Polished

POLISHED Holiday Edition

Avoiding Financial Stress

Tips on how to not break the bank this season!

Importance of The Holidays What we think you should keep in mind for the holidays!

Holiday Healthy Eating

5 Ways to not look like Santa!

Table of Contents Letter from the Editors Importance of the Holidays Holiday Safety Holidays with your In Laws Best Time to Shop Skipping Christmas How to throw a successful Holiday Party Homemade Holiday Decorations Black Friday Preparation How to Avoid Financial Stress Family Photo Guide Gift Guide Holiday Healthy Eating How to Give Back during the Holidays Bath & Body Works Coupon

POLISHED Letter from the Editors

W

elcome to our first edition of Polished! Our goal is to make

it easier for you to live a polished life. We provide simple steps to guide you to your desired lifestyle.

We wanted to make our

first edition holiday themed because we know this time of year is the most stressful. With all of the gifts, decorations, and food preparations it is easy to lose sight of how wonderful this season can be. In this edition of Polished you will learn how to make it through the holidays with less stress as you read articles about how to prepare for, accomplish, and enjoy this season. We hope that you can take something away from our helpful holiday guide.

Importance of the Holiday Season Around this time of year, it is easy to lose sight of what is truly important. We all get so caught up in buying gifts, finding the perfect tree to cover in ornaments, decorating our homes with fake snow and beautiful lights, making big meals for the family and friends who come to visit, family traditions, and completing all these other tasks that are incredibly stressful. Of course we are here to tell you how to make those tasks much more simple, but we feel we should talk about the reason why you do these things first. Simply said, we want to discuss the why before the how.

If you sit there and ask yourself why you have all these responsibilities or what is the point of all of this stress, then take a second to think. The most important part of the holidays is enjoying every moment because there are so many things to enjoy. Whenever you are stressing about whether or not the gift you want to buy them is good enough, remember it is the thought that counts. You are showing your appreciation of them. Think of the smile they will have on their face just because you are got them something. When you are trying to make that tree look perfect, make sure you have fun with it. Find someone else to help, turn on some holiday music, dance around and decorate. Whatever it looks like in the end is perfect as long as you love it. Your home is the same way – if you love it, then it is perfect. Do not

compare your decorations to anyone else because it is your home and you get to choose what it looks like. When you are preparing those big meals, get someone to help. Grab your spouse, your kid, your best friend to make it more fun. Cooking alone is never fun. When you are doing your family traditions, keep in mind why you do it. Teach the newcomers why you do that specific tradition. Traditions are always fun, so do not ever let yourself believe the opposite. With all the other endless tasks you will have to complete, remember that in the end everything will turn out exactly how you want it to be. You complete all of these tasks because you want to make the people around you feel special, and that is why they do it for you.

The holidays are an important time of year that you should spend with your loved ones, whether that be friends, family, boyfriends/girlfriends, etc. It is a time to celebrate how thankful you are for everything and everyone around you. It is the best time to show the people you love why you love them and how much you appreciate them. It is the time to get off that diet that has been depriving you of your favorite foods, or start the diet that you have been wanting to start for so long.

This is the time to be happy and feel loved.

This is the best time of the year, so it needs to be enjoyable.

Staying Safe during the Holidays

Online Shopping

Online shopping has become very popular for many people these days.

Although it may seem safer because During the holidays people can act you get to stay inside, but here are a few up in very interesting, crazy, or even dangerous ways. We wanted to give you things to watch out for: Check the website’s security. You as many tips as possible to maximize the - can check for a closed padlock on your safety for you and others around you. web browser’s address bar or a URL Holiday Shopping address. Never use unsecured wireless While out shopping for gifts and networks to make an online purchase. decorations, there are so many - Check the website’s privacy policy. precautions to take. Here is a list of Make sure you understand how your simple tips to follow: information will be stored and used.

- Park in well-lit areas if you will be - Never send cash through the mail shopping past the time it gets dark. or use a money-wiring service because - Do not forget to lock your car you’ll have no recourse if something and hide all valuables (or avoid taking goes wrong. valuable things with you that cannot be - Print and save records of your carried around while shopping). online transactions, including the - Try to shop with someone because product description, price, online receipt, there is safety in numbers. terms of the sale, and copies of any - If shopping with children, do not email exchange with the seller. Read let them out of your site. Have a specific your credit card statements as soon as spot to meet if you lose track of them. you get them to make sure there are Give them your number to carry around no unauthorized charges. If there is a to give to someone if they are lost. discrepancy, report it immediately.

- Stay alert to your surroundings, especially in the dark. Before entering your car, check in the backseats and trunk.

Home

Keeping your home safe is probably the most important thing you can do during the holidays.

- Be extra cautious about locking windows, doors, and even doggy doors when leaving for any length of time.

Close blinds when it gets dark so no one can see inside.

- Set indoor and outdoor lights on timers, and think about doing the same with a television or radio to make it appear as if someone is home.

- Keep valuables out of plain sight so that burglars have no temptation to break in.

- If a person knocks at your door and you don’t recognize them, don’t feel obligated to open your door. Teach your children the same rule.

- Consider adding cameras to your home.

Traveling Vacations can be so much fun over the holidays, but there are many things to be cautious about.

- Tell someone you trust that you will be traveling, but do not announce it on

Facebook or any other social media until after the trip.

- Find someone to watch over your home, and pets if you have any, get your newspaper and mail, and consider a security system to watch over them while you’re gone.

- Stay informed about the weather and while you’re driving.

Overall

Be as responsible as possible. Do everything you can to protect yourself, your family, and your home. You can never be too cautious. Holiday safety is incredibly important and can save you from horrible situations.

Holidays with your In laws

Q: What do I do if I have never been to their house for the holidays?

A: This can be difficult process considering you don’t really know where you are showing up. It’s important to know the families likes and dislikes. What football teams do they like? What’s his mother’s favorite flower? Bring a gift, it doesn’t have to be expensive, maybe a holiday candle, or a holiday blanket.

This is a time for you to settle in to the family and enjoy being a part of a new family. Use this as a time to get to know his parents, siblings, nieces and nephews.

Afterall you will be spending most holidays together.

Q: How do I have positive impression on his siblings?

A: It can go one way or the other.

Hopefully you have a lot in common with is sisters because they will be the hardest to get through to because that’s just how they sisters are. Try to to talk about what you know they like, if him and his siblings have a favorite childhood like a movie, suggest you guys watch one night. If you and his sister share a love for “Friends” suggest you guys watch the christmas episodes. It will be difficult if they have already made up in their mind they don’t like you, but just try your best to be their favorite in law ever.

Q: What if politics is brought up during dinner?

A: No surprise then that politics is often a topic of conversation among friends and family. For those with homogenous social networks, holiday dinners offer a great time to stimulate our primordial brains with uncontroversial bashing of political opponents.In former days, an etiquette maven might have declared politics to be off-limits for dinner-party conversation (along with religion and probably money and sex). But you can debate politics

without anyone storming out before dessert. Here’s how to keep it civil. If an idea you don’t agree with is brought just try you hardest to hold your tongue, but if there is something positive you feel like you could contribute then go right ahead. Hopefully you and your significant other have discussed politics before than they should know what not to bring up.

Q: Should I drink alcoholic beverages while I’m there?

A: Sharing a few glasses of wine with you husband one is totally okay! What is not okay is taking tequila shots of you husband’s stomach. What I’m trying to get at is if you do have a drink or two just make sure you are responsible. If you think that if you are starting to feel a little tipsy, you stop and just relax. Always make sure that you can retreat back to your room. Make sure you drink a lot of water and eat a good amount of the holiday foods.

Q: What do I do if I don’t like the food they make?

A: This can be the most trying time of your stay. You might be wondering “Why did she add raisins? How are they eating this?”. You just have to make sure your face doesn’t tell what you are thinking while at dinner. You just have to woman-up and eat what you can. You can always pull the “I’m stuffed!” and stealthily make your way to the trash, or of course if their dog is around-- feed the pooch. Just make sure you don’t get caught in the act.

Hopefully, These have been helpful tips to help you survive the holiday season with your in laws. You will make it through and just try to have fun, this is a time for you to reflect and be grateful for what you have, so just try to create some new memories.

Best Time to Shop During this time of year, many stores have incredible sales to attract as many customers as possible. It can be difficult to follow along with every single sale there is, and that is why we wanted to write this article. We wanted to help you find the best times to shop during the holidays.

- Thanksgiving

Most electronics are discounted the most on this, very busy, shopping day. Things such as headphones, smartphones, speakers, tablets, video games, and movies should be shopped for on Thanksgiving day.

If you are not the type of person to shop on such a busy day, the deals are just as good online. Along with electronics, clothing and shoes can also be at their lowest prices on this day.

- Black Friday

Clothing is usually discounted well on Thanksgiving, but the deals are even better on Black Friday. Again, if you would rather avoid the crowds, then online shopping would be the best bet (You may even get free shipping). Along with clothing, most appliances have great discounts on Black Friday. If you want any kitchen, laundry room,

Black Friday. Online deals may be even better as well because free shipping could be offered on any purchase. Also, gaming consoles (such as Xbox or Play Station) could hit their lowest prices this day because they are sometimes offered in bundles.

or cleaning appliances, this is your day to shop!

During this incredibly busy shopping day, you can also save the most on tools, beauty products, and toys. Even though most electronics are cheapest on Thanksgiving, laptops are cheapest on - Final days leading Black Friday. This is most up to Christmas likely the day you can grab Although Thanksgiving the best deals all year. week and the week after - Weekend after have a lot of deals to offer, Thanksgiving some stores drop their This is another good time prices to an all-time low to buy tools because right before Christmas to prices may drop due to give any procrastinators a stock. Usually stock is still chance to save! pretty high which provides - Clothing is tricky! a pretty good selection.

Clothing can be shopped Watch out for clothing for during any time of the that may be moved to the year if you search through clearance section after clearance sections hard Thanksgiving and Black enough. It is sort of hard Friday. to tell exactly when prices

- Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday is not a very well-known shopping day, at least not as much as Thanksgiving or Black Friday. However, TV’s can be fairly cheap on this day, maybe even cheaper than Black Friday deals. If you plan on traveling, flights and hotels are incredibly cheap on Cyber Monday as well. Keep an eye out on clothing stores because prices may drop incredibly low if a certain item was picked over a lot during

are the lowest for clothing; There are so many different times where there are really big sales such as Back to School, Labor Day, and a ton of other random weekends. Our advice is to always keep an eye on clothing store sales as much as possible.

However, the best deals are usually on Thanksgiving or Black Friday!

We hope we have made holiday shopping a little easier for you!

Skipping Christmas?: Best Vacation Spots

Do you get tired of going to your great aunt’s house every Christmas? Are you wanting a new view for your Christmas Eve? Maybe somewhere snowy and tropical, just different to your ordinary holiday surroundings? Here are some popular vacation spots everyone should experience during the holidays:

2

Whistler, British Columbia, Canada .

If you are looking to do more winter affiliated recreations, this is an exemplary place for you to choose from! Whistler is one of the largest ski resort in the North American area, so it won’t be too far from home. Weather is around the 4050s. There are many different style cabins to stay in at the resort, but there are . Seville, Spain hotels close to the resort if you want to Mild weather ranging from the 40s to experience the other activities nearby. If 70s in their winter. They have many you are looking to shred some awesome different summer activities and attracsnowboarding skills, this is the place for tions. One of the greatest things about Seville, is there affordable room rates year you. . Phuket, Thailand round. They are widely- known for their This is the ideal family vacation deflamenco dance-offs and The Gothic Sespite being the most expensive, it ville Cathedral, where you can find Chrisoffers something for everyone. Spa treattopher Columbus’s tomb. A wide variety of castles, and you have to try their tapas ments for the ladies, rock climbing for the guys, and boat tours for the whole family. (small Latin appetizers). Seville is a must see during the holidays, because you can Endless beaches to relax and celebrate the holidays in a different style.-er there attend their Christmas Three Kings Day ranging in the 70s to 80s, but when it rains, Festival. it pours. They offer many different religious temples to visit and experience.

1

3

4

. Santorini, Greece If you are looking for a romantic, magical place, Santorini is the ideal honeymoon spot. They are most known for their white village esque resorts. Their sunsets are breathtaking. The weather is sunny 60s-70s. They offer a wide variety of greek and and other cultural food, but if you go you absolutely have to try their ice cream sundaes. In Oia are narrow cobbled streets, white houses and blue domed churches. Oia is a very beautiful and romantic place. It is unique and the view out to the sea wonderful.

From Oia we went 11 kilometres to south to the Thira town which is the capital of Santorini. Thira is a centre for tourism, commerce and society.

5

. Florence, Italy The historic city of Florence offers plenty of world-famous attractions, including the Duomo, Piazzale Michelangelo and Piazza della Signoria.

After appreciating the city’s Renaissance architecture and art, sample some of the region’s delectable Tuscan food and wine at the city’s quaint cafes, gelato shops and restaurants. The weather is 60s-80s year round. The flight is on the expensive side but, well worth looking at the lights of the city birds eye view.

How to: Throw a Successful Holiday Party

There’s a way to throw a holiday soirée without emptying your wallet and clearing your calendar. Here are just few ways you make your party, party of the year! Rather it’s a party for a large amount of people or just a couple friends.

Start at a good time.

For your party, you don’t want dull moment from start to finish. Start at a reasonable time such as 9-12, just the right amount for a rager vibe. If you you will be serving dinner however try 7-10, either way just try to stick to three hours. That is just the right amount of time for great things to happen.

Themes.

First, determine what theme you would like, such black tie, christmas pjs, ugly sweater. Themes make awesome talking points and everyone will be taking pictures and posting them on instagram. Making your party and maybe more people are likely to come.

3. Food.

Will you be serving small snacks or are you preparing a feast to feed the entire neighborhood? No matter what you do, make it easy for yourself. Keep it simple, everybody loves pizza and beer, or cheeseburgers and fries. If you have children you can hop on Pinterest and find cute holiday snacks for them to make to serve to your guest, everyone will love it.

4. Decor.

When it comes to decorations, think small. Save space for food by displaying low arrangements of blooms in lieu of a large centerpiece. Use small accents, such as candy canes (they will be eaten), to fill any empty spots on the dining or buffet table.

You can also DIY your own decorations, just hop on Pinterest and find super easy crafts that can also double as decor.

5. Happy Juice.

This will probably what you should spend most of your budget on. You can serve holiday cocktails, seasonal beer on tap, or adult hot chocolates and apple ciders.

Anything to make your guest feel a little better, and get your party going. Make sure your guest are drinking responsibly. Your drink choices can make you party. Make sure everyone drinking has a ride home, and plenty of water.

We hope you throw a party you and your guests remember until the next one. Follow these simple steps to throw your rager. Your party can cause new friendships, and relationships if you do it the right way.

Homemade Holiday Decorations

Peppermint Ornaments

- Buy a bag of small peppermints (red & white circles) - Find or buy holiday cookie cutouts - Place the peppermints inside the cutouts on top of a baking sheet lined Christmas Light Christmas Tree with parchment paper - If you do not already have a set of - Put them in the oven until they melt christmas lights, they can be found almost completely anywhere for a very cheap price - Poke a hole where you want the - Put clear tacks on the wall for the ornament to hang from lights to set on - Add a string, tie a knot, then hang it - Create the outline of a christmas on your tree tree with the lights on your wall or tape the outline with lights on your door Painted/Fill Ornaments - Plug it in - Buy clear ornaments from the store

(they are usually pretty cheap) - Paint or fill them as you would like Cardboard Christmas Tree - The ornaments usually come with - Using a pencil and a string, measure a way to hang them, but after you finish and draw out 5 circles of different sizes decorating we suggest that you hot glue - Cut out the circles and poke 5-6 the cap to the ornament holes in each one (Make them as even as possible) Candy Cane Wreath - Spray paint every side of each - Buy a box of candy canes, which circle green are usually fairly cheap - Find a flat piece of cardboard of - Unwrap the candy canes and whatever size you prefer create a circle of hearts - Using a clear string, tie 5-6 strings - Hot glue all the candy canes together and tie a knot at the top together and wait until they dry - Starting with the smallest circle, slide - Tie a string however you would like the circles on to the string and spread around the center to hide the hot glue, or them out evenly add a bow over the center - Add as many decorations (using string) to your tree as you please

Black Friday Preparation

Black Friday can be so hectic that it becomes dangerous. The first thing you need to realize is that people are willing to do anything to get what they want during this day full of sales. Safety should be your number one concern. We are here to help you prepare for the craziness you will encounter shopping on this day.

-Budget

-Be

-Check your Ads

This is the busiest shopping day of the year, so you have to expect to deal with large crowds. Avoid taking children shopping, if possible, because it is very easy to lose track of them. The crowds rarely decrease in size, so no matter when you shop you will be dealing with people. Some people can be crazy, so you need to make safety your number one priority.

Create a budget for Black Friday and do NOT overspend. Go in to stores only for what you need and avoid all the “eyecandy� distractions and impulse purchases.

There are so many ads for Black Friday shopping, so make sure to look over as many as you can. This will help you decide which stores to shop at to receive the best deals. Compare online ads to in-store ads to see what kind of items you can order rather than adding an extra shop to your destination.

-Be prepared to stand in line

The lines during Black Friday could have you standing for hours. A way to solve this problem is to shop with a group of people and have one person from the group get in line right away (if it is allowed). This will allow you to hop in wherever they are at. This may irritate other people, but you need to do what you can to make the trip quick and successful.

prepared for the crowds

-Be respectful

Everyone there deserves to be treated with respect, especially employees.

Whenever you are shopping, do your best to be kind and helpful to everyone else. When it comes to employees, try not to get too frustrated with them. They are spending their day serving you and everyone else there, and they have probably already dealt with a ton of rude customers. This is should be your second priority while shopping.

-Be ready when you reach the register

When you finally get through the line, have every coupon, discount, and question ready to go.

You just spent quite a bit of time in line, so you do

not want to hold up the line for the people behind you. Know ahead of time your estimated total so that you can catch on to any prices that look wrong before you leave the store.

If you are using your phone to pull up coupons and discounts, then you should have them pulled up already. Do not wait until you reach the cashier to pull everything up because it is going to take way too long. Do not be afraid to ask questions, and do not get frustrated if the cashier is unable to help. You will need to have patience, even if you have a ton of other stops to get to.

-Overall

There is not too much preparation that goes into Black Friday shopping.

These are very simple steps to take that will make your shopping experience much easier on you and everyone else. Be safe, be prepared, and be smart and you will survive Black Friday with ease.

Avoiding Financial Stress

are so many big sales at several different stores during this time of year, so try to shop when you can get the best deals (Refer to our guide on The Best Times to Shop). When you reach your destination, go in only for what you need and avoid distractions from the other eye candy.

This time of year can be the most financially stressful time for everyone.

Buying gifts for kids, spouses, family, or friends can be very difficult when you do not necessarily have the right amount of money to get them what they want. We wanted to give you our best advice on how to avoid financial stress during this time of year because we understand that - Be creative it is not an easy task.

Instead of trying to buy everything you - Set a budget need, try making it. There are plenty of The first thing you need to do is decide DIY gift ideas or home decorations to how much you are willing to spend attempt to make (Refer to our Holiday without putting yourself in too much Gift Guide or How to Decorate Your financial trouble. Consider how much Home during the Holidays). Handmade money you will be bringing in from gifts are more thoughtful, and sometimes holiday pay at work, and try to get they are more appreciated because overtime if possible. Use that estimation of the time it took to create it. If you to create a list of the gifts, decorations, cannot make something because you food, etc. that you want to buy. Try may not be super artistic, spending to buy only what you need; do not quality time with someone is always buy every single thing you want. Set a special. Make dinner for them or take reasonable and specific limit on each them to do something they love. When item on your list and do not go over it, no decorating your home, try to create your matter how tempting. decorations out of random household - Do not buy what you cannot objects. When you have a big dinner to make for a group of people, ask each afford family, couple, or friend to bring dishes of It is very tempting to assume that going their own so you do not have to buy and over your budget is alright, but it can make everything on your own. actually cause a lot of trouble for you.

- Overall Remember that this time of year is not Avoiding overspending may be incredibly all about materialism, so the things you difficult, but there are very simple steps buy do not need to be the biggest, the you can take to prevent it. We hope that flashiest, or the best overall if they are our advice will help you make the best unaffordable (Refer to our article on the decisions possible for you and your family. importance of the holidays).

-

Plan your shopping

Figure out which places you need to go to based off your list (you always need to stick to your list); try to find stores where you can get multiple items at once. There

Holiday Family Photo Outfits Everyone loves to send out those classic Christmas holiday photos to their friends and family but sometimes you need new outfit inspiration. Here are a few tips and ideas to help you dazzle the camera. A Christmas photo shoot is an excellent way to capture holiday atmosphere, used in a number of countries to make Christmas cards. However, to arrange such a photo session, you need to follow some Christmas photography tips: a guidance on how to take best family christmas cards, how to take pictures with Christmas lights in background and more. We’ll help you make this holiday season special!

Christmas photography backdrops we suggest will make your photos unique and exceptional. If you are tired of scrolling through Pinterest in search of the best Christmas Photoshoot ideas – this article is definitely for you. By the end of it you’ll be filled with ideas how to make those adorable pictures for Christmas cards. The photos will be so incredible you will a hard time choosing the best one. Hopefully, they will help you make this merry season memorable.

Color ideas:

Red Green Maroon Black White Navy & Light blue Brown Try to make your colors match as much as possible. Consider adding an accent color.

Accessories: Vests Scarves Gloves Hats Boots

Do not go overboard with your accessories, their purpose is to serve as a small addition.

Classic staple textures: Plaid Fur Jeans Leather Sweater

Keep it simple with the textures. Avoid having too many because they might clash.

Gift Guide are many things to pick Affordable everyday items from when it comes to to Gift for anyone on your bath products such as Christmas list bath bombs, shower gel, 1.

Socks- Socks are a bubble bath, etc. classic go to for anyone in 7.

Blankets- who your life plus they are only doesn’t love a nice a few dollars and can be new blanket during the found at nearly every store holidays.

2.

Lotion- During the 8. sports themed wearwinter everyone’s skin starts A sweatshirt or blanket with to get dry and no one likes their favorite sports team is that so why not be the perfect for the special guy hero of the day and give in your life. someone lotion. They can 9.

Journals- For the come in many scents and writer in your life who everyone can use it. cannot get enough of 3.

Candles- Can be what they do a journal or for any time of the year planner is great so they but the most popular time have some where to write to use them is during the down their thoughts or winter and holiday times. upcoming events.

Especially when they 10. Gift cards- Gift cards come in scents such as are the ultimate affordable gingerbread, peppermint gift because you choose and more. how much money to put 4.

Books- Books are on the card and there is no great for the book lover on pressure on knowing what your Christmas list, as long exactly a person would as it is one they have not like. This is a great option read yet. for in-laws or bosses.

5.

Movies- Along with books, movies are a great affordable option. They can be reused numerous times and they are great for the occasional snow day. There also so many movies to pick from.

6. bath products- There

DIY GIFTS You don’t always have to buy something sometimes it is the thought that counts more than the gift itself, so why not make a gift yourself. Anyone and any age can make these gifts. picture collages - put together a collage of photos in a book or even on a blanket. This is a cute and cheap way to share memories stick date jar – This is for that special someone that cannot decide what to do when it is date night.

To do this get a bunch of popsicle sticks and paint them different colors and assign a color to each category such as free, at home, outside, and more expensive. Then on each stick write a date idea that falls under the category it is colored.

Happy jar – fill a jar with little pieces of paper with happy phrases and decorate it in a cute way. This is a good gift for someone who lives further away so they can get a piece of paper out and read it and think of you.

These are just a few gift ideas for the holidays, but it doesn’t matter what it costs or what it looks like it is always the thought that counts.

Holiday Healthy Eating Healthy eating is not always about wanting to lose weight, it is also about feeling good in your own body. You are the one who has to live it in so why not feel good about doing so, especially during the holidays. Everyone knows that eating around the holidays can be a struggle. Especially between going to holiday parties and going Christmas shopping along with the other one hundred things that have to get done.

But what if there was a way to enjoy those delicious meals and stay healthy, well there is, and the first step is you.

You have to have the determination to maintain a healthy environment not only with your eating habits but also the rest of your life. Here are five easy ways to help you eat what you want this season.

1-

HEALTHY PARTYING

When you get invited to the 7th holiday party of the season and you have to bring an appetizer, take something that you know you can eat and feel good about later. When everyone else is bringing cakes and cookies, take a veggie tray or trail mix. Another tip is to stand away from the food and enjoy the company and the holiday festivities.

2-

STAY AWAY FROM THE FOOD COURT

It’s easy to want to catch a quick bite from the food court after a long day of shopping but why would you do that if you could just bring your own healthy snack. Instead of getting a slice of pizza, have some apple crisps on you that way, you aren’t completely depriving yourself of a snack cause no one wants that.

3-

SWITCH UP THE FAVORITE MEALS

You don’t always have to stop eating your favorite meals all together, sometimes you simply have to create a healthier version. Instead of eating that fatty hamburger, try a veggie burger and try ham or turkey bacon instead of classic bacon.

4- DRINK UP

Drinking water helps cut down on carb eating and prevents overeating by making you feel full. Not only will you feel full, you will also be hydrated and ready for whatever holiday event comes your way. It is also an easy and cheap alternative to other beverages.

5- KEEP A ROUTINE

All though the holidays can completely shift a person’s daily schedule, one thing to keep constant is, when you’re going to sleep, what days you are working out, and what you are eating. Without a routine of healthy eating you will find yourself falling back into your old eating habits. So one way to keep a routine is to keep a bullet journal to keep track of what you’ve eating.

These are just some ways that you can help ease the stress of the holidays and feel good about yourself. So have fun and eat what you want this season cause there’s too much to stress about and food does not need to be one of them.

How to: Give Back During The Holiday Season Every year, the holidays slowly creep up earlier and earlier; stores are now offering their Black Friday deals well-before Thanksgiving weekend and October is being lumped into the holiday shopping season. This is a tie to reflect on what society has done to help you this year. We support Giving Tuesday (November 28). Giving Tuesday reminds us of the importance of getting involved in our communities and also happens to capture the power of reuse. Giving back doesn’t have to be a dreaded task every year, it a lot easier than you think. Here are just a few ways you can give back during the holidays without breaking the bank.

Donate Clothes Visit a nursing home Host a potluck at a church Send gifts or cards to the military Teach children the importance of giving Over Tip Bring lunch to those working on the holidays Pay for the persons coffee in line after you Give essentials to homeless shelters Host a gift wrapping party Donate cat or dog food to a animal shelter Adopt a family

Run a 5k Give blood Give away old phones Donate old books Start a mini garden Visit a prison inmate Clean a disabled persons house Give away old kids toys Hand out free hot chocolate and cookies in your neighborhood Make sandwiches for firefighters Have a conversation with a stranger Write letters to family members Become eco-friendly