'Tis The Season For Volume

Do you know how many turkeys are eaten during the holiday season? Below are a few interesting facts regarding the volume of turkeys eaten, cards sent, and much more.

Christmas Cards
Do you enjoy receiving cards in the mail? How many do you think you get each season? There are roughly 1.9 billion Christmas cards sent in the United States every year to friends, family members, and acquaintances, making Christmas the #1 card sending occurrence, followed by Valentine's Day.

Packages
The number UPS is expected to deliver this year is over 340 million. The busiest day is expected to reach 20 million deliveries, which translates to 230 packages being delivered every second during that day.

Turkey
There are approximately 60 million turkeys consumed in the United States through the holiday season. Each American eats around 13.7 pounds of turkey every year! You think you are tired of turkey once Christmas is over? This may be why.

Christmas Trees
Next time you are lugging your tree home, remember this little fact. There are 20.8 million Christmas trees cut in the U.S. every year, with Oregon being the largest producer. Tree farmers retail roughly $506 million from the sale of trees. There is $69 million worth of artificial trees imported from China alone. Artificial Christmas trees have outsold real trees every year since 1991.

Christmas Tree Ornaments
China is the largest importer of Christmas ornaments which totals $561 million between January and August. Apparently those little trinkets are purchased year-round to have handy when Christmas time approaches.

Decorating
Most malls and other stores begin decorating for the holiday season on November 1st.

Holiday Shopping
Holiday sales are expected to hit $439.53 billion this year. December accounts for roughly 15% of stores' yearly sales, except for in the case of jewelry stores, which is closer to 24%. However, most Americans only expect to spend an average of $681 each this holiday reason. On Black Friday, approximately $8.01 billion was spent, totaling $16.8 billion for the weekend. Residence of the New England states are expected to spend the most, with the South expected to spend considerably less.

Toys
Roughly 45% of shoppers this year will be purchasing toys, with Barbie and video games being the most sought after products.

Holiday Music
The most frequently played holiday song is "Jingle Bells", with "White Christmas" running a close second. Bing Crosby's "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" is the #1 best selling Christmas single of all time.

Helpful, Passionate, Loving, Relationship Tips For Parents

Discover great passionate loving relationship tips for parents who are still raising children at home. Relationship tips for parents may be very helpful to couples that may have put their intense love for each other on the back burner in order to focus on raising a family. That intense love may slowly diminish over time due to the commitments and obligations of being a parent.

Couples may become less sensitive and caring towards one another. Exhibiting affection can be little to none at all. It is quite unfortunate for parents to lose that loving feeling. Loving and being loved is what empowers us in being responsible, healthy and conscious-minded individuals. Let us explore some ways that may be of help to those seeking a little assistance.

Be present for each other

Being present for one another offers the opportunity of feeling closeness. Listen closely to what is being communicated, trying not to judge but to understand. Allow your partner to express their concerns, problems, and joys. Respond appropriately creating room for growth, balance and intimacy. An important note to take in mind is that you will want to work together in being a united force in the decision making process involving the children. It will present itself to the child that you are working together and will also create a strong foundation of trust between each parent, an important ingredient for loving.

Loving touches

This can be quite nurturing and reassuring that love is still present. This does not have to take place when the children are not present. Take the time to hold hands. Gently caress the back of your partner's neck or back. Stroke each other's arm or even the side of the face. Be sure not to hold any limits to hugging. Just as much as children loved to be hugged, we as adults enjoy it just as much, if not more, from our partner. The power of touch is beautiful and is great for stimulating the senses for loving.

Loving words

There is nothing more heart-warming, loving and arousing than using and receiving loving words. These words can be used out of common courtesy and kindness to arousing the senses for sexual pleasure. However the words are expressed, be sure to use them with intention and love of heart. This wonderful channel of communication will allow love to flow freely and openly.