Santa Letters, Unique Gifts, Awesome Decorations – How Will You Make Christmas 2011 Stand Out?

If you’re like me you always want Christmas to be more special than previous years. So every year, as we go through the holiday season I find myself making mental notes about ways to improve something for the next Christmas. In recent years I discovered that ordering personalized letters from Santa for my grandkids adds a magical touch to the holiday for the little ones. They love those letters. I also learned that if I shop for holiday decorations right after Christmas I can save a lot of money. But I have trouble with that.

Here’s what has happened to me in the past. Right after Christmas I found that local drug stores and department offer Christmas decorations at amazing savings. The problem is, at that time these stores only have a hodgepodge of items left.

One year I loaded up on what I could find – thinking that the next Christmas I would have lots of decorating options. But because everything I purchased was miss-matched none of it really worked together. In the end I gave some of the new items to each of my grown kids.

Since then I have learned that you can purchase Christmas supplies year round if you shop online. When you shop at these specialty shops you get a great selection and the savings are unbelievable. Plus, shopping online is extremely convenient. 

You can sip on your favorite cup of tea while you surf from one shop to another. And you can comparison shop between several stores within a matter of minutes. Whether you are in the market for an artificial Christmas tree, garland, tree skirts, ornaments or Santa letters you can find just what you want without ever leaving home.

In fact, did you know that you can even order real Christmas trees online? I found that out last year. Of course, that’s something you will have to wait until later to shop for but it’s wonderful to know that you can get a real tree off the Internet. It will be delivered to your home so that relieves you of the hassle of shopping at the roadside stands and then stressing about how to get the tree to your house.

One of the things that is important to me during holidays is having a fabulous meal for everyone. My family and I enjoy cooking holiday meals as a group. Each family member is counted on for preparing at least one dish. It’s fun to pull together a meal that everyone has contributed to. Every year I try to come up with at least one new food item to try. I’m on the lookout for a great recipe that includes strawberries, Angel Food cake and pretzels. I had a dessert like that once and I loved it. I really want to find that recipe.

Another thing that I am going to start soon is collecting various inexpensive gifts that will be used for prizes. This Christmas I want to add some games to our get togethers and I think I will give things like body powder, lotions, and candles as prizes. Of course the kids will get toys when they win.

So what about you – how will you make this Christmas a special one?

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.

Even Santa Himself Is Doing Christmas On A Budget This Year

With the economy in the shape that it is in most everyone is trying to do Christmas on a budget this year. Every day it seems like the unemployment rates are raising. Most people are trying to save as much as possible in these uncertain times. Here are some ideas to help you save on Christmas this year.

There are lots of simple ways to save money on Christmas, without sacrificing everyone's enjoyment. By simply going back to the basics you can save money on decorations, ornaments, and you can create homemade gifts that your kids would actually enjoy helping you make. Even Santa Himself would love these ideas.

I’m including a couple examples of simple ornaments that I have made in the past with my kids. They enjoy being creative and the time together is a true bonding experience. Crafts are fun and easy, and they can save you lots of money. Check out these ideas!

You will need:
• Gold Bells
• Small Bow
• Green Pipe Cleaner
• Paper Clip or Ornament Hanger

Instructions:
Slide six gold bells on a green pipe cleaner. Twist the pipe cleaner into a spiral tree shape that narrows at the top. Tip: a 20 ounce coke bottle works well for shaping. Twist the top end of the pipe cleaner around an opened up paper clip or an ornament hanger. Our bows have a thin wire that we use to twist around the top of the tree. Try putting glitter on it to add more effect.

Popsicle sticks can be used for all sorts of craft ideas. Here’s one idea:
Lay one Popsicle stick down flat vertically, and then lay others over it, horizontally. Glue in place, and then cut the shape to form a tree. Paint and decorate any way you want it. Don’t forget that those custom Santa Claus letters can be decorated with glitter and stars and other eye catching extras.

Another idea for cheap ornaments is purchasing the plain glass ball ornaments and having the kids decorate them. They can add the year as part of the decoration, which adds to the keepsake.

Even though we are doing Christmas on a budget this year we could never take away are children's Letters to Santa. They love to sit and write their letters to Santa every year. It is a great experience to see what your children write to Santa and it helps you understand what they are wanting for Christmas. Every year when the North Pole Letters arrive, their faces light up with excitement - this is a wonderful tradition we will be sure to continue. When we first got our Custom Santa letters it was certainly a surprise to see how authentic and real they were.

The Personalized Christmas Letters are beautifully crafted and they are a keepsake you and your children will always cherish. The letters from Santa will always be a tradition in our family, and one your family will also enjoy.