite close enough to now how to get buy them a personal gift. If you take the time to do some advance planning you may be able to give gifts confidently, find the perfect gifts for your co-workers, and keep some of your holiday bonus to boot.

If you have not waited until the last minute you are already on the right track. Do not make purchases out of desperation. This is when you spend three times more than you had planned only to wonder why you did not buy the item for your self. Buying items in bulk is a great time saver and you will have the enough perfect gifts for all your co-workers and maybe some friends and neighbors. A classic tradition is the gift basket. The gift basket may sound generic, but it is actually one of the most personable of all gifts if you take the time to make it personalized from you. You may not be able to buy in bulk a personalized gift for a bunch of different people with different interests. You can however make the basket unique to you. Create a basket that will say, “This is a present from your favorite co-worker.”; something that they will look at in there living room and remember you. It will be okay that everyone has the same basket because they will all be talking about the great “theme” basket they got from you for weeks.

Perhaps you may do a movie theme this year. Your basket will consist of microwave popcorn, candy, a classic DVD, gift certificates to your local rental store. Emergency-kits are perfect gifts for your co-workers, because who would not appreciate you thinking of them? Simply go to your local discount store and buy travel packs of your basic first-aid items, a gallon of water, beef jerky, a flash light, and you have emergency kits for your co-worker’s car trunks. Get creative and maybe a theme that is related to your company would also be a great idea.
If Christmas at the office means dipping just a little bit deeper in to the pocket for your co-workers, personalizing items is a nice way to add that extra touch.

There are plenty of malls with engraving kiosks that will personalize just about anything. Once again you can buy your perfect gifts for your co-workers, anything from paper weights to baseballs, and have them engraved with a funny inside joke at the office. Maybe you have a special affirmation or quote that you like to share, or even just your co-workers name on a small desk clock is one step up from a just a small desk clock. Personalizing is a great idea for book ends, plaques, picture frames, or even mouse pads.

If you feel you would like to make a long lasting impression this Christmas at the office, monthly gift clubs are definitely the way to go. You can find many well known companies that will provide catalogs for you to order anywhere from three, six, to twelve month gift clubs. For the nature and garden lover, you can have a new set of organic bulbs delivered ready to bloom on a monthly basis. Even better, you can have them delivered in bloom.

The perfect gifts for your co-workers can come once a month in all shapes and forms; like chocolate from around the world, beer from the continents, three bottles of wine a month, a case of wine a month! Gourmet meals and desserts are a neat treat for the working parent, these too can be shipped from anywhere around the world. Great gift ideas for your co-workers are not such a difficult task, if you start early, and think out of the box.

Hope that has helped prompt your thinking!

Take care

Paul

Making memories for the Future - scrap booking!

2005-11-26T18:20:00.000Z

Hi All

If your tired of seeing a shoebox full of mementos and pictures thrown carelessly into an already over stuffed closet, then you might want to consider learning the fun hobby of scrap booking. It’s true that there are some people that become so addicted to the craft that they decide to go into business for themselves, either by being a sales representative of scrapbook supplies or by teaching classes on it. Either way by learning the art of it you will ensure that your pictures and other keepsakes are safely kept in a decorative album. However, you will need to get a few basic supplies to start, but then you can graduate to creating special themed books for the seasons, such as Christmas. It might surprise you to learn about the themed ideas available for you to create.

When starting your basic supply kit you will need to realize that the different qualities of supplies vary. A good rule of thumb is to start small, but buy quality. There is a slightly higher expense, but you will not have to replace them over and again. A good idea to learn scrapping techniques is to take a beginners class, and practice your hobby with help and how to books and videos. This way you can practice without anyone seeing your learning steps into the world of scrapping .Beginning craft scrapping sets are available at any craft or discount stores, and the kits will contain the needed paper backgrounds and frames. Most kits include for beginners scissors, glue and stamps. Stamps are hole-punch devices that come in a variety of decorative shapes for the occasion, as for example a Christmas tree stamps or a smiling friendly snowman. After you become comfortable with the basics of scrap booking, you can move up in the world of stamping by purchasing other neat items, such as paper crimps, eyelet tools for threading, felt tip pins, red eye removal pins, templates for different shapes and letters, glue removal solutions, layouts, stickers, and a host of other type of decorative add-ons such as flowers and faux jewels.

Now that you know a few of the how-to of beginning your scrap book experience, and the basic supplies needed, you can then begin to start to think about all of the different scrap booking ideas that you can create for the Christmas holiday season. A word of caution needs to be injected here though, always make sure that you buy all of your paper products that are lignin and acid - free. These additives to paper products can damage and yellow your cherished memories in a few short years. The different types of themed Christmas scrap booking ideas will leave you in awe. You can always add to your themed list by using your imagination and creativity for themes. Take a glance at a few of the themed ideas.

Wedding Christmas
Anniversary Christmas
First Christmas Together
Baby’s First Christmas
Baby’s First Birthday Christmas
First Communion Christmas
Home For The Holidays Christmas
College Year Christmas
Vacation Christmas
Family Christmas
Grandparents Christmas
Friends Christmas
New Pet Christmas
Church Celebration Christmas
Community First Christmas
Military Christmas Memories Christmas
Memorial Christmas

Sit down with a pen and paper in hand and brain storm about the different themed ideas that you can come up, and in no time you will be wondering if there is enough time to do it all! Remember with lots of practice you will be a scrap booking professional.

You will be adding advanced decorative ideas that will make your Christmas scrapbooks as unique and as individualized as you are. Experimentation with adding cute charms, pressed flowers, buttons and snowy white acrylic paints to your photos and keepsakes will make a themed holiday Christmas photo album a work of art to display, and to show to friends any time of the year.

However you begin your scrapping fantasy remember to have a lot of fun, and take you time in learning the art of it. The Christmas season is a time of wonder and magic, and by learning the art of scrapping you will have a valuable resource of artful memories to relive it all again.

Take care

Paul

Christmas is a time of memories

2005-11-26T18:05:00.000Z

Evening All

As much as I enjoy Christmas with my partner who always makes it an incredible and wonderful time of year I cannot help but remember those who have passed on. It is hard to believe that it is now 15 years since Mum died and as another Christmas approaches she, my Father and all those we have lost are in our thoughts.

Mum passed away on 11th December after a few weeks of rapid decline and her Funeral took place on 18th December. I am sure you can imagine how very little we felt like celebrating Christmas that year. However, Dad was insistent that in some way we would maintain the traditions that Mum had loved and that we would sit down as a Family for Christmas Dinner - as Mum would have wanted us to.

Every Christmas, wherever we were in the world we could always count on coming home to a house full of excitement, laughter and good quality fun with the family. But it was not like that at all and it felt like nothing would ever be the same again. The previous year’s Christmas would forever be the Christmas my entire family can hold on to as a memory that we celebrated Christmas as a complete family. It’s one of those memories that I can, and will never allow myself to forget. It was a time of joy, love, peace, and goodness. Now all that we have is a memory, something that we can only reflect on and never experience again.

Losing a loved one so near Christmas was the worst Christmas I could ever imagine. It clearly was not the same, and can never be the same again. It is also important to remember though, that life does and will go on whether or not you’re ready for it. It is essential to cling on to those who you can lean on to for support in these times of hardship, and sorrow.

People you can depend on will inevitably become the stepping stone of your strength in pulling yourself back together. The blessings of a loving, and supportive family was the most important thing for me.

In times where your hardships are greatest, you will find that it is your family that you can count on to provide that beacon of light to direct you to safer grounds. As difficult it is to suffer such a great loss, it is comforting to know that such a powerful strength is still available to you. You will never value or appreciate the full meaning and worth of family until you’ve tested its unconditional love.

Christmas and holidays are special occasions where we spend quality time with loved ones: family and friends. Although it’s not always possible to spend time with them, take comfort in knowing that there will always be people who genuinely care for us and love us. Take comfort too from the knowledge that those you have lost are still with you.

Take care and God bless

Paul

Deck the Halls! Ideas for making your home beautiful this Yuletide!

2005-11-26T17:20:00.000Z

Evening all

The department stores start decorating for Christmas on the first day of November although sometimes it seems like a lot earlier!

It makes you start to think about how you will deck your house this holiday season. There’s the tree, of course, and the lights, but how will you put it all together? Will you do it just the same as last year, or is there something you can add to bring your home a little extra holiday cheer? With a few tried and true ideas and a few fun and interesting ones, you can combine holiday decorating ideas into a beautiful and welcoming home this year. The first thing to think about is the tree, but then there are also do-it-yourself ideas and also experiments with food to try.

The Christmas tree is the central piece to holiday decorations.

There are a couple of options to consider when decorating your tree. Whether you use a real tree or an ornamental one and whether you have a miniature tree or one that nearly touches ten-foot ceilings, the options are the same. Some people choose to decorate elegantly with matching bulbs and clear lights. These trees range from simple to gaudy, but tend to look the same in each family’s home year after year. If it’s time to change the decorations on your tree, call in the troops. Children offer excellent, quality help when it comes to decorating for Christmas. Let go of the urge for symmetry and have your kids get out the craft supplies.

They will use bright color and exceptional creative impulses. With clay, paper, popcorn and candy canes, you and your kids can spend a few afternoons in the months before Christmas making the tree decorations. With all of the variation and having nothing match, you will be surprised at how balanced and beautiful your tree will look.

If you did cut your tree, save the boughs that you trim from the bottom. Tree greens are very useful in holiday decorating. You can use them to decorate the background for your nativity set or your miniature Christmas village or train set. If it is convenient, put the ends in water so the needles will stay on the branches for as long as possible.

You can also use the greens to make your own wreaths. Lace them with lights or add flowers or holly for added color and interest. As long as you don’t leave them unattended, candles are also versatile decorative items. They may be placed all over the house to create a warm atmosphere. Also try using colors and scents to enhance their usefulness in each room. With a hot-glue gun and candy-canes or holiday-themed miniatures you can decorate your larger candles and candle holders. Making these decorations by yourself is a low-cost way to make your home beautiful. Greenery and candles have a relatively short lifespan, so you will be able to start fresh again next year.

One of the most useful and welcoming Christmas decorations is food. Placing decorative plates and bowls around your home full of fudge, candy canes and cookies says that you have some Christmas spirit. Not only will your guests appreciate a little snack, the Christmas goodies are colorful and add to your decorations. Cinnamon candy can be home-made and the glassy shards are bright red. Sugar cookies can be frosted in red, green, gold, and white. Fudge and other candies can be pressed with colored sugar. To minimize stale food, bake ahead of time and freeze what you don’t put out on your plates.

When guests will be arriving, simply pull out the frozen goodies a couple of hours ahead of time. As your guests wander through your gorgeous home nibbling, you will be sure to get many compliments on how cheery you have made it.

Every year the decorating for the holidays starts all over. You and your kids can get into the excitement when you use some creativity and imagine the kind of atmosphere you’d like to have this Christmas. Sometimes it is nice to pull out the familiar decorations from years past, but sometimes it can be fun to start from scratch.

Trying out some disposable decorations like Christmas greens, candles and snack food will ensure a fresh feeling in this year’s decorating. Use your imagination and have fun making your home ready for holiday entertaining and celebrations. Make the most of the small things and your efforts will be successful.

Take care

Paul

Helping Children understand the true meaning of Christmas

2005-11-26T17:18:00.000Z

Hi again!

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 you and your family

Paul

The Origins of the Christmas Tree

2005-11-26T17:15:00.000Z

Hi All

Whether it's a towering 10Ft real tree or a smaller fake tree we all like to decorate our homes with a Christmas Tree at this special time of the year!

The origins of the Christmas tree, like many other Christmas traditions originated in Germany. In the 7th century a monk from Devonshire traveled to Germany to preach the word of God. He spent time in Thuringia, an area of Germany which became the center of the Christmas Decoration industry. Legend says he used the triangular shape of the fir tree to describe the Trinity of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. People began revering the fir tree instead of the traditional oak. The original Christmas trees were hung, upside down from ceilings as a symbol of Christianity.

In Latvia, the first decorated tree appeared in 1510. Martin Luther is said to have been coming home and seeing the stars shining brightly through the fir trees and lighted the dark night, decided to add candles to his tree.

Christmas trees have been decorated with many different items. Food items were the symbol of plenty and paper flowers were symbolic of the tree in the Garden of Eden. Red flowers symbolized knowledge and white ones for innocence.

Another staple of the decorated Christmas tree is tinsel. It too originated in Germany around 1610. An interesting fact is that the original tinsel was actually made with pulled silver. It was durable, but did tarnish quickly. Silver was used for tinsel up to the mid 20th century.

Georgian Kings brought the first Christmas trees to England. Since the English didn’t like the German Monarchy, they didn’t copy their court by putting up Christmas Trees.

A few families did have Christmas trees as a result of the influence of their German neighbors. The Christmas tree didn’t grow into popularity among the English until the reign of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The German born Prince had the family standing around the Christmas tree and it was illustrated in the London News. Since Queen Victoria was very popular the tradition began to be copied and quickly spread from England to the shores of The East Coast in American society.

The first trees were decorated with silver tinsel, silver wire ornaments, small beads and candles. The decorations were home-made and young ladies spent hours working on Christmas crafts. They sewed little pouches for secret gifts, made paper baskets in which sugared almonds were placed and made beautiful angels to sit on top of the tree.

Glass ornaments appeared around 1870. They were imported from Thuringia to England and became a status symbol. The more glass ornaments on the tree, the better the social status. Flags also became popular to decorate the tree as the British Empire grew. Flags of allied countries as well as the Empire were hung on the patriotic trees.

In the 1800’s many innovations came along to change the Christmas tree forever. The introduction of electric lights, in 1882 and metal hooks for hanging decorations on the tree safely are just a couple.

Trees sat on tables until the late 1800’s. Each family member had a tree on the table and his or her gifts were placed around their own tree. They began to stand on the floor and came in larger varieties and sizes. Soon manufactured trees began appearing. The tree wavered in popularity due to times of mourning for Queen Victoria, wars, and hard times.

Large trees were decorated and erected in public places to help the morale of the people during the hard times.

Real Christmas trees are still very popular, and what fun it is to go and tag your tree early in the fall and have it ready to be picked up on your specified date. It can be a family tradition with each member looking for the “perfect” tree. In this modern time, the manufactured trees have gained in popularity. These perfectly shaped trees can be put up and taken down without a single needle dropping into the carpet. They are so natural looking that many times it fools everyone. You can even buy pine sprays to put on your tree to make it smell real.

The newest item is the already lit Christmas tree. This was a brilliant idea and simplified life for many households. All you need to do is set up the tree, plug it in and then decorate it. No more messing with strings of tangled lights and wrapping them around the tree.

Enjoy your tree whatever you do!

Take care

Paul

Who is Santa Claus?

2005-11-26T16:52:00.000Z

Hi

Have you ever wondered who Santa Claus is? Does he really come from Iceland? Why do we always see him in Red and White? Here are some of the stories behind the legend of Father Christmas.

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.

Does he really exist? Of course he does in our hearts!

Take care

Paul

Christmas Traditions

2005-11-26T16:47:00.000Z

Hi again!

Do you have lots of traditions in your family at Christmas Time? They are very much part of our way of life and each year we do some of the same things. Some of them are traditions we have inherited from our parents and others are things which have become special for us.

I thought it would be nice to start by looking at some of the traditions from people from around the world have at Christmas.

Christmas traditions around the world are as colorful and have as much tradition as we do in America. In India, they celebrate Christmas in much the same way as we do. It’s an official holiday, people attend church, and Hindu children that go to missionary school participate in the festivities. The educational system takes a holiday beginning right before Christmas and goes through the first few days of the New Year. They call it Bada din or the big day, and it revolves around shopping and Santa Claus too.

In Japan Christmas in not an official holiday and has less importance than New Year’s Day. Santa Claus is not as important to the Japanese as he is to Americans. New Years Day is the official day to get together with family. Christmas is more a day for lovers. They celebrate by having a special date and strolling around looking at Christmas lights erected by companies to make it feel more romantic. One of the highlights of the Christmas season in Japan is the giving of the Christmas cake, a white-frosted cake symbolizing a birthday cake for Jesus. It often has strawberries on it.

Christmas in the Philippines is started with nine-day dawn masses that start on December 16. The Philippines celebrate the world’s longest Christmas season. Family members eat together on Christmas Eve after midnight mass.

South America is heavily Catholic so the religious aspect is predominating. Their celebrations are a mixture of traditions from both Europe and Native Americans. They have traditions that involve gift giving and family Christmas meals are very important. Villages often act out the events surrounding the birth of the Christ child. Nativity scenes are a major feature of Christmas in South America.

Australia is known for starting a tradition around 1938 of Carols by Candlelight. People gather outdoors and sing carols either on Christmas Eve or an evening right before Christmas. That custom has spread around the world. Australians celebrate Christmas on December 25th even though it’s the middle of the summer season. Obviously a few traditions are different because of the hot weather. It isn’t unusual to see Santa surfing in to the beach for an outdoor barbeque.

In Europe where much of the Christmas traditions originated still, celebrate today as they did many years ago. People usually stay in close family circles and it’s considered sad if you have to spend Christmas alone. Gifts are given but Little Jesus gives them or they know their parents are the ones that bought them. Many people go to Catholic Mass on Christmas Eve and it’s not uncommon for this to be the only time in the year that Church is attended.

Peter brought the Great Christmas in Russia after he finished traveling in the western world late in the 18th century. After decades under communist rule, Christmas was revived around 1992. Russia celebrates Christmas Eve with a twelve-course meal to honor each of the apostles and gifts are given on New Years Day by either Grandfather Frost or his helper the Snow Maiden. Their Christmas traditions also include a “yolka” or Christmas tree.

In Germany, traditions vary by region. Gifts are given on Christmas Eve after a small meal. Gifts are brought by someone who resembles Saint Nicholas or by “Christ Kind” who may represent the Baby Jesus.

Christmas starts with Santa Lucia Day on December 13 for Sweden. Father Christmas brings gifts on Christmas Eve. Companies often celebrate by hosting a lunch for their employees. One of the most interesting traditions of the Swedes is the watching of a Disney special on Christmas Eve at 3 PM.

In Norway, they also have a tradition of watching Disney. Norwegians celebrate on December 24th with large dinners and gifts given by “Juvenescent” to children who have been well behaved. Boxing Day follows a quiet Christmas day and children go door to door to gather treats, gifts and money much as our children do on Halloween. The official end of Christmas is January 6th.

Christmas traditions around the world are varied but all have a central theme. The birth of Christ, gift giving and family traditions are all celebrated in many ways. We may celebrate in a different way, someone other than Santa Clause may deliver the gifts, but Christmas is still celebrated throughout the world as a special day for family.

What Christmas Traditions do your Family have?

Take care

Paul

Are you getting ready for Christmas?

2005-11-26T16:41:00.000Z

Hi to all our friends!

A month from today is Christmas Day! How quickly the season comes round each year! It seems like only yesterday that we were all enjoying the delights of another Christmas and here you are before we know it there's another Christmas upon us.

Have you got everything ready? Are all the presents bought and wrapped waiting to go under the tree? What's that i hear? No! Oh dear well it's a good job that our dear friend Santa has asked us to share some of his very best tips from around the world on how to be absolutely ready to celebrate the very best Christmas you can!

Over the weeks and days leading up to the "Big Day" when we celebrate the birth of Our Lord you will find every piece of advice you could ever want on how to make Christmas truly wonderful for your family!

Take care

Paul {aka Santa's not so little helper :-)}