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Drawing names for Christmas is another way of playing Secret Santa. Get ideas for drawing names for Christmas with help from a crafts expert in this free video clip.
Sibling Christmas portraits aren't necessarily as different as regular portraits as you might think. Get sibling Christmas portrait ideas with help from an experienced professional photographer in this free video clip.
Every year, millions of Christians celebrate Advent as the Christmas season gets under way. Advent, which means “coming” or “arrival,” celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. The Advent season runs for four weeks, beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and continuing up to Christmas Eve.
The holidays are a joyous time, filled with family, friends, gifts and gatherings. It's also time to torture others with the traditional holiday family newsletter, the mailbox's equivalent to an indigestible fruitcake at the doorstep. For most people, a mention of holiday newsletters will lead to visions of boastful parents, garishly festive, ill-fitting wool sweaters and vacation photos dancing in their heads. But now, this annual missive has a chance to return to its glory days when it was a tool that pulled in people on the periphery of your life. A thought-out, restrained, well-meaning holiday letter will stand out…
A Christmas mailbox is a great way to put a nice bit of holiday cheer on the exterior of your home. Get ideas for a Christmas mailbox with help from an artisan, designer, and instructor in this free video clip.
Newsletter marketing may not be on the cutting edge anymore, but it is certainly still worthwhile. Make the most out of newsletter marketing with help from the principal change agent at Vince Rogers & Associates in this free video clip.
Among smartphone owners, the heaviest data users in 2011 averaged 4.6 gigabytes of data month. Data plans cover Internet use over the provider's data network. Phone calls and texting time are covered separately, and Wi-Fi Internet is free. One gigabyte of data is enough to view 1,700 Web pages; send or receive more than 3,500 emails with attachments; or watch 8.5 hours of streaming video, according to AT&T.
In the United States and many other countries, Christmas is traditionally held as the celebration of the birthday of Jesus Christ. Observed on Dec. 25 by Christians around the world, Christmas is commemorated differently in various cultures. Teaching preschool children how Christmas is celebrated around the world exposes them to how different cultures view similar ideologies.
Your home has the traditional shower and bathtub combination along with the moldy shower curtain. This look is dated, but renovating your entire bathroom to make your own walk-in shower is expensive. Instead, give your current setup the modern walk-in glass look to create a budget walk-in shower.
A Budget Vocabulary Matrix is a teaching method aimed to increase reading comprehension and vocabulary. The method has students working both in pairs and as a class, and it is sometimes used as an exercise immediately prior to reading a certain text. This gives the students the background knowledge of the vocabulary they will encounter before seeing it in actual use.
Start your Christmas celebration with a Christmas Eve breakfast and your family will indeed feel special. Dress up your table and dining room with Christmas decorations, including a centerpiece, linens and the good dishes. Include a few room decorations, too, so your family can get started early celebrating Christmas.
It's the festive season once again, and you'd like to decorate your house with a chic yet seasonal look. An evergreen tree is the traditional mainstay of holiday decor, but what if all that wonderful-smelling pine brings on the sneezes or your house is simply too small for a statement-making tree? Perhaps your family traditions don't include a tree at all. Two experts share seasonal decorating advice to make your house have that welcoming holiday "wow" factor without the expected trimmed tree -- and their ideas on trees, in case you must have one or the holidays won't feel right.
It may seem incongruous to think of making Christmas environmentally sound. It is the epitome of consumerism, after all, and talk of celebrating a sustainable Christmas can feel odd. However, keeping your holidays more earth-friendly doesn't automatically make you a Grinch. It only requires a modest effort to reduce the season's excess substantially.
A Christmas luncheon is a tricky event to dress for, as it requires both festivity and decorousness. All-out glamorous looks, like satin cocktail dresses or dark suits, are too dressy for daytime. And luncheons are often relatively formal meals, so you don't want to look sloppy or underdressed. At the same time, the event is a celebration, and drab or stuffy outfits don't convey the proper holiday spirit. To strike the right tone, take the formality of the venue and group into account, and then aim for a crisp, fashionable look with just a touch of sparkle or drama.
The mantel of a fireplace can make a prime location for many different types of decorations. Get ideas for how to decorate a mantel for Christmas with help from an author, magazine editor and lifestyle expert in this free video clip.
When drawing Santa in a jogging suit it may be wise to start with his jolly face. Draw Santa in a jogging suit with help from an artist in this free video clip.
Many kitchens are busy creating home baked sweets during the Christmas holiday season to give out as gifts, take to office pot lucks or to have as part of a family celebration. Sweets made during this time of year use many different ingredients, including chocolate, sugar, corn syrup and nuts. Baking ingredients, such as peppermint and cinnamon, tend to be used more during the Christmas baking season than any other time of year.
When it comes to Christmas crafts and decorations, many countries share the same centuries-old traditions. Each culture puts its spin on these customs, so that something as universal as a Christmas tree might have a different appearance on another continent. Household decorations also vary depending on the fruits and flowers of the season -- and on the season itself, for in Southern Hemisphere countries, Christmas comes in the summertime.
A key element to running a successful catering business is the ability to create accurate budgets for each event. A budget that projects expenses accurately allows you to keep actual expenses below billing costs, maintaining a healthy profit margin. Successful caterers are able to determine how much they need to spend on each person at an event, while at the same time calculating a markup value that makes catering each event profitable and worth their while.
An effective budget helps you achieve your financial goals and manage your money wisely. By taking into account fixed expenses, like housing payments and cell phone bills, you can have better control over the amount of money you spend on unfixed or unnecessary expenses, such as what you spend at coffee shops or restaurants. To make an effective budget, you must first track your expenses for at least one month, keeping track of all the money you spent with cash, checks and credit cards, so you learn about your spending patterns and make necessary adjustments.
A spiritual successor to the chart-topping arcade puzzle game "Angry Birds," Rovio Mobile has introduced the world to "Angry Birds Seasons." Like the original game, you can download a free version that comes with 12 levels for you to try before purchasing the full game. The 12 levels come divided into four episodes, each one representing a different season -- and the first episode is the Christmas episode. The third level of the Christmas episode gives you four birds to assist you in defeating pigs.
Being in debt or having disagreements over how to handle money can have a negative impact on a couple's relationship, according to James Marshall, assistant professor of Family Life at the University of Arkansas. Whether you and your partner have money to spare at the end of the month or find yourself running low on cash, you can benefit from a sound budget. In addition to removing stress from your relationship, a budget can help you meet your short- and long-term financial goals.
The Sanskrit word for meditation is "Dhyana." When the Chinese tried to pronounce this word, it became "Chan," and when the Japanese tried to pronounce "Chan," it became "Zen." While the origin of the word may be a bit fuzzy, the concept is clear. Zen is simplicity, clarity, mindfulness, living in the present. Decorating a Zen bedroom on a budget can also be a meditation in simplicity.
Yeast needs to feed on an organic medium in order to produce the carbon dioxide (CO2) that is necessary for bread to rise. Use of the proper organic medium at the right temperature gets you the most efficient results when you are baking bread or a yeast cake. You need to use a safe, edible medium that will not adversely affect the taste of your bread or cake when you bake with yeast. Combine sugar with yeast and water and add the mixture to your dough so that the yeast produces as much CO2 as possible and your bread rises…
A budget ledger differs from a budget based on the fact that the former is an updated document, while the latter is a forecast. While there are no universally accepted definitions for these financial documents, business people frequently use the word budget to describe a guidance document and the word ledger to describe a tracking tool. To create a budget ledger for your small budget, use a document that tracks results monthly and projects annual or quarterly performance.
Organizational budgets provide guidance for and impose limits on expenses to be incurred throughout an entire company, nonprofit, government entity or other organization for a specified period of time. Organizational budgets are the most wide-reaching of all budgets, combining departmental and business-unit budgets into a grand budget for the entire organization. Since this is the case, making an organizational budget can be simplified by breaking the organization down into component parts, and analyzing each component individually before bringing everything together in a master budget.
A successful restaurant depends heavily on smoothly functioning equipment. Refrigerators must keep food cold, stoves and ovens must heat dishes to order, and sinks must provide fresh water for drinking and cleaning. Restaurant equipment must be regularly maintained if it is to be dependable. In addition, when an essential piece of equipment like an oven or a walk-in breaks, it must be repaired immediately or your restaurant will be unable to serve customers. A budget for repair and maintenance of restaurant equipment must allocate funds for periodic maintenance as well as emergency repairs.
Serving Christmas dinner is a time-honored tradition in many homes. If you're hosting Christmas dinner, set an elegant table on which to serve this holiday meal. Choose a white and silver color scheme for your Christmas table to create an eye-catching tablescape that welcomes family and friends to sit and dine. Decorate the table at the start of the holiday season to create a festive dining room you can enjoy for the entire season.
Planning a large event is an organizational challenge enough to tax anyone -- even a logistics-savvy business owner. Making the budget for such an event will provide a solid financial foundation for the endeavor because you will see and account for costs ahead of time. Whether you are planning a grand-opening bash for a new store, a conference that will attract luminaries in your industry, or the company retreat's opening barbecue, attention to detail in the budgeting stage of event planning will help prevent unpleasant financial surprises later on.
Economists know that consumers base their spending practices on trade-offs. Typically, to spend more on one budget item, a consumer has to spend less on another. A budget line shows the combination of two items that a consumer can purchase and remain in their budget. While most people purchase more than two items with money in their budget, a budget line is a simple way of showing how different quantities affect a consumer's finances.
Not being able to afford a costly gym membership does not mean that you can't exercise regularly. Get the exercise you need without leaving the comfort of your home by building a gym in your garage. With a little bit of space and some basic equipment, you can create a home gym that fits within your budget. Focus on the equipment that you'll use the most to save money.
For some families, Christmas is one of the few times of the year they all get to be together. It follows that you would want to be able to record your memories by taking plenty of pictures. Dressing up your Christmas table will help create a good ambiance and will also make it look great for any photos you want to take. Try to keep it simple, yet festive, to create a classic and stylish look.
A detailed budget allows you to closely track your spending. It makes it easier to stay on budget and prevents you from having unexpected expenses ruin your budget. A detailed budget should include all of the expenses you will have over the next year. It should also have enough set aside to cover emergency expenses such as car or home repairs. Tracking your spending and sticking to your spending limits are both keys to making your detailed budget work.
The budget is an important tool to help your restaurant succeed. It allows you to track your sales and expenses. It helps you determine which company or products to choose, and it monitors whether or not you are making a profit for the year. A restaurant budget should include all operating costs, and should be based on expected income for the year. Once you have been in business for a few years you will be able to predict slower times of the year for your restaurant.
Wedding thank you notes are typically sent a few weeks after the event as a way to acknowledge gifts. Rather than writing the same generic thank you in every note, tailor each one specifically to the recipient and take some extra steps to make the notes special and personalized. These details will show your wedding guests how appreciative you are for their gifts.
A functional closet can be yours without the need to spend a fortune or invest in custom closets. The key to making the most out of your closet is arranging items so that you can easily reach the things you use most often. You also want to take anything you don't use or wear out of the closet. Invest in inexpensive storage items, such as shoe holders and hangers, to keep everything in order.
With a baby on the way it’s time to set up the nursery, where you'll soon spend many hours of rocking and countless diaper changes. There are just as many themes and decorative options as there are baby names. Most newborns enjoy a neutral pallete, which changes considerably as they grow, so consider going chic on the cheap. According to Fox Business, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to spend money on your kid, about $475,680 by the time they’re 18, excluding college, according to 2010 statistics. Set up your baby’s nursery on a shoestring but with style.
Even if both spouses in a new marriage kept meticulous budgets during their single years, they should expect that adjustments will need to be made after the wedding ceremony. Newlyweds often have new financial goals and obligations. They may have trouble meeting these goals and obligations without a solid budget. Newlyweds must discuss financial responsibilities such as who will pay bills and who will take care of investments.
Creating and living on a budget isn't only for adults. Many teenagers have part-time jobs and expenses that justify learning how to budget money. Poor money management and budgeting can contribute to financial problems. If a teenager doesn't budget his money, he may spend frivolously and have little funds to pay his bills or build savings.
Money is one of the leading causes of stress in marriage, according to the Motley Fool website. Fights often revolve around the budget, and other spending habits. Often one spouse is budget-oriented and the other is more relaxed about money. The key to making a budget work is to come to an agreement together and to create a system where you can easily track expenses. A rewards system will help to make budgeting palatable for both of you.
When you work waiting tables, you can never be sure how much money you'll bring in. Though you may be able to make estimates based on past performance, you might be scheduled fewer shifts one week or end up working on a particularly slow night. This can make for an even bigger challenge creating a budget to cover all your expenses. It's important to save during the good times to get you through any lean times.
Getting on track financially means taking conscious control of your spending habits. The only way to do this is to create a budget and stick to it. If you stay within the spending confines of your budget, you will find it easier to pay your bills, reduce your credit card debt and begin to feel stable with your finances. Creating a budget by pay period helps to understand cash flow and to better plan for the expenses that come up.
The whole idea of a budget is to have more cash coming into your home than going out. People create budgets for different reasons. Some are tired of living from paycheck to paycheck. Others want the financial security it takes to start a business, retire, buy a car or send a child to college. Whatever your reason for implementing a budget, your discipline and determination will help you succeed.
The story of the birth of Jesus in the stable -- the Nativity -- is told in many places around the world at Christmas time. Some storytelling comes in the form of the Christmas plays performed by schools and youth groups. While these Nativity plays are important and become cherished memories for kids and their families, they can become too familiar unless a few fresh ideas are added to productions.
Having a budget in place is the basis for future financial planning and investments. Until you get a handle on where your money is coming from and where it is going, it is impossible to predict how much you will have left over for savings and investments. If you have access to a spreadsheet program, you can use that program to create a detailed budget for yourself and your family. Once that budget is in place, you can use it to analyze your spending patterns and identify places where you can save money.
While monthly budgets are a common part of financial planning, annual budgets are often overlooked. Both types have advantages; when used together, they can help provide you with a realistic, accurate financial planning tool. Where a monthly budget focuses on smaller, regular expenses, an annual budget can help guide the overall financial plan for the year, plan for periodic payments and help you get closer to long-term goals. Once you have an idea of both short- and long-term costs, you can better manage your finances at the monthly level to ensure that everything will be covered.
Whether you are looking for a permanent job, freelance work, speaking opportunities or a way to expand your professional network, you can use LinkedIn to make the most of your expertise and connections. In 2003, LinkedIn officially launched as an online forum for professionals to build relationships. With more than 120 million members as of August 2011, the site provides a unique forum for you to showcase your qualifications, keep in touch with important contacts and interact with other professionals.
Drawing names at Christmas is an excellent idea for extended families or groups of co-workers. Rather than attempting to buy lots of smaller gifts for many people, drawing a name allows you to buy one nice gift for just one person, and know that you will receive one nice gift in return. Drawing names should be done in early December, or can be done in person at Thanksgiving if most of the participants are together.
While people who have always loved the whimsical designs of Christmas sweaters continue to make and wear them, they are increasing in popularity with those who find them tacky and unattractive. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that searches for "ugly Christmas sweaters" have climbed 30 percent. The Atlantic Wire reports that "Ugly Christmas Sweater" parties are cropping up as a way for those who find them distasteful to revel in the sweater's ugliness -- and their own irony.
Hispanic Christmas games can help teach children about the customs of other countries or find their roots. These games originate from Spanish-speaking countries, such as Mexico, Spain and Colombia. Each country has its way of celebrating Christmas, an important holidays in some Hispanic countries. Whether you're teaching children about other cultures or creating a traditional Hispanic Christmas, these games are educational and entertaining.
