What’s the difference between the free Santa letter and the premium letter? The free Santa letter is a low-resolution option that will not look very sharp when printed and it will expire after a few days so you cannot retrieve it later. The premium Santa letter is a high-resolution, professional-quality output that will print...
One of the joys of the holidays that many people enjoy is baking cookies. If you’re one of those people, here’s a tasty recipe that includes cinnamon and almonds for crunchy, cinnamony goodness. New England Christmas Cookies Ingredients 3/4 cup of melted shortening 3/4 cup of melted butter 1 cup of brown sugar 1...
I looked at the pile of gifts under the tree, frowning. With five different patterns of gift wrap, everything looked … wrong. Where was the festive mood I’d prepared for that Norman Rockwell backdrop? Something definitely didn’t ring right for that long-planned-for moment. It was the wrapping. Yawn! Special moments need special preparation. With...
Part of welcoming Baby into the family is the addition of a baby Christmas stocking. Placing it with the others on the mantle somehow solidifies the little one’s place in the household. Picking the baby Christmas stocking used to be limited to choosing pink or blue, with the words “Baby’s First Christmas” embroidered on...
Poinsettias, with their bright red leaves, are popular holiday decorations. Also known as the Christmas Star, the poinsettia is a subtropical plant best known for its striking red color. It’s often used as a floral Christmas decoration because of its bright colors. The plants are native to southern Mexico and Central America and in...
The Fir-Tree is a short Christmas story by Hans Christian Andersen. It is reprinted here with permission of the Houghton-Mifflin Company. The Fir-Tree Out in the woods stood a nice little Fir-tree. The place he had was a very good one; the sun shone on him; as to fresh air, there was enough of...
Are you looking for ways to make your life a little greener? Then consider recycled Christmas cards this holiday season. Americans send 2.1 billion greeting cards – most made from virgin paper – during the holidays. But by choosing cards made from recycled paper, you’ll be helping to save our trees. Here’s a list...
The Santa Claus we know today has a white beard, wears a red suit and matching hat, flies around in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer, and runs a toy factory run by elves at the North Pole. He is a fantasy loved by children all around the world. But how did this tradition...
The history of the candy cane can be traced back to Germany. In 1670, the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral was said to have bent straight white candy sticks into the now-familiar “J” shape to represent a shepherd’s staff. He then gave them to children in the choir to keep them happy during long...
Turn on the radio during the holidays, and you’re sure to hear plenty of Christmas songs about snow, sleigh-pulling reindeer, and Jack Frost nipping at your nose. But some people neither want a white Christmas or will be having one. Think of all those folks Down Under who celebrate Christmas in the middle of...
