| As every holiday rolls around, families repeat and | | | | in San Francisco and Fortunoff in New York are two |
| make new traditions. These evoke memories of years | | | | such smaller department stores that go all out for the |
| past and celebrate the years to come. The Christmas | | | | holidays and many local families make a Christmas |
| holidays are a wonderful time to make memories | | | | pilgrimage out to find their special personalized holiday |
| together, decorating the house, baking delicious cookies | | | | ornament or centerpiece. Through childhood |
| and seeing family and friends. If you are looking for | | | | milestones, graduations, engagements, weddings and |
| ideas of how to make your holiday this year special | | | | the birth of new generations, these traditions mean the |
| and new - or to come up with some wonderful new | | | | world to everyone and so do the keepsakes that |
| holiday traditions, we have a couple of ideas for you to | | | | come home marking the memory. |
| use this year! | | | | Mark Special Events! |
| Start a Collection, and Share It! | | | | If you love the idea of personalized holiday ornaments, |
| Decorating the Christmas tree is fun every year and | | | | you can also take you choice to an even more |
| as your holiday ornament collection grows, so do your | | | | personal level, and mark any special events happening |
| memories of Christmas past. The best thing about | | | | in the life of your friend, neighbor or loved one. Find just |
| many ornament collections is the variety of styles | | | | the right ornament for the newly engaged couple, the |
| especially as preschoolers and young children bring | | | | first Christmas of a new family or even welcome a |
| home their own homemade creations to grace the | | | | new pet into their lives with an ornament that speaks |
| tree. What really sets a Christmas tree apart isn't its | | | | to that theme. |
| "style" or theme consistency; it is the memories and | | | | There is no shortage of personalized ornament options |
| the personal touch of every family that goes into this | | | | out there and they really show that you care and that |
| holiday symbol. | | | | you are paying attention to the important events in the |
| The holidays can bring a family together, no matter | | | | lives of your friends. Help them remember the year a |
| how far apart you may be living or celebrating. One of | | | | new and important event happened in their lives |
| the best ways to do this is through small keepsakes | | | | through their Christmas tree. Or just choose a |
| that mark this Christmas within your family history. | | | | personalized ornament you know they'll love. |
| There is almost no better way to mark Christmas with | | | | Make Your Own Holiday Ornaments! |
| all the branches of your family than to give each a | | | | Engage all the members of your family in some crafty |
| thematic personalized Christmas ornament. | | | | fun by having them create their own holiday |
| You can choose a theme for the year - it could be | | | | ornaments. You can do this with everything from |
| "Home for the Holidays" or even simply the look of the | | | | candy canes, to Femo, to construction paper, glitter |
| ornament with snowmen or teddy bears. Perhaps you | | | | and clothespins - it just depends on how involved you |
| all met up on one place during the year and you want | | | | want to get! Order prints from your favorite photo |
| to send out San Francisco holiday ornaments or New | | | | service and incorporate those into your holiday |
| Orleans holiday ornaments to commemorate the trip. | | | | ornament evening. |
| Personalize each ornament with the family names and | | | | Activities like this can also be a great opportunity for |
| the year. You and your brothers, sisters, mothers, | | | | you to help your kids create gifts for family and friends |
| fathers and cousins can all cherish a similar keepsake | | | | that are heavy on the sentiment and light on the wallet. |
| that sets this year apart from any other. | | | | Remember, these don't have to be fancy or perfect |
| Start a Holiday Outing Tradition! | | | | they should just be from the heart. |
| One thing we have learned through the years is how | | | | For some great ideas on creating your own |
| many families have a wonderful time heading out to do | | | | homemade ornaments: |
| some Christmas shopping during the holidays. This | | | | No matter what activities or traditions you create with |
| could be the trip to get your Christmas tree, enjoying | | | | your family, mark them down in some way to pass |
| mulled cider as you tag and cut your tree, or enjoying | | | | onto the next generation. Take photos, write in a |
| the chill of the air and the scent of pine as you sift | | | | journal or make a special Christmas book with your |
| through options on your local Christmas tree lot. | | | | kids. These memories can never be replaced and |
| It could also be the trip to your swanky local | | | | when your grandchildren or great grandchildren |
| department store to see the Christmas decorations | | | | discover family history like this, it can live on for |
| and to buy your special keepsake for the year. Gumps | | | | generations to come! |