Single During the Holidays

Mistletoe. Holiday parties. New Years kiss at midnight. This time of year can be challenging for singles. With such an emphasis on family togetherness and couples exchanging heart-felt gifts, it's hard not to hear the message ? the holidays are not for me. At family get-togethers you get grilled about what's going on in the &quot;romance department.&quot; In-laws, whose company you cherished all year long, become reminders that you don't have a &quot;special someone.&quot; No singles shopping for gifts appear in the barrage of holiday commercials. If you are single, and not dating anyone, these holiday images can lead to emotions ranging from sadness to depression. So, what is the best way to combat the holiday blues? Although the following strategies can be applied throughout the year, they are particularly useful during the holidays. Don't deny your feelings. Emotions are neither right nor wrong. They are just how you feel about your situation. Allow yourself to be sad, without the guilt. However, be conscious of how you act on your feelings. Actions to emotions can be right or wrong. Anticipate before going to family events how you will handle dating status questions. It's best to have a pre-planned strategy of how to politely change the subject. When asked about your love life, a simple, &quot;There's no news in that area, but here's what I am doing at work&quot;, might be just enough to redirect the conversation. Adjust your view. See the couples in your life as you have seen them throughout the year. They haven't really changed. Only the environment in which you see them has altered. Anticipate whom you will be meeting during holiday events. Have fond memories ready to share. Take time to remember and cherish why they mean so much to you. Be a successful single. A life partner enhances who you are ? they do not &quot;complete&quot; you. Understand that you do not need another person to make your life whole. Take this time to discover what the holidays really mean to you and start your own holiday traditions that reflect your personal values. Realize and appreciate that this is a stage in your life ? not a reflection of who you are. Break traditions. Who says you have to spend the holidays a certain way? Maybe serving meals at the homeless shelter is more in keeping with your values, than &quot;shopping till your drop.&quot; Take some of the time you would spend with family and share it with the folks at your local nursing home. It is easier to justify limiting your time at the uncomfortable holiday functions when you have a good excuse. Change your latitude. If visiting the family or attending holiday functions is really going to be overwhelming, cut your visits short and take a single's cruise or an island vacation. Let the couples be reminded of the benefits of being able to pick up and go. Limit or avoid alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant and will intensify your feelings of sadness. Accept that you are feeling sad and handle the emotion as you would any time during the year. Do things that will bring humor into your life. Rent funny movies to offset the holiday features that are shown this time of year. Give yourself the gift of home. If you have not made your house or apartment your home, consider doing so. Fill your home with things that reflect who you are. Many single's homes are nothing more than storage for their &quot;stuff&quot;. The art you choose says, &quot;This is me.&quot; Buy some. Add some color to your home. Let gift givers know what you would like for your home. Set needs aside for once and focus on wants. Being single during the holidays can be difficult, but it doesn't have to be traumatic. Anticipate bumps in the road and plan accordingly. Take ownership of the holidays and create your own traditions. Limit your time at holiday events that bring discomfort by volunteering for local organizations. Remember, there are no set rules for how to enjoy the season ? find out what works for you and &quot;have a happy holiday.&quot; About The Author Ron Prewitt is a Relationship Coach in private practice. He helps singles and couples with creating loving, nurturing, and supportive relationships in their lives. For more information call (702) 460-6489 or visit <a href="http://www.ronprewitt.com" target="_new">www.ronprewitt.com</a> <a href="mailto:rprewitt@gte.net">rprewitt@gte.net</a>

Mothers Day Flowers & Gifts!

Mother's Day is Sunday, May 8th! Whether she lives next door or across the country, Send Mom a beautiful Fresh Flower Arrangement to celebrate her "Special Day!" Your local florist can design and deliver the perfect gift to Mom this year. ~A Vase or Basket of Mom's Favorite flowers will be a welcome surprise. Lilies, Roses and Orchids are especially popular for Mother's Day. Ask your local florist for creative suggestions based on your Mom's favorite floral variety and/or colors. ~A Green or Blooming Plant can be delivered with your "Happy Mother's Day" message. A decorative bow can be added for that special touch. Fresh Cut Flowers can also be added to a planted gift for an extra splash of color. ~A Floral Centerpiece can be created just for "Mom" to highlight her table of homecooked meals she is so famous for! Centerpieces can even be designed with a candle as an extra keepsake for Mother's Day. ~Fruit/Gourmet Baskets offer Mom some delicious treats in a decorative basket. Consider sending Mom some special Teas, Coffees, Cookies, Chocolates or any Gourmet treats. Ask your local florist about the many delicious options available for Gift Baskets. Consider sending your Grandmother a floral gift on Mother's Day as well! Mother's Day is a perfect day to celebrate any woman in your life that you honor and respect; Your Wife, Your Grandmother, Your Daughter, Your Stepmother, Your Mother-In-Law. One final note, Mother's Day is a busy floral holiday. We suggest ordering your floral gift a few days early to ensure timely delivery for Mom's Special Day! Remember to order your floral gift from a real local florist. Don't pay a middleman to send your flowers. You will always get a better value and service when dealing directly with a professional florist. Happy Mother's Day! Tenley McDonald- Former Florist- Now Co-Owner of <a target="_new" href="http://www.flowerpowernetwork.com">http://www.flowerpowernetwork.com</a> (Online Directory of Real Local Florists) Ms. McDonald has over 14 years experience in ~Consumer Relations/Marketing ~Customer Service Management ~Floral Design.

How to Save Money at Christmas

Do you know how to save money at Christmas and still have fun? Sounds impossible but it can be done. Everyone assumes that in order to enjoy the festive season one has to throw money at it when in fact the opposite can be true. Research has shown that most people's fondest and most lasting memories of the festive season revolve around the smells and sounds of Christmas and not the expensive gifts that they had received. Do not get carried away and be miserly but just use some common sense and you will be surprised at how much you can save and still have a good time. Here are some useful money saving tips on how to enjoy Christmas without spending a fortune: Presents: Why buy an expensive present for a child when all they will play with is the cardboard box that it came in? An alternative could be to buy a board game that the entire family can enjoy rather than lots of individual gifts which will quickly be ignored. The other advantage of a board game is that it can be played throughout the child's early years thereby saving the need to buy even more toys in future. It is better to choose a tried and tested board game rather than the latest trendy one as they are more likely to retain their appeal. If you cannot afford to buy board games, look to play party games. Go to your local library and take out a book on party games, write down some of your favourite games and play those. A simple mime game can keep the children entertained for hours. Crackers: Why buy a box of expensive crackers when you can have just as much fun with a box costing a lot less? The contents are basically the same so why spend more? Christmas tree: Why buy a fresh tree which will cost more and have the inherent problem of how to clear up the fallen needles when you can buy a plastic tree for much less? Apart from not having to worry about the clearing up of needles the plastic tree has the added benefit of being re-useable making it a very economical proposition. Decorations: Why buy expensive baubles to decorate the Christmas tree when home made decorations can be just as effective without incurring the cost. Involve the children. It is their Christmas, after all! Get them to paint, colour, cut, design and make their own decorations for the tree. They can also be shown how to make a variety of decorations for the house including decorative seasonal paper banners, place setting tags, paper candles and paper lanterns. By involving the children you will give them a sense of achievement and a certain amount of pride in what they have accomplished. That has to be more meaningful than just buying some costly decoration and placing it on the tree? Food: Why buy an expensive turkey when a chicken can be just as tasty and less costly? It will also take less time to cook thereby saving on the electricity bill. Shopping: When you do your Christmas shopping try not to be influenced by all the clever marketing ploys used to get you to spend more money. Still look for the bargains and continue to shop wisely. Select items that are on special offer. Select items that offer "Buy one - Get one free". Planning: With a bit of planning you will be surprised at how much you can save. Here is a useful shopping tip that will save you at least 50% on the cost of all Christmas decorations, Christmas cards, Christmas crackers and wrapping paper. Wait until just after Christmas when the supermarkets begin to hold their after Christmas sales. You can then buy all the cards, crackers, candles, baubles, wrapping paper and other decorations at very low prices. They can then be used for the following year. If you follow the above advice you will save money. The money you save can go towards paying for a summer holiday. You may freely reprint this article provided the author's biography remains intact: About The Author About the Author<br> John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the <a target="_new" href="http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk/">http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk</a> website.

Making Mom Happy on Mothers Day

Mothers day is May 8th this year, are you ready? Are you in need of an idea for how to treat mom on Mothers Day that will not break your budget? How about indulging mom with a delightful home cooked brunch and a special tea pot for her to take home at the end of the day. Making moms eyes sparkle with a beautifully set table is as easy as pulling out that lacey table cloth and placing a vase of fresh flowers in the center for her to enjoy. Dig out the fine china; what have you been waiting for? This is that special occasion you reserve for only the best. Remember this is your mom, so make your table sparkle with love. She will go home knowing how much you love and appreciate her. Prepare a mom friendly brunch that will have her telling all her friends what amazing offspring she has. Start the brunch with a large bowl of fresh fruit and crepes dusted with powdered sugar. Then serve mom a crust less quiche accompanied by warm fresh baked rolls. Don't forget to fill that special tea pot with stepping hot loose leaf tea such as an English breakfast or an Earl Grey. Now sit back and relax enjoying your cup of tea and the wonderful company in your presence today. As your day with mom comes to an end remind her how much you love and appreciate her and that every day with your mother is mothers' day to you. Shauna Hanus is a gourmet cook who specializes in creating gourmet meal plans. Her menus include a full five courses that are easy to follow and enjoyable to create. <a target="_new" href="http://www.gourmayeats.com">http://www.gourmayeats.com</a>

Gift Shopping Tips for Tight Budgets

Have you seen the prices of greeting cards lately? It is hideous! Once you purchase the card and gift-wrap, your overall cost can easily increase by $10 to$15. If you are on a tight budget, this can be difficult as you spend more on the fluff and less on the actual gift. Not only are greeting cards expensive, their sizes often overwhelm small gifts, which make the overall presentation, looking goofy and unbalanced. Basically, you really don't need to spend on expensive greeting cards to make an impression. We all have this perception that greeting cards are the perfect match to gift giving. Although true, there are cost effective ways that can help you spend more on gifts and less on greeting cards. For instance, packaged blank cards are the best way to go as you pay less per card then individually. The other advantage of blank cards is that they are not specific to an occasion and can be used for anything. You should always have a pack handy and ready to use, as you never know when you will need to buy someone a last minute gift or card. Choosing the right card can be time consuming. As the overall look of your gift is very important, you must consider size when choosing your card. The safest way is to choose a small size gift card, as it will fit to any size gift. In my opinion, the Groovy-0-Grams mini cards are the best to use as they fit perfectly on any size gift and they are very affordable. For the price of one greeting card, you get six per pack and you can use the mini cards for six different occasions. Now that's a bargain! Not only are they affordable, the mini cards are really fun to use as they focus on different personalities rather then occasions. They also promote positive self- esteem, which is a gift in itself. Being prepared in advance with a pack of mini cards will save you time and money. And, when those last minute gift frenzies strike, you will spend more on your gift and less on the fluff. Happy gift shopping! For more gift shopping ideas and tips please log on at http://www.groovyarts.com Karen Couillard is one of Canada hottest artists. As a highly recognized businesswomen, artist, product designer and writer, she is known for being an entrepreneur in the world of art and design. As the founder of Groovy Arts, she has successfully developed and launched products specializing in giftware and home d?cor based on her signature art collection. Her work has appeared on CFTO &quot; &quot;Panorama&quot; Toronto CH 11 &quot;CH Morning Live,&quot; Hamilton, KNBC-TV &quot;News 4,&quot; Los Angeles, KESQ-TV &quot;Channel 3 News,&quot; Palm Springs, City TV &quot;CityLine,&quot; Toronto as well as in many publications including &quot; The Hamilton Spectator,&quot; &quot;West of the City,&quot; &quot;Art World News,&quot; &quot;Le Madawaska,&quot; &quot;The Globe and Mail&quot; and the popular French magazine &quot;D?coration Chez-Soi.&quot; Her expertise in the art and design industry has led her to teach workshops about art and business as well as write several &quot;how to&quot; articles that can be found on her website at <a target="_new" href="http://www.groovyarts.com">http://www.groovyarts.com</a>

Angel Costumes! Theres An Angel Inside Us All, But Are You Naughty Or Nice?

When searching for Angel Costumes, there are so many choices online, so the heavenly question is, "how good, or how bad of an angel would you like to be?" Whatever suites your character best, when Halloween rolls around, you can choose which side you want to be-the good, or the bad and look great! The angel costume is extremely popular this year, and if you're concerned that there may be too many angels at your next party, don't worry, because we can never have enough halos at a good Halloween party! With the variety of options currently at your fingertips, you can easily choose to be the beautiful, heavenly angel, or the sexy, dark, and mysterious fallen angel. This outfit screams with non-purity as the sleek long gray dress fits every curve of your body, and the eerie flow of the wings give the impression that your pure soul will be challenged during the evening! Be creative, and fashion your own unique style of angel! Have fun with it by adding personal costume accessories, or if you're the angelic traditionalist, and enjoy to dress as the classic angel with the halo, velvet dress, belt, and wings, then do as you please, because in the end you will be a glowing vision in white! So you have that devilish side in you, right? then take it a step further and check out the great new gothic angel costumes now available. Wear the tattered wings, seductive dark dress, and the men will be completely spellbound! If you're wondering where to find these fascinating costumes, you will unearth most, if not all of these impressive costumes online at specialty Halloween costume sites. There are so many different types of costumes to choose from, and the best part is, you can do one angel costume this year, and the other next year! So if you're a very sweet person, spice it up this year and go for the bad angel! Or, if you're more of the rebel type, dress as the heavenly angel and surprise everyone by showing off your sensitive side! Angel costumes are fun, easy to wear, and simple to shop for online at specialty Halloween Costume sites! A fair number of the angel costumes come complete with your angel accessories so you're good to go for your next Halloween party! Remember, no matter which angel costume you decide to go with, whether it be good or bad, one thing will be for sure: you will surely make for a beautiful angel! About the author: Maria is the the author of &quot;1st In Halloween Costumes&quot; available at <a target="_new" href="http://www.1st-in-halloween-costumes.com/product%20folder/sexy_costumes.htm">http://www.1st-in-halloween-costumes.com</a> A great source for Sexy Halloween Costumes online! You can easily find and compare halloween sites offering quality adult costumes, naughty costume, and sexy fantasy costumes in one convenient location.

Planning a Spectacular Christmas Party

The holiday season is typically filled with large fancy parties, small intimate gatherings, and extravagant dinner parties. Planning your own Christmas party can seem like you're competing with hundreds of other festive events during this time, but by adding special touches to every aspect of your party, its sure to be a success. Magical Themes A great party starts with a great theme. You may be thinking that your party theme is a given since it is Christmas time. But take it one step further and you'll end up with a fabulous Christmas party that will be the talk of the town. Some theme ideas include: - Black tie dinner party<br> - Winter wonderland<br> - Sophisticated cocktail party<br> - Casual fireside party These party themes are easy to put together and aren't too far from the feel of the season to seem out of place as a Christmas party. People love to get dolled up around this time and so costume parties may be a little out of place. Each of your party themes should tie into all aspects of your party including any decorations, invitations, and even food. Choosing a theme may seem difficult at first but once you get started on planning your party it will make the entire process seem easier. Sending out party invitations is a great way to get your guests excited about the party. Most people are invited to at least several parties during the holiday season, and invitations can help set your party apart. Your invitations don't need to be too extravagant to make an impression on the recipients. Just be sure to include all pertinent information that your guests will need to know. Invitations can be sent in a number of ways. While custom made invitations certainly will have the most impact on your guests, you don't want to spend your entire party budget on invitations either. Making your own invitations might seem like a lot of work but it can actually be quite simple. You can download invitation templates from the Internet and create your own personalized invitations that will really wow your guests. You can add color pictures to these templates that will look like a professional created them. Another invitation option is to send electronic invitations. There are several websites that offer invitations services complete with an online RSVP function that makes it easy to check who is coming to the party. You can add festive music and animation to your invitations. Guests will love getting these creative invites in their inbox. Make sure that you contact guests via telephone if they haven't responded by your RSVP date. Some people don't check their email often. Party Decorations Your house is probably already decorated for the Christmas season with a beautiful tree, garland, and other festive embellishments. Some people don't put their trees and decorations up until later in December, but if you're having a party you should have everything up by then. Guests love to check out how you've decorated your tree and it puts them in an eggnog kind of mood. If you're having a theme party you may want to put up a few extra decorations. For instance, a winter wonderland theme might include some silver snowflakes hanging from the ceiling as well as sparkles and confetti placed on the tables. This adds a little bit of magic to your party space and guests will love the extra effort you have gone to. To Dress Up or Not to Dress Up Most people love an excuse to get dressed up in fancy cocktail dress or suit. Christmas is the perfect time to have your friends get all dolled up for an evening in. However, you should take your friend's personalities into consideration. Christmas parties don't necessarily have to mean wearing your nicest party dress; a simple fireside eggnog party is just as fun. If you have a fireplace, get a roaring fire going before your guests arrive and hand them a glass of fresh homemade eggnog as they walk through the door. This is a great way to enjoy some time with the people you love. If you do decide to have guests dress up for your party, be clear about this on your party invitations. Tell your guests whether to wear black tie or a cocktail dress so they know what to arrive in. Make sure your decorations tie into the fancy dress theme with low lighting and little clutter. Serve up cocktails in fancy barware to add to the sophisticated atmosphere. Culinary Delights Serving food at your party is a must. Make sure your party food goes along with the theme and the season. Unless you're having a dinner party, entrees aren't necessary. Simple appetizers that guests can either eat with their hands or with one utensil are best. You'll probably have limited seating so you don't want anything too difficult to eat. A fancy cocktail party should have equally fancy appetizers and dips. A casual get together might serve veggie plates, hot seafood dips, and chips. And don't forget the Christmas cookies at any type of party. You'll probably want to serve some drinks at your party as well. Eggnog is a traditional Christmas drink that is always a favorite. Making your own may take a bit of work but it will taste divine. Serving up some other festive drinks is a good idea as well since many people don't care for eggnog. A fun idea is a peppermint martini complete with a candy cane for garnish. You should also have several non-alcoholic drinks for designated drivers and those who prefer to stay dry. Your Christmas party will be a success if you focus on the little details such as invitations that many other party planners forgo. Plan your party well in advance and send invitations out approximately one month before the date. This will ensure you've got plenty of time to plan and guests will reserve the day of your party before all the other impromptu parties start popping up. Spread some Christmas cheer and celebrate the season with those close to you. John Lenaghan writes about party planning and other tips for the <a target="_new" href="http://www.party-ideas-4u.com">Party Ideas 4u</a> website, where he provides valuable tips and advice about <a target="_new" href="http://www.party-ideas-4u.com/christmas-party-ideas.html">Christmas party ideas</a>, <a target="_new" href="http://www.party-ideas-4u.com/birthday-party-ideas.html">birthday party ideas</a> and other party planning topics.