In less than 4 four months, Christmas will be here again so people will be giving gifts and wishing each other happy holidays. It is sometimes hard thinking about what to get especially if the loved one has almost everything that money can buy.

Instead of getting something from a store that is done every year, the person can try something different like giving something more personal which the receiver will get to appreciate more.

Here are some ideas that will surely make the act of gift giving merry this year.

1. The first will be to buy a plain shirt and then add some print on it. The individual can buy the design from a specialty store and then use silkscreen and paint to finish it.

2. Another idea will be to have a bath towel monogrammed with the person’s initials. This is something that the individual cannot do alone but a specialist can do it at a reasonable price.

3. If the person loves to cook or bake, this talent can be used and given to friends as a gift. After all, this is the season to be jolly to make brownies, food for the Gods and other pastries. The individual will just have to have to buy boxes so these can be placed inside once it comes out of the oven.

4. The individual can also host a Christmas party at home. Those in the neighborhood and people at work can be invited to be able to enjoy the dishes and pastries prepared for this special occasion.

5. Some stores offer a coupon book that is given for free after purchasing a certain amount. Since this is the season of giving, the individual can make the same thing and offer it to friends and family.

6. For those in the neighborhood, the person can organize the people to go caroling and spread the Christmas cheer.

7. If the person doesn’t want to spend and just give it to people in need, there is always setting up a fund to buy food and clothing for those who live in the shelter. This idea may be different but those who don’t have much also deserve to have a merry Christmas.

A coupon could contain things such as a simple hug or a free ride instead of letting the loved one commute or drive to work.

The ideas mentioned just show that people can enjoy the Christmas season without spending too much.

Entertaining friends and family in your home during the Christmas holiday is one of the most popular activities of the holiday season. Many people choose to host small, informal gatherings in their home, while others plan extravagant dinner parties which are destined to generate more than one urban legend in the community in which they are held.

While many of us do not aspire to such heights as those held by the socialites in our community, we would still like to host an unforgettable Christmas dinner party that will be remembered fondly among our closest friends and family for years to come.

If you are like me, and many are if they would just admit it, the thought of all of the work and skill that goes into throwing a successful dinner party leaves you a little weak in the knees and wondering how in the world you are going to pull it all off without a hitch.

But don’t let the fear of juggling the tasks involved with putting on a dinner party keep you from hosting the event that your family and friends will talk about for a long time into the future. It’s really not that hard if you follow a few simple steps and guidelines for putting on a successful dinner party.

Here’s how to plan the perfect Christmas dinner party:

Make your list, check it twice, and invite, invite, invite. The first thing you need to do when planning a dinner party is to create your guest list. Keep in mind that not all invited will attend. So, if you want to have 50 guests at your party, you will have to invite quite a few more than that. Send out invitations no less than three weeks in advance so that people will have a chance to RSVP.

Plan to cook your own meal or plan for others to plan it for you. If you are no Betty Crocker, admit it to yourself before signing on to make a large homemade meal. Having someone cater your dinner party or ordering takeout is perfectly acceptable depending on what type of atmosphere you want to create.

Remember that buffets are informal and a sit down dinner is more formal. I’m not saying that you are not capable of cooking a large meal for your guests. If you are and want to take on the work load of cooking for multiple guests, then by all means do so. Just keep in mind your limitations and time constraints. Doing so will save you a great deal of headache in the end.

Menu planning. When planning your individual dishes to serve at your Christmas dinner party, choose dishes that are both delicious and easy to make. Choose recipes that can be made ahead of time or that require just a little heating right before the party to be finished. The last thing you want to be doing during your dinner party is slaving over a hot stove sequestered away from your guests. Another important thing to remember when planning your menu is to never, ever attempt to cook a recipe for the first time. Trust me.

Take inventory. Create a list of all of the supplies that you will need to host your dinner party. Items may include tables, chairs, service pieces, cutlery, plates, candlesticks, decorations, table cloths, etc. Do not forget your food items from your menu as well.

Shop and Clean till you drop. About a week before your dinner party, you should take the time to do your party shopping and give your house a thorough cleaning.

Cook and decorate. Cook and prepare as many foods as you can ahead of time, preferable the day before the party.

Save the day of the party for setting up your tables and adding the finishing touches to your décor.

See, hosting a memorable Christmas dinner party is not so hard after all. In fact, I’m sure that you can do it. So, get out there and start planning, and if at any time you feel overwhelmed, simply hire a caterer.

“You better watch out, you better not pout. You better not cry, I’m telling you why”. That’s a favorite song for children everywhere because “Santa Claus is coming to town”. It’s a great way to motivate good behavior in children when they’re very energetic and excited about holiday decorations and surprises. In our house, that song meant Santa was bringing things that we dreamed about, if we were good.

Like most families, our family also celebrated the holidays in both Christian and secular ways. My excitement would start to build when my parents first began to decorate our home by getting out the Christmas stuff. The first thing we put up was a window decoration of Santa and his sleigh that sat on the window ledge. Assembling the set with red string to connect reindeer meant Christmas. We decorated the windows with stencils and spray snow’ to make “wintry scenes”. Dad would get a real tree and we used lights, ornaments, silver garland with a star on top. Another tradition was hanging stockings for Santa. We would get apples, oranges, nuts, and hard candy in our stocking and wondered “how did Santa get in without a fireplace”. We were told it was ‘magic’!

One of the tastiest, best traditions was helping Mother decorate sugar cookies. I remember her using a silver   cylinder that she would fill with cookie dough and press out perfect sugar cookies. She could even change the tips and go from stars to snowmen, angels and other shapes. It was so much fun to be given the responsibility of decorating cookies with icing and sprinkles.

Another tradition we had was putting food out for Santa and carrots for his reindeer. Our parents would read the “T’was the night before Christmas” and then say we had to go” right to sleep or Santa would pass over our house if we were still awake”. By then, we were so excited that we couldn’t even think about sleep, but of course, it was off to bed for me and my three brothers. While we were trying to go to sleep, we would hear jingle bells outside and the excitement would get really intense. It was very hard to keep your eyes closed and go right to sleep when you are that excited. But sometime later, daylight appeared and we would run to see what Santa had brought us. It was always so cool that Santa had eaten the cookies and most of the carrots were gone!

Traditions are what make memories. It is fun to follow the same traditions as growing up and adding even more. Spending Christmas Day with our parents and playing with our new toys and wearing our new clothes made it a day to remember. Sometime during the day, our Mother would prepare a Holiday dinner and we’d give thanks and enjoy a full Christmas meal. Traditions, family and memories are the best things that we can give our children.

Just before Christmas, everyone seems to get a shopping fever. With such a great selection of Christmas ‘gifts’ in London, one just can not resist to get something special for friends, family or finally treat themselves.

The capital will open you a door to a selection of stores where you can choose your Christmas gifts, home decorations and tasty treats. You are likely to get carried away with such a variety of goodies. One shop alone might require half-an hour minimum and there are loads of them everywhere and all are selling with discounts!

Harrods is a good place to go if you want to buy something special for a gift or treat yourself to something exclusive. It can be pricy, but in December even Harrods is affordable to most of the public. They have a good selection of perfumes, clothes and accessories. If you can afford it, the quality will not leave you disappointed.

Other popular shopping places include Knightsbridge, Bond Street and Oxford Street. Mostly designer brands, but there are a few smaller, less well-known names there selling everything from body lotions and soaps to wigs and funny hats.

If you are afraid of the city turmoil, you might want to choose some less populous areas for shopping. In Notting Hill you can find the best antique shops and original jewellery, accessories – mostly individually designed or hand made. You will not find this sort of thing in high street shops.

If you are planning to visit London this December, pick up a central London hotel and you will not be disappointed, no point to tussle in the underground or a bus when you can just walk back to the hotel!

Diy Christmas Table Decorations, Make-it-yourself holiday tabletop.

Miy Project creation and Photo by: Madeleine M Langlois

My “Christmas in Paris” theme is based on a composition of blending the old with the new. My grandmother’s table was always set with the finest bone china and antique silverware. Oil paintings, painted by my grandfather, graced the walls. Her holiday décor was fashioned with stylish satin ribbons, shimmering crystals, and an exquisite white Christmas tree, decorated with but a few striking ornaments. Place cards, Christmas crackers and a personalized centerpiece coordinated the whole ensemble. She always used fresh greenery and flowers to garnish her home.

Copyright Miy Decorations © 2006

For more Miy decor projects visit www.maddylane-decor.com

Even thecolour palette that I selected was nostalgic; a combination of bright turquoise, greens and blues with soft pastels in similar hues amidst accents of silver, angelic whites and chocolate brown. As a young girl, these unusual combinations of Christmas colours made quite an impression on me. My table this year is an homage to my grandmother who is now 98 years old. You could say that style influences along with traditions are also passed on through generations. With this specific concept in mind, the table I chose is a cream-coloured dining room set by Tommy Bahamas. This set was very close in resemblance, shape and style to the look I wanted to recreate. Even though this particular set is more intended for a Bahamian plantation, which is much en vogue, it worked beautifully to accomplish my goal.

The square-patterned taffeta table runners are in bright iridescent colour blocks of emerald greens, deep-sea turquoises and opulent blues. The organza centre panel runner is a soft pastel aqua shade. The runners are all trimmed with luxurious satin borders. The main table cloth is a sheer underskirt in a delicious café-au-lait colour. It is edged with a multi-coloured trim made with fun-fibre wool.

For the place setting for four, I chose the Rochelle Platinum collection by Noritake – fine white china, trimmed with an exquisite silver-dotted textured border. I transfered images of the Eiffel Tower, in tones of deep turquoise, to the center of clear plates. Using clear plates allows the bright image to stand out on the white background of the china.

Beneath the place settings, sit lovely silver charger plates with beaded edges. The glasses are from the Grossgrain collection by Vera Wang. Tiny white dots and fine stripes line the borders of the shapely glasses. For the water glasses, I transformed plain glasses (picked up at a rummage sale) with turquoise and green stripes using glass paints.

I wanted a chic, yet fun centerpiece with a different twist. I used a crystal, square-shaped cake stand and filled it with assorted pearls, green and silver balls, and placed a pillar candle at the center. To decorate the hutch and the buffet I used fresh greenery, supplied by Westmont Florist, to make graceful arrangements. Eucalyptus sprigs, pine and willow branches, Queen Anne’s lace and Ornitogalums are refined with silver angel hair accents. The vases are accented with marble-pattern squares, blending assorted shades of blues and greens.

The crystal candle holders are bejewelled with a crystal beaded fringe, which is repeated throughout the theme. The tea-light candle holders are edged with a white feather frill. Two frosted glass votive lamps are embellished with clear micro beads in shapes of Eiffel Towers. I revamped an old chandelier to coordinate with the setting. I painted it silver, added fine details such as: crystal bead fringe, fancy white and silver fuzzy wool, draped with pearls, lavish ribbons, and crystal pendant jewels (taken from other items that I recycled).I created a mini art gallery incorporating mainly photographs with assorted art mediums including a painting of the

Eiffel Tower, lit up with tiny rice lights. Photo montages are made with panoramic pictures of Paris placed over canvases covered with patterned rice paper. Two canvases were covered with textured wallpaper and bordered with satin ribbons. My teenage son Spencer made his contribution to the mini gallery with a graffiti sign of Paris using oil pastels on canvas.

For the finishing details, the backs of the chairs were decorated with a blue satin bow, a crystal bead tassel and a pine branch surrounded by a silver wire swirl accent. I applied family photographs onto self-hardening clay to create an advent calendar tree and attached them onto a white feathered tabletop tree. A coordinating feathered square wreath centers a grand round mirror.

The Christmas tree: An Eiffel tower shaped tree made out of willow branches is gracefully trimmed with a fluffy white feathered boa. Tiny glass balls and paper ornaments are decorated with feathers, crystals, micro beads and sequences.I made a simple garland using a spiral silver wire, a few pine branches, silver holly shapes made with foil and a silver wire to spell the word Noël. I made mini Eiffel Towers out of wire for the place card holders. Fake chocolates were made with clay.

The gifts were uniquely wrapped in shapes of bonbons, and frilly purses using assorted papers, pictures, fabrics and ribbons left over from the items created for this theme. Wire monograms, old-fashioned labels, and fun-fur were also incorporated in some of the pretty wrappings. Hand-made greeting cards were customized using similar materials, and also micro beads, silver foil, fuzzy wool, shrink film designs and sequins. There is so much more to describe, a Paris travel souvenir tray, a cake candle, hat boxes, a lavish picture throw, and more.

The decorations that I created for my theme table, even if they seem quite elaborate, can easily be recreated with very few craft supplies, available in arts and crafts and fabric stores and many various remnants from around your home. Make your holidays special, personalized it!