This Holidays

Writen by Lata Tokhi

Holidays are here and so is the spirit of partying. Here are some wonderful ideas for transforming your home into an innovative party scenario and giving your guests an occasion that will forever remain etched in their memories.

1. Entrance: Do up your entrance. The entrance to your home should be magnificent and welcoming. Line the driveway with luminaries. Place a guest book at the front door for expressing sentiments. Clean up clutter near your entrance. Decorate the entrance traditionally or with something unusual to set a celebratory mood. You could also decorate according to the theme of your party. Sleigh Bells or wreaths for Christmas, ghoulish figures for Halloween etc.

2. Lighting: Lighting sets the mood for the party. Interesting ways to play with lighting are to cover light bulbs with multi-colored cellophane strips, cover lights or battery-torches with soft white cloth and place them separately to give the room an air of mystery, or use all your beautiful candles together instead of lights to create a romantic mood. If using candles, combine candles of various colors, shapes and sizes together.

3. Flowers: Flowers will never go out of Fashion. Use lots of seasonal flowers to add freshness and fragrance to your decor. Use garlands to decorate tall structures, floral arrangements on mantels and corners and floating displays of seasonal flowers and floating candles for an eye-catching centerpiece. Visit our Flower Arrangement Gallery by Chrissie Harten (http://www.dotcomwomen.com/home/floral.shtml) for some great ideas. If you expecting kids at your party, place such arrangements out of reach of children or use wooden or metal vases and bowls instead of glass and porcelain.

4. Fabric and Linen: The color and texture of the fabric in the room should be decided according to the occasion, theme, season etc. Cool fabrics go for summers. Rich brocades and Velvet go with a Victorian theme. Red, Golden and White will give the room a Christmassy feel.

5. A Special Touch: Give the party scenario a special touch by placing an object which will be the center of attraction for your guests. A party is the right time to show off your beautiful collection of dolls or your set of original oils by a famous artist. A set of rare books placed together as a 'mini-library' in your party room will also become a major attraction if your guests are Literature-Lovers. Apart from collections, you can use mini-aquariums, waterfalls, miniature indoor gardens etc. These will not only beautify the room, but also give your guests a beautiful theme to start a conversation.

Happy Decorating!

About The Author

Lata Tokhi is the Founder/Editor of Dot Com Women, a premier women's website and online community. Visit her at http://www.dotcomwomen.com.

lata@dotcomwomen.com

Writen by Sean Carter

Halloween Party Ideas What's a Halloween party without some freaky ideas to scare your guests frozen or give them the goose bumps ? Don't you think the Halloween fun will fizzle out if it's a run-of-the-mill party décor and party planning with the regular party stuffs used ? Of course yes. When the festival is as big and fun as Halloween, the party sure got to be jam-packed with all that's macabre, mysterious and mind-boggling. From hanging bats to grinning Jack O' Lanterns welcoming your guests, from a table laid out with to outlandish invitations for the party, a Halloween party should be meticulously designed and well thought-out to give you and your guests a frightfully good time ! Now here are some Halloween party ideas to help you get started with your spooky party this Halloween:

Halloween Party Invitations The first step of all party planning begins with the right invitations. Creative and apt invitation cards will help set the right mood for your Halloween party. A bat-shaped invitation, a bare-jawed wolf, a haunted house or may be some cute Jack O' Lanterns glowing in the warmth of your cordiality will tune your folks into the Halloween fever. Alternatively you can send hand-made invitation cards with personalized freaky messages. Design the party invitations totally on your own in any Halloween shape possible keeping in mind the theme for your Halloween party.

Halloween Costume Party A very common but greatly loved Halloween party kind is the Halloween costume party where everyone comes dropping in in spectral masks and spectacular Halloween costumes to keep all the rest guessing who's who ! Halloween costume parties are always a visual delight with creatively outstanding costumes all around. Some will don the demon, some the canny wolf, some the plump pumpkins, some the Frankenstein, while some others will spruce up in the guise of their favorite celebrities or comic characters in the Halloween party night.

If it's a kids' Halloween costume party, you're sure to spot a chic range of Harry Potters of various sizes or Spider-men crawling all over or even the Flintstones having a gala time at the Halloween bash. If it's an adults' Halloween party, the element of scare can be threaded in to the Halloween party planning. There you can have horrific monstrous faces and Dracula and ghouls doing the rounds in the party area. Ideas are galore for Halloween costume parties. So you can prescribe a theme for your Halloween party too. If it's a horror-themed Halloween party, the costume ideas will fringe the scary aspects of thrill and terror. But if the ruling theme for your Halloween party is fun freak, it's better to cut down on the fright bit and invest more on costumes that will amuse your

Another very important aspect of your Halloween decorations—make sure the Halloween party room is dimly lit. That adds up to the mystery and eeriness of Halloween decorations. And you can put fine threads across the party room haphazardly so that your guests are left wondering as to how they suddenly got 'possessed' ! And with spooky numbers playing in the background, your Halloween party will surely live up to the screaming expectations of your guests. You can let helium-filled balloons with spooky faces drawn on them float all around the Halloween party area or you can cover them with fluorescent papers and stick them on the floor of your Halloween party room with long strings to create the effect of ghosts and monsters all lurking about the party people in a festal perkiness. Another winning idea for a Halloween decoration is to create a haunted Halloween party décor by strewing dry Autumn leaves all around the party room. This serves another purpose as well—these crispy leaves will make crunchy noises and raise the Halloween fun for your guests all the more !

Writen by Marguerite Bonneville

How many times have you heard a friend say about someone who's no longer here, "I never got to tell her (or him) how much I really cared."

We've all felt this way at some stage about someone in our lives. Yet it's hard to sit down and tell a person face to face exactly what they mean to you. Perhaps it feels a little artificial, or you're not comfortable expressing yourself so directly. But there is a way to convey those feelings in a manner that's comfortable to you both.

This Mother's Day, write a personal note to your mother telling her what she's contributed to your life. Make this a time to put aside your differences (or grievances) and search for the positives in your relationship.

Here's a step-by-step approach to composing your message:

1. Set aside some time as soon as possible to start making notes. If you leave yourself a few days to work on this, you'll find that your subconscious mind will start searching for more examples of your mother's gifts to you. So assign it this task and don't be surprised if you start remembering events you haven't thought of in decades.

2. Your first list will be of your mother's positive qualities, many of which you will hopefully have modeled. For example, is she patient, kind, gentle, forthright, accepting, questioning, assertive, accommodating?

Even behaviors like carping or nagging can be seen in a positive light (she's persistent or concerned). Or you can leave them off the list.

Does she have a good sense of humor, a knack for making other people feel at ease, a way of persuading others to do the right thing?

Is she a good listener, a good hostess, a great organizer?

Look at the way she handles her mothering role, as well as the other roles she plays in her life. How does she juggle it all?

What does she love? Do you share these passions?

3. The next list is her talents. Where does she excel?

For example, is she artistic? Does she paint, draw, sculpt, arrange flowers or decorate well? Do you exhibit the same traits or perhaps a variation?

Does she have a good singing voice? Good looks? An ability for math, English, writing, gardening, science?

What natural talents do you share with her?

4. The final list focuses on what she taught you.

Did she instill specific values, beliefs, attitudes that have served you in your life?

Did she teach you skills that have benefited you in some way?

Did she arrange lessons in other areas where you expressed an interest, so that you could develop new skills or talents? This is a gift too.

5. What is her greatest gift to you?

6. When your list is complete, set aside an hour or so and write a thank you letter. It doesn't have to be sweet or sentimental. Just list all the gifts she's given you, whether through heredity, example or teaching, and thank her for them. You can embellish your message if you wish, but the whole point of the exercise is to express your gratitude for what she has contributed to your life.

7. You can handwrite the message or type it into your computer, then print it in a plain or calligraphic font. Whatever feels right for you.

8. Include it with the card you give her on Mother's Day. It will be an occasion she'll never forget.

© Marguerite Bonneville

Marguerite Bonneville is a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) whose passion is publishing information online. She is a contributing writer at http://www.rosaflora-flowers.com, an online florist service that delivers flowers around Australia and across the globe.

Writen by CD Mohatta

Halloween is a festival of great popularity. People of all the age groups enjoy Halloween and every one loves it. Because it is fun and only fun.

During Halloween everyone wants to love the fear and the fun. How can those working on computers be away from that? Because during Halloween Internet offers many free goodies. You get ecards, Desktop wallpapers and Screensavers all free. Download and enjoy. Send, share and enjoy. Have fun, because it is Halloween.

Getting good screensavers for Halloween is a matter of good search. As most of the screensavers weigh a lot, downloading takes some time. If you do not like your selection, you have to download another. Therefore search for a site of good reputation. Choose few of them and download.

Now you can get Halloween screensavers with calendars on them. You cannot only watch the dates but the designs are equally mesmerizing. You will get a large collection of screensavers with calendars not only for Halloween but all major festivals. They are all in flash with video and the text is absolutely lovely.

Holidays are to be enjoyed. One should forget work for that day and rejuvenate oneself. The enjoyment fights with our stress and gives us a new freshness. Halloween is one such festival. Screensavers for Halloween will not only scare you but also those who pass by you and watch the screensaver.

CDMohatta writes text for Free Screensavers. The Screensavers designs include Halloween Screensavers, Calendar Screensavers and Holiday Screensavers.

Writen by Kristin Johnson

How Does Santa Make Out His List?

I'll let you in on a secret: I know Santa Claus. And I received a letter from him with his Christmas list.

"Dear Kristin,

"Thank you for the homemade cookies last year. For some reason, people seem to forget that I'm not planning to lose weight, thank you very much. I don't have a peanut allergy and I'm not lactose intolerant. Up here at the North Pole, we don't get nonsense like that. But you wouldn't believe some of the notes I get in lieu of cookies.

"'Santa, you're too fat, get real, love Dr. Phil…Dear Santa, you're in violation of the no-fly zone, signed, the Coalition…Dear Santa, you're using slave labor and oppressing our elf minorities, peace, the Rev. Jesse Jackson…Dear Santa, you're cruel to reindeer, sincerely, PETA…Dear Infidel Santa, we shall eliminate you, signed al-Qa'eda.'

"I was never designed to be politically correct. Right jolly old elf and all that. I'm tired of all this nonsense from people who have forgotten what Christmas used to stand for.

"So, here's my Christmas list. I won't stop delivering toys, but I will start at least expecting a little something in return after all these years.

"1. Dear al-Qa'eda: I have nothing against Allah. Or Jesus Christ or Buddha or anybody's God. I dislike murder in the name of religion. I deliver to all the children who you're going to someday teach to blow themselves up. I deliver love. Your mullahs always say Islam is a religion of love and peace. And for the record, several of my elves are gay. Do I hate them? No.

"2. Dear television news media: Please stop saying 'Christmas stress.' You create Christmas stress. Thousands of miracles happen every day from babies being born to people being rescued to children deciding that someone else needs help. And yet you deliberately choose to talk about alcoholism, murder, sex, family quarrels, and above all, endless materialism. Not to mention celebrities. Who elevated these people to all-knowing status? Who cares what Christmas toy they buy or endorse? And please stop criticizing people for having religious beliefs. If the President of the United States can't express faith in God, there is something wrong with this world. You are only helping those who use religion as an excuse for hatred and greed.

"3. Dear celebrities: Stop making movies where I am the bad guy. There is precious little wonder and innocence in children's lives. And while you're at it, stop taking your clothes off and blowing up people in your films. Give me more 'Seabiscuit.' Steven Spielberg is always on my nice list. I loved the 'Shrek' movies.

"4. Dear advertising executives: Stop using me to sell things that no one uses. We don't need all this stuff. It's getting in the way of our family time, our planet's well-being, our faith and our happiness.

"5. Dear parents: Please stop telling children I don't exist, that I'm evil, and that it's not necessary to be good all year because you will buy them what they want. Whatever happened to kindness? To being good just because it makes someone happy? Because it's the right thing? I can tell you right now that there are quite a few kids, and several of you, who are getting coal in their stockings. It's tough love, which is what you do when someone's headed down the wrong road. It's called parenting and I've got millions of your children to help raise. Hey, at least I'm not the government. Or the television. By the way, turn off all those electronic devices and spend time with your families. I know that there are plenty of you out there who would give your right arm to be able to do just that. I love children. And I love all of you too.

"6. Dear Dr. Phil: I'm happy just the way I am. Thank you.

"7. Dear PETA: You're getting too extreme. My reindeer have better working conditions than in industrialized nations.

"8. Dear Rev. Jesse Jackson: When my elves have the victim consciousness, high teen pregnancy rate, high arrest rate, high drug use rate, and lack of education that your followers have, then I'll consider emancipating them.

"9. Dear Coalition: God and I were here first. I'm immune from no-fly zones and I don't play politics. I do however support the military.

"10. Dear Jesus Christ, YHVH, Allah, Buddha, Great Spirit, et al.: Keep up the good work.

"Love, Santa.

"P.S. from Mrs. Claus: Will women please stop trying to be a size 2?"

You better watch out, you better not cry, better not pout…

Movie reviewer/screenwriter Kristin Johnson composes personalized poems, speeches, toasts, vows, and family memories. Visit http://www.poemsforyou.com to order your personalized memories. She is also co-author of the Midwest Book Review "enthusiastically recommended" pick Christmas Cookies Are For Giving: Stories, Recipes and Tips for Making Heartwarming Gifts (ISBN: 0-9723473-9-9). A downloadablemedia kit is available at our Web site, http://www.christmascookiesareforgiving.com, or e-mail the publisher (info@tyrpublishing.com) to receive a printed media kit and sample copy of the book. More articles available at http://www.bakingchristmascookies.com

Writen by Sandy Rajsic

That time of year is coming soon. Christmas that is. I love Christmas. My favorite part of Christmas is the excitement that the kids have. Children view Christmas as a very magical time. When I look at the excitement on a child's face, I know that it takes magic to put it there. In fact, I love a child's excitement so much that I try to do everything that I possible can to get more of it. I will come up with every family activity that I possibly can to get my family to the peak of excitement. Here is my first suggestion.

First and foremost in my family is baking Christmas cookies. For my mom, sister and I, we can spend weeks of planning and preparation for this event. The men in the family break up in two groups. One group leaves the house entirely in order to have their own time. The other group watches television in another room waiting to be taste testers for each different kind of cookie that we come up with. The children, all girls, have different responsibilities in the kitchen. The two 10-year-olds actually get to pick out recipes and make them. The 7-year-old usually helps with mixing and decorating. The 2-year-old is in charge of candy sprinkles.

Baking Christmas cookies can be as simple as cut-out sugar cookies or as complicated as decadent candies and other treats. You can get recipes from any book or craft store to suit your needs. As a matter of fact, you can download recipes from the Internet.

Before our children came along, my mom and I would try a couple new recipes each year always trying to "WOW!" the men in our family. Since the children, we have gotten back to the more playful sugar cookies. We definitely had to start scaling back. One year, we spent a day mixing and ten hours the next day baking. At the end of the second day, we still had hours of baking ahead of us. At this, we had to pledge to reduce the amount of cookies. The excitement on the kids' faces had turned to exhaustion.

The actual act of baking cookies is a wonderful bonding experience. There is the obvious bonding among the women as we create our favorite cookies and with the children as we all help the little ones decorate them. Last year, however, held an especially magic moment in my family. My daughter decorated her first cookie and gave it to her daddy. He just melted. I thought he was going to cry. He admitted that it was the best cookie he ever tasted.

That is the magic of Christmas. I suggest that you try baking cookies this Christmas with your family. If you don't think that you have a lot of time, there are plenty of short cuts. Most stores have the cookies already mixed. All you need to do is bake. Sometimes, you can even find cookies that are pre-cut into Christmas trees and Santas. You just bake and decorate. The decorating is the best part for toddlers.

In addition to this being a wonderful family activity, we always package cookies in decorative containers and give them as gifts. Everyone loves fresh baked cookies.

Writen by Linda Milo

The thought of the holiday season makes most people's anxiety and stress level rise. The season holds lots of activity which will include list making, frantic shopping, house decorating, food shopping, cooking, family frictions, post office line waiting, cleaning the house, and a longer list of other unavoidable chores to endure. Before you start to feel exhausted by holiday season frenzy, learn to love yourself by having more respect and esteem for yourself. Create a healthy attitude in knowing that the more you treat yourself kindly, the more your whole family benefits.

Taking more "me" time during this season is highly recommended. It's an act of love that nourishes your soul. Wanting a break from parenting, work, and holiday whirl is justified, and you shouldn't feel guilty. Don't ever suppress your own needs. Your health is to a large extent controlled by the circulation of your blood. When your emotions are enthused by something you do, then it stands to reason that your heart is stimulated and that makes you feel alive and helps you enjoy a sunny disposition.

Here are some ideas that will shake up your old ways, create time, and allow you to remember your own well-being.

1. During the holiday season, get up earlier than everyone else in the house and sip that cup of coffee, tea or hot cocoa, sit down with a crossword puzzle, look out the window and savor the time alone.

2. When your child takes a nap, instead of packing presents to mail to relatives, try some slow lunges or jump rope and do pushups for 30 seconds. Stand on your tippy-toes and stretch your entire body. It not only feels good, but it is great for your mind and body. Relax. You can pack the gifts later. Or take a cat-nap yourself!

3. Hand your child over to your husband, baby-sitter, friendly neighbor, or relative and take time out to take a walk around the block, wander leisurely through stores while shopping for yourself, take a bubble bath, take the dog for a nature walk, have a color analysis done on your hair, your make up done by an expert, go to a spa, get a massage, or any activity you fancy will make your heart dance and sing.

4. Create a one hour date time with your friends this month. Do whatever you all agree will be fun and enlivening.

5. Try having a "do-nothing day" in the middle of the holiday season. Watch movies, listen to soothing music, burn some fragrant smelling incense, prepare your favorite foods. And remember this is the day where there are no phone calls allowed, no shopping trips, no errands ran and absolutely no stress permitted. On this special day you can take a walk on the beach, sip fresh lemonade, blow bubbles in your yard, take a ride in the countryside, and gratefully and gently pamper yourself.

6. Treat yourself to nicely scented flowers. Purchase flowers with a deep, rich smell such as roses, carnations, lilacs, hyacinth and gardenias. Smell the fragrance of jasmine, lavender and marjoram. The bright colors and scent will bring you feelings of joy and create a good-mood flow.

7. Create an extra hour each day for yourself by going to bed later. Use this time to relax, write in your journal and meditate. This is the best time of all to really feel "me" time.

Life is a gift to be used every day, Not to be smothered and hidden away, It isn't a thing to be stored in the chest Where you gather your keepsakes and treasure your best; It isn't a joy to be sipped now and then And promptly put back in a dark place again.

Life is a gift that the humblest may boast of And one that the humblest may well make the most of. Get out and live it each hour of the day, Wear it and use it as much as you may; Don't keep it in niches and corners and grooves, You'll find that in service its beauty improves.

Edgar A Guest

And remember, whatever you do in life, do it with love! Choose to make your family's life and your life a journey packed with good thoughts, good feelings and good memories this holiday season. Happy Holidays Everyone!

Linda Milo, a.k.a., The Parent-Child Connection Coach, specializes in helping mothers and fathers turn their parenting challenges into a more livable, more workable, and more enjoyable family life. Linda's experience in parent-child connection coaching brings not only well thought out strategies, including lots of humor, but also the understanding of how the majority of those who do become parents do so with little or no formal training.

Writen by Ashlee Williams

Hello Everyone,

We got a lot of toys made today. Our supplies arrived a few days early, so we were able to finish the bright red fire trucks with the firemen and the water hoses. The building blocks are coming along slow, as each block has to be cut to a certain size and a letter painted on all four sides. Another group started making some doll house furniture and that will take a lot of time.

The sun is shining today, but the snow isn't melting. Santa took the sleigh for a ride by hitching the reindeer to it. The poor animals came back very tired, so Santa now makes them exercise in the morning and afternoon. He says they have many miles to travel on Christmas Eve, so they've got to get in good shape.

Mrs. Claus fell on the icy sidewalk and hurt her hand.She yelled as she was falling, Santa came rushing to help her, fell on his face!! Neither were hurt badly ~ but there are bruises on her hand and his face! We were all kidding him that his white beard helped him to survive the fall!!

Well, that's all for now. Got to do the dishes and then off to bed! No tv, yet!!

Writen by Constance Weygandt

From Thanksgiving to Christmas, increased stress and overeating are a part of life in our society. Due to increased stress levels, we are more likely to eat for emotional reasons. The smells in our homes, on Thanksgiving day, stir up childhood memories of happy times spent with family and friends. This can be a wonderful time of the year and with a few tips, we can manage both emotional needs and caloric intake.

Have soup as a first course. There are many soups which you can prepare, days in advance, and heat through just before Thanksgiving dinner. One of my favorites is a pumpkin soup. I use pumpkin puree as a base. I substitute condensed milk for cream and flavor it with allspice and ginger. You can add a little nonfat sour cream and some sliced almonds for garnish, if you like.

Have an extra slice of turkey. Turkey is packed with nutrition and lower in calories than most other meats. Just don't eat the skin. Instead of having one portion each of yams, potatoes and stuffing - have an extra slice of turkey. Allocate your yams, potatoes and stuffing so that together they equal one portion.

Try a simpler yam recipe. Instead of the yam casserole with marshmallows, pineapple and all of the extra calories, try a baked yam this year. If you cannot do without the extra sweet, slice yams in a casserole dish. Add a little water and sprinkle with real maple syrup. They are sweet and delicious but less calories.

Try a green bean salad. Instead of the traditional green bean casserole, (You all know the one I'm talking about.),try a green bean salad. A simple one uses drained, canned green beans, a little olive oil, red wine vinegar, and a few slices of fresh garlic. It adds a nice, tart touch to the dinner and is less calories.

Try to reduce sugar amounts in recipes. Cut the amount of sugar, called for, in fruit pie recipes by one third to one half. I've always done this and prefer the taste. Start with one third less and see if it is to your taste. I get compliments on my pies, regularly. The sugar will not be missed.

Try alternatives to heavy fats in recipes. For a pumpkin pie recipe, use an egg substitute and condensed milk instead of eggs and milk. Try using nonfat sour cream and one half the butter normally used in your mashed potatoes. In your stuffing recipe, add a little less butter and a little more chicken broth.

Cook only your favorite foods. Do you really need to prepare all of the dishes you made, last year? Decide which traditional dishes you really can't do without and make them. For me, it is the stuffing that my dad made, before me, and my grandmother made, before him.

Follow as many of these tips as you like. If you choose only a few, you will be decreasing your caloric intake and stress. Balance the more traditional, higher calorie, dishes with some of the simpler, lower calorie, dishes. By choosing not to make every dish that your mother or grandmother used to make, you will be creating less stress for yourself. Involve the whole family in the decision making of what is to be served and the preparation of the meal. Reduce the calories and the stress. You will be thankful for it.

Constance Weygandt is an author, speaker and balance mentor. For more information on Thanksgiving, stress reduction or to sign up for Constance's newsletter, visit her website at http://www.balancedwellnessonline.com

Writen by Roy Thomsitt

Although it is now more decades away than I care to admit too often, there were four things I loved most about my childhood Christmases in England:

1. the excitement of the Christmas gifts being put under the Christmas tree, and then the family opening of the gifts on Christmas morning;

2. the food; all the special sweets being put out Christmas Eve; Christmas Lunch with the turkey, lots of roast potatoes, brandy butter, and Christmas pudding being set alight at the table;

3. all the Christmas ornaments and decorations going up before Christmas, and most especially putting up and especially the Christmas tree ornaments being put on the tree; and,

4. the games we would play.

Food, though, did play a major part, and still does in English homes today. So, really, it is no surprise that food even became part of the Christmas ornament repertoire. Food, in one form or another, became part of the decoration of Christmas time.

From my memory, edible Christmas ornaments were usually in the form of chocolate with a silver or gold coloured wrapping that sparkled on the tree. Chocolate coins were popular, sometimes more than one in a brightly coloured string bag dangling temptingly from the Christmas tree.

I must admit, any edible ornament on the tree became a prime target, as I anxiously awaited the all clear from my parents to start devouring whatever I wanted.

Later, though, a greater variety of edible Christmas ornaments emerged, such as candy canes; then, as the popularity of edible ornaments increased at Christmas, people started to use their imagination to make their own, or the local baker would make more elaborate ornaments for sale.

Cookies, or at least cookie dough, make a good base for ornaments, as they are easy to cut into shape. You can use your imagination on adding the colour, such as with Smarties or other colourful sweets. Adding a frosting effect is not too difficult either.

If you do make dough based ornaments to hang on the Christmas tree, remember you will need to make a hole in the cookie before it cools; that's the way the cookie doesn't crumble. Then when they do cool, you can thread a decorative ribbon to hang them on the Christmas tree.

The Christmas tea table is often adorned by the prime edible ornament, the Christmas cake. The prettier it is, the better it is for decoration once lunch is out of the way. Cake decoration is only limited by your imagination. However, you can think of other things that are less common to adorn the table as an edible ornament. If you are skilful, you can create simple models with ginger bread, moving up a level from the old gingerbread man.

You will find lots of ideas online and in the stores, but if you can come up with something original, that is even better. Just let your imagination go and see what you come up with. At least, if it does not look too good, you can just eat it before anyone comments!

This Christmas ornament article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner author of the Xmas-Ornament.com website.

Relax, get in the Christmas spirit, and read Roy's new Christmas Story, for adults or children, about Santa Claus and a little girl living on the edge of a tropical rainforest.

Writen by S. Roberts

The Victorians were really into Christmas, which isn't really surprising because the Victorians were very religious, and Christmas is a religious festival. However, most Victorians didn't have lots of money to spend on Christmas trimmings like people do today, instead they found inexpensive ways to decorate their homes. They would make garlands and wreaths from evergreens such as ivy and yew; sprigs of holly would be used because their bright scarlet berries would to add a splash of colour.

The Victorians also made Christmas decorations such as popcorn tinsel, which was popcorn threaded on to a piece of thread, in much the same way that children thread up pasta today.

Re-cycling bits of paper and card was common practise when making Christmas trimmings. Victorian homes would have been decorated with paper chains and paper lanterns, which were quick, cheap and easy to make.

How to make paper chains…

First you need to cut strips of paper. The longer and wider the strips, the chunkier your paper chain will be. To make paper chains to hang from the ceiling, use A4 sized paper, and cut the strips width ways across the paper. Make each strip about 4 cm wide.

Using different coloured sheets of paper you can make a lovely multicoloured chain. If you do not have coloured paper you could use white paper that you have scribbled on. The scribble will give it colour and make it more interesting.

Take one of the strips and curl it round so that the two ends meet and slightly overlap. Staple or selotape the ends together to hold the link shape you have created.

With the second strip of paper, push it through the first link and then curl the strip around so that the two ends of the strip slightly overlap. The first link should hang from the second link. Again staple or selotape into position.

Continue adding links to the last link created in this way until your paper chain is of a desired length.

They make great trimmings for hanging from ceilings and for decorating hallways.

Of course, you can use any type of paper to make a paper chain. Metallic paper is really festive. You could use old Christmas cards. Cut thin strips width ways across the picture of the Christmas card to create delicate paper chains to drape on the branches of a Christmas tree.

How to make paper lanterns…

You will need a rectangle of thin card or stiff paper. A4 size makes a nice sized lantern to hang from a ceiling or to sit on a mantelpiece.

Cut a thin strip, about 1.5cm wide across the paper width ways. Keep this strip to one side for later, it will become the lanterns handle.

With the rest of the sheet laying landscape, fold the top to meet the bottom edge, press the fold firmly. With scissors, make cuts along the folded edge. Open out the card and curve it round so that the two short sides meet and slightly overlap. Staple or selotape these two edges together.

Give your lantern a little squeeze so that it creates '< >' shape.

Now take a piece of brightly coloured contrasting paper. It needs to be about the same height as the slightly squashed lantern. Roll up the paper into a tube and insert into the lantern. Allow the roll of paper to unravel to fit snugly inside the lantern, glue or staple into place. The slits cut into the lantern let some of the coloured paper peep through, it gives the lantern the appearance of being lit.

Using the thin strip of card that was cut from the lantern at the beginning, make a handle by stapling or selotaping either end of the strip to the top of the lantern on opposite sides.

Paper lanterns can be made to any size. You can make small ones to hang from the Christmas tree or to hang from the paper chains. You could make them from old Christmas cards.

Why not have a go at making some Victorian style Christmas decorations, you could make your house or your classroom look like it had gone back in time.

Writen by Judy Hardaway

Everyone loves Christmas, but the biggest complaint I hear is, "It gets too hectic." It's still the favorite season for most of us, but we do get tired. We still have to make a living; we still have to maintain our daily lives and then we add shopping for gifts, wrapping the gifts, decorating, entertaining or attending parties and possibly baking. It's fun and festive, but we get tired.

Take some of the stress out of Christmas. Don't wait until the Christmas season begins to start thinking about it. Plan ahead and you'll enjoy it even more. Here are seven stress-relieving tips to make your favorite holiday relaxed and worry-free.

Decide Who You Want To Buy For

Make a list of the people you want to buy gifts for: Recipients. Keep it with you as a reminder, or at the least, keep it in your head. Open your eyes and window shop. When you see something you know you like, go ahead and buy it. And think outside the box. When you shop all year, you have the opportunity to do this. Every Christmas gift doesn't have to be a sweater or winter-type gift.

Shop From Home

Shop on the Internet. Have fun and explore. Many gift sites run promotionals off-and-on year round. When you're not under pressure to buy immediately, you have time to "window shop". And don't forget to keep your gift list in front of you.

Record What You Buy

Make a list of the gifts that you buy: Gifts Purchased. Each time you make a gift purchase, whether it's on the Internet or in the store, put it on the list. If you know specifically to whom you are giving it, put his or her name next to it. Go back to your Recipients list and write the name of the gift next to the person you are giving it to. You now have a cross-reference. Sound too complicated and organized? It's not. It's really easy. If you don't make some kind of notes, you'll get real confused when it comes time to wrap. You won't remember who was supposed to get what.

Buy Decorations In The Off-Season

Buy Christmas decorations year-round on the Internet. And in the off-season you can get them at reduced prices. Buy your decorations all year and when the Christmas season arrives, you'll be ready.

Wrap Sooner Not Later

As soon as Christmas wrapping paper is placed on the shelves, start selecting and buying. By this time, you should have a shelf full of presents to wrap. Wrap at your leisure; a few at a time or all at once. Just enjoy it. You have time to make the presents look outstanding. Give them that added decorative touch that will make the recipient feel special and give you the opportunity to be creative.

Record What You Wrap

You have two lists to cross-reference. Check off or make changes as necessary. If you didn't make a list, you should make one now. Don't make the mistake I made one year. I got all my wrapping done early, and by the time Christmas came, I couldn't remember what I was giving everyone or exactly what it looked like. I remember wishing I had a digital camera. I could have taken pictures of the presents before wrapping them. I don't have to worry about that now. I have a list and a digital camera.

Collect Recipes

Don't wait until you have to prepare a dish for a party to decide what you want to make. Start collecting recipes from magazines and friends. But don't stop there. You have plenty of times to try them out. Put stars beside the ones you especially like and will be proud to serve. When the time comes, it will be fast and easy to make choices.

Christmas can be a pleasure, even before the season begins. Enjoy your window-shopping whether it's in the stores or on the Internet. But be ready to buy when you see something you like. Make your choices wisely and keep up with your lists. Following this plan will be a great stress reliever come Christmas time. Have fun and keep on enjoying Christmas.

Judy Hardaway is the writer for Amazing Christmas Ideas - a website that provides gifts and decoration ideas for Christmas. For some unique Christmas decorating ideas as well as great Christmas gift ideas, visit Amazing Christmas Ideas today.

Writen by Sadie A Peterson

Baby's First Christmas ... ahhh, what a special time! It will only happen once, so you might as well take advantage of it.

As the parents, what better way to show off your Pride and Joy than to give out pictures of your precious little one?! And a framed picture is a complete gift.

The Christmas before my niece got married, she gave everyone a framed picture of the future Mr and Mrs. Instead of giving just the picture itself where we would then have to go out and buy a frame (and maybe never get around to ever framing and displaying her picture,) she gave us everything we needed in order to display the picture right away. Excellent idea!

But why not carry that idea a step further? Instead of just giving a framed picture of your cutie-pie, why not give the picture in a personalized frame?! And by giving a frame personalized with your child's name, you know that whoever you give the gift to will always have to keep a picture of your precious child in that frame ... because no other picture will fit the personalization. Sneaky, or what?!

And then over the years, the picture can just be changed as your child grows older. Truly a gift to last a lifetime!

While basic frames can be obtained anywhere, shopping online is one of the best ways to get the personalized ones. Personal Creations is a great resource for these. I used them last Christmas for my personalized photo frames and was very pleased with the product and the service.

Writen by Lindsay Wincherauk

For the first time, I didn't receive a Christmas card from my mother.
I'm not sure if that's a curse or a blessing.

You see, 20 years ago I told the biggest lie of my life. It was on a cold, mid-December night, a short time after the death of my father. My mother became ill and spent the next year in and out of hospital, bouncing between excruciating pain and short-lived moments of comfort. On this night, upon returning home, I found my mother in immeasurable pain.

Days prior she had been released from the hospital. My spirits soared.

It was now crystal clear that she had to return. While helping her to my car we stopped briefly on the steps of our home and with tear-filled eyes she said: "I'm never going to be home again. Am I?"

I wanted to burst into tears. Instead, I looked into her eyes and responded in an effort to comfort: "Of course you will."

Less than a week later I watched her die.

Magically in October 2003, my mother and father came back to life. While in the process of renewing my Birth Certificate, a civil servant informed me that they couldn't reissue it. Apparently the information I gave didn't match my birth records.

"Could you phone your parents and ask them who your real parents are?"

In this instant, everything about "me" changed. Aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters all became something else. I had been lied to my whole life.

I found out who my real parents are. Not good news.

It turns out my birth mother has always been inconspicuously present in my life. Playing another role. Every year she sends an emotionless, non-descript Christmas card.

I've known the truth for two years. The rest of my family has known I know for over a year. Upon finding out they cut all contact with me. I'm no longer the baby brother - the youngest of seven.

They've left me alone to try to figure out……everything.

Why share this?

Christmas is meant to be a celebration of life. A time of joy and happiness.

We sometimes lose sight of that. Society is plagued by stress and blinded by its consumer craze during the "Silly Season". We forget that this time of year transports some to a very dark lonely place. Christmas is anything but merry.

So, please remember to love, support and cherish your family and friends. Because, everything can change in a heartbeat.

And, be kind to others. Christmas reminds many of what they don't have and a smile from a stranger may help to reduce the loneliness.

I know, I became 'alone' in a heartbeat.

Lindsay Wincherauk is a Vancouver based author. See his website at http://www.seedenterprises.com.

Check out his critically acclaimed book Seed's Sketchy Relationship Theories - A Guide to the Perils of Dating (How not to become a bar regular). Fire a question his way in his online form Ask Seed.

Writen by CD Mohatta

Today's lovers and tomorrows foes. How much time does it take to turn love into hatred? If the love was that of love at first sight, then the hatred will also come within that much short time. Why does this happen? How does it happen that those who live for each other, become bitter foes? That is as much a mystery as the love itself. To find out why the lovers turn into foes, we must first find out how they became lovers. That is another mystery. Why should two people fall in love?

Indeed, why should two people, who many a times share very few common things fall in love? Is it looks? The manners? The intelligence? What attracts both to each other that many a times lovers commit suicide if separated. It is said that human race is a logical race. Everything we do is governed by logic. But is there any logic in love? One man may be meeting many girls during work, while socializing, but falls in love with one after few years. The same applies to many women. What is this? How does this happen? Ask a lover about why he/she fell in love with a particular person and you will get answers that will further confuse the enquiry.

Are we logical at all? Or are we totally governed by heart and take some steps that look absolutely illogical and many times idiotic? The truth is apparent. A human being is made of so many emotions that to try and analyze the personality is practically impossible. If it was that simple, no war would have taken place.

Coming to better things in life, why talk of negatives? Why not let positive thoughts make all of us feel better?

As I said earlier, we human beings call ourselves logical, but most of the times act in ways that will sound very illogical. Till we find the solution to this puzzle, let us enjoy life.

Mohatta writes content for screensavers on http://www.screene.com. He also writes text for eCards for Love, birthday wishes, and other topics.

Writen by Byron Pittser

So you are in the market for an artificial permanent Christmas Tree. There are several factors you will want to keep in mind, since this is an investment purchase you will want to use from year to year. One important thing to consider is how tall do you want your Christmas tree?

They range in many sizes you can get a small 3ft, 4ft or 5ft Christmas tree if you have a small space to decorate and want to set it on a table top by a window to let the lights show through to outside.

Keep in mind the height of your ceilings in your house or apartment, most standard ceilings are 8ft so the perfect fit if you want your Christmas Tree to fill the space from floor to ceiling is a 7 1/2 Ft Christmas Tree, by time you set this size up and put your topper on it, it will be perfect.

If you have 10ft ceilings then you can handle a 9ft Christmas Tree or even a 10ft Christmas Tree, if you should happen to get one that touches your ceiling you can always bend that tip top branch down and in half to adjust the tree top and to make it the height you need.

Another option is if you have a short table like a 2ft tall table you can set your Christmas Tree on top of that and allow space below and around the small table for lots of Christmas packages and gifts, and you can buy a tree that is 2 feet shorter than your ceiling and still get a really great full look. So for example if you have 8ft ceilings you can buy a 6ft tree and put on the small table to decorate and display.

When thinking about a Christmas Tree purchase you will also want to remember to figure out how much floor space you want to cover, maybe clear out the spot you are thinking of putting your Christmas tree and do some measuring.

Also a warning, when you view Christmas trees in the stores keep in mind that they may appear smaller in the store than they will appear in your home as most stores have unlimited ceiling space so it will give the illusion that the tree is smaller than it really will look in your home.

There are different varieties of trees, the ones that look more realistic to a natural tree are going to be a little more pricey but you will get a lot more life out of them. The branches will be sturdier and the tips of greenery will be stabilized on the branches better and you won't find yourself shopping for another tree next year because of the tree unraveling and falling apart.

A really good quality Christmas Tree can probably last as long as 5 to 10 years if you take good care and store it properly. Some Trees have almost a bottle brush type branch. These are usually very inexpensive and they don't look very realistic and are hard to put very many ornaments on.

I suggest choosing one that has many of the little fluffy shape out tufts to really have a nice looking tree. Some are more skimpy than others so just choose the style that you desire the most.

You can get a slim line tree, these are more slender cut and take up less space so if you are short on space these are a wonderful alternative to the really bushy Christmas Trees they take less ornaments to decorate and look very elegant and will not overpower your room.

If you have a large area you are placing your tree in, by all means you can go for a full realistic gorgeous Christmas Tree, Some are really full and wide and really elegant and may be really wide around. Be sure to really load it up with lights for the best effect and to really add the wow to your decor.

Some Trees come pre-lit and that is really a handy feature for quick easy set up and non tangle but I have to wonder how convenient they are when you have problems with the lights.

A really important thing to look for also if you want ease of setting up a Christmas tree is the style of the branches. Some trees come with individual branches to be put on that are color or letter coded and you have to sit down and sort out piece by piece each year and hope you put them in the right order or none were lost etc.

The ones I most prefer are called a hinged tree. They normally come in 2 or 3 sections and the branches fold in and out somewhat like umbrella style and normally offer very compact storage throughout the year as well.

When you set the hinged Christmas tree up you just set up your stand, and just place the two or 3 big sections together and the branches hinge right out for super easy setup, and then you shape them out, and voila!

One thing about Christmas tree buying is that there is really no right or wrong on getting a tree, but to be sure that what you select appeals to you and you will be so much happier with your choice and enjoy it for years to come.

The most important things are Style, Size, Height, width and the look you desire.

Happy Tree Hunting!

Writen by Rose Ida Taharim

Dad, father, daddy, papa - whatever you address him, he is such a great person in our life. Many of us look high upon our dad. He is someone of whom we are sometimes afraid (especially when we have done something wrong), someone we ask advice, someone who taught us how to ride a bicycle, someone who gave us courage and someone whom we disagree with. Though Dad did not show his love directly to us and seldom expressed it, but deep inside he always loves us.

Special day for Dad: Dad's Birthday, Father's Day, Wedding Anniversary

This year tell your dad that you love him. Tell your dad how special he is. Surprise him. If you have not done this before, this year is the time for you to surprise him. Be different this year! Make an early preparation for your dad's birthday or father's day. My gift ideas suggestion for dad on his special day are:-

• Be back home on his special days, just the same as you do for mom. Give him a surprise by coming back home without informing him first, if you are no longer staying with your parents.

• Give him a big hug and tell him that 'I love you, dad' as well wishing him Happy Birthday or Happy Father's Day or Happy Anniversary.

• Does your father have a specified hobby? For example, fishing, playing golf, or carpentry? Well, why not you give him a brand new fishing rod, or a brand new club for his golf, or buy new carpentry tools to add to his collection.

• Does your dad love to drink coffee, smoking pipe or cigar? Get a gift basket which fills in with all his favorite things. Coffee that he loves, new pipe with his favorite tobacco or a box of cigars(better not – it is better for him to quit smoking) together with his favorite bath care products.

• Buy him another tie or socks or buy him a shirt with his favorite color. Guess this is not a very good gift idea since it is just a common gift. Better think of something else. Perhaps better go for something more personalized. Something like T-shirt printed with a picture of his grandchildren or a picture of yourself.

• Subscribe to; or renew, his favorite magazine.

• Buy him a ticket to his favorite sports game. E.g. ticket to the baseball/football game or golf tournament.

• Do you know his favorite music? Classical music, jazz or ballads? Well, you might get him one of his favorite music CDs, adding to his music collection.

• Bake for him his favorite dish, cookies or cake. Dad does miss your cooking, especially from those not staying with their parents anymore.

• Throw a surprise party for Dad.
If you never ever did this before or have not done this for quite sometime, you should throw a surprise party for him together with all the family members and invite his old friends and colleagues. You can get some party planning ideas and advice from any party planner.

• Sometimes you can hardly hear your dad complaining about his needs. The only source that you can get some info is from your mom. Be more alert and open your ears.

• A plague on which is written "Father of the Year". It is something for him to be proud of, knowing his family appreciate him as the head of the family.

• If you really can't go back home to your dad on his special day, do give him a call! There are lots of telecommunication companies providing low call rates.

• Lastly, if your dad is a net savvy, better still, send him a personalized online greeting. You can pick any design from the Internet.

A real gift for dad is the time that you spend with him. Go out fishing with him, or go to the baseball/football game with him, or just play card games with him, or a childhood monopoly game - to make-up the time that has been missing between you.

Rose Ida Taharim is the web master of My1StopOnline.com, a website totally dedicated to gift giving ideas. For more articles and information, please find out more at http://www.My1StopOnline.com.

Writen by Cheryl Vallejos

Typically most business leaders and entrepreneurs face the same challenge everyone faces during the holidays—too much to do and too little time! You need to keep your business going, at least for the majority of December, yet you have added responsibilities taking up your time: professionally, you have to deal with year-end financial concerns, employees requesting time off, and office decorations and parties; personally, you have home decorations, presents to buy, and maybe travel plans. So how do you keep your sanity and actually pull it all off—and manage to have a happy holiday?

One way may be to re-focus on the reason for the season. What are the winter holidays all about? How do you get off the treadmill of activity and commercialism and back into the heart of these times of sacredness and celebration? What is the reason for the season for you personally? This is something that may be different for everyone, so take a few minutes before the hustle begins to look inside yourself and remember what the holidays mean to you. Here are some ideas that may help you reconnect with the spirit of the season:

1.Giving & Receiving: When you focus on how you can give, you wind up receiving so much in return. Giving, however, doesn't need to be about how much you spend on presents. Consider giving as an expression of caring and a way of saying thank you. The bonus you give to staff or contractors says you appreciate their loyalty and exceptional service. The gift you give family members and friends says thank you for being in my life. Additionally, you need to be a good receiver, since those who appreciate you need to show it too. So accept that purple striped tie that you find obnoxious or the box of chocolates you can't eat, with grace and a smile.

2.Gratitude: Of course, Thanksgiving is the perfect time for expressing your thanks or gratitude. It's unfortunate that we need the holidays to remember to be grateful for what we have and to express gratitude to those we appreciate. When sending holiday greetings to business associates, employees, family, or friends, take the time to add a personal note and tell each one what you value about them. It works wonders for both of you.

3.Connection: What a great excuse to spend time with those you usually don't have time for. At work, you'll enjoy being with your co-workers and staff in a social context and getting to know them in a deeper way. This in turn can only enhance your working relationship. At home, you may connect with family members and loved ones you only see at holidays. This keeps that contact alive and replenishes your heart.

4.Celebration: It's time to party. New Year's Eve is especially a great time to kick up your heels, drink champagne, and dance the night away. You work hard all year, so you deserve some playtime. Get into the spirit of the New Year and celebrate in the way that works for you. Some enjoy partying while others prefer a quiet celebration: a hike in the woods, a walk on the beach—time to reflect on the year past and the year ahead. Create the observance of these occasions with meaningful activities.

5.Renewal: Holidays are everyone's excuse to take a break, and that means you too! Your body and your brain need some time off when you don't think at all about your work. Allow yourself at least a few days at Thanksgiving, Christmas/Chanukah, and the New Year to wind down. With a rested body and mind, you'll be full of energy and creativity for a terrific year ahead.

Want more success in your life and business? Contact Cheryl Vallejos, Author, Motivational Speaker, Certified Business Coach and Consultant at Cheryl@PrimeLeaders.com and sign up for the free "Monthly Leadership Tips" e-zine and the bonus FREE 37-page leadership guide eBook at Monthly Leadership Tips.

Writen by Kevin Buyer

Poor old Dad. Did you know that more collect calls are made on Father' Day than any other day of the year? Alright Mom's before you laugh too hard, Mother's Day is right behind at number 2. So maybe you've decided you're going to make up for all those bad neckties you gave dad when you were younger, and let's not forget the time you left the garage door open and it rained on all of his tools.

Like most holidays Father's Day gift giving ideas have gotten much more sophisticated in recent years, here are a couple of ideas to get you in the right frame of mind. Is your Dad a big golf fan, if he is, how about some personalized golf balls or club covers. That's something he can show off to all his buddies at the course. If your Dad's not the athletic type but more of grill master there are some other great gift ideas you may want to think about. Why not find some gourmet bar-b-que sauces flavors from Europe, the Mediterranean, and Asia are starting to become very popular nowadays. If your Dad is more of a traditionalist how about a smoker box for his grill. Find some exotic flavors like apple or peach wood to make thing interesting. If moneys no object look into one of the bar-b-que camps that are popping up across the country. Think of it as a spa-vacation where dad gets cooking tips from a famous or celebrity chef.

Let's say you're really ready to kick things up and moneys no object, then why not consider race car school. They come in one or two day packages with professional race car drivers. Then Dad gets to take an actual stock car for a few laps around around the famous racetracks you see on TV. Some schools are now offering exotic cars like Lamborghini's and Ferrari's as well. But what if your Dad really has the need for speed, then you air combat. Retired military aircraft pilots take you up jets and through a series of white knuckle maneuvers and acrobatics, and throw in some simulated air to air combat. This one is sure to put a smile on Dad's face.

© Copyright Holiday-Central.net, All Rights Reserved.

Kevin Buyer is the webmaster of http://www.Holiday-Central.net where he writes about holidays and other gift giving occasions like Fathers Day

Writen by Bob Alexander

Tired of the same old traditional Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners that you've had each year since you could walk? It's time to break tradition and do a little something different this year! For your holiday dinner, spice up the feast; smoke a turkey and surprise the crowd!! The folks over for dinner will love it and you'll receive a round of applause for cooking such a scrumptious dish. Once you've heard applause from an overwhelmed audience cheering your smoked turkey, you'll never go back to sticking the bird in the oven again!

For me the task of smoking a turkey begins the day before the big event. Since Thanksgiving is in the fall, there is usually a foot of leaves on my back deck where I cook the bird. With a charcoal smoker, it's not a good idea to strike a match close to an abundance of leaves. It's a wise thing to use your leaf blower and clean up the deck before you begin.

In some areas of the country, instead of bushels of leaves on the deck, you'll have tons of snow. You really don't have to do any porch cleaning. Just brush the snow off of the top of the smoker, throw out the old ashes from last summer and you're ready to go. It is nice to have a little walking around room, so I would clear a suitable area for the grill. Some of you would like to try out the new snow blower I know, but it's really not necessary.

I use one of the tall water smokers; the kind that have two trays. One tray is for charcoal and the other is for water, which helps keep the turkey moist as heat pushes the vapors upward. There are different kinds of smokers, but if you don't have one, you can use a grill by putting the charcoal on one side and directing the smoke toward the other side where you have the turkey. If you use this indirect method of cooking be sure to put a container of water near the coals.

Fire in the hole! Now it's time to light the charcoal, pour the water in the pan, secure the grill tops in place and start cooking. Wait until the coals have a dusting of white ash before you put on the turkey. If you use a liquid charcoal starter, and the coals have not burned down sufficiently, you'll probably get a taste of lighter fluid in your turkey. Don't be impatient!

Smaller turkeys seem to taste better when smoked than larger ones. Smaller ones are more tender. On a safety note, I don't use large turkeys for smoking because they take much longer to reach the proper internal heat of 175 to 180 degrees. Smaller turkeys cook better, faster.

After placing the turkey on the grill, then apply seasoning. Some folks soak their turkey in a brine solution the night before while others coat the inside of the turkey with about one tablespoon of salt. The reason for this is that an unsalted smoked turkey tastes terrible. Yecch! Apply any seasoning you prefer. I use a heavy dusting of lemon pepper, mixing the citrus flavoring with the smoke.

That special aroma of wood smoke is something that is specific to the person smoking the meat. Some folks use hickory, pecan, or fruitwoods in their smokers. Others pour wine in the water pan so that the fumes from the wine will mingle with the smoke, thereby making the turkey more delicious! Try it some time!

I'm partial to hickory, myself. Soak the hickory chips or chunks for at least 30 minutes before you toss them onto the coals. You can even pour the water that you soaked the chips in, in the water bowl to give the smoke an even better aroma of hickory smoke.

To many, cooking on a smoker is a vague and mysterious proposition. Instead of being difficult, it really is quite simple. Noted chefs and smoking experts say to cook the turkey about 30 minutes per pound in the winter when it's cold and about 25 minutes per pound when it's warm. This rule of smoking works if all conditions are perfect; no wind, not rain or no snow. This rule also applies to adding charcoal at the precise time for optimum heat, making sure the water in the pan has not evaporated. These are good instructions, but they have never really worked for me.

To be more accurate, when a meat thermometer placed under the inner thigh reaches 180 degrees, the bird is done. With a 12-14 pound turkey, the average cooking time for me is around 12 hours. I add charcoal every 1-2 hours if I remember to do it at a certain time. I rarely take the meat thermometer out of its holster under 12 hours. When it registers, 180 degrees under the wing, it's ready. Make sure you don't touch the bone with the thermometer, because the bone will be hotter.

Resist the temptation to check on the turkey every hour. Every time you open the top, you lose some of the heat. It doesn't take a genius to smoke a turkey and do it well. Have a little patience and you'll smoke like a champion!

Writen by Robert Sigler

Massage could just very well be the most luxurious gift to give to your loved one this Valentines Day, especially if it's coming from your own two hands. The benefits of massage seem endless : relaxing, sensual, allows you to connect with your mate at a much deeper level, paves way for more pleasurable experiences, and more.

In my honest opinion, as a massage therapist and professional massage teacher, there's a huge difference between a good massage and an AMAZING massage.

To help get you started with massage, here are a few tips to giving an amazing massage.

1) Speed - For a Valentines massage, the speed of your massage should be slow and lingering. One unique way is to try pace your partners breathing rate and massage at the same rhythm as their breathing. This is very powerful. You don't have to do it all the time, just every once in a while, it's good to try.

2) Depth of Touch - Pressure is one of the main differences between good and amazing. Certainly start off light and gradually increase the pressure. Always pay attention to the subtle clues that a person will give you as to the pressure. Squinting, tightening muscles, clenching the jaw are all an indication of too much pressure. Keep your touch light and that will help make way for further trust and deeper intimacy.

3) Being Consistent - Consistency with your speed, massage strokes and your pressure will help to create a better sense of trust. Your partner should be lulled into a tranquil space by being consistent. Trust is really the back bone of massage. Think of massage as gently allowing the body to relax.

4) Being Here Now - Paying attention to what you're doing and being FULLY PRESENT is critical when giving a great massage. People can tell when you're not The best way to be present is to notice your own body, hear what's around you, and look at your immediate surroundings. That will always bring you back should you drift off course.

5) Setting up the environment - Soft music, pleasant aromatherapy, candles, soft lighting, warm tempertures, maybe a fire, all help to set the mood. Flannel sheets (be careful the oil will stain), pillows and more are definitely helpful.

6) A few good massage techniques - Massage is an natural thing. It's one of the oldest healing art forms. But we've been able to figure some things out over the centuries. Learning a few key massage techniques will kick up your massage skills. One new technique could make the difference between good and amazing.

So besides flowers, chocolate or diamonds, ultimately it's YOU they want for Valentine's Day. Perhaps the real value of learning how to give an amazing massage is that's it's a gift that only gets better over the years to come.

Robert Sigler, C.M.T. is a certified massage therapist and instructor at a world renowned massage school in the United States. He is also the author and creator of Learn-Massage-Online.com, which offers anyone who wants to learn how to massage, easy online massage video lessons.

The learn-massage-online.com video lessons can be found by clicking here - How to massage

Writen by Mary Ann Ross

A quick overview of rules for
displaying the USA flag properly

Which Way to Display

The flag can be displayed vertically or horizontally as long as the stars are on 'your' left side as you look at it.

Display Times

In the past, tradition indicated that flags should only be displayed after sunrise and taken down before sunset. In recent years, however, flags are flown at night around the country in respect for the men and women that protect our country... the rule is that a light must shine on the flag as long as it is in darkness.

Flag Poles

When raising the flag on a flag pole, it should be run up quickly. When lowering the flag, it should descend the flag pole slowly.

Handling

The flag must never touch the ground and tradition has it that a flag must be destroyed (with respect) if it falls, drops or touches the ground.

Retirement

When it is time to retire the flag, burning is the tradition; however, I strongly suggest bringing the flag to a local Veterans organization so that they may retire the flag in ceremony and with dignity.

There are written and unwritten rules...

This is just my view.

Treat your flag with respect, dignity and love for it represents the glory of the United States, its founders and all of its past and present citizens!

Meet the Original Party Girls! Mary Ann & Kimberly are a mother and daughter team dedicated to providing a treasure trove of free kids birthday party, baby shower, cake decorating, baby and bridal shower and holiday party ideas to help parents and grandparents create lasting celebration memories. They also have all the party and cake decorating supplies you need to make your celebrations stand out. They are here to help and want to become your celebration destination!

Writen by Jeremy White

Selecting and decorating the Christmas tree is one of our most valued Yuletide traditions. Of all the symbols we associate with the holiday season, few are more recognizable than the Christmas tree. We take great care in selecting a beautiful, fragrant evergreen to place in our homes or businesses. We watch with delight as our kids hang ornaments, often as early as the day after Thanksgiving. We attend civic Christmas tree lightings in small towns and large cities alike. And, of course, on Christmas Eve we fill with anticipation as we wait for Santa to deliver the goods.

It all starts with the selection process, however. If, like millions of traditionalists everywhere, you've made the decision to trim a real tree versus an artificial one, your first step is to decide where you'll procure the evergreen and what type of tree you want.

While you can obtain a cutting permit and venture into a public forest yourself to down your tree, that may not be the safest or most efficient way to go. Today, most consumers opting for live trees visit a commercial Christmas tree farm or nursery, or they purchase one from a market vendor who has had the tree shipped from a nursery/farm.

Often, choices abound. Fir, spruce, pine, cedar and cypress all are popular varieties. Typically, a fir is considered the "true" Christmas tree. But the fact of the matter is that there are different species of fir trees and there truly is no right or wrong choice, no "official" Christmas tree. For example, a Colorado Blue Spruce serves as the National Christmas Tree outside the White House. Inside the White House, however, a variety of trees have been used over the years. There is no preferred presidential evergreen.

According to The National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA), the 10 most popular Christmas trees grown and sold in the United States are as follows, in order:

- 1. Fraser Fir
- 2. Douglas Fir
- 3. Balsam Fir
- 4. Colorado Blue Spruce
- 5. Scotch Pine
- 6. Eastern Red Cedar
- 7. White Spruce
- 8. Eastern White Pine
- 9. White Fir
- 10. Virginia Pine

While not in the Top 10 in terms of popularity, the Leyland Cypress is a good choice for individuals who suffer from allergies but still want a real tree for Christmas, according to the NCTA.

When choosing the tree that works best for your family, you'll want to take several things into consideration - beginning with the tree's size. Know the dimensions of the space into which you hope to place your tree. How high is the ceiling? How wide is the area? Take along a tape measure so that you can be certain the tree you've chosen will fit.

Look for a green tree with no (or very few) brown needles.

Take a good look at the bottom of the tree's "trunk" to ensure it is both sturdy and straight. If it is knotted or curved it may not fit into your base - then you've purchased and hauled a useless tree.

A reputable dealer won't sell a tree with these blemishes, but we all know there are plenty of disreputable vendors out there looking to make a quick buck!

Just like you kick the tires before buying a car, it's a good idea to test a tree before buying it by taking a branch in your grasp and, with gentle pressure, pulling at it. Don't pull hard, but instead allow the branch of the tree to pass through your fingers and palm pressure. If all or a majority of the needles stay on, the tree is strong. If several fall off, you're dealing with a weak tree.

Once you have a tree set up inside your home, it's time to decorate! A first-rate tree-topper and ornaments are an absolute must.

Finally, real trees can become fire hazards if proper precautions are not taken.

Writen by Liz Ryan

They're hard to resist, those precious little fluffballs in the pet store. A baby bunny may seem like the perfect Christmas gift for a friend or family member. But think twice before leaving a bunny under the Christmas tree. There's plenty of time after Christmas to welcome a house rabbit to your family.

Why don't bunnies and Christmas mix? Here are a few reasons. People who are new rabbit guardians (to your bunny, you're the pet human) won't know exactly what bunnies require, and while house rabbits make terrific companions, stress is no good for them. And Christmas is nothing if not stressful, so if you're sure you want to share your home with a bunny, do it after New Year's.

Electrical wires are very dangerous to bunnies. You'd hate to invite a furry friend into your home only to see it harmed by biting through a power cord (rabbit-proofing is essential for a bunny-safe home). Also, when guests are over, rabbits can get spooked and run for the door, or a staircase (which they won't navigate easily the first time) or even a window, and tragedy could follow.

Lastly, house bunnies need quiet time to get used to their surroundings. If you're sure a friend or family member would make a great rabbit guardian, cut out a picture of a bunny and paste it into a Christmas card - an I.O.U. for a trip to the local animal shelter or House Rabbit Society facility for a bunny adoption. (Don't, ever, buy a pet shop bunny.) You'll know that your rabbit will get the best start in your home that it possibly can, when the holiday frenzy is over. And isn't that the welcome you want to give to your new best friend?

Liz Ryan is a workplace expert, mom of five, and founder of the online network WorldWIT (http://www.worldwit.org). She lives in Boulder, Colorado with her family and seven animals (including four house rabbits).

Writen by Morgan Hamilton

Christmas can bring back a lot of wonderful memories. The holiday season is a very sentimental time that is often associated with the fine details in holiday décor. Many people capture wonderful memories of their childhood by incorporating rustic elements in their Christmas decorating ideas.

It can be challenging to find the right details to create a cozy feeling in your home during the holiday season. You need a bit of creativity and imagination when you come up with Christmas decorating ideas. Ordinary objects can be used to create an atmosphere reminiscent of a log cabin or a country farmhouse.

This theme can be accomplished by using simple elements that bring the woods indoors. You can use pine cones and berries to adorn areas of the home. Fine details like birdhouses and wild animal ornaments can really bring the woods into your home.

My personal favorite is country inspired Christmas décor. There are many elements that can bring a traditional feel to your home. These Christmas decoration ideas can also incorporate Victorian items as well, giving the country decorations a classic mood. Small baskets, lace doilies, and glowing candles can help create a wonderful country Christmas.

You can also find ideas from quilters since they are very creative persons. Quilters can create items that are appropriate for the holiday season that can be displayed with pride. Christmas decorating ideas that use quilting supplies include ornaments made out of quilt blocks or Styrofoam balls covered with recycled materials.

You can discover your own ways of bringing rustic charm into your living space during Christmas. Food is one of the Christmas decorating ideas that are often overlooked. You can find old fashioned recipes to make snacks and beverages that can be part of your holiday décor as well. Gingerbread men and Eggnog served in decorative glasses are just two Christmas decorating ideas that incorporate food into your overall décor. Making use of simple details can help you create a traditional Christmas atmosphere in your home.

Writen by Gail Leino

The fourth of July is predominated celebrated in the evening here in America and as such glow sticks party ideas would make great additions to this nighttime event. The party can have lots of shimmering and glowing lights without the fear of burns from sparklers and homemade fireworks shows, since the glow stick produces a cool light from chemical reactions.

Red and blue glow sticks can be handed out and used in the decoration at your Fourth of July event to give that patriotic feeling. They make great party favors and you can usually find them fairly cheap. For the kids in place of sparklers hand out glow stick tubes and the ever popular tornado glow stick with two colors spiraling down the plastic. Kids can have the same amount of fun running around with them and spinning them rapidly to create flashing messages in the air. You may also find Fourth of July themed pendants that will fit well with the party.

Giving the guests glow sticks bracelets or necklaces to wear is also practical at this party so that you can keep track of everyone as they move around.

Use glow-in-the-dark items on your buffet table or as centerpieces on the tables where your guests will sit. Always using red and blue, you can scatter regular glow sticks tubes of just about any size from 1 inch to 22 inches on the tables or wrap the chair arms and legs with the tubing. You can even connect several of the longer tubes together to make a rope to string along the patio railings or on stair banisters.

Make use of other glow or light up items to great effect as well. Many glow sticks companies also sell LED light products such as plastic ice cubes, light up cups and even light up pool lights if you happen to have a pool.

Writen by Richie Anderson

You don't have to be Mexican to enjoy Cinco de Mayo and it's wonderful customs. The 5th of May commemorates the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the battle of Puebla, and that makes it a great day to plan your Cinco de Mayo party! Follow these Cinco de Mayo party tips and ideas, and planning your Fiesta will be easy.

Adorn your party space with a few simple Cinco de Mayo decorations. Choose your colors from the flag of Mexico – green, red and white. These colors allow for a creative recycling of party supplies from previous holidays. If you still have some unused red plates from Valentine's Day and some green plates from St. Patrick's Day, mix them up with a fresh stack of white plates and voila!

No Cinco de Mayo party could be complete without a Pinata. They are easy to find at your local party store, or even easier to buy online. Use small piñatas as centerpieces for your tables. Be sure to pick colors that match your décor and if you do decide to hang one, make sure it is in a place that is conducive to blindfolded lunatics swinging sticks. If you have a patio or deck, this would be the better option.

Dining with your family and friends is an important part of the Cinco de Mayo celebration. Treat your guests right by serving up delicious Mexican favorites like a Burrito Bar, Chips and Dips (Guacamole, Salsa) Mexican Flan Dessert and of coarse, Margaritas. Instead of using a table cloth for your Burrito Bar, lay out a Mexican blanket to cover the food table. Liven up the buffet by turning upside down a sombrero to hold the chips. Margarita glasses are also a good idea for holding your dips.

Music is an integral part of any celebration, and your song choices should really make the party come alive. For Cinco de Mayo the best choice is any Latin pop song. Shakira, Mark Anthony, Selena, Los Lobos and Ricky Martin are all lively party music choices. Another easy idea for party music is to tune your television to MTV Latin ( if your cable provider has it).

Richie Anderson writes North Coast Events, a professional event decor studio located in Cleveland, Ohio. He also operates NCE Party Supplies, an online party store featuring Cinco de Mayo decorations and party supplies for a Fiesta Theme Party.

Writen by Maria Parise

Usually, the hardest part about Halloween is finding the perfect costume and top accessories for your ghoulish creation. Well, now it doesn't have to be! With the countless, great resources available on the web, finding Halloween costume ideas for the adults, kids and the rest of the family will be the easy part! Now, you'll just have to figure out what everyone wants to dress up as!

So where do you begin? Let us help you! Take the time to browse through our site for some great tips on creating the your favorite costumes. Think outside the box, and get really creative! Here are a few ideas to get the ball rolling!

You can always do something traditional like a vampire, and add the flowing black cape, white shirt, pointed fangs, and the gruesomely red fake blood, or try something different and dress as a cat, ghost, skeleton, scarecrow, spider, or pumpkin.

To complete these costumes, most would require makeup, tights, hair dye, and a hat, if necessary. If you've got to wear a mask all night, just ensure that the holes for your eyes and mouth are large enough so you can stay comfortable. If masks aren't your thing, you can try something else and dress like a celebrity (Marilyn Monroe, or Donald Trump), or an action hero (guys always look great as Superman!). The possibilities are endless!

Why not try something really gruesome this year? Bring Frankenstein back to life, or better yet, be a mummy coming back for revenge! The important thing is to have fun with it, and let your imagination run wild. The more unique your Halloween costume idea, the better chance that you won't have anyone else dressed the same as you at the party! So make this Halloween memorable, and enjoy checking out the variety of ideas available on our site!

About the author: Maria is the the author of "1st In Halloween Costumes" available at http://www.1st-in-halloween-costumes.com A great source for Halloween Costumes online! You can easily find and compare halloween sites offering quality adult halloween costumes, sexy halloween costumes, kids costumes, pet costumes, and halloween masks.

Writen by Adriana Copaceanu

Gift giving is at its absolute finest during the Christmas season. Putting smiles on children's faces, making an elderly person feel appreciated, rewarding a hardworking employee - the reasons for gift giving at Christmas are endless. Christmas is the most popular time for gift giving, and it is no secret that Christmas is also the favorite time for marriage proposals.

However, getting ready for Christmas can be a nightmare when you tally up all the planning and shopping that must be condensed into the 3 or 4 short weeks leading up to the holiday break. Selecting menus, writing out gift lists, decorating the tree, hanging the outside lights, and so on…

Getting things done around the house always seems to fall into place but buying the gifts always plays havoc with your schedule. Staying within your budget usually places even more restrictions on your time, finding gifts that impress and yet don't cost an arm and a leg.

You want to give something but the occasion says it shouldn't be too much. Or the whole family is getting together for Christmas and that means 45 presents. You want to give something to every one in your class. Or your budget will soon reach the red ink stage.

We have a few items that cost less than $5 but each gift can still have special meaning.

• A swimmer can always use a new set of ear plugs.

• Someone who works nights will love a new night shades for sleeping.

• Your grandma travels. Get her small travel bottles of lotion, hairspray and deodorant.

• Every one can use a new lint remover mitt.

• A luxury item is sachet bags to hand in closets or place in drawers.

• A coffee mug with their name or a picture that represents something about the recipient.

• Most women will appreciate a bottle of bubble bath.

• Any woman will love mini tote bags to hold and organize items in their purse.

• A coin purse will be easier to find in a purse and fit easily in a man's pocket.

• Everyone goes shopping. Get them shopping pads to hang on the refrigerator door.

• Get padded velvet or satin coat hangers. They come in pretty colors.

• Find a key chain that represents the recipient's hobby.

• Jigsaw puzzles will help fill the hours for your stay at home grandmother.

• Wind chimes will add a cheerful note on almost any day.

• Everyone has items they keep. Give them decorative boxes to organize them.

• Decorative baskets hold and organize things throughout the house.

• Get a special perfumed bar of soap.

• Anyone who travels will love a fold up travel toothbrush.

• Bath oils will soothe her skin.

• Coffee lovers will appreciate small bags of flavored coffee.

For even more gift ideas under $5, check out this page:
http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com/gifts-under-5-dollars.htm

About The Author

Adriana Copaceanu provides people with creative gift ideas that don't blow the bank. Gift Baskets for Baby, Birthday and Beyond, are just some gift ideas you'll find at her site: http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com. Want regular reminders on gift-giving? Sign up for her free monthly newsletter at http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com/gift-news-signup.htm.

Writen by Bonnie P Carrier

Turkey ... Stuffing ... Cranberry Sauce ... Pumpkin Pie

This is usually what comes to mind when we think of Thanksgiving. Granted the food is yummy and worth waiting for however, let's not forget another import aspect of this holiday "Being With Family & Friends".

Family & Friends, they are what make this wonderful holiday so special, and help create those special memories.

Memories .... Everyone has them and each is precious. I love being with my husband and two beautiful daughters, but I think my favorite remembrances are from long ago.

"Nana's House"

This of course was my beloved grandmother, who has been gone from us for many years, but will always be remembered with so much love.

Thanksgiving at her home was the best.

Our family is not very big but with the sisters, husbands and cousins it seemed like an army. My sister and I looked forward to spending the day with our cousins; we always had so much fun.

Of course the very best part of the day was when nana declared "Time To Eat". The first order of business was getting seated at the "kids" table. Nothing special, just a couple of card tables put together with a paper tablecloth -we were a bit messy - put over them.

Then came the food, makes my mouth water now just thinking about it. Please forgive me if I tend to sound just a bit prejudice - everyone's grandmother is a great cook after all - but in my mind no one could cook like my "Nana".

The amount of food was horrendous, as I said there where not that many of us but you'd think the entire town was there by the number of dishes on the table.

Everyone had their favorites, mine was the turkey & stuffing - I always had a drumstick, and my little sis was a wing girl - although everything else was good, except maybe the veggies.

After the main course came dessert - yummy - which consisted of the usual pumpkin pie, apple pie and rhubarb - that was for my mom - plus one of nana's specialties "Apple Dumplings". These were hot from the oven with a lemon sauce poured over the top. No one has been able to duplicate the recipe, although one of my cousins - you know who you are - has given it a valiant try.

Now you may think this was the end of our eating for the day, wrong. After dinner was complete, while the grownups were cleaning up and then taking a rest - just their bodies, the talking was non-stop - we kids - weather permitting - were outside playing. A few hours later - not kidding - it was time for the famous turkey sandwiches and any other left over you might have a hankering for.

Of course as they say "All Good Things Must Come To An End", which meant it was time to leave.

After what seemed like an eternity of good-byes we piled into our cars and headed for home. Little sis & I always fell asleep on the way, thinking about our wonderful day, and dreaming about next year.

Today our family is scattered across the country and sadly we are missing some - although not in our hearts - but when possible we still get together.

But on those November 27th's when we're not able to we still keep our "Nana's" spirit alive with lots of great food, a tremendous amount of talking, and good fun.

So to all of you, no matter what your traditions maybe, enjoy the day, the food, but most of all your loved ones.

"Happy Thanksgiving"

From Savvy Home Decorating

This is a share ware article. Give this article away for free on your site, or include it as part of any paid package as long as the entire article is left intact including this notice.

Copyright © 2004 Bonnie Carrier.

About The Author

Bonnie P. Carrier is the creator of Savvy Home Decorating. She is the mother to two grown daughters and a very spoiled 4yr old Blue Merle Sheltie named Toby. Having been a homemaker for over 23yrs has provided years of experience in budget decorating and organization. Stop by Savvy Home Decorating - www.savvy-home-decorating.com - for ideas and tips on budget decorating:

bonnie@savvy-home-decorating.com