I've been a professional Santa for 17 years. Here are the naughty and not-so-nice things that have happened on my lap.

Tech Insider
Michael Mele, dressed as Santa, poses with his niece on his lap at Macy's. He is also shown without his costume on vacation in Rome.
Michael Mele hard at work at Macy's and on a recent vacation funded by his holiday work in Europe.

Courtesy of Michael Mele

I moved my family to Florida years ago. Celebrating Christmas in the sunny state has been filled with surprises.

Tech Insider
The author and her family wearing red noses, antlers, and santa hats on green grass
My family has gotten used to celebrating Christmas in Florida.

Terri Peters

I shopped at Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel for holiday decorations, and there was a clear winner on the festive front

Tech Insider
Author Terri Peters at Pottery Barn and Terri Peters at Crate and Barrel with the names of the stores written on top of each store
Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel both offer high-end decor.

Terri Peters

14 Alternative, Modern Holiday Genre Films to Stream This Holiday Season

Gizmodo

Every holiday season, I sit down and watch the classics. Films that fill me with joy and bring together friends and family.

What's the most sustainable type of Christmas tree? Depends on what you want, a forestry expert says

Tech Insider
A photo of a real Christmas tree outdoors next to a fake Christmas tree indoors.
It can take hundreds of years for an artificial tree to decompose once you throw it out.

[left] Jim Craigmyle; [right] Picture alliance/Getty Images

EasyJet is setting up special orange mailboxes in airports around Europe to deliver kids' letters to Santa directly on flights to Lapland

Tech Insider
Santa Claus and easyJet cabin crew holding a bag of letters pose in front of an easyJet plane
Santa Claus and easyJet cabin crew.

Courtesy of easyJet

Trump is selling $35 Christmas wrapping paper emblazoned with his mug shot

Tech Insider : Politics
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a commit to caucus campaign event at the Whiskey River bar on December 02, 2023 in Ankeny, Iowa.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a commit to caucus campaign event at the Whiskey River bar on December 02, 2023 in Ankeny, Iowa.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

I shopped at Home Depot and Lowe's for holiday decorations, and one store made me feel like I'd stepped into a winter wonderland

Tech Insider
Holiday decorations at a Lowe's store.
A view of the holiday decor available at Lowe's this year.

Amanda Krause/Business Insider

I shopped for holiday decor at Dollar Tree and Party City, and the pricier chain has better items for gatherings

Tech Insider
Terri Peters at Dollar Tree and Party City.
I wanted to see if Dollar Tree or Party City had better decor for winter.

Terri Peters

Jill Biden's White House Christmas decorations include 98 trees, 142,425 holiday lights, and tributes to fallen soldiers. See the photos.

Tech Insider : Politics
The Cross Hall of the White House decorated for Christmas in 2023
Christmas decorations in the Cross Hall between the East Room and the State Dining Room.

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

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