Monday, October 21, 2013

Before You Give That Puppy As A Christmas Gift…

Before You Give That Puppy As A Christmas Gift…

Who can resist an adorable little puppy? It really doesn’t matter what time of year it is, puppies just seem to have a way of melting your heart and making you love them. It’s not surprising that they are often thought of as the perfect gift. But before you decide to give a puppy as a Christmas gift there are some things you should consider. Actually, there are lots of things to consider – keep reading…

Puppies are irresistible - but it's important that every puppy goes to a forever home!

Does the Recipient Share Your Love?

For those of us that are dog lovers it can be difficult to imagine living without our furry friends. And when we see a friend or loved one that doesn’t have a dog we naturally want to help out – we want them to enjoy life with a dog. But as surprising as it may be, not everyone wants dogs. In fact, some people don’t even like them!

So one of the most important considerations is finding out how the intended dog-owner feels about having a dog. And not just dogs in general, but you should ask about types of dogs. For instance, some people only want small lap dogs and others prefer larger dogs and some may only want a breed that can be trained to do certain tasks or that doesn’t shed.

Is Christmas the Best Time?

Another huge consideration is timing. Christmas is already a busy time of year. A new pet needs a lot of attention. When you give a pet during the holiday season, in many cases you are taking a risk. Most people have holiday events to attend and friends and family members are stopping by. Chances are that the recipient will not have as much time as he/she would like to spend with the new pet – time that will make the dog feel at home and welcome.

In many ways this is unfair to both the dog and the new owner.

Stressful Time of Year

The holiday season is a stressful time of year. This is largely due to the many things that we try to accomplish in such a short amount of time. If we add a new pet into the mix that stress load can be multiplied. In addition, a new pet will be stressed when she first arrives at her new home. This can result in problematic behaviors that must be dealt with, which again, adds to the chaos of the moment.

The Best Gift of All

But even after reading all these considerations and cautions – although there is truth in them – if you are a dog lover, I’m sure you will agree that a new dog or puppy can be the best gift of all. Taking the time from the craziness of the holiday rush to spend some quiet time relaxing and getting to know a new pet can be soothing and it can create a sense of serenity. As our nerves are calmed and we feel less stressed we can more easily deal with the other issues related to the holiday season. So the thing is, for the right person, a dog or puppy can be an awesome gift – just do your homework before you decide to give a pet as a gift. The goal is that the pet will end up in a forever home!

Debbie Allen is a professional writer and editor that enjoys sharing content related to the holiday season. She often writes about Christmas traditions like holiday decorating, letters from Santa, and gift-giving.


Image courtesy of imagerymajestic at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Friday, October 18, 2013

Create Your Own Holiday Shoes

Create Your Own Holiday Shoes

Looking festive at holiday events is important, but it can also get expensive. Fortunately, with a little creativity, you can find lots of ways to save money on your holiday fashions and still look great. In fact, you can create your own, one of a kind holiday shoes. Want shoes that sparkle and shine like Dorothy’s in the Wizard of Oz? It’s very possible and the best is, it’s easy! Just follow along with these simple instructions.

Everyone wants to look great during the holiday season – DIY designs are a fun way to save money and give you a one-of-a-kind look; dd some sparkle to your old heels with glitter!

Getting Started

Gather one or more pairs of old pumps or high heels. A pair that is scuffed up will work just fine. All you really need to ensure is that the shoes fit and the soles are intact. You will be covering the outside with glitter. That’s where the sparkle will come from.

If you don’t have an old pair of shoes to use you can visit a second-hand shop and pick up a pair or two for a few bucks. After all, you might want to have a red glitter pair and another pair in gold or black.

The idea is to get creative and have fun with the project. You won’t be investing very much money and the craft project itself is fun.

Preparation:

This project can get messy so it is a good idea to create a work space by spreading newspaper on a flat working surface. The newspaper will ‘catch’ the overflow of glitter, which makes it easy to funnel it back into the container.

Things You Need

  • ·         Shoes
  • ·         Glitter
  • ·         Mod Podge
  • ·         Small Paint Brush
  • ·         Newspaper
  • ·         Painter’s Tape
  • ·         Scissors
  • ·         Ribbon (optional)
  • ·         Clear Spray Sealant
  • ·         Super Glue (optional)

Instructions:

Decide on a design for your shoes. You can cover the shoes completely in a single color of glitter or you may choose to create a pattern effect – that is, you might want the toes and heels of the shoes to be red and the rest to be black. You are the fashion designer!

If you choose to use a pattern you should use the painter’s tape to section the different areas off. It’s also a good idea to line the inside of your shoe with newspaper – this will help prevent glitter and the sealant from covering the inside your shoe.

Use the paint brush to cover the shoe or chosen section in Mod Podge. Complete one section, then you can do another.

Please note: If you want to add a bow made of ribbon at the back of the heel you should leave a space uncovered – this is where you will apply super glue to attach the bow. It is advisable to add a stitch or two through the bow to ensure that it will stay tied. You may also want to use a lighter to slightly heat the ribbon edges. This will prevent the ribbon from fraying.

After your shoes are completely covered in glitter you should take them outdoors to spray them with the sealant. Give them two generous coats.

Now is the time to add the final touch – the bow at the back of the heel if desired. Next – it’s time for you to step out in style!

Debbie Allen loves to write about DIY projects that help others save money and have fun. She believes simple Christmas traditions, like letters from Santa are the most meaningful ones.

Image courtesy of imagerymajestic at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Monday, October 14, 2013

When You Have To Celebrate Christmas Away From Home…

When You Have To Celebrate Christmas Away From Home…


Christmas is the time when we all want to be close to the people we love the most. Many of us travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to make that happen. But even with our best efforts, sometimes life happens and because of circumstances out of our control we simply cannot be where we want to be during the holiday season. This post offers tips to make your holiday better when you have to celebrate Christmas away from home.


 Make Christmas special - no matter where you are!

Keep The Spirit Alive

Regardless of where you are or who you are with, you can make the holiday more meaningful if you keep the spirit of giving alive. Make it a goal to make someone else’s day better in some way.

Get Close To Being There

Maybe you can’t be there to enjoy all the delicious foods or to rip open gifts during the early Christmas morning mayhem, but that shouldn’t stop you from making a connection via phone or Internet. At least you can see and feel the joy in some way through the miles – it’s not the same but it is better than nothing at all.

Volunteer

No matter where you are there is some agency or community that could use some help. Volunteer some of your time. You will be welcomed and you will feel like you are a part of a group or cause. Your options are varied; for instance, you could contact any local homeless shelters, soup kitchens or nursing homes or assisted living communities.
You might also be able to work with organizations that deliver food, gifts, or just spend time with shut-ins. Check with local community services for ideas.

Adopt Someone

You can adopt a child, a senior citizen, or an entire family to care about during the holiday season. This gives you someone (or a group of people) to get to know and love in a very special way. There’s a good chance that this person (these people) will become important to you for the long term!

Attend Church

Even if you don’t usually attend church, the holiday season is a great time to ‘visit’ a church – it gives you an opportunity to get to know others and Christmas church services are always special. Most churches have special services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Postpone Christmas Celebrations

Keeping yourself busy with these activities can ‘get you through’ the holidays – then you can celebrate Christmas in your traditional fashion when you get home. For some people, this is the best solution. There’s a good chance that your family and friends won’t mind celebrating again!

Remember Your Blessings

We all have dreams of what our ideal Christmas should be like – but the reality is that Christmas is Christmas no matter where you are, who you are with, or how it turns out to be. We have to learn to make the best of things – focus on the positives in life. Rather than having regrets about the way things turned out it is much better to find something productive to do with our time and to remember our blessings.

Debbie Allen writes about Christmas traditions, letters from Santa, and other topics related to the holiday season. You can find her work at many sites across the Internet.

Image courtesy of digitalart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Friday, October 11, 2013

Making Christmas Merry – Even If You’re On A Budget!

Making Christmas Merry – Even If You’re On A Budget!

Christmas is a time to be merry and happy, but for many people the holiday season can be full of stress. We might be worried about whether we will get the time off from work that we want – time to spend with our family or time to attend special events – or we could be stressed about the higher utility bills we have to pay in order to keep our home warm, or it could be stress over affording or finding the right gifts for those we love.

One of the most important things to keep in mind is the fact that the holiday season is supposed to be joyful. It is up to you to find joy in yourself. In some cases you may have to ‘create’ that joy.

Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas!

Live In The Moment

During the holiday season kids are looking forward to seeing what gifts they will receive. As parents we tend to encourage this behavior – we leave wrapped presents in plain sight and we hang a Christmas countdown calendar to help our children mark off the days until Santa comes. But as adults we have to learn to live in the moment – we have to know that there is always something good about each and every minute of every day.
When we live in the moment we can more easily forget our stress and worries and focus on the here and now. This gives us a chance to make things better – at least for the moment – and in doing so, we are improving our overall well-being.

You Can’t Always Get What You Want!

We know that life will sometime bring us some unwanted bumps and turns. If we embrace the idea that we can’t always have things just as we would like we are much less likely to feel stress and worry about things that are out of our control.

Creative Solutions Make You Better

Of course you want to be off from work during the holidays, but there are some jobs that simply cannot stop – even on major holidays. If you have to work during the holidays then make a vow that you will make the best of it. Be in good spirits and enjoy your time there as much as possible. 

Don’t make everything about money. If your budget is an issue during the holidays there are some solutions. For instance, there are many DIY projects that are ideal for gift-giving. If you need to supplement your income there are usually seasonal work opportunities at warehouses and department stores.

For every problem there is a solution and in realty, most of the time, stress and worry only serves to make matters worse. Decide now that you will make this holiday season a merry one – and that you will do what you can to avoid or minimize the stress and worry in your life!


Image courtesy of digitalart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Monday, October 7, 2013

Preparing Your Guest Room For Overnight Holiday Visitors

Preparing Your Guest Room For Overnight Holiday Visitors

With the holiday season fast approaching now is the time to begin thinking about getting your guest room prepared for overnight holiday visitors. If this is a room that rarely gets used you may want to consider starting with a fresh coat of paint.

Paint is the perfect way to give any space an updated look without spending a lot of money. From there you will want to take a look at the flooring, window treatments, and lighting. Keep reading for ideas about those features and much more.


With the right touches, even a plain room can be turned into a very welcoming and comfortable guest bedroom.

Flooring

If the room isn’t carpeted you may want to add a soft throw rug or two. Not only will this add a comforting touch but it is also an excellent way to help pull together or accent a color scheme.

Window Treatments

Ideally your guest room will offer some natural lighting, but if possible you should add window treatments that are versatile. Sometimes guests suffer from jet lag, which means they might want to take a nap during the day or they may wish to sleep-in. With that in mind it is fabulous if they can darken the room at will. Blinds are a great way to do this, and incidentally, this is a very cheap option. Drapes with tie-backs are another alternative.

Lighting

For the convenience of your guests you should provide more than one type of lighting in the room. For instance, there should be a lamp that is good for reading as well as one that is good for doing things that require details. In addition, it is a good idea to include a night light in the room. Some guests may appreciate having a scented candle in the space.

Accessory Items

It’s great if you can add small touches to the space that will make your visitors feel welcome and at ease about being in your home. Of course you want your holiday guests to be as comfortable as possible so you should ensure you include fresh bedding and enough pillows and blankets for comfort. But don’t stop there; take things a step further, make it a point to make your guests feel good about being in your home.

One way to do is to consider things that the best hotels provide and try to offer those to your guests. This may include adding a small basket of fruit or a tray of candy to the space. You may also want to add a basket of personal hygiene products that can be very useful – especially in the case of things that have been forgotten.

For instance, you might include a new toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, mouthwash, hairspray, nail clippers, a brush and comb, and a small hand mirror. These items can make your visitors feel right at home.

Holiday Décor

The final touch can be the addition of holiday décor. You may want to add a bit of garland over the window or a wreath to the door or just hang a decorative Christmas countdown calendar. The idea is to make the space feel a bit festive without overdoing it.


Preparing for overnight holiday guests doesn’t take a lot of work. But it is best to begin the preparation early!

Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Friday, October 4, 2013

Avoid Gaining Weight During The Holiday Season

How To Avoid Gaining Weight During The Holiday Season

Most people gain weight during the fall and winter months and most of that weight is gained during the holiday season. It makes senses – we are slowing down in our activities outdoors and we are enjoying more indoor fun and celebrations – which usually means we are eating some delicious foods that we only eat this time of year. It’s only natural that we want to fully indulge in the delicacies while we can!

This post is NOT going to ask you to skip holiday events or tell you not to eat your favorite foods during the holidays. However, if you follow the tips in this article you will find that you get to enjoy all the delicious foods you love, without worries about gaining weight – Sort Of!

Holidays don't have to mean extra weight!

Plan Ahead

One of the most important steps in the process is planning ahead. If you know you will be at an event where there will be delicious foods that are going to tempt you – then take precautions. For instance, you could eat a bowl of low-calorie soup before the event. This will help fill you up but it should still leave some room for tasting anything you desire.

In this way you can have a sampling of everything if you like or you can pick one or two of your favorites. Either way, you will feel much less guilty than you would if you had an overflowing plate-full of food.

No Time To Plan

In some cases you may not have to plan ahead far enough to have a bowl of soup before leaving for the event. In that case you may arrive hungry and ready to devour everything that looks edible. Before you begin take the time to slowly drink a full glass of water. This can have a similar effect as the soup. It will help give you that full feeling so you will tend to eat less.

When You Just Can’t Wait

There may be a time when you can’t wait or don’t have access to a glass of water before you begin eating. In that case you should choose your foods wisely. Smaller portions should be added to your plate and you should eat slowly. Remember that the event is really about spending time with people – it’s not about eating. When you do take a bite, make it count – savor the moment, really taste the flavor of every morsel.
Eating slowly aids in digestion and it is a good habit to get into. Drinking water offers countless benefits; so again, this is another excellent habit to incorporate into your everyday life.

The final suggestion relates to activities. Try to force yourself to be a little more active in simple ways in your everyday life. For example – instead of keeping your cell phone with you when you are at home, why not keep it on the countertop or the coffee table. This will require you to walk across the room to retrieve it if it rings. You can do the same thing with the remote to the TV. Incorporating these small measures can make a big difference in the calories you burn each day.

Debbie Allen is a professional content writer that saves all her letters from Santa every year – they are favorite Christmas keepsakes!


Image courtesy of Apolonia at FreeDigitalPhotos.net