Katie Rose Phillips once sang that she saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus, but when I was a little girl I saw him cradling Auntie Cathy’s brand new baby.

The Christmas that falls on a child’s fifth year is special and mine was no exception, old enough to appreciate the rituals, young enough to be utterly suspended in its magic.

This particular season was set to be perfect, my whole family gathered, a little brother to show the ropes to and a bigger one to learn them from. Plus a thick layer of crunchy, snowman-ready snow.

My mother had dressed the house with festive abundance, holly branches draped over all the pictures and a large wreath with pinecones suspended from the front door by a luxurious red ribbon. Everywhere a knick-knack with a story, my brother’s wobbly pottery angel holding miniature candles in her hands, a bauble brought one Wintry day from at tiny shop in London.

Not forgetting the most enormous Christmas tree, that towered above me to the ceiling. It took my father the best part of a morning and (he was quick to add) an afternoon to recover from the exertion of getting it into the hose and ready for decorating. Even my tall Mother had to use a ladder to place the fairy on top.

I handed her the decorations with the care of the keeper of the Crown jewels and with just as much pride. The ceremonial turning on of the lights when the sun had gone down lit me from within too. I was ready for the games to begin.

And so they did. A friends-filled week of mulled wine and mince pies, tobogganing, carol singing and a memorable performance of Jack and the Beanstalk, when the giant pointed to Auntie Cathy’s large tummy in the front row and joked about her not having the baby until the end of the show. Which I couldn’t understand, knowing full well the baby wouldn’t be so silly: we wanted to enjoy Christmas first!

The shaking of the presents occupied every spare minute, whispering and guessing the contents with my brothers. As the ringleader, I was chosen for the task of colouring in my father’s Christmas Day Lunch menu, a tradition that was to continue for many years to come.

I hardly thought we would have room for turkey (with all the trimmings) and a flaming Christmas pudding after consuming all the nuts, Turkish delight and Christmas cake Mum had lain in little dishes on the table next to the log fire, ready for Christmas Day.

But what really intrigued me, the bit I coloured in with extra care in gold pencil, was the ‘Special Guest Appearance’ at the bottom of the menu. I hoped against hope it would be Father Christmas but my parents were giving nothing away; I would have to wait and see.

Luckily, Christmas Eve was so packed I hardly had to time to dwell on I it, with a morning walk in the crystal white fields near our house and a lovely Church service in the afternoon, completed by a tiny nativity scene and a noisy donkey.

Exhausted that night and overcome with the promise of the next day’s excitement I could barely stop my eyes from closing as my brothers and I left the reindeers their peanut snacks under the tree and Father Christmas his glass of sherry.

Of course, I could not unwrap my presents quick enough in the morning, racing downstairs to open the assorted goodies in my hand-sewn stocking before the fun of the day unraveled, all leading up to the moment I had imagined a dozen times already: the arrival of the special guest.

I saw him arrive at the door with his fluffy beard and sack of gifts, bellowing a deep ‘ho ho ho’, bending down to cuddle me in his bright red outfit. He was every bit as impressive as I had hoped, my only disappointment being that Uncle Bill had taken a Christmas gift to our old neighbours next door and was going to miss him!

But just as he was asking if we had been good girls and boys my Aunty Cathy let out a huge moan and there was a flurry of confusion. Suddenly the adults started rushing around and all the children were ushered away to watch ‘A Christmas Carol’ on the T.V.

A commotion filtered through from next door, while in our room my big cousins wanted to know if their Mum was going to be O.K. Eventually, a short silence fell followed by the first cries of a newborn baby.

My mother came to the T.V. room and told us we should come to meet somebody. And there was Father Christmas holding the newest addition to our large family.

‘Is it the baby Jesus?’ I asked, incredulous.

‘No,’ laughed my father. ‘But it is the special guest.’

Christmas is a wonderful time to remember the special people in all our lives; friends and family, near and far. Sending an Ecard is an excellent way to avoid the postal rush, not to mention the seeking out and writing of all those addresses!

At www.katiescards.com I have created a collection of Christmas ecards that are quick to preview and just as easy to send. It’s as straightforward as choosing your favourite E card, personalizing and emailing it, with a low-cost membership to the site that allows you to send Ecards on other occasions also, from birthday ecards to Easter ecards and every special day in-between.

The selection of 20 Christmas ecards includes the telling of the traditional nativity story as well as capturing the season’s mythical charms, with the elves or a magical snow scene, every e-card designed to be a heart-warming greeting to let a loved one know you remember them as they look forward to the New Year.

So why not extend some festive cheer and choose an uplifting Ecard to send to your nearest and dearest this Christmas season?

Visiting a Christmas tree farm and buying a live tree grown in New Jersey can be a memorable holiday experience for the entire family? The process can be any where from an hour to a good part of the day, depending on what you and your family wants to gain from the experience.
The choices for selecting a New Jersey grown live tree are many. You can choose to cut your own tree, or pick a live tree and have it cut for you, or buy a live tree already cut, or buy a living tree you can plant.
To extend the experience to a family fun event, you can venture off to a Christmas tree farm that offers sleigh rides, hay rides and related winter events and fun.
A fresh-cut Christmas tree not only will bring warmth, beauty and the rich scents of the season to your home, but also will last throughout the holidays if given proper care.
Christmas trees are a renewable resource. They are grown as a crop; planted, sheared, and cultivated to be harvested for your enjoyment! Where each tree is cut, a new seedling will be planted. Christmas tree farms not only provide beautiful greenbelts throughout New Jersey, they also are environmentally sound. They consume huge amounts of carbon dioxide and reintroduce large quantities of oxygen into the atmosphere, thus cleansing the air that we breathe. One acre of Christmas trees produces the daily oxygen requirement for 18 people.
The selection of a live Christmas tree.
When choosing a tree, select one that best suits your needs. Determine where will it be located in the home, and what type of ornaments you have – are they heavy or light? These considerations will help you select the species, the height, shape and density. Amongst the variety of species of Christmas trees grown in New Jersey, the best choices for needle retention are all the pines; Austrian, Scotch, White and Mexican Border. The Douglas-fir, Concolor, and Fraser Fir are also excellent. The Colorado Blue Spruce is very good, and the Norway and White Spruces are fair.
It is difficult to gauge the height of trees in the field. Check with the Christmas tree farm, they usually have measuring sticks available. Even though you cannot cut your tree exactly even with the ground and you will need to cut an additional bit off the bottom of your tree when you get home, your stand will add about four inches and your top piece another four inches to the final height of your tree. Therefore, it is recommended that you choose a tree that is somewhat shorter than the height of your ceiling.
The Care of the live Christmas tree
With a few simple steps, you can enjoy your tree throughout the holiday season!
A fresh cut tree, brought home in advance of bringing it indoors for decorating, should be placed in a container of water, in a cool shaded area, sheltered from the wind. If kept outside, make sure the water supply does not freeze. Before bringing it indoors, cut off an inch from the butt end. This fresh cut will enable the tree to soak up water. Put the tree in a stand, which can hold one to two gallons of water. Since fresh cut trees absorb a pint to a quart of water each day, check water level at least once daily and always keep water level above the cut end. Always keep the butt of the tree in water. If it has been out of water for more than a few hours, the sap will seal the cut trunk and it will no longer absorb water. Keeping a tree stand filled with water will prevent needle drop and prolong the tree’s freshness and color.
Select a location inside your home that is not too close to a fireplace, heat duct or radiator. Place tree in tree stand with plastic netting on. This makes it easier to move and straighten tree. Netting can be removed once the tree is set up.
The tree will take a couple of hours to return to its natural shape once the netting is removed. Fill the stand with water. On the initial fill, warm or hot water is beneficial.
The care and planting of a balled & burlapped tree.
If you have selected a balled & burlapped (dug) Christmas tree, several days prior to being brought indoors, it needs to be placed in an unheated, protected enclosure (utility building, garage, carport, basement) or on the northeast side of the house. This conditioning process adjusts the tree to the effects of rapid temperature and humidity changes that occur indoors. Before bringing the tree indoors, place it in a washtub or similar waterproof container. To help stabilize it, sand or gravel may be filled in around the root ball. Keep root ball moist; approximately a pint to a quart of water, daily, will sustain a 5 to 6 ft. tree. Ideally, it’s best to keep a dug tree in a 65 to 68 degree indoor environment and for no longer than seven days.
After tree is dismantled, do not bring it directly outdoors. If possible, gradually introduce it to the colder temperature by first placing it in a sheltered area, for several days. The hole, where the tree is to be planted, should be dug to an approximate depth of 18 inches, prior to the ground freezing and the soil from within placed where it cannot freeze. Fill the hole with leaves and cover it with plastic. Do not remove the burlap and strapping, before planting. After tree has been positioned (top of root ball should be even with original soil grade), fill hole halfway – with saved soil, cut strapping, roll down burlap and complete filling hole. A plastic covered root ball is handled in the same manner, except that before planting, slits should be cut in the plastic’s bottom half – this facilitates water drainage and root penetration. Water thoroughly and mulch.
Disposal and recycling your Christmas tree.
The disposal and recycling of Christmas trees can be coordinated with your local Municipal Government, who usually offer recycling programs. The trees are chipped into mulch and made available free of charge to homeowners. These trees may also be placed in your yard, where birds can make use of them either as a winter shelter or as a feeding station, if food is hung from the branches.
A Christmas tree is biodegradable, it’s branches may be removed and used as mulch in the garden. For proper Christmas tree disposal, check with your local municipality.
Listing of New Jersey Christmas tree farms
Provided below is a listing of popular Christmas tree farms in New Jersey. While this listing is reasonably up to date as of this writing, last minute weather and business conditions at a tree farm may change and it is strongly recommended that you call the farm in advance to confirm their supply, their hours of operation, and whether they are continuing to allow choose-and-cut or just precut trees. Do not drive out there if you can’t reach them by phone!
Augusta
Holiday Tree Farm, Augusta
973-948-7488… 44 Augusta Hill Rd…Route 80 West to Exit 34B. Rte. 15 North to intersection with Rte. 206 at Ross’ Corner/Skyland Park. Straight on Rte. 206N to first left onto Augusta Hill Road. Farm is ½ mi. on left.
Species…2,500 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas-fir, Canaan Fir
Belvidere
Wyckoff’s Tree Farm, Belvidere
908-475-4508…249 County Route 519…I-80, exit 12 to Rte 521S to 519S (10 miles from Rte 80), I-78, exit 17 to Rte 31N to Rte 46W to Rte 519S (mile marker 39).Species…600 trees; Douglas-fir
Open…8:30-4 (daily), Nov. 24 – To be determined
Blairstown
Glenview Farm, Blairstown
908-362-6904…2 Glenview Lane…I-80 Exit 12 N. – Rte. 521 – 4 mi. to Blairstown, left on Rte. 94 – 1 mi. to Mohican Rd.; From Newton – Rte. 94 S. 12 mi. to Mohican Rd. 4 mi. – rt. on Gaisler Rd. – farm 1 mi.
Species…500 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir Open…9-5 (daily), Nov. 24 – Dec. 17
Jolly Holly Christmas Tree Farm, Blairstown
908-362-6327… 56 Maple Lane…Exit 12 on Rte. 80 W to Blairstown. At traffic light, take Millbrook Rd up hill to Maple Lane. Left on Maple Lane. Farm is on left.
Species…200 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir
Open…12-4 (Sat & Sun), Nov. 25 – Dec. 17
Califon
Alger Tree Farm, Califon
908-832-2298… 7 Beacon Light Rd…From Rte. 78 exit 24 (Oldwick) 7 mi. N or Rte. 517. Turn left on Beacon Light Rd. to first house on left.
Species…400 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir
Open…8:30-5 (Sat & Sun), Dec. 2 – 24
Chesterfield (near Bordentown)
Spruce Goose Christmas Tree Farm, Chesterfield
609-298-2498…194 Bordentown-Georgetown Rd.(Rte. 545 S)…NJ Tpk. Exit 7 or I-295N Exit 57A, take Rte. 206 N. or Rte. 130 N towards Bordentown, 1st right onto Rte. 545 S. Proceed 4 mi. Farm on right. Or from intersection of Rtes. 537 & 545, take Rte. 545 N 3.5 mi. Farm on left. From McGuire AFB, take Rte. 680 W.
Species…1,000 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Pine, Douglas-fir, Canaan Fir, Serbian Spruce, all Fraser Fir are pre-cut.
Open…9-5 (daily), Nov. 24 – Dec. 24
Cranbury
Barclay’s Tree Farm
35 Orchardside Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512
609-799-1855; Hours: Weekends 9am-5pm, Nov 27 – Dec 19
Directions: NJTpke Exit 8A, Rt 32 W to Rt 130, So on Rt 130 for 1.5 mi to light at Dey Rd. Right on Dey Rd. 1.5 mi to 1st right – Orchardside Dr. From Rt 1 , East on Scudders Mill Rd 2 mi to left at 5th light onto Dey Rd. 2.3 mi to left onto Orchardside Dr.
Choose & Harvest: Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir, Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce
Features: One low price. Saws, netting, rope and assistance provided free.
Simonson Farms
Dey Road and George Davison Road, Cranbury, 609-799-0140
Hours: M-F 12-7, Sat & Sun 9-6.
Directions: From NJ Tpk to Exit 8A. Bear right out of the tolls toward Rte. 535. At traffic light, turn left onto Rte. 535 S. Follow to third traffic light, and turn right onto Rte. 614 ( Dey Rd.) west. Straight on 614W 1.9 mi. to U-cut field or 3 miles to retail lot.
Species: 3,000 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Spruce, White Pine, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir
They currently have harvestable Douglas-fir, blue spruce, Norway spruce, white pine, Concolor fir, and Canaan fir. We have two farms where you can cut your own tree. One is located on George Davison road in Cranbury and the other on Dey Road in Cranbury. Trees in these fields are U-cut… that means you have the pleasure of cutting down your own tree. Saws are available if needed. They supply twine and trees can be wrapped for ease of transport.
Cream Ridge
Bullock Farms, Cream Ridge
609-758-8726… 83 Emleys Hill Rd…From I-195, Exit 16, take Rte. 537 W past Great Adventure. Make 2nd right onto Emleys Hill Rd. Approx. 1 ½ mi., farm on right.
Species…250 trees; Norway Spruce, White Pine, Douglas-fir
Open…9-5 (Wed – Sun), Nov. 24 – Dec. 23
East Brunswick
Giamarese Farms, East Brunswick
732-821-9494… 155 Fresh Pond Rd…From the New Brunswick Area – take Rte. 1 S to 2nd Milltown exit, which will be Main St. Exit will loop over Rte. 1. Once on Main St., Milltown, count 3 traffic lights from Rte. 1. Make right onto Khulthau Ave, which is 3rd light. Go ¼ mi to split in road. Bear rt. onto Fresh Pond Rd. Go about 2 mi. Farm on right on top of hill at #155. Large sign in front.
Species…300 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Spruce, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir
Open…10-5:00 (Tue – Sun), Nov. 24 – Dec. 24 (closed Mondays
Farmingdale
Meadowview Farm, Farmingdale
732-938-7181… 60 Birdsall Rd…½ mi. south of Farmingdale on Rte. 524. Left on Birdsall Road. First farm on left.
Species…200 trees; Norway Spruce, White Pine, Douglas-fir
Open…9-4:00 (Sat & Sun), Nov. 25 – Dec. 24
Flemington
Cherryville Farms
14 Joe Ent Road , Flemington, NJ 08822 , 908-806-4580
Hours: Open 9:00 AM until dark, Saturdays & Sundays – starting Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Directions: Located one mile east of Quakertown on Route 616 ( Quakertown Road) Franklin Township, Hunterdon County.
Species: Canaan Fir, Concolor Fir, Douglas Fir, Blue Spruce & Norway Spruce
Features: Tagging, saws & treewheelers available. Wreaths, Crafts & Refreshments Cut your own, or they’ll cut it for you. —–Tagging, saws & treewheelers available Wreaths, Crafts & Refreshments.
Hillsdale
Demarest Farms
244 Werimus Road , Hillsdale 201-666-0472
Christmas trees, wreaths, all Christmas related items, featuring Santa’s Enchanted Woods as featured on Good Day New York
Lebanon
The Evergreen Farm, Lebanon
908-236-9550… 4 Bass Lane…Rte. 78 W to Exit 20A ( Lebanon). Turn right at first light onto Rte. 22 W. Turn left (jughandle) at first light ( Round Valley). Go 3.3 mi. on Rte. 629 to Bass Lane OR Rte. 31 N from Flemington to Molasses Hill Rd. Take to end. Turn right onto Rte. 629 to Bass Lane.
Species…500 trees; Blue Spruce, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir
Open…10-5 (Fri, Sat, Sun), Nov. 18 – Dec. 17. Closed Thanksgiving, but open for tagging by appt. Nov 1
Manalapan
Anne Ellen Christmas Tree Farm, Manalapan Twp.
732-786-9277… 114 Daum Rd. Manalapan…Garden State Pkwy Exit 123, Rte. 9 S. to Gordon Corner Rd. exit. Right on Tennent (5.4 mi.) to Daum Rd. NJ Tpk Exit 8, Rte. 33 E (7.9 mi.) left on Woodward Rd. (.4 mi.). First left onto Daum Rd.
Species…3,000 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Pine, Douglas-fir, Fraser Fir. Open…9-8 (daily), Nov. 20 – Dec. 23
Robbinsville
McLaughlin Tree Farm, Robbinsville
609-259-8122… 1312 Old York Road…Located on Rte. 539, 2.1 mi. north of Route I-195 (Exit 8). Across from Herbert Road. 3.5 mi north of Allentown and 4 mi. south of Hightstown. Easily accessible from Rtes. 195, 130 & NJ Turnpike via Exit 8.
Species…1,000 trees; Douglas-fir, Canaan Fir, Scotch Pine
Open…8-5 (Sat & Sun & by appt.) Nov. 25 – Dec. 24
Rosemont
Rosemont Tree Farm, Rosemont
609-397-1809…Route 519…From Flemington – Rte. 12 W to Rte. 523 right onto Rte. 604 to Rte. 519. Turn right onto Rte. 519. Farm 300 yards. From Trenton – Rte. 29N thru Lambertville and Stockton. Right onto Rte. 519 1.5 mi. to farm.
Species…1,000 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Pine, Canaan Fir, Scotch Pine Open…9-4:30 (Thu – Sun), Nov. 24 – Dec. 23
Sussex
Shale Hills Farm
98 Pond School Road, Sussex , 973-875-4231
Directions: At intersection of Rtes. 23 or 94 N.-take Rte. 23 N. – 1 1/2 mi. to Double S Diner on left – turn behind Diner on Pond School Rd. – 1.2 mi. to farm – sign.
Species: 700 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Scotch Pine, Douglas-fir
Hours: Open Weekends after Thanksgiving from 9:30 am until dark.
Trenton
Willard Christmas Tree Farms, Trenton
609-587-1776… 300 Basin Rd…Rte. 1 to Bakers Basin Rd. (.5 mi. South of I-295 overpass), 1 mi. to Basin Rd. on right. Farm 1 mi. on left.
Species…1,000 trees; Blue Spruce, Douglas-fir, Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir
Open…12-5 (Mon – Fri), 8-6 (Sat & Sun) Nov. 24 – Dec. 23 Enjoy a Hay wagon ride as you select your tree from our fields and cut it down yourself. We have available pre-cut trees that have been freshly cut from our fields. Christmas Trees we have available are Scotch Pine, White Pine, Douglas Fir, Norway, Colorado Blue and White Spruce. Also available are fresh dug balled and burlapped trees from our fields. You can enjoy indoors during the Holiday season and then plant outdoors to enjoy for a lifetime. All farms carry roping, wreaths and greens for all your Holiday Decorating needs.
Whitehouse Station
Holly Bough Plantation, Whitehouse Station
908-534-2622… 88 Cole Rd…I-78 or Rte. 22 to Rte. 523, two miles south to Rte. 620 (Dreahook Rd.), ¼ mi. to Holland Brook Rd. – Turn right, continue 1.5 mi. to split in road, turn right onto Cole Rd.
Species…200 trees; Blue Spruce, Canaan Fir, Black Hills Spruce
Open…9:30-5 (Sat & Sun), Nov. 24 – Dec. 23.
Wrightstown
Edwards Christmas Tree Farm, Wrightstown
609-758-7729… 338 Jacobstown-Cookstown Rd…From Mt. Holly, take Rte. 537 E. to right at light at Jacobstown-Cookstown Rd. Farm is one mile on right. From Freehold, take Rte. 537 W. to left at light at Jacobstown-Cookstown Rd. Farm is one mile on right. Species…200 trees; White Pine, Douglas-fir, Scotch Pine
Open…9-4:30 (daily), Dec. 1 – Dec. 24

Seasonal Holidays are opportunities to escape daily routine. That’s why it is important to plan their celebration ahead and do everything in our power to enjoy them to the fullest.

In the bleak cold days of winter, Christmas comes alive with the jingling bells, twinkling lights and the handsome Christmas evergreen. Everything about this holiday bears the spirit of joy, hope and festivity—be it the Christmas planning, Christmas party, Christmas greetings or the Christmas decorations. It is a big celebration and justifiably so, demands big preparation. Just as the shopping and planning ensue right after Thanksgiving, decoration activities start at least a week in advance. With a wee bit of extra time and imagination, you can do wonders with your Christmas decoration. So it is always a wise thought to start decorating your home early.

How to get started? Well, it is always the Christmas tree which is the central element of the holiday and consequently, the starting point of decoration. The whole family is hooked on to adorning their fir with great enthusiasm all through the pre-Christmas days. The bells, stars, beads, garlands, angels, teddies, icicles, snowmen, cookies, nuts, stockings, gift boxes and other ornaments are scattered everywhere to be neatly arranged on the branches of the Christmas evergreen. The mind-boggling range of Christmas ornaments adds up to the holiday delights and is, therefore, a fun source of more Christmas decoration activities. There are little gingerbread men, crystal snowflakes, silver icicles, red hat ladies, colorful balls and bells, Christmas print ribbons, red berries, German glass ornaments, Santa caps, small toys, angels, and even handmade paper or cardboard ornaments to make the Christmas tree look stunningly gorgeous. The lights go in the last, spiraled around the cone-shaped fir and to sign it off in all its brilliance. Brightly colored gift boxes piled up at the base of the tree is again a traditional sight and brings back wonderful memories of Christmas. To render a cute touch, sometimes people even choose to snug the base with a bunch of plump teddies clad in Christmas gear. Why not try that this Christmas? It sure would be amusingly different.

Besides the Christmas tree, there is still much left to the decorations. Bet you cannot afford to miss decking up your halls and yards on Christmas. If you choose to go the Victorian way, you can stock up your stuffs with stockings or take the floral route to the big occasion. Flowers look elegant and fresh on Christmas, just as much as it goes with the Christmas wreath at the front door or the mistletoe hanging on the doorway. Then there are the holly and ivy to pretty up your halls and bring nature indoors. As eye-catching centerpieces, a big bowl stuffed with red apples, fresh oranges and grapes would be a winning idea anytime. You may reserve the Christmas figurines like the Nativity Scene or the Santa and his reindeers for outdoor decoration.

However, no matter how much or how little Christmas ornaments you use for your Christmas decorations, do not forget the lights. The festive decoration and the holiday spirit fall insipid without the splendor of the Christmas lights. So go ahead and light up your holidays.

Every year round the Christmas time, almost every one of us feels the financial crunch Christmas gifts put on our wallet.

A common philosophy, the more we have, the more we’re expected to spend on our Christmas shopping, and the fact of the matter is, some of us really don’t want to spend all that much. But that doesn’t mean we don’t want to give our family Christmas gifts — what it does mean that we want to do it within a reasonable budget.

Here I would like to share some secrets for getting more this Christmas, but spending a few less:

1) Don’t wait for the last minute to buy your Christmas gifts; you’re really not going to have time to shop for bargains. Because of this, start looking for Christmas gifts now so you can jump on the great deals the minute the stores list them.

2) We laugh at the people who get up at the crack of dawn on Black Friday to stand in line to get the hottest deals of the year. Those people who wait in lines are saving hundreds of dollars on their Christmas gifts. 18k gold bracelets for $39.99, toys for fifty percent off (and sometimes even free if you meet minimum purchase requirements). What more could you ask for?

3) Take the time to hunt down the deals. Every week between now and Christmas, visit the various forums on the Internet and check out what’s going on that particular day or week. You’ll be surprised at the great deals you can on Christmas gifts find by hunting for deals as part of a pack.

4) Outlet malls can be a great place to shop for Christmas gifts, but not too close to Christmas. Within the next week or so, go to your local outlet mall. Many of the stores will be in the process of marking down merchandise for the Christmas season. It’s the perfect opportunity for you to pick up some Christmas gifts at a great price.

5) Before Thanksgiving, thousands of websites put their items on clearance to get ready for Christmas. This means great savings for you. Don’t be surprised to find a number of online stores offering discounts of 70-percent or more and don’t forget to check out the overstock websites.

You can find Personalized Santa Claus Videos and how to get these Videos for lifetime at KringlesList.com

The festive season is fast approaching, bringing with it a mixture of blustery winds, shorter days and a buzz of celebratory anticipation. However, often turning into a flurry of frantic activity, with parties and social events to attend and Christmas arrangements to be made, this time of year can also be very stressful. Therefore, in addition to pulling out the winter warmers, it can be good idea to start thinking about presents. Indeed, the earlier you start this task, the easier it will be to enter the Christmas season in a relaxed and focused state. Not only that, but it will also enable you to spread the cost of everything you need to buy over a few months. Another advantage of thinking about Christmas presents in advance is that you can avoid the perilous high street battles, as everybody pushes and scrambles past each other trying to get their hands on the last remaining items. You can also shop online safe in the knowledge that everything will arrive well before Christmas Day. Thinking of special and unique presents to give your loved ones, however, can often be a challenge. Not only do you have to try and be original, but locating that one extraordinary item from the millions of options out there can be a daunting task. And, the last thing that a man wants to do, for example, is buy his partner an ill-chosen piece of underwear two sizes too small or a hastily grabbed kitchen appliance. Consequently, it can really pay off to take a bit of time over what you want to get. Jewellery is always an attractive option and can be a great way to tastefully and elegantly say you love or care about someone. In fact, with the huge range of beautiful bracelets, sparkling rings and stylish necklaces available, it is possible to discover a variety of truly unique pieces. Charm bracelets, like the Chamilia bracelets, can be a particularly attractive present to give simply because there is the opportunity to really personalise them. There is a huge selection of different charms, trinkets and figures to choose from, and you can also add to the bracelet on other special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. Christmas is a wonderful time of year, where you have the chance to show your loved ones how much you care. But, with all the running around and organising to be done it can be demanding. That’s why it is essential to plan ahead and think about things like presents before the festive season rolls around. There are hundreds of brilliant gifts to discover and it is important to get it right. Due to its versatility and timelessness, jewellery is always a safe bet, and with things like the Chamilia bracelet to choose from, you can really make that special someone’s Christmas Day.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…. do you remember the song? It is just one of the many Christmas songs that have made our holidays feel a lot happier and warm. For years now, people have been celebrating the birth of Christ gathered around the Christmas tree, sharing gifts and listening to classic Christmas music. Today, when we live in the age of technology and information, we can use the Internet and download free Christmas music. We are guaranteed a large selection and only the highest quality possible.

There are many websites online which offer the possibility to download free Christmas music. Still, not even half of them are as reliable as they would like to be and the music provided not quite so legal. A website that offers all the Christmas music you want for free should always be reliable and present a wide variety of music. We all remember how great it was to spend this wonderful holiday with our friends and family, surrounded by the smell of hot cocoa and charmed by the scent of a fresh Christmas tree, listening to our favorite Christmas songs. The Internet can enhance all those feelings especially since there is such a large selection of holiday music online.

If you do decide to visit one of the websites that offers free Christmas music download, you should know that there are four main categories you can browse through. The first choice is traditional instrumental, where you can find various instrumental versions of Christmas songs, with plenty of piano and guitar chords to listen. Then you have traditional vocal, the section where you can discover some of the most popular Christmas songs ever, including Holy Night and various other Christmas carols. The third choice comes in the form of contemporary vocal, a category that wishes to encompass various seasonal themes, satisfying your tastes for original yet present-day Christmas songs. The final choice is contemporary instrumental and you can certainly savor this Christmas music inspired by the holiday spirit. After you browse through all these categories, you will definitely feel that Christmas spirit running through your veins and feel cheerful indeed.

No matter if you decide to download free Christmas music or just listen to it from the Internet, you are guaranteed to be provided with various songs from famous singers including Chuck Brown, LaVada Torzewski, Carl Vasta and many others. You can discover that Christmas music is the genre that captures and entices you, being inviting and merry. The holidays are meant to be cheerful and this is why Christmas music fits so well between the beautifully decorated Christmas tree, with all the gifts around it and the smell of fresh baked cookies. For anyone who wishes to have a truly wonderful holiday, feeling the true spirit of Christmas, the Internet and the great variety of music are perfect. These websites are ready to make your holiday a lot brighter and they also provide various other fun things such as clip arts, electronic greeting cards and even recipes. All for you to feel that warm, holiday spirit!

Throughout time countless artists have dedicated their songs and albums to this holiday. There are perhaps millions of Christmas songs out there, being performed by various interprets and also in instrumental versions. The development of the Internet technology has allowed us to benefit from all of them and download them to our computers. Everyone enjoys listening to Christmas music and getting into that holiday spirit so yes the Internet is perfect for setting your holiday mood to cheerful and bright. Hope you get into that mood right when you start listening to those classical holiday songs wishing you have a white Christmas, a jolly and holly night not to mention those funny ones about reindeers and their adventures…. Download all you want because the music is absolutely free and you have plenty of songs to choose from!

The song “Santa Claus is coming to town” constantly makes my children reminded to be on their best manners or else Santa might just pass them by on Christmas Eve without any presents. There are a lot of ways to encourage children to slow down and behave, but none fairly as believable as hearing part of a song, “He knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake”.
Like most children, my kids are no different when it comes to hoping and wishing for the grand day and all the mystery and wonder that Christmas brings. They want to beautify our home with Christmas lights and collectibles, and each one constantly always has their preference. The very first thing that my son sought after to exhibit was the Nativity scene that he had completed at school when he was still seven years old. His teacher at church gave twenty Popsicle sticks to every child, but five had been divided in half. His class attached the sticks collectively in the form of a house, with the cut sticks used at the sides. It was finished much like Lincoln logs were planned, and a small miniature of Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus attached at the bottom. It made an attractive showpiece on top of the television with one or two red candle votives on every side.
Our next ornament to create was the Christmas candles in the windowsills, with a dynamic Santa and Mrs. Claus. A fresh custom that started with our youngest son by adding up lighted Christmas wreaths in every window. Of course, my much loved ornament was a huge Christmas door wreath with a gold angel in the center and gold leaves and berries outside of it.
Our supreme family custom was going away to their aunt and uncle’s house for the ceremonial dinner and exchanging of presents. As they grew up, they grow to be part of the setting up and carrying out the particulars of entertainment. One of the children would take part in Christmas carols and they would guide the adults with their singing. Another cousin would browse online to see precisely where Santa was on the radar and which direction he was going to. The younger kids would get so thrilled hearing those information.
Unwrapping gifts, after having a Christmas Eve dinner with family, was the final end to our family gathering. The kids were always enchanted in getting a custom-made decoration and something exceptional for their talents or fascination. By the time we were over and done with opening the gifts, the radar illustrates Santa was getting closer and closer, which meant it was finally time to go home and get all set for bed.
The concluding practice we adhere to on Christmas Eve was reading the book entitled “Night before Christmas”. The kids would change into their pajamas and set off to bed, waiting to hear the noise of reindeers on the roof. They would get so keyed up when they hear the jingle bells chime outside. That was always their hint to close their eyes and start to dream of what was about to arrive. Customs are fantastic because they let kids know what to look forward to. Our kids now have their own families and customs, but a lot of that they grew up are still living at present in their homes. Angels with halo, Christmas lights, family and Santa Claus are part of the way of life that many families commemorate and are what makes Christmas so much fun.

How to Make Christmas Last

Christmas is all about giving as well as receiving, it is a time for joy and spending precious moments with your friends and family.

It is a lovely feeling, especially when all of your family have got together to celebrate Christmas on 25th December, however on the 26th December and most certainly on 27th December this feeling of togetherness usually disbands as it is time to get back to work or generally back to reality.

Christmas presents obviously help to make Christmas last longer, they can be taken home and used throughout the year. Christmas cards on the other hand are usually thrown in the bin or put in the recycling bin. One way of ensuring that Christmas lasts is giving a gift or a card that can be kept, for example a personalised Christmas present or a personalised Christmas card, either with photos or a custom message.

Personalised Christmas gifts can include present ideas such as personalised mugs, personalised champagne, custom wine with a design your own wine label facility as well as personalised vodka and whisky for all those “alcoholics” out there! Although these personalised alcoholic beverages can be consumed, they can equally be presented on a presentation shelf or taken out to show family and friends during the course of the year, resulting in the Christmas gift you have given lasting throughout the year. Even if these personalised gifts are consumed, they can easily be filled with a candle to create a centre piece for a dinner party.

To make Christmas, you need to give a gift that will last and create memories on the day through photos and laughs that will take you through the whole year.