Tausi Insider

I’m sure he’ll fall.. [Christmas Vacation] According to The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission , there were 15,000 injuries involving holiday decorating in 2012, and that was the fourth consecutive year that injuries increased. According to my math, that means there will be over 87 bajillion injuries in 2022. Don’t be one of them. Don’t be stupid with ladders and electricity, and watch your back—you’re not as young and spry as you used to be, champ. Watch out for your cat eating tinsel , your child breaking ornaments, and extra sharp wings on nativity angels. Remember: Candles can burn down all of our houses, whether we’re celebrating Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or the Inti Raymi winter solstice festival of the ancient Inca. https://www.tausiinsider.com/the-7-deadly-sins-of-decorating-your-house-for-the-holidays/?feed_id=333459&_unique_id=647f500e7b9f6

Photo : Bartosz Zakrzewski ( Shutterstock ) ‘Tis the season to dig out the decorations and trim your tree, and any other parts of your home that you think could use some holiday cheer. But if rising energy costs have you hesitant to plug in multiple strings of lights, an inflatable snowman, or your blow mold nativity scene, you may be rethinking your design strategy. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can deck your halls for the holidays without running up your electric bill. Here’s what to know. Christmas decorations that don’t require electricity Of course, going out and buying all new holiday decorations isn’t the most cost-effective solution, but if you’ve decorated in previous years, you should at least a few things to work with already. Here are some options: Wooden cutouts If you’ve inherited vintage outdoor Christmas decorations from your parents or a family member, it might include wooden cutouts of various holiday and winter characters—Santa, reindeer, snowmen, ...

Photo : TravnikovStudio ( Shutterstock ) Want to do something with the kids for the holidays, but can’t afford breakfast with Santa or the Polar Express train ride? Or perhaps you’re looking for something festive to do with your friends or on a date, but tickets to the Nutcracker aren’t in the budget. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few examples of free or cheap events that take place in communities across the country throughout the holiday season. Free or cheap holiday events Check the event listings in your community and surrounding areas for activities like these: City/town tree-lighting ceremonies Though the lighting of the Rockefeller Center tree and National Christmas Tree get all the attention, there are smaller-scale tree-lighting ceremonies in cities, towns, and neighborhoods across the country. Your local government website should have the details on how to attend, but don’t wait to check: Many are happening this week. Holiday open houses Cultural insti...

Photo : Sergey Mikheev ( Shutterstock ) Looking to save money on holiday decorations this year? Along with reusing (or repurposing) pieces you have from previous years, you can freshen up your festive decor with a little help from nature. Here’s what to know. How to decorate for the holidays using pieces from nature First, a few ground rules. If you’re fortunate enough to own a house with your own yard, then by all means, help yourself to what’s there. City-dwellers and others who don’t have access to their own nature shouldn’t trespass on private property, or take things from parks. They can, however, ask friends and family with trees and yards if they could pop over and help tidy up their property (i.e. forage for holiday decorations). Anyway, here are a few ideas: Evergreen branches The most obvious—and most versatile—of the natural decorations, branches from evergreen trees can be used for everything from garland, to tablescapes, to wreaths, to greenery around a nativity scene...

The holidays often kick off a host of hot-button discussion topics -- politics, religion, sports -- but if you're looking for a less-loaded conversation starter, try "favorite holiday movie." The question should fuel a healthy debate minus the raised voices (depending, of course, on how many Die Hard loyalists are in the room). And according to a new report and infographic by StreamingObserver.com , the consensus may look different depending on your state. 20th Century Fox https://www.tausiinsider.com/heres-every-states-favorite-holiday-movie-infographic/?feed_id=332374&_unique_id=645d7a3c55250

A kid rides a bicycle to power a Christmas lights installation in Budapest, Hungary, on Nov. 28. MARTON MONUS/Reuters A bicycle pedalled by passers-by powers up a Christmas tree-shaped light installation in Budapest, as the local mayor applies sustainable technology to celebrate the festive season while saving on surging energy costs. The tree only lights up fully while someone keeps pedalling really hard, which encourages families with their kids to stop and give it a try. The bicycle also charges a battery that, along with solar panels, powers up the rest of the lights around the Budapest square. “One the one hand, we keep moving in this cold weather. On the other, we can experience how much one needs to pedal to light up a six meter-high Christmas tree decoration,” said Gergely Orsi, the mayor of Budapest’s 2nd district. “For us, it shows an example that sustainability is the future.” His municipality decided to cancel most of the usual Christmas light decorations this year due to...

Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas tried to warn us. Home Alone did too. Although winter isn’t peak season for burglaries , it offers would-be breakers and enterers some unique opportunities to scheme. After all, there’s no better time than the frigid months for people to leave their homes for a vacation somewhere warm—and even better if you’ve left a bunch of pricey new gifts under the tree or lying around the house. There are things you can do to better protect your home in the colder season, even when you’re away for an extended period . Th e f irst, of course, is to install a home security system, including cameras ( and install them well ). B ut here are some less obvious tips. No holiday displays in the window What good is a Christmas tree if it’s not visible from the street, broadcasting your holiday cheer and interior decorating skills to passersby? A lot of good, actually, because that ostentatious window tree is a beacon to potential thieves. It says, “There ...

Buying the right Christmas gifts (opens in new tab) for him can prove pretty tricky. We can all relate to the rising panic; with only a few weeks left until the big day you need Christmas present ideas, and fast. Well fear not, we’ve got you covered with the best gifts out there that will suit all budgets. Whether you're shopping for your boyfriend, dad, best friend, colleague, or a distant relative you’ve picked from the the family Secret Santa, we’ve got all bases covered which means no more wasted gadgets or presents that never make it out of the box. We've hand-picked the best ‘Christmas gifts for him' available to buy online (don't worry, we've also curated a list of the best personalised gifts (opens in new tab) and the best Christmas hampers (opens in new tab) too, so you're well and truly covered this Yuletide). From cool interpretations on menswear classics to some of the best Christmas jumpers (opens in new tab)  out there that they’ll want...

Photo : Jim Barber ( Shutterstock ) It’s the beginning of December, and if you’re a thoughtful, prepared, caring person, congratulations: I t’s your time to shine, buddy. But if you’re more like me—a selfish, very-last-minute, “gotta get moms something ” type—gift-giving season can be trying, stressful and cause extreme agita. But this year, let’s you and I vow to avoid at least these seven most common holiday-shopping blunders and missteps, OK ? https://www.tausiinsider.com/the-7-deadly-sins-of-holiday-gift-giving/?feed_id=331050&_unique_id=6450fd7970cd4

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Business trips can be rough over the holidays. Most of us would rather be relaxing in front of a roaring fire than sitting on a cramped plane, but business can't always wait til January. Shutterstock For those of you who are trading the comforts of home for planes, trains, and conference rooms, here are 11 quick tips for for mastering travel during this hectic holiday season. https://www.tausiinsider.com/11-practical-tips-for-the-holiday-business-traveler/?feed_id=331024&_unique_id=6450bed36e8ae

The Lindsey Lohan comeback tour is in full stride. After falling off the pop culture radar for a few years, the once ubiquitous actress is back on the screen, starring in a new Netflix movie and a Christmas ad campaign for Pepsi. Photo by: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images In the commercial, a sultry Lohan promotes mixing Pepsi and milk, or "Pilk," as she calls it, then combines the concoction with cookies. "Combining Pepsi and milk has long been a secret hack among Pepsi fans," explained Todd Kaplan, Pepsi's CMO, in a statement. Who knew? [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpX32Usnoic[/embed] The campaign is part of Pepsi's #PilkandCookies Holiday Challenge, in which the soft drink giant asked consumers to share a photo or video of their Pilk and Cookies treat to win cash. Exactly how much money was not specified. Lohan's naughty Santa costume is an apparent nod to a scene in the hit 2004 film Mean Girls when she and her friends famo...

Photo : imging ( Shutterstock ) Whether multicolored or classic white, a few strands of holiday lights can make pretty much anything look festive, both indoors and outdoors. And while the strings of small bulbs have a longstanding reputation of being annoying and difficult to work with—which can sometimes lead to accidents—they also carry other safety risks. Here’s how to enjoy Christmas lights without anyone or anything getting hurt. Christmas light safety tips Christmas lights may look harmless—with their cheerful colors and twinkling modes—but don’t forget that you’re still dealing with glass and electricity, and accidents can happen. Here are a few ways to avoid them: Carefully inspect strands from previous years If you’re reusing holiday lights from previous years—which you should if you have them—be gentle when you take them out of storage. Before putting them up, take the time to do a quick check of each strand, making sure there aren’t any broken bulbs, frayed (or bare) wi...