Happy Christmas

Tips for Christmas Shopping for Babies and Infants

by: Katie Rose

A baby's first Christmas will always be treasured by his parents and when it comes to gift-giving this is a perfect time to start your own tradition, like buying a special holiday ornament representing the events of the year - either personally or something from world events or special celebrations, like the Olympics or a World Series or Super Bowl-themed ornament.

Here are some other can't-miss gifts for Christmas for a newborn:

Piggy Bank: A piggy bank can be so much more than a place to hold loose change - a hand-painted and personalized bank is a collectible gift that will be treasured for a lifetime. It will also come in handy when the child is older as a great way to teach a young child how to start saving and managing his money.

Classic Baby Toys: Nostalgia is the new "new." Parents love to see their kids play with the toys of their own youth. Shop around for old-school Fisher Price people and buildings, wooden ABC blocks, shape sorters, Care Bears, jack-in-the-boxes. If you know the parents well it should be fairly easy to figure out what classic toys they enjoyed as children.

Diaper Cakes: If you ask new parents what they spend the most money on they will almost always tell you it is diapers. A diaper cake is a thoughtful gift - the cakes are made up of either disposable or cloth diapers and resemble a tiered cake - think wedding cake for babies. They almost always include other accessories such as toys, bibs, clothes, socks, pajamas, rattles or blankets and often a keepsake as a little gift for mom. Diaper cakes are also perfect for baby showers or to present on arrival home from the hospital.

Educational Toys: Every parent loves educational toys. Why not maximize playtime by learning a motor skill? There
are plenty of toys geared toward fine motor development or that have striking contrasting patterns for baby to look at and talk to. Teethers and blankets with tags or a satin stripe of a blanket offer various sensations when baby rubs them or puts them in his mouth.

Books: Another great idea, and something I always buy for new babies, is a book. Parents are swamped with toys and clothing on the birth of a baby and at Christmastime - toys break or children get bored with them, but you can start building a library that the whole family can enjoy for years. Soft, squeaky or washable books are perfect for babies and real little kids, but don't be afraid to buy books that are a little ahead of where baby is - he will grow into it soon enough and it will live on his bookshelf longer.

Spend some time thinking about the baby and his parents and family life and try to tailor your decisions to what is important to them - is the family religious or spiritual? are the parents musically inclined? is mom a writer? is dad a NASCAR fan or a hockey fan? You are sure to come up with a perfect gift every time if you strive to make it personal and meaningful.

Last Minute Gifts to Rescue Your Mind and Wallet

by: ARA

(ARA) - For most people, the holidays are a wonderful, exciting season devoted to friends, family and festivities. Whether you�re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, exchanging gifts is an eagerly anticipated part of holiday celebrations. However, this same holiday tradition can also be completely nerve-racking, with crowded malls and the stress of finding the right gifts for the right people . . . on the right budget.

If we could afford it, we�d probably all like to give our loved ones everything they need or desire. Unfortunately, most of us don�t have J. Lo�s bank account to empty on expensive gifts. It�s for that very reason that Luna di Luna, one of the fastest growing wines in the United States, offers several holiday gift giving ideas that are sure to keep your pockets jing-jing-jingling.

A cleverly decorated bottle of wine makes for a great last minute gift and is easy on the wallet. With brilliant, festively colored Rudolph-red, holly-green, starlight-yellow, sugar-plum purple and frosty-blue bottled wines that retail around $10, Luna di Luna makes gift-giving easy. To add a little something extra to the presentation of your gift, place the bottle in a clear wine bag and secure with a holiday ribbon.

Whether it�s soaps and shampoos, or gourmet cheeses and sausages, gift boxes are always a good bet for that �hard to buy for� person on your list as they not only eliminate shopping hassles but also wrapping time. Luna di Luna�s red bottled Merlot/Cabernet and green bottled Pinot Bianco/Sauvignon have been twinned together in a two-bottle gift pack (around $21). While the colors of the bottles can provide enough of a presentation by themselves, the combination of these aptly seasonal bottles in a festive holly and berry motif gift box is sure to please.

Luna di Luna also offers a classy gift box for its blue bottle of Sparkling Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio. Perfect for a New Year�s Eve surprise, or any celebration worth toasting, the gift box features a metallic silver and blue snowflake motif and retails for around $12. Pop open a bottle and get cozy by the fire with your sweetie. The delicious sparkling wine not only sparkles when poured, but continues to do so in the glass.

In addition to the standard 750-mL bottles, Luna di Luna wines are also available in 187-mL four-packs which make fun stocking stuffers, and 1.5-L bottles, which are perfect for holiday parties and dinners. Plus, the individual bottles make great table decorations, adding an extra touch of holiday cheer.

So this season, try to leave the credit cards at home, keep track of your spending and be sure to set aside quality time with your friends, family and loved ones. Available almost anywhere wine is sold, Luna di Luna wines and gift-packs are simple to find and will leave you with plenty of time to stand in line for the latest fad toy for the kids or surprise for your significant other. For more information about Luna di Luna wines go to www.lunadiluna.com. Happy Holidays!

Courtesy of ARA Content

Pack n' Ship Tips for the Holiday Season

by: NC

(NC)�The fun and frenzy of holiday shopping doesn't end at the mall � you still have to get the packages to friends, family and business associates in time for the holidays, and in one piece.

"Taking an extra moment to carefully package items correctly saves everyone money in the long run and lessens some of the holiday stress," says Barbara Foster, a packing trainer for Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE) who works with hundreds of MBE staff in over 275 of its centres across the country. MBE is Canada's largest retail chain of business and courier service centres and is expected to ship more than 100,000 holiday packages this season with the assistance of several of its courier suppliers, including UPS.

Approximately 80% of UPS's deliveries are business to business, and business to consumer. However, during UPS's busiest season � the holidays, residential deliveries consisting of various fragile goods skyrocket.

"By using enough cushioning material to protect items, and by using sturdy boxes, you avoid the worries of disappointing family and friends with broken presents and the costs of having to replace damaged goods or lost items," says Foster.

Following are some packing and shipping tips from both MBE and UPS:

� Use a new box specifically designed for shipping � such boxes are engineered to withstand shipping stress. If using second-hand boxes, select those that are strong and in good condition with the flaps intact.

� Don't forget to cushion the bottom of the package � use a minimum of two inches of cushioning material such as bubble wrap or Styrofoam peanuts; the bottom of a box receives the most pressure during shipping.

� If shipping more than one item in a box, wrap each article separately in protective cushioning material and place them inside the box so they do not touch one another.

� Electronic equipment should be shipped in its original packaging, surrounded by additional cushioning materials, and placed inside a larger box.

� Secure each seam of your container with packing tape on both the top and bottom sides. Avoid using materials that don't firmly adhere such as masking or cellophane tape.

� String can get caught on sorting machinery or conveyor belts, so do not use it to wrap around boxes.

� Send your packages early to ensure items are received in time for the holidays and to minimize the added costs of 'rush' delivery.

� Fragile items should be sent via air service to minimize transit time and reduce the possibility of damage.

� If you receive a package with lots of foam packing "peanuts," bring them in to your local MBE centre for recycling.

Customers concerned about time constraints and securely packaging their holiday gifts can bring them into any MBE location to have them packed by experienced professionals.

Planning Creative Holiday Parties

by: ARA

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(ARA) - �You�re invited . . .� are always popular and welcome words around the holidays. If you�re like me, you love to host a party. But if you�re a hostess with the �leastest� amount of time, a party is a lot of work. Entertaining requires considerable planning and preparation because there are so many things to do.

Think about the parties you�ve attended and what made them special. Was it the food, guests, laughs, decorations, ambience? The parties I liked best were the ones that touched me in a personal way. A special party creates lasting memories for you and your guests. No matter who is on the guest list, the basics of organizing a party are almost always the same. What�s different is how you customize the details. Here are my tips to get you started:

* Make a master list of what must be done a month, week and day in advance and don�t forget the day-after cleanup.

* Decide what kind of menu you want as far ahead as possible and whether you want a sit-down dinner or a buffet. Think about every course from hors d�oeuvres, to appetizers, salads and dressings, breads, entrees, vegetables, desserts and beverages. Always include some healthy and low-calorie selections. Prepare and freeze whatever you can, so you don�t have to do it all in one day. Home baked cookies and brownies can be stored in tins; roasts, cooked the day before, can be served cold. Nibbles like crudit�s can be chopped and stored in plastic bags in the refrigerator. Order specialty items from the florist, butcher and bakery, and extra chairs and tables in advance.

* Buffets are usually easier than sit-down dinners. Avoid anything that can spoil when left out for hours. Utensils and napkins should be available everywhere there is food and drink. Tie silverware and napkins together with festive ribbons and a candy cane. Buy paper napkins with fun and witty sayings or personalized with your name or initials on them. Decorate tabletops with spray-painted gold pinecones, holiday ornaments and candles.

* Make or buy plenty of ice cubes and place them in a large galvanized tin bucket decorated with a big red ribbon. Using food coloring, make festive red and green ice cubes. To cut down on misplaced glasses and wasted beverages, buy holiday wine charms for every glass. For coffee or tea, use colored sugars or rock sugar stirrers instead of regular sugar.

* Before the party starts, place cloves, cinnamon and orange peels on a baking sheet in the oven. Set on a low temperature for an hour; the heavenly aroma will fill your house for hours. Mull spiced cider in a large pot on your stove for a warm winter drink with a holiday fragrance.

* Make your guests feel welcome from the instant they arrive. Line the driveway with luminarias and decorate the front of your house and lawn to set a celebratory mood. Place a guest book at the front door for expressing sentiments.

Family Parties

Ask guests to bring a family photo to make a personalized ornament for your tree. Childhood photos make great place cards for a sit-down dinner. Begin a family album, highlighting favorite recipes, anecdotes, pictures, and memorabilia. Include a family tree with small pictures.

Parties For Neighbors

Enlist at least two outgoing guests to help you make introductions. Instead of gifts, organize a future neighborhood activity where everyone can pitch in such as a spring planting, a summer block party, an Easter egg hunt, or autumn leaf raking. Give gift certificates of time to each other, offering to shovel snow in the winter, take care of pets while someone is vacationing, or baby-sit a newborn so parents can have a night out.

Parties For Co-workers

Organize a �Secret Santa� giveaway or ask your guests to bring funny gifts for a grab bag. Holidays are a good opportunity to meet the families of co-workers. Plan activities that allow everyone to mingle and learn more about each other. Ask guests with special talents to entertain. An aspiring magician can perform magic, someone who has a great voice can read �A Christmas Carol,� and someone who likes to sing can lead the caroling.

The goal of a holiday party is to put everyone in a festive mood and set the tone for the coming year. With advance planning and preparation, the host will be relaxed and everyone will have a good time!

Host and Hostess gifts made easy

by: NC

(NC)�As the holidays draw near, many people will be receiving invitations from family, friends and neighbours to get together for some holiday cheer. Proper etiquette is to bring a little something for the host or hostess. The holiday gift team at Canadian Tire has a few suggestions on how to pick a special something for the gracious host. � Often people bring a bottle of wine. Why not complement it with wine charms, festive swizzle sticks or a wine topper? All are decorative and functional. � Figure out how your host or hostess likes to spend their time. For example, if they entertain often, get something they can use when preparing or serving food and drinks. Canadian Tire carries a line-up of stainless steel bar accessories like bottle openers, drink shakers and ice buckets, as well as serving dishes and platters. � Find out your host's favourite scent and pick up a candle, candle centrepiece, or scented oil in their favourite scent. � Bring along a decorative picture frame, photo album or photo box for the host to store holiday season memories. � Think about your host's hobbies when shopping and stop by a store like Canadian Tire that has pre-wrapped gift baskets and themed gifts for the cook, do-it-yourselfer, automotive, golf or hockey enthusiast. - News Canada About the author: News Canada Circulated by Article Emporium

 

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