Just Christmas collects the best holiday resources online for young and old. We feature the Christmas spirit every day of the year. From Christmas crafts and decorations to holiday recipes to Christmas kid activities you'll find holiday resources at JustXMas.com
Christmas Holiday Resources
Christmas Shopping Infographic: The Commerce Of Christmas
January 23rd, 2012Ever wonder if you spent too much over the holiday season? Did you know there is a difference in spending with online stores and mall shopping? How much does the average consumer spend on Christmas gifts and holiday food? Gobankingrates.com created a cool Christmas infographic that gives you the inside scoop on what Americans spent during Christmas 2011.
Click on the image below to get a close up look at Christmas shopping stats.
Christmas Article: Gift Ideas For Your Man
January 16th, 2012
So I need a gift for my man. We’ve been together a few years now but he’s really special to me and I need him to know it – it’s too easy to take each other for granted. I don’t know about you but with household bills and kids’ clothes and stuff it sucks having no money left at the end of each month. I’d love to spoil him rotten but a big dollar budget is well out of my reach. A girlfriend suggested a gift basket which was a great idea. I searched for gift baskets for him and some gorgeous stuff came up but open the empty wallet, check the bank balance and you know the rest. So she suggested I make one of my own, why didn’t I think of that? It’s unique AND it saves money.
Finding a basket to fill with stuff is easy enough. If you rack your brains you know you’ve probably got one lying around somewhere. So where to start? Well, what’s your man into? Mine loves baseball, so a mug, a photo of his favourite player, a couple of beers, nachos, dips, a DVD, I can think of tons of things. It keeps the budget low and I know he’ll love it. And it shows you’ve been thinking of him and you know they love that!
You’ll come up with tons of ideas too once you know your theme. Sport, beer, books, cigars, just think of his favourite thing and go from there. I stuck a few cut-out hearts on mine and got the kids to help me colour them in. With the holidays coming up I’ll probably get them to put together a basket for Dad with all his favourite candy and a movie they can watch together. There are plenty of gift basket reviews out there for ideas. I’m sure Hubby will end up with more of the kids’ favourite candy than his but he’ll be cool with that. That’s if they don’t eat it first!
Image courtesy of www.giftbasketreviews.net
About the author: Diane is a blogger on GiftBasketReviews.net, a site that provides gift basket reviews. She enjoys writing about crafts, gifting, and many other topics.
Favorite Christmas Movies
January 9th, 2012
If you are looking for a great Christmas movie look no further. This list includes modern Christmas movies, non-traditional Christmas movies and Christmas classics. Whether you are looking for comedies or dramas there should be something for everyone on this list.
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Story
Bad Santa
Edward Scissorhands
Elf
Fred Claus
It’s A Wonderful Life
Miracle On 34th Street
The Holiday
The Nightmare Before Christmas
White Christmas
Favorite Christmas Albums
January 2nd, 2012
Still in the mood for Christmas? Sometimes the holiday season is over too soon. There is a little something for everyone here. You can still enjoy this list of Christmas albums now and all year long until next Christmas.
Amy Grant A Christmas Album
Chanticleer Sing We Christmas
Joan Baez Noel
John Denver Rocky Mountain Christmas
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas
Peter, Paul & Mary A Holiday Celebration
The Chieftains The Bells Of Dublin
Vince Guaraldi Trio A Charlie Brown Christmas
Christmas Article: Creating The Most Moist Herb Roasted Turkey
December 26th, 2011
Every year TV chefs come up with new ideas for the Christmas Lunch, and we lap these up, willing to try anything that will add an extra sparkle to our turkey and make this year’s feast the best one yet.
However not all are successful, sometimes tradition is best, and as chefs search for new twists, we ruin what could have been a perfectly good dinner by following their lead.
Tried and Tested
Here are little bits from each combined, invented, tried and tested by Martina Mercer, not just over the Christmas season but over the entire year to ensure that you feel safe in the knowledge that you will have the best turkey this year, and that turkey will be moist and delicious, not dry and hard to swallow.
The first tip is to buy the bird. Although many people advise against cheap frozen birds in this economic climate, a lot of us can’t afford to splash out on a free range Norfolk black turkey that costs more than our car tax. This recipe will ensure that no matter what bird you use, it will be tasty succulent, and so moist that there will be no leftovers for a turkey stew. (This can be a good or bad thing).
If frozen allow 3 days before Christmas for the turkey to defrost thoroughly. Pick the coldest room in the house, or even the shed if it keeps frosts away, and take a big DIY bucket.
Fill with ice cold water (don’t freeze the turkey again, fridge temperature is best) and then plonk the turkey in.
Now for the Fun
Using herbs from the garden pick as many as are in season as possible, add them to the water along with some fallen apples, pears, anything the garden has left behind. (Make sure they’re thoroughly clean).
Add spices from the larder too, such as star anise, garlic, cinnamon sticks and nutmeg, then leave the turkey to bathe in the cold water for at least twenty four hours.
On Christmas morning remove the turkey and dry thoroughly. Make a herb butter and mix in a good dollop of mascarpone. Add favourite flavour combinations such as lemon and thyme, sage and chive, or rosemary and garlic, and then gently poke under the skin making sure the whole turkey has butter covering it.
Turkey Treat Time!
Give the turkey a treat and massage well as you would a partner, don’t worry about splitting the skin as it’s much tougher than chicken.
Then sit your turkey in a roasting tray on a bed of celery, onions, carrots, garlic and parsnips. Fill will boiling water to the top of the veg (not touching the turkey) and bring to the boil on a stove.
Cover with foil and cook according to taste, remembering to baste every 30 minutes.
When cooked, bring out of the oven and leave to rest for at least an hour, allowing all those lovely juices to permeate and the herbs to do their magic.
You will see that this is the best turkey every created, and guests will want your recipe. It’s up to you whether you share the Martina Mercer secret or not!
About the author: This blog post was written by Martina Mercer. When she is not cooking or tending to her herb plants she can be found at her desk writing about both!
Christmas Article: Best Christmas Dinner
December 19th, 2011
Christmas has long been my favorite holiday. When I was a kid, it was – no surprise – solely because I got presents. As an adult, late December is when my younger brother, Michael, comes home for a visit. For about two weeks each year, my parents and I are reunited with our fourth family member and life just feels right again. The house is alive with laughter, Michael and I decorate the Christmas tree while our parents coo over holiday-themed crafts Michael and I made as children, and we all spend plenty of time gathered in the kitchen to snack on holiday cookies and help prepare meals we share at the dinner table.
The best Christmas dinner my family and I ever enjoyed was two years ago when my mom and Michael made chicken enchiladas. My family spent my early childhood in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and I grew up with an appreciation for Hispanic culture, traditions, and food, which included Mom’s enchiladas. She still makes them from the recipe a friend gave her more than two decades ago, the cursive handwriting still strong against the yellowing index card. Preparing the dish is a multi-step process which allowed my family to spend time together. Michael sautéed the onions, Mom and I rolled shredded chicken and cheese in tortillas, and Dad roasted green chilies on the stove. My parents, who have long held allegiance to Whirlpool refrigerators, prepared and stored a second casserole for later in the week when no one would want to cook. I remember joking that I felt like I was on the set of a cooking show, complete with ingredients in small, white bowls and a fridge full of pre-made foods seemingly put there by a magician’s hands.
While the enchiladas baked, we sat around reliving Christmases past (minus any pesky visits from ghosts or Ebenezer Scrooge), including singing along to Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad” while driving around town looking at farolitos as they lit up walkways and walls. Now that we’re all getting older and my beloved grandparents have passed on, having the family back together again is especially nice. We always mean to call, visit, and write, and yet time slips away seemingly before we realize it. The dinner was a special treat because we’d left the southwest years earlier to be closer to family and it was a fun time to hearken back to the Christmas gatherings of my youth, long before life moved us away from each other.
We served the enchiladas with a nice green salad and balsamic vinaigrette dressing, making sure to save room – hours later – for pound cake made from my grandmother’s recipe. The four of us fondly remembered the winters we’d spent in the Land of Enchantment, sledding down the hill outside our house and shopping for Christmas gifts in town and in nearby Albuquerque. It was wonderful to blend the traditions of my Michael’s homecoming with a look back at our respective childhoods and earlier years, all enhanced by one of my favorite childhood meals that I hope to make someday with my own children.
About the author: Chi Norris is a writer and visual artist who likes painting, poetry, and reading memoirs. She also blogs on behalf of Sears and other quality brands.
Christmas Article: What REAL Holiday Giving Can Do
December 16th, 2011
In 2009 the amount was $41.2 billion. Last year saw impressive growth, moving up to $45 billion. That’s almost a $4 billion increase in a single calendar year. It may sound like Wall Street employee bonus checks, but this is the amount of money Americans spent at retailers on the four-day Black Friday weekend, which includes Cyber Monday.
That’s roughly $11 billion spent per day, primarily on consumer electronics and the accessories and media that make them hum. Throughout the entire holiday season—essentially Black Friday through Christmas day—more than $450 billion was spent last year in the United States. This, on top of the billions we spend the other 360 days of the year on the same products.
It’s hard not to pass judgment on this type of frivolous spending, particularly when there are so many needy people in the world, in our own neighborhoods. To be sure, many of these purchases are intended to brighten the holidays for a lot of unfortunate children and families, which has given me and my family time to reflect on just what holiday giving is all about, and how we could change our pattern to better reflect our personal desires to live in a better world.
For a lot of years we made “Christmas Angel” purchases at our local shopping mall, helping to meet the specific requests for underprivileged kids. We don’t have a lot of money, but we certainly have more than so many others and knew we could easily help a child or two have the same bright and cheery Christmas morning as our own child. This form of giving brings our family a lot of happiness, but we’ve always wanted to do more.
We started looking for charitable organizations that were already helping children around the world, primarily to see if we could find a really good fit. In short, we want our charitable donations to do the most good.
Our search yielded a great deal of exciting and even inspiring information. Did you know that for a measly $4,500 nearly 500 people in Sudan and Sierra Leone, Africa can drink clean water from their own well? For $6,500 the same number of people in Uganda and Kenya can get the same clean, fresh drinking water so badly needed.
The amount of money spent on one holiday weekend in the United States could build 10 million freshwater wells.
Now, they don’t need that many wells, but that’s the point. If we spent a mere 10% less on just Black Friday weekend and put that $4.5 billion into a charity like The Water Project or the Advent Conspiracy through its partnership with Living Water International, we could effectively end the very serious and lethal water problems in these four African countries, which include drought and contamination.
We looked further into this and discovered that $10 will provide fresh drinking water for one person for an entire year. Ten lousy bucks! $50 will help an entire family, and $250 will provide fresh water to an entire classroom for a whole year.
Less than a twenty-five percent of what is spend over Black Friday weekend, and approximately two percent of what is spent throughout the holidays–$10 billion—will solve this problem once and for all.
Can you imagine these Central African nations with no water-related problems? So can we, which is why we’ve made a couple of important choices this year. As in years past, we’ll eschew Black Friday and all its trappings, and we’ll ensure that we help an entire classroom have fresh, clean drinking water for an entire year. Won’t you join us?
Imagine what we could do for hunger!
About the author: Tim is a marketer for Cabledeals.org. He is an avid promoter of global issues and prayerfully wishes there was more he could do to help those with true needs. To learn more about Tim and to see what he is up to follow him on Twitter @TimLCooley
Christmas Article: Where Do You Draw The Line When Spending At Christmas?
December 14th, 2011
As we all know, Christmas is a time for giving and like Marmite, you either love it or you hate it. Personally I love to give, but loath the fact that I can’t come up with inspired presents for my loved ones. I want to give something that will delight them, but instead I always think I have got it very wrong and am ashamed of my choices. I have all too often sat red faced, apologising for my poor and inappropriate gift.
Maybe I should push the boundaries of my budget and really get something that I know will be loved and appreciated. Instead of a silly coin counter for £15, I would prefer to take my father in law to an observatory in Arizona. Instead of a pair of furry slippers for my sister, I would like to treat her to a trip to Shanghai.
The only thing is, much as I would love watching the awe on their faces, in the back of my mind will be the nagging thought that I now can’t afford to eat for the next six months. Is it worth it, running up a huge credit card bill in order to get something that will actually be appreciated and enjoyed rather than some useless old tat? The furry slippers will become annoying clutter by the time it gets to summer and will be straight in the bin, but the trip to Shanghai will last with my sister forever. Meanwhile, I will be struggling with my bills for the next six months and what have I gained? I would like to be known as the person who always buys the perfect present, who gets it right and whose generosity goes above and beyond expectations. After all, Christmas is about giving – it’s about making other people happy. Making other people happy will also make me happy – on Christmas day – and for at least a week afterwards. Then the reality of how much I have spent will undoubtedly kick in and perhaps I won’t be as pleased with myself as I had first thought. In fact, perhaps I will be regretting my stupidity and wishing I had bought a box of chocolates instead.
I ought to be mindful of how it has made me feel when I have been bought very expensive presents in the past. Although these presents were fabulous and of course I loved them, I was also embarrassed to receive them. My thoughts were on whether the person giving could really afford them and also whether the present I had given in return was expensive enough to match their generosity. These uncomfortable feelings are probably not what the gift bearer intended. They would have preferred for me to be over the moon with my gift and appreciative of their thoughtfulness rather than being slightly worried that the gift was beyond their means and that my offering was not sufficient.
When presented in this light, I can see that perhaps the trip to Shanghai isn’t the most appropriate gift for my sister after all, and perhaps she would rather have the fluffy slippers. At least she then won’t feel obliged to match my generosity with something equally beyond her own means and she won’t be consumed with guilt going on a trip that she knows will leave me broke. Christmas is about giving, but it’s not about showing off or outdoing others. With the over commercialisation of Christmas by hungry retailers, it’s easy to fall into that trap, but someone who really cares will appreciate a gift that cost £2 as much as one that cost £2000 – isn’t it supposed to be the thought that counts at the end of the day?
There must be a middle ground though. As retailers are trying to get the most sales possible out of Christmas in order to combat the current lack of spending due to the financial climate, they are fighting one another to provide the best discounts. I have the lucky position of working for a voucher codes website and managing the addition of thousands of discounts and offers to the site daily and have noticed a huge increase in the volume and size of the discounts coming through from merchants. What I have realised this Christmas is that I can get very good presents for people this year for the price of slippers and socks. With flash sales coming through daily of 30%, 40% and 50% – sometimes up to even 70% off, these deals are just too good to be missed. They are also from well recognised stores. It does mean that I can treat my loved ones within my budget and without going over the top.
I don’t want to take the fun out of Christmas this year. My brand new nephew who doesn’t know what money is yet can be spoilt rotten, but for everyone else it’s bargain cameras, bags and overnight stays. Plus of course, good food, drinks and laughs as that is what Christmas is really about, isn’t it?
About the author: Linda Firth works for www.vouchercodespy.co.uk and enjoys blogging about her dedication to finding the best voucher codes, deals and discounts available online.
Christmas Article: Christmas Cards: Picking The Perfect One
December 12th, 2011“Christmas is getting nearer, the goose is getting fat, who’d have thought the gander would’ve done a thing like that”, was a message a friend put in my Christmas card last year and it made me laugh, yet think, how do you pick the perfect card for people?
We all know that when it comes to the big “C-day” when Santa Claus has been that it is important to get people things they want and like, so surely it should be the same for picking Christmas cards.
I’m a firm believer in that the one-size-fits-all approach isn’t the right method for sending Xmas wishes and seasons greetings to friends, family and loved ones.
So, in the last year I’ve decided to go about the process differently.
Initially, I’ve sat down and prepared my annual list of names — rather like a roll call — of people who will receive my dose of good cheer and winter salutations.
I’ve then organised them into various groups, including work, family and friends.
Once I’d done this I then reflected and thought about what cards I would like to send to people specifically.
For business clients I created a personalised card with our company’s logo on it to wish the people I deal with an extremely Merry Christmas, and made a note of the last time we’d chatted.
After this I bought some comical cards for my work colleagues as there is always someone in the office making a joke and having a laugh. My thought was that keeping work cards convivial just makes sense.
However, I did keep in mind that certain humour applies only for certain people and was selective in the cards I bought — Although I do hope that everyone finds Santa getting stuck in the chimney while Rudolph eats the mince pies a little funny.
I then focussed my attention on my growing friends list (and not the one on Facebook), which includes old school mates, university pals and various individuals I’ve met throughout the years.
In these Christmas cards I invested a little more time and effort in selecting different pictures, scenes and settings on the card and then writing a specific message to each person on the interior of the card.
Then, last but not least, I concentrated on buying cards for the family and invested in creating and purchasing photo cards for each of them, which I feel are more personal and perfect for each individual, and mean more than selecting a random winter card from the pack.
About the author: David Stevenson is a journalist and freelance writer living in the UK. He’s published over 500 articles for trade sites covering a range of topics.
Christmas Article: How to Beat the Shopping Rush and Queues This Christmas
December 9th, 2011Shopping around Christmas is a nightmare. The shops are full, the queues are big, the stocks are low, the prices are inflated and the weather is cold. Why bother with the grief? Well guess what, you don’t have to!
You may already be internet savvy and know the all the wonders of hassle-free online shopping or you may not, but either way there’s no reason for you to leave the house to do your Christmas shopping this year.
Online shopping is taking over the way we browse, purchase and pay for everything from big electrical purchases to our weekly grocery shop. Although new trends are having a huge effect on our high streets and how the retail business works on a whole, there are some great advantages to shopping online for both businesses and the consumers.
The recession has already hit some major high street retailers harder than anyone could have imagined, century old UK-institution Woolworths being one of the biggest documented casualties. Research shows that since the recession one in eight shops on the UK high street is now abandoned. Is this a just a “bad patch” for the retail industry, or the first signs of an industry required to adapt or be left behind forever?
Renting floor space is a huge cost and brings in vital elements such as being in a busy, noticeable and accessible location.
Online these costs are no longer a necessity. Storage space and an office may be required, but the costs will be considerably lower. Instead of finding a physical location you’ll be required to stand out online using methods such as Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Social Media Marketing (SMM) to push yourself up to noticeable spots in search engines, directories and social networks. You can do this by paying services directly to be at the top of their chain, paying an external company to run campaigns for you or doing it yourself. With the right marketing you’ll be seen in just as many places if not more than you would with television/radio, billboard and magazine adverts.
Staff and upkeep is also reduced drastically. Running a store means keeping a shop floor organised, tidy and manned by as many staff members required to do these duties whilst helping and serving customers. Running a store online means still having some staff members to deal with queries, stocking and dispatching orders as well as website upkeep (which again can be outsourced or done in house), but with an organised system in place less team members will work just as efficiently.
Shopping online is safer and easier than ever.
With the above overhead costs being lessened considerably by businesses, it means they can offer the same product on the high street but at a fraction of the cost. Over the last ten years, many high street retailers have relied on a paranoia and lack-of-understanding of online shopping to keep customers coming through the doors. As more people wise up to the savings they can make online without having to leave the house and battle the queues, these numbers are dropping and with that goes the number of shops open.
When online shopping first came out, many people were skeptical and thought the idea would never take off. The idea of buying something you can’t physically see or feel without any interaction with other humans followed by handing over sensitive payment details is still daunting to some people today. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Companies like Paypal and bank security measures have made buying online safer than ever, and many established companies have earned a trustworthy relationship with their clientele to deliver the best service and products possible. Sites like Amazon and EBay have become the Wal-Mart giants of the online world, with almost every item you could list under the sun easily searchable for purchase.
The only common problem both online and physical shopping have is stock. Popular gifts will sell in both areas and once they are gone, they are gone. However online shopping still has an advantage; all you need to do to see if another store has got said item is type a few words in the search bar and click a few links, rather than walking store to store in the cold and the wet. As long as you are aware of postal opening and closing times and take into consideration the busy mailing period by ordering on time, you’ll have a great festive season shopping online. And all those saved pennies can go towards that all important Christmas feast!
About the author: Rachel Thomas is a product reviewer and writer for beauty products retailer Be Flattered. Working in online distribution she swears by an easier and quicker shopping experience for everyone.
Christmas Article: Christmas Gifts for Everyone
December 5th, 2011
Christmas is a magical time, conjuring up images of roaring fires, picturesque snow scenes and celebrations with loved ones. As children, the excitement over the pile of shiny gift wrapped boxes under the Christmas tree prevented us from getting to sleep on Christmas Eve. As adults, we often lose sleep over creating the perfect day for our families and friends. We want everything to be perfect, from the Christmas tree to the food and the company.
To top it all, there’s nothing better than giving someone a present we know they will adore but shopping for the ideal gift is often stressful. Sometimes it’s difficult to know where to start.
What can we buy for the person who has everything? New clothes are always a thoughtful idea but what if we’re not really sure of their taste? There’s nothing more disappointing than finding out that the sweater we’ve given is the wrong size or colour. Or worse, that they already own that very same one. More often than not we work within tight budgets and the latest perfume, designer jewellery or ‘must have’ computer games may be out of our price range.
One way to reduce our stress levels and manage our budget is in creating individual gift baskets as presents. You can either make your own or purchase top gift baskets specially tailored to the treat the people you love.
Choose your theme, from books, chocolate and wine, to a ‘spa experience’ full of indulgent body creams, bath salts and scented candles for the friend who never has time to relax. Perhaps you may want to treat yourself to one.
Decorate the baskets with ribbons or tinsel for a seasonal effect. For children you can hide miniature Santas, reindeer or snowmen amongst longed for toys and games. For sporty boys (and girls) of all ages choose accessories for their sport, whether it’s soccer, golf or ice skating. For those on your list who prefer healthier options, consider seasonal fruit, with a decorative sprig of holly carefully placed to avoid sharp surprises! The thought and effort you’ve put into such a unique idea will be much appreciated.
The options are endless and you can add to it as you go along. Whether you are organized in your planning or a last minute shopper, gift baskets will be treasured by every recipient.
Safe in the knowledge that the difficult issue of what gifts to buy is resolved, you are free to concentrate on planning the seating at the dinner table, buying the tree and organizing the catering.
Who knows, amongst the chaos you may even find some time for yourself in front of that roaring fire. Happy holidays!
Images courtesy of www.giftbasketreviews.net.
About the author: Diane is a blogger on GiftBasketReviews.net, a site that provides gift basket reviews. She enjoys writing about crafts, gifting, and many other topics.
Christmas Resources – Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe
November 28th, 2011
This mushroom appetizer recipe is ideal for Christmas parties, brunch, or just for your own holiday celebration. The mushroom appetizer also classifies as a vegetarian dish, if you need one this is it. The appetizer recipe calls for stuffing the mushrooms with diced garlic, neufchatel, parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses and topped with bread crumbs. With lots of melty cheese paired with mushrooms your guest will eat up this tasty appetizer.
Christmas Resources – Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe
