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.

There is No Perfect Gift

Stop trying to find the perfect pink Angora sweater for Aunt Sally. If you try to find “the perfect gift” for everyone on your list, you’ll run around in circles chasing your own shopping bags. Buy gifts that are thoughtful, yet practical. If Aunt Sally has a favorite store, get her a gift card and let her pick out her own sweater. She’ll appreciate the opportunity to go on a guilt-free shopping trip on your dime and you won’t put yourself into so much debt you end up needing Mobiloans to bail you out.

Parking

You know that great parking spot that is right in front of the store? Fuhgeddaboudit. Drive straight to the back of the lot and park as quickly as you can. Walking is good for you and you’ll be a lot less stressed if you don’t spend a half hour just trying to park the car. If you plan on hitting multiple stores, you’ll save yourself hours of time if you take the first spot you can find.

Shop at Odd Hours

After a grueling eight hour day at work, do you really want get stuck in mall traffic and fight your way through the crowds? Try to squeeze in some shopping on your lunch break or go in the early morning. Use one of those vacation days you’ve been saving and try to hit the stores early before the post-work masses hit. Shopping will be a lot less agonizing if you’re not already worn out before you start.

Children

If you have kids of your own, you probably already have a mile long list of what they want. What about your friends and families’ children? What do you get them? The answer is cash Most children over eight know the value of money and how to spend it. Don’t try to figure out what kind of toys they like or what clothes they need. They’ll be just as happy to get their eager little hands on a card stuffed with cash as they would be opening a new toy.

The key thing to remember is that it is your holiday season too. Don’t let shopping ruin the fun of it. Use these tips to cut down on your holiday shopping stress to that you can do what’s really important; enjoy spending time with your loved ones.

Danae Barsky loves shopping but hates the holiday crowds. She also hates the financial stress the holidays put on the average individual. Don’t let your critical bills slide during the holiday season – gifts can always wait. If you are behind on your electric or foodbills, consider visiting Mobiloans for help getting through this tough financial situation.

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.

The Aloha State

Hawaii is the United States’ own tropical paradise. Not only do you have acres of sunny beaches and oodles of water sports from which to choose, there is a bevy of natural wonders to examine. At the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, you can see Kilauea, the world’s most active volcano. The Waikiki Aquarium lets you study more than 420 forms of tropical Pacific fish, seals, and coral. You may also visit Pearl Harbor and drink in the history. Hawaii is a destination where the whole family will thrive.

San Diego, California

Back in the continental United States, San Diego, California is another great choice for a holiday vacation. Although it is an urban location, this sunny city boasts over 70 miles of Pacific coastline and near perfect temperatures all year round. Lots to see and do here. Besides all kinds of water activities, there’s the famed San Diego Zoo, Sea World, and a bevy of museums.

Puerto Rico

Because it’s a US commonwealth, Americans don’t need a passport to enter this ‘gateway to the Caribbean’. A beautiful merger of two cultures, both Spanish and English are official languages here. There are hundreds of beaches in Puerto Rico creating 272 miles of breathtaking coastline. You can hike through the El Yunque Rainforest past silver kissed cascading waterfalls, soak up the history and exotic culture, and feast on a variety of delicious tropical fruits, seafood, and local cuisine. A visit to colorful Puerto Rico is sure to make your holiday memorable.

Winter is the perfect time of year to take a holiday from gray skies, snowy roads, and bitter cold. Why not heat up the season with a getaway to any of these warm, sunny destinations.

Guest post by Wenona Lousteau is a travel writer who enjoys touring the USA and beyond. She also writes about personal finances and enjoys studying how paydayone.com and other sites can help individuals with financial emergencies.

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.

The link between the holidays and depression has been well documented anecdotally and in research papers on the topic. The stress and potential isolation around the end of the year can be hard to balance against the good things going on. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

There are a number of things that can be done to help alleviate the damaging effects of the holiday blues. With some careful attention, a frown is turned around to the benefit of everyone concerned. And, if nothing works, always remember the season is over in a few weeks and life goes back to normal.

In the meantime, here are some suggestions for making it through the holiday season with your sanity intact:

Don’t take on too much. OK, this may be stating the obvious, but many people try to do too much for too many people during the holidays and it ends up falling apart. Forget about the “perfect gift” or the “perfect dinner” and enjoy yourself; your loved ones will be better off for it.

Make small daily goals that are achievable. Spread duties and chores throughout the season so the load isn’t overwhelming. As each goal – a Christmas present for Auntie May for example – is marked off the list a greater sense of accomplishment and satisfaction will be realized.

Avoid alcohol. Booze may have a cheery reputation, but it is technically a depressant and that is no good for people suffering from a down mood or even depression. Skip it in exchange for additional family time or as part of the overall achievable goal plan. Remember also, what happens at the company Christmas party often can’t be erased – no matter how many times you apologize.

Shop until you drop, on off days. Avoid the weekend crowds and search for gifts on a Tuesday afternoon when most people are at work. Take a day off if necessary and rekindle the old battery to help get you through the holiday marathon.

Don’t wait until the last minute. Goes without saying, but everyone needs a reminder every once in a while.

Make amends. If there is someone in your life that is the source of a conflict, extend the olive branch and see if it can’t be worked out. For many people, the holiday blues are all about pent up anger and resentment with a family member or close friend. In the spirit of the season, it’s a great time to make an honest attempt at smoothing the waves.

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.

It was not long ago that we heard of the “best job in the world.” Sandy beaches –among the best in the world – free housing, blogging, fish feeding, and the works; these are the things that the winner will have to face for six months. No wonder that the server of the organizers got swamped and crashed in the days following the announcement!

This time, they have a different sort of announcement: the winner of the contest!

Ben Southall, 34, is the lucky guy who won. He is a British charity fundraiser who was part of the 16 finalists who entered video clips to get the chance to live in paradise for half a year. And how does the winner feel about this? He is quoted as saying:

To go away now as the island caretaker for Tourism Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef is an extreme honor. I hope I can fill the boots as much as everybody is expecting, my swimming hopefully is up to standard and I look forward to all of the new roles and the responsibilities that the task involves.

Starting July 1, Southall would have the chance to “fill the boots.” He will not be alone in the island, however, as his Canadian girlfriend has been allowed to join him. All I can say is that these two are perhaps the luckiest people in the world right now.

As for the tourism department of Queensland? They are hoping that this stunt will result in dollars – lots of it – spent in tourism in the area.

Everybody’s heard of Florida and the many other vacation hotspots all over the US but not many have heard of the recently discovered Sea Isle City New Jersey. New Jersey is one of the most diversified US states that has a little something to offer for everybody. From skiing to mountaineering with the wonderful snow capped ski slopes and trails, to more warmer fun in the surf at Sea Isle city. Sea Isle City has a lot of trekking trails, bike trails and beaches, did we mention the wonderful beaches within reach of some of the best sea isle city rental properties in the state.
Get down and relax at the beach with the family, or go on a bike trip it sure breaks the monotony of daily life in the city. Many people have been kept from the beautiful state that is New Jersey and all it has to offer, till now. Give it a try and visit the state where sun, mountain peaks and surf share a common goal for your enjoyment and your family.

How many times have you wondered whether Santa’s reindeers are male or female? I am sure that if you have not thought about it lately, you wondered about it at least once when you were a child. We may never know the answer for sure but scientists over at Texas A&M University are trying their best to figure out the gender of the reindeer.

The Associated Press ran a story yesterday:

“Santa’s reindeers were really females, most likely,” said Alice Blue-McLendon, a veterinary medicine professor specializing in deer who cites the depictions of Santa’s helpers with antlers as the primary evidence. It turns out reindeer grow antlers regardless of gender, and most bulls typically shed their fuzzy protrusions before Christmas.

But Santa’s sleigh helpers might also be castrated males, known as steers, said Greg Finstad, who manages the Reindeer Research Program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Young steers finish shedding their antlers in February and March, just as non-expecting females do. Bulls generally lose theirs before Christmas, while expectant mothers retain their antlers until calves are birthed in the spring. This allows them to protect food resources through harsh weather and to have enough for developing fetuses, he said.

Sledders most often use steers because they maintain their body condition throughout the winter, he said. Bulls are tuckered out from rutting season when they mate with as many as a dozen females in the months leading up to December. That leaves them depleted and too lean to pull a sleigh or sled through heavy snows, Finstad said.

Alright, but I really cannot see anyone naming their daughter Rudolph.

People love to dress up. Its a fact. And its not just kids. Come Halloween, grown-ups and kids alike take to the streets in decked out from the simple to the outrageous, delighting in every moment of day where you can actually get away with dressing up crazy and not being thought of as a loon.

And in the UK the Brits, who adore “fancy dress”, get dressed up for occassions throughout the year, a “tarts and vicars” party proving to be one of the most popular.

But back to the holiday around the corner, which is Halloween. How did this tradition of dressing up in costumes come about? According to the History Channel:

The tradition of dressing in costume for Halloween has European and Celtic roots that go back hundreds of years. In the beginning, it was believed that ghosts came back to the earth and people would encounter ghosts if they left their homes. To avoid being recognized by spirits, people would wear masks so ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits.

Wearing costumes to ask for food or money, popularly known as ?trick-or-treat,? became popular in the 19th Century as Irish immigrants brought their traditions to America. Since then, costumes have ranged from cut-up sheets to elaborate dresses and suits.

For the past years, the climate has been changing. Initially some people considered the cold climate to fall in the holiday season, something that has been apparent from past years. The warm climate on the other hand would usually set in the summer where people would troop to the beaches and go surfing or swimming.

However, the change in climate has been mind-boggling. A lot has to be connected with the polluting air which has been known to affect the ozone layers leading to a global warming shift. While people have resorted to various practices to attend to such issues, it is obvious that the efforts have not been enough.

The effects can be seen in the rising case of illnesses and weird weathers during known seasons. Natural disasters such as storms, earthquakes and tsunamis have been coming one after another. Could it be the wrath of nature perhaps? Whatever the case may be, one thing is for sure, a lot of changes in the natural course of living are sure to be waiting in the wings.