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By CATHERINE MUCCIGROSSO The Charlotte Observer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — It’s been nearly a decade since rapper Macklemore and Ryan Lewis topped the U.S. music charts with “Thrift Shop” about poppin’ tags and “One man’s trash, that’s another man’s come-up.” Clearly, they were on to something. In the past decade, the resale apparel has been growing fast, a whopping 215% within an industry that’s overall grown by 24%, according to the latest report by ThredUp, an online thrift store. And if The Charlotte Observer’s recent 2022 Reader’s Choice best thrift ...

Your plus-one

Lifestyles

Family Features The holiday season is a time for joy and togetherness, but it can often bring stress for parents of young children with the amount of “newness” in each experience, particularly when it comes to seasonal travel. To help make holiday travel with little ones more manageable - whether traveling by bus, train, car or plane - Dr. Whitney Casares, MD, MPH, pediatric medical consultant for Gerber, offers this guidance for families. Travel light Especially if traveling by plane, pack as light as possible (or check most of your luggage) so you have less to maneuver ...

Charities working to help kids in need

Lifestyles

Metro Whitney Houston famously sang that “the children are our future.” Each generation has the potential to change the world. Even the most determined children need some helping hands in order to reach their full potential, especially if they must confront financial, medical or other obstacles. Charitable organizations assist individuals in various ways. Children’s charities help kids in need, whether they are facing poverty, need critical medical care, come from abusive homes, or require learning assistance. The following are some of the many critical children’s charities ...

Shaun Tan to Emily in Paris: Reach for books as worthy gifts

Lifestyles

NEW YORK (AP) — Books are an easy gift choice, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be fresh. There’s always a great selection around the holidays for a range of ages and interests. Some ideas: “Creature,” by Shaun Tan. It’s as if, Tan writes, “I need to throw the artistic pebble far across a pond of weirdness in order to see some meaning in the ripples ...” Those words in the introduction of his new book speak volumes. The artist, writer and filmmaker from Perth, Australia, has collected his dreamy, sometimes eerie paintings and drawings. Tan reflects at length on his ...

Well noted: A selection of some music-themed gifts this year

Lifestyles

Music is never out of fashion as a gift idea. Here are some outstanding vinyl box sets for lovers of Neil Young, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, Iron Maiden and a certain ex-Beatle, a book about the beginning of rock at Sun Records and another about The Byrds, some tough-looking boots made in collaboration with The Clash, and even a perfume inspired by Whitney Houston. Always young: Neil Young is releasing his 1972 album “Harvest” as a 50th anniversary edition. Young’s fourth solo album remains one of his most beloved, with the songs “Heart of Gold” and “Old Man.” ...

Twists, themes, sound effects: Jigsaw puzzles for all ages

Lifestyles

By KIM COOK The Associated Press Jigsaw puzzlers found their happy place, and their people, during the pandemic. Puzzling was already a thing, but soon more groups formed on social media, while popular puzzles disappeared quickly from online and actual shelves. Sales for one big puzzle maker, Ravensburger, soared 370% year over year in the first couple of weeks of lockdown in 2020. Inventories have mostly recovered, although there are still “sold out” tags on some sites. And even though many people have returned to pre-lockdown life, the love of jigsaw puzzles stuck around. ...