December 2007
     Sent 12/3/2007

Sharing Creative Energy Newsletter
By Darla Arni

Sharing Creative Energy Newsletter is a free monthly, or whenever Darla can get it out, publication for clients, friends and subscribers who want to be more creative, energetic and productive in their life and work. © 2007 Darla Arni

**************************************************************************
In This Issue:
     Tis The Season!
     Quote of the Month
     What Darla’s up to now?
     Websites I think you’ll like!
     Mensa Moment

**************************************************************************

TIS THE SEASON!
(It’s a December thing!)

The season is upon us; extravagant advertisements from major department stores dance across the television screen, radio stations are playing Christmas carols, ‘buy me’ commercials seem to pop up everywhere and the days are ticking away. Because I want you to have fun and have some time, I am devoting this month’s newsletter to tips, tricks, and recipes for holiday fun.

Essentially I am an idea person and artist. I love to help people make things, give things, and decorate things by using more ingenuity than money. Some of these ideas I have shared on television when I was doing the FOX4 Morning Show in Kansas City and others I just invented for myself. Get family members to help and you can relax quicker. Have a Blessed Christmas and Holiday season!

Candle Magic
You can’t go wrong with candles; they add warmth, light and a feeling of magic to any venue. And, they can be easy and inexpensive! Use the following tips and ideas to quickly finish up your decorating or create a gift for someone in no time so you can get on with the celebrating!

-Massive candles can be used alone but I think grouping looks better. Always use groups of uneven numbers, it will look more natural.

-Use candles of the same color and keep it simple; whites, creamy whites, reds, greens, or other easy to find colors. Don’t buy into the ‘new’ shade of the season unless you are prepared to buy backups so next year you can replace the burnt out ones, the broken ones, the totally melted ones, etc. Stores love to slightly change the shades of candles so next year you have to start all over; it’s called making money.

-Don’t be normal. I rarely put candles in regular candle holders. This year I have candles in or on casserole dishes, wooden bowls, coasters, dessert plates, candy dishes without the lids, small antique glasses, the bottoms of antique butter plates, saucers for flower pots and small glass and terra cotta flower pots. Other good containers/bases for candles are glass canning jars, coffee cups, tea cups and saucers, cut pieces of birch wood, clean bricks, small frames with glass laid flat on their back, clean tin cans painted or unpainted, old CD’s, and any size, shape or color of ceramic tiles. Roam around your house, open your cabinets and try something different.

-Surround candles in a container with any of these easy to find, inexpensive items:

• Coffee beans
• Small peppermint candies, wrapped or unwrapped
• Gumdrops
• Cranberries
• Nuts in the shell
• Colorful buttons
• Strands of beads or other necklaces
• Pretzels of all shapes and sizes.
• Small pinecones
• Cinnamon, red hots

I’m sure you can think of more on your own. Just stay away from anything that melts, like chocolate candies.

Coffee Candle
One year I bought small glass containers shaped like flower pots, placed a votive candle in the middle, surrounded it with flavored coffee beans, hot glued a ribbon around the lip of the pot and gave them out as thank you’s. Even if you don’t burn the candle the smell of the coffee beans is wonderful and looks great!

Peppermint Bark
What do you do with broken candy canes? Make bark! Melt a package of chocolate chips (any flavor), chocolate bark, or almond bark and spread out on a cookie sheet covered with wax paper. Immediately sprinkle it with peppermint candy bits and pieces. Feeling risky? Melt milk or dark chocolate for the first layer, let it slightly cool, then top with a layer of white chocolate or almond bark and then sprinkle the peppermint pieces. The combination of tastes is delicious! When cooled, break it up and put in small containers or holiday bags to give away. Don’t wait till the last minute; make a big batch and freeze in airtight containers or freezer bags for 2-3 weeks.

White Chocolate Crunch
(This is my favorite and very addictive!)

Ingredients: 1 whole block of white chocolate or almond bark, 4 cups of crispy cereal (Crispex or Chex types work best), 2 cups holiday M&M candies, 2 cups small pretzels or pretzel sticks broken, 2 cups Fritos regular corn chips, and nuts if you like. I use a couple handfuls of dry roasted peanuts or whatever nuts I have on hand.

Chop white chocolate bark into pieces. Place in microwave safe bowl and cook for

1-1/2 minutes on high. Continue cooking for 15 second intervals and stirring until it is completely melted. When melted, pour over dry ingredients and stir to cover. Spread mixture out onto wax paper covered cookie sheets and let cool and harden. Break into chunks and store in containers or airtight bags. Hide it well or it will disappear. Pieces of this left over after Christmas with a cup of tea can really make my day!

**************************************************************************
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
(Two quotes for you this season and they both come from Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz from their book God is in the Small Stuff and it all matters.)

“Too many advantages for your children add up to disadvantage.”

“The best time to relax is when you are too busy.”

**************************************************************************

WHAT’S DARLA UP TO NOW?

In 2008 watch for:

• Rediscover Me retreats begin January through March. Watch for open registration this week in your email.
• Ta Da! I’m adding a shopping cart to my website with more resources and products for you to take advantage of and share. Including new tips booklets and e-books on managing stress and improving your attitude, individual coaching, and my own original, motivational artwork.
• New presentation called Perception Deception. Due to the great response from my newsletter of the same title, I have expanded the information and application of this concept to show clients how everything we experience is influenced by our own internal “filter” which consists of our beliefs, experiences, and expectations. This impacts our attitudes and performance which effects productivity and results on the job and in our personal life. Questions? Would you like more information? Contact me directly and I’ll be glad to help!

**************************************************************************

WEBSITES I THINK YOU’LL LIKE!

www.lettucelizzie.com
My friend Liz is an amazing chef and entrepreneur! On her site you can buy her fabulous salad dressings and view the fun labels with caricatures. Looking for something different to send for Christmas presents or want to add pizzazz to your holiday meal? Check out what Liz has to offer and call about her gift boxes.  I know you won’t be disappointed!

www.Meggin.com
My friend Meggin’s site has so much you won’t know where to start! This month she has two new tips booklets out about creating margins (the space between yourself and your limits) in your personal and professional life. These would make great stocking stuffers for the stressed on your list, which includes almost everyone you know! While you are there check out www.KeepingChaosatBay.com and www.TopTenProductivityTips.com and sign up for her free weekly tips that will improve your life in 2008.

*************************************************************************

MENSA MOMENT

Give your brain a break and be ready to start fresh in January.

Last Mensa Moment Answer:
Half way. Once Mary reaches the half way point she will be riding out of the forest rather than into the forest. Congratulations to Kellie Briggs for winning our prize drawing. Please contact me with address information so I can send your prize.

**************************************************************************

You may contact Darla with your comments or questions. There is no fee for Sharing Creative Energy and we welcome new subscribers.

To unsubscribe, to change your address, or to add someone, e-mail Darla. This e-mail list will never be sold or shared.

This publication is copyrighted but we encourage sharing it with proper permission and attribution and if our copyright is included.
*********************************************************************
Darla Arni is a Professional Speaker, Consultant and Author of Sharing Creative Energy at Home, Life Compass for Women, and the Sharing Creative Energy Newsletter.

Sharing Creative Energy
e-mail Darla
660.529.2969 voice
660.815.7262 cell

Home | About Darla | Energizing Presentations | Darla's Store | Clients/Testimonials | Video | Contact Darla | Sharing Creative Energy E-Newsletter | Links | E-Newsletter Sign Up