Final Post Of The Year

Well, Christmas has come and gone so this will be my final post on this blog for this year. Too all of those that took time to read this blog, I want to thank you and I hope you have found some things of interest here and some things you were able to use.

I actually started this blog later than I should have, but now that it’s up and running it’ll be ready for when I start posting again next year. May you and yours have a great New Year and may 2008 be very good to you all.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Merry Christmas

I want to wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas and thanks for reading.

Free Holy Bible

Here is another freebie from “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” that’s just right for Christmas, a free Holy Bible. What better way to celebrate the birth of Christ then to get the book that celebrates his life and teachings?

If you don’t have a Bible already then this is a great way to get one. If you do have one, can you rally have to many? Go to the Website and request your copy. You can even read it online if you wish.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Free Christmas Coloring Pages

Here is something that will keep the kids busy on Christmas day after they tire from playing with the toys and games they got, free coloring pages. Some of these pages are simple things like a candy cane, Angel, bow and a Christmas tree for younger kids to do. Then there are the more complex pages like Santa, Christmas bird and reindeer.

You can let the kids pick the pages they would like to color and you just print the pages out on your printer. Go Here for the pages. I hope you and your kids enjoy these free coloring pages.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Free Christmas Video

The Church of Latter-Day Saints is giving away a free video titled “Joy to the World”. This is sure to feel you with the spirit of Christmas. The video tells of the coming of Jesus Christ and the events surrounding his birth. The Video also features the wonderful singing of the “Mormon Tabernacle Choir”.

This is a video the whole family can enjoy and learn from. Just head on over to the Website and request your copy

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Free Christmas Screensavers

I have decided that from now until after Christmas I will bring you free Christmas stuff you can use and enjoy. This will be my Christmas gift to you for reading this blog. Okay, today I bring you some sites you can get free Christmas screensavers that will bring holiday cheer to your computer, laptop and even your cellphone.

FreeChristmasSavers.com

FreeChristmasScreenSavers.com

Screensavers.com


HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Free Christmas Songs

I haven’t posted in a couple of days I had some urgent business I had to take care of. But I’m back now with some free stuff to show you. How about some free Christmas music?

What is Christmas without Christmas songs? They always make the holiday season more joyful. I have found some sites where you can download free Christmas music to enjoy on your computer or put in your iPod or record on a CD. However you want to listen is up to you I just hope you enjoy the free music.

At this site you not only get free Christmas music you also help end the hunger in America. With every free music download $1 is donated to “Share Our Strength”.
GenerousPour.com

This site has pages full of Christmas songs. To download the songs to your computer right click on the song title and click save target as if you’re using Internet Explorer or save link as if you’re using FireFox.
I Love Wavs

This site has Christmas music you can get in four different styles. Traditional and contemporary vocal and traditional and contemporary instrumental.
Feels Like Christmas

At this last site you not only get free music you also get the lyrics to the songs. Once again to download the songs to your computer right click on the song title and click save target as if you’re using Internet Explorer or save link as if you’re using FireFox.
Christmas Treasures

I hope you enjoy you free Christmas song downloads.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Make A Snowman Using A Burned Out Light Bulb

If you have an old burned out light bulb lying around, then gather the kids and lets make a snowman. This craft was created by Jane Lake.

Here are the materials you’ll need:
 gold or silver chenille stems
 plastic carrot or sculpey clay in the shape of a carrot
 3 small black buttons
 black beads suitable for using as the snowman's mouth and eyes
 snow paint (or make your own by mixing white paint and sand)
 floss to match your snowman's hat
 elastic cord or floss
 Styrofoam ball
 child's sock in red, green or Christmas colors for hat

Okay lets put this all together:
1. Take the light bulb and press it into the Styrofoam ball just to get a marking so that you can carve out the rest. Carve out until the ball meets the roundest part of the bulb. Apply craft glue (not hot glue) to the end of the lightbulb and push up into the ball.

2. With rubbing alcohol, wipe the glass on the bulb and let it air dry. Brush on the snow paint with a popsicle stick and let dry by propping the styrofoam end into a small clay pot or something similar. When sand paint on the bulb is dry, repeat for the styrofoam head, making sure that paint on both parts meets seamlessly. Let dry.

3. For the snowman's hat, just cut the foot from a small child's sock, leaving the ankle band. Fit the band over the Styrofoam ball head. Take some floss and tie a bow as shown in the photo, forming a hat.

4. Glue in the carrot nose by pushing into the Styrofoam. Glue beads in place to form the eyes and mouth, as shown. Tie ribbon or a strip of fabric around his neck, to the side, as a scarf.

5. Glue three small black buttons down the front of the snowman. Cut the tinsel in half and bend one end in and out so it looks like a tree limb, then glue in place near the top of the scarf. Repeat for the other arm. String elastic cord or floss through the hat with a darning needle to form a hanger if you want to use the snowman as a tree trim.

6. If you want to make the snowman into a table decoration, paint a wooden heart in black and glue this to the bottom, with both rounded ends sticking out the front for boots.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

A Funny Christmas Decoration Video

Here is a video I found on YouTube. I thought it was kind of funny so I wanted to post it here. I hope you enjoy it.



HAPPY HOLIDAYS

A Christmas Merry Cherry Punch

Here is a holiday punch that would make a great Christmas morning drink. This punch is served hot.
Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

1 can or bottle (46 oz.) cherry juice blend
2 tablespoons sugar
juice and peel of 1 lemon
1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1 lemon, thinly sliced (for garnish)

Here is how you prepare your punch:

Combine all ingredients in large saucepan. Simmer over low heat 10 minutes or until hot. Remove and discard lemon peel, cloves and cinnamon stick. Carefully pour into heat-proof punch bowl or cups. Garnish with lemon slice. Makes 10 to 12 (1/2 cup) servings.

I hope you and your family find this delightful.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Send Unique Greeting Cards This Christmas

Wouldn’t you like to send greeting cards that very few if anybody else will be sending? This is one way you can you can be sure that no one you send your greeting cards to will have a duplicate card. Well, I can help you with that.

I have designed my own greeting cards that you can get at my Zazzle Shop. Not only are the greeting cards unique, you can also send the cards using my matching postage stamps. Below are the greeting cards and the postage stamps.





If you’re feeling creative, you can make your own greeting cards and stamps. Just go to Zazzle and get started.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

A White Christmas Decorating Idea

Here is a way you can have a white Christmas even if it doesn’t snow where you are. Have a white indoor Christmas with this decorating idea.

Let’s start with the Christmas tree.
· Spray the tree with snow. The amount depends upon your own personal taste. You can give it a light dusting or make it look like a heavy snowfall.

· Use clear lights. Use a combination of standard steady glowing lights along with twinkling lights.

· Adorn the tree with clear, white and silver ornaments, snowflakes and glass ornament icicles.
There are many beautiful Christmas Ornaments available that have an elegant frosty look including fruit, berries, birdhouses and even flowers.
You can use white glittery fern sprays and anything that captures the beauty and sparkle of fresh winter snow.

· Use garlands or curls of white or sliver ribbon nestled in the tree. A very pale aqua blue ribbon can also be used to emulate the subtle blues of a snowy landscape.

· Drape the tree with clear beads.

· Use sprays of red berries throughout the tree to add excitement to the winter theme. There’s nothing more beautiful than red berries peeking through the glistening snow.

Check out Collectibles Today for some great Christmas Ornaments Collections to compliment your decoration.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

An Exotic Christmas Dish, Brisket with Apricots and Apples

Here is a dish that is a little on the exotic side for most of us in the US. Why not give it a try, it actually sounds delicious. When cooking the brisket there is two things to keep in mind. Cook it long, and cook it with the fat. Since the meat comes from the grainier forequarters of the steer, slow cooking is required to tenderize it.

Okay we’ll start with the ingredients. This will give you 8-10 servings:
2 onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon ground ginger
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
One 5-6 pound brisket
Salt and pepper to taste
2 apples, chopped (about 2 cups)
1 cup dried apricots, halved
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 cup dried plums, pitted
12 cups apple juice
1-2 cups canned beef or chicken broth

Now lets prepare the brisket:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Brown the onions, garlic and ginger in the oil until the onions are golden. Then scatter the mixture in a roasting pan.
3. Season the brisket with salt and pepper and gently lay it on top of the onions. Add the apples, apricots, dried cranberries, dried plums and enough apple juice and beef or chicken broth to almost cover the brisket. Cover the roasting pan with a lid or aluminum foil and cook for 3 hours, basting occasionally.
4. Remove the brisket, cool, and refrigerate overnight.
5. Just before serving, reheat the oven to 350 degrees. While the brisket is still cold, skim off any fat that has accumulated on top of the juices, and slice off the excess fat from the meat. Slice the meat against the grain, place in a baking dish with the reserved juices, cover, and reheat for about a half hour. Remove brisket to a platter, surrounded by the fruits and the sauce. Now all you need is your side dishes and you’re ready to eat.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS

A Unique Gift Idea Give Custom Gift Cards For Christmas

If you are anything like me you find it hard to figure out what gifts to give people. I never know what to get anybody for a gift. Most of the time I just end up giving money as gifts. Although money gives the person a chance to go out and get what they want it is very impersonal.

Gift cards are a better way to go if you want to give someone something they use to get whatever they want. It also seems more like a gift. Why not go one step farther and give custom made gift cards. There is a website called GiftCardLab.com where you can create your own unique Visa® gift card using your own images.

You can give your gift card recipient a card with their favorite photo on it or some design you created. As an artist I would give gift cards with my art on them. It’s almost like giving two gifts, the money that you add to the card and the card itself.

If you can’t think of a gift to give that hard to buy for friend or loved one, go to GiftCardLab.com and create a special Holiday Visa® Gift Cards.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Make A Christmas Angel Ornament From A Ribbon

Here is a craft that you and the kid can do. Turn a ribbon into an angel Christmas tree ornament. Here are the things you’ll need.

* 1" Wide gold ribbon

* 5/8" Wide Medium gold ribbon

* 3/8" Wide Narrow gold ribbon

* 9" Gold cord

* 16 mm Wooden bead

* Curly doll hair

* Low temp glue gun

* Black permanent marker

* Ruler

* Scissors

Now that you have the materials lets put it all together.
1 Cut medium ribbon twice as long (about 8 inches).

2 Using the low temp glue gun, glue wide ribbons CUT edges together.

3 Glue medium wide ribbon's CUT edges together.

4 Tie one end of the cord tightly (to squeeze into bow shape) around the middle of the medium wide ribbon (both layers).

5 Loop over other end and hot glue to where you tied it, to make loop in back. (See photo)

6 Glue the medium ribbon (wings) to top back of wide ribbon (skirt).

7 Draw shut eyes and mouth on bead with permanent marker.

8 Glue hair on top.

9 Glue bead (head) to top of ensemble (will have little fold place on top of wings, where it was squeezed by cord).

10 Tie bow with narrow ribbon and glue on the front, below the angel's head. (See photo)
Now hang it on the tree and enjoy.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

A Low Fat Glazed Pork Recipe For Christmas

Here is a low fat recipe your family will love for Christmas dinner. It’s a low fat cranberry apple glazed pork recipe.




Okay we’ll start with the ingredients:
· 1/2 tsp ground sage
· 1/2 tsp ground thyme
· 1/4 tsp salt
· 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
· 1 3-pound boneless top-loin pork roast, trimmed
· 1 16-ounce can cranberry sauce
· 1/2 cup apple cider

This is how you prepare your glazed pork:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Combine herbs and seasonings to make a rub. Sprinkle mixture over all sides of the meat. Place pork in roasting pan and roast for 1 hour. Combine cranberry sauce and apple cider in a saucepan and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes until the sauce is slightly thickened. Spoon 1/2 a cup of the sauce over the meat to glaze. Return meat to the oven and roast for a further 30-40 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer registers 155 degrees. Remove pork from the oven and cover with foil. Let stand for 15-20 minutes. The meat will continue to cook and reach a safe 160 degrees while it rests. Serve with remaining sauce on the side.

Serve this with some vegetables and some other low fat side dish and you’ll have a low fat, no guilt Christmas dinner for your family.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Personalized Ornaments and Gifts For Christmas

One thing people love to get is personalized stuff. People love things that have their names or pictures on them. So why not give personalized gifts this Christmas. At PersonalizationMall.com they will personal the gifts you buy from them for FREE.

PersonalizationMall.com has all kinds of gifts you can personalize, like clothing, picture frames, coffee mugs, shot glasses and much more. You can even get personalized ornaments to decorate your Christmas tree. Take advantage of their daily specials and their stocking stuffers under $20.

Below are some codes you can use to save money on your personalized gifts and ornaments. So head on over to PersonalizationMall.com and save.

PM8845 *** 5% off regular priced items

PM6244 *** 10% off regular priced items

PM3201 *** 15% off regular priced items

PM6680 *** $5 off any order with minimum $15 purchase

PM5514 *** $10 off any order with minimum $50 purchase

PM9837 *** $15 off any order with minimum $75 purchase

PM2088 *** $20 off any order with minimum $125 purchase

PM0377 *** $25 off any order with minimum $250 purchase

PM5551 *** Free shipping on any order with minimum $50 purchase

Just enter the codes on the left for your savings.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Introduction and Christmas Items That Show Support For Our Troops

Hi and welcome to “The Best Christmas Blog”. On this blog I will be showing you great gift ideas, holiday recipes, holiday decoration ideas, holiday crafts and anything to do with the Christmas holiday season. I know you will like what you find here.

First off I want to show you some items that I created. These items show the world that you support our troops and wish them a Merry Holiday Season.

Show your well wishes for our soldiers by wearing one of these buttons.


Show your support for our troops with one of these bumper stickers.


Wear your support with a t-shirt.


See all of my items showing support of our troops at my Support Our Troops For Christmas shop at Zazzle. I have decided to gave 10% of the money I get from the sale of these items to Soldiers' Angels a volunteer based, non-profit organization that provides aide and comfort to the men and women of the United States military and their families.

See my other Christmas items like Christmas stamps you can use to send mail, Christmas coffee mugs, greeting cards and my other items at my my Zazzle shop. All the items are customizable, so you can change colors, styles and look to fit your taste.

You can also create your own items to sale or buy yourself. Just head on over to a Zazzle.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS