Thursday, December 20, 2012
Five tips to help you keep your resolution.
Are you making a New Year's resolution this year? Do you want to lose weight, gain a new skill or organize your house? Whatever your resolution is, here are some tips to help you stick to it throughout the year. 1. Make it attainable. Be sure that your resolution is attainable. Sticking to your monthly budget is attainable—making a million dollars may not be. 2. Tell everyone. If you tell everyone about your resolution, you are more likely to keep it. If you want to quit smoking, you can even go as far as telling your friends that you'll give them $50 if they catch you lighting up. 3. Be specific. If you want to get fit in the new year, set a specific goal. For example, instead of saying you want to get fit, say you want to lose 10 pounds …
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
You voted and this house was the top local vote-getter in our Deck the House contest.
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Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Who has the best “decked” house in Acton, and beyond? We had tons of national entries in this year’s Deck the House contest and in our quest to find the most over-the-top holiday decorations in the country, we’ve seen everything from a life-size Santa to holiday lights so bright they could blind the neighbors. We loved showcasing everyone’s holiday spirit, but Deck the House isn’t over yet. We’re still looking for the one home so spectacularly decorated that it could be the national grand prize winner of our contest. We will choose 25 finalists from all our entries across the country. From Dec. 18 to Dec. 28, vote for your favorite and that person could win $100,000 for his or her local school district. All you have to do is visit this …
Monday, December 17, 2012
Shopping online? Here are some tips to help prevent someone making off with a package before you even know its delivered.
It's an unfortunate reality, but during the holiday season thieves are looking for opportunities to steal. In Burlington, the police logs in the past week had two calls of people coming home to packages missing. In both instances the delivery companies stated in their tracking services that the parcels had been delivered, but they were nowhere in sight. The following tips come courtesy of the Somerville Police Department:
Friday, December 14, 2012
Our Patch Elf on the Shelf has gotten ahold of our computer and now wants to know what his buddy elves are up to. Share your photos here!
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Friday, December 14, 2012
Hi friends! I'm the Patch Elf on the Shelf. Call me Patchy. I've heard about more of my friends hanging around the area lately, and I wondered what they were up to. Could their families post pictures here on Patch to show me? I'd love to catch up with them. We all go back to Santa on Christmas Eve, but in the meantime, we'll be watching you! Cheers, Patchy the Elf
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Consumerism surrounds the holiday season: is greed inevitable, and how do you avoid it?
For those children who celebrate, Christmas' biggest connotation can be a pile of gifts under the tree. With this in mind, a panel of staff contributors at The Chicago Tribune tackled the question of whether it's inevitable to see greed in their kids around Christmastime. The parents weighed in on suggestions to remind kids of Christmas spirit. Among their suggestions? Help your kids round up some old toys to donate to charity before giving them new toys. Sign them up to participate in a community service project. The Tribune's advice got us thinking at Patch about how we were taught or are teaching our kids to be less greedy around the holidays. Some of our suggestions? Find a giving tree and let your child pick a name or two off of it…
With trees, extra lights and candle in many homes this month, it's important to be aware of the fire hazards they present.
As beautiful as holiday trees and lights are, they present fire hazards many people may not be aware of. The American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts is urging homeowners to use extra caution this time of year to keep the season merry and to prevent holiday fires. The Red Cross provided the following tips to ensure a safe and happy holiday: Christmas Tree Care Holiday Lights and Decorations Holiday Candles
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
We're compiling a list of stores and restaurants open during the holidays.
Acton business owners: Is your store or restaurants open during the holidays? We're making a list and checking it twice. If you'd like to be included, leave your business' store hours in the comments below for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. You can also email your store or restaurant's hours on those days to Acton@Patch.com. Please provide your store's hours no later than Monday, Dec. 17 so we can give everyone advance notice of your store's hours during the holidays.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Feeling overwhelmed this season? Check out the list below for ways to stay healthy and have fun.
It’s that time of year again: the holiday season. There are gifts to buy, parties to attend, family to visit... and it all happens around your existing crazy schedule. This can be a time for joy and celebration but it can also be a time when people experience sadness, anxiety, stress and exhaustion. Here are 10 ways to stay healthy this holiday season: 1. With the exception of one night a week, stick to the same sleep schedule. Don’t try to make up for lost sleep by sleeping late. Instead, try to nap once or twice during the day for 15 minutes. Drink lots of water or other vitamin-infused drinks. Use cold compresses on your eyes to decrease swelling and increase brightness. 2. Set a limit for gift giving and stick to it. Use cash as much …
The U.S. Postal Service offers tips and suggestions so holiday packages arrive in time for the holidays.
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Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Are you one of the many holiday revelers with families and friends spread across the country and the world? If so, even before you dive into that gift list, it's important to know how early must you buy, wrap and post holiday gifts so they get to their destination in time for the holidays. Here are some suggestions and mailing deadline dates from the U.S. Postal Service to ensure your gifts are delivered on time and in one piece: Packing tips from the USPS: Calculated for December 25, 2012. Domestic Mail Class/Product Dates First-Class Mail® Service Dec. 20 Priority Mail® Service Dec. 21 Express Mail® Service Dec. 22 Parcel Post® Service Dec. 14 Destination Network Distribution Center (DNDC) Drop Ship Dec. 19 Destination Delivery Unit (DDU…
Make these brisket, latke, and sufganiyot recipes for Hanukkah. Or, get them to-go from local spots in Jamaica Plain.
This year, Hanukkah begins runs from the evening of Saturday, Dec. 8 to the evening of Sunday, Dec. 16. Observing the Festival of Lights goes hand-in-hand with making special Hanukkah foods. Before you light the menorah, make sure you have all the ingredients for some great brisket, latke, and sufganiyot. Although there are many recipes, below are a few to try during the eight nights. Hate cooking? Potato Latkes Ingredients Instructions Once they are ready to eat, try them with some apple sauce mixed with sugar & cinnamon, sour cream or just a sprinkling of salt. Brisket Ingredients Instructions Sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) from chabad.org Ingredients Instructions TELL US: What are your favorite things to eat during Hanukkah? Do you have…
Catherine Meeks
4:08 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
I hope she meant "lie on your back", not "lie on your bed", in #8. My bed isn't near the wall — ouch! more ›