Preparing for the Holidays

Preparing for the Holidays by Jane Roseen

November has come, and the Halloween decorations are being packed away. Now comes the big social months of the year. That’s right, it’s time to plan for the holidays already. But if you prepare now, before the holidays are right upon us, you will save yourself the last minute headache that seems to come every year.

It can seem at times that November is the quiet month before the big December holidays of Christmas and Boxing Day. However, if you take the time to prepare your home throughout November, you’ll be able to celebrate both the big December holidays and the smaller November holidays in style.Get your decorations in order now. Begin to make your home look festive and joyful. By the time Thanksgiving comes to the United States on November 24th, and the start of Advent comes to the world on November 27th, you’ll be well into the holiday spirit and ready to celebrate with family and friends.

A great way to make a successful transition in decorating between the November fall holidays and the December winter holidays is to choose neutral bases that can be easily accessorized. For example, a blend of various types of greenery at the base of a centerpiece can have the traditional orange and red berries and leaves added to it for your November entertaining. But once they have passed, more traditional December decorations like holly and poinsettias can be added quickly and efficiently.

When it comes to your holiday table, focus on dishes that can be prepared ahead of time and stored. Certain side dishes, pies, cakes, and cookies can be prepared now and frozen or placed in the pantry for holiday dinners and parties. By getting those taken care of ahead of time, you’ll help to minimize the feeling of a “chicken with its head chopped off” that seems to be omnipresent during the holidays. Often, you can garnish those items at the last minute with various sweets or sauces and make it look as if you slaved over the stove all day when you really were able to relax with a cup of holiday cheer.

One of the most stressful parts of the holidays, both mentally and monetarily, can be gift-giving. As wonderful of a feeling as it is to give someone a gift you know they’ll love, it’s equally as frustrating when you have no idea what to get someone. When gift givers seem to have it all, it can seem impossible to find something that they would love that’s within your budget. The best idea for the person who has it all is something that they can enjoy and then it’s done. That way, they can create a new memory of your gift without having something else to clutter up their home.Some great gifts along this line include a gift card from the local movie theater, a pass to the local museum or zoo, or tickets to an upcoming play or musical. For some people, the best choice would be something edible that you know they’ll enjoy. Maybe a mix for their favorite cookies, a box of choice candies, or even a gift certificate for an evening out on the town would tickle their taste buds.

Even more embarrassing is when someone arrives at your doorstep with a beautifully wrapped package for you, and you don’t have a matching one for them. But you can avoid this situation by having a stock of gifts that are quite lovely but are not purchased with a specific person in mind. Again, something small but of high-quality in an edible format is often well-appreciated by almost anyone. Beautiful chocolates, high-end cookies and biscotti, and an assortment of flavored teas and coffees are always welcome and in good taste. Have at least a half dozen of these sets purchased, wrapped, and available with a discrete marking coding it so that you know what is in the package. When someone arrives with a gift for you, you can pick up one of these packages as if it were meant from them all along

These next few weeks are a great time for you to get ready for the holiday rush. Order anything you need now while the post systems aren’t so overwhelmed that they take longer or force you to spend more for expedited service. Thanksgiving and the beginning of the month of Advent are coming, and then Christmas and Boxing Day will be here before you know it. Prepare now, and be able to truly enjoy the time with your family and friends.

Jane S. Roseen is the Owner and President of Harmony Sweets, an international gourmet chocolate shop. Harmony Sweets’ mission focuses on individual consumers purchasing gourmet chocolates from around the world for their friends and relatives, as well as corporate gift giving. Gourmet chocolate gift baskets and personalized chocolates are also available. Website: http://www.harmonysweets.com

Article Source: ArticleRich.com

 

Christmas Decorating That Will Make Your Holidays Special

Christmas Decorating That Will Make Your Holidays Special by Angela Tyler

If you are like the majority of people, you do not have a lot of time during the holidays to make special decorations.  You can make your holiday decorating quick and easy and create a festive atmosphere in your home without spending a lot of time and money, leaving you more time to enjoy the holiday season with your family.  Here are some holiday decorating tips that are free and inexpensive that will require very little effort:

Bows:
Try decorating with bows.  Ribbons tied around chairs, plants, candlesticks, drapes, stairs and doorknobs make wonderful decorations.  Place bows and ribbons in many locations throughout your home for a festive look that is quick
and easy.  The bows and ribbons do not have to be green and red.  You can try many colors or match the bows and ribbons to the colors you have in your home. Choose ribbons that you can reuse each year.  When the holidays are over, pack the bows and ribbons carefully so that you can use them again and again.

Tableware:
Use festive tableware for every meal during the month of December.  Search your cupboards and drawers and get out anything that looks remotely festive.  You can also shop discount and one-dollar stores and find many items for the
holidays that you can use every year.  You can add to your collection of holiday tableware each year and soon you will have many types of dishes that will make your holidays special.

Candles:
Arrange many candles around the room and turn the lights off during holiday meals.  You will create a special, festive atmosphere that will be remembered and anticipated by your family each year.  A fire in the fireplace each night will
add to the holiday spirit.  You can also arrange candles in your bathroom and around your bathtub.  Watch small children carefully when you decorate with candles.

Wreaths:
Put a holiday wreath on every door in your home.  Use real pine, holly, and grapevine and decorate with berries, fruit and pinecones.  If you purchase artificial wreaths you will be able to use them year after year.

Holiday decorating does not have to be difficult or expensive.  Simple decorations throughout your house will make fond memories for your family and will be anticipated year after year.  Make sure to put out plenty of scented potpourri and scented oils in various locations throughout your home.

Angela Tyler invites you to explore http://HomeOrganizationHelp.com a free resource filled with ideas to organize and decorate your home on a budget. For frugal meal ideas, she recommends http://www.freequickrecipes.com/frugal-cooking.php

Article Source: http://www.ladypens.com

 

Christmas Strategies: Gifting Without Charging

Christmas Strategies: Gifting Without Charging by Dar Arechederra

Before we know it, the shopping season will be upon us. And, just like Santa’s little elves will be working feverishly, we’ve got to get busy saving up our cash for Christmas. The alternative could be to watch helplessly as our credit card balances increase.

But is it really possible to have a Christmas without using our credit card? Absolutely! It isn’t hard — it’s just a matter of getting started now! Here are these 3 simple steps to begin …

Step 1: Determine exactly how much cash you will need.

How much do you normally spend for Christmas gifts and goodies? Be sure to add in special food expenses to your total, if you’re providing the main holiday meal(s) or responsible for a large portion of it. Not sure? Do a guesstimate, erring on the plus side to be safe.

Step 2: Using your total from above, determine how much you’ll need to save daily or weekly. Divide it by the number of weeks or days left to save up money.

Examples: (These are approximate amounts.)

$500 divided by 15 weeks = $34.00 wk
$300 divided by 15 weeks = $20.00 wk
$400 divided by 107 days = $ 3.75 day
$200 divided by 107 days = $1.90 day
Step 3: Choose your Method(s) to begin Saving

Pull out your old favorites, and get going! Listed below are a few ideas to get you started.
Gift Certificates are Not Just for Others

Buy a gift certificate each pay period. When you’re ready to shop, use your certificate to pay for the items. Be sure to watch for expiration dates.

Marlene, a good friend of mine, does this year round. She then buys items as they come on sale, using her certificates. Marlene is a single mother who has found a way to buy gifts for her children without using credit cards or draining money from the checkbook.
Christmas Account

There’s still time to open a Christmas account with your local credit union or bank. Make automatic payroll deposits if you can. If not, write yourself a check each pay period and mail it in to your account. If you cash your paycheck, take out your targeted amount and deposit the money before it gets spent.

Remember, too, once this account is open, you can make small deposits year round, eliminating the Christmas Crunch next year.
Pick up Some Extra Work Hours

Many businesses will need extra help as the holidays arrive. You may be able to pick up some extra hours. Be sure to set aside any money saved so it doesn’t slip through a hole in your pocket!
$1 Per Day Keeps the Creditors Away

Don’t forget the ‘Tuck $1-Per-Day-Into-an-Old Sock’ method. If you have 110 days left, you’d have around $110 at $1 per day. Tucking away $2 per day will find you $220. $330 for $3 per day.

Re-think Buying Gifts This Year

Have you had a rough year financially? Do you owe on credit cards? Consider not buying gifts this year. What if you were to save up money as if you were buying gifts, but use it instead to pay extra on your debt? Can you think of a better gift for your family? You’ll be surprised how much better you’ll feel giving down the road, when you can truly afford it.

Get creative. Imagine that you had no job. What would you do for gifts? Would you make your own? Send cards only? Email cards? Brainstorm some unique alternatives.
Remember the Spirit of the Season

Above all, remember the original intent of the holiday celebrations. The spirit of the season can be lost in the newly added debt and additional stress created by copying what the Joneses next door are doing. Prevent future stress by learning to celebrate without using your credit card. It can actually be heaps of fun!

Now get started, and set your strategy in place so you’ll be ready and able to pay upfront for next year’s holiday, too!

© 2004 Darlene Arechederra

Darlene Arechederra leads the delightful series, “Coming Home: A Woman’s Journey to One-Income Living.”  Women of two-income households who want
to find their way back home from the workplace will enjoy this gentle, energizing jumpstart.  Visit with Darlene at http://www.AffordtoStayHome.com/info.htm

Article Source: http://www.ladypens.com

 

Writing the Perfect Christmas Letter

Writing the Perfect Christmas Letter by Rachel Paxton

I don’t know about you, but I always look forward to receiving Christmas letters from family and friends during the holiday season. Often it is the only news you receive from some of them throughout the year.

I started sending out our family Christmas letter the year after I got married. Some adult children are content to share their family news in a letter from their parents, but I wanted to start our own family tradition with our own annual Christmas letter.

Sitting down to write a letter can be an intimidating task. It’s easy to put off until the last minute if you’re overwhelmed with the idea of trying to figure out what to say. There are several things to take into consideration when writing your own family Christmas letter.

Some people get very creative with their Christmas letters. There are a variety of formats to choose from. You can buy holiday printer paper at any office supply store. Just print out your letter on the decorated paper, and you’re all set to go. If you’re printing out a lot of letters and don’t want to spend as much on the paper, you can also just choose colored paper with no design…red or green paper look festive all on their own with your letter printed on them. You can also copy your letter on to the paper with a copy machine instead of printing each one on your printer. If you are into rubber stamping, you could also hand-decorate your letters after you print them.

Or, you can go paper-less! You can email your letter to family and friends if they have Internet access. This would allow you to insert pictures into your letter and not worry about having to print them. Some families have web sites set up to post family pictures and happenings. This would also be a great place to post your Christmas letter for all to see.

So what should you write in your letter? Keeping things short and to the point is definitely a fine art. I try to keep my letters to a page, if possible, a page and a half at the most. It also depends on how large your family is. The point is not to lose the reader’s interest with too many pages to read.

I start my letters out with a greeting, and then a paragraph or two of major family happenings, like births, deaths, weddings, etc. This is also a good place to briefly describe any favorite family vacations for the year. I then write a short paragraph about each family member to get everyone up to date about who just got their driver’s license, braces on or off, started their first job, etc. I just try to hit on the major milestones that people would be interested in knowing about.

You’ll find that once you sit down to start your letter that the words will just start flowing and you’ll be done with it in no time. Who knows better what happened in your family this year than you? It’s also a good idea to let someone else read it before you send it out to make sure you got your facts straight. Especially about your kids! That could definitely come back to haunt you later.

Try to send your letters and cards out during the first week of December. I love getting letters and cards at the beginning of the season. Hearing from family and friends is a great way to get into the holiday spirit, and once you have those letters out the door your time is freed up for other important tasks.

Make sure you keep a copy of your Christmas letter for yourself. I place a copy of mine in a binder in which I keep all of the holiday letters I receive. Someday this will be a wonderful keepsake for my children and grandchildren.

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of What’s for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For more recipes, organizing tips, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com.

Article Source: http://www.ladypens.com

 

Gifting: Santa’s Secret Shopping List

Gifting: Santa’s Secret Shopping List by Dar Arechederra

So, how would you describe your life as you prepare for the holidays?

Peaceful? Calm?

Or is it stressful? Frenzied?

For some of us, the added stress and expense of the holidays can detract from our season of joy and celebration.

We’ve got planning to do.

Cooking.

Cleaning.

Shopping.

We’re called upon to use more of our resources. Time. Energy. Money. (And don’t forget patience!)

Hanging on to our sanity can become our biggest challenge (smile).

The good news is that there really is a way to make things a bit easier. You can save time, energy and money, too.

A simple list is all you need. Remember, even Santa makes a list and checks it twice!

Create Your Own Personalized List

Targeting both giving and receiving is the way to go.

I mean, can we really enjoy dusting all that stuff if we don’t care for it? And others may feel the same way.

So, on a sheet of paper, draw a line (or fold) down the center of the page to create two columns. On the top left half, write in *Needs;* on the top right half, write in *Wants.* Write your items into your list in the appropriate spot. And next to each item, place the person’s name.

It’s a good idea to add expensive items to your list, too. Always let others know when you’re looking for more costly items, because you just never know what can happen.

This past summer, I wanted a porch swing and decided to wait for the end of season sales. I put the word out to my friends. But in late September I was still searching, and it looked as if I’d missed the boat.

I couldn’t find a single swing out there. But a friend spotted one, got the address and price for me. I purchased it that day at one-third the original price. Brand new, in the box, no parts missing. I finally had my porch swing, and at a perfect price.

How Your List Can Help You

If your family exchanges gifts, send them a copy of your list. Deliver it, mail it, or email it. For bigger items on your list, the family may pool their money and make a purchase (or find a fantastic deal for you.)

Keep a copy of your list at work for gift exchanges. Simply pull a few items from your list so coworkers have an idea of your preferences.

Keep your list for year-round use. It’s ready to go for birthdays and special occasions, too.

Convert Your List into a Multi-Purpose Helper

Flip your page over and make a *cheat-sheet* of friends, coworkers and family members. As you discover items they like/dislike, write these items next to their names.

Create a tab named *Gifting* in your calendar or planner. Insert your list behind it. Update it as you come across important information.

Here are some neat things to track.

o favorite gifts, food and snacks (loves mini candy bars)
o favorite colors
o pet name, breed type, pet birthdate
o specific dislikes (certain perfumes, nuts in cookies)
o allergies to foods, etc. (chocolate, peanut butter)
o clothing/shoe sizes

Santa’s making a list — and checking it twice. But now you know the secrets behind Santa’s list!

Happy Holidays to you and yours. Enjoy your season of peace and joy.

© 2004 Darlene Arechederra

Darlene Arechederra leads the delightful series, “Coming Home: A Woman’s Journey to One-Income Living.”  Women of two-income households who want
to find their way back home from the workplace will enjoy this gentle, energizing jumpstart.  Visit with Darlene at http://www.AffordtoStayHome.com/info.htm

Article Source: http://www.ladypens.com