From PEOPLE Magazine
Click to enlarge
What's your family's favorite holiday tradition?
TO THE RESCUE!
When my kids were small, we started taking them out on Christmas Eve to look at lights and deliver cookies to the local police, fire and emergency departments. (Before I was a mom, I used to work that night on a Life Flight air rescue crew so others with families could be home.) I tell others what we do in hopes they'll pick up the habit. These people deserve our support.
—Morgan S. Barnebee, Orlando, Florida
MUSICAL BOND
When my daughter was young, we played a Judds Christmas tape every year while cooking and opening gifts. Today my little girl is in the Air Force in Italy and we don't always spend Christmas together, but when she puts on the CD she's catapulted home.
—Marcia Geheb, Vidor, Texas
BITE-SIZE MEMORIES
I get together with my four grandkids for our annual Christmas cookie baking. We put on Christmas aprons, listen to Christmas music and bake all day. When we're finished, I am very tired but have such a great feeling of family love and memories from the holiday.
—Peggy Howard, Orange, California
SENTIMENTAL TREAT
Every year my whole family gathers at my great-aunt's house to make tamales. Then we gather again on Christmas Eve to open a few presents and eat the tamales that we made. I rarely have a chance to see half of my family, so it is always a chance to catch up and enjoy the people (and food) that we all love.
—Carlyn Morones, Yorba Linda, California
STAYING GROUNDED
On New Year's Eve my husband and I and our two daughters have a family slumber party now known as Sleep On the Floor Night! We watch movies, have chocolate fondue, watch the ball drop in New York City and then sleep in the TV room in our sleeping bags. It's our favorite way to end the busy holiday season.
—Elaine Kasper, Austin, Texas
HOLIDAY HUNT
We pick one night, close to Christmas, and we get in our pajamas and slippers and pick up hot chocolates. Then we drive around town, counting the nativity scenes we can find in people's yards. The first year we found 10 and this year we are up to 17. So each year we don't let ourselves go home until we find one more than the last year. I hope this is a holiday tradition that my children will continue with their own children one day!
—Danielle Aguirre, Mountain Home, Idaho
HOW DO YOU PUT DINNER ON THE TABLE FAST?
E-mail country@peoplemag.com and let us know. If we use your answer, we'll send you a free CD! This month's winners will receive George Strait's Classic Christmas.
MAKE LIFE EASIER
Reader-Tested Tips
KEEP TABS ON YOUR CAR
When parking at the airport or the mall, use your cell phone to snap a quick photo of where you are. That way, when you come back to the parking lot you can just flip open your phone and see what row you're in.
—Mary Jane Barrett, Floral Park, New York
SURPRISE STAIN REMOVER
A grease-fighting dish detergent like Dawn can get grease stains out of clothes as well. Just add a dab of the detergent on the spot, rinse with cold water and put in the laundry pile. You'll never see the grease spot again.
—MaryAnne Coogan, Lincroft, New Jersey
GARLIC BE GONE
To remove the smell of garlic from your hands, rub them with a metal spoon.
—Jerry Curti, Palm Coast, Florida
SUGAR SAVER
Hate hard marshmallows? Store the bag in the freezer to keep them soft.
—Patricia Schmidt, Taylor Mill, Kentucky
CRUMB-FREE CUTTING
Use unflavored dental floss or clean fishing line to cut cheesecake.
—Angela Mason, Palm Coast, Florida
A NEWSY ODOR EATER
To remove food odors from plastic food containers, crumble up a piece of newspaper and seal it in the container overnight. The paper absorbs any lingering smells.
—Liz Rothenberg, Arlington, Virginia
GOT A GOOD TIP?
E-mail country@peoplemag.com and let us know. If we use your answer, we'll send you a free CD!
FUNNY TRUE-LIFE STORIES
Have a Laugh
THE COLOR OF MOO
My 5-year-old sister was coloring and asked what color she should color a picture of a cow. "Look out the window at the cows and color it like God colored his," my mom said. Minutes later Mom heard, "Mommie, where's my spotted color?"
—Donna Thomas, Talladega, Alabama
THE SNAKE NEXT DOOR
One day I saw a cat stalking a two-foot-long snake on the sidewalk. Knowing our neighbors have exotic pets, I assumed the snake was theirs, and since they weren't home at the time I scooped it into a bucket and put it on their porch. Later I went over to make sure everything was okay. But when I got to their door, I saw that the bucket was empty; the snake must have escaped into their flower beds. Worse, when I asked if they had a pet snake, he said, "Oh no! I can't stand snakes." I didn't know how to tell him he had one now!
—Ann Marie Caporale, Floral Park, New York
TROUBLE IN THE OUTFIELD
My son Blane plays for a Tiny Tots tee-ball team, and one game, when he was supposed to be paying attention in the outfield, we snapped this picture of him teaching a little girl what's really important! What makes it even funnier is my husband is the head coach!
—Angie Worsham, Dallas, Georgia
PHYSICIAN, HEEL THYSELF
My father, who is a doctor, was out of town when he started feeling a tingling in his legs and that his balance was off. By the time he got home he was sure he had a neurological problem. As he was talking I looked at his feet. Turns out he'd lost the heel off of one of his shoes and had been walking around like that for three days!
—Susan Kaufman, New York City
SHARE YOUR FUNNY PHOTOS & STORIES!
Got a funny story or photo? Send your best stuff to country@peoplemag.com. If we use it, we'll send you a free CD!
Saved by the Bell Reunion
The hookups, the meltdowns, the memoires
The case reveals what was really going on what they think of each other now!
