We are well into December now, a busy and joyous month filled with holiday festivities, shopping, decorating, baking and Santa’s to-do lists. While December is filled with cheer, it’s also filled with dangers for your pets. In fact, it is one of the most dangerous times of the year for your dog Dasher and your cat Blitzen. That’s why I called upon Dr. Anthony George, doctor of veterinary medicine and certified veterinary acupuncturist, to guide us through all of the dangers our holiday décor and holiday foods can create for our best four-legged friends. Keep these five jolly activities away from your pooches or felines and they will be as merry as you are all holiday season.

Are you deep into tinsel and mistletoe? A bit preoccupied with your holiday to-do lists? Is all the sparkle distracting you and your little ones? Be sure to keep an eye out for trouble as your little ones can wreak havoc with holiday décor. Whether you are singing “Feliz Navidad” or “Dradle Dradle Dradle,” we can all agree this is one of the greatest times of the year. If parents aren’t careful though, it can also be one of the most dangerous times. I checked in with the child safety experts at Boo Boo Busters to talk Santa safety to ensure that the holidays and New Year are filled with joy.

Have you already heard your first Christmas carol? Or, seen your first box of Christmas Cards in your local Papyrus?  Brace yourself; it’s that Tim Burton time of year again. Let the Holiday nightmares begin! I don’t get my “Christmas On” until I have safely tucked those Thanksgiving leftovers into the fridge. But, being prepared to deck the halls with green eco-friendly decor can save you from being in the red and keep you safe from Scrooge’s nightmares. Here are a few ways that are easy, reuse what you already have on hand, fun, and most importantly, beautiful and eco-friendly.

Halloween is full of tricks, treats, ghoulish games, frightening frocks, cute costumes, glowing Jack O’ Lanterns, pumpkin packed parties and, of course, spookiness! Unfortunately, all of the  fall festive fun has dangers lurking. Whether you are a parent of two-legged loved ones or four-legged furry loved ones, it is critical to be aware of the true goblins hiding behind all the ghostly fun.  I called upon two experts who have simple tips for a safe, scare-free Halloween to keep your children and pets safe.

Moving? Bet, you’re asking yourself: “How many boxes will I need?”. Make the packing process easy by calculating how many boxes you need in advance. General Rule of Thumb: The longer you have lived in your home, the more stuff you will have accumulated. You know if you’re a pack rat, now’s the time to own it. If you have lived in your home for more than 5 years, or are just NOT a less-is-more type of a person, buy the higher number of boxes for your move.