Hanukkah begins at sundown on Friday 12/11 this year. The eight-night celebration goes through December 19th and is marked by customs including the nightly lighting of the menorah, playing Dreidel and the eating of traditional fried foods.

If you are hosting a Hanukkah celebration and/or feast this year then you are likely organizing your menu and making final arrangements for Friday.

Hanukkah menus

One delicious tradition of the Hanukkah holiday is the food. Foods including latkes, fried donuts and brisket are popular choices.

Kids’ crafts

A fun way to keep kids entertained during Hanukkah celebrations is to have craft projects on hand. Printing out Hanukkah coloring pages from online templates is an easy and fun activity and is suitable for all ages.

Dreidel crafts

Playing Dreidel is a tried-and-true Hanukkah tradition. Find Dreidel craft projects online, gather necessary materials and you’ll keep the kids busy for a while.

Hanukkah decorations

An inspired idea is to decorate your home with a combination of store-bought and home-made Hanukkah decorations. Use the kids’ craft projects to decorate your home–if you’re feeling crafty then try your hand at making this cool candlelit branch decoration or this home-made Menorah.

Also, Hanukkah plates, garlands, napkins and signs are available at most party stores.

Hanukkah flowers

Hanukkah flowers are one of the prettiest–and easiest–ways to perk up your home for a get-together. Find Hanukkah flower centerpieces with candles, pretty Hanukkah bouquets in shades of blue and white,  and festive blooming plants like this blue iris stack to decorate your home with.

Happy Hanukkah!

If you’re one of many consumers wondering “Where has the time gone?” as you shop for holiday gifts, you’re not the only one! Whether you’re just starting your holiday shopping or finishing it all up, we’ve got a few gift ideas which are easy to find, purchase and send. Oh, and did we mention delicious as well?

For the foodie:

For the foodie in your life, send a basket full of gourmet goodies. Whether you’d like an extravagant gourmet gift basket or a more budget-conscious, small gourmet basket, you have many options to choose from. Simply find the one that best suits the recipient, order online and Voila! You’re done!

For the wine lover:

Send a gourmet wine basket as a special gift to a wine lover. Instead of just sending a regular bottle of wine, a wine gift basket is a beautifully packaged gift perfect for enjoying with someone special. Choose from simple gift baskets with wine and chocolates, or gourmet wine gift baskets perfect for sharing with friends.

For the chocolate fanatic:

Wondering what to send a special chocolate lover? You’re on the right track! Deliciously decadent chocolate baskets are just the right thing! You can’t go wrong with a yummy holiday Godiva gift basket overflowing with sweet treats, or a Ghirardelli gift basket filled with candy, hot cocoa and more.

For the candy girl (or boy):

Looking for a sweet gift that’s both delicious and beautiful? Candy bouquets please any sweet tooth and are fashioned in the design of a real flower bouquet! Find a retro-inspired old-time candy basket which is perfect for big-kid-candy-lovers, or check out this unique candy bouquet for kids which is showcased in a container in the shape of a sneaker!

For the health nut:

Forget the typical fruitcake this year–send a fresh and healthy fruit basket instead. For an extra-festive touch, find one with holiday touches like ribbon and sprigs of holly like the basket featured below.

For the baked goods lover:

If someone you know constantly craves Grandma’s fresh-baked cookies then give the next best thing with these baked goods for delivery. The chocolate chip cookies, brownies and ruggalach are the next best thing to Grandma’s!

Whew, writing about all of these delicious choices has got me craving some delicious sweets…

Holidays can stress us out so much that we sometimes lose sight about what they are really about–blessings, joy, cheer and spending time with family and friends. However, there’s just so much that needs to get done that it’s easy to come close to crashing and burning.

Don’t burn out–relax and enjoy the season. I’ve put together a few time-savers that might enable you to have a little more time to do just that.

Shopping

Every year you tell yourself the same thing–that you’ll start shopping months ahead of time instead of waiting until the last minute again. While this is a great idea in theory, a lot of times it just isn’t that practical.

However, there are some time savers and organizational tips you can employ which will allow you more time to relax instead of scrambling!

• Organize and prioritize–Start of by making your list. If you already know the exact item that the person wants, then mark those with a star or stick those at the top of the list. For those folks that you aren’t sure about, just jot a few ideas down to start with. Take a look at your list now and start figuring out how to group these gifts. Are there several gifts you can purchase at the same place? Are there obscure items which you may need to order way ahead of time? For the unknowns, can you get them a dressed-up gift card? Group everything together to plan your route accordingly, and then try and do all of your shopping at one time. More time to relax!

• Shop online–Most of us love the convenience of shopping online. To be able to sit on your couch in your pajamas and do your holiday shopping is pretty great. But, the shipping costs aren’t so great. However, did you know that many retailers offer special shipping offers? This site outlines a few stores offering sweet shipping deals this year.

• Gift Cards–Sending a gift card is always a safe bet and an easy way out. But, they tend not to be very personal. To give gift cards a personalized and more festive touch, attach them to a small gift or package.  Or, give a tin of homemade baked goods with the gift card attached.

• Send flowers–Order holiday flower arrangements, evergreen wreaths and festive centerpieces online. It only takes a few minutes to order online and will serve as an unexpected, beautiful holiday present which will beautify their home for holiday guests.

Sending Holiday Cards

Every year it’s the same–hunting around for names and addresses you need in order to send your holiday cards. Some might be scribbled on scrap paper, some might be in various old address books, some might be contacts in your email contact list.

This year, why not take a few minutes organizing all of your contacts online. This will save you time and keep you organized every year! You can even purchase stickers/address labels and print them out. What a time-saver!

Wrapping Presents

You might dread it, but wrapping can be fun! You can get creative with containers, paper, bags and more. And, if you know where to shop it can be fairly inexpensive!

• Dollar store savings–Did you know you can pick up extremely inexpensive wrapping supplies at the dollar store? From ribbon to paper to gift bags, you can save a ton of money here! Stock up on all your supplies here.

• Home-made paper–Making your own personalized wrapping paper is a piece of cake. Use brown packaging paper and personalize with paint, holiday stamps, glitter–whatever floats your boat! Decorate with a pretty ribbon and you’re good to go.

• Re-use and recycle–Even though you may have always scoffed at your mom when she asked to save wrapping paper and bows every year, we could take a lesson from that. Save money next year by re-using paper and bows. Ribbon and bows especially lend themselves perfectly to recycling!

Hosting Holiday Parties

If you’re hosting a holiday party, regardless of whether it’s a dinner or cocktail party, you might be stressed about making sure you are prepared and everything goes smoothly. Use some of the ideas to cut down on the preparation time.

• Preparations–Order and make as many preparations as you can before time so you aren’t running around too much as the date draws closer. Purchase beer, wine and spirits far in advance so you’re ready for the party. Plan your outfit ahead of time so you aren’t rummaging around in your closet for a suitable outfit the evening of the party.

• Food–Along the same lines, so as much as you can ahead of time. If you’re cooking yourself, take advantage of any advance preparation you can. A great way to cut down on cooking time is to utilize recipes which integrate ready-made ingredients.

• Decorating–Stay with the advance preparation theme here. Decorate as much as you can ahead of time, then order in holiday centerpieces and holiday flower arrangements. They’ll arrive straight to your door and will really add festive touches throughout your home.  Mix it up by placing smaller flower arrangements throughout your home in guest rooms and foyers and more elaborate centerpieces on dining room tables and coffee tables.

Relax!

Most importantly, be sure to relax and enjoy the season. Instead of anxiously scrambling, take your time and cherish holiday tasks like decorating, wrapping, sending cards and more. Don’ t think of them as a chore–see them as shining points of the season! Sit down with a holiday beverage like hot cocoa, eggnog or cider and have fun!

Happy Holidays!

Ready or not, the holiday season is upon us.  You might have already started making your list, putting up your lights and decorating your Christmas tree. Perhaps you’ve even gotten a head start on your holiday shopping.

Last year you may have waited until the last minute and cursed yourself as you braved holiday crowds, scrambled to ship gifts out and frantically addressed your Christmas cards. You might have vowed never to procrastinate again.

Take last year’s stresses and lessons to heart this year by getting a grip on your list, sending out gifts early, and strategically shopping.

This year, consider sending a little Christmas cheer early by sending friends, family and co-workers a festive holiday wreath to beautify their front door. An evergreen wreath on the front door is a festive touch which will welcome in guests and send a message of holiday joy.  This thoughtful gesture will express your warm holiday wishes early this year. Sending one only takes a few minutes and even fewer mouse clicks. It’s an extremely quick, convenient and painless way to send a gift.

Receiving a beautiful wreath as an early Christmas gift is an unexpected treat.  After all, you don’t have to wait until the last minute to say “Merry Christmas!”

If you’re lucky enough to be attending a Thanksgiving feast instead of hosting one, then your first instinct may be to merely show up and get ready to dig in. Not so fast! Although your gracious host or hostess will most likely insist to bring nothing except yourself, you won’t necessarily want to heed those words.

Why not show your appreciation by sending–or arriving with–a small token of your gratitude for the host’s Thanksgiving invitation?

Wine

Bringing wine to a Thanksgiving feast is always a popular choice. Sometimes it’s smart to bring a bottle of red and white to cover all the bases. Or, consider bringing a bottle of wine and a bottle of sparkling juice for the non-drinkers.

Flowers

Sending your hosts a lovely Thanksgiving-themed flower arrangement for the feast is a thoughtful gesture. Send the flower arrangement a day ahead of time to ensure it gets there in plenty of time. If you really want to impress, send an arrangement that reflects your hosts’ style. If they have more modern and simple tastes, then go with a beautiful orchid arrangement in Autumn colors. If your hosts have more traditional tastes then consider a festive flower cornucopia centerpiece.

Include a personalized message indicating how much their Thanksgiving invitation means to you.

Food

Some people are always tempted to arrive to a Thanksgiving get-together with food. Unless the host asked you to bring something specific–or if it is a potluck–then bringing food isn’t always the best idea. You might bring a dish that clashes with the cook’s menu or they might not have enough room for any more food.

If you’re absolutely set on bringing food, then go with a dessert or appetizer instead. Another alternative is to bring a bag of nice coffee to serve after the meal.

You can always bring a small hostess gift–like a candle or wine glasses–but the ideas above are more suitable since they are appropriate to the Thanksgiving meal itself.

After Dinner

Before you hit the couch to watch football, exercise good manners by offering your host to help with clean-up efforts. Although you’ll most likely get turned down since most hosts prefer to clean and organize their own way, it is always a nice gesture to offer your help.

One last tip–time your exit wisely. Please don’t be rude by eating and leaving very soon after the meal. Be sure to offer your help with any clean-up and stick around and socialize for a while. Take your cues from the other guests–once they start clearing out then it is acceptable for you to start saying your goodbyes. Never be the first–or last–to leave unless you are asked to be!

Happy Thanksgiving–savor the time with your loved ones!

Did you know that people have been dressing up for Halloween for around 2,000 years? Historians think that the ancient Celts, who founded many of the Halloween traditions we still practice today, would dress in costume on the night of Oct. 31 to disguise themselves from spirits of the dead roaming around. These days, most of us probably aren’t worried about encountering unfriendly ghosts on Halloween night, but picking the perfect costume is still of utmost importance.

Kids’ Costumes

For kids, Halloween costumes go hand-in-hand with trick-or-treating. Since boys and girls will probably be walking around in their costumes all night, parents should keep safety in mind when helping them pick one out. Adorable superheroes and fairy princess should make sure that their capes and dresses aren’t dragging along the ground. Any fancy footwear should also fit well and not pose any tripping hazards. In addition, masks can block visibility, so makeup might be a safer alternative.

This year, the National Retail Federation predicts that the five most popular kids’ Halloween costumes will be princess, witch, Spider Man, pirate and pumpkin. Other classic characters such as cowboys, rock stars, athletes and animals are also cute choices.

Adult Costumes

Dressing up isn’t just for kids, however. More than 50 million American adults donned Halloween costumes in 2008. When selecting a costume, older partygoers should first consider where they’ll be wearing it. Halloween shindigs in a family or work atmosphere call for more all-ages outfits like famers and friendly witches. But if you’re heading to an adults-only fiesta, the sky’s the limit.

If you’re interested in a unique Halloween getup, you might want to stay away from the most popular adult costumes. For 2009, those are witches, vampires, clowns, pirates and wenches. Can’t think of anything interesting to be? Maybe a personality from a favorite movie, television show or band could be fun to dress up as. Or, perhaps political figures, famous couples or supernatural creatures (zombies, ghosts, etc.) are more up your alley.

Once you’ve come up with the right Halloween costume idea, think of ways to personalize it. Wigs, makeup, fake teeth and prosthetics can all transform a generic dress up outfit into a one-of-a-kind costume. Just don’t get spooked about being creative and get into the true spirit of Halloween!

It’s a magical time of year–fireworks, BBQs, pool parties and fun on the beach. It’s a time for getting together with your friends and family to laugh, eat and celebrate our independence. Read on for some great ideas for entertaining your 4th of July guests.

Crank up the Grill

Two words come to mind for 4th of July: Fireworks and BBQ, and not necessarily in that order! In addition to the summer staples–hamburgers and hot dogs–why not try something new this year? Try this Ultimate Barbecued Chicken and be sure to impress. Molasses and brown sugar set this recipe apart from the rest. For a delicious and unique main dish give this Sweet Cola Ribs Recipe a try. For a quick, easy and nutritious side dish, just slice up some eggplant and zucchini, coat in olive oil, season with salt and pepper and throw it on the grill. Yum!

Entertaining

What’s a 4th of July get-together without all your favorite family and friends? If you’re entertaining this year, try out these creative party ideas. Instead of just serving boring beer to your adult guests give these Fun 4th of July Cocktails a try. And don’t forget the music–make a patriotic themed playlist with songs like ‘Born in the USA’ and ‘Bye Bye American Pie’.

Setting the Scene

Why not have fun with your 4th of July party this year? String up some red, white or blue holiday lights in your backyard for a festive touch. Miniature American flags scattered along backyard paths is a nice touch. For centerpieces, pick a beautiful and festive flower arrangement to set the mood. Surround with boxes of sparklers for an extra fun touch!

American Spirit Flower Bouquet

Happy 4th of July!