Chistmas Gift Basket Ideas

It is hard to match the dramatic impact a Christmas gift basket produces. Usually packaged with an innovative container, filled with goodies and tied with a bow, the presentation is bigger than life. The display of generosity is personalized by a theme related to a hobby or obscure taste of the recipient. Here are a few Christmas gift basket ideas to wow the lucky people on your list.

Christian Christmas Basket - A religious themed basket makes a divine family gift. Consider adding items personalized with a scripture such as a family picture frame, bookmark, or calendar. Add a devotional or memories journal for the upcoming year. Fill up the rest of the basket with edible treats such as, Christmas cookies, truffles, specialty coffees and teas for a festive touch.

Christmas Wonder – A collection of Christmas accessories also make a nice seasonal basket. Items can include a Christmas cd, a classic Christmas movie and an illustration books for younger children. Include a personalized family Christmas ornament for their Xmas tree.  Add peanut brittle, fudge and a few candy canes to complete the package.

Spa – Pamper a friend or family with a beauty basket. A spa basket includes luxurious bathroom toiletries such as bubble bath, lotions, and specialty soaps. Other items to add are scented candles and other gifts, like bathrobes, slippers and an eye mask, or a nice touch. Baskets for men should include masculine scented products like sandalwood and include foot and hand grooming items.

Night at the Movies – Another popular Christmas gift basket idea is a night at the movies. Instead of a basket, use a stovetop kettle cooker as the base. Add three flavors of uncooked popcorn, a couple of family movies and an assortment of popular movie theater candy. Recipients can enjoy popcorns and family movie nights throughout the year.

Garden- The avid gardener will enjoy a basket built around their passion. Fill a gardening tote bag with small hand tools like a weeder, shovel, and a hand fork. Add a few natural snacks like gourmet trail mix, apple chips, and assorted nuts to round out the bundle.

Wine and Cheese - Wine and cheese make for a tasteful Christmas gift basket made even more special in a basket. Place one or two bottles of wine in the basket with an assortment of cheese, hors d’oeuvre crackers, hickory and smoked sausage and bruschetta.  A variation is a specialty beer gift with flavored beers from around the world complimenting snacks like beef jerky, pretzels and peanuts. Put the items in a tin ice bucket to complete the theme.

You can take the time to find and buy all the items for the Christmas gift basket  then create the basket yourself. But this takes a lot of extra time and energy in an all-ready busy season. There are many reputable companies online that will help you gift your baskets in style. With a click of a button they will assemble and deliver the themed basket of your choice at very affordable prices.

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Christmas Gift Ideas for Him

If men are so easy to please, how come Christmas gift ideas for him are so hard to come by? Make your list and check it twice. You have to find a gift for your man if he is naughty and even if he’s nice. But, finding a Christmas gift for a guy always seems to be a struggle. So, here is a list to help you find the perfect gift for your Santa this year.

Microbrew of the month - Perfect for the beer aficionado, a microwbrew of the month club is the gift that keeps on giving. Each month the lucky recipient gets to sample specialty, handcrafted brews delivered right to their door. By the end of the year he will be a connoisseur of the premium stuff. There are quite a few reputable companies online to do all the hard work for you.

Grilling Tools – Let your man be the king of his domain with a top of the line grilling set. There are packages of all sizes, with all the specialty tools needed to be a grill Master. Sets often include, grill tongs, spatula, basting brushes, cleaning brushes all in a carrying case. He’ll never need to borrow your utensils again.

Automotive Accessories - Men love to pamper the number one lady in their life –their car. Any item them helps keep her in tip top shape well go over well. Automotive gadgets are some of the best gift ideas for him.  A portable code reader gives the auto enthusiast a way to check the diagnostic trouble codes. You can also give him personalized floor mats, a GPS, or an upgraded car stereo.

Bar Accessories - Is the man in your life a genius behind the bar? If so, he will love a few tools to elevate his game. Pick him up one of the new infusion pitchers on the market that makes flavor infused beverages.  Another great idea is a soda maker for creating signature seltzers or a wine saver vacuum to keep the open bottles fresh.

Poker Night- Give a Christmas gift idea for him he will love. Deliver to him everything he needs for a Poker night. Poker chip sets, an automatic card shuffler and a tabletop poker table is everything he needs for a night in with the boys.

Movie Box Set - Let him experience his favorite movies again and again with a box set. There are quite a few genre specific special edition collections and popular movie series like Star Wars, the Omen, and Lord of the Rings.  There are also great historical documentaries and ESPN films gift set collections he can watch to his heart’s content.

Video Games - There is a gamer in every man. Whether XBOX, PS3, PC or the Wii, there is a perfect video game to make him as giddy as a boy. And the best thing is you don’t have to browse through the stores to pick it up. You can buy one of these easy Christmas gift ideas for him online without leaving the couch.

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Inspirational Christmas Quotes

This the season for well wishes and there is no better way than with Christmas quotes. The Holidays may be the only time we express our love for friends and family. But, it is not easy articulating how we feel. Here are a few stand-out salutations to sign on this year’s holiday cards.

•    We wish you a very happy Christmas and a New Year filled with peace and prosperity.
•    Warm wishes from our house to yours.
•    May the Season bring only happiness and joy to you and your loved ones.
•    Merry Christmas May God bless you richly.
•    Wishing you harmony and love this Christmas.
•    Wishing you peace and joy in the New Year.
•    Warm Winter Wishes.

A well thought out message is more memorable than any gift. For an even more personal sentiment, write your own cards and include a message straight from the heart. Use the following Christmas quotes:

• May the closeness of friends and the comfort of home, renew your spirits this Christmas.
• Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.
• Wishing you and your loved ones peace, health, happiness and prosperity in the coming New Year.
• May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope; The spirit of Christmas which is peace; The heart of Christmas which is love.
• Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty;not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some. ~ Charles Dickens
• Merry Christmas May the Good Lord fulfill you with His promises and bestow on you His many blessings
• If you don't have Christmas in your heart, you won't find it under the tree.
• Christmas is love with all the trimmings.
• May your neighbours respect you, Trouble neglect you, The angels protect you and Heaven accept you!
• Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas.~ Dale Evans
• May this Christmas find you surrounded by those you love and those who love you.
• Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget." With this thought, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and all the luck the New Year could possibly bring to you.
• At the close of another year, we gratefully pause to wish you a warm and happy Christmas

Shorter Christmas quotes add an extra touch to homemade gifts like picture frames and ornaments.

•    The true joy of Christmas is in the love shared with family and friends.
•    For Christmas decorate yourself with a smile!
•    Jesus is the reason for the season!
•    Love is the best gift of all!
•    It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air. ~ W.T. Ellis

I hope you found inspiration in these Christmas quotes to help you spread cheer this Holiday season.

Looking for Gifts Ideas for Office Christmas?

Christmas gift ideas are hard to come up with, especially when buying gifts for co-workers. You want to pick something showing you took their personality into consideration. Yet, without personal relationships you don’t want to be presumptuous or miss the mark.  Avoid this year’s gift becoming next yours re-gift by giving them a useful present they can appreciate through the year.

Personalized Mouse Pad – A mouse pad with the recipient’s name and an attractive background that matches their personality shows you took that extra step. There are many themes to choose from and they are easily ordered online.

Offbeat Business Card Holder - There are many styles of card holders from modern to quirky. Pick something you know the recipient will enjoy. Do they collect model trains, or always talk about retiring to the tropics? Give them a choo-choo train, or palm tree holder. Not only will it keep their business cards front and center, they make an attractive desk accessory.

Hearty Plants - Plants create oxygen and a more pleasant environment. Get your coworker a desk plant that takes little care to thrive. A potted pothos or succulents plant such as an aloe or crassulaceae are interesting and require little maintenance.

Wine – A bottle of wine is usual very well received. There are so many different types; you can pick a style that matches their taste preference. Many online resources can help you pick the perfect bottle. If you are not sure what they prefer, play it safe with a popular wine, like Merlot or Chardonnay.

Gift Cards – Gift cards make wonderful Christmas gift ideas. They are quick and easy to pick up, do not require wrapping paper. For an office gift chose a gift card that gives a lot of bang for a nominal price like a certificate for a mani/pedi, for a coffee shop, or iTunes. There is an appropriate gift card for everyone.

Scented Candles - Candle fragrances can be a form of aromatherapy or simply give a pleasant smell in an office. If recipients do not have a private office, candles or still nice little gifts they can take home and enjoy. There are a large variety of candles from limited Christmas editions like gingerbread, and pine to high end designer creations.

Personalized Family Ornament - Ornaments are wonderful gift ideas for family men and women. Have a custom Christmas decorations made with the recipients last name and the date inscribed.  A family ornament will hang on the Christmas tree year after year.

With these great office Christmas gift ideas  you can check one more task off your to do list.

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Outdoor Christmas Decorations

There are few things as beautiful as a drive to view the beautiful outdoor Christmas decorations. Even better than the commercial areas are the different styles displayed in each neighborhood. With some many types of decorations to choose from, everyone can find a way to express their Christmas spirit with outdoor Christmas decorations.

Deck the Door – Just decorating the front door can give big impact. One idea is to give it an appearance of a giant present. Pick a sturdy gold or silver wrapping paper and neatly wrap and tape the entire front door. Use a wide velvet ribbon to make a large loop bow to affix to the door. A more subtle approach is to make a simple natural wreath out of cones or pines. There are also beautiful wreaths you can buy to give a dramatic effect.

Old World Glow - Candles in each window dates back to the 1800’s. The warm glow they radiate is also represents friendship and peace in the Christmas season. Today, there is an endless selection of electrical versions that look just like the traditional window tapers. Candles are a classic understated way to decorate the exterior view of your home.
 
String it Up- Christmas is the season of lights and there is no better way to give the added twinkle than string lights. Opt for the festive colored bulbs or simple white lights. String them on eaves and around windows to outline the features of the house or accent outdoor trees and columns.

Adorn the Trees - No reason why he only ornamented tree should be inside. Decorating outdoor trees create a lovely outdoor display. An advantage of decorating a tree with ornaments instead of lights allows people to view the decorations day at night. There are many outdoor Christmas decorations with the proper scale and durability for the elements.

Spotlight - Smartly placed spotlights can be all that’s needed to step up outdoor Christmas decorations. Shining a spotlight on a wreath is a quiet and classy way to bring the eye directly to the focal point. Foot flood light are also wonderful on distinguished homes. For example, lights pointed at the base of a beautiful Victorian can highlights the details with a soft white light at the base of the home. 

Set a Scene – For those who believe bigger is better, there are plenty of wonderful figurines you can exhibit in the front yard. You can use present an artistic nativity scene, a wooden Santa sleigh pulled by reindeer, or even a blow up Santa. Whatever outdoor Christmas decorations you chose, your Christmas spirit will be evident.

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Christmas Party Games

Liven up your Holiday get together with Christmas party games sure to add zing to your gathering.

Dirty Santa- Dirty Santa is a popular holiday game that can actually be the main event of your party. Everyone can participate while sipping on egg nog and noshing their favorite cookies. 

1. Before the party, ask everyone to bring an item from home they no longer want but believe someone else could enjoy. Guests can use this opportunity to re-gift nice items that did not fit their personality. They should wrap their gifts and bring it to the party.
2. Place all the wrapped gifts on a central table for guest to admire.
3. Have everyone draw a number from a stocking to determine the order of play. The person with the number one goes first.
4. The first guest comes up to the table and selects whatever gift appeals to them. They then open and announce their gift.
5. The next player has the choice of stealing any ones gift who went before them or unwrap a new gift from the table. Each gift can only be stolen twice.
6. Play continues until everyone has a chance to keep or steal a gift. The first player ends the game by deciding if they want to keep the gift they have or steal another.
7. Everyone goes home with their own Christmas treasure.

Pin the Nose on Rudolph – This is a Christmas variation of pin the tail on the donkey. Though it is fun for kids, it is also a hoot after adults have their Christmas spirits.

1. Prepare the game by drawing a large picture of Rudolph on butcher paper. Cut out coaster sized circles out of red construction paper. Adhere double stick tape to the back of each.
2. Have each guests write their name on the front of their reindeer nose with a sharpie.
3. One at a time have the guest stand a foot from the poster and blindfold them. Spin them around once and let them stick the nose on Rudolph
4. Whoever’s nose is closest to Rudolph’s actual nose is the winner.

Speed Wrap - Speed wrap is a great game to get people up and moving. It is a bit madcap, but it is one of the best Christmas party games. Everyone will be laughing and socializing.

1. Before the party set up a large table, with enough wrapping paper, scissors, rolls of tape, boxes and ribbon for everyone
2. Divide guests into pairs and have them  put their one arm around each other so only one hand is free
3. Each pair must work together to neatly wrap their package as fast as they can.
4. The first pair to attractively wrap their gift, ribbon is the winner.

Christmas Carol Pictionary - Young an old can enjoy a rousing game of Pictionary. Give the classic game a Christmas twist using Christmas carols as the hidden phrase.

1. Before the party write names of Christmas songs and Carols on slips of paper or index cards. Set up a large erase board or easel paper.
2. Split guests into two teams.
3. Teams take turns sending one player to the board. They pick a card and attempt to draw clues on the paper until someone guesses the Christmas song.  They cannot write numbers, letters, or making hand gestures.
4. Everyone tries to guess the carol no matter whose team the drawer is on. If your team member guesses the right answer first the team gets a point. If not the other team blocks and no point is awarded.
5. Play continues until everyone has a turn at the board.
6. Add an extra layer of fun to Christmas party games with prizes.  Give bonus points if someone guesses a song correctly while it happens to be playing in the background.

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Best Animated Christmas Movies

Christmas movies are as much a part of our Christmas traditions as eggnog and lighting the tree. The best Christmas films hold up year after year. Animated movies have the remarkable to stand the test of time. They are the movies we remember watching on Thanksgiving and Christmas break in anticipation for the big day. As we get older, the same movies take on new meaning as we understand the underlying sentiment in our favorite films. Here is our list of the best animated Christmas movies that remind of us the wonder of childhood, and promises to do the same for our kids.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966) - This 1966 animated film is the only version that captures the sweetness, bite and heart of the classic Dr. Seuss book.  Hateful and bitter, a grumpy hermit hatches a plan to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville. Disguised as Santa, the Grinch descends on the village to snatch all their Christmas baubles and gifts. The Grinch is tragic and funny and eventually heartwarming as the true meaning of Christmas is artfully revealed. This is possibly the perfect holiday movie.

Frosty the Snowman (1969) - Frosty the Snowman is another timeless holiday special that stands the test of time. Based on the popular song of the same name, this film follows a living snowman and a young girl as they fight to escape a nasty magician. Experience the awe of the first snowfall, and the power of kindness and friendship. You may shed a tear but in the nick of time Santa Claus saves the day.

Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) – This has to be the most adorable claymation Christmas movies ever made. Sam the snowman narrates a story about a young misfit reindeer who teams up with a few memorable characters on an unexpected adventure. Burl Ives’ friendly, warm singing voice as the snowman holds it all together. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer remains the king of all Christmas specials.

A Charlie Browns Christmas (1965) - Though the animation is crude, there is something very powerful at the heart of A Charlie Brown Christmas that restores faith. When an earnest Charlie Brown complains about the materialism he sees during the Christmas season, Lucy suggests he direct the School pageant.  It proves to be a frustrating endeavor. However, Linus

helps him learn the true meaning of Christmas with an amazing speech that still resonates today.

Polar Express (2004) - Based on the beautifully illustrated picture book, this IMAX film makes the best Christmas movie list for its ability to inspire young and old. The story is of a young boy on Christmas Eve, who boards a magical train bound for the North Pole. During the ride the young hero embarks on a voyage of self-discovery. The entire look of the film is visually stunning in the vein of the original illustrations. One of the few recent Christmas movies that reached classic status, it leaves you breathless and teaches us to believe in the wonder of life.