A great way to ensure your Christmas will be remembered with warm and cherished memories is to incorporate some rituals. Adding rituals to the festivities will create fun and magic moments that will not only live in your families memories forever but will be excitedly looked forward to each year. Rituals will bring your family closer together creating joy and happiness for all!

Here is a fun ritual you could incorporate into this coming Christmas. Add some Christmas bells to the dinner table and ring them just before the festive meal is ready, calling all to attend the dinner table. Long before Christmas in the old days, bells were once rung with the assumption that the noise would chase away evil spirits. Santa Claus has jingling bells that he uses accompanying his sleigh ride around the world each year. His bells are symbols; they are jingled to remind us of the birth of new beginnings and the death of ignorance (once referred to as the devil).

Ringing bells before the meal is eaten is a wonderful reminder to push away judgments, speak no ills, and come together with a sense of joy, positivity and acceptance for one another. Make the festive meal a time where you all come together and share a positively good time. A time where only supportive words are spoken, encouragement and acknowledgement of each other is heard. Ringing the bells will remind all to keep positive, bright and joyous!

So have some fun, get yourself some jingling Christmas bells and chase away any menacing spirits or thoughts before the festive meal. You can be creative with your jingling and get your children to enjoy a brisk stroll through the house or around the dinner table as they jingle the bells joyously to ensure no menacing mischief makers will be heard on the day! The children will love this fun activity and all will enjoy the friendly reminder of the bells if anyone starts to slip up on their good attitude throughout the day!

Another ritual you could incorporate is the ‘Mistletoe Game’. This is a very old Christmas game where it was once common place to have suspended Mistletoe hung in the main room. For this game everyone would assemble in a circle around the Mistletoe. The first player (a male) has to slide a slipper and aim so it will land under the Mistletoe. If he fails another takes their turn. If he succeeds, even more fun begins as there is a scramble in the direction of the lady towards which the slipper points. She must seize the slipper and get away before being caught!

Rituals offer the opportunity for family and friends to interact in a joyous and fun manner. So why not add a few rituals to your festive day to add some fun and create great memories of a truly joyous and happy day.

You can buy a Christmas stocking pattern or trace a stocking you already have to create a handmade Christmas stocking. If you trace a stocking, leave an extra inch all around for the seams. Leave three inches at the top to turn under. Cut two of them out of fabric for each stocking.

Making a Christmas Stocking Pattern

To make a pattern, use heavy cardboard. Draw two rectangles. The first should be 15” long by 9” wide. These patterns include the seam allowances of 1” and top cuff of 3”. This rectangle is A. Cut it out and label it. Draw the second rectangle 14” long by 6” wide. This is rectangle B. Cut it out and label it. Place B on a table with the long side horizontal to you and the short side vertical to you. Round off all the corners of B, except for B’s upper, left corner. Place A on the table with the long side vertical to you and the short side butted against B, on the top, left side of B. This forms the stocking, with the calf part on the left (A) and the foot and toes on the bottom (B). Tape A and B together and use it as a pattern to trace onto fabric.

Making a Christmas Stocking

Cut two stockings out of fabric, using your pattern. Put them together with the right sides on the inside. Sew around the stocking with a 1” seam, leaving the top open. Clip the curves with V shapes to allow the fabric to lie flat. Be careful not to cut through your seam.

Turn the stocking right-side-out. Fold the top 3” to the inside and sew in place. You can sew a decorative cuff on the outside if you wish. Sew a strip of fabric to create a hanger and sew it to the stocking.

Decorate as you wish.

The Christmas season is truly the season of giving. There is no other time of the year when people’s hearts are as open or their hands are as freely generous as they are during the Christmas holiday. I mean, even our favorite Christmas motto states, “It is better to give than to receive.”

While giving does fill your heart with joy and help those who are less fortunate than us, many have taken this motto to extremes when it comes to buying Christmas presents for their children, spouses and other family members.

It is not uncommon for families to run up tremendous high-interest credit card debt to buy their children elaborate and expensive gifts such as computers, stereos and designer clothes as Christmas gifts.

Just take a look at the commercials that air constantly during the Christmas season. They all have one goal in mind: to motivate you to spend as much money as you can during the holidays.

I can remember one commercial in particular that advertised a leading high-end car manufacturer. The husband opened up his gift from his lovely wife to reveal a set of keys. When he went outside to look in the drive, there was a very expensive, sleek and seductive sports car. Seriously, who has been good enough all year to deserve a $50,000 luxury sports car? But the message is clear, give the very best. The same angle is used on men when it comes to buying expensive jewelry for their wives. It’s never ending.

Now, I’m not saying that advertisers are to blame for our ballooning Christmas debt. They are simply armed with the knowledge that more consumer spending takes place during the holidays, and they want a piece of the pie.

The fault then lies with our own inability to curb our holiday spending. It seems that even if we do not have the money to finance a lavish Christmas, we will still purchase one using our high-interest credit cards and worry about paying it off later. And worry we do.

If this scenario sounds familiar, it doesn’t have to be that way yet again this Christmas. You can take a few simple steps to alleviate Christmas debt altogether.

Here’s how:

· Spread your holiday spending throughout the year. If you’re one of those people who love to lavish your family members with expensive gifts during the Christmas season and you don’t want to stop the practice, you can avoid a debt hangover by spreading your purchases throughout the year instead of all at once a few weeks before Christmas.

· Set a holiday budget. Decide what you can reasonably afford to spend during the holidays and do not go above that amount even if it means sacrificing gifts along the way.

· Buy only for those closest to you. Contrary to what you might believe, you do not need to buy gifts for all 27 of your nieces and nephews. Buy for those in your household first, and then, if you have any left over, buy for those closest to you. You should also avoid buying for everyone at work. Just because someone buys for you that does not mean that you need to return the favor. Simply send a Thank You card and remember to put them on your Christmas card list.

· Remember that the best gifts come from the heart and not the department store. Likely many in your family would enjoy spending more time with you during the holiday season instead of watching you run from store to store trying to find the perfect gifts. Why not opt to spend more time together this year and keep gift giving to a minimum?

· Homemade gifts mean more and are less expensive. Wouldn’t it warm your heart to know that your beloved Aunt or Grandma baked your favorite Christmas treat especially for you? You wouldn’t have to know that yours was just a sampling of a large batch that she also distributed to her beautician, neighbors and friends. It didn’t cost her much money, and it won’t cost you much either to do the same for your friends.

So, before you get caught up in the frenzy of Christmas consumer spending, take a moment to reflect on what is most important to you and your family during the holiday season.

Does your bathroom need jazzing up in time for Christmas? Look no further than your local DIY store. It’s easier than you think to transform your space from drab to fab. By selecting the right paint for each area, it’s possible to revive items that you thought were beyond help.

• For tatty cupboards, use Furniture and Cupboard Paint, even an easy job such as this can make tired furniture look as good as new.

• A coat of paint can really perk up an old radiator. Get some Radiator Enamel Aerosol and spray on the solution. It is designed specifically for changing temperatures, so won’t yellow or flake with the heat.

• If you are looking for a white wonderland, and all you’ve got is a drab dated mess, use Tile Paint. You don’t need to rip out old tiles, just paint over the top.

• If you’ve had a leak which has resulted in stains on the wall, the answer is Stain Block Paint. Once the problem has been fixed, paint over the patch and leave to dry. The resulting stain-free surface can then be painted over with a normal emulsion.

A new looking bathroom for only £45!

If you have a bit left in your budget for a few finishing touches, check out these simple ideas:

• A mirror hung opposite a focal point such as a window, can double its effectiveness, providing a view of a feature from several vantage points.

• New towels folded neatly in a wicker basket will give your bathroom a fresh homely feel.

• Put scented candles in the bathroom and light one when you have guests. Not only will it create a cosy atmosphere, your bathroom will smell beautiful too.

• The scruffiest-looking basin can gain a whole new lease of life with a set of shiny chrome taps.

• Hang a chandelier or wall sconce for a hint of decadence.

• Adorn bathroom shelves with gorgeous glass accessories and fill them with bath salts, and delicious cinnamon and orange smelling lotions and potions for a delicious Christmas aroma.

Follow these tips and you will be on the long and happy road to bathroom bliss this Christmas.

Mark Cooper is part of the web promotion team at http://www.clickbathrooms.co.uk

“This year will be different. I vow I won’t get stressed out over presents, parties, cards, Christmas plays, putting up the tree and decorating, and all the many other tasks of the season. I will remember the true meaning of Christmas.”

Do you find that all the Christmas chores steal your joy?

“For unto us a child is born” – Aahh the miracle of birth. The true miracle of our Savior’s birth. As Christian mothers we are doubly blessed to celebrate Christmas. We know the joy and pain of childbirth. We can imagine an exhausted Mary looking at her truly perfect, holy baby.

How can we recapture the joy and the simplicity of the first Christmas?

Following are some suggestions for making this the “Perfect” Christmas

1. Decide how you want your family to experience the true meaning of Christmas. Ex. Will you help another family with presents? Our family now has a tradition of doing Christmas boxes for Samaritan’s Purse. Our children love picking out items for the box and praying for the child who receives their box.

2. Prioritize what is most important to you. Maybe you can’t do it all. You may choose not to send Christmas cards, but do a New Years note.

3. Decide what parties you can and cannot attend. Sometimes as a family we may rarely be home in December. So much for family time.

4. If you have young children, remember how important, normal routine and sleep schedule are for younger children and you. Taking a cranky toddler shopping is not a good experience for anyone.

5. Decide what traditions you want for your own nuclear family. Sometimes we are so busy going to extended families’ homes we don’t get to start our own family traditions. Try to have a leisurely Christmas morning with children enjoying their toys before rushing off to anywhere.

6. Start a tradition of celebrating Jesus birthday. Ex. Happy Birthday Jesus cake, reading the Christmas story before opening presents, or children having their own child size Nativity set to play with and tell the Christmas story.

7. Set a limit on Christmas spending and stick to it. Don’t celebrate Jesus’ birth by being in debt in January.

8. Take time to pray and think about the most precious gift of all. Often our quiet times are the first to go when we get so busy. Using an advent calendar with children will also help them focus on the true meaning of Christmas.

9. Be kind to yourself. You may not be able to do everything like your Mom did. Perhaps you can make slice-and-bake cookies with your children instead of homemade cookie dough. Your children will remember the fun of decorating cookies, not who made the cookie dough.

10. Remember that you are not superwoman and you can’t do it all. Sit down with your husband and decide who can do what on your list. Children can help put stamps on Christmas cards. Be kind to yourself and rest in our Savior’s loving arms.

I don’t know if you or I will have the “Perfect” Christmas, but we can make a conscious effort to focus on our Lord. Things will go wrong and we will get stressed, but we need to keep our eyes on Him. We need to show and teach our children that Christmas is not about Santa and receiving gifts. Christmas is about the ultimate gift that we can never repay.

So, I wish you a “Perfect” Christmas with Christ’ birth as your focus, and that you would be kind to yourself. Set reasonable expectations for yourself and experience the true joy of Christmas.

© 2004 Kimberly Chastain

About the Author

Kimberly M. Chastain, MS, LMFT is the Christian Working Mom Coach and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in helping Christian women make the most of their lives. She is the author of the on-line course, “I Can’t Say No” and Pearls of Encouragement for Christian Working Moms, a free e-book. If you suffer from “I Can’t Say ‘No” Syndrome, visit Kimberly’s site today for the details on an exciting email course that’s sure to set you free! http://www.christianworkingmom.com/online.htm.
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In theory Christmas is a time that is filled with joy and celebration. A joyous holiday when you get together with loved ones and catch up, exchange gifts and generally have a good time.

Unfortunately in practice it can be a time of great stress and unhappiness. There is so much to do and so much to organise. And sometimes getting together with your extended family can be uncomfortable and even painful.

So here is a plan that will help you to relax a little more this Christmas and hopefully a good time will be had by all.

Christmas Shopping

Don’t leave everything until the last moment. Rushing will just make you tired and more stressed. Get you Christmas shopping done early, so you don’t have to spend hours fighting other shoppers for the last doll or Christmas turkey.

Don’t over spend. It is very easy at Christmas time to spend too much and put yourself in a financial hole for a good part of the new year. Decide before you go shopping how much you can afford to spend and stick to your budget. Shopping early will help you stick to a budget as you will not be in a last minute panic, picking up anything that may be suitable regardless of the cost.

If money is a little tight for you or some of your family members there are a couple of ways you can reduce your spending costs. Together you could decide that all gifts should be handmade or second hand. Or you could all decide that each of you will only buy for one other person. This way instead of spending $5 on 10 people and getting them all little cute but junky things you spend $50 on one person and get them something that they will really appreciate. Decide between the family an amount that everyone is to spend and then draw names out of a hat to see who you will shop for.

Wrap the presents as soon as you can after buying them – that will leave one less thing to do on Christmas eve.

Christmas Cooking

Again planning is very important. You don’t have to do it all yourself. Ask members of your family to bring something along. This way the chore is shared amongst many and everyone can feel like they have contributed.

See what preparations can be made a few days before hand. The plum pudding and mince tarts can be made weeks before hand. Do what you can, but make sure everything is stored at a safe temperature. You can wash the potatoes but they will go black if you peel them.
Dealing with the Unpleasant Relatives

At Christmas time we can be thrown together with people that we would really rather not have anything with. Do your best to be pleasant to them but if they cross the line and say something that is rude stay calm. Do not attack them back; let them know that you do not appreciate their comments and that you would rather here positive comments about yourself and other members of your family.

Do your best not to let the comments of one person spoil your day. Try not to dwell on any negativity. Instead think about the things you are enjoying about the day and go and find someone you do get along well with and talk to them.

Alcohol can increase your emotional reactions to any situation so only drink in moderation.

One final word

Make sure that you look after yourself with appropriate exercise, relaxation, sleep and a healthy diet on the days leading up to Christmas. When we are feeling fit and energetic we are able to cope so much more easily with the ups and downs of life. However if we are already feeling tired and stressed any little thing can overwhelm us and this can make Christmas day more tension and tiresome.

Have a great Christmas

Want more ways to enjoy life? Kerry-Ann Cox, author and healer, has just released her new book “10 Spiritual law for stress reduction” Find our more at http://www.exaltedliving.com/stress.htm

Do you know how to save money at Christmas and still have fun? Sounds impossible but it can be done.

Everyone assumes that in order to enjoy the festive season one has to throw money at it when in fact the opposite can be true.

Research has shown that most people’s fondest and most lasting memories of the festive season revolve around the smells and sounds of Christmas and not the expensive gifts that they had received.

Do not get carried away and be miserly but just use some common sense and you will be surprised at how much you can save and still have a good time.

Here are some useful money saving tips on how to enjoy Christmas without spending a fortune:

Presents:

Why buy an expensive present for a child when all they will play with is the cardboard box that it came in?

An alternative could be to buy a board game that the entire family can enjoy rather than lots of individual gifts which will quickly be ignored. The other advantage of a board game is that it can be played throughout the child’s early years thereby saving the need to buy even more toys in future. It is better to choose a tried and tested board game rather than the latest trendy one as they are more likely to retain their appeal.

If you cannot afford to buy board games, look to play party games. Go to your local library and take out a book on party games, write down some of your favourite games and play those. A simple mime game can keep the children entertained for hours.

Crackers:

Why buy a box of expensive crackers when you can have just as much fun with a box costing a lot less? The contents are basically the same so why spend more?

Christmas tree:

Why buy a fresh tree which will cost more and have the inherent problem of how to clear up the fallen needles when you can buy a plastic tree for much less? Apart from not having to worry about the clearing up of needles the plastic tree has the added benefit of being re-useable making it a very economical proposition.

Decorations:

Why buy expensive baubles to decorate the Christmas tree when home made decorations can be just as effective without incurring the cost.

Involve the children. It is their Christmas, after all! Get them to paint, colour, cut, design and make their own decorations for the tree.

They can also be shown how to make a variety of decorations for the house including decorative seasonal paper banners, place setting tags, paper candles and paper lanterns.

By involving the children you will give them a sense of achievement and a certain amount of pride in what they have accomplished. That has to be more meaningful than just buying some costly decoration and placing it on the tree?

Food:

Why buy an expensive turkey when a chicken can be just as tasty and less costly? It will also take less time to cook thereby saving on the electricity bill.

Shopping:

When you do your Christmas shopping try not to be influenced by all the clever marketing ploys used to get you to spend more money. Still look for the bargains and continue to shop wisely. Select items that are on special offer. Select items that offer “Buy one – Get one free”.

Planning:

With a bit of planning you will be surprised at how much you can save. Here is a useful shopping tip that will save you at least 50% on the cost of all Christmas decorations, Christmas cards, Christmas crackers and wrapping paper. Wait until just after Christmas when the supermarkets begin to hold their after Christmas sales.

You can then buy all the cards, crackers, candles, baubles, wrapping paper and other decorations at very low prices. They can then be used for the following year.

If you follow the above advice you will save money. The money you save can go towards paying for a summer holiday.

You may freely reprint this article provided the author’s biography remains intact:

About The Author

About the Author
John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

So Christmas is a few months away. Seems like a lot of time but we all know how quickly time passes to the holidays. It feels like you have plenty of time to get all the shopping, cleaning and organizing done before the holidays hit. But do you ever get it all done without stressing out?

Get a jump start this year and shop early online. Here’s a couple of big time and money saving tips that will relieve some of your holiday stress.

Many sites will wrap your gifts in holiday or any occasion gift wrap. Some online gift shops will do this service for free and year round as well! It is well worth your time to do a search for free gift wrap and can save you several dollars a package. It also saves you the time and trouble of buying gift wrap and wrapping each gift. Many shops will include your personal message and gift card as well, again saving time and money.

Start your Christmas shopping now so you can easily compare products and prices before you buy. A lot of gift shops are now offering a �Price Match� guarantee. Read each stores info on their program so you can take advantage of their offer to match competitor’s prices. This is a great way to know you won’t be paying too much for your gifts.

Here’s a big secret in saving time and adding lots of convenience to your online shopping for Christmas. Some shops will actually let you purchase in advance and then specify a �ship by� date, i.e., buy in May and have it shipped in December. This is rarely advertised on sites but a quick e-mail to the shop may give you surprising results. No need to pay extra shipping having it shipped to you when you buy early, then you having to pay, again, to have it shipped to your recipient. This saves a lot of Christmas bucks!

How cool is that? Shop for Christmas in July, have it gift wrapped for free, free gift card and message and shipped in December! Look at all the money you can save and time you have left for cleaning, organizing and you!

Ms. Wutzke is owner of Log Cabin Fever Gifts & Decor.

We offer Free Gift Wrap, Free Gift Message and gift card and we will ship your package on the “Ship by” date you request! All this and great Cabin themed gifts & decor, fishing gifts, black bear gifts, deer antler scrimshaw and decorating articles.

All rights Reserved copyright � 2005 Log Cabin Fever Gifts & Decor

This is a favorite time of the year for many people. Why not
take one night in December and set up a nice holiday
party. Plan a small get together with family and friends.

It is a great excuse to get together. Plan it early in
December so it doesn’t conflict with all the Christmas Day
events. Before you get too deep in the planning see how many
people will be able to come. Then base your plan off that
number.

I like to make it a simple potluck meal with everyone
bringing part of the meal. Whatever works, Then you can fill
in the blanks.

All you need for a small get together is a few decorations,
set the table and chairs up, refreshments, music and some
fun games to play.

Try to set up a couple of different seating areas, so people
can just sit and talk while others play games.

It is a great night and really is nice to see everyone while
they are in the holiday spirit. Here is a short guide to
give you some ideas of what a party entails:

1. Pick a night
2. Invitation phone calls
2. Plan food needs based on what others are bringing
3. Shopping for food, refreshments, decorations and games
4. Verify with phone calls 7 days prior to party
5. Clean house
6. Decorate and set up chairs
7. Any last minute cooking and food prep
8. Set table
9. Greet the guests
10. Relax and enjoy the Christmas Party, it is just a casual
event.

M Johnsona operates the
http://www.funchristmasideas.com website. A great source for
Christmas tips and ideas.

There’s a reason why churches frequently arrange to have me present the No Debt No Sweat! Christian Money Management Seminar in the late fall. It’s to encourage their people not to go crazy with the credit cards at Christmas.

The most miserable walk in the world is the one many of use make in late January carrying the mail back to the house from the mailbox looking at all those bills. What makes it even worse: A lot of those gifts were for people we only halfway know, and who have either already returned the gifts we bought, or have given them to someone else! But there you are stuck having to make payments for the next year! Bad plan!

Many people spend more on gift buying than they can afford. There are probably several reasons for this: First, some folks, who don’t have written monthly budgets, simply don’t realize how much they’re spending for gifts. Second, there are lots of people who would rather spend themselves into the poor house than to let their “friends” know they have financial limits. Third, there are a lot of people who really don’t know how to give gifts without spending money.

It’s this third group that I want to direct some ideas to in this section. First, understand that we give gifts to people whom we love-and, who love us back. By definition, these people care more about the giver than the gift. They don’t care what you spend. They care about you. For people like this, it really is the thought that counts.

Maybe you’ll find some good ideas below:

• Give gifts that you make yourself. If you have a garden why not give fruits, vegetables, or flowers? If you cook or bake — why not give something from your kitchen? Personalize your homemade wonders by dressing them up with pretty ribbons and bows. Make a homemade label and hang it from a string. Attach a poem. Give “designer jars” of cinnamon sugar mix, pasta samplers, or homemade candies. Make it special.

• Give your time. Even if you don’t make a product or craft, time is one thing you can give to others. The most valuable commodity any of us have is our time. Each one of us has 86,400 seconds in our day. The question is, “Who will we share our time with?” One of the best gifts we can give is a gift that represents our time. Why not give a certificate to a young family that can be redeemed for an evening of babysitting?

• Save money on gift-wrapping. One of the costliest parts of giving a gift can be the wrapping. Why not use the Sunday newspaper comic pages? It’s a colorful, fun, whimsical way to wrap a present.

• Give personal gifts to family members. In our family, it’s not unusual to get a certificate entitling the recipient to a 30-minute back massage. You could give “chore certificates” where the giver promises to wash dishes, make beds, mow grass, etc., for the recipient.

• Give “talent” gifts. My son Joshua is a fabulous artist. In the past, he has given his drawings as gifts. If you write poetry, why not a special verse for a friend? If you sing — why not present a special song for the guest of honor at the birthday party?

• Romantic gifts for husbands and wives. The great thing about being married is that you can give your lover special gifts that are both personal and romantic. Why not candle light, beautiful music, and a review of your wedding album — just before bed? Have you ever surprised your spouse (isn’t that a wretched sounding word for someone you love?) with breakfast in bed? If eating out is too costly — why not a late night cup of coffee in a quiet restaurant? You get the point. Be imaginative.

A Serious Plan For Holiday Savings

Now, I’m going to suggest something that not many of you will be willing to do. But, for that minority of you who try this — the savings may surprise you.

Why not celebrate holidays like Christmas and Valentine’s Day a few days late? Think about it. When do the really incredible Christmas sales usually begin? December 26, right? So, why not agree to have your family Christmas celebration on New Year’s Day? That way you could do your shopping and decorating starting the day after Christmas. The Christmas tree lot would probably give you a tree just to avoid having to throw it away. The decorations will be reduced. And gifts in the stores will be on sale. What a deal!!! Of course, if you can’t bear the thought of not celebrating Christmas on December 25th, you might consider giving gift certificates that can be redeemed on merchandise after it’s on sale.

Now, if all of that seems a little too extreme for your taste, maybe you wouldn’t mind to celebrate a holiday like Valentines Day a day or two late. (Have you ever noticed how much a heart-shaped box of chocolates goes down in price right after Cupid leaves town?)

Here’s An Old Trick

Always buy a year ahead. Buy seasonal merchandise like gift wrapping, decorations, and ornaments immediately after a holiday is over. Frequently stores offer huge discounts simply to avoid having to warehouse their stock for another year.

Steve Diggs presents the No Debt No Sweat! Christian Money Management Seminar at churches and other venues nationwide. Visit Steve on the Web at http://www.stevediggs.com or call 615-834-3063. The author of several books, today Steve serves as a minister for the Antioch Church of Christ in Nashville, Tennessee. For 25 years he was President of the Franklin Group, Inc. Steve and Bonnie have four children and live in Brentwood, Tennessee.