Mens_HealthUSA_December_2016

Useful

Stuff

H. Armstrong Roberts/Classic Stock/Getty Images (Santa), Dimension Films/Everett Collection (Thornton), Box Out Group (MH box),

mladn61/Getty Images (cart),

Photoevent/Getty Images (tie), fStop Images-Carl Smith/Getty Images (woman), Sdart/Getty Images (ornaments)

December 2016 | MensHealth.com 33

GOOD SANTA

For this big guy, Susen Mesco is our spokes-

person. As director of the Professional Santa

Claus School in Denver, she’s trained thou-

sands of Santas to work in malls and at events.

Never promise anything. Instead,

mention a mystery present to

excite the kids, saying some-

thing like, “Santa told me there’s

already something really cool

on the sleigh for you. So be very

surprised when you see it.”

Get an Amazon gift card. Or, you

know, a gift from the heart. Mesco

suggests homemade cookies.

We’re guessing she means store-

bought cookies on a homey tray.

Fight back by dabbing some

lavender oil on your wrists—

Mesco’s Santas do this to stay

relaxed during a long day with

children, and research supports

that it has calming benefits.

Take the kids to visit Santa, of

course! Mall madness not for

you? Some sites offer Santa via

Skype, so there’s no waiting in

line with 100 antsy kids. That’s a

tradition we can get behind.

BEST ALL-IN-ONE BOX

Men’s Health Box, $90/quarterly

“We aim to improve our readers’ lives. This

does just that: high-tech fitness gear, and

grooming products and accessories that

get you noticed.” themenshealthbox.com

–Executive fashion director Brian Boyé

BEST FOOD BOX

ButcherBox, $129/month

“ W h y h ave 8 to 10 p o u n d s o f g r a s s - fe d

beef, organic chicken, and exemplary pork

shipped to your kitchen? How about less

store time and more quality food.”

getbutcherbox.com –Food editor Paul Kita

BEST FASHION BOX

Bombfell, from about $89/item

“I like how it offers free style advice on

ever y thing fro m sk in to ne and b o d y

shape to budget and brands.” bombfell.

com –Fashion director Sandra Nygaard

BEST BOX FOR HER

Birchbox, $10/month

“A handful of makeup, skin care, hair care,

and fragrance samples that offer the

joy of novelty without the aching wallet.”

birchbox.com –Health editor Julie Stewart

Gifts That

Keep Giving

Our favorite subscription boxes to

ask for, and which one to get for her.

WHAT TO DO WHEN...

Your kid makes a big ask

You forgot to buy your

cousin a present

Be direct. When Thornton’s then-

7-year-old son, Harry, asked for a

golf cart, “I was like, ‘Dude, I can’t

give you a golf cart for Christmas.’”

Make sure the gift piles are equal.

“If one of them has a smaller pile,

you can never explain it away,” he

says. “They don’t buy that.”

“If I get too far behind, I know at

the end of the day I can get them

a gift certificate.” His one no-go?

“A tie. I jus t al ways think that w hen

you get somebody a tie, that’s a

sign of ‘ I fo rgot yo ur gi f t .’ ”

“Call a truce for Christmas. Any

crap that you have to say about

anything negative, save it until

after Christmas,” says Thornton.

“During the holiday, that’s the rule.”

Be consistent. Thornton takes his

daughter, Bella, on a tour of the

lights. Gifts are always opened on

Christmas morning. And there isn’t

a kids’ table. “I say Christmas is for

k ids , so i t sho uld b e their c ho i c e.”

822

Average dollar amount of

men’s holiday expenses.

Flip this magazine

over to spend it right.

Source: National Retail Federation

SantaDelivers...Advice

We asked two Santas—a professional Santa trainer andBad Santa 2

star Billy Bob Thornton—for holiday survival tips.By Megan DiTrolio

S

BAD SANTA

T h o r n t o n r e p r i s e s h i s r o l e a s t h i e f W i l l i e T. S t o k e s

in Bad Santa 2 (o u t N o v e m b e r 2 3 ). “ I t ’s f u n n y

because I’m exactly the opposite [of Stokes],”

says Thornton, 61. “It’s my favorite time of year.”

S

You want to

establish traditions

Aunt Carol stirs up drama