Seven Tips for Sparkling Christmas Letters Cynthia Ewer December 6, 2023 Christmas is coming, holiday cards and letters fill the mailbox--and it's time to write your family's annual Christmas letter.  Want your letter to stand out from the crowd? Looking for ways to spice up the same-old, same-old Christmas greeting?  Try these seven tips for a sparkling holiday letter. Start off on a positive note It's a trend you can count on! Roughly 95% of holiday letters begin with a sentence like this: "I can't believe the year has come and gone so quickly!" While we all feel this sentiment ..read more

Chill Out! Cut Energy Use in Refrigerator and Freezer Cynthia Ewer January 30, 2022 With power bills on the rise--and hot weather just around the corner--it's time for an energy-saving tune up for your refrigerator and freezer. Keeping food fresh while conserving energy can bring a helpful boost to the strained food budget. Try these tips to minimize energy use and save money on groceries. Fill the freezer, but give the fridge some air The freezer works most efficiently when packed as full as possible. Need to fill in some space? Tuck extra ice for cold drinks or cold-packs for summer picni ..read more

Online Subscription Not What You Ordered? It May Be Dark Patterns Recently, I experienced a troubling customer service issue with long-term partner iStockphoto. Since 2012, they've supplied images used on this Web site; I'd made changes to my subscription late last summer, believing I was signing up for a short-term, month-to-month plan. Read more about Online Subscription Not What You Ordered? It May Be Dark Patterns ..read more

Christmas Countdown Day 42: Holidays Ahead! Cynthia Ewer December 4, 2021 We did it! Time to look ahead to the holiday season ... because it's here!  For the past six weeks, we've been preparing for Christmas together. We've assembled a Christmas planner, organized gifts and giving, and conquered holiday chaos in the kitchen. Each day, we've pondered new innovations and old traditions, moving ever closer to our goal: a serene, joyous holiday season. Read more about Christmas Countdown Day 42: Holidays Ahead ..read more

Christmas Countdown Day 41: Wrap Up Preparations We're nearly there!  December is here, and we're ready to wrap up the last few chores, and prepare to celebrate. Today, look over lists, planners and inventory pages.  Are you ready?  Assess gift lists, check mailing dates, and look ahead to holiday menus. It's time to finish up the preparations, and open the door to the holiday season.   Read more about Christmas Countdown Day 41: Wrap Up Preparations ..read more

Christmas Countdown Day 40: Focus on Traditions Cynthia Ewer December 2, 2021 Christmas. For many of us, our picture of this holiday is a static one: we've "always" done this or we "always" do that.  Indeed, that idea of tradition and stability and connection is one of the deepest and most meaningful themes of the holiday! I make Aunt Bill's Brown Candy or Mim's Texas Pralines because my mother did, my grandmother did, my great-grandmother did. Read more about Christmas Countdown Day 40: Focus on Traditions ..read more

Christmas Countdown Day 39: Teaching Children to Give Cynthia Ewer December 1, 2021 Today's guest editor, Cub Reporter Perry Bear, takes on a ticklish parenting dilemma.  How do you teach children to give during a holiday focused on receiving?  Today's essay focuses on how to model and teach giving during the season. Perry has a suggestion, too, which is not so bad for a little teddy bear! Read more about Christmas Countdown Day 39: Teaching Children to Give ..read more

Christmas Countdown Day 38: Make Room for New Toys Cynthia Ewer November 30, 2021 Santa's coming ... will there be room to store new toys?  Adding Santa's bounty to overstuffed kids' rooms is a recipe for January clutter disaster--and don't even try to tell this Nana to scale back on presents for the grandchildren. Bah, humbug! About this time of year, it's a good idea to contemplate the toy situation in your child's room. It's a fact of modern life. Children's playthings have exploded in number, size, and complexity, while children's storage options have remained static.  Read ..read more

Christmas Countdown Day 37: Simplify Holiday Traditions Cynthia Ewer November 29, 2021 Here at the brink of the season, many of us find ourselves gasping for breath. Where did the time go--and are we ready? Right about now, take a moment to consider your family's holiday traditions. Do they still fit, or have you outgrown them? Will each celebration add joy--or stress--to the season's celebrations? Sure, take a critical eye, but also, take heart! Some of the most joyous holiday moments happen when you're off the clipboard, enjoying one another. Reach for them! Read more about Christmas C ..read more

Christmas Countdown Day 36: Celebrate Week Cynthia Ewer November 28, 2021 We're in the home stretch! It's Celebrate Week at the Christmas Countdown, a time to tidy up our preparations and shift gears into full holiday mode.oday!  This week, we'll complete and mail Christmas cards, finalize gift-buying and gift-making, and plan any holiday gatherings.  We'll finish holiday decorating, inside and out. We'll focus on family, bringing all family members into the holiday preparations. We'll consider the children, and find ways to teach children about giving, not just about getting ..read more