How to survive holiday travel

The most hectic time to travel has arrived. As you head out to see family and friends, you may endure lengthy lines, frustrating delays and cantankerous people. Here are a few ways to be a savvy – and less stressed – holiday traveler.

Let Google help. Google’s new holiday travel tool shows flight price trends on the 25 most common routes for Thanksgiving, December holidays and New Year’s to help you decide the best time to book your flight.

Ship gifts ahead of time. You’ll save space, and you won’t have to worry about presents breaking in your checked luggage. If you need to take a gift with you, don’t wrap it – security may ask to inspect wrapped packages.

Limit your luggage. If possible, travel with just a carry-on so you can skip the daunting baggage check-in lines. Wear your heavier layers to save space, and pack an extra (empty) duffel bag for any gifts on the return flight.

Keep essentials handy. Make sure you can easily access your medications or anything else you need in case you get delayed. You’ll also thank yourself for bringing a travel pillow, phone charger, book, snacks, headphones, and an empty water bottle (to fill after passing through security).

Check flight statuses often. Apps such as GateGuru inform you about security wait times, flight delays and gate changes. If your flight gets delayed or canceled, call the airline directly instead of standing in the customer service line.

With millions of people traveling and unpredictable weather conditions, something is bound to go wrong. If you stay calm and try not to get flustered, you’ll be able to make the most of whatever comes your way.

5 Fun facts about Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Roaring Twenties brought prosperity to America and its department stores. In 1924, Macy’s took over an entire city block in Manhattan with 1 million square feet of retail space. The store decided to celebrate by giving New York a parade, which quickly became a holiday tradition.

Enjoy these five facts you may not have known about Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade:

1. The parade was originally called Macy’s Christmas Parade, and it promised spectators a “marathon of mirth,” says History.com. It was renamed the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1927.
2. Bears, elephants and other Central Park Zoo animals marched 6 miles in the first parade. (Today’s route is only 2.65 miles.) Growls from tired animals scared young parade-goers, and the live animals were eventually replaced by the parade’s iconic balloons.
3. For the first several years, Macy’s employees purposefully let balloons float away after the parade, and the store offered $100 gift certificates to the first people to retrieve them.
4. Due to rubber and helium demands during World War II, Macy’s canceled the parade from 1942-1944 and donated the balloons to the war effort.
5. Each balloon requires 50-100 handlers who weigh at least 120 lbs. and are in good health.

National Adoption Month: Hearing from teens in foster care

More than 100,000 children in foster care are waiting for adoption. Each year, 20,000 teens age out of the system, entering adulthood with no permanent connections to a family, according to AdoptUSKids.org.

Without the stability of lasting relationships, teens leaving foster care have a higher risk for homelessness, underemployment and health problems. Guidance and support from a loving family can help them navigate life decisions and thrive in adulthood.

“Securing lifelong connections for teens in foster care, both legally and emotionally, is a critical component in determining their future achievement, health and well-being,” says ChildWelfare.gov.

This year’s National Adoption Month initiative encourages teens to share their foster care stories to raise awareness about the need for teen adoptions and to help shape the future of child welfare.

AdoptUSKids.org. says, “You never outgrow needing a family. Everyone needs a sense of belonging.”

Get involved this month by finding a teen’s story at ChildWelfare.gov.

Turkey Pot Pie

Ingredients

5 Tbsp. butter
⅓ cup chopped yellow onion
⅓ cup flour
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
1 (14.5-oz.) can chicken broth
⅔ cup milk
2 cups cooked turkey, cut into chunks
1 (12-oz.) pkg.frozen mixed vegetables
2 refrigerated pie crusts

Directions

Preheat oven to 425° F. In large pot, sauté butter and onion on medium until onion is soft. Whisk in flour, salt and pepper. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth. Whisk in chicken broth and milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly, and cook until thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in turkey and vegetables.

Line a deep 9-inch pie plate with one pie crust. Pour in turkey mixture, then cover with second pie crust. Pinch crust edges together and cut 2 slits in top crust. Bake uncovered 35-40 minutes or until crust is brown.

Serves 5-6