CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY IN STYLE WITH BJ’S WHOLESALE CLUB AND THE HOME DEPOT

TECH THE HALLS! IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME AT THE HOME DEPOT: INNOVATION, EASE AND FUN ABOUND AT THE HOME DEPOT THIS CHRISTMAS

It’s time to “tech the halls” with help from THE HOME DEPOT®, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, this holiday. The season’s newest decor technologies aren’t just designed to give homes a holiday facelift; they also save customers time, money and stress

The Home Depot logo. (PRNewsFoto) (Newscom TagID: prnphotos061746) [Photo via Newscom]

Some stand outs this Christmas from The Home Depot, include:
— If you are looking for Christmas ornaments, look at the NEW exclusive MAESTRO MOUSE INTERACTIVE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT, which uses RFID technology to play 24 voice-requested Christmas Carols that can be synchronized to Christmas lights and turns the tree lights on or off. Just say the commands and let the magic happen.

Connect The Home Depot’s Maestro Mouse holiday ornament to any lit Christmas tree and he will play 12 voice requested Christmas Carols and put on a synchronized light show. Visit http://www.homedepot.com to see him in action.

— New, exclusive artificial Christmas trees offer features such as a foot pedal on/off switch, low voltage LED lights that use 65 percent less energy and are safer for inside the home, and pre-decorated trees from designers, including Martha Stewart, that incorporate both modern and classic decor trends and tastes.

UBID LAUNCHES “BUY A TOY, GIVE A TOY” TOY DRIVE TO BRING CHEER TO CHILDREN IN NEED

FOR EVERY TOY PURCHASED BY HOLIDAY SHOPPERS, UBID WILL DONATE A TOY TO “TOYS FOR TOTS”

For uBid, ’tis the season of giving (back). The go-to online marketplace for everything electronics has kicked off the “BUY A TOY, GIVE A TOY” INITIATIVE, benefitting TOYS FOR TOTS. Now through December 31, for every toy purchased on uBid, the company will donate a toy TO TOYS FOR TOTS1, helping make the season brighter for Chicagoland children in need. Holiday shoppers can visit uBid.com to bid on a toy for a child on their list. The U.S. MARINE CORPS RESERVE TOYS FOR TOTS PROGRAM relies on the generous donations of the American public and corporate partners to deliver gifts to children at Christmas, along with a message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders.

uBid, the go-to online marketplace for technology products, home goods and gadgets, as well as products within 25 additional categories. (PRNewsFoto/uBid.com)

The average American is expected to spend more than $700 on holiday gifts this year2. “BUY A TOY, GIVE A TOY” provides shoppers with the opportunity to find the perfect toy for a loved one while benefiting a child in need, all without leaving the comfort of their home or dealing with the dreaded holiday shopping crowds. Visit www.uBid.com (or www.RedTag.com) now through the end of the year and click on the Toys for Tots “Buy a Toy, Give a Toy” link to buy a toy and bring a smile to the face of a child you care about this holiday season while benefitting Toys for Tots.

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE DEDICATED LADY BIRD JOHNSON FOREVER STAMP SHEET

The achievements of LADY BIRD JOHNSON were commemorated on November 30^th with the dedication of THE LADY BIRD JOHNSON SOUVENIR FOREVER STAMPS SHEET. The ceremony honoring the former First Lady took place at the LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER of THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.

The achievements of Lady Bird Johnson were commemorated today with the dedication of the Lady Bird Johnson souvenir Forever stamps sheet. The ceremony honoring the former First Lady took place at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center of The University of Texas at Austin. The stamps are available at Post Offices in Texas and the Washington, DC metropolitan area. They can also be purchased at usps.com/stamps, or by calling 800-STAMP24. To learn more about Lady Bird Johnson, centennial-related events, and to download photos and view a video, visit ladybirdjohnson.org. (PRNewsFoto/U.S. Postal Service)

The LADY BIRD JOHNSON SOUVENIR SHEET features six stamps, a quote from the First Lady reflecting her belief that the environment is our common ground, and a black-and-white image of the First Lady taken from a family photograph shot in 1963 by YOICHI OKAMOTO. Text on the back of the stamp sheet highlights a few of Lady Bird Johnson’s many successes.

SARTORI CHEESE AWARDED THIRTEEN MEDALS AT 2012 WORLD CHEESE AWARDS

SARTORI CHEESE was awarded thirteen medals at the 2012 WORLD CHEESE AWARDS held in the United Kingdom this past week.  The WORLD CHEESE AWARDS is a premier and highly competitive worldwide competition – with cheese from 30 countries and a record 2,781 entries this year.

Sartori Cognac BellaVitano Cheese, Super Gold Medal Winner at the 2012 World Cheese Awards. (PRNewsFoto/Sartori Company)

Sartori’s top finish came from its LIMITED EDITION COGNAC BELLAVITANO® CHEESE which was awarded a SUPER GOLD MEDAL – one of the select few cheeses advancing to the final round of judging.  In 2011 COGNAC BELLAVITANO took 3rd place overall – the highest ranking ever for a cheese from the United States.  In this year’s competition, SARTORI SARVECCHIO® PARMESAN took home another first place gold medal, the 10th internationally recognized accolade for this cheese in just the past two years and its 22nd award in the past five years. In addition to the Gold Medal finishes, Sartori was awarded six silver medals and five bronze medals.

RACHAEL RAY AND GUY FIERI RETURN TO COACH EIGHT CELEBRITY CONTESTANTS IN NEW SEASON OF RACHAEL VS. GUY: CELEBRITY COOK-OFF

CHILLI, GILBERT GOTTFRIED, CORNELIA GUEST, DEAN MCDERMOTT, KATHY NAJIMY, HINES WARD, CARNIE WILSON AND JOHNNY WEIR COMPETE FOR CHARITY

SEASON PREMIERE SUNDAY, JANUARY 6TH AT 9PM ET/PT

FOOD NETWORK icon RACHAEL RAY and best-selling cookbook author and successful restaurateur GUY FIERI, return to coach and mentor eight new celebrity contestants for the second season of RACHAEL VS. GUY: CELEBRITY COOK-OFF, premiering SUNDAY, JANUARY 6^TH at 9pm ET/PT. The eight celebrities are divided into TEAM GUY and TEAM RACHAEL, as they head out to the west coast to compete over the course of six episodes in intense weekly challenges that are sure to have them working, fighting and laughing along the way. The losing team must send its two bottom-rated contestants to face off against each other, with one member sent home each week in a blind tasting elimination challenge. The last celebrity standing will join the ranks of season one winner, LOU DIAMOND PHILLIPS, and win $50,000 for the charity which they are playing for.

RACHAEL RAY AND GUY FIERI RETURN TO COACH EIGHT CELEBRITY CONTESTANTS IN NEW SEASON OF RACHAEL VS. GUY: CELEBRITY COOK-OFF

“I am thrilled to be returning with Guy for a new season of Rachael vs. Guy,” said RACHAEL RAY. “We are upping the ante this season, with eight new celebrity contestants, thrilling challenges and great humor. Viewers will be amazed at the contestants’ skills in the kitchen as they battle it out for their charity.  And it is always great to compete for ultimate bragging rights against Guy.”