Holiday Suggestions

• Treat everyone in your life with patience and love, and count your blessings daily.
  
  
• Brighten up someone's holiday.
  
  
• Shop catalogs, the Internet and home shopping networks to avoid stress.
  
  
• Give guests a warm welcome by offering them a cup of hot cider when they arrive.
  
  
• When guests offer to bring a dish - let them.
  
  
• Hook Christmas lights to a timer that turns them on at dusk and off at bedtime.
  
  
• Don't forget the most important person on your shopping list: you!
  
• Decorate with family treasures.
  
  
• Begin an ornament collection for your child.
  
  
• Keep the old traditions.
  
  
• Inspect Christmas-tree lights.
  
  
• Buy plenty of film to capture Christmas celebrations.
  
  
• Tie big bows with belts knotted at the ends around door knobs. Every time someone walks into the room, you'll hear the sound of Christmas.
  
  
• Reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.
  
  
• String fresh cranberries and popcorn on thread and decorate an outdoor tree.
  
  
• Be prepared for short-notice visitors. Stash away a basket of gourmet hot chocolate mix, pretty napkins, fancy crackers, a spread and a tin of cookies.
  
  
• Save alcohol calories this season-- volunteer to be the designated driver.