"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas ...perhaps ... means a little bit more!"

Dr. Seuss (from How the Grinch Stole Christmas)

The holidays are bright and beautiful. There’s nothing quite like going out on a chilly night to see the lights glistening against a backdrop of new fallen snow. You have tinsel sparkling and carolers singing. You might catch the aforementioned Dr. Seuss Christmas special on TV or maybe go old school with the classic It’s a Wonderful Life. There’s the anticipation of the big day, and of course, there’s the wonderful smorgasbord of holiday goodies to munch on, made even more special by the fact that you only get to enjoy them for a short time.

A big thing is the loot. You’re bound to get something you need and (just as importantly) maybe something you’ve been wanting all year. It might even be something you didn’t even know you needed until that magical moment you tear open the package. It’s often better to give than receive though, and the priceless look of joy on a friend or relative’s face when they see what you’ve gotten them makes all the behind the scenes work worth it.

Of course, Christmas isn’t just about the things that come from a store. It’s about family and friends and being with the ones you love. They’re the ones that truly make Christmas a special time. So take a moment to appreciate the joy of Christmas. After all, it only comes around once a year.

Have a Great and Happy Holiday!

Your stomach may still be recovering from all that Thanksgiving feasting, but the holiday march continues. Christmas and New Years’ Day are coming, which means more family gatherings, more office parties and more tantalizing things to tempt your tummy.

There’s no harm in indulging yourself a little, but just because it’s the holidays doesn’t mean everything you eat has to be bad for you. There are alternatives that are both delicious and easy on the calories.

If there’s no way you’ll make it through the holiday without some quality green-bean casserole, try this slimmed-down version on for size.

Got a holiday party to go to? Get all the great taste of buffalo chicken wings without the associated calories with these spicy sriracha-buffalo cauliflower bites.

You probably won’t survive the holiday rush on carrots and lettuce alone, and with this healthier version of classic meatballs, you won’t have to.

Festive? Yep. Holiday color? Check. If you want a dessert that has all the Christmas pizzazz without all the Christmas calories, these star-mint meringues might be just the thing.

Let’s face it: you could really go for a great crab cake. You just don’t want to feel guilty about it. Problem solved with these light mini-crab cakes.

Use these tasty recipes along with a little moderation and common sense for the holidays. Remember a great Holiday spread doesn’t have to end up on your waistline.

It’s holiday time, not tax time. After all, you want to be trimming the tree not thinking about Form 1040. However, now might be the perfect time to get a head start on those schedules, and more importantly, do some end-of-the-year tax planning.

The key part of taxes is that they encompass everything within the calendar year, meaning that if you want to include something when you do your taxes next year, you’ll need to have it done by December 31^st of this year.

Stock up. If you’re self-employed, stocking up on supplies before the end of the year is not only a great way to hit the ground running in January, but it means you can also expense them, potentially lowering your taxable income.

Contribute. An IRA is more than just a good way to save for retirement. It’s also a way for you to potentially lower your tax bill. Depending on your age, you may be able to make a contribution of up to $6,500 dollars to an IRA, directly subtracting from your taxable income and possibly pushing you into a lower tax bracket.

Pay off those doctor bills. If you’re planning on itemizing your medical expenses, make sure you actually make the payments before the end of the year or they won’t count on this year’s taxes.

Sure, this time of year you’d rather have sugar plums dancing in your head than tax schedules, but a little planning now can save you big bucks when April 15^th rolls around.

The warm days of summer are long gone. Now there are only bare trees and the cold winter breeze. That means it’s time to come inside and watch the world through your windows, right? Well, not so fast. When we were kids, the cold weather didn’t stop us. We couldn’t wait to get outside and play in the snow. Find your inner child again this winter. Here are some ways to enjoy some cold weather fun:

Capture the Snow Flag. This is cheap winter entertainment at its best. All you need is a piece of white cloth tied to a wooden spoon. Mark off your area of play, and then have one person plant the ‘snow flag’. Time how long it takes the other person to find it. Switch places and start again. The person who finds the flag in the shortest time wins.

A real holiday movie night. It’s pretty easy to find an affordable movie projector for outdoor movie nights. But why let the fun stop when the summer ends? Get some blankets, some warm drinks and other supplies and enjoy a holiday movie in true holiday style.

Tic-Tac-Snow. Sure you could play the game inside, but why would you? Use a stick to draw some lines in the snow, grab some pines cones, stones, etc., for playing pieces and you’re all set.

Go for the stars. One nice thing about winter is that the humidity is low and the night sky is crisp and clean, perfect for some quality stargazing. Astronomy and hot chocolate. What could be better?

Winter is waiting. Make the most of it with these fun holiday activities.

If you glanced at the title, you might be wondering why we didn’t say ‘gearing up’ instead. Well, the economy might be roaring, but that doesn’t necessarily mean your wallet is. With holiday season coming up, you have a lot to do and also a lot to buy. There’s food and parties to go to. There are decorations to update, and cards to send out, and that doesn’t even count everyone on your shopping list.

So as this holiday season kicks into high gear, it may be time for you to gear down. Here are some ways to do it:

• Plan out your holiday budget ahead of time and make sure you stick to it. It’s sort of like making a list and checking it twice.
• Take advantage of early bird and off-season sales. No, you probably don’t need a Christmas tree in July, but you’re likely to find a great deal on it.
• Try making instead of buying. Sure, creating a new tablet or a high-definition TV may be beyond your skill, but there’s no reason you can’t make festive decorations or holiday treats from cheap raw ingredients.
• Use a prepaid debit card when you go shopping. It has a set limit and when it runs out, so do you. The set limit means you can’t go over budget even if you want to, and it also cuts down on those impulse buys that can break your bank account.

The holidays can take a pretty good bite out of your finances. So if you don’t want to have a sad face when the January bills come due, try a little gearing down for the holidays.

From the turkey to the mashed potatoes to your spouse’s legendary macaroni and cheese, Thanksgiving has some great eats. Throw in some pumpkin pie and maybe a slice of Grandma’s spice cake and you have some work ahead of you. The only real questions are which order you’ll go in and whether your stomach can handle a second savory helping of turkey and dressing.

Of course, there’s always room to try something different to go along with the family favorites. With that in mind, here are a few suggestions:

If you don’t have hours to spare to cook to perfect turkey, try the world’s simplest Thanksgiving turkey recipe. 

Many Thanksgiving dressings are as unique as the families that make them, which means guests often view them with suspicion. Ease their fears with this tasty kale creation, sure to please everyone at the table.

If you’re of the opinion that a quality pumpkin pie is the perfect way to cap off your Thanksgiving feast, then give Chef John’s rich pumpkin pie a whirl.

Cranberry sauce doesn’t have to be shaped like the can. Add a little zest to your holiday with this apple-orange variation on the holiday classic.

Sure, there’s the big game on your ultra-high definition 4k TV or the annual parade through 34th street, but let’s admit it: Thanksgiving wouldn’t be the same without the great food. So give these recipes a try and make your Thanksgiving meal the belt-busting spectacular it deserves to be.