It’s Almost Christmas

So where are you off to this Christmas season? Most people are going to be heading to grandma’s house or another relative’s to enjoy the eggnog and Christmas songs. But what about those who want to spend this time relaxing in the sun or skiing on fresh powder?

Many people take a week or so off during the holidays and that’s more than enough time take advantage of one of the great Christmas vacation packages that are still available. Read the rest of this entry »

Gumdrops, hard candies, peppermints? What is Christmas without candy and what tastes better than homemade candy? Here is how you can store your Christmas candy properly.

Art and science come together in candy making. As you know sugar will dissolve in water. When the water is heated the sugar molecules break down and then reform as they are cooled. This is the basis of making candy. That is the science of making candy. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s time to go Christmas tree shopping again, if you and your family want to get a live tree this year. Most folks enjoy looking for just the right tree, because it is a fun activity that the whole family can enjoy. It also helps everyone to get in the Christmas spirit again.

Some families get excited about tramping into the woods to hunt down the elusive perfect Christmas tree. Some knock down the first tree they see and haul it to the car. Others act like they are Christmas tree shopping and dawdle along until the kids get cold and the spouse gets short-tempered. Read the rest of this entry »

Today is the feast of St Nicholas, the kindly and generous saint who preceded the modern day Santa Claus.

Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra
Saint Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra in the 4th century and has been a much beloved saint for centuries. He was recognized as a miracle worker by Greeks, Italians, the Dutch and Ukrainians though he has never been canonized. His reputation as “The Wonder Worker” grew out of his generosity to those in need. Many miracles have been attributed to him by those who adopted him as their patron saint or prayed for his intercession. His feast day is December 6th and is celebrated in European and Scandinavian nations. Relics of Saint Nicholas lie in Bari, Italy where he is venerated in an ornate cathedral named in his honor. Read the rest of this entry »

Stocking stuffers are a staple of Christmas celebrations. Many choose to wrap each little present in their Christmas stockings as it provides an interesting experience that can add to the Christmas celebrations, or occupy the children while the parents are getting up and ready to open the gifts.

Stockings are usually hung from the fireplace, but there are many alternatives when it comes to hanging stockings. A popular place to hang stocking when there is no mantle or fireplace is up the stairs with the use of stocking hooks, which can be found at specialty Christmas stores. As an alternative to being hung up the stairs, they can be hung on the bar or a side-table. Traditionally, above the stockings is a table or mantle full of Christmas decorations.

From cheap to expensive and apples to oranges – here are some of the most popular and favorite Christmas stocking stuffers that will be sure to please this holiday. Read the rest of this entry »

Each year, as I make out my Christmas list, I begin the think about what I want to either buy or make for each person.  Some people are really easy.  A piece of jewelry for a friend, a book for an avid reader, a special toy for the children in your life are the first gifts I purchase and check off my list. 

However, there are some people I struggle with each year.  They are typically the men in my life like my father, husband, brother and father-in-law.  They don’t make lists and I have to constantly come up with new and exciting Christmas gift ideas for men.

For men, you have to work at it to find a gift that will mean something to them. Otherwise you are likely to hear the dreadful response of: “Oh, that’s nice. I really like it.” Read the rest of this entry »

Want a fun gift to gather, make, and give: try a Christmas basket! The ideas for Christmas baskets are countless. They are appropriate for families or individuals. Both men and women enjoy getting Christmas baskets. But with men, you have to be a bit more careful when you select the type of basket and the contents. Read the rest of this entry »

Tis the season to deck the halls, and the living rooms, and the dining rooms, and so on and so on. Yes, so much time and imagination goes into making our homes festive. With so much decorating going on, we often forget to think about what we are going to do after the holidays and what kind of Christmas storage options we have to keep things stored away until the following year.

Consider your options
Fortunately, there are many Christmas options available. Plastic storage bins, ornament boxes, cardboard boxes, and original packaging can all be great ways to store your Christmas decorations provided that you store things properly. A rush job at the end of Christmas means two to three times as much work when you get them out the following year. Read the rest of this entry »

The good news for all the folks who enjoy JibJab productions is that ElfYourself is back again and just as much fun.

Last year the OfficeMax ElfYourself website was the viral hit of the holiday season. On the website you can create a free holiday video starring family or friends.

You can upload up to 5 faces to be used in the holiday dance of your choice.

I like the country dance the best but the disco, charleston, and classic versions are fun too. Read the rest of this entry »

Christmas is a time when family and friends gathering together to celebrate, and old and young alike enjoy an array of special Christmas goodies to munch on.

Almost Healthy Holiday Cookies

One of my favorites is an easy and inexpensive treat called “No-Bake Cookies”. These are called cookies but are almost like candy using the cookie name to make themselves seem more healthy. They do contain oatmeal, though, which is considered a healthful food, and peanut butter which is a great source of protein, so we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and stick to calling them cookies. Here’s the recipe: Read the rest of this entry »