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December 2008
Clearance sales: Stock up now for next year
Now that Christmas is over and all that’s left to do this year is party, it’s time to take advantage of the after-Christmas clearance sales and stock up on basics for next year.
Most stores have Christmas items at least 50% off already (and some even more!).
Things that are great to pick up now and save for next year: • Wrapping supplies — Rolls of paper, bags, tissue paper, gift tags and bows can be stored until next year. You can also find generic ones (think solid color wrapping paper, bows and bags) to be used for other holidays like Valentine’s Day and birthdays.
• Cards — Buy the greeting cards you’ll send out in 2009 now for half the price (or cheaper!). It may take some digging through the left-over boxes but you should be able to find enough to meet your needs in a design you like.
• Party, dinner supplies — Find your holiday paper products (plates, napkins, etc.), cups and even real serving dishes, plates and trays now and put them back for next year’s use.
• Decorations — Boxes of lights for half off or more, lawn or home decor you liked but didn’t want to pay full price for will still be pretty in 2009. Prettier still if you got a good deal on it! Ornaments, garlands, artificial trees and more.
• Gifts — Many gift sets available for Christmas aren’t in holiday packaging and can be used as gifts for the next several months (and longer for some depending on the content). Ones that work well include: Lotions and soaps (these are generally good for 6-12 months depending on what’s in the package - after that you might not want to give it as a gift); Some foods and candies (check for expiration dates and use common sense as for how long to keep it around); Slipper/pajama sets, other clothing items (as long as the packaging or design isn’t holiday themed these can be good for at least a year or longer if stored properly and if it is themed you can save it for next Christmas; Games or unique gift sets — You know the kind, they’re usually found in the center of an aisle or on an end-cap, often all have the same box design (or come pre-wrapped) and are sometimes useful (electric ice-scraper, ipod speakers) and sometimes just fun or intriguing (puzzle games, lighted tweezers). Remove the holiday wrap and these can be great gifts for birthdays or other holidays as well. Some of these unique items are hard to find at other times of the year, so buying them now insures you’ll have them when needed.
• Anything holiday you spotted but didn’t get from Santa or wanted but didn’t have the money to buy at full price. Now’s the time to get great deals, but be prepared - the item(s) you want may be long gone or you may find plenty left over.
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Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to all of my readers. I hope everyone has a wonderful day and that you got everything your heart desired!
To me, family is the best gift and I’m grateful to have them around to celebrate the holiday with. But I’m also a little sad thinking of those who have passed and wishing they were here to celebrate with.
So with that being said, I hope you all have someone to spend your day with and I wish you all the Merriest Christmas ever.
And once you’ve celebrated and had enough food, cookies, eggnog, etc. feel free to come back to the site today and play a few games, take some quizzes and view some photos.
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Christmas Eve is here
It’s Christmas Eve… truthfully, I’m writing this out a few days ahead of time as I am spending this time with my family and friends, but with any luck, as you read this, I’ve got my gifts all wrapped and the last of the decorations put up and I’m ready to celebrate (and watch all the wrapping be destroyed as loved ones tear open gifts! — There are a few faces I can’t wait to see when they unwrap their gifts from me!).
I hope everyone’s holiday season has been bright so far and that you have a wonderful evening and tomorrow with your loved ones. And I really hope that by this point, you’ve got your shopping all done! You’re down to just a few hours if not!
And since the big guy should be arriving in a few hours, what’s on your list this year? What do you really want for Christmas? Or, if you’re one of those folks who says every year “I don’t need anything…”, what’s the best gift you’ve been given?
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Share your holidays with us!
Have you been celebrating throughout the holidays? Parties, decorating, shopping till you drop? Hopefully you’ve been able to slow down for a moment amidst all the fun to take a few photos (unless of course, a camera’s on your wish list this year!)
Share photos of your decorations, celebrations, families, pictures with Santa, pets enjoying the holidays… you name it, we want to see it!
So share your photos and hey, after all the gifts are unwrapped, come back to check out everyone’s photos and take in all the holiday smiles! Or, if you get that shiny digital camera for Christmas, snap a few photos and share them. It’s a nice way to break it in!
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Need a nice Yule Log on Christmas?
If you’re lucky enough to live in Ohio, ONN (Ohio News Network) will air from 12 p.m. on Christmas Eve through 6 p.m. on Christmas Day, The Holiday Yule Log. The image of a decorated fireplace with a flickering fire accompanied by holiday music could provide a nice background for your holiday gathering or dinner.
This could be especially nice if you don’t have a fireplace. It’s easy to turn on the TV and “light a fire in the ‘fireplace.’”
ONN is available on Time Warner Cable.
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What are the best and worst Christmas songs?
When it comes to Christmas songs, nearly everyone has a favorite or two… and they’ve also likely got one or two songs that make them turn off the radio or abandon their shopping carts if it comes on the store muzak just to escape it.
For me, my absolute favorite Christmas song of all time has got to be Gayla Peevey’s “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas”. If it comes on the radio, everything else must stop (conversation, heat [if the blowing air’s too loud!], arrival at desired location) it matters not. I stop and listen for the whole song. Usually singing right along. My sister and nieces love it too and because of my love for the song, I’ve received a few hippos for Christmas over the years.
As for my least favorites, among others, don’t even get me started on ‘Happy Xmas (War is Over). If they don’t stop playing that one, I might cry. It’s so overrated and underwhelming.
Staff Writer Khalid Moss has compiled his list of the best and worst Christmas songs of all time. And while you’ll note that I strongly disagree on one in particular, we also invite you to take a look at the list and share your favorite and least favorite Christmas songs with us. Did Khalid get it right? Am I crazy for loving “the hippopotamus song”? What’s your take?
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Where are the best light displays?
If the weather holds out this weekend, the idea’s been tossed around amongst friends to go to Clifton Mill and check out the lights. We went last year and while it was SUPER cold, we still had fun. I’ve seen their lights nearly every year for as long as I can remember.
I also often make my way to Ramar Estates near Springfield (about 2 miles south of the city on State Route 72). Nearly the whole neighborhood decorates, and it’s quite a sight to see. And if you’re going to Clifton, it’s worth the trip over there too.
Do you have any light display traditions? When I was younger a friend of mine and I would always play a game as we drove around at Christmastime. We counted Santas and snowmen and deer, etc. and whoever spotted the most of them first was the winner.
So where are your favorite light displays? Is there one you miss that is no longer done?
Share your favorites and memories below!
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Finished shopping yet?
With just a little over a week to go until Christmas, I have to ask… are you done shopping yet?
I am certainly not. It seems like the holiday is creeping up fast this year. Too fast, really. I’ve got a lot of my shopping done, but I’ve still got more to do. And don’t even get me started on wrapping… I’ve only wrapped 3 gifts (and by wrapped, I mean put in a gift bag with some tissue paper) that are to be opened on Christmas this year. I have wrapped up a few things that needed early delivery to work and friends — but that’s it!. I imagine that come Dec. 23 (my family celebrates and opens presents on Christmas Eve) I’ll be wrapping until my eyes are blurry — that is if I’m not still shopping.
If you are still shopping, are you noticing any good deals as stores try to get all the sales they can before the year is up?
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I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown! and more this week
‘I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown!’ will air tonight (Mon., Dec. 15) at 8 p.m. on ABC. It will also air again on Saturday night (Dec. 20).
Tomorrow night (Tues., Dec. 16) ABC will air A Charlie Brown Christmas for the 2nd time this season at 8 p.m.
Wednesday night (Dec. 17) on NBC the all new “A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa” will air at 8 p.m.
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Frosty the Snowman on Friday
It’ll be a Frosty Friday this week, even without snow in the forecast (at least for right now — this is Ohio afterall). CBS will air Frosty the Snowman at 8 p.m. followed by Frosty Returns at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12.
When it comes to holiday specials on TV and the classic movies, which ones are your favorites? Rank them here in order and comment if we’ve left any out!
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Charlie Brown Christmas tonight, Frosty on Friday
A Charlie Brown Christmas airs tonight on ABC at 8 p.m.
Are you a CB expert? Take our Charlie Brown Christmas quiz and find out!
And on Friday, CBS will air Frosty the Snowman and Frosty Returns at 8 p.m.
Happy Watching!
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The worst gifts… ever
You know you’ve gotten one at least once in your life. The ugly sweater. The weird, off-brand doll with the scary looking eyes, the movie or book that you would rather die than read, awful smelling candles.
I’m talking about terrible gifts. If you’ve gotten one, you know it’s one you’ll always remember. And you usually have to lie about liking it. I know I’ve gotten a few things I’d have rather not (gift cards people!) but I still appreciate the thought and the fact that someone cared enough to think “I should get her something.”
I think the worst things I’ve ever gotten were things that I didn’t need and that didn’t fit. For example I once got a scarf, gloves and hat set where the gloves were way too small and I wasn’t crazy about the colors. Plus, I didn’t need new winter accessories. So… I re-gifted. But I re-gifted smartly, I gave it to a friend in another state from the giver. No chance of them coming across each other again.
That being said, what’s the worst gift you’ve ever received and why? What did you do with it? Names can be changed or omitted to protect everyone’s feelings.
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Rudolph, The Grinch and more make for a busy TV week
If you’re looking to start your holiday viewing off right, you’re in luck.
The holiday specials get a full kick-off tonight, Dec. 1, starting with Shrek the Halls at 8 p.m. and Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas at 8:30 all on ABC.
On Tuesday (12/2), ABC will air Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town a 8 p.m.
And Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer airs Wed. (12/3) night at 8 p.m on CBS. In direct competition wit it, also at 8 p.m., is the lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center live on NBC.
Apparently Thursday will be relatively void of holiday programming on network TV.
Friday (12/5) the live action Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas will air at 8 p.m. on ABC and again, in competition with that will be NBC’s Greatest Holiday Moments: TV and Film Countdown at 8.
Watch them with the kids, watch them for yourself… either way they’ll put you in the holiday spirit!
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