Trends for the Holidays

It's a tough time of year to write about trends and fads. Most holiday traditions rely heavily on nostalgia and, well....tradition.

However, there's no reason to start a few new traditions in your family, and our friends at Hallmark have a number of suggestions.

It's not too late as I write this to have your children write a letter to Santa, and Hallmark's Mail Box and Letter to Santa Kit will help you to make sure their letter is delivered and a response returned. The box includes envelopes, stickers and delivery stamps, along with postcards back from the North Pole.

Our family's been enjoying the Dear Santa Chalkboard with Countdown Calendar. It's a two-sided chalkboard; on one side the kids can count down the days until Christmas. On the other side, they can write a letter to Santa.

Santa Key is unique holiday gift ornament, and a perfect new tradition to start for a family who doesn't have a fireplace or who lives in an apartment. Kids are told to hang this key on the door and it will help Santa find his way into their home.

I've started a new Christmas tradition at work. Instead of choosing a small gift for everyone in my office, I gifted each person with a really special card. There are cards that sing, cards that light up, even a special card for the boss that recorded all of his staff singing "We wish you a merry Christmas". Corny, yes, but some of the best traditions are the corniest.

With that, I wish you all a wonderful holiday season, celebrating whatever you do, however you like, enjoying old traditions and embracing new trends for the season!