For the last two decades, the Colleyville Woman’s Club has selected exclusive homes for its Holiday Home Tour. This year, they celebrate with the 24th annual tour, showcasing local homes. The event is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 7, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advance tickets are $20, or $25 the day of the tour. Proceeds will benefit the various charities the group serves.

With Thanksgiving just behind us, the countdown to Christmas has begun. And in the race to get every gift bought, and every detail right for the ensuing holiday, some folks forget one crucial step: wrapping the presents.

If you are looking for a way to get into the Christmas spirit, go visit some houses decked out in seasonal decor, and make a contribution that brightens someone’s holiday season, then the Christmas Home Tour sponsored by Terra Land and Hat Creek Developments, might be what you’re looking for.

Forget about a white Christmas; this year it looks like many consumers are more interested a green holiday, instead.

This holiday season, Americans are more likely to not only recycle and reuse, but to re-gift.

Like many of you, I get tons of "pass-it-on" e-mails. Every once in a while I get one that truly catches my attention. Last week, I received such an e-mail. It’s about a 4 year-old little girl whose 14-year-old dog Abbey had recently died.

I’m always mesmerized by ads promoting the perfect family vacation to sunny skies and sandy beaches. Although we see advertisements for these relaxing days and romantic nights, anyone with children knows that such vacations rarely occur.

One local chef, Joanne Bondy of Old Hickory Steakhoues in the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, cooks a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, beginning with a fresh turkey flavored with applewood-smoked bacon draped over the breast and stuffed with a mixture of corn bread, bread crumbs and biscuits.

With a sluggish economy, many holiday shoppers are looking for the best deals and extra ways to save some green.

The Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center has numerous restaurants, but be sure to check out the Old Hickory Steakhouse, where Executive Chef Joanne Bondy creates gourmet meals each evening. Bondy brings decades of food experience to the table, having worked at restaurants from Dallas, to Phoenix to Altanta. Below is a question-and-answer with the executive chef.