(Family Features) For many, the holiday season sparks the spirit of giving - not only among family and friends, but to those living in need and the organizations working to help them. If you're committed to helping improve the lives of others in your community, it may mean thinking long-term.

5 tips for spending more time with loved ones          

Holiday gift ideas for furry friends

(Family Features) When it comes to economics, many teens’ mouths write checks their knowledge can’t cash.

(Family Features) The holidays can be a stressful time. From family events or planning your own gathering to finding the perfect gift for your loved ones, it seems like there is never enough time.

(Family Features) Fitting in time to exercise and eat sensible meals can be impractical, if not impossible, when the demands of daily life get in the way. If busy days limit your ability to live as healthy of a lifestyle as you desire, take charge by squeezing in fitness and smart snacking w…

Tips for coping with a food-centric season

(Family Features) While there’s plenty to be said for taking the proverbial road less traveled, fellow tourists can provide a wealth of knowledge to help shape a vacation filled with lifelong memories.

(Family Features) Finding the perfect gift for someone who already has it all may be easier when you stop thinking in terms of “things.” A gift that creates an unforgettable experience, like a trip to a special destination, may be more meaningful than a trinket under the tree.

(Family Features) Chances are good that at some point during the holiday season, you’ll welcome guests into your home. Whether you lease or own your home, creating a cozy, festive setting for holiday gatherings can actually be quite simple, especially if you take on the project one room at a time.

Gift ideas for everyone on your list

(Family Features) Entertainment seekers have an almost overwhelming number of options available today when it comes to viewing television shows and movies. The rise in alternative entertainment options, such as streaming video services, has only increased the amount of choices.

(Family Features) The holiday season is filled with traditions, seasonal meals and festivities. With busy calendars, it can be easy to get caught up with a long to-do list when the true joy of the season is in creating meaningful memories with loved ones, including pets.

(Family Features) The holidays signal a time for family gatherings, traditions and the spirit of giving. Make this holiday season even more meaningful by giving gifts that help children in need around the globe.

(Family Features) Few things compare to the joy and excitement on the faces of children on Christmas morning as they rush to the tree in search of packages bearing their names.

(NAPSI)—Animals disappearing without a trace? In the first book of the critically acclaimed four-book middle-grade series “The Nocturnals,” we meet three unlikely friends—Dawn, a serious fox; Tobin, a sweet pangolin; and Bismark, the pint-sized sugar glider. When the animals go missing, it’s…

(NewsUSA) - Sponsored News -Whether you are in a hotel room, at your desk, in an RV, or by a campfire, it can be difficult to get a good cup of coffee away from home. With the holiday travel season in full swing, travelers are wondering how best to enjoy their morning java while on the go.

“Carnevale” by Peter Fortunato

(StatePoint) Between nose-wiping, temperature-taking and appropriately dosing and storing medicines, parents and caretakers have a lot to manage during the cold and flu season. With all the chaos a winter illness can bring, slip-ups can happen, leading to an emergency. Indeed, approximately …

(Family Features) While the impact of winter weather varies across the country, nearly all Americans are affected in some capacity each year as temperatures drop, from freezing rain to severe blizzards. One of the key dangers when severe weather strikes is the potential loss of heat, power a…

(Family Features) Any time can be the right time to enjoy memorable moments with family members, but the holidays present a special opportunity to have meaningful conversations and interactions with loved ones.

(Family Features) Monthly subscription fees for streaming video services can really add up. That’s why television, film and music stars – such as The Pussycat Dolls lead singer Nicole Sherzinger, Terrance Howard (“Hustle & Flow,” “Empire”), Chris Noth (“Sex and the City,” “Law & Orde…

(NewsUSA) - Psychoanalysis, often stereotyped in arts and literature as patients reclining on couches and talking about their mothers, is enjoying renewed scientific support. Studies have found that psychoanalytic therapies are evidence-based and lead to significant improvements in mental he…

(NewsUSA) -People with Medicare have until Saturday, Dec. 7 to select their Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plan coverage for 2020. To ensure you have the right Medicare plan in place come January 1 of next year, it's important to focus on these four key questions:

(Family Features) It’s important today to find ways to connect with others to help deepen your understanding of those around you. In a time when differences seem to dominate today’s culture, it can help to find similarities, draw connections and bridge worlds.

(Family Features) If you’re among the millions of people in the United States who suffer from a chronic illness, you may use “sharps” to manage your medical condition at home or on the go. For example, many people with diabetes self-inject at least two insulin shots every day, and conditions…

(Family Features) Holidays are filled with traditions, but when someone you used to share those moments with has died, managing grief during the holiday season can be particularly challenging.

(NewsUSA) - Social, economic and environmental factors play a key role in people's health - where they live, learn work, and play. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of wealth, power and resources at global, national and local levels.

(NewsUSA) - How would you like to relive and let others experience the most important moments of your life? The dance floor at your wedding, your child's first birthday, your team's victory parade? Now, you cannot only watch these events but feel as if you were actually there, right in the m…

(NewsUSA) -Today's sophisticated travelers can enjoy once-in-a lifetime experiences in luxurious locations that are off the beaten path. If you crave the ultimate in adventure, eco-conscious settings, and magnificent service, put these unique destinations on your travel bucket list for 2020.

(NewsUSA) - Beauty, like health, goes beyond the visible surface. While many of us manage our wellness via diet, exercise and check-ups, we don't apply the same 360-degree approach to our beauty regimen. It's possibly due to lack of viable options.

“Mosi Musa: A True Tale About a Monkey Raised By His Grandma” by Georgeanne Irvine (San Diego Zoo)

7 steps to a successful game day gathering

(Family Features) Do you get short of breath doing daily activities? Feel like you’re unable to take deep breaths? Are you constantly coughing or wheezing? If you said yes to any of these questions, you may be experiencing symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a serious, …

(Family Features) From housing and business policies to overarching economic health, pets are making a profound impact on the lives of their owners. In its first Annual Report, Mars Petcare’s BETTER CITIES FOR PETS program highlights seven emerging trends as cities are working to make pets f…

(Family Features) Winter is the season for family gatherings, snow days and breaks from school and work, but all this time indoors can lead to a serious case of cabin fever for both children and adults. Before you face another chorus of “I’m bored,” consider these simple activities you and y…

“Today I Choose Me” by Dr. Lisa Lewis Ellis

(StatePoint) Hosting houseguests over the holidays? For happier guests and hosts alike, you’ll want to be sure you’re equipped to accommodate all your overnighters. Here are a few pointers:

(StatePoint) Science has consistently shown that the first three years of life are vital to a child’s developing brain, and new research confirms that families play an important role in language development and educational readiness.

(StatePoint) Whether you’re braving the cold to find the perfect Hanukah gift or searching high and low for the ideal Christmas tree, there are plenty of opportunities to create special memories with your family this season. And there are ways to make each event a little warmer and fuzzier.

(NAPSI)—It could be said that everything Troy Amdahl learned to love he learned in kindergarten. No kidding. He met Kristen, his wife of 29 years, at age five, remained friends, took her to the senior prom, married and raised four children.

(StatePoint) During the holiday season, there tends to be a lot of focus on big celebrations and spending money. But during this festive time of year, it is also important to take steps that will keep your family, your home and your wallet healthy.  

(StatePoint) While all the gear, clothes and toys your kids possess are signs of a joyful childhood, keeping it all organized is essential for health, safety and even fun.