I don’t know about you, but I’ve been saving wrapping and tissue paper for years. In the depths of my laundry room resides a plastic bag full of the packaging of presents past. Anytime I need to quickly wrap a gift, I reach in and re-use. (That’s called “pre-cycling” by the way.)

If you don’t have used packaging at the ready, may I suggest the common brown paper bag? Before you poo-poo it, I’m not suggesting just a plain old paper bag; that’s a little too frumpy and schoolbook cover.

A few of the following add-ons will turn that bag into something special:

1. Cut-outs from holiday magazines. Magazines are loaded with glossy graphics that paste easily onto the paper bag. Add a few or add a bunch. Or go a little abstract and toss on a celebrity or two.
2. Old photographs. Most of us have a vast collection of cherished photographs to choose from. Not only does an old photo personalize your gift, but the photograph itself becomes a gift.
3. DaVinci the heck out of that bag. Before you wrap the gift, take some watercolor paints and showcase your true inner artist, no matter how crappy he or she may be. Or use magic markers. Or even crayons, for that child-like touch.
4. Natural touches. Feathers, leaves and dried flowers are often readily available for the pasting.

Holidays can wreak havoc on our earth with all the paper we use. Did you know that a large amount of the wrapping “paper” we use is now actually made out of plastic? Think of how long that lasts and how much we dump into landfills every Holiday season.

Why not make some small, creative “green” changes that send a more personalized and creative message?

Speaking of eco-friendly choices, our funny Christmas ecards leave virtually no carbon footprint. Send a Christmas ecard to someone you love, wrapped only with good intentions.

While we may never really know who put the bomp in the bomp bah bomp bah bomp or who put the ram in the rama lama ding dong, by the end of this holiday blog post you will better understand who put the “x” in your very merry Xmas.

So there was this emperor, right? And his name was Constantine. And he lived a long, long time ago. Well, when he converted to Christianity,  before him appeared a strange vision. He saw the Greek letters “chi” and “rho” intertwined. (Chi is written as an “x” and rho as a “p.”)

From that point forward, ol’ Constantine decided that Christ could be referred to as “XP” for short. Cut to present day and we still refer to Christmas as Xmas. (XPMas just didn’t have a ring to it.)

Some rigid types think the term “Xmas” is a way of secularizing the holiday but it’s really just the opposite. Christ is still in Xmas, but in the form of a nickname of sorts.

If you want to wish someone you love a very merry Xmas or Christmas, check out our wide selection of Christmas ecards you can send for free and have a great holiday!

Our brand new “Naughty Christmas Trees” eCard, intended to assist your Yuletide flirtations.

Do you remember the 70’s television portrayals of the holidays? A couple sitting beside a roaring fire, a Christmas tree blinking suggestively in the background, and a bearskin rug would lie by the hearth, waiting patiently for some action. The holidays seemed like a prime time to get your groove on!

Now, mass consumerism and technology overload seem to have sucked the cheeky cheer right out of the frosty air. So here are a few helpful tips to bring the hot, hot, hot back into your holidays:

1. Slow it down at night. The winter has some mighty long nights. Make the most out of it by tuning out the daytime shopping, wrapping, etc. and replace it with some quality time with your honey.
2. Physical gifts are always welcome. We won’t get too explicit here but create a card offering a special one-on-one gift, redeemed on the bear rug of your choice.
3. Create a cozy atmosphere. Atmosphere does most of the work for you. If you don’t have a fireplace to roar, then try soft, fuzzy pillows and blankets tossed about and candles burning in the background. How about some non-annoying holiday music? Set the scene and let the magic happen.

Doozy Cards has a wide range of romantic Christmas e-cards for that special someone in your life. It’s free and easy, just like love should be.

Here are all of our slightly suggestive adult Christmas ecards to get the party for two rolling.

“Christmas is not properly observed unless you brew egg nogg for all comers; everybody calls on everybody else; and each call is celebrated by a solemn egg-nogging…It is made cold and is drunk cold and is to be commended.”

– Unknown Englishman, 1866

Egg nog. It sounds weird but tastes delicious. Recipes may vary but it’s a consistent holiday favorite. So what is this creamy goodness? And what the heck is a “nog” anyway?

In colonial America, rum was often referred to

as “grog” so
Another possible source? Noggins were the English term used for small wooden mugs used to serve alcohol. “egg and grog” may have slowly morphed into “egg nog.” (If you’ve consumed several of them, you can see how the words might slur together.)

Either way, it’s been around a long time and generally contains a combination of the following ingredients:

Milk or cream, sugar, raw eggs, spices (usually nutmeg). Other toppings include vanilla, whipped cream, meringue, cinnamon, ice cream and chocolate curls.

Most popular alcohol for egg nog? Rum, bourbon or brandy. In Europe, nog is traditionally made with white wine. In Germany, beer…bleh.

Below is the URL to one egg nog recipe that consistently gets rave reviews from Ms. Martha Stewart as well as a non-alcoholic egg nog recipe you’ll enjoy.

We have a wide and wondrous selection of free and funny Christmas ecards to peruse over while sipping the nog. Get your free Christmas ecards out now. We assure you, they are equally as entertaining no mater which variety of nog is in your noggin.

Martha Stewart’s recipe:  http://www.food.com/recipe/martha-stewarts-eggnog-148066

The non-alcoholic recipe: http://homecooking.about.com/od/beveragerecipes/r/blbev17.htm

The holidays can be a notoriously depressing time for some folks. Especially if you’re alone. It’s unfortunate because being alone can mean creating a holiday of your own making, just the way you want it.

Here are some tips:

Be your own family. What if, deep inside of you, resided the best family members ever? How would they treat you? What would your imaginary family do during the holidays? Write about it, like a perfect holiday fairy tale, and then live it out to the best of your abilities, knowing those “family members” reside within. (Plus, buying gifts for imaginary family members is really cheap.)

Avoid dysfunctional families. Undoubtedly, if you’re alone, you will be invited to the homes of others for the holidays. Think twice before accepting. While your own family may make you nuts, other families possess their own crazy-making neuroses. Free yourself by just saying no, confident that alone is better than nutty.

Keep it simple. One of the reasons people experience so much stress during the holidays is an incessant need to pack it all in on one day. But a simplified holiday allows you reflection and relaxation. Note: this doesn’t mean being completely inactive; it just means making simple plans, like a long walk through the woods or reading a book or making your favorite meal.

Spending the holidays alone doesn’t have to be depressing; it can be liberating. Because only you know the best way to spend the day.

Remember to send your friends and family a free Christmas e-card. We have a large selection, including many funny Christmas e-cards sure to bring smiles to the faces of those you love.