Overcoming Anxiety at the Holidays

Photo: Psycharity

Even the most calm and organized among us can become overwhelmed with the extra obligations and demands the holidays bring, but overcoming anxiety and holiday stress is simple if you follow a few tricks.

Plan a budget and stick to it. Nothing causes more stress than racking up those credit card bills and stewing over how you will pay them after the holidays. Whatever your finances allow in the way of gift giving will be more than enough. Although the holidays have become overly commercialized, gift giving isn't the intended purpose of the celebrations.

Plan ahead. Undoubtedly there will be parties, school concerts and other engagements. Mark them on the calendar and decide when the agenda is full. Realistically, you'll never be able to attend every function, and it will reach a point when you'll have to start declining invitations. Running from place to place, trying to fit everything in, will quickly lead to a decline in your sanity.

Leave yourself plenty of time for shopping. Last-minute shopping with droves of bickering customers will wreak havoc on anyone's nerves. Start making purchases well in advance of the holidays, and avoid trips to the mall during peak shopping hours. Use the Web to shop and eliminate the stress of the mall altogether.

Remember to eat properly. Although you may be pressed for time and needing to grab meals on the go, your body still needs proper nourishment. Ensuring you're providing your body a well-balanced diet will help preserve your mental state.

Employ the help of others. You may be feeling the pressure of trying to accomplish everything yourself. Arm your spouse with a list, and send them into that jungle to pick up some items. Put your kids to work, and allow them to decorate, wrap gifts or whatever else they are capable of. You're only one person, not a super hero.

Don't overextend yourself. At this time of year it is nice to be generous by donating your time to a worthy cause, but there has to be a limit. As long as you keep obliging, they'll keep asking. Do your part and trust others will do theirs. Helping those in need is a noble quality, but, when it becomes all consuming, you can quickly burn out and become frazzled.

Allow yourself some down time. No matter what your busy schedule entails, your well-being is important, and you deserve some time to relax. Scheduling yourself for a massage is the ultimate stress eraser. Soak in a nice warm bath, or lay on the couch and read a book. It doesn't matter what you do, as long as your focus is totally on you.

If you're hosting a large gathering, don't attempt to prepare dinner for the multitudes on your own. Spending three days in the kitchen preparing the perfect meal is beyond stressful. It verges on insanity. Assigning everyone who's coming a dish to bring will make your life simpler and alleviate plenty of anxiety.

Celebrating the holidays should fill you with the joy and spirit of the season, not stress and anxiety. Ensuring you retain your peace of mind during this chaotic time will see you emerge from the holidays as jolly as Old Saint Nick himself.

Source: life123.com

The History of Christmas stocking

While no official documentation can trace the history of Christmas stockings, several legends told about the kindly Saint Nicholas inspired the tradition. Now, many Christians hang stockings in anticipation of a visit from St. Nick.

One legend tells of a poor man unable to provide dowries for his three daughters. Without a good marriage, the girls were doomed to a life of slavery and servitude. Saint Nicholas heard of their plight and secretly conspired to help them. In the tradition of the day, the girls would wash laundry, including socks, and hang the laundry up to dry by the fire overnight. Saint Nicholas is said to have secretly thrown a bag of gold into the house, and one bag wound up in each of the girls' stockings.

Worldwide, other origin stories focus more on children's shoes than on their stockings. One story about the origin of Christmas stockings can be traced back to France and the Netherlands. Dutch children would fill their wooden clogs with hay for Sintirklaas' horses. In the morning, the straw would be gone and small treats left in its place. Eventually, the tradition evolved into stockings by the fireplace.

Other shoe traditions from around the world have emerged. In Italy, children leave their shoes out on the night of Epiphany (January 6) for a good witch named La Befana to fill with treats. In Puerto Rico, children celebrate Three Kings Day and put flowers and leaves in small boxes for the wise men's camels. As different cultures moved to the United States, the customs and traditions merged over the years.

The Christmas stocking found a permanent place in Christmas tradition when Clement Clarke Moore's famous poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas" was published in 1822. In the verses, Moore mentions that, "the stockings were hung by the chimney with care / in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there." Later in the poem, St. Nicholas fills each stocking with toys and sweets.

Today, most Christmas stockings in the United States are produced commercially, and many feature different themes, such as animals, baby boys or girls, TV characters or simple Christmas themes. The stockings are only used at Christmas and most are personalized with the child's name

Source: life123.com

Holidays in Thailand: Finding Great Hotels-- Railay Village Resort & Spa

Photo credit: www.tripadvisor.com

Thailand the great place to visit attracts millions of visitors because of the natural beauty of the country. This country is one of the best place to visit in Asia. So, who have a plan to visit Asian country in their holidays my suggestion is to choose this country. In my point of view you will never say after your visit "Moman has advised me to choose a wrong place to spend my holidays" or "F...K moman you misguided me!!".


One of the most beautiful spot in Thailand is Railay Beach. The beach is most attractive not only for its natural beauty but also the high tides and surfers surly likes this place to spend their times by surfing there.

Its a big issue to find the best place to spend holidays and its a more complicated issue to find the suitable hotels near your targeted spots. To solve this issue there are lots of hotels and resorts in Thailand near the Railay Beach. Most of the hotels and resorts have the facilities of Free internet (Wifi), Swimming pools, Tennis courts and spa.

Railay Village Resorts and Spa is one of the best resorts in Thailand. Because you not only can enjoy the natural beauty but also will have all the modern facilities. I am sure after spending your holidays there you will appreciate me to find the best holidays places for you and your family.

So, why are you too late??

Just book your holidays in Thailand and visit the land of White Elephant..

Happy Holidays........:)

Small gift Big Smile :)

About 4000 years ago chocolate was first originated from Cacao Tree in Central America and Amazon. By the Olmec Civilization between 3500 and 2500 years ago Cacao tree was first cultivated. To make chocolate drink the cacao beans were roasted first and then grounded.  The Aztecs and Mayans knew the value of cacao beans and they first used the cacao beans as currency. With the passes of time this drink got huge popularity.  And in 1765 first Chocolate was invented.

By John Hanan the cacao beans were brought from West Indies to England where the first Chocolate Bar was made.  The period of the time was mid of 1847.

Since then the chocolate became the most attractive things to the children’s. Among the school boys and girls the popularity is in the highest level.

We can see now many types of chocolates by the invention power of Kitkat and Cadbury Dairy Milk. No one can resist their temptation if they are offered to take some delicious Chocolate.

Bless you Cacao Tree!!

Flower: The Best Gift

                                       

Flowers are the best gift in any sense:
From the ancient time flowers are treated as the mostly recommended gift. The peoples who had a wish to give some lovely gift or surprise usually offered flowers. It was a common thing to Welcome someone or to visit somebodies house with different types of flowers.
If we look back the ancient time, we can see that it was very common for all types of people (The Royal people or the common people) to offer flowers to their beloved.
Now a days the practice is being changing.  As we are in the time of latest technology, people offers their beloved by virtual flowers (the image of the flowers). I think you will disagree with me. Because I strongly believe that, you people always like the flowers which are fresh and picked  from the gardens.
Many people earn their livelihood by selling flowers. In Netherlands there is a huge market to sell /buy flowers. It has also made an extra income who are interested about gardening.
Today many super shop or online shop also have the facility to buy flowers from your own device and can make gift to your beloved peoples. As a result we can buy flowers easily and can send them to our desired address within a click.

Ding Dong! The bell of Christmas is ringing

Photo Credit: ELFSTR

I can hear the ringing bell of Christmas. Yes, you are right, the biggest festival for the Christian community. People who are from this community are eagerly waiting to celebrate the day.
They celebrate the day by doing different types of activities. Among these the most common thing is to exchange gifts with the dearest and nearest peoples.
Peoples tries to find out the best gifts for their beloved which is affordable and which is attractive.
Now a days some companies emphasizing on online shopping and they also offer special discounts on each buying or bulk buying during this period of time. There is also an option to buy X-mas card or flower budget from online and they will deliver your purchased item to where or whom you want to make the gift. Its an easy option because you will have plenty of time to buy the right thing among the lots of attractive items. It is easy to find out the right product within your budget. You can buy from your home by using the laptop, computer, tab or smartphone and you dont worry about the delivery of the gift. Even they can deliver the gift worldwide. You can buy a product or item from America and you can request them to deliver this to any country in Asia or Africa or any European countries. Its the greatest advantages of latest technologies. :)