(BPT) - That time of year is almost here - pro football championship Sunday. According to the National Chicken Council’s 2012 Wing Report, the big game is the second biggest eating holiday after Thanksgiving. With the big game comes big prep and cleanup.

My family has this non-negotiable Christmas tradition. Many of them, actually, but this one in particular sets the story. Every year, we clear our respective schedules and gather ‘round the Christmas tree on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We blast our Christmas playlist as—one by one—we hang ornaments from the boughs of our tree. The kids and I absolutely love the tradition because it gives us a chance to reminisce over Christmases past as we unwrap layer after layer of bubble wrap to uncover a pajama-clad Santa or a sparkly twirling ballerina or even a fragile depiction of the White House that we picked up the year we visited Washington D.C. My husband is not quite as fond of decorating the tree, seeing as he is responsible for overseeing the little kids as they attempt to hang our very breakable glass ornaments from boughs high and low. I know he stresses out about it, but it gets easier as the years go on. In fact, this year I was the only one to break an ornament. There’s more to it than the Tannenbaum, though; our traditional tree decorating night wouldn’t be complete without steaming mugs of hot chocolate. This single tradition is the one that officially kicks off our holiday season, but it’s far from the only one we adhere to.

(BPT) - For many, the holiday period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s means family get-togethers, rich food and good times. But it can also mean heartburn.

(StatePoint) From battling crowds and braving the weather to re-gifting and returns, holiday shopping can be stressful. A recent survey commissioned by Groupon, a daily deal website, found that 60 percent of respondents consider “finding the right gift” a top giving challenge.

Another successful year! For the past 10 years Sunny Side Up Cafe has been delivering Thanksgiving dinner to all the Golder Ranch Fire Stations so that the on duty staff can enjoy their holiday dinner. We sincerely appreciate all they do for our community.

This morning when I woke up and seen that it was going to be a chilly 63 in Tucson, I thought it would be the perfect day to make a little ham and bean soup and use up that leftover ham bone that is in the freezer from Thanksgiving.

If you’re looking for a fresh and convenient way to celebrate the holidays, it might be a good time to consider a getaway with the whole family. Choosing a holiday-friendly destination can add an extra element of fun to your holiday get-together, and allow everyone to relax and enjoy each other since nobody needs to host.

(BPT) - At this busy time of year, it’s often difficult to get a meal on the table, especially if you’re multitasking between other priorities around the home. Consider including turkey burgers in your dinner menus - it’s a great way to add protein and create a delicious and convenient meal without having to be tied to your kitchen for hours.  

Whether shoppers went online, or faced the large crowds at the stores, retailers say the 2012 holiday season is off to a good start with Black Friday sales reporting some of the best ever.

There was a lot of talk before Black Friday, or Grey Thursday about Walmart workers walking out in protest. In the end, some of them did, but with so few actually having the courage to stand up to the retail giant, USA Today reported that the strikes had little, or no impact, on the bottom line.

Thanksgiving came a day early for members of Marana’s Senior Program. Thirty volunteer cooks and servers dished out food Wednesday to 75 people during the Town’s Gobble ’Til You Wobble lunch at the Marana Senior Center.

The men’s basketball team (5-3) outscored Team Sweeney 61-44 in the second half in its 101-77 win on Saturday in the final day of the Thanksgiving Tournament at the West Campus’ Aztec Gym. Pima had six players score in double figures.

 The men’s basketball team (4-3) couldn’t close it out in overtime on Friday as it lost 103-98 to the Westwind Prep (post grad) team as part of the Thanksgiving Tournament at the West Campus’ Aztec Gym.

The men’s basketball team (4-3, 1-1 in conference) dropped a tough one at Arizona Western 76-69 on Wednesday in Yuma. The Aztecs trailed 36-28 at halftime.

Happy Thanksgiving! This year, as I list the things I am thankful for, this fitness challenge is at the top of my list! I am thankful for the opportunity that Anytime Fitness and my trainer Zach have provided. Most of all, I am thankful for how good I feel!

Tenth-ranked Arizona is used to working on a different schedule than most of the country.

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Sun Tran buses will operate on a Sunday schedule and Sun Shuttle or Sun Express routes will not be in operation on Thursday, November 22, in observance of Thanksgiving Day.

The Arizona Highway Patrol Association (AHPA) has some advice for all drivers over the Thanksgiving holiday- BE CAREFUL!  According to the Department of Public Safety (DPS), one crash occurs every five seconds.  Because of budget cuts and less overtime, fewer officers are on the road responding to increased holiday calls for service. 

Residents of Northwest Tucson now have a unique outdoor shopping experience available with the Earth Made Farmer’s Market, located at The Highlands at Dove Mountain.

The northwest side of Tucson has its share of wonderful restaurants, and many readers frequent these “good eats” spots ranging from Indian to Mexican and everything in between. Whether you enjoy eating out or cooking Thanksgiving dinner at home, a broken tooth can really put a damper on a wonderful meal.

As most people have been preparing for a Thanksgiving meal where they sit down with family and loved ones, Oro Valley resident Tiffany Lamb has been building up her strength and flexibility for jumping out of a plane over Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 

The holiday season is arriving fast, and just as quickly, local food banks and charities are collecting large sums of food to help needy families heading into Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

(BPT) - When you’re looking for a job, the holidays may seem like a time to take a break. But if you do, you may miss the employment opportunity you’ve been waiting for. Why is the off season of job searching actually a hidden opportunity to become employed?