Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Trends, November 27, 2000

Lisa Ferguson

Monday, Nov. 27, 2000 | 10:28 a.m.

Better to give

So you hit the mall over the weekend and came home empty handed. What? Did you you forget to bring your holiday gift shopping list along?

Maybe, while standing shoulder to shoulder in the food court, you had an epiphany -- that your funds would be better spent helping those in need.

But what to hand Aunt Bessie this year when she's waiting for a present?

A charity gift card, that's what. They're available at -- appropriately enough -- charitygift.com. The cards, priced between $3.95-$6.95, allow the recipient a predetermined dollar amount to be donated to the charity of their choice, by visiting the website and typing in a special account number printed on the card.

Each card requires the gift giver to make a tax-deductible donation of at least $10, which allows them to also design the look of the card with logos, personalized messages and such. Animated electronic cards are also available, so the entire gift/charity-giving process can be done online.

The cards are also available by calling (877) 972-GIFT.

It sure beats presenting Bessie with another stale fruitcake.

Can't we all get along?

The holidays can be stressful times, especially if you're not what's called a "people person."

Dr. Irvin Wolkoff, a relationship "expert" and host of the syndicated television show "House Calls," offers a couple of tips for getting through relationship conundrums throughout the season:

You and your spouse can't decide whose parents to spend the holidays with? Try neither. Instead, Wolkoff suggests creating new traditions as a couple.

Enduring the loss of a loved one can make the holidays seem unbearable. Some people chose to talk about the dearly departed, while others would rather pretend nothing has changed. The challenge, according to the doctor, is to "redesign" traditions to "comfortably suit" surviving family members.

Got stamps?

Make all of the excuses you want, but the tradition of sending (or not sending) holiday cards is not going away.

But it is getting easier. Hallmark recently introduced a service that will write a message inside the cards and sign them for you, as well as address, stamp and mail them. Visit hallmark.com for more details.

Are we really that lazy? According to a survey of 1,000 adults sponsored by Hallmark, 23 percent of people spend less than an hour organizing, addressing and sending holiday cards; 35 percent take between one and two hours to complete the task; 22 percent take two to five hours; and 10 percent don't bother to send them at all. Happy holidays to you, too.

Meanwhile Hallmark is also celebrating the "Joy of a Peanuts Christmas," honoring the 50th anniversary of the comic strip and its characters with a line of plush toys, snow globes, books and the like.

In that spirit, the company asked celebrities which is their favorite Peanuts character. Ray Romano, of "Everybody Loves Raymond," said he most identifies with Charlie Brown. "He doubts himself and his talents."

Jack Handy, author of the wacky "Deep Thoughts" books, likes Lucy. "She always pulled the football away from Charlie Brown. And she always had a good explanation for it." Camryn Manheim, of "The Practice," also gave a nod to Lucy. "Because she's bossy, vocal, powerful and mighty."

"Easy Rider" star Peter Fonda chose Snoopy. "He's loyal, takes care of his friends and he has a great sense of humor." Melissa Joan Hart, of "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," named Pig Pen. "He's so carefree."