3 Stunning Examples Of Beautiful Holiday Plants

3 Stunning Examples Of Beautiful Holiday Plants
By Joanne A Shaw

During the holiday season I am sure your garden is the last thing on your mind. However, there are a variety of plants available at this time of year to enhance your holiday decorating or to put on your gift giving list.

Amaryllis

Amaryllis Bulbs and kits can be found almost everywhere as soon as the pumpkins are out of the grocery stores and nurseries. They are one of the easiest bulbs to bring to bloom and the large showy flower is well worth it! They would make a great gift for beginning gardeners or for people with young children. Once the plants start to grow kids really love waking up each morning to see how tall they have gotten.

They come in a nice variety of vibrant colours and sold usually in convenient kits that include the pot, bulb and potting mix. Once planted, place the potted bulb in a warm place with direct light. Water sparingly until stem appears then increase as bud and leaves appear. The blooms will last for several weeks.

You can also find Amaryllis as cut flowers around Christmas time in your local florist.

Christmas Cactus

In my opinion this a great plant for a keen gardener or plant person as its needs change throughout the year in order to enjoy blooms throughout December and January. Despite its name, the Christmas Cactus is not as popular as the Poinsettia but it still puts on a nice show this time of year as well as makes a nice gift especially because it can last for years. It is not a true cactus but is a succulent that stores water in its leaves. The plant needs medium light and soil should not dry out. Its flowering during the season has to do with day length and night time temperatures.

Here's a handy little guide:

- November to January: Flowering

- February to March: Resting, infrequent watering, 55 degrees

- April to May: Water well when plant dries out

- June to August: Place outdoors in a shady spot

- September to October: Plant prepares to flower, reduce daylight hours, keep drier and in a cool spot 55 degrees until buds form then you can gradually increase water and temperature

Norfolk Pine

While this evergreen is not really a pine, it is a nice Christmas tree shape plant that would make a great gift or accent in your home. Some things to keep in mind; these trees are NOT cold hardy and should be kept away from cold drafts. Also keep this in mind when shopping for one. Do not leave it in the car while you continue shopping. Since they are actually a tropical plant they also require humidity, especially in the winter months but this can be easily achieved by placing pot on a tray of pebbles or misting the plant with water. Norfolk Pines also require bright light and can even tolerate direct light. It grows slowly so buy the size accordingly. They would make a great gift for someone with a large sunny kitchen or even someone in a condo or apartment.

I know I have left off the ever popular Poinsettia from this list but I have written about it in the past.

I hope this article helps with your gift giving during the holiday season!

Joanne Shaw is the owner and operator of Down2Earth Landscape Design. A graduate of Ryerson University in Landscape Design, Joanne has over 15 years experience in designing gardens and more than a decade in landscape and related business, both for her own clientele and established local nurseries. Sign up here http://www.down2earth.ca/ to receive Joanne's free report "Seasonal Landscaping Tips" and as an added bonus you'll receive her monthly newsletter, "Down the Garden Path", providing useful tips and tricks for keeping your garden as low maintenance as possible.

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Planning a Family Vacation - How to Include Your Young Children

Planning a Family Vacation - How to Include Your Young Children
By Ruchira Tickoo

Are you thinking about a family vacation? Well this is a thought that finds a resonating affirmation from all family members. However, there is a catch here. The planning needs perfection especially when kids are accompanying otherwise the trip may turn sour. We need to keep a check on food, water, travel time, stoppages, and alternative support for a successful trip.

One thing that needs special attention is kids. You have to engage them beforehand to lighten them up and keep their curiosity alive. This will make the trip memorable and in addition, the entire process starting from planning to the travel and finally the stay will be unforgettable.

Keep your options ready and ask them to pick out their preference.

Planning

You can set off with deciding for the vacation destination. Give them the options and let them chip in some ideas. Show them videos and pictures of the place so they know what the place has to offer for them.

Itinerary

Sit down with the children and give them an idea about the route, duration of the trip, time that they will spend on road. This will prepare them mentally for the outing.

Food

Ensure that the food you take is not only healthy, but interests your child's palate. Let them give their inputs and then you may improve upon them.

Packing

You should help them draw up a list of things they may need. Let them pack their belongings so. Thus, they feel involved in this process. Let them be responsible for the stuff they carry. It will make them feel a part of the travelling troupe.

For the road

Your trip starts from the road. It is fine for adults to sit for long, but children need some activity. Let them be acquainted with the plan. Sit together to pick up music, small games, snacks while you will be on the road.

At the getaway destination

Let them bring along their favorite toys, games, and books so they have several options open. Plan activities and strolls where the entire family participates.

Memoir Book

A foolproof way to bring back the memories captured in pictures and words. You can also help them with collectibles to add to their little travel treasure box

Souvenirs

During the end of the stay, buy little souvenirs for the close ones and friends. This way the trip will remain etched forever as a happy memory.

Each child is different from the other so you need to make little changes to the above points while bearing in mind that whatever destination you opt for is child friendly. Moreover, keep note that there is an alternate plan ready for when things go awry.

A happy journey starts with a well-communicated and connected family.

Like my articles here. Do visit my blog for more on life and relationships. http://pushpsr.blogspot.in/

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Benefits of Giving Thanks

Benefits of Giving Thanks
By Stephen A Bixler

A thankful spirit is a good practice to improve your mind, body, soul, spirit, and relationships. The benefits of thankfulness reflect in many dimensions of life. Let's explore a few of them.

When you ponder the premise of the idea that thankfulness effects your life, what things come to mind? How does it reveal itself?

Some ideas that come to mind for me are:

Thankfulness sets my mind in a place to receive the goodness that is around me. I notice the generosity of God and others. It also helps to reframe the circumstances I am in. It is common for me to ask myself, "What good or positive element can I discover from what is happening?" I then focus on that rather than the frustrating elements that can begin to take me in a downward spiral of thoughts and attitudes.

Thankfulness makes my body feel lighter, and I stand up straighter. For us all, our immune systems are stronger, we're bothered with less aches and pains, and we may even have lower blood pressure.

Thankfulness helps us to have positive emotions and more balanced hormones. It helps with experiencing joy and happiness and having a general contented attitude. One can be more optimistic, alive, and awake.

Thankfulness improves our relationship with our Creator. He created us to enjoy life. As we are thankful, it expresses back to Him our acknowledgement of the goodness He has opened up to us. Most likely, we all have experienced giving a good gift to someone. How your relationship affected with that person doesn't respond? What about if that person responds in an unappreciative manner? Now remember a time when the receiver expressed genuine gratitude. How did that impact your relationship?

Thankfulness improves my relationships. It is much easier to be around a person who is expressing the positive things in life. It is a life-giving time. Time well spent. People who are prone to complain about others, their health, their relationships with others or their circumstances quickly drive others away. It is a draining experience that you soon find ways to avoid.

How do you express your thanks? You can do it verbally. When doing so make it short, clear, appropriate, and genuine. Don't border on flattery or stretching the truth. Another helpful way is to write it down. Many keep a journal. You can keep a journal that records the goodness around you or about a specific person. When you seem overwhelmed in a work situation, home setting, or a relationship, begin a journal and write down one good thing each day about the topic. Check at the end of two weeks on how that situation or relationship has evolved.

Some of the things I'm thankful for are: my family, including my two adorable granddaughters; my relationship with God, my life's work, the country I live in, the country I'm from, the beauty of nature, good health, adequate finances, and many friends. What's on your list?

One way to express thankfulness is in gift gifting. You'll find many ways to say thanks to the cute little girls in your life! You'll enjoy our great discounts and variety. Please visit our website. We'll be thankful for every purchase made. http://www.cutebabygirloutfits.com

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Flowers, And Candy, And The Environment, Oh My - Gift Ideas for an Eco-Friendly Valentine's Day

Flowers, And Candy, And The Environment, Oh My - Gift Ideas for an Eco-Friendly Valentine's Day
By Lynn Lavanga

As I sat down to write an article addressing the environmental impact of Valentine's Day, I first decided to scan the internet for some insight on current reactions surrounding celebrating this day. I am surprised at just how many people are against, and not for environmental considerations, the idea of Valentine's Day. But I feel in the current days of our fast paced lives we take many things for granted and it is important to acknowledge this holiday, using it as a gentle reminder to express to those around you how much you care for and love them. For this day that was first associated with romanticism during the middle-ages, the worldwide tradition of expressions of love have flourished and evolved into environment damaging gift giving practices; presenting pesticide sprayed flowers, offering more than 36 million boxes of chocolates, and sending about one billion Valentine's Day paper greeting cards. My focus then is to encourage everyone to choose ways to celebrate Valentine's Day gift giving that reduces the heavy negative impact this holiday has on our environment. The following suggestions only address three of the many offerings of love and affection made on this day:

Cards: Skip the new $4.00 wood pulp paper card with the generic message that gets tossed in the trash the next day! Opt instead for writing your own declarations of love on recycled paper or up-cycled cards (old messages cut off of course then card fronts can be re-used). If you are poetically challenged you can buy cards made from recycled paper or sustainable fiber paper such as hemp. Paper production ranks among the most resource-intensive and highly polluting of all manufacturing. The process uses a huge amount of water, energy, chemicals, and forest resources, and releases a large amount of toxic chemicals into surrounding water and air. Use of recycled paper pulp significantly reduces the amount of energy, chemicals, and resources in production and also keeps paper out of landfills where, when decomposing, it produces methane a greenhouse gas. Additionally, sustainable resources like hemp used in paper production help to preserve our forests.

Chocolates: Really, what would Valentine's Day be without some chocolate! Chocolate is a favorite worldwide. If giving a Valentine's Day gift of sweets- make it Fair Trade Chocolate. The growing of cocoa used to make chocolate is a very difficult task undertaken by about 6 million small family farms providing 90% of the world's supply. For all their hard work in tropical environments, protecting this fragile crop from sun, wind, disease, and pests, these cocoa farmers live in a poverty income level getting very little from a global market that is very profitable. When we consider the impact on the environment we must think of the natural as well as the people affected. Fair Trade provides sustainability through payment of fair market prices and added premiums to invest in projects so cocoa farmers are better able to provide for themselves and their communities.

Flowers: Mention Valentine's Day gifts and I'm sure the first image that comes to mind is a bouquet of red roses. Don't cut the flowers! Give a recycled paper plant-able card whose message can be relayed and then planted to provide ongoing enjoyment as a beautiful flower spot in the recipient's garden. Or present a beautiful recycled trinket box filled with seeded paper to replant and then the box can be reused to hold special items. It is estimated almost 2.1 billion dollars will be spent on flowers this Valentine's Day. I wonder if this number would decrease if people realized the harsh effects of the cut flower industry. A large number of flowers coming into the USA are from less economically developed countries. Using a large amount of pesticides to grow, the methods are detrimental to the health of workers and also to the environment surrounding the flower plantations. The energy required by air-conditioned trucks to transport the cut blooms is enormous with significant carbon emissions. If a cut flower gift is a must, it is better to look for shops that offer organic and sustainable flowers that are grown locally.

Keeping the focus on the health of the environment and the well-being of mankind, many eco-friendly gift ideas for celebrating Valentine's Day will come to mind. Please share your earth friendly ideas on our Blog, Facebook, or Twitter pages.

Lynn Lavanga is owner of Stylish Organics, an e-commerce boutique combining fashionable styling with eco-friendly thinking. Stylish Organics offers a refreshing collection of earth savvy products selected for their organic, eco-friendly, natural, or sustainable properties. Their one-stop-shopping venue and their collection of products for every member of your family make it easy to live a green lifestyle.

Selected from manufacturers employing green practices, organic clothing; natural skin care; eco-friendly jewelry; recycled paper and plant-able paper cards; sustainable furniture; eco home decor; organic pet treats; and a selection of eco-friendly gifts, are among the products offered by Stylish Organics. Many of the products found at http://www.stylishorganics.com are fair trade or made in the USA.

For additional information visit stylishorganics.com, email: contactus(at)stylishorganics(dot)com, call: 800.581.6417, or subscribe to their Mailing List. (email list is not shared) Read their Blog, like on Facebook or follow on Twitter. All can be reached from their home page.

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A Holiday Survival Guide

A Holiday Survival Guide
By Mitzi Wilson

When I was a teenager I hated the holidays. My parents were divorced when I was 13 and during my teen years neither of them had a partner with whom to share Thanksgiving or Christmas. As a result, one of them was always alone. My mother would cry as we walked out the door to see our father. Our father would stoically maintain that he liked watching movies and eating Chinese food on Christmas. I felt so guilty. Like it was all my fault and that I should be fixing the situation. As a result, I hated the holidays and stopped coming home for them as soon as I was able.

One of the reasons that I never wanted to get divorced was because I didn't want my kids to go through what I did over the holidays. Now I find myself divorced and facing a holiday season where I will be alone and my kids will be with their father, and his new family. Just thinking about it gives me a pit in my stomach. I know, however, that I will get through it. One day at a time.

Here are my tried and true methods for not only surviving the holiday season but thriving...

1. Plan ahead. You know that the holidays are going to be tough. Make a plan. If you are going to be alone make arrangements with someone else to do something. Reach out to family, friends, other single people. Just don't be alone. Unless being alone really will make you happy. Somedays a "Mad Men" binge and my needlepoint really are all that I need.

2. Put the kids first. Make sure that your kids get to spend time with each of their parents during the holidays. It's not their fault that you are divorced and they should be able to enjoy time with both of their parents. WITHOUT guilt. If the thought of them going off makes you want to cry, do so. But not in front of the kids! That's what the dogs are for...

3. Create new family traditions. I know that you and your ex had wonderful holiday traditions that you are missing right about now. Well, miss them and then move on. Make some new holiday traditions for your altered family. If your kids are going off for Thanksgiving dinner make a fabulous Thanksgiving brunch. If you and your spouse always made a Christmas Eve feast consider going out for dinner that night. Maybe with the grandparents and the cousins. Shake things up. But just a little. Too much change can be tough for younger children.

4. Take care of yourself! This is not a time to be a martyr. Do what you need to keep you healthy during the holidays. Exercise, eat right, sleep, indulge (within reason) on favorite holiday treats. My favorite thing to do is to get a massage. A little touch can go a long way.

5. Take it all one day at a time. Try not to project too far ahead. Take one holiday at a time. Projecting too far ahead can take the mind places it doesn't want to go, and doesn't need to go. Are your kids going to be with their father on Christmas morning? Think about the fact that on Christmas night, or the next day, they will be with you. And that Christmas morning will be over. And on Christmas morning you will have a plan (see above) to carry you through.

There is one more thing that I do, when the going gets particularly rough: I give myself a dose of reality. We all tend to romanticize what was, myself no less than others. I think about all of the wonderful, perfect Christmases my ex and I shared. But the reality of it is that they weren't all that wonderful. Now that you are divorced you have the opportunity to have holidays going forward that don't include difficulties of the past. Embrace that and move forward. It's one of the enduring gifts of divorce, the opportunity for new beginnings...

I am a certified life coach specializing in divorce support. I support your journey through divorce so that you can get what you need to emerge healthy and strong into the rest of your new life.

My website is http://www.oracleinclife.com. Come check me out and bring about positive change NOW.

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