Christmas wishes, decorations, gifts, traditions

Recommended Christmas Shopping

Object d’art

Gifts under this category can be anything from fountains, clocks, wind chimes, dream catchers to hand-carved and ceramic hand drums fountains made of lightweight acrylic sculptures, picture pals.
Choicest books and writing materials like pens, letter or writing pad can go well with and for all ages and occasions, let alone the Xmas and the New Year. Candle stands of metal and china, designer chimneys, lampshades may come as a perfect fit for the occasion. Add to these other items of glass and china, metals or leather. You will find quite a handful of cool and handy stuffs to afford.

Again, for kids and grown-ups with some creative bent of mind, you may want something different. It may range from drawing and coloring materials like crayon, brush, palette, to musical instrument; from toys or games of infotainment to mind teasers.

It can also include some collectibles like traditional and contemporary picture frames in wood, metal and glass and even in quality plastics and lovely photo albums.

Musical gifts
Again a cassette or CD – audio or video, relevant to the tastes and preference of the recipient. Well, A tape of all the songs that catch the true spirit of the season.
But no less great is the idea of dedicating something to the listening pleasure of your friends and family. Make a request to the DJ or VJ for some music to be played on the occasion. You can also specify the names of all to whom you like to dedicate the piece.
Miscellaneous
Like to be more expensive with something different? Fashion accessories right from the designer silk scarves to ties and tie-pins, waist belts to trendy leather footwear. And yes there are clothing – from a vast choice of ready-made brands to the locally tailor-made ones. From an internationally famous designer’s collection to those of the Fashion school fresher. And Of-course!
Need a gift for well-being and recovery? There are some – not only fun and practical but nurturing and therapeutic. Branded to fit their utility value like Ocean Spirit, Fairy Spells, Tranquility and so on these are not highly expensive.

Special boutique
Special purpose boutique may include any item ranging from socks and stockings, scarves and Santa hats, wool and furs (please, not the animal ones), cosmetics and candles or a strain of variety. It may include incense, aromatherapy stuffs, body lotions, deodorants, perfumes, and of course, a wide variety of candles – large, medium and small. White, single or multicolor. Striped or designed, scented or not, low burning or high illuminating and so forth.

Nifties & Utilities
Pick up anything from a nice looking useful school bag to a fancy leather bag or even a sizeable kit bag. A watch band, or a belt; a television or a two-wheeler. Or,

Utility items
Anything like watch, key rings, pen stand, telephone index, electronic notebook and so forth.

Jewelry
For those who can afford it may be anything ranging from designer rings, bracelets, and necklaces, to photographic charms, handcrafted jewelry and beaded votive holders. Finally, irrespective of anything you gift to your friend the most important is the extent of love, care and feelings you attach with them. There is no substitute to them.

Source : http://www.theholidayspot.com

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Christmas Table Decorations

Decorating your table for Christmas can be as simple or as elaborate as you want to make it, but it can always be eye-catching and uplifting. If you have a little money to spend, you should first establish a limit, and then decide upon a theme. Do you want a particular color or colors? People, who especially love Christmas, still rely on the old stand-bys. I will admit that red, green, white, gold and silver are still my favorites and probably always will be.

Christmas table centerpiece Perhaps you’re in the mood for a wintery look. Simple. Just use white, blue, light shades of purple and you’re on your way. Along with candles you can add ornamental snowflakes, little snowmen, or strands of clear beads or snowy white garlands.

If you have a color scheme in your home that you would like to play off of, then that can make it even simpler. You can always find candles, ribbons, napkins, beads, etc. on line or at the store. Add touches of winter greenery or tiny Christmas trees to solidify the look.

A Christmas wreath laid in the center of the table can be the beginning of a perfect centerpiece. It can be decorated with any object you may want to use as a theme. If you have no theme in mind other than something special, then ribbons and bows can always come to the rescue. Inside the wreath, place a large candle or several tapers. The tapers can be the same height or differing heights. The choice is yours. Just make certain that the flames or hot wax do not come in contact with anything that could cause a fire. I was at a dinner party once where that happened. We certainly had a lively Christmas party that night!

Hurricane lanterns placed in a row down the center of the table can take the place of a traditional centerpiece. Stemware filled with beads, nuts, berries, glass marbles, or any small festive objects can be used as well. You can use themed pieces to decorate in between. We’ll use Christmas bells as our example of a theme. Bells can be purchased in packages or they can be purchased already strung on wire. If they are on wire, they can be wrapped around the base of the hurricane lanterns, or you can attach them to ribbon and wrap the ribbon around the lanterns. Long strands of ribbon and beads can flow around the decorations.

Continue to carry out your theme with your table napkins. Use two napkins of different colors for each place setting. Place one napkin on top of the other. You can roll them separately or roll them together, but the important thing is to tie them together. Tie them with a beautiful wired ribbon with the bell attached to the ribbon. Because wired ribbon can be shaped, it is easy to make the perfect size napkin holder. With your napkins inside your ribbon napkin holder, artfully arrange them and place them in the center of each plate. You now have bells on your napkin holders and bells on your table decorations.

You can continue the theme with bells tied to the backs of chairs, hanging from the chandelier or attached to your stemware. The idea is to repeat your color or decoration. By using a theme, your Christmas table will go from ho-hum to spectacular! Happy decorating.
Christmas Ornaments
The legend of St. Nicholas
Christmas tree
Sourse : http://www.amazing-christmas-ideas.com/

Potato Filling

Goes great with turkey and ham.

Directions:

1. About 3lbs whole potatoes, peeled, boiled, and mashed with milk
2. Melt one stick margarine in frying pan
3. Saute — 2 stalks celery (chopped) and one small onion (chopped) until soft and onion is golden. Do Not Brown
4. Add 3 slices of firm bread cut into cubes — mix in well (add more margarine if needed)
5. continue sauteeing until bread is golden
6. Beat 2 large eggs into mashed potatoes
7. Mix in onions, celery, bread — blend well.
8. Place in casserole dish — dot with margarine and bake in 350′ oven until top is puffy and golden (about 1/2 hour if mixture is warm when goes into oven, about 1 hour if taken from fridge).

Thanks to Sharon and Rick Winter, Wernersville, Pa.
source : http://www.santaclaus.com