Donate your used Christmas cards

From now until February 28, 2009, you can donate/send your holiday OR all occasion cards to:

St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
Card Recycling Program
100 St. Jude’s Street
Boulder City, NV 89005

This program began over 30 years ago it started with just Christmas cards but expanded to all occassion. The children of St. Jude turn the old cards into new. The children also receive payment for their hard work and learn the advantages of going green while doing so.

Thanks to Recycle Your Day for the tip!

Reindeer Food - don't leave out the blue-collar workers

They are the ones who do all the hard work after all...

Mix rolled oats with some red or green sugar (which sparkles so the reindeer can find the food).

Have your child sprinkle it on the lawn on the 24th and see how hungry the reindeer were the next morning...that is if they even remember and aren't focused on their new train set that takes up half of your living room...

=)

Letter from Santa, anyone?

How to send your child a letter from Santa

Various services sell "Letters From Santa" mailed with a North Pole (Alaska) postmark. The post office began this service in 1953 and offers it at no cost; all you have to do is supply the letter.

Here's how to do it:

Write your letter from Santa. Be vague about the gifts - keep those kids guessing! - and throw in something about having to go feed the reindeer, etc. etc. to give the letter an authentic touch.

Request a treat you'd like to be rewarded with. The older your child, the more you should consider such details as paper and handwriting (older yet still-Santa-believing kids might be suspicious if they recognize your writing style).

Put the letter in an stamped envelope, addressed to your child.

Place the envelope into a larger, properly-stamped envelope addressed to: North Pole Christmas Cancellation/Postmaster, 5400 Mail Trail, Fairbanks, AK 99709-9998.

Or address your outer envelope to the Postmaster of any of a number of cities with seasonally relevant names, and label your package "Holiday Greeting Card Re-Mailing."

A few of favorites are listed below.

Mail your letter before Dec. 15, or even earlier to be on the safe side. The post office is anticipating the need to process over a million letters to Santa this year.

Cities Santa might vacation in and send your child a letter from:

Antlers OK 74523

Christmas FL 32709

Frost TX 76641

Holly CO 81047

Joy IL 61260

Mistletoe KY 41351

Noel MO 64854

North Pole NY 12946

Rudolph OH 43462

Santa Claus IN 47579

Snowflake AZ 85937

Thanks to ZRecs for the information!

Christmas Tree Farms - courtesy of the LA Times

HOLIDAY TRAVEL
Christmas tree farms in Southern California
Still need to choose a tree? Start a family tradition and climb aboard vintage passenger cars bound for a farm packed with pines fresh for the picking.
By Jay Jones 07:05 PM PST, November 25, 2008

Click to Enlarge
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Cut-it-yourself sites
Christmas tree farms are scattered throughout Southern California. Several provide fun activities for families before or after they've picked and cut their own tree. Some of the sites:
WHERE TO GO
The Fillmore & Western Railway, offers twice-daily excursions on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $12 for children 4 to 12, and $8 for 2- and 3-year-olds. Trees range from $40 to $55. Saws are provided at the Santa Paula Christmas Tree Farm at 18540 E. Telegraph Road (Highway 126) in Santa Paula (Ventura County). Food -- freshly prepared onboard -- is available in the train's dining car; (800) 773-8724, www.fwry.com
The Live Oak Canyon tree farm, in Yucaipa (San Bernardino County) features Monterey pines. Six varieties of trees, ranging from $19 to $500. Outdoor concerts and visits from Santa on weekends; (909) 795-8733, www.liveoakcanyon.com
The appropriately named Pine Tree Acres, in Ramona (San Diego County) offers kid-friendly activities. Trees sold at $6.50 per foot, plus $2 to wrap in a net; (760) 788-5524), www.pinetreeacres.com
For a more wintry experience, head to Big Bear Tree Farm in Big Bear City (San Bernardino County). At 7,000 feet, the air is cooler and Mother Nature may even provide a dusting of snow. (951) 505-2945
Jones is a freelance writer.

Your fear for the day....

http://www.iihs.org/ratings/default.aspx

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety wishes you a safe drive...

TruKid is having a sale

Since I can't stomach paying $22.49 for a bottle of Cal Baby sunscreen...here's an alternative.
Enter code: Cheer20 for 20% off

http://www.trukid.com/

Movies to avoid with the kids ....or at least watch when they're asleep =)

I think you'll find it ironic that most of these are films that define our 80's childhoods...


http://www.babble.com/content/articles/columns/the-babble-list/26-Most-Disturbing-Kids-
Movies-Ever-Family-films-that-will-scar-your-children-for-life/index.aspx