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Gifts aren't the only thing to do on Christmas Day By : Kim Carson After opening presents, and, if due to current economic conditions this time frame is smaller this year, how do you spend Christmas Day? These great tips for accentuating the spirit of the season offer options for spending a meaningful day without the focus being on the gifts. Creative and affordable holiday craft gift ideas By : Kim Carson By nature, I am not a craft person which is why I love this project so much! This holiday craft gift project is a great way to 'give' what we'd love to give those we love without it costing a penny. And, it's an engaging process and fun family project. Elegant Stuffed Acorn Squash and Zesty Cranberry Sauce By : Kim Carson These unique Thanksgiving dishes are wildly popular in my world with both kids and adults, meat eaters and vegetarians, and even vegans and glutenless/sugarless! Truly, something for everyone at your holiday table. 10 Tips for a Safe and Sane Halloween By : Naomi Torre, Etiquette Consultant Autumn is here, and with it comes my favorite holiday – Halloween. This is the night for telling shivery ghost stories, bobbing for apples, and – most fun of all . . . Read more. 3 Tips When Traveling With Children By : Angela M. Linton When summer break, a long weekend or any other vacation time comes around, the desire to take a trip away from home is usually not too far away from our minds and with this in mind, we may head out on a road trip or we may jump on a plane. On the other hand though, we may decide to book a cruise. Planning Your Kids Summer Break Is No Easy Vacation By : Elliot Zovighian I’m sure as you read this you are already conjuring up memories of last summer’s conundrum of what to do with your kids for the summer. Obviously if your kids are older it’s a little easier as they have some independence and can possibly get a summer job. But those who have kids under the age of 15, planning what to do with your child over the summer can be no summer holiday. There are Only 3 Ways to Celebrate Mothers' Day By : Sandy Fowler I’ve always found Mothers’ Day to be an odd holiday. It’s a day when you, as a mom, are supposed to be celebrating and being honored by your family. Yet, we often find ourselves up to our ears with tasks and obligations. And when you live in a family with more than one mother, be it generational, through re-marriage or close friendship, the logistics can get sticky. But there are a few simple things you can do to celebrate your family and the chance to be mom in a way that warms your heart. Alternative Easter Baskets for Children with Allergies & Sensitivities By : Brenda McCreight This article provides ideas and suggestions to make the Easter holiday baskets that are fun for children who have allergies or sensitivities. What To Do With The Children Over the School Holidays By : Susan Leigh As the Easter Holidays approach it can be a time to consider what to do with the children over the school holidays. Here are some ideas to help. Our Gift of Presence: One Simple Gift of Love By : Sandy Fowler Giving a gift to someone we really care about can be the greatest joy or it can feel like a huge burden. Finding the perfect gift can be a challenge whether you want something homemade or are looking to buy. The simple solution can be changing your focus from "presents" to "presence". Adding presence to a gift is simple and fun and it ends up bringing great joy to both the giver and the recipient, adding meaning to our lives and memories to our scrapbook. Ways to Defuse Family Tension By : Susan Leigh There are many times in family life when stress levels rise due to intensive living together. Christmas, long Bank Holiday weekends and family holidays are some examples of times when being a good manager and negotiator are important skills to have. Here are some suggestions to help. The Blended Family Holiday By : Alan Godwin Relationships Expert It’d be wonderful if there was a “one-size-fits-all” solution to this dilemma but there isn’t. Non-material, original, and fun ways to celebrate at the holidays By : Kim Carson Christmas is the season of giving. Make the most of this season by celebrating in original, non-material ways. Keep your spirits high by using your heart and imagination instead of money, and develop other ways to celebrate this glorious holiday. If we really want to keep commercialization out of Christmas then it's up to us to do it. There is no "they." They is us. Let's put the big "C" back in Christmas by opening our hearts instead of our wallets and giving from here. There are many gift project ideas available that are inexpensive and meaningful. One of them is in part 1 of this article. Other ideas follow here. Christmas and New Year Rituals By : Wendy Haynes, Ceremony & Family Rituals Expert The month of December - all over the planet people are preparing for Christmas, a Christian celebration of spiritual reflection and giving. Many of those celebrating Christmas are not of the Christian faith and yet, this time of year has come to mean, for those that participate no matter what their beliefs, a time for a focused expression of sharing, caring, giving and receiving; for taking the day off from our busy lives to be with those near to us. Three Simple Ways to Reduce Stress during the Holidays By : Ron Forte - Positive Psychology Coaching During the holiday season, it is easy to be overwelmed with thoughts that can leave you drained, exhausted, and rob you of the holiday cheer. Here then, are three easy tips to make this holiday season a little less stressful. The American Spirit Lives Even During The Holidays! By : Lisa Hein Over 3,000 participants rode their motorcycles in support of Toys for Tots. Each person, driver or rider brought a toy and 4 canned goods. The boxes were overflowing and the community support was overwhelming. Holiday Touches of Love By : Dionna Sanchez Does your spouse get forgotten or rushed past too quickly amidst the entire holiday buzz? Help Your Holidays with Essential Oils! By : Donna Chisholm Enjoy your holidays with essential oils to help you relax or to create wonderful aromas without the mess sometimes left by the real thing! Dancing With The Stars? Try A Little Tango With “No!” And See How You Feel By : Paul W. Anderson, Ph.D. It's a myth that marriage and family (or life in general) goes better with "Yes". If you cannot say "NO!" and mean it, when you say "Yes", it is not a choice but simply a default setting. Christmas in Style By : Jan Gamm Few Bizymoms with a full time job have the time to shop till they drop at Christmas. However, by mastering online shopping at Christmas the festive season can be managed with ease. Not only is online shopping time saving, there is also a bigger range of goods and services to choose from. 5 Eco-Friendly Holiday Gifts to Give, Life Lessons Included By : Dr. Caron The holiday season provides the perfect opportunity to teach children how our gift giving practices affect our environment. It opens the door to talk about waste, excess and the difference between wants and needs. It also gives us the opportunity to teach children that a new item purchased from a store isn’t the only kind of gift worth giving. Thanksgiving with a Twist New Traditions Illustrate Gratitude By : Dr. Caron Thanksgiving is a celebration of life’s bounty. On the fourth Thursday in November we gather to give thanks for health, prosperity, and love. For adults this can be cathartic, but what about the children? In school, our sons and daughters are taught the historic significance of Thanksgiving. But do they know what the Pilgrims and your family have in common? Early Christmas Shopping - The Deals Are On By : Cindy Papp Christmas is almost here and the stores all want your business. Find what Christmas gifts are the best and who's practically giving them away. 6 Ways to Cultivate a Thankful Heart By : Dr. Caron By definition, thankfulness is being aware, appreciative and grateful for all that you have. And in today´s fast food society, where immediate gratification and a sense of entitlement are consistently being ordered up, our kids and families can use reminders to cultivate this much desired attitude of gratitude ABC's of Travelling with Children By : Clarissa Leary Are you a family that has young children and you want to travel or is travel involved in your lifestyle, whether it is Personal or Business. Most of us at one time or another have had some travel experience with children, and find that it can be very difficult to keep them happy, amused, and settled. Read my tips on how to make travel easier for you and your children. Happy Children make Happy Parents. Die Easter Bunny, Die! By : Kelly Swanson - Motivational Speaker, Comedian, Award-Winning Storyteller & Busy Mom Another hilarious tale by funny motivational speaker, Kelly Swanson, who can turn even an ordinary childhood holiday into a funny story. 5 Ways to WOW Your Mom Without Spending a Dime By : Kasia Rachfall Mothers Day is a celebration of the women who gave us life. This May show your mom how much you love and appreciate her without spending lavishly on commercialized gifts. These few simple ideas will get you started and are guaranteed to make your mom feel grateful and lovingly surprised.