O, Christmas Tree: Recycling Options and Alternatives

Find out where and how you can recycle your tree.

Do you prefer a real Christmas tree or an artificial one? If it doesn't feel like Christmas to you without the scent of a real one you're not alone. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that about 33 million real Christmas trees are sold each year. About 93 percent of those are recycled through more than 4000 tree-recycling programs throughout the United States. Keeping it real Advocates of using real Christmas trees, including Earth911, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the environment, point out that most trees sold at seasonal Christmas-tree lots are grown on farms, so forests aren’t being damaged when you purchase them. "Real trees top our charts for holiday adornment," writes Earth911's Lori Brown. "Even …

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Getting More for Your Gift Card Buck

STLMommy.com operator gives tips on saving with gift cards, and the Better Business Bureau shows how not to get stuck with accompanying fees.

Gift cards are great for any shopper puzzled over what to get a friend, family member or loved one. They’re also great last minute gifts. Sure, you can head to any store and pay $20 for a $20 gift card—or you can up your game and get more card for your buck. Kim Julian, a St. Louis-based author who operates stlmommy.com, suggests trying plasticjungle.com to check for bargains. “They offer anywhere from 10 to 50 percent off of gift cards,” said Julian, who links to some of the better deals on her site. “Sites like Groupon or livingsocial.com, the way they increase their database is to offer good deals on gift cards. The beauty in that is that, although they’re building their database, you can always unsubscribe if gets to be hassle.” …

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Outsmart the Grinch: Avoiding Holiday Scams Is Part of the Festive Season

Don't get taken during the last full weekend of shopping before Christmas and Hanukkah in Creve Coeur.

Shoppers are not the only busy folks during the holiday season. The season to be jolly and joyous also is the season for scammers, warn St. Louis Better Business Bureau officials. Here are five common scams to watch out for throughout December: 1.    Online shopping scams When a website offers big ticket items or electronics at prices that are too good to be true (a $20 iPhone 2, really?) be suspicious. There could be hidden costs.  The BBB advises: 2.    Snagging hot toys and gadgets online If stores sell out, people turn to the Internet to pick up items, often at sites like Craigslist or eBay, and pay steeper prices. But some sellers take the money and run. The BBB advises: 3.    Identity theft in stores When you’re loaded down with …

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St. Louis Blues Spread Holiday Cheer In Creve Coeur

Members of the team fanned out to local hospitals on Monday.

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Deck Your House and Win $100,000 for Local Schools

Patch contest gives readers a chance to show off holiday spirit.

Does your house outshine the others in your neighborhood when it comes to holiday decorations? If the answer is yes, starting Dec. 8, enter Patch's Deck the House Contest for a chance to win $100,000 for your local public school system, $500 toward your electric bill or bragging rights in your neighborhood. The contest will run until Dec. 26 and users will vote for the best-decked house in their town. From there, Patch judges will select 24 finalists nationwide, who will get their December electric bill paid by Patch (up to $500). The grand prize winner will recieve a $100,000 donation to their local school system. We'll give you an update with more details next week, but for now, get decorating. And don't forget to take photos!

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Missouri Baptist University Hangs the Green

Students and faculty invited family and friends to join the fun.

Missouri Baptist University held its annual Hanging of the Green event on Tuesday evening in Mabee Great Hall. Students and their families were invited to join the fun with Christmas carols, cookies and the lighting of the tree. The event began with the formal decoration of the MBU Christmas tree in the Pillsbury Chapel, followed by a reception and the annual MBU campus lighting.  "One person from each group or department on campus participates by placing an ornament to represent their department on the tree," said MBU's Jenny Gravatt. Once the tree was decorated, MBU faculty and staff shared Christmas memories and Christmas carols. The evening concluded with a Christmas performance by the MBU ministry groups.

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Where Can You Find ( and in some places ) Cut Your Own Christmas Tree?

Patch offers up a guide and suggestions from the experts.

The National Christmas Tree Association offers tips on how to find the perfect tree: And if you’ve never cut down a tree, here are some guidelines: Try one of these nearby spots for your tree: Chaminade College Preparatory School Open November 26-December 19 (while supplies last) Hours: Monday-Friday - 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. Address: 425 South Lindbergh Boulevard, Creve Coeur, MO 63141 Phone: 314-993-4400 Trees: Frasier Fir (other items, i.e. wreaths, available)   De Smet Jesuit High School Open November 25- December 18 Hours: Monday-Friday 3 p.m.-8 p.m., Weekends 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. Address: 233 N. New Ballas Rd. St. Louis, MO 63141 Phone: 314-567-3500 Trees: Frasier Fir, Balsam Fir (other …

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Kalen Ponche

10:52 am on Wednesday, November 23, 2011

I have always wanted to do this... but we have a fake tree. Looks like fun though!   more ›

Black Friday Madness: The Shopping Season Begins

Thanksgiving gives way to the biggest shopping day of the year.

Now that the Thanksgiving leftovers have been put away, many people have been out since midnight in search of great Black Friday deals. Smart Black Friday shoppers have already made their lists and checked them twice. They’ve been scoping out the ads for weeks.  They might have even mapped out their shopping routes. Some have been camping in tents in front of their favorite stores for days, even missing Thanksgiving dinner to ensure they get the best deals. A woman in Ohio set up camp at a Best Buy on Saturday. Some people are using modern technology such as Foursquare  or Black Friday Survival Tips apps to make their shopping go a little more smoothly, and others are going traditional, carrying around a handful of print ads. “I've been …

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Black Friday Shopping Guide in St. Louis

The stores, sales and strategies you need to optimize your all-night shopping blow-out.

Here’s a new holiday tradition to try: Say grace, eat turkey, head to the mall. Black Friday sales start at midnight this year at some of the regions biggest stores, including Walmart, Target, Kohl’s and Best Buy. We’ve read through the ads and compiled everything you need for the best all-night holiday shopping blow-out possible. And for each sale, we've highlighted the items we think would make the best gifts (at the best prices!) Check back on Black Friday for updates and tips, and if you hit the sales, tag your tweets with #BlackFridaySTL or mention @StLouisLindsay. And don't forget: Black Friday sales are already starting online at popular big box stores. Best Buy said they've already sold out of popular $80 TVs and $150 laptops, but …

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Safely Deep-Frying a Holiday Bird

Deep-frying a turkey can be delicious but dangerous without the right safety tools.

Each year, families gather around a roasted or baked turkey for the holidays. Some families decide to go outside of the box and deep-fry turkeys for the holidays, which is when things get more serious. I grew up with my dad frying turkeys for the holidays. As newlyweds, my wife and I will fry a turkey for our first Thanksgiving together and may continue the tradition. Several dangers can mount from deep-frying a turkey, though. More than 4,000 fires occur on Thanksgiving across the country, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Therefore, in order to ensure a safe holiday season, we’re showing how to safely deep-fry a turkey. In order to reinforce the safety issues, we teamed up with Florissant Valley Fire Protection District to give …

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