For many of us, the holidays are a time of joy. We’re surrounded by the love of friends and family, awash in a sea of light, color and the blessings of the season. For the less fortunate, the holidays are a little less blessed. Many people not only lack the resources to enjoy the season, but they may lack the basic necessities like adequate food and shelter. Walking in a winter wonderland isn’t nearly as much fun when you don’t have a warm home to return to. That’s where community service can make a major difference in the lives of many.

Giving, whether it be with donations or with your time, creates a cycle of caring. You’ve helped someone, who feels better about life and will in turn perform a kind deed for someone else. One small act can create a chain reaction that makes our world a better place to be. Maybe more than anything else, it exemplifies the true meaning of the holiday spirit.

Even if you’re not a big believer in karma, there are several other more practical reasons to be generous around the holidays. Depending on the charity, you may be eligible for a tax write-off, a nice consolation prize with the end of the tax year approaching. Another reason is that giving doesn’t just help someone else, it helps you. Studies have shown that people who give not only have greater feelings of happiness, but experience lower blood pressure and a lower risk for heart disease.

All in all, it’s a fairly simple concept. Volunteering for the holiday means happier people, a happier community and a happier you. Make the holidays better for someone else. You’ll be surprised at the difference it can make. 

When we consider our lives, it’s pretty easy to forget how many choices we have. We can choose what we say or where we worship, for example. It’s equally easy to forget how many people in the world don’t have the chance to make many of these choices. From Concord and Lexington to Iwo Jima and continuing to today, we have the ability to choose in large part due to the sacrifices of our veterans. Veteran’s Day is November the 11^th, so take a moment to say ‘thank you.’

You can say thanks in many ways. Fly a flag correctly. Attend a Veteran’s Day event in your local community or donate to a reputable veteran’s organization. Help out a military family in need. Why not visit a veteran or write to one? There are lots of ways to get involved. 

If other obligations mean you can’t get involved the way you would like, you can even observe a two minute moment of national silence, a two-minute time to silently honor our veterans. Passed as an official act of congress in 2016, the two minutes of silence is officially observed at 2:11 PM Eastern standard Time. 

It also important not to get Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day confused. The former is for living veterans, while the latter is to remember those who gave their lives for their country. 

Veterans are an important part of our country that is sometimes overlooked. It’s fair to say our lives would be considerably different without them. On Veteran’s Day (and every day) remember to say a word of appreciation to those who served for our country.  

When the weather is nice, it’s not that hard to motivate yourself to go for a brisk jog along that pretty nature trail or do your favorite aerobics workout in the nearby park. But once it gets cold the equation changes. Who wants to go out and exercise in the freezing cold? Here are some ways to keep up your regular exercise routine even when the thermometer says you should be home curled up in front of the fireplace.

Dress to stay dry, not just warm. The fastest way to lose body heat is to get wet. In the winter, look for synthetic fabrics that wick away moisture rather than a cotton t-shirt that will leave you sweaty and miserable. On another clothing note, make sure to dress in layers so you can peel off clothes as you heat up and then put them back on after a workout. Remember your fingers, toes and ears are more vulnerable to extreme cold than the rest of you, so don’t forget the hat and gloves. 

Also remember that in the winter it’s not just cold you have to watch out for, but also darkness. If you’re outside, skip the black and go for bright colors so oncoming traffic can more easily see you.

Winter brings ice and snow with it, so check the surface before you start running on it and make sure whatever shoes you’re wearing have good traction and plenty of tread. Don’t forget your skin either. It can take a beating during the winter, so don’t skimp on the lip protection and moisturizer. 

Following these suggestions will not only help keep you safe, but also more comfortable. A more comfortable workout means you’re more likely to finish it rather than cutting it short, and you’ll be ready for the next one rather than letting your fitness routine hibernate through the winter. 

Did you know about 600 million pounds of Halloween candy is sold in the U.S. every year? That’s about the equivalent of 24,000 school buses! 

But candy wasn’t a part of the holiday for a very long time. Originally the Celts celebrated Samhain, which marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter. It was believed that this was the time when the ghosts of the dead could come back. Once the Romans conquered the Celts, some of their traditions were combined. The festival of Samhain was eventually tied in with the Catholic celebration of saints, All Saints Day, or All-Hallowmas, with the night before called All-Hallows Eve, or Halloween.

When the Puritans and Pilgrims came to America, Halloween was not widely celebrated, as these were Protestant and Church of England factions. But once other Europeans arrived, the holiday began to gain momentum and new customs were created.

Since Halloween is such a big deal in America—we spend about half a billion dollars on costumes for our PETS alone!—it can be hard to remember that not everyone celebrates the holiday. Orthodox Jews and Muslims don’t celebrate it, since the origins are in Christianity. Some Christians don’t celebrate Halloween because they see it as a pagan holiday. Jehovah Witnesses don’t celebrate Halloween. There are also some people who believe that trick-or-treating is dangerous for children, or that simply too much money is spent on candy and costumes, and would prefer not to take part.

Just remember, one of the cornerstones of our society is freedom of religion. That means regardless of whether your coworker or neighbor observes Halloween, you should respect their beliefs. And that just means there’s more candy for the others!

There are over 7,000 varieties of apples worldwide, and over 2,500 varieties grown in the U.S. Fortunately you don’t have to be an apple expert to decide which apples to buy for your apple pie—most orchards will tell you. Many produce sections at the grocery store have signs indicating what their apples are best used for, as well. 

While it’s easy enough to purchase a ready-made pie, there’s a certain satisfaction to baking your own. And it’s pretty easy once you know the basics. You can mix different varieties of apples. You just want to make sure they are all have similar textures and are cut in roughly the same size pieces. Don’t cut them too small or you’ll have applesauce pie. Peeling the apples is a personal preference. Tapioca, cornstarch or flour will most likely be needed to thicken your filling, so look for that in a recipe. 

On to the apples!

Granny Smiths are easy to find year-round and have the perfect tartness and firmness for pies. Be sure to team them up with a sweeter apple, or even a pear!

Golden Delicious apples are very popular and because they’re a little on the sweet side, feel free to reduce any added sugar.

Galas are another sweet apple but are a little firmer than Golden Delicious. 

Jonathan apples have a tart and tangy flavor. You might prefer Jonagolds, which are a mix of Jonathans and Golden Delicious—they’re a little sweeter.

Honey Crisp apples are sweet and are firm enough to keep your pies from getting too juicy.

Pink Lady apples are perfectly suited for pies, with that crisp texture and sweet-tart flavor.

McIntosh can be crisp when first harvested but will get mushy quickly—be sure to mix them with firmer apples.

Happy baking!

Are you ready to grab your sweater and head for the nearest apple orchard? Before you get in the car, you might want to make a few preparations first.

Planning the perfect apple picking day trip means you’ll need to either contact your local orchard or look at their website. You will want to know their days and hours of operation, their costs, and whether they take cards or are cash only. Do you have to pre-pay or buy tickets online? Is there a calendar of events? You may want to attend (or avoid) festivals and other activities. Will you need to bring bags or baskets?

Depending on your location, prime apple picking season is Labor Day through Halloween. Be sure to plan for any weather contingency—bring bug spray and sunscreen, dress in layers, and bring water to keep hydrated. Don’t forget to bring hand sanitizer, food if you’re planning to picnic, and a camera to capture those wonderful memories.

Below are some recipes for that fall favorite, applesauce cake. Some ways to take the apple flavor up a notch? Add ½ to ¾ cup of chopped apples to the cake batter or slice some apples and layer on top before baking.

Instant Pot Applesauce Cake

5-Ingredient Applesauce Cake

Old Fashioned Applesauce Cake

Apple picking is an age-old tradition. It can be a fun time for the whole family, and make us feel connected to the earth. And the best part… with these great recipes, the fun doesn’t end when you get home.