1. Don’t open the inner packaging of a present if you think you won’t like it. This is especially important for items like electronic media that are subject to strict return policies.
2. Keep boxes and Styrofoam packaging materials for gifts you think you might want to return. If you can pack it up so it looks like new, your chances of getting a full credit are better.
3. Put all gift receipts in one place while you are opening presents so they don’t get thrown away with the wrapping paper.
4. Leave tags on clothing until after you have tried the items on to make sure they fit.
5. Try to return items within 30 days of the purchase date on the gift receipt to ensure the return period hasn’t expired. You may want to wait until after the New Year if possible so lines are shorter.
6. Check online for the details of a store’s return policy before you go stand in line at customer service.
7. Be prepared to accept a store credit at smaller stores or if you don’t have a receipt.
8. Only return gifts that were shipped to you from an online retailer if you don’t mind paying for the return postage.
9. Be aware that if you return a gift that was purchased for you online, the gift giver may get their money credited back to their credit card or PayPal account. You won’t get anything and the giver will know that you didn’t like what you received.
10. If the gift isn’t actually horrible, consider re-gifting or donating it instead of returning it.

Dominican Republic

This location has the charm and climate of the Caribbean and much less expensive prices than Hawaii. During the Christmas season, you can expect temperatures to remain at about 65 degrees. These folk take Christmas truly to heart, apparently turning it into a 3 month long celebration with fireworks, parades, and other lively activities. You’ll recognize many of the traditions with a slight twist. For example, citizens in the Dominican Republic have their own version of “Secret Santa” called “Un Angelito”.

Africa

There are so many great destinations on this massive continent that it’s not possible to list them all. You can visit a populous tourist destination like Cape Town or trudge through the lonely Serengeti looking for big game (but not shooting any). Christmas isn’t yet a truly peak travel time for tourism to most African countries, so you won’t experience the crowding and frenetic pace of more established destinations. Christmas is celebrated in Christian communities all across Africa – but the focus is more on spiritual celebration, good food, and family than on giving and receiving lots of presents.

Malaysia

This is the place to go if you want to party all the way through New Year’s. The clubs in Kuala Lumpur are hopping and the malls and restaurants are all open. Christmas here is non-traditional and very modern. Not surprising in a place where the old and the new rub shoulders in every area from architecture to cultures and languages. This location gives you access to beaches, jungles, skyscrapers, temples, and much more for a busy week of sightseeing. Yes, December is part of the rainy season here, but it’s reportedly a lot like Louisiana. You get rain for about an hour in the afternoon rather than a deluge that goes on for days.

1. Do my customers need or expect me to be open?
2. Will my vendors or distributors be open so I can get work done?
3. Will my employees have enough work to do, or will they be bored?
4. Is this a good time to do inventory or accounting tasks?
5. Am I expecting any important shipments/deliveries?
6. Will my employees enjoy having the extra time off, or would they prefer to get paid?
7. Is bad weather likely to make me shut down anyway?
8. Are too many of my key employees on vacation to make it worthwhile staying open?
9. Is closing up for a week in line with my company’s image/branding strategy?
10. Will work pile up while everyone is gone, leading to a stressful start of the New Year?

1. Less stress. Not everyone has a happy Bob Cratchit family life. If you would rather be going anywhere rather than home for the holidays, being out of town is a good excuse to get away from people who know you a little too well.
2. You won’t seem lonely. If you’re the single person that everyone invites to their Christmas dinner out of pity, show them that it’s great to be free. Everyone will stop feeling sorry for you when they find out you are taking a trip to New Zealand or a cruise in the Bahamas for Christmas.
3. You can make new memories. Christmas is celebrated in many, many countries around the globe. Each one has its own way of making the season bright. You could find brand new traditions to pass down to your kids along with the story of the Christmas when you flew around the world – just like Santa’s sleigh.

Fortunately, there are other puddings that are much more appetizing. My personal favorite is chocolate cold-bread pudding. I learned this recipe from my grandmother who learned it from my great grandmother. I’ve just tweaked the ingredients a little to use baker’s chocolate instead of cocoa powder.

One of the best things about this recipe is how the ingredients separate a little during cooking. You get a bready crust on top, a thick chocolate pudding in the middle, and a lining of sweet creamy goodness at the very bottom. You can serve this desert warm from the oven. But it’s even better after chilling in the fridge overnight. Vanilla bean ice cream makes a great companion for this rich desert.

You will need:

• 8 slightly stale biscuits (preferably made from scratch the previous day)
• 4 cups whole milk
• 4 squares unsweetened baker’s chocolate
• 1 Tablespoon butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

These ingredient amounts are approximate. You can adjust them up or down based on how many biscuits you have and how sweet you like your pudding.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Melt chocolate in a glass measuring cup or glass bowl in the microwave (1-2 minutes depending on your microwave setting). Add butter and let it melt over the hot chocolate. Cool to just above room temperature.

Crumble biscuits into thick chunks in a large bowl. Pour milk in until biscuit crumbs are covered and just beginning to float. Allow to soak for at least 10 minutes.

Add eggs, sugar, and vanilla to chocolate and stir together. Combine biscuit crumb mixture and chocolate mixture. Stir gently until thoroughly mixed.

Pour into a 13” casserole dish. Place dish on a cookie sheet that has a lip. Place them on the oven rack. Pour water into the cookie sheet (not the casserole dish) to a depth of half an inch.

Cook for 50 minutes. Check texture of pudding. It should be firm at the edges and only very slightly soft in the center (if at all). A toothpick inserted in the center should come out with a pudding-like coating on it. If the mixture is still soupy, cook for at least 10 more minutes.

Cool to room temperature. For a nice, moist crust, cover the pudding with a sopping wet dish towel during the cooling period. Refrigerate once the pudding reaches room temperature.

Serves 12