Email not displaying correctly? View the web version

Welcome to Our New Holiday | Seasonal Newsletter!

Featuring the latest news and holiday trends from the best sources, our friends in Galena.

Tips to Ease the Stress of Holiday Tasks

(StatePoint) From greeting cards to seasonal to-do lists, there’s a lot to write down and keep track of during the holidays. Use these tips and recommendations to reduce stress while you complete these important tasks:

• To-do lists: Whether you’re listing the gifts you must buy for loved ones, the groceries you need to prepare a holiday feast, or the tasks you must complete before your guests arrive, writing and referencing a lengthy to-do list can be anxiety provoking. However, choosing the colors of your stationery and writing utensils wisely can ease these feelings and spur you to action. The colors in the G2 gel ink pen’s limited-edition Harmony Collection were formulated to create an oasis of calm. Color psychology suggests that gray represents neutrality and balance, iris blue is meditative with a touch of magic, apricot orange balances energy and is relaxing, salmon signifies hope, health and happiness, grape connotes harmony, and rose pink inspires grace, gratitude and joy. Choose colors according to your mood, then, keep your lists posted prominently, such as on your desk, or at eye level on the fridge, so you stay on top of tasks. After completing an item, cross it out for a sense of immediate accomplishment.

• Calendars and planners: Plans can change quickly during the hectic holiday season, so be prepared to adapt to evolving schedules, while keeping everyone in the family updated. When entering such seasonal events as holiday office parties, cookie swaps and school plays into your calendar or planner, be sure to use ink that erases cleanly, so you can revise repeatedly as needed. Pilot’s FriXion line of erasable pens come in a variety of hues, making them a great choice for vibrant and easy color coding.

• Gift tags: Sometimes it’s the littlest details that count the most. To ensure loved ones find their names clearly on all the items they receive from you this holiday season, be sure to use a rolling ball pen, such as the Precise Deco pen, to allow for clean lines, even on small gift tags. To personalize gift tags a bit, draw a cute little doodle or cartoon specific to each gift recipient, such as their favorite seasonal symbols, animals or abstract designs.

• Holiday cards: The holiday season is the perfect time to catch friends and family up on the events of the past year. While all that note-writing is a beautiful way to stay connected to the people that matter most, it can lead to writing fatigue. To write and address your greeting cards with more ease and less stress, use a tool such as Dr. Grip, a wide body ergonomic pen with a comfortable rubber grip. Its smooth-writing ink dries quickly to help avoid smears, so your sentiments won’t get muddled. To prepare envelopes in bulk, use a wet cotton ball to moisten the glue seal, then press firmly down on each envelope. Post your notes using fun, festive seasonal stamps.

For more seasonal tips and inspiration, visit powertothepen.com.

As your holiday to-do list grows, you may be feeling a bit frazzled. Having the right tools on hand can help you complete all your tasks with ease.

Make Your Holiday Season Shopping Game Plan With These Insider Insights

The busiest shopping days of the 2023 holiday season are on the horizon. Industry experts point out that knowing these dates in advance can help you score great deals -- or beat the crowds -- depending on your shopping priorities.

“Amid inflation, the return of student loan repayments and other factors that could impact holiday spending, many consumers will be bargain hunting this year. Since retailers are likely to plan promotions and experiences around the busiest shopping days of the year, if you’re on a budget, you should take note of when these days occur and adjust your plans accordingly,” says Brian Field, global leader of retail consulting and analytics at Sensormatic Solutions, a retail solutions provider of Johnson Controls. “And of course, it’s helpful to know these dates if you simply wish to avoid bumper-to-bumper parking lots and crowded store aisles.”

On average, the top 10 busiest shopping days in the United States account for approximately 40% of all holiday retail traffic, according to Sensormatic Solutions, which based on historical data, predicts those days will be:

1. Friday, Nov. 24 – Black Friday

2. Saturday, Dec. 23 – Super Saturday

3. Saturday, Dec. 16 – Third Saturday in December

4. Friday, Dec. 22 – Friday before Christmas

5. Saturday, Nov. 25 – Saturday after Black Friday

6. Tuesday, Dec. 26 – Boxing Day

7. Saturday, Dec. 9 – Second Saturday in December

8. Saturday, Dec. 2 – First Saturday in December

9. Saturday, Dec. 30 – Saturday after Christmas

10. Sunday, Dec. 17 – Sunday before Christmas Eve

In addition to planning your spending around the top 10 shopping days, Field advises taking your own personality into consideration for the best shopper experience. For example, if you want to get a jump on the holiday season, Veterans’ Day, which falls on the second Saturday in November right before the start of the formal holiday shopping season, may be ideal, as retailers are likely to capitalize on the timing and go all-in on early promotions. However, if you are someone who prefers the excitement of finding last-minute deals, you should be aware that Super Saturday, the second predicted busiest shopping day of the season, falls very late this year on Dec. 23, and could be the last opportunity to wrap up shopping.

For more holiday shopping insights, visit sensormatic.com.

“Finding meaningful, fun and trendy gifts for friends and family is one of the best parts of the holiday season, especially when you have insights that will help you stretch your budget and shop with minimal stress,” says Field.

Holiday Hazard Prevention: Steps to a Safe and Accident-Free Season

As the holidays approach, you might be hosting guests, shopping for gifts and decorating your home. While all these activities can bring a lot of joy into the season, they can also bring an increase in risks. Prepare by following these six tips to prevent damage.

1. Install a smart doorbell. Whether you want to see who just arrived or help keep packages secure, a smart doorbell will keep you updated on all activities in front of your home. From package deliveries to carolers, you can easily view (and communicate) with your visitors, even if you aren’t home.

2. Decorate carefully. As pretty as those lights might be, they can be a tripping hazard. What’s more, overheating lights can trigger a fire in seconds, especially in a dry environment, such as near a parched tree. On Erie Insurance’s YouTube channel, they show how fast a Christmas tree goes up in flames and have tips on how to avoid fires, including to check string lights for any frayed wires and to always turn off lights when you aren’t home.

3. Prepare for the unexpected. As temperatures drop, prepare your home for potential damage. Bad weather can trigger a weak tree to fall, potentially on your house, while cold temperatures can cause frozen pipes, which could cost thousands of dollars in water damage if the pipes burst. Be sure to keep your homeowners insurance up to date so you are prepared should any seasonal damage occur. To prevent that damage and a costly claim, survey your property and even call-in experts to check trees, pipes and other possible hazards.

4. Stay safe on the road. The winter season carries driving risks. Not only may roads be slick and icy, but holiday shoppers are often stressed and frazzled. On roads, and particularly in shopping centers and mall parking lots, slow down and stay alert to avoid a fender-bender. As an added precaution, be sure to keep your auto insurance up to date in case of damage. Your insurance company might offer options to help you tighten your wallet during an expensive season. For example, Erie Insurance offers convenient bundling of car and home insurance to potentially save you money.

5. Mingle merry--and safely. Holiday parties can be fun, but make sure you have a plan for getting home safely. And if you’re hosting the party, be aware that in most states party hosts can be held liable for their guests’ actions behind the wheel. So be sure your guests have a safe ride home.

6. Be smart online. If you’d rather keep your comfy pants on and do your holiday shopping online, be aware of where your data might be susceptible and only shop on reputable sites. An ERIE’s homeowner policy includes identity recovery coverage that can help you if you are the unfortunate victim of identity fraud.

Whether you are having a party or going on a shopping spree, being safe and prepared for the holidays is key to avoiding any accidents, injuries and incidents.

Best New Tech Gifts for the Person Who Has Everything

(StatePoint) Most of us have at least one loved one who’s hard to shop for. Maybe it’s because they insist that they have everything they need already or perhaps they simply have discerning taste. To get a jumpstart on your holiday shopping, consider these five, functional and fun gift ideas that promise to impress even the most challenging gift recipients:

1. Portable power: Whether your loved one is a world traveler, tailgater, beach bum, remote worker or hot desker, the new M150 Portable Power Station from Duracell will be a game changer. Unlocking portable power so they can work and have fun from anywhere, it offers 150 watts of power and multiple USB ports for laptops, phones, tablets or other small electronics. Its chic, sleek design features a dimmable ring light and tiltable device holder with wireless charging capabilities. With the tiltable lid, users can position their phones at an ideal and flattering angle for taking video conference calls and watching or recording videos.

It also features an integrated compartment that can safely store accessories like earbuds, adaptors and dongles, and its ultramodern charging dock has a low enough profile to stylishly live on a bedside table or kitchen counter. Best of all, it weighs under 2 pounds, making it a convenient essential to toss into an everyday bag, pack into a carry-on, take in the car, or use in and around the house.

2. Intelligence, on one’s finger: Tracking biometrics doesn’t need to be clunky or come at the cost of fashion. Consider gifting your wellness-seeking loved one a smart ring. Worn just like any regular decorative ring, these compact devices provide valuable insights into the user’s health, tracking measures like temperature, heart rate, daily activity and recovery, sleep quality, menstrual cycles and even stress. Look for a water-resistant, durable option that’s built to withstand the elements, especially if your gift recipient runs, bikes or hikes. If they’re a fashionista, that’s no problem, as many of these models are designed to be as sleek as wedding bands.

3. A better read: While not technically tech, blue light-blocking glasses are a tech-adjacent gift that will help your recipient enjoy their devices without experiencing disrupted sleep cycles and damage to the eyes. And fortunately, hip brands have horned in on the market, creating options that are as stylish as they are functional. The best models have scratch-resistant and shatter-proof lenses, and offer both UV and blue light protection.

4. A brighter smile: Some of today’s electric toothbrushes connect to apps to provide real-time feedback for optimal brushing time and pressure, and have the ability to be customized based on a user’s specific dental care needs. To make your gift truly stand out, consider a model that features LED whitening technology for a two-in-one gift that promotes great dental health and a brighter smile at the same time.

5. A gift that keeps on giving: Undecided? A tech gadget subscription service will deliver a box of fun new gifts monthly or quarterly for as long as you choose and might include anything from a drone to a digital photo frame.

For a person who seemingly has everything, gift shopping can be a puzzle. Fortunately, great tech now on store shelves can help you crack the code.

Visit us on social!

Click here to unsubscribe and manage your email subscriptions.

Woodward Communications 801 Bluff St., Dubuque, IA 52001