Here's the week in review on GO:

+ Are you hosting Thanksgiving Dinner this year? If so, this "Thanksgiving Countdown" article by Stephanie Vozza will be a very helpful resource.

+ Why is it so important to think of "Tax Time in November?" Guru Joshua Zerkel tells you why here.  

+ Even if you cannot see family this holiday season, you can still stay close. Our Buttoned Up Gurus tell you how here.

+ See one of our newest Laptop Bags- the Lindsay here.

+ And, if you're in need of some inspiration, browse all our GO Quotes here.

Thank you for stopping by GO!

November 5:

"There is a great work to be done. The foundations of the new world must be laid by those who have the courage to change the old; by those whose arteries are still soft and clear, whose minds are still active, and hearts still generous."-Earl Warren

November 5:

Meet with your spouse and children once a week. Discuss what each person in the family has planned through the coming week and make sure all of the activities get written into your planner. This will help you plan any other activities that arise during the week.

By Alicia Rockmore & Sarah Welch

With the price of travel increasing, and the amount of money in American pockets decreasing, many families won’t be spending the holidays together this year.

However, with a little creativity and some innovative thinking you can find ways to still have a meaningful holiday season even if you’re 2000 miles away from each other.

Alicia on “Non Peak Visiting”
“One of the easiest ways to get through a holiday without everyone together is to plan to all get together in January or February when travel prices are much cheaper and the terminals are less crowded. Try around President’s Day or MLK day when children are already off school. If you ask your bosses for the time off now, you’ll be certain to get it and may even get brownie points for working when everyone else in your office has already left town. It might not seem ideal when you are one of the few still working in December, but trust me at the end of January, they will be the ones with the winter blues when you are getting your vacation to visit your loved ones.”

Sarah on “Holiday Creativity”
“Here’s a grand idea that will make your family laugh and smile even when you can’t be there in person. If for example, one half of the family will be celebrating in Atlanta, and the other in New Orleans, have each side make a fun light-hearted video for the other to watch over the holidays. It can be something silly like acting out the quirky things each family member does that you will miss (like how Grandpa unwraps his gifts at snail speed) or the kids putting on a living room short play of a Christmas story. Then send the Atlanta video to New Orleans and the New Orleans video to Atlanta and don’t watch it until the holiday – or post the videos on YouTube and watch them together online. You’ll not only have new memories but a keepsake too, even from across country.”

Here are three additional ways to stay close to loved ones even though you may be miles away this Holiday Season.

#1 Technology
We are so lucky to have amazing technologies like cell phones and instant messaging services. They are solutions that connect you to the people you love in real-time, so even though you’re miles apart you can feel like you’re in the same room. If you don’t have one already, we recommend investing in a webcam. These web video devices have gone down significantly in price – today you can get a decent one for less than $20. A visual connection, even if you can’t hug the person on the other end, makes the distance between you and your loved ones seem less vast.

#2 Send Along a Memory
Shrink the distance between you and a loved one this Holiday by sending along a little piece of you. Whether it’s an old, favorite teddy bear for your daughter, an envelope of funny pictures of you and your best friend during your high school years, or your famous Peanut Butter Buckeyes – something that sparks a happy, shared memory can make both the receiver and the giver feel closer. It is also a great reminder that it doesn’t have to cost a thing to make someone you love feel special.

#3 Start New Traditions
As much as you love your family, if you have to be away from them, try to make a new tradition so you don’t spend the whole holiday season pining away. For example, go caroling with you new friends in the neighborhood or volunteer at a local homeless shelter to make another person’s holiday brighter.