Some churches are cutting services or staying closed on Christmas Day.Amid all of the "Happy Holidays" vs. "Merry Christmas" controversy, some churches are cancelling services on Sunday, December 25, because pastors and parishioners would prefer to stay home with their families.

"We felt like let's get together Christmas Eve with our church family and then have Christmas Day with our families," lead pastor Tommy Kyllonen of the Grace Family and Crossover Church told The St. Petersburg Times. The church near Tampa, Florida, is having services on December 23 and 24 instead.

It's a growing trend. Though most Catholics and Episcopalians go to services on Christmas Day no matter which day of the week it falls on, many Protestants are more likely to see that day as one reserved for family, and to worship on Christmas Eve instead. According to a survey of 1,000 Protestant pastors conducted recently by the Christian research group LifeWay, 63 percent of Protestant pastors will offer services on Christmas Eve, and many are planning to scale back services on

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By Amy Osmond Cook, Ph.D.

Reese Witherspoon is my favorite actress. Not only is she a beautiful woman and a classy mom, but she also starred in Legally Blonde, a girl-power movie that I watched every day (I kid you not!) for the first three months after my divorce. I cried when Warner dumped Elle and cried again when Elle emerged triumphant at Harvard. I kept thinking, "If Elle Woods can do it, so can I." So this year, I am cheering for Reese. She has moved on from what she called a "humiliating" and "isolating" divorce (Elle Magazine, April 2009) and has found happiness with Jim Toth and a peaceable relationship with her ex, Ryan Phillippe.

While it sounds like Reese has got it all together, she may have a little bit of anxiety as she and Jim manage their special occasions together for the first time. As a divorced and remarried mother of five children, I know what it's like to try to manage innumerable family get-togethers over the holidays. There are too many

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Bring the scents of the season to your kitchen or any room in the house.
-PJ Gach, BettyConfidential.com

method cleaning products

First, a confession: I've been a long-time fan of Method's cleansers. They're effective, gentle on the environment, and have naturally derived biodegradable formulas. When I got these goodies in the mail I was psyched.

First I tried the Method Dish Pump- Candy Cane scent ($3.99, methodhome.com). It smells lightly like peppermint and does the job. Actually, it smelled so good, I didn't mind doing dishes. Don't like mint? try their Fir scent.

I'm really big on pump hand soaps in the kitchen. I usually keep a pump right next to my dish soap. When I'm cooking, I'm constantly washing my hands. So using the Method Gel hand wash- Fir ($3.99, methodhome.com) was a no-brainer for me. What I love about this, aside from the scent, is that no matter how many times I wash my hands, it doesn't make them feel dried out. The scent also comes in Candy Cane.

You can also

Cleaning your home doesn't have to cost a fortune in household cleaners. In fact, besides harmful fumes, store-bought cleaners can can aggravate sensitive skin and allergies. Save money and create a healthy, clean home with these natural cleaning boosters.

Tea Tree Oil
This essential oil has antiseptic ingredients making it a perfect disinfectant. Add a few drops to a small spray bottle of water for an environmentally-friendly disinfectant throughout your home.

Ammonia
Though harmful to skin and eyes in concentrated form, ammonia is not harmful to the environment and very effective at cleaning windows and mirrors. Mix with water and use in a spray bottle for easy cleaning.

Coarse salt
Used with lemon, coarse salt works well to clean countertops and sinks. Also, coarse salt is great for scrubbing cast iron skillets. Scrub with a soft sponge and rinse off.

White vinegar
When mixed with a mild liquid soap, white vinegar tackles grease and shines floors and windows.

By Rosemary Brennan, Glamour magazine

I usually send out festive cards every holiday season. But this year, I kind of dropped the ball. My goal was to send them out so that they'd arrive before Hanukkah, but as I have yet to even buy cards that's clearly not going to happen. Do you send out holiday cards?

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Chris and I have received a dozen or so holiday cards from friends and family and I've been feeling guilty about not sending out greetings of our own. It doesn't help that a few well-meaning relatives have casually asked about when they should expect our card in the mail. If you're like me and you plan on skipping this holiday tradition, no need to fret.

There are plenty of totally acceptable reasons not to send out seasons greetings via snail mail, here are just a few:

1. You're super busy. Maybe you've got a new baby at home or maybe you're buried under projects at work or maybe you're planning your wedding.

2. You're worried about

You know all those perfect celebrity homes combed over by interior designers and featured in glossy magazines? They're a Where's Waldo of weird artifacts.

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By Crystal Paine
Author of The Money Saving Mom's Budget
Are you crunched for time and money this holiday season? We feel your pain. Here are six simple and inexpensive last-minute gift ideas that convey the spirit of the season without draining your bank account.

For the kids:
Homemade Playdough
Make a few different varieties of homemade playdough like peppermint, ginger, or candy cane, package them in cute containers and tie on cookie cutters and a small rolling pin with a ribbon. They'll provide hours of fun and creative play.

Build-Your-Own Snowman
If you don't live in a frigid climate or you just don't want to have to bundle up to go out in the cold, your children can still enjoy decorating their own snowman with a felt build-your-own snowman kit.

For him:
Year Round Yum
They say that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. If that's true for your man, than making him a Year Round Yum container just might hit the spot.

Grill