Christmas Ideas
Safety First for Christmas Lights
It’s that time of year again; Christmas is in the air! Children are filled with excitement, stores are changing their display shelves to more festive holiday ware, and people are decorating both the interior and exterior of their homes. One of these decorations includes outdoor Christmas lights.
Yes, it wouldn’t be Christmas without the glow of brightly illuminated icicles hanging from the roof, or houses trimmed with green and red lights lending their beauty during the winter evenings. However, studies have shown that more accidents occur during the Christmas holiday due to hanging and arranging outdoor Christmas lights, than any other holiday season. To prevent tragedy from occurring, here are some things that you should do to lower your risk of injury due to faulty outdoor Christmas lights.
It is common practice to store Christmas decorations, including outdoor Christmas lights and use them the next season. This practice should be handled carefully to ensure everyone’s safety. First, when you are looking through your lights, especially those lights, which have been stored away, it is imperative to double-check them. You should look for any missing or broken bulbs and replace them before using.
Checking the wires is also an important step to take before using outdoor Christmas lights. Make sure that none of the strands are cut or frayed. If your lights are damaged, it is wise to throw them away and purchase a new pair. Your safety is worth much more than the cost of Christmas tree lights; your family’s well being should be a priority. When hanging lights, be sure that you use a ladder that is sturdy and durable. Secure the lights firmly to the structure you are decorating to prevent them being blown by heavy winds.
Many people like to string Christmas lights around outdoor trees. However, many experts disagree with this practice. If one of the lights becomes damaged it can cause the entire tree to become an electrical hotbed. There have been cases of people becoming injured from making physical contact with just a branch from the tree. Try using other lights (such as spot lights) aimed at the tree rather than stringing Christmas lights on the tree themselves.
Though you may be tempted to have the most splendid yard in the neighborhood, you should always turn off your outdoor Christmas lights before retiring for the evening. If the lights short out, they could cause a fire so it is best to ensure that all lights are turned off as a preventive and safety measure. Never connect more than three strands of Christmas lights to one extension cord.
In general, remember that children are very curious when you are hanging or displaying outdoor Christmas lights. Make sure that all of your lights are strung carefully and out of children’s reach. Secure all Christmas decorations so that children cannot easily access them as well. You may need to make sure that your gate is locked when you are not home to prevent any curious onlookers from entering your property. Remember to always turn off your Christmas lights when you are not home.
By implementing these safety standards you can ensure that your holiday will not only be joyous and merry, but safe as well.
Handmade Christmas Gifts: Gift Jars
With Christmas approaching, now is a good time to begin planning your Christmas gifts list. One great way to make sure that you have enough gifts for everyone on your list, while maintaining your budget, is to create special and unique handmade presents such as Christmas gift jars.
Christmas gifts in a jar are not only easy on your budget, but are special and are treasured by all who receive them. You are only limited by your creativity and imagination when it comes to the creation of these wonderful presents. Decorative labels can be printed to add a special touch to your gift and handmade fabric covered lids add a nice finished touch to the overall appearance of your gift.
However, the true value is what you choose to place inside your Christmas gift jar. You can create gift jars that contain ingredients for recipes such as cookies, puddings, or cakes. Or you may choose to create a special Christmas gift jar that contains the ingredients necessary to make a wonderful beauty treatment.
Now, you will need to create recipe cards for the directions for your gifts. The jars will contain all of the dry ingredients layered in a nice arrangement. You may even choose to add some extras to your gifts, such as cooking spoons, baking pans, measuring cups, bowls, pot holders, oven gloves, etc. The choice is yours! All ingredients such as liquids, butter, or grease will not be added to the jar because they will ruin the contents. You will need to list these ingredients along with their measurements on the recipe card. If your handwriting is legible and nice, you may decide to hand write your recipes, otherwise you can print them on your home computer.
Christmas Almond Cookies
Layer the following ingredients in a mason jar:
2 lbs of almonds that have been chopped in a food processor.
2 cups of sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt.
Recipe Card:
2 lbs of almonds (shelled and put through food processor)
2 cups of sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon Virgin Olive Oil
5 eggs lightly beaten
Preheat oven to 350’ then butter and lightly flour a cookie sheet.
Combine all ingredients, adding eggs last and mix thoroughly. Drop mixture by spoonfuls on to cookie sheet. Raise the oven temperature to 375’ and bake until golden, roughly 7 minutes. Let cookies cool before serving.
Bath Salts
By using simple ingredients such as Epsom Salts or Sea Salts, and aromatic oils you can create wonderfully refreshing Christmas gift jars filled with bath salts that will help heal, revitalize, and relax the recipient. When creating aromatic bath salts, it is important to use the recommended amounts of essential oils to ensure that your salts will not be irritating to the skin.
To create your own special Bath Salts use 3 cups of Epsom salts or Sea Salt, and blend with 15 drops of your selected essential oil. Some oils may be irritating to the skin, so be sure to read the labels of all essential oils before choosing your blend. Some great choices however include: Sandalwood, Chamomile, Patchouli, Lavender, and Jasmine.
Whether you create your own bath salts or food recipes, you will find that giving Christmas gift jars are wonderfully appreciated by all who receive them.
