Projo Holidays Blog

South Portland, ME – The new year has always been a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, forward to the coming year. It's a time to reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make and resolve to follow through on those changes. But resolutions aren’t just about humans -- pets are getting in on the action, too.

TRIPSwithPETS.com polled its visitors to find out what their New Year’s pet resolutions are. Here are the top 10:

10. No more table scraps: Our four-legged friends won’t be happy about this one! No more people food from the table or placed in the pet bowl, and no more plate licking either.

9. Keeping nails trimmed: Trimming pet nails properly can be a real challenge, but 2008 could be a year of fewer toe nails clicking on floors.

8. Disaster preparedness: It doesn't matter what part of the country you live in., we can all be affected by disasters. Putting together a pet disaster plan and survival kit should be a priority for 2008.

7. Brushing teeth: It’s recommended that you clean your pet’s teeth at least once a week, but not many pet parents do this. This helps a pet maintain healthy gums and therefore a healthy mouth.

6. Healthy treats: Treat your pets to more natural and organic snacks, instead of the processed ones.

5. Sit, stay, down: Pet obedience and training ranks high in the top pet resolutions for the year. A well-behaved pet is also a less stressed pet.

4. Car safety: Pet parents plan to better secure their pets when traveling by car in 2008 by using a pet car seat, pet safety belt, travel carrier, or pet barrier.

3. More road trips: Whether it’s a trip to Grandma’s house, a visit to the pet store, or a vacation to Hilton Head – pet parents are resolving to do more of them.

2. More bonding activities: Pet parents have vowed to include their pets in shopping trips, dinners at pet friendly restaurants, and activities at other pet friendly places.

1. More exercise: Whether it’s walks, runs, fetch or hikes, getting Fido and Fluffy moving is the top New Year’s pet resolution.

Getting in shape is among the top 10 New Year’s resolutions for most people. But, for many, it’s one of the hardest resolutions to keep.

According to a nationwide Angie’s List poll, 70 percent typically work out. Of those respondents 34 percent work out at a major gym chain.

“Usually, the trip to the gym is the first thing to go when our schedules get tight,” said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List. “But as competition for members grows, fitness centers are taking steps like offering child care and a greater variety of fitness classes to make working out more appealing and convenient.”

Finding time to make it to the gym is difficult for many people. By adding a home gym you can cut out the car ride and bring the gym to you. In fact, 20 percent of respondents in an Angie’s List poll say they’re getting fit in the comfort of their own homes.

“One of the biggest challenges to getting in shape is sticking with the commitment to a regular routine,” said Hicks. “For some, designating space in their home makes it easier to stick with the commitment because they can workout when they want and customize their space to meet their own needs.”

Here are Angie’s List’s 11 tips to help you find the right gym for your fitness goals:

>> Continue reading: Resolution alert: Work in finding the right place to work out

Journal photo / Bill Murphy
Lori Bergeron (left) and Tom Gadoury, both of Jamestown, find plenty of room to shop at 234 Water, during the Christmas Shopping Stroll on Block Island, on Nov. 23.The Stroll is a quiet alternative to the frenzy of Black Friday at the malls.

I am one of those people who shop all year for Christmas presents. Whether I'm vacationing in a foreign country or browsing in Wickford, my eyes are always peeled for holiday gifts. It could be as early as January or as late as December. It could be the big gift or a stocking stuffer. Doesn't matter. I need to cross names off the Santa list.

Before you say you hate me, let me explain.

All of my husband's and my siblings (including us!) -- as well as three of our best friends, a godson and a niece -- all have December birthdays. And we all still exchange gifts so ignoring someone's birthday is NOT an option.

You see the dilemma.

Two years ago, I decided to get smarter about Christmas/birthday shopping. While I still shopped for all the birthday presents during the year, I decided that one fell swoop for Christmas presents would save a lot of time and energy.

So, because the family is full of Red Sox fans, I decided to get tickets for everyone. Since I couldn't get the actual tickets until February, I employed my younger technically savvy daughter, Caroline, to design fake tickets, which she did with flair. Then we gave them to 22 relatives on Christmas Day and later, in February, I bought the real tickets. We all went to the game together in August -- long after the Christmas toys had been broken and the cookies eaten -- and had a great family day.

This year I plan to attack my Santa list in a similar way.

Other options include a show at PPAC, which we have done on occasion for the adults in the family; or tickets to a play at Trinity Rep; or an event at the Dunk; or a basketball game or a hockey game or a PawSox game. Making plans to attend an event together accomplishes several things: it takes stress off the gift giver at Christmas; it allows families to spend quality time together without the holiday hassle; and it makes good lasting memories for kids and adults.

And isn't that the point of Christmas anyway?

Have a merry one!

MyGoals.com today announced its annual predictions on resolutions people are expected to make during the 2008 New Year's season.

MyGoals.com, a Web site for setting and reaching personal and professional goals, bases its predictions on the current year's third-quarter goal-setting activity. According to an anonymous, random sample of goals people have set at the site, this year's New Year's resolutions are expected to break down as follows:

Health & Fitness (at 28 percent) is the number-one category for people's resolutions. Of that percentage, weight loss is the number-one most common resolution, with most people wanting to lose 10 pounds and a lot of people wanting to "fit into my favorite jeans." Five percent of Health & Fitness goals were related to getting more sleep, which is an increase over previous years.

At 21 percent, the category of career goals comes in second. Actual goals people have recently set in this category include creating an independent successful private practice, becoming an architect, starting a jewelry business and finding a satisfying career.
This year, entrepreneurship jumped from 20 percent to 30 percent of career-related goals, surpassing those related to new jobs and promotions.

At 15 percent, personal growth and interest goals are tied for third with personal finance goals.

Actual goals people have recently set in the personal growth category include reading one book a week, learning more about wine, mentoring a child, keeping a journal, and updating a wardrobe.

Actual goals people have recently set in the finance category include establishing a stock portfolio, creating passive income, hiring an accountant, brown-bagging lunch 3 days a week, and paying off debt.

Other resolutions for 2008 are predicted to be better management of time, improving family relationships, making home improvements, increasing education and training levels, and taking a vacation.

>> Continue reading: It's time to start thinking about those New Year's resolutions

Here's the big question most of us have during the holidays: How much do you tip service providers?

According to a nationwide Angie’s List poll, a third of respondents don’t tip their service providers during the holidays. Of those that skip out on tips, 24 percent say it’s because they don’t know how much to give.

To help sort through the confusion, Angie’s List consulted with several etiquette experts and service companies. “Tips are meant to be rewards for good service as well as supplement a person’s income,” says Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List. “So don’t let your uncertainty stop you from tipping. In fact, most experts say 'when in doubt, tip big.' "

The tipping experts say that it’s important to consider whether the contractor is someone you rely on regularly throughout the year, or someone you use occasionally, or only once.

“If it’s someone you use throughout the year, like a house cleaner or a babysitter, instead of a tip of cash, a gift at the holidays might be more appropriate,” Hicks says. “And for those one-time services, the tip can be determined by the size of the job and how well they did it."

With help from the experts, Angie’s List offers the following advice to help consumers get through the holiday season:

* Personal shoppers/concierge/errand services – tip of 15 to 20 percent is recommended, possibly more, depending on the complexity or amount of work you have them do for you.

* Hair stylists -- According to Angie's List, you don't have to give as much of a tip if you regularly tip your hair stylist every time you get a haircut. But, according to an Angie's List poll, 70 percent of respondents do tip their hair stylist during the holidays. The average tip: 15-20 percent of the total hair cut bill.

* Contractors who help hang your decorations, lights, etc. – A tip of $20 to $50 for the crew may be in order, again based on the complexity of the task.

* Event entertainment, such as Santa impersonators, carolers or musicians – a tip of 15 to 20 percent is appropriate.

* Bag boys or others who help carry your packages to your car – a tip of $1 per package/bag may be in order, though probably no more than $5.

* Chefs or caterers -- If you use this service throughout the year, a tip of $25 to $50 may be appropriate or a gift of equal value. If you hire the chef for a holiday party or family gathering, tip 15 to 20 percent based on the final cost. However, many advise you shouldn’t include the cost of alcohol in determining the tip amount. That decision, however, is up to you.

* House cleaners -- Many suggest $25 to $50, a day’s pay or a gift of equal value. If you use a service that sends a different house cleaner each time, this may not be necessary, unless you ask them to do some one-time tasks to help you prepare for the holidays – such as helping unpack and put up decorations; a deep cleaning before a party, etc.

* Babysitters, nannies and childcare providers -- For babysitters, the recommendation is a gift at the holidays from your kids, plus one or two nights pay. For a full-time nanny, one to four weeks’ pay plus a small gift from your kids is appropriate. For standard childcare providers, a gift at the holidays and $25 to $75 each. This may not be appropriate for some pre-kindergarten child care/education providers. Check with the manager of the facility to see what’s appropriate, which may be a small gift from your kids.

* Contractors you use year-round (such as yard workers, handymen, etc.) -- A tip of $20 to $50 may be in order.

* Mail carriers and daily paperboy -- Though the U.S. Postal Service frowns on gratuities and gifts for mail carriers, authorities request that the gift or gratuity be $20 or less. For daily newspaper delivery, a holiday tip of $15 to $25 is appropriate.

I'm one of those people you hate.

I start Christmas shopping in the summer. I have most of my presents wrapped by Veterans Day (sick I know, but I don't think I can wrap, send Christmas cards and bake at the same time). I usually have my "early" holiday decorations up right after Thanksgiving and the tree is up the first Sunday in December.

But this year is different. I started a new job, scheduled an away vacation right before Thanksgiving (who does that?) and I just lost track of time.

So when you're under the proverbial holiday scheduling gun, how do you get to all this stuff and still maintain sanity? Or is that not an option? Do any of you normal people -- who are just starting to tackle your holiday list now-- have any advice?

Thanks.