Christmas -- How To Create A Fun & Cherished Christmas!

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A great way to ensure your Christmas will be remembered with warm and cherished memories is to incorporate some rituals. Adding rituals to the festivities will create fun and magic moments that will not only live in your families memories forever but will be excitedly looked forward to each year. Rituals will bring your family closer together creating joy and happiness for all!

Here is a fun ritual you could incorporate into this coming Christmas. Add some Christmas bells to the dinner table and ring them just before the festive meal is ready, calling all to attend the dinner table. Long before Christmas in the old days, bells were once rung with the assumption that the noise would chase away evil spirits. Santa Claus has jingling bells that he uses accompanying his sleigh ride around the world each year. His bells are symbols; they are jingled to remind us of the birth of new beginnings and the death of ignorance (once referred to as the devil).

Ringing bells before the meal is eaten is a wonderful reminder to push away judgments, speak no ills, and come together with a sense of joy, positivity and acceptance for one another. Make the festive meal a time where you all come together and share a positively good time. A time where only supportive words are spoken, encouragement and acknowledgement of each other is heard. Ringing the bells will remind all to keep positive, bright and joyous!

So have some fun, get yourself some jingling Christmas bells and chase away any menacing spirits or thoughts before the festive meal. You can be creative with your jingling and get your children to enjoy a brisk stroll through the house or around the dinner table as they jingle the bells joyously to ensure no menacing mischief makers will be heard on the day! The children will love this fun activity and all will enjoy the friendly reminder of the bells if anyone starts to slip up on their good attitude throughout the day!

Another ritual you could incorporate is the 'Mistletoe Game'. This is a very old Christmas game where it was once common place to have suspended Mistletoe hung in the main room. For this game everyone would assemble in a circle around the Mistletoe. The first player (a male) has to slide a slipper and aim so it will land under the Mistletoe. If he fails another takes their turn. If he succeeds, even more fun begins as there is a scramble in the direction of the lady towards which the slipper points. She must seize the slipper and get away before being caught!

Rituals offer the opportunity for family and friends to interact in a joyous and fun manner. So why not add a few rituals to your festive day to add some fun and create great memories of a truly joyous and happy day.

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How to Choose the Best Chocolate Egg For Easter

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Easter means different things to different people. But there is no doubt that for many of us, it is the sight of chocolate eggs that really gets our attention!

But how do you know which one to buy? After all, there are so many different ones to choose from that it can be rather overwhelming to figure out which Easter egg to go for. The best way to make sure you get it just right is to start with who you are buying the egg for. Is it for a young child, or an adult? Is it merely a token present or will it be something special?

If you are buying a chocolate egg for a child, you will probably want to focus your attention on smaller eggs. Some are designed specifically for children and they may have other benefits to them as well. For example, some might have a game or mask - to colour in or cut out - from the back of the box.

You can often purchase children's eggs that come with other items too, such as a mug, for example. These are good because they mean the child will get to keep something long after the chocolate has been eaten - just make sure the age of the child is well matched to what you are buying.

But supposing you are buying an egg for an adult? There is a much wider selection available for adults, and some of them are based around chocolate bars that you will no doubt already be familiar with. What you could do is find out what bar the recipient likes the most, and then buy a chocolate egg which comes complete with those bars.

But of course, the most important purchase will be for your partner. This is when it is worth spending that little bit more money - some eggs might be handmade or hand finished, while others are extremely large and could last through to the summer!

Always make sure you know what your partner will appreciate though. For example, if they are passionate about a particular type of chocolate, the largest available egg in that style will be very well received. If you are stuck for ideas you could always start dropping hints ahead of time. You could also take your partner shopping and see whether they spot any eggs they particularly like the look of.

If you're really stuck then the best course of action might be to buy a range of smaller Easter eggs and wrap them all up together in a large gift basket. Either way, you will not be short of options when selecting the perfect Easter egg - if anything, you are spoilt for choice!

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Christmas Shopping - Beat the Rush & Enjoy the Holiday Season

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"Kick off November in grand style!" That's the advice from my writer friend Marcia McClure of Monument, Colorado. With each newsletter I receive from Marcia, I realize why she's such a hot topic in "Romance Writing". She's so attentive to the details of life. Her energy is contagious! But what does that have to do with Christmas Shopping?

While the rest of the world is still struggling to get their plans in order for Thanksgiving, you could be organizing Christmas for a more relaxed and enjoyable holiday season. Here are some suggestions of things you could do early to be ready for the holiday season.

· Wrap and package all gifts you'll mail before Christmas.
· Bake some extra "stuff" to freeze for gifts later.
· Start now to make some of those delightful hand made wonders, your family and friends all enjoy.
· Clean the house and prepare for Christmas decorating.
· Consider painting any rooms that need freshening up before Thanksgiving.
· Get all your snow removal and fun equipment ready NOW.
· Do the winter chores early.
· Send out the linens for professional cleaning.
· Rearrange your china cabinet to make Christmas serving dishes readily available.
· Wrap all the gifts you've shopped for and label them for under the tree.
· Collect wrapping paper and ribbon accessories in preparation of a marathon wrapping spree.
· Order greenery early (Boy Scouts are sending out orders now for December delivery).
· Order in books, games, movies, and entertainment for the season now, so it will be waiting for you during the holidays, when you're ready to enjoy.

These are just some of the early things you can do to speed up your decorating efforts through the season. Make time for more fun by getting the work done early.

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The Grove Park Inn Getaway

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Tucked away in the Mountains of Asheville, NC you'll find an exclusive resort known as The Grove Park Inn. Get your spa experience like no other in the underwater cavern surrounded by lush nature and hear the relaxing, cool sounds of running water while taking a dip in the mineral pools with soothing music. An outdoor massage and outdoor pool surrounded by rolling green hills golf course landscape and fragrant flowers blooming during the spring and summer season are the norm for a typical stay at the inn. Whether you choose from the Mother-to-be wrap to the Waterfall Body Experience you'll be sure to get the Grove Park body treatment you deserve!

Upon arrival during the Easter holiday, be prepared to be greeted by bellman in derby hats and full English attire as you drive down the cobble stone driveway to enter the grand lobby known as the Great Hall where the chef will prepare a delightful dish that you can sample or you can get your personal massage. The large lodge-style doors also opened up to the Sunset Terrace for outdoor dining or relaxing and enjoying the view! In the evening you can look forward to enjoying the music of a live Jazz band and a refreshing drink from the Great Hall bar. Cruise the storefront shops for those unique gifts or souvenirs to fill your home with gourmet delights, niche clothing or Christmas trinkets.

There is truly something for everyone to enjoy at the Grove Park Inn. Children can also enjoy the fun with a schedule of exciting and creative kid-friendly activities such as an Easter egg hunt throughout the inn, Easter hat decorating, scavenger hunt, bird-house contest and face painting.

The biggest surprises we found were the gigantic 50,000 square foot Sports Complex that offers tennis, racquet ball, a gym to work-out and recreation for children such as ping-pong all in one facility. We were also greeted at the front of the sports complex by the large wild turkey walking the land as though they were welcoming you to their home. The Grove Park Inn also provides a complimentary in-room video viewing of Easter traditions around the world that is a very entertaining and educational for all ages to enjoy!

You can look for the best deals around the holidays to save up to 50% off on your overnight stay. The best price we found during the Easter holiday was $250 a night with a free dinner choice of Prime Rib or Seafood in the Blue Ridge restaurant (valued savings of $80), a free breakfast and a gift basket filled with The Grove Park music cd and more delivered to your room. Normally the room price is $499 a night. The room choice was located on the Vanderbuilt wing which was also very nice with a King-size bed, office desk and refrigerator with a bar that overlooked the center courtyard near the golf course. During the Easter holiday and many other holidays through-out the year, you can look forward to the Grove Park Inn really turning on the charm and providing a variety of options for a memorable relaxing weekend get-away.

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Arrival of the Holidays

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The arrival of the holidays is usually very much anticipated in many parts of the world. It is the time not only to celebrate together with friends and families, but also a time to start to reflect on the rest of the year. Many people take this opportunity to add some beautiful decorations to their homes. This is indeed the time for a person to showcase their own individual creativity through the decorations that they choose to make a part of their own particular celebration. Many people constantly search through home improvement magazines; eager to learn some new decoration techniques.

The kitchen has been proven to be the most popular room in the whole house. People just love to linger in this room. Therefore, it deserves a lot of attention. This is especially true when a person is thinking about giving this particular space a unique decorating make over. The kitchen is where the majority of friends and family will gather to share that very special holiday meal. For that very reason, dressing up the dining table should be the primary concern. An appropriate table covering may be the place to start your celebration theme. This will actually serve as the foundation for all of the other decoration that you may select.

A basket filled with fruit or an assortment of evergreens will dress up the middle of the table. The addition of a few well placed candles will automatically enhance the beauty of the whole room. Stunning, nonspecific dinner place settings should be carefully arranged around the table. Napkins that clearly depict the specific holiday that you are observing should be added. This method will enable you to identify the reason for the feast; without having to buy new dishes for each occasion. This is always a good thing.

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Easy Entertaining - My First Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving is the meal hosts can feel the most pressure about preparing. The entire celebration is set around the meal, the Thanksgiving feast! Messing it up could make for a household full of unhappy guests. Gulp! For a beginner who is feeding a crowd, the pressure could be off the charts!

Let me start by saying what most cooking classes and books don't tell you. Of all the meals you typically prepare in a year, this one can be the most labor-intensive. Preparing a Thanksgiving meal can be a lot of work. Every year, fantastic cooks and chefs are challenged to come with a new take on what is a very traditional meal. They offer all types of variations and new recipes. However, since most people eat a Thanksgiving meal only once a year, they like the basics: turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes/sweet potatoes, vegetables, rolls and pumpkin pie for dessert. So to keep it as simple as possible, stick with the basics. The reason I tell you this is not to discourage you, but rather to prepare you. I like to know what I'm getting into ahead of time, so I can gird my loins for the battle!

Having said that, if you are organized (make a shopping list, familiarize yourself with the recipes) and pace yourself (don't try to do all the prep on Thanksgiving day), you can prepare the meal with confidence. It will be delicious, and you will have much less stress because you will have paced yourself. An you will have joined the millions of home cooks nationwide who stare in disbelief when a Thanksgiving meal that has taken 2-3 days to prepare has been consumed in 15 minutes flat! Take it as a compliment! Your family will enjoy your meal. The little ones you have invited will have such great memories of family connection and your guests will have one more thing to be thankful for...you!

If you have someone available to help you prepare this meal, enlist their services. They can chop ingredients for recipes and keep the dishes clean so the kitchen stays organized while you are cooking. Most guests will ask if you would like them to bring something to the meal. It is perfectly acceptable to allow your guests to bring a favorite dish, appetizer, drinks or dessert. This can take some of the pressure off so you can concentrate on the main meal items. If they offer to help clean up after the feast, graciously accept!

You can serve the Thanksgiving meal "family-style" which means all the food goes on platters and in serving dishes to be passed at the table. Or you can set up the meal "buffet-style," which means you arrange all the food on the platters and serving dishes and set up an area in your kitchen or your dining room where guests take their plates and fill them at the buffet table and then return to the dinner table to eat. Buffet-style serving is a little less complicated, because your are not constantly passing dishes to others who want seconds and you don't have to reach over other people for more rolls. It is a personal preference, however.

Do have an attractive low centerpiece at the dinner and buffet table. After all, Thanksgiving is a feast. Even grocery stores have pretty arrangements in vases or cornucopias (flowers, vegetables and fruit), which are always so festive. Or use a clear glass footed bowl, such as a trifle bowl, and fill it with fruit and nuts for a simple and elegant centerpiece. If you are having a fairly large gathering, put salt and pepper, gravy, and butter at both ends of the dinner table, even if you are serving buffet style. Use a tablecloth or placemats in fall colors. If you have children attending, you could set up a card table where they can make their own placemats out of construction paper, with leaf or turkey cutouts. Coloring and sticker books are always popular. This also gives them an activity before the meal starts.

If you have a special family tradition or would like to start one, this is the perfect time. Saying grace before the meal and setting aside a time during the day when all family members in attendance can share something they are thankful for really puts the focus on the "Thanksgiving" part of the day.

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Easter Gifts For Kids - How Old is Too Old

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A lot of parents wonder if they should buy Easter gifts for kids if they've already put smaller gifts inside the Easter eggs that their kids will find and open on Easter day. if you ask kids they'll demand that not only should they gets tons of Easter candy in their Easter eggs but that they should get separate Easter baskets full of other stuff they want.

Most kids will be more than happy to provide you with a detailed list of 'other stuff' that you can put in their Easter baskets. However that pretty much just kills the whole spirit of Easter. It isn't even like you can take either one of the two things out of Easter but a lot of parents end up doing that because they can't figure out where or how to draw a line between the spirit of Easter and the mile long wish lists that kids manage to cook up.

As far as Easter gifts are concerned, every kid deserves an Easter gift and combining an Easter gift with the Easter candy or the Easter chocolate is probably not a very good idea and is pretty much like filling the Christmas stockings but not putting anything under the tree. The thing is that as kids grow older the fascination with Easter crafts grows less for them and at one point or the other all parents will wonder how much longer they have until their kids forget all about it.

Just to set things straight, kids don't forget holidays that have even the remotest potential to bring in gifts. Try making Easter a give and take situation. Lots of kids are known to groan in utter anguish when they're told they have to get dressed for a special Easter service and their disgruntled behavior lasts all through the car ride and sometimes even during the whole ceremony. Things like this and the subsequent deprivation of a decent Easter gift are more likely to distance kids from the holiday.

This doesn't mean that you should bribe your kids with Easter gifts for kids are concerned, a little digging around online will help you find Easter gifts and Easter party ideas that you can do with your kids.

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Stepfamily Holiday Survival Plan

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Holidays are a time of fun, happiness, bonding beautifully with our children and stepchildren... one big happy family... like the Brady Bunch... right?

Most often these times can be filled with dread. Will the other parent mess about with the visitation schedule, will the children come back from their absent parent needing to be re programmed when they get back. Will all the clothes they went with be returned, will they have been told mistruths and been subjected to you being badmouthed. Or maybe the children you don't like are around for even longer and your partner is consumed with their needs and you feel like a spare part ... or the chief cook and bottle washer.

We long for a time of ease where the children skip happily out of the door and skip happily back in again or when we don't experience overwhelming emotions of loss, grief, hurt or jealousy around it all.

Stepfamilies can be complex to say the least with many varying degrees of emotions involved. And at holiday time these emotions can be even more obvious.

Here is you guide to a smoother, happier stepfamily holiday.

Prepare yourself. If your children are going to be away prepare yourself for the days you will most wish they could be with you. Consider an activity for yourself and the rest of your family if your children will be with their other parent on Christmas Day or their birthday.

If you have children coming to visit that don't usually live with you think though things that you can do to nurture yourself whilst they are there. Do you need to plan some time out with a friend, or perhaps you need to let your partner know that you plan to take a long hot bath one evening. Don't let yourself dwell in worry and concern. Think of all the positives you can do to make their stay as happy for you as possible.

Have realistic expectations. Holidays within a stepfamily are going to be different. By accepting that and adjusting your expectations helps you get into the flow of exchanges and either time away from your children or extra time with the children. At holiday times children can be reminded that their mum and dad aren't together anymore. These reminders can bring up emotions such as loss, guilt or anger. By remembering a stepfamily is different from a biological family you can create new traditions and rituals that are unique to your stepfamily and set aside a time when you know all will be able to participate -- even if it's before or after a particular holiday's date. Children need to be with both of their biological parents, be sensitive to that. As children grow older, their friends become more important so they may want to spend some of their holiday time with them.

Plan what you'll do. Before the holiday begins plan with your partner and the children what you all want to do during the holidays. Set out expectations upfront. Make everyone aware of any work commitments or agreements to visit family. By not having a plan for the holidays you are open to boredom, frustrations and arguments setting in, and that is likely to be like waling into a minefield.

Establish new traditions. It's good to create new traditions in a stepfamily. Taking everyone's needs into account. That way, things are fresh and new to everyone, which creates a feeling of being in the same boat as everyone else.

Consider what each family did and enjoyed before and work out what the new family would like to do now. Would you like to create a tradition of each of you having some time alone with your biological children? Maybe you want to have grandparents come and visit for a few days whilst the children are with you. Be creating and enjoy the process.

Take time for you and your partner. If you find yourself without your children whilst they visit their other parent make the most of special time alone with your partner. Your relationships is the most important thing for your children. They'll learn how relationships should (or shouldn't) be done by watching you. You are their main educator on that front. You'll feel great for it too. Time to show each other just how much you do love one another and top yourselves back up before the children come back home.

If you are having time with children that don't usually live with you it's just as important to plan a bit of time alone. Even if it is snuggling up to watch a movie together once the children have gone to bed. It's important to not feel like one of you is being shoved aside every time the children are about. That can build resentment for their visits.

Holiday's are just one of the areas I work though with my clients. If you'd like more free information request your copy of my free report from my website.

Happy holidays!

Jo

The Stepfamily Coach

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10 Couples Halloween Costume Ideas

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Going to a Halloween party as a couple? Here's some Halloween costume ideas that will help you make a splash.

Mask of Zorro

Him:

Bandido - black cape, black pants, black hat, black eye mask, black boots, black or white shirt, fake sword.

Her:

Senorita - long dress with ruffled skirt bottom or peasant blouse and skirt with ruffled bottom, black lace veil headpiece, high heels or granny boots, fancy fan.

He-Man and the Veiled Beauty

Him:

Hercules - tunic, flowing cape, sandals, fake body armor, armbands, long hair wig, fake sword.

Her:

Belly Dancer - belly dancer outfit, sandals, costume jewelry.
Alternative: Genie outfit

Wild West

Him:

Gunslinger - white shirt, brown vest, long dark coat, red bandana (wrap around neck), cowboy hat, cowboy boots, holster and fake gun.

Her:

Saloon Girl - Saloon girl outfit

Roaring 20s

Him:

Old Style (20s era) Gangster - long, dark or pinstriped coat, dark or pinstriped pants, dark shirt, skinny light color tie, 20s era black hat, dark shoes or chaps.

Her:

Flapper Girl - flapper dress, sparkly headband or headband with feather, stockings, pumps, colorful pearls or costume jewelry.

Rock n' Hop

Him:

Fifties Greaser - black leather jacket, black t-shirt, jeans (bottoms rolled up), black loafers, white socks, dark sunglasses, small black fine tooth comb (hair is slicked back or in a pompador).

Her:

Fifties Good Girl - poodle skirt or full skirt, blouse or short sleeve knit top, white bobby sox, black and white saddle shoes, pearls, hair barrettes (pull hair back in a pony tail and tie a scarf around it).

The Champs

Him:

Male Boxer - silky style robe (use glitter paint to add your boxing name on back), boxing style shorts, boxing gloves, high top sneakers or boxing style shoes, makeup to create bruises (optional), baby oil (to make skin glisten), championship belt (optional).

Her:

Female Boxer - silky style robe (use glitter paint to add your boxing name on back), boxing style shorts, sports top, boxing gloves, high top sneakers or boxing style shoes, baby oil (to make skin glisten), championship belt (optional).

Law and Order

Him:

Convict - black and white prisoner outfit or orange jumpsuit, fake handcuffs.

Her:

Cop - blue shirt, black pants, police cap, police badge, Billy club, handcuff key.

Hawaiian Vacation

Him:

Tourist - loud Hawaiian shirt, shorts, sandals or sneakers, sunglasses, camera, flower lei.

Her:

Hula Dancer - hula skirt, bikini top, flower lei, sandals, long black wig, flower for hair.

50s Legends

Him:

Young Elvis - black leather jacket, black t-shirt or black and white striped t-shirt, black jeans, black loafers, white socks, sunglasses, hair should be slick and full, and a mini tape recorder with "Jailhouse Rock" (or "Hound Dog") pre-recorded to play your latest hit single for people.

Alternative Elvis look: 50s era rocker suit, tie, white bucks, sunglasses

Her:

Marilyn Monroe - 50s starlet dress (or white Marilyn dress), pumps, platinum blond wig with Marilyn hairstyle, glam makeup to look like Marilyn, cubic zirconia diamond jewelry (optional).

60s A-Go-Go

Him:

Hippie - bell bottom pants, tie-dyed shirt, head band, fringe vest, peace sign necklace or happy face button, long hair wig.

Her:

Go Go Dancer - colorful 60s style mini skirt or dress, white or black knee high boots, flip hairstyle or bob cut wig, white gloves (optional).

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Easter Scrapbooking Ideas

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Easter is a great time to capture family photographs for scrapbooking. Even if you don't scrapbook, planning your picture taking ahead of time ensures you won't miss any of these great family memories. No family traditions? Then this is a great time to start!

Here are some Easter photograph ideas for scrapbooking:

Photograph spring flowers in bloom. Daffodils and tulips will make a colorful contrast to your other photographs.

Have your kids help you make Easter cookies or an Easter cake. Snap a picture of them working in the kitchen and then make sure to take a picture of the finished product. We made a layer cake and arranged it on a thick piece of cardboard covered with aluminum foil. It was lemon cake with lemon filling and pink frosting. We decorated it with store-bought Easter candy. Around the base of the cake we arranged Easter grass and added chocolate eggs and peeps for decoration. It made a great picture!

Gingerbread houses aren't just for Christmas! Make a gingerbread house and decorate it for Easter with pastel colors and lots of Easter candy. The possibilities are limitless.

If your family attends Easter church services, make sure to get a picture of your girls in their Easter dresses. Dressing up is a great excuse to take a picture.

Coloring Easter eggs never gets old, whatever the age of your kids! They never get tired of showing you how creative they are. Join in on the fun and then take a picture of the finished product.

Easter egg hunts are also fun for the whole family. Take some good action pictures and get a picture of your kids with their Easter baskets.

Easter dinners are a great time to take family pictures. It's a good time to take pictures of relatives you don't often see, and fun to get pictures of the family laughing and enjoying a meal together. Take pictures of any of the good food you want to remember later.

Have fun picture taking, and have a happy Easter!

Photos of finished project:
http://www.crafty-moms.com/scrapbooking/sample_layouts_4.shtml

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Unique Ways to Decorate Your Easter Eggs

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No matter how you choose to decorate your Easter eggs it is always a fun experience. However if you are looking to change up your eggs from basic dyed eggs to something really different we have some tips for you. Dyeing Easter eggs does not mean that you are stuck simply dropping your hard-boiled eggs into dye. You can take any number of methods and use them to make your eggs really special. Best of all this can be a great project with your kids or you can invite family and friends over to turn your Easter egg decorating into a party. So if you are getting ready for Easter here are some unique ways to decorate your Easter eggs-

Layer it on-You can put several rubber bands or stickers on your uncolored egg and then begin dyeing it. After a few dips into color remove some of the rubber bands or stickers and then dye again. The result is a multi-tonal and layered effect with the colored dye.

Rubber cement your eggs-This technique is similar to using wax or crayons on your hard boiled eggs but is much more simple to do. Just layer on some rubber cement in areas of the egg that you want to not be dyed. When the egg is colored the way you want it to simply peel off the rubber cement for a unique effect.

Birthday candles and Easter eggs really do mix-You can use the small birthday candles to decorate your eggs. For a fun polka dot effect simply light some multi-colored birthday candles. Once the candles are dripping wax you can use them to make polka dots all over your eggs for a fresh springtime look.

Marbling your eggs-This is another easy technique that can have your eggs looking spectacular! After mixing your egg dyes simply spray in a generous amount of cooking spray on top of the dye. When you are dying your eggs they will emerge from the color with a beautiful marbled effect.

Glitter and sprinkle your eggs-This is a no dye method that leaves you with unique Easter eggs. Spray your eggs with adhesive and roll them carefully through the glitter. You can also use cake decorating sprinkles to make your eggs look extra delicious however it is recommended that you use this method for blown out eggs since spray glue is not considered edible.

Stencil it on-There are also many stencils that can be used to decorate your eggs. Basically the stencil must be small enough to fit up against the egg. You can then use a sponge, small paint brush or marker to decorate your Easter eggs. When you are finished carefully pull away the stencil to reveal your masterpiece.

Dress your eggs in style-There is no reason to stop with the everyday when it comes to decorating these Easter ovids. You can add feathers, fur and pieces from a boa to dress up your eggs. Simply cut some small pieces that will fit onto the egg. You will need some patience though since gluing on feather and boa pieces can be time-consuming. The result is well worth it however with one of a kind Easter eggs.
Make your eggs the centerpiece-You can really dress up your eggs with edible paste. Simply combine 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar with 1 cup of water to. You can use the paste as an adhesive to attach edible sugar flowers to your Easter eggs and display them on a dessert buffet. Edible sugar flowers can be purchased from a local bakery or are carried at some craft stores.

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St Patrick's Day Party Ideas - Why Printable Games Are the Perfect Entertainment Choice

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Among the best-value St. Patrick's Day party ideas, printable party games are well worth checking out. Whether you are organizing an event for your school, a family celebration or the local community hall or church group, the perfect printable product is available.

What are important points for you to consider when planning a St. Patrick's Day party?

Who's coming?

Is the crowd mainly children? Seniors? Young couples? It's wise to select games suitable for your mix of guests. Typically, a single game consists of a gift exchange game, printable trivia quizzes, a word search, or word game like a "mad libs" word substitution game. Your game supplier should make it clear who the game is suitable for and how many players you'll need to get the most out of it.

Your entertainment budget

Individual printable games start at $6.95. This cost is fixed, so no matter how many people play the game, the expense is the same, yet the more guests you have, the less the pro-rata cost. So if, for example, there's seven people at your party, a game is going to cost $1 per person; but if you have 35 people, the cost falls to just 20c per person. If you're selling tickets to an organized event, this cost per guest is an important factor when you're making up an event budget.

Multi-game packs might be a good solution if you have a mixed crowd and will need more than one game to entertain them, but are on a tight budget. Typically consisting of ten or more games for around $20, the bundle will be more than enough action for any St. Patrick's Day party.

Ideas for hosting the games

You should make sure you familiarize yourself with each game before the St. Patrick's Day party begins. Some games require a copy of one or more pages to be printed per guest (such as trivia games); but even these can be adapted if the circumstances require it.

What if your printer is short of ink? You could print just one copy and assign somebody the role of Quiz Master. They will read out the questions and each player will record their answers on a blank sheet of paper. If you have a laptop available, you don't even need to print one copy: your Quiz Master could read the answers straight from the screen.

Be sure to break up the party. Don't clump all the games together at once; spread them out. Allow guests time to arrive and mingle before starting a game, then perhaps move onto the food. Give people time for each game to sink in; their enjoyment of the next may be as much about anticipation as anything.

One of the most interesting St. Patrick's Day party ideas is to include themed prizes. Gift exchange games need at least one parcel to unwrap, though one per ten people playing is usually a good number, so everybody gets their hands on a gift more often. Trivia games are always more competitive if there's a prize up for grabs! Something Irish, green, or beer-related (for older crowds) would be appropriate.

I hope these St. Patrick's Day party ideas have whetted your appetite for printable games this year! Have a wonderful party.

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Ten More Ideas For Photo Books

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When it comes to photo books, there are no limits save your imagination. Here are some more great ideas for photo books.

1. Your Small Business. Are you just starting out and need to make a great impression? Or are you just looking for a way to proudly display your business' accomplishments over the years? Either way, a photo book is a great way to put it all together in one place to show the world what your business is all about.

2. Your Portfolio. Anyone can put his or her work into a three ring binder and call it good enough. Having your art, photos, or writing in hardcover form, however is sure to impress potential clients. Get your own covers and binding machine and you can customize your books at for each meeting, at at a moments notice.

3. Spring Books. Buds and blossoms in the trees, those first blades of green grass poking though the brown of winter; there is no season quite like spring, and creating a book around this most hopeful of seasons is a great way to keep spirits high through the April showers.

4. Summer Books. Beaches, backyard cookouts, hiking, biking and more. Summer is the most active of all the seasons, and all that sun and fun can be captured in a photo book that will give you something to look forward to when the winter chill has got you down.

5. Autumn Books. The annual turning of the leaves from the green of summer to the rust and red of autumn is a poignant time of year in its beauty and transition. It's also a great time for get-togethers with hot apple cider and football games. Capture it all in a photo book that conveys all the great times to be had in this beautiful time of year.

6. Winter Books. Where do we being to discuss the charms of Winter? The holiday parties, skiing and snowboarding, your child's first snow; all of these are great memories that can live forever in their own photo book.

7. Halloween. What a great day Halloween is! When else do you get to dress up like a superhero and eat candy until you are fit to burst? And it's a great time for the kids, too! Capture it all on camera and put it all together in book form, and you'll have something to remember al the laughs by for years to come.

8. Christmas. Every holiday season deserves its own photo book, right? And these books can make for great post-holiday gifts that everyone will appreciate. A photo book is a great way to keep the holiday fires burning throughout the year, and build anticipation for Santa's next lap around.

9. Valentine's Day. Hey gents, stuck for a Valentine's gift idea? Get all the photos of you and your sweetie you can find together and put them all in a nice photo book. Guaranteed winner!

10. Easter. All those bonnets, colorful eggs and chocolate bunnies make for great photographic fodder, and putting them all in a photo book is a unique and fun springtime project.

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Unique Christmas Gift Ideas

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With everybody else in the world planning to give gifts this holiday season, it can be really frustrating to find something that is really original and unique. In fact, during holidays, it is not surprising for people to find themselves receiving two identical gifts. That happens.

If you really want to stand out or at least make your gift stand out from the rest, here are some unique Christmas gift ideas that can help you.

1. Photograph

What can be more unique than a special photograph that will help remind your loved one of a special moment or occasion. The photograph may be of a place that you both love or some place where you both want to go. It can be something that is reminiscent of a time that you spent together. It may also be a picture of you together or a picture that you have taken when you are together. The possibilities are endless.

To jazz it up a bit, you can put the photo inside a photo album or a picture frame. It would even be more memorable if you can make or design a page off the photoalbum or better yet make one yourself.

2. Song or Poem

If you have the gift of words, you can put your gift into writing by making a personalized poem or song. This is a great way to show your loved ones how much you love them. You can have the poem or the song engraved in poster complete with drawings. You can have it made in shops that make wedding invitations and art posters.

If your song has music, you can actually perform the song and give the cd as a gift. You can even use personal photographs to design the "album cover" and put the lyrics inside just like an honest-to-goodness CD.

3. Painting

A picture can convey a lot of things, emotions, special moments together, a special place, a particular memory. If you are talented with paints, you can capture all those things on canvas. If you are not much into canvas, you can also do postcard size paintings that you can frame.

You can type or write your dedication at the back much like what you do with greeting cards. Paintings are wonderful gifts because not only is it personalized but it is also something that one can hang on walls or display in the house.

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Top Ten Gifts for Women this Holiday Season

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A compilation of the top ten gifts for women this holiday season.

1. A Vacation - Don't just give her a gift. Give her memories of the two of you on a fantastic vacation.

2. Jewelry - After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend.

3. Day at the Spa - Pamper the woman in your life with a relaxing day at a local spa.

4. Digital Camera - Capture all of the special moments that you share together with a new digital camera. If she already has a digital camera, then consider a digital photo frame instead so she can show the pictures off at home.

5. Body Lotions - Make her feel beautiful with some nice body lotions. Buy the nice stuff, not anything from a drugstore. You're local mall should have at least 3 or 4 store that specialize in body lotions.

6. Concert Tickets - Maybe her favorite band, a musical of play is coming to town. Share a night out on the own together.

7. Box Set of her Favorite Show - Grey's Anatomy, Sex and the City, Desperate Housewives, CSI...there's lots to choose from.

8. A Cuddly Throw Blanket - A super soft blanket in her favorite color is a perfect gift and will be fun to cuddle under together this winter.

9. Cappuccino Maker - She can make her own coffee drinks and have fun doing so. Plus, a few less trips to Starbucks will save a bundle of money.

10. iPod Nano - A little too tech of a gift for some women but many would love a nano. They're great for the gym and super cool.

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Why Religion is Important

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We hunger and thirst for feeling important, and somehow religion helps us feel those things. We are put here on earth for a reason. As though somehow God would need us to fulfill His purpose on this planet.

There are many versions of beliefs - ranging from Muslims in poor countries around Africa to sheikhs in the Middle East, from Christians who devout every Sunday to church and prayer to Protestants who rarely visit their churches. All levels of commitment - and each feeling somehow fulfilled by their own level of religious conscience.

What is it in religion that makes us humans feel so well? We could have had similar cleansing experiences from a stay in a warm sauna or a nice swim in the local lake. That is physical cleansing, but what about the mental and psychological aspect of religion?

For many, religion is most conscious when they lose someone. Funerals are great examples of how the sudden disappearance of a loved one creates a new determination to make an effort. But not always lasting change. We soon forget since we have a rosy-red dream of some afterlife sitting in paradise with harps and an oasis of beauty around us.

Could it be that the world around us is so ugly we often forget how little change in our own lives could add up to becoming the changes needed to get that same oasis of clean air, beautiful forests and all we could ever dream of? We could achieve utopia if we began to act according to the prescriptions of most religions. Peace could be achieved if we began to live peacefully with one another.

Religion is our dream of becoming something better. We would like the world to be a better place, but we don't like to set clear rules about how we could achieve that. Religion makes it sound much easier, but in many ways Karl Marx was right. We like the word "religion" because it sounds unpolitical whereas talking of common duties to help with each our talents sounds somewhat socialistic.

Thinking of common good isn't socialistic. It would be a plain obvious thing for all of us if we learned from the animals around us. Watch two dogs who know each other since they were puppies. They will sleep next to one another, play with one another and help each other. Humans are totally different. We want our own territory and we build fences around our plots of land to avoid anyone "sharing" in our area of land. If our neighbor needed some extra square feet for growing extra carrots we don't think so far as to agree to share.

That, in many ways, is what religion is supposed to solve for us. My bid is we are too coward to admit our own flaws in this, and therefore we take refuge in religion to give us hope some strong hand from somewhere will solve matters for us when we don't see how we could live more peacefully with one another right now.

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Easy, Last-Minute Halloween Party Decoration Ideas

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Creepy Cookies

Cookies as Halloween decorations? Why yes! Most grocery stores sell the batter tubes with Halloween-themed shapes in the centre. These are time-efficient and super easy to bake, so even hosts like me (who are not allowed in the kitchen because of previous fire-related incidents) would be hard-pressed to screw them up. Bake LOTS of these cookies. Place the finished cookies around your home on plates, in baskets or around pumpkin bases as a yummy Halloween décor accent! The next day, wrap the un-eaten cookies in cellophane and give them away at work or to those vendors you see that day (the guy at Starbucks who gets your chai latte just right every time!). While those cookies are baking...

Put out some pumpkins

Pumpkins are a great way to decorate, and are readily available at this time of year. Pick up full-sized pumpkins for your party area or the front steps of your house. Hollow out mini pumpkins for easy taper candle holders. Gut a large pumpkin and place a bowl inside for a festive punch holder. Draw faces on your large pumpkins for a comedic yet spooky effect.

Have a few extra minutes? Hollow out a large pumpkin, but don't chuck the innards. Carve a scowling face with a large, wide-open mouth. Grab those gooey insides and stream out of the mouth. Your pumpkin looks like he has eaten bad sushi, and is a hilarious conversation piece. Estimated time: Ten minutes.

Spike your punch - with food colouring

Use food colouring to turn your bunch black, blood-red, oozy green or any other combination you can create! Float Halloween-shaped ice cubes in the beverage to punch up your punch! Voila! A multi-functional decoration your guests will drink up!

Stage a gory accident

This week, you're not to feel bad about not visiting the recycling depot! Take a pair of pants (denim jeans work the best) and stuff them with plastic bags (or, if you're a dutiful recycler, clothes from your dirty laundry basket). Place the waistband area under a heavy piece of furniture (a couch, trunk or entertainment unit). Place shoes at the end and cover a bit of the shoe with the bottom leg of the pants. You now have a horrific accident that will give your guests a giggle. Ketchup blood is optional. You can take the plastic bags to the recycling depot tomorrow.

Light it up

Purchase coloured light bulbs for an eerie ambiance. Cut bats, ghosts and/or witches out of black construction paper and stick on the inside of lamp shades for creepy decorations that cast spooky shadows!

Ghosts that just hang around

Take a kitchen refuse bag and cut into squares, varying in size. In the middle of each square, place a wad of paper towel or a plastic bag (scrunched up tight). Pull the corners together and tie with an elastic band, ribbon or string. Use a Sharpie to add facial expressions. Instant ghost! Hang on doorknobs, from the ceiling (using string and a thumb tac), stairwell railings, etc.

These tips will ensure a quick and easy decoration fix. And the best part: minimal clean up the next day! Happy Halloween!

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Preschool Easter Crafts

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Eggstra Special Activities

With Easter just around the corner, it's time to start thinking of a variety of preschool Easter crafts to help celebrate the season. Easter lends itself well to crafts, since one of the main ways it's celebrated contemporarily is by decorating eggs.

While these children may be a little too young for preschool Easter crafts with real Easter eggs, plastic or play dough eggs make a great, less breakable substitute. For the brave and the not so faint of heart, real eggs can be used however they must be hard-boiled first to avoid any broken eggs on the floor.

If the idea of bringing eggs and dye into the preschool classroom is a little too frightening, try making stained glass Easter eggs from contact paper or waxed paper. Once the egg shapes have been cut out, decorate the shape with tissue paper or construction paper, glitter, or whatever else is in the craft supply cupboard. If using waxed paper don't forget to use a little glue to get the tissue paper the stick.

Or try this craft which involves eggs made from coffee filters. Cut out a number of egg shapes from coffee filters and give a few to each child. The children are to decorate their eggs using spray bottles filled with watered-down paint for a nice tie-dyed effect. They can also decorate the eggs with markers and then spray the eggs with water from a spray bottle for a similar design result.

Natural Nest

For a more offbeat Easter craft, try this one where the kids make bird's nests from real mud, sticks, twigs, and other things found outside. If the weather permits, go on a nature walk to collect materials for the nest. Once the nests are assembled, they make a great place to store and display decorated Easter eggs.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail...

Another great subject for preschool Easter crafts is the Easter bunny, seeing as how the bunny has become the central image for the holiday, at least where children are concerned.

In this craft, children create their own bunny masks from paper plates. Give each child one paper plate with eye holes cut out. They can decorate their masks with yarn or string for whiskers, pom poms for teeth, and construction paper or another paper plate cut in half and painted pink for the ears. Once they've finished decorating their masks, punch a hole in each side and use an elastic or piece of string to hold the mask in place around the child's head.

Finally, here's a fun craft that helps to teach children about the way plants grow called "Bunny in the Grass". To begin, each child will need a small pot or cup filled with potting soil. Sprinkle a small amount of grass seeds into the pot and cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil.

For the next part of these presechool Easter crafts, children will create a bunny from a craft stick. They can decorate the bunny with felt ears, googly eyes, a pom pom note, and yarn whiskers. Place the craft stick in the pot and set the pots near a sunny window to allow the grass to grow. In a few weeks, the bunny's garden will be green with grass. Give a prize to the child who grows the most grass, and the tallest blade of grass.

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Helpful Ideas For Christmas Yard Decorations

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While decorating homes for Christmas one needs to take special care for Christmas yard decorations. The Christmas yard decorations tell the onlookers outside how much labor and creativity you have done to decorate your home. Any guest entering your home finds his heart and mind elated with the festive mood the yard decorations provide to the ambiance. This is the time of the year when every one of us wishes to decorate our home and surroundings with lot of cheerfulness and commitment. Decorated lawns and yards enhance your mood if the decoration is done by you.

The first thing that you should do to decorate yards is find the Christmas planters with Christmas colors, designs and themes like snowflakes or Santa. Just following the below give innovative, simple and careful steps to decorate your lawn or yard the most delightful way.

Statues: You can use statues of different kinds to decorate the yard during Christmas. Lighting elements and stars can be used on these statues. They would glow up the evening and nights.

Stones: Various stones are available in the surrounding of different shapes and sizes that would add appeal to your Christmas decorated yard. You can furnish these stones with flower beds, pine straw islands or similar kinds of things.

Flags: During Christmas decoration of your yard you can use vibrant color flags to make the surrounding look spectacular during daylight when the lights go off.

Cardboard scenes: Another remarkable way to decorate your yard is to use scenes made of cardboard, twinkling lights or other glowing objects like radium.

The walls and gates can be decorated with garland lights that are easily available in the market at reasonable price.

Fasten Christmas lights and star lights to trees, shrubs and other plants in the yard to make the scene look extravagant.

These are some of the many helpful ideas of Christmas yard decorations. You can be little creative on your part just by thinking something unconventional about decorating the yard.

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New Year's Eve Party Secrets and Ideas

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Some cultures have historically seen spring as a time of renewal but increasingly people today see New Years Eve in that perspective. It is certainly the beginning of the calendar year and marks the time when financial matters are settled. For lots of people it is occasion for resolving to embark on a course of self-improvement. Others just see it as time to start the arduous task of tax preparation. Neat-nicks take the opportunity to organize closets, garages and attics.

So whatever importance an individual places on New Years Eve it is never just another night. Whether wild street parties or expensive dinner reservations are made there is always something special before the clock strikes midnight. Many people spend New Years Eve quietly at home with a few friends or family members. Truth be told, these may in fact be the happiest revelers of all.

Expensive imported Champaign and platters of fancy meats may be standard fare but simpler foods can be just as appealing. Home buffets filled with bowls of chips or platters of inexpensive cold cuts are just as welcome and probably a better idea when budgets are still reeling from holiday gifting binges. Imported beers may be a nicer than usual treat that is still within budget constraints. These and wine coolers can eliminate the need to wash Champaign flutes afterward. Cans of juice or soda will help eliminate concerns about post party mishaps.

Decorating for New Years Eve is really a simple matter. If it glitters use it in your party decoration. Streamers and confetti in low light will turn any home into a more festive location. Fabric stores often have clearance priced yard goods from prom or Halloween that are reflective cloths and table toppers. Purchased New Years Eve paper party goods offer simple clean up.

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5 Simple Ideas For Family Fun Easter Activities

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Easter can be a great time of celebration, a four-day family break filled with fun Easter activities the whole family can do together. Child would love to learn creative techniques with Mom/Dad, for example craft work. How about trying some new Easter recipes to impress your friends and family? There are some great ideas for you and your little ones that are sure to get their minds (and maybe hands too) off those chocolates for a while. However, with Easter coming closer, it is best to start planning from now.

From Easter crafts to recipes, here are 5 Easter activities ideas that your family may enjoy:

1. Easter Cards :

It's great activity for kids. If you have friends and relatives in distance, these cards can be sent to them and can be treasured by framing it or adding it into your scrap booking album. What you will need is just some colourful cardboards from local art supplies stores and cut them into post card size times 2 (as you will need to fold it later). Then cut out or make various shapes (egg shapes and animal shapes are some of kids' favourites) from different colours of cardboards, papers, or even pieces of fabric. Let your kids cut themselves with child-friendly scissors.

2. Making Easter Bunny Ears :

Kids love this easy and fun activity and they love to wear them too. All you need are colourful cardboards or thick paper and glue. Print and cut out the bunny ears using the white cardboard; then cut a pair of smaller ears using the pink/blue cardboard/paper. Glue the ears onto the white ears so the pink/blue resembles the inside of the bunny's ears. Cut around 7 cm of white cardboard to make a band of the right size to fit around your child's head. Staple in place and attach the bunny ears to the band.

3. Cooking with kids

They will love to help and get their hands busy with some of the easy and simple Easter recipes, such as mixing the flour, kneading and rolling the dough, cut out the biscuits in shape templates. This will serve as a cute looking snack as well for visiting friends and relatives.

4. Family Easter Eggs

How about making your family unique style Easter eggs? Get the kids to help in mixing the ingredients, shaping and decorating the eggs with confectioneries. It will sure keep the whole family busy and have lots of fun.

5. Having fun with Easter games

When comes to play with kids, the whole family can also participate and enjoy these several games such as Easter Bunny Tag, Easter Egg Hunts for the little ones, Easter Bowling Match, Easter Eggs Match-up and many others.

Those are just a tiny few of many other Easter activities ideas for your family. If you want to get more recipes, games and kids craft ideas, why not try this complete collection of over 200 pages Easter activities that will sure bring lots of fun for your family this year and in many years to come.

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Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Easter Hunt

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Easter Hunt Review

I got this book for my four-year-old son for Easter as he LOVES the Great Clubhouse Hunt DVD. It is the same story, and includes "lift the flap" items on each page. The flaps are not very durable, but if your child understands how to treat books, then I highly recommend it. I would NOT have purchased this text for him when he was two as I think he would have just torn it apart. Like the rest of the Mickey series books, it is heavy on dialogue (hard to do all those different voices in each read-aloud!) My son enjoys the book and can predict some of the pages after only a few read-throughs.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Easter Hunt Feature

• ISBN13: 9781423107477
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Easter Hunt Overview

Meeska, Mooska, Mickey Mouse! Welcome to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! Join Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Pluto in two ready-to-read tales that teach valuable lessons about letters, numbers, shapes, decision-making, and friendship

Grumpy Pete tries to sneak into a Clubhouse party and accidentally says the wrong magic words that break the Clubhouse apart. It's up to Mickey and the reader to search for the missing pieces to put the Clubhouse back together in time for Easter.  Children will love using the reusable clubhouse stickers to reassemble the clubhouse on the last page.  

The premiere of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse delivered the highest ratings ever for a Playhouse Disney series premiere among Kids 2-5, Girls 2-5, Households, and Total Viewers. It also premiered at #1 among all basic cable networks in its time period for Kids 2-5. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse shows no signs of slowing down as it settles in to its first season. It was in the Top 10 shows with Kids 2-5 for the month of May—tied with Spongebob Squarepants!

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