Monday, December 31, 2012
Five tips to help you keep your resolution this year.
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Monday, December 31, 2012
Are you making a resolution this year? Do you want to lose weight, gain a new skill or organize your home? 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 and tone …
Friday, December 28, 2012
Mt. Brighton offers instructional camps, with instructors on hand to teach the basics to aspiring skiers and snowboarders, including some local families.
Local families were among the throngs of skiiers and snowboarders hitting the slopes Thursday at Mt. Brighton. One day after the first big snowfall of the season, the thrill-seekers sought instruction from the skiing destination's staff before heading for the hills. Enjoying the snow? Share your snow photos here on Patch.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Choosing the appropriate sparkling wine for New Year's Eve can make you dizzy before the first sip. Here's a handy guide to the intoxicating world of bubbles on a budget.
The pop of the Champagne cork is as much a part of the New Year’s Eve soundtrack as "Auld Lang Syne" and fireworks. The tiny, tickling bubbles evoke celebratory moods. With so many sparkling wines to choose from, picking the best bottle can be daunting. Prices for sparkling wine range from less than $10 to more than $500 per bottle. Keep in mind that while you usually get what you pay for, there are some great options for those of us on a budget. Large “negociant” champagne houses that purchase much of their fruit, such as Veuve Clicquot, Bollinger, Roederer, Taittinger, Perrier Jouet and Nicolas Feuillatte, dominate the market. However, in the last decade or so, Champagne from small growers has gained some traction with Champagne …
If you got a new smart phone this holiday season, be sure to add these apps to help make life a little easier while you're on the go around town.
A smartphone makes a great gift for yourself or for someone else. But receiving a smartphone is a bit like buying a pet: the fun parts also come with some work and some adjustments. Downloading apps that make life easier and incorporate local information is like training a puppy. It results in less hassle and more fun. The major difference between a smartphone and your computer is that it’s tough to see the whole Internet on that little screen. Apps are simply ways of displaying something you usually do on your computer’s web browser, but in a simpler and more elegant way that makes sense on a little screen. Each app is represented by a small square icon that you touch once to launch its features and functions, whether it be GPS navigation…
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Merry Christmas! Today is the last of our daily holiday-themed playlists.
Do you hear what I hear? It's Christmas! The gifts are under the tree, the stocking are filled and the turkey or ham is in the oven. Because we're so wrapped up in the holiday spirit, Patch has been creating playlists of Christmas music each day to help spread the cheer leading up to the big day today. So here's the deal: Each day, from today through Christmas, we've featured a uniquely different, themed Christmas music playlist. Today's theme is Children's Christmas. We've hand-picked selections from the likes of the Chipmunks, Muppets, Disney stars and other favorites. You can listen here, free and legally (via Spotify), without leaving Patch! But we also want your input. Post in the comments what you'd like to see in future …
Check out today's movie releases.
Dec. 26 is National Candy Cane Day.
It's National Candy Cane Day on Wednesday, which seems fitting given that you likely have a surplus lying around at this point in the holiday season. We visited the National Confectioners Association website to gather the questions and answers for a quiz dedicated to the striped peppermint candy synonymous with the season. The quiz is available as a PDF so it's easy to print off and share with friends or family gathered at your house for the holidays. Or just test your knowledge below: Candy Cane Quiz 1. Legend places the origin of the candy cane in the: A. 1900s B. 1800s C. 1700s D. 1600s 2. According to legend, candy canes began as a means of: A. Rewarding shepherds for successfully guarding a flock. B. Bartering for the Christmas ham…
How much will we spend this year? And what's the best-selling Christmas song of all time? Find the answers below.
We know that there were three Wise Men, 12 days of Christmas and that Santa delivers all his presents around the world in one night. But did you know... $23,439.38 How much it would cost to buy your "true love" all the gifts in the 12 Day of Christmas. 12.9 billion hours, $447 billion How many hours Americans were expected to spend shopping, wrapping and returning gifts last year. That was about 42 hours and $688.87 per person. Get your postman/postwoman a gift According to Hallmark, Christmas is the largest card-sending occasion . Nearly 1.5 billion cards are sent to friends and family every Christmas Season. (That's actually down 400 million cards since 2004.) $983 million The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from …
Monday, December 24, 2012
Thanks to NORAD, children young and old can keep track of Santa Claus as he journeys around the world toward Michigan
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Monday, December 24, 2012
For 364 days out of the year, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) spends its time tracking airplanes, missiles, space ships—anything flying near the United States and Canada. But on Christmas Eve, a team of volunteers spends the night tracking a very special pilot: Santa Claus. "We are the only organization that has the technology, the qualifications and the people to do it," NORAD said on its website. "NORAD tracks Santa, but only Santa knows his route, which means we cannot predict where and when he will arrive at your house." Santa usually starts at the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean and travels west, NORAD noticed, meaning he moves from the South Pacific to New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Africa and …
Each day leading up to Christmas Day, Patch will offer holiday-themed music playlists.
Do you hear what I hear? Christmas is a day away and the sights and sounds of the holiday season are in abundance. To get in on the holiday spirit, Patch is creating playlists of Christmas music each day to help spread the cheer. So here's the deal: Each day, from today through Christmas, we'll feature a uniquely different, themed Christmas music playlist. Today's theme is Traditional Christmas. We've hand-picked selections from artists spanning several areas covering more traditional holiday fare. You can listen here, free and legally (via Spotify), without leaving Patch! But we also want your input. Post in the comments what you'd like to see in future installments. The themes are as follows: So go ahead and click "play" at the top of…
cathy mcwhinnie
3:35 pm on Monday, December 24, 2012
Were are you Santa? more ›