Dear Just Be: In the spirit of the holidays, how can I give back?

Though volunteering can be a year-round activity, this time of year presents unique opportunities in which we can give back to our communities and to others. Below are a few organized volunteer events around the Denver metro area, but don't be afraid to think outside of the box or do something on your own. Offer to shovel the walkway for an elderly neighbor (or lay down salt on ice), visit a nursing home and spend time with the residents, offer to host a simple party at your house - you never know who might be alone or facing difficulties in their life-right in your own neighborhood. If you prefer to join in on an organized event, check out these options:

• Volunteer at Trail of Lights-Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield
• Noon Year's Eve 2009 at Children's Museum
• Reception for Our Family Orphan Communities
• Project Angel Heart Meal Prep

If you want to think about volunteering throughout the year, here are a few resources for you to look into further:

Metro Volunteers

Volunteer Match

Habitat for Humanity

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Dear Just Be: Do you have any quick & easy cookie recipes? I have a cookie exchange next week and need to bring dozens of cookies!

These seasonal pumpkin cookies are sure to be a hit at your gathering and they are simple to make:

2 cups flour
1 cup oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Combine first 5 ingredients and set aside. Cream butter and sugars, then add egg and vanilla. Alternate adding pumpkin and dry ingredients. Mix well then add chocolate chips. Drop by 1/4 cup on cookie sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes at 350F.

Share and enjoy this holiday season!

Dear Just Be: I'm on a tight budget this holiday season, do you have any ideas for gifts that won't break the bank?

Not spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on gifts during the holidays is not as hard as it seems. Below are our top ten gifts (in no particular order) that cost between $10 and $20.

1.) Photo album with a few photos of the gift recipient already in it

2.) Board games/puzzles

3.) Books

4.) Personalized cookbook. Collect your favorite recipes and compile them into a book where recipes can easily be added.

5.) Gift certificates to movie theaters

6.) Ornaments

7.) Dessert gift basket. (Line a basket with napkins in holiday colors -red and green for Christmas; blue and white/silver for Hanukkah; red, green and black for Kwanzaa- and put in recipes for cookies, brownies, pies, and candy, and/or cookie, brownie mix, nuts, pie balls, candy thermometer, etc.).

8.) Make a donation in people's name to charities such as Heifer International, your local Humane Society, or food bank.

9.) Gift certificates to restaurants

10.) Car gift bag (Fill a bag, box or even bucket with items that can be stored and used in or for a car -soap/wax, sponge, tire gauge, flashlight, air freshener, sunglasses, first aid kit, change holder, etc.).

For more frugal gift ideas check out:

Better Budgeting
Unique Holiday Gifts
iVillage

Dear Just Be: How do I avoid gaining weight over the holidays?

So the holiday season has officially begun, although these days it feels like it starts at Halloween. With all the sweets and decadent food everywhere it can seem like an impossible task not to gain weight; however, there are some easy tricks to avoid weight gain.

1.) Don’t skip meals. If you skip meals you are prone to overeat because you justify the fact that you missed a meal and so haven’t taken in that many calories.

2.) Eat a piece of fruit. The fiber in fruit makes you feel full quicker and longer and will help you from overeating.

3.) Use small plates. Smaller plates, like your dessert plates, limit the amount of food you can pile on.

4.) Mingle. Mingle not with the buffet, but with the people at the party, and make sure you do it away from the buffet table.

5.) Walk more. Walking is an easy exercise to incorporate into your daily routine. Park at the back of parking lots, walk the stairs instead of taking the elevator, walk around the store and look before you buy.

6.) Play. With family and/or friends have a snow ball fight, go snowshoeing, go skiing, go dancing, play board games or with a dreidel (a four-sided spinning top). All of these are great ways to stay active, stay away from food and keep your mind off of food.

These easy tricks are not only great for the holidays, but year round too.

Dear Just Be: Most of my family lives out of state, how much time do I have to ship their gifts?

Luckily you are thinking ahead and still do have some time to shop for and send your holiday gifts to special ones who live outside of Colorado.

According to the United States Postal Service, if you have your gifts to your post office by the following "Mail-by Dates," your gifts will arrive before December 25:

Dec. 4 Military mail destined for Iraq or Afghanistan*
Dec. 16 Parcel Post
Dec. 21 First-Class Mail
Dec. 21 Priority Mail, the best bargain in shipping
Dec. 23 Express Mail

*Visit the United States Postal Service for "mail-by dates" for other international destinations.
Here are a some helpful hints to ensure your packages arrive promptly and safely:
1. Print addresses clearly and in ALL CAPS.

• Include all address elements—apartment numbers, suite numbers, directional information for streets (N, E, S, W and St., Ave., Ln.
• Spell out the entire city name and abbreviate the state.

2. Include both “to” and “from” information on packages – and only on one side.

3. Mark packages, “Fragile,” in large print on the outside of the box when shipping materials that might be likely to break.
4. Never guess a ZIP Code. NO ZIP is better than a WRONG ZIP.
5. Always use tape that is designed for shipping.
6. Place an extra label or notice with the delivery and return address inside the package. This ensures the safe return of an item that could not be delivered should the outside label became damaged or fall off.
7. Remove batteries from toys. Wrap and place them next to the toys in the mailing box. It is recommended that customers include the new batteries in the manufacturer’s packaging.
8. Customers preparing international packages can complete customs forms, pay postage, print a shipping label and receive a discount, too, online at usps.com/clicknship.

So while you are standing in line at the post office, or driving around shopping for the perfect gift, breathe deeply and relax knowing you are ahead of the game with getting your presents shipped off in time for the holidays. Enjoy this time of year instead of being stressed by the holidays, listen to the carols being played, such as Frosty the Snowman (written Steve "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson and recorded by Gene Autry), be kind to the person next to you and pass along the holiday spirit!