6 Steps to Make Your 2015 Holiday Season Special

6 Steps to Make Your 2015 Holiday Season Special

Are you like the team at Package From Santa, are you already excited about Christmas 2015? We are gearing things up and preparing for a truly magical holiday season!

The North Pole is beautiful this time of year. It seems that everything suddenly looks more vibrant. The holiday season is exciting and we very busy and of course, and Santa and Mrs. Claus are too. Santa is reviewing his list of nice little boys and girls and he has stacks and stacks of paper ready so he can write letters to them. Mrs. Claus is spending lots of time baking her famous cookies.

But at the North Pole everyone plays an important role in the holiday season. The reindeer are practicing their jumps and leaps and the elves are busy in the toy workshop. But that’s enough about us for now.

The truth is, everyone at the North Pole is working hard to make sure the 2015 holiday season is the best holiday season ever!

What about you? Have you started planning your Holiday Season yet? Don’t panic, but October is almost over. That means you don’t have time to waste. On the other hand, you do have time to do all the things necessary to make this Christmas extra memorable.

Step 1: Take a deep breath….

Step 2: Make a general to-do list….

This will include things like ‘holiday shopping’, ‘holiday decorating’, holiday party’, ‘gift list’, ‘letters from Santa’, and, well, you get the idea.

Step 3: Create specific to-do lists….

Use the general to-do list to make detailed lists for each topic.

Step 4: Start completing and checking things off your lists….

Step 5: Celebrate the completion of your work….

Step 6: Enjoy the 2015 Holiday Season!

Christmas Expectations

Christmas Expectations

Some traditions will never change!

Every holiday has its own theme and customs and of course, Christmas has Santa Claus and the Christmas tree. Each year, when the holiday season rolls around, people have certain Christmas expectations. For instance, most of us envision enjoying what we consider a traditional Christmas – and that will likely include the Yule log, Santa Claus, and a Christmas tree.

Color Schemes

Christmas is a festive occasion. The traditional colors associated with Christmas are red and green. You will also see silver and gold which indicate riches and glory. Santa is usually dressed in a red suit that is trimmed in white and his elves usually wear green.

These colors have been established over the centuries. People take these colors for granted to be in conformance to the Christmas spirit. Classic candy canes are red and white.  

Snow

For some reason, many people have associated snow with Christmas. It is possible that since many countries and states normally have snow in December, people worldwide believe that snow is a necessary ingredient for Christmas.

In places that do not have snow, people will simulate the snow by using spray cans. Some plastic Christmas trees would have green leaves and some white painted on the boughs and leaves to give a semblance of snow on the tree. 

Memorable Decorations 

There are some decorations that have to be present in every household. The Christmas wreath is usually placed in a noticeable place. The wreath represents life and vigor. Mistletoe will be hung in a location that is conducive for kissing. Couples are expected to kiss each other under the mistletoe. Some houses may have actual Yule logs burning in the fireplace. Others may make a dessert in the shape of the Yule log. 

Santa Claus and His Helpers 

Figures of Santa Claus may be used to decorate the home. Besides Santa, some people also decorate their yard and homes with figures of reindeer, Elves, Frosty the Snowman, and Santa’s sleigh. These decorations add a festive atmosphere to the space and make it more joyful for all to enjoy. 

Cookies and Milk 

Children insist on leaving a snack out for Santa when he visits and the traditional snack is cookies and milk. The thought is that Santa can get very tired on his long journey going from house to house. The cookies and milk can give him energy and perhaps give your child a few extra points with Santa. With that in mind, it is important to make sure that the cookies and milk are gone when the children wake up in the morning.

These are some of the many Christmas expectations we associate with this holiday. Please share your thoughts about Christmas traditions…

Debbie Allen is a regular team member at Package From Santa. Many of her articles discuss Christmas decorations and other holiday traditions.

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

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

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

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

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

News Flash; Letters From Santa And Mrs. Claus’ Famous Sugar Cookies Now Available

There was a time that receiving letters from Santa meant finding a folded piece of paper with a message about Santa, Rudolph, and Christmas. As long as that note was signed by Santa Claus it was deemed a Santa letter. But in these modern times things have changed. Kids are wiser. TV, the Internet, and even the widespread information in books and magazines throughout the years have helped to discover that most of these Santa letters are not real at all. And if a kid is found to believe in something that is fake, he or she can be ridiculed by other kids.

But here’s the dilemma. Kids do believe in Santa Claus. Their belief may end at an early age, but almost all kids believe in Santa. After all, they see TV shows about him, he’s the hero of storybooks, there are songs about him – Santa offers up his special brand of Christmas magic, and that magic is especially for children.

Many parents see this as a good thing. That’s why the belief in Santa has been encouraged throughout the generations and across the world. And that’s why writing letters to Santa is a cherished Christmas tradition.

Each year in many, many homes across the globe, families use writing Santa letters as a way of spending joyful time together. Everyone has a great time detailing their letters to Santa and then they are sealed with a post mark to the North Pole. Once mailed the children begin their wait. This can be the agonizing part. Kids worry that if they don’t get a response they haven’t made Santa’s Nice List.

To end this stress and worry and amaze children, parents can order authentic Santa letters online. These letters are as real as real can get. But there’s more. Along with the letter the child will receive a video greeting from Santa. Okay – plus, depending on the package you choose, your child could also receive one of Mrs. Claus’ Famous Sugar Cookies! Can you imagine that? Do you think your child would want to eat it or leave it out for Santa?

You’ll be surprised at the many things contained in the packages. There’s an autographed photo of Santa and a personalized Nice List Certificate. There’s also reindeer food and magic snow. Well you get the idea, your child will get so much stuff that he or she will definitely believe in Santa. This is much, much better than a note written by you or someone else.

And because kids are so computer savvy these days, they will appreciate the fact that even Santa has included a video message for them to watch online. Start the magic today with the age old tradition of writing Santa letters. Gather the supplies needed and plan a special evening for the event. Involve the entire family and make it a part of your holiday celebrations. Maybe you can have a favorite snack and then create some Christmas craft projects. These are the times that result in memories that last a lifetime. They are the ones that we hold on to forever. Make them special.

Santa Letters And A Video Greeting From Santa Will Make Christmas Special For Any Kid

Nowadays kids can get a lot more than just Santa letters from the North Pole, they can even get a video greeting. Thanks to the Internet and the innovative strides of technology Santa Claus is as close as your computer screen.

Can you imagine the astonishment kids feel when they receive these letters from Santa, let alone a video greeting? The best part about the video greetings is that they are absolutely free.

Writing letters to Santa has long been a cherished Christmas tradition for generations. Every year kids across the world carefully craft their Santa letters in the hopes that Santa will read the letter and send a response. After the letter is perfected it is mailed. Then the waiting begins. Letters from Santa provide assurance that kids have made it to Santa’s Nice List. It is what every kid needs to know at this time of year. For many, this is a stress that weighs heavy on their minds.

In days gone by parents either had to explain away why Santa did not send a letter back, or they had to write a letter themselves, pretending to be Santa Claus. The problem was, in many cases the kids soon figured out that it was mom or dad that actually wrote the letter. This was a delicate situation. Sometimes things turned out worse than if there was no letter at all.

Luckily things have changed. Now parents can help their kids write letters to Santa and mail them off with confidence that the letters will be answered. And they will be answered in a timely manner with a genuine letter from Santa with a post mark from the North Pole.

All they have to do is visit Package From Santa to select from the wonderful Santa letter packages offered. And regardless of the package selected, your child will receive a wonderful letter from Santa and a video greeting that will amaze him or her. The truth is, this company’s products are so authentic they can have even the non-believers believing again.

Santa letters are just a part of these packages. The free video greetings are awesome but so many other things are also offered. For example, you can get a personalized Nice List Certificate for your child and even one of Mrs. Claus’ Famous Sugar Cookies. You know that’s Santa’s favorite snack! Plus, you can get a letter from Rudolph and even an official collector’s piece of Santa’s suit. There’s more but too many to list in this article.

Christmas traditions may change with the years. But the basics are never forgotten. Kids will always write letters to Santa because Santa Claus is a magical part of Christmas. He can hold the key to making their dreams come true. Santa letters help to keep a belief in the possibility that anything is possible – that kids don’t have to have their dreams dashed because of a lack of money or time or anything else. It helps them develop a belief that they can make things happen. That’s what I like about Santa letters and the belief in the magic of Christmas!

A Special Christmas Job That Makes Life Easier For Santa’s Reindeer

My son Doyle is so fascinated by Santa’s reindeer. Every year on Christmas Eve it’s his job to put out the magical reindeer food. He takes his job very serious.

Last year Doyle wanted to go shopping to find a special bowl to put the reindeer food in. He took his time and looked at each and every bowl in the store. He wanted a bowl made out of either plastic or metal so he doesn’t have to worry about breaking it. Doyle chose a big silver pet bowl.

In the check out line Doyle was so excited about the bowl. He was going to use the paint at we have at home to paint Christmas pictures on the bowl. On the ride back home he told me every thing he know about Santa’s reindeer. I asked him questions about the reindeer and to my surprise he had an answer for all of them.

When Doyle was a very little boy he wrote to Santa and asked if Santa would send him the recipe for reindeer food. When Santa sent a letter back to Doyle he also sent him the recipe. Doyle showed everybody the recipe Santa had gave to him. I was glad that the reindeer food recipe was so simple. Doyle wanted to do it all by himself, without any help from anyone.

Doyle always mixes up the reindeer food the day before Christmas Eve. He wants all of us out of the kitchen while he works. He also fills up nine little cloth bags with food for each of Santa’s reindeer. He hangs those on a small tree that grows in our yard. He explained that the bags are so that reindeer have a snack to take with them on their long trip around the world.

Doyle can’t wait to set the food outside for Santa’s reindeer. Last year he also put out a bowl of water. He thought that since we put water out for our dog Bessie we might as well put some water out for them too. When the sun has set on Christmas Eve Doyle’s eyes constantly scan the sky hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa and his reindeer flying by.

Every year that Doyle has set out the food he has received a special Christmas letter. These letters are from Rudolph. In the letter all the reindeer thank Daniel for the food. They really liked the bags of snacks he made. They hoped that next year they could count on him to help them once again. Doyle’s reindeer food adds a bit of magic to our Christmas.

Special Delivery – Sent By Santa

       

When my husband Drew and I were dating in college we had be apart one year for Christmas. Our relationship was still in that freshly in love glow. When we said our good byes we both promised to call each other whenever we could. I went home to spend the holidays with my family and he stayed on campus because of work.

I was glad to be home. I have a real close family so it was hard to be away from them for so long. My mother and I talked for hours in the kitchen while we baked and cooked the Christmas dishes that brought back the joy of childhood days. I helped my little cousins write letters to Santa Claus. It felt so good to be home surrounded by so many people who I love. Still I couldn’t quit thinking about Drew.

We talked to each other as much as possible. Drew was working extra hours so that a man he worked with could spend more time with his family during the holidays. He said that he was fine. There were a lot of guys on campus that couldn’t get off of work to go home. I was so glad that he at least had people around him. It drove me crazy to think of him being all alone on Christmas.

My four year old cousin Alice was my shadow that Christmas season. One night before she went off to bed she asked me what do reindeer eat. I promised that if she went to bed I would show her the very next day. She made me pinky promise no matter what I would tell her. The next morning she was ready to know about the reindeer. Somehow I got her to wait until after breakfast. I tried to call Drew real quick to let him know I would be busy outside with Alice and I would have to call him later but I wasn’t able to reach him. I assumed he was working extra hours again.

I took Alice outside and handed her a small paper bag. I told her that it was enough food for one Christmas. I loved seeing her face light up with joy. I told her that it was special reindeer food from Santa. I showed her the bowl that we had always used for the reindeer. It was bright red with sparkling green jewels around the rim. I told her on Christmas Eve it would be her job to feed the reindeer.

Alice told me to wait outside because she had a Christmas surprise for me too. When she came back she had an envelope in her hand that said “sent by Santa” across the front. The card inside told me to go look in the driveway. I ran through the house, and standing in the driveway was Drew, the man I am still crazy about today.

Helping Soldiers Overseas This Holiday Season

This Christmas while you are celebrating with your family there will be thousands of military families separated for the holiday season. Some of those families may have lost a family member to war. Shouldn't we do what we can to help these families in need?

They have given up their life as they knew it to fight for our country. Some of them overseas may not come back. Christmas without your mom or dad there would be hard; I could not imagine having a Christmas without them. We should all do what we can to show our support for everyone over there fighting so that you and I can live our life like normal.

While they can't spend time with their family you and I will be enjoying Christmas with ours. But there are lots of ways to help the soldiers and their families have a better Christmas even though both their parents may not be there.

Some things that you can send to the soldiers while they are serving for our country are phone cards and Christmas cards to send back to their families, puzzle books, cigarettes, books, magazines, fleece blankets, hats (black only), footballs, basketballs and DVDs, just about anything that you can think of you can send to them.

Some of the things that you can not send to the soldiers are alcoholic beverages, anything that depicts nudity, unauthorized political material and pork and pork by- products. If any contraband is found in the package what so ever your package may not be delivered so make sure you read what they can have and not have.

I myself am by no means rich but I can always manage to send them something, even if it is just candy canes. As you can see, you can get items from this list at almost any store. It just lets the soldiers know that we are thinking of them and appreciate what they are doing for us.

Christmas has always been a special time for my family and I am sure yours too. These families are separated for the holidays and we should do what we can to help them this holiday season. This year I plan to use Thanksgiving as a beginning day of collecting things on the list from family and friends and making a gift basket to send to the soldiers. So this year, as our kids write their Christmas letters to Santa, we plan on helping them make Christmas cards for soldiers and preparing care packages.

No matter how you celebrate Christmas just don't forget about our soldiers and all they do for us. Remember that while they are working for us we should all do our part to help them as much as possible.

Christmas Then And Now

If you are like me you were fortunate enough to grow up with grandparents and even great-grandparents that were around on holidays and other special occasions. I remember how I loved listening to their stories of adventure and old times. Of course, as a child, some of my favorite stories were about Christmas and how they celebrated.

I can remember sitting and listening to my great- grandmother for hours as she told stories about the gifts that she received as a child for Christmas. The ones that stand out are handmade clothes, hand carved jewelry boxes, knick knacks carved from wood, and rag dolls. She said that sometimes they would even get fresh fruit such as oranges and apples as presents.

At that time she lived in a very rural area so a trip into town was required if you were going to enjoy fruit – and that was horse and buggy days. Times sure have changed!

As time went on department stores opened up everywhere and shopping became more convenient. Then along came shopping malls and soon the hassles associated with shopping, things like finding a sitter for your children so you can shop for their Christmas gifts, searching the parking lot over for a place to park, or standing in long lines to pay.

Christmas is not supposed to be stressful. It is a time to be with family and friends and enjoy each other. We need to simplify things so the holiday season is more joyful.

The modern, less stressful way to shop is online. You can go to dozens of stores in just minutes and do not have to deal with the hassles of physical shopping. Just wait for the kids to go to bed - you can even shop in your pajamas and have a little snack beside you. The reality is that you can get all of your shopping done in one night without ever leaving the house.

It is amazing how Christmas has changed over the years, and how shopping has evolved. Maybe online shopping can help put the focus of Christmas back where it should be, back on spending time with the ones we love.

This holiday season we plan to keep it simple and just spend quality time with our loved ones. Each of us will be making a handcrafted gift for other family members. We plan to make this a new Christmas tradition. With so many people having financial problems I believe simple traditions will become increasingly popular.