Projo Holidays Blog

December 2007 Archives

South Portland, ME – The new year has always been a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, forward to the coming year. It's a time to reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make and resolve to follow through on those changes. But resolutions aren’t just about humans -- pets are getting in on the action, too.

TRIPSwithPETS.com polled its visitors to find out what their New Year’s pet resolutions are. Here are the top 10:

10. No more table scraps: Our four-legged friends won’t be happy about this one! No more people food from the table or placed in the pet bowl, and no more plate licking either.

9. Keeping nails trimmed: Trimming pet nails properly can be a real challenge, but 2008 could be a year of fewer toe nails clicking on floors.

8. Disaster preparedness: It doesn't matter what part of the country you live in., we can all be affected by disasters. Putting together a pet disaster plan and survival kit should be a priority for 2008.

7. Brushing teeth: It’s recommended that you clean your pet’s teeth at least once a week, but not many pet parents do this. This helps a pet maintain healthy gums and therefore a healthy mouth.

6. Healthy treats: Treat your pets to more natural and organic snacks, instead of the processed ones.

5. Sit, stay, down: Pet obedience and training ranks high in the top pet resolutions for the year. A well-behaved pet is also a less stressed pet.

4. Car safety: Pet parents plan to better secure their pets when traveling by car in 2008 by using a pet car seat, pet safety belt, travel carrier, or pet barrier.

3. More road trips: Whether it’s a trip to Grandma’s house, a visit to the pet store, or a vacation to Hilton Head – pet parents are resolving to do more of them.

2. More bonding activities: Pet parents have vowed to include their pets in shopping trips, dinners at pet friendly restaurants, and activities at other pet friendly places.

1. More exercise: Whether it’s walks, runs, fetch or hikes, getting Fido and Fluffy moving is the top New Year’s pet resolution.

While New Year's Day is the big holiday on many calendars this coming week, there are several religious observances as well.

For Catholics, this Sunday is the feast of the Holy Family, commemorating the family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph and their flight into Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod.

On Monday, Zoroastrians -- whose numbers are few worldwide but whose religion pre-dates Christianity by hundreds of years -- will begin their five-day seasonal festival, Maidyarem Gahambar.

On Tuesday, Orthodox Christians celebrate St. Basil’s Day and the Naming of Jesus Christ,
commemorating how on the eighth day after Jesus’ birth, his mother Mary, in keeping with Jewish law, brought him to the temple to be circumcised and given the name of Jesus.

Anglicans refer to the feast as the Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and Catholics celebrate it as the feast of Mary, Mother of God.

-- Journal reports

Since Christmas has ended, the song What are you doing New Year's Eve? plays over and over in my head. It got me to thinking...

Years ago, my extended family would get together every New Year's Eve. Each family would take a turn to host the party. The gatherings would sometimes go all night. It was intended for the adults with card-playing, Guy Lombardo records in the background and food. Lots of food. it was the Italian side of my family. The kids would have fun, too. Some of us would play board games in small groups and some would join in the card games or start a young-player's version of poker.

I can't remember celebrating New Year's Eve in such a way since then. My family and I are usually too worried about driving from house to house for fear of drunk drivers being on the road. Sad, but true. So I sit in front of the television with a bottle of champagne and countdown to the New Year. (I've even shared a sip of the champagne with a my dogs in the past. None of them ever passed it up!) Many cable channels have marathon shows playing; could be the Three Stooges, The Twilight Zone or back-to-back Bond movies. I'm hoping to catch up on some of the new DVDs I've purchased.

So, what are YOU doing New Year's Eve? Have a Happy, healthy and SAFE New Year!

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve
When the bells all ring and the horns all blow
And the couples we know are fondly kissing.
Will I be with you or will I be among the missing?

Maybe it's much too early in the game
Ooh, but I thought I'd ask you just the same
What are you doing New Year's
New Year's eve?

Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight
When it's exactly twelve o'clock that night
Welcoming in the New Year
New Year's eve

Maybe I'm crazy to suppose
I'd ever be the one you chose
Out of a thousand invitations
You received

Ooh, but in case I stand one little chance
Here comes the jackpot question in advance:
What are you doing New Year's
New Year's Eve?

Getting in shape is among the top 10 New Year’s resolutions for most people. But, for many, it’s one of the hardest resolutions to keep.

According to a nationwide Angie’s List poll, 70 percent typically work out. Of those respondents 34 percent work out at a major gym chain.

“Usually, the trip to the gym is the first thing to go when our schedules get tight,” said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List. “But as competition for members grows, fitness centers are taking steps like offering child care and a greater variety of fitness classes to make working out more appealing and convenient.”

Finding time to make it to the gym is difficult for many people. By adding a home gym you can cut out the car ride and bring the gym to you. In fact, 20 percent of respondents in an Angie’s List poll say they’re getting fit in the comfort of their own homes.

“One of the biggest challenges to getting in shape is sticking with the commitment to a regular routine,” said Hicks. “For some, designating space in their home makes it easier to stick with the commitment because they can workout when they want and customize their space to meet their own needs.”

Here are Angie’s List’s 11 tips to help you find the right gym for your fitness goals:

>> Continue reading: Resolution alert: Work in finding the right place to work out

Don't throw out your old Christmas tree -- have it recycled.

Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation says "once you are done with your dried-up, needle-dropping, fragrance-free Christmas tree," you can give your Christmas tree will have a second life.

RIRRC will chip all trees it receives from municipal collections and use the material as mulch or in its composting operations. "If buried in the Central Landfill, the trees would waste valuable space better saved for non-organic material." says the landfill agency.

On average, 250,000 Rhode Islanders purchase cut Christmas trees each year to decorate their homes. Last year, RIRRC accepted 313 tons of Christmas trees. For the cities and towns, the diverted waste saved them thousands of dollars in disposal fees since the trees are tipped for free rather than at $32 per ton.

To prepare the tree for collection, remove all decorations, especially tinsel. Do not put the tree in a plastic bag.

Collection schedules vary depending on where you live. For more information about disposing Christmas trees, call your local department of public works or RIRRC at (401) 942-1430 x778.

I'm sitting here at home, with a cup of coffee, enjoying the peace of our property nestled in the woods of Richmond.

It's a lovely, sunny morning, with just enough chill -- 38 degrees according to my window thermometer -- to remind one that it's winter.

(It's also keeping those Italian Christmas Eve leftovers in the coolers and big pot sitting on the back step at the right temp. It was my turn to host last night, and everyone said my baccala (salt cod) in tomato sauce was the best I had made yet. Thank you, Nana, for all the lessons over the years.)

It's also quiet in my house, with no little tykes up since 5 a.m. yearning for their gifts from Santa.

For Bob and me, it's a time of reflection, to sit back and look at the pretty Fraser fir -- drooping a bit, I must admit -- full of the ornaments my mother and aunt have given me.

For us newsies, it's also a welcome break from the craziness of the world. For no matter what your beliefs, it seems as if Christmas Day is the one time of the year when news takes a holiday, too. Especially bad news.

We like that. Let's keep it that way. As long as we can.

Happy holidays to you all.

Andrea Panciera,
editor, projo.com

Ahh...

It's a sense of relief when all the holiday chores are done. Not that I am done, mind you. I'm going to have a house full of people tomorrow. I have tablecloths to iron, a table to set, food to cook, a house to clean and a year-old Boxer puppy at my heals the whole time.

But my sister and I did finish the cookies. She baked 6 kinds and I baked twelve. From the bottom left going clockwise, they are:
chocolate peanut butter chip
toffee bars
chocolate logs
cut-outs
almond crescents
cherry winks
cherry bars
prune cups
molasses bars
white chocolate cranberry bars
lime thumb print
butterballs
white chocolate chip bars
peanut butter blossoms
magic bars
raspberry chocolate chip bars
Brazilian coffee cookies
egg nog spritz.

Whew!

Merry Christmas!

I know a lot of folks around here are very familiar with the Italian Christmas Eve tradition of the feast of the seven fishes.

But how many of you have taken part in the Slovak meatless Christmas Eve feast?

My husband's sister married a wonderful man of Slovak descent, and because of Rege and his family, we've been able to take part in many such special meals at their home in North Huntingdon, Pa., outside of Pittsburgh.

The Slovak words for Christmas Eve are “bountiful eve” and the bounty of this evening lies in the wide range of festive dishes. The traditional meal for Christmas Eve is meatless in the Slovak Republic.

The meal begins with the “oplatky” or unleavened wafers imprinted with scenes of the holy birth. Coming from the Latin, “oblata” (offering), these wafers are common to Slavs living in the Tatra Mountains. The “oplatky” are eaten with honey (to be good and healthy as the bees are) and reminded the family of the unleavened bread of the Passover supper of the Israelites. The Sabols, (Rege's family) also use maple syrup -- which is a little touch of New England in Pittsburgh!

Following the “oplatky”, a soup of tart quality, usually made of sauerkraut brine and dried mushrooms, continues the exodus theme of recalling the bitterness of slavery; life without Christ. The Sabols often serve mushroom soup with the more traditional brine.

Pieroghies are my favorite part of the Christmas Eve supper. They are dough pockets, pastry filled with fillings of sweet cabbage, sauerkraut, lekvar, (prune butter) or potatoes and cheese and boiled.

The family also serves haluski, which is twisted noodles of dough mixed in with sauerkraut.

For dessert, we always have lots of Christmas cookies, and wine is also served with the meal.

And I even learned how to say Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year by looking up these traditions on the Internet:

“Vesele Vianoce a Stastlivy Novy Rok.”

In addition to the Cool Decade ornament I purchase each year, I'll get an ornament that will remind me of my dog. For Holly's and my first Christmas together, I picked up this ornament. Cute, huh? The gold heart tag attached to the dog's collar has the year engraved. Each year that I decorate my tree, I hang ornaments that remind my of my other three dogs from years past. Each ornament tells a story.

I love collecting Hallmark ornaments. This ornament is obviously for this year's Cool Decade. I must have well over 120 Hallmark ornaments!

A friend of the family gave my Mom the first one back in 1974. It was a Betsey Clark ornament. I referred to Betsey Clark's artwork of little waifs as the "onionhead kids". I was mesmerized by this ornament. I never saw anything like it. I think because it was new and different, it caught my attention. Back in the 70's there were lots of tacky ornaments. I remember my mother buying the plastic balls that were covered with some kind of "string" that stuck to my fingers. Each year when we'd hang them on the tree, they got worse because the material would pull away from the form. I still have them and can't part with them. Another year, my Godmother gave our family a set of six gingerbread soldiers to hang from the tree. I was so little, I thought they were real cookies! I took a bite into one of them to quickly find out they were styrofoam. I still have that ornament, too. When I hang it up, I have to laugh. You can still see my teeth marks.

I actually have three sets of ornaments; one set is from my parents and when we kids were growing up. Along the way, I added several more ornaments from my travels around the world. The second set is all Hallmark ornaments that I started collecting when I was in my late teens. Actually, that also makes up set three. The third set of ornaments are the Hallmark ornaments that are too heavy to be hung on a real tree, so I put those on the fake tree. Yes. I put up two trees! I put up a fake tree right after Thanksgiving because I can't wait to get a real tree.

Upload a photo of your favorite ornament and share its history.

While adding to projo's list of holiday giving options, I remembered something that's been bugging me this season. I could be wrong, but it seems I'm seeing fewer people dropping money into the traditional Salvation Army red kettles.

Maybe it's because these are the days of the debit card, or maybe folks are just a little too harried to pull out their cash, but lately, those bell ringers seem a little more lonely to me than usual.

But that little bit of change helps the organization serve nearly 5 million people at Christmas and 35 million people throughout the year.

Yesterday I walked by the one stationed in front of Providence City Hall. I made small talk with the bell-ringer, and promised to donate some change on my way back from my errands. He seemed very cold, and joked with me that he'd like to wear the scarf that was around my neck. Sorry, no scarf, but I did throw a buck in the kettle.

If you're feeling guilty about passing by these donation points, there's any easy, debit-ready way to still give. Go to the Salvation Army's Web site, and make a donation directly. They also have a way you "host" your own virtual red kettle. It's a fairly high tech way to do some old-fashioned good.

Has the holiday spirit put you in a giving mood?

The Providence Journal continues to publish requests from local charities for holiday giving. In addition to the full list of charities on our Web site, we've added a few more you may want to help out this season, or throughout the year:

GENERAL

VIPS (Volunteers In Providence Schools)

The organization provides after-school tutoring and enrichment classes to hungry teenagers who attend Providence public schools. There are 25 or so high school students who come each day to theTechnology & Learning Center every afternoon for three hours after school to get homework help and tutoring. The organizationreally needs gift cards from area grocery stores or donations that will help us feed these hungry and eager-to-learn teenage students. For more information, call Theresa Seddon at VIPS, at (401) 274-3240.

ANIMALS

Animals Depend On People Too (A.D.O.P.T.)

The group that helps homeless pets at the Cranston Animal Shelter and throughout the state, is in need of monetary donations. A.D.O.P.T. also helps families throughout the state with financial help for sick or injured pets, spays and neuters and other problems. Call Linda Monahan at (401)-826-0320 .

The Hope For Animals Sanctuary

The cat shelter is in need of cash donations as well as litter, toys, cat food, cat toys, and soft blankets for beds. The sanctuary is also looking for foster homes for some of its special needs cats. Volunteers are always needed. For more information please contact Ann at (401) 966-4129. The web site is www.hopeforcatssanctuary.com

To be included in either the newspaper or online list, send your charity's information, including a name and contact number to pjnews@projo.com. Put Holiday Giving in the subject field.

I received a Christmas card in the mail the other day. It was from my best friend from high school.

I was always quiet, shy and a loner. Wait. I still am. But there was something about Joan that clicked. We really got along! We had the same odd sense of humor. We understood each other without even having to talk. And we went through a lot together. I think we hit it off right away because we both lost our mothers at around the same time. I think we helped each other through it.

Anyway, after getting her note, it brought me back to old times. I remember one time when we traveled to down town Providence after school during Christmas. We stopped at the Outlet to visit Santa Claus. No, we weren't young children. I think we were about 17. We even had out picture taken!

Then I started thinking about the Outlet. Do you remember it? There are no department stores quite like it. My Mom used to take me into the basement to visit Santa Claus. Then after, she'd pay a quarter so I could get a grab bag. The grab bags were in two huge clown heads; one side was for boys and one side for girls. I remember being scared stiff to stick my hand in the clown's mouth for fear that someone would pull me through on the other side! But if I didn't, then no toy. One time, I stuck my whole head in to make sure nobody was on the other side. I even remember being a little rebellious one year and getting a toy from boy's side. I can't remember what it was but really, a toy is a toy.

It's funny how one little card can trigger so many memories. Take the time to send out cards and give someone a precious gift.

I know I'm in trouble when I'm only in day three and I'm all ready sick of cookies! Usually this doesn't hit me until my final batch of cookies on the final day of baking.Santa wouldn't appreciate the words that come out of my mouth. Then again, I believe I redeem myself by leaving him a big plate of cookie and a tall glass of milk on Christmas Eve.

You have to understand, with each recipe, I have to try the dough AND the cookie to make sure it came out perfectly. It may not sound like such a tough job but when you make three to four different types of cookies a day, it gets sickening. And I get sugar rushes.

Sunday I started my cookie baking. I made chocolate logs dipped in white chocolate, cut-out cookies and peanut butter blossoms. Monday, I made magic bars, raspberry chocolate bars and pecan toffee bars.

Today, day three, I'm all cookied out. The sad part is, I have ANOTHER day of baking! I know I'll get through it once I get started. Besides, today I'm making MY favorite: my great-Aunt Josie's recipe for butter balls! Yummmmm! I'll also be making lime thumb prints and egg nog spritz. If I still have the energy, I'll add one more cookie recipe.

Oh! Did I mention I made 120 vanilla marshmallows and 120 chocolate marshmallows? Insane, aren't I?

Just in case you couldn't tell, this is my Boxer, Holly. I've been waiting for a snow storm just so I could take her photo outside! Actually, my plan was to have just a dusting of snow and have Holly sit in the English ivy in my backyard. I was hoping to create a photo card that said "Holly in the ivy". I think this photo is prettier. It would have been perfect except all my cards have been sent already!

When my family and I moved here nearly eight years ago, we were surprised to learn that the big holiday entertainment tradition in Providence was Trinity Rep's "A Christmas Carol."

In Pittsburgh, "the" fast-selling holiday ticket was the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's annual performance of "The Nutcracker." Like Trinity Rep's annual show, the tickets sold out fast, and many families went year after year because they loved the show so much.

Photo by Thomas Nola-Rion
Festival Ballet: The classic shot with the Snow King and Queen in the center of the snowflakes.

So early on in our tenure as Rhode Islanders, we started going to see "The Nutcracker" by the Festival Ballet in Providence. This year's show runs through Sunday at the Providence Performing Arts Center. The 23 dancers in the troupe will be joined by 80 children, a live orchestra and a chorus. Performances are Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. For tickets, $18 to $60, call (401) 421-2787 or visit www.ppacri.org. The theater is at 220 Weybosset St., Providence.

In addition to Tchaikovsky's beautiful music and the stirring dance performances, the show always features a great little gift shop in the lobby, where you can pick up your very own nutcracker -- I happen to collect them, and I can never get enough. They also have lots of other gift ideas, too. Be sure to wear your holiday finest if you go.

Journal photo / Bill Murphy
Lori Bergeron (left) and Tom Gadoury, both of Jamestown, find plenty of room to shop at 234 Water, during the Christmas Shopping Stroll on Block Island, on Nov. 23.The Stroll is a quiet alternative to the frenzy of Black Friday at the malls.

I am one of those people who shop all year for Christmas presents. Whether I'm vacationing in a foreign country or browsing in Wickford, my eyes are always peeled for holiday gifts. It could be as early as January or as late as December. It could be the big gift or a stocking stuffer. Doesn't matter. I need to cross names off the Santa list.

Before you say you hate me, let me explain.

All of my husband's and my siblings (including us!) -- as well as three of our best friends, a godson and a niece -- all have December birthdays. And we all still exchange gifts so ignoring someone's birthday is NOT an option.

You see the dilemma.

Two years ago, I decided to get smarter about Christmas/birthday shopping. While I still shopped for all the birthday presents during the year, I decided that one fell swoop for Christmas presents would save a lot of time and energy.

So, because the family is full of Red Sox fans, I decided to get tickets for everyone. Since I couldn't get the actual tickets until February, I employed my younger technically savvy daughter, Caroline, to design fake tickets, which she did with flair. Then we gave them to 22 relatives on Christmas Day and later, in February, I bought the real tickets. We all went to the game together in August -- long after the Christmas toys had been broken and the cookies eaten -- and had a great family day.

This year I plan to attack my Santa list in a similar way.

Other options include a show at PPAC, which we have done on occasion for the adults in the family; or tickets to a play at Trinity Rep; or an event at the Dunk; or a basketball game or a hockey game or a PawSox game. Making plans to attend an event together accomplishes several things: it takes stress off the gift giver at Christmas; it allows families to spend quality time together without the holiday hassle; and it makes good lasting memories for kids and adults.

And isn't that the point of Christmas anyway?

Have a merry one!

MyGoals.com today announced its annual predictions on resolutions people are expected to make during the 2008 New Year's season.

MyGoals.com, a Web site for setting and reaching personal and professional goals, bases its predictions on the current year's third-quarter goal-setting activity. According to an anonymous, random sample of goals people have set at the site, this year's New Year's resolutions are expected to break down as follows:

Health & Fitness (at 28 percent) is the number-one category for people's resolutions. Of that percentage, weight loss is the number-one most common resolution, with most people wanting to lose 10 pounds and a lot of people wanting to "fit into my favorite jeans." Five percent of Health & Fitness goals were related to getting more sleep, which is an increase over previous years.

At 21 percent, the category of career goals comes in second. Actual goals people have recently set in this category include creating an independent successful private practice, becoming an architect, starting a jewelry business and finding a satisfying career.
This year, entrepreneurship jumped from 20 percent to 30 percent of career-related goals, surpassing those related to new jobs and promotions.

At 15 percent, personal growth and interest goals are tied for third with personal finance goals.

Actual goals people have recently set in the personal growth category include reading one book a week, learning more about wine, mentoring a child, keeping a journal, and updating a wardrobe.

Actual goals people have recently set in the finance category include establishing a stock portfolio, creating passive income, hiring an accountant, brown-bagging lunch 3 days a week, and paying off debt.

Other resolutions for 2008 are predicted to be better management of time, improving family relationships, making home improvements, increasing education and training levels, and taking a vacation.

>> Continue reading: It's time to start thinking about those New Year's resolutions

Just a small reminder (not really a push) to send out your Christmas cards early. With two brothers working for the United States Postal Service, I sort of have that ingrained into me.

Most of my cards have been sent. I'm sure there will be a couple along the way that I forgot to put into my address book, therefore forgot to send out. I usually send out about 40 cards. What can I say? I have a very large family.

I'm very picky about the cards I choose. Don't ask me why, but I feel I have to stick with Hallmark. Maybe it's because "I care enough to send the very best". Over the past few years, prices for boxed cards became a bit much for me. I'd rather invest the money in a gift. Not only that but also because I wasn't happy with the design AND the sentiment. I liked either one or the other.

Being a scrapbooker, I opted to create my own cards since I already have tons of cardstock, patterned papers and cutting tools.

I used to subscribe to Paper Crafts magazine. I found it to be helpful in creating and designing my own cards. I don't use exactly their patterns but something may trigger off a composition in my mind. It takes several weeks of browsing through different magazines (I also use Creating Keepsakes message board). Once I come up with an idea, it's like piecework.

Do you remember those commercials that had the line "don't hate me because I'm beautiful"? Well, don't hate me because I'm done with my Christmas shopping! Okay. Nearly done. I have one present left to get. I would have gotten it by now except for the fact that my cousin Patty was just too busy yesterday to give me any ideas! No offense, Patty.

Now comes the part I love to do. I love to wrap presents! I don't do anything fancy; no bows or ribbons. I make my own tags, though. Not so much because I'm creative. More so because I'm trying to match the wrapping paper and because I'm frugal.

Here's the big question most of us have during the holidays: How much do you tip service providers?

According to a nationwide Angie’s List poll, a third of respondents don’t tip their service providers during the holidays. Of those that skip out on tips, 24 percent say it’s because they don’t know how much to give.

To help sort through the confusion, Angie’s List consulted with several etiquette experts and service companies. “Tips are meant to be rewards for good service as well as supplement a person’s income,” says Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List. “So don’t let your uncertainty stop you from tipping. In fact, most experts say 'when in doubt, tip big.' "

The tipping experts say that it’s important to consider whether the contractor is someone you rely on regularly throughout the year, or someone you use occasionally, or only once.

“If it’s someone you use throughout the year, like a house cleaner or a babysitter, instead of a tip of cash, a gift at the holidays might be more appropriate,” Hicks says. “And for those one-time services, the tip can be determined by the size of the job and how well they did it."

With help from the experts, Angie’s List offers the following advice to help consumers get through the holiday season:

* Personal shoppers/concierge/errand services – tip of 15 to 20 percent is recommended, possibly more, depending on the complexity or amount of work you have them do for you.

* Hair stylists -- According to Angie's List, you don't have to give as much of a tip if you regularly tip your hair stylist every time you get a haircut. But, according to an Angie's List poll, 70 percent of respondents do tip their hair stylist during the holidays. The average tip: 15-20 percent of the total hair cut bill.

* Contractors who help hang your decorations, lights, etc. – A tip of $20 to $50 for the crew may be in order, again based on the complexity of the task.

* Event entertainment, such as Santa impersonators, carolers or musicians – a tip of 15 to 20 percent is appropriate.

* Bag boys or others who help carry your packages to your car – a tip of $1 per package/bag may be in order, though probably no more than $5.

* Chefs or caterers -- If you use this service throughout the year, a tip of $25 to $50 may be appropriate or a gift of equal value. If you hire the chef for a holiday party or family gathering, tip 15 to 20 percent based on the final cost. However, many advise you shouldn’t include the cost of alcohol in determining the tip amount. That decision, however, is up to you.

* House cleaners -- Many suggest $25 to $50, a day’s pay or a gift of equal value. If you use a service that sends a different house cleaner each time, this may not be necessary, unless you ask them to do some one-time tasks to help you prepare for the holidays – such as helping unpack and put up decorations; a deep cleaning before a party, etc.

* Babysitters, nannies and childcare providers -- For babysitters, the recommendation is a gift at the holidays from your kids, plus one or two nights pay. For a full-time nanny, one to four weeks’ pay plus a small gift from your kids is appropriate. For standard childcare providers, a gift at the holidays and $25 to $75 each. This may not be appropriate for some pre-kindergarten child care/education providers. Check with the manager of the facility to see what’s appropriate, which may be a small gift from your kids.

* Contractors you use year-round (such as yard workers, handymen, etc.) -- A tip of $20 to $50 may be in order.

* Mail carriers and daily paperboy -- Though the U.S. Postal Service frowns on gratuities and gifts for mail carriers, authorities request that the gift or gratuity be $20 or less. For daily newspaper delivery, a holiday tip of $15 to $25 is appropriate.

In my marriage, my husband and I have debated for years whether a live Christmas tree, or an artificial tree, is best.

He likes the no-fuss inexpensive route of buying an artificial, and I'm partial to the scent of the real thing I remember from my childhood.

You can respond to our survey: What's best: An artificial or live Christmas tree?

Truth is, I've won the debate. His artificial got put away the first year we were married. In the proceeding years we've done everything from tree lots to tree farms. And although the experience is great, cutting a tree down yourself can be a lot of work, unless the farm provides a lot of help.

Our North Kingstown neighbors make a family event out of going every year to Hartikka's Tree Farm in Voluntown, Conn. -- and we've been lucky enough to share the experience with them.

Children, parents and a little homemade schnapps make the trip. While everyone goes in their own car, the brother with the pickup truck is the designated tree-deliverer. Once each family picks out their favorite tree, Mike has the farm hands pile them all in his truck bed, and he drives around delivering them to each front yard. Then the decorating begins.

Here's a list of Christmas tree farms -- by state -- that provide links, directions and details of the 37 tree farms in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Good luck tree hunting.

A friend of mine from South Kingstown would bring his own handmade latkes to another friend's annual Christmas party.

They were a wintertime Jewish treat this mostly-Italian person had never tried to cook. Ken assured me they weren't that hard to make.

So, this year, I hope he's bringing them again.

But in the meantime, if you'd like to give the traditional Hanukkah offering a try, here are several versions of the recipe, from the classic potato to those made with zucchini and garlic. (Talk about a marriage of cultures.)

Another helpful hint from this writer at the Columbus Dispatch -- no need to fry them up while your guests are waiting. You can make them ahead of time, too.

AP photo
Noah Brezner, 4, holds a menorah while in his pre-kindergarden class at the Bertha Alyce Early Childhood Center at the Jewish Community Center of Houston yesterday. The class has been in preparation for Hanukkah for the past week.

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, begins at sundown today, which is at 4:15 p.m. in Providence.

The eight-day festival marks the Jewish people’s victory over their Syrian-Greek oppressors in 165 B.C. and the re-establishment of their political and religious freedom. It is customarily celebrated by the lighting of the menorah, an eight-branched candelabrum (with an additional server candle) with one candle for each of the eight nights.

According to the ancient story, when the Jews re-dedicated the Holy Temple, there was only enough oil remaining to light the Temple menorah for one day. Miraculously, as the story goes, the oil lasted eight days, thus the holiday’s duration now.

The method for using one additional candle in the menorah on each consecutive night of Hanukkah dates back to a compromise made by two first-century scholars, Rabbi Hillel and Rabbi Shammai, according to Rabbi Sarah Mack, associate rabbi at Temple Beth-El in Providence.

Hillel argued that the Jewish people should use one candle on the first night of the holiday and use an additional candle each consecutive night. Shammai argued that the Jewish people should light eight candles on the first night and use one less candle on each consecutive night. "And Hillel wins," Mack said.

If you’re lighting the candles tonight, put the candle for the first night of the holiday in the far right of the menorah, as you face the candelabrum. Another candle goes in the Shamash, which is the raised holder for the candle used to light the other candles.

On later nights of Hanukkah, when you have more candles in the menorah, place the first candle in the holder to the far right and then move left with the additional candles. Then, when you light the candles, light the one on the left first and move right, lighting each consecutive candle.

If you live outside of Providence, click here to find out when sunset is in your community. Go online to learn how to play the dreidel game that has held the interest of Jewish children for generations.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson (originally posted Dec. , 2006)

Great blog post at the official Google blog.

The hard news:

NORAD has partnered with Google to use technology including Google Maps, Google Earth, iGoogle and YouTube to track Santa...

The countdown begins December 1st on NORAD's website (Norad Tracks Santa), where families can find a new kid-friendly game or activity every day until December 24th.

But the cool part is the blogger -- Carrie Farrell is the granddaughter of Col. Harry Shoup, who, as commander-in-chief of NORAD in 1955, took a call to Santa from a wrong number printed in a Sears ad, and gamely asked his staff to check the radar for a sleigh.

The photo is of Harry and Carrie now.

Read it all :Tracking Santa, then and now.

I know I'm not en expert in A Christmas Carol but I've done my share of reading the book (several times), seeing the play at Trinity Rep (it can't get much better than our own Trinity) and watching theatrical and television movies.

In my opinion, the best A Christmas Carol is the one done by George C. Scott in 1984. Believe me, I've seen many versions of this movie and Scott was the best Ebenezer Scrooge by far. I saw it on AMC last week which means they'll show it again and again. Try and tune in if you can. If not, I recommend investing in the DVD. You won't be sorry.

Now my runners up, and don't laugh, The Muppet Christmas Carol. While it's intended to be funny, it sticks to Charles Dickens' book as close as a comedy can. Michael Cain played the next-best Scrooge. Also, on an even lighter side, you can't beat Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol. It's a cartoon and musical rolled into one. It offers up a few chuckles while still getting the message of Christmas across. It has a touching song, All Alone in the World that, to this day, fills me up.

Bill Murray's (whom I adore) Scrooged was okay. It was a little different; different enough that I didn't think of it as actually being a rendition of A Christmas Carol at all.

Then there were so many twisted and turned television-versions of Dickens' book along the way. Some were so bad, I have to mention them. I'll admit, I'm not a Patrick Stewart fan but I sat down to watch his portrayal of Scrooge. I'm embarrassed to say I didn't get beyond 20 minutes. It was just awful! Then there was Henry Winkler's An American Christmas Carol. I did watch all of that, but give me a break! I was a teen! A few years back, there was Lifetime's Ebbie with Susan Lucci as Elizabeth 'Ebbie' Scrooge. Need I say more? I don't think I even made it 20 minutes into this movie.

Is A Christmas Carol part of your Christmas memories?