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| >> Message Forum >> Holiday >> ID #1354610 |   |
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      But this door swings both ways, Ladies and Gents!  I'm hoping those who visit here will post MANY MORE time-saving Holiday Tips/Suggestions/Advice on any associated topic or area. (recipes, crafts and handmade gift ideas,decorating, fashion, multi-tasking, party planning, time-saver ideas, etc.). I'll update the Forum with all tips/advice/suggestions/etc. that visitors post here so that we can all share them and utilize them to minimize the stress and anxiety too often experienced at this time of year ~ and optimize time far more enjoyably spent making memories to cherish for many Holiday Seasons to come. So dive in ~ I KNOW you all have MUCH to offer! Here's my first contribution: NO NEED TO SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP... Stressed out about the prospect of battling traffic, having to park three clicks west of Neptune, fending off muggers and other wasted assimilations of protoplasm impersonating human beings, AND crowded and frenzied real time stores/malls ~ not to mention thinking up what gift you want to give to whom in the first place??? Here's my tried and true, Holiday Detox secret... check back often for updates/additions of experience-tested, excellent and dependable online shopping resources!  Compile your list of those you wish to give gifts to and don't worry about trying to think of what to give ~ instead, go ONLINE SHOPPING shopping at the below stores. I've used all of these and they all offer huge selections, good quality, and VERY reasonable prices. PLUS ~ each of them show you all their categories of available merchandise, and frequently offer free or deep discount shipping/handling charges, gift wrapping options, and SALES! Many also often provide shoppers the option of browsing their catalogues, page by page, online. I always make a list of people I'm shopping for first, then go to the sites and let the STORE give me ideas as to what to give them if I don't already know. It's the best of all possible worlds ~ you can shop and browse all you like at YOUR liesure, 24-7, in your jammies in your own home. You don't have to fight traffic and the shopping throngs in real time, you get excellent prices, and you come up with great gift ideas you might never have otherwise thunked of ! EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN: http://www.abcdistributing.com - (Including, but certainly not limitted to gorgeous tabletop fountains & solar-powered outdoor statues, fixtures, and lights... at deeply discounted prices!) http://www.heartlandamerica.com - (A vertitable overflowing cornucopia of merchandise of all kinds - many electronics, computer, video cameras, regular cameras, plus much, much more - many items in their ineventory are factory refurbished and sold VERY affordably!) http://www.smartbargains.com http://www.overstock.com http://www.hsn.com AND http://www.qvc.com ~ ( EVERYTHING The Home Shopping Club and QVC sells on television can also be purchased from them online! ) http://www.walmart.com http://www.kmart.com http://www.cataloguefavorites.com ~ ("Creme of the catalogue crop" - many SUPERB items offered!) http://www.whatonearth.com http://www.drugstore.com ~ ( Like a Rite Aid or Walgreen Drug Store online! ) SPECIALTY ITEMS: http://www.bamzu.com ~ ( AS SEEN ON T.V. merchandise all in one spot! ) , http://www.kbtoys.com ~ ( TOYS, TOYS, TOYS ) http://blair.com ~ (shoes and clothing) http://www.petsmart.com~ ( ALL things for all pets! ) http://www.sportsauthority.com (sports & /outdoor gear,clothing, etc.) http://www.collectionsetc.com AND http://www.harrietcarter.com AND http://whatonearthcatalogue.com ~ ( HUGE, affordable variety of collectibles, funny t-shirts, nooks, etc. ~ everything from tee shirts to to gadgets to books ~ you name it!) http://www.nationalwildlife.com ~ ( All things WILDLIFE !!! ) http://www.officedepot.com.com ~ ( Office supplies of every shape and kind!) http://bestbuy.com AND http:////www.radioshack.com ~ ( Electronic items, computers, printers & printer ink, paper, etc., computer enhancements, video cameras, stereos, phones, televisions, and much, much more! ) http://www.homedepot.com ~ ( EVERYTHING having ANYTHING to do with home/yard/garden! PLUS things like lawnmowers, etc. ! ) http://www.parkseeds.com AND http://www.tmseeds.com AND http://burpee.com AND http://www.stokeseeds.com ~ ( For your resident Gardening Lovver... EVERY imaginable kind of 2008 growing season seeds for flowers and vegetables! ) http://michiganbulb.com ~ ( Another FABULOUS site for avid gardeners ~ fantastic house, tropical, & outdoor plants, shrubby, trees, fruit-bearing bushes & trees, trees, flowering bushes, flower bulbs, etc.) http://www.GrowersSupply.com AND http://www.backyardstyle.com ~ ( EVERYTHING FOR GARDENERS & DO-IT-YOURSELF LANDSCAPERS: From a large variety of indoor and outdoor greenhouses and accesories to garden/watering equipment to cold frame kits/accesories to tarps, greenhouse covers, pond liners, etc !!! ) http://www.dell.com ~ you can have a computer built, tailor made to the recipient's needs AND cash in on refurbished and sale items and have 'em delivered to your door!} http://www.lush.com/ [ OR http://www.lush.com/uk for United Kingdom shoppers ] ..."they have the best bath goodies ever, and none are tested on animals, nor are their ingredients tested on animals" ~ THANKS FOR THE TIP, Kittiara   !!! EVERY IMAGINABLE ARTS & CRAFT ITEM / SEWING, KNITTING, CROCHET, PAINTING, ETC.: http://www.herrschners.com http://:CHS::www.joann.com/joann/ http://www.hancockfabrics.com http://anniesattic.com http://www.marymaxim.com http://www.misterart.com http://redmondbf.creativitysuperstore.com http://www.harrietcarter.com ~ (SUPER discount prices on name brand yarns & needlework, knitting, crochetting, etc. tools of all kinds!) http://www.hallmark.com (Cards, e-cards, Christmas and other themed keepsakes, gift flowers and plants, etc.) http://:CHS::www.barnesandnoble.com/ AND http://amazon.com ~ ( Books, Used & New, stationary, DVD & VHF movies, and much much MORE! )  FOOD FOR HOLIDAY THOUGHT....
SEND AN ELEGANT, AFFORDABLE C-NOTE, SUPPORT OUR SOLDIERS & VETS, AND ENTER FOR A CRACK AT A 10,000 GP PRIZE, ALL IN ONE FELL SWOOP...
IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS... TASTY HOLIDAY BEVERAGES !!! Here are some scrump-dilly-icious Holiday beverage recipes... most can be found online, but the very last one is one of my family's own home-spun traditions! Enjoy! Another tip is Gift Cards! Sometimes you can even get deals on them this time of year. I can purchase them through my online bank account, have them mailed to me and then give them out and let the recipients do their own shopping.HOMEMADE EGGNOG This is so simple to make from scratch -- and so much fresher tasting and satisfying when you do! At my local market, I buy Ronnybrook Farms brand milk and cream, which makes a huge difference with their thick texture and deep flavor. I even substitute skim milk for whole milk! 6 egg yolks ½ pound superfine Sugar ½ quart milk ½ quart heavy cream 1 tablespoon vanilla ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground dry ginger zest from ½ orange ½ quart rum (OPTIONALl) In a bowl, gently whisk together the eggs and sugar until smooth. Whisk in the milk, cream, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and orange zest. For best results, make the mix the day before and allow to "rest" overnight in the refrigerator. Strain before serving if you like a smoother texture. MULLED CIDER A "straight" apple cider, labeled "sweet," is often made from mixed varieties of apples and sometimes enriched with crab apples, which offer an additional boost of pectin to thicken the cider and a tart flavor that makes it more refreshing to drink. "Hard" cider has been left to ferment and is considered an alcoholic beverage. For this recipe, I like a cloudy and murky sweet cider. 1 quart apple cider 10 whole cloves 5 large cinnamon sticks ½ teaspoon nutmeg ¼ cup dark brown sugar 1 knob fresh ginger, peeled and pricked with a fork zest from ½ lemon 1 apple, such as Macoun or McIntosh varieties, washed, cored, and diced Heat the cider on the stove until hot but not boiling. Add all of the other ingredients (except the lemon zest) and stir to blend. Bring to a gentle simmer over low heat. Remove the ginger (and whole spices, if desired). Add the lemon zest and diced apple. Serve immediately! QUICK 'n EASY GRAPE SPRITZER I get wonderful local grape juices at my market at the same stand where I buy my grapes. I especially like white grape juice for this recipe, but anything will work! 1 quart chilled grape juice 1 tablespoon honey 2 cups chilled seltzer or naturally sparkling water 24 to 30 grapes, stemmed, washed, and frozen Mix the grape juice and honey together. Fill some glasses ¾ full with grape juice and top with the sparkling water. Drop a few grapes into each glass for a festive garnish that doubles as an ice cube! "SUPER POP" ~ GREAT FOR HOLIDAY TOASTS ! (*Alcohol-containing beverage - for adults only) We created this drink recipe once all the children in our family were young adults ~ it works best with any lemon-lime flavored soda pop or ginger ale. You simply add any sweet wine to the soda to taste. The red wine color gives the beverage over ice a beautiful mauve/burgundy color, and you can enjoy it as a toast and/or with your Holiday meal without ingesting quite so much alcohol as if you were drinking straight wine. Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Peppermint flavoring, etc. may also be added to taste. A G-R-E-A-T IDEA... GIFTS THAT KEEP ON GIVING ! SUBMITTED BY ~ ksweaver They get EXACTLY what they want and can go shopping in the off season ~ like the middle of January. Everyone is happy! * What a MARVELLOUS gift idea... you can get Gift Certificates for just about ANYTHING these days, too! Restaurants (even the Fast Food ones), just about ANY kind of store, Amazon.com, Home Shopping Club and QVC, (see HSN and QVC links above) bookstores, Pizza Shops, etc.!!! You can also pop Gift Certificates into a hand-decorated envelope or decorative Holiday Stocking and skip the time-consuming chore of wrapping! THANKS, ksweaver !!! GIFT-WRAPPING SHORTCUTS... ONLINE, MAILED OR SPECIAL-ORDERED GIFTS GOING TO BE LATE??? START A NEW TRADITION !!! . PROTECT YOURSELF FROM A DEADLY, COLD-WEATHER GRINCH !!! One of the BIGGEST killers of adults, children, and pets, especially once colder winter temperatures set in and houses are closed up against drafts and chill, is carbon monoxide poisoning. Sources of carbon monoxide release can include water heaters, furnaces, gas stoves, and any natural gas and/or propane operated, combustion-reliant appliance of any kind ( including partially obstructed, vented or flued fireplaces or any source of flame ). Carbon monoxide is commonly referred to as a "silent killer" because it is odorless and tasteless, and often overtakes us insidiously and slowly, with symptoms coming on so gradually as not to be immediately recognized until levels build in your bloodstream so great as to bring on unconsciousness/fatality. Carbon monoxide levels also tend to be retained and accumulate in ever increasing amounts in the bloodstream over prolonged periods of exposure to even small but unsafe levels, and it therefore can takes hours/weeks/months for the body to rid itself of once the exposure ceases. And the tighter, more weather-resistant our homes and auto become, the greater the risk that carbon monoxide poisoning could rear its ugly head. Here are a few simple ~ but possibly life-saving ~ tips: 1. Be alert to yourself or other(s) in your home experiencing unexplained illnesses, including chronic fatigue, stomach/intestinal upset, dizziness, difficulty concentrating/thinking clearly, an "off the mark" feeling of any kind, visual disturbances, and/or headaches? ( ALSO BE COGNIZANT OF PETS ACTING ILL, GOING OFF THEIR NORMAL DIET/LIQUID INTAKE PATTERNS, OR BEHAVING PECULIARLY - they and children are often more sensitive to increased carbon monoxide blood levels than larger adults may be.) Remember ~ these symptoms may come on VERY slowly and insidiously... and may not even seem to affect some living in the home at all ~ therefore, they dangerously easy to miss until it's too late. 2. If the above symptoms seem to abate when the sufferer is outside or otherwise away for a period of time, you may very well have a carbon monoxide leak within your home. 3. Make a regular and frequent habit of checking the appearance and color of the flame/pilot light on ALL of your combustion-dependent appliances: orange and/or particularly furious-burning flames are not a good sign. 4. Regularly and frequently inspect your fireplace(s) /wood stove(s) /space heaters, where applicable ~ BE THEY GAS OR WOOD BURNING: their flues/vents should fully allow to air/gas exchanges to flow freely and fully, effectively and safely venting gasses out of your home 5. Insure that ALL rooftop/sidewall appliance flues or vents - including gas clothes dryers - are unobstructed by lint, bird's nests, dead leaves, debris, etc, and that the INTERIOR seals around their vented avenues of exit through you ceilings/walls are viable and completely intact. If you insulate your water heater, etc., insure that the insulation does not block, obstruct, or impair the appliance's ventilation source in any way. 6. Purchase reliable Carbon Monoxide Detectors (much like smoke alarms) in sufficient numbers, and strategically distributed throughout your home precisely as the Manufacturer recommends. Keep these detection units free of dust/residue, change their batteries as recommended ~ and NEVER disable them in the belief that they are simply "malfunctioning". Assume that they are warning you that carbon monoxide IS present at unsafe levels, open windows and doors, and immediately remove yourself, pets, and everyone else from the premises until a professional can check things out and make needed repairs. Always, ALWAYS err on the side of safety ~ if you receive an alarm and are uncertain who to call, START with the local Fire Department ~ and then your natural gas/propane company. 7. REMEMBER ~ all of the above applies not only to your home, per se, but to garages, be they attached or not, workshops, basements, converted attics, etc. ~ be mindful of all of these! 8. It is also possible to incur carbon monoxide poisoning while in your automobile, regardless of make, model, style, year, etc. Be vigilant about having your exhaust system checked regularly ~ or ANY time you run over a roadway obstruction/flood/obstacle ~ for any leaks/obstructions/blockages/separations, etc. As an added precaution, it is always a good idea to keep a window cracked open a tad in ANY auto or other enclosed area where carbon monoxide could potentially become an issue. I've "been there, done that, got the tee-shirt" in the carbon monoxide poisoning department ~ it was a near-fatal experience, and took me almost 6 months to get back up to speed afterward. DON'T let it happen to you ! Have a joyous and SAFE Holiday Season!  THE MOST TREASURED GIFTS DON'T HAVE TO BEAR A PRICE TAG... SUBMITTED BY ~ Deelyte- Chillin'  I am having a somewhat sparce Christmas this year. With me quitting my job and going to school, downsizing, etc...I don't have the cash flow to buy like I always have so I was thinking about this the other day. As cheap as it sounds, one thing I am doing for everyone who has touched or touches my life is to write them a letter telling them what they mean to me. Everyone from family members, to WDC family, to the girl who gives me free coffee in the mornings at the gas station, to the waitress who always is so friendly and nice is getting a letter telling them what it means to me that they are in my life, and also what I find delightful about them. I know it's not much in the way of a gift, but I do think that it's rare that we actually take the time to tell others why they are special to us. I can't think of anything that is free that would bring as much joy as someone hearing something good about themselves. We often pass along the bad, and the judgements we form, and the failures we find in the world around us, but how often to we stop to thank others for the joy or compassion, or happiness they bring. Not very often, I'm thinking.... So, I expect to spend December with writer's cramp! * Thank you, Deelyte- Chillin' ... but I disagree when you say " it's not much of a gift " ~ it's the GREATEST gift of all!   HAPPY HOLIDAYS !!! |
#5. A free idea... |
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