What Gadget Did you Get for Christmas?

Was a new phone or tablet high on your wish list this year?

We know electronic devices were high on many people's wish lists this year, so we want to know: What gadget did you get for Christmas? Was it an iPhone (which version?), an Android smartphone, the latest iPad, an Android tablet, a laptop computer, digital camera or something else?  Maybe you went electronics free this holiday. Tell us about it. If you were lucky enough to score a mobile device as a gift, learn how you can put it to work learning about your community. Patch has apps for iPhones and Android phones, and also makes it easy for you to upload photos, news and comments from anywhere. Here is a look at a few ways you can connect with Patch through your mobile device. 

•  12 Comments
• Photos (1)

Anne Seebaldt

5:16 pm on Wednesday, December 28, 2011

I got a Nook Tablet (thanks Mom and Dad). Still learning how to use it, but except for a frantic call to the Barnes and Noble to find out how to get to the keyboard to register it, I've figured quite a bit out on my own.   more ›

30 Days of Giving, Day 8: South Oakland Shelter

Winter and professional clothing, new toys and more are currently being sought by South Oakland Shelter.

This is part of a 30-day series of ways Patch community members can give back this holiday season. We hope you'll take part in this 30 Days of Giving and take the spirit beyond the holidays, because there truly is need all year long. If you just recently revamped your wardrobe or have been looking for a place to donate that nice winter jacket or suit you no longer use, consider taking it to the South Oakland Shelter (SOS). SOS is a Lathrup Village-based shelter which helps adults throughout the year get back on their feet after becoming homeless. According to Elisabeth Mirer, director of development for SOS, they are always looking for professional and seasonal clothing donations. “Especially outerwear this time of year — boots, coats, …

• Photos (1)

30 Days of Giving, Day 5: Goodwill Industries

Donate money or toys at your local Caribou Coffee or bd's Mongolian Grill to benefit Goodwill Industries.

This is the fifth in a 30-day series of ways Patch community members can give back this holiday season. We hope you'll take part in this 30 Days of Giving, and take the spirit beyond the holidays, because there is "need" all year long. Good things come to those that give, and through Dec. 6, do-gooders will receive $1 off a future cup of joe at their local Caribou Coffee when they donate a toy to Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit. Caribou Coffee, in conjunction with FM 88.7, or 89X, as well as bd’s Mongolian Grill, are hosting a '12 Days of Christmas' campaign to collect toy donations to be sold at Goodwill’s Santa Shop. The shop gives Goodwill clients, who are unemployed or receiving education through Goodwill, the opportunity to …

• Photos (1)

30 Days of Giving, Day 4: Habitat for Humanity

Lend a hand this holiday season by volunteering at Habitat for Humanity's ReStore or constructing a home.

This is the fourth in a 30-day series of ways Patch community members can give back. We hope you'll take part in this 30 Days of Giving and take the spirit beyond the holidays, because there is need all year long. Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County is a nonprofit organization with a mission to eliminate poverty and ensure that those in need have a decent place to live. The organization builds and renovates houses annually and is always in need of a crew of volunteers for completing house projects and manning the ReStore, which is located at 150 Osmun St. in Pontiac. Volunteers for construction projects are still needed on Tuesdays and Thursdays through the holiday season; volunteers for ReStore are needed Tuesday through Saturday. …

• Photos (1)

30 Days of Giving, Day 3: Charitable Holiday Cards

Greeting cards allow you to fall back on the "old" way of reaching out with holiday cheer – and benefit a charity post-haste.

This is the third in a 30-day series of ways Patch community members can give back.  We hope you'll take part in this 30 Days of Giving, and take the spirit beyond the holidays, because there is "need" all year long. With texting, email, Tweeting, Facebook and a slew of other technologically savvy ways to stay in contact with friends and family, communication via "snail" mail has certainly plundered. But during the holidays, instead of sending a text or eGreeting, take the time to send a Christmas card to everyone you care about – and help out a charity while you’re at it. Hundreds of national charities, and many local ones as well, offer a variety of holiday card options to choose from. By purchasing cards through the nonprofits, some (or…

• Photos (1)

30 Days of Giving, Day 2: Gleaners Food Bank

Families are strained at this time of year; donating food can help ease the burden.

This is the second in a 30-day series of ways Patch community members can give back. We hope you'll take part in this 30 Days of Giving, and take the spirit beyond the holidays, because there is "need" all year long. Many families are in need throughout the year, but the need spikes over the holidays as children – often fed at school through federal programs – spend more time at home, said Anne Schenk, senior director of development for Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan. “The families are really strained this time of year,” Schenk said. “We appreciate all of the donations we receive that enables us to help those families out.” There are a variety of ways to donate to Gleaners: by donating money, time or food or by …

• Photos (1)

30 Days of Giving, Day 1: Toys for Tots

'Tis the season for giving and Patch is giving you 30 ways to contribute over the holidays.

For the next 30 days – every day until Christmas Eve – Patch will bring you great ways to help spread holiday cheer past your front porch and help people and organizations across the area. There are hundreds of supportive nonprofits in Oakland County with heartwarming missions; we hope one – or several – will strike a chord with Patch readers. We hope you'll take part in this 30 Days of Giving and take the spirit beyond the holidays, because there is "need" all year long.  While participating in Black Friday shopping, or making some local purchases at the independent stores to support Small Business Saturday, consider adding goodies for the Toys for Tots program to the shopping list. Every year, the Toys for Tots program strives to collect…

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

10 Things To Do for New Year's

If you are looking for New Year's activities, check out this handy guide to what's happening in the area.

1. New Year's Eve with The Irish Where: O'Connor's Public House. When: 8 p.m.-3 a.m. Friday, Dec. 31. Cost: No cover. What: O'Connor's Public House is hosting a New Year's Eve bash with live music by Image and a free champagne toast at midnight. Dinner reservations available. Who: Adults 21 and older. Reservations: 248-608-2537. 2. Cars, Trees & Traditions Where: Walter P. Chrysler Museum. When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today. Cost: Museum admission costs $8 for adults and children 12 and older; $4 for juniors 6 to 12; and $7 for seniors. What: The event spotlights eight decades of holiday season celebrations through 23 decorated trees paired with Chrysler vehicles, plus vintage O-gauge train sets. Who: Families. Information: 888-456-1924. 3…

• Photos (1)

Confessions of a Mom on Break

A Mom's Guide to Staying Sane When the Kids Want to Stay Home

Flexibility and backup plans help this stay-at-home mom retain her sanity – and even have a little fun.

Sometimes, the best-laid plans can fall apart. One of the first things you learn as a mom is the word "flexibility." If you can't roll with the changes like REO Speedwagon, you are in for a rude awakening. As any well-prepared mommy knows, you always have a Plan B – or quite possibly a Plan C. I was going to take the kids to the library this morning, and after trying to get them motivated and out the door, they were just not having it. I started silently freaking out that our outstanding $7 fine was going to cause the entire collapse of the library infrastructure, but sometimes my Type A personality just has to comply with change. I rely on a few different things to get us through the days when the kids want to hang at home. My first …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (2)