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Santa Claus Allows Families to Keep the Spirit of the Christmas Season Despite Tight Spending

While families are trying to make wiser spending choices this season, that doesn’t mean that Santa Claus will be put on the back burner. With parents opting to spend only where it counts and make sure they are getting the most bang for their buck, they are being selective with gift purchases, and are putting a focus on traditions that will make the most impact on their families’ Christmas memories.

One company that specializes in making sure that children receive a memorable visit with Santa Claus is SantaSpeaking.com, which provides personalized phone calls to children from Santa. SantaSpeaking.com’s early season figures show a 46% increase in scheduled visits over 2007, illustrating families’ commitment to keeping the tradition of Santa Claus alive.

“Parents can do much to scale back their Christmas, but children will still expect Santa to come. The anticipation of his arrival is part of the magic of their holiday, and a special visit with Santa just adds to that,” says Anne Gaskell, founder of SantaSpeaking.com. “We weren’t sure what to expect in terms of volume this year because of such gloomy forecasts, but we’re surprised to see the spike in orders so early in the season.”

Scott Williams, VP of Emisare Inc., a relationship and branding firm in Greensboro, NC, says, “Families will use this time to focus on what’s important, keeping their traditions intact and strengthening the message of Christmas. Celebrating Santa Claus offers parents the opportunity to stress valuable lessons like being kind, considerate, helpful and to show appreciation for what you do have, at a time where indulgent spending may not be an option for families.”

And so while there may be fewer presents under the tree this year, families are counting on Santa to still bring cheer and warm, fuzzy memories at a time where families really need it. Keeping family traditions like Santa Claus alive — when little on the news seems bright — may just lend optimism to Christmas where pessimism was forecasted.

SantaSpeaking.com was founded in 2004 by two moms in the midwest who aim to brighten other families’ Christmas through the magic of Santa Claus. SantaSpeaking.com provides personalized phone calls to children from Santa Claus, offering a recording of the conversation after the call is made as a keepsake to parents. Cost of calls and recordings range from $21.95 - $49.95.

Filed under : Chat, Entertainment, Family & Home, Money, Shopping

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Seven-Year-Old Singer’s Natural Talent & Charm Take Globe by Storm

Connie Talbot — remember the name. Many millions have come to know not just her name but also her amazing voice during the brief time since Talbot was the captivating runner-up in the 2007 season of the U.K.’s top-rated “Britain’s Got Talent” TV show. The precious, 7 year-old singer has since become a best-selling international recording artist, and her unaffected charm and aplomb have won the hearts of music lovers and the media. The stunning preternatural singing talent that has made Talbot a star now arrives stateside as AAO Music/Reality releases her debut album, Over The Rainbow in the U.S. on September 30.

Talbot’s UK debut (Rainbow Records) went gold a mere three weeks after being released in Great Britain, and has since surged to platinum in U.K. sales. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Connie now holds the distinction of two titles: the youngest artist ever to make the British charts and the youngest ever to earn a gold record.

The euphoric response by “Britain’s Got Talent” viewers and judges alike (including the notoriously crusty Simon Cowell) quickly spread beyond the U.K. to the rest of Europe and throughout Asia. Recent tours include stops in South Korea (where her album has gone double platinum), Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand. She was also honored to perform at the prestigious Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (U.K.) Annual Gala Dinner in London.

Plans for a Nintendo Wii Karaoke game “Sing Along with Connie,” have been announced and production has been completed. Scheduled to be released in early 2009, the console game will feature 15 tracks from “Over The Rainbow.” In the game, players will be able to sing along with Connie in karaoke mode, or with other friends and family members in multi-player fun.

Britain’s Channel 4 has hailed Talbot as “the next Charlotte Church,” resulting in Talbot becoming a popular television attraction. Recent appearances include Nickelodeon U.K. and Eire (Ireland). She has also to-date appeared on many major British TV shows as well as programs in Germany, Poland, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong — where she performed a verse of “Over The Rainbow” in sign language.

Over The Rainbow features Talbot singing such time-honored vocal standards as “Over The Rainbow,” “My Favorite Things,” “What A Wonderful World” and “I Will Always Love You” as well as contemporary hits like John Lennon’s “Imagine” and Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” (for which she shot the video in Marley’s native Jamaica). The single for “Three Little Birds” recently entered the U.K. Independent Singles Chart.

Talbot says that singing is her favorite thing to do, and cites her album’s title tune as the song she loves best because she would sing it with her late grandmother as they watched their favorite movie, “The Wizard of Oz.” Despite the sensation she has stirred around the globe, Talbot remains a normal primary school student in Streetly, Walsall in the English West Midlands. But with her eighth birthday coming in November, Connie Talbot is already well on her way to a lifelong musical career and international stardom.

Source: AAO Music/Reality

Filed under : Celebrities, Chat, Entertainment

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Adventure Mountain honors the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s 75th anniversary

Dollywood’s 2009 season features the new Adventure Mountain attraction and Imagine presented by Le Grand Cirque, the new show that will headline Dollywood’s annual Festival of Nations in the spring.

Adventure Mountain celebrates the great outdoors and natural beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which marks its 75th anniversary in 2009. Dollywood is located near the entrance to the national park, the most-visited in the country, which welcomes more than 10 million guests annually.

“The beautiful Smoky Mountains have long inspired me and my music, and they’re certainly at the heart and soul of my Dollywood theme park,” Parton said. “My new Adventure Mountain attraction not only lets families explore the great outdoors together, but it’s a way for all of us to celebrate these mountains and the folks like me who call them home.”

Adventure Mountain, a two-acre outdoor terrain, will be located in Wilderness Pass, home of Dollywood’s award-winning coasters Thunderhead and Mystery Mine. The $5 million addition features five different courses to challenge the strength and skill of every member of the family. Guests will encounter a waterfall gorge, rugged mountain trails, and zip lines. Guests can engage in individual pursuits or family competitions. Visitors will get a rare glimpse into the lives of park rangers who protect and preserve forestland as they learn to tackle the elements. Rugged mountaineers can choose from a variety of nature’s challenges to test their skill and agility. Young tenderfoots can take an Adventure Mountain trek to Camp Teachittoomee. Ranger guides introduce tykes to kid-friendly adventures, teaching them new skills and crafts to prepare them for outdoor adventures of their own.

During Dollywood’s Festival of Nations, the park unveils Imagine presented by Le Grand Cirque. A cast of world-class international athletes, performers and acrobats combined with beautifully executed costumes and sets perform feats to dazzle the eye and stretch the boundaries of the imagination. Imagine delivers acts that include pole climbing, contortionists, men’s bungee, mime artists, hand balancing, unicyclists, silk ropes and a Diablo act. Imagine also is renowned for its dramatic lighting effects, which include one act performed under an ultra-violet light. Dollywood’s Festival of Nations begins March 28, 2009, and concludes April 28, 2009.

Dollywood is a 130-acre family adventure park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Open nine months a year (March 21, 2008-Jan. 3, 2009), Dollywood offers more than 40 rides and attractions; award-winning live entertainment featuring country, bluegrass, gospel and mountain music; and a dozen crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. For more information, call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD or visit www.dollywood.com . Operating days and hours vary.

Source: Dollywood

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