CHRISTMAS JOKES FOR KIDS

Which of Santas reindeer has bad manners? - Rude-alph!

What do you get if Santa goes down the chimney when a fire is lit? - Crisp Cringle.

What is green, white, and red all over? - A sunburnt elf.

Why are Christmas trees like bad knitters? - They both drop their needles!.


What do you get if you eat Christmas decorations? - Tinselitus!

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS DECEMBER 24

Howard Hughes born on December 24, 1905

Bill Dudley born on December 24, 1921

Ava Gardner born on December 24, 1922

Michael Billington born on December 24, 1941

Lemmy born on December 24, 1945

Gaëtan Brizzi born on December 24, 1951

Paul Brizzi born on December 24, 1951

Clarence Gilyard Jr. born on December 24, 1955

Anil Kapoor born on December 24, 1959

Carol Vorderman born on December 24, 1960

Glenn McQueen born on December 24, 1960

Mark Valley born on December 24, 1964

Shirley Henderson born on December 24, 1965

Diedrich Bader born on December 24, 1966

Choi Jin Shil born on December 24, 1968

Brigitte Hamers born on December 24, 1969

Amaury Nolasco born on December 24, 1970

Beau van Erven Dorens born on December 24, 1970

Ricky Martin born on December 24, 1971

Hwang Soo Jung born on December 24, 1972

Francesca Vanthielen born on December 24, 1973

Mekhi Phifer born on December 24, 1974

Ryan Seacrest born on December 24, 1974

Michael Raymond-James born on December 24, 1977

Yildiray Basturk born on December 24, 1978

Paizley Adams born on December 24, 1980

Stephen Appiah born on December 24, 1980

Dima Bilan born on December 24, 1981

Masaki Aiba born on December 24, 1982

Abdoulaye Cisse born on December 24, 1983

Catie Anderson born on December 24, 1984

Robert Carmine born on December 24, 1984

Natalia Ziganshina born on December 24, 1985

Melissa Suffield born on December 24, 1992

SHE'S CRAFTY - HOLIDAY ICE WREATH

How to Make a Cranberry Ice Wreath

A cranberry-kumquat ice wreath is a lovely outdoor Christmas decoration for your home. The only requirement for this project is that the temperature outside be below freezing. This ice wreath is beautiful and unusual and will last as long as the temperature stays low. Remember to make room in the freezer for your ring pan before you begin.
To complete this ice wreath, you need the following supplies:

• 10 to 12 cup Bundt pan or other ring pan
• 1 cup cranberries
• 10 kumquats, sliced
• 24-inches of 2-inch-wide red ribbon

Then, follow these steps:

1. Fill the ring-shaped pan a third of the way with cold water. Sprinkle half of the cranberries  over the water. Freeze until firm.
   Use distilled water to make the frozen ring as clear as possible, or, boil and cool your tap water.
2. Add cold water to the mold so that it is about three-quarters full. Sprinkle in the remaining fruit. Freeze again.
3. Remove the wreath from the mold. Thread the ribbon through the center and tie a knot and bow near the ribbon’s end, resulting in a large loop underneath the bow.
4. Immediately hang outside.

www.dumbies.com

THE SHROUD OF TURIN - BRAND NEW RESEARCH SAYS IT'S AUTHENTIC!

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

The Shroud of Turin, the alleged burial cloth of Jesus Christ, has been at the center of controversy since it was first mentioned in historical records from 1353. Experts have studied and tested the shroud and none have provided definite proof of its authenticity or proven that it is a fraud. A piece of the cloth was carbon dated and found to be from the Middle Ages, but scientists have found that the piece was part of the shroud that was repaired and not part of the original shroud.

Today, scientists in Italy believe they have finally found the answer. They are 95% sure of the shroud’s authenticity. Researchers from Italy's National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development believe their findings undermine previous theories that the shroud was faked in the medieval period.

The markings on the shroud are as follows:

·  one wrist bears a large, round wound, claimed to be from piercing (the second wrist is hidden by the folding of the hands)

·   upward gouge in the side penetrating into the thoracic cavity. Proponents claim this was a post-mortem event and there are separate components of red blood cells and serum draining from the lesion

·  small punctures around the forehead and scalp

·  scores of linear wounds on the torso and legs. Proponents claim that the wounds are consistent with the distinctive dumbbell wounds of a Roman flagrum.

·   swelling of the face from severe beatings

·   streams of blood down both arms. Proponents claim that the blood drippings from the main flow occurred in response to gravity at an angle that would occur during crucifixion

·   no evidence of either leg being fractured

·   large puncture wounds in the feet as if pierced by a single spike

These markings are consistent with the reports of Christ’s experience during crucifixion.  The new reports have once again stirred up the controversy among believers and non believers.

My opinion?  I have to agree with Tom Chivers, assistant comment editor for “The Telegraph,”  The "authenticity" or otherwise of the Shroud of Turin does not have any implications for whether or not Christ was real, or whether He was divine. If it was a medieval forgery, it doesn't mean the stories aren't true; if it really was made in the first century AD, it doesn't mean they were.

ADAM LAMBERT ARRESTED

Singer and former American Idol runner- up Adam Lambert was arrested and briefly jailed Thursday in Finland. Lambert apparently had a brawl with his Finnish boyfriend, Sauli Koskinen. The two were reportedly arguing inside a well known gay bar called “Don’t Tell Mama” when the brawl rambled out into the street. Lambert became physical with people who tried to intervene. Police eventually arrived and took both Lambert and Koskinen into custody and charged them with multiple assaults.

 The actual cause of the argument has not been reported as of yet, but Koskinen has since blogged : "Publicity is not easy, but also celebrities are just human. Love is not easy either, but it lasts forever!”

SOUL FOOD

Barbara Ward-Finneran

Celebrate the you you are right now. Embrace the present moment and be proud of today. Armed with the power of knowing that the more you acknowledge and honor the present, the more there will be in life to celebrate. Potential can stretch far beyond anything you imagine --- all you have to do is dare to push it!

Keep the promises that you make to yourself!

Photo Courtesy of Barbara Ward-Finneran and Drawn 2 Design, LLC

©  All Rights Reserved

TRACKING SANTA

Dawn Boyle

For a few years now my kids have been using the site below to track where Santa is on Christmas Eve. It is a lot of fun for them and actually gets them to bed at a reasonable hour!

http://www.noradsanta.org/en/

Please share with everyone at DRL your favorite holiday sites in comments below!

IS BIGGER REALLY BETTER????

Natalie Molloy

B.J's , is bigger necessarily better? If you're reading this article you may be a "little" disappointed. The topic I'm "touching" on may not be what your curiosity led you to , however , I am a mother of three rapidly growing boys and I am always looking for the better solution. So, I ask again moms, dads when you do your shopping for your household do feel buying in bulk (bigger) is economically beneficial or is it smoke and mirrors?


My food bill each week keeps growing. Makes sense , I mean after all so are my kids. I've tried the B.J's thing , but I have to say , sometimes I feel that the more I have the more they eat. it doesn't last any longer, unless of course I'm purchasing paper goods or garbage bags at some ridiculous bulk size amount. Then, everything comes in over sized boxes and bags, HELLO - where am I storing all of this crap? Part of me wants them to eat everything just to create more space in my home!

How much am I really saving anyway? I'm spending way more than I do in the supermarket, but hey - I just bought half a cow? I don't know - I can't make sense of it. So I ask your help. What tricks of the trade do you have in grocery shopping?

I've watched that show "Extreme Couponing" and I can't wrap my brain around that either. These people shop and walk out with one hundred boxes of Cheerios - healthy, yes - breakfast , lunch & dinner - NO! Then they show their homes and the things they've stocked up on, really, nothing I could use or force myself to do so.

So , I turn to you - the public. Weigh in here, and help out a fellow shopper. Are you a believer in bulk, or does the intimate setting of your local grocer satisfy you?

"THE HOBBIT, THE UNEXPECTED JOURNEY" TAKES US BACK TO MIDDLE EARTH!

 Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Get ready to return to Middle Earth! The new trailer for the upcoming movie “The Hobbit, The Unexpected Joutney”, based on the book by JRR Tolkein, was released yesterday. The story of The Hobbit will be divided into two movies , the first being released next December (yes, one whole year from now!)

“The Hobbit” was the “must read” book when I was in college back in 19XX! Everyone was reading it, talking about it, analyzing its themes. It was first published in September of 1937 (and no, that’s NOT when I read it!)

According to Wikipedia: Set in a time "Between the Dawn of Færie and the Dominion of Men", The Hobbit follows the quest of home-loving hobbit Bilbo Baggins to win a share of the treasure guarded by the dragon, Smaug. Bilbo's journey takes him from light-hearted, rural surroundings into darker, deeper territory. The story is told in the form of an episodic quest, and most chapters introduce a specific creature, or type of creature, of Tolkien's Wilderland. By accepting the disreputable, romantic, fey and adventurous side of his nature (the "Tookish" side) and applying his wits and common sense, Bilbo develops a new level of maturity, competence and wisdom. The story reaches its climax in the Battle of Five Armies, where many of the characters and creatures from earlier chapters re-emerge to engage in conflict.

Themes of personal growth and forms of heroism figure in the story. Along with conflict, these themes lead critics to cite Tolkien's own experiences, and those of other writers who fought in World War I, as instrumental in shaping the story. The author's scholarly knowledge of Anglo-Saxon literature and interest in fairy tales are also often noted as influences. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbit)

The new film is the prequel to the popular “Lord of the Rings” movie and many of the characters/stars will return in the new Hobbit movie. Gandalf (Ian McKellen), Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) make appearances in the trailer, but we'll have to wait to see Legolas (Orlando Bloom), Elrond (Hugo Weaving) and Saruman (Christopher Lee).
I know many people are looking forward to this film with great anticipation. It may be a year before the release, but at least we now have a trailer to take a sneak peak!

THE BEST GIFT

Dawn Boyle

Tis the Season....

What a bunch of crap that is! Why is it that we have lost sight of the real reason we celebrate December 25? With only days away from the Big Guy coming down the chimney, why is it so difficult? Why am I not in the holiday spirit? Why can't I find my lists??

Every year I say the same thing, every year I fail. Is it because the only snow we have had so far was back on Halloween weekend? Could it be because I am still rocking flip-flops the end of December? I am not sure.

I don't know how my parents kept it together all those years. I never saw them sweat around this time of year. I only remember the excitement of decorating the tree, running from house party to house party with them and singing Christmas carols at the top of our lungs.....what is wrong with me?

Everything is a rush, my house is a mess. I am not even close to being done and seriously...where are my lists?? I plan on kicking it into gear. I vow to finish EVERYTHING by Thursday so I can enjoy my family and host a truly fabulous Christmas Eve. I need to do this for my kids cause all they have seen is me sweating the past few weeks and I feel like a failure. More important than that Ipads or Uggs will be the time spent, that's what they will remember - not the gifts!

I am putting the pedal to the metal! The house will be clean, the food will be ready to go for Saturday, the gifts will be purchased and wrapped and I will spend Thursday and Friday actually enjoying the best gift of all....my children and my husband.