We all know it’s not just kids who get into the fun of counting down to Christmas Day. In fact, some might find the act of getting a little surprises for the 24 days leading up to Christmas more fun than Christmas morning itself, since the big day can be overwhelming with so many other things to think about.

If you’re looking for a way to celebrate with the main guy in your life, you might want to consider one of these cool advent calendars for men. Whether he’s a foodie, a pop-culture fanatic or a beer- or spirit-drinker, you can find him a Christmas advent calendar where he gets just a little something to brighten each day.

Our favorite advent calendars for men for 2021 cover a range of interests. The most popular tend to be the spirit advent calendars, which let you try selections of whiskey, gin, rum, tequila and beer from around the world. But if he had adventurous tastes, you can give him samples of jerky, hot sauce, coffee or tea, too. Or, you can try and find an advent calendar themed to his favorite movies, from Star Wars to The Avengers. You might even try getting a reusable one and filling it with your own little treats. (Might we recommend these trial-size beard oils?) No matter what he gets, these advent calendars are sure to keep him in the holiday spirit all month long.

The twenty- to thirty-year-old crowd is increasingly difficult to shop for, and this is coming directly from a 20-something herself. Our taste is constantly evolving from one micro trend to the next, so I can only imagine how picking out a 10 out of 10 gift for any young trendsetter in your life would be a difficult feat, to say the least.

Add to that, holiday shopping always starts earlier and earlier—and this year isn’t an anomaly. Except, 2021 IS different for many unfortunate reasons related to the pandemic. There’s a laundry list of issues impacting retail inventory at the moment, including labor and supply chain shortages to name two. So, if you’re the type of person who waits until the last minute to gather presents, just fuhgeddaboudit. Instead, get a headstart on holiday shopping so you can avoid all the inevitable shipping delays this year! Just saying, this is a friendly warning to find stuff ASAP before your fickle loved ones have no gifts at all. (Major eek.)

Fortunately for you, I’ve rounded up 20 amazing gift options for 20-somethings that are equal parts stylish and useful for various personalities. Consider adding these to your cart and checkout before they’re gone—and, trust me, it’s not hyperbole.

Last year, a lot of us weren’t able to spend the holidays with our family. But the festivities happened through virtual of hangouts (remember those Zoom backgrounds?), where many of us made sure everyone — from the newborns to the grandparents — rocked matching family Christmas pajamas to help us feel closer together. Now, whether you’ll all be together to make Christmas cookies and sip eggnog, or you’re still planning a virtual party for 2021, the family PJs for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day need to be better and more festive than ever. And that’s why our list of the very best (and cutest!) matching family Christmas pajamas is bigger and has more options than ever before.

We’ve included funny, personalized and totally inexpensive (but not cheap looking!) tops and bottoms that all the kids and adults can rock as they wait for Santa to come down the chimney. Also on our list sorts of styles, including onesies that are perfect for lounging all Christmas morning, as well as short sleeve PJs and nightgowns in case it’s warmer than you’d like when you’re celebrating. And if you think we forgot about matching pet pajamas, you’re totally wrong — cats and dogs can get in on the fun, too (as long as it’s comfortable for them to do so). You can shop many of these adorable looks on Amazon, but you’ll also see options for Old Navy, Hanna Andersson and Etsy.

Now, after you make your purchase, don’t be surprised if you’re feeling like gifting a pair to other members of the fam or if you’re all of sudden inspired to plan a family photo opp.

It’s been a tough few years, so you might as well treat yourself (or an anxious loved one) to a weighted blanket. You might be skeptical, though, of these so-called anti-stress blankets that have completely taken over our Instagram feeds. We were too — until we slipped underneath one, and our worries literally melted away. Something you probably thought was unimaginable to do right now.

So, how does it work? According to Bearaby, one of the brands revolutionizing the weighted-blanket world, the weight on your body can reduce cortisol, making you feel more relaxed. Some of our favorite bedding brands offer up some seriously dreamy weighted blankets — such as Casper and Luna — and Bearaby makes them look super chic. And if you’re a fan of Pendleton, they’ve even got one too.

The coolest part about these is that you get to choose the weight, often referenced as the size, so you can get a custom feel that’s not too heavy and not too light. In general, you can expect to choose from 15 to 20 pounds, though there are some other options to choose from. There are different styles too — some blankets are filled with glass beads while others are made with a heavy, knitted fabric.

Ahead, check out our top picks for the coziest, dreamiest weighted blankets that’ll have you feeling cool, calm, and comfy in no time. And better yet, they also double as a warm hug since those are off the table this year. So, basically, these blankets are the ultimate form of self care.

Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. QVC is a SheKnows sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale. 

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PARIS – Hermès International said revenues jumped 31.5 percent year-on-year in the third quarter, helped by a “remarkable” performance in Greater China.

The French luxury firm posted revenues of 2.37 billion euros in the three months to Sept. 30, up 40.3 percent at constant exchange rates compared with 2019, considered a more reliable benchmark due to the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic last year.

This represented an increase of 31.2 percent versus 2020, beating a consensus of analyst estimates, which had called for a 23.8 percent rise in like-for-like sales. The better-than-expected growth rates confirmed Hermès as one of the top-performing luxury brands this year, despite a resurgence in coronavirus cases in Asia over the summer.

“This report confirms our understanding that the strongest are getting stronger,” Luca Solca, analyst at Bernstein, said in a research note. Kering earlier this week reported that sales rose 12.2 percent at constant exchange rates compared with 2020, while sector leader LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton was up 20 percent year-on-year.

“The performance of the third quarter reflects an atypical year, during which we continue our strategic investments and accelerate job creations,” Axel Dumas, executive chairman of Hermès, said in a statement.

“In a world that remains unstable, the balance between our 16 métiers and between our locations around the world, allows us to move forward with optimism and caution, while continuing to create beautiful, high quality, sustainable objects,” he added.

The group said that despite a high comparison base in the fourth quarter, it is approaching the end of the year with “confidence.”

However, in a conference call with analysts, it cautioned that that its second-half operating profit margin should be much lower than the 40.7 percent recorded in the first six months of the year, due to foreign exchange headwinds, higher employee costs and a lower contribution from leather goods, Barclays reported.

Activity in the third quarter was sustained in Asia, up 23.4 percent at constant exchange rates thanks to the strong performance in Greater China and other countries in the region, despite new restrictions in Australia, Thailand and Malaysia, the company said.

Sales accelerated in the Americas, which posted a 48.4 percent jump in revenues, while France recorded a 46.7 percent increase. The rest of Europe, meanwhile, was up 36.4 percent.

The key leather goods and saddlery division saw organic sales rise 22.2 percent during the period, driven by sustained demand and significant deliveries during the quarter. Hermès opened a new leather goods workshop near Bordeaux in September, and several other production sites are in the works.

Ready-to-wear and accessories were up 39.4 percent, watches 53.7 percent, and silk and textiles 49.2 percent. Other sectors, a division that includes jewelry and home wares, recorded a 47.5 percent increase in comparable sales, and the perfume and beauty division was up 32.5 percent, with the launch of beauty in China in July. 

Hermès continued to expand its retail network with openings and extensions, and reported an increase in online sales worldwide. In the last month alone, it has reopened its store at the Istinye Park mall in Istanbul, and unveiled new boutiques at the Aventura Mall in Fla., United States, and in Shenzhen, China.

Wholesale activities remained penalized particularly by the absence of international travelers, which has heavily impacted travel retail.

SEE ALSO:

Why Hermès Remains a Great Investment

Hermès Entering Detroit Market as Retail Count in U.S. Grows

Hermès Beats Estimates for First Half

 
 

The zebras that escaped from an Upper Marlboro farm have evaded capture for nearly two months, but a couple tells 7News they have been caring for the large mammals.

“All of a sudden I’m in the middle of trying to save zebras. I would never in a million years think I’d be here,” Theodore McKenzie stated.

READ MORE: Escaped Zebra in Prince George’s County found dead in illegal snare trap

McKenzie is a groundskeeper on a large, private property that backs to the zebra farm.

“We reached out to the farm owner and that didn’t really go anywhere.”

In fact, McKenzie is the person who found one of the three zebras caught in a snare trap, dead from dehydration.

“And it became apparent that these zebras are in danger. Someone actively sought one and hurt it… I am standing in-between anybody that wants to hurt the zebras ever again and their safety.”

For weeks, McKenzie has managed to keep the animals — that can run up to 40 miles per hour — on his unfenced property. He provided 7News with photos of him spreading hay at 3:49 p.m. Tuesday and additional photos of the two remaining zebras chowing down on the hay a little more than two hours later.

McKenzie and his girlfriend, Bethany Petrie, recently started the ‘Save the Zebras Foundation.’ They now operate a website and a Facebook Page where they post photos and links daily.

“Get involved. Help me help the zebras.”

McKenzie said he is working with a licensed veterinarian, plus crafting a plan to humanely capture the zebras.

“I would love to see them at the National Zoo, but I know the National Zoo only has so much funding and so much space, they might not be able to take them. That’s just a dream for the two famous zebras,” McKenzie concluded with a smile on his face.

September

While it might be the height of summer for you, September will undoubtedly be a challenging month for the Aries personality. Everything will mount up and get on top of you, especially at the start of the month. In short, tensions will rise and conflict could be headed your way.

Taking a look at the predictions for each sign, it would be difficult to contest the fact all 12 are in line for a prosperous year. With the Saturn-Pluto conjunction now being over, we’re all set to benefit from increased luck, optimism and a sense of adventure. However, that being said, the year will certainly have its highs and its lows, so discover which month of 2022 will be worst for your zodiac sign and the reasons why it will be so disastrous.

Our 2022 horoscope really does show us that most of us are in store for a great year, regardless of your zodiac sign. Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius for the next 12 months will see many of transform and push for freedom. Although sadly, while there are some particularly lucky people, everyone will encounter at least one testing month. Are you prepared to deal with this tough bout?

Which will be the worst month for each zodiac sign in 2022?

Having completed our yearly astrology forecast for every sign among the horoscope, we can now reveal when you’ll be the most unlucky. That being said, these predictions don’t necessarily mean you need to live in fear, but rather underline some potential pitfalls or troubles that you might run into. With this knowledge in advance, you should breeze through 2022 with too many bumps in the road!

— Discover the luckiest month 2022 for your zodiac sign now, plus read up on the 5 unluckiest zodiac signs! —

🌟 Discover your destiny with the help of a Psychic! 🌟

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