Postcards from Santa

Archive for September, 2009

Shopping may not be “your thing” and the thought of having to buy holiday gifts immediately throws you into a panic, but with a little bit of thought you can come up with some great gifts for your family, friends and co-workers. Even if you have been procrastinating, there is still time to get that perfect gift for that perfect someone.

If your list contains some young children, then you may want to consider making personalized stockings for them and either give it to them early or give as a Christmas present. It does not have to be anything fancy; you can buy pre-made stockings and perhaps add their name in glitter or cross-stitch their name or add a design. Of course, with kids you can never go wrong by filling the stocking with some sort of candy gift.

It can be difficult coming up with ideas for everyone on your list. If you are looking for a great idea for a business associate or to use as a corporate gift, then consider purchasing a piece of land in all 50 United States. They will receive a deed showing that they own one square inch of land in each state, which is a very unique gift. Or if you need something a little more romantic, then consider purchasing a gourmet gift basket and including a certification stating that they have a star named after them. These ideas make great holiday gifts.

Of course, there will be some people that no matter what you decide to give you will think it wasn’t the right thing, for any number of reasons. Usually, this thought is only in your mind, but that doesn’t make it any easier for you to find what you consider to be the perfect gifts for them.

If you have some young ladies on your Christmas list, but are at a loss as to what to get, then consider subscription to their favorite magazine or tickets to see their favorite band or singer. A gift certificate that can be used at the mall, both for clothes or movies, is always a great idea. If you are looking for holiday gifts that the young men on your list would like, then getting them tickets to a sporting event is always a big hit, or tickets to a concert. For the younger guys, consider getting them a jersey like their favorite football or baseball team wears; perhaps even start them on a baseball card collection.

During the Christmas season, summer and its body-conscious state of mind are distant memories. Hearty indulgence in the many foods shared at Christmas therefore doesn’t produce the same feelings of guilt. Nevertheless, its not a pleasant thought to start the New Year carrying any extra pounds. So why then eat yourself into a resolution to ‘take off a few extra pounds’ if you can smartly avoid it?

Whether it’s sharing cookies and candies at work, or having an evening out at a party or dinner, you can have Christmas food and enjoy it. While you seem to be eating heartily with a smile, the key is to have a secret strategy of moderation. It involves sticking to a plan that can be called ‘Eating on a Budget.’

‘Eating on a Budget’ is not about the cost of what is eaten, but about the quantity of what is eaten. It is important that a ‘budget’ or eating in moderation plan is developed because it is almost impossible to avoid exposure to a lot of cookies, candies and other sweets at Christmas. At work, you may risk appearing like the Grinch who stole Christmas if your response will always be something like, ‘Uh..no..bah humbug’ all the time that some Christmas goodies are offered. It will seem as if you aren’t in the spirit of the holidays especially since at that time of year everyone is usually in a festive and more relaxed mood, and the pace at work is usually slower.

A practical way to partake in Christmas goodies, for example, is to substitute some holiday cookies for say the bagel that you usually have with breakfast or for a mid-morning snack. And instead of just taking one cookie, from the platter, which is noticeable and likely will encourage a colleague to tell you to have more, take three instead. That’s where the plan can come into play. You can then enjoy the cookies over two or more hours, because nobody will be watching how you really eat. You can always have a few candies, one cookie or a cookie and a half by your desk and that way it will seem as if you are heartily enjoying the holiday treats.

Another strategy is to bring – bake or buy – low calorie Christmas cookies and candies to work to counteract others that are being offered. Since eating healthy is highly encouraged, health-conscious cookies will not be looked down upon so long as they taste great. A box of sugar-free Christmas chocolate candies for example will look just as delightful as regular chocolate candies. It’s interesting to note that in a poll sponsored by the National Confectioners Association in 2004, chocolate was the favorite food gift that Americans said they preferred to receive for the holidays. The lowly and much maligned fruit cake was last on the list. The second favorite holiday food gift was a fruit basket and a plate of cookies was third on the list, according to the Association.

For an occasion such as a Christmas party or a dinner, including Christmas Dinner, where larger quantities and selection of food is available, the ‘Eating on a Budget’ plan means that serving portions and the choice of food selected should be carefully watched.

At a party where more desserts and sweets are likely to be available, a few of the selections can be sampled. If the urge to try everything can’t be resisted, then do so, but then second helpings have to be severely limited. The same is somewhat true for Christmas Dinners. One big difference is that the food served during Christmas Dinner will be heavier, so by selecting portions wisely, one can always say truthfully that the stomach is full.

And indeed, after a sumptuous Holiday Dinner, your body is likely to be full from food and your soul full of joy from sharing another memorable holiday tradition with family, friends and loved ones.

Add Some Fun to Your Neighborhood by Singing Christmas Carols!

With things becoming more and more hectic in the form of careers, and just a generally fast-paced lifestyle, people are starting to treat the Christmas season as if it is just another stressful time. People dash around shopping malls, trying to find last-minute gifts. All the while they are missing the wonderful parts of the holiday. If you are one of these people, you should take a moment to bring some fun to your neighborhood – sing some Christmas carols!

Christmas Carols: It’s a Tradition!

No doubt you have heard Christmas carols on the radio or on television. Perhaps you also sang them when you were in school. It used to be a tradition among some families and other singing groups to go from place to place and sing Christmas carols – this is still done in some places, and perhaps it is still done in your area but you have been too busy to know it!

So, why should you sing Christmas carols in your neighborhood? The simple reason is that it allows you to get to know your neighbors better if you do not already. Too many people move into a neighborhood and have no idea who lives around them. However, before you decide to sing Christmas carols, make sure that the people in your neighborhood actually do celebrate Christmas. An easy way to tell is if they have Christmas decorations displayed outside their home.

Another thing that you should consider is how many people you want to go Christmas caroling with you. Make sure it is no more than five people for a neighborhood, otherwise the person who answers the door might be a bit overwhelmed. The number of people set, now you have to find people who are interested in the idea of the singing Christmas carols with you.

This might be easy or more difficult – it all has to do with the people you spend time with. Begin by asking family and close friends – you should get at least a couple of people from those groups. If not, these people are sure to know others who might be interested in the idea, and through this manner you might even be able to make new friends!

Make sure that the people you choose, as well as yourself, have a good enough voice to be able to carry a song without any musical accompaniment. Remember, people do not want to listen to dissonant sounds! So, take a night and practice before you go sing Christmas carols. With the proper practice, you are sure to create excellent Christmas memories!

Christmas Carols can also be a great source for some verse to put on your custom Christmas cards.

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Link to an example of a Christmas Carol Greeting Postcard

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