Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Submit your photos by clicking on the "Submit photos" button right above the photo of this article!
Merry Christmas. May your day be merry and bright. Here's the deal: We like to see your Christmas. We want to see Hazelwood Patchs' best Christmas morning photos! Kids opening gifts, parents struggling with way-too-complicated assemble-yourself instructions or even your pets enjoying the holiday season! We want to see it all! Submit your photos by clicking on the "Submit photos" button right above the photo of this article! Check out our other holiday-related stories at our Hazelwood Patch Holiday Guide.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
What's Christmas without a moose hanging on your tree, or some other odd ornament found at Walmart?
For most families, decorating the Christmas tree is a personal exercise. Branches are filled with kid's ornaments made through the year at school, or items that carry a sentimental value. Some ornaments reflect the decorator's personality or interests, like the glass pickle that hangs on the tree, or the golf ball ornament that has a cherished place each year. If you're looking for something other than those boring glass balls, or the Christmas balls to adorn your tree, here's a selection of odd and unusual things at found at Walmart to hang on the tree this year; however, similar items can be found in most holiday decor sections at stores: Merry Christmoose -- Looking a lot like a hedgehog with antlers, the Christmas moose is available …
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Find out how to become one of the ubiquitous Salvation Army bell ringers this holiday season and help raise money for families in need.
It's that time of year again when volunteers for the Salvation Army don their red aprons, stand in front of their red kettles and ring bells to raise money for those in need. We're sure you've seen the famous Salvation Army bell ringing army around every holiday season in front of your favorite mall, grocery store or pharmacy. This year, Patch is making it easy for you to sign up and become a bell ringing volunteer yourself! The Salvation Army's Red Kettle Christmas campaign helps raise funds to provide food, clothes and toys to 6 million people nationwide. Why volunteer? Here are the top 10 reasons why Salvation Army volunteers say they donate their time: If you'd like to volunteer, choose your region below and sign up for a shift online…
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Buy your annual holiday cards from a local charity this year.
Every holiday season, families across the country send cards to their loved ones, filling them in on the last year and wishing them a happy new one. For families planning to buy holiday cards this year, nonprofit organizations around the area are offering unique cards that benefit their missions. That way, each card sends holiday cheer while supporting a worthy cause. Here is our round-up of holiday cards for charity. Operation Food Search Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Our Little Haven Saint Louis Zoo Is your non-profit organization selling cards this holiday season? Add your photo and information to the story by clicking the Upload Pictures and Video button.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
The National Retail Federation released its annual holiday shopping forecast. Americans are shopping earlier than ever, the survey shows, which could lead to a 4.1 percent increase in national sales.
Accustomed to pinching pennies thanks to years of economic downturn, holiday shoppers this year will look for ways to cut corners, comparative shop online and even plan to travel less, if not at all, the National Retail Federation said in its annual shopping forecast for the Christmas season. On average, the NRF expects holiday consumers to spend $749.51 on holiday gifts, decor, greeting cards and more in 2012. That's more than the $740.57 shoppers actually spent in 2011. And before you think Hazelwood Patch is reporting on the holiday season, think again. According to the survey, nearly half of Americans say they've begun holiday shopping before Halloween—12.3 percent of those surveyed before September; 7 percent during September; and 22…
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Yes, it's still a little early to think about Christmas shopping. I understand. But it's coming up soon. And we all know that one person who is extremely hard to buy for. What do you do?
I will make no apology for this edition of our weekly "Conversation Starter." I'm selfishly motivated by the need for your help. And I don't care that Halloween is still three days away. Or that Christmas is still nearly two months off. We need all the time we can get. See, here's the problem: My father is in his early 70s; my father-in-law is in his early 80s. If anything, they're trying to get rid of things. What do you buy for the hard-to-buy-for? What do you do to make the Christmas merry for the folks who seem to have everything, don't need anything or who won't let themselves get pinned down? Here's another stumper for you: My son is 17. He's a drama kid, a singer, a World of Warcraft fanatic. He is every bit as hard to buy for as my…
Thursday, December 22, 2011
This Patch Picks column is dedicated to those who don't celebrate the holidays but still want some things to do when the city shuts down.
1. Get organized: Clean up and get organized. Throw out old magazines you aren’t going to read again, straighten up your office or working area, clear off your bulletin boards, put up next year’s calendar, and just generally get ready for the new year. 2. Catch a movie: Most movie theaters are open on Christmas day. Drive by a theater, and you’re liable to see a line around the building. Use the time to catch up on all the latest releases without feeling guilty about anything else you’re supposed to be doing. 3. Go Hunting: Shooting ranges are probably closed so try the next best thing, hunting your own meat. Head out to the country and make a day of tracking, finding and getting your own deer. 4. Volunteer: In a perfect world, you’d be …
Thursday, November 24, 2011
The stores, sales and strategies you need to optimize your all-night shopping blow-out.
Here’s a new holiday tradition to try: Say grace, eat turkey, head to the mall. Black Friday sales start at midnight this year at some of the regions biggest stores, including Walmart, Target, Kohl’s and Best Buy. We’ve read through the ads and compiled everything you need for the best all-night holiday shopping blow-out possible. And for each sale, we've highlighted the items we think would make the best gifts (at the best prices!) Check back on the morning of Black Friday for updates and tips. Hour-By-Hour Openings 10 p.m. Thanksgiving Day: Walmart (toys, home, apparel) Midnight: Walmart (electronics), Target, Kohl's, Best Buy, Macy's, Old Navy, Chesterfield Mall, Mid Rivers Mall, St. Clair Square, South County Center, West County Center…
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The biggest shopping day of the holiday season will start at midnight after Thanksgiving this year.
Black Friday has become the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season and according to urban myth, it’s also the day when retailers start to show a profit. Whether or not that’s true, the day after Thanksgiving has been the biggest shopping day before Christmas for the last eight years, according to ShopperTrak, a market research company. ShopperTrak’s research shows that Americans spent $10.69 billion dollars on Black Friday 2010—the largest amount spent on a day after Thanksgiving holiday shopping spree. ShopperTrak said the second biggest shopping day is known as Super Saturday, which this year falls on December 17, the last Saturday before the Christmas weekend. Retailers have already started on their holiday displays, part of …
Buy your annual holiday cards from a local charity this year.
Every holiday season, families across the country send cards to their loved ones, filling them in on the last year and wishing them a happy new one. For families planning to buy holiday cards this year, nonprofit organizations around the area are offering unique cards that benefit their missions. That way, each card sends holiday cheer while supporting a worthy cause. Here is our round-up of holiday cards for charity. The Salvation Army – St. Louis Smiling bell-ringers in front of Downtown St. Louis’ Peabody Opera House greet recipients of this 2011 holiday card. Pick up yours at The Salvation Army office near Forest Park and support youth programming and homeless assistance throughout Missouri and southern Illinois. Cost: $10 for 10 …
Candace Jarrett
10:08 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
KitCat, it surely is, lol. The tag on the ornament labels it a moose. "Looking a lot like a hedgehog with antlers, the Christmas moose is available for $1.97."-per the article. I'm glad are helping to beautify your tree! Happy Holidays. more ›