Friday, July 30, 2010

Simple Things Can Make All The Difference

Down the street there are two small children, Jeff and Janet, who I sometimes watch after school. They like getting to come around my house during Christmas. They love that Christmas decorations are present in every room of the house. They get so excited when we get out our craft box. This year they came over while my daughter was making a Santa card for a friend's newborn baby. Janet hopped right next to my daughter and asked her if she could make a card too. Then Jeff looked up and asked, 'can I write a letter to Santa too'? Janet told us that they had never written a letter to Santa before.

My daughter Angela and I decided we wanted to help them make some really nice cards. We got out all the different paper they could use for their cards. Janet chose a deep red paper while Jeff picked a bright green with small red foil stars along the border. They both took their time deciding which colors of glitter and puffy paints to use. Janet wanted her card to sparkle and she covered the front in swirls of gold and silver glitter glue. Between the swirls she scribbled in Merry Christmas. Jeff used cotton balls to make snowmen on the front of his card. He really liked gluing on the seed bead eyes and nose. Then Jeff looked up and innocently asked how he could get a letter from Santa.

Angela told both of the kids that if they were good all year long and wrote a letter to Santa he would write them back. This had both of them so excited about sending their cards to Santa. Angela went to the closet to find some of her old letters from Santa Claus – she wanted to show Jeff and Janet some of the cards she had got in the past. They both sat still as Angela read a couple of the letters to them. After seeing Angela’s collection of Santa letters they wanted to work on the inside of the cards. Angela told them they should tell Santa what their Christmas wishes are. Angela told them that they could wish for anything and maybe Santa would bring it.

We finished their cards and found envelopes that their cards would fit into. They were so excited to get a letter from the North Pole. The rest of day all they could talk about was the cards they had made and the letters they were hoping to get. We made more Christmas cards and crafts for other people. Jeff and Janet couldn’t wait to show their mom and dad the cards they had made for them. It is so funny to me how the simplest of things can amaze small children. It is hard to deny the magic of the season when you see it light up in the eyes of a child.

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Sunday, July 25, 2010

Christmas Lights Add A Magical Touch To The Season


My little granddaughter gets so excited about driving around and looking at Christmas lights every year. The tradition started when she was just a baby. On a very fussy night when my husband and I were keeping her so her mother could do some Christmas shopping we decided we would try a car ride to calm her down. She didn’t fall asleep on the ride but she did fall in love with the glow of Christmas lights. I can still remember her stretching as far as she could in her car seat to watch the lights twinkle. To this day that is her favorite Christmas activity.

With that in mind, when my granddaughter was three she woke up one morning to find a gift from Santa on the front porch. She made movements in blurs as she quickly unwrapped the present. To her delight it was boxes of outdoor Christmas lights. I was sure if we all worked hard she would be able to see the lights lit up by nightfall. We spent the day hanging her Christmas lights. My husband made a quick trip to the hardware store and returned with a plastic light up Santa Claus.

Every year some sort of outdoor decorations are sent from Santa to my granddaughter’s family. She has come to check the porch first thing every morning starting the day after Thanksgiving. Over the years as the collection has grown so has the glow from my granddaughter’s home. When she was still small she would cry when Christmas was over and we had to take down the lights. We told her that it is bad luck to have your Christmas lights up after New Year’s.

One of my all time favorite letters to Santa came from my little granddaughter. She wanted to have a big house covered in lights when she became a grown up. She went on to give a detailed list of things she wanted have display on the front lawn. She thought that a merry go round would look perfect in the driveway. She still thinks the merry go round is a great idea. After the lights are up she can’t wait to mail a letter to Santa to thank him.

Sally is now ten years old. There are times when I am informed by her that she is now too big to do certain things like hold my hand in public. I was happy this year when she said that she was going outside to check on the food for the reindeer.  I watched out the window as she carried out the big silver bowl of food. She sat the food on the ground and sat down on the bench. She was smiling as she looked around at the lights. I couldn’t help but smile. Watching my grandchildren do the things that their parents did as they grew up is truly a blessing. Children are what make my holidays special.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

The Joy Of The Holidays

The true joy of the holidays is the new memories we collect every year and carry with us forever. I am fortunate to have a mother who understands the value of Christmas memories. She always made the holidays a seamless ribbon of happiness. In our family we kick off the Christmas season on Thanksgiving night when we set up our Christmas trees. Everyone in the family helps place decorations on the tree. Almost every one of our ornaments has a story from Christmases of the past. In the bottom of the boxes my mom has collected Santa letters from all her kids and grandkids.


After the star is placed on the top of the tree my mom sets up the dining room table with special stationary. Every member of our family writes a letter to Santa. The wishes in these letters range from the year’s must have toy, (and sometimes it isn’t only the kids wishing for that one), acceptance to a certain college, or for those with more wisdom, happiness for their family in the year to come. It amazes me that mom can get everyone so involved! She truly glows with the spirit of Christmas. Even sulky teenagers drop their façade of cool and allow themselves to act like a kid. My children are just as amazed as I was as a child that Granny knows Santa’s official address.

While we are all writing our letters and helping the small ones with theirs we read some of the old letters from the ornament box. Through these letters we get a glimpse of ourselves in the past. There are letters from children wishing for a gift from Santa that include such things as white unicorns and robots ten feet high. My Dad’s letters are always about the same thin, he wants as much time out on his boat as possible. As we have grown the wishes in the letters have changed. There are many laughs and hugs exchanged between us all. We all like to read the one from my cousin pleading with Santa to trade his new baby sister for a little brother.

As the night wears on my mom tucks the little ones in around her and tells them stories. At some point my mom has set out plates with delicious cookies throughout the family room. All the kids ask my mom all about the real Santa since she is one of the leading experts. There isn’t a topic they skip - my mom knows it all, from elf shoes to the naughty list. All of the little eyes flutter shut one by one, giving the adults time to talk a little more freely. Looking around at my family I am delighted to know that there are countless more Christmas memories ahead!
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Sunday, July 18, 2010

Fill Your Home with the Fragrances of Christmas

Smell is a very powerful sense. It is capable of setting off innumerable responses in human bodies. It causes us to recall memories, vividly and accurately. It triggers the sensation of hunger or makes mouths water. It causes reactions that are physical like a smile and a deep breath when we smell delicious scent. The sense of smell is responsible for the way things taste. It is during holidays that scent plays an important part in one’s sense of memories, comfort and enjoyment. Here's how you could fill your home with the fragrances of Christmas.

When you bake something delicious in the oven that is when the smell will trigger the feeling that Christmas is round the corner. Be it pie, cinnamon rolls, gingerbread or cookies the scent of such delicious goods that are baked will result in a tempting scent wafting through the house. If you are not much into baking you need not worry. There are numerous frozen desserts, refrigerated dough and rolls that you could put into the oven. You could burn candles that are scented in order to add a festive scent as well as warmth to your house. You will find 100 scents in Yankee candles. Of these 40 are deliciously suitable for giving out a holiday smell in your house. The glow from these candles will make a cozy setting on a night that is cold and wintry. Many stores dealing in craft stock pinecones that give out cinnamon scent. This will result in the scent of cinnamon in the house. The pinecones could be used as Christmas decoration. You could place a basket full of pinecones that are scented on the hearth. Once the scent of cinnamon oily fades away you could throw the pinecones into the fire so that on burning they would release even more scent.

Since Christmas will soon be here now is the time to fill your surroundings with the fragrances and aroma of Christmas. You could make use of aromatherapy candles, stovetop scents and Christmas potpourri so that your house would be filled with lovely fragrances. You could always look around for the best deals when it comes to aromatherapy scents and candles so that you could benefit from the wholesale pricing. The Citrus Ginger Candle is a combination of a hint of seasonal citrus and warm, inviting spices. The scent embodies the holiday season and you could use it throughout December. The scent of the almond candle is similar to delicious marzipan. This can be used for get-togethers with friends in the afternoon. The Cashmere Mandarin Candle is exotic, light and spicy. You could use this aroma in winter in the bathrooms while you soak yourself after a long entertaining evening in a bubble bath.

Potpourri consists of heavily scented foliage, herbs and different flowers mixed together in order to fill your house with an attractive fragrance. It is also very beautiful to look at. You could display it in a favorite crystal piece, decorative bowls or baskets. The reality is that whether you are wrapping gifts or helping your children write letters to Santa or simply enjoying the wonderful holiday decorations in your home, the fragrance of Christmas adds a special touch to the season.

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Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Traveling Tips and Advice for the Christmas Season

Are you on the lookout for traveling tips and advice for the Christmas season? Here is something exciting and different that you could do this year. Since children enjoy themselves the most during Christmas you could plan a trip to Lapland.

The land is located in the Arctic Circle. This is where Santa Claus lives. You could celebrate Christmas by meeting Santa Claus, his reindeer and Elves in his residence before he starts off on Christmas Eve. Every child gets to meet Santa and also receives a gift. They can enjoy ride on sleighs that are pulled by reindeer, enjoy log fires that are cozy, Christmas carols, snow mobiles, husky rides and a beautiful Christmas Gala dinner. You will be able to experience a really wonderful Christmas holiday with your family.

You could also celebrate Christmas at the unique Ice Hotel situated in Jukkasjarvi in Sweden. This is located 200 km is the Arctic Circle. It is built every year from ice that is crystal clear that is available from the Tome River that flows very fast. It is designed differently every year along with its suites. You could spend a night in a cozy and warm bed in this hotel. You could then check into a Swedish hotel for the rest of the days. You could indulge in a number of winter activities outdoors or you could sit peacefully by the fireside and play games or read a book.

You could plan a holiday in Sydney, Australia if you have had enough of the snow and cold and wish to celebrate Christmas in summer. The weather there in December is great. You will be able to enjoy Christmas as you normally do with Christmas carols, Christmas trees, Santa Claus and turkey dinner. Sydney hosts various free events in Christmas like the fantastic display of fireworks on New Year's Eve, concerts, slide shows, entertainers and choirs.

You could go on a cruise during the holidays. This would be ideal for mothers because they can relax once the family is on board and the party starts. The adults could relax in the day time while the children enjoy themselves. Evenings would be reserved for decking out for Gala dinners every night during the Christmas season. You and your family could enjoy fantastic entertainment, delicious food as well as a stress free Christmas.

You could go to New England in order to enjoy Christmas. You would come across skaters on a pond that is frozen, white churches having slim spires, cute colonial homes having huge holly wreaths hung on the front doors, lights twinkling on Christmas trees and so on. These are images you will find on thousands of Christmas cards. You will come across beautiful B&B’s and hotels which will give you a fantastic Christmas. These buildings are old colonial style.

Traveling during the holiday season can add a wonderful touch to the magic of the season. But children often worry that Santa won’t be able to find them when they are away from home. To relieve their anxiety just take along your paper, pens, and envelopes and have the kids write a letter to Santa when they arrive at your destination. Then in a day or two you could have authentic letters from Santa delivered to your children at your holiday location. The kids will be amazed that Santa found them so quickly and this will truly brighten the entire holiday event. Be sure to have your camera ready to capture the moment your kids the personalized letters from Santa Claus. And don’t be surprised if the letters become long cherished childhood keepsakes. Your kids will always associate wonderful memories with the letters and your holiday vacation. Just plan ahead and you can make it happen! Your kids will be surprised and delighted.

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Thursday, July 8, 2010

Keeping Your Pets Safe during the Holidays

Everybody loves Christmas holidays because it is that time of the year that marks merry reunion with friends and family. Festivities are ongoing throughout the season and the joyfulness is contagious. Adults are busy shopping and planning, children spend hours writing letters to Santa Claus, and all enjoy decorating the home. But we tend to forget that these holidays are disastrous for our pets.

During Christmas, innumerable pets are injured because of decorations, foods or holiday plants. Help your pets to celebrate this festive occasion safely by ensuring that they are protected from Christmas health hazards. Beautiful holiday decorations like Christmas lilies, poinsettias, holly and mistletoe are toxic when pets ingest them. Mistletoe is responsible for cardiovascular and gastrointestinal problems. Poinsettias and holly cause lethargy, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. If you plan to decorate the dining table with the help of holiday plants keep them in a place that cannot be reached by pets between mealtimes. The mistletoe should be hung where pets will find it difficult to reach.

Cats are attracted to berries which are extremely poisonous. Do not allow your pets into the room where you have kept your Christmas tree if there is no one to supervise. If your pet eats pine needles, its intestine could get punctured. Always unplug the lights of the tree before you leave the house and either tape or secure the electrical cords of the holiday lights so that your pet does not chew them. The Christmas tree should be secured to the ceiling or wall so that it does not fall on your pets. Restrain your pets from drinking water from the holder of the tree becomes even fresh water would contain the residue of fertilizers and water that are stagnant is a breeding ground for bacteria. If you tend to use water preservative for your tree go for one that is non-toxic so that it will not harm your pet in case it drinks it when you are not around. Do not use aspirin in tree water to preserve it because if your pet ingests it accidentally it could become seriously ill or even die.
Keep away Christmas ornaments and tinsel. Cats like to play with the latter. Some even eat it but this is dangerous as it can block the intestines. Pets think of ornaments as toy balls. The shards from glass ornaments that are broken could injure the paws and mouths of your pets. If swallowed, they could injure the intestine tract and stomach grievously. If your pets continue playing with the ornaments, hang some balloons on the lower branches of the Christmas tree. Be around till your pet snares one. The sound of the balloon bursting will make your pet leave the Christmas decorations alone.

When your children open their gifts make them put the toys away because the smaller parts of the toys could result in intestine blockage or choking in pets and would require surgery in order to remove them. A majority of pets love to doze on a hearth that is warm. Even if the fire is out make use of fireplace screens. Extinguish candles when you leave the room and keep them out of reach of your pets.

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Saturday, July 3, 2010

Tips and Ideas For Stocking Stuffers That Will Be Treasured

Once people have purchased their gifts and placed it under the Christmas tree they suddenly remember that they have forgotten to stuff the stockings hanging over the fireplace. Budgets set aside for holidays are usually spent at such a time. One might be short of money. In spite of budget constraints there are many ideas for stuffing stockings that would delight the children and would also be practical at the same time.

First of all it is always best to have the children write letters to Santa Claus. This provides them a way to mention the gifts that they want for Christmas – and many times parents are surprised at what the kids ask for in these letters. This will tell you what they want.

You can visit the dollar store nearest your house to look around for the gifts. You will come across a huge variety of goods available at a variety of prices which would easily help you to fill the stockings to the brim. Certain tips and ideas for stocking stuffers that will be treasured have two benefits. Do not wrap batteries along with the gifts. Stuff them in the stockings separately because you will have to buy them in order to make the toys work, so, they should not be grouped under extra expenses. Once you separate them you could start stuffing the stocking. This would be convenient for the kids to put the batteries in any toy or electronic device they wish to play with first.

You could purchase school supplies that would be required by your children and stuff the stocking with them so that you do not have to buy it in the future. If you are very busy during Christmas you will not find time to take pictures. Your children will be able to do it if you gift them a disposable camera. They will click pictures from their perspective which will be unique and could be added to a photo album. You could stuff supplies for art and craft which will be needed by the children later on. Children love creating. Material for art and craft is great as stocking stuffers. You could purchase paints, markers, colored pencils, crayons and coloring books which would keep children busy during Christmas and after it, too. Card games or mini games are ideal editions for travelers. Buy them so that the children could play them in the car on their own so that they will be occupied when you are making a holiday trip.

You could write Christmas letters to your children telling them about all the fun you had with them in the last year. This will not cost money. You could start a beautiful Christmas tradition. Your letters would be treasured by your children even after Christmas. It is always better to set aside a little time in order to give a little thought to stocking stuffers which would not require you to incur extra expenditure in order to fill the socks hanging on the fireplace while bringing unlimited joy your children when they see what is inside.

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