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Holiday: Scrapbooking - Giving The Wonderful Gift of Memories

The holidays have always been a time for family, for friends, for reminiscing and for making new memories. A perfect gift for Christmas, Mother's Day, birthdays or any other holiday is the gift of those memories. Every family has a treasure trove of photos and other memorabilia stashed away in boxes, drawers and old albums that are falling apart.

Scrapbooking is a way to organize all those photos, postcards, programs, menus, matchbooks, pressed corsages and other pieces of family history in a beautiful album that will be looked at and treasured for years to come. Bringing all those things together in an album often comes to mean almost as much to those that create the gift as it does the person it was created for.

Scrapbooks are a very warm personal and sentimental gift. They can light up any holiday celebration. Once the gift has been opened you'll find everyone spending hours going throughthe book and remembering all the wonderful times and the people that have passed through their lives. Photos that bring back memories of weddings and birthday parties, the program from your daughters first ballet recital, the matchbook from the restaurant where you and your future husband had your first dinner. All these things make the scrapbook a gift that will be cherished.

Putting together an album has come a long way from the days of the slipping the pictures under a plastic sheet or, for those of us old

enough to remember, sliding the edges of the pictures into the little black paper corners that are glued to a black construction paper page. Modern scrapbooking is an art form. Scrapbooking doesn't take any special skills. With a little patience and the proper tools you can build a scrapbook that you would be proud to give as a gift to anyone.

With beautiful decorative papers for the pages, special scissors and other cutting tools for decorative edges and designs, stamps and other supplies you can custom build a beautiful piece of family history. Scrapbooking is something the entire family can take part in. Even a young child can enjoy helping. Just the memories that are jogged, the stories that can be told while organizing the items for the book, make the project worthwhile.

There are websites that can walk you through the basics, there are community classes for scrapbooking and there are people you can find through your local paper, the yellow pages or on the Internet that will be glad to build your scrapbook for you.

Another option as an alternative to the album is to gather all the photos together, put them in some semblance of order and take them to a place that will put it all onto a video tape or DVD for you, unless of course you're lucky enough to have the knowledge and skill to do so yourself. This also has the advantage of keeping your photos safe from deterioration due to age or normal wear and tear.

Katt Turner is a great creative baker. Responsible for many of the unique and delectable desserts on she and sister Jean L. Serio’s websites - www.christmasgiftscottage.com , www.halloweencostumesanddecorations.com and www.letusdazzleyougifts.com Plus Katt does much of the research for products on their sites. Aside from this she does lots of volunteer work with seniors and at-risk women. Including helping them find needed services, free or inexpensive products, government and private program info. Helping seniors succeed on their own.

Creating Simple, Yet Unique Holiday Décor That
Takes You from Thanksgiving Through Christmas

Once September closes, the holidays and special occasions seem to rush at us. And if you’re as busy as we are, you’ll want ways in which to create simple decorations which can take you through the two months of November and December - Fall/Thanksgiving through Christmas.

You want something nice, not too expensive. Easy and no-fuss decorations which can make the transition from one holiday to the next. And you can have that when you decorate with items you may already have at home. For example -

1. Decorate with nature. Gather up and use pinecones and nuts. Holly and evergreens. Berries. Place simple tree branches in a tall vase or jar, add holly. Fill jars with a variety of sizes of pinecones and nuts.

2. Use pumpkins. There are dozens of simple ways to decorate with pumpkins. Using various sizes, set them on stairs and landings. Sit them on mantles, around - or in an unused - fireplace. Put them on window sills. Create a centerpiece using large pumpkins. As the season progresses, change the fall/Thanksgiving look by surrounding them with pinecones and nuts, evergreens. (refresh evergreens as season develops)

3. Use plaid. Cover a variety of baskets with plaid fabric; fill baskets with pinecones, nuts, moss, tree branches, fruits and more.

4. Use trays. Sit a variety of seasonal items on several different trays. For instance, several different sizes of candles, a small bowl of apples and/or oranges. A tall glass vase of assorted nuts, a nut cracker. As the season progresses, add a few springs of holly and/or evergreens.

5. Decorate with Moss and Tree Branches. You can create simple, yet stunning, displays using small tree branches with moss attached (find moss at your local craft store). Tie together and hang on the wall, tie groupings to furniture. Fill vases or tall wooden pots with moss and sit a variety of tree branches within the moss, at angles. Use mini-pumpkins during the fall/Thanksgiving weeks; remove and add evergreens and holly as season changes.

10 Creative Centerpieces Which Take Your Dining Table
From Thanksgiving Through Christmas

Transitioning from the warmth of fall, with it’s golden leaves and pumpkins, to the bright lights of Christmas, is easier than you may think. The trick is to create centerpieces using a variety of decorative items which can be used all year ‘round. To accent them with touches which remind everyone of the season at hand.

Here’s 10 centerpieces which make a perfect Fall to Christmas transition:

1. Use neutral colors like gold, ivory, or a combination of dark burgundy and gold or ivory; or dark green and gold or ivory.

2. Bittersweet wreaths or branches create beautiful centerpieces which can be used from Halloween, through Thanksgiving to Christmas. Create a centerpiece using a Bittersweet wreath or branches. Lay the wreath in the center of your table. Fill the middle with a round plate or mirror. On which you stand ivory, gold and dark green candles - in a variety of sizes.

3. Use white pumpkins and green gourds. Place a variety of sizes of white pumpkins and gourds on a tray or in a compote. Sprinkle in some nuts.

4. Hollow out the insides of white pumpkins and butternut squashes - in a variety of sizes, and stand candles in white, ivory, dark green (or a combo thereof) within them. Gather them in a grouping. Light them when serving holiday dinner.

5. Nut filled vases or bottles - Fill a variety of different sized clear glass bottles or vases with different types of nuts (a different type in each bottle or vase). Tie a dark green ribbon around the middle of each. Sit them down the middle of your table, or in a centerpiece grouping.

6. Tie Wheat stalks together - Purchase some wheat stalks from your local craft store. Take 6 or 8 stalks and tie together with colorful ribbon (enough stalks so they stand). If each tied bunch won’t stand alone on your table, take a variety of sizes of clear glass vases and stand each bunch in the middle of a vase. Pour colored sand, rocks (found in craft stores), or nuts, into each vase; surrounding the base of the wheat stalks so they stand.

7. Fill an old pail, with a variety of white pumpkins and gourds. Tie some Baby’s Breath or greens to the pail handle.

8. Use your silver. Take a round, square or oblong silver platter and organize a variety of your silver on it. For instance, silver candle sticks with candles (add fall colors and transition to Christmas colored candles). Place your coffee serving set on the platter and other silver items. Surround them with fall leaves or Christmas greens & holly.

9. Use vintage collectible kitchen gadgets. Sit a variety of vintage collectibles in your table center. For instance, sifters, old tins (spice tins), bread box, toaster, mixer. Sit them on old recipe books; or place several old recipe books in a mixing bowl.

10. Vintage cutting board - Place an old cutting board in the center of your table. Fill several different sized wooden bowls, or tins, with nuts; sit fruits around the base of the bowls or tins.

Using Trees and Greenery to Spruce Up Your Holidays

In the US, and many other countries, one large holiday tree is usually the focal point. Generally it’s set up in the family room or by an entrance way. But if you love trees, as much as we do, then you’ll want to have a variety of small to medium sized ones, thoughtfully scattered throughout your home.

Not to worry. You have a variety of sizes, shapes and types to choose from. Here’s several types of trees, and greenery, which make wonderful holiday displays:

* Evergreens
* Rosemary
* Miniature Cedar trees
* Rhododendron starters
* Azaleas
* Holly
* Ivy

Generally you can purchase mini-trees from 12-18” high. These are the perfect size for arranging in pots, whether clay, wood or glass.

Small, potted - Evergreens are easily dressed up in any number of creative ways. Keep in mind, to make them look their best, it’s important to use small decorations and bows. Don’t overwhelm them with the usual sized ornaments and large, draping tinsel strings.

The sky’s the limit when it comes to decorative ornaments. You can use glass balls, metal bells & cookie cutters, any type of small garden tools, actual cookies, small fruits (sugared real fruits), pinecones, for example. Add extra pizzaz, when decorating with pinecones or fruit, by filling the pot around the base of the tree.

Rosemary and Cedars are wonderful alternatives to evergreens and the usual pines. These aromatics both gracefully bring the pungent, lively scent of herbs from the garden into your home. In their own way, they spice up the air with their special heady aroma. If you live in a warmer climate, you can sit them outside your front door. Fill in pot with green (or Spanish) moss (found in craft stores), until it comes up to pot edge. Pack it around tree trunk.

Here’s a few other creative ways to plant mini trees -

* Old watering cans
* Large tea or hot water pot
* Old metal coffee pot
* Small wooden barrels
* Old clay or unique pots

Decorative baubles for your mini-trees:

Old metal spoons and kitchen gadgets, beads, buttons & small sewing tools, miniature dolls or bears, paper cut-out ornaments and stars, miniature glass ornaments, unique bows, mini potpourri bags; frog, bird or animal ornaments; fishing ornaments and small gear; dried or fresh small fruits, cranberries and nuts.

Once the season is over, remove ornaments, tinsel and bow and store them. The let your beautiful mini-tree stand in it’s own green glory. It’s unique scent continuing to fill the air throughout the cold, winter season. Note: use pots and other items which safely hold liquid; so when you water the mini-trees, it won’t seep through to your floor or carpeting.

Create Unique Displays Using Holiday Greeting Cards

If you’re like my family, you’ll often receive holiday cards which are beautiful. So beautiful you’ll want to show them off to others. But may not know how. The best way to do this is to create a simple display which you can easily add cards to all season long.

Over the years we’ve tried numerous ways to decorate using cards. Here’s just a few great ways to show them:

* Create a card wreath. Cut the Santas, Snowmen - for example - from your fave cards. Arrange them on a wreath. Or, take a piece of poster board, cut it a large circle (in shape of a wreath), cut out middle; glue moss to it; then attach your cards around it. Attach ribbon to top of it and hang.

* Create a garland. As in directions above, cut out your favorite parts of cards. Using a hole punch, make a hole at the top of the cut-out. Take very thin ribbon and cut enough 4” pieces to string on all the cards you’ve cut out; string a piece through each but don’t tie; and set aside. Decide where you want to hang garland; measure area. Choose a 2” wide thick holiday colored ribbon. Cut the ribbon the proper length plus 2 additional inches, to string across the area you‘ve chosen. Hang up this 2“ wide ribbon; then lightly tie each card cut-out to various spots on the garland.

* Decorate a wall or unused space. Depending on the space available, and how many cards you have, hang several 3-4’ pieces of 2” to 3” wide holiday ribbon (vertically) on the wall. Once that’s done, cut another piece of 2” ribbon and string it across the top of strips of ribbon; place a bow in the middle. Glue your holiday cards to the vertical strips and across the top.

* Place them decoratively along the edge of, and inside, a wall basket (wall baskets have a flat back). Hang one backet on each door in your home.

Decorating This Holiday Season With Unique, Rusted
Garden Tools and Decorative Items

Most people we know have a variety of things - like old garden tools and decorative garden items - they aren’t using. Maybe even you. They remove items from the garden and end up leaving them outside behind the garage, or stuffed into a shed behind the garage. Where they’re gathering dust and rusting.

Good news. You can dust them off, brush off the dirt, and use them as holiday décor - both indoor and out. Not only do these items make great holiday display, they are free.

Here’s several ways you can creatively use old garden gear and tools for unique holiday displays:

* Take an old garden gate, lean it against your indoor fireplace (or otherwise secure it). Then lay moss (found in craft stores) around base of gate. That done, stick old garden tools in several old garden pots (of varying sizes). Sit them securely in the moss. Lean old rake or hoe against gate (or mantle), so it’s in front of gate, leaning at an angle.

Then take some red (other other color holiday ribbon) and tie around gate so it looks like gift package. Tie smaller ribbons (with bows) around some of the tools, around middle of pots, on garden handle.

* Place 1 or 2 small evergreens (purchase from garden store) in old clay garden pots you have; or find at 2^nd hand store. Clay pots work best because you can paint them. Wash clay pots, then - using a 2-3” wide paint brush; paint pots dull white using wide brush strokes. They won’t look perfect and you don’t want them too. Then, using a wet sponge, remove some paint, so clay color peeks through, and pots look old and distressed. Sit pots on either side of a fireplace or mantle, or by your front door. Decorate using old garden hand tools. Make raffia (found at craft stores) bows and attach to various limbs. Take fallen tree limbs, and cut small sections at different lengths. Stick them into trees so sections stick out at random. Decorate with holly.

* Take an old, large watering can or metal bucket. Fill with dirt. Gather up small tree limbs which you place in bucket of dirt at various angles; creating a tree (or find a sizeable fallen section of tree with thin limbs, which will stand up securely in center of pail or watering can (place medium sized rocks around base of larger limb to secure it. )String limbs with small white or clear lights (be sure to sit bucket or watering can near a wall plug) Place it on your dining room table, in a foyer as a point of interest or outside by your front door. Anywhere there’s a receptacle to plug lights into. Decorate with old ornaments, cookie cutters, raffia bows, old tools, etc.

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Decorate Naturally This Season - Using Pinecones

It’s surprising that many people overlook using pinecones as a great natural, and inexpensive, way to decorate their home during the Christmas season. There are tons of unique ways you can use them to decorate. And it’s easy too.

Here’s 10 creative ways to give your home that natural, lived-in-the-woods look, this holiday season:

1. Take a 12” strip of 2” wide Christmas red or green ribbon. Fold ribbon in half & glue top sections (front & back) together. Taking small pinecones, glue them to the ribbon (at angles so the ribbon looks full of pinecones). As you get closer to the top, use larger pinecones. To hang, cut a 6” piece of very thin matching ribbon (rolled type works best), and tie it through the 2 pieces of glued fabric; and hang.

2. Using very thin, rolled ribbon - tie 2 or 3 pinecones together. Use a second small piece of ribbon (tied between tops of pinecones- then tied in a small knot) to hang them.

3. Lay small groups of pinecones- in a variety of sizes - across a mantle top. Sit colorful bows between groupings.

4. Fill bowls (glass or wooden) with a variety of sizes of pinecones. Sprinkle some holiday potpourri into bowl.

5. Fill an old pail or pot with pinecones; tie a bright ribbon on handle.

6. Wrap a large gift box (or a variety of different sized boxes) with newspaper or butcher paper; fill box with pinecones. Tie a ribbon around center of box like a gift.

7. Fill an old coal holder with pinecones.

8. Fill a large bowl with pinecones; then stand small evergreen limbs, at angles, in pinecones. Tie small pieces of holly to the evergreens.

9. Spray pinecones with gold or silver glitter and display.

10. Cut a variety of sizes of thin, rolled holiday ribbon into strips. Tie 1-2 dozen pinecone tops with a piece of ribbon. Then, using pushpins, secure them to the ceiling of your porch so they hang down in a variety of lengths (but allow people to walk safely under them).

Pinecones can provide a simple, natural elegance, which can’t be found with pre-made ornaments you purchase. And once you’ve decorated with them, you’ll soon discover dozens of other unique ways to use them.

Why Choosing a Christmas Color Theme is Important

One of the most important things you can do, when it comes to holiday decorating, is to decide on a color theme. Regardless of the color theme you choose, decorating will be easier. When you shop - whether through a local retailer, online, or you decide to create decorations - you’ll go directly to what you need; rarely wasting time. Not to mention you’ll spend less.

Choosing a color theme makes a statement. But it also helps tie your holiday decorations together, in an inviting and harmonious way. While the eyes of your guests may rest on something which strikes their fancy, they will also easily - and comfortably - move from one ornament to another, one area to another. At once captivated and delighted by your pleasing displays.

For instance, say you choose the usual, vibrant Christmas red and green. As an accent color you can use white or gold. Also, you have the option of using darker shades of green and several different shades of red.

Also, unless you choose a specific ornament type or design, with a color theme, you have a nearly unlimited variety of ornaments to choose from.

Choosing an ornament theme rather than themed color:

On the other hand, perhaps you prefer to decorate with a specific ornament or style. For instance, bears, unique dolls, garden items, antique clowns; snowmen. Using only a few actual ornaments as accents.

In this case, you can bring things together, by tying the same color bow around necks of your bears, dolls or snowmen. Adding a sprig of holly or greenery. You can further tie things together, by trimming your tree, or the room, with 2-3 colors which work together and coordinate well with your decorations. For instance, gold, dark burgundy, ivory and rich green go well with antiques; and generally with bears and dolls.

Or - choose a variety of shades of gold or ivory. Tan and shades of brown will also work well with antiques, dolls and bears.

When you organize a color theme, it’s easy to create a decorating scheme which will work together seamlessly. In a fashion which will not only enchant both you and your guests, but relax them.

7 Simple, Yet Unique, Ways to Decorate Wreaths at Christmas

Wreaths can do anything from making a simple statement to becoming a focal point because of size, unique shape, or decorations. Often, where you intend to hang one is what will help determine it’s size and shape. Sometimes even it’s lack of decorations. Once you make the choice of place to hang it, then you can quickly move on to decisions about ribbons and decorations for it.

It’s not necessary to decorate a wreath at holiday time. You can let it hang in it’s natural green splendor and it will hold its own. However, should you choose to decorate it, there are dozens of unique ways. Many you not have considered or heard of.

First, wreaths you find at grocery, garden and home centers will give you the foundation you need to decorate. These are generally made to last far into the season. The greens securely bound to a ¼” round heavy metal wreath base with heavy gauge wire. Giving them a safe base to glue decorations to. Or wrap them around. Second, in the U.S. they’re usually treated with fire-retardant.

Here’s 7 simple, yet unique, ways to decorate holiday wreaths:

1. Bows - Choose a colorful large bow and use smaller bows (in the same color) to fill in around the wreath.

2. Winter Wonderland - Spray it with white, canned snow; then decorate with white or silver stars, ornaments and artificial sprays.

3. Pinecones, berries and twigs for a natural look. Add a wool, fabric bow, or one made of rope or twine.

4. Garden theme it; tying on a variety of small garden ornaments or small to medium sized garden tools. Glue in bows made of raffia (found at craft stores)

5. Cookie cutters - either red or metal. Tie them on with colorful ribbon.

6. Holly - Pick sprigs of holly from your garden or purchase at a garden store. Add a variety of red ornaments.

7. Simple Green - Create a unique look, and texture, by adding a variety of other types of greenery gathered from your garden.

You’ll need an inexpensive glue gun, at least 6 glue sticks and small gage wire. These can be purchased at either your local home improvement or craft store.

Katt Turner is a great creative baker. Responsible for many of the unique and delectable desserts on she and sister Jean L. Serio’s websites - www.christmasgiftscottage.com , www.halloweencostumesanddecorations.com and www.letusdazzleyougifts.com Plus Katt does much of the research for products on their sites. Aside from this she does lots of volunteer work with seniors and at-risk women. Including helping them find needed services, free or inexpensive products, government and private program info. Helping seniors succeed on their own.

Creating Your Own Beautiful Holiday Ornaments

Not to worry if you’ve never created your own ornaments. It’s easy. And faster than you think.

Generally all you’ll need is a glue, a glue gun and some simple items to decorate your ornaments with.

Here’s 10 easy ornament decorating ideas using simple glass or colorful, round ornaments:

1. Buttons & bows - Glue a variety of buttons on and add small bows.

2. Get musical - cut up and glue on old sheet music.

3. Snowy holidays - Spray with canned snow; create hills and valleys.

4. Crown them - create unique shapes using rhinestones or pearls.

5. Glitterize - Lightly spray with gold or silver glitter
(or combine colors).

6. Dress them - Wrap ornaments with colorful holiday fabric.

7. Nature calls - Glue sprigs of holly or greenery to top of
ornament. Add a small bow made of twine and a bell.

8. Right-on - Pen words like Joy, Christmas, for example,
using colorful markers.

9.   Feathers - Glue several small pieces of feather (about 2”
      long) to top of ball; add 2-3 small bows (glue one on top
      of the other at different angles).

10. Appliques - Use press on appliques.

Katt Turner is a great creative baker. Responsible for many of the unique and delectable desserts on she and sister Jean L. Serio’s websites - www.christmasgiftscottage.com , www.halloweencostumesanddecorations.com and www.letusdazzleyougifts.com Plus Katt does much of the research for products on their sites. Aside from this she does lots of volunteer work with seniors and at-risk women. Including helping them find needed services, free or inexpensive products, government and private program info. Helping seniors succeed on their own.

Creatively Decorating Your Mantle for the Holidays

Many homes have mantles upon which family photos sit. And have for years. In fact, even during holidays many don’t give decorating their mantle a second thought. Yet decorating it could be the quickest way to dress up a room; to accessorize it for the holiday season.

Decorating your mantle need not be hard or time consuming. All it takes is a simple idea. Unless you want to do something more exotic, it can be done using a few items you likely already have at home.

Here’s 5 great ways to decorate your mantle:

1. Still want to use framed family photos? Go through your photos and find pics of family as kids and grandkids. For instance, sitting on Santa’s knee, with a family pet, for example. Remove photos currently in frames on mantle and replace with one of those you’ve found. Use a variety of frames and photos. Then tie a red ribbon and bow around each frame as you would wrap a gift box).

2. Fill a variety of clear glass jars with small gold or silver bells. Tie ribbon around middle of each, at various heights.

3. Fill several white bowls, in different sizes, with festive red, green and white or gold ornaments. Surround the base of each with moss (found at craft stores) or greenery and holly.

4. Are you a tin or doll collector? First trim your mantle with greenery. Then creatively arrange your tins, dolls, bears, etc., or other collectible items - to sit or stand - amongst the greenery on your mantle. Add a candle on a candle stand, at each end, and you’re set.

5. Stack a variety of sizes of empty, but gift wrapped boxes, on your mantle. One straight up, one leaning on another, one on it’s side with another on top of it. (you get the picture)

Plus, you can add a wreath to the center of the wall over the mantle. Have a mirror there? Secure the wreath to it. Or run a wide red or holiday colored ribbon around the edges of mirror and create a bow on top. These are simple things you can do in an hour. Yet will enchante for the entire holiday season.

Katt Turner is a great creative baker. Responsible for many of the unique and delectable desserts on she and sister Jean L. Serio’s websites - www.christmasgiftscottage.com , www.halloweencostumesanddecorations.com and www.letusdazzleyougifts.com Plus Katt does much of the research for products on their sites. Aside from this she does lots of volunteer work with seniors and at-risk women. Including helping them find needed services, free or inexpensive products, government and private program info. Helping seniors succeed on their own.

The Christmas Season Starts Earlier Each Year.
5 Tips for Taking Advantage of it."

For decades, retailers and families began decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. Five to six years ago, retailers started the day after Halloween. And now Christmas has been moved way back to September. In fact, the day after Labor Day, in the U.S., is the new day on which retailers have begun organizing for the Christmas season.

While it’s a bit disconcerting to see holiday décor before fall arrives, and while we’ve barely experienced the end of summer, it can serve as a great time to plan ahead. Especially with prices rising.

Here’s 5 great things you can do to help prepare for a wonderful holiday season:

1. Find great sales on gifts. While it’s too early to find many sales on holiday décor, you can find a wealth of sales - and discounts - on gifts for family and friends. For instance, if your teenage son or daughter wanted a new cel phone, Blackberry or computer, this is the time to find them. Not only will you have an array to choose from, you’ll also get a much better deal. Not to mention have plenty of time

to check around for the best deals.

2. Save cash to buy gifts. Years ago banks had Christmas Clubs. You set up an account with a specific amount you’d deposit each week. Say $20 a week. By December 1^st the bank would send you a check for the amount in your club account. While we don’t have those today, you can set up a savings account specifically for holiday spending. If you’ve been diligent, by Thanksgiving you should have set aside enough money to pay cash for some - or all - your Christmas gifts. And as you know, paying cash brings many more deals. Note: the average American household spends $1000 on Christmas gifts.

3. Put expensive items on layaway. This year many large companies announced they’re offering lay-away plans. What this means is it’ll be easier to find more expensive items and pay on them weekly, until paid. This gives you more opportunities to find, and buy, items you may not ordinarily have afforded. While you may be charged a small fee to do this, it’s nothing compared to the freedom you have to buy what you want.

4. Plan holiday meals and desserts. With prices on food higher than ever, if you decide on a menu - for Thanksgiving, Christmas, even New Years - ahead of time, it will be easier to plan purchases of many non-perishable items. Plus you can bake or cook some dishes in advance and freeze them. Also, planning a menu ahead of time allows you to experiment with new dishes and desserts.

5. Change holiday décor. In time all holiday décor begins to fade, break, chip and crack. So eventually you’ll need to replace some. With Christmas and other holiday items on sale from September, on, you can expect there will be plenty of sales. Not sure what type of new décor to purchase, buy several holiday magazines and check out what’s new. Not to mention you can buy it a little at a time, and get more creative.

Katt Turner started at 7 helping her mother organize wonderful holiday celebrations for their extended family. A “foodie”, by age 18 she was impressing family and friends with sumptuous dinners, desserts; creating unique recipes. Swapping recipes with family, friends, co-workers. Katt’s a tireless volunteer. Helping disables seniors and battered women’s groups obtain food, necessary services, benefits.

Basic Info if You're Thinking About Putting Holiday Items
and Gifts on a Layaway Payment Plan"

A layaway plan allows a company to hold items, you want to purchase, in their backroom. They set up a payment schedule for you. And once the entire amount of the merchandise, plus a small service fee is paid, those items are released to you.

Here’s a few guidelines for paying on layaways:

* A layaway plan is a contract which must be paid. Although if you default in many cases you’ll receive a refund.

* You’re required to make those payments - on time - in order to keep your layaway items on hold. Otherwise most companies return the merchandise back to the sales floor if you haven’t paid within a day or two of a scheduled payment.

* Some companies have a set amount of time - say 60 days - they’ll hold your layaway items. The amount you pay is a percentage of the total amount of the layaway items. You’ll pay that - say every 2 weeks - for example.

* Expect to pay a $5 or $10 layaway handling fee which is non-refundable.

* Expect to pay a $5 to $10 cancellation fee if you default or change your mind.

* There are guidelines regarding what you can't put on layaway.

* Rules regarding non-payment, refunds and returns.

* Layaway purchase plans are usually interest free.

Remember to read the fine print before you sign a layaway form. Especially where it concerns refunds. And the exchanging of an item on layaway for another. Also remember to ask about putting sale items or special priced items on layaway.

Basically, these are simple systems which allow you to buy on “time”. Also to get the most out of your cash with deals and sales.

Katt Turner started at 7 helping her mother organize wonderful holiday celebrations for their extended family. A “foodie”, by age 18 she was impressing family and friends with sumptuous dinners, desserts; creating unique recipes. Swapping recipes with family, friends, co-workers. Katt’s a tireless volunteer. Helping disables seniors and battered women’s groups obtain food, necessary services, benefits.

7 of the Worst, Never-Give Holiday Gifts?

Giving gifts and receiving them should be a win-win situation. Yet it isn’t
always that way. Often people gift others with things they want. On the other hand some simply don’t want to waste time searching for a gift. And end up giving something totally inappropriate or thoughtless.

Furthermore, some gifts come with unspoken words or suggestions. Be sure you want the person receiving the gift to understand them.

UnderwearThis is not a gift. And best left to mothers to give their kids, young or old. Unless you’re giving a fun pair of boxers to a guy who understands the unspoken words, or a significant other who will actually appreciate them, leave them off your gift list. Wallet

While a wallet seems the perfect gift, it serves only to remind the person gifted what they don’t have. Unless it’s something a person wants, steer clear of them. Or unless you’re giving one to a high school or college student. In that case, include a gift certificate inside

it, or some cash.

Pre-wrapped gifts

Believe it or not pre-wrapped gifts, like those you buy at a pharmacy or grocery store are top on the list of don’t give gifts. These are bought only when you don’t have time to give a real gift. Don’t care. Or think you can get away with something cheap. No one likes pre-wrapped gifts. Unless of course you purchase something wonderful and have it gift wrapped. That’s entirely different.

Snowglobes and crazy holiday decor

Because you like, or collect snow globes or unique holiday décor - like wreaths with snowmen who sing raunchy songs every time someone approaches, doesn‘t mean everyone likes them, too. Unless someone collects them, save these as gifts for yourself.

Clothing and Shoes

Aside from lingerie, clothing and shoes are some of the most difficult gifts to buy. Yet you’d be surprised how many people buy and give them as gifts. And get it totally wrong. Shoes, like clothing and some accessories, are personal items. Best left to individuals. There are just too many things to consider - like size, color, style for example. Not to mention the height, size and weight of the individual you’re gifting.

Lingerie

By far, lingerie is the most difficult gift to buy and give. Mainly because of the unique way in which each woman regards her body. Buy her something too large, she may think you feel she’s too small; to small you may think she needs to lose weight. And the beat goes on. If you value your relationship steer clear of this type of gift. And never, ever give a gift of lingerie to someone you barely know.

Fruitcake

Unless you make fabulous fruitcake, don’t go there. Because you love your own fruitcake, or a specialty brand, doesn’t mean everyone else does. Most people don’t. Plus, the word fruitcake has a variety of negative meanings. Not to mention it’s considered the all-time worst gift to give. So spare people the lies, innuendo. And faked excitement.

Katt Turner started at 7 helping her mother organize wonderful holiday celebrations for their extended family. A “foodie”, by age 18 she was impressing family and friends with sumptuous dinners, desserts; creating unique recipes. Swapping recipes with family, friends, co-workers. Katt’s a tireless volunteer. Helping disables seniors and battered women’s groups obtain food, necessary services, benefits.

5 Valuable Pre-Planning Tips to Help Save Money
on Holiday Trimmings and Décor."

For some, holiday decorating can be one of the hardest things to do. Yet, it’s easier than you think. Instead of overwhelming yourself buying new decorations, consider repurposing and reorganizing what you have. Not only will you give life to old and well-loved ornaments and décor, you’ll save time and money to.

1. First, check out your holiday decorations. Aside from gifts, holiday décor can be very expensive. So before you rush out to buy tons of new stuff, go through boxes of what you already have first.

Toss out old cards. And unless you can repair them, toss broken ornaments and décor, tree trimmings; anything turning brown with age. Some well-loved, but chipped or faded ornaments, can be easily repaired - given new life - with some glue or colorful spray or glitter. Set those aside. Take stock of what you can use. Start a list of what you’ll need and carry it with you. Tis the season and stores will be filled to the rafters with holiday décor and trim.

2. Think about giving new life to aging or well-loved decorations. Often it can be much less expensive repairing old ornaments, and décor, rather then buying new. Plus it’s creative and fun.

* A can or two of gold or silver Glitter Spay can do wonders for fading ornaments. Give new life to other aging décor. Or - use colorful sprays to do the job.

* Give new life to ornaments by gluing a bow to tops; place an ornament hanger through the middle of the bow to hang.

* Glue stars and other tiny decorations to old ornaments. Spray with canned snow.

* Drape ornament tops with some gold or silver beads.

* Add colorful bows and small decorations to boring artificial green trim and wreaths. Or remove old trim and add new. Drape gold, silver, or colored bead strings through them. Spray some canned snow on

greenery.

3. Consider using greenery, berries and pinecones from your yard or garden. It’s easy to get creative with a harvest from your garden. Not only is it inexpensive, you’re doing eco-friendly decorating. And doing no harm to your garden.

For instance - *Tie together several small branches (branch bottoms up so fuller part points down); add some berries and a bow. *Trim bottoms of fallen limbs, place them in a large watering can; add branches of red or colored berries; tie bow around the can‘s handle.

*Gather up pinecones of varying sizes. Place in a large glass or wooden bowls or tall jars. Mix in some berries, add a couple of ornaments, break up some cinnamon sticks, for example. *Lay some boxwood branches over a fireplace mantle or down the middle of your dining table. Add some dripless candles in holders; tie red or green ribbon around candleholder base. *Make simple wreaths; using a Styrofoam wreath as a base, cover it with Moss you glue on. Add a bow and a couple of cinnamon sticks or small ornaments.

There’s no end of creative ways in which you can use items harvested from your garden. Even fruits.

4. Ask family and friends for decorations they aren’t using. And/or exchange decorations. Believe it or not, others may have extra decorations or those they don’t want. Ask around. Then set up a time to check those out. Decide what can be easily repaired. Use the info above as a guide for repairing or rejuvenating ornaments and trim.

5. Plan a holiday decorations budget once you have a list of what you need. And stick to it. Much of what you need can easily, and inexpensively, be found at places like Goodwill and other second hand stores. Even Dollar Stores. Holiday bazaars and weekend street fairs and markets.

Note: Toss what you can’t use. Give away what you don’t want. Buy what you need. Get creative and re-purpose what you have. And you’ll have a the best holiday season ever.

Christmas Officially Starts Once Your Tree is
Majestically Standing"

Nothing says Christmas like the simple, yet beautiful, Christmas tree. And whether you harvest yours from a snowy Maine forest, or thoughtfully purchase it locally, once it‘s standing it‘s becomes the glorious focus of the holiday season.

Nothing delights the senses more, brings back more memories, than a pungent smell of a tree throughout the home during this joyous holiday season. Stirring remembrances of Christmases past. Celebrating childhood Christmases with parents and grandparents. Your children’s first Christmas. Wonderful holidays spent with family and friends who are no longer with us.

Aside from family congregating for dinners and gift exchanges, your tree will form the cornerstone of your holiday. It’s colorful, twinkling lights. Ornaments that sparkle and lazily turn. Very importantly, also adorned with your beloved ornaments. Which gladden your heart with thoughts of holidays past. It’s no wonder the dazzling Christmas tree, you carefully trimmed, becomes the central location around which family and friends festively gravitate,

Favorite Trees

While all of us have a favorite type of Christmas tree, the Balsam is the post popular. It has the look and smell of the quintessential holiday tree. Because it’s neither prickly nor bushy is easy to decorate. Plus, once the season is over, you can strip it of it’s needles, if they’re still healthy, create balsam sachets and small pillows. To keep the incredible smell of the season drifting through your home throughout the winter months. Plus, you can trim your Balsam tree in any creative way you desire.

If you live in the Rocky Mountains or Northwest, the fragrant Douglas Fir is likely what you’ll trim this season. On the other hand, if you’re from the Southwest, the Douglas Fraser Fir is usually the favorite. Looking much like a balsam. All of which can easily be decorated as well as a Balsam.

Though fuller, the Spruce is classic in shape. However it’s shape makes it slightly more difficult to decorate with larger ornaments which may need

placing farther within the limbs instead of on the ends of branches. If, instead, you have smaller lighter ornaments, popcorn strings and lighter garlands and tinsel, the Spruce tree is perfect.

The Scotch Pine is more spherical than Conical in shape. It’s branches so thickly furred with spiny needles it almost impossible to decorate properly. If you love this beautiful tree, it’s best left lightly trimmed, with no heavy ornaments.

5 Tips for Choosing and Caring for Your Holiday Tree

Taking care of your holiday Christmas tree, from the start, will ensure your tree will not only be healthy but look great all through the season. Just one simple thing, you can do from the start, helps put your tree on the road to good health. But let’s start, first, with the size and location of it. Since that will help determine the one you’ll buy. Help you purchase the perfect three for you and your family.

1. First, measure the height, from floor to ceiling, where you plan to sit your tree. Most trees will look smaller when standing amongst others in the forest or a crowded lot. Choose the wrong size and it will not only be too tall, but possibly overwhelm the space you have available.

Tall thin trees are best in smaller rooms. Fit and look good in corners. If it’s to sit up against a wall, choose a tree with one flat side so it lays well against the wall. Choosing a tree to sit in a central location? In order for it to look good, and sit well, your tree must be evenly rounded on all sides, from top to bottom.

2. Fresh cut trees last longer and are safer. If possible, get a recently cut tree. When shaken, they will loose few, if any needles. If you can bend a needle between your fingers, and it doesn’t break, it’s likely fresh.

3. If you must purchase far in advance, cut the trunk of the tree at an angle so it has a greater water absorption. And stand it in a pail of hot water, to start. To give it the start of a long healthy life. Thereafter keep fresh water in the pail using tepid tap water. Keep water fresh and your tree can sit, pre-cut, for a month or more. Fresh trees not only last longer, keeping their fragrance, a dry one is prone to combustion.

4. Once you’re ready to set up your tree, cut the base of the tree straight across so it’s flat and fits securely into it’s tree holder. Use a firm, heavy stand. One which is wide enough at the base so the tree won’t tip over and fall. Be sure the stand has a large water basin. Making sure to refill the basin daily.

5. If your floor is carpeted, it’s a good idea to place a piece of plywood (at least 3’x3’) on the floor. Then set tree on plywood to help stabilize it.

Remember to sit your tree in a secure area where pets or children won’t knock it over. Keep it a cool place away from all heat sources. Securely fitted into your tree stand.

Festively Decorate the Family Tree This Christmas Season -
7 Great Tips Pros Use to Make it Simple, Fun"

Decorating the tree comes second only to opening gifts during the Christmas season. In fact, it’s often the highlight of the season. When families gather. Sharing memories of Christmases past.

While every family has it’s own traditions when comes to tree trimming, there are several important things to do to make decorating more festive, fun. And easier.

1. Check out your strings of lights first. There’s nothing worse than totally decorating the tree, plugging in the lights, and nothing happens. If checking out the lights is too time consuming a project, find another willing family member. After checking each length of lights, connect each string to one another to make sure once they’re all connected to each other, the entire length of lights works when finally plugged in.

2. Always place the lights on the tree first. The reason for this, it’s too difficult to place them on tree limbs once you’ve already filled the tree with ornaments and decorations.

3. Use heavier lights if you want to hold thick tree branches down. If you want to fill bare spots, and add balance, smaller lights work best. Before adding ornaments, check your tree from every angle to be sure the lights are well balanced and secure.

4. If you’re planning to add a tree topper, do it right after adding the lights.

This way, if it doesn’t fit properly you’re free and able to fix the problem. Saving it until the end could create problems. The least of which - breaking your beloved ornaments.

5. Place any tinsel or bead strands on the tree next - after the lights and tree topper. Whether it’s tinsel, beads, chains or strings of beads, popcorn, or berries.

6. Professionals start draping tinsel at the bottom of tree, first. Looping, heavily, around the entire length of lowest branches which will support it. And working your way to the top. Drape your garland generously. So lots of it hangs down between branches before looping up to next. In short, don’t let your tree look like you’ve bundled it up for market. Give the garland a slight twist around each limb or connect it to a each limb with a wire ornament hanger to secure it.

7. Hang your largest and showiest ornaments in places where garlands connect. This helps frame smaller ornaments. Plain glass balls are best hung back, inside, branches - near the trunk. In order to reflect lights. And give depth to your tree. Hang smallest ornaments at branch tips where they can be seen. If there’s no room, place them on a tree-top table.

If you’re like us, every Christmas brings it’s unique, new thrill when it comes to trimming the tree. If you take it one step at a time, you’ll quickly have your tree gaily trimmed. Everyone ready to celebrate the spirit of the season.

Decorating Your Tree With Handmade Ornaments
Can Make Your Tree Prettier Than Commercial

Each season many want to try new ornaments. To give a fresh look to their holiday tree. But sometimes a few simple ornaments you and your family can make at home can create a look much prettier. Garner more compliments than commercially purchased ornaments.

Here’s 6 suggestions:

- Unless you have time, it’s best to create your ornaments in advance. This way you have plenty of time to gather up necessary materials to properly complete your ornaments. Much of which you may already have.

- Learn Origami. There’s no end of unique ornaments you can make using this simple design system. Once you learn the technique, you can make ornaments quickly.

- Gather up goodies from your garden or a local area. There’s tons available even in late fall. For example flowers. Once flowers have bloomed, tie together a small bunch with string. And hang bunches upside down on a clothesline or wire to dry. When dry, snip ends so the bunch is 6-8” long. Tie with bright ribbon and lay or tie on branches. If color has faded, lightly spray with glitter.

- Make a variety of boxes using small pieces of cardboard. Or reuse a variety of actual boxes. Spray box with bright color. Then spread thick, clear glue over box. Decorate with buttons, colorful spray glitter, rhinestones, for example. Tie with colorful ribbon or raffia.

- Cut strips of 3” ribbon 6” long. Using scissors, cut a “V” into bottom of ribbon. Fold back 1/4^th inch at top; and glue. Make a small bow and glue to front of ribbon top. Glue buttons, for example, on in a unique pattern.

- Buy an assortment of Styrofoam balls. Wrap them with holiday colored yarn or ribbon. Make a bow and using a straight pin, punch it into ornament top. Place a metal ornament hanger thru ribbon and hang.

There are tons of items you may already have at home or can inexpensively purchase to create ornaments to make each holiday uniquely yours. For example, candy and cookie ornaments, garden tools. Using nature, folk art and your own creativity as a guide you’ll come up with tons of unique ornaments. You, family and friends will love. Guaranteed.

Creating Unique, Aromatic, Decorations Using
What You Probably Have in Your Kitchen

Since the times of the first American settlers, Christmas was organized, decorations created, using food and other items found in the kitchen. And nothing says Christmas more than aromas we associate with the season wafting through your home.

There are tons of foods which can be used to decorate with. In this article you’ll discover how to create unique decorations with apples, oranges and lemons.

Using a small fine pointed knife, cut out a 1/4^th inch wide ring around the middle, and another one 1” from the bottom of each Lemon and Orange you plan to use. Centering it, cut a similar swath from top to bottom of each side of fruit. But don’t cut down to the pulpy part of the fruit; only to the inside skin. Stick Cloves into each circle, leaving a small space between each Clove. Place fruit in bowls and sit around your home. Or stick one metal “U” shaped floral pick upside down into the top of each fruit; tie a ribbon to each and hang on your tree or use to decorate a wreath, for instance.

Use apples to create small Christmas trees:

You’ll need craft glue, 4 12” high Styrofoam cones, 1 dozen red apples, 1 dozen 12” thin, round craft sticks. 4 small, full branches of Boxwood.

Using a small knife, flatten one side of 3 cones. Then glue them together. Take the 4^th cone, turn it upside down, and glue in into the middle of the 3 other cones (bottom is on top). Sit the group on a piece of sturdy cardboard, trace the bottom of the group, and cut. Glue the cardboard cutout to the bottom of Styrofoam cones as a base. Then glue Styrofoam base into the center of a 12”x12” piece of ¼” plywood.

Cut craft sticks to measure about 8” long. Cut one for each apple. Force one rounded stick into the bottom of each apple. And starting at the bottom of cones, stick in enough apples to fill in a circle around the base of cones to start forming your tree. Then add another level over that, and another. Until cones are full. Using the smallest one for a topper. Snip small pieces off your Boxwood branches and stick between apples to fill it out and make it look like a tree.

Sometimes it’s the simple things in life which bring us the greatest pleasure. Especially those creative decorations make at home. Often with family and friends at our side.

Treasured Gifts Are Always Appreciated During
the Christmas Season

You won’t have to be a skilled artisan or craftsman to create original gifts for family and friends. The most important thing about handmade gifts is the person you’re gifting knows you were thinking of them when you created it. Cared enough to give them of your time, too.

Even the smallest handmade gift brings with it a personal warmth no purchased gift can bring.

Before you start, think of the skills you have, materials you already have on hand. For instance, are you a sewer, knitter, scrap booker, quilter, baker. Though you may not have any of these hobbies or skills, if you think about it you can come up with something special you do. Which can easily be translated into a creative gift.

Begin with projects which don’t require lots of money to start or create. Or hours to make. Often, simple hand-sewn items like baskets, ornaments, stocking dolls, or potpourri made in your kitchen, can make perfect gifts. Simple and fast to make; requiring little money. Plus, you may discover once you’ve created these unique items it will turn into a hobby you’ll enthusiastically continue long after the holidays.

And tons of other gifts can easily be created using nature’s bounty. You can gather up dried seeds, cones and grasses at your convenience months before Christmas. Wreath making, organizing greens for hanging, is easier than you think. And they’re not fragile. Can be stored in a cool place until shipped.

Regardless of what gift you design, every person gifted will welcome it. Thanking you, sincerely, for your thoughtfulness.

"Creations From the Kitchen are Always Welcome Gifts
during the Holiday Season"

When it comes to gifts, none is as appreciated as one made by you that comes from your kitchen. And whether you’re creating gifts using a harvest from your own garden, or one you’ve gathered up from the local farmer’s market, guaranteed your gift will be appreciated.

Here’s some examples of gifts you can create, at your convenience, in your own kitchen:

Vinegars

Herbs as dressing or to cook with

Pumpkin bisque

Lemon sauces, drinks, dressings

Preserves, Jellies

Breads, Muffins

All of these items can be made well in advance of the holidays. In fact, many cookies can be frozen, defrosted at room temp, and wrapped. Many ingredients may even be found in your kitchen. Or purchased inexpensively, in bulk, at your local food warehouse. Once created, may take little more than a cheerful holiday ribbon around them. Very importantly, these personal gifts will be there for them to enjoy and appreciate long after the holidays.

As always, handmade gifts, especially those made in your own kitchen, not only last long after the holidays. They’re always appreciated.

"5 Ways You Can Creatively Decorate Using
  Red Poinsettias If You’re Too Busy to Decorate
  This Christmas"

Too busy to take time to decorate this season? Great news! You can easily create wonderful ambiance for your home using red Poinsettias. It’s easy and inexpensive. And can create a look so unique, friends and family will be impressed.

1. Place one pot at each end of your mantle. Then take 2, 4” clay plant pots, turn them upside down; placing one, each, about 4-6” away from the other plants. Sit a Poinsettia on each. If they don’t have ribbons around the pot, tie one on.

2. To festively decorate your unused fireplace, take 3-5 old pails, in varying sizes, and turn each upside down on the fireplace grate - in a loose “A” formation, except the front 2. Placing the smallest up front, larger to the back. Place one Poinsettia inside each of the front pails. Putting one on top of each of the other pails. And one in the middle of the “A” formation, sitting it on the grate. Tie a ribbon around each pot. Spread some fresh greens around the pails.

3. If your dining table is rectangular, sit a line of 5-7 Poinsettias down the middle, on a white runner or table cloth. If it’s round, place 3-5 in a tight circle in the table center. Spread fresh greens in a circle around the bases of the plant pots. Or place around pots on your rectangular table. Sit colorful ornaments in the greenery. Tie one long ribbon around the entire group and make a large bow. Or affix a large pre-made bow.

4. Use pots of Poinsettias to ring around the bottom of your Christmas Tree.

5. Place a row of Poinsettias on a long table. Add fresh greens, lay bows or ornaments around bases of pots. Place Poinsettias in a group in the center of a coffee table. Place, one each, on stairs to an upper level. Place on top of kitchen cabinets.

"5 Tips to Help You Care for Your Poinsettia
Make it Flourish for Months"

How long your plants last depends on the maturity of the plant, when you purchase it, how you treat it. With reasonable care it can stay beautiful for months.

1. Keep your plants comfortable, away from low temps. Even a few minutes in cold atmospheres can damage them. Keep them away from windows where it’s colder. Also keep them away from heat registers, radiators, for example.

2. Place your plants in indirect light. Six hours is ideal.

3. The ideal day temp is 60-70F. Evening temp 55F. Too high a temperature will drastically shorten a Poinsettia’s life.

4. Place your potted plants on kitchen saucers or on clay saucers purchased in your local garden supply store. Check soil periodically to be sure plant soil isn’t parched. Though it’s best to water when soil is dry. If plants are wrapped in colored foils, punch holes in several places to allow excess water to drain onto saucer.

5. If you plan to keep your plants throughout the holiday season, it’s best to fertilize them once a month with a simple houseplant fertilizer. But don’t fertilize when plant is in bloom.

"Some Basic Helpful Tips for Purchasing and
Caring for Poinsettias"

Poinsettias are native to the country of Mexico. And were introduced in America by Joel Poinsett in 1825. They’ve often been called the Lobster flower and the flame leaf flower.

They’re perennials. And in their native environment can grow as tall as ten feet. The showy colored parts of them, which people consider leaves, are actually called bracts (modified leaves). The flowers are actually the yellowish flowers in the middle of the bracts. Called cyathia. And are priced according to the number of blooms.

Current studies at Ohio State University show they aren’t poisonous if eaten by humans. But can cause what’s commonly called a stomach if dozens are eaten. But can do harm to pets. Sap which can ooze from them can cause a skin irritation. And common stomach ache if ingested.

There are over 100 varieties of Poinsettias. Fresh Poinsettias have fewer or no yellow pollen in the center of the cyathia. And plants which have shed their pollen will soon loose their leaves. Though they are grown in 50 American states, California is the top growing state. With 85% of all Poinsettias grown coming from that state. And December 12^th is known as Poinsettia Day.

The majority of Americans (74%) prefer the color red. 8% prefer white. 6%prefer pink. Since 2004 have been the best selling potted flowering plant in the U.S. The majority of plants purchased by women. They’re also the most popular Christmas plant. Most sold within 6 weeks of Christmas.

Tips for Purchasing a Poinsettia

Make sure those you purchase have dark green foliage at their base near the soil line. Be sure the ‘bracts’ are completely colored. Don’t purchase plants with lots of green around the bract edges, or with fallen or yellowed leaves, or with drooping leaves. Be sure to check the plant’s soil. If it’s over-wet and the plant is wilted, this can be a sign of root-rot.

Poinsettias you choose should be full and balanced, color vibrant. Don’t purchase plants packed too closely together or used for display under hot lights. And don’t purchase plants with paper or colored sleeves surrounding the pot. As they’re likely to deteriorate quickly.

Tips for Caring for Your Poinsettia

Be sure to keep your plants protected in weather below 50 degrees. Exposing it to cold temps can shorten it’s life. Remove any coverings and sit in areas with indirect light. 6 hours of daylight is best. Keep plants away from cold areas in your home, especially windows. Also, keep them always from heaters, radiators and other sources of heat. The ideal tem is 60-70F. Since higher or lower temps will shorten the life of the plant.

Be sure to check the soil at least every other day. Don’t over water it, but don’t allow it to become parched. Water it when it’s dry. Be sure to place each plant on a kitchen saucer or clay plant saucer and allow drainage. If you plan to keep your plants beyond the holiday season, feed it simple houseplant fertilizer once a month. Don’t fertilize it when it’s in bloom.

"A Simple History of Christmas and American Traditions"

When you think about Christmas today, it’s hard to believe it wasn’t always as it is. But many traditions and celebrations we celebrate today, have changed and developed somewhat from the holiday’s original ideas for seasonal celebration.

In fact, Christmas was banned by our Puritan ancestors. Who were reacting strongly to what reminded them of “relics of Popery”. Based upon a centuries old conflict between Protestant and Catholic faiths. And later a similar conflict with high-Anglican and low-Protestant sects. Because most original Puritans were Protestants from England or Germany, these thoughts prevailed.

However, when later settlers came along, making homes in the southern part of America, they decided the season should be one of convivial celebration. In fact, it should be one of good cheer and merriment, sharing good food and companionship. Surrounded by hardship, difficult weather and almost unendurably cold, they wanted this to be an uplifting time. To celebrate hope. Hope for the success of this new nation called America.

As settlers moved on, they took their traditions with them. Traditions molded from their original homelands; married to their new lives in America. Slowly creating a new and truly all-American holiday.

The first celebrations were little more than a better meal than usual. Members of each settler’s family exchanging one gift with each other. Singing a carol of two remembered from their countries or origin or passed on. These were simple celebrations which over the decades grew, and evolved, into what we know today.

Since the majority of new settlers to America came from England, many traditions created developed from the British “Christes Maesse” (Christmas Mass) - a church enactment of the nativity. As early as the fourth century A.D. Christians in America adopted December 25^th as Christ’s birthday; partly so all could celebrate it on the same day. Plus they set aside the Epiphany - the Twelfth Day of Christmas - for the arrival of the Wise Man and Christ’s baptism.

Those early festivities wove into the celebrations both biblical tales of pagan celebrations of the winter solstice. And a weeks celebration of Roman Saturnalia. When gifts were traditionally given to children and the poor. Also, in the Middle Ages, the Yule log and evergreens - symbolizing survival and eternal life - have come to be associated with the season. Not just in England, but Eastern Europe and Scandinavia too. And though this holiday has it’s roots stemming from holy traditions, it now has a combination of secular aspects which are also popularly celebrated in England.

Years later, when waves of immigrants reached the shores of America during the nineteenth century, a resurgence of the longing for tolerance and for the freedom of personal expression of faith prevailed. And so American traditions came to absorb and include the influences and traditions of many nations. Both in the spirit of joy and good will.

"More Unique Traditions Carried to America
From Other Nations"

In decades past, many countries celebrated the holidays on two different days. The holy day celebrated on one, pagan celebrations such as gift giving on another.

In Holland, the holy day was December 25^th, St. Nicholas’s Day December 6^th. In Italy, the gift giving was celebrated on January 6^th in Italy. In France, presents were traditionally left in shoes just beyond the door. Germans were the ones from whom cutting down a tree and decorating it came. Typically they used fir trees. Called “Paradise Trees”. Commemorating the feast of Adam and Eve. it was smaller and sat on a table. Decorated with wafers and lighted candles to symbolize Christ. Later Germans perfected the manufacture of glass ornaments and gaily painted molded figures.

Interestingly, Price Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband, a German, popularized putting up trees at Christmastime in England. The English used pheasant feathers and elegant tapestries which they hung to help create a festive look. And some of Americans most beloved Christmas traditions, such as caroling, and feasting on goose came from England.

The first Christmas card was developed in England in 1843. Bearing the words Merry Christmas and Happy New Year; coined in 1843 by designer Britisher Thomas Cole. In 1874, Bostonian lithographer Louis Prang produced the first greeting cards, which he sold.

The ingenuity of American pioneers and settlers were responsible for gathering up and decorating doors, windows and ceilings with greens and local flowers, pine cones, berries for example.

One tradition carried on since Roman times is giving to the needy. Preparing baskets of food, organizing toys to hand out to sick children; to hospitals and churches.

Gatherings which included such things as sleigh and hay rides, church sing-a-longs and suppers, are long standing traditions communities, around the world, gathered to participate in after holy pageants or enactments.

This is just a few of many holiday traditions celebrated throughout the world. Brought to America through immigrants. Passed down through the decades from family to family. Which blended together make the unique, wonderful holiday season we celebrate today in America.

Articles on Home and Hearth Holiday Decorating

7 Tips for Turning Your Living Room From Cold to Warm and Inviting

When you’re so busy caring for family and/or working it’s hard to think about making any changes in your living environment. Especially during a season as busy as Christmas. That said, there’s still many small things you can do to liven up the atmosphere. Make it warm and inviting throughout the season.

1. If you’re handy with a needle and thread, cover some throw pillows you can add to the couch or stuffed living room chairs. If not, you can easily find a half dozen, very inexpensively, at a flea market, garage sale or store carrying used goods. Choose something colorful, in good condition, clean them or throw them in the wash. Glue or sew tinsel or beads around the edges, sew or glue a holiday saying or patch in the middle, sew or glue on colorful buttons or sequins in unique designs, for example.

2. Find several wood frames in a variety of sizes. Spray all of them with a holiday green or red, or some of each color. Hang them on an empty wall. Or remove personal photos or items from a wall and hang the colorful fames. Attach a sprig of greenery/holly and bow to the middle of the top of frame. Hang them at different angles. Or fill frames with personal photos. Tie ribbon around each like a package.

3. Cover several inside doors with colorful foil. Tie with a bow.

4. Purchase, or acquire, several old chairs, in good condition. And spray or paint them red or green, or a combination of the two. Or paint them to accent the colors you’re using this holiday season. Sit them around. Tie a sprig of greenery/holly to the chair back and tie a bow.

5. Drag out an old trunk, or borrow one. Clean it up and cover it with a piece of holiday fabric. Use it as a coffee table in front of your couch. Stand a couple of sturdy candle holders with candles on it along with a few other holiday decorations. Sit it in front of an empty wall. Hang a frame you’ve painted or a mirror over it, and decorate.

6. Paint or spray paint several small old end tables. Distress them using some sandpaper. Sit them around. Decorate. Or spray or paint a very small kitchen table and two chairs. Sit them in a dark corner to bring some color to it. Decorate.

7. Wrap sturdy, empty boxes - in a variety of sizes - with colorful holiday paper. Sit around in small groupings.

There are tons of unique and creative things you can do using items you have at home, can borrow, or obtain from a used goods shop. Simple things you can give a new life too, even use year after year. Plus, these re-newed items can give your home a new warmth this holiday season. That’s festive, yet inexpensive to create.

Decorating With Linens Can Make a Big Difference When Decorating

Personally, I’ve been collecting old linens for years. Not only are they a beautiful way to decorate, but an inexpensive one. And they can be easily found at garage and estate sales, flea markets and used goods stores.

Whatever you find, though some may not be in pristine condition, most are still considered collectible. Of course, some more valuable than others. However, they’re still available at great, low prices. And make lovely decorations for any home. Especially during a holiday season. So buy several dozen. In a variety of sizes, if you don’t already have any.

For example:

* Slip-stitch or unobtrusively pin a 3” colorful, flat bow to either end of a 3’ runner and stretch it across a couch back. Do the same for smaller linens you’ll place on chair backs as they did centuries ago.

* Stitch or glue 2 squares or 3 round linens together, for example. Glue some round, thin holiday ribbon around the edges. Or, trim with artificial greenery, add a bow, and stand two or more glass or wooden candleholders with candles in the middle, for example.

* Glue or stitch several together and create a unique wall hanging. Trim with holiday greenery and ribbon.

* Use 2 or more on table tops as a base for a beautiful bowl, or holiday decorations. Place several, or a runner, down the middle of a rectangular dinner table, or organize a small group in the center of a circular table. Place a floral or holiday arrangement in the middle.

* Frame several. Or use small pieces, or handkerchiefs to trim your trees. Place a 2-3 pieces of cotton into a hanky, close the hanky so it covers the cotton. Tie a colorful ribbon around it, add a sprig of greenery and/or Holly. Take small squares of linen and fold over into “V”. Glue, at 2-3” intervals, over a colorful thin, round ribbon 6-8’ long. And use as a garland to trim the fireplace, tree, or other areas.

There are hundreds of creative uses for linens. All of which give a unique look to any home during the holiday season and throughout the year. Plus, you can place them in baskets, let the edges fall over the side and add colorful ornaments to the basket. You can even use them to wrap gifts.

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