Santa Letters and Calls From Santa

Ugly Christmas Sweaters - Ugly But Warm

2011-12-26T00:22:00.001-08:00

http://researchonkids.com has this to say: Whew, I just got back from my long Christmas Eve trip. For those of you in Akron Ohio, sorry for the spill of presents on 8th street. And, Joe in Virgina, the best way to remove hoof prints from foreheads is to rub cocoa powder in them. Well, at least they won't be visible. For all of you in that odd named suburb outside of Boise Idaho who are without presents this year, I was in a hurry and had to skip you guys. I'll make up for it next year.

I hope you all love your ugly Christmas sweaters! It'll be awhile till I return, of course, but in the meantime, you can get more sweaters from http://researchonkids.com/ugly-christmas-sweaters.htm.

Merry Christmas from Santa Claus and the staff at Santa Letters North Pole

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Letters From Santa

The Christmas Tree Today

2010-07-27T08:38:00.001-07:00

The Christmas Tree Today

Christmas and the Christmas tree are pretty much inseparable. I mean it's hardly a Christmas without the tree right! But it hasn't always been this way. The Christmas tree can be traced back to much before the birth of Christ when it was used as a decoration to ward off evil spirits on the winter solstice by pagans and many other cultures like the Romans, Egyptians and the Celts. The Christmas tree was brought indoors in the 12th century though it was hung upside from the ceiling.

Christmas Trees For Sale

Santa Letter Service

2010-07-23T03:07:00.001-07:00

Summer Holiday Pastime Tips For Mums

The summer holidays are just around the corner and if you are a mum of young children you will know how hard it can be to keep them amused for the six weeks ahead. We thought a guide for mums including some holiday pastime ideas may be helpful.

Request a Santa letter today and have it arrive before Christmas.

Santa is coming!

2010-07-22T04:03:00.001-07:00

Please be sure you are starting to think about making this Christmas the best ever.

Visit http://researchonkids.com, one of the top Santa stores to make this season cheerful and splendid.

Decorate Your Christmas Trees With Solar Christmas Lights

2010-06-05T07:19:00.000-07:00

Decorate Your Christmas Trees With Solar Christmas Lights

Solar Christmas lights are good to adorn Christmas trees. They cost you less since solar lights make use of solar energy. Most interesting part about these lights is that you do not have to pay for their use after you buy and install them.

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Making a Christmas Cards List

2010-05-20T23:24:00.000-07:00

If you are someone who struggles every year during Christmas time in sending out the right amount of cards to the right people, then it might be a good idea to create a Christmas cards list in order to keep track of your movements. By doing this you will ensure that no one is left out, and this will put you in a better light and make people more likely to send you cards as well. Making a list for your Christmas cards could not be easier, and involves some very simple and easy to do steps.

Tips on Making a Christmas Cards List

See Our Line of Personalized Christmas Cards:

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Mom

2010-05-09T02:10:00.000-07:00

Whether your mom is still with us in this physical world or not, chances are she left an indelible mark. No one gets to choose their mother or father. And many people are not raised by their natural or so-called birth-mother. Yet most of us have wonderful and blessed memories of our mother.

Why Is Rudolph The Reindeer So Popular?

2009-10-09T08:52:00.000-07:00

What is it about Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer, that most of us like? 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 that we have
been teased about. Also, Rudolph is the cutest reindeer
of all. That could be a contributing factor to his
popularity.

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Christmas and Religion

2009-10-02T06:47:00.001-07:00

One of the most significant aspects of Christmas Eve however, is religion. Attending Midnight Mass or earlier church services is

common practice for Christians. Few these days are regular church goes, however, most have some interest in at least going to church on Christmas and Easter.

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Children are usually hardly able to...

2009-09-27T12:01:00.000-07:00

Children are usually hardly able to control themselves as they think about the Christmas gifts they hope to get the next day. They may try to stay up through the night to catch Santa Claus, or they may just be too excited to sleep.

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The day before Christmas...

2009-09-14T09:56:00.001-07:00

The day before Christmas is generally filled with a combination of anxiety and eager anticipation. I mean, you have to put all the final plans and finishing decoration touches in place. Then you have to get your shopping done. There's also much anticipation about Christmas day.

* Please bookmark this blog for more...

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2009-03-09T04:02:00.001-07:00

If you are the boss at your company and you and your company have had a successful year financially, you may want to share some of that success by purchasing Christmas gifts for your employees. However, Christmas shopping for your employees is not an easy task. There are a number of factors which contribute to the difficulty of the situation.
The number of employees is one such factor. You may have a large number of employees and they may not share similar interests making it difficult to decide on a gift. Additionally, you may be concerned with the prospect of employees talking about their gifts and jealousy arising if it is believed some employees received more expensive or better gifts than others. This article will discuss some of these concerns and will offer tips for dealing with these dilemmas.

Favoritism is a serious issue which all bosses should carefully consider when Christmas shopping for their employees. Bosses should assume the gifts they give to their employees will be discussed and compared so it is wise to not purchase any gifts which will be viewed as favoritism. One way to avoid this problem is to purchase the same item for each of the employees. This may seem impersonal but office politics often takes precedence over sentiment and in this case it is wise to give each employee the same item to avoid any potential problems. The boss may opt to give more expensive items to hiring ranking employees. This is an acceptable practice as long as each employee on the same tier is given the same gift and employees on higher tiers are given more expensive gifts than employees on lower tiers.

Bosses also have to consider finances when Christmas shopping for gifts for their employees. This is a particularly important concern especially in cases where the boss has a large number of employees working for him. In this case the boss may have to consider giving only small token gifts due to the large number of employees. If he is paying for these gifts out of his own pocket, it is not reasonable to expect him to purchase extravagant gifts for many employees.

If the boss is receiving a bonus for his hard work during the year, he may make a decision to allot a percentage of his bonus to the purpose of purchasing Christmas gifts for his employees as a way to show his appreciation for their hard work and dedication throughout the year. In some cases, the company may even allow their high ranking employees to expense the purchase of Christmas gifts for employees because it is viewed as a method of keeping morale high and retaining employees. In this case the boss should review the company policy and determine how much it is acceptable to spend on each employee before doing his Christmas shopping to ensure he will not be violating any company policies in making his purchases.

Another difficulty bosses often face when Christmas shopping for their employees is selecting a gift which will be appropriate for all of the employees. This can be a difficult task because the boss may have a wide range of employees working for him with varying interests. As previously discussed, it is considered a good idea to purchase the same gift for each employee instead of choosing a distinct gift for everyone. While this makes shopping easier in one capacity by ensuring the boss only has to select one gift, it complicates the Christmas shopping process by tasking the boss to select one gift which will be universally appreciated by all of the employees in the office. Examples of some gifts which are generally appreciated by all may include items with the company logo such as sweatshirts, mugs or other office items.

These gifts are not only practical but also help to promote a sense of pride in the company. Gift certificates are also always appreciated. Gift certificates to local restaurants or business or online retailers are gifts which are likely to be appreciated and valued by all.

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Word count 683

2009-03-06T05:47:00.001-08:00

When it comes to decorating for Christmas, there are many individuals who automatically think about their Christmas tree. While decorating your Christmas tree is a big part of the Christmas holiday, it is not the only thing in your home that you could or should be decorating. What many individuals do not realize is that, if you wanted, you could easily go about decorating your whole home for Christmas, including your kitchen.

As previously mentioned, a number of individuals do not realize that they can effective decorate their whole home for Christmas, especially the kitchen. If you would like to showcase your Christmas spirit in a room other than the one that your Christmas tree is in, you should start with your kitchen. One of the reasons for this is because there are, literally, an unlimited number of Christmas decorations that are designed for the kitchen.

One of the most popular ways to decorate your kitchen for Christmas is by purchasing and using Christmas themed potholders. You don't even necessarily have to use them. Just having a potholder with a picture of Santa, snowflakes, or reindeers should be enough to bring the Christmas spirit into your kitchen. In addition to potholders, you can easily find oven mitts, as well as kitchen towels that come with a Christmas theme. Hang these items in your kitchen and they can easily be considered Christmas decorations.

In addition to potholders and kitchen towels, you can also bring a touch of Christmas spirit into your kitchen with some kitchen magnets. A large number of retail stores, both on and offline, carry a fairly large selection of Christmas magnets. What is nice about these Christmas magnets is that they come in a number of different forms. You could easily purchase some cheap plastic magnets, the ones that look like they were made for kids, or you also purchase more elegant magnets, often handcrafted ones. In fact, it is even possible to purchase Christmas magnets that double as Christmas frames. What better way to bring the Christmas spirit into your kitchen than combining your Christmas decorations with pictures of your family?

You can also decorate your kitchen for Christmas by using Christmas kitchenware. Christmas kitchenware tends to encompass a number of different things. For the most part, Christmas kitchenware includes the items that you use in your kitchen, often on a regular basis. It is possible to find kitchen eating utensils that have a touch of Christmas in them. It is also possible to find plates, bowls, and cups that come pre-designed with Christmas pictures or symbols. If you have a number of these items showcased, out in the open, they could easily be considered Christmas decorations.

The above mentioned Christmas decorations and items are just a few of the many that you can use to decorate your home for Christmas. If you are looking for additional ideas, you are advised to perform a standard internet search. Online, you should be able to find a number of tips on decorating for Christmas, including your kitchen. It may also be a good idea to start shopping for Christmas decorations, whether you shop online or at one of your local retail stores. Once you are able to see all of the Christmas decorations that are available, you may be able to determine which decorations would look great in your kitchen.

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Word Count 561

2009-03-04T21:56:00.001-08:00

The idea of celebrating Jesus' birth was done to counteract pagan holidays
celebrated in Rome during the Winter Solstice. Church leaders thought Christmas
celebrations were more likely to be popular if they coincided with the
traditional festivals and merrymaking during the Winter Solstice.
Although some Christmas celebrations are secular, the religious aspect of
Christmas remains central to celebrations. This is evident in church services
such as Midnight Mass and primarily in the many forms of the Nativity, or
Christmas Story, presented wherever people celebrate Christmas.
That story started in Nazareth in Galilee about two thousand years ago.
Mary, a young woman, was engaged to a carpenter named Joseph. An angel appeared
to her one day and told her she was with child. She couldn't understand how that
could happen because due to her circumspect nature, she had not laid in bed with
Joseph. The angel explained however, that the child would be special as he would
be the Son of God and his name was to be Jesus. Mary and Joseph then got married
soon after the angel's appearance.. But about the time when Mary was to have the
baby, the couple had to travel far away to Bethlehem, Joseph's birthplace, to
pay a special tax.
It was difficult for them to find a place to stay because many other
people were in Bethlehem to pay their taxes. After many rejections, one
innkeeper offered a room in his stable where they could spend the night. That's
where Jesus, the Holy Child and Son of God was born and then wrapped in bundles
of cloth and placed in a manger for a cradle.
In the same hours that Mary was giving birth, shepherds who were in a
field that overlooked Bethlehem saw an extremely bright star over the sky in
Bethlehem. They had never seen anything like it and had feelings of curiosity
and scariness. An angel appeared and told them the 'good news' that the Son of
God had been born in Bethlehem.
The shepherds left their flocks to go to Bethlehem to find the baby. When
they reached the stable, they were filled with immense joy at seeing Jesus. They
fell to their knees and worshipped Him. They also told Mary and Joseph about the
bright star and the angel appearing to say Jesus would be the Savior of the
world.
The bright star was also seen by Wise Men in the east. The Wise Men, who
studied the stars, learned that a new and great ruler would appear whenever an
extraordinarily bright star appeared in the sky. Three of them therefore set out
to find the new ruler. They first visited King Herod in Jerusalem because they
thought the child would be born in the palace. But when they asked to see the
child who would be the new ruler, King Herod was very worried as he thought he
would be removed from the throne. King Herod told the Wise Men that when they
found the baby, they should return and tell him so that he could also worship
the baby.
The Wise Men used the star as a guide to go to Bethlehem where they found Mary,
Joseph and Baby Jesus who they worshipped and offered gifts of gold,
frankincense and myrrh. The Wise Men are celebrated in some Christmas
celebrations on Jan. 6, known as the Epiphany to mark the date when they found
Jesus. Later in the night the three Wise Men had a dream in which an angel told
them that King Herod wanted to kill Baby Jesus. They left Bethlehem to return to
the East but didn't return to Jerusalem to tell King Herod where they had found
the child. Joseph also had a dream soon after the Wise Men left in which an
angel appeared and told him to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt because Herod had
ordered that Jesus be killed. In an effort to kill Jesus after the Wise Men did
not return to inform him of the baby's whereabouts, Herod later ordered that all
baby boys in Bethlehem should be killed. But by then Mary and Joseph had left
with Baby Jesus.

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Apple Bundt Cake

2009-02-25T04:38:00.000-08:00

Ingredients

2 cups apples - peeled, cored and diced
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups white sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup orange juice
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 eggs
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar for dusting

Directions
1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt or tube pan. In a medium bowl, combine the diced apples, 1 tablespoon white sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon; set aside. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.

2 In a large bowl, combine 2 cups white sugar, oil, orange juice, vanilla and eggs. Beat at high speed until smooth. Stir in flour mixture. Fold in chopped walnuts.

3 Pour 1/3 of the batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle with 1/2 of the apple mixture. Alternate layers of batter and filling, ending with batter.

4 Bake in preheated oven for 55 to 60 minutes, or until the top springs back when lightly touched. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

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Christmas Shopping for Your Boss

2009-02-21T12:23:00.001-08:00

Christmas shopping for your boss can be a difficult situation. First of all purchasing a Christmas gift for your superiors at work is considered to be somewhat of a faux pas unless the gift is being purchased by a group of employees. While giving Christmas gifts to subordinates is generally an accepted practice, gifts from individuals to a boss can be viewed as an attempt to gain advantages such as promotions or favorable projects or treatments. As a result care should always be taken when giving Christmas gifts to a boss. This article will take a look at situations in which giving a Christmas gift to your boss is acceptable and will offer tips for Christmas shopping for your boss.

While an individual giving a Christmas gift to the boss is not an accepted practice it is acceptable for a group of employees to purchase a joint gift for their boss. As an example, a boss who oversees the work of a small group of employees may receive a gift from this small group collectively and this would be considered appropriate. In this way the gift is viewed as a gesture of appreciate from the members of the group and not an attempt by one of the members to gain favorable treatment. However, even in this acceptable situation, Christmas shopping for your boss could be quite difficult.

The first area of concern when Christmas shopping for your boss is setting a budget. If you are shopping for a gift from a large group of people, it is a good idea to collect the money first and then use the amount collected to set the budget for the gift. You may ask for a small amount of money, typically around $5-$10 from each person and once the money is collected you can search for items which fall within your budget. You should not exceed the amount of money you collected because it is not considered acceptable to ask for additional money if you had promised to stay within budget. Most people have a great deal of shopping to do and being asked to contribute additional money can be somewhat of a hardship for them. However, it is considered acceptable to spend a little less than the budget as long as you refund the remaining money equally to everyone who has contributed. For example if you spend $20 less than you collected from 20 people, you should return $1 to each person who contributed. If you are the person shopping for the Christmas present you may have to exercise some common sense and make judgment calls if necessary. For example if you collect $120 and purchase an item which costs $121.04, including tax, you may opt to simply pay the additional amount yourself if you are able to do so. The additional amount is quite small and if the gift is appropriate, it might be worthwhile to incur this small expense for the sake of purchasing a perfect gift which is within your budget.

Christmas shopping for a boss can also be rather difficult because you may not know what to buy for your boss. If you are not particularly close to your boss and do not often socialize with him you may not know a great deal about his interests. In this case it might be a good idea to either ask someone who knows him better to do the Christmas shopping or at least ask them to provide you with a few gift ideas. Other employees may know the boss better because they have worked with him longer or because they participate in activities such as company softball games with him. In either case, they can probably provide you with some insight into his interests which would help you select a gift he will appreciate. If you are unable to come up with a suitable gift idea, a gift certificate to a local restaurant is always an appropriate, and appreciated, Christmas gift.

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Word count 668

2009-02-21T12:13:00.001-08:00

Each year, millions of Americans decorate their homes for the upcoming holiday season, namely Christmas. Are you one of those individuals? If so, which type of Christmas decorations do you plan on using? While you might not necessarily think that there is a difference in Christmas decorations, there is. This difference is often the overall quality, as well as the design. If you have yet to start decorating for Christmas, you may want to think about decorating your home with elegant Christmas decorations, you will find that there are a number of benefits to doing so.

As just mentioned, there are a number of benefits to decorating your home with elegant Christmas decorations. Before you focus on those benefits, it may be a good idea to further examine elegant Christmas decorations, namely what they are and where they can be purchased from. When it comes to elegant Christmas decorations, you will find that different individuals have different views. Despite these different views, you will most commonly find that elegant Christmas decorations look better than most other decorations. For instance, instead of using cardboard to create a table centerpiece, an elegant Christmas decoration would likely include a ceramic or glass centerpiece and so on.

In addition to the appearance of elegant Christmas decorations, you will also find that their cost is quite different. In most cases, you will find that elegant Christmas decorations cost more than most traditional decorations. Aside from the better quality, you will find that this has to do with where the decorations can be purchased from. Most elegant Christmas decorations can be purchased online, from specialty retailers, or from specialty Christmas stores. These retailers are almost always priced higher than most others. One of the reasons for that is because most elegant Christmas decorations are handcrafted. A large amount of time, skill, and money go into creating handcrafted Christmas decorations; thus the increase in costs.

Now that you know what elegant Christmas decorations are and where they can be purchased from, you can begin to start focusing on the benefits of using them to decorate your home. Perhaps, the greatest benefit of using elegant Christmas decorations to decorate your home is the feel that will be created. As you likely assumed, elegant Christmas decorations tend to create an elegant feel or environment. If you take great pride in your home, especially the design and cleanliness of it, you may also be proud with the results created by elegant Christmas decorations, as your guests will likely be as well.

Despite the fact that we often associate Christmas decorations with personal home use, that is not their only purpose. If you are planning having a Christmas party or dinner in your home, you and all of your guests can greatly benefit from having elegant Christmas decorations, especially if your party or dinner will be elegant or formal in nature. It is no secret that decorations are the key to any party. The decorations that you use will likely have an impact on the mood of your party; therefore, if elegant and formal is what you were going for, elegant Christmas decorations may do just the trick.
Although there are a number of benefits to decorating for Christmas with elegant Christmas decorations, you do not have to. Since your home is your home, your own personal space, you are advised to decorate with what makes you feel the most comfortable. If elegant Christmas decorations are that then great, but if they are not, you have an unlimited number of other Christmas decorations to choose form.

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Word Count 595

2009-02-18T12:16:00.001-08:00

As the Christmas holiday season starts to approach, a large number of individuals and families start decorating for Christmas. While just about anything in the home can be decorated, a large amount of focus is placed on the Christmas tree. Since there is a good chance that you may want to purchase a Christmas tree this year, you may be wondering about your decorating options.

Perhaps, the most common Christmas decoration used on a Christmas tree is lights. Christmas lights are a small set of lights that tend to be multicolored or white, although different color combinations can be purchased. A large number of Christmas tree owners use Christmas lights to decorate their Christmas trees. What is nice about Christmas lights is that you have options when using them. Depending on the type of Christmas lights you use, if you choose to use them at all, you may be able to set your lights to sing a Christmas tune or flash in a certain pattern.

Aside from Christmas lights, Christmas ornaments are another one of the most commonly used Christmas decorations, for Christmas trees. Christmas ornaments come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and styles. On average, most Christmas ornaments are in the shape of a ball. They are typically colored red, green, silver, or gold; however, many Christmas ball ornaments also come designed with unique messages or Christmas symbols. Christmas ornaments are most commonly hung from Christmas tree branches using ornament hooks, yarn, or thread.

Christmas tree toppers are another item that can regularly be found on a Christmas tree. While Christmas tree toppers, like all other Christmas decorations, come in a wide variety of different sizes, shapes, and styles, they are most commonly sold as angels. Despite the fact that most Christmas tree toppers are in the form on an angel, other popular toppers include stars, crosses, and Santas. In addition to coming in different sizes, you will find that many Christmas tree toppers are designed to light up, with Christmas lights, and some may even play a musical Christmas tune.

In addition to Christmas tree toppers, Christmas lights, and Christmas ornaments, garland is also used on many Christmas trees. In fact, it is sometimes rare to find a decorated Christmas tree that does not have garland on it. Garland, when used to decorate a Christmas tree, is often intertwined with Christmas lights. Christmas garland also comes in a number of different styles. Popular garland styles include floral garland and beaded garland. It is also possible to find pre-light garland. Pre-light garland is garland that has Christmas lights attached to it already. The main purpose of pre-light garland is to reduce the amount of time it takes to decorate a Christmas tree.

If you are interested in decorating your Christmas tree with Christmas lights, Christmas ornaments, Christmas tree toppers, or garland, you may need to purchase these items, unless you are using your decorations from last Christmas. Since all of the previously mentioned Christmas decorations are widely used on Christmas trees, you should be able to find these items from a large number of retailers, both on and offline. For affordable Christmas decorations, you are urged to check your local dollar stores, discount stores, or department stores. For the largest selection of Christmas tree decorations, you are urged to shop online or at a local specialty Christmas shop.

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Word Count 561

2009-02-14T12:30:00.001-08:00

Although living nearby to all of your relatives can be a wonderful experience, unfortunately this is not always the case and relatives are often separated by vast differences. Sometimes you are forced to relocate because of a job and sometimes you just move because you would like to live in and experience a new city, state or country. Likewise one or more of your relatives may opt to relocate for the same reasons. Regardless of how or why it happened many of us often find ourselves in a situation where our relatives may be spread out all over the globe. This is a sad fact of life which makes it more difficult to stay in touch and also greatly complicates the Christmas shopping process. This article will take a look at some of the dilemmas associated with Christmas shopping for out of town relatives and will provide some strategies for dealing with these dilemmas.

The financial cost and the hassle of shipping gifts is one of the most obvious problems in this scenario. Items which are large, heavy or fragile can be difficult to ship. For example you may find a beautiful crystal vase that you know your out of town cousin will love but you may be hesitant to purchase this item because you are afraid it will be lost or damaged during shipping. Even shipping small items can be a problem particularly if they are items which would be hard to replace such as collectors items or limited edition items. In these cases it may be wise to stick with gifts such as gift certificates for your out of town relatives. These can often be included in a Christmas card and mailed with only the use of one stamp. Although these gifts may seem unexciting it is much easier than dealing with the long lines which typically exist at any shipping location around the Christmas season.

Another problem associated with Christmas shopping for out of town relatives is you may have a great deal of difficulty selecting gifts for these relatives. You may have been very close with the relative when they lived nearby but distance can make it difficult to stay in touch and can result in emotional distance between you and your far away relatives. You may be unaware of her current hobbies and interests which can make it difficult to select a personalized gift she will really appreciate. Opting for more generic items such as sweaters or scented bath soaps and candles is one way to deal with this problem. Another way to deal with this dilemma is to make a concerted effort to get in contact with your relative before you begin the Christmas season. Whether you give them a call or send an email or letter you will be opening up the lines of communication which can give you some insight into their current life and can help make it easier for you to select a great Christmas gift she will really appreciate.

Even purchasing items for the home can be difficult when it comes to out of town relatives. You may see a throw pillow or a vase you think your cousin will absolutely love and which would match her living room perfectly but you may be unaware that she has redecorated the living room by painting the walls a different color or purchasing new furniture to replace the furniture you remember so well. This may seem like a big detail but even if you have kept in contact with your cousin she may have forgotten to mention she had redecorated. This can make purchasing home related items for out of town relatives quite difficult. You can help to alleviate this problem by purchasing decorative items as gifts but including a gift receipt with the gift when you ship it to your relative. This makes it easier for them to return the item if it does not match their décor and purchase a more suitable item. They will appreciate the gesture of your gift as well as your thoughtfulness in allowing them to choose an item that really works well in their living space.

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Word count 699

2009-02-08T07:55:00.001-08:00

Christmas is a truly magical season that is enjoyed by many but no one enjoys the Christmas season more than kids. It might be the prospect of some well deserved time off from school, the allure of the lights and decorations, the beauty of the snow that often accompanies Christmas or just the anticipation of Santa and his sleigh filled with toys that is so exciting for children but it is evident that most kids are truly enchanted by Christmas. For this reason many adults truly enjoy shopping for kids and Christmas time.

While Christmas shopping for kids is a great deal of fun there are some factors to consider when Christmas shopping for kids. A few of the specific concerns include selecting age appropriate toys, selecting toys which are not too noisy or too big for the child's living situation, selecting toys the child does not already have, selecting toys which the parents consider to be acceptable and finally selecting toys the child will enjoy. This can make Christmas shopping for kids a little more difficult but does not make the shopping any less fun.

Selecting age appropriate toys is very important when Christmas shopping for kids. This is so important for a couple of reasons. First of all it is important because toys which are designed for older children might be potentially dangerous for the child. For example toys which are designed for children over the age of three may contain small pieces which pose a choking hazard. Children under the age of three still often put toys and other objects in their mouths so they must receive toys which contain only pieces large enough to not be a choking hazard. Also, toys which are designed for an older child or even a younger child may not be as much fun for the child as they would be for children of the appropriate age. If the child is too young for the toy, they may be come easily frustrated because they can not use the toy appropriately. Conversely a child who is too old for a particular toy may become bored with the toy quickly.

When shopping for Christmas gifts for a child, it is also important to consider the child's parents and the living situation. This includes the size of the living area and the proximity to neighbors. Specifically toys which are particularly noisy may not be appropriate for a child who lives in an apartment building with other apartment units nearby. Also, large toys such as a trampoline may not be appropriate for a child who does not have a yard large enough to accommodate such a gift. Similarly large indoor items such as a foosball table would not be appropriate for a child who does not have a dedicated toy room to accommodate such a large item. As a general rule it is best to stick with small items which do not make a great deal of noise when Christmas shopping for kids.

It is also important to consider the personal beliefs of the parents when shopping for Christmas gifts for their children. Specifically you should not purchase an item for a child if you know their parents are ethically opposed to such as item. Guns and violent video games are a couple of obvious example of Christmas gifts which may offend the parents. There are many parents who do not allow their children to play with these items because they believe they promote violence. If you are not sure about the feelings of the parents, it is best not to select these items.

Finally, when Christmas shopping for a child, it is wise to consult the parents beforehand. This can be helpful for a couple of different reasons. First the parents can give some insight into the child's hobbies and interests which may make selecting a gift easier. They may even suggest a specific item from the child's Christmas list ensuring you are giving the child something he really wants for Christmas. Consulting the parents can also prevent you from giving the child a gift he already has. Try calling the parents before you make a purchase to suggest a particular item. They can let you know if they think the child will enjoy the item or if the child already has the item.

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Word count 724

Pick Up Artist

2009-02-07T07:13:00.000-08:00

Pick Up Artist: "Most men falsely assume that in order to pick up women, that women expect a man to do something, to behave in a certain way, to say the right things, or the treat them with particular care or attentiveness.

While the latter is in fact true, at least in part, what a man is thinking when he is attempting to attract women is far more important than being attentive and possessing the right things to say at the right moment in time."

Trying too hard to pick up a woman comes off bad.

Let me say that again so it resonates:

Trying too hard to pick up a woman comes off bad.

When you feel like you are TRYING TO IMPRESS, you are on the WRONG PATH.

Learn to be AWARE of your feelings.

Once you step over the line of just being...

There is absolutely nothing attractive about desperation. I mean, if a girl comes up to you acting all desperate, don't you get suspicious? Don't you think, "Gee she is desparate and that means every other guy has dumped her!" N-e-x-t!

However, it's still not as bad as women perceive it. Because, we guys are a horny lot and we might be willing to accept her desperation. But, put yourself in woman's shoes. She can EASILY get laid so it's no biggie to her so SHE CAN BE PICKY and pass you up for better opportunities. It aint the same for guys!

You have to get to the point where you attract women AUTOMATICALLY, WITHOUT effort. Effort just screws things up, anyway.

* Place a magnet in your pocket. Pretend that it's soley the job of the MAGNET. You otherwise just sit back and think nothing. I.e. the MAGNET is doing the impressing, NOT you!

* Put a stick of your favorite smelling gum in your pocket, or, if you are so brazen, in your shorts. Odd? What have you go to lose?

* The more things you have DOING THE WORK FOR you, the better.

Because the ideal is where the guy does not appear to be trying! He is letting his "assistants" do all the work.

*** Being able to PROPERLY ID HOW YOU ARE COMING ACROSS IS PARAMOUNT TO YOUR SUCCESS!

http://GetAttractiveWomen.com

Decorating for Christmas: Why You Should Make it a Family Event

2009-02-07T05:33:00.001-08:00

Do you plan on decorating your home for Christmas this holiday season? If so, do you plan on doing it by yourself? While decorating for Christmas by yourself makes it easier to get the decorating done in an effective and timely matter, you may want to think about turning your Christmas decorating into a family event. You will find that there are, literally, an unlimited number of benefits to doing so.

Perhaps, the biggest benefit of turning your Christmas decorating into a family event is the time that you and your family will be able to spend together, whether you have children or not. Family bonding is even better with children, but you and your romantic partner could also benefit from the time that you spend together, when decorating your home for Christmas. In addition to getting your home decorated for Christmas, your relationship, whether it be with your children or your spouse, may greatly benefit from the experience.

As previously mentioned, if you are a parent, you and your children could benefit from decorating your home for Christmas together. What is nice about decorating your home with your children is that they will likely enjoy the experience, especially if they are younger. Younger children tend to be more proud of their work or their accomplishments; therefore, they will likely be proud of the fact that you asked them for assistance, as well as how their decorations turned out. If you are really looking to make Christmas decorating a family fun event, you and your family could also make some of your own Christmas decorations. Since most children love crafts, it may add extra excitement to the whole decorating experience.

While the majority of the benefits, to having your whole family help you decorate your home for Christmas is centered on family, there is another benefit that isn't really. By having your whole family assist you with decorating your home for Christmas, you could save yourself a fairly large amount of time. The time saved will all depend on how much decorating you plan on doing. Having your family assist you means that Christmas decorating could take a lot less time. This is a great way to get your Christmas decorating done, especially if you find yourself pressed for time. The more people you have helping you decorate for Christmas, the shorter the whole process will take.

As previously mentioned, you can add extra excitement to this family fun event by having your children or other family members help you make homemade Christmas decorations. Even if you do not wish to make your own Christmas decorations, it may be a good idea to let the rest of your family help you pick out the Christmas decorations. This would really turn Christmas decorating into a family fun event. Even if you are low on cash, you could still allow your children to pick out a few low-cost Christmas decorations. You will find that many dollars stores carry a fairly large selection of Christmas decorations; decorations that many kids find attractive.

The above mentioned reasons and benefits, to why you should turn your Christmas decorating into a fun filled family event, are just a few of the many benefits that exist. Since Christmas is all about family, you should let your family help you prepare for and celebrate the upcoming holiday.

http://ResearchOnKids.com

Word Count 559

2009-02-06T06:24:00.001-08:00

Are you one of the millions of Americans who loves to celebrate Christmas? When asked, the majority of individuals respond that Christmas is one of their favorite holidays, if not their favorite. If you love to celebrate Christmas, there is a good chance that you may be interested in decorating your home for Christmas. Unfortunately, as you likely already know, decorating your home can get quite expensive. However, if you want to decorate for Christmas, but you do not have an unlimited amount of money to do so, there are a number of ways that you can go about decorating for Christmas while on a budget.

Perhaps, the best ways to save money on Christmas directions is to decide ahead of time what you need. Unfortunately, a large number of shoppers, possibly just like you, have a difficult time with impulse buying. Impulse buying is when shoppers purchase an item as soon as they see it, an item that they may not have intended on purchasing. If you are shopping for Christmas decorations and you are on a limited budget, you are advised to not give into your impulse buying urges. That is why it is advised that you determine what you would like to buy ahead of time. If you are unsure exactly what you would like to buy, that is fine, but you may want to focus on which rooms that you want to decorate for Christmas and which rooms you do not. This will also make it easier for you eliminate unnecessary purchases.

Once you have decided which type of Christmas decorations that you would like to buy, you can then start shopping; however, it is important to remember your goal of saving money. Christmas decorations are nice, but you will not want to spend more money on decorations than you have. The less money you spend on Christmas decorations, the more money you will have to put towards a nice Christmas dinner or Christmas gifts. That is why it is important that you take where you are shopping, as well as when, into consideration.

If you are shopping for Christmas decorations on a budget, one of your first stops should be your local dollar store. While many individuals assume that the items sold within dollar stores are poor in quality, they aren't always. In fact, around Christmastime, you could get some really nice Christmas decorations for a dollar or less. Depending on the dollar store you choose to shop at, you should be able to walk away with Christmas pictures, Christmas wall hangings for kids, Christmas tree decorations, Christmas lights, and even Christmas potholders for your kitchen. As previously mentioned, all of the items found inside a dollar store should be one dollar or less.

In addition to dollar stores, you may also want to check out your local discount stores. Discount tores, in most cases, are a cross between a convenient store and a department store. They tend to be somewhat small in size, but most dollar stores carry a wide variety of different products, including Christmas decorations. While the prices at discount stores will vary, you should be able to find beautiful Christmas decorations for fewer than five dollars each. Of course, there will always be items that cost more than five dollars, but you may be surprised with the selection of low-cost Christmas decorations that can be found at your local discount store.
Although there is a good chance that you may prefer to have brand new Christmas decorations, it might not always be possible. If you are looking for low-cost, but specialty Christmas decorations, you may want to try shopping on an online auction website. By carefully examining which items you choose to buy, you could walk away with Christmas decorations that are slightly used, but look new.

As previously mentioned, it is also important that you keep when you are shopping in mind. For the largest selection of Christmas decorations, you will want to shop early, but for the best prices, you may want to wait until it gets closer to Christmas. In the days leading up to Christmas, some retail stores offer discounts on their Christmas supplies, including decorations. In fact, right after Christmas many of these discounts reach up to seventy-five or ninety percent off. Although shopping right after Christmas won't help you this year, but it may be able to help you decorate your home, at an affordable price, next year.

http://ResearchOnKids.com

Word Count 743

2009-02-05T10:51:00.001-08:00

Although the Christmas season is all about giving, many people often find themselves completely stressed out about the prospect of Christmas shopping. For these individuals, one of the most stressful shopping situations involves Christmas shopping for gifts to contribute to grab bags. Sure it may be easy to purchase a great gift for your sister or your best friend but purchasing a gift for a complete stranger is considerably more difficult. Consider an office Christmas grab bag where each participant is asked to bring in a gift of an approximate dollar value. Each participant then takes turns choosing a gift from the grab bag. This can be a difficult situation because the participants likely have a variety of different interests and you may not even know all of the participants. However, there are a few strategies for making selecting a Christmas gift for this occasion fairly simple.

One of the easiest ways to ease the stress of this Christmas shopping dilemma is to purchase a Christmas gift you would be happy to receive. This is not as simple as it sounds because you also have to ensure the gift you choose is something which will appeal to others. You may have a specific interest such as knitting and may be thrilled with the prospect of receiving knitting needles but it is not reasonable to expect that everyone else would be happy with this Christmas gift. When Christmas shopping for a grab bag, it is important to choose items you like but that are also practical and universally liked. This will help to ensure the item you select will be enjoyed and cherished by the grab bag participant who selects the item you purchased. Useful household gadgets are often very good ideas for this type of situation.

Another way to deal with the stress of Christmas shopping for grab bag presents is to carefully consider the participants who will be selecting a Christmas gift from the grab bag. If you know most of the other people, you probably also have a good idea about the types of gifts they will like. For example, if you work in an office where most of the employees are Green Bay Packer fans, it might be a good idea to purchase an item such as a Green Bay Packers sweatshirt. Although the entire office may not be Packers fans you are putting the odds in your favor by selecting a gift which will appeal to the majority of the participants who are selecting a Christmas gift from the grab bag. Even if the person who selects the item does not enjoy the gift, they may be able to trade with another participant who will be very excited to receive the gift in question.

Finally when Christmas shopping for a grab bag gift, you should consider purchasing a gift card or gift certificate as a gift. This gift will likely appeal to all of the participants in the Christmas gift grab bag and will help to ensure the lucky participant who selects your gift will be able to use the gift card to purchase something they really want or need.

Still others who are Christmas shopping for a grab bag gift might consider purchasing a joke gift and including a gift receipt along with the item so the participant can exchange the item for something they would prefer. For example you might want to purchase a CD or DVD to contribute to the grab bag but selecting a CD or DVD which will be appreciated by all the participants and which the participants do not already own can be difficult. However, it might be fun to purchase a CD from an artist most people would be embarrassed to own or a DVD for a cheesy movie and include the gift receipt so the recipient can return the embarrassing CD or DVD for a CD or DVD they really like. All of the participants will get a laugh out of seeing the embarrassing gift and the participant gets to return the gift so everyone wins in this situation.

http://ResearchOnKids.com

Word count 686

Christmas in Central and South American Nations

2009-02-03T06:29:00.001-08:00

Christmas in Central and South American Nations

In Central and South American nations, which have a fairly large Christian
population, the Nativity or Manger Scene is the main decoration in homes at
Christmas time. In Mexico, a Christmas tree may also be set up in some homes
along with the Nativity scene or Nacimiento. The Christmas tree is usually a
small artificial tree, called arbolito. It can also be as simple as a branch cut
from a special type of tree or a type of shrub that is then minimally decorated.
The primary Christmas celebration in Mexico is called La Posada. It is a
religious procession that dramatizes how Joseph and Mary tried to find a place
where Jesus could be born. During the procession, the participants carry images
of Mary and Joseph and go from house to house seeking a place to stay. During
Midnight Mass, which is called la misa del gallo or 'rooster's mass,' those in
attendance sing lullabies to Jesus. On Christmas Day children receive gifts as
well as candies that are stuffed into a piñata. This may be one or more
sculptures made of papier mache that are hung from the ceiling. Children are
blindfolded and take turns hitting the piñata until it breaks and scatters the
candies on the floor. All the children then scamper around as they try to get as
much candy as they can. Children also receive a gift on Jan. 6 from the Three
Wise Men, if they were good.
People in Venezuela usually put out pesebres, which show the Nativity
scene, on Dec. 16. Early morning church services, called Misa de Aguinaldo, are
also common from Dec. 16 to Christmas Eve. After Mass on Christmas Eve, a grand
dinner is traditionally enjoyed.
In Argentina, red and white garlands are used to decorate houses. After
attending Midnight Mass, Argentinians have a meal, toast each other, dance and
go out to see fireworks. The meal may be roasted pork or turkey, stuffed
tomatoes, mince pies, Christmas bread and puddings. Drinks such as cider and
juice made from different fruits are used for the toast. Christmas gifts are
opened on Christmas Eve just before the family retires to bed.
In Chile, Santa Claus is Father Christmas and is known as 'Viejito
Pascuero.' He arrives in a similar but slightly different manner than Santa
Claus because his reindeer is pulled by a taxicab. Chileans use small figures
made from clay to place near the Christmas tree in a display called pesebre to
show the Nativity story. The traditional Christmas dinner includes chicken soup
with stuffed potatoes, onions and corn on the cob. Another favorite item is a
Christmas bread that is called pan de pasqua and which is made with candies and
fruits.
Christmas customs in Brazil originate from the many different ethnic groups who
make up the country. The Nativity scene is called the Presepio and can commonly
be found displayed in homes, churches and stores. Papai Noel, or Father Noel,
resides in Greenland and brings gifts at Christmas. He is said to wear silk
clothing because Christmas occurs during summer when it is very hot in Brazil.
Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve is called Missa do Gallo, because the coming day
is announced by the rooster and the Mass finishes at 1 am on the following day.
A traditional Christmas dinner, called Ceia de Natal, includes ham, turkey,
colored rice, a variety of vegetables and fruit dishes. Christmas Day Mass at
Catholic churches are mainly held in the late afternoon because people enjoy
sleeping late or going to the beach after having Christmas dinner. Christmas
festivities, which include folk dancing and singing, continue until January 6th,
which is called Three Kings Day.

http://ResearchOnKids.com

Christmas In Other European Countries

2009-02-01T08:13:00.001-08:00

In Finland, Christmas Eve is the traditional time to set up the Christmas tree
and it's also traditional to visit the sauna and for families to listen to a
broadcast of the national 'Peace of Christmas' on the radio. Christmas Dinner
generally consists of a main dish of boiled codfish that is snowy and fluffy in
appearance, served with cream sauce and boiled potatoes. Christmas dinner is
rounded out with roast suckling pig or roasted fresh ham and vegetables. Among
peasants, there is a tradition to tie a sheaf of grain, with nuts and seeds, to
a pole that is put in a garden for birds. Many peasants will wait until after
the birds have eaten before having their Christmas Dinner. And Santa Claus is
expected to visit homes in person with his Christmas elves to give out Christmas
gifts.
Christmas in France is called Noel, from the phrase 'les bonnes nouvelles,' or
'the good news,' which refers to the gospel. On Christmas Eve, cathedrals and
churches are beautifully lit and filled with the sounds of Christmas carols,
ringing church bells and carillons. The tradition among children is to put their
shoes by the fireplace for Pere Noel or le petit Jesus to fill them with gifts.
In the north of France however, children receive gifts on Dec. 6, St. Nicholas
Day, instead of Christmas. Most French homes will have a Nativity scene or
crèche on display during the season. In Southern France, some people will burn a
log in their home from Christmas Eve until New Years Day, which comes out of a
farming tradition of using the log for good luck in the coming harvest. The
French also make a traditional cake called the buche de Noel, or Christmas Log,
which is shaped like a Yule log and is part of a late supper called le reveillon
held after Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. The main dish for this meal generally
consists of poultry, ham, salads, cake, fruit and wine but varies according to
region. The main course in Burgundy is turkey with chestnuts and in Paris it's
oysters, foie gras and the buche de Noel cake. The wines generally served are
Champagne, Muscadet, Sauterne and Anjou. An annual tradition of puppet shows,
particularly in Paris and Lyons, is popular during Christmas time. In Paris,
it's also popular for big department stores to have grand, animated window
displays.
Christmas in Italy is called 'Il Natale,' or 'the birthday.' Christmas season
starts eight days before Christmas, a period called the Novena, and runs for
three weeks. During the Novena, children dress as shepherds and go from house to
house saying Christmas poems, singing and playing pipes. They often receive
money to buy gifts during this activity. The Nativity scene, called the
Presepio, has miniature figures, carved in great detail out of clay or plaster,
of the Holy Family in the stable and is the center of Christmas for families.
Families say prayers and children recite poems around the Presepio. Christmas
Eve dinner, called cenone, is a traditional dish of roasted, baked or fried eel.
In some regions, various types of fish is prepared for this dinner, as well as
pork, sausage in a pig's leg or turkey stuffed with chestnuts. Christmas sweets
are called panettone and traditionally have nuts and almonds. On Christmas Eve,
children set out their shoes for a kind, old woman or ugly witch called La
Befana, who rides on a broomstick down chimneys, to fill them with gifts of toys
or candies. If they were bad, their shoes will be filled with coal. Some
children wait until Jan. 6, the Epiphany, to receive gifts.
Norway is where the tradition of the Yule log started and which gave rise to
log-shaped cakes, cheese and other desserts during the holidays. Norwegians
today often go into the forest to cut their own Christmas trees, which is
secretly decorated on Christmas Eve to surprise children. After the Christmas
tree is revealed, Norwegians engage in 'circling the Christmas tree,' a
tradition in which everyone joins hands forming a ring around the tree. They
then walk around the Christmas tree singing carols. Gifts are distributed after
this ritual is finished.

http://ResearchOnKids.com

Creating a Guest List for a New Years Eve Party

2009-01-30T00:39:00.001-08:00

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.

Meet The REAL Santa Claus

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

2009-01-26T10:14:00.000-08:00

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.

http://OnIncome.net

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

2009-01-26T10:10:00.000-08:00

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.

http://OnIncome.net

Cocktail Party New Years Eve Style

2009-01-26T00:12:00.001-08:00

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.

http://ResearchOnKids.com

Word count 653

Santa Letters - Have Santa Claus Send A Letter.

2009-01-23T09:55:00.000-08:00

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."

Recipes and cooking tips.

Food and Snack Ideas for Your Thanksgiving Party

2009-01-21T03:42:00.000-08:00

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.

http://ResearchOnKids.com

Word Count 564

Christmas Eve Games

2009-01-20T00:37:00.001-08:00

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

2009-01-19T14:22:00.001-08:00

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

2009-01-17T10:05:00.001-08:00

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

2009-01-16T13:29:00.001-08:00

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

2009-01-14T06:03:00.001-08:00

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

2009-01-11T23:38:00.001-08:00

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

2009-01-10T08:48:00.001-08:00

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?

2009-01-09T10:52:00.001-08:00

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

2009-01-05T06:33:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-04T03:33:00.001-08:00

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

2009-01-02T00:36:00.001-08:00

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.

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Christmas Around the World

2008-09-12T08:27:00.001-07:00

Christmas Around the World

Christmas in the Birthplaces of Traditions -- Bethlehem, Germany and England.

Christmas as celebrated today is a culmination of centuries of traditions that are religious and secular and which came from different countries around the world. It is interesting therefore to look at some of the general ways in which Christmas is celebrated in these countries. The traditions examined for each country will be examples of some of the things that are unique to that country and which are done today, or which were once done by people in those countries.

To begin, it is symbolic to look at the town of Bethlehem, which is believed to be the birthplace of Jesus. The Church of the Nativity is located in
Bethlehem and at Christmas it is decorated with a lot of flags and other Christmas decorations. A very large crowd usually gathers at The Church of the Nativity on Christmas Eve to see a dramatic parade procession of horsemen, led by police who are mounted on Arabian horses.

Following the police in the procession is a lone horseman who carries a cross, followed by churchmen and government officials. Members of the procession solemnly enter the doors of The Church of the Nativity and place an ancient effigy of Jesus in the church. A silver star located deep in an underground cave-like section of the church marks the site where Jesus was born. A star is also set atop a pole in the town's square. In Bethlehem, homes of Christians usually have a cross over the door and a manger scene is usually set up inside the house.

In Germany, home of the Christmas tree tradition, the Christmas tree is not seen until Christmas Eve. The tree is usually kept in a special room, or elsewhere, and decorated in secret with lights, ornaments, tinsels, angels, candies, nuts and cookies. It is then lighted, the presents placed underneath and then shown to the delight of Children on Christmas Eve.

In Germany, Dec. 6 is known as St. Nicholas Day when Santa visits the homes of boys and girls. On the day before, Dec. 5, children leave a shoe or boot outside or by the fireplace for Santa Claus. If they were good, he places gifts and candies inside the shoe. But if they were naughty, children will find twigs or a rod in their shoe. Dinner on Christmas Day includes roast goose, long loaves of bread filled with raisins, nuts and dried fruits. Other sweet delicacies are also enjoyed.

Many traditions in England are similar to those in the United States because such traditions originated in England and were brought to the United States by
immigrants. The tradition of sending Christmas greeting cards started in England and is still popular at Christmas, as well as the tradition of neighborhood
caroling on Christmas Eve. Children also hang stockings on Christmas Eve in anticipation of Santa Claus filling them with Christmas gifts or treats. The holly, ivy and mistletoe are also used a lot in Christmas decorations.

In England, the traditional Christmas Dinner is roast turkey, goose or chicken with stuffing, vegetables and roast potatoes. Dessert consists of the British or
Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. A rich, ruit-filled Christmas cake may also be enjoyed later in the day. A tradition of pulling Christmas crackers also goes with the serving of food on Christmas Day.

A cracker is a paper tube that contains a party hat, riddle, toy or trinket, and is brightly colored and twisted at both ends. It gives out a crack as the contents pop out when it is pulled at each end. Also on Christmas afternoon, the Queen broadcasts a Christmas message to the nation, which is heard on radio and television. The day after Christmas is also a holiday that is known as Boxing Day.

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2008-09-09T03:10:00.000-07:00

Spreading Goodwill at Christmas

The real meaning of Christmas, the season of good cheer, is about giving especially to provide some assistance to those who need help for their daily
survival and who therefore don't have the material resources to enjoy the Christmas season. The importance of giving to those in need during Christmas is
embodied in the story of Jesus' birth, which is the reason Christmas is celebrated.

For Christians, Jesus was born to save mankind from sin by giving everlasting Salvation to all who believe in the Word of God and chose to follow
the principles for living in the Bible. Jesus therefore gave in the ultimate way - he offered himself as a sacrifice for every living person. Christians
therefore believe that Christmas should be about following the example of Jesus by giving of oneself to others, especially to those who are in need.

The Christmas season should therefore be about spreading goodwill and good cheer. This purpose of Christmas is very significant because research by social
service organizations has shown that Christmas happens to be a high time for depression among the have-nots, among people with problems and others who just
don't have the means and resources to enjoy the merriment of the holidays.

The hundreds of Santa letters written by children are often a sad testament to the many unmet needs of families and individuals during the festive
Christmas and holiday times. Just about every child is told the story of Santa Claus, or hears about him because his presence is everywhere at Christmas. And
up to the age of 7 to 8 years, most children believe the story about Santa Claus bringing toys and other gifts. That's the reason why so many young children
often write letters to Santa at Christmas time in which the innocently plead for toys and other gifts because they their parents or other relatives will not be
able to give them those Christmas toys or Christmas gifts that they want.

Thankfully there are many volunteer and charitable efforts carried out by groups and corporations that seek to fulfill the needs of children and also of adults during the Christmas season. One of the most notable organizations that do such charitable work is the Salvation Army, which has a history of giving service to those in need.

According to The Salvation Army's website, the organization as known today was started in 1865 by a Methodist minister, William Booth and his wife Catherine. They formed a group that preached, provided food and shelter to the homeless, the hungry and to alcoholics in need of recovery services. The services were provided in London's East End. Booth and his followers, first known as 'The Christian Mission,' started to use The Salvation Army name in 1878.

The Salvation Army is now uniquely associated with the Christmas season through its many representatives who dress up as Santa Claus and stand outside retail establishments ringing their bells while they kindly seek donations from shoppers to help the poor at Christmas.

Individuals also play Santa Claus at Christmas time and help out those in need by donating toys and gifts through their companies, other business enterprises such as banks or through their local municipality. These groups usually all have
a box or an area where new toys or clothing can be dropped off and the items are then donated to families in need or to social service providers for distribution
to the needy during the Christmas season.

Along with much charitable giving at Christmas time, other public interest groups also work hard to inform and educate consumers about avoiding the after
Christmas blues. This is often experienced in January when the bills and debts are due as a result of all the spending, much of it on credit, that is done for
the holidays.

These groups try to spread goodwill and cheer in a different way. They try to provide educational information on spending responsibly during the Christmas
season with the hope that the happiness and good feeling enjoyed during the season can also carry over after Christmas and not be spoiled by the burden of
having huge bills to pay.

http://ResearchOnKids.com

4th of July games

2008-08-20T10:39:00.001-07:00

4th of July games

If you're hosting a 4th of July party, there are hours and hours to fill before the highlight events of the day begin - the fireworks. You'll want to have plenty of activities and games planned to keep everyone busy and entertained.

There are a variety of games you can plan that have a patriotic theme.

Balloon pass - This game involves relaying a balloon down a line of people. Use balloons that are red, white and blue and tell the participants they will be using their hands and their legs to pass the balloon down the line. Create two teams of people, and line them up in straight lines. Give the first person a balloon and tell them to put it between their legs, passing the balloon to the next person in line with their legs only. That person will take the balloon and pass it to the next person by putting it over their head. That third person will put the balloon between their legs and pass to the next person like that. The game continues until the balloon has passed all the way down the line. If you have a small group, require that the balloon get passed down the line and back again before declaring a winner.

Chalk it up - Pick a panel of judges (the oldest members of the family are the obvious picks) and have them become the official judges for a chalk contest. Break your guests into two teams (or more, depending on how many people are at the party) and give them each one or two containers of sidewalk chalk. Tell them to create a sidewalk picture that shows something patriotic, and tell them the flag must be included in the picture. Give them a time limit (depending on your group, this time limit might range from 10 minutes to 45 minutes) and then have the judges declare a winner after they have carefully examined all the artwork. You could have art-themed prizes for the winners.

Parade - One fun 4th of July activity that just screams "4th of July!" is a parade with decorated bikes, scooters and the like. Ask everyone who comes to the party to decorate their bike or scooter or other item in patriotic garb. You can have people bring them to the party already decorated and have a contest for "best bike", etc., but also fun is to have a decorating party within the party. Have all the items on hand to decorate the bikes and scooters and skateboards. You might have streamers, banners, flags, and ribbons. The children and adults can decorate their bikes and scooters as a party activity.

Guessing Game - These games are always popular for just about any occasion. Fill a large jar with peppermint candy (the red and white striped kind) and decorate it with blue and red ribbon. Have people guess how many candies are in the jar (which of course means you count as you place the candies in the jar). The winner, or the person who comes closest to the number without going over, gets the jar of candy.

Fireworks - If you're having fireworks at your home, you might have a big box of assorted fireworks. Everyone has their personal favorites and people might have clear ideas of what they want to see and hear. You can play a game to determine who gets to pick the next firework to go off next. You might ask trivia questions (why are there 13 stars on the flag?). Or you can have a dance off. While music plays in the background, each person who really wants to pick the next firework to go off has to dance the craziest, silliest dance they can come up with. Someone who's been designated a judge will decide who won the dance off and that person gets to pick the next fireworks item. Unless there are more fireworks than people, each person only gets to pick once.

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Christmas Day Games

2008-08-12T07:08:00.001-07:00

Christmas Day Games

Just because the gifts are opened and the paper strewn about the living room doesn't mean the fun of Christmas is over. Add some fun party games to Christmas day to extend the fun of Christmas.

If you have a large gathering on Christmas day, have fun with the hat game. When they arrive, give everyone a Santa hat. These are inexpensive and can be purchased for $1 at the dollar store, or even less in bulk, if you plan ahead. As everyone goes about their business of getting food, chatting with others and the like, the room will look very festive with everyone wearing their Santa hats.

However, the object of this game is to not have your hat on. As people forget about the hats, the object is to get rid of your hat and not be the last one wearing a Santa hat. Inevitably there will be one person so wrapped up in a conversation or the buffet table, they forget to take off their hat and will be left the game's loser. This is a game that can be played again and again as you head forward with the day's festivities.

One fun memory game that kids particularly like is to make everyone pay careful attention to all the gifts that are opened on Christmas day. After the gifts are removed from the room (or you remove yourselves from the gift room) have everyone try and remember every single gift everyone got. Include stockings and any food gifts. Tell people they only have to remember the items that were opened that day, not any gifts they received and opened prior to Christmas day. This can be a fun game that's particularly popular with kids because they love to relive the gift magic. In addition, if they were so immersed with their own gifts they didn't notice anyone else's this is a good chance for them to educate themselves about what everyone got that day.

If you need a game to keep everyone busy before dinner, try the "guess me" game. Buy some large heavy socks, not low-rise, but the type that are worn outdoors in the winter that are thick and come at least to the calf. Put several items in the socks. Make sure identical items are in each sock. These items should be related to Christmas in some way. You might include a small ornament, scotch tape, a pinecone, a Hershey's kiss, and the like. Have each person feel the socks (having two socks just makes the game go faster, but you can play with just one sock), and write down their guesses about what's in the socks. Be sure to tell everyone how many items are in each sock. The winner gets, you guessed it, one of the socks!

If you have a bunch of wanna-be performers in your group on Christmas day, how about playing a little game of "Christmas Idol"? Set up a small table for the "judges" and have teams of 2 people (or individuals, if they want) sing a Christmas carol. Tell them to have a lot of fun with the song, and even add a Santa hat or other dress-up items if they wish. The winners can take home a CD of Christmas music. This game is particularly fun if just the children want to perform and be judged by the adults, or if, conversely, the adults perform and are judged by the children.

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Have a Chic Christmas - All About Style and Fashion for the Holidays

2008-08-09T05:50:00.001-07:00

Have a Chic Christmas - All About Style and Fashion for the Holidays

In New York, a style capital of the world, black is always a chic and fashionable selection. That's even more so in the Fall and Winter seasons when dark colors are favored. But even the fashionistas who like somber colors add a bit of sparkle and cheer to Christmas and holiday clothing with some color, usually magnificent red.

Dominant colors at Christmas are red, black and white and a red scarf, or a white one, is a must-have accessory.

Holiday-themed apparel with snowflakes, candy canes, stars, Christmas trees, are also popular during the season. Along with being colorful, they also convey the message that the person is fully embracing the spirit of the season and is in a festive mood. When individuals wear holiday-themed apparel, they are therefore radiating a positive attitude and giving the signal that it is pleasant to be around them. After all, nobody wants to be around the 'grumpy bah-humbug' type of personalities during the Christmas season.

Holiday-themed jewelry also works well as accessories. These can add that little sparkle to an outfit that makes it stand out in an admirable way.
Holiday-themed jewelry is also perfect for those individuals who simply want to show a touch of the holiday spirit without having to actually wear holiday-
themed apparel because it maybe too different from the conservative style of their wardrobe.

It is necessary to add some sparkle to apparel during the Christmas season and current style trends of having jewel-engraved or embroidered tops play well
for the Christmas season. They will allow the wearer to look festive in a very understated but elegant way.

Fall popular styles will also undoubtedly be a fashionable way to dress for the holidays. Based on the Fall Fashion Shows in New York, there are five basic outfits that stylists say should be in the wardrobe of all women. They are: the Tunic, Winter Short - which is cut just above the knee - the Vest, Pencil Skirt and the Super-wide pant.

The vest can be a dressy one with embroidery or other adornments, or it can be more minimal based on the overall outfit. The Winter Short and Pencil Skirt can easily convert from working outfit to party wear with the right accessory, making them perfect to wear to an early evening Christmas or holiday party. A variation from the Pencil Skirt is the Pencil dress. This too is likely
to be popular for Christmas as it can be easily accessorized with a broad belt, which is one of the accessories that top fashion advisers say is a 'must-have'
accessory for the Fall.

The Tunic and Super-wide pant are also liked for Christmas and the Holiday season because they are very flexible in how they can be paired with other
garments. Another fall fashion staple are Knit Sweaters - oversized and as tunics. They will also work well with black tights and leggings, which has made a comeback in
leg wear.

Leggings can be worn under skirts or dresses. Very slim leggings can also be worn simply in place of pants, worn with a jacket or again, with an oversized knit sweater. Using the basic colors of red, white and black that are popular during Christmas and the holidays, colored leggings will definitely add a nice touch of style to outfits and make them seem perfect for the Christmas
and holiday season.

It is also good that dresses are once more welcomed among the fashionable. And the red dress for Fall fits well into Christmas and the holiday season. The latest in jeans, which is a mainstay in everyone's wardrobe and suitable to
wear at all times including during Christmas and the holidays, is that a skinny fit is in. And if ultra-skinny is not very complimentary to your body shape, you
can still get one of the newer types of jeans that are said to have a lot more stretch, giving a 360-degree or all-around wrap to the body for a perfect or near perfect fit.
And since Christmas is the season to be happy and cheery, the truly jolly can always top off their Christmas outfit with a cone-shaped, red and white Santa hat.

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Christmas Tree Themes: Are They Really Worth It?

2008-08-08T09:21:00.001-07:00

Christmas Tree Themes: Are They Really Worth It?

Do you celebrate Christmas? If you do, chances are you will celebrate the holidays with a Christmas tree. Each year, the majority of Americans purchase a Christmas tree for their homes. Whether that tree is real or an artificial one, it is often decorated with Christmas decorations. Different individuals decorate their Christmas trees in different ways. Many choose to theme their Christmas trees. If you are planning on decorating your Christmas tree this year, you may be wondering whether or not it is really worth it to decorate your Christmas tree with a theme. In all honesty, it depends.

Before you can start to determine whether or not it would be worth it for you to decorate your Christmas tree with a theme, it is important to note that different individuals have different views on themes. There are many Christmas tree owners that choose to theme their Christmas trees by having everything a particular color. For instance, there are some who choose to have a white Christmas tree with gold and red decorations. All of the decorations typically match. While many take this simple approach, there are others who take it a step further. There are some parents who tend to focus their Christmas tree theme around a cartoon character or something else that their kids enjoy. The decorations used are all typically associated in one way or another.

The type of theme that you would like to use, if you choose to use one, will help to determine whether or not you should go through the hassle of decorating your Christmas tree with a particular theme. For example, it was mentioned above that many just theme their Christmas trees with a particular set of colors. While this can still be difficult to do, it is one of the easier ways to have a Christmas tree theme, especially if the colors are traditional holiday colors. Anything different and you may spend days or even weeks searching for Christmas tree decorations; Christmas tree decorations that may be more than you are willing to pay for. So, if you are interested in decorating your Christmas tree with a theme, but without having to go through all of the hassle, you are advised to take the simplest approach.

If you do decide to decorate your Christmas tree with a particular theme, you may want to think about shopping for your Christmas tree decorations early. Around the months of October and November, the majority of individuals start shopping for Christmas decorations. When this occurs, the selection of decorations available drastically decreases. When you want to theme your Christmas tree, there is a good chance that you will want certain types of Christmas tree decorations, such as lights and ornaments. If you want to make sure that you get exactly the Christmas tree decorations that you were looking for, you are advised to start purchasing Christmas decorations as soon as they become available or as soon as you make the decision do decorate your Christmas tree a certain way.

If you are unable to find the Christmas tree decorations that you were looking for in one of your local retail stores, you are advised to give online shopping some thought. In fact, if you are planning on having a somewhat unique Christmas tree theme, you will find it easier to find what you are looking for online. When searching for themed Christmas tree decorations online, you will want to perform a standard internet search. For instance, if you were planning on having the theme of your Christmas tree be a popular cartoon character or a well-known Christmas symbol, such as an angel, you will want to tailor your search to exactly what you are looking for.

In addition to everything that was mentioned above, it is also important to examine the time that it will take to theme a Christmas tree. When it comes to themed Christmas trees, most tree owners want to get their Christmas trees exactly as they envisioned it in their minds. Unfortunately, that can take a lot of time and experimenting. It does not mean that you shouldn't theme your Christmas tree this year, it just means that you many want to examine whether or not you really have the time to do so.

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2008-08-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

Christmas Shopping During Big Sales

Several times a year retailers offer big sales on many of their items. Some of these times include President�s Day, Easter, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and of course Christmas. Retailers hold sale events during these times of year to encourage shoppers to get out and make some big purchases. The last minute Christmas shopping frenzy which takes place each year can be largely attributed to the sale events at Christmas time. Many shoppers specifically wait until the last minute to do their Christmas shopping because they know many items will go on sale at this time. While this is an excellent way to save money, savvy Christmas shoppers know that doing a little bit of their Christmas shopping at these other sales during the year can help to ease the stress and financial burdens often associated with last minute Christmas shopping.

Christmas shopping during big sales is definitely a good idea but it is important to remember that there are some ways to really take advantage of a big sale and some ways to have your Christmas shopping deterred by a big sale. This article will discuss a few basic strategies for doing your Christmas shopping during big sales without falling into some of the common pitfalls often associated with shopping during sales.

One of the biggest pitfalls associated with doing your Christmas shopping during big sales events is to end up purchasing many items you don�t need and would not have purchased if they weren�t on sale. This can be a problem especially if it causes you to exceed the budget you have set for Christmas shopping. This often happens when shoppers encounter a sale they think is simply too good to pass up. For some shoppers a discount of more than 50% seems very appealing and they may be tempted to buy these items just because the price has been reduced by so much but they might not really need the item. In this case the shopper may be saving 50% off of the original price because of the discount but if they wouldn�t have purchased the item if it wasn�t on sale they are really spending more than they would normally spend and are essentially losing money. To avoid this pitfall, it is wise to make a list of each person on your list and what you intend to purchase for them so you will not be tempted by big bargains.

Another problem associated with Christmas shopping during big sales is that hesitancy often causes the shopper to miss out on an item. When you are Christmas shopping during a big sale it is important to be slightly impulsive. If you see an item you think you would like to purchase for someone on your Christmas list, you have to either buy it right away or run the risk that it will be gone if you come back later to look for the item. Retailers often put items on sale when they only have a limited quantity of the item in stock and therefore once they sell out the item is gone. So it is important to remember that when you are Christmas shopping during a big sale, you have to make decisions quickly. You need to either decide to purchase an item or completely forget about the item because it will likely be sold soon after you leave the store.

A letter from Santa
http://ResearchOnKids.com

2008-08-05T10:37:00.000-07:00

Yes, believe it or not Christmas is not that far off. And, you know what? Now, is the time to knock off a few things on your Christmas gift list. A good gift to give people is a "letter from Santa." You can have Santa Claus send anyone you know a letter by visiting http://ResearchOnKids.com today. But, rest assured, unless you request otherwise, he won't send it till early December. It will get there before Christmas.

2008-07-24T00:34:00.000-07:00

Eating Heartily but Consciously During Christmas Season

During the Christmas season, summer and its body-conscious state of mind are distant memories. Hearty indulgence in the many foods shared at Christmas therefore doesn't produce the same feelings of guilt. Nevertheless, its not a
pleasant thought to start the New Year carrying any extra pounds. So why then
eat yourself into a resolution to 'take off a few extra pounds' if you can
smartly avoid it?
Whether it's sharing cookies and candies at work, or having an evening out
at a party or dinner, you can have Christmas food and enjoy it. While you seem
to be eating heartily with a smile, the key is to have a secret strategy of
moderation. It involves sticking to a plan that can be called 'Eating on a
Budget.'
'Eating on a Budget' is not about the cost of what is eaten, but about the
quantity of what is eaten. It is important that a 'budget' or eating in
moderation plan is developed because it is almost impossible to avoid exposure
to a lot of cookies, candies and other sweets at Christmas. At work, you may
risk appearing like the Grinch who stole Christmas if your response will always
be something like, 'Uh..no..bah humbug' all the time that some Christmas goodies
are offered. It will seem as if you aren't in the spirit of the holidays
especially since at that time of year everyone is usually in a festive and more
relaxed mood, and the pace at work is usually slower.
A practical way to partake in Christmas goodies, for example, is to
substitute some holiday cookies for say the bagel that you usually have with
breakfast or for a mid-morning snack. And instead of just taking one cookie,
from the platter, which is noticeable and likely will encourage a colleague to
tell you to have more, take three instead. That's where the plan can come into
play. You can then enjoy the cookies over two or more hours, because nobody will
be watching how you really eat. You can always have a few candies, one cookie or
a cookie and a half by your desk and that way it will seem as if you are
heartily enjoying the holiday treats.
Another strategy is to bring - bake or buy - low calorie Christmas cookies
and candies to work to counteract others that are being offered. Since eating
healthy is highly encouraged, health-conscious cookies will not be looked down
upon so long as they taste great. A box of sugar-free Christmas chocolate
candies for example will look just as delightful as regular chocolate candies.
It's interesting to note that in a poll sponsored by the National Confectioners
Association in 2004, chocolate was the favorite food gift that Americans said
they preferred to receive for the holidays. The lowly and much maligned fruit
cake was last on the list. The second favorite holiday food gift was a fruit
basket and a plate of cookies was third on the list, according to the
Association.
For an occasion such as a Christmas party or a dinner, including Christmas
Dinner, where larger quantities and selection of food is available, the 'Eating
on a Budget' plan means that serving portions and the choice of food selected
should be carefully watched.
At a party where more desserts and sweets are likely to be available, a few of
the selections can be sampled. If the urge to try everything can't be resisted,
then do so, but then second helpings have to be severely limited. The same is
somewhat true for Christmas Dinners. One big difference is that the food served
during Christmas Dinner will be heavier, so by selecting portions wisely, one
can always say truthfully that the stomach is full.
And indeed, after a sumptuous Holiday Dinner, your body is likely to be full
from food and your soul full of joy from sharing another memorable holiday
tradition with family, friends and loved ones.

title="Santa Letters">A letter from Santa
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2008-07-11T09:38:00.000-07:00

Cholesterol Reducing Vitamins and Drugs
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Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:37:50 GMT (0.2 minutes ago)
Cholesterol Reducing Vitamins and Drugs

Having an abnormally high cholesterol level can put one at risk of developing heart disease. It won't be an instant thing; heart disease can gradually develop as a person ages and as one continues to maintain a very high cholesterol level. If you plan to live well over your years, then lowering your cholesterol levels at the earliest time possible will be able to help you achieve your goal.

There are certain medications available in the market today that aim to lower cholesterol levels. They are grouped in different classes most notable of which are HMG-CoA Inhibitors or otherwise known as "statins". The drugs belonging in this group try to block the enzyme HMG-CoA, which functions as one of the steps required to convert fat into cholesterol. Statins are known to be the most effective cholesterol lowering agent to date and have become a great help to people requiring drastic reduction of their cholesterol levels.

There are also cholesterol lowering drugs called bile acid sequestrants that work by binding itself with the bile produced by the human liver. Bile is the substance that aids in the digestion system and in the absorption of fats in the intestine. Bile acid sequestrants prevent the formation of cholesterol by preventing bile acid from digesting fats.

There are also vitamins that help lower cholesterol levels. Most prominent among them is Vitamin B3 or niacin. Niacin is one of the eight water-soluble B vitamins that help the body convert carbohydrates into glucose which is used in the body for energy. The B vitamins are also important in the breakdown of body fat and protein as well as in the aid in making the nervous system, skin, eyes, hair, mouth, and liver healthy. Niacin also helps the body in getting rid of toxic and harmful chemicals.

Niacin has also been found to increase the effects of other cholesterol reducing drugs. But such an effect would only be possible if niacin is taken in large doses. But people are also warned to be careful of trying to lower their cholesterol levels by taking in large doses of Niacin. Large amounts of this B vitamin can cause flushing of the skin due to dilating blood vessels as well as other side effects such as itching, headaches, nausea and muscle cramps.

Other vitamins and substances also credited in helping the body lower its cholesterol levels is Lecithin and vitamins C and E. Lecithin works by allowing fats and cholesterol to be dispersed from the body and help prevent fatty buildup in the arteries. Vitamins C and E have also shown to help in trying to help prevent heart disease by protecting LDL cholesterol from damage. Although LDL cholesterol is also known as the "bad" cholesterol, most cardiologists believe that only damaged LDL contributes to the increasing risk of heart disease.

http://ResearchOnKids.com

2008-07-07T11:03:00.000-07:00

A Wealth of Kid Hobby Ideas

Every young person needs a hobby. An interesting kid hobby will help children learn as well as keep them entertained for hours. It might even help them stay away from a bad peer group and stay out of trouble. Some kids might think of video games or TV as an appropriate kid hobby, but most parents would like to see their kids doing something more challenging or educational.

A good kid hobby is playing a musical instrument. The guitar can often be self-taught from a book if a child has the interest, but for piano playing or other instruments, you will probably have to invest in lessons. Practice is, of course, an essential part of mastering any musical instrument.

Another type of kid hobby is pursuing an art or a craft. Kids can learn to draw, paint, or make scrapbook pages. They can learn needle arts, such as embroidery, sewing, knitting or crocheting. Beginning carpentry is a very useful kid hobby that may turn into a career, or at least skills that will be used for a lifetime.
Tinkering around on gas engines or electronics is another kid hobby that can lead to useful skills.

There are all sorts of things that kids might like to collect for a hobby. Some of the more common collections are of stamps, coins, and rocks. Stamps are interesting because they can be from many different countries, becoming a geography lesson. Coins and stamps both are of historical significance, and encourage reading to learn more about different eras in history. Rock collecting as a kid hobby requires looking into science books.

Other collectibles include bean bag toys or figurines of a certain thing, such as owls, frogs, or unicorns. Anything a child has an interest in can be collected. If a kid is interested in dolphins, for instance, she may not only collect dolphin figurines and posters, but also be motivated to read books about dolphins.

Construction sets also make a good pastime for kids. Many people may think of these only as toys, but children who have grown up with these sets and added components to them down through the years can create some pretty impressive models. They are also gaining skills in reasoning and perception as they build.

Making model, such as cars, boats, and airplanes, has always been a popular kid hobby. If your child is interested in making models, be very encouraging in the beginning. Model car kits can be very complicated and require a great deal of precision. If your child's first few creations leave a little bit to be desired, don't laugh or scold, or he is likely to never want to try to make anything again! Get the easiest kit he is willing to make and then patiently help him as much as needed.

Many kids enjoy sports, making any athletic activity a great kid hobby. Soccer, basketball, and little league baseball all come to mind, but don't forget about track and field events. Maybe your child would enjoy distance running or gymnastics. An active kid hobby will help your child stay in shape as well as make an interesting pastime.

A letter from Santa
http://ResearchOnKids.com

2008-07-01T07:10:00.000-07:00

2005 Porsche Carrera GT

Unofficially, the Porsche Carrera GT is a racecar, a racecar built for the street. What makes it a racecar is not necessarily the huge power produced by its V10 engine
or the carbon fiber construction that keeps everything very
lightweight � although these features surely make it a fast
car. It�s more the sum of its parts that make this car worth every bit of its $440,000 price tag.

The Porsche Carrera GT was introduced as a 2004 model
and until 2005 there were already a few changes in order
to make the Carrera GT the new Porsche super car. These were minor updates in order to make it a little more street friendly. Between the supplemental bar hoops is now mounted a glass screen. The seats height is adjusted along with the additional bolstering in the thigh area. The Carrera GT is easy recognizable, as it�s a low, sleek, lightweight roadster, very beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside. Two removable panels that can be stored in the front trunk make the foul weather protection available.

The car has unique features, among which are: 5.7 liter, 605 horsepower V10 engine, monocoque chassis with
Porsche-patented engine and transmission mounts made of
carbon-reinforced plastic and the first use of a ceramic
composite clutch in a production car. A very important aspect is that The Carrera is safe and stable at speeds up to 205 mph, thanks to its aerodynamic and race-bred suspension package.

The design of the suspension is so sophisticated that the
shape of its components improves the Carrera GT`s aerodynamics.

The designers used lightweight materials such as magnesium
for the car�s substantial wheels and the frames of its special sport seats, the result being a faster and safer car. To prove so, The Carrera GT accelerates from a standing start to 62 mph (100km/h) in only 3.9 seconds reaches 100 mph (160 km/h) in less than seven
seconds, 125 mph (200 km/h) in less than 10 seconds, and can achieve a top test-track speed of 205 mph (330 km/h).

What makes this car have these impressive results is it�s 5.5 liter, normally aspirated V10 engine for racing created in the development center in Weissach, Germany. That engine�s bores have been enlarged to displace 5.7 liters in the Carrera GT. It has a very low center of gravity, a 68-degree V angle and four valves-per-cylinder heads. Since the block, crankshaft and camshafts are all made of light alloys, the engine weights only 472 pounds (214 kg).

To stop this �monster� Porsche`s team used a high-tech
braking system. Developed for demanding motorsports
applications, ceramic brakes are the first to work for on-road use.

The massive 15 inch ventilated discs and six-piston calipers have the amazing capacity of bringing the car to a sure and safe stop, matched only by the stunning acceleration of Carrera GT.

Porsche Carrera GT is definitely a exotic appearance, a
car that can do it all: fascinate you with its good looks, astound you with its performance and abilities on the race track.

Tips For A Successful Local Job Search

If you are seriously searching for a local job, but you have no idea where to look, you may be just one of the thousands of unemployed people in the country. However, finding a job is easy when you know where to search.

Where can you find employers? How can you find your desired local job?

Before anything else, you should determine your skills and abilities, update your resume and be ready to face the employment process. There are several options on where to find employment.

1) Job Center: Job centers provide numerous vacancies for different kinds of work. Majority of job centers update their employment board frequently.

Originally, these career centers cater to young jobseekers up to 21 years old. They arrange for appropriate job interviews, which they believe, would match your skills and abilities. Some job centers also process training vacancies and apprenticeships to young people. Today, these centers also cater adults� need of employment.

2) Newspapers: Local and national newspapers, non-profit papers and job hunting newspapers provide advertisements on current job vacancies. You could find all the existing newspapers in libraries and check all the recent job postings.

Majority of newspapers today have their content available online. You could browse through them one by one and list all the jobs you prefer.

3) Journals and magazines: Every industry has their own periodicals, magazines or journals. Most employers go to these publications for employing professionals. Some could be bought in magazine stands and others come by subscription. Therefore, if you are hoping to establish your career based on your finished field of study, you could subscribe to a professional magazine and increase your local job prospects.

4) Agencies: Employment agencies handle most of vacant local work. Covering all kinds of work for various industries, these agencies are listed in local directories and Yellow pages.

5) Employer grounds: Many companies have job vacancies on their premises. Since these companies such as food retailers make use of internal notice boards, they do not advertise in newspapers and agencies. You could walk into these companies and ask the front desk for employment vacancies.

6) Internet: The most cost-effective way in finding local jobs is through the internet. Majority of employment agencies, newspapers, top companies, magazines and job centers have their own website. You could save time by searching through them one by one and apply for the job you prefer the most.

Making use of all these options could save you a lot of time searching for your desired local job. You could use all of these methods simultaneously to increase your chances of employment.

A Letter From Santa Claus
http://ResearchOnKids.com

2008-06-29T05:01:00.000-07:00

Sports Recreation: Relieve Stress and Have Fun

The world we live in is growing increasingly fast-paced, stressful, and filled with responsibility. Because of this, everyone needs some time to relax and have some recreation. Our modern way of life also tends to be sedentary, and the meals we eat are often not very healthy. Exercise is a very important component in renewing us. For these reasons, sports recreation activities are some of the best recreation we can choose. There are many options for hobbies to provide sports recreation. You may even want to learn some new recreational sports skills.

Courses to learn new sports recreation skills can be found online and in larger cities. You can learn and participate in team sports through the local Y and other organizations. Team sports recreation activities you might like to participate in include softball, baseball, basketball, and sometimes soccer for younger people. Another team sport you might enjoy is bowling. Regardless of your skill level you can find a bowling team to have fun with.

Individual sports recreation activities you can learn and participate in include golf, tennis, running, aerobic dance, gymnastics, and horseback riding. Don't overlook bicycling and weight training too. Many of these sports can be learned at the local Y as well. For some of these, you'll want to have a friend to play against or share the exerience with. Many runners, for instance, like to run with a friend. And games like tennis and handball really need cooperation for best results.

If you'd rather, you can learn about sports recreation skills online. You can find courses to teach almost any sport or activity you can think of including underwater hockey, fly-fishing, and para-gliding in the Alps! Of course, unless you can get some hands-on experience you'll only have the theories of the sport. Still, online courses are a good way to get a taste of different sports and recreational activities you might someday want to try out.

A really fun sports recreation game you might get a chance to play is ping pong. Ping pong, or table tennis as it is sometimes called, is played on a table with rubber coated paddles and extremely lightweight plastic balls. You must hit the ball with your paddle so that it strikes the table and clears the net before your opponent strikes it and bounces it back to you. One way to become more adept at ping pong and increase your chance of winning is to sometimes hit the ball harder than at other times. This keeps your opponent guessing what you will do next.

Sports recreation activities are a great way to get exercise and relieve stress. They are also a lot of fun. Whether with friends or alone, everyone needs a favorite sports recreation to take part in.

A letter from Santa
http://ResearchOnKids.com

2008-06-28T07:07:00.000-07:00

History of Some Christmas Traditions

Christians celebrate Christmas to observe the birth of Jesus Christ, which is an event and not a tradition. But many other activities related to celebrating the Christmas season evolved from certain traditions, many of which are from other countries, particularly from peoples in Europe.

Among common items used in Christmas decorations are the holly and the mistletoe. Both are used primarily in wreaths
and garlands. The Druids started the tradition of using the mistletoe as decorative items up to two hundred years before Christ. To celebrate the winter season, the Druids would gather the plants and use them to decorate their homes. The Druids believed the mistletoe would bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. They also believed that the mistletoe had a healing quality and could be used for everything from healing wounds to increase fertility.

In Scandinavia, the mistletoe was seen as a plant of peace and harmony and was associated with Frigga, the goddess of
love. This association is probably what led to the custom of kissing under the mistletoe. In the Victorian period, the English also would hang mistletoe from ceilings and in doorways during holidays. The habit developed that if someone was standing under the mistletoe, someone else in the room would kiss that person. Such outright behavior was not generally seen in Victorian society.

The use of the mistletoe in Christmas celebrations was once banned by the church however because of its associations with
pagan traditions, and the use of holly was suggested as a substitute.

Poinsettias are another traditional decorative flower used at Christmas. It is native to Mexico and is named after Joel
Poinsett, who was the first U.S ambassador to Mexico and who brought the plants to America in 1828. Mexicans believe the plants were a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem and that's one reason they are associated with Christmas. There's also the story that a young boy was going to see the Nativity Play at a church but realized he didn't have a gift for Baby Jesus. The boy gathered some green branches, which others scoffed at. But as he placed them near the manger, a bright red poinsettia flower started to bloom on each branch, which gave rise to their traditional use at Christmas.

Candy canes became a Christmas tradition not because their red and white stripes matched the colors of the season, but for
the most unusual reason of discipline. that's because they were first used as treats that were give to German children to keep them well-behaved for the duration of church sermons. Over time, the legend of candy canes at Christmas came to be associated with some of the strongest symbols and beliefs of Christianity: the Father, Son and Holy Ghost known as the Trinity, the Blood of the Son of God, Jesus as the embodiment of holiness, purity and without sin and the Son of God as the shepherd of man. The candy cane represents these symbols respectively with its three stripes, its red and white color and its shape.

Sending greeting cards during Christmas and the holidays is as prevalent today as the custom of giving gifts. The tradition
of sending Christmas cards started in 1840 in Britain with the start of public postal delivery service of the 'Penny Post.' Then from about 1860, large numbers of Christmas greeting cards started to be produced. The popularity of the cards increased in Britain when they could be sent by the postal service for one half-penny, which was half the price to post a standard letter at the time, if they were in an unsealed envelope. Religious pictures of Mary, Joseph , Baby Jesus, the angels, shepherds and Wise Men were traditionally placed on Christmas cards. Some cards today include scenes from the Nativity, but pictures of Santa Claus, winter scenery, Christmas trees, gift packages and others are also depicted on contemporary Christmas greeting cards.

A letter from Santa
http://ResearchOnKids.com

2008-06-07T05:39:00.000-07:00

2008-06-07T05:12:00.000-07:00

2008-05-28T13:05:00.000-07:00

Christmas In The United States and Canada

Many of the celebrations in the United States that are associated
with Christmas were traditions brought by German and English
immigrants. Along with the well-known and practiced tradition of a
brightly decorated Christmas tree, other traditions brought by these
immigrants include Advent calendars, Christmas greeting cards,
gingerbread houses and gingerbread cookies.

Christmas in the United States today can be seen as focused
around family, travel, shopping and decorations.

Family and travel go together during Christmas in the United
States because family members often have to travel fairly long
distances to be with each other at one location. The growth of cities
that have primarily economic activity, suburbs for residences, as well
as the fact of different industries being found in certain geographic
locations, are among the reasons that family members often live great
distances from each other in separate states.

Christmas and its festivities therefore present a wonderful
opportunity for many members of the family to gather in celebration and
see each other in an intimate setting. The traveling involved makes the
Christmas season a busy time of the year for rail and air travel.

The occasion of seeing many family members at Christmas is also
linked to the activity of shopping that is an important feature of
Christmas in the United States. The Christmas season officially begins
on the Friday after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday and which now
ranks second in shopping for a single day to the Saturday before
Christmas.

Much of the shopping that is done is to purchase gifts for
friends and family. Gifts for family members are usually exchanged
after dinner on Christmas day, when everyone gathers in the room with
the Christmas tree. Gifts are usually left at the base of the Christmas
tree in the weeks leading up to Christmas Day.

Gifts may also exchanged before Christmas at parties held by
friends and parties held at workplaces.

Second to gifts, shopping is also done at Christmas for
decorations. While the Christmas tree may be the centerpiece of
attraction, garlands, wreaths, candles and decorative lighting placed
outside on lawns or along rooflines are also used to create a beautiful
holiday appearance for homes.

Canadians enjoy Christmas activities that are similar to those
celebrated in the United States. That is so because in the 1700s when
some German immigrants in the United States migrated to Canada, they
continued to practice many of the activities associated with Christmas.
The geographical proximity of the two countries also means they share
many things, so similarities in Christmas traditions wouldn't be an
exception.

One thing that accounts for the difference between the two
countries however, is the Eskimo population in Canada. Eskimos in
Canada celebrate a festival during winter and have other traditions
that are absent from American Christmas celebrations.

A practice also exists in Nova Scotia in which small groups of
masked individuals march around about two weeks before Christmas. These
masked groups attract attention by creating stir with much bell ringing
and engaging in a noisy caper in an aim to get candy, sweets and
goodies from onlookers.

This tradition bears some similarity to Jonkonoo celebrations in
the neighboring islands of the Caribbean. Those celebrations also
involve masked individuals, including some that appear on stilts that
make them as tall as trees. The parade of Jonkonoo regale onlookers
with various antics and present a minor scare to some children, who are
then calmed with candies and other treats.

In Nova Scotia, onlookers can try to calm the noise and rowdiness
just a little if they can correctly guess the identity of the masked
person. A correct guess puts an end to the noise as the mask is
removed, exposing the individual. For their part, maskers also play
nice by friendly nudging answers from children about whether they have
been naughty or nice and handing out candies and treats accordingly.

Get the facts about Santa Claus at http://ResearchOnKids.com .

2008-05-25T01:16:00.000-07:00

Santa And Christmas In Sweden. By: http://ResearchOnKids.com

Santa And Christmas In Sweden

How do people in Sweden celebrate Christmas, you wonder? Well, let me tell you!

Christmas in Sweden starts on December 1 (the start of Advent). Late fall/early winter tends to be a very dark and dreary season when the sun rises at 8 or 9 am and sets again at 3 or 4 pm. To combat the darkness, people put up their electrified stars and candles in the windows. It is also common to light a lot of candles all around the house at this time of year. Swedish people also like to sip �Gl�gg� (heated up, sweetened red wine laced with cinnamon and other spices) and eat gingerbread cookies to get into the Christmas spirit.

A few days before Christmas, Swedes decorate their houses with Santas, angels and colourful ornaments. The Christmas tree is also purchased around this time and decorated beautifully with lights (usually white lights, but colored lights are becoming increasingly more common), ornaments and garlands.

The main events of Christmas take place on December 24 (Christmas Eve). Around lunchtime the traditional �julbord� is served. It is a smorgasbord of various dishes, such as sausages, meats, pickled herring, candies, cookies and Christmas porridge. The Christmas ham and lutfisk (fish prepared in a traditional way) are also �must-haves� on the Swedish �julbord�. It is all very delicious, but extremely filling!

At 3 pm on Christmas Eve, another Swedish Christmas tradition takes place. Children and adults alike gather around the TV to watch Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Cinderella, etc. wish everybody a very merry Christmas. Yes, all the American classics!

When the �julbord� has been eaten and the TV-show is over, it is usually time for the arrival of Santa Claus! He comes walking in the dark, carrying a lantern to guide his way. The Swedish Santa Claus wears a red coat and a red Santa hat. There is also the obligatory white beard, and sometimes also glasses to hide the real identity of Santa.

When Santa Claus arrives to the door he knocks. He is let in, and he then asks �Finns det n�gra sn�lla barn h�r?� (�Are there any nice children here?�). As the people in the house yell �Yes!�, Santa walks in and is shown to a chair. He sits down and opens his big bag filled with presents. After all the gifts have been delivered, Santa leaves again.

The presents are then opened, and the evening begins to wind down. The children are playing with their new toys, and the grown-ups might sit around and talk, have some drinks and snacks or coffee. It is early to bed for some people who like to get up really early the next morning and go to the traditional Christmas Day church service. For other people, Christmas Day might be a day when you sleep in late and have a hearty breakfast based on the leftovers from the �julbord�. The rest of the day is usually spent reading, watching TV, eating and just plain relaxing.

Merry Christmas from Sweden!

This article was written by Anna Persson. Anna co-runs "Santa Letters - Sent From Sweden" at http://researchonkids.com (a service that sends letters on behalf of Santa Claus). Ms. Persson has authored numerous academic reports and studies dealing with children. Anna is the communications director at http://getaccuratetranslations.com, a proofreading and translation service. You may place this article anywhere and redistribute it so long as you do not change the content in any fashion and keep this resource information (with the author's name and web site address, etc.) attached to the article. Thank you for reading.

2008-05-22T02:52:00.000-07:00

A letter from Santa
http://ResearchOnKids.com

2008-02-17T07:54:00.000-08:00

Why You Should Use HD Cameras

If you own a camera, as millions of us around the world
do, your probably aware of the fact that there are
many to choose from. The cameras of the past were
black and white, enabling you to take a black and
white photograph that printed out from the camera
right in front of your eyes.

From then, cameras evolved. Digital cameras came
out later on, which the ability to put them on your
computer or even take your camera card to a local
store and have the photos printed out on professional
paper. Over the years, cameras have evolved in so
many ways that it isn't even funny.

These days, high definition video cameras are
dominating the market. They are relatively new and
quickly catching on, giving you so much you can do
with your camera. Unlike the past, cameras are
now capable of capturing full videos as well, proving
that they are indeed capable of capturing any
memory you can possibly imagine.

High definition video cameras also offer you 20X
zoom lens or more, meaning that you can zoom in
quite a distance on things that you want to capture
up close and personal. For the most part, you can
do things with these cameras that you may have
never before thought possible.

When you capture a picture or video with high
definition cameras, you'll be very amazed at what
you see. Just like HDTV, the pictures of the
camera are very lifelike. If you have a newborn
baby, a high definition video camera may be just
what you need to capture each and every precious
moment. For this reason and many more, you
shouldn't hesitate to get a high definition video
camera - that is if you don't own one already.

Santa Journal

2008-02-13T13:15:00.000-08:00

Santa here. I have the tv in the background. Ma Claus has just mosied up stairs. Whew! Free time. I would dump her but who wants to date Santa? Gee, sometimes I wish I was 500 years younger.

2008-02-11T05:56:00.000-08:00

Video iPod`s ads

IPod video was a surprising new device at its appearance, due to the new and exiting quality that it could offer: playing videos. Besides this, the iPods have known, since their appearance on the market, a constant evolution, which lead to the fact that the public and the potential customers had more and more expectations regarding this product. With a new offer and design, the new product iPod video had a series of new ads, some authentic and some suspicious, because of their fake or less real aspect.

Due to the fact that the product was not yet in stores and people didn�t expect such a product to appear, there were a number of teasing and controversial ads (regarding their authenticity) which appeared and circled on the Internet. By bringing a new and relevant feature to the device, such as the video feature, the potential customers were surprised by the evolution of the product and so, the ads purpose was established. One of these ads represents the iPod video in an unreal shape (meaning that the authentic iPod has other optical features and another design). The ad was very short, as it lasted only 15 seconds. The video begins with presenting some corners of the new device, which are revealed in a computerized manner.

This one side of the device turns and the other one presents a screen which played the most recent music video belonging to the band Black-Eyed Peas (Pump it). The music and rhythm were dynamic and fast and so were the characters, who were dancing while driving. Suddenly, the slogan Introducing the new hand held movie theatre appeared and shortly after, the phrase new hand held movie theatre was cut out and the new phrase new iPod appeared on the screen, resulting Introducing the new iPod.

The controversy around this ad is focused on the fact that the actual iPod video doesn�t have the same characteristics as the one in the ad: the actual device looks very similar to the 1st to 4th generation of iPods, meaning the screen is over the buttons, but the one revealed in the ad presented a very large screen, which completed one side of the device.

Still, there are many ads of the new iPod video which are, for sure, authentic. The main idea of these is the fact that music can be seen, as well, besides just being heard. This is why the Apple company opted for integrating famous artists in the ads for their product: one of the ads featured U2's Original of the Species from the Vertigo - Live From Chicago DVD and another two featured Eminem and Wynton Marsalis. The ads featuring these artist were much longer than the usual ones and they basically played famous songs, but not together with their videos; instead, the producers opted for some more authentic images illustrating performances of these artists, which would look natural and more spontaneous. The ads for this new product were focused on the video playing capabilities of the device and the producers wanted, at the same time, to symbolize the new range of possibilities that the new model of iPpod had to offer.

The main idea of the ads was clear, even though these 3 ads had very different targets. Based on the fact that the clients of the new device come from different backgrounds and are of different ages, the producers and the marketers managed to pick some artists that represent generations and symbolize best their tastes and lifestyle: Eminem stands for teens and hip hop music, Wynton Marsalis is representative for adults who like classical and jazz music and U2 is somewhere in between the other 2 opposite styles.

In parallel, the ads with the dancing silhouettes continued with more specified backgrounds, which were representing the video options. The iPod`s video ads show that the product has definitely evolved, has a more mature image and optimized new features.

A call from Santa
http://ResearchOnKids.com

2008-01-30T01:11:00.000-08:00

Hey, Santa here. I just got some free time. Mrs. Claus has run off to take care of some errands. I gave her a big, big list as I need some "me" time.

So, how goes it? Do you miss me yet? Some how, I doubt it. Most people only want to think about me in December. But, since you're here, I guess you are more special than them!

By the way, don't be shy. Please list comments on this Santa blog. It's get a tad lonely here up at the North Pole. I sure could use the company.

A letter from Santa
http://ResearchOnKids.com

2008-01-27T12:16:00.000-08:00

Why There Are Free Podcasts

Podcasting, unlike other media forms, almost never has
charges for services, and the vast majority of feed
producers distribute free podcasts. This puts at odds
with, say, online radio stations, news sites that offer
media to subscribers, or the online music industry
general. Even though podcasting has very direct
correlations with industries like news and music that
have strong business models, podcasting differs.
Podcasting does not really have a business model, and
hardly anyone is podcasting in order to profit from it.
There are some businesses and news sites that podcast,
but they do it as a way to supplement their companies
and to gain technological geek credibility, not to make
money. This is an odd thing, but explainable in light of
what podcasting is.

The free podcast problem is not difficult, and
podcasting differs in several key ways from other media
areas. First, podcasting involves the physical transfer of
a file from the host to the users computer. An online
radio station does not do this; all that they provide to
their listeners is a streaming sound file that cannot be
saved without difficulty and work. If someone did
manage to do so, the station would have strong grounds
for suing them since they were never given the rights to
keep and store the files. By podcasting the complete file
to the users computer, express permission is granted the
user to copy and use as they wish. Second, the podcasts
are, for the most part, made by individuals who have
low costs involved in creating and distributing the files,
as opposed to a news broadcast or song by a music
company. These individuals have little reason to charge
for their work since there is little cost to them to do so.
Because the files are distributed in a way allows their
copying and does not control the media, and since
podcasting is a very low cost media outlet, feed
producers have little reason or ability to charge for their
work.

A letter from Santa
http://ResearchOnKids.com

2008-01-21T13:58:00.000-08:00

Tongue Tattoos

Tattoos are a hot commodity these days, becoming more and more popular than they have ever been in the past. There are hundreds and thousands of different designs and styles of tattoos to choose from, giving you the chance to express yourself. Although tattoos are very popular, the new trend that is rapidly taking effect in the world of tattoos is known as tongue tattoos.

Although many aren�t familiar with tongue tattoos yet, they are just now starting to take shape. They resemble other designs and styles, although they cover the muscle known as the tongue. There are tattoos that cover the entire tongue, or just a single area. In most cases, those who already have them, chose to have their tongue tattooed a certain color. Whether it be purple, orange, black, or blue, the tongue can be tattooed a variety of different colors.

The designs that are poplar with tongue tattoos include stars, tribal work, and other shapes and designs that cover a region of the tongue. Stars are popular with the lower area of the tongue, near the tip. There are also designs that can be tattooed farther back on the tongue, near the middle of it. As tongue tattoos become more and more popular, more and more designs are implemented.

As far as the procedure goes, it�s very similar to getting a tattoo on any other part of your body. A tattoo involved needles puncturing the skin, depositing ink into the epidermis. The needles move extremely fast, breaking the skin and leaving the pigments of ink. The tongue, just like the skin, will swallow the pigments once the surface has been punctured by the needle. Once the pigments of ink are absorbed by the tongue, the color will remain there forever.

Those who have had tongue tattoos in the past say that they aren�t very painful. Unlike tattoos on the skin, the tongue is a giant muscle. A tattoo on the tongue is often described as a tickling sensation or the feeling of numbness in your mouth. When the tattoo artist does the tattoo, he will normally use a tool to hold the tongue out. If you�ve ever had a tongue piercing, you�ll know what it looks like. Once the tongue is out, the artist will begin work. The process normally does take very long, as long you hold still and don�t move around.

If a tongue tattoo sounds interesting to you, the first thing to do is find a tattoo artist in your area who is experienced with doing them. Not a lot of tattoo artists are familiar with tongue tattoos, as they are just now beginning to surface. A tongue tattoo is a bit on the creative side � something that you just don�t see in public everyday.

Holidays
http://ResearchOnKids.com

2008-01-14T23:14:00.000-08:00

What is Supercross Motorcycle Racing?

Have you heard of supercross motorcycle racing before? Supercross motorcycle racing is a sport that is popular in America. However, despite that popularity, there are still many individuals who have no idea what supercross is. If you are one of those individuals, you are urged to learn about this sport. It is so fun, exciting, and action packed that there is a good chance that you will be a supercross motorcycle fan, in no time at all.

If you enjoy watching professional racing, especially NASCAR, there is a good chance that you will also enjoy supercross motorcycle racing. This is because, like most other forms of racing, supercross is an action packed, competitive sport. If you are watching a supercross race, whether that race is live or televised, you will likely be on the edge of your seat.

Although supercross was earlier compared to NASCAR, you will find that the two actually have little in common, besides the fact that they are both popular and both are focused on racing. While NASCAR uses traditional race cars, also sometimes referred to as sports cars, supercross uses motorcycles. What is unique about these motorcycles is that they are not the ones that you regularly see on the highway; they are off-road bikes made especially for off-road racing.

In addition to using off-road motorcycles, supercross varies from a number of other forms of racing, especially when it comes to the racing surface. Like many other forms of racing, including asphalt racing or traditional dirt track racing, you will find that supercross racing events take place on man-made tracks. These man-made tracks are often indoors. The tracks will vary, depending on the type of supercross race, but most tracks have numerous obstacles, which include jumps. The goal of supercross is to maneuver your motorcycle throughout the track to finish first.

As previously mentioned, the type of man-made track will all depend on the type of supercross race being run. Supercross is a professional racing sport, but it is not just limited to professional racing. Men, women, and children from all across the United States have started taking part in this fun and exciting sport. Those riders are often referred to as amateur supercross racers. Amateur supercross racers may race at a local track. In fact, many local individuals and business owners have come together to sponsor local supercross drivers, as well as provide funding for the tracks. Although these events may not be considered professional, they are rapidly increasing in popularity. In fact, they are so popular that you may even have a local supercross or motocross track in or around your neighborhood.

In addition to local supercross tracks, there are many individuals who have made their own. Although most professional supercross racing tracks are indoor tracks, most amateurs have or use ones that are outdoors. A large number of want-to-be professional riders have made the decision to develop a track in their own backyard or in nearby fields. However, the only downside to doing this is that racers are often on their own. In the event that an accident occurs, it may be more difficult to obtain help, when compared to racing at professional tracks and sanctioned events.

Now that you know what supercross motorcycle racing is, you may either want to become a fan or a racer. Whichever you wish to be, there is a good chance that you will be enjoying the sport of supercross motorcycle racing for years to come.

A letter from Santa
http://ResearchOnKids.com

2008-01-11T08:38:00.000-08:00

Santa here. I am kickin it in my computer room. Why... I just had to get away from ma claus, she is at a loose end.

Ah, good grief, someone's coming up the stairs...

A letter from Santa
http://ResearchOnKids.com

2008-01-07T08:34:00.000-08:00

Santa is snoozing.

2008-01-04T03:15:00.000-08:00

A letter from Santa http://researchonkids.com

2008-01-02T05:19:00.000-08:00

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What's This? Santa Has Arisen?

2007-09-01T01:02:00.000-07:00

Low and behold, Santa is coming soon! Wow, did you know that Santa has woken from his long sleep? He's got to get busy!

2007-08-30T11:19:00.000-07:00

Today
Santa Claus discusses one of his favorite places to write letters.

Durango Mountain Resort Ski Vacations

Featuring more than 2500 acres of ski area and 75
trails, Durango Mountain Ski Resort has much to
offer skiers of all levels. The resort claims that there
are approximately two people per acre on their
slopes during operation hours. The crowds are small,
and lift lines do not exist.

Located in Colorado, the top elevation is 10822 feet
with a 2030 vertical drop. There are eleven lifts,
including nine chair lifts and two surface lifts. You
can find lodging at the resort, or in the town of
Durango, which is nearby. If you stay at the resort,
make sure that you actually visit the town while
you are there. While the town is small, there is
much to see and do.

Rentals are available for both ski and snowboarding
equipment, and private and group lessons are also
available at the Durango Mountain Resort. There are
plenty of activities and events both at the resort and
in Durango to keep everyone in your family happy.
When it comes to family ski vacations, this is one
you don�t want to miss!

Visit http://ResearchOnKids.com for Santa letters.

2007-08-29T03:43:00.000-07:00

I don't want to shock you but it's almost that time of year, yet again! It's almost time for you to have Santa send a letter from Santa or some other gift.

Why not do something different this year and get your Christmas shopping done right now so you can really enjoy the season, stress-free!

2007-08-18T07:50:00.000-07:00

Get a phone call from Santa Claus by visiting http://ResearchOnKids.com sometime soon.

Letters From Santa - Tell Santa Claus Who He Should Send A Letter To.

2006-11-23T00:11:00.000-08:00

Letters From Santa - Tell Santa Claus Who He Should Send A Letter To.

(AP) North Pole. Latitude: 67.52N Longitude: 23.38E.

**Breaking news**

Santa has lost his list! He doesn't know who to write to. Help him. Tell him who he should write a letter to.

Get a letter from Santa. Have Santa send a letter to ANYONE... a friend, coworker, child, boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife, parent, pet... anyone you can think of.

Each Santa letter is:

* Personalized (NOT a form letter!). The letter will include their name (mentioned a few times), town, and whatever else you want (you can have Santa include comments of your own).

* Letters are sent from Sweden. You get a unique envelope, stamps, and postmarkings that will leave the recipient majorly impressed and thinking the letter actually was sent from the North Pole.

* Mrs. Claus will include a special gift that's only available in Sweden.

Also available: - Santa cards and postcards. - Santa calls.

Merry Christmas! Do stop by if for no other reason than to check out the nice Christmas music, pictures, and falling snow!

Letter From Santa - Makes A Nice Christmas Gift.

Letter From Santa - Have Santa Bring Some Smiles BEFORE Christmas, too!

2006-11-17T06:57:00.001-08:00

Seasons greetings!

We send personalized/customized letters from Santa Claus (however, you can choose Father Christmas, etc.). The default is Santa (unless we hear otherwise).

Letters are sent from Sweden - but the envelope shows as from Santa Claus, North Pole - but you can request something else. What's neat is that the stamps and postmarkings are unique to Sweden and this conveys to the letter recipient that the letter came from far, far away... maybe, just maybe, it really was from the North Pole.

The letters are written in ENGLISH by a native English speaker/writer (but you can request Swedish and a Swedish elf will write it, instead). Your choice.

Can you think of anyone who might fancy a personalized letter from Santa Claus (or, Father Christmas, if you prefer)?

Santa Claus will send a letter to anyone, for any reason: Family members, friends, your boss, co-workers, neighbors, a person you secretly admire, etc.

This is a neat way to send a hint, suggestion, etc. to anyone you choose. What if your boss, neighbor, or co-worker is really annoying you with something? Why not have Santa give them a suggestion/critique/hint. Or, what if someone is being especially nice?

* We have made some enhancements. For one thing, we have a totally different envelope (it looks like a present, is a different color, old-fashioned, etc.). Each envelope is sealed by Santa's official "wax seal".

* Letter writing has been enhanced.

* This year Santa will mention a landmark in the letter (park, lake, etc.) near the letter recipient's home (by its specific name). The letters are thus even more tailored to the recipient.

* You can now choose which letter and font you prefer. You can "mix and match" (for example, you could choose letter 1 but with the font from letter 3 - or you can suggest a font).

Plus, there are more styles to choose from. Please visit our site to see the letter choices.

Letter From Santa Claus

* Add any comments you wish to the letter.

* Santa CALLS. Want Santa to call someone you know? Receive a call from Santa, please visit:

Santa Call

================================================

We're testing an affiliate program, whereby you'd be paid to refer people to us (if they order).

Well, that should do it. Unless we hear back from you, this will be our last message to you.

I wish you a wonderful season!

Anna Persson (Head Elf Of Communications, North Pole)
Santa Letters - Sent From Sweden (but with North Pole in Return address)

http://researchonkids.com

Have any questions? Please visit our "Santa Letter" FAQ

Santa Letter FAQ

================================================

P.S.

* Would you prefer a different Santa letter service than ours (or want the letter sent from inside the U.S.A.)? Here's another Santa letter company to visit:

Santa Letters

- They use entirely different stationery, writing, envelopes, enclosures, etc.

Santa Letters....

2005-11-27T00:26:00.000-08:00

Ho ho ho,

Santa here. Brrrrrr... it SURE is cold... luckily be, we loaded up on hot cocoa! Well, I just wanted to let you know that I am in the midst of sending letters to all the nice people out there. I wanted to be sure that I included everyone. You know, I'm pretty good at it... the list covers about 99.37%, but that last .63%, I have a dickens of a time with getting a hold of. Perhaps you are in that group! These are people I want to write to but maybe they have moved or somehow their name was deleted from the list by a tired, overworked elf.

Well, I wanted to be sure to write to those .63% as well! So, will you help me?

*********************************************************************************
Head elf announcement:

"Have Santa Claus send a Christmas letter to everyone you know (friends, love interest, coworkers, prospective employers, family members, neighbors, etc.).

Letters from Santa brighten up the season and put people in a jolly holiday mood! All letters are personalized and sent from Sweden. Each package includes a specially chosen gift.

* Return address reads: North Pole, Sweden.

Santa letters are not just for kids anymore! All letters are sent from Sweden to add to the allure. Each package includes a gift handpicked by Mrs. Claus, snow that won't melt, a handwritten letter, Santa's OFFICIAL wax seal on the envelope, smells of Christmas, and so on. "

Please visit:
http://researchonkids.com

*********************************************************************************

Santa here again. Well, I have to say that I am sooooooooooo looking forward to visiting YOUR house this year! We have made some modifications to the sleigh... so it won't be so loud this year (yes, that sound you heard, that was me... sorry). :(

Could you leave some cookies out this year? Yes, I know. I ask everyone to do that... so how do I keep my figure? Workout videos, regular walking, and well, I eat less the rest of the year!

Okay, now, I sure hope you will provide me with a list of people you think deserve a letter from Santa Claus. Hurry, I will stop sending letters soon. After that, all my time will be dedicated to THE BIG TRIP!

* Letters from Santa will arrive between December 1 - December 20th.

I wish you THE BEST holiday ever! Ho ho ho and a very, very Merry Christmas and, last but not least, a mega happy new year!

Santa Claus
From his letter shop in North Pole, Sweden.
http://researchonkids.com

2005-11-08T04:53:00.000-08:00

Happy holidays! Seasons Greetings.

Today, we're going to interview Santa Claus a bit. We sent Santa a letter recently with the intent of shedding light on this popular fella.

Okay, here we go with question 1.

I recently received a letter from Santa. Santa, where do you find the time and energy to write to everyone? Aren't you just asking for meta-carpal related problems?

Well, Santa doesn't write to everyone. Just those who ask me to, or if someone suggests I write to someone. Other than that I write to a representative sample of all kids. I wish I could write to all of them, but you know, not everyone believes in me. And, many parents would just toss any un-solicited letter they received from me. They don't believe in me so the letter must be a prank.

Energy?

I drink lots of hot cocoa and take a lot of breaks. Hot tubs help, too! And, I like to take 5-7 mini walks every day. That gives me bags of energy.

Meta issues? Ergonomics?

As far as wrist issues, well, I use a special magic pen and a process that allows me to instantly convey the image and thoughts in my head onto the paper. And, yes, each letter is specifically tailored to the person I’m writing to. We're pretty advanced technologically up here!

How do you overcome the skepticism?

Of course, I don't need to. Skeptics love to be skeptical. And, they always will be due to the power of perception, you know, perceptual filtering. This leads us to see what isn't there or dismiss or just not see what is right in front of us. There are many things there that we just don't see. I mean, like radio and tv waves. And, that desk, some people say it's really just a bunch of vibrating strings or something, not actually a solid mass.

First a little backgrounder. I used to send letters from North Pole, Alaska. Why Alaska? Well, you know, contrary to the popular belief, there are no post offices at the North Pole. You have to load everything up and take the sleigh to the specific country's post office and then lick stamps like mad. You prefer not to draw attention to yourself, of course. But, it's hard not to.

I have found out that most people, upon receiving my letter from Alaska, would be like: "Yeah right! Hee-hee. Mom, did you send this?" and they'd 86 the letter.

See, the envelope, stamps, post markings, letter, ink... you can get that at the local store. And, they'd think: "What are the odds that they have the same EXACT envelopes, pens, stamps, post markings, etc. at the North Pole?" Somewhere between 0 and zilch. It just doesn't say NORTH POLE.

Okay, more to your question about skepticism. Well, I decided to start sending letters from my workshop in North Pole, Sweden and, wow, what a difference! For one thing the Santa village is secluded YET not too far from the local post office. This saves me time and effort. I can even hire some regular looking lad to pick up and mail the letters. This way no one ever figures out that Santa is behind it and that he is only a stone’s throw a way.

If you send an elf into the post office people will freak out! “Egad, leprechaun at 3 oclock, run for your lives! Call the cops! Freak alert!”. And, next thing you know, there’ll be a posey out looking for a clan of misfits -- and my cover will be blown like room of dynamite.

Now, if people REALLY knew I existed based on SCIENTIFIC evidence (as certain as they were of their name), it would blow it. As with everything else, they'd get accustomed to it, and it'd be no biggy and all the magic would evaporate. I mean, it's much funner if they think I COULD exist in their imaginations but aren't 100% sure.

Now when people get my letter from North Pole, Sweden, they think: "Could this... be... from the r, real, real Santa? It is so authentic. So unlike anything I've ever received before. It even smells different!". Even the disbelievers are left wondering. This is because the letter comes from a far (and it's very clear to see that it is!) - from an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT COUNTRY. The envelope, stamp, post markings, and paper are totally different from anything they've ever seen.

Key pet peeve of Santa.

Fruit cake. That's so... pet rock stone age stuff. I prefer peanut M&Ms, peanut butter cups... but NO... I get fruit cake, egad! Lighten up on the fruit cake, I beg ya!

Santa Claus is picky when it comes to???

Hot cocoa, reindeer jokes, chimneys, sleighs that put out too many Gs when you hit that curve just off the Northeast tip of Iceland, reindeer gas (easy on the beans, Dancer!).

Really, though, Santa isn’t picky, he’s SELECTIVE.

Santa, what can't you do without?

A sleigh, 9 tiny reindeer (actually they aint so tiny), a bunch of elves that work like ants for no pay. Ah, but they love their work.

Can I add a thing I wish I could do without?

Okay, Santa, what CAN you do without?

Well, I'd love to shake this strange innate drive that gets me to fly around the world one day a year. For the rest of the year I'm like: “Whhhha, what was I thinkin? I mean... flying around this big, humongous world delivering presents to people that don't even think I exist? Where's the gratitude? Fruit cake! North Pole to the people: "No fruit cake. Please send Mr. Goodbars.”

You know, 1 fruit cake, or even the dreaded "Fruit Cake Of The Month" subscription could be bearable, that is, if I just got one. But, millions of people have the same idea! The same exact “gift” idea! Where did this idea start, that, when it doubt, send fruit cake?

Not even the reindeer, or the "we'll eat anything" elves will touch the fruit cake.

We get so much fruit cake, year after year. Of course, we have to dispose of it. That has led to the creation of "Fruit Cake Hill", a pile of fruit cake that stands 253, er update, 255 feet tall. I don't know what that is in meters, maybe 2 MUCH! I read an article online saying that scientists have discovered a new mountain at the North Pole. Uh, sorry guys! And, no, it has nothing to do with global changes!

A quote Santa himself dreamt up... and its ramifications.

"Time doesn't fly, it's just that we have instant recollection which deludes us into thinking time has passed by rapidly."

Strange how people say reindeers don't fly... but time? That does? Time flies? When's the last time you saw that happen? I can vouch for reindeers flying... but time? Man, time moves like molasses when things are tough. If that's flying... I'll take the train.

Speaking of time, it is true I can fly fast enough to make time stand still! But, I can never reveal how I do it. If it got out, all havoc would break loose. Trust me, time travel is NOT what it’s cracked up to be. Do it right the first time and you won’t ever need to go back. Too many people are stuck in this melancholy, nostalgic fixation.

*Little known Santa fact:

Santa will gladly write ANYONE you know for ANY REASON, ANY time of the year. He's tired of kickin it all year twiddling his thumbs till that one night (actually 2 nights considering that he travels over the world... and thank heaven for that 2nd night or else... well, this thing just wouldn't go over!). He wants to do more than just sit in a sleigh and slide down chimneys.

Okay, thank you Santa!

That concludes this interview. More tidbits will follow shortly. Be sure to bookmark us and come back often!

To have Santa send you or anyone else a letter, be sure to visit Santa's workshop in North Pole, Sweden.

Just click the link below and Santa will break out his magic pen and write to ANYONE you wish! Click below:

Santa Letters In Time For Christmas

*Brought to you by the Santa Claus Truisms Center

Season's greetings from Santa - Get a Santa letter!

2005-10-28T10:11:00.000-07:00

Santa Letters

Ho, ho, ho...

Santa here again...

Well, Christmas is a coming. I am having a blast writing letters (but I am NOT going to send them off till some time in late November!). What? You haven't heard? Yes siree, Santa does in fact write letters. No, really. I'm NOT jivin you.

Would YOU like me to write to you? Or, have you a friend, child, love interest (boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife), parent, grandparent, boss, coworker, family member, pet, prospective employer, or anyone you want to impress or bring a smile to?

I have written several "letter of recommendation" pieces for people. Yes, I have said things like: "This is Santa. I highly recommend that you hire Tanya ___. She's a keeper! And, if you don't, well maybe there'll be a bit of coal in your stocking". Imagine how much that'll set you apart from the pack!

And, I wrote a letter to a girl that a guy wanted to get to know better. "Ho, ho, ho Sarah. Let me come straight out and tell you that I will try to get you what you want this Christmas... But there's a fella out there who I think might be a better gift. His name is Gary ----. He sits to your left in Chemistry. He said the best gift I could give him was your attention. Are you free December 15th? If so, let Gary know...."

See, I, Santa have become more versatile these days. I can even inject some humor... But its been a few years since my standup routine in Anchorage.

I will include a special comment in every letter you request I send, if you wish.

Now, wouldn't you have a lark if you got a letter from Santa? Well, imagine how others will feel!

Each letter comes with a special gift that's only available in Northern Sweden.
Not to mention reindeer food.
Let's not forget the magic snow flakes.
Each package is HANDCRAFTED.

So, if you want a Santa letter sent to ANYONE you know, please visit me at my website in Northern Sweden.

Just click the link below:

Santa Letters

I do thank you and wish you a glorious holiday season,

Santa Claus

Christmas Update... From Santa Claus

2005-10-20T10:47:00.000-07:00

Ho,

Santa here again. I still haven't located my list... you know, THE list. I lost it while flying over Sweden. Well, I actually wasn't flying by myself...hee hee, mind you, I was flying on my sleigh and out of the blue Rudolph veered to the right... never happened before, to my recollection... could have been that he ate a bit too much of Mrs. Claus granola, egad! Ah... wow, such G force! And well, usually I am not reading while I'm driving but this time I was peering at the list and well... it flew away... over Hässleholm, Sweden, I believe. If any Häassleholm-ians come across a list... you know what to do!

I want to ask if you could help me out and provide me with a list of EVERYONE you can think of who would want Santa to write to them. Kindly mosey over to the following "site" to do that, alright?

http://researchonkids.com/

Well, I certainly do appreciate you stoppin by. I will keep posting every day till Christmas eve!

Santa (from my new Santa Workshop in a special kind of Santa Village in Northern Sweden Latitude 67.52N Longitude 23.38E

Letter From Santa - From His "Secret" Village In Sweden.

2005-10-19T07:32:00.000-07:00

Ho, ho, and a final ho for good measure,

Yes, you guessed it... it is I Old Santa. And, yes, believe it or not... it's that time of year again. But, all is not jolly! Just the other day I started looking for my list of the naughty and the nice. And, to my chagrin I wasn't able to find it! Fortunately, my head elf Rocko told me about this thing the internet. He said I could collect all the names on the list with it. And, that's why I'm here!

I want to ask all of ya all a lil', tiny favor. Could YOU supply me with a list of the nice uns so as I can send them a letter and remind them to leave out some cookies (ideally chocolate chip) and milk (non-fat, please. It used to taste like water, but now I'm used to it).

Speaking of chocolate chip cookies... can I ask one more favor? Could ya warm them up a bit in the microwave?

Oh, sorry for getting off track... uh, where was I? Oh, yeah... I was wondering if YOU could come up with a list of all your friends, pets, children, parents, grandparents, spouse... you get the drift. See, this way I can have a list to replace the lost one.

And, as thanks, I will send each person on your list a nice letter! And, if you wish, you can include a special note from you!!

Just visit my "letter to Santa" site, below:

http://researchonkids.com

Get this... each letter will be sent from my Santa Village in Northern Sweden! Yes, your loved one (or friend, or colleague) will realize it has come from afar. The envelopes, post markings, and stamps are unique to Sweden. And, Mrs. Claus will include a nice gift that is exclusive to Sweden.

Now, folks, this is between YOU and ME, okay? For if Ma Claus got wind of this... well, let's just say there wouldn't be any cocoa for a few weeks!

Okay, well, I will let you go for now... we're right smack dab in the middle of preparing the new sleigh... Oooops, that was supposed to be a surprise. I let that cookie out of the bag, eh!

Santa in Sweden!

http://researchonkids.com

P.S. In case you haven't heard, I have relocated my MAIN Santa workshop to a nice, secluded village in the Northernmost Sweden.

**HELLO!! It's me here, Mrs. Claus.

Oh, Santa, the old fool he thinks that I'm not on to his doings. Why, I think that collecting names off the internet is a splendid idea! I've, of course, known about the internet for years. Where do you think that I found the neat new outfits for my husband? Be sure to only put out low-fat cookies for him, by the way. Otherwise he won't fit into his Santa clothes much longer (not to speak of him being able to climb down the chimney). No Santa outfit, no Santa, no presents. You get the idea!!

Well, I've better get back to my duties. Talk to you soon! I'm so happy that we can meet like this. The internet - what would we do without it, right?**