5 Things You Need To Know This Weekend: December 24-25

1. It's cold up north. Forget the hot toddy and roasted chestnuts. We can wear shorts and sunscreen and drink iced coffee or frozen margaritas during Christmas in Florida. Who needs snow when you have white powdery sand on the beach? Enjoy the warmth of the holidays here in Florida!

2. It's Christmas Eve, the stores are crowded, the lines are long and you haven't picked up everything yet for Christmas dinner. No worries: there are some .

3. Remember it's the thought that counts. And if you forgot that one person and now all of the stores are closed, you can get great presents at a convenience store or the drug store that stayed open late. Think Lottery Tickets. Chocolate. Sour Candy. Tchotchkes. Christmas DVD or CD. Remember the guilty pleasure your friend, or cousin or uncle Joe will savor and drop in at the closest convenience store to do your shopping.

4. Don't forget to savor the moments.

5. Also don't forget to vote in the Deck the House contest. Bradenton Patch has two entries so far. There is still time to enter if you think your decorations can beat the entries so far. Otherwise, just vote and help Bradenton win $100,000 for its schools. Voting continues through next week.