Merry Christmas!

A Week of Worthy Advent Activities

As we count down the days left to Christmas it's good to stop and reflect on what we have really done to get ready. (Besides the shopping, the wrapping, the baking,etc.) Here is a list of things we can do to make our final days to Christmas really count. (taken from an old issue of Woman's Day magazine)

Sunday--Give something away.

We all have some things we are using that someone else could. I have a winter coat hanging in a closet that I know could keep someone else warm.

Monday--Shop consciously.

I know Walmart has great prices but can we buy US not China-made? Buy fair-trade coffee and chocolate. Think green and help our planet.

Tuesday--Read for inspiration.

Find an e-newsletter for an organization whose mission you admire. (Have you got one you could share with us?)

Wednesday--Click for good.

Do your online shopping at charity malls such as igive.com and buyforcharity.com. I must admit I was not aware of these...

Thursday--Spread the word.

Your children can check out Kind News Online(kindnews.org) which teaches kids about animal welfare. Tell your hairstylist about Cut It Out (cutitout.org), a program that helps salon staff identify domestic abuse victims or check out some happy news we all could use (happynews.com)

Friday--Be a silent Samaritan

Shovel the snow for a neighbor while they are gone. Leave treats (anonymously) for a friend, do a kind act for someone without getting credit for it.

Saturday--Support local programs.

Put some money in the red kettles, donate to Toys for Tots, buy a little something at the grocery store for the food shelf.

It's easy this time of year to get a little stressed (if you ask my husband he would probably say a "little"? when he describes me...). I think doing something good each day will help me stay focused on what Christmas should really be about. Are you in?

Ways to Share the Joy

I have some of H. Jackson Brown Jr.'s books including Life's Little Instruction Book and The Little Book of Christmas Joys. I found an old article from Family Circle magazine that listed "25 ways to share the joy" written by this author. Here are a few of them...
*Mend a broken relationship with a friend or relative during the holidays
*Take a family photo in the same spot each year. You'll have a wonderful record of the
growth of your family.
*Tell your children about Christmas when you were their age.
* Tip someone that doesn't expect it.
* On a clear night, find the bright North Star and recall the story of the Three Wise Men.
* Open Christmas cards as a family each night at the dinner table. Read the messages aloud.
* Write letters to several people who have had a positive influence on you. Thank them for 
this gift.
* Don't try to do everything yourself. Remember even Santa has helpers!
* Remember that the greatest holiday gift is a home filled with the people you love.

Wordless Wednesday

When will I get my own phone?

Displaying Your Photos in Your Home

Trying to decide where you are going to put your photos and what will look best in your home? Here are some ideas to help…

• Canvas – You can order beautiful canvases stretched over varying thicknesses of wood to make it stand out more or less depending on your preference. These photos are free-floating and do not require a frame. 

• Framed on Wall – Dress your photos up with stylish frames to match your home décor. 
• When hanging photos on your wall (framed or canvas) you can choose to hang a single photo, or a group of photos in a collage to change it up.

• Framed on Shelves, Desks, Tables – If you are renting or don’t want to put holes in your walls from prints or canvases, you can also frame your prints and place them on shelves, desks, or tables around your home. (You can also do this in addition to the wall hangings if you’d like.) 

• Photo Boxes – Customized photo boxes are totally in! These are very popular. This is a great way to display your photos, and you can keep more prints inside or use them as a keepsake box to house your precious memories. 

• Wall Calendars – Enjoy your photos all year long with a beautiful wall calendar. 

• Albums/Coffee Table Books – If you just can’t pick out a few photos to display in your home and you need more space, you can always get an album printed up and place it on your coffee table or bookshelf. Pull it out and look through it to remember how fun your session was, and how much your family loves each other. 

• Computer Screensaver