When's the Last Day to Mail Christmas Presents?

Take note of these holiday shipping deadlines, and plan accordingly.

Time is running out for holiday gift and card shipping through the U.S. Postal Service. Mail parcels and packages by Dec. 14 for parcel post delivery by Christmas, and cards by Dec. 21, the post office's blog advises. If you miss those days, though, you're still OK—as long as you're fine with paying a little extra. Here are the absolute-last-day deadlines to keep in mind, according to the U.S. Postal Service's holiday calendar: One more date to keep in mind is Monday, Dec. 17: Traditionally, the post office's "busiest day is ... the Monday before Christmas as people mail cards and packages they prepared over the weekend," The Huffington Post reported last year. A good way to cut down on time spent waiting in line is to order your holiday …

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Handcrafted Holiday Gifts are Not Just for Kids

Sculpt, paint and design your own gift in Montgomery County.

While holiday spending is expected to remain level or even to increase slightly compared to 2011, many people are looking for ways to reduce the impact on their wallets or the environment by buying gifts at thrift or secondhand stores. Handcrafted gifts are another alternative to traditional holiday gifting (and they're not just for kids anymore). Businesses at which one may paint one's own pottery, fuse a glass sculpture, design a piece of beaded jewelry or even stuff a plush toy animal are located all over Maryland, including Montgomery County. *** Learn how to make your own beaded jewelry: Rockville: Accents Beads, 12112 Nebel St., Rockville, MD 20852 Silver Spring: The Bead Warehouse, 2740 Garfield Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910 Takoma …

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Bethesda Patch Holiday Survival Guide

When the shopping gets tough, we’ve got the ideas to keep your gift-giving on track.

How to Track Down the Hottest Toys

Tips for getting the presents they want without having to hoof it from Chevy Chase to the North Pole.

Santa’s awesome, but he doesn’t always deliver the hottest toys of the season on demand, no matter how nicely we ask. If the kids—or wannabe kids—in your life happen to have their hearts set on presents that are hard to come by, it can be torturous running from store to store only to find what they really want just isn’t available. Whether your little girl has her sights on the latest Lalaloopsy, your son wants a Hot Wheels R/C Terrain Twister or that “big baby” in your life is yearning for a copy of Halo 4, here are some ideas on how to track down what’s in demand without putting miles and miles on your vehicle in the process: Shopping Tips If you hate ordering online and love the gratification of being able to hold the present you’re …

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Chevy Chase Shopping: Something for Everyone

Holiday shoppers have much to choose from in Chevy Chase.

The holiday shopping season is here, and Chevy Chase—with its wide variety of stores—is a great place to find gifts for everyone on your list. Here's a list of some of Chevy Chase's businesses, organized by category: Gifts: Art: For the kids: For the chefs: For the bookworms: Clothing: Top shelf: Restaurants (for gift certificates):

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SPEAK OUT: Do You Plan to Spend More Money this Holiday Season?

How will your finances affect your holiday spending?

Two-thirds of respondents to a recent poll by the NPD Group said they “plan to spend about the same” as last year, while 10 percent planned to “spend more.” With the economy and job situation still in flux for many families, we want to know what families in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County plan to do for Christmas, Hanukah, or Kwanzaa gifts in 2012. Will you be more creative with your gifting? Use sites like Groupon, Living Social, etc? Brave Black Friday sales? Cook or bake for familty and friends?

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Jenni Pompi

2:33 pm on Monday, November 19, 2012

We are budgeting for slightly more than last year, but not much.   more ›

Go Wild With Your Holiday Shopping at the National Zoo

Support animal care, science and research with these great gift options.

  Do some good for yourself, your family and friends and the animal kingdom by doing your holiday shopping at the National Zoo this year. For the kids: Bring home plush versions of Crystal or Cody, the zoo’s gray wolves with these realistic 16” renditions of the popular canines for just $20. Colorful owl or butterfly-themed purses are always in style and sure to be a hit with the girls in your life. Each version features working zippers, an inside pocket and a 10” strap for $22. For the animals: Show your favorite zoo animal how much you care by purchasing one of these great enrichment toys. You can either purchase items on the zoo’s online store, or visit the Enrichment Giving Tree to find out what’s on their wish list and you can drop it…

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Artsy Finds for Last-Minute Holiday Shopping

Fine Arts & Crafts at Glen Echo Park Holiday Art Show & Sale

  Procrastinators fear not!  You can still pick out the perfect gifts for those tough-to-shop-for people on your list at Glen Echo Park Partnership’s annual Holiday Art Show & Sale.  Thoughtfully open through January 8 (in case you’ve forgotten someone or want to pick up a little “post-holiday happy” treat for yourself), the show and sale features gifty glass, ceramics, jewelry, photography, paintings and more, all representing the Park’s major visual arts organizations: Art Glass Center at Glen Echo, Glen Echo Glassworks, Yellow Barn Studio & Gallery, Glen Echo Pottery, SilverWorks and Photoworks.  Among the items featured: Animal Attractions  For a child or the child within, watercolor collages of friendly elephant or monkey faces, in …

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Harmonious Home

Holiday Gift Guide: Amber Fields Interiors

Unique and elegant holiday gifts at reasonable prices

Over the years, I have lost a bit of my holiday spirit when it came to shopping. It just became one more thing on the to do list. After spending a good part of  an afternoon at Amber Fields Interiors, a furniture and decorating store, my awe of the season has been restored. Located in Chevy Chase, 7013 Brookville Road, in the shopping area of Martin's Additions, you feel the beauty and elegance from the moment you walk in the store. The warmth of the store is extended through the owner, Karen Marvaso and manager, Jenny Riffle who walked me through one holiday gift inspiration after another. 

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