Posts Tagged ‘Holidays’
Friday, April 2nd, 2010
Image via Wikipedia
While there are many items that make wonderful Easter gifts, such as spring flowers or chocolate bunnies, consider giving beautiful hand painted eggs this year. Already established in some other countries, the craft of egg painting is gaining popularity in the UK, as well.
Inexpensive and easy to make, hand painted eggs are appropriate for anyone. Male or female, young and old alike, designs can be customised to each recipient.
Prepare the Eggs
To remove the contents, place the egg in an eggcup or similar sized container. Holding it gently but firmly, use a needle to poke a small hole in one end and a slightly larger hole in the other. Insert a long needle or thin wire through the larger hole and stir the insides. Hold the egg over a bowl and blow through the small hole to dispel the contents.
Once the egg is empty, submerge it in a mixture of three parts water to one part vinegar. Fill half full, shake gently and blow the liquid out of the eggshell. Shells needing additional cleaning may be left to soak a while in the water/vinegar mixture. Once the shells are clean, let them dry overnight. (more…)
Tags: Crafts, easter, Flower, Holidays, WATER
Posted in DIY, Family, Holidays, Interesting | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, March 30th, 2010
With the wide variety of secular Easter activities commonly available today, such as egg hunts and the anticipation of a visit from the Easter bunny, it is easy to forget the true meaning of this sacred holiday. Rather than being totally swept away by the commercial hustle and bustle of Easter this year, slow down and take time to reflect.
Easter is a Christian religious holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. To honour the true meaning of Easter this year, plan to attend one or more special services at your own church or a neighbouring place of worship. Take the whole family, even those members who may not attend regularly.
As an alternative to attending traditional services, commemorate Easter by visiting one of the beautiful historic chapels and churches that abound in England and the rest of the UK. Options to consider include:
Roche Chapel, Cornwall – Built during the 15th century into the rock on a granite outcrop near the village of Roche, the chapel remnants on this beautiful site often invoke an eerie feeling.
Lindisfarne Priory – Founded in AD 635 on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, the Priory is rich in history and has been a place of pilgrimage for 1,300 years. (more…)
Tags: easter, Family, Holidays
Posted in Family, Holidays, Home | No Comments »
Thursday, February 11th, 2010
Although Valentine’s Day is nearly here it is not too late to make a truly special handmade gift. All you need is a few photographs, some simple materials and a little creativity. Try one of these clever ideas to craft a unique, personalised gift for your special Valentine.
A Jar Full of Memories
A photo memory jar is a fun and thoughtful gift that is appropriate for anyone and also provides a creative way to use photographs that may be less than perfect. Simply choose a number of photos from a few memorable activities or excursions. Cut them into strips and write a brief message on the back of each strip. For your messages, consider using a theme such as “Why I love you.” Decorate a jar and the lid based on your theme or simply using Valentine’s Day colours, and put the photo strips inside. Add a tag and you’re done! As an alternative in this digital age, print digital photos on cardstock. (more…)
Tags: DIY, Heart, Holidays, Home, Interior design, Valentines Day
Posted in DIY, Holidays, Home, Interesting | No Comments »
Thursday, December 31st, 2009
- Image via Wikipedia
New Year’s resolutions are fun to make but often difficult to keep. It’s easy to get swept away and find yourself with dozens of resolutions for improvement in every area of life. This will most likely lead to failure, however. When making resolutions this year, follow these simple tips:
- Forget past failures: Dwelling on failed resolutions from past years will make success this year less likely. Ponder past failures only long enough to avoid repeating them. (more…)
Tags: Holidays, Resolutions New Year
Posted in Family, Holidays, Home | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009
The holidays are over and it’s time to take down the Christmas tree and other holiday decorations. Rather than just throwing all the ornaments, lights and other items randomly into boxes for storage until next year, take the time to properly prepare and package the holiday decorations for storage.
Clean and De-clutter
As ornaments are removed from the tree, inspect them for damage. Do the same for other items that have been displayed throughout the home. Thoroughly inspect all items and repair or discard, as appropriate.
Prior to storing, make sure that decorations are clean. Wash and thoroughly dry decorations that are washable and vacuum those that are not. Donate decorations that you no longer want to charity. Keep only those decorations that you know will be of use during future holidays. (more…)
Tags: Christmas, Christmas tree, Decorations, Holidays
Posted in Cleaning Tips, DIY, Holidays, Home | No Comments »
Monday, December 28th, 2009
A lot of planning generally goes into Christmas. Unfortunately, much of it may get done at the last minute. Often things turn out splendidly and other times you just hope to get through the season with your sanity intact. It doesn’t have to be this way! Now that Christmas is over, start planning right away for next year.
Do It Now!
While it’s fresh in your mind, write down everything you can think of about this holiday season. Make a detailed list of the things you want to repeat and the things you want to avoid in the future. Documenting what worked and what didn’t will make next Christmas go smoothly. Also, update your mailing list based on the Christmas cards that were received. (more…)
Tags: Christmas, Food, Holidays, Home
Posted in Holidays, Home | No Comments »
Saturday, December 19th, 2009
There are many reasons why a last minute Christmas gift may be needed. Sometimes Christmas suddenly arrives or someone was simply forgotten during holiday shopping. Whatever the reason, being caught at the last minute without a gift is easily rectified.
Gift Cards
Available at a variety of places or online, gift cards are the perfect last minute gift. Choose the recipients favourite store or buy a card that can be used in many places. If time is really short, opt to purchase a gift certificate online that can be delivered immediately by email. (more…)
Tags: Baking, Christmas, Gift, Holidays, Shopping
Posted in Family, Holidays, Home | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
Decorating a Christmas tree is an annual tradition in many homes. While some families may go out to the tree farm and cut their own, others purchase a tree at a tree lot. Live trees or artificial trees are also options. The type and size of tree you choose depends on a variety of factors.
Live Trees
There are unique advantages to choosing a pot grown Christmas tree. The tree stays fresh through the holidays. Once Christmas is over, you have a beautiful tree to add to the garden. If the tree is small enough, it can be re-potted in a larger container and kept outside the rest of the year to be brought indoors during a few more Christmases before being planted permanently in the garden. (more…)
Tags: Christmas, Christmas tree, decorating, Garden, Holidays
Posted in Garden, Holidays, Home | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
- Image by *CQ* via Flickr
Decorating for the holidays is fun! Whether you prefer traditional or contemporary décor, choose to decorate the entire house or just certain areas, confine your decorating to just the inside of your home or expand out into the yard, start decorating for the holidays today.
Simplify
Decide how much decorating you’d like to do this year. To keep things simple, choose to decorate only certain areas. Select the size and type of tree that fits your space and lifestyle. For a festive look from the street without the bother of outdoor lighting, place lights inside of windows. (more…)
Tags: Christmas, Decorations, Holidays, Home, Lights, Santa, Shopping, Tree
Posted in Holidays, Home | 1 Comment »
