Category: Holidays
Do you remember what a nightmare last year’s holiday shopping was? The parking. The crowds. Guzzling coffee at 2am so you could get all your presents wrapped in time. Okay, before you have an anxiety attack, here are some tips to give you an edge over all the other frantic shoppers out there.
The Three Ws of Holiday Shopping
Whose gifts need to be mailed out? Who will I see in person? Who can wait until after the holidays? Shop online for your far away friends and family and let the store send out the gifts so you don’t have to stress over going to the post office. As for the people you’ll see in person, well, there’s no getting around hitting the stores for them. However, for the ones you won’t see right away, that’s what post-holiday sales are for. Keep reading »
Need to escape the winter weather and destress from holiday hustle and bustle? A vacation getaway to someplace warm and sunny should do the trick. Here are five suggestions for sun-drenched destinations that will recharge your batteries and get you ready to face the rest of the winter season.
The Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic, known as both “the paradise of the Caribbean” and “the best kept secret of the Caribbean”, is not only beautiful and exotic, it’s more affordable than many other tourist destinations. Visitors to the DR will find an abundance of bewitching resorts that offer all inclusive packages. That means everything is paid for in advance; your meals, drinks, rooms, and even many activities are included in the price. This lush tropical island offers you paradise without the high price associated with many Caribbean destinations.
The Sunshine State
If you don’t want to leave the country, why not do what the snowbirds do and fly away to Florida. Most people considering Florida as a destination think of Orlando and Disney World first, which is definitely a great option, but there are numerous other locations in Florida that are immensely appealing. Consider checking out the Florida Keys, Miami, or other sunny sites in the state. Keep reading »
With the holidays practically upon us, it’s natural to feel some anxiety or even outright depression. It’s a natural feeling and one that is not relegated to those with family problems or no family at all. In fact, the pressure – real or imagined – on a person with a close knit family can be even more pronounced in some cases where there is an expectation of perfection.
Keep reading »
I am sure that Santa Claus (Saint Nick, Santa, Father Christmas, or whatever you call him) has had more than his share of practical jokes in the past hundreds of years. It never occurred to me, though, that he would come out as muscular and naked! Apparently, I do not have as much imagination in me as Barry McBee of Big Spring, Texas.
McBee, who loves to make people laugh, decided to put up a replica of Michelangelo’s David (yeah, that ultra-muscular guy with no clothes on) on his front lawn. Following the spirit of Christmas, he decided to add a white beard and a pointy red hat (Santa’s garb, in case you didn’t get it). All the guy wanted to do was elicit a chuckle here and there, but he got more than he bargained for.
According to city officials, they received complaints from parents whose children were inquiring as to why Santa was naked. Seriously, if I were a kid, I probably would have first asked how he lost all that flab! Anyway, city officials didn’t find McBee of violating any city ordinances. However, in the interest of keeping peace in the community, they asked McBee to “put more clothes” on Santa David.
It seems that McBee is an easy going guy – he gave in easily and dressed his statue with black and white shorts. After all, we cannot have Santa suffering from frostbite, can we? Oh, and just for the record: I think he should have gotten red and white shorts to match the hat!
Photo courtesy of Yahoo News
Short on cash but need a vacation? Who doesn’t? For those who have been having trouble coming up with a plan for the summer due to cash flow problems, the Rancho Bernardo Inn in Southern California just might have the solution for you.
Contrary to what many other hotels and resorts are doing (that is to offer more perks, freebies, and amenities in a bid to attract more customers), the management of Rancho Bernardo Inn is making lemonade, so to speak. They are currently offering what is dubbed the “Survivor Package,” which is an adventurous way of saying that guests receive practically nothing.
Well, there is a room with no bed, no toilet paper, no towels, and no air-conditioning. At least there is a bed, right? Oh, and there is only ONE light bulb to go by. This is the most basic package, costing $19 per night. There are variations, with amenities being added to the list. Naturally, the price goes up with each upgrade.
At first glance, I think that any sane person would be horrified at the thought of having to pay for a room without anything in it. Then again, I have been wrong before – and it seems that in this case, I am. A lot of people are actually buying into this marketing idea. Families are delighted that they do not have to spend hundreds of dollars on a room and they do not seem to mind bringing their own toilet paper and towels with them. As one mother put it, the boys feel like they’re camping and she can still go to the spa.
