What Makes Christmas Magical

Christmas is a special time of the year for the joy and intangible magic
that fills the season. It comes through in the delightful decorations, glorious
get-togethers with family and friends and the sheer feeling of joy one gets from
giving and receiving gifts.

Although the commercialization of Christmas is often decried, shopping is
an important and central activity to some of the intangible magic of Christmas.
It is at the malls or downtown stores that some of the favorite sights, sounds
and scents of Christmas can be experienced.

The decorations at Malls and retail establishments are usually very
fanciful and eye-catching, especially to children, with the many colorful and
twinkling lights. It's also a wonder for both adults and children alike to look
at the numerous tinsels, baubles and figurines such as fairies, angels and
little babies that adorn the main Christmas tree in the center of shopping malls
and others in department stores. These trees are usually extremely well
embellished with decorations that are arranged in a very professional way that
most shoppers can't replicate in their own homes. It's therefore a delight for
them to stare at such trees in wonder and amazement.

Along with the wide variety of decorations in retail establishments, there
also is the sound of music playing, bells ringing, the laughter and wishes of
Merry Christmas from shoppers that also create a special atmosphere and add to
the magic of Christmas. Even the sound of cash registers in the background adds
something to the special feeling shoppers have at Christmas time.

And of course there's always a Santa Claus that children can meet and tell
what they want for Christmas, and also have their picture taken. Sometimes Santa
Claus may distribute Christmas gifts to children, telling them that because they
have been very, very good they are getting an extra special early Christmas
present.

The ability to delight children by telling them stories about Santa Claus,
as well as making them see and talk to the jolly old fellow, puts a lot of magic
and excitement into Christmas. Once the tradition is started, or from the first
time that children have been told the story, it becomes something that they look
forward to every year during the Christmas season.

There's also the sound of music from choirs or school groups who often
give open performances singing Christmas carols and songs in malls and downtown
areas of towns. Families and others who are out and about will pause to listen
or to sing along with these groups.

Shopping is undoubtedly an enjoyable activity for most people during Christmas,
but merrier and more memorable times are enjoyed when time is spent with family,
friends and colleagues during the season. Before Christmas Day arrives, there
usually are parties at home and at work, an evening out with friends and other
occasions to get together and share the spirit of Christmas. The presence of
special Christmas music and people dressed in holiday attire provide a different
atmosphere and contribute to the magical feeling of the season.

Another thing that is different at Christmas is the scent from a fresh
Christmas tree, of gingerbread and other cookies baking and other food
preparations that are specially done at Christmas time. Most people who select a
real Christmas tree instead of an artificial one for their homes do so because
of the wonderful scent it provides. For many people, that scent from a Christmas
tree is what puts Christmas into everything else.

Another popular scent at Christmas comes from the popular Christmas song
'Chestnuts Roasting Over an Open Fire.' The actual roasting of chestnuts by
families during the Christmas season may be a rare occurrence these days but it
is occasionally done in some downtown areas and in bakeries and confectioneries
that make fresh products everyday.

All these events, activities, happenings, sights, sounds and scents of Christmas
and the holidays create special and unforgettable memories. And who can deny
that a pleasant memory is always something that is truly magical.


photo credit: James Jordan

Have a Chic Christmas - All About Style and Fashion for the Holidays

In New York, a style capital of the world, black is always a chic and
fashionable selection. That's even more so in the Fall and Winter seasons when
dark colors are favored. But even the fashionistas who like somber colors add a
bit of sparkle and cheer to Christmas and holiday clothing with some color,
usually magnificent red.

Dominant colors at Christmas are red, black and white and a red scarf, or
a white one, is a must-have accessory.

Holiday-themed apparel with snowflakes, candy canes, stars, Christmas
trees, are also popular during the season. Along with being colorful, they also
convey the message that the person is fully embracing the spirit of the season
and is in a festive mood. When individuals wear holiday-themed apparel, they are
therefore radiating a positive attitude and giving the signal that it is
pleasant to be around them. After all, nobody wants to be around the 'grumpy
bah-humbug' type of personalities during the Christmas season.

Holiday-themed jewelry also works well as accessories. These can add that
little sparkle to an outfit that makes it stand out in an admirable way.
Holiday-themed jewelry is also perfect for those individuals who simply want to
show a touch of the holiday spirit without having to actually wear holiday-
themed apparel because it maybe too different from the conservative style of
their wardrobe.

It is necessary to add some sparkle to apparel during the Christmas season
and current style trends of having jewel-engraved or embroidered tops play well
for the Christmas season. They will allow the wearer to look festive in a very
understated but elegant way.

Fall popular styles will also undoubtedly be a fashionable way to dress
for the holidays. Based on the Fall Fashion Shows in New York, there are five
basic outfits that stylists say should be in the wardrobe of all women. They
are: the Tunic, Winter Short - which is cut just above the knee - the Vest,
Pencil Skirt and the Super-wide pant.

The vest can be a dressy one with embroidery or other adornments, or it
can be more minimal based on the overall outfit. The Winter Short and Pencil
Skirt can easily convert from working outfit to party wear with the right
accessory, making them perfect to wear to an early evening Christmas or holiday
party. A variation from the Pencil Skirt is the Pencil dress. This too is likely
to be popular for Christmas as it can be easily accessorized with a broad belt,
which is one of the accessories that top fashion advisers say is a 'must-have'
accessory for the Fall.

The Tunic and Super-wide pant are also liked for Christmas and the Holiday
season because they are very flexible in how they can be paired with other
garments.

Another fall fashion staple are Knit Sweaters - oversized and as tunics. They
will also work well with black tights and leggings, which has made a comeback in
leg wear. Leggings can be worn under skirts or dresses. Very slim leggings can
also be worn simply in place of pants, worn with a jacket or again, with an
oversized knit sweater. Using the basic colors of red, white and black that are
popular during Christmas and the holidays, colored leggings will definitely add
a nice touch of style to outfits and make them seem perfect for the Christmas
and holiday season.

It is also good that dresses are once more welcomed among the fashionable.
And the red dress for Fall fits well into Christmas and the holiday season.
The latest in jeans, which is a mainstay in everyone's wardrobe and suitable to
wear at all times including during Christmas and the holidays, is that a skinny
fit is in. And if ultra-skinny is not very complimentary to your body shape, you
can still get one of the newer types of jeans that are said to have a lot more
stretch, giving a 360-degree or all-around wrap to the body for a perfect or
near perfect fit.

And since Christmas is the season to be happy and cheery, the truly jolly
can always top off their Christmas outfit with a cone-shaped, red and white
Santa hat.


photo credit: Panoramas

All About Rudolph and Santa's Other Reindeers

Maybe it's the undeniable alliterative appeal of Rudolph the Red-Nosed reindeer
that makes him the most known or popular of all Santa's nine flying reindeers.
It certainly doesn't seem as easy to come up with a similar catchy description
for the others - Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and
Blitzen - as named in the song.

The story of Rudolph whose glowing red nose made him a standout, first appeared
in 1939 when Montgomery Ward department stores distributed about 2.4 million
booklets with the poem in the form of a story about "Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Reindeer." It was written by Robert L. May, who worked in the store's
advertisement or marketing department, to be used to attract more people into
the store. When the booklet was reissued in 1939, sales soared to more than 3.5
million copies. But it wasn't until a decade later, in 1949, that the story
really gained immense popularity when Gene Autry sang a musical version of the
fable. As a Christmas song, it is second only in popularity to 'White
Christmas.'

Rudolph, the ninth reindeer whose lighted nose guides Santa's sleigh through the
night, is now known worldwide as the song has been translated into more than 20
different languages and an animated television movie has also been based on the
story. Rudolph and his noticeable nose have also become the subject of jokes and
sparked more interest in reindeers which has led to much research into Santa and
the flying reindeers who pull his sleigh through the sky.

Along with the catchy rhythm of the lyrics, Rudolph's story is also appealing
because of the moral lessons it contains. As the story goes, Rudolph was
ostracized by the other reindeers, which laughed and teased him about his shiny
red nose. But on a foggy night, when Santa must have been concerned that he may
not be able to deliver his Christmas gifts around the world, Santa spotted him
and kindly asked if he would step to the front as the leader to 'guide my sleigh
tonight.' His shiny red nose would after all be very useful in lighting the way,
Santa thought. From then on 'all of the other reindeers loved him," and rightly
predicted that he 'would go down in history.'

Among the moral lessons the story can impart is that an attribute that is
perceived as negative or as a liability can be used for a positive purpose, or,
become an asset. It also makes the point that an individual should not let the
negative behavior of others define him or her and limit expectations of what can
be achieved. And it also illustrates how quickly opinions and attitudes about a
person can change.

The question still lingers however of where Rudolph came from. He is commonly
regarded as the son of Donner (or Donder), one of the original eight reindeers.
But the Snopes.com site rejects this however, saying that he dwelled in a
reindeer village elsewhere and it was there that he was seen by Santa who had
already started on his Christmas Eve journey to deliver gifts. And in a more
modern evolution of the story according to Wikipedia.com, an animation by the
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) introduced a son, named Robbie, of
Rudolph. That son has now become the tenth reindeer.

It's also interesting to note that the idea of Santa's sleigh being pulled by
reindeers was originated in the poem, 'Twas The Night Before Christmas.' That
poem tells the story of St. Nicholas, who is Santa, calling his eight tiny
reindeers by their names, as previously mentioned, just before he came down the
chimney of a house to start filling the stockings from a sack full of toys he
carried on his back.


photo credit: ginnerobot

Christmas Shopping for Kids

Christmas is a truly magical season that is enjoyed by many but no one enjoys the Christmas season more than kids. It might be the prospect of some well deserved time off from school, the allure of the lights and decorations, the beauty of the snow that often accompanies Christmas or just the anticipation of Santa and his sleigh filled with toys that is so exciting for children but it is evident that most kids are truly enchanted by Christmas. For this reason many adults truly enjoy shopping for kids and Christmas time.

While Christmas shopping for kids is a great deal of fun there are some factors to consider when Christmas shopping for kids. A few of the specific concerns include selecting age appropriate toys, selecting toys which are not too noisy or too big for the child’s living situation, selecting toys the child does not already have, selecting toys which the parents consider to be acceptable and finally selecting toys the child will enjoy. This can make Christmas shopping for kids a little more difficult but does not make the shopping any less fun.

Selecting age appropriate toys is very important when Christmas shopping for kids. This is so important for a couple of reasons. First of all it is important because toys which are designed for older children might be potentially dangerous for the child. For example toys which are designed for children over the age of three may contain small pieces which pose a choking hazard. Children under the age of three still often put toys and other objects in their mouths so they must receive toys which contain only pieces large enough to not be a choking hazard. Also, toys which are designed for an older child or even a younger child may not be as much fun for the child as they would be for children of the appropriate age. If the child is too young for the toy, they may be come easily frustrated because they can not use the toy appropriately. Conversely a child who is too old for a particular toy may become bored with the toy quickly.

When shopping for Christmas gifts for a child, it is also important to consider the child’s parents and the living situation. This includes the size of the living area and the proximity to neighbors. Specifically toys which are particularly noisy may not be appropriate for a child who lives in an apartment building with other apartment units nearby. Also, large toys such as a trampoline may not be appropriate for a child who does not have a yard large enough to accommodate such a gift. Similarly large indoor items such as a foosball table would not be appropriate for a child who does not have a dedicated toy room to accommodate such a large item. As a general rule it is best to stick with small items which do not make a great deal of noise when Christmas shopping for kids.

It is also important to consider the personal beliefs of the parents when shopping for Christmas gifts for their children. Specifically you should not purchase an item for a child if you know their parents are ethically opposed to such as item. Guns and violent video games are a couple of obvious example of Christmas gifts which may offend the parents. There are many parents who do not allow their children to play with these items because they believe they promote violence. If you are not sure about the feelings of the parents, it is best not to select these items.

Finally, when Christmas shopping for a child, it is wise to consult the parents beforehand. This can be helpful for a couple of different reasons. First the parents can give some insight into the child’s hobbies and interests which may make selecting a gift easier. They may even suggest a specific item from the child’s Christmas list ensuring you are giving the child something he really wants for Christmas. Consulting the parents can also prevent you from giving the child a gift he already has. Try calling the parents before you make a purchase to suggest a particular item. They can let you know if they think the child will enjoy the item or if the child already has the item.

photo credit: danagraves

Christmas Shopping for Your Boss

Christmas shopping for your boss can be a difficult situation. First of all purchasing a Christmas gift for your superiors at work is considered to be somewhat of a faux pas unless the gift is being purchased by a group of employees. While giving Christmas gifts to subordinates is generally an accepted practice, gifts from individuals to a boss can be viewed as an attempt to gain advantages such as promotions or favorable projects or treatments. As a result care should always be taken when giving Christmas gifts to a boss. This article will take a look at situations in which giving a Christmas gift to your boss is acceptable and will offer tips for Christmas shopping for your boss.

While an individual giving a Christmas gift to the boss is not an accepted practice it is acceptable for a group of employees to purchase a joint gift for their boss. As an example, a boss who oversees the work of a small group of employees may receive a gift from this small group collectively and this would be considered appropriate. In this way the gift is viewed as a gesture of appreciate from the members of the group and not an attempt by one of the members to gain favorable treatment. However, even in this acceptable situation, Christmas shopping for your boss could be quite difficult.

The first area of concern when Christmas shopping for your boss is setting a budget. If you are shopping for a gift from a large group of people, it is a good idea to collect the money first and then use the amount collected to set the budget for the gift. You may ask for a small amount of money, typically around $5-$10 from each person and once the money is collected you can search for items which fall within your budget. You should not exceed the amount of money you collected because it is not considered acceptable to ask for additional money if you had promised to stay within budget. Most people have a great deal of shopping to do and being asked to contribute additional money can be somewhat of a hardship for them. However, it is considered acceptable to spend a little less than the budget as long as you refund the remaining money equally to everyone who has contributed. For example if you spend $20 less than you collected from 20 people, you should return $1 to each person who contributed. If you are the person shopping for the Christmas present you may have to exercise some common sense and make judgment calls if necessary. For example if you collect $120 and purchase an item which costs $121.04, including tax, you may opt to simply pay the additional amount yourself if you are able to do so. The additional amount is quite small and if the gift is appropriate, it might be worthwhile to incur this small expense for the sake of purchasing a perfect gift which is within your budget.

Christmas shopping for a boss can also be rather difficult because you may not know what to buy for your boss. If you are not particularly close to your boss and do not often socialize with him you may not know a great deal about his interests. In this case it might be a good idea to either ask someone who knows him better to do the Christmas shopping or at least ask them to provide you with a few gift ideas. Other employees may know the boss better because they have worked with him longer or because they participate in activities such as company softball games with him. In either case, they can probably provide you with some insight into his interests which would help you select a gift he will appreciate. If you are unable to come up with a suitable gift idea, a gift certificate to a local restaurant is always an appropriate, and appreciated, Christmas gift.


photo credit: rick

Christmas Carols

photo credit: corsi photo

The tradition of caroling and Christmas carols is believed to have
originated in England when wandering musicians would go from town to town and
visit castles and other homes of the rich to give impromptu performances. But
there also is the belief that singing carols at Christmas likely came from the
group of angels, shepherds and Wise Men who visited Jesus at his birth, because
they worshiped the holy child, sang and proclaim praises unto Him. And after
their visit, they continued their proclamations in the street.

The origin of the word carol however, is thought to come from the word
'caroller,' which is a French word that describes a circle dance with singers.
And from the twelfth through the fourteenth centuries, the carol was highly
popular as a dance song. The use of carols then evolved to festivals where they
were sung as processional songs and others were used as part of religious
mystery plays in Europe. Some traditional qualities of a carol was that the
words expressed should celebrate a topic that was seasonal, have verses and a
chorus arranged alternately and have music that was suitable for dancing.

Although many of the carols that are now popular at Christmas time are very old,
there are others from earlier times that didn't survive. During the 17th century
when the Protestants, led by Oliver Cromwell were in power in England, many
Christmas carols were banned and consequently some were never heard again. The
Christmas carols that survived the Protestant Reformation period didn't become
very popular again until the mid-19th century to the start of the 20th century.

Many of the Christmas carols that were banned, and early Christmas carols in
general, had lyrics that expressed joyous and merry themes instead of the
serious somber words found in church hymns. During the time when carols were
banned, some composers and musicians wrote non-religious songs that had highly
varied choral music, which they called carols, for Christmas. After Christmas
carols again became popular, many of those songs were re-arranged with new
Christian lyrics and used by the church.

Making changes to Christmas carols continues in a different way today with pop
artistes singing the carols to different tunes and melodies to give them a style
that characterizes the particular artiste. Having Christmas carols with tunes of
contemporary or popular music of today means that they are also more likely to
survive because younger listeners will be interested in hearing any music that
is done by their favorite or other popular singers.

The popularity of Christmas carols in the United States increased in the 19th
century, as it did in England, because many of the traditions related to
Christmas came to the United States from England. The United States and England
also have closely linked religious observances, which also accounts for the
popularity and similarity of Christmas carols that are enjoyed in both
countries.

Today, radio stations are the first to play Christmas carols, usually starting
toward mid-November, to signal the coming season. At the start of December when
the Christmas season official begins, mall stores and other retail
establishments will begin to pipe Christmas carols and songs through their
places of business.

The singing of carols at churches, schools, and by groups performing at malls
usually will be a common sight starting in early to mid-December. Carol singing
as a part of Nativity plays and concerts at churches and schools is usually in
full swing by mid-December as the Christmas season gets into high gear and the
countdown to Christmas Day begins.

Whether it's the traditional tune or popular makeovers of Christmas carols that
you enjoy, listening to them is part of an old Christmas tradition. And any
version of a Christmas carol that is played will serve the purpose of putting
you in a festive mood for Christmas that you may even want to dance, just like
the music of original carols was meant to do.

Favorite Foods of Christmas

photo credit: Dano

Favorite foods enjoyed by Americans for any given holiday, season or special occasion will likely include some ethnic dish, given the many ethnic groups that reside in the country. Despite this variety of melting pot cuisine, there are some similarities in dishes that will be a part of most meals during celebrations such as Christmas.

Christmas in the United States comes almost one month after another big holiday, Thanksgiving, in which the traditional meal must consist of a turkey as the main dish. This dish also carries over into Christmas as roast turkey is one of the main dishes that may be served for Christmas dinner. But unlike Thanksgiving, which is solely devoted to turkey meat, Christmas dinners may also include other birds or poultry. These include roast goose or duck. Roasted ham may also be served. Cranberry sauce, vegetables, pumpkin pie and a plum pudding or fruity Christmas pudding for dessert tops off traditional Christmas dinners. Mince pies and pastry that is filled with a mixture of chopped, dried fruit may also be added to the menu.

For drinks at Christmas dinner, a bottle of champagne is very popular, as well as wines. But the everyday beverage of beer is a must for many people to make a meal truly enjoyable.

Before Christmas Day and the big dinner arrives, there's also another type of food that Americans enjoy in large quantities during the Christmas season. The consumption and sales of candies, gingerbread and other cookies and holiday treats increases rapidly during the holidays. Similar to how department stores seek to attract shoppers to buy items for Christmas gifts, candy manufacturers also put out special boxes and types of candies for Christmas and the holiday season.

A survey done in 2004 by the National Confectioners Association found that many adults derived much pleasure at Christmas from giving and receiving candies and other treats. In their responses the survey participants said that giving decadent boxes of chocolate to friends and family, placing candy canes on the Christmas tree and hiding candy treats in Christmas stockings were favorite ways to give and receive candies, cookies and treats during the holidays.

Sweet treats remain popular at Christmas despite a constant message about dieting that is present in everyday life in the media, in billboards and from some food manufacturers. At Christmas time, people feel free to enjoy the festive season without constraints. But they also know that they can enjoy candies and cookies that are health conscious by eating ones that are targeted to the low-carb dieter by having ingredients that are sugar-free and fat-free or both.

Cookies that are enjoyed at Christmas are often home-baked ones and usually include gingerbread items. The tradition of gingerbread cookies at Christmas is also believed to have originated in Germany and brought to America by German immigrants. German bakeries began baking very fancy gingerbread houses with icing as edible snow and other decorations after the Grimm Brothers published their children's story, Hansel and Gretel. That story had a description of a house that was made of bread, a roof of cake and windows of barley. The popularity of the creations by German bakeries gave rise to cookie cutters that were made in a variety of shapes, enabling small gingerbread cookies of various shapes to be baked at home. Some of these cookies that had the shapes of little people and animals were used to decorate Christmas trees.

More than one hundred years ago from today, German homes in Lancaster County in Pennsylvania would have cookies that were up to one foot high in the front of windows of their houses as decorative items during winter. The cookies were often giant gingerbread men and women that had colorful rows of buttons and big smiles. Passersby were often cheered and intrigued by the sight and brought the idea to their homes on a smaller scale.

Being able to enjoy special dishes, candies, cookies and other goodies during Christmas and the holidays adds a sweet flavor to the season and also helps to create warm and cherished memories.

Decorating for Christmas While On a Budget

photo credit: lisatozzi

Are you one of the millions of Americans who loves to celebrate Christmas? When asked, the majority of individuals respond that Christmas is one of their favorite holidays, if not their favorite. If you love to celebrate Christmas, there is a good chance that you may be interested in decorating your home for Christmas. Unfortunately, as you likely already know, decorating your home can get quite expensive. However, if you want to decorate for Christmas, but you do not have an unlimited amount of money to do so, there are a number of ways that you can go about decorating for Christmas while on a budget.

Perhaps, the best ways to save money on Christmas directions is to decide ahead of time what you need. Unfortunately, a large number of shoppers, possibly just like you, have a difficult time with impulse buying. Impulse buying is when shoppers purchase an item as soon as they see it, an item that they may not have intended on purchasing. If you are shopping for Christmas decorations and you are on a limited budget, you are advised to not give into your impulse buying urges. That is why it is advised that you determine what you would like to buy ahead of time. If you are unsure exactly what you would like to buy, that is fine, but you may want to focus on which rooms that you want to decorate for Christmas and which rooms you do not. This will also make it easier for you eliminate unnecessary purchases.

Once you have decided which type of Christmas decorations that you would like to buy, you can then start shopping; however, it is important to remember your goal of saving money. Christmas decorations are nice, but you will not want to spend more money on decorations than you have. The less money you spend on Christmas decorations, the more money you will have to put towards a nice Christmas dinner or Christmas gifts. That is why it is important that you take where you are shopping, as well as when, into consideration.

If you are shopping for Christmas decorations on a budget, one of your first stops should be your local dollar store. While many individuals assume that the items sold within dollar stores are poor in quality, they aren’t always. In fact, around Christmastime, you could get some really nice Christmas decorations for a dollar or less. Depending on the dollar store you choose to shop at, you should be able to walk away with Christmas pictures, Christmas wall hangings for kids, Christmas tree decorations, Christmas lights, and even Christmas potholders for your kitchen. As previously mentioned, all of the items found inside a dollar store should be one dollar or less.

In addition to dollar stores, you may also want to check out your local discount stores. Discount tores, in most cases, are a cross between a convenient store and a department store. They tend to be somewhat small in size, but most dollar stores carry a wide variety of different products, including Christmas decorations. While the prices at discount stores will vary, you should be able to find beautiful Christmas decorations for fewer than five dollars each. Of course, there will always be items that cost more than five dollars, but you may be surprised with the selection of low-cost Christmas decorations that can be found at your local discount store.
Although there is a good chance that you may prefer to have brand new Christmas decorations, it might not always be possible. If you are looking for low-cost, but specialty Christmas decorations, you may want to try shopping on an online auction website. By carefully examining which items you choose to buy, you could walk away with Christmas decorations that are slightly used, but look new.

As previously mentioned, it is also important that you keep when you are shopping in mind. For the largest selection of Christmas decorations, you will want to shop early, but for the best prices, you may want to wait until it gets closer to Christmas. In the days leading up to Christmas, some retail stores offer discounts on their Christmas supplies, including decorations. In fact, right after Christmas many of these discounts reach up to seventy-five or ninety percent off. Although shopping right after Christmas won’t help you this year, but it may be able to help you decorate your home, at an affordable price, next year.

What to Consider Before Decorating Your Workplace for Christmas

photo credit: ginnerobot

When it comes to Christmas, there are a large number of individuals who choose to decorate their home. While a large number of individuals choose to decorate their homes, there are others who choose to do more; there are many who also decorate their place of work. When getting into the Christmas spirit, you may also wish to decorate your place of work. If that is the case, before you go and start hanging up Christmas decorations, there are a number of important factors that you should first take into consideration.

Perhaps, the most important thing to remember is that different individuals have different views and beliefs. While Christmas is a widely celebrated holiday, not everyone chooses to celebrate it. There are many who just do not get into the holiday spirit, but there are others who choose not to celebrate Christmas because of their religious beliefs. Depending on where you work, you may work with others who choose not to celebrate Christmas. You need to keep this in mind before you go about decorating your workplace for Christmas. Not only could you unintentionally hurt one of your coworkers, but you may also land yourself in a controversial situation. If one or more of your coworkers does not celebrate Christmas, it may be a good idea to leave the Christmas decorations at home.

Before decorating your workplace for Christmas, it is also important to examine your role at work. If you are an office manager, a retail store manager, or another type of supervisor, you may feel that you are within your rights to decorate your workplace if you choose to do so. While this is true, it is also your responsibility to respect, as well as protect, your employees. If you do wish to decorate your place of work for Christmas, it is advised that you speak to at least some of your employees before doing so. In the event that any one of your employees does not celebrate Christmas or would personally be offended by Christmas decorations, it may be a good idea to refrain from decorating your workplace with Christmas decorations.

If you are a business owner, you are, in a way, in a similar position as mentioned above. The only difference between a business owner and a workplace supervisor is that a supervisor usually still has to answer to someone else. As a business owner, you are likely in charge of everything, including what does or does not go onside your business. While this means that you would be free to hang Christmas decorations in your workplace if you wanted to, it may still be a good idea to speak to your employees. This will help to ensure that you do not unintentionally cause any workplace disputes.

As important as it is to be concerned with other employees, it is also important to worry about those that you service. If you work or operate a business that regularly deals with customers or clients, in a personally matter, you may want to seriously think about the pros and cons of decorating for Christmas. As previously mentioned, not all individuals choose to celebrate Christmas, including your clients. If you have clients that regularly visit your workplace, whether it be an office or a retail store, it may a good idea to forego the idea to decorate for Christmas. It is not really worth the potential risk of losing a customer.

Although it may seem as if it is a bad idea to decorate your place of work for Christmas, it isn’t always. You will find that there are some decorations that are acceptable. Instead of Christmas decorations, these decorations are sometimes referred to as holiday decorations. A red and green table piece is less likely to offend someone who doesn’t celebrate Christmas than a large sign that says “Merry Christmas.” That is why if you choose to decorate your workplace for Christmas go right ahead, but it may be a good idea to careful choose your Christmas decorations.

Decorating Your Workplace For Christmas

photo credit: brockvicky

When it comes to Christmas decorations, there are many who only decorate their homes, but there are others who wish to do more. If you are one of those individuals, there is a good chance that you may be interested in decorating your workplace for Christmas. If you are interested in decorating your workplace or even just your workspace, you will find that there are a number of different ways that you can go about doing so; ways that can help you find affordable Christmas decorations or the ones that look the best.

Before you can begin to familiarize yourself with easy and low-cost ways to decorate your workplace for Christmas, you may want to keep a number of important things in mind. One of those things is the fact that not everyone celebrates Christmas as a holiday. There are some individuals who choose not to celebrate Christmas on their own, but there are others who are following the views and beliefs of their religion. Since there is a good chance that you may be working with someone who does not celebrate Christmas, you may want to ask your supervisors or your other employees before you begin decorating, even if you are only decorating your own personal workspace.

Once you have determined that it is okay for you to decorate your workplace for Christmas, you may want to start searching for Christmas decorations. As nice as it is to decorate your office, not everyone treats it the same as their home. That is why there is a good chance that you may be looking for low-cost Christmas decorations. If you are looking for low-cost Christmas decorations, you are advised to examine your local dollars stores. Depending on the dollar store in question, you should be able to find a fairly large selection of low-cost Christmas decorations. These low-cost Christmas decorations may include small strands of Christmas lights, Christmas pictures, Christmas signs, as well as small Christmas cardboard cutouts. Many of these low-cost items would look great in your office space.

Although there is a good chance that you may be shopping for Christmas decorations on a budget, there is also a chance that cost may not be a concern of yours. If you are looking to have the best decorated workspace in your building, you may be shopping for beautiful, elegant, or trendy Christmas decorations. If that is the case, you may want to think about shopping at a local specialty Christmas shop or online. These shopping methods will likely give you the biggest selection of Christmas decorations to choose from. They may cost a little bit more, but they are almost always worth the price. Whether you are looking for porcelain or ceramic Christmas figurines, tabletop fiber optic Christmas decorations, or small Christmas trees that you could decorate, you should be able to find what you are looking for online or at a specialty Christmas shop.

As mentioned above, it was advised that you speak to your coworkers and supervisors before you decorate for Christmas. Even if you know of someone in your workplace who does not celebrate Christmas you can still decorate your workspace for Christmas; however, you will need to take a little bit different of an approach. Instead of decorating your workspace or workplace with Christmas decorations that symbolize Christmas, such as decorations that have Christmas trees, Santa, or reindeers on them, you could take a more simple approach. Simply by purchasing a red and green tablecloth for your desk or an artificial bouquet of red and green flowers, you could still bring the holiday spirit into your workplace, without having to worry about offending one of your coworkers.

By keeping the above mentioned points in mind, you should easily be able to decorate your workplace or workspace for Christmas, no matter what you had in mind. Christmas season is all about sharing, giving, and spreading the holiday joy, so, if you want, start spreading that joy to your coworkers today!

Effortless Christmas Tree Decoration

photo credit: busymommy

The decoration of Christmas trees has evolved and undergone many changes,
much like many of the early traditions of the Christmas season. Christmas tree
lighting that started out with real candles underwent probably the biggest
change when electric light became commercially available and special Christmas
tree lights were manufactured. It is therefore not surprising that today you can
set up Christmas trees that are expertly decorated with little or no effort.

While many people choose a fresh Christmas tree for its scent, many others
simply want a beautifully decorated Christmas tree and will choose an artificial
or man-made tree. Artificial trees have been available in America since the
start of the 20th century. Many artificial trees are made to have a similar
appearance like real Christmas trees, but changes have been made to them to make
them decorative and different from regular Christmas trees.

As an example, in the 1950s some artificial Christmas trees had branches
made of aluminum-coated paper to give them a shiny metallic look. For those who
like to have a Christmas tree with a unique look, trees with a similar shiny,
metallic appearance are available today. They are however made with a different
material because the older trees were a fire hazard.

For the those people who are very busy and don't have the time to spend
carefully placing Christmas lights on trees, there are several pre-lit models of
Christmas trees on the market today. A standard type of these Christmas trees
look like their real counterparts except multi-colored fiber-optic lights can be
found scattered throughout the limbs and branches of these trees. This
arrangement saves time and effort of having to undo or untangle strings of
Christmas tree lights.

Another type of pre-lit artificial Christmas tree are those that are made
completely of fiber optics so that the tree appears to be shaped out of strands
of light that are wispy. Some of these brightly-lit fiber-optic trees also come
equipped with pre-recorded Christmas songs and carols and speakers to give the
added pleasure of music.

Many pre-lit Christmas trees have electric Christmas tree lights however
which need to be plugged into a real electrical outlet. The advantage of these
trees is that the lights are already strung on them from the factory and you
need only to follow the instructions about how to assemble the tree and plug in
the different parts for it to appear lighted. Once this is done correctly, the
tree will look as if it was decorated with lights manually or professionally.
Another ready-made decorative feature of artificial Christmas trees is to have
the appearance of snow-covered branches. That trend is an evolution of faux snow
that is often sprinkled in garlands and wreaths to add a Christmas quality to
those decorations. Icicle ornaments are also used to decorate real and
artificial trees and icicle lights are commonly used along rooflines and outdoor
areas for additional lighting decoration. These decorations, along with the
ready-made snow-covered branches of artificial trees, all convey the frosty, icy
and cold feel of the winter season when Christmas occurs.

Christmas trees that arrive from the factory with lights also have
decorations such as apples and minute red berries to provide additional color,
and real pinecones that may or may not be frosted or sprinkled with faux snow.
They may also be pre-decorated with red or gold bows, round ornaments, flower-
like patterns, dried bow and twigs and gold frosted branch tips. to give an
appealing, sparkling appearance. The trees also have varying hues of green
similar to real Christmas trees.

Pre-lit and pre-decorated Christmas trees are therefore an excellent way
to brighten the holiday in your home and enable you to gain more time to enjoy
the festivities of the season.

Getting over the Christmas Giving Blues

Getting over the Christmas Giving Blues? Take the Christmas Budget Challenge.

With Christmas just around the corner, our focus is slowly starting to shift from our work commitments to Christmas and with it comes the annual Christmas spending spree. Unfortunately many families don't set a Christmas budget and they rely on their credit cards to get them through the festive season.

Shortly after Christmas these same families will also develop symptoms of the "Christmas Giving Blues" which can include an upset stomach, lack of sleep and anxiety.


You know that feeling. You spend up big, charge it on the card, and then spend the next couple of months worrying about how you are going to pay off your Christmas debts while vowing never to let this happen to you again.

Unfortunately, this is a reality for a lot of families every Christmas and they just don't seem to be able to break out of the cycle.

This year, give yourself and your family a Christmas gift and take the "Christmas Budget Challenge" and enjoy your Christmas without the suffering the Christmas Blues.

There are two parts to the Christmas Budget Challenge:

1. Put in place a strategy that will help you survive Christmas with as little pain as possible.

2. Put in place a strategy that will give you a plan to enjoy your next Christmas. This plan will also run itself without you even thinking about it.

Let's start by putting in place a plan that will hopefully make this Christmas a little easier on your hip pocket:

1. Have a look at your finances and set an upper limit that you can afford for your Christmas spending. Allocate a certain amount to Gifts and a certain amount to other Christmas expenses. This is the start of your Christmas budget.

2. Leave the credit card at home and pay for Christmas with money wherever possible.

3. Keep track of all your Christmas spending. A good way of doing this is by carrying a small notebook and pencil and writing your purchases in it.

Gift Buying

4. Call your relatives and agree that Gifts will only be purchased for the children

5. Take your Christmas Gift budget that was allocated in step 1 and divide it by the number of gifts you need to buy. This number will be the maximum you can spend on each gift.

Christmas Food Shopping

6. Take your Christmas Dinner budget and make a shopping list.

7. When you are doing your shopping use a calculator to make sure you stay within your Christmas budget.

8. Save money by looking for the cheaper priced goods on the top and bottom shelves. Try not to buy items that are on shelves at eye level, these are usually the higher priced items.

9. Try not to buy items that are located in the displays at the end of the shopping aisles, these items are usually more expensive than the items located in the aisles.

10. Compare prices of similar items and buy the cheaper item.

11. Remember that Christmas is only one day a year. You don't have to spend a weeks worth of grocery money on one day.

12. Ask each relative to provide a food dish, drinks or dessert.

As soon as Christmas is over and the pain is fresh in your mind. You need to take action and put in place the second part of the "Christmas Budget Challenge". This next step will ensure that you have enough money for next Christmas

1. Add up all your Christmas expenses including gifts, food and any other costs.

2. Take the total of your Christmas expenses and divide it by the total amount of pays until next Christmas.

3. Open high interest bank account with the following attributes:
- No minimum starting balance
- Interest is accrued daily and billed monthly
- Interest rate on this bank account must be higher than the inflation rate.
- No bank charges

ING Direct and Citibank have an online banking account that may be suitable for your Christmas Budget account.

4. Organize an automatic bank transfer from your bank account to your Christmas Budget account. This transfer will be on each payday for the amount you worked out in step 2. It is important that this is automated because most people will not stick to this plan if it is a manual process.

5. When next Christmas comes around withdraw your money and repeat the process again.

You can get a free excel "Christmas Budget Challenge" spreadsheet from My Wealth Plan. Use this spreadsheet as a template for your Christmas Budget,

This plan is very simple and surprisingly effective and you will be able to enjoy your next Christmas without the suffering the Christmas Giving Blues.


photo credit: Tony the Misfit

What to Consider Before Decorating Your Lawn for Christmas

photo credit: SqueakyMarmot

Each year, millions of Americans choose to decorate their homes for Christmas. While many individuals keep the Christmas decorations on the inside of their homes, not all do. There are a fairly large number of individuals who also choose to decorate the outside of their homes, namely their lawns. If you are interested in decorating your front yard for Christmas, there are a number of important factors that you may first want to keep in mind. These factors may reaffirm your decision to decorate your lawn for Christmas, but they may also want to make you change your mind.

Perhaps, the most important thing to think about is what type of decorations you want in your front yard. In the United States, as previously mentioned, a large number of individuals decorate their front yards with Christmas decorations. These yard decorations come in a number of different formats. There are some homeowners who simply place a Santa yardstick in their yard or add lights to the outside of their home, but other homeowners go all out, some with huge inflatable Santa dolls and other colorful decorations. The type of Christmas decorations that you plan on using, as well as how many will make it easier to determine whether or not you should decorate your lawn for Christmas.

Unfortunately, there are many homeowners who feel that they can do whatever they want to their property because it is their right to do so. While it is your right to decorate your home, as well as your front yard, you will want to take your neighbors into consideration. If you live in a highly populated community, there is a good chance that large lawn decorations, especially those with bright lights, may cause some discomfort among your neighbors. You will not want to create a Christmas lawn display that has your neighbors up all night because your Christmas lights are shining into their bedroom. That is why it may be a good idea to speak to your neighbors before decorating your lawn, especially if you plan on creating a large display. You may find that your neighbors do not even care.

In addition to what your neighbors think, you may also want to be concerned with what your town, city, or county officials think. While you might not necessarily know this, there are some cities, towns, and counties that have strict regulations on what can or cannot be placed on a lawn. This is most commonly seen with business signs or election signs. While your local community may not have these restrictions, it is important that you check ahead of time. If you do set up a large Christmas display and you are legally prohibited from doing so, you will likely just receive a warning the first time, but action may be taken later. That is why it is important that you know what you are getting yourself into ahead of time.

Before deciding to decorate your lawn for Christmas, it might be a good idea to examine the cost of doing so. While it is possible to find a number of low-cost Christmas decorations for the lawn, such as small lawn signs and outdoor Christmas lights, the larger you want your display to be the more you will have to pay. If you are looking for large decorations, such as an inflatable Santa and reindeer set, you will need to pay quite a bit more money. These decorations may cost fifty dollars or more. If you are decorating for Christmas on a budget, it may be difficult or impossible for you to find large, affordable Christmas decorations, unless you are willing to buy used decorations. It may also be a good idea to examine the cost of extra cost of electricity, especially if you are using a large number of Christmas lights.

When it comes to decorating your lawn, as mentioned above, there are a number of advantages and disadvantages. By keeping the above mentioned points in mind, you should be able to decide for your own whether or not it is a good idea for you to decorate the outside of your home for Christmas.

Decorating Strategies At Christmas

photo credit: macinate

With so much decorative choice at Christmas, a strategy is needed to
ensure that whatever is done looks organized, well arranged and beautiful, and
not haphazard and disorganized. By doing some basic or traditional decoration,
along with trying creative and different ideas, a beautiful and pleasing
decorative environment can be created in all homes.

Traditional decorating ideas include using wreaths for doors or
entranceways and on a wall with unobstructed view. Garlands can be placed along
surface where they can be hung vertically or horizontally. And Christmas lights
can be used by itself or with garlands, in shrubs and of course on Christmas
trees.

Using Christmas lights outdoors along the frame of houses and icicle
shaped ones to decorate the roof lines of homes have become very popular. Icicle
lights are just as easy as regular lights to put in place and they create a very
pleasing display for the holiday season. Adding color to these outdoor light
displays can also make houses and the lighting display look more spectacular.

For indoor lighting, candles have become an attractive Christmas
decorative item as they can light up the night in a subdued but beautiful
manner. Candles create a pleasing look when displayed at windows if there are at
least two sets of two or three windows directly above each other, which is in a
vertical pattern. New technologies with candles have also made them safer to
use. There are electrical candles but also battery-operated ones that can be
used safely instead of electrical ones or in places where there aren't any
electrical outlets.

There are also creative ways to use and incorporate various items around
the home to make Christmas decorations. Christmas or holiday ribbons can be used
to make bows that are pinned onto curtains to provide a festive look and a
creative Christmas decoration. Like curtains, houseplants can also be dressed up
for the holidays. Small Christmas ornaments can be gently placed on houseplants
to give porches, patios and front lawns a surprising Christmas decorative look.

Although many people don't use Christmas stockings anymore to stuff
Christmas gifts, they can still be used to create perfect Christmas decorations.
A collection of Christmas stockings can be hung on the mantle, shelf or a wall
with or without anything inside them. They will look just as beautiful as those
that are often seen in stores.

Christmas lights can also be wrapped along with garlands on a banister or
stair railing to add a twinkling Christmas look. Mistletoe can also be hung just
about anywhere with or without Christmas lights. If the tale about mistletoe is
believed however, then it should be hung somewhere with room underneath where
two people can have a friendly holiday kiss or even a hug. Fake snow can also be
sprinkled on garlands, mistletoes and wreaths to further enhance their
appearance with something from the Christmas season.

And to borrow a decorative feature from department stores, several differently
sized boxes can be wrapped, piled in a haphazard manner and placed in a corner
from floor to ceiling to make a gift pillar decoration.

Old Christmas cards can also be used for decoration by cutting pictures from
them to make a collage. The pictures are then glued onto a poster board that can
be framed or hung as is on a wall as Christmas decoration. Even Christmas cookie
cutters can be put to an easy, simple and creative use as a decorative item at
Christmas time. A ribbon can be used to string two or three or even single
cookie cutters that can be placed on the Christmas tree or at a window as
decorative ornaments.

Any home can therefore be decorated to be appealing for Christmas and the
holidays, given the many ideas and ways that Christmas decoration can be done.

Christmas in the United States and Canada

photo credit: gadl

Many of the celebrations in the United States that are associated with Christmas were traditions brought by German and English immigrants. Along with the well-known and practiced tradition of a brightly decorated Christmas tree, other traditions brought by these immigrants include Advent calendars, Christmas greeting cards, gingerbread houses and gingerbread cookies.

Christmas in the United States today can be seen as focused around family, travel, shopping and decorations.

Family and travel go together during Christmas in the United States because family members often have to travel fairly long distances to be with each other at one location. The growth of cities that have primarily economic activity, suburbs for residences, as well as the fact of different industries being found in certain geographic locations, are among the reasons that family members often live great distances from each other in separate states.

Christmas and its festivities therefore present a wonderful opportunity for many members of the family to gather in celebration and see each other in an intimate setting. The traveling involved makes the Christmas season a busy time of the year for rail and air travel.

The occasion of seeing many family members at Christmas is also linked to the activity of shopping that is an important feature of Christmas in the United States. The Christmas season officially begins on the Friday after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday and which now ranks second in shopping for a single day to the Saturday before Christmas.

Much of the shopping that is done is to purchase gifts for friends and family. Gifts for family members are usually exchanged after dinner on Christmas day, when everyone gathers in the room with the Christmas tree. Gifts are usually left at the base of the Christmas tree in the weeks leading up to Christmas Day.

Gifts may also exchanged before Christmas at parties held by friends and parties held at workplaces.

Second to gifts, shopping is also done at Christmas for decorations. While the Christmas tree may be the centerpiece of attraction, garlands, wreaths, candles and decorative lighting placed outside on lawns or along rooflines are also used to create a beautiful holiday appearance for homes.

Canadians enjoy Christmas activities that are similar to those celebrated in the United States. That is so because in the 1700s when some German immigrants in the United States migrated to Canada, they continued to practice many of the activities associated with Christmas. The geographical proximity of the two countries also means they share many things, so similarities in Christmas traditions wouldn't be an exception.

One thing that accounts for the difference between the two countries however, is the Eskimo population in Canada. Eskimos in Canada celebrate a festival during winter and have other traditions that are absent from American Christmas celebrations.

A practice also exists in Nova Scotia in which small groups of masked individuals march around about two weeks before Christmas. These masked groups attract attention by creating stir with much bell ringing and engaging in a noisy caper in an aim to get candy, sweets and goodies from onlookers.

This tradition bears some similarity to Jonkonoo celebrations in the neighboring islands of the Caribbean. Those celebrations also involve masked individuals, including some that appear on stilts that make them as tall as trees. The parade of Jonkonoo regale onlookers with various antics and present a minor scare to some children, who are then calmed with candies and other treats.

In Nova Scotia, onlookers can try to calm the noise and rowdiness just a little if they can correctly guess the identity of the masked person. A correct guess puts an end to the noise as the mask is removed, exposing the individual. For their part, maskers also play nice by friendly nudging answers from children about whether they have been naughty or nice and handing out candies and treats accordingly.

Different Types of Christmas Trees

photo credit: kevindooley

The tradition of Christmas trees in America came from German immigrants who had settled in Pennsylvania. It is believed that the tradition of Christmas trees started in Germany from as early as 700 A.D and was practiced by many Germans in the 1800s. It's also since that period that Christmas trees have also been available for sale in the United States. While artificial Christmas trees are popular, many people like to have a fresh Christmas tree in their homes, or outside on their lawns. And similar to all other trees, Christmas trees also have different shapes and qualities that make some types more popular than others.

Along with other decorative Christmas items such as wreaths and garlands, having a Christmas tree in your home is very essential in creating a special atmosphere for the season. It is believed that Christmas trees have been available for sale in America since the 1800s, which is about the same time that the former Woolworth's department store started selling ready-made ornaments for Christmas trees.

Choosing the right type of Christmas tree is important because
Christmas trees are often a focal point for many family activities and traditions. Given the many types of Christmas trees that are available, it is important to think about how the tree will be used. While a tall tree may look very elegant, it may not be suitable if there aren't many adults around who can reach the tree's heights. And a very short tree may be dwarfed by other furniture in the room. It's therefore very important to carefully consider and get a tree that has a suitable height and also one that has sturdy branches to hold heavy ornaments.

Artificial and real Christmas trees can often be bought from the same retail stores these days as local businesses and retail chain stores often sell both types of trees. The best place to get a real and fresh Christmas tree, and also to see a wide variety, is likely a Christmas tree farm however. Using modern technology, both types of trees can also be obtained through online transactions, via telephone as well as by mail-order through catalogs.

Among Christmas trees there are certain types that are always favorites and which are bestsellers. These include: Douglas, Fraser, Noble and Balsam firs, and Scotch, Virginia and white pine trees.

These evergreen trees all have all have one or more excellent features related to shape, color or sheen and fragrance, which makes them favorites for Christmas trees.

The most favorite Christmas trees basically have a pyramid or cone shape. A pyramid-shaped tree is likely taller and has somewhat of an elegant look. Douglas Fir, which ranks first among Christmas tree favorites, is an example of a pyramid-shaped tree. Other examples are Fraser, Balsam and Noble firs.

A cone shape tree tends to be short with dense branches, which makes them excellent for holding many ornaments and other decorations. Families that have a strong tradition of making their own ornaments, or putting mememtos on Christmas trees may consider a cone-shaped tree. Virginia and Scotch Pines, Norway Spruce and the Eastern White Pine all have cone shapes.

Another feature that makes Christmas trees appealing is their color. While all trees have a green appearance, a closer look at their needles will reveal differences such as a bright or dark-green, blue-green or yellowish-green hue. The needles may also emit a silvery sheen with the right lighting. Fraser and Noble firs both have needles with a silvery sheen, and the branches of both trees are also used for garlands and wreaths.

Most people choose a fresh Christmas tree for its fragrance, which can be fairly strong or just subtle, giving off just enough of awhiff of scent. Douglas Fir, which is the most popular Christmas tree in homes and public places, is a very fragrant tree. The Balsam fir is also fairly fragrant. The Eastern White Pine is however, a tree that doesn't have much fragrance.

Whether you have a favorite type of Christmas tree or will choose one from its appearance, there are many choices to satisfy the desire to have a fragrant and well-decorated tree for Christmas.

6 Great Online Christmas Shopping Tips

photo credit: Fosforix

Christmas shopping is no longer confined to the local mall or an annual catalog that happens to find it‘s way into your mailbox. Thanks to advanced technology, there is literally a whole world of shopping at your fingertips. The internet has revolutionized the way people shop and, besides, what better way to do your Christmas shopping than from the comfort of your own home. No longer must we suit up and weather the harsh winter days in the hopes of checking a few names off of our Christmas list. The store aisles, as we know them, are crowded and hectic.

But now, many store aisles are becoming virtual, a shopping cart is something you fill with images of a product and a checkout is something that you click on to confirm your order. Things have changed a lot in the past years and I wonder how many of us couldn’t even imagine what life would be like without the convenience of shopping on the internet. There are several tips for online Christmas shopping, which can make the experience a smooth and pleasant one.

Online Christmas Shopping Tip #1: Be prepared

It’s a good idea to start your shopping with a complete list. This will save you both time and money with having to go back and place a separate order later on. With most online stores, you pay a flat shipping fee. In some cases, if you spend a certain amount of money on your order, the shipping and handling fee is waived. It’s always best to get everything you want, all at once, to save on shipping. Before you commit to buying from one store, shop around and compare prices on both the product and shipping.

Online Christmas Shopping Tip #2: The early bird gets the gift

If you want to get the best selection, begin your holiday shopping early. Internet stores generally carry large quantities of every item, but even they can sell out. As Christmas draws near, it becomes more difficult to find the exact item that you’re looking for. There’s nothing like finding the perfect item and seeing the words, ‘Sold Out’ written under the price.

Online Christmas Shopping Tip #3: Shop Safe

When ordering anything online, check product reviews if available. Always shop secured websites because you will be entering your credit card, or banking information, for payment. You don’t want your financial information accessed by anyone else, which is why all secured websites let you know how they protect your data.

Online Christmas Shopping Tip #4: Wrap it up

If you’re like most, there’s not a lot of extra time around the holidays. If you need to save some time on wrapping, most online stores offer a gift wrapping service for a small fee. At some point during the ordering process, you may be asked if you would like to add gift wrap or a name tag. It’s as easy as the click of a button, which is much easier than trying to tie the perfect bow.

Online Christmas Shopping Tip #5: Check Delivery Dates

When placing your order, check to make sure that the item is in stock or will be delivered in time for Christmas. Many times, especially near the holidays, items will go on a backorder status. It’s not uncommon for an advanced order item to have a delivery date of January, so be sure to check the status of the items in your shopping cart, along with their expected delivery dates. Not only that, but it’s also a good idea to check on the company’s shipping policy and delivery time for in-stock items.

Online Christmas Shopping Tip #6: Christmas Cards?

With all the stuff going on in December it's easy to forget to send out Christmas cards to family and friends. But if you forget to send traditional Christmas cards in time all is not lost. In fact, there are some great sites and services online that will send your christmas cards out for you (saving you precious time). You can find services that are both free and paid, and services that send both digital and tradition paper Christmas cards.

Christmas - Giving Is A Blessing

photo credit: Per Ola Wiberg (Powi)

Christmas brings a new life to the believers. Much before Christmas comes, the mood around the world changes. It is the anticipation of lovely days ahead of giving joy, meeting friends and family and feeling the spirit in the air that changes the most negative person to positive moods. Chistmas makes a person different. The same man, who you never see smiling, laughs during Christmas. That is the festive spirit of Christmas and that is why it is a lovely festival.

The most important part of Christmas is of course celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Another ritual of Christmas that makes it so special is giving. We send so many cards to friends and family that we lose the count. Similarly giving gifts is very important. Selecting the right gift for everyone, wrapping it lovingly and sending it across, all this is joyful. This joy cannot be described in words.

As I said earlier, it is the giving that is the major reason of happiness. If we look at our moods and behavior, we find that we always derive greater joy in giving compared to receiving. Can we not celebrate this spirit of giving everyday? Can we not get this joy everyday? Can we not make someone happy everyday? We can. With conscious effort, we can do one act a day that makes somebody genuinely happy. Why not carry the spirit of Christmas all the year and enjoy the happiness of giving. One is blessed when one gives. Let us get these blessings round the year.

Organize Your Christmas Shopping

photo credit: Randy Son Of Robert

Grab a notebook. Grab a pen. It's time to get serious about your Christmas shopping by making your list (and checking it twice).

Make a list of the people you'll be buying for this year. Leave space between each person’s name. Now go back through the list and write down gift ideas and a rough dollar amount you’re willing to spend on each person.

Example:

1. Aunt Fran - Collects lighthouses, loves golf - $30.00

2. Beth - Candles, bath and body products - $20.00

3. Joe - Something for his new truck, loves fishing - $50.00

Bring your notebook shopping with you. It will help you to stay focused on who you need to shop for, a general idea of what you're looking for and your price range. Making a detailed list like this will prove invaluable in keeping you organized and on budget with your Christmas shopping. As you shop, cross off each person on your list. Be sure to keep an eye open for bargains and grab a few extra gifts - there's always that visitor that shows up that you didn't anticipate.

Set holiday shopping goals for yourself and jot them down in your notebook.

1. I will have all cards in the mail by December 10th.

2. All of my major shopping will be done by December 15th.

3. I will not go over budget!

Making lists and setting goals for yourself this holiday will save you time and stress and allow you to enjoy the season for what it really is. If you haven't started your shopping, start now. It's not too late to get on track. The first step is starting your notebook, making your list and getting a plan of action.

After the holidays, store your notebook away somewhere (perhaps with your decorations). It will serve as a great reference when you're ready to start your shopping next year.

Happy Holidays, Happy Shopping...and by keeping a Holiday Notebook - Happy You!

Twelve Things You Never Knew About Christmas

photo credit: kermitfrog

1. Christmas trees were first lighted with actual candles, which presented a fire hazard. As a result containers filled with water had to be kept near the Christmas tree.

2. Workers in the construction industry are responsible for the tradition of having a Christmas tree on display at Rockefeller Center in New York City. They are credited with placing an undecorated tree at the site in the early 1930s.

3. Since the mid-1960s, The National Christmas Tree Association has maintained a presence in the White House at Christmas by donating a Christmas tree to the First Family.

4. The former Woolworth department store first sold manufactured Christmas tree ornaments in 1880.

5. Plastic became the primary material used to make tinsel after their use for decorative purposes was at one time prohibited because lead was used in the manufacturing process.

6. The idea of Christmas greeting cards started in Britain in the late 1830s when John Calcott Horsley started to produce small cards that had festive scenes and a holiday greeting written inside. Similar cards were also being made in the United States at about the same time by R.H. Pease, in Albany, New York, and Louis Prang, who was a German immigrant. The idea of sending the greeting cards during Christmas gained popularity in both countries about 10 years later when new postal delivery services started.

7. The shortened form Xmas for Christmas has been popular in Europe since the 1500s. It is believed to be derived from the Greek word 'Xristos' which means Christ.

8. According to the National Confectioners Association, for 200 years candy canes were only made in the color of white and it wasn't until in the 1950s that a machine was invented that could automate the production of candy canes.

9. The day after Christmas is called Boxing Day in England and it is a national holiday. Several stories exist for the origination of the name. It is believed to have originated from the practice of boys who would be about collecting money in
clay boxes. Another thought is that the term is derived from a custom in the Middle Ages, about 800 years ago, when churches would open their 'alms boxes' and distribute the contents to poor people on the day after Christmas. Alms boxes
are boxes in which donations of gifts and money would be placed. Yet another belief is that it comes from a custom of masters giving their servants Christmas presents in boxes on the day after Christmas.

10. Evergreen trees had special meaning in winter to people, particularly in Europe, before Christianity started. Ancient peoples would hang evergreen branches over their doors and windows because evergreens were believed to ward off witches, ghosts, evil spirits and illness. For worshipers of the sun god, evergreen plants were a reminder of all the green plants that would grow with the return of summer and the sun god being strong again.

11. In ancient times, many people worshiped the sun as a god in December because they thought winter occurred yearly because the sun god had fallen into ill health. They therefore celebrated the winter solstice because it was a sign that the
son god would begin to regain strength and return to good health.

12. Legislators in Congress did business on Christmas Day in 1789, which was the first one to be observed under the country's new constitution. The reason for the Congressional session was because it had become unpopular then to observe and take part in English customs following the American Revolution. And when Christmas celebrations were barred in Boston earlier in 1659 to 1681, it became a costly thing to be seen participating in any event or activity related to Christmas. Anyone caught doing so had to pay five shillings.

6 Christmas Shopping Tips You Must Know

photo credit: mysza831

There are a variety of opportunities for holiday shoppers, including stores, catalogs and the internet. Below are 6 Christmas Shopping tips that should:

Christmas Shopping Tip #1: Shop Early

If you’re heading out to the mall this year, have your shopping list ready. It’s a good idea to shop early in the season because, if you wait too long, that perfect gift may already be under someone else’s tree.

Christmas Shopping Tip #2: Be Polite

Always remember to be polite. The holidays are extremely busy and store employees are working overtime, so be patient as you wait for assistance.

Christmas Shopping Tip #3: Layaway

If you have a big list, but not quite a budget to match, consider a layaway. Many stores offer a convenient layaway plan, which would allow you to make payments up until Christmas. It saves you from having to charge up credit card bills or spend a lot of pocket money all at once, so consider a layaway if you have a big shopping list.

Christmas Shopping Tip #4: Shop Online

If you do decide to shop on the information superhighway this year, it will save you a lot of time standing in line at the mall. You can literally shop worldwide with the click of a button. Browse photos, compare prices, read customer reviews and see a huge variety of products without having to leave home. Best of all, in some cases, you won’t even have to pay sales tax on internet orders. Some stores offer free shipping, quantity discounts and all kids of other incentives to lure you into their site. In addition, several televised shopping networks have websites in which they offer an easy payment program on select items. This means that you make one payment, using a credit/debit card, and the product ships out to you immediately. The remaining payments are billed to your credit card, until the item is paid in full, for the specified number of months.

Christmas Shopping Tip #5: Place Your Catalog Orders Early

If you’re shopping from a catalog this year, be sure to place the order early. The most popular items sell out first, so get your order placed and on its way as soon as possible. There’s no need to wait for a catalog to arrive in the mail because you can log on to the internet and find many catalog companies online with product photos, descriptions, size charts and special ‘internet only’ sale prices.

Christmas Shopping Tip #6: Buy in Bulk

If you have a lot of people to buy for, and aren’t exactly certain of their taste, consider buying in bulk. You can purchase a nice package of scented candles, divide them up into multiple gifts and present them with a beautiful bow wrapped around the glass jar. These types of gifts are ideal if you have teachers, doctors, co-workers or other special people that you want to wish a Merry Christmas. Another terrific idea is to purchase small Christmas tins and several bags of assorted miniature candies. Divide the candies up into each tin and present them with a beautiful bow on top. These are ideal gifts because they are thoughtful, but also budget conscious. You can purchase a pre-designed tin similar to the one described, but you will get a much better deal if you make your own. As an added bonus, you get to decide which candy to include, which isn’t always the case with pre-packaged gifts.

Happy shopping!

Decorating Your Lawn for Christmas without Going Overboard

photo credit: Sister72

When many of us think of outdoor Christmas decorations, yard signs and inflatable Christmas characters often come to mind. While many homeowners do choose to decorate their homes with inflatable Christmas characters and yard signs, there are others who feel that those types of outdoor Christmas decorations are too extreme. If you would like to decorate your lawn for Christmas, without shoving your Christmas spirit down your neighbor’s throat, you can. There are a number of outdoor Christmas decorations designed for individuals just like you.

One of the best ways to go about decorating your lawn for Christmas, without going overboard, is to replace the items that you already have in your yard. You will want to make those replacements be ones that have a Christmas theme. For instance, if you have a number of potted plants or flowers out in your yard, there is a good chance that they are in a traditional flower pot. Did you know that you can purchase Christmas planters? Christmas planters are just like the planters that you may be using now, but they often have a Christmas or a holiday theme to them. You should be able to find Christmas planters that come in Christmas colors or ones that have Christmas designs, such as Santa or snowflakes. Christmas planters are an easy way to decorate the outside of your home for the holidays.

If you are a homeowner who has trees in your yard, there is a good chance that you have a birdhouse in at least one of those trees. Did you know that you can buy Christmas themed birdhouses? For the holiday season, you could easily replace your traditional birdhouse with one that has a Christmas theme. Christmas birdhouses come in a number of different sizes, shapes, and styles. Popular birdhouse shapes includes those that are shaped as churches, but it is also possible to find birdhouses that are shaped like snow sleds or something else similar in nature. Christmas birdhouses are another easy way that you can bring a little bit of Christmas spirit to your front or backyard.

Another way that you can quietly, but effectively decorate your front yard for Christmas is by purchasing Christmas stepping stones. Christmas stepping stones look great in any yard or along any walkway. As with most other outdoor Christmas decorations, Christmas stepping stones also come in a number of different sizes, shapes, and styles. Regardless of the size and shape of each stepping stone, you will find that most come with a Christmas or holiday design. It is not uncommon to find Christmas stepping stones that are decorated with snowflakes or Christmas trees. Depending on where you are shopping, additional designs may also be available.

As beautiful as Christmas birdhouses, planters, and stepping stones are, they are items that often go unnoticed or un-purchased. For that reason, it may be a little bit difficult for you to find the above mentioned Christmas decorations in one of your local retail stores. It may be possible to purchase these amazing, but unique outdoor Christmas decorations from a specialty Christmas shop, but for the largest selection of outdoor Christmas decorations, you are advised to shop online. You can easily find a number of retailers that specialize in selling the above mentioned outdoor Christmas decorations by performing a standard internet search.