Christmas Alert

Christmas is fast approaching, santa and the elfs are busy wrapping gifts, making toys, polishing the sled, getting ready for the night before christmas. To help you welcome santa and make your christmas a joyous one I will be providing tips on decorations, ornaments, gifts, christmas flowers and more.

Thursday, November 08, 2007



Led Pre Lit Artificial Christmas Tree



A prelit artificial Christmas tree can be the savior of your holiday season, with all you have to do at this festive time of year from attending office Christmas parties, buying the perfect Christmas gifts for each member of the family to planning your family christmas party, owning a prelit artificial Christmas tree can save you time and your sanity.

Of course, the greatest thing about getting an artificial Christmas tree is that you'll also save money. Not to mention an Artificial Christmas Tree is less likely to catch on fire. Unlike a fresh tree, an artificial Christmas tree is perfectly symmetrical, and this is an important point for some decorators. This is one more reason why the artificial Christmas tree is preferred. The best part of purchasing an artificial Christmas tree is that the height isn't guessed, it is dead on, is another reason why some people like the artificial Christmas tree. This artificial Christmas tree is advantageous as it makes transportation and replacement very easy.
The best time to order an artificial Christmas tree is about 6 weeks before the Christmas season actually begins.

An artificial Christmas tree is not a fire hazard because they are usually made of fire retardant material. A prelit artificial Christmas tree is the perfect solution for anyone who wants to avoid a fight with an evergreen at any cost. The big fat round artificial Christmas tree is out and the slim artificial tree is in. And today's artificial Christmas tree is made to look just like a natural tree. One of the biggest pros to having an artificial Christmas tree is this convenience. An artificial Christmas tree is an investment that you'll want to protect so make sure that you pick a stand that can support it.

A prelit artificial Christmas tree is very convenient. A custom made artificial Christmas tree is a useful, beautiful gift for a senior citizen, a December wedding, birthday or wedding anniversary. Buying an artificial Christmas tree is similar to purchasing a real one. An artificial Christmas tree is a lifetime investment, rather than a one time cost that comes around every year. Choosing between a natural and an artificial Christmas tree is first and foremost a matter of personal taste, space and budget.

An aluminum artificial Christmas tree is great if you're after a retro-look. One of the big disadvantages of having an artificial Christmas tree is that they don't have the Christmas Tree smell; however the advantages of the artificial Christmas tree can offset the lack of smell of the natural tree. One way to solve the lack of smell situation is to purchase pine air fresheners and strategically place them around the room in which you have your artificial Christmas tree.

Another advantage of your artificial prelit Christmas tree is storage, it can be protected in plastic storage boxes that stack atop one another in a corner of the basement. An artificial Christmas tree is cheaper and lasts longer. When buying your prelit artificial Christmas tree make sure it is certified fire resistant. Another case for the artificial Christmas tree is that you can buy a prelit artificial tree or even an artificial tree with fiber optic lighting. Whether or not to use an artificial Christmas tree can be a hotly debated topic in your household during the holidays.

To lengthen the life of the bulbs use extra household extension cords to plug in each separate section of your prelit artificial Christmas tree. This year, I am investing in a prelit artificial Christmas tree to save my sanity. Prelit Christmas trees are a great choice, especially when you're pushed for time during the busy holiday season. After struggling with wires and outlets for a couple of hours I decided that it was time for me to invest in a prelit artificial Christmas tree. Of course, when you do get a Prelit Artificial Christmas Tree, you should take a great bit of care in picking it. A prelit Christmas tree instantly brings festive cheer to your home. Unlike the natural Christmas tree, the prelit artificial Christmas tree doesn't require extra work once you have it put up.

The only question remaining now is, which artificial Christmas tree is right for you? Well only you can answer that, but keep the following in mind, your budget and the size of the space in which you are going to erect your artificial Christmas tree. With artificial Christmas trees coming in so many sizes and lighting capabilities from fiber optic lit to traditional lit it should be easy for you to find one that fits your taste and expectations.

Monday, November 20, 2006

How To Choose The Perfect Christmas Gift

Christmas is fast approaching and you are yet to finalize your christmas gift list. So many
people to buy for and so little time, how are you going to get it all done? Fortunately you have
two ears, two eyes, one mouth and a memory. These are the tools you can use to reduce your
shopping duties to a fun excursion.

Let's start with your gift ideas, first start by making a list of all the people you want to buy
gifts for. To get ideas of what you are going to get for each person start by going back to
conversations you had with the people on your list over the last year or two. What one thing did
they wish they had over everything else? what hobbies did they express an interest in? What
hobbies are they actually involved in? What are they currently doing in their lives? are they
going to school? are they taking courses at night school? Is there a course of action they are
contemplating taking but have not acted on?

All these questions can act as triggers for gift ideas for the people on your list. Giving gifts
based on the information you gathered above can result in unique gifts which the recipients would
be only too happy to receive. The amazing thing about these gifts is that some of them can be
rather inexpensive and even be homemade.

If by chance you were unable to gather information on any of the ideas listed above you can still
provide personalized gifts such as monogrammed towels, bathrobes or any item which can be
monogrammed and be of a practical nature. The idea here is to make a connection with the recipient
of the gift. This takes the act of gift giving beyond the commercialization of Christmas gifting.
An example of this in another area is this, recently I became associated with a group of new
people and one thing I did was to learn the names of the people in the group. I didn't make it
obvious like going up to them and introducing myself but by glancing at their name tags as they
walked by and memorizing their names. Later I would address them by using their names in normal
situations, this had a great impact on my relationship with several of them. I was provided with
tips and information that greatly assisted me in accomplishing several tasks. Some of this
information was held in the strictest of confidence for years until I made contact with members
of this group.

The point is that when your interactions with people are personalized those relationships are
treasured even more, usually all that is needed is a little effort on your part. The same thing
is true for corporate gifts at Christmas. The whole idea is to stand out from the crowd by giving
something that recipients in the company will treasure. You may have to do a bit of research
like calling up the receptionist at the company and asking what the President would like as a
Christmas gift.

With the advent of the internet lots of these gifts can be personalized and delivered unseen by
you the giver, specifically gifts to corporations. You can shop from the comfort of your living
room or office and avoid the crowds, yet you have as big an impact as if you spent hours walking
the shopping malls.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Christmas Trees- How To Choose The Right One.
The selection and purchase of a Christmas tree is an annual tradition for most families. Today, selecting the perfect tree is one of the highlights of many families' pre-holiday preparations. There are many types of trees used as Christmas trees, some of the different types are, the Douglas fir, Scotch Pine, Blue Spruce, The North Carolina Fraser Fir to The Noble Fir.
The selection of your tree will depend on a number of factors such as your budget and the size of the space you will be hosting your tree in. For a house a tree of about 6 feet is ideal, for a small size apartment or office a tree of about 4 feet is adequate. How you decorate your Christmas tree is a matter of budget and personal taste. However; the purchase of your Douglas Fir or Scotch Pine or Blue Spruce kicks off your yuletide festivities in earnest. For many people, decorating the Christmas tree is a favorite part of the holiday season. In fact, the Christmas tree is one of the most recognizable images of the season.
The person more commonly credited with bedecking the first Christmas tree is Martin Luther (1483-1546). The tradition to decorate the Christmas tree is about 500 years old. A Christmas tree is considered mature and ready for harvest when it reaches 6 to 7 feet, the most popular height desired by consumers. The more visible and less expensive cut Christmas tree is the Douglas fir. The most popular Christmas tree is Scotch pine. When a Christmas tree is cut, over half of its weight is water this should signal the necessity of getting your tree home quickly and erecting it in a suitable stand. To prevent a fire hazard later fill the stand with water even if you are not ready to decorate the tree. Remember that you will most likely be putting color lights on your tree which is a source of heat and can ignite a fire with the dried needles.
Decorating the tree (trimming the tree) is as individual as each family, further each member of the family will have their ideas of what should go to make up the look of the final trimmings. Some people like the traditional star at the top of the tree others like other things at the top just for variety. Again the body of the tree can be festooned with anything from handmade ornaments to high priced Christmas items bought in the store. Remember this is a time of celebration, joy and togetherness of friends and family. Compromise is one of the keys to keeping the mood light, festive and in the spirit of goodwill to all.
What ever you buy some time needs to be spent learning which species you prefer, The Douglas Fir, The Scotch Pine, The Blue Spruce or another kind. Obviously your final choice will be determined by your budget and the size of your hosting space. The Christmas tree is a symbol of a living Yuletide spirit and brings into our lives a pleasant aroma of the forest. Like many other Christmas traditions, the universally-popular Christmas tree is derived from a fusion of Christian ideas with the older pagan traditions. Whatever its origin the Christmas tree has added much joy and pleasure to the festive tradition over the years.
Philip McDonald maintains http://christmas-alert.blogspot.com/ This content is provided by Philip McDonald. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

Monday, November 13, 2006

How To Make Christmas Decorating Fun.
Christmas decorating indoor and outdoor can be fun and the whole family can have a great time on the adventure. One of the favorite things to do for making a cheap yuletide ornament is to use holiday cards that you received from previous years.

One type of outdoor addition is a homemade Santa sled, this can be a great component of the holiday scene. Perhaps the most iconic and popular air blown Christmas decoration is the snowman. Those of us living in the northern hemisphere wish for snow so that the kids can make a snowman on Christmas day.

No well dressed home is complete without an assortment of poinsettias. The Original Popcorn on a String addition is made to be enjoyed by everyone. Another old favorite outdoor classic is the color lights strung along the outside of the home and on trees and plants in the garden.

The Christmas goat, a popular Swedish Christmas ornament is most often made of straw and is the oldest Swedish yuletide symbol. The purpose of outdoor Christmas decoration is to spread the joy of the season to every aspect of your home and garden . Another favorite addition is the Christmas bush, a native plant which sports tiny red-flowered leaves.

Although only 1% of Japan's population is Christian, Christmas decoration is prominently displayed during December, and the feast is generally observed. In Germany, Thanksgiving is not observed but homes are dressed up as early as October. As with other western traditions, celebrating the holiday season is beginning to seep into the Asian culture.

Another plant used for generating the festive mood is mistletoe, which the Druids believed protected against injury. Mistletoe, hung up as a seasonal decoration is a symbol of love and reconciliation. A common northern European Christmas decoration is a little white church on white cotton, red lights showing through Gothic windows.

If you want to add color to your outdoor efforts this season, then use the simple and inexpensive ways. Dressing up the outdoors at this special time of year holds a special place in people's hearts. It adds a touch of holiday magic to the landscape, tabletop, or outdoor trees. Color lights strung are essential to any outdoor holiday theme.

Outdoor Christmas decoration can be just as fun and just as festive as the indoor version. An inflatable outdoor ornament can turn a bare yard into a delightful display that people of all ages will love. On that note, there is a garden supply company just outside Toronto which transforms its property into a magical winter wonderland every Christmas. People often travel hundreds of miles to observe this spectacle each yuletide.

When planning your Christmas decorations remember that your yard can be used to add to the festive mood by stringing some lights on a tree or a bush in the yard, particularly attractive are flashing color lights, this doesn't have to be an expensive effort. However, adding a few seasonal touches to the outdoors can help to bring a greater communal feeling to your neighborhood.

These efforts can be homemade and inexpensive, in my childhood home money was in short supply to put it mildly. However each yuletide my mother transformed our home in an attractive beautiful show piece with some inexpensive color paper made into ribbons hung from the rafters of the house. She used some of the same color paper to make bunches of flowers, they were so beautiful that each year she would have orders from other women in the neighborhood. These flowers were carefully displayed all year long in the living rooms of the neighborhood.

So remember that the Christmas decorating traditions you establish today can have a positive impact on into the future. In the end isn't that what a part of Christmas is about?

Philip McDonald maintains http://christmas-alert.blogspot.com/ This content is provided by Philip McDonald. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Christmas Music a Timeless Treasure
Christmas music is some of the most fun choral music out there, both to sing and simply to drink in. Some of my favorites are more contemporary, but several have quickly become standards in our home. Yuletide celebrations are always incomplete without carols and Christmas music is always special. Holiday carols are the best way to get yourself in the festive spirit.

Carols are perhaps one of the best known associations to Christmas traditions. But, the stock of this music is so vast, that one can easily choose those which suit their individual style and mood. The reason we like this joyous music is because we only listen to it occasionally, so it brings back memories and warm feelings. For me, traditional yuletide music is the quickest shortcut to sentimentality and nostalgia; yet I also love to explore new groups and find new sounds.

Choosing your holiday music can be critical, there may be members of your family who likes the traditional music while others will like the more contempory, the most important thing is to find a happy balance for all. Singing carols is probably my favorite thing about this joyous season. Traditional pop Christmas music is glorious, if staid, and will always have its place of honor. Carolling is something the season cannot do without. Carols are written to accompany worship services, it enlivens the hosting of friends and guests in celebration, and to tell again the ancient story of the Nativity.

It is great during the holiday season, but you can also download Christmas ring tones all year around, too. When you choose to begin your Christmas music is fully up to you. It is the topping on the decorations, in my perception. Currently, the group that comes to mind with Christmas music is the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. One of the great things about this music is that it is steeped in tradition. Amongst my favorite holiday music is the old religious ones, like my absolute favorite 'Oh Holy Night', but I enjoy Frosty the Snow Man as well. Johann Sebastian Bach's yuletide music is a seasonal joy, blending both secular and religious moods.

Setting the holiday mood, carolling is as essential as tree trimmings, Yule logs and gingerbread men. And one of the most beautiful ways to hear our favorite yultide music is with a choir and orchestra. Christmas music is unique, naturally endowed with a cyclical shelf life that allows each hit to stay fresh forever. It is more enjoyable every day as the big day approaches. This music is not just heard in stores and churches anymore - but on a number of radio stations in the nation's top 100. Listening to holiday music is a beloved tradition that helps get us into the spirit of peace on earth and goodwill to all.

If the usual Christmas songs are really grating on your nerves, try different music, like classical or choral renditions of carols. Wherever you go this time of year, holiday music is almost inescapable. The holiday lights are flashing and the carols are playing softly in the background while you work.Traditional Christmas music is some of the most fun choral music out there, both to sing and simply to get you in the festive mood. A better class of this music is out there, waiting to be heard by those who seek it. Typically, holiday music is recorded in the summer or early fall, a time not conducive to thinking about snow, holly and rosy cheeks.

The karaoke machine can be used in place of the traditional piano and is a great way to spread the festive cheer with friends and family in singing the old standards. Yuletide music is great and when mixed with an alternative style, there are great results. With the varieties of holiday music available from the traditional to the contemporary, from CD's to ipods indulging in Christmas music at this time of year is not only easier but can be made to fit your taste with little effort.

Philip McDonald maintains http://christmas-alert.blogspot.com/ This content is provided by Philip McDonald. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

The Christmas Card- To Send or Not To Send?

Strictly speaking, a Christmas card is a greeting card specifically oriented for the Christmas celebrations of December 25th. The Christmas card is a message to all the people here and gone that we will remember them every year when the weather gets a bit colder. More often than you might like to admit, a Christmas card is the only news your friends and family get from you over the year. A Christmas card is the way to bring our love and wishes of happiness and health to all people we know. The Christmas card is a charming addition to traditional seasonal pop music. In theory sending a Christmas card is a gesture of regard so straightforward that it borders on the banal. Most Christmas cards are printed on a premium paper and comes with matching envelopes.

The Christmas card is not a Danish invention, but came to the country from England where the first Christmas card was sent in 1842. The first Christmas card is thought to have been designed by British artist John Horsley in 1840, a Royal Academician. The Christmas card is a Victorian creation, which began as a kind of stationery. The founder of the American Christmas card is said to be Louis Prang of Boston who printed a wide variety of album cards and visiting cards. The corporate Christmas card is a later invention, that wonderfully heart felt standard issue message from one company to another company. In fact the corporate Christmas card is a relatively modern invention.

A more recent invention is the photo Christmas card which is not likely to make it to the rubbish bin but more likely to be kept and either framed or placed into a photo album. A personalized Christmas card is a wonderful way to connect with friends and family during the holiday season. A handmade Christmas card is a great present to give. Even Prime Ministers send Christmas cards, Mr. Tony Blair's Christmas card is illustrated by a picture of him and his young family on the steps of No 10 Downing Street. When you want to surprise someone with a unique gift for Christmas, a personalized Christmas card is the best option for guaranteed originality. If the photo Christmas card is high quality, it will surely be displayed on friends' and family's mantels long after Christmas is over. A hand-made Christmas card is always a treasure to keep. Receiving a handmade Christmas card is somehow more special. Of course, making your own photo Christmas card is becoming easier than ever, with the introduction of the low cost color printer and the many services on the internet which specialize in making personalized Christmas cards.

The most apparent of what you’re looking for in a Christmas card is the look. Think the Christmas card is the least important part of the Christmas present? Sending a business Christmas card is more than just a nice touch; business Christmas cards let you build a relationship with your clients and prospects. Creating a company Christmas card is an opportunity to send festive greetings to clients and customers. You may think a humorous Christmas card is hilarious, but this is not the time to test to see if your clients have a good sense of humor. Make certain that the type face used on your business Christmas card is large and clear enough for all your clients to read easily.

A Charity Christmas Card is a simple and effective way of giving to someone less fortunate than yourself. Of course, in the age of email, a Christmas card is a rare opportunity to send a message (such as a key fingerprint) by a pretty secure channel. The most important consideration for choosing a Christmas card is the picture. A lighthouse Christmas card is one of the most sought after cards during the festive season. It has to be said that the life of a conventional Christmas card is extremely short, particularly those sent business-to-business, you can increase the length of its life by making it stand out.

In order for a photo Christmas card to be aesthetically pleasing, great care should be given to the photo that will be used. So when Christmas is here celebrate with family and friends the gift of a photo Christmas card. There are many photo Christmas card companies on the internet that are offering unique, original, personalized designs. In spite of all the difficulties, there are few things more valuable or worthwhile than enclosing a family photo within a Christmas card. With your family's photo and the wording of your choice you will have the perfect Christmas card to spread the Christmas joy this season. Surprise loved ones with updated family photos on your personalized photo Christmas Card.

We truly believe that Christmas just isn't the same without a personalized Christmas card on your mantle, above the stockings, and we're here to help. Nothing personalizes this holiday season more than a photo Christmas card. Remember that a well thought out and personalized Christmas card can help build and cement relationships. Personalized Christmas greeting cards, what better way to stay in touch with close friends and family members than to send them a Christmas card. Surprise your child this Christmas with a personalized Christmas card from Santa Claus and the North Pole.

Should you include a business card with your business Christmas card? Should you send business Christmas cards to clients and customers? Business cards are Powerful ways to promote your Business. This allows you to feature your company logo, business related photographs or personal photographs as part of the finished Christmas card design. Get just the right business Christmas card or corporate holiday card for your profession or occupation. Will you be sending a business Christmas card to your clients this holiday season. Just let me say, forgetting to send a card to an important client is considered the ultimate snub in certain business circles. Business Christmas, Holiday and Thanksgiving cards can be personalized with your company name or logo. Most business professionals believe that it is not tactful to include your business card in with a Christmas card, but I will leave that extra step up to your judgment.

Clearly the Christmas card is a must at this festive time of year if you want to show your how important friends, family and business associates are to you. The question is not, should you send a Christmas card but, what form should that card take. With the many options available to you from the e-mail card, to the photo card to the traditional Christmas card there is no reason not to show your appreciation to your friends and business associates.

Philip McDonald maintains http://christmas-alert.blogspot.com/ This content is provided by Philip McDonald. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

Artificial Christmas Trees Can Save Your Sanity

A prelit artificial Christmas tree can be the savior of your holiday season, with all you have to do at this festive time of year from attending office Christmas parties, buying the perfect Christmas gifts for each member of the family to planning your family christmas party, owning a prelit artificial Christmas tree can save you time and your sanity.

Of course, the greatest thing about getting an artificial Christmas tree is that you'll also save money. Not to mention an Artificial Christmas Tree is less likely to catch on fire. Unlike a fresh tree, an artificial Christmas tree is perfectly symmetrical, and this is an important point for some decorators. This is one more reason why the artificial Christmas tree is preferred. The best part of purchasing an artificial Christmas tree is that the height isn't guessed, it is dead on, is another reason why some people like the artificial Christmas tree. This artificial Christmas tree is advantageous as it makes transportation and replacement very easy.

The best time to order an artificial Christmas tree is about 6 weeks before the Christmas season actually begins. An artificial Christmas tree is not a fire hazard because they are usually made of fire retardant material. A prelit artificial Christmas tree is the perfect solution for anyone who wants to avoid a fight with an evergreen at any cost. The big fat round artificial Christmas tree is out and the slim artificial tree is in. And today's artificial Christmas tree is made to look just like a natural tree. One of the biggest pros to having an artificial Christmas tree is this convenience. An artificial Christmas tree is an investment that you'll want to protect so make sure that you pick a stand that can support it.

A prelit artificial Christmas tree is very convenient. A custom made artificial Christmas tree is a useful, beautiful gift for a senior citizen, a December wedding, birthday or wedding anniversary. Buying an artificial Christmas tree is similar to purchasing a real one. An artificial Christmas tree is a lifetime investment, rather than a one time cost that comes around every year. Choosing between a natural and an artificial Christmas tree is first and foremost a matter of personal taste, space and budget. An aluminum artificial Christmas tree is great if you're after a retro-look. One of the big disadvantages of having an artificial Christmas tree is that they don't have the Christmas Tree smell; however the advantages of the artificial Christmas tree can offset the lack of smell of the natural tree. One way to solve the lack of smell situation is to purchase pine air fresheners and strategically place them around the room in which you have your artificial Christmas tree.

Another advantage of your artificial prelit Christmas tree is storage, it can be protected in plastic storage boxes that stack atop one another in a corner of the basement. An artificial Christmas tree is cheaper and lasts longer. When buying your prelit artificial Christmas tree make sure it is certified fire resistant. Another case for the artificial Christmas tree is that you can buy a prelit artificial tree or even an artificial tree with fiber optic lighting. Whether or not to use an artificial Christmas tree can be a hotly debated topic in your household during the holidays.

To lengthen the life of the bulbs use extra household extension cords to plug in each separate section of your prelit artificial Christmas tree. This year, I am investing in a prelit artificial Christmas tree to save my sanity. Prelit Christmas trees are a great choice, especially when you're pushed for time during the busy holiday season. After struggling with wires and outlets for a couple of hours I decided that it was time for me to invest in a prelit artificial Christmas tree. Of course, when you do get a Prelit Artificial Christmas Tree, you should take a great bit of care in picking it. A prelit Christmas tree instantly brings festive cheer to your home. Unlike the natural Christmas tree, the prelit artificial Christmas tree doesn't require extra work once you have it put up.

The only question remaining now is, which artificial Christmas tree is right for you? Well only you can answer that, but keep the following in mind, your budget and the size of the space in which you are going to erect your artificial Christmas tree.
With artificial Christmas trees coming in so many sizes and lighting capabilities from fiber optic lit to traditional lit it should be easy for you to find one that fits your taste and expectations.

Philip McDonald maintains http://christmas-alert.blogspot.com/ This content is provided by Philip McDonald. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Christmas Vacations On Tropical IslandsBy Aimee C. Barnard
It’s 3 months before Christmas and if you want to get away from home during this holiday season, it’s time to make plans to ensure a stress-free Christmas vacation!
Some people may traditionally prefer to go where the snow is, where it’s freezing, and where Santa has no problems wearing ultra-thick clothes.
I recommend going where the sun shines the whole day, where you can frolic on white sand beaches and swim in the warm sea, where you can go shopping in exotic stores wearing only a pair of sandals and Bermuda shorts and a Hawaiian shirt.
Already excited? Well, read on and find out more about these 5 islands that you’re bound to want to visit during the Yuletide season.

Solitude In Fiji
Explore one of The Pacific’s beautiful and more popular islands, Fiji. Be right on a tropical island and not miss Christmas at all! You can easily go to Christmas-focused community activities if you really miss the yuletide season and experience Christmas with a Fijian twist. And if you really want to get away from it all, just go to the beach or laze in your very own bure ( thatched hut )
Activities: diving, beach, spa, snorkeling, island cruise, wildlife exploration
Ave. temperature during Christmas: 23°F -29°F

Exotic Seychelles
Seychelles was once referred to by British General Charles Gordon as the site of the Garden Of Eden and it’s difficult to disagree with him. Its pristine white sand beaches, turquoise blue water, and exotic blend of flora and fauna can easily make you think that this is the garden the Bible refers to.
Activities: beach, diving and snorkeling, sailing, honeymoon, wedding, island hopping
Ave. temperature during Christmas: 24°C-31°C

Tenerife Spain – Cultural & Wildlife Vacations
Who says the whole of Europe is a winter wonderland during Christmas? Go to Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands and you’re in for a big surprise. Dubbed as Europe’s winter playground, Tenerife, is referred to as the island of eternal spring. It is home to Spain’s 2nd highest peak, the Volcano Teide, has a flourishing national park, and of course some of the archipelago’s best beach hideaways.
Activities: Visits to archaeological sites, art and natural history museums, explore the Guimar Pyramids, nudist beaches, visit the national park
Ave. temperature during Christmas: 19°C-23°C

Holidays Down Under – Fraser Island Australia
If you want to be just a stone throw away from the Great Barrier Reef, be ensconced in wildlife, explore tropical rainforests and laze on pristine beaches, Fraser Island is the place to be. This World Heritage Site is rich in flora and fauna and is the world’s largest sand island.
Activities: wilderness safari, rainforest treks, dolphin watching, camping, fishing
Ave. temperature during Christmas: 20°C-29°C

The Caribbean Beat In Barbados
It’s the Caribbean island where dignitaries such as Tony Blair and Bill Clinton indulge in holiday pleasures. And you too can go this Christmas and see what the island has to offer. Bask in the beauty of this delightful Caribbean island; experience its very unique culture which was formed by the distinct and unique influences of the British and the Africans. And laze on its 95 kilometers of unspoiled white sand beach.
Activities: beach, water sports, underwater exploration by submarine, golf, cave exploration, island safari
Ave. temperature during Christmas: 24°C-28°C

Aimee C. Barnard lives for tropical holidays under the sun. To read more about her travel experiences and island getaway tips, go to http://www.tropical-island-vacation.net/index.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aimee_C._Barnard

Here is my friend Rose's Christmas story.

STOCKING SURPRISE


Stuffing stockings ready for Christmas morning usually took awhile when the children were so much younger. I had to make sure they were fast asleep and that was the hard part. With all the excitement, they often peeked where I would be doing last minute table setting and even preparing food for Christmas dinner. By the time I was ready to do the stuffing, it would be one or two in the morning.

One last check, and with them fast asleep, I tiptoed down and stuffed the stockings with all the small items I gathered earlier to fit each stocking. As I pick through the pile of stuffers, I imagined my children’s faces every Christmas morning. The stockings were the first to be assaulted – with gusto! It didn’t matter that the items were small. Each item provided varying degrees of surprise. Price didn’t matter. Their faces were worth the previous sleepless night.

My son was 14 and my daughter 9 when their dad and I went our separate ways. The children lived with me and I vowed their Christmas would be as it used to be. Happy and full of surprises! At those ages, they already knew who Santa was. Santa, however, will always be part of our Christmas. It became tradition. Among the presents under the tree, there would always be one for each child from Santa. That goes for Mom, as well as the two cats.

On that first year, weeks before Christmas, I bought the stocking stuffers. This time, I was organized. I gathered them in shopping bags labeled with each child’s name. All I had to do was to take each bag and empty the contents into each stocking. Easy as pie!

Our first Christmas by ourselves was upon us. The kids went to bed at almost midnight. It was late and I was tired. As usual, I finished the table setting and put all the presents under the tree and went to bed.

Christmas day at around 8 a.m. the kids came into my bedroom and woke me up. Tradition dictated that they could take down their stockings only when I was up. So, I got up. They led me into the living room and went towards the stockings.

There was a duet of cries, “Mom!” Instantly, I saw what was wrong. The stockings were empty. Oops, I forgot to stuff them the night before. Too tired, I went to bed, leaving the stuffers in the shopping bags still hanging somewhere in my closet.

I laughed. They laughed with me. They teased me about forgetting. I retrieved the shopping bags and sheepishly gave it to the kids. That was the first and last time I forgot about the stockings.

My son is 24 and my daughter almost 20 now. True, I have stocking stuffers tucked in a secret place in my bedroom – ready for Christmas morn. That Christmas long ago when I forgot remains fresh in my memory. I will remember this time.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Finding The Right Personalized Christmas Gift
Once you find the best personalized Christmas gift for a certain category of gift recipient, you will be so relieved. I was so happy when I found something that was good for boys or girls from age’s two to five. I just could not believe that I had found a personalized Christmas gift for such a large portion of my shopping list.
Kids love puzzles. The best personalized Christmas gift for a kid is a puzzle of their name. The idea is inspired. I will probably break my own arm patting myself on the back for figuring this out, but so be it. I’ve already given out a dozen of these puzzles and they are always a big hit.
The best personalized Christmas gift for a family is an ornament with their names inscribed on it. I have made these for my siblings and their families. I have also given a personalized Christmas gift of an ornament to new babies for their first Christmas.
There are many different people you can give a personalized Christmas gift to. I once gave an old boyfriend a personalized Christmas gift of a love poem etched into a Lucite heart. He was bowled over by the gift. We split up not long after that and I wish that I had gotten that Lucite heart back.
Technology has come a long way and it is never more apparent to me than when I am looking for a personalized Christmas gift for someone. I made my mother a pillow with a photograph of my late father on it. I had taken the photo and copied onto fabric. She loved it.

Our Family Christmas Photo
Every year I get excited about the Christmas photo that will come in the mail from each of my kids. There is a tradition in my family that every Christmas, a family picture is taken and mailed out with the annual Christmas family newsletter. When my kids were young, I decided that I wanted to record each Christmas in a concise way.
The way I came up with to record each Christmas was with a family Christmas photo and a newsletter that summarized each of our family member’s year. This tradition continued until my oldest son went off to college. I had known that the day would come that not all of my kids would live with me, but the first one leaving was really hard.
That was the first year that our annual Christmas newsletter had two photos. The family Christmas photo was me with my husband and only three of our kids. The other photo that I enclosed was that of our son in front of the sign for his college campus. I missed him not being in the family Christmas photo, but he had grown up and moved on.
Our annual Christmas photo kept going in the same direction, with one less kid in the picture every couple of years. My daughter was the first to get married and she sent me a Christmas photo with her and her new husband to send out with our annual Christmas newsletter. I thought that it was sweet that our tradition had grown to mean so much to her.
This last Christmas, our family Christmas photo just featured me and my husband with our pets. The newsletter, however, was filled with six photographs. My granddaughter had her first individual Christmas photo included where she was standing in front of the same college as her dad had attended.
I got out the Christmas photo with my son by himself that first Christmas after he left home and made a copy of it. I had it framed right next to the photo of my granddaughter in the same location, in the same pose. I gave these framed pictures to my son and daughter-in-law for Christmas.
I have a file now that is full to brimming with Christmas memories. I plan to take the entire newsletter collection and bind them into a book which includes each year's Christmas photo for our fiftieth anniversary which is coming up this year. I will give each of our kids a copy.

Our Family Christmas Photo
Every year I get excited about the Christmas photo that will come in the mail from each of my kids. There is a tradition in my family that every Christmas, a family picture is taken and mailed out with the annual Christmas family newsletter. When my kids were young, I decided that I wanted to record each Christmas in a concise way.
The way I came up with to record each Christmas was with a family Christmas photo and a newsletter that summarized each of our family member’s year. This tradition continued until my oldest son went off to college. I had known that the day would come that not all of my kids would live with me, but the first one leaving was really hard.
That was the first year that our annual Christmas newsletter had two photos. The family Christmas photo was me with my husband and only three of our kids. The other photo that I enclosed was that of our son in front of the sign for his college campus. I missed him not being in the family Christmas photo, but he had grown up and moved on.
Our annual Christmas photo kept going in the same direction, with one less kid in the picture every couple of years. My daughter was the first to get married and she sent me a Christmas photo with her and her new husband to send out with our annual Christmas newsletter. I thought that it was sweet that our tradition had grown to mean so much to her.
This last Christmas, our family Christmas photo just featured me and my husband with our pets. The newsletter, however, was filled with six photographs. My granddaughter had her first individual Christmas photo included where she was standing in front of the same college as her dad had attended.
I got out the Christmas photo with my son by himself that first Christmas after he left home and made a copy of it. I had it framed right next to the photo of my granddaughter in the same location, in the same pose. I gave these framed pictures to my son and daughter-in-law for Christmas.
I have a file now that is full to brimming with Christmas memories. I plan to take the entire newsletter collection and bind them into a book which includes each year's Christmas photo for our fiftieth anniversary which is coming up this year. I will give each of our kids a copy.

Chocolate Christmas Gifts
I think that the best Christmas gifts are chocolate. I have had a life long love affair with this tasty treat. I have never had a chocolate that I didn’t like.
I received a lot of Christmas gifts last year, but my favorites were chocolate. My husband was right on the mark when he bought me a tin of Mrs. Fields cookies and brownies. I served them at a tea party I had on Christmas Eve.
I have given my little sister some wonderful chocolate Christmas gifts over the years. She loves chocolate as much as me. Last year, I sent her dessert bars in three flavors: chewy fudge, zesty lemon and raspberry blueberry currant.
My boss appreciates Christmas gifts from employees even though she doesn’t celebrate Christmas. She likes chocolate, so I sent her Turtle Bars from Solomon’s Gourmet Cookies. She is Jewish and these treats were certified Kosher by the Chicago Rabbinical Council.
I sent my cousins containers of brownies for Christmas gifts year before last. They are still talking about them. Each tin had a pound and a half of brownies that were the richest tasting brownies that they had ever eaten.
Finding exceptional chocolate recipes has been a challenge. I like to order from online companies when I am sending Christmas gifts because they do all of the shipping for me. For people in the same geographical area as me, I like to make chocolate creations in my own kitchen.
I have Christmas gifts on my mind starting in late October. I make lists of who I want to give chocolate gifts to and what they might like. I have made biscotti for neighbors a few times and I like the way it comes out.
Biscotto makes great Christmas gifts. A good biscotti recipe is not very sweet and compliments coffee or tea. I have found that chocolate biscotto pleases just about every palate! It seems like most of my friends enjoy biscotti with gourmet coffee.
My sister had a Christmas Day wedding about ten years ago. I decided that one of her Christmas gifts from me was going to be the groom’s cake for her wedding. I made her a chocolate cheesecake with molded chocolate roses.
My niece shares my love of chocolate. She gave me a list of Christmas gifts she wanted the year she was ten and I just had to laugh out loud. She had listed twenty different things and half of them were chocolate!
I hosted the family for Christmas dinner last year. After we opened our Christmas gifts, I served a gourmet chocolate mousse for dessert. I had worked perfecting it for the occasion and everyone loved it.
I do think that making extra Christmas gifts comes in handy when you have a lot of visitors during December. I make up a batch of chocolate Christmas candies and have them already wrapped to give to people that drop by. I think that maybe some people just drop by my house during the holidays because they know that they will get some yummy chocolate to eat.

Finding The Right Personalized Christmas Gift
Once you find the best personalized Christmas gift for a certain category of gift recipient, you will be so relieved. I was so happy when I found something that was good for boys or girls from age’s two to five. I just could not believe that I had found a personalized Christmas gift for such a large portion of my shopping list.
Kids love puzzles. The best personalized Christmas gift for a kid is a puzzle of their name. The idea is inspired. I will probably break my own arm patting myself on the back for figuring this out, but so be it. I’ve already given out a dozen of these puzzles and they are always a big hit.
The best personalized Christmas gift for a family is an ornament with their names inscribed on it. I have made these for my siblings and their families. I have also given a personalized Christmas gift of an ornament to new babies for their first Christmas.
There are many different people you can give a personalized Christmas gift to. I once gave an old boyfriend a personalized Christmas gift of a love poem etched into a Lucite heart. He was bowled over by the gift. We split up not long after that and I wish that I had gotten that Lucite heart back.
Technology has come a long way and it is never more apparent to me than when I am looking for a personalized Christmas gift for someone. I made my mother a pillow with a photograph of my late father on it. I had taken the photo and copied onto fabric. She loved it.

Different Styles Of Christmas Decor
I have come to realize that Christmas décor can encompass anything. I have seen so many different types of decorating and love them all. I think that I just love the spirit of the individual that shines through the creativity.
I have used many different themes for my Christmas décor over the years. I have had a single color theme several times. I had fun decorating for the Yellow Christmas and also for the Purple Christmas. My kids thought that those years were the most fun.
My mom had a friend when I was in high school that worked as a linguist for the United Nations. I thought he had the coolest job I’d ever heard of. He had a Boxing Day party one year at his house and his Christmas décor was very interesting. His theme was international flags. I was so jealous of all of his adventures.
I have a friend that teaches environmental science at the local high school. He had a Christmas party for his friends this year. I don’t think I’ve ever been to his house during the holidays and seen his Christmas décor before. He had an awesome blue nautical theme for his tree and mantel. It looked so serene. He had blue lights up on the outside of his house and an inflatable Santa surfing on his roof.
I have another friend that has decided to use St. Patrick’s Day decorations for her Christmas décor. She has a lot of fun hanging up four leaf clovers and putting Santa hats on leprechauns. She used to tell her kids that being Santa was St. Patrick’s other job. Her kids grew up with some very strange notions.
I’m not really very crazy about licensed characters all over my Christmas tree. It is just not my favorite Christmas décor at all. I still remember the Year of the Bob. My son was intent on decorating our whole house one year with Spongebob Squarepants decorations. It was hideous. I had to institute some more guidelines for acceptable Christmas décor after the Year of the Bob.

My Christmas Cards
The week after Thanksgiving, the Christmas cards start arriving. I enjoy displaying Christmas cards all throughout December. I pin them to red ribbons and they hang everywhere. The number of Christmas cards I receive usually increases by a couple every year. I currently send out eighty three cards to family and friends and receive about sixty.
I enjoy Christmas cards because they seem to come from all points over the globe. I have made many friends over the years and have been very vigilant to remember to include them all in my mailing of Christmas cards each year. I like to let everyone that has affected me in my life to know that I remember them and care about them.
My favorite Christmas cards are the handmade ones. Those are the only ones that I have ever done anything beyond saving them in a large envelope with all the others from that year. I have taken a few of the super creative Christmas cards and had them framed for display. My favorite handmade Christmas cards come from my niece. The best one featured three sparkling trees and I had it framed.
I don’t dislike any Christmas cards. They are really just a way for friends and family to reach out to one another and let them know that they are still thought of and cared about. I don’t usually display the bulk Christmas cards with plain pictures in my living room, though. I’m also not a big fan of overly religious Christmas cards. I do not put the Christmas cards with nativity scenes out in my den.
I think that sparkles and glitter are wonderful additions to Christmas cards. All of the extra embellishments are what makes them so special. In addition to the appearance of the card, I like to send and receive cards with personal notes inside. I am always excited to hear good news from old friends. Christmas cards with included photos also keep me feeling like I am part of my friends’ lives.
I encourage my kids to send out their own Christmas cards to their friends. Even if their friends don’t reciprocate, yet, someday they will. My kids make their own Christmas cards with white tags and craft items. My daughter prefers using stamps and ink to create Christmas cards. My son prefers to glue lots of small shiny objects to make his masterpieces.

My Christmas Tree Storage Habits
I’ve never given much thought to Christmas tree storage before last year. I have alternated over the years between real and artificial trees. My first husband was allergic to real trees, so we always had artificial.
My first Christmas on my own, I bought an extremely inexpensive Christmas tree to decorate. I had a lot of fun putting icicles all over the tree and making it be exactly what I wanted it to be. That year Christmas tree storage consisted of putting it back into its box.
My father decided that he wanted a pre-lit artificial tree and gave me and my husband the one he had been using previously. This was a good quality artificial, one that would have been far out of my price range had it been new. We used that tree every year following until our divorce. He kept the tree and used the gigantic box it came in as Christmas tree storage.
I did not have a need for Christmas tree storage for the next several years. I used real trees for decorating and did not save the tree until the next year. I liked the smell of the real trees and thought that I would always use them. My second husband and I would get the largest tree that would fit in our home and decorate it together.
My third husband doesn’t really get into the Christmas spirit at all. He refuses to decorate and I think that if I tried to discuss my Christmas tree storage needs with him, he would laugh. I’m also pretty sure he would say no to the purchase. This would be categorized as silly and unneeded.
I think that I could use a better plan for Christmas tree storage. Last year, when I opened the box that my tree was stored in, there were cobwebs inside. I never found a spider, but it made me realize that there had to be a better way.
I’ve never noticed artificial Christmas tree storage bags before. I guess that I was never looking. I have found them priced as low as nine dollars for the size tree that I use now. I think I may just buy one and just start using it. They look perfect for protecting my artificial tree from bugs and dust.

Christmas Ornaments From Bronner’s
You can buy Christmas ornaments year round in Frankenmuth, Michigan. There is a place there that is open 361 days a year named Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland and it is a magical place. They sell artificial Christmas trees, Christmas lights, Nativity scenes, Christmas ornaments, decorations and collectibles.
Not only does it feel like Christmas every day at Bronner’s, but you can attend the Silent Night Memorial Chapel for meditation. I have seen so many wonderful Christmas ornaments for sale at Bronner’s. It seems like they have something for everyone. I know that I have found more Christmas ornaments there than anywhere.
My sister buys dated Christmas ornaments every year. She likes to pick out one special dated ornament for every year and place it on the tree. She says it helps her remember all of her blessings. I think that her collection of Christmas ornaments is lovely.
I have a few Christmas ornaments that fall into the category of super fragile or incredibly old. I still want to display them, but not on my tree where they could be damaged. I have purchased ornament stands at Bronner’s for these Christmas ornaments. I can display them very nicely in the lighted curio cabinet in my den.
I changed my decorating habits when I started having kids. I used to have very delicate and sedate themes for my tree and mantle, now I decorate with Christmas ornaments that convey a feeling of fun and whimsy. My daughter was with me when I visited Bronner’s when she was four years old. She immediately became enthralled with the pink smiley face ornaments. I was a little taken aback at just how pink these Christmas ornaments were.
I ended up buying those smiley face Christmas ornaments for her. My son thought that it made our tree too girly and he asked me to take him out to Bronner’s to even the tree out a little bit. He found some really odd Christmas ornaments and I told him that he could pick out twelve individual ornaments or one box of twelve ornaments that were all the same.
The Christmas ornaments that my son picked out that year were all individually chosen. He picked out a slice of pizza because it is his favorite food, a taco, a snowman, a multi color round ball covered in sequins and many other colorful and interesting items. The tree was so sweet that year, because my kids had so much

Decorating With Poinsettia Christmas Flowers
I love Poinsettia Christmas flowers. My mother used to buy a lot of them and place them around the house during the Christmas season. The bright red and the milky white ones both make me remember my childhood and all of the great Christmases that I’ve had.
I was visiting Frankenmuth, Michigan when I came upon a place called Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland. This place was absolutely amazing. I had never heard of this place before and saw a bunch of billboards for it when I was leaving Detroit on a road trip. I stopped to see if they had any decorations with my favorite Christmas flowers.
Bronner’s had a lot of ornaments and decorations that featured the Poinsettia Christmas flowers. I was surprised because up until then, the only decorations I had found with Poinsettia Christmas flowers were artificial flowers at the craft store. Those don’t look very realistic to me.
The selection of Poinsettia Christmas flowers at Bronner’s was good. I bought ten sets of six shatterproof Poinsettia Christmas flowers for my tree. In one afternoon, I had found and purchased the ornaments that I had always wanted and didn’t know existed. They are exquisite and so brilliantly red.
I decided that I would come back again before Christmas to see if Bronner’s had any more Poinsettia Christmas flowers on something that I needed. I’m glad I decided to return to Bronner’s because when I did go back, they had a shipment of new silver Poinsettia Christmas flowers holographic light set. The sets only had ten lights per string, so I only bought enough sets to decorate my mantle.
While I was on my way out, I spotted some three inch glass ornaments on a display near the main entrance. I hadn’t noticed them on my way in. They had Poinsettia Christmas flowers hand painted on them. I bought all that they had on the display and was done with my Christmas decoration shopping trip. My tree and mantle looked glorious that year featuring my very favorite Christmas flowers.

Christmas Collectibles For My Children
One of the things that I decided when I started having kids was that they would each have their very own Christmas collectibles. My sisters and I still fight about who is going to get which pieces of our childhood Christmas collectibles that were treasured equally by all of us. It has been impossible to decide and our mother has had to remain in possession of everything.
When my first child was born, I bought for her a small Snowbabies figurine. This was her first of many Christmas collectibles to come. I have gotten her a new Snowbaby every couple of years. She has a favorite figurine; it is named “Love Will Make It Grow”. I bought it for her the year she was in kindergarten.
My son has a completely different collection of Christmas collectibles. When he came along, I decided that I wanted to have two Christmas trees, one for the whole family in the den and one for the kids in their bedroom. I started buying my son reproductions of Klaus Reinhardt tin ornaments. He has a collection that includes over fifty tin stars.
My second daughter was also included in my Christmas collectibles shopping after she came along. I bought just one Jim Shore figure for her first Christmas, and then I didn’t buy her another piece until she was about eight. Since then, we have added four more. Her collection is not huge, but it has some really nice pieces.
My last daughter has been adding Precious Moments Christmas collectibles to her collection like crazy ever since she got her first job. She just loved the few that she had gotten from me over the years so much that she decided she was going to continue the collecting with a vengeance.
I think that having their own Christmas collectibles is going to be good for my kids. When they leave home, they’ll be taking part of their identity within our family with them. I will be a little sad to see my son’s tin stars or my daughter’s Jim Shore snowman go. It will be nice to be able to visit my kids and their Christmas collectibles in their new homes and with their new families.

My Unitarian Universalist Take On Christmas
At Christmas, a Unitarian Universalist can feel caught right between Christ and Santa Claus. Most Unitarian Universalists are uncomfortable with the notion that Jesus is the reason for the season and they also don’t want to elevate the materialism of Santa Claus. Most Unitarian Universalists are left puzzled and perplexed at Christmas. It is important to reflect about Christmas and what you want it to mean in your home.
For the most part, Unitarian Universalists respect Christian traditions that celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus. A lot of Unitarian Universalists take Martin Luther King’s birthday very seriously, so why not the birth of Jesus? It is a good opportunity for Unitarian Universalist parents to talk with their children about the teachings of Jesus. Christmas and Easter may be the only times that you do this, but it is important.
Community service is a large part of a Unitarian Universalist’s life. A nice Christmas ritual my family has is related to the service of others. My children make a Unitarian Universalist Helping Others box to put money in for the coming year’s donations. We also light a special Christmas chalice that we made together and make promises about how we will help others throughout the year.
Some Unitarian Universalists celebrate the Winter Solstice with some intensity. I have attended many gatherings on this day to celebrate the cycles of the Earth. One family that I know does not celebrate Christmas at all, only the Winter Soltice. They have a big celebration that ends with Sun Shakes made with orange juice and vanilla ice cream.
We don’t have a name for it, but each Christmas my family all exchanges names. The idea is that you are supposed to do three good deeds for the person whose name you drew during the coming year. This is a little like a Secret Santa, but it has been altered to fit with our family’s values.

Christmas Alert: What is This Blog About!

Christmas is fast approaching, soon it will be here. Santa is busy making toys, making repairs to his sled, getting ready for that joyous night.

This blog is made to help you in your preparation for christmas, I will be posting articles on, personalizing christmas gifts, Christmas decorations, christmas collectibles, christmas flowers, christmas ornaments, christmas cards, christmas gifts, christmas tree storage and many other christmas related topics.

Thanks for visiting now head on over to any of our topics relating to christmas.