Sunday, November 17, 2013

Top Five Christmas Cookies

by Artgeek3K
Christmas cookies are one thing that I look forward to. I love making them with the family and of course eating them as well. The children love the decorating part (even though Dad is odd and doesn't want anything on his cookies). The top five cookie list for Christmas cookies may surprise you, it did me. There is a few on here I need to try, but the sound so yummy as well. Delight your guests this Christmas season by having all five of the best Christmas cookies and don't forget to visit back to tell us what they all thought as well.


Please share in the comments below your favorite cookies.

Christmas Wreath Cupcakes

Just a quick Google search for Christmas Wreath Cupcakes and the pictures are amazing. Many I would love to try. I found on Squidoo an article with not only a recipe but a video on making Christmas Wreath Cupcakes.

Such wonderful techniques. I still love to use M and M's to make the wreath on top of the cupcakes. So simple that children can even make them. The article on squidoo takes the cupcakes to the next level. Bound to amaze guests and look amazing.

I love to add a little flare to the Christmas party. If you make an interested cupcake and would love to share your link in comments. I'd be happy to check it out. I love seeing all the desgins.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Black Friday - Christmas Shopping

Christmas shopping with the dreaded by many BLACK FRIDAY!! There may be ways to avoid the black Friday rush.



Many Black Friday ads can be viewed already at many online sites. One site, Black Friday 2014, is a one stop site to view the hot Black Friday deals. Ok so we got your attention with some of the hot ads. Now take a look to see if those prices are going to be offered online. Most of the Black Friday deals can be bought online. Often, to boost online sales, there is free or low shipping cost at this time of the year. So, depending on what you are shopping for, you may never have to leave home to get the Christmas shopping done. There are many Black Friday sales that are only available online as well.



I still love to get out to the stores and see the Christmas displays. I have to try all the new gadgets out and pick up some decoration ideas. I just make sure to enjoy the Christmas display and any other day than Black Friday. Instead of shopping on Black Friday we will be putting up our Christmas decorations. With a little bit of preplanning, we already have most of our shopping done.



Shopping early every year for Christmas is a wonderful way to reduce the stress of Christmas shopping. Budgets are predetermined and help to keep us on track. This method has helped us to pay cash and not run up the charge card bills. The budgets are based on income not wants. By preplanning we are also able to save up for some expensive gifts as well. It’s not too late. Check out those ADS for Black Friday and then check out the prices now. You may be able to find the same great deal now. With online shopping and search sites like Google Shopping, it is very easy to check prices.



Black Friday will be here soon. November 29th this year. While I hope everyone will have fun and save some money, there is always those shocking moments on the news. I have worked Black Friday as a retail store worker. It was back when the Furbies first came out. The store manager was almost trampled as she had tickets for the limited number of Furbies we had. The rest of the day was great because the hours flew by for me. So I have a great respect for workers on Black Friday. Although there was no Furbies after a few minutes on Black Friday we did get more shipments in for Christmas. I hope everyone will have a safe Black Friday and please remember what Christmas is all about. There is no need to fight over product.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Christmas! Are you ready?

I can hear some reader saying, “Oh Yes, I can’t wait!” while others are saying “No way, not yet!” It can be very interesting to see both side of the Christmas joy and dismay. For both side of how Christmas is precede often includes the joy and celebration traditions the families have created. It a sad though, but Christmas just may be another day for some people. Those special memories, the magic of Christmas, and the amazement of staring at the Christmas lights all comes from how Christmas is spent.



Christmas can fill a person heart with joy and bring back memories of Christmas pass. Christmas can also be the crowded shopping stores, greedy people asking for everything, spending too much, and the hassle of possible bad weather. Those two sentences show the drastic difference people can feel when getting ready for Christmas. Everyone can have joy and happiness with Christmas, but it takes a little bit of work.



Stores can be an issue at Christmas time. I totally enjoy Christmas shopping though. Why? All the Christmas displays make me happy. Yes, my family one of those that will try everything in the aisle. My husband even enjoys Christmas shopping even though he not a fan of large crowds. It really is not the people he has an issue with. It happens to be the rude ones you might bump into. The ones we see articles in the newspaper for being demanding, pushing, and even fighting for a simple object. With a little love, kindness, patience, understanding, and caring for fellow man can solve all of the issues. Yes, I would be one of those parents who would give up an item my child really wanted just to not fight. Yet we have had many wonderful Christmases. Never have my children complain that they didn’t get something or about how much they got. They were thankful.



The magic of Christmas means a lot to me. My mother holds Christmas very dear and we both have very fond memories of Christmas. I have passed this on to my children. When they were very young we made Christmas day a day about the children and their new gifts. Instead of making a large meal that would make the parents send lots of time in the kitchen, we pre-made or made easy items. We did this so we could play with the children.



When the kids were old enough they started to help put up decorations. I love putting up the lights on the Christmas tree. One year I put up 21 strands on the tree. I wrapped each branch front to back. I blew the breaker and was ready to cry when my oldest son and husband came to the rescue. We safely got all the light to work. (Had to run some extra power cords to the Christmas tree.) Since that Christmas my son loves to help me put up the lights. He and my husband often talk about the Christmas I went overboard with lights on the tree. That Christmas tree sure was pretty. Now that Christmas is one of those memories that fill our hearts with love and joy every time we look at Christmas lights.



Christmas is all about the pass, present, and future. If Christmas has been like just another day, then it is time for a change. For those that don’t have a family there are churches, homeless shelters, and nursing homes that can all use some volunteers. What else could be better at Christmas then helping someone else? In return you find companions to help bring joy, love, and cheer into Christmas. After all those three things are all people need to have a Merry Christmas.