Creating a Guest List for a New Years Eve Party

When planning a New Years Eve party, one of the most important items of business is creating the guest list. This is important because the number of guests you plan to have at your party will influence a number of the decisions at the party. Some of these decisions may include the location of the party as well as the food which will be offered. However, this is not the only reason why it is important to create a guest list early. It is also important to do this so you can make plans for potential conflicts which are an unfortunately occurrence in any circle of friends. This article will discuss the mediation a party host often has to perform and will also discuss how the guest list has an impact on other elements of the party.

One unfortunate aspect of planning a New Years Eve party is that the host may sometimes have to make difficult decisions when she is creating her guest list. These decisions arise if there are guests at the party who do not get along. The host may be friends with all of the people they wish to invite but they may also be aware that some of their guests may not get along. This can put the host in a difficult position when creating the guest list. If the party is going to be a rather small event, the host may have to decide to eliminate certain people from the guest list if they believe they will cause an incident or make the party uncomfortable for other guests. If the event will be rather large it is less of a concern because it is possible these people may not even see each other at the party and if they do, they will certainly not be pressured to interact because there will be so many other guests. However, the host will have to use her discretion when creating the guest list and if she believes the guests will not be able to behave maturely at the party she may choose to eliminate one or more of the guests who is likely to cause a problem.

The guest list will greatly affect the location of the party. For example if you plan to host a small party for only a handful of guests you will likely have no problems hosting the party in your home. However, if you plan to invite hundreds of guest, it can be impossible to host the party in your home, unless you own an extremely large home. You will most likely have to rent a restaurant or catering hall to host your party in a location which will be large enough to accommodate all of your guests. The size of your guest list will also impact the location you select because many locations may set a minimum on the amount of guests required to reserve the room. This means you will have to pay for a certain number of guests even if you do not plan to have this many guests in attendance.

The size of your guest list will also impact the food you plan to serve at your New Years Eve party. Planning an elaborate sit down dinner for a few guests is relatively simple but this becomes more difficult for a larger group. If you invite many guests you may prefer to offer a buffet or only serve appetizers and desserts at your New Years Eve party.

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Fund Guide: Assess, rebalance your 401(k) after 2008 losses - USATODAY.com

Fund Guide: Assess, rebalance your 401(k) after 2008 losses - USATODAY.com: "Assuming that the stock market did indeed bottom in November, the 10 worst industries were aluminum, automakers, casinos and gambling, consumer electronics, diversified metals and mining, industrial real estate investment trusts, investment banking and brokerage, multiline insurance, thrifts and mortgage finance, and tires and rubber."

But, rather than buying 10 sector funds, perhaps you may wish to find one of the 10 you have the most interest, experience, etc. Since we don't know the future, with a list of top candidates, the tie-breaker is the one we have most interest, etc. Why wouldn't it have as good odds (provided it passes a good screen)?

Maybe put 5% of your equity portfolio on it. Wait for a short term oversold situation (say it is down several days in a row). That is not enough, but that is one thing along with many other factors.

Or, better yet, find a fund that overweights a good sector.

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Fund Guide: Assess, rebalance your 401(k) after 2008 losses - USATODAY.com

Fund Guide: Assess, rebalance your 401(k) after 2008 losses - USATODAY.com: "it can pay to invest in the sectors that have been most beaten up in the previous 12 months, says Sam Stovall, chief market strategist for Standard & Poor's. Stovall looked at the past 10 bear markets, and found that investing in the 10 most beaten-up industries resulted in an average gain of 57%, vs. 36% for the S&P 500."

This is in line with my believe in being a "Contrarian At Extremes" and NOT when perma-bulls say the market is "extremely low" but when objective measures and unbiased intuition suggests we are NEAR (forget perfection) an extreme.

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Cocktail Party New Years Eve Style

Cocktails for a New Years Eve Party

 

In planning cocktails for a New Years Eve party, you should consider offering a wide variety of beverages throughout the night. This could include both hot, cold drinks and even frozen drinks. One of the most popular cocktail options for a New Years Eve party is punch which is served from a punch bowl. This festive cocktail is typically sweet and contains ingredients such as fruit juices, lemon lime soda and an array of alcoholic ingredients such as vodka and rum. Some hosts may even include champagne in the punch mixture. Adding a scoop or two of sherbet to the punch bowl also helps to cool the beverage and adds an additional layer of taste and texture to the mixture.

 

Another popular option of a New Years Eve party is to offer one signature cocktail throughout the evening. This can be an item such as a Martini created specifically for the occasion with a seasonal feeling. An eggnog martini is an example of a beverage which is a great deal of fun as well as appropriate for the season. Champagne cocktails are also appropriate for a New Years Eve party. You can create a simply champagne cocktail by combining champagne with sweet vermouth and grenadine.

 

Hot cocktails are also popular options for a New Years Eve party. Spiked coffees and hot chocolates are always popular but for a more festive cocktail consider creating drinks with a hot cider base. You can create a luxurious hot chocolate cocktail by combining a butterscotch flavored liqueur with rich hot chocolate. An example of a hot beverage which is also quite festive is a hot cider spiced with cranberry juice and rum. Although hot cocktails are extremely popular, most guests will likely only drink one or two hot cocktails during the evening. Conversely they are likely to consumer significantly more cold cocktails during the course of the evening. For this reason, it is recommended to provide both hot and cold cocktails during your New Years Eve party. 

 

Regardless of the type of cocktails you decide to serve throughout the evening, it is customary to offer a champagne cocktail at midnight. You should begin distributing the champagne a few minutes before midnight to ensure everyone has their glass in hand to make a toast and take a sip of the bubbly champagne at midnight. Offering the champagne in an elegant glass and including a strawberry in the glass can create a more elegant presentation. You should also use a fine champagne. During the evening, you may have served alcohols which fit your budget, but it is worthwhile to splurge on a more expensive champagne for the toast at midnight.

 

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Word count 653

Santa Letters - Have Santa Claus Send A Letter.

Santa Letters - Have Santa Claus Send A Letter.: "Although it is important to examine the types of foods, snacks, and drinks you would like to have at your Thanksgiving party, it may also be a good idea to examine when and where you will buy your items. In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, you will find that many retail stores, namely grocery stores, place popular Thanksgiving food and snacks on sale. Waiting until this time to purchase you party food, snacks, and drinks may make it so you have can everything that you want, but at an affordable price."

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Food and Snack Ideas for Your Thanksgiving Party

Food and Snack Ideas for Your Thanksgiving Party

 

When it comes to any party, including a Thanksgiving party, food and snacks are important.  That is why you may be trying to decide which food and snacks, you should have at your next Thanksgiving party. As you will likely see, you have an unlimited number of different options. 

 

Before you can begin to examine popular food and snack ideas, it may be a good idea to examine the focus of your Thanksgiving party. This may make it easier for you to decide on a particular food or snack.  In most cases, you will want to try and tailor your food to the type of party that you are having. For instance, if you planning a kids' only Thanksgiving party, it may be a good idea to have a collection of finger foods or other age appropriate snacks on hand.  In addition to ensuring that your guests will enjoy your food, choosing the right type of food and snacks may make it easier for you to plan for and prepare for your Thanksgiving party.

 

As previously mentioned, if you are having a kid only Thanksgiving party, it may be a good idea to have kid friendly snacks on hand.  These snacks may include chips, pretzels, cheese and crackers, pudding, or a veggie tray, and so on.  If you are planning on having an all ages Thanksgiving party, a party where both adults and children will be present, it may be ideal to have a collection of common foods on hand; foods that will likely appeal to all ages. These snacks, as mentioned above, many include cookies, cheese and crackers, and vegetable snacks. 

 

If you have decided on a formal Thanksgiving party, you will likely want to your party snacks to mirror the theme of you party.  This means that you may want to purchase or make more elegant party snacks.  These types of party snacks typically include vegetable trays and seafood.  In addition to snacks, there is also a good chance that your formal Thanksgiving party will include a formal Thanksgiving dinner.  If this is the case, you will need to purchase more than just snacks.  You will need to purchase the main course, such as a turkey, as well as side dishes, which may include potatoes, cranberries, and a salad. 

 

It is also important to examine the drinks that you will have at your Thanksgiving party. You will need to decide right away whether or not you want to serve alcohol at your Thanksgiving party.  If you are hosting a causal Thanksgiving party or a formal Thanksgiving party, where adults will be present, alcoholic beverage may be ideal.  Despite the fact that many party guests expect to see alcohol at a party, you do not have to serve alcohol if you do not want to; the decision is yours to make.

 

Although it is important to examine the types of foods, snacks, and drinks you would like to have at your Thanksgiving party, it may also be a good idea to examine when and where you will buy your items.  In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, you will find that many retail stores, namely grocery stores, place popular Thanksgiving food and snacks on sale.  Waiting until this time to purchase you party food, snacks, and drinks may make it so you have can everything that you want, but at an affordable price.

 

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Word Count 564

 

Christmas Eve Games

Christmas Eve Games

 

You don't often think to play games on Christmas Eve, but playing a game or two can be a lot of fun.

 

One fun game is ideally suited for anxious children, but could also be for adults, if you want to add some fun for gift giving. For children, this is a way to make that "open one gift on Christmas Eve" rule a little more exciting and make it last a little longer.

 

You create a hunt with clues, so the children have to follow the clues to find their gift. Instead of the gift being under the tree, for example, you might put it somewhere else, but the children will follow clues to find it. For this game, you can use anything to write your clues on. You could use Christmas cards in their envelopes that you had extras of, you might cut out Christmas tree shapes for this, or you might want to use ornaments.

 

Whichever method you choose, write a clue on each of your items and leave those around the house. You start by handing each child the first clue. It might say, "you sleep here every night" and the children will run to their beds. On their pillow you have placed another clue that might say, "mom's eggs taste better with this" and the children head to the spice cabinet, where they find another clue on the salt. The final clue (and depending on the ages of your children and their tolerance, you might have only 5 clues for this game, or many more) will be the gift itself. To make it extra fun, have the gift be under the tree. Your children won't see that coming!

 

If you have a large gathering on Christmas Eve, try a circle game. Have everyone get in a circle and the first person will start with, "in my Christmas stocking there is an apple" and the next person will add, "in my Christmas stocking there is an apple and a boot". Each person will continue on, remembering the previous items and the adding one of their own, and all in alphabetical order. If you miss an item, you're out of the game and the winner is the person who successfully remembers all the stocking items over and over again each time they have to recite the items and add to the list.

 

Looking for a little physical activity on Christmas Eve? How about a rousing game of musical chairs using Christmas music? This one can be particularly fun if you use upbeat and well-known Christmas music. Use songs everyone knows and require they sing along and dance while they run around the chairs. This adds a fun element because you are likely to have at least one person who gets so caught up in the music and dancing they don't realize the music has stopped. This game is played like any traditional game of musical chairs with the loser being the one who doesn't get a chair when the music stops.

 

Since the big event on Christmas Eve is Santa's arrival, play a game of "where's Santa"? In this game, everyone sits in a circle and one person is chosen to be Rudolph. That person leaves the room for a minute. A Santa is chosen among those left in the room. Rudolph returns and begins hunting for Santa. Rudolph should stand in the center of the circle and try to figure out which person is Santa. Santa, meanwhile, winks at other people in the circle. If someone gets winked at, they yell, "ho ho ho".

 

Once Rudolph figures out where Santa is, another Rudolph and another Santa are chosen and the game continues.

 

By Christmas Eve, your Christmas cards have been on display for a few weeks, so maybe it's time to play a game with them. Have someone set up a laundry basket, or a gift box a few feet away (the distance depends on the age of your players and ability). Have them try to toss the cards into the box or basket. This sounds easy, but different cards of different weights and styles will react differently and can be harder than expected to get into the box or basket.

 

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Word count 705

 

 

Christmas Shopping For Close Relatives

Christmas Shopping For Close Relatives

 

Christmas shopping for close relatives can be extremely easy in some aspects but it can also be extremely difficult in other aspects. One the one hand shopping for close relatives is simple and a great deal of fun because they are people you really care about and people you know really well. However, on the other hand shopping for close relatives can also be extremely difficult and stressful because there is the added pressure to select Christmas gifts your relatives will really cherish and enjoy. This article will discuss some of the aspects of this Christmas shopping situation to help shoppers find the perfect gift for their loved ones.

 

Most people really look forward to Christmas shopping for their close relatives. For them this is an opportunity to purchase a gift for a loved one that he or she is sure to enjoy and appreciate. They also look forward to shopping for these close relatives because they know them well and likely have a number of great ideas for what to buy. However, all of these great ideas may turn out to be a source of stress. For example, you may immediately think of five or six great gift ideas for a particular relative. The problem you may encounter is that you think each of the gifts would be absolutely perfect and therefore have a great deal of trouble deciding which gift to select. Purchasing all of the items may not be feasible in terms of your budget and you may be disappointed that you can only select one item from the list of ideas. This can create stress because you may worry about selecting the best possible choice.

 

Another problem which may stem from having a lot of great ideas about what to get a particular relative is you may not be able to find the exact item for which you are searching. This can be particularly stressful and frustrating especially if you know a particular item would make the perfect gift for your loved one but are simply unable to find the exact item you are seeking during any of your shopping trips. In this case you may become obsessed with finding this particular item. Not being able to find this item can be incredibly frustrating. This frustration can make the shopping a great deal less fun. It can also cause you to not see other items which would also be great gifts because you are so focused on finding this one particular item.

 

Even when you don't have a list of gift ideas for a particular relative, you may experience a great deal of frustration during your Christmas shopping. This frustration may stem from being too concerned about finding a gift which your close relative will really cherish and appreciate. The pressure of finding a great Christmas gift for a loved one is so important because you do not want someone you care so much about to be disappointed by the Christmas gift you give them. Although this should not really be a concern because it is most likely your close relatives will all be thrilled with the gifts you select for them but it still caused stress for many people.

 

Another problem associated with shopping for close relatives is it may be difficult to select appropriate gifts for multiple relatives without worrying that the relatives will compare the gifts. Again, this is not a likely scenario as most people would not go out of their way to discuss the gifts they were given but it is something that causes concern for many. Some individuals will feel that it is not appropriate to purchase an expensive gift for one relative but not for others. One way to deal with this is to select one item and give similar items to all of the relatives. Although the gifts will not be unique or selected for each individual it is one way to deal with the possibility of the recipients sharing information about the gifts they received. One example of how to do this is to give an item such as a sweater to each relative but to personalize the gift by selecting different styles or colors for each relative.

 

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Word count 706

Entertainment Ideas for Your Next Thanksgiving Party

Entertainment Ideas for Your Next Thanksgiving Party

 

Have you recently made the decision to host a Thanksgiving party in your home?  If so, there is a good chance that you may have already started the planning process.  If so, have you decided on a form on party entertainment yet?  Even if you have started planning your Thanksgiving party, there is a good chance that you have yet to get to the entertainment.  This is because entertainment is often one of the last things that a party host plans.  Well, if it is time for you to start thinking about your Thanksgiving party entertainment, you will find that you, literally, have an unlimited number of options.

 

When it comes to deciding on party entertainment, for your Thanksgiving party, it is important to keep the type of party that you are hosting in mind.  For instance, are you having a formal Thanksgiving party or a causal Thanksgiving party?  Also, what does your guest list look like?  Are you having a Thanksgiving party for kids, one for adults, or a party where everyone is invited?  The type party that you will be having is extremely important, when it comes to choosing entertainment for the event. 

 

Regardless of what type of Thanksgiving party you are having, you may enjoy having music played.  The type of Thanksgiving party you have; however, will have an impact on the type of music that you choose.  If you are having a formal Thanksgiving party, classical music may do.  For a causal Thanksgiving party, music that your guests can get up and dancing to may be the perfect form of entertainment.  Although it is your choice if you would like to have music at your Thanksgiving party, as well as what type of music, it may be a good idea to tailor your selection to your Thanksgiving party.

 

Party games are another popular form of entertainment that may be ideal for your Thanksgiving party.  If you are hosting a kid only Thanksgiving party, it is almost guaranteed that games will be a hit.  For adult parties, adult themed games are also popular.  However, as you may likely already know, party games, particularly those that are causal in nature, may not fit in with a formal Thanksgiving party.  That does not mean that you cannot incorporate party games into a formal Thanksgiving party, it just means that you want to find games that will fit in with your party theme.  You can easily find a wide array of Thanksgiving party game ideas online, often with a standard internet search.

 

While you might not necessarily consider eating a form of entertainment, it could easily be considered one.  If you are planning a casual Thanksgiving party, it may be ideal to have a wide array of snacks on hand, particularly if children will be present at your party.  For a formal Thanksgiving party, a full fledge Thanksgiving dinner may be the perfect choice.  It is also advised that you try and tailor your selection of food and snacks to your party style. For instance, if you are hosting a formal Thanksgiving party, it may be a good idea to have elegant dishes prepared for the dinner and for the snacks.

 

As you can easily see, there are a number of different forms of entertainment that you can offer at your next Thanksgiving party.  Regardless of which type of party you plan on hosting, you can easily take steps to ensure that your party guests have a fun, exciting, and memorable time.

 

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Word Count 582

 

Cleaning Up after a New Years Eve Party

Cleaning Up after a New Years Eve Party

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Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:28:40 GMT (0.3 minutes ago)

Cleaning Up after a New Years Eve Party

Most people enjoy planning and attending New Years Eve parties but cleaning up after a New Years Eve party isn't always high on most people's lists of favorite activities. However, if you plan to host a New Years Eve party in your home you have to consider how you will clean up after the big event. This article will provide a few tips for cleaning up after a New Years Eve party and will offer some ways in which cleaning up after the party can be avoided.

One of the easiest ways to deal with cleaning up after a New Years Eve party is to plan on hiring a maid service to assist you in the cleanup process. You can hire them to show up later in the day on New Years so you have the opportunity to get some sleep after the party but before the cleanup crew arrives. This option is significantly more expensive than planning to clean up on your own but for those who are dreading the cleanup process it can be a very worthwhile expense.

Enlisting a few friends to assist you in cleaning up after your New Years Eve party can also make the process much simpler. Just having a few people stay to help you clean up can be very important because the extra people will ensure the clean up is completed much more quickly than it would be if you did all of the work by yourself. It can also make the work seem less tedious because your friends are with you. In fact it may almost seem like an extension of the party because you can continue to talk and socialize with your friends while you work.

Hosting the party at a restaurant or catering hall also makes the cleanup process quite simple. If you are planning to host your party in one of these locations anyway the cleanup process will be very simple. You may have some basic responsibilities associated with cleaning up and may also have the responsibility of ensuring your guests behave responsibly and do not destroy the property but otherwise the staff of the restaurant or catering hall will take care of the cleanup work and you will be free to leave at the conclusion of the party.

Although it is not ideal, it is possible that you will end up cleaning up after the party completely on your own. While most guests will offer to stay, you cannot count on them to do so. In the event that you are on your own for cleanup you have a couple of choices. You can either tackle the mess as soon as the last guest leaves or get some sleep before starting the cleanup process. Whichever you decide, you should try to at least make the cleanup fun. Try turning on some music to keep you company while you work and you may find the job is completed before you know it. You can also help to keep cleanup at a minimum by performing small cleaning tasks throughout the evening. This will take you away from the party for a short time during the evening but it will reduce the amount of work you have to do the following day. It will also keep the amount of work to be done from seeming too overwhelming.

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Decorating for Christmas: Using What You Already Have Inside Your Home

Decorating for Christmas:  Using What You Already Have Inside Your Home

 

Are you planning on becoming one the millions of Americans who decorate their homes for Christmas?  If so, where do you plan on getting your Christmas decorations from?  When it comes to Christmas decorations, there are many individuals who choose to buy new Christmas decorations each year. While it is nice to have new Christmas decorations each year, you may not have or want to spend the extra money.  If so, you are lucky because there are a number of different ways that you can go about decorating your home for Christmas by using the things that can already be found inside your home.

 

When it comes to using the items that you already have inside your home, to create Christmas decorations, you will, in a way, be creating your own decorations.  You can do this by taking items that you already have, such as a bowl, and adding other items that you may already have inside your home, such as artificial flowers or something similar, to create a Christmas decoration.  One of the many benefits to doing this is the fact that you can save yourself a fairly large amount of money. While it is possible to purchase Christmas decorations for an affordable price, it can get quite expensive. That is why you may want to think about decorating your home for Christmas with the items that can already be found inside of it.

 

Above, a bowl and artificial flowers was used as an example of how you can create your own Christmas decorations. That example was just a few of the many that exist.  You can also use candleholders to create your own Christmas themed centerpieces.  In addition to table centerpieces, Christmas pictures and drawings are also commonly used as Christmas decorations.  If you have paper, colored pencils, markers, or even crayons inside your home, you could easily create you own Christmas pictures.  If you own a collection of picture frames, you could easily turn your Christmas picture or drawing into a framed work of art; a work of art that may look well displayed in your bathroom, the living room, or even the entrance to your home.

 

While it may be a little bit harder to do, you can also create your own Christmas tree decorations by using the items that you have inside your home.  This may be ideal, especially if you have children. With a little bit of construction paper, scissors, tape, or staples, you or your children could create your own Christmas tree decorations. Cutting the construction paper into small strips and then connecting them into circles, in links, is a nice substitute for Christmas lights or garland. You and your children could also make your own Christmas ornaments in a similar fashion.

 

In addition to making your own Christmas decorations, there is a good chance that you may already have Christmas decorations inside your home, from previous years.  If this is the case, you may want to think about using the same Christmas decorations again. If you would like to spice things up a bit, you can easily rearrange the decorations and how they are displayed in your home to prevent them from looking the same as before. You may also want to alter the decorations that you have. You can easily do this by adding a Christmas bow to a wreath and so on.

 

Why spend money on new Christmas decorations if you don't have to, especially if you do not have the extra money to spend?  By keeping the above mentioned points in mind, you could easily save your money for something better, such as your Christmas dinner or Christmas gifts for your friends and family.

 

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Word Count 615

 

Boo Activitys

Boo Activitys

 

If you want to get your neighbors in the Halloween spirit, be sure to engage them in a little game known as "Boo!" It's a popular game in some parts of the country, while in others, nobody has heard of it.

 

You might live in a neighborhood where you think nobody will participate in a round robin type of event as this, but you might be surprised. Sometimes during the holidays people will step up and get involved where before they wouldn't. It's possible, anyway.

 

The game goes something like this, and then will be described in more detail later. You print up a few poems and instructions on colorful paper (likely, orange). You get a treat bucket, or bowl or something and fill it with candy. You can also "Boo" people with candles, Halloween socks, and really whatever your imagination comes up with. You "Boo" two people at a time, leaving the items anonymously on their doorstep. You leave it with the instructions and the poem and hope they "Boo" other neighbors. Once you are done, you tape up a large "Boo!" on your door so neighbors know not to hit you up again.

 

Specifically, here's how it's done. Start this game around the very end of September or very beginning of October. If you want until everyone is decorated for Halloween, you're probably too late. You want this to spread around the neighborhood and that takes time, so you want to start it right as the season starts (or a little before, perhaps) and just as people are starting to think about Halloween. If you start too early, however, you might be out of luck as far as being able to purchase items goes.

 

So, it's the right time of the year and you're ready to go. Find a "Boo" poem and photocopy it. There are many variations of the poem. Here is a sampling:

 

"Boo!
To our good friends on the street;
Our homes' locations made us meet;
You now have been Boo'd, but who would we be?
We'll never tell, it's a secret, you see.
We placed these goodies for you and yours;
Then we ran fast, after knocking the door!
Happy Halloween!"

 

Or it might be a big longer, something like this:

 

"The air is cool, the season fall
Soon Halloween will come to all;
The neighbors are after things to do
In fact, a neighbor brought this to you;
"Boo" is a sign of friendship power
Just hang it up and watch it double by hour;
On your front door is where it works
It wards off solicitors and scary jerks;
The treat that came with friendly note
Are yours to keep; enjoy them both;
The power comes when friends like you
Copy this and make it two;
Then others here among our friends
Will give warm fuzzies that will not end;
We'll all have smiles upon our face
No one will know who "boo'ed" whose place;
Just one short day to share your Boo
You must be quick so they don't know who;
And don't forget a nifty treat
Like something cute or something sweet;
Please join the fun, let's really hear it
And spread some "Boos" and neighborhood spirit!

 

Be sure to include a cute graphic of a ghost or something else that looks like it might say "Boo!" You might want to include some details on the flyer about what should be done next, in case you think the poem itself won't be clear enough. Then attach the poem to the goodie bag, basket, whatever you have created, and run out one night dropping your goodies on peoples' doorsteps. If you are just getting this started in your neighborhood, be sure to do more than 2 houses. You might find that some people don't participate and in that case, you want to have "Boo"ed enough people that you will get adequate participation.

 

What you're striving for is a neighborhood full of "Boo" doors by Halloween night!

 

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Word count 665

 

 

Adult Christmas Games

Adult Christmas Games

 

Not all Christmas games have to be for children, or have to be serious. Good gracious, adults like to let their hair down and have a good, silly time too. Here are several games to get you started.

 

If this is a group that's not afraid of looking silly, here's just the game. Provide a pair of pantyhose for each team and a total of 8 balloons. When the game begins, the team should begin blowing up the balloons and the inflated balloons have to be put into the legs of the pantyhose. To make this game fair, the teams should be of equal number and the pantyhose not a petite size.

 

The game ends when someone gets all their balloons into the legs of the pantyhose, "wears" the antlers and sings the first verse of "Jingle Bells". Be sure to make everyone finish the game, however, so you can get a great picture of everyone in his or her pantyhose antlers.

 

For a fun relay-type game, how about making a Santa beard? Make a big bowl of cotton balls and get a container of Vaseline. Put some Vaseline on the chins of each member of each team (ideally, 2 teams of about 5 people each). The first players in line run to the bowl of cotton balls and sticks their chin in trying to get as many to stick to the Vaseline as possible. They run to the back of their line, so the next player can have a turn.

 

When everyone on a team has a beard, that team wins. As with the other game, be sure to take lots of pictures of everyone wearing their Santa beards. Also have plenty of towels and water to get the Vaseline off.

 

This next game is great for a smaller group of people who are open to a more quiet game. This is about packing Santa's bag. You start by saying, "I packed Santa's bag and in it I put pajamas." The next person continues with, "I packed Santa's bag and in it I put pajamas, and toilet paper." Each person continues, each time adding a new item, but also listing the items that were added before. You are out of the game when you miss an item. Someone could be sitting outside the game keeping a list of all the items so if the game goes on for a bit, you will know if someone misses an item.

 

If you're having a Christmas party for adults, why not offer up a fun game that's sure to remind them of a childhood favorite? Create a Christmas scavenger hunt. You will tell people to create teams (about 4 people per team is adequate, but you might want to have larger or smaller teams depending on the size of your party). Make a list of items they need to return with.

 

If you choose to keep the searching local, either at your home or in the neighborhood, include items like a miniature light string, a piece of holly, a leave off a poinsettia plant, and the like. If you choose to have guests traipse all over town for items, you can have even more fun. You might require them to purchase a holly-decorated box of tissue, or have them provide photo proof that they went down your city's Christmas Tree Lane. Whatever it is, be creative and enjoy the process. People love this game, not only because it reminds them of childhood, but it helps people get to know other party guests they might know that well and it's a game that gets people working together, which can always be fun.

 

Everyone enjoys Hershey's kisses at Christmas. Divide your group into two teams and have two bowls of Hershey's kisses at the other end of the room. Give each team one set of oversized mittens or gloves. The first person in line runs to the bowl of kisses, and has to unwrap the kiss while wearing the oversized mittens/gloves and pop the kiss into their mouth. They run back, tag the next person in line, and exchange the mittens/gloves and the next person runs forward to get a chocolate kiss. The winning team is the one in which all members have enjoyed a kiss first.

 

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Word count 713

 

 

 

Decorating for Christmas: Should You Buy Your Decorations Online?

Decorating for Christmas:  Should You Buy Your Decorations Online?

 

When it comes to Christmas, are you like many other Americans?  If so, there is a good chance that you will be decorating your home for this coming Christmas season. Although a large number of individuals use the same decorations each year, there are others who like to buy new decorations every so often.  If you are in the market for a new set of Christmas decorations where do you plan on shopping?  With the recent increase in popularity of online shopping, there is a good chance that you may be interested in buying your Christmas decorations online.  The only question is should you?

 

As previously mentioned, when it comes to shopping online, the popularity of it has rose in recent years.  In fact, it seems as if the popularity of online shopping as skyrocketed.  This has led many individuals, maybe even you, to believe that shopping online is the best way to shop. However, before you go right out and start buying your Christmas decorations online, you need to know that there are advantages and disadvantages to shopping online; advantages and disadvantages that may reaffirm your to decision to shop online or not to. 

 

Perhaps, the biggest advantage to buying your Christmas decorations online is the selection of products that you will have to choose form.  Online, you can, literally, find an unlimited number of retailers and individuals who specialize in selling Christmas decorations.  You can easily find all different types of Christmas decorations online, including Christmas trees, Christmas tree ornaments, Christmas lights, Christmas figurines, and much more. In fact, in addition to the style of shopping, you will also find a wide variety of different prices. 

 

The prices that you can find, while shopping for Christmas decorations online, is another one of the many benefits to buying your Christmas decorations over the internet.  As previously mentioned, you can easily find a number of low-cost decorations, as well as top of the line, elegant decorations. Therefore, whether you are shopping for Christmas decorations that are affordable or Christmas decorations that are the best out there, you can easily find what you are looking for online.  You can do so with a standard internet search. Your internet search will likely lead you to the online website of an online retailer or an individual who specializes in making or selling Christmas decorations. 

 

In addition to the selection of Christmas decorations you will have, as well as the costs, you will also find that shopping online saves you time. What is nice about online shopping is that you can search for online retailers, search for Christmas decorations, place your order, and pay for your order, all while sitting from the comfort of your own home.  You can save yourself a fairly large amount of time by finding and buying your Christmas decorations online, instead of having to drive around to multiple retail stores. 

 

As mentioned above, there are also a few disadvantages to shopping for Christmas decorations online. In fact, there are very few disadvantages.  One of those disadvantages is the shipping.  When you order your items online, the items will be delivered directly to your door.  Unfortunately, there are no guarantees as to how your item will arrive.  You need to think about this when making a large online Christmas decoration purchase.  It is best to double check and make sure that your package will be insured.  Insurance will help to protect you from finically being responsible for a damaged package.  With buying Christmas decorations online, it is also important to be cautious of the cost of shipping. Some online retailers charge more money for shipping than they need to.  If the cost of shipping seems too high to you, you may want to refrain from making the purchase. With a little bit of research, you should easily be able to find the same or similar products with affordable shipping costs.

 

Since there are a number of advantages and disadvantages to buying your Christmas decorations online, you will need to determine whether you can, personally, benefit from doing your shopping online.  In most cases, you will find that you can. In addition to buying your Christmas decorations online, you may also be able to find valuable tips and information on how to decorate your home for Christmas. 

 

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Word Count 716

 

 

 

Decorating for Christmas: Decorating Your Whole Home

Decorating for Christmas: Decorating Your Whole Home

 

Are you looking forward to Christmas this year?  If so, there is a good chance that you cannot wait until it arrives. While it is difficult, in fact impossible, to make Christmas come any sooner, there are ways that you can bring the Christmas spirit into your house before the holiday actually arrives. You can do this by decorating your home for Christmas.

 

When it comes to decorating for Christmas, there are many individuals who place a focus on one room and one room only. That room is likely the room in which their Christmas tree is in. While it is important to decorate your Christmas tree and the room that it is in, you should also think about decorating the rest of your home.  In a small amount of time, you can easily show your appreciation for Christmas, in each and every room of your home.

 

Since, the room in which your Christmas tree is in was already touched on, it is best to focus on other rooms, besides your living room, family room, or den.  Perhaps, it is best to focus on the bathroom. After all, it is one of the most used rooms in any home.  If you are interested in decorating your bathroom for Christmas, you can often do so with a few small, yet affordable Christmas decorations.  You can hang a Christmas picture in your bathroom or replace some of your bath towels with Christmas bath towels.  If you want to, you could even replace your bathmat or shower curtain with one that has a Christmas theme. 

 

The kitchen is another room that you could easily decorate for the Christmas holiday season. With the kitchen, like the bathroom, there are a number of low-cost ways that you can go about getting your decorating done. For instance, did you know that you can purchase Christmas themed potholders, over mitts, and kitchen towels for only a couple of dollars each?  If money is not an issue, you may want to think about adding some Christmas themed kitchenware into the mix. For a little bit more money, but still a relatively affordable price, you should be able to find matching sets of bowls, plates, and cups that come with pre-designed Christmas themes. 

 

You may also want to decorate the bedrooms in your home, especially if you have children.  One Christmas decorating idea that all children love is Christmas lights. In fact, there are some children who decorate their rooms with Christmas lights all year long. Simply by hanging Christmas lights along the perimeter of your child's room, you could easily help to create a Christmas-like feel in their room.  If your child would prefer not to have Christmas lights in the bedroom, you could easily hang a small Christmas picture in their room. This picture can be a nice framed one or it can be one of the Christmas cardboard cutouts that you can purchase in a package at most dollar stores. 

 

 In addition to decorating the rooms inside your home, you may also want to think about decorating the outside of your home as well.  If you are looking for a simply way to showoff your Christmas spirit, you could easily run Christmas lights along the outside of your home. There are special Christmas lights that are developed just for this purpose.  If you would like to do more, you could also decorate your lawn for Christmas.  A few Christmas yard signs may be nice; however, you can go even larger than that.  There are a number of retail stores that sell large inflatable Christmas trees, reindeer, or Santas.  No matter how much or how little decorating you do outside of your home, it may be a good idea to showcase your love for Christmas to your entire neighborhood.

 

The above mentioned Christmas decorating tips are just that, tips. If you want to decorate your whole home for Christmas, go right ahead; you will likely be pleased with your decision to do so.  However, you don't have to. For some individuals a simple Christmas tree is all the Christmas spirit that they need have.

 

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Word Count 687

 

The Message Of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

The Message Of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

What is it about Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer, that we
all love? It is partly the undeniable underdog appeal that
makes him the most popular of all Santa's nine flying
reindeers. Most people can identify with poor Rudolph.
Most of us can point to a perceived flaw. Many of us have
been teased about it. Also, Rudolph is the cutest reindeer
of all. That could be a contributing factor to his
popularity.

The story of Rudolph, whose glowing red nose made him a
legend, first appeared in 1939. Montgomery Ward's
department store distributed approximately 2 million
booklets with the poem, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer".
It was written by Robert L. May, who worked in the
store's advertisement department. Of course, like any ad,
its intent was to bring more people into the store.

When the booklet was reissued shortly after, sales soared
to more than 3.5 million copies. But it wasn't until a
decade later, in 1949, that the story gained huge
popularity when Gene Autry sang a musical version of the
fable. It is deemed the second most
popular Christmas song. The song, "White Christmas" is
the most popular Christmas song.

Rudolph, the ninth reindeer whose lighted nose guides
Santa's sleigh through the night, is known worldwide.
The story has been translated into more than 20
languages. An animated television movie based on the
story was created in the 1960s. Rudolph and his unique
nose has become the subject of jokes. That fella has
sparked a lot of interest in reindeers.

Along with the catchy rhythm of the lyrics, Rudolph's
story is also appealing because of the moral lessons it
contains. As the story goes, Rudolph was ostracized by the
other reindeers. They laughed and teased him about his
shiny red nose. One foggy Christmas eve, Santa was
concerned that he may not be able to deliver his
Christmas gifts around the world. The fog was very thick.

Not sure what to do, Santa spotted Rudolph and got an
idea. Santa asked Rudolph if he would step to the front of
the sleigh to "guide my sleigh tonight". Santa reasoned
that Rudolph's shiny red nose would be very useful in
lighting the way. From then on "all of the other reindeers
loved him". As the fable and song predicted, Rudolph did
indeed "go down in history".

One moral lesson is that an attribute that is perceived as
negative might actually be an asset. It also makes the
point that an individual should not let the negative
reaction of others define him or her. Others do not know
your potential, nor the odds of reaching it. Many would
rather demean than believe you are capable. Many are just
jealous of the flaw or its potential benefit
but try to convince themselves that they are not by
speaking ill of the "defect". It also illustrates how
quickly opinions and attitudes can change based on results
that contradict preconceptions. Yet, in reality, many
never seem to learn the folly of rushing to judgments.

The question still lingers, however, of where Rudolph came
from. He is commonly regarded as the son of Donner
(or Donder), one of the original eight reindeers. But
Snopes.com rejects this. They claim that Rudolph lived in
a reindeer village elsewhere. In their account, Santa,
who had just started on his Christmas Eve journey, saw
Rudolph. At that moment he asked Rudolph to become part
of the team (to help him see better).

Wikipedia.com mentions an update on the Rudolph story. The
update is an animation put out by the British Broadcasting
Corporation (BBC). In the animation Rudolph has a son,
named Robbie. That son becomes the tenth reindeer. Few
people have heard of this update.

By the way, the idea of Santa's sleigh being pulled by
reindeers originated in the poem, "Twas The Night Before
Christmas". The poem tells the story of St. Nicholas
(Santa) riding in his sleigh and calling his eight tiny
reindeers by their names.

In the fable, Santa and his sleigh land on a house. Santa
goes down the chimney, fills the stockings and
then places presents under the Christmas tree. When Santa
has completed the task he goes up the chimney, gets back
on his sleigh and drives off into the night exclaiming,
"Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night". We are
not sure if that house is the last house in the
neighborhood or the last house of the night. The book
does not mention that poor ole Santa probably had to
repeat this process a few million more times before
calling it a night once and for all.

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The Story And Lesson Of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

The Story And Lesson Of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

 

Remember the stories of Christmas? Our image of Christmas
and what it should be was largely shaped by fables. But,
it wasn't just entertainment. Many of the stories include
important lessons. One of the most enduring fables is
that of Rudolph, the red nosed reindeer. It is a fun
story that also provides lessons of self-acceptance and
looking at the bright side of a perceived flaw.

 

The story of Rudolph, whose glowing red nose made him a
legend, first appeared in 1939. Montgomery Ward's
department store distributed approximately 2 million
booklets with the poem, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer".
It was written by Robert L. May, who worked in the
store's advertisement department. Of course, like any ad,
its intent was to bring more people into the store.

 

When the booklet was reissued shortly after, sales soared
to more than 3.5 million copies. But it wasn't until a
decade later, in 1949, that the story gained huge
popularity when Gene Autry sang a musical version of the
fable. It is deemed the second most popular Christmas
song. It is second only to "White Christmas".

 

Rudolph, whose lighted nose guides Santa's sleigh through
the night, is known worldwide. The story has been
translated into more than 20 languages. An animated
television movie based on the story was created in the
1960s. It is being shown to this day. Rudolph and his
unique nose has sparked a lot of interest in reindeers.

 

Along with the catchy lyrics, Rudolph's story is also
appealing because of the moral lessons it contains. As the
story goes, Rudolph was ostracized by the other reindeers.
They laughed and teased him about his shiny red nose. One
foggy Christmas eve, Santa was concerned that he might not
be able to deliver his Christmas gifts. The fog was very
thick and menacing.

 

Not sure what to do, Santa spotted Rudolph and got an
idea. Santa asked Rudolph if he would step to the front of
the reindeers to "guide my sleigh tonight". Santa reasoned
that Rudolph's shiny red nose would be very helpful in
lighting the way. From then on "all of the other reindeers
loved him". As the fable and song predicted, Rudolph did
indeed "go down in history".

 

One moral lesson is that an attribute that is perceived as
negative might actually be an asset. It also makes the
point that an individual should not let the negative
reaction of others define him or her. Others do not know
your potential, nor the odds of reaching it. Many would
rather demean than believe you are capable. Many are just
jealous of the flaw or its potential benefit but try to
convince themselves that they are not by speaking ill of
the "defect".

 

It also illustrates how quickly opinions and attitudes
can change based on results that contradict preconceptions.
In reality, many never seem to learn the folly of
rushing to judgments. Maybe they need to read the story of
Rudolph more than once a year!

 

The question still lingers, however, of where Rudolph came
from. He is commonly regarded as the son of Donner
(or Donder), one of the original eight reindeers. But
Snopes.com rejects this. They claim that Rudolph lived in
a reindeer village elsewhere. In their account, Santa,
who had just started on his Christmas Eve journey, saw
Rudolph. At that moment he asked Rudolph to become part
of the team (to help guide Santa's sleigh).

 

Wikipedia.com mentions an update on the Rudolph story. The
update is an animation put out by the British Broadcasting 
Corporation (BBC). In the animation Rudolph has a son,
named Robbie. That son becomes the tenth reindeer. Few
people have heard of this update.

 

By the way, the idea of Santa's sleigh being pulled by
reindeers originated in the poem, "Twas The Night Before
Christmas". The poem tells the story of St. Nicholas
(Santa) riding in his sleigh and calling his eight tiny
reindeers by their names.

 

In the fable, Santa and his sleigh land on a house. Santa
goes down the chimney, fills the stockings and
then places presents under the Christmas tree. When Santa
has completed the task he goes up the chimney, gets back
on his sleigh and drives off into the night exclaiming,
"Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night". We are
not sure if that house is the last house in the
neighborhood or the last house of the night. The fable
does not mention that poor ole Santa probably had to
repeat this process a few million more times before
calling it a night once and for all.

 

http://ResearchOnKids.com