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Lifestyle features from around the web
You can stay connected and take control of your holiday budget with TextNow’s Holiday Hotline.

(NAPSI)—The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, but when the average American is spending nearly $1,000 on gifts, food, and decorations, they can also be the most stressful. For many, …
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More than 4 out of 5 (81%) shoppers plan to buy a gift card this year
(BPT) - For nearly two decades, gift cards have been the most requested holiday gift, according to the National Retail Federation. And research shows that consumers plan to purchase even more gift …
Why Gift Cards Are the Ultimate Holiday Gift: Tips for Thoughtful and Safe Gifting
(BPT) - Gift cards remain the most requested gift for 18 years in a row, according to the National Retail Federation. Their appeal is simple: they offer flexibility, convenience, and the joy of …
Tech the halls: The perfect smartphones for everyone on your list
(BPT) - Finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list doesn't have to add to the holiday season's hustle and bustle. Flip that stressful script by picking one theme and sticking to it. …
Stay Protected During the Holidays: What to Know About COVID-19
(BPT) - As the holiday season approaches, it's important to remember that it often comes with a heightened risk for respiratory viruses like COVID-19.1 Data from the past four years suggest COVID-19 …
5 easy kitchen and bath upgrades to wow holiday guests
(BPT) - Ready to host for the holidays? Whether you're planning parties and/or welcoming visitors to your home during this festive season, you probably want to make a great impression. Ahead of this …
Small business owner, teacher or remote worker? How to set yourself up for success in 2025
(BPT) - Sponsored by Office Depot OfficeMaxAs 2024 winds down, it's the perfect time to reflect on the past year and set intentions and goals to conquer next year. Whether you're a small business …
Gear Up for Holiday Road Trips with Winter Prep Tips from Mercury Insurance
(BPT) - As the holiday season gets underway, millions of Americans are planning road trips to visit loved ones or enjoy seasonal getaways. AAA projects that nearly 80 million travelers will journey …
42% of Americans say they’ll regift to save money this holiday season
(BPT) - New research from Empower explores how America is "spending" the holidays.Key takeaways:84% of Americans report there is at least one topic they'd want to avoid at the holiday dinner table …
How to transform your kitchen into a holiday showstopper
(BPT) - Ready to transform your kitchen and impress your guests this holiday season? Just in time for the family feasts and celebrations, you can give your kitchen a stunning refresh with a simple …
Unwrap affordable luxury: Why a bidet seat is the perfect holiday gift
(BPT) - Looking to level up your gift-giving game this year? The secret to inspired holiday gift giving is choosing meaningful things that will uplift, surprise and delight. It's not about how …
Lifestyle stories from the web

In a deep-red state, this lieutenant's blueprint for removing guns from abusers is spreading

The Trace spotlights Lieutenant Valerie Martinez-Jordan, who has trained over 2,000 officers in a Louisiana program that prevents abusers from accessing firearms, even as federal laws become looser.

With Texas' paper-based voter registration system, applications get lost in the shuffle

Votebeat reports that Texas' lawmakers have resisted efforts to expand online voter registration options while some people who filled out forms find out too late that they never made it onto the rolls.

The high-tech tools police can use to surveil protesters

The Marshall Project reports that when Americans take to the streets to make their voices heard, they're inevitably dragging their digital trails right along behind them.

The Science of Flexibility: Innovative Technology in Eyewear

The Science of Flexibility: Innovative Technology in Eyewear

(NewsUSA) - The advancements made in eyewear over the years have been shaped by innovative materials designed to be stylish, durable, and flexible. Today’s optical frames are far more than just …

Marine Toys for Tots Kicks Off Holiday Campaign

Marine Toys for Tots Kicks Off Holiday Campaign

(NewsUSA) - As the holiday season arrives, Marine Toys for Tots stands ready to assist millions of children in need across the Nation—providing hope and joy through toys, books, and other …

Tenth Anniversary of National Apprenticeship Week Highlights Success and Opportunity with Registered Apprenticeship

Tenth Anniversary of National Apprenticeship Week Highlights Success and Opportunity with Registered Apprenticeship

(NewsUSA) - This year marks the 10th Annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), which will take place from November 17-23!NAW 2024 includes over 2,000 apprenticeship events and proclamations in all …

Reap the Rewards of Shared Family Meals

(Family Features) Addressing the epidemic of loneliness can be as easy as sharing one more meal with family members each week. This National Family Meals Month, commit yourself to reaping the benefits of shared meals.

5 Reasons Family Meals are a Recipe for Success

(Family Features) Address the epidemic of loneliness by joining the Family Meals Movement and sharing a meal with friends and family today.

Combat the Epidemic of Loneliness by Eating Together

(Family Features) According to the U.S. Surgeon General, Americans face a lack of social connection that poses a significant risk to individual health and longevity.

More Lifestyle coverage

As the tech revolution continues, IDs may be the next thing to go digital

ID cards may become relics. Uniqode examined news and industry sources to explore the rise in digital IDs, their benefits, and their challenges.

Where family and resident councils are most common in US nursing homes

Caring.com analyzed CMS data to show the prevalence of protected resident interest groups in nursing homes and provide tips for starting one.

How Germany outfitted half a million balconies with solar panels

Grist spotlights balkonkraftwerk, the simple technology putting solar power in the hands of renters.

Onlookers watch Notre Dame Cathedral burn on April 14, 2019.

Notre Dame reopens in Paris 5 years after fire – its reconstruction preserves the past and illuminates France’s modern ambitions

For the French, the 850-year-old Gothic cathedral has been both a source of inspiration and a symbol of the nation’s glorious past.

To tree, or not to tree? How Jewish-Christian families navigate the 'December Dilemma'

The Conversation explores how multifaith families navigate the dilemma of putting up a Christmas tree or not during the holiday season.

What is neoliberalism? An economic and political system devoted to the free market

The Economic Hardship Reporting Project and Teen Vogue examine the meaning of neoliberalism in modern day.

Why Shopping Small is Always in Style

(BPT) - By Sarah Acton, Chief Customer Officer at BILLImagine your neighborhood without any small coffee shops, restaurants, gift shops or craft stores. Would it even have the same feel and …

5 tactics for shoppers this holiday season

(BPT) - Thanksgiving is late this year, so the holiday shopping season is approaching faster than ever. As you're making out your gift list, are you concerned about inflation? Amid global …

How to keep stress from impacting your health this holiday season

(BPT) - The holiday season is a joyful time, but it can also be hectic, bringing with it unique mental stressors like juggling to-do lists, managing budgets and navigating family dynamics.To help …

A doll representing the infant Jesus in St. Catherine's, the Franciscan church in the town of Bethlehem.
Was Jesus really born in Bethlehem? Why the Gospels disagree over the circumstances of Christ’s birth
The differences in the Gospels are hard to reconcile. That’s because, says a scholar, they offer an important insight into the Greco-Roman views of ethnic identity.
The Christmas creep: Holiday shopping now starts in September
The LA Post warns about how early Christmas shopping is starting and the reasons behind the trend.
Are laxatives for weight loss safe?
Ro shares the skinny on laxatives for weight loss, as well as better ways to lose weight sustainably and safely.
Create Meaningful Impact This Holiday Season
(Family Features) The holidays are a time of celebration, cheer and reflection; though for some, they are overshadowed by conflict and emergencies worldwide.
Pivot counties in the 2024 presidential election
Ballotpedia presents an overview of the effect of pivot counties in recent presidential elections.