Thursday, December 29, 2011
Here's how not to have a "complete and epic fail."
For an example of a “complete and epic fail” in keeping a New Year’s Resolution, Patch thanks Port Washington-Saukville reader Jason Godersky, who told us on Facebook that his 2011 promise to avoid fast food lasted until Jan. 5. “Darn McChickens and Dollar Menu,” he wrote. Undoubtedly, similar stories abound. How to do better in 2012? We asked those who make a living offering such support, “life coaches” in and near various Southeastern Wisconsin Patch Communities. Jamie Durner of BodyMind Coaching in Brookfield recommends spinning your resolution toward the positive — for example, don’t commit to losing weight, commit to running a 5K race. “If you focus on the negative, you want it more and more and more,” Durner said. In addition, she …
Monday, December 26, 2011
Looking for something fun to do locally on New Year's Eve? Patch has you covered.
You've recovered from a massive Christmas dinner, nursed the egg nog hangover and reprogrammed all of your new electronics since the holiday weekend. Now it's time to set your sights on how you're going to ring in the New Year. For a comprehensive New Year's guide to events and parties in Milwaukee, read the Shepherd Express' cover story this week. For some more local ideas, Patch is here to help. Shorewood Bayshore Town Center Fox Point Port Washington
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Scott Walker delivers holiday message during this week's radio address.
- GOVERNMENT
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Saturday, December 24, 2011
The state has partnered with the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association to produce and distribute brief radio address once a week. Audio files and a written transcript of this radio address can be accessed on http://www.wi-broadcasters.org and http://walker.wi.gov/section.asp?linkid=1761&locid=177. To download an mp3 file you can visit http://walker.wi.gov/section.asp?linkid=1761&locid=177, right click the radio address link and click “save link as.” Here is the transcript from this Thursday’s radio address, which is titled Happy Holidays: Hi, this is Scott Walker. About a decade ago, Tonette and I started a wonderful tradition in our household. After opening a few gifts with our sons Matt and Alex, we took a break and helped serve a feast …
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
It's family and food and gifts and food and stockings and food and ....
Christmas is about … love? faith? giving? All of those, perhaps, but when we asked Patch readers for their holiday traditions, the unmistakable theme was … food. Take a minute to read some of the traditions we've received from our readers and share your family's holiday traditions in the comments section below. “In days past (before adopting a more healthy eating lifestyle) my mom would bake her brains out for about two weeks before Christmas,” wrote Nancy Ball Carmody on our Port Washington-Saukville Patch Facebook page. “We would have at LEAST 8 different varieties of cookies. My favorites were her coffee cherry bells … the cut-out, press into a mold, bake, and then elaborately decorate Santas, stars, trees, angels and stockings. … I …
Children and adults are both welcome to participate in this special holiday event.
We're a little more than 24 hours away from our historic LIVE online chat with Santa Claus at 5 p.m. Thursday. Ask him the questions you’ve always wondered — even as an adult — or allow your children to file some urgent last-minute requests. Some of the questions will be answered via video, so there will be no mistaking that Kris Kringle himself is involved. There’s no fee or registration required to participate. Visit the page to enter your email address and receive a reminder to be part of this special, one-hour Patch holiday event. And if you can't be there in person, email your question to milwaukee@patch.com and we'll try to have it answered.
Maps, road conditions, weather forecast and more are available here.
Will you be among the estimated 1.8 million “Sconnies” who plan to travel during the extended holiday season? Here’s what you need to know. AAA Wisconsin reports the average gas price will be $3.23 per gallon, about 90 cents cheaper than the summer. Research local gas prices by clicking the "Traffic & Gas" link in the navigation bar at the top of the page. Winter isn’t expected to bare its teeth for at least the first leg of vacation, making driving reasonable. According to the early forecast from the National Weather Service, Christmas weekend will be sunny with highs hovering around freezing. Don’t forget that on Christmas Day, there’s the not-small matter of a Bears-Packers game at Lambeau Field. That will add to the traffic on highways…
Monday, December 19, 2011
We asked for the biggest flops from beneath the tree, and Patch readers delivered.
We laughed, we winced, we instinctively began to search for a gift receipt. Patch asked you to share the stories of your Worst Christmas Gift Ever on our Facebook pages, and you obliged with some real winners (losers, that is). And if you've got some holiday gift horror stories, it's not too late to share them with us. Just post a comment at the bottom of this story and let us hear your tale of the ugly tie, the sweater you can't bear to take out the closet, or other Christmas gift gaffes. Kristen Kvool Martin, Port Washington: “When I was a kid, probably about 11 or 12, my older brother pulled a pair of my dirty underwear out of my clothes hamper, wrapped it up and gave it to me as a Christmas gift. I eagerly unwrapped it at our family …
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
A guide to volunteering and donating locally this winter.
As you celebrate the people and things you value in your life this holiday season, you might find yourself wishing to give back some of your fortune to your community. Beyond dropping spare change in the red kettle at your local grocery store, there are many ways to act on the holiday spirit of giving. Here are just some of the options. Donate food and clothing Many food pantries are experiencing record numbers of visitors and hoping for an extra boost of giving around the holidays. Cindy Hilgendorf, assistant director of Family Sharing, an Ozaukee County food pantry, said the pantry had a record number of patrons in November and she expects December to be equally busy. She said families are in especially great need of hats and mittens, …
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Group in southeastern Wisconsin helps families in need without ever revealing who they are.
It's a classic tale that most know too well — "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." The green grouch and his dog-made-reindeer slide into town, stuffing Christmas trees and gifts through chimneys and piling the goods on their sleigh, hoping to ruin the Christmas spirit. But it’s not the gifts they receive and the goods that surround them that make the holiday so special to the Whos — something the Grinch himself eventually understands and something that Port Washington resident Jennifer Doonan came to learn overnight herself thanks to the Secret Santa Society. A single mother working full-time to support her son, the Doonan's Christmas was looking pretty grim last year. “Our Christmas was very touch and go — I was concerned on how I would get …
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Patch editors share their favorite Christmas movies that are a must-watch this holiday season.
- HOLIDAY GUIDE
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Sunday, November 27, 2011
Now that Thanksgiving and Black Friday have come and gone, the holidays are officially here. With the shopping, decorations and eggnog also comes Christmas movies. A few of the Waukesha County Patch editors were discussing their favorite holiday movies and decided to share them with you. Here are a few of our favorite Christmas films. Andy Ambrosius, Sussex Patch editor: The Family Stone I love this movie because it's all about bringing your boyfriend/girlfriend home for the first time during the holidays. It's hilarious, the cast is perfect and I think everyone can relate to the drama that goes on within this extended family. I watch it every year! Denise Konkol, Muskego Patch editor: Scrooged Bill Murray and Bobcat Goldthwait are …
Mark Maley
3:26 pm on Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Milwaukee's Winterfest -- being held downtown all week -- also has what sounds like a great New Year's event for the entire family. http://www.milwaukeewinterfest.com more ›