Toast the 2013 New Year with a Bottle of Champagne

Choosing the appropriate sparkling wine for New Year's Eve can make you dizzy before the first sip. Here's a handy guide to the intoxicating world of bubbles on a budget.

The pop of the Champagne cork is as much a part of the New Year’s Eve soundtrack as "Auld Lang Syne" and fireworks. The tiny, tickling bubbles evoke celebratory moods. With so many sparkling wines to choose from, picking the best bottle can be daunting. Prices for sparkling wine range from less than $10 to more than $500 per bottle. Keep in mind that while you usually get what you pay for, there are some great options for those of us on a budget.  Large “negociant” champagne houses that purchase much of their fruit, such as Veuve Clicquot, Bollinger, Roederer, Taittinger, Perrier Jouet and Nicolas Feuillatte, dominate the market. However, in the last decade or so, Champagne from small growers has gained some traction with Champagne …

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Find Last-Minute Christmas Gifts in Cartersville

If the holidays leave you with little time to shop for gifts, try these stores in Cartersville for great last-minute gift ideas.

With all of the tree trimming, cookie baking and partygoing, there is so much to do during the holidays that it's easy to leave shopping for Christmas presents until the last minute. But by then, the malls and chain stores are usually chaotic and the mere thought of battling crowds is exhausting. Here are some ideas for easy gifts that can be bought locally and require little stress: What are some of your own last-minute gift ideas? Share your ideas in the comments below.  Don’t miss any of the local news you care about. Subscribe to Cartersville Patch's newsletters and breaking news alerts, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Also check out our Android or iPhone apps for mobile news, business listings, weather forecasts and more.

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What Are the 2012 Christmas Shipping Deadlines?

What's the latest you can send a package this year to ensure pre-Christmas delivery? We run down the options around Cartersville.

If you're the type to put off holiday shopping until the last minute, not to worry—there are plenty of speedy ways to ship your items nationwide and ensure that they'll arrive before Dec. 25. Below is a rundown of USPS, UPS and FedEx deadlines for pre-Christmas arrival. Cost, of course, goes up with the speed of the service. The absolute latest option nearby? Express mailing your package from a Cartersville post office by 12 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 22. U.S. POSTAL SERVICE Method Last day to ship First Class Mail Thursday, Dec. 20 Priority Mail Friday, Dec. 21 Express Mail Saturday, Dec. 22 FEDEX Method Last Day to Ship FedEx Express Saver Wednesday, Dec. 19 FedEx 2Day Thursday, Dec. 20 FedEx Standard Overnight, FedEx Priority Overnight, …

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Top 10 Holiday Gifts for $15 or Under

Need a gift for a teacher or gift exchange at work? Perfect inexpensive gifts abound! Check out our list of ideas and let us know if you have one to add!

Do you need a nice, inexpensive gift for someone on your list this year? Check out these suggestions for gifts $15 and under. Also keep in mind that gift cards, which allow you to set your own amount are always the right size. Tell us what you think in the comments, share your photos and videos, and don’t miss any of the local news you care about—subscribe to Cartersville Patch's newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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How to Celebrate the Holidays on a Budget in Cartersville

Here are 10 ways to have fun and spread holiday cheer in Cartersville without breaking the bank.

This year’s holiday season can be special for you and your family regardless of your budget. Here are some fun tips for creating new holiday traditions while saving money. 1)    Make your cards from recycled materials. Cards can be made from paper grocery bags, cereal boxes, used file folders and even last year’s holiday cards. Feature your family’s artwork and use recycled wrapping paper or paper from catalogs and magazines for backgrounds. A great resource for making cards from recycled materials is "Creative Correspondence" by Michael and Judy Jacobs, available on Amazon.com.  2)    Have fun together and create a festive decoration by making a gingerbread house. You can bake the gingerbread yourself and use royal icing to construct the …

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Holiday Cookie Recipes

Need a quick holiday cookie recipe? Make one of these for your parties this season.

One of the most important holiday questions to ask yourself is: What kind of cookies will you be baking for your get-togethers this season? Not into baking? Agan's Bakery in downtown Cartersville offers great, festive cookies and other sweet treats all year, such as macaroons. Although the Christmas cookies are coming, according to an Agan's Facebook post today, its most popular cookie is the Chocolate Drop.  From sweet to savory, holiday cookies come in all shapes and sizes. And what’s better than to top off a tray of cookies than a glass of homemade eggnog? Check out the recipes below and myrecipes.com to learn how to host a successful cookie swap and view more holiday cookie recipes.  Eggnog In a saucepan over low heat combine milk, …

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Shop with a Cop Hits Walmart Saturday Morning

Local police officers are set to shop with more than 300 children from Cartersville and Bartow County this Saturday at Walmart.

More than 300 local kids accompanied by a drove of area cops are set Saturday to hit Cartersville's Walmart for Bartow County Shop with a Cop 2012. Now in its fourth year, Shop with a Cop pairs less-privileged kids with local law enforcement officers for side-by-side holiday shopping. Spearheaded by Emerson Police Department Chief Stan Bradley several years ago, this year the shopping trip includes all of Bartow County. Last year, 88 children from the Emerson and Allatoona areas —South Central Middle School and Emerson Elementary students—participated, according to Bartow Schools Police Chief Dan Knowles and a The Daily Tribune News report. More than 330 kids this year are set to participate in the yearly event, which has raised more than…

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Cartersville Store Sells $193K Winning Lottery Ticket

A Floyd County man won the Fantasy 5 prize and intends to save it for his grandchildren.

A Floyd County man won a fine Fantasy 5 prize from the Georgia Lottery and a local store sold the winning ticket. Willie Sutton of Lindale matched all five numbers from the Dec. 3 Fantasy 5 drawing, winning the $193,020 jackpot prize. Food Mart BP Amoco in Cartersville sold the winning ticket. Sutton, who has three grandchildren, claimed his prize recently at the Georgia Lottery District Office in Dalton. The copper mill worker heard his lucky numbers announced during the televised drawing. Winning numbers from the Dec. 3 Fantasy 5 drawing were: 4-6-9-23-25. “I was so excited, I couldn’t sleep,” Sutton said, according to the release. The lucky winner also has two adult children. Sutton, 48, intends to save the money for his grandchildren. …

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Honda Carland North Welcomes New Manager

Rick Cantrell comes to the Cartersville dealership with more than 17 years of experience in the automotive industry.