You can make Christmas creative this year just by putting a little extra thought into your normal Christmas activities.  What does “creative” mean?  Well, in this case, the main objective is to

breeze through holiday shopping quickly and easily

keep gift costs down to a reasonable level

enjoy the holidays instead of feeling frazzled, and

have more time to spend with those closest to you.

There are many little things that help make Christmas creative, more peaceful and more enjoyable.  Enjoying Christmas cookies, or special Christmas cakes, can be some of our fondest sensory memories.

If you want to host a Christmas party or a dinner party, try to have most of the work done ahead of time, so you can enjoy your guests at the party.  Remember, they came to see you, not your 12-hour lasagna!

Family crafts are another thing that children will remember forever.  For example, you can make dough ornaments using Christmas cookie cutters, and then decorate them with paint and sparkles.

The emphasis at Christmas should be on fun and operating efficiently  — not wearing yourself down by scrambling to complete every task on time.

If writing Christmas cards is too taxing, just send everyone an email message or an online greeting card this year.

If you need to save money on gift wrap, you can use colored tissue paper, or the comic section of the newspaper.  Or buy butcher block paper and color it using rubber stamps or tempura paints.  You don’t actually have to buy 20 different colors of Christmas wrapping paper, just to have some variety.

Then there’s the fun of making homemade Christmas tree ornaments, stringing popcorn and cranberries, or maybe painting a picture which will be a gift for someone.  There are tons of things you can make, and a ton of ways to make Christmas creative!

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Do you find gift giving a challenge, and long for the old days when it was easier to have a creative Christmas?

Most people seem to find their greatest challenge when shopping for gifts.  But a large part of the stress can be eliminated just by shopping online.  That’s why I have searched for the best holiday gifts this year, which I offer to you as possible suggestions.  Even if these are not exactly what you want, they just might give you some further ideas that you hadn’t considered.

Start off by creating a Christmas list of all the people you wish to shop for.  Jot down some preliminary ideas for gifts, if you have any.  Perhaps the person even has a wish list they have created.  Then look for possible gifts online, and add to the possibilities for each name.

As you complete the shopping for each person, check off each name as it is done.  This makes it easy to see what you have finished, and what you still need to do.

Figuring Out What People Want

For those who are especially hard to shop for, you might want to consider a holiday decoration of some kind.  You could choose anything from a special tree ornament to an elaborate holiday village that displays lights and plays music.

You can ask someone to name their favorite stores.  Chances are, if they often shop somewhere special for gifts, that store will have items that they secretly want for themselves, too.

Another good bet might be something that is personalized.  And there’s always candy, food gifts, and original gift baskets.

It helps a lot to know something about the person’s interests, favorite colors, and perhaps clothing sizes.  Take notice of any special hobbies, or especially things that the person collects.

Maybe they enjoy certain special treats or candy that would make a good gift.  One year, my daughter and I bought a roll of uncolored marzipan and shaped it into little fruits for grandma.  It was a lot of fun to mold and color the fruits, sort of like working with play dough.  My daughter was simply thrilled to be able to create her gift by hand, and I don’t think grandma ever forgot it, either!

That’s just one example of how to combine the spirit of giving with a little joy and creativity.  And the whole gift giving experience does NOT have to be a huge chore.  You just have to do a little sleuthing and planning to solve the whole big shopping mystery and to make Christmas creative and fun.

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There is no shortage of gift ideas for women out there. Let’s face it, women are shoppers. And most of the merchandise you see out there in stores is targeted towards women.

So the question becomes, “What do I want my gift to say?” If the gift is for your mom, sister or girlfriend, you might want your gift to say that you know what they like, that they are special to you, and that you care about their interests and comfort.

If the gift is for a wife or girlfriend, you might want it to express romantic love. In that case, it really helps to choose something very personal, like a special piece of jewelry, the perfect dress (that fits her!), or maybe some item that she has been seeking for a long time.

How to Figure It Out

Think about the woman’s living situation and comfort level first. If she’s always cold, she might like an electric blanket or snap-up snuggie blanket. If she’s on a special diet, you can look for food gifts that fit her eating plan. Maybe she has embarked on a fitness craze, and would appreciate fitness workout dvds and mini barbell weights.

Interests are a little easier to spot. If she has a special hobby, or enjoys crafts or puzzles, that could be a good bet. Or perhaps she has a collection of angels, or dog statues, or plates from around the world. If she likes gardening, you could try things like strap on knee pads, or a portable gardening seat and tote for gardening tools.

In most cases, it’s usually best to avoid gifts like kitchen appliances, unless the woman is an avid cook or baker. Some women consider such gifts to be very impersonal, and they can seem to say that you only value the person for the work that they perform. Chances are, this is not the message you’re striving to get across!

The hardest gift to find is the one that is extremely personal, that tells her how much you care about her. If she is a new age sort of person, you might want to go for a wrapped crystal pendant of some kind. She might also like precious stone jewelry, but make sure you know what the stone means before you give it as a gift.  Here are some of the best choices for gemstones:

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Gemstone Choices

• rutilated clear quartz — beautiful due to it’s tiny lines and imperfections, amplifies the energy of other stones, improves perceptions and clear thinking
• rose quartz — lovely pink, improves self worth, stands for love and friendship, also used for forgiveness and healing
• amethyst — best in darkest purple color, very powerful for spiritual development, used as a power stone and sometimes for healing
• citrine – dark yellow; helps for prosperity, wealth, self esteem, clarity of thought
• smoky quartz or hematite — dark quartz or silver hematite help with grounding and protection

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Many ladies like astrology themed jewelry, too. You could give something that bears an image of her zodiac sun sign. And, if you know her birthday, you can find her Zodiac Sign according to this list:

Zodiac Signs

• Aries — March 21 – April 19
• Taurus — April 20 – May 20
• Gemini — May 21 – June 21
• Cancer — June 22 – July 22

• Leo — July 23 – August 22
• Virgo — August 23 – September 22
• Libra — September 23 – October 22
• Scorpio — October 23 – November 21

• Sagittarius — November 22 – December 21
• Capricorn — December 22 – January 19
• Aquarius — January 20 – February 18
• Pisces — February 19 – March 20

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If you would like to give her something in her Birthstone Color, here is a general list. There are actually several possible choices for each month, but these are the most common and modern choices.

Birthstones

• January — Garnet
• February — Amethyst
• March — Aquamarine
• April — Diamond
• May — Emerald
• June — Pearl or Moonstone
• July — Ruby
• August — Peridot
• September — Sapphire
• October — Opal or Tourmaline
• November — Yellow Topaz or Citrine
• December — Blue Topaz or Turquoise

Please note that the birthstone choices and the zodiac signs often overlap, so this can get a bit confusing. For example, an Aries could be either a March or an April. You could go with either birthstone color, in that case, depending on which choice seems to fit the person better.

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Another excellent choice would be to buy metallic jewelry, and then have it engraved with a special message. This shows a great deal of thought, and possibly emotion, depending on what you write. Speak from your heart here. With the right sentiment, this could become an item that is treasured for a lifetime.

And then there are always gift baskets, if you’d like to wow her with a lot of small items that show how well you know her and how much you think about her.

When considering gift ideas for women — just make sure you understand that it’s the thought behind the gift that really counts!

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Are you struggling this year to find Christmas presents for him — for your boyfriend, grandpa, dad, or brother?  Sometimes it does seem like it’s harder to shop for men, because we just aren’t exposed to as many marketing messages for the male segment of society.  If you would like to consider a custom gift basket idea, here are some suggestions for small items you can add.

Start with a sturdy container.  You might want to choose a theme, as well.  There are decent sized containers that can be reused later as planters, which could be decorated with pictures of tools or a suit and tie image.  You could use a mock paint bucket or a cleaning bucket.  Or you could buy a heavy duty plastic toolbox, which will surely be put to good use long after Christmas is over.  A plain gift basket could work just as well, especially if you have an idea in mind for how to repurpose the basket later.  Next, here are some ideas for what to put in the gift basket.

For the man who appreciates grooming and skin products:

• special bath sponge
• sandalwood soap
• soap on a rope
• exfoliating mitt or brush
• boar bristle nail brush
• body wash
• favorite cologne or after shave
• microfiber hand or hair towel
• quick terry cover up
• bathing trunks
• cute underwear
• fancy non-alcoholic wine
• valet box for his watch or rings

For relaxing at home with the tv:

• remote control holder
• wireless headphones for tv
• magazine holder
• favorite cheese
• cracker assortment
• pistachios or sunflower seeds
• homemade sugar cookies
• chocolate pretzels
• peanut brittle
• jelly beans or red hots
• healthy trail mix
• super energy drinks

Special breakfast ideas:

• breakfast in bed tray
• two large matching coffee mugs
• world’s best dad or boyfriend trophy
• special coffee assortment
• gourmet cookies or biscotti
• English muffins
• jam assortment
• chocolate covered cherries
• jalapeno jelly
• hot sausage roll

For the handyman type:

• paint bucket with painting tools
• portable tool kit or tool belt
• energizing music
• cheese, summer sausage & crackers
• instant soup mix
• hot chocolate mix
• candy bars
• beer or soda
• popcorn or cracker jacks
• mixed nuts

For golfers:

• book for improving golf game
• dvd golf game
• golf balls, tees
• mints
• snack mix or trail mix
• cheeses and crackers
• dried fruit
• wine for unwinding

For other theme ideas, consider:

• car items — steering wheel cover, air freshener, sunglass holder
• favorite sports — football game snacks, hot sauce and nachos
• barbeque supplies — grilling tools, bbq sauces and marinades
• fishing — tackle items, seafood spices, large thermos or travel mug
• workouts — ipod or iphone with music, water bottle, spray mister for cooling off

Finishing Touches

For a healthy, organic look, you can wind an artificial leafy vine around the handle of your gift basket.  Then wrap it up with colored cellophane wrap, add a fancy trailing ribbon at the top, and your super cool, personalized gift is complete.

Lots of these ideas for small items could also serve as stocking stuffers, and you might even want to throw in some gag gift items such as colored condoms (for a boyfriend or husband) or perhaps a remote key finder (for the guy who is always losing his keys).  If the gift is for a boyfriend, a special book or a food gift (cookies or brownies) could be added.

It just takes a little ingenuity and planning to come up with a fabulous Christmas gift that will be long remembered, so start keeping an eye out for little things in the stores that the men might like.  There are lots of ideas all around us for presents for him.

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1. Read the Christmas story.

Take some time to sit down and read the biblical Christmas story with your kids. Use this opportunity to share with them how our Lord gave of Himself to come to earth as a lowly babe in a manager. The wise men’s gifts to Jesus in this story are another picture of giving at Christmas.

In our family, we’ve often used this as a way to explain to our children why we give gifts to one another at Christmastime. We explain that just as the wise men gave precious gifts to Jesus to celebrate His birth, we give gifts to one another to remember His birthday. In all the excitement about presents and Santa, kids sometimes need a reminder of what Christmas is really about.

2. Let your children pick out gifts for each family member.

Allowing children to pick out the gifts they will give is a good way to get them excited about giving. It helps them to experience the joy of giving when their loved ones are opening gifts they picked out. If your child is old enough to receive an allowance or hold a job, you can deepen the experience for them by encouraging them to spend their own money.

Even very young children can begin to understand the meaning behind Christmas presents. The year our daughter was two, I took her to one of the dollar stores in town and allowed her to pick out items to give her father and grandparents. Christmas morning she was almost more excited about handing out the presents she was giving than she was about the gifts she was receiving.

3. Volunteer.

Giving is something that children can learn not only at home, but out in the community as well. Christmas is a good time to volunteer at a local homeless shelter, soup kitchen or church. Seeing others that are less fortunate and being able to reach out and help is a good lesson for kids to learn at any age.

4. Provide Christmas for a Needy Family.

Another way to show your children the joy of giving is to allow them to help you gather gifts, food and other necessities for a family in need. There are many ministries such as Angel Tree and Operation Christmas child that can help you connect with others that may not be able to afford Christmas presents. You can also check with your church to see if there are any local families that may have suffered a job loss or tragedy and need help this Christmas.

5. Collect non-perishables for local charities.

Some local charities rely on Christmastime donations to get them though the year. This is a great way to get the kids active and show them what giving is really all about. It is important for kids to understand that sometimes giving isn’t about expensive gifts; it’s about giving time and going out of their way for others.

The lesson of giving, when consistently taught, will last your child a lifetime. It’s a lesson that compounds annually as it touches countless lives and is a beautiful reflection of what God gave each of us so many years ago, the gift of His only Son.

Jill Hart

http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-issues-articles/five-simple-ways-to-teach-your-children-giving-at-christmas-79137.html

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Here’s a selection of tips to help you with that last minute bargain hunting. These items are amongst the most wanted this Christmas, and although the shops may have sold out, the internet is alive with ways to get that ideal Christmas gift. So, without further ado, on to the gift ideas:

There are some superb tech gifts on the market…

to thrill and enthrall the whole family. The big ones this year include the incredible Playstation 3, the portable and engrossing Nintendo DS Lite, Apple’s latest version of the iPod nano (now with skew and augmented shuffle functions) and a wide range of home theater ideas such as widescreen HD TVs, Blu Ray players and fantastic new sound systems.

For the gamer who has everything, how about a gaming chair? That way the lengthy periods spent sat at the controls won’t harm their bodies so much.

There’s some great items out for the girls…

including the My Life Virtual Console, pink laptops, pink guitars and more. Traditional girls’ toys include the adorable Baby Born with Magic Potty doll, the Chou Chou My First Tooth doll, some great merchandise from the High School Musical films and the wonderful Girl Gourmet Cupcake maker, that the whole family will be able to enjoy.

For the boys, some of the most wanted toys this Christmas include…

the Ben 10 Omnitrix replica, the Power Rangers Operation Overdrive Tracker, the hugely popular Star Wars Clone Trooper Voice Changer helmet, the Indiana Jones Whip and Hat set and the fun Catcha Beats game too.

For fans of animal toys…

there are some brilliant ideas on the market this year. There’s the huge Kota the Triceratops for starters, and there is a wide range of interactive animal toys from the makers of the Furreal range, with The Furreal Biscuit, My Lovin’ Pup being the most popular. There are lots of other animal friends to choose from in the FurReal range too. There’s also the cute Honey, My Pony toy horse.

For younger kids…

the most popular toy by far is the wonderful Elmo Live toy by Fisher price, an all singing, all dancing Elmo that will become your childrens’ best friend with his stories, songs and dances.

For the family, how about a fun board game?

There are some excellent new games out there now such as Pictureka or 20q, but the old favourites are back with a vengeance New editions of Monopoly (Monopoly Here and Now World edition), Scrabble, Cluedo, Etch a Sketch and the legendary Rubik’s Cube are all available to keep everyone entertained while Christmas dinner settles.

There really is something out there for everyone, so don’t delay in seeking out the best toys and gifts for Christmas. All the very best season’s greetings to you, and have a prosperous new year!

Andrew Hawnt

http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/the-ultimate-toys-games-and-gifts-for-the-whole-family-at-christmas-677485.html

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