When the holidays come around, it always seems as if there are treats galore! The stores quickly fill up with egg nog, wasail ingredients, and chocolate shaped into just about every shape imaginable. But this year, how about looking at the more traditional holiday treats to spice up your gatherings. By focusing on the traditional and meaningful instead of the gaudy and commercial, you may find that you introduce your family and friends to treats that they love to both eat and discuss.
In Austria, families traditionally spend Christmas Eve together, starting the evening with a church service. Following church, they gather for a traditional dinner. While their main course of Gebackener Karpfen, or fried carp, may not suit everyone’s fancy, their dessert of Sachertorte may indeed. Sachertore is a chocolate and apricot cake; the richness of the cake is determined by the depth and quality of the chocolate used. The cake is then frosted traditionally with chocolate frosting, creating a delectable treat for almost any palate.
When December 6th reaches Germany, they celebrate the evening with St. Nicholas coming to all the children. For the good children comes a shoe or boot full of delicious chocolates, cookies, and other treats. This just starts the holiday season. On Christmas Eve, each family member receives a plate of all kinds of treats, including fruit, nuts, marzipan, chocolate, and cookies. These treats are sure to bring sweet dreams for Christmas morning!
Mexico celebrates the holiday season with La Posadas, which marks the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Starting on December 16th, this celebration takes place each night with people going
from door to door, singing traditional songs and asking for admittance for Mary. When the door is opened, everyone celebrates and the children enjoy the tradition of the piñata. The piñata is a brightly colored container made of either pottery (traditionally) or paper (in modern times) filled with all sorts of treats for the children. One by one, the children are blindfolded and try to hit the piñata with a stick. Finally, the piñata breaks and everyone celebrates by devouring the delicious candies and treats
And in France comes probably one of the most indulgent treats, the sabots. Traditionally, the sabots were wooden shoes that the peasants wore. On Christmas Eve, the children would put their sabots in front of the fire in hopes that they would awaken to sabots filled with treats. In modern France, however, wooden shoes are obviously not as prevalent. Instead, sabots are made of chocolate by pastry shops and filled with all sorts of candies. Obviously, these are no longer set in front of the fire.
For your next holiday gathering, why not pick a traditional theme and impart both delicious food and knowledge upon your guests. They will in all likelihood be thrilled not to rehash the same tired holiday offerings.
Jane S. Roseen became the sole Owner and President of Harmony Sweets in 2005. Since then she has taken a small, successful online gourmet chocolate shop and made it a name recognized world-wide. Harmony Sweets’ original mission focused on individual consumers purchasing gourmet chocolates from around the world for their friends and relatives. Roseen expanded that mission to include corporate gift-giving.
Website: http://www.harmonysweets.com
We’ve all had our share of what is known as “The Holiday Blues”. At this time of year I know that I will overindulge and gain a few pounds that will take more than a few weeks to take off. If I can. There are relatives to invite and gifts for which to rack our brains. The Holiday Spirit is sometimes elusive.
One person I feel sorry for is the Christmas tree entrepreneur. This guy has to guess how many trees he will need, pay for them up front, hope that the lot he rented is visible to civilization, and pray that his family will help sell the trees. In the back of his mind is the knowledge that every day more and more families will switch over to the already lit department store artificial trees. The snow that the kids are praying for won’t do him a bit of good. On top of this is the unspoken fact that come Christmas morning, any unsold trees will be worth nothing.
A few years ago, when we were still buying naturally grown Christmas trees for our home, the task fell on my wife, Marianne, to go out and find a nice tree. Previously, I had been the one who magically decided on the variety, shape, and height of
that all important reminder of Christmas. Some phrases that apply to my wife while shopping are: ‘She knows what she wants’, “Decidedly particular’, and ‘No crooked tree for our house’.
The grumpy old man at the Christmas tree lot must have shaken out a dozen trees, turning them in measured circles while Madam shook her head, suggesting implacably, “How about that one over there?”
Finally, a perfect specimen nudged out of a fresh mountain of trees pleased the lady very much and the sour owner stamped off to cut the trunk six inches shorter.
Now, the previous day, Marianne’s brother had heard that Marianne would be out shopping for a tree, so he asked her to pick out a nice one for his family, since he had no time and had to work. So as soon as Mr. Grump left with his saw, Marianne started looking around for her brother’s tree. Suddenly, the sour puss owner stood in the aisle with fire in his eyes. He blurted out, “Lady, it’s too late to change your mind, I’ve already cut off your bottom!”
Taken aback, Marianne quickly replied, “You don’t understand, I’m looking for my brother.”
With a scowl, he retorted, “Well, you won’t find him behind that tree!”
Real life is often funnier than fiction. Please do mention it.
What are the Chinese New Year activities for celebratingthis most important festival in the Chinese calendar?
Let’s start at the beginning…
In China, Chinese New Year is called the Spring Festival.
That’s because the first day of Chinese New Year falls onthe start of spring.
The beginning of spring is a fresh start…
It’s the start of a new year of sowing and reaping.
A wish for a good harvest in the year ahead.
(That’s how the Chinese character for “year” nian2 年 cameabout.)
A cause for celebration!
All around the world, Chinese families…
put up Chinese New Year scrolls on both sides of the door,
set off firecrackers (It’s illegal in many Chinese cities now, but people do it anyway)
and married adults give children red envelopes filled with“lucky money”.
Chinese New Year activities begin 2-4 weeks before the “bigday”.
Here’s what you can do to celebrate Chinese New Year.
It’s what Chinese families do all over the world.
1. Clean up the house
Select a day and together with the family, clean up thehouse.
This ritual gets rid of bad luck in the ending year andwelcomes in good luck in the new year.
2. Send greeting cards
Send greeting cards with new year wishes to friends,relatives and colleagues.
Remember to post your greeting cards early!
3. Go shopping
Go shopping to buy new clothes for the whole family, foodand sweets, and festive home decorations.
Looking for Chinese New Year activities for kids? Go to http://www.living-chinese-symbols.com/chinese-new-year-activities.html
4. Get ready some red packets.
You’ll need them later.
5. Decorate the house
Hang Chinese New Year scrolls called spring couplets on bothsides of the door to usher in good wishes for the new year.
Paste paper cuts of upside down good fotune “fu” characters,happy children and tangerine oranges on the wall.
Make sure you have vases of flowers in the house duringChinese
New Year.
They do more than just add a new year atmosphere to thehome.
Living plants symbolize growth and flowers represent wealthand prosperity.
Pum blossoms can be arranged together with bamboo and pine.
They stand for endurance, nobility and longevity.
Other favorite flowers are pussy willow, azalea, peony andwater lily or narcissus.
6. Prepare the reunion dinner
Gather your family together for this most important andsumptuous meal of the year on Chinese New Year’s eve.
Prepare a meal with auspicious dishes like chicken, fish,oysters, dumplings, green vegetables and noodles.
They have meanings of prosperity, longevity and abundance.
I’ve put together some Chinese New Year recipes and a listof what different foods symbolize at http://www.living-chinese-symbols.com/chinese-new-year-activities.html
7. Pass the year
After a hearty meal, stay up late to “pass the year” guo4nian2 过年, an ancient tradition.
You can watch TV, play card games, or chat.
After midnight (or on the morning of Chinese New Year’sday), give your children the red envelopes filled with money(called “lucky money”).
Put the red packets under the pillow of children. This issaid to ward off evil.
8. Send New Year greetings
Call up friends or SMS them on the morning of Chinese NewYear and wish them Happy New Year, Good Health andProsperity.
Visit the homes of friends and relatives with two bigtangerines.
Bring red packets to give to the children at the homesyou’re visiting.
These are eight ways to have a roaring Chinese New Yearcelebration with family and friends!
Eight is the most auspicious number for Chinese people.
It means wealthy and properous.
Here’s to your good health and prosperity in the New Year!
Want to discover the culture of Chinese symbolsand characters and enhance your life? LIOW Kah Joon is yourguide. Read his Chinese New Year Special andsign up for his free monthly Chinese Symbols ezine atLivingChinese Symbols
The thought of Valentine’s Day conjures up romantic evenings, a candlelight dinner, and long walks with your loved one. It is, without a doubt the most romantic day of the year. So how could you possibly be expected to enjoy Valentine’s Day when you’re alone? Well, while it might not be all hearts and flowers, you can still spread the message of Valentine’s Day: Love.
Over the years, I’ve interviewed numerous people and asked them what their favorite Valentine’s Day memory was. Surprisingly, very few couples actually mentioned a gift or a special night out. In fact, most of the people I interviewed remembered their special Valentine’s Day by things they did for others. Gifts they gave, whether they were store bought or home made that gave them the feeling of joy and happiness.
A heartwarming Valentine’s Day for Jacque from California, was when she was in charge of bringing little treats for her daughter’s 3rd grade class. After agonizing on what to do, she decided to make the extra firm red Jell-O, and cut them into heart shapes. After running to the store to get more mix, and spending a lot of time cutting out the heart shapes, she was frustrated and wondered why she ever signed up for the job in the first place. Was this a big mistake? When she passed out the treats in school, the kids’ eyes lit up, and their sweet little voices filled the room with laughter and excitement. All the kids loved it! Jacque remembers feeling incredible that day. Her heart was glowing with happiness to see how much those kids loved her little treats.
Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our daily chores, that we often forget that children need to be remembered too. Teenagers often feel left out on Valentine’s Day, but a handsome Colorado man gave two giggling teenagers a Valentine’s Day they will never forget. Geoff was working on a resort property trimming trees, and noticed there were two smitten teenage girls sitting on the balcony watching him while he was working. Geoff knew he would be finished on February 13th, and thought he would he would surprise them with a dozen red roses on Valentine’s Day, and signed it, the tree trimming guy. The girls were thrilled to get flowers on Valentines Day, and were still talking about it four years later! Geoff ranks that day as his all time favorite Valentine’s Day!
Making someone happy (especially when it’s unexpected) has a euphoric effect on you too. It’s happiness shared twice. Is
it possible to have a happy Valentine’s Day even when you are breaking up? If you have a sister like Linda, you can. Linda’s sister was going through a divorce in February, and she was heartbroken and distraught. On that Valentine’s Day, Linda secretly sent her flowers at her office, and signed the card, “From your Secret Admirer.” As soon as her sister received them she called Linda and said, “Oh my God, you will never believe what just happened, I got these beautiful flowers today, but I have no idea who they are from!” Linda had all she could do to keep from laughing, and giving away her little secret. Linda’s sister went on to say that the entire office was trying to figure out who her secret admirer could be. Linda was happy that she could give her sister a happy Valentine’s Day even when she was facing unhappy times.
Yes, it is possible to have a great Valentine’s Day, even when things are looking a little dismal. Here are a few ways you can share your love this holiday.
5 Ways to the Happiest Valentine’s Day Ever!
1. Send a heartfelt Valentine Card to someone who has really inspired you and tell them how much they mean to you.
2. Make a homemade Valentine Card and send it to your favorite relative you haven’t seen in a while.
3. Send flowers or candy to someone who doesn’t have a sweetheart, and sign it anonymous.
4. Make a Valentine’s Basket and send it to a family that has gone through a difficult time and sign it, From Your Guardian Angel.
5. Take your little niece, nephew, or cousin out for ice cream.
Giving is the fastest way to feel good about yourself. It doesn’t have to be expensive, even a single hand picked flower will do. Anything coming from the heart will surely be felt and appreciated. It’s two gifts in one. One is for the recipient and even a bigger gift for you.
Marla Sloane, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved © 2005
About The Author
Marla Sloane Ph.D., is a successful author and speaker. Her Positive Affirmations subscribers have reached world-wide proportions, and her book, “The Masks We Wear and How to Live Without Them” is at the heart of her teleclasses; From Ordinary to Extraordinary…Unmask Your Potential; teaching individuals how to remove limiting labels. Marla has also produced, Trilogy of Meditations, for your Mind, Body, and Spirit, which is distributed nationwide, and in Europe.
You can contact Marla at: Marla@marlasloane.com You can visit her web site at: http://www.marlasloane.com.
How to cure the holiday blues…
If you are feeling sorry for yourself because everyone has a significant other and you don’t, or because they have family events scheduled and you don’t, here’s a plan to perk you up: pick up the telephone and call some old high school friends, just to say hello. They will be thrilled that you thought of them during the holidays and you will feel appreciated and connected.
How to use the holidays as an excuse to contact a lost love…
Have you always thought about contacting a “special someone,” but were afraid to? Send a simple holiday card, and write inside “Thinking of you this holiday season and wondering how you are doing. I’d enjoy hearing from you if you get a moment.” Include your contact information. If your old flame calls or sends an email, there you go! If you get no response, it was only a generic card so you won’t feel foolish about the contact. And your lost love may surprise you and write later.
How to greet guests you haven’t seen in a long time…
Break the ice before you get together. Send a cute card: “Looking forward to seeing you again!” That will make them feel special, so by
the time they arrive, it will feel like you were together just yesterday.
How to heal an old rift…
Is there someone you were once close to (a former friend, ex-spouse, coworker, estranged relative)? The holidays are a great time to heal old hurts. Send some home-baked cookies, or a small box of candy, with a simply note that says, “It’s been a long time. Let’s put the past behind us. Happy holidays.”
Nancy Kalish, Ph.D. is a psychology professor at California State University, Sacramento, where she teaches courses on lifespan development. In addition to her popular book, Lost & Found Lovers, Dr. Kalish has had numerous articles published in newspapers and journals. She also does consultations (but not therapy) by phone for people with lost love issues. Dr. Kalish is the international expert on rekindled romances, lost loves, and first love. She has discussed her findings on lost love on Oprah, 20/20, NPR, CNN, Montel, Maury, and Dear Abby devoted two columns to Dr. Kalish’s research. Modern Maturity/AARP, Redbook The Chicago Tribune, Parade, Associated Press, The New York Times, and USA Today are among the print media that have published articles on her work. She maintains an active website at http://www.LostLovers.com.
Find Love guide and resources.
On July 4th 1776 the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. On this day they formally declared that these colonies were free and independent states, not subject to the government of Great Britain.
The Declaration of Independence was signed by leaders from the colonies, and for the first time in an official document the colonies were referred to as the United States of America.
It is a day to be celebrated by all, by patriotic parades, picnics and fireworks. The flying of the American flag is widespread.July 4th gifts are given to family and friends to celebrate this special occasion.
Show your true American patriotism this year by wearing a fabulous piece of American jewelry that is made in America by Americans.
One of the easiest by stylish ways is to wear the American Flag as a lapel pin or pendant. The diamonds within these shine the light of freedom in the eyes of all beholders. Another way could be to wear a Statue of Liberty pendant.
This seasons must have item of jewelry for the ladies to celebrate Independence Day would have to be a Diamond Heart US Flag Pendent Belly Ring.Other gift ideas could be a ‘$’ shaped money clip or Presidential Seal or US Marine Cuff Links.
However and wherever you choose to spend July 4th show your Patriotism with a piece of fine crafted American jewelry.
To view a selection of fine Patriotic Jewelry visit http://www.shiningsparklers.com
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! Family, friends, good food – and no presents to buy. To make it your best holiday ever, consider these organizing tips:
• Choose your preferred style: formal with everyone dressed up and using their best manners – or a more informal relaxed style. If you’ve invited more people than your dining table will seat, decide whether to add extra tables or a set up a buffet and use couches and occasional chairs for seating. Arrange for extra chairs if necessary.
• Keep in mind the ages of the people involved – and choose a time for the meal that will fit their needs – young children may get too tired if you wait to sit down at 1:00 pm. Consider seating for children based on ages. Teenagers might enjoy the day more seated together.
• Ask guests to identify their favorite dish – include as many of them as possible. (If someone wants a pecan pie, and you don’t like to bake them, check out your local restaurant or bakery.) Don’t assume you have to do everything – why not invite guests to bring a favorite dish? (Or ask them to bring a table centerpiece or bottle of wine.)
• Plan your menu well in advance, make a shopping list, and purchase non-perishables at the same time you do your regular shopping. If you’re planning to use a fresh turkey, place your order early.
• Get out the table linens before Thanksgiving morning – make sure you have the sizes you need, and
check to see if they need to be laundered, or ironed.
• Select table decorations. If you have children, involve them in the planning and execution of the celebration. (My children loved to make turkey cookies!) Consider disposable Thanksgiving napkins.
• To save clean-up time, or if the family china is insufficient to accommodate the guest list, attractive holiday disposable tableware is a viable option. Be sure you have enough serving dishes and utensils for the quantities you will be serving.
• If you’re having a sit-down dinner, consider setting your table the day before to minimize last-minute stress. Make a checklist of things to be done on Thanksgiving day in order or priority.
• Determine your clean-up strategy prior to dinner. Do you want everyone to chip in and help – or would you prefer to spend the time with the family – and clean it up when they’re gone?
• When the day is over, make notes about anything you wish you had done differently – file your notes away for next year, and give Thanksgiving for another special day.
© Barbara Hemphill is the author of Kiplinger’s Taming the Paper Tiger at Work and Taming the Paper Tiger at Home and co-author of Love It or Lose It: Living Clutter-Free Forever. The mission of Hemphill Productivity Institute is to help individuals and organizations create and sustain a productive environment so they can accomplish their work and enjoy their lives. We do this by organizing space, information, and time. We can be reached at 800-427-0237 or at www.ProductiveEnvironment.com
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about the perfect gift for the one you love. Whether you are looking for something special on a tight budget or would simply like to add something special to another gift, there’s no better way to express your love than by saying it in a variety of languages.
Find a nice jar and cut different colored paper into heart-shaped pieces. Write “I Love You” in a different language on each heart and place it in the jar. Continue doing this until the jar is full. Add a nice ribbon around the jar and you have a wonderful jar of “Love” to give.
If you want Valentine’s Day to last longer, write each “I Love You” in a different language on a colored, heart-shaped piece of paper. Then place each heart into a separate envelope. For the next two months, each day you can place a new envelope somewhere where your partner will find it making your love – and Valentine’s Day – last a couple of months rather that a single day.
If you are in a more playful mood, cut out the heart-shaped pieces of paper and write “I Love You” in a different language along with a hint where your partner can find the next envelope. Have your partner do a scavenger hunt to find each envelope until they come to the final piece where “I Love You” is written in English with whatever Valentine gift you have decided to give.
No matter how you ultimately decide to give the gift of “I Love You,” it’ll be a gift long remembered and cherished by the person who receives it.
***** Different Ways To Say “I Love You” *****
1. a) Arabic — Ana behibak (to male)
1. b) Arabic — Ana behibek (to female)
2. Bavarian — I mog di narrisch gern
3. Bengali — Ami tomake bhalobashi
4. Brazilian (Portuguese) — Eu te amo
5. Bulgarian — Obicham te
6. Burmese — Chit pa dev
7. Cambodian — Bon sro lanh oon
8. Chinese (Cantonese) — Ngo oi ney
9. Chinese (Mandarin) — Wo ie ni
10. Croatian — Ljubim te
11. Czech — Miluji
te
12. Danish — Jeg elsker digv
13. Dutch — Ik hou van jou
14. Esperanto — Mi amas vin
15. Estonian — Mina armastan sind
16. Filipino — Mahal ka ta
17. Finnish — Mina rakastan sinua
18. Flemish — Ik zie oe geerne
19. French — Je t’aime
20. Gaelic — Ta gra agam ort
21. German — Ich liebe dich
22. Greek — S’ agapo
23. a) Hebrew — Ani ohev otach (to female)
23. b) Hebrew — Ani ohev otcha (to male)
24. Hindi — Mai tumse pyar karta hoo
25. Hopi — Nu’ umi unangwa’ta
26. Hungarian — Szeretlek
27. Icelandic — Eg elska thig
28. Indonesian — Saja kasih saudari
29. Irish — Taim i’ ngra leat
30. Italian — Ti amo
31. Japanese — Kimi o ai shiteru
32. Javanese — Kulo tresno
33. Korean — Tangsinul sarang ha yo
34. Lao — Koi muk jao
35. Latin — Te amo
36. Latvian — Es milu tevi
37. Macedonian — Sakam te
38. Malay — Saya cintamu
39. Mohawk — Konoronhkwa
40. Navaho — Ayor anosh’ni
41. Norwegian — Eg elskar deg
42. Persian — Tora dost daram
43. Polish — Kocham cie
44. Portuguese — Amo-te
45. Romanian — Te iu besc
46. Russian — Ya vas liubliu
47. Serbian — Lubim te
48. Shona — Ndinokuda
49. Sioux — Techihhila
50. Slovak — Lubim ta
51. Spanish — Te quiero
52. Swahili — Naku penda
53. Swedish — Jag a’lskar dig
54. Tagalog — Mahal kita
55. Thai — Ch’an rak khun
56. Tunisian — Ha eh bak
57. Turkish — Seni seviyo rum
58. Ukrainian — Ja tebe kokhaju
59. Vietnamese — Toi yeu em
60. Welsh — ‘Rwy’n dy garu di
61. Yiddish — Ich libe dich
62. Yugoslavian — Ya te volim
63. Zulu — Ngiyakuthanda
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Publishing Guidelines: This article may be freely distributed so long as the copyright, author’s information and an active link (where possible) are included. A complimentary copy of any newsletter or a link to the site where the article is posted would be greatly appreciated.
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Copyright (c) Jeffrey Strain – http://www.inexpensivedating.com is a website dedicated to sharing fun and inexpensive dating ideas.
Find Love guide and resources.
I was listening to one of my favorite radio talk programs today. The topic of the hour was “do you feel burdened by Christmas?” Much to my amazement the host, and the majority of his guests, spent the better part of an hour whining and moaning about the burdensome nature of the holiday season. “I hate being with my relatives.” “Why do I have to spend all this money on presents for people I don’t like?” “There’s too much pressure!” “The traffic in the stores is ridiculous.” It went on and on and on!
It’s a well known fact that people tend to be more depressed during the holiday season. It can be distressing if you live far away from your family. Some people actually become depressed because of the decrease in their exposure to sunlight during the winter months. However, what I heard today was different. People were just whining! They sounded like young children who were being forced to do their chores. Then, it hit me. Those people were suffering from PHLOP!
What is PHLOP (pronounced “flop”)? Pre-Holiday Lack of Planning! It is my own term for describing what causes successful people turn into grinches during the holiday season. Anyone who suffers from PHLOP will experience a range of symptoms that include: anxiety, sleeplessness, irritability, overeating (particularly of chocolate), anger, and irrationality. All of these symptoms cause them to miss out on the true joy that should be experienced during the holiday season.
People who suffer from PHLOP get their first dose of anxiety when they begin to consider the enormous list of things to do between Thanksgiving and the end of the year. There are cards to be sent, gifts to be bought and wrapped, parties to be planned, activities to be enjoyed, and thank you notes to be written. It’s enough to give a person indigestion! Then, add all of the subtasks (e.g., everything that is involved in planning a party) to the list. By then, that person has a major case of indigestion and the beginning symptoms of a migraine. Of course, the only reason that the person experiences anxiety is because he or she is not organized.
Do you suffer from PHLOP? It’s not too late to change things – even for this holiday season! Consider the consequences of not planning out how you will get everything done before January 31. Your tasks will get done at the last minute. They will not be done well. Worst of all, you may not finish them at all! Let’s face it, there is nothing worse than looking at a stack of holidays cards that were signed, sealed, and addressed, but just didn’t make it to the post office. If you would like some help organizing your holiday schedule for this and future Christmas seasons, you should get a copy UnCommon Courtesy & Coaching’s PHLOP busting holiday organizer by visiting our Christmas Corner at: http://www.uncommoncourtesy.com/holidayplanner.htm .
Let me also take a moment to suggest some things that will help you to enjoy this holiday season. First, consider making some of your gifts. People generally think about making gifts only when they are very young, super organized, or short on cash. You need not begin crocheting purses for your friends in August in order to make presents. Think about baking a few batches of bar cookies and then dividing them up onto colorful Christmas plates. Wrap them in cellophane and tie them with colorful ribbon. It’s easy, cheap, and all your friends will love it. After all, have you ever had anyone tell you that they did not like a plate full of cookies? How about buying a number of
inexpensive items and putting them in a basket. The presentation will impress the heck out of the recipient. Whatever you decide to make, constructing the gift yourself will make it more meaningful to both you and the person who receives it.
Another suggestion to make your holiday bright and joyous is to act like a kid. Often people will suggest that you view the holidays “through the eyes of a child.” To that I say: “you are missing half of the fun.” Yes, it is a good idea to view things as if you were a child, but remember that actions are just as important as thoughts. For example, consider all those holiday television shows and videos you loved to watch as a child. Somehow, you have not found the time to watch them for years. Well, this is the year to start that tradition once again. If you can, watch them with a child. However, it doesn’t matter if a child is watching the program with you. The important thing is to remember to be child-like. How will you ensure that you take on a juvenile persona for the evening? Stock up on all those fun things that a child likes to have available while watching a video. For example, you should dress in your most comfortable pajamas, grab a cup of cocoa, and fill up a bowl with popcorn. Then, settle into your most comfortable chair with all the goodies and enjoy watching Snoopy decorate his dog house. Now, apply that same principle to all of your holiday related activities. It’s all those little extras that will really add joy to the Christmas season.
I realize that there may be some readers who feel that they should have begun their holiday planning and organization months ago. To those people I say: “now is the time to be industrious!” For example, shopping that has been delayed to the last minute can be remedied in several ways. Try going to the mall at the very beginning or end of the shopping day. Consider purchasing an unusual gift that can be found somewhere other than a mall. For goodness sake, do your shopping online! No matter how chaotic and stressful it seems, this holiday season should serve as a life lesson. Make notes for yourself about what went well, what could have been done better, and what was an absolute disaster. Then, form an action plan for next year. It’s never too soon to get organized!
The bottom line is: this is the season to be jolly, make merry, and recall the joy that can fill your life. The holiday season is the time to be child-like. It is a time to overlook life’s little irritations and be grateful for all the wonderful aspects of what has been given to you. I wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year, and a joyous time no matter what holiday you will be celebrating in the upcoming weeks!
About The Author
Dr. Susan Rempel has counseled thousands of families. She launched www.uncommoncourtesy.com to help people stay organized and live life to the fullest. susan@uncommoncourtesy.com
This article (including the copyright notice) may be reprinted with the following the following attachment:
© 1998 – 1999 Susan C. Rempel, Ph.D. All rights reserved.
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© 1998 – 1999 Susan C. Rempel, Ph.D. All rights reserved.
Get motivated with UnCommon Courtesy & Coaching! Motivational products and services for children, parents, and teachers that reinforce positive behavior, good manners, a positive outlook on life, and life success. Supplies for parents and teachers. Games, books, computer games, bingo cards, and toys. Get a copy of our FREE holiday planner. visit us at: http://www.uncommoncourtesy.com
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Monday, May 30th is Memorial Day. Your local florist can provide fresh or silk flowers for honoring the memory of your loved ones. There are many options available when taking flowers to a gravesite. Many people choose a cone arrangement, which can be placed into the ground.
Here are some things to keep in mind when taking loose fresh flowers to a gravesite. If you will be placing them in a cone, you should take a couple of supplies with you. A pair of scissors and a jug of water. When you arrive at the gravesite, place the cone in the ground. If you have floral preservative add this to the cone first. Fill the cone with water 3/4 full. Remove the leaves that fall below the water line from the stems. Finally clip off an inch or so from the bottom of the stems and place the flowers into the cone. You can then arrange the
flowers to fill in the cone.
Silk floral designs can also be created. Ask your local florist for silk floral suggestions and design options for memorial pieces. Bouquets, Wreaths and Custom Memorial Design forms are all popular choices in silk flowers. You can even customize the design to reflect military service (red, white & blue flowers, flag design, etc.) to honor your loved one’s service.
Memorial Day has also become a popular time for Family Reunions and Get Togethers. Consider having your local florist create centerpieces for your weekend celebration.
We suggest ordering your memorial flowers a few days ahead of time to ensure the best selection. Remember to ensure your floral order is filled to value, order direct from a local florist. No middleman, No extra fees!
Tenley McDonald- Former Florist- Now Co-Owner of http://www.flowerpowernetwork.com (Online Directory of Real Local Florists) Ms. McDonald has over 14 years experience in ~Consumer Relations/Marketing ~Customer Service Management ~Floral Design.