Wednesday, December 6
(NewsUSA) - Deborah Crane hopes there's a bit of Santa in
everyone. Her dream is for every U.S. soldier to receive a gift from home this holiday season.
"The holidays make it even harder for soldiers to be away from friends and family," says
Crane, president of the online business Treats for Troops. "There's nothing like a festive holiday
care package to make a homesick soldier smile."
Among the gifts from Treats for Troops'
holiday workshop are holiday turkey feasts, festive cookies and candies, bright red stockings
filled with goodies, and special gifts for him or her.
If you don't know anyone in the
military, the company's Foster-A-Soldier program lets you choose a soldier based on branch of
service, home state, gender or area of deployment. Tens of thousands of soldiers are registered
with the program.
Gifts can be sent to individuals or entire units. Treats for Troops'
Group Gift Department is especially helpful for groups that want to make supporting the troops a
holiday project. You provide the budget, and the Group Gift Department can take care of everything
else, including suggesting gifts, helping to create a personal or company message, and making sure
you get the thank-you notes sent by the soldiers who received your packages.
"It was a
great experience," says Philip Montes, who coordinated a team effort for the employees of Saxon
Capital in Fort Worth, Texas. "The Group Gift Department helped us select 25 soldiers to sponsor.
We posted their profiles in the lunchroom, along with recommended packages. We were able to send
all 25 of them gifts we thought they'd really enjoy, and because [Saxon Capital] matched the funds,
we were also able to send packages to 25 other soldiers who hadn't yet received one. Everyone
really loved doing it. It was a very personal way to help."
In addition to themed packages,
Treats for Troops' online store offers the basic necessities that people serving overseas
appreciate. There are phone cards, comfortable socks, zip-lock bags and toiletries. Of course, the
store also offers every soldier's favorite: freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.
For
information on how to send a holiday care package to the troops, log on to www.treatsfortroops.com.
Usa hotels
(NewsUSA) - Soft candle glow, crackling fire logs and
garlands of twinkling lights brighten homes during the holidays. While enjoying the distinct scenes
and flavors of this time of year, give some thought to keeping your holiday home safe and healthy
for your family, pets and guests.
* Watch flammable objects. Fragrant aromas from scented
candles, room sprays and potpourri enrich living spaces. But flammable items, including pressurized
aerosol products, should never be used or stored around open flames, such as lit candles and
fireplaces.
Aerosols should not be exposed to temperatures higher than 120 degrees
Fahrenheit. Don't leave aerosols on or near hot surfaces; the furnace, stove, radiator and space
heaters are areas to watch. As a further precaution, do not keep aerosols in cabinets that are
adjacent to appliances that get very hot, such as an oven or water heater.
* Always read
the product label. Follow the directions for safe and proper use of the product. Use the product
only for the purpose intended by the manufacturer.
* Store safely. When using and storing
common household items, be mindful of the safety of children and pets. Lock medicines and place
household products out of children's reach, and check for child-resistant latches on cabinets.
Because chocolate is poisonous to dogs, and many human medicines are poisonous to dogs and cats, be
sure that these items are stored out of reach of animals.
* Prevent food poisoning. Wash
hands before food preparation and after handling raw meat. Separate cooked and raw meats, and keep
raw meats away from other raw foods. Utensils that are used to prepare raw meats should be washed
and cleaned thoroughly before using them to prepare fresh foods. Use a thermometer to be sure that
meat is cooked to a safe temperature. Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold, and promptly
refrigerate leftovers.
* Be a safe party host. Appoint one person to monitor each child at
the party. Provide visitors with a high, locked place for medicines and suitcases and purses
containing medicines. Also, be sure to empty glasses, cans, bottles, ashtrays and plates of
leftover food and drinks immediately after the party so children won't get to them.
Post
the poison center phone number on or near every phone. If a possible poisoning occurs, immediately
call 800-222-1222. An expert at your local poison center will quickly determine if any treatment is
needed and will tell you what to do.
For further information, visit www.cspa.org.
HOTELS IN USA
(NewsUSA) - From sophisticated holiday soirees to casual
gatherings, legendary nights require the right mix of fun, friends and spirits.
The pros
at Southern Comfort and Finlandia Vodka offer some time-tested tips that will help ensure that your
holiday get-together is the talk among your friends:
* Offer five to six appetizers per
person if other food is available; seven to eight if it's not.
* Have 2 to 3 pounds of ice
on hand for every 10 people; double this amount if serving frozen drinks.
* Chill glasses
by filling them with ice and water before making and serving drinks.
* Pour drinks
immediately after blending to keep them from getting watery.
* Measure everything. Your
drinks will taste better. One bottle of Southern Comfort or Finlandia Vodka provides, roughly, 10
1- to 1 1/2-ounce pours.
* Utilize fresh fruits and spices of the season for the perfect
cocktail, from a caipiroska to a mojito to a martini.
* Keep up on the latest cocktail
trends, but serve a few signature cocktails as well. Or, put a twist on classic drinks, such as
these recipes for a Finlandia Cranberry Smash and a SoCo Eggnog Martini.
FINLANDIA CRANBERRY SMASH
1 1/2 ounces Finlandia
Cranberry Vodka
1 ounce lemon juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup
8 to
10 fresh cranberries
12 spearmint leaves
Muddle mint, cranberries and
simple syrup; add lemon juice, vodka and ice. Stir. Garnish with a sprig of
mint.
SOUTHERN EGGNOG MARTINI
1 ounce Southern Comfort
3
ounces eggnog
Ground nutmeg
Combine chilled ingredients in a shaker (no
ice). Shake. Strain into a chilled martini glass rimmed with nutmeg.
New York hotels
(NewsUSA) - 'Tis the season to go shopping - which means
that the "most wonderful time of the year" is likely to bring some additional stress to your
already busy life.
To limit your stress and maximize holiday bliss, here are some smart
and savvy shopping tips.
* Make your list and check it twice. Decide who you will be
buying for and how much you are willing to spend before jumping online. Finding the gifts you want
to give without maxing out your credit cards is tough if you aren't organized. Look for an online
retailer that offers a gift planner that can help you create a budget and stick to
it.
* Get personal and shop smarter. Give something they are sure to love according to
their own interests, passions and personal style. Take advantage of PersonalShopper.com, a free
online service that allows you to enter the age, gender, unique personality and style preferences
of everyone on your list, then works to save you time and money by sifting through millions of
products. The site then recommends inspired gift ideas customized for each recipient to fit your
gift budget.
* Enjoy some holiday solitude. Turn on your holiday music and spend the day
relaxing while you do your online shopping in the comfort of your home. You'll be amazed at how
great you'll feel and how much you can accomplish by designating a few hours of "alone time."
* Don't procrastinate. Last year, more than 39 percent of consumers surveyed by NPD Group
said they will wait until the last minute to complete their holiday shopping. Don't put that extra
pressure on yourself and set aside at least 30 minutes each week to shop online for a few gifts. If
you still end up in a time crunch, avoid the crowds by taking advantage of express delivery
services available online.
Hotels in New York
Tuesday, December 5
(NewsUSA) - In American advertising, there are only a
handful of commercials, let alone animals, that consumers can recall. There's Morris the cat, Spuds
McKenzie and a few others, but one that has recently joined the ranks of the memorable is the Aflac
duck.
Ever since he waddled onto television screens in late 1999 quacking the word
"Aflac!" the duck and the Georgia-based insurance giant have become household names.
Two
years after its debut, the duck was seen not only peddling insurance, but also flying off
department store shelves during the holidays. Since 2001, Aflac and Macy's have partnered to sell
collectible versions of the popular duck, with all proceeds donated to children's hospitals
throughout the country. To date, more than $1.2 million has been raised.
"Our customers and
employees love the duck," said Ellen Fruchtman, Macy's divisional vice president of public
relations in Atlanta. "We're pleased that the sale of these ducks is helping the hospitals to
provide much needed life-saving services to children living with cancer."
The
limited-edition talking ducks are on sale starting Nov. 6. This year, they will be available in 140
Macy's locations nationwide. Along with the in-store purchasing option, the philanthropic mascot
can be purchased online at AflacHolidayDuck.com, macys.com or by calling
800-MACYS-4-U.
"Through this partnership, the Aflac Duck has become a philanthropic
symbol," said Al Johnson, Aflac's second vice president of Advertising and Branding. "We love it;
the children love it, and consumers love to support the cause in such a simple way."
This
year, customers can also purchase Aflac Holiday Duck gift cards at participating Macy's stores. The
gift cards are specially designed replicas of the famous Aflac Duck that can be used toward any
purchase in Macy's stores nationwide. A portion of the proceeds benefit participating children's
hospitals.
Thirty-two hospitals, including the Aflac Cancer Center at the Children's
Healthcare of Atlanta and St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., benefit from
the duck sales.
The ducks are a plush, miniature version of what little ones envision
Santa to be, complete with a beard, rosy red cheeks and a bag full of holiday gifts. They say
"Aflac, Aflac, Aflac!" when squeezed. The cost of the 2006 Holiday Duck is $10 for the 6-inch
version and $15 for the 10-inch size. For more information, visit www.aflac.com.
Usa hotels
(NewsUSA) - Holiday shopping is not easy on the feet. Not
only are you trekking from store to store, but if you have a long list of presents to buy, that
hour-long errand you intended easily turns into an all-day affair. At the end of the day, you bring
home a few unwanted gifts of your own: foot pain and blisters.
The American Podiatric
Medical Association estimates that the average person takes about 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day,
especially when on the hunt for that perfect gift. To help shoppers get back on their feet, the
APMA offers five holiday foot fixes:
1. Massage your feet. This will help release tension,
increase circulation and rejuvenate the skin.
2. Soothe your soles. Soak your feet for at
least five minutes in a container filled with warm water. Pat dry and apply lotion to hydrate your
feet.
3. Elevate legs. Lift your legs above your heart while lying down to help reduce
swelling.
4. Rotate ankles. Cup the foot under the back portion of the heel to brace the
foot and leg; turn slowly at the ankle five times. This loosens the ankle joint and relaxes your
feet.
5. Point your toes. While standing, do toe raises, toe points and toe curls for five
seconds; repeat 10 times. This alleviates toe cramps and strengthens calf muscles.
Check
out APMA's Web site, www.apma.org,
for a list of approved products including foot creams, scrubs and powders that are beneficial to
maintaining good foot health.
Hotels in Usa
(NewsUSA) - According to the AARP, grandparents spend $30
billion annually on their grandchildren.
As children receive monetary gifts in lieu of
toys, clothes and other items, the holiday season is an opportune time for parents to teach their
kids about personal finance basics and the responsibilities associated with managing their own
money.
"By using a bit of creativity, it's easy to teach children important monetary
habits that will last a lifetime," said Mark Resnick, director of sales for NetBank, the country's
oldest active Internet bank.
NetBank offers the following ideas designed to provide
children with rewarding ways to use their holiday gift money:
* Place holiday gift money
into a money market account, CD or other savings vehicle. By doing so, your children will be able
to see their money grow along with them. As part of the initial investment, have them write down
their short- and long-term savings goals. Review these goals periodically and show children how
quickly they can be reached by not spending all of their money right away. Encourage them to begin
saving for college with part of their allowance, or wages, each month for their
education.
* Teach children about the gift of sharing. The holiday season is the perfect
time to think of others. Help your children find a local charity to donate their money to, or go
shopping together for a new toy or clothes for another child in need.
* Show your children
the ABCs of banking. By opening a bank account in your child's name, you can teach the
responsibilities associated with money management.
A fun and easy way to manage money
together is through an online banking account. According to a recent study from the Pew Internet
and American Life Project, 87 percent of teens between the ages of 12 and 17 use the
Internet.
"A monetary gift is one a child will never outgrow. It gives them the opportunity
to make to make responsible and independent decisions," Resnick says.
For more information
on banking online, visit www.netbank.com.
Hotels in Usa
(NewsUSA) - There's nothing like a credit card bill the
size of Santa's sleigh to replace warm memories of the holiday season with a cold chill.
But if you plan ahead and shop smart, you can reap the rewards of credit card and retailer
programs that will put some cash back in your pocket.
For example, many credit cards offer
rewards programs through which shoppers can earn airline miles or cash-back bonuses. Check your
cardholder agreements and use the card that offers the best perks for your largest
purchases.
Also, take advantage of retailers' rewards cards. For instance, CVS/pharmacy has
an Extra Bucks program for customers who use its stores' ExtraCare cards. You can apply for a card
at any CVS store or online at www.cvs.com.
The
program essentially pays you back - giving you CVS money for every dollar spent in the store.
ExtraCare members earn 2 percent back with every in-store or cvs.com purchase and one Extra Buck
for every two prescriptions purchased in a CVS store or online.
Shoppers can stock up on
holiday necessities - such as gift wrap, gift tags, tape, stocking stuffers, candy and photo
processing - and receive their Extra Bucks rewards in January, when even headache medicine will
seem like a large expense.
Here are some additional smart-shopping suggestions:
*
When shopping online, use comparison Web sites to find the best prices. But be sure to pay
attention to shipping charges, which could turn your bargain into an extravagance.
* Look
at all the online auction sites. Like eBay, most offer new items, post feedback about sellers and
have buyer protection policies.
* Shop alone. A companion could just encourage you to buy
more.
* Check the prices of everything in the category you're shopping. Advertised items
aren't necessarily the least expensive.
* Make separate shopping and buying trips. Visit
the stores once to compare value and prices. Go back with your credit card or checkbook when you're
ready to buy.
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