As the semester comes to a close, many Kingsville and Corpus Christi students are pouring over books preparing for finals and on their off time looking for something to do. Families are also preparing for Thanksgiving and getting ready for the madness of black Friday. Soon Christmas trees and decorations will be popping up everywhere. Do you feel overwhelmed by the stress of the upcoming holidays? If so, take a night off and come check out Global Connect's affordable community hay ride. We will kick off our hayride adventure in Corpus Christi, TX. Our hayride will feature the most beautifully decorated locations throughout the area. We will take you through a winter wonderland of lights and scenery. For those music lovers, we will be listening to festive music and caroling. Also, enjoy a delicious cup of hot chocolate with cookies and candy canes. This is the perfect type of stress relief. It's a night of fun, laughter, and song. If you are stuck in Kingsville and don't have transportation, don't fret. Texas A&M University-Kingsville offers the Blue and Gold Shuttle service to Corpus Christi. This is a great way to take a break from the stress of the holidays and school, and to spend time with family and friends.

   
     The holidays fast approaching, the stressors that accompany are quickly arising. Many families are preparing to spend massive amounts of money on black Friday searching for the best deals. Grocery stores are filling up with shoppers looking to buy ingredients and food for holiday feasts. Department stores are sending out loads of advertisements to showcase their sales and most desired items. Families are coming together and preparing for out of town guests. All of these events combined at once, prepare a cocktail of stress.

      I know I have had my share of the Holiday Blues. Being from a family with a single parent has sometimes been difficult. I have watched my mother stress about not having enough money to get a gift for everyone, making sure that the house is clean for our guests, and staying up all night to prepare the feast for the following day. Every Christmas, all of the aunts and uncles from my mom’s side of the family come over to exchange gifts and enjoy a dinner. It is tradition for us to get together on December 24, eat dinner, and wait until midnight to open our presents. We have another lunch feast the following day on December 25. Cleaning up and putting the food away after Christmas Eve is sometimes time consuming. During this time, it is rare for anyone in the family to get enough sleep, which leads to moodiness the next day. It is difficult to avoid feeling a little blue with all of the hustle and bustle that happens.

    The holidays are not meant to be sad or stressed. This is a time of cheer and joy. The Holiday Blues can be avoided by following a few simple tips. First, when preparing to buy Christmas gifts, the family should get together and create a budget of how much to spend on each gift. Then the shopper should create a list of what type of gift to give each person. This will create a smoother shopping experience, and save time, energy, and money. Another good idea is to get a headcount of how many guests are going to be arriving and at what time. This will allow the host enough time to prepare his or her home and estimate how much food to buy. When it comes to food, it should be bought in advance to avoid the last minute shoppers. Grocery stores get crazy when the holidays come near. A list should be made of what items are needed and how much should be bought. It is also wise to scout out coupons beforehand or look at advertisements to see what stores have the best deals. Also, the family can split up the meal by figuring out who will cook what dish. As far as cleaning up afterwards, chores can be assigned so that no one person becomes overwhelmed. It is also important that everyone gets enough sleep during this time, because being well rested is key when it comes to having an enjoyable stress free holiday. By following these simple tips, the holiday blues can be avoided.