Make the Pledge to Shop Small in Norristown

American Express wants to encourage cardholders to support their local businesses on Small Business Saturday.

Retailers are opening earlier and earlier on Black Friday, but after Black Friday shoppers have brought home their hauls and caught up on sleep, there’s another day of sales and specials that doesn’t require camping out overnight, fighting with other shoppers, or feeding corporations. The Saturday after Black Friday is Small Business Saturday. The third annual event, hosted by American Express on Nov. 24 this year, wants people to "pledge to shop small." Small businesses that register with Small Business Saturday can get free in-store marketing and e-marketing materials, free Facebook ads and more. When you register your American Express card and use that card to make a purchase of $25 or more at a small business on Small Business Saturday…

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Where to Watch the Mummers Parade

Annual New Year's Day Mummers Parade in Philadelphia is a fun family tradition. Here are the best places to watch the parade.

Tomorrow is the start of the New Year, and the annual Mummer’s Parade up Broad St. in Philadelphia. The parade, which begins at 10 a.m., begins in South Philadelphia and ends at the Philadelphia City Hall, with approximately 8 hours of parading between. The city is suggesting that spectators leave their cars behind and use SEPTA regional rail and buses to get into the city (although if you get there early enough, there is plenty of parking). If you plan on watching the parade from the sidewalk along Broad St., plan on getting to the parade route early and be sure to set up near a drill location, where the String Bands and Fancy Brigades stop to perform. According to VisitPhilly.com, these spots are at the intersections of Broad and Sansom …

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The Simple Kitchen

Holiday Recipe: Slow Cooked Pork Tenderloin

This pork tenderloin pairs perfectly with sauerkraut for the traditional lucky New Years meal.

The Pennsylvania Dutch tradition of pork and sauerkraut as your first meal of the New Year has been something my family has done since I’m little. “Pork and Kraut” when eaten as your first meal of the New Year is said to bring you luck and prosperity. In my family, that tradition has taken many forms, from pork chops to hot dogs. And, now that I am out of the house, something that I have continued. Does it bring me luck and prosperity? Well, I’m not so sure about that, but I continue to eat the traditional New Year’s meal just in case. Serve up this yummy pork with a big bowl of mashed potatoes and piled high with 'kraut for a lucky New Year. Happy New Year to you and your family! Ingredients Directions

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Montco Mommy

Home for the Holidays

Our Montco Mommy ponders the meaning of "home" and wonders where her heart actually is.

I do it every year. I say, since we now have a 3- and 6-year-old, we should really stay home. We should not travel over the holidays. We should be snuggled into our own beds, awaiting the arrival of the Big Man himself. But, every year, by the time December rolls around, I am inching up our visit home as much as I possibly can, usually involving us driving on Christmas Day itself, if not sooner. It is a tough call for a mom. When, exactly, are you old enough that you should be home creating your own family traditions and stop going “home” for the holidays? Or is there an age that should happen at all? For me, it is a several-pronged issue. For one, to this day, no matter my age on paper, I do not feel that it is truly a holiday unless I am…

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Track Santa on His Journey Tonight

Track Santa with NORAD as he makes his journey around the world delivering presents tonight.

NORAD tracks Santa on Christmas eve as he makes his way around the world, delivering presents to the good little boys and girls. The map above will update throughout the evening! You can also visit the NORAD Santa website for a 3D view. If you prefer to learn Santa's whereabouts from a human being, you can call 1-877-HINORAD (446-6723) to speak live to a member of the United States Air Force—we spoke with a Lt. Cmdr. Lewis—who will be happy to give you the latest estimate of when Santa will arrive in your neighborhood.  You can also track Santa on your iPhone/iPad or on your Android phone or tablet. Both apps are free!

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Desperately Seeking Santa

There are a number of ways to connect with Santa in the days leading up to Christmas that don't require you to fight holiday traffic and last-minute shoppers.

Santa Claus is coming to town – this weekend! If you haven’t had a chance to visit him at the local malls and don’t want to fight the traffic and last minute shoppers to get there, there are other options for your kids to talk with Santa. The radio station B101 has Santa on phone duty from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, so kids can talk with Santa and tell him what they want for Christmas. If you have Vonage, you can call the Santa hotline so kids can leave a message  and their wish list for Santa. The entire message will be forwarded to the e-mail address linked with the Vonage account. Google also has a free service where your kids can receive a phone call from Santa. You can include their name, what they want for Christmas and…

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See Some Serious Holiday Spirit in Nearby Upper Moreland

Upper Moreland family's Holiday light show attracts visitors from all over the area.

Montco Mommy

Countdown to Christmas

Our Montco Mommy is a bit behind schedule, but if everything goes according to plan (Ha!) the holidays will go off without a hitch.

I think I feel behind schedule on most holidays. Somehow, even though it is clearly marked on the calendar, those dates seem to sneak up on me. I may, today, just about be ready for Halloween. Sadly, I supposed to have everything in order for this family to celebrate Christmas. Too bad I’m only two months behind, huh? Setting the 2011 schedule even further into a tailspin, I thought it would be an ideal time to have pneumonia, as well. Now, instead of finding myself in need of a few last-minute stocking stuffers, I feel like I’m running out of time altogether. My favorite way to shop is online. If I never had to set foot into a mall again in my life, I’d be pretty happy about that. Alas, being behind schedule either means shelling out the …

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