Atlantic City Weekly

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I recently wrote about the great feelings of being with family and how you can uplift your spirit by giving back to the community, but there is a negative side to the holiday season that we all know about.

I was inspired to write this column from a caption my friend Jen had on a Facebook picture: “Shopping at the mall during the holiday season...SCARY. Fighting over the last item on the shelf...CHILDISH. Keeping a smile on my face [and] the X-mas spirit...PRACTICE. Getting home [and] hanging myself with an oversized candy cane...PRICELESS!!!”

Does that sound familiar to anyone? I laughed when I saw that because it is probably the way most of us feel. We may not want to admit it, but we sure know that when it comes to buying gifts we tend to procrastinate. And when we procrastinate we rush to the stores at the last minute, and when we rush to the store that’s when we start to get a little crazy.

First there’s road rage. I mean seriously, you can’t go near a mall without getting cut off by someone. Just a few days ago some guy decided to pull out in front of two lanes of traffic and then got stuck because he was too close to a stopped car trying to make a left, so he held up everyone. Second, there are frantic shoppers. This is totally crazy. People are going at each other trying to get the last of certain items. My friend said it right when he told me, “I don’t understand it when people say that the holidays are sneaking up on us.”

He is so right, it’s not like they suddenly fall at a surprising time of year. So really you should have plenty of time allotted to buy gifts. I mean you can shop online now just as easy, if not easier, than getting in the car and going to the mall. During this “joyful” time of year, we sure are stressed. But we have to put on a happy face for our family. Especially now in this economy where, unfortunately, many local workers have been laid off and there is less income in the household. We all want to please our loved ones with great gifts, and when we can’t provide we feel bad. However, like I wrote in my last column, personalized gifts are preferred by most, so something handmade or something with thought may just be the ticket to having a guilt-free holiday. And please people, stay away from the oversized candy canes.

Whitney’s Radar

This week is Christmas and it will be quiet in the area, but there are still some great places to go on Christmas Day if you don’t celebrate Christmas or even if you and the family want to go out after your holiday routine.

I know that the hubby and I usually go to the Chinese buffet and then the movies. The cheesy movies typically come out that day, but good thing I like those kind. I’m hoping to see It’s Complicated with Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. Can’t go wrong, right? I know that hubby is not looking forward to that, but hey, you got to take the good with the bad.

Then during the week it will be time to start planning for New Year’s Eve. I know that the Tropicana is having 12 hot parties and a live DJ in The Quarter. Tracy Morgan will be at the Borgata and at the Taj you can check out Jerry Blavat’s New Year’s Eve Celebration. If those options don’t tickle your fancy then maybe you can check out Harrah’s for the Jimmy Eat World show. Not to mention there are many local restaurants that are having specials for this exciting evening. I know I am torn between a house party and a casino party. Either way I know that I will have a fun but responsible evening; please make sure you do the same. I wish you all a happy, healthy, and safe holiday and new year!

Dishing out advice on various topics to our female readers on issues related to networking, dating, employment, news, events, shopping and much more. She is the current president of the Greater Atlantic City Jaycees and owner of My Jewels by Whitney.