Best Home For Chistmas Gifts

It is easy to think of outside Christmas decorations as a couple strings of lights and maybe an inflatable Santa.  To really make your yard pop out and look the best on the block, you will need to jazz up your decorations a little.  Here are some tips that reflect current outdoor decorating trends:

Get some magazines. 

The best place to catch up on current trends is to pick up some magazines at the grocery store.  Take a look at the pictures to see what is in this year.

Throw away the white icicle lights! 

Those are out, and bright led colors are in.  Think blue, purple, or green, and you are on the right track.

Go green.

Green living is an idea that is permeating most things right now, and Christmas is no exception.  For your outside decorations, make sure you buy forever lights, which are led lights that use less electricity and last longer.  You will be able to use these year after year, and you will be able to brag to your neighbors that your decorations are eco-friendly.

Decorate your trees with more than lights. 

Giant Christmas ornaments are a great way to do this.  Hanging several 25 inch bulbs from your trees will give your yard a refined look, and also give people something to look at during the day.

Upgrade to a bigger inflatable. 

Inflatables were the new trend 5 years ago, but now everyone has an inflatable for every season!  To get ahead, you will need to upgrade to something larger.  Look for themes inflatables, that include several characters as part of one package.

Develop a theme. 

Some examples are a Victorian Christmas, a Norman Rockwell Christmas, or a Snowman Christmas.  This will allow you tie your yard together to make it more appealing.

Good luck and Merry Christmas!

Ryan Harris has celebrated 30 Christmases and has loved every one! He currently has a blog of tips and how-to advice for Christmas decorations at Outside Christmas Decorations.

Merry Christmas! Every December many people around the world utter these words to one another as they look forward to the wondrous holiday season. In A Very Special Christmas with Grandma, Leanne Bush charms readers with the story of young Sarah who visits her grandmother for an entire week before Christmas. Readers will find themselves wishing that all children could have the same experience as Sarah-and by writing this book, the author has made this possible. Other children, along with Sarah, can experience an old-fashioned Christmas, with all its wonderful traditions.

From the moment that Sarah's parents leave their daughter at Grandma's house, it is a very busy time for this couple who are separated by generations but united by love. It is obvious that the grandmother and grandchild are very close as they happily work together on Grandma's "to-do" list to prepare for the yearly holiday. There are Christmas cards to prepare, and a tree to decorate. The tree is a real one given to them by a neighbor who lives on a large farm. The tree goes into a stand that holds water; it is Sarah's job to water the tree every day. The author describes in detail how they decorate the tree, going into detail about how they make a long chain from loops made of construction paper. Though I'm revealing my age, I remember doing this for our Christmas trees in grade school. It is fun and seems to look better than many modern decorations we buy from stores today. 
 
After the tree is finished, Grandma makes them some mouth-watering hot chocolate with her added ingredients of crushed peppermint candy and small marshmallows on top. Then it's time for bed so they can go to church the next morning. The rest of the week keeps them continually busy as they make various kinds of cookies and take some of them to a local nursing home where a group of people from Grandma's church sing Christmas carols to the elderly. The true "reason for the season" is not forgotten as Sarah helps her grandmother set up a nativity scene on the coffee table, and later, Grandma tells her the story of Jesus' birth. 
 
The week passes quickly as the two build a snowman, wrap Christmas presents, watch Christmas shows on TV, and read Christmas stories together. And on Christmas Eve, they hang up a stocking for Santa to fill with goodies for Sarah. Of course, they don't forget Santa, leaving the jolly old man milk and cookies. Before going to bed, Sarah's grandmother gives her a Christmas ornament and a special stuffed rabbit named Levi that she had received when she was a little girl. Grandma had kept him in very good condition. Now Sarah will need to do the same.
 
On Christmas morning, Sarah discovers that Santa Clause has come and given her many nice presents. Later Sarah's parents arrive, and there are more presents to exchange. Then, after a delicious ham dinner with all the trimmings, it is time for Sarah to go home. She gives Grandma a very special hug and kiss, and of course, thanks her for the wonderful memories of such a special week. 

This book is excellently narrated and an adventure that young children should not miss out on. It is written in age-appropriate language for children who want to be read to as well as for children who are old enough to read the words all by themselves. Readers should thank the author for reminding children of the values of yesterday and the special bond that they can have with their grandparents. It is my recommendation that individuals buy several copies of this book for Christmas gift-giving. The children on their list will truly enjoy it-so will the parents and grandparents Best Christmas gift

Making and blowing bubbles with your kids is one of the most carefree pastimes imaginable - giggles guaranteed! And yet, blowing bubbles without knowing these simple bubble recipe secrets can turn your bubble fun into a "bust"! With these simple bubble recipe secrets, making super-sized long-lasting bubbles is a cinch.

1. Adding glycerin to your bubble mix makes bubbles stronger. Glycerin can be found in your local pharmacy.

2. Use distilled water instead of tap water. Tap water tends to be "hard" and is not good for making bubbles. If yours is "soft", you have the perfect water for good "bubbleology".

3. Prepare your bubble solution in advance and store it overnight in the refrigerator before using it.

4. Dry surfaces pop bubbles, so make sure your bubble wand, your hands, and anything your bubble may touch is wet.

5. Let the bubble maker soak in the bubble solution a few minutes prior to using.

6. Clear any suds or foam from surface of mixture before making bubbles. Don't slosh the wand around in the solution. Suds and foam are "bubble-busters".

7. Overcast, cool and humid days are the best weather conditions for blowing bubbles. Avoid hot, dry or windy days, or at least find a shady spot out of the wind.

8. "Throw" bubbles, don't blow bubbles. Move your wand in a slow fluid motion.

9. Many small bubbles instead of one big one means you are probably blowing too hard.

10. Finish your bubble with a quick twist of the wrist to seal it before if flies away.

Adults and kids alike can learn these simple techniques to become expert "bubbleologists".

Note: Exercise care when children are using bubble mix. It can be very slippery on the ground, and will sting if it gets in the eyes.

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Patricia B. Jensen is a mother of three and kids party enthusiast. She is the webmaster and owner of Kids-Party-Paradise.com - a complete resource for kids party ideas including invitations, cakes, decorations, games, costumes, favors, and food.

For all the latest party news, read her Kids Party Blog.