SVM_Home for the Holidays_111222

What to get the family beach bum

Sandy beaches and the sounds of waves lapping against an idyllic shore line may not be the first images people think of during the holiday season. But the beach is never far from a beach bum’s mind, and that’s something holi day shoppers can keep in mind as they look for perfect gift for loved ones who can’t wait to dip their toes in the sand. If the weather outside is frightful, these beach-themed gifts can be just what beach lovers want to see under the tree this holiday season.

• Beach shade/tent: Beach shades and tents can make a day at the shore that much more enjoyable by protect ing beachgoers from the sun. Many beach shades and tents offer signif icant sun protection, making them the perfect places to look to for a riverside or oceanfront nap. Shades and tents also provide a welcome respite from the sun while eating or reading summer’s must-read novel.

• Beach hammock: Individuals or couples who want to take beach napping to the next level would undoubtedly appreciate a beach hammock. A beach hammock strung between two palm trees is the stuff tourism brochures

are made of. When shopping for beach ham mocks, look for one with durable tree straps and an attached bag that makes setup and takedown a snap.

• Sand-free towel: Perhaps the only nuisance of spending a day at the beach is bringing sand home with you. Enter the sand-free beach towel. Sand-free towels are typically made with microfiber that prevents sand from accumu lating on them. That helps beachgoers ensure

sand on their towels doesn’t make it to their cars and homes.

• Foldable blanket: A fold able blanket folds up and zips into a tiny rectangle and makes for the perfect place to enjoy a picnic at the beach. Foldable blankets that can be zip-closed can fold up into the size of a small pillow, making them highly popular among beach lovers who are accustomed to serving as sun-soaked sherpas each time they visit the beach. Sand-free fabrics make these ideal for people who want to leave the sand behind when it’s time to go home.

• Beach wagon: Beach wagons make getting from the car to the sand with your gear in tow that much easier. Collapsible wagons can fold up and fit easily into vehicle trunks when not in use. Depending on the size of the wagon, it may be able to carry more than 100 lbs. of cargo, in cluding beach chairs, coolers, towels, and more.

The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day might not be peak beach season, but it’s a great time to find items that can make beach lovers’ trips to the beach that much bet ter.

How to make the most of shopping holidays

prices possible .

Use a price tracking tool

Maybe the price of that gadget seems too good to be true, but could it go any lower? Utilize price-tracking tools to chart when prices go up and down so you know the best time to buy. With a resource like CamelCamelCamel, you can track the price of every item on Ama zon and even set price alerts when it reaches your desired price. For other retailers, Honey and SlickDeals can help shoppers get the best prices possible. Honey applies coupon codes and can alert users to price drops.

Cherry pick deals

Shortly after the Thanksgiving leftovers are put away, individuals’ thoughts shift to shop ping. This is likely why the biggest shopping weekend of the holidays tends to fall directly after Tom Turkey has bid adieu.

Black Friday, Plaid Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday all come on the heels of the Thanksgiving holiday. These pop ular shopping holidays present opportunities for shoppers to score great prices on items on their shopping lists. Shoppers can take some additional steps to ensure they get the best

Different stores will offer different sales. Use your shopping list to match up with newspaper circulars (or online sales notices) and mark off on the list which store to visit for each item. Cherry pick deals accordingly. FLIPP is an app that enables you to compare prices in newspa per fliers so you know who is offering the best prices.

Know your prices

It’s important to know the ordinary sticker price of common items and their price histories

before assuming something is a great deal on Black Friday or Small Business Saturday. Un fortunately, some stores inflate prices around the holidays so their “doorbuster” deals seem like a deep slash. However, a $20 item marked down to $15 may not be such a bargain when you realize the original selling price was $15. Being a savvy shopper means knowing the value of items before shopping.

Stick to a list and budget

Keep track of what you’re spending with a running tally if you’re not using cash. This will help to keep spending in check. Also, do not buy items just for the sake of getting them at good prices. This can bust your budget quickly. Make a list and try not to deviate from it.

Don’t be afraid to speak up

Ask the employees of the store if there are any coupons or promotions that you may be missing. Small businesses may have more wiggle room to work with you because they’re not beholden to corporate pricing strategies. It never hurts to ask, even if the answer is “no.”

Use smart strategies to get the best prices on gifts at the start of the holiday shopping season and in the weeks leading up to the big day.

Tips to prepare to host holiday guests

They’re back! Family, friends and acquain tances are once again taking up residence on cots and fold-out sofas across the country as loved ones gather to celebrate the holiday season. That’s welcome news nearly three years after a pandemic first restricted such gather ings. But hosts must ask themselves: Am I ready to host house guests?

Travel is a big component of the holiday sea son. According to a 2021 survey by The Vaca tioner, a travel tip and vacation guide, nearly 63 percent of Americans age 18 or older planned to travel for at least one holiday in 2021, with most traveling in December. That marked a 37 percent increase in travel from a year prior. Holiday travel for 2022 may be even higher as families adapt to life during the pandemic. As individuals get ready to host holiday guests, here are some strategies to maximize space and make guests feel comfortable.

• Discuss plans in advance. Every traveler is different. Some people thrive on making lists and following itineraries. Others fly by the seat of their pants. It’s reasonable to ask potential house guests how they envision their visit, including if they plan to stay long and if it will include sleeping over. This way you can make accommodations accordingly, particularly if

guests request to borrow a vehicle or want to see the sights.

• Create some extra privacy. While some homes are equipped to handle guests comfort ably, smaller homes may not be equipped with such luxuries. Folding screens can be used to create a barrier and add some privacy in open spaces where guests will be staying.

• Stash away travel samples. Travel-sized soaps, shampoos and lotions can make guests feel more welcome. Stock up at the grocery store or pharmacy and leave them in the room where guests will be staying.

• Stock up on new linens. Treat guests to fresh fluffy towels and new bed linens, espe cially if it’s been awhile since you have re stocked these items.

• Ask about food preferences. Your guests may not want to munch on kale chips and tofu hot dogs apart from the holiday meal. Don’t push your food restrictions on others. Ask guests what they typically eat and then fill the pantry and refrigerator with some of the items they mention. When guests need snacks, they’ll have familiar foods on hand.

• Be mindful of bedtimes. Consider guests’ preferences about bedtimes. While you may be a night owl, some guests may hit the hay much earlier, particularly older relatives or those with young children. If need be, make an effort to be quiet when kids or early birds are staying over.

Hosting for the holidays requires a little cre ativity and flexibility. All that effort is well worth it when loved ones have a good time while staying over.

4 gifts for the busy professional on your holiday list

The life of a successful professional can be hectic. Demands at work force many profes sionals to work long hours, and those days could be even longer for remote workers. In fact, a 2020 study of 2,800 workers by the staffing firm Robert Half found that 70 percent of workers who transitioned to remote work due to the pandemic now work on the week ends. The survey also found that 45 percent of workers indicate they now routinely work more hours during the week than they did prior to the pandemic.

With so much on their plates, busy profes sionals may not have time to shop for products that can make their lives a little easier. That makes the holiday season a perfect time for people to consider what to get the hardwork ing professional on their shopping list. These four gifts can each make it easier for busy pro fessionals to handle long days at the office.

1. Portable phone charger

Modern professionals rely on their smartphones to check and send work emails, keep track of their busy schedules and answer calls from colleagues, among other things. But those phones are only useful when their batteries are charged. Portable phone chargers are light

weight and easy to use, making them ideal for on-the-go professionals who need to keep their phones charged all day long. Professionals who spend lots of time in their vehicles may love a solar-powered portable charger, which ensures their phone batteries stay charged even when they forget USB cables at home.

2. Wireless headphones

Though some models can cost of hundreds of dollars, a reliable set of wireless headphones can be found for as little as $50. These head phones can be especially useful for profession

als who work from home, as many are designed to cancel out ambient noise, making it easier to participate in Zoom calls or other meetings even if the kids are being rowdy right outside a home office door.

3. Cleaning service

Few chores are less appealing after a long day at the office than cleaning a house. Many clean ing services offer weekly or monthly packages, and professionals would undoubtedly appreci ate someone taking this time-consuming task off their to-do list. Ask a relative or two to pitch in and help pay for the service if it’s beyond your budget.

4. Slow cooker

Slow cookers allow users to put everything in a pot in the morning and then arrive at night to a ready-to-eat, homecooked meal. These can be especially valuable to professionals who work long hours and don’t have the time to prepare a meal from scratch at the end of a workday. Whethers it’s portable tech, some help keep ing their homes clean or a device designed to simplify homecooking, various gift ideas can help make busy professionals’ lives a little less hectic.

Recycle and reduce waste for the holidays

The holiday season is a special time of year. Individuals often spend a little more on gifts, indulge a little more on rich foods and treats and make a concerted effort to enjoy more time with their loved ones during the holidays.

The tendency to overdo things during the holiday season can create a lot of waste. In fact, Americans produce 25 percent more garbage from Thanksgiving through the end of the year, according to Waste Advantage magazine, a publication of the waste and recycling industry. That uptick equates to one million tons of extra trash per week throughout the holidays.

Extra food, plastic and paper waste is gen erated this time of year, but people can be mindful of the potential to go overboard and take some steps to be more waste-conscious as they entertain.

• Reuse a small portion of wrapping paper or look for other wrapping items. Sunday comics, newsprint, colorful magazine pages, and even pieces of fabric can be used to wrap gifts in lieu of purchasing new wrapping paper. Otherwise, collect used wrapping paper and reuse it next year, doing the same with boxes and bows. According to researchers at Stanford University, if every American family wrapped just three presents in reused materials, it would

save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.

• Skip disposable party items. It’s certainly easy to use disposable plates, napkins and cups when hosting holiday parties, but that is very wasteful. Opt for durable, reusable products

that can be packed away and used each year during holiday events.

• Buy durable and reusable items as gifts. Avoid fad gifts and focus on items that will have staying power. Homemade gifts, such as foods, knitted scarves, artwork, and more, are general ly eco-friendly.

• Set up marked trash and recycling re ceptacles. Remind party guests to recycle the appropriate materials by clearly marking a pail designed for collecting recyclables, such as cans, plastic beverage bottles and glass wine bottles. Most hard plastics can be recycled.

• Remove your name from catalog lists. Call companies and ask to be taken off promo tional mailing lists to reduce paper waste.

• Send a photo. Mail holiday card recipients photos of the kids or the entire family in lieu of cards. They’re apt to save the photos and display them, helping to keep even more paper trash out of landfills.

• Research new recipes for leftovers. With an abundance of food remaining after enter taining, turn leftovers into new meals by ex ploring recipes from friends or by doing a little research online.

Waste can get out of control during the holi days, but there are ways to tame the excess.

Craft an entire day around tree shopping

Though retailers may begin playing holiday tunes shortly after Halloween, for many peo ple, no date on the calendar marks the begin ning of the holiday season better than the day they pick up their Christmas tree.

There are many different ways to acquire a Christmas tree. Some people prefer artificial Christmas trees that can be stored and taken out each year. Others make a yearly expedi tion to a tree lot or a Christmas tree farm to find the perfect fir or spruce. Historians believe a man named W.V. McGallard planted 25,000 Norway spruce seedlings at his Mercer County, New Jersey farm in 1901, essentially establish ing the first commercial Christmas tree farm. By 1908, customers could visit the farm and choose trees for $1 each. McGallard helped create an entirely new industry that now ac counts for 350 million trees being grown and sold in the United States every year.

Selecting a Christmas tree may not take

more than an hour or two, but there are ways for families and other tree shoppers to maxi mize their time spent looking for a tree.

• Bring refreshments. Couple Christmas tree shopping with picnicking if the weather is amenable. Pack some foldable chairs into the vehicle (sitting on the ground on a blanket may be too cold) and bring along thermoses of coffee or hot cocoa. Snacks like granola bars, Christmas cookies or other filling treats can keep everyone satisfied and energized while they shop for a tree.

• Pair tree shopping with a trip to see lighting displays. Find the tree lot or tree farm and then scope out potentially scenic spots to view holiday lighting displays near by. Neighborhood Facebook or other social media groups often tout homes that put up eye-catching displays. Ask around for address es and plan your own tours.

• Plan a night out. Everyone may be tired

and hungry after a long day of Christmas tree hunting. Plus, it’s typically a good idea to wait some time for boughs to open before decorating. Use this opportunity to dine out and return home ready to decorate. Make it a regular occurrence that Christmas tree shop ping is followed by a family meal at a favorite restaurant.

• Watch a classic film. Many different holiday movies are broadcast this time of year and each enhances the Christmas spirit. While putting up the tree, play a favorite film in the background. What better way to enjoy deco rating your own tree than by watching Charlie Brown adorn his meager evergreen at the same time?

Make a day of selecting and putting up the Christmas tree each year. Doing so can en hance the holidays and make for an entertain ing way to spend time together as a couple or family.

How to pet proof your home when decking the halls

The holiday season is a special time of year. Many factors combine to make the holiday season so unique and festive, and that includes all the effort people put into decorating their homes.

Much thought is giving to holiday lighting arrangements and which tree to buy, but it’s equally important to consider pets when decorating. Many common household pets are naturally curious, and that curiosity can make it difficult to decorate safely come the holiday season. But various pet-proofing strategies can ensure holiday decorations and displays aren’t compromised by fourlegged friends this season.

• Secure the Christmas tree. Much like other residents of the home, pets may be mesmerized by a glowing Christmas tree. Pets may sniff around the tree or investigate it closely, which can increase the chances that it tips over. That poses a significant safe ty hazard and underscores the importance of using a sturdy stand. Fastening the tree to a wall, much like one might do with a televi

sion that isn’t mounted, adds a further layer of protection from tip-overs.

• Block off the base of a live tree. Live trees need water to stay green and keep their needles throughout the season. That water could prove enticing to thirsty pets. Drinking water from a tree stand could increase the risk of the tree tipping over and the water could upset the stomach of pets if the tree was treated with pesticides prior to being brought home. When decorating with a live tree, make sure the base of the tree where the water will be is blocked off. A small fence around the tree could keep curious pets away. The room where the tree is located should be locked or inaccessible when pets are home alone.

• Inspect and conceal light wires. Wires can become frayed over time, and that could pique pets’ curiosity. Lighting wires should always be inspected prior to decorating and frayed or damaged wires should be thrown away, even if it means replacing lights. If wires are still sturdy, conceal them along

the base of the wall using a cable concealer, which prevents pets from chewing on them.

• Avoid lighting candles. Candles should not be lit in homes with pets. Even candles on shelves that are seemingly beyond pets’ reach can be hazardous, as pets, especially cats, have a way of accessing spaces they seemingly shouldn’t be able to reach. Use electric candles in lieu of traditional ones.

• Speak to a vet about seasonal plants and flowers before bringing them into the home. Pet owners can speak with their vet erinarians before bringing poinsettias, holly and other seasonal plants and flowers into their homes. Some pets could suffer allergic reactions if they eat certain seasonal plants, so it’s best to err on the side of caution and speak to a vet before including live plants and flowers in decorative displays.

Decorating is part of the holiday season. Pet owners must exercise an extra bit of cau tion to keep their pets and homes safe when decorating during this special time of year.