Author: Richard Chapobr
Source: articleage.combr
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The holidays are a great time to gather the family. Alas, your holiday experiences can fade with time. The best way to prevent this is to keep a journal for your holidays.
Holiday Writing Journals
Take a minute to give some consideration to the holidays in 2004. What sticks out in your mind? Now think about what you did for the holidays in 1998. Undoubtedly, you remember few things about 1998. The experiences youve forgotten are lost to time. If you had kept a journal, this wouldnt be the case.
Keeping a journal each holiday season is a good way to build up a history of family gatherings. It also keeps you from losing hilarious and cherished moments to the passage of time. Each holiday season offers a chance to see how the lives of families and friends have changed. It is also a time to reflect on the things you have to be thankful for, such as a sister or brother you havent seen in years. Keeping a journal lets you take a snap shot in time of what you were thinking then.
As time passes, your holiday journal will grow in detail. It will become a great keepsake by acting as a time line for the growth of your family. Youll be able to look back at past years and read about the good and, perhaps, not so good times. Youll be shocked how to realize how much everything has changed over time.
As time continues to pass, you will inevitably lose loved ones as nature runs its course. I am not trying to be macabre, just realistic. Your journal will give you a detailed account of memories involving that person. Frankly, re-reading the good times can help get you through the tough ones.
Eventually, youll have to come to a decision with your journal. Should you pass it on to one of your children to carry on the volume or just keep it as your private diary? Whatever your choice, youll be thankful you kept a record of the holiday seasons spent with your family.
Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com – makers of writing journals. Travel journals are great travel accessories and travel gifts for student travel, family vacations and adventure travel. Visit http://www.nomadjournaltrips.com for more travel articles, travelogues and travel stories.br
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Author: Michele Wisemanbr
Source: ezinearticles.combr
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Besides sometimes getting writers block I also get gift block – the inability to think of a gift.

However, since coming to work at Beauty Collection Ive discovered there is one gift that you cant go wrong with: candles.

Candles bring a romantic light to any room. They remind us of our favorite childhood scents. They help us relax at the end of a day when were wrapped up in our Snuggie sitting on our favorite chair and reading our favorite novel. They keep the light going while were enjoying dinner with old friends.

Best of all, theyre the perfect gift for anyone and everyone.

So if youre still scratching your head wondering what to give this holiday season, youre in luck. Use this candle guide as a starting point.

For Your Boss

You want to impress her without shelling out the big bucks. Claus Porto makes beautifully packaged candles with an affordable price point. Try the Claus Porto Favorito (Red Poppy) Candle and shell be so impressed she might give you a Christmas bonus.

For A Quirky Relative

You love your Aunt Joan, but what in the world do you get her when the holidays roll around? Give her a Sage Travel Candle – Turquoise because it doubles as an enriching scent and home dbr
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pMichele Wiseman is a beauty fanatic, blogger, and social marketer for Beauty Collection, one of the top beauty retailers in California, according to Womens Wear Daily, March 2009. For information on any of the products mentioned in this article or on our Southern California locations, please visit the Beauty Collection Website at a target=_new href=http://www.beautycollection.com/ rel=nofollowhttp://www.beautycollection.com//a. For more articles by Michele or other staff Beauty Curators, please visit the Beauty Collection blog at a target=_new href=http://www.beautycurator.com/ rel=nofollowhttp://www.beautycurator.com//a./pbr
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Author: Stacy McKay
Source: ezinearticles.com

With the holidays approaching, you recall those fond childhood memories of baking cookies, unwrapping gifts and playing in the snow. Now, fast forward and you’re no longer five-years old but a working mom with a “to do” list that just exploded overnight! You’re starting to feel the demands on your time, energy, attention and pocketbook? You see yourself falling into the holiday trap of skipping or cutting back on workouts, gobbling down too many hors d’oeuvres at cocktail parties, spending less time sleeping and more time wrapping gifts, mailing holiday cards, traveling and making purchases that you can’t afford. By the time the holidays arrive you are sleep deprived, stressed and broke! Okay, maybe not all of those things, but you aren’t enjoying the holiday season the way you would like.

Want to make this year different? Want to keep your composure, enjoy your family and guests, stay within your holiday budget, make traveling in airports more enjoyable, feel more gratitude, not overindulge at parties, find time to exercise AND unwind?

Your thinking this isn’t possible, right? Well, it’s like what they say about Santa Claus. It exists if you believe…and you make some slight changes in how you have dealt with you and the holidays past.

You see, it starts with taking care of YOU! Practicing good self-care is as important during the holidays as it is all year long. Saying “no” to you and your needs when there are more demands on your time than ever, may seem like your only hope for getting it all done. But what’s the price in doing so? Is it worth giving up your sanity, the weight that you worked so hard at losing and the budget that you have worked so hard at sticking to all year long? This holiday season I want to challenge you to say “yes” to nurturing your body, your relationships, your budget and your spirit. By doing so you will have the strength and motivation to keep going especially when the going seems non-stop! And more importantly, you will experience the holidays in a way that they were meant to be experienced– with joy, love and gratitude.

Here are some helpful tips for taking care of YOU this Holiday season:

1. Take Control of Your Schedule & Plan Ahead

Know your priorities and stick to them. Eliminate those items that are not urgent. Ask yourself what am I doing with my time that is not absolutely necessary or can be tackled after the holidays have passed? Say “no” to any new commitments that present themselves during the holidays or say “yes” but with the understanding that you aren’t available till after the first of the year. Remember, we are trying to allow you to enjoy the holidays–not be overbooked and overcommitted.

Review your schedule in advance for the upcoming week. Ask yourself what parties or holiday events do I really want to attend? What parties or events can I skip? Would participating in fewer holiday activities allow me to really be present and better enjoy myself, family and friends? In lieu of these events, do you need to workout at a different time of the day or day of the week to make sure you keep to your normal exercise routine? Write the “chosen” events/parties and workouts into your schedule.

Also, beware of arriving at those cocktail parties feeling famished. Take time to grab a healthy snack before leaving your house or grab a smaller plate when hitting the buffet. If you have a hard time saying “no” to the desert tray, bring the hostess a healthy dessert that you can enjoy without the guilt and the added pounds.

Plan ahead and identify what could help support you and sabotage your healthy lifestyle habits. Find solutions and put support systems in place in advance that will ensure you look and feel sensational and relaxed while enjoying good company and good holiday fun!

2. Honor Your Pocketbook and Others

If 2009 has been a financially challenging year for you, don’t add to your burden in 2010. Instead consider giving gifts from the heart this year vs. Tiffany’s or Nordstrom’s. Write a beautiful love letter for your spouse on nice stationary. Be honest and recount the things that they do that you appreciate. Wrap the envelope with a beautiful red bow. Do the same for a best friend, a parent or grandparent. Include a beautifully framed picture of the both of you.

Change your family’s gift exchange policy. Have each person buy a gift for just one family member. Put a cap on the amount of the gift. Encourage family members to pick a gift that really honors his or her uniqueness. Share with that person why you chose that particular gift and how special they are to you. If every family member takes five minutes to really share their gratitude and love for the person on their list, your family will have the best holiday ever. (Have tissues handy. This could be a tear fest!)

3. Practice Mindfulness & Gratitude

The holidays can be for many of us a time that we focus on spirit and our relationship with a Higher power. But, for a lot of us, all of the “to dos” rob us of the real joy that this season represents.
However, eliminating all the unnecessary obligations, money stressors that the holidays can create, and putting a few consistent mindful practices into play, you will be better able to really connect to the “Spirit” of the season.

Instead of getting frustrated that you have to wait forever in line at the supermarket check-out counter to buy your Thanksgiving ingredients or fretting over the fact that your plane has been delayed for two hours due to bad weather, spend the time taking several deep breaths from your diaphragm or closing your eyes and shutting out everything around you. Don’t worry when the supermarket line starts moving or the plane finally shows up, someone behind you or on the loud speaker will let you know.

Also, the holidays are a great time to start a Gratitude Journal or Appreciative List. Here is an exercise you can do each morning, provided by Jacqueline Kelm the author or “The Joy of Appreciative Living.” Each morning write out three things you are grateful for. Then take 30 seconds to close your eyes and really be mindful and feel the appreciation. Then take two to three minutes to reflect on your answer to the following question and write it down: What is one thing I could do today, no matter how small that would increase my joy? This exercise will help bring more love and joy to your holidays. Treat yourself to a gift (that won’t cost you anything) and keep doing the exercises after the holidays have passed. Notice how much more aware you are of the things that bring you joy and how much more you appreciate your life!

Growth Step

1. The social activities that I am most interested in attending this holiday season are:
________________________________________________________________________________________
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I will say “no” to these activities or obligations during the holiday season:
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2. I can save money and make this Holiday season more special than ever by:
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3. The mindful and gratitude practices I will commit to during the holidays are:
________________________________________________________________________________________
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Stacy McKay is a certified Wellness Coach, an Empowerment Life Coach and a Personal Fitness Trainer. Stacy works primarily with women who are struggling with a variety of issues that are all too common in mid-life. Her approach is particularly effective for women seeking to overcome health or weight-loss issues, who have lost sight of and/or belief in their ability to pursue their dreams and aspirations or who are struggling to balance the needs of work and family with the need to take care of themselves. For more information on how you can experience optimal wellness by becoming part of a Self-care Group Coaching program visit: http://stacymckay.com/getting-started/ To learn more about Wellness and Empowerment Life Coaching and how it can benefit you, request your free consultation with Stacy by visiting http://www.StacyMcKay.com

Author: Joanie Winberg
Source: articleage.com

Do you feel like Clark W. Griswold trying to make a perfect holiday and stumbling through mishaps? Everyone faces challenges of juggling their time effectively during the hectic holiday season. We all have to carry on our normal activities plus shop, wrap, cook, clean, bake, decorate, travel, etc. Here are 12 ways to manage your time so you can feel relaxed, happy, and joyous during the holiday season.
1. Practice good self-care: Eat right and get enough rest. Do something special for yourself every day, even if you only have 10 minutes to spare. Do what makes you feel relaxed; take a walk, listen to your favorite music, have a massage, stretch. Periodically stretch and take a few deep breaths.
2. Plan Ahead: Create a workable schedule to get everything important done. Ask yourself: Does this really need to be done today? Would anyone be affected if I didn’t do it? If the answer is ‘yes’ to either question, then it is a priority. Take care of priority items first, and then do other less important things.
During the holidays, time demands seem to multiply. Make some time for yourself to plan how to best use your time. Take a vacation or personal day midweek and avoid weekend crowds at the malls. Buy holiday stamps in November, and avoid long lines at the post office. Cook a large meal on a weekend and reheat leftovers for quick dinners on nights when you’re shopping.
3. Shop Smart: Instead of running endless errands and wondering what to buy, keep a gift datasheet in your wallet. Make 7 columns on a piece of lined paper to keep track of. 1) who you need to shop for, 2) what size they wear, 3) what colors they prefer, 4) what hobbies and interests they have, 5) favorite stores, 6) items bought, 7) price. As you purchase gifts, fill in columns 5 and 6. This gives you a feeling of accomplishment, and saves you time, money and aggravation.
Shop strategically where you can get extra services. For example, Ross-Simons provides complimentary gift wrapping for any merchandise bought in their stores. If you’re not sure what someone wants or needs, purchase a gift certificate. Purchase through catalogs or at holiday fundraising fairs.
One way to beat the holiday hustle and bustle is to shop all year long. You can take advantage of end-of-season sales, use a gift datasheet, and store the gifts for the holidays ahead.
4. Do a little every day: Keep cards to be sent, stamps, your address book, and an alphabetical list of everyone you will send holiday cards to. While watching TV, write a few envelopes or apply stamps during commercial breaks. Scan what is still unfilled on your gift datasheet and peruse store mailers. This way, you can have all your cards ready and everything purchased by early December.
5. Simplify gift wrapping: You can choose all papers, bags, bows and ribbons in one color family. If paper gets torn, a bow gets squashed or curly ribbon gets wrecked, it’s quick and easy to replace. When traveling with gifts to party, place a bag of extra bows and ribbons in the car to spruce up packages just before you arrive.
7. Forget perfection: Don’t stress yourself trying to achieve idyllic images. Unless you’re an accomplished pastry chef, don’t try to make the ‘perfect pumpkin pie’. Choose food items from caterers and restaurants and save yourself time and a lot of disappointment.
8. Delegate: Don’t try to do it all. Who do you know who is a better shopper, baker, wrapper, etc.? Ask these people to help you with tasks, explaining that you’re not as experienced in doing it and that you value their input. You’ll make them feel important.
Help the people you’re delegating to. Offer to share your strengths with others, helping to diminish their holiday stress. If you’re a good baker, you could exchange goodies with a friend who has nice handwriting who’ll address your cards. Take turns watching each other’s kids so you can shop in peace.
9. Clarify your intentions: Hoping or wishing for something does not have the same power as “intending” does. Intending means you fully expect your desired outcome to happen. When you decide what you want to experience and plan how to make it happen, you can make your vision a reality. You can then concentrate on the HOW instead of the IF. Set clear intentions for this holiday season, such as ‘I’ll have everything finished by Dec.18 so I can relax and enjoy the next two weeks.’
10. Laugh. Keep a few jokes with you. Watch comedies, go to comedy shows or simply listen to other people laughing. Laughter is contagious and can help you reduce blood pressure, release an enzyme that will protects your stomach from forming ulcers, relax muscle tension, release natural pain relievers, and boost your immune system.
11. Learn to say ‘no’: It really is OK to say ‘no’ to things you don’t have time for or don’t have an interest in participating. If you saying yes because you’re worried about what someone might say, you’ll feel resentful and out of control. Be true to yourself. Say ‘maybe’ when you really want to take time to think about a request. After you have thought about it, then make your decision. Don’t say ‘maybe’ to avoid saying ‘no’. Say ‘yes’ to those requests which you are excited about and ‘no’ to those you aren’t.
12. Relax and Have Fun: You deserve to relax and have fun every day – and the holiday season is no exception. Spend a little of each day doing what makes you feel relaxed. Bask in the knowledge that you have set up a plan to accomplish all you had to do for the holidays, and it is already done. You aren’t pressured. You can choose what to do with your time.
With good self-care and time management, you won’t be stressed driving from place to place searching for last-minute gifts, wasting time, standing in long lines, or feeling so overextended that you could snap. You’ll have the important things done ahead of time, be relaxed and able enjoy the holidays!