Blog

Got some holiday gift money burning a hole in your pocket, but not sure what to spend it on?  Start your year off right by investing in these convenient gadgets for your vehicle!  You’ll find a wide variety of tools and gizmos for all manner of uses.  Check it out on today’s blog. more Great Gadgets for 2022 Fanttik’s X8 APEX Tire Inflator Portable Air Compressor In 5 minutes the average sized car tire will be inflated to pressure. One full charge can inflate 4 average car tires!   It’s a convenient, fast, and efficient way to save time and pump air safely.  Small size makes it easy to travel and stow. OCUBE Cordless Rechargeable Vacuum With incredible suction power capable of lifting tough dirt, dust, grime, and pet hair.  It’s lightweight, under 2lbs, and fits perfectly into your car’s storage departments.  Operates on a single charge for up to 30 minutes of tidying power.  Feature a washable, reusable stainless steel filter as well for maximum usability and convenience.  Budget friendly and comes with a 2 year warranty included! Disklabs Key Shield Modern cars have lots of safety features and security options, but you can never go wrong with another layer of protection.  The Disklabs Key Shield Faraday Bag, is an extra layer of protection which helps shield your car key from thieves looking to gain entry to your vehicle.  Protect your keyless car fob with this convenient pouch. The Swigzy Car Cup Holder Extender & Adapter This expandable insert fits inside most automotive cup holders.  Twist the top of the device to expand or retract the base to properly fit your car’s cup holder.  The top will expand to fit larger drink containers or water bottles.  Best of all it fits so securely that it will remain in the cupholder even when you remove the beverage!  No more drinks getting stuck or spilling. It’s safe and secure. Autosop Car Cover Waterproof Cover With multiple sizes to fit just about any type of vehicle, this is a great item to keep on hand for winter weather months.  It’s got year-round benefits such as dust prevention, rainproof, and more!  But is especially good for preventing snow and ice and saving time in the morning before work.  No more need for ice scraping! The DMLuna Car Registration and Insurance Holder This item is a convenient wallet sized compartment for all of your automotive essential information.  With easy to use elastic, multiple pocket compartments, and clear windows.  Comes in your choice of colors, patterns, or textures.  It’s great for keeping in the glove box or center console so you never have to search for your information again. Electric Car Blanket by Fullity Brand 12Volt Option If you’re still driving an older model car, or your newer model has access to the 12V port, this is going to be a game changer in emergency car items and travel.  Great for cold weather road trips and breaks at rest stops, or for those game-day tailgating parties.  Plugs into the “cigarette port” and warms up within 5 minutes!  Adjust the temperature by the controller on the cable for your perfect center. Echo Auto - Handsfree Alexa for the Car This handy device will add Alexa features to your car!  Alexa connects via the app on your phone and plays via your car speakers via bluetooth or aux cable.  You can mount the device on your dashboard or using the air vents.  It’s programmed to calibrate for noises on the road such as music, A/C, and in-cabin road sounds. Nexpow 2000A Peak 18000mAh Car Jump Starter This compact, easy-to-store, travel friendly portable battery has USB quick charge 3.0 capabilities, and can charge up to a 7.0L Gas or 6.5L Diesel engine.  It’s got 3-5 times more power than previous model generations.  You won’t want to travel without it!  Great for teens and younger drivers who may be nervous about connecting cables from car-to-car for jumpstarting, too.

Today is National Spaghetti Day! And we thought it would be fun to celebrate in a few different ways. Today’s blog post will be a light and cheerful one full of delicious facts and exciting eateries. more First, we’ll be highlighting some of the great racing drivers and pioneers from Italy throughout motorsports history. And secondly, we’re going to shout out some of our favourite local eateries to grab a nice plate of Nona’s “s’getti and meat-a-balls!” So dig in to today’s post and mangia these fun historical anecdotes to impress your friends at your upcoming pasta dinner. Image of Alberto Ascari from thesportsman.com Alberto Ascari competed in motorcycle racing and car racing, and was described as “Italy’s Greatest Ever,” a claim even supported in part by Enzo Ferrari! He was known as “Little Ascari” and “Ciccio.”  Ascari was a Formula One World Champion twice over, and competed for years in the racing circuit until an accident caused his untimely death on May 26th 1955. Image of Giuseppe Farina from Formula1.com Guiuseppe “Nino” Farina was the first official Formula One World Champion and won the first driver’s title, crowned in 1950!  He was also the Italian Champion in 1937, 1938, and 1939 consecutively.  He was sadly killed in a car accident in 1966. Image of Mario Andretti via indycar.com Mario Andretti was born to an Italian family and achieved fame as one of the most successful American F1 racing drives in all of motorsports history.  His name is synonymous with several championship wins, and notoriety as one of only 2 race drivers to win races in F1, IndyCar, World Sportscar, and NASCAR!  He was also the only person to be dubbed United States Drive of the year in 3 different decades (1960s, 1970s, 1980s.)  He is currently 81 years old. Image via Ferrari.com Giancarlo Fisichella has been a celebrated Italian racing driver since 1984.  Heentered his first race in 1996 at the Australian Grand Prix, and continued on to participate in an impressive 231 races, three of which he won in the Formula 1 circuit.  He also made an appearance in the beloved movie “The Art of Racing in the Rain.” Image from F1.Fandom.com Michele Alboreto was an Italian race driver. He was runner up to Alain Prost in the ‘85 F1 World Championship, and later won the 1997 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 2001 12 Hours of Sebring races.  He passed away in April 2001 in an accident in Germany at the Lausitzring during a test drive with Audi. Image from italyonthisday.com Luigi Musso was an Italian race participant who competed in 24 Formula 1 races, and 15 of them were under the ferrari flag starting when he was just 30 years old. He won the 1956 Argentine Grand Prix, but unfortunately perished after just 5 years in the circuit in a fatal accident at the 1958 Grand Prix. Grab a Great Plate of Spaghetti at These Fine Establishments Jimano’s Pizzeria at 938 N Green Bay Road Waukegan Quonset Pizza at 2602 Grand Avenue Waukegan K&R Jesters at 1500 N Lewis Avenue Waukegan Potesta’s Pizza on 434 S Green Bay Road Waukegan Louie’s Restaurant at 1009 North Avenue Waukegan Anastasia’s Restaurant & Sports Lounge at 3880 Northpoint Boulevard Waukegan Double D Pizza at 1500 N Lewis Avenue Waukegan Honey Bay’s Barbecue at 1726 Belvidere Street Waukegan La Scarola in Chicago, IL Siena Tavern in Chicago, IL Viaggio Restaurant in Chicago, IL Quartino Ristorante in Chicago, IL Sapori Trattoria in Chicago, IL The Pasta Bowl in Wicker Park in Chicago, IL Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse in Chicago, IL Il Porcellino in Chicago, IL Riccardo Trattoria in Chicago, IL Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio in Chicago, IL Topo Gigio Ristorante in Chicago IL Salute Italian Restaurant in Racine, WI Casa Capri Restaurant in Kenosha, WI Luigi’s Pizza Kitchen in Kenosha, WI Renzo’s Pizzeria & Trattoria in Kenosha, WI Ruffolo’s Special Pizza 2 in Kenosha

Welcome to the “New Year!”  If you’re one of the many folks who prefer a fresh start and a clean slate, you’re going to really love today’s blog post.  Today we’re focusing on all the different ways you can reorganize your workspaces, workshops, and garages.  You’ll find lots of helpful hints and tips along with all the tools you’ll need to keep your space in tip-top shape. more If you're the DIY mindset person, we’ve also got some helpful YouTube videos that show you how to get the job done yourself.  All that and more with just a click of the button, so what’re you waiting for?  Let’s get your New Year, New Garage goals checked! Check out our handy guide to learn how to go from Mess to Less! Little Things Make a Big Difference: Why You Should Paint Your Garage Image from Home Depot A fresh coat of paint may not seem like a big deal, but when it comes to livening up the workspace and protecting it from spills, messes, and mishaps in your garage, you can’t skip it!  We recommend giving the walls and ceiling of your garage and workspace a fresh coat of paint in a gloss or semi-gloss finish for easy cleaning.  Choose something that’s kid-friendly even if you don’t have any, as these are often low-odor, fast drying, and easy-to-clean options!  Alternatively, a great exterior paint will hold up to just about all the elements (manmade or natural!) and make cleanup a breeze.  They’ll keep your space looking fresh and pleasant for years to come no matter what mess you fling at it.  Clear out the space and give the room a fresh coat before installing your new organizers, cabinets, and other gadgets. Image from Exterior Performance Coatings Once you’ve painted the walls and ceiling, but before you install your hardware, furniture, and organizers, you’ll want to also consider painting the floors.  Providing the floors with a protective coating can prevent motor oil, household chemicals, and other fluids from damaging the foundation and flooring. Consider hiring a professional to install and apply a polyaspartic coating on the floor, or at the very least applying a primer + sealant + paint to any concrete base.  This will keep your garage looking smart and also prevent costly repairs due to damage.  Plus, it really brightens up the space which can be a big help when working indoors. Now It’s Time To Get the Ball Rolling: Organizers, Workbenches, Cabinets and More! The Gladiator Garage Overhead Storage Rack gives you a fantastic way to use unconventional storage in spaces people usually overlook!  Place seasonal items up overhead when not in use, and take advantage of the space while leaving room to park your cars during inclement weather. Clean, simple, easy to use, and bright.  Those are just a few of the reasons we love the WFX Utility shelving option sold on Wayfair. It has lots of options to reshuffle and reorganize your tools for easy storage and removal; great for rakes, shovels, snow scrapers, and more.  It comes with a set of hooks and bins to get you started, too. Looking for something even more simple and basic?  You can go the utilitarian route with the Holeyrail Garage Organizer for under $50 on Amazon right now. It makes a great alternative to the slatboard and pegboard options, and everything will be ready to go at your fingertips.  It’s versatile, simple to install, and best of all it’s ultra budget friendly! If your garage has lots of open wall space, consider mounting some cabinets and shelves above your workspace.  If you don’t like the look of tools hanging about in the open, this Hanging Tool Cabinet from Harbor Freight is a great way to tidy up your workspace as well as maintaining a neat appearance.  As an added bonus, the doors lock to keep curious kiddos out of the danger zone, and to help prevent theft of your valuable tools should you forget to lock your garage. Every good workshop needs a sturdy workbench or work table.  They’re great for planning and prepping, great for spreading out while mid-project, and even double as extra storage while you’re rearranging your space. Harbor Freight has a wonderful mobile 46” Mobile Workbench with plenty of drawers and cabinet space that can fit just about anywhere!  Use it indoors or outdoors for flexibility and versatility, and the 1200lb storage weight capacity makes it the perfect place to stash hefty tools without worry. Helpful DIY Videos

We’re back with another installment of the Local Community Calendar!  We’ve rounded up some lovely events and entertainment for you to enjoy over the next month and change. Please be sure to double check all websites and listings for cancelations, delays, and closures due to weather or Covid19 regulations.  Remember to mask up, social distance, test frequently and often as possible to keep  your family and peers in the community safe. more Classic’s Local Community Calendar for Waukegan and Chicago Area On January 3rd, enjoy a Free Outdoor Men’s Workout at the Columbus Park Golf Course in Chicago from 5:30AM to 6:15AM. January 5th at the Belvidere Recreation Center in Waukegan, bring the family for a day of fun at Holiday Adventures with the Waukegan Park District from 7AM to 6PM. January 5th is a lovely evening to enjoy the finer side of the arts with “Kiss Me Kate” at The Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire. Repeat performances this morning in afternoons and evenings. January 5th at Dan Ryan woods in Chicago, bring your kids and teens for Open Nature Play Day in Chicago from 10AM to 1PM. January 6th there’s a great Baby friendly storytime session at the Palatine Library District from 10AM to 10:30AM in Palanti ne. Tired of dinners at home? January 6th you can head to the Lucky Burger and Grill Foodtruck from 5PM to 8PM at the Tighthead Brewing Company in Mundelein. Enjoy Legos @ The Library at the Uptown Neighbourhood Library in Kenosha from 4:30 to 5:30, perfect for families and kids under 5. January 7th is a great time to take your kids over to the McHenry Public Library for “Storytime for Little Ones!” from 4PM to 4:30PM. January 7th is a great day for family fun!  Head over to the Watts Ice Center in Glencoe for an exciting Superhero Skate for Friday Family Skate Night from 5:30PM to 7:30PM. January 7th at the Palatine Library District from 4PM to 5PM is a great time to get the older kids out of the house for a Tween Hangout Session in Palatine. On January 8th at the Genesee Theater, enjoy an outstanding tribute to David Bowie at “David Brighton’s Space Oddity.” On Sunday January 9th from 4PM to 9PM, enjoy some wonderful outdoor time with friends and family at Skating in the Park at Rosemont in Rosemont. January 9th is a wonderful time to enjoy an evening of fine jazz music with Magnetic Jazz at Madcats from 5PM to 8PM in Palatine. On January 9th starting at 5PM, enjoy the ChiTown Movies Presents: Finding Nemo at ChiTown Movies in Chicago. Let’s support local agriculture and find something exciting to make for dinner at the Kenosha HarborMarket in Kenosha from 9AM to 1PM. If you’ve resolved that 2022 means you’ll get the job of  your dreams or bust, you’ll definitely want to check out the Waukegan Job and Career Fiar at the Job Center of Lake County.  The event runs from 11AM to 2PM on January 12th and January 20th and January 26th! Pencil in a day of fun January 13th from 12PM to 8PM at the Lake County Fairgrounds at Grayslake for the Northern Illinois Sports Show in 2022. January 19th, tune in for a special Family to Family Health Information Center webinar series hosted by ARC of Illinois with Molly Hoffman, DSCC. January 20th at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan from 7:30 to 11:30PM, throw it back to the 90s and 00s with Nelly in concert! On January 22nd at 8PM, come spend an evening at Bass Station in Waukegan for Euphoria II and have an amazing night on the town. Head over to the College of Lake County in Grayslake for the Mini Job Fair from 11AM to 1PM. Head to Schaumberg on January 27th from 12PM to 8PM at the Chicagoland Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Expo at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center. Enjoy another fun evening of Family togetherness at the Blackhawks Night for Family Skate Night in Watts Ice Center in Glencoe on the 28th of January. February 6th in Highwood at the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory enjoy the musical selections and fun activities at the Chicago Bass Festival at BGH from 9AM to 5PM. February 5th and 6th is the Waukegan Township’s “Groundhog Shootout” for 6 more weeks of Basketball! February 13th at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, book a ticket to see West Side Story live on stage!

Tonight is New Years Eve!  We’re glad to be here to celebrate the close of another wild year.  We’ve all been through so much the last year or two, and we deserve a night off.  So we thought we would use today’s blog space to suggest some fun activities to let loose, unwind, and relax! more Let’s begin the new year as we mean to end it, on a happy note, with good intentions, and paying no mind to any stresses, trials or tribulations. Get your noisemakers ready, because we’re here to party! Local New Year’s Eve  Fun New Year’s Eve Sparkly Fun at Three Brothers Theatre in Waukegan from 8 to 11:59PM! New Year’s Eve Party at Just for Fun Roller Rink from 11AM to 2PM in Mundelin Noon Year’s Eve Celebration at Fox Lake from 4:30PM to 6:30PM New Year’s Eve Sip, Nibble, Celebrate and Stock up in Wauconda New Year’s Eve Early Bird Dinner Show at The Marriot Theatre in Lincolnshire from 2PM to 8PM Unwind with a Festive and Fun New Years Eve Party at Home! With virus rates on the rise again in many places, some folks may not be up for the usual party antics. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a super swell shindig anyway.  Check out our suggestions for long-distance celebrations for those of you who wish to avoid the bar and restaurant scene this year, and celebrate more low-key options at home. Schedule a virtual game night with your pals! Whether you’re gaming together on Xbox or PC etc, or gathering over zoom for a game of virtual charades, there’s lots of ways to play party games from afar!  Here are some fun racing games with online play options with friends: Forza Horizon 5 Forza Motorsport 7 Super Mario Kart Split/Second: Velocity Gran Turismo Sport Bake up some fun treats and do a drive-by dessert swap this evening with friends!  We recommend raising a proverbial toast to the new year with these festive boozy-treats (recommended for adult consumption only!)  These are easy enough to make and take today! Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie Pink Champagne Cake Pink Champagne Truffles Blood Orange Champagne Creme Brulee Sparkling Champagne Cookiewiches Almond Champagne Poached Pears with Almond Whipped Cream Plan a virtual watch party with friends and family for a movie night!  Grab your favourite movie snacks and queue up a movie chat via Teleparty or other streaming chat service.  Here’s a great list of movies to rent or stream on New Years Eve: An American in Paris (1951) via Amazon Prime New Year’s Evil (1980) via Amazon Prime Terror Train (1980) via Amazon Prime When Harry Met Sally (1989) via Amazon Prime Mermaids (1990) via Amazon Prime Sleepless in Seattle (1993) via Amazon Prime While You Were Sleeping (1995) via Amazon Prime Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) via Amazon Prime RENT (2005) via Amazon Prime High School Musical (2006) via Amazon Prime New Year’s Eve (2011) via Amazon Prime Snowpiercer (2013) via Amazon Prime The Great Gatsby (2013) via Amazon Prime Phantom Thread (2017) via Amazon Prime Make a list of New Year's Intentions instead of New Years Resolutions.  Instead of making very specific promises to ourselves that most of us won’t keep, let’s think more abstractly. You can add in your own flair and flavor, but these statements are more broad, all-encompassing, and less intimidating. Here’s some examples: I intend to prioritize joy and happiness. I intend to take more chances and be brave. I intend to turn my hobbies from side projects to center stage interests. I intend to spend more time with my loved ones and prioritize social time. I intend to prioritize my health, and not procrastinate important appointments, or prolong necessary rest. Create fun collaged vision boards together!  Grab those rogue catalogues, flyers, magazines, and promotional postcard materials.  We’re going to use them to make some super fun art together.  Cut out all of the inspiring images that you wish to manifest this year: that dream road trip, a brand new car, upgraded gadgets to your vehicle, a new pair of driving gloves, bucket list destinations.  Then paste them to a piece of paper or poster board and decorate with photos of yourself, your friends, your family, and words of encouragement cut out from headlines and articles.  You can be inspired by financial goals, personal goals, career goals and more! Then share them with your friends and family via web chat or post to social media.  It will be fun to look back on next year and see how many you were able to check off. No matter what you do this evening, we hope that you have a wonderful close to 2021.  And we are all sending you best wishes and good cheer for the happiest, healthiest, most optimistic New Year in 2022!

National Short Film Day was created to honour and celebrate the birth of “film.”  Did you know that on this day in 1895, The Lumiere Brothers premiered their collection of short films in front of a public audience for the very first time.  33 guests joined Auguste and Louis at the Grand Cafe in Paris, France, to view the first ever series of 10 short films.Although each film was only about 50 seconds long, each of them truly captivated the audience since there had never been anything like it before. In fact, their first projector was called the  “Cinematographe” (based off of the Kinetoscope concept) and is where we derived the word “cinema!”  The first ever motion picture captured by the brothers was titled “Workers Leaving the Lumiere Factory” and is the earliest known video recording.  Yes, that’s right, you have the Lumiere Brothers to thank for all of your favourite car, racing, and automotive blockbusters! The brothers captured their movies using their Lumiere apparatus: a single camera used for photography and projecting moving images at just 16 frames per second.  They used this device to capture daily life in France, creating more than 40 films in 1896 alone!  In addition, they helped create the first newsreels and documentaries. They even sent a crew of cameramen across the globe to capture additional footage as well as show their work to new audiences!  One might be able to call them the great great great grandfathers of Youtube and TikTok, if you will. We’ve come a long way since then from short films to major motion pictures and blockbuster films, and the industry continues to grow by leaps and bounds.  We can even watch movies on the road in our car now!  Pretty cool, if we may say so. If you’re craving more Short Film content, we recommend browsing streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. Each of these services is host to a litany of short films in multiple genres!  In addition, you can also find incredible content for free on sites like YouTube or Vimeo, and even TikTok! Check out our picks for some great short films and film festivals: Chicago International REEL Short Film Festival Chicago Comedy Film Festival Illinois International Film Festival The MKE Short Film Festival The PBS Short Film Festival The Midwest Indie Film Fest McHenry Fall Film Fest Short Films to Stream Right Now:

Winter is here, and the weather outside is about to get a little frightful.  That means saying goodbye for now to the weekend joy rides and long trips “on the road.” Instead, it’s time to hunker down with some exciting books about cars and automotive history to live vicariously. more From cool pictorial retrospectives, kids books and easy readers, and lots of other fabulous vehicle themed pop culture reading material, we’ve got something for everyone to share.  Check it out on today’s blog and let’s get cozy for some chilly weather reads! Cool Cars By Quentin Wilson Chrysler’s Turbine Car: The Rise and Fall of Detroit’s Coolest Creation By Steve Lehto How Cars Work By Tom Newton Built for Speed: The World’s Fastest Cars By Publications International LTD Classic Cars: The Definitive Visual History By DK Books New Driver’s Guide To Things Not To Crash Into By Lea Dodykavis My Dad Had That Car: A Nostalgic Look At the American Automobile By Tad Burness A Brief History of Motion By Tom Standage Bullitt: The Cars and People Behind Steve McQueen By Matt Stone Making Hyundai, Remaking Seoul By Lee Myung-bak Wheels for the World By Douglas G Brinkley A Man and His Car: Iconic Stories of Cars & Men Who Love Them By Matt Hranek Of Metal and Earth By Jennifer M. Lane Antique Cars and Vehicles By James Homans Eat My Dust! Henry Ford’s First Race By Monica Kulling Monster Trucks By Susan E. Goodman Elbow Grease: Teamwork Wins By John Cena Have we left your favourite tome off the list? We’d love your input, so don’t be shy!  Let us know your favourite car related literature in a comment, and we may just feature it in an upcoming blog post.

Maybe you don’t celebrate Christmas, or Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa but want to get into the holiday spirit nonetheless?  Well, there’s good news, because today is Festivus, the celebration for the rest of us!   The inventive holiday first appeared in 1997 on the hit TV show Seinfeld. Key components to the unique and wacky holiday include the Festivus dinner feast, the aluminum Festivus pole, “Airing of Grievances” and “Feats of Strength.”  This cheeky pseudo-holiday from TV has evolved from clever gag to an ever growing pop culture seasonal celebration! more Looking to throw an exciting Festivus event of your own?  We’re here to help with our fun guide!  So invite your friends to road trip for a visit and enjoy a festivus feast together. (image from Seinfeld TV series) How to Celebrate Festivus At Home Acquire a Festivus Pole and decorate: It’s best to keep it as non-commercial as possible, and thus upcycling is preferred.  The pole itself should remain undecorated, but you should place it in a central viewing area. Look around your home and find an aluminum pole of any size or length.  According to the holiday’s founder, one famed Frank Cosntanza, it cannot be made of any other material. Prepare the Festivus meal and call guests to the table: The traditional Festivus meal consists of your choice of meat served on a bed of lettuce - Turkey, Ham, Lamb Chops, or Beef Stew - or the traditional meatloaf on lettuce.   Place the dinner on the table and invite all of your guests to sit down to proceed in the first celebration. Airing of Grievances: Just before serving the meal, place a clock inside of a bag and nail it to the wall (don’t ask, just do.)  Prior to the meal in lieu of prayer during religious holidays, the Festivus tradition instructs us to go around the table and tell the others how they have disappointed you in the past year.  Once you’ve cleared the air and everyone’s said their peace, it’s time to dig in. Feats of Strength: After the meal it’s time to commence the final Festivus tradition.  The “Feats of Strength” tests are immediately following the Festivus feast (although some exuberant folks do start earlier as the meal winds down.)  The rules are as follows:  The head of the household chooses one Festivus guest, and challenges them to a wrestling match and test of strength.  The head of household must be pinned by other family members, the honor of which is given to someone seated at the main table.  Festivities do not end until the host is pinned, so choose wisely! Foods of Festivus Salted Soft Pretzels Turkey Chili, Crab Bisque, or Mulligatawny Soup Lettuce Wedge Salad with Large Cherry Tomatoes, and thick Carrot ribbons with your favourite choice dressing. Beef-a-Roni from a can, or a homemade Beefaroni Dupe Chocolate Babka and Cinnamon Babka Black and White Cookies Easy, No-Fuss Turkey Lettuce Wrapped Meatloaf Burgers Grilled Beef Lettuce Wraps Wear Your Finest Festivus Sweater Festivus For the Rest of Us Aluminum Pole Sweater Seinfeld Aesthetic Festivus Sweater Festivus Pole and Feats of Strength Ugly Sweatshirt Festivus Ugly Sweater Sweatshirt with Frank

For National Christmas Wreath Day, and we’re highlighting wonderful local businesses in the community who have natural wreaths for sale. And if that’s not enough, we’ve got a mix of virtual DIY Classes and events where you can make your own festive decor.  Check it out on today’s blog! more Wreath Themed Workshops Events On December 21st from 7PM to 10PM, grab your pals and take a road trip to Moran’s Pub in South Milwaukee for a Sip and Craft class. Sign up for a virtual Festive Wreath Workshops online with AmbienceArtsGB via Etsy. Book a spot in a virtual Holiday Wreath Workshop online and create a festive piece of holiday greenery with your pals. Forage for your own greenery and embellishments to create a wreath with Rogers Gardens in this virtual tutorial. Shop Small and Shop Local for Wreaths These wonderful local shops and businesses are ready for the holidays with a fine selection of festive trees, wreaths, and more! Laura’s Home & Patio Furniture Store in East Northport Hicks Nurseries Inc in Westbury Long Island Christmas Tree Delivery in Mineola J.G. Brands Christmas Tree Sales Inc at Padavan-Preller Fields House of Holiday in Ozone Park Elwood Christmas Tree Farm in Huntington Mike’s Christmas Tree Farm in Manorville Carter Christmas Tree Farm in Miller Place Santa’s Christmas Tree Farm LI in Cutchogue Dart’s Tree Farm in Southold Shamrock Christmas Tree Farm in Mattituck Greg’s Trees in College Point Atlantic Nursery & Garden Shop in Freeport Cheap Sam’s Plant Bargains in Holtsville Bayport Flower Houses, Inc. Hewlynn Home & Garden Center Wreaths for Your Car Who says festive holiday decorations are just for your home and office? Let’s get into the holiday spirit with these silly adornments for our automobiles! Christmas Car Decorations Christmas Reindeer Antlers Car Kit with LED Lights Christmas Wreaths fro Cars and Trucks Reindeer Antler Kit for Cars

Show up in your holiday finest to the rest of this month’s gatherings in any of these festive picks for goofy fashion on today’s blog.  Or check out these tips to hosting an ugly sweater party, and then get to it with these fun recipes and shirts!  Whatever way you celebrate the holidays, today is the perfect day to highlight the best and boldest in Ugly Sweater party outfits. more That’s right, we’re helping you find fun new ways to celebrate this holiday season, no matter where you’re headed. And while you're at the party you can share these fantastic fun facts with your guests: Ugly Sweaters first appeared in the 1950s, and were known as “Jingle Bell Sweaters” In the 1980s, ugly sweaters became a big deal in movies and television, especially holiday comedies The trend took off again into mainstream fashion trends in the early to 2000s, and is now a ubiquitous sight during the holiday season worldwide Fun Ugly Sweater Recipes Ugly Sweater Cookie Cake Ugly Pizza Christmas Sweater Eggnog Ugly Sweater Cake Gluten Free Ugly Sweater Cookies Vanilla Spice Ugly Sweater Cookies The Spruce Ugly Sweater Christmas Cookies Make An Ugly Sweater Cake Fun Ugly Sweaters for the Holidays You can make your own DIY Sweater, of course, or you can head over to these online stores and get your own!  Check it out: Pickup ruck Christmas Sweater Crewneck Retro Santa Ugly Sweatshirt Pullover Holly Jolly Vibes Pullover Sweater Ugly Christmas Sweater with Dragons Womens Ugly Sweater Sheep Cardigan Ugly Sweater Krampus Shirt Fast N Furious 1967 Style Ugly Christmas Sweater Truck With Tree Holiday Ugly Sweater Sweatshirt Christmas Time Is About Family Women’s Ugly Sweater Mirror Shirt

Let’s get creative over the holiday break!  Break outside of  your comfort zone and try something new before the year is over, and check off the last few of your New Years Resolutions.  We’ve got a list of creative projects to do at home, and a few ideas to get out of the house and shake things up a bit at local studios. more Creative Classes, Events and Workshops On December 19th from 4PM to 6PM, come on over to the Dandelion Gallery & Studio in Waukegan for the Snow Globe and Coco Holiday Workshop. Today in Waukegan at the Belvidere Recreation Center, please stop by to pick up a treat back with four DIY Winter crafts, activities, treats, and all supplies you need to have creative fun.  $5 per bag for residents and $6 for non-residents. Order and pickup today (preregistration is required.) On December 20th, come over to Pinot’s Palette at Pleasant Prairie WI from 6:30PM to 8:30PM to paint “Aurora’s Magical Glow” painting. On December 21st from 6:30PM to 8:30PM Pinot’s Palette in Pleasant Prairie is hosting a Frosty Ornament Wine Bottle Painting class. At the Evanston Art Center in Evanston on December 27th from 9AM to 12PM, register your children for the Painting and Drawing Camp, Mixed Media Camp, and more! On December 27th at the Kenosha Public Museum, come on out with the kids for the Winter Art Camp Enchanged Forest event! At Bottle & Bottega in Arlington Heights on December 31st from 4PM to 6PM, come out to the Open Studio with your friends and pick a painting of your choice to create together. Got your own paints and brushes at home, but not sure where to start when it comes to building in creativity to your holiday break?  The “Winter Is Here” virtual Painting Class from Paint Sesh for a 1-2hr session guided by an instructor. Book now and use your own supplies. Cabin Fever Prevention: Great Activities and Projects to Get Creative Over Winter Break If you’ve got older kids, this list of 15 Crafts for Tweens and Teens will be right up their alley.  It’s got lots of ideas for easy DIY projects, and current color palettes to keep things aesthetic. This list is perfect for the teenagers in your life who want to add a more personal touch to their own rooms or some shared spaces: The Spruce Crafts knows what’s up! Remodel-a-holic blog has 25 DIY Canvas projects for teens (tested and approved by teens “Irl.”)  It’s a great way to make the most of those craft store holiday/post holiday sales, too! Promoting a healthy use of TikTok and Social Media can be tough, but this amazing list of craft ideas that teens will love to share on their socials is a great way to start! Check it out right here. Looking for something to share with your relatives or friends over the holiday?  This list of 10 great winter crafts are just what you need for family bonding time! The Art Bar Blog really knocks it out of the park with their beautiful DIY projects and tutorials.  Here’s another list of wonderful crafts to do over winter vacation.

Missing the joy rides and road trips of warm weather days?  Fret not, because we’re here to help get you through the winter with lots of reading material.  You’ll be able to live vicariously through the pages of these fabulous automotive inspired books. more From cool pictorial retrospectives, kids books and easy readers, and lots of other fabulous vehicle themed pop culture reading material, we’ve got something for everyone to share.  Check it out on today’s blog and let’s get cozy for some chilly weather reads! Great Reads About Life On the Road Cool Cars By Quentin Wilson Bullitt: The Cars and People Behind Steve McQueen By Matt Stone My Dad Had That Car: A Nostalgic Look At the American Automobile By Tad Burness Wheels for the World By Douglas G Brinkley Making Hyundai, Remaking Seoul By Lee Myung-bak Chrysler’s Turbine Car: The Rise and Fall of Detroit’s Coolest Creation By Steve Lehto Eat My Dust! Henry Ford’s First Race By Monica Kulling Monster Trucks By Susan E. Goodman Elbow Grease: Teamwork Wins By John Cena How Cars Work By Tom Newton Built for Speed: The World’s Fastest Cars By Publications International LTD Classic Cars: The Definitive Visual History By DK Books New Driver’s Guide To Things Not To Crash Into By Lea Dodykavis A Brief History of Motion By Tom Standage A Man and His Car: Iconic Stories of Cars & Men Who Love Them By Matt Hranek Of Metal and Earth By Jennifer M. Lane Antique Cars and Vehicles By James Homans