Do you remember the line from Clark Griswold in National Lampoon’s “Christmas Vacation” movie? Clark, in frustration utters to his wife Ellen, “Worse? How could things get any worse? Take a look around here, Ellen. We’re at the threshold of hell.” Does that movie remind you of your last family Christmas vacation?

Maybe it is time that you try something unique, different and fun. Try something new, exciting, and romantic. Have some fun in the sun. Vacation at a clothing optional resort this holiday season.

“But, I’m not a nudist,” you are thinking. No problem! More and more, nudist resorts have gone mainstream. You will want to go where the weather is warm meaning Miami or sunny Palm Springs, CA.

At the best clothing optional resorts, guests don’t even think of themselves as nudists. They just love the European style nude sunbathing. They don’t even charge memberships like the old style nudist colonies did.

People’s lives are hectic. They are full of stress. They desperately need to relax. That is why nudist resorts are perfect. They are an oasis of calm in the sea of holiday uproar. The best ones cater to couples, so they don’t have noisy children running around. You can relax poolside all day long and not get disturbed. A present of a vacation at a clothing optional resort is the perfect gift for any happy couple.

In a recent poll by American Express Travel, they found “holiday travel has evolved considerably from the local family gathering to new, exciting adventures as travelers seize the opportunity to create lasting holiday memories. Not only are travelers looking to indulge in new travel experiences, they are also treating themselves to an extra special holiday season this year with 76% of agents reporting that travelers are booking more luxury vacations this season than ever before.” Nudist resorts fit this bill perfectly.

With 18% of Christmas travelers being couples, clothing optional resorts are perfectly situated to provide these new adventurous travelers with their best vacation ever. If you are looking for a new fun way to vacation and create your own romantic, fun holiday memories, give a clothing optional resort a call. You will be glad that you did!

When it comes to christmas tree decorating the latest fad is the upside-down christmas tree. Is there any good reason besides the fact that it is a really hot xmas trend that you should actually buy one of these? First of all it may help a bit to look a bit at the history of the upside down xmas tree. That might help you decide if this type of christmas tree is for you.

The upside-down christmas tree comes from the pagan tradition of spreading evergreen boughs across the floors, windows and hearth in order to keep evil spirits from invading the home. This tradition was celebrated by cultures as diverse as the Celts, the Romans and the Vikings long before the time of Christ.

You have to remember that Christianity did not really take off in central Europe until twelve centuries past the birth of Christ. As it was noted that the evergreen contained the three points of the Holy Trinity, it was brought indoors and hung upside down. This was a way of playing it safe for most central Europeans who liked to mix their pagan rituals with their Christian rituals. Not only did the upside down xmas tree offer protection from evil spirits, but it also acknowledged the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. All of this was put to an end when religious zealots in the 16th century Germany proclaimed that the upside down xmas tree was sacrilegious. Religious officials ordered that the tips of christmas trees stop pointing to hell and instead be turned right side up so they pointed to heaven.

Since the 16th century we hadn’t heard a heck of a lot about upside-down christmas tree decorating until they were marketed as store display units to retailers a couple of years ago. The reason for their revival had to do with common sense. The upside-down christmas tree that is bolted to the ceiling simply left more space for retail displays and more room to display christmas tree decorations. It also offered less of a chance of a liability lawsuit should a stumbling shopper trip over it. It wasn’t long before the general public started demanding the upside-down christmas tree as a novelty item.

This past christmas the prestigious Hammacher Schlemmer holiday supply company (which has been in business over 150 years) could not keep their seven-foot tall pre-lit upside-down christmas tree in stock. It costs $600 U.S. with a lifetime guarantee. This should give you an idea of how popular this latest trend in christmas tree decorating has become.

This might be because there are definitely some benefits to using and upside down tree when it comes to christmas tree decorating. For one thing it keeps your precious glass ornaments away from the prying fingers of children. It also keeps pets and toddlers from accidentally tipping the tree over. Another benefit is that it also allows you to pile more presents under the tree (of course keeping in mind that “under the tree” is now “under” the top of the tip of the tree and its decorative topper.)

Another benefit is that the upside-down christmas tree is quite practical. They are bolted to the ceiling, which means they take up no floor space, so it’s great for smaller apartments and smaller rooms. It can be positioned in tight corners and other places that do not accommodate a tree with traditional Christmas decorations.

The upside-down christmas tree can also be hung in places where you could not consider having a tree before. In fact many people simply hang the tree over their dining room table the same way you would a chandelier. Also it is much easier to see the christmas tree decorations and ornaments on an upside-down Christmas tree because they dangle down from the branches and do not visually disappear into the tree foliage. Many of them come prelit, which gets rid of the necessity of wrapping the tree in lights.

So just how are these upside-down christmas trees attached to the ceiling? They are bolted to a base that is screwed into the ceiling. If you are just into this for the novelty of it and the idea of a whole christmas tree and dangling christmas tree decorations dangling over your head makes you nervous then you can also buy models that have a base on the floor that supports an upside down artificial tree.

As upside down christmas trees are a very new thing, there is some debate as to which types of christmas tree decorations look best on it. For instance some people like the look of clumps of tinsel hanging like clumps of hair downwards from the ceiling whereas others find the effect to be too cluttered or messy looking. In you are of the latter opinion then you might want to stick with trailing cotton batten which is more like spider webs and does not fall as easily off the tree.

As you don’t want any ornaments falling down and smashing on the floor or God forbid, on somebody’s head you need to take extra care about fastening your christmas tree decorations securely to the tree. This is also true of christmas garlands, lights and the christmas tree topper. Remember to also fasten everything securely to the tree with some kind of wire as well as the usual fishline!

A drawback to buying an upside-down christmas tree is that after you remove it, you might have a bit of a plastering job to attend to thanks to the nuts and bolts that hold the base secure. This is why many people opt to hang it where a light fixture is usually hung. Then after the holiday season is over, they simply replace the light fixture to hide any marks left from the bolting of the tree to the ceiling.

Another consideration is that it is difficult to predecorate these upside-down christmas trees. Many of them need to be hung quite high to avoid them from scraping the tops of people’s heads. This means getting up on a ladder or a table to attach christmas tree decorations to the tree so this is definitely not the kind of tree that is best for an elderly individual or someone who is afraid of heights.

However the upside-down christmas tree is ideal for the individual who already has everything (think Paris Hiliton!) or who enjoys being different and the center of attention.

Christmas in India is celebrated with much pomp and splendor all across the country. However the nature in which it is celebrated is as diverse as the cultures and communities that exist within India. Achieving secular overtones gradually, Indian’s have different ways of enjoying this holiday season. For example, preparations which are made in Central India for Christmas are completely different from the preparations done in the South.

Christmas isn’t just for the Catholic/Christian community in India. People from different communities get into the spirit of the festival as well. One of the biggest attractions during festivals like Christmas is the beautifully decorated shops with sales and great bargain offers available. Shopping during the season of Christmas is an amazing experience as many people go shopping as a family or as a big group of friends. Clothes are one of the few materialistic things which most women never tire of and Christmas is the best excuse women have to buy clothing and apparel. Women seem to have spread this bug onto the complimentary sex as well. Men are seen scrambling into large department stores as soon as the season is around the corner so as not to be stuck with leftovers.

Clothes reflect a person’s inner style. Most people wear a certain outfit to make a statement. However various trends which spring up during festivals like Christmas has everyone obsessing about the same thing. This creates an even bigger demand for fashion fads. Christmas shop-a-holics are a somewhat recent phenomenon. Most people start window shopping as soon as they see the latest designs hitting the shops for the season. Stores start stacking up with fresh new supplies. The runway has models walking the ramps with designer wear geared up for the season.

The month of December officially kicks off the wedding season in India too. Many Hindu wedding ceremonies are often long and monotonous and most people have them in December because the weather is just perfect. Families too have a great time to bond while shopping for different wedding outfits that havte to be bought for everyone. This is true even for Catholic weddings, as Christmas is the season most Christians have to attend at least 4 weddings in one month! What with weddings, parties, Christmas day, New Years day, anniversaries and birthdays to attend, a new outfit is called for to grace every occasion.

Who said Christmas games are only for children? Christmas games are for adults, too, and they don’t have to be serious. After all, adults like to get their game on to relive a few silly childhood moments. Get the holiday fun started with these fun-loving adult Christmas games.

Silly Adult Christmas Games

Does your group look for any excuse to be silly? Why not choose a Christmas game that is based on being silly? Give each team a pair of pantyhose and eight balloons. When the game starts, the team blows up the balloons to stuff into the legs of the hose. To ensure the game is totally fair, the pantyhose should be queen size and the teams of equal number.

The game is finished when someone gets all the balloons in the legs of the pantyhose, puts on the stuffed “antlers” and sings the first verse of the holiday favorite, “Jingle Bells”. When everyone finishes the game, take photos of all your friends wearing funny antlers made of balloons and pantyhose.

Adult Relay Christmas Games

Do your friends enjoy relay games? Why not make your own Santa beard? Put out two oversize bowls filled with cotton balls and a jar of petroleum jelly. Dab petroleum jelly on each team member’s chin. The 2 teams should each have around 5 people. The first player in each line runs to one of the bowls to grab cotton balls and stick them to their greasy chins. When they get as many cotton balls as possible stuck on their chins, the players run to the next player to give them a turn.

When the entire team is wearing a Santa Beard, they are the winners. This is another holiday game that really begs you to take pictures so you can show them off for years to come. Keep water and towels handy to remove the petroleum jelly when the game and photo session is over.

Quiet Christmas Games For Small Groups

Are your friends a small, quiet group who prefer less demonstrative games? Why not pack up a bag for Santa? The game starts when you say, “I packed a bag for Santa Claus and put in some socks.” The next player goes on to say, “I packed a bag for Santa Claus and put in some socks and books.” As each player continues they includes all the listed items and add their own item. When you miss an item on the list, you are out of the game.

Child-Inspired Christmas Games For Adults

Do your friends love to relive their childhoods during Christmas? Why not give your guests a chance to do it at your Christmas party with a fun game that reminds them of a childhood favorite? Make your own Christmas scavenger hunt with search teams of 4 or so. Create lists of items for the teams to return with.

You can keep the search local at your house or within the neighborhood area. Include holiday items in the scavenger hunt such as a red stocking, a sprig of holly and a small wreath. If you decide to extend the scavenger hunt through town, it gets even more exciting. Have your guests purchase a box of holiday themed cereal or take a picture to prove they visited the local Christmas tree. Be creative and make the hunt action-packed. Everyone loves this Christmas game because it reminds them of childhood. It’s a great way to socialize because as everyone works together they get to know each other better.

Adult Kiss Christmas Games

Who doesn’t love chocolate and kisses? Is that why Hershey’s Kisses are such as hit at Christmas? Break your group into two teams with two bowls of Hershey’s Kisses on either side of the room. Give each team a set of really big gloves or mittens. The first person in line runs to the bowls and must unwrap and eat the a Kiss wearing bulky gloves. Once done, the player runs back to tag the next person and give them the gloves. When all team members are the first to enjoy their own Kiss, the group wins.

Flowers are common to different occasions. It can be considered as a perfect way to accentuate the venue to achieve a livelier ambiance. Aside from the beauty and positive vibes that flowers can give, it is also considered as an affordable decoration that will suit any event. Flowers are also widely available and you can find a variety of flowers from a Florist in Singapore company that you can use when arranging flowers for Christmas. You can simply look for the best florist Singapore where you can order fresh and beautiful flowers.

How to Get Christmas Flowers at Affordable Costs?

With different occasions where people can take advantage of using flowers as decorations, you can never deny the fact that flowers absolutely suit Christmas season especially if you will go for red flowers. If you are looking forward to saving money for a florist delivery, then listed below are just some of the things that you can consider.

• In order to get Christmas flowers at affordable rates, it is best that you consider looking for an online florist that could provide you with amazing deals and discounts. Florists online usually provide discounts for them to get more customers. So if you want to have the cheapest floral, then you can simply compare the discounts of different florists.
• It is also a good idea if you will order flowers online and consider arranging them your own way. Besides, it would be easy for you to create a flower arrangement for Christmas by searching online.
• Make sure that you choose flower arrangement that are in season. Remember that rare types of flowers come at expensive costs. Aside from its affordability, you can also have the peace of mind you need that you can instantly get the flowers.
• Most people also order flowers from an online flower delivery Singapore company for them to save time and effort. No need to travel and spend on transportation knowing that you can already order flowers online.
• It is also a good idea for you to order wholesale blooms if you want to lower down the cost.

There are indeed many ways o how people can save money for Christmas flowers. As long as you can create a unique arrangement, for sure you can be able to make the venue alive especially during Christmas. You can simply search online for popular Christmas flowers as well as different flower arrangement ideas.

Giving gifts at Christmas goes back to the gift giving of Magi, which were the wise men that gave gifts to Jesus when he was born. They were led by the holy spirit to follow the eastern star to Bethlehem to become witnesses of Jesus’ birth. And when they saw him, they worshipped him and gave him gifts. For Matthew 2:10-11 says, “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and incense and of myrrh.” Even though we have this scripture to support our gift giving at Christmas time, the gift giving tradition has gotten way out of hand. We probably all agree that buying gifts for our loved ones and friends have caused us a lot of financial grief.

We tend to over extend ourselves because we want to make big impressions and make ourselves look good in their eyes. We wake up at 3:00am to be the first one lined up at the retail stores on “Black Friday” to fight with others to get the best deals. It’s OK to want to save money on our gifts, but God never intended for these things to happen. When the wise men gave Jesus gifts, it was because he was our Lord and Savior coming into the world to save us. Not because they wanted to impress others. So just what does the bible say about giving gifts?

We are to give gifts to glorify God. Matthew 6:1-4 says, “Be careful not to do your “acts of righteousness” before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” This scripture should be applied to our gift giving this Christmas, because we are to give from our hearts and not for show. We should be sure to teach our children the joy of giving and not always receiving. And we shouldn’t give just to receive something back in return, because God will reward us with more blessings than we can count, on earth and in heaven.

We also should give gifts in sparse or bad times. In 2 Corinthians 8:7-9, Paul spoke to the churches who were giving him financial gifts so he could continue ministering about Jesus. “But just as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty, might become rich.” Even though some of us may be facing hard economic financial problems, we can still give to others, by giving of our time, by volunteering, by lending a helping hand, by praying for someone in times of need or just by being a friend. We can do these things not just at Christmas, but all year long.

And lastly, the true gift of Christmas is Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Our society has gotten away from celebrating the true reason for Christmas. Some of us believe that Santa Claus, Christmas trees, presents and food and alcohol are the true reasons for this day. We give the world all the glory and praise and keep Jesus Christ out of the equation. God gave us his one and only begotten son, Jesus – the gift of life! For John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This is the greatest gift, which is the gift of salvation, that only God could give. If we are sure to keep Christ in Christmas at all times, then when we give to others, it would become a natural expression of that gratitude all year long. For James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights….” Merry Christmas!

Everybody would agree that San Francisco is a romantic place. Christmas is a romantic season. It would be why this city is harmonious with Christmas. San Francisco appears in several Christmas songs. Among Christmas songs of the city, the most popular and famous one is “Christmas in San Francisco”. Several musicians sang this song. Many Blogs are writing about this song in different languages. They include English, Chinese, and Japanese.

It starts; “Christmas in San Francisco. What a lovely place to be! Seeing the hills being all lit up like a diamond Christmas tree.” Looking up the hilltop on California Street from the lower side on Grant, Karney, or Montgomery, lighting illuminations of both sides of California Street are breath-taking.

The song continues; “Hearing children singing carols, people come from everywhere to sing along with the children standing all around Union Square.” Though The Bay Area does not have snow in Christmas season around the year, it is common to see this kind of typical Christmas scenes. Friendly San Francisco residents like to join visitors to sing with children.

“Let’s take a peek in Chinatown, eating lychee nuts and barbecued boar. What can you say about the Golden Gate that hasn’t been said before.” It sings San Francisco’s favorite places for both visitors and residents. Chinatown is the perfect place to unwind with tea and dumpling. Golden Gate Bridge appears in its lyric as a spectacular marvel.

The song enters into its ending with the lyric; “Christmas in San Francisco. There is no place quite so dear. It’s the closest thing to heaven. How I wish that you were here.” San Francisco is a romantic place to stay in Christmas. If one were with your spouse, partner, lover, boyfriend, or girlfriend, the city would be cheerful, enjoyable, and colorful place. Even one were alone in the city, like this song, the city would be warm, kind, and sympathetic to your loneliness.

Visitors can enjoy Christmas in San Francisco no matter where they are visiting. There are several places that visitors do not want to miss. The one on the top of the list is “Union Square”. In addition to the world-famous Christmas tree in the square, Macy’s dresses up with Christmas illumination. Tiffany’s, Newman Marcus, Levis, and shops decorate their windows with colorful and glittering lighting. Decorations in hotels are extraordinary. Hotels, such as Westin Saint Francis, Handlery Union Square, Villa Florence, Grand Hyatt, or Hilton, all of them compete each other on their unique decorations. Either visitors or residents enjoy Christmas in this city.

Remark of Song Lyrics: ewok1993.wordpress.com/2008/12/08/: My World 8: Christmas In San Francisco. Retrieved from http://ewok1993.wordpress.com/2008/12/08/my-world-8-christmas-in-san-francisco/

All young girls, no matter what age, love anything magical – whether it be unicorns, mermaids, fairies, rainbows and the like. From pretend play gifts for toddlers to a fashion coloring book for older girls, these cute presents are sure to make any little girl’s Christmas even more awesome!

Find all these selections on Amazon!

Butterfly Night Light

Nothing can make bedtime more fun than a cute night light to help your little one to sleep. This dimmable 3D butterfly light changes colors (16 colors) to promote a relaxed sleeping atmosphere for kids. It operates with a smart touch button and comes with a remote control. It’s pretty, but most importantly, designed for safety – it won’t hurt the young one’s eyes!

Unicorn Slime Kit

Kids just love slime! And why shouldn’t they? Playing with slime is calming, promotes focus and mindfulness, encourages independent play time assists with fine motor skills. More importantly, it brings out their creativity! Add a unicorn theme and magical colors, and any little girl would have a grand time playing for hours!

This unicorn slime kit contains 100% kid-safe glue, inks, slime activators, unicorn beads, glitters, scents, containers and more!

Princess Dress-Up Set

It’s ideal to encourage pretend play in children. It helps encourage creativity and imagination and support emotional and social development. And what do all little girls like to pretend they are? A princess!

Give the gift of royalty to a little girl by providing a package that will make them feel like the prettiest princess! You can give a princess outfit (complete with gloves and shoes!), a crown, jewelry and more!

Fashion Coloring Book

While toddlers love pretending to be a princess, older kids are inspired by fashion – that’s why this Fashion Coloring Book makes a great gift for Christmas! With over 70 high-quality drawings of girls wearing pretty dresses and outfits, it will surely appeal to the little fashionista in the family!

Coloring books are also a great way to encourage some gadget-free time in kids, while sparking their creativity and imagination.

Design Your Own Water Bottle

One of the most practical gifts you can give to kids (or for anyone for that matter) is a good water bottle. It’s important to encourage kids to always hydrate, and one way to do so is to give them a super cute bottle that they can decorate themselves!

There are plenty of water bottle craft kit sets out there and most come complete with stickers, rhinestones, glitters, markers and more! Definitely a cute gift idea for little girls!

The key to giving a great gift for Christmas is to choose something that’s not only cute and adorable, but also contributes to the child’s well-being!

Butterfly Night Light: https://www.amazon.com/Butterfly-Birthday-Illusion-Bedside-Changing/dp/B07WD6FQXW/

Five hundred years ago, church reformer, Martin Luther wanted to shift the focus from St Nicholas as the gift bearer back to the Christ child. So in 16th-17th century in Europe, many Protestants changed the gift bringer back to the Christ child known as ‘Christkind’. The date of giving gifts also changed from St Nicholas feast day on December 6th, to Christmas Eve December 24th.

The traditional Christmas gift bringer in Germany and most German speaking regions of Europe is ‘The Christ-child’ also known as ‘Christkind’. This now popular gift bringer is depicted in areas of Europe such as Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, Croatia, Australia, Southern Brazil, some part of Hispanic America and Slovakia.

The Christkind in Germany is more often depicted as a sprite-like child with angelic wings and blonde hair wearing a white robe. Some presume Christkind to be the incarnation of Jesus as an infant. Often children like to leave a letter on the windowsill for the Chirstkind. Yet, children never see the Christkind. They are encouraged not to peek and try and see the figure arrive for if they do no present will be left. So the tradition is for parents to secretly ring a bell, which children believe the Christkind rings upon departure. Parents will always tell the children that the Christkind disappeared after leaving presents under the tree, just before they entered the room. It is a magical tradition.

There are many writings that suggest the Germans had a hard time getting their mind around the baby Jesus giving gifts so the Christmas gift-giver gradually morphed into a sweet girl. This sweet girl became known as the Christkind. Today, in modern Germany the Christkind is chosen every year in a contest. Usually a teenage girl, dressed in gold that is like a rock star complete with bodyguard, publicist and even her own entourage! The entrance of the modern-day Christkind is often marked by cheering crowds.

However, the appearance and name ‘Christkind’ changes from region to region. Here are some name variations that can be found for example: Christkindl, Christkindle and Christkindel. Another popular depiction of the Christkind is a fairy-like being with a crown on top of her golden curly long locks, dressed in a glorious gold and white robe. However, within some regions, the golden angelic girl is nowhere to be seen as the traditional ‘Weihnachtsmann’ or Father Christmas (better known as Santa Claus) is the bearer of gifts.

So depending where you are in Europe, you will see variations of the depiction of the Christkind. However, no matter where you are, this bringer of gifts is depicted bringing much joy and happiness.

The meaning of Christmas is about God’s unconditional love for us, faith, everlasting life.

Now that you have less disposable income, it’s time to bring back the holy in holidays.

Is your credit card debt is at an all time high?

The average credit card debt among all US households is $8400. With escalating mortgage payments, increasing job losses, salaries not rising, and a wrecked housing market, many people are more fearful than any time since 9/11.

Yet there is a silver lining in the midst of the gloom and doom. We can free ourselves from being prisoners of fluff and stuff and enjoy a calm, centered, content Christmas holiday.

As a parent, you are the guardian your kids depend on for economic, health, moral and spiritual teachings. You shape your child’s life by how you handle your own personal economic crisis.

You can teach your kids the valuable character trait of spending only money you have, not borrowing based on future earnings. Yes, your kids may become grumpy and upset at first, but so what?

Would you rather lose your home and end up on the streets than continue to buy stuff that you can’t afford?

Your at-home-character-education-lesson gifts your child far more than any store bought gadget or toy.

Kids who witness character traits of extraordinary leaders, which each parent is, will soon model the trait.

Where is it written that you must give material gifts during the holidays?

3 Simple Ways to Bring Back The Meaning of Christmas

1. You can begin to stop spending money you don’t have and start being more creative in your gift giving. Go through your house and find what you no longer use or need. Clean out closets, drawers, attics and cellars. I guarantee your yard sale will earn enough money for a credit card payment or two, or to buy a few Christmas gifts.
2. Give your extra stuff to one of the many charities that care for the needy and homeless. You can turn the financial crunch America is experiencing into a life changing way of living for you and your loved ones. Giving stuff to those in need brings back the meaning of Christmas more than anything else.
3. Become more creative in your Christmas gifts. Look for things you can make with other members of your family. Most importantly, share your heart with your loved ones. Read them inspirational Christmas stories.

I’m sure they have more than enough stuff.

Article Summary

I’ve just given you 3 simple ways to enjoy your holiday season and save money. Click on inspirational Christmas stories to assist you in bringing back the meaning of Christmas.