3 smart hacks

Clever Christmas Hacks That Will Make Your Life Easier

1. Put that crock pot to work: From hot chocolate to warm frozen carolers to prepping an Instagram-worthy (and easy!) breakfast for Christmas morning, it’s your secret weapon to a stress-free holiday.
2. Finally, an end to the tangle: Wrap Christmas lights around a plastic coat hanger to prevent the annual frustration of detangling your lights.
3. Lights, ornaments, action: Hang Christmas ornaments from your light fixtures to create a quick Christmas chandelier.

[More at Buzzfeed Life]

4 blue bins

7 Ways to Make Your Holiday Recycling the Smartest Ever

Christmas gift-giving and feasting often mean that the garbage bins are overflowing come the New Year. Make the holiday season a little easier on the planet with these smart recycling tips. (And don’t forget, you can recycle many surprising items at London Drugs—check out our comprehensive list.)

1. Wrap with care: Much of the shiny or laminated giftwrap available is not recyclable. Pick greener options like reusable gift bags, newsprint or a commercially available recyclable option.
2. Break it down: If presents are arriving by mail, be sure to break down the boxes right away to save space and make recycling easy.
3. Process your paper: If you’re using paper plates, cups or napkins, make sure your options are recyclable or compostable. (Bonus: makes post-party clean-up a snap!)
4. Make it easy: Put a recycling bin right by the tree to collect material on Christmas morning.
5. Clean only as much as you need: Get the last tablespoon of peanut butter out of there, but you don’t need to run the jar through the dishwasher.
6. Purge plastics carefully: Remember, many municipalities can’t recycle plastic bags or collect them separately. Be sure to check which plastics can go to the blue box, and which are a big no-no.
7. There are other ways to recycle: Many gifts and toys can’t be recycled. Keep the giving spirit going – donate these unwanted items to a good cause.

[More at The Guardian]

5 gala dos

5 Office-Party Mistakes You’re Probably Going to Make, Anyway

Celebrating the holidays with your employees and co-workers is a fun way to thank everyone for their hard work and finish off the year with a bang. However, there are some pitfalls of the office party that you want to avoid if you can. Here are five commonly-committed office party faux-pas (and how to avoid them).

1. Last-minute planning: The holidays are a busy time of year, so don’t leave your planning too late. Create a social committee or nominate a few organized employees to plan the event far in advance. That way, people book your party in before their other social engagements.
2. Using the office as the venue: Though it may seem like a great way to cut costs, using the office as your party venue is a big no-no. The office space will only ever be the office, no matter how many decorations you put up. Spring for an external venue that will allow your associates to relax, mingle, and enjoy the evening.
3. Forgetting transportation: Once you’ve selected the venue, it’s important to consider transportation. You don’t want everyone to get stranded waiting for cabs, so consider a shuttle or a car-share service to ensure everyone gets home safe.
4. Prioritizing cocktails over “mocktails”: If you’ll be partaking in some alcoholic beverages, it’s important to include the non-drinkers too. Consider some non-alcoholic champagne or some nice sodas like Perrier.
5. Expecting day-after productivity: If you’re hosting your staff party on a weeknight, it’s not likely the next day will be the most productive for your team. Consider bringing in coffee and pastries to help kick off the day and continue the good cheer.

[More at The Village Space]

6 logs a-crackling

How to Build the Best Ever Christmas Fire

We all love the cozy atmosphere that comes along with a wood-burning fireplace. However, if you don’t use your wood stove very often, it can be a little intimidating. Here’s how to make that fire and ensure your family will be warm and toasty throughout the holidays.

To build a fire, you need three key items:

1. A newspaper
2. A handful of finely split, dry kindling in a variety of sizes
3. Seasoned firewood split into a variety of sizes
4. Optional: Fire starters, which are made of sawdust and paraffin wax (homemade or store bought)

There are three foolproof fire techniques to choose from.

1. Two parallel logs: Place two split logs a few inches apart, and add crumpled newspaper in between the logs. Then, place kindling across the logs, above the newspaper. Light the newspaper on fire and watch as the kindling catches. This is a good one because the orientation of the newspaper gives the kindling time to light before the flame has the transfer to the logs. Add logs as necessary to keep the fire burning.
2. Top down: This technique may take a little getting used to, but it’s reliable and also produces minimal smoke. Place three full-sized split logs on the floor of the fireplace, and place several pieces of medium-sized kindling across them. Then, roll up four pieces of newspaper and loosely knot them in the middle (this prevents the newspaper from rolling around), and distribute them across the kindling. Last, light the newspaper. You’ll see the flame travel down through the kindling to the larger pieces of wood. This fire should last for about two hours.
3. Fire starters: A cheat? Maybe. But as long as you distribute the fire starters evenly among dry pieces of split wood, your fire will start dependably. Simple. This way, you can focus on Christmas movies and hot cocoa.

[More at Woodheat]

7 tunes a-playing

These Are the All-Time Best Versions of Classic Christmas Songs

If you’re not interested in the pop-remixes of classic Christmas songs, this playlist is for you. The team at Slate has taken it upon themselves to select the must-listen-to classic versions of every favourite Christmas carol (including Canadian-favourite Michael Bublé). Click play, and keep clicking play until Christmas. You’re welcome.

[More at Slate]

8 families coping

How to Handle Seasonal Stress

Though of course the holidays are filled with love, joy, and laughter, they also bring a lot of pressure and responsibilities. Don’t let your Christmas celebrations drown you in stress – follow these five tips for a happy and healthy holiday season.

1. Be realistic with expectations: Your holiday celebrations don’t have to be just like last year. If your friends and family’s plans have changed, try to be flexible with adapting your time together. Or, if you have adult children that can’t make it home, try Skype, Facetime, and texting to enjoy the season together.
2. Plan ahead: Try to select one day for baking, another day for shopping, and another for decorating. If you pick those dates in advance and set small, realistic goals, you’ll be less likely to become overwhelmed by all the Christmas preparations. You can also choose to schedule your least pressing preparations later in the season – that way, if you have to cancel a few, it won’t be a big deal.
3. Learn to say no: Often, it’s the unwillingness to say “no” that can create stress during the holidays. For example, just because your children all have a favourite Christmas cookie doesn’t mean you have to bake them all each year. This also goes for social engagements – no one will be upset if you can’t make it to their annual party. Pick and choose your top priorities and go from there, stress-free.
4. Take a breather: This is especially important when a large family comes together for the holidays. If you’re used to living alone or with a small family, it can be overwhelming to suddenly host or attend a large family gathering. There’s nothing wrong with taking a break from the festivities, especially if it’s only a half hour of reading.
5. Seek professional help if you need it: If these coping mechanisms still don’t help and you’re still feeling anxious, sad, irritable, or having trouble sleeping, it’s important to see a professional for help in order to improve.

[More at The Mayo Clinic]