Blazing Minds » Christmas

Top 10 Christmas Vacations

John — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:00:02 +0000

Christmas is a great time of year, and one that most people really love. It’s a time of festivity, merryment, present giving, seeing the family and generally giving thanks for everything you have. But whilst nearly everyone gathers at a relatives’ house too see the family, there is actually a huge market in Christmas holidays. It may seem like a slightly odd time of the year to take a holiday, but why stress about family issues, cooking etc. when you can have it all done for you? With the global age we live in today there is easy access to holidays all over the world, so it’s quite simple to move your Christmas to a different location, or even abroad!

With more and more people looking into international breaks, skiing holidays and other non-traditional Christmas breaks, where are the most popular places to go? This great infographic from HotelshopUK counts down the top 10 of this year, and there’s still time to go on one yourself! Christmas on Safari in Africa anyone?

Top 10 Christmas Vacations is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2011. Please link back when using this source material.

If you enjoy reading my blog, then please support me with a donation and Follow @BlazingMinds on Twitter

Top Five Movies to See on Christmas Day

James Ged — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 00:08:39 +0000

The only thing I love more than Christmas is replacing the dead time after the little ones open presents with a trip to the movie theatre. Whether you’re ducking out on carving the roast beast, sidestepping children on Christmas PCP, or happen to be a devout practitioner of Festivus, an under-attended movie theatre is the perfect place to blow off a little holiday steam.

These last weeks of the year are a time for families and giving, so give yourself a break from the family and buy some $10 Mike and Ikes. Even if the clan tags along, the following movies will give you the best bang for your yuletide buck.

The Darkest Hour (PG-13)

I don’t expect great things from this sci-fi thriller, but The Darkest Hour opens on Christmas Day and has geared their advertising towards Christmas crowds with the infinitely reusable slogan, “Survive the Holidays.” So I thought I’d reward their shameless pandering. Using a teenage Leonardo DiCaprio look-alike and the hottie from transformers as the main draw, Darkest Hour has opted for style over substance, making it the perfect metaphor for the commercialization of Christmas. Even if you don’t buy into the allegory, watching attractive twenty-something-year-old “teenagers” save the planet from glowing alien strings that eviscerate everyone on contact but the main characters, will either be unintentionally hilarious, or better than expected—either way you can’t go wrong.

War Horse (PG-13)

Based on Michael Morpurgo’s novel of the same name, War Horse is a touching adventure drama about a boy and his horse, set during WWI. Why should you see it? For starters, audiences identify with horses on screen more than any other animal, and as an audience member, you’ll probably get all weepy like the rest of us. Couple that logic with the fact that any movie centered on horses historically does well—Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken, Horse Whisperer, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, etc.—and that Steven Spielberg doesn’t know how to make uninspiring war epics, and you have the recipe for a Christmas well-spent. Let me put it this way: if you can only see one movie on Christmas, and your choices are War Horse and any other flick, bet on War Horse.

The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (PG)

Spielberg’s other holiday offering is a lighthearted adventure that follows Tintin and his dog Snowy around the globe as he uncovers…well, The Secret of the Unicorn. It’s been described as a blend of Indiana Jones and Pirates of the Caribbean, which is high praise if you’re going off the first installments of each series, and a dubious recommendation if you’re referencing the last in either. Since Tintin is a collaboration between two of the most accomplished directors alive—Spielberg and Peter Jackson—I’ll take the comparison to mean the former and will probably skip over to Tintin right after War Horse to make it a Spielberg double-feature.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (PG-13)

This will be on limited release come December 25, but it’s worth looking into if catharsis and inspiration sound at all appealing. Since the bulk of the movie is set in the aftermath of September 11, “Loud and Close” is certainly heavier than the other films profiled here, but based on how often I teared up during the preview, I assume that it’s full of melancholic joy as well. The film follows a genius 11-year-old as he searches for the lock that matches a key left behind by his deceased father. The resulting journey is an inspiring story that, while heartbreaking, is sure to foster the kind of spirit that makes Christmas a special time of year.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (PG-13)

The filmographic saga of Mission Impossible is perplexing. The first film was quite good; the second, unbearable; the third, an impressive rebound; and the fourth…? The fourth MI installment, Ghost Protocol, is being touted as the franchise’s best product. In an era where sequels get progressively worse as the story drags on, Mission Impossible represents the rare series that learns from its mistakes and innovates on the fly. The plot of Ghost Protocol is implausible—IMF gets shut down after being implicated in a terrorist bombing—but the acting and intensity in this film is the best anyone can expect of the Action genre.

Think you might need a break from all the Christmas cheer, head to the theater on Christmas day and check out one of these flicks.

James Ged is a writer and movies buff, even if he spends most of his time blogging about cable tv. You can follow his pop culture musing at TV Buzzer

Related posts:

Christmas Movies: Beyond The Traditional

Do we all have that Christmas Spirit?

Top 10 Christmas Vacations

Top Five Movies to See on Christmas Day is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2011. Please link back when using this source material.

If you enjoy reading my blog, then please support me with a donation and Follow @BlazingMinds on Twitter

How Mark Zuckerberg Ruined Christmas For Everyone Forever

BigDaddyCash — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:15:26 +0000

It was about six years ago now that that office Christmas party changed forever. For generations before 2000 the Christmas office party was an opportunity to get drunk with people you spend 200 days a year with yet rarely speak to, play out the finale of an office melodrama, kiss (or more, possibly involving a photocopier) the girl from accounts/guy from marketing and then wake up in the morning with a lingering sense of inexplicable regret which lasts not longer than twice the length of the hangover.

The Old School Christmas Party

There was a naïve joy in drinking too much free, or at least subsidised whisky and telling your colleagues exactly what you thought of them throughout the year, be that good or bad. You could dance badly to those awful Christmas records from the seventies and eighties which the re-release every single year, fall down, skin your knees and throw up out of a taxi window on the way home.

But those days are over. It used to be that by the time you actually remembered what you had done at the works do it was February and the bitter sting of regret had dissipated like some sort of alcohol induced sleeping therapy. And what brought these halcyon days to an abrupt end?

The Camera Phone and Facebook.

When your indiscretions couldn’t be discussed until the first week of January there was a week of exposure to the family to deal with. The memory faded and the impotent rage of spending ten days locked in a house with your immediate relatives forced all reverie of the party into a corner of your mind.

Today you’re expected to be Facebook Friends with everyone you work with, even if you don’t actually know who the hell they are. Who’s Pete Davis? He likes all your links and comments on your pictures of your dog chasing a Frisbee but you can’t quite place his face. You wrack your mind and finally uncover that he did work experience in the post room three years ago. You just never quite got around to removing him.

So, there you are at the party and the room has divided, not along the boy girl lines of elementary school but into tribes of “Those Who Do” and “Those Who Film Other People Doing.” It seems like a fun idea, catching the fun for posterity but in fact it ruins the atmosphere. Remember when we were told to ‘throw your hands in the air, and wave them like you just don’t care?’ Received wisdom tells us we should dance like no-one’s watching but that’s impossible while half your workforce is standing around the dancefloor, their joyless faces illuminated in the blue digitized glow of images of other people trying to have fun.

And then it all pitches up on Facebook. You’re tagged doing shots with the guy with the wandering hands, arguing volubly with that heifer from three desks over about her personal hygiene and that sound she makes when she eats at her desk. All of the very worst moments of your year compressed into one dazzling night of craptitude and it’s all captured on the cloud by people who never join in in the first place.

In the olden golden days before Facebook all you had to do was strong it out. Apologise where you had to, keep your head up and wait for people to forget all about the very worst excesses of your boozed up behaviour. Now it’s there forever, evidence for the world, your real friends and family to see for years and years to come. One day you’ll be sitting reminiscing with your grandchildren looking at all your old photos and you’ll find yourself saying “Look, that’s granny when she was young and pretty! Ah, I could barely stand, my tights are ripped to shreds and if you look closely, my boss is trying to cop a feel!”

Thanks Facebook. Thanks for everything!

@dancash is a features writer living by the sea. This article was supposed to be about fixed asset tracking and inventory management but I had to get it off my chest!

Related posts:

Shrek Forever After: The Verdict

Drive Safe During Christmas Shopping

Christmas Movies: Beyond The Traditional

How Mark Zuckerberg Ruined Christmas For Everyone Forever is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2011. Please link back when using this source material.

If you enjoy reading my blog, then please support me with a donation and Follow @BlazingMinds on Twitter

Talking Dog Tops The Youtube UKs Most Watched Videos

Karen — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:00:11 +0000

So with 2011 slowly creeping out the back door, it was inevitable that we would start getting those “Top” blog posts and not one to fail in the ideas of having something that I know my readers will find interesting, I have caved in and decided to bring you the UKs most watched video clips from Youtube.

Talking Dog Tops The Youtube UKs Most Watched Videos

OK! So you have probably heard about the top video on Youtube and I do have to say that it is in with my favourites, I can’t remember how many time I’ve seen the video on Youtube, but each time I do it has me in fits and giggles and being a dog oner myself, I often have the thoughts of “I wonder what’s going through their minds”

I know most of you will have seen the “Ultimate Dog Tease” which is the top watched video clip, but for those of you who have missed out on those internet wonder, here it is for your pleasure

Click here to view the embedded video.

Now come on, now is that cute or what

So what about the rest?

Well here you go, I was going to add just a link to the videos, but then I thought, “hang on, my readers don’t want to keep going from one site to another”.

And for that very reason, thanks to the wonders of adding Youtube video to a blog post, you can safely view them all here on this blog post, yes I know I am kind, but it is Christmas after all ;)

2. The T-Mobile Royal Wedding

Click here to view the embedded video.

3. Songify This – Winning

Click here to view the embedded video.

4. Nyan Cat

Click here to view the embedded video.

5. Michael Collings Audition

Click here to view the embedded video.

6. Masterchief Synesthesia

Click here to view the embedded video.

7. Diary Of A Bad Man 5

Click here to view the embedded video.

8. Rebecca Black Friday (Brock’s Dub)

Click here to view the embedded video.

9. Talking Twin Babies

Click here to view the embedded video.

10. TomSka

Click here to view the embedded video.

So there you have it, hope you’ve had a little chuckle to yourself with the video

Related posts:

How To Download and Watch YouTube Videos on your iPod

Why adding videos to your post for effect is GOOD

The Top 10 Most Watched Friends Episodes

Talking Dog Tops The Youtube UKs Most Watched Videos is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2011. Please link back when using this source material.

If you enjoy reading my blog, then please support me with a donation and Follow @BlazingMinds on Twitter

Celebrate Christmas With The Apollo Cinemas Winter Weekend

Karen — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:51:04 +0000

With Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to celebrate and have a little fun before the big day arrives. This weekend it’s all happening at my local Apollo Cinema in Rhyl is celebrating the festivities with a Winter Weekend.

You may have seen me mention the Winter Weekend in my post about Strictly Come Dancing Live in 3D, which happens to be in the evening this weekend.

Celebrate Christmas With The Apollo Cinemas Winter Weekend

So what’s this all about then?

It’s a fun way for everyone to get together have a little fun, meet new faces, catch up with friends and just generally enjoy themselves, with some special guests such as Spencer Wilding signing autographs on the Saturday, Pretty Girl Rock performing live from the Apollo balcony at 1pm and even a special X-Factor guest performing to the crowds.

Not only that, but local radio, Point FM will be broadcasting live from the event as well as the wonderful Taste Academy selling their yummy cakes and the Prestatyn Abandoned Animals Association stopping by to raise a little money to help our furry friends.

It’s All Happening This Weekend!

There’s even a winter fun fair to keep the kids happy and if it gets a little too cold the Apollo Cinema Costa Coffee bar will be open as well as the Seaview bar in the back of the cinema for those wanting a tipple

And believe it or not that slightly famous blogging bear, @SlappyBear, will be there as well, looking for some photo opportunities from the celebrities and from the public (yes I will be his chaperone )

So if you are in the area between 10am and 4pm on Saturday and Sunday then, pop on by the Apollo Cinema Winter Weekend and you just never know you may just bump into me @BlazingMinds and @SlappyBear, now isn’t it worth going just for that

Related posts:

Special Treat For This Blogger At The Apollo Cinema Rhyl Relaunch

A Monster In Paris – Apollo Cinemas Film Review

Apollo Cinema Rhyl, The Local Cinema Loved By Movie Fans

Celebrate Christmas With The Apollo Cinemas Winter Weekend is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2011. Please link back when using this source material.

If you enjoy reading my blog, then please support me with a donation and Follow @BlazingMinds on Twitter

Christmas Movies: Beyond The Traditional

stephwoo286 — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:00:15 +0000

A straightforward list of favourite Christmas movies would be rather redundant. Excepting some difference either side of the Atlantic, the traditional Christmas movies are a predictable lot: ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ or ‘The Wizard of Oz’ in the main, a sprinkling of ‘Home Alone’, ‘Die Hard’ or ‘Muppet’s Christmas Carol’ as a side dish and ‘The Great Escape’ if you’re British.

But if you’re looking for something a little different this year, try one of the films from this list:

Tokyo Godfathers

Considering that barely 2 percent of Japan’s population are Christians, it’s surprising that the holiday is celebrated at all. That there is a Japanese film, set in Japan that heavily features Christmas is probably even more suprising. Satoshi Kon’s Tokyo Godfathers actually seems to have been inspired by a minor John Ford western, 3 Godfathers, wherein three cowhands return an orphaned baby to civilization.

In Tokyo Godfathers, three homeless people – an alcoholic cyclist, a teenage runaway and a former drag-queen – find a baby discarded in a pile of refuse sacks. They then set off to bring the child back to its parents, based on a trail of clues and ever more fortunate coincidences. Like ‘3 Godfathers’ the Christmas themes go beyond the time of year – three wise ‘men’ and a child in humble surroundings, as well as the improbable good fortune that they all have on the way to the uplifting conclusion. Fun and laced with heavier themes as the main character’s own sad pasts – and bleak futures – are slowly revealed. Don’t worry though, it’s all very Christmassy in the end.

Monty Python’s Life of Brian

Christmas isn’t a time for being contrary and argumentative, but that never stopped anyone before. You don’t get much more contrary than the Life of Brian, firstly because it’s mostly about Easter and secondly, because it’s a comic religious satire of almost infamous stature. In fact, the reputation that Life of Brian has for being a scathing criticism of Judeo-Christian faith is actually rather overblown. Monty Python’s comedy was always 90% silliness, and very few of the pokes at religion are anything especially scathing.

In the film, Brian is a misadventuring young man who falls in love with a member of the People’s Front of Judea, a resistance movement in 1st Century Roman controlled Judea. Brian finds himself followed by prophets and proclaimed as the Messiah, starting a movement that wakes him up the next morning (with his mother protesting “He’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy!”). Endlessly quotable and really quite benign.

Lady and the Tramp

Disney undoubtedly hopes that most of their films are suitable as alternative Christmas movies – in the last five years they’ve re-released the Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and the Jungle Book in the hope of grabbing the Christmas dollar. Of course, one of the few films that actually contains a Christmas scene – Lady and the Tramp – won’t be out until February. But if you do have a copy of the last release around, stick it in over the Christmas period: it remains one of the studio’s sweetest movies, a cosy love story with a collection of great songs and some beautiful, idyllic animation.

Charming, and a perfect way to get some hyperactive youngsters to slow down over a hectic period. That said, the one Christmas scene is surely a modern faux pas: ‘Jim Dear’ apparently hasn’t heard that ‘a dog is for life, not just for Christmas’. If the Dog’s Trust got wind of this, they would probably have kittens, so to speak.

Citizen Kane

Films aren’t just important at Christmas because they have uplifting themes or because they feature Christmas at some point. There aren’t really any other times in the year when the television channels can put on their best and longest movies and you’ll actually sit there and watch them. To that end, Citizen Kane, the slow burning ‘best film of all time’ is a fantastic Christmas treat. Ah, but Citizen Kane is a Christmas movie after all: Kane’s sled, simultaneously the lynchpin and the most inconsequential detail of the whole piece, is a Christmas gift.

Steph Wood is a copywriter and blogger with a love of film and technology. They’re currently writing for UK Credit Cards company Vanquis who specialise in Credit cards for people with bad credit

Related articles

Best Christmas Movie Ever (mikefriesen05.wordpress.com)

What’s Your Favorite Christmas Movie? (mothermeetstheroad.com)

Related posts:

Top Five Movies to See on Christmas Day

My Top 10 Favourite Movies!

Do we all have that Christmas Spirit?

Christmas Movies: Beyond The Traditional is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2011. Please link back when using this source material.

If you enjoy reading my blog, then please support me with a donation and Follow @BlazingMinds on Twitter

Arthur Christmas 3D From Aardman Studios – Movie Review

Karen — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:00:56 +0000

Last night was another movie night at the Rhyl Apollo for me and a certain bear (@SlappyBear) so we went to see Aardman studios first full digital 3D movie, Arthur Christmas.

Isn’t It A Little Early For A Christmas Film?

It’s always a good time for a Christmas film, I think we all need a good bit of cheer in our lives and lets face it, it’s not really that far to Christmas now

So having the chance to get in to the Christmas spirit now is a great way to get ready for the festivities ahead.

Arthur Christmas An Ideal Christmas Movie

Anywho on to the film itself. It’s Christmas time and Santa (Jim Broadbent) is delivering presents around the world to all the children with the help of his Elfs and his son Steve (Hugh Laurie), racing around the globe in one night and making all the little children happy.

But after a slight mishap, one little girl doesn’t get her present, so it’s up to Arthur Christmas (James MacAvoy), Grand Santa (Bill Nighy) and a stowaway Elf, Bryony (Ashley Jenson) to save Christmas.

So what ensues is a race against the clock and around the world in an “outdated” sleigh to try to get this last remaining present to Gwen.

A Christmas Comedy

I do have to say that Arthur Christmas is lots of fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it along with all the kids that were in the cinema as well, you can tell the kids who’ve never seen 3D before, as their little hands go up in the air trying to touch things

For me the 3D wasn’t overly brilliant, it certainly worked, but it just didn’t seem to be as prominent as it quite possibly could have been, but besides that it’s extremely fun and the characters really do come across with their comical sides.

Grand Santa is one that really stands out in the scenes that he is in with some of the funny things he says, which really had me in fits and giggles.

Overall Thoughts

An ideal family movie, it’s a funny and enjoyable film for kids and adults, so if you want a film to see with the family for Christmas, then this is certainly one to see. 8/10.

Related posts:

The Three Musketeers 3D – Movie Review

Movie Review: Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows

The Iron Lady – Movie Review

Arthur Christmas 3D From Aardman Studios – Movie Review is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2011. Please link back when using this source material.

If you enjoy reading my blog, then please support me with a donation and Follow @BlazingMinds on Twitter

Top 5 Christmas Laptops

Guest Author — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 11:42:48 +0000

Laptops are always a popular choice of present at Christmas especially among students whether they’re at university or college. Buying a laptop can be difficult especially if you don’t know your RAM from your ROM and your LCD from your LED.

Below is a guide to the top 5 laptops that should be on your Christmas list this year.

1.)    Lenovo ThinkPad – Lenovo is not the most well-known brand in the Laptop market but despite this Lenovo have built a fantastic range of personal computers and the ThinkPad is the jewel in the Lenovo crown. The ThinkPad incredibly thin and light weighing in at only 2.4 Kg but light does not mean fragile with the ThinkPad ranked 1# by TBR for reliability.

2.)    Apple MacBook Pro – As always Apple have produced an elegant yet powerful computer. The MacBook Pro is thinner and lighter than most laptops weighing in at 2 Kg but it does pack a punch with the standard model including a Dual Core i5 processor and a 500Gb hard drive . With a battery life of 7 hours the MacBook pro is perfect for anyone who is constantly on the go. The MacBook pro now also comes with Thunderbolt the brand new I/O technology helping speed up data transfers between your MacBook and external devices.

3.)    HP Probook – The Probook Notebook offers the perfect blend of portability, battery life and performance providing a fantastic computing experience. Each Probook comes with an AMD Phenom II P650 processor giving you the same performance as an Intel Core i3. Available for under £400 this laptop offers great value for money. Each Probook comes with high quality displays making it easier to view images and videos.

4.)    Toshiba Satellite Pro C660-21F – The Toshiba Satellite Pro C660 offers the user performance, value and most importantly reliability. With secure connectivity you can be sure your data is safe while browsing the web or working from home. Equipped with a Core i3 processor, a 320Gb hard drive and 4Gb of RAM this laptop offers the very best in performance.

5.)    Sony Vaio S Series – The Sony Vaio has always been one of the most popular laptop brands. The Vaio S series is the perfect blend of power and portability, weighing only 1.8 Kg and protected by a magnesium alloy body making it perfect for anyone who is constantly on the move. This stylish laptop also comes with a 500Gb hard drive, 4Gb of RAM and an Intel Core i3 processor.

Alex Smith is a writer with a particlar interest in technology and IT solutions.

No related posts.
Top 5 Christmas Laptops is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2011. Please link back when using this source material.

If you enjoy reading my blog, then please support me with a donation and Follow @BlazingMinds on Twitter

Hot New Appliances/Gadgets Xmas Gift List

Danielle — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:00:11 +0000

Anyone who had been to a shopping center or turned on a television in the last week has noticed the seasonal ads cropping-up. “Holiday shopping” begins earlier and earlier. Some consumers begin shopping as soon as stores start decorating with candy canes, other hold off until it gets deeper into the season. Either way, businesses use their most ruthless sales techniques in the winter and even if you aren’t shopping everyone starts building a little fantasy wish list in their heads.

The toys and gadgets that adults will be hoping for are pretty different than what kids want to find under the tree, but they are no less cool and often have even more bells and whistles. Whether they are more everyday appliances like stoves and microwaves or seasonal needs like fans and space heaters there are plenty of new appliances that will have adults jumping up and down too.

Original Babycakes Cupcake Maker

This adorable appliance can bake eight cupcakes in just five minutes. It has a non-stick coating so your confections should just slide out after baking but you can use paper cupcake cups too. Simply fill the cups with the batter of your choice and your creation will bake right up. Aside from the obvious sweet treats, this machine can also help you make muffins, tartlets, mini pies or many other creative creations. The system comes with a manual chocked-full of recipes and baking tips and cake decorating accessories. The Original Babycakes Cupcake Maker starts at $29.99.

Sharp Microwave Oven Drawer

This innovative appliance installs at drawer level just below the counter. The lower drawer makes it easy to lower something into the oven. Users can also stir hot objects without having to remove them from the oven. A view from the top gives you a better idea if your food item is done cooking or not. The drawer does feature a locking option so parents don’t have to worry about this very in-reach oven being abused while they are away.

The Sharp Microwave Oven Drawer goes for $1100.

The Babylone

If you didn’t know the Green Movement has made its place in interior design, then this piece proves it. This cutting edge lamp is also a planter. Depending on the plant you choose to put in it, the Babylone can quickly become a humidifier or air purifier. Greenworks produces this product and it is an obvious nod in their effort to bring the outdoors inside. The bottom of the planter is filled with pumice stone instead of soil. The stone has wonderful water retaining qualities so the plant doesn’t need watering often. This space-age fixture would make a forward-looking addition to any green or contemporary décor.

Danielle Rhodes, who blogs on behalf of Sears and other prestigious brands, enjoys spending her time keeping up with the latest innovations in home appliances.

No related posts.
Hot New Appliances/Gadgets Xmas Gift List is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2011. Please link back when using this source material.

If you enjoy reading my blog, then please support me with a donation and Follow @BlazingMinds on Twitter

That’s It! Christmas Day and Boxing Day Over For This Year!

Karen — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 17:19:52 +0000

There’s always a massive build up for the two days of the year where we get completely stuffed with either chicken, turkey, duck or something else, but it’s amazing how quickly those two days fly by once that have arrived.

Image via Wikipedia

For me this year has been a really special Christmas with an opportunity to spend the two days with my sis, niece and nephew. The fun of hearing them at 3:30 in the morning moving about and wondering if Santa had been and then finally getting up at around 6:30 in the morning, going down stairs and seeing the look on their faces as they see a room full of presents that Santa has left them, it’s priceless.

Then it’s on to clearing up all the wrapping paper and playing with the toys with them as the Christmas dinner is ready to be served on that special Christmas table-cloth with Christmas crackers ready to be pulled with the obligatory party hats, bad jokes and gifts.

For me this has been the best Christmas ever, it’s also been the most fun and happiest in years. And all this is down to having a close and loving family that I cherish, love and adore.

Now if next year is anything like this year, then I can’t wait, bring it on!

Related articles

Boxing Day After Christmas (socyberty.com)

Santa brings Christmas to hospitalized kids ()

So… Christmas is over, for now anyway (cyndamoore.wordpress.com)

Related posts:

Is It Time To Start Christmas Shopping?

Saturday Six – The Blazing Minds Christmas Day Special

Do we all have that Christmas Spirit?

That’s It! Christmas Day and Boxing Day Over For This Year! is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2011. Please link back when using this source material.

If you enjoy reading my blog, then please support me with a donation and Follow @BlazingMinds on Twitter

It’s The Christmas Eve Twitter FollowFriday Recommendations

Karen — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 08:45:08 +0000

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas

Yes it’s Christmas Eve and it’s a Friday, so that means, not only am I busy getting ready for the big day tomorrow and looking forward to seeing what Father Christmas is bringing me, it also means it’s time for this weeks Twitter FollowFriday list.

Now I have checked the Twitter FollowFriday list twice to see who has been naughty and nice and this is the next to the last list before 2011, so if you’re not following these tweeters on Twitter then get on over and check them out.

I’ve already tweeted out this weeks Follow Friday recommendations, so thanks to the wonderful BlackBird Pie plugin I’m brining you a graphical list

Part One

#ff @drrus @askkim @alchemicjourney @justkissie @commentluv @hishaman @dragonblogger @ileane @dalekcat @basicblogtips (via @ffhelper)
December 24, 2010 7:54 am via #FollowFriday Helper ReplyRetweetFavorite
@BlazingMinds
Karen

Part Two

#FollowFriday @ditesco @woodooprod @quiffylaa31 @dotspice @sweetsfoods @jenaisle @estavamorioka @johnaguiar @lavenderuses (via @ffhelper)
December 24, 2010 7:54 am via #FollowFriday Helper ReplyRetweetFavorite
@BlazingMinds
Karen

Merry Christmas everyone

Related posts:

It’s Time For The Twitter FollowFriday Recommendations

Top Tweeters For This Weeks Twitter FollowFriday Recommendations

A Quick Twitter FollowFriday Update!

It’s The Christmas Eve Twitter FollowFriday Recommendations is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2011. Please link back when using this source material.

If you enjoy reading my blog, then please support me with a donation and Follow @BlazingMinds on Twitter

Shopping In The Cold On The Last Sunday Before Christmas

Karen — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 17:22:42 +0000

I must of been mad today, as I ventured out in to the cold, -9°c, to do my last minute ditch attempt at grabbing all those Christmas presents that I haven’t had time to get, due to working through the week.

To be honest, it wasn’t really that bad, only my road to the main road was like an ice rink, but thankfully I know how to handle my car on the snow and ice, so no slipping or spinning of wheels for me then

The only problem was the cold, even with anti-freeze in the windscreen wash bottle, my wiper jets had frozen up and I had to pull over at the nearest garage, get a hand full of snow and place it on the windscreen to clean it so I could see where I was going, yes I know there are water taps at the garages, but even these were frozen!

After arriving at Cheshire Oaks, the temperature had risen to -7.5°c, so still bitterly cold, but walking around the huge outlet and it’s stores soon warmed us up I have to say there were loads of things on special offers such as 60% off clothes etc, so some bargains to be found, even the entertainment shop was selling DVDs for as little as £1.99 bargain, shame I’d got them all

So after having a tasty Cappuccino in a shop called “Coffee”, it was time to venture on!

Time for a nice hot, large, cappuccino http://twitpic.com/3heyn1
December 19, 2010 11:29 am via Twitter for BlackBerry®ReplyRetweetFavorite
@BlazingMinds
Karen

To do even more shopping and browsing, well mainly browsing I stopped off at the Greyhound Park in Chester, not much there really, but it wasted a bit of time, before jumping back in a warm car to get stuck in some traffic with everybody else probably thinking the same thing, “It’s time to go home”

By now, I was getting hungry, so it was stop of at the Little Chef on the way home, for a Hunters Chicken, very, very tasty indeed

That "hunters chicken" at the little chef was gorgeous!
December 19, 2010 3:09 pm via Ping.fm ReplyRetweetFavorite
@BlazingMinds
Karen

Then home to the warmth and my two dogs, who were glad to see me and to the bit of Hunters Chicken I’d brought back for them

What a day, but fun none the less, now it’s back to work tomorrow and then next weekend it’s the big day…..

It’s Christmas…….

Click here to view the embedded video.

Merry Christmas Everyone and Happy New Year

Related articles

Big freeze shatters Super Saturday sales as icy conditions keep shoppers away (dailymail.co.uk)

Shops hit by snow chaos and panic buying (telegraph.co.uk)

Related posts:

Is It Time To Start Christmas Shopping?

Drive Safe During Christmas Shopping

That’s It! Christmas Day and Boxing Day Over For This Year!

Shopping In The Cold On The Last Sunday Before Christmas is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2011. Please link back when using this source material.

If you enjoy reading my blog, then please support me with a donation and Follow @BlazingMinds on Twitter

DIY Christmas Gift: Chocolate Dipped Spoons

Maria — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 08:51:25 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

DIY is big this holiday season, owing largely to the still fumbling economy. Still, there’s something to be said for a heartfelt homemade gift when everything else comes wrapped in twenty layers of plastic.

The reasons I opted to go DIY with gifts this year were manifold, but I guess the primary (and most common among other DIY-ers, I might add) is that I simply didn’t have the money to buy iPads for everyone in my family. Although these spoons are easy and relatively cheap to make, they still require more thought and consideration than going out to the mall and buying a random please-all gift for your cousin or niece and everyone else who hasn’t given you a wish list this Christmas. For those of you short on cash, leery of credit, and trying to be more eco-conscious, you can proudly present DIY gifts to loved ones this Christmas.

This DIY gift can be given in combination with another low-cost gift, like a vintage or personalized coffee mug or a jar of homemade hot cocoa mix (which, let me tell you, gets less and less wallet-friendly when you start getting guilt-tripped by Whole Foods into buying all organic and fair-trade ingredients, but it’s the most responsible gift you’ll ever give).

What You’ll Need

Either metal spoons you’re willing to part with or sturdy eco-plastic spoons (make sure there are no PVCs in the plastic, since these harmful chemicals tend to leach in hot conditions, like melted chocolate or freshly poured coffee)

Wax paper

Cookie sheet

Plastic baggies

Ribbon

Milk chocolate (the easiest way is with a bag of chocolate morsels, preferably fairly traded)

Dark chocolate morsels or a piece from a bar (for decoration)

White chocolate (for decoration)

Vanilla, Kahlua, mint, or any other flavoring oil

What To Do Yourself

1.      Line the cookie sheet with wax paper.

2.      Melt the milk chocolate in a double boiler (if you can’t do this, put the chocolate morsels in a glass jar and put it in a boiling pot of water so the water won’t tip over the jar). Stir frequently, and watch that the chocolate doesn’t get too hot (it might melt the spoon). Add flavoring oil if desired.

3.      Dip the spoons in the melted chocolate so about a quarter of an inch into the handle of the spoon is covered. With the spoon side up, remove excess by tapping the spoon against the pot or jar and lay on the cookie sheet. Refrigerate for half an hour. Remove for decorating.

4.      Melt the dark chocolate and white chocolate separately. You can use the microwave if you put it on low heat and monitor progress, one minute at a time so it doesn’t burn. Take a different spoon or fork and dip into the chocolate and create designs and drizzles over the chocolate-covered spoons. Chill the spoons again.

5.      You can clean a fine-tipped paintbrush and color white chocolate with a pinch of green tea to pain trees on chocolate covered spoons, or sprinkle broken up pieces of candy canes or hazelnuts onto freshly dipped spoons. You can also double dip the spoons by first dipping in dark chocolate, chilling, and then dipping in white chocolate and chilling again.

6.      Once the chocolate on the spoons is entirely chilled and solid, place each one in a small baggie and tie off with ribbon. Place inside a mug or tie with hemp to a jar of homemade hot cocoa mix.

Related articles

Candy cane themed holiday gift ideas (thecrunchychicken.com)

DIY Holiday Gift Round-Up (thefrisky.com)

12 Days of Christmas Cookie Recipes: Ginger Brownie Buttons (blisstree.com)

No related posts.
DIY Christmas Gift: Chocolate Dipped Spoons is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2011. Please link back when using this source material.

If you enjoy reading my blog, then please support me with a donation and Follow @BlazingMinds on Twitter

Drive Safe During Christmas Shopping

Nile Flores — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:35:59 +0000

As a parent I have a load of gifts to buy each Christmas. For me, I have to commute all the way to St. Louis, Missouri to get a good gift and that means facing traffic and crowded stores. While there are people who are early birds in Christmas shopping, it is the last-minute mad dash that is to be concerned about.

No matter where you are in the world, or what holiday you do celebrate in December, your life is more important than buying a present. You might be someone who likes to procrastinate, but it is important to keep your focus on what is important.

Here are some tips to think about in order to drive safely this Christmas:

Follow the Rules of the Road. If it takes trying to remember those old Driver’s Education lessons, make it so. Do not tailgate. Do not speed. Obey the signals… etc. There may be a lot of traffic and it might become frustrating, but at least making the effort on your end will hopefully leave you alive, accident-free or not the cause of an accident.

Research your route and plan. While I am not sure about other countries, within the United States, a lot of the states have websites dedicated to informing travelers on what roads have construction, and some may even go as far as giving a traffic time delay.

Plan where you need to go in order to shop. If you are looking for certain items, plan to go to the stores that are necessary. Gas prices are expensive and all that travel alongside the cost of gifts can get pricey. Be efficient and see if you can shop at as few places as possible.

See if you can buy what you need online. The Internet has so many types of e-commerce websites that it is not surprising that what you need may be online. Some of these places even have overnight delivery.

For some places, Christmas time may be especially cold and you will want to park close to the store for the shortest walk. You may want to re-think that. Park away from the store to avoid being hit. If it snows, some people park quickly and when they stop, they may slide into your vehicle.

What other tips do you have for holiday shoppers? Do you have an interesting shopping story or holiday driving story?

Related articles

Where Has The Christmas Spirit Gone To? (dragonblogger.com)

Shopping Days Countdown to Christmas (socyberty.com)

Have Yourself a Budget-Friendly Christmas; 9 Ways to Trim Your Holiday Spending (Part 2) (quizzle.com)

Related posts:

Is It Time To Start Christmas Shopping?

Shopping In The Cold On The Last Sunday Before Christmas

Do we all have that Christmas Spirit?

Drive Safe During Christmas Shopping is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2011. Please link back when using this source material.

If you enjoy reading my blog, then please support me with a donation and Follow @BlazingMinds on Twitter

Are You Recycling Your Christmas Wrapping?

Karen — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:07:28 +0000

Image by Blazing Minds via Flickr

It’s going to be that time of year again where we will be wrapping our Christmas presents ready for Father Christmas to deliver to our loved ones, but, are you helping the environment and your pockets, by recycling you wrapping paper etc?

Christmas wrapping paper doesn’t have to be thrown away, it can be recycled, not only by putting it in the recycling bins instead of a normal trash bin, but it can also be used for girt wrapping again!

Ok this does sound cheap and something Scrooge would do, but with the way money is tight these days, more and more people are finding that reusing stuff is a vital way of saving a few pennies, specially at this time year.

One way of using the left over wrapping paper is for drawing paper for the kids, on the other side of the Christmas wrapping paper is usually white, instead of throwing it away, let the kids use it to draw pictures. If you’ve got a big enough piece of paper then use it to line your make up draw or even your underwear draw, to keep things fresh.

Another great way of doing your part is instead of using wrapping paper is to use gift bags, these are great as everyone can re-use these and give gifts to others in the bags you have given and you can do the same by giving others people’s presents in bags you’ve received, also it’s great if you’re terrible at wrapping

So remember with the way the world is at the moment and the way he landfills are getting to bursting point, try to recycle as much as you can

Related articles

Wrap gifts with the planet in mind (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

Recycled Alternatives to Holiday Gift Wrap (1800recycling.com)

Green Holiday Guide: Green Your Wrapping (retrohousewifegoesgreen.com)

No related posts.
Are You Recycling Your Christmas Wrapping? is a post from Blazing Minds Copyright 2008-2011. Please link back when using this source material.

If you enjoy reading my blog, then please support me with a donation and Follow @BlazingMinds on Twitter