Scary! Take a photo and hit the gym

Save money. Pick up a hobby. Vow to work more. Vow to work less. Learn to play an instrument. Whatever your New Year's resolution is, I hope your first week is going well.

One of the most common (and least fun) resolutions is to get in better shape. I made a promise to myself to do just that about two years ago.

I needed some motivation to hit the gym and pass up Chick-fil-A's delicious waffle fries, so I roped my significant other into a weight-loss competition. The contest would run six months. The winner would walk away with $100 of the loser's money. The victor would not be decided by pounds, but by comparing pictures taken both before and after the contest.

The night before the contest began, I baked a big chocolate marble cake and topped it with creamy fudge frosting. We each ate half.

If the sight of yourself in a bathing suit against a stark white wall after consuming approximately seven pieces of cake doesn't get you into the gym, nothing will.

I had found my motivation.

I started going to the gym at least three days a week. I read fitness magazines. Sometimes I even passed up fries in favor of steamed veggies.

Like a lot of resolutions, my achievements weren't quite as grand as I originally hoped. In the end, I only lost about four pounds, but I did establish some healthier habits.

We never declared a winner. For the record, it was pretty obvious my now-husband smoked me, but I don't think he had the heart to demand the dough.

This week's cover story details specific, easy-to-follow steps to make that goal of losing 10 pounds a reality. And not one of them includes taking potentially embarrassing photos - or devouring a cake.

All you need for a great New Year's

Anticipation. Inflated expenses. The inevitable letdown.

These are just a few of the reasons I used to regard New Year's Eve as the grownup
version of prom.

Despite my best-laid plans, Dec. 31 was never quite what I expected.

I've spent the evening with an awful date. I've watched the ball drop from bed with a fever and a sore throat. I've had a full beer dumped on me. I've been hit on by an 80-year-old man at a tiny bar in northern Michigan. One year, I even ran into someone's elbow and wound up with a swollen lip.

It sounds cheesy, but I've learned that the secret to having a good time is spending New Year's Eve with people who are important to you. If you do this, you can't go wrong.

It's the people who have made my New Year's celebrations in Cincinnati some of my favorites. My first year living here, I had a few drinks with coworkers at Jack Quinn's in Covington. In 2004, I enjoyed food and a belly-dancing show at Andy's Mediterranean Grille before heading to a friend's house. Last year, I partied with a few of my fellow CiN-ers at Pho Paris.

If you're like me and are still looking for something to do this New Year's Eve, there's no shortage of fun options. In this week's issue, we have tons of great places to spend your evening.

We've got all you homebodies covered too. You can find champagne options, steps for making a great cocktail and a recipe for a delicious baked Brie that will wow your guests.

So find something that interests you - and be sure to call a few of your closest friends.

Don't panic; you've got a few days left

If you still have a few Christmas presents to buy, you are not alone.

With just one week left before the big day, I still have a lot of gifts to purchase.

And when I say "a lot of gifts," I mean all of them.

I typically hit the stores in early December, armed with a list of potential presents, and finish my shopping in a relatively quick trip or two.

Not this year.

Part of my problem is the unseasonably warm weather. It's just far too nice outside to be stuck inside shopping. When people are jogging by the house in shorts and I can smell someone grilling brats in my neighborhood, it seems like Christmas is still months away. I had every intention of going to the mall on Sunday, but I ended up bagging leaves in the backyard instead.

If you're also suffering from present-buying procrastination, CiN Weekly can help. Reporter Julie Fitzgerald offers loads of gift ideas that are reasonably priced and, more importantly, easy to get during these hectic last few days before Christmas.

If you've already finished shopping, wrapped the gifts and placed them under the tree, we've got a present for you too. We give you (and visiting family members) our last-minute events guide.

All you non-procrastinators should find plenty of ways to relax and enjoy yourselves. You've earned it! Kick back - go see the Duke Energy Center Holiday Train display downtown, check out A Christmas Carol at Playhouse in the Park, or watch the beautiful Rozzi's fireworks Saturday at Macy's Downtown Dazzle.

I'll see the rest of you at the mall.

A CiN-fully delicious issue

For as long as I can remember, my family has drawn names for Christmas. But this year, my six siblings and I decided to change things. Since we're spread across the country, each of us is purchasing a gift that represents the city where we live. On Christmas Eve, the wrapped packages will go in a pile, and we'll each pick one.

Hmm ... what can I offer that would be reflective of the Cincinnati area? My first thought was a gift basket full of Skyline Chili or maybe a Bengals cornhole set. It doesn't get much more Cincinnati than that.

But as we photographed the stylish Marble Hill Chocolatier for our chocolatey cover story, I knew my gift would be a sweet one.

This week, reporter Kari Wethington explores everything from the rich history of Aglamesis Brothers to the popular opera creams at Schneider's Sweet Shop to the artful chocolates of Marble Hill.

Each of the 10 shops in our story serves up great gift ideas - or a great way to pack on about 10 pounds.



Take a break from the holiday hustle and bustle and do something for those who are struggling to make ends meet. FreestoreFoodbank, the Drop Inn Center and the Salvation Army are just a few of the organizations that can use your help. Click here for a list of groups that will get your contribution in the hands of the people who need it most.

My grandma's chocolate cookies

While my grandmother was no choclatier, she did make mouth-watering chocolate cookies. It's been years since I've tasted her delicious creations, but I finally got my hands on the recipe this weekend. Pecans are involved and there's just a touch of coffee in the frosting.

Cookies
1 cup shortening, melted (although I'm pretty sure my Grandma used animal lard)
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour milk (I had no idea what this was. My sister-in-law tells me it's made by adding a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to a cup of milk)
1 tsp baking soda
3 cups flour
1 cup chopped pecans
2 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted (add teaspoon of water so it doesn't burn in the microwave)

Frosting:
1 tbsp butter
1/2 square semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted (add teaspoon of water)
3 tbsp brewed coffee
Powdered sugar

Mix cookie ingredients. Drop on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 13 minutes. To make the icing, mix together first three frosting ingredients. Add powdered sugar until you reach desired consistency. Top cookies with frosting. Place a whole or half pecan in center of cookie.

I have not yet attempted to make these myself. If you give it a try, shoot me an e-mail and let me know how your batch turns out. Or, if you have a cookie concoction that your family is crazy about, tell us about it! You could be in an upcoming issue of CiN Weekly.

Could this Thursday be quittin' time?

Everybody told me it wasn't going to be easy. That was an understatement.

It took me five tries over the course of two years before I finally quit smoking.

If you're looking at the launch of Ohio's smoking ban - which goes into effect Dec. 7 - as the perfect reason to kick the habit, I have a few tips:

• Quit cold turkey. Throw on a patch if you must, but tapering to a few cigarettes only makes the temptation worse.
  
  
• Avoid beverages that you associate with puffing on a cigarette. For me, that meant giving up my beloved Diet Coke. I switched to Dasani, Sprite and OJ while I made the adjustment.
  
  
• If you have a tendency light up in the car (like I did) keep a stash of lollipops in your cup holder.
  
  
• Treat yourself! If you smoked a pack a day, use that $4 to upgrade to a venti latte. A friend who quit used his savings to buy himself something special at the end of each year he spent smoke-free.
  
  
• Eat an apple! The combination of a fruity aftertaste and cigarette smoke is dreadful.
  
  
• Move into a fourth-floor apartment - with no elevator. For me, it was a daily reminder of how my habit was affecting my health.
  
  
• Quit for you. Nobody can talk you into it. Nobody can scare you into it. A relative died of lung cancer, and even that didn't convince me to change my ways.
  
  
• Read this issue. Learn more tips for quitting in our health story. And check out the news story for a list of the restaurants and bars we're excited to see smoke-free.
  

This week, CiN is loaded with scores of smoking-hot gift ideas for the holidays. Our guide covers everything from guitar lessons to grilling sets. We'll help you find presents for your family members and for that special someone in your life. And we've got great suggestions for kids, parents and the gadget lovers on your list.

Light up your month with merry events

My childhood was spent in a home that sparkled each December. As soon as the Thanksgiving decorations came down, the garland and lights went up. The front door was draped in pine boughs. Tiny cow-shaped lights lined the garage. Trees were wrapped in multi-colored bulbs.

The crowning glory was an illuminated star that sat high above our family dairy farm. It was mounted to the top of our tallest grain storage tower. Each year, my dad or one of my brothers would make the long climb to the top of the 80-foot silo to screw in new bulbs.

I loved every second of it. I was the one untangling lights, holding ladders, pushing to decorate just one more tree.

That was then, and this is now.

I'm almost ashamed to admit that, now that I have my own home, outdoor decorations sound like a lot of work. Putting them up is fun, but I'm not so keen on prying frozen strands of lights from the front porch in the chilly January weather.

Sure, I plan to decorate a tree - a Dr. Seuss-looking faux pine purchased from Ikea a few years ago. I might even throw a wreath on the door. But I'll leave the rooftop reindeer and inflatable snowmen to someone else.

Lucky for me, going crazy with decorations isn't necessary in Cincinnati. If I want to experience the beautiful glow of the holidays, I don't need to go far. I can stroll through the zoo's Festival of Lights, an impressive scene that takes months to create. I can pile in a car with friends and check out the drive-thru display at Sharon Woods. Or I can take in the brilliance of the new and improved Fountain Square from a horse-drawn carriage.

This week, we've devoted 10 pages to seasonal fun you won't want to miss. If decorating your home doesn't put you in a festive mood, one of these holiday happenings will do the trick.

Hope your holiday trip isn't this bad

"You were supposed to turn right."

"Why didn't you go to the bathroom the last time we stopped?"

"If I'm driving, you could at least stay awake."

"Bruce Springsteen? Again?"

I love the holidays, but I could do without the holiday travel. My husband, normally my favorite person, can quickly turn into my least favorite when we're stuck in a car together.

Steering techniques, directions, music selection, drive-thru debates - nothing is off limits once the car doors shut and we back out of the driveway. Given our tendency to needle one another on road trips, my husband suggested we book a last-minute flight to my home state of Michigan this past weekend rather than make the six-hour drive.

Flying. What a perfect idea. The tickets were reasonable, and the flight was just about an hour.

The trip was smooth. A nice woman even switched seats with me so I could sit by my hubby. The best part: There was no squabbling over tunes or missed turns.

The journey was close to perfect until we arrived at baggage claim in Grand Rapids. As we waited at the carousel with other impatient travelers, I saw my black duffel bag slowly move up the conveyor belt. Just as I was about to grab it, I heard a high-pitched squealing noise. Half my bag was sucked into the conveyor belt and the machine came to a grinding halt.

After a painful 45-minute wait, two crowbar-wielding airport employees freed my shredded and now useless bag.

Despite the best-laid travel plans, I've found something will always go wrong. Delayed flights, high gas prices, lost luggage, backseat drivers - just when you think you've found your way around one problem, you'll run into another.

So if you're traveling this holiday season, good luck. May your luggage - and your spouse - end up in one piece.