The shortest month of February perhaps brings the greatest moments of joy and celebration for every couple across the globe. This is because of the fêted occasion of Valentines Day that falls on the 14th of this month. Valentines Day or the day of saint valentines is the day of love and affection. Love is in the air on this day when lovers verbalize the language of their heart and make each other feel thou preciousness.
Showing posts with label holidays to celebrate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays to celebrate. Show all posts
Christmas Gift Buying Guide
Friday, December 4, 2009
The year 2005 is drawing near to its end, which means that the holiday season is approaching once again. And that means lots of shopping-- at least for most people.
Regardless of whether one looks for the perfect gift for a spouse, girl/boyfriend, mother, father, son, daughter, cat, et cetera, every year has its trends, especially among children -- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, He-Man, Cabbage Patch Dolls, Furbies, Tickle-Me Elmos, Giga Pets, Beanie Babies, the list goes on and on. In times more recent, of course, and with the older set, Apple iPods have been, and continue to be, quite popular.
But whether you are the type to give your loved one a paper clip, or an SUV, the following list is an attempt to sort of ease the stress of Christmas time shopping for the typical American. The suggestions are quite random, as a matter of fact; some are popular, “trendy”, even; others simply aren’t. Either way, happy holidays—and shop safely.
1. Shopping for a bookworm? Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold is certainly a worthy choice. It’s a critically-acclaimed piece of work—and for good reason. It’s a novel about the life and adventures of a vaudeville-era magician, Charles Carter, otherwise known as Carter the Great. A sizeable volume, it is full to the brim with an assortment of three-dimensional characters, fictional as well as real; the incorporation of historical figures into the prose (think Harry Houdini and even President Warren G. Harding) serves only to tighten the book’s grip on the reader’s attention-span. “One of the best seasonal reads in the past decade…a single-read wonder, closer in tone to an intellectualized Indiana Jones adventure, but far more satisfying.”—Austin Chronicle
2. Give Ali G a chance! Perhaps you are shopping for a young one—one who happens to be over 18, preferably, just to be safe. If that be the case, and you don’t mind subjecting other people to a bit of profanity, then you might at least want to consider purchasing Da Ali G Show: The Complete Seasons, 1 and 2 on DVD. Arguably one of the funniest television programs to come out of the United Kingdom and HBO in recent years, it involves actor Sacha Baron Cohen and the trio of characters he portrays, most especially the character Ali G—a Caucasian “gangsta” wannabe type from England who travels to the U.S.A. in order to conduct interviews with celebrities and politicians (among them: Ralph Nader, Newt Gingrich, and Pat Buchanan). Ali G asks some of the dumbest questions you will ever have heard coming from anyone’s mouth—and the DVD itself contains some hilarious extras, like a “glossary of Ali G jargon” (Wot is yous banging on about?= What are you talking about?). The whole thing has to be seen to be believed.
3. One of the most popular, hence obvious, gift ideas for any age group: an apple iPod. Unfortunately, though, iPods tend to cost around $250, depending on where they are being sold, and that can be unaffordable for some families. The good news is that for half the cost you can purchase what is called an iPod Shuffle. Sure, it doesn’t hold as many songs as the regular device (240 tracks for the Shuffle, 5,000 for the Apple 20 GB iPod M9282LL/A) but it’s still a worthy investment or gift, and you save a lot of money, too.
4. Give your grandmother the gift that keeps on giving…the bad guys more than they bargained for. Especially during the holidays, it isn’t uncommon to hear of an increase in robberies, muggings, purse snatchings, etc. Maybe you have a friend or relative who might benefit from a gift that will come in handy in the event of a criminal attack. There are many examples, ranging from a Panther 100,000-volt stun gun for just under $20, to the Advanced Taser with Laser available for about $600.
5. As for the kids, the much-anticipated film adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe has just arrived in theaters all over the country. And while it won’t be coming to DVD any time soon, the entire Narnia series is available in audio book format-- unabridged. The Chronicles of Narnia CD Box Set can be found in bookshops for around $75. And for those of you who have a certain fondness for the actor Kenneth Branagh, well, the entire set is narrated by Kenneth Branagh. If your child enjoys this audio book, why not get an audio book rental subscription from a service like JiggerBug.com. It’s an easy way to get your child away from the television and into some books.
Random, indeed. Even if those suggestions really didn’t tickle your fancy at all, it is desired that they at least served as inspiration for some gift ideas of your own. Shopping for Christmas presents ought to be fun—and with a little imagination it can be.
7+ Top Types of Real Christmas Trees
There are several types of real Christmas trees, all of which are a cheap choice over artificial. The most common types of Christmas trees are the six-foot Scotch pines, which fit nicely into the average home living room.
One type of Christmas tree is the deodora cedar, which has blue-green short needles with pendulous needle tips. Another cedar, the Eastern red, has shiny dark green leaves and gives off a great scent, though it's sticky to the touch and will only last 2-3 weeks. As this tree dries out quickly it is best used in a humid climate.
One of the most popular of Christmas trees in the southeast part of the U.S. is the Leland Cypress, with dark green or gray foliage. Its branches are feathery and its scent is pleasant but light. This tree is ideal in the home of allergen-troubled folks.
The Douglas fir is a popular type of Christmas tree, and easily flocked. It has a great fragrance and lives longer than a lot of other trees. Its leaves are either dark green or blue. Its sister fir, the Fraser, has needles that are flatter and dark green. It holds its needles well and gives off a pleasant aroma. For a more citrus aroma from your Christmas tree you should choose the grand fir, with dark green shiny needles. If you want a more durable tree that can hold your heavy ornaments the noble fir is a great choice. It lives longer and healthier as a Christmas tree and makes an attractive, strong and durable wreath as well.
Pine and spruce are too other commonly used types of Christmas trees. The pine has a great fragrance. The spruce however, dries quickly and its needles drop rapidly.
One type of Christmas tree is the deodora cedar, which has blue-green short needles with pendulous needle tips. Another cedar, the Eastern red, has shiny dark green leaves and gives off a great scent, though it's sticky to the touch and will only last 2-3 weeks. As this tree dries out quickly it is best used in a humid climate.
One of the most popular of Christmas trees in the southeast part of the U.S. is the Leland Cypress, with dark green or gray foliage. Its branches are feathery and its scent is pleasant but light. This tree is ideal in the home of allergen-troubled folks.
The Douglas fir is a popular type of Christmas tree, and easily flocked. It has a great fragrance and lives longer than a lot of other trees. Its leaves are either dark green or blue. Its sister fir, the Fraser, has needles that are flatter and dark green. It holds its needles well and gives off a pleasant aroma. For a more citrus aroma from your Christmas tree you should choose the grand fir, with dark green shiny needles. If you want a more durable tree that can hold your heavy ornaments the noble fir is a great choice. It lives longer and healthier as a Christmas tree and makes an attractive, strong and durable wreath as well.
Pine and spruce are too other commonly used types of Christmas trees. The pine has a great fragrance. The spruce however, dries quickly and its needles drop rapidly.
Christmas - Giving Is A Blessing
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.
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.
Christmas Stress Relief: 7 Simple Tips
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Everyone loves Christmas, but the biggest complaint I hear is, "It gets too hectic." It's still the favorite season for most of us, but we do get tired. We still have to make a living; we still have to maintain our daily lives and then we add shopping for gifts, wrapping the gifts, decorating, entertaining or attending parties and possibly baking. It's fun and festive, but we get tired.
Take some of the stress out of Christmas. Don't wait until the Christmas season begins to start thinking about it. Plan ahead and you'll enjoy it even more. Here are seven stress-relieving tips to make your favorite holiday relaxed and worry-free.
Decide Who You Want To Buy For
Make a list of the people you want to buy gifts for: Recipients. Keep it with you as a reminder, or at the least, keep it in your head. Open your eyes and window shop. When you see something you know you like, go ahead and buy it. And think outside the box. When you shop all year, you have the opportunity to do this. Every Christmas gift doesn't have to be a sweater or winter-type gift.
Shop From Home
Shop on the Internet. Have fun and explore. Many gift sites run promotionals off-and-on year round. When you're not under pressure to buy immediately, you have time to "window shop". And don't forget to keep your gift list in front of you.
Record What You Buy
Make a list of the gifts that you buy: Gifts Purchased. Each time you make a gift purchase, whether it's on the Internet or in the store, put it on the list. If you know specifically to whom you are giving it, put his or her name next to it. Go back to your Recipients list and write the name of the gift next to the person you are giving it to. You now have a cross-reference. Sound too complicated and organized? It's not. It's really easy. If you don't make some kind of notes, you'll get real confused when it comes time to wrap. You won't remember who was supposed to get what.
Buy Decorations In The Off-Season
Buy Christmas decorations year-round on the Internet. And in the off-season you can get them at reduced prices. Buy your decorations all year and when the Christmas season arrives, you'll be ready.
Wrap Sooner Not Later
As soon as Christmas wrapping paper is placed on the shelves, start selecting and buying. By this time, you should have a shelf full of presents to wrap. Wrap at your leisure; a few at a time or all at once. Just enjoy it. You have time to make the presents look outstanding. Give them that added decorative touch that will make the recipient feel special and give you the opportunity to be creative.
Record What You Wrap
You have two lists to cross-reference. Check off or make changes as necessary. If you didn't make a list, you should make one now. Don't make the mistake I made one year. I got all my wrapping done early, and by the time Christmas came, I couldn't remember what I was giving everyone or exactly what it looked like. I remember wishing I had a digital camera. I could have taken pictures of the presents before wrapping them. I don't have to worry about that now. I have a list and a digital camera.
Collect Recipes
Don't wait until you have to prepare a dish for a party to decide what you want to make. Start collecting recipes from magazines and friends. But don't stop there. You have plenty of times to try them out. Put stars beside the ones you especially like and will be proud to serve. When the time comes, it will be fast and easy to make choices.
Christmas can be a pleasure, even before the season begins. Enjoy your window-shopping whether it's in the stores or on the Internet. But be ready to buy when you see something you like. Make your choices wisely and keep up with your lists. Following this plan will be a great stress reliever come Christmas time. Have fun and keep on enjoying Christmas.
Christmas Parties
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Christmas parties are something that most people look forward to all year long because they are a joyful gathering of friends, family, great food, and shared memories. There are lots of things that probably go into your Christmas parties such as preparing food, having a good music selection, sending out beautiful invitations, creating or buying Christmas table arrangements, or preparing your home for overnight guests. The great thing is that you can make your home look very festive without spending a lot of time or money on it, so that you can spend more time visiting with your guests and catching up with many people that you may not have spent much time with since your party last year.
Christmas crackers
Christmas crackers, cookies, and some simple foods will make feeding your guests quite simple. If you want to have more filling foods, you might want to consider having the party catered or purchasing pre-cooked foods so that you do not have to worry about cooking great food for you and all of your guests to eat at your party. If you really want to have homemade food at your Christmas parties, you may want to have some friends or family members come over and help you prepare the food and make a tradition out of that as well. Or, you can always make your Christmas parties potlucks so that you have a different selection of foods to offer your guests every year and simply say that you’ll provide the Christmas crackers, cookies, and one prepared dish every year but you want help feeding the masses! Most people love potlucks, so you’ll find that most of your guests will be quite receptive to this idea.
If you are busy preparing food and Christmas table arrangements and other decorations and you just can’t seem to get your home cleaned, think about employing your kids or a neighbor to help you get things tidied up quickly. Just one extra pair of hands can help you get the job done in a lot less time. Or, create a checklist for yourself that will help you get a few things done each day before your Christmas parties so that you do not have stress about cleaning the day of your party.
If you want Christmas table decorations as well as other decorations to make for your party, the Internet and craft stores offer many great ideas for Christmas crafts that will make your home look even more festive. Just hanging strands of garland on your door frames is a simple and inexpensive way to make your home look great for your Christmas parties, so don’t think you have to spend a ton of money to make your home look great. A great Christmas party table decoration is to simply buy a pre-decorated wreath to place on the table and then find a great scented candle to put in the middle of it. If you have a large table you might think about placing more than one on the table.
Christmas parties should be a lot of fun, so don’t let yourself get stressed out as you plan for the party in your home. Some of the best Christmas parties are that way because of great planning and because the hostess isn’t afraid to be thrifty and even ask for help. Christmas is about bringing family and friends together to have fun, not to stress you out! So focus on enjoying friends, family, and fun at your next Christmas party!
Christmas crackers
Christmas crackers, cookies, and some simple foods will make feeding your guests quite simple. If you want to have more filling foods, you might want to consider having the party catered or purchasing pre-cooked foods so that you do not have to worry about cooking great food for you and all of your guests to eat at your party. If you really want to have homemade food at your Christmas parties, you may want to have some friends or family members come over and help you prepare the food and make a tradition out of that as well. Or, you can always make your Christmas parties potlucks so that you have a different selection of foods to offer your guests every year and simply say that you’ll provide the Christmas crackers, cookies, and one prepared dish every year but you want help feeding the masses! Most people love potlucks, so you’ll find that most of your guests will be quite receptive to this idea.
If you are busy preparing food and Christmas table arrangements and other decorations and you just can’t seem to get your home cleaned, think about employing your kids or a neighbor to help you get things tidied up quickly. Just one extra pair of hands can help you get the job done in a lot less time. Or, create a checklist for yourself that will help you get a few things done each day before your Christmas parties so that you do not have stress about cleaning the day of your party.
If you want Christmas table decorations as well as other decorations to make for your party, the Internet and craft stores offer many great ideas for Christmas crafts that will make your home look even more festive. Just hanging strands of garland on your door frames is a simple and inexpensive way to make your home look great for your Christmas parties, so don’t think you have to spend a ton of money to make your home look great. A great Christmas party table decoration is to simply buy a pre-decorated wreath to place on the table and then find a great scented candle to put in the middle of it. If you have a large table you might think about placing more than one on the table.
Christmas parties should be a lot of fun, so don’t let yourself get stressed out as you plan for the party in your home. Some of the best Christmas parties are that way because of great planning and because the hostess isn’t afraid to be thrifty and even ask for help. Christmas is about bringing family and friends together to have fun, not to stress you out! So focus on enjoying friends, family, and fun at your next Christmas party!
5 Perfect Christmas Gift Ideas For Him
It’s holiday time again and what should you get for him? He has everything, so what else could there possibly be? Don’t give up yet because there are plenty of unique ideas for the man who’s difficult to shop for.
Gift Idea For Him #1: Naming a Star in His Honor
If the man in your life is also a star in your eyes, let him know with the perfect Christmas gift idea. There are many online novelty stores, which offer star naming kits. For a set price, you can have a star named after the man in your life. The complete kits come with a certificate, a map so that he can locate his special star and other information about star naming and astronomy. You can also select a date in which the star was officially named. Maybe it’s an Anniversary or Birthday. Perhaps, it’s in honor of Christmas. The star naming service will imprint any date that you choose on the certificate. Many of the stores offer custom framing, or you can find a frame at a local department store. If he’s into astronomy, of just to let him know that you think he’s a star, this is a great gift. In addition, it’s unlikely that most people would already have a star named after them so this would be very original.
Gift Idea For Him #2: A Watch
If you want to let him know that you love it timeless, buy him a watch. It’s practical, thoughtful and carries a wonderful meaning. Slip a note inside the watch box, which reads "Time flies when I’m with you." Gold watches are nice and they don’t always have to be expensive. Shop around at some of the online stores and browse their huge selection of watches.
Gift Idea For Him #3: Tools
If the gentleman in your life is also the home’s handyman, consider a toolkit. There are some terrific kits, which contain hundreds of items, which are available and make wonderful Christmas gift ideas. When searching for the perfect toolkit, keep in mind what he likes to do. If he prefers to build things, look for a kit with the tools necessary for building. If he likes to repair, look for a kit with a lot of fix-it tools and spare gadgets. You know what they say - busy hands are happy hands.
Gift Idea For Him #4: Unique Sports Items
If your guy is a sports nut, consider the ultimate unique gift. Log on to his favorite team’s website and read about any construction or new projects being built for use by the team. Many times, during construction of a new facility or building, the teams will sell customized bricks to help with financing of the project. You could purchase a brick used for construction, have it engraved with his name and present a certificate to let him know that he will forever be a part of his favorite sports team. If his favorite team is building a new stadium or other brick structure, the brick would be used and forever remain as part of the facility. Talk about a homerun, this will be it! A better Christmas gift idea, for a sports fan, would be difficult to find. If he’s a race fan, check out the Auto Racing Hall of Fame & Museum in North Carolina, where you can purchase actual race-used tires from some of NASCAR’s top drivers for less than $100.00, which includes the Certificate of Authenticity.
Gift Idea For Him #5: A Gift Card
If you’ve looked all around and still can’t find the perfect gift, consider a gift card. For the man that is truly impossible to shop for, let him do the shopping for himself. Gift cards are great because they give the recipient an opportunity to buy anything in the store, as determined by the value of the gift card, without spending a dime.
Gift Idea For Him #1: Naming a Star in His Honor
If the man in your life is also a star in your eyes, let him know with the perfect Christmas gift idea. There are many online novelty stores, which offer star naming kits. For a set price, you can have a star named after the man in your life. The complete kits come with a certificate, a map so that he can locate his special star and other information about star naming and astronomy. You can also select a date in which the star was officially named. Maybe it’s an Anniversary or Birthday. Perhaps, it’s in honor of Christmas. The star naming service will imprint any date that you choose on the certificate. Many of the stores offer custom framing, or you can find a frame at a local department store. If he’s into astronomy, of just to let him know that you think he’s a star, this is a great gift. In addition, it’s unlikely that most people would already have a star named after them so this would be very original.
Gift Idea For Him #2: A Watch
If you want to let him know that you love it timeless, buy him a watch. It’s practical, thoughtful and carries a wonderful meaning. Slip a note inside the watch box, which reads "Time flies when I’m with you." Gold watches are nice and they don’t always have to be expensive. Shop around at some of the online stores and browse their huge selection of watches.
Gift Idea For Him #3: Tools
If the gentleman in your life is also the home’s handyman, consider a toolkit. There are some terrific kits, which contain hundreds of items, which are available and make wonderful Christmas gift ideas. When searching for the perfect toolkit, keep in mind what he likes to do. If he prefers to build things, look for a kit with the tools necessary for building. If he likes to repair, look for a kit with a lot of fix-it tools and spare gadgets. You know what they say - busy hands are happy hands.
Gift Idea For Him #4: Unique Sports Items
If your guy is a sports nut, consider the ultimate unique gift. Log on to his favorite team’s website and read about any construction or new projects being built for use by the team. Many times, during construction of a new facility or building, the teams will sell customized bricks to help with financing of the project. You could purchase a brick used for construction, have it engraved with his name and present a certificate to let him know that he will forever be a part of his favorite sports team. If his favorite team is building a new stadium or other brick structure, the brick would be used and forever remain as part of the facility. Talk about a homerun, this will be it! A better Christmas gift idea, for a sports fan, would be difficult to find. If he’s a race fan, check out the Auto Racing Hall of Fame & Museum in North Carolina, where you can purchase actual race-used tires from some of NASCAR’s top drivers for less than $100.00, which includes the Certificate of Authenticity.
Gift Idea For Him #5: A Gift Card
If you’ve looked all around and still can’t find the perfect gift, consider a gift card. For the man that is truly impossible to shop for, let him do the shopping for himself. Gift cards are great because they give the recipient an opportunity to buy anything in the store, as determined by the value of the gift card, without spending a dime.
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