As the holidays quickly approach, the Texas-based winery releases a new red blend
Press Release –
Dec 15, 2022
BURLESON, Texas, December 15, 2022 (Newswire.com)
– Lost Oak Winery, a family-owned and operated winery located in Burleson, Texas, is pleased to share the launch of a new holiday wine, Holiday 2020, just in time for festive celebrations. This annually produced red blend is made in a more fruit-forward style to complement any holiday meal or enjoy with friends and family this season.
The Holiday blend was harvested between August and September of 2020, spending an average of 16 months in oak, and bottled on Oct. 20, 2022. It features aromas of cinnamon and candied plums balanced with a hint of vanilla bean. According to the tasting notes, these are welcoming flavors with notes of strawberry and rhubarb preserves while the finish harkens back to the cinnamon aroma with warm tannins.
“Our Holiday blend is versatile and pairs wonderfully with holiday dishes for various occasions,” said Roxanne Myers, President of Lost Oak Winery. “Whether you enjoy a traditional turkey or are a little more Texas and do tamales on Christmas Day, this wine is for you.”
Founded by Gene Estes in 2006, Lost Oak Winery is located on the banks of Village Creek, with three cultivated vineyards, stately oak trees, and winding walking paths. The family-operated, woman-owned winery specializes in French-inspired wines that are 100% Texas.
Texas is now the fifth-largest wine-producing state next to California, Oregon, Washington, and New York. Texas wineries contribute more than $13.1 billion of economic value to the state of Texas.
To learn more about Lost Oak Winery or to purchase wines directly, visit www.lostoakwinery.com.
About Lost Oak Winery
Inspired by founder Gene Estes’ creativity and passion for the art of winemaking, Lost Oak Winery was founded in 2006 in Burleson, Texas. The family-operated, woman-owned winery specializes in French-inspired wines that are 100% Texas. Lost Oak has continued its lengthy legacy with awards for its leadership role in the dedication to and support and promotion of the Texas wine industry, including its longtime affiliation with the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association.
It’s officially time to start holiday outfit planning and getting ready to put your best foot forward — literally.
One of the best parts of the season is getting together with friends and loved ones. Knowing that those moments will live forever in photos, you want to look your best. Yes, the clothes are important, but so are the shoes — after all, the pair you wear determines how confidently you carry yourself when walking into a room.
When it comes to holiday party shoes, you want to find footwear that fits well into your wardrobe, brings out your style, is comfortable enough to wear to a variety of functions and, of course, feels festive.
To make it easier, we found the best, on-trend shoes to wear to potlucks, gift exchanges, family dinners and new-year gatherings, from velvet heels to Mary Jane platforms. Shop them all below.
Just like people, cats and dogs like shiny things, wrapped gifts, and nibbling on snacks. This time of year, the temptations are plentiful.
That said, keeping them away from the Christmas tree (or any holiday decor) can be like teaching them a new trick.
So how do you keep your tree pet-free? Use these 10 tips to keep everyone jolly all season long.
Try a fake tree. Not only can you use them year after year, but they won’t have any of those pesky pine needles that could land your pet in the pet ER if eaten. Cats in particular are balls of curiosity, so they’ll check out anything that looks like it’s worth exploring. Even the strong smells can be a problem for your furry friends, especially when they have asthma or trachea problems (common in older dogs).
Prevent pouncing. A tree can seem like a huge activity center for pets. Keep your tree away from furniture they could use as a jumping off point to get at that tree and possibly knock it over. This isn’t as much of an issue with older pets, but better safe than sorry. You can also try a smaller table-top tree that won’t be as much of a danger if it tips.
Secure the tree.Kids and pets alike see a tree and think, “I should touch this! I should pull this!” But there are things you can do to help prevent a dangerous toppling tree. Use a heavy-duty tree base and make sure it is secure. And attach the tree to hooks on the wall or ceiling with fishing line or ropes (you can find decorative ones at holiday time).
Cover the water. Your pet doesn’t know the difference between their own bowl of water and the one at the bottom of the tree that may have toxic fertilizers and breed harmful bacteria. Tree water could cause nausea or diarrhea if your pet drinks it. Cover any water with a Velcro tree skirt or some other covering so pets can’t drink it.
Make your tree boring and unpleasant (to your pets!).Cats love sparkly things, so ditch the tinsel. It’s harmful to kitty tummies. Cats and dogs don’t like the smell of citrus. They also don’t like aluminum foil. One tip: Wrap the base of your tree in foil and line with orange or lemon peels. Just be careful with the strong smells if your pet has asthma or trachea problems. Talk to your vet if you’re unsure.
Keep your furry friends active.Make sure your petshavelots to do while you’re busy with holiday baking and online shopping.“Keeping your [cats and dogs] – especially the younger ones occupied and allowing them to get all of their energy out is key,” says Kim Johnson, DVM, an emergency vet in Ventura, CA. And, Johnson says, even with lots of their own toys and activities, never leave your pet unattended around the tree.
Watch out for glass and lights. Ornaments look like fun toys to cats. Glass from a broken ornament can cut your feline family member or could damage their sensitive digestive tract if eaten. “I tell my clients to move them about 3 feet higher on the tree,” says Johnson. They will be harder for furry paws to swipe. This goes for lights too, says Johnson, which can cause shock and organ failure if chewed on by your kitty.
Avoid the ‘Home Alone’ problem. Don’t leave your pets alone with the tree – or lit candles, or unattended food, or holiday plants. “No matter how old your pet is, they have the mind of a 2- or 3-year-old toddler,” says Johnson. “Think about that in human terms. You wouldn’t leave your toddler around the Christmas tree alone, so it’s the same for cats and dogs.”
Consider a pet fence around the tree. You can use a small indoor fence to surround the tree so no little paws can get close. You can pick one of these up at your local pet store or online if you don’t have one already. They come in all shapes and varieties – even clear plexiglass so pets (and kids) can look but not touch! But talk to your vet first – these may not be practical for particularly large or athletic pets.
Get wild – go treeless. You can create your own pet-safe centerpiece to replace a traditional tree. Look online for creative ideas made from metal, wood, or even from a collection of holiday cards arranged in the shape of a tree. It just might become your tradition – and certainly party topic – for years to come.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
The holiday season is here, and while that might mean family gatherings and hot chocolate for some, for those of us in customer success, it can mean high-intensity and understaffed teams. The last two months of the year tend to be frenzied. Leading up to holiday vacations, clients are rushing to wrap up projects before they’re out of the office, organizations want to utilize the remaining budget for the year, and even those who aren’t taking vacations are rushing to wrap up projects because they know that so many others will be unavailable.
This can create a lot of pressure for your customer experience teams that these employees turn to during this season — not only because your teams will have to deftly help clients under stress, but because your teams might also be trying to prep for their own holiday vacations or working with a smaller headcount than usual if holidays have already begun. This means both clients and employees can end up unhappy.
But it’s not too late to be proactive and ensure that your customer success team has a great holiday season. Here are some best practices to help you succeed:
Start early: While talking about the holidays in September might feel silly, at my company, we start talking about them long before they arrive. This is part of our strategy to go into the season with our eyes wide open at every level of the organization. We learned this the hard way two years ago when we underprepared, and our customer success team ended up with a large backlog and frustrated customers.
When we bring it up early, it gives us time to think through the challenges of the previous year, brainstorm solutions and then actually build the systems needed to implement them. Employees and managers get the chance to share what went right and what didn’t so they can prep on both team and individual levels.
Talking openly about anticipated staffing needs also gives team members the opportunity to share their vacation plans early. This then helps us anticipate our workforce size more accurately and plan accordingly.
Use data to plan: Two years ago, we didn’t have solid data from this time period, making it challenging to be prepared both in the moment and the following year. This led to poor staffing, which resulted in poor customer experience. Since then, we have put a lot of effort into creating data analytics and gathering and utilizing data from previous years to understand peak and down times, which in turn helps us optimize staffing.
Within the organization: Once the holidays start, no matter how much you’ve prepped plans and people, the rush can still be overwhelming. We focus on staying in tune with our employees’ sentiments and morale to make sure that we can step in if someone needs a boost or a break.
On top of that, we try to be proactive in not only fairly compensating people who work special hours, but also in giving everyone recognition for their hard work. It’s true that this is always a priority for us — but especially during the holiday season, it goes an extra-long way.
To ensure the support team has the resources they need, we have on-call contacts in other key teams so that even when people are out of the office, there’s always someone to turn to, whether it’s IT issues, sales questions or development emergencies. This helps things run smoothly when the support team is dependent on other departments in the organization.
Outside the organization: During the holidays, we’re open with clients about the fact that responses might be slower than usual between specific dates. Typically, we display banners on our site with this notification. Letting clients and users know what to expect over the course of a few weeks helps them plan their own work and minimizes frustration down the line.
Immediately after the season ends, it’s time to start prepping for the next year. This means taking notes on everything that went right and everything that went wrong while it’s still fresh in our minds. Employees might have had a different experience than our leadership, so we debrief with the teams to get their input on how things went and include that information in our notes, too. If there is any feedback that’s immediately relevant, we work to implement it right away. Otherwise, we store our notes somewhere that will be easy to find next year.
The holidays can be a challenge, but if you and your team are prepared before, during and after the season, they can also be a tremendous opportunity to delight both customers and staff. So, use these tips to set your team up for success this year.
The holiday season is often full of good things – family get-togethers, gift-giving, delicious food, and festive decorations. Your pet can be part of the fun, but there are a few things you might need to do to keep them safe – because there’s nothing festive about an unplanned visit to the veterinarian.
Kim Johnson, DVM, an emergency vet in Ventura, CA, recalls a time when a patient brought in her cocker spaniel during the holidays.
“This lady had just returned from Europe and had several ounces of fine French chocolate for gifts,” says Johnson. “She was only gone a few hours and put the chocolate out of reach (so she thought) only to return to find candy wrappers everywhere!”
Johnson and her team were able to get the pup’s tremors and rapid heartbeat under control after some treatment and an overnight stay. But they were lucky, says Johnson. “He had eaten about 3 pounds of chocolate. … Thankfully he was OK.”
So how do you keep your fur kids safe and happy all season?
Decorating Don’ts
It’s so much fun to decorate for the holidays – until your pet gets into something that can hurt them. Holiday decor like sparkly tinsel and tree ornaments can look like toys to some pets. Tinsel can cause tummy trouble and dehydration. Pets may get sick enough to require surgery in some cases. The same goes for those pretty, shiny ornaments: Broken pieces could cut your pet or damage their insides if eaten.
Watch out for certain holiday plants too. Mistletoe – great for kissing, not great for pets. If eaten, it can lead to stomach or heart issues. Holly – great for decking halls, but it can cause diarrhea and vomiting in your four-legged loves. Lilies (more common at Easter) can lead to kidney failure in your furry friends. For extra safety, opt for fake plants, made of plastic or silk, or even pet-safe bouquets.
Put potpourri out of reach. The liquid kind is toxic to pets and can be an issue for sensitive pet skin, eyes, and their mouth. And the crumbly kind is not safe to eat either. Strong scents like pine and potpourri can also cause issues for pets with asthma.
Lights, from scented candles to Christmas or Hanukkah decorations, are attractive to pets but can be harmful. A candle can be tipped over and cause a fire or burn.
And if your pet chews on holiday lights, the electric shock can be very serious as well. “Do not let your pets get a shock,” says Johnson. “They get fluid in their lungs from [electric] shocks. There is no easy treatment for that, so it’s very dangerous.” She recommends unplugging holiday lights when you can’t watch your pet.
When Good Snacks Go Bad
We all love snacking during the holidays – including your pet kids. But some snacks that humans like can be toxic to pets. These include:
Chocolate
Grapes, raisins, and currants (Think fruitcake!)
Caffeine
Onions
Alcohol
Turkey skin
Bread dough
Meats with bones
Food with any added fat (oil, butter, etc.)
Fatty meats like beef, pork, lamb, or duck
These foods can cause an upset stomach, gas, pancreatitis, or worse, depending on the amount. So keep them out of reach and, of course, don’t feed them to your pet.
Xylitol: Be careful if you or your loved ones are eating a low-carb or Keto diet, as the popular sugar alternative xylitol is toxic to pets. It can cause your pet’s blood sugar to drop and even lead to liver failure. Keep purses and backpacks away, since they tend to have packs of sugar-free gum or mints containing xylitol.
Safe stuff: “Most carbs like rice or pasta are just fine for pets,” says Johnson. “Just make sure they aren’t cooked with butter, oil, or seasoning. Plain veggies like carrots or green beans are also fine, but stay away from leafy greens that can cause gas.”
Party Poopers
Some pets, like people, love a good party. Others would rather keep to their more quiet routine. Either way, risks abound. Guests that want to engage with your pets and make them happy may not know the dos and don’ts. Be open with your guests. Tell them about house rules and pet preferences, and even pet injuries if they have any.
If you’re especially worried about pet accidents, bad behavior, or other problems, consider setting your pet up in a separate area. Just keep in mind that a pet alone in another room with nothing to do may become anxious and destructive. So be sure to leave them with a chew toy or activity treat like a Kong toy with peanut butter inside.
If that’s not enough, consider leaving them with a pet sitter or at a boarding facility. Wherever you put them, be sure that they get their exercise and bathroom time and their regular food and water too.
Safe Travels
Some airlines require a written health certificate to get your pet on the plane. This can take planning, so it’s best to speak to your vet well in advance.
Meds: Some pets need calming medication for travel as well. Talk to your vet about the right meds and the right dose.
Secure your pet safely in the car or plane. Talk to your vet about how best to do this.
Make sure your pet is up to date on all shots and exams.
Bring along pet health records and vaccine records, as well as all necessary prescriptions.
Weather Wisdom
During the holidays, the weather can be cold and icy. But outdoor winter activities can still be lots of fun for you and your pet as long as you take some precautions. Here are some ideas:
Protect the paws. Snow boots are one option but can be hard to put on your pup. Same for cats, where a puss in boots is no problem in a movie. Allow your pets time to get used to any pet clothing. Or use a balm to protect their paws from extreme cold.
Melt the ice. Keeping your pet’s paws safe also means using pet-safe ice melt. All pet owners know pets lick their paws. Make sure they aren’t eating something toxic that could hurt their stomach or worse. Morton, a company known for table salt, has a pet-safe ice melt for about $20 at most pet stores. Check out other brands as well.
Keep them warm. Our pets feel cold – especially shorthair breeds like chihuahuas. Go ahead and dress them in a sweater if you see them shivering a lot. Keep walks short if you can, and dry them off with a warm towel if they’ve been in snow or ice.
The holidays are stressful enough. Don’t add an emergency vet visit – which can cost $2,000 or more. Pets are unpredictable, even with the best-laid plans. A few simple changes can help keep your pets safe and happy all season long.
The holidays are a time for relaxing, seeing loved ones, and creating memories. But they’re also that inspiring time of year to extend comfort to those less fortunate and offer a chance to help charities truly achieve their missions.
No matter how you choose to contribute, every little bit goes a long way. Whether you’d prefer to help locally or on a global scale this year, we have some ideas about which organizations to look towards this year.
Here are 3 ways to give back this holiday season:
1. Donate to your local charity thrift store
Instead of throwing away your old things, why not donate them instead? Let’s be honest, most of the stuff we end up getting rid of is perfectly functional. We might not need it anymore because it doesn’t fit or we’ve acquired more than we know what to do with. Charity thrift shops, such as Salvation Army stores, are a great way to help your communities and support a charity simultaneously.
Sadly, not everyone can afford a groaning table this holiday season. As the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States, Feeding America’s mission is to ensure everyone has access to nutritious food.
They partner with farmers, manufacturers, retailers, food banks, local food programs, and policymakers to bring food to people in need while advocating for policies that create long-term solutions to hunger. You can donate directly on their website
3. Give back on a global scale with the GOAL Mile
GOAL is an international humanitarian crisis response charity originally established over 45 years ago in Ireland. Over 3,500 GOAL team members work in high-risk places around the world that are in conflict. They’ve responded to crises such as the genocide of Rwanda, Hurricane Mitch which devastated Honduras, the tsunami in Southeast Asia, the earthquake Haiti, the war in Syria, the COVID pandemic and are currently responding to the needs of IDPs (internally displaced people) fleeing Ukraine.
You’re probably wondering, how can I help GOAL this holiday season? By participating in their exhilarating global event, the GOAL Mile, which runs annually through the month of December. This year, the GOAL Mile is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The idea is that a small action can have a big impact globally, such as walking or running one mile locally.
Funds raised from the GOAL Mile are channeled into helping people whose lives and livelihoods have been shattered by conflict, disease, and climate change. You can participate virtually by walking, jogging or running a mile (just 2,000 steps!) and making a donation to GOAL, or become an organizer and bring your community together.
If you want to become an organizer, you select a venue, set a course route, and ask your community to help promote your GOAL Mile and collect donations. It’s a super fun way to get the kids involved! Or you can register and do your virtual GOAL Mile individually.
No matter how you choose to help this holiday season, whether it’s by campaigning or making donations, it feels fantastic to help charities around the world to make a difference and achieve their missions.
It shouldn’t be hard to keep Christmas ornaments where they belong — on your tree. But every year without fail, many people find themselves picking up their decorations off the ground, the result of flimsy hooks or pet interference.
Courtesy of Ornament Anchor
But teen entrepreneurs Ayaan Naqvi, 13, and Mika’il (Mickey) Naqvi, 15, have come up with an innovative solution: Ornament Anchor, the patent-pending loop and pull that securely fastens Christmas ornaments to their tree — and withstands the cats, puppies or toddlers who might try to bring them down.
The Ornament Anchor, which is available in four colors to suit any aesthetic, has already proved to be a major hit this holiday season. The multi-million-dollar business boasts more than 500 reviews on Amazon, and the Ornament Anchor is stocked in more than 500 Lowe’s stores.
Entrepreneur sat down with the Naqvi brothers to learn how an idea for a school project led to two Shark Tankappearances and the highly successful product that launched their young entrepreneurial careers.
“The first year we made about $5,000 in sales, which to me and Ayaan was crazy at the time, being just kids.”
It all began when 10-year-old Ayaan had to come up with an invention for a fourth-grade project in 2018.
“I was thinking hard,” Ayaan says. “I had a bunch of different ideas, but nothing really stuck until I saw my dog Zara — she walked by a Christmas tree and her tail was wagging, hitting all of our ornaments [off the tree]. And that’s when I realized there’s never been an invention that is used to help save your ornament from falling off your Christmas tree.”
Ayaan went on to develop the prototype. He unveiled it at the school fair, where it was met with enthusiasm from classmates, parents and teachers.
That’s where the story ended for the next couple of years — until Mickey remembered his younger brother’s “genius idea,” and following in their parents’ entrepreneurial footsteps, the boys decided to make a real go of it.
So, in 2019, they filed their patents and attended local Christmas and crafts fairs to see how their Ornament Anchor would be received. The goal was to determine if they had a viable product on their hands; they needed to hone in on its best selling points and target demographic.
“We wanted to go out in front of real people and hear real feedback on our product,” Mickey explains. “And that’s what started off the first year — and the first year we made about $5,000 in sales, which to me and Ayaan was crazy at the time, being just kids.”
“As kids, it’s terrifying to be going up against five millionaires, trying to pitch your ideas.”
A big break for Ornament Anchor came in the form of not one but two Shark Tankappearances, in 2019 and 2021, a milestone few other entrepreneurs can claim.
But the opportunity to participate in the show was “literally a dream come true” for the Naqvi brothers, who say the program was their favorite growing up — even playing in the background when they were fulfilling Ornament Anchor orders in the early days.
And it was a once- (or twice-) in-a-lifetime experience.
“It [was] completely different than anything else [we’ve] ever done,” Mickey says. “And as kids, it’s terrifying to be going up against five millionaires, trying to pitch your ideas.”
The Sharks provided the young entrepreneurs with useful feedback but ultimately didn’t offer them a deal either time.And although it was hard for the boys to return to school empty-handed a week later, appearing on the show taught them a lot.
“The main thing that [our] family took away from Shark Tank was that even if they say no, even if it looks like there’s no chance, even if you got rejected by basically your idols, that doesn’t stop you,” Mickey says. “You can keep going. That’s what we did. And now we are more successful than we’ve ever been in our lives.”
Ayaan agrees.
“The biggest takeaway for me is to always have a Plan B,” he says. “Before [Shark Tank], it was always like, this is definitely going to happen. And then that experience [taught us] you have to be prepared for anything. You never know what’s going to happen.”
“We want to see if we can get into more retail stores, maybe expand to different ideas for Ornament Anchor, but there’s a lot to come.”
And the teens did persevere — ultimately setting their sights on Lowe’s.
“So what we actually did was go into our local Lowe’s and make a video talking about why we think the Ornament Anchor is a perfect fit for Lowe’s,” Mickey says.
Ayaan interviewed customers inside the retailer, demonstrating the product and gathering feedback. Afterward, Mickey edited the footage together, and the brothers sent their video to Lowe’s in December of 2021.
“We even took pictures of spots in Lowe’s and mocked up what we thought the Ornament Anchor would look like if it were in Lowe’s,” Mickey says. “Shout out to my mom for that one.”
The brothers’ efforts paid off: Lowe’s agreed to stock the Ornament Anchor in more than 500 of its stores.
“We’re doing amazing in Lowe’s,” Ayaan says, “and hopefully we can keep it up. We want to see if we can get into more retail stores, maybe expand to different ideas for Ornament Anchor, but there’s a lot to come.”
Mickey agrees, adding that next year the goal will be to expand Ornament Anchor’s retail footprint even further. In fact, the Naqvis are already in talks with a few more stores for 2023 rollouts.
But Ornament Anchor’s online sales have also exceeded the brothers’ expectations.
“Because Ornament Anchor is a demo product,” Mickey explains. “You can demo it super easily. It’s literally just a zip and you hit the ornament, and people are like, ‘Wow, what is that?’ So it works really, really well for Facebook, YouTube and Google ads. So next year we want to pump a lot more cash into ads and improve our online strategy.”
“It’s always been in our blood to be entrepreneurs.”
Naturally, balancing school, business and life is one of the biggest challenges that comes with being young entrepreneurs.
But the Naqvi brothers wouldn’t have it any other way. They’ve gotten a taste of entrepreneurship — and they don’t want to give it up anytime soon.
“It’s always been in our blood to be entrepreneurs,” Mickey says. “I’ve been exposed to being an entrepreneur, and I can’t get enough of it. So I genuinely don’t know what else I would do with myself if I wasn’t starting a business or running a business.”
Ayaan agrees, noting that although they intend to take Ornament Anchor as far as they can, they have no shortage of business ideas in the pipeline.
And when it comes to advising other budding entrepreneurs on how to transform their business ideas into reality? Simply getting started is the most important thing, Mickey says.
“Get in the weeds and start trying to figure out, Okay, how do I run a business?” Mickey explains. “And the great thing is in our time we have things like YouTube or Google where you can just search something up and somebody will tell you how to do it. And if you’re ready to put in the hard work, anybody can do it.”
Don’t hesitate to ask for help either, Ayaan suggests.
“If you need a little help, it’s always good to have a mentor, whether it’s a parent, teacher or another adult you can trust,” Ayaan says. “They have a lot of experience. They’ve lived life longer. So they can help you with a lot of things.”
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
There may still be a prolonged supply chain shortage, but there are plenty of holiday tips and tricks for ecommerce brands to win this time of year. More often than not, most tips floating around tend to focus on different types of acquisition strategies to get consumers to your site. However, I’m here today to offer up one overlooked piece of advice: look to your most loyal customers to reach your goals.
Your most loyal customers will be turning to you during the holidays, and you should be doing the same for them as a merchant. Remove any friction while creating new opportunities for your loyal customers to share their favorite products with friends and family.
With everyone in the spirit of giving, there is no better time to promote, package and offer products as gifts. A great way to flip your marketing funnel and build from your most loyal customer base, we’ve seen brands executing this strategy in a few impactful ways.
Arguably the lowest hanging fruit to optimize your holiday shopping products is to offer the option to “gift” their next subscription order. Take Methodical Coffee, for example! Traditionally, if a customer has too much coffee, a brand would allow them to skip or pause their next order in their customer account portal. However, in addition to those standard subscription preferences, Methodical Coffee allows customers to gift their next month’s subscription order to a friend. Holiday season shopping is a phenomenal opportunity to introduce and educate this option to your subscriber base.
Another game-changing holiday program we are seeing is giftable subscriptions. Brands such as Scott’s Flowers are leveraging maximum billing cycle subscription programs to encourage customers to gift three or six-month subscriptions to their loved ones. After receiving three months’ worth of flowers, the recipient could receive an email or SMS notification asking if they would like to opt into a full subscription. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving!
Loyalty and rewards programs can be strategically positioned to boost referrals this time of year. Over-communicate to your subscriber base that they will be rewarded for gifting products to their friends. The more product referred, the more credits are received. Go further to allow customers to exercise those credits however they wish — setting up the ideal brand experience!
3. Allow customers to customize bundles
71% of consumers expect brands to deliver more personalized interactions. What better way to provide personalized experiences than through an interactive and customizable bundle experience? Loyal customers looking to share your product with their friends may want to pick their go-to flavors or favorite colors. Offering discounted variety packs during the holiday is a great way to gain exposure across your product line.
4. Discounting can be a win-win
Margins don’t always have to suffer from holiday promotions. Instead of discounting your standard subscription program, offer a greater discount on larger quantities shipped less frequently to save on excessive shipping costs. Taking a note out of Slate Milk’s playbook: they ran a promotion to all subscribers who were receiving packs of 24 cans of Slate milk every month with a significant discount if they switched to 48 packs bimonthly. A win-win situation, with Slate Milk saving on shipping and the customer saving on the overall cost.
One last note we often see in the ecommerce space year-round that translates nicely during holidays is charitable donations. Companies that donate a percentage of proceeds to charitable organizations tend to see less churn and higher LTV. Consumers care where their dollars go, and they want to contribute to a greater purpose and mission.
While acquiring new customers with holiday discounts is important, it’s equally as important to lean into your subscriber or membership base. This time of year is an excellent opportunity to come through and leave lasting impressions on your loyal customers. We are confident the tips outlined above will positively affect your short and long-term business goals, just as it has for many other brands.
Bonus holiday season tip: get creative with one-time add ons
Don’t forget the bow on top, literally. We strongly recommend brands suggest gift wrapping-themed one-time add-ons such as tote bags, branded wrapping paper or gift boxes. This is a great way to increase order value, hedge shipping costs and introduce another opportunity to build brand awareness to a greater audience.
The final weeks of 2022 have a lot of things in store — aside from obvious holiday festivities, there’s something else that should be on your radar: end-of-year sales.
Right off of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, brands are looking to treat their customers with discounts on some of their most sought-after products. And if you’re in still in search for holiday outfits, you can look no further: Reformation‘s holiday sale gives shoppers the opportunity to stock up on velvet gowns, printed bottoms and flirty blouses for up to 40% off — and it’s live now.
Luckily, the shopping event just started, but we can’t guarantee that the right ‘fit will be marked down later on (or be there at all). Head to the Reformation site now to shop some of your wishlist items before it’s too late. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite discounted party-ready pieces in the gallery below.
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Reformation Alisha Dress, $153 (from $218), available here (sizes XS-XL)
Reformation Addie Velvet Top, $104 (from $148), available here (sizes 0-12)
Reformation Nya Velvet Dress, $279 (from $398), available here (sizes XS-XL)
Reformation Molly Platform Sandal, $209 (from $298), available here
Reformation Daytona Silk Dress, $174 (from $248), available here (sizes 0-12) and here (sizes 1X-3X)
Reformation Satine Sleeveless Foldover Sweater, $118 (from $168), available here (sizes XS-XL)
Reformation Carrington Two-Piece, $125 (from $178), available here (sizes XS-XL)
Reformation Remy Knee Boot, $335 (from $478), available here
Reformation Bellini Cashmere Collared Sweater Dress, $230 (from $328), available here (sizes XS-XL)
Reformation Arlington Jacket, $244 (from $348), available here (sizes XS-XL)
Reformation Sera Two-Piece $209 (from $298), available here (sizes 14-24)
Reformation Jorgia Wedge Sandal, $174 (from $248), available here
Reformation Zenni Dress, $195 (from $278), available here (sizes 0-12)
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Jim Beam knows that everyone needs a hug. Preferably from another person, but sometimes we have to make do with what we have. So this Christmas, the bourbon whiskey maker is providing a substitute in the form of a pair of tartan pajamas (and its soothing spirits).
Jim Beam
On Wednesday, the Kentucky distillery announced its uniquely strange new product, the “Kentucky Hug” Holiday Pajamas. Here’s how Beam explains the name:
A “Kentucky Hug” is a well-known term among bourbon lovers and Jim Beam fans alike, and this holiday season, the brand is turning the phrase into a reality with a limited-edition holiday pajama set equipped with a built-in “hug simulator” so you can send a cozy hug to anyone you’re missing this season.
Beam explains that its unisex, small to XXL PJs simulate the sensation of a hug “by applying weighted pressure on specific points around your neck, shoulders and back to replicate the feeling of an in-person hug.”
Jim Beam’s Senior Brand Manager of North American Marketing, Sarah Cordova, explains that the company wants “to foster that spirit of connection despite the barriers we might face this time of year. Whether it’s your best friend from college or a long-distance relative, we hope you share the gift of a Kentucky Hug.”
“Kentucky Hug” Holiday Pajamas are on sale — while supplies last — for $24.99 at jimbeamkentuckyhug.com.
NEW YORK (AP) — The Mendelson family would love to find the envelope where their father, Lee, scribbled some lyrics to jazz musician Vince Guaraldi’s composition “Christmas Time is Here” for an animated TV special featuring the “Peanuts” gang in 1965.
The producer always said it had taken less than half an hour to write, and he likely tossed the scrap of paper away. He was in a rush. Everything was rushed. No one even knew, once the special aired, whether it would ever be seen again.
Instead, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” became an indelible holiday tradition and so, too, has Guaraldi’s music — perhaps even more so.
“Christmas just doesn’t feel like Christmas without hearing that album in the background,” said Derrick Bang, author of the biography “Vince Guaraldi at the Piano.”
The special itself was a bit of an oddity: a cartoon story of the meaning of Christmas soundtracked by a sophisticated, mostly instrumental jazz trio of piano, bass and drum.
Yet it worked. Guaraldi’s cascading piano evokes both motion and lightly falling snow on “Skating.” The driving melody of “Linus and Lucy” is the eternal backdrop to a swinging party. “O Tannenbaum” shifts from the traditional carol to a bass-driven groove. A children’s choir adds charm to “Christmas Time is Here.”
The soundtrack has sold more than five million copies. Its nostalgia-fueled popularity has only grown, getting a crucial boost in 1998 when Starbucks began selling it in stores, and fed steadily by new products. The latest, a box set of outtakes from Guaraldi’s recording sessions, was released this year.
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” has aired every year since 1965, although that tradition is about to change.
The special’s run on broadcast television ended last year. Apple TV+ bought the rights, and streams it exclusively starting this year. While a recognition of television’s new direction, will that reduce the chances of new generations of children happening upon the story and music?
“I just remember, back in the days of three channels and scheduled programming, that was one of those things we were excited about because we knew it was coming on and we were familiar with it,” said Harry Connick Jr., who covered “Christmas Time is Here” for his own holiday disc just out.
“It was actually an amazing opportunity for music like that to be heard by a lot of people,” added Connick, a jazz devotee even as a youngster. “It was not necessarily the kind of music that would be played on regular radio.”
That’s even less likely now, as jazz recedes into the history books or the background of dinner parties, said Nathaniel Sloan, musicologist at the University of Southern California and co-host of the “Switched on Pop” podcast.
During the 1960s, jazz was closer to the mainstream and more likely to be played alongside pop music, he said.
The music Guaraldi created for the soundtrack is ambiguous and more complex than most holiday music, Sloan said. Tied to warm feelings for illustrator Charles M. Schulz’s classic comic page characters, time has made it traditional holiday music.
The list of people who have recorded “Christmas Time is Here” is long and varied. They include John Legend, Alicia Keys, Gloria Estefan, Mariah Carey, Mel Tormé, Dave Brubeck, Sarah McLachlan, Stone Temple Pilots, Chicago, and Toni Braxton.
Similarly, the unexpected places where the melody to “Linus and Lucy” have appeared testifies to how ingrained it is in American life. Michelle Obama played it on the piano when returning to her childhood home in the “Becoming” documentary. Foo Fighters included it in a rocking “Saturday Night Live” holiday medley. Prince banged it out during his last concert.
It all started in the San Francisco area, home base for Guaraldi, as it was for Mendelson and Schulz. Mendelson’s popular documentary on Willie Mays — Schulz’s favorite baseball player — convinced the reclusive cartoonist to participate in a “day in the life” film about his work. One of Mendelson’s favorite songs was Guaraldi’s breezy hit, “Cast Your Fate to the Wind,” so the jazzman was recruited for a soundtrack.
In the days before cable and streaming, Mendelson couldn’t sell the documentary, so it went unseen.
After the popularity of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” in 1964, a sponsor asked Mendelson if he’d considered making a “Peanuts” Christmas special. He lied that he had. Schulz agreed to outline a story, and Guaraldi came aboard, too, recycling “Linus and Lucy” from the documentary.
Animation is time-consuming, so the team had a tight deadline to make it onto television. It was Mendelson who decided that “Christmas Time is Here” was missing something without lyrics. He asked several songwriters to take on the task, but the deadline was too daunting.
So Mendelson sat in his office and did it himself: “Christmas time is here, happiness and cheer…”
“I’ve always loved the music and the melody, but I really didn’t understand how beautiful the lyrics were until I recorded it,” said Norah Jones, who included her take on the song on a disc released last year.
“The version with the children singing is so special,” she told The Associated Press. “There’s something very unique and heartwarming about children singing.”
The St. Paul’s Church Choir from San Rafael, California, was hired to sing “Christmas Time is Here” and “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.” Producers infuriated the choir director by choosing a slightly out-of-tune version of the carol; they thought it captured an innocence they were seeking, said Bang, who wrote liner notes for the box set.
Some at CBS were nervous before the special aired. Executives wondered if viewers would accept their favorite comic strip characters come to “life” with voices and movement. Schulz’s insistence that the show quote from the Bible gave it a religious focus that television entertainment typically steered clear of.
But it was a hit, winning Peabody and Emmy awards, and never went away.
Guaraldi never had the chance to see his music age into standards. He died of a heart attack in 1976, only 47 years old.
“He’s the best-known jazz musician whose name you don’t know, because the music from the Christmas special has become so ubiquitous,” Bang said.
Lee Mendelson died at 86 in 2019 — on Christmas Day. His son Jason, one of four children, is reluctant to say how much money his father earned from his few minutes of writing the “Christmas Time is Here” lyrics. Here’s one hint: The song makes enough money, every year, to pay for all of the extended family’s holiday shopping.
And he never tires of hearing Guaraldi’s music, frequently attending concerts where the holiday songs are recreated live.
“I’ve never seen a bad one,” he said.
___
This story has been updated to correct that this year is the first year “A Charlie Brown Christmas” will be exclusively on Apple TV+ and not air on broadcast television.
Holiday horticulture tends to revolve around the same handful of plants. So if you don’t already have any or all of these five holiday plants, now is the time to get them:
PAPERWHITES
The bulbs of these daffodil family members are pre-chilled so they can be planted now and produce flowers in a month to six weeks. If you find them for sale, by all means buy as many as you can. The only caveat is that some family members may object to the unbelievably sweet smell of their blooms.
While you can grow these bulbs by siting their bases in just a bit of water, it is best to plant them in a shallow container of soil. They don’t need much water and will perform well if given the best light you have. If yours sprouts, you are guaranteed flowers, at least the first year. People usually toss them when they are finished, as they’re unlikely to flower again.
POINSETTIAS
Poinsettias, of course, are for sale in all manner of venues this time of year. Many of us buy them, keep them for the next few weeks and then toss them. The trick is to keep them alive for the holiday season.
This requires first bringing the plant home with a minimum exposure to cold air. If you live in a cold climate, consider warming the car before transporting them. Once home, the plants should not be exposed to drafts from doorways or windows. Place them where daytime temperatures are between 65 and 75 Fahrenheit, and with 60 as an ideal night temp.
Soak the entire pot whenever the surface turns dry. Let them drain, and keep checking the soil surface for the next dunking.
Poinsettias should never sit in water, so if you want to keep the decorative foil that accompanies many of them, poke a hole in it to let water out.
CHRISTMAS TREES
These, too, are their own gardening activity. Make sure your tree is kept in plenty of water and pay the strictest attention to safety rules if you use lights. After Christmas, look for a place that will chip up and recycle your tree, or place it in a back corner of your yard as cover for birds.
Keep the plant growing right through summer. Then put yours into a cool, dark location so it goes dormant, to be brought out again next holiday season for flowering.
CHRISTMAS CACTUS
Christmas cactuses, Schlumbergeras, are another great plant that blooms during the mid-winter holidays. They will live for dozens of holiday seasons (some are passed on from one generation to the next) and bloom each year if exposed to shortening days. Rooting cuttings is easy using just a leaf, so it is not uncommon for a clone of the same plant to be in more than one family member’s home.
The rest of the year, water by soaking the pot when the surface soil dries out. Next fall, give yours natural light and keep cool, up against a window, and they will bloom again.
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Jeff Lowenfels contributes gardening stories to The Associated Press. He is the author of “Teaming With Microbes,” “Teaming With Fungi,” “Teaming With Nutrients” and the new “Teaming With Bacteria” (Timber Press). He can be reached at jeff@gardener.com.
Whether in cardboard, wood or porcelain, little villages — with houses, shops, miniature figures and snowy fir trees — have long been part of many families’ holiday decorating tradition.
“From classic scenery with snowy layers to modern ceramics with clean lines, families are putting their creative spin on this decades-old tradition,” she says.
Little 19th century-style villages came to America with European immigrants and were further popularized by the father of five-and-dime stores, F.W. Woolworth, who sold tiny German-made cardboard houses.
In the 1970s and ’80s came ceramic houses; the company Department 56 began making their popular ones in 1976 and still do today. These sturdier buildings were easy to store seasonally.
Robin Zachary, who works as a prop stylist on commercial photo shoots, has amassed a collection of vintage cardboard houses, matchbox cars, bottlebrush trees and little people that she likes to set up for the holidays in her New York City home.
She also suggests using fake snow to dress your display, “with a dash of silver or gold glitter mixed in, and snips of fresh evergreens placed in tiny containers.”
And if you’ve got limited space for a holiday display?
“I’d create a village as a centerpiece on a dining table or console,” Zachary says. “A large platter can serve as the base, lined with fake snow and fresh evergreen branches that encircle your village. That’s easily moved if you need to use the space temporarily.”
Sarah Fishburne, Home Depot’s director of trend and design, says fireplace mantels and side tables also make great display spots for mini Christmas villages.
“You could also place one on the floor surrounding your Christmas tree, or distribute your pieces throughout a bookcase,” she says.
If you’re making a Christmas village yourself, Fishburne says, get everybody in the family involved, whether decorating a miniature tree, assembling a little structure or adding other personal elements.
You’ll find sets of unfinished wood and cardboard miniature houses online; you add the paint, washi tape or other decorative trim. Some will fit nicely over a battery-operated tealight to glow in the evenings.
Kelly Mandell, a DIY blogger in Los Angeles, transformed birdhouses into a modern holiday village using pastel-hued craft paint and loads of glitter. Drifts of fluffy snow and colorful bottlebrush trees added to the playful vibe.
Another creative option: a village of snow globe houses. Buy readymade ones, or make your own using clean jars, distilled water, a droplet of glycerin to suspend your tinsel glitter, and then whatever elements you’d like to attach to the jar lid. Cyd Converse, a DIY blogger in Watertown, New York, shares a how-to at www.thesweetestoccasion.com.
You might even weave village elements into the branches of a wreath, Fishburne suggests.
Beyond the traditional, Dickensian look, Fishburne suggests creating a vignette that reflects your family’s favorite activities. Are you all ice skaters? Do you love to bake? Is a visit to grandparents a holiday must? You could depict these things in your village display with mementos and other items.
Or get inspired by the places you’ve visited on your travels. Fishburne says her family always brings home a little building or other miniature from a destination.
Etsy makers offer a variety of creative and decorative miniatures to bring a holiday scene to life, and retailers have a wide selection.
Balsam Hill’s plywood Victorian village has intricately carved houses, trees and street elements integrated into a single base. A remote controls the warm backlighting. There are little houses with a sturdy hook to use as stocking holders, too.
If your vibe is contemporary, West Elm, for instance, has a collection of ceramic-and-wood, minimalist buildings and trees. Or create your own modern neighborhood with ceramic ranch houses and split levels, from Crate & Barrel. All will glow nicely at night with some battery-operated tealights.
Anthropologie has shelf-ready wooden monogram letters carved with vignettes of snow revelers and evergreens.
Finally, if there’s no space for a 3-D display, Zachary suggests a different kind of family craft project: a village mural of sorts.
“Why not have the kids draw and decorate houses, then pin them up in a row on the wall? Make sure they make some trees, as well as any of your town’s significant buildings,” she says. “You can pin up a glittery garland of stars or fairy lights above the skyline.”
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New York-based writer Kim Cook covers design and decor topics regularly for The AP. Follow her on Instagram at @kimcookhome.
Director Nancy Meyers has responded to rumours that a sequel to “The Holiday” is on its way.
The beloved 2006 flick saw Kate Winslet’s Iris and Cameron Diaz’s Amanda swap houses. Winslet’s character ended up dating Jack Black’s Miles after they met in Los Angeles, and Diaz’s got together with Jude Law’s Graham in a country village near London, U.K.
The Sun claimed that a follow-up was now in the works 17 years later, with the main characters all signing up.
However, Meyers wrote on Instagram alongside a grab of a story about the rumours: “So many DM’s about this – sorry but it’s not true. ❤️”
The Sun claimed a source had told them: “The plan is to start filming next year. The main talent are all signed up.”
An insider added: “The plan is to start rolling on scenes next year, primarily in the U.K. and in Europe, but the main talent are all signed up and on board.”
“It’s one of the most successful movies of its kind and still enjoyed every year by millions of fans around the world – it makes perfect sense to revisit those characters and find out what became of their lives after they hooked up.
“It’ll be funny, poignant, and heartwarming – just what everyone wants for Christmas.”
The end of the year can be hectic between finding gifts for loved ones, wrapping up work to-dos and mapping out your winter plans. (It doesn’t help that the sun is basically gone by the time we clock out. Sigh.) Still, the holidays are exciting and present a host of fun dressing opportunities. Finding what to wear for the occasion(s) doesn’t, in the words of Avril Lavigne, have to be so complicated.
There are plenty of current runway trends that’ll inspire you to elevate your #OOTD with playful silhouettes, fun textures and other details that bring some much-needed festive flair. Below, check out six holiday-ready outfits to wear to any and all parties this season. Cheers!
Photo: India Roby/Fashionista
Shimmer’s not new to the holidays, but we have to admit, it’s always refreshing to see metallics get the spotlight they deserve during this time, wether it’s on pants, knits or a party shoe. If you’re feeling a bit daring, why not wear the look head to toe?
ME+EM Metallic Color Block Vest + Snood Metallic Viscose Stretch, $215, available here (sizes XS-L)
Eloquii Collectors Edition Metallic Mesh Tank, $70, available here (sizes 14-32)
Good American Good Icon Metallic Faux Leather Pants, $195, available here (sizes 00-26)
Nina Parker Plus Size Metallic Gold Duster, $109, available here (sizes 2X-3X)
Rosettes have recently reappeared on our style radars after many designers showcased them on the Spring 2023 runways. No matter the time of year, this darling, romantic floral detail is always a good choice for just about any outfit. You can incorporate rosettes through dresses and mini skirts or even Loewe’s rose-heeled pumps. Complete the look with a rosette-accented hair tie.
Lisa Says Gah Ceramic Rose Necklace, $50, available here
Mara Hoffman Rosie Ruffled Cropped Top, $177 (from $295), available here (sizes XS-3XL)
Sandy Liang Warton Skirt, $460, available here (sizes 0-12)
Samantha Pleet Persephone Dress, $360, available here (sizes 00-24)
Wolf & Badger Silk Rosie Green Scrunchie, $60, available here
Loewe Leather Rose-Heel Slingback Pumps, $1,700, available here
Fanm Mon Simbi Rose, $348, available here (sizes XXS-XXL)
Ana Luisa Rosalie Flower Stud Earrings, $55, available here
The Sparkly Glam Look
Photo: India Roby/Fashionista
Much like metallics, we’ll never get tired of sequins during the holidays. Glittery boots, crystal-adorned accessories and bejeweled denim are all pieces that just have to be worn. (If you’re want to rock the “dazzle” without all the shimmer, you can go for a more subtle gem print.)
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Intermix Viola Embellished Cropped Cardigan, $298, available here (sizes P-XL)
Frame Le Jane Studded Trouser, $898, available here (sizes 23-34)
Brother Vellies Elevator Boot in Disco Dust Glitter, $675, available here
& Other Stories Sequin Party Blazer, $249, available here (sizes 0-12)
Brandon Maxwell Pailette Pleated Skirt, $1,495, available here (sizes 16-20)
Kurt Geiger London Shoreditch Extra Small Cross Body, $170, available here
Cult Naked Pink Moon Top, $380, available here (sizes XXS-XL)
The Velvet Look
Photo: India Roby/Fashionista
Another holiday classic, velvet is plush, festive and keeps you warm on those long nights out. It’s always a solid choice for apparel, but there are also super fun accessories, like an all-over-pearl velvet bow and a velvet choker to complete the outfit.
Rhode Pia Dress in Jaipur Velvet, $475, available here (sizes 0-14)
GooGoo Atkins x Bar III Trendy Plus Size Scarf-Neck One-Sleeve Draped Maxi Dress, $80, available here (sizes 0X-4X)
Nana Jacqueline Vanessa Pants, $380, available here (sizes XS-L)
Maximilian Davis Harlequin Print Sheer Velvet Devoré Halter Top, $246 (from $615), available here (sizes S-XL)
Kate Spade Maya Flats, $198, available here (sizes 5-11)
What better excuse to bring out every single plaid item you own than winter? This season, you can channel your inner “Gossip Girl” by opting for tartan-printed dresses and skirts, platform heels, handbags and headbands.
Ralph Lauren Plaid Tie-Neck Taffeta Cocktail Dress, $285, available here (sizes 00-18)
Hill House Home The Party Platform, $295, available here (sizes 35-42)
Calzedonia Rhinestone Diamond Opaque 50 Denier Tights, $18, available here (sizes XS-L)
Selkie The Jane Eyre Ballroom Skirt, $249, available here (sizes XXS-6X)
Charles & Keith Altea Plaid Bucket Bag, $63.20 (from $79), available here
Frances Valentine Finley Blazer Stonegate Plaid Wool, $498, available here (sizes XS-3X)
The Comfy-Cozy Look
Photo: India Roby/Fashionista
“Cute” knows no bounds and contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be uncomfortable to be an absolute sartorial show-stopper, even in the cold. The Comfy-Cozy look can be embodied in so many different ways, like knitted midi dresses to chunky vests. Finish it off with shearling earmuffs or a fuzzy purse.
State Cashmere The Oversized V-Neck Vest, $150, available here (sizes S-L)
Officials say a woman bit, kicked and spat on six sheriff’s deputies while refusing to exit a plane at an airport in Louisiana early Thanksgiving Day, The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reported Saturday.
Authorities said the 25-year-old woman attacked Jefferson Parish sheriff’s deputies at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, according to local news reports.
Deputies were responding to Spirit airline workers’ requests to remove the woman, who had reportedly grown irate and asked nearby passengers who she assumed to be Latino whether they were smuggling cocaine. Paramedics treated the deputies on site, according to local news reports.
Police charged the woman with six counts of battery on a police officer, three counts of disturbing the peace, one count of resisting arrest by force and another count of remaining after forbidden, according to reports. The woman was released from Jefferson Parish Correctional Center later that day after paying $10,750 bail and is scheduled for a Jan. 23 court date.
Reports of passengers’ bad behavior have skyrocketed since air travel has increased after early pandemic shutdowns.
HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Prices and availability are subject to change.
A set of cactus-shaped dryer balls
Reviewers say they actually catch (human and pet) hair too!
Promising review: “These cute little waving saguaro cactus dryer balls are perfect. I’ve bought other dryer balls that dried and cracked after a month, these are over three month of heavy use and look as fresh as the day they were delivered on my doorstep. Great value and your clothes will dry faster as well as more efficiently because the saguaros tumble and separate your clothes for more efficiency. 🌵” — Christian B Staller
Amazon
A portable pack of soap sheets
Promising review: “Exactly what I wanted! Hands feel very clean after wash! Highly recommend! I read other reviews and decided these had the best reviews, those reviews did not disappoint! Each sheet of soap produces enough soap to give the comfort of knowing your hands are throughly clean. We liked our first order so much that we bought 10 packs for my fiancé’s work crew to help make keeping their hands clean during this pandemic! ( he’s a delivery driver/repair tech). If you have wanted to try something like this product, I highly recommend this brand!” — Clippin4you
Amazon
A Dracula garlic mincer
Promising review: “I purchased this as a gift for my friend who is a fantastic cook — she uses fresh ingredients almost exclusively — but pressing fresh garlic is a task usually delegated. No longer: Gracula is there for her. She uses him nearly every time she needs garlic (which is basically daily) and months later still makes a point of saying how much she enjoys the gift. I’m pretty sure she likes it better than other gifts I’ve gotten her which were more expensive/thought out, and I’m fairly certain it’s what took me from ‘good friend’ to ‘best friend,’ but it be that way sometimes. Anyway, definitely recommended for people who cook with garlic and have a sense of humor.” — L
Uncommon Goods
A pair of adorable stainless-steel caribou
Promising review: “My wife and I gift each other from here all the time. She was a little worried they would not fit the thick walls of some of our mugs, but they did perfectly. Softer cookies go on them very well, as do marshmallows. We also liked the idea of pretzels, but have not tried it just yet. Thanks to UG for bringing us awesome US-made items like these.” — Charles
Amazon
A TonyMoly bunny perfume stick
They’re available in three delightful scents.
Promising review: “Perfect and super cute, as a receptionist I’m running everywhere all day, and this cute little bunny keeps me smelling great. It’s easy to apply and is nice and light so the scent isn’t overbearing like some perfumes. It fits right in my purse and I take it everywhere!” — Aspen Trumps
Amazon
A purrfect night light with a soft silicone body and touch-sensitive control
Promising review: “These kitty lights are super adorable, super fun, and super loved by my kid. I bought this light as a gift for my daughter for her birthday… she loves it. The kitty is soft and squishy, the light colors are bright and pretty, it has a good battery life… I loved it so much that I bought another for a friend’s daughter. Great little light.” — KMMR
BoxLunch
Or a Zero mood light for anyone who can’t decide whether “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie
Featuring a favorite character from the Tim Burton classic.
Winky Lux
A purrfectly shaped lipstick
Promising review: “It was exactly as I expected with color — it adds just enough for a hint without being too overpowering. It’s so creamy and my lips feel amazing.” — Autumn
Amazon
Succulent-shaped tea lights that’ll almost be a shame to set on fire.
They each burn for about 30 minutes.
Promising review: “Super cute tea lights! They come in two gift boxes with a ribbon around it, perfect for gifting a set and keeping the other!” — Amy D.
JD and Kate Industries
And/or a “Pride and Prejudice”-themed, Earl Grey-scented candle
The house is modeled after Lyme Park (the house used in the 1995 miniseries), but I can guarantee any Pride and Prejudice lover — not just the miniseries fans — will love this.
A silicone dachshund ice try to make any beverage more of a weiner
It’s made of flexible silicone so it’ll roll right up to fit in a stocking. You can use ’em to mold chocolates too.
Promising review: “They are great. I love dachshunds and to have little ones in my drink are even better. Everything about the silicone is great and it is easy to take the ice out and not have it break. I’ve used it for a few months and it still is holding up wonderfully.” — Schmidty
Amazon
A giant bow-topped fleece head band
Promising review: “This is actually the second one I have purchased through this company, the first I gave to my sister in law because she loved it so much! You really can’t get anything comparable for the money…I’ve tried and failed. It has the perfect amount of stretch without being too tight or too loose, and it’s incredibly soft. I can’t recommend this enough!” — Laura Sanchez
Amazon
A coin purse shaped like a corgi butt
Promising review: “OK, this is the cutest coin purse Ive ever seen. I have a friend who is obsessed with corgis and I don’t blame her. Those floofy butts are too adorable. I cant wait to give this coin purse to her for Yule. She’s going to love it.” — Bunny
Amazon
Or a corgi butt mousepad
Promising review: “I ADORE this mouse pad!!! I work as a software developer and was starting to experience the beginnings of carpel tunnel. This has totally stopped the numbness in my hand! And as a corgi mom of two bouncing corgi boys, this was a must-have!” — LP
Amazon
A pair of sherpa-lined slippers
Promising review: “Very nice, plush, comfortable and so cute! For indoor use! I would definitely buy these again! They fit very well, even if you have wide feet. I bought them for my daughter who has a pug. Great gift! Was supposed to be for Christmas but I couldn’t wait! Love them!” — JC
Amazon
A set of mini macaron containers
Promising review: “These are the best little containers EVER! I use them for so many things: change ‘purse’ for my work locker, pill containers, small jewelry holder (fits my earrings, rings and necklace and works great for when I can’t wear something and don’t want to lose it). I’ve used a few daily and none of them have broken or popped open and I’ve had these for two and a half months already! Cannot praise these things enough! Definitely worth the money.” — Meghan Danielle
Amazon
Chenille-style fuzzy socks in the shape of quirky creatures
Promising review: “I love these socks! I’ve bought several sets to give as gifts and one for myself. Mine have held up a year and going strong. They’re warm but not hot and not so thick that you can’t wear shoes with them. Perfect fuzzy socks! And so cute and fun to wear!” — Kelli Nash
MouseDelights3D
A hand soap attachment to transform boring foaming soap into a secret Mickey
Promising review: “Great quality — took a few practice attempts to get a good Mickey shape at first, but we’ve got it down now. My 3-year-old daughter LOVES it! So much fun.” — Katie Thies
Amazon
A tiki-inspired Baby Yoda mug
Promising review: “OK Grogu (aka Baby Yoda) is cute enough to be a Lovely Tiki mug, but this one just make it beyond my expectations, detail hand painting, different color inside the mug, a real treat for tiki culture or Star Wars fans looking for a nice cocktail in Mos Eisley cantina, big enough for a Iced Rusty Nail or any glass-size poison” —G. Salvador
Amazon
A set of cat sponges
Promising review: “The way they sit up helps them dry rapidly and they work very well too. I used them as stocking stuffers.” —pinkzin
A mini Lodge cast-iron skillet
Promising review: “This thing is amazing! Just like our big Lodge cast iron skillets, except smaller. Much smaller. Comically small. Pictures don’t do it justice. Got this as a stocking stuffer for my wife. Literally. She got a good laugh out of it. But besides that, it is a great little skillet for a single egg (from a hummingbird preferably) or some popcorn on the grill (three or four kernels). Just buy it!” — CollierCatMan
Or a miniature baking set
The set comes with a storage tin, rolling pin, wee knife, pizza/dough cutter, mixing spoon, three wee spoons, mixing bowl, pizza/pie pan, pie server, sheet pan, silicone cake and cupcake molds, two silicone finger mitts, and 48-page recipe book.
Promising review: “My 8-year-old daughter purchased this for herself. She absolutely loves it and so do I! With very minimal help from me, she can make her own treats. I love that she gets a little snack/treat and the kitchen isn’t a big mess and I don’t have two dozen cookies lying around calling my name. She used to beg me to bake all the time and now I can let her because I know she’s not filling up on sugar and she doesn’t need me hovering in the kitchen to keep an eye on things. It’s amazing!” — Sherrie801
BuzzFeed / Emma McAnaw
A sloth to-do notepad
It has sections for your must-do tasks (with two different areas for top and lower priority), appointments, errands, and people they need to reach out to. A BuzzFeed Shopping editor who loves sloths swears by this to help organize her day — check out her review in one edition of our monthly review series! Here’s a snippet: “And for anyone who’s not a natural-born multitasker, this is great for you! I, for one, like to do one thing at a time so it’s great to be able to list everything by time frame (like to do soon or to do after a nap) so I can think out the order of importance. I don’t have to say how SATISFYING it is to check things off when I complete them — do I sometimes write things down just to give it a check? Maybe. It also has cute ways to motivate me, like a mood- and productivity-rating method in the form of sloths. Dare I say, I owe these little sloth heads full credit for keeping me out of stress mode every week — they just a have a way with…planning?”
Lockwood
An adorable pigeon planter
Lockwood is a queer-owned, woman-owned, family-owned small business with several locations in New York City.If you’re based in New York, you can also pick up at your local store.
Amazon
A floating pasta timer whose name is “Al Dente”
The three-minute song (“That’s Amore”) is great for angel hair, the five-minute song (“Tarantella Napoletana”) is great for spaghetti, the seven-minute song (the Godfather theme) is great for tagliatele and more, and the eleven-minute song (“Prisoner’s Choir”) is great for fusili and more.
Promising review: “Purchased as a gift for my Mother-in-law, and was a hit! I don’t think she will use it daily but is a very cute novelty gift. The timer does work and the pasta was perfect ‘al dente’ and was so fun to hear it start singing when it went off.” — Rochelle P.
Amazon
A dozen squishy cat stress toys
Promising review: “So Soft. So squishy. So stretchy! These little guys are so satisfying to sit there and squish when you’re feeling anxious or frustrated. The paint on their little faces is a little messy sometimes, but the way a stress ball looks isn’t very important. I like that these are small enough to fit inside of your pocket, because so many stress balls are big and obvious and embarrassing.” — Emma McConaughey
AnaMaria Glavan / BuzzFeed
An extra-durable duck-shaped dog toy
Here’s what BuzzFeed Shopping contributor AnaMaria Glavan has to say: “My French Bulldog is extremely spoiled and gets new toys all the damn time — my sister will, I’m not kidding, raid the rows of TJ Maxx once a week for a new seasonally appropriate squeaker. There’s currently a mangled pastel purple bunny sitting in the garbage because, yep, he chewed right through it in a day… which brings me to my point! Chew toys can cost anywhere from $10–$14 a pop and last maybe three days with minimal play. My dog sleeps for 18 hours in a 24-hour cycle so it mystifies me that he manages to go through them so quickly. But a few months ago, I found this very plain yellow duck toy on Amazon that had over 14,000 reviews with buyers claiming it could take a lot of wear and tear. I thought, my doggo deserves the best so let’s try it out. Folks! This duck is woven with Valyrian steel! I literally purchased this on Nov. 24, 2020 (and I’m writing on March 25, 2021) and it’s STILL GOING STRONG. It has not torn, ripped, there is no toy entrail fluff scattered throughout our living room. Nada. It’s still perfectly intact and Rockie generally prefers this toy over any other one in his ever-changing arsenal. It’s also perfect for his medium frame but I can see it being equally as ideal for smaller dogs because it’s lightweight, despite being on the larger side. My dog is also strange in that he prefers sleeping on this random blanket in the corner than in his bed and sometimes he’ll drag the duck with him and lay next to it and I just…my eyes fill with tears when I think about how adorable that is.The best part is that the toy costs less than $10. Considering the quality, you’d expect it to cost way more considering that I haven’t had to replace it in the four months of me owning it. And again, I want to stress — my dog typically shreds through toys in less than a week, so to have one last 15x longer?! It’s pretty sweet. I also want to point out that the squeaker isn’t obnoxiously loud which is pure bliss.”
Emma Lord / BuzzFeed
A pair of LED light saber chopsticks
There’s a button to turn ’em on and off, and they come with batteries so you can ~get glowing~ as soon as they arrive. Here’s what BuzzFeed Shopping writer Emma Lord has to say: “As you can see from the above GIF, I bought these for myself, and I love them to pieces. TBH, I use them as decor every bit as much as I use them to eat. Sometimes I just keep them in my work area to light them up during the day to feel fancy. They toggle back and forth between a bunch of different colors, like red, blue, yellow, purple, and multicolor, so you can either make them match *or* have a red and blue one together and bring balance to the Force.”
Amazon
A set of cat gel roller pens
Promising review: “These adorable pens are a hoot! I can now ensure the pen thieves stay away from my desk. The point is very fine. It writes smoothly with black ink. The colors and the tiny faces are too cute. My favorite part is the little tail on the cap.” — Amazon Customer
Amazon
Disney Tsum Tsums filled with moisturizing lip balm
Promising review: “This could not be any cuter! The Princess is here to save your lips, and her cinnamon bun flavor is a wonderful choice to go with her bun hairdo. The container’s too heavy to carry with you, but it’s great to sit on your desk. Also in case you’re worried about it, the cinnamon is not strong enough to burn your lips, but you can taste it.” — ThatVulcanB
Gifts by Ells
A Harry Styles air freshener
Promising review: “I ordered these for my daughter for Christmas and she LOVES them. Super great quality, the seller was super responsive and answered a question I had within a couple of hours… 10/10 thank you!” — Etsy Customer
An octopus-shaped blackhead scrub stick
Promising review: “First time buying this and didn’t know what to expect but I’m most definitely buying it again. My skin has never felt better and I have the most sensitive skin and I’ve had no issues at all.” — Melissa
Amazon
A bag of Reindeer Farts (spoiler alert: it’s actually peppermint-flavored cotton candy)
Promising review: “I won’t lie — the whole reason I purchased this is because I knew that my kids would laugh at the name. However, I was really happy with how yummy the actual cotton candy in the bag was! The candy was fresh, and well packaged, and the product name got the laughs expected. Overall, I would say it’s a bit expensive for what you get (though it was easily enough for me and two children to share), but would still recommend as a cute/silly gift for someone who would get a kick out of this type of thing.” — Deb
Amazon
An otter tape dispenser who knows a thing or two about being stuck together
Promising review: “No one is buying this tape dispenser for any purpose other than to look cute on a desk. It definitely does that. It’s adorable. Just look at that happy, furry otter face. As a bonus, it also holds tape, which is useful in a variety of situations. It’s also very sturdy and isn’t likely to go flying when you forcefully grab a piece of tape from it (if you’re an aggressive gift wrapper, by chance). This otter tape dispenser is one of the few novelty items that actually does what it’s supposed to do. Two paws up.” — Bargler
Amazon
A set of four fruit-shaped flash drives
Promising review: “They are exactly what they look like — super cute flash drives. I’ve loaded them up with photos, videos, and music and given them to friends as gifts. They’ve been a big hit.” — Urban Fantasy Super Dragon
Amazon
A screaming goat figurine
And it comes with a 32-page, illustrated booklet all about goats, making this product the G.O.A.T. itself.
Promising review: “This little piece of screaming plastic has created an excellent outlet for resolving frustrations in our home. Every time a conflict or struggle arises we push the little goat, get a gratifying screech, chuckle and move on throughout our day. No regrets on purchasing this. When you get one, get four or five because you’re going to want to share with family and friends.” — Amazon Customer
Amazon
A desktop inflatable tube guy
It even comes with a 32-page booklet about the ~history~ of the tube man.Promising review: “Makes my wife laugh every time she turns it on. Everyone should have one of these at home.” — P. Farrow
Amazon
A velvet finish lip tint packaged in an adorable ink bottle
Promising review: “I usually don’t wear lipstick, I’m more of a gloss girl but that’s mainly because I don’t like reapplying or uneven color after an hour. I’ve searched for a light, long lasting lip color in shades that worked with my skin tone. I LOVE this. I ordered a second color a few weeks after the first and probably will stock up just in case. It last a long time and as it fades it doesn’t look bad. The color wears naturally but it takes a while, and several glasses of water, before that happens. Worth every penny!” — Veronica
Amazon
A snack container with two separate compartments (one for food, one for dip)
Promising review: “I bought this because I saw someone at work with it and I had to have it! It’s a little pricey but I didn’t care LOL. It stores a lot of carrots and the perfect amount of dip. I use it everyday now.” — Gabbie
Amazon
A brontosaurus loose-leaf tea infuser
Promising review: “Got this as a present for my fiancé — so dang adorable! Fits a decent amount of loose leaf tea in it well, seals great to keep any little pieces from coming out, sits in any of our coffee cups easily, and looks so cute while brewing. The neck sticking out makes it very easy to take out of the cup after brewing, and it’s dishwasher safe! An awesome present, he loves it! Came on time and in great shape, would buy from again.” — Sabrina
Amazon
A plush squeaker toy so your small fry of a furry friend can enjoy a treat when you do
Promising review: “This is the second toy from this maker I have bought and I LOVE them. More importantly so does Lola! They last forever and she gets so excited. The best part is that she hasn’t been able to tear it apart yet. I decided I was going to buy her a new one each month until she has them all.” — Reynold Wang
JL Cares is taking nominations for families in need this holiday season.
Press Release –
updated: Dec 2, 2022 17:32 PST
LYNNWOOD, Wash., December 2, 2022 (Newswire.com)
– JL Cares, a non-profit in Lynnwood, WA is hoping to make the holidays a bit brighter for a few families this year. Partnering with local appliance store Judd & Black, the non-profit plans to donate and install a new range for one family and will provide groceries for ten additional families in the area. JL Cares regularly provides emergent remodels to families that are unable to repair their homes and relies on the community to nominate families to support in the area. The JL Cares Leadership team also seeks out partnerships with other local businesses to make a greater impact than they could by themselves. With the rising prices in the cost of goods, the team hopes it can make a difference in the lives of a few.
“It’s an honor and our privilege to bless our community because we’ve been blessed this year, and Judd & Black is an amazing partner to us. We’re grateful that our visions are so well aligned, and we will be doing some amazing things together in 2023!” Paul Willis, Executive Director JL Cares
JL Cares is seeking your help in finding families that could use a little help this year. To nominate a family, visit jlcares.org and tell the team how JL Cares can make a difference in the lives of a family.
JL Cares is the non-profit arm of JL Remodeling of Lynnwood, WA, which has donated over $250,000 this year towards making a positive impact in the community. JL Remodeling’s owner, Jeff Laurence has a passion towards helping people, and launched the JL Cares non-profit in 2021.
Recently, Jennifer Lopez was photographed walking out of the Winter Garden theater hand-in-hand with Ben Affleck, wearing a (yes!) Christmas sweater. She styled it up with shorts and high slit Sylvia pleated organza tulle skirt. JLo’s sweater is a part of Ralph Lauren’s Fair Isle cashmere sweater collection. She emboldened the look with a retro style belt and high platform heels!
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez in New York City.
— Photo by James Devaney/GC Images
Meanwhile, on Nov 29. Simu Liu was photographed at the premiere of “Violent Night” with his rumoured girlfriend Allison Hsu. The “Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings” actor wore a Christmas-appropriate sweater with snowflakes and a holiday cocktail knit-pattern. Hsu, the Digital Marketing Manager at Interscope Records, wore a green sweater with snow and Santa knit.
Don’t they look cute?!
Simu Liu and Allison Hsu.
— Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
Celebrities are redefining holiday fashion with traditional Christmas sweaters. Are you going to try this fashion hack this season? Tell us in the comments.
The flexible work app, Instawork, matches a network of on-demand hourly workers with Florida businesses.
Press Release –
Dec 1, 2022 08:00 EST
SAN FRANCISCO, December 1, 2022 (Newswire.com)
– Instawork, the leading platform for connecting businesses with skilled workers, announced today the platform’s availability to hourly workers in the Tampa area looking to earn higher wages as holiday and end-of-year travel are expected to be the highest in years.
In Tampa, the average hourly pay rate on the Instawork platform is $16.52 per hour, a vast improvement over the state’s minimum wage of $11 per hour. That steep increase gives Sunshine State residents a way to pay for expensive additions to their household budgets during the holidays.
It also comes as New York Fed researchers recently reported that credit card balances in the third quarter were up $38 billion – the biggest annual increase in more than two decades. Florida residents can remedy this and start paying down their holiday bills by downloading the Instawork app, creating a profile, and finding work opportunities with businesses across the Tampa area.
While Florida recently increased the state minimum wage by a dollar as part of its six-year plan to bring the minimum wage to $15 by 2026, flexible workers who join Instawork can achieve an increased level of income without delay. Immediate access to higher pay rates are also crucial with current inflation and a recession looming.
More than 60,000 people in Tampa have already downloaded the Instawork app and are working to staff business locations across the area. Common roles for Instawork in Tampa include general labor, counter staff/cashier, warehouse associate, line cook, and event servers. Local workers can easily create a profile, find a shift that matches their skills and interests, and start working in as little as 24 hours.
“I love Instawork and will likely never go back to a full-time job again,” said James Morter, an Instawork Pro and Tampa resident. “It gives me the flexibility I need to take care of my kids and pick and choose when I work. It’s by far the best work platform I’ve tried.”
Tampa businesses that rely on Instawork range from nationally-recognized hotels and restaurant groups to some of the area’s favorite local hot spots and sports venues. They have easy access to quality, reliable workers, following Instawork’s announcement that over 1 million people have joined the app in recent months leading up to the holiday season to fill shifts in the first post-Covid holiday season.
“Instawork has been a blessing for us. We would not be able to operate without it. Instawork has completely changed the staffing landscape for the better,” said Steve Andress, President of Florida Statewide Logistics.
Instawork is currently staffing businesses in more than 30 markets across the U.S. and Canada. Those interested in learning more about Instawork should visit www.instawork.com or download the app.
About Instawork Founded in 2016, Instawork is the leading flexible work app for local, hourly professionals. Its digital marketplace connects thousands of businesses and more than three million workers, filling a critical role in local economies. Instawork has been featured on CBS News, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Associated Press, and more. In 2022, Instawork was ranked in the top 10% of the country’s fastest-growing companies by Inc. 5000 and was included in the Forbes Next Billion Dollar Startup list. Instawork was also named the 2022 ACE Award recipient for “Best Innovation,” one of the “Best Business Apps” by Business Insider. Instawork helps businesses in the food & beverage, hospitality, and warehouse/logistics industries fill temporary and permanent job opportunities in more than 30 markets across the U.S. and Canada. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
