Chestnut Stuffing Recipe

VideoJug: How To Make Chestnut Stuffing
A perfect stuffing for Christmas, this special recipe promises to make this favourite companion to the holiday turkey a great hit! Devour our Chestnut Stuffing recipe.

Ingredients:
8.8oz of skinless sausage broken in to pieces
4 celery sticks, chopped
1 onion chopped
1 carrot chopped
5.3 oz of peeled chestnuts
6 slices of bread
2.6 oz of raisins
2 tbsp chopped thyme
2 tbsp chopped parsley
2 tbsp of honey
2 eggs beaten
26.4fl oz chicken or turkey stock
1.4fl oz olive oil
Salt and pepper

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Brown the meat and vegetables by heating up a sauce pan until very hot. Add a little oil along with the sausage (try and break it up as much as possible. Next add the onions, celery, carrots and the rest of the oil cook for 10mins stir in the chestnuts cook for a few mins more. Place in to bowl add the bread, the raisins, the thyme, the parsley the honey and eggs and season with salt and pepper. Now add the chicken stock and let it soak for 5 min. place in pan and level it with a spoon cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 min after time is up remove the foil and place back in oven for 15 min.

Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Pumpkin pie and the autumn season are partners. Here is a quick and easy recipe, perfect for the holidays.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees

Ingredients:

2 eggs
1 16oz. can of Pumkin Pure
1 14oz. can of sweetend conenced milk
1 tsp. of pumkin pie spice

Directions:

Mix indredients well.
Pour mixture into a pie shell
Bake for 15 min. at 425 degrees
Then reduce the heat to 350 degrees for 35-40 min. then serve

Enjoy the pie with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

How To Make A Christmas Tree Bauble

VideoJug: How To Make A Christmas Tree Bauble
Arts and crafts expert Arona Khan shows how to make this Christmas tree decoration.

Wrapping Presents

Tips to make the gift-wrapping process easier.

Mailing Your Christmas Cards

How to find the best time to send cards and save money on your mailing.

Scrooged

Frank Cross (Bill Murray) runs a US TV station which is planning a live adaptation of Dickens' Christmas Carol. Frank's childhood wasn't a particularly pleasant one, and so he doesn't really appreciate the Christmas spirit. With the help of the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, Frank realises he must change.

Scrooged is available on DVD at Amazon.com.

Traditional Mince Pies Recipe

VideoJug: How To Make Traditional Mince Pies
Mince pies at their very best. Delicious served cold or hot with a splash of cream. Simply irresistible! Sample our Traditional Mince Pies recipe.

Ingredients:
24 oz ready to roll short crust pastry
16 oz sweet mincemeat
1 egg beaten
Hand full of flour for dusting
2 tbsp of water

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 390 degrees. Flour your workstation as well as you rolling pin, now roll your pastry out in to a thin sheet cut out 12 pastry cups with the bigger cutter. Gently place in to bun tin until the touch the bottom then fill with mince meat use the extra pastry dough to make smaller lids brush a little water on the edges of the lids now place wet side down on the open mince meat then gently push on the edges to seal. Brush the egg wash on the top of the lids. Now back for 20 min dust with icing sugar and serve.

Digital Photo Keychain

This digital photo keychain holds over 60 full-color digital photos. So you can take your loved ones with you everywhere you go! Built-in memory stores up to 62 color photos. Clear, high-resolution 1.5" screen provides brighter images and a wider viewing angle. Keychain automatically resizes photos to fit perfectly. PC downloads are fast and easy—and the USB cable and software are included. The rechargeable battery delivers two hours of viewing time.

Digital Photo Keychain is available at Brookstone.

Chestnut Sage and Apple Stuffing Recipe

A very yummy stuffing recipe!

Ingredients:
One stick of butter
½ lb pork sausage with sage
2 cup of chopped celery
2 cup Chopped onion
2 granny smith apples peeled cored and chopped
1 ¾ cup chopped chestnuts.
2 cup Chicken broth
14 oz dry stuffing
Fresh thyme
Fresh sage

Directions:
Melt the butter in a large saucepan at the same time cook the sausage will cutting it up in to chunks until it is brown. Once brown add the granny smith apples. Once the butter has melted add the onions and the celery and sauté. Add the chicken broth to the onions and celery. Drain the grease from the sausage and add the chestnuts. Once the onions are boiling add the dry stuffing. Dice the sage in to tiny pieces. And peel the thyme leafs off the steam. Then add to the sausage mixture. Combine the sausage mixture with the onions mixture. Now butter up a large casserole dish figurate over night covered in foil. Cook the next day for about an hour in the oven.

Carving the Perfect Holiday Turkey

Chef Marc shows you how two carve your holiday turkey in about two minutes or so.

How To Wrap An Awkward Shaped Gift

VideoJug: How To Wrap An Awkward Shaped Gift
Arona Khan shows us how to wrap an awkward shaped gift. A perfect video for all those gifts that aren't square or round!

Engraved Chopsticks for Two

Looking for a unique gift? An engraved gift is always a treasured gift. When the engraved pieces are chopsticks, the recipients know you have gone out of your way to make them feel extra special. Each wooden chopstick has a sterling silver handle that can be engraved with your personal message. Two pair of chopsticks are included in the gift along with two rests. Presented in a hand wrapped gift box for an outstanding presentation.

Free Engraving
Engraving area: one line maximum, up to 18 characters including spaces. Enter information to be engraved on each individual chopstick handle during the checkout phase of the ordering process. One additional business day is automatically added to shipping schedule to accommodate engraving process.

Engraved Chopsticks for Two is available at GiftTree.com

How to Make a Bow

Learning how to make a bow is very easy with these instructions from AsktheDecorator.com host Meghan Carter. She will walk you through the steps of how to make a bow, and you'll also discover multiple ways to style your bow. Whether you want an elegant bow, a casual bow or a double bow, you'll easily be able to make many bows to use around your home and on gifts.

Digital Picture Ornament

Cherish the holiday memories of years gone by with a digital picture ornament that lets you take a stroll down memory lane when you put up the tree each year.

Available at Amazon.com.

Santa Claus Lane - Hilary Duff

Watch Hilary Duff's music video for Santa Claus Lane.

The Family Man

Jack Campbell (Nicolas Cage) is the quintessential Wall Street shark, scoring killer deals by day and shallow escort sex by night. His round-the-clock routine of empty luxuries is disturbed one lonely Christmas Eve when a gun-packing punk (Don Cheadle)--perhaps an angel of mercy--responds to an altruistic gesture from Jack by giving him "a glimpse" of the life he could have had. Could have, that is, if he had married the girlfriend (Téa Leoni) he'd abandoned 13 years earlier, raised two adorable children, worked in his father-in-law's retail tire outlet, and lived happily ever after in suburban New Jersey. Thrust into this "glimpse" of the path not taken, Jack's a single-malt man in a lite-brew world, wondering if he'll ever return to his "better" life of callous wealth and solitude--or if he even wants to.

The Family Main is available on DVD at Amazon.com.

Personalize Holiday Giving With Homemade Gifts

'Tis the season to draft your gift list, and you need something that will suit everyone -- from your always-on-the-go brother to your happy-at-home aunt. Something special for each, of course -- homemade would be perfect. Something fresh and unexpected, customized, yet budget-friendly.

By using essential oils selected with your recipients in mind, you can easily create unique aromatherapy gifts that will delight. Replace a stressful shopping expedition with a pleasant hour of fragrant creativity and craft the perfect gift for everyone on your list.

"Homemade gifts say that you care," says Tom Havran, product development specialist for Aura Cacia, a leading aromatherapy brand. "And when you make one using essential oils you can go one step further and personalize its aromatherapy benefits as well."

To personalize your aromatherapy gift, simply choose pure essential oils with benefits that best suit the person receiving the gift. To help you get started, here's a chart of the aromatherapy benefits of the essential oils suggested in the instructions for making the gifts below:

Experts caution that full aromatherapy benefits are available only from natural, unadulterated essential oils -- not petroleum-derived synthetic fragrances or essential oils that have been "stretched" with less expensive components.

Havran, who helped develop aromatherapy gift ideas for a Web site feature on the topic (www.auracacia.com/gifts), shares three of his favorites:

Aromatherapy Zen Garden
A creative way to deal with stress at the office or at home.

You'll need:

1 tiny garden rake or chopsticks (to serve as the garden rake)

1 decorative shallow glass bowl or ceramic tray

Table salt (enough to fill container)

Small decorative rocks and shells

One of the following meditative essential oils: frankincense, myrrh or sandalwood


To assemble:

Fill the container with the salt and mix in 10 to 15 drops of oil. Smooth and add the rocks and shells in a pleasing arrangement. Using the rake or chopsticks as a stylus, draw flowing continuous patterns in the salt. Experience the garden fully as you meditate.

You can assemble the garden ahead of time for a personal presentation or send unassembled over a distance.


Holiday Botanical Diffuser
Brighten the atmosphere as well as the table with this attractive and aromatic decoration. Your choices of spices will personalize each gift.

You'll need:

A decorative glass jar

An array of spices such as cinnamon sticks, star anise, whole nutmeg, cardamom pods, bay leaves, etc. to layer into the container

A spicy, holiday aromatherapy blend (To make your own, combine 1 teaspoon of sweet orange essential oil and 1/4 teaspoon each of anise seed, clove, and cinnamon bark essential oils in a .33- or .5-ounce essential oil bottle)


To assemble:

Layer the spices in the jar and -- just before giving the gift -- sprinkle 10 to 15 drops of the aromatherapy blend. (Include the blend with the gift so that the recipient can refresh the scent as needed.)


Festive Sachet
Here's a colorful gift that celebrates traditional wintertime scents. These delightful decorations are the perfect way to cheer up a home and announce that the holidays have arrived.

You'll need:

1 small drawstring bag or sachet (You can easily make one from a decorative handkerchief or fabric and ribbon)

Coarse rock salt

A small handful of bay leaves, crushed into small pieces

(You need just enough salt and bay leaves to fill your sachet)

One of the following 100 percent pure wintertime oils: fir needle, cedarwood, pine or peppermint


To assemble:

Combine salt and bay leaves in a glass container. Sprinkle with 20 to 30 drops of essential oil and mix well. Fill sachet with mixture. (Include the blend with the gift so that the recipient can refresh the scent as needed.)

Aura Cacia offers a full selection of 100 percent pure essential oils for purchase and a wealth of information on essential oils and aromatherapy at www.auracacia.com/gifts.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Christmas With the Kranks

When their only daughter Blair leaves the family nest, Luther and Nora Krank (Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis) decide to book an island cruise to beat the yuletide blues and just skip the holidays. But their decision to boycott tradition has the whole neighborhood in an uproar, and when Blair calls on Christmas Eve to announce a surprise visit with her new fiancée, the Kranks have just twelve hours to perform a miracle and pull themselves and their neighbors together to throw the best celebration ever! With fast-paced energy and support from Dan Aykroyd, Cheech Marin, Jake Busey and M. Emmet Walsh, this hilarious adaptation of John Grisham's best-selling novel, "Skipping Christmas" has become "an instant family classic!"

Christmas with the Kranks is available on DVD at Amazon.com.

O Holy Night - Jessica Simpson

Watch the Jessica Simpson's music video for O Holy Night from her CD Rejoyce: The Christmas Album.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

The classic celebration of the spirit of the holidays comes home. Acclaimed director Ron Howard, his longtime partner and producer Brian Grazer, plus Jim Carrey (as the Grinch) bring Dr. Seuss' beloved tale to life in this adventure "that can make your heart grow three sizes - if you're not laughing too hard!"

With dazzling scenery and special effects, narration by Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins and Jim Carrey's own rendition of "Your a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," this gift from the heart is a "holiday package that kids will embrace and parents will adore."

How the Grinch Stole Christmas is available on DVD at Amazon.com.

Surviving Christmas

Surviving Chrisstmas is available on DVD at Amazon.com.

Southern Dressing Recipe

Chef Keith Snow creates a holidays favorite-- southern dressing.

Ingedients:
Cornbread
Button mushrooms
Green bell pepper
Organic celery
Leeks
Rubbed sage
Chicken broth
Cultured butter

Directions:
Place the skillet on med heat. Begin by slicing the mushrooms and chop the pepper. Starts by placing the butter in the skillet to help with smoke add extra virgin olive oil. Then add the mushrooms and bell peppers add black pepper. Once the mushrooms have browned up add kosher salt throw in the celery and the leeks, now reseason if it gets dry add more oil. Pour some chicken broth in and mix. Turn off the heat and add the sages as well as the corn bread then add a little chicken broth 2/3 cup cover and place in the oven.

How to make a Wreath

We learn how to make a wreath and how to dress it up for any of the up-coming holidays.

HomeWorks Plus Offers Tips for Christmas Tree Decorating

Large, medium or small, with a thousand lights or a few prominent ornaments, down the hallway or in a corner of the family room … the Christmas tree is a must for American families, and -- finally -- the time to decorate a new one has come! HomeWorks Plus (SM), a leading membership discount program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC, reports that millions of Americans will keep the tradition alive by making their Christmas trees look like a work of art.

The Christmas tree has a long association with Christianity, tracing its roots back to the 16th century in Europe. Germany is the country where many customs, songs, images of Santa, pine trees adorned with ornaments and other Christmas traditions come from. In the hundreds of years since then, the Christmas tree has become more than a religious symbol, evolving into an emblem of a time of the year to celebrate love and family union. HomeWorksPlus members use their benefits to save on decorative purchases for the tree and all the areas of the home that need a touch of the holiday spirit.

From the ornaments to the lights to every branch of the tree, HomeWorks Plus has a few ideas about Christmas tree decoration:

Family decision. It's up to the family members to choose a specific theme or color, or simply to use their ornaments as family heirlooms and try to display them every year in a different, more creative way. No matter how the family approaches tree decorating, the goal is to achieve is a unique piece that reflects the family's personality.

The green trend. In this age of environmental awareness, many families are opting for an organic tree. To be part of this trend, the first step is to purchase the tree at a reputable farm (one that doesn't use pesticides and plants different types of trees). The second step is to purchase or make nature-friendly decorations. Use LED lights, which don't present the fire risk of conventional bulbs and also run on about a tenth of the energy. There's a great variety of colors and shapes in the market, all of which can be complemented with biodegradable ornaments made at home using recyclable paper and other materials.

The single-color tree. The key to a beautiful single-tone tree is to prepare beforehand. Once the color's been selected, the challenge is to get the ornaments in different shades, shapes and sizes. Begin with a single-tone string of lights as the base of the design, and build the rest from there. Pick only three or four kinds of ornaments, so the tree looks elegant and fun but not overstuffed.

A rainbow of colors. A multi-colored tree can easily look messy if ornaments and lights are not carefully selected, notes HomeWorksPlus. Follow a pattern, and pick at least one element that's going to bring unity to the design, like the same color ribbon to tie the items on the tree. Begin by wrapping the lights (all blue, red or green is a nice way to add color and break away from tradition) from top to bottom. Next, place larger ornaments first, evenly around all the branches, and continue randomly adding the others in decreasing size.

Ornaments. When it comes to Christmas tree ornaments, less is often more. Whatever the theme of the tree, be sure to keep some kind of pattern with the chosen ornaments. Beware of using too many garlands or too much tinsel, though; it's okay if the tree looks "snowy," but too much of it might create an "after a storm" look.

Top and bottom of the tree. This is the place where the originality of the family can really be showcased. Cap the tree off with a ceramic or a craft made by one of the kids, or pick something totally different from the traditional angel or star. You can use the same motif for the tree skirt, an item that's often forgotten but is equally important as the other decorative elements.

HomeWorks Plus members can access a variety of savings on home and Christmas decorating needs as well as gardening and entertainment interests. When it comes to finding elements for decorating, improving the house or creating a stunning look for a party or gathering, members can always count on HomeWorksPlus.

About HomeWorks Plus
HomeWorksPlus is a leading membership discount program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC. Headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., Adaptive Marketing is a category leader in membership programs, bringing value direct to consumers through an array of benefits in healthcare, discounts, security, personal property and personals. Members may access their benefits at HomeWorksPlus123.com. With broad online and offline distribution capabilities, Adaptive Marketing offers its corporate client partners effective tools to enhance market presence, strengthen customer affinity and generate additional value through programs such as HomeWorks Plus.

Source: PRWeb

Bow Making

Bow Making Instructions for Beginners. Learn How to Make Bows.

How to make a Pine Cone Wreath

In this video, learn how to make a pine cone wreath for the holidays.

A Christmas Story

The Christmas spirit isn't served up with more observant hilarity than in this beloved adaption of Jean Shepherd's holiday story. In 1940s Indiana, nine-year-old Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) dreams of his ideal Christmas gift: a genuine Red Ryder 200-shot Carbine Action Air Rifle. But when gruff dad (Darren McGavin) and doting mom (Melinda Dillon) regularly responded with "You'll shoot your eye out!" Ralphie mounts a full-scale Santa-begging campaign. He encounters a slew of calamities from snowsuit paralysis to the dreaded tongue-on-a-frozen-flagpole gambit. We triple-dog-dare you to unwrap a more welcome Yuletide classic!

Available at Amazon.com.

A Scroll Saw Christmas: Step-By-Step Techniques With 30 Ornament Patterns

If you got that new scroll saw last Christmas, this Christmas you can use it to celebrate the holiday. Frank Pozsgai brings his unique knowledge and artistic ability to create 3-D scroll patterns that will delight the craftsperson. The main project is Santa's sleigh and nine reindeer, complete with instructions for giving Rudolph a flashing red nose and installing a music box that plays "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer." The step-by-step guide is illustrated in full color. It is accompanied by 30 other Christmas patterns. , 135+ color photos plus 30 patterns, 8 1/2" x 11"

Available at Amazon.com.

Mashed Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Parmesan Recipe

Try this quick alternative to regular mashed potatoes.

Ingredients:
Sweet potatoes
2 tbsp. olive oil
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
Sea salt and pepper

Directions:
Wrap the sweet potatoes foil and cook at 450 degrees for an hour. When done unwrap and start peeling. Sprinkle some Parmesan, sea salt and pepper then take a masher and mash it all together.

Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

This is First Lady Laura Bush's recipe for Sweet Potato Casserole.

Ingredients

• 8 medium sized sweet potatoes,roasted, peeled and passed through a fine mesh sieve
• 3 whole eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup half and half
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ bag miniature marshmallows
• cooking spray

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, lightly mix all the ingredients except the marshmallows.
3. Spray a 9 inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
4. Pour the custard and top with a half bag of mini marshmallows.
5. Bake for about a half hour.
6. Keep warm for service.

The First Christmas in Origami

A one-of-a-kind book that allows children to enjoy the Christmas story while they learn the ancient Japanese art of paper folding. Each chapter features a narrative about one of the characters in the Christmas story with easy-to-follow directions on folding that character. Eleven characters compose the finished Nativity scene. Full color.

Available at Amazon.com.

How to Make Snowflakes

A tutorial on how to make a snowflake out of paper.

Sweeten the Holidays Naturally

From rich chocolate fudge to creamy caramels and sweet lollipops -- candy is always a crowd-pleaser. This season, serve up a few of your favorite confections, sweetened the natural way, using pure honey.

Using honey in a candy recipe not only provides a mild, naturally sweet flavor, it also dissolves and blends well and delivers a smoother candy texture. Candy making can be tricky, so keep the following tips in mind:

* For a candy making surface that can take the heat, use a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil. Cool the candy at room temperature and then gently remove from the foil.

* Use pure honey, which is already in a liquid form, to help avoid the hassle that comes with large sugar crystals forming during the candy-making process.

* Bringing the candy mixture to the correct temperature is essential A candy thermometer is the most accurate and efficient way of testing the temperature.

* Only use real butter in candy making.


The following candy recipes are easy to make and feature scrumptious, seasonal ingredients such as cinnamon, walnuts, vanilla, almonds and of course, chocolate. Friends and family will be delighted to savor these tasty treats at holiday parties, as hostess gifts, or even as stocking stuffers.

Visit http://www.honey.com/ for more delicious holiday candy recipes.


Chocolate Walnut Fudge
Makes 25 squares.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup pure honey
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup (4 ounces) coarsely chopped walnuts

Directions:

Line an 8-inch by 8-inch pan with foil; butter and set aside. In a medium saucepan, combine honey, sweetened condensed milk and salt. Mix well. Bring mixture just to a boil, stirring frequently. Lower heat to a simmer. Add chocolate chips and bittersweet chocolate, stirring constantly, until chocolate melts completely and mixture is smooth. Stir in walnuts. Pour immediately into pan and smooth top. Let cool, then refrigerate until cold. Cut into 25 pieces.



Honey Pops
Makes 15 to 20 lollipops.

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup pure honey
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon candy flavoring (or 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon)
red paste food coloring, optional

Directions:

In a heavy pan, combine sugar, honey, and water. Over high heat, bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium-high and continue to boil until honey mixture reaches 300F on candy thermometer (hard-crack stage), about five to six minutes, stirring frequently. Add flavoring and color. Mix well. Pour into prepared lollipop molds (greased with lollipop sticks inserted), following manufacturer’s directions. Cool completely. Remove from molds and wrap in plastic wrap. Store in a cool, dry place.

Cinnamon candy flavoring is an oil-based flavoring, which can be found where candy-making supplies are sold. You may substitute 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, if desired.

Tip: Candy may be molded in buttered, wax-coated paper drinking cups.


Holiday Honey Caramels
Makes 30 caramels.

Ingredients:

2 cups pure honey
2 cups whipping cream
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
finely chopped almonds, optional
1 cup butter (no substitutions)

Directions:

Line bottom and sides of 9-inch square pan with plastic wrap and set it aside. Melt butter in medium-sized heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add honey, cream and brown sugar. Mix well. Cook over medium-high heat until mixture comes to boil, stirring frequently. Continue boiling, stirring frequently, until candy thermometer registers 250 F, about 45 to 60 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour into prepared pan.

Let cool completely in refrigerator before cutting into individual caramels with very sharp knife. Roll in chopped nuts or coconut, if desired, and wrap each individually in clear plastic wrap. Store tightly wrapped in refrigerator up to one month. Caramels will be soft at room temperature and firm if kept chilled.

Serving Suggestions:

Drop one into a cup of hot coffee or tea or enjoy this delicious treat on its own.


Courtesy of ARAcontent

Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Chef Keith Snow shows how to make this holiday favorite.

Ingredients:
Cranberries
1¼ cup sugar
¼ tsp. Nutmeg
Orange

Directions:
In a big bowl place the cranberries and the sugar, now sprinkle some nutmeg over. Now with a zestier zest the orange right in to the bowl. When done cut the orange in half and juice it right in the bowl. When done place the mixture on the stove with the heat on high. Stir for a min or two then cover, let I cook for 35 min half way through you might want to stir. When done let cool a few minuets and enjoy.

Paper Creations: Christmas Origami Book and Gift Set

Open this box for a celebration of Christmas…and creativity! Featuring a charming all-in-color project book designed to brighten the holiday season, 50 sheets of festively patterned 6" x 6" origami paper, and one completed miniature tree, it’s the fun, all-in-one way to make unique ornaments, decorations, and presents. Christmas Origami explains all the basic folds and forms up front, and offers 80 pages of seasonal ideas to try, including a gift box, picture frame, snowman, Kris Kringle, reindeer, and sleigh. Make them using the paper adorned with twinkling balls, tiny Santa faces, snowflakes, and wreaths. Anyone can master the techniques, and it won’t be long before you realize that crafting and Christmas go hand-in-hand!

Available at Amazon.com.

How To Make A 5-Point Paper Star

How To Make A 5-Point Paper Star - The funniest bloopers are right here
Learn how to make a 5-Point star with a piece of paper. Great for Christmas decorations.

Fred Claus

Fred Claus has lived almost his entire life in his little brother's very large shadow. Fred tried, but he could never live up to the example set by the younger Nicholas, who was just a perfect, well, Saint. True to form, Nicholas grew up to be the model of giving, while Fred became the polar opposite: a repo man who then steals what he repossesses.

Fred Clause is in theaters now.

Christmas Vacation

This holiday season Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) vows his clan will enjoy "the most fun-filled family Christmas ever." Before you can sing "Fa-la-la-la-lah," he decks the halls with howls of folly in the perennial favorite National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

Seeing is believing. There are 25,000 lights on the roof. An exploding turkey on the dining room table. A SWAT team taking siege otside. A festive supporting cast (including Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Juliette Lewis, William Hickey and more). And a John Hughes' script full of wit, heart and sheer goofiness. Yule love it!

Available at Amazon.com.

Do They Know It's Christmas?

"Do They Know It's Christmas?" is a song written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in 1984 specifically to raise money for Ethiopian famine relief. The original version was produced by Midge Ure and Trevor Horn, and released by Band Aid on November 29, 1984.

In late 1984, a BBC report by Michael Buerk was aired highlighting the famine that had hit the people of Ethiopia. Irish singer Bob Geldof had seen the report and was moved so much that he decided that a pop record should be used to further increase awareness of the famine and to raise money. Aware that he could do little on his own, he called Midge Ure from Ultravox and together they quickly co-wrote the song, "Do They Know It's Christmas?".

Geldof kept a November appointment with BBC Radio 1 DJ Richard Skinner to appear on his show, but instead of discussing his new album (the original reason for his booking), he used his airtime to publicise the idea for the charity single, so by the time the musicians were recruited there was intense media interest in the subject.

Using powers of persuasion which have since become a major part of the Geldof legend, he put together a group (Band Aid), consisting of leading Irish and British musicians who were among the most popular and recognised of this era.

The recording session
Respected producer Trevor Horn was approached by Geldof to produce the song, but he was unavailable. Instead, he gave use of his studio, SARM West in London, free of charge to the project for 24 hours, which Geldof accepted, assigning Ure as the producer instead. So, on November 25, 1984, the song was recorded and mixed.

Geldof and Ure arrived first at dawn so that Ure could put the recorded backing tracks, put together at his home studio, on to the system at SARM. He also had vocals recorded by both Sting and Simon Le Bon of the song which he had acquired from the artists early in order to provide a guide for the other singers.

The world's media were in attendance as artists began arriving from 9am. Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Paul Young, Culture Club (without Boy George, initially), George Michael (though not Andrew Ridgeley) of Wham!, Kool and the Gang, Sting, Bono and Adam Clayton of U2, Glenn Gregory of Heaven 17 (whom Ure personally ordered down) and his bandmate Martyn Ware, Phil Collins, Paul Weller (though not Mick Talbot) of the Style Council, Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt of Status Quo, Jody Watley of Shalamar, Bananarama, Marilyn (who was not invited but arrived anyway) and some of Geldof's bandmates from the Boomtown Rats all arrived. Only one of Ure's Ultravox colleagues, Chris Cross, attended. Geldof, noticing Boy George's non-attendance (despite ringing him up in New York the day before demanding he sing on the record), went back to the phone to get the Culture Club frontman out of bed and on to Concorde.

Ure played the backing track and guide vocals to the artists together, then decided, in a way of getting all involved straightaway, to record the crescendo first, which also allowed the 'team shot' of the day to be photographed. The artists were put in a huge group and sang the 'Feed the world, let them know it's Christmas time' refrain over and over again until it was completed.

Then Ure sought a volunteer to be first into the studio to sing the main body of the song. Eventually Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet took the plunge, with plenty of rival artists watching him, and sang the song straight through. The other assigned singers then did likewise, with Ure taping their efforts and then making notes as to which bits would be cut into the final recording. Le Bon, despite having already done his bit at Ure's house, re-recorded his so he could be part of the moment. Sting also recorded the words again, this time to provide harmony.

Phil Collins arrived with his entire drum kit and waited until Ure was ready to record him over the electronic drums already in place. The song ended up as a mixture of Collins' drums and Ure's initial drum pattern, taken from a sample of The Hurting by Tears for Fears.

Not all went smoothly. Ure stated in his autobiography that he was constantly battling with Geldof, the song's lyricist but not renowned for his melody skills, and telling him to 'fuck off' when he would come into the production booth and wrongly tell the artist behind the mic what to sing. Ure also had to shelve an attempt by the two members of Status Quo to record the "here's to you" harmonies because Parfitt couldn't hit the note. Rossi afterwards told Ure that Parfitt never sang in the studio, only onstage, and he should have kept him away from the mic. This section was eventually taken on by Weller, Sting and Gregory.

Boy George arrived at 6pm and went straight into the recording booth to deliver his lines. Once he had finished, Ure had all the vocals he needed and, as the artists began to party and then drifted away, began working on the mix. A B-side, featuring messages from artists who had and hadn't made the recording (including David Bowie, Annie Lennox from Eurythmics, Paul McCartney, all members of Big Country and Holly Johnson from the most successful British band of 1984, Frankie Goes to Hollywood) was also recorded over the same backing track. Trevor Horn arrived back to his own studio to put this together.

Despite being singers themselves, neither Geldof nor Ure had a solo line on the song, though both took part in the 'Feed the world' crescendo.

Ure worked on the mix through the night and finally completed the task at 8am on the Monday morning. Prior to departing SARM, Geldof recorded a statement: "This record was recorded on the 25th of November 1984. It's now 8am on the 26th. We've been here 24 hours and I think it's time we went home."

The song was quickly dispatched to the pressing plants who had promised to have the single pressed and ready by the Friday. A spell of publicity and final legal details followed, then it hit the shops on Monday December 3rd in a sleeve designed by Peter Blake. It went straight to #1.

Participants
The original Band Aid ensemble consisted of (in sleeve order):

Adam Clayton (U2)
Phil Collins (Genesis, solo)
Bob Geldof (Boomtown Rats)
Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet)
Chris Cross (Ultravox)
John Taylor (Duran Duran)
Paul Young
Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet)
Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17)
Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)
Simon Crowe (Boomtown Rats)
Marilyn
Keren Woodward (Bananarama)
Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
Jody Watley (Shalamar)
Bono (U2)
Paul Weller (The Style Council)
James "J.T." Taylor (Kool & The Gang)
George Michael (Wham!)
Midge Ure (Ultravox)
Martyn Ware (Heaven 17)
John Keeble (Spandau Ballet)
Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
Roger Taylor (Duran Duran)
Sarah Dallin (Bananarama)
Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama)
Pete Briquette (Boomtown Rats)
Francis Rossi (Status Quo)
Robert 'Kool' Bell (Kool & The Gang)
Dennis J. T. Thomas (Kool & The Gang)
Andy Taylor (Duran Duran)
Jon Moss (Culture Club)
Sting (Former member of The Police)
Rick Parfitt (Status Quo)
Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran)
Johnny Fingers (Boomtown Rats)
David Bowie
Boy George (Culture Club)
Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood)
Paul McCartney (Former member of The Beatles)
Stuart Adamson (Big Country)
Bruce Watson (Big Country)
Tony Butler (Big Country)
Mark Brzezicki (Big Country)

The text from this post is from The Wikipedia which is published under the GNU Free Documentation License.

Make Your Own Unique Holiday Gifts - Pen Turning

With everyone shopping at the same time during the holidays, it can be a challenge to find something that people haven’t already seen. And if you do dream up a great gift idea, it’s hard to settle for less than what you had imagined. Now woodworkers are dealing with this problem with an easy homemade gift that presents endless opportunities for customization -- turned pens.

“Pens make a wonderful personalized gift,” says Jim Carroll, long-time pen turner and product manager at Rockler Woodworking and Hardware. “They’re not hard to make and it’s easy to personalize your pen so it’s specific to the individual.”

With dozens of domestic and exotic wood species to choose from, plus a huge selection of acrylics, there is no shortage of options for custom tailoring. “There are pen blanks in every shade, and the selection is always changing,” says Carroll. “Turners have used our pink blanks for Breast Cancer Awareness, and we even get special editions with team colors for the Super Bowl.”

Recently, pen blanks have also become available in a variety of alternative materials. “Some of them are really interesting,” says Carroll. “We have blanks made from cereal grains, rice, spaghetti -- even corncobs, which look amazing once they’re done.”

But is pen turning difficult?

“No,” says Carroll. “You’ll need a little patience, sharp tools and the desire to create something unique. Beyond that, it’s really pretty easy. Beginners will be more comfortable with hard, natural woods like Maple and Walnut. They’re inexpensive, readily available, and are easiest to turn.”

Pen turning has become popular among beginning woodworkers because it requires very limited equipment: a mini-lathe with some attachments and a set of turning tools. It also requires very little space; a mini-lathe can tuck into a small corner, using roughly the space of a sewing machine.

According to Carroll, “Once you have the initial equipment, a turned pen is pretty inexpensive. The materials for a basic hardware kit and blank cost anywhere from $7 to $15, depending on what it’s made of.”

Information on pen turning is also readily available. Numerous online forums are dedicated to the subject. “Rockler offers free demonstrations to people who want to try it out,” says Carroll. “We hand out free instructional booklets from the stores and offer free pen turning videos online. We even have periodic ‘Turn-A-Gift’ promotions where customers can come into the store and turn a pen from start to finish for only the cost of the materials.”

If desired, a variety of accessories can really round out the gift. Pen cases are available, which make a nice presentation with just a small card -- no need for wrapping paper. If your recipient spends a lot of time at the office, the components for a full desk set: pen funnels, business card holders and paperclip holders, are all readily available.

For more ideas and information on pen turning, including a tutorial and videos, visit “How To” at www.rockler.com or call toll-free at (800) 279-4441.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Decorating Gingerbread Cookies

The holidays are right around the corner - it's time to perfect your gingerbread decoration skills! Practice makes perfect with a little bit of creativity.

Redneck Days of Christmas - Jeff Foxworthy

Watch the music video for "Redneck Days of Christmas" from Jeff Foxworthy's CD Crank It Up: The Music Album.

The Big Book of Christmas Scroll Saw Projects

Woodworkers will be delighted with the 40 festive holiday projects in this book. Each project is made up of several patterns and includes special instructions for assembly and finishing. Projects include a poinsettia plant holder, angel candlesticks, a reindeer holiday cardholder, and a Christmas tea towel holder. Appealing to all levels of scrolling enthusiasts, this book will be of special interest to those interested in turning their hobby into a business and selling their wares at craft shows.

Available at Amazon.com.

How To Make A Christmas Stocking

VideoJug: How To Make A Christmas Stocking
Arona Khan, our arts and crafts specialist, shows how to make a stocking for the kids.

Greatest Time Of Year - Aly and AJ

Watch the music video for Greatest Time of Year from Aly and AJ's album Acoustic Hearts of Winter.

Easy Christmas Origami

Add a personal touch to your holidays with handmade ornaments and other decorations. Clearly illustrated folding diagrams and easy-to-follow directions make it a snap to create bright origami stars, candy canes, stockings, a simple Santa, little gift boxes, and other objects. Ideal for kids but appropriate for paperfolders of all ages. 28 projects.

Available at Amazon.com.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe

A delicous recipe video for sweet potatoes. Delicious butter, sour cream fresh Thyme and crushed peanut topping. Sure to Please.

Ingredients:
Sweet potatoes
Salt
Black pepper
Butter
Thyme
1 tbsp. sour cream
Maple syrup

Directions:
Start by roasting your potato at 350 degrees until its tender. Once done cut a slit in to the potato and give it a little push on the ends to open it up. Now sprinkle some salt and pepper. In a different bowl mix butter, thyme, sour cream and the maple syrup and mix in to the potato if you like put some peanuts

Christmas with Paula Deen: Recipes and Stories from My Favorite Holiday

There's no holiday Paula Deen loves better than Christmas, when she opens her home to family and friends, and traditions old and new make the days merry and bright. Filled with Paula's trademark Southern charm and happy reminiscences of Yuletide seasons past, Christmas with Paula Deen is a collection of beloved holiday recipes and stories interspersed with cherished family photographs. Included are Paula's most requested homemade gifts of food; a collection of cookies sure to become your family's favorites; easy dishes for a Christmas breakfast or brunch that will let you enjoy the food and your guests; impressive fare for Christmas dinner and holiday entertaining and, of course, spectacular cakes, puddings, pies, and other sweet things.

Available at Amazon.com.

Great Gifts for the Guy on Your List this Holiday Season

As the holiday season approaches, you once again find yourself with the daunting task of finding the perfect gift for the guy on your holiday wish list. Getting a helping hand to navigate through the endless list of products is always a welcome relief. Here is a list of products, in a variety of price ranges that might just be perfect for the guy on your list this holiday season. After all, how many pairs of jeans does he really need?

Gifts Less Than $10

Jack Link’s is America’s favorite beef jerky -- and is quite possibly the perfect stocking stuffer for the guy on your wish list. This holiday season give him a mix of three 100 percent beef, flavor favorites:

* Original Jerky

* Teriyaki Steak Nuggets

* Prime Rib Tender Cuts

Bottom line, guys love to snack. With over thirteen flavors, the bite-sized pieces and softer textures of Jack Link’s Beef Jerky will keep his taste buds hankering for more. Jack Link’s offers a variety of quality meat snacks, all sure to satisfy your guy’s snack attack. After finding Jack Link’s Beef Jerky in his stocking, you won’t even need the mistletoe.

(Suggested retail price: $5.99)


If the guy on your list likes to fish, then stock his tackle box with the newest fishing lure from Rapala, the X-Rap Shad. The X-Rap Shad combines the legendary Rapala Shad style body with the action and attitude of their world renowned X-Rap. Features like suspending action, feathered tail hook and holographic foil makes this lure the new bad boy on the block. This is one gift he won’t stop thanking you for.

(Suggested retail price: $6.99-$7.49)


Gifts From $10 to $50

For the guy who likes to have something to do when he has some spare time on his hands -- consider the Rubik's Revenge, a new twist on the Rubik’s Cube. The object of the puzzle is to align the cube so that a single color appears on each of its six sides. The Rubik’s Revenge contains 16 movable pieces per side, with each piece in one of six colors. It’s a great way to play with the mind while passing the time anywhere -- no batteries required. The Rubik’s Revenge 4x4 Cube is available at mass merchandise and toy stores throughout America.

(Suggested retail price: $14.99)


If you’re looking for the ultimate stocking stuffer, look no further. Harley-Davidson’s Santa Boxer in Holiday Tin Can featuring biker Santa will surely bring out his holiday spirit. Made of 100 percent cotton jersey for comfort and softness with an elastic waist, this boxer is sure to become his favorite pair any time of the year. Available in S-M-L-XL-2XL and 3XL. Visit your local Harley-Davidson dealer for details.

(Suggested retail price: $20.00)



Make sure the guy on your wish list is smarter than his buddies with SCRABBLE Deluxe. Scrabble is not just a fun activity for families after the traditional holiday meal. Recent research shows that word-generation skills used by playing games such as SCRABBLE help to strengthen the brain’s frontal lobe, where the brain does its complex reasoning. SCRABBLE Deluxe makes the SCRABBLE experience even more delightful than you may remember. The board is set up on a convenient turntable, and the letters fit into grooves so they won’t slip around. Hasbro has also enlarged the letter racks and improved the letter tiles, which are now made of burgundy wood. SCRABBLE Deluxe is available at mass merchandise and toy stores throughout America.

(Suggested retail price: $29.99)


Gifts Over $50

Whether it’s chores, a day on the lake, walking in the woods or for work, make sure the guy on your wish list has the ultimate in footwear protection with the C.E. Schmidt 6-inch Waterproof Work Boots. Featuring premium full-grain waterproof leather and Goodyear welt construction with waterproof membrane for ultimate protection against wear and tear. The non-marking, slip resistant outsole means comfort and function, creating the perfect all-around boot. Available in sizes 8 to 13.

(Suggested retail price: $64.96)


Experience the lore and the beauty surrounding this one-of-a-kind fillet knife that’s a must have for any angler. The Witch’s Tooth Collector Fillet features a small rock placed inside the curly birch and reindeer antler handle that replicates the traditional drum sound created by the witches of the Lappland area in upper Finland. The drums were played during rituals that were believed to protect the drum’s owner from evil spirits. This knife features a stainless steel blade and leather sheath, all packaged in a Rapala collector tin.

(Suggested retail price: $99.99)


Gifts Over $100

The Excursion 3-in-1 Canvas Jacket from Harley-Davidson isn’t just for motorcycle riding -- it’s the perfect anytime, anywhere jacket. The Excursion 3-in-1 Canvas Jacket can be worn as a solo jacket, a solo hooded vest or a jacket with a fleece-hooded vest. It features 100 percent cotton canvas and a 100 percent poly-twill fixed lining for a rugged, yet stylish and comfortable fit. Essentials include a windflap, snap cuffs, snap tabs at waist, two hand-warmer pockets, two chest pockets and one inside pocket. Complete his holiday wish list with the jacket that symbolizes the open road. Available in S-M-L-XL-2XL and 3XL, visit your local Harley-Davidson dealer for details.

(Suggested retail price: $135.00 - $155.00)


For the guy who has all the tools but no place to store them, check out the Masterhand 26-inch, 10-drawer tool chest from Tractor Supply. All steel construction means long-lasting durability and features full extension ball bearing drawer slides, heavy-duty hinged side handles and EVA drawer liners. With the Masterhand Tool Chest, the guy on your wish list will know you went the extra mile to get him the best.

(Suggested retail price: $158.84)


Still unsure? Harley-Davidson dealers and Tractor Supply stores also offer gift cards at various price levels. So do the other retailers mentioned. For more information, log on to any of these sites: http://www.jacklinks.com/; http://www.rapala.com/; http://www.harley-davidson.com/; http://www.hasbro.com/; http://www.rapalagear.com/; and http://www.mytscstore.com/.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Homemade Stuffing Recipe

Learn to make homemade stuffing from Chef Falan at Housewife Cuisine.

Ingredients:
3 cup toasted bread cubs
1 cup chicken broth
3 tbsp. fresh sage minced
2 sprigs thyme chopped
2 sprigs rosemary chopped
2 stalks diced celery
1 medium diced onion
3 tbsp. butter
1 tbsp. olive oil

Directions:
Take a skillet and melt the butter, now add the olive oil, celery and onions. Season with salt and pepper along with herbs. Keep the heat on a med setting no place the bread and a cup of chicken broth. If you think you need more add more. Now your done enjoy.

Holiday Door Decor Made Easy

When it comes to holiday door decor, ’tis the season to go all-natural.

Front doors greet guests and carolers during the holiday season, and natural elements found in one’s own backyard can be made into elegant holiday door decor that complements a home’s individual style.

JELD-WEN, a leading window and door manufacturer, reminds homeowners that, before they hang decor, they should inspect their doors to make sure they are in good working order.

“A home’s entrance sets the tone for the holidays more than any other time of year,” says Kevin Pine, product marketing manager for JELD-WEN. “Before they begin decorating, homeowners should inspect the door to make sure it is in good working order before the chilly winter months. Just a few quick touch-ups can add years of life to a door.”

“For example, if there’s a cold draft, replace the weatherstrip,” says Pine. “If the surface is chipped, dull or whitish, retouch it with the manufacturer’s recommended finish. If it’s dirty, clean the door with a gentle solution; avoid harsh or abrasive materials.”

Once a door has had proper maintenance and homeowners are ready to decorate, they should think about the wreath’s proportions and how it will work with the dimensions, shape and color of the door. Here are instructions on making a magnolia wreath. Other materials may be used depending on region and availability.

Choosing Materials

This season’s door decorations are not limited to what is at the local craft store. Instead, supplies found in the kitchen and backyard, such as dried fruits, wild grasses and leaves, can boost any home’s seasonal decor.

To enhance entryways, JELD-WEN suggests homeowners consider overall architectural style and the type of door to create unique and special designs that use regional elements. Whether decorating a traditional Eastern home, a beachfront bungalow or a Southwestern ranch, natural elements that grow locally can enhance and highlight a home’s entrance.

At-Home Project

This wreath is deceptively simple to create and is made with only a few materials. Two complementary, wide ribbons give the wreath a fuller and richer look, and balance the size of the magnolia leaf clusters. The ribbon also has glitter and felt detailing, which adds depth and texture.

Because this round wreath has such a traditional feel, it can work on many door styles from classic Colonial or Georgian homes to radius top Mediterranean or even Modern doors. When replicating this decor, keep in mind a door’s size, and scale the wreath appropriately so that it does not overpower or look too small on it. Placement is also important. Keeping the wreath in the top third of the door at eye level attracts people’s attention.

Materials:

Magnolia leaves or other broad evergreen leaves

14-inch wreath ring

22-gauge paddle wire

15 feet of four-inch wide ribbon in two complementary colors

Gold glitter spray


Directions:

Start with a wreath ring size of 14-inch and 22-gauge wire. Lay small clusters of cut magnolia, (three to five pieces in each cluster), next to the wreath ring and wire them on, overlapping them onto the wreath ring as you go (can be pre-wired together before starting).

Using 12-inch pieces of ribbon, fold each piece over to make six-inch loops. The ribbon loops are pinched together at the bottom and then wrapped with the wire. Tuck the ribbon loops into the wreath and wire them on.

Spray the wreath with gold glitter as desired. Use a doubled piece of ribbon to hang the wreath with a large bow on top. The bow should have four loops, two on each ribbon.

For more information on choosing door decor that matches popular architectural styles, visit www.jeld-wen.com/holiday.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Turkey Recipe

Chef Keith Snow cooks up a holiday feast -- you'll wow your family with this Sage-Rubbed Turkey recipe.

The National Christmas Tree Goes Green

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, how lovely are your … computer chips? That’s right, this year the National Christmas Tree will have lamps fitted with tiny computer chips that release multi-colored light -- called LEDs (light emitting diodes) -- the latest in energy efficient lighting. The effect will create a tree that’s brilliantly different than the traditional incandescent lights … and more than a hundred times more energy efficient.

As planning began for the 2007 tree, officials from the White House and the National Park Service asked GE to look into the possibility of adding LEDs in this year’s design. “LEDs are becoming the first choice for so many people who want long lasting, beautiful and energy efficient lighting in their homes. It’s only natural that we should have it for our holiday tree, too,” says Kathy Presciano, lighting designer for the National Tree, who works for GE Consumer & Industrial. “This year, we’ve produced a GE 26-light string that we believe will fit the bill. It should save the government over 120 watts of energy for every string of lights.”

An Experiment in Savings

Traditionally, the National Christmas Tree holds 500 strings of incandescent lights, not counting the topper. This year, in keeping with GE’s commitment to eco-friendly initiatives, the company decided a more earth-friendly design was needed, replacing those bulbs with multicolored LEDs. In addition to the tremendous energy savings, LEDs have nearly 20 times the life of a traditional, incandescent lamp, meaning these lights can be used year after year.

“We’ll have to make adjustments as we go to get the right number of strings on the tree, and the right level of brightness. But once we do, we will establish a new tradition of energy conservation for the National Tree, and a template we can use for years to come,” Presciano says.

Innovation Behind the Scenes

Planning for this year’s tree began almost as soon as last year’s tree was taken down -- a typical timeline regardless of the lighting technology. Presciano began conceptualizing this tree and putting together preliminary drawings as early as January.

That much lead-time is necessary because, once approved, the tree’s ornaments need to be fabricated. This year’s tree will feature approximately 125 red bows that are 26 inches high and nearly 20 inches wide. Fabrication of the ornaments is donated by SABIC Innovative Plastics, located in Pittsfield, Mass. SABIC used Lexan polycarbonate sheet for the ornaments because it is resistant to sun and impact, and works well in outdoor lighted sign applications. The red shiny garland, all 1,000 feet of it -- will feature red LED lights, too.

While this year’s topper will be the same 42-inch, three-dimensional star design used last year, it will be refabricated for the 2007 season using GE’s Tetra Power White LEDs. Sold primarily to industrial sign makers, this LED is 15 times brighter than the standard LED. When completed, this topper is intended to be an “heirloom” topper, which can be used year after year.

Looking to the Future

“LEDs are becoming more and more popular because they last much longer and are extremely energy efficient,” Presciano says. For instance, one 26-lamp string of traditional lights lasts 1,000 hours and burns at 125 watts. The same size string in LED lasts 20,000 hours and burns at 2.3 watts. One set of LED lights costs only ten cents of electricity to run all season, she adds.

Presciano is excited about the road ahead. “This is a time of bold new frontiers in eco-friendly lighting. We’re proud to bring those innovations to light on the National Tree.” For more information on how you can use eco-friendly lighting technology in your home, visit www.gelighting.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent