Sunny and the Rent Bush

David Dean Bottrell, 12.04.2009

blogs at www.partsandlabor.tv

It's weird, but there's something in the popular culture lately that seems to have it out for Christmas. Most of the holiday movies are now about how ...

"The Polar Express": Counting Down to Christmas

Karen Walsh, 12.04.2009

Director of Publicity for the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Book Group.

"The Polar Express" is a book about hope and joy and how kids can possess a more unfettered wisdom than adults, and it is the summation of all that is great about the holiday season.

Christmas Gifts 2009: The Most Beautiful Books Of The Year

Lena Tabori, 12.04.2009

Publisher, Welcome Books

All of these books are exquisitely made -- designed and produced with passion and creativity. None are boring, nothing to pick up and put down. Each will leave you different than you were before.

Ministers confront Glenn Beck outside his Christmas stage show (Video & Photos)

James Rucker, 12.04.2009

Executive Director of ColorOfChange.org

Rev. Tillard speaks out against Glenn Beck Last night, Glenn Be...

How To Buy Holiday Gifts For Kids

Delia Lloyd, 12.03.2009

Delia Lloyd is an American writer based in London. Her work has appeared in The International Herald ...

When I scanned my Facebook account this morning, one friend talked about how much she hates Christmas shopping; I was so stressed out that I bought all my presents in November.

A Grouch's Guide to Un-Christmas Books

Laurence Hughes, 12.03.2009

Book Flack, Writer

An un-Christmas book takes place at Christmastime, but its tone, story and subject matter have nothing to do with the season. It provides perfect cover when the Noël nags accuse you of being a holiday poop.

He'll Go Down in History: The Re-Examined Story Of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

Elizabeth Beckwith, 12.02.2009

Comedian, Author of 'Raising The Perfect Child Through Guilt and Manipulation'

...But do you recall, the most famous reindeer of all... We all know the song about the reindeer beloved by millions, but few know the private pain t...

A Holiday Gift Worth the Wait

Jane S. Smith, 12.02.2009

Author of The Garden of Invention

This winter, fate has blown me to Southern California, where I'm renting a house surrounded by citrus trees. There are roses, too, and wild parrots, ...

Christmas Eavesdropping: Affordable Spy Gizmos for Your Friends and Enemies

Keith Thomson, 12.02.2009

Reporter and author

The latest in finding out who's naughty and nice... ...

Buying Gifts In A Globalized World: The Value Of Distance

Marta Mondelli, 12.01.2009

It's increasingly difficult to find gifts in a global world where Tiffany's opened stores throughout Italy and, on the other hand, local NYC and online shopping centers worldwide provide you with everything Italian.

Natural Home Decorates Blair House For Magazine Holiday Design Showcase

Robyn Griggs Lawrence, 11.30.2009

Editor-in-chief, Natural Home Magazine

With our decoration of the Blair House, we aim to show that simple, elegant, and responsibly made holiday décor is an attainable and viable option for everyone.

Postcard Perfect Holidays In A Prairie State

Karen Dalton-Beninato, 11.30.2009

karendaltonbeninato.com

To help jump start the holiday spirit, these are my favorite 10 images four years after evacuating back to the heartland south of Chicago, east of Lincoln's home and north of a cornfield.

Dickens On Film

John Farr, 11.30.2009

Writer, editor and lecturer on timeless film

In Carol and other Dickens books, the Christmas season represents a ray of hope amidst all the misery. Since the author left so much source material, you can have your very own Dickens film series leading up to the holidays.

Christmas Gifts 2009: 23 Super Stylish Ideas (PHOTOS, POLL)

Rachel Strugatz, 11.29.2009

Fashion and style writer

The holiday season is upon us and gift buying madness has officially begun. In order to give you ideas, and let's face it - just make your life easier...

Your Holiday Relaxation Rescue Guide (VIDEO)

Tara Stiles, 11.28.2009

Reinventing what it means to practice yoga

Reserving time for ourselves around the holidays seems so far away from the reality of forced spending, emotional exhaustion, and general frustration.

How To Green Your Holiday Meal

Avital Binshtock, 11.26.2009

SIERRA magazine's lifestyle editor and editor of the Sierra Club's Green Life blog.

Working up a menu for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, or another upcoming holiday? Here are three tips to help you be more environmentally responsible while planning that feast.

Want to Help Others This Thanksgiving? Go Online

Rachel Sterne, 11.26.2009

Founder and CEO of GroundReport

A fascinating experiment in digital philanthropy is brewing at Robin Hood Foundation, a New York City charity that has raised more than $1 billion for poverty-focused nonprofits.

Secrets To Getting Through The Holiday Season

Karen Luniw, 11.25.2009

Author "Attraction in Action: Your How to Guide to Relationships, Money, Work and Health

How does one get through the holiday season unscathed by the family biting sarcasm, the off-hand negative comments about your love life or lack of employment? Those unsaid, yet thick feelings of disapproval?

The Pajama Program Offers Love in a Snuggle

Katherine Gustafson, 11.25.2009

Tonic, the "good news" site

Genevieve Piturro's life changed when she started providing children pajamas in an emergency shelter. One little girl looked quizzically at the pajamas Piturro was holding out to her. "What are these?" she asked.

Robin Hood Foundation Embraces the Web to Feed NYC's Hungry

GroundReport, 11.25.2009

Trusted Global Citizen Journalism.

Over the past two months, a skunkworks team of young internet influencers has met, brainstormed, emailed and twittered -- all in the pursuit of feeding more than 100,000 of the city's hungry.

Do Whateveryouwannukah? Why I Won't Be Fa-la-la-la-la-ing In To The Gap This Holiday Season (VIDEO)

Cathleen Falsani, 11.24.2009

Chicago Sun-Times columnist and author

I'm all for inclusiveness and multiculturalism, as much as I am for inexpensive cotton T-shirts and reindeer-themed boxer shorts. But this year's Gap "holiday" ad campaign just rubs me the wrong way.