A6UEp0dzhxlxGKguz4Ki5wcIfhDF5Pu: December 2012

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Decorating Your Home For Thanksgiving

Do you enjoy decorating your home for a family gathering? Then Thanksgiving is YOUR holiday! After all, you have your family and friends gathered at your home or the home of a close relative for a very special holiday occasion. How do you make them feel festive and welcome? How can you decorate in a way that is tasteful and fun?

First of all, remember why you are coming together. Thanksgiving is about giving thanks (I know - duh). But really, think about what this means. It is a time to reflect and consider what makes you grateful. Most people would say they have gratitude for their family. So, translate that into your home decorations on this occasion. Put out photographs of family events. You might include pictures of grandparents and great-grandparents or of occasions that people have forgotten. This will become a wonderful way to pass along family stories and introduce young people to their family history.

What else are you grateful for? Perhaps it is the great weather or great food. What does that suggest to you as decorations? Stage the table in autumn colors: gold, olive-green, red, orange. Get candles to place in the center of the table in matching or complementary colors. You might create a garland of dried flowers or silk leaves in those warm colors and hang them along a mantle or stairwell banister. Or drape them over wall art or the photos you have placed around the room.

Fall fruits and vegetables also make beautiful decorations and you might place them in bowls or along your dining table. Or even on any hors d'oeuvres tables you set up. Squashes come in lovely color varieties. So do oranges and pumpkins and cranberries and gourds of various types. Perhaps a lovely basket can hold these. Decorate the baskets with ribbons in the autumn colors and that will bring out the loveliness of the hues of the fruit and vegetables. Even find a classic cornucopia shape and place fruit and veggies as if they are spilling out of the frame. Remember these foods represent the harvest as well as the abundant meal you are about to serve. What else could you do to add to these items to reflect the harvest season? Don't forget the turkey! Create a "turkey" out of fruits and veggies or have the children in the family draw turkeys which are then placed around the room where the family will dine. This will both occupy the children before the meal and allow them to participate in the conversation at the table once the meal commences.

Another fertile area for your decorating imagination is the history of the holiday itself. It was a celebration of gratitude for the harvest and for the survival that a good harvest represented. You can find Pilgrim hats and cartoon figures as well as images of the Native Americans whose generosity and friendship enabled the Pilgrims to live through the winter. If you don't like cartoon-style figures, you can be more discreet and create buckled shoes such as those worn by the Pilgrims and place them by the fireplace or the front door!

One way to welcome people to your home from the first instant is to place an autumn wreath on your front door. Again, use autumn colors of orange and gold and red. Many people successfully use a grapevine as the base for the wreath and then tie fruit or veggies or silk leaves onto that frame.

Most important of all, remember the purpose of Thanksgiving and take the time to experience and express gratitude for one another and for the gifts of the season. Make time during the dinner for people to share what things they are grateful for in the past year or at any time. No doubt, someone will mention their gratitude for your creativity and for the lovely setting you have created for them to enjoy the holiday and one another's company!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Learn Four Added Benefits That the Lego Ninjago 9450 Epic Dragon Battle Will Provide for Your Child Get Organized For the Holidays: 7 Steps To Cope and Organize Your Post-Holiday Clean Up How To Protect Your Holiday Decorations From Spiders And Other Pests How to Choose Christmas Gifts for the Family How to Choose Christmas Gifts for the Family

How to Make a Christmas Hamper

A luxury Christmas hamper under the evergreen really does give you that magical feeling, wouldn't you agree? Want to save some pennies this festive season? Why not make your own Christmas hamper? Honestly, it's a cinch.

Homemade hampers exude the thought factor. And the beauty of making gift hampers for Christmas really shows you care. Aside from saving you a few pennies, the real advantage is you can make it as simple or as luxurious as you like.

Here are some top tips for Christmas gift hampers success...

Buy a basket.Wicker baskets can be found in most garden centres, online and in some department stores. But it's worth scouring your local charity shops, too, as you can sometimes pick them up for little to nothing. You can also use a pretty plate in a cellophane wrap to present your gifts, or a nice tray - both of which also work as an extra special present.

Cheese please. If you're making luxury Christmas hampers for cheese lovers, then besides the brie, mozzarella, cheddar and what have you, indulge them with a few goodies to go with it, such as crackers, red onion marmalade or chutney and perhaps a bottle of red wine.

Chocoholics. Know an insatiable chocolate lover? Keep them sated with a Christmas gift basket brimming with the sweet treats they love the most. How about putting your baking skills to the test and making them a chocolate cake? And who would say no to a box of milk chocolate truffles or peppermint creams? Or for those who love to bake their own chocolate delights, try adding a cupcake making kit.

Treat a tipple lover. If you know a tipple enthusiast, the best hamper ideas for Christmas would be those containing a bottle of their favourite tipple. You don't have to stick with the standard bottle. Personalised wine or spirits, complete with their name pus a special message, are sure to impress. Or try making your own mulled wine. Just add a Christmassy touch with oranges and spices.

Themed Christmas luxury hampers. Homemade hampers don't have to be filled just with food and drink - you can include anything you think the recipient will genuinely like and use. So if they're a green-fingered person, for example, you could include some liquid hand wash and moisturiser along with packets of seeds, a few bulbs for next spring, a new pair of gardening gloves and a gardening magazine. If someone's passionate about cooking, you could put together a hamper complete with unusual ingredients in line with their favourite cuisine, such as Thai, which they wouldn't normally have in their cupboards - along with a recipe book of dishes that use them.

Last but not least, luxury hampers for Christmas need to look good. Coloured cellophane gives a gorgeous, refined look to Christmas gift baskets. This is where a hairdryer comes in. No, seriously! For a professional finish, you can use a regular hairdryer to blow-dry shrink-wrap on to the basket. As a rule of the thumb, it's best to start from the bottom and work your way up to the top.

Line the bottom of your hamper with shredded paper. You can pick up this material from most art shops or if you have a shredder, do it yourself. Add some glamour by mixing in sequins and glitter for a truly festive feel.

Add some festive sparkle over your loved ones this Christmas with our scrumptious personalised hampers complete with all their festive favourites, from fudge, to personalised wine to luxury marmalades. In a few clicks and scrolls, you'll have bought a delicious Christmas hamper for someone special.

Creative Ideas for Christmas Workshops

With Christmas approaching it's a magical and creative time of year. You find yourself wanting to create new designs, decorations and tasty treats inspired by Christmas themes. Organising a Christmas workshop is a great way of gathering people together to share and inspire one another with different forms of creativity. It's fairly easy to organise a workshop and can be a constructive way that's fun for all the family.

A workshop could be organised through work, at your local school through the committee, at a church, or a local hall or venue where workshops and the like are fairly common. The size of the workshop will depend on the size of the event you had in mind. It could be a weekly event that's fairly small and all the local community can get involved or you could develop the event to be held just on one day at the weekend but make the scale larger to include other activities. There are lots of opportunities for people to get involved, come together and enjoy the build up to Christmas.

In terms of content, again, depending on the size you can include as many as the following: bake sales, arts and crafts stalls, or games area for small children to play with interactive stalls. Alternatively, you could choose a small venue, or even open your house for a small number of people to come over and bake, create and make gifts and decorations. You need a good size table; a few would be better and make sure you've got all the equipment you need. You could ask each person to bring something with them, which would split the cost and ensure you have a nice variety of items.

In terms of ideas of what to create at the workshop, there are lots of ideas online and in magazines. One idea that is simple and easy to make is a snow globe; a classic Christmas toy or decoration for your home. All you need is a jam jar or something similar like baby-food jars, olive jars and so on. You then need to choose your centre piece that will be placed inside the jar such as small plastic or ceramic figurines. These can be found in flea markets, charity shops, toy stores and you may even have some in your home, used previously for putting on the Christmas tree. Place the figurine on the jam jar lid securely with glue and fill the jam jar almost to the top with distilled water. Add a pinch of glitter and a splash of glycerine to stop the glitter from falling too fast. Screw the lid on tightly, carefully and turn the jar over and back again and watch the snow fall.

Make Your Own Cards Online to Save Time and Money

Learning how to make your own cards is a valuable skill that can save you a lot of time and money. In addition to making great, personalized cards that your friends and family will love, you'll also have a lot of fun making them! Online, you'll find some excellent card-making tools that are easy to use and let you apply versatile design features to personalize every card you make.

In order to make your own cards, you're going to need a printer and some printable cards. When most people think of printable greeting cards they think of blank white cardstock, but in reality you can find as dressed up or down a printable greeting card as you desire. If you shop online you'll encounter a vast selection of printable cards in themed designs, holiday designs, and formal styles. A lot of printable card sets even come with free envelopes, so you won't have to worry about fitting them. If you like the prospect of making your cards totally from scratch, printable blank cards are available from many retailers in several finishes. No matter what type of printable greeting card you choose, it is important to determine whether or not the greeting cards you select will work with your printer. Most printable greeting cards are inkjet and laser printer friendly, but check your product's specific details to make sure what is compatible with your own office equipment.

Once you have all of your card-making materials ready to go, it's time to make your own cards! This can seem like an overwhelming process at first, because there are many ways you can go about it. Most likely you'll be using a greeting card template which will organize the contents of your card and guide you on how best to print it. However, since these templates often come in the form of free downloads some worry about their reliability and security. Using an online design program from an established stationery retailer will give you a highly visual card-making experience so you can focus on the details of the design process without worrying about the technical side of things. Another plus is that you will likely be able to save your templates and use them again in the future to quickly make cards for other holidays or events. Look for a program from a trustworthy source that offers a range of creative tools in an easy-to-use interface.

By making your own cards online with a free design program, you'll make your life easier during special occasions and have the opportunity to make heartwarming greetings for those you care about. You'll be surprised by how much the web can offer!

Try This at Christmas: 3 Ways to Change Your Mind About the Holiday

Mark and Angel are doing the holidays differently this year.

For starters, they are only buying gifts if Mark is able to pick up the extra freelance jobs and Angel finds extra catering work. They are optimistic about getting gifts as they both have been hustling the past few months. However, they are committed to financial recovery and health this year so they are ready to stop extra spending if necessary.

October family activities are a little different this year, high on creativity and low on cost. Mark and Angel take their growing family of three little boys on Day trips to Pumpkin patches and the ocean. For food, it's trips to Taco Bell on the beach and free pumpkin mazes- not expensive fish restaurants.

Angel is spending a lot of time cleaning and organizing their home now. With a big move this past year, there is a lot to go through and she doesn't want to spend December in cleaning mode.

"I want to clean now so I can enjoy our home more later," Angel says.

By later, I know she means the holidays. It might be October now, but Mark and Angel are keeping their eye on the upcoming holiday season, preparing to celebrate in a rather counter-cultural way: low on money, high on hospitality and quality (and quantity) time with friends and family.

For the modern girl who is on the run this season, here is some news she may enjoy hearing: the holidays don't have to run her down.

In fact, the time between Thanksgiving and New Years could turn into a season of rejuvenation and celebration. Rejuvenate during the Christmas season? It almost sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't? After all, this is the time of year that starts out with a bang on Black Friday (it really starts in the grocery stores during Thanksgiving week, and doesn't end until after New Year's Day- when the gift cards are redeemed, the decorations taken down and the resolutions put on the shelf (resolutions are mostly a nostalgic ritual anyways, right?)

Some people like the go-go-go sprint of the season. If so, read no further. Keep on keeping on. (I'll send you a Stress Relief Kit in January).

If you have other ideas about how the season might be spent, you are in the right place at the right time.

Focus on your priorities by differentiating what are the big things and what are the little things that will get your finite time, resources and energy this season.

We are constantly at the beck and call of the urgent. Have you noticed that whatever urgent thing comes up turns into a mini-crisis that needs our attention? But other people's drama doesn't need to be your emergency. This goes for the family member who is having another meltdown and the teacher who has committed to the impossible for the Christmas presentation. Mismatched handmade costumes will probably be just fine- and cuter- than expensive catalog ordered costumes. Your friend should probably think about professional counseling for the reoccurring, cyclical crisis that keeps coming.

Mark and Angel are prioritizing staying financially healthy this season. They are also prioritizing hospitality- making their home ready so they can welcome friends and family throughout the season. Angel is wise- she knows she can save herself a lot of stress later if she focuses on organization and eliminating unwanted and unneeded stuff right now.

Decide what is important to you this season: being available to a friend going through cancer treatments, helping your 2nd grader's teacher get ready for the Christmas play, making handmade scarves for your nieces and nephews, volunteering at the Food Bank, sticking to a budget, making the perfect fudge, hosting friends and family in your home throughout the month.

Decide on what will constitute the major and minor events of the season. Decide to let minor events go.

Welcoming people into your home and sharing a meal or snacks with them over a good conversation or a movie is a great, inexpensive, relationship-building way to connect during the holidays.

We often do not remember the gifts we give and spend our money on but we remember special moments of the season shared with family, friends, neighbors and even strangers.

Remember the reason for the season- a time to reflect and celebrate.

Christmas started as a way for people of the Christian faith to celebrate the birth of Jesus, who they believe to be the Savior of the world. It was a time of rejoicing and good food, of getting together with family and friends. As the centuries continued, more traditions were added. The Germans gave us the tradition of the Christmas tree, gifts were given as a symbol of the Wise Men's gift to the baby Jesus. People of past generations and centuries would be shocked to see the mad rush of emptying our bank accounts and adding to commercialism that marks our celebrations today.

What does the season mean to you? What motivates you to give gifts. Don't let your answer be: this is what I've always done. Dig a little deeper and feel what drives you.

If you don't like what is driving the mad rush behind the season, is it possible to pivot your stance and change directions? I'm not talking about radicalism, just a shift in thinking, celebrating, spending, and giving. Make it about special experiences and moments that really do take your breath away. Slow down and count the blessings in your life- strong legs to walk through the cold weather, the beauty of frost on the ground and a fresh wreath on the door.

The Christmas season was supposed to increase our joy and thanksgiving, not deplete us of all energy, sanity and money. What small things might you do differently to have a merry Christmas instead of a mad-dash Christmas this year?

5 Ways to Give Creative Gifts at Christmas

Gift giving at Christmas: you either love it or loathe it.

Whichever group you are like, even the most enthusiastic Christmas shopper tends to get droopy the closer it gets to Christmas. In reality, there are ways to share the joy of giving without going broke, crazy or losing sleep for multiple nights in a row. Gift giving takes a bit more creativity at Christmas to be unique, enjoyed and within budget.

The secret to creative Christmas gifts is creativity and organization. With a little time and thought you can come up with creative Christmas gifts. Pick a money budget so you don't overspend. Don't overlook practical gifts such as food gifts. Practical gifts are very lovely for all sorts of people; what you think is an ordinary skill (canning, breakmaking, dried soup mixes) may be someone else's favorite gift. My favorite gifts from my brother and sister in law include homemade salsa and homemade canned applesauce.

Don't forget about the time factor when it comes to homemade gifts. If you are going the homemade route, schedule in the prep time, gift making time and clean up. Making homemade applesauce takes about a good 12 hour day! It's worth it, but it is easier to do if you start with the right mental attitude.

Here are a few ideas:

Instead of giving gifts: host a Christmas dinner. If you like to be "artsy" make fun invites. Or, use an online service to send invites. Make your signature dish, fix a special dessert and decorate with white candles and white twinkle lights. For an icebreaker, let everyone know that they will be asked to share a special Christmas memory from years past. Take pictures. Play Nat King Cole or Michael Buble Christmas music in the background. Instead of a traditional formal dinner: Host a caroling and hot chocolate night. To keep the costs down, ask for people to bring milk, marshmallows, dessert, etc. As the host, you provide the Christmas ambience and background music. To help anyone who isn't familiar with the classic Christmas songs and carols, print up copies of the songs the group will sing. Walk around your neighborhood or call ahead to a nursing home, VA hospital or children's home to schedule a singing time. Don't forget to retrieve the copies of paper for the next year. Instead of individual gifts: Take a picture from the last year and frame it. This works well for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings. The more memorable event in the picture, the more meaningful the picture. Don't worry if everyone isn't looking their best. The candid shot after the nephew stuck his fingers in the side of the birthday cake is priceless. Expose classic literature to all the kids in the family. There are many options with pictures for the kids who need a more than a pirate to keep their attention. Audiobooks are another good option. Some companies have recorded books in live narrative - like a play - with sound effects and animated voices. This is a fabulous option many kids will enjoy. Compile a cookbook of all the favorite family recipes. This can be done as a family affair. Naturally the organizer is going to have the most work. Be sure he or she likes to work on the computer and is happily willing to put in the time. There are also some online stores where you can compile your recipes (everyone enters their own) and then the company sends you the cookbook. It's very little work on each individual's part. Many companies offer a variety of personalized gifts. Use your favorite photos, imprints or family sayings to create smart phone cases, t-shirts, sweatshirts, aprons, mugs, bags, baby shirts, journals and more. Many companies give coupons and discounts if you "like" them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

This list is a starting point for you. Don't forget about going to your local library to browse through magazines and craft books for ideas. Online blogs, Pinterest and other sites could keep you busy for weeks with ideas for creative Christmas gifts.

The most important thing is to act. Make a decision about what you want to do and go with it. Grab some friends and have a "work" day where everyone leaves their regular responsibilities and focusers on their gift making. Procrastination only leads to disappointment and a stomach ulcer. Enjoy the season and enjoy giving (and receiving) creative gifts.

Tips for Finding the Best Gourmet Dinner Service

1. Keep it local. This has to be the most important thing I've learned over the years while looking for the perfect gourmet dinner service. If you purchase your meal from somewhere far outside of your region, you will be disappointed with the product you receive. Why? It just doesn't have that same fresh glow as something you can just pick up from the shop or have couriered over the same day. After all, freshness matters in any kind of food you put in your mouth. If I'm going to sit down and have a nice gourmet meal, that's the first thing on my mind

2. Look for a place with good preparation equipment. Again, this should be a given. If you walk into the shop and they have equipment thrown around like it's from the medieval times, go with your instinct and walk right back out the door. We're looking for "gourmet" foods after all! Before ordering foods from a place for the first time, go there and have a look around. Ask to see some of their preparation equipment or have a nice chat with the manager or owner. It will take just a few extra minutes out of your schedule and you will be amazed at the mental effect it will have as you're enjoying your meal. After I saw this place in Hornsby one time, I was absolutely amazed! They had state of the art equipment everywhere and I felt like I was ordering food fit for the rich and famous. It was the most delicious precooked gourmet dinner I've ever eaten.

3. Ask around. The one tried and true method for finding just about anything locally is to ask around. I can guarantee you that if the first person you ask doesn't know where to find a good dinner, that they know someone that does. Gourmet dinner service is becoming popular now a day amongst the working class so just about everyone has had some kind of experience with a shop or restaurant that offers this kind of service. It never hurts to ask so just call up a friend or ask someone at the office if they can recommend a good place.

If you like to eat good foods as much as I do then I'm sure you will find these tips helpful. I know that most people frown upon the whole "pre-cooked" dinner food idea, but trust me when I say that "pre-cooked" gourmet dinner foods are in a league of their own. You get the convenience of a ready to eat meal with the savoury taste of a gourmet meal all rolled into one. Definitely worth looking into!

Calling All Music Lovers - Summerfest, Wisconsin

If you are a music fanatic and you want to be associated with something big and you're planning to travel as well, then you should definitely go to a music fest. The world's biggest music fest is the Summerfest which is held in Wisconsin, USA every year. This is an 11 day long music fest and it has actually been stated as the Biggest Music Fest in the World by the Guinness World Book of Records ever since the year 1999. It is held at the Henry Maier Festival Park in Milwaukee. It's the main attraction every year in Wisconsin.

Special features of the Summerfest

It has been active since the year 1968. The fest goes on for 11 days, 11 stages are set up along with food and games stalls and about 700 bands participate in it. It is held in the month of June or July every year. Thousands of people visit the Summerfest in Wisconsin from all corners of the world. It's also known as the Big Gig. It is a spectacular fest of live music shows and festivities which gives out the true essence of music of every genre from well known bands from all over the world.

This is a very famous festival which has been creating a good forum for music to get involved with the common people in a big manner. There are mainly 11 stages which are set up where various artists and bands perform live music. The 11 stages have different names of separate significance. Here is a list of those stages.

The stages

Summer Fest Rock Tiki Hut Refugee Harley Davidson U.S Cellular Division Marcus Amphitheater Potawatomi Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard Miller Light Oasis BMO Harris Pavilion Casico Interstate

About Wisconsin

There are many other places to visit in Wisconsin too. If you want you can also do a bit of site seeing when you're there. The main cities like Madison, green city and La Crosse are also good places to visit. La Crosse has the great river Mississippi running along its sides. You should always book your tickets about 6 months in advance if you want to go to Wisconsin during the Summerfest. Thousands of people come here during that time so the rates of tickets are high and there are limited seats at that time too as the number of people are more than the number of flights.

Witnessing the Spectacular Chinese New Year Festival

If you are interested in travelling to a place to witness the local festivals then one of the best places to visit is China. The world famous Chinese New Year is one of the most eminent festivals which is celebrated with great grandeur and it's celebrated in the first few months of the year. In the year 2013, it's due to be celebrated February 10th. It is the longest festival of the world and it is spectacularly presented every year. The Chinese traditions and customs come alive during this time and it's a very important time for people to spend time with their families as well. It can be said in a nutshell that the Chinese New Year shows the true essence of China and its culture and it'll be an experience you'll never forget.

Booking the tickets

If you plan to travel to China in time for the Chinese New Year then you need to book your tickets in advance. Booking it 4 to 5 months in advance can help you get cheap airplane deals as during the holiday season the rush is high and so is the price of the tickets.

Main attractions of the Chinese New Year festival

The Chinese New Year Festival is also known as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year too. The celebrations start around the eve of the New Year and families come together to have a traditional reunion dinner this day. The celebrations start all over China from the next day onwards. The tradition is to prepare more food than that's necessary so that it stands for a symbol of never ending wealth and prosperity. People buy new clothes in tones of yellow and orange mostly. They wear new bright clothes and go out in the streets. The streets are the main attraction centers. Food stalls, shows, theaters, games and magic shows are present in the street. There are a lot of cultural shows also held which tell about various aspects of Chinese history and culture. On the 15th day, the main Lion Dance Troupe takes place. Many dancers take part in this festive dance with various costumes and the main Lion Costume as the focus.

If you want to understand China in its true essence and symbolism, then witnessing the Chinese New Year is the best thing to do. It will be an experience which you'll never forget in your life.

How to Make Your Christmas Wreath Last

Make your wreath last as long as the holiday season! We all dread that moment when the needles of our once lush and green wreath begin to turn brown and fall off. Well, you're in luck! I've got some great tips to keep your wreath looking and smelling great! Don't let the life of your wreath be cut short. Follow these few basic *tips and enjoy its beauty as long as possible!

As soon as you get your wreath home, give it a good spray with water. Make sure you douse the needles/leaves along with the branches themselves. The needles and branches are covered in pores just like your skin. You want to give your wreath a chance to soak up as much moisture as possible. Follow that up with some anti-desiccant spray. This product is sold at nurseries and can make all the difference in the life of your wreath. The spray will seal the pores on the leaves and bark. This will help the foliage retain maximum moisture, thus keeping it's glossy, rich green appearance. In a pinch, you can also use a can of hairspray - any brand will do - to produce a similar coating on the needles/leaves. The key is to lock in the moisture by any means.

We all know that the air during winter months is notoriously dry. Do your Christmas wreath a favor and try to display it in a location that is away from any heat source. It may look lovely hanging over your fireplace, but it will certainly not look that way for as long as it would if you placed it in the entryway. Also be wary of forced hot air systems as they may create hot spots depending on which way the grate is turned. Any hot, dry location will undoubtedly drain your wreath of it's moisture faster.

Direct sunlight is another enemy of fresh cut greenery. If possible, avoid locations that will allow the sun to beat down on your wreath - particularly during the peak time of the day (between 12 and 2:30 pm). Perhaps not surprisingly, evergreen wreaths will last the longest when placed in the outdoors. The cold climate offers a more natural environment with (at least a little) less dry air and helps preserve the greenery.

* All of these tips pertain to evergreen materials as well as most holiday greenery such as eucalyptus, laurel, and holly.

What Are a Mothers Xmas Worries and Some Advice to Help?

As a mother it is usually your job to make sure that a great Xmas is had by all. I know there are more single fathers and house husbands these days so I will let you be included in the things I am writing about as well.

I found the best way to make sure it is perfect is to write lists. I am a well-known list writer. From experience Xmas is hard work for whoever has to get all the presents and food. Every year we get to November and act like we don't know Xmas is December the 25th. It is on the calendar and it is a regular occurrence so why do people get surprised it is nearly here and panic. Panic buying results in presents that are bought for the sake of buying or as an afterthought. Those presents tend to be chocolates, biscuits, alcohol or bath packs. When you get these things you know there is no thought behind the gift.

So to prepare yourself in good time make several lists. I write a card list, a present list of people, a Xmas dinner list, a Boxing Day list and an extras list so sweets and drink. I know it is starting to sound like a military manoeuvre but it does insure you get everything because there is nothing worse than cooking the dinner Xmas morning and finding you forgot the stuffing. It can ruin the meal.

Let's start with cards. Over the years I have sent hundreds but in the last five I have a card book so apart from close family and friend I write down who I sent one to and then if I get one back. I know that sounds bad but if you don't send me a card for three years then I take you off the list and have actually saved a lot in cards and postage. So always keep it written down. If you do that you won't forget anyone.

I always put a chocolate list on the fridge in November for my adult sons. I used to get everything and put it out for anyone that visits but now they write what they want and that is all I get. I am not a drinker so if any drinks are going to be purchased they do that themselves.

The next thing I do is a present list so I write down everyone I have to get something for and ideas then once I have got what I need it is listed it next to their names and I cross them off. I do this purely because in the run up to the day I have bought and hidden so many things that I lose track. One year I couldn't find everything so if I had a list I know exactly what and where it is. I remember one year when my children were young I got all the presents under the tree and as we started to open them became aware that my youngest was about 5 presents short on the others and I was mortified but worse he was heartbroken. So I vowed that would never happen again and thankfully it hasn't.

Then we come to food which can make or break Xmas can't it? So I do a Xmas dinner list and because everyone comes to me on Boxing Day I do a buffet list. I don't forget anything like a vegetable that we only have on that one day a year. I do a massive dinner which just gets eaten by my two grown sons and myself. It is special as it is the only time we all sit at the table together but I ask myself "Why do I do 4 meats with three types of potato and eight veg?" Let me tell you it is habit after so many years I don't trim it back.

The problem I have is I never want anything and it drives my kids mad. Obviously they all love me and want to get me a nice present but I really am hard work. This year will be the exception as long as they have picked up on my gentle hints and club together. If they do I will be so happy. I want a ceiling fan that is new to the UK called a Fanaway EVO2 which I saw on a website recently. When it is not on it is just a light but the magic starts when you turn it on the blades come out and it is a fan. The same when you turn it off they disappear back into the body so it is just a light. It even comes with a remote control and I have decided this the only present I want this year plus my chocolate orange.

Tinkerbell: A Fun Fairy

Fairies are a popular part of the English culture. Perhaps this is why a fairy was one of the main characters in the English story about Peter Pan. Tinkerbell or Tink, was a character created by J. M. Barrie for his classic story about a little boy who doesn't want to grow up.

This story has been re-told by Walt Disney and was recently brought to life again in the movie "Hook". In that movie, Julia Roberts played the part of Tinkerbell.

For generations, the small fairy featured in the story has been loved by both children and adults alike. In fact, as time has gone on, Tink's popularity has increased instead of decreased. Today, many people choose to dress up as Tinkerbell for Halloween.

Recently, Tinkerbell has been featured in her own movie as well as television shows too. Because of this, you or your little girl may want to dress up as Tinkerbell for Halloween. The great news is that there are a number of costume options for this popular fairy character both online and in stores.

Whether you are looking for something that is sassy, dressy, or something in between, there's a Tinkerbell costume for you. If you are still unhappy with your options, you may even want to make your own costume. This is actually easier than it sounds.

All you will need to do is purchase green leggings and a green tunic from the store. Then, just add some fairy wings and sprinkle your clothes with some glitter. Not only will you have a great costume for your party, but you can wear the clothes during the Christmas holidays as well.

Besides adult costumes, you can also buy Tinkerbell costumes for your toddler, child, or teen. Costumes for young children usually include a green body suit and a glittery ballerina tutu. Young children may want to wear slippers or ballerina shoes if they'll be walking a lot for Halloween.

Teens may choose to add black and white stockings and high heels to the typical Tinkerbell outfit. Depending upon the style of the teen, she may want to wear a short skirt for a more flamboyant effect or leggings under her skirt for a more modest look.

Regardless of whether the Tinkerbell costume is for a child, a teen, or an adult, you will need to add some props to the costume to make the outfit look more convincing. Don't forget to add props like a fairy wand and a bag of pixie dust! You may even want to use green eye shadow and shimmering lip gloss to add to the effect.

Some people choose to buy a blonde wig too. The more modern versions of Tink show her with a Pixie hair cut; the older versions show her with longer hair. Depending upon your tastes, you can buy a wig with short blonde hair or a blonde wig that has the hair pulled up in a bun. You may want to skip the wig for very small children.

Who knows, you may even catch a glimpse of Peter Pan himself on Halloween night!

An Artificial Pre-Lit Christmas Tree or a Real Tree Straight From the Woods? Which Is Right for You?

Can An Artificial Pre-Lit Christmas Tree Really Feel Like Christmas?

If you're working at home, sometimes getting ready for the holidays can still be just as stressful as if you're working outside of the home. You still need to get out of your office and go shopping, decorate, and all that other fun stuff.

And just because you're a stay-at-home mom, dad or "other" doesn't mean you always have any more extra time than those reporting to an office every day. In fact, depending on where you are with your home-based business, you may have even less time that a traditional employee.

Why? No work - no pay. No paid holidays, no paid sick days, no comp time. If you don't work, you don't get paid - period.

Well, one of the ways my husband and I found to save some time and in the long run save some money was actually investing in an artificial pre-lit Christmas tree when we moved into our new house.

And I don't think Santa really minds if he's leaving presents under a real tree or an artificial tree. Do you?

Now, I'd been using an artificial tree in my apartment for years before moving in with my husband. Apartment life just didn't seem to lend itself very easily to real trees.

After the season, I had to find a way to dispose of the thing. And the city only had "set times" when you could put your wrapped tree out to get taken away.

Who wants to wrap a tree?

Besides that, the cost of real trees kept going up and up and up every year. If I wanted a nice looking tree, I had to be prepared to pay about $75 or more for a decent looking tree. A couple of years while my kids were small I was only able to afford a "Charlie Brown" tree that sat on top of a table.

Besides that, trying to weave those strands of lights around the tree by myself was getting tiresome and frustrating. I never did seem to get them right. And inevitably once I get them all strung, one or two of them would blow out and I'd have to start all over - even if they were all lit up before I put them on the tree!

Well, one year I decided enough. I was going to buy an artificial pre-lit Christmas tree and see how I liked it. Would it still feel like Christmas without a real tree in my living room?

Of course it did! Once I got the tree all set up, without having the string up the lights even, and decorated, it was a beautiful tree! We put presents under it and I even got a lot of compliments on how real it looked.

When I met my husband, his kids were still small. He had a larger house and so they always had a real tree in their living room. After spending the next three Christmases with them and their real trees, I didn't have the heart to mention anything about an artificial tree. It was fun going with him and the kids to pick out their big, beautiful real trees every Christmas.

But when we moved into our house, having a real tree seemed a little bit daunting. First of all, we moved into a bi-level house, so either way you got into the house, you always had some stairs to deal with - stairs that were covered in deep, plush carpeting. Think pine tree needles stuck in deep, plush carpeting and who would want to clean that up.

I thought of this and suggested putting a real tree down in the family room with the hardwood floors. Easy needle clean-up and no stairs since the family room had a huge glass door leading out to the yard, where we would eventually burn the tree after the holidays.

No, the tree had to go upstairs so it would be in the big picture window where everyone could see it, not hidden downstairs.

So I suggested we put an artificial tree upstairs and a real tree downstairs, because my husband had never had an artificial tree and neither had his kids. They had to have a real tree. That was a good compromise. Two trees, so he and the kids could still decorate a nice real tree.

And that was the start of our having an artificial pre-lit Christmas tree as a tradition in our home. We went to a Home Depot and found a really pretty pre-lit tree on sale, brought it home and my husband and stepson put it all together and lit it up. It was gorgeous!

Then he and the kids decorated it and they were all so happy with it, they said we didn't need a second tree downstairs, that even though it was an artificial tree, they were really happy with it.

Plus, no needles to clean up afterward, no lights to unwrap and carefully put away, no light strands hanging down on the lower branches where our cat might want to try hanging from them; take it apart, box it up neatly, and it's all ready for the next Christmas.

Get An Artificial Pre-Lit Christmas Tree That Matches Your Favorite Real Tree

Artificial trees today come in such a variety of styles and types that you shouldn't have any trouble finding one that matches your favorite type of tree. I've seen them in spruce, fir and pine trees, from a smaller tabletop 4 ft. size up to 9 ft. They come in narrower styles if you're short on space, or really wide styles if you want to fill up the whole corner of a room.

Aren't artificial trees expensive?

Not in the long run, no. If you consider how much money you're going to spend on a real tree year after year, a tree that you're just going to either throw away or burn in the fireplace, it's actually a cost savings.

I've heard of people spending upwards of $150 every year for a real Christmas tree. It stands tall and ornate in the house for what, two or three weeks? Then it's thrown out.

So if you spend $150 for an artificial pre-lit Christmas tree, not only are you spending less per year, but you don't have to buy any tree lights either, which saves you even more.

Just do the math before you decide definitely if you're going to buy one.

But do they look like real trees?

Absolutely! Once you unpack and assemble all the limbs, make sure to pull apart the branches and fluff them up.

They've been jam-packed in that box for a while so set it up, fluff it up, and then leave it sit and settle for a day before you decorate it.

And if you're looking for that "fresh tree scent," there are some air freshener sprays you can get some pine tree scented air freshener that will make you feel like you just brought that artificial pre-lit Christmas tree home from the great outdoors.

Secret Santa Strikes Again!

The office is quiet, all eyes are on you, and you're digging your hand into the pile of shredded paper with a look of hope on your face as you grasp one strand of paper that you hope contains the name you've been hoping for! We've all been there; the dreaded Secret Santa.

It's typical that you either get your mate from accounts or the guy from delivery who you've never even spoken too before. Both of these can cause a "Christmas crisis." - What do you buy for your mate who you know everything about? It's sometimes the case that the more you know about someone; the harder they are to buy a gift for. You don't want to get it wrong in fear of offending or seeming as if you haven't given it any thought, but you have no idea where to start looking.

Equally as difficult can be the unknown colleague. Buying a generic bottle of wine can seem rude and impersonal so you want to be sure you're impressing. Maybe you've trawled the high street in the hope of finding the perfect gift, but you've returned home empty handed. Well the answer is simple; turn on your computer and begin the search again in an effective and simple way!

With online filters allowing you to specifically search for "Co-Worker gifts" you can be sure to find a present to suit your requirements. You may want to consider searching through the price ranges. With hundreds of products under £10 you will find a gift that suits your colleague whilst suiting your budget too! Helping you out to find a more personal gift for your friend or family, you can search under their interest and hobbies.

If you're still struggling to find that perfect gift then simply call a member of the sales team who will be able to speak with you and recommend some ideas to suit your recipient. This service is entirely free and saves you so much time and hassle.

Ideally, all gifts purchased can be gift wrapped before delivery for no extra charge, saving you time and money. Why not shop for all your male friends and family members on one website? With all orders over £60 receiving free delivery there is no reason not to. Stay away from the Christmas crowds and manic streets of December and complete your shopping online, in the comfort of your own home!

Maybe he's interested in football, or is he a golf guru? Whatever his hobby, age and interests, you can find the ideal gift through a click of your mouse.

How to Choose Christmas Gifts for the Family

Choosing Christmas gifts for family can be great fun, but finding the right ones can also be a chore. In this article we give you some ideas and some tips on what to get for the more difficult to buy for person in your life.

If you're like me and love Christmas, then making sure that you get the right Christmas gifts for your family will be important to you. The problem is that finding just what you are looking for can sometimes be difficult.

I love everything about Christmas and tend to start preparations 6 months in advance with the home made Christmas cake, soaking the dried fruit in alcohol to give it that rich flavour and texture. It really gets me in the mood, but with my busy schedule I have to start early and write everything down, from food and drink, Christmas decorations and colour scheme, how many people for Christmas dinner to that all important special gift to suit the individual.

Having my home filled with people that I love during the festive holidays is everything that I need and more. Choosing the right gift is very important so here are my tips to help you on your way:

1. First of all you need to set yourself a budget as it can get very expensive if you don't. Although money may not be an issue.

2. Divide the amount into how many people you are buying gifts for.

3. Write down the names, age and sex of the individuals.

4. What is each individual interested in? (Gardening, computers, cars, baking, cooking, entertaining, fishing, clothes, astronomy, photography, reading, horse riding, keep fit, cinema, theatre etc etc) Whatever their interest there will be something out there for them. Sometimes it can be difficult to establish what interests some individuals so you may like buy something a bit more personalised.

Depending on your budget will determine what type of gift you buy. If your husband has a keen interest in computers you may want to buy the latest, top of the range lap top, if you can afford it. Or you could buy computer lessons or a computer book. If your son is interested in astronomy it doesn't mean that you have to buy a new telescope, you could buy a cheap second hand one, organise a trip to an astronomy centre or purchase a related book. Theatre and cinema tickets are a great gift idea for someone who enjoys the experience but doesn't go very often for what ever reason.

Slate is very much in fashion today from Black slate tableware, to personalised door, memorial plaques and special gift ideas. Whatever you choose, why not have a personal message of your choice engraved to make that extra special gift this Christmas.

What about aunty who loves entertaining and gardening. A black slate tiered cake stand especially for when having afternoon tea with friends, or for that special dinner party, slate table mats and coasters, a slate cheeseboard and accompanied candle holder to make it extra special. There's always that personalised plaque for the garden or photo frames.

There's so much to choose from so why not hand pick your chosen Black Slate table and gift ideas to make your Christmas presents unique and special.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

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