If you visit my house, you'll notice — besides the well-lived-in feeling — a decor theme that drives my husband, Adam, crazy!

You see, long ago, after marrying Adam, I traded Cosmo magazines for more “wifey” magazines — such as Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Living — and have become quite the decorator.

My preferences differ from others', but there are lots of interesting articles in both.

But I've always been bothered when people rush holidays, and rapidly change their decor, in lieu of living in the moment.

Stores display Christmas decorations around Halloween, almost completely skipping Thanksgiving.

The radio plays Christmas music before Thanksgiving. (Hey, I like carols as much as the next person, but I like to celebrate the holidays in order. At my house, fall and Thanksgiving décor are up until black Friday — at minimum.)

Of course, it's a shame when you have a pretty place but have ugly-acting guests. No matter how upbeat you are, there is always one person who tries to start the ripple of bad vibes through the crowd at holiday gatherings.

Often, it's someone who tries to blame you for every gray hair on their head, although the only time you see him or her is around the holidays. He or she has something negative to say about everything — and is probably the one consuming the most alcohol or food. Just sayin'.

If you are that miserable person, why not just stay home? Is it necessary to ruin everyone else’s time?

Thanks for letting me vent. And now, upcoming events:

•Academic Team All-Star Tryouts are 3:15-6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10 at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville.

•Laurel Hill School fifth-graders will sell “Dean Cakes” until Dec. 12. Be sure to ask Hobo students about this fundraiser!

•A senior citizen tea is 9 a.m. Dec. 13 at Laurel Hill School's media center.

Amber Kelley lives in Laurel Hill. Send news or comments to Hobo.homefront@gmail.com or P.O. Box 163, Laurel Hill, FL, 32567.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: THE HOBO HOMEFRONT: Let's neither rush the holidays nor be rude during parties

CRESTVIEW —  Cold weather couldn't keep area residents from attending Saturday night's annual Main Street Crestview Association Christmas Parade.

Several parade attendees, like Ralph Baker, came early for the event.

See the photo gallery>>

"You have to get here early to get a good spot," he said.

Baker, who was waiting for family members to join him, said the parade seems to "get bigger and better each year."

"This is the only (Christmas) parade I come to," he said.

 Families stood along the barricaded Main Street to see the parade while catching candy, beaded necklaces and other items.  

Like in years past, the parade began with the loud sounds of fire engines from area fire departments and the flashing lights from local law enforcement vehicles.

In addition to several area schools with marching bands, cheerleaders and ROTC programs, local churches, non-profit organizations and area businesses displayed their floats during the parade.

Several Crestview Wholesale employees dressed like Santa's elves for their float. 

"It's Santa's Workshop," owner William Rogers said. "It's definitely for the kids."

Ashley Ewalu, 9, joined fellow classmates on the Walker Elementary School student council. She said she was excited to throw candy in the parade.

Being on the other side of the barricades is just as fun, said 10-year-old Abby Moxcey.

"It was awesome… I enjoyed all of it," she said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Residents attend Christmas parade amid chilly weather

The Crestview Civitan Club will meet at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 12 at Coach-N-Four Steak House, 114 John King Road, Crestview. Visitors are welcome, and membership is open to anyone age 18 or older.

Dr. Naomi Barnes, a retired teacher of 37 years, was The Crestview Civitan Club's November guest speaker. Barnes — pictured with Civitan President Gloria Jones, left — taught in the United States and Germany as she traveled with her military husband.

"Barnes showed a passion for education with a love for her teachers and a belief that every child can learn," a Civitan spokesperson said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Civitans set Dec. 12 meeting

The 34th Annual Toys 4 Tots Run raised an estimated $15,000 following the Nov. 17 event, organizers said.

About 500 motorcyclists — bikers from the Sandollar Motorcycle Club, the Harley Owners Group, The Vietnam Vets/Legacy Vets and the Euro Knights, along with individual riders from Pensacola, Navarre and Mossy Head — participated in the event, which kicked off in Fort Walton Beach. After a 15-mile ride, which included a cruise past the Northwest Florida Regional Airport, the group finished in Niceville at the Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival grounds.

“Annually, the event raises about $15,000 (and) another $10,000 value in toys and more with gift card donations,” said Gene Large, the Harley Owners Group Emerald Coast Florida chapter's membership officer and head road captain.

The club — along with sponsor Heritage Cycles Harley Davidson in Fort Walton Beach — organized the event. Donations went to Toys 4 Tots, Children in Crisis and the Emerald Coast Children's Advocacy Center.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Emerald Coast bikers net $15,000 after 34th Annual Toys 4 Tots Run

HOLT — A simple answer to a question inspired an annual tradition for a Holt girl who wants no senior citizen to spent Christmas alone. 

A few years ago, Railey Conner and her family attended a church service with her great-grandmother, Roxie Buchanan, a Carrington Manor resident who has Alzheimer's disease. Afterward, the child wondered who was responsible for taking other Carrington Manor residents to church. 

Click here for a link to Railey's 13th Birthday Project>>

"I had to explain to her that some (residents) don't get that," her mother, Angie Holland, said.  

Instead of celebrating her birthday on  Dec. 15, Railey decided to collect items for senior citizens at local nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The ultimate goal was to "share the love" with them during the winter holidays, she said.  

Railey's Birthday Project is now in its third year. In 2012, residents donated toiletries, blankets and slippers, among other offerings. Railey and her friends made gift bags, which she gave to residents at Carrington Manor, Safe and Secure Respite Care, Crestview Manor and Silvercrest Manor. 

Railey says it's important to remember that Christmas is for more than children.

"Thinking about kids during Christmas is great, but everybody does that," she said.

"These people (senior citizens) used to be our teachers, pastors or nurses," she said. "These are people we used to look up to. Even though we may not cross paths (with them) as often as we used to … we still need to think about them."

Railey and her mother are looking for more locations to set up collection bins for the project.

As of this printed edition, the First Baptist Church of Holt (532 U.S. 90, Holt), the Crestview News Bulletin office (705 Ashley Drive, Crestview) and Freedom Tax Services Plus (417 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview), Holland's employer, are the only two locations.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Holt girl seeking donations for area senior citizens

CRESTVIEW — Residents, including moms with children from the Lap-Sit program, attending the Crestview Public Library's First Tuesday lecture now know more about local wildlife.

Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge assistant director Susan Leveille introduced attendees to Blossom, a skunk; a corn snake named Butch; Landlord, a gopher tortoise; and April, a barred owl.

Click here to see photos of the animal ambassadors>>

None of the animal ambassadors — some of which have been imprinted, or have had a close relationship with humans — can be released into the wild.

They are permanent residents of the refuge, which helps native wildlife through education, conservation and rehabilitation.

However, Leveille said some of her message of wildlife conservation and protection may not sit well with homeowners hoping to rid their yards of "nuisance" animals.

For example, the law prohibits collapsing a gopher burrow and removing the tortoise. Gopher holes can be habitats for up to 300 other species, making it a "keystone species" on which other animals depend for survival, Leveille said.

It's also illegal to trap and relocate a raccoon; "(when) you remove one, there is another animal ready to move in," Leveille said. However, you can legally remove the food source, such as pet food bowls, that attracts pesky native critters.

As for Butch and his friends, "if you see a snake hanging around your house, you may have a rodent problem," Leveille said.

Leveille said the wildlife refuge welcomes volunteers, adding work at the former Sasquatch Zoo, east of Crestview off U.S. Hwy. 90, "is very physical." 

WANT TO HELP?

The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge welcomes volunteers. Call 682-3949 for details.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Residents gain knowledge of wildlife conservation efforts (PHOTOS)

Won't you please give to our “Gift of Reading” program? We collect new or slightly used books and give them to children in the Okaloosa Head Start Program.

Already, we have received a considerable donation from Microsoft, which pledged a generous gift to sponsor the Crestview Public Library campaign.

Microsoft— which matches employees' charitable payroll pledges— employs aCrestview High School alumnus, whose donation will help the library present outreach programs and purchase new books for local Head Start programs.

We have ordered new books for children through age 5 who attend Edney, Bay and Laurel Hill Head Start and preschool classes.

Still, every little bit helps! Stop by the library, 1445 Commerce Drive, behind the Crestview post office, if you would like to donate.

Jean Lewis is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Give the gift of reading — it costs just a book

Editor's Note: This is an update to "Homeless for the holidays."

CRESTVIEW — The Campiones would have been homeless after Saturday, their deadline to move out of a mobile home they had been living in rent-free.

But the day before eviction, Debbie Campione found hope.

"I went on Craigslist Friday and saw an ad for a three-bedroom house," she said. "The owner said she had just put this house on there 30 minutes before I saw it."

For two months, Kathleen Bowman and her son, Phil, had been letting Campione, her daughter, Crystal Pryor, and Pryor's five children live rent-free in a mobile home the Bowmans owned on Lee Avenue.

Last month, the Bowmans sold the lot to Habitat for Humanity, and had to remove the mobile home by the beginning of December to close on the property.

Campione was informed of the sale at the time so her family could begin looking for a new home, Phil Bowman said.

"We went under contract with Habitat for Humanity. Just the timing was bad," Bowman said, with Thanksgiving occurring just two days before the family had to move.

Nitsi Bennett, president and chief executive officer of the regional Habitat for Humanity office, said the organization was not responsible for the family having to move.

"(The Campiones) knew that the house was sold," he said. "They were only supposed to be there until they found someplace else."

The Campiones also received an eight-day notice before eviction.

Helping hands

When Campione found the Chestnut Avenue home listed online, Bowman helped the family move.

"We paid their deposit for the new place and we gave them a trailer to move their stuff," he said.

Campione said she and Pryor have begun the process of applying for one of the Habitat for Humanity houses planned Crestview, and are gathering necessary financial documentation.

"There could a one- to two-year waiting list, they told me," Campione said. "I said that's fine, as long as we get our name on there."

Bowman said he and his family are glad the story had a happy ending, and were pleased they could help Campione and her family.

"Habitat and the Bowmans are just in the business of helping people," he said.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Family finds new home following eviction from rent-free residence

CRESTVIEW — North Okaloosa Community Emergency Response Team members are better prepared to assist firefighters extinguishing wildfires and multi-structure incidents. 

CERT members have learned, among other lessons, how to help firefighters stay hydrated so they can continue fighting such sweeping fires. Crestview Fire Department firefighter Paul Lewis assisted CERT instructor Kris Boone conduct a four hour-training session last month.

Those interested in joining the North Okaloosa CERT can call Team Chief Mark Brown, 496-1715 or crestviewcert@yahoo.com, for more details. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CERT members gain knowledge on working with firefighters