How to Decorate a Christmas Tree : How to Pick a Theme for a Christmas Tree

How to decorate your Christmas Tree

Torrin's Christmas Tree

Multi Nut Brittle

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1 cup light corn syrup
1 can (10.5 or 12 ounces) mixed nuts
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

Butter a cookie sheet. Combine sugar water and corn syrup in large saucepan.
Cook over high heat until mixture registers 280 on candy thermometer. Add
nuts and cook, stirring until temperature reaches 300. Remove from heat. Stir
in butter and vanilla until blended. Add baking soda and stir vigorously, as
the mixture will bubble. Immediately pour mixture onto prepared cookie sheet.
With a wooden spoon, spread as think as possible. Cool completely. When cool,
break candy into pieces.
Makes 2 pounds. Store in airtight container up to 1 month

Eggnog Snickerdoodles

2 3/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup butter softened
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/3 teaspoon brandy extract
1/2 teaspoon rum extract
sugar mixture
1/4 cup sugar or colored sugar
1 teaspoon nutmeg

Preheat oven to 400. In 3 quart mixer bowl combine all cookies ingredients.
Beat on low speed, scraping sides of bowl often, until well, mixed 2 to 3
minutes. In small bowl combine sugar mixture; stir to blend. Shape rounded
teaspoonful of dough into 1 inch balls; roll in sugar mixture. Place 2 inches
apart onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake near center of 400 oven for 8 to 10
minutes, or until edges are lightly browned.
makes 48

The Night Before Yule

T'was the night before Yule, when all 'cross the heath,
not a being was stirring; Pagan, faerie, or beast.
Wassail was left out & the alter adorned,
to rejoice that the Sun King soon would be reborn.

The children lay sleeping by the warmth of the hearth,
their dreams filled with visions of belov'd Mother Earth.
M'lady & I beneath blankets piled deep,
had just settled down to our own Solstice sleep.

Then a noise in the night that would leave us no peace,
Awakened us both to the honking of geese.
Eager to see such a boisterous flock,
When we raced to the window, our mouths dropped in shock!

On the west wind flew a gaggle of geese white & gray,
With Frau Holda behind them in her gift laden dray.
The figure on her broomstick in the North sky made it clear,
La Befana was approaching to bestow Yuletide cheer.

From the south came a comet more bright than the moon,
And we knew that Lucia would be ! with us soon.

As these spirits sailed earthward o'er hilltops & trees,
Frau Holda serenaded her feathery steeds:
"Fly Isolde! Fly Tristan! Fly Odin & Freya!
Fly Morgaine! Fly Merlin! Fly Uranus & Gaea!
May the God & the Goddess inside you soar,
From the clouds in the heavens to yon cottage door."

As soft & silent as snowflakes they fell:
Their arrival announced by a faint chiming bell.
They landed like angels, their bodies aglow.
Their feet left no marks in the new fallen snow.

Before we could ponder what next lay in store,
There came a slow creaking from our threshold door.
We crept from our bedroom & were spellbound to see
...There in our parlor stood the Yule Trinity!

Lucia, the Maiden, with her head wreathed in flame,
Shown with the radiance for which she was named.
The Lightbringer's eyes held the joy of a child,
And she spoke with a voice that was gentle, yet wild:

"May the warmth of this househo! ld ne'er fade away."
Then she lit our Yule log which still burns to this day.
Frau Holda in her down cloak stood regal & tall;
The Matron of Solstice, the Mother of all.

Under her gaze we felt safe & secure.
Her voice was commanding, yet almost demure:

"May the love of this family enrich young & old."
And from the folds of her cloak showered coins of pure gold.
Le Befana wore a kerchief on her silvery hair;
The veil of the Crone who has secrets to share.

In her eyes gleamed a wisdom only gained by spent youth.
Her voice was a whisper but her words rung with truth:
"May health, glad tidings, and peace fill these rooms."
And she banished misfortune with a sweep of her broom.

They then left a gift by each sleeping child's head,
Took a drink of our wassail, & away they sped.
While we watched them fly off through the night sky we laughed,
At the wondrous magick we had found in the Craft.

As they departed, the spirits decreed...
Merry Yule To You All & May All Blessed Be!

I'll be home for Christmas-Thomas KinKade

Christmas Lights

12 ways planning ahead can save you money now

Christmas is over, and the tree and decorations are put away. Phew. But frugal people are already getting a jump-start on Christmas 2009. Maybe you picked up a few clearance items such as gift wrap, cards or bows. Some of my readers take it to a whole new level of planning. I've compiled their most popular ways to prepare ahead of time to help make the most of your time and money.

HANDMADE GIFTS: If you want to make more homemade gifts this year than last Christmas, you can make at least a single gift each month. You'll have 12 and maybe more items made before December. Popular handmade gifts are sewing projects such as quilts, totes and clothing, knitted or crocheted items such as afghans, scarves, hats, dishcloths and crafty items, such as ornaments. At the very least, you can start to gather your supplies and ideas.

SAVINGS: Set your holiday budget early. You can start a savings account and set aside a certain amount each week, or start a new change jar to help you prepare.

REGIFTING: All those gifts that weren't quite right can be stashed away in the closet as potential gifts for others. Save containers, tins, bags, bows to reuse. Note the name of the gift giver they were from and who they might be given to. 

MAKE A PLANNER: You can create a holiday binder with a calendar to break down all your holiday tasks in an organized way. It can include cleaning and organizing, decorating and meal planning. 

FOOD:  You can start to gather recipes now and have plenty of time to test them. Make note in your planner any that can be made and frozen ahead of time, too. 

CARDS:  Save addresses for cards you received and organize them in your planner. You can tuck your own self stick-address labels into your planner, so it's ready and one less thing you have to do. 

GIFT LISTS:  Start gift lists now, so when there are sales, you're ready. Scout out garage sales and thrift stores throughout the year. You can start your own wish list for gifts, too. 

DECLUTTER: When you do your spring-cleaning, decide what you want to toss, give away, sell or donate. Organize a garage sale, and any money made can be put aside for gifts. Organize a cleaning schedule in your planner. Break it into weekly tasks such as organizing the pantry, freezer and decluttering room by room. This can include going through closets, drawers, toy boxes, etc. Breaking up the cleaning and organizing into weeks instead of days makes the tasks more manageable. 

DECORATING: Make note of any decorating ideas you liked from catalogs or magazines. Decide whether you can make anything yourself. 

PHOTOS: Last-minute photo sessions aren't fun and festive. Plan professional photo appointments, or take your own photos early. Gather your favorite photos from throughout the year, too. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Some people are breaking the news that things will be different for the holiday. Letting family and friends know far in advance of any major changes will make it easier for them to accept. Maybe you want to host the big meal this year, cut back on gifts, or change the usual routine. 

PRIORITIZE: Often, there are activities you wanted to do and couldn't fit into your schedule. Make a note of any movies, music or activities you missed last year. Take time to talk to your family about what's most important to them. Find out what worked and what didn't. You have months to plan, so listen to what they fondly remember most and pinpoint any activities they've outgrown or specific details that were stressful so you can make any changes. 
 
Sara Noel is the owner of Frugal Village (www.frugalvillage.com), a Web site that offers practical, money-saving strategies for everyday living. To send tips, comments or questions, write to Sara Noel, c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10016, or e-mailsara@frugalvillage.com.

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