Old time Christmas joy A holiday haiku

My brother and me in front of the fireplace my Dad built.

This is about Christmas when I was a kid. We always had a fire going in the fireplace my Dad built. Dad would bring a holiday tree (planted by my brother and sister) in from the back lot.

He trimmed it and fed the leftovers slowly to the fire so as not to cause an inferno. The smoky pine smell filled the house.

Us kids would be bustling about putting up homemade decorations. Mom would be in the kitchen doing Mom stuff.

Someone would exclaim, "Look, it's snowing!"

We would all run to the window. Our fingers would trace the leavings of Jack Frost on the glass while we gazed out on the gently falling snowflakes. It was beautiful!

I wish everyone could have that kind of childhood. 

Old time Christmas joy

Smoky, piney air
Red and green everywhere
Light snowflakes falling 
 

No wrap Christmas gifts

Sick of wrapping Christmas presents? On your way to a last minute Christmas party? Need a fast gift you don't have to wrap? There are plenty of gifts you can bring unwrapped or in a card. Why fuss around with all that paper and tape only to have it thrown away? Wrapped gifts aren't the most ecofriendly options. Give no wrap Christmas gifts to save time, energy and the earth.

Bottle of wine

A bottle of wine is a great host or hostess Christmas gift that requires no wrapping. Everyone knows what it is by the shape. Why cover it up? The host or hostess will see you come in so they know who it's from. Stop at the local supermarket for a cheap bow if you like. If your host or hostess doesn't drink, use non-alcoholic bubbly as a yummy wine substitute.

Box of candy

Just like a wine bottle, everyone knows the shape of a box of candy. You can buy a box of chocolates in a Christmas design box all ready to give. Some even have to and from tags printed on the box. If not, just use a permanent marker to write them neatly on the package. What if your friend is a diabetic? No problem. This no wrap Christmas gift comes in regular and sugar free.

Stuffed animal

Suppose the hostess or host of the party has small kids? You don't want to show up without a gift for kids on Christmas. A stuffed animal is often to awkward to wrap. People don't expect them to be wrapped as a general rule. Just put a pretty Christmas bow on it and hand it to the little girl or boy. They won't notice you gave them a no wrap Christmas gift. They'll be too busy hugging their new toy.

Gift cards and more

Some of the best no wrap Christmas gifts come in an envelope. Stop by the local big box store or supermarket for a wide selection of gift cards from local restaurants and stores. Not sure where they shop? Give a Visa gift card. Better yet, enclose some cold hard cash. Still not sure about this? How about a pair of tickets to whatever they like? All these no wrap gifts can be enclosed quickly in a Christmas card for giving.

Memory book/photo album

The nice thing about giving a photo album for Christmas is that the real present is inside. It already has a pretty cover. Plus, who doesn't like a book full of happy memories? You can buy a nice photo album or scrapbook at a big box store. Fill it with pictures and memories. Tie a pretty ribbon around it in both directions. Write a nice note on the inside cover as a gift tag.

Large item

The bigger and better it is, the less they expect it to be wrapped. Do you really think your wife will care that the new car you bought her only has a bow on it? Will your son mind that his new bike isn't wrapped? Will your daughter complain that her brand new pink scooter and helmet is a no wrap Christmas gift? Heck no, they'll be too busy jumping up and down and hugging you.

Quick, cheap, easy wraps for Christmas gifts

Wow your friends this Christmas with your gift wrapping genius. These quick wraps for Christmas gifts are cheap and easy. No more taping your fingers to the package. Say goodbye to paper cuts. Stow and go is the word for these cheap, easy quick wraps for Christmas. No more fumbling and mumbling to package gifts for Christmas.

Organza bags

Find these sold in large quantities in the wedding aisle of the craft store. Made for tiny party favors, these quick wraps for Christmas gifts are cheap, elegant and easy. Pop the gift into a box or wrap in cloth. Slide the gift into the bag. Fill the space with candy or confetti. Pull the strings. Make a bow. Slap on a self stick gift tag and you're done.

Homemade fabric gift bags

Here's another perfect cheap and easy way to wrap gifts. Take a piece of fabric twice the size of your gift. Lay it out on a flat surface. Center the gift on the fabric. Pull up the edges of the fabric. Tie a pretty ribbon around the fabric. Try organza circles from the wedding department or fancy handkerchiefs for this cheap and easy idea.

Roll it up

Gift wrap can be easy too. Just leave off the tape. Use string to hold the wrap on the gift. Use two pieces of string running in different directions. Tie them together in a bow. You can also roll the gift up and tie the ends like a piece of candy. This quick cheap Christmas wrap works with paper or fabric. Tie ends with colored yarn or pretty ribbon.

Custom made gift boxes

Check out the craft store for cheap papier mâché boxes as quick wraps for Christmas gifts. These boxes look like cardboard but can be decorated to suit your needs. They come in all shapes and sizes. Plaster them with stickers, bows and whatever else you can think of or just spray paint them. Pop the gift in and pop the cover on. Slap on that gift tag and head for the party.

Wine bottle bags

Sure, you can use these quick wraps for wine bottles but there are other uses too. Tall candles fit great in these easy Christmas gift wraps. How about a curling iron or hair straightener? Anything that's oblong and not too large can be wrapped in a wine bottle bag. Can't find a wine bottle bag? Use a plain lunch bag sized gift bag. Scrunch the top of the bag to fit the bottle. Tie a ribbon bow around it.

Christmas stockings

Cheap red and white felt Christmas stockings are perfect Christmas gift wraps. Buy them on clearance after Christmas for pennies on the dollar. Fill them up with whatever gift or gifts will fit. Adults love getting presents for Christmas in a stocking. Kids will love having an extra Christmas stocking to open on Christmas too. For variety, use old fashioned sock monkey socks.

Clay pots

Clay pots are cheap at the craft store. Decorate them with paint and fill them with gardening gifts. Pop them into a pretty red shrink wrap bag to disguise the gift. These quick gift wraps will please any gardener. They can use the gift and the wrapping. Your friends will think you're so clever with all these easy gift wrap ideas!

Tips for sending Christmas cards efficiently

Sending Christmas cards may seem elementary. Still, there are things that will make the process quicker, easier and less costly. If this is your first time sending Christmas cards there are strategies you may want to keep in mind. Why not add your personal touch to Christmas cards as well? Here's how you can save time, money and stress when sending Christmas cards.

E-cards

Sending e-cards saves postage and time. Pick a design for each recipient or send the same one to everyone on your list. Animated e-cards are especially fun for both sender and recipient. Sending Christmas e-cards is a great option for procrastinators. They arrive almost instantly. They can even be sent Christmas morning if you wish.

Picture message cards

Everyone has a cell phone these days. Grandma and Grandpa might prefer you sending traditional Christmas cards. Friends might be just as happy with a picture text message. Take a nice or silly picture of you and the family in Santa hats. Send it to all your friends with a Merry Christmas message below. If your cell phone plan is all inclusive, it's free.

Snail mail for rookies

It used to be that people needed technology directions. Now we're more likely to need snail mail directions. The stamp goes in the upper right hand corner. The sender's name and address goes in the upper left corner. The name and address of the person you are sending it to goes centered at the bottom. Don't laugh, I have actually had people ask me these things.

Purchasing cards

Smart folks who are in the habit of sending Christmas cards every year know this trick. Christmas comes every year. Buy Christmas cards for pennies on the dollar at end of season sales. Send them next Christmas. It's one less thing on your Christmas shopping list. Save even more time by purchasing several years worth at once and/or buying Christmas cards at the dollar store.

Sending money

Here are some tips to remember when sending monetary gifts in Christmas cards. Avoid sending cash if at all possible. Checks are no good either. Why? Thieves can steal checking account info from them. The postal service is reliable but there are thieves in any organization. Opt for sending Visa gift cards. They can often be canceled if lost or stolen. Check refund and replacement policies when you buy them.

Making cards

Making and sending Christmas cards may not be efficient. Still, it's so much fun! Whether you are two or eighty two, people appreciate you going to the trouble of making and sending your own cards. It doesn't really matter how they turn out either. You can make your own cards even if you're not a professional scrapbooker. Get messy, have a finger glue peeling time and most of all, have fun.

Timing

Sending Christmas cards too early is better than not sending them at all. If you plan to take a picture for inserting in cards do it in November. That way your card is not sitting there waiting for the picture that never gets taken. Sending Christmas cards on December 1st means no waiting at the post office and no getting bogged down with other Christmas mail. Forget to buy stamps? Just bring the addressed cards to the post office. They'll stamp and mail them for you.

Nobody's perfect

I know my sisters are reading this and thinking about all the times when my cards arrived late or not at all. Sending Christmas cards doesn't have to be a perfect science. The idea is to try your best and hope it works out. If you have friends and relatives like mine, you know they'll love you even if your cards are late or you forget to send them entirely. It's all about love. If the love is there, the cards aren't all that important.

Why retailers put out Christmas merchandise so early

Oh, come on! It's July for heavens's sake!

Why do retailers put out Christmas merchandise so early? Why are we subjected to Santa Claus and his reindeer before we've even packed away our summer sandals? Without a doubt, the most common statement heard in retail stores everywhere in late summer and early fall is, "Christmas, already?"

I spent many years in retail, so I should know. I can give you the insider secrets, the scoop on early Christmas merchandising, if you will. Why do retailers put out Christmas merchandise so early? There are a multitude of reasons.

Supply and demand.

That's right consumers, retailers put out Christmas merchandise so early because you buy it. Whether it be a crafty person (needing supplies for their Holiday projects) or a Grandma shopping early (so as not to leave anyone out),

Christmas merchandise is popular merchandise. Retailers are in business to make a profit. If they didn't make a profit, you would have no place to shop. Early Christmas merchandise sells well. That's the bottom line.

Retail stores have to shop too.

In order to get you the Christmas merchandise you need and want at the best prices, retailers have to shop warehouses early. Retailers who delay ordering their Christmas merchandise from warehouses and manufacturers may not have anything left to buy.

Buying early also means they have a lot of merchandise in their own warehouses. It's sitting there, just collecting dust and taking up space. They have to make room for the next season's merchandise. Why not put it in the stores to increase their profit margin and make space in the warehouse for incoming shipments?

Extending the season.

The Christmas shopping season is the time when retailers make the most profit. Often, the profit from holiday sales carries retailers through the rest of the year. Christmas pays their bills. It keeps employees basking in job security.

Why not extend the Christmas shopping season? Doing so enables retailers to stay in business in a bad economy. It also gives them a longer time period to sell Christmas merchandise. Why is this necessary? To avoid waste.

Avoiding waste and lost profits.

One major problem in the retail industry is selling all the holiday merchandise. It's a delicate balance between ordering enough and ordering too much. Sometimes seasonal merchandise is even thrown away at the end of the season. Why? There's no room for it in the branch store warehouse. Throwing or giving merchandise away is cheaper than shipping it back to the main warehouse.

By putting out Christmas merchandise early, retailers hope to have a better chance of selling everything they ordered, rather than selling it at a loss, giving it away or tossing it in the trash.

Christmas cheer and goodwill toward man.

No offense to all the cheerful customers out there, but not all customers are good at it. In fact there is a running joke in retail about giving good customer classes along with good customer service classes. There are a lot of demanding and unreasonable people out there giving customer service people a hard time on a daily basis. Customers can be very defensive and even downright spoiled.

At Christmas time, however the tide turns for the better. Everyone is happy. The merchandise flies off the shelf. Goodwill and good wishes are abundant. Can you blame retailers for wanting this moment to last more than a few weeks? After all, next up is inventory time. ARGHH!

Christmas gifts for kids – Sneaky, fun fitness

Sneaky parents know that Christmas gifts can be fun and still help your kids stay in shape. The holidays are filled with sweet and fattening treats. Why not give kids a way to work it off with these Christmas gifts? They'll be having so much fun, they won't even know it's good for them.

Swimming lessons

Check your local community pool or rec center for inexpensive indoor fitness classes to get kids through the winter doldrums and keep them active. Swimming is a valuable skill and excellent exercise as well.

Nintendo Wii

This game is one of the healthiest Christmas gifts for kids around. That's because they will actually use it. There are even games healthy kids can play with parents so you can get in shape too.

Bikes

Giving bikes as Christmas gifts is a long standing tradition for good reason. Kids love having their own transportation. They won't even think about the healthy part. Buy them for the whole family and have great fun together while staying in shape.

Kites

Kites are tons of fun and good exercise too. All you need is an open field for running room. This is another good whole family gift.

Jump Ropes

Good for both girls and boys, these are awesome cardio exercise tools and inexpensive too. Boys who shy away might be reminded of their use in macho boxer movies.

Fit-Bit

This handy gadget measures walking distance and more. Consider contests between siblings or parents and children to see who can log the most miles in a day. Winner is relieved of dish duty.

Frisbee

Spend a great day in the park tossing a Frisbee around. Even the family dog can join in on this fun sport. Pack a healthy lunch to eat. Walk, don't drive to the park.

Sleds/toboggans

This is cheap, old fashioned healthy fun. No ski pass required, just find a gentle slope in your neighborhood and go to it. Don't forget to bundle up and bring water bottles.

Roller skates, roller blades

Healthy kids can have fun just skating around the block. Add a helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads for safety. In this same category of healthy kids Christmas gifts are skateboards and ice skates.

Tennis equipment

A racket and balls is all kids need for this sport. Start with something inexpensive. These Christmas gifts can be used at local park tennis courts for free. Consider an extra racket for a friend.

Deck the halls with Christmas candy

Looking for a different Christmas activity to do with the kids? Christmas candy is an inexpensive and fun ingredient for making cheerful Christmas decorations. It's both colorful and delicious. Decorating with Christmas candy makes your home sparkle. You'll all go to bed with visions of sugar plums dancing in your head after seeing your halls decked with these cute Christmas candy decorations.

Gumdrop swords

These Christmas tree ornaments may get gobbled up long before the big day. You'll need a package of toothpick swords sold at party stores, some string and a package of colorful gumdrops. Just fill up the swords with gumdrops by stabbing and sliding them on to the toothpick. Attach a string to sword handles for hanging and you're done. These also make great party candy without the string attached.

Colorful candy ball ornaments

These Christmas decorations can be used on the tree or as edible gift accents. Purchase snap together plastic ball ornaments at the craft store. Fill them with loose, colorful, small Christmas candy. Gum drops and peppermint lozenges work well. Fill both sides before snapping them together. Add a red ribbon for hanging or tying to large gifts.

Ribbon candy icicles

These pretty Christmas candy ornaments can hang on your tree or from garlands. Purchase ready made ribbon candy. Carefully make a hole at one end with a hand drill. The easiest way to do this without a drill is to use the tip of a sharp knife. Spin the knife point gently, like you would the drill. Thread colorful yarn through the hole for hanging.

Christmas candy candle holders

These are pretty and practical. They make a nice lighted centerpiece, accent or luminaria. Fill a plain glass ivy bowl with red and green M&Ms or other small Christmas candy. The candies hold the candle in place. Surround the candle with peppermint sticks or candy canes.

Note: Use electric tea light candles in these. Real candles may cause the candy to melt!

Wrapped Christmas candy garland

It's easy to make Christmas candy garland using wrapped candies. Use a needle and thread to string a long garland of different size, shape and color Christmas candy. Small candy canes in between peppermints is one way to do this. You can also push unwrapped gumdrops directly onto the string but this gets a bit sticky.

Candy mosaic

Use a piece of poster board or foam board and all different types of Christmas candy for this decorating idea. Lay the candy down to make the desired pattern or picture before gluing. Pick up each candy one by one and dab it with glue before putting it back in place. Coat finished mosaic with acrylic craft spray. Let dry and hang up for a beautiful and unique Christmas decoration. Do not eat.