Valentine's Day a Perfect Holiday for Gift Baskets

Many people associate gift baskets with Christmas, Easter, housewarming or job promotions, and rightfully so. Gift baskets are wonderful gifts for these occasions and many others. Gift baskets also make a great gift for Valentine's Day. With so many gift baskets available now for specialty gift giving, it's no wonder people are starting to discover that Valentine's Day is the perfect holiday for gift baskets.

If ever there were a "bigger is better" holiday, it would have to be Valentine's Day. A dozen red roses are nice, but three dozen red roses with baby's breath and an ornate vase is something really special. For this reason alone, Valentine's Day gift baskets take the cake, so to speak. Most Valentine's Day gift baskets are available in several sizes and can be sent with flowers, balloons, teddy bears, or just about any other expression of love. Best of all, Valentine's Day gift baskets aren't just limited to chocolates, although chocolate is one of the most popular products for Valentine's Day.

From luxury perfumes and spa products to gourmet foods and candies, there is no limit to the choices available when choosing a Valentine's Day gift basket. Many gift basket retailers take great care to put together Valentine's day gift baskets that are filled with products designed to make this very special holiday a memorable one.

Take it from me, gourmet food gift baskets with flowers are an exceptional gift to send to your significant other at his or her workplace. Flowers always score points on the "love scale", especially in front of someone's coworkers, but including a chocolate or gourmet food gift basket will be something the entire office can appreciate. There is no better way to turn them from envious to appreciative, and it will bring everybody by your loved one's desk to stop and smell the roses.

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A Short History Of St. Patrick and His Irish Holiday

The history of St. Patrick抯 Day, which started out as a Holy Day for the Irish Catholics in the 10th or 11th century, goes all the way back to the late 3rd century when a small boy was born in Roman England by the name of Maewyn.

Maewyn and his family lived in a small town where his father was a soldier in the army, and a member of the town government. Some accounts say that Maewyn was an agnostic and some say that his family was Christian, but weren抰 very strong in their faith. Either way, it doesn抰 really matter because it was what happened later in his life that gained him his notoriety.

When Maewyn was only 16, there was a raid on his village from Ireland, in the Irish Sea. They captured Maewyn and many of the villagers, and took them back to Ireland as servants and slaves for the local Irish.

It was here in captivity that it is reported that Maewyn accepted God, and began to talk to him. In fact, legend has it that he often spoke to God in prayer up to one hundred times a day. And Maewyn was under the authority of a Celtic family, so he learned the Celtic language and how to speak it fluently. Six years later, when he was 22, Maewyn escaped from his servitude, and ran to France. There he joined a monastery and under the direction of the Bishop of France, he studied the Bible. It was this Bishop who gave him the name Patrick. Legend has it that while Patrick was here in the monastery, he heard angels calling him back to Ireland.

After spending 12 years in the study of theology and Catholic Laws, he departed and went to Ireland to preach to a heathen nation. He spent 30 years in evangelistic and missionary work across the land. He won many converts over, healed people, and it was even said that he raised some people from the dead. Everywhere he went he announced God, and he built many schools and churches to help promote the Catholic religion. Legend has it that angels followed him everywhere, and even told him where and how to go.

After 30 years of missionary work, he died on March 17th. This is the day that has gone down in history as St. Patrick抯 Day, for the patron saint of Ireland.

St. Patrick抯 Day today has grown into much more than just a Holy Day for Catholics. Strict Catholics around the world though do remember St. Patrick, usually in an early Mass on March 17th. But everyone joins in as a celebration of St. Patrick抯 Day and becomes Irish for the day. It has now become a celebration of spring with parades special Irish meals, green tinted drinks and beer, etc. 揟he wearing of the green?and the Leprechaun have come about over the years to be Good Luck and prosperity to all and everything green typically represents the turning to spring ?green is the color of life.

So, with one day to be Irish, take advantage, and have a wonderful St. Patrick抯 Day.

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Ancient Celebrations Of The Christmas Holiday

Christmas may very well be the oldest holiday that is shared across the many cultures of the world; it is traditionally celebrated during the winter season (or even the warm summer season if you count Australia, where Christmas is celebrated as an official holiday).

Before Christmas was celebrated, people were finding time to celebrate in Europe during the winter holiday before the birth of Jesus Christ ever even occurred!

The Winter Solstice has always been a time to celebrate and rejoice; it is celebrated on December 21 in the northern hemisphere and it was after the Winter Solstice that the worst part of the year was behind them. It was at that point during the year that the days began to get longer, giving the people more time to spend outside on their crops and tending to their animals.

In Scandinavia during the Winter Solstice, men and their sons used to go in to the woods to cut a tree down. After the tree had been felled, a nicely sized log was cut out of it, and the men would carry the log back to the home. This log was dubbed a Yule Log, and the Yule log was burned in the fireplace. The entire time the Yule log burned, the family would feast. Often times the Yule log might burn for a whole twelve days! Of course, as the Yule log burned it sent sparks out of the hearth and as the sparks flew out of the fire place, the family would count the sparks and each spark stood for a farm animal (a cow, a goat, a pig, etc) that would be born on their property that year. It is important to note that farm animals were signs of wealth back then.

Saturnalia is a celebration of the Winter Solstice that occurred in ancient pagan Rome. Saturnalia was celebrated in honor of the god of agriculture, who was named Saturn. During the time of Saturnalia, the entire Roman empire is in a state of social disarray. Servants and peasants spend time with and celebrate the holiday with people of higher classes, which was a rarity back then.

The Saturnalia festival in itself can last as long as an entire week in Rome. During that time, people rejoiced all over the country of Rome. The phrase 慹at, drink, and be merry?was played out to its fullest. Shops and businesses are closed during the Festival of Saturnalia. Following the first week of Saturnalia, the festival itself usually ends, but the Saturnalia period itself does not end.

In addition to Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture, the Romans also worshipped an infant type god named Methra, who was carved out of a rock. On Mithra抯 birthday, people also rejoiced, just as they did during Saturnalia. The day of this rock god抯 birthday was one of the most sacred days of the year for the Roman people. It was a time for celebration and togetherness, and for family.

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Top 10 Holiday Gifts

Here are the top selling holiday items according to MSN Shopping.

Couch Signature Gallery Pouch
This handbag from Coach is proving to be very popular this holiday season. This short-strap classic style handbag has a zip closure and inside open pocket. It has jacquard fabric with leather trim, is fabric lined, and comes in black, khaki, and red.

Diamond Bracelet Sterling Silver by Ashford
This piece proves you can never go wrong with diamonds. It has S-shaped links and diamond accents. Silver is a good addition to most styles of clothing and accessories.

iPod nano 2 GB MP3 Player by Apple
Unless you have been under a rock lately, you are familiar with the iPod family. This version is in between the small type and full-size iPod, but still holds 500 songs and is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.

Satin Drapeneck Dress by S.L. Fashions
This is a gorgeous polyester satin pull-over dress which is available in black, almond, and jade. For any special occasion, it will wow whoever sees you. You can not go wrong with such classic beauty. Its stunning sleeveless design and drapeneck provides a sexy but sophisticated look.

Step 2 Ride-On Motorcycle
A great buy for your toddler, the Step 2 Ride-On Motorcycle will provide hours of amusement for your child, as well as you watching them play. Made of durable plastic, it has wide wheels for stability and easy grip handles.

Snack Attack by RedEnvelope
Food! This assortment includes sweet and salty goodies for all of those Christmas or Hanukkah munchies. With berry-nut mixes, caramel corn, gummy bears and much more, there is something for everyone.

Sony Playstation Portable (PSP)
The ultimate in gaming, this portable device allows for games, movies, playing music, and displaying photos. The great thing is that you have all of that at your fingertips.

Tealight Fountain by Innovage
This beautiful desktop fountain is perfect for the candle enthusiast. With a marble type finish, this piece holds three tealight candles and is calm and relaxing. It is also cordless, so you can set it anywhere.

4 Carat Trillian Cut Green Amethyst & Diamond 14k White Gold Ring by Ice.com
This is a truly breathtaking ring. With a large green amethyst stone, surrounded by diamond accents set in beautiful white gold, you are certain to get a smile out of this gift.

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Holiday Decorating Tips: Thanksgiving, A Time For Gratitude And Giving

Get new holiday decorating ideas for Thanksgiving and Autumn. Start a new family tradition. Your home will look fabulous and your guests will love you.

Turkey and Cranberries! Yeah!

Before you dig into that turkey, take a moment for each person to say one sentence beginning with...

"Today, I am grateful for..."

You will be surprised at what children say, so keep a notebook handy to write down the gratitudes, or, better yet, record the event.

Thanksgiving Decorating Tips

"Welcome to Our Home" Ideas

Holiday decorating isn't just for Christmas! Door wreaths welcome all to your home and set the stage for celebrating. Make a simple wreath to hang on your front door with Thanksgiving colors--brown, russet, olive green. Use tree branches from your garden; attach a few gourds, nuts, and ribbons.

Place a gorgeous mum by your front door. You can plant it later and get flowers next Thanksgiving to use inside. It just takes one bright spot near your front door to attract the eye of arriving guests.

Wrap your front door with gift wrap appropriate to Thanksgiving.

Make a "welcome to our home" banner. Add your ribbons and fall leaves.

Group vines, pumpkins, and mums for display impact near the front entrance. Adjust the vines to add height and movement.

Fall Leaves make great interior and exterior decorations. Be sure to hose off any bugs!

Interior Holiday Decorating Tips

Tie ribbons around your candle bases and around your floral arrangements.

Set fall-color leaves under your decorations. Safety Tip: Keep leaves separated from melting candle wax.

Extend your flower arrangements with fall tree branches. Just one flower package makes a huge impact when you divide and spread it around.

Use copper, bronze, and gold spray paint to dress up plain gourds. Fill a glass or crystal bowl with the gourds, oranges, and nuts.

Display vegetables and mini pumpkins on a tray. Fill in any gaps with fall leaves, moss, straw, or wheat.

If orange clashes with your home's interior, use green apples and spray paint the mini-pumpkins.

Did I already say leaves? Here's another way to add fall color: Place the leaves in your green potted-plants.

One beautiful way to kick off your holiday season: Wrap tiny gifts in gold foil; top off with brown and russet ribbons, and place the gifts on the dinner plate. Your table will look fabulous and your guests will love the thought.

Happy Thanksgiving!

?Jeanette Fisher

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Three Holiday Ornaments Anyone Can Make

Do you spend loads of money on holiday ornaments every year, trying to create a unique and unforgettable Christmas tree display? Do you wish holiday decorating were simpler and more affordable?

If so, here are three fun and easy ideas for creating your very own recycled Christmas tree ornaments! Remember, decorating need not be costly or stressful. Creating your own ornaments out of everyday household items can be one of the most rewarding and stress-busting activities of the fast-paced holiday season.

1. Make a Whimsical Light Bulb Reindeer

You will need:

One used light bulb
Brown felt cloth or fun foam
Acrylic paints and brushes
Ribbon
1 small red pom-pom
Glue

First, paint the light bulb brown. Set aside and let dry. Once the brown paint on the light bulb has dried completely, use a paint brush to paint eyes and a mouth on your reindeer. When the paint has dried begin to glue the red pom-pom nose onto the end of the light bulb, just above the mouth. Next, use the brown cloth or foam to fashion a pair of antlers for your reindeer. Glue these to the side of the light bulb. Finally, cut a small piece ribbon, loop and tie into a knot, and glue it to the top of your reindeer light bulb ornament.

2. Make a CD photo ornament. This is a great personal gift to give to someone you love.

You will need:
An old CD
A piece of felt fabric
Ribbon
Glue
A photograph

Use the CD as pattern to cut out a round piece of felt. Carefully spread glue on the back of the CD. Place the felt circle that you抳e cut out over the CD, and pressed gently. Make sure you haven抰 put too much glue on the back of the CD!

Next, cut around the photograph you plan on using. Trace the picture onto a piece of felt, leaving about ?inch around the sides. Glue the picture onto the felt, and then mount onto the CD with glue. The photograph should cover the hole in the middle of the CD.

Finally, cut a piece of ribbon and tie it into a loop. Glue it onto the back of the CD. Your CD photo ornament is now ready to be hung!

3. Make greeting card ornaments. Do you hate parting with all those beautiful Christmas cards you receive each year? Instead of throwing them out or keeping them shelved away, why not transform them into beautiful Christmas tree ornaments?

Cut out your favorite Christmas card images and mount them onto wooden craft shapes with glue. For an older finish, varnish them, drill a small hole at the top, and then tie ribbons at the tops. You can also cut out your favorite images from cards, laminate them, punch a hole at the top, and use a piece of ribbon as the hanger. If you don抰 want to cut anything out, an even simpler approach is to glue the front and back of the card together. Punch a hole at the top of the card, loop a piece of ribbon and it抯 ready to hang.

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Why Shopping Online Will Be Big This Holiday Season

Traditionally, the December holiday season is the most important part of the year for many businesses, especially those in retail. But so far, predictions aren't that rosy for this year's profits. High gas prices, high cost of living, and low consumer confidence are expected to put a damper on the holiday shopping plans for many.

But that's not entirely true for everyone. You can expect online shopping to be bigger than ever. Why? Let me outline a few reasons why online retail sites like Amazon, to small home-based operations will be raking in the cash in the weeks ahead.

1. Very few are going to blow off the holidays, even if funds are low. And most people will buy cheaper gifts rather than cross some loved ones off their shopping list. When people don't have a lot of disposable cash, they look for low prices. Suddenly bargain hunting becomes the order of the day.

Expect masses of North Americans to flock to online retail sites in ever greater numbers. The super-low overhead of online retail allows sites to offer wide selection at the lowest prices on Earth. After a decade of Internet shopping, millions of people are now fully aware of this truth. Expect a very large percentage of them to purchase some or all of their gifts online.

2. Gas is still high and may go even higher in the weeks ahead. This means wading through clogged streets filled with holiday shoppers is something most of our pocket books just don't want to go through. High gas prices also mean paying for online purchases to be shipped to you is no longer an imposition. Many will be thinking "The 3 bucks for shipping is a lot less than the $20 I'll spend driving all over town to the malls."

3. People are working harder than ever. The demands of one, two, even three jobs while taking care of family is leaving millions of Americans will zero free time. This means they need to sandwich holiday shopping into their lunch break or even during a slow period at work. Yes, expect these folks to also do their shopping online in unprecedented numbers.

The bottom line is clear: if you're a consumer, give yourself a needed break and do your holiday gift buying online. If you're an online retailer, get ready for a holiday buying season you may not soon forget.

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Holiday Scams and Thieves Exposed

The holidays bring joy and a sense of well-being for most people. With the numerous parties, activities, family get-togethers, and holiday shopping, you may find that you are very busy and may not pay attention to potential scams and rip-offs. Here are some tips that will keep you and your money safe during the holidays:

Pickpocketing

While shopping for the many gifts you intend to give this year, pay careful attention to the presence of pickpockets. Keep you money in a front pocket rather than in your back pocket. If you carry a purse, make sure you hold it close to your body rather than holding it by the strap and letting it swing as you walk. Crafty pickpockets who often work as a team steal millions of dollars each year. One will distract the victim while the other slips in and take the victim's money. Protect yourself and your wallet at all times. Do not be fooled into thinking that since you are shopping at an upscale, safe location that you will not become the victim of a pickpocket.

Online Shopping Scams

Beware of online scams. During the holidays there are many web sites that offer incredible deals on various merchandise, travel specials, and a number of other seemingly 'perfect' opportunities. Be very careful about what you purchase online and from whom you make purchases. If you are careless in your online shopping habits, you may find that your merchandise never arrives as promised, the deal you thought you were purchasing is non-existent, or that not only does your order arrive after the holidays are over, but when it does arrive the merchandise only vaguely resembles that pictured on the web site, if there is any similarity at all.

Credit Card Companies

Beware of credit card companies that increase your spending limit immediately before the holiday shopping season begins. Each purchase you make will accrue interest, increasing the overall amounts you will spend the items you buy. Also do not make the mistake of accepting offers from your credit card company to skip your payment until after the New Year. The interest you owe will still accrue and you will end up owing more than you did initially. Also, be very cautious about making online purchases during the holiday season. While most merchants are reputable, there are some that will put up a web site with the express intent of obtaining credit card and debit card numbers for fraudulent purposes.

Telemarketing Scams

Telemarketing scams seem to increase during the holidays. Never give your personal information or credit card number to an unsolicited caller. Millions are stolen each year during the holidays due to telemarketing scams that entice consumers to make purchases immediately. If a telemarketer tells you that the incredible offer they are giving you will only be available for the next 10 minutes, hang up immediately. You should also be very careful when making purchases from door-to-door salesmen. Not only could you have your personal information used in a fraudulent manner, you could risk your safety by allowing strangers into your home.

Charity Scams

Beware of mail and calls from charities that you have never heard of. Many people have fallen victim to a charity scam that solicits money form unsuspecting consumers. The charity promises that your tax-deductible gift will go to help the underprivileged, starving children, victims of natural disasters, etc. Most charities are reputable, but stay away from any charity solicitation that is from an organization you have never seen before.

Wrapping Paper Station Scam

Also, beware of wrapping paper station scams. Wrapping paper stations can seem like a great idea, but in reality you can purchase and wrap everything you need for significantly less money. However, if you do decide to use a wrapping paper station make sure you're present at all times while your gift is being wrapped. Do not leave your gifts at the station and come back later to pick them up. The time you may save is not worth the extra expense and you may find out later that the gifts you bought were not the gifts you paid to have wrapped.

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Holiday Decorating: Good for You or Added Stress?

December gives us the perfect excuse to pamper ourselves with holiday cheer. No matter which holiday tradition you celebrate, decorating your home is good for you. Psychologists report that change, planning, and entertainment make people happy. Change your environment for the holidays and plan to entertain yourself as well as guests.

Holiday decorations change stagnant rooms. When your accessories and mementos stay in the same place day after day, you soon get used to them and no longer notice your treasure in the same old location. Moving things around and adding holiday decorations to your spaces makes everything feel new again.

You increase your happiness when you decorate your home for the holidays. If you take out the stress. When you make a huge production out of decorating your home for the holidays, you can easily become overwhelmed and turn a happy event into a stress-filled ordeal. Balance, the key to happiness, will help you keep holiday decorating FUN. Don't take on too much. It doesn't take a lot of decorations to instill holiday cheer!

Have you ever noticed that when you plan a party that the actual planning makes you happy? Psychologists say that's because people love to daydream and plan. An added bonus, the more time you take to plan a party, the more organized the event, and the better the result.

Guests love to come to a home decked out in holiday splendor. The festive air created with candles, decorations, and music provides the backdrop for happy interactions. It's hard for someone to not be happy when they enter a home in celebration mood.

Take some time for yourself and enjoy your holiday decorating. Pamper yourself and your guests.

Copyright ?Jeanette J. Fisher

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Fun Thanksgiving Decorations That Make Your Holiday Special

Thanksgiving is a time in which we remember the people in our lives that are special to us. This year take the time to decorate your home in honor of this very special holiday.

You can show your friends and family just how much they mean to you this Thanksgiving season. Here are a few decorations that will make this Thanksgiving one that will be remembered for many years to come.

Make your Thanksgiving table a thing of beauty with a table runner with gold, browns, or burnt orange colors. Emboss the table runner with stamps in fruit and nut shapes or use iron-on decals to decorate your table runner.

Buy several pillar candles in one solid color and place each on silk fall leaves. Group your candles in various heights and place a few nuts or small gourds at the base of the candles for a special fall look.

Decorate your Thanksgiving buffet table with fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts in brass or silver bowls and baskets. You can also use artificial fruits and vegetables if you want to keep your beautiful buffet table in place for several weeks or the entire month.

Make garlands from leaves, fruits, berries, and fall colored ribbons to hang from doorways and any place you would normally hang a Christmas garland. You can also purchase bundles of wheat and tie wide, wire-edged ribbon around the center and hang from your fireplace and on doors.

Make place cards for every member of the family and any other visitors you may be entertaining and include a note to each written inside the place card of why you are thankful for that person and what they mean in your life. Your guests and family members will be touched by your thoughtfulness and the effort you made to make them feel special.

Think of all the places you decorate with reds and greens at Christmas and instead place fall colors and Thanksgiving decorations that you can purchase in your local discount or hobby store. These simple ideas will transform your house and make your guests thankful for you.

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Holiday Shopping Online ?Delivery Rules For Your Orders

Holiday shopping online has taken a lot of stress out the holiday season with one exception. What if your order doesn抰 show up on time? Here are the delivery rules.

Holiday Shopping ?Prompt Delivery Rules

The Internet is the fastest growing source of holiday gifts orders. The FTC, however, has received complaints in the past about gifts not being delivered on time. To stop this, the agency has set down rules for Internet retailers.

The FTC has issues directives spelling out the ground rules for making promises about shipments, notifying consumers about unexpected delays, and refunding consumers' money. Enforced by the FTC, the Mail or Telephone Order Rule applies to orders placed by phone, fax or the Internet.

Delivery Rules

By law, an Internet retailer must have a reasonable basis for stating that a product can be shipped within a certain time. If their advertising doesn't clearly and prominently state the shipment period, they must have a reasonable basis for believing they can ship within 30 days. Most retailers, however, will promise much shorter times, even a few days if you agree to extra shipping costs.

If a retailer runs into inventory problems and can't ship within the promised time, it must notify you of the delay. The retailer must also provide a revised shipment date and explain your right to cancel and get a full and prompt refund. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Your Response

For definite delays of up to 30 days, a retailer can treat a customer's silence as agreeing to the delay. But for longer or indefinite delays - and second and subsequent delays ?a retailer must get the customer's written, electronic or verbal consent to the delay. If you tell the retailer to pound sand, they must promptly refund all of your money.

FTC Takes Care of You

The FTC takes a very aggressive stance towards retailers who fail to deliver orders on time. This is particularly true if a retailer blows it during the Christmas season. Millions of dollars in fines are handed out each year.

Summary

If you order gifts online, keep notes on when you ordered and expect delivery. Also, keep an eye out for emails from the retailer, particularly since they may end up in your spam box. If nothing comes from the retailer, get on the phone and find out what is going on. Taking these steps will keep the kinks out of your online holiday shopping experience.

Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of writing journals. Writing journals are great Christmas gifts for him or her and are always shipped on time.

holiday shopping online, prompt delivery rules, online retailers, internet shopping, shop online

Holiday Journals ?Preserve Your Holiday Experiences

The holidays are a great time to gather the family. Alas, your holiday experiences can fade with time. The best way to prevent this is to keep a journal for your holidays.

Holiday Writing Journals

Take a minute to give some consideration to the holidays in 2004. What sticks out in your mind? Now think about what you did for the holidays in 1998. Undoubtedly, you remember few things about 1998. The experiences you抳e forgotten are lost to time. If you had kept a journal, this wouldn抰 be the case.

Keeping a journal each holiday season is a good way to build up a history of family gatherings. It also keeps you from losing hilarious and cherished moments to the passage of time. Each holiday season offers a chance to see how the lives of families and friends have changed. It is also a time to reflect on the things you have to be thankful for, such as a sister or brother you haven抰 seen in years. Keeping a journal lets you take a snap shot in time of what you were thinking then.

As time passes, your holiday journal will grow in detail. It will become a great keepsake by acting as a time line for the growth of your family. You抣l be able to look back at past years and read about the good and, perhaps, not so good times. You抣l be shocked how to realize how much everything has changed over time.

As time continues to pass, you will inevitably lose loved ones as nature runs its course. I am not trying to be macabre, just realistic. Your journal will give you a detailed account of memories involving that person. Frankly, re-reading the good times can help get you through the tough ones.

Eventually, you抣l have to come to a decision with your journal. Should you pass it on to one of your children to carry on the volume or just keep it as your private diary? Whatever your choice, you抣l be thankful you kept a record of the holiday seasons spent with your family.

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Holiday Stress? Take Care of You!

The holidays usually provoke pleasant feelings and happy times. Unfortunately, they can often also be a major source of stress. It is very easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of shopping, decorating, baking, parties, and visiting with family and friends. There is so much going on around us and so many obligations we feel we need to fulfill. How do you keep your head above water in all this commotion?

First of all, there is no one solution, nor does the same thing work for everyone. Start by taking a deep breath. The important lesson here is to pace yourself, and to make sure you are taking care of yourself along the way. Too often we find ourselves getting run down or sick at this time of the year. Then, when we are down, how do we enjoy the holidays?

Some tips to help you have a happy holiday season:
* Get plenty of sleep.
* Eat healthy meals (while at parties, eat smaller portions).
* Get as much exercise as you can.
* Say "no" once in a while. You do not have to be all things to all people.
* Avoid excessive alcohol.
* Spend time with fun people.
* Borrow some holiday cheer and spread it around.
* Laugh often.

Following these tips is sure to enhance your holiday spirit, and lessen your stress. Lighten up and enjoy yourself this holiday season. You deserve it!

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Holiday Sanity Savers From A Mostly-Sane Mom

The Holidays are a stressful time. Between the additional errands, the extra traffic, and the stress of spending money that you don抰 have ?even the sanest mom will be questioning her sanity as the holidays near.

Here are a few ideas to help you keep your sanity this holiday season.

Make a list (and check it twice). Keep your shopping list in your purse to keep from being overwhelmed or worse ?overspending. If you walk into a store and are bedazzled by all the shiny things, I can relate. I get so overwhelmed that I get nothing accomplished. But, as the Holidays near, I tend to switch into 揝uperMarket Sweep?mode and I start throwing everything into my cart (whether I really need it or not). Having a list can help fight this urge, keep you sane ?and help your budget stay sane in the process.

As soon as you start buying, start wrapping. There's nothing more stressful than tackling a mountain of unwrapped gifts two days before Christmas. Save on the cost of wrapping paper by buying it after the holiday each year and stowing it away for next year. Be sure to attach gift tags as you wrap. If you're wrapping a month in advance, there's no way you're going to remember what that funky rectangular shaped box is, let alone who it's for.

To save time and sanity, wrap gifts that go together in all the same paper. For instance, wrap all gifts that will be going with you to your mother-in-law's on Christmas Eve in the red paper with the gingerbread men. And put all gifts for your friends and neighbors in the blue paper with the snowflakes, etc.

Cook in advance. Did you know that you can make mashed potatoes during the summer, freeze them, and have them ready for the holidays? Mashed potatoes can be kept in the freezer for months if you use a freezer-friendly recipe. Cook your mashed potatoes in advance and offer to bring them to Christmas dinner. You can skip the stress of cooking, because they抣l be ready and waiting for you.

Limit your travel. The holidays are about family, but they are also about togetherness and making memories. If you抮e spending your holidays trapped in the car together, driving down icy roads, stressed out, consider ways to travel less.

The Holidays are a time to make memories. Oftentimes the memories we are making are of a stressed-out mom, running around missing out on all the fun because she抯 trying to create a perfect moment. Instead, relax and experience the holidays with your family. Between a little planning and taking some of the pressure off, you抣l have a Holiday that would make Norman Rockwell sigh.

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