CLASSIC ROCK Q107 » Christmas

When Do You Take Down the Christmas Tree?

Jen Austin — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 13:55:04 +0000

Now that Christmas is over, it's probably time to take down the tree. For most of us anyway. One percent of the population leaves the tree up all year! You know who you are.

How long is too long? Most people take down the tree by early January, and some of us ripped it down as soon as the last present was passed out.

Today is Gift Card Exchange Day

Jen Austin — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 18:47:50 +0000

Gift cards are more popular than ever it seems. They were an easy gift this year for many of us, and quite a few of us received them too.

The research firm CEB TowerGroups says around $110 billion worth of gift cards were sold this year in the United States, up ten percent over 2011.

But if you received one you don't want, you can exchange it for cash.

Here's how it works.

Dreaming of a Wet Christmas? Santa Delivers.

Jen Austin — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 11:44:38 +0000

So it’s not white. It’s a wet Christmas. The rumbles of thunder make it seem more like April than December, and if you’re traveling today expect the rain showers to continue through tonight. If you’re traveling north, the chances of seeing snowflakes increase. The big issue today is the snow that is expected in the [...]

East Texas Restaurant Patrons Burst Into Song

Jen Austin — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 13:34:44 +0000

We’ve heard of flash mobs, that pop up suddenly in public places and dance. Now perhaps East Texas is starting a new trend of song mobs. Those eating dinner inside a Longview Restaurant Saturday night sang a Christmas song together. Could the video go viral? It’s been on Facebook, and KLTV 7 put the video [...]

Guys are Most Likely to Christmas Shop at the Last Minute

Jen Austin — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:14:43 +0000

If you had to take a wild guess which gender hasn't even started their Christmas shopping yet, you might in inclined to pick guys. And you'd be correct.

Conclusion-jumpers assume that women are better-known for hitting the stores early, armed with credit cards and looking for the best deals right after Thanksgiving, and in some cases all year long. If anyone is going to have a "Christmas closet" stuffed to the gills with random gifts picked up at different points during the year, it will be someone of the female persuasion. When it comes to shopping, guys are better known for being dragged along to the mall when they'd rather be at home watching a Cowboys game.

That may be stereotypical, but sometimes the stereotypes turn out to be right on.

Christmas Trees Can Become Fire Hazard

Rick St. Nick — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 20:44:02 +0000

Do you have a non-fake Christmas tree in your house? Decorated with all the trimmings? Me? Got a 3 foot fir. But, this story is not about the biggest Christmas tree, but rather the safety of putting up a “live” tree for display. Last year the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) logged nearly 150 house [...]

If We Spend Too Much, Blame It On The Christmas Music

Jen Austin — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:30:24 +0000

Chances are, if you’ve strolled through Lufkin Mall lately, you’ve heard Christmas music piping through the speakers as you shop.

Maybe you’ve thought nothing of it. Tis the season after all, and we expect to hear the Christmas music in our favorite stores. In fact, not hearing it would be an odd thing.

Some say hearing the Christmas songs can make us spend more money in that store. No way! And then we add up our receipts from the shopping season and realize how much we’ve spent, and it would be kinda nice to blame our lack of control on something.

Red Kettle Campaign Brings Money for 2013

Jen Austin — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 13:13:19 +0000

All of that spare change tossed into the famous Red Kettles at storefronts, will add up to thousands of dollars for the Salvation Army's charity work in Lufkin.

As my family was about to enter a grocery store last Friday, a bell-ringer was standing at the front and I gave my two oldest daughters some change to drop in. They were so excited to drop the coins in, and even though it wasn't much, they're starting to understand what the holidays are all about. And the bell-ringer was nice enough to hand them a sucker for their efforts. We can't promise there will be a sucker in it for ya at every Red Kettle, but the rewards will add up in other ways.

Give The Gift of Whiskey With a Name Tag — Knob Creek Offers Personalized Labels

Eric Rogell — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 16:00:54 +0000

Got a guy on your Christmas list who you need to impress? Maybe your boss, her dad, or your grandfather who keeps telling you how back in his day men didn't wear skinny jeans or use moisturizer? You can relax now, we've found it: get them a personalized bottle of Knob Creek bourbon.

Christmas Spending is at an All-Time High

Jen Austin — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:30:25 +0000

The amount we fork over for Christmas gifts has gone up every year since 2008. The iPads, flat screen TVs, and video game must-haves ain’t cheap! When you add up the hot electronics, the ugly sweaters, and the popcorn tin gift sets, we’re spending just shy of a thousand bucks on Christmas. American Research Group [...]

Self-Gifting is Bigger Than Ever

Jen Austin — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 15:30:53 +0000

While you’re out doing the holiday shopping and buying gifts for everyone else, are you tempted to splurge on something for yourself? This idea of self-gifting was actually part of the sermon I heard at church yesterday, so I did a little more investigating and dug up some interesting facts. My pastor said we’ll spend [...]

'Toys For Tots' Comes to Lufkin and Nacogdoches Region

Rick St. Nick — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 20:26:13 +0000

If you happen to see some military troop carrier trucks with a conspicuously looking banner draped across it that reads “MARINE CORPS RESERVE…Toys For Tots”, that’s the place to hand over a newly unwrapped gift to be distributed to less fortunate children around East Texas. Your “present” donation doesn’t have to be expensive, because it’s [...]

Lufkin and Nacogdoches Plan Christmas Events

Jen Austin — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 13:12:22 +0000

At some stores and homes, the Christmas decorations were up before Thanksgiving.

Those of us that did put up the Christmas tree before carving the turkey have been accused of breaking holiday rules, but rather than rebellion, we rule breakers argue it's convenient. With the decorating out of the way we could concentrate on matters like shopping.

Now that Thanksgiving is officially behind us, the rule followers are breaking out the Christmas lights too. Lufkin will light up the season with a Christmas parade on Tuesday.

Online Shoppers Admit to Browsing in Unlikely Places

Jen Austin — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 14:28:50 +0000

Are you planning to shop in the store, or online this weekend? Actually going to Lufkin Mall, grabbing the item you want, and paying for it there without having to wait for UPS to bring it to you seems sort of nostalgic now. Die hard shoppers might argue it's the most fun way to obtain new things, but there is something quick and convenient about electronically adding to cart.

If you shop online, where in the house are you sitting? The toilet? I kid you not. Millions of Americans are participating in online shopping while sitting on the porcelain throne.

Texas Woman Robbed of $200 in iPad Scam

Jen Austin — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 14:00:24 +0000

Something to keep in mind as the holidays approach: People are selling things everywhere! They’re even trying to sell iPads at gas stations. But it doesn’t always turn out to be legit.

A Texas woman was scammed out of $200 after a man approached her at a gas station and asked if she wanted to buy “an iPad worth $800 for $200.” Apple hasn’t even shipped the highest-priced iPads yet, with retail price ranging from $629 to $829, but if you’re at a gas station pumping gas, you probably have other things on your mind besides retail releases and ship dates. Did the scammer get caught?

Holiday Shopping is in Full Swing

Jen Austin — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 15:00:23 +0000

I think I saw the first big, full-blown display of Christmas trees and snow globes and dancing elves in a store around September 15th. That’s pure madness! But after I stopped fighting it in my head, I let my excited 4-year old drag me into that section of the store and we both picked up a snow globe and shook it

Is It That Time Already?

Jen Austin — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 15:00:57 +0000

On a shopping trip this weekend I saw what may be the first one of the year. A Christmas tree! On September 15th.

At this particular store, the Christmas tree was fully decorated, and the snow globes, stockings, and Christmas cards were already for sale. Right there next to the Halloween decorations.

How early is too early?

Happy Birthday! Peter Billingsley Turns 41! [VIDEO]

Rick St. Nick — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:20:47 +0000

When you listen to "Classic Rock", and one of your many favorite album cuts begins pumping the volume while you play air guitar, you have the tendency to feel nostalgic about the "good ole days". You may place yourself in a scene from "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", or even more exciting, reflect upon that time -- you made out at the drive-in -- in the back seat of a 1971 Datsun 510 with moon rims?

10 Tips for the Common Hangover

Shauna Wright — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 21:30:28 +0000

Hangovers have long been the price of a night of overindulgence — and come January 1, you may be feeling the effects of one yourself. So how can you make it a little less painful? Take a Blowfish. The Alka-Seltzer-like fizzing tablets are the only hangover remedy approved by the FDA. Drink lots of water [...]

Scorned Packers Fan Gets Fantastic Revenge on Cheating Boyfriend

Shauna Wright — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:17:16 +0000

If hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, it’s probably safe to say a man hath no heartbreak like losing tickets to a football game. Every now and then, the two converge in a perfect storm. Reports confirm that this young lady with the great seats and funny sign is Annie Wagner and not only [...]