Ok, here is the thing. If you ask and she or he says yes, you will be together for years to come. During those years there will be an opportunity (at least once a year) to be reminded of the time you asked them to marry you.
So, don’t stuff it up or you will pay for it with decades of recriminations and embarassment. Make sure your potential life partner is in agreement with you over what constitutes a romantic moment. If they want violins and roses while you are happy with glam rock on the ipod and a bag of chips, you will suffer my friend.
Make a romantic day of it and make sure you haven’t had an arguement for at least 12 hours before you propose (although this does not mean proposing first thing in the morning is your best option).
Don’t be too hasty to propose on a specific ocassion that you have mentally prepared for. If the time isn’t right, wait.
However, if they are looking happy and the setting is romantic and you aren’t peein g yourself with nerves, go for it.
European and American tradition dictates that the tree is actually only decorated on Chritmas Eve and then left for the 12 days of festivities that end on 6th January when the tree and decorations come down.
However during the 20th century many people dropped this idea, probably being influenced by retail stores who saw a correlation between decorations and customer spending. This has led people to put their trees up earlier each year, but the USA has thanksgiving which acts as a natural barrier, so christmas cannot creep any earlier than than the end of November.
The average family now puts up their tree about 12-14 days before christmas.
Kids under the age of three don’t ‘get’ magic. They just accept it as something that can be done. Between the ages of 3 and 5 they start to realise the boundaries of reality and that is when magic tricks first appeal to them.
A simple magic trick to show to younger children.
Here is a basic trick that is easy for any adult to perform but leaves the little ones dumbfounded. It is the form of a rhyme. The only preparation you need is to learn the rhyme and stick two small pieces of tissue paper to the nails of your index fingers. These tissues can be stuck with a little spit and represent two birds. Now bounce your fingers up and down in rythmn on the edge of the table, saying the rhyme.
“Two little dickybirds sitting on a wall
One named Peter, One named Paul
Fly away peter, fly away paul
Come back peter, Come back Paul”
As you say the rhyme bounce your index fingers in the same spot. On the line ‘Fly away Peter’ swap your index for your second finger, but still come down on exactly the same spot. On the next line do the same thing with the other hand and on the subsequent lines swap back to the index fingers. The effect to the kids watching is that the birds dissapear and then magically reappear.
Traditionally the tree and decorations should be left up until 12th night (6th Jan) and then taken down. However this tradition also states that decorations only go up on Christmas Eve (24th Dec) but may people decorate far earlier than that. The big problem is that a real tree will start to shed its needles and if it has been indoors since early december it is likely to be a bare twig by 12th night.
Good quality chocolate eggs will keep for a year if stored correctly, so if you have a larder that says relatively cool and stable all year round, the best time to buy an easter egg is the day after easter when prices get slashed. Up to 75% off is a common post easter discount and many stores are happy to haggle.
Poor quality eggs contain lots of vegetable oil which will go stale in 6 months, so make sure you buy high quality eggs with a high cocoa content. Also, be careful of added ingredients which you know have a short shelf life.
Then next year you can give top quality chocolate eggs to friends. Of course, it might be difficult for you or your family to avoid the temptation in the larder for a whole year.
My older sister told me Santa wasn’t real when we were both very young and so I have no memories of believing in Santa Claus. (I know, its sad).
The only good answer is to tell children the truth…but only when they ask. Don’t spoil innocence unnecessarily, but don’t tell lies either.
When should you have a baby shower?
When should you make a Christmas Cake?
The first week of December is a good time to start sending cards. If you really want to get lots back, be the first of your friends and relatives to start sending so that everyone gets a card from you BEFORE they start their own Christmas card lists.
Of course, if you send cards in November you may appear just a trifle needy and may also annoy people who are getting annoyed at how Christmas gets earlier every year.
You should send out wedding invitations at least 8 weeks before the date to give people enough notice. They are probably going to travel some distance, spend the night in a hotel and give you some top pressies, so the least you can do is give them plenty of warning. I think the perfect advance notice is 10 weeks.
