Friday, November 9, 2012

Barbie Pink 3-Story Dream Townhouse

Barbie Pink 3-Story Dream Townhouse: Be a part of Barbie�s luxurious lifestyle in her new 3-Story Dream Townhouse. Designed for ages three and up, the Dream Townhouse stands over three feet tall and comes fully furnished � including lights and sounds on each level!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Christmas Dinner Ideas

When the stockings have been filled then emptied and after Santa has made his appointed rounds families around the globe begin the preparations (or in some instances continue them) to prepare the family feast that is most often associated with Christmas Dinner. There are many traditions around the world though sadly far too few families have the opportunity to experience some of the rich traditions and delicious foods that mark the Christmas holidays in other corners of the globe, or even across each individual nation.

In certain parts of Italy, because of the Catholic tradition of abstaining from red meat on Christmas Eve day, there is a tradition of having fish for the evening meal. This is commonly referred to as a 7 fishes dinner and is a fascinating tradition for those who enjoy seafood. It's certainly a new and refreshing dinner idea for many people if you are looking for something a little different from the ordinary. Even if fish really isn't your food of choice there is no rule that says you can't prepare a nice Italian feast for your Christmas dinner. The important thing is that you have friends and family gathered near and prepare the food with love. You do not have to have turkey or ham in order for the meal to qualify as Christmas and there is no reason that you have to stick with traditions that you really do not enjoy.

A traditional German Christmas dinner might be a neat tradition to try in America as well if you are looking to introduce your family to various cultures or just want to do a little something extraordinary for Christmas this year. One thing to note is that many Germans have their Christmas Dinner on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day. A traditional German Christmas dinner often consists of dishes such as stuffed Christmas Goose, Potato Dumplings, Red Cabbage, and Baked Apples for dessert. Of course you do not have to choose a traditional Christmas dinner for your Christmas German cuisine there are plenty of great German dishes that can be enjoyed if you wish to bring a German theme to your Christmas table. Do whatever tastes good and it might be best to choose foods that are relatively easy to prepare rather than those that are time consuming so that you can enjoy time with friends and family rather than cooped up in the kitchen.

If a taste of the UK is what you have in mind for your Christmas Dinner table then you might find the foods bring a flavor that is a little closer to home than you may realize. Popular Christmas dinner favorites in the UK include dishes such as roasted turkey, roasted potatoes, brussel sprouts, dressing, and pudding pie. One interesting tradition that is popular in the UK is that of Christmas crackers, which hold little gifts and goodies inside.

Another interesting choice for your Christmas table may be to include your favorite Mexican dishes for dinner. Most Americans have a soft spot for Mexican cuisine and it is definitely warming to eat on a cold winter's day. The point is to make your Christmas dinner menu fun to eat, fun to prepare, and something that is likely to make your guests smile while building fond memories of your Christmas day.

The same may be said of most cuisines, even those from cultures that do not traditionally celebrate Christmas. Thai, Indian, Chinese foods make wonderful themes for a Christmas table if you are knowledgeable about the cuisine and willing to undertake the tasks of preparation as part of your Christmas dinner plans. The trick is really in finding dishes that are relatively simple to prepare, difficult to mess up, and can easily be skipped in the event that something does go wrong. There are tons of distractions on Christmas in most households and you do not want Christmas dinner ruined because one dish is proving difficult or impossible or (heaven forbid) gets burned, dropped on the floor, or eaten by the dog.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Ideas On Decorating Your Lawn For Christmas

When many of us think of outdoor Christmas decorations, yard signs and inflatable Christmas characters often come to mind. While many homeowners do choose to decorate their homes with inflatable Christmas characters and yard signs, there are others who feel that those types of outdoor Christmas decorations are too extreme. If you would like to decorate your lawn for Christmas, without shoving your Christmas spirit down your neighbor’s throat, you can. There are a number of outdoor Christmas decorations designed for individuals just like you.

One of the best ways to go about decorating your lawn for Christmas, without going overboard, is to replace the items that you already have in your yard. You will want to make those replacements be ones that have a Christmas theme. For instance, if you have a number of potted plants or flowers out in your yard, there is a good chance that they are in a traditional flower pot. Did you know that you can purchase Christmas planters? Christmas planters are just like the planters that you may be using now, but they often have a Christmas or a holiday theme to them. You should be able to find Christmas planters that come in Christmas colors or ones that have Christmas designs, such as Santa or snowflakes. Christmas planters are an easy way to decorate the outside of your home for the holidays.

If you are a homeowner who has trees in your yard, there is a good chance that you have a birdhouse in at least one of those trees. Did you know that you can buy Christmas themed birdhouses? For the holiday season, you could easily replace your traditional birdhouse with one that has a Christmas theme. Christmas birdhouses come in a number of different sizes, shapes, and styles. Popular birdhouse shapes includes those that are shaped as churches, but it is also possible to find birdhouses that are shaped like snow sleds or something else similar in nature. Christmas birdhouses are another easy way that you can bring a little bit of Christmas spirit to your front or backyard.

Another way that you can quietly, but effectively decorate your front yard for Christmas is by purchasing Christmas stepping stones. Christmas stepping stones look great in any yard or along any walkway. As with most other outdoor Christmas decorations, Christmas stepping stones also come in a number of different sizes, shapes, and styles. Regardless of the size and shape of each stepping stone, you will find that most come with a Christmas or holiday design. It is not uncommon to find Christmas stepping stones that are decorated with snowflakes or Christmas trees. Depending on where you are shopping, additional designs may also be available.

As beautiful as Christmas birdhouses, planters, and stepping stones are, they are items that often go unnoticed or un-purchased. For that reason, it may be a little bit difficult for you to find the above mentioned Christmas decorations in one of your local retail stores. It may be possible to purchase these amazing, but unique outdoor Christmas decorations from a specialty Christmas shop, but for the largest selection of outdoor Christmas decorations, you are advised to shop online. You can easily find a number of retailers that specialize in selling the above mentioned outdoor Christmas decorations by performing a standard internet search.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Monster High Venus McFlytrap Doll








Monster High Venus McFlytrap Doll: The Monster High student body continues to grrr-ow with four new ghouls enrolling this year.

 Like her fellow classmates, Venus McFlytrap doll has a signature style with lots of scary cool details and an ancient monster heritage. Venus McFlytrap grows for a London punk style made more unique with her perennial green hue and vine details.

She has been known to use her pollen powers of persuasion to get the other monsters to volunteer for ecological causes. She comes with her pet, a Venus Flytrap (of course.), and diary. The teenage children of the legendary monster menaces have gathered together under one roof to attend high school at Monster High. These ghouls are wild, they're fierce and they're totally trendy.

They've left their parents' outdated haunting habits behind to form a killer style all their own. Collect all your favorite Monster High Dolls. Each doll sold separately.

 

Saturday, August 25, 2012

LeapFrog LeapPad2 Explorer, Pink

 

LeapFrog LeapPad2 Explorer inspires kids to create and explore with front-and-back cameras and video recorders, 4GB of memory, a faster processor and a library of 325+ game cartridges and downloadable apps. Unlock your child's imagination and potential with eBooks, videos, music, creativity studios, games and more! 

LeapFrog LeapPad2 Explorer Features

  • LeapPad2 Explorer inspires kids to imagine and explore with new front-and-back cameras and a library of 325+ applications
  • Capture your world in two ways with front and back cameras/video recorders
  • Children ages 3 to 9 can explore a library of 325+ cartridges and downloadable apps, including games, videos, music, and creativity apps
  • Draws from more than 2500 skills in subjects like reading, art, music, language and culture, science, geography, mathematics, health and more
  • Requires 4 AA batteries (not included). Now compatible with the LeapPad2 Recharger Pack (sold separately)

Help your child have fun while developing his or her skills in reading, art and more with this LeapFrog LeapPad2 Explorer 32615 tablet that features a 5" touch screen for simple control.

Five preloaded apps let your child start learning right away.






Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Monster High Fearbook Journal







Monster High Electronic Fearbook: Find out more about life at Monster High in the awesome Fearbook. Insert the skull key to unlock the Fearbook and access the specially locked section that will let you write secret messages with your magic reveal pen.


Monster High Fearbook Journal Features

  • Find out more about life at Monster High in the awesome Fearbook Journal
  • Use the skull key to unlock the Fearbook features
  • Access specially locked section to write secret messages
  • Secret compartment to hide magic reveal pen, marker, comp book, and stickers
  • Record messages to play back to yourself



The skull key also unlocks the inside compartment that hides the magic reveal pen and marker, composition book and stickers.

There is also a button on the inside that kids can press to record a message that they can play back to themselves. Includes 3 sheets of content, skull key, composition book, sticker sheets, magic reveal pen, and a marker.










Monday, August 13, 2012

Treetopia: Find Funky Christmas Trees


Are you tired of the same old, same old when it comes to the Christmas season and are wondering how can liven up your Christmas tree. Well, look no further. Treetopia is most imaginative selection of artificial trees you will find. Everything you've always wanted (and many already have not even thought) can be found.
Our favorites include:
It struck Upside Down Christmas Tree (pictured above)



Tree of Christmas of Candy Corn colossal


 
Pink dazzling Diva tinsel Christmas tree

Would you ever invited one of these Christmas trees into your home during the holidays?



View the original article here

Friday, August 10, 2012

12 Creative Ways to Recycle Your Christmas Cards!

Don't throw your Christmas cards away! There are so many creative ways to use your Christmas cards, many of which you can do with your kids. We have brought together some ideas below.


Christmas jigsaw game:


Make a Christmas jigsaw game. Gather 10-20 cards and cut each one into 3 or 4 pieces, using straight lines. Shuffle them up and lay them out on a flat service such as a dining table or the floor - then put them back together again! Store the cards in a shoebox for next time. This is fun on a quiet family evening at the beginning of the season as it helps to get everybody into the Christmas spirit!


Christmas tree ornaments:


Make cinnamon stick ornaments for the Christmas tree. Wrap a small bundle of cinnamon sticks together with a pretty ribbon tied in a bow (leave a loop for hanging). Using a small dab of glue, attach a pretty shape cut from a Christmas card with pinking shears to the centre of the ribbon bow to finish the ornament off. These look pretty and smell delicious too!


Scented sachets


Make scented sachets to give as gifts or fragrance your own home. Simply glue the bottom and side edges of the card together and then slip a small amount of potpourri (or a cotton ball on which you have dropped a little Christmas essential oil) into the space. Use a hole punch to make two holes on the top edge, through which you can thread a pretty ribbon before tying a bow. If you leave a loop in the ribbon, the sachets can be hung on door handles, coat hooks or radiators (the heat will help to release the scent, but it won't last as long) to create a welcoming, Christmas atmosphere.


Christmas mobile or "string":


Cut shapes out of the cards in matching pairs. Hearts work nicely, as do simple Christmas tree shapes and even plain squares and circles. Stick the cards back to back and laminate them, then punch a hole in them and use to make a colorful and child-friendly mobile or "string" to decorate next year. You could add to this every year. As a variation, you could back each shape with a plain-colored piece of card or construction paper and write on it the date and name of the person who sent the card.


Christmas card game:


Cut playing-card shapes out of the cards, stick a piece of plain card over any writing if necessary, and use to make a Christmas game or quiz for your children to play next year. Laminate to protect.


Gift tags:


A traditional activity, but one which never fails to amuse the kids, is making gift tags for next year's presents. Use pinking sheers, a hole punch, and leftover ribbon


Gift bags:


Make gift bags for next year by saving smart paper bags. Cut a nice shape out of each card and stick it to the front of the bag (covering any shop labels if necessary). Sometimes one Christmas card will yield many different bag decorations! Add a little ribbon bow just above the card and wrap your present in tissue paper before putting it into the bag. This looks lovely with brown paper bags and tartan ribbons.


Miniature Christmas cards:


Some Christmas card designs can be cut and folded into miniature Christmas cards for the kids to give next year, or for decorating the dolls house.


Christmas screensaver:


Scan your favorite cards into the computer - and some of your favorite messages from inside the cards as well - and make them into a Christmas wallpaper or screensaver with a photo program. Children love this and it is a great memento if you do it each year.


Lacing card:


Cut out the pictures on the larger cards, punch holes around the edges with a hole punch, add a shoelace or brightly colored yarn (with sticky tape wrapped around the ends) and you have a cheerful and cheap lacing card for little ones. If they are particularly popular you could laminate them to make them last longer.


Christmas confetti


Make some Christmas confetti to use next year (scatter it on the Christmas table, or put a pinch inside your Christmas cards and gifts!) Use either a plain hole punch or a special Christmas one (both together look great) and choose the most colorful areas from each card to cut. Gold and silver looks very effective, especially mixed in with red and green. Small scraps of leftover wrapping paper can be used too. You can keep the children busy with this for hours!