Get Organized Now for Christmas - Day 12 - Cooking

Flip through the cooking section of your notebook. Take out any recipes you tried that you &/or the family didn't like. Add notes to the recipes you do like, such as 'add more cheese next time' or 'needs more peppermint.'

If you want to try something new for Thanksgiving or Christmas Day, try it now to make sure the family will like it.

Name That Christmas Tune - Part Two

Name That Christmas Tune Answers

1. GRYMG
2. WTK
3. TFN
4. TLDB
5. SN
6. DYHWTH
7. JTTW
8. WCIT
9. OLTOB
10. OHN
11. AWHHOH
12. AIAM
13. ICUAMC
14. DTH
15. WWYAMC
16. OCAYF
17. SB
18. JB
19. HTHAS
20. AF
21. GGROBAR
22. TTDOC
23. IDOAWC
24. TCS
25. OT
26. HYAMLC
27. LISLISLIS
28. IBHFC
29. WC
30. SCICTT
31. WW
32. ISMKSC
33. RTRNR
34. AIWFCIMTFT
35. HCSC
36. JBR
37. RATCT
38. COTB
39. HWCAC
40. GKW
41. OCOCE
42. GTIOTM
43. HAHJC
44. FTS
45. FN
46. IGNFC
47. IWAHFC
48. WAYC
49. MGUCL
50. WC

1. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
2. Wee Three Kings
3. The First Noel
4. The Little Drummer Boy
5. Silent Night
6. Do You Hear What I Hear?
7. Joy to the World
8. What Child is This?
9. O Little Town of Bethlehem
10. O Holy Night
11. Angels We Have Heard on High
12. Away in a Manger
13. I Came Upon a Midnight Clear
14. Deck the Halls
15. We Wish You a Merry Christmas
16. O Come All Ye Faithful
17. Silver Bells
18. Jingle Bells
19. Hark the Herald Angels Sing
20. Adeste Fidelis
21. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer
22. The Twelve Days of Christmas
23. I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas
24. The Christmas Song
25. O Tannebaum
26. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
27. Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow
28. I'll Be Home for Christmas
29. White Christmas
30. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
31. Winter Wonderland
32. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
33. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
34. All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth
35. Here Comes Santa Claus
36. Jingle Bell Rock
37. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
38. Carol of the Bells
39. Here We Come a Caroling
40. Good King Wenceslas
41. O Come O Come Emmanual
42. Go Tell It on the Mountain
43. Have a Holly Jolly Christmas
44. Frosty the Snowman
45. Feliz Navidad
46. I Got Nothing for Christmas
47. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
48. Where are You Christmas?
49. My Grown Up Christmas List
50. Welcome Christmas

Congratulations to all of you who got all the song titles correct! Unfortunately, no one got all correct. Thanks, everyone, for playing.

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 24

Napa Valley Navidad by Santa's Best Christmas Designs.

Christmas Tip of the Day #32

Give an anonymous gift of money to a family that is struggling with finances.

Get Organized Now for Christmas - Day 11 - Camera Ready

Get all those summer photos of vacations and pool time downloaded and off your digital camera to free up the memory for the upcoming school dances, Halloween parties, Thanksgiving feasts, and, of course, Christmas activities and Christmas day.

If you are using a 35mm camera then start buying rolls of film.

Christmas Tip of the Day #31

Tell your children about Christmas when you were their age.

Get Organized Now for Christmas - Day 10 - Shopping Budget

Do you have a place where you keep the gifts you purchase all throughout the year? If you do, I bet you have items in there that are not assigned to anyone yet. I know I do. If this is the case with you, do what I do -- shop from within my home. What exactly does this mean? Before you purchase items at the store, evaluate all the items in your gift closet to see if there is someone on your gift list you can give that gift to. This will save you a trip out to the store, reduces the amount of items in your gift closet, and saves you money.

The sooner you mail packages the less money you will have to pay because you can use the longer shipping method.

Shop using the Internet, catalogs, &/or TV. In today's world you can buy everything from groceries to Christmas trees, from greenery to gifts via these methods. Shop early to avoid having to pay expedited shipping charges. Be sure to search out coupons, deals of the day, and sales to make your shopping dollar go even further.

November Celebrations

November Monthly Celebrations
American Diabetes Month
American Heritage Month
American Indian Heritage Month
Anything Can Happen Month
Aviation Month
British Appreciation
Celebrate Empty Nester Month
Child Safety and Protection Month
Chrysanthemum Month
Diabetic Eye Disease Month
Drum Month
Epilepsy Awareness Month
Family Stories Month
Freezing Weather Month
Good Nutrition Month
Hunger Awareness Month
I Am So Thankful Month
International Creative Child and Adult Month
International Drum (Percussion) Month
International Microfinance Month
Latin American Month
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
MADD's Tie One On for Safety Holiday Campaign
Military Family Appreciation Month
Model Railroad Month
Music Month
National Adoption Month
National AIDs Awareness Month
National Alzheimer's Disease Month
National American Indian Heritage Month
National Author's Day Month
National Christmas Seal Month
National COPD Awareness
National Diabetes Awareness Month
National Epilepsy Month
National Family Caregiver Month
National Family Literacy Month
National Georgia Pecan Month
National Healthy Skin Month
National Home Care & Hospice Month
National Hospice Month
National Impotency Month
National Inspirational Role Models Month
National Life Writing Month
National Marrow Awareness Month
National Model Railroad Month
National Peanut Butter Lovers Month
National Pepper Month
National Pomegranate Month
National Raisin Bread Month
National Red Ribbon Month
National Run Away Prevention Month
National Sleep Comfort Month
National Stamp Collecting
November Flower
Peanut Butter Lover's Month
Prematurity Awareness Month
Real Jewelry Month
Sleep Comfort Month
Vegan Month

November Weekly Celebrations
Autumn - Sept. 23- Dec. 21
Kids Goals Education Week - Week One
National Card & Letter Writing Week - Week One
National Chemistry Week - Week One
National Fig Week - Week One
National Health Information Week - Week One
National Split Pea Soup Week - Week One
Notary Public Week - Week One
Pursuit of Happiness Week - Week One
World Communication Week - Week One
American Education Week - Week Two
Dear Santa Letter Week - Nov. 5-9
French Conversation Week - Nov. 5-11
Kids' Goal Setting Week - Nov. 6-10
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week - Nov. 7-13
National Farm Week - Week Two
Nurse Practitioner Week - Nov. 5-11
Pursuit of Happiness Week: Nov. 8-14
Random Acts of Kindness Week - Week Two
World Kindness Week - Nov. 7-13
Children's Book Week - Nov. 13-19
Green Ribbon Awareness Week - Nov. 11-17
Home Care Aide Week - Nov. 13-19
National Bible Week - Week Three
National Children's Book Week - Week Three
National Farm-City Week - Nov. 17-23
National Hunger & Homeless Awareness Week - Nov. 12-18
Operating Room Nurse Week - Week Three
2002 National Farm-City- Week Four
Better Conversation Week - Nov. 20-26
National Adoption Week - Week Four
National Bible Week - Nov. 19-26
National Cookie Week - Week Four
National Family Caregivers Week - Week Four
National Family Week - Nov. 19-25
National Game & Puzzle Week - Nov. 19-25
National Home Care Week - Week Four
Travelers with Disabilities Awareness Week - Nov. 26-Dec. 3

November Daily Celebrations
1- All Saints Day
1- Cake Appreciation Day
1- Cider Day
1- Day of the Dead
1- Electric Light Bulb Patented (1879)
1- Hello Kitty's Birthday
1- International Coaches Day
1- Kite Festival (Guatemala)
1- National Author's Day
1- National Family Literacy Day
1- No Driving with Cellphones Day (NYC Law 2001.)
1- Nutty Pecan Day
1- Play a Game of Chess Day
1- Snug Hugs For Kids Day
1- World Community Day
1- World Vegan Day
2- Admission Day (North Dakota)
2- All Souls' Day
2- Broadcast Radio's Birthday
2- Cookie Monster's Birthday
2- Daniel Boone's Birthday
2- Deviled Egg Day
2- Hug-A-Bear Sunday
2- National Deviled Egg Day
2- National Men Make Dinner Day
2- National Publishers Day
2- National Traffic Directors Day
2- Piggy Bank Day
2- Plan Your Epitaph Day
2- Practice Being Psychic Day
3- Celebration of Lights (Kentucky)
3- Cliché Day
3- Give Someone a Dollar Today Day
3- Housewife's Day
3- National Housewife's Day
3- Peanut Festival (Alabama)
3- Public Television Birthday (1969)
3- Sadie Hawkins Day
3- Sandwich Day
3- Tunnel Day
3- World Community Day
4- Book Lover's Day
4- Candy Day
4- Cash Register Birthday (1880)
4- Deer Festival (Georgia)
4- Drum, Dance & Pray for Peace Day
4- First Wagon Train reached California
4- Giant Omelette Celebration (Louisiana)
4- King Tut Day
4- Mule Day (Georgia)
4- National Candy Month
4- National Chicken Lady Day
4- Peanut Butter Lover's Day
4- Sadie Hawkins Day
5- Commercial TV Broadcast Day (1930)
5- Doughnut Day
5- Electric Shaver Birthday (1923)
5- FM Stereo Birthday (1933)
5- Full Moon Day
5- Guru Nanak's Birthday
5- Guy Fawkes Day (Canada)
5- Bonfire Night (Canada)
5- Hug-a-Bear Sunday
5- National Donut day
6- Basketball Day
6- Halfway Point of Autumn
6- I Love Nachos Day
6- International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict
6- Marching Band Day
6- Peanut Butter Lover's Day
6- Saxophone Day
7- Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day
7- Election Day
7- Hug-a-Bear Day
7- Little League Girls Day (In 1973, New Jersey became the first state to allow girls to play Little League baseball.)
7- Magazine Day
7- National Bittersweet Chocolate With Almonds Day
7- Notary Public Day
7- Republican Elephant Day
8- Abet and Aid Punsters Day
8- Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day
8- Dunce Day
8- Harvey Wallbanger Day
8- I Hate to Cook Day
8- Mariachi Night (California)
8- National Parents As Teachers Day
8- Parents as Teachers Day
8- X-ray Day (The day X-ray was discovered.)
9- Christmas Stroll (Indiana)
9- Go To An Art Museum Today Day
9- Kristallnacht
9- Louie Louie Day
9- National Child Safety Council Birthday
9- National Scrapple Day
9- National Young Readers Day
9- Neon Sign Birthday (1911)
9- Parade Day
9- Return Day
9- Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day
10- Area Codes Birthday (1951)
10- Forget Me Not Day
10- Headache Day
10- Kristallnacht
10- Marine Corps Birthday (1775)
10- Motorcycle Birthday (1885)
10- Toothpaste Day
10- USMC Birthday
10- Vanilla Cupcake Day
10-12- Great American Warm-up Days
10-12- National Donor Sabbath Days
11- Air Day
11- National Vanilla Cupcake Day
11- Ones Day
11- Remembrance Day (Canada)
11- Route 66 Birthday (1926)
11- Sesame Street Birthday (Debuted 1969.)
11- Sundae Day
11- Veteran's Day
11- Veterans Day Parade (Alabama)
12- Chicken Soup for the Soul Day
12- Festival of Trees (Virginia)
12- Happy Hour Birthday (1745)
12- I Need a Patch for That Day
12- Mellow Yellow Day
12- National Pizza With The Works Except Anchovies Day
12- National Sundae Day
12- Pizza But No Anchovies Day
12- Remembrance Sunday (UK)
12- Song of the South Birthday (1946)
12- The Birth of Bahaullah
13- Actor's Day
13- Artificial Snow Birthday (1946)
13- Fantasia Birthday (1940)
13- Gingerbread House Day
13- Holland Tunnel Birthday (1927)
13- National Community Education Day
13- National Indian Pudding Day
13- National Mom's and Dad's Day
13- Start-a-Rumor Day
13- World Kindness Day
14- Blood Transfusion Birthday (1666)
14- Guacamole Day
14- India Children's Day
14- Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day
14- Moby Dick's Birthday (1851)
14- Monet Day
14- National American Teddy Bear Day
14- National Educational Support Personnel Day
14- National Young Reader's Day
14- Operation Room Nurse Day
14- Pickle Appreciation Day
14- Prince Charles' Birthday (1948)
14- School Pride Day
14- Spicey Guacamole Day
14- World Diabetes Day
15- America Recycles Day
15- American Enterprise Day
15- Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day
15- George Spelvin Day
15- Godiva Chocolates in America Day (1966)
15- I Love to Write Day
15- Little Red Wagon Day
15- National Clean out your Refrigerator Day
15- National Educational Support Professionals Day
15- Nativity Fast
15- NBC Radio Birthday (1926)
15- Pack Your Mom's Lunch Day
15- Pikes Peak Day
15- Shichi-Go-San (Japan)
15- Unemployment Check Birthday (1939)
16- Button Day
16- Great American Smokeout
16- International Day for Tolerance
16- Luke and Laura's Wedding (Genera Hospital 1981.)
16- National Fast Food Day
16- National Great American Smoke Out Day
16- Touch-Tone Telephone Birthday (1963)
17- Birth of the Blues Day
17- Fast for a World Harvest Day
17- Homemade Bread Day
17- International Day for Tolerance
17- National Family Volunteer Day
17- National Farm Joke Day
17- Take a Hike Day
17- The Little Mermaid Day (1989)
17- World Peace Day
18- Buffalo on the Block Day
18- Calvin & Hobbes Birthdays (1985)
18- Festival of Lights (Louisiana)
18- Married to a Scorpio Support Day
18- Mickey Mouse's Birthday (1928)
18- Moms and Dads Day
18- Mother Goose Parade
18- National Family Volunteer Day
18- Push-button Phone Day
18- Superman Death Anniversary (1992)
18- Teddy Bear Birthday (1902)
18- William Tell Day
19- Doo Dah Parade (California)
19- Gettysburg Address Delivered (1863)
19- Have a Bad Day, Day
19- International Pickle Festival (New York)
19- Little Red-Haired Girl's Birthday (Peanuts Character 1961.)
19- National Carbonated Beverage with Caffeine Day
19- National Educational Support Personnel Day
19- Pencil Day
19- Play Monopoly Day
19- Pop Tarts Birthday (1965)
19- Remembrance Day
19- U.S. Marine Corps Day
20- Absurdity Day
20- African Industrialization Day
20- Air Your Dirty Laundry Day
20- Automatic Traffic Light Birthday (1923)
20- Future Teachers of America Day
20- Name Your PC Day
20- National Military Families Recognition Day
20- National Peanut Butter Fudge Day
20- Peanut Butter Fudge Day
20- Traffic Light Day
20- Transgender Day of Remembrance
20- Universal Children's Day
21- Human Cannonball Birthday (1871)
21- National Stuffing Day
21- Pumpkin Pie Day
21- Tweety Bird's Birthday
21- World Hello Day
21- World Television Day
22- Beauty and the Beast Birthday (1991)
22- Go For A Ride Day
22- Hockey Day
22- Humane Society Anniversary Day
22- Independence Day (Lebanon)
22- Nation of Islam Birthday (1930)
22- National Family Caregivers Day
22- Slumber Party Day
22- Start Your Own Country Day
22- Stop the Violence Day
22- Toy Story Birthday (1995)
22- What Do You Love About American Day
23- Birthday of the King of Horror
23- Color Photos Birthday (1863)
23- Eat a Cranberry Day
23- Jukebox Day
23- National Cashew Day
23- Pencil Sharpener Birthday (1897 )
23- Turkey Trot (Illinois)
24- Bible Sunday Day
24- Buy Nothing Day
24- Comedy Hall of Fame Birthday (1993)
24- D.B. Cooper Day
24- Death Comes to Sesame Street (In 1983, when the actor who played the kindly storekeeper Mr. Hooper on "Sesame Street" (Will Lee) died at age 74.)
24- Festival of Lights (Arizona)
24- Festival of Lights (Idaho)
24- Flossing Day
24- National Espresso Day
24- National Flossing Day
24- Parade of Lights and Winter Wonderland (California)
24- Softball Birthday (1887)
24- Turkey Leftovers Day
24- What Do You Love About America Day
24- You're Welcome Day
25- Aladdin's Birthday 1992
25- Alascattalo Day (Alaska)
25- Blasé Day
25- Buy Nothing Day (UK)
25- Christmas Tree Lighting (Kansas)
25- Department of Homeland Security Birthday
25- Don't Utter a Word Days
25- International Aura Awareness
25- International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women Day
25- Lighted Christmas Parade (New Mexico)
25- National Parfait Day
25- Saint Catherine's Day
25- Shopping Reminder Day
26- Charles Schulz's Birthday (1922)
26- College Fraternity Day
26- First Official Thanksgiving Day (1789)
26- Good Grief Day
26- John F. Kennedy Day (Massachusetts)
26- National Cake Day
27- Electric Guitar Day
27- Freckly Pride Day
27- Leftovers Day
27- National Bavarian Cream Pie Day
27- Pie-In-The-Face Day
27- Pins and Needles Day
27- Shakespeare's Wedding Day (1582)
27- Thanksgiving Day
27- Turtle Adoption Day
28- Auto Race Day
28- Black Friday
28- Camera Day
28- Mark Twain's Birthday (1835)
28- National French Toast Day
28- Red Planet Day
28- Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Day
28- Skywriting Birthday (1922)
28- Throw Out Your Leftovers Day
29- Electronic Greetings Day
29- International Day of Solidarity With the Palestinian People
29- King Tut's Tomb Opened (1922)
29- National Chocolates Day
29- Newspaper Day
29- Square Dance Day
30- Clear Up the Clutter Day
30- Computer Security Day
30- Day of Friendship
30- Independence Day (Barbados)
30- National Mousse Day
30- Perpetual Youth Day (Dick Clark's Birthday)
30- Pirates in Paradise Festival (Florida)
30- St. Andrew's Day
30- Stay at Home Because You're Well Day

Christmas Tip of the Day #30

Start a special collection, such as ornaments or a nativity set, for each of your children. Add a new item each Christmas.

Get Organized Now for Christmas - Day 9 - General Budgeting

As the economy gets more uncertain everyday some may be dreading Christmas because of what you feel you cannot do because of money issues. Money does not equal a merry Christmas. Having a merry Christmas comes from within . . . Christmas is a time about sharing love and time with family and friends and there are many ways to reduce the cost of the holiday season.

Budget is a word many people want to forget at Christmas-time, but it is an important part of our holiday celebration.

To come up with a realistic figure to work with for holiday shopping this year, crunch your numbers. Be realistic about the amount. Dave Ramsey recommends a plan that I have adapted where you write down all the different things you need to purchase for the Christmas season. Examples may include baking ingredients, photographs, activities, charity donations, church donations, clothing, hostess gifts, decorations, postage,
Christmas cards, and gifts. Add any items items you normally spend money on during the holidays.

Gifts need a sheet all to itself. On your this page, break down the types of
gifts you give, such as, gifts for home, gifts for immediate family outside of home, gifts for extended family, stocking gifts, gifts for friends, gifts for teachers, gifts for church family, etc. This will help give you an idea of everyone you would like to give gifts so you can judge whom to cross off the gift list when money gets tight.

Now that you have your categories, divide up the amount of money you have to spend on Christmas and budget each section out. Your total budget has to match the CASH you have on hand.

Remember that you do not have to spend a lot of money to have a wonderful Christmas season— gifts come in many forms throughout the season.

Christmas Tip of the Day #29

Go outside and make snow angels with the kids.

Get Organized Now for Christmas - Day 8 - Activity and Event Planning

Get out the calendar and look ahead to all the upcoming events and parties you will be attending.

Make a list of all of the places you are going, especially those places where you'll be expected to bring a dish. List each dish you will be making and gather all of the ingredients. Do you have everything you need? Do the shopping now (or schedule it now) for the missing ingredients so won't have to rush out at the last minute.

Are you hosting an event this year . . . a cookie exchange, an open house, a dinner? Plan your menu. Schedule your shopping, crafting, cooking, and baking days.

Remember no matter how big or small the activity or event mark it down on your calendar.

Activities play an important part of most people's holiday celebrations and traditions. In your Christmas Notebook, journal about the following:

1. Write down all the holiday activities you and your family did last year. Be sure to include church, school, community, and family activities.
2. What activities are a must for our family every year?
3. Are there new activities that I would really like to do this year?
4. Ask every member of your immediate family what their three favorite activities are during the Christmas season and write it in your notebook. Incorporate at least one thing from everyone's list into your holiday planning. Remember this is their Christmas too!
5. What things from your childhood do you remember doing? Is this something you could do today?

These questions will help determine what activities to add to your calendar for this Christmas season.

Some ideas for activities at home:
Christmas Parties
Cookie Baking Night
Cookie Exchange
Movie Night
Gift Wrapping Night
Dinner with the Family
Christmas Pictures at Your House
Happy Birthday Jesus Party
Christmas Open House
Advent Activities
Pot Luck Christmas Meal
Christmas Caroling
Plus many more . . .

Christmas Tip of the Day #28

Record a cheerful Christmas greeting for your answering machine/voice mail.

Get Organized Now for Christmas - Day 7 - Cards, Cards, Cards

Make your card list, including friends, family, colleagues, children's friends, church family, teachers, school staff, children's classmates, online groups, mailman, hair dresser, sorority sisters, high school friends, neighbors, -- all those people who you want to keep in touch with. Complete your list as thoroughly as you can.

Next, rate the people on your card list:
A = have to send
B = want to send
C = would like to send

Then, go around your house with a basket and gather up all of your address books, old Christmas card envelopes, scraps of paper, etc., to get the addresses for your cards. Transfer the updated addresses to your address system (whether it be a computer address book, file cards, or hand-written address book).

When making or addressing your cards you will start with group A. If you have time during the Christmas season, then move on to group B and then group C.

If you decide to hand-make your cards, create a card now to see how time-consuming the individual cards are and to see if you have the supplies you need. If you are buying your cards, purchase them this week.

If creating your own cards, determine how many you need (see above) and what date you want to have all your cards mailed. Remember that cards going overseas need mailed 1 to 2 weeks earlier to arrive in time for Christmas. Divide the number of cards needed by how many weeks are left (depending on your own personal due date). For example, if mailing on December 6th you have 4 weeks (from today) to create your cards, so each week you should be creating 50 cards if you are mailing 200 cards total. This means each day you should create 7-8 cards.

Use the same formula above to determine how many cards need addressed and stamped each day.

Christmas Tip of the Day #27

Learn to say Merry Christmas in several languages.

Christmas Thought of the Day - 10/26/08

Best of all, Christmas means a spirit of love, a time when the love of God and the love of our fellow men should prevail over all hatred and bitterness, a time when our thoughts and deeds and the spirit of our lives manifest the presence of God.
~~ George F. McDougall ~~

Christmas Superstitions

Christmas is related to the birth of Christ and Christianity. But many of the Christmas traditions have pagan origins. Thus, it has many superstitions and religious beliefs that are used for divination and future predictions related to it. Many things and activities are classified as good omens and ill omens for the coming year on this day. Here are some of the more common superstitions for you.

To have good health throughout the next year, eat an apple on Christmas Eve.

Eat plum pudding on Christmas Day to avoid losing a friend before next Christmas.

It is bad luck to let any fire go out in your house during the Christmas season. The fire in your fireplace must continue to burn for the twelve days of Christmas.

On Christmas Eve all animals can speak. However, it is bad luck to test this superstition.

Wearing new shoes on Christmas Day will bring bad luck.

Place soes side by side on Christmas Eve to prevent a family quarrel.

A blowing wind on Christmas Day brings good luck.

The weather on each of the twelve days of Christmas signifies what the weather will be on the appropriate month of the coming year.

In the Netherlands,
they take a fir stick and thrust it into the fire and let it burn partially. They put it under the bed. This serves as lightening protection.

Nothing sown on Christmas Eve will perish, even if the seed is sown in the snow.

A loaf of bread left on the table after Christmas Eve dinner will ensure no lack of bread for the next year.If you refuse mince pie at Christmas dinner, you will have bad luck for a year.

In Greece,
you should burn your old shoes during the Christmas season to prevent misfortunes in the coming year.

Place a branch of a cherry tree in water at the beginning of advent. It will bring luck if it flowers by Christmas.

Kreative Blog

Carrie at Oak Rise Cottage has given me the Kreative Blog award.

Thanks, Carrie, so much for the surprise and honor.

Get Organized Now for Christmas - Day 6 - December Dinners

Whether you choose to eat out a different restaurant every night in December, a sit down meal each night or something in between, it is important to plan. During this holiday season, you will need to come up with between 30 and 37 different meals. It does not mean it has to be meals that you cook yourself. You do need to list what is for dinner each night on your calendar, whether you go out to eat or dine in.

Personally, I like to do batch cooking in order to prepare myself for the Christmas season. Beginning in the fall, I double dinner for a month or so in order to fill up my freezer. Then I have all my meals planned out so I am not slaving away in the kitchen while everyone else watches the beginning to my favorite Christmas movie(s). Not only does planning your meals save you time cooking but also can help you save money.

Some great sites for freezer cooking/batch cooking information and recipes:
Ellen's Kitchen - http://www.ellenskitchen.com/bigpots/index.html
Feed the Freezer - http://organizedhome.com/freezer-cooking-guide
Robbyn's Friendly Freezer - http://snider.mardox.com/OAMC.htm
Small Notebook - http://smallnotebook.org/2008/08/08/batch-cooking-a-collection-of-tips/
Wise Bread - http://www.wisebread.com/assembly-cooking-for-newbies

Christmas Tip of the Day #26

Ask for a gift box for each gift you buy.

Christmas Thought of the Day - 10/25/08

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.
~~ The Grinch, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas ~~

Christmas Movies

Need a definition of what Christmas is?
Want to understand the philosophical meaning of Christmas?
Need to know what Christmas is all about?

Check out these meditative, inspiring short movies.

This is one very profound "Silent Night."

This one is about reflecting upon the "Christmas Season."

Get Organized Now for Christmas - Day 5- Start Planning

Start to get an idea for what you need. Look at your budget. Do you need ideas for presents? Do you need ideas for cards and tags or do you have the perfect one ready to make?

Write up the gift list. Write every family, friend, colleague, group you purchase for. This includes your children, spouse, children's class mates, swaps, etc. Write down any ideas you have for gifts. If you have already bought gifts get them written down in your notebook now.

If creating your own wrapping paper, get the all the supplies bought such as ribbon/twine, Kraft paper, stamps, stickers, etc.

If creating your own cards and tags, get all the supplies bought such as cardstock, stickers, embellishments, stamps, ink, etc.

Christmas Tip of the Day #25

Help an elderly or disabled neighbor decorate his/her home.

Name That Christmas Tune

These are all Christmas songs. The clues are the first letters of each word in the title of the song.

Post your answers on your blog then share the link below via Mr. Linky.

Everyone who gets all the correct song titles will have their name entered for a small Christmas goodie package.

1. GRYMG
2. WTK
3. TFN
4. TLDB
5. SN
6. DYHWTH
7. JTTW
8. WCIT
9. OLTOB
10. OHN
11. AWHHOH
12. AIAM
13. ICUAMC
14. DTH
15. WWYAMC
16. OCAYF
17. SB
18. JB
19. HTHAS
20. AF
21. GGROBAR
22. TTDOC
23. IDOAWC
24. TCS
25. OT
26. HYAMLC
27. LISLISLIS
28. IBHFC
29. WC
30. SCICTT
31. WW
32. ISMKSC
33. RTRNR
34. AIWFCIMTFT
35. HCSC
36. JBR
37. RATCT
38. COTB
39. HWCAC
40. GKW
41. OCOCE
42. GTIOTM
43. HAHJC
44. FTS
45. FN
46. IGNFC
47. IWAHFC
48. WAYC
49. MGUCL
50. WC

The answers will be shared later this week.

Get Organized Now for Christmas - Day 4 - Create Christmas Calendar

Your Christmas Calendar will serve as your road map for the upcoming season. Add the calendar pages to your Christmas Notebook.

The calendar is one of the most important aspects of holiday planning. There are many Internet sites (see bottom of post) that have free calendar programs where you can print customized calendars. Or you can create your own calendar. Make the squares for each day are big enough to add comments and events.

Print out a monthly calendar for each month, October through January. Its easier if you do one month per page so you have lots of writing room. What kind of grid/calendar you use is based solely on personal preference.

Input birthdays, anniversaries, school events, lay-a-way payment due dates, holiday break for the kids, parties you plan on attending, the date of the annual Open House, the date of the Cookie Exchange, and days off from work.

You need to schedule time on your calendar to work on projects. Make a list of all the things that need to be done during the Christmas season and make sure they get a date on your calendar not only to work on it but also for completion. Mark the due date for these projects. Add baking time, crafting time, and shopping time. Don't forget to add time for wrapping gifts because that is a big project. Other projects may include decorating your tree, making and mailing Christmas cards, mailing Christmas packages, due date for the Angel Tree gifts, getting annual Christmas photographs taken, etc.

There is one thing you should not over look in order to help your stress during this Christmas season - you must actually do what is on your calendar! Even by accomplishing one or two of your tasks on your calendar will help lessen the stress of the holiday.

Below are various free printable calendar pages: http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/calendars/a/122900a.htm
http://www.dltk-cards.com/calendar/
http://www.printablecalendar.ca/
http://www.abcteach.com/directory/teaching_extras/calendars/
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/calendar/
http://www.printfree.com/Calendars.htm
http://www.myfreecalendarmaker.com/
http://www.printablecalendar.ca/
http://calendarhome.com/free/
http://www.mycalendarmaker.com/

Christmas Tip of the Day #24

Enjoy a meal or two illuminated only by the lights of the Christmas tree.

Get Organized Now for Christmas - Day 3 - Create Christmas Organization Notebook

A Christmas Organization Notebook is a necessary item so you have a blue print of your holiday plans, goals, and dreams all together at your fingertips.

A Christmas Organization Notebook can be whatever kind of notebook you would prefer. Ideas include index card file box, recipe file box, file box w/ folders, magazine holder w/ folders, 3-ring binder, "old-fashioned school" notebook, composition book, or a portfolio. I like a 3-ring binder because I can easily add papers and items as needed.

Your Christmas Notebook is the backbone of your organization for the holiday season.

It is highly recommend that you use both your computer and a three ring binder to create your notebook. Use the computer to sort through your ideas, lists, etc., and then print them out and put the pages into your binder.

Everyone's notebook will be different because everyone has their own traditions and celebrations during the holiday season. What I share is based on using a 3-ring binder because that is what I use. Use what works for you.

Things needed for your notebook:
3-ring binder
3 hole punch
Dividers with tabs
Pockets/page protectors/envelopes for loose items such as receipts
Notebook paper
Zippered pouch/page protector to hold pens, pencils and other loose items Calendar

Label the dividers. Your list may look like this. Make the dividers to fit your needs.

• Gifts - gift lists
• Cards - annual card mailing list, copy of cards sent each year
• Decorations - blue prints of each room so you can plan where to put each tree
• Calendar - mark parties planning on attending, schedule baking and crafting times
• Menu - what are you cooking for Thanksgiving, what snacks will you have for the annual Open House
• Kids Activities
• Shopping Lists
• Inventory - where are all the decorations stored

Christmas Tip of the Day #23

Take photographs after you have finished decorating your home. This will provide you with a visual reminder to help you decorate your home next year. It will also be fun photographs to look at later.

Christmas Tip of the Day #22

Buy more scotch tape and wrapping paper than you think you will need.

Get Organized Now for Christmas - Day 2 - Create Christmas Organization Center

There are several ways to create your center and numerous items to put into your center. Everyone must customize their center to what suits your needs. The supplies to keep in your center should be unique to you and your planning goals.

A "center" can be a basket, magazine holder, corner of the kitchen counter, corner of the desk, part of the shelf on the bookshelf, in the cabinet under the TV, the kitchen drawer . . . wherever you want to put your center.

Step 1:
Gather the supplies you will need for your Christmas Center. Most people will include the following items in their center:

1. Christmas Handbook (more about this tomorrow).
2. Writing supplies - pen, pencil, highlighter, sticky notes, page markers, etc. You won't have to to hunt for them later when you need them.
3. Books and magazines - books that you want to go through to see/to find projects or recipes you can use for your holiday planning this year.
4. Current projects, whether you are working on addressing Christmas Cards or crocheting a dishrag or scrapbooking a mini album or painting ornaments, keep it in your center so you can work on the projects whenever you have a few minutes to work on it.

Step 2:
Decide whether your center needs to be portable or not. If you want it to be portable, find a basket, crate, tote bag, etc., that will hold all your items in it. You now have a portable Christmas Organizing Center.

Step 3:
Now add those extra touches to your center -- a Christmas candle, some candy canes, Christmas CD, pictures of your family at Christmas, a Bible, etc. -- to personalize your center.

13 Days of Halloween

Check out my 365 Days of Memories blog for a countdown to Halloween using vintage Halloween postcards.

Get Organized Now for Christmas - Day 1 - Get Ideas

Let's start your journey to a more organized Christmas . . .

There are many links found throughout the Internet for getting organized for Christmas. Here are some links to surf to jumpstart your creativity.

Celebrating Christmas
http://www.celebrating-christmas.com/checklists/index.shtml

Christmas Countdown
http://organizedchristmas.com/christmas-countdown

Christmas Organizing
http://www.christmasorganizing.com/

Holiday Countdown
http://www.organizetips.com/checklist.htm

Holiday Grand Plan
http://organizedchristmas.com/holiday-grand-plan

Organized Christmas
http://organizedchristmas.com/

Rudolph Club
http://organizedchristmas.com/rudolph-club

Check the links, do your own online search, and get some ideas. Don't worry about doing anything beyond getting ideas and thinking about your goals for this Christmas season.

I, personally, have altered several of the plans (mentioned above) together to make a plan that works for me. The goal is to modify and adjust the plan to fit YOU.

Christmas Tip of the Day #21

Volunteer as a family to work in a soup kitchen or homeless shelter during the holiday season.

Get Organized Now for Christmas

Welcome to the 2008 Get Organized Now for Christmas. Each weekday, for the next 25 days, you will receive one task with one step to help you prepare for Christmas 2008.

Are you new to the idea of getting organized for Christmas? Have you put things off and need to get on track for this Christmas? This is not a Christmas countdown to Christmas day but rather an express plan to go over the 25 main steps of Christmas organizing to help you to have an organized Christmas season.

The Get Organized Now for Christmas plan is designed to in late October and continue for 25 days. This plan will allow you to enjoy the Christmas season.

Christmas Tip of the Day #20

Before going to bed every night of the Christmas season, ask yourself "Whose life did I make brighter today?"

Christmas Tip of the Day #19

Don't wait until Christmas Eve to wrap gifts. Wrap the gifts as you purchase them.

Christmas Thought of the Day - 10/19/08

As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December's bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same.
~~ Donald Westlake ~~

Christmas Tip of the Day #18

Check for loose or burned out bulbs BEFORE you put the strands of lights on the tree.

Christmas Tip of the Day #17

Personalize your Christmas cards &/or letters with a short handwritten note.

Christmas Thought of the Day - 10/17/08

Christmas is the time to remember that we are all in the world together.
~~ Author Unknown ~~

Christmas Tip of the Day #16

Instead of the usual bedtime stories, read about Christmas customs in other countries.

Christmas Thought of the Day - 10/16/08

Someday you're going to find that your way of facing this realistic world just doesn't work. And when you do, don't overlook those lovely intangibles. You'll discover those are the only things that are worthwhile.
~~ Fred Gailey, Miracle on 34th Street 1947 ~~

Christmas Tip of the Day #15

Tie jingle bells on your children's shoelaces.

Christmas Thought of the Day - 10/14/08

Something about an old-fashioned Christmas is hard to forget.
~~ Hugh Downs, American newscaster ~~

Christmas Tip of the Day #14

Try one new decorating idea this year.

Christmas Thought of the Day - 10/13/08

Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won't make it 'white'.
~~ Bing Crosby (1904-1977), American singer and film actor ~~

Christmas Tip of the Day #13

Choose a Christmas tree that is a little too big for the room.

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 23

E is for Elves by Karen

Christmas Tip of the Day #12

Purchase a special Christmas sweater/shirt and wear it often.

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 22

C is for Candy by Karen

Christmas Thought of the Day - 10/11/08

This is the message of Christmas: We are never alone.
~~ Taylor Caldwell (1900-1985), English novelist ~~

Christmas Tip of the Day #11

Rent a Santa Claus suit or an elf suit. Put in on during your lunch break and hand out candy canes to everyone in the office.

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 21

X is for Christ by Karen

Christmas Tip of the Day #10

Hang a favorite Christmas tree ornament from your vehicle's rear view mirror.

Christmas Thought of the Day - 10/10/08

Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.
~~ Peg Bracken ~~

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 20

Piedmont Holiday by Barbara

Fall Decorating

Check out my fall decorating at my All Things Cherished blog.

Christmas Tip of the Day #9

Wear a smile and a Santa hat when you walk through the mall/ shopping center.

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 19

People & Places by Barbara

Christmas Tip of the Day #8

Be nice to sales personnel. They are often wearier than you are.

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 18

Purple & Silver Tree by Kirsty

Christmas Tip of the Day #7

Adopt a needy family for the holidays. Let members of your family buy/select a present for the person closest to their own age.

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 17

Passion for Poinsettias by Barbara

Christmas Tip of the Day #6

Never select a "live" Christmas tree after dark.

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 16

Lavendar Luxury by Barbara

Christmas Tip of the Day #5

Take a basket of Christmas goodies to a grumpy neighbor.

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 15

Tuscan Treasures by Barbara

Christmas Tip of the Day #4

Plae your children's stuffed animals under the tree as a welcoming committee for Santa.

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 14

Rudolph by Karen

Christmas Tip of the Day #3

Don't count calories from December 1 through January 2nd.

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 13

Gingerbread Tree by Karen

Christmas Tip of the Day #2

Make an effort to attend every Christmas party you are invited to, even if you can only stay a few mintues.

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 12

Gifts of the Season by Barbara

Christmas Tip of the Day

Be the first to wish everyone you meet -- the postal service worker, the grocery store clerk, the librarian, the taxi driver, you get the idea -- a Merry Christmas.

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 11

Father Christmas by Barbara

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 10

Unity by Karen

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 9

Snowman Tree by Sandy

My Crafting for Christmas

This week's scrapbooking goal is to finish the altered advent calendar I started yesterday. Here is what I have so far.

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 8

Victorian Rose by Barbara

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 7

Love Is Eternal by Barbara

Around the Christmas Net #4

Holiday Round Up

If you are in the holiday crafting mood, then check out the Holiday Round Up. Whether you are looking to make your own Christmas ornaments, holiday cards, or just need some photography tips to take that perfect Christmas photo, you will want to visit the About.com Holiday Round Up.

Around the Christmas Net #3

101 Homemade Gift Ideas for Christmas

Homemade Gifts are easily the best gifts you can ever give to anyone to express your heartfelt wishes during the Christmas season and all year round. Gifts, whether from your kitchen or from your craft desk, will always be appreciated by everyone who receives them. The personal touch and effort you lend to the gift adds to the warm feeling.

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 6

Family Tree by Karen

Around the Christmas Net #2

The Black Friday site and forums are officially open to the public for this year. There is plenty of discussion already going on in the forums, and so be sure to join the conversation.

Having covered Black Friday extensively for the past five years, the Black Friday site is in a better position than pretty much anyone else to offer predictions for this year. Over the years there have been various trends in the deals offered by the major retailers and the Black Friday site offers a glimpse into what they believe will be the 2008 Black Friday deals and hot items. To check out this year's predictions, click here.

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 5

Limealicious by Melody

Around the Christmas Net

There are FREE Christmas Ornament classes offered by ARTchix Studio. Belinda Schneider offers various classes with pictures and directions.

If you make one of these ornaments, please share the link so we can ooh and ahh over your precious ornaments.

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 4

Gingerbread Tree by Sandy

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 3

Black & White by Kirsty

The ABC's Of Christmas

A - Add More, Angel
B - Bows
C - Candles
D - Decorations
E - Encourage Each Other
F - Finds (like the great sale at the store) or Fillers or Friends
G - Garland, Go Go Go (during the busy-ness of the season)
H - Holly, Ho Ho Ho
I - Icicles
J - Jesus
K - Kris Kringle
L - Love of Christmas
M - Mistletoe, Merry Christmas
N - Noel, Nativity
O - Overabundance, Open House, Ornaments
P - (Be) Prepared, Poinsettias
Q - Quantity (fill the tree as much as possible with ornaments)
R - Rest (after a job well done)
S - Star, Santa
T - Tasting, Trees
U - Under the Tree
V - Velvet Bows
W - White Christmas
X - X is for Christ
Y - Yule
Z - Zzzzzz (on Christmas night)

Christmas Flowers and Decorations This Season

Christmas Flowers and Decorations - What to Look for in Flowers, Wreaths and Garlands This Season

Thinking about a plain pine wreath or skimpy garland with some little red bows? Think again. Plain is definitely taboo. “This year, floral fashion is all about rich textures, new accent colors, and lots of detail,” says Don Phillip of Phillip’s Flowers in Chicago. “It’s about stretching the boundaries of traditional themes by layering on fresh new perspectives and a touch of personal flair. It’s about luxury, ornamentation, and opulence. It’s about more, not less.” So, let yourself go. You can turn “ordinary” into “extraordinary” with the right materials, colors, and accessories.

Go to Florists Supplies Guide for all the "ins" of this Christmas season.

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 2

Angel Tree by Kirsty

Handprint Snowman Ornament

Paint child's palm and fingers white. Carefully have them hold the blue ball to create the five snowmen. Use a paint marker to make hats, faces, and scarves.

Attach a tag with this poem:
These aren't just five snowmen
As anyone can see.
I made them with my hand
Which is a part of me.
Now each year when you trim the tree
You'll look back and recall
Christmas of 2004
When my hand was just this small!

25 Days of Friend's Christmas Trees - Day 1

Holiday Wine by Barbara

Barbara's description: This tree is just part of the overall burgundy theme for this bathroom. It's a 3' unlit wall tree to which I added 20 battery-operated lights, and the topper is a burgundy poinsettia print ribbon, which is repeated elsewhere in the room. The bottom is covered with a solid gold ribbon bow.

Easy Ways to Decorate Your Home for Christmas

Christmas is coming and you've got a million things to do! I'm here to help. Here are ideas that are simple yet classy and they'll add some Christmas cheer to your home.

1. Create a charming display of teddy bears dressed for the season. Gather three or more teddy bears together. Arrange them on a table, on the floor in a corner, under a tree, or in a basket. Dress the bears with scarves and mittens. Place candy canes in their hands or tie bows around their necks. You can even wrap up some small, empty boxes with Christmas wrapping paper to place in the bears' hands.
2. Make simple bows from Christmas ribbon and pin them to your curtains.
3. Display a collection of nativity scenes from different cultures.
4. Hang a collection of Christmas stockings on your mantle, a shelf, a wall, or the stair banister (even if you don't stuff them). The more the merrier.
5. Cut snowflakes from heavy-weight white paper and hang them in all of your windows or over the tree or from the ceiling over the dining table.
6. Use red and green 3-dimensional fabric paints to trace simple Christmas patterns (like stars, bells, Santas, stockings, etc.) on a white tablecloth.
7. Buy a clear plastic shower curtain. Use a hot glue gun to attach Christmas decorations to the outside of the curtain. Don't use breakable ornaments.
8. Dress up your house plants by hanging a small group of Christmas lights or small Christmas ornaments on them.
9. Tie a red ribbon around a tall, slim drinking glass. Fill the glass with candy canes or other Christmas candies. Display on a shelf or side table.
10. Use a group of tall, slim drinking glasses filled with tea lights to create a centerpiece on any table.
11. Fill small glass bowls or decorative Christmas bowls with small cones and display on end tables, shelves, buffet tables, etc.
12. Purchase plain green or red place mats and attach Christmas ribbons, bows or small wooden ornaments with a hot glue gun.
13. For quick ornaments, hang Christmas cookie cutters with ribbon. Hang them in a window.
14. Decorate plain red, white, green, or gold candles with 3-dimensional fabric paint. Draw stars, bells, angels, snowmen, etc. (If you make a mistake, let the paint dry and peal it off, then start again.)
15. Create a cookie wreath centerpiece for your table. Just arrange Christmas cookies in a wreath shape right on the table cloth. No need to attach them to anything 'cause everyone will want to nibble at them. If you like, place a pillar candle on a small plate in the center of the wreath.
16. Pile a collection of Christmas books on a side table.
17. Cut a Christmas silhouette from a piece of plywood. Using screws, attach your silhouette to a short post that you can drive into the ground. You'll want the silhouette to stand right a ground level several feet away from the wall. Position a spot light on the other side of the silhouette so that it will shine on the silhouette and project a large shadow on the wall.
18. Wrap indoor Christmas lights around a railing or banister. Secure periodically with chenille wire/pipe cleaners.
19. Add color to a room with vases of red and white flowers. Use roses, carnations, mums, daisies, etc. Or, float the flowers in large crystal or glass bowls.
20. Wrap an assortment of medium to large sized boxes with Christmas wrap. Attach ribbons &/or bows. Pile the boxes in a corner from floor to ceiling.
21. Sew scraps of Christmas fabric into a patchwork tablecloth. Simply cut your fabric into square pieces and stitch together. Hem the entire cloth.
22. Cover an end table or a shelf with white paper. Arrange cut evergreen boughs on top on top of the paper. Place tall tapered candles in glass candle holders on the table top. Before lighting candles, be sure that the greenery is not close enough to catch fire.
23. Use pliers to bend coat hangers into a simple wire-frame tree shape. Wrap a string of outdoor Christmas lights around the frame attaching with electrical tape or duct tape. Stick the decoration in a flower bed or on your front lawn.
24. Hang mistletoe everywhere.
25. Wrap your doors in Christmas wrapping paper and attach large bows.
26. String a ribbon from one end of a wall to another. Attach the ribbon to the wall (at each corner) with thumbtacks. Clip Christmas cards to the ribbon with clothespins. If the ribbon is too long, the weight of the cards will pull it off the wall, so tack it here and there with more thumbtacks.
27. Purchase a large glass plate. Paint the underside of the plate with gold craft paint and let dry. Place the plate on a table and fill with several white or off-white pillar candles of varying sizes.
28. Make basic sugar cookies or gingerbread cookies. Before baking, make a hole toward the top of each cookie using a straw. Bake and cool. String a ribbon through each cookie and hang them on the tree.
29. String popcorn, cranberries, cereal, beads, etc., and hang the garlands everywhere.
30. Glue ribbon to pine cones for hanging on the tree.
31. Make paper chains.
32. Frame old Christmas cards and postcards. Hang on the wall or create a grouping on a table.
33. Wrap a lampshade with translucent Christmas tissue paper. Put the paper on the outside of the lamp shape, overlapping the edges just a little and tape the edges down on the inside. Be careful that the tissue paper doesn't come too close to the light bulb or it may catch fire.
34. Replace your fish tank background mural with a piece of Christmas wrapping paper or a collage made out of pictures cut from Christmas cards.
35. Tape a doily to the outside of a glass canister or clean glass mayonnaise jar. Spray the outside of the container with artificial snow and let dry. Remove the doily. Fill the container with cookies, candy, ornaments, etc.
36. Wrap photos and other wall art with Christmas wrapping paper.
37. Make a gingerbread house. They make wonderful centerpieces or decorations for any table top.
38. Use a child's Christmas pop-up book as a centerpiece. Just open the book up to a desirable picture and place the open book in the center of your table.
39. Hang a large December wall calendar on your wall. Count down the days to Christmas by gluing a brightly-colored bow on each passing day.
40. Tie five or six cinnamon sticks into a bundle using red ribbon. Create a bunch of these bundles and display them in a bowl, on the tree, or tuck bundles into nooks and crannies on shelves.
41. Get out your old toy trains. Run the track around the perimeter of the Christmas tree.
42. Paint the inside of a glass white to simulate milk. Display the glass along with a plate full of cookies and a hand-written Santa's wish list. It looks great if you take a bite or two out of one cookies.
43. For easy Christmas tableware, tie red, green, or gold ribbons to the stems of wine glasses or the handles of cutlery.
44. Cut pictures from Christmas cards and Christmas wrap. Decoupage the pictures to the inside of a serving tray. Be sure to cover the entire surface of the tray. Once all the pictures are in place, cover the entire inside surface of the tray with one or two more layers of decoupage medium.
45. Print your favorite cookie recipe on Christmas stationary. Roll each recipe up like a scroll. Tie the scroll with ribbon. Place the scrolls in a basked by your front door so you can give them to departing guests.
46. To add a lot of color to a room quickly, use red or green towels or blankets.
47. Display colored glass ball ornaments in bowls, on a cake stand, or in baskets.
48. Wash and dry half a dozen small jars (it's better if they're all different sizes and shapes). Fill each jar 2/3 full of water and add a couple of drops of red or green food coloring to each jar. Stir. Place one sprig of evergreen in each jar and display the jars in a group on a table or line them up in a row on a shelf or window sill.
49. Use children's bath crayons (for coloring in the bathtub) to draw Christmas decorations on your mirrors and windows.
50. Using a small brush, paint the tips of pine cones with gold craft paint. Place on a rack or piece of waxed paper to dry. Display cones in bowls, vases, or cake stand.
51. Create an easy wall hanging using a piece of sheet music for a Christmas carol. Cut a piece of Christmas wrapping paper or red paper a few inches larger than the sheet music and glue the music sheet to the center of the paper. Use a hot glue gun to glue a small sprig of artificial holly to the top right-hand corner of the sheet music.
52. Turn an old chest into a treasure chest. Place the chest on the floor against a wall and open the lid. (Prop the lid up securely if it's prone to closing by itself). Line the inside of the chest with fiber fill to create the illusion of snow. Drape strings of beads and white indoor Christmas lights over the chest. Fill the chest with wrapped presents or wrapped empty boxes. Sprinkle with gold-wrapped chocolate coins.
53. Create personalized gingerbread men as place cards for your dining table. Use colored icing to decorate each gingerbread man with a guest's hair color and usual clothing and then using the icing print each person's name across the chest of the gingerbread man.
54. Trim door frames, window frames and the edges of mirrors with Christmas garland.
55. Strong jute cord from one end of the hall to the other end and clip mittens, gloves, and scarves to the jute using clothespins.
56. Purchase small bells from your craft store. Tie each bell to a piece of ribbon between 6" and 18" in length. Gather all of the ribbons together and knot together at the top. Drape the bells over a door knob so that they ring when someone enters or exits.
57. Poinsettias are a beautiful way to add Christmas color to a room but don't just stop at one. Create a stunning display using, at least, six plants of all different sizes. Group them together, larger plants in the back. Tie a large gold fabric ribbon around the whole group of pots. Sprinkle the plants with gold glitter.
58. Wrap a large empty coffee can in Christmas wrapping paper. Place on the floor, add some water, and fill with evergreen branches. This looks wonderful on its own, or you can hang ornaments or Christmas cards from the branches.
59. Replace your usual curtain valence with a large piece of Christmas fabric draped over the curtain rod.
60. Tie bows around door knobs.
61. Create an easy wreath. Tear Christmas print fabric into strips. Wrap a Styrofoam wreath with the fabric or ribbon.
62. Wrap a table in Christmas wrapping paper.
63. Purchase cork place mats or coasters. Using Christmas stamps and red/green/gold stamp pads, stamp shapes onto your coasters and place mats.
64. Put some color into your bathroom by displaying red and green glycerin soaps, bath gels, and oils.
65. Make a snowman. Better yet, make a whole snow family.
66. Wrap your front door in plain white paper and decorate with a large bow. Place red and green pens by the front door and have guest sign the door as they leave your home.
67. Create an red and green display in your kitchen using a collection of standard food items. Jars of olives, sun dried tomatoes, pickles, red peppers, cans with red or green labels.
68. Create another easy wreath. Use a glue gun to attach nuts or wrapped candies to a Styrofoam wreath. Attach a large red ribbon.
69. Paint nuts gold with craft paint (use a variety of nuts of different shape). Line a large bowl or basket with Christmas greenery. Fill the bowl with oranges, apples, and the gold nuts.
70. Display a large collection of photos from Christmases past. This makes a sensational conversation piece.
71. Put a Christmas screen saver on your computer.
72. Wrap your plant pots in red or green foil wrap. You don't even have to remove the plants first.
73. Create a display by your front door with unused boots. Assemble a group of boots and fill them with wrapped empty boxes.
74. Purchase an inexpensive mail box. Spray paint it red or green. Attach ornaments, pinecones, greenery, etc., with a hot glue gun. Set outside the front door.

Make a Fresh Pine Wreath

The best things about holidays is the smells that waft through the house and evoke memories of family gatherings past. Easily one of my favorite smells is the smell of pine boughs - from the Christmas tree, garlands, and wreaths. Wreaths were a favorite project - they are easy to make, fit in your budget decorating, and can be easily embellished with other items that enhance the aroma (like clove pomanders and cinnamon sticks). If you want to make your own wreath this Christmas, here's how.

Official National USA Christmas Tree

In 1924, Charles E. Lee visited what was then General Grant National Park, and found himself standing by the Grant Tree with a little girl. As they admired the huge tree, the girl exclaimed, "What a wonderful Christmas tree it would be!" The idea stayed with Mr. Lee, and in 1925 he organized the first Christmas program, held at the Grant Tree at noon on Christmas Day. Mr. Lee wrote to President Calvin Coolidge, who designated the General Grant as the Nation's Christmas Tree on April 28, 1926. The 'trek to the tree' is still held on the second Sunday of December, with a ceremony and the decoration of the tree with a wreath. The park is now known as King's Canyon National Park which is in Arizona.

100 Days of Holidays

I love the sound of that. . . 100 days of holidays. I love the fun, the crafts, the decorating, the sights, the scents, the sounds, the recipes, the food, the old memories, the new memories created with the kids, and so much more.

Give yourself a gift this year
Ideas.
Inspiration.
Memories to treasure.


100 Days of Holidays

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Christmas Quotes

Past Quotes of the Week

Each week (give or take) I share some inspirational quotes; some serious, some fun, some quotes by famous authors, some by me, all shared from the bottom of my heart.

After the quote's rein on the home page of the blog, the quote is moved here. Enjoy.


Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.
~~ Bobby, age 7 ~~

There is no ideal Christmas; only the one Christmas you decide to make as a reflection of your values, desires, affections, traditions.
~~ Bill McKibben ~~

To celebrate the heart of Christmas is to forget ourselves in the service of others.
~~ Henry Link ~~

It is the personal thoughtfulness, the warm human awareness, the reaching out of the self to one's fellow man that makes giving worthy of the Christmas spirit.
~~ Isabel Currier ~~

Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.
~~ Peg Bracken ~~

Home to home, and heart to heart, from one place to another. The warmth and joy of Christmas, brings us closer to each other.
~~ Emily Matthews ~~

How To Make a Microwaveable Heating Pad

Supplies needed:
Approximately 2.5 lbs of rice (No instant rice.)
26in. X 7in. heavy cotton or linen fabric
1 package of blanket binding or another piece of fabric
Funnel (If you don't have a funnel, cut top off a soda bottle)
Velcro with a sticky back

Instructions:

Cut fabric 26in x 7in. Fold in half sew bottom, side, and leave the top open for filling. Turn right side out so you don't see your stitching.

Fill with rice 2/3 of the way full. After filling, tuck top in half an inch and sew top.

Unfold blanket binding, cut at a length 54 inches and iron out crease. Fold in half front to front and sew each side leave top open. Fold hem in half an inch and attach Velcro (with sticky back).

Turn right side out and slide the rice filled fabric into the cover. Shut with Velcro.

Instructions for use:

Microwave for 90 seconds and place around any body part that needs heat.

Extra tips:

Cover can be taken off and washed on gentle cycle.

This pad makes a wonderful gift. Attach a note on how to use and launder.

My notes:

I have seen many of these on the Internet with various different instructions. Adding tea to the rice has a nice fragrance but you cannot keep the heating pad indefinitely like you can if you use only rice. I wish I could sew so I can make two of these for myself. These work great as a cool pad too. Keep one in the freezer for those bumps & bruises and hot days.

If you do make one of these, please send me a photo of your heating pad, and I'll post it here at 365 Days of Christmas.