• When it comes to the holidays, it's so easy to get swept up in our household cleaning and hostess duties while easily forgetting the larger importance of the day. "What's important about the holidays is not asking 'What am I supposed to do?'," says Susan Lieberman, author of New Traditions, "but rather asking, 'How do I want us to feel and what will get us there?'" Here, a few suggestions on meaningful table traditions to foster a sense of family on Thanksgiving.

    Create a Sense of Togetherness (Even With Those Who Aren't Present)
    One way to foster a feeling of intimacy when your family is spread across the country or the globe is to all share in the same tradition. "I know one family that sets a time the day before and they all make pie at the same time, using their Grandma Betty's pumpkin pie recipe," says Meg Cox, traditions expert and author of The Book of New Family Traditions. Grandma then "calls around to the different households and speaks to each of her grandkids, wishing them

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  • After you make like Monica Gellar and put together a few super awesome post-Thanksgiving turkey sandwiches, you're going to want to switch it up a bit. In the crusade against boring meals, we've gathered a collection of recipes for your turkey leftovers that run the gamut from comfort food classics, to healthy salads, to kicky, spicy ethnic recipes. (And remember: if you really would rather put off the turkey for another day, you can always freeze it.)

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  • Check out the latest electronic tools from Walmart to make the most of this holiday shopping season.



    The worlds largest retailer, Walmart has new digital and mobile tools that can help all of us plan our shopping strategy right from home. Starting with Facebook, you can use the social network as a gateway to get access to Walmart's exclusive offers. Go to Facebook.com/Walmart and click on the "like" button, and you'll start receiving custom information and deals exclusive to the Facebook community. You can also access your local Walmart circular right there on the Facebook page (or Walmart.com) and when you do, you get timely information on great low prices right at your fingertips. You can page through all the deals and run your mouse over specific products to get even more valuable information.

    And while your reading the online circular, getting a digital store map is a click away. We all know finding the exact location of specific gift can be a challenge, that's why this is

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  • "Getting kids involved in the kitchen at Thanksgiving is a terrific way to get them excited about the meal," says blogger Kelsey Banfield of The Naptime Chef. And who doesn't need a few extra hands in the kitchen on Thanksgiving? Here, six ideas for easy dishes your kids can make with your or comple

  • 25 sneaky ways to shop smart, reduce the stress, and get ready for a happy, healthy holiday.

    By Rose Kennedy and Diana Reese




    Holidays done right, your way

    Oh, the irony of those Christmas carols. You're singing about "chestnuts roasting on an open fire," but experiencing meltdowns by the microwave. Jingle Bells sounds way too close to Jangled Nerves and "sleep in heavenly peace" is almost comical if you think about it. That's because, for most of us, the holiday season involves lots of stress mixed in with all the Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree.

    But a little stress isn't going to stop most Motherboard Moms. in a recent survey they told us they aren't going to let anything get in the way of creating a special holiday for families. And they're not counting on Santa's elves for help, either; they have their own secret weapons for shopping, making holiday goodies, decorating, and keeping it all under budget. Here's their advice.

    1. Be choosy about traditions

    We tend to

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  • By now you've likely read several articles about making this Thanksgiving like none other. You've got visions of grandeur: you've clipped seven new recipes, have invited your boss (just for kicks!), and are thinking of crocheting cornucopia centerpieces for the big day. Hold up there, Ms. Great Expectation. Lisa Quinn, author of Life's Too Short to Fold Fitted Sheets advises taking the urge to be perfect down a notch. Read on for ways to keep your cool when you've got guests coming out of your ears and the biggest meal of the year on the stove.

    Put on Your Game Face
    This might sound a little intense, but let's take a cue from football stars on this one: get in the zone. Just as important as having enough sugar and flour for the pies is being mentally prepared for the day. You might not need to rehearse the image of you sliding the turkey into the oven, but you might want to be ready for Aunt Gladys's questions about why you haven't gotten a "real job" or why it seems you've "put on

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  • These days, it's hard to think of anything that can't be bought online. So much so that the breadth of options, both in terms of products and sites to buy them, can be a bit overwhelming. And while the internet is definitely a great place to score a great deal, there are certain tricks one should be aware of to hunt down the best possible price. Here-just in time to kickstart (and hopefully minimize) your holiday spending spree-a re-cap of all you need to know before filling your online shopping cart.


    Look out for flash sales. The biggest thing to revolutionize online shopping in the last couple years has been the introduction of flash sale websites, where you can buy heftily discounted merchandise as a limited time offer. You'll need to subscribe for membership, and every day you'll get an email in your inbox notifying you of the daily specials. Different sites have different focuses, so for clothing there's gilt.com, hautelook.com, and ideeli.com; for children's clothes and

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  • Moms from across the country share their tips on how they save money creating a Thanksgiving meal the whole family will remember. (This video contains some content created in association with an advertiser.)



    Renee from cutiebootycakes.com shares her southern style and flair that she brings to her traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Her collard greens side dish is a family favorite and budget-friendly because she finds an inexpensive "bunch" of collard greens will serve 10-12 people. Instead of meat for flavoring she adds heat - fresh jalapeno pepper and crushed red pepper are her secret weapons. She also adds garlic and sometimes chops up some onions to add to the mix too. Saute the collard greens in olive oil with the pepper and garlic for about 10 minutes, adding some organic apple cider vinegar for a little extra flavor. And when the collards have wilted, removed from heat, add a little sea salt and serve!

    Mercedes from commonsensewithmoney.com tells us that Thanksgiving dinner

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  • Whether you're toying with buying a new living room flatscreen, or getting ready to spring for the latest video game console your kids have been pining for, it's a good time to be shopping for electronics. This being the end of the year, retailers are about to get antsy about clearing out their inventories, and will be baiting us with some big-time sales. To maximize your dollars, read on for a range of money-saving strategies to keep in mind before you pull the trigger.

    Comparison Shop. This goes without saying at this point, but you should check several different retailers, both bricks-and-mortar and online, to see how prices vary from one place to another. The internet is the best place to start. Use sites like pricegrabber.com, shopping.com, google.com, and fatwallet.com to see what deals are out there. Make sure to factor in shipping costs and taxes when comparing prices.

    Double-Check For Coupons and Rebates. Lots of manufacturers offer mail-in rebates on top of a

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  • When you're used to 4-pound chickens, the prospect of a giant turkey is intimidating, to say the least. How do you know how much to buy? And what happens when dinner is tomorrow and you forgot that whole defrosting thing? Below, a cheat sheet of tips to arm yourself with.

    How Much to Buy?

    Figuring out how much turkey to buy can seem confusing, but it doesn't have to be. For dinner itself, registered dietician Shari Steinbach advises figuring one-pound uncooked turkey per person when buying your bird. If you want leftovers, the rule of thumb is one-and-a-half pounds per person. So, a host with eighteen guests and a future filled with turkey tetrazzini, should buy a 27-pound bird. Still confused? Let this calculator do the arithmetic for you.

    Should I Buy Fresh or Frozen?
    "Most people agree that there's no noticeable difference in taste between fresh and frozen turkeys," says household savings expert for Coupons.com, Jeanette Pavini, so it's just a matter of choosing the option that's

    Read More »from How to pick the right-sized bird, and other turkey questions answered

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