The Most Special Gift You Can Gift this Christmas – Your Time

Author: Admin | Filed under: Christmas, Christmas Gifts, Christmas Thoughts - Serious Saturday Dec 18,2010

Too often Christmas becomes a time of stress, especially when it comes to gift giving and finances. In this age of materialism, people forget that some of the most special gifts that you can give or receive are gifts from the heart. Give someone the greatest gift of all, the gift of your time.

Just think, all that crazy last minute shopping not only robs you of your energy and Christmas spirit, but it can also be a major drain on the finances as well. For many people, money is tighter this year than ever before. With some creative thought and planning, you can give thoughtful gifts that will not only be appreciated but won’t put you in debt until next Christmas.

Get together with your family and friends and share with them your idea, reach a mutual agreement not to exchange gifts. Stop worrying about running around and stressing about what to get for whom and how you’re going to pay for everything.  This year without having to worry and stress, you can actually spend your time in ways that count and focus on quality time with those who matter most to you.

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Christmas Guard Dog

Author: Admin | Filed under: Christmas, Christmas Funnies Monday Dec 13,2010

Puppy

By Shel Silverstein

Tonight’s my first night as a watchdog,
And here it is Christmas Eve.
The children are sleeping all cozy upstairs,
While I’m guardin’ the stockin’s and tree.

stockingstockingstockingstocking
I’m guarding the stockings I’m guarding the stockings I’m guarding the stockings
What’s that now—footsteps on the rooftop?
Could it be a cat or a mouse?
Who’s this down the chimney?
A thief with a beard—
And a big sack for robbin’ the house?

Santa
What’s going on here?
I’m barkin’, I’m growlin’, I’m bitin’ his butt.
He howls and jumps back in his sleigh.
I scare his strange horses, they leap in the air.
I’ve frightened the whole bunch away.

Santa & Reindeer
We’re outta here.
Now the house is all peaceful and quiet again.
The stockin’s are safe as can be.
Won’t the kiddies be glad when they wake up tomorrow
And see how I’ve guarded the tree.
Merry Christmas

Christmas Tree

Christmas Decorating The Natural Way

Author: Admin | Filed under: Christmas, Christmas Decorating, Christmas Fun Sunday Dec 12,2010

Christmas Holly and BerriesTired of of the same old Christmas decorating schemes, the same colors and same ornamentation year after year? How about trying something new and fun this year, add some natural elements to your Christmas decorating.

You can easily achieve a beautiful change of scenery by using materials from your own garden or anywhere green outdoors. You may need more imagination and resourcefulness to find the ornaments hidden out there because winter often tends to cover them.

You can create ornaments from dried greenery, fruits, flowers and more. You are only limited by your imagination. If properly and creatively arranged, whatever you make will be the perfect choice.

Many craft stores, nurseries and tree places offer lovely greenery and dried natural fruits and flowers that you can use. With the addition of ribbons, bows and even some glitter, you can create your own Christmas decoration masterpieces.

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Family Christmas Gift Exchange

Author: Admin | Filed under: Christmas, Christmas Fun, Christmas Gifts Thursday Dec 9,2010

Christmas GiftsIt used to be that families had no rules about gift buying. Everyone bought for everyone else, and gifts were exchanged when the family all got together somewhere during the Christmas season.

These days, it’s more common for people to draw a name out of a hat or get assigned a person to buy for. Or the family creates a type of “white elephant” exchange instead of having family members buy for individuals in particular. So, what many families need is a fun way to exchange the gifts, whether they be for a specific person or whether they are ‘white elephant” type gifts.

If the family members drew names, there are several fun things you can do. The gifts can be hidden and clues given as to the location of the gifts. So, if you arrive at grandma’s house with your gift for Aunt Martha, you might tuck her gift into a kitchen cabinet. Then you’d create a series of clue as to here it is. You might say, “Cinnamon lurks here” or “it’s the hub of the home, but not always the home of the hub”.

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A Dog’s Rules for Christmas

Author: Admin | Filed under: Christmas, Christmas Fun, Dog Tips Tuesday Dec 7,2010

Christmas Scene

Homemade Made Christmas Gifts – Gifts in a Jar

Author: Admin | Filed under: Christmas, Christmas Fun, Christmas Gifts, Christmas Recipes Sunday Dec 5,2010

Christmas GiftWell, it’s that time of year again, Christmas, a time of joy and a time of giving. Christmas gifts can be a chore or a pleasure and I have always chosen to make them a pleasure. One of the best and easiest ways to do this is to make gifts. I have always found that most people really enjoy receiving gifts that are homemade because along with the gift comes the love and caring that was put into it.

My favorite thing to do is to make up Christmas Gift baskets. Friends and family have actually come to look forward to my baskets every year to see what goodies I put together. There’s little more rewarding than to pass out the gift baskets and watch people go through them sharing their gifts and showing off what I tucked inside.

One gift I always include is gift jars. There are so many ideas and they are so easy to make. You can make anything from cakes and cookies to drinks and creamers in jars. Here’s a few great gift jar recipes that you can try and share this year and a few ideas to make them even more special!

AMARETTO COFFEE CREAMER

3/4 cup non-dairy coffee creamer
1 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
3/4 cup confectioners sugar

Combine all ingredients in a container with a tight fitting lid. Shake well to blend. Store in airtight container and give creamer with the recipe for Amaretto Coffee. Yields 12 servings.

Attach to the jar: Amaretto Coffee: In a mug, combine 2 tablespoons of creamer with 6 ounces of coffee.

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History of the Christmas Tree

Author: Admin | Filed under: Christmas, Christmas Decorating, Christmas History, Christmas Tree Saturday Dec 4,2010

Why do we decorate the Christmas tree? The habit is probably inherited from the Egyptians that used to decorate their houses with palm tree leaves in the day of the astrological winter. The habit was taken by the Romans that used instead of palm trees the conifers.

But the story really begins around the 7th century when a monk from Devonshire came to Germany to teach the word of the Lord. Legend says that he used the triangular form of the Christmas tree to symbolize religious meanings. In the Europe of the 12th century, on Christmas day, the Christmas tree was installed upside down, hanging down from the ceiling!

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A Dog’s Christmas Promise

Author: Admin | Filed under: Christmas, Christmas Funnies Saturday Dec 4,2010

Christmas tree with giftsChristmas is for humans, and I will not ruin the
surprises by opening all their presents.

Christmas light bulbs, Christmas ornaments, Christmas
stockings, and tinsel from the Christmas tree are not food.

I am the alpha dog, therefore I do not need to protect
my new Christmas rawhide from the omega dog by
taking it outside to eat when the wind chill is -10 F.

I will not demolish the Christmas tree and drag the
string of lights out into the backyard through the doggy door.Dog

I will not dive into the Christmas tree to get the
candy canes (which I will eat — paper and all).

I will not eat my Christmas doggie treats until after
they’re out of the stocking!

I will not even THINK about going underneath the
Christmas tree and piddling on the dining room rug.

dogI will not get into a fight with the bigger dog next
door, making my human have to call the vet’s at Christmas.

I will not get tangled up in the Christmas tree lights
and pull the tree down while trying to get at a cat
through the conservatory window.

I will not pee on Grandma’s Christmas presents that
are under her tree as soon as we enter her house.Christmas presents

I will not pee on the Christmas tree.

I will not steal the neighbor’s Christmas light bulbs.

The bowl underneath the Christmas tree is not a dog
dish. I will not drink from it. It will make me sick.

Christmas Lights – Not Just for Trees

Author: Admin | Filed under: Christmas Decorating Tuesday Nov 30,2010

Ah, the glitter and glow, the shimmer and shine of Christmas lights, nothing can compare!  Christmas light are one Christmas decoration that is so versatile that they can be used almost anywhere, indoors and out.

Christmas Lights

Christmas TreeChristmas lights; we have all seen them and most of us have used them before. When it comes to Christmas lights, we often associate those lights with Christmas trees.  While Christmas lights are most commonly used to decorate Christmas trees, did you know that they can also be used for much more?  If you are planning on decorating your home for Christmas this year, you are advised to examine what else Christmas lights can be used for. After a close examination, you will likely see that they can be used for a lot more than you may have originally thought.

As previously mentioned, when it comes to Christmas lights, we often associate Christmas lights with Christmas trees. This is because a large number of individuals decorate their Christmas trees with Christmas lights.  What is nice about using Christmas lights on a Christmas tree is that the lights come in a number of different sizes and styles.  It is possible to purchase Christmas lights with small light bulbs, as well as large ones.  Traditional Christmas lights come white in color or with a combination of all different colors.  In recent years, the popularity of different colored lights has skyrocketed.  You can now purchase single colored Christmas lights or lights with a specific color combination. These types of lights are ideal for those who are looking to theme their Christmas tree.

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Christmas History and Background

Author: Admin | Filed under: Christmas, Christmas History Sunday Nov 28,2010

Christmas is an annual holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. The date of the celebration is traditional, and is not considered to be his actual date of birth. Christmas festivities often combine the commemoration of Jesus’ birth with various secular customs, many of which have been influenced by earlier winter festivals.

In most places around the world, Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25. Christmas Eve is the preceding day, December 24. In the United Kingdom and many countries of the Commonwealth, Boxing Day is the following day, December 26. In Catholic countries, Saint Stephen’s Day or the Feast of St. Stephen is December 26. The Armenian Apostolic Church observes Christmas on January 6. Eastern Orthodox Churches that still use the Julian Calendar celebrate Christmas on the Julian version of 25 December, which is January 7 on the more widely used Gregorian calendar, because the two calendars are now 13 days apart.

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