Only in a Coke ad do you see a penguin at the North Pole among the polar bears. Penguins aren't associated with Christmas except in my beleaguered brain. They are cute, charming, and fascinating. Let's talk penguin. In addition to being cute, penguins are remarkable birds. They can stay underwater several minutes. Some can dive as deep as 900 feet. They've managed to survive in some of the most inhospitable places on the planet. Even so, some are under threat from global warming, habitat loss, and pollution.

It's Christmas Eve, and for many people that means it's time to break out the eggnog. I'm finding it a little hard to concentrate right now, because all the people in my house happen to be indulging in this particular holiday tradition. I'm also dodging an early Christmas gift of my son's (a remote controlled helicopter), that is whizzing by my head. Is eggnog part of your holiday celebration? If so, here are a few things you might want to know. If you're trying to stay fit for the holidays, you might want to avoid the eggnog.

"Mom? May I help with the dishes, please?" "Mom, my brother just whacked me but I didn't hit him back and I really do love him." "Mom, would it be okay if I light the candles for your bubblebath?" Yes, Santa will arrive soon and so kids everywhere are priming parents with Nice, not Naughty. What to do, to prepare?

Whether the feminists in your life celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza, or you just want to give them a little token to show them how much you appreciate their friendship/love, there are tons of great gifts out there. Here are a few of my favorites:

OK, all you beloved BlogHer Lurkers, time to come out and show us who you are in an easy way. And you Regular BlogHer gals,come on in and join! I have listed 5 Holiday questions. Just copy the appropriate 5 into your Comment and type your answer under each question. Show us your holiday self! I have included two memes – one for Hannukah,. One for Christmas. I've answered mine at the bottom just to get you all started. CHRISTMAS MEME 1.Real tree or artificial or treeless? Any special traditions with the tree? 2. Eggnog or Cider or Mulled Wine?

1. My friends at Cool Mom Picks suggested the playsets at Imagiplay, and I have to admit I think the Vision Quest Native American playset is totally cool. I have ALWAYS wanted a teepee. And I like the name of the set – very deep for the preschool set.

When it comes to buying gifts for the technology nut or geek in your life there is one thing you can be sure about. They need a constant stream of new information to keep up with advances in technology. Books fit the bill. Here are ten great tech/geek books you might give the geeks in your life.

It's that time again when you need to get your kitchen into full production line mode if you're planning to turn out loads of holiday goodies to give away. Most people know someone who loves to make elaborate holiday sweets for family, friends, and co-workers. If that sounds like you, I've got a few recipes for cookies, candy, and fruitcake that might make make you smile. But what if you're not really into holiday sweets that much, or perhaps a bit baking-impaired (like me!) Not to worry because my list of ten holiday food gifts has a few other interesting ideas such as gifts that don't need cooking or holiday treats for pets. Read on and see if there's something that sounds right for a few of the folks on your list, and if you have your own ideas for gifts from the kitchen, let us know in the comments.

What to get that deeply geeky special someone? Yes, we geekettes can be quite particular about our entertainments and enjoyments. What to do? Here are some possible tips: Geeky t-shirt Most people won't get it, and that's the point, isn't it? Cafe Press has quite an assortment. Price: $23.99

This whole Santa letter gig is new to me. My parents never tried to get me to believe in Santa Claus. They were pretty religious (to the extent I never got to watch any movie with a witch in it, not even a Halloween one), so they told me Christmas was all about Jesus’s birth and all that secular Santa stuff was a load of bull. I outed Santa to several kids at school, much to their parent's chagrin.

In keeping with the tradition of Christmas arriving earlier and earlier every year in store displays and advertising, television programming is following suit. Love A Charlie Brown Christmas?  It was on last night.  Never miss Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!?  On tonight - if you see my post right when it goes up you might be able to catch it on ABC at 8:30 pm (right after Shrek the Halls).  Have I saddened you?  I'm sorry and I've got good news - both those shows will repeat and I've got ways for you to ensure you never miss the holiday classics and suggestions on how you can find new favorites.

Nearing this winter holiday season when stores sell more toys than at any other time of year and during a year when we've heard so much about dangers like lead paint in toys, I've been wondering where can parents find safe toys? Do you wonder the same? Parent News at The Pikes Peak Gazette, a newspaper serving Colorado Springs, Co., offers a standard tip to parents with toy-safety concerns this year: