Free Holiday Articles

How To Save Money On Your Holiday Gift Shopping

2011-10-07T19:59:00.000-07:00

by: Robert Landis

With the rising costs of gasoline and heating oil, as well as rising interest rate charges, saving money is at the top of everyone's wish list this holiday season. Here are some tips on getting the most out of your gift shopping dollars this holiday season.

1. Set a budget. This seems like a simple step, but many people fail to do this before starting their holiday shopping. Figure the total amount you can afford to spend on gifts and then divide that number by the total number of people on your list. This gives you the average amount that you should spend on each person. Try and stay within this limit for each person on your list.

2. Compare Prices. With the internet, it is easy to compare prices on most products. Some websites even offer customer comments which can give you valuable information on quality, ease of use, customer service, and overall ratings for many products. Some of the best websites for this are nextag.com, epinions.com, pricegrabber.com, and shopping.com.

3. Go to websites that give major discounts. These websites offer products at discounts of 50% or more. Selection and quantity may be limited but, if they have what you are looking for, you can save a lot of money. Some of the best websites for this are www.overstock.com and www.incrediblediscountgifts.com.

4. Shop at Thrift stores or Consignment Shops like the Salvation Army stores. You can find unique items at bargain prices, but be sure to check the quality of all merchandise. Remember, all items are sold "as is" and there are no returns.

5. Make your own gifts. Family members and friends will appreciate the time and thought that you put in to the gift, especially if it's personalized just for them. Some ideas are photo collages, scrapbooks, and framed photos or personalized gift baskets filled with the recipients favorite coffees, teas, candies, jams, and baked goods.

6. Watch for Sales, Coupons, and Discounts in your local paper and online. On the internet just type in "Coupon Code", "Sale", or "Discount" into search engines like Google or Yahoo.

7. If you must shop with Credit cards, use only credit cards with low interest rates. Shop around for the lowest rate cards and stay away from high interest department store cards.

About the author:
Robert Landis is a freelance writer based in York PA, specializing in Personal Finance topics. All articles are free and may be reprinted without permission.

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The Making of Holiday Events

2011-10-07T19:57:00.000-07:00

by: Cyndi Seidler

What's your vision of this holiday season? Creating a memorable holiday is like orchestrating a major production. There are people, props, and agendas involved.

Appoint yourself as the producer and bring together the pieces to transform your vision into a reality.

Start a list of what activities would give you the most pleasure, and then decide what the main event(s) will be.

Are you going to be throwing a party? Having a tree-trimming party? Doing charity work? Going on a light-gazing tour? You might need to do meal planning, party planning, travel planning, and/or gift planning.

Break down your holiday event(s) into action tasks. Set priorities and schedules of the activities that need to be carried out.

It's a good idea to keep all your planning information in a notebook binder. Put all your lists and information in this to use each year. Keep meal plans, special activity plans, party plans, gift ideas, holiday card lists, and travel details in the binder.

Get others involved. Delegate some of the tasks to family or close friends. After all, you're the producer, and producers do their best when they have a team helping them with the production.

Another piece of the holiday production would probably include meal plans. Decide on the menus and stock up on food early. It's even a good idea to prepare any food you can in advance. Or, maybe you may want to let someone else cook for you and have your meal catered? If you have helpers, designate a "desert team" to do the holiday baking.

No holiday production list is without a separate gift list. Get creative with gift-giving. Make a list of gift ideas that you can create yourself (or buy at affordable costs).

Think of something memorable and personal, something useful, something consumable, something that grows, maybe some excursion experiences.

If you have some artistic abilities, make a drawing, put your song on a cassette tape, or write some prose and mount it. How about putting together some personal mementos, like an album of photo collections, or a memorable video?

Of course, if you have any gifts that need to be mailed, you must also be timely in shipping these out. With postal security, this is important in ensuring the gifts sent by mail arrive in time.
The same applies to getting holiday cards mailed out. Schedule this on your calendar so that they are received a week or two before the holiday.

Now, a good producer is only as good as they can stay within a budget. So, establish a budget and be realistic on it.

It's best to try and break down a budget for each activity. More too often, people resort to using credit cards for their spending needs. But try to adopt policy to do cash-spending. You won't have to look back "after the fact" that you're heavy in debt.

Decorating the home for the holidays is yet another part of the production that helps put people in the holiday spirit. You can even make a family event out of this.

By the time the holiday events arrive, you just might be nominated to win the Holiday Awards!

About the author:
"Organizer to the Stars" Cyndi Seidler is an author, syndicated columnist and professional organizer. She's a frequent media guest, and has been helping individuals create organized lifestyles since 1994. Her methods have helped prominent celebrities such as Sinbad, Eric Roberts, Karen Black, Tisha Campbell, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Larina Adamson, Bobbi Billard, Billy Sheehan, and Spencer Davis get a grip on their hectic lifestyles.

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Keep Seniors Independent and Involved -Practical Acts of Kindness

2011-10-07T19:55:00.000-07:00

by: Ginny Dye

Sometimes elderly people can be fierce about maintaining their independence - some would say downright stubborn. But it is hard to give up taking care of oneself and give the reins over to someone else. It can diminish their spirits to depend on others to do tasks they used to do so easily.

How can you help without taking away their independence?

Following are five ideas from the free e-book, 101 Ways to Change the World. Use them to stir up your own ideas. Let’s keep our seniors involved in life – they are a valuable commodity!

1. If you have an old computer that still works, take it to an elderly person.
• Teach how to operate it to send and receive email. Give them a connection to the world.
• What a great way to keep them connected to their family and friends who are probably online too.
• Their kids and grandkids will think they are so cool, and be so impressed that they mastered the computer!
• Become an E-mail Pen Pal with them yourself!

2. Help someone around the house who is elderly or sick. You could:
• Paint
• Garden
• Mow the lawn
• Shovel snow
• Take out trash.
Just look around. You’ll be able to discover what needs to be done. If there is an extensive list of things to do, enlist the help of a couple other people - take a lunch along and make it a party! The senior will appreciate the help and the company.

3. Take daily walks with an elderly neighbor who doesn’t feel comfortable or safe going out on their own. Exercise will help keep them mobile and keep their spirits up, too. And you may just learn tidbits of history and wisdom from their perspective.

4. Birds are always a delight to watch for those who are homebound.
• Take over a bird feeder and keep it filled with birdseed.
• Hummingbirds are fun to watch. Keep their feeder filled with fresh hummingbird nectar for hours of entertainment!

5. Help the elderly or homebound decorate for the holidays. They often miss out on the fun of holidays because they aren’t able to handle the traditions and decorations. Yet they usually have boxes of items that made their holidays special over the years. Make sure you return to put them all away!

There you have it – five simple ways to make a difference in an elderly person’s life. All you have to do is make the decision to help and then do it. It’s just that simple!

About the author:
Author Ginny Dye shares practical acts of kindness that will make a difference in our world. Get 96 more tips on how you can make a difference. Go to and request 101 Ways to Change the World"

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Holiday Planning Tips For Busy Moms

2011-09-21T22:15:00.000-07:00

by: Aurelia M. Williams Ahhh, the Holidays…… The Thanksgiving turkey comes out of the oven golden brown, with an enticing aroma that fills the entire house. All the china is in pristine condition and not a single piece in the set is missing. The family is gathered for holiday pictures, the children are poised perfectly; hands to themselves, not a hair out of place and their smiles are shining brightly for the camera. Then just as the photographer is about to capture the shot… you wake up!

Let's be realistic ladies. Without proper planning, the holidays are anything but a holiday. Just look at the list of things that need to be done: Shopping, cooking, cleaning, decorating, sending holiday mail, the list goes on and on.
Let me clue you all in on a few key questions that you should ask yourself in order to have a holiday season free of stress and worry, and instead filled with fun and laughter:
What types of holiday celebrations do you want? For example: Do you want to have an immediate family only holiday affair or an extravaganza including immediate and extended family plus a few friends? Once you've thought everything through and decided on the type of holiday gathering you would like, you can then start making your plans.
If you are ready to get a head start on organizing yourself, your family and your holiday check lists, then keep reading:
Holiday Cards: Start early! I use a holiday card list that I derive from saving names and addresses from holiday cards my family has received in past years. I created a simple, computerized list that is easy to edit and print onto address labels. Be sure to stock up on stamps so that when you have your cards signed, stuffed and addressed you can affix a stamp to them and make one, simple trip to the Post Office.
Holiday Gifts: There's nothing like getting a HUGE credit card bill in the mail at the start of the New Year. Many of us tend to want to be generous when shopping for holiday gifts. While your generosity will be appreciated at gift giving time, keep in mind that it is very easy to succumb to "impulse buying" and go all out on your holiday shopping. While your intentions may be good, your pocketbook may be singing a different song. Set a budget and stick to it – your bank account will thank you for it after the start of the New Year.
Wrap it up: Wrap your gifts and place nametags on them immediately after you bring them home, then store the gifts in a secure spot. This will cut down on those late night wrapping sessions that I am sure we ALL have experienced a few times, if not every year.
Baking & cooking: If you will be cooking during the holidays, it is important to plan your meals ahead of time. Be sure to stock up ahead of time on all the necessary non-perishable baking ingredients such as flour, sugar and spices. Create a list of your holiday menus and a list of the ingredients you will need to prepare each of those meals. Also, try to think of a few dishes that can be prepared ahead of time and then frozen as an extra timesaving measure
Delegate: This is one of my favorite tips. Be sure to enlist the help of your family or friends. Sit down and discuss what needs to be done then ask for volunteers. If no hands are raised, simply assign small tasks to each of them. Whether it is arranging for a babysitter so that you can escape for a child free day of shopping, passing the shopping list onto another family member or friend so that they can pick up the items for you, or letting the children decorate your home. Be sure to get the whole family involved in the holiday preparations so that you will not be overwhelmed.
Enjoy: Whatever you decide to do, remember to relax and enjoy yourself. You and your family will have much fonder memories of this holiday season if you are not spending it pulling your hair out.

Win a Super Shopping Spree and Never Have to Buy a Gift Again

2011-09-21T22:12:00.000-07:00

by: ARA

(ARA) - The holiday season ushers in a time of joy and a spirit of giving -- as well as frequent frustration at finding the perfect gifts for the special people in your life. But as the gifts add up, so do the bills. Wouldn’t it be nice to do all your holiday shopping without having to worry about money? You now have a chance to make that dream a reality for all your gift needs.

Lillian Vernon Corporation, a leading national catalog and online retailer, has launched a new sweepstakes. The grand prize is $25,000 of Lillian Vernon products, the first prize is a luxury trip for two to New York City, and the second prize is a year of fresh flowers.

The grand prize winner will receive a $25,000 Lillian Vernon super shopping spree over the next decade. With this prize, the winner can stock up so they never have to shop for a gift again. The winner may choose from over 6,000 products including housewares, holiday and seasonal décor, children's toys and furniture, organizational products and gifts for all occasions that can be personalized free of charge, a Lillian Vernon trademark.

First prize is a three day/two night luxury trip for two to New York City, complete with roundtrip airfare, hotel accommodations at the Intercontinental Central Park South, an ultimate spa day at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon & Spa, dinner at the famous Tavern On The Green in Central Park, and two orchestra seats and an exclusive backstage tour to Billy Joel's “Movin' Out,” Broadway's Tony-award-winning musical that features music by Grammy Award winner Billy Joel and choreography by the famed, Tony Award-winning Twyla Tharpe.

Second prize is a year of flowers: 52 beautiful, seasonal fresh bouquets delivered to the winner's home every week from The Flower Club.

Residents of the continental United States can enter by completing the sweepstakes entry form on www.lillianvernon.com. Customers are automatically entered when they make a purchase from Lillian Vernon online or the Lillian Vernon catalogs. Contestants are allowed one entry per day until December 31, 2003, and they are encouraged to visit the Web site to re-enter every day to increase their chances of winning. Complete contest details and official rules are on the Web site and order forms of the Lillian Vernon catalogs. Winners will be chosen in January 2004.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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Courtesy of ARA Content
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The Power to Succeed

2011-09-21T22:10:00.000-07:00

by: Neil Millar

It’s amazing how we fool ourselves... while at the same time believing we are doing what’s best.

Let me give you an example. I overheard a guy telling a group of friends, over drinks, how he had become fed-up with work. Guys being guys, they immediately started to come up with options to fix the problem – ideas like changing company and changing jobs. That was when the guy got all logical…

‘Yeah, but I need to pay the mortgage and my kid’s education and we’ve got a holiday planned for the Bahamas and…’

I interrupted. ‘How much do you need?’

‘A hundred grand a year,’ he replied.

‘What’s more important,’ I asked, ‘your happiness or the money?’

Of course he said happiness. Then he got all logical again. ‘But I can’t be happy unless I can pay the mortgage and give my kids the best and have great holidays.’

‘How many hours do you work?’

‘Around fifty.’

‘And how do you feel when you get home?’

‘Tired.’

‘What would your kids prefer, a father who is worn out for forty eight weeks of the year but has four weeks to entertain them per year or a dad who is a real Dad all year round?’

The conversation went on, me questioning, him justifying what he perceived as logic.

Yet it’s not logic, is it? It’s not logic to deny your heart’s desire to change life when it’s hurting you. The mortgage, the kid’s education, the holidays are just stuff. And, like most people find after a heart attack or a divorce or an accident, is that this ‘stuff’ is not that important. What’s important is something else…

Life!

The problem is we got “Conditioned Logic” – “logic” transferred to us by society: friends, family, schools, college, the media, religion etc. We took it all on and felt we had to behave in a “conditioned” way. The repetition of that conditioning is fine for a while, but when we end up doing something we don’t love, each time we do it takes a little of the soul away. Let me put it another way.

What gives you the power to succeed is what you perceive to be logic. Real power is not necessarily doing what society dictates. Real power is often something else. It is that knowing that comes from nowhere to tell you, you must do something different.

It might seem logical to have the house, the car, the private education, the holiday, but is it powerful. What is powerful is, to say I am not happy and things must change; I’m not killing myself for forty-eight weeks just for four weeks of pleasure; I’m not excited by my work and I’m willing to live in a smaller home if it means I can have more peace, less stress and fall back in love with my partner.

It’s not all about the stuff, is it? It’s about happiness and love; happiness and love of your partner; happiness and love of your children and family; happiness and love of your work. If you have that then you have it all.

Now that’s the power to succeed!

Does your current way of living support that?

Best wishes

Neil

About the author:

Inspiration and thoughts that are often mind-bending can be found at Neil Millar’s website you can also sign-up to his Life Purpose newsletter with Unstoppable Life and obtain a copy of one of his books FR>EE.

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Flannel -- A Tradition That Never Goes Out of Style

2011-07-17T20:17:00.000-07:00

by: ARA

(ARA) - Gadgets are good, books can be beautiful, sweaters can be sensible, and sexy lingerie -- well it’s seductive to say the least. But what would the majority of women (and their daughters) like wrapped up under the Christmas tree? You guessed it -- it’s a fabulous flannel nightgown to replace the thread-bare, worn (and well-loved) one they’re probably wearing Christmas morning.

And because flannel is long-wearing, it's actually become a once-a-year gift giving tradition.

Recently, at a MOPS (Mother’s of Preschoolers) gathering, the speaker shared ways to create memories for children that would last a lifetime. Lots of ideas were exchanged, but the one that got everyone talking was the idea of purchasing a new flannel nightgown every holiday season. One mother said, “Every Christmas my Mom let us open one gift on Christmas Eve. We always knew it was going to be a new Lanz of Salzburg flannel nightgown and we couldn’t wait to put it on --we didn’t care if it was a holiday print or a Lanz classic pattern -- we were thrilled!”

Kristen Donnell of Kristen’s Pajama Company, who sells hundreds of Lanz of Salzburg flannel nightgowns, notes, “All my customers have flannel nightgown stories. I have had fans of Lanz recount stories of their grandparents wearing Lanz flannels when the Austrian company was newly established in 1938. This was only 48 years after Christmas became a national holiday in the United States. Many of my male customers say they can’t show up on Christmas Eve without a Lanz flannel nightgown under the Christmas tree.”

Traditions are a part of the holiday season no matter what you are celebrating. A particularly bittersweet story was retold to Kristen in a recent customer e-mail. A woman wrote that a favorite Hanukkah tradition was receiving a Lanz flannel nightgown that matched the one her mother wore on the last night of Hanukkah. She said that although her mother was no longer alive, she has continued this tradition with her own family. And though some in the family were boys, she included them by giving the big guys and small a new pair of plaid pajamas.

Certainly the tradition of flannel pajamas was born out of necessity, when there was no such thing as central heating, and once away from the hearth, rooms -- whether in castles or cottages -- were cold. Flannel’s soft but dense weave was the perfect fabric to chase away the chills for everyone from newborns to newlyweds.

Lanz of Salzburg understood that flannel was practical, but as practicality gave way to a more modern way of dressing (and that included sleepwear) they designed fun and feminine patterns that could make wearers feel good inside and out.

So no matter whether you are giving or receiving flannel this year -- for the first time or the 50th -- you’re not just exchanging sleepwear; you’re part of a wonderful tradition that just might be with your family and friends for generations.

Kristen’s Pajama Company has the complete selection of Lanz of Salzburg flannel nightgowns, including matching mother/daughter prints and women’s sizes. For ordering information, visit www.kristens.com or call toll free (866) 574-7836.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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Courtesy of ARA Content
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Have a Christmas Party-a planning guide

2011-07-17T08:25:00.000-07:00

by: M Johnsona

This is a favorite time of the year for many people. Why not
take one night in December and set up a nice holiday
party. Plan a small get together with family and friends.

It is a great excuse to get together. Plan it early in
December so it doesn't conflict with all the Christmas Day
events. Before you get too deep in the planning see how many
people will be able to come. Then base your plan off that
number.

I like to make it a simple potluck meal with everyone
bringing part of the meal. Whatever works, Then you can fill
in the blanks.

All you need for a small get together is a few decorations,
set the table and chairs up, refreshments, music and some
fun games to play.

Try to set up a couple of different seating areas, so people
can just sit and talk while others play games.

It is a great night and really is nice to see everyone while
they are in the holiday spirit. Here is a short guide to
give you some ideas of what a party entails:

1. Pick a night
2. Invitation phone calls
2. Plan food needs based on what others are bringing
3. Shopping for food, refreshments, decorations and games
4. Verify with phone calls 7 days prior to party
5. Clean house
6. Decorate and set up chairs
7. Any last minute cooking and food prep
8. Set table
9. Greet the guests
10. Relax and enjoy the Christmas Party, it is just a casual
event.

About the author:
M Johnsona operates the
website

A great source for Christmas tips and ideas.

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Holiday Entertaining Made Easy

2011-07-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

by: ARA

(ARA) – Every year around this time, the number-one complaint people make is that there isn’t enough time to get everything done. You have to put up the lights, decorate your tree, shop for gifts, and send out cards. As if those tasks weren’t stressful enough, a lot of people also decide to add holiday entertaining to the list.

There’s no getting around the fact that putting on a holiday party is going to be a lot of work; but if you plan ahead, you’ll find it makes all the difference. Whatever you do, keep it simple. That goes for everything from decorations to the menu.

“You should spend the holidays enjoying the company of your friends and family, not slaving away in the kitchen,” says “Rosemary,” resident chef at Tastefully Simple, a Minnesota-based company that sells easy-to-prepare gourmet foods primarily through home taste-testing parties. The holiday season is their busiest time of year.

Here are some great party ideas Rosemary thinks will be very popular this year. They feature foods that are gourmet, yet easy to prepare.

* Gift Wrapping Party (for charity or yourself)

Gift wrapping is one of those chores people love to hate. It requires precision and attention to detail, which can make it extremely frustrating at times. To take the edge away, why not turn it into a game. Call up a bunch of friends and ask them to bring a roll of paper each -- along with any presents they may need to wrap themselves. Attach a gift tag to each of the presents so they don’t get mixed up, then have your guests grab from the pile and start wrapping while you all chat and catch up on each other’s lives. The task will be taken care of before you know it. Since everyone will be busy, there is no need to serve a big meal. Offer your guests drinks and easy to prepare hors d’oeurves, such as Pesto Palmiers.

Pesto Palmiers

1/2 cup water

1/3 cup olive oil

1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped

2 frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed

6 to 8 oz. provolone or fontina cheese, shredded

Directions:

Prepare Dried Tomato & Garlic Pesto as directed on jar with water and olive oil; set aside. Sprinkle work surface with half of chopped parsley, roll out 1 sheet puff pastry into a 12 inch square over parsley. Sprinkle dough evenly with half the Dried Tomato & Garlic Pesto and 3/4 cup cheese; pressing gently into dough. Roll up one edge to middle of pastry sheet; roll up parallel edge in same manner so that the two rolls are touching. Repeat procedure with other sheet of puff pastry. Slice pastry rolls with sharp knife into 3/4 inch slices. Place cut-side up on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 14 to 16 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly; serve warm. Makes about 26 palmiers.

* Wine/Beer Tasting Party

In the invitation, ask each of your guests to bring along a different bottle of wine or beer. As each guest arrives, hand them a festively decorated bag with a bunch of small cups inside. Have a central place where people can find samples -- and leave ballots near each bottle. Ask your guests to sample all the different drinks, and vote for their favorite.

Your guests will probably be expecting to find cheese and crackers to munch on at this type of party, but why not wow them with Honey Teriyaki dip instead. They won’t believe you made it from scratch.. This appetizer can be served as a spread on a pretty holiday platter with sesame crackers in a napkin-lined basket.

Honey Teriyaki Dip

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 Tbsp. Tastefully Simple Garlic Garlic

1 cup chicken, cooked, diced

4 green onions, sliced

1/2 cup peanuts, chopped

1/4 cup Tastefully Simple Honey Teriyaki Sauce

Sesame crackers

Directions:

Combine cream cheese and Garlic Garlic; spread on large plate. Top with chicken, green onions and peanuts. Drizzle Honey Teriyaki Sauce over all. Chill. Serve with sesame crackers.

*Caroling Party

Here’s a great way to spread cheer throughout your entire neighborhood. Invite friends over to go caroling. Print the words to each song you want to perform on a piece of paper decorated with a holiday theme, roll it into a tube and tie with colorful ribbons. As each person arrives, hand them a roll, but tell them not to peek. Then, once you’re ready to go out and sing, divide people into color-coded groups and send them on their way.

When they return to your house, have dessert and coffee or hot chocolate waiting for them. Your guests will think you went to cooking school after they taste your Banana Toffee Coffee Caramel Pie, topped with red and green sprinkles. They won’t believe you when you tell them how easy the pie was to prepare. “I’ve served this pie at my own holiday parties and always get plenty of compliments. It’s one of my favorite recipes in our collection,” says Rosemary.

Banana Toffee Coffee Caramel Pie

4 ripe bananas, peeled and sliced

6 oz. pkg. vanilla wafer crust or butter shortbread crust

1/4 cup Tastefully Simple Creamy Caramel, warmed slightly in microwave

1 cup chilled whipping cream

1 Tbsp. Tastefully Simple Toffee Coffee

Shaved chocolate (optional)

Directions:

Layer bananas in bottom of crust. Drizzle Creamy Caramel over. Beat cream and Toffee Coffee with electric mixer in bowl until stiff peaks form. Spread over bananas, swirling top of mixture decoratively with spatula. Top with (optional) shaved chocolate and additional Creamy Caramel. Chill at least 1 hour and up to 6 hours. Cut pie into wedges and serve.

You can find these and hundreds of other easy to prepare recipes on Tastefully Simple’s Web site. Just log on to www.tastefullysimple.com and click on the link that says recipes.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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Tipping For The Holidays: Who To Gift And How Much?

2011-07-17T08:18:00.000-07:00

by: Daniel Karpelman

The holidays are the time of year to share your love and appreciation to the most important people in your life. For many, that includes those people who provide support and services throughout the year. From your favorite babysitter, housekeeper or the hair stylist who always gets your cut just the way you like it, a tip - enclosed in an envelope with a handwritten note - is sure to be appreciated.

But how do you know how much to tip?

Holiday tips will vary according to your means, the city in which you live and the type of relationship that you have with the person being tipped. That being said, here are some general guidelines for a few of the outstanding individuals who might be on your list:

* Newspaper person: $15-$25 for daily, $5-$15 for weekend
* Doorman: $25-$100
* Building Custodian: $20-$30
* Building Superintendent: $30-$100 depending on building
* Housekeeper: A week's pay or more
* Babysitter: Two nights pay, or a small gift
* Hair stylist: The cost of a session, plus a small gift
* Personal Trainer: $50
* Parking Attendants: A half-month's garage rate divided among attendants; or $10-$20 per person

If giving cash doesn't feel quite right, is too formal, or policy prohibits it, why not give a small gift? Of course, the challenge of finding a gift for someone you might just know professionally or see only occasionally is you might not know what one item they would appreciate most.

Gift certificates are a versatile and personal way to show your thanks. And while the USPS does have a policy against monetary gifts to postal carriers, nobody said that you can't put a gift certificate in the mailbox. But how do you decide from which store to buy their certificate?

Imagine giving a gift certificate where your recipient can choose the store! GiftCertificates.com offers a SuperCertificate® that lets the person receiving your gift pick from over 200 top stores, restaurants, spas, jewelers and more. It's the gift that's always appreciated because it also gives the gift of choice.

Other people who might enjoy a SuperCertificate® include:

* Teachers
* School Crossing Guard
* Mail carrier (USPS Policy: "Cash equivalent can't exceed $20")
* Co-workers
* Your Administrative Assistant

By giving the gift of choice, you can make the holidays shine bright for someone special with your goodwill. Those who work so hard all year to make you smile are sure to appreciate and remember your generosity.

About the author:
An avid gift giver, Daniel edits gifting advice for the premiere website for gift certificates to hundreds of merchants including the most popular stores, airlines, hotels, theaters, restaurants, online services, and more.

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Gift Ideas for Families

2011-06-24T18:51:00.000-07:00

by: ARA

(ARA) - Video games, scooters, new gadgets and the hottest new toys -- the holiday shopping list can go on and on and cost quite a bit of money, and choosing gifts can be very stressful and time consuming. Why not simplify your shopping by selecting a single gift that the entire family can enjoy?

Buying one gift eliminates the anxiety of trying to find exactly the right toy or the correct size and color as the perfect gift. When choosing for a group, it works well to focus on a single theme or activity that the family enjoys doing together such as camping, cycling, hiking, or the arts.

Here are some ideas to help you start thinking about what to get for the families on your holiday list this year:

* DVD rental membership. A membership to Netflix, the online DVD rental service, helps bring the joy back to movie watching and provides a gift the whole family will enjoy. Gift memberships are available in different monthly increments providing a family with free, unlimited access to a wide variety of movies for one month, two months, etc.

Netflix subscribers can choose from more than 15,000 DVD titles from over 300 genres including children and family, action and adventure, classics, comedy, documentary, drama, foreign, horror, independent, music and concert, romance and sports. There’s no waiting in line since movies are delivered to the family’s mailbox, no bickering and arguing over which movie to watch, and no late fees.

It’s easy to use: families choose the DVDs they want at www.netflix.com. Their first three selections are mailed to them first-class and usually arrive within three days. Since there are no due dates or late fees with Netflix, families can hold on to their three movies as long as they want. When they are ready to return them, new movies are automatically sent to them once the movies have been received. By having three DVDs out at one time, mom, dad and the kids will be happy.

* Traditional game sets. Bring back the nostalgia of family board game tournaments. Old favorites like Monopoly, checkers, Pictionary, Parcheesi and Trivial Pursuit board games are an entertaining way for the whole family to interact together. Or give a twist on a tried and true standard -- many board games are offered in new versions, like Monopoly’s Disney edition, or the Trivial Pursuit 20th Anniversary edition.

* Comfort food basket. Make your own gift baskets that include special foods for a family feast. You may want to do a breakfast theme with bottles of pure maple syrup, pancake mix and fruit; or a movie night theme with assorted popcorn flavors, malted milk balls, jujubes and M&M’s. Even wow them with your own homemade treats. A simple selection of holiday treats will be a surefire hit with the whole family.

* Hire a genealogist or historian to research the family’s genealogy or write the family’s history. Present it to them in a special book you design yourself.

* Collect as many favorite recipes as possible from family members. Format, copy and bind to create a one-of-a-kind family cookbook

* Need to shop for an active family that enjoys the outdoors or the arts? Give tickets to a sporting event, concert or theatrical performance that would interest the whole family. Shows like Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, and the Lion King often make seasonal appearances in larger cities around the holidays.

A family gift will not only cut down on your shopping list, it will also be a great excuse for everyone to spend time together. And isn’t that what the holidays are all about?

Courtesy of ARA Content

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Planning Creative Holiday Parties

2011-06-24T18:41:00.000-07:00

by: ARA

(ARA) - “You’re invited . . .” are always popular and welcome words around the holidays. If you’re like me, you love to host a party. But if you’re a hostess with the “leastest” amount of time, a party is a lot of work. Entertaining requires considerable planning and preparation because there are so many things to do.

Think about the parties you’ve attended and what made them special. Was it the food, guests, laughs, decorations, ambience? The parties I liked best were the ones that touched me in a personal way. A special party creates lasting memories for you and your guests. No matter who is on the guest list, the basics of organizing a party are almost always the same. What’s different is how you customize the details. Here are my tips to get you started:

* Make a master list of what must be done a month, week and day in advance and don’t forget the day-after cleanup.

* Decide what kind of menu you want as far ahead as possible and whether you want a sit-down dinner or a buffet. Think about every course from hors d’oeuvres, to appetizers, salads and dressings, breads, entrees, vegetables, desserts and beverages. Always include some healthy and low-calorie selections. Prepare and freeze whatever you can, so you don’t have to do it all in one day. Home baked cookies and brownies can be stored in tins; roasts, cooked the day before, can be served cold. Nibbles like crudités can be chopped and stored in plastic bags in the refrigerator. Order specialty items from the florist, butcher and bakery, and extra chairs and tables in advance.

* Buffets are usually easier than sit-down dinners. Avoid anything that can spoil when left out for hours. Utensils and napkins should be available everywhere there is food and drink. Tie silverware and napkins together with festive ribbons and a candy cane. Buy paper napkins with fun and witty sayings or personalized with your name or initials on them. Decorate tabletops with spray-painted gold pinecones, holiday ornaments and candles.

* Make or buy plenty of ice cubes and place them in a large galvanized tin bucket decorated with a big red ribbon. Using food coloring, make festive red and green ice cubes. To cut down on misplaced glasses and wasted beverages, buy holiday wine charms for every glass. For coffee or tea, use colored sugars or rock sugar stirrers instead of regular sugar.

* Before the party starts, place cloves, cinnamon and orange peels on a baking sheet in the oven. Set on a low temperature for an hour; the heavenly aroma will fill your house for hours. Mull spiced cider in a large pot on your stove for a warm winter drink with a holiday fragrance.

* Make your guests feel welcome from the instant they arrive. Line the driveway with luminarias and decorate the front of your house and lawn to set a celebratory mood. Place a guest book at the front door for expressing sentiments.

Family Parties

Ask guests to bring a family photo to make a personalized ornament for your tree. Childhood photos make great place cards for a sit-down dinner. Begin a family album, highlighting favorite recipes, anecdotes, pictures, and memorabilia. Include a family tree with small pictures.

Parties For Neighbors

Enlist at least two outgoing guests to help you make introductions. Instead of gifts, organize a future neighborhood activity where everyone can pitch in such as a spring planting, a summer block party, an Easter egg hunt, or autumn leaf raking. Give gift certificates of time to each other, offering to shovel snow in the winter, take care of pets while someone is vacationing, or baby-sit a newborn so parents can have a night out.

Parties For Co-workers

Organize a “Secret Santa” giveaway or ask your guests to bring funny gifts for a grab bag. Holidays are a good opportunity to meet the families of co-workers. Plan activities that allow everyone to mingle and learn more about each other. Ask guests with special talents to entertain. An aspiring magician can perform magic, someone who has a great voice can read “A Christmas Carol,” and someone who likes to sing can lead the caroling.

The goal of a holiday party is to put everyone in a festive mood and set the tone for the coming year. With advance planning and preparation, the host will be relaxed and everyone will have a good time!

For more festive party ideas, visit www.lillianvernonproducts.com.

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Gathering with Extended Family for the Holidays Doesn’t Have to be Painful

2011-06-24T18:38:00.000-07:00

by: ARA

(ARA) - Aunt Edna is upset because Cousin Billy is bringing his new girlfriend, and she doesn’t think she should have to buy her a gift. Sue and Harry’s family can only come on the Saturday before the holiday, and Aunt Judy insists that everything be home cooked. Considering the obstacles and opinions, why will Americans mob the airports and highways this holiday season, as they do every year, to attend gatherings with their extended families?

“People need to feel that connectedness,” surmises Charlotte Shoup Olsen, an associate professor of family studies and extension specialist at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan. “When everyone is together you get that sense of being part of a bigger community -- not in the sense that you live close by, but just in a sense of belonging. Holidays, especially, offer a good opportunity to build that family history together.”

According to a recent poll conducted by Harris Interactive and sponsored by Modern Woodmen of America, Rock Island, Ill., 90 percent of Americans attend a holiday event such as Thanksgiving or Christmas with extended family.

“Nearly all Americans in our survey (99 percent) feel it’s good for children to know their relatives and family history,” comments Sharon Snawerdt of Modern Woodmen. Modern Woodmen, a fraternal benefit society offering financial services, promotes strong family relationships through its many member programs as well as its Web site, www.gatherings.info.

Snawerdt adds, “Ninety percent of survey respondents indicated that spending time with extended family is one of the most important parts of their lives.”

Family Feuds

The holidays are a time for “peace on earth,” but that doesn’t stop Uncle Joe from fighting with Aunt Helen.

“Holidays are a time when people come home, and grown, mature adults will fall back into those old childhood roles in the family and past hard feelings resurface,” explains Olsen. “Big sis just can’t get over feeling that baby brother was spoiled rotten, even if they are both in their 40s.”

Olsen says that all family members should be included in the invitation, even the black sheep or the two family members having a feud.

“If someone refuses to come because so and so will be there, there is nothing you can do about it,” she says. “That is his or her baggage.”

Olsen offers some tips for how to handle family members who may not like to be in the same room with one another.

* Appoint a neutral member of the family to take on the role of mediator. (This person should use humor and tact to encourage guests to avoid touchy subjects. In other words, if Uncle Joe starts discussing Grandpa’s will, the mediator should gracefully make it known that this isn’t the appropriate time to bring up that topic.)

* Assign seats using place cards.

* Set up smaller table arrangements throughout the house.

* Limit alcoholic beverages. Alcohol makes some people braver and more confrontational.

Giving and Receiving

It wouldn’t be the holidays without gift giving, but as families grow larger many struggle with how to handle it. Olsen offers these tips:

* A grab bag. In this system, set a price limit and have each guy bring a guy gift and each gal bring a gal gift.

* A drawing. Each participant planning to attend the event draws a name from a hat (or via phone or email) and brings a gift for only that person.

* A homemade gift exchange. Crafts, food items and artwork are good suggestions. This is for the family willing to invest some time, but not as much money.

* A “time” gift certificate exchange. These can feature anything from snow shoveling to babysitting services.

* A kids-only exchange.

* A collection of donations for the local food pantry or group sponsorship of a needy family.

Finally, Olsen suggests forgoing the gift giving altogether and replacing it with activities even more meaningful. Modern Woodmen’s www.gatherings.info Web site offers a host of tips for making your family gathering fun. Aside from the standard board games and card games, your family may want to try these ideas:

* Games and Activities

-- “Picture Lotto” – Make your own game using copies of your family pictures.

-- “Frosty” – Use some toilet paper, construction paper and family teams to have some family fun in this interactive game.

-- “Unwrap the Gift” – This game uses a bag of candy or small gift items, a multi-layer-wrapped gift box and some music to create fun for the very young, as well as the adults.

* Scrapbook, photography and video ideas

-- A Family Time Capsule – It can’t get much easier than videotaping the festivities to save for posterity. You can incorporate interviews with family members asking them to share their favorite memories or a song.

-- Gathering Scrapbook – More than compiling a multifaceted record of a gathering, creating scrapbooks can be a rewarding. At your next family event have each family create a page. Take pictures that day thinking about each family, so you can get a representative sample. When the film is developed, place the appropriate pictures with that family’s page. Compile together and share at your next gathering.

“The important part of gift giving isn’t so much what you get, but prolonging the family time together,” says Olsen. “Instead of a gift exchange, you can think of activities or games to do together. You can sing carols or look over photo albums. You can view family videos or make a video heirloom. Any holiday tradition is an opportunity beyond eating to spend time together. You have a short amount of time together, but you want to make it a good memory for the whole year.”

“That’s one gift everyone will appreciate.”

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Holiday tree trends: Choose a new theme to decorate your tree

2011-06-17T21:49:00.000-07:00

by: NC

Choose a new theme to decorate your tree (NC)—Trimming the tree is an activity that captures the holiday spirit and reflects personal style. The decorating team at Canadian Tire suggests these new ways to dress up your holiday tree. Pick an entirely new theme or incorporate fresh touches to complement an existing look.

Top tree decorating trends

When considering a theme to complement your home décor, consider lighting, colour combinations, textures, and the mixing and matching of various materials.

• Modern metals – a contemporary, glowing look that starts with metals such as warm coppers, antique iron, glittery gold, rustic brushed tin or shiny silverplate. Mix with matte or shiny glass balls and metallic stars. Glitzy ribbon garland completes the look.

• Dramatic velvets – Velvet touches in rich red, blue or black can begin with tree decorations and carry through to the tree skirt, stockings and table linens.

• Red is hot – Traditional red looks new this year, when put with silver accents. Start with silver-beaded snowflakes, add aluminum and wire figures and deck with silvery garlands to complement rich red ornaments.

• Exotic ornamentation – Think beading, embroidery, Indian silks and jacquards. Add touches of elegance with jewel-tone glass ornaments trimmed with gold flourishes, beaded stars and snowflakes, sequined balls and beaded tassels such as those available at Canadian Tire.Instead of tinsel, try using beaded garland.

Tree chic

Tree decorating is fun and easy to do in any size space if you select the right tree:

• Pre-lit trees save you having to string lights on the tree and are available with multi-coloured or clear white lights.

• Fibre-optic lit trees are novel and have a bit of a retro look at the same time.

• Small spaces require a narrow tree. Look for slim-line artificial trees, such as the 7 1/2-foot Greenwich Pine sold at Canadian Tire.

• Tabletop trees are ideal when there is no floor space available.

Buy a tree – help a family!

During the holiday season at Canadian Tire stores across Canada, $5 from the sale of every full size artificial tree will be donated to the Canadian Tire Foundation for Families to benefit local charities. The Foundation for Families is committed to helping families in times of need to ensure that life's basic needs are met — food, shelter, clothing and essential goods.

- News Canada

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Entertaining Tips:Add a touch of Italian to your dessert table

2011-06-17T21:47:00.000-07:00

by: NC

Add a touch of Italian to your dessert table (NC)—If you are invited to an Italian home this Christmas chances are you will be served panettone. Or it could be the reverse. If someone of Italian decent is invited to your home this Christmas there is a very good chance they will bring a panettone. Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the traditional fruit bread of the old country.

But this is bread with flare. Not only is it packaged festively in shimmering gold wrap for the holidays, it is also shaped like a tall cake – a bit like a chef's hat – and its ingredients of natural yeast, eggs and butter with candied fruit and raisins, make for great diversity at holiday mealtimes.

"If you serve it on a dessert table, consider warming it in a medium oven for a few minutes and then topping it with ice cream," says John-Paul Violante, spokesperson for Motta. "You may also receive tartufone, containing chocolate drops, or Il Pandoro frosted with white sugar, all of which are a delicious dessert treat on their own or with a favourite topping.

"It is also a custom to serve panettone at breakfast or brunch during the holidays. Its naturally leavened texture makes excellent toast, or even french toast, and many people simply like the fruit bread with butter and jam. At parties it is such a symbol of celebration it may be offered while you are sipping champagne."

The panettone phenomenon started in Milan at the turn of the last century, when bakers like Angelo Motta started experimenting with natural yeast. Within a few years the combination of eggs, butter and natural yeast transformed Motta's previously dense breads, turning them soft and light. The new bread also rose much higher than expected and it is well documented that the new panettone actually created a disturbance on the streets of Milan. During the holiday season of 1921, the crowds waiting for a peak outside the Motta Bakery had to be controlled by police.

Today, no less than 292,000 kilograms (650,000 pounds) of panettone are sent to North America every year. "Do check the label however," Violante cautioned, " to make sure your purchase originates from Italy, even if the packaging appears to be Motta. There are fakes of lower quality hitting Canadian shops from places like Peru.

"Authentic panettone is comparatively low in calories," he said. "The nutritional value listed on the Motta product indicates the ratio between carbohydrates, protein and fat is well balanced. A 100g serving of panettone for example, provides fewer calories than the same weight in crackers.

"Nutritional value plays a minimal role however in our newest product, Tartufone la Pralina," Violante grinned. "La Pralina is not cake or bread at all, but is rich and dark chocolate candy. These chocolates are packaged in a slim decorative container, just the right size for a Christmas stocking – and if you keep a few of them on hand they could make a classy little gift for unexpected guests."

- News Canada

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How to Save Money with Great Gift Ideas

2011-06-17T21:44:00.000-07:00

by: Ispas Marin

Want to save $1000 this year for very little effort? Gift giving is an area where impulse buying is a frequent occurrence. I was amazed to discover I was spending over $1500 or more per year for gifts. What have you spent for gifts in the last 12 months?

In my experience, gifts were last minute purchases for which money was no object. I now spend less than $500 per year for gifts. Take two hours of your life and save yourself $1000 or more per year on gift giving.

Get Prepared

Label 12 manila folders January - December. On the front of each monthly folder, write the days of the month. Next to the appropriate date on the folder, write in the occasion for which a gift and/or a card will need to be purchased. Then, write the amount of money you will spend on that gift. Inevitably, a wedding or birthday will come up that you didn't know about, so be sure you leave a little money left for these unexpected occasions.

The key is, don't exceed what you budgeted for each gift. For example, for Mother's Day, I will write $15 next to the holiday. I only allocate $400 for the known holidays and set aside $100 for the unexpected gifts such as a wedding or birth of a child. You may find that you are unable to budget $500 a year for gift giving. Just determine what you can afford and STICK WITH IT. Don't deviate from your budget.

Advance Planning

There are very real benefits to planning your gift-giving in advance. And, with a little creativity, you can bring your overall cost down substantially. Because you're prepared, you can actually enjoy the holidays. You won't feel financially strapped since you've budgeted for the gifts in advance. Since you've anticipated the gift-giving occasion, you will undoubtedly find the gifts on sale. It goes without saying, but the ideas is, NEVER PAY RETAIL - EVER!

Frugal Gift Ideas

Buy gift-wrap and greeting cards on sale, or better yet, make them yourself.

Shop for gifts all year long to get the best price. This may mean you could be buying Christmas cards in January.

Plant an herb garden for a friend. And, while you're at it, make one for yourself too.

Treat your partner/spouse to a homemade spa. Give him/her a gift certificate announcing a full one-hour body massage and facial. This gift is easily worth over $75!

Organize personal negatives and photographs for a friend or family member. Create a scrapbook, photo books, or even Photo CDs.

Make some creative hand puppets for a child if you have mismatched socks and buttons lying around your home.

Create a care package for a friend who recently got a new job. In a box or basket put some instant coffee, tea bags, aspirin, bandages, travel size toothpaste and toothbrush, along with a coffee cup.

If the friend is a female, add some trial size products such as perfume and hair spray. If you want to increase the value of the gift, give a portable umbrella.

Design a similar package for a recent high-school graduate student who will be entering college. You may want to even provide a $5 phone card instead of an umbrella.

Buy movie tickets... a gift where one size fits all. When movie tickets are purchased in advance from movie theatres, you can usually get them at half price!

Offer to make dinner for your friends if you're a good cook.

Give a single friend or elderly family member freshly frozen dinners for a week.

Mail out holiday cards for an elderly family member. if you're computer literate, put their address book into a database so the information can easily be updated.

Make a year's worth of greeting cards and personalized stationery for someone if you're a bit crafty.

Make enough birthday cards, anniversary cards, and blank cards for a year's worth of holidays. The thoughtfulness will go a long way throughout the year.

Help someone else get organized. If the person you need to give a gift to is an entrepreneur or extremely disorganized, make a filing system for the upcoming tax year.

Purchase gift-with-purchase cosmetic/perfume specials and split the gifts. Usually the gift is nicely wrapped, generic, and valuable enough to give away for an upcoming gift in your tickler file.

Getting Organized

In a drawer or closet, place the gift giving manila files, the greeting cards, gift-wrap and purchased gifts in chronological order. This is now your tickler file and shopping list to remind you what holiday is coming up.

About the author:
Gadgets, innovative products, gift ideas and unique gifts, an array of gadgets aimed at benefiting those that demand convenience, from http://www.cgets.com

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Tips On Hosting a Christmas tree trimming party

2011-06-17T21:40:00.000-07:00

by: Adam Lenk

Do you remember when the Christmas season was less of a hassle and more of a joyous time spent with family and friends? Back in the day, families just seemed to have enough time to sit back and enjoy the holiday season. Today, on the other hand, many people get harried, rushed and basically stressed out during the Christmas holiday. There just seems to be no time to enjoy any of life's simple pleasures when there is so much shopping and entertaining to squeeze in during a short period of time.

Take trimming the tree for instance. As a kid, I can remember the whole family gathered around the tree, Christmas music blaring in the background, warm home-baked cookies and cool milk in our tummies, as each of us took a turn to place our most precious and beloved ornaments on the tree. And when we got done trimming our Christmas tree, we loaded up and went to Grandma's and started the whole thing over. It was a time of being together, a time of love, laughter and celebration that the whole family slowed down to enjoy and appreciate.

Now, fast forward… I'm not going to say how many years; that would be too revealing. Let's just say to today. In many households the act of trimming the tree has evolved into more of a hectic holiday task than a chance to enjoy and celebrate the season. I've even heard many moan and groan about having to put up the Christmas tree when they got home from work. If this is the way things are at your house around the holidays, maybe you should think about hosting a tree trimming party to recapture that holiday spirit.

A Christmas tree trimming party can turn what was once viewed as a tedious chore into a joyous holiday gathering with your closest friends and loved ones. All you need is a tree, decorations, a few appetizers and your favorite people.

Here's how you can host a tree trimming party at your home during this Christmas season.

· Invitations. With so many competing functions to attend, even your closest relatives can forget an event if you only invite them informally. By sending out invitations, you can formally invite your closest family and friends and give them the sense that this is something worth attending. Invitations do not have to be expensive. You can pick up simple cookie-cutter invitations at the dollar store or party supply store. You can also print invitations up on your computer.

· Ornaments. Ask each of your guests to bring an inexpensive or homemade ornament to hang on your tree. In years to come, when you unpack these ornaments, you will be reminded of the special people who attended your tree trimming party and the memories that you created.

· Appetizers. While you do not need to plan a lavish banquet to serve your guests, you should serve a wide variety of appetizers which include hot and cold entrees and a little bit of the sweet stuff. If you have family members or friends who are health conscious or follow specific diets, keep them in mind also while you're preparing the menu.

· Setup. Place beverages and appetizers on several tables or counters, in a room separate from the tree, in a way that guests can flow freely around the buffet to choose their favorite munchies. Nobody likes to have to fight or squeeze their way through a tight crowd to refill their drink or get a little something to nibble on. The same thing goes for the "tree trimming room." Place ornaments openly on tables so that guests can move about freely and their special touch to the tree at will. Also make sure that there is plenty of space for guests to mingle and move throughout the house.

As you can see, a tree trimming party can be a great way to get a holiday chore done while enjoying precious time with your family and friends in a casual atmosphere. If you do not want to host a Christmas tree trimming party in your home every year, you can pass the torch on to other family members so that you can trim a tree at a different home each year but still get to spend quality time together.

About the author:
By Adam Lenk
For more christmas tips and articles visit http://www.christmasvisions.com

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Three Steps to Reduce Holiday Stress for Your Kitty

2011-06-17T21:38:00.000-07:00

by: Nancy E. wigal

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be
appreciated - send to nancy@cat-urine-odor-advisor.com

The annual holidays can be a very stressful time for your cat. This is the time of the year when that strange tree goes up, bright trinkets are hung (but all your cat hears is “No, no, bad kitty!” when she tries to explore them), delicious food is prepared (cats need not apply to eat it!), and lots of strange people come tramping into the house.

Some cats are in their glory, being in the middle of the tree decoration tradition, while others react to differences in the household by cowering in fear. Plus, if the holidays stress you out (raise your hand if they don’t; the rest of us would like to know your secret), it’ll be communicated to
kitty, and she may react in kind. And sometimes that fear and stress manifests itself in your cat urinating outside her litter box.

Here are three steps you can do to reduce holiday stress for your cat.

First, keep the household changes to a minimum. Think about where you might put the Christmas tree. If you put the tree
in a place that normally belongs to kitty, she could be mighty upset with you. Her reaction could range from hiding for days to urinating underneath the tree, if not trying to pull it down. Look for a location that pleases both the human and animal population in your house. If that’s not
possible, and knowing how cats can be, you’ll have to settle for pleasing one or the other. My bet is it’s whoever pays
the bills.

My cat Scout thinks the Christmas tree is a new litter box location. She’ll urinate on the tree cover. That’s a treat to clean! I have to keep a plastic liner under the tree to facilitate the clean up. I make double certain to keep all the litter boxes clean, but she feels a need to express herself creatively at this time of the year. It’s her way to contributing to the tree decorating tradition.

Next, if you own a scaredy kitty, confine her to a safe room when hosting holiday events in your home. If possible, confine your kitty in a place that guests won’t stumble in. Put her food, water, and a clean litter box in the room. Stop in from time to time to reassure her that it’s alright.

If there aren’t adequate hiding spots in her room, think about putting a box or large paper bag in with her, and encourage her to burrow in it.

Finally, purchase some natural flower essence compounds to put in her food or water all during the holiday season.
There are several good remedies that are recommended for situational stress. Add a few drops in kitty’s food or water
twice a day, and you’ll see results within 24 hours. Flowering essences are also safe for human consumption, so if you’re contemplating a fall into insanity, take a few drops yourself!

You can also purchase synthetic hormone substances that come pre-packaged in a bottle that plugs into any electrical
outlet in your home. This remedy lasts approximately a month.

Good luck, and happy holidays to you and your family – humans and animals!

About the author:
www.cat-urine-odor-advisor.com

I’m a cat lover who has had cats since childhood. Quite a few of these wonderful creatures are available for adoption
because they don't use the litter box, and the previous owner has grown frustrated trying to solve the inappropriate
elimination problem.

I have one of those cats, and I've successfully discovered the reasons why she wouldn't use her box. I created the Cat
Urine Odor Advisor to help cat owners understand the materials, solutions, and resources that work together to
eliminate cat urine odor from their homes.

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Dress Your Gifts to Impress

2011-06-07T21:50:00.000-07:00

by: ARA

(ARA) - Impress friends and family this holiday season by ditching the wrapping paper for a more personalized gift presentation. Creative packaging can heighten suspense and make gift exchanges more memorable and meaningful. The gifting experts at 1-800-FLOWERS.COM suggest the following wrapping ideas that are guaranteed to dazzle all those on your gift list!

Make reusable gift bags from silk, taffeta, burlap, chintz or another fabric; or from dishtowels, doilies or pillow cases. These are great for wrapping odd-shaped or un-boxed items in a hurry.

Use colorful shoelaces, artificial rope pearls, leather strips, vinyl cording, jump ropes, strips of netting, paper twist, raffia, hemp rope, twine or yarn as creative alternatives to ribbon when tying a package.

Mislead shakers and squeezers by adding marbles, bells, weights or padding to your package before wrapping it.

Design your own gift-wrapping paper by splatter-painting, rag-rolling, sponging or stenciling sheets or rolls of plain-colored paper.

Use sheet music to wrap concert tickets or other small gifts for the music lover.

Hide a small gift in a huge bouquet of flowers, a jar of penny candy, a bucket of marbles, a box of chocolates or a bag of popcorn.

Visit 1800flowers.com on the Web for unique gift ideas and more holiday fun.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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Make the most of renting a holiday/vacation villa in Orlando Florida USA

2011-06-07T21:49:00.000-07:00

by: Philip Howard

Going to Florida can be, for most, a holiday of a lifetime quite literally as families choose "The right time to take the Kids" and will only ever go once.

Imagine if your holiday of a lifetime turned into a complete disaster just because you didn't do some simple planning that the 'Kids' could easily do for you?

You may choose to stay in a hotel for ease of planning although the cost of a package deal can use up some of your spending money. Planning your own trip is more fun for all the family and staying in 'your own villa', in most cases, works out less expensive and offers you more freedom and relaxation. And it really isn't as daunting as it may first seem.

There are a number of 'Hints and Tips' that you can use to ensure you get what you want when you go to Florida and stay in a beautiful Floridian Home.

Follow these simple instructions and you will enjoy your well earned break in the Sunshine State.

1. Rule number one, get all the family involved in the choice of home you stay in. There are 1000's to choose from and if only one or two of you make the choice, and it doesn't suit the rest of your family on arrival, guess who gets the blame? You do! Let the 'Kids' search on web sites and be specific with what you are looking for, with all villas available for rent there are so many variations of amenities. So start by making a list of what you ALL want for example:- Private pool (not shared), near to a food store (walking distance for all), more than one Television, Free Internet access, Free telephone calls (local and International), short drive from main attractions (so you can pop back for a mid-day swim) and the list goes on.

Two important tips; Look for villas with a 'Virtual Tour' so you can see what the villa is really like as photographs can sometimes be deceiving. Also choose one with an on line guest book so you can read what others have had to say about the home, don't just take the owners word on how nice the home is.

2. OK, now you have found a place to stay check the availability; most advertisers have an up-to-date calendar of availability on their sites. DON'T BOOK IT YET, send a provisional enquiry and ask that the owner holds on to your booking until you get your flights confirmed. Most airlines advertise prices around 11 months in advance so shop early and don't think the longer you wait the cheaper it will become. In most cases the first price offered is normally the best, unless you are only one person traveling then you may get a last minute deal. But do shop around.

3. Once you have booked your flights re-contact the villa owner and 'use' them for advice. When all said and done if they want your business they should help you all they can. So ensure they work in your favor, ask about car hire, restaurants to visit (although not everyone has the same taste), best place for theme park tickets and any other burning questions you may have. A good home owner will know the area and should be able to supply you with a list of 'Do's and Don’ts' to ensure you make the most of your stay and the villa you are renting. Also you should be able to contact the villa owners Management Company in cases of emergency 24 hours a day, ask before you book what the policy is on this.

Finally, ask about cancellation there are many reasons for you having to cancel make sure you are aware of them before you even make a deposit or you could lose all your cash.

I trust this helps you plan, enjoy and re-visit the Sunshine State of Florida, and that you have a holiday of a lifetime.

About the author:
Phil Howard has been renting his beautiful holiday villa in Florida for over 12 years and he wants you to have the holiday of a lifetime. See why his florida holiday villa is occupied for over 40 weeks every year.

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The Day X-Mass Went Up For Sale

2011-06-07T21:47:00.000-07:00

by: Geela

My mom used to say, "we remember a friend with a flower." In other words, it's the intention and not the size of the gift that counts. But in a materialistic-driven society, where everything has a price tag even friendships and holidays, that's considered "uncool" and politically incorrect.

Remember the famous line from the hit movie "Harry Potter" which best captures today's mentality of excessive self-indulgence and a sense of entitlement, "But Mum, how could you get me only 22 presents for X-mass this year...?"

The unholy power and the negative effects of commercialism of the holiday season, which is perpetuated by the media (driven by profits), simply can no longer be ignored. We spend a lot of time and energy in a trance-like manner trying to survive the jungles of shopping malls while getting into further debt just to meet expectations that not only don't bring us joy at all but also create a sense of resentment as well. We feel darn too drained to even enjoy the holiday spirit and the fruit of our labor. To ease our conscious some of us resort to sending checks but avoiding any personal contact or having any meaningful spiritual connection with others. When the intent behind the act of gift giving is diluted with other reasons such as giving out of a sense of obligation with resentments attached to it, or when it's for PR purposes with strings attached, it defeats the whole purpose of the true spirit of the holidays.

What once used to be an experience we eagerly looked forward to, had become a major source of stress and even dreadful in some cases. That's because whether we realize it or not, in the rush to satisfy our insatiable desire to consume and "keep up with the Jones's" and because we were brainwashed to believe that "He with the most toys lives," rather then "He with the most joys lives," we neglect our spiritual roots and the fact that we are spiritual beings experiencing the human experience and not the other way around. As such we were meant to live a life of meaning and purpose by connecting with others with kindness and compassion through the act of giving with no strings attached. When we lose our spiritual foundation, we lose the biggest part of our existence that enables us not only to prosper with dignity and pride but also we experience an artificial type of joy and life itself becomes an empty experience devoid of true meaning and purpose or real joy.

Nowadays the holiday season is not talked about in terms of celebrating the miracle of life, faith sharing, giving and connecting with the community, but rather in terms of dollars and accumulating lots of toys that produce artificial joy. The holiday season is simply a geniuses marketing concept. In fact it has become so commercialized that the holiday season is the biggest marketing season. Businesses rise up or fall just based on that season alone.

But when we ignore the true beauty of a rainbow, we miss out on a great experience and limit our joy. Perhaps when we reflect on what really matters in life, we can once again discover the true spirit of the holiday season which has no price tag, and realize that indeed the best things in life are free, and great things still come in small packages. That's when we can once again find joy in simple pleasures that comes from connecting with real people which creates real joyful experiences in the face of any adversity or perceived lack.

The holiday spirit is all about faith and miracles too. But when it comes to faith and miracles, it's shocking to discover how faith in achieving a piece of the American Dream is increasingly fading away. The American Dream is becoming more and more like the Impossible Dream. So much so that most Americans today believe that their chances of winning the lottery are probably better than achieving the American Dream. With the current Enron type of economy, the huge debts and budget deficits (which are really a reflection of our deficit in integrity), most Americans believe that nothing short of a true miracle will restore an economy that was once the envy of the world.

And yes, we could certainly use a miracle to deliver us from environmental and spiritual pollutions (characterized by a lack of integrity and an erosion in morality) and restore failing systems and institutions from our lagging behind the world education, failing family systems, social ills (senseless violence in our schools, higher crime rates on our streets, substance abuse, increased youth suicide, perversion and more) to corrupted politicians who are more concerned with getting elected thus exhibiting love of power rather than power of love and fraud in businesses that has become an accepted practice in our society.

Many Americans believe that America has seen its finest hour, unless we adopt a new attitude. It would take a miracle to restore the greatness of this nation who was once a source of great inspiration and earned the respect of the world, but now we find ourselves going dangerously from a nation of innovative producers into a nation of insatiable consumers willing to get into debt just to support a lifestyle we can no longer afford because we feel compelled to keep up with the Jones's. This is a by product of the newly evolved American Dream which is based on materialistic values system and drives people to greed and corruption and the erosion of morality and integrity.

Since the holiday season is also about sharing the good news, so here it is. America who is now in a desperate need for healing, hope and transformation, can be revived by restoring integrity and wholesome values system and the true spirit of the American Dream, which was based on perspiration, innovation, risk and reward, creating total prosperity, joy and peace. Now that's something to get excited about and even sing Hallelujah!

About the author:
Copyright Â© 2004-2008, Geela
Author of "The American Dream"

Geela is an award winning singer/songwriter/composer, columnist, and author of the best-selling book "THE AMERICAN DREAM," her true- life story of how she came to America as a young immigrant with nothing and overcame incredible obstacles to achieve mega-success. She founded ONE SPIRIT, ONE WORLD to help children and promote a culture of peace and harmony. Get a free sample of her music and her book at

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Americans are Turning to Traditional Gifts for Holiday Season

2011-06-07T21:44:00.000-07:00

by: ARA
(ARA) - With daily lives run by cell phones, e-mails, and “personal digital assistants,” it’s no wonder Americans feel such a strong desire to reconnect with family, friends, and tradition during the holiday season. And what better way to reconnect than by giving traditional gifts with a handcrafted, personal touch?

Teddy bears have always been a welcomed site on Christmas morning, especially an old fashion teddy bear, like the one you remember as a child. The Vermont Teddy Bear Company handcrafts their teddy bears in the Green Mountains of Vermont and their bears feature the same fully jointed design as the first American Teddy Bear made in 1902.

“It’s an old fashioned high quality teddy bear, just as they describe in their catalog,” said Thomas Frazier, a Vermont Teddy Bear Customer from New Milford, New Jersey.

The company has over 100 bears to choose from and each one is guaranteed for life, so they’re sure to become old friends. Shoppers can choose a bear that reflects a person’s hobby, occupation, or lifestyle, such as the Snowboarder Bear or Biker Bear. The Baby’s First Christmas Bear can be personalized with baby’s name on the bib. Or try some tradition with a twist, with the officially licensed Elvis Bear perfect for that rock-n-roll lover!

In about the same amount of time it takes to wrap a present, holiday shoppers can enjoy stress free shopping by purchasing and sending a personalized, handmade Teddy Bear through the company’s Bear-Gram delivery service. In most cases, delivery to the recipient’s doorstep can be made within 24 hours.

“Last year for Christmas, I wanted to find my wife something special, and my purchase was all that and more,” said Tom Reich from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. “The bear was received ahead of the promised date and in beautiful condition.”

The company’s embroidery service makes it easy to get really personal for the holidays. Names and messages can be stitched or printed on many of the bears’ outfits, or on Santa hats. Every Bear-Gram gift comes with a free personalized holiday card and chocolate, all packaged in a colorful gift box with an air hole so the bear can “breathe.”

If you're looking for other traditional gift ideas, check out one of Vermont Teddy Bear's sister companies. The PajamaGram Company (www.PajamaGram.com) has over a hundred styles of sleepwear that can be sent as gifts in a keepsake organza hatbox complete with free lavender bath tea, "Do Not "Disturb" sign, and personalized gift card. The TastyGram Company (www.TastyGram.com) features the finest and freshest food gifts shipped directly from the kitchens and bakeries of our country's most talented culinary artisans. And Calyx & Corolla (www.CalyxandCorolla.com) offers luxury flowers fresh from the best growers around the world.

So no matter what your special plans are for the holidays, make sure you take the time to get personal with those you love. You can find teddy bears for loved ones of all ages online at www.VermontTeddyBear.com or with a five minute phone call to a Bear Counselor at (800) 829-BEAR.

Courtesy of ARA Content

About the author:
Courtesy of ARA Content

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‘Tis the Season for Toys: America’s Pop Culture Looks Toward Japan

2011-06-07T21:42:00.000-07:00

by: ARA

(ARA) – The hustle and bustle of the holiday season has officially arrived. As Jack Frost begins to nip at your nose, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the variety of toys available for your little ones. In perusing toy shelves during holiday shopping this season, you’ll be sure to notice the popularity of Japanese influence in American kids’ brands continues to dominate.

Go to the movies, walk down a toy aisle, or turn on Saturday morning cartoons and you’re more than likely to find all sorts of Japanese influence on current American pop culture.

A prime example of this trend is Power Rangers, the colorful taskforce of teen do-gooders that recently celebrated its 10th anniversary in the United States. But the Japanese have known about the Power Rangers for much longer than that. In 1975 “Himitsu Sentai Goranger!” first premiered on Japanese television and began the Ranger craze. It would take 18 years before Haim Saban would import the hit live action show for American audiences, replacing Japanese actors with a cast as ethnically diverse as the colors of their uniforms. Today in the United States, the Power Rangers craze has taken various forms of entertainment, including a wildly popular television series and top-selling toy line. Numerous licenses, such as books and video games, have made Power Rangers a holiday favorite for boys.

Master toy licensee Bandai America Incorporated introduced Power Rangers action figures, megazords, vehicles and playsets to American kids more than a decade ago. This has earned Power Rangers the distinction of “best selling action figure brand of all time.” Today, enough Power Rangers action figures have been produced to fill toy chest space in two thirds of U.S. households.

Another embodiment of Japanese influence, and extremely popular import fodder are robots. From Astro Boy to Voltron, robotic heroes of all forms have translated well from their native country to the United States. Most recently leading that trend is “Gundam” (and its various incarnations), an animated series and toy line with a rich, 25-year history in Japan that is attracting an increasing, loyal American fan base. Gundam features giant robots controlled by human pilots battling one another in stories set in the future.

In terms of collectibles, what sets Gundam apart from others is its focus on customization. “Action Figure Model Kits” are the core staple of the toy line. Fans assemble a highly articulated action figure from various parts, and are given an array of decals and paint schemes to make it their own. To ensure smiles of glee during this holiday season, Gundam guarantees to be a success.

With giant robots, megazords and black knights, it is easy to assume that only boys are leading this trend. But girls, too, are caught up in the flurry of the holiday spirit and enjoy the popularity of Japanese trends. For example, girls of all ages are attracted to the feline phenomenon known as Hello Kitty. Starting out as a greeting card character for the Japanese company Sanrio in 1974, Hello Kitty proved so popular she quickly adorned everything from backpacks to toasters. She made her way to the United States just two years later, and now you can find a Sanrio Surprises store in almost any mall filled with dolls, T-shirts, stickers and more.

So what is the fascination with Japanese influences and how do they crossover to American pop culture during the holiday season? Besides the unique appearance of the characters and toys, and the appeal of complex action sequences, what is so special about these imports that make audiences respond with such fervor? Some say it is the underlying message that accompanies the stories and images.

“There’s always a unique subtext to a majority of the Japanese characters,” says collector and fan Dan Goldberg. “I grew up watching Godzilla movies on Saturday afternoons, and while the initial appeal was watching these giant creatures battle one another, what you had underneath the surface was a parable about messing with Mother Nature and overarching lessons about good guys and bad guys.”

Following that same ideology, Power Rangers spend much of their time battling villains with less than noble intentions who attempt to wreak havoc with the delicate eco-system of the Earth. While themes of teamwork, camaraderie and victory over evil are constant among the Power Rangers storyline, the franchise is constantly reinventing itself each season with a new cast, new plot and a new line of “Megazords,” motorcycles and action figures -- making Power Rangers an ideal gift for your little ones.

Bandai America, which produces toys for both Power Rangers and Gundam properties in the United States, is more than happy to quench American audiences’ thirst for this recent cultural explosion during the 2003 holiday season. “Power Rangers is a proven phenomenon that works in the United States because the toys and the TV show work together to translate the brand’s theme of teamwork and good versus evil,” said Bill Beebe, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Bandai America. It will be difficult not to notice the Japanese influences in toy aisles during this holiday season, which is translating loud and clear to American culture – creating a whole new breed of entertainment in the United States. And what kid doesn’t like the trendiest gifts during the holidays?

Courtesy of ARA Content

About the author:
Courtesy of ARA Content
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Undercover Las Vegas Wedding Invitations Operation Unveiled

2011-05-25T21:43:00.000-07:00

by: Renae C Judkins

VegasWedlock is an online magazine dedicated to Las Vegas brides that provides Las Vegas wedding tips and tricks, but recently, they have revealed a secret kept undercover for months.
VegasWedlock recently unveiled an additional Web site to sell massive amounts of Las Vegas themed wedding invitations designed exclusively by professional graphic designers for the Las Vegas bride.
The Web site will now be the largest retailer of Las Vegas themed wedding invitations in the world.
The invitations were secretly designed by professional graphic designers who were told not to leak the information about the new Las Vegas invitations to anyone.

The new site, www.VegasWedlockInvitations.com, is easy to navigate and a user can quickly see the wide variety that VegasWedlock has available. With over 50 exclusive Las Vegas wedding invitations designed already, VegasWedlock’s designers are creating more each month and will continue until they reach well over a thousand.
Within the Las Vegas wedding invitations already designed, VegasWedlock has styles to satisfy any bride and groom’s taste. They have informal, formal and contemporary invitations along with new collections that they call “holiday” and “location.”
The “location” collection includes places that couples often get married in Las Vegas like the Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, the Venetian, and more. The “holiday” collection has holiday dressed invitations with a Las Vegas touch as well.
While VegasWedlock is the only organization in the world to sell these Las Vegas wedding invitations, they are willing to work with affiliates and help spread the Las Vegas themed wedding invitations to other sites as well.
“We have seen a high demand for Las Vegas themed wedding invitations and want the brides and grooms getting married in Las Vegas to find these invitations easily, without a lot of hassle,” the publisher of VegasWedlock said.

About the author:
Renae earned her journalism degree from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. She is currently a wedding consultant for

How to Make Sure Holiday Card Writing is Not a Chore

2011-05-25T21:39:00.000-07:00

by: Patty Gale

Copyright 2008 – Patty Gale

Sending holiday cards does not have to be a tedious chore. I remember when I was little, my mom would tape all the pretty cards around a special doorframe in our house and I would love to see where they all came from. The pretty trees, stars, snowmen made it fun to see what the mail carrier would bring that day.

There is nothing more special than the smile created at the mailbox from a friend or loved one when they receive your card. It should be something that we want to do in showing those we care about that we are thinking of them, not something we feel obligated to do just because it’s “that time of year again.”

To make sure that your holiday card writing doesn’t become a chore starts with some very basic planning.

Let’s face it; December is a very busy month, so the time to plan your holiday card writing can be as early as September depending on your schedule. The first thing to decide is on the list. Who do you really want to send cards to? Family, friends, close acquaintances? There are a number of Christmas card organizers available, but making your list can be as simple as going through your address book and writing the names and addresses on a plain sheet of paper.

Once you have your list together, and you know who you will be sending them to, it’s time to buy holiday cards. If you didn’t purchase any on sale from last year, that’s o.k. just make a note that you’ll do some after-Christmas shopping this year. Holiday cards can be found for as much as 70% off the pre-Christmas price, so this will be a great time to stock up for next year. Keep an extra box on hand just in case there are a few last minute cards to sent.

Of course, you will also need stamps. Now that you know the number of recipients on your card list, you will know how many stamps to buy. Each year, the USPS presents a few different holiday designs to choose from. Buying them early will assure that you will be able to get the ones you like.

The next thing to ask yourself is when you want to mail your cards. This way, you can plan a day where you can take a couple of hours to sit down and write out and address your cards. I know this can be challenging, so why not do it as early as possible? There’s absolutely nothing wrong with addressing holiday cards as early as October so that they are ready for you to mail.

Pick a day or an evening when it’s quiet in the house. Make your favorite beverage, put on some relaxing music or even Christmas music to gather your thoughts. It’s time to gather what you need, your card list, cards, and stamps, return address labels, envelope stickers and your favorite pen.

Wear something comfortable like your favorite pajamas, grab your favorite beverage and just have a nice, relaxing time. You’ll get your cards and signed and ready to go and you’ll enjoy a nice quiet evening at the same time.

There is nothing more special than sending a card personally signed by you to bring a smile to those you care about. It can be fun and relaxing if you plan ahead and get organized.

About the author:
Patty Gale is a successful entrepreneur who specializes in personalization and customer care for all of her clients. She exchanged her suits, hose and heels to work from home in her "jammies" and is on a mission to empower others to do the same.

She can be reached at:

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