Thanks for the article from Laura Ryan

Christmas Shopping can be a pain in the butt especially if you wait until the last minute to go. I always plan every year to go shopping in November but it never seems to work that way. I hate Christmas shopping in December but because we go in a group of about 017 people, we always end up having the time of our lives.

My husband, his parents, me and my parents, and our brothers and sisters all stay at my house the night before we go shopping. We all get up at five in the morning to beat the traffic. I get dressed first and cook breakfast while everyone else get dressed. Once everyone is all bundled up and ready to go. I set my home security alarm (Adt Home Security pricing) as we all head out the door.

There is no specific place we visit, but we like to catch all the sales first. There is this area with about fifty stores within walking distance that we like to hit first before we go anywhere else. Thank god for the walkie talkies we use every year because we all seem to scatter out and get lost when are looking for gifts. Once everyone is finished, we have this spot in the same area where we meet up to have a few drinks. I enjoy Christmas shopping because I get to spend time with my family.

Guest post written by Keith Johnston

Even though I am making a salary now as a college graduate, a big part of that is going towards paying off student loans, so I don't have a whole lot of money to celebrate the holidays this year like I consider how a salaried adult should. Lucky for me though, my parents' house is just a few hours' drive away so I don't have to spend much money on getting home for the holidays.

So I'm trying to come up with ways to save on the holidays this year. I've been looking online to come up with some ideas for stuff to make my family for presents. When I was doing that last night, I saw some stuff about clear wireless internet prices and after looking through it, I think I've decided to change my internet service at my apartment to it.

Well, I found all kinds of homemade gift ideas, but it was tough finding ones that I thought my family would actually like. I think IÕm going to make a bird house for my parents to put in their garden, as for my sister, IÕm still not sure what to make her.

Black Friday Here I Come

Thanks for the post, Reynaldo Conley

My favorite time of year is here and I got my list from the kids last night on what they wanted for Christmas this year. I got to admit I am excited this year with seeing what is in the sale papers so far. My daughter is begging me like crazy to buy her a Barbie doll collector 2010 and not to mention a Barbie doll house to play with these barbies in. And my son, well hes at that expensive stage. Hes pitching a fit for a laptop computer. All I can say is thank God for my husbands bonus that came in right in the nick of time.

My husband is already mad at me. This time of year he hates it since I force him to come with me. But who else is going to carry everything I buy that day. Target, Wally World, KMart, and the mall better watch out. I got my husbands check and know how to use it. At least my husband is the logical one. He is the one that alwayss remember to set the all home security system on the house before we leave. If it was left up to me I would most likely forget.

Hey Everyone,

Volunteer of American will be opening up there system to apply for help for the Holiday. You can fill out the application online starting September 10th...

Read below or go to Volunteer of American website... Net



Adopt A Family 2010

Apply for Help Here (Applications Open September 10th)

Be a Sponsor for a Family or Make a Donation Here (Coming Soon!)



How do I qualify for Adopt A Family?

Families with children 15 years and under may apply for Adopt A Family. Seniors 62 and older may apply for Adopt A Senior. Your income may be no more than 20% above the poverty line for the number of people in your household. You must submit the following documents by mail to the Adopt A Family office within 7 days of completing the online application

1.Copy of Driver's License or State picture ID with current address (be sure to copy both sides of the licence if you have a change of address sticker on the back)

2.Copy of your current Eligibility Notice from DHS or Proof of Income (Pay stubs from the past month, SSI paperwork, etc.)

3.Copy of Birth Certificate or Guardianship papers (official court documents or letter from child's school) for each child 15 and under.



Documents may be sent to:

Adopt-A-Family Christmas Program
PO Box 37525
Oak Park, Michigan 48237
Fax: 248-353-7955


We must receive this documentation within 7 days or your application may be rejected. Thank you for your cooperation.

I want to say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to the following:

To all my Online friends worldwide..Facebook, Friendster and Blogger..

To my Filipino friends in the Philippines and Michigan..

To my American friends in Michigan..

To my Mother in law, Brother in law and hubby's relatives..

To my Family in the Philippines..

To my husband and kids..

Thank you so much for all your gifts, greetings and wishes. May you have a wonderful life ahead. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Early birthday gift for Riona from Dad

Exchange Gift for me & my hubby from Pareng Ross of MA-L

Gift from Anabelle of FSFF

Lola Jo Christmas gift for me and my hubby



My Birthday gift from Hubby

Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas/Sinterklaas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or simply "Santa", is a legendary figure who, in many Western cultures, brings gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24[1] or on his Feast Day, December 6 (Saint Nicholas Day).[2] The legend may have part of its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of gift giver Saint Nicholas. A nearly identical story is attributed by Greek and Byzantine folklore to Basil of Caesarea. Basil's feast day on January 1 is considered the time of exchanging gifts in Greece.

While Saint Nicholas was originally portrayed wearing bishop's robes, today Santa Claus is generally depicted as a plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots. This image became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast.[3][4][5] This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, and films. In the United Kingdom and Europe, he is often depicted in a manner identical to the American Santa Claus, but he is commonly called Father Christmas.

One legend[which?] associated with Santa Claus says that he lives in the far north, in a land of perpetual snow. The American version of Santa Claus says that he lives at his house on the North Pole, while Father Christmas is often said[by whom?] to reside in the mountains of Korvatunturi in Lapland Province, Finland. Santa Claus lives with his wife Mrs. Claus, a countless number of magical elves, and eight or nine flying reindeer. Another legend[which?] of Santa Claus says that he makes a list of children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behavior ("naughty" or "nice") and that he delivers presents, including toys, candy, and other gifts to all of the good boys and girls in the world, and sometimes coal to the naughty children, on the single night of Christmas Eve. He accomplishes this feat with the aid of the elves who make the toys in the workshop and the reindeer who pull his sleigh.[6][7]