Now is the Time to Give
This holiday season, don't forget about the animals.
Shop Local and Online
The Web site http://www.etsy.com is an online marketplace that buys and sells handmade and vintage items. The majority of the people who place their products on the site are not large business owners; rather they are local (often "hidden") artists who are making products and selling them on the Internet. One of the most interesting things about this site is that it is a gateway between shoppers and local artists.
Shaggy's
Imagine yourself back in the '70s, in a VW van with a disco ball, lying on the couch telling your buddy to pass the J. You're looking good in John Lennon glasses and your shag hairstyle with a pair of corduroy flare-out pants and a tie-dye T-shirt. You greet your friends with, "what's happenin" and "let's boogie."
Love in a Bottle: Edible Gifts
My experience with Secret Santa has been a never-ending cycle of gag gifts and prepackaged hot cocoa in holiday mugs. Two years ago, I received a parcel that changed my mind, filled with exquisite jellies and preserves, like rare gems on a drift of packing peanuts.
Shake, Shake, Shake
So, you already have a snow globe from every state, plus Guam and Puerto Rico? Then, get creative and make your own original shakers.
Holga Happiness
Throughout our relationship, my boyfriend Mason and I have photographed our road trips and special dates with cheap disposable camera film. This tactic occasionally results in grainy and out-of-focus pictures, but it also consistently yields dazzling, comical images.
Tablescapes Made Easy
Despite whatever opinions you have about Sandra Lee, Martha Stewart or any other domestic goddess, setting a table can make a party even more festive. With the holidays coming, you will have plenty of opportunities to decorate, so take the opportunity to design your table décor as well.
Reindeer Games
My time line for the Christmas holidays usually goes a little something like this: wake up pre-dawn, cook, cook, cook, herd children, guard turkey, eat, clean kitchen, collapse. Even after everyone has devoured the last crumb of sweet potato pie, I am still obliged to entertain my guests with a smile on my face. This year, I say focus on the food and let the family entertain themselves with one of these games.
Hosts, Take Note
As a child growing up in Mississippi, I observed many gracious hosts and hostesses. With the passing years, I came to especially appreciate the hospitality of my parents, as friends and neighbors came to our house to enjoy leisurely Sunday afternoons and holidays. These events included boisterous laughter, heartfelt conversation and usually a decadent meal from the grill.
Party Fouls
Worst-case scenario: Dinner is over, and your out-of-state guests remain for more dessert and a drink. They are very relaxed. What would your reaction be? Would you (a) politely ask them to leave or (b) just walk to the door and open it?
Decoupage Your Pumpkin
Mateo, my son, loves Halloween. He claims it is one of his favorite days of the year, but he says that about his birthday and Christmas, too. I like Halloween, not so much for the candy, but because it's a fun time of year to decorate.
Sweet and Safe
These days, not a lot of people go door-to-door for trick-or-treating. Many families attend local harvest festivals or parties at their kids' schools or churches. Nevertheless, if you are taking your kids out this Halloween, remember to practice these few candy safety rules.
Halloween Happenings
Looking for a night of great family entertainment? Check out these places this Halloween and let the fun begin.
Cori Anderson and Mark Sullivan
Cori Anderson, then 16, was at a friend's house back in summer 2002 when she overheard Mark Sullivan, 18, telling someone he wanted to get rid of his car in order to minimize his carbon footprint.
Symbiotic
Green is en vogue, and I don't mean the color. Sporting purses and jewelry made from recycled materials, celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Christina Applegate, Sienna Miller and Katherine Heigl are donning not just designer labels but eco-friendly and socially conscious accessories. Sometimes I've questioned movie-star trends, but influencing us with forward-thinking green fashion is a good thing.