Holidays Tips
Read these 76 Holidays Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Family tips and hundreds of other topics.
Flag Display
When hanging the flag vertically or horizontally from
a window or on a wall, the union (the stars) should be
at the top left.
Travel Basics
If traveling by air, pack basic necessities in a carry on
bag in case your luggage is lost or delayed. Prescription
medicines, toiletries and items needed for children
should be packed in a carry on bag.
Displaying Flag Indoors
When displaying the flag indoors, it should be placed
to the right of the staging area, podium or sanctuary
(facing the audience).
Old Ornaments
Give old ornaments a second chance. For a lovely table
decoration, fill a glass bowl with seasonal items and
ornaments that are no longer hung on the tree.
Quick Christmas Gifts
Get some lace doilies and place sachet potpourri in
the center. Draw up edges and tie in the center with
holiday ribbon.
Quick Christmas Gifts
Send online greeting cards. Most are free and easy
to send to friends and family within minutes.
Mailing Deadlines
Contact the post office ahead of time for mailing
deadlines, especially if you have out of the country or
overseas shipments to be made.
Let The Guests Decorate
Leave some of the decorating for the guests. When party
guests arrive have some fresh greenery, ornaments,
candles and ribbon and let the guests help with the
decorating to get everyone into a festive mood.
Ribbon Bows
Use ribbon bows all over the house. Add them to highlight
stemware, vases, bedposts, serving bowls, lamps,
banisters and more. Add a sprig of evergreen here and
there to spruce things up even more.
Jingle Bell Wreaths
Make little jingle bell wreaths to hand from doorknobs,
gift packages or your car mirror. Simply string bells
onto florist's wire, cut to desired length and form into
a wreath. Tie on a thin ribbon or two and hang.
Party Invitations
If you are having a holiday party and your friends are
on the Internet, use an online invitation from a site
like www.evite.com to send off party invitations in a
hurry.
New Year's Resolutions
If you backslide on a resolution, don't view it as a
failure. Instead, consider it what it really is:
a minor setback. Pick yourself up and get started
again.
Separate Flag Poles
When flown on a separate pole with flags of states,
communities or societies, the American flag should
be the same size or larger and the same height or
higher. The U. S. flag is always the first flag
raised and last to be lowered.
Getting Kids Involved
Get your children involved in learning the real history
of Memorial Day by learning about the history and
why Memorial Day is really celebrated. Show them how
the sacrifices made by war veterans give them the
freedoms they enjoy today.
Easter Eggs
It is best not to let your child eat hard-boiled
eggs that he/she picks up at easter egg hunts.
Most eggs from large hunts are not kept cool, are
handled by many hands with germs and are often stashed
in places where animals, insects and lawn chemicals
can contaminate them.
Hard-boiled eggs should be kept in the refrigerator
at 40 degrees, not in the warmer door. Toss any eggs that
have cracks or have been out of the refrigerator for
more than 2 hours. Consider dying two sets of eggs,
one for hiding and one for eating.
Entertaining Young Visitors
For visiting youngsters, fill a basket with children's
books, crayons, a holiday coloring book and festive
stickers for tons of holiday fun!
New Year's Resolutions
Write down your goals. Once they are on paper, you
can affirm your resolutions and update them as
you progress.
New Year's Resolutions
Set specific goals. If your resolution is general, such
as losing weight, replace it with a specific goal, such
as losing 5 pounds by March.
New Year's Resolutions
Keep a journal. Each month, write down your goals. For
six months, don't look back at previous entries, then
read all of them in succession. If the goals seem
to follow a pattern, then you should pursue them. If
not, it is time to reevaluate.
Christmas Lights
If lights are tangled, plug in one set and follow the
lights to untangle it from the rest. Use a piece of
cardboard to wrap light strings and put only one string
of lights per piece of cardboard to keep them from
getting entangled.
Think Outside The Box
Treat family members to gifts they would not normally
buy for themselves like gourmet coffees or massages.
Plan Ahead
Be sure to have extra wrapping paper, tape and gift tags
on hand for those last minute unexpected gifts.
Holiday Events List
Make a list of all holiday events with dates and times
and post it in a central location so everyone in the
family knows the schedule ahead of time.
Finding Distinctive Gifts
Think about shopping somewhere a little different.
Museum stores are often not crowded and offer great,
distinctive gifts.
Turkey Carving
Unless your family turkey carver is a master swordsman,
cut the turkey up in the kitchen and bring it to the table
on a platter ready to serve.
Saying Grace
Take the pressure off the chief grace sayer by asking
each guest around the table to share one or two things
they are thankful for.
Tree Decorating
Decorate your tree from the inside out. Hang large,
shiny ornaments near the trunk to reflect light and
fill in holes and dark spots. Decorating from the inside
out will make your tree look fuller.
Cooking The Turkey
When figuring out the total preparation time for the
turkey, add another 20 minutes for the bird to "rest"
from the oven and carving will be easier.
Decorate The House
Fill clear glass jars with colorful holiday treats and
candies. Cover the top with a paper doily and tie with
a red plaid ribbon. These jars can be used all
throughout the house to create a decorating theme.
Quick Gift Ideas
A disposable camera packaged along with a small photo
album makes a great holiday gift. It is inexpensive and
the receiver will have a record of the holiday for years
to come.
Flag As Decoration
The flag should not be used for decoration, such as
drapery for a platform. Red, white and blue bunting
or other decorations are appropriate for these purposes.
Doorway Decorations
Dress up a doorway by swagging a length of fabric around
the doorway and fastening the corners with tacks concealed
by berries or pinecones. Choose a lively holiday print
fabric or an elegant velvet or satin.
New Year's Resolutions
When you achieve a resolution, take pride in being
able to cross it off your list. Take time to celebrate
your accomplishment.
Decorating Doors
Cover an interior door with red felt and pin cards to
it for a festive card display.
Shopping List Guides
Make shopping guide lists that include people's hobbies,
interests and clothing sizes so that you have them
with you whenever you are out shopping.
Picking A Christmas Tree
To pick a healthy Christmas tree, gently grasp a branch
between your thumb and forefinger and pull it toward
you. If the tree is fresh, very few needles should
come off in your hand.
Store Sales
For the best prices on Holiday merchandise buy after
December 15. If you shop early save your receipt and
ask for the price difference if the item goes on sale.
Most retailers will pay the difference if the purchase
was made only 10 or 14 days earlier.
New Year's Resolutions
Draw a time line. Plot events at five year intervals,
beginning with your childhood. Record what your
relationships and dreams were like then and now. How
satisfied were you at each time?
Christmas Trees
To keep your Christmas tree fresh, cut off an inch or
two from the bottom to help it absorb moisture. Keep the
tree in the coolest part of the room, away from any heat
source. Don't place your tree where direct sunlight
will be on it during the daytime hours. This will also
dry out your tree faster than normal.
Christmas Morning
Make Christmas morning a surprise for kids. Let them
give you ideas of that they want instead of long lists
and then you pick and surprise them. A few surprises
are much more appreciated in the long run that buying
everything kids want.
Flag Display Times
The flag should be displayed between sunrise and
sunset. If it is flown at night, it should be
illuminated.
Flagpole Display
When displaying from the same flagpole as another
flag (such as a state flag), Old Glory must always be
at the top of the flagpole.
Displaying The Flag
If displaying on a staff from a window, balcony or building, the union (the stars) should be at the peak of the staff.
Mother's Day Journal
Buy a beautiful journal book and write down what your
mother means to you. Then give her the book and let
her continue to fill it up with her thoughts and experiences for a treasured gift.
Room Decorations
Trim plastic foam cones with hard candies hot glued to
make Christmas trees. You can use small cones to
decorate the tree or larger cones to make table or
room decorations.
Quick Christmas Gifts
If you have a movie lover on your list, get some movie
rental gift certificates and package with a few candy
bars and microwave popcorn. Tie up with a festive bow
and the gift is complete.
Quick Christmas Gifts
Pick out a sheet of stamps that suit the personality
of the recipient and package with some stationery and
a nice pen.
New Year's Resolutions
Reward yourself when you stick to a resolution. But
be careful to choose a reward that doesn't contradict
your initial goal. For example, if your goal was to
lose 5 pounds, reward yourself with a movie or a new
outfit not with a batch of cookie dough.
Holiday Wreaths
To hang a wreath on a door without making a hole, attach
some ribbon to the wreath's hook and then tack the ribbon
to the top of the door frame.
Tree Decorations
If your Christmas tree is on the thin side, string
the lights horizontally throughout. If the tree is short
and stout, string the lights vertically. Decoarations
can also be placed either in horizontal or vertical
lines to make the tree look more full or taller.
Gift Ideas
If you find yourself running short of gift ideas
remember that books always make a good gift and they
don't have to cost a lot to mean a lot to someone. A
blank book that can be used as a journal doesn't cost
much and can mean a lot. Books related to hobbies or
interests of people on your gift list are also a
great idea.
Centerpieces
Take a coffee can and hot glue candy canes around the outside.
Tie a holiday bow around the middle and fill with candies
or flowers. You can use it as a centerpiece or for a
treat next to your entry door.
Elegant Decorating
Decorations don't have to be in every nook and cranny.
A few flowers, greenery and candles scattered around
can look far more elegant in half the time.
Reduce Gift Extravagances
Don't try to prove your love through holiday gifts. Show
love and appreciation all year long and keep holiday
gifts extravagances down.
Buffet Or Family Style
Decide ahead of time whether you want to serve the meal
buffet or family style and set up accordingly.
Childproofing Your House
If you will be hosting families with very small children,
childproof your house in advance of the big day.
Put away fragile things; lock up medicines and keep
sharp items well out of reach.
Accept Help
Remember the first Thanksgiving was a community affair.
Take all offers of help for the big day.
Quick Gift Ideas
Fill a beautiful mug with a selection of teas and a
sprig of holly. Tie a ribbon around the handle and the
gift is ready to go.
New Year's Resolutions
Don't think in terms of "never" or "no more." Abstinence
leads to rebellion and failed resolutions.
Leftover Storage
Have plenty of plastic storage containers on hand so
leftovers can be packaged before they are put away and
sent home with guests later.
Plan Ahead
Brew the coffee for the dessert portion of the meal ahead
of time and keep it in a big thermos. Then pour it into
a decorative decanter just before serving. Coffee sitting
on a burner goes bitter quickly.
Shopping Stress
Don't let other shoppers stress engulf you. Stay calm
and relaxed during your holiday shopping. Try shopping
early in the morning to avoid holiday rush hour crowds.
Personal Shoppers
Internet shopping agents such as DealTime will track
items you are looking for and alert you via email when
they go on sale. Alleviate some of your holiday stress
by letting sites like this one do the shopping around
for you.
Card Record Book
Keep a record of holiday cards sent out and received.
That way no one will be left out.
Store Sales
Watch the window displays in stores. When they change
it's a sure sign that new merchandise has arrived and
previous merchandise has been moved to clearance racks.
Shopping Online
Begin shopping online early. Online shops have busy
holiday seasons too. Shop with reputable businesses that
offer secure payment areas and have a stated return
policy.
Quick Gift Ideas
Put bath goodies such as soap, powder, lotion and a
loofah into a lush towel. Roll up and tie with a fancy
ribbon.
Keep A Running Gift List
Keep a running list all year long and when family
members mention an item write it down to refer to later.
Air Travel
If traveling by air try to fly nonstop. Stops increase
your chances of delay, aggravation and lost luggage.
Try booking your flight well in advance in order to
secure a nonstop flight.
Holiday Joy
Make an unexpected phone call to someone on your
Christmas card list. A little good conversation goes
a long way in bringing holiday joy.
