Make Christmas Less Stressed And More Blessed

Writen by Marsha Jordan

10 Tips for a More Meaningful and Less Stressful Holiday

Does your Christmas spirit get lost in the frenzy this time of year? Is your household so hectic during December that it could drive even Bob Cratchit to tear out his hair? Well, you might as well face the fact that not even the Grinch can stop Christmas from coming; so we must learn strategies for surviving the holidays with our sanity (and our hair) intact. It is possible to go from stressed to blessed. To tame your Grinch within and create a simpler, more joyful Christmas this year, follow these ten Grinch-busting tips and you'll slide from overwhelmed to overjoyed faster than you can shout "God bless us all, everyone!"

1) LOWER EXPECTATIONS: Don't fall for the hype and myth-takes that can ruin your holiday. You'll make yourself crazy comparing your home, your holiday, your family, with anyone or anything that makes you feel less than perfect. Remember, YOU ARE NOT MARTHA STEWART! Stop trying to win the perfect holiday award for the best cookies, the most elaborate decorations, or the biggest gifts. Remember these four important words throughout the holiday season: DO LESS, ENJOY MORE. Make every day of the season a present to yourself.

2) CHANGE ROUTINES: Why do we feel that we must continue forever to do things just as we've always done them? Don't be bound by past traditions. Think outside the box and consider new ways of doing things to make it easier on yourself.

A) Instead of exchanging gifts with co-workers or extended family , how about choosing a charity to help? If each person gives just a couple of dollars, it adds up and beats searching for the perfect gift for all those people.

B) Who says you HAVE to cook a huge meal for 30 people every year? Could you, maybe just this once, have a simple gathering instead? Better yet, let Aunt Irma take a turn at hosting this year's celebration. Have you considered suggesting that this year the women cook and all other family members do the clean up? Why should the men of the house gorge themselves till they must unzip their pants and then collapse on the couch while the women who cooked for weeks continue to slave away in the kitchen tackling a mountain of dishes? Would it kill them to help in the kitchen once a year as a special Christmas present to you?

C) When did we decide we needed 37 different varieties of Christmas cookies each year? You know, all your family REALLY wants are chocolate chip cookies! Why do more than is necessary to keep them happy? If you MUST have a variety of cookies, go to or host a cookie exchange where everybody bakes one type but takes home several of all the other varieties. That makes NOT baking a jillion different types of cookies fun!

3) DON'T DO IT ALL YOURSELF: Involve every member of the family right down to the toddlers. If you can't do it together, then maybe it's not something you need to do at all. Instead of buying gifts for children to give, engage the kids in the process. Turn decorating, shopping, gift-wrapping, baking, and even house cleaning into family time activities

4) PLAN AHEAD: Work smarter, not harder. Do as much as you can in the months before Christmas to leave December open for spontaneous joy. Get the car serviced in the Fall so it will be ready for holiday travel, bake and freeze cookies throughout November, start addressing Christmas card envelopes during the summer while you're sitting in the sun sipping lemonade. If it's too late to plan ahead and you're already in the middle of mass chaos, don't panic. Memorize the Serenity Prayer and repeat it daily! (God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference!)

5) SPEND LESS MONEY: Nothing adds stress to the season like worrying about how you'll pay the credit card bill come January. Remember that it's the thought that counts. Think of creative gifts you can give that cost less but express your love.

A) Tell those on your gift list that instead of presents this year, you'll be providing warm clothing and food for a needy child or sending a donation to your favorite charity in their honor. Chances are they really don't need anything anyway, and it will warm their hearts to know you're doing good in their name.

B) Keep a journal of all your expenditures. Know each day how much you've spent so far. You will probably be shocked to learn how fast it adds up and this knowlege may help you control your spending.

B) Stay out of stores as much as possible. Every time you step foot into a mall, you are subjected to clever marketing tactics. Shop fast. The more time you spend in the store, the more money it will cost you.

C) Consider inexpensive but heartwarming gifts like handmade frames filled with favorite photos or cassette tapes of your family reading books. Home made breads, jams, or sauces make great gifts that everyone appreciates; and creating them provides family time to boot.

D) One year, my family had great fun cutting evergreen boughs and making wreaths for everyone on our gift list. All we had to buy was wire and ribbon.

E) How about giving a few of your own special treasures as gifts? Perhaps a book you love or a special knick knack or piece of jewelry someone has admired? A gift that's worth more than anything from a store is a handwritten letter telling someone how much they mean to you.

If you must shop, a list is your best friend. To avoid impulse buying, buy only what's on your list and pay only with cash. You'll think twice before purchasing an extravagant gift you really can't afford.

6) SIMPLIFY GIFT SHOPPING:

A) Plan ahead, make a list, and stick to it. Shop throughout the year rather than doing it all at the last minute.

B) Instead of individual gifts, buy one item for an entire family such as a board game, fast food coupons, gift certificates for restaurants or stores, phone cards, school supplies, or food baskets. Or exchange names within your family so everyone needs to buy only one gift, rather than many. I've heard of families who stipulated that it had to be a garage-sale or a thrift-store item under a certain price. That made it a lot of fun, as everyone tried to find the best buy.

C) Divide up the shopping. Maybe the wife could purchase all the gifts required for women and the husband buy all the men's gifts. Teens can select gifts for kids their age too.

D) Choose a gift theme each year. If the theme is plants, you would give everyone something from a nursery. If the theme is books, you would buy all your gifts at a book store. If you choose a theme of entertainment, you would buy movie passes for everyone or concert tickets. If there are a lot of men on your gift list, a hardware theme might be appropriate. If you're forgetful like I am, buying everyone on your list the same thing makes it easier to remember what you gave whom in past years!

7) CELEBRATE FAMILY and COMMUNITY: Schedule time for fun and relaxing together. Put it on your calendar and make it top priority. Don't let anything get in your way. If you're too busy to drive through the neighborhood with the kids looking at the lights and listening to Christmas music, re-arrange your schedule. Spend an evening as a family reading Christmas stories or poems and writing letters to Santa together, thanking him for last year's gifts.

If you must shop or attend concerts or parties, don't go alone. Take the family along and include lonely neighbors or elderly friends too. This applies to cooking, baking, and gift wrapping too.

Invite someone to do it with you. It will make your tasks more fun and they'll appreciate spending time with you. Whatever you're planning to do, share it with someone and make it quality time.

8) CREATE LASTING, LOVING MEMORIES: Be selective. Don't fill every moment of the season with frantic activity. Think quality, not quantity. Your goal should be sharing happy times and being together. Reading stories together, a relaxed tree-trimming, singing carols, making snow angels, or just enjoying the evening stars and sharing a cup of hot cocoa can be more enjoyable than attending every play, concert, and party of the season. Volunteer as a family to sort food at a food bank, organize a toy or coat drive, deliver meals on wheels, or serve Christmas dinner at a shelter. These are memories you'll cherish forever.

9) TAME THE GREEDIES: Steer the family's focus toward the needs of others and how your family can render service. Help everyone to develop an attitude of gratitude instead of always wanting something more. Talk about ways to share the season's joy with others. Instead of wish lists, make a list of ways to practice generosity. These might include helping someone with shoveling, shopping, decorating, or baking. Or choose a volunteer project you can work on together as a family.

Keep the TV turned off as much as possible to avoid commercials. They only give your kids ideas of more useless things they think they must have. If you want to watch a Christmas show, rent the video or record programs and watch them later.

10) CREATE FUN NEW TRADITIONS: Buy a new cookie cutter each year to add to a collection, or shop as a family to buy an early Christmas present for yourselves: a board game you can play each evening in December. Share at the dinner table every night something you've each read such as a Christmas story or poem, a riddle, or holiday trivia.

A friend began a tradition of having boiled shrimp for Christmas dinner, along with garlic toast, salad, and Christmas eggs (boiled eggs dyed red and green). Preparation for this meal takes almost no time at all, and the cleanup is equally easy. Everyone can enjoy the afternoon visiting, playing games, napping, etc. In the evening, they enjoy leftover shrimp fried in garlic butter with the traditional Christmas pies and cookies.

Here are a couple of traditions that can lighten your work load: Instead of an elaborate holiday meal, how about having friends in for a potluck Christmas Eve supper where you provide only the dessert? Another tradition kids love is going out for pizza on Christmas Eve.

It's the little things that make life more meaningful. I like the idea of starting a Christmas tradition of practicing not-so-random acts of kindness each holiday season and maybe even extending this "kindness throughout the year.

ITEMS 7 THROUGH 10 CAN ALL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH VOLUNTEERING to focus on others and help someone outside your family. Kids love to give and help. They just need encouragement, guidance, and opportunities to reach out.

Volunteering is a great way to teach children compassion. It develops character, leadership, self esteem and a sense of community. Volunteering also helps offset the materialism of our culture. The key is finding a cause the whole family can identify with.

One creative idea is to set up a gift-wrapping station in a mall to raise money for a charity. A great way to volunteer that can involve kids of every age would be to visit nursing homes and maybe even take holiday decorations that your family has made. Here's another suggestion: Find some children who need cheery mail and work as a family making cards for them. There are hundreds of such children in need of smiles featured on the HUGS and HOPE Club's web site at www.hugsandhope.com. Your family can also sponsor a child for Christmas through the Hugs and Hope Elf Program. It's fun to shop for and wrap items from your sponsored child's wish list.

Then . . . you can RELAX:

To enjoy this season, we must remember what is truly important. All ten of our suggestions involve togetherness, sharing, helping, enjoying, savoring the moments. The events of 9-11 have taught us that our time and the people in our lives are precious. This Christmas will be a season filled with opportunities to reach out to and enjoy others. Don't miss them! Commit to spending more "down time" with others just hanging out -- it's more important than you may think. Experience really feeling the joy of the season. Make it a "feel good" holiday season rather than a "look good," one-day, picture-perfect event. Create a warmer, more loving celebration by focusing on sharing and just being.

Now that you've learned how to tame your inner Grinch . . . take a deep breath, turn on the tree lights, gather your loved ones around you, relax in your favorite chair, and watch angel Clarence earn his wings for the forty-third time. Only this year, you'll be able to affirm with George Bailey that it really is "A Wonderful Life."

Marsha Jordan is author of "Hugs, Hope, and Peanut Butter" a compilation of inspirational essays illustrated by critically ill children. Proceeds from book sales help sick kids. Jordan founded the HUGS and HOPE Foundation, which provides smiles for hospitalized children.

Quotblack Mondayquot And Cyber Santa Tips

Writen by Jim Edwards

When I started writing this column in Fall of 1998, the idea of doing all your holiday shopping online rated quite daring and trendy.

Fast-forward to today and online shopping represents a very sizeable share of all retail commerce.

In fact, just like the "Black Friday" after Thanksgiving gets many retail stores "into the black" financially, they've coined a name for one of the biggest shopping days online: "Black Monday!"

Black Monday or "Cyber Monday" refers to the Monday after Thanksgiving when everyone goes back to work and does all their shopping online (presumably on their break -- yeah right!)

Either they couldn't find what they wanted in a brick-and- mortar store over the weekend or, like me, couldn't stand the thought of standing in line for hours, so they shop online.

Since their workplace often carries the fastest Internet connection, many people find playing "Cyber Santa" at work too tempting to resist.

Despite a "sluggish economy," this past Black Monday should turn out to be the biggest on record, though the actual results may not get tallied for weeks.

However, if you plan to play "Cyber Santa" this year by making holiday purchases online, the following tips should help the little online elves make all your dreams come true.

** Don't Procrastinate **

Don't wait until the last minute to place your orders online. Internet companies function just like mail-order companies.

Human beings process your order, pull it out of inventory, pack it, and ship it to your address.

If a backup occurs, no amount of e-mailing or phone calls will cause your packages to arrive any faster.

** Delivery Guarantees **

Find out what guarantees (in writing) the company makes regarding delivery.

If they don't guarantee delivery for 2 weeks and you waited until December 19 to order, it doesn't take a computer science degree to know your order won't arrive in time.

** Return Policies **

Along with delivery guarantees, check the return policy. What happens if something goes wrong with the product?

Where and how do you return it?

Also, understand that if you buy something through an auction site like eBay, you run the risk of defective merchandise with no hope for an exchange.

** Brick and Mortar **

Try to deal with companies that offer a "brick and mortar" operation to augment their online presence.

This comes in handy if you received a defective product, or the wrong product, and need a quick fix by visiting the store at the last minute to avoid tears on Christmas morning.

** Disaster Planning **

Ordering early means you can make a quick recovery if something goes wrong by going to the mall and buying something else!

I bought 22 very cool gifts for out of town relatives and business associates yesterday with the click of a mouse!

I plan to do 100% of my shopping online this holiday season and avoid losing my holiday spirit by engaging in urban combat for a parking spot at the mall.

So remember, use common sense, buy from reputable merchants, and let your keyboard help you create a memorable holiday season.

Copyright 2005 Jim Edwards

Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and co-author of an amazing program that teaches you how to use free articles to quickly drive thousands of targeted visitors to your website, affiliate links, or blogs... without spending a dime on advertising! Click Here> http://www.turnwordsintotraffic.com

Kid Birthday Party

Writen by Roy Dietelzieg

A Kid birthday party is something well worth planning, but what may look like a piece of cake, or an easy task to do, may turn out to be quite a hassle, and eventually not serve its purpose.

The last thing you want is to be completely exhausted and in need of a two weeks vacation after you gave your kid a birthday party. If you have planned and gave a party before you must know that a kid birthday party is something that requires some preparation, and some planning.

This is what this article about, some basic ideas about the preparation for a kid birthday party and what you need to do to give a great party without throwing two weeks of your life away. I hope that some of the kid birthday party tips and advice will help you organize your party better so you can have lots of fun planning it, and even have some fun at the party itself.

You probably have some idea of what you want for your kid's birthday party. Some people know, long in advance, what they want to have at their child's birthday party. One main thing is clear, in your birthday party you want everything to be just right, and you want your guests to have a good time.

The key for a successful birthday party is planning and preparing, from the guests list to the invitations, decorations, menus and games planning, you can do it all without forgetting a detail. And you can do it all, with success.

Once you get organized, you will no longer dread planning those children parties. Every good event starts with a plan, and that is exactly where we are going to start, but before you put your plan on paper, you have to think through the basics. Start with a budget, how much are you willing to pay for this and how many people you want to invite. Do you think your birthday party should has many guests, or do you prefer a more intimate and small birthday party.

What kind of birthday party food do you think we be appropriate for this event? Do you want to stick to "party food" or do you want to have some adult food for the parents as well?. Some people like having someone supervising the kids, would you consider having someone at the kid birthday party to keep an eye on the kids, or do you prefer to do that yourself?

Here are the main things you should consider, your budget - an extravagant party or something simple. The date - Pick your date carefully, and make sure it's a good time for everyone you plan to invite.

The party location - at home, in a rented facility or a public place?, "do it yourself" or get someone to take care of the services for you, as some people take a catering service for parties. Will you do all the planning and work yourself, with help from family and or friends, or will you hire someone to plan and execute the party?

Number of your guests & menu, the kind of food you like, and the people you invite to the party, sometimes you need to take special needs for religious and health reasons. The party invitations, are you planning to send invitations by postal service, email, have your child hand them out at school, or simply call and invite them on the phone?. All of these are key to your master party plan.

Finally, to pull it all together, you will want to develop a party schedule. Once you write all these things down, and start to think about how to plan your kid birthday party you are on your way.

The main thing to focus on in this birthday party is planning, give yourself enough time to execute all your plans, and have a great kid birthday party!

Roy Dietelzieg has a vast experience on weddings planning and event preparation, Roy now writes about planning a kids birthday party, and event planning for the Kid Birthday Party.

Bastille Day Frances Independence Day

Writen by Jane Roseen

Bastille Day is much like Independence Day in the United States - It is the celebration of a new form of government. Bastille Day symbolizes the overthrow of the old monarchy and the beginning of the French republic.

The Bastille

The Bastille was built in 1382 and was originally used to defend the east side of Paris from attack. The Bastille had walls more than 80 feet high and was surrounded by a moat. Hundreds of years later, the French monarchy converted The Bastille into a prison to lock up people who didn't agree with their decisions. People were jailed by arbitrary decision of the King. The Bastille was, in particular, known for holding political prisoners whose writings had displeased the royal government. The prisoners inside the Bastille were given no trial – they were placed there under the king's orders and only he could decide when and if they would be freed.

The Bastille became a symbol of the absolute and arbitrary power of King Louis XVI's Ancient Regime.

For the peasant class, the Bastille stood as a symbol of the hypocrisy and corruption of the aristocratic government – controlled mostly by nobility and clergy. The monarchy wasn't just undemocratic. The king and the aristocracy also owned the land and extracted not only the rent, but imposed taxes and restrictions on the people.

The French people of all classes were frustrated with many of the problems of their government, including wanting the king to share his absolute powers, the right to own land and vote, tithes and feudal rights, religious staff wanting more money.

The Beginning of the Revolution

Due to these many reasons, the French people stormed and seized The Bastille on July 14th, 1789. Violent peasants pillaged and burned chateaux, and destroyed records of feudal dues.

At the time of its capture, the Bastille only held seven prisoners. But the storming of the prison was a symbol of liberty and the fight against oppression for all French citizens. By capturing this symbol, the people signaled that the king's power was no longer absolute: power should be passed on to the Nation and be limited by a separation of powers.

The storming of the Bastille was the beginning of the French Revolution that toppled King Louis XVI and the aristocracy. For all citizens of France, the storming of the Bastille came to symbolize liberty and democracy in the struggle against oppression.

Modern Day Celebrations

Bastille Day was declared a French national holiday on July 6th, 1880. Bastille Day has such a strong signification for the French because the holiday symbolizes the birth of the Republic.

Bastille Day is commemorated world-wide. For instance, in Philadelphia people dressed as French revolutionaries mark the day by singing the La Marseillaise, the French national anthem.

In France, the day holds many festivities. Military parades are held in the morning, the largest of which takes place on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris in front of the President of the Republic. The parade opens with cadets from certain schools, followed by infantry troops, which are then followed by motorized troops. During the entire parade, aviation flies above. In recent times, it has become customary to invite units from France's close allies into the parade. For instance, in 2002 cadets from the United States Military Academy paraded.

Bastille Day also falls during the running of the Tour de France, and is traditionally the day upon which French riders will make a special effort to take a stage victory for France.

Parisians celebrate this national holiday with colorful arts festivals and raucous parties. Many cities hold fireworks during the night. It is also customary that firefighters organize dancing parties.

Everyone is encouraged to raise a glass of champagne and toast the national freedom they've enjoyed for more than 200 years.

Celebrate Bastille Day at Home

This July, why not join the citizens of France in a celebration of national freedom and plan a Bastille Day fete, complete with gourmet French chocolates.

Jane S. Roseen is the Owner and President of Harmony Sweets. Harmony Sweets is an international gourmet chocolate shop focusing on individual consumers purchasing gourmet chocolates from around the world for their friends and relatives, corporate gift-giving, and wholesale sales to retail outlets across North America.

Website: http://www.harmonysweets.com

Christmas Tree Artificial Versus Realistic

Writen by Bill Quinn

Types of Artificial Christmas Trees There are significant differences in the two primary methods of branch construction on artificial Christmas trees. It used to be that artificial meant artificial – now artificial can mean realistic. Confused, read on and the difference becomes clear.

Artificial Christmas Trees The branches on traditional Artificial Christmas Trees resemble a brush used to clean the inside of bottles (Bottle brush). The manufacturer takes thin sheets of plastic and shreds the plastic into tiny strips. Those strips are then placed between two wires and the wires are twisted tightly together to hold the plastic. This construction technique is technically called PVC for Polyvinyl Chloride. Therefore, if you see a Christmas tree called artificial, PVC or Polyvinyl Chloride, think "bottle brush" technique.

Realistic Christmas Trees The branches on Realistic Christmas Trees are created out of molded plastic. The technical name for this type of plastic is PE or Polyethylene. Often, a branch is cut from a real, fresh Christmas tree, packed in dry ice and shipped to the factory to create a mold. This method of manufacturing has been around for many years and has recently made a come back in the general market place. Therefore, if you see a Christmas tree called realistic, PE or Polyethylene, know it is the same.

With this introduction, let's discuss the differences.

Which is the most realistic? This question always makes me smile, if you want a real, fresh Christmas tree, then buy one. Real Christmas trees are awesome; my uncle sells thousands of fresh Christmas trees a year.

If you wish to reduce the hassle of Christmas then let's discuss the "realism" of artificial versus realistic.

Artificial The PVC-style tree is rarely mistaken for a real Christmas tree. That said, in American culture, fake trees are widely accepted. People come in your house and say "Wow, what a nice artificial Christmas tree". The branches are one of three types, single, dual or triple-tipped.

Single tip means all of the branch tips are nearly identical in shape, size and color. A dual tip has two types of branch tips; often one type is larger and darker in color to represent a mature branch with the other tip being smaller and lighter in color to represent younger growth. A triple or even quadruple tip is similar to the dual tip but also may include "blooming" cashmere style tips to add an elegant dimension.

As one would expect, the more branch types, the high cost associated with the tree.

Realistic The PE style of tree stands a much better chance of successfully imitating a real Christmas tree. In most cases, the branches are modeled after real trees in nature. There are few trees on the market constructed solely of PE because a 100% PE tree is very expensive to manufacture. Therefore, most PE trees are actually a mix of PE and PVC. The PE (realistic) tips are used on the outer portion of the tree while the inner tree is filled with PVC (bottle brush) tips.

Christmas Lights on Pre Lit Trees If lots and lots of lights on a Christmas tree are your cup of tea, I generally recommend an artificial (bottle brush) style tree.

A typical artificial Christmas tree has more lights per vertical foot of tree than the typical realistic Christmas tree. The reason being two fold: first, to keep the cost of the realistic style tree down, the manufactures reduces the number of lights. Second, the artificial Christmas tree typically has more branch tips than a realistic tree. Therefore, there are more branches for attaching lights.

Suitability for Ornaments If you are a huge fan of ornaments, I generally steer you toward an artificial (bottle brush) tree because you can easily bend and move the branches on the artificial Christmas trees to create space for your ornaments. The realistic Christmas trees are not as flexible. In fact, if you bend the branches too much on a realistic Christmas tree, you can rip the molded plastic tip and damage the look of the tree.

About the Author Bill Quinn is a partner with Christmas Trees For Me. Bill's passion is looking at and digging into about 200 pre lit Christmas trees a year to pick the best.

My Thanksgiving Turkey

Writen by Dorrie Ruplinger

The Thanksgiving turkey – why is it the cause of stress for so many people? I know I am not the only person who has viewed that turkey as my enemy on Thanksgiving because Butterball turkey has a hotline that receives thousands of calls each year from people with various turkey questions. The hotline typically starts operation by mid-November and runs until Christmas. The hotline is even available on Thanksgiving Day.

I have been making turkey for Thanksgiving for over 20 years and last year I finally got some tips that gave me a moist flavorful turkey that everyone at my Thanksgiving dinner actually had second and third helpings!

Over the years it seemed like I had tried just about every method of trying to cook the turkey. When I was first married I tried the traditional pan roasting method. But I forgot to buy my turkey until the day before Thanksgiving. And I bought a big one because I wanted to be sure to have enough turkey for everyone. Because I waited too long to buy my turkey and because I bought such a big one it wasn't thawed by the time I needed to cook it, but I tried cooking it anyway. I ended up with a dry turkey overcooked on the outside and barely done in the middle. Oh, and I had lots and lots of leftover turkey because nobody liked it.

The following year I was busy with a baby and again forgot to buy my turkey in time to get it thoroughly thawed so I was up most of the night before Thanksgiving running cold water over my turkey to get it thawed. The turkey ended up turning out okay but I was so tired and crabby by the time I served dinner that I didn't care whether or not the turkey was done.

Then a few years ago I got the bright idea to deep fry my turkey. Several people recommended it to me. They said a deep-fried turkey was delicious. I thought, "Deep-fried food is delicious. My turkey problems are solved!" So I bought a turkey fryer and two big containers of peanut oil for frying that turkey. But I didn't buy any marinade to inject into the turkey against advice from lots of people.

My husband was in charge of deep frying the turkey in the garage while I was finishing up the side dishes in the kitchen. The directions said it would only take 30 minutes to deep-fry the turkey. Because we wanted the turkey to be nice and hot for dinner, my husband didn't start cooking it until about 40 minutes before dinner. That seemed about right to us. I don't know exactly what happened but that darn turkey took a whole lot longer than 30 minutes to cook. Instead of having turkey as our main course, we had it as a very late dessert! We thought that was okay though because the turkey looked deliciously brown and crispy when it came out of the fryer. But because we hadn't seasoned it at all, it was pretty blah and bland. We learned the hard way that when everyone we ask recommends injecting a turkey with a marinade for flavor before cooking it, that it is probably a good idea. That year my Thanksgiving turkey cost me well over $150 when I calculated in the cost of the fryer, the oil, and the turkey. For that amount of money I could have ordered our entire Thanksgiving dinner from a local restaurant.

The next year I was listening to a local radio station one morning in early November when the female morning show host started talking about how she made her Thanksgiving turkey. She said the recipe was a little involved but that it made a delicious turkey. I was ready to give it a try. I downloaded and printed the recipe, all three pages of it. Making that turkey was like taking care of a baby for nearly two days. It had to be seasoned and put in brine; patted dry; seasoned again; then put in another brine to soak. Then I finally got to cook it. I was so proud of that turkey. I thought it was going to be the best tasting turkey ever since it was the most work I ever put in making a turkey. But that didn't happen. Nobody liked the flavor of the turkey so I again had lots of leftovers that nobody wanted to eat.

At that point I decided I wasn't meant to cook a turkey. A turkey and I just didn't get along. So for two years I didn't make turkey. But for some reason my family thought it wasn't Thanksgiving without turkey. I wasn't sure why they missed it. It never tasted good. Then I realized what it was. The Thanksgiving turkey was a yearly joke at our house and when I didn't make one there was nothing to complain about. The turkey jokes couldn't be made.

So last year I tried yet again. But I talked to my son who was taking a culinary arts course at the time for tips. He assured me he could help me make a better turkey. And he did. Our turkey last year was great. And making it wasn't complicated. It was so tasty and so easy to make that I make turkey every couple of months.

THANKSGIVING TURKEY SIMPLIFIED

Ingredients:

One 5-6 pound turkey breast, thawed and patted dry
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
10-12 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 package from your grocer's produce case)
1 cup water

Place turkey in a roaster. I use a Nesco roaster, but you can also bake it in the oven. Pour the water in the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle the turkey with the salt, pepper and garlic powder. Place the thyme springs on top of and around the turkey. Cover and bake according to the directions on the turkey package.

If baking the turkey in the oven, remove the cover during the last 30 minutes of cooking to brown and crisp the skin.

After taking the turkey out of the roaster or oven remove the thyme springs from the turkey and discard them. Let the turkey stand for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Dorrie Ruplinger is the publisher of http://www.thanksgivinginfozone.com which provides information and resources about Thanksgiving.

Costume Halloween Toddler Style

Writen by Reidar Aas

Halloween is a time of fun, excitement and of spooky costumes. For the toddler, the costume Halloween toddlers use is going to be the type that is more comical, funny or something that represents what they love the most. Often times, the costume Halloween toddler's wear will not be those that are considered spooky or scary, just because the child is so young.

Some of the most favored types of costume Halloween toddlers are going to wear will include those of the cartoons. Alternatively, their costumes could be those that are in the latest hit movies at the time and you will know what movies they like to watch the most! Blues Clues, Mickey Mouse, Speedy, and characters such as Strawberry Shortcake and the like are still favorite types of Halloween costumes for toddlers.

You will also find that other favorites are going to be Scooby Doo, Mighty Mouse, Elmer Fud, and cartoons of the past such as Batman, Spiderman, and even the fighting Ninja Turtles. There is such a variety of costumes for children and for toddlers that you may have a hard time finding that one costume that is just right for your toddler.

Halloween costumes for toddlers are going to be the best that will make memories for the child. Sure, some children that participate in Halloween are just to young to understand, but they find they are going to get candy for being cute. Halloween costumes as they grow a little older are based on what they find exciting and fun at that point in their life. Most all children across the nation do go trick or treating, to get candy from neighbors while celebrating a so-called, scary time of the year.

Older children are going to get away from the cute and the funny types of costumes that a toddler might enjoy. Older children find witches, blood, guts, and all types of scary things are exciting when they are out trick or treating on Halloween. Costumes for Halloween for the toddler should be something that is fun and not used to scare them too much. Halloween is a time of the year that many children find that they are scared of the dark, or they are scared to sleep alone, and this can be brought about by the Halloween costumes they see or wear.

If you want to give your child, your toddler a fun time, find a costume that is going to be exciting, and based on the cartoon characters they see in their daily life. You can find all types of Halloween costumes online, and you can rent full costumes, or you can purchase them. You will also find that for the toddler, you can purchase a mask, or the entire body suit. Purchase your toddler Halloween costume early, at least a few weeks early so you can choose from the characters that are most loved by your toddler.

Written by Reidar Aas, webmaster and author of http://www.costume-halloween-toddler.com This article may be reproduced as long as a Live link back to http://www.costume-halloween-toddler.com is present.

End The Year Strong Avoid Over Eating This Holiday Season

Writen by Ken Collins

Over eating is a major inhibitor to staying healthy, yet many of us tend to do just that during the holidays.

Between Thanksgiving and New Years day, many Americans find themselves eating more than usual. Diet and exercise tend to take a back seat to binge eating, and get put on the to-do list for next year.

When it comes to your weight, putting it off is not the way to take it off. Don't procrastinate. Start your New Year right, by finishing this year strong.

Try these few tips this holiday season.

• Maintaining Your Weight Remember to eat regular portions through out the day. If you are going to a holiday party, don't put off eating in hopes of inhaling your daily calories in one meal. This encourages binge eating, and is habit forming. By eating regular meals throughout the day, you are more likely to eat regular portions each time.

• Losing Weight If you are trying to lose weight this holiday season, use smaller plates and utensils. Smaller plates encourage smaller portions. Smaller utensils encourage chewing, prolongs the length of time it takes to eat, and allows you to get the most nutrition from each meal.

• Eating What You Want If you wish to eat what you want this holiday season (and not have to pay for it the rest of the year), get out and exercise!!!

Find an exercise friend and get to it. The more calories you burn from exercise, means the more calories your body can intake, WITHOUT gaining weight.

Couple exercise with regular balanced meals, and even the most stringent of diets will allow for a little bit of cheating. Being able to enjoy a meal without counting calories is an actual luxury of a healthy lifestyle.

Written By: Ken Collins Co-Founder of http://www.eXerciseFriends.com

Christmas Matters

Writen by Lois Reeve

Every year I vow to make Christmas easier, simpler - less stressful.

Have I ever? One year I tried forgetting Christmas here in the UK and spent it in the Canary Islands. It was quite extraordinary really. Christmas day was spent around the pool. The staff brought round 'Christmas' cake at various intervals (not the fruit stuff but madeira cake) and Santa Claus arrived on the beach by parachute. The hotel was full of people trying to get away from the stress of the season. All regretted leaving families but felt the need to just 'get away'. The guy in the next room spent every Christmas away from his wife and family. His wife, children and grandchildren loved to do the whole British Christmas experience - he just wanted time to chill out and spent a good deal of his time alone. He didn't feel this was extraordinary at all!

One thing that did strike me was the friendliness and service from the hotel staff. How much holiday did they get? - they all seemed to be working so hard. I asked the receptionist. He explained that they had no concept of a long Christmas holiday. In fact the only time they did not work was Christmas Eve when they were given 24 hours leave from that afternoon to attend Christmas Mass with family and then to eat a celebratory meal with family and friends. No presents were exchanged - this happened on the Feast of the Epiphany 6 January when traditionally the wise men had brought their gifts to Jesus - and even then the presents to each other were single and modest. On Christmas day all staff had returned to work by late afternoon - as did all workers throughout the island.

There was a lot to think about as we picked up our champagne at breakfast and then spent the day smothered in sun cream, snoozing in the sun.

I still love Christmas and the Christian celebrations which remind us of its true meaning. It's the shopping that gets me down. And to be quite honest I hadn't managed to avoid this - I just had to be more organised and distribute presents to friends and family well in advance of travelling to warmer climes. I suppose the problem is I like giving presents to people - although I spend a good deal of time worrying about their appropriateness. So - I don't have a formula for present giving but I do try to cut down on spending without appearing to be scrooge, I try to support charities with what I buy, I try to simplify the shopping process, I try to begin the process early. And all you can do is try!

Am I correct in thinking that Christmas shopping still falls largely to the female of the species? Is it just women who begin worrying in February about buying for the children or grandchildren. Is it the female mind that sees something in June which would be 'perfect' for Aunt Mathilda at Christmas? The internet offers wonderful opportunities to ease the pressure on shopping and having moved from a bustling city to a small island last year where choice is very limited this is a growing activity, not to say obsession in our household.

But is this the way Christmas has to be for us?

About The Author

Lois Reeve has been a personal and careers adviser for twenty years. She coaches individuals to achieve work related goals.

Lifelong interest in the female perspective on all issues. Looking to create a discussion forum on the web with a free ezine to introduce topics of interest to the fastest growing community on the web - females!

Website: www.femalematters.org

loisreeve@cwgsy.net

To Mom With Love

Writen by Jennifer A. Casey

As a mother of 2, I know how busy and full a day can be, whether you work from home or not. Between making lunches for school, cleaning up spilled apple juice, walking the dog, making sure the garbage is out on the proper morning, housecleaning, the list goes on.

As Mother's Day approaches, children everywhere are searching for the perfect gift to give the special lady, the 'everything', in their lives. To the woman who deserves to be celebrated every day of the year, give the gift of relaxation. Every mom looks forward to the moment or two she has for herself when she can pick up that book or magazine she has been trying to read for weeks.

Give mom a little chunk of peace. Gather up some ingredients from your kitchen cupboards or local Organic Market, and mix up a simple recipe for Bath Melts that will be the envy of all the other moms at playgroup. Our 'Homemade' recipe offers an alternative to conventional bath oils or bubble bath, most of which contain perfumes and some even toxic chemicals. And, any gift that is handmade is greatly cherished!

This 100% natural Bath Melts recipe can be adjusted to be naturally fragranced with pure essential oils of your choice, or simply unscented for sensitive skins.

In a small saucepan on the stove, melt:

· 5 Tablespoons Cocoa butter
· 3 Tablespoons Shea butter
· 3 oz carrier oil

When just melted, remove from heat and set aside to cool further. In a separate dish, combine:

· 3 ½ oz Citric Acid
· 8 oz Baking Soda
· 1 oz Milk Powder (Whole, Skim, Goat, or Soy)

Optional additions:

· up to 10 drops essential oil of your choice
· dried lavender or rose petals

Use a fork to get all of the lumps out, and mix powders thoroughly. When Cocoa butter mixture is cool, but still liquefied, add Baking Soda mixture and stir. If combination begins to fizz, then the oil mixture is still too hot. It is a good idea to test a teaspoonful of Baking Soda mixture into the oil mixture before you add the full amount. Once you mix the powders into the butters, the consistency should be similar to thick cookie dough.

Once stirred, pour the mixture into ice cube trays, or small, decorative candy molds, and cool in the freezer until solid. Remove trays from freezer before cubes are actually frozen, approximately 15 minutes. Remove cubes from trays and store your Bath Melts in a glass canister with a lid, at room temperature, and away from moisture or they may begin fizzing! You may also want to wrap each melt in decorative candy foil and a pretty ribbon to give as a gift.

When ready to use, unwrap a melt, drop into a warm bath and watch those moisturizing butters fizz away! Enjoy!

Just a warning: mom, and the bathtub, will be very slippery after a bath with a melt!

This recipe yields approximately 1 ice cube tray full.

Copyright 2006, Jennifer A. Casey
Jennifer resides in Vancouver, BC with her husband and 2 children. She is the President of Canada's 100% natural baby care line, MUNCHSKINS SKIN CARE, and is about to launch an easy-to-follow recipe book of baby's daily essentials.
An excerpt recipe from her book, 'Homemade Baby *the guide to making your own baby care essentials. The Natural Way! 2006, Munchskins Skin Care. Inc. http://www.jenniferacasey.ca

History Of Mothers Day

Writen by Jennifer Bailey

The history of Mother's day can be traced back to ancient Greece, where the annual spring festival was celebrated in honor of Rhea, the wife of Cronus, and mother to several Gods and Goddesses. In Rome, a similar festival was dedicated to Cybele, the Great mother of Gods. This festival was known as 'Hilaria' and is traced back to around 250 BC. In both these festivals, several offerings were made to the goddesses to appease them and to seek their blessings. Rhea and Cybele were symbols of motherhood to the Greeks and the Romans, respectively, and therefore, these festivals are widely perceived to be the precursors of the present day celebration of motherhood, through the festival celebrated as Mother's Day.

There is also evidence of a festival prevalent in the British Isles and Celtic Europe where a festival called the Spring Mother's Day was celebrated in honor of the Goddess Brigid. However, these festivals differed in conception from the present day Mother's Day in that they celebrated the concept of motherhood rather than giving honor and respect to the immediate mothers.

In England, a festival was celebrated on the fourth Sunday of May in honor of Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ. This festival was celebrated at Lent and was proclaimed as Mothering Sunday. On this day, the workers would be given permission to visit their homes for a day to meet with their mothers. They usually carried a cake with them or some other gift for their mothers. This practice, however, died out in the 19th century but was revived again after World War II by the American servicemen. In America, the seeds of Mother's Day were sown by Anna Jarvis who wanted the women in her community to help improve the sanitation in her town. She organized a day known as the Mother's Work Day to spread awareness about the necessity of good sanitation in the community.

When she died, her daughter, who was also named Anna, struggled to make the community observe at least one day in the honor of motherhood. In May 1907, a mother's day service was held at the Methodist church in Grafton, West Virginia. Her efforts were finally rewarded in 1914 when Woodrow Wilson, the President of the United States, passed a resolution declaring Mother's Day as a national holiday.

Mother's Day is acknowledged to this day as a celebration of womanhood, when we celebrate not only the contribution that a mother makes within her family by rearing her children but also the contribution she makes to the society at large.

Mothers Day provides detailed information on History of Mother's Day, Mother's Day, Mother's Day Cards, Mother's Day Crafts and more. Mothers Day is affiliated with Father's Day Cards.

Christmas Discover Little Known Secrets Of Christmas Related To An Amazing Ancient World

Writen by Bernadette Dimitrov

Discover the ancient world relationship to Christmas through magic mushrooms, the Pole Star and the World Tree! There is research that suggests that many of our modern-day Christmas symbols and icons are actually derived from the Shamanistic traditions of the tribal people of pre-Christian Northern Europe. They consumed sacred mushrooms and based many of their traditions and celebrations around these sacred mushrooms which bare resemblance to many of our modern Christmas traditions.

There is an interesting history attached to these magic mushrooms we see illustrated in children's fairy tale books and especially with images of elves and Christmas. They come from the 'fly agaric' or amanita muscaria mushroom (red and white in color). These mushrooms are usually associated with magic and fairies. Ancient people used these mushrooms for transcendental experiences and insight. These mushrooms contain hallucinogenic compounds. The Shamanistic traditions included celebrations around the consumption and harvest of these sacred mushrooms. Celebrations similar to our Christmas traditions.

Interestingly these specific mushrooms grow only under certain types of trees being mostly firs and evergreens which are synonymous with Christmas. Ancient people considered the mushrooms the fruit of these evergreen trees. As these mushrooms sprang from the earth, ancient people were amazed because there was no visible seed. Thus it was considered a 'virgin birth 'resulting from the morning dew (seen as the semen of the deity). It has been written that the silver tinsel prominent today to drape over our modern Christmas trees is derived from and representative of this divine fluid. Many ancient people including the Shamans and the Lapps (Finland) and the Kyoak tribes of the central Russian steepes believe in the idea of a 'World Tree'. They believed the trunk of the tree was representative of every day life and known as the 'middle earth', the roots of the tree stretched deep into the earth to the 'under-world' and that branches stretched upwards into a heavenly or cosmic realm. The World Tree has been described as a kind of 'cosmic axis' where the planes of the universe are fixed.

The North Star also known as the 'Pole Star' was considered sacred by ancient people because all the other stars revolved around its fixed point. They believed the top of the World Tree touched or connected to the Pole Star. The Shamans belief they pass into the realm of the Gods as they climbed the metaphorical tree. This is believed by some to be the real history of the star on the modern Christmas tree.

Researchers tell us that the active ingredients of amanita mushrooms are not metabolized by the body and so remain active in the urine. It is considered safer and preferable not to eat the mushrooms directly but to drink the urine of one who has consumed the mushrooms. This process enables many of the toxic compounds to be processed and eliminated on the first pass through the body. Ancient people drank each others urine as a common practice of recycling the potent effects of the mushrooms. It has been found that even on six passes through the body ingredients of the amanita mushrooms remain potent. It has been argued amongst some scholars that the origin of the phrase "to get pissed," comes from this ancient urine drinking practice associated with the amanita mushrooms. This urine-drinking activity preceded alcohol by thousands of years.

The sacred animals of these ancient people were reindeer that were also fond of eating the amanita mushrooms. In fact they would seek them out, and then prance about while under their influence. Reindeer also enjoy the urine of a human who had consumed the mushrooms. Often tribesmen would carry sealskin containers of their urine which they used effectively to attract stray reindeer back into the herd. The effects of these mushrooms usually include sensations of flying and size distortion. This may account for the many legends of flying reindeer or winged reindeer transporting their riders up the World Tree!

Visit http://www.HoHoHoChristmas.com & sign up for our FREE Newsletter full of tips, tools & resources for reviving the fun, joy, magic and real meanings of Christmas PLUS receive our bonus f*r*e*e 10 day e-course with audio - Amazing Ways to Enrich Your Christmas Experience from The HoHoHo Expert, Bernadette Dimitrov, author of the world's best Christmas ebooks and audio books. The HoHoHo Factor!' everything you'll love to know & share about Christmas & the new fun adventure series 'Bluey, Santa's New Recruit!' Your resources for creating fun, meaningful and cherished memories today!

Halloween Safety Tips

Writen by Susan Dunn

Halloween is an exciting night for children and a busy time for their parents. With such excitement, it's easy for children to forget basic safety rules.

When emotions are running high, it's a good time to remember to "use your head." Plan ahead and plan to have a safe Halloween. Raise safety awareness with your family before the festivities begin. We do the right thing, but we don't always explain it to children. As you place a saucer under each tea light, or "stop, look and listen" at street corners and in parking lots, tell your child why. They don't always connect the dots unless you point it out.

Here are some Halloween Safety Tips to keep in mind:

1. Stay sober and alert.

It's amazing how many family Halloween celebrations involve adults drinking. It's impossible to monitor children's safety or your own when you've had too much to drink, so don't.

2. Avoid cuts and burns when decorating.

Carving the pumpkin, placing luminaria in the driveway, and hanging spooky skeletons all present opportunities for injury. If you're decorating with candles, observe fires safety. Have a good fire extinguisher handy and make sure everyone knows where it is.

3. Observe ladder safety regulations.

According to the NASD, accidents involving ladders cause an estimated 300 death a year in the US, and 130,000 injuries requiring medical attention. Review ladder safety rules and observe them.

4. Make sure "treats" aren't "tricks."

Many people these days choose to go to fairs or private parties instead of trick or treating for safety reasons. If your child is going trick or treating, go with them. Make it a rule that nothing is to be eaten until it's first been inspected by you.

5. Caution your child about strangers and dogs.

Keep your children with you and remind them to avoid people and dogs they don't know. Many people are taking their dog companions out in costume these days, and even the most gentle of family pets can do something unexpected with all the excitement.

6. Accidental falls is the number one cause of injuries on Halloween night (National Safety Council).

Choose your child's costume with this in mind. Hem up the hemlines. If you choose a mask, choose one that doesn't obstruct sight. Stay sober and observe safety rules when decorating.

7. Four times more children are killed in pedestrian/automobile accidents on Halloween night than on any other night of the year.

The CDC suggests these factors make it a high risk: short stature, inability to react quickly enough to avoid a car or evaluate a potential traffic threat, lack of impulse control, and all the exciting distractions.

8. The holiday syndrome.

The excitement, more candy, more parties, less sleep, less nutritious food, and getting off schedule all mean less attentiveness and also possibly illness. Keep routines as normal as you can.

9. Choose safe and sensible costumes.

Choose fire retardant costumes that allow children free movement and good visibility. Be careful about accessories. Even toy knives and swords can cause harm. Give each child a flashlight.

10. Set a good example.

Show that you care about safety and make it a top priority.

About The Author

© Susan Dunn, MA, Coach, http://www.susandunn.cc. Coaching, Internet courses and ebooks for your personal and professional development. Career, relationships, transition, midlife. Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for free ezine.

sdunn@susandunn.cc

5 New Years Resolutions To Make Your Family Stronger

Writen by Toni Schutta

Many of us make New Year's resolutions every year. We set goals for exercising, loosing weight, staying organized. But how many of us take the time to size up our family?

Are you conscious of how your time is spent together? How many meals are you eating together as a family? How much time do you spend alone with your spouse? Do your children's activities flood your calendar?

In just a minute, I'm going to give you suggestions for five basic building blocks that help strengthen families, but first I'd like to suggest that you do a simple exercise. Take out your calendar from last month. Calculate how much time you spent with the following activities: time spent all together as a family; time spent alone with each child; time spent alone with your spouse; time for yourself; and work time. What did you find out? Review the suggestions below and see if you want to incorporate some of these ideas.

Strategy #1: Commit to eating four or more evening meals together as a family.

The family meal, once a common occurrence in American homes, has now been usurped by activity after activity. It's estimated that only 30 percent of us eat meals together regularly. Yet, all research points to the fact that the family meal is a relic worth saving.

A University of Michigan study found that more meals at home was the single strongest predictor of better achievement scores and fewer behavioral problems. Meal time was far more powerful than time spent in school, studying, church, playing sports and art activities.(1)

Choose activities for your child that don't commonly interrupt dinner time or be creative about how you can still eat together.

Strategy #2: Schedule a minimum of 2 hours a week together with your spouse.

Married couples spend, on average, just four minutes a day in meaningful conversation. (Source: American Demographics) The number one activity that spouses do together is watch TV. We seem to take for granted that our relationship with our spouse can go on auto-pilot, without care or nurturing. But yet without a strong marital foundation, the whole family system can fall apart.

One suggestion is to set aside 10 minutes a day to talk one-on-one with your spouse, uninterrupted. Wait until the children go to bed or set a boundary with them that Mom and Dad get 10 minutes alone after dinner each night to connect. You'll gain an hour more of together time each week by this simple practice!

Consider having an in-house "date." Stay up late and have dinner together after the kids are in bed. Build a fire and share some appetizers. Play a game together.

And of course, try to have a "real" date that generates some excitement a few times a month. You need a break from your kids and you deserve time for fun, too!

Strategy #3: Schedule a minimum of one family activity together each week.

We make decisions every day about how to spend our time. Nothing can be more important than the time you spend connecting as a family. While dealing with the hectic pace of work and children's activities, the promise of family time on the calendar can be very welcoming.

Try to schedule at least one hour-long family activity each week. Write it down in INK on the calendar.

The activities can be as simple as playing games together, doing a puzzle, playing tennis, or watching family videos. Come up with a list of fun activities with your family and get started!

Strategy #4: Schedule a minimum of 30 minutes per week of special one-on-one time together with each child.

This is the most concrete thing that you can do to deepen your attachment to your child.

A child is far more likely to reveal intimate feelings to you when you're alone with them. It's highly unlikely that a child, who may be feeling vulnerable already, will reveal perceived weaknesses in front of a sibling. But, given time to let down their guard with a parent, they may let you in on struggles they wouldn't reveal at the dinner table.

By having your sole attention, the child will feel valued. You're making a huge statement to the child that nothing else is more important to you.

If you're lucky enough to have two parents in the home, you can always try rotating the special time so that each child gets time with each parent.

Strategy #5: Have your child involved in no more than one or two activities simultaneously.

If your child is in an activity, it means that you're in the activity, driving the child and siblings around to get to practices and games. Activities are fine, and even beneficial, in small doses, but activities rob time from you as a family. No factor is more important in a child's development than time spent with their family.

The number of hours that children spend in structured sports has doubled. The number of hours a week that children passively watch a sibling's activities has increased five fold to over three hours per week. And the amount of free time that children have has decreased by 12 hours per week. (1)

Be conscious of whether your life feels out of balance and set some rules about the number of activities your child can be involved in.

(1. University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research, Center Survey, January, 1999. Reported by Sandra L. Hofferth, "Changes in American Children's Time, 1981-1997.")

Byline: Toni Schutta, Parent Coach, M.A., L.P., has 11 years experience helping parents find solutions that work. For a FREE e-course on "How to Win the Chore Wars" and a FREE monthly parenting newsletter go http://www.familiesfirstcoaching.com.

The History Of Oktoberfest

Writen by Jane Roseen

The first Oktoberfest was held on Ocotber 12, 1810, in Munich to celebrate the wedding of Prince Ludwig I of Bavaria and Princess Maria Teresa of Saxony-Hildburghausen on what was to become known as Theresienwieses - Theresa's fields. In subsequent years, horse races were held on the fields to celebrate the anniversary of the royal wedding. This annual event became Oktoberfest tradition. Oktoberfest is dedicated to the fall harvest and to beer, the region's most famous product. People came from throughout Germany to enjoy the celebration consisting of dancing, singing, and drinking beer.

Oktoberfest Today

Oktoberfest 2005 celebrates it's 172nd year. Oktoberfest is the largest festival in the world, with 6 million visitors from around the world attending the Munich Oktoberfest each year. Each year, these attendees consume more than 5 million liters of beer and over 200,000 pork sausages, as well as large quantities of traditional hearty fare such as sausage, hendl (chicken) and sauerkraut, along with such Bavarian delicacies as roast ox tails.

Only six Munich breweries are allowed to serve beer at Oktoberfest – Löwenbräu, Spaten, Augustiner (pictured right), Hofbräu, Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr. Each Bierzelte (beer "tents") hold some 3,000–10,000 people. There are currently 14 main tents at the Oktoberfest. A special Oktoberfest beer is brewed for the occasion which is slightly darker and stronger, in both taste and alcohol.

The festivities are accompanied by a program of events, including the Grand Entry of the Oktoberfest Landlords and Breweries, the Costume and Riflemen's Procession, and a concert involving all the brass bands represented at the "Wies'n".

Jane S. Roseen is the Owner and President of Harmony Sweets. Harmony Sweets is an international gourmet chocolate shop focusing on individual consumers purchasing gourmet chocolates from around the world for their friends and relatives, corporate gift-giving, and wholesale sales to retail outlets across North America.

Website: http://www.harmonysweets.com

What To Do Three Weeks Before Thanksgiving

Writen by Shauna Hanus

The Thanksgiving holiday can be a busy and stressful time. If you begin your party planning early you will have a joyous celebration that all will remember.

Starting three weeks in advance may seem like a bit much, but, by starting off three weeks in advance of Thanksgiving you will be able to get a head start on all your preparation and planning. This will make for a much more enjoyable Thanksgiving party.

Three weeks before Thanksgiving:

Begin with your guest list. Will you be serving family or family and friends? Consider inviting people you know or people from church who will be alone on the holiday. My family did this last year at Christmas and we have ended up with two wonderful friends that we might not have otherwise had.

Speak with each of your guests to determine if they have any special requests. We have lactose intolerant family members, so we make two batches of mashed potatoes. You may also have a vegetarian on your list. If you do don't panic, simply ask them what they would like for your Thanksgiving celebration together.

Determine if you will need to rent tables, chairs, glasses, plates, flatware or anything else for Thanksgiving. In some areas of the county the weather is temperate enough that eating outside is an option when you use outdoor space heaters.

Make a Thanksgiving calendar. This will be where you keep track of all the necessities to get accomplished in the weeks before Thanksgiving.

Shauna Hanus is a gourmet cook who specializes in creating gourmet recipes. She has put together a special Thanksgiving e-Cookbook that gives you 73 recipes to cook your leftover turkey as well as two bonus e-books of a special holiday ice cream cookbook that includes favorites like pumpkin pie ice cream and pecan pie ice cream. She has also put together a holiday planning guide to help you have the most enjoyable Thanksgiving ever. You can find all of these at http://www.turkey-leftovers.com

Holiday Shopping On Ebay

Writen by Ron King

Whether we like it or not, the holiday season has become the shopping season. But there is a way to remove the traffic and hassles from your holiday gift buying -- eBay. Shop in the comfort of your own home, and have fun in the process.

Perfect Gifts

If you know the kinds of things your friends and family like, then eBay's categories are ideal places to get ideas. And then a few clicks later, you're shopping -- at bargain basement prices.

eBay offers a cool way to come up with gift ideas. Think of a recent item that your gift recipient bought for themselves. Type it into eBay's search box and see which category it's in, then click the link to look at everything in that category. You'll immediately have a huge list of things that they would probably love to have. If you know the recipient well, you should have no trouble sorting through the suggestions to find a special and unique gift.

Let History Be Your Guide

You have an extra tool available when the people you're buying for are eBay users. If you know their eBay usernames, you can look at what they've been buying to see the kinds of things they may want.

First, click Advanced Search on the main page, then Find A Member on the left-hand menu to see an eBay user's history. Type in the username and you'll get their user page, which lists the item numbers of everything they have bought. Choose an item number and paste it into the eBay search box to find out what the item was. Voila! You have a nearly foolproof list of ideal gifts for that person on your shopping list.

Avoid Last-Minute Shopping

Don't be tempted to use eBay for your last-minute holiday shopping, though. The prices will be high, and items might not reach you in time.

Every year there's a toy every child wants and all the stores sell out. Suddenly the toy appears on eBay -- at a premium. Holiday shoppers have to pay many times the gift's value, and still don't receive it in time for the big day. Don't get caught in this snare.

'Tis The Season

The holiday season is peak time at eBay because millions of people are shopping there. A good percentage of them are inexperienced eBay shoppers, who drive up prices far above normal. Try not to end up paying too much for an item just because it's the last one you could receive in time, or because everyone else is bidding high. Know when to cut your losses, stop bidding, and just go buy something from the local store.

Keep It Jolly

eBay works best when it's not taken too seriously. Treat it like a game, and you won't be too disappointed if you lose. It can feel somewhat like gambling, but when that really rare gift for that special someone arrives on your doorstep just in time for Christmas, it all becomes worth it.

Visit Shop Ebay to learn more. Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer, visit his website at Website

Copyright 2005 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact and the links live.

Costume Ideas For Halloween Witch Will It Bee For This All Hallows Eve

Writen by William Lezubski

The days are getting shorter, the nights are becoming darker, and the feeling in the air is crisp. Yes folks, fall has approached us once again!

As we pack up our bathing suits and beach towels, we now shift our thoughts to searching for costume ideas for Halloween.

As much as I truly love the warm summer days, my favorite time of year is October! I look forward to the excitement and the feeling that Halloween is just around the corner. I also love the preparation of getting my next Halloween costume, and going to all the parties where I will be making a creative spectacle of myself.

However, the same thing happens to me each time this season quickly rolls around. I just can't get over the fact that my motivation to shop is always last minute, and even though I may have been thinking about many of my costume ideas for months, for some reason my shopping procrastination gets the better of me.

Then it came to me! Even though I take pride in finding that perfect Halloween costume, I hate the idea that I have to drive all over town to unearth what I'm looking for, not to mention skirmishing through crowds in hectic malls.

Sometimes I have that feeling that I see the same people every year at the same store with that glossy fixed stare! I know what you're saying; the early bird always gets the worm, but the fact that I do this every year, tells me that I'm not going to change my traditional bad habits.

Online Halloween Stores & Online Costumes...Wow, Great Idea!

All right, I'm sure you knew where I was going with this one! Just think about this for a second: if you have a computer at home, and you use it for research anyway, why not utilize it for your next Halloween costume idea, and order them online. It's extremely convenient, and you don't have to suffer any more brick & mortar battle scars!

I was amazed at the selection of all the online ideas available for costumes, and it made my decision making process very easy! You could quickly access many exciting categories from movie themed costumes, to all the scary ghost outfits you can ever imagine! The funny thing is, I always thought a white sheet put over my head with a few holes could be the only option for a ghost's costume. I thought wrong.

There was no shortage of costume product categories, and with a few clicks of my mouse, I was instantly navigating to the latex mask section where I found a vast amount of horror comedy and clown masks, and then in a matter of seconds I was viewing the makeup section, which by now started to get my creative juices flowing! The browsing on these Costume Sites was truly refreshing.

I wondered, should I be a skeleton this year again, it really makes me look thinner. Or possibly I could dress up as one of the most controversial celebrity icons of this year, but where could I find a monkey named Bubbles on short notice? All right, I'll stop!

I don't know about you, but the feeling I had viewing the selection of costumes in the comfort of my home gave me the same reaction as Garfield the Cat's famous trick or treat quote, "Candy, Candy, Candy!" I could spend hours viewing the ghoulish creations, and classic mummy and fat pumpkin costumes, which ironically seems to always be showing up at my favorite Halloween party year after year.

No more procrastinating for me, and now that I can view the abundant options online at my fingertips, I can sit back and relax as I decide whether to hang spiders over the door, or ooze fake blood all over the kitchen counter, to once again freak-out my darling wife.

Now with all my spare time from getting my Halloween costume idea completed early this year via the convenience of the Internet, I have so much more time complete my gruesome and ghoulish pranks.

I hope you all have a Happy Halloween stress free!

About the author: William is the owner and the author of "1st In Halloween Costumes" available at http://www.1st-in-halloween-costumes.com A great source for Halloween Costumes online! You can easily find and compare halloween sites offering quality adult halloween costumes, sexy halloween costumes, kids costumes, pet costumes, and halloween masks.

Managing The Holidays Top 10 Tips

Writen by Mary Kay Aide

The holiday season is one of the most stressful times of year for many people. It's a classic example of how we ask too much of ourselves and of others.

November comes around and suddenly we expect to turn into a "Martha Stewart!" We want a beautifully decorated house, delectable homemade treats, perfect, well thought out personalized gifts and well-behaved, eternally grateful children......even after we've disrupted their sleep routines and filled them up with cookies and candy. A little unrealistic, perhaps?

So how do you avoid creating a horribly hectic holiday? Here are some tips:

1. Ask each family member what their number one favorite part of the holiday is and only do those. You don't have to do everything! You might be surprised that there are some things that aren't as important as you thought.
2. Skip the holiday cards-send New Years cards in January or Valentine cards in February when you have more time. When you send something later, people are more likely to read it. If you send cards and family updates in January or February there's a better chance they'll remember what it said.
3. Give theme gifts: magazine subscriptions, donations in their name, gift cards, tickets to a concert, movie, play, etc. Go through a list of magazines and choose one that fits each person on your list. Think about their favorite store, go online and order a gift card for them. Give them tickets to an event you both like and maybe they'll share the second ticket-the gift that keeps on giving.
4. Take a nap after Thanksgiving Dinner and wake up when the ball drops on New Year's Eve. Thought I'd toss that in for fun.
5. Make a list before heading out the door. Nothing is more time consuming that wandering around the mall waiting for the perfect gift to jump out at you. Go through catalogs or magazines for ideas, decide what you want and buy only what's on your list.
6. Go shopping with a friend and combine it with a massage, spa treatment, sauna or a soak in a hot tub. How fun would it be to shop for an hour or two and have a great meal or spa date afterwards!
7. Breathe……breathe…….breathe. A deep breath will help you slow down to think and make better decisions. Think about the last minute craziness before guests arrive-mind racing, bouncing from one thing to another. Stop, take a deep breath and your mind and body will automatically slow down.
8. Make the holiday meal a group event: ask guests to bring part of the meal. If you are hosting an event say up front you are providing the main dish and they can choose a side dish to bring. No need for a hostess gift then. How many candles or knick knacks do you need?
9. Schedule FUN things for yourself. While you do lots for your families and friends this time of year, don't forget to do something for yourself-go to a movie, buy yourself a little gift, hang out with a friend, go skiing or try something you've always wanted to do.
10. And finally, do only the things you need to do and the things you love to do. Let go of the rest. What traditions do you love and which ones feel like chores? Going back to Tip #1,only do the number one favorites. And don't forget your favorites as well! When you do activities you truly enjoy, you will be more energized and happy. Doing activities that feel like chores is draining and can leave you with feelings of emptiness and fatigue. That's NOT what the holidays are supposed to be like.

The holidays have special meaning for everyone, gratitude, giving and celebration. You can't honor those when you're stressed out and exhausted.

Make this Holiday Season the happiest and least hectic one yet!

Mary Kay Aide, This Is Your Life Coaching LLC http://www.lifecoachmkay.com

Mary Kay has over 20 years experience working in helping professions such as individual, couples and family counseling; 9 years in employee assistance consulting and 5 years in small business.

Mary Kay has a master's degree in Educational Rehabilitation Counseling and receives ongoing training as a Life Coach through the Institute of Life Coach Training.

Her personal and professional philosophy is that this is your life, not anyone else's. There is no single "right" way to live, only a right way for you. Once you identify your deep personal values and design your life around them, it's easier to honor your life, and feel good about the choices you make.

Areas of expertise include:
• Professional women wanting more balance in their lives
• Couples wanting to reconnect and have more fun in their relationship
• Women looking to create a new life or career for themselves.

Decorating For A Victorian Christmas

Writen by Marti Mayne

Berry Manor Inn owner, Cheryl Michaelsen wouldn't admit it, but with all the research she's done on Victorian tradition for the inn many consider her an expert, especially when it comes to celebrating a Victorian Christmas. Her Victorian-style inn offers the ideal backdrop to showcase venerated Victorian traditions throughout the year. However during the holidays the pomp and hospitality of this bygone era is resplendent in what Down East Magazine has referred to as "The WOW House". Visit Berry Manor Inn during Historic Inns of Rockland, Maine's Holiday House Tour held each year on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, where among other ideas, you'll learn first hand all about many Victorian traditions of yesteryear. The Holiday House Tour is part of Rockland's Festival of Lights, and Historic Inns of Rockland will feature workshops including Gingerbread House Making, Victorian Customs for Christmas, and Package Wrapping Workshops, along with refreshments and tours of lovely historic inns during this event, held from 1pm to 4pm on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

During the Victorian era, commonly considered from the mid 1800's to the early 1900's, strides were made in communication and industrialization making it possible for traditions from other countries to be popularized and even mass-produced in the United States. Embedded in the Victorian psyche was the need to keep up and surpass friends' and family expectations for socializing, decorating and succeeding in general. Thus, creating an environment where others could watch, socialize and share traditions of others was key. Understanding this, Berry Manor Inn has captured many of the Victorian traditions to share and celebrate with guests throughout the holiday season.

Peppermint pigs – The pig was a symbol of good health, happiness and prosperity in Victorian times. Thus, even today as tradition dictates, after the holiday meal, the candy peppermint pigs are broken and shared by all in hopes of good fortune. First created in Saratoga Springs, NY, Berry Manor Inn purchases Peppermint Pigs for guests from SaratogaSweets.com, which claims to be the only place still making these Victorian confections, since 1880.

Hanging a pickle on the tree – According to the Victorian myth an orphan wandered into a pub whereupon he was kidnapped and thrown into a pickle barrel.

St. Nick came to his rescue, making the pickle a symbol of good luck. It was German tradition, popularized in Victorian times, to hang a pickle ornament on the Christmas tree for good luck. The child that was first to find the pickle was rewarded with an extra present. Look carefully, and you will find the pickle ornament on the tree at Berry Manor Inn.

Christmas crackers – These whimsical toys were one custom that dawned during Victorian times. In the 1860's a London confectioner designed a tube shaped object and filled it with sweets and toys, then tied it at both ends and offered it for entertainment at the dinner table. Later, inspired by the flames of the hearth, a popping noise was added , lending to the name "crackers". In keeping with tradition, usually a hat and candy are still hidden within the crackers. You'll find a basket of Christmas crackers as gifts for guests at the Berry Manor Inn throughout the holidays.

The Christmas Maze – In keeping with another Victorian tradition, Berry Manor Inn sets up a "maze" game in the Children's Room, replicating how many Victorian children found their Christmas treasures. Tradition holds that each child was assigned to a different color ribbon, and told to follow it through the maze of intertwined ribbons to their gift. The Christmas Maze is available for viewing at Berry Manor Inn during the Holiday House Tour.

The Upside Down Christmas Tree – It was a common tradition in Victorian times to display a "table top" tree in the parlor. Often the trees were too big for the table so the top would be cut off and hung upside down in another part of the house. This afforded the opportunity to have another tree to display the many handmade treasures collected over the years. Look for the upside down tree in the entry to Berry Manor Inn.

When asked about some ideas for holiday decorating with a Victorian flair, Cheryl Michaelsen has plenty of advice, ranging from mantles of the mansion to tree décor.

Tips for Victorian Decorating:

• Cover the top of the mantle with boughs of greens. Cluster and arrange pineapple, oranges, apples, pomegranates and berries or grapes to create beautiful color. Use boxes or styrofoam (hidden by the greenery) to arrange the fruits at different heights. Embellish with pearly beads, tassels and ribbon.

• Set up a grouping of five to seven like-colored pillar candles on assorted blocks of wood at different heights on the mantle. Wrap greens around them and lay white lights throughout the greens. Concentrate the string of lights through and around the candles to create a glow of light. This is particularly attractive if you have a mirrored mantle or place an antique mirror on the mantle behind the candles.

• A beautiful simple mantle arrangement can be created by displaying gold-sprayed pine cones set on greens with white lights mixed throughout. For a monochromatic display, lay gold lamay ribbon across the top with assorted loops and dips, or add several gold cherubs set in amongst the green. For a burst of color add a grouping of red cardinals, peacock feathers or a spray of silk roses off to one side of the mantle.

• You can create a beautiful Victorian Christmas tree with garlands of pearls, silk roses, feathered birds, clip-on candles and a predominance of burgundy, pinks and cream reflected in the bulbs and repeated throughout the design.

• Don't pass up the front stairway as an opportunity to show off Victorian decor. This is often one of the first things guest see, and offers the perfect setting for your garland, thick burgundy ribbons, greenery and ornaments.

BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS AVAILABLE.

Berry Manor Inn is a premier inn on Maine's Midcoast. Voted the #1 inn in Maine in the Best of BedandBreakfast.com Awards and the only AAA-rated four-diamond historic inn on Maine's Midcoast, this is the perfect place for a romantic getaway. Visit http://www.Berrymanorinn.com for more infomation.

The History Of Christmas Trees

Writen by Enid Edginton

You may not realize this but the history of christmas trees did not begin in America, England or even Germany. In fact America was one of the last continents to catch on to the tradition of decorating the Christmas tree. The history of christmas trees begins long before the birth of Christ and even before the Egyptian civilizations.

Many historians and anthropologists agree that the history of christmas trees begins in post-primeval times, just as agricultural societies were developing across the globe. Christmas did not exist. It was simply, in one culture or another, a pagan celebration of the winter solstice. The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year which usually occurs on the 22nd or 23rd of December. The boughs of evergreen trees were brought indoors to protect inhabitants from the evil spirits that could cause starvation and illness.

Ancient peoples also scattered evergreen boughs over their floors, doors and around the windows. In fact, the tradition of hanging an evergreen garland comes from the tradition of hanging evergreens over the mantelpiece to keep witches, ghosts and spirits from traveling down the chimney and into the house.

Evergreen boughs were also used to keep away illness. Scents such as pine, juniper and balsam are still used by aromatherapists today to fend off illness and winter depression.

Even the ancient Egyptians were thought to play a role in the history of christmas trees. Of course there were no evergreen forests in ancient Egypt but during the solstice they filled their homes with palm rushes to protect themselves from evil and celebrate the return of their Sun God Ra.

European and Mediterranean cultures also have episodes in the long saga that is part of the history of christmas trees. On the solstice, known as Saturnalia, the Romans decorated their homes with evergreen boughs. This honored the God Saturn whose domain was agriculture. Further north, the Celtic Druids used evergreens on the darkest day of the year to symbolize eternal life. These trees were not decorated as we know them today. They were not much more decorative than the famous Charlie brown christmas tree. This is because the function of these evergreen boughs was more protective than celebratory.

By the 12th century indoor trees were brought inside. Nobody is sure why but originally Christmas trees were hung upside-down from ceilings at Christmastime. This was a popular custom in Central Europe. The upside down tree was seen as both as a symbol of Christianity and a pagan symbol. At that point Christianity was not wide spread and the tree may have been a nod to both pagan and Christian traditions.

It is widely believed that the history of the Christmas tree as we know it began in Germany in the sixteenth century. However few people realize that the tree was not brought inside and that in fact, the first decorated christmas tree was a pyramid made of wood. These German indoor pyramids were decorated with boughs and candles. Often jars of pickles were set on the steps. The pyramid shape was not a direct inspiration from ancient Egypt but rather, the triangular shape was thought to represent the three points of the Holy Trinity - the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The person credited with adding lighted candles to a real tree is Martin Luther - a German Protestant reformer who lived in the mid 1600s. The legend is that he was inspired to do so by the sight of stars in the night sky peeking through the limbs of an evergreen while he was on a walk.

The next big development in the history of christmas trees was tinsel. Tinsel was invented in Germany around 1610. At that time, tinsel was made of real silver and it tarnished easily thanks to the smoke from the christmas tree candles. Silver was used for tinsel right up to the mid-20th century when it was replaced by aluminum.

The history of christmas trees was non-existent in America until about the 1840s. They were sometimes displayed as curios in traveling sideshows. The christmas tree decorating ritual was considered sacrilegious for most of the 17th and 18th century. It was seen as a mockery of the sober celebration of the birth of Christ. In fact in 1659, people were fined for hanging decorations. This law continued until the 19th century when the tradition was brought more into common practice by German and Irish immigrants to the United States. The practice was also made more acceptable when Queen Victoria decided to make a right side up floor-to-ceiling xmas tree part of her décor in 1846.

One difference between European customs and American customs seemed to be that Europeans were more inclined to decorate their trees with food, cookies and candies (and even pickles!) whereas Americans were more into glitzy decorations. Also the European christmas trees tended to be shorter (three to four feet in height) while the Americans preferred their trees to be sky-high. Both cultures however enjoyed decorating their trees with garlands of popcorns and electric lights.

In the 1950s America saw the advent of the first artificial christmas trees. This event was celebrated by Charles M. Schulz famous fable about the Charlie brown Christmas tree. In this fable Charlie Brown is told by Linus, Lucy and Shroeder to go out and find the biggest flashiest aluminum tree to use as a decoration for their Christmas play. Instead Brown falls in love with the most pathetic tree ever and finds the true meaning of Christmas. You can buy a replica of this type of tree which is often called the "pathetic charlie brown christmas tree" online. True to the original cartoon, the tree boasts just one red Christmas ball ornament on a single bare limb.

The argument about which is better - a fake christmas tree or a real christmas tree still rages on today. The most recent development in the history of Christmas trees is the return of the upside down christmas tree, which is disapproved by the church just as it was in the sixteenth century. If history keeps repeating itself the next trend we will see in xmas trees is the ancient wooden pyramids that served as artificial trees in pagan times.

For more information on Christmas trees, visit http://www.o-christmas-tree.com - a year-round resource for all your christmas tree and decoration needs.

Cozy Or Crammed Tips And Tactics For Smallspace Holiday Decorating

Writen by Kate Sheridan

Too many Christmas decorations and too little space?

Even the most gaily decorated cozy spaces can leave you feeling cluttered and tense during the holidays. But you can fill any room, no matter how small, with relaxing Christmas cheer if you follow three key common-sense design principles: height, light and compact size.

** Let there be height!

In your small room, tuck away the large lamps and any furniture you won't be using until after the holidays. Opt for diminutive lamps that you can place on a mantle, a high wall shelf or atop a china cabinet. This banishes the dark corners and ceiling shadows, and makes your room look taller and wider.

Plan a ceiling-high ornamentation to draw your visitors' eyes upward. String a lighted garland, swag-style, all around the room. Fill your top shelves with glittery collectibles, or drape them with tinsel to capture and reflect the room's natural light.

Feeling really adventurous? Hang a small tree upside-down from the ceiling and decorate it from the top down! It's an eye-catcher that frees up floor space and is sure to break the ice at any holiday gathering!

** Downsize and double up

In smaller rooms and homes, choose smaller-sized holiday decorations, and use them in threes, grouped by color or theme or design. Miniatures of all kinds -- lightly beaded ornamental fruit, gilded globes, snow-splashed icicles -- are a time-honored Christmas tradition!

Instead of pillar candles and tapers, opt for tea lights and votives, grouped in interesting displays -- such as on an elegant little gilded mirror sprinkled with "snow" -- for dramatic lighting effect.

Forego the wide, room-dominating Christmas tree and instead, choose a wispy, antique feather tree, made vibrant with an overall silver, cobalt and glass theme, from ornaments to tinsel!

And if one tree is good, why not three tabletop trees and miniature ornaments instead? Set off their tiny lights and reflective ornaments with a number of tiny gaily wrapped packages under each tree!

** Lighten up!

Light in any small place is good ... reflective light to maximize the benefit is even better!

Banish the heavy, dark lampshades to storage for the season and use clear flame-shaped bulbs wherever you can to emit the maximum amount of light. Then enhance that light by decorating around it with reflective light:
* shimmering glass dishes filled with glass ornaments and tiny silver bells
* a silver three-tiered cake tray filled with a dozen glowing tea lights
* crystal wine glasses or punch cups glistening with silver and gold tinsel
* a set of three white taper candles on a plain vanity mirror, surrounded by half a dozen glittered pine cones
* a crystal punch bowl trimmed with tiny twinkle lights
* a brightly burnished copper teapot set amidst a set of three golden votives.

Buy a big box of inexpensive plain glass or plastic globe ornaments and be creative with glitter, sequins and iridescent beads!

Compact doesn't have to mean crowded. With a little imagination, you can stretch your decorating dollar to make your small space look luminously larger!

Enjoy!

Kate Sheridan is a Michigan freelance writer, photographer and homesteader whose writings on the fun and foibles of country living may be found at http://www.gardenandhearth.com/RuralLiving.htm.

Easter The Bunny And The Egg

Writen by Ronnie Kimball

Ever wonder why there's an "Easter Bunny"? Ever wonder why he brings eggs? And dyed ones at that!

The Rabbit and the Hare, because of their frequent multiple births, are long time symbols of fertility. According to pre-Christian fertility lore, long before Jesus Christ was born, the Easter Bunny, aka the Easter Hare, represented the new life during the Spring season.

Children of that era believed that the "Magic Hare" would bring them presents during the Spring festivals. Often, these presents were painted eggs, symbolizing a resurrection or rebirth.

In fact, the Egyptians buried eggs in tombs while Greeks placed eggs on top of graves. The Persians and the Chinese considered the egg to be a special gift at their Spring celebrations.

As part of a gift wrapping tradition, different cultures decorated eggs by either dying them or wrapping them in different types of leaves.

In 1880's Germany, Easter eggs were substituted for birth certificates. The egg, dyed a solid color, had the recipient's name and birth date etched into the shell.

Later, during the Christian period, many eggs were dyed red. It's believed that this was done to honor the blood that Christ shed.

In England, children rolled eggs down hills on Easter mornings as a game. This signified the rolling away of the rock from Jesus' tomb when he was resurrected. This custom was brought to the New World by British settlers.

And now, in present times, the tradition of the Easter egg roll, or hunt, continues on city hall and church lawns. In Washington, D.C., the annual Egg Roll is sponsored by the wife of the current President for children at the White House.

So, as a Latin proverb goes, "All life comes from an egg." And, in the words of a famous T.V. commercial: "Cluck! Cluck! Easter Bunny!"

Happy Easter!

MORE ABOUT THE EASTER BUNNY

http://www.holidays.net/easter/bunny1.htm

SEND A VIRTUAL EASTER BASKET

http://www.billybear4kids.com/post/basket/maker.htm

HOW TO DYE EASTER EGGS

http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/easter/food_color.htm

==================================================

Ronnie Kimball lives in Nashville, TN. with his wife and son. He has recently released his uplifting cd, REACH HIGHER, on MRB RECORDS as a solo artist. He's also a co-publisher of the REACH HIGHER newsletter. For either, go to: http://www.reachhigher.com or contactus@reachhigher.com

==================================================