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Holiday Guide 2012

Saturday, December 29, 2012

NJ Transit Running Extra Trains for New Year's Eve Travelers

Check the extended bus schedule and special fares being offered, too

Planning to watch the ball drop in NYC on New Year’s Eve? NJ Transit has released the following extended schedule for those who will be traveling to ring in 2013: NJ TRANSIT will operate late-night trains after midnight on New Year’s Day, as well as special late-night bus service from Port Authority Bus Terminal to accommodate travelers returning home from midnight celebrations.  In addition, customers can continue to take advantage of NJ TRANSIT’s special extension of the Family Super Saver Fare, which allows up to two children 11 and younger to travel free with each fare-paying adult.  Usually limited to weekends, the Family Super Saver Fare is in effect continuously from 7 p.m. Friday, December 21 until 6 a.m. Wednesday, January 2, on …

Monday, December 24, 2012

Christmas Fun Facts and Trivia

How much will we spend this year? And what's the best-selling Christmas song of all time? Find the answers below.

We know that there were three Wise Men, 12 days of Christmas and that Santa delivers all his presents around the world in one night. But did you know... $23,439.38  How much it would cost to buy your "true love" all the gifts in the 12 Day of Christmas . 12.9 billion hours, $447 billion How many hours Americans were expected to spend shopping, wrapping and returning gifts last year. That was about 42 hours and $688.87 per person.  Get your postman/postwoman a gift According to Hallmark, Christmas is the largest card-sending occasion . Nearly 1.5 billion cards are sent to friends and family every Christmas Season. (That's actually down 400 million cards since 2004.) $983 million The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from …

Scott Helming

1:21 pm on Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Actually, there is no firm evidence there were three wise men. We know if three gifts, hence the thought of three persons...An ongoing mystery!   more ›

Sunday, December 23, 2012

White Christmas May Be Seen in the Region

A weak storm front expected to bring up to two inches of snow starting Monday night.

Cross your fingers. As of Sunday, weather projections indicate a storm front entering the region that could give us—gasp—a white Christmas. According to the National Weather Service, there is a 20 percent chance of snow on Tuesday, with a temperature ultimately reaching 38 degrees. Stephen Pellettiere, with Ion Weather based at the Morristown Municipal Airport, said current projections appear to have the small storm begin producing at about 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve, tapering off at the latest 6 a.m. Tuesday morning. "A little storm is passing to our south," he said. "There's a tenth of an inch of moisture, which translates to about an inch of snow." Some areas, including southern Morris County, could see as much as two inches of the white …

hongfeng

9:11 pm on Sunday, January 6, 2013

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Where's Santa? Track Him Live

The North American Aerospace Defense Command has a website that now offers a Santa tracker mobile app to follow the jolly man's magical flight.

They sent him their wish lists, sat on his lap, and left cookies and milk for his arrival. Now the only thing left for children to do is track Santa's progress as he delivers gifts around the world on Christmas Eve. Thanks to the folks behind the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) website, families worldwide can now follow Santa's Christmas journey in real time. The tradition started in 1955 after an advertisement for Sears Roebuck & Co. misprinted a telephone number for a special "Santa hotline." Instead of reaching Kris Kringle, the number put kids through to the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Commander-in-Chief’s operations, according to a description on the NORAD Tracks Santa Facebook page, which has more than …

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Top Kid Toy Picks for 2012 Holiday Season: Gift Guide

A look at the hot toys for tots this holiday season.

Every holiday season, the mailbox fills with the latest toy catalogs. Children peruse the pages as they scribble their lists, daydreaming about what they will find under the tree come Christmas morning. Parents pull out their pocketbooks, spending hard-earned cash as they anticipate the joy on those little faces. What will be the runaway favorites this year is always a guess, but here are some of the latest trends, mixed with tried-and-true perennial favorites.  jChews Smartphone teether by Jellystone No tears for parents or babies. Babies love nothing more than to gum Mom and Dad’s cell phone, but now they’ll be too intrigued with their own smartphone to chew on. The Jellystone smartphone teether comes in seven funky colors and is BPA …

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12:39 am on Tuesday, November 20, 2012

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Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas to Take Money, Stress Out of Christmas

As you look over the list of gifts you need this holiday season, an unsettling feeling starts. How will I pay for all these gifts? How about homemade gifts?

Gift-giving is meant to be a time for sharing how much you appreciate others, but rising prices and tight budgets take the feel-good vibes right out of gift-giving traditions. This year, take the money stress out of the holidays by turning to homemade gifts. Homemade gifts are a great way to show you appreciate someone while also adding a personal touch. Gifts don’t need to be expensive to be special. Get the family involved in the fun and you will be creating memories while making unique gifts for those who mean the most in your life. Patch explores the homemade holidays in hopes that you will find something to inspire you to enjoy the season more. Healthy options: Pack energy in a jar with healthy snacks like energy bars, dark chocolate…

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Elf on the Shelf Hiding Spots: Share Your Photos

Our Patch Elf on the Shelf has gotten ahold of our computer and now wants to know what his buddy elves are up to. Share your photos here!

Hi friends! I'm the Patch Elf on the Shelf. Call me Patchy. I've heard about more of my friends hanging around the area lately, and I wondered what they were up to. Could their families post pictures here on Patch to show me? I'd love to catch up with them. We all go back to Santa on Christmas Eve, but in the meantime, we'll be watching you! Cheers, Patchy the Elf Add your photo by clicking on the green "Upload Photos and Videos" icon.

jazzman

7:39 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013

ahhh the new definition of working from home has arrived...gag   more ›

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Holiday Cookie Recipes

Need a quick holiday cookie recipe? Make one of these for your parties this season.

One of the most important holiday questions to ask yourself is: What kind of cookies will you be baking for your get-togethers this season? From sweet to savory, holiday cookies come in all shapes and sizes. And what’s better than to top off a tray of cookies than a glass of homemade eggnog? You can also check out myrecipes.com to learn how to host a successful cookie swap and view more holiday cookie recipes.  Eggnog In a saucepan over low heat combine milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, cinnamon stick and clove. Bring to a slow boil (this will take between 5-7 mins). Once the milk mixture starts to boil remove from heat and leave cinnamon stick in for a couple of minutes, then remove. Put egg yolks and sugar into a bowl. Using a hand held …

Friday, December 14, 2012

Celebrate Santa Saturday at the Shops at Riverside

For three hours, families are invited to spend Saturday morning with Santa Claus

The Shops at Riverside invites kids and families to spend a fun-filled morning with Santa during a special holiday celebration taking place this Saturday, December 15. The free event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Level One by the Santa Photo Experience in the Saks Fifth Avenue wing. During the first hour, Santa will personally meet and greet all of little ones and their parents and lead them in a holiday sing-a-long and story time. In addition, there will be holiday crafts; balloons and face-painting by clowns Juggles and Glitter; entertainment by Kidsville of Englewood; and refreshments, including milk and cookies for the kids and bagels, courtesy of McCormick’s & Schmick’s, for the adults. “This is one of the many special …

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Where To Cut Your Own Christmas Trees In New Jersey

Cutting your own Christmas Tree can provide a lifetime of family memories.

There are two types of Christmas tree people: those who prefer to buy at garden centers and local stands, and those who like the adventure of cutting their own. If you are a "cut-your-own" type of person, or think you might be if given a saw and permission, here are the tried and true places in New Jersey where you can release your inner-yuletide lumberjack.  Rest assured. Almost all cut-your-own Christmas tree farms will cut them for you. Advice: bring gardening gloves to wear because the needles will pinch, and remember that most farms accept cash only.   Dixiedale Farms: Family owned and operated since 1911, Dixiedale farms is a short ride from Bergen County. Dixiedale never disappoints. The town of Chester is also a great place to grab…

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