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By: Jenny Podushko

Being a FOX 5 News Anchor, do you have to work during the holidays?
Because news is 24/7 we do work holidays, and I’ve missed many dinners with my family. But, they try to spread the pain. This year I was off Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, but am working Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. It all makes for interesting holidays, often my family would come to me when I worked in smaller markets. One year, when I was working in Rochester New York we celebrated at an Ethiopian restaurant, while the staff was nice, but the food was horrible and my brother and sisters still complain about our far from festive feast.

If you are sitting with the family and you get word that a big story is about to break, do you have to get up at the moment and go to work?
It really depends on the nature of the story and how big it is. If something as terrible as 9/11 or a major plane crash happened, everyone would be expected to call and rush in. But, most times the station is well enough staffed the crews on duty can handle the crises.

What is your favorite childhood holiday memory?
My uncle Joe dressing up as Santa and handing out gifts from his sack, for years we had no idea it was him. Simply the best. Also, My family would go to a charity event where they handed out funny hats, and we’d all wear them after and take increasingly sillier pictures. One of the funniest was taken by a toll both operator, who clearly thought we were a car full of happy nerds.

 

What is the one dish you can not go without during this season?
I’m a big Thanksgiving fan- lots of food and love, none of the stress of the shopping. So, I love turkey and cranberry sauce. But, I cherish new traditions and surprises too. It’s fun to visit friends and have their favorites especially if they’re from other countries and backgrounds.

 

What was the one gift you received, that blew you away? who was the one who gave you that gift?
My husband proposed to me at St Patrick’s Cathedral Christmas day 4 years ago. I wasn’t expecting it at all. He went up for communion and when he came back he was clearly emotional, and tugged me in the pew close to him. In front of my whole family he asked me to marry him and I burst into tears, I’d never been more surprised or happy in my life.

 

Do you have an advice on what you feel the best gift to give is?
I like time the best, when my husband promises to do something with me I know he really doesn’t want to do. The thought really does count- the best gifts are the ones you get or make with the person in mind. Being a new mom I try to get my friends all the things I loved best that made my life easier, or really cute items from off the beaten path.

We here at TBO Designs, Inc support the troops and have a lot of them as subscibers. Do you have any holiday wishes you would like to relay to all of the wonderful men and women overseas, at home and veterans?
My husband’s father was a world war 2 veteran, and Brian’s greatest role model and friend. He is so proud of his service and misses him dearly. We have the deepest respect for all the men and women who wear our uniform. Our family is so appreciative and grateful to all the troops overseas. We thank them for their sacrifice and hard work, especially during the holidays and pray for them always.

By Jenny Podushko
I’m an avid online shopper; I prefer it to shopping off line, because well there are no lines! It’s quick, easy and usually pretty reliable. I have never had any problems with any online retailers! I still don’t have a problem with any of them; but one, BUY.COM. I’ve shopped on their website before, but usually for simple merchandise like DVD’s and small gifts, usually nothing over $50.00 at a time and usually the product arrives and I don’t have any issues.

Cyber Monday came about and I received an intriguing e-mail from buy.com, claiming they are having major sales on electronics! Usually I ignore these e-mails but I had my fingers crossed that I would see a good mp3 player on that list because about two weeks ago mine stopped working after a good 3 years – Low and behold!!! I see the exact MP3 player I wanted to purchase from Best Buy for $250.00, the Creative Zen: M series. Buy.com was offering a refurbished Creative Zen: M series, 30GB MP3 player for $99.00! I immediately decided I had to get it, before it sells out.

I waited a little over one week and received my new MP3 player, I was psyched; turned it on and began uploading my music and pictures! Everything worked and looked good; that is until, the next day – I tried to turn it on so I could continue uploading songs, but it wouldn’t turn on. I knew that I charged it to the max when I first got it, so the battery wasn’t dead – but I decided to try charging it again, but when I put the charger into the device, no lights came on, which I found odd. I left it for an hour or so and nothing, I kept trying everything and nothing worked, so as one would imagine I was pissed off.

I logged into my account on buy.com and clicked on “help” so I could find a customer support number. Guess what? There was no customer support number! Only an e-mail system – FINE, so I sent them an e-mail, 15 times with no responses. I started to get annoyed so I went on google and did a search to see if I could find a number for them, instead I found a few blog’s where bloggers were complaining of the same issues and that they found a number, but it directed them to buy.com customer service in India and all of the sales rep’s they would speak to were no help at all. But I still had to try and contact them; I thought I might have better luck! But I guess not because I spent 3.5hrs on hold once, until I got tired of no one picking up, then for another 1.5, then 2hrs later that day when I tried again. So I went back to the blog’s and found a corporate number for them in the USA.

I finally got through to someone on the buy.com corporate number – to only be told buy.com can not exchange or refund me that I have to call the manufacturer. Lesson learned, never buy from buy.com – they sell you a product, if it’s a defective item or you need to contact them, they make sure you have to work hard to find a number; it’s interesting how they try to hide their customer support number, no one responds with their email system – my whole experience was horrible. Now I am sitting here, waiting to reach someone at Creative in the hopes that they could help me, if not – I’m stuck with a broken MP3 Player, $106.00 gone forever and will have to end up buying a new player.

So, for anyone out there, a word of advice: NEVER BUY, FROM BUY.COM, because if you do and something goes wrong, consider the money you spent – gone for good.

By: Lydia Shteyn

Rockefeller Center Tree
In 1931, during the great depression, workers of a muddy construction site, which now houses the Rockefeller Center, came together and placed the very first Christmas tree which began the yearly tradition. The following years to come the Rockefeller tree was bejeweled with lights and in 1936 opened the first Rockefeller Plaza Outdoor Ice-Skating rink. Although darkened for three years during World War II, the lights came back on in 1945 to celebrate the cease of war, and never went dim since. In 1964, the annual tree lighting ceremony became a television special, full of celebrity hosts, unforgettable performances and a ton of holiday spirit. The lighting takes part after Thanksgiving and the lights go off following the New Year. Exciting for adults and children, with many shops and activities surrounding the tree to enjoy.

 

Decorated Window Displays

New York is famous for its magnificently decorated, high end, department store window decorations. During the holiday season, typically beginning around Thanksgiving, stores such as Macy’s Herald Square, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor and Bloomingdales all unveil their own unique displays which attract a ton of interest and excitement for locals and tourists alike. The windows are adorned with different delightful themes each year, and are a blast for the little ones to admire! The best time to grab your camera and witness the magic is during typical work hours due to overcrowding after 5pm.

Barney’s Holiday
660 Madison Avenue (at 61st Street)
212-826-8900
Barney’s usually offers irreverent and whimsical takes on the holiday season.

Bergdorf Goodman
754 Fifth Avenue (at 58th Street)
1-800-558-1855
Bergdorf offers a more traditional take on the holiday season. They are right around the corner from Barney’s so make sure to compare!

Bloomingdale’s Holiday Windows
1000 Third Avenue at 59th Street
212-705-2000

Lord & Taylor Holiday Windows
39th Street at 5th Avenue
212-391-3344

Macy’s Holiday Windows
Herald Square, Broadway between 34th and 35th Streets
212-695-4400

Saks Fifth Avenue Holiday Windows
611 Fifth Avenue
212-753-4000

New Years Eve Ball Drop1904 market the very first New Years Eve celebration in Times Square. The main focus of the celebration was the Times Tower, at the intersection of 7th Avenue, Broadway and 42nd Street, and at the time, was Manhattan’s second tallest building. The celebration was attended by over 200,000 people and featured a breathtaking fireworks display. The fireworks were banned two years later, but in 1907, New York Times owner Alfred Ochs arranged to have a lighted ball drop from a flagpole on what is now known as One Times Square Plaza. After a century, the tradition of the ever changing crystal ball has evolved once again. On October 4, 2007, a new LED Crystal Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball was unveiled. The new ball was introduced to mark the 100th year anniversary of the ball drop on New Years Eve and promises to be the best and brightest to date. The new ball is now on display on the main floor of Macy’s Herald Square, where you can take spectacular pictures right in front of it.

 

Although standing for countless hours in the midst of Times Square on a typically cold night isn’t exactly inviting, the energy and excitement of the crowd surpasses the downside. It is one of the most romantic ways to spend New Years Eve with your sweetheart, and definitely an unforgettable experience. Times Square attracts millions of people that night, therefore arriving early and holding a comfortable spot is recommended for a pleasurable and full view of the festivities.

By Lydia Shteyn
“Apologize” is a very moving ballad produced by the unexpected Timbaland who typically tampers with Hip Hop and R&B tracks. The song was originally released from a group by the name of OneRepublic in 2006 but became successful when it hit the #1 spot on the Billboards Pop 100 chart due to Timbaland’s intervention. According to the band’s Myspace site, the song “explores the personal pain of multiple relationships gone awry and the necessity of moving on”. Although many can relate to the pain of heartbreak, “Apologize” can be appreciated by just about anyone who is in the mood for an amazing slow tune. Timbaland is associated with mainly Hip Hop, but don’t be afraid to give it a chance, this song can be enjoyed by everyone and any age group, as it is very diverse and rather calming.

By: Lydia Shteyn

So you’re looking to buy your sweetheart or wife something unexpected for the holiday season? When it comes to picking out cosmetics for your special someone, men may be clueless of where to begin finding a perfect shade or brand for the woman they love. Women are very particular of what they choose to apply to their face; therefore my personal recommendation is to shy away from buying expensive cosmetic gifts with the expectation of actually getting it right. Take it from a girl whose ex-boyfriend once bought her a surprise gift box containing green and blue eye shadows fit for an adolescent child; great gesture, but all it did was collect dust. If you’re still convinced that you want to take the makeup route and impress your woman, there are a few suggestions I can provide which may lead you in the right direction.

If at all possible, it is good to be familiar with and take note of the makeup products your sweetie already uses. Does she meddle with bright colors, or is she an earth toned kind of girl? Do you notice her in lipstick or just a simple day to day gloss? What sort of brands does she pull out of her purse for a quick touch up? If you recognize Christian Dior, Chanel, MAC, Estée Lauder or Clinique, your best bet is to voyage to a nearby Sephora, Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue or Bloomingdales makeup counter, where you will find all those familiar brands. If you identify her using Cover Girl, Maybelline, Revlon or Neutrogena, you’re safe to find something that fits in a regular pharmacy, such as Rite Aid or CVS. My personal suggestion is always going the big department store path if you aim to impress.

If you’re clueless as to what your favorite girl uses yet still insist on shocking her with a gift of cosmetics, then brace yourself, there are a few simple rules you might want to affix to in order to assure your present won’t be a waste of money. First and foremost, never, ever buy bright outrageous colors which include any reds, purples, greens and blues. Keep your selections in neutral tones such as, but not limited to, light pink, beige, cream, light brown and subtle gold. Anything neutral can be worn for all occasions, work well with many skin tones and guarantees use. A gift box from Christian Dior or Chanel which includes a few essential pieces is a wonderful idea, utilize it, and talk to a salesperson if you’re unsure!

You also might want to take into consideration whether or not your significant other actually uses makeup at all. Some women may prefer to only use a bit of mascara and lip gloss, therefore buying her an entire set of cosmetics isn’t a productive idea. Everyone loves MAC’s LipGlass and DiorShow Mascara in black; if you’re still itching to buy her something, you can’t go wrong with these suggestions especially if included among other gifts. Stay away from purchasing foundations and concealers because finding a shade to match her skin perfectly is a science of its own.

Last, but not least: do not let a salesperson talk you into buying a gift box with perfumed lotions. It’s in fact a very taboo and tacky gift idea, and there is a good chance that your girlfriend or wife may be allergic to such chemically condensed fragrances and she is far likely to own a lotion she uses daily and enjoys. Keep it simple and you’re sure to astound your girl with whatever you decide to purchase!

Ideas:
Clarins Precious Colours Christmas Make-Up Palette $35.00
Collection Essentielle De Chanel Multi-Use Makeup Palette $85.00
NARS Deep Throat Blush & Striptease Lip Gloss Set $45.00

By: Lydia Shteyn

So many holiday parties yet so little time and energy to shop for every occasion. There’s a holiday celebration at your office, a family event or two, a night on the town with the girls, and of course, the New Years Eve extravaganza! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to utilize just one perfect dress for every circumstance and not spend your life savings on multiple outfits? Wonderful it would be, but unfortunately nearly impossible, because: Gasp! You can’t be seen in the same outfit twice. I’ve searched high and low for beautiful possibilities for every budget and figure, and put together ideas for ladies who don’t have the time or vigor to search for the perfect holiday dresses.
In my quest to figure out the best cut dress for my hourglass stature, I’ve ended up coming to a conclusion that a baby doll cut never works, and surprised to find out that a figure hugging knee length dress actually looks amazing. Of course, when you’re feeling a little on the hefty side you can make use of Spanx, or my favorite, the Donna Karan “Body Perfect Collection” mid thigh, control shorts. These shapers can be worn undetected under the tightest dresses and will pull and contour you in all the right places so you instantly appear to have lost up to 10lbs.

Remembering what flatters your figure is most important. If you’re sporting a thin waistline but a little heavier thigh, a baby doll dress is a sure way to balance out your problem area. Under no circumstance should you wear a baby doll dress to try and cover up a little tummy pooch; you may end up looking several months pregnant without actually being pregnant. Girls with larger mid-sections can comfortably disguise them by wearing wrap dresses; they’re incredibly stylish right now and retail for any budget, from the original Diane Von Furstenberg to the inexpensive Joyce Leslie. For ladies with larger hips, a surprising, curve hugging garment works amazing for balancing out the figure. No matter how many events you have booked for the holiday season, you’re sure to wow the crowd with any of these suggestions.
Dresses for Every Budget & Body Type:

Waist Slimming

Eliza J Satin Ruffle-Trim Dress with Bow $141.75 or Get the look for less:

Isaac Mizrahi for Target® Taffeta Extravaganza Dress $49.99

Lurex Animal Print Mock Neck Dress $178.00

Ruffled 3/4 Sleeve Dress $22.80

 

Camouflaging Large Hips

Curvy jersey rhinestone dress $119.00

Paneled Halter Dress $159.00

Ruched Tube Dress $88.00

 

Creating Curves

Gold Shirred Cocktail Dress $129.00

Wool Silk-Trim Sweater Dress $119.00

 

Thigh Slimming

Charmeuse Twist Bust Pleated Bubble Dress $158.00

Chiffon Halter Dress $32.80

 

Perfect Holiday Dresses which flatters most figures

All Over Stretch Black Sequin Dress $318.00 or

or Get the look for less:

Sequin One Shoulder Dress $26.50

Jovovich-Hawk Zoe Dress $527.00

By: Lydia Shteyn

1. New York City is one of the most spectacular places to visit during the holidays, therefore I don’t blame all the tourists who flock here specifically during the season, but when I’m rushing on the sidewalk trying to get to a specific location on time, PLEASE move out of my way! I understand the skyscrapers are awe-inspiring, but can you watch where you’re walking? If it isn’t the west side highway, keep the traffic moving at a steady pace people!

 

2. Snow used to be so much fun as a kid, sledding, snowball fights, building snowmen. When you grow up, a blizzard always seems to catch you by surprise when your hair is done and you’re rushing to a hot party in your 5 inch stilettos. What gives?!

 

3. Why is it that every holiday season, cable channels always replay the same old boring classic movies? I’ve been given the wonderful opportunity to watch “A Christmas Story” every year since I was old enough to watch TV. I get it, you shouldn’t stick a tongue to a frozen pole! Is it possible to move on and air something new??

by Jenny Podushko
‘The good ole’ days!

Remember those days, not to long ago? The ones where you printed photographs? I’m not even trying to take you too far back – like to the days when you had to walk to a photo kiosk and hand in film and wait to get prints of your photos? I’m only asking you to think back to the days when you unloaded your digital photos to your desktop and set them up to print on your special photo printer! Now that we have that process behind us, we need to remember that with the technology out there, we can turn any photo we take into a masterpiece and then into a perfect gift. TBO Designs, Inc specializes in turning your photos from ordinary to extraordinary! For a small fee, you can use the TBO Designs Digital Photo Studio as a great gift idea. Why wait in crazy lines? Why give yourself a headache thinking of the perfect gift to give to the one who has it all? When all you need is a photo that was remastered and a perfect way to showcase it, gift wrap it and then it’s ready to be someone’s special gift!!

Here are some ideas that I’ll be using this year! And if it interests you, you can check out the rates and samples from the Digital Photo Studio by clicking here.

The collage frame, great idea!

So, it’s almost Christmas and I didn’t know what to get my in-laws, they pretty much have everything they need and well with a new baby I couldn’t afford to buy anything big. So after some brainstorming I told my husband that I could restore and remaster his parents wedding photo, as well as the photos of his great grandparents and his childhood photos. Then I bought a collage frame, where I then placed the finished photos, creating a lovely and memorable family frame. You can find one of these frames at any store, I got mine at target (pictured) the outcome was beautiful and I can not wait to see the looks on the faces of the recipients! Buy this exact frame here.

Enter the digital era!

Now, what to give the husband who has everything he needs? Especially when you can not afford a big plasma TV? We’ll we’ve already wrapped up a beautiful frame for his parents, I thought about doing the same for him but he likes digital products more anyway and he just can not get enough of the baby photos we printed for his wallet – so? How can we get him the perfect gift? By getting him a digital photo keychain! It’s not as expensive as the larger digital frames, but it’s compact, mobile and it can store up to 60 photos! I bought mine online at Drugstore.com (pictured) but you can get one anywhere! I know he will just love it, now he can take 60 photos everywhere he goes, instead of 3! Buy this exact digital keychain here.

I hope this provides a great idea for those last minute shoppers! Put a smile on someone’s face, without putting a hole through your wallet! Try out the Digital Photo Studio over at TBOdesigns.com and then buy an affordable frame OR digital frame.