Is Christmas only about Christmas trees and Christmas gifts?

Are You Ready For Christmas?

Let kids tell you what they think of Christmas and they will speak of images full of snow, caroling, putting up Christmas tree ornaments, Christmas gifts and the irresistible magic and wonderment. For everyone else, Christmas is a whole 30 days (even more for some) of headaches and stress.

This doesn't have to be so. Who says you can't enjoy the yuletide season like kids can? This article will give you a few tips on how to celebrate Christmas with less of the stress and more of the ho, ho, holiday fun.

I bet you've heard this a gazillion times, but I guess once more doesn't hurt until you take it to heart: do your Christmas shopping early. Beat the mad rush and escape your kid's heartbreak when you find out that the very last (insert name of their wanted toy] that sells like hotcakes here) has been won in a duel by another overzealous parent. So Shop early and avoid the scuffle.

And no, Christmas doesn't mean you have to be a Stepford wife whipping up delicious Christmas goodies from scratch. Doing this will definitely eat up time on your hands to actually enjoy the things you cooked or baked. Order your food ready-made, pop it in the oven for a few minutes, and no one will ever know. It's your little secret, everyone's happy, and Christmas will be full of merrymaking from then on.

If you need help with your holiday preparations, then by all means, ask for it. Is Christmas not a season of goodwill to all men? (And Women?) More often than not, you will come out with better relationships, a long overdue chat, or discovering kindred hearts. There's no better time of the year.

Learn to let loose and let the small things go. Trust me, no one will care about whether the food's a little late as long as they're enjoying each other's company. Hey, it's Christmas. In fact, you might get carried away by the excellent time spent with each other yourself. Just don't forget, there's still food cooking back in the kitchen. I mean, Christmas will cause you to be a little more cheerful and forgiving than most other days. Your guests are really there for the joy of your company - not just for the food.

K.I.S.S. works real well. In other words, keep it simple, sweetheart. Sure, your guests will no doubt be impressed by excellent Christmas decorations, but the whole point of Christmas is to enjoy each other, and pretty soon, after some interesting conversations, they won't even notice the Christmas tree is not a real tree. Don't go overboard on the decorations and preparations. Simple pine-tree scented candles can do wonders to your Christmas-inspired ambience.

Lastly, keep in mind what Christmas is all about, it's all about giving and caring, it's all about the season of happiness and delight, it's all about magic in the winter air. It's about innocent kids secretly staying up all night so they may have a glimpse of Santa and his reindeer. Remembering what this season is all about will keep you from going overboard and from going crazy with endless preparation. Christmas is about each other, not about competition. It's the memories of each other that last in our minds, not the Christmas decorations.

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Magic Cookie Bars

This is a great recipe from Kellogg's. It's simple to make and can be enjoyed by everyone as after school snack or even after dinner dessert. It's so delicious that they will disappear in no time!

Ingredients
6 cups Kellogg's Corn Flakes cereal (crushed to get 1 1/2 cups)
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup margarine or butter, softened at room temperature
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1 package (6 oz or 1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/3 cups (3 1/2 oz) flaked coconut
1 can (15 oz) sweetened condensed milk

Directions
1. Combine Corn Flake Crumbs, sugar and margarine into 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan. Mix thoroughly. With back of spoon, press mixture evenly and firmly in bottom of pan to form crust.

2. Sprinkle walnuts, chocolate chips and coconut evenly over crust. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over top.

3. Bake at 350° F about 25 minutes or until lightly browned around edges. Cool completely before cutting into bars. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

Video

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How To Make a 3-D Paper Snowflake

This isn’t your grandma’s paper snowflake! Get creative and add a new dimension to your winter decorations.

You Will Need
2 pieces white paper, 8-by-8-inch each
A pair of scissors
A stapler
String
Glitter
Glue
Iridescent cellophane (optional)

Steps
1: Fold your papers

Fold each piece of paper diagonally in half. Fold it in half again to make a triangle. Unfold the paper.

2: Cut the papers

Using your scissors, cut each piece of paper along one of the fold lines, so that you’ve cut from the edge of the paper through to the center.

3: Attach the papers to each other

Slide the cut edges of the papers together so they meet in the middle. Staple the papers together along the cut edges.

4: Refold the papers

Flatten the papers, and refold them along the original creases. Fold them in half again to make a triangle.

5: Trim the papers

Using your scissors, trim wedges from the papers.
Tip: Do not cut off any of the stapled edges or the corner where the papers meet.

6: Unfold and decorate

Unfold your snowflake. If you’d like, staple on small bunches of iridescent cellophane. You can also glue on some glitter for extra sparkle, but make sure you give it time to dry.

7: Hang your snowflake

Attach a loop of string to one of the stapled edges, and hang up your snowflake for all to see!

Video
Check out the step-by-step video.

Credit: How To Make a 3-D Paper Snowflake on Howcast

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Four Coffees A Day Can Prevent Womb Cancer?

I am a coffee addict and I can drink two to three cups of coffee a day. Sometimes, I wonder if I drink too much coffee and do I need to cut back on my coffee intake. Well, all that is about to change and put my mind at peace when I read this latest news.

If you are coffee lovers, like me, you will be happy with this good news!

New research shows that women who drank four or more cups of coffee daily were 25 per cent less  likely to develop endometrial (womb) cancer as compared to those who limited their daily intake.

As reported in the Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention journal, the 26-year study showed almost 70,000 women who drank both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee can ward off the disease, although tea has no effect. Coffee, drunk regularly can lower levels of hormones believed to fuel the cancer.

Endometrial cancer currently effects 6,400 British women a year in the UK and kills an estimated 1,000 annually. Risk increases in age, weight and if your mother had the disease.

Senior researcher Professor Edward Giovannucci said, "Coffee has already been shown to be protective against diabetes due to its affect on insulin, so we hypothesized that we’d see a reduction in some cancers as well."

He also added, "Laboratory testing has found that coffee has much more antioxidants than most vegetables and fruits."

As suggested by researchers from Harvard, the most important methods of prevention is by regular exercise and maintain a healthy body weight. However, additional strategies are needed and dietary habits such as coffee drinking could provide one option.

Unfortunately, do take note that adding sugar and cream to your coffee could cancel out the benefits.

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How To Reduce Your Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease

There are several lifestyle changes you can make to possibly lower your chances of getting this disease. And none are difficult to do.

Eat the right foods
Eat a Mediterranean diet: Lots of fruits, vegetables, fish, legumes, and whole grains, with olive oil being the main source of fat. Moderate amounts of turmeric, the spice used in curry, seem to offer a protective benefit too. Avoid saturated fats, which have been indirectly linked with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s.

Tip: Moderate wine drinkers in particular, both red and white, have been linked with lower levels of Alzheimer’s.

Enjoy coffee
Drink caffeinated coffee every day, if you have no other health conditions that prohibit doing so. One study reported that people who didn’t consume caffeine were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s, and research suggests coffee may even help reduce some of the symptoms in those who already have Alzheimer’s.

Watch your cholesterol
If you have high cholesterol, lower it through diet and exercise. Research shows that people in their 40s with even moderately high cholesterol raised their risk for developing Alzheimer’s by 50 percent.

Keep moving
Be active. Studies have indicated that people who exercise regularly reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Get at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity three times a week.

Tip: People who follow a Mediterranean diet and exercise reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer’s by 60 percent, according to one study.

Be a social butterfly
Be a social butterfly. In one study, people with extensive social networks were less likely to develop the disease. But don’t let your socializing lead to frequent sleep loss: Researchers have found a link between chronic sleep deprivation and the development of Alzheimer’s.

Video

Credit : How To Reduce Your Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease on Howcast

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Broadcast Bloggers Deals - 7 Baby Signs DVDs, End 24/11/11

7 Baby Signs DVDs for only $49.99 plus $4.95 shipping!

This set typically retails from Baby Signs for $99.99, so this is one really great deal. Babies often become frustrated by the communication barrier between them and adults. It's frustrating for parents and care givers as well when there's confusion about what baby wants. The solution? The sign language for babies program from Baby Signs! With this program babies ages 6 months to 36 months are able to learn to communicate using simple signs and gestures. This set makes the perfect gift for first time parents, seasoned parents, and anyone who works with small children. The Baby Signs Complete DVD Series is included in this deal price which means you will get all 7 DVDs for half off! A deal like this doesn't come around too often, so get it before it's gone!

The Baby Signs Complete DVD Series is a complete set of 7 DVDs:

My Mealtime Signs (Teaches the signs for Eat, Drink, More, Milk, Cereal, Bib and All Done.)

My Bedtime Signs (Teaches the signs for Stars, Moon, Book, Light, Sleep and Love.)

My Bath Time Signs (Teaches the signs for Bath, Bubbles, Water, Toothbrush, Frog and Duck.)

My Pets Signs (Teaches the signs for Cat, Dog, Bird, Bunny, Fish and Turtle.)

My Park Signs (Teaches the signs for Ball, Butterfly, Slide, Flower, Tree and Swing.)

My Getting Dressed Signs (Teaches the signs for Hat, Coat, Shoes, Socks, Comb and Diaper.)

Bonus DVD: Welcome to the Baby Signs Program Parent DVD with 100-sign Video Dictionary


*Deal ends on Thursday, 11/24/11 at 11:59pm MST
*Orders open to US mailing addresses only
*Orders will be postmarked for shipping within 72 hours (working business days) of the conclusion of the deal

Click to see Deal

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