Snooth: 10 Holiday Gift Wines Under $15

With the holidays in full swing I know we're all looking for gifting guidance. Sometimes the hardest gifts to buy are those for the people you know the least: your doorman, hairdresser, letter carrier, or assistant. While cash is always appreciated, adding a nice bottle of wine personalizes the gift in a way cash never could.

Understanding that we all have different price levels at which we are comfortable, and noting that these gifts do add up, I've pulled together 10 wines under $15 that are delicious and would be fine gifts to give someone this holiday season.

While some may think that $15 is a lot to spend on a bottle of gifting wine, others might think $5 is way too low. The truth is that all of these wines are great values, representing the best of their varieties, regions, and price points, and thus are worthy of consideration as a gift, or for keeping

This perennial lower-shelf dweller always delivers a solid, if perhaps uninspiring experience. It's a classic European table wine, lighter-bodied, a bit simple and fruity, but it is balanced and smooth.

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Liquor.com: Holiday Gift Guide: Scotch

Forget the tinsel, mistletoe and dreidels; it wouldn't be the holidays without a glass of Scotch. The delicious whisky is, of course, Scotland's thoughtful gift to the world. But with an unprecedented selection of bottles on store shelves, how do you find a great present? To help you out, we asked Mike Ryan, head bartender at Chicago's Sable Kitchen & Bar (which offers more than 180 different single malts and blends), and Ethan Kelley, formerly of New York City's Brandy Library (which stocks more than 350 Scotches), for some of their favorites.

Looking for a classic Speyside whisky? Ryan recommends Aberlour A'Bunadh, which is "uncut and unfiltered, resulting in a bold, nutty, deeply complex malt that will captivate." Add a few drops of water, and you'll release notes of fruit, ginger and dark chocolate.

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Michael Giltz: DVDs: Peanuts & Other New Holiday Titles

Okay, you already own It's A Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story and some Rankin Bass. But maybe you need a new title or two to spruce up your holiday DVD collection. Here are some recent releases to consider:

PEANUTS HOLIDAY COLLECTION ($42.98 BluRay or $39.98 regular; Warner Bros.) -- Okay, if you own any TV specials at all you probably own one of the previous DVD collections that features the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas. But the myriad Peanuts specials have been packaged and repackaged so many times it's impossible to keep track of them all. So what's the draw here? Well, BluRay of course, not to mention a deluxe version with a snowglobe and some other doodads. The prints have always been taken care of by Warner Bros., so the improvement of these very old TV shows isn't dramatic, but they do look good. The sale price of the BluRay edition costs almost TWICE as much as the regular DVDs, which is ridiculous. After all these years, just give us one definitive set of every Peanuts special ever made and be done with it. If money is no object and for some reason you don't already own that Peanuts classic, this set contains it and It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (their other major classic), A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and three bonus specials.

THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS ($24.98; Warner Bros.) -- One of the best Rankin/Bass specials, you wouldn't know it by the packaging but this set also contains the so-so Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey and Rudolph's Shiny New Year. Add in some extras and you've got about two hours of entertainment. Of course, if your kids aren't around you'll just jump to "Heat Miser" and sing along. BluRay looks better but not dramatically so; no surprise on such old titles made for TV.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL ($39.99; Disney) -- I'm still not down with director Robert Zemeckis and his modern spin on rotoscoping -- live actors do a scene and then it gets animated. As with his earlier film The Polar Express, the animated characters seem stiff and a little dead in the eyes. The work is improved but still not ready for prime time. However, overlooked in the technological boundary-pushing is the fact that Jim Carrey gives one of his best performances in years as Scrooge. His work is subtle, funny, menacing and real. Too bad it's hidden in a film that thinks the timeless classic by Charles Dickens needs jazzing up by shrinking down Scrooge and send him rocketing down streets or up into the night sky. Absurd.

IT'S A VERY MERRY MUPPET CHRISTMAS ($14.98; Universal) -- A Muppet spin on It's A Wonderful Life with Kermit finding out that indeed the world would have been worse off if he had never been a little tadpole, not better. The draw here for this so-so Muppet entry is a nine song CD with the gang caroling through holiday standards like "Deck The Halls."

SANTA CLAUS: THE MOVIE ($14.98; Lionsgate) -- A stodgy precursor to the Will Ferrell comedy Elf (which is quite good), Santa Claus: The Movie fails on several levels. First, a movie about Santa Claus shouldn't spend half the film focusing on an elf, even if the elf is played by Dudley Moore. On the other hand, trying to recapture the magic of Superman: The Movie by replicating the formula of that classic film. Unfortunately, rather than elevating the Superman myth by treating it like an epic, almost Christ-like origin story, doing the same with Santa Claus just seems tiresome and vaguely absurd. Still with me? Probably not. And the movie doesn't hold your attention any better.

PHINEAS AND FERB: A VERY PERRY CHRISTMAS ($19.99; Warner Bros.) -- This is a good bargain: you get an amusing P&F Christmas special along with a batch of other episodes and a welcome number of extras like a karaoke function that lets you sing along with Perry, Christmas wish lists for all the characters and more. Cheeky humor with pop cultural references put this in the Looney Tunes vein. The only shame is that fans of the show don't have the option to purchase an entire season of episodes. But kids shows almost always seem to get divvied up into multiple sets for some reason.

NATIVITY! ($14.98; Freestyle) -- Decent family fare that mixes Glee with the holidays by having a hapless high school teacher mount a musical Nativity special. The main draw here is Martin Freeman, charming as always. He's enshrined forever thanks to the UK version of The Office, but when you toss in the current modern spin on Sherlock Holmes (he plays Dr. Watson) an the upcoming film(s) The Hobbit, with Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, and you've got a genuine pop culture icon in the making. This doesn't spruce up his resume but it's no embarrassment either.

ALSO OUT:

NUTCRACKER SWEET ($14.98; Lionsgate) -- My little friend Katie Rose absolutely LOVES Angelina Ballerina and she's sure to eat this up when I give it to her. Reviews are meaningless in this context.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, OLIVIA ($16.99; Paramount) -- I'm a big fan of the Olivia books by Ian Falconer but still can't quite buy Olivia in this computer-animated version. Still, the holidays bring out the pushy best in Olivia.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS ($19.98; Warner Bros.) -- The magic of Rankin/Bass did not transfer to animation: stop-motion is the format where they shine. Plus, 24 minutes of minor R/B for $20 is simply far too much.

CHANUKAH: THE MISSING MENORAH ($14.95; Shalom Sesame) -- Grover's bringing the latkas...but where's the menorah? Given the paucity of Jewish-themed holiday specials, this is especially welcome.

*****
Thanks for reading. Michael Giltz is the cohost of Showbiz Sandbox, a weekly pop culture podcast that reveals the industry take on entertainment news of the day and features top journalists and opinion makers as guests. It's available free on iTunes. Visit Michael Giltz at his website and his daily blog. Download his podcast of celebrity interviews and his radio show, also called Popsurfing and also available for free on iTunes. Link to him on Netflix and gain access to thousands of ratings and reviews.

NOTE: Michael Giltz is provided with free copies of DVDs to consider for review. He typically does not guarantee coverage and invariably receives far more screeners and DVDs than he can cover each week. Also, Michael Giltz freelances as a writer of DVD copy (the text that appears on the back of DVDs) for some titles released by IFC and other subsidiaries of MPI. It helps pay the rent, but does not obligate him in any way to speak positively or negatively of their titles.

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Cheap Holiday Loans UK – Helps You Visit the Most Exotic Location

November 30th, 2010 | admin |

Cheap Holiday Loans UK – Helps You Visit the Most Exotic Location

Is that the last holiday you took was 3 years before? It is that you have lots of time but cannot go for holidays due to shortage of cash? With the choice of people to go for trips in foreign places, cheap holiday loans UK have come into existence. They help you visit to the most exotic location of your preference. They are meant for financing your trip needs with a low rate of interest. You can forget your tensions and enjoy your vacation with ease.

They are given to you to spend holiday in a very stress-free and happy manner. They cover the cost of transportation, accommodation, for going for shopping and so on. Cheap holiday loans UK is in 2 forms. The secured form is the one in which the borrower has to place collateral. The amount you can borrow in these finances ranges from ￡500 to ￡100000. They have the repayment which extends from 1 to 25 years.

In the unsecured form, you are not required to place any guarantee. Mostly tenants go for this form. The amount you can fetch in these finances ranges from ￡1000 to ￡25000 with the repayment duration from 1 to 10 years.

They eligibility conditions for these finances are that the person should be above the age of 18, he/she should have a valid bank account, he/she should have a regular source of income and he/she should be a citizen of UK. If you have bad credit records like arrears, defaults, bankruptcy and so on, then you can avail this facility.

To enjoy the benefits of these finances, you can fetch the online method. This method is very easy to apply and there is no placing of any documents required. You have to fill in the online form and after sanctioning of this finance, the amount is credited to your account.

Mark Elden is a well known author who is providing her valuable suggestions to Find Holiday Loans. He helps people to know about different loans through their articles. To find about cheap holiday loans UK, low rate holiday loans, low cost holiday loans, easy holiday loans, holiday cash loans, holiday loans and cheap holiday loans. Visit at http://www.findholidayloans.co.uk/

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Why to Stay In Vacation Rentals While On a Holiday in Virginia Beach

Are you are considering spending your vacation doing adventurous things like jet skiing, parasailing and windsurfing? Then travel to Virginia Beach. If you are wondering what type of accommodation will be best-suited for you there, then choosing a vacation rental rather than a hotel or a resort could be a perfect choice. Read this article to find out about Virginia Beach and the vacation rentals available there.

The city of Virginia Beach is located on the Atlantic Ocean near to the Chesapeake Bay. Virginia Beach is world-famous for its long beautiful beaches and for the various adventure sports that take place there. With miles of beaches and great accommodation options for tourists, Virginia Beach is a true resort city offering exciting and fun-filled water activities. Walking the 3 mile boardwalk along the sandy beaches is a favourite vacation activity. There are endless attractions along the boardwalk including souvenir shops, restaurants, miniature golf courses and go-kart tracks, as well as three entertainment stages which supply nightly entertainment during the summer months. One can also enjoy the numerous water sports from snorkeling, sailing, kayaking to fishing, parasailing, wind surfing and jet skiing.

A holiday in Virginia Beach is the perfect getaway from the hectic city life. With so much to do and see at Virginia Beach, one is sure to enjoy their stay here. For accommodations, there are hundreds of hotels and motels available; however, vacation rentals are an increasingly popular choice for many savvy travellers. Many tourists find vacation rentals best-suited to their requirements and as a result, the demand for vacation rentals has been on the rise.

Vacation rentals generally include condos, homes and villas. Choosing which vacation rental accommodation option is right for you will depend on the group you are travelling with, the activities your plan to participate in and the budget you have set aside for accommodations. The goal of vacation rentals are for guests to feel they are in a home away from home. Properties are set up to make guests feel at home and not cooped up in a typical hotel room. Even though they are typically much more spacious then hotel rooms, vacation rentals and are surprisingly quite affordable. The privacy and flexibility offered by vacation rentals gives you the opportunity to vacation on your schedule based on your priorities.

Some of the Virginia Beach vacation rentals go well beyond basic amenities and offer sauna, spa, gourmet kitchen, microwave, linen, fireplace and books. Also, maid services, catering service, grocery delivery and laundry services are offered in some cases. The vacation rentals on the beach-front offer a great view of the sandy beaches and the ocean. One can sit on the terrace and enjoy the captivating sunset. To book these wonderful vacation rentals, one can contact the property owners or managers directly or book them securely online using a credit card. As is the case with all travel accommodations, it is wise to do the booking well in advance in order to get the best selection and to avoid last minute hassles. By researching vacation rentals online, you can narrow the list of properties based on your budgetary and location requirements. Online vacation rentals listings offer detailed information on the amenities available in each home or condo, to allow you to make the best choice among the numerous options that are available.

Virginia Beach is simply a great place to spend a vacation and offers a tremendous variety of activities and options for all different types of travellers. To get the maximum out of the trip, one should try staying close to the beaches to witness breathtaking views of the ocean and not to miss on the activities that take place along the boardwalk. No matter what one is looking for, one is sure to find a comfortable home or a condo or a villa in Virginia Beach to their delight.

This article is written by an expert working with forGetaway.com, a leading and trusted vacation home rental service website that offers Gulf Shores vacation rentals.

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Holiday season brings in 300 % increase in bookings for Cosmetic Harmony

With the economy heading back to normal and credit markets easing, there is a relief in the market. There have been signals that the deep recession will end soon. This has sent across a wave of happiness among people and all are getting a common feeling of relaxation, going on a shopping spree, planning an adventurous trip, etc. The tight pockets are now ready to spend lavishly on things they desired for a long time but were held back due to various economic reasons. Majority of them are planning to go for a cosmetic surgery. They will be endowed with a complete makeover and will have a a??feel good factora?? about themselves.

a??This holiday season has brought a huge surge in our business. As compared to last year, we at Cosmetic Harmony see a 300% increase in reservations of holiday seasons. People who were held back due to the credit crunch in the market are now ready to go for a vacation and at the same time undergo a cosmetic surgery treatment. Medical-tourism is gaining popularity day-by-day and it is a sensible option to obtain a low cost, high quality medical treatment along with a relaxing and rejuvenating vacation. Currently Cosmetic Harmony has only a few December and January holiday season reservations left. We have never seen such a busy holiday. It is definitely a positive sign for our business. It adds up to our companya??s growth and profitability and is spreading smiles across all our surgeonsa??, says Anthony Giudice, Vice-President of Sales of Cosmetic Harmony.

Cosmetic Harmony is a leading medical-tourism company based in Bogota, Colombia. It provides world-class medical facilities at cheaper rates. All its plastic surgeons are Board certified, highly qualified professional doctors. They have a busy schedule this holiday season as people from all over the world are booking their cosmetic surgery packages with the end of the current recession. a??Not only is our company experiencing a boom in the market, but Colombia as a country is also growing. The market is showing positive signs and there will be a progress in all the activities in Colombia. We are very proud of our surgeons who are ready to work hard this holiday season. It is due to their quality work that satisfies our patients and we are experiencing this surge in business. We are highly obliged to all our team members and patients who have continuously given a remarkable growth percentage and profitsa??, Anthony Giudice signs off.

For more information on Cosmetic Harmony:

??Visit:??http://www.affordableplasticcosmeticsurgeryincolombia.com

About Cosmetic Harmony:

Cosmetic Harmony is a medical tourism company specializing in complete cosmetic surgery packages, including cosmetic procedures, travel, accommodations, transportation to medical appointments, a bilingual personal assistant and medications.

Cosmetic Harmony’s Affiliate program,

http://affiliates.affordableplasticcosmeticsurgeryincolombia.com/Login.aspx

Contact:

Anthony Giudice, Vice President of Sales

305.726.0527

Cosmetic Harmony

Anthony Giudice is a president and CEO of 5 international companies.

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Relaxing breaks at UK Holiday Parks

When you want to go on holiday ita??s typically to take a break from working life and spending some quality time with your family.?? When youa??re looking for a holiday you ideally want somewhere where you can relax, but when vacationing with small children this can be a bit of a tall order.

Obviously a beach holiday abroad is an option but for many families, especially ones who have a lot of children, the cost of these holidays is slowly creeping into the unreasonable.?? Extra charges being stealthily added to flight prices and turning people off the prospect of flying to typical holiday hotspots like Spain and Greece.

So what other option do you have??? Well UK breaks to holiday parks at popular British holiday resorts can offer the same relaxing atmosphere as well as being gentler on your wallet or purse.?? The added benefit of taking a relaxing holiday in the UK is that the British holiday parks have plenty of activities to occupy the children as well as offering relaxation treatments like spas or massages for the adults.

Relaxation isna??t just achieved by dividing the family up into sleepy parents and excitable children, activities like a bike ride is ideal for getting some exercise but also getting to enjoy some fresh air and the countryside.?? With work taking up most of our time it may be hard for some families to get much together time and so going on holidays as a family can help reconnect with your family and enjoy your time together.

The accommodation at these holiday parks only adds to the relaxation with options to suit anyone, there are luxury hotels rooms, complete with childrena??s play areas but for those who want more of a home away from home feel there are plenty of self-catering apartments, static caravans and even log cabins/chalets. ??

Choosing an all-inclusive holiday even removes some of the stress of holidays, on your holiday you dona??t want to be worrying over how much youa??re spending on food and drink and which restaurants you want to dine at.?? So having meals already prepared for you and not having to worry about the cost is a welcome relief to many parents.

The advantage of UK holiday park holidays is that towards the end of typical holiday seasons that there are often plenty of late deals, ideal for families these breaks focus on getting you and your family the time off they deserve before mum and dad have to go back to work and the kids have to go back to school.

The lure of UK holidays is increasing with British holidaymakers who are looking for a good deal, not only at a good price but also for the added value of having so much included.?? Ita??s no wonder that UK tourism figures are up as more people decide to not fly abroad for their holidays this year.

This article was written by Lee Lazarus. Lee is a leading online journalist and here writes for Butlins. If you are looking for UK Holiday Parks this summer then visit Butlins.com. Their range of breaks caters for every sort of family holiday.

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Benefits of owning your own Holiday Lodge

With people across United Kingdom spending thousands on their holidays each year, it is little wonder that more people buy their own holiday lodges in the United Kingdom, specifically in the Lakes region.

There are a number of benefits of owning your own holiday Pavilion can go on holiday, whenever you like and have a place for holidays with family and friends of cost effectiveness and convenience.

Nice how would be able to go on holiday, whenever we liked? A weekend here and fifteen there…Knowing that all you have to do is Pack and drive is one of the major benefits of owning your own holiday gite.

Of South Lakeland parks run a table holidays in the region of lakes that have many holiday lodges for sale .the range of the lodges holidays available parks include the Montréal, Ontario, New England, the River Tay and flag Eco Cosmopolitan, each with its own style and features.

Lodge Montréal enjoys an open-plan living space is congratulated by Windows full height, creating a comfortable, light space.

Ontario Pavilion is a modern living space that combines 21st century life in the great outdoors and showcases a fire floating flat screen, a wall of ready HD 40 "mounted plasma LCD TV as well as other modern devices that you expect to find in the countryside of Cumbria."

The feast of the New England lodge is a spacious holiday lets in light of the day flood inside through floor to ceiling Windows with Dormer Windows and French doors Pavilion.This Pavilion is the ultimate luxury holiday Lodge.

If you plan to vacation during the summer or winter, Tay Lodge is ideal for the deux.Confortable and warm in winter and cool and aerated during the summer, this is vacation lodge living at its best.

The latest edition to the Parks of South Lakeland ' fleet of holiday homes is flag Eco Cosmopolitan.Le flag Eco Cosmopolitan is economic run you to reduce your carbon footprint and your output!

If you go on holiday much, you know how expensive it can être.Par owning your own flag holiday really becomes more profitable more you use it for your vacances.Posséder your own holiday lodge is also can go on holiday with your family and friends as deposits are available in two or three models bedroom bedroom.

Perhaps the greatest advantage of owning your own holiday lodge is that you can make money when you are not on vacation by sub-letting holiday to deposit through The South Lakeland parks "sub-letting regime."

If you intend to purchase your own holiday lodge, give The South Lakeland parks a call to discuss with various parks, lodges and available schemas.

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