Monday, December 31, 2012
It's that time of the year....
The new year is almost upon us. I'm left wondering what my New Year's resolutions will be — or if I'll even make any this year. I've always looked at New Year's resolutions as a quick thought at the end of the year about how I'd like to improve myself over the next year. Do those thoughts linger much past early January? Do I really resolve to make change in my life? Honestly, no. Typical resolutions include losing weight, eating better or exercising more. I could use a little resolution around all of those... as I sit here eating a Christmas cookie for breakfast! Luckily I just joined the gym this month. I also want to start working more vegetables into my diet. I saw some success at this in the past year, but know that on my plate there…
With friends or family? Reveling or making resolutions?
New Year's eve is upon us! At midnight, we'll be ringing in 2013. What a year 2012 was. From our balmy winter last year to a busy election season this fall, 2012 was a unique year. I always enjoy New Year's eve and the countdown to midnight. The last few years I've spent the night with friends, gathering casually to cook a yummy meal, then wearing silly hats and sounding noisemakers at midnight. Everyone has their own New Year's eve traditions — or, are you planning to start a new tradition this year? Tell us in the comments below how you'll spend the last hours of 2012.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Dec. 26 is National Candy Cane Day.
It's National Candy Cane Day, which seems fitting given that you likely have a surplus lying around at this point in the holiday season. We visited the National Confectioners Association website to gather the questions and answers for a quiz dedicated to the striped peppermint candy synonymous with the season. The quiz is available as a PDF so it's easy to print off and share with friends or family gathered at your house for the holidays. Or just test your knowledge below: Candy Cane Quiz 1. Legend places the origin of the candy cane in the: A. 1900s B. 1800s C. 1700s D. 1600s 2. According to legend, candy canes began as a means of: A. Rewarding shepherds for successfully guarding a flock. B. Bartering for the Christmas ham. C. Keeping …
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
How much will we spend this year? And what's the best-selling Christmas song of all time? Find the answers below.
We know that there were three Wise Men, 12 days of Christmas and that Santa delivers all his presents around the world in one night. But did you know... $23,439.38 How much it would cost to buy your "true love" all the gifts in the 12 Day of Christmas . 12.9 billion hours, $447 billion How many hours Americans were expected to spend shopping, wrapping and returning gifts last year. That was about 42 hours and $688.87 per person. Get your postman/postwoman a gift According to Hallmark, Christmas is the largest card-sending occasion . Nearly 1.5 billion cards are sent to friends and family every Christmas Season. (That's actually down 400 million cards since 2004.) $983 million The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from…
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Scan and share your awkwardness.
Everyone's got them — those awkward family photos that are a hoot to look back on here in 2012. Many old holiday photos also fall into the awkward category. I was looking through some old holiday photos from our family gatherings of yesterday-year recently, and came across some funny ones of me and my cousins when we were young. What about you? Do you have '80s hair on display in a holiday photo? What about fashions from the '70s? Post your awkward family holiday photos by clicking the upload button below the photo at right. Can you outdo your neighbor?
We're looking for photos of the most unique, quirky, or memorable trinkets that you hang on your tree for the holidays.
Holiday decorations do more than glitter and sparkle — they give a hint about the personality of their owners. Whether it's a trinket showing loyalty to a favorite sports team, cartoon character, or store [did you get your mini coffee cup from Dunkin' Donuts this year?] ornaments run the full range of sizes, shapes, and colors. And when it comes time to deck out the tree, it's the ornament that gets the best spot — the perfect place for the ornament to function as a conversation starter. Other folks prefer original, handmade decorations — especially if they were created by the kids when they were younger. Whatever the style, one thing's for sure: favorite decorations are unique. Here's your chance to share photos [or video] of the most …
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Or are you a last-minute gift-getter?
This year, for the first time, I took advantage of Cyber Monday to get a few gifts knocked off my list. The sales on things I was looking at for family and friends weren't incredible, but the 10 percent off here or free shipping there certainly helped. What also helped me out this year was going as simple as possible when it comes to gift giving. Instead of buying my sister and brother-in-law individual gifts, I proposed that my husband and I get them one gift, and they get us one, with a $30 limit. We also instigated a Yankee swap with my inlaws this year, so we don't end up with a ton of gifts that we really don't need. So it'll be a pared-down holiday for us. The best part of holiday giving, I think, is watching a loved one's …
Friday, December 21, 2012
My new favorite is a chocolate chip cookie with extra goodies inside.
The favorite holiday recipe in my family is for my mother's chocolate chip cookies. She only makes them for the holidays, handing out tins to relatives and good friends. They're so good, my sister and I still count to make sure we get an equal number of cookies. The problem is, my mom's recipe is a few twists off the Tollhouse chocolate chip cookie recipe. And she won't share what her twists are. I've come close to duplicating her cookies, but they still fall short. I'm anticipating seeing my mom this weekend and claiming my tin, but in the meantime I came across a great recipe for chocolate chip cookies that has it's own little twist of added toffee and hazelnut goodness. Enjoy this recipe, which I found on www.foodnetwork.com, and share …
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Five tips to help you keep your resolution.
Are you making a New Year's resolution this year? Do you want to lose weight, gain a new skill or organize your house? Whatever your resolution is, here are some tips to help you stick to it throughout the year. 1. Make it attainable. Be sure that your resolution is attainable. Sticking to your monthly budget is attainable—making a million dollars may not be. 2. Tell everyone. If you tell everyone about your resolution, you are more likely to keep it. If you want to quit smoking, you can even go as far as telling your friends that you'll give them $50 if they catch you lighting up. 3. Be specific. If you want to get fit in the new year, set a specific goal. For example, instead of saying you want to get fit, say you want to lose 10 …
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
You voted — see the results.
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Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Who has the best “decked” house in Weston, and beyond? We had tons of national entries in this year’s Deck the House contest and in our quest to find the most over-the-top holiday decorations in the country, we’ve seen everything from a life-size Santa to holiday lights so bright they could blind the neighbors. We loved showcasing everyone’s holiday spirit, but Deck the House isn’t over yet. We’re still looking for the one home so spectacularly decorated that it could be the national grand prize winner of our contest. We will choose 25 finalists from all our entries across the country. From Dec. 18 to Dec. 28, vote for your favorite and that person could win $100,000 for his or her local school district. All you have to do is visit this …
