Holiday Planning Tips

Holiday entertaining made easy

2011-02-01T01:52:00.000-08:00

(NC)—As the holiday season draws near, many Canadians will begin planning a festive get-together for family and friends. The team at Canadian Tire have put together entertaining ideas to add some flare to celebrations this year.

Formal dinner

• The table will be the focal point. Choose a festive colour – red or cranberry is the hot colour this year – then coordinate dinnerware, napkins, tablecloths and glassware for an elegant look.

• Make a festive centrepiece by arranging glass ornaments in a bowl or a tray with holiday candles.

• Personalize it. Place a name card at each setting or a trendy shatter-proof ornament on each plate as a special takeaway at the end of the evening.

Cocktail party

• Serve finger foods that people can eat easily while holding a drink. Food stations make for a more informal atmosphere.

• Adorn drinks with holiday-themed swizzle sticks and attach wine charms to glass stems to add some flare and help guests identify glasses.

• For a sleek look, Canadian Tire has a line of stainless steel bar accessories complete with bottle openers, utensils and drink shakers.

Cookie Exchange

• Great way to celebrate and round-up tasty treats for holiday entertaining.

• Decide on the number of guests. Ask each person to bring a dozen cookies or squares for each guest. Have guests package treats individually and gather together for a festive celebration to exchange goodies.

• Package up treats in holiday mugs, cookie jars and recipe boxes from Canadian Tire or send guests home with holiday-themed cookie cutters. A full range of festive food storage and baking accessories can be found in-store.

Skating party

• Perfect for those who enjoy the outdoors.

• Choose a local outdoor rink or arena and call ahead to reserve space or find out public skating hours.

• In the spirit of the season, invite guests to bring extra mitts, scarf or hat to donate to a local charity.

• Once the fresh air has worked its magic, invite guests back for warm apple cider, hot chocolate or mulled wine served in festive mugs and accompanied by some fresh, baked goods.

- News Canada

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News Canada

The Holidays Are a Time to Honor Seniors

2011-01-01T01:51:00.000-08:00

(ARA) – Older adults are often the best storytellers in the family. Their memories, traditions and talents are just waiting to be shared. But as we approach the holiday season, many older citizens won’t be near their families because they live far apart.

What better way to honor seniors in your family and community and pay tribute to their experiences than by undertaking a project together this holiday season. There are a wide range of projects that individuals, families, and social and service organizations can participate in with older adults. In fact, it is a great opportunity for youth-oriented organizations such as school groups or scout troops to get involved with seniors, according to Betsy Reithemeyer, director of the Wal-Mart/SAM’S CLUB Foundation, which funds thousands of projects designed to enhance the lives of older adults. This year the Foundation donated $1.45 million to more than 2,900 youth groups for projects benefiting seniors.

“These activities bring generations together, nurture friendships, encourage volunteerism, and broaden understanding and support in a community,” says Reithemeyer.

Here are a few project suggestions for this holiday season:

* Host a storytelling time for older adults to relate their favorite holiday memories.

* Visit an elderly resident of a nursing home. Many of these individuals never have a visitor at holiday time and would appreciate having someone stop by to share a smile.

*Make a holiday greeting card for residents at a retirement center.

* Make a family photo album as a holiday gift to the family, complete with dates, locations and identifications of family members. Share stories about special events the family enjoyed together.

* Construct a family tree, giving children the opportunity to learn the ancestral line of their family. Strive to preserve particular ethnic or religious beliefs and special holiday traditions.

* Ask a senior to share special talents, such as cooking, sculpting or quilting, which can be passed on to interested young people.

* Volunteer at a nutrition center or with Meals-on-Wheels to prepare and deliver holiday meals or food baskets to elderly shut-ins.

* Design a Web page about a grandparent or favorite older adult.

* Videotape an interview with a senior about his or her life. Show it at a meeting of a youth organization and invite the star of the show to attend.

* Host a game day at a senior center featuring traditional board games enjoyed by young and old alike.

Wal-Mart provides financial support to 501(c)3 youth groups for intergenerational projects every year. Each store makes a donation to fund projects such as delivering fruit baskets to shut-ins, providing lunch for grandparents at a local food kitchen, conducting oral history projects with local centenarians, and visiting nursing home residents whose family members live far away.

“Older adults are a vibrant, contributing part of our communities,” says Reithemeyer. “They have a great deal of wisdom and insight to share, and they deserve to be honored.” The Wal-Mart/SAM’S CLUB Foundation funds the many projects chosen by the company’s associates through the Wal-Mart Good Works community involvement program.

Whether you choose to do a project in a youth group, as a family, or on your own, the holidays are the perfect time to bring together youth and seniors in your community.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Host and Hostess gifts made easy

2010-12-31T01:49:00.000-08:00

(NC)—As the holidays draw near, many people will be receiving invitations from family, friends and neighbours to get together for some holiday cheer. Proper etiquette is to bring a little something for the host or hostess. The holiday gift team at Canadian Tire has a few suggestions on how to pick a special something for the gracious host.

• Often people bring a bottle of wine. Why not complement it with wine charms, festive swizzle sticks or a wine topper? All are decorative and functional.

• Figure out how your host or hostess likes to spend their time. For example, if they entertain often, get something they can use when preparing or serving food and drinks. Canadian Tire carries a line-up of stainless steel bar accessories like bottle openers, drink shakers and ice buckets, as well as serving dishes and platters.

• Find out your host's favourite scent and pick up a candle, candle centrepiece, or scented oil in their favourite scent.

• Bring along a decorative picture frame, photo album or photo box for the host to store holiday season memories.

• Think about your host's hobbies when shopping and stop by a store like Canadian Tire that has pre-wrapped gift baskets and themed gifts for the cook, do-it-yourselfer, automotive, golf or hockey enthusiast.

- News Canada

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News Canada

Make a List, Check it Twice -- and, Don’t Forget Your Pets

2010-12-29T01:53:00.000-08:00

by: ARA

(ARA) - Holidays are a special time for friends and family. Since pets are a part of the family too, make sure your holiday is pet friendly. Here are some helpful tips from Jill Richardson, D.V.M, one of the pet pros at Hartz, a leader in the pet products industry.

Avoid Holiday Hazards

As you get your house ready for the holidays, keep your pets in mind. There are some holiday items that could be very dangerous for your pet.

* Mistletoe or holly can be harmful if ingested by your pet. Keep these plants out of your pet’s reach.

* Lilies are often used in holiday arrangements and bouquets, but they can be very dangerous for your cat. Certain types of lilies can cause kidney failure in cats, even in small amounts.

* Make your holiday decorations pet safe. Avoid glass ornaments, which can break and cut tiny paws.

* Dangling electrical cords can be enticing to curious pets, especially rabbits, kittens, and puppies. If electrical cords are chewed, they could electrocute your pet. Make sure to keep cords out of your pet’s reach.

* Keep batteries out of your pet’s reach. Batteries contain caustic material and if ingested, can cause chemical burns on the tongue, mouth, muzzle, and stomach of your pet.

Keep a Pet Friendly Kitchen

Pet owners may be tempted to give table scraps from holiday meals to their pets as a special treat. There are some types of people foods that can make pets very sick.

* Excessively rich or fatty foods can trigger pancreatitis (inflammatory disease of the pancreas) in pets.

* Chocolate can cause increased heart rate, tremors, or excitation, depending on the type and the quantity ingested.

* Ingestion of uncooked bread dough can be life-threatening. The animal’s body heat will cause the dough to rise in the stomach. Alcohol is produced during the rising process, and the dough may expand several times its original size.

* Some types of grapes and raisins have been shown to cause kidney failure in dogs when eaten in quantity. The basis for kidney failure following consumption of grapes or raisins is unclear, but this is being studied closely in the veterinary community.

* Other potentially dangerous food items for pets include moldy or spoiled foods, coffee grounds, onions, alcoholic beverages, macadamia nuts (dogs), and avocado (birds).

* Keep your pet birds safe from kitchen hazards too. Birds are extremely sensitive to any strong odor or smoke. Smoke from burning foods or overheated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coated cookware can be deadly for birds.

Keep your Guests on a Leash

Have a plan for your pets when you host a holiday party. Unfamiliar guests can make some pets very nervous. If your pet does not do well with crowds and loud noise, make sure you set aside a safe and quiet haven for it to retreat to, if necessary. Make sure to bring your pet fresh water, food, toys, litter box, and pet bed so your pet can relax during the party. Toys offer a multitude of activities for pets and will help to reduce anxiety and relieve boredom.

Remember your pet or your favorite pet lover during the holidays

This year, don’t forget to be sure you have the perfect gift for your favorite pet. Remember the four “F”s: Food (rawhide, bones, natural treats), Fashion (fashionable collars or leashes), Fitness (balls, plush toys, catnip, interactive toys), and Fun (seasonally inspired toys and treats).

For animal lovers without pets of their own, consider making a donation to a local shelter or animal rescue association in their name. Helping a homeless pet is a wonderful way to celebrate friendship.

For more information on pets and the holidays and pet gift ideas, visit www.hartz.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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ids Dish about the True Meaning of Christmas, Moms’ Roles in Pulling the Holidays Together and Hot Gifts on Their Wish Lists

2010-12-28T02:54:00.000-08:00

(ARA) - Decorating, cooking, cleaning and more. When it comes to preparing for a picture perfect holiday season, there is one holiday elf that’s busy at work -- Mom. According to the KidzEyes Holiday Wish List and Habits survey, 64 percent of kids say that their moms bear the brunt of responsibility for making sure the Christmas season is bright versus a mere 1 percent who say dad does his fair share.

While the stress associated with the multitude of seasonal tasks could easily turn mothers into Grinches, 50 percent of kids say their moms handle the holidays like snow angels. Girls are a little tougher on mom with 52 percent claiming mom is a little crankier during the hustle of the holiday season (less than 50 percent of boys say so).

This year’s KidzEyes Holiday Wish List & Habits survey -- conducted annually by KidzEyes, a specialized youth market research division of C&R Research -- uncovers how (and if) families share holiday-related responsibilities, what’s hot and what’s not on kids’ wish lists this year, whether kids really believe in the jolly man in red and what they believe is the true meaning of Christmas.

“Our annual Holiday Wish List and Habits survey has become a recognized vehicle that gets at the heart of what kids are thinking about, doing and wishing for during the holidays,” said Robbin Jaklin, president, C&R Research. “The results provide a glimpse into what is undoubtedly kids’ favorite time of year.”

As the primary holiday gift buyer, what should moms be shopping for to give their little angels? It is certainly not clothes, which again appears at the very bottom of kids’ wish lists. Electronics continue to take the top spot (37 percent) followed by hard, cold cash (30 percent) and toys (21 percent). Boys tend to want electronics more than girls, helping to vault them to the top spot among kids.

This year kids have gift giving ideas of their own. When asked what they would give their parents if they could give them just one “big” gift, 45 percent said a vacation, 27 percent said house cleaning assistance, 16 percent said money and 12 percent said time off work. Here are some of the other things kids are saying about the holidays this year:

Holiday Hustle -- Mom versus Dad

* Where is Your Father? . . . According to the KidzEyes survey there is nothing on the family holiday to-do list that mom doesn’t do. Twenty-five percent of kids say their moms are responsible for buying the presents and decorating the house. According to kids, dad does not offer much of a helping hand with either holiday chore -- only 1 percent and 3 percent respectively.

* A Woman’s Work is Never Done . . . More than half (54 percent) of kids say that moms are the chief holiday cook. Only 4 percent say dad dons an apron. And, moms (47 percent) not dads (one percent) clean the house in preparation for the big day.

* It’s a Guy Thing . . . Dad’s domain seems to be the tree with nearly one-quarter of kids saying that putting up the tree is their dad’s main job. But, the truth is, dad puts his little elves to work as 50 percent of kids say it’s really a job the whole family shares.

* It’s a Family Affair . . . Eight out of 10 kids (87 percent) say that decorating the tree is a family tradition -- something they do together. Nearly two-thirds say the whole family pitches in when it comes to decking the halls.

* Shopping Styles -- Mom versus Dad . . . According to kids, 25 percent of dads shop for their wives the week before Christmas, while another 13 percent say their dads are scouring the stores on Christmas Eve. In sharp contrast, 55 percent of kids say their moms shop for their loving husbands a month before the big day, with only 5 percent who say that their moms wait until one week before Christmas. Less than a percent say their moms are out shopping frantically on Christmas Eve.

The True Meaning of Christmas

* Christmas Spirit . . . Even kids as young as 6 years old have a solid idea of the “true meaning of Christmas.” According to 70 percent of kids, the true meaning is celebrating the birth of Christ. Another 39 percent say it is being thankful and 37 percent say it is spending time with family. Surprisingly, only 13 percent say the true meaning is about receiving gifts.

* Charitable Hearts . . . Nearly half of kids think of others during the holidays; 48 percent say they would ask their parents to donate some of their allocated “gift” money to charity. Of all kids surveyed, girls between the ages of 6 and 8 are the most likely to give up their presents (60 percent -- 13 percent more than boys the same age). Gifts . . . What’s Hot and What’s Not

* Stop the Music! . . . Along with clothes (7 percent), kids don’t want to see music and videos (6 percent) in their heaping pile of gifts this year.

* Electronics are Tops . . . According to the survey, the best gifts are electronics (37 percent), with video game systems or handheld video games leading the category (57 percent). Those were closely followed by computers and software (53 percent), cellular telephones (38 percent), CD players (32 percent) and DVD players (31 percent).

* Boys and Machines . . . Fifty-three percent of boys age 6 to 11 want electronics versus only 18 percent of girls the same age. Conversely, girls that age wish for toys nearly twice as much as boys (39 percent versus 20 percent).

To request more information about KidzEyes call (800) KidzEyes (543-9393) or visit www.crresearch.com or www.kidzeyesomnibus.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Holiday Craftts - Thanksgiving and Christmas Decoration Ideas

2010-12-27T03:15:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday! What a spiritual renewal to take a day to reflect over the past year about just how good God has been to you and your family, to give you harvest and shelter, health and hope. To get the most out of this joyous occasion, make some holiday crafts with your children. These days, Thanksgiving often gets squeezed out by Hallowe'en's spooky decorations and the lights and gala of Christmas. With the following holiday crafts, your home can be decorated for this quieter but important celebration.

Turkeys are a natural choice for decorations. A familiar project at this time of year is for a child to trace around her hand and make the resulting drawing into a turkey. The thumb is the head and the fingers are the tail feathers all displayed. While many of the turkeys that are raised for food are now the domestic white variety, the turkeys eaten by the Pilgrims at the first Thanksgiving were the wild brown ones. The tail feathers on a wild turkey are brown, but they are iridescent. catching light and appearing to be multi-colored. This is why children color the tail feathers in bright colors.

The turkey's head has a wattle under the beak. This is a vertical flap of loose skin that is red colored. Be sure to draw this in order to make the hand turkey look like a turkey. Add skinny legs and bird feet. When done, the children can cut out the turkeys and hang them on the wall. It's really cute to make a whole flock of these turkeys in the sizes of all the hands in the family. The little hand shapes are particularly sweet.

Another nice turkey decoration to make when making Thanksgiving holiday crafts is a turkey door decoration. Make a brown construction paper body and head of a turkey. Now make a large number of colored feather shapes. Each family member writes on a feather something he or she is thankful for before attaching as part of the turkey's tail. Repeat until all the feathers are used, and hang the turkey on the front door to greet visitors with a message of gratitude. Make a sign to accompany the turkey that says "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good!" or simply "Be thankful!" or "We're thankful for you!" or whatever you like.

Children love making construction paper chains. To further decorate the house for Thanksgiving, let them make a paper chain in fall colors as one of their holiday crafts. Using 9 by 12 inch construction paper, cut the paper in half across the long side and cut the halves into one inch thick six inch long strips. Use a stapler to attach the ends of the strip into a circle. Loop the next strip into the circle and staple it. Continue the process alternating colors of brown, red, yellow, and orange. When the chains are long, you can drap them along the ceiling or stair rail. If you don't make the door turkey, the children can write something they're thankful for on each strip of paper before adding it to the chain.

Thanksgiving is too nice a holiday to let the other more commercial holidays crowd it out. By making holiday crafts to decorate the home for Thanksgiving, you can keep this day special, too. The extended family, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc., will be pleased to see the holiday crafts the young ones have made to decorate the house and make it cheerful for their visit.

E-books in your life

2010-12-11T20:53:00.000-08:00

E-Books are making a big impact in the way we read, write and use books. There is nothing holding back an expert with years of experience on a particular field to write about all the ins and outs, trade secrets, strengths and weaknesses of the industry.

Consider Colm Dillon, the author of "Unique Real Estate Development Method!" (http://business.marc8.com/ebook-info.php/name/unique_real_estate_development_method/toc_id/6-0-2-8/). He has 30 years and $1.2 Billion worth of professional real estate development experience. Dillon wrote his book purely from experience and practical usage. His eBook is now selling in 63 countries and directly available on the Internet.

More and more shoppers are now buying books online. If you purchase a physical book that you have been dying to get your hands on you still have to wait for shipping and delivery before you can start reading. With E-Books you get instant delivery 24x7. No more waiting and watching the clock. While the inspiration and interest is hot, you get to download your favorite business book and start reading away.

Imagine, discovering an E-Book called “Business Plans” (http://business.marc8.com/ebook-info.php/name/business_plans/toc_id/1-0-1-6/) at 11.30 pm, decided to buy and download the book at 12.05 am, finished reading it by 2.00 am. The 10 o’clock meeting next morning, and you are already a guru on Business Plans and opportunities to lead you company to new frontiers.

And that E-Book is very easy to share with your spouse or friend, just email it. The E-book will never wear out for millions of years to come. Hundreds of thousands of E-Books can be carried in the palm of your hand no matter where you go in a flash-drive or portable disk.

E-Books are the new media for traditional physical books, but are E-Books here to stay? Consider Joe Vitale, author of numerous successful E-Books and more recently famous for "Attractor Factor" (http://business.marc8.com/book-info.php/name/the_attractor_factor_5_easy_steps_for_creating_wealth_or/toc_id/1-0-2-1/) which has already outsold Harry Potter as 1 bestseller twice in two weeks. E-books are carving the path for many talented authors around the world. E-books are not only here to stay but also becoming very popular.

Gifts with a Purpose

2010-12-10T01:49:00.000-08:00

(ARA) - Your holidays will sparkle even brighter when you give a gift that helps make children’s wishes come true. This year, Things Remembered offers a collectible holiday ornament, musical snow globe and star keepsake box -- all benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Make-A-Wish gifts became a tradition at Things Remembered in 1998 when one critically ill child, Elysia, wished to give her family and friends personalized ornaments saying “Thank you, I love you, and always remember me.” Her single wish has grown into an annual program that allows the wishes of children across the nation to come true.

If you’ve got something to say this holiday, Make-A-Wish items can be engraved with your own special message. They are available at Things Remembered stores nationwide and online at www.thingsremembered.com.

Make-A-Wish Holiday Ornament

Made of genuine pewter, the heart-shaped ornament is bejeweled with red and white Swarovski crystals and tied with an organza bow. Available for $17.95, $2 from the sale of each limited edition ornament helps grant the fondest wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Make-A-Wish Musical Holiday Snow Globe

The Make-A-Wish holiday snow globe winds up to play “Twelve Days of Christmas.” Inside the glass dome is a jolly scene of two adorable snowmen and a sack full of goodies. Two dollars from the sale of each holiday snow globe also goes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The snow globe retails for $24.95.

Make-A-Wish Star Keepsake Box

An enchanting Star Keepsake Box with inspirational wishing stones is the first-ever, year-round Make-A-Wish gift from Things Remembered. The brushed silver-plated keepsake box can be engraved with a personal message. Inside, five lovely wishing stars are inscribed with the words “Peace, Hope, Love, and Dreams,” with the fifth star adorned with the Make-A-Wish logo. Brilliant Swarovski crystals glitter on each of the star’s five points. Equally brilliant, $5 from each sale benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Star Keepsake Box is available for $34.95.

According to Suzanne Sutter, president of Things Remembered, this sixth holiday season of distinctive Make-A-Wish gifts will bring the total amount raised for the foundation to well over $1 million.

“It is our privilege to carry on this wonderful tradition in honor of Elysia’s memory,” states Sutter. “We’re pleased to be partners with the Make-A-Wish Foundation in its efforts of bringing hope, strength, and joy into the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions.”

For more information about the Make-A-Wish holiday gifts and for store locations, call (800) 274-7367 or log on to www.thingsremembered.com. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, call (800) 722-WISH or visit www.wish.org.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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Home for the Holidays

2010-12-08T06:31:00.003-08:00

by: ARA

ARA) - The holiday season is a time to step back from daily routines, reflect and spend time with loved ones. This year, take time to truly feel the holiday spirit by gathering family and friends together to decorate the home for holiday festivities.

Try these 10 special yet simple activities to be enjoyed with loved ones:

* Fill your home with the warm, beautiful light of candles. During the holidays, candles are available in all shapes, sizes and styles -- often decorated with glitter and sequins for an even more glimmering effect. Cluster them together in a fireplace as an alternative to a crackling fire.

* Create festive table decorations -- a fun and easy project to do with the kids! Grab some plain salt and pepper shakers, slather on some glue, then add glitter, sequins, silver stars and puffy paint . . . voila, these shining shakers are sure to add decoration -- with function -- the table.

* Top the tree with something extraordinary. Have an older guest and a younger one create the focal point of the room by topping the tree together with an eye-catching decoration. This season, Swarovski introduces a crystal Tree Topper, a beautiful large crystal star surrounded by six smaller stars creating the appearance of a large snowflake. Available in either chrome or gold plating, the tree topper creates a beautiful crown for a Christmas tree, a centerpiece for a holiday table or mantle decoration.

* Wrap silver or gold garland around lampposts, pillars and staircase banisters and drape tinsel on mirror frames and mantles. Add bows for some additional color and sparkle.

* Bake cookies! Use fun holiday-themed cookie cutters to create different shaped treats and decorate them with colored sugars and glossy icing.

* Catch the light. Swarovski’s Little Star Ornament can be displayed anywhere from the mantle to a chandelier against a window. Fill your home with these miniature six-point stars to bring cheer into every room. Hang multiples of the same crystal ornament from a mantle, interspersed with greenery, colorful berries and candles creating a personalized holiday display.

* Cover throw pillows with festive slipcovers or purchase simple ones and add on beads in holiday colors. All that is required is a needle and thread, some beads, trim and lots of creativity.

* Fashion napkin holders out of crystal ornaments and now place them around fancy cloth napkins to top off a festive holiday table.

* Sprinkle glitter on flat surfaces to make a holiday table, mantle, shelf, windowsill twinkle.

* To make the new tradition of decorating together even more special, give memorable gifts to each participating member this year. Swarovski’s 2003 Annual Edition Ornament is an eight-point star which beautifies the home by catching light through its 207 crystal facets. This collectors item includes a silver plate engraved with the year is suspended from the ornament’s navy blue ribbon. The ornament, which is updated each year, is a perfect gift to mark the years and start a holiday gift-giving tradition.

Fun with loved ones is what holiday spirit is all about. Celebrate each other. Make memories and traditions this year that will last forever.

Swarovski is available at department and Swarovski Gallery Stores nationwide. For local outlets, call (800) 426-3088.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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Holiday Decorating Ideas And The Environment

2010-12-08T06:31:00.001-08:00

by: Jeanette Joy Fisher

Have you thought about how your holiday decorating affects the environment? What can you do about your holiday decorating to improve your happiness and at the same time be kind to the environment?

The good news, taking action to decorate your home and office for the holidays, while keeping respect for the environment, makes your workload easier.

Conquer holiday stress with simplicity. Keep your decorations to a minimum. Simple holiday decorating makes your life easier to manage.

Simple decorating doesn't mean no impact. You can use Environmental Psychology strategies to achieve a stunning display with less work. At the same time, you can save money on new holiday decorations.

Eignt Environmental Psychology Holiday Decorating Tips

1. Too many small items in a small space tire the eye and overload the brain. Don't go over the top with holiday decorations. Don't spend your money foolishly on a lot of cluttering ornamentation.

2. Choose a few large holiday decorations to make a bold statement. Bright and deep colors take up more visual space.

3. Make a gorgeous framed note on parchment that says: "We love the earth and choose to celebrate with nature."

4. Work with the holiday decorations you already have. Renew tired ornaments with non-toxic craft paint.

5. Decorate with consumable food, like nuts, fresh fruit, and cookies.

6. Decorate with Mother Nature. Cuttings of evergreens bring respite to tired eyes and fresh aroma to enclosed stale air.

7. Increase your office productivity and business prosperity. When people feel happy, they accomplish more. Take a tip from music therapy expert Enicia Fisher: Play easily-recognized soft music without voices. This encourages signing or humming to oneself to fill in the lyrics.

8. Instead of hanging lights all over your home, concentrate on the front entry to attract the eye and make all feel welcome.

Defeat holiday stress this year. Use holiday decorating ideas that protect the environment and yourself.

Happy Holidays!

Holiday Planning Tips For Busy Moms

2010-12-08T06:30:00.001-08:00

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.