This Holidays

5 Simple Secrets To Low Stress Holidays

2009-03-03T14:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Lisa Rickwood

If you dread the impending holiday season (extra shopping, errands, money spent) then you're probably an overburdened, working person balancing a million things on your plate. This time of year can stress out even the most Zen-like person.

The holidays should be a time of connection with friends and family and a time to relax, rest and reflect on the past year. Instead, it's often a time of rushing, spending, agonizing, shopping and over-indulging.

You may not be able to eliminate all your stress, but you can master it when you learn five simple secrets to low stress holidays.

First Secret: Do a little planning. Decide when to have a holiday party, how much to budget for gifts, how many people to buy for and if you're sending out cards or corporate gifts. Take an afternoon and record your intentions.

We often begin this intention but lose focus three-quarters of the way through the season. Make it a point to stick to your objectives. If your budget is tight, don't overspend; the people receiving your gift will know you're stressed and they don't want to be a part of that.

Second Secret: Simplify what you just wrote. Yes, that's right - eliminate something that's not urgent. Maybe you don't need to send out cards this year - a phone call or email may suffice. Decide what can be trimmed from your plan. One year I didn't send out cards and guess what, the world didn't end. In fact, no one mentioned that they didn't get cards.

Third Secret: Eliminate perfection. I'm not sure who decided our Christmases have to be like the Norman Rockwell paintings. I don't know one family who has a perfect family life we all have funny or stressful members in our clan. The trick is to accept this and move on; just try to enjoy what we can in a family or group situation.

When we set out to buy presents, stop trying to make everything perfect and just aim for 'good enough.' This is very liberating when buying gifts; instead of running from store to store trying to find the 'perfect' gift, grab the first item that seems 'okay.'

Fourth Secret: Connect with people. We all know this and do this by working harder, attending parties and socials, but really listen to what others are saying instead of thinking about what 'must get done.' Get to know people, ask questions and be of service. Enjoy the moment - it goes by too quickly.

Those with growing small children know all too well about the passing of time. Life goes by so fast that by the time you slow down enough to enjoy it, the season is over and you've got the memory on your digital camera.

Fifth Secret: Escape. What does this mean? Take some escape time for yourself; if you work with people all the time, this will be the most important activity you practice.

I work in retail and offer business coaching and although I love my work, there are days when a brisk walk outdoors or good movie and no interruptions would be heaven.

If your idea of escaping is taking a holiday, visiting the spa, playing racquetball, lifting weights or watching a movie, honor yourself by doing it every day. You don't need a day or afternoon - even 20 minutes doing something fun helps you as you're less inclined to be rude, get aggressive or end up sick. This secret is practiced by all successful people; they know how to recharge so they get in the zone and optimize their energy.

If you practice these five secrets, your holidays will be happier, healthier and more prosperous.

Lisa Rickwood, BFA, Professional Coach, is an accomplished visual artist, retailer, and business coach. She helps small business owners and entrepreneurs master stress to enjoy professional and personal success. Lisa is author of, Escape The Pace. Get her FREE REPORT on mastering stress in business and life at: http://www.escapethepace.com

Single On Valentines Day

2009-03-03T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Beiling Lee

1. Go out to dinner with your friends. If you have other single friends, call them up and tell them that you're going out. Keeping in mind that most restaurants are going to be packed and some require reservations for Valentine's Day, so be flexible if you don't already have plans.

2. Hit the clubs. There is no better way to meet other singles than to hit the clubs. Sure, you're going to run into the pawing couples, but there are a going to plenty of other singles anxious to meet new people.

3. Not in the mood to get all dolled up? Fine, go to Barnes and Nobles. There's you might run into a well-read man, or possibly a fellow geek hanging out in the technology section.

4. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Don't hesitate in making the first move. Guys sometimes get the wrong impression. We don't always send the right signals that tells a guy we're interested, or even available. So, if you see a guy, think he's cute, just say, "Hello." What's the worst that can happen?

5. Stop feeling sorry for yourself! Not every girl getting flowers is happy in her relationship. Valentine's Day lasts for 24 hours, but a happy relationship is more than a dozen roses.

Remember, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being single, just don't be a pitiful single. People can smell desperation from miles away and they usually run in the opposite direction. No matter what you end up doing, don't let it be in front of the tube and please put the ice cream down. There's a whole world out there. Now get out and enjoy it!

Beiling was recently added as new columnist on The Cozy Shack (http://www.thecozyshack.com). She answers questions submitted by readers (askbeiling@thecozyshack.com). Her candid, sincere approach makes her a welcome to The Cozy Shack family.

Christmas Gift For Him

2009-03-02T14:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Eddie Tobey

Christmas gifts for the men in your life could be personalized, popular or practical. It depends on the man and your relationship with him. There are gifts for male friends, co-workers, boyfriends, husbands and family members, and there are hundreds of ideas waiting for you online, at the mall or in one of many boutiques.

If you are buying a gift for an acquaintance or co-worker, you can't go wrong with a monogrammed men's cashmere scarf, leather card case, accessories box or a gourmet gift tower. These items can be found in any department store, men's shop or on the Internet. Gadgets like a photo frame that also has the indoor/outdoor temperature and time is unique. You could give it with or without a photo. There are also several good gift ideas for the sport's buff. This includes a golf basket, tickets to a sporting event or a tee shirt bearing his favorite team's logo.

For someone very special -- a boyfriend or husband-- a cashmere sweater, portable DVD, Swiss army knife, watches with portable TV or a monogrammed bathrobe is sure to please. If you're thinking more romantically, a chest filled with "love" is the way to go. These chests come filled with romantic games, body rubs, incense and other romantic gifts that will give both the man you love and you hours of fun. A massage chair, heart monitor, air purifier or jogging stroller will also send a special message that you care, and what better than a food and wine gourmet gift basket to enjoy by the fire on a cold winter's night?

Ideas for men's gifts are endless, so your plan should be to first find out his likes and dislikes. Once you've done that decide how much you want to spend and find a gift that's meaningful and fits within your budget. If you're a true friend or lover, he'll love the gift no matter what it is.

Gifts For Men provides detailed information about gifts for men, birthday gift for him, anniversary gift for him, gift basket for him and more. Gifts For Men is the sister site of Wholesale Embroidered Hats.

10 Valentine Gifts Women Love

2009-03-02T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by William Smith

Finding the perfect Valentine gift for the woman in your life can be a daunting task. To help you out, we've searched the internet to find our top 10 picks for Valentine's Day. From flowers to jewelry to a romantic weekend at a bed & breakfast, you can simply surf the internet to buy or find all the information you need to make this a perfect Valentine's Day for the woman you love.

1) Fresh Flowers - Flowers are still the most popular gift at Valentine's Day. Of course, it is also the most expensive time of the year to buy flowers, particularly roses. Still, flowers remain a classic option and one that is always well received. Try a local florist for guaranteed delivery, or one of the many online retailers if you will be apart this Valentine's Day.

2) Chocolate - Chocolate is a close second to flowers, and for good reason. Many women crave chocolate, and Godiva (http://www.godiva.com) is the ultimate indulgence. When in doubt, buy a variety chocolate gift pack that will allow her to sample a different treat each time. She'll enjoy the mystery of what's inside each tasty treat, and be dreaming about the next one.

3) Perfume - Think of perfume as "flowers in a bottle." A pleasing smell is a powerful aphrodisiac, and a carefully selected scent will make her feel special. Perfume is also nice because the gift lives on for several months, and she'll think of you each time she sprays on your wonderful gift. Ask your female friends what scents are popular this year, or sneak a peek in her magazines to see what perfumes are being advertised.

4) Spa/Massage Gift Certificate - For a truly memorable experience, give her a trip to the spa. Woman love to feel pampered and a massage or spa treatment is a Valentine gift that will relax and elevate her mood.

5) Romantic Dinner At Home - If your wife or girlfriend normally does all the cooking, surprise her with a home-cooked meal. If you're new to the kitchen, don't try anything too ambitious. Pick some of her favorite foods and find some easy recipes to make. Don't worry if your meal isn't perfect, because for this gift the old adage, "it's the thought that counts," is definitely true.

6) Jewelry - Women love jewelry, especially when it's received as a gift on a special occasion. Price is always a factor, but also consider getting something personal (e.g., a dolphin pendant for the ocean lover) or personalized (with your names and date) to make sure this Valentine gift is unforgettable.

7) Teddy Bear (http://www.vermonteddybear.com) - Nothing says cute and cuddly like a teddy bear. The teddy bear has changed a lot since you had one as a kid. Now, there are many different styles, varieties, and colors. Find one just right and she'll thank you for your thoughtfulness.

8) Bouquet Of Heart Shaped Cookies (http://www.gourmet-cookie-bouquets.com) - Cookies are always a "sweet" gift, and heart-shaped gourmet cookies make a great Valentine gift. Personalize the cookies with your own special message to let her know how you feel.

9) Chocolate Covered Strawberries (http://www.aagiftsandbaskets.com) - Strawberries are the perfect Valentine's Day fruit - red, heart-shaped and sweet. We already know how women feel about chocolate, so combine the two and you've got an unforgettable Valentine's Day gift. Chocolate covered strawberries are normally shipped via overnight air for maximum freshness, so these delectable treats also make a great gift for the procrastinator.

10) Romantic Weekend Get-Away - Nothing rekindles romance like a little time away from it all with your Valentine. For a truly romantic weekend, try a bed-and-breakfast someplace special (http://www.bnbfinder.com to find a bed & breakfast). Many bed and breakfasts offer Valentine's Day or romance packages, so it's best to reserve this date far in advance. If you can't get away during Valentine's Day, you can always make the reservation by February 14 and give her a special card telling her about your future romantic escape.

Valentine's Day gifts can be difficult, but with a little planning and insight in your wife or girlfriend's preferences, you can find her a memorable gift this year. You could even chose a different Valentine gift from this list and be covered for the next 10 years!

Bill Smith is the owner of http://www.holiday-gifts-gift-baskets.com which offers a huge selection of Valentine's Day gift ideas for your Valentine. Offering gourmet gift baskets, chocolate, cookies, chocolate covered strawberries, flowers and more. Send them a memorable gift this Valentine's Day from Holiday Gifts & Gift Baskets.

Christmas Gift Ideas For Kids And Teens

2009-03-01T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Natalie Aranda

The meaning of Christmas to those that celebrate this day can be as different as the many Christmas Gift Ideas that you can find in magazines, from mouth to mouth or on the Internet if not already in your mind. Most people associate candy canes with Christmas gifts, but there are many other sweet gifts for this season including chocolate candy and the popular candy bar.

Christmas Gifts do not have to be expensive, in fact, this is the best time to use your own talents cooking and baking ahead on time from the typical shaped-ginger cookies to chocolate candy in as many ways as your imagination dictates. Candy bar presents are even easier to prepare with anticipation, either alone or as part of other seasonal recipes.

Crafting a feast for the eyes is also easy if you design your own Christmas gifts wrappers, decorating them with candy canes to make your job easier, some websites offer free pre-made Christmas wrapper templates for popular candy bars including Hershey's, Oh Henry!, M&Ms, Baby Ruth, 3 Musketeers, Milky Way, Butterfinger, Kit Kat, Snickers and even Junior Mints.

Christmas Gift Ideas based on chocolate candy may include Christmas Gift Baskets, which are typically available in varied styles and range. These baskets can be filled with a candy bar, cookies, boxed chocolates, a candy cane and other goodies to make your Christmas gifts a real delight for the eyes and of course, the taste.

From a simple candy cane, you can get countless Christmas Gifts, including ornaments, twists, and more. An easy to make gift is made by putting a candy cane in a bag and crush it with a rolling pin. Melt 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips and deep spoons into chocolate to fill. Sprinkle with crushed candy and place on waxed paper covered cookie sheet to cool.

Spoons are a great present accompanied with a cup of hot cocoa and a candy bar with the attractive wrapper that you designed. Doing a little research on the web will show you many other Christmas Gift Ideas. Chocolate candy that you get from the supermarket during the season, generally include useful tips to transform this and other sweets into incredible presents.

Have you ever wondered where the candy cane comes from? Christmas Gifts rarely include the origins of legends so make an original present including a short written history or legend around a candy bar, chocolate candy or the candy cane itself. It is said that candy canes symbolize Jesus because their shape representing the letter "J" and their colors represent the purity and blood of Christ.

Although candy canes were created as treats to eat and decorate with them, there are a number of legends associated to them, including the supposedly relationship with the North Pole and Santa Claus, and a form of identification among Christians during a time of persecution. This way Christmas Gifts can be as tasty as entertaining and even educational.

Natalie Aranda writes on family, holidays and business. The meaning of Christmas to those that celebrate this day can be as different as the many Christmas Gift Ideas that you can find in magazines, from mouth to mouth or on the Internet if not already in your mind. Most people associate candy canes with Christmas gifts, but there are many other sweet gifts for this season including chocolate candy and the popular candy bar.

10 Holiday Teacher Gifts With Heart That Grandparents Will Love Too

2009-02-28T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Norma Schmidt

Choosing and perhaps making teacher-gifts with your child can provide quality family-time while teaching your child to give from the heart. Here are ten ideas even busy families can use.

1. Have your copy shop help you make notepads featuring your child's art.

Have your child create several small designs with a black felt-tip pen or fine-tip marker. Visit your local copy shop with your child and let the staff advise you about which design will work best. The staff can then help you and your child choose the dimensions of your notepads. When you bring the pads home, your child can glue to the cardboard backing a strip of magnetic tape, available at crafts stores.

2. Make potpourri ornaments.

Make a batch of these when you want to remember multiple teachers. At a craft store, buy clear, round, hollow plastic ornaments and holiday- colored potpourri. Help your child pour some potpourri into each ornament. Close and loop a ribbon through the top.

3. Mold glycerin soaps in fun shapes.

Buy colored glycerin soap bars and molds from a craft store. Melt soap chunks in a can placed in a pot of water over a low flame. Let the can cool until it can be safely handled. Supervising carefully to avoid burns, help your child pour the liquid soap into the molds. Let harden and release. Package several soaps in a cellophane bag and tie with ribbon.

4. Shop fair trade.

The "fair trade" label means the farmers or artisans who produce an item are paid fairly. You can find fair-trade coffees, chocolates, bath items, jewelry, home accessories and more at www.globalexchange.org, www.servv.org. and some local stores. In a note, tell what part of the world your gift came from and what "fair trade" means.

5. Make "jar-mixes."

Layer the dry ingredients of your favorite cookie recipe in a jar. Tie a pretty ribbon around the jar's neck and include the full recipe, noting which ingredients need to be added. Hint: Use a small enough jar that the ingredients are held snugly in place to preserve a layered look. Visit www.cooksrecipes.com/cookie/cookie-in-a-jar-mix.html for recipes and tips.

6. Buy a relaxation wrap.

This gift is more expensive than the others listed here. It's a soft flannel wrap that can be microwaved for a minute to provide a half hour of warmth and soothing lavender aroma. This is a fantastic gift for a special teacher, especially in areas with cold winters. Available at www.dodisturb.com.

7. Bake with your child.

This one is great because your children's participation can expand as they grow. Even preschoolers can pour pre-measured ingredients and stir, and middle-schoolers can take pride in baking independently with adult supervision.

Supervise young cooks carefully to prevent burns, and be sure to protect any classmates with nut allergies when your send your gift to the school.

8. Make candles.

Kits are available at craft stores. Supervise carefully around hot wax. For honeycomb wax sheet candle kits that do no involve high temperatures, visit www.islandtreasuretoys.com/ homeschool_supplies.html.

9. Give a gift related to your teacher's children, pets or hobbies. Would the teacher enjoy a subscription to a magazine devoted to cats or dogs? How about a copy of your family's favorite read-aloud book for the teacher's family to enjoy?

10. Give contribution to a charity in the teacher's name. Sponsoring organizations generally provide a card or certificate you can download or have sent. Visit www.churchworldservice.org/tools- blankets/alternativegift/catalog.html or www.altgifts.org or www.catalog.heifer.org.

Norma Schmidt is a parent of two and a former Lutheran minister. Her career includes serving as a pastor, campus minister and cancer center chaplain. She has also worked with children with disabilities. Norma offers workshops on parenting and on living with serious illness. Her writing has appeared in "Coping With Cancer" magazine. She is a former co-host of the "Inspired Survivor" Internet radio program for people with cancer. Download the free report "55 Free and Low-Cost Ways to Have the Best Holiday Season Ever" and look through her other articles by going to http://www.ParentCafeOnline.com

Snipping Dangling Threads

2009-02-27T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Carolina Fernandez

"Being organizedfrees you up to prepare you for both the dizzying frustrations and distractions, as well as the surprising opportunities and celebrations, that come our way." Carolina Fernandez (from ROCKET MOM! 7 Strategies To Blast You Into Brilliance)

Towards the end of the summer, I took my thirteen-year-old daughter and her friend on an unexpected shopping excursion. Having gotten kicked out of Six Flags Water Park by thunder and a cloudburst, the girls voted on-and won-a quick trip to the mall on the way home. Dragging me (and younger brother and brother's friend) to a favorite clothing shop, we were met by two denim skirts possessing magnetic powers, as they almost immediately found their way onto these girls' torsos. Proving adorable on, we got two. The fact that my daughter's skirt has a row of dangling threads (seems to be the new style) doesn't diminish my liking to it. But I find myself with a nearly insatiable desire to get out my scissors every time my daughter prances by wearing it. I want to snip those loose threads. Trim it up. Have it hang from her dangling-thread free.

The story of my life.

My personality yearns for a dangling-thread-free life. For loose ends to be snipped. Garbage taken out and clean laundry folded. Thank-you notes written and emails replied to. Calendars synced up and ducks perfectly lined up in rows.

Don't get me wrong. Oil painter that I am, I have a fairly high tolerance for chaos. Half-finished canvases have lined my family room floor-in my makeshift studio-for months. A pint-sized violin rests most days on the back of my living room sofa, rather than safely tucked inside its case. And Victor's new oboe finds itself almost always on the edge of his bed, which remains, many mornings, only half-made. What with four kids in four different schools, a traveling husband and a needy lapdog, my life can be summed up by my girlfriend's license plate: "BEDLAM." Add to that our ongoing chemo protocol with upwards of nine-hour days away from home some days, and I'm ready to throw up my hands in desperate resignation.

I long for simplicity. For having loose threads snipped such that I can meet my responsibilities-with discipline-as well as celebratory opportunities-with creativity-that come my way.

Fall is officially upon us. Leaves are falling (onto my freshly-swept deck); bulbs are begging for planting (in my just-weeded garden); and clothes are waiting to be rotated (in my recently-edited closets). Thankyouverymuch.

There's always something.

So how do we rocket moms get our acts together in order to lead more creative, gratifying lives? While oodles of strategies are found in my book, ROCKET MOM!, here are my 4 Quick Tips for fall:

Sniff: Walk around your house and sniff our patterns of inefficiency. Last Tuesday, in a bout of fall fever and its resultant flurry of housekeeping, I realized that no one in my family-including myself-was benefiting from my art "studio" plunked squarely in the middle of the family room floor. Nearly-constant-begging-for-a-barn-studio-for-my-birthday notwithstanding, I realized that, in the meantime, I needed to create a more organized workspace for my favorite hobby. So I carried all of my extraneous canvases to the basement and hid all extraneous supplies in a nearby cabinet. I left two easels standing, each one holding a half-finished painting, and kept the rest of the area bare. Once done, I started walking around the whole house, doing the "sniff" test. Piles of clutter were perused; useless stuff was tossed. I kept sniffing until I was satisfied that things were (almost) as they should be. I venture to say that you border on the bizarre if you are capable of maintaining a perfectly perfect house while simultaneously raising kids and your spouse. But keep sniffing and keep trying.

Snip: Whatever threads are dangling, snip 'em. Be they painful letters to write or junk mail to sort, toy closets to re-organize or car seats to vacuum...resolve to use this changing of the seasons to snip anything that's been dangling over you. The resulting liberation is nothing short of dizzying! I confess that the piles of papers on my desk and the dozens of emails in my inbox are the two dangling threads in desperate need of snipping this week. Claim yours, too.

Sort: Clear out anything that reads "summer." Now that the weather's finally changing, sort out t's, shorts and sandals; get ready for sweaters, jeans and boots. Sort through your kids' clothing and donate or rotate. Give away items that no longer work; shuffle things around so that fall clothing is more readily accessible. Ditto for closets. Be scrupulous. Regular sifting and sorting prevents painful dredging a few years down the road. Trust me.

Stage: As Ernie took Nick to chemo on Tuesday, I had a "free" day with which to deal with my fall fever. When a girlfriend called that night to check up on me, she was shocked to hear me tell her that I had "staged" my home for fall. Having no idea what I was talking about-she admitted that her home looked the same all year long-I explained that I had put away all summer accessories and had brought out those for the fall. Floral arrangements were re-arranged, annuals were replaced with mums, and summer's fresh colors were reinvigorated by autumn's subdued warmth. Mantels and window sills and tabletops were given renewed status for roosters and sunflowers, porcelains and candles. Are you building collections? Use the changing of the seasons as an opportunity to showcase and stage them. Your home needn't look like it fell out of a Ralph Lauren scrapbook or a page in the Orvis fall catalog. But it can be creatively staged to reflect the new season in which we find ourselves.

In short, use these next couple of weeks to get your act together. Allow the crisp, fresh air to invigorate and inspire you to organize your home so that you can lead the creative, energetic life into which you were called.

Carolina Fernandez earned an M.B.A. and worked at IBM and as a stockbroker at Merrill Lynch before coming home to work as a wife and mother of four. She totally re-invented herself along the way. Strong convictions were born about the role of the arts in child development; homeschooling for ten years provided fertile soil for devising creative parenting strategies. These are played out in ROCKET MOM! 7 Strategies To Blast You Into Brilliance. It is available on Amazon.com, in bookstores everywhere, or by calling 888-476-2493. She writes extensively for a variety of parenting resources and teaches other moms via parenting classes and radio and TV interviews. Please visit http://www.rocketmom.com to subscribe to her free ezine and get a weekly shot of inspiration.

Great Gifts For Teenagers

2009-02-26T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Jeff Kennedy

The "tumultuous teens" is that dreaded phase in everybody's life, for the parent as well as for the child concerned? It is that unfathomable phase when most teens are grappling with their sense of identity and belonging while perceiving their environment differently but not necessarily positively. Every gesture during these tumultuous times from concomitant forces in their environment can contribute to the marring or shaping of their long-term ideals. Selecting a gift can be deemed one such important gesture in the broad framework of things.

In this context, the rebellious streak inherent in most teens is an unavoidable factor, which cannot be ignored and should be taken into serious consideration while choosing that gift. It has to conform to their taste or you stand the risk of a serious rebuke and your gift a rebuff from your precious teen child or friend. It is thus very important to select your gift with the utmost care and discretion. But what if you're a busy parent working long hours and don't have the time to embark on that laborious task of finding that "right gift" and your utter confusion only further compounds your dire situation? You can then seek the help and guidance of such portals as www.lazygift.com that offer a comprehensive view of the multitude of gift options to suit a multitude of preferences and temperaments.

Jumping Skateboard- If the range of tricks performed by your adventurous teen on his skateboard keeps you on tenterhooks each time he lands precariously, then the "Jumping skateboard" with an in-built soft landing system would make a good gift to thrill your youngster while placating your frayed nerves. You can at least rest assured that the harmful jarring effects on landing will be mitigated.

The iDog Musical companion is a great gift for your teen daughter especially if she is an ardent music lover because it is not just another stuffed toy. As its very name suggests, this electronic gizmo, which is cuddly in its own right, will serve as her ideal, lovable companion that stores and plays her favorite tunes. Slimline Digital Camera- This Super-thin digital camera makes for a great carry along accessory to stoke the budding photographer in your teen. Its slim, sleek design makes it extremely portable and it affords crystal clear pictures of high resolution that can easily be downloaded onto the computer. Priced at $50, it's a steal.

How about presenting your teen with "The World's Largest Crossword Puzzle"? If your teen is even slightly intellectually predisposed, this is an awesome gift. In every way, this would be considered very special, as it has even earned its place in the record books for having broken the 1996 Guinness record. Your teen will regard it an honor to crack this puzzle. Its exclusivity notwithstanding, it costs a mere $30.

By visiting the author's website at LazyGift.com, you may find a wide range of gift ideas for any occasion such as birthday, anniversary, wedding, or friends.

Santa Clause The Facts

2009-02-25T14:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Kevin Hart

Santa Clause comes to us with several names. For some he is know as Saint Nicholas, and for others Father Christmas or quite simply Santa. While people interchange Santa and Father Christmas from an historical perspective they are two different persons.

It was Saint Nicholas of Myra, who lived in the 4th century in what is now modern day Turkey, who gave birth to the modern day Santa Clause. As bishop he developed a reputation for secret gift giving.

In the Western tradition the day of gift giving is on the 25th December while in the Eastern tradition the day for gift giving is New Years Day.

Most of us see Santa as a friendly, pot bellied sort of character who rides from house to house, through the sky, on a sleigh pulled by reindeer. It is possible that the tradition of ridding through the sky comes from a Germanic tradition where the god Wodam is seen riding a flying horse through the sky. The horse has eight legs, the same number of reindeer that Santa uses!

While Santa is portrayed as a jolly man giving out present to deserving children he is also used to keep children in check. Traditionally Irish children, and a large number of their European and American counterparts, hang up a stocking for their gifts but are told that if they are not good all year round, they will receive a lump of coal instead of a decent present.

In most traditions food or drink are left out for him to help him on his journey. In Ireland it is traditionally a bottle of Guinness, in America cookies and a glass of milk, in England he receives mince pies and sherry. No wonder then that he is perceived as a happy pot bellied character!

How then did St. Nicholas make the transformation from a bishop to a jolly old man with red cheeks. The transformation did not happen all at once but over a period of time and goes back before the American revolution to the time when the Dutch controlled what is now New York. When the Dutch arrived in America they took with them the legend of Saint Nicholas, at this stage he still dressed as a bishop.

In Washington Irving's History of New York, Sinterklaas was Americanised to "Santa Claus" but lost his bishop's apparel, and was at first pictured as a thick bellied Dutch sailor with a pipe in a green winter coat. Irving's book was a lampoon of the Dutch culture of New York, and much of this portrait is his joking invention.

Santa Clauses robes changed over the years until in 1885 the modern costume was born. At around this time his horse was converted to reindeer and a sleigh, his slaves into elves and the date was moved forward to coincide with Christmas.

For those interested Santa's eight reindeers were given their name in the popular poem by Clement Clarke Moore 'the Night Before Christmas.'

Kevin Hart
http://www.christmas-worldwide.com - the family site for Christmas. http://www.abcwritersnetwork.co.uk - an invaluable resource for creative writers. Large data bank of writing contests.

Romantic Gift Ideas For Women

2009-02-25T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Kathy Burns-Millyard

You don't need a special reason to be romantic, or give romantic gifts. You can do it all... just because.

Romantic gifts are a wonderful way to say "I love you" and "You're Special". But somtimes it's not easy to come up with romantic gift ideas, so here are a few suggestions.

1. Picnic Dinner Under The Stars - Yes this will work as a candlelight dinner too, but if your special lady loves the outdoors she will be blown over by a special dinner out under the brilliant stars in the sky.

Try to pick a secluded, private place outdoors, and try to be sure there's not much distraction from city lights and sounds. In fact, the more "out of the way" you can make this, the more romantic it will be.

2. Love Notes - Yes, guys you may think this sounds corney and sappy, but women love it. Leave them love notes! Pack a note in her lunch, slip it into her jacket pocket, or put one in her briefcase. They don't have to be eloquent, poetic or anything else overly hard. Just a simple "I love you" or "I'm thinking of you" will do it. And even something silly and cute is a great romantic touch too. Try writing something like "Smile You're Loved!"

3. A Song - Nope, you don't have to actually write a song to be romantic. Just give her a song as your romantic gift! Find a song you or she - better yet both of you - love. Make sure that song expresses your feelings for your special woman in some way, then buy the CD or a Single MP3 for her. Then include a little note with your gift which says something like: "This song is how I feel out you". Trust me guys... she'll be downright thrilled with this!

Mothers Day

2009-02-24T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Jennifer Bailey

Mother's Day is believed to have its origins in the annual spring festival celebrated in Ancient Greece to pay tributes to Rhea, the wife of Cronus and the mother of many deities. One and a half centuries ago, in the United States, the foundation stone of this festival was laid by an Appalachian homemaker named Anna Jarvis.

Mother's Day has changed drastically in its basic conception and form. None of the above mentioned festivals were meant to express love and gratitude to the immediate mother. Anna Jarvis wanted the women in her community to help her raise concern about the poor sanitary conditions of the community. She felt that mothers were the most affected members of the community because of the concern they had for their children's health. Her efforts led to the conception of the Mother's Work Day.

Anna Jarvis's daughter, of the same name, campaigned for the celebration of a day especially meant to express love and honor to our mothers. Anna Jarvis's daughter could be called the real founder of Mother's Day in the United States, as she worked relentlessly to promote the celebration of Mother's Day. Behind it all was her extreme love and devotion to her own mother. Her efforts were rewarded in 1908 when she celebrated the memory of her mother at a local church; she handed out the white carnation at this service. It was her mother's favorite flower. The real reward came in 1914 when mother's day was officially recognized and a holiday declared to celebrate this festival.

Despite the misgivings of the founder, in her later years, about Mother's Day becoming too commercialized in its practice, Mother's Day flourished in various parts of the world, especially in the United States. In its present form, Mother's Day is celebrated as a festival when we express our love for our mothers by presenting them with gifts in the form of cards, flowers, crafts, jewelry and a variety of other gifts. Celebrated on the second Sunday of May, this festival is the most popular way of showing your mother that you care and appreciate all that she has ever done for you.

Mothers Day provides detailed information on History of Mother's Day, Mother's Day, Mother's Day Cards, Mother's Day Crafts and more. Mothers Day is affiliated with Father's Day Cards.

Holiday Scams And Thieves Exposed

2009-02-23T14:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Tiffani Smith

The holidays bring joy and a sense of well-being for most people. With the numerous parties, activities, family get-togethers, and holiday shopping, you may find that you are very busy and may not pay attention to potential scams and rip-offs. Here are some tips that will keep you and your money safe during the holidays:

Pickpocketing

While shopping for the many gifts you intend to give this year, pay careful attention to the presence of pickpockets. Keep you money in a front pocket rather than in your back pocket. If you carry a purse, make sure you hold it close to your body rather than holding it by the strap and letting it swing as you walk. Crafty pickpockets who often work as a team steal millions of dollars each year. One will distract the victim while the other slips in and take the victim's money. Protect yourself and your wallet at all times. Do not be fooled into thinking that since you are shopping at an upscale, safe location that you will not become the victim of a pickpocket.

Online Shopping Scams

Beware of online scams. During the holidays there are many web sites that offer incredible deals on various merchandise, travel specials, and a number of other seemingly 'perfect' opportunities. Be very careful about what you purchase online and from whom you make purchases. If you are careless in your online shopping habits, you may find that your merchandise ever arrives as promised, the deal you thought you were purchasing is non-existent, or that not only does your order arrive after the holidays are over, but when it does arrive the merchandise only vaguely resembles that pictured on the web site, if there is any similarity at all.

Credit Card Companies

Beware of credit card companies that increase your spending limit immediately before the holiday shopping season begins. Each purchase you make will accrue interest, increasing the overall amounts you will spend the items you buy. Also do not make the mistake of accepting offers from your credit card company to skip your payment until after the New Year. The interest you owe will still accrue and you will end up owing more than you did initially. Also, be very cautious about making online purchases during the holiday season. While most merchants are reputable, there are some that will put up a web site with the express intent of obtaining credit card and debit card numbers for fraudulent purposes.

Telemarketing Scams

Telemarketing scams seem to increase during the holidays. Never give your personal information or credit card number to an unsolicited caller. Millions are stolen each year during the holidays due to telemarketing scams that entice consumers to make purchases immediately. If a telemarketer tells you that the incredible offer they are giving you will only be available for the next 10 minutes, hang up immediately. You should also be very careful when making purchases from door-to-door salesmen. Not only could you have your personal information used in a fraudulent manner, you could risk your safety by allowing strangers into your home.

Charity Scams

Beware of mail and calls from charities that you have never heard of. Many people have fallen victim to a charity scam that solicits money form unsuspecting consumers. The charity promises that your tax-deductible gift will go to help the underprivileged, starving children, victims of natural disasters, etc. Most charities are reputable, but stay away from any charity solicitation that is from an organization you have never seen before.

Wrapping Paper Station Scam

Also, beware of wrapping paper station scams. Wrapping paper stations can seem like a great idea, but in reality you can purchase and wrap everything you need for significantly less money. However, if you do decide to use a wrapping paper station make sure you're present at all times while your gift is being wrapped. Do not leave your gifts at the station and come back later to pick them up. The time you may save is not worth the extra expense and you may find out later that the gifts you bought were not the gifts you paid to have wrapped.

Tiffani Smith is the online editor for eFameOnline.com - the hottest place on the web for entertainment & fashion career advice. Get insider information from industry experts on how to kick-start your career & avoid scams and pitfalls @ http://www.efameonline.com

Celebrating Fathers

2009-02-23T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Susie Michelle Cortright

On Father's Day, we celebrate the guys in our lives. Not just our dads and the fathers to our children, but all the men who have made a positive impact on a child's life.

A number of recently published studies call attention to the effects of good fathering. Men who play an active role in their children's lives stimulate all aspects of development: emotional, academic, behavioral, and social, even when those men don't live in the same home as their children.

But we don't need a study to understand that the men in our lives matter, whether he's a husband who lives at home, an ex-husband who lives across town, a stepfather, a grandfather, an uncle, or a mentor in the community.

Even from a child's conception, a supportive father makes a difference in the lives of mothers, their children, and the world-at-large. In fact, research shows that women with supportive partners experience fewer health complications in pregnancy and have better attitudes about the inevitable physical changes to their own bodies. Studies indicate that even labor and delivery may be shorter and easier when your partner is by your side.

Men lend a sense of self-control. They model their work ethic. They make us laugh and help us develop a sense of humor. Men teach self-reliance, self-confidence, discipline, independence, and the ability to deal with frustrations, large and small. They help their daughters understand how to relate to men and the meaning of trust and intimacy in all relationships. They help their sons understand what it means to be a husband and a father and a man.

This Father's Day, let us remember the father's role. Let us actively engage him in this day-to-day process of parenting. Let us stand back so he can take charge and do things his way once in a while. Let us see his parenting style as a complement - and not an opposition - to our own.

Let us celebrate our fathers and honor them for making a difference in our world.

About The Author

Susie Michelle Cortright is the founder and publisher of Momscape, a website devoted to nurturing the nurturers through empowering articles, inspiring essays, and daily pampering tips, as well as freebies, contests, and giveaways just for moms. Visit her at http://www.momscape.com and get inspired to be the best mom you can be.

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Last Minute Halloween Decoration Spooky Bouquet

2009-02-22T14:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Margit Streifeneder

Don't panic, I tell myself. Yes, there's less than one week to go before Halloween, and I haven't prepared anything for my party yet. Just don't panic ... oh, I'm afraid I actually DO panic!

If you are like me and tend to leave things to the very last minute, you might be in desperate need for a Halloween decoration that

is easy and quick to do,
doesn't strain your budget too much and
will earn you some admiring 'Ohs' and 'Ahs' from your guests.

Here comes the 'Spooky Bouquet' to the rescue! For one bouquet you'll need:

four high quality 11" latex balloons, preferably with Halloween design, but if you can't get those, three plain black and one plain orange balloon will do as well,
color matching curling ribbon (5mm wide),
a plastic or ceramic pumpkin for the base (or any other small item that fits the theme and to which you can attach the ribbons) and
a small flask of helium to fill the balloons.

How to make it

You start with inflating the first of your black balloons with helium. Before you tie the knot you should make sure that the balloon is fully inflated to its 11" size. This is important as the bouquet will only look good if all balloons are blown up to the same size. There are two easy ways to do this: you could make yourself a simple 'balloon sizer' by cutting a circle of 11" diameter out of a piece of cardboard or you could set up two chairs back to back, so that the distance between them equals 11".

So, before you knot the balloon, pass it through your sizer and if necessary, deflate or inflate the balloon until it fits. Now take about 1m length from your curling ribbon and tie it to the balloon neck, leaving ca. 30cm loose for curling. Then attach the other end of the ribbon to your base. The overall height from the base to the top of the balloon should be about 80cm.

Repeat these steps for the other two black balloons. Position all three balloons at the same height.

O.k., just one more step to finish your Spooky Bouquet. Take the last balloon, in our example that would be the orange balloon, inflate it as described above and attach it to the base, so that it floats in the center of the three black balloons and just above them. You found the perfect position, when the top balloon just slightly touches the three black balloons.

Congratulations. You're done! Now stand back and admire your floating bouquet. There are so many Halloween themed balloons, both latex and foil, that you can easily create variations of this basic design. For example, you'll get a nice effect, if you replace the top latex balloon with a foil balloon - it could be a crazy pumpkin, a flying witch or a ghastly ghost ... whatever you prefer.

One special tip: as this is a last minute decoration idea, it might be too late to order a helium tank from a specialised balloon supplier. Maybe you know a small corner shop in your neighborhood that sells balloons. They probably have helium too. If it's not for sale, ask them to inflate your balloons on the spot and take the inflated balloons home with you. Of course, you should go there prepared and take the curling ribbon and the balloon sizer with you.

If you'd like to see the instructions for the 'Spooky Bouquet' illustrated with photos, please check out the 'Halloween Decoration' page on our step-by-step 'Balloon Decoration Guide'. You'll also find tips on tying balloons without ending up 'all fingers and thumbs' or how to greatly increase the floating time of helium filled latex balloons.

Margit Streifeneder has been a successful Small Business Owner for 10 years. Together with her life partner, a professional balloon decorator, she developed the 'DIY Balloon Decoration Guide' to provide useful how-to-information for everyone interested in creating their own balloon decor.

Keep Your Gift Giving Easy With Gourmet Food And Wine Baskets

2009-02-22T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Gregg Hall

There are many holidays and events worth celebrating throughout the year: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's & Father's Day, Halloween, anniversaries, and birthdays.

With so many holidays, so many occasions, and so many events, there is not 'so many questions', but one, which ends up burning at the back of our minds, that we must answer several times a year: what is the perfect gift that I can give them?

The world is so diverse. There are so many different people who like such different things that it becomes stressful, but incredibly difficult to think of a present you can be proud to give every holiday.

If there were a perfect present, nearly guaranteed to make nearly anyone happy, it would alleviate a lot of pressure. But consider that pressure alleviated, because there is, indeed, a present much like that: wine gift baskets.

Appropriate for nearly every occasion, holiday, or event, wine baskets are always a pleasant, appreciated gift, which you will be glad to give, and they will be glad to receive.

Not only are they a good gift, but also it is quite simple to accessorize, pay and send them. As you do with flowers, you can send a wine basket either through phone or by getting online and ordering it. You can have it delivered either to the intended person, or you can send it to yourself and give it to them, personally!

Wine gift baskets are not limited to simply wine. In fact, they go far beyond wine. You can create the perfect basket by pairing the wine of your choice with many different options, ranging from things like: cookies, meats, chocolate, nuts, biscuits, cheese, breadsticks, crackers, pasta, and more!

You can call and place an order for a certain amount of money, which will result in the company choosing the best-suited basket for your budget. Nonetheless, it is encouraged that you choose the accessories for the basket. For example: ordering the same wine from various wineries, or ordering a certain wine and choosing the accessories which best fit the intended recipient's taste (for example: if they love bread, pair your wine with an assortment of various breads).

Creating the style of the wine basket makes it personal, and then you have a chance to create intimacy with your recipient. Wine baskets are very appealing to a diversity of different people, regardless of age, gender, sexuality, social class, location, etc.

If you want to give a gift sure to elicit a good response, buy a wine basket! People tend to not spend money on wine to enjoy for themselves, and nearly everyone enjoys the refined taste of wine.

Wine becomes a gift, which goes beyond the recipient, as the recipient can serve and share it with others, while enjoying it themselves. They will think of you as they appreciate the thoughtful gift that they can share and enjoy with those that they love.

The next time you find yourself trying to figure out the perfect present for someone, whether personal or professional, remember what wonderful perks you can enjoy buy giving a wine basket.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Gourmet Foode Gift Baskets at http://www.gourmetgiftbasketsplus.com

Thanksgiving Travel

2009-02-21T14:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Sean Carter

Fun, frolic and excitement reaches its crescendo during the auspicious occasion of Thanksgiving. Traveling, party, feasting all increase manifold during this time with family, friends and relatives sharing the spirit of togetherness. It is one of the busiest time of the year after Christmas and New Year with sky ways jammed, roads snarled with traffic and trains filled to capacity. It's the time to pack one's bag and set out for a relaxed vacation to the most sought after, coveted travel destinations or simply unwind at some far off desolate place. Some adventurous spirits are even eager to experiment and venture out into some unconventional holiday destinations. As people tend to be busy during the rest of the year, this is the time when they often make plans to visit their native places to meet their loved ones or leave for new holiday destinations with their families.

With traveling scenario being quite conducive traveling no more poses to be a big issue. Airlines offer attractive discounts for those booking way in advance, hotels too offer rooms at affordable rates to court the public in this festive season. Many hotels are smart enough to cash in on this festival by including special programs catering to the varied interest of people belonging to different age groups, the idea behind it being appealing to the mass and not just one section of the population. In order to lure tourists, activities such as rock climbing, bowling, golf, and tours of nearby historic places of interest as well as lavish feasts comes complimentary with one's hotel bookings. Various tours and travel agencies have special travel packages encouraging more and more people to travel round the globe. For adults these vacations poses to be an escape from their daily drudgery, while for the children it is a short break to enjoy their holiday away from their usual routine study. Trekking seems to be a good idea for those adventurous souls who may be ready with their adventure gear and all set to hit the rocky mountains. One can also opt for a country getaway or a historic place may be not to brush up one's history lessons but to get a feel of the place as it was many years back. There are also many cruises lined up offering heavy discounts to attract people who may have their heart fixed on the sea.

Let us sort out a list of places that one could perhaps make a tour of during this Thanksgiving, packed with fun and entertainment aplenty. For instance, the National Historic Landmark property, a famous resort at Bretton Woods in New Hampshire, has a harvest feast plus festive weekend with family turkey-trot, flag football, kids camp, along with a story-telling session with Santa, especially for the kids. You can also opt for the beautiful island resort in northeast Florida which has historic town and fort, nature tours and beautiful resorts that celebrate Thanksgiving in large scale. In fact another bewitching place, which is in fact a 1350 acres of land complete with beach, marshlands makes a perfect getaway during Thanksgiving. For instance, on Thanksgiving weekend, there is a Grand Buffet, Pumpkin Pie Eating contest, Just For Kids dinner party and much more exciting activities lined up. Again another splendid resort in Florida, located just two hours southwest of Orlando, organizes special programs for the occasion like the comedy shows under circus tents, Grand Buffet and a special show. The idea of booking a room at one of the most renowned hotel in West Virginia is also quite thrilling, as the hotel prides itself of having an absolutely traditional Thanksgiving feast like turkey and venison roast are served by the innkeepers in 18th century clothing.

If, for long your kids' requests have gone unheeded, then Thanksgiving is the best time to ensure that the fond wishes of these delicate souls are taken care of by planning a surprise trip to the fun-filled Disneyland and Walt Disney World. You can be assured of seeing a broad smile flash across their face, as they shake hands with their favorite cartoon characters. The beautiful decorations, special shows and parades performed in these Disney theme parks are surely going to leave children and adults in a state of wonderment. It's time you can pose to be different by opting out of the world famous Thanksgiving Day Parade, held in New York City and instead watch the "Orlando Christmas Parade" to be held in the town of Orlando on November 25th, 2006, which has off late become the largest nationally televised parade in the south-east.

This year you can fulfill you dream of paying a visit to New England, traditionally claimed as the land of the Pilgrims. This historic place has a host of interesting places to make a tour of. There is the Plymouth Rock commemorating the landing of Pilgrims, Pilgrim Monument, America's tallest granite structure, located in Provincetown at the tip of Cape Cod. You can also visit the history museum called Plymouth Plantation which remains open from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. You can also take a tour of the architectural structure May Flower II, which seems to be a mirror image of Pilgrim's original ship, now docked near Plymouth Rock. An archaic colonial inn, a 300 year old sea captain's mansion in Yarmouthport, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod offers a four-night Thanksgiving weekend package that is inclusive of an old-fashioned turkey dinner. Lincoln Park, a gaming operation in Lincoln, Rhode Island, hosts its annual Thanksgiving Breakfast Buffet on Thanksgiving Day with turkey served for breakfast.

To ensure that you have a hassle-free vacation, there are certain strategies you can follow which will help you to keep costs low as well as avoid all difficulty in finding the best travel deal. You can fly on off-peak days, meaning you can depart before or after peak dates or even on the holiday itself. Booking rooms in off-peak destinations can save you thousands as well as ensure a room at an upscale hotel without having to worry about accommodation. As a consequence, seaside resorts are a good place to look for great deals. This year you can plan a trip to the Caribbean, for winter is not the peak business time of the year there. If you for long had a secret wish of paying a visit to Europe, then this is the golden time to do so as November is the beginning of low season in much of Europe for Europeans don't celebrate Thanksgiving, thereby one can avail of best bargain with discounted airfares at your display. Places such as London, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Barcelona or Prague can be visited by having to purse out less money for the same trip which may cost you a fortune at the time of spring or summer.

Traveling and fun are synonymous to each other, so it's wise to fix a budget, plan your trip accordingly and make bookings way in advance to avoid all hassle of last minute arrangements. Booking is only a click away with Internet sites offering you a host of destinations and hotels to choose from. In short, Thanksgiving is the time to express gratitude for having time to spend quality time in the company of your dear ones and spread the feeling of warmth and cheer all around.

Sean Carter writes on holidays, Thanksgiving Day and world events. He also writes on family, relationships, Christmas, religion, love and friendship. He is a writer with special interest in ecard industry and writes for 123greetings.com. He is an active blogger at Thanksgiving Blog

Giving Away

2009-02-21T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Carolina Fernandez

With six shopping days left until Christmas, many of you may still be searching for that perfect gift; wrapping way past your bedtime; joining the stampede at your local post office; and putting last minute touches on everything from your decorating to your dinner plans to your gingerbread men.

Ahhh! Christmas.

I anticipate its arrival every year with a spirit open to its marvelous story; and I engage midway through its certain presence with anxiety about getting everything "done." My most dreaded fear: winding up too exhausted, too spent, and too complacent to thoroughly embrace the message and the miracle of Christmas.

Friends have cautioned meparticularly this year, what with Nick's leukemia and almost-daily three-hour round-trips to the clinic where he receives chemotherapythat this would be a good year to not be overly involved in preparations for Christmas. Not to "not do" Christmasfor how could a Christian ignore one of the holiest days of the year? But to scale back in the traditional celebrations of the season. And I have. No ladies luncheon at my house (a tradition for the past ten years or so); no dinner parties, either (another favorite tradition); no offering to host a session of the neighborhood progressive dinner party. Some even questioned if we would put up a tree this year! Or go to the "trouble" of decorating!

Our tree went up several weeks ago, as did pinecone-studded garlands and candle lights in every window. And my Byers Choice carolers, handcrafted Saint Nick's, and folk art angels have been lovingly set out throughout the house.

For Christmas comes regardless of one's circumstances. And we need to celebrate it.

But the one thing that friends most cautioned me aboutwith my best interests at heart to be surewas to foregone gift-giving this year. That taking care of our son need be our highest priority and that everything else could, and should, fall by the wayside. The friendly advice was purely cautionary: don't wear yourself out. Go easy this year. No need to shop, to wrap, to ship, to deliver. Forget the trouble of wrapping paper, gift tags, Christmas cards, and photos. Standing in line at the post officewhatare you nutz?!?

And it was good advice. Friendly, loving advice. But I just couldn't help it. And I hope you can't either. Christmas is not about acquiring, and we all know that. Christmas is about giving, and we've all heard that, too. No news flash here. But God was generous in His gift of His son, and having fully embraced this truth, I cannot help but give also.

Eugene Peterson, one of my most beloved authors and the translator of THE MESSAGE, said it beautifully: "Giving is the style of the universe. Giving is woven into the fabric of existence." (1) In this lavish order of the world that God created, giving serves a central role. God gave away His son, Jesus, for all of us to accept as a gift. And one of the ways in which we celebrate this gift is to give, also.

Again, from Peterson: "Giving is what we do best. It is the air into which we were born. It is the action that was designed into us before our birth. Giving is the way the world is. God gives himself. He also gives away everything that is. He makes no exceptions for any of us. We are given away to our families, to our neighbors, to our friends, to our enemiesto the nations. Our life is for others. That is the way creation works." (2)

I give at Christmas because God gave to me. He gave me His son who would take center stage in my life. And celebrating this at Christmas gives me unexplainable joy. Through injury, accidents, and now, through my son's cancer: I give because I just can't help it. My gifts are not extravagant. Not to my friends, certainly. They are always tiny tokens of appreciation for the gift of intimate relationship. And what a precious gift that is! And they're usually not extravagant to my kids or to my husband, either. The point here is not to indulge in materialistic expressions that stroke egos requiring status symbols or a gimme gimme modus operandi. Gifts are given that say: "I love you. Thank you for loving me, too. Here is a small token of that love." Simple gifts.

I pray at Christmas that you model a life of generosity. Not just in your thoughtful gifts to friends and family. But that you practice generosity in your time and in your talents, too. That you sing in a choir because God gave you the voice of a songbird. That you play the violin at your church's midnight candlelight serviceas are two of my childrenbecause you are able to share developed talent for the enjoyment of others. That you take an elderly neighbor to the grocery storeas does my neighbor, Nancybecause she knows how much it means to her friend to get out and about. That you take dinner to a family in crisisas have more neighbors in our town than I am able to count during these past eight weeksbecause you understand the physical and emotional toll of childhood cancer. That you entertain friends and strangers alike"angels unaware"because you grasp the joys of hospitality. That you promise to lift up someone in need, because you've witnessed the power of intercessory prayer and know that the time spend doing so for someone else will make a difference this Christmas.

Peterson, the poet, says it best: "We don't think we can live generously because we have never tried. But the sooner we start the better, for we are going to have to give up our lives finally, and the longer we wait the less time we have for the soaring and swooping life of grace." (3)

May you be filled with all blessings on Christmas Dayand everydayby giving away.

Merry, merry Christmas!

Carolina

NOTES: Scripture taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright (c) by Eugene H. Peterson, 1993, 1994, 1995. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

1. Eugene H. Peterson, Run with the horses (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1983), p. 42.

2. Ibid., p. 43.

3. Ibid.

Carolina Fernandez earned an M.B.A. and worked at IBM and as a stockbroker at Merrill Lynch before coming home to work as a wife and mother of four. She totally re-invented herself along the way. Strong convictions were born about the role of the arts in child development; ten years of homeschooling and raising four kids provide fertile soil for devising creative parenting strategies. These are played out in ROCKET MOM! 7 Strategies To Blast You Into Brilliance. It is widely available online, in bookstores or through 888-476-2493. She writes extensively for a variety of parenting resources and teaches other moms via seminars, workshops, keynotes and monthly meetings of the ROCKET MOM SOCIETY, a sisterhood group she launched to "encourage, equip and empower moms for excellence." Please visit http://www.rocketmom.com

Thanksgiving Gift Ideas

2009-02-20T14:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Sean Carter

Being surrounded by loved ones and good things is a gift in itself, without which no occasion would make much sense to the world. But on Thanksgiving, people celebrate these gifts bestowed on them with more meaning and warmth. Thanksgiving is a time to acknowledge the blessings which God has gracefully showered upon us each passing day. Traditionally, Thanksgiving was a harvest festival and the people gathered to express their gratitude to the Almighty for the bountiful Autumn harvest. But now, the spirit of thankfulness has spread to all aspects of our lives that make it richer and more prosperous. We say 'thanks' for the most treasured gifts in our lives-our family, friends and loved one. So this Thanksgiving Day, you can express your appreciation for these wonderful people with some Thanksgiving gift. Take a leaf from some of the following Thanksgiving gift ideas listed for you.

Thanksgiving gift baskets:

A Thanksgiving gift basket can be an ideal gift for a close relative, a dear pal or your sweetheart. For a friend you can get a gift basket with goodies like pumpkin-flavored iced cookies, leaf-shaped milk chocolates wrapped in Autumn-colored foil, mini tea cakes and brownie bars. For your siblings' or your parents' homes, you can get a wicker cornucopia basket full of their favorite things. Cookies, cakes, scented candles, spa kits and the list goes on. The colors and aromas of fall and the taste of Thanksgiving that these Thanksgiving gift baskets carry, are sure to convey the appreciation you feel for the receivers.

Thanksgiving flowers:

One of the sweetest Thanksgiving gift ideas is to gift flowers ! Flowers that reflect the colors of fall make ideal Thanksgiving gifts. A cornucopia flower arrangement can be a lovely Thanksgiving gift for any household as this is a traditional symbol of the occasion. Seasonal burnt orange, fiery red, yellow, and green blooms create an ambience of warmth and the soft blooms of the Asiatic Lilies, Red Rover Chrysanthemums, Marigolds, Spray Roses and Carnations make the sight of the arrangement in the cornucopia engaging. A simple bronze wicker basket of fresh fall daisies or an assortment of Autumn flowers can be apt Thanksgiving gifts for your friends, neighbors or colleagues. Flowers will carry your Thanksgiving prayer for them as also wish them a happy thanksgiving. Thanksgiving flowers even work wonders if you're far away from your loved ones and want to let them know how much you miss them.

Inflatable toys:

Thanksgiving gift ideas are galore; but how to make your gift stand out this year ? Thanksgiving won't feel like Thanksgiving without a big roasted turkey on the dinner table, would it ? The turkey over the years has become one of the most recognized symbols of Thanksgiving and on this Thanksgiving you can get an inflatable turkey or an inflatable scarecrow (another symbol of Thanksgiving) for a neighbor or a friend to have them gaping at your innovatively amusing Thanksgiving gift. These make good outdoor decorations, befitting the festival ambience, and will surely be fun toys for very young kids in any home !

Thanksgiving crafts:

An eye-catching seasonal wreath of dried poppy pods and pomegranates accented with red oak and green lemon leaves and grass and a lot more could be a lovely Thanksgiving gift for an office colleague, a neighbor or your teacher. A box of miniature gourd shaped Autumn scented candles is again a very good Thanksgiving gift idea for anyone you hold close. A cornucopia of blown glass with faux fruits and gourds piled high can be a lovely gift for your boss. These skillfully crafted Thanksgiving gifts will be anyone's joy and will stay with the receivers for many years to come.

Home accessories:

A central feature of Thanksgiving is the Thanksgiving dinner. It is the harvest feast arranged to honor God for the food that He provides. Some exquisite china or some lace for the dining table can be great ideas and ideal Thanksgiving gifts on this occasion to wish a happy Thanksgiving. You can buy yourself or your parents a Turkey preparation kit for the occasion and make preparing dinner this Thanksgiving an easy affair. A thoughtful home accessory can be the ideal Thanksgiving gift for this family festival.

There are a lot of Thanksgiving books, Thanksgiving movies and music collections in addition to these, that make good Thanksgiving gifts too. So every Thanksgiving, you have a big array of Thanksgiving gifts to choose from. Thanksgiving gifts express your thankfulness for someone. So send a gift and make someone feel special in the spirit of November 23, the Thanksgiving Day. All you need to do is make sure that your gifts or cards tell your friends and family how blessed you feel and thankful you are to have them in your life.

Halloween Costumes For 2006

2009-02-20T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Terry Echols

Another year has come and gone leaving way for new, hot and gorgeous Halloween costumes for 2006. Blockbuster movies like Superman Returns, Ghost Rider, Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest, and Disney/Pixar's animated creation Cars are leading the way.

Manufacturers have made alterations and improvements to many existing costumes this year. Power Rangers and most Disney character costumes have been updated for 2006. Ariel from the Little Mermaid, Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Belle from Beauty and the Beast, and of course who can forget the beautiful Cinderella. A host of other famous and recognizable character costumes are available this year with great and beautiful improvements.

Legend says when the darkness arises, five brave teen sorcerers will be called to fight for the planet's survival - with the guidance from their wise mentor and the ancient Xenotome, book of the unknown. They will embark on magical adventures, befriend mystical dragons, battle dangerous beasts, encounter pure evil and transform into the Power Rangers Mystic Force. We carry the complete line of Power Rangers Mystic Force costumes and accessories. Beautifully detailed costumes and accessories for all the Mystic Force characters are available this year. Red Ranger, Green Ranger, Pink Ranger and Special Power Ranger costumes are available in Standard and Deluxe versions and in child sizes 4-6 and 7-8. Don't forget the accessories, boot covers; individual Ranger weapon and gloves for each costume are also available.

The unforgettable Captain Jack Sparrow has a new adventure on the high-seas, Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man's Chest. The only way the crew of the Black Pearl can lift the curse upon them is to return a golden Aztec coin to its treasure chest. But that coin is currently hanging around the lovely neck of British Governor's daughter, Elizabeth Swann. Costumes from this major blockbuster movie include Captain Jack Sparrow in adult and child sizes and standard and deluxe versions; Elizabeth Swann also available in adult and child sizes and standard and deluxe versions and Captain Jack accessories; pirate boot covers and pirate sword.

Following a mysterious absence of several years, the Man of Steel comes back to Earth in the epic Superman Returns. While an old enemy plots to render him powerless once and for all, Superman faces the heartbreaking realization that the woman he loves, Lois Lane, has moved on with her life. Or has she? Superman's bittersweet return challenges him to bridge the distance between them while finding a place in a society that has learned to survive without him. In an attempt to protect the world he loves from cataclysmic destruction, Superman embarks on an epic journey of redemption that takes him from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of outer space.

Costumes for Superman Returns are available in many different styles for both children and adults. Also added this year were accessories not previously available. A bendable steel bar, a break-apart chain, Kryptonite Ball and a Superman ring have all been added to our many accessories for your Superman costume. Superman costumes are available in child sizes from Small 4-6 to Large 12-14 and adult sizes for men Medium 32-42 chest to Extra Large 46-48 chest. Please note not all costumes are available in all sizes. Don't forget your pet for a great look-a-like pairing, Superman Dog costume is available for your pet in Medium or Large size.

This is just a small sampling of the costume products available this year to elevate your Halloween celebration to be a huge success. CostumersNetwork.com also has a complete line of Haunted Halloween Houses props and decorations. Whatever your Halloween or costume party needs are we have you covered.

CostumersNetwork.com is your one-stop shop for all things Halloween. From costumes to props and all things in between we have your party needs covered. Why shop at multiple sites when you don't have to. With over 5000 products and inventory that is updated every 30 minutes there's no need to shop anywhere else.

Terry Echols is the owner of http://www.CostumersNetwork.com, an online retailer of Halloween Costumes and Accessories. He is also a publisher at http://www.netonesolutions.com aimed at the aspiring home based internet business owner. He also hopes to educate his readers on acquiring multiple sources of online income.

Valentines Day What It Means To Me

2009-02-19T14:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Andrew Pye

When I was a kid growing up in South Florida, I have fond memories of school parties and exchanging cards with my female classmates, eating candy with "I LOVEYOU" and "KISS ME" on them, but as I have gotten older, Valentines Day has become something entirely different to me.

My son was born a week after Valentines, and my wife and I had spent most of that week so involved with the fact she was about to pop, we had completely forgotten about the most romantic day of the year. We made a vow right then to make sure that for the next year we would go all out and do something special.

One year later, on the eave of cupid's big day, we brought my son to visit my grandparents, and spent the evening with them, because the following evening we had plans to go out and spend a nice romantic night together. My nearly 1-year-old son played with my grandpa all night. The next mourning, I woke up to a phone call from my grandmother. My grandpa had passed away in his sleep. My grandmother called me first before anyone else, and I went to her home and the day forgotten once more.

The following year was not any better, my wife and I split up, and begun the slow and painful process of divorce, and so we never had our romantic day together. Valentines Day for me has become something different, with some good and some bad memories, but all worthwhile.

The point I am trying to make is this, I think Valentines Day is to each man and woman, something unique, and for most a day dependent on circumstance. Some people are single, some in long relationships, some in good ones, and some in bad (relationships). Some people are lonely in this world with no one to love, and some have love and throw it away carelessly with no regard for commitment or the human heart, but some are in love and for them this is their day.

I wish everyone a very wonderful Valentines, what ever your situation may be, and I hope everyone will go out and at least try to make the magic happen in your own life. Remember everyone, cupid has a job to do, and who knows maybe this year you might be the one to get lucky and cupid will harpoon someone for you, and sparks will fly, lighting will strike, and your life will never be the same.

Hello everyone, Andrew here, I hope you find all you want this year for Cupids big day. Come check out my website and you will find great gift ideas at http://www.zaneselegantcollectibles.com for that special someone in your life. Go to http://www.zapcashflow.com then click on, Zane's gift card site, or you can contact me @ za_elegantcollectibles@yahoo.com, for more information on how you can order your gifts this year and have them delivered right to your door. Also you can go to http://www.qcf.thegiftlane.com for more info on how to order. Make your shopping a breeze this year with our World of Products catalog online. Once again thank you and have a great day...Give love a chance!

Sanity Savers For The Thanksgiving Hostess

2009-02-19T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Dawn Miller

The first time I hosted Thanksgiving dinner for my husband's family, I was a new bride of only three months. I had never attended a family holiday event before my marriage because I lived out-of-state. Add to the mix my mother-in-law, three stepchildren, my husband's ex-wife, four sister-in-laws, and assorted children and husbands. I felt like I was blindfolded and sky-diving without a parachute.

I spent that first Thanksgiving morning frantically cleaning and peeling potatoes like a madwoman. Unforeseen shortages sent me scrambling twice - to the only open grocery store within twenty miles in my pajamas. Now things go a lot smoother, because I've learned a few secrets to make hosting Thanksgiving dinner for twenty in-laws manageable, and even enjoyable.

(1) Learn the traditions combined families bring to the table, and honor both, not just one. If it means you have doubles of a few dishes so be it. My husband's family has a thing about stuffing they like the old-fashioned starts-out-like-croutons-in-the-bird kind. Stove Top was the only kind of stuffing my mom ever fixed, so of course, that's what I bought I never knew anything else existed. Needless to say, stuffing was one of the items I had to buy at the grocery during my Thanksgiving morning mad dash and two kinds of stuffing grace the table.

(2) Create a schedule. I'm the first to admit that those two-week dinner planning timelines don't work for me. But if you are defrosting a frozen turkey and cooking a large meal, then you should plan when the countdown commences. If you are in a stepfamily like us, you should also plan your custody schedule ahead of time, so there is no confusion about what time the kids are at which home, and try to schedule meals so the kids aren't forced to have meals too close together.

(3) Lower your stress level by getting basic tasks out of the way early. Check off tasks on your list that can be done ahead of time to keep your frazzle thermometer low, and don't be afraid to parcel out job duties to others. Get busywork done ahead of time if you can. Or break down and spend a little extra for pre-cut vegetables and already-prepared side dishes. I take the day before Thanksgiving off from work to chop veggies, set tables and make desserts. Thanksgiving morning is much better spent basting a turkey and watching the Macy's parade, instead of stressing out.

(4) Ask for and graciously accept help if you need it. My husband helps out with tidying so I don't have to whip myself into a cleaning cyclone that terrorizes dust bunnies. I had no clue how to make gravy that first year. My mom said to buy it when I phoned for advice. So I bought a half dozen jars of turkey gravy and figured that would suffice. My mother-in-law chuckled when I sheepishly told her about the jars. She offered to help me make gravy that first Thanksgiving and even taught me a few secrets that I plan to pass on to her grandchildren.

(5) Accept that not everything will go according to plan and use creative solutions. Instead of each family arriving with one side dish and one dessert, they each brought two or three dishes and a couple of desserts. The twenty-seven side dishes (yes, 27 side dishes!) overran my serving plans, so we improvised a buffet for the extras by balancing casseroles on cookie sheets over the kitchen sink.

Finally, do your best to enjoy yourself and remember what the holiday is all about. Be thankful for the many blessings we have in our lives even if your blessings arrive disguised as challenges. If you keep the right attitude, hosting Thanksgiving dinner can be a blessing, not a curse.

Dawn Miller writes a column on life in blended families at http://www.thestepfamilylife.com.

Stress Depression And The Holidays 12 Tips For Coping

2009-02-18T14:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Arthur Buchanan

Stress and depression can ruin your holidays. Here's how to keep the sparkle.

For some people, the holidays bring unwelcome guests stress and depression. And it's no wonder. In an effort to pull off a perfect Hallmark holiday, you might find yourself facing a dizzying array of demands work, parties, shopping, baking, cleaning, caring for kids on school break or elderly parents, and scores of other chores. So much for peace and joy, right?

Actually, with some practical tips, you can minimize the stress and depression that often accompany the holidays. You may even end up enjoying the holidays more than you thought you would.

The trigger points of holiday stress

Holiday stress and depression are often the result of three main trigger points. Understanding these trigger points can help you plan ahead on how to accommodate them.

Here are the three issues that commonly trigger holiday stress or depression:

Relationships. Relationships can cause turmoil, conflict or stress at any time. But tensions are often heightened during the holidays. Family misunderstandings and conflict can intensify especially if you're all thrust together for several days. Conflicts are bound to arise with so many needs and interests to accommodate. On the other hand, if you're facing the holidays without a loved one, you may find yourself especially lonely or sad.

Finances. Like your relationships, your financial situation can cause stress at any time of the year. Overspending during the holidays on gifts, travel, food and entertainment can increase stress as you try to make ends meet while ensuring that everyone on your shopping list is happy. Physical demands. The strain of shopping, attending social gatherings and preparing holiday meals can wipe you out. Feeling exhausted can increase your stress, creating a vicious cycle. Exercise and sleep good antidotes for stress and fatigue may take a back seat to chores and errands. High demands, stress, lack of exercise, and overindulgence in food and drink these are the ingredients for holiday illness.

12 pre-emptive strategies for holiday stress

When stress is at its peak, it's hard to stop and regroup. Take steps to help prevent normal holiday depression from progressing into chronic depression. Try these tips:

Acknowledge your feelings. If a loved one has recently died or you aren't near loved ones, realize that it's normal to feel sadness and grief. It's OK now and then to take time just to cry or express your feelings. You don't have to force yourself to be happy just because it's the holiday season.

Seek support. If you feel isolated or down, seek out family members and friends, or community, religious or social services. They can offer support and companionship. Consider volunteering at a community or religious function. Getting involved and helping others can lift your spirits and broaden your social circle. Also, enlist support for organizing holiday gatherings, as well as meal preparation and cleanup. You don't have to go it alone. Don't be a martyr.

Be realistic. As families change and grow, traditions often change as well. Hold on to those you can, if you want to. But understand that in some cases that may no longer be possible. Perhaps your entire extended family can't gather together at your house. Instead, find new ways to celebrate together from afar, such as sharing pictures, e-mails or videotapes. Set differences aside.

Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they don't live up to your expectations. Set aside grievances until a more appropriate time for discussion. With stress and activity levels high, the holidays might not be conducive to making quality time for relationships. And be understanding if others get upset or distressed when something goes awry. Chances are, they're feeling the effects of holiday stress, too.

Stick to a budget. Before you go shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend on gifts and other items. Then be sure to stick to your budget. If you don't, you could feel anxious and tense for months afterward as you struggle to pay the bills. Don't try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts. Donate to a charity in someone's name, give homemade gifts or start a family gift exchange.

Plan ahead. Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and then make one big food-shopping trip. That'll help prevent a last-minute scramble to buy forgotten ingredients and you'll have time to make another pie if the first one's a flop. Allow extra time for travel so that delays won't worsen your stress. Learn to say no. Believe it or not, people will understand if you can't do certain projects or activities.

If you say yes only to what you really want to do, you'll avoid feeling resentful and overwhelmed. If it's really not possible to say no to something your boss asks you to work overtime try to remove something from your agenda to make up for the lost time.

Don't abandon healthy habits. Don't let the holidays become a dietary free-for-all. Some indulgence is OK, but overindulgence may add to your stress and guilt. Have a healthy snack before holiday parties so that you don't go overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks. Continue to get plenty of sleep and schedule time for physical activity.

Take a breather. While you may not have time every day for a silent night, make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Steal away to a quiet place, even if it's the bathroom, for a few moments of solitude. Take a walk at night and stargaze. Listen to soothing music. Find something that clears your mind, slows your breathing and restores your calm.

Rethink resolutions. Resolutions can set you up for failure if they're unrealistic. Don't resolve to change your whole life to make up for past excess. Instead, try to return to basic, healthy lifestyle routines. Set smaller, more specific goals with a reasonable time frame. Choose resolutions that help you feel valuable and provide more than only fleeting moments of happiness.

Forget about perfection. Holiday TV specials are filled with happy endings. But in real life, people don't usually resolve problems within an hour or two. Something always comes up. You may get stuck late at the office and miss your daughter's school play, your sister may dredge up an old argument, you may forget to put nuts in the cake, and your mother may criticize how you and your partner are raising the kids. All in the same day. Expect and accept imperfections.

Seek professional help if you need it. Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical complaints, unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless, and unable to face routine chores. If these feelings last for several weeks, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. You may have depression. Have it both ways

Remember, one key to minimizing holiday stress and depression is knowing that the holidays can trigger stress and depression. Accept that things aren't always going to go as planned. Then take active steps to manage stress and depression during the holidays. You may actually enjoy the holidays this year more than you thought you could.

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With Much Love,

Arthur Buchanan
President/CEO
Out of Darkness & Into the Light
43 Oakwood Ave. Suite 1012
Huron Ohio, 44839
567-219-0994 (cell)
http://www.out-of-darkness.com

They are calling Arthur Buchanan's methods of recovering from mental illness REVOLUTIONARY! (MEDICAL COLLEGE OF MICHIGAN) 'Arthur Buchanan has given us a revolutionary blue print for recovery in these uncertain times, when Mental Illness at a all time high in the United States of America, yet if you follow this young mans methods, we assure you of positive results and I QUOTE 'If these methods are followed precisely, their is no way you can't see positive results with whatever illness you have' -Dr. Herbert Palos Detroit, Michigan

Listen to Arthur Buchanan on the Mike Litman Show!
http://www.freesuccessaudios.com/Artlive.mp3
LISTEN TODAY!

Whats Your Christmas Plan

2009-02-18T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by George Stark

Have you developed your Christmas plan yet? If you have not then now is the time to get started. Christmas will be here before you know it and it will pay to get ahead of the rush.

Most people wait until the last minute to get ready for Christmas and then they wonder why their Christmas is so emotionally draining and nerve wracking. Christmas is the most chaotic and stressful time of the year so it makes sense to plan it out to cut down on your stress and strain. Only through planning and preparation can you have a well coordinated and pleasurable Christmas. Those who wait until the last minute to prepare oftentimes experience a disappointing and dysfunctional Christmas which creates a lot of anguish and bad feelings all around.

With a little bit of planning you can avoid having a bad Christmas. You can escape the last minute hysteria and pandemonium because you will have a plan that will smoothly get you through the entire holiday period.

Okay, here's what you need to do right away. Take out several sheets of paper or 3x5 cards. Write down the following headings at the top of each sheet of paper or card: Cards, Gifts, Decorations, Food, Tree, Lights, Toys, Parties and Miscellaneous (Catchall). These are the nine major categories in which all your Christmas planning and preparations will revolve around.

Now that you have these nine categories identified (some will overlap) you need to start brainstorming ideas and listing individual "to do" items under each category. For instance, under "Cards", you will list and provide answers to questions like what type of cards do we want to send this year, where will we purchase the cards, who do we send the cards to, when should we mail the cards out to ensure they arrive prior to Christmas day, etc. Under "Tree" you might want to ask what type of tree should we put up, where is the best place to buy a tree, what type of tree accessories do we need, etc.

By making such a brainstorm list you are now able to develop a bigger picture of how you want your Christmas to go. You can now refine your Christmas tasks, arrange and schedule them into a logical sequence, delegate them to others and track the progress of each individual task until it is accomplished. It gives you the organization and control you need to ensure that your Christmas turns out the way you want it to.

Using this type of planning system or something similar, you can take all the drama out of Christmas and enjoy a great holiday season.

George Stark is the webmaster at ChristmasClearingHouse.com, a website devoted to everything Christmas. Visit http://www.christmasclearinghouse.com to get the information you need to make your Christmas a happy and joyous one.

A Secret Santa Gift Idea 25 Surreptitous Holiday Gifts

2009-02-17T14:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Melanie Farkas

Just this past year, I needed a Secret Santa gift idea when my husband's family tried out a form of the Secret Santa gift exchange. In the end, we did reveal our identities to each other, so the secrets were out. It turned out to be a fun way to exchange gifts because I put all my energy into finding a special gift for one person, instead of scrambling to come up with a gift for every family member. The way we did it, we each put our name on a slip of paper and every person drew one of the papers out of a bag. Whatever name you drew, you became that person's Secret Santa. As most people do, we set a low price limit and everyone pretty much stuck to it. We all saved money and everyone got a nice gift!

The 25 Secret Santa gift ideas I have listed are good for co-workers, family, small groups, school mates or any group. They cost between five to twenty dollars. Have fun with your Secret Santa gift exchange!

1. Deck of cards and book of card game rules

2. Set of Gel pens and stationary

3. A Bulb with instructions how to force blooming

4. Holiday serving bowl or platter

5. Decorative napkins and napkin rings

6. Fancy chocolate bars tied with a ribbon (try some from other countries)

7. Makeup brush set or beard trimmer

8. Photo album

9. A Holiday Childrens' Story

10. Special soaps and bath puff or natural sponge

11. Colorful Post-It notepads

12. Pretty glass jar or small toolbox filled with candy

13. Picture frames

14. Set of dish towels and dish cloths

15. Note cards and book of stamps

16. Nail polish kit

17. Night shirt or pajamas

18. Basket filled with kitchen gadgets

19. Video rental gift certificates

20. Disposable camera

21. Address book

22. Prepaid long distance phone cards

23. Small clock or radio

24. Pretty box for keepsakes

25. Last, but not least: home baked cookies or logs of frozen unbaked cookie dough!

Melanie Farkas is the Holiday Gift Lady. She has gift ideas from all over the world at her website www.uniqueholidaygiftideas.com You can find many more Christmas gift ideas on her Great Christmas Gift Ideas page.

Free Birthday Invitations

2009-02-17T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Richard Romando

In the vast universe of the Internet, free materials abound. And if you are looking for templates for invitations, you are mostly likely to find quite a number of interesting choices. Generous hobbyists post interesting printable party invites on their sites and you can download most of them for free, while others may charge a minimum amount.

From weddings to christenings to birthday invitations, among others, tons of designs and creative layouts are there for you to download and print. What's more, you can tweak the designs a little to suit your requirements better.

Children's birthday party invitations are usually the most fun to look for because of the wide range of themes available from safari inspired, to adventures in the sea, to fairytale land. These fun designs with wacky layouts can get any kid excited. But free birthday invitation designs are not just for kids.

Debutantes can get inspiration and even download free birthday invitations for one of the most important birthday celebrations of their lives. They can choose from the myriad choices of romantic and poetic-inspired designs.

But before you get lost in the many sites offering you free birthday invitation cards, you must have at least an idea of what you want. This will save you time when surfing through the net. If, for example, you are planning a party with a motif, you may want to check the sites that are dedicated to that same topic or theme. Should you decide to print the invitation yourself, make sure you can manage it.

To get the best results, make sure that you use high-grade paper and your desktop publisher can print the design well, with colors registering properly. If not, you can download the design and have a professional printer do it for you. This can still save you money, as you wouldn't have to pay for the creative concept.

Birthday Invitations provides detailed information on Birthday Invitations, Birthday Party Invitations, Printable Birthday Invitations, Free Birthday Invitations and more. Birthday Invitations is affiliated with Printable Birthday Cards.

Ganesh Chaturthi Gifts

2009-02-16T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Rukmini Guggilla

Lord Ganesh:

One of the most popular Gods in India, lord Ganesh or Ganpati is considered a symbol of wisdom and a bringer of good luck. He is revered across India as a great clearer of obstacles. Lord Ganesha is the elephant-headed God. He is worshipped first in any prayers. His Names are repeated first before any auspicious work is begun, before any kind of worship is begun. It is said that his elephant head epitomises everything related to wisdom-small shrewd eyes, long ears that miss nothing, a long nose that can smell out anything fight and his vehicle, a mouse, reflects how much importance a wise man gives to the smallest of life forms.

Ganesha is the first God. Riding on a mouse, one of nature's smallest creatures and having the head of an elephant, the biggest of all animals, denotes that Ganesha is the creator of all creatures. Elephants are very wise animals; this indicates that Lord Ganesha is an embodiment of wisdom. It also denotes the process of evolution--the mouse gradually evolves into an elephant and finally becomes a man. This is why Ganesha has a human body, an elephant's head and a mouse as His vehicle. This is the symbolic philosophy of His form.

Mythology:

Centuries ago during a war between the Gods and the Demons, Lord Shiva was away for a long time. His wife, Goddess Parvati, afraid of being alone for an extended period used her divine powers and created a son, Ganesh, and gave him the responsibility of protecting the house. When Lord Shiva and his army, returned victorious to his home, Parvati was in her bath, and Ganesh had been strictly instructed not to allow anyone in. Angered by Ganesh's refusal to allow him in to the house, Lord Shiva and his army chopped off the boy's head. When Parvati came out of her bath, she was shocked and grieved to see her son dead. Lord Shiva, to pacify, her proclaimed that the head of Ganesh would be replaced by that of the first creature that came up the hill. As luck would have it the first visitor to the hill was an elephant and his head was promptly cut off and placed on that of Lord Ganesh, and life was restored to the son of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati. To pacify his wife further and compensate for the act of killins own son, Lord Shiva bestowed upon Ganesh the powers of a God and blessed him that henceforth no activity will begin without invoking your name and blessings. Since then, it is said, no new venture - the inauguration of accompany, the opening of a shop, the foundation of a building, entering a new home - is deemed complete by Hindus without a Ganesh puja.

He is very fond of sweet pudding or balls of rice flour with a sweet core. On one of His birthdays He was going around house to house accepting the offerings of sweet puddings. Having eaten a good number of these, He set out moving on His mouse at night. Suddenly the mouse stumbled--it had seen a snake and became frightened--with the result that Ganesha fell down. His stomach burst open and all the sweet puddings came out. But Ganesha stuffed them back into His stomach and, catching hold of the snake, tied it around His belly. Seeing all this, the moon in the sky had a hearty laugh. This unseemly behaviour of the moon annoyed Him immensely and so he pulled out one of His tusks and hurled it against the moon, and cursed that no one should look at the moon on the Ganesh Chaturthi day. If anyone does, he will surely earn a bad name, censure or ill-repute. However, if by mistake someone does happen to look at the moon on this day, and then the only way he can be freed from the curse is by repeating or listening to the story of how Lord Krishna cleared his character regarding the Syamantaka jewel. This story is quoted in the Srimad Bhagavatam. Lord Ganesha was pleased to ordain thus. Glory to Lord Ganesha! How kind and merciful He is unto His devotees!

The Festival:

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular of Hindu festivals. This is the birthday of Lord Ganesha. It is the day most sacred to Lord Ganesha. It falls on the 4th day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada (August-September). It is observed throughout India, as well as by devoted Hindus in all parts of the world. Milk is offered to idols of lord Ganesh at home and at temples, and Ganesh puja is performed at all temples. Fasting, feasting and distribution of sweets offered to Lord Ganesh are important aspects of Ganesh chaturthi rituals in India. Hindus pray to images of Lord Ganesha, large and small, many of them made specially for the occasion by cottage industries and street side artisans, and those that do not wish to keep the idols alive by daily prayers, offerings and lighting oil lamps, immerse them in the nearest water body (all rivers, lakes and the sea which are sacred to Hindus).

Shoppe varieties of Ganesha Idols from this site and pray to Lord Ganesha for inner spiritual strength to attain success in all your undertakings.

http://www.indusmall.com/index.php?cPath=1403

Blown Egg Christmas Baubles

2009-02-15T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by S. Roberts

This is a cracking Christmas decoration idea. I just know your going to get eggsited by this one. Okay, Less of the foul yokes! But seriously eggs make wonderful Christmas tree baubles.

All you need is... Some eggs, gift-wrap, ribbon, paint, some wire, glitter and other odds and ends for decoration. First take your egg in one hand and a darning needle in the other. Hold the egg firmly in your hand and push the needle into the centre of the wide bit, at the bottom of the egg. Once the needle is through, wiggle the needle about a bit to make the whole a bit bigger. Now turn the egg around and make another hole in the top of the egg, again wiggle the needle.

Then with a dish underneath to catch the insides of the egg, blow very hard into one end of the egg, and blow the egg out. DO NOT SUCK! This is very bad.

There are concerns that you can contract salmonella from raw eggs. If you are worried about this you could use a medicine syringe to force air through the eggshell.

Remember not to let the egg go to waste. Make scrabbled egg for your dog or use them to bake some cakes.

Once the eggshell is empty give it a good wash out with disinfectant and leave it to dry overnight. Stand it in an eggcup so any excess water can run out freely.

Give your eggshell a coat of paint. Metallic is nice and festive. Leave the paint to dry.

You need to make an egg threader with a piece of wire, which is about twice the length of the egg. Turn the end over and down to form an 'eye' like you would find on a needle. Wrap some selotape around the turn down bit of wire and the main stem of wire.

Get a length of gift-wrap ribbon, which is roughly 4 or 5 times as long as the egg. Fold it in half and tie a knot in the ribbon about 2cm down, forming the loop for hanging the egg on the Christmas tree.

Insert the threader tool into the tool at the top of the egg and out through the bottom of the egg leaving the eye resting on the top of the egg. Tread the two ends of the ribbon through the eye of the egg threader tool. Gently pull the threader tool and the ribbon through the egg, so that the loop knot you made rests on the top of the egg, and the gift-wrap ribbon dangles out from the bottom of the egg. Tie a knot in these ribbons so that the knot sits at the base of the egg. Tie another length of ribbon to these ribbons at the knot. Pull all the ribbons over a pencil to make the ribbons curl.

Stick a small image from a Christmas card or gift wrapping paper on the side of the egg or create a motif with sequins or other bits and bobs.

Finally, using PVA glue, stick some glitter on to the egg to make it sparkle.

Treat the egg bauble like a glass bauble, pack it away carefully and use it every year. If you don't want to use eggs, try Ping-Pong balls instead.

S. Roberts is one of Santa's Helpers and writes for www.santaspostbag.co.uk a Christmas educational & activity website. For more home-made Christmas trimming ideas visit www.santaspostbag.co.uk/homemade-christmas-trimmings.html SantasPostbag is in association with www.bigboystoyz.com

Buying Corporate Christmas Gifts

2009-02-14T14:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Low Jeremy

With the yuletide season coming in a few months, corporations and companies in the country are scouring for Christmas gifts that their clients will appreciate and remember. Unbeknownst to many, it is crucial for companies to find the perfect gift.

This is because this is the perfect time to make a great impression on their clients. Giving gifts during the holiday season is a way for the companies to do some PR work and to of course promote their products.

Because of this, company PR and merchandising arms, which usually handle the job of finding gifts, feel the pressure. In addition to having to fall within their budgets, they have to find gifts that their big bosses will go gaga over.

So how do they do it, here are some tips in finding the perfect corporate Christmas gift.

1. Join Bazaars

Bazaars are usually where new products and small companies that are only starting up can be found. Not only are their products unique in the market, they also have really low prices because they are just introducing their creations. You will find a lot of products in bazaars.

It is good to scout for more than one product should you need to contact them for the next year. Often, they will have calling cards on hand where they can be contacted. It is also advantageous to also establish contact at this time as they will be able to give you future discounts as one of their very first customers should you be interested in purchasing their products for the next year.

2. Look at new products

The best corporate gifts are those items that are not yet available in the mainstream market. These are the products that will surely create a great impression because they are unique and one-of-a-kind. Clients will surely remember your gift and therefore the company. Giving really unique gifts also says something good on your research and marketing team. Also, giving new products will also help establish the company as an innovator.

3. Negotiate in case of bulk orders

Buying items as corporate gifts is not just buying a couple of pieces. Often, you will be buying in the hundreds even in the thousands depending on the size of the company and the number of its clients. If you are buying in bulk, try to negotiate for a lower price and make sure that they can cope with the quantity. Set a definite date for delivery and have an agreement drafted that if they fall behind schedule, you will be given discounts.

Low Jeremy maintains http://christmas-gift.articlesforreprint.com This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

Holiday Gift Giving Ideas For Those Really Hard To Buy For People On Your Shopping List

2009-02-14T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Laura Warnke

It seems like the same gift giving problem creeps up each year when the holidays loom closer. There are always a few people that seem very difficult to buy gifts for on your holiday shopping list. You know, the ones that are the last to be crossed off your Shopping List. Either you may not know the person very well, or, in some cases, maybe you do know themperhaps a little too well!

I am sure you have heard the comment, "We don't need (or want) anything for Christmas this year" from someone in your family, especially those who are elderly and may have downsized their household. The truth is that they may not want anything else in their house right now. People get to a point in their lives when they prefer giving away their possessions and want to clean out their house. Other people that can also be hard to buy for include neighbors, teachers, coaches, and scout leaders that you know only from an activity or may have known only for a short time.

Well, what do you do? You still want to give them at least a small gift, right? Ideas that come to mind are consumable items. That way there is nothing to take up space in a small apartment on a long-term basis for an elderly couple, but they can still enjoy a holiday gift from you. But just how many meat and cheese boxes can someone receive? Yes, they are good, but perhaps a bit overdone. In search of some fresh ideas, I have come up with the following:

Food and Drink Gift Giving Ideas

1. Coffee syrups or flavorings along with a great bag of coffee beans for the coffee lover.

2. Dried Fruits and fruit boxes with apricots, prunes, grapes or figs.

3. A Dessert Sauce and Ice Cream Sundae Topping selection of their favorite flavors.

4. A selection of Gourmet Jams, Jellies or Preserves.

5. Two Bottles of wine, one white and one red packaged in an attractive gift box.

6. A nice bottle of top shelf Scotch, Brandy or other liquor.

7. An assortment of hot sauces or barbeque sauces.

8. A warm home baked Rye bread, coffee cake or pound cake.Bring it ready to serve with a honey butter or whipped cream and make it a surprise.

9. A collection of cooking spices and extracts.

Non-Food Gift Giving Ideas

1. A calendar with favorite scenes or themes.

2. A roll or pack of postage stamps.

3. Collector stamps or collector coin sets are available from the US Post Office or the Department of the Treasury online.

4. Gift Cards to the local grocery store or department store.

5. Giving of your time to drive someone elderly around to do help them do their shopping or taking them to a doctor appointment.

6. Fabric, Embroidery Floss or Yarns in the newest colors and styles, for those who are crafty.

7. Picture Puzzles

These gift ideas can also make great gifts for weddings, anniversaries, a house warming, thank-you gifts, and birthdays.

So, get creative and find some fresh new ideas for those hard to buy for people on your holiday shopping list. Give a gift that is well-thought out and it is sure to be appreciated.

Laura Warnke is owner of an online gourmet retail store, The Topping Shoppe, LLC (http://stores.ebay.com/The-Topping-Shoppe-LLC). Here you will find a great selection of dessert sauces and ice cream sundae toppings to purchase. If you want to know more about how to use different types of dessert sauces in your recipes please visit my website at http://www.all-about-dessert-sauces.com.

Holiday Cookies From Around The World

2009-02-13T14:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by William Smith

The holidays are all about traditions and in every corner of the world, the people mark the season with delectable cookies. Here are just a few of the traditional holiday cookies from around the world.

Scottish Shortbread Cookies - A simple recipe of flour, butter, sugar and cornstarch yields a delightful cookie that the Scots enjoy year round. However, they are particularly popular during New Year celebrations. There are numerous recipes for shortbread, but the Scots seem to know the trick for making them addicting.

Israeli Rugelach - This sweet Jewish treat has become a part of mainstream society in the US and throughout the world. The yeast based dough is cut in circles, covered with something like raisins or nuts, and rolled up to make crescent shapes.

Chinese Almond Cookies - The sweet almond has been cultivated in China since 600 AD making it a long term favorite in Chinese cooking. The Chinese often grind the almonds into a paste and combine it with milk to make sweet desserts such as these cookies that are enjoyed throughout the holidays.

Greek Melomakarona - These delicious morsels are made in a 2 step process. First, the cookies are baked until they have the texture of cake. Then they are liberally soaked in a mixture of honey syrup that is absorbed by the sponge-like cookie, creating a sweet treat like no other. During the Christmas season, these cookies are eaten all over Greece.

Mexican Wedding Cookies - These delectable cookies that are chock full of nuts and rolled in powdered sugar are known by many names in various countries throughout the world. They are usually shaped as crescents or round balls. The recipe may vary a bit from country to country, but the main ingredients are essentially the same. For instance, the people of Greece call them Kourambiethes and in the US, they are often known as butter balls or snowballs. In Mexico, these nutty delights are put in fancy paper holders and given out as guest favors at weddings. Whatever the name, they are delicious all the same!

Polish Thumbprint Cookies - These delightful little cookies literally have a thumbprint in the middle that is filled with apricot or other jam/preserves. Made with honey and almonds, these Christmas cookies capture the usual flavor of this region of the world.

German Chocolate Pretzel Cookies - These pretzel-shaped, chocolate shortbread cookies are a favorite in Germany at Christmas time. To make them look like authentic pretzels, they put on a light egg glaze and sprinkle the cookies with coarse sugar.

Swedish Pepparkakor - Also known as Swedish Ginger Thins, the Swedes often use cookie cutters to make these thin cookies into fun shapes like animals, people and stars during the holidays. It is a great family Christmas tradition much like making rolled and cut-out sugar cookies in the US.

Need to send a Holiday Cookie Gift? Gourmet-cookie-bouquets.com has a great selection of cookies for Christmas or any other time of the year. Send a some fresh-baked cookies from Gourmet-Cookie-Bouquets.com today!

Planning A Spectacular Christmas Party

2009-02-13T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by John Lenaghan

The holiday season is typically filled with large fancy parties, small intimate gatherings, and extravagant dinner parties. Planning your own Christmas party can seem like you're competing with hundreds of other festive events during this time, but by adding special touches to every aspect of your party, its sure to be a success.

Magical Themes

A great party starts with a great theme. You may be thinking that your party theme is a given since it is Christmas time. But take it one step further and you'll end up with a fabulous Christmas party that will be the talk of the town. Some theme ideas include:

- Black tie dinner party
- Winter wonderland
- Sophisticated cocktail party
- Casual fireside party

These party themes are easy to put together and aren't too far from the feel of the season to seem out of place as a Christmas party. People love to get dolled up around this time and so costume parties may be a little out of place. Each of your party themes should tie into all aspects of your party including any decorations, invitations, and even food. Choosing a theme may seem difficult at first but once you get started on planning your party it will make the entire process seem easier.

Sending out party invitations is a great way to get your guests excited about the party. Most people are invited to at least several parties during the holiday season, and invitations can help set your party apart. Your invitations don't need to be too extravagant to make an impression on the recipients. Just be sure to include all pertinent information that your guests will need to know.

Invitations can be sent in a number of ways. While custom made invitations certainly will have the most impact on your guests, you don't want to spend your entire party budget on invitations either. Making your own invitations might seem like a lot of work but it can actually be quite simple. You can download invitation templates from the Internet and create your own personalized invitations that will really wow your guests. You can add color pictures to these templates that will look like a professional created them.

Another invitation option is to send electronic invitations. There are several websites that offer invitations services complete with an online RSVP function that makes it easy to check who is coming to the party. You can add festive music and animation to your invitations. Guests will love getting these creative invites in their inbox. Make sure that you contact guests via telephone if they haven't responded by your RSVP date. Some people don't check their email often.

Party Decorations

Your house is probably already decorated for the Christmas season with a beautiful tree, garland, and other festive embellishments. Some people don't put their trees and decorations up until later in December, but if you're having a party you should have everything up by then. Guests love to check out how you've decorated your tree and it puts them in an eggnog kind of mood.

If you're having a theme party you may want to put up a few extra decorations. For instance, a winter wonderland theme might include some silver snowflakes hanging from the ceiling as well as sparkles and confetti placed on the tables. This adds a little bit of magic to your party space and guests will love the extra effort you have gone to.

To Dress Up or Not to Dress Up

Most people love an excuse to get dressed up in fancy cocktail dress or suit. Christmas is the perfect time to have your friends get all dolled up for an evening in. However, you should take your friend's personalities into consideration. Christmas parties don't necessarily have to mean wearing your nicest party dress; a simple fireside eggnog party is just as fun. If you have a fireplace, get a roaring fire going before your guests arrive and hand them a glass of fresh homemade eggnog as they walk through the door. This is a great way to enjoy some time with the people you love.

If you do decide to have guests dress up for your party, be clear about this on your party invitations. Tell your guests whether to wear black tie or a cocktail dress so they know what to arrive in. Make sure your decorations tie into the fancy dress theme with low lighting and little clutter. Serve up cocktails in fancy barware to add to the sophisticated atmosphere.

Culinary Delights

Serving food at your party is a must. Make sure your party food goes along with the theme and the season. Unless you're having a dinner party, entrees aren't necessary. Simple appetizers that guests can either eat with their hands or with one utensil are best. You'll probably have limited seating so you don't want anything too difficult to eat. A fancy cocktail party should have equally fancy appetizers and dips. A casual get together might serve veggie plates, hot seafood dips, and chips. And don't forget the Christmas cookies at any type of party.

You'll probably want to serve some drinks at your party as well. Eggnog is a traditional Christmas drink that is always a favorite. Making your own may take a bit of work but it will taste divine. Serving up some other festive drinks is a good idea as well since many people don't care for eggnog. A fun idea is a peppermint martini complete with a candy cane for garnish. You should also have several non-alcoholic drinks for designated drivers and those who prefer to stay dry.

Your Christmas party will be a success if you focus on the little details such as invitations that many other party planners forgo. Plan your party well in advance and send invitations out approximately one month before the date. This will ensure you've got plenty of time to plan and guests will reserve the day of your party before all the other impromptu parties start popping up. Spread some Christmas cheer and celebrate the season with those close to you.

John Lenaghan writes about party planning and other tips for the Party Ideas 4u website, where he provides valuable tips and advice about Christmas party ideas, birthday party ideas and other party planning topics.

Making The Holidays More Meaningful

2009-02-12T14:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Debbie Milam

Have the holidays become too commercial for you? Are you feeling empty and unfulfilled during this time of the year? This year by making some simple changes you and your children can truly make the holidays more meaningful.

Teach gratitude during the holidays:

Gratitude should not only be for the material presents but for the little blessings in their lives. Begin to have your children tell you each day three things that they are grateful for. This helps children understand the true meaning of the holidays in several ways. First, the children begin to notice the little gifts that they sometimes take for granted, a butterfly, a sunny day, getting to sleep late. Secondly, once they notice these little gifts and are grateful for them they can start bringing more of them into their awareness.

Empower your family with tools to make the holidays more meaningful:

Spend time discussing topics like what are you the most grateful for? How can you make the world a better place? How can this holiday be more meaningful? What presents make you feel the best? Plan a kind deed day and see who can perform the most random acts of kindness. Write little spiritual notes and leave them in their lunchboxes.

Give gifts from the heart:

Write a story, a letter or a poem for your children. If you are artistic paint a picture for them. Put a photo album or scrapbook together. Record on audiotape your favorite family memories. Make a book of all the reasons you are grateful to have your loved ones in your life. Share a favorite childhood treasure that you saved, like a coin or a doll from your favorite collection. Finally, purchase gifts from charities that donate back to community.

Learn and then teach the spiritual meaning behind each faiths traditions:

Share with your children that the candles are lit on Hanukah to symbolize the light of the Creator in our lives. Explain that a wreath is a symbol of the eternal circle of life. Describe how the presents for Kwanzaa represent the deep connection between parents and children. Illustrate how the sun's return and warmth are celebrated during the Winter Solstice. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa or the Winter Solstice share the beautiful miracles within each faith and then have your children share some of the miracles in their own lives.

Celebrate differences:

Attend a worship service with a friend or a family member of another faith. This exposes children to the marvelous ways we are more similar than different. For it is only when we embrace the differences, that we can truly come together in unity.

Make community service and helping those less fortunate part of your family holiday activities:

There are so many wonderful lessons when we give of ourselves to others. Have your children start or participate in a toy, clothing, or food drive for those less fortunate. By participating in charitable acts your children can learn that they can make a difference in the life of another, that they have a purpose, and that they can be part of the solution.

Slow down enough to enjoy the essence of your children and of the holidays:

Our children remember the time and the energy shared as a family not the gifts, the parties or how perfectly the house is decorated. Say no to commitments that are not going to serve the greater good of your family. As Kabril Gibran so eloquently said in The Prophet, "Our children are but ours for such a short time." Make this short time a time of wonder and reverence for your children to discover the true meaning of the holidays.

About The Author

Debbie Milam is a pediatric occupational therapist, life coach and educator. Her work has appeared on PBS and in Elle, First For Women, and Ladies Home Journal. She is the author of 7 Secrets to Creating Peaceful Relationships and the creator of The Miracle is You Children's Relaxation CD and Moments of Joy Spiritual Exercise Cards. Her uplifting products make beautiful holiday gifts for both adults and children.

Sign up for her free e-zine: http://www.unlimitedinspiration.com and receive the transformational special report 35 Ways to Achieve Instant Calm During the Holidays

debbie@unlimitedinspiration.com

Christmas Shopping Online Might Or Might Not Be For Everyone This Article Shows How Doing It Onlin

2009-02-12T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Ebe Heng

Christmas shopping online is not for you? If you are one of those that share this thought, you probably like to enjoy the atmosphere of physical shopping. Doing your Christmas shopping online despite all its convenience, lack the festive mood. The convenience of online shopping has reduced the shopping experience to a browse and click mode, no mood and very little atmosphere.

So, you might think that despite the staggering numbers that shows how many people are actually doing their Christmas shopping online, they are just a minority out of the entire Christmas shopping population. Well, while I do not have the statistics to back this up this thinking is likely to be true

To ascertain the fact that the Christmas shopping online folks are really a sub-set of the Christmas shopping crowd, just visit Marcy's, Barnes and Noble or one of the large departmental stores during the pre-Christmas period, and the crowd you see would highlight the fact that a very large proportion of shoppers are still doing their shopping offline.

And of course, it is this crowd that give rise to the Christmassy feelings. Never mind that you have to wait an hour to find a parking lot or half an hour to pay for your purchases, this feeling enhanced by the jingles that flood the stores is something that doing your Christmas shopping online would never be able to offer.

Having said so much about the value of shopping physically, are there any merits to doing your Christmas shopping online? Yes, from my own experience there are at least two major contributions that doing your Christmas shopping online can provide.

First, Christmas shopping online eliminates the hassle of browsing and deciding at absolutely ground zero on the spot. Imagine you are doing shopping with only a vague idea of what to buy for whom and your only reference is some scribbling on a post-it note.

Enter online Christmas shopping, and you are able to browse online and zero in on the category of items that you would like to get for your love ones. One of the biggest value of Internet is it allows you to conduct your research and craft a comprehensive list of items that you would like to get for your love ones. So that, when you are doing it physically, all you have to do is to choose from the different brands and decide on the ones that have the best value. Thus, saving time and allowing you to buy for more people in lesser trips.

The other contribution of online Christmas shopping is that it is able to take care of your 'bulk purchases'. What I mean is during this festive season of giving and sharing, there would be lots of gifts exchange, and gifts giving to acquaintances.

So, for this group of people, you would probably be getting something that is nice but would not invest too much thought into it, and then you would buy plenty of it to last through the season. Doing your Christmas shopping for these folks online frees out more time for you during those shopping mall trips to choose something special for your love ones. It also takes care of the inconvenience of bringing a lot of stuff yourself (online shopping would have the purchase deliver right to your door steps).

There you have it! Online Christmas shopping allows you to do a thorough research on the gifts to get for your love ones and it also gives you more time in physically shopping for those gifts by allowing you to buy the generic stuff online. So, using technology allows you to enjoy the magic feeling of shopping under the thick Christmas atmosphere provides by shopping malls with lesser things on your mind to worry about.

Having said all these, I hope you folks would integrate (what a word!) online shopping to brighten your overall Christmas shopping experience and enhances the joy and magic buying for those special ones

Merry Christmas!

About The Author

Ebe is the editor of www.christmasgiftsshopping.com, which provides quality Christmas related links and articles to better the joyous occasion. He reviews and ensures all contributions lead to a fun and easy online shopping experience for Christmas gifts: editor@christmasgiftsshopping.com

What To Do One Day Before Thanksgiving

2009-02-11T14:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Shauna Hanus

Tomorrow is the day, your home will be filled with tantalizing aromas and guests will be arriving to share the day with you. You should make a final check of you Thanksgiving planning calendar to be sure that you have not over looked anything from the previous weeks. If something has been overlooked this is the day to deal with it, not on Thanksgiving when you have a house full of people.

One day before Thanksgiving:

Set the table. A few days ago you set out all your linens, china, silverware and crystal. It is now time to set the table. If you have a center piece arrange it now. This is also a good time to do any last minute decorating you may be planning. Set out candles for ambience or rearrange chairs for football viewing. Simply put get the house ready for your big Thanksgiving celebration.

Make sure you have room in a closet for extra coats and boots. If need be set up space in a spare room to accommodate bags and coats.

Today is the day to bake your apple, pecan and cherry pies. They will easily keep until tomorrow and have a wonderful flaky crust.

Purchase and prepare any fresh vegetables or salad you will be serving tomorrow. If you rinse your lettuce and dry it well you will be able to make up your salad now. Wait to put on any dressing. The dressing will wilt the leaves of your salad if put on too early. Store your fresh salad and vegetables in the refrigerator until time to serve.

Review your menu for Thanksgiving Day and do any last minute shopping you may have. If you are serving a fresh turkey today is the day to pick it up from the butcher. If you are serving pies baked in a bakery today is the day to pick them up.

Plan your cooking schedule for tomorrow. How long will your turkey take, and how long will the rest of you casseroles and sweet potatoes need. If you will be heating pies to serve these can go in after you have begun to serve the meal.

Shauna Hanus is a gourmet cook who specializes in creating gourmet recipes. She has put together a special Thanksgiving e-Cookbook that gives you 73 recipes to cook your leftover turkey plus two bonus e-books of a special holiday ice cream cookbook that includes favorites like pumpkin pie ice cream and pecan pie ice cream. She has also put together a holiday planning guide to help you have the most enjoyable Thanksgiving ever. You can find all of these at http://www.turkey-leftovers.com

Fathers Day A Holiday Built From Love

2009-02-11T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Gail Leino

In 1909, Sonora Dodd, a resident of Spokane, Washington was listening to a Sunday sermon on Mother's Day and realized that there was no equivalent holiday at which fathers were honored. Ms. Dodd was extremely fond of her father, a Civil War Veteran by the name of William Jackson Smart. Ms. Dodd's mother had died during childbirth and Mr. Smart had raised the newborn and five other children entirely by himself. As Ms. Dodd had matured, she recognized the amazing amounts of sacrifice that her father had made on behalf of his children. Ms. Dodd became nothing short of consumed with offering a form of ceremony to honor her father and others like him. She organized and hosted the first Father's Day celebration on June 19, 1910 in her hometown of Spokane.

Civic and Community leaders supported Ms. Dodd's concept of a Father's Day holiday and took the matter to the U.S. Congress. A resolution was passed and in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge signed a proclamation that recommended Father's Day be celebrated as a national holiday. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson named the third Sunday of June as the holiday to be known as Father's Day. However, it was not officially recognized until 1972 when President Richard Nixon established Father's Day as a permanent national holiday.

As Father's Day has continued to be celebrated in the United States, other countries have also began to celebrate. Father's Day offers a great opportunity for children to reflect on the invaluable role fathers have in helping to shape the character of children. Beyond just honoring fathers, the holiday has been expanded to offer tribute to grandfathers, stepfathers, foster fathers, uncles or any other men seen by children to have been "like a father" to them in shaping their beliefs, character and development.

Father's Day is generally celebrated by picnics, family get-togethers, and special dinner parties. A personal necktie is by far the most common gift presented to fathers on Father's Day. A party of special dinner can be easily put together using a Father's Day or necktie theme with the help of an on-line party supply specialist with their great supply of party accessories it can make your Father's Day picnic a great family celebration.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies (http://partysupplieshut.com), using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has a huge selection of free party games, coloring pages, word find, word scramble, printable baby and bridal shower activities. Holiday Party Decorations (Holiday-Party-Decorations.com), free games, menus, recipes, coloring sheets, theme ideas, and activities to help complete your event.

The History Of Thanksgiving

2009-02-10T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Angela Tyler

Throughout history, the celebration of a bountiful harvest has been an annual occurrence. Harvest festivals have been a tradition among all nations and races. The Greeks, Egyptians, Romans, Chinese, and Hebrews have all had harvest celebrations, even before organized religion came to be. In America, the first Thanksgiving celebration took place in 1621. The Native Americans shared this event with the Pilgrims because the Pilgrims had learned to plant crops and hunt wild game in the New World according to Native American culture. Without the help of the Native Americans, the colonists would have not survived their first winter nor would they have harvested bountiful crops.

The early Thanksgiving celebrations in America were not known as "Thanksgiving". There were harvest celebrations that did not include what are staples in modern times such as cranberry sauce, turkey, and pumpkin pie. It is entirely possible that wild fowl including turkey and duck were served, but turkey did not hold the sacred place it holds now. It is thought that seafood was a major component of the harvest celebration due to the colonist's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. There could have been seasonal vegetables such as squash included in the festivities, but side dishes did play a major role in the feast. Also, desserts such as pies and cakes were most likely not included due to a lack of sugar and obviously, there were no ovens in which to bake them.

The Pilgrim's harvest festival is thought of as the first Thanksgiving, but in reality the term "Thanksgiving" was normally applied to a religious holiday until the 19th century. In 1817 Thanksgiving Day was officially adopted by New York State as an annual event. By 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared a national day of Thanksgiving, and since then every president has given a Thanksgiving Day proclamation. From 1939 to 1941 Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed the third Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day, but in 1941 Congress passed a resolution declaring that Thanksgiving was to be held officially on the fourth Thursday of November. Since that time, the holiday has been celebrated on that day.

The traditional dishes that are served on Thanksgiving evolved over a hundred years or more. More than likely, the turkey is the only similarity modern celebrations have with the harvest festival celebrated by the Pilgrims. Our favorite desserts, such as pumpkin pie, were absent from the Thanksgiving festivities during WWII due to shortages of sugar. Side dishes like green bean casserole and stuffing have been the products of modern times and an abundance of food supplies.

We have many reasons to be thankful on Thanksgiving Day. Our friends and family, our easy access to food, and modern conveniences are things that we tend to take for granted. Early Thanksgiving celebrations were held to rejoice in the gift of a bountiful harvest and the very survival of the Pilgrims, a fact that we should remember each and every year.

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Aspergers Syndrome At Christmas Time

2009-02-09T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Nelle Frances

The Christmas season is a time of joy and peace; celebrating with loved ones; when a feeling of hope renews the spirit. At least that's what it's meant to be likehowever the reality for those of us blessed with a child with Asperger's Syndrome is often very different!

A sense of anticipation and excitement for the approaching Christmas celebrations, and the wonder and magic this period of waiting brings is something most of us remember fondly from our own childhood. Preparing for Christmas Day from 1st December by putting up the Christmas tree and decorations; sending and receiving Christmas cards amongst friends and family; cooking Christmas puddings and mince pies; shopping for Christmas presents and hanging the Christmas stockings held a sense of wonder. The building of anticipation only added to our enjoyment of the season.

So it's only natural that we try to recapture the magic of our childhood Christmas's and recreate that same sense of wonder for our own children, by steadily increasing their anticipation for the 25 days leading up to Christmas.

Unfortunately, anticipation for the Asperger child is often a negative emotion that leads to overload, resulting in meltdown. So the reality for families with Asperger children means a steady increase in negative and inappropriate behaviours that often results in a huge meltdown on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day the very time when we are meant to be enjoying the fruits of our preparation labors, a time of peace and joy.

Instead your child is behaving like a 'demon possessed' and creating havoc amongst his/her siblings, upsetting Aunt Flora and giving you 'attitude' when you try to diplomatically reprimand them after all, it's Christmas and you don't really want to yell and scream!

So, how do you manage to foster some Christmas spirit amongst your family while keeping your Asperger child calm and behaving appropriately?

The first easy-to-implement strategy is to remove the word "Christmas" from your vocabulary. Simply put up the "tree" and "decorations", cook a "pudding" and "mince pies", send "cards" to friends and family and just go "shopping". If appropriate, have a meeting with the rest of the family and ask their assistance in this area too, by minimising their use of the word "Christmas" in front of their sibling with Asperger's Syndrome.

Secondly, when your Asperger child is present cut back on "chatter" about the BIG day. I know that our "inner child" tends to get excited about Christmas too, but we often unthinkingly contribute to the overwhelming anticipation by relating our plans and expectations for the Christmas season to our children as we go about our preparations.

Thirdly, don't place any gifts under the tree until Christmas Eve. In our family, on Christmas Eve, each member privately wraps gifts in the afternoon and then they are placed under the tree all at once. This satisfies 2 concerns "Out of sight, out of mind" no visual reminders that Christmas is approaching, and it also minimises the waiting time for your Asperger child we all know that being patient and the ability to wait aren't usually strengths in Asperger children!

Minimising the Christmas 'build-up' for your Asperger child doesn't have to mean the end of tradition or a lessening of your family's enjoyment of the Christmas Season. Rather, by reducing the anticipation and expectation of Christmas to acceptable levels for an Asperger child, your family should experience an increase in the peace, joy and hope of the Christmas Season. Merry Christmas!

www.nellefrances.com

Nelle Frances is the mother of a 15 year old with Asperger's Syndrome, a Special Needs Educator and Author of the Ben and His Helmet series of books for Asperger children. She is also an active member of 5 Asperger's Syndrome Support and Advocacy Groups. For more information and Support Strategies visit http://www.nellefrances.com

Halloween Decorations Boo To You And Pumpkins Too

2009-02-08T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Gail Leino

It seems as if everyone is getting more and more interested in decorating for every holiday, and Halloween is one of my favorites! Whether you choose to go the spooky route, or the friendly route, Halloween decorating is fun for everyone. Most Halloween decorations are made the day before Halloween, and put out for just one night, so you probably want to decorate in a manner to pack the biggest boo for the buck.

Buy inexpensive styrofoam, gray paint (or granite paint, if you don't mind the extra cost) and black markers. Cut various sizes and types of tomb stones, pile up hay to resemble grave mounds, for especially spooky Halloween decorations, fill a surgical glove with gelatin (mixed in the jigglers recipe on the back of the gelatin box) tie it off securely, and put it a shirt sleeve filled with hay around a stick that can be stuck into one of the grave mounds, as if someone is trying to escape the grave. The gelatin will wiggle at the slightest movement. For added fright factors, splash a little fake blood around. String a fake spider web, sprinkled with spiders, buy dry ice for an ultra spooky fog, play ghostly tunes, and serve candy hands from a witch's pot.

Recipe for Candy Hands:

Surgical gloves
Small bags of candy corn
Popcorn

Stuff the fingers with popcorn, then fill the hand with small packages of candy corn. Tie off at the ends, and 'hand' them out to the trick or treaters in your neighborhood.

If you prefer friendly Halloween decorations instead of ghoulish ones, play Casper the friendly ghost, instead of fiendishly frightening howls, and decorate with smiling ghosts made by covering helium filled, white balloons, tied off with a long piece of clear fishing line, and covered with white garbage bags. Paint on happy faces, and tying the ghosts with the other end of the fishing line, so they appear to fly with even the slightest breeze. Halloween "totem pole" decorations can be made by pushing pumpkins onto a length of one inch pipe, and drawing on happy faces, then pushing the pipe into the ground.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies (http://partysupplieshut.com), using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has a huge selection of free party games, coloring pages, word find, word scramble, printable baby and bridal shower activities. Halloween Party Games (Halloween-Party-Fun.com), party planning tips, decorations, costume ideas, recipes, printable activities and free coloring pages.

Thanksgiving Trivia

2009-02-07T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Sean Carter

What comes to your mind when you think of Thanksgiving? The big fat golden-brown turkey? Grandma's pumpkin pie? Or the oh-so-nice cranberries and corn-on-the-cob? Well well, all these ARE a major part of the Thanksgiving holiday. But there's even more to this wonderful occasion of Thanksgiving! The holiday of Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate the beauty and bounty around us, our marvelous friends and family, the gift of their love and many more such good things that we are thankful for ! Celebrated every year on the last Thursday in November, the spirit of Thanksgiving Day sets the tone for a grand and joyous season. Now share some interesting trivia associated with the Thanksgiving holiday. Like most trivia, the Thanksgiving trivia are just as much a fun read. Check these out:

The first Thanksgiving celebration is believed to be held by the Plymouth Pilgrims in the Fall of 1621.

The credit for making Thanksgiving a national holiday is given to one lady magazine editor called Sarah Josepha Hale.

The name of the ship in which the Puritans came is known as Mayflower. And the drink they had with them was beer.

A turkey below sixteen weeks of age is called a fryer.

Benjamin Franklin fought hard to make the wild turkey the national bird of America instead of the bald eagle, which he found to be a coward.

A nest of turkey eggs is known as a clutch.

When a tom turkey (male turkey) gobbles, it can be heard from as far as a mile.

Now this one's quite a thoughtful trivia-if turkeys gobble everywhere in the world, you won't hear a turkey gobble in Turkey. The Turkish say that turkeys glu glu.

Firkee is the Native American name for turkeys.

It's often said that turkeys make a 'turk turk turk' noise when they are frightened. So they are called 'turkeys'.

Turkeys have outstanding visual precision, a great hearing and taste. But are famously poor on smell.

Another groovy Thanksgiving trivia as also a good piece of GK is that there's a dance form dedicated to the name of the turkey. It's called the Turkey Trot. This is one dance which consists of short, agile and perky steps.

A full-grown turkey has about 3500 feathers approximately.

The US President George Washington proclaimed the first "National Day of Thanksgiving".

The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted for three days and consisted of both games and grub.

Governor William Bradford is the man, a leader of the Pilgrims, who invited the neighboring Wampanoag to their feast of the first Thanksgiving.

This Thanksgiving trivia may just get you lucky. The wishbone of the turkey is the one part which is believed to be a good luck charm on Thanksgiving.

How To Survive Being Away During The Holidays

2009-02-06T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Maria Moratto

If during this week you go to food stores which cater to an international clientele, you will find many people looking for food that reminds them of their growing up, their traditions, and their celebrations. I was at such a store yesterday and became tear-eyed to see how many "international" people like me, were almost frantically looking for a spark of recognition in those aisles.

There was a particular woman who started a conversation about some special food that she was looking for: "They remind me of my country," she said. And then she found some and was very proudly showing them to my son and me. She was ecstatic and told us that although she is an American citizen, she truly misses her beloved Scotland, especially at this time of the year.

Scotland, New Zealand, El Salvador, Switzerland, Brazil it matters not where the person is from. Holidays are very hard times for those of us who are foreign-born and who have family ties and connections in another country. We miss our family members, we miss our customs, we miss our friends and, very important, we miss our own cuisine.

Christmas and New Year's celebrations are sorely missed, especially because many times, we can't go back to our countries and meet those we love the most to spend such special time. This can be a sad time.

And it is not only from our side. Our people living somewhere else also put a little pressure: "Are you coming for Christmas?" they asked filled with hope. See? They miss us too. We feel guilty, we feel, lonely, we feel abandoned, we feel sorry, we feel divided.

So what must we do to make the season something special, even though we don't feel too good about it? Here are some suggestions:

1. Keep in touch with your loved ones, by phone, Skype (free!), email, etc. This is crucial.

2. Try to emulate your own traditions. Set up a Christmas tree or put up decorations that are meaningful to you and that remind you of your own culture.

3. Prepare something special that you used to eat. Make it from scratch if you can't buy it. I used to bake my own Pannetones before I could find them in the stores. It is not the same, but it will do.

4. Pamper yourself. Give yourself some meaningful little presents that will make you feel good.

5. Find like-minded people to share special moments, so that you don't feel lonely.

6. Eat and drink to your heart's content but stop before you feel bad about it.

7. Separate some time for the sacredness of the season. Pray, chant, dance in honor of Spirit and as a jubilation for the clean slate that is given to us every 365 days.

Happy Holly Days and a Blessed New Year to you!

About the author

Dr. Maria Moratto holds 5 degrees and is a life and spiritual coach/educator. She promotes coaching, seminars and courses in developing the perfect life's blueprint, which includes attracting abundance and loving relationships, time management, stress management, diversity, goal setting, career search and change, values clarification, leisure, self-improvement, college life, communication and learning styles, spirituality, natural health and lifestyle.

She is also writing two books: one on successful relationships and the other on attracting the perfect lifestyle; both coming soon. Visit her website at http://www.rx4bliss.com and sign up for a no-cost e-zine that is short, informative, and fun. Go to her blog at: http://www.rx4bliss.blogspot.com for great discussions on these topics. Visit http://www.thedollarbillgame.blogspot.com to participate in a great prosperity game.

You may reprint this article in its entirety as long as you add this source box.

4 Principles To Follow To Avoid Credit Card Debt During The Holiday Seasons

2009-02-05T14:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Gerald Njuguna

The holiday season has arrived. It is time to celebrate, make merry, and have fun. Travel plans have been made, lists of gifts for family and friends have been drawn up, and arrangements for parties are in full gear. It is indeed the season to be jolly, but also the season when spending runs wild.

Business people usually cash in on the holiday seasons to maximize their sales and profits. It will be high season for them. They will stock up, price up and smile all the way to the bank. They know that people will be less restrained in their suspending than at any other time. It possible that you may be among the many who have suffered post-holiday season financial stress, and want to make sure it does not happen again. Your success in this will be determined by how well you control three critical factors: your increased rate of spending, the manner in which you finance that spending, and the heavy financial demands that follow in the subsequent month.

Financing Using Plastic

With holidays like Christmas or the New Year seeming to come round too quickly, people often find they have not saved up enough for their celebrations. Moreover, budgeting is an alien concept during this and spending can spiral out of control. To cover the inevitable shortfall in resources, the credit card is an obvious attraction. There are advantages to using the card to finance your expenditure:

i) It gives you free access to about a month's credit.

ii) It gives you the temporary ability to spend beyond your current means.

iii) It allows you to track your expenditure.

iv) You do not have to carry lots of cash around with you.

Use of credit card, how ever, does carry with it significant dangers if it is not carefully controlled. Research indicates that spending could increase by up to 35% when using a credit card compared with using cash. Here are some key principles to help you guard against running into credit card debt trouble.

1. Spending Plan

If your spending is going to exceed your income for the festive month, consider cutting intended festive expenses, or other expenses, to stay within your income. I am assuming you have drawn up your spending plan for that period. That's where a credit card comes to the rescue. Though not readily apparent, the use of your credit card can create distortions in the management of your finances. Unless you are monitoring your spending in both cash and credit, there is a danger that you will be uncertain whether or not you are living within your means. It would therefore be unwise to begin using a credit card if you are not in control of your finances, that means using a spending plan.

2. Debt to Income Ratio

Do not forget that use of your credit card adds to your indebtness. In managing your financial affairs, one of the key indicators to watch is your debt-income ratio. This is monthly debt repayment as a percentage of your monthly after-tax income, and raises a red flag when you tinker with too much debt. A ratio of over 20% is becoming unhealthy. If you already have credit card debt that is overdue, do not add to it.

3. Bridging Finance

Use of a credit card is ideally a means of short- term financing of your operations. That means settling any debt incurred using your card within days. Paying the minimum balance will not do. If you are not confident that you can pay it off in full, you wound do yourself a huge favor by not using a credit card. Should you decide to go ahead and use a card, you need to be prepared for extra costs in interest and penalties associated with extended credit. This adds to your expenses, and you need to be ready to be ready to reduce other regular expense to accommodate this, otherwise you run the risk of creating ongoing hard-core debt

4. Net Worth

Credit card debt incurred during the festive season is usually for consumer spending- paying for your holiday, buying gifts, entertainment, traveling expenses, etc and creates what is known as consumer debt. This kind of debt adds to your liabilities, but contributes nothing to your assets. Your net worth is reduced to the extent of consumer debt incurred. Shrinking net worth is not good for your financial health. So do have yourself a happy holiday. But as you go about it, finance it in a way that gives you the comfort that you won't be debt-laden the following month.

Gerald Njuguna is the owner of http://www.CreditCardPerfection.com, a site which teaches people on how to apply for a credit card. Visit the site, view more information on credit cards and apply online.

How To Effectively Shop For The Holidays And Avoid The Holiday Gimmes

2009-02-05T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Dr. Charles Sophy

Ah the magic of the holidays. We've all grown up with the comfort and mystery of our holiday traditions: oranges in our stockings, presents under the tree, the lighting of the menorah, and more! Our Holiday memories are full of mom's home cooking, dad's stories, and the love and laughter of friends and family. As adults, we try to recreate those memories for our children to impart in them the same sense of mystery and wonder of our youth. But how do we do that in an increasingly material world?

Shopping for our children nowadays can be quite an uncomfortable and expensive experience. Pick up any Saturday newspaper in the months of November and December and you'll find it stuffed with dozens of flyers promising the best deal on all the must-have items: an iPod, a RoboRaptor, or the V-Smile educational toys. Chances are your child's wish list included one or two high-end gadgets and toys. With a list 30 items long, it's no wonder you feel stuck stuck between buying expensive gifts and the feelings and concerns you have for the messages that you may be sending to your children by buying them.

You may find yourself wondering how to handle the conflict: "I want my child to have what they want, and at the same time I want my child to have boundaries to their expectations."

Let's take a look:

Sean is 9 yrs old and lives with his Mom and Dad and 2 yr old sister. His family went to see Santa last weekend and as expected Sean brought along his list for Santa. On his list, much to his parents' surprise was an iPod, and a laptop computer! Both of his parents were taken aback and confused by such high expectations from their son.

On the way to Santa's Village they began a discussion about why he thought that he wanted these items. Predictably, Sean stated "All my friends have them and they are really neat!!!" His parents looked at each other and were very clear that not only could they not afford both of these items but also they were not sure why a nine year-old needed such things.

Mom and Dad were also aware that several of Sean's peers have or will receive these types of items for their holiday gifts.

Later that evening after the children were in bed, Mom and Dad discussed their concerns and how to proceed: Do we buy those items for him? Do we say no and have him feel left out of his social network? Do we buy one and not the other?

All very good questions but what is the correct answer? There is no truly correct answer. The answer lies within his parents' belief system and the messages that they want their children to receive at times such as these.

The bottom-line: If you believe that these types of presents set unrealistic expectations and do not truly encompass the lessons of the Holiday Season or the financial goals you have for your family will not allow these types of purchases, then stick to your beliefs. Do not give in to the holiday gimmes. For the messages, both verbal and non-verbal, are loud and clear to your children by your choices in gifts. Many parents are not sure how to talk to their child about the reality of these situations and the reasoning behind their not purchasing what the child has requested. Parents need to be honest and open about their motivations and decisions.

This holiday season; keep in mind the following tips:

Self Awareness: Be clear about your motivations to purchase.

Know: Messages that come from your gift-giving.

Communicate: To your child the reasons and messages discovered above, and allow them to share their feelings.

Resolve: For children their confusion and disappointment that may arise from your decisions.

Re-direct: Your child as to the origins of the season and allow them to find ways to give back and re-align their expectations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. Charles Sophy currently serves as Medical Director for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), which is responsible for the health, safety and welfare of nearly 40,000 foster children. He also has a private psychiatry practice in Beverly Hills, California. Dr. Sophy has lectured extensively and is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California Los Angeles Neuro-Psychiatric Institute. His lectures and teachings are consistently ranked as among the best by those in attendance.

Dr. Charles Sophy, author of the "Keep 'Em Off My Couch" blog, provides real simple answers for solving life's biggest problems. He specializes in improving the mental health of children. To contact Dr. Sophy, visit his blog at http://drsophy.com

How To Make A Homemade Mothers Day Card

2009-02-04T14:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Niall Kennedy

Easy Photo Card
We all have them, photos of our kids. Well grab some construction paper or card stock, a photo and some glue and make this adorable little card.

You will need
construction paper or card stock
photo
scissors
glue
glitter
sheer ribbon

What you do

Fold paper or card stock in half to create a card. Have your child write their greeting inside the card FIRST.

Cut photo out in a heart shape. Glue photo to the front of the card, center it and put it high enough to allow space for the bow at the bottom.

Lay down some newspaper, wax paper, or other paper and set your card on that to catch excess glitter. Use glue to pipe a thick border around the photo. Sprinkle the glitter generously over the glue border. Be sure to completely cover all of the glue. Let it dry about 20 minutes. While the glue is drying, tie your ribbon into a bow and trim off the long ends. Once the glue is dry, carefully lift the card up and tap off all excess glitter. Place a dab of glue onto the back of the ribbon and adhere to the card under your photo. Let it dry completely before doing anything else with it. You can add or take away any of the items listed to make it more personal. Have fun with it! Mom will enjoy it forever!

Making homemade cards are fun and easy. You can use nearly anything you have at home. You can take the formula from above but make a few changes like take fabric and paste it to the card stock to add a decorative look to it then add all the other things on top, with a photo or a drawing. Use your imagination, let it run wild.

Nicola Kennedy has enjoyed some great Mother's Days, both as a grateful mom and a loving daughter. She can help you find great Mother's Day gifts with tips and news, information and views at http://www.I-Love-My-Mom.com.

Ready For Christmas Enjoy An Organized Holiday This Year

2009-02-04T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Rebekah Slatkin

1. Keep a stack of directions TO your place for people who need to know how to get to your home or office. This prevents you from having to write them out every time you are asked. Type the directions and save them on your computer. This way you can email, fax, or mail them the directions. Make copies and keep them accessible. It is also helpful to keep directions FROM your place for future visits you need to make.

2. Rather than add to someone else's clutter with a gift you are not sure they would like, give 'consumable' items for Christmas such as: special coffees or teas, cookies, or gift certificates.

3. Keep a Christmas idea file. Keep a folder and insert recipes, magazine clippings, gift ideas, and other ideas you might like to use for the holiday.

4. A COUNTDOWN is super effective for any event such as weddings, holidays, and parties. Start by creating a master to-do list of everything that needs to be done for your special event. Then, transfer a couple of to-dos onto each day preceding your event. Cross off items when finished!

5. AVOID shopping during busy times like the weekend and after-work. Shop online, by catalog, or in an area with several stores-in order to consolidate your shopping trips. Ask for gift-wrapping!

6. Spend your time on what you LOVE to do. If you love socializing, why waste your time cooking? Order from your favorite restaurant. If you hate decorating, hire an interior decorator or an art student. Exchange tasks with friends.

7. Pack your decorations away with care. Do not throw everything in a box. Take time to pack fragile items carefully. Store your decorations and lights in proper containers. Inventory what you have with a list and a list for what you need next year. LABEL all of your boxes!

Rebekah Slatkin is a professional organizer dedicated to getting people organized through hands-on decluttering sessions, teleconferencing, coaching, and her website http://www.best-organizing-products-superstore.com Visit http://www.best-organizing-products-superstore.com and subscribe to Organewz, her ezine dedicated to organized living and get organizing tips- free.

Buying Gifts Online For Your Recipients Helps You Save Time And Money

2009-02-03T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Robert Mathew

Today, the hectic time table that everyone has makes it rather difficult for each and everyone to make a visit personally to a shop, and walk down aisles of clothes, toys, jewelry or tools, to choose on the perfect gift to buy. It sometimes seems to be a complete waste of quality time that could have been utilized somewhere else. And it is this kind of people and anyone else in general, who prefers online shopping than real time shopping.

Buying gifts for near and dear ones through the internet saves a lot of time for the buyer. There is no need of actually visiting the store to buy gifts. Everything can be done while sitting in the comfort of the home. All one has to do is to type the name, or the kind of gift that they need to buy, and enter that name or phrase in a search engine. Immediately you will be shown lists of numerous online stores that sell all these products.

You then visit a few online stores to decide on the best gift, and best price for your near and dear one. And once you choose the gift, you can pay through e-banking like merchant accounts and their shopping carts. You will have to furnish some information as to the address for the gift to be shipped and perhaps some contact information. And once the payment is cleared, you will find the gift shipped to the recipient, on your expected date of arrival.

There are all types of gifts available on the internet; let it be jewelry, electrical items, clothing, chocolates, flowers, in fact, the item that you name is very much likely to turn up in any of the many search engine searches. Besides saving on your time, you also save money as you don't have to travel to the shopping center or store, spend money on fuel or use public transport. Everything can be done from a single computer and table in your home or office.

There is no need of you getting ready to go shopping. If desired, you can also shop while in your pajamas or nightdress! No one will know, or even bother to know. You not only save in time with online shopping by not having to visit the shopping center, you also save time by not having to go on looking for the item that you need in the shopping center. You just have to type the specific item in a search engine, and you will be provided with numerous items and gifts that suit the description or name that you provide.

So the next time you need to buy gifts for someone, consider online shopping as the better alternative, where you can save both in time and money while coming up with an exquisite gift for the special people of your life.

Robert Mathew is an enthusiastic writer for Digital Labz and the following websites: Unique online gifts and Bath & Spa Gift Baskets

Tips For Having A Safe Halloween

2009-02-02T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Robert Lipply

Halloween can be a fun time of year for young children, but it can also be scary. Scary sounds, frightening masks and traditional pranks can make it a terrifying holiday. With young children it can be fun to incorporate alternative locations to trick or treat than just visiting nearby neighborhoods. Most shopping malls offer safe trick or treating where children can go from store to store collecting candy and treats. Major grocery chains have also introduced fun activities in their stores with costume contests, give always and traditional trick or treating among the different departments in that location. You won't have to worry about children running in the street or being out in the dark.

Another great way to celebrate is with annual fall festivals provided by your city. They also offer age appropriate costume contests, rides, games, prizes and more. It can be a nice time to socialize with children from your community and get to know other families. Your family may also enjoy a visit to a local pumpkin patch. The pumpkins generally make for a beautiful photo opportunity and it can be fun to take a pumpkin home and carve as a family. Each year you can design a unique face to display for Halloween night.

If you decide to trick or treat door to door, be sure to go to houses that are well lighted. Travel in larger groups to make the experience fun and be sure to carry a light so others can see you when crossing over roads. Stay in your own neighborhood where you know many of the residents and be sure to throw out any opened or unsealed candy. Using your best judgment as a parent will help keep your children safe this Halloween.

Bob Lipply is a top Real Estate Broker Associate in the Tampa Florida Real Estate area. He and his team have been helping families relocate to Florida and on the selling end get top dollar for their homes with great success. Lipply Real Estate also specializes in Clearwater Real Estate visit his website where you can search the MLS for up to date available homes for sale.

Thanksgiving Parade

2009-02-01T14:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Sean Carter

Thanksgiving parades, just like football, turkey and the pumpkin pie, can't be done away with if we are talking Thanksgiving ! Elaborate parades featuring huge floats, musical extravaganza and star-studded entertainment shows on Thanksgiving are regular features of the Thanksgiving holiday and are marked by great pomp and grandeur. It has its origins in the early 20th century and is fashioned to give the festive frenzy a good lift in the hearts of young and old. The Thanksgiving parades are indeed a spectacle for whoever manages to catch sight of one ! Through years now, these street shows and parades of Thanksgiving have become a tradition and are integral to this holiday, held on the fourth Thursday in November.

There's no precise documentation of the origin of the Thanksgiving parades. In all probabilities, Thanksgiving parades had their first observance in the year President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving as an official holiday. In the context of the Union achievements of the 1863 summer, it's no wonder that an officially declared occasion (more importantly declared by the then President) would have befitting celebrations. Hence parades became a part of the day. But while the military band or uniformed men featured in earlier Thanksgiving parades, today's parades of Thanksgiving mainly consist of musical extravaganza and entertainment shows. Another view is that the first parade of Thanksgiving originated in Philadelphia. It's known as Gimbel's Thanksgiving Parade and is considered to be the first parade of Thanksgiving in the nation's history. The famous American store called Gimbel's kicked off the parade under its name to make a mark. Many other brands followed suit and started holding Thanksgiving parades soon after. And these numerous Thanksgiving parades are telecast on television throughout the United States on Thanksgiving.

Wherever the start of Thanksgiving parades, it was just a matter of years that the significance and tradition of holding parades spread from one corner of the nation to another. Parades are integral to the American culture and the nation has spectacular parades for all the major holidays of the year. Mostly Thanksgiving parades have family-oriented themes and project the message of warmth and thankfulness of the holiday. Also kept in mind is the aspect of making the children happy and make all others smile. So colorful cutouts, huge balloons and amusing floats are there in Thanksgiving parades almost always. The sole aim of Thanksgiving parades is to instill the spirit of festivity in the hearts of the spectators. People feel all gingered up to have a wonderfully warm Thanksgiving Day, wishing each other a happy Thanksgiving and cheering for a good harvest. Many families traditionally set aside a time on Thanksgiving to go and watch Thanksgiving parades. All States in the US hold magnificent parades on Thanksgiving and so, there's no dearth of Thanksgiving parades to hit on the fourth Thursday in November, that is, the Thanksgiving Day.

Thanksgiving parades are thus a very significant cultural tradition of America these days and are designed for all races and ethnicities. All the major States and cities of the nation can boast of the best Thanksgiving parades of the entire nation. And if you're in the nation on Thanksgiving, do not pass up the chance to catch the spectacles hitting the streets on this favorite family holiday of the year !

Great Games For Your Halloween Party

2009-02-01T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Jacqui O'Brien

If you're having a Halloween party you need to play some games! Whether it's to fill the time before the food is ready or to keep the kids occupied before their parents collect them, here are some ghoulish games to play.

1) Pin the Wart on the Witch's Nose: Draw or photocopy up a big picture of a witch; get lumps of green play-dough, blindfold each child and let them put a green wart on the witch's face.

2) Apple bobbing is the traditional Halloween game. Float apples in a bowl of water, each player must try to get an apple with their teeth while their hands are held behind their backs. (This can get messy)

3) Traditionally on Halloween night, if you peel an apple and throw the skin over your shoulder and it will form the initial of the person you are to marry. You could peel the child's apple once bobbed and see if it resembles a letter.

4) Another variation is to hang the apples on string and the players have to eat the apple again without touching it. Problem: Unless you grow your own apples they rarely have stalks still attached. You could try this game with ring doughnuts, bagels or ring biscuits.

5) Musical Zombies: Find some suitable Halloween Music - Saint-Saens' 'Danse Macabre' goes down well with children, but if the kids are a bit young you could use 'Fossils' from his 'Carnival of the Animals' - and play this version of musical statues. Instead of dancing the kids pretend to be zombies then stand still when the music stops.

6) Wrap the Mummy: tear up strips of an old sheet and see who can wrap up their friend the fastest.

7) Sleeping vampires: Quieten things down with this version of sleeping lions, they all have to lie silently in the crypt; the one who stays still the longest is the winner.

Have a Happy Halloween!

Jacqui O'Brien is the editor of eParenting.co.uk, the online parenting magazine and information resource for parents, with free printables and educational software. Visit eParenting at http://www.eparenting.co.uk/

Holiday Party Planning A Party You Dont Need To Work At

2009-01-31T14:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Gail Leino

With a holiday party, you may feel that you have to spend your days before working to get ready and then spend the party catering to everyone else's needs. If you want to through a holiday party that is more stress free and enjoyable to you, there are several key things that you will want to take into consideration. Remember, this is supposed to be a time where you can sit down and relax and enjoy the holidays with those that you love. If you do not feel that it is going to happen that way, take into consideration a few thoughts here.

First off, take into consideration the various holiday parties that you have spent slaving in the kitchen. If you do not think you can afford to have your holiday party catered, do a bit or homework first. Talk to several different caters, request sample meals and pricing packages. What you may not realize is that they often get food at a much lower cost which can in turn help them to lower their budget. Or, you can tell them what your budget is and see if they can offer some help to you. If you decide that you just can't handle the price of a holiday party catering then look for wholesale clubs that sell prepackaged appetizers. Plan meals that can be at least, somewhat done in advance.

Another benefit to getting some help for your holiday party is to seek out the help of a cleaning service. Many worry about what the house looks like or all of the chores that need to be done before you can host your holiday party. Yet, it can be quite affordable to take full advantage of a local cleaning company to come in and do all of the tough work for you.

A holiday party does not need to be overly stressful for anyone involved. In fact, those that are looking for a great party that they can feel relaxed at need to just think of other ways to make things happen for them. Instead of spending countless hours planning, working and worrying, think of an alternative solution like those we mentioned here fore your next holiday party.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Holiday Party Decorations, free party activities, theme party tips to help complete your event.

Halloween Party Ideas For Decorations To Have A Creepy Ghostly Celebration

2009-01-31T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Gail Leino

When planning a Halloween party it is a lot of fun to plan a theme party. Not only can you plan your costumes and decorations easily, but you can also use the theme to select invitations and help your guests pick their costumes too. Of course, the theme of a party depends on the age of the guests. Here are some suggestions for guests of all age.

For children elementary age and younger, the easiest thing to do is to have a party that will probably allow them to wear the costume they had been planning on all along. These could include a Sesame Street Monster Party, Cartoon Stars Party, and Blues Clues Mystery Party (complete with Handy Dandy Notebooks for all the guests), Monsters, Inc. Party or even a Superheroes party for the boys or a Princess party for the girls.

For older children and pre-teens fun themes may include Goosebumps Party, TV Monster Parties (guests come as one of the monsters or monster family members seen on television i.e., Munsters, Addams family, etc.), Literary Monsters (Headless Horsemen, Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Dracula would be just a few of many possibilities).

For high schoolers or adults, possible themes might include: Old School Monsters you know the ones from way back before color was introduced to television or movies (Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, Mummy, Creature of the Black Lagoon, Werewolf, Dracula, Phantom, Thing, Fly, Godzilla, Blob, or King Kong for starters), Science Fiction and B Movie Casting Call (Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, Rocky Horror, The Blob, The Alien Machine, etc.), Clowns who doesn't find clowns and mimes just a little on the freaky side? (Bozo, It, Krusty, Ronald, etc.), Fortune Teller or Seance (everyone should bring their fortune telling device of choice be it tarot, magic 8 balls, ouija, etc.), Dead Poets, Musicians, & Author's Society (everyone comes dressed as their favorite dead performer a karaoke machine and an open mic for poetry recitations will add a unique twist to the night!).

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies (http://www.partysupplieshut.com), using proper etiquette, and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free coloring sheets, printable games, and free birthday party activities. Halloween Party Games, party planning tips, decorations, costume ideas, recipes, printable activities and free coloring pages.

10 Steps To A Relaxing Thanksgiving

2009-01-30T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Barbara Hemphill

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! Family, friends, good food and no presents to buy. To make it your best holiday ever, consider these organizing tips:

Choose your preferred style: formal with everyone dressed up and using their best manners or a more informal relaxed style. If you've invited more people than your dining table will seat, decide whether to add extra tables or a set up a buffet and use couches and occasional chairs for seating. Arrange for extra chairs if necessary.

Keep in mind the ages of the people involved and choose a time for the meal that will fit their needs young children may get too tired if you wait to sit down at 1:00 pm. Consider seating for children based on ages. Teenagers might enjoy the day more seated together.

Ask guests to identify their favorite dish include as many of them as possible. (If someone wants a pecan pie, and you don't like to bake them, check out your local restaurant or bakery.) Don't assume you have to do everything why not invite guests to bring a favorite dish? (Or ask them to bring a table centerpiece or bottle of wine.)

Plan your menu well in advance, make a shopping list, and purchase non-perishables at the same time you do your regular shopping. If you're planning to use a fresh turkey, place your order early.

Get out the table linens before Thanksgiving morning make sure you have the sizes you need, and check to see if they need to be laundered, or ironed.

Select table decorations. If you have children, involve them in the planning and execution of the celebration. (My children loved to make turkey cookies!) Consider disposable Thanksgiving napkins.

To save clean-up time, or if the family china is insufficient to accommodate the guest list, attractive holiday disposable tableware is a viable option. Be sure you have enough serving dishes and utensils for the quantities you will be serving.

If you're having a sit-down dinner, consider setting your table the day before to minimize last-minute stress. Make a checklist of things to be done on Thanksgiving day in order or priority.

Determine your clean-up strategy prior to dinner. Do you want everyone to chip in and help or would you prefer to spend the time with the family and clean it up when they're gone?

When the day is over, make notes about anything you wish you had done differently file your notes away for next year, and give Thanksgiving for another special day.

© Barbara Hemphill is the author of Kiplinger's Taming the Paper Tiger at Work and Taming the Paper Tiger at Home and co-author of Love It or Lose It: Living Clutter-Free Forever. The mission of Hemphill Productivity Institute is to help individuals and organizations create and sustain a productive environment so they can accomplish their work and enjoy their lives. We do this by organizing space, information, and time. We can be reached at 800-427-0237 or at www.ProductiveEnvironment.com

Watch Out Here Come The Holidays

2009-01-29T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Leslie Gail

Does your blood pressure rise the mere thought of the holidays approaching? Has this time of year turned into more stress and frazzlement than fun and celebrating traditions? The holidays can be a time of celebration, a time spent with loved ones. It can also be a period of clicking your heels together like Dorothy did, wishing you could open your eyes and it would all be over. There is no denying the fact that this time of year is full and busy. You can however make some simple changes in your life to bring about some balance. Wouldn't it feel great to enjoy this time of year, truly embracing the moment for what it is? This is a time to celebrate all that you are grateful for, a time to share with others in need. You can grasp this opportunity to place a positive handprint on someone else's life. Take a deep breath, let go of insignificant details and enjoy the moment.

ACTION TIPS FOR THE WEEK:

1. Prepare, prepare, prepare

Planning ahead for what is to come will only alleviate stress later on. What can you prepare for now that you won't have to face later? Do you have holiday shopping? Are you adopting a family for the holidays that you will need to provide gifts for? Will relatives be visiting that you need to plan meals for? Create a master list of what needs to be accomplished by when. Next, begin crossing items off the list as you take care of them.

2.Take a breath

You will undoubtedly encounter stressed out people during the holidays. Instead of taking on their energy as your own, take a deep breath and let it go. Make a conscious choice how you will respond to others' negativity.

3. Don't overcommit

This time of year, your calendar can easily fill up with party after party. If you truly want to enjoy the holidays, take some time for youself and learn to say no. Realize you aren't obligated to attend every gathering you are invited to. Pick and choose the ones you are excited about, and be sure to plug in some relaxing evenings in between.

Have a great week! Leslie

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Leslie Gail, Certified Coach and owner of New Life Focus Coaching, contributes regular articles to The Rocky Mountain News, conducts seminars and helps her clients live to their fullest potential. Leslie specializes in working with clients in transition. By creating structure, balance and boundaries, Leslie is able to move clients forward at a comfortable pace.

Leslie Gail, Certified Coach and owner of New Life Focus Coaching can be contacted at http://www.newlifefocus.com

The Heart Of A Mother Mothers Day Special

2009-01-28T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Emily Rose

"The heart of a mother is a place to call home. Mom means security, trust, care, and unconditional love."
-Emily Rose

Motherhood, it is selfless, hard work that in the end results in the formation of a beautiful life. Each day mothers pour out themselves to their young ones and pray that they are growing up healthy and happy. Days form weeks, weeks form years, years add onto years breathing life into a child.

They capture each moment in memory, picture, or poem. Days are filled with silly songs, t'ball games, piano recitals, homework, diapers, birthday parties, and school dances. They spend many sleepless nights worrying when the curfew has come and gone or pace the emergency room floor after a bicycle accident. They fill stockings and Easter baskets at midnight. They run here and there between soccer practice and study groups, ballet and daycare. Countless hours are spent repeating spelling words and creating planet mobiles. Dinner is on the table and popcorn and movies await happy faces. Small tiny things are done, barely noticed, but given with great care. The "thank you's" may be few and far between.

One day their once tiny newborns grow wings and leave the nest. The sweetest thing is when those children return and they find that they are now not just your children, but close friends. The cycle continues when those children have children of their own and learn what their mother had so selflessly and sweetly done over those many years. A mom puts down her life to raise her children to help them reach dreams, achieve goals, be joyful, and have good character.

As mother day approaches it is the perfect time to ponder the meaning of motherhood and give thought to how you have been blessed with your mother, grandmother, or special lady in your life. If you have been touched by a mother, whether she is yours or someone in that role, let them feel the deep appreciation for what they have done. Choose a special flower, card, or gift to present to your mother symbolizing how honored and privileged you have been to have her in your life. Give her a special bouquet of roses meaning that her love was as fragrant and beautiful as the arrangement, or a personalized bracelet or monogrammed pendant she can wear in daily remembrance of how she has forever imprinted your life with love.

Author, EmilyRose owner of http://www.emilyrosejewellery.com bio at http://personallyblessed.blogspot.com.

Another Round Of Paganism

2009-01-27T14:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by G Williams

TRUTH and UNDERSTANDING - An electronic magazine of real knowledge

Millions, perhaps billions of people will once again run full throttle into the upcoming fall and winter holiday seasons of Halloween and Christmas. Many fully acknowledge that the customs of these events are deeply rooted in paganism.

Many take paganism as an ugly word, but it simply means teachings of the nations that did not know the Jewish or Hebrew God of the Bible. An important point to always remember is that the Hebrews or Israelites and not the nations (non Hebrews) were the ones who brought us the knowledge of God. Even in the New Testament we know that Jesus and the Apostles were Israelites. This is why scripture says, "You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews." So it always comes as a surprise to me that the tail (the nations) tries to wag the dog when it comes to religious knowledge. Yet this is what is commonly allowed in the so-called Christian holidays.

The Catholic encyclopedia seems to struggle somewhere between acknowledging that modern Christianity has incorporated pagan teachings and no it is just a coincidence. A coincidence? When you look at the preponderance of coincidences like a day for all the dead Saints that comes on the heels of an ancient Celtic fire festival called Samhain (notice that this is a nations non Hebrew pagan teaching here) now called Halloween in which we have children dressing as demons, ghosts and skeletons or we shift to Christmas and really examine through some simple web research about the origin of these Bacchanalian or Saturnalia type festivities.

Research the origins of the Yule log, tree, mistletoe, wreaths, greenery, birthdays, gifts, caroling (yes even seemingly innocent Christmas carols are from ancient circle dances dealing with fertility rites of the medieval Celtic countries of Europe) and lights. Bacchanalian festivities also had parties celebrated with drinking and promiscuity orgies and riotousness. The Saturnalia festivities also included exchanging gifts, greenery, lights etc. It is impossible to ignore that we have ties to teachings of the nations or pagans that we have justified just as the Bible says, "everyone did what was right in his own eyes." Yet again the Bible says, "what communion has light with darkness?" But we say we cleaned it all up. Why we Christianized it Lord! Yet again the Bible says, "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one!"

But some may ask isn't it all ok. Can't we just have some fun? Why half the stuff I do isn't really Christian related, I just do it for fun and I'm not thinking of Christ. I've seen these attitudes. They are attitudes of someone who thinks they have some distinguishable alter ego. That somehow we can separate ourselves from ourselves like some type of Jekyl and Hyde. But do you think you can really hide half of yourself from before the Lord? The Bible says, "For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord" and "He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord" Therefore all we do is in plain sight of God.

So how dangerous is all this? Well this is what I call mixing of religions or religious practices. Though it appears to be innocent by most, truly it is the most dangerous of all sins. Believe it or not this is something that gets God absolutely furious. Notice God said, "do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.' You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way". If nothing else notice the word nations in the above. God is saying do not adapt the practices of the nations. In another example from the book of Ezekiel we read, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, to make Me go far away from My sanctuary?" What was this sanctuary? Why it was God's temple back in the Old Testament. What were they doing to drive God far from His Temple? Well a further read says they were doing things like bringing in, "every sort of creeping thing, abominable beasts, and all the idols", the Bible says the, "women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz." (It is known that there were ancient pagan religions that practiced weeping. Tammuz was an agricultural god who got weak as summer waned on and we all know how we get sad as summer nears its end, so they wept) and the Bible reads, "twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, and they were worshiping the sun toward the east" (hey look it's a first Easter sunrise worship.)

The point of all this is that it all occurred in God's temple. They had stained, soiled, desecrated and defiled the Temple of God by bringing in the ways and teachings of the nations, the pagans, those who did not have a knowledge of proper worship of the true God. After all, why do you think they were called pagans? Because they were stupid, get it? And why is it that their knowledge is so great now that it is brought into Christianity? Because we are stupid I guess. Belittling God's Temple is not relegated just to the Old Testament. I'm sure we all remember how infuriated Jesus became when He encountered the merchandising in the Temple and made a whip and started to crack some heads. Some things are just off limits.

But now for the biggie because there is a scripture that we need to look long and hard at which says, "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are." Defiling our human temple here is no different than all we just read about defiling the physical one. Simply intermix paganism, mix in the bad with the good and you are defiled. As a matter of fact if you mix in any ways of any kind of disobedience you are on your way to defilement and utter destruction.

Disobedience leads to destruction, but obedience and a humble spirit leads one to salvation. It is your disobedience that caused Christ to have to die for our sins (our disobedience) so why do we think it is ok to continue to disobey? Now that you have learned nothing from paganism, for what did you learn from the Yule log or dressing your child up as an Easter egg? Why not learn from God about His holidays? Most people do not even know that God also has Holidays (Holy Days). Well He does and there are seven of them that He commands us to observe.

You can learn about the true holidays that you never knew of from our website at www.cornerstone1.org

Glenn Williams is editor at Cornerstone Evangelical Association. A site dedicated to teach Christians are not to separate from Old Testament laws yet still look to Christ for salvation. You can sign up for a free weekly newsletter at http://www.cornerstone1.org or mailto:subscribe@cornerstone1.org

Exclusive Interview With Santa Claus

2009-01-27T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Roy Thomsitt

Over the past two months I have been writing a Christmas story. It is about Santa Claus and the remarkable sequence of events that befell a young girl living on the edge of the rainforest in Palawan, a tropical island where I live.

Of course, for such an apparently far fetched story, it was important to check out the facts. That was easy to do here in Palawan, but how could I interview somebody quite so famous as Santa Claus, who lived far away in a land where I would freeze to death as soon as I got off the airplane?

Well, it turned out to be more easy than I thought, and we met, believe it or not, close to a big firework display in Southern England on November 5th 2005. How I got there and how he got there, I am not allowed to say. In fact, I cannot say, simply because I do not know for sure. I can only speculate. My passport shows I was here; my wife tells me I was here; I tell myself I was here. But I was there, and this is what I can report from the notes I took at the interview. There was much more, but I am sworn to secrecy, and Santa Claus has such amazing powers, I would not go against his wishes.

These are the 3 questions, and answers, I am allowed to reveal.

Q1 There is much speculation amongst historians about your origins. Can you tell us, to put this straight once and for all?

(Roars of laughter from Santa) "The last people you should ask are historians. They can only look backwards. What a dumb life they lead; they can never find the truth like that. Life is multi dimensional; time is multi dimensional. What do historians and scientists know about all that? The truth is like a sun with all it's planets rotating round. If you just look backwards, you miss the whole spectrum, and you miss the sun itself.

"What are my origins? My good man, you're just a simple soul, like everyone else on the planet, so I know you mean 'when and where do I come from'. I do have a birthday; in fact, I have many birthdays, and they are all true. But for your narrow little world, I was born in 701 AD."

"But," I said, "all the historians." his glare told me to be quiet about historians. That seemed like a good idea, given that they got it all totally wrong.

Santa was a tolerant and gentle man despite his massive powers. "And, young man" ( I had not been called that for a long time) he said. "You will not believe where I was born. It was not the North Pole, though I go there often. It was not Lapland, where I do now live. It was Central Africa."

I was dumbfounded; he just laughed at me. I moved on quickly.

Q2 I have to ask, Santa, how do you get around the whole world like that, every Christmas, delivering gifts to so many millions of children? In less than 2 days. It's just not.."

Before I could finish, he had put his hand firmly on my arm to stop me.

"Of course it's possible. You think it's not possible because your "scientists" say so, not because of the truth. Only the truth matters. And it is possible, because I do it every year. You say "not possible" because of the way you all look at things; narrow and blinkered. Even my blinkered reindeer know more than your silly scientists; so forget it's not possible. I do it, and young man", (I was really beginning to like this guy), he went on, "I just love every moment of it."

"But?" I was about to ask, but he stopped me again with a firm hand.

"Ok," he said gently. "Let me just tell you about something. In the 8th century I was exploring brainwaves; your scientists don't have an inkling yet about the brain, how it works, the brainwaves and what they mean and how you can use them. I was able to discover great things, things all the scientists have been too narrow minded in the past to seek out, understand and utilize."

I was in his spell, listening intently to every word. He was about to reveal.

"Have you heard of Quantum Chimney Descent Theory? No, of course not. By 820 AD I had it all worked out; a year later I had discovered Time Corridors. You know time corridors? No, of course not, but I tell you young man, that was what did it, that was what enabled me to deliver gifts at Christmas all over the world.

"I then developed the Time Corridor Interweaving Theory. For the next 30 years I started to put them both into practice, and then bring them together. That my dear friend is how I get around the whole world like that and deliver gifts: by exploiting the Quantum Chimney Descent Theory in unison with Time Corridor Interweaving.

"Do you understand now?" he asked.

Well, who was I to argue, I might sound like a historian or scientist? So, that was it, I had the answers to the greatest Santa Claus question of all. I did not have a clue what he was talking about, but I am sure he anticipated that.

We went on to the final question as the firework display reached its climax.

Q3 What happens to all the mince pies and glasses of sherry that millions of children leave out for you?

Santa roared with laughter again, "oh, all the things people leave out for me; they are so sweet those children. "But you know, their parents should tell them the truth; they should not deceive. It is their parents who drink the sherry and other alcoholic drinks. It's just their excuse. I don't drink the stuff, never did.

"But the mince pies, yes I do love a good mince pie. The children are so considerate leaving them for me, and I eat as many as I can in Australia. But over a million? I have to tell you, those mince pies get spread around all sorts of places. The creatures of the oceans and the forests are very much experts on mince pies now. But the year before last....."

Santa saw my expression change.

"Aaah, we can't say what happened that year, can we? It's in your story. We mustn't spoil your story."

A moment later I awoke in my bed many thousands of miles away near the Sulu Sea. My wife was next to me; and funnily enough, I was next to her. When I went to my computer room a while later, I found my notebook. And what you have read above is what was written in it.

I really did like Santa Claus; "young man" indeed.

This Christmas Santa Claus article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner author of the Gifts For Xmas website.

Roy is also owner and author of the Xmas Ornament web site.

Relax for the festive season with Roy's new Christmas story for adults and children.

Christmas Decorations Ideas

2009-01-26T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Sean Carter

Christmas decorations are one inseparable part of the Christmas holidays, without which Christmas would lose all its color, spirit, warmth and charm. And it's also great to get together with all in the family or the whole gang of friends for the Christmas decorations. Isn't it a joy untold to watch the hand-crafted stars or bells hung up on the Christmas tree or on the wreaths ? Don't you feel the festive tickle to see Christmas-themed table-spreads, curtains, napkin-holders, or carpets ? Ideas for Christmas decorations are plenty to satiate the festive craving of all and sundry. And the stores dish out a huge array of Christmas decorations too. You can either buy them home or decorate your home yourself with your own ideas and designs. Here's enlisted a few for you to get started with your Christmas decorations and Christmas planning.

The easiest and simplest of all Christmas decorationsget empty boxes or cartons and wrap them up in red, green, blue colored papers or colorful Christmas wrappers. Tie ribbons around some and leave them sporadically around the base of your Christmas evergreen or on the mantle.
Hanging cute Christmas stockings make good decorations too for your Christmas décor. You can cut out papers or fabrics in shapes of stockings or candy canes, have them colored by the kids and stick them all around the room to add that festive touch on Christmas.
Umpteen stores sell battery-operated candles especially for this holiday and these look radiant in and around your home as also on your Christmas tree. Anyone would like to go for these hassle-free Christmas decorations and give their interiors a total face-lift for the occasion.
A fetching idea for your Christmas decorations would be to deck up your house plants with little stars and bells and to place them on window sills.
Get holly boughs and mistletoes home. Hang them around and watch the magic of Christmas unfold before you. These Christmas decorations are traditionally passed down through ages and never fall out of the hall of fame
How about this ? Take a pin-up board and pin Christmas-related images or messages on them. You can also fix Christmas cards that you get for the year. This Christmas decoration would be best for your office cubicle or room. So bring your colleagues in the spirit of the holidays instantly as they step into your holiday 'den'.
Now here's another to rev up your Christmas decorationstake a white table-spread and stick little paper or fabric pieces in shapes of stars, bells, candy canes, gift-boxes, Santa hats and more.
Deck up your halls in Christmas streamers (bought or homemade) or in Christmas wreaths. You can hang a bunch of bells on the doorway too. Won't it be sweet to hear the jingles every time anyone enters during the Christmas season ?
Decorate white slender candles with red and green ribbons. Tie them into a bow or just spiral it around. They would swell for sure if placed in a cluster on your Christmas dinner table or over the mantle. Don't forget to leave a bell carelessly at the base. Your friends, folks or sweetie pie would surely love the shine and shimmer of the bell in the candlelight and you may collect few kudos for such thoughtful Christmas decorations.
For outside decorations, get some Christmas lights home. Glowing bulbs or lighted candles that run on battery would just suit fine outdoors. You can place a big cutout of Santa to welcome your dear ones too. Or you can let loose your own festive ideas.
Play Christmas numbers for the background scores to complement the tree, table and hall decorations. Well chosen Christmas songs are just the right fill for the holiday ambience.
Create cute bows for the special day and have them stitched to curtains or tied to door-knobs or around the glasses on the Christmas table. These Christmas decorations won't take much time and would be fun to do too. So get on with these.
Well then, welcome the season of joy and brace up to make merry with friends and familyit's Christmastime folks ! The merriest time of the year is here. So leave your worries behind, deck the halls with wonderful Christmas decorations and share the warmth and joy of the season with all far and near.

Sean Carter writes on holidays, events and celebrations around the world. He also writes on family, relationships,womens issues inspiration, love and friendship. He is a writer with special interest in ecard publishing industry. He writes for 123greetings.com.

Creative Ideas For Kids Halloween Costumes

2009-01-25T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Phil Sikes

Children usually anticipate Halloween for two reasons. The first is that they have a chance to dress up as their favorite characters. The second is that after they dress up, they get to go door to door, asking neighbors for candy. And the more candy you give them, the better. For these reasons, it is important that the kids Halloween costumes be perfect.

Kids Halloween costumes come in all kinds of different styles. Some choose to dress up as their favorite superhero or cartoon character. Others choose more traditional Halloween costumes such as witches, black cats, and monsters. They can also be happy, like clowns, or scary and modeled after popular horror movie characters.

Often, the kids Halloween costumes that the children wear will depend on the parents. Some wonít let their kids wear scary costumes. Other parents donít mind. But as long as the child is still allowed to go trick or treating, in the end theyíll probably get over any initial disappointment.

Choosing Kids Halloween Costumes

The first step is to choose the kids Halloween costumes that your children will be wearing. Start by asking them what they want to be. If they express an interest and wanting to dress as something violent, such as a horror movie villain, you may want to intervene. If dressing up like this is all in fun, then perhaps you wonít mind.

If they can't seem to decide, give them a few choices. Think about the shoes they watch, the books and comics they read, and the toys they tend to play with. Before you give them a choice, you may want to check in advance to make sure you can easily obtain the costume as a rental, to purchase, or the pattern and its necessary materials.

Getting the Costumes

The next step after your children decide which kids Halloween costumes they want to wear, you'll need to either buy it, rent it, borrow it, or make it. What you do will depend on your budget, the availability, and whether or not they will wear it again.

Costume shops are great for both purchasing and renting. You can find patterns in craft books, at the local craft shop, and online. Ask others if they have a costume you can borrow. You can either purchase it used from the classified or an online auction site.

Making the Costumes

If you do decide to make the kids Halloween costumes this will require some advanced planning. This isn't a project that can wait until the last minute because you need to give yourselves time to complete the project and allow for even more time to fix any mistakes or start over if you need to. You don't want it to be the evening of Trick-or-Treat when you find out that the costume doesn't fit properly. By then, the stores will pretty much be out of costumes. No matter what you decide, the number one thing is to make sure your children are happy.

Phil Sikes shares Halloween costume ideas and other related tips & ideas at the Get In Costume website. Get more creative costume ideas at http://www.getincostume.com

Are Toys Amp Video Games The Right Christmas Gifts For Kids

2009-01-24T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by John Morris

It's the age of innocence when their eyes a little brighter and their smile are full of possibilities. Their minds are being shaped by everything around them and it's important to make sure that those surroundings are positive and promote good character traits.

The question is are toys and video games the right Christmas gift for kids? The simple answer - yes.

Creative Development

Children love toys and they love to play video games. Imagination is the greatest gift that we can give our children and toys are essential to their creative development. With so many toys on the market, it's difficult to choose which are best for our little ones during this holiday season. The best way to know is to ask your child to write a Christmas list. Go over the list and make sure that everything will be a positive learning, or playful, experience for your child. Avoid buying anything with an implication of violence or negative influences, which is sometimes present in current video games.

Promote Healthy Competition and Creativity

On the other hand... Video games can offer a very positive learning experience if selected carefully. They have the ability to promote healthy competition and creativity. If a child fails to achieve the next level in a video game, they are forced to come up with more creative ways to move forward. This creativity can lead to a wonderful imagination in all areas of life. Video games can also promote persistence and shows a child that patience is a key factor in achieving any goal. If a child begins playing a video game and stays with that game until he/she defeats it, this promotes patience, determination and intelligence. The child will learn that, if he/she works hard enough, they can achieve anything. This will carry over into other aspects of life and will be a positive experience. The most important thing is, that now, the child is simply having fun and doesn't even realize how beneficial a creative mind can be. They don't realize that they are learning and, to them, they're just enjoying their toys.

Promote Sharing

Toys and games are terrific Christmas gifts for kids also because they promote sharing while keeping the child entertained and happy. Some toys promote learning, such as math and board games. Others, such as building blocks, promote creativity and the ability to build things on their own. A karaoke unit could help a child overcome shyness while a Barbie doll will allow a child to make up story lines and create fictional events.

Age Recommendations

Before choosing any toys or games as Christmas gifts for kids, make sure to read the age recommendations printed on the box or noted in the description. It's important that the age recommendations match that of your child for safety reasons. If a toy needs batteries, don't forget to include them in the box.

Unconditional Love

Keeping in mind that children are very influential, the best gift that we could ever give is unconditional love. Perhaps you can't wrap it up or even add a fancy red bow, but that just goes to prove that the best things in life really are free.

Happy Holidays!

For great Christmas gift ideas for your kids check out http://gifts.christmashub.com and my main site http://www.christmashub.com

Grieving Through The Holidays

2009-01-23T14:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Mary E. Richardson

Holiday Grief- what is it? How does it differ from other grief? What is grief anyway?

These are but a few questions you might want to explore as we move ever deeper into the holidays, the season of celebration, gift-giving/receiving, parties and gatherings of various sizes and diversities.

Grief is not a feeling; it is a heavy and complex emotion (energy-in-motion) containing every imaginable feeling in the human psyche. When someone experiences the loss of a loved one, a spouse, a child, a parent (not just from death but from any tragedy), grief emotes powerfully to pull you down to where you can safely begin to feel yourself without that which you've lost.

Grief provides a safe haven, a kind of hospice where you can tend your wounds, grow new skin, encourage the scabs to form and thicken, so that you rise back up into the world as a new person.

However, many people choose to ignore this gift of Grief and rather than actively grieve, they passively carry their grief inside, sometimes for the rest of their lives, accumulating more and more grief. Numbed out to their own feelings, they push forward as if nothing has happened to them, as if they have not been irrevocably changed; they choose to live a lie. Their bodies then have to adjust to the deadness it is forced to carry inside; eventually that becomes disease. On the outside, it shows up in depressed feelings, temper tirades, road rage, jealousy, guilt, shame, and projections onto others.

It is amazing how forceful people can become in their attempts to hide their grief from their own conscious awareness. They even convince themselves that if they close their eyes to it, so will everyone else. Not true. It is in the air we breathe. We breathe each others' air. We exchange each others' realities and each others' fantasies. Surely you've heard it said, "Magic is in the air;" or "Death is in the air." That is true. So too is: "Grief is in the air."

Depending upon how well you know yourself, how well you own your own feelings, grieve your losses, and ground yourself in your own center, that will determine the real choices you actually have in filtering the air you breathe. In these days when toxicity is killing everything that lives and breathes and drinks water, we need filters to maintain good health. The same is true for our psyches. This filtering begins by asking ourselves the questions we've not dared to ask, maybe have not dared to even imagine.

During the holidays and on the anniversaries of a tragic event, Grief usually offers us another opportunity to grieve losses not fully grieved for the purpose of healing. If you can feel the feelings rising up inside you, you can choose whether and how you will receive this unexpected and precious gift- the opportunity to create new life.

Mary Richardson is a transformational facilitator. She assists people who are in the midst of chaotic life changes and transition. Guiding them in the journey through the chaos, she helps them tap into their own resilience and recreate their lives. You can contact Mary at: mevrichardson@comcast.net.

Publisher's Guidelines: You may freely publish this article online, in email newsletters, or in print so long as the resource box and byline are in tact and all links are active. Author would appreciate a notification, but that is optional.

Unique Christmas Table Top Decorations For Parties

2009-01-23T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Johann Erickson

Christmas table decorations for those one of a kind Christmas parties are fun and easy to make. If you do plan on making your own Christmas table decorations, they can be time consuming and if you have a dozen or so tables to decorate, you need help!

It depends on the type of Christmas party you will be hosting, the atmosphere you wish to provide and the style you want to showcase. If you're having a Christmas party for children, simple centerpieces with take home accents will do but if it's an elegant grown up Christmas party, your Christmas table decorations will probably be elegant and traditional.

If you're indeed hosting a Christmas party for children, be as creative as you wish. A good idea is to decorate using styrofoam balls. They are inexpensive, usually around five dollars at the craft store and they are sold in bags of single sizes or mixed sizes. With some non-toxic craft paint, some glue on eyeballs and seed beads, you can turn a ball into an adorable snowman or an ornament fit for the tree.

The best way to make a snowman who will actually stand up straight is to cut a small circular piece of thick cardboard, using a thin bamboo stick put a hole in the center and allow the stick to stand. Take one of the largest styrofoam balls and slide it down the bamboo stick to the base of the cardboard, then repeat with a medium sized ball and then a small one for the snowman's head. Decorate with your imagination!

To give the illusion of bright ornamental balls, either paint or spray paint the different sizes of the styrofoam balls and roll them in glitter. Add stripes and stencil on stars or snowflakes to make them unique. Use a paper clip to secure a ribbon for hanging.

For adult parties, sometimes more design effects should be used to create the perfect Christmas table decoration. Start with the other decorations in the room, the theme and go with it. Start with the tableclothif it's country style then use a bright flannel topper or Christmas colors like red, green, gold, silver or white. If the room is dim, consider adding lighting elements on some of the tables.

One beautiful way is by adding floating candles in dyed water.

At your local discount store in the craft section there are beautiful glass and plastic bowl options to choose from and the average price for a small to mid sized piece is about a dollar and a half or three dollars for the larger ones. Fill the bowls ¾ full, add food coloring and stir in your desired color. Packages of floating tealites or votive candles are about five dollars for a twenty-four pack and when lit in a darkened area, they appear so elegant.

Confetti sprinkled around the bowls on the tables in holiday colors with twirls of ribbon adds just the right finishing touch.

Another idea is to make your own crystal balls using etching solution; you can even purchase festive stencils to etch. Using the same bowls turned upside down with a small candle with do the trick as long as they are sitting on a base that allows air to flow for the flame. To make a fitting base with the look of gold foiling, without the cost or the time, use aluminum foil and gold craft paint. Wad up the aluminum foil to give it a crinkled appearance and carefully open it up to its original size. On a flat surface lightly paint gold accents all over the shiny silver side of the aluminum foil. Two oblong wooden blocks, also available for pennies at the craft store will do the job when wrapped and placed beneath the crystal ball. Finish off the look with small gift boxes wrapped in multi designed Christmas wrapping paper or foil with a hidden dinner mint for each guest at the table.

Christmas table decorations are a must for any Christmas holiday party and the guests will be astounded with the creations. These are all easy and they don't take much time to put together. Make your party unforgettable using simple elements for your Christmas table decorations and explore the creative aspect of Christmas décor in it's many forms.

About The Author
Johann Erickson is a writer for such sites as Online Discount Mart (http://www.onlinediscountmart.com) and TV Products 4 Less (http://www.tvproducts4less.com)

Halloween Games For The Perfect Halloween Party

2009-01-22T14:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Nicole O'Reilly

With Halloween fast approaching it's time to dust off those dirty and cobwebbed Halloween games for the kids. Depending on the style of party you are throwing you may be looking for Halloween crafts, icky sticky food games, some races and team games. A good selection of Halloween games and activities will keep the group interested and the party running smoothly.

Just a little bit of organisation will go a long way, so be sure to have a few more games prepared than you think you will need. Games may finish quickly or if the children are not showing interest, a couple of back-ups can save you from any embarrassment. Prepare all of the music, props and prizes before the party and make sure that you understand all the rules.

When choosing Halloween games for children it is important to select games that are age appropriate for them. An older child may love the ghoul and fright of all the scariest Halloween themes and games whereas a careful selection needs to be made for preschoolers.

Toddlers will love games and themes that involve pumpkins, friendly ghosts, black cats and a smattering of not-so-spooky witches and scarecrows. Younger children prefer simple, short games, nothing that requires too much explaining or has numerous rules. Many games for toddlers / preschoolers are variations of favorite party games that have been given a Halloween twist. Games like Marshmallow Bobbing (a gentler variation of Apple Bobbing), a Witch Hunt (based on a Scavenger Hunt) and a Monster Freeze Dance are all fun games for the littlies.

Halloween games for parties can be as diverse as crafts, gooey food games, racing games, team games or even some old-fashioned Halloween games.

Halloween crafts are a great option as they encourage imagination and creativity and the children will love being able to take home their own special Halloween creation. The crafts can be as varied as making and decorating cookies, producing your own Halloween decorations, Halloween face-painting, or pumpkin decorating.
Older kids will love a gooey, squishy games that can be played with food and they can even help you to think of ghouly names for spaghetti intestines, or cauliflower brains.
More traditional Halloween games are centred around Fall themes and the harvest. Many involve apples and craft ideas with Fall leaves.

Whatever Halloween games you choose, be flexible, and willing to improvise if you need to. Allow the children to set the pace in regards to the length of the games. If they are all enjoying a game then let it continue, if not move on.
And most importantly Happy Halloweening!

For more games, crafts, recipes and fun for Halloween check out Halloween Games Central at Kids Fun and Games.
The place to go for all your games needs for 0-8 year olds is Kids Fun and Games. Educational baby and toddler games, party games, crafts, indoor and outdoor games, festivals and more.

Gift Ideas For Teenagers

2009-01-22T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Kathy Burns-Millyard

If you've ever tried to buy gifts for teenagers, you've probably run into a common problem: Teenagers are hard to buy for!

Buying gifts for teenagers is difficult. Each one has their own tastes and style, and some are influenced by popular culture while others aren't. So the first step in figuring out what kind of gifts to buy for teenagers, is to find out a bit about the teenager. If that fails though, here are 5 gift ideas that tend to go over well with almost any of them.

1. MP3 Player - Music players are popular. And they're useful too. Now some teenagers might turn their nose up at any MP3 player that isn't an iPod, but many others would be thrilled to have one if they don't yet already.

Try finding one that gets radio broadcasts in addition to playing MP3s, that way they'll have some variety when they're tired of listening to the same songs over and over. Also try getting an MP3 player that doesn't require extra cords. Those could be lost in a teenager's room. Many MP3 players are made to simply plug into a USB port, and those seem to be the most convenient.

2. Sunglasses - While this might seem a bit cliche or obvious to some, sunglasses are always popular. They're still considered "cool" and with the wide variety of styles these days... one is sure to be a hit with either boys or girls.

3. Wallet/Purse - Another someone obvious gift idea that's often overlooked. Teenagers are starting to carry money, personal papers and misc other things. They may have wallets and/or purses already, but they may not have great quality or the style they want. So try a nice leather wallet gift for boy's, and maybe a designer purse for a girl.

4. Games - This is a very broad gift idea, and the type of game you get will depend quite a bit on the teenager you're buying for. Most teenagers love computer games. Some also adore strategic board games though, and many like card games too. The card games we're talking about for teenagers might not be the kind adults think of though. Many teenager like card games that involve collectible cards. Magic and Yu-Gi-Oh are two examples of popular strategic card games which involve collectible cards.

5. Cell Phone/Top Up Card - Some teenagers have cell phones already, but many still don't. Their parents either don't want, or can't afford to have a two year phone contract. And teenagers talk. Alot. Thus having regular cell phones can create outrageous bills due to time limit restrictions on regular cell phones.

An excellent alternative - and a gift any teenager will adore you for - is to buy them a pre-paid cell phone. And if they already have one of those, the gift idea becomes extremely easy: Just buy them a "top up" card! The top up cards allow them to add minutes to their pre-paid phone, and can be bought at most major stores for as little as $20.

Black Friday Is Coming

2009-01-21T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Matthew Keegan

A day is soon coming that some folks are looking at with dread, for others in eager anticipation, while the rest of us are scratching our heads not knowing what to make of it. So, what am I talking about? Why, Black Friday, the day immediately following Thanksgiving Day in the US.

So, why so black and why on a Friday? Traditionally, the day after Thanksgiving used to mean one thing for retailers: it was the first day in the lengthy retailing calendar where a store could make enough money [move merchandise] to see yearly losses [for bookkeeping purposes represented by the color red] turn into gains [represented by the color black]. Supposedly, all the sales completed throughout the year were done at a loss until that one big day, Black Friday, whereby enough merchandise is sold to reverse course and to begin to turn a profit for the year.

Today, retailers don't rely on just one day, even though some news reports still seem to indicate that the day after Thanksgiving is so vital to them. In reality, retailers have long since spread their reliance on Black Friday further out; now it is an entire season, Christmas, that ultimately determines whether a merchant turns a profit for the year or not.

Of course, if you are part of that one small, but significant part of the population who must rouse themselves up at 5 a.m. one day after eating Thanksgiving dinner and schlep over to a local retailer to wait on customers for twelve straight hours then the day is, understandably, black to you. Happy Black Friday!

Copyright 2005 --Matthew Keegan is The Article Writer who writes on a variety of topics including: advocacy, automobiles, aviation, business, Christian themes, family, news, product reviews, travel, writing, and more. Samples from his portfolio are available right online.

How To Make A Gift Basket

2009-01-20T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Rex Ryan

Gift Baskets are an ideal gift for nearly any occasion. Gift baskets provide a convenient way to find a gift for practically any occasion, but they also provide an avenue for creative and personalized gift giving. Making gift baskets is fun and easy, and homemade gift baskets generally prove to be superior, personalized gifts to their pre packaged counterparts.

Finding a perfect gift is usually a challenge that goes far beyond understanding someone's interests and hobbies. One of the biggest problems with gift giving is the lack of true "tweener" products that cost in the reasonable $30-$60 range. For every hobby there are lots of little items that are needed on a continuing basis, and there are lots of bigger items that are expensive and/or very personalized equipment choices. Small items like golf balls and tees are not sizeable enough to represent a real gift, but a set of golf shoes or clubs is too expensive and individual to make a good gift. Gift baskets make it easy to find an assortment of smaller products and put them together for a personalized gift basket.

As a starting point, you should try to think of a quality, themed container to build the gift basket around. For example, a bucket makes a perfect container for a car wash gift basket. Absent a container that matches the theme, you will be forced to buy, find or make some other kind of container. Wicker baskets are popular, but really any container will do if it is dressed up properly.

Generally, gift baskets are put together with shredded paper. You can buy this paper at stores where crafts are sold, and cut it with scissors. This paper can also be used to cover the container if you are forced to use something like a shoe box. You could use newspaper, depending on the type of gift basket you are making, but colored paper is something you should plan on getting.

A great way to wrap the gift basket up is with tulle netting. This can be purchased at hobby stores or through many Internet locations cheaply. Place the gift basket in the center of a large piece of tulle netting, wrap all the content inside the netting, and tie it off with a ribbon.

If presentation is your top priority, some of the commercially available gift baskets will be hard to beat. But with work, a homemade gift basket can look even better than purchased gift baskets. But the real value in personalizing a gift basket is the thought that goes into the individual items of the gift. That's the thought that is remembered, and endearing to the person you are giving to.

Rex Ryan maintains the website:

http://www.giftbasketdeals.info

Was That A Letter From Santa

2009-01-19T14:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Brad Jacobsen

Christmas was a magical time for us as children, with the thoughts of Santa Claus coming to visit on every special Christmas Eve night. Thinking back, I remember waiting to visit Santa in the line up with all the other children.

We eagerly waited for our chance to sit with Santa, to give him our list for Christmas and to express how we were all good boys and girls that year. I remember visiting with Santa a number of times as a child but nothing was more memorable as one 37 years ago. At the time I was 7 years old and my sister was 5. It was a special year with my Mom, Dad, Grandfather (Papa) and Grandmother (Nana).

We all helped to get that special Christmas tree, hang the lights and decorations just right, while listening and singing to Christmas carols. Christmas eve night was now here and my excitement was topped by the hope that Santa would remember everything I had on my list.

That night, papa and nana came over to babysit us as our parents attended a Christmas party in town. It was getting dark and the Christmas lights were glistening around the house with the wonderful sounds of Christmas carols everywhere. As my sister and I got into our pajamas, papa waited to tell us some special stories of Christmas before our bedtime. My papa was always a very good storyteller, but there was one particular story that really stood out. He explained that Santa Claus had a very busy night on Christmas eve, and on his journey, if he stopped by, it was important that he have some milk and cookies so that he could continue on. After the story, my sister and I, scrambled to the kitchen, climbed up onto the counter to get a dish and a glass. My sister filled the dish with special shortbread and chocolate cookies while I filled up the glass with milk. Papa told us exactly where to place these special items so Santa would see them in plain view. We wanted to make everything just right for Santa! Nana and papa tucked us into bed, wished us a good nights sleep with special dreams of Santa's surprises for us in the morning.

Early the next morning, Christmas Day, before any stir of activity in the house, my sister and I jumped out of bed and immediately ran towards the kitchen. I noticed the empty plate on the counter along with a half finished glass of milk. All the cookies where gone (my sister had left about 5) except for some crumbs that were left on the plate. Next to the plate was a sheet of paper with a picture at the top, of a man with a long white beard. I hopped onto a chair next to the counter and could plainly see the handwriting that said 'From Santa'. Being so young, we had trouble reading the letter in its entirety so we jumped off the counter and went to our parent's room to show the fabulous find from Santa. We made sure that our mom and dad were awake fairly quickly by jumping on their bed because we really wanted to know what Santa said to us. "Wake up! Wake up! A letter from Santa! Can you read this to us Mom?" I passed over the letter. Although my mom was not quite awake, she turned on the light and said "let's see what we have here." Mom started to read the letter out loud. "From Santa, Thank you for the milk and cookies. The journey from the North Pole is a long one, and although it's late, I still have many more stops before I go back home. The cookies were yummy, and the milk was refreshing. Your snack will help me finish my long but exciting job tonight. I have left a special present for each of you for being such a good boy and girl this year." Our eyes glistened with each word read by our mom hearing that Santa had really been here!

Now, 37 years later, I don't remember all the gifts at Christmas time and but I do have a special memory of a letter from Santa!

About The Author
Brad Jacobsen enjoys spending time with family and friends at Christmas time and runs a web site that allows Santa to send letters to all boys and girls. You can go to santa-letter.1-800products.com/.

Asking For Abundant Blessings

2009-01-19T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Carolina Fernandez

"And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain." So God granted him what he requested. 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

I was feeling a little blue last week. Out of sorts. I had a funny sensation all week. Couldn't really put my finger on it. I was feeling uncomfortable in my own skin. An uncommon feeling for me and one that I haven't experienced since I can remember. I came to the conclusion that it was because I was entering unchartered territory in getting this Rocket Mom Society officially launched. That even though I see the need, feel the need and am eager to respond to the need, that others would not necessarily catch my vision. That to get it up and running was too much work. That I was unqualified. Technologically retarded. Feeling a tad bit sorry for myselfno, feeling sorry isn't quite rightum, maybe feeling that I had over-stretched my personal limitations. Yes, that's it: stretched too much. Reached too far. Dreamed too big. And my emotions hadn't yet caught up with my brain.

I needed perspective, but far more, I needed wisdom. I needed to read that going out on a limb produces anxiety. That these feelings were normal. That I wasn't nuts. That it was okay to ask for blessings. For reassurances. That praying for enlarged territory was not only "allowable," but it was part of God's design on my life.

I curled up on my living room sofa with one of my favorite books: Bruce Wilkinson's The Prayer of Jabez. Having read and re-read it many times, I needed to re-read it now and capture, once again, the wisdom contained in its few pages.

Growing up as one of those Christians who believed it would be greedy of me to ask for even more of God's blessings when I enjoy so much to begin with, I had a hard time with the concept that it was not only okay to ask for more, but that it was what God wants from me. For starters, I had an incorrect understanding of the word "blessing." I had, of course, heard the word, seen the word. Hundreds if not thousands of times before. But we use it incorrectly. And it leads to misunderstanding. As Wilkinson discusses, we say "Bless you" after someone sneezes. We casually tell people we wish them blessings. We bless the food, bless the turkey, bless the pumpkin pie.

But "to bless in the Biblical sense means to ask for or to impart supernatural favor." (1) When I ask for God's blessings, I'm not asking for more of what I could get, or more of what I could accomplish or more of what I believe I deserve! I'm asking for God to impart to methrough His supernatural powersomething which I could not attain by my own.

In Wilkinson's book, we see that Jabez left everything up to God: how he should be blessed, what blessings would befall him and how he would receive them.

It met me exactly in the moment in which I needed it. (I love when that happens) I was able to finish the book, pull myself up off the sofa (after a nice little nap) and bounce through the weekend with renewed energy and enthusiasm. I had a simple prayer: "Lord, show Yourself powerfully. Show me that You are here. All around me. Working everywhere. Even in my loneliness and my fear."

And funny little things happened all weekend long. I got emails from friends with whom I hadn't conversed in weeks. Phonemails, too. Kind gestures were bestowed on mecatching me totally off-guard. Like when I offered to watch a complete stranger's little girl in the outside lobby at the Cheesecake Factory so the mom could check on the estimated length of her wait, only to receive during dinner some food sent over by her as a way of saying "Thank you." Several more small, seemingly insignificant acts of kindness occurred over the next couple days, giving me very much a sense of God's presence. Of His working everywhere.

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, I would ask you to give special consideration to the word "blessing." It is not meant to be taken lightly. It is a word which we raise up to our Creator in prayer. With humility. We ask for showers of blessings in order to further glorify God. Praying for God's desires to be met. Not ours. We pray without ego. Or competitive ambition. But just to better walk these days in service to Him and to our fellow man.

My Thanksgiving prayer is that you would receive supernatural blessings in order to live more fully God's design on your life. That He would abundantly bless you so that all of the things that He desires in the world would be met through each one of us bold enough to ask for our place in it. That however God wants to use you to fulfill His goals, you would be up for the challenge. And that it would be crystal clear, that it will not be by your worksor by minethat His will be fulfilled. For as Scripture teaches: "The Lord's blessing is our greatest wealth; all our work adds nothing to it." (Proverbs 10:22) I hope you use some of the "downtime" of the holiday weekend to prayerfully submit yourself to God's work in this world. To be fully open of how and where you might fit into the eternal drama. That your heart would be pricked in such a way that you would be open to the miracles which God wants to do through your life.

May God's richest blessings come to you, on Thanksgiving Day and everyday!

NOTE:
Wilkinson, Bruce, The Prayer of Jabez, Multnomah Publishers, Sisters, p.23.

10 Tips To A Stress Free Holiday

2009-01-18T14:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Beth Tabak

"The stress-free way to enjoy the holidays is to plan, take one step at a time, and have a sense of humor." Beth Tabak

Can you feel the holiday jitters beginning? Suddenly there it is right around the corner. Relax! Take time to plan well now and ease into the holidays with a big smile. Grab a journal and pen, and let's get started.

Reminisce over previous holidays- In your journal create a column for What Works and another for Not That Again. Under What Works list the activities that bring you joy, come naturally, and click into place. Under Not That Again list your challenges. Jot down the things that drain your energy and bring you down. What can you do to delegate, dump, or change the items in the Not That Again column and embrace more of the activities in the What Works column? What changes need to be made?
Choose a theme you can be excited about- What is important to you this holiday? Base your theme on that. If you want to stay home instead of traveling your theme could be "Home for the Holidays". If your budget is tight consider "Simply Sensational". Your theme helps you stay focused. A theme that honors your spirituality could be "Faith and Family First". Or choose a favorite quote such as Mahatma Gandhi's "Be the Change You Wish to See in the World". Get creative, have fun, and write it down.
Set your top 4 priorities- Base them on what you really want which should connect with your theme. Get crystal clear. Write them down. When you know your priorities you are able to respond easily to a request and set boundaries. When someone asks you to get involved request 24 hours to respond. Look at your priorities and see if it serves them. If it does, consider it. If not, the answer is likely no.
Create a Map- What if you took a big trip without planning? You would likely get lost, waste time, and experience anxiety. It makes sense to plan at the holidays when so many areas of our lives are effected: time, energy, personal care, relationships, physical environment, and finances. Consider creating a task list thru the end of the year. It takes a block of time but will save you time and stress. It will rescue you from running in circles, going back and forth to the same place, and trying to remember what's next. In the past I've had hundreds of items on my task list. No wonder we get stressed when we attempt this in our heads. Here's a tool to help. Pick up a task list at www.StartingNowCoaching.com or create your own. On your computer create a chart with 4 columns. Use your theme for the header. Under your theme list your priorities horizontally. Label the columns in a way that is helpful to you. I use Business, Personal, Holiday, and Need List. Use small font and minimal margin space to fit as many rows as possible. Print your map. List your tasks and add on as they come to you. Keep your map with you at all times. Schedule time to carry out the tasks. Have fun and build momentum as you make progress. Remember to save it for next year.
Simplify- Every task must be handled. You can do it, delegate it, or dump it. Eliminate what does not serve your priorities. What can you get help on and delegate? This is a good time to get rid of those items on your Not That Again list. Hire someone to decorate or a housekeeper for the month. Have everyone bring a dish instead of you doing it yourself. Get your family involved and remember that things don't have to be perfect. Let go. This will give you the space to embrace what you truly enjoy.
Set a budget- Develop a budget that feels good. There are lots of ways to make a holiday special without adding stress to your budget. Show people they are appreciated. Plan family fun and activities. You can let someone know what is special about them in a card, letter, cassette, or video. Get creative. Every year I have one gift for the kids to find. I wrap empty boxes inside each other. When they open the last box there is a clue telling them the next step. Don't let a tight budget steal your joy. Make it fun!
Set boundaries- Decide now what you will not tolerate. Write it down. Remember your Not That Again list? Is there someone who ropes you into things you don't want to do? Have the conversation that's overdue. No is no. If someone keeps asking after you said no, they are attempting to control you. Setting boundaries is about educating people on how they can treat you. Is there someone you need to educate?
Schedule time for planning and yourself- When is a good time to update your plan? When can you take time for you? Put it on your calendar each week thru the end of the year. Keep the appointments. Add this line to your daytimer as a reminder: "I have an appointment in honor of myself this ______(day) at __:__ (time) to do something special for me because I sooooooo deserve it!"
Give in a way that gives you joy vs. obligation- When you give in a way that comes naturally to you, you stay in integrity with who you are. Therefore, you are able to share your own special gifts with others. When you are doing what you love life clicks. If there is a situation you are dreading, think about how you can tweak it and handle it in a way that would bring you more joy.
Take action now- Begin today so that you are tying up your last bows well before the pitter patter of hoofs on the rooftop. Keep your holiday journal and map close at hand. The sooner you complete your tasks, the sooner you can sit back, smile, and enjoy the season!

What I want for you is to take action to move one step forward to prepare for the holidays...Starting Now!

Please send your thoughts and comments. I would love to hear from you.

About The Author

Beth Tabak of http://www.StartingNowCoaching.com is committed to small business coaching & personal life coaching. She is also a speaker and columnist. Beth coaches big thinkers to move beyond limits, stand out in the crowd, and experience the vastness of their capabilities. Stop by to see all the gifts available to you and say "hello".

Thanksgiving Traditions Nine Ideas For Families

2009-01-18T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Susie Cortright

One of the highlights of the year in our family happens each November in an unlikely place: the bowling alley.

Years ago, my in-laws started a tradition of getting together Thanksgiving morning amid arcade games and greasy fries to bowl a few games. This Thanksgiving tradition has become a defining event in our family. Each year, more families join us and we sit back and marvel at how our web of family and friends continues to compound each year.

Celebrate families and togetherness this Thanksgiving Day with some time-honored traditions, which give us a sense of family identity and meaningfulness that can last for generations. Here are nine ideas for starting new family traditions - and for revering the old ones:

1. Sit down with your family and reminisce about your childhood celebrations. What do you remember most about Thanksgiving and the days that follow? Thanksgiving traditions can be much more than just food and recipes. In what ways did your childhood traditions symbolize particular values, such as abundance, generosity, the importance of family? What would you like to do that's the same? What would you do like to do differently?

2. Make a small booklet or a mini scrapbook album (which you can either make or purchase.) Write "Five Things I Love About My Family and Friends" and keep it out on the table during your Thanksgiving celebration. Each guest can come and record thoughts and insights. Other themes to try: "Five Things I'm Thankful For" or "Five Wishes for my Family and Friends." An even simpler approach would be to put one sheet of cardstock out for each year - and combine them together over the years in a Thanksgiving Gratitude Scrapbook.

3. Keep a Family Gratitude Journal through the year. Each night, a family member can share something that they are grateful for. Share the highlights of this family tradition at the dinner table on Thanksgiving Day.

4. Make a Gratitude Circle. Before the Thanksgiving meal, everyone stands and holds hands in a circle. Guests each take a turn sharing what they are grateful for. Or - if your guests are on the shy side - ask everyone to write down their blessings on a piece of paper, which you can read before or after dinner.

5. Designate a particular tablecloth for your family Thanksgiving celebrations. Provide fabric markers where guests can record their "gratitudes" or special prayers for the year ahead. Ask your guests to sign and date each message, as you'll be using the same tablecloth year after year.

6. Involve the entire family in Thanksgiving decorations. Family Fun magazine posts lots of creative ideas for the entire family here: http://familyfun.go.com

7. Make a hostess gift for the person who is cooking this year. Purchase an apron or a t-shirt or a gift album with sentiments of thanks from each guest. Present the gift after dinner.

8. Show your gratitude to an unsung hero. Get together with your family and decide on a person or a group in your community who could use an extra pat on the back, ie. firefighters, soldiers, police officers, volunteers. Put together a special plate of goodies and deliver it (or pack it up for shipping) as a family.

9. Preserve your traditions. After the meal, record everyone's favorite activities. Appoint one person to be the scribe - or ask everyone to jot down a few thoughts. And don't forget to take lots of photos. It's fun to place disposable cameras throughout the house so everyone can capture bits of the action.

About the author: Susie Cortright is the founder of Momscape.com and Momscape's Scrapbooking Playground - sites devoted to celebrating life with children. Learn more about her scrapbooking club or about starting your own scrapbooking business on Susie's team. Visit her site today to subscribe to her free newsletters.

New Years Resolutions Develop 10 Really Good Daily Habits

2009-01-17T14:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Edi Sowers

"Good habits, which bring our lower passions and appetites under automatic control, leave our natures free to explore the larger experiences of life. Too many of us divide and dissipate our energies in debating actions which should be taken for granted." Ralph W. Sockman

Most of us have at least some habits that we know do not support our well-being and success. Experts say that in order to break a habit, you need to replace it with a different habit. So, let's take out the habits that drain you, and add habits that give you energy! These things can be pleasurable things that nurture and restore you!

Here are some ideas to get you thinking (remember these daily habits will be different for everyone!):

Take a bubble bath

Go for a walk

Write in your journal

Write a thank you note

Call a friend

Do 10 minutes of stretching

Have lunch out under a tree instead of at your desk

Get to bed a half hour earlier

Wake up a half hour earlier

Brush your dog (or cat!)

The idea is not to add habits that you feel you SHOULD do - rather, to add habits that you would really LOVE to do because you know they will make you better able to enjoy life and do the things you must do!

Many people have a very difficult time with this. They are so stressed out and so guilt-ridden that they can't imagine doing anything for themselves on a daily basis!

A couple of tips to integrate these new daily habits:

Develop some sort of visual reminder. Most of us are so busy with full lives, it is helpful to have some kind of daily reminder until the habit becomes just that - a habit!

Try adding just one of your 10 daily habits at a time. It's less overwhelming, and you'll likely experience greater success!

So, write down your list of 10 daily habits, and start enjoying yourself today!

Visit LifeHouse Coaching to sign up for "Blueprints for a Dream Life" and receive Edi Sowers' f*r*e*e* weekly articles, coaching tips, and special offers. Edi works with women business owners who work at home and face the arduous challenge of balancing their personal and professional priorities in order to build their dream life.

The Hidden History Of Valentines Day An Emperor A Priest And A Goddess

2009-01-17T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Sharon Turnbull

Valentine's Day approaches -- that time of year when lovers (and wannabe's) are frantic, wondering whether to splurge on the heart-shaped box of chocolates, over-priced flowers, or the predictable greeting cards. Ever wonder how the madness all got started?

The history of Valentine's Day began with the ancient Festival of Lupercalia which honored the founding of Rome. To insure the fertility of the land, the festival also celebrated the erotic love that was the special domain of Juno, the Roman goddess of love and marriage. The month February was even named in her honor -- the word comes from the Latin word "febres", meaning feverish or febrile.

Held on the hillside near the Lupercallus ("Wolf-Cave"), where Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were raised as infants by a pack of wolves, the festivities were held on February 15 each year. Led by a pagan priest, the activities included "whipping" all the women to ensure their fertility.

Another part of the celebration involved a lottery in which the names of the unmarried females were drawn by the eligible bachelors and the couples were paired for the following year to honor the goddess Juno -- obviously a prototype of matchmaker.com.

Turn the clock forward to the third century and you find Claudius II serving as the Emperor of Rome, which by that time had seen its glory days and was now being threatened on its borders by the Goths.

Claudius had a problem on his hands. He definitely needed his army to be at full strength. He felt that married men weren't very good soldiers, given their tendency to go A.W.O.L. when it was time to harvest the crops or whenever they felt the urge for a conjugal visit.

So concerned was the Emperor that he used his authority to ban the practice of marriage. And he banned the Festival of Lupercalia as well, since it was obviously contributing to the high incidence of marriage that seemed to be destroying his militia.

For the first time, the pagan Emperor and the growing Christian church found themselves on the same side of an argument. The Church was also opposed to the pagan festival of Lupercalia, objecting to its lustfulness, and especially the practice of the lottery.

Yet it was a dangerous time to be a Christian priest. A parish priest named Valentine was part of the Christian underground and, in defiance of the Emperor's edict, continued to marry couples in secret. He was soon found out and carried off to prison.

There must have been something very "special" about Valentine. The Emperor himself supposedly took the time to visit him in prison and tried to convert him to the worship of the ancient pagan deities. He failed miserably, and Valentine was executed on the February 14, in the year 270.

Church policy in dealing with the ancient religions often included a strategy of incorporating, rather than just banning, the pagan traditions. And it proved to be an effective strategy. Many of our contemporary holiday rituals and traditions are actually based on ancient pagan celebrations.

Anxious to end the lusty Lupercalia that they saw as a "festival of the flesh", the Church was a bit more subtle than the Emperor in their approach to getting rid of it. Having a "Saint's Day" celebration for the martyred Valentine, and holding it a day earlier than the pagan festival, was a clever idea indeed.

But like so many other holidays, Valentine's Day was co-opted once more, this time by secular, commercial interests. And so today we find ourselves sending valentines to all sorts of people, even those for whom we haven't the slightest marital, romantic, or lustful feelings . . . and wonder where all the passion in our lives has gone.

Sharon Turnbull, Ph.D., is the editor of The Goddess Path, a free monthly ezine that combines mythology, archetypal psychology, personal growth and just plain fun. She is also the creator of the popular online personality assessments, The Goddess Quiz and The Greek Gods Quiz. You can visit her websites at: http://www.goddessgift.com and http://www.god-goddess.com

Costume Ideas Like You Never Imagined For Halloween

2009-01-16T14:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by William Lezubski

Halloween is quickly approaching and if you're searching for costume ideas, let us assist you in finding an exciting costume for this once a year spooktacular event!

Many of your ideas may come easily from watching your favorite movies, or you may read about the hottest trends for the holidays in your desired magazines, and come up with a really creative idea for a great costume character.

However, if you happen to be at a loss for a unique costume idea this year, times a ticking! Don't worry, we can offer you a list of the newest Halloween costumes available, and add a little twist that will make a hilarious splash for your outfit this season.

Halloween fun starts when you create that unique costume, that everybody wonders how you came up with that concept! Many adults and kids love to be the center of attention with the most creative characters that no one else will have, and that's a tough task in itself when there are dozens of retail stores selling the exact same Halloween costume.

The best costume tips we can offer to ensure that you don't have half a dozen people with the same Halloween outfit, is to try and mix and match the costume, in order to create an outrageous combination, which will have your friends and family howling their heads off!

Think Out Of The Costume Box To Get Those Creative, And Fun Juices Flowing!

If you're having a little trouble coming up with something that will wow your party guests, remember you must think outside the box! If you need a little push in the right direction, let us offer you a few of our suggestions to get you started, and see if you can expand on our outrageous Halloween tips.

Become a Vampire Baby: Just think about it for a second? Dracula had to be born and brought into this world just like us, so did you think he came into this world with his fancy ensemble? Of course not, so how about taking a large blanket for a diaper, a full-size skin tone color or light grey body tights, cape, white face paint, blood, and a pair of fangs. Add a baby bottle filled with deep red cranberry juice and VOILA!

Now with your baby vampire outfit ready to take on the dark underworld of infants, we are sure you can imagine the laughs you will get, and I bet you wouldn't have thought that Dracula would be getting his/her gruesome cheeks pinched so much during the night. After your party, it's going to be rather painful crawling back into your coffin.

Here's another wacky one! Cross-Dressing Darth Vader: Find a really awful dress, preferably off-white or pink, and get your hands on a Darth Vader mask. Now we're sure with the popularity of Star Wars that you will come across many Vader costumes, but while they may be switching over to the dark side that night, you will be flipping-over to the Darth Vader Cross-dressing side.

Come on, can't you picture this great idea! Going up to guests at your party and saying, "Luke, I'm really your mother!" Ok let's move on, maybe you'll like our next idea!

For the adult only event, and we mean a total non-Halloween family function (no kids allowed), the guys can consider going as an Egotistical Scotsman! Order a Highlander costume complete with the plaid skirt and all the accessories. Now we're sure you're actually wondering what is the major difference from another Scottish costume.

Here's the twist, you go out and purchase a skin tone color stocking and fill it with foam, tie off the tip to give it the, well, you know what look we're talking about! Then wrap it around your waist, letting it hang just long enough for it to be showing slightly below your skirt. Who's the king of Scotland now! For the men that still don't get what I'm trying to explain here, talk to your better halves or your mother, they can help you!

Of course we are not going to leave the women's costume ideas out, but it was a little more difficult coming up with a twisted thought for the ladies. So here we go!

Female Hugh Hefner: It's time to turn the tables, and we know it's not difficult for a beautiful lady like yourself to get your hands on a few of your male friends to dress-up as sexy Playboy bunnies! The rest is history, all you have to do is go online and find an authentic Hugh Hefner smoking jacket, silk looking pants, and fake cigar.

Make sure you're strutting around with your Playmates waving your cigar and acting extremely arrogant, and pinching the occasional bunny cheek during the night. (Pinching at your own risk, and we take no responsibility for this action, oh what the heck, give him two pinches on the cheeks for good luck!)

In order to make sure your costume theme idea is realistic, you must ensure your male partners are hanging around you often, giving you all the attention you deserve as the sexiest Playboy icon. Have the guys wear thick red lipstick while placing kiss marks all over your cheeks. We have a feeling after the Halloween party is over, you may not want to give up all that attention! We may be creating some monsters here.

Kids Ideas Are Very Creative When It Comes To Wacky Costume Fun!

Children are the best source when it comes to thinking of crazy ideas, and they can easily turn up with some mad creations! If you don't have any kids to help you, then contact the closest friend that has a bizarre imagination. If you can do it on your own, then we suggest you jump on your witches broom, and fly with your off the wall idea.

It's crunch time, and you want to make your ideas fun and unique. If you happen to like our wild ideas, and they find your funny bone, then go with them. Or if you would like to create your own concept, go for it.

The bottom line here is that we want you to achieve a great costume idea, by taking simple concepts and letting your ideas work to create that little twist, that will make your outfit that much better. Your Costume will be so funny that you will have all your guests laughing in stitches. Hmmm., stitches, I think we have another great idea for a costume!

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

Choosing Perfect Christmas Gifts For Women

2009-01-16T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by George Wood

Finding great Christmas gifts for women is a tough job for many men. You think, plan, cancel plans, make new ones, and then buy a gift which you think the lady would never like. Why not think a little beforehand and then act according to it. What you need to think about is what the woman is most specialized in or how she enjoys herself the most. For example, if she likes to try new fashions and colorful clothing items, then you can buy a wonderful scarf or a muffler for her. Even sweaters, stockings and shawls are liked by many women.

Think of what might be useful for them in their household. Most women like to receive Christmas gifts which will help them decorate their home, especially the bedroom and the kitchen. They like to try out new machines, choppers, blenders, juicers etc. These machines can prove to be good gifts for women. For the bedroom she would love to have elegant lamps, mirrors and rugs. If you want to have something smaller and more stylish you can also look for decorative stuff, for example candles, and fresh flowers. Even perfumes and body accessories are loved by many women.

Humorous gifts also tell woman how much you care for her to have thought of such an idea to make she smile. It is always very touchy to give something out of your own possession which woman may have admired or appreciated at some point. Polish it a little and wrap it in a beautiful Christmas gift wrap to give it a new look. Buy something nice for the bedroom or living room and help her in deciding where it should be placed. Try to have everything in perfect harmony so that nothing may look out of place or disoriented.

Finally, an idea every woman would love, is to receive a shopping voucher as a Christmas gift. All women are shopaholic whether they admit it or not. You can also surprise your lady with a surprise dinner at her favorite restaurant. Women love it when men remember their favorite hangouts and other things they might have told them at some point in their lives. If you can think back to an old occasion the both of you enjoyed, you can bring back that time by making everything look the same again and surprise her. Believe me, this is going to take her breath away.

George Wood is a successful webmaster of many popular sites including lowers and purses site. If you want to read more about Christmas, click over to George Christmas site.

A Perfect Gift

2009-01-15T14:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Regina Garson

As the holiday season swings into overdrive, many of us agonize one more time over the perfect holiday gift for our loved ones. No matter the budget, no matter the list, the agonizing is a yearly ritual. One of my kids' early preschool teachers had the best gift idea of all. She said no matter what else you give them, be sure to give your kids some memories. When you get down to it, memories are one of the very few things that you can count on lasting.

I still think about that bit of advice as I reminisce about the best Christmas ever when my own children were small. In the classic family tradition, they were all snug in their beds. I had just finished my holiday cleaning. Every decoration was perfect, all the gifts were neatly wrapped and truth be known, Santa had already stopped by.

Then, as fate would have it, the dog needed to go outside. I was unaware it was even raining until he trotted back in through the kitchen, leaving a tell-tale trail of muddy paw prints across my fresh shinning floor. I stared in disbelief at the muddy paw prints. They led right up to the table where Santa's treats were still waiting. And then, in a flash, I grabbed a bowl, trotted right out into the rain and scooped up my own batch of newly-minted mud.

I pondered momentarily, wondering exactly what a reindeer's footprints looked like. Then I realized that since no one in my family had ever seen them either, the only thing that really mattered was that they had to be different from those of the dog. I started the tracks at the door, and planted muddy little three-toed paw prints right beside the dog prints. I went all the way up to the kitchen table, and then back to the door again.

Then I took out a piece of paper and wrote:

I am so sorry, but Rudolph saw the snacks on the table and he came in behind me tracking mud all over the place. I am very sorry for the mess.
Merry Christmas,
Love Santa
P.S. Thanks for the snacks.

Then I took a few really good bites out of some carrots and placed the stems on the plate next to what now remained of Santa's cookies.

Of course, the kids found the note and the muddy reindeer mess before I got up. They rushed in to wake me up and tell me what Rudolph had done and for me to please not be mad at him for messing up my clean floor. Santa was really sorry. He even left a note.

What were the gifts that Christmas? I no longer have a clue. But ask the kids about the time Rudolph got loose in the house and tracked mud all over the kitchen. They will tell you and I still remember their faces and the excitement over the misadventures of Santa's errant reindeer. They'll never forget and I won't either.

Christmas was suddenly alive, it was real and the magic lived. Years later they asked me about that event and how it came about. A mom tracking mud over her own freshly-mopped floor never occurred to them. And so they believed. If there had ever been a shred of doubt in their minds, it vanished and Christmas was born once again.

You can never know when your magic moment might come. Our best ever was Rudolph's muddy mess. Everyone has a similar story, and if they don't they most certainly should. My mom told me that when she was a child all snug in her own bed, late one Christmas Eve, she heard sleigh bells in the darkness outside her window. She too believed. If you ask her about it today, she will tell you about those bells of yesteryear as if it were only last night.

This year, if you can, just for a moment, put the holiday frenzy on the back burner where it belongs. It's Christmas. Give the most enduring gift of all. Keep the magic alive. Give a memory.

Regina Pickett Garson edits and publishes Magic Stream, http://www.magicstream.org -- which is among the earliest online self-help and wellness resources. She teaches at Virginia College in Huntsville, Alabama.

Holiday Decorating Tips Thanksgiving A Time For Gratitude And Giving

2009-01-15T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Jeanette Joy Fisher

Turkey and Cranberries! Yeah!

Start a new tradition this Thanksgiving dinner. Before you dig into that turkey, take a moment for each person to say one sentence beginning with...

"Today, I am grateful for..."

You will be surprised at what children say, so keep a notebook handy to write down the gratitudes, or, better yet, record the event.

Thanksgiving Decorating Tips

"Welcome to Our Home" Ideas

Holiday decorating isn't just for Christmas! Door wreaths welcome all to your home and set the stage for celebrating. Make a simple wreath to hang on your front door with Thanksgiving colors--brown, russet, olive green. Use tree branches from your garden; attach a few gourds, nuts, and ribbons.

Place a gorgeous mum by your front door. You can plant it later and get flowers next Thanksgiving to use inside. It just takes one bright spot near your front door to attract the eye of arriving guests.

Wrap your front door with gift wrap appropriate to Thanksgiving.

Make a "welcome to our home" banner. Add your ribbons and fall leaves.

Group vines, pumpkins, and mums for display impact near the front entrance. Adjust the vines to add height and movement.

Fall Leaves make great interior and exterior decorations. Be sure to hose off any bugs!

Interior Decorating Tips

Tie ribbons around your candle bases and around your floral arrangements.

Set fall-color leaves under your decorations. Safety Tip: Keep leaves separated from melting candle wax.

Extend your flower arrangements with fall tree branches. Just one flower package makes a huge impact when you divide and spread it around.

Use copper, bronze, and gold spray paint to dress up plain gourds. Fill a glass or crystal bowl with the gourds, oranges, and nuts.

Display vegetables and mini pumpkins on a tray. Fill in any gaps with fall leaves, moss, straw, or wheat.

If orange clashes with your home's interior, use green apples and spray paint the mini-pumpkins.

Did I already say leaves? Here's another way to add fall color: Place the leaves in your green potted-plants.

Thanksgiving Giving

One beautiful way to kick off your holiday season: Wrap tiny gifts in gold foil; top off with brown and russet ribbons, and place the gifts on the dinner plate. Your table will look fabulous and your guests will love the thought.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Free holiday decorating ideas teleclass, "Interior Design Secrets to Glorious Holiday Decorating" and more holiday decorating tips Joy Holidays Decorating http://JoyHolidays.com

Interior Design Ideas

Plus Size Halloween Costumes

2009-01-14T14:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Rich Rojas

Dressing up in costume is a fun way to let your personal style run wild. Halloween is the peak season for costume shopping and just because you wear a plus size doesn't mean you're limited in your costume choices. Today savvy clothing and specialty stores have begun paying attention to the needs of plus size women and this extends to offering plus size Halloween costumes.

When shopping for a plus size costume, give yourself adequate time to choose a costume and outfitting it with the necessary accessories. You can give yourself a head start by following the suggestions below:

*What's your theme? -- Unless the party you're invited to is based around a theme, you're free to choose whatever theme suits your mood. Do you want funny, scary, historical, or sexy? There are even plus size couples costumes available.

If you can't decide, then just browse through the many clever plus size adult costumes available on-line. If you already have an idea for a costume, then you're more than likely to find it with a little searching.

*Available sizes -- plus size costumes are available in most of the women's plus sizes. Some costume styles top out at a size 18 while others are only available in sizes 18-24. However, many are available from 1X to 4X, which should accommodate many plus size shoppers.

*Don't forget the accessories -- a pirate needs a sword and a witch needs a broom, but don't assume these essential accessories are included in the base price of a costume. So be sure to see which items are included and which are sold separately. Some items like sunglasses will need to be purchased elsewhere.

*Remember the practical side -- evenings in late October, when most Halloween parties are held, can be somewhat cold in northern climates. So be sure your outerwear will fit comfortably over your costume.

A beer keg or whoopee cushion costume will require a more creative approach to keeping warm. A better idea is to make arrangements with the host/hostess to let you change into your costume after you arrive at the party.

If you're going with a sexier look that exposes a lot of skin, then a pair of stockings may be an additional accessory you'd like to consider.

*Safety First -- the goal of any party is to have fun, but please take the time to prevent carelessness from ruining your fun. Avoid costumes made from highly flammable material such as paper and don't add anything such as cotton balls to your costume. All it takes is to wave this material near a candle to set off a tragic accident. And it goes without saying, never drink and drive!

Preparing for a Halloween or costume party takes a little extra effort and planning, but if you approach it with creativity and the right spirit, you'll guarantee yourself a wonderful time.

Rich Rojas covers the plus size fashion industry. Browse loads of plus size Halloween costumes and shop for quality plus size womens clothing and accessories at http://www.newplussize.com.

Super Easy But Cute Holiday Decorating Ideas

2009-01-14T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Gail Leino

As the thought of the next holiday looms in the future, our choices for holiday decorating ideas grow shorter. There needs to be something new and fresh; something we haven't tried before. Here are the perfect solutions.

Transform inexpensive everyday items into charming containers for holiday candies. Save everyday items like jelly jars or small paint cans for this project. Or if you like you can use your imagination and go out and buy an item that wouldn't necessarily be used as a candy jar; like a glass porch globe. Allow your imagination to run wild and use paint, stamps or decorative paper to transform your container. Use etching cream on glass jars to create a frosting effect.

Decorate for your next holiday by creating fun hand towels to spruce up the bathroom. Use fabric paint or markers, iron on decals or ribbons and lace to create your own festive holiday scenes. Another fun holiday decorating idea is to replace everyday pictures with holiday cards or pictures. Simply save old holiday cards or pictures of family members from the previous year. Switch your everyday picture out of the frames with the new holiday ones.

Holiday table decorations don't have to stop with an interesting centerpiece. Create your own place mats, napkins or napkin rings. Buy plain place mats and cloth napkins. Again, use your fabric markers or paint and your decals or ribbons to create simple, fun decorations not only for parties but for everyday meal times. Improve your centerpieces by decorating plain candles.

Use your imagination and search your local craft supply stores for items that will give those everyday candles a little extra kick during the holidays. By using these simple and easy to do projects for your holiday decorating, you can transform your home into a festive wonderland for any holiday.

We found Holiday toilet paper at Party Supplies Online. They have decorations, favors and party supplies for Halloween, Christmas, Hanukkah, 4th of July, Labor Day, and every holiday.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Free Party Games to help complete your Holiday celebration.

An International Christmas

2009-01-13T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Ieuan Dolby

Christmas is once again just around the corner and to me and every other regular person on this planet who goes out for a walk or who watches a bit of the television it is blatantly obvious. Even in Taiwan were X-mass was a few years ago a strange ritual that the 'white devils' participated reverently in, Santa Claus and his merry reindeer are becoming permanent features in daily life (some families have confused x-mass decorations with just plain old decorations so various coffee shops and residential houses keep have trees and flashing lights all yea round)!

Most x-mass celebrants associate X-mass with snow apart from Australians who suitably ignore the fact that X-mass occurs in the middle of summer and who continue to crack open cans of foster and have barbecues just like any other day of the year! Oh, and in Brazil were Papai Noel will do his rounds wearing a lovely ensemble of silk due to the summer heat! Japan and Korea can get away with the idea of snow drops falling and a "white X-mass" as these countries have snow as part and parcel of living there, but Taiwan (apart from a freak snowfall one year on the peak of the highest mountain) has no relationship or feeling to the white stuff at all. They Taiwanese do though continue to emphasize X-mass with snow as if the two are inseparable and so shops and department stores eagerly decorate their spaces with snowmen and false snow and to turn down air-conditioning units in attempt to create the atmosphere!

Meanwhile, over in Singapore were the temperatures never vary from an average 30 degrees all year round keen enthusiasts attend Ice Bars in an attempt to really create the perfect atmosphere. One Ice Bar is located behind Boat Quay and near to the Irish Bar. Having just had a few pints of Guinness and feeling suitably warm with the effects of the night heat and the alcohol coursing through the veins what could be better than entering a freezer? And this is what the Ice Bar is underneath the gloss and the glamour. It is a large room, filled with chairs and tables and with drinks just like any other bar around the world; except that the temperature inside has been forcibly reduced to below zero. The bar has proved quite popular and is frequently attended by Singaporeans who have purchased Arctic Jackets and Thermal Underwear so that they may attend without getting frostbite. In equal proportions pissed Scotsmen and bemused Canadians attend in T-shirts and wonder what all the fuss is about! At Christmas though the profits at this bar quadruple as Christmas is recreated with atmosphere and it actually looks like a white X-mass in the thirty foot square walk-in-freezer. A spot of white x-mass that only 0.01% of the Singaporean population can attend, due to the requirements of space!

On the Internet X-mass is really a windfall for spammers! A time for placing Christmassy sort of words into spam emails in the hope that those checking their mails will assume that Santa is in fact real after all. And just a click away is the opportunity to book a flight to Lapland to see dear Santa and his wife at home in Lapland! As Ibia.co.uk advertise:

This is Lapland, the spellbound, un-spoilt region in the north of Finland, so beautiful that Father Christmas chose it as his home. Costs approximately 799 pounds for a one-night stay departing on 21ststDecember. NB: that after this date Santa is too busy delivering presents to be able to entertain guests.

Once upon a time many children used to leave little notes on windowsills and on mantelpieces, a belief forced on them by parents that Santa would be along soon. But as technology advances so does the ways and means to communicate with Father Christmas and Santa Claus.com offers the following feature:

HO!! Ho!! ho!! Write a letter to Santa Claus? Yes kids its true! Just finish this letter... Santa's waiting for *you*! From the North Pole, Santa will send your reply... faster than Rudolph the reindeer can fly!! Merry Christmas!

Please don't feel neglected if you have no access to a computer, Santa still accepts mail through the old-style postal system. In fact Children continue to write to Santa from all over the world and in a little city located on the Artic Circle in Lapland a Post Office, appropriately named the Santa Claus Main Post Office receives some 300,000 letters annually. The rush usually occurs at X-mass time (slightly alleviated by some confused Australians who feel they should send their X-mass wishes during their winter) so make sure to send letters early so that will arrive before X-mass and not afterwards. By simply addressing envelopes to Santa Claus, Babbo Natale (Italian), Weichnachtsmann (Germany), ¹'aVl {sing daan lou jan} (Taiwan) or to Pere Noel (France) with the address of Father Christmas Street, Lapland or to "were Santa Claus Lives" all mail arrives faithfully and unread. It is also quite possible should the return address and senders name be eligible that a reply will be sent from some busy elf, minus of course the large wish list made up of toys and games (cars and a new spouse for some adults who still believe in it all).

Wherever a person comes from Christmas comes faithfully every year. It comes bringing presents of no small size, of food in large and rich quantities and it comes with fanfare, bright and late nights and lots of happy memories until the New Year brings in its own to replace those of a week gone by. As children still believe that Santa is really going to give them what they want and as shop owners and retailers revel in increased sales; as reverends and fanatics increasingly attempt to revive the spirit of religion into the holiday season (even though its now well known that X-mass was never really about religion after-all) and as non-believers increasingly attempt to do the opposite Christmas is a time for families to be together, for loved ones to meet and anywhere except in Brazil, fires to be lighted and for the warmth to seep in (Australians light a fire for the barbecue, the a tin of fosters provides the warmth).

The true spirit of X-mass was invoked during those terrible years of World War One when Tommy and Fritz laid down arms to play football in no-mans land. A little-known Scottish poet, Frederick Niven, summed up the true essence of X-mass in his "A Carol from Flanders," with the final verse of;

O ye who read this truthful rime From Flanders, kneel and say: God speed the time when every day Shall be as Christmas Day

Ieuan Dolby is the Author and Webmaster of SeaDolby.Com. As a Chief Engineer in the Merchant Navy he has sailed the world for fifteen years. Now living in Taiwan he writes about cultures across the globe and life as he sees it.

Test Your Cupid Quotient

2009-01-12T14:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Deanna Mascle

Love and romance, mankind has paired into couples ever since Adam and Eve, but what makes some relationships sizzle and others fizzle? Some say it may well be the romantic nature of the individuals who make up the couple. However, whether you are single, searching or happily married, it is human nature to seek romance and love.

So why don't you take my quiz and test your Cupid Quotient?!?

1. In what country would a man send a woman a Valentine letter containing a rhyme and signed with a series of dots to represent his name? According to this country's tradition, if the woman guessed his identity correctly on Valentine's Day he would reward her with a gift.
A. Denmark
B. Italy
C. England
D. America

A. Denmark

QQ. In Denmark, a man would send a woman a Valentine letter containing a rhyme and signed with a series of dots to represent his name. If the woman guessed his identity correctly on Valentine's Day he would reward her with a gift.

2. In what country would young ladies awaken before sunrise and look out their window? According to tradition, the first man they saw would be either the man they would marry or someone who looked like their future husband.
A. Denmark
B. Italy
C. England
D. America

B. Italy
QQ. In Italy, young ladies would awaken before sunrise and look out their window. Tradition said the first man they saw would be either the man they would marry or look like their future husband.

3. In what country would a suitor leave a basket of gifts on his beloved's doorstep and run off?
A. Denmark
B. Italy
C. England
D. America

C. England
QQ. In England, a suitor would leave a basket of gifts on his beloved's doorstep and run off.

4. In what country would young ladies write their names on slips of paper and at Valentine's Day party young men would draw names. According to this country's tradition, the young man would then wear the name of his lady on his sleeve for days to claim her as his valentine, originating the saying "wearing your heart on your sleeve."
A. Denmark
B. Italy
C. England
D. America

D. America
QQ. In America, young ladies would write their names on slips of paper and at a Valentine's Day party young men would draw names. A young man would wear the name of his lady on his sleeve for days to claim her as his valentine, originating the saying "wearing your heart on your sleeve."

5. The tradition of pairing lovers in February comes from:
A. A pagan festival called Lupercalia when young men and women drew names to choose partners, exchanged gifts and often married after the festival pairing.
B. Geoffrey Chaucer who chose the date because the 14th of February was the day birds began to pair for the spring nesting season.
C. Pope Gelasius chose Feb. 14th as the day to honor St. Valentine.
D. The Romans once honored Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage, and Pan, the god of nature, during a festival on Feb. 15.
E. They are all true

E. They are all true
QQ: Interesting how many reasons there are to become a couple on a specific date!

6. Valentine's Day-celebrated Feb. 14-is a festival of love and romance. Its history can be traced back to which civilization?
A. Rome
B. Greece
C. Celts
D. None of the above, it was created by the greedy card, chocolate and flower companies.

A. Rome
QQ: While admittedly the holiday has become excessively commercialized, it is not a manufactured holiday but one with a long tradition extending back to Rome

7. Why was Cupid chosen as the symbol of Valentine's Day and lovers?
A. He was the Roman god of love.
B. A celebrated marksman from Greece, he won the hand of his beloved through an archery match.
C. According to Celtic tradition, Cupid was an unfortunate suitor killed by the arrow of an outraged father who refused to let his daughter wed for love.
D. There is no reason other than the fact greedy card, chocolate and flower moguls thought that was the cutest design created by their marketing staff.
E. All are correct

A. He was the Roman god of love.
QQ: Sometimes we get a little silly

8. The original Valentine, who was sainted after his death, was: A. A Christian priest who lived in Rome and was jailed and later beheaded for aiding persecuted Christians in 270 AD
B. Was killed on the site of ancient altar to Juno (the Roman goddess of women and marriage).
C. A bishop of Terni who was persecuted for converted Romans to Christianity and performing Christian marriages.
D. Was actually two different Christian martyrs.
E. All are correct

E. All are correct
QQ: You couldn't miss!

9. Deep red carnations tell your loved one that...
A. Your heart is broken.
B. Celibacy
C. Friendship
D. True Love

A. Your heart is broken.
QQ: Your heart is broken because they mean "alas, my poor heart".

10. Roses are among the most popular flowers for lovers to give, but what does the gift mean?
A. Hopeless love
B. Be mine
C. Love
D. Farewell

C. Love
QQ: That one was easy, wasn't it?

11. However, the combination of white and red roses sends what message?
A. Unity
B. Declaration of love
C. Farewell
D. Distrust

A. Unity
QQ: You could get bonus points for that!

12. If you hope to propose, what flowers should make up the bouquet you present to your intended?
A. Ivy
B. Blue violets
C. Globe amaranth
D. Rose
E. Any and All

E. Any and All
QQ: I think combining all these flowers would make a beautiful gesture as: Ivy means fidelity and marriage, Blue violets mean faithfulness, Globe amaranth means unfading love, and Roses mean love

You can find more trivia fun at The QuizQueen and Trivia Tidbit.

Holiday Party Planning And Free Games

2009-01-12T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Gail Leino

A holiday wrap-up party can be the perfect time to sit and visit with friends and family. It allows you time to sit and visit with them if you haven't for awhile. You can go as big as you want when making the guest list for an event like this. Friends, family, co-workers and anyone else you can think of are great guests.

Invitations should be sent out at least a month in advance since the holidays tend to be a busy time of year for everyone. The catch is that although your invitations go out early, the party won't actually take place until after the holidays, say early January. The invitations should encourage guests to bring a dish to pass. If you want to be very organized about your meal planning, designate which guests should bring salads, side dishes, desserts, and so on.

Another idea to key people in on when sending invitations is to bring their holiday pictures with them. This can serve as an activity instead of a game to catch everyone up on current events within the group. It also gives people a boost to get their pictures developed sooner!

Decorations can be kept very simple. Any leftover holiday decorations will actually serve the purpose very well. Since you are having buffet style food, a large table with a simple tablecloth and flower arrangement would set a nice tone. Party supply stores will have decorations at a discount after the season too! Pick any motif you want to follow.

To finish off your gathering, suggest guests play some games. Card games like euchre or hearts are easy to play with various numbers of people. Board games can also be very fun whether it be on an individual basis or split into teams. The day is about having fun and catching up with loved ones, so go for whatever laid back activities appeal to you.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has Holiday Party Supplies, ideas, pinatas, free party games, costumes, decorations, and activities.

A Christmas Gift Is Worth A Thousand Words

2009-01-11T14:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Natalie Aranda

Christmas is a time of celebration, sharing and giving. We have too much to say to and to share with our family, loved ones, co-works, those who we haven't keep in touch for years, and those who we haven't never met. We put our thoughts into each special Christmas gift. A Christmas gift is worth a thousand words.

Unique Christmas gifts are personalized. Personalized gifts show an extra bit of thoughtfulness. Those are the gifts that both you and your loved ones will remember for many years. Unique gifts have a personal touch whether you give the gifts to your girlfriend, boyfriend, wife, husband, mom, dad, daughters or sons.

A thoughtful gift for a wife, or a girlfriend that will be appreciated is always flowers. The best flowers to give at Christmas time are orchids, holly, poinsettias, and the Christmas cactus as well as any red flower. Flowers show how fresh and precious your love is. Flowers remind her how beautiful and elegant she is.

Sporting goods are always preferred by men - your boyfriend or husband. It says how handsome and energetic you think he is and it'll bring him more fun and excitement in coming years - soccer, soccer jersey, golf clubs and fishing gears.

Any gifts your kids want is the most special gifts for him or her. Just ask your kids - your sons or your daughters. They're your best source of gift ideas. They'll have a long list of things they want for Christmas.

Nothing means more to a mom or a dad than a handmade gift from their kids. Moms and dads love anything their kids make for them - cards, pictures, picture frames, and flowers.

Christmas brings happiness and joy to every family. For moms and dads, it's the Christmas trees that call their children back to home. For kids, it's the Christmas wreaths that hang on their doors to tell the worlds that they are growing bigger. For lovers, it's always Christmas flowers and Christmas flower arrangements to show the freshness, beauty and elegance of their feelings.

Natalie Aranda is a freelance write. She writes about family, love and relationship. She has been taking pictures of various Christmas trees and Christmas wreaths ever since she was a teenager.

For Thanksgiving Be Thankful Hes Not The Cheating Kind

2009-01-11T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by R. Houston

Infidelity is at an all time high. According to the latest statistics, 3 out of 4 husbands cheat on their wives. So if you have a faithful husband, you have much to be thankful for. Faithful husbands are in short supply. While most wives assume their husbands are faithful, only 1 wife in 4 can truthfully make that claim. An estimated 38 to 53 million women are victims of infidelity. Studies further indicate that 2/3 of the wives whose husbands are cheating on them (approximately 26 million women) have no idea their husbands are having an affair -- despite the presence of numerous telltale signs. In one study, over 65% of the cheating husbands admitted to having had more than one extramarital affair. With statistics like these, you can see why being married to a husband who isn't cheating on you is something to be thankful for.

A Rude Awakening

Infidelity now affects 80% of all marriages today. Each year countless women who never dreamed their husbands were cheating, are shocked when their husbands ask for a divorce or simply move in with another woman. Other wives are dumbfounded to find that family funds have been used to finance a cheating husband's extramarital affair. Still other wives experience a rude awakening when they learn they've contracted a sexually transmitted disease.

Why the Wife is the Last to Know

Why is it that wives always seem to be the last to know? Could 26 million wives be in denial, as many people would have you believe? If a wife has no reason to suspect her husband of cheating, it's easy for her to miss or misinterpret the telltale signs of infidelity even when the signs are staring her in the face. This is especially true if she's unfamiliar with what the signs of infidelity are.

4 Reasons to be Thankful

Not every married man is a cheating husband, despite statistics that indicate so many of them are. There are many faithful husbands who remain true to their marriage vows. If you're fortunate enough to be married to one, this Thanksgiving you have at least four reasons to be thankful:

You can be thankful that your marriage and family are intact.

You can be thankful the time and energy you've invested in your marriage have not been in vain.

You can be thankful that you don't have to deal with the emotional trauma that infidelity brings.

You can be thankful you don't have to agonize over the decision of whether to leave your husband, put him out or remain with him and struggle to get your marriage back on track.

If You're Not Sure Your Husband is Faithful

What if you aren't absolutely sure your husband is one of the few faithful ones? Be thankful you happened upon this article. Make it your business to find out where you stand before it's too late. Given the rising rate of infidelity, you owe it to yourself and your marriage to make sure you're not one of those 26 million unsuspecting wives. Familiarize yourself with the 21 categories of telltale signs. To receive a Special Report with detailed explanations of each of the 21 categories of telltale signs, send an e-mail to InfidelityInfo@gmail.com with "21 Categories" in the subject line. You'll be thankful you did.

RUTH HOUSTON is the author of "Is He Cheating on You? 829 Telltale Signs." For more information on cheating husbands, infidelity and telltale signs visit http://www.Is-He-Cheating-On-You.com

Host A Santa Letterwriting Party

2009-01-10T14:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by J Gardener

So, it's that time of year, again. Your son is being bombarded with thousands of commercials, touting all the "must-have" toys and kid-gadgets available this Christmas. He's at the age now, when he pays attention, and of course, he wants everything he sees. And he's obsessed with getting the word out. Time for the tried-and-true letter to Santa Claus, when parents learn each year just what's expected of them, to make their child's Christmas merry.

All your friends with children are facing the same situation, right now. Now you all have to find the time to sit down with your children and help them compose their letters, following "Santa's rules", this year-i.e., how many special gifts can be requested in one letter, what your children wish for others this holiday season, etc. Then you'll have to scour the ads in your Sunday papers or spend time online, searching for the exact brands of toys your children want, and hope that it's not too late to find them-and hope that you can still afford everything.

Since you and your friends are all in the same seasonal boat, why not combine your efforts? Sometime shortly after Thanksgiving, consider hosting a Santa Letter-Writing Party-or, rather, having your son host the party. It's a great way to address this annual holiday project, helping the kids in your son's circle to pinpoint and record their Christmas wish-lists. It's a great help to the other parents to know exactly what to shop for.

Whether you arrange an afternoon get-together or a weekend night sleepover, invite your son's guests at least a week in advance, with instructions that they think about exactly what they'd like to ask for in their letters. If they're not old enough to write on their own, have them look through the Sunday papers' toy ads and cut out pictures of the gifts they'd like. Ask them, as well, to think about what they'd like Santa to bring someone else in their lives, and a good deed they'd like to perform, in order to warrant Santa's special attention.

Work out some guidelines ahead of time, with the other parents-how many gifts can be requested in each letter, whether there should be one "special" gift each child requests, etc.

Have plenty of construction paper, children's glue, and crayons-or washable markers-available, so that all the kids can design and work on their own letters, with a minimum of adult supervision, in order to make each "letter" individual and unique.

Make the letter composition the focus of your party, the important event for which they've all gathered. Solidifying their requests in such a concrete fashion is a way of avoiding the inevitable "fickle-factor", to which all children are prone; they've made their choices and can't change their minds at the last second, because the mailman can't get to Santa in time.

Once the "letters" have been created, and you've promised to get them to Santa immediately, the party continues with a feast of potluck food, provided by the other parents. Games, Christmas videos, and carol singing are great ways to cap off the gathering.

Now you and the other parents have specific items you know your kids want for Christmas. Your shopping, at least for them, should be much simpler, this year.

Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented content. Learn how to truly light up your child's eyes this holiday season like never before with a letter from Santa.

Give Yourself The Gift Of Giving

2009-01-10T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Lynnette Phillips

The holidays are here marked by greetings of good cheer, merrymaking and all manner of festivities! In the midst of all of the revelry is, of course, gift giving and to many yuletide giving means more than the gifts under the Christmas tree. Along with the sweater for Aunt Sue, the bicycle for Jimmy and the slippers for Grandpa are the gifts to charities and disaster relief organizations.

Unfortunately together with extreme generosity come con artists and opportunists determined to take advantage of your holiday spirit and goodwill by turning your donation into their own personal profit. Ensure your charitable gift reaches the intended recipient by using just a little caution and maybe a bit of research.

Seek out known organizations and give directly without responding to solicitations. If you're unsure about the legitimacy of a charity, check the Attorney General's Registry of Charitable Trusts, www.ag.ca.gov/charities. While registration is no guarantee of legitimacy it is an important indicator. A source for national charities is the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance at (800) 575-4483 or www.give.org.

Be wary of copy cat names. Did he just say American Cancer Society or Unamerican Answers Society? If you're talking to someone about making a donation to a charity but didn't quite catch the organization's name don't hesitate to ask for the name to be repeated or even spelled out. After all, if you're expected to make a contribution shouldn't you know who will benefit? And while you're asking questions, find out what the group proposes to do with any excess contributions remaining after the intended purpose is met.

Any contribution should be made by check, never by cash, made out directly to the charitable organization and not to an individual solicitor.

Don't give through email solicitations. Clicking on an email link may lead you to a site set up by identity thieves. If you are contacted by what seems to be a reputable organization, contact their official Web site directly or give by phone (the call being initiated by you) or via regular mail.

Americans give roughly $250 billion to charity annually, with Californians counted among the most generous, not only showing compassion and support for their neighbors but also rushing to the aid of others throughout the nation and the world. The holiday season marks one of the most bountiful times of year for these neighbors, charities and relief organizations. Don't let your goodwill be affected those few seeking to line their own pocketsjust season your caring and giving with a little prudence.

Lynnette Phillips is a professional notary public and Certified Notary Signing Agent in CA. http://www.yucaipamobilenotary.com

Christmas Cards

2009-01-09T14:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Rob Anderson

Christmas Cards have been around since the 1800's as a way of helping people keep in touch with family and friends. More recently, businesses have used them as a way of marketing themselves and to help build relationships with customers and suppliers.

The first modern day Christmas Cards can be traced back to 1843 when 1000 lithographed cards were distributed via British Post at a cost of 1 Pence each.

It wasn't until 1875 that US citizens could purchase locally published cards and, in places like Australia, it is only in the last 20 years that cards have started changing from scenes of Santa in the snow to more familiar local summer scenes.

In the last 5 years, the Internet has brought us eCards which are popular ways of sending messages via email, in addition to the cards sent via the post.

Christmas 2005 sees another development in the history of the Christmas Card with the introduction of a new style eCard.

It is called the Better Christmas Card and has been designed to help raise money for Charities and Local Community Groups around the world.

You can purchase a personalized card with a photo of you, your family or favourite scene for as little as US$10, that you can send to all of your family, friends and or customers.

You can also phone in to a toll free 1-866 number in the USA and leave a personal audio message for your friends and loved ones to listen to as they view your eCard.

One of the fun things is that your card is added to a Christmas Cards Board. The board is a web page collage of what could well become thousands of other cards. It is based on the same 'Pixel Ad' system that saw 21 year old UK entrepreneur Alex Tew earn himself over $900,000 in three months.

Each day there is a Treasure Hunt to find winning prizes behind the cards on the Cards Board.

Card sale proceeds will be divided so that 10% goes into a prize pool to be drawn on January 10th and 20% will be distributed to charities, chosen by the participants.

Community Groups such as Schools, Churches, Sports Club and Charities can earn up to 40% commissions on sales as a Christmas Fundraiser. They are also entitled to free cards.

Rob Anderson, founder and CEO of Community Enabler Pty. Ltd., the Australian parent company of BetterChristmasCards and Co-OpWorld.com (a company created to bring local communities together), explained why he created this product.

"We were looking for a fun and simple way to help foster the Christmas Spirit. There are so many different cards on the market, but we knew there was space for something that was much more personal. After all, this time of year is largely about celebrating friendships and acts of giving.

What we just need now, is the support of everyone. We need people to tell their friends, businesses and community groups about us, so we can raise as much money as possible for Charities and Community Groups around the world.

In particular, we are hoping businesses will see how this product can help them stand out from the crowd and foster stronger relationships with their suppliers and customers. They can get started for only $10 a year to contact all their customers. Plus, it also acts as an advertising product. We are convinced it can help bring businesses new customers as they are seen to be supporting worthy causes."

There will no doubt be more Christmas Card innovations as technologies, such as the Internet and multimedia, become a bigger part of our lives. Better Christmas Cards will be just one of many new products that helps people better connect with friends and family at Christmas time for only a few cents per contact, just like those first British Christmas cards.

More Info:

http://www.betterchristmascards.com/

Contact Person: Rob Anderson (Founder)
Community Enabler Pty Ltd
1 Mayfield Ave
Camberwell 3124
Australia

Email: media@co-opworld.com

Australia 61-3-98090075

USA - 1-206-984-3026

Rob Anderson

Founder and acting CEO of Community Enabler and Co-OpWorld a web community created to help bring people together locally and who share special interests.

Rob is based in Melbourne Australia, but the team of volunteers working on the Co-OpWorld project are scattered around the world.

http://global.co-opworld.com

A Family Christmas After Divorce

2009-01-09T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Jeremy White

The popular saying goes like this: "Breaking up is hard to do." Yet, when it comes to marriage in the U.S., a large percentage of us do it. Divorce, however unpleasant, is commonplace in today's society, and dealing with it during the holidays is a fact of life with which adults and children alike must deal.

A divorce - especially a fresh one - can be particularly trying during the holidays. The Yuletide season is one of giving and family, and the dissonance of a divorce can greatly threaten the joy of the season. The challenge to adults is to keep Christmas spirits high for the children. Just because a relationship has been ruined doesn't mean a child's Christmas has to be ruined as well. Here are some tips for making sure that doesn't happen this holiday season.

Put Your Kids First - Christmas is a selfless season. It's a time when we focus on charity. Keep it that way. Think not of yourself or how to "one-up" your ex-spouse. Instead, focus on the needs of your kids. Ask yourself what you can do to ensure the holidays are happy and productive for them. Then do it.

Buy Your Ex a Gift - As much as kids love getting gifts, they also want to be part of the giving. They revel in the opportunity to give both mommy and daddy a gift or two, and it's up to you to help make that possible. Your little one has no money and no transportation, so the only way they're getting your spouse a gift is if you suck it up and take them Christmas shopping. Don't be the parent that's too proud to buy your ex a gift. It's the child you'll end up hurting anyway.

Don't Hog the Kids - There may be a custodial agreement in place where the kids spend Christmas with mommy one year and then with daddy the next. Everyone loses when that happens. Unless mommy and daddy live too far apart, there is no reason the kids can't see both. Perhaps they spend the majority of Christmas Eve at one place, then move to the other to spend the night and wake up on Christmas morning. Next year reverse roles so that both parents have the opportunity to watch the little ones wake up on Christmas morning and see what Santa left them. See what you can work out with your spouse. Remember, do what's in the best interest of the child.

Don't Take the Phone Off the Hook - When it isn't possible for one parent to see the children on Christmas for whatever reason, don't shut them out completely. Let the kids call them to say "Merry Christmas."

Old Habits Die Hard - Since Christmas is about family traditions, a divorce naturally fractures those traditions. That's especially hard on the kids. When it's possible to maintain an old tradition, such as helping mommy make cookies or helping daddy select a tree, do so. When it's not, start new traditions with your kids. They need them.

Don't Bad-Mouth Your Ex - If you need to complain about your ex, do so to your adult friends - and don't do it in the presence of your children. No matter how you feel about your ex, your children still love them and look up to them. Don't hurt your kids by badmouthing their mommy or daddy.

Easters Fresh Flowers Have A Long History

2009-01-08T14:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Josh Grossman

Flowers play an important role during Easter time. Lily plants can be found on the altar and in many homes, with the beautiful trumpet-shaped white flowers symbolizing purity, virtue, innocence, hope and life - the spiritual essence of Easter. But, few people know how these flowers came to play their part for the holiday.

Easter lilies are native to the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan, and the islands of Okinawa, Amani and Erabu. It was referred to in an old Japanese gardening book, which was published in 1681, and a drawing of the lily can be found in another old gardening book published in 1719. The flowers were introduced to England in 1819. In 1853 a Japanese missionary gave it to a friend in St. George, Bermuda who later marketed it. The Bermuda Lily was introduced to America in 1880, but a severe virus in 1898 ruined the Bermuda lily industry. Lily bulb production came to the U.S. in the late 1800s, and was centered in both Japan and the southern U.S. after 1898. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, the Japanese source of bulbs was cut off. As a result, the value of lily bulbs greatly increased and many people who were growing lilies as a hobby went into business. The Easter Lily bulbs at that time were called "White Gold," and growers everywhere attempted to cash in on the crop. By 1945, there were around 1,200 growers up and down the Pacific coast, from Vancouver, Canada to Long Beach, California. Over the years, the number of Easter Lily bulb producers diminished to just ten farms in an isolated coastal region on the Oregon-California border called the Easter Lily Capital of the World.

Lilies themselves can be found mentioned prominently in the Bible. When Eve left the Garden of Eden she shed real tears of repentance, and from those remorseful tears sprung up lilies. Often called the "white-robed apostles of hope" lilies were also found growing in the Garden of Gethsemane after Christ's crucifixtion. White lilies are said to have sprung up where drops of Christ's sweat fell to the ground from the cross. Traditionally, Easter Lilies are arranged in churches, to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In most Catholic countries, white lilies are dedicated to Mary, and have been a symbol of purity since the 12th century. In early paintings, the Angel Gabriel is pictured giving the Virgin Mary a branch of pure white lilies, announcing that she is to be the mother of the Christ Child. In other paintings, saints are shown bringing vases of white lilies to Mary and the baby Jesus. It is said that when Mary's tomb was opened to show Thomas that her body had been assumed into heaven, it was filled with these flowers. Lilies became the emblem of the Annunciation, the white petals signifying her body and the golden anthers her soul. The flower is also associated with St. Catherine, who converted her pagan father to Christianity when the previously scentless lily produced a wonderful perfume.

One of the greatest challenges for Easter lily producers today is to get all the plants to bloom at the same time and just in time for Easter! This is especially difficult because Easter comes at a different date each year. Growers measure the progress of Easter lilies every day. They look for certain signs of development, such as when the first flower buds appear, the number of new leaves that unfold everyday, and the height of the plants. These progressions determine whether or not the plants will be ready for sale at just the right time. For example, by counting the leaves on each plant, growers can predict how many days until that plant will flower. If the plants are growing too slowly, or too fast, the grower must adjust the humidity and temperature of the greenhouse. If some plants develop faster than others, those plants may have to be placed in a cooler until the other plants catch up.

Nowadays, other flowers have come to be associated with Easter, such as tulips, iris, gerbera, and even roses. Generally spring time colors such as yellow and orange are popular. You can even send flowers online with websites such as http://ww.beyondblossoms.com for a hand-tied Easter bouquet.

Josh Grossman is cofounder of online florist Beyond Blossoms (http://www.beyondblossoms.com). The company's mission is to let customers buy flowers and send flowers fresh from the farms at low prices and with great designs.

How Do I Get More Candy For Halloween

2009-01-08T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Lance Winslow

Trick or Treating is a good time of the year, one of the best, but if you are a young person you are interesting in one thing. How do I get more candy during trick or treating for Halloween? Well, the better your costume the better your chances, but you need to have a plan.

You need to practice your initial sales pitch. Sometimes the people at the door want to scare you, you must act really scared, this makes them happy and happy people give you more candy. So pretend to be so scared you cannot handle it? Scream or if you are a guy, jump back give it a little height four or five inches off the ground is a smart way to play it. If you have a few of your girlfriends with you, you need to practice your scream, but also save your voice.

In other words if you see people coming from a house all excited that means that they give out a lot of candy their and really get into it. If they are unhappy looking as they leave, then go ahead and hold back a little and save your voice for the better candy givers. Also it plans to have a map too. Also always look in the bag as they put it in incase they only put in a little they will feel guilty and this means they may throw in a little more. You have understand that these folks want to have a good time and feel good about giving away their candy, make it exciting for them and everyone wins. Think on this.

Lance Winslow

Creative Kid Birthday Cake Ideas

2009-01-07T14:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Mike Dougherty

A Creative Dream Come True

A hush falls over the room as you bring out your child's birthday cake.

With its candles glowing, your cake masterpiece sits at its place of honor for all to admire as the room fills with the oohs and aahs of your envious party guests. Your creative birthday cake is wonderful and it fits your party theme perfectly.

Your birthday child makes a wish and your guests join in singing the birthday song followed by cheers and applause. Then it's finally time to enjoy the taste of your delicious birthday cake creation.

Now that's the kind of reaction you want for your child's birthday cake!

Kid Birthday Cake Ideas

Let your creative imagination run wild when you plan your child's birthday cake, because just about anything is possible. Here are just a few ideas.

Princess Birthday Cake

Skate Cake

Butterfly Cake

Ladybug Cake

Hot Dog and Fries Cake

Volcano Cake

Bug Mountain Cake

Lego Cake

Madeline's Hat Cake

Princess Castle Cake

Green Eggs and Ham Cake

Panda Cake

Treasure Chest Cake

First Birthday Cake Ideas

Baby's Bib Cake

Baby Cakes

Baby's Booties

Puppy Dog Cake

Pail of Sand Cake

Like I said, when it comes to kid birthday cake ideas for your child's party, the only limit is your imagination.

Kid Birthday Cake Recipes

For the recipes for these and other creative birthday cakes, take a quick look at Fun-Kid-Birthday-Parties.com

Once you and your child decide what thier party theme will be, start thinking about your birthday cake masterpiece.

All it takes is a little imagination and your kid birthday cake will be a huge success!

Mike Dougherty has years worth of experience putting together birthday parties for his two children and now his grandchildren. Mike is now the webmaster for http://fun-kid-birthday-parties.com and the movie site http://best-dvd-movie-club.com

Decorating With Christmas Lights The Ultimate Christmas Spirit

2009-01-07T14:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Gail Leino

Christmas would just not be the same without Christmas lights, and they do not have to go just on the tree. An entire holiday theme can be devoted to the use of Christmas lights in all shapes, sizes, and placed in many different locations with different patterns. Create your own decorations using lights, and make your home the talk of the neighborhood and the winner of the "Best Decorations" award every year. Even if you live in an apartment, you can use lights to decorate your windows and if you have a balcony, you can drape lights across the railings as well as around the balcony door.

For those who have a home, do something with the lights besides just place them along the roof. Make a Christmas tree or sleigh on your roof or in your yard using different colored lights. Create a wreath on the top of your roof or in your yard. Instead of buying a wreath for your door, make one using Christmas lights instead.

One can be very creative with the use of Christmas lights, even to the point of creating giant candy canes with red and white lights. Of course, you have to have the model in order to wrap the lights around it, but for the creative and holiday-spirited person, it certainly is better than going to the holiday store and buying something that has already been put together by someone else.

Holiday time if full of joy and happiness for most people, so use your lights to transfer that to the world for a few months. Using a combination of different kinds of lights will set off your home in all its holiday glory big bulbs, small bulbs, twinkle lights, web lights, chasers, and even tiny white lights all mixed together will create a beauty that is beyond comparison. Scatter the colors rather than using just one color in order to set your home apart from the others.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Christmas Party planning tips, recipes, games, printable activities and free coloring pages.

Creative And Inexpensive Gift Ideas

2009-01-06T14:41:00.002-08:00

Writen by Ramona Creel

I have a friend who works at a loan company. She starts getting busy around August -- because her offices are flooded with people taking out loans for their holiday shopping. And she stays busy well into the new year -- because a huge percentage of those people default on their loans. Why do we feel compelled to go so deeply in DEBT buying gifts? It seems as though every year the bar is raised -- we are expected to spend more and more.

And where does all this spending get us? I can't tell you how many of my organizing clients have literally piles of old Christmas gifts buried in their closets -- items for which they really have no use, but feel guilty about cleaning out. I'm pretty sure that the holidays are not supposed to be about debt, guilt, and clutter! But you can also take steps on the "giving" side to make the holiday less stressful -- for both you and the recipient:

LIMIT THE NUMBER OF GIFTS PER PERSON

Some families feel like they need to have lots of presents under the tree for it to be a happy holiday. We finally had to ask our family to stop loading us down with a lot of "stuff" each year (although in much nicer terms!) We have limited our giving to one gift per person. And it's made such a positive impact (less pressure, stress, and expense) that no one complains about having less to open on Christmas morning!

DRAW A NAME

I learned this technique from a big family (we're talking 12 kids plus grandkids and extended family!) that couldn't afford to buy gifts for everyone. Each year, they all put names in a hat -- everyone pulls a name and buys a gift for that one person. That way, everyone gets a gift, and no one has to feel strapped during the holidays. then they plan a big party on Christmas morning where everyone opens their gifts.

FOOD IS ALWAYS A GREAT GIFT

Food is a great option -- especially when you like to give a little something to everyone you know. Bake a huge batch of cookies or make sausage balls -- or even the dreaded fruitcake (it's actually pretty good when it's homemade!) Then wrap a small bundle in colored cellophane and top with a bow. It's festive, it's inexpensive, it comes from the heart, it will eventually disappear (reducing clutter) -- and everyone loves to eat!

MAKE YOUR OWN GIFT BASKETS

Gift baskets have become the hip and happening gift over the last few years. You can customize the contents to the recipient's interests and hobbies. But paying a gift basket company to put one together for you can cost more than a traditional store-bought gift. I will shop sales throughout the year finding neat little "gizmos" that would go well in a gift basket -- a kitchen tool for my sister who loves to cook or something "cow" themed for my friend -- and stash them away until the holidays. I also look for practical (a colander) or funky (a cow-shaped cookie jar) containers to use in place of the basket. The result is a gift that I had fun putting together, that really means something to the recipient, and that costs less than looks like it should!

GIVE AN EXPERIENCE RATHER THAN A THING

You don't always have to give "stuff" when a gifting occasion comes around. Some of the best presents I have ever received were events rather than "things." And they don't have to be expensive -- one memorable gift for me was a day out with my friends at a state park (hiking, canoeing, and a picnic lunch). You can build some great memories, spend some quality time -- and you don't have to worry about your gift getting dusty or broken!

GIVE A HANDMADE GIFT

Handmade gifts have gotten a bad rap in the past -- as being cheesy or poorly made. But you can put together some pretty cool handmade gifts. At least half of my Christmas decorations are made by someone in my family -- and I get compliments each year on how nice they look. With craft stores springing up in abundance around the country, you can find tons of great high-quality, low-cost gift ideas. Handmade gifts have a "homey" feel that bought presents often lack -- and you get the satisfaction of knowing that you created it yourself. And if you really want to turn on the old heart light, give a gift that one of your kids made!

GIVE A GIFT CERTIFICATE

Gift certificates have also gotten a bad reputation -- you couldn't think of anything else, so you got a gift certificate. I happen to think that gift certificates are an excellent option, because it allows the person to get what they really WANT or NEED. And your gift certificates don't have to be store-bought. You can give gift certificates for chores or events -- babysitting or a night on the town. I recently gave a friend of mine a gift certificate for a day of horseback riding and sushi (?!) -- two things her husband doesn't care for -- and she loved it.

MAKE A CHARITABLE DONATION

This gift shows the real spirit of the season. You can choose from a variety of non-profit organizations -- from adopting a whale to planting a tree to making a contribution to the Kidney Foundation. And hopefully your selflessness and concern for those around you will inspire others to do the same.

GIVE A PIECE OF NOSTALGIA

One year, I made photo albums for my sisters. I gathered up pictures of our parents and grandparents, them as children, family events we had attended together, and important moments in their lives. It was simple and inexpensive and I had a nice trip down memory lane putting it together. And I don't know if I've ever gotten a better response to a Christmas gift. Anything that reminds people of the "good old days" is always well-received.

Ramona Creel is a Professional Organizer and the founder of OnlineOrganizing.com -- a web-based one-stop shop offering everything that you need to get organized at home or at work. At OnlineOrganizing.com, you may get a referral to an organizer near you, shop for the latest organizing products, get tons of free tips, and even learn how to become a professional organizer or build your existing organizing business. And if you would like to read more articles about organizing your life or building your business, get a free subscription to the "Get Organized" and "Organized For A Living" newsletters. Please visit http://www.OnlineOrganizing.com or contact Ramona directly at ramona@onlineorganizing.com for more information.

Halloween Masks Frightful Or Funny The Choice Is Yours

2009-01-06T14:41:00.001-08:00

Writen by Gail Leino

Halloween masks come in all types and sizes. They can be painted on with a skillful hand, bought in online stores, made by hand from latex, foam rubber latex prosthetics, cut from paper, or made from paper. Whether you choose fun clowns, evil clowns, or a monkey face, the look you want is not beyond your reach.

Halloween masks that cover the eyes, but can slip, are dangerous, and can hamper vision, putting your little ghost or goblin at risk for an accident from stepping into a hole and taking a fall, to stepping in front of a moving vehicle. Anytime you can use make up or a mask made of a non-slip latex prosthetic, it is much better. Safety should never be compromised by a mask that slips and blocks vision.

Halloween masks can be made very inexpensively with makeup and things you have around your house. The only limitations to these are your imagination. Very complex, somewhat expensive ($50 and up) foam latex prosthetic mask kits can be ordered online. These Halloween masks come preformed, so all you have to do is apply a little baby powder to your face, use skin glue, apply them to your face, and apply the make up according to easy to follow directions. Another alternative is to make your own Halloween mask using make up and a few "props" made at home or purchased from any department store. One thing I cannot stress enough is to put powder on the faces of anyone who plans to use skin glue.

Halloween masks can also be whatever that you wan them to be. Use your imagination and be creative. Go to the craft store and let your mind do all of the roaming that it wants. You get to be the creative genius in who or what you want to create.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies (http://partysupplieshut.com), using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has a huge selection of free party games, coloring pages, word find, word scramble, printable baby and bridal shower activities. Halloween Party Games (Halloween-Party-Fun.com), party planning tips, decorations, costume ideas, recipes, printable activities and free coloring pages.