Free Halloween Games For Young Spooks To Enjoy

Writen by Gail Leino

Halloween is a great time to put a new twist on favorite games that are reliably fun but affordable to. These Halloween party games can be done for minimal cost and effort, or free with things that are commonly found right in your home. For example, instead of playing musical chairs, play Black Cat Boogie. Take a tape player or CD player with some fun boogie music for the kids to walk/dance around to. Tape spots down on the floor (maybe in the shape of pumpkins, ghosts, or witches hats) and then one spot that's a black cat. There should be one less spot than there are children at the parties. Select a "leader" to start the game. The leader is responsible for playing the music and deciding when it will stop. Kids will move around the circle stepping from spot to spot during the time the music plays. When the music stops, the child standing on the cat becomes "out" and is the next leader. Continue playing until most children have a chance to be the leader.

Scavenger hunts are also a lot of fun for Halloween party ghouls - young or old, this one is called Skeletons and Pumpkins. Before the guests arrive, create 15-20 bones and 15-20 pumpkins out of construction paper (or on the computer) and hide the paper bones and pumpkins throughout the party area, Divide the guests into two teams and assign them a search target. See which team can find the most pumpkins or bones within the allotted time. That team wins. If this seems to easy for the age of your party guests, make it harder by turning out the lights and give each team one flashlight. Then, have the guests search for their items using only the light of that flashlight. Feel free to make the search items out of other materials besides paper if you have the time and budget. Clay bones, real miniature pumpkins, etc. will make it more difficult to find in a short amount of time as they become part of the party decorations.

Have fun at your Halloween Party!

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies (http://partysupplieshut.com), using proper etiquette, and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free coloring sheets, printable games, and free birthday party activities. Halloween Party Games (http://halloween-party-fun.com), party planning tips, decorations, costume ideas, recipes, printable activities and free coloring pages.

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Christmas Party Decorating For The Holiday

Writen by Gail Leino

A Christmas party is an amazing get together for all of those that love what the holiday stands for. Peace, love and good wishes make this a great time to pull together a party that will knock their socks off. But, one element of the party that many do not do enough to honor is that of the decorations. There are many things that you could do to make this a truly amazing Christmas party just by paying attention to the details of the actual party's look.

For example, we all know that a Christmas tree is almost a must at any Christmas celebration. But, why not put a theme into that tree? A tree that is decorated in all gold is a nice touch as is one that is decorated in all silver. You can have a theme of only old fashioned ornaments or just candles on the tree. Yet, the Christmas party needs additional decorations besides the tree too.

Your table-scape is the ideal place to make your true Christmas party come to life. Here, you can dazzle your loved ones with a beautiful gold table cloth and top it with beautiful glassware. Then, put a centerpiece into the middle of the table such as a small tree, flowers in the red and green colors or even a few beautiful candles. Tie a ribbon around the chairs that are seated at the table to dress them up as well.

Don't forget the fun decorations as well. There are plenty of fun things that you can add to a Christmas party to help you to create a fun and enjoyable atmosphere. From window decorations, to candles for tabletops and even door chimes to announce your guests, there are plenty of great things that you can add to your home to dazzle it up for your Christmas party. When you do this, you are sure to make it even more amazing than they thought it could be.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Christmas Party planning tips, recipes, games, printable activities and free coloring pages.

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The Gingerbread Nightmare

Writen by Valerie Garner

Do you ever see those beautiful gingerbread houses during the holiday seasons that are so beautiful? They look so simple, and look like such a fun project to do with the kids making gifts for grandma and grandpa. I could just feel it... soft Christmas music in the background, the warm, spicy smell of gingerbread filling the air, the cozy warmth of the fire on a snowy day, and my children and I building these luscious goodies sure to bless our family and friends, and all inexpensively as well.

That was the fantasy. Where was my mind? How could I forget about the little thing we call REALITY? Ever notice how professionals make things look easy? That's the very mark of a professional.

The first reality check was the store. Money was very tight and these looked like a great way to give a quality to gift to several loved ones. After we did the shopping for the candy and the ingredients for these gingerbread houses, the bill totaled nearly $75. I almost fainted. (We could have bought some great gifts with that, or even bought beautiful gingerbread houses).

As for Christmas music, the children insisted upon the Chipmunk's Christmas carols. Have you ever listened to more than 1 chipmunk song at a time? Have you ever noticed what that does to a brain?

The fire was nice, but then we had the fights over whose turn it was to stoke the fire. Two boys can fight over anything, and anything involving work makes a worthy fight indeed.

We started with the dough, and that part turned out! It was SO delicious…..in fact we had to make more because after all of us eating dough, there wasn't enough for the houses. So….back to making more dough.

This particular dough had to be chilled, then rolled, then you cut pieces of the house out from a paper mold with a knife. Ok, got that part. We put it in the oven for baking, and half of the pieces burnt terribly. The other half were perfect, but you can't build a house with half the parts. So…..we had to make MORE dough. By now, we're not having fun anymore. It's getting late and mom is beginning to want to get this mess cleaned up now.We finished making new house pieces and it was like midnight, I had long put the children to bed and was cranky now at this point. The only thing to do now was to let everything cool (including tempers), and attempt the decorating tomorrow.

Whew….new day, it's a wonder what a little sleep will do ya. Now we make the hard frosting that will act as glue to hold the pieces of the house together, time to build. Time for the fun to begin, boy are we ready!

We begin assembling the house, and half the roof piece breaks in two on one of the houses. On the second house, we find the pieces to not match correctly. On a third house, we overcome all these first two obstacles, and now have great difficulty getting props to hold the house together while the "glue" dries, and it's repeatedly falling apart and causing the oldest child to have a temper tantrum in frustration (mom too). Somehow through this fiasco, we end up with 1 viable house. (The others became, hard dog biscuit type things for the family pet).

Oh well, she needs her Christmas goodies too, right?

We frosted the house and each child decorated half. The end result? A $75. UGLY gingerbread house that only a grandma (with apologizes from mom), would take and not be too insulted by. But, we did accomplish one of our goals... it was a memory. A memory we fondly call "The Gingerbread Nightmare".

By Valerie Garner, mother, grandmother and candlemaker / owner of Joyful Designs in Soy. She enjoys writing on a variety of topics in a warm & engaging style. http://www.joyfuldesignsinsoy.com

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The Best Gift You Can Give Yourself For The Holidays

Writen by L. John Mason

Personal Survival: The Holidays are coming!

Are the holidays stressful for you? Do the people around you seem to "freak out" with Holidaze chaos? Would you like to be in control of your levels of stress before Christmas hits?

Ask yourself these questions: Does traveling to Holiday events create stress for you? Do people in your family (or at work) act a little crazy and even annoying during this season? Do you enjoy over eating (or drinking) with people you have avoided all year long at these seasonal celebrations? Does the season get "expensive" for you? Are your expectations of joy and happiness ever miss their mark?

Consider the best gift that you can give yourself is time for stress management. Time, What time? Well a program of regular stress management will actually save you time! Your time savings will come from:

A.) Requiring less sleep (and the sleep you do get will be deeper and more restful)

B.) You will be able to concentrate better and so make fewer mistakes (that require time to repair)

C.) You will be able to communicate more effectively and so get more done in less time

D.) You will feel better and have more energy

E.) You will be better able to control your appetite and your response to your family's craziness (or cope better with your expectations of happiness that may not be met)

F.) You not have to medicate yourself with alcohol or drugs to survive your Xmas anxiety

This gift of self-care will actually be the best gift that you can give your friends and family. They will have one less crazed person running through their lives. Better still, you will be the best role-model for your family and friends. (They need a "healthy" role model.)

Self-care would include a regular program of exercise, sensible diet (moderation,) and daily relaxation. The best relaxation for self-care "newbies" is to listen to a guided relaxation (on CD) that will help you concentrate on relaxation for 15-20 minutes. With a little practice this will feel great, help you to rest/sleep better, and save you time/energy.

Don't wait for New Years to make the resolution to practice self-care. You will need it to survive the Holidaze!

Remember you can not control the way other people behave or respond during the holidays, but you can control the way that you respond.

Please take good care of yourself. Enjoy the Holidays.

L. John Mason, Ph.D. is the author of the best selling "Guide to Stress Reduction." Since 1977, he has offered Executive Coaching and Training.

Consider a gift for yourself of stress management! Visit http://www.dstress.com/classInter.htm for information. or

Please visit the Stress Education Center's website at http://www.dstress.com for articles, free ezine signup, and learn about the new telecourses that are available. If you would like information or a targeted proposal for training or coaching, please contact us at (707) 795-2228.

If you are looking to promote your training or coaching career, please investigate the Professional Stress Management Training and Certification Program for a secondary source of income or as career path.

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The Christmas We Had To Make

Writen by Sally Taylor

When I was about five years old my grandparents bought a home in Florida to spend the winter months away from the hostile winters of the north. My parents decided that it would be fun to escape the frigid Michigan winter, too, and visit them for Christmas that year. While we were all very excited about the trip, Mom and Dad secretly worried that Christmas would be spoiled for my sister and I without the white blanket of snow that always accompanied Santa's visit. With true pioneer spirit, we braved the journey into the world of warm weathered Christmas's with the faith that Santa would still find us in the land of sunshine.

My grandparents had not transported their Christmas decorations yet and had waited even to get a tree until we arrived. I overheard my Mother and Grandmother talking. Mom was a bit upset about the lack of decorations but Grandma just told her "Never mind Dona, it will give them something to do." I didn't understand what she meant, and am not sure if my Mother did at the time either, but it wasn't long before we both found out.

The next day my Father and I took a walk into the woods nearby the house. We picked out a great little tree, cut it down and dragged it back home behind us. We then all packed up and went to the Gulf coastline which was only a short drive from their Fort Myers homestead. There the whole family experienced the fun of collecting seashells for the first time. There were more kinds of shells than I could have ever imagined existed. My little bag was stuffed with perfect and beautiful specimens as we headed for the car to return home. What an exciting and wonderful day it had been.

Back at home, there was still much more work to do. We painted, glittered, and glued the shells transforming them into festive ornaments for display on the beautiful little pine. Bowls of popcorn and cranberries were turned in to garlands and wrapped around the branches. A glittering golden starfish was placed on top. Though I never wondered about this phenomena in my younger years, a box of tinsel just happened to be handy to put a final touch to the little tree that had been transformed into a family created work of art.

Christmas morning we all sat at the table eating our traditional Christmas breakfast of sausage, orange slices, and graham muffins before opening gifts. Santa had found us just fine and we children were impatient to get the meal over with. Gathered around the tree after breakfast, we all admired the work of art we had created as we passed around the presents. No one seemed to notice that outside there was green grass instead of a blanket of white. The snow was never missed.

For a child, Christmas is a special time of year every year, but looking back to my childhood, I only really remember one Christmas in particular with any clarity. I remember the Christmas in Florida that didn't just happen. We had to make it.

©2005 Sally Taylor: Sal is an avid gem and treasure hunter, explorer, writer, and is the owner of http://www.rockhoundstation1.com

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Eat A Healthy Christmas Dinner And Stay Slimmer

Writen by Vikki Scovell

Well we are getting into the festive season now, and it seems that you have a love/hate relationship with it. However much we love it, everyone is concerned about the damage that will be done to their healthy living plans, especially with the sports facilities closed for such a long time. I have had so many requests to continue with my Christmas survival ideas, so this week; here is the low-down on Christmas dinner;

The original Christmas dinner has the potential to be a brilliant nutrition-packed meal, with its emphasis on low-fat turkey meat and lots of tasty vegetables. So why is it that the average Christmas dinner seems to contain almost an entire day's calories? If you go for the turkey, roast potatoes, bacon, vegetables, pudding with brandy butter, and a couple of glasses of wine you are looking at around 1400 calories and 56.8g fat. Many people will bump it up to 2000 calories or more, with the addition of larger portions, seconds, sausages, more wine, and chocolates. So how can we turn this binge into a healthy feast?

Well, many of the essential ingredients of a Christmas dinner are bursting with nutrition;

The Good:

• Turkey meat is rich in iron, zinc, phosphorus, potassium and B vitamins, and also contains an ingredient to boost the happy hormones in your brain. Turkey is naturally low in fat; the darker meat is slightly higher in fat, but also rich in iron. Remove the skin and consume half the amount of fat.

• I think the second yummiest ingredient has got to be the roast potato. Potatoes are fabulous, providing us with energy, potassium, and vitamins B and C. If you want them to be healthier, then leave on the skins when you roast them to boost their vitamin and fiber content. Instead of drenching them in oil, invest in an olive-oil spray, and spray lightly before roasting. When you serve them up, don't go wild, exercise restraint. If you are super-virtuous, then have boiled spuds with olive oil and chopped chives, baked potato or roasted sweet potato- start a new tradition!

• There is no forgetting the sprouts. These humble vegetables are bursting with goodness; powerful cancer-fighting ingredients, vitamins, minerals and fiber. Treat them kindly and steam them rather than boiling the poor things to death. If you feel like experimenting, then roast them for 30 -40 minutes in a little olive oil, give them a shake half way, and add some flaked almonds. Roasted sprouts are milder and sweeter - give them a go!

• Make sure that all of your other vegetables are lightly steamed, this keeps in the wonderful beneficial nutrients, try; carrots, rich in antioxidants, green beans, peas, little sticks of swede, or make a cauliflower mash by steaming a head of cauliflower and mashing with some wholegrain mustard.

The Bad:

• Streaky bacon, at 6g of fat and 90 calories per rasher (eek), wrap it around a sausage, and you are bumping up that cholesterol and fat even further. Why not leave out the bacon and sausage, or choose low-fat Quorn sausages instead of regular ones.

• Mince pies and Christmas pudding are rich in minerals and some antioxidants because of the dried fruit content, but they are high in fat and sugar. Buy a small Christmas pudding so that everyone can have a nice portion, but it isn't hanging around afterwards for seconds and snacking. Just one mince pie and a slice of Christmas cake can add 460 calories and 18g of fat- ouch! Why not make apple pies with a little mincemeat added for a change. Make a big fruit salad and put it in the fridge, then everyone can snack on this in stead of picking away at pies and pudding.

The Ugly:

• Well Brandy butter is basically sugar and butter with brandy added. It is packed with fat, refined sugar and cholesterol; thank goodness we only have it once a year. If you want to cut out some serious calories, you could have Christmas pudding with half-fat crème fraiche, which is a delicious addition to the sweet pudding, and so much healthier.

• Why does everything about Christmas have to be so big? Filling the house with JUMBO bags of crisps and peanuts, biscuits and chocolates will not do anyone any favors. All are high in fat, sugar or salt; easy to eat, and bad for you. Get some bags of clementines, and dried fruit and nuts, you will be hard pushed to pig out on shelled nuts because it takes so long to get into them! Resist the urge to buy bumper packs of things which will linger in the cupboard waiting to be munched.

• Sitting down in front of the TV after your lunch is the worst thing that you can do. If you want to beat the bulge and the bloating, then get the whole family out for some fresh air. A good walk will banish that post-dinner lethargy and stop the Christmas pudding from settling on your thighs.

Well I hope that this has given you some hope; there are so many good healthy foods around at this time of year, so place the emphasis on these, and resist the Bullying supermarkets attempts to make you buy enormous packets of Pringles and barrels of salted nuts. Eat, drink and be merry, but eat and drink the right things, and you will be feeling much more merry by January!

Until next time, take care and stay healthy!

Vikki Scovell BA(hons) PG DIP is a fully qualified Personal Trainer and Fitness Coach. She is a qualified Nutrition Adviser and runs successful Community Exercise classes. Vikki is a consultant in Healthy Eating and Exercise initiatives to schools in the independent sector and publishes School and General Healthy Living newsletters. To receive your free copy of her weekly newsletter email getfitter@yahoo.co.uk

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The Holidays Are Coming Do You Know Where Your Soul Is

Writen by Jen Louden

"Loving earth, work, one another, psyche - all these require unhurried time. Frenzied questing after the icons of modern life (speed, power, instant, more, bigger, unboundedness) devours time and injures the capacity to love. The shy soul is driven inevitably into hiding where she yearns for a time when men {and women} had time to love. The failure to find time for soul is the essential tragedy of our time."

-Russell Lockhart, from When Men Had Time to Love

It's almost holiday time. Do you know where your soul is?

Have you asked soul what she wants to do and feel during the upcoming months? Can you give her lots of time to respond? (A thirty-second check while in line at the bank doesn't work so well with soul).

And after asking, would you be willing to honor what she has to say?

This is such a tender, heart-open-wide time of year. Simple things like the blood orange and lime yellow leaves wiggling outside my window and the sound of our heater coming on bring tears to my eyes. A deep yearning to nest, to deeply connect with those I love, to know soul comfort as well as I know the curve of my daughter's smile, simmer in me.

A spiritual longing breaks through the surface of my life and catches my heart. It is a radiant song that I can't quite hear the lyrics to. I want to stop and listen but instead I find myself emptying the dishwasher, sweeping the floor, making lists, sorting Aunt Edna's silver. Perhaps the barrier between this longing and our daily lives grows thinner during the holidays. All that is required to cross the border is courage and stillness, and perhaps a friend for support. We are entitled to "to feel ourselves beloved on this earth" as the writer Raymond Carver wrote shortly before his death. Yes, dear ones, we are.

Once I asked my young daughter what she wanted the holidays to look like and she said, "Games like hide-and-seek and sleeping giant and everybody just being together, and you know, I would like just a few presents."

How strong and sincere it feels to live soulfully during the days of darkness and glitter, yearning and connecting. What does that mean specifically? To live soulfully, I:

Stop and pause OFTEN to ask, "What do I really want to do?"

Question every "I have to" especially the ones that seem so IMPORTANT. Look at my real reaction to each invitation and each inclination to get this or that.

Watch for bodily sensations of feeling hurried, panicked, or pressed upon, and using these sensations to wake me up to what I'm thinking and doing, and is there another choice I would rather make? Basically, I'm learning there is no real reason to be freaking out over when or where to buy the Yuletide tree.

Remind myself the only thing that really can't be replaced is time with those I love: my seriously ill Dad, my daughter, my sister, my mom, my husband and you know, they just want peace, laughter, and a little sleeping giant game once in awhile.

I'm letting the rest go, gently, gracefully, and with a good guffaw at all my shoulds.

What does your soul want for the holidays? They'll be here before you know it and now is the perfect time to check in with your precious self.

Jennifer Louden is a best-selling author of many books, including The Woman's Comfort Book, Comfort Secrets for Busy Women, and soon-to-be released, The Life Organizer: A Woman's Guide to a Mindful Year. She's also a creativity and life coach, creator of the Inner Organizer and a columnist for Body + Soul Magazine. She leads retreats on self-care and creativity around the country. Visit her world at: http://www.comfortqueen.com and http://www.jenniferlouden.com

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10 No Cost Valentines Day Gifts

Writen by Adriana Copaceanu

Valentine's Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate those we love, and money should not stay in the way of it.

Here are some Valentine's Day gift ideas that won't cost any money.

1. Surprise your partner with a new set of vows, complete with a lovely candlelight dinner. Take care of all the details before the actual day, so you can be relaxed and enjoy it too.

2. Window-shop for your dreams together: go "house hunting" for the perfect getaway cottage...mountain cabin...or even your first house. Those dreams will become a reality sooner than you think.

3. Bake some heart-shaped cookies or fudge: this one is really easy, and if you have kids, you can involve them as well.

4. Create a list of "100 reasons I love you" and present it nicely wrapped and tied with a red or pink bow.

5. Read love poems/stories together.

6. Share romantic greeting cards that you made: these can be adorned with silk, hearts, pressed flowers, or a nice drawing by you, if you have the talent.

7. Leave love notes in unexpected places. Suggestions include on the bathroom mirror, in the fridge, under his pillow, in his checkbook, or any other place you think he'll come across during the day.

8. Find a babysitter for your kids and have a picnic in the living room.

9. Say "I love you" for 12 entire months with a coupon book filled with favors that she can redeem throughout the year. Choose a different favor for each month of the year that she can redeem on any day of the month. Suggestions include a foot massage, a back rub, cleaning up after dinner, a night out alone, etc.

10. Prepare a romantic spa evening at home: run a hot bath, add some bath oil, and some of your partner's favorite music. Don't forget a sensual massage and some home made chocolate treats.

Enjoy your Valentine's Day!

Adriana Copaceanu provides people with creative gift ideas that don't blow the bank. You can find Valentine's Day Gifts at http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com/. Sign up for Gift News her free monthly newsletter to receive reminders on gift-giving.

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Job Seeker Holiday Blues

Writen by Mark Baber

As the holidays descend upon our familys and loved one, those of us without employment, or those who are underemployed yet motivated into a job change, feel the pang of the failed job search more keenly than at other months of the year. Sometimes, if our job search has been more intense or focused or spread over a long enough time-frame, we can begin to question our personal value, especially if we've had a few job interviews that went well but then went away, or we had little or no significant response to our resume or mail or telephone outreach to prospective employers. Disappontment can mount.

The blues can set in, and if we're not careful, we can descend into an actual depression, whereby all efforts to obtain meanful employment seem empty, fruitless and a waste of time. Of course, it's not true, your organized job search efforts are of value, just as your skills and talent are of value too. It's an illusion of failure that we sometimes foster by concentrating on negative results; when, in reality, our concentration should be on the promise of our value to the right employer, not our results to-date.

There are some activities that job seekers can perform to help side-step the negative, descending cycle that leads to job search blues. For example, review the outline organization of your job search. Double check your resume. Does it convey what you want to present about yourself? Renew your understanding of the type of employers you seek. Check your list of employer prospects. Did you miss any? Can you improve on that list? Can you access additional library or internet resources that can improve your industry list? Are there other related or allied industries that you can consider that may open your job search to new employer avenues? What ways can you improve your outreach to prospective employers? Can you increase employer contacts by three or four or even ten new contacts weekly? By focusing yourself on the details of your job search outline and activity organization, you likely won't have time to think about what isn't going right, regardless of the time of year.

Holidays are often seasoned with high stress family interactions, celebratory expectations, demanding personal schedules that conflict with job search duties, and increasing financial pressures. But behind all the fan-fare and decorations and the distress they sometimes foster, there is a place of quiet determination and solid knowledge that there is a good employment match out there for each of us -- really -- maybe still just out of reach, but nonetheless just ahead and slowly coming into focus. Sometimes we have to put out an extra effort to find our next comfortable career home. Strive to be patient and remind yourself of your value to that new employer, and the confidence that employer will bestow upon you when you finally meet together will make the effort worthwhile. It will happen, if you stay focused and organized. Count on it. So when your emotions begin to tell you that your job search is getting tough, that's your reminder that you are closing in on your goal.

BEST OF LUCK IN YOUR JOB SEARCH

Mark Baber has 20 years experience as an Executive Search recruiter, with placement background in many industries, including: Retail, Manufacturing, Sales, Accounting/Finance, MIS/IT, Petro/Chemical, and others; enjoying client relationships with firms like WalMart, OfficeDepot, Texaco, CircleK and other national and international firms. Mark has written many articles and books on recruitment and other topics, like Marketing strategies, Sales psychology, Training and other business related subjects. He studied at the University of Texas, focusing on Communications, Marketing, and Journalism. Later became Managing Editor for "Treatment Today Magazine," a publication focused on psychology, psychiatry, counseling, and drug treatment. Mark Baber is Recruit Consultant to http://www.JobNewsRadio.com where Jobseekers can search 2 Million job transactions monthly, and can submit their Resumes Free and have them distributed freely to Employers they choose by industry, vocation, City or Region. Or submit your resume directly via: http://www.mcbaber.com

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All About The Artificial Christmas Tree

Writen by Rob Buenaventura

The very first artificial Christmas tree was nothing like the fabulous recreations of woodland beauty we see today. In fact, the first artificial Christmas tree was made by a company that manufactured brushes and of very unbecoming materials for a Christmas tree. Today's artificial Christmas trees are much more sophisticated and often include so many materials you really must read the full list of materials in order to know precisely what you are paying for.

It is important to know what your Christmas tree is made of, as it could become a matter of safety for you and your family. For instance, you would want to avoid trees that have plastic needles if you have pets or small children in the home as they could easily become choking hazards. It is a good idea if you have little ones that are prone to pulling ornaments off of trees to invest in one of the already decorated trees that have ornaments that can't be removed. This offers a somewhat childproof version of the Christmas tree. Purchasing a pre lit Christmas tree has many benefits, first among those is the saving of hair from unrolling string after string of lights in search of the one or two that actually work this Christmas, additionally, it saves a lot of ill will towards Christmas and humanity as you are trying to put together your Christmas tree.

The first pre lit Christmas trees to hit the market did so in the late 1970's. These earlier versions came with a base that rotated a color wheel that gave the illusion of light dancing along the branches of the tree. These types of retro color wheels are still available for those of you who sincerely like this type of Christmas tree lighting. Modern pre lit Christmas trees are a far cry from the retro disco wheel type of lighting of its roots. Today's lighting is either made of fiber optics that extends to the very tips of the branches or with traditional Christmas light bulbs attached to the branches. The latter of the two lights tends to be the more affordable as well as more traditional.

Another popular Christmas tree today tends to be the white Christmas tree. These trees are a throwback to the 70's and can be found with fiber optic lighting and pre decorated with Christmas balls in one color or many colors. Fire resistant tinsel trees are also making a popular comeback for artificial xmas trees.

The best time to order an artificial Christmas tree is about 6 weeks before the Christmas season actually begins. This will increase your chances of actually getting the holiday tree you are hoping to buy without running the risk of your tree being out of stock. Also be sure to purchase your tree from a reputable company to be sure that your purchase will be protected.

Rob Buenaventura invites you to GetChristmasShopping. Looking to spice up your Christmas this year? Have you considered an upside down Christmas tree or know what it is? If not, check out our section on Christmas Trees at GetChristmasShopping.

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Decorating For The Holidays With Rope Lights

Writen by Anne Clarke

Many people love the fashionable and practical qualities of running rope lights above the cupboards in their kitchen. This is not only a beautiful addition that can do wonders for even the most drab or small room, but it also helps to guide you around the room if you don't want the flick the brighter main switch.

Rope lights are also appropriate for wrapping around trees, outlining the brim of patio umbrellas, hugging the railing of your balcony or deck and many other applications. If you are decorating with rope lights, it is always wise to plan out where you want to use them, and measure the length that you will need. Most rolls of rope lights are 30 feet each, but you can use connectors to join up to 5 of those strands. (Generally. Make sure to read the labeling of the specific brand that you have chosen!)

Most strands will have marks indicating where it is safe to cut. Cut the rope light with kitchen shears. There are few other tools necessary for installment. Rope lights are mounted using a mounting track or mounting clips. You attach the track to whatever surface you want to light, using strong adhesive or screws. If you want to go with the clips, then simply use small screws to mount them. Then you just push the rope lighting into the track or clips, and enjoy the soft glow. Never attach an adhesive directly to the rope lighting itself.

You can find red, white and blue sets if you are decorating with rope lights for the Fourth of July. There are many contemporary colors that look great on a dance floor or dorm room. Other softer colors give a refined and stylish glimmer to your household décor. The options are endless, simply pick the look you are going for!

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, recreation, education and décor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles about holiday design, please visit Decorative Rope Lights.

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One Rose Two Rose Red Rose Blue Rose

Writen by Justin Grover

On your way home from work you stop at the local flower and pick up a beautiful bouquet of flowers hoping to swoon the one you love. The florist asks you what color of roses you want. You stand there dumbfounded. You didn't even know that roses came in any other color than red. Trying not to sound confused you say red roses because the is all you know. The florist kindly prepares your bouquet and you go on your merry way. Little did you know that you missed the perfect opportunity make your significant other's heart melt.

Did you know, that every color of rose conveys a different message? If not then this article is for you. Let's face it, for guys, and even girls, it is hard to stumble with words trying to say something just right. There's a better way. Let roses do the talking for you. Below is a brief list of the rose colors and their meaning so you impress your loved one.

Red Rose – Romantic Love, Beauty, Honor, Respect – These roses are classic and can be given at almost anytime. With red roses the 'less is more' theory works well. A single rose may be more effective than a large bouquet depending on the situation. These are definitely a good idea for anniversaries, proposals, Valentine's Day and other such occasions. A red rose is timeless gift for her.

White Roses – Purity, Innocence, Happy Love, Silence, Symbol of Girlhood, Charm - White roses are elegant when given right but they are a flop when they are not. They are great decorations at wedding, gifts for a daughter or daughter in law, and they can be mixed with red roses for an interesting effect. They are also great birthday gifts. Don't use them to say 'I'm sorry'.

Dark Pink – Appreciation, Thank you - These are the roses you give to your secretary, co-worker and friends. They are elegant and beautiful but not very romantic. They say a heartfelt but not romantically interested 'Thank You' very well.

Light Pink- Admiration, joy, gentleness, tenderness, sympathy - These rose can save you a lot of time when that special someone is mad at you. They are a gentle touch that says "I love you and I think you are wonderful." They are also great to give to older people that you hold in high regard like your grandmother.

Yellow Rose – Friendship, Welcome Back, We've been thinking of you - Yellow roses are a great thing to give when someone has been a way for a while or if you just want to say "I'm thinking about you".

Orange – Enthusiasm, Desire - These roses are great for when you want to show that special someone how happy you are to be with them.

I've only included the basics so as not to confuse anyone; however, there are a lot more colors and even combinations of color out there. Once you've mastered these, try going out on a limb and giving different colors than those mentioned. You'll have all of the ladies impressed in no time, especially when you can tell them what it means too.

One final note, if this is too hard for you to remember or too subtle for you. There is a company called Speaking Roses that can print any pattern, words, or design right on the rose pedals them selves.

No matter what you want to say or how you want to say it remember roses speak silent volumes.

By Justin Grover http://www.10xmarketing.com>10x Marketing -More Visitors –More Buyer –More Revenue -- If you want to find out more about speakingroses visit http://www.speakingroses.com>Speaking Roses

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Halloween Cool Candy Treats

Writen by Michael Russell

There is nothing like the sight of opening up your door and seeing those darling little children standing there, waiting for you to put something into their little goodie bag that they'll enjoy eating once they get back to their safe warm home. So the last thing you want to do is disappoint these kids. The question is, how do you do that? Well, hopefully what follows will give you a decent idea of how to handle your Halloween treat dilemma.

Of course the easiest way to solve your candy problem is to go out and get the most popular candies that were ever made. There is a reason why they're so popular. Kids love 'em. We're of course talking about things like Hershey Bars, 3 Musketeers, Milky Way, Almond Joy, Nestles Crunch Bar and the like. You absolutely can't go wrong when you put these top sellers in somebody's goodie bag. And if you want to really bring some smiles to their faces, put a few different ones in. Yeah, it's expensive, but it's once a year. So get yourself three of four giant bags of candy. A great mix is a Milky Way, Nestles Crunch Bar and a Payday because they are all very different candies. This way if a kid doesn't like one kind he may like the other two. If you give him all chocolate and he doesn't like chocolate at all, well, he's out of luck. This way you're basically hedging your bets that he's going to at least find something he likes.

Another way you can go with your Halloween treats is to make your own treats. Yes, this is lot of work and has to be done days in advance, but can you just imagine the looks on the faces of these kids when you're giving them something home made? The only problem with this idea is that you're going to have to make sure you live in a neighborhood where everybody knows you. Why? Well, unfortunately because of the world we live in, it has become very dangerous to accept treats from strangers unless they are wrapped. Sad, but true. So if you live in a place where everybody knows your name, you'll be able to do this without having to worry about kids just throwing your treats in the trash.

Finally, you can go in a completely different direction with your Halloween treats. You can give the kind that kids don't eat. Believe me, they'll have plenty of sugar to get high on. One less candy bar isn't going to kill them. But, if you give them something different, they may just remember your treat above all the others. Some suggestions include money, like pennies or even nickels and dimes; small race cars that you get from a McDonalds or Burger King (you'll have to save up for a while to have enough); even pencils will do the trick for when they have to return back to school.

By using just a little imagination, you're sure to come up with some ideas that will make those little boys and girls very happy.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Halloween

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10 Tips For Writing Your Christmas Letter

Writen by Jen S Carter

I love the holidays! I love baking, shopping, wrapping gifts, finding and decorating the Christmas tree, and, I love writing my Christmas letter and hearing from friends and relatives from all over the United States. Don't let writing your Christmas letter be a chore; here are some tips to make it fun.

10 Tips For Writing Your Christmas Letter

1. Write your Christmas letter with a friend, your spouse, or your sister. It's more fun when you share memories and laugh and cry about the year that's gone by. Drink cocoa and have some Christmas cookies while you work.

2. Use a word processor to make corrections and revisions easy. Use of a spell checker makes sure your Christmas letter will be perfect. However, if you don't use a computer, a hand-written letter is always wonderful to receive. Be sure someone proofreads it before sending.

3. Use special holiday paper that can be purchased at an office supply store. Or use colored paper and add pictures and borders. Use a pretty font and dress the Christmas letter up with some bold type or Christmas stickers.

4. Start your Christmas letter with holiday wishes and questions about your friends' and relatives' well-being. Tell everyone you miss them.

5. Next, describe your year. Don't brag! Both happy and sad events should be included. Tell a cute story or two. Keep the Christmas letter under two pages.

6. Then, send more wishes for wonderful holidays and a happy new year.

7. Sign your Christmas letter by hand.

8. Use a decorated or colored envelope and add a Christmas stamp and Christmas seals.

9. Include family pictures in your Christmas letter.

10. Mail your Christmas letter early.

So, grab a friend, heat up some cocoa, and start writing your Christmas letter today!

To create your own free personalized santa letters, visit free printable letters from Santa.

This article was submitted by Jen Carter, creator of the Letters from Santa Claus website.

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6 Secrets To Saving Time And Money With This Years Christmas Gift Shopping

Writen by William Wilson

You know the story – bustling crowds, empty shelves, and high prices. Christmas gift shopping isn't what it used to be. Just a few years ago, scrambling through the malls shopping for last minute Christmas gifts was exciting and fun. All the holiday decorations, bright Christmas lights, and festive carols enhanced the thrill of the holiday season.

Nowadays, tracking down that hottest-selling toy that little Johnny wants for Christmas, can be more like navigating your way through the "Perfect" storm. Long lines, irritable sales people, sold-out items, and high prices can sap the Christmas spirit out of the most professional of shoppers.

Well, all is not lost! There are a few secrets that can help you find your way through the Christmas gift shopping "seas" and into a calm, restful holiday port. Try these 6 Secrets to Holiday Gift Shopping this year and see the difference.

Try shopping the night before the big sale

Ready for the big Christmas sale on Friday? The secret is to shop the store the night before the sale starts, Thursday night in this case. Many retailers update their systems for the special sale discounts after 6:00 PM the day before the announced sale date. This allows you to take advantage of the lower sales price without fighting the crowds the next morning. Unfortunately, not all large retailers follow this practice, but it may be worth a special trip down to your favorite retailer to test it out.

Start your Christmas shopping early

This may not be a real shopping secret, but smart Christmas gift shoppers will tell you that this is the key to avoiding a stressful holiday shopping experience. Try shopping for the season's "hot" new toys and electronics in September and October. If the items aren't available yet, many retailers will put you on a waiting list. This assures you of getting the desired gift when it arrives. Also, large discount retailers will often run specials earlier in the season for these new items, to attract more holiday shoppers into their stores. Watch for these special sales early in the shopping season.

Don't be afraid to ask for unadvertised discounts

Don't hesitate to ask your retailer if there are any unadvertised discounts, special coupons, or sales going on that week. Many retailers offer special discounts for regular customers as part of their loyalty programs. You might have to sign up for the program, but the discounts usually make it well worth while. Over 55 years of age? Why not ask about a seniors' discount. Some retailers have an ongoing discount for senior members of the community, or have a certain day of the week where the discount applies.

Save money with "coupons" when shopping online

If you are doing your Christmas gift shopping on the Internet, check to see if there is a box asking for a coupon or promotional code before you click that "Buy" button. This is generally a tip-off that there are extra discounts available for that product. If you find such a box, write down the name of the merchant and the product code. Go to one of the coupon websites, like fatwallets.com or couponcabin.com, and enter the product information. If there is a special promotion for this item, it will give you the discount coupon code. Now you are ready to return to the merchant's site and make your "discounted" purchase.

Try making money while you do your Christmas shopping

If you do your shopping online, try a website like eBates.com which provides rebates on purchases made through their site. You can generally save anywhere from two to five percent of the purchase price. eBates offers members free shipping promotions and special offers from the more than 800 retail stores they represent. Some of the more familiar names include Target and GAP, so why not get paid for doing your holiday shopping?

Reward yourself for all your holiday shopping efforts

Don't you deserve a little reward for all the hassle you have incurred on your Christmas gift shopping spree? Of course you do! So why not consider gift items, such as perfume or cosmetics sets, where a special add-on bonus is given as an enticement for you to purchase the item. Often, a special collection of cosmetics or perfumes is provided in a unique carry bag as a bonus. Many people will give away the main item and keep the bonus item for themselves. Go ahead, you deserve it!

These Christmas gift shopping secrets will help you shop smarter and save you money this holiday season. So, why not try using as many of these as you can and see if you don't notice a little extra Christmas spirit sneaking into holiday shopping experience.

Find more Christmas gift ideas and shopping tips by visiting Traditional Christmas located at http://www.traditional-christmas.com, where you will enjoy helpful information about Christmas decorations, Christmas crafts and Christmas gift baskets.

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Christmas Goes Hollywood

Writen by Jeremy White

Are you a movie buff? A Christmas fanatic?

Who isn't, right? Well, you've come to the right place, because we're crazy about movies and Christmas, too. And, thankfully, there are some good Christmas movies out there ... the kind that put you in the holiday spirit year 'round, even during the dog days of summer!

In fact, there are so many great Christmas movies, so many memorable characters and wonderful story lines, that picking a handful of flicks that stand above the rest is difficult. But we're always up for a good challenge, so why shy away from one now? Hey, you don't have to agree with our picks, after all! Without further adieu, we present to you the five best Christmas films of all time:

A Christmas Story - Any discussion of the best Christmas movie can begin and end here. The classic tale of little Ralphie - who so desperately wanted a Red Ryder BB Gun despite the misgivings of his parents and teachers (and even a makeshift department store Santa Claus) - is the best Christmas movie ever made. There's a reason it's shown on television each year virtually non-stop for two consecutive days! "You'll shoot your eye out!" is one of the most memorable movie lines - Christmas theme or otherwise - of all-time.

Miracle on 34th Street - Santa Claus is real, and this movie proves it. You could argue this is the best Christmas movie ever made. We're not convinced it's better than A Christmas Story, but we grant you that you could make a good argument nevertheless!

Babes in Toyland - Few movies made in 1934 (or before) still capture our hearts. But Babes in Toyland features Laurel & Hardy, and when this pair of beloved comedians is involved, you can safely say the project is a hit. Babes in Toyland has been remade several times over the years, but we still like the original the best due to the aforementioned duo.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - Chevy Chase is one funny guy (at least he used to be!), and the Lampoon's Vacation series is comprised of many instant hits. They're all funny and memorable in their own ways, and Christmas Vacation is no different. Wayward cats, senile aunts, a scrooge-like boss and a cousin that can only be described as "eccentric" combine to help this movie bring a little humor to the Yuletide season.

A Christmas Carol - Speaking of Scrooge, no Christmas movie marathon is complete without his appearance, along with the ghosts that haunt him. Charles Dickens' novel is among the most beloved of literary classics, so why should the movie be any less popular? A Christmas Carol has been filmed numerous times for both the big screen and television, and most of them are pretty good. This story is too strong to mess up. So when you visit the movie store, take your pick.

Okay, okay. We know we left off your favorite, or maybe we included your favorite but left off another hit.

With so many choices, it wasn't an easy decision, but we gave it a shot.

Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented content. Learn how to truly light up your child's eyes this holiday season like never before with a letter from Santa.

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Christmas Youll Never Guess Whats The Number One Gift

Writen by Bernadette Dimitrov

The greatest Christmas gift is you! Yes, you are the gift. Giving is the act of generosity. It nourishes love in our relationships and builds the human spirit. Learn to give more of yourself whether it be helping, listening, giving acknowledgement, gratitude or thanks over the Christmas holidays. This is how we reinforce the presence of love in our lives. Where-ever you go you leave your energy, so leave the spirit of Christmas this holiday by giving the gift of you in caring ways. Extend yourself by doing more than you have to. Do it with a feeling of love and know it is a special gift from you over the Christmas period especially to the ones you love. It will make others feel extra special, appreciated and cherished.

A Fun Way To Give The Gift of You!

You could write onto a slip of paper for each member of your family a gift of your time for 1 hour to do whatever they like with total commitment of your attention and participation for their use at a time of their liking. Put your gift commitment of your time into separate envelopes. Now write each person's name on the envelope and place them on the Christmas tree. It's a gift like no other!

A Powerful Way to Extend Your Gift Giving of You with Your Children

Give of yourself to your children by giving them the gift of your acknowledgement. Children crave acknowledgement and it is a transformational gift. If you have been shy at giving acknowledgement to your children here is a wonderful way to express it. Write on a piece of ribbon "you make a difference" and pin it on them Christmas eve. This says that you acknowledge them in a powerful way. Many teenagers and children go through periods where they feel less than adequate especially during awkward growing up years. This is a great little reinforcement of your love, acknowledgement and support of them. This is a powerful way to give the gift of you to your children!

Visit 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 on how 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!' Creating fun and cherished memories for families!

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Control Holiday Stress

Writen by Debra Thorsen

As we head into the holiday season, I remind myself that this is supposed to be a season of joy. But for many of us, it is a season of stress.

I was raised in a typical American pseudo-Christian household that did all of the commercial Christmas things. The majority of my holiday seasons have gone like this: spend lots of money, worry if I bought everyone the "perfect" gift, eat a lot, drink too much, spend a lot of time in the kitchen cooking and cleaning, experience euphoria on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, followed by a big crash after the New Year. Then, I would tough it through the boring, blah winter months. Winter was always a let-down after the holidays.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? In reality, why should December 25 or December 26, 2005 be any different than any other day? It is just a 24-hour time period. Ideally, if we are connected to our source, every day is one of celebration and joy.

Some people love the glitz and glamour of the holiday season. Others despise the commercialization of the holidays. I used to roll my eyes and wax poetic on the corruption of sacred holidays. Geez, people get into debt, get stressed out, everything is for sale - "peace", "joy", "love" - I would rumble.

However, since I have changed my view from one of scarcity to one of abundance, I see things a bit differently. Now, I marvel at the abundance of gifts, decorations, food, etc. Wow! This is a really abundant world, I think. And, I can choose whatever I want from this holiday smorgasbord. I am free to leave whatever I want alone.

Why do some people see what they like and others focus on what they don't like? Well, it's all a matter of controlling your focus, thoughts, and emotions.

What is the best way to control holiday stress? Focus on what you want out of the holidays and ignore the rest. There are only a few things that we can control in life: Our thoughts and how we spend our time. Make sure that you are in control of what you focus upon and how you spend your time.

I have finally learned to stay grounded, centered, and peaceful during this time of the year. And when January 2nd arrives, I am no more or less energized or burnt-out than I was on December 2nd.

How do I do this? By remembering the following 3 things:

1) I am in control of my experience - I can choose all of my activities,conversations, and people who I interact with. It is possible to say "no" when I am invited to a holiday event that I don't really want to attend. I am in control of my schedule.

As the holidays approach, I spend some time meditating and refecting upon what experience I would like to have. This year, I want my daughter to experience the wisdom of all of the sacred holidays and the winter solstice. So, my husband and I are going to have fun celebrating lots of days.

I love getting a tree and decorating it and singing carols - these give me joy. I love baking cookies with my mom. I enjoy shopping for meaningful gifts on the internet. I enjoy spending time with friends. I will make one trip to the mall to see the decorations. I will pause to reflect upon the change of seasons. I will cook healthful meals, meditate, and exercise as I always do.

2) Joy and peace are inner jobs. Whenever something happens - an event or thought - that disturbs my peace and equanimity, I have an opportunity to explore what button has been pushed. A guru has showed up to show me how to maintain my natural state of peace and joy. Thank you! If I overextend myself and get too tired and cranky, I will get a reminder to slow down and rest. If I get angry at having to do something, this is a reminder that I missed an opportunity to say "no".

3) Every day is a celebration. I can experience joy without the hysterical holiday euphoria by counting my blessings every day and knowing that each day is a gift. As I celebrate these "special" days with my family and friends, I have a unique opportunity to express my love in focused ways. Remember: Choose joy. Make each and every day special. Make it a celebration.

Here is an exercise that will help you to avoid holiday stress. Spend some time reflecting on what you like and don't like about the holiday season. If you were to design a perfect couple of days or weeks, what would it look and feel like? Who would you spend time with? Where would you go? What holiday(s) would you choose to celebrate? Make this part of your daily intention setting and if you find that your current plans don't groove with your desires, then make a change now. Book that cruise, cancel unwanted travel. It is your life - do what makes YOU happy. You are not responsible for anyone else's happiness. If you are dreading a trip to the in-laws, then cancel it or cut it short. Practice Joy!

Find out how to break free from our crazy corporate society. Debra Lea Thorsen helps individuals create real wealth and happiness without 9 to 5 jobs. Visit Fearless Guides for free tips on career change and living without fear.

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Holidays More Gifts Of More Lasting Value

Writen by Jeff Herring

The Gift of Stories

Jimmy Buffet once sang, "Ahh, the stories we could tell." Each of us has a story we can tell that will comfort, guide or simply make others laugh.

Our stories make up who we are. And we all can learn from stories.

One of the reasons the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books are so popular is they tell stories that uplift, comfort and inspire. The greatest teachers in the history of the world taught by telling stories. Sometimes the greatest teachers/story-tellers are right in front of us, and we don't even know it.

The Gift of "Giving Away"

We've all heard it said that "it is better to give than to receive." Most religions of the world talk about the importance of giving.

Did you know there is a solid psychological reason for this? When you give something of your self away, especially on a regular basis, it teaches your brain that there is more than enough for you. Some call that feeling contentment.

The Gift of Perspective

Richard Bach wrote, "Perspective - use it or lose it." We so easily lose our perspective, which leads to majoring in minor things, which leads to frustration and feeling stuck.

The Gift of Mentoring

Mentoring is a notion that has received much attention in recent years. In its simplest form, all it really means is to show someone the way, to pass on some of your life experiences and lessons to others.

The Gift of Experience It has been said that "success comes from good judgment, good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment." Sharing the gift of your experiences can help others avoid the same mistakes you made.

The Gift of Wisdom

Every person I've ever met has his or her own wisdom to share with others. Just because you don't think yourself to be wise, that's called humility, be careful not to rob others of the gift of your wisdom. Each one of us is ignorant about something.

The Gift of Rest

My physician friends tell me that many physical ailments can be traced to lack of sufficient rest. Rest does not necessarily imply laziness or lack of motivation. It's a requirement for not only the body, but also for the mind and spirit.

Three other guys and I once drove a car more than halfway across the United States, stopping only for gas, meals and other traveling essentials. The day after we got back, my friend's car just died. The mechanic said it was the result of not allowing the car to rest.

So, if even machines need rest, what about you and me? Give you and yours the gift of genuine rest this season.

The Gift of Memories

One of the most valuable and lasting gifts to give is pleasant memories. Think back to some of your favorite holiday seasons. Do you remember all the gifts you received that year, or are your memories of time spent with family and friends, of good times together?

Long after the gifts are part of a landfill somewhere, the memories you are making will be what abides. They are truly gifts that can last a lifetime.

Consider: What would it be like if you both gave and received each of these gifts this year?

Visit The Article Guy for more leading edge tips and tools for writing articles that bring you prospects, publicity and profits. You can also subscirbe to our monthly Article Empire Tips Newsletter. You are also invited to visit my Express-Start Article Writing Program for more information on the next article writing tele-seminar.

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10 Tips For More Meaningful Holidays

Writen by Barbara Hemphill

No matter how many lists you make, cards you send, gifts you buy, or packages you wrap, there will be things you intended to do this holiday season that won't get done. If you do manage to get everything done, but you're too tired to enjoy the season, everyone suffers.

Consider these tips to minimize your stress and maximize the meaning this holiday season:

1. Tamper with tradition. Dragging yourself through "we've always done it" rituals when they've lost their meaning, and you've lost your energy, does not contribute to holiday joy.

2. Begin the season by making a list - but don't stop there. Pick out the most important item, the second, and on down the list. Remember, a creative mind always has more ideas than the body can accomplish!

3. Use your calendar - not just for appointments with other people, but with yourself as well. If you plan to send cards, estimate how much time it will take to write and address them, and block out that time on your calendar.

4. Ask your family what's important. Prepared foods instead of home-cooked means more time for sharing new sports equipment and relaxing with friends.

5. Avoid perfectionism in gift-giving. It's the thought that counts. Choose one or two gifts that can be used for several people. A relaxed parent or hostess is a greater gift than anything money can buy.

6. Focus your energy. If your family isn't as excited as you are about decorating the whole house, invest your efforts on what means the most to you.

7. If the holidays bring pain because of death, divorce, or family far away, be gentle with yourself. Recognize that grief is a healthy and that next year will be better, even if you can't believe it today. Concentrate on making other people's holiday more joyful.

8. Take time out from total togetherness. Let your child call a friend and take a nap. Give your siblings the car keys and a map. The idea is for everyone to enjoy the occasion.

9. Be clear about expectations. If you never tell your family what you want them to do, it's unfair to expect them to know.

10. Look over your list, leave off what you can live without, and enjoy the real reason for the season.

© Barbara Hemphill is the author of Kiplinger's Taming the Paper Tiger at Work and Taming the Paper Tiger at Home and co-author of Love It or Lose It: Living Clutter-Free Forever. The mission of Hemphill Productivity Institute is to help individuals and organizations create and sustain a productive environment so they can accomplish their work and enjoy their lives. We do this by organizing space, information, and time. We can be reached at 800-427-0237 or at www.ProductiveEnvironment.com

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Free Birthday Games Ideas For Kids

Writen by Gail Leino

The internet is ripe with free birthday games ideas for those harried parents who are just looking for something to entertain the children. Well, a lot of ideas available are just the regular old school yard games like Red Rover, Red Rover and you may be looking for something a little different.

Question Those Balloons

For this game you'll need to fill up lots of balloons. This game is like your basic trivia game but with funny consequences if the player doesn't get the answer right. This game consists of two piles of balloons. Pile A will contain only balloons with strips paper with questions on them. Pile B contains balloons with strips of paper with funny instructions on them. As you are blowing up the balloons you'll slide a strip of paper into them and tie them shut. Just don't forget which balloons contain which strips of paper. To make this process easier you might want to color code your balloons, like red for question balloons and green for instruction balloons.

Players will take turns popping a question balloon and attempting to answer the question on the inside correctly. If the player answers the question correctly then they pass and can sit back down. If the player answers incorrectly then they must pop one of the instruction balloons and do what it says. You could have instructions like, 'hop on one foot while quacking like a duck.'

Pass the Present

In pass the present you'll need several small gift items, boxes and lots of wrapping paper. Take each item and wrap it in its own box. Make sure to put several layers of wrapping paper on each box. To vary the game a little you can have a different number of layers of wrapping paper on each of the different gifts.

When the game starts have the kids sit in a circle and hand out the gifts, but don't let them open them yet. You'll start up music and the kids must pass the presents they are holding to the person next to them. When you stop the music they stop passing presents and each child takes a layer of wrapping paper off of the present they are holding. This continues until the last layer is taken off and the kid holding the opened present gets to have the gift inside.

These two games will help add some fun to your child's next birthday party and certainly will keep the kid's occupied.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Free Party Games to help complete your event.

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Family Christmas Activities

Writen by Sandy Rajsic

That time of year is coming soon. Christmas that is. I love Christmas. My favorite part of Christmas is the excitement that the kids have. Children view Christmas as a very magical time. When I look at the excitement on a child's face, I know that it takes magic to put it there. In fact, I love a child's excitement so much that I try to do everything that I possible can to get more of it. I will come up with every family activity that I possibly can to get my family to the peak of excitement. So, here are some of my ideas.

In a previous article, I discussed the benefits of baking cookies at Christmas time. This has been a long tradition in my family. In this article, I would like to present some other Christmas activities for the family. Some of these may seem obvious. However, new parents may not realize how quick and easy some of these activities can be.

One of the most popular Christmas activities is crafting. Crafting covers a large area. The key here is to break down the crafts by age group and occasion. For instance, I have a toddler. For her, I would look for Christmas crafts that would include coloring and using a glue stick. You can find a number of activities for her on the Internet or at a crafting store. I have gotten some great ideas from an online book called "Christmas Fun Activity Book for Kids". It has pages to color, mazes, connect the dots, easier crafts and favorite Christmas songs.

The older children in the family, ages 7-10, like to create the crafts and then give them as gifts. Some of the items that they have made include candy holders, ornaments, gift baskets, cookie jars and other decorations. Crafting is a great opportunity for family bonding. When finished, the children are very proud of themselves. Creating these items really helps to build self confidence in a child.

Then if/when your child gives an item as a gift, the person getting the gift (i.e. Mom, Dad, Grandma & Grandpa) has an invaluable gift that they will display with pride every single year.

A great resource for crafting ideas and plans is a book that I found on the Internet called "The Ultimate Christmas Craft Collection". It has over 80 great craft plans.

Making Christmas dinner can be a family activity as well. For many families, Christmas is the most celebrated meal of the year. Including everyone in the preparations will be a great learning experience as well as a bonding experience. Each person can select some of his/her favorite recipes to include on the festive table. A good place to find recipes for traditional, non-traditional, and child-friendly dishes is a book called, "The Ultimate Christmas Recipe Collection." Some of the recipes include the traditional: baked ham, egg nog and fruitcake. Non-traditional recipes like baked oysters and basil-stuffed lamb roast. Child-friendly recipes such as macaroni and cheese, Christmas pudding, fudge and cookies are included as well.

Lastly, I love to read the children Christmas stories. Classic Christmas stories warm the heart. You can read them to a room full of guests or to a child while you snuggle under a warm blanket together. What a wonderful feeling. A great place to get stories is the "Traditional Christmas Story Collection". I hope that your Christmas season is full of blessings.

This article was written by Sandy. I am a parent who is concerned with giving my children the best start in life. Since my first child didn't come with a manual, I have found other parents' advice invaluable. I would like to pass on what I have learned and hope that other parents would like to do the same. I have recently been reminded of how important my family is and that my family should always come first. Please visit my blog at The Family Comes First. Hope to see you there. Sandy

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Its Time To Think About Christmas Gifts Be A Good Scout

Writen by Michael Nalbone

The holiday season comes and goes so quickly that it is easy to be caught off guard. Think like a Boy Scout & "Be Prepared" this year.

All too often we find ourselves unprepared for Christmas Day when we have known all along that it is where it always is, neatly nestled between Thanksgiving and New Years, during the last week of December. It always seems though, that we forget someone or something until the last minute and end up rushing around with all of the other crazy busy people on Christmas Eve.

There is an easy way to avoid this though. Account for the possibilities. What are you likely to forget? Who are you likely to leave out? Here are a few things you should keep on hand during the holiday season, whether in your car, the fridge or cupboard.

While you are doing your Christmas gift shopping, pick up a bunch of little things to have around as take-away or hospitality gifts. It could be anything from candy, to small trinkets or ornaments, or a box of candy. It's inevitable: an unexpected person will show up, and it's best not to be caught empty-handed.

Keep the refrigerator stocked with small dessert items or snack trays. This is good for when you are doing your holiday visiting. This way you can bring something with you to each place that you visit during your Christmas week. Stuff like apple pie or 'veggie' platters are great, because they can be used pretty much anywhere that there's a gathering of people.

Stash a couple bottles of wine in your car (unopened of course). You could even save a few bucks by buying a case or two at once. Some retailers will even offer a discount for a mixed case of different brands or types. Keep the wine in your trunk in case of last minute visiting hours. That way you are not running around like a nut at the last minute trying to find a liquor store that's open.

Don't buy individual Christmas cards for each of your co-workers. Buy a big box of cards at once and keep them in your car or briefcase. When you're dealing with a large amount of people such as at the office, it's easy to forget someone. Keep cards handy so you can correct any oversights before it seems like a slight.

Be a good Scout, stay prepared, and your holiday season will run more smoothly this year.

Mike Nalbone is the webmaster at http://www.ChristmasGiftOfTheMonth.com which offers unique, memorable Christmas gift ideas for everyone on your list.

This Article is © 2005 and may be reproduced or displayed solely in its entirety, unmodified, provided the above resource box is included along with an active (click-able) link to http://www.ChristmasGiftOfTheMonth.com

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How To Stay Thin Through The Holidays

Writen by Lynn VanDyke

It's snowing here in Pennsylvania. The snow has covered the ground and the roads are getting slick. The falling snow is a sobering reminder that it is about to get real cold in the northeast! Many people have decided to throw their diets out the window until the New Year. With Thanksgiving past and the more holidays soon to come, it almost seems pointless to try and stay fit.

But it is my job to tell you otherwise. Actually one of the best things you can do for yourself this holiday season is to pay attention to your diet and fitness program. I realize that you may have parties to attend and holiday cookies to bake, but that does not mean you are destined to gain the winter 5- the five pounds of fat most of us will gain this holiday season.

Here are a few helpful hints to keep you on track this winter. The overall secret is to simply keep your eating habits healthy most of the time. We will all have times that we indulge a bit more than we had planned. We will drink a bigger glass of eggnog or we will have an extra slice of fruit cake. All sorts of unplanned overindulgences can happen at holiday parties! It's almost a given.

The trick is getting over the guilt and getting back to normal. If you ate a bit more, forget about it and resume your normal diet. Skipping the next meal will not help you. It will actually hurt you. Your body does not understand the idea of banking calories or skipping meals for the sake of losing weight. Your body only knows that it must be fed every few hours or else it is not receiving the proper nutrients and glucose necessary for normal functioning. Eating every few hours keeps your blood sugar levels in check. Skipping a meal because you over indulged earlier in the day is not a smart idea.

On the reverse, if you know you are going to your holiday party at work and plan to eat until the cows come home, do not skip meals before hand. This is also considered banking calories and works against your metabolism. Once we set ourself up for failure, we can only fail. As soon as you begin to think about skipping meals so you can eat more later you are thinking about calories and weight, not nutrition and health. You are also mentally preparing yourself to eat a lot and lose control.

It would be more beneficial for you to eat regular meals throughout the day. This will leave you feeling satisfied and you are actually less likely to over eat at the holiday work party. Plan to succeed and not to fail.

Another way to be conscious of your diet through the holidays is to control your alcohol consumption. Yes, we all love our Kahlua and Cream, but drinking just a few of them can ruin anyone's diet. Be realistic and know that even your beverages contain calories.

Lastly, be your own person. While it is true that many people will indulge in holiday food and drinks, that does not mean you have to follow. Set yourself apart and get started or stick with a great and effective fitness and nutrition program. The yo-yo dieting method is well known and the excuse to overindulge during the holidays only fuels more unhealthy and unrealistic expectations. In the long run, it hurts you more than helps.

Stay the course, stay strong, join a community of like minded people, join your gym's fitness challenge, work with a personal trainer, meet with a nutritionist or simply search the web for some great ways to stay thin though the holidays. You will be glad you made it through the holidays without feeling guilty and without gaining an extra 5 pounds of fat.

Copyright 2005 www.strength-training-woman.com

Lynn VanDyke is the creator of A Step-by-Step Guide: How to Melt the Fat & Gain a Life. It is the only program that shows you exactly how to eat, exercise and succeed with life. The 400+ page interactive program comes complete with over 100 exercises, 130 daily menus, 63 ways to stick with it and loads more. Learn more by visiting: http://melt-the-fat.com

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A Brief Essay On Christmas

Writen by Emily Seate

Christmas is a time of renewal. A time when the best in humanity is called forth amid the safety of traditions. A time when it feels good to give, when grievances are abolished, when Heaven comes to Earth for a moment.

We tend to think of Christmas as a time for children, but what if Christmas gives each of us the opportunity to be the Child? To have wise men bring priceless gifts to us, to be held by an adoring mother and father while shepherds and other good folk admire us, to feel that everything will be okay...forever? What if Christmas is a chance to start fresh? Clean slate. New.

Instead of offering the New Year resolutions, we could give it our brand new selves. We could leave behind the mistakes, the regret, the hurtful words, all of it. Surely Christmas is a perfect time to start over, to make big changes, to do a turnaround. If we could see ourselves as the adored Child, we might remember our innocence.

This Christmas, I invite you to be the Child. Cradle yourself. Gift yourself from wise men and women. Start your life out the way you have always wanted, by acknowledging your bountiful gifts of spirit, with angels shouting from the glorious heavens that you, a very special human being, are reborn. Be close to the Earth in your manger, with a loving Father and Mother allowing the shepherds to come close (but not too close) to adore you. Include the animals in your rebirth, and realize with them that you are always loved.

Know that you are a cradled, gifted, adored Earth child, with a loving Mother and Father who are just a heartbeat away. Take this new you into the New Year, resolving to express your joyful new self to all you meet.

May Peace be your priority, Hope your foundation, Joy your birthright, and Love your gift.

Emily Seate is author of "Ah-mah," Book One of the HeartMind Chronicles. http://www.webeushouse.com/ She is also known for her books on the Fostoria Glass Company (Collector Books) http://www.fostoriacrystal.com/ Her books are available from her websites or from Amazon.com.

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Christmas Gift Ideas A Guide

Writen by Eric Morris

Christmas gift shopping is an event that has to be planned meticulously; otherwise, there's a chance that on Christmas eve you will find yourself scurrying from shop to shop, jostling with the crowd, buying the first thing you see without giving it any thought.

If you are in a last minute crunch, there are some "safe" gift options that will save the day-- not to mention face. A box of chocolates is always a safe bet, assuming the receiver has a fondness for chocolates. Similarly, an assortment of cookies is sure to please the guy or gal with a sweet tooth on your list. Colognes and perfumes are also a popular gift if you're having trouble deciding what someone might like. Just keep the scent subtle and buy what's "in" in the way of scents.

If you know the size of the person you are buying for, a blouse, shirt or sweater is always nice. Stick with basic colors, unless the person on your list has diverse tastes. Then, you might want to indulge them in bolder, more colorful attire. For the men on your list, ties, wallets, briefcases, mp3 players, and organizers are sure to please. For the ladies, jewelry, scarves, cosmetic kits, watches and gift certificates are popular gifts. Teens love receiving money or gift certificates so they can buy what they want, and children love toys and books.

Shopping for Christmas gifts is really an art, and given the time constraints we all seem to face and the number of family and friends that we have to buy for; making a list and a budget should make for a Merry Christmas for all.

Christmas Gifts provides detailed information about christmas gift ideas, christmas gift baskets, homemade christmas gifts, corporate christmas gifts and more. Christmas Gifts is the sister site of Online Gift Cards.

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10 Great Ways To Slash The Cost Of A Big Party

Writen by Gail Greenberg

First, don't be afraid to spend less. Readers of my book, MitzvahChic, already know that "chic" and "style" do not equal "expensive". Good taste…style…these are timeless and transcend matters of price. The simplest table decoration – if it's rendered with sincerity and a bit of aesthetic charm – is as authentic an expression of "chic" as the most expensive Paris couture.

So, this section should really be called How to Cut Corners and Still Give Everyone a Wonderful Experience. You don't have to compromise quality to save money, and, to prove it, I'm not going to give any silly suggestions like "have your party on a Monday and you'll get a slightly better price from the caterer". That's true. In fact you'll save a fortune because no one will be able to come! How expensive could it be to feed six people?

Here are ten of my favorite ideas for saving money – there are many more in MitzvahChic. Remember, you can always offer to barter in lieu of some cash. Have no professional skills to swap? Offer to do some work for the vendor; ask for a discount off your bill for whatever friends you send his way who actually hire him; give him time in your vacation home. On second thought, if you have a vacation home, why are you reading this? This material excerpted from MitzvahChic, a bar/bat mitzvah planning book featuring a wealth of party-planning ideas. See the book.

Your Biggest Costs

Food, liquor and music. They're the budget-busters. It's hard to find bargains on music and many hosts don't look for them because the musical leader – be it a DJ or maestro – really runs your party. That's a very important role you may not be comfortable economizing on. But let's look at some great ideas that will save you money.

1. Host a Joint Party

If you're planning a bar/bat mitzvah and faced with having two parties because you want an "adult" party and your child wants a big kid party, consider this. If your child has close friends who share pretty much the same social circle, organize the parents to throw one big party for all the bar/bat mitzvah kids at a fire hall. Then you can afford the best DJ, the best everything. On your child's actual bar/bat mitzvah day, have a modest adult party that includes your child's closest friends.

2. Pick a Hall That Doesn't Have an "Approved Caterer"

Many synagogues and even some churches require you to choose from a list of approved caterers if you want to use their auditorium for your wedding or other event. If your budget is modest and the list doesn't include a vendor who will work within it, you'll be forced to spend more if you want to use that room. Some communities don't have a lot of options, but think creatively and look around – you just need a big room somewhere. If you really want to have your party in your own synagogue or church and there's no budget-friendly option in caterers, organize like-minded congregants to talk to the administrators about adding a caterer who will enthusiastically work with modest budgets. Or perhaps even change the policy to let you bring in your own food. Then you can….

3. Organize Your Own Food

The least expensive caterer I know in my area (Philadelphia) charges a minimum of about $35 a person for a sit-down meal. Imagine how much great takeout food you could buy each person for that! Order trays from all the local restaurants: sushi, Chinese dumplings, gourmet pizza. Hire some college kids and local moms to take care of heating and serving the food.

4. Keep It Simple and, Perhaps, Exotic

Keep the menu simple. Have meatless dishes – you may save a little and you'll please all the vegetarians and people who observe religious restrictions. Have a different (less expensive but still quality) menu for the kids. Serve inexpensive and unusual ethnic foods. It will be a culinary adventure and no one will be able to determine if the food is cheap or not.

5. Let Them Eat Cake

Shop for a cake at your neighborhood bakery, not the local "bakers to the stars". They may have very nice designs but no budget to advertise them. If you're buying a cake, tell the caterer you don't want dessert – it's often served before the cake and the cake then goes uneaten. Best idea of all: buy pretty individual cakes and use them as the centerpieces – the culinary equivalent of "multi-tasking".

6. Buy Co-Op China

This idea is particularly relevant for parents planning a bar/bat mitzvah, as you usually know other parents doing it too. If you're planning to cater your own party, you'll need china, utensils and glassware. These are usually supplied by the caterer and can be costly to rent – if there's even a rental place in your area. Far better: get a group of parents together to buy one big set of china from a restaurant supplier and take turns using it. If you have no suppliers in your area, try www.centralrestaurant.com. Buy extra --- there will be breakage along the way.

7. Buy Your Own Liquor

There are many options in how you handle drinks at your party. You can have a simple wine, juice and soda bar or an expanded version where you have the set-ups and alcohol for the six-ten most popular mixed drinks. You do not need to offer a full-service bar to be considered a good host! Hire your own server. See if the wine vendor delivers, if he includes the use of wineglasses, and if he will allow you to return unopened bottles for a refund.

8. Make Decorations and Party Favors Yourself

Get your friends to help you – you'll have so much fun! Don't worry that they won't then be surprised by the décor when they come to the party. The thrill of an opening night is never diminished for the actors just because they've rehearsed it a zillion times. See the craft ideas on this website.

9. Having Flowers? Arrange Them Yourself

If you have a good eye, buy flowers in bulk and make the arrangements yourself. If you don't have a good eye, get potted flowering plants or get large bunches of one beautiful flower and place them in simple pots. Make simple topiaries by bunching one kind of long-stemmed flower together and tying raffia around the "trunk" of stalks to keep them upright.

10. Make Entertainers Do Double-Duty

If you're hiring entertainment in addition to the music, get someone who will create a giveaway, thereby eliminating the need for a separate party favor. At this writing, some of the hot entertainment/giveaway-producing ideas are the cast-wax hand sculptures; photo-booth buttons, magnets and magazine covers; or a tape of the guest singing karaoke.

MitzvahChic is the #1 bar/bat mitzvah planning book and website! Visit http://www.MitzvahChic.com and be sure to sign up for FREE planning reminder emails.

Gail Anthony Greenberg is a lifelong writer, editor and crafts artist. Born in a small town, into a family with no Jewish identity, she saw her first bagel when she attended college in Boston. It's a good thing, though, because if she had grown up attending a bar or bat mitzvah every weekend, she would never have asked the questions or formulated the approach known as MitzvahChic

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4 Low Cost Halloween Craft Ideas

Writen by Nicola Kennedy

There are many Halloween crafts you can make for very little cost. Some are quite popular and kids enjoy doing them over and over again. Here are some Halloween crafts I have seen done by children many times over the years:

Tissue Ghost – - Take a lollipop – the large, round varieties work best. - Cover the lollipop with a tissue or two. - Tie the tissue onto the lollipop with white string or yarn. - Draw a face on the tissue with colored markers.

Halloween Placemat – - Take construction paper – Halloween colors like orange, white and black are often used. - Cut out black cats, pumpkins or Jack-O-Lanterns, spiders, and ghosts – you can use an Ellison machine if you have access to one. - Take another piece of construction paper. - Glue the cut-outs onto the whole piece of paper. - Cover the entire creation with clear contact paper.

Styrofoam Spiders – - Take a large styrofoam ball – paint it black. Leave it dry. - Once dry, glue two googly eyes on the painted sphere. - Stick black pipe cleaners into the styrofoam for the legs.

Halloween Mobile – - Take construction paper – Halloween colors like orange, white and black are often used. - Cut out black cats, pumpkins or Jack-O-Lanterns, spiders and ghosts – you can use an Ellison machine if you have access to one. - Laminate or cover all the cut-outs with clear contact paper. - Punch one hole in the laminated cut-outs. - Take a paper plate. - Decorate the plate with Halloween colors, Halloween stickers, markers or crayons. - Hole punch 5 or 6 holes around the edge. - Tie the laminated cut-outs to the paper plate with black thread or black yarn. - Hole punch 2 holes in the center of the paper plate. - Tie a piece of black string or yarn through the two holes for hanging.

There are complete books of Halloween crafts that you can purchase or check out from your public library. You can also find ideas on the internet. You don't have to spend a lot of money to have an activity for your kids to do.

Nicola always enjoys Halloween parties with her family. Visit her Halloween site for tips and information about easy to make halloween costumes at Easy-Halloween-Costumes.Best-Halloween.com This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright Best-Halloween.com

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