Flowers make everything more festive and colorful. That's why we have flowers for just about every occasion in our life. I fact, I can't think of an occasion when there isn't some kind of a flower arrangement or other.

Christmas is especially a time for flowers. Christmas is a holiday for all the senses; the smells, the sights and the feeling of Christmas stays with you forever. One of the symbols of Christmas that I always try to have is poinsettias. Even that one Christmas when I didn't have a Christmas tree, I at least had to have a poinsettia on my table. Of course, there are many other Christmas flowers out there, but for me, the poinsettia just says Christmas through and through to the point that when I see it outside of Christmas season, it just seems out of place.

Every Christmas, my sisters and I send my mom and a couple of special aunts flowers. I just seemed like a great idea when we started doing it a few years back. They get flowers for mother's day, valentine's day and on their birthdays and they always love getting them. But no one ever sends flowers for Christmas do they? Well I thought Christmas is just the perfect time to give someone flowers! Why not? And what's more, not only do the flowers express your affection, they can be shared with others during the holidays as more households get more guests during this time than other. My mom and aunts certainly appreciate it.

So if you have a special someone that you don't know what to get for, consider sending them flowers. 1800flowers.com makes it convenient to order your arrangements and deliver them for you.

The Chew on That food blog usually asks it's readers a monthly mouthful question resulting with some very interesting and useful answers. This month being December, the question was:

“What is your favorite holiday cookie or dessert? Please share your recipe!”

If you love sweets especially this time of year, then make sure you check the responses to this question. I already found a few new treats that I would like to try out.

My answer to the question:

I make a lot of treats during the holidays and the lineup changes every year. There is only one that is missed if I take it out: Sugar Cookies! Here is the recipe!

We actually haven't started baking anything yet at our house. I'm hoping the list will kick start my lazy butt and start backing this weekend.


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It certainly is the season for parties again. The redecorating has started and I just got my holiday agenda via email today. It's the list of parties and events my company puts out every year. Starting with Thanksgiving, the list of events in the office and out of the office starts.

At home, it's the same thing. The family is already organizing and coordinating the different get togethers that are in the works just to make sure we don't have our open house parties all on the same date.

Some of us go by our time tested recipes for a party but if you are looking for Christmas Party Ideas, then you need to visit celebrations.com. For instance, even though I have my own formula that I've used over the years, I always try to incorporate something new especially in the food department. I can't help but to try and cook something new every year. So far, everything's come out pretty well, no great disasters yet.

At celebrations.com, get ideas on how to spruce up your parties from unique table settings, flower arrangements, party games or decorations. Me, I'm actually leaning towards having a Mexican Christmas Party. I am so into the suggested recipes:

Tamale Pie (Chili) - for a Mexican Fiesta
Tamale Pie (Topping) for a Mexican Fiesta
Easy Chicken Posole - a Mexican meal for your Fiesta
Mexican Hot Chocolate
Biscochitos - Traditional Mexican Christmas Cookies

There's also suggestions for music and decorations to complete your Feliz Navidad Fiesta. Now that grain of suggestion is planted, I am thinking this fiesta is just the change we need this holiday season!