What Happen to Christmas?

As the holiday season comes in full swing, many people get all hyped up for Christmas. Kids are excited about seeing Santa Clause and getting presents. Parents are excited about making their kids happy with lots of toys, along with baking delicious holiday goodies.. Even though Christmas isn't all about getting gifts, numerous people tend to see it that way. I guess the holiday season just isn't what it used to be. 

Presents, presents, and more presents. That's what kids look forward to. Kids don't care about helping others and spending time with family. All they want to do is play with their awesome toys. That's not what Christmas is about and parents nowadays don't even care that this is what they're teaching their kids. Many parents don't make their kids help out in a soup kitchen or donate one of their favorite toys they got to charity anymore. There are people out there that don't have anything, while kids are over here stuffing their face with gingerbread and playing with their new Xbox. I'm not saying that every person is like this however. Many parents still make their kids help out and give to charity, and not just around the holiday season. I applaud these parents because they're teaching their kids good morals, and not that material goods are all you need to be happy. If you have ever seen the look on a kid's face when they know they made someone else happy, you would exactly know what I'm talking about. Organizations such as the Salvation Army need your help and you don't have to donate your precious time by ringing the bell or anything. Something as simple as donating a couple of dollars can go along way, just watch this clip and you will understand.

Years ago, parents would force their kids to give to charity. Kids usually have a sour attitude at first but they eventually warm up to the idea because they know deep down that they're doing something good, which makes them feel good about themselves. If a child is raised in an environment where charity is something you do regularly, they're more likely to help out and give in their adult years. Many parents don't value that concept anymore. They don’t want to help out so why should they make their kids do it too? This kind of attitude is why we have charities and poverty in the world. Selfishness can lead to a chain reaction and doesn't help anyone in the long run. 

Word Count: 421

Christmas Shopping to the Extreme

In today's economy, people tend to have a strict budget with very little money to throw around. Every parent wants their kid to be surprised and ecstatic when they wake up Christmas morning to find that shiny red sports bike under the tree. Guys can't wait to see the thrilled look on their girlfriend's face when they hand them a nicely wrapped diamond necklace straight from Kay's Jewelers. Planning out how to get those sweet deals around the holidays can be both a blessing and a curse. Black Friday shopping and Cyber Monday perusing is one of the many ways to get that special someone the gift at the top of their wish list without spending a bundle. However, you could get those same deals throughout the whole month of December; as long as you can tell the difference between the good deals from the great deals. 

Having a tight budget doesn't make you poor, it just makes you normal. There are very few families out there who are financially set for life and you shouldn't feel ashamed about bringing in a coupon or a gift certificate. If you've ever seen Extreme Couponing, you would know what I'm talking about. They're not afraid to bring in a whole binder full of coupons, which explains why they're on the show Extreme Couponing. That's how businesses make money. On the contrary, you should feel proud when you hand the nice lady at the register the coupon you cut out of the paper. It shows the judgmental people around you that you're a smart shopper and know how to save a few bucks. Plus, you can do a lot with those few dollars you saved. Such as giving the extra money to a homeless shelter or someone in need. That way they can buy presents for their kids on Christmas day, just like you were trying to do. 

Before you go out shopping there are a few essentials you need to have. You need to have a list of things you need to buy; such as a list of presents for each of your friends and family. If you go out without a list in mind, you will end up buying more than you really need. Next, you need to have a clear budget in mind. Know how much you're willing to spend on each person. You don't want to spend twenty dollars on one friend and only ten on another. You should also have a set of stores in mind. No matter how much fun window shopping is, you don't want to buy something you think you really need when you don't all because you're in the shopping mood and have the money on hand.  

The most important thing you need to have before you go anywhere to shop, is some form of payment. Search through the ads in the paper for cut out coupons or any great deals you want to get in on. When you buy an item at a department store, they might staple a coupon to your receipt, in hopes that you return to their store soon. You never know what you'll find when you go through old receipts, so make sure to check there as well. Stores usually have websites where you can print off their coupons or have special deals going on online and in-stores. Many people don't know great deals are just a few clicks away. 

Christmas shopping can get pretty intense. All the deals and saving money can put a lot of strain on relationships, along with yourself. Don't let holiday shopping stress you out. No matter what you get your loved ones, they know that you love them. Christmas isn't about the presents, gifts, and money. It's about spending time with the people you love and as long as you try, they will love whatever you get them. 

Word Count: 648 

Santa's Lap Vs. Letter to Santa

Lap versus letter? This is the big question about Santa. As a parent, how would one decided which to go about perusing? Or is both acceptable? I can't speak for all those twenty and thirty something adults who have children around that age group, seeing as I'm still in high school, but I have been pondering this question for quite some time now. I know some parents don't approve of handing over their child to a complete stranger, let alone allowing them to get a picture taken with him. Plus many kids are terrified of the big guy. There are most definitely pros and cons to both; but in the end, which do you prefer? 

Most of the time, the kids get very little say in which way they get in contact with Santa Clause. Many parents like the tradition of getting their picture taken with the Santa in the mall, usually framing it and showing it off to the relatives. On the other hand, some parents don't feel comfortable with the mall Santa and would prefer a more distant relationship between their children and Santa. Another reason for the letters over the picture is because of the child's reaction. Seeing all those funny photos showing off Santa attempting to hold a crying baby may be fun to laugh about years later, but may be traumatizing for the kid. Ellen DeGeneres doesn't hold back when it comes showing off these wonderful screaming kids. On her talk show she does a segment called "Bad Paid For Santa Photos." These photos make some parents just skip the picture all together and stick to the letter. Better be safe than sorry. 

The letter on the other hand, does have it's pros and cons as well. Writing a letter to Santa can be much less of a hassle. You don't have to dress your kids up in those cute little outfits that they will probably hate and through a fit about later.  You don't have to trek all the way to the mall for your kids to scream while a nice lady is attempting to take their picture. You will save yourself from the embarrassment of your child still crying as you walk briskly out of the mall. Why put yourself through all of that when you could give the little guy a piece of paper and a pencil. Plus, if you drop off your letter in the big red mailbox in any Macy's Department Store, Macy's will donate $1 per letter to the Make A Wish Foundation. Knowing that your letter can help save lives in another incentive to write a letter to Santa. On the other hand however, many parents want their kids to face their fears and go see Santa in person instead of hiding behind a letter. It all depends on the family. 

Word Count: 473

Never Too Old for the Big Guy

Taking a picture with Santa Clause is a holiday tradition for many families with both toddlers and college kids. Some parents think as your kids get older, they won't want to do all these corny and childish traditions such as letters to Santa and sitting on his lap in the mall. But boy were they wrong! No one is too old to have their wish list read to the big guy in the red suit. Many parents frown upon this type of behavior when they should be encouraging their kids. Carrying on these traditions with their immediate family will help them start their own traditions with their future family someday.  

Taking pictures with Santa Clause just adds to the Christmas spirit so I don't see why people feel the need to tell their kids that they're too old. When your freshman in college comes home for the holidays after their first semester away from home, they tend to digress to a child like state because they miss being home. They miss being around family and being a kid. Once you're handed all that freedom in college, that's when some college students truly realize that they're pretty much on their own. They're an adult now. Every adult misses being a kid, whether they agree to that statement or not all depends on the person, but adults get to relive some childhood memories through their kids. Most college students don't have children, so they relive them by going home and acting like a kid around the family. It's a defense mechanism, or a way to cope with being away from home for the first time.  

Parents need to encourage this kind of behavior instead of giving them a stern talking to. When college kids come home for the holidays they want to relive all those good childhood memories, not the ones where they were scolded. Hopefully after a couple of years they will feel more comfortable being on their own and won't feel the need to act like a child, especially if they have kids of their own they can relive childhood memories with. Parents, try to encourage your kids as much as possible because hopefully one day they have traditions such as these with their own kids to ensure that they get a great childhood just like they had. 

Word Count: 388 

Who Says Christmas Has To Be Expensive?

Not every gift around the holiday season has to be elaborate and fancy. Many people nowadays actually prefer homemade gifts over high end jewelry, especially if they know it was made with a little TLC. With Pinterest being such a big hit, many people have looked to the internet to find ideas as to what to make, instead of get, for their friends and family this Christmas. There are many stores out there such as Hobby Lobby, which is my personal favorite, where you can buy all the materials you may need for homemade gifts for a very low cost. 

Something as simple as hot chocolate and marshmallows can make someone smile as big as the moon. Instead of handing them a couple of packets of hot chocolate mix, you can make it creative by putting them in a huge coffee mug. Or you can get a Mason Jar, fill it half full of hot chocolate mix, then a layer of or two or marshmallows, then a layer of chocolate chips, and a layer of little peppermint candies to top it off. Make sure you seal the lid so everything doesn't come tumbling out when you hand it to them.  Being creative can turn a simple gift into a smile. 

Something very similar to the hot chocolate in a jar, could be as simple as a jar full of festive candies. It doesn't have to be just festive candies either. It could be someone's favorite type of candy or any kind of candy you think they might enjoy. Fill the Mason Jar full of whatever candy or goody you have decided on, then seal the lid and you can decorate the outside however you would like. You can wrap it in an assortment of ribbons and bows, you can put stickers on it, you can paint it, you could even bedazzle it. As long as you made it yourself, your loved on is going to love it. 

Handmade Christmas ornaments are always a big hit with the grandparents. If you have little kids, or even if you're a college student, no family member can say no to a cute make-it-yourself Christmas tree ornament. You can buy just a plain bulb ornament at Hobby Lobby for a couple of dollars and decorate it with sparkles, paint, ribbon, etc. When it comes to decorating a Christmas gift, the possibilities are endless. 

If you have someone going off to college, their Christmas list might look something like this: décor for the walls, command strips, towels, a shower caddy, lotions, a loofah, a flat screen TV, a microwave, etc. You can buy a lot of these kinds of things at the dollar general store; obviously not the more expensive items, but almost everything else. Buy a couple of these essentials they will need for college and put them in a cute little basket. Slap on a bow and a card and you've got yourself a present.  

For a Secret Santa gift, if you don't know the person all that well, it can be kind of tough. However, if you know a couple of their favorites, it makes things a whole lot easier. Things such as their favorite candy, favorite color, favorite movie, favorite kind of gum, etc. You can easily go out and buy some of their favorites and not have to spend a whole paycheck by going to your local general store; they're bound to have what you're looking for. You can put all these items in a cute little box or bag and viola! You have your Secret Santa gift.

Word Count: 598

Ugly Sweater Contests: New Holiday Traditions

For some odd reason, people find it amusing to host ugly sweater parties around the holiday season. I'm not entirely sure how or where this all got started, but whomever is responsible for this new tradition that has been adopted by many people around the world, definitely has something to cheer about this Christmas. When choosing an ugly sweater you mustn't just pick one at random. There are many different things to consider when choosing which sweater looks worse. 

If you were to wear an ugly sweater out in public about thirty years ago, you would probably get laughed at. Nowadays, people compliment others on their horrible attire and think they're "cool" and "hipster." But who decides what's hipster and what's not? Just because someone calls you hipster doesn't make you one. It's all about opinion. One person may believe you're a hipster and another might think you're trying too hard to be cool. Same goes for an ugly sweater. It's pretty bad and embarrassing if someone comes up to you and compliments you on a sweater they think is cute when you prefer to call it hideous. Or if you compliment someone on having an ugly sweater when they didn't intend on wearing it to be funny or a joke. Just to be safe, if you want to compliment someone on an ugly sweater, you might be better off saying something like, "Nice sweater!" This way they can't tell if you mean it sincerely or if you think it's hipster because it's ugly. 

Styles and fads from twenty to thirty years ago are coming back around and becoming a part of today's culture. The type of sweaters that are considered ugly today were more than likely "in" at one point and seen as fashionable many years ago. These types of attire are coming back into style but not exactly in the best of light. People take pride in wearing these old looking sweaters because people think they're ugly and that's the punchline. Ugly sweaters are meant to be funny. The reason people wear them is to get a reaction from other people and to be noticed.  

Seeing as ugly sweaters have become such a popular style, many department stores are selling them at higher and higher prices every year around the holidays. Some sweaters go for thirty to forty dollars at certain stores. However, what most people don't know is that you can buy an authentic ugly sweater at consignment stores such as Goodwill and Stuff Etc. Ugly sweaters look better if they're worn out because it shows that someone did wear it as a fashionable outfit at one point. Knowing that someone wore a sweater so ugly and thought it was cute just adds to the comicalness of the sweater. 

Word Count: 464

Black Friday Shopping

Black Friday shopping has become somewhat of a big deal now a days. It used to be where stores would open their doors at five or six in the morning on the day after Thanksgiving to allow people get a head start on their Christmas shopping. Now, stores are advertising that they will be opening at midnight and eleven P.M. on Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving is a time for family to be together and be thankful for what they have, not a time to trample over people and fight over who saw it first.  

Thanksgiving is a time for showing people how much you appreciate them and a time to give thanks for everything you have been blessed with. People in society have turned a day of thanks into a day of competition and greed. To beat out other stores, many department stores have advertised they’re opening their doors on Thanksgiving Day as early as five P.M. Because of the new opening times, some people decide to spend their Thanksgiving Day standing in line, in freezing cold weather, instead of inside a warm house with their family, eating turkey and gravy like most people.  

Greed tends to take over most people on the day after Thanksgiving; even on the day of Thanksgiving. Black Friday shopping brings out the evil in most people. All they care about it getting what they want at the lowest price possible. Even the most unselfish people can turn on you while shopping at three in the morning; it may also have something to do with sleep deprivation. People will stand in line for hours on end on Thanksgiving Day and don’t find time to sleep. Energy drinks and coffee tend to be people’s main source of energy.  

Black Friday shopping isn't all bad though. Many people take advantage of the lower prices to get Christmas gifts for their loved ones at prices they can afford. 

Word Count: 320