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Mrs. C says: It's time to think outside the box, my friends. It's time to introduce some new traditions into your Christmas festivities.
Ed Elf: Can you have such a thing as a 'new tradition'? Those two words don't seem to go together at all.
Mrs. C: Well, if a person thinks of something new to do as part of their celebrations – then continues to do it year-on-year it becomes a tradition. So 'new' and 'tradition' together in one sentence. There you go clever clogs.
Ed Elf: I'm still not convinced.
Mrs. C: You're failing to see the bigger picture. Maybe that's an elf thing.
Ed Elf: That's rather elf-ist of you, Mrs C. But go on – show me what you're talking about.
Mrs. C: The How to Christmas team have come up with great suggestions for injecting some 'new' into the traditions and customs of 'old' as well as recommending other fresh and novel ideas you might wish to make annuals. There are 25 in all in the following list to entice you – with much greater detail on each item outlined below that, with full explanations. Why not give just a few of them a try and start – are you listening Ed? – a new tradition!
The Big List of New Traditions
1 – Create personal storybooks to accompany a special and unique evening of gift giving.
2 – Write poetic lines, clues and numbers on tags to turn opening gifts into a guessing game.
3 – Start a collection of tree baubles that will one-day form the "Flying the Nest" set.
4 – Make Advent crackers and help the countdown to Christmas Day go with a bang.
5 – Visit a local pop-up ice-skating rink as a family or with friends – even if you can't skate.
6 – Nominate a Random Acts of Kindness Day for the youngsters in your life. Let them do some good at home or in the neighbourhood – and you, your friends and family can join in too.
7 – Have a Great British Bake Off Day – going head-to-head with family or friends to determine who is champion cook of the Christmas grub.
8 – Visit a Christmas market – soak up the atmosphere and glug some gluhwein.
9 – Create a magical movie night at home.
10 – Make pinecone garlands after a winter walk in the woods.
11 – Allow Santa to put his foot in it. Check below for more details and you'll understand we can't give too much away on this one.
12 – Make Advent a play-on-words with the 24 Books of Christmas.
13 – Create gift cards with a difference – offering the priceless commodity of time.
14 – Hurray for pound shop presents! This will be an inexpensive test of humour and ingenuity for family and friends.
15 – The new pyjamas, dressing gown and slippers come with a pocket prize this year.
16 – Book a group outing to a local pantomime or Christmas concert – but make sure it's between Christmas and New Year.
17 – Why should Easter have all the hunts? We feel a Christmas treasure hunt coming on.
18 – Put old toys in a Santa sack ready for collection on Christmas Eve. Father Christmas will replace old with new – and you will de-clutter.
19 – Take just 15 minutes out for a special Christmas Eve night gift exchange. No kids, no noise, no interruptions.
20 – Cook a special Christmas Eve dish that will be replicated year after year, conjuring up mouth-watering smells and memories each time.
21 – Visit Father Christmas and get a family picture, not just one of Santa and the kids. Make this the must-achieve family photo each festive season.
22 – Camp out for Christmas. Well, camp in actually. Have a sleepover beside the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree – sleeping bags, barbeque food and all.
23 – Volunteer your services to charity and aim to make it a family affair.
24 – Find a gift that keeps on giving year after year.
25 – Amazon adventure anyone? Use gift vouchers as a pack of purchasers to keep the Christmas excitement alive.
1 – The Personal Storybook
Here is a delightful idea to bring fun, joy and laughter to any gift giving. It's the notion of a personal storybook to accompany the opening of presents. For the special people in your life the likelihood is you will buy them more than one gift for Christmas. If you are anything like the How to Christmas team, you will shower your nearest and dearest with presents. If this is the case, you can now add to the experience by taking them on a storybook journey as they delve into their bag of treasures. It's not so easy to achieve with children on Christmas morning, when all they want to do is tear into their gifts. But for Christmas Eve it is perfect, as you will discover from our Storybook Three example.
Type-out each story on the computer. Add photographs, pictures, stickers or drawings if you want to make it more elaborate. It is important to keep each segment of the story on a separate page so the recipient cannot read ahead. One page is equivalent to one gift. Imagine folding over several pieces of A4 paper and binding them with string or Christmas ribbon. Each half of that A4 sheet can carry a passage of the story. Here are examples from which you can work: one each for a man, woman and child. But use your imagination and knowledge of your recipient to make their storybook pertinent to them.
Storybook One:
Page One: Bob (insert your gift recipient's name here instead of Bob) loved Christmas: time off work, carols on the radio, mince pies and a drop or two of mulled wine. But for the best wine and the best mull he needed…
(Open the first gift here: a delicious bottle of red wine and a bag of mulling spices attached)
Page Two: Bob warmed the wine, dropped in the bag of festive spice and was immediately transported to Christmases past. He remembered doing the Hokey Cokey with the neighbours at a house party one year as cinnamon scent filled the air. Mr. Thornton at number 9 put his left leg in and left it there. It was a prosthetic. Bob was traumatised for a time – but a few weeks later, he was talking again…even smiling in time. Nowadays he laughed so readily at such Christmas oddities which is why he would love…
(Open the second gift here: a DVD of the film "Bad Santa")
Page Three: It wasn't lost on Bob that Billy Bob Thornton starred in this American comedy. A Bob and a Thornton, together again. Of course, it's always best watching movies while munching away on…
(Open the third gift here: a bag of mince pie flavoured 'Joe & Seph's Gourmet Popcorn' in a retro metallic popcorn bowl)
Page Four: Bob loved the film. He laughed. He laughed a lot. But as the end of the story drew nigh, he started to yawn and wondered if he could make it to the end. Nothing to do with "Bad Santa", you understand, and everything to do with the mulled wine. Thankfully he owned a…
(Open the fourth gift here: Bialetti stovetop coffee maker, a Christmas mug and Starbucks Christmas coffee)
Page Five: The freshly brewed coffee did the trick and Bob was able to stay awake to see the hilarious climax to the film. That letter at the end from Bad Santa – just genius. Bob could now take himself off to bed quite happily. He pulled on his…
(Open the fifth gift here: pair of Gap Christmas motif pyjamas)
Page Six: Bob was the kind of bloke who could drop off quite easily on the couch watching a film, but struggled to doze off once his head hit the pillow – whether caffeine was coursing through his veins or not. He needed the soothing calm of music to ease him into the land of nod, so it was just as well he possessed a…
(Open the sixth gift here: Roberts DAB Digital Radio)
Page Seven: Bob tuned into his favourite, soothing station and was soon in a deep sleep – dreaming of false limbs, naughty Santas and the kind of Christmas joy all friends like Bob deserve. The End.
Storybook Two:
Page One: Susan (insert your recipient's name here instead of Susan) adored Christmas: decorating the illuminated twig tree, singing at the top of her voice to Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" and having a big night out with the girls. The outfit that night had to be red. Susan always wore red at Christmas, which went perfectly with her vibrant red…
(Open the first gift here: lipstick by Chanel)
Page Two: With a gloss like that, there was some serious mileage in those lips. Not that Susan was thinking about puckering up. She's a good girl she is! Actually, maybe a bit too good so it was perhaps as well she poured some bravery into her blood for the night's festivities with…
(Open the second gift here: a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne)
Page Three: Ooh! The fizz worked wonders. The bubbles went up her nosey and down to her toesies. There was a massive night ahead of her – she could smell it in the air. But that couldn't be right. If she could scent an impending joy-fest, she couldn't possibly be wearing enough…
(Open the third gift here: Tom Ford Neroli Portofino perfume)
Page Four: A good spritz later and Susan was ready for the night ahead. Lippy? Check. Dutch Courage? Check. Heavenly aroma? Check. And what a night it was. It all goes a bit hazy for Susan after a while, though. It must be something to do with all that…
(Open the fourth gift here: Smirnoff Gold vodka and its irresistible gold flakes)
Page Five: The morning after. Susan's head was pounding. Nothing a couple of aspirin couldn't sort out – along with a pot of tea, a hot shower and that rejuvenating…
(Open the fifth gift here: Ren Neroli and Grapefruit Body Wash)
Page Six: Refreshed but still somewhat delicate, a delightfully lazy Sunday stretched ahead of Susan. It was a perfect day to catch up on sleep (Susan really loved her sleep), as well as her recordings on Sky+ and the festive classics…
(Open the sixth gift here: "White Christmas" and the 1994 version of "Miracle on 34th Street" on DVD)
Page Seven: As Susan saw the twinkling light dart around the Christmas tree at the end of the second movie she was reminded of her own wonderful tree in all its glistening wonder. As she turned from the couch to face it, she saw a small dark blue box under it and realised she hadn't put it there herself. She opened the box excitedly but carefully and was thrilled to find…
(Open the seventh gift here: a beautiful Swarovski Crystal decoration)
Page Eight: In the box with the ornament was a note that read: "We love you Susan – now and always!" The End.
Storybook Three:
Page One: It was a magical Christmas Eve. Molly/Zach (insert the young boy or girl's name of your choice here) had been a very good girl/boy for most of the year. There was that time when she/he wouldn't go to bed on time…and when she/he ate so much chocolate she/he was sick…and when she/he couldn't get up in time for school. But overall, she/he had been a very good girl/boy. Good enough to make Santa's nice list anyway – and that meant Molly/Zach could be rewarded with a new Christmas Eve friend. In a beautiful box with a big satin ribbon was…
(Open the first gift now: the cutest teddy from the Charlie Bear collection)
Page Two: With a new addition to the family – a new bedtime buddy for Christmas Eve – Molly/Zach felt she/he couldn't be happier. But then Mum/Dad searched at the back of the tree and found a gift bag that read: "Molly/Zach – please use these tonight." When Molly/Zach looked in the bag she/he found…
(Open the second bag of gifts now: a special personalised cookie plate for Santa – see our Elf Helper on this page for details – a box of chocolate chip cookies, a bag of glittery reindeer food and a carrot.)
Page Three: Santa would surely leave great toys for Molly/Zach now and playing with toys was one of her/his favourite things to do in all the world – along with eating ice cream, tormenting her/his brother/sister/friend, catching ladybirds and spotting animal cloud shapes in the sky. She/he also loved cartoons so imagine her/his delight when she/he was handed…
(Open the third gift now: a DVD of "Rise of the Guardians")
Page Four: With such great characters as Jack Frost, the Easter Bunny and the Sandman in it, the film would be a big hit. Santa makes a star performance in the film, too. And after all, he is Molly's/Zach's favourite – which is just as well because the next gift is all about the big man and perfect for bedtime reading on Christmas Eve. Why it's…
(Open the fourth gift now: the book "'Twas the Night Before Christmas")
Page Five: The brilliant poem made everyone very festive. There was still one more package for Molly/Zach to unwrap before she/he went to bed. It felt all soft and squidgy. When she/he tore off the wrapping paper, she/he unfurled…
(Open fifth gift here: a personalised Christmas stocking from notonthehighstreet.com to hang from the mantelpiece)
Page Six: With the name "Molly/Zach" across the top of the stocking, there was no way Santa could get confused. Molly's/Zach's old stocking didn't have a name on it. This would definitely help him. Maybe that would earn her/him more presents. Sweet dreams Molly/Zach. Happy Christmas Eve. The End.
Elf Helper: There are wonderful choices for personalised cookie plates online, but we recommend a plate madebyemma.co.uk that has outlines of a carrot and a cookie on it as well as a space for Santa's drink. It reads "To Santa – love from…" around the edge, with space for as many as three names. Also check out mylittletreasures.co.uk. We also recommend a visit to notonthehighstreet.com.
2 – Poetic Lines, Clues and Numbered Tags
Another way of adding fun and intrigue to gift opening, especially when there's a sack-full of items to unwrap, is by tagging each present with clues – some of them rhyming ones if you feel creative enough. There might be a particular order you want them to be opened in as you develop a certain gifts theme, so number each tag as well in this case. It turns gift opening into a kind of game. Here's an example for whisky lovers:
Tag 1: "Take to the Scottish Hebrides and you'll get the feeling
There's something funny and tasty coming out of Ealing"
The Gift: A copy of the DVD "Whisky Galore!", an Ealing comedy set in the Hebrides.
Tag 2: "Why should Scottish islanders have all the fun?
Get some of this good stuff down you son!"
The Gift: A bottle of quality whisky, like 16-year-old Lagavulin single malt. It's from the Hebrides, of course.
Tag 3: "You'll need these too, but will have to cough up cash
Just to be sure our friendship doesn't smash."
The Gift: Crystal whisky tumblers. There's a long held superstition that if you are given a sharp object like a knife or a potentially sharp object like breakable glass you must receive a coin in return – that way you won't ever cut the friendship.
Tag 4: "Once you've put the last two gifts to good use
And you've delivered your body some boozy abuse
You might just need some friendly concern
So to this handy helper you might want to turn!"
The Gift: "The Hangover Cookbook" by Milton Crawford – a witty and helpful pocket-sized book of recipes & cures.
Tag 5: "When you've adopted a chapter to cure ya
It's time perhaps for a loud 'Hallelujah!"
The Gift: A CD of Handel's "Messiah" – including the Hallelujah chorus.
3 – Flying the Nest Bauble Collection
If you have young children, take them to buy a special Christmas decoration each year. By the time they are ready to leave for university, college or fly the nest for good they will have their own set of ornaments for their own Christmas tree. Each year, take a photo of the youngster holding the new bauble and print it out. Create an album and write details of where the decoration was bought, with whom and on what day. In years to come you will have a magical book of memories.
4 – Advent Crackers
This alternative to a conventional Advent calendar is a cracking idea for youngsters. Buy a couple of boxes of inexpensive crackers, 24 small foil-wrapped chocolate treats and/or the same number of tiny trinkets. Open up one end of the cracker and upgrade the contents with one of your foil-wrapped chocolate pieces and/or one of the trinket gifts, like key rings, small decorations and mini sweet tins. If you wish, put in your own poem or trivia question on a small piece of paper. Close up that end once again and tie ribbon around it, making a big enough loop to hang it over a door handle. Repeat the process with all 24 crackers. Number 24 pieces of card or paper: 1 to 24. Stick a number on each of the crackers. Hang cracker number one from a door handle of a child's room as they sleep on November 30th, ready for them to greet the first day of December with a bang when they awake. Make sure any pets are out of earshot when the crackers are pulled.
5 – Visit a Local Pop-up Ice Skating Rink
Round up family and friends and get your skates on. More towns and cities are creating ice rinks in local parks, town squares or shopping areas over the Christmas period. Children will love ice-skating and should take to it quickly. For first-time adults, it is a longer way to fall. But if you hold on to the sides – or a skating friend who can stay upright – you will gain confidence. If you are a bit delicate, then stay off the skates, get on the mulled wine and watch a few others take a spin. The festive atmosphere alone will make it all worth it.
6 – Random Acts of Kindness Day
Christmas is a great time to think of others so why not have a day sprinkled with acts of random kindness and get family, friends and neighbours to join in. It can be anything from checking on an elderly neighbour to letting a mother with children and a mountain of shopping go in front of you in the supermarket. One of our team did this last year. The look on the woman's face was priceless. She said it restored her faith in human kind. You might not quite achieve that standard of recognition, but it's certainly worth a try.
7 – British Bake Off Day
Deriving inspiration from inside the tent of "The Great British Bake Off", challenge family or friends to a cook-off. Choose a festive dish and gather with your 'rivals' to prepare it – in your kitchen or theirs. All dig in afterwards for the big taste test. Winning adult dish wins a bottle of bubbly – a selection box for the young champ.
8 – Visit a Christmas Market
These have been a tradition for many years on the European continent, but have become ever more popular on British shores in recent years. The most famous of all the Christmas markets is in Nuremburg in Germany and Krakow in Poland also holds an iconic market. But if a weekend abroad isn't on your radar, arrange to meet family or friends at your local Christmas market to view the crafts and multitude of stalls, taste the sausages and glug the gluhwein.
9 – Create a Magical Movie Night
The options here are plentiful. Watch the Christmas classic "It's a Wonderful Life" and celebrate your own life and loved ones by cracking open a bottle of champagne and toasting your blessings. Watch "Home Alone" (maybe I & II) with your family while eating cheese pizza and drinking Coca Cola. Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister is never happier in these movies than when he's eating "a whole cheese pizza just for me." His cousin Fuller drinks so much Coke that he's a bit of a bed-wetter. Actually, maybe you should go light on the Coke. Is "The Grinch" more to your liking? Watch the cartoon version and Jim Carrey's live action version in a double bill while eating bowls of popcorn and homemade cookies with green icing. For the grown-ups, a cheeky Sauvignon Blanc should ensure there is no 'Grinchiness'.
10 – Make Pinecone Garlands
Collect as many pine cones as you can find on a winter walk through the woods, which will be an enjoyable pursuit with your family and friends. At the same time, gather a few small cuttings from the pine trees – each piece just a few centimetres long. Using a length of garden twine, tie a knot around the top of a pinecone and then tie a knot around a pine cutting. Repeat the process until you have a garland long enough to hang on the tree or to drape across a banister, bed headboard or window. You can put any surplus pinecones in a bowl with pot pourri.
11 – Father Christmas Footprints
In the last few Christmases, there have been Santa-sized boot prints found around fireplaces all over the country. There's just been a gentle dusting of white stuff outlining the prints – proof that Father Christmas had visited. Of course, this has to be snow from his boots and not, as has been foolishly suggested, talcum powder sprinkled around the stencil of a boot-print. There have been reports of reindeer oats, containing magic stardust glitter, being found in the general vicinity as well. Again, further proof Father Christmas and his reindeer friends have dropped by. Adults everywhere, you know what to do!
12 – The 24 Books of Christmas
This idea can be adopted for adults and children alike. Wrap 24 books in Christmas paper. They might be books you already own, an entirely new collection or a combination of both. Number two-dozen gift tags from 1 to 24 and attach to the wrapped books. Put them in order in a rectangular basket or container, with number one at the front and number 24 at the back. On December 1st open the first book and make that your reading material for the day. Continue the process through December until the 24th, when our suggested read is the classic "'Twas the Night Before Christmas".
This is straightforward enough for youngsters, with so many children's books to choose from that can be read in one, short bedtime burst. Think of books like "The Gruffalo"; "The Gruffalo's Child"; "Room on the Broom"; "Father Christmas Needs a Wee"; "The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas" and "The Dinosaur Who Pooped Christmas". You can also include the enchanting books from our original stories section. Make certain you have enough stories for the collection of 24 well before December. Even if the books are not new, children will enjoy the unwrapping process – more an unveiling process really – and have fun guessing what that night's bedtime story might be. For adults, bite-size books are the key: the kind of work you can easily digest in one sitting at night's end. Carol Ann Duffy's collection is perfect. The Poet Laureate has delivered a lovely series of Christmas poetry pamphlets in recent years entitled "The Twelve Poems of Christmas" and also "Bethlehem"; "The Christmas Truce"; "Another Night Before Christmas"; "Wenceslas: A Christmas Poem" and "Mrs. Scrooge: A Christmas Tale". Other books for your consideration might be: "At Christmas Time" by Anton Chekhov, "The Christmas Box" by Richard Paul Evans and "The Fir Tree" by Hans Christian Andersen.
Once the books are wrapped, shuffle them before you add the tags. That way you (or the person for whom you're creating this experience) won't know what book you'll be reading each evening until the wrapping has been torn off – so it's a surprise whether or not the books are new. You can stick number 24 on "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" from the outset if you want to guarantee that's your Christmas Eve read.
13 – Gift Cards to Buy Time
Include note-cards in Christmas stockings, sacks or envelopes offering the priceless gift of time to the youngsters in your life. Write something like this on the cards: "Stay up 30 extra minutes before bedtime"; "One late-night pass to stay up to watch the match" or "An hour of computer games after school". You could even make it a Monopoly-style 'Get Out of Jail Free' card with words like: "Get out of cleaning your room for a week". It is then up to the youngsters when they produce the cards to their best advantage. This could work both ways if you encourage your children to write IOU gift cards to you for your stockings on which they spell out their intentions, like: "IOU one free car wash" for Dad or "IOU breakfast in bed" for Mum.
Elf Helper: Also visit our pages on Christmas Birthdays and Coping With Christmas (in particular the loss & bereavement section) for ideas you might want to bring into your holiday season and continue as family traditions.
14 – Pound Shop Presents
We are not suddenly turning Scrooge-like and tasteless – it's just a bit of inexpensive fun and a test of ingenuity. If you are gathering as a group of family and/or friends, arrange it so that each person attending the festive bash has to buy gifts for everyone else from one of the many pound shops in the land. If there are six of you, for example, that's five gifts for a fiver or less. Wrap each gift and attach nametags. Within the wrapping, include a Post-it size note explaining why that gift fits the recipient. Each person takes it in turn to hand out his/her presents. What kind of magic have they conjured up with their fiver? How well do they really know you? Have they bought you glue sticks when you've always been a sticky tape person? You'll remember that next year! Oh yes, you'll get 'em back! Laughs – or maybe groans – should flow readily. This might not be workable on Christmas Day itself, when there is so much other serious unwrapping going on, but it could be a fun thing to do as a warm-up for the big day.
15 – Pocket Prize Pyjamas
It is a tradition across vast swathes of the western world: you have to receive new pyjamas at Christmas. That can also mean a new dressing gown and a new pair of slippers as well. Keep that delightful tradition going, of course, but add a twist by delivering a pocket prize surprise. In the pocket of a child's pyjama top you might want to slip a final note from Father Christmas: "Sleep well young one this magical Christmas Eve – by the time morning comes I'll have delivered your dreams. Love, Father Christmas". Perhaps in a dressing gown pocket you can put a tiny guardian angel ornament they can place under their pillow – or an angel-themed tree decoration they can hang above their bed. And if you don't already own it, buy a book called "The Pajama Elves" (American spelling) by Hayden Edwards to complement the whole PJ package.
16 – Pantomime Time is Post-Christmas
After all the excitement of the build-up to Christmas, then the explosion of delight and delirium on the day itself, there is the almost inevitable comedown. At least we in the UK are fortunate enough to have Boxing Day to keep the festivities and over-indulging going a little longer, unlike our American cousins. They are straight back to work on December 26th. We also have the quintessentially British tradition of pantomime. Shows will run into the New Year. So prevent a post-Christmas lull and book a group outing to a local pantomime (or maybe a Christmas concert) in that week in between Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Even if adults are back at work, this is still something that can be achieved in the evening. It will give everyone something to look forward to beyond Christmas and bring you all together in fun and celebration once more.
17 – Easter Egg Hunt Gone Christmassy
Why should Easter have all the hunts? Christmas can deliver a pretty darn special treasure hunt of its own, given half a chance. Wrap and hide some fun and festive trinkets – inside the house and even outside if the weather is cold, crisp and kind. Write clues on Post-it notes or print out more elaborate ones if you have time. Here are a couple of examples: "Start where you lay your head to sleep – but be careful where you creep." This piece of treasure could be tucked just behind the bottom of a bedpost. That's where the second clue can be found that reads: "Curtains hang at the windows but also in this place – somewhere you might brush your teeth and wash your mucky face." The second treasure can then be discovered near the shower curtain. And so the treasure hunt can continue. Maybe conclude the hunt with Kinder Egg gifts: a nod to Easter. Oversee proceedings so everyone involved has a chance to win a piece of treasure. It isn't a bad idea to have a couple of gifts hidden in one place and an extra little something in your pocket ready to surreptitiously hand to the crestfallen.
18 – What Santa Delivers He Can Take Away
Have your children put old or unwanted toys and games in a Santa sack ready for collection on Christmas Eve. Father Christmas will replace old with new and you will de-clutter. Make certain the toys are of a good quality so they can be 'delivered by Santa' to a charity shop in the New Year.
19 – Take 15 Minutes Out for a Special Gift Exchange
Take just a few minutes of time on Christmas Eve night for a special gift exchange with your partner or a cherished loved one. No kids, no noise, no interruptions, just a wonderful moment to share. This way you get to savour your present and fully appreciate the look of delight on the face of the person receiving your gift.
20 – Make a Meal of It on Christmas Eve
Christmas Day might be the main event in terms of turkey and all the trimmings, but Christmas Eve is a special day as well and deserves its own culinary delights. Wouldn't it be wonderful to make something delicious and memorable on Christmas Eve and replicate it year after year? The cooking smells that fill the house that day will create a memory and whenever you get a waft of that lovely, home-cooked goodness in the future you will be magically transported back to that first time. The mother of one of our team always cooked a mouth-watering pork joint on Christmas Eve and carved it on slabs of white bread. 'Pork Butties' became the Christmas Eve tradition – chunks of crackling on the side and a glass of something fizzy. Lemonade in the formative years became Asti Spumante in later years and now its full-on, hardcore champagne. The smell of the pork joint cooking is an integral part of Christmas to him and his family.
21 – Visit Father Christmas and Snap the Family Photo
Find a photo-friendly Father Christmas. He could be in a shopping mall, wandering around a garden centre or in his Lapland base. Wherever you find him, gather all the family around and have a group photograph taken. It is ever so cute to see children with him, clambering on his knee and making their innocent gift requests. But what's wrong with older kids and positively aged adults getting in on the act? Get Gran on his knee, Mum and Dad either side of him, the children at the front and a tall-ish elf to take the picture. Every year, aim to copy that exact photo: same poses, same smiles (or sulks), same poses – just different ages. We know of two brothers who've got 30 such pictures…and they're now 35. What an album they must own.
22 – Let's Go Camping
The Christmas tree lights are twinkling away in all their glory and the living room never looked so festive. What a shame you have to turn the lights out and turn your back on the tree as you head upstairs to bed. Or do you? We suggest a family sleepover beside the beautiful tree, keeping the lights on all night. With LED lights these days, it's safe. Get out the sleeping bags and fleece blankets, make flasks of hot chocolate and barbeque-flavoured food and tell Christmas stories by the light of flickering candles and a roaring fire. If you don't have a fireplace, buy one of those virtual log fire DVDs so you can see dancing flames on your TV screen at least. It's winter, but you can carry on camping.
23 – Volunteer Your Services to Charity
Aim to give something back to those less fortunate this Christmas and every Christmas. Donate tinned food to a nearby food bank and toys to a local toy-drive, volunteer at a soup kitchen for the homeless or visit a home for the elderly and take homemade Christmas treats for the residents. Get the children involved in the packing of tins and baking of biscuits and inform them why their actions are so valuable and important.
24 – The Gift That Keeps On Giving
An adult has to start the ball rolling with this idea. He or she has to buy a gift – the key being it has to be something in which other gifts can be stored or around which another gift can be wrapped. For example, the chosen present might be a wooden music box. A smaller gift is placed inside the music box and the entire thing is wrapped. When family and/or friends gather, everyone has to put their name in a Santa hat. The gift giver selects one name at random and that person receives the gift. It could be a beautiful tree decoration suitable for all ages and genders. The recipient keeps whatever is in the music box forever but only keeps the music box itself until next Christmas, when they become the new gift giver. They might then choose to wrap Christmas-themed oven-gloves around the box and put just a token chocolate treat inside the box. It is their choice. And so the gift keeps on giving.
25 – An Amazon Adventure – the Search for More Gifts
Just when you think all the gift buying is done, an Amazon adventure comes along. Buy everyone in your immediate family a gift certificate from amazon.co.uk and print them off. There are several Christmas designs to choose from on the website. Choose a night in between Christmas Day and New Year's Day and gather together around a computer or tablet, then spend your vouchers together. You can help each other decide what to select. Did Santa forget something off your Christmas list? Now could be the time to plug that gap. Do this year-on-year and there will be a frisson of gift excitement in the air for you all beyond Christmas Day.
Elf Helper: Got youngsters in your life? Consider a book and toy combination known as "The Elf on the Shelf". It was introduced in the United States in 2005, having been imagined over a cup of tea by Carol Aebersold and her daughter Chanda Bell. The scout elf sits on a shelf in the house to keep an eye on children and reports back to Santa Claus if they have been naughty or nice. Each elf obtains its magic when the new owner names it. There's a registration certificate and all. After that, there are two rules in play: the scout elf must not be touched or he might lose his magic – and he only comes to life when everyone else in the house is asleep. There's a whole website of products at elfontheshelf.com.


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Glassdoor.com just released their annual list of the highest paid jobs for 2016. And by that, they mean "traditional" jobs, because the REAL good paying stuff like "Vine superstar" , "Real Housewife" and "on air radio talent" are nowhere to be found.
Here are the 10 highest paying jobs this year. And I'll say this, yeah, you should think about trying to get one. But they all either require a LOT of extra education, or working your way up to upper-middle management.
1. Physician, average salary of $180,000.
2. Lawyer, $144,500.
3. Research and development manager, $142,120.
4. Software development manager, $132,000.
5. Pharmacy manager, $130,000.
6. Strategy manager, $130,000.
7. Software architect, $128,250.
8. Integrated circuit designer engineer, $127,500.
9. IT manager, $120,000.
10. Solutions architect, $120,000. That's a job where you create solutions for users and clients.
Story originally posted by Glassdoor

subset: commoncrawl


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Since you're here, you probably already know that you need an ESTA.
Yes, it's annoying and nobody loves travel bureaucracy. But, it has to be done. And just the fact that you're reading this article means you're already making the process easier for yourself!
Read on to familiarize yourself with the ESTA questions that you will be asked, and why, so that you can be prepared when the time comes.
Table of Content
So, What is an ESTA?
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization is a necessary document for nationals of countries within the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) who want to travel to the United States. It permits travel without the need to go through the full-on process of applying for an actual visa which saves everyone a lot of time and money.
It is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires – whichever comes first, which means that you can travel to the U.S. for multiple 90 trips during that 2 year period.
There a few exceptions, for example:
- If you have dual citizenship or have spent time in Iraq, Iran, Syria or Sudan (since March 1, 2011),
- if you're planning to be in the U.S. for more than 90 days,
- if your reasons for travel include any study, paid work or sporting events, or
- if you're traveling overland.
Check out these exceptions in more detail here.
In general though, if you're from a VWP country, an ESTA is designed to make travel to the U.S. an easier and simpler process.
It provides just enough information for the Department of Homeland Security to ascertain whether you would be a risk to U.S. public safety, whether your travels are honest, or if you have the intention of staying or working illegally.
Most people will have no trouble with this, and the process is indeed much more simple than applying for a visa!
Most ESTA applications are approved in around 20 minutes.
However, to be safe, it is recommended that you apply at least 72 hours before you travel to avoid any last minute stress. You will not be allowed to board your flight without a valid ESTA!
It is best to apply for the ESTA today, before you make any travel arrangements.Apply for USA ESTA
What ESTA Questions will I be Asked?
That's a good question, I'm glad you asked!
Luckily for you, you're in the right place.
The broad categories of questions in the ESTA questionnaire include:
- Your Passport Details
- Your Birth Date, Birth Place and Birth Country
- Any Additional Citizenships
- Your Parents' Names
- Your Contact Details
- Your Work Details
- Travel Details
- Emergency Contact Details
- Eligibility Questions
Let's Go Into These in a Little More Detail
Provided you fulfill the basic requirements of eligibility, the most common reason for an ETSA being denied are due to mistakes made during the application process.
So, be really careful to double and triple check for any typos or incomplete fields in any of ESTA questions. It's especially important that your name is typed exactly as it appears in your passport.
Your Passport Details
This includes your full name, including any middle names, your gender as listed on your passport, and your passport number.
The date that your passport was issued, its expiry date and the country in which it was issued also need to be listed.
Your Birth Date, Birth Place and Birth Country
Also within the same category of passport details comes your date of birth, the city you were born in and your country of birth.
Any Additional Citizenships
If you have dual citizenship with another country besides the country of your passport, you also need to declare this. This is because the U.S. does not give ESTAs to people with dual nationality with either Syria, Sudan, Iraq or Iran.
You also need to declare whether you have ever been issued any kind of national identity card from a country other than the country on the passport with which you are applying.
If you are currently, or have any time in the past been a national of another country, you will be asked how you came to be a national of that country.
You will also be asked whether you are a member of the CBP Global Entry Program. If you are, you will need to provide the Membership or PASS ID number. Members of this program can pass through immigration via an automated kiosk at certain airports in the U.S.
Your Parents' Names
Your parents' full names, as listed on their passports need to be entered.
If you don't know this information, you can enter "UNKNOWN".
Your Contact Details
This section requires your residential address in your home country.
It consists of two address lines, city, state/province/region, and country.
It also calls for a telephone number and email address which is used for communicating with you over the outcome of your ESTA.
You will also need to state your marital status - whether you are single, married, or living with someone.
Your Work Details
This section requires information surrounding your employment. It calls for details of either your current or most recent employer.
These details include your job title, name of your employer, address and telephone number.
This information is partly to ensure that you intend to leave the USA at the end of your 90 day entitlement in order to return to your employment. If you don't have current employment, you may need to provide proof of onward travel or a return ticket at immigration.
Your Travel Details
This question asks you whether your ESTA is for transit purposes en route to another destination or not. If your ESTA is for transit purposes, you will be required to state the county of onward travel.
You are also required to provide some contact details for your stay while you are in the U.S. Usually this consists of a hotel address and phone number.
There are two quite similar questions: point of contact in the U.S. and address while in the U.S. In most cases you can use the same information in both fields.
You will also be asked from which airport or city you will embark upon your journey.
Emergency Contact Details
Here you are required to provide contact details for your next of kin. This includes full name, address and telephone number.
Eligibility Questions
These questions are designed to effectively profile you based on your likelihood to pose any threat to U.S. security and public safety. These are the questions that provide the Department of Homeland Security with the information they need for either approving or denying your ESTA.
They come in the form of Yes/No boxes and are as follows:
- Do you have a physical or mental disorder; or are you a drug abuser or addict; or do you currently have any of the following diseases (communicable diseases are specified pursuant to section 361(b) of the Public Health Service Act): Cholera, Diphtheria, Tuberculosis infectious, Plague, Smallpox, Yellow Fever, Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers, including Ebola, Lassa, Marburg, Crimean-Congo, Severe acute respiratory illnesses capable of transmission to other persons and likely to cause mortality?
- Have you ever been arrested or convicted for a crime that resulted in serious damage to property, or serious harm to another person or government authority?
- Have you ever violated any law related to possessing, using, or distributing illegal drugs?
- Do you seek to engage in or have you ever engaged in terrorist activities, espionage, sabotage, or genocide?
- Have you ever committed fraud or misrepresented yourself or others to obtain, or assist others to obtain, a visa or entry into the United States?
- Are you currently seeking employment in the United States or were you previously employed in the United States without prior permission from the U.S. government?
- Have you ever been denied a U.S. visa you applied for with your current or previous passport, or have you ever been refused admission to the United States or withdrawn your application for admission at a U.S. port of entry?
- Have you ever stayed in the United States longer than the admission period granted to you by the U.S. government?
- Have you traveled to, or been present in Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia or Yemen on or after March 1, 2011?
These questions are pretty strict so if you answer YES to any of them, you will most likely not be permitted to enter the U.S.
If you fail to answer any of the questions truthfully, you will also likely be refused future applications.
The Optional Social Media Question
This question is a fairly recent addition to the ESTA Questionnaire, and it's an interesting one.
It's actually been quite controversial due to the potential privacy issues it raised.
The question consists of a drop-down list where you can select which options apply to you. These are: ASKfm, Facebook, Flickr, GitHub, Google+, Instagram, JustPaste.it, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Twitter, Vine, VKontakte (VK), YouTube, and 'Other'.
You are then asked to provide your username for each of the profiles that you hold.
The main reason for this question is for extra terrorism detection, as social media has been used in relation to coordinating terrorist attacks in the past. If your social media platforms demonstrate any link or your sympathizing with any terrorist groups, you could be denied entry to the U.S.
However, the fact that this question is optional, and the extra time it would take each individual to answer the question if they have multiple accounts, does make you wonder how many people would bother and consequently how effective this strategy is.
While the Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that they will not refuse entry to someone based on them not providing their social media details, many people will choose to answer it to be on the safe side and avoid extra questioning from immigration.
If you do choose to answer this question, your details are kept on record for 3 years and then stored in archives for an extra 12 years. During this time, law enforcement agencies can access it and share it with other countries as they see fit.
Nevertheless, the question is there, so now that you are armed with this information, you can choose whether or not you answer it!
It is in your best interest to apply for an ESTA right away!Apply for USA ESTA
The Final Steps
Once all of the ESTA questions are completed, you will be asked to sign a waiver which means you can't appeal any decisions made surrounding your ESTA application.
You will also need to declare that all of the information you provided is true and correct to the best of your knowledge and belief. Not signing this will guarantee your ESTA being denied.
You will receive an email confirmation of your ESTA status upon completion of your application.
On the day of travel, you will need to make sure that you are traveling with the same biometric passport with which you applied for your ESTA. It's a good idea to have a record of your ESTA confirmation, but the airline should have automatic access to this.
How do I apply for an ESTA?
So now that the ESTA questions are out of the way, how do you actually apply for an ESTA?
Good news! It's very easy! Simply follow the instructions on this page. But, be sure to get this all completed at least 72 hours before you travel to avoid any inconvenient or stressful delays.
Will an ESTA guarantee entry?
Even with a valid ESTA, there is still the chance that you could be denied entry to the U.S. The border officials have the right to turn people away based on their attitude even if everything in their application is ok.
For this reason, it's important to be calm and respectful while answering any questions.
As most people are denied due to making mistakes in their application, most can reapply again being careful not to make the same mistake. However, if there is a legitimate reason for your ESTA being denied, applying again will likely not change the outcome.
You may need to look into options for a Visa application that requires more information but will be able to communicate your situation better to U.S. Security.
So, to sum it all up, the ESTA questions are not too taxing and can be completed fairly quickly. But they need to be completed accurately and truthfully, and at least 72 hours before your departure! Oh, and don't forget your biometric passport!


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Wondering what #TeamE7 is currently loving? Every month we'll be sharing what our new faves are from beauty products to restaurants and everything in between. In a huge city like TO, there are always new things popping up and we want you to know about it ASAP! We love that our Contributing Editors constantly has their fingers on the pulse of what's new and happening in the city in so many ways and this is our way of sharing that knowledge with you.
Keep reading for the 7 new products and places that are on our September Must List!
Gracie Carroll, Editor-In-Chief
(Kitchen-Aid Mini Mixer, $449 and Vegetable Sheet Cutter Attachment, $149)
"Top of the line kitchen appliances are my weakness but counter space is something that's seriously lacking at #CasaGC. KitchenAid's Mini Mixer is a dream come true for any bakers and cooks who are short on space in the kitchen. It's smaller, lighter and more compact without compromising its performance. And for any veggie, gluten-free or paleo enthusiasts out there, you may be just as excited as I am about the new Vegetable Sheet Cutter Attachment that will help you create the most beautiful sheets of fresh zucchini for a guilt-free lasagna!" – @GracieCarroll
Blair Stutz, Assistant Editor
(Hinge App, free download)
"With 'I miss you' season just around the corner and your local f*ckboy trying to sneak back into the rotation, it's time to meet someone new. If you've had enough of Tinder, and Bumble isn't getting you anywhere, you need to try Hinge. I love that you fill out your profile answering random questions that get the convo going straight away so gone are the days of being inundated with a sea of 'hey what's up' messages. This dating app isn't exactly new but I've just hopped on the Hinge train and I'm hooked!" – @BlairAlex
Christina Gonzales, Contributing Editor
"As much as I love love love summer and all the crazy heat that comes with it, there is just something about fall jackets that I can't get enough of. I love that a gorgeous jacket can take a bleak outfit to a whole other level. This year I'm stocking up on more (don't judge!) and I'm eyeing this super cool buttoned wool jacket from Mango. It's super bright, fun, and this jacket will totally stand out in the sea of neutral tones we often see come Autumn." – @xtina_gonzales
Shaeleigh Afton, Head Of Design
(L'Intervalle White Cowboy Boots – $248)
"I've been flirting with the idea of a cowboy boot for a while and with a lot of western inspired pieces happening this season I've decided to take the plunge on this pair. I will likely wear them with everything from black wax skinnies to boho dresses. L'intervalle is a Canadian brand that makes their shoes in Spain so I love to support a Canadian company. Their prices are also really fair so you can still try trends that are quality made." – @shaeleighafton_
Kait Fowlie, Contributing Editor
(Khus + Khus Premo Hand + Nail + Foot – $50)
"I love this product for my feet and elbows because it's got CBD extract which is super healing for skin, and I'm obsessed with CBD oils right now. It feels gorgeous going on and it's got this super herbal smell – like, mimosa and rosemary. Plus the company, Khus + Khus, is run by a really dope woman doing amazing work in the cannabis industry." – @kait_fowlie
Ama Scriver, Contributing Editor
(The Aviary Brewpub; Photo from BlogTO)
"The Aviary Brewpub just opened up in the Canary District and it's a sports pub that serves wings and tater tots. Plus, Josh Charbonneau who used to manage Schmaltz Appetizing is the head chef here and he is kind of the best so you know the food is gonna be good!" – @amascriver
Alexandra Donaldson, Contributing Editor
(Dr. Roebuck's Uluru Purifying Mask, $36)*
"Lately, I've been keeping my skin-care regime pretty streamlined, and I have to say my skin had responded really well to a consistent and simple routine. That being said, I'm a huge fan of face masking and it's something I still incorporate pretty regularly. This month I've been all over the new masks from Australian brand Dr. Roebuck's. The brand isn't new, but they've rebranded and some of the products are definitely new including four masks. My current favourite is the Uluru red clay purifying mask. It's great for revitalizing my face after a particularly sweaty day (when my pores are most likely to get clogged), but I've also found it's great at soothing mosquito bites too!" – @alxdonaldson
*Available at the end of September at Shoppers Drug Mart
Happy Shopping!


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Creative Dance Classes In Ellis Hall Letterfrack
Starting Wednesday January 15th 2020@ 11am
Creative Movement to enhance physical and emotional wellbeing
Cost €5
Enjoy a cuppa afterwards
Wear loose clothing and light indoor footwear.
Everyone welcome
Supported by Forum and Galway Sports Partnership with Caitriona Nic Ghiollaphádraig For More information Call 087 9633970
Sample for the first time or return to the practice of the 5 Rhythms Movement Meditation of Gabrielle Roth. You will have the opportunity to deepen your sense of rooting, presence, embodiment, movement and breath. These sessions will be a place of movement, music and dance. You will have the opportunity in each session to tune in with your natural essential sense of self as it turns up on the day. This can be at times deeply moving, catalytic, transforming and very ordinary.
The sessions will begin with a time for stretching and preparing yourself for the 5 Rhythms Wave. There will be some basic teaching at each session. If it's your first time, I warmly welcome you. I encourage you to thoroughly enjoy yourself and to totally engage with what is on offer. Find out whether this is for you.
Dates: January 16th & 30th, February 13th & 27th, March 12th, April 2nd, 16th & 30th 2020
Time: 10.30am to 12.30pm
Venue: The Quay Community Centre, Westport, Co. Mayo.
Cost: €20 per class
To book: By Pay Pal on www.embodiedbrain.ie or cheque made payable to Caitriona Nic Ghiollaphadraig, Aughrismore, Cleggan, Co. Galway H71RX03.
For further details email firstname.lastname@example.com


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Universal's Superstar Parade and Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories will officially grand open on May 8th! These two BRAND NEW entertainment experiences are the next chapter in Universal's 'Year to Be Here' after the re-launch of The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man earlier this year.
However there is still no date set for the opening of Descpicable Me: Minion Mayhem, we're still told it will arrive in Summer 2012!
As always keep checking back for all the latest news and information!
Don't forget to follow us on Twitter @FloridayUK and like us on Facebook FloridayUK


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Login to Axmen.com
Login Info
or login
A radio with a story
It's not the things that move us as much as their story...
I was impressed when a customer offerred the Museum a mint, 1921 Audiola Radio. I was way more impressed by who had owned it.
The man was Truman Deede and he joined the Marines in 1939. He was stationed at Corregidor when it fell to the Japanese. That brought him to the infamous Bataan Death March. He and many survivors of the march were loaded on ships and sent to Japan as POW slave labor. Truman spent three and a half years in Nagasaki working in a coal mine with about 700 other Americans. One day they were preparing to go underground when B-29's flew over. They dove for cover as the world turned bluish white. Truman survived the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and returned to the US weighing 87 pounds.
Oh - this was his radio. A 1921 Audiola crystal set. This was the first radio made by what would later become Audiovox.
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Plan a "Lazy Days of Sundays" outing to our Creative Cottage and create a pair of Mixed Media Books using our IOD specialty products. Gain skills and confidence during this hands-on workshop where you will learn the basics of casting moulds, stamping and more. With your new skills, you will be able to embellish just about anything from furniture to cabinetry and yes, even walls. Using different mediums and finishing techniques, we will re-purpose hardcover books for you to take home and enjoy. Cost $40 Sunday, February 24th from 1 pm-4 pm All Materials are included.
Advanced Class Registration and pre-payment are required.


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DIY: Lightweight Railroad Tie Mantel
One of the DIY projects we tackled much earlier than expected was our fireplace mantel. After we gray-washed the walls we knew we wouldn't be able to live with waiting on lime-washing the bricks, but we thought we could handle the dated mantel for a while. Well, that didn't happen.
DIY: How to Refinish a China Cabinet
We hunted for a china cabinet for two years and yes, I know how ridiculous that sounds. It is an unfortunate truth that our china – a not particularly fine 1920s half-set purchased from a vintage shop in the Midwest for a song – sat in a box, untouched, since before we even moved into this house. (more…)
DIY: How to Turn A Window into A Mirror
Our house, built in 1960, has many large rooms, an attention to detail in trim work, and a certain charm that new-built houses tend to lack. That said, it is missing the grand foyer I've so loved in many homes. The ceiling opens into the second floor above the staircase, but the rest of the foyer appears rather small. It should come as no surprise, then, that on our first tour of the house – when we already knew this was the one – we decided a mirror on the largest wall would help the room feel lighter.


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LGBT Leadership Update: Rising Corporate Activism and Executive Pride
With June, we turn to Pride Month on the diversity calendar, so let's focus our spotlight to recent progress on advancing LGBT inclusive business cultures and LGBT executive leadership.
Corporate Activism Defends LGBT Rights
Recently, state law setbacks to the LGBT community (and human rights) have one positive side effect: they've led to a collective backlash from companies and employers who have united to defend LGBT rights.
Repeatedly, companies have been asserting to state lawmakers that upholding LGBT rights is a necessary condition for attracting and maintaining the best talent for businesses.
Since North Carolina passed an anti-discrimination law that failed to protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, over 200 business leaders – including CEOs and executives of major companies such as Apple, Bank of America, Citibank, Ernst & Young, Goldman Sachs, Facebook, IBM, Microsoft, and more – have signed an open letter to the state governor calling for a repeal to the "HB 2" law, stating that "such laws are bad for our employees and bad for business".
Canceled plans by Paypal, Deutsche Bank and performance artists are estimated to have cost the state "tens of millions in dollars of losses". Meanwhile, companies also joined in activism with an open letter to state leaders in Mississippi to repeal "HB 1523", which gives individuals or organizations license to discriminate against LGBT people based on religious justification.
In the Harvard Business Review, author Andrew Winston points out that business has been ahead of the public curve when it comes to LGBT rights. Winston notes that over half of Fortune 500 companies were offering domestic partner benefits ten years ago when only 35% of Americans supported gay marriage (and 55% opposed it), and that today corporate adoption of anti-discrimination policies based on gender identity (66% of companies) outpaces public acceptance of transgender rights.
In the case of LGBT rights, Winston argues the moral imperative of non-discrimination in the workplace and the economic motivation to thrive with diverse customers are so understandably linked that business is "pro-actively influencing societal norms."
LGBT Diversity Associated with Stock Performance
Influencing policy is part of the equation, but building an LGBT-inclusive culture is another thing. When LGBT employees do not feel free to be themselves, when they feel they have to "hide in plain sight", it's proven costly not only to employees but to business.
When diversity is celebrated and genuinely fostered, not only individual productivity but company productivity seems to benefit. According to a recent report by Credit Suisse, the stock of companies that exhibit LGBT diversity outperform the stock of companies that do not.
LGBT diversity was factored by companies that have openly LGBT leaders and senior management, are voted as leading LGBT employers, or have many employees in local LGBT business networks.
The LGBT basket of 270 companies outperformed the MSCI ACWI by 3% annually since 2010, as well as outperforming a custom basket of companies in US, Europe and Australia by 1.4% annually.
The correlation of LGBT diversity with performance is important, since according to the report, 72% of senior LGBT executives say they have not come out at work, which is not surprising when it's still legal to fire someone based on sexual orientation in over twenty states and based on gender identity in over thirty states.
Celebrating LGBT Executive Role Models
Celebrating diversity at the very top, for the first time in the three years since its introduction, a woman topped the 2015 list of the 100 Most Powerful LGBT Executives in the World, named by OUTstanding and the Financial Times.
Inga Beale is the first female CEO of Lloyd's of London and openly bi-sexual. As she told The Guardian, "It's not about me. It's about what you do for other people. For me, it's so important because you need these role models."
According to OUTstanding as reported in Entreprenuer, recognition is critical since closeted LGBT employees are 70% more likely to leave a company within the first three years.
The list of LGBT power executives, for which activism outside of the workplace is also taken into account, included several from the finance world, including Accenture's Sander van't Noordende (10), Citi's Bob Annibale (28), Goldman Sach's Gavin Wills (36), and PwC's Andy Woodfield (78) and Mark Gossington (82).
Speaking to the inclusive culture fostered at Accenture, Sander van't Noordende has said, "Only when people are comfortable in their workplace will they be able to get the best out of themselves," advising individuals to not only value their difference, but also find a company that values their difference too.
Promoting LGBT C-Suite Leadership
Stanford is also stepping up to encourage aspiring LGBT executives to value their difference. Stanford Graduate School of Business introduced the Stanford LGBT Executive Leadership Program, which will first take place in late July 2016 and is accepting applications until June 24th.
With a focus on fostering authentic and impactful senior LGBT leadership and network building, Stanford states, "This is the only Executive Education program of its kind offered by a leading business school to address the significant gap in leadership for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender people in the C-suite."
According to program co-director Tom Wurster, the one-week training is ideally aimed at "the LGBT executive with a minimum of 10 years professional experience and 5 years of management experience who is preparing to take on more significant leadership roles."
More visible leadership within more significant leadership roles – out and proud and C-Suite is the call.


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Product Description
In partnership with the Rabbit Welfare Fund Association Home & Roost are proud to announce the 6ft Chartwell Double. The 6ft Chartwell Double Luxury Rabbit Hutch is the biggest mass manufactured hutch on the market. The Size of the 6ft Chartwell Double dwarfs every hutch in its class and offers huge value for money. With its spacious two floor dwelling, it's ideal for one or even two Rabbits or Guinea Pigs. Manufactured in the UK using 14mm Scandinavian timber the features include a cosy arched divided bedding area on the upper floor, a central wire panel to hang a water bottle, a removable kick-board for easy cleaning and a ridged ramp with a side safety panel for access to the lower recreational run area. The integral legs lift the hutch off the ground to prevent rising damp and ensure adequate air circulation. The Chartwell Double 6ft Hutch has been weather proofed with an animal safe, water based wood preservative to protect from rain and sun deterioration. The Chartwell Rabbit Run has been purposely designed to fit both the Chartwell Single Hutch and the Chartwell Double Hutch. Hand made in the UK using 14mm Scandinavian timber and 1″x ½" galvanised wire, the Chartwell Rabbit Run creates a quality environment for your treasured pet to exercise. A hinged door is positioned on the top of the run, allowing easy access for opening and closing the hutch doors. For durability, your rabbit run is weather proofed using animal safe, water based, wood preservative.
- 🇬🇧 BRITSH MANUFACTURING: We're a proud member of the Made In Britain Campaign and are the only supplier of Rabbit Hutches and pet cages that manufacture's in Britain. Based in Kent, a family run business that has been operating in the pet industry for the 40 years. We pride ourselves on supplying the highest quality products for you and your pets.
- 🐰 GIVE YOUR PETS THE GIFT OF SPACE: Together a whopping 48 feet of floor space. Unlike other lesser Rabbit Hutches on the market, our rabbit cage gives your pets at least 2ft of headroom and 2ft of floor depth. The amount of space that your pets have is imperative to their happiness.
- 💪 KEEP PREDATORS OUT: Our 6ft Chartwell Double Guinea Pig Hutch is the only hutch on the market fitted with fox proof wire. We know how important your pets are and it's only right that we give you the opportunity to keep them not only happy in their new home but safe from Fox's and other garden predators.
- 🗑 CLEANING IS SIMPLE: The best way to prolong the life of your new large rabbit hutch and keep your pets safe from illness and diseases is to make sure their home is regularly cleaned. With our large hutches, nothing could be simpler, just open the doors and remove the cleaning bar from the top level and sweep the waste into a container or bin.
- ❤ HAPPY PETS: We guarantee you and your pets will love your new home, but because we're a family run business and manufacture ourselves in the UK any problems or issues you might have been covered under our guarantee and can easily be sorted out. We want you to have complete confidence in our product that's why we stop at nothing to make sure both you and your pets couldn't be happier with your new hutch.


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About The Dream Slot
Absolutely everyone in this world dreams, someone does it every day, and for some people dreams are just a matter of mood. Sometimes it's so nice to be immersed in a carefree dream world where there are no problems and whole life is seen through the rose-colored glasses, and you just wish that it could last endlessly . You can dream not just in a dream or in reality, but also during the game on a thematic video slot, presented by High5Games. The slot machine is called "The Dream", which fully reveals the thematic focus of the story. This is a romantic story about dreams, which is suitable for the widest possible audience of players. Despite the rather "girly" design of the game, there are absolutely no joking bonuses and payout ratios, so nothing will distract you from the gameplay.. "The Dream" slot will help players not only to dream about incredible prize rewards, but also to realize these dreams and make you feel like you live in a dream.
Choose Casino to Play The Dream for Real Money
The Dream Preview
Description of the the Design of the Slot
The developers and designers of the High5Games corporation always approach the visual presentation of branded gaming machines with particular responsibility. Thanks to this approach, every game from this provider is very rich, colorful and atmospheric. "The Dream" gaming machine was not an exception, because it will give you an airy, light game, the same as the dreams themselves. In order to maximally correspond to the subject,however, it was decided to use the pink-violet color scheme when designing the main interface of the gaming machine. Back background is an image from the above tint and lights, reminiscent of distant stars. On the top edge is very beautifully represented the logo of the slot on the background of golden floral curls. The playing field itself is also made in pink-violet shades, however, it's darker in a few tones. Such a move allows the five reels to be displayed in more contrast, and it is a lot more easier for the users to concentrate their attention on the rotations and combinations.
Description of the Interface of the Slot
On five available reels there can be up to four dozen lines for payments. The user himself indicates the value of the linear indicator, in parallel with what on the field the schemes of all activated paths are displayed for the formation of prize coincidences. Under the drums, just like in most cases, you can find a control panel with several main buttons is displayed. Among such buttons you will find a key of lines, rates and start of reels. The last action can be carried out both manually and automatically. Auto mode allows you to minimize user concerns, since the machine itself will monitor the process of stopping and starting the coils. By changing the number of lines, the rate indicator also changes in parallel. It is possible to control the volume of the sound. There is also a key that activates information about the coefficients for payments, symbols, special signs and rules of the game process.
Description of the Gameplay of the Slot
The gameplay of "The Dream" slot machine will be very simple and easy to understand for anyone, including beginners.There are only two main settings that are directly proportional to each other. It's all about lines and rates. By specifying the value of these values, you can proceed to the main game process. Besides, "The Dream" gaming machine has an another unique feature, that is about doubling the symbols. All thematic heroes of this video slot are among such characters. Appearing in double on the playing field, one position on the drum plays for two. Basically, what this means, is, that to complete the prize combination on the line, you will only need one such symbol. Thanks to this function, the productivity of the game increases with the intensity of the loss of winning combinations. The remaining combinations are considered beneficial if they are continuously formed on one of the active lines, the direction of formation must be strictly from left to right, otherwise in other cases the prize will not be counted.
The scatter symbol is only available on the fourth, third and second reels. This sign will help you launch seven additional free spins, if in a certain amount appear on the playing field. Also, the symbols of this slot tend to fall on the reels in a large number of doubles. If several rows are occupied by the same values, they will all form one picture by means of an animation effect. Payments from such scrolls are much more than from spins, in which one winning combination was formed.
"The Dream" gaming machine is a fairy tale in reality, since the number of opportunities for winnings that are present here is simply unbelievable. Numerous thematic characters combined with card symbols will delight you with frequent prize matches, and payout ratios will provide a positive dynamic to the balance of each user. This video slot is definitely worth a try, most of the players will find it very enjoyable.


text: Wrangler Antique Blue Denim Work Shirt $69.95 Size guide Select Size Small Medium Large X-Large XX-Large QTY 1 QTY 2 QTY 3 QTY 4 QTY 5 QTY 6 QTY 7 QTY 8 QTY 9 QTY 10 Small Medium Large X-Large XX-Large Add to Cart Description This is a men's Authentic Cowboy Cut® Work Western Shirt. It features authentic western front and back yokes and two authentic western spade flap snap pockets with snap closure. There is a Wrangler® logo ribbon label on left pocket and a pencil slot at left pocket flap. Style: MS1039W Features Long Sleeves Spread Collar Authentic Western Three Snap Cuffs One Snap Sleeve Placket Wrangler® "W" Decorative Logo Stitch on Pockets Slub Denim Materials: 100% Cotton Indigo Shipping Shipping FREE shipping on all Canadian orders over $100! Or find a location and ship your order to a Lammle's store. See full shipping details here We offer International Shipping! Click here for more information. Delivery Please allow up to 3 business days for order fulfillment out of our Calgary distribution center. Estimated domestic shipping time is 3-5 business days. All orders are shipped via Canada Post and can be tracked via the tracking number in your shipping confirmation email. Returns & Exchanges Returns Returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery, provided the item is unworn and tags are attached. Please see our returns page page for details on how to process a return. Returns are also accepted in-store, at any of our Lammle's store locations.


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The contestants of Survivor: Edge of Extinction are going to have to jump off a boat to start off season 38. It's a classic move for a show that loves to literally force players to take the plunge into a new adventure.
But what about those moments before everyone started scrambling for supplies and jumping overboard? EW was on location in Fiji for filming and can report that when the 14 new contestants first laid eyes on the four returning all-stars (Joe Anglim, Kelley Wentworth, David Wright, and Aubry Bracco) there to battle them for a million dollars, their first reaction was… applause. Lots and lots of applause. But was it genuine?
"I felt the reaction from the new players to the returning players was 100 percent genuine," says host Jeff Probst. Cheering for the competition? But why, Jeff?
"I think it comes from the fact that these are super-fans," explains the host, "and they appreciate that 'you guys are part of the reason that I'm out here playing. That I watched you play and you inspired me.' I think in the same way that somebody like Gavin is clapping to see Joe, he's also going 'I can't wait to blindside you. Because I'm a player too, brother. So watch out.'"
But that wasn't Probst's only takeaway from the marooning. He also caught a vibe off of the returning players when they stepped onto the boat, and that vibe was… fear.
"Standing close to the returning players like I was, they were nervous," reveals Probst. "Kelley, David, Aubry, and Joe all had a little bit of that [Deep inhale and exhale] 'I hope I can live up to this.' [Deep inhale and exhale] 'I hope they give me a chance.' [Deep inhale and exhale] 'I hope I'm as good as I used to be.' [Deep inhale and exhale]. So there's a lot of energy swapping there going on. Because they're the minority. 'There's only four of us. There's 14 of them, so I have to make myself invaluable.'"
According to Probst, it then becomes all about the sales pitch from the returning players on why they should stay. "This brings us back to that central, dramatic question: 'Would you really get rid of me? My tribes have won 16 challenges! You'd be a fool! Would you really get rid of me? When you're scared in the night,'" Probst says of Aubry., "'I'm the one who can tell you, so was I. Hold my hand, I'll get you through this.' Same with David. Kelley Wentworth is destined to win this game. She has so much she can teach you. Be careful, because she's destined to win."
Ah, but is Kelley destined to win this game this season? Only time will tell.
Check out Probst's thoughts on the marooning in the video above. Also make sure to enjoy our season 38 posts below. And for more Survivor scoop, follow me on Twitter @DaltonRoss.
Related posts:
- Meet the cast of Survivor: Edge of Extinction
- Survivor host Jeff Probst explains Edge of Extinction twist
- Ranking every season of Survivor
- Survivor players explain why they will win Edge of Extinction
Jeff Probst leads adventurous in the ultimate (and original) reality series.


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Following the launch of the Faster Payment System (FPS)1, our brand new mobile app "Shacom Pay" is fully activated from now on!
You can now instantly use "Shacom Pay" after you have finished registering for the service and binding your SCB bank account with your mobile number. Fund transfer simply becomes easier and more convenient!
Besides, Biometric Authentication is now available on Shacom Pay! You can logon Shacom Pay and confirm transactions via fingerprint authentication or facial recognition6, instead of entering your Mobile PIN. Download or update "Shacom Pay" now in Google Play Store or App Store to enjoy a safer and faster mobile payment experience!
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One WVU Women's Basketball star is on the move, while another is moving up.
The WNBA Draft took place on Thursday night, and F Teana Muldrow had her named called 29th overall by the Seattle Storm. As a senior, Muldrow led the Mountaineers in scoring at 18.9 points and rebounds with 8.7 per contest.
"I'm so thankful for this opportunity," Muldrow said. "I want to thank my WVU coaching staff, my teammates and Mountaineer nation for a great five years here. I think my time here truly prepared me to take the next step in my career, on and off the court. I would also like to thank coach Dan Hughes and the Seattle Storm organization for giving me the opportunity to continue pursuing my dream."
This is the third straight year a Mountaineer was selected in the WNBA Draft.
Another recent draftee, Bria Holmes, is going home. Not to Morgantown, but to New Haven, Connecticut. The Atlanta Dream traded Holmes to the Connecticut Sun where she will play in front of friends and family. She grew up in that area, and was reportedly "doing cartwheels" after she heard the announcement.
The Dream drafted Holmes with the 11th pick in the first round in 2016.
However, the Sun will have to wait to see Holmes on the court. She will miss the 2018 season as she is pregnant with her first child.
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Acre Care's group company- Innovations Unlimited endeavors towards incorporating Importance of WASH( Water, Sanitation & Health) for the benefit of the society, specially women & girl child and has been receiving well deserved accolades !!!
Our Director, Ms. Promita Sengupta with the L'Oreal Paris Femina Women Awards 2013
Ms. Promita Sengupta with the FICCI Kolkata's Aparajita Awards 2013


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RhB Lighted Signal
Instead of semaphore signals, the Rhätische Bahn uses compact electric signals along its narrow right-of-ways in the Swiss Alps.
This electric LGB model features changing red and green lights on a prototypical signal mast. Includes EPL signal drive.
For operation with LGB 51750, etc. Height 240 mm (9.4 in). Simple installation.
Can be mounted to a 150 mm straight track (10150/14150, 10153/14153, etc.)


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Hussein, There is no reason to reinvent the wheel here, Focus on creating the very best Forms editor for Evernote as a separate application. This would include the ability to place fields and graphics anywhere on a defined note size page. Then work with Evernote to get them to add a field to their notes to call up your templates. When a user in Evernote adds a new note, one of the options would be to specify a template form to be used for the note. While your at it get them to support multiple pages in a note... as some forms are multi-page. This would be a MUCH more elegant solution!!!! It would cause you much less programming greif too!
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Jennine, The program you seek is not an evernote program but this program here will more than do the trick! http://www.exaktime.com/mobile-time-clock-pocketclock-gps THE very best time keeping software on the market bar NONE!!!
I disagree, Templates should be apart of Evernote! It should be a tool with-in Evernote. I users choose not to use it then fine but the tool should be there for those who wish to use it. I am quite surprised it has taken this long for someone to tackle this, and I am somewhat disappinted that it was not Evernote who took the lead on this.Now, I'm wondering why we should have another native app for all platforms. It should be part of Evernote, point.
Think about Evernote Food, Hello, Skitch, Penultimate, Clearly, Webclipper - those are all separate apps.
Kustom Note is pretty much the same concept as Evernote Food/Hello except it's a lot more powerful and flexible since you can use Kustom Note for whatever you want instead of just food/contacts.
A separate app has some advantages:
Not everyone needs elaborate custom templates. A separate app has a lot of freedom, it doesn't have to please everyone and it could be made for a specific niche, e.g. power users.
It doesn't bloat and is not bloated by the native Evernote client.
The only minor disadvantage I can see is security.
Wow! Kustomnote is EXACTLY what I am looking for! See BurgersNFries...all things come to those who ask questions even when the Nay Sayers (like yourself) try to shoot me down!
Not all programs that a user interacts with is as accomidating as Evernote. The real problem is data presentaion in evernote and the ability to get text data into and out of evernote. The importing and exporting is not the issue, a forms generator that you can use to generate a particular form and then attach that to notes and note books is the issue.
What would REALLY be handy as a shirt pocket would be a forms generator that we could use to generate forms and attach those forms to notebooks. Add the ability to import and export to/from other applications and NOW you have a REAL program!!!!


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Paul Bocuse is a legend in the world of fine cuisine. At his Paul Bocuse Institut he attempts to pass on his knowledge and passion to a new generation of cooks, chefs, sommeliers and maitres.
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Clay Paky S.p.A.
Clay Paky, part of the OSRAM group, is a world level reference brand in the stage lighting industry, offering a wide range of automated luminaires. Clay Paky products are used in top productions of Theatre, Television, Live Events, Fashion show, Trade Fairs and are installed in the best Clubs, Bars, Theme Parks, Shops, Conference Halls and architectural venues. During its history, packed with inventions and successful products, Clay Paky has always had to face the onslaught of copy makers throughout the world.