By Zion -
At Christmas, a Unitarian Universalist can feel caught right between Christ and Santa Claus. Most Unitarian Universalists are uncomfortable with the notion that Jesus is the reason for the season and they do not want to elevate the materialism of Santa Claus. Most Unitarian Universalists are left puzzled and perplexed at Christmas. It is important to reflect about Christmas and what you want it to mean in your home.
Community service is a large part of a Unitarian Universalist's life. A nice Christmas ritual my family has is related to the service of others. My children make a Unitarian Universalist Helping Others box to put money in for the coming year's donations. We sing Christmas carols as well as lighting up a special Christmas chalice that we made together and make promises about how we will help others throughout the year.
For the most part, Unitarian Universalists respect Christian traditions that celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus. Many Unitarian Universalists take Martin Luther King's birthday very seriously, so why not the birth of Jesus? It is a good opportunity for Unitarian Universalist parents to talk with their children about the teachings of Jesus. Christmas and Easter may be the only times that you do this, but it is important.
Some Unitarian Universalists celebrate the Winter Solstice with some intensity. I have attended many gatherings on this day to celebrate the cycles of the Earth. One family that I know does not celebrate Christmas at all, only the Winter Solstice. They have a big celebration that ends with Sun Shakes made with orange juice and vanilla ice cream.
We do not have a name for it, but each Christmas my family all exchanges names. The idea is that you are supposed to do three good deeds for the person whose name you drew during the coming year. This is a little like a Secret Santa, but it has been altered to fit with our family's values.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Fresh Poinsettia Christmas Flowers For Decorations
By Joe -
I was visiting Frankenmuth, Michigan when I came upon a place called Bronner's Christmas Wonderland. This place was amazing. I had never heard of this place before and saw a bunch of billboards for it when I was leaving Detroit on a road trip. I stopped to see if they had any decorations with my favorite Christmas flowers.
Bronner has had a lot of ornaments and decorations that featured the Poinsettia Christmas flowers. I was surprised because up until then, the only decorations I had found with Poinsettia Christmas flowers were artificial flowers at the craft store. Those do not look very realistic to me.
The selection of Poinsettia Christmas flowers at Bronner's was good. I bought ten sets of six shatterproof Poinsettia Christmas flowers for my tree. In one afternoon, I had found and purchased the ornaments that I had always wanted and did not even know existed. They are exquisite and so brilliantly red.
I decided that I would come back again before Christmas to see if Bronner has any more Poinsettia Christmas flowers on something that I needed. I am glad I decided to return to Bronner's because when I did go back, they had a shipment of new silver Poinsettia Christmas flowers holographic light set. The sets only had ten lights per string, so I only bought enough sets to decorate my mantle.
While I was on my way out, I spotted some three-inch glass ornaments on a display near the main entrance. I had not noticed them on my way in. They had Poinsettia Christmas flowers hand painted on them. I bought all that they had on the display and was done with my Christmas decoration shopping trip. My tree and mantle looked glorious that year featuring my very favorite Christmas flowers.
I love Poinsettia Christmas flowers. My mother used to buy a lot of them and place them around the house during the Christmas season. The bright red and the milky white ones both make me remember my childhood and all of the great Christmases that I have ever had.
I was visiting Frankenmuth, Michigan when I came upon a place called Bronner's Christmas Wonderland. This place was amazing. I had never heard of this place before and saw a bunch of billboards for it when I was leaving Detroit on a road trip. I stopped to see if they had any decorations with my favorite Christmas flowers.
Bronner has had a lot of ornaments and decorations that featured the Poinsettia Christmas flowers. I was surprised because up until then, the only decorations I had found with Poinsettia Christmas flowers were artificial flowers at the craft store. Those do not look very realistic to me.
The selection of Poinsettia Christmas flowers at Bronner's was good. I bought ten sets of six shatterproof Poinsettia Christmas flowers for my tree. In one afternoon, I had found and purchased the ornaments that I had always wanted and did not even know existed. They are exquisite and so brilliantly red.
I decided that I would come back again before Christmas to see if Bronner has any more Poinsettia Christmas flowers on something that I needed. I am glad I decided to return to Bronner's because when I did go back, they had a shipment of new silver Poinsettia Christmas flowers holographic light set. The sets only had ten lights per string, so I only bought enough sets to decorate my mantle.
While I was on my way out, I spotted some three-inch glass ornaments on a display near the main entrance. I had not noticed them on my way in. They had Poinsettia Christmas flowers hand painted on them. I bought all that they had on the display and was done with my Christmas decoration shopping trip. My tree and mantle looked glorious that year featuring my very favorite Christmas flowers.
I love Poinsettia Christmas flowers. My mother used to buy a lot of them and place them around the house during the Christmas season. The bright red and the milky white ones both make me remember my childhood and all of the great Christmases that I have ever had.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Precious Christmas Collectibles for These Moments
By my friend, Bobby Ker -
I think that having their own Christmas collectibles is going to be good for my kids. When they leave home, they will be taking part of their identity within our family with them. I will be a little sad to see my son's tin stars or my daughter's Jim Shore collectibles figurines "Snowman" go. It will be nice to be able to visit my kids and their Christmas collectibles in their new homes and with their new families.
One of the things that I decided when I started having kids was that they would each have their very own Christmas collectibles. My sisters and I still fighting about who is going to get which pieces of our childhood Christmas collectibles that were treasured equally by all of us. It has been impossible to decide and our mother has had to remain in possession of everything.
When my first child was born, I bought for her a small Snowbabies figurine. This was her first Christmas collectible to come. I have gotten her a new Snowbaby every couple of years. She has a favorite figurine; it is named "Love Will Make It Grow". I bought it for her the year she was in kindergarten.
My son has a completely different collection of Christmas collectibles. When he came along, I decided that I wanted to have two Christmas trees, one for the whole family in the den, and one for the kids in their bedroom. I started buying my son reproductions of Klaus Reinhardt tin ornaments. He has a collection that includes over fifty tin stars collectible ornaments.
My second daughter was also included in my Christmas collectibles shopping after she came along. I bought just one Jim Shore figure for her first Christmas, and then I did not buy her another piece until she was about eight. Since then, we have added four more. Her collection is not huge, but it has some really nice pieces.
My last daughter has been adding Precious Moments collectibles to her collection like crazy ever since she got her first job. She just loved the few that she had gotten from me over the years so much that she decided she was going to continue for the Precious Moments Christmas collectibles vigorously.
I think that having their own Christmas collectibles is going to be good for my kids. When they leave home, they will be taking part of their identity within our family with them. I will be a little sad to see my son's tin stars or my daughter's Jim Shore collectibles figurines "Snowman" go. It will be nice to be able to visit my kids and their Christmas collectibles in their new homes and with their new families.
One of the things that I decided when I started having kids was that they would each have their very own Christmas collectibles. My sisters and I still fighting about who is going to get which pieces of our childhood Christmas collectibles that were treasured equally by all of us. It has been impossible to decide and our mother has had to remain in possession of everything.
When my first child was born, I bought for her a small Snowbabies figurine. This was her first Christmas collectible to come. I have gotten her a new Snowbaby every couple of years. She has a favorite figurine; it is named "Love Will Make It Grow". I bought it for her the year she was in kindergarten.
My son has a completely different collection of Christmas collectibles. When he came along, I decided that I wanted to have two Christmas trees, one for the whole family in the den, and one for the kids in their bedroom. I started buying my son reproductions of Klaus Reinhardt tin ornaments. He has a collection that includes over fifty tin stars collectible ornaments.
My second daughter was also included in my Christmas collectibles shopping after she came along. I bought just one Jim Shore figure for her first Christmas, and then I did not buy her another piece until she was about eight. Since then, we have added four more. Her collection is not huge, but it has some really nice pieces.
My last daughter has been adding Precious Moments collectibles to her collection like crazy ever since she got her first job. She just loved the few that she had gotten from me over the years so much that she decided she was going to continue for the Precious Moments Christmas collectibles vigorously.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Your Christmas Decorations and Ornaments Spirits
By Janice Ng -
There is no other season of the year I enjoy more than Christmas. As soon as the radios start to play Christmas music right after Thanksgiving, I am in the attic dragging out the boxes of Christmas decorations. I have more ornaments boxes than my husband would like me to have. Within hours, I have those Christmas decorations scattered all over the house and I am in my creative decorating mode.
My husband hates it because he knows he will most likely be recruited to do some tedious decorating. He usually tries to escape when he knows I am rummaging around for the Christmas decorations. This last year, I handed him the box of lights and told him to decorate the outside bushes and porch.
He looked a bit relieved that he was getting out of the house but not thrilled at the potential hours of work ahead of him. I remained inside and pulled out the most important Christmas decorations. Over the years, I have collected many Christmas decorations that belonged to grandparents or other relatives.
I have purchased antique Christmas decorations and ornaments as well. I like to think that the person who owned it gets some of their Christmas spirit passed on by displaying those once cherished Christmas decorations. My grandmother used to love Christmas. She would decorate her entire house, inside and outside, and had some of the most beautiful decorations ornaments.
Once she passed away, I inherited them. I make sure that I display some of her favorites every year good enough for Christmas party. I put my Christmas decorations up right after Thanksgiving and display them until New Year's Day. The holiday season is such a wonderful time of the year and the decorations only enhance its happiness and joy in families. We make a big point of decorating the tree as a family and putting the stockings out.
While my children no longer believe in Santa, the magic of Christmas still exists. Their stockings are one of the first things they rummage for when the boxes of Christmas decor are brought down from the attic. Once the holiday season has officially arrived, trips to the mall become more pleasant. While you may be battling longer lines and fighting for parking spots, the Christmas decorations and music that most malls play are just lovely.
Many shoppers do not even bother to pay attention to the time and effort that people spent decorating, but I do. I try to not get upset when the stores are more crowded and people are not being as polite as they normally are. I take the time to admire the Christmas decorations and enjoy the season.
Next time you are standing in line with an arm full of gifts for others, wishing the person in front of you would hurry up; take some time to glance around for special Christmas decoration. Admire the beauty of the season. Perhaps it will help to get you into the Christmas spirit.
There is no other season of the year I enjoy more than Christmas. As soon as the radios start to play Christmas music right after Thanksgiving, I am in the attic dragging out the boxes of Christmas decorations. I have more ornaments boxes than my husband would like me to have. Within hours, I have those Christmas decorations scattered all over the house and I am in my creative decorating mode.
My husband hates it because he knows he will most likely be recruited to do some tedious decorating. He usually tries to escape when he knows I am rummaging around for the Christmas decorations. This last year, I handed him the box of lights and told him to decorate the outside bushes and porch.
He looked a bit relieved that he was getting out of the house but not thrilled at the potential hours of work ahead of him. I remained inside and pulled out the most important Christmas decorations. Over the years, I have collected many Christmas decorations that belonged to grandparents or other relatives.
I have purchased antique Christmas decorations and ornaments as well. I like to think that the person who owned it gets some of their Christmas spirit passed on by displaying those once cherished Christmas decorations. My grandmother used to love Christmas. She would decorate her entire house, inside and outside, and had some of the most beautiful decorations ornaments.
Once she passed away, I inherited them. I make sure that I display some of her favorites every year good enough for Christmas party. I put my Christmas decorations up right after Thanksgiving and display them until New Year's Day. The holiday season is such a wonderful time of the year and the decorations only enhance its happiness and joy in families. We make a big point of decorating the tree as a family and putting the stockings out.
While my children no longer believe in Santa, the magic of Christmas still exists. Their stockings are one of the first things they rummage for when the boxes of Christmas decor are brought down from the attic. Once the holiday season has officially arrived, trips to the mall become more pleasant. While you may be battling longer lines and fighting for parking spots, the Christmas decorations and music that most malls play are just lovely.
Many shoppers do not even bother to pay attention to the time and effort that people spent decorating, but I do. I try to not get upset when the stores are more crowded and people are not being as polite as they normally are. I take the time to admire the Christmas decorations and enjoy the season.
Next time you are standing in line with an arm full of gifts for others, wishing the person in front of you would hurry up; take some time to glance around for special Christmas decoration. Admire the beauty of the season. Perhaps it will help to get you into the Christmas spirit.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Get Personalized Unique Christmas Gifts at Your Budgets
Finding some unique Christmas gifts for those you love is something of an art form. If you are like me, you do not like to buy boring things for people whom you care about. While clothes, jewelry, electronics, Steak Knives or even Credit Card are all great, they just are not very creative as unique gifts, are they? Finding unique Christmas gifts is a great opportunity to show off your creative talents and get a real surprise from people.
One great unusual Christmas gift that I fall back on a lot is live animals. Most people would just say 'Pets' but I am saying live animals because traditional pets are not very creative either. A Cat, Dog, or Hamster is certainly different, but is not what I would call truly unusual Christmas gifts.
I have had some great reactions presenting loved ones with different amphibians and reptiles as my personalized gifts. Opening a box (with some well-concealed air holes) to discover a live Iguana is a sure fire way to get a priceless look on that special someone.
While the scaly critters are good, oversized insects are even better. One of the unique Christmas gifts I have given was a three-pound Brazilian Beetle I affectionately named Bub (Big Ugly Bug). Oh how I wish I had a camera handy when my ex-girlfriend opened that lovingly wrapped box. Though we are not getting together currently, but that scene is not going to be forgotten.
In addition, one of the most exciting gifts ideas a person can give may be a new Car. With the words "Honey, come outside, I have something to show you", can inspire a rapid heartbeat on a Christmas day or any other occasion, especially if saying those while dangling a pair of keys. Cars are great gifts, but are far from unique unusual gifts. Playing on this instinctual excitement is a great way to get an inspired reaction from your true love.
When I lead my last girlfriend outside to present her a brand new Llama, explaining that the keys I had dangled in front of her are for the chains binding it to the fence, it was truly a beautiful moment in our relationship. What better way to say "I love you forever" than with a flea ridden 6-foot tall quadruped that spits? As an alternative to Llamas, Donkeys and Kangaroos also make good unusual and personalized Christmas gifts.
If live animals really are not your cup of tea, consider dead ones if you follow more vegetarian persuasions, you might consider a box of assorted Fungi as one of those unique Christmas gifts for the one you care about. Also, if you prefer inexpensive or cheap gifts like broken glass, piles of mud, expired medicines, straw, and driftwood that should make great unusual homemade gifts for Christmas too, for those on tighter budgets. Yet are all sure to get you some adorable reactions with those "Homemade gifts".
One great unusual Christmas gift that I fall back on a lot is live animals. Most people would just say 'Pets' but I am saying live animals because traditional pets are not very creative either. A Cat, Dog, or Hamster is certainly different, but is not what I would call truly unusual Christmas gifts.
I have had some great reactions presenting loved ones with different amphibians and reptiles as my personalized gifts. Opening a box (with some well-concealed air holes) to discover a live Iguana is a sure fire way to get a priceless look on that special someone.
While the scaly critters are good, oversized insects are even better. One of the unique Christmas gifts I have given was a three-pound Brazilian Beetle I affectionately named Bub (Big Ugly Bug). Oh how I wish I had a camera handy when my ex-girlfriend opened that lovingly wrapped box. Though we are not getting together currently, but that scene is not going to be forgotten.
In addition, one of the most exciting gifts ideas a person can give may be a new Car. With the words "Honey, come outside, I have something to show you", can inspire a rapid heartbeat on a Christmas day or any other occasion, especially if saying those while dangling a pair of keys. Cars are great gifts, but are far from unique unusual gifts. Playing on this instinctual excitement is a great way to get an inspired reaction from your true love.
When I lead my last girlfriend outside to present her a brand new Llama, explaining that the keys I had dangled in front of her are for the chains binding it to the fence, it was truly a beautiful moment in our relationship. What better way to say "I love you forever" than with a flea ridden 6-foot tall quadruped that spits? As an alternative to Llamas, Donkeys and Kangaroos also make good unusual and personalized Christmas gifts.
If live animals really are not your cup of tea, consider dead ones if you follow more vegetarian persuasions, you might consider a box of assorted Fungi as one of those unique Christmas gifts for the one you care about. Also, if you prefer inexpensive or cheap gifts like broken glass, piles of mud, expired medicines, straw, and driftwood that should make great unusual homemade gifts for Christmas too, for those on tighter budgets. Yet are all sure to get you some adorable reactions with those "Homemade gifts".
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Mail Order Christmas Tree with Only a Good One
If you celebrate Christmas, you know that each year you get a Christmas tree and decorate it for all to see and enjoy. Many people who celebrate the season consider Christmas tree as the center of their holiday, and use it to express their religious beliefs, and as a spot of family to gather around.
If you do not want the same old Christmas trees, or what something different for environmental reasons, you can always get a mail order Christmas tree for you and your family. You can find both artificial Christmas trees and real trees when you choose to get a mail order Christmas tree.
Let us say if you are looking for an artificial Christmas trees, there are hundreds of styles from which to choose. You can get a pre-lit mail order Christmas tree, or you can go for one that looks almost natural. In fact, no one may know the difference unless they do a thorough inspection of your new Christmas tree artificial. You can also find a natural mail order Christmas tree in real, but shipping and handling can be a huge problem.
Make sure you buy from reputable Christmas tree shops when you are doing a mail order shopping online or offline. You do not want to buy those unhealthy real Christmas tree, nor do you want to buy an artificial tree that falls apart when you use it. There are many great shops to buy, but also many stores that will sell substandard merchandise. Just use common sense and keep an eye on prices. You get what you pay for.
Keep your artificial mail order Christmas tree in good shape by buying a model that will last, and by taking care of it when it is not being used for any season. Follow instructions, and remember to keep it stored away in a safe place after you get off all the Christmas decorations.
If they have lighting that comes through the tree itself, make sure you do not cause kinks in the cords that may damage the tree. Only clean them according to procedures, and never submerge any tree with electronic lights or decorations into any amount of water.
Thinking ahead, and I am talking far ahead, you can buy a mail order Christmas tree that is real and small. You can watch it grow. When the time comes, you may not even end up using it for a Christmas tree in your home, but rather a place to decorate your yard for the holidays. You can buy more than one, and grow them in your yard for years to come.
If you do not want the same old Christmas trees, or what something different for environmental reasons, you can always get a mail order Christmas tree for you and your family. You can find both artificial Christmas trees and real trees when you choose to get a mail order Christmas tree.
Let us say if you are looking for an artificial Christmas trees, there are hundreds of styles from which to choose. You can get a pre-lit mail order Christmas tree, or you can go for one that looks almost natural. In fact, no one may know the difference unless they do a thorough inspection of your new Christmas tree artificial. You can also find a natural mail order Christmas tree in real, but shipping and handling can be a huge problem.
Make sure you buy from reputable Christmas tree shops when you are doing a mail order shopping online or offline. You do not want to buy those unhealthy real Christmas tree, nor do you want to buy an artificial tree that falls apart when you use it. There are many great shops to buy, but also many stores that will sell substandard merchandise. Just use common sense and keep an eye on prices. You get what you pay for.
Keep your artificial mail order Christmas tree in good shape by buying a model that will last, and by taking care of it when it is not being used for any season. Follow instructions, and remember to keep it stored away in a safe place after you get off all the Christmas decorations.
If they have lighting that comes through the tree itself, make sure you do not cause kinks in the cords that may damage the tree. Only clean them according to procedures, and never submerge any tree with electronic lights or decorations into any amount of water.
Thinking ahead, and I am talking far ahead, you can buy a mail order Christmas tree that is real and small. You can watch it grow. When the time comes, you may not even end up using it for a Christmas tree in your home, but rather a place to decorate your yard for the holidays. You can buy more than one, and grow them in your yard for years to come.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Harley Davidson Christmas Ornament - Special Gift for Him
This item features Santa in a leather jacket and a green shirt, red pants and classis black boots. He is leaning back on a Harley next to a bag filled with toys. The detail on this Harley Davidson Christmas ornament is stunning and I knew I had finally found a special gift for him.
Nothing is as appreciated as much as a Harley Davidson Christmas ornament when you are a motorcycle enthusiast. My father has been riding since I can remember and this year I thought that I would find one of these motorcycle ornaments for his Christmas tree from variety of Christmas decorations.
I was happy to find that there are many choices when it comes to the Harley Davidson Christmas ornament. Choosing just one was going to be a challenge so I decided to weed out some of the options and focus on getting just the right personalized ornament for Dad's style and personality as one of those special Christmas gifts.
This was a little harder than I expected. I never thought that there would be so many Christmas decorations to choose from and I did not know where to start. My friend saw my struggle in finding the right Harley Davidson Christmas ornament and decided to help me out. He and my father are great for talking about bikes while I am more of an occasional passenger rather than an actual rider.
This is not to say that I do not know my Harleys. I certainly do and I know the history of the motorcycle as well. My father spent a good deal of time filling me in on the details of the history of Harley and I have absorbed quite a bit of information over the years. I guess that this is why I wanted to get the Harley Davidson Christmas ornament as a gift for him.
My father's passion for the classic bike may also be why I am having such trouble figuring out which ornament to choose. I like the idea of getting a Harley Davidson Christmas ornament made out of die cast metal. There are many types of motorcycle decorations to choose from and I thought that this would be a great place to start finding those special gifts.
Dad owns a Softtail Deuce and I found a Harley Davidson Christmas ornament that is a miniature of this model. However, the color of this Christmas ornaments is completely different from my father's bike and I just did not feel that it was the perfect choice. Just when I was about to give up I found what I was looking for him.
Nothing is as appreciated as much as a Harley Davidson Christmas ornament when you are a motorcycle enthusiast. My father has been riding since I can remember and this year I thought that I would find one of these motorcycle ornaments for his Christmas tree from variety of Christmas decorations.
I was happy to find that there are many choices when it comes to the Harley Davidson Christmas ornament. Choosing just one was going to be a challenge so I decided to weed out some of the options and focus on getting just the right personalized ornament for Dad's style and personality as one of those special Christmas gifts.
This was a little harder than I expected. I never thought that there would be so many Christmas decorations to choose from and I did not know where to start. My friend saw my struggle in finding the right Harley Davidson Christmas ornament and decided to help me out. He and my father are great for talking about bikes while I am more of an occasional passenger rather than an actual rider.
This is not to say that I do not know my Harleys. I certainly do and I know the history of the motorcycle as well. My father spent a good deal of time filling me in on the details of the history of Harley and I have absorbed quite a bit of information over the years. I guess that this is why I wanted to get the Harley Davidson Christmas ornament as a gift for him.
My father's passion for the classic bike may also be why I am having such trouble figuring out which ornament to choose. I like the idea of getting a Harley Davidson Christmas ornament made out of die cast metal. There are many types of motorcycle decorations to choose from and I thought that this would be a great place to start finding those special gifts.
Dad owns a Softtail Deuce and I found a Harley Davidson Christmas ornament that is a miniature of this model. However, the color of this Christmas ornaments is completely different from my father's bike and I just did not feel that it was the perfect choice. Just when I was about to give up I found what I was looking for him.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Watch Christmas Vacation Movie for This Season
If you have never seen the movie, you truly are missing out on one of the absolute best movies representing a true family vacation Christmas, and not one that is all sugar coated and touchy feely. Of course, there are some of those moments, but Christmas Vacation is a comedy relief during what can be one of the most stressful times of the year.
It just would not be an official holiday season without multiple viewings of the movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. We generally pull our DVD out around mid October, when the weather starts to get dreary and those first thoughts of Christmas enter our minds. By the end of January, we have viewed Christmas Vacation a good five times and are quoting the entire Christmas vacation soundtrack movie with each viewing.
Christmas Vacation is written by John Hughes and stars the legendary Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo. Of course, the lead actors are fabulous, but Christmas Vacation is truly an ensemble that is a force to be reckoned with.
From a young Juliette Lewis portraying the surly teenage daughter to Doris Roberts, portraying the mother in law that just can't bite her tongue and drinks a little too much to the fantastic Randy Quaid, portraying the long lost cousin that just doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the family driving in and unloading his rusty old RV in the pristine suburban community. If any of the supporting cast was not included, Christmas Vacation would be a completely different movie.
There are countless quotable scenes during the movie, and many of them are simple exaggerations of things we have each encountered in our own lives. The movie is completely relatable, which is one of the reasons it feels like inviting an old friend over when you watch it. Clark (Chevy Chase) hates his job and his boss, but sucks up endlessly to receive recognition only to be shafted on his Christmas bonus.
Juliette Lewis (Audrey) laments at the fact that she has to sleep with her brother while her grandparents visit. Mae Questel (Aunt Bethany) is the old relative that is not quite all there, wraps up her cat as a Christmas present, and sings the National Anthem instead of saying grace.
Once again, if you have not seen Christmas Vacation movie, get it now. Once you rent it, I guarantee that it will be purchased within the next few days and made a permanent part of your video collection for this holiday season.
It just would not be an official holiday season without multiple viewings of the movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. We generally pull our DVD out around mid October, when the weather starts to get dreary and those first thoughts of Christmas enter our minds. By the end of January, we have viewed Christmas Vacation a good five times and are quoting the entire Christmas vacation soundtrack movie with each viewing.
Christmas Vacation is written by John Hughes and stars the legendary Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo. Of course, the lead actors are fabulous, but Christmas Vacation is truly an ensemble that is a force to be reckoned with.
From a young Juliette Lewis portraying the surly teenage daughter to Doris Roberts, portraying the mother in law that just can't bite her tongue and drinks a little too much to the fantastic Randy Quaid, portraying the long lost cousin that just doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the family driving in and unloading his rusty old RV in the pristine suburban community. If any of the supporting cast was not included, Christmas Vacation would be a completely different movie.
There are countless quotable scenes during the movie, and many of them are simple exaggerations of things we have each encountered in our own lives. The movie is completely relatable, which is one of the reasons it feels like inviting an old friend over when you watch it. Clark (Chevy Chase) hates his job and his boss, but sucks up endlessly to receive recognition only to be shafted on his Christmas bonus.
Juliette Lewis (Audrey) laments at the fact that she has to sleep with her brother while her grandparents visit. Mae Questel (Aunt Bethany) is the old relative that is not quite all there, wraps up her cat as a Christmas present, and sings the National Anthem instead of saying grace.
Once again, if you have not seen Christmas Vacation movie, get it now. Once you rent it, I guarantee that it will be purchased within the next few days and made a permanent part of your video collection for this holiday season.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Prepare Christmas Storage with Greater Results
By Zion
If you take the time to organize your holiday items and pack them carefully the decorations and collectables will last for years. Because of proper Christmas storage, I can let several items from my mother passed on to my children. Now you can have all your Christmas gifts and decor stored safety in those storage boxes and bins.
I absolutely love the Christmas Holiday Season. So many activities and events occur at this special time of the year. I take special care in preparing our home with lights, ornament decorations candles, and homemade goodies.
We place lights on the out side of our home and decorate two live trees in the house along with several miniature trees. I also have two extensive holiday village that I place out. With all the decorations and dishware, ornament storage becomes quite an issue. I have found through the years that the greater amount of time I put into proper Christmas storage the better results I get.
We have an attic area that is formed in our bedroom due to the steep pitch of our roof. This area is about 30 feet long and 3 feet wide. We found large plastic storage containers to use for Christmas ornament storage. The bins come in a variety of shapes, sizes and with varied features. The attic area gets very warm in the summer and cold in the winter so the things that are stored there cannot be affected by heat.
I have found that on some ornaments that have glitter and other embellishments glued on them the glue may harden because of the temperature fluxes. For this reason, the Christmas storage that I choose for Christmas tree decorations are flat plastic boxes that can be slid under the bed in the spare bedrooms.
For other items, like my Village pieces the temperatures do not affect them. I try to keep as many of the original boxes and packaging for each item as possible. This does increase the space I need for Christmas storage, but it also prolongs the looks of the items. In addition, the boxes can be stacked neatly inside of the plastic bins without concern of breakage.
I do decorate in stages. The villages and the outdoor lights are put out the day after Thanksgiving. When I am putting away the Christmas storage, I arrange the tubs so that the ones that are needed first are in the front. Each bin is clearly marked with permanent marker regarding what is in it. I also have numbered the bins so if my husband is putting them away he can arrange them numerically and I will have what I need first closest to the door.
Some items I dispose of at the end of each season. The small lights that are placed on the tree are very inexpensive and bulky to store. In addition, it seems that it takes hours to untangle the light strands each year. The small lights no longer are placed in Christmas storage; they are donated for events at the local school, and new ones are purchased each year.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Get Christmas Lights On Pre-Season Sale Bargain?
By Zat -
Are you a Christmas fanatic? Each year as the holidays approach, you will tell yourself that this year you will check through all of your Christmas storage prior to making any new purchases. Then you will be out shopping and see a pre-season sale and cannot pass up the bargain.
It seems that each year the Christmas merchandise hits the shelves earlier. Last year on Labor Day weekend when I was searching through the school supply aisle, I noticed that the Christmas lights were displayed in the next aisle. It seems that the same day that the Halloween Candy goes on clearance is the same day that the Christmas candy goes on the shelves.
I am going to try to resists the sales this year until I go through the storage area check out. I know that we did donate the Christmas lights that we used last year, but I do not remember if I have bought more Led lights at the end of the season sales to lights Christmas decorations.
Last year I did not pass up the pre-season Christmas lights. They were a very good deal and I could not remember if the Led Christmas lights from the year before worked or not. Of course when I did take decorations out of storage I found that I had purchased new Christmas lights at a clearance sale at the end of the previous season.
My mom often reminds me that I need to check what I have prior to buying more because we are running out of storage space. Last year I was glad I had the extra Christmas lights because the old strand was burned out. We did not even try to locate why the strand did not light we simply used all the new ones.
I told my mom we should buy new Christmas light each year and donate the old ones to the school. Each year the school is looking for lights to use at dances, proms, and plays. By donating the lights, they will go to a good cause and we do not have to store them and then try to untangle them each year. It is so much easier to decorate with new Christmas light because they are not tangled and they all light.
Those outdoor lights for Christmas are more expensive so we put in more effort in packing them so that they do not tangle. This is not always easy because the weather is usually bitterly cold when we put the Christmas outdoor lights away. My mom just cannot tolerate having those string lights stay on the house once the holiday season is over.
She will never be one of the homeowners that leave the holiday lights on the house year round. She enjoys looking at light displays and we enjoy decorating our home and yard with hanging lights up to our Christmas Tree and around our house, but after News Years Day, she insists that the decorations go back into storage room.
Are you a Christmas fanatic? Each year as the holidays approach, you will tell yourself that this year you will check through all of your Christmas storage prior to making any new purchases. Then you will be out shopping and see a pre-season sale and cannot pass up the bargain.
It seems that each year the Christmas merchandise hits the shelves earlier. Last year on Labor Day weekend when I was searching through the school supply aisle, I noticed that the Christmas lights were displayed in the next aisle. It seems that the same day that the Halloween Candy goes on clearance is the same day that the Christmas candy goes on the shelves.
I am going to try to resists the sales this year until I go through the storage area check out. I know that we did donate the Christmas lights that we used last year, but I do not remember if I have bought more Led lights at the end of the season sales to lights Christmas decorations.
Last year I did not pass up the pre-season Christmas lights. They were a very good deal and I could not remember if the Led Christmas lights from the year before worked or not. Of course when I did take decorations out of storage I found that I had purchased new Christmas lights at a clearance sale at the end of the previous season.
My mom often reminds me that I need to check what I have prior to buying more because we are running out of storage space. Last year I was glad I had the extra Christmas lights because the old strand was burned out. We did not even try to locate why the strand did not light we simply used all the new ones.
I told my mom we should buy new Christmas light each year and donate the old ones to the school. Each year the school is looking for lights to use at dances, proms, and plays. By donating the lights, they will go to a good cause and we do not have to store them and then try to untangle them each year. It is so much easier to decorate with new Christmas light because they are not tangled and they all light.
Those outdoor lights for Christmas are more expensive so we put in more effort in packing them so that they do not tangle. This is not always easy because the weather is usually bitterly cold when we put the Christmas outdoor lights away. My mom just cannot tolerate having those string lights stay on the house once the holiday season is over.
She will never be one of the homeowners that leave the holiday lights on the house year round. She enjoys looking at light displays and we enjoy decorating our home and yard with hanging lights up to our Christmas Tree and around our house, but after News Years Day, she insists that the decorations go back into storage room.
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Thursday, October 26, 2006
Christmas Decorations & Ideas for Party
While enjoying life throughout the year but nothing can replace the magical feelings I get when hanging out the first Christmas decor each year. Seeing the special things that have collected over the years is like greeting old friends. Let me share with you some of my Christmas ideas in this festival…
Christmas is the very favorite time of the year. I love everything about it and love putting out Christmas decorations and having friends and family members over for drinks and snacks. It is a magical time of the year that I love sharing with those I care about. Just because loving the holidays so much I have collected many Christmas decorations through the years.
When we travel, I go to the selection of Christmas decorations in gift and souvenir shops often. Now we have so many ornaments for the tree that we need to have two trees in the house in order to display all the Christmas decorations I have accumulated. This is also fun because we put one tree in the living room in front of the bay window so that you can see it from the outside as well as inside.
The second tree we put it in our bedroom. Love falling asleep with the lights on the tree and the decorations sparkling in the lights. By having two trees, I chose to place the formal ornaments on the living room tree and place the homemade and whimsical ornaments on the upstairs tree. Having two trees is extra work, but it is worth the effort. Have placed another small artificial tree with miniature ornaments in the guest bathroom too.
Ornaments are not the only Christmas decorations I have accumulated. There is a Snowman Village as well as a Winter Scene Village. I often put out the Village Displays the day after Thanksgiving and leave them out until the end of January. Also started to collect hand crafted Old World Santa's.
They are created by a local Artisan using recycled furs and wool fabrics. Each one is a work of art and has its own character. I leave them out for an extended period too. The other part of Christmas to enjoy is baking and candy making. It is the time of year that people do not seem to be concerned about what they eat. It is so much fun to entertain this time of year because the Christmas decoration on cookies and candies add a festive look to the platters.
From the day after Thanksgiving until New Years day, I make sure that I have enough Christmas goodies available to share with anyone that drops by to our Christmas party. Making special snack mixes that are both sweet and salty to take along to other's homes as a Special Gifts or sharing. Never forget to make some special treats to place on co-workers desks as well.
Christmas is the very favorite time of the year. I love everything about it and love putting out Christmas decorations and having friends and family members over for drinks and snacks. It is a magical time of the year that I love sharing with those I care about. Just because loving the holidays so much I have collected many Christmas decorations through the years.
When we travel, I go to the selection of Christmas decorations in gift and souvenir shops often. Now we have so many ornaments for the tree that we need to have two trees in the house in order to display all the Christmas decorations I have accumulated. This is also fun because we put one tree in the living room in front of the bay window so that you can see it from the outside as well as inside.
The second tree we put it in our bedroom. Love falling asleep with the lights on the tree and the decorations sparkling in the lights. By having two trees, I chose to place the formal ornaments on the living room tree and place the homemade and whimsical ornaments on the upstairs tree. Having two trees is extra work, but it is worth the effort. Have placed another small artificial tree with miniature ornaments in the guest bathroom too.
Ornaments are not the only Christmas decorations I have accumulated. There is a Snowman Village as well as a Winter Scene Village. I often put out the Village Displays the day after Thanksgiving and leave them out until the end of January. Also started to collect hand crafted Old World Santa's.
They are created by a local Artisan using recycled furs and wool fabrics. Each one is a work of art and has its own character. I leave them out for an extended period too. The other part of Christmas to enjoy is baking and candy making. It is the time of year that people do not seem to be concerned about what they eat. It is so much fun to entertain this time of year because the Christmas decoration on cookies and candies add a festive look to the platters.
From the day after Thanksgiving until New Years day, I make sure that I have enough Christmas goodies available to share with anyone that drops by to our Christmas party. Making special snack mixes that are both sweet and salty to take along to other's homes as a Special Gifts or sharing. Never forget to make some special treats to place on co-workers desks as well.
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Friday, October 20, 2006
Christmas Wrapping Paper to Personalized Gift
The Christmas wrapping paper may look boring at the store when you purchase it, but adding ornaments, Jingle Bells, Candy Canes, and Bows will make that simple Christmas wrapping paper look like something that was wrapped by a professional.
You can even personalize the paper make gift wrappers by making your own Christmas wrapping paper. It is very simple and inexpensive, you just have to delegate the time during the busy season! To make sure it is completed, you can always start a few months beforehand, and just store the paper until it is needed.
To make your own paper, you will need a roll of packing or mailing paper. It is that brown or white Kraft paper that you see in craft stores and often in super stores around the mail supply aisles. This paper generally costs less than three dollars per roll and you get quite a bit, especially compared to your usual Christmas wrapping paper that you purchase.
All you need in addition to this gift-wrap paper is a supply of paint or stamping materials. The easiest type of paper to make is with child's handprints in holiday colors, which is just perfect for those gifts for the grandparents. Other ideas are to cut out simple shape stamps from unused sponges including Christmas trees, Stars or Snowflakes.
All you need to do it dip your sponge stamps into paint and then place on the paper. This is an ideal family craft to do with your young ones and everyone that receives your gifts will appreciate the effort for your holiday gift-wrap! In addition, it can also serve as a delightful Christmas decorations for your premises.
If you are a stamper, ink and purchased stamps are also an ideal way to make your own paper. You can get quite creative while making your own Christmas wrapping paper and you will most likely save money while impressing your gift recipients!
This holiday season you can easily make your Christmas gift wrap stand out from the pile by picking simple prints and embellishing the package or by making your own Christmas wrapping paper. Each is fairly easy and inexpensive, but makes a huge impression before the recipient even opens the gift.
To embellish gifts, you want to choose a simple print on the Christmas wrapping paper such as simple Snowflakes, Plaids, or Stars. Sometimes the wrapping paper can go overboard and you do not want your added embellishments to clash or compete with the paper pattern. You then run the risk of the box looking cheesy rather than fantastic!
You can even personalize the paper make gift wrappers by making your own Christmas wrapping paper. It is very simple and inexpensive, you just have to delegate the time during the busy season! To make sure it is completed, you can always start a few months beforehand, and just store the paper until it is needed.
To make your own paper, you will need a roll of packing or mailing paper. It is that brown or white Kraft paper that you see in craft stores and often in super stores around the mail supply aisles. This paper generally costs less than three dollars per roll and you get quite a bit, especially compared to your usual Christmas wrapping paper that you purchase.
All you need in addition to this gift-wrap paper is a supply of paint or stamping materials. The easiest type of paper to make is with child's handprints in holiday colors, which is just perfect for those gifts for the grandparents. Other ideas are to cut out simple shape stamps from unused sponges including Christmas trees, Stars or Snowflakes.
All you need to do it dip your sponge stamps into paint and then place on the paper. This is an ideal family craft to do with your young ones and everyone that receives your gifts will appreciate the effort for your holiday gift-wrap! In addition, it can also serve as a delightful Christmas decorations for your premises.
If you are a stamper, ink and purchased stamps are also an ideal way to make your own paper. You can get quite creative while making your own Christmas wrapping paper and you will most likely save money while impressing your gift recipients!
This holiday season you can easily make your Christmas gift wrap stand out from the pile by picking simple prints and embellishing the package or by making your own Christmas wrapping paper. Each is fairly easy and inexpensive, but makes a huge impression before the recipient even opens the gift.
To embellish gifts, you want to choose a simple print on the Christmas wrapping paper such as simple Snowflakes, Plaids, or Stars. Sometimes the wrapping paper can go overboard and you do not want your added embellishments to clash or compete with the paper pattern. You then run the risk of the box looking cheesy rather than fantastic!
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Monday, October 16, 2006
Buy Christmas lights Ornaments or Borrow It?
Halfway through hanging the lights on the Christmas Tree, half of the string of lights went dark. I desperately tried to find the faulty bulb so that I could change it and solve the problem, but was not in the least successful.
My family members were less than thrilled since I was almost completely done. Suddenly, I needed to go out and buy Christmas lights. No one wants to go with me, so I headed to my local Target and buy them myself. I figured it would not be that difficult to buy Christmas light. I was very wrong. Apparently, everyone else had the same idea as I did, because all of the boxes of white Christmas lights were gone.
How hard could it be to find and buy Christmas lights? Apparently more difficult than I had anticipated. There were several boxes of blue or red lights, blinking lights, green Christmas lights and multi-colored -- everything but white. I despise anything but white lights.
So, I headed for Wal-Mart to buy Christmas lights. By this time, I was not too happy. My entire day was being wasted because of one faulty light bulb that would not identify itself. The last thing I wanted to do two weeks before Christmas was go for shopping to buy Christmas light bulb. I should be wrapping presents or baking cookies.
Nonetheless, my goal was to buy Christmas lights and finish my day of decorating. I fought the parking lot crowd and made my way through the holiday shoppers into the store. I found the Christmas aisles to be almost completely empty. I was a bit nervous that I would not be able to buy Christmas lights in this store either.
However, I managed to find several boxes of white Christmas lights and I clung to them for dear life. I dashed for the checkout counters to accomplish my goal - buy Christmas lights. With any luck, I would be home in an hour and dinner will not be too terribly late. I stood in line for almost twenty minutes holding onto my measly boxes of lights. Everyone around me had their arms full of gifts.
I felt a bit odd standing among these holiday shoppers just to buy Christmas lights. After I paid for them, I dashed home. As we were continuing our decorating of the tree and wrapping the brand new lights around it again, I told my sister about needing to go to two different stores. She asked me why I did not just ask her friend if we could have some of his extra lights; he stocked up on every color of lights at the end of every season.
She told me that I should not have had to buy Christmas lights, I could have just asked him to borrow some. Well, she waited until now to make me aware of this? I wanted to throw her presents out the first storey window.
My family members were less than thrilled since I was almost completely done. Suddenly, I needed to go out and buy Christmas lights. No one wants to go with me, so I headed to my local Target and buy them myself. I figured it would not be that difficult to buy Christmas light. I was very wrong. Apparently, everyone else had the same idea as I did, because all of the boxes of white Christmas lights were gone.
How hard could it be to find and buy Christmas lights? Apparently more difficult than I had anticipated. There were several boxes of blue or red lights, blinking lights, green Christmas lights and multi-colored -- everything but white. I despise anything but white lights.
So, I headed for Wal-Mart to buy Christmas lights. By this time, I was not too happy. My entire day was being wasted because of one faulty light bulb that would not identify itself. The last thing I wanted to do two weeks before Christmas was go for shopping to buy Christmas light bulb. I should be wrapping presents or baking cookies.
Nonetheless, my goal was to buy Christmas lights and finish my day of decorating. I fought the parking lot crowd and made my way through the holiday shoppers into the store. I found the Christmas aisles to be almost completely empty. I was a bit nervous that I would not be able to buy Christmas lights in this store either.
However, I managed to find several boxes of white Christmas lights and I clung to them for dear life. I dashed for the checkout counters to accomplish my goal - buy Christmas lights. With any luck, I would be home in an hour and dinner will not be too terribly late. I stood in line for almost twenty minutes holding onto my measly boxes of lights. Everyone around me had their arms full of gifts.
I felt a bit odd standing among these holiday shoppers just to buy Christmas lights. After I paid for them, I dashed home. As we were continuing our decorating of the tree and wrapping the brand new lights around it again, I told my sister about needing to go to two different stores. She asked me why I did not just ask her friend if we could have some of his extra lights; he stocked up on every color of lights at the end of every season.
She told me that I should not have had to buy Christmas lights, I could have just asked him to borrow some. Well, she waited until now to make me aware of this? I wanted to throw her presents out the first storey window.
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(U.S. Only)
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Baby's First Christmas Stocking As Gifts
By Janice Oh -
There are plenty of stores that offer parents the opportunity to custom design their baby's first Christmas stocking. Since many of these stores are Internet-based, they operate year-round and process orders any time. In fact, this was one of my main considerations when choosing a store. I did not want to have to wait for the holiday rush to place my order and run the risk of my baby's first Christmas stocking not arriving on time.
Other things that I checked out before ordering my baby's first Christmas stocking from a particular website included the quality of materials used, the length of time the store had been operating, detailed pictures of previously made stockings, and testimonials from satisfied customers buying those as Christmas gifts.
Although price was also on my radar, it was not as important a consideration as these other factors. One of my Christmas ideas is to let my baby's first Christmas stocking to be special, and I was willing to pay nearly any price to get just that! After a lot of painstaking research, I found a company that looked like it would do a fantastic job on my baby's first Christmas stocking.
I talked to the owner on the telephone, and she assured me that her staff would do everything in their power to make sure my baby's first Christmas stocking exceeded all expectations as my Christmas gift for my son. Therefore, I told her exactly what I had in mind for my baby's first Christmas stocking and waited anxiously for her to complete the order. When the finished product arrived, it astounded me!
My baby's first Christmas stocking was truly beautiful and would certainly bring my son years and years of joy. I cannot wait for the holidays to get here so we can hang it up by our fireplace beforehand and it acts as a nice Christmas decorations.
The day my son was born was truly the best day of my life. All I could think about was the great responsibility I would have of raising him and how I wanted to make every day a happy one for him. Like most new parents, I was determined to document all of his "Very firsts" -- Smiles, Words, Teeth, Steps, etc. by taking plenty of photographs and home videos, and by keeping a diary of these major events.
When the holidays came around, I wanted to make them extra special by inviting all of my friends and family over, exchanging many presents, and of course personalizing my baby's first Christmas stocking. I am a detailed person, so I would never forget something as important as my baby's first Christmas stocking.
That is because a baby's first Christmas stocking should serve as a treasured Childhood Memento that can be used year after year when done correctly. Therefore, I definitely wanted to take the time to find the absolute perfect one for my son, or to have one custom-made, which is what I actually ended up doing.
There are plenty of stores that offer parents the opportunity to custom design their baby's first Christmas stocking. Since many of these stores are Internet-based, they operate year-round and process orders any time. In fact, this was one of my main considerations when choosing a store. I did not want to have to wait for the holiday rush to place my order and run the risk of my baby's first Christmas stocking not arriving on time.
Other things that I checked out before ordering my baby's first Christmas stocking from a particular website included the quality of materials used, the length of time the store had been operating, detailed pictures of previously made stockings, and testimonials from satisfied customers buying those as Christmas gifts.
Although price was also on my radar, it was not as important a consideration as these other factors. One of my Christmas ideas is to let my baby's first Christmas stocking to be special, and I was willing to pay nearly any price to get just that! After a lot of painstaking research, I found a company that looked like it would do a fantastic job on my baby's first Christmas stocking.
I talked to the owner on the telephone, and she assured me that her staff would do everything in their power to make sure my baby's first Christmas stocking exceeded all expectations as my Christmas gift for my son. Therefore, I told her exactly what I had in mind for my baby's first Christmas stocking and waited anxiously for her to complete the order. When the finished product arrived, it astounded me!
My baby's first Christmas stocking was truly beautiful and would certainly bring my son years and years of joy. I cannot wait for the holidays to get here so we can hang it up by our fireplace beforehand and it acts as a nice Christmas decorations.
The day my son was born was truly the best day of my life. All I could think about was the great responsibility I would have of raising him and how I wanted to make every day a happy one for him. Like most new parents, I was determined to document all of his "Very firsts" -- Smiles, Words, Teeth, Steps, etc. by taking plenty of photographs and home videos, and by keeping a diary of these major events.
When the holidays came around, I wanted to make them extra special by inviting all of my friends and family over, exchanging many presents, and of course personalizing my baby's first Christmas stocking. I am a detailed person, so I would never forget something as important as my baby's first Christmas stocking.
That is because a baby's first Christmas stocking should serve as a treasured Childhood Memento that can be used year after year when done correctly. Therefore, I definitely wanted to take the time to find the absolute perfect one for my son, or to have one custom-made, which is what I actually ended up doing.
- $1500 Holiday Gift Giveaway
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Monday, October 09, 2006
Christmas Decorating Ideas & Ornaments
We are entering my favorite time of the year. The stores are beginning to gear up for the holiday season. It seems that each year the merchants begin their displays earlier. The major magazines begin to have holiday themes and Christmas decorating ideas beginning in August. It is easy to become overwhelmed with the holiday time. I have found, for me, that the best way to enjoy the holidays is to keep it simple.
I still come up with different Christmas decorating ideas, and with fewer people in the house, you can actually see the displays with ornaments. I concentrate on decorating the trees well. We place one in the living room and one in the family room. I also have candles and greenery arranged on the tables. I also like to use large vases filled with a variety of evergreens along with red and white carnations. Add a few twinkle lights here and there and my Christmas decorating is complete.
I try to keep this in mind in everything I do from my Christmas decorating ideas to the foods I prepare for guests. For several years, my family and I would have a Christmas open house. We invited co-workers, neighbors, friends, and relatives. Each year the list of people we invited would grow and so would the headaches and stress of getting ready for the event.
I began making homemade candies a month prior to the event. We made homemade candies, cookies, bars and a wide variety of finger foods. I would comb the magazines and stores to come up with the latest Christmas Decorating ideas so that each year I would have new displays for our guest to see.
We would have so many people in the house that you could hardly move, let alone admire the Christmas decorating ideas that I had come up with. We spent all of our time filling punch bowls, making coffee and replenishing serving platters. We decided that we needed to have a different way to celebrate the holidays with friends.
We looked at the list of people that we invited and agreed that we could eliminate co-workers from the list. We each had holiday parities at work where we could celebrate the season. We then decided that we would have smaller gatherings on three different evenings during the season. This is how we started to keep things simple.
We invited neighbors over for one evening, friends for another, and relatives on another. We serve appetizers and drinks. I still make a variety of homemade sweets, but now I have a cookie exchange with co-workers at our house. This gives me time with co-workers outside the office setting and also gives me a variety of cookies to serve while enjoying all those ornaments I putted on.
I still come up with different Christmas decorating ideas, and with fewer people in the house, you can actually see the displays with ornaments. I concentrate on decorating the trees well. We place one in the living room and one in the family room. I also have candles and greenery arranged on the tables. I also like to use large vases filled with a variety of evergreens along with red and white carnations. Add a few twinkle lights here and there and my Christmas decorating is complete.
I try to keep this in mind in everything I do from my Christmas decorating ideas to the foods I prepare for guests. For several years, my family and I would have a Christmas open house. We invited co-workers, neighbors, friends, and relatives. Each year the list of people we invited would grow and so would the headaches and stress of getting ready for the event.
I began making homemade candies a month prior to the event. We made homemade candies, cookies, bars and a wide variety of finger foods. I would comb the magazines and stores to come up with the latest Christmas Decorating ideas so that each year I would have new displays for our guest to see.
We would have so many people in the house that you could hardly move, let alone admire the Christmas decorating ideas that I had come up with. We spent all of our time filling punch bowls, making coffee and replenishing serving platters. We decided that we needed to have a different way to celebrate the holidays with friends.
We looked at the list of people that we invited and agreed that we could eliminate co-workers from the list. We each had holiday parities at work where we could celebrate the season. We then decided that we would have smaller gatherings on three different evenings during the season. This is how we started to keep things simple.
We invited neighbors over for one evening, friends for another, and relatives on another. We serve appetizers and drinks. I still make a variety of homemade sweets, but now I have a cookie exchange with co-workers at our house. This gives me time with co-workers outside the office setting and also gives me a variety of cookies to serve while enjoying all those ornaments I putted on.
- $1500 Holiday Gift Giveaway
Want us to pay for ALL YOUR HOLIDAY Gifts? $1500 Gift Card on us
Let us pay for all your Christmas Gifts this year! Up to $1,500 on us!
(U.S. Only)
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Popular Christmas Gifts Are Here Online
By K. Tan -
With the resources at our disposal these days, it is a synch to find perfect Birthday presents and popular Christmas gifts to suit anyone. I recall a few years back when my family thought it would be a great idea to draw names from a Hat for Christmas. The concept basically derived from a desperate attempt to save money.
We would each draw one name from a Hat, and then we would only be obligated to buy that particular person a Christmas gift. Sounds cool, right? Well, as simple as it sounds, I had to get my Aunt's name, who I hardly even know. What in the world was I going to get her? What were some popular Christmas gifts that would surely hit the spot?
If you are facing a similar predicament and have no idea where to look, jump into Cyberspace and locate those popular Christmas gifts that will make anyone happy. If you cannot locate a personal item, try an item for their home. Most of us love to receive new things for our home. Whether it is a fancy Coffee Pot, or a cool DVD rack, everyone uses these things.
Do not try to pick out a pair of Boots or an Outfit. This can prove fatal. Believe me, I have been there. Many other popular Christmas gifts are much more safer choices. Hop online today and check them out. While it's still the thought that counts, it is even better to get something you actually want.
Remember back when you got that cheesy Sweater for Christmas? Come on, everybody goes through that at least once. Those relatives that we hardly know drop by around the holidays, or maybe send a package of stuff we can only shake our heads. What were they thinking? When it comes to the holidays and special occasions, do not get a tacky set of tube socks for your loved ones.
I did not want to be one of those cheese balls with a festive Sweater that would go straight to the garbage. My first plan was to ask my wife. What do women in their late 50s want? My wife was of course only 35 and had no idea. Strike one! I then hopped on the Internet in search of popular Christmas gifts for women. This was a great idea.
Online there was a variety of reviews to offer me some guidance. After some intensive surfing through Cyberspace, I had narrowed down my selection of gifts. It was either going to be Perfume or Jewelry. No matter how old a woman is, these items are a sure win. Thank God for the Internet.
More ideas at Writer's Resources Gifts category.
With the resources at our disposal these days, it is a synch to find perfect Birthday presents and popular Christmas gifts to suit anyone. I recall a few years back when my family thought it would be a great idea to draw names from a Hat for Christmas. The concept basically derived from a desperate attempt to save money.
We would each draw one name from a Hat, and then we would only be obligated to buy that particular person a Christmas gift. Sounds cool, right? Well, as simple as it sounds, I had to get my Aunt's name, who I hardly even know. What in the world was I going to get her? What were some popular Christmas gifts that would surely hit the spot?
If you are facing a similar predicament and have no idea where to look, jump into Cyberspace and locate those popular Christmas gifts that will make anyone happy. If you cannot locate a personal item, try an item for their home. Most of us love to receive new things for our home. Whether it is a fancy Coffee Pot, or a cool DVD rack, everyone uses these things.
Do not try to pick out a pair of Boots or an Outfit. This can prove fatal. Believe me, I have been there. Many other popular Christmas gifts are much more safer choices. Hop online today and check them out. While it's still the thought that counts, it is even better to get something you actually want.
Remember back when you got that cheesy Sweater for Christmas? Come on, everybody goes through that at least once. Those relatives that we hardly know drop by around the holidays, or maybe send a package of stuff we can only shake our heads. What were they thinking? When it comes to the holidays and special occasions, do not get a tacky set of tube socks for your loved ones.
I did not want to be one of those cheese balls with a festive Sweater that would go straight to the garbage. My first plan was to ask my wife. What do women in their late 50s want? My wife was of course only 35 and had no idea. Strike one! I then hopped on the Internet in search of popular Christmas gifts for women. This was a great idea.
Online there was a variety of reviews to offer me some guidance. After some intensive surfing through Cyberspace, I had narrowed down my selection of gifts. It was either going to be Perfume or Jewelry. No matter how old a woman is, these items are a sure win. Thank God for the Internet.
More ideas at Writer's Resources Gifts category.
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