Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Take advantage of after-holiday sales to save big for next year.
On Dec. 26, many retailers slashed the price of their Christmas goods, as well as many of the products they overstocked but didn't sell during the Christmas shopping rush. Their loss is your gain: You can save 50 to 75 percent, and in some cases even more, on gift wrap and decor for next Christmas, and consumer goods you can use now and all year long. Retailers slash prices on other goods this time of year, to encourage shoppers who received gift cards to get out and buy. So if you're not totally shopped out, here's a how-to guide on getting great post-Christmas deals: What to Buy Gift wrap - Wrapping paper, gift bags, tissue paper, gift tags, boxes, tape, ribbon, bows. Since it never goes bad, you can buy for next year and beyond. Also …
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen… but did you know that Christmas trees are edible?
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, according to someone. And even though that someone isn’t on our list of fun facts, there’s plenty of other Christmas trivia to brighten this holiday season. So settle down with a mug of egg nog and enjoy our gift to you, these 10 things you probably didn’t know about Christmas: 1. Your Christmas tree is edible. Well, unless it’s made of plastic. The bark of evergreen trees is not only edible, but is actually a pretty good source of Vitamin C. Just don’t eat the pinecones. And speaking of trees… 2. The average Christmas tree takes seven years to grow to a height of 6 to 7 feet. ...and is used for about two weeks. That means, if you were born today, and a tree was planted today, you’d be in second …
From lighting your mouth on fire to taking on the Puritans' Christmas ban, learn some holly jolly Christmas facts.
Whether your love of Christmas is rooted in religion or you’re more of the “be good for goodness sake” variety, the trappings of a modern Christmas are common to all who celebrate the season: the trees, the candy canes, the bird poop-inspired traditions. Just trust us. Here are five things you need to know about Christmas. 1. Americans buy 25-30 million Christmas trees annually, according to the National Christmas Tree Association (yes, such a group exists.) And at any one time, 350 million Christmas trees are growing on tree farms in the United States — that’s almost 42 million more trees than people in the country. 2. What’s your favorite Christmas tradition? A Yule log? Cookie baking? Bor-ing. Snapdragon is where it’s at. Snapdragon …
Monday, December 24, 2012
Follow Santa's trek on Christmas Eve live from Newtown Patch with space technology from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
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Monday, December 24, 2012
For more than 50 years, NORAD and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) have tracked Santa’s flight. According to NORAD, it uses four high-tech systems to track Santa – radar, satellites, Santa cams and fighter jets. Tracking Santa starts with the NORAD radar system called the North Warning System. On December 24th, NORAD monitors the radar systems continuously for indications that Santa Claus has left the North Pole. The moment that radar indicates Santa has lifted off, satellites positioned in geo-synchronous orbit pick up his trail. Satellites are able to detect infrared heat. Amazingly, Rudolph’s bright red nose gives off an infrared signature. The third tracking system is the Santa cam network. NORAD began using…
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Do you have items you no longer need? A number of holiday collections are underway and items can be easily donated at one location. Find out more.
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Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Are you buying a new winter jacket? Do you have clothes, blankets and other like-new items that aren't being used? Are your kids getting new toys to replace their slightly used ones? Do you have old cell phones that are collecting dust? If you have items you’d like to toss but aren’t sure what to do with them, a number of collections are taking place in Northampton Township and items can be dropped off at area churches and thrift stores. Clothing: If you have coats you no longer need or slightly used clothes, donations are being collected through Goodwill. A donation center is open at 2365 East Lincoln Highway in Langhorne, the site of a future Goodwill store. Advent Evangelical Lutheran Church has a shoe collection to support the St. …
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Take a picture of one of the baubles hanging from your Christmas tree and share it with the Patch community.
Christmas is only days away, and, hopefully, the house is all set to welcome Santa's visit. We already asked you to share photos of the outside decorations for our Deck the House contest. Now, we want to see what you did with the tree. Do you go with the white lights, or the multi-colored look? Tinsel or garland? Real or fake tree? Everybody has their own style, and we want to celebrate them all. There's no contest this time, just for fun. Find your favorite ornament, take a picture and upload it to this article. Be sure to add a caption describing it and why it's so special to you!
Fill your family's stockings with thoughtful little gifts without spending your whole holiday budget.
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Tuesday, December 18, 2012
My parents are stocking-stuffer experts. Every item in our stockings is perfectly personalized and tailored for its recipient. Some are sweet, some are thoughtful, some are silly, some are useful. They work together to pick up things here and there throughout the year. We always save our stockings to open last, and it’s one of my favorite parts of Christmas. I love to be handed a big, fat stocking, brimming with possibilities! (Our stockings usually come with an annex, a pile on the mantel or an extra bag full of all the goodies that didn’t fit in the stockings. My parents don’t stop filling the stocking just because the stocking is full.) Reaching in and pulling out small things, one by one, and appreciating the level of thought my …
Forgot to take the kids to see Santa? They can still get a phone call from the Big Man himself.
With Christmas Day merely 7 days away, if you haven't had a spare moment to visit the Big Man himself at the local malls and or other events, don't fight the traffic and last minute shoppers, there are other ways for you kids to talk to Santa (though photos ops not included). Vonage customers can call their dedicated Santa Hotline, which will connect your kids right to his the North Pole workshop and they can leave a message with what they want for Christmas. Your child's wish list, and message to Santa, will be forwarded to the e-mail that is connected to the Vonage account. DialMyCalls is also offering free Santa phone calls. Parents can set up the phone calls on the company's website and include the child's name and a personalized …
Sunday, December 16, 2012
As 'highly sought after collectibles,' Dr. Lori takes a look at Christmas Cards from the President and family over the years.
President Ulysses S. Grant made Christmas Day (Dec. 25) a national holiday in 1870. From that point forward, a Christmas card from the White House was a special keepsake. While these cards are highly sought after collectibles, these coveted Christmas cards are rare and do not come to the antiques and collectibles market without a high sales value. Here is a look at some of the facts surrounding the official holiday card from the President of the United States. President Truman took office after President Roosevelt’s death in April of 1945. As World War II came to an end and Christmas of 1945 was upon the nation, the mood was ripe for a great big holiday celebration. The Truman White House sent out official, yet conservative White House …
Friday, December 14, 2012
Here are ten ways to have fun and spread holiday cheer without breaking the bank.
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Friday, December 14, 2012
This year’s holiday season can be special for you and your family regardless of your budget. Here are some fun tips for creating new holiday traditions while saving money. 1) Make your cards from recycled materials. Cards can be made from paper grocery bags, cereal boxes, used file folders and even last year’s holiday cards. Feature your family’s artwork and use recycled wrapping paper or paper from catalogs and magazines for backgrounds. A great resource for making cards from recycled materials is "Creative Correspondence" by Michael and Judy Jacobs, available at Barnes and Noble or on Amazon.com. 2) Have fun together and create a festive decoration by making a gingerbread house. You can bake the gingerbread yourself and use royal …
Jesseka Kadylak
4:29 pm on Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Sure, Kathleen. But this article is about "little-known" facts of Christmas. more ›