At Home With Valerie

With the New Year almost upon us I want to take this opportunity to wish you the very best for the coming year. I'm looking forward to sleeping in late and kicking back in the easy chair after lunch to enjoy a football game. Of course I'll be sleeping in late because, just like you, I'll start off the New Year at exactly midnight on New Year's Eve by singing Auld Lang Syne. We'll all be singing it and most of us won't have a clue what the title actually means! So, just for fun, I looked up the song online to find out its history. I learned that Auld Lang Syne is a traditional Scottish song. The version we know today was written (in part at least) by Robert Burns in the 1700s. The title refers to “old long ago,” or the good old days, as we would say today. I don't want you to stumble around when it comes time to sing it, so I'm passing along to you the lyrics. Have a great New Year's Day and don't forget to break a resolution o

Christmas shopping for friends and family can be entertaining and rewarding, just don’t wait until the last minute. These days, there’s a million ways to plan ahead, buy awesome gifts in advance and—just maybe—you won’t feel like the holidays set you back six months financially. Savvy shoppers can download free apps from selected retailers, explore websites for announcements on sales, pick up a bouquet of gift cards while in line for groceries and shop online for  custom gifts . Hint: look for free shipping! Personalized gifts tend to mean more, and they give families a chance to use all those birthday photos, memorable candids or classic snapshots. Custom photo gifts trigger fond memories and remind you of a special person. Consider these custom gift ideas for the following types of people you may shop for this holiday season: For kids: If you’re toting an adorable baby or small toddler on your hips, buying presents for them is almost like shopping

With the holidays fast approaching, you may be making plans to visit out-of-town family and friends, which means leaving your home vacant—and open to the possibility of getting robbed. This—along with the still struggling economy—can make your home a target-rich environment for burglars. According to the FBI, nearly 400,000 burglaries occur in the U.S. during November and December each year, and the reasons are obvious: Those are the months that many of us are away on vacation or out buying gifts. “Burglars are opportunists looking for a score, and the holidays are a perfect time for it,” says Robert Siciliano, a security expert whose work with major businesses has earned him the title “the Lifesaver.” So how do you prevent yourself from being one of the 400,000? Read on to find out. Burglars Use Facebook, Too. We’ve all laughed at the stupidity of people posting their foibles on Facebook and Twitter, which raises the question: Why are yo

Nothing is more festive than indulging in your favorite seasonal desserts. Add these treats to your holiday celebration to satisfy your sweet tooth. Oreo Peppermint Bark *   10 mini candy canes, crushed (about 1/2 cup) *   12 Oreos, chopped (about 1 cup) *   1 cup milk chocolate chips (or semi-sweet) *   1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips Line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Melt milk chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second increments, stirring after each, until melted and smooth. Pour onto cookie sheet and spread flat. Sprinkle with chopped Oreos. Chill for 10 minutes. Melt white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl on 50% power in 30 second increments, stirring after each, until melted and smooth. Pour over Oreos and spread. Sprinkle with chopped candy canes. Chill until set. Break into pieces and serve! Eggnog Fudge *    2 cups sugar *    1/2 cup butter *    3/4 cup eggnog *    10.5 oz white chocolate bars, chopped into sm

People love the holiday season. To keep your holiday decorations enjoyable and safe, keep in mind these safety tips. Candles: Keep anything flammable away from a lit candle. Place the candles out of the reach of children or pets. Blow out the candles when you need to leave the room or go to bed. Christmas tree: Water the tree to keep it hydrated. Place the tree away from any heat sources. Make sure the tree is not blocking entryways or foot traffic. Hang fragile Christmas ornaments on higher tree branches away from the reach of children and pets. Turn off lights before going to bed. Electric lights: Lights will be labeled for either indoor or outdoor use. Throw out lights with worn or torn wires. Replace missing or cracked bulbs. Read labels to make sure you are following acceptable wattage levels and are not overloading the circuits. Outdoor decorations: Fully secure outdoor holiday decorations so they don’t get blown away or