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]

9 icy driveways

7 Myths About Warming Your Car Up In Winter

It’s February 2nd of yet another brutal Canadian winter, and the mercury hasn’t risen above –10 Celsius in a fortnight. Brrr. Six o’clock Tuesday morning finds you shivering in the driver’s seat of your car, which has sat on the driveway since the evening before. As you turn the ignition, the car roars to life. Pop quiz: To avoid damaging the engine, should you let the car warm up for a) 2 minutes, b) 5 minutes, or c) 10 minutes.

The answer? None of the above. Idling your car in cold weather is—what’s the phrase?—totally unnecessary. Don’t take our word for it, though. Here’s master mechanic Rob Maier: “Because of the efficiency of modern fuel injection, which eliminated carburetors and chokes, you don’t really need to idle your car. My truck has 250,000 kilometers on it, and I just throw it into gear and go.”

Here are 7 myths about idling your car in cold weather (with a handy assortment of delightfully toasty truths):

1. The driver’s got to warm up before he can hit the road. Hmmm, getting warm by sitting still? You know what warms up a car even faster than idling? Driving. If you’re concerned about physical comfort—and who isn’t?—get moving. Driving is a much faster way to get the heat circulating in the car, return feeling to your fingers and toes.
2. A couple of minutes of idling doesn’t cost much. Actually, idling for longer than 10 seconds is putting the hurt on both you and the environment. After 10 seconds, you waste more money running the engine than restarting it. Word to the wise: If you idle your car five minutes a day for a year, you’ll waste 75 litres of gasoline—which produces 200 kilograms of carbon dioxide AND costs you at least $90.
3. Idling is gentle on the engine in cold weather. Sorry, wrong again. According to the Anti-Idling Primer, idling forces an engine “to operate in a very inefficient and gasoline-rich mode that, over time, can degrade the engine’s performance and reduce mileage.”
4. Idling in the garage is safe. You’ve seen House of Cards, right? Idling a car in a garage is a terrible idea, even with the door open. It’s dangerous and exposes the driver to carbon monoxide and other noxious gases. And if the garage is attached, those fumes can also enter the house.
5. Remote starters are better than block heaters. Take it from Lori Strothard, an expert from the frosty climes of Waterloo, Ontario: “Remote starters often cause people to warm up their cars for five to 15 minutes, which is unnecessary.” A block heater is designed to heat the engine and can be set to turn on one or two hours before driving. It costs under $30, and does the trick in very cold climates.
6. “Ah, just leave it running—I’m only dashing in and out.”
   Natural Resources Canada points out that quick errand idling is another way to waste gas and pollute both your town and the planet. “Leaving your engine running is hard on your pocketbook, produces greenhouse gas emissions and is an invitation to car thieves,” the agency says.
7. Idling isn’t such a threat to public health. Come, come. Exhaust is hazardous to human health, especially children’s. (Studies show that children’s IQ levels are lower when they live near major roads with lots of traffic.) The air pollution from tailpipes is linked to increased rates of cancer, heart and lung disease, asthma and allergies. Idling is the second-hand smoke of the outdoors.

[More at Yahoo Autos Canada]

10 Marthas crafting

How to Make an Amazing Yuletide Wreath ‘Chandelier’

Okay, it’s not a chandelier in the strictest definition. It has no lights. But this arrangement of greenery is attractive and comes from Scandinavia—facts we suspect are related. It’s made from a pair of cedar wreaths dressed up with with wine-colored satin bows and hung from the ceiling with lengths of the same ribbon. Here’s how to make your very own.

What You Need

1. A ceiling hook and good pair of scissors
2. Two cedar wreaths (one 40 cm in diameter, the other 55 cm)
3. 15 meters of red satin ribbon of 3 to 4 cm width

What your wreath chandelier will look like.

What To Do

1. With the small wreath’s wire frame facing up, slip one end of a 150 cm ribbon length through frame’s rim, and knot firmly. Repeat with 2 additional 150 cm ribbons, knotting at evenly spaced intervals around wreath.
2. Gather ribbons together, and knot at a point 40 cm above center of wreath. Leave these hanger ribbons in center of wreath while working on large wreath.
3. Attach three 1-meter ribbon lengths to large wreath frame.
4. Place large wreath on top of small wreath, aligning hanger ribbons. Gather hanger ribbons of both wreaths together, and knot 45 cm above center of large wreath. Trim ends of hanger ribbons above top knot to create a finished look.
5. Screw hook into ceiling. Hang wreaths from top hanger-ribbon knot.
6. Tie a 1-meter ribbon length at base of each hanger ribbon, and fashion into a classic bow. Trim bow tails to 30 centimeters.

[More at Martha Stewart]

11 bulbs a-twinkling

Expert Tips for Dazzling Christmas Lights

1. Variety is the spice of light. When it comes to holiday lights, there’s a type available for every nook and cranny of your house and yard. Whether you want blinking rope lights outlining windows or net lights blanketing bushes, wising up on your holiday light knowledge will help you get the most bang for your buck.
2. Know your limit. Light within it. If you don’t have roofing experience, limit your lights to eaves, gables, and the edge of the roof. Keep lights and cords away from metal. Beware of overheated wires, aluminum gutters, and ironwork decor. If you want more lights on the roof itself, call a professional lighting company.
3. Less is more. If you’re a Christmas lights novice, light just two or three items—trees or bushes are good starters—to serve as focal points.
4. Exercise restraint. Holiday lights can be dazzling and fun, but be careful not to overload your circuits. Include no more than 1,400 watts on a circuit. If other lights in the house dim when you turn on the holiday lights, your circuit is overloaded.
5. Nothing cute about ‘electrocute.’ Only use lights with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or Underwriters Laboratory (UL) label and be sure you’re using lights designed specifically for outdoor use.
6. Give it a rest. Turn off outdoor lights before going to bed, and don’t leave them on when you’re away from home, unless they’re attached to a timer with a photocell.
7. The point is eyeballs. If your evergreen can only be seen by passersby from the front, save lights and work by decorating the tree front only.
8. Avoid pierces and punctures. Avoid old-fashioned nails, staples, screws, or hooks when mounting your display. Electrical tape is a quick and easy alternative—it won’t destroy your roof, and it’s a good tool for protecting electrical connections. Clips, such as shingle tab or parapet clips, hold lights to surfaces by applying simple, safe pressure.
9. Burnt = toast. Recycle and replace. Test light strings and replace any burned-out lights before decking the halls. Burned-out lights drain power from the entire light string, and the other bulbs will grow dimmer.
10. When to start high or low. To string trunks of deciduous trees, start at the base and wrap the lights around in a spiral. If you want to illuminate an evergreen, however, start at the top and zigzag lights through the center of the tree, getting wider with the tree’s shape.
11. Add depth and dimension. Consider ground and stake lighting for extra holiday oomph. Multicolored lights work well for outlining walks, paths, and driveways.

[More at BHG]