Product Description
Add this festive trio from The Peanuts Gang to your tree.
Peanuts® Gang
Set of three miniature ornaments. Each approx. 1 1/2″ H… More >>
You are currently browsing all posts tagged with 'Spirit'
Full of Christmas Spirit
Decorate Your Home With the Christmas Spirit, for the Ultimate in Holiday Decor
Capture the elusive Christmas Spirit and bring it home for the holidays! Remember what it was like when you were a kid at Christmas time? When you were filled with that warm fuzzy Christmas feeling that seemed to penetrate the whole house? How did our parents do it? Was it the innocence of childhood or is there something more to it? Get started today and your home will be bursting at the seams with that old time Christmas feeling. Practice acts of shopping kindness. Smile at people. Smile and say hello to the busy clerk behind the counter. Let them know you’re not just another impatient customer waiting in line. Smile at the harried mother with fussy young children. Let her know your not judging her parenting skills. Let that person with only one item go ahead of you at the cash register. It feels so good when they flash an appreciative thank you your way. Open doors for people. Smile at them. Let that car merge into your busy traffic lane. Wave a friendly hello. In a single shopping trip you will have given the gifts of patience, kindness, acceptance and courtesy. It’s free, it’s fun and the more you give the more you’ll get! Get sentimental. Snuggle on the couch and watch the classics; ‘Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer’, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and ‘A Christmas Story’. Share childhood stories of holidays’ past with your children. Tell them how scared you were of the Abominable Snowman when you were little. How you would squirm in your seat when he had Rudolph trapped in the cave! Listen to Bing Crosby sing ‘I’ll be home for Christmas’. Sing ‘Frosty the Snowman’ when you’re stuck in traffic and laugh at yourself. Surprise an old relative or friend with a phone call. Hang mistletoe. Stop and take notice of children all happy and excited in their holiday dresses. Engage the senses. Make Christmas warm and fuzzy again. Sautee onions in a frying pan and then run out onto the front porch for a few moments. Step back in and enjoy the smell of home cooking! Play Christmas carols while you’re making dinner. Dance in the kitchen to ‘Little Drummer Boy’. Laugh. Flirt with your husband. Hug your kids. Hug the dog! Light those cinnamon scented candles you’ve been saving forever. Sit in the dark and stare at the Christmas tree lights. Make hot chocolate, spiced cider or eggnog. Appreciate! Take the time to really appreciate all that you do have. Be thankful that you have a home to come home to, a warm bed to sleep in and food in the cupboard. Say a silent thank you for the loved ones in your life. Say thank you for good health, transportation, indoor plumbing, garbage service, family pets and your house plants that keep on living. Remind yourself that even the poorest people in America live better than many around the world. Take the time to acknowledge what a luxury your hot shower really is. Appreciate; really, really appreciate what you have right now, today! Give something, anything, big or small to charity. Be thankful you have it to give. Take a lesson from the Grinch. He learned that the Christmas Spirit can’t be purchased, wrapped up and put in a box. It’s something that comes from within. It isn’t created with pretty decorations; it makes the decorations prettier. It isn’t created with ham and turkey dinner; it makes the ham and turkey taste better. It isn’t created by putting up the Christmas lights; it makes the lights shine brighter. Christmas Spirit is created in your heart. And it grows every time you express it with your love and appreciation. Practice giving it and you’ll discover what Dorothy from the ‘Wizard of Oz’ learned. What you were looking for was in your own backyard all along! Now you’re home is ready for the holidays. Merry Christmas!
No Stress Christmas Shopping Keeping the Spirit Alive
As I write this, ‘Black Friday’ (Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, historically the busiest retail shopping day of the year) is just about over. Were you one of the ones who braved the masses looking for bargains?
If so, you’re braver than me, my day was spent relaxing, writing articles, walking my dog and enjoying the beauty of the crisp air. Most of my shopping is already done and I plan on enjoying the spirit of the season, to me that is much more important than material gifts.
With that thought, and no matter how you spent your day, take a moment with me and relax, take a deep breath, hold it for a moment, then slowly let it flow out completely. As it does, imagine the cares and troubles of the day disappearing. Do that for a minute or two every day and your stress will be greatly reduced. Now, onto some shopping tips for the holidays.
My belief is shopping as early as possible, and no, I don’t mean 5am the day after Thanksgiving, I mean before (or at a different time) than the multitudes invade the malls. A few weeks ago I made a list of gifts for this season, they weren’t extravagant, however they were nice and I expect they’ll be appreciated. Armed with this list I went to the mall on an evening I felt most of the public would be at home. This allowed me to shop without pushing and shoving, to easily find parking and also spy a number of bargains before they were sold out for the season.
NOTE: Your Christmas list is an important ingredient, not only will it keep your budget in line, it will save you wandering the store waiting for gift inspiration to visit.
While some days are a diamond, others a stone, I always try to be polite. By doing so, not only am I participating in the Christmas spirit, I’m also communicating the fact I’m a friendly person, in turn I attract friendly people. Take a moment, wherever you are, whomever you’re with to say thank you and smile. It will be appreciated and bring a touch of warmth to your soul.
Manage your debt. While this isn’t an article about credit cards, PLEASE use your plastic with care, otherwise January will bring a level of stress that will take the magic out of the memories.
Personally I DO NOT use credit cards for my purchases. I try (sometimes better than others) to live debt free, it allows me not to have the stress of bill collectors calling and making the credit card companies wealthy. When I find something I simply MUST have, but can’t afford it, instead of plastic, I place it on layaway. Since I shop early, this gives me ample time to pay as my budget allows.
The Internet is no longer in its infancy, and while there are still problems in cyberspace, consider doing at least some of your shopping online. With the click of a mouse you can compare prices, browse photos, read reviews and order with convenience. How do I avoid using credit cards here? I use my bank card, other times a cash card, and often Paypal. A good friend of mine works for one of the major televised shopping networks; while sometimes they contain a good measure of hype, other times you can find a real bargain. Take a look, but don’t make impulsive purchases.
TIP: Staying within your budget, buy a few extra gifts, such as chocolate or scented candles (not fruitcake again!) for unexpected guests or friends who stop by.
Use the catalogs, most (if not all) of the greatest companies on the planet have dynamic websites where you can order from their catalog. But do it early, even the largest companies will experience the Christmas rush. Consider paying a bit extra for gift wrapping which will save you time on this end.
Don’t forget teachers, doctors, office mates, the mailman, etc. While it’s not expected, it is VERY much appreciated when you remember them with a small keepsake. Years ago my mother and father made a practice of giving simple gifts to the waitresses at their local restaurant. Believe me; they received excellent service all year long.
Christmas is a time for giving, but that doesn’t necessarily mean just your money, give of your time, your heart and your spirit. By doing so, not only will you avoid the stress of the bill collector, you’ll be building memories to last a lifetime.
