Holidays Articles

Family » Holidays | By Dana Smith @

For us, holidays were a bad memory. This time in our life became something that held you back from doing things like other kids. They didn't face the turmoil you were going through. I remember it to this day. Coming up from the lower floor of the house, I notice mom running down the stairs to the same floor I was headed. My sister was not noticeable around then, being in her room. "Their coming to get us”. Mom said, her voice trembling and the look of fear in her face. "... more...

Family » Holidays | By Marige O'Brien @

I believe in Santa Claus. I'm not a child, nor even passingly young anymore. But as each year-end nears, and the stores begin stocking strings of lights and tinsel, alerting us to the fact that the holidays loom, I am gripped with a fever. And, perhaps it's because this feeling is familiar that I begin to see the truth. And the truth is, there really IS a Santa Claus. Oh, sure. I groan as much as the next person when I first hear holiday muzak in the stores. Maybe more so,... more...

Family » Holidays | By John Morris @

A family Christmas vacation can be a wonderful experience. It can fill you with wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. Christmas is a magical time to be surrounded by loved ones, friends and the spirit of the holidays. It’s also one of the busiest traveling times of the year. But, not to worry - there are still plenty of ways to enjoy a family Christmas vacation. A few tips will make your trip a breeze. Christmas Vacation Tip #1: Play Santa If you’re planning a Christmas va... more...

Family » Holidays | By Dorrie Ruplinger @

The Thanksgiving turkey – why is it the cause of stress for so many people? I know I am not the only person who has viewed that turkey as my enemy on Thanksgiving because Butterball turkey has a hotline that receives thousands of calls each year from people with various turkey questions. The hotline typically starts operation by mid-November and runs until Christmas. The hotline is even available on Thanksgiving Day. I have been making turkey for Thanksgiving for over 20 years and las... more...

Family » Holidays | By Amanda Baker @

One of the busiest times of the year for most families is Thanksgiving. Of course, you want your Thanksgiving dinner to be perfect, but each year, you seem to fall short of spectacular. Guests show up, and dinner isn't ready. Fear not! There are some simple ways to help ease your stress and have your Thanksgiving dinner go off without a hitch, which means you can also enjoy your meal with no worries! First and probably most importantly of all, plan ahead. You do not want to run ... more...

Family » Holidays | By Hege Crowton @

Whenever Christmas comes around does it happen that you now and then find yourself on memory lane? Thinking back to when you were a child and Christmas could not have been more perfect. It all seems like it was taken right out of a movie and not even another little detail would have made it better than what it was? How did our parents/grandparents do it? This is Christmas seen through a child’s eyes and for them it is magic, they are filled with the Christmas spirit. As adults it seems li... more...

Family » Holidays | By David Barnes @

Decorating your Christmas tree for the holidays can be pleasant and exciting rather than nerve wrecking and expensive. This is especially true if you start early investigating the different types of homemade ornaments your family can make together. Many of these can be made with minimal expense for the needed supplies to make your tree personalized and unique. Never underestimate that there are many different ways to decorate your tree, by using your imagination and garnering a little patience y... more...

Family » Holidays | By Hege Crowton @

Who can help but not to notice all the Christmas decorations that are being put up everywhere? Not to mention, there are Santas wherever you look. Yes people, it is that time of year again and even though Christmas is still over a month away it seems like people are getting ready.Are you? If not your children probably are. Most likely they have already started their list to Santa and it is hidden somewhere so no parent can find it. To them nothing is as exciting as preparing their ... more...

Family » Holidays | By David Barnes @

There are many types of gifts to give for Christmas to your family, but the greatest gift you can give is one that you have made yourself. It is a gift that will be cherished for years to come because you loved them enough to give the gift of your talents and time. Even if your not the most creative, or already have a developed hobby that you can do easily, you can still make a handmade gift if you start early enough to learn how to do it. Children can make wonderful crafts that anyone will love... more...

Family » Holidays | By Cat Tobin @

With the holiday spending season fast approaching, it’s crucial that you understand the dangers of identity theft. Though many of the methods thieves use to steal identities are out of our control, there are many measures you can take to protect yourself from the threats identity thieves pose. Protect Your Credit Card Number From Prying Eyes When making purchases with your credit or debit card, make sure that only the last 4 digits of your card number are shown on the receipt. Th... more...

Family » Holidays | By Aliza Adar Levine @

Are you looking for gift ideas that show you care, yet cost almost nothing? Well, GiftBaskets are the answer. I don't mean those expensive, fancy wine or gourmet GiftBasket jobs you can buy for a fortune. I mean simple, beautiful giftbaskets you can make yourself. Your family and friends will THINK they are the costly kind, but truth is it is ridiculously cheap and easy. The beauty of GiftBaskets is the opportunity to be personal. That's the caring touch that makes people ... more...

Family » Holidays | By John Morris @

How can you shop for a woman who already owns everything she wants? It’s not as difficult as you may think because there’s always a unique approach at buying for the woman who seemingly has a closet full of clothes or a box full of jewelry. Besides, there’s always room for one more outfit or piece of jewelry. Gift Idea For Her #1: Diamonds Diamonds are timeless and always in style. The most commonly found are white diamonds, but what about a blue, cognac or black diamond? These are... more...

Family » Holidays | By Debra Thorsen @

As we head into the holiday season, I remind myself that this is supposed to be a season of joy. But for many of us, it is a season of stress. I was raised in a typical American pseudo-Christian household that did all of the commercial Christmas things. The majority of my holiday seasons have gone like this: spend lots of money, worry if I bought everyone the "perfect" gift, eat a lot, drink too much, spend a lot of time in the kitchen cooking and cleaning, experience euphoria... more...

Family » Holidays | By Sandy Baker @

There are so many things to remember. How often have you had to remember to three, four or even more things and then, just like that, they are gone. Have you ever had to remember a birthday or anniversary and just forgotten? Not only does this anger you, but it really can hurt the feelings of the person who now feels as if they are not that important to you. That’s not the case. You are just too busy with every other thing in your life to get anything to go right. What Can You Do?more...

Family » Holidays | By Donna Monday @

Many of us want to show our appreciation to those special service people in our life at holiday time via etiquette tipping. However, trying to figure out what we should tip them is sometimes puzzling. No one wants to be a cheapskate, but over tipping can put a dent in our budget. Then there’s trying to figure out who we should tip. According to Peter Post, director of the Emily Post Institute and author of Essential Manners for Couples, “You tip the people who perform services for you yea... more...

Family » Holidays | By John Morris @

There are a variety of opportunities for holiday shoppers, including stores, catalogs and the internet. Below are 6 Christmas Shopping tips: Christmas Shopping Tip #1: Shop Early If you’re heading out to the mall this year, have your shopping list ready. It’s a good idea to shop early in the season because, if you wait too long, that perfect gift may already be under someone else’s tree. Christmas Shopping Tip #2: Be Polite Always remember to be polite. The holidays ... more...

Family » Holidays | By John Morris @

Homemade Christmas decorations are some of the most unique. They are also a lot of fun because you can enjoy them with your family. Below are 4 fun and easy to make homemade Christmas decorations: Popcorn Stringing If you like strung popcorn, it’s really simple to make. Start with a big bowl of popcorn (unbuttered, of course) and string it piece by piece using a standard sewing needle and thread. Make sure there’s plenty of popcorn because, if you’re stringing it for garland, you’... more...

Family » Holidays | By John Morris @

It’s the age of innocence when their eyes a little brighter and their smile are full of possibilities. Their minds are being shaped by everything around them and it’s important to make sure that those surroundings are positive and promote good character traits. The question is are toys and video games the right Christmas gift for kids? The simple answer - yes. Creative Development Children love toys and they love to play video games. Imagination is the greatest gift that we... more...

Family » Holidays | By David Barnes @

The Christmas holidays are a time of expectation and joy for young and old alike. If you’re feeling that your celebrations have become routine and boring, there are plenty of ways that you can spice up your holiday season. There are so many things that can be experienced from creating new holiday traditions, such as making new memories for you and your family and friends to reminiscence about again and again. The benefits are numerous, and there is not a shortage of ideas that you can implement ... more...

Family » Holidays | By Hege Crowton @

February has long been known as the month of romance and the 14th of this month is when people celebrate and confess their love for that special someone in their life. Unlike other holidays, Valentines Day is actually celebrated throughout the world on this day mainly because love is something most people can associate with and it does not conflict with the various religions around the world. What do you know about the origin of Valentines day? How did this tradition of love start and who... more...