Are you prepared for your holiday shopping? Black Friday and Cyber Monday are coming up, and we've got some tips so you can easily shop for those bargains!

• Before you do anything, make a list. If it's not on your list, no matter how great the discount, you're not saving anything by making an impulse buy. If you’re thinking about purchases beyond your gift list - for example you KNOW you’ll need a new computer monitor in the spring - then by all means, add it to your shopping list. But otherwise, don't buy a monitor just because it's on sale.
• Find out what the regular purchase price is for each item on your list, including shipping costs if applicable. A little bit of research on Google shopping will tell you the price at most stores, so you’ll know if the sales price is good or not.
• Sign up for sales alerts from your favorite stores. If you're opposed to getting all those emails, then obtain a new email account dedicated to promotional deals.
• Check out the social media pages for your favorite retailers. They often publish special sales.
• Some of the best information about discounts can be found on sites like BlackFriday.com or forums like FatWallet.com. 
• Make careful note of the timetable for sales. Some Black Friday sales start as early as Thanksgiving Day, and some are limited to only a few hours.

With a little research and preparation, you should be able to get your shopping out of the way in order to spend the rest of the holiday weekend with your family.

Happy bargain hunting!

What does it mean to be an American? It’s not simply a love of our homeland. It's almost like being a member of a large family, where all our parents tell us that we have to look out for each other, and that our dreams will come true if we just work hard enough.

Going out to vote on Election Day is one of the ways we keep our American family together. Voting means that we have a voice in how our communities are being helped as well as issues that affect us personally, like reproductive rights or discrimination laws. Being an American of legal voting age means we are responsible for the rest of our family.

Of course, there are many of us who feel that voting is a chore - not unlike having to cook dinner for the family. But it's important to remember that voting is a privilege that generations of Americans struggled to win, and that there are people in other countries who are still fighting for that right.

And speaking of fighting, there are about 22 million members of our American family - our brothers and sisters, our sons and daughters, our mothers and fathers - who are veterans of our armed forces. These family members go out into the world, risking life and limb to keep us safe. These are the people who enable us to continue to call our country “the home of the brave.”

November means that we honor our family, our fellow Americans, by going to the polls, and taking the time to thank our veterans, either with a handshake or volunteering. This is what it means to be in our family - to insure our families are taken care of now and in the future.

Does the thought of holiday shopping leave you with that not-so-merry feeling? Here are some tips that can help save you time, money, and stress this holiday season:

• Santa's done it for years, and so should you: make a list. Decide early what your budget will be and who your gift recipients will be. Consider what gift(s) you'd like each person or family to receive from you. The best presents are usually the ones you think about ahead of time.
• Decide which retailers you'd like to deal with for your holiday shopping and sign up for their newsletters, apps, and/or text alerts. You'll receive notifications of sales, and often obtain a new customer discount, too.
• When you do find an online coupon, be prepared at the checkout - either print it beforehand, or have a screenshot on your phone that you can display. No sense in being confronted with no internet service at the checkout line.
• Team up with a friend or family member for your shopping - share in legwork and research, take advantage of splitting the costs of any buy-one-get-one deals, etc.
• Don't forget the incidentals like gift wrap. Save money by buying in bulk with others, or make your own from newspaper, boxes or some other unusual items.

Most holiday shopping nightmares come from waiting until the last minute. Think about it this way: would you rather be relaxing with family and friends on Christmas Eve or driving around desperately hoping the local stores are still open. The holiday headache you save may be your own.

If you'll be attending a Halloween get-together, need to bring a treat to an office party or just want to surprise your family, here are some of the strangest and/or cutest Halloween fare the internet has to offer:

• Appetizers are always popular at parties, and these are some of the eeriest! Try some Halloweeno Jalapeno Popper Mummies, or Graveyard Taco Dip or everyone's favorite, Deviled Green Goblin Eggs.
• If you'll be partying with some little vampires, make their day with some Blood Drip Cupcakes. Children and adults alike will adore these Monster Strawberry Cupcakes.
• No Halloween party is complete without some....odd treats. The kids will shriek with terror before diving into some Jello Blood Worms, or Bloody Severed Fingers. 
• Craving brains for your holiday menu? You're covered with these Pork Dumplings with Chili-Sesame Sauce, or this oh-so-yummy Brain Dip.
• Cheese Ball Monsters will totally rule any celebration, but adults might appreciate a more classic Great White Pumpkin Cheese Ball.
• Mummy Mini Pizzas and Halloween Top Ramen are great ways to involve the kids in cooking—and might get them to eat their veggies!
• No need to go thirsty with these crazy recipes—how about serving up a nice cup of Witch-Brewed Cider with Shrunken Apple Heads?
• Gluten free? No problem. Check out these 9 gluten free Halloween recipes.

Halloween only comes once a year, so make it a memorable one!

There’s a computer technician working on your favorite machine in the gym, and your trusty biometrics app once again needs to be reinstalled. If your workout routine has gotten a little too technological lately, why not take a step back in time?

Hiking is one of the oldest forms of exercise, and with crisp air and glorious fall colors, autumn is the perfect time. With that in mind, here are some safety tips to make sure your fall hikes stay injury-free:

• The days are shorter now, and darkness comes early. Be sure to plan your hikes accordingly and bring a flashlight.
• Watch weather reports. The fall months can often be unpredictable, and you never know if a warm sunny morning will turn cold and rainy, or even bring snow.
• Dress appropriately. Layers are the key to staying comfortable.
• Make sure your hiking boots have been broken in properly before tackling long hikes. There's no sense in having painful blisters ruin your good time.
• Autumn is also hunting season. Wear something bright and stay away from earth-toned colors as well as brown or black. Also make some noise so that hunters will hear you—whistle, sing, or carry on a conversation.
• Watch out for leaves on the trail. Newly fallen leaves can camouflage the terrain, making navigation difficult. Wet leaves can cause slippery conditions.
• Be careful walking near water, particularly on slippery wet rocks. You may not realize how tired you are until you try to swim to safety, so drowning is a real issue.
• Although the days are cooler, you can still get sunburned. Wear a hat and sunscreen.

A few precautions can make all the difference in your autumn hike—stay safe!

If you're looking for some fall fun, an apple-picking adventure may be just the ticket. But before you head out with your friends or family, it’s time to brush up on some apple trivia!

• An experienced apple picker picks at least six tons per day.
• Apples are 75% water—which makes them a great thirst quencher!
• The tradition of apple bobbing comes from the ancient Celts. During one of their annual celebrations, the first person to bite into an apple floating in the water would be the next to marry.
• Tossing an apple to a girl in ancient Greece was a marriage proposal. Catching it was an acceptance.
• If you ate a different variety of apple each day, it would take you more than 20 years! There are over 7,500 different varieties in the world.
• Apples are part of the rose family, just like plums and pears.
• Apples float because 25% of their volume is air.
• In recipes that call for white wine, you can substitute apple juice.

And speaking of recipes, try one of these!

• Are you a bigger fan of the crust than the fruit? Try these Apple Crumble Bars.
• Doesn't the idea of an Apple Slab Pie sound irresistible? This recipe from Pillsbury has received great reviews.
• And apples aren't just for dessert—why not whip up some Apple and Gouda Grilled Cheese Sandwiches? 
• Need it gluten free? Try this beautiful Gluten Free Apple Tart.

As the old saying goes, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Apples are extremely rich in important antioxidants and dietary fiber. So enjoy one of these tasty fruits today and just send the doc a postcard instead.