The Countdown Is On!

The Countdown Is On!

Now that December is here you can be sure that kids everywhere are counting the days until Santa will arrive. Christmas countdown calendars are a fun way to track the time.

Countdown Calendars Add To the Fun

There are all kinds of countdown calendars you can use – you can use a regular calendar or choose the free personalized Christmas countdown calendar from Package From Santa. It’s a colorful advent calendar that will help build the anticipation related to Santa’s upcoming visit. This is a great piece to hang on your refrigerator or other prominent place.

DIY Countdowns

You can make your own DIY countdown calendar in a variety of ways. One idea is to use a collection of small gift bags (for those that are crafty, hand-sewn bags can be used).

Label one bag for each day and attaching the bags to a length of yarn or twine. Small gifts can be added to each of the bags and as the days arrive your children can enjoy the gifts.

Another idea is to use small gift boxes – for instance, the size that might be used for jewelry or other small items. And finally, you could use the plastic, stackable drawers that are often available at dollar stores and budget discount stores. These can be decorated and labeled and the daily gifts can be added to the drawers.

No matter which style you choose, your kids are sure to enjoy a Christmas countdown calendar!

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

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