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10 of the Most Magical Places to See Christmas Lights

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Many neighborhoods across the country go full-on Clark Griswold as soon as the Thanksgiving dishes are put away. Take in your own town's decorations by foot or car — you'll surely find front-yard extravaganzas to ogle. These famous spots really get lit, and if they're hundreds (or thousands) of miles away, Google Images does them dazzling justice. Brooklyn, New York More specifically in Brooklyn's borough: the Dyker Heights neighborhood puts on one of the most stunning Christmas light shows of the season. People will come from all over just to see what extravagant and wonderful lighting decorations the homeowners have set up to celebrate the holidays. From musical light shows to statuesque Nutcracker Kings, the "Dyker Lights" as they've been dubbed will amaze and delight 100,000 tourists who visit every year and can write about your hobbies . Hartford, Connecticut Hartford's annual Holiday Light Fantasia provides a two-mile show of life-sized light

9 Winter Holidays Around the World

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We tend to think of winter as a time of rest, hibernation, and quiet. But a look at the calendar reveals many holidays around the world that prove this impression entirely wrong. The cold months are clearly a popular time for parties and celebrations. While some are filled with solemn tradition, others focus on ecology essay writing and frolic. All pose opportunities for interesting and real-life lessons in geography, culture, history, and religion. Take a look at this list of several popular traditions celebrated during winter holidays around the world and share them with your kids. We hope they inspire further discussion and learning with some related activities. Enjoy the tour: Hanukkah For eight days each November or December, Jews light a special candle holder called a menorah. They do it to remember an ancient miracle in which one day’s worth of oil burned for eight days in the temple. During Hanukkah, many Jews also eat special potato pancakes called latkes, sing son

Four email types that can drive you crazy

I'm all about communication. To me, any attempt at communication is better than nothing at all. But, having said that, there are a few ways of emailing that can grate on the recipient. Here are four of them: The doctoral candidate This group is the polar opposite of the Gen Y'ers who are accustomed to texting with word shortcuts like "u" for "you." Though admirable for their need for absolute clarity, the Doctoral Candidates send the kind of email you dread opening. Their emails include greetings and salutations, the complete history of the issue at hand, and a request for a reply that stops just short of a self-addressed stamped envelope. I know I sound like a real tool dissing the politeness of such emails, but, as it is with everyone else on the planet right now, why my dad is my role model . The stream-of-consciousness em

5 Fall Outdoor Learning Activities for the Entire Family

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It was a long, hot summer in much of the country, and although autumn brings with it cooler weather, there are still plenty of fall activities to enjoy this season. With the changing of the seasons comes shorter days, colder weather, and—thanks to all the activity happening in nature at this time of year—outdoor learning activities galore. The leaves on the trees are changing colors, and seasonal fruits and vegetables are making their way to our kitchens. It’s a perfect opportunity to get kids outdoors for some fun, hands-on learning. Here are 5 great outdoor learning activities to do with the kids: Go Apple Picking Autumn is prime apple season and a great time to go apple picking, bake pies, and more. This fall, join the many families who visit local apple orchards, and learn about the apple harvest season. From picking the fresh fruit to watching the farmers fill their bins for farmers’ markets and grocery stores, you’ll get a first-hand taste of sweet, fall farm life. Go f

5 Ways To Be A Role Model To Everyone Around You

1. Ensure you step in at work with a positive mood always Yes, good mood triggers the dopamine levels in our brains leading to heightened cognitive performance. So ensure to build your mood during your commute to work, be it listening to your favourite music band, watching a motivational video or catching a quick glimpse of your favourite show. Enjoy a brainpower boost at your desk with this simple yet effective tip. 2. Learn to channelize your energy and not just time Keep a track of your energy peaks and falls for a week and try to build a new routine with the insights you get from the observation. Who knows it can be your high-carb lunch that shoves you into the dream world or a specific task that makes you go drowsy? Be an energy house. Nothing can better motivate your co-workers and their performance when surrounded by an energizer like you. Staying focused is the key here, since it gets difficult to stay motivated if you are failing to focus on tasks at hand. 3. Push you

6 Appetite-Control Strategies that Helped Me Stop Overeating

It can be hard not to overeat. You eat a healthy meal at home, think you’re doing well, then you head out (to almost any destination) and are surrounded by junk food. You get hungry, and pretty soon you’re at the local burger joint, diet forgotten. Or maybe you stick to the “right” foods, but they’re just so good that you can’t have just one portion. We’ve all been there. That used to be my feature writing on corruption . The following six strategies have changed the game for me — now I’m healthier, enjoy my meals more and my appetite is low enough that, if anything, I have to make an effort to eat more. 1. ADD VINEGAR AND CINNAMON TO MEALS TO CONTROL BLOOD SUGAR Looking to add some flavor to your food and noncaloric drinks? Forget the sugar; there are plenty of spices and flavors that will make your food both tastier and healthier. Vinegar, which has been shown to lower the glycemic index (which means you metabolize the food more slowly), ad

4 Style Tips to Boost Success

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Everyone has heard the phrase, “Dress for success.” Many career coaches take the advice a step further by encouraging people to dress for the position you want. If you’re going after a manger role, dress like your manager does. If you want to be a writer , dress like a writer. Countless studies have looked into these guidelines we assume to be true and take for granted. Will you really achieve success in the workplace if you wear a suit and tie? The short answer, yes. The real reason outfits alters success is because of mental attitude. “Dress well, feel well,” my mother always said. By putting on nicer clothes you’re telling yourself that you deserve respect. Likewise, those you interact with will similarly receive the same message and give you the respect you deserve. It is a double-whammy in the way both parties feel about your clothes. 1 . Clothes that fit Obviously an upgrade in clothes are a must. You want to keep in mind this is an investment in your financial succes