You can find a ceramic coffee mug in just about any retail store you enter. These items are commonly used for your morning cup of coffee. Since most of us reach for our mugs in the early hours of the day, a typical ceramic coffee mug usually has some interesting or humorous picture, saying or design.

Many people like to use kitchen accessories like this that are uniform in design. However, just about everyone has a favorite ceramic coffee mug that is tucked away somewhere in the home. Just as wine tastes better out of certain glasses, only some mugs offer the best tasting cup of coffee.

I drink my morning brew out of one ceramic coffee mug that is designed for the holiday season. I use this ceramic coffee mug all year long. The item is usually tucked behind my “show” dinnerware and I typically only use it when I don’t have guests. It is funny but I really enjoy drinking out of this particular cup. It just tastes better.

Some of these kitchen items also have sentimental value. I can’t say that my Christmas ceramic coffee mug has any real sentimental value. I just noticed that my morning brew tastes better out of this particular container. However, many people drink out of very special containers that were given as gifts or ones that simply remind them of a special person or event.

A ceramic coffee mug makes a wonderful present especially if you put a little thought into the purchase. My sister favors a certain container that has the Morning Prayer: “Dear God, please don’t make me parallel park today.” She gets a laugh out of the silly cup every morning. She also can’t parallel park to save her life so it is quite appropriate.

You may not be able to find that perfect ceramic coffee mug that conveys just the right image or message. However, you can create one. These items are among a number of products that can be personalized to suit the receiver. Many places let you add images in addition to text as well.

One of my favorite providers of this service is Caf

As someone who has been a devout believer in Catholicism for nearly my entire life, it’s only natural that almost all of my friends and relatives share the same values. This is comforting on many levels, and helps reinforce my faith all the more. In addition, because I know the important people in my life celebrate the same religious holidays and milestones that I do and because I know that they harbor a healthy respect for religion, I can be sure that they’ll appreciate receiving Catholic gifts on special occasions.

It’s getting harder and harder for me to find stores in my area that stock Catholic gifts, but thanks to the Internet, I’m never at a total loss for options. These days, there are numerous websites that sell nothing but high-quality Catholic gifts, which makes shopping for baptisms, first communions, confirmations, Christmas, and birthdays a breeze. Whenever one of these occasions comes up for someone in my circle of family and friends, I immediately go online and start checking out the wide variety of affordable Catholic gifts that are available.

What kind of Catholic gifts can I purchase online? Just about anything that I would be able to get in a regular store! For example, there are many websites that offer reading materials such as inspirational books, faith-based living guides, Bibles, and more. There are books geared towards all different age levels, so I am always sure to find exactly what I need for the recipient I have in mind.

Jewelry is another category of Catholic gifts that is always popular and always appreciated. Again, there is a wide range of products to choose from, ranging from the very basic to the very exquisite. Necklaces in the form of gold or silver crosses, crucifixes, and medals are appropriate for both men and women, giving you greater flexibility as you shop. Other jewelry products that make for fantastic Catholic gifts include chastity rings, prayer bracelets, and rosaries. Best of all, many of these jewelry items can be inscribed with a loving message to the recipient.

There are also Catholic gifts that would make wonderful decorations for the home. I’m talking about items such as wall hangings, framed prints, statues, figurines, plaques, and even holy water fonts. You can order all of these products online and have them delivered right to your door (or your recipient’s door) in just a few days. That sure beats having to drive all over town while dealing with traffic, the weather, and limited parking in the hopes of finding the perfect present.

So the next time you’re faced with an occasion where you need to purchase Catholic gifts, try taking your search online. You might be surprised at all the terrific and affordable products that you can order without ever having to leave your home!

Any pet owner will tell you that an animal that is adopted becomes a real member of the family. My family has adopted a full grown cat and he is a great addition to our clan. The year we decided to show the kitty that he is an equal by getting him his very own cat Christmas stocking.

I went to a few stores to find just the right one. I wound up with two cat Christmas stockings instead. The first one I chose is just adorable. The top of the stocking is white and the foot is a beautiful shade of sparkling green. The cat Christmas stocking is personalized with Purr’s name and there is even a little bell to entertain the kitty as well.

I really liked this cat Christmas stocking because of its size. It is 18 inches long and 8 inches wide so I can fit plenty of treats for our beloved animal in it. I chose everything from play mice to edible treats in the cat Christmas stocking. I just can’t wait to give it to him on the morning of the holiday.

The second item I purchase I bought more for myself than our feline friend. I just couldn’t pass this one up. The cat Christmas stocking featured a “good cat” and a “bad cat” on each side. This adorable item is just too cute even though it is too small to hold all of the holiday treats I bought for my pet.

I decided to buy the cat Christmas stocking anyway as a conversation piece. The detail and cut cat character are enough to keep us talking and the concept is really funny. It’s too bad that it is just so small. It also doesn’t have a bell and my cat loves his bell.

The good cat on the front of the stocking for pets is sitting perfectly pretty. Her expression is one of sheer pride and satisfaction. She is wearing a Santa hat and she is the epitome of holiday spirit.

The kitty on the back of the cat Christmas stocking is another story. She is facing the other direction so you only see her back. Her claws are dug into the wall and there are huge gashes streaking down where they had done their damage. Her fur is sticking up in the air and you can almost hear her angry mew.

I just loved the images so much that I bought this one, too. I think that it makes a nice, humorous addition to our holiday decorations. Maybe we will adopt a kitten. The cat Christmas stocking may be put to use.

There are a few approaches you can take to a cat Christmas ornament. There are holiday decorations designed to delight feline lovers and there are decorations to delight the cats as well. Following are some great ideas for cats and cat-lovers who would appreciate a unique cat Christmas ornament this year.

I found a great hand-painted cat Christmas ornament. The cat’s face is painted right on the glass bulb. Two soft ears are glued on to the top of the bulb. This adorable item comes in many different styles and each kitty has a cute expression. None are identical so this cat Christmas ornament is truly one of a kind.

I figured that I could make this project on my own so I bought some glass paint and some felt for the ears. After collecting the bulbs I went right to work on my first cat Christmas ornament. I have to admit that the process seems easier than it is. Painting on glass is difficult to begin with. Painting on rounded glass objects is a real challenge.

My first project wound up as fodder for something else entirely. I just haven’t figured out what exactly that something else is besides decorating the inside of my garbage can. I wasn’t about to give up on the cat Christmas ornament, though. My second attempt would turn out better.

Better does not always mean good. “Better” can sometimes mean really creepy looking. My kitty looked a little more like a Halloween production than anything associated with Christmas. At least I knew what I was going to do with the second cat Christmas ornament.

The third and final attempt made me realize that some things should be left to the professionals. The third cat Christmas ornament looked more like a reindeer than a feline. Don’t ask how. It just did. I guess that I can still use this one; maybe as an accent piece to the first ornament that is going to decorate the trash can.

Reason had led me to the simple decision that there would be no fourth attempt, at least not this year anyway. I decided to just purchase the cat Christmas ornament that originally caught my eye. This adorable addition to my tree is my pride and joy. After all, I had already told everyone about my project. I really don’t need to mention where my cat Christmas ornaments are.

I cannot believe the school trips that are offered to high school students. There are band trips, chorus trips and trips for the drama club. It seems that there is some type of fund raiser going on all the time. Through the years my daughter has sold candy bars, magazine subscriptions, cookie dough, discount cards to local businesses, Christmas cards and a variety of other things. This year the band is putting on a carnival to raise money for a trip to Chicago. My daughter asked me to be involved with the committee.

At the first committee meeting there were several parents and band members that came to present support for the project. We discussed what date to have the event as well as the carnival games that we would use to raise money. We did not want to spend too much money on prizes for the carnival games because that would take away from the profits. Three of the older band members volunteered to go to several businesses in the area to see if they would donate items that could be used as prizes. One of the teachers that came to the meeting had a catalog of cheap novelty gifts that could be used for some of the carnival games geared towards young children. We agreed that we needed to have activities for all age groups including parents. We decided that we would charge a nominal fee to get into the carnival. People could then buy tickets to play the various carnival games. We would have two centrally located ticket booths. Each of the carnival games would cost between two to six tickets depending on the size of the prize for that particular game. The games for the younger kids would cost one ticket because the prizes were very inexpensive. By having people pay with tickets at the various game sights we did not have to worry about having multiple cash boxes. We also had a different colored ticket for food items.

The band members would volunteer to man the carnival games. They decided that they wanted to dress up like clowns to add to the carnival atmosphere. The home economics teacher agreed that the band members could bake bars and cookies in the home economics area after school. Those students that were both in band and home economics were given extra credit for developing a budget for the ingredients needed and then going comparison shopping to purchase the items. The bars and cookies were sold at the carnival along with hot dogs and popcorn.

The carnival night was a fun time. There was great cooperation for those on the committee and the band members. All the different age groups seemed to enjoy the carnival games that were played.

All year round events are possible in a state that enjoys more sunshine than most. Annual California events cover a wide range, including sporting and cultural affairs. There are several events that celebrate the Christmas and Easter holidays and Halloween too. The area is especially enthusiastic about food and wine festivals.

The calendar is full throughout the year and one of the early treats is the Tournament of Roses Parade held in Pasadena in January. This involves a floral flotilla, marching bands and horse displays. Following the parade is the much anticipated college football match, played as the Rose Bowl Game.

In spring, the Santa Barbara Fur Ball takes place. This is not a party for fur coat owners but rather a gathering for animal lovers. It’s a formal wear dinner dance with silent auction and raises money for the homeless and to fund animal shelters for abandoned animals. The Easter Bonnet Parade and Hat Contest in San Diego is one of the most popular California events for children. Children of any age can enter the contest and they can also participate in an Easter Egg Hunt.

It’s a wild time in May at Santa Maria at the Elks Rodeo and Parade. Spectators can watch real cowboys strut their stuff with bareback riding, calf roping, bull riding and wild horse competitions. Independence Day is marked in San Francisco with the Fourth of July Waterfront Festival at Fisherman’s Wharf. There is all day live entertainment and there is a food festival, arts and crafts and fireworks.

Jazz fans will appreciate the Jazz Festival held every September in Vacaville. Halloween sees a number of California events, including the Halloween Carnival in Calabasas where there are theatre productions and games for the children.

Christmas is all lit up in Ox Bow when the December Lighted Boat Christmas Parade makes its procession, setting off from the Marina and parading up the river and back. The year ends on a high note at Long Beach for the Brazilian style New Year’s Eve celebrations. This is probably the plushest of the California events, taking place on board the elegant Queen Mary ship in the Harbor. Revelers can dance the night away and see in the New Year with midnight fireworks. These are just some of the California events across the region. Not only do they keep residents and tourists entertained and help to continue cultural traditions, but they also are important for the local economy.

When I was in the sixth grade, everyone had a cabbage patch kid doll. Well, it seemed like everyone did. I didn’t have one, but I was one of the few that did not. It may seem like something odd for a sixth grader, but many brought them to school and took them to class as if they were real. It was amazing, and I was always sad that I didn’t have one. On occasion a friend would have gym class and ask me to take her doll with me to my class.

I wanted a cabbage patch doll kid very badly, and I had asked for one as my fun Christmas gift one year. At the time, they were very hard to find, and parents were fighting over them in the stores. It was something like the Tickle Me Elmo craze of ten years ago. My mom could not find one for me, so she asked my aunt to make me one. Though I appreciated the effort, I just couldn’t bring myself to take it to school. It was a fake, and everyone knew it. There was no bigger social booboo back then at that time than to take a fake cabbage patch to school with you. Kids can be cruel.

Last year for Christmas, one of my husband’s relatives got my daughter a cabbage patch doll, and to my delight, it was born on the same day as my little girl. Though these dolls are not all the rage they were back then, I think there is still something special about them. My daughter doesn’t play with her cabbage patch like I did, but I was older when I had my fake one. She does get her out once in a while, but the appeal seems to be lost on her at this point in her life.

I don’t know if the cabbage patch kids or babies will ever be as popular as they were back when I was in sixth grade, but they still are just as cute as they were back then. I think the value of this current batch is lower because there isn’t as much demand, but I have seen store that have been cleaned out of them. I guess I should be thankful she got her cabbage patch last year and I don’t have to hunt for one this year. Now, as long as she doesn’t ask me for the new Elmo that is out this year, I think we’ll be ok.

I’ve loved butterflies ever since I was a kid growing up in the country. At first, I was attracted to the bright colors and the way they signaled that summer was definitely upon us; later, I came to appreciate their symmetry and the way they flitted so gracefully through the fields. My affinity for butterflies has lasted to this day, so it should come as no surprise that my home decor centers on this motif.

I especially love all the different butterfly wind chimes that I’ve managed to collect over the years. I hang as many as I can around my front and back porches, and store the rest until it’s time to switch out the current display. I also have a few truly exquisite butterfly wind chimes that are far too delicate for outdoor use. I keep these inside where I can enjoy them without having to worry about weather damage.

First-time visitors to my home naturally ask me about my butterfly wind chimes. They want to know how I’ve managed to amass such an enormous collection already. I tell them the truth, which is that a significant number of my butterfly wind chimes were actually given to me as gifts from friends and relatives. The good thing about having a hobby like this is that everyone knows what to get me for my birthday and Christmas presents! As a result of these gifts, I’m able to add a good 10-15 pieces to my collection every year.

The other way I build my collection, of course, is to buy the butterfly wind chimes myself. I usually do this by purchasing them online at various discount stores that I’ve discovered on my many shopping sprees. I actually prefer shopping online now because I have access to a far greater selection of butterfly wind chimes on the Internet than I’d ever find at all the stores in my area combined, and the prices are generally cheaper as well. Moreover, I like how easy it is to keep tabs on all the new designs that come out: all I have to do is click on my favorite websites once a week or so instead of dragging myself around from store to store whenever I go into town.

At any rate, I’m very proud of my collection of butterfly wind chimes, and am looking forward to getting a bunch of new pieces this year. My birthday is just around the corner, so I won’t have to wait very long at all!

I have heard a lot about the Build a Bear workshop. As far as I know, we do not have one of these locally. However, I did see one while I was visiting Nashville. Though most of the stuff I saw there was very cool, I could not believe the prices. In order to build a bear it would have cost me over $100 for something rather simple. I know that this place is very popular, but I cannot imagine spending that much money on a teddy bear.

My daughter has recently started asking me if we can go to Build a Bear. I have had to explain to her that I do not think there is one in our community, and it would take us over an hour to drive to the nearest mall that has a Build a Bear store. Though I understand that my daughter is only five in there are many things in this world’s she does not understand, and trying to instill a sense of responsibility in her. This means I want her to learn that money is not something that necessarily should be spent even if you have it.

What I do like about the Build a Bear idea is that you can build a teddy bear that is yours and yours alone. You don’t even have to choose a bear if you don’t want to. I have seen some people that have chosen dogs or other cute animals for their Build a Bear project. If you are into a particular sports team, or even fall in love with a certain outfit, you can outfit your Build a Bear animal with whatever you choose. I can understand why this would be a lot of fun.

Lately I have seen that Build a Bear finally has some competition. I noticed that there was another company in my mall during the Christmas season that allowed you to build a bear. His company builds from scratch so you could watch the stuffed animal of your choice being stuffed and sewn together. I’m not sure if they had the wide variety of things like Build a Bear does, but I can imagine it was just as much fun for anyone who went there. Even though many things are a lot of fun, it doesn’t mean we can afford them. The longer I can keep my daughter away from Build a Bear, the better off I will be.

When you can’t think of a thing to do to entertain the kids on a rainy day or are just looking for an inexpensive and artsy kind of craft activity, here’s one that’s good year around. Although bread dough ornaments are usually only thought of at Christmas time, you can have fun making these decorations for your home any time you please.

First, here’s the basic recipe. For every six cups of flour, use one cup of salt. Be sure not to include anything else but water! Form your bread dough ornaments before baking. Bake at 325 for about 45 minutes. You’ve got non-perishable decorative objects.

Bread dough ornaments can be tiny or life-sized – up to a point! After a certain size, the material becomes too unwieldy to be practical. However, you can make a loaf of perpetual bread, which makes a nice centerpiece and conversation piece for the dining room table. You can form the dough just as you would a real loaf. Try a braided loaf, which after baking, you can coat with a clear glossy acrylic and tie with a pretty red ribbon. You can even place it in a bread basket, which is good for a laugh when someone picks it up to take a bite!

Do you love kitties but are allergic to their fur? You can make a lifelike kitty to sprawl by the fireplace. Such bread dough ornaments can be painted in a whimsical faux cat design with acrylics and coated with a clear acrylic finish. Kids love these kitties too!

Bread dough ornaments are heavy enough to serve admirably as an atrractive and attention-getting doorstop, shaped in any manner that pleases you.

If you’re the artistic type, you can make bowls and vases in much the same way you would mold clay. If you apply varathane over the entire container, you can even safely put water and real flowers in these bread dough creations. Thinking along the same lines, you can make jewelry boxes, soap dishes or toothbrush holders. These are excellent projects for kids. The project keeps them occupied for hours and they are so proud of the results.

Tiny bread dough ornaments can serve as tree ornaments for lots of occasions. Make an Easter egg tree. Birthday trees hung with little bread dough cakes and ice cream cones are big hits with the kids. Hearts and tiny flowers can decorate the Valentine’s Day tree. Just be sure to poke a tiny hole to string the hanger through before baking and reduce your baking time according to their small size.

The only real limitation with bread dough ornaments is size. Life sized representations of the Thanksgiving turkey won’t work. Otherwise, go for it!