Christmas Tipping – Christmas Tip for Who and How Much?


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Christmas tipping during the holidays has been around for a very long time. Giving a Christmas tip to doormen, hairdresser/barber, mailman/mail carrier, garbage men/trash collector, waitress or waiter etc as a way of “paying it forward” during the Christmas season is admirable.

We’ve been hearing the term “spreading the wealth” around quite a bit lately, especially during the presidential campaign. To tip or not to tip, how much to tip and who should be on our Christmas tipping list is on the minds of many.

With the current economic situation we’re in right now, with so many people losing their jobs and worrying if they will have the money to buy Christmas gifts for their own children and family (or whether they will be able to pay their mortgage or rent), I’d hate to think that people are feeling undue pressure to participate in Christmas tipping too.
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Hallmark Ornaments, Hallmark Maxine, Dolly Mamas, Department 56 Dickens Village, Snowbabies Figurines

Hallmark is one my favorite stores to buy decorative figurines and collectibles, and my appreciation for all things Hallmark began with hysterically funny, crabby old lady Maxine and her funny quotes full of sarcastic humor. My Amazon wishlist wouldn’t be complete without a couple inexpensive Hallmark Maxine products like the collectible Maxine dolls, next year’s calendar, Maxine’s bunny slippers and pink terry cloth robe etc, but I became very excited when I discovered there is trademark Hallmark Maxine fabric for making pillows, curtains, valances etc to decorate a room or two Maxine-style.

I foresee a bathroom and perhaps another room decorated in Maxine coming soon, especially since I was able to find a Maxine soap dish and toothbrush holder in my beloved Maxine theme. My Maxine “obsession” has rubbed off on friends too, so I now have more competition in my search for low cost new, discontinued or retired Hallmark gifts and treasured collectibles, including my precious Maxine and Dolly Mamas.
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The Ugly Side of Beauty, Some Cosmetics Can be Toxic to Your Health

It didn’t get much attention nationally, just a few paragraphs in papers such as the Kennebec Journal and a segment on the local news.

But the quiet protest by a group of high school and college students in Waterville, Maine, in February was one of a growing number across the country. They gathered at the post office to mail 12 beauty products to an environmental lab, where they would be tested for toxins and other dangerous ingredients that many commonly used products contain.

“As young people, we’re coming together to put our cosmetics on trial,” said Anne Sheldon, a member of the Maine Women’s Lobby, a nonprofit group dedicated to helping women through public policy.
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5 Myths of Cosmetic Safety

With the right kind and amount of makeup and cosmetics, anyone can achieve amazing results to cover up blemishes and imperfections or simply enhance their strong assets. Why, cosmetics play a large and important part in assisting victims of severe acne to regain their confidence simply by covering their blemishes up or taking the focus away from them.

Many celebrities such as actresses and music stars promote mainstream cosmetic products to boost sales. Even with their many advantages, there are always risks to be considered in cosmetic use. Although there are many tips on how to use cosmetics, there is also a whole lot of confusion on exactly what should be avoided simply for safety reasons.
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Tabatas: The Fast and Efficient Way to Workout

In this busy life, it’s hard to make exercising a priority with so many competing demands on your time. Sometimes, it seems there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get your sweat on. The kids have soccer practice, and the dog needs a bath and, oh yeah, everyone needs to be fed sometime along the way, too. Where’s the time for exercise? Quick but effective workouts are the name of the game.

A fast workout that is not only effective, but can be done anytime, anywhere, without any special equipment sounds too good to be true, right?
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Spicing Up Your Marriage

It’s no secret that a marriage can become a bit dull at times. This doesn’t mean that you love your husband or wife any less than you ever have, but simply that you have hit a lull. Furthermore, it is perfectly common for this to happen. When two people bind themselves together in marriage, they eventually adopt a routine together, which can be somewhat exciting at first, but which can also become somewhat boring.

Perhaps you separate for work in the morning, join each other for dinner, spend the evening together, and go to bed – pleasant enough, but also lacking some excitement! Whatever your particular routine is, if you have noticed your marriage starting to become a bit duller lately, it is important to take steps to “spice things up.”

The most important part of this process is not to weigh it more heavily than necessary. If you feel a bit bored with your marriage, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there is some deep problem, or, again, that your love is diminished. In all likelihood, you just need something to kick your relationship back into gear and help you and your partner to remember how much fun you can have together.
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