CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When shopping this holiday season, consider shopping small.
Ari Green, founder of D’ara Cosmetics, said she’s spent over a decade perfecting her makeup products.
“I’ve always struggled with super, super sensitive skin,” Green said. “Everything that’s safe for sensitive skin stills has preservatives, chemicals. So, I figured I could make it myself. If I make it, I know what’s in it.”
What You Need To Know
Through Ari Green’s own skincare journey, D’ara Cosmetics was born
She creates body serums, oils and balms by hand in her apartment, using all natural ingredients
Green said she started doing it after seeing all the preservatives in makeup
She makes all the products in her apartment
Through her personal skincare journey, D’ara Cosmetics emerged, offering solutions she was looking for that no one else offered on the marketplace.
“It was just trial and error and figuring out what worked for my skin. And it just turned into a business that has helped so many people,” Green said.
She creates body serums, oils and balms by hand in her apartment, using all-natural ingredients.
As a black female entrepreneur, she believes representation for all types of skin, matters.
“Especially for more melanite’d skin, there’s not a whole lot on the market for us. We have to be very careful about what we use. So it’s something i wanted to create, something that’s safe for all,” Green said.
Green added this holiday season, consider shopping small.
The priceless value of each batch reflects the time, and effort invested.
“Big corporations, you’re one of thousands of their customers, whereas small businesses, it means so much. You’re supporting your community, you’re supporting somebody’s life, somebody’s family, somebody’s dream,” Green said.
If you want to shop D’ara Cosmetics, you can find the link here.
Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.
Whether you’re flying or driving, the weather could impact your holiday travel next week. Here’s what to expect across the country.
What You Need To Know
Heavy rain is expected in California and the Pacific Northwest
A clipper system brings heavy snow across the Northeast and New England before Christmas
Temperatures are trending significantly above normal for Christmas
Here are the weather highlights for holiday travelers.
A more detailed forecast for each day can be found below.
Monday
A prolonged period of wet weather is on tap this week across Northern California and the intermountain west. Monday evening into Tuesday morning could see some showers across the Ohio Valley and snow in the Great Lakes. Southern California remains mostly dry today, but wetter trends ramp up tomorrow.
Tuesday
Snow is possible across New England and the Northeast on Tuesday, with parts of Maine seeing up to 6 to 8 inches. Totals remain on the low end with only a couple inches of accumulation everywhere else. Out west, rain and snow continues, with heavy rain spilling into southern California.
Christmas Eve
California will see wet weather on Christmas Eve as another atmospheric river brings in Pacific moisture, leading to periods of heavy rain and mountain snow. Some strong storms are also possible across Southern California. The possibility of showers will be present through the Ohio Valley.
Christmas
The Rockies and areas westward see wet and wintry weather on Christmas Day, with the higher elevations seeing a white Christmas. Much of the central and eastern U.S. will be warmer than normal with mostly dry conditions.
Friday
The day after Christmas could finally offer a break for some areas out west, but high elevation snow chances continue. Some rain is possible across the Northeast.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
Happy holidays! This week we’re revisiting our favorite festive stories from years past, like this one:
From behind the scenes at Remodelista and Gardenista, here are our go-to homemade holiday gifts. Corral your helpers: These are projects for all ages and especially fun to do as a group.
CLEVELAND — The holiday season can be filled with family, friends, and of course, spending.
What You Need To Know
Brittany Matthews is a mom and a wife shopping for six
According to a recent survey from Beyond Finance, 51% of people make a budget for the holidays
The National Retail Federation expects holiday spending to be more than a trillion dollars
During the holidays, sometimes spending can go far above the budget.
Brittany Matthews is a mom and a wife shopping for six.
“I try to do everything for Black Friday, which I did family, adults — I did all their Christmas pajamas, like clothes, like needs,” said Matthews.
During the holidays, she knows what she must spend and what she is buying. She prepares with a budget.
“We have meetings, and we do discuss,” said Matthews. “We have budget meetings; we have family meetings. The only issue is if the meeting will, I guess, come to fruition in real life.”
According to a recent survey from Beyond Finance, Matthews is a part of the 51% of people who make a budget for the holidays. They survey states 64% of people have already gone over their budget or think they will. Meltrice Sharp is a certified wealth coach and accountant who helps people gain clarity on how they spend their money. She is also a managing partner CLE Consulting Firm.
“The holiday season creates such an emotional demand on us,” said Sharp. “Oftentimes, we’re spinning out of guilt, emotions, expectations, and it’s important to really decide what it is that you’re going to spend money on.”
Sharp says sticking to a budget can give a sense of peace instead of chaos and regret going into the new year.
“They pay for the decisions that they made in December, in January, February and March,” said Sharp. “So, you’re starting your year off in the deficit.”
Sharp says the 50/30/20 rule can be an option — 50% of your income for your needs, 30% for your wants and 20% for savings.
“Do what makes sense for you and your family, something that you can stick to,” said Sharp.
Sharp recommends budgeting throughout the year and including the holiday shopping in that budget — something Matthews says she and her husband work hard to follow.
“We don’t have to cut back on anything because we’ve been planning all year,” said Matthews.
Sharp says don’t just budget for gifts but add in other costs like food, clothing and travel. When you shop for the holidays without a budget, Sharp says it leads to regret and buyer’s remorse.
“Not having to deal with financial hangovers after you’ve spent money that you didn’t plan to, or money that you didn’t have,” said Sharp.
Matthews says for her family of six, it’s about making memories, not regrets.
“Budgeting is a part of adulting, which isn’t that fun, but it is very necessary and it helps to provide the life in which I feel like my kids deserve,” said Matthews.
The National Retail Federation expects holiday spending to be more than a trillion dollars. The NRF expects November and December retail sales to grow between 3.7% and 4.2% over 2024. Last year’s holiday sales increased 4.3% over 2023, with $976.1 billion in spending.
Some tips to reduce overspending or spending over your budget include:
Set a total number for your spending max
Create a list of who to buy for and how much to spend on each person
Categorize your spending
Start a holiday fund in January and contribute to it throughout the year
Shop early for deals and discounts, avoid last-minute anything (shopping, travel)
Avoid buying for yourself when shopping for others
Turn off one click buying or saved payment methods on websites to reduce impulse buying
Make homemade gifts
Avoid buy now and pay later
Use cash or debit cards instead of credit
Set up bank account alerts when your account gets below a certain number
It’s the end of the year and the pressure is on, demands are high, and you’re probably close to the end of your rope as you try to wrap up your remaining projects before the holidays start. If that’s you, you’re not alone. Holiday stress is very common: In a survey by LifeStance Health, 57 percent of respondents said they experience stress over the season.
But it’s possible to maintain your energy and momentum and not only get things done but stay engaged and finish strong. Fortunately, there are a few pragmatic strategies to maintain your energy and momentum through the end of the year.
1. Maintain control
You’re likely to start feeling out of control. This is because of all the work you must accomplish before the end of the year, all the events you must attend, and all the responsibilities to families and friends for the holidays.
Feeling like your work-life balance is out of control can sap your energy and create a barrier to getting things done. This can turn into a vicious circle. You’re out of control, can’t get things done, and then feel even more out of control, and the cycle continues. On the other hand, when you feel greater levels of choice and control, you’re better able to stay clearheaded, get more accomplished, and feel more satisfied as a result.
An Inc.com Featured Presentation
So how can you feel more in control? First, decide what you must do this year and put off the things that don’t need your attention until after the holidays. Be intentional to get things done that will relieve your mind and keep responsibilities from hanging over your head. At the same time, plan for what can be done later on.
Additional tactics to take control are deceptively simple. Make lists of what you need to accomplish. Keep a calendar handy so you know what’s coming up. When you accomplish things, check them off your list so you feel a sense of completion and progress, or mark the calendar counting the days you’ve tackled.
With all of these, take the approach that works best for you. For some people, it’s an analog and always-visible to-do list. For others it’s an app or the use of your system’s calendar or planning software. Don’t spend a lot of time deciding which to use, just leverage what you’re accustomed to and dig in to take control and maintain your momentum for the year.
CINCINNATI — With Christmas just days away, shoppers looking for last-minute gifts had a chance this weekend to support local entrepreneurs at Artisan Fest 513 in downtown Cincinnati.
What You Need To Know
Shoppers looking for last-minute gifts had a chance this weekend to support local entrepreneurs at Artisan Fest 513 in downtown Cincinnati
The market featured a wide range of handcrafted goods, including candles, knitwear and wellness products
Vee’s Herbal Exchange is a wellness brand specializing in handcrafted herbal goods such as soaps and body butters
Nearly a dozen vendors set up shop in Washington Park as part of the Artisan Market’s recurring pop-up series, which aims to give small businesses face-to-face access to customers while encouraging residents to shop locally.
The market featured a wide range of handcrafted goods, including candles, knitwear and wellness products, offering shoppers items not typically found in big-box stores.
Among the vendors was Cori Venning, founder and CEO of Vee’s Herbal Exchange, a wellness brand specializing in handcrafted herbal goods such as soaps and body butters. Some of the products are even safe for consumption.
Venning launched the business earlier this year and does not yet operate a brick-and-mortar storefront. She said events like Artisan Fest 513 play a critical role in building brand awareness and connecting with potential customers.
“Being able to meet people face to face and tell the story behind my products really helps customers connect with what I’m doing,” Venning said.
The event is part of the Artisan Market’s broader #BuyLocal513 campaign, which organizers say has generated more than $1 million in local economic impact to date.
John Baldessari’s Nose/Silhouette: Green, 2020 Screenprint
Last month, my friend Laura hosted a Dalí-themed dinner party at Main Projects, the gallery she owns with one-half of the Icy Gays duo, Eric Thomas Suwall. Between courses, an artist asked what kind of art I like, and I wasn’t sure whether he meant the art I like to see in museums, or put on walls, the art I like to experience, or simply like to think about. Whatever he meant, it didn’t matter because it was a question I have no interest answering—which I was polite about, of course. Defining art by style, medium, subject, school, technique, color or artist has always felt like a list-buiding exercise rather than providing another person with a greater understanding of who you are, which think is generally the purpose of any such question. I appreciate art that evokes an emotional response. It doesn’t need to be a fuzzy or inspiring feeling; art that makes me uncomfortable is often more compelling. With that, I’ll try to articulate how John Baldessari‘s Nose/Silhouette: Green, 2010, makes me feel and why I love it.
My eyes like following the irregularities in the circumference of the green blob encompassing the nose—a facial feature that, unlike eyes or smiles, no human in the history of the world has ever held responsible for being the cause of love at first sight. And yet that is what Baldessari forces us to see when we aren’t doing laps around a face we’re trying to imagine. Baldessari died on January 2, 2020, and I can’t help but wonder how the generation-defining pandemic that unfolded three months after he passed would have shaped later works, had he lived through it. Baldessari’s legacy is multilayered, but the part I return to the most is that his art pushed thinking about how the meaning of an image shifts depending on the context. The world didn’t see noses for nearly year after Baldessari died (give or take, depending on your politics), which may have made some of us realize how much a nose can tell you about a person.
Lynn Darmon meets the Los Angeles Magazine staff at our downtown office, ready for a series of one-on-one reading sessions lasting 15 minutes each. There’s excitement in the air, but also a hint of uncertainty and nervousness. Most of the staff has never had a psychic reading before, but everyone’s minds are open and curious.
As people complete their sessions with Lynn, the energy in the room gradually changes. After leaving the conference room turned psychic-reading-space, people call their moms, dads, siblings and other relatives to discuss Lynn’s reading and messages from someone dearly departed that came through during the session.
Lynn’s effect on the room was undeniable. Clearly, the things Lynn had interpreted from the Other Side struck a chord within the hearts of our staff.
As a practicing psychic medium, Lynn has made it her life’s work to share her gift of connecting with the spirit world. At just four or five years old, Lynn became aware of her extrasensory gifts. The earliest experience in her memory is when as a child, she woke up with “the knowingness” that her grandfather had passed away during the night. Her mother assured her it was just a nightmare, but hours later the telegram came through confirming the news and proving young Lynn’s senses right.
As Lynn grew, her senses developed and she began to connect with the Other Side, or the spirit world, more. She first received messages from loved ones that had passed away, and eventually from the departed loved ones of the people around her. Her abilities evolved into what Lynn calls ‘Second Sight’, a gift of guidance and clarity.
Lynn’s life and journey as a medium reached a major turning point following the birth of her first daughter. Following a normal pregnancy, it was just two weeks after her daughter was born that Lynn got a serious, persistent feeling that her baby girl would soon face a serious health scare. Following her intuition, she brought her newborn to the emergency room. The doctors ran tests, did bloodwork, and discharged her and her child, but Lynn’s gut feeling did not resolve.
Still feeling a horrible, enduring fear for her daughter’s life, Lynn trusted her judgment and brought her baby to another hospital. She begged the doctors to trust her, but they found nothing wrong and discharged her again. When Lynn refused to leave the hospital, the doctors called in a psychiatrist, believing she was suffering from postpartum psychosis.
Finally one doctor told Lynn: “You’re so sure there’s something wrong with your daughter. Why don’t you tell me what it is?” At that moment, Lynn recalls looking into her infant daughters’ eyes and receiving a message. “It’s something in her abdomen. She just told me,” Lynn said. “She told you?” the doctor questioned.
Scroll to continue reading
Lynn ordered the doctor to conduct a CAT scan, but he asked Lynn to wait until the morning. Despite several doctors’ clearance, Lynn couldn’t ignore her inner intuition. She told the doctor that it couldn’t wait, urging them to complete the scan. An hour and a half later, her two-week-old baby girl was in life-saving surgery to combat complications in her appendix and colon.
After Lynn’s intuition helped save her baby’s life, she began to believe more seriously in her abilities and gift.
“The more I explored it, the more I learned about it, the more I became acquainted with it, the more things started happening. And then it was more about spirit communication, spirit connection, mediumship, and that’s when it evolved. It just evolved,” said Lynn in an interview with Los Angeles Magazine…
How does your day to day life as a professional psychic medium look?
It’s perfectly normal. The only things I do outside of work to help with work, is daily meditation for me. Meditation is very important. I journal a lot, so I do a lot of writing, and the writing that I do is what I call automatic writing. And then otherwise just it’s like, perfectly normal, I go to the grocery store like everybody. So it’s just mostly meditating is very important, quiet time is important to me, keeping myself grounded. And balance is very important, because if I’m gonna work with spirits, if I’m gonna work with the spirit world, it’s important for me to be just as grounded here.
What would you say to someone who has never experienced a psychic reading?
I think that everybody here on Earth, and in Heaven too, vibrates at a different frequency. Everybody is on their own path. I would love for people to expand their awareness and their consciousness around it. Embrace it and try it out. I’ve had a lot of people that are very skeptical and come to see me, and they’re not sure and they’re scared. But I always say, if they find themselves to my table or my phone on a phone call, then there’s a reason. It’s because they were guided. So I always tell people, just be open to it. Be open.
You know, there’s nothing ‘woowoo magic’ about it. It’s energy. When people leave here, when they cross over, the energy of love and their soul does not die. It goes on. They just shed their body, the physical aspect of themselves. You’ve heard the saying ‘we’re just all souls traveling through this human experience.’ Right? It’s very true. And so that’s what I ask people to do. Just kind of be open to it. Allow for it.
I set an intention, this was over 20 years ago, that [mediumship] was only to be used for good, all under the umbrella of love. Like, that’s just really important to me. So sometimes people will say, ‘oh Lynn I’m so nervous, so scared, what if I hear something bad?’ I go, ‘It’s never bad!’ You know, and it’s not that bad things don’t happen in life. We do have challenges and losses in life but my contract, I guess, with spirit, is that it must bring about a measure of healing, guidance, comfort, and validation. Those four things are very important to me.
Does the work feel different when you travel and work, for example at our Best of Beauty Awards? Is there maybe something spiritual about L.A?
What was really cool about our experience, because it was a big group of people, was that it elevated the frequency, if that makes sense. It doesn’t matter where somebody is, I have clients around the world. But what I loved about being there, and traveling is that collectively, the whole entire group, was fabulous. Everybody was so open, so kind, and so warm, that it just really elevated the whole experience for me.
The energy up there, when it’s collective like that, when it’s a group like that, it enhances everything. Because everybody’s kind of on the same wavelength. Here in Michigan people are open to it definitely, but it’s a different vibe. Different vibe, different populations. So for me, it doesn’t really– mediumship is mediumship, but yes, different populations, different cultures. It brings about a different energy from time to time.
So would you say L.A. is generally more open?
It might be. Yeah, it might be. And it’s hard to say to be honest because I mean, I have a lot of clients in Los Angeles. I have, for many years, had a lot of clients in Los Angeles. So it’s the collective energy around everybody. And also, the fact that L.A people, it feels like, are more open to spiritual experiences, and I’ve heard that about other places like Arizona.
What’s the main takeaway you want people to know about you and your practice?
Thank you for asking that. I said this recently where I feel like where we are, here, is only like 10% of what life is about, you know? And if we can expand that, if we can expand our awareness, if we can expand our consciousness, to accept that there is more than that we cannot see with the naked eye. You know, and to kind of try to open up to that. I feel that people often dismiss so much of what is so huge in life, and so much they can learn from. Because we do have what I call a spiritual support team. We have our angels, guardian angels, spirit guides, we have our ascendant masters and we have our loved ones in heaven who continue and work really really hard to let us know they’re still with us.
So they offer guidance and I feel like if people aren’t open to that, they miss out on such a beautiful, beautiful part of life. That to me is what’s so important, wanting to help people bridge the gap between this world and the spirit world, and accept it as a normal part of life. It has become in recent years much more mainstream, which I’m thrilled it’s not as taboo or ‘ooo evil’ anymore, but there’s still that little bit of a stigma.
The more open and the more accepting people are, the more they can connect with their loved ones themselves. I tell people everyday, ‘Just talk to them. They hear you. And they will let you know. And it’s okay to ask for a sign. They expect that.’ So I guess that would be my takeaway. You know, I would love for people to just be more open to this and to explore it, and know that [spirituality] is perfectly normal. Perfectly normal. Always know this, there are no coincidences in life. Everything is synchronized. Everything is in divine order.
What’s the best way for people to reach you (in the physical world)?
So I have a website, and it’s mediumlynndarmon.com, they can reach out to me on that. And I’m on Instagram, also @medium_lynn_darmon and you can send me DMs or whatever. That’s probably the best way.
Saturday brought one of the busiest travel days of the holiday season, as millions of people head home for Christmas or for other gatherings. An estimated 122.4 million people are expected to be on the roads, the highways, the railways and the runways.
As of Saturday morning, flight operations were running smoothly for the most part at LaGuardia, Kennedy and Newark Airports, particularly after the Tri-State area dealt with rough weather earlier in the week. Travelers who spoke with NBC New York maintained good spirits, even as some dealt with delays. One young student told News 4 that he had been waiting for a flight that had been delayed twice since 10pm Friday night.
Flyers at LaGuardia walked into long lines at places like Terminal B. Some had to wait up to 20 minutes to check in and drop their luggage. Travelers like Valerie Pinkney Williams told News 4’s Jessica Cunnington that being prepared for the wait was key.
“God forbid the alarm doesn’t go off. God forbid someone is cranky, like all of us are early in the morning, without our coffee, without our cereal, whatever,” she said. “So as long as the clothes are laid out, everything is ready, packed, ready to go. We go, ‘bing, bam, boom.’ This line means nothing.”
Some eight million people are expected to take domestic flights across the country, and many of them are doing so this weekend. As always, airlines encourge passengers to arrive early at the airport.
For those traveling by car, AAA says 109 million Americans are expected on the roads. That’s a 2% increase over last year and would set a travel record. AAA says gas prices are lower than a year ago, with the national average hovering at about $3.00 a gallon.
A pint-sized digital camera will take their travel photos to the next level. There are quite a few that you can order overnight or same-day delivery, but if you’re really in a pinch, you can always go grab a good disposable camera to give them in the meantime—it’s the thought that counts, and we all know that there’s nothing like a grainy disposable snap, anyway. But if you are able to score a better digital camera, this one should do the trick—it has 4K video recording, built-in wifi and Bluetooth tech and so much more.
CINCINNATI — For kids, it means gifts under the tree, and for officers, it’s a chance to connect in a different way.
Shop with a Cop is back, pairing law enforcement with children for a day of shopping and support.
What You Need To Know
Shop with a Cop is back
The event pairs law enforcement with kids for a day of shopping and support
For more than 10 years, it has been a staple in the greater Cincinnati area
“We identify kids, we work with the school and our SRO officer, for kids really in need, and it’s great for our officers to get to see these kids, to be able to spend this kind of money,” Reading Police Chief Police Bryan Edens said.
For more than 10 years, Shop with a Cop has been a staple in the greater Cincinnati area, and Edens said seeing the kids get a $500 spending limit is amazing, but he is most impressed by their selflessness
“When you see the smile on their faces and to watch some of these kids, because of where they come from, they worry about family members before buying for themselves, which is huge to see, 7–8-year-olds thinking of grandpa and grandma and siblings before themselves,” Edens said.
Eric Bartlett, a school resource officer at Reading Schools, is pleased to see the difference an event like this can make.
“It means a lot to our students, means a lot to our officers who organize it with the school,” he said. “The school helps us pick out the children who are in need. We have 12 children I believe this year. We’re hoping it does help their families.”
Edens said this event amazes him time and time again.
“Watching the kids, knowing they don’t have a real limit on them, these are kids who have never had that experience,” he said.
A Reddit member writes: I have an employee who was my friend before I became his boss. We’ve been good friends for more than a decade. At times, we blur the boss/employee/friend line and it makes things difficult. I have to deny his request for PTO around the holidays because others have previously been approved for the time so we won’t have coverage if I approve his and it will look like favoritism. How would you have the conversation with him?
Minda Zetlin responds:
You need to have a tough conversation. Not with your friend, with yourself. It sounds like he didn’t do anything different from any of your other reports. He asked for PTO around the holidays. He just made the request a little too late.
As several who responded to your post have said, your task now is equally straightforward. Tell him the truth. You might have been able to accommodate him if he’d asked earlier, but now that others have time off already scheduled, it’s no longer possible. You won’t have enough people working those days if he goes too. This is no different from the response you’d have given to someone who wasn’t your friend.
Unless you’re withholding pertinent information, it doesn’t sound like your friend was attempting to gain special treatment from you, or do anything other than be a straight-up employee. So based on what you’ve said, it sounds like you’re the one blurring the lines between employee, boss, and friend. He seems to be clear on the difference.
An Inc.com Featured Presentation
Has he ever requested special treatment?
This is why you need to have a serious talk with yourself before you have the conversation with him. Ask yourself if he has ever requested special treatment from you as an employee. If the answer is no, then ask yourself why you’re having so much trouble managing the boundaries between your work relationship and your friendship. Because it doesn’t sound like there’s a problem on his side.
If he hasn’t requested or expected special treatment up till now, then it sounds like he understands the necessary distinction between your roles at work and your friendship outside work. In that case, there’s no need for a whole discussion about the appearance of favoritism. All you need to say is something like this: “I’m so sorry. I’ve already approved time off for others who asked earlier, so I can’t spare you then. I’m happy to give you time off right after the holidays if you would like.” The fact that you’re both his boss and his friend will only be a problem if you make it into one.
Update:
The Reddit member talked more with the friend, and learned that one of the requested days off was for a doctor’s appointment. So the friend was given that day off only. For the rest, the boss explained that there were too many projects in the works, and too many others taking time off for the friend to do so as well.
Whether you’re flying or driving, the weather could impact your holiday travel next week. Here’s what to expect across the country.
What You Need To Know
Mostly dry weather is on tap across the central and eastern U.S. this weekend
Heavy rain is expected in California and the Pacific Northwest
Temperatures are trending significantly above normal for Christmas
Here are the weather highlights for holiday travelers.
A more detailed forecast for each day can be found below.
Saturday
If you’re traveling Saturday, a weak disturbance will bring some light snow across the Great Lakes and interior Northeast during the afternoon and evening. Heavier snow accumulation should remain into Canada. Most of the Midwest is looking at dry, sunny weather.
Northern California and the intermountain west will continue seeing periods of wet weather.
Sunday
Wet weather continues out west on Sunday, especially for parts of Northern Calfornia, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Heavy snow and rain is expected.
Some snow showers are possible around the Great Lakes and rain across the Southeast, but activity remains light.
Monday
A prolonged period of wet weather is on tap into early next week across Northern California and the intermountain west. Monday evening into Tuesday morning could see some showers across the Ohio Valley and snow in the Great Lakes.
Tuesday
Snow is possible across New England and the Northeast on Tuesday, but totals remain on the low end with only a couple inches of accumulation. Out west, rain and snow continues.
Christmas Eve
California will see wet weather on Christmas Eve as another atmospheric river brings in Pacific moisture, leading to periods of heavy rain and mountain snow. The possibility of showers will be present through the Ohio Valley.
Christmas
The Rockies and areas westward see wet and wintry weather on Christmas Day, with the higher elevations seeing a white Christmas. Much of the central and eastern U.S. will be warmer than normal with mostly dry conditions.
Friday
The day after Christmas could finally offer a break for some areas out west, but high elevation snow chances continue. Some rain is possible across the Northeast.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
“Happy Holidays! From our family to yours,” the post’s caption reads.
On the Sussexes’ official website, they shared another holiday greeting: “On behalf of the office of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and Archewell, we wish you a very happy holiday season and an excellent New Year.”
The sentiment is paired with a recap of their charitable and humanitarian activities in 2025. The couple also took the opportunity to share some news about the organization: “After five beautiful years, the Archewell Foundation is becoming Archewell Philanthropies. This charitable entity allows the couple and their children to expand upon their global philanthropic endeavors as a family.”
Archie and Lilibet also appear in the video recap; on Thanksgiving they volunteered alongside their parents at the Our Big Kitchen Collective, which provides over 70,000 meals a year to Los Angeles residents. The family helped prepare meals that were then distributed by Mercy Housing, Pico Union Project, and PATH, groups that directly help local communities in the Sussexes’ adopted home of LA.
Yesterday, Prince Harry’s brother, Prince William, shared his own festive family photo on Instagram. Kate Middleton and her husband also opted for a country setting: they pose, seated in the grass, with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
Old friend who can’t get anywhere on time: Obviously, get them a new watch. If they already have a watch and they’re still always late, get a new friend.
PTA parent-friend with a secret trust fund: They literally deserve nothing.
Brother-in-law with terrifyingly good taste: A subscription to Emily Sundberg’s Substack newsletter, “Feed Me”
Art collector: Draw them a little picture. Sign it. Frame it. Hammer a nail into their wall and hang it while they aren’t looking.
Cinema snob: I can’t stand these people. Show them who’s boss by getting them this box set of Caveh Zahedi’s films. If they don’t know who he is, they’re not a true cinema snob.
HIGH POINT, N.C. — Children are again getting to experience the joy of choosing their own gifts this holiday season. As shopping carts roll through Target aisles, for these kids, this isn’t just another trip to the store.
What You Need To Know
The Kiwanis Club of High Point carries on its mission this holiday season, hosting shopping sprees at Target where kids picked out gifts
The organization’s leaders say roughly 260 kids spent around $150 to get any toys, clothes or shoes, just in time for Christmas
This Christmas Cheer Event is funded by community donations
In 2024, a report from the American Community Survey found that in North Carolina, 16% of children were experiencing poverty
The Kiwanis Club of High Point carries on its mission this holiday season, hosting shopping sprees at Target where kids could pick out their own gifts.
The organization’s leaders say roughly 260 kids from various community groups were able to spend around $150 to get any toys, clothes or shoes, just in time for Christmas.
This is Jeff Bullock’s first year volunteering at the Christmas Cheer Event. Bullock is a pastor at a High Point church.
“It’s amazing what they do investing in these kids,” Bullock said.
His church partners with one of those local nonprofits called Growing the Distance, providing the space for the group’s after-school program.
“They’ve been in our facility for about four, five years and 30 or 40 kids, and they just help assist kids with after-school programing and pick them up, and they’re amazing,” Bullock said.
This Christmas Cheer Event is funded by community donations.
In 2024, a report from the American Community Survey found that in North Carolina, 16% of children were experiencing poverty.
Bryson holds the toy at the top of his Christmas wishlist that he was able to receive at this year’s Christmas Cheer Event by the Kiwanis Club of High Point. (Spectrum News 1/Ashley Van Havere)
For 8-year-old, Bryson, there’s one toy that he’s been wanting for a while now, he says. It’s called a Tonies box, and it’s a music player he was able to receive at this year’s event.
He also received two Tonie audio characters, slime and a fidget toy.
Bullock says its events like this, that are so important to kids during the holiday season.
“Who knows what the insecurities or the difficulties in life that they’re having or their families and all that, and so it’s great to give back,” Bullock said.
Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A Pinellas County military family has dedicated their lives to service.
The family patriarch, a World War II U.S. Navy veteran living at a Bay Pines VA assisted living facility, inspired his family to give back.
What You Need To Know
Mr. Harlan Springer served in World War II in the U.S. Navy
He now lives at the Bay Pines VA Community Living Center
He has inspired multiple generations of his family to give back and serve other veterans like him at Bay Pines
At 99 years old, Mr. Harlan Springer has lived a remarkable life.
“I’m thankful for being here because I never expected to live this long,” said Springer.
Like many of his greatest generation peers, they have many remarkable stories to tell.
Springer recalled when he enlisted in the Navy during the war, and it was him “having two brothers and a friend in there” that was not about to keep him home.
The Veterans Health Administration produced a video of Springer documenting time in service.
Springer was stationed on a destroyer vessel of a carrier fleet in the Pacific theatre of the war. Now, he lives at the Bay Pines VA Community Living Center in St. Petersburg.
Spectrum Bay News 9 sat down with Springer to learn more about his life story and legacy, like the remarkable date he joined the war.
“You see, it was June the sixth of 1944, and many years later I found out it was D-Day,” said Springer.
Stories like Springer’s inspired generations after him, especially hitting closer to home.
Chelbie Harrison is Springer’s great-granddaughter, and helped push Springer in his wheelchair around the facility for his daily stroll.
“It’s very often, his name will pop up on the screen, and then my great-grandpa is ready to be picked up,” said Harrison.
Harrison works at Bay Pines VA as a nursing assistant.
“I get to see how his day is going and get to tell him about mine,” she said. “And I get to tell him about the newest things happening with his great-great-grands, who he always enjoys hearing about, right, Grandpa?”
“Oh, yes!” responded Springer excitedly.
While Cole Long, Harrison’s brother or Springer’s great grandson, is also making the rounds at Bay Pines as a registered nurse.
Their mom, Christine Long or Springer’s granddaughter, also works at Bay Pines VA.
Every year she works to organize and participates in the Adopt-a-Veteran program.
Over the years the combined family has supported hundreds of military families to celebrate the holiday season.
All three family members are immensely proud of the service they provide, and said they are inspired by their remarkable grandfather and his friends at the VA.
“I take pride in being able to give back and take care of the veterans who took care of us and fought with their lives to have our freedoms,” said Harrison.
“They’ve been through a lot so it’s nice to give back to them,” said Cole. “It’s rewarding.”
As for Springer, it is another Christmas he is celebrating and even crafting gifts for the youngest of the generations, his great-great-grandkids.
And he is looking forward to another milestone for the holidays.
“You know I’m 99 and I understand I got a one percent chance to make it to 100…so statistically,” he said. “But I’m going to do it, I’ve decided.”
He has had 99 remarkable years and now one big reason to be thankful this holiday season.
Over 55 local musicians are coming together in Vienna, Virginia, for Jammin Java’s annual holiday tradition to host the Santa Clauster-f@%! Holiday Spectacular.
Over 55 local musicians are coming together in Vienna, Virginia, for Jammin Java’s annual holiday tradition to host the Santa Clauster-f@%! Holiday Spectacular.
Despite the name, the sing-along concerts are great for all ages and all beliefs in what Todd Wright, the creator of the event, describes as “controlled holiday chaos.”
Wright said the event on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday involves musicians who are assigned holiday songs, but who don’t rehearse until on the night of in front of the audience. He said it results in a “glorious train wreck” that has been so popular that the shows often sell out.
This is the event’s 23rd year, and already the Monday event is sold out. The other two highly anticipated evenings on Sunday and Tuesday have limited tickets remaining. Tickets are available on Jammin Java’s website for $27 per person.
A live music event with punk, metal and more Rhizome D.C. has a variety of live musical performances planned for Friday, ranging in genres from grunge-punk to “weirdo hypnosis tape noise” and beyond. All proceeds benefit the Miss Major Alexander L. Lee TGIJP Black Trans Cultural Center. Tickets cost approximately $22.
Cleveland Park Santa Bar Crawl Head to Cleveland Park for a neighborhood-wide bar crawl with exclusive specials and lots of holiday cheer. This event is on Saturday with costumes and ugly sweaters encouraged. Tickets cost approximately $28.
Rock’n’Shop The Black Cat is hosting a holiday market with local crafters, record dealers, shops, junk sellers and great music from live DJs. This event is free. For more holiday markets to consider, check out WTOP’s guide.
Santa Visits Frosted D.C.’s Franklin Park has a holiday celebration planned for Saturday where families can take photos with Santa Claus and other holiday characters. Attendees of this free event can also expect holiday carolers, a life-size ice sculpture carving demonstration, as well as hot chocolate and apple cider.
Maryland
Make Your Own Ornaments Shop Made in Maryland’s College Park location is helping attendees of this hands-on workshop bring a personal touch to their Christmas trees this year. Expect materials provided in this workshop, which costs approximately $13. The event is on Thursday.
Kerplunk! Free Family Art Drop-In Every Saturday, Creative Alliance in Baltimore, Maryland, hosts a free art drop-in, called “Kerplunk!” where families can create seasonal crafts and art projects based on current exhibitions. This weekend, the event is themed around “salt dough cookie ornaments.”
Santa Social The Urban Winery in Silver Spring, Maryland, has a holiday event planned for Sunday with a whole lot in store: wine specials, cookie decorating, games, hot drinks, a photo booth and a moon bounce for children. The event is free to attend.
Virginia
Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon On Saturday and Sunday, head to Mount Vernon for a display of festive lights and fireworks over the Potomac River. At the family-friendly event, guests will also be able to talk to soldiers at an 18th-century winter encampment and meet Aladdin the Camel. Tickets cost $58 for adults and those ages 12 and up and $36 for children under the age of 12.
Another Night of All Doom Metal Arts Herndon has a lineup of four doom metal bands set to perform on Sunday in Herndon, Virginia. The event has a $10 general admission with a $5 requested donation for nonperishable food.
A Christmas Brass Spectacular For a top-notch brass musical performance, don’t miss The Capitol Bones All-Brass Big Band with Lena Seikaly at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia. The event is on Monday with tickets priced at roughly $40.
A Kid’s Cookie Decorating Class Celebrate the holidays with a family-friendly cookie decorating class, hosted by Cake-wich Craft on Tuesday. The event in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, includes four cookies for decorating, all the sprinkles and other supplies attendees may need, a cup of hot cocoa and an additional mini sugar cookie for snacking on. The class costs roughly $28 per person.
Have an event you’d like featured in WTOP’s Things to do in the D.C. area weekly guide? Let us know!
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
Hosting this holiday or just hanging out? Here are the best merry cocktails for the season, including classic spirits and festive recipes
The holidays are the one time of year when indulgence isn’t just allowed — it’s encouraged. From twinkling lights to clinking glassware, a truly festive gathering deserves cocktails that feel celebratory, cozy, and just a little decadent. These are not everyday drinks; they are the best merry cocktails for the season! They are designed to evoke warmth, sparkle, and seasonal cheer. Here are five crowd-pleasing holiday cocktails.
This winter-ready twist on the classic Old Fashioned leans into deep, warming flavors. Maple syrup adds seasonal sweetness while orange and spice keep it elegant and comforting — ideal for fireside sipping.
Ingredients
Create
Stir bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters with ice until well chilled
Strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass
Express the orange peel over the drink
Garnish with cinnamon if desired
Cranberry Cinnamon Margarita
Bright, festive, and jewel-toned, this margarita brings holiday flair to tequila lovers. Tart cranberry balances citrus, while cinnamon adds subtle seasonal warmth.
Ingredients
2 oz tequila blanco
1 oz cranberry juice
¾ oz fresh lime juice
½ oz orange liqueur
Cinnamon sugar rim (optional)
Create
Shake all ingredients with ice until cold
Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice
Garnish with a lime wheel or floating cranberries
Mulled Holiday Red
Few drinks feel as instantly seasonal as mulled wine. This slow-simmered classic fills the room with holiday aroma and delivers comfort in every sip.
Ingredients
1 bottle dry red wine
¼ cup brandy
¼ cup honey or sugar
Orange slices
Cinnamon sticks
Whole cloves
Create
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over low heat
Elegant and celebratory, this cocktail is perfect for holiday toasts. The ruby hue and crisp bubbles make it visually stunning and refreshingly light.
Ingredients
Champagne or dry sparkling wine
1 oz pomegranate juice
Fresh pomegranate seeds
Create
Pour pomegranate juice into a flute
Top with chilled champagne
Garnish with a few seeds for sparkle
Peppermint White Russian
Decadent and dessert-like, this holiday version of the White Russian feels tailor-made for December nights. Creamy, minty, and indulgent, it’s pure seasonal comfort.
Ingredients
2 oz vodka
1 oz coffee liqueur
1 oz peppermint schnapps
Heavy cream
Create
Fill a rocks glass with ice
Add vodka, coffee liqueur, and peppermint schnapps
Float cream on top and stir gently before sipping
Whether you’re hosting a lively party or enjoying a quiet night by the tree, these Merry Cocktails bring warmth, indulgence, and unmistakable holiday atmosphere to every glass. Cheers to the season.
STOW, Ohio — The holidays are supposed to be filled with fun, family and friends but it can be difficult celebrating the holidays after losing a loved one.
What You Need To Know
Fred Price and his wife, Sheila, met as teenagers
A 2024 survey from the American Psychiatric Association said grief or the loss of a loved one was a top stressor at 47%
Grief is the experience of coping with loss
Fred Price and his wife, Sheila, met as teenagers.
“She completed me,” said Price. “She was the love of my life. We dated in high school and then went our separate ways.”
They reunited later in life, and then got married in 2005. Price says they had a wonderful life.
“She had bad scoliosis since a child and went through several operations,” said Price. “Unfortunately, the last one that she had was not successful.”
Sheila died in February of 2022. They were married for 16 years. Price said she loved the holiday season.
“She loved Christmas, completely,” said Price. “All the holidays were her favorite and, I’ve tried to keep on that tradition.”
Price has several of Sheila’s items around the house especially for Christmas. Price said the first year was the hardest for him. During that time, he started going to The GriefCare Place for support. Price is not alone; more than a million people will spend the upcoming holiday without a loved one. Benjamin Barnes works with The GriefCare Place. An organization that provides support groups. Barnes says grief can be complicated, different for everybody and last for a long time.
“It depends on who you lost, how you lost to them,” said Benjamin Barnes, a clinical mental health counselor. “Who they meant to you who they were to you and it is not a one size fits all process.”
A 2024 survey from the American Psychiatric Association said grief or the loss of a loved one was a top stressor at 47%. Grief is the experience of coping with loss. It’s a natural reaction that can involve an intense emotional, physical and mental responses like sadness, anger, confusion and numbness. During certain times grief can amplify and be triggered by birthdays, anniversaries and holidays. Grief can include the loss of You may grieve the loss of:
A friend, family member, partner or pet
A marriage, friendship or another form of kinship
Your home, neighborhood or community
Your job or career
Financial stability
A dream or goal
Good health
Your youth
Fertility
Anything that was important to you.
According to Kubler-Ross, there are five stages of grief:
Denial. You may have difficulty accepting that a loss is real.
Anger. You may direct anger at multiple sources, including people who couldn’t save a loved one, God, yourself — or even no one in particular.
Bargaining. You may imagine reaching an agreement, so you don’t have to deal with a loss. You may also regret past actions that you imagine could’ve spared you from loss.
Depression. You may experience the complex emotions associated with depression including emotional detachment.
Acceptance. Eventually, most people embrace the reality of loss even if the pain’s still there.
The Cleveland Clinic says there are different types of grief including:
Anticipatory grief
Anticipatory grief involves grieving before the actual loss.
Abbreviated grief
Abbreviated grief may follow anticipatory grief. You can grieve a loss quickly because you’ve already done a lot of emotional labor while anticipating that loss.
Delayed grief
Instead of experiencing the emotions that accompany grief immediately after a loss, you feel them days, weeks or even months later.
Inhibited grief
Inhibited grief involves repressing emotions. This type of grief can lead to upset stomach, insomnia, anxiety and panic attacks.
Cumulative grief
Cumulative grief involves working through multiple losses at once. Grieving multiple losses simultaneously makes the process difficult and complex in unexpected ways.
Collective grief
As a group, we grieve the shared experiences we’ve lost as we struggle to imagine a changed future.
Barnes said there are some things you can do to navigate grief during the holidays. First, make sure to take care of yourself. Prioritize physical, mental, emotional and spiritual self-care. Make plans for the holiday — honor the lost loved one by lighting a candle.
“When you first lose a loved one, you’re going to have all kinds of different emotions,” said Price. “You may at one point feel like you’re going crazy, but it’s okay to feel anger.”
Give yourself permission to feel what you are feeling and don’t self-isolate, socialize and find support through family, friends or a group.
“There’s no right way to do this, and so, it’s so important as hard as it is we always have a choice even in the deepest grief,” said Barnes.
Price said it has been a difficult transition without Shelia, but he has a great support team around him and is healing. He remembers Shelia as the loving energetic and faithful person he fell in love with.
“She loved pictures, we had to take all these photos, and now I look back on them, and I cherish those photos,” said Price. “I’m glad that we did it.”
After about a year and half of attending the support group, Price became a counselor. Now, he helps other widowers get through their tough times.
If you are experiencing grief and you need someone to talk to, the GriefCare Place offers their support groups at no charge.
