Posted by: jasnav on: December 25, 2009
Your Pals deserve your special attention for Christmas gifts. After all, you do spend most of your time with them, don’t you? So why hold back when it comes to expressing your feelings?
Let Them Write In Style
Any office go-er will love to get stationary as a gift as it is something practical besides being innately beautiful. There are beautiful designs available that will steal the heart of just about anyone.
From branded pens to penstands and letter pads, there are plenty of options for stationary as a gift.
Stationeries with ethnic design layouts are another popular option. You can gift them an exclusive stationary line designed by renowned designers.
With the new year around the corner, and aesthetically designed year planner is an appropriate gift. You could go for a traditional gemstone painting cover that will attract attention all year round.
Gifts As Per Inclinations
To the sports freaks you can gift a baseball bat or even gloves. They will love the gift and can make the most of it on weekend sports gathering.
Gift the intellectual ones scrabble and chess. They will love the practical approach to gifts. After all men will be men.
Gift a Dinner Coupon
If you are looking for an option to let your pal enjoy without interfering in his or her personal life, give a surprise by setting up a date on the quiet with his or her beau.
Gift away a dinner coupon for two at the best restaurant around.
Add to the beauty of the moment by arranging for the on-spot delivery of a bunch of exotic fresh flowers, and you can be rest assured your pal will be yours for life.
Flowers To Make Them Feel Special
If your best pal happens to belong to the fairer sex, there is no better gift to express your gratitude for all she has done for you than a bunch of fresh flowers delivered at her doorstep.
All you need to do is hop online and look for fresh flower bouquets to choose from a mind boggling variety of flowers.
Worry not if you have more than just a couple of female friends, as you can avail bulk discounts. You would also get free delivery of flowers on ordering over a certain amount and save substantial cash.
Go ahead and make the day for your pals this Christmas!
Posted by: jasnav on: December 25, 2009
Are you having sleepless nights thinking about impressing your beau’s family on Christmas? The best way to impress is to be yourself and reap compliments.
If you are looking to spend Christmas with your beau’s family, be careful for you are bound to be under the scanner. The essential part is to be yourself and not let any pretensions come in the way.
Do not panic and stay confident in your skin. Do not go over the board and follow these rules to play safe on the Christmas dinner.
Should You Get The Diva Look?
Be a diva in looks and not in attitude.
All you need is to get your regular clean up done and sport a fresh look. Get your regular beauty regime done like a diva and let the red flush bloom on your cheeks. A clean yet simple face reflects positivity and confidence.
<Less Make Up Works Better
Keep the makeup subtle yet exotic. Shades of red are applicable on dress and lip and nail color only.
Do not try out something new for once and stick to the tried and tested in your makeup. Try to keep it as simple as possible. A basic foundation teamed with eyeliner and a dab of lipstick is apt for the occasion.
Be Comfortable
Be warm and confident while greeting the prospective in-laws. Try to look at ease and wear something comfortable. Do not try to look over sizzling by putting extra efforts. Be comfortable in whatever you wear. Traditional works best with family, so keep the exotic stuff for your honeymoon.
Christmas Gifts
Ensure that you take along some nice gift to their place. A bouquet of fresh flowers is the safest and best bet for your prospective in-laws.
You can take a combination of allium with palm leaves if your prospective in-laws are religious. Palm is considered to be auspicious during Christmas.
For the sophisticated lot, nothing is more exotic than fresh cut yellow and pink orchids.
Whatever you do, be your natural self without being overly relaxed. Any put-ons that you may be able to achieve for a short time will only harm you later, as your natural self will definitely get seen through. Let your beau’s parents love you for what you are.
Go ahead and have a great Christmas party!
Posted by: jasnav on: December 23, 2009
Christmas is the time for forgiveness and gifts galore. Give away something special this year to those you love and respect.
Here are some innovative ways to surprise your family members even if you are away from them,.
All Time Favorite Chocolates
Gift your mother dark chocolates as a special Christmas gift. Being the one person who has looked after you for ages, it is time for you to indulge her. To ease out her dilemma send her chocolates of different flavors. Flavored chocolate are a special treat as she will relish it to the core.
Soft Toys Work Best For Kids
Little children, especially girls, love soft toys like nothing else. On Christmas, gift your younger cousin sisters some cute soft toys that are made in special designs, like animated cartoon characters, Santa Claus, even present day teen heroes like Hanna Montana.
Cartoon characters like Mickey mouse and et al are quite popular. There is also a wide array of cartoon inspired pillows and cushions.
Gift a Special Dress
There is one universal truth – Girls love clothes.
Gift your older sisters and aunts lovely dresses ideal for the Christmas.
Ethnic wear is also an all time hit when it comes to gifting options on festivals.
Christmas is the time for fun and frolic. You can gift the entire family with identical tees to add to the fun. You can even get it printed from online shops and get them gift wrapped and home delivered for your relatives.
Be a Bit Subtle
You can gift your mother shawls and stoles. Even tops in various fabrics and designs are equally enchanting with options in sequin, embroidery and crochet work.
Do remember to ask someone experienced to accompany you to a reliable shop. Usually retail shops throw their own price and sometimes, the customers get duped. They end up paying extra bucks for a low quality material.
Nothing To Beat Fresh Flowers
If you wish to surprise your mother and leave a smile on her face, get fresh flowers home delivered. You could pick kaffier lilies with ferns and deliver it with a personalized note.
You can do the same for your favorite aunt by gifting her micheal daises on Christmas afternoon. Women love the idea of being showered with flowers, and Christmas is definitely an occasion to indulge them.
Posted by: jasnav on: December 17, 2009
If you fail to reach the Vatican City for the Christmas celebrations then do the next best thing – get the Vatican ambience to your place. Follow these simple tips to recreate the Vatican aura at your place this Christmas.
Carols Session
Carol singing is the essence of Christmas celebrations. Earlier, carol singers would come down from the Vatican City for carol singing during the Christmas. Now you can get carol singers from local areas to do the same. Late night carol singing is part of the Vatican rituals.
Cake Mixing
Christmas cakes hold a special place in the Christmas festivities.
Organize a small brunch on the pretext of the cake mixing ceremony prior to the Christmas. Invite all close pals and relatives for the occasion and involve everyone in the cake mixing with liquor dried raisins.
Prayers Ceremony
Organize a prayer ceremony at home. Call in the people from the local parish to perform the special prayer service. You can invite your pals and family members to join in the prayer service.
To decorate the Lord’s chamber, use fresh white orchids with palm leaves for a spiritual Catholic look.
Traditional Catholic Menu
Keep the menu strictly traditional by making items like muffins, stuffed chicken and garlic breads. The essence of Christmas is retained especially through the traditional menu. Get the recipes on priority basis from your aunts and granny for preparing the traditional Catholic menu. Do not forget to serve the ale and red wine.
Decorate the gallery of your house and the dining room with fresh flower decorations such as allium and lilies in sync with the Christmas mood.
Holy Water Session
Do ask the pastor to sprinkle holy water on the guests. Get it sprinkled in the home also to keep bad spirits at bay. The celebrations of Christmas are all about creating a positive aura in the home.
Recreate the Vatican aura at your place and feel enlightened.
Posted by: jasnav on: December 17, 2009
If you fail to reach the Vatican City for the Christmas celebrations then do the next best thing – get the Vatican ambience to your place. Follow these simple tips to recreate the Vatican aura at your place this Christmas.
Carols Session
Carol singing is the essence of Christmas celebrations. Earlier, carol singers would come down from the Vatican City for carol singing during the Christmas. Now you can get carol singers from local areas to do the same. Late night carol singing is part of the Vatican rituals.
Cake Mixing
Christmas cakes hold a special place in the Christmas festivities.
Organize a small brunch on the pretext of the cake mixing ceremony prior to the Christmas. Invite all close pals and relatives for the occasion and involve everyone in the cake mixing with liquor dried raisins.
Prayers Ceremony
Organize a prayer ceremony at home. Call in the people from the local parish to perform the special prayer service. You can invite your pals and family members to join in the prayer service.
To decorate the Lord’s chamber, use fresh white orchids with palm leaves for a spiritual Catholic look.
Traditional Catholic Menu
Keep the menu strictly traditional by making items like muffins, stuffed chicken and garlic breads. The essence of Christmas is retained especially through the traditional menu. Get the recipes on priority basis from your aunts and granny for preparing the traditional Catholic menu. Do not forget to serve the ale and red wine.
Decorate the gallery of your house and the dining room with fresh flower decorations such as allium and lilies in sync with the Christmas mood.
Holy Water Session
Do ask the pastor to sprinkle holy water on the guests. Get it sprinkled in the home also to keep bad spirits at bay. The celebrations of Christmas are all about creating a positive aura in the home.
Recreate the Vatican aura at your place and feel enlightened.
Posted by: jasnav on: December 17, 2009
This Christmas have an outdoor lunch that is in sync with the general mood of conserving nature. Enhance the natural experience and do your bit for the environment without compromising on the beauty and décor of the venue.
Follow these tips to make the most of the surroundings and get showered with compliments. All you need is to enhance the existing stuffs while playing with your grey matter.
Bling Bling
Make a canopy out of your old Indian saris collection as the zari will enhance the afternoon rendezvous. You can use old zari sarees like your mother’s wedding Benarasi sarees. Even the sequined bright colored sarees will be another ideal option. Spanning from the net to heavy silk ones, all you need is to use your mother’s old zari saris.
Not of Indian origin? Just hop into your nearest Indian friend’s house – she will be too happy to oblige you with her best saris.
Fabric Paintings
After putting the curtains or veils around, you can get it painted. If the color of the curtains too dull for the natural surroundings, go ahead and add a dash of color with fabric paintings.
You can get the same done on the bedspread and cushion covers for the divan too. The fabric paint should be of good quality as there are chances of ruining the cloth with poor quality stuff.
Crockery Matters
If you are taking so much pain for the decoration, do pay attention to minute details of the crockery aspect too. Try to add color to lunching experience.
Go for bright colored crockery set instead of the standard pale white ones. Bright colored crockery adds to the fun of an outdoor party.
This Christmas do not behave like a Puritan – rather go ahead with inventions.
Mirror Time
You can get small sized mirror work done on the curtains, table cloth etc. The idea is to look quite similar to the theme of Seesha(glass) parties in Dubai.
While selecting the designs, keep in mind your requirements. For lighter fabric like chiffon or net, heavy work can be recommended provided the fabric doesn’t get torn. Vice versa for the heavier fabrics.
Table Décor
Keeping up with the festive mood of the Christmas, try an assortment of allium with kaffier lilies and Ireland bellsto enhance the dinner table décor. Keep the flower arrangement neat and colorful in order to keep up with the Christmas mood.
Flower Arrangements
Since the Christmas lunch is outdoors, go for flower decoration in all spheres possible. You can put sisas of pink orchidson the hemline of the canopy boundaries.
Go ahead and host a swell lunch this Christmas!
Posted by: jasnav on: December 17, 2009
Newly married and planning for your first Christmas but worried about the budget?
All you need is to plan out the Christmas renovation to celebrate well in a shoestring yet meticulous budget.
Try out the tried and tested ways of renovation and spruce up your home to get it sparkling this Christmas.
Paint The Town Red
Bright colors exhale a much desired positive aura during Christmas. Instead of the boring and cold neutral shades, opt for bright shades like yellow, red, orange and even gold. You can go for the double shades like red and gold or even orange and matte gold. The idea is to create bright interiors that attract immediate attention.
Redesign A Portion
Convert a wall into graffiti and paste all engagement, wedding, even the family moment photographs including the miniscule get-togethers. It will make the corner an interesting one as it will become a piece of nostalgia.
Change The Furnishing
Furnishing is one aspect that will help you in creating a festive look. Go for the French look with paisley and floral prints in hues of yellows and pinks. To be on the safer side, grab a patterned carpet or rug for the ultimate contemporary look.
To elaborate the festive fervor, team up red roses with ferns in the dining area.
Change The Lighting Style
If you wish to be fancier you can use the handmade cane or the Chinese hanging lights. Change the shading aspect and opt for more bright lights in the TV area. Keep it dim to give a softer look by the lounge side. Play with the lights and shades to reflect your mood. This will also save you a lot of money.
Let The Fragrance Spread
Keep elaborate flower arrangements as during Christmas, you get great bargains to grab from. In the sitting area, keep a neat arrangement of yellow orchidswhich is ideal for the Christmas mood.
Let your first Christmas be full of fun and frolic without the tensions of monetary concerns.
Posted by: jasnav on: December 11, 2009
You may have racked your brains inside laboratories through the year, but you are hard pressed for words when it comes to expressing your feelings. Use Christmas to express your feelings to whom it matters most.
Let your bespectacled geeky partner know how much they matter to you. Keep the essence alive while popping the question. Here are some ways to propose to the special person this Christmas.
Remember the essence is to cater to his or her tastes so you build up great atmosphere.
Gifts To Cherish
You will wish to gift your beloved something romantic while popping the question.
Add on a 160 GB iPod with all the favorite genre music loaded on it, as an accompaniment to the all important engagement ring.
If you can push your budget a bit more, the size zero palm top can add utility to his/her passion and would be greatly appreciated.
Geek Theme To Set The Mood
Since you have been with your partner for long, you know their passion, likes and dislikes. Organize a Christmas party inviting likeminded people especially their pals.
Keep the theme according to their outlook with a little twist. You may invite Moulin Rouge performers, though but Cha-Cha troops won’t be a crowd puller.
Your geek friend is sure to enjoy the surprise bash with people whom they love to spend time with i.e, – you!
Make The Most Of The Christmas Ball
You can opt to pop the question post dance. Your partner may not love to unwind at pubs over numerous tequila shots.
On the Christmas ball, you can insist your partner to join you for a dance. Initially, there may be moments of hesitation but with the flow of music and the rhythm of the dance steps, the right mood will soon develop to help you pop the question.
Intellectuals may predict geographical changes but not emotional surprises, so make the most of the event.
Use the Tried And Trusted Mushy Route
If you consider your partner to be the complete high school type geek then make the proposal ceremony mushier. You can get a custom made tray made with floral decorations of pink orchids and lilies and hide the engagement ring inside.
You can also strap the ring to a fresh red rose bud for an even more mysterious feel.
Do not forget to go on your knees to enhance the romantic gist of the moment, and you are sure to melt the heart of the toughest geek on earth.
This Christmas, plan out the event to pop the question to your dearest computer geek with romantic gusto.
Posted by: jasnav on: December 4, 2009
If you disassociate Santa Claus with Christmas, there is little left for you to rejoice. The current generation ceases to believe in any fictitious character and therefore, Christmas is nothing more than a shopping spree and munching goodies.
Superstition
This generation discards everything that is a ritual. Nothing can be funnier than booing the Santa at all functions during the Christmas celebrations. Even the little ones believe that Santa Claus is fake. If the gist of Christmas celebrations are missing then there is hardly left anything in Christmas celebrations. Do we really want the children to be so ‘practical’ that they forget their innocence and the magic of Santa?
Dysfunctional Family
The very idea of doing things together on Christmas hardly exists today. Families are working in different parts of the world. Have the Christmas lunch or dinner together has been reduced to a mere formality no one is really interested in. There is a lack of personal bonding over the Christmas preparations and celebrations.
Lack Of Time During Christmas Preparation
With family members having different social life in their personal and professional segments, getting together falls flat due to lack of time. The scarcity of time due to excessive commitments has killed the pure platonic joy of Christmas.
Need To Have Personal Touch
There was a time when cakes and muffins during the Christmas were prepared at home. Massive preparations made before hand involved all the members of the family.
Pessimistic as I may seem, all is not lost, however.
Here’s What To Do
Things can be restored if efforts are made in this direction. Before the festivity starts, send flowers and a personal note this year to stir the same feelings again.
Send your family and friends bouquets of fresh cut pink and lilac orchids with a greeting card and a personal note. Nothing can be as refreshing as a bunch of calla lilies with lily casablanca which epitomizes the positive mood of Christmas.
Take time out to spend with your family. Make a vow NOW.
Get Christmas gifts for all your near and dear ones, and some for those who are not so near as well.
So make an effort to stir the emotion of ‘we feeling’ this Christmas, and you would have made a start in the right direction.
Posted by: jasnav on: December 3, 2009
Over a period of time, the festivities associated with Christmas have undergone a change. Nothing is as mushy or pious as it used to be.
Christmas celebrations today are more of fake kisses and temporary bonding. The idea of Santa Claus is also taking a backseat with skimpily clad women in red boxers being the order of the day.
Have a look how the celebrations have changed over a period of time.
Simplicity v/s Big Budgets
Gone are the days when Christmas was about family get together and handmade gifts. Now Christmas is more about big budget and gala celebrations. The present day generation has started associating Christmas with grand budget celebrations. Spanning from owing the biggest and brightest Christmas tree to the most expensive starters on the platter, the entire warm and cozy feeling of celebrations has taken a backstage.
Pomp And Designer Tags
There was a time when the mothers and elder siblings planned out their family’s Christmas attire beforehand. It was great fun to stitch the attire back home. Every member of the family wore the same stuff. Now, think of Christmas and you shall find the youngsters making queue at designer flagship stores. It is a time to show off their buying capabilities in case of designer brands.
More Of A Theme Party
Now, the very idea of celebrating Christmas is all about show off. People instead of doing things on their own prefer to organize theme parties. There is hardly any old world charm left in Christmas. With professionals taking over the decoration and organizing part, families have little more to do. Families have started treating Christmas as any other party where they have to play a host.
Temporary Bonding Time
Moreover, the importance of Christmas lunch or dinner is nadir. The bonding lunch or dinner on Christmas has turned out to be more of formality. People call up their family and relatives just for the sake of calling. There is no such real family bonding over Christmas lunch or dinner.
Make A Simple Effort To Express Your Love
The current day materialism is killing the real essence of Christmas. Think of the good old days where Christmas was all about baking, stitching and coming together to welcome the festival. Instead of going overboard with expensive gifts, simple handmade gifts would do.
You can also gift flowers like pink orchids and lilies to your closer pals as Christmas gifts that will be greatly appreciated.
You can get lily Casablanca with ferns home delivered for people who matter the most to you to express your feelings for your loved ones.
Reinvent the meaning of the festival again this Christmas.
