Luke Judge

Everyone loves to get Christmas cards. Real Christmas card is the only way to really show people you care at Christmas, especially when you can not be there with them over the Christmas period. Many people have resorted to only send e-mail at Christmas, but this is not the same as that opening an envelope and finding that beautifully planned Christmas card inside. give your friend’s family and even business partners with a real gift card this year. Many traditions are going by the wayside do not let your Christmas card disappear as well.

Sending Christmas cards should not be a problem. there are so many options now to choose from and you can choose the kind of Christmas cards you want on the basis of the intended recipients. Real Christmas cards to let people know that you care and taking the time to remember them, and Christmas is one of those very important time of year when everyone usually thinks about his family and friends.

Christmas cards are a special kind of gift, and you can send them without having to use their life savings to do so. Sending Christmas cards fun or personal card is a very effective and affordable way for you to stay connected with family, friends, colleagues and business partners. Christmas cards are a special holiday greeting to remind people about you and to show that you have not forgotten them. choose the type of card you want and have them printed and dedicated to you.

filing a Christmas card is symbolic, to show those you care about or deal with it they gave a sense of your life over the past year, and you map as a sign that they remembered and appreciated for what they brought into your life for the past year. this does not mean you can only send cards to friends and family and business relationships also affect your life and make sense and you should not ignore your business partners – of course you should not send them soft Christmas card!

you do not have to spend hours on the card section of your local store you can find more Christmas cards online. When you are trying to find the store you often can not find a card that says you have to say. now you can order your own personalized Christmas cards online, and you will be able to express their thoughts and feelings.

Here are some tips for deciding which card you will send:

Personalized Christmas Cards:

include personal information about either for yourself or your business, which ensures that you can send a card to someone, but that they would know, this applies to you and that you took the time and effort to plan cards specifically for people you know. In general, personal information or information about your family should only be used for family Christmas cards, not business Christmas cards.

When you’re not sure, religious beliefs of the people you send cards, make sure that your card is not specific to any religion. this is important when you send a card to be to friends and family, but even more important if you plan to send religious cards, business cards as Christmas. perhaps, in this case might be better to stick to the classic Christmas cards and put your personal annotations for each person to whom you’re sending a postcard.

Business Christmas Cards

for pure you want to be sure that the card reflects the theme of your business and appreciation for the relationship you have with the companies you will be sending cards. When you can personalize the cards themselves to meet your business is making a big impact on your business partners or suppliers. Sending them customized business greeting card shows his gratitude to them for their contribution to your business and the value of business relationships with them. We all had business Christmas cards, which are common and boring, and often personally signed, did not become one of those companies make a realistic plan for Christmas cards this year. regardless of the type

Christmas card you plan to send this year, make sure you plan on time. Christmas seems to come faster and faster and appreciation to my family, friends and business partners will feel to get the card from you or your business would be much appreciated. do not leave it too late. there is an online Christmas card numbers, to allow you to select all the details you would like to have your own Christmas cards, and various hints and tips to ensure you get the best choice for your money. Have a look at it a lot easier than you think.

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Choosing the right toy for a child can be hard. there are massive selections available. besides, in the eyes of a child all toys seem very appealing.

Playmobil has been around for years and one of the most loved toys around the world. What is birthday or Christmas without it? What you probably don’t know is – there’s more to it than being just an ordinary toy. Playmobil allows a child to play and learn at the same time.

A Tool in Child’s Mental and Emotional Development

Playmobil toys come in sets, every set has a theme but they can be put together to create many different playing scenarios. most of its parts are interchangeable and movable allowing children to swap or exchange each part according to their desire. These characteristics help a child become more imaginative when playing.

It has been proven that most children below 7 years old learn through playing. Playmobil becomes an essential learning tool for them. Experts say that through imaginative play, they will start to understand what’s happening in their surroundings. through playing, they can be able to express their feelings or thoughts that they can’t express through words.

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Merry Christmas hehe not quiet but I’m in the Christmas crafting mood.so when i saw that Tickled Pink stamps have started a monthly Christmas card challenge i thought woohoo excuse to get those Chrissy cards made .

This Months challenge is Red,Green and Gold. Beautiful traditional colours.I just had to buy Lil Lolita’s/Lads in the Christmas set in Rubber! They haven’t arrived just yet so i took the opportunity to use the free Digi,I’m not a fan of Digi’s as no matter what i try i can’t seem to get the image embossed to water colour,I really love the Magnolia Doo hickey poinsetta flowers I must get my self one of these Die’s.

thanks for stopping byHappy creating Hugsxo

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ROXBURY TWP.– Thanksgiving and Christmas might be over, but Social ServicesDirector Janet Wald wants to remind residents- and potentialdonors- that Easter is right around the corner.

And, Wald said last week, she has more than 200families counting on her for Easter baskets and dinners.

“For some reason, donations have been very slowrecently,” she said, adding that she stats to get a bit nervous asanother holiday approaches, and all of her clients aren’t providedfor.

“I wanted to remind people that Easter iscoming right up. This year, I am doing Easter baskets and meals.That means I need fresh hams, frozen lasagnas, gift cards forWal-Mart and ShopRite and chocolate bunnies and marshmallow peeps,”she said.

“Things have just been very slow lately, and Iwant to have all of the meals and baskets ready to hand out byApril 18,” she said.

Easter is on Sunday, April 24, this year.

“This is a little too slow, and it’s a bit odd.I guess it’s because of the way the world is now. right now, I haveno ShopRite cards, or Wal-Mart cards, and that’s unusual,” shesaid.

And, a bit alarming.

“Things are very tight right now, and I reallywanted to get the word out there that if you can donate, now is thetime I really need it,” she said.

“Gift cards are one of the best things that canbe donated, but I also need fresh hams and frozen lasagna dinners,”Wald said.

“I also have several clients who live in hotelrooms, and don’t have the ability to prepare a meal, so gift cardsfor Boston Market are also wonderful,” she said.

Although she said she has fewer clients thanlast year, the need is still great.

“Last year, I think I had over 300 signed upfor Easter. This year, it’s down a bit, to about 250. but that’sbecause the number is dwindling a bit because a lot of people havemoved out of New Jersey,” she said.

“I have a few homeless guys who live out oftheir vehicles, and these gift cards, especially for Boston Market,are perfect for them as well,” she said.

“Gift cards really come in handy. I like tohave things in order, so I’m not scrambling at the last minute,”she said.

Wald said the township’s schools do a wonderfuljob, and said she can always count on student and local Scoutgroups bringing in jelly beans and chocolate bunnies to fill Easterbaskets.

At the food pantry, located at 72 Eyland Ave.,Succasunna, she said supplies, at least right now, aresufficient.

“But, if it keeps going the way it has been,I’ll be very low there soon too,” she said.

“We need donations of all kinds as this time.That’s what I would say, and that includes toiletries and otheritems like that. my clients aren’t allowed to use their food stampsfor things like deodorant and toothpaste. They rely on me forthings like that,” she said.

The Roxbury Social Services Department, locatedat 72 Eyland Ave., Succasunna, is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. onMondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.Drop-offs of donations can be madeat that time. in addition, gift cards and/or monetary donations canbe mailed to: Roxbury Social Services/Food Pantry, 72 Eyland Ave.,Succasunna, N.J. 07876. for more information, Wald can be reachedvia telephone on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at (973)448-2026.

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The holidays are finally over, and I couldn’t be more pleased about it.  this season, particularly was over-stuffed and full of drama, with meeting MamaDork’s manpanion (post to come), a death in the Dude family (ditto), and the birth of two premature step-nephews and a full-term niece (who has the rockin’-est name ever) on my side (double ditto), and travel to see if not all and sundry, then most. and then snowmageddon out here…and we’re still not quite over that.

I’m ready for things to get back to quote-unquote normal, with regular plans and tasks, with days of the week that mean something. over the last two weeks, I’ve totally lost track of what day it was, which partially explains why we’re having a Monday Fun Thread.  the rest of the explanation is that a) many of us probably have a fun new thing or two that we got for Christmas, or bought on some excellent sale for ourselves and b) I’m out of practice with the blogging and commenting, and you might be, too, so this should help sort us out.

So: what lovely new thing, however minor or silly, is thrilling you recently?  I got a stack of books, a pile of kitchen toys, and delicious snacks to choke a horse this year, so I’m a happy happy dino, but I think my favorite thing, which I fondle incessantly and over which I coo delightedly, is something I bought myself off Etsy leading up to Xmas: my robot necklace.

Bleep bloop. What’s yours?

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tweenies Toys christmas, ditto, manpanion, niece

By admin ?krushata.com/homemade-snowboard-ramps/

Hi I'm trying to do a decline ramp and snowskatig snowboard?

Hi I am trying to make a snowboard or fall on the ramp i snowskate like on TV and it snows a ton and I broke the old ramp, made of old house and idk how to make one can someone please give me complete instructions on how to a? please i really need this thanks! anyone? please? I wanted to surprise my son on Christmas morning and see him happy. please does anyone know DROPIN how to make a ramp-step instructionssssss please please I am literally beg

is not complete, but the instructions on the website, gave me a good idea of how to build a hope that helps snowboarder-community.com/forum/topic/show?id=2027856% 3A12463% 3ATopic

Home Made Snowboard Ramp

Share and enjoy:

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all ISS systems continue to function nominally, except those noted previously or below. >>>Russian Orthodox Christmas. Eastern Orthodox Church observes Nativity according to the old Julian Calendar. after World War I, various Orthodox Churches, beginning with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, began to abandon the Julian calendar or Old Calendar, and adopt a form of the Gregorian calendar or New Calendar. The Julian calendar is at the present time 13 days behind our Gregorian Calendar.

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I saw a trending report of a few wedding dresses over the course of the last year and their prices would rise and fall a little but they all spiked since December.

Is this typical in the industry or does something else explain it?

I’m finally cracking down on getting the dress and if I can save money by waiting a few months I will.Perse,

I didn’t know that this happened, but it makes perfect sense (for the bridal industry!) just think of all the couples that got engaged at Christmas, the new Year, and (very soon) Valentine’s Day.

Right away, they (the bridal shops) know that the bride will want to find "the dress" so it makes sense for them to raise their prices now. ALSO, for those that have a summer or fall wedding (and maybe have been engaged for a while), the bridal shops know that these brides will be filtering in looking for their dress also.

Kind of like how the airlines raise their prices during the holidays as they know that people will fly no matter what to see their families!

Good luck in your dress search!

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“Teresa loved my stuff and ordered several bling T-shirts and tutu apparel for all of her daughters,” said Mortman. the hottest item, a $37 tutu bag (currently out of stock but available in January) is sure to be popular considering Guidice purchased three of them with her daughters’ names monogrammed.Dina Manzo who is no longer on the show, also stopped at her booth and took a look. “Dina wished her daughter was young again so she could buy her something ? she loved all of it,” said Mortman.Jerseylicious star Christy Pereira, who also purchased clothing at the event, is now a huge fan of Mortman’s and gives her shout-outs on Facebook. “for her new baby daughter’s Christening, I made a custom white tutu outfit for after the church,” said Mortman. Pereira’s castmate Tracy DeMarco also took a look. and the public relations representative for the show did all of her Christmas shopping. All of the cast members were very gracious and posed for photos which are on Mortman’s Web site.“I am getting great reactions to the prices and the quality. I love it ? I could still be here for my kids and run a business,” she said. “down the line, I could possibly see opening a retail boutique.”But for now, Mortman is quite content and grateful for the popularity and exposure that a little Chic Boutique is receiving.

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Saint Louis, MO (PRWEB) December 11, 2010

Breaking up is hard to do, without a doubt. however, many people are making the best of it and commemorating the end of their relationship with one of the season’s hottest collectible ornaments – a Breakup Ornament. Whether it’s a long-term relationship break up, a divorce, or you’re just ready to part ways with the current political leaders in office, a Breakup Ornament is a fun gift that takes a lighthearted look at breaking up.

Recently, two St. Louis entrepreneurs, both experienced in the break up process, decided to take a humorous approach to dealing with break ups. Enter the relationship Breakup Ornament, a spoof on the First Christmas together figurine ornaments. “Everyone has a ‘First Christmas Together’ ornament, so we thought a ‘Last Christmas Together’ ornament made perfect sense,” says Liz Tillman, co-owner of Breakup Ornaments. “With more and more people throwing divorce parties, we realized that the idea of finding a bit of humor in an often undeniably bad situation was gaining traction.”

Following the success of the original Relationship Breakup Ornament, this fall the duo launched their first ‘un-politically correct’ Breakup Ornament. “If you’re tired of the direction of our country’s leadership, then make it known with our Political Breakup Ornament,” says Tillman. “No matter which side of the political fence you’re on, the polls indicate Uncle Sam and Barack Obama may be saying their sweet good-byes to each other in 2012. Our new Political Breakup Ornament is the perfect way to voice your political opinion and your real Christmas wish for 2012…that this will be “Our last Christmas together!” The company also offers a political breakup bumper sticker.

For more information or to order a Breakup Ornament for only $8.50 each, please visit shop.breakupornaments.com.    

About Breakup Ornaments: Founded in 2009, two St. Louis entrepreneurs, both experienced in the break up process, decided to take their own lighthearted look at breaking up. The idea bloomed back in 1991 when one of the entrepreneur’s wife at the time decided that living somewhere else was a good idea. while decorating his Christmas tree that year, he came across the infamous "Our First Christmas together 1985" ornament. he immediately slam-dunked it into the trash can. That was when the idea for the "Our last Christmas Together” was born. for more information, visit breakupornaments.com.

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Carla Ova begins the tour of her home by describing the firstChristmas tree visitors are likely to see as they walk in.

It’s a wedding-themed tree, decorated in whites and silvers,standing at the end of the entryway next to the door of the diningroom. Behind it, spreading through the rest of the house, are atleast two dozen more trees, countless Santa Claus figurines alongwith garland and lights hung from nearly every surface.

“I think everybody has an obsession, no matter what it is,” shesaid.

For Ova, the obsession is Christmas.

Every room of her large West End home, every corner, everycountertop is decorated with trees, figurines, yards of garland,stars, lights, angels, nativities and ornaments.

The large Christmas trees — nine on the main floor and about adozen in the basement — each have a theme. The smaller trees aren’tquite so regimented.

The den holds the fishing and hunting tree, decorated with itemsfrom Ova’s father’s tackle box. she thought it an appropriate wayto remember her dad, who died some years ago.

“This has really become one of my favorites,” she said.

There’s a Green Bay Packers tree with ticket stubs from gamesCarla and her husband, Terry, have attended. one tree is decoratedwith nothing but Santa Claus figurines each emblazoned with aminiaturized Thomas Kincaid painting.

The tree in the kitchen has been decorated with gingerbreadhouse and gingerbread man ornaments.

“Obviously, you’re going to do a gingerbread tree in thekitchen,” she said.

The main tree in the basement — a space that’s not quite asformal as the main floor — continually rotates.

“It’s impressive,” neighbor Bonnie Baracher, said of all thedecorations.

It’s not been hard for Ova to find decorations for her tree. Shegamely explains that ornaments don’t have to be purchased, pointingto the Green Bay Packer tree and the hunting and fishing tree.

“Just about anything you want can be put on a tree,” shesaid.

Indeed, a small tree in the room her 34-year-old son Kiel useswhen he visits from Roberts is decorated using the “Star Wars” toyshe played with as a boy. Replacing the star at the top of a tree ishis X-Wing.

Ova acknowledges she goes to greater lengths with her Christmasdecorations than others. it all goes up in October and stays untilshe takes it down in February.

One of her guest bedrooms stays Christmas-themed all yearlong.

She explains her obsession by talking about her childhood andthe warm memories she has associated with celebrating the holidaywith her family.

“We were a farm family,” she said.

There wasn’t a lot of money, she said. But still, “we had agreat childhood and fun, fun Christmases.”

A Billings resident since 2001, she and her husband moved intotheir home at Falcon Ridge in 2008 and much of the house was custombuilt to accommodate Ova’s Christmas decorations. Extra outlets andbreakers were wired into the home for the lights, and the garagehas custom storage shelves for all her Christmas trees.

It makes the set-up and take down a little more efficient, shesaid. And taking it all down can be quite a process. a bit of arelief for her husband.

“Terry says the house looks big when everything comes down,” shesaid, laughing.

Still, whether in a custom-designed home or in a morestraight-forward model, she’s always enjoyed the decorating.

“It’s never an effort, it’s never hard,” she said.

And the trees help pull the family together.

The wedding tree came to be after Ova’s first niece got marriedin North Dakota. at the reception, the bride auctioned off hergarter — a tradition at many North Dakota weddings — and Terrybought it.

Coming home from the reception, Terry quipped, “This’ll be anice ornament for your tree.”

Carla agreed. now she and Terry buy all the garters at hernieces weddings and they all adorn her wedding-themed tree. Oneniece brought home sand in a small bottle from her honeymoon andgave it to Ova to be placed on the tree.

“It’s fun,” Ova said, smiling.

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COLUMBUS — Nicole Shaw and her mother Michelle Shaw found joythis Christmas season in helping the Neighbors in Constant CareFoundation reach its goal of assisting local families and childrenin need.

Nicole, who goes by Nikki, has been donating to the N.I.C.C.Foundation for about five years, but this year she found a specialuse for some items that were originally bought ascollectibles.

“Every year I give about $25 for a boy, $25 for a girl, and games,”said Shaw. This year she also donated a video game system and gamesfor it that she owned.

But then the mother-daughter pair thought of something else thatthey could give — something they hoped would give special meaningto some child’s Christmas.

“My mother and I collect the 18-inch American Girl dolls, and wehad tons of furniture for it, so we donated about three or fourplastic tubs of furniture – beds and couches and table sets androcking chairs, that kind of stuff,” Shaw stated.

They had collected the furniture over the last five years orso.

“We just got carried away for several years and collected thefurniture because we thought it was cool,” she said.

“The furniture came from all different stores,” said Shaw. “Sincewe had the furniture, we went to Target and got 18-inch dolls todonate.”

“We happened to have (the furniture) and I was very glad to be ableto donate it this year,” Shaw stated.

The Shaws also donated clothing for the dolls.

“I wanted something local,” Shaw said in explaining why theydonated the material to the N.I.C.C. Foundation. “I wanted to knowthat kids in our area were receiving good Christmases.”

N.I.C.C. Foundation founder and president Julie Hornbacher saidthat it was a good Christmas for the local non-profitorganization.

She said that N.I.C.C. was able to assist everyone who they wereaware of that needed help, even though the organization receivedsome emergency calls for help on Dec. 23.

Hornbacher said that initially she was concerned that economicconditions might hinder giving this year. that did not turn out tobe the case, however.

“I think it went pretty good,” Hornbacher stated. “So many peoplein the Columbus/Fall River area helped out families that neededhelp. I didn’t even have to look for people; they came tome.”

“We have a great community,” Hornbacher said. “Thanks to everyonewho helped so much.”

“Julie was absolutely thrilled to have (the doll furniture),” saidShaw. “I am not doing it for the recognition. I am doing it so thatsome kids can have a good Christmas.”

Shaw said, however, that she did not mind telling her story.“Anything to get the word out so that people will donate,” shesaid. “I think it is a wonderful, wonderful program, and to have itlocal means a lot.”

“Think of the NICC program,” Shaw said.

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The Good: Great voice
The Bad: Short, Familiar, Awkward sound on some songs, Derivative instrumental accompaniment.
The Basics: Average-at-best, the c.d. and DVD combo Midwinter Graces is either too upbeat on traditional slow carols or moody and depressing with Tori Amos’s original works.

When I began doing my Artist Of the Month musical explorations, one of the artists I was exceptionally excited about was Tori Amos. So now that I have hit December, my wildcard month, I was especially excited to revisit Amos and catch up on some of her newer works. this was convenient because around this time last year, she released a holiday album Midwinter Graces. Unfortunately, sheer creativity does not win out on this one. As I think about the works of Tori Amos, I am left thinking that many of her die-hard fans will be happy, but the reason most will enjoy Midwinter Graces is exactly why I did not: it is very, painfully, familiar. So, unlike Aimee Mann’s One More Drifter in the Snow (click here for that review!), but very much like 20th Century Masters: the Christmas Collection – the Best Of Reba (click here), Midwinter Graces is strangely obvious, which is unexpected for an artist like Tori Amos.

Over the course of her career, Tori Amos has evolved from her initial “one woman and a piano” sound to a presentation that was more electric and actually rocking. on Midwinter Graces, she returns to her pianos for instrumental accompaniment, but actually continues the vibrancy and sense of production that reigned on her more recent albums like Strange little Girls and American Doll Posse. the thing is, as far as the holiday album goes, this is a very tough sell for the overall sound. only the bonus track (there is a one-disc and two-disc version of this and as I’ve only found the two-disc version, that is the one I’m reviewing!) “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht! (Silent Night, Holy Night)” actually is presented in a traditional way: slow and sweet. the rest of the album sounds very modern, up-tempo and, at times, disturbing in the way Amos reinterprets the works of others.

With fourteen tracks on the extended c.d., taking up only 55:44, Midwinter Graces is a blend of traditional Christmas songs, like “Emmanuel” and “Star Of Wonder” with brand new music by Tori Amos. Amos wrote six of the tracks and she arranged all of them and inserted new lyrics into each song. As a result, it is clear she is attempting to make a holiday album that is spiritual in a vague sort of way, without being entirely secular while retaining the themes of a traditional Christmas. Amos plays three types of piano and keyboards on this album and she provides all of the primary vocals as well. She is also the sole producer of the album, so this is quite clearly her intended musical vision being presented.

That said, some of her musical interpretations are just troubling. “Harps Of Gold” sounds more like a rock and roll track and “Star Of Wonder” is presented as an up-tempo number which is so richly produced that it sounds more flashy than mystical. Indeed, the inclusion of bass and samples on songs like the usually more grand “Star Of Wonder” just make the song sound and feel cheap. Instead of telling a history of a mystical event through song, Amos’s version becomes a theatrical lightshow for the ears which reminds one of Manheim Steamroller more than Tori Amos. while this is a clear evolution of where Amos was with her later albums, it does not sound good for the songs she is presenting.

Conversely, it is Amos’s original tracks where she re-establishes her sound as one woman with a powerful piano. Songs like “Pink and Glitter” and “Snow Angel” are more the familiar brooding pop ballads that Amos became known worldwide for. As a result, fans of Tori Amos either way get something familiar to them: they have new ballads which remind them just why they loved Tori Amos to begin with or weird reinterpretations of classic Christmas carols with uptempo production and instrumental accompaniment which sound like her newer works.

What is fairly consistent throughout the album is Tori Amos’s voice. Amos has an amazing soprano voice and on Midwinter Graces, she is melodic, with perfect pitch. when Amos sings on songs like “Jeanette, Isabella” and “A silent Night with You,” she has a passion and tone which could break the heart of the divine. But, unfortunately, as is the case on many of her albums, there are moments when she becomes whispery and soft and her instrumental accompaniment overwhelms her vocals. this is especially problematic on her original pieces, because it is clear she has something she wants to say as an artist.

Unfortunately, some of her message is very typical and familiar holiday-themed musical storysongs and, alas, Amos does not add anything truly unique or special to the overall gestalt. after all, there is something remarkably familiar about the idea of spending time together during the holidays and Amos nails that right out of the gate when she sings “The radio plays my holiday faves / It takes me back to when our love was new / Young lovers pass me by with their glow / That used to be us not so long ago / You said then / ‘I just want to spend a silent night with you’ / with you / A silent night with you” (“A silent Night with You”). still, it is hard to complain too much about that because this is the type of sentiment one looks for when one buys a holiday album.

But Amos does this particularly artlessly. It is bad enough she mirrors “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by referencing other Christmas songs in her first original song on the album, but that she uses the exact same technique in “Our new Year,” when she references “Auld Lang Syne” just seems particularly sloppy and unimaginative. Again, though, fans of Tori Amos are likely to be pleased with her mopey sensibilities with her contemplative and depressing lines “Lately I’m sure it’s / You there waving / in the distance / Closer / the closer I get / Disappointment / It is, yes it is / They just have the same color of your hair / You’re not there” (“Our new Year”). Amos herself seems bored with the song with the sheer number of “You’re not there’s” the song includes!

Even so, not all of Amos’s lines are a complete wash or disappointing. Instead, on some songs, she illustrates the strong sense of poetics which made her famous originally. So, she has a great sense of imagery, like “Snow Angel / She’ll make her way / and she’ll stay / for a Time, / for a time / in the dark of this Midwinter, / the moon slipped from night / A shadow, of a wing” (“Snow Angel”). Amos is able to evoke clear mental pictures of snowscapes – often lonely ones – and “Midwinter Graces” is moody, but beautiful at times.

However, there is not enough to save the album. too much of it is erratic or outright unsettling and the bonus DVD which has an interview with Amos is not terribly enlightening, though Amos does manage to avoid using the term “holiday cashgrab” when discussing her intent with the album. She does not make the mistake of most artists who release a holiday album in that she does not make pedantic, obvious choices with the way she presents familiar songs. however, she goes to the other extreme, making the once-familiar songs seem utterly alien and her new songs fail to resonate overall as well.

The best song is “A silent Night with You,” the low point is “Harps Of Gold.”

For other albums by strong female artists, please check out my takes on:
Tear the World Down – We Are the Fallen
Laws Of Illusion – Sarah McLachlan
One Cell in the Sea – A Fine Frenzy

4.5/10

For other music reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2009, 2010 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

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midwinter aimee mann, christmas, graces, sheer creativity

The name says it all…”Shop Silsbee first.”

That’s the catch phrase the Silsbee Chamber of Commerce is using to encourage people to shop locally before spending money elsewhere.

Drive through Silsbee…and you’re likely to see signs like these…”Shop Silsbee First.’’

What does that mean?

“Shop locally,” said April.

“put your money back into the community,” said Denise.

“You’re giving your money to the area you live in,” said LeBlanc.

The “Shop Silsbee First” campaign is encouraging people who live in Silsbee to pick out the perfect Christmas gifts in ‘heir home town.

“we offer great prices, where you may go to the mall…our prices are half,” said April.

Of course, a price break is exciting…but it’s the ‘one on one’ experience business owners say is just as important.

“it gives people an opportunity to shop in a local hometown store…with people you know…people who want to know you more,” said Denise.

Denise Strother owns Nana’s Play House in downtown Silsbee.  there are dozens of vendors who rent a space from her.

We offer Vintage, collectables, jewelry, hand-crafted items, yellow box, woozies…something for everyone here,” said Strother.

Just across town…on highway 96 South, Serenity and Company says it offers top designer brands of clothing and shoes at affordable prices.

“the prices we offer, you can’t beat it, and still it’s the fun fashion, the unique stuff,” said LeBlanc.

Unique gifts with the goal of getting people to “Shop Silsbee first.”

Retail stores in Silsbee offer a special discount on the first Friday of each month to encourage local shopping.

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We talked a bit about the PLX Devices XWave back in September when the brainwave interface first surfaced. last Christmas toys for kids that were controlled using the brain were popular and sold with Star Wars branding and under other brands. the XWave is very much like those toys in that it turns the brain into an interface for the iPod, iPhone, and iPad.

The XWave doesn’t allow you to actually control things on your Apple gear like tracks or anything. You can use the interface to control little games that are available for the system. the headset looks just like the one that is on the Star Wars mind control toy from last year.

You connect the thing to your iPad, download the app, and start playing. one of the uses for the XWave is said to be helping people with ADHD focus and control their thoughts better. the XWave is now shipping and if you want to try it, you can buy one right now for $99.99.

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