Forget Black Friday. Major merchants are racing to see who can open earliest on Black Thursday.

Kmart has taken the lead this year, opening at 6 a.m. Thanksgiving Day. Toys R Us pulls into second place with a start time of 9 p.m., one hour earlier than 2010. Walmart takes third, opening at 10 p.m. on Turkey Day.

Doesn't anybody "Respect the Bird" anymore?

For those willing to brave crowds on a turkey-filled stomach or rise well before dawn, here is a list of opening hours for 15 major merchants, along with a special deal each is offering. Keep in mind that hours are subject to change and some states don't allow stores to open on Thanksgiving Day.

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Ask stay-at-home caregivers what the toughest time of the day is and you'll hear a universal response: dinnertime. This is the hardest segment of the day when moods turn to the dark side and tummies begin to growl. Not only is the food-prepping parent responsible for getting dinner on the table, but must concurrently keep the kiddies relatively calm. And hum a joyous song while doing it, a la Snow White.

Expect that, especially during cooking-heavy holidays, you will orbit the kitchen much of the day with tiny tots and testy teens trailing close behind. Embrace this obvious reality now or prepare to pull out every hair in your swiftly graying head. Get cookin' with the kids--even the youngest ones! This does not mean you hand the torch to Junior to put the finishing touches on your holiday crème brulee. It does mean, however, that you plan ahead to integrate the whole family into mealtime preparation.

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Barely a quarter of young people made it to the polls in the last midterm election, and Mary Jane McKittrick thinks it’s just not right.

"In school, we teach them about the revolutionary war and all the wars our country has fought in order to protect our freedoms, so it doesn’t make any sense to me why young people do so little to participate in the democracy we teach them about every year in school," said McKittrick, author of the children’s book Election Day, part of the Boomer and Halley series (www.boomerandhalley.com).  "I'm not sure what happens when kids turn 18 and decide they don't need to vote, but I think it’s a problem worth addressing."

The statistics that worry McKittrick show that most midterm elections have traditionally drawn only 22 to 25 percent of voters aged 18-30.  Keep in mind, that only tracks the number of registered voters in the mix, and doesn’t even tabulate the millions of young people who don’t even bother to register to vote.  According to the figures compiled by The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, a project by Tufts University, youth voting has been up slightly in presidential elections in recent years.  In 2008, 51 percent of voters age 18-30 voted, up 2 percent from the 2004 elections.  Still, such anemic voter turnout got McKittrick thinking about what needs to happen in order to turn those statistics around.

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Celebrating the holidays wouldn't be the same without involving our furry friends, but did you know that the holidays are one of the most dangerous times of the year for our four-legged companions?  House guests, decorations, and rich foods can provide potential hazards for your family pet.  Dr. Jessica Vogelsang, small animal veterinarian and founder of Pawcurious.com, shares the following five expert tips for keeping your pet safe during the holidays:

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Well, it's Mmm Monday, and after all the yummy food that I'm sure was eaten during the Easter holiday, I thought it would be a good idea to share a favorite family recipe of mine!  Here's the recipe for Creamy Chicken Pasta.  It is super simple and super delicious!  Enjoy!

CREAMY CHICKEN PASTA: Makes 6 servings Prep: 10 minutes, Cook: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 (0.6 oz.) envelope Italian dressing mix
• 1 (8 oz.) package wide egg noodles
• 2 Tbsp. butter, softened
• 3 cups chopped cooked chicken
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

1. Remove 1 Tbsp. Italian dressing mix from envelope, and set aside; reserve remaining mix for another use.
2. Cook noodles according to package directions; drain well, and return noodles to pan.
3. Stir in 2 Tbsp. butter, and toss to coat.  Stir in chopped chicken, next 3 ingredients, and 1 Tbsp. dressing mix.  Cook mixture over medium-high heat, tossing to coat evenly, 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated.  Serve immediately.

That big turkey dinner won't just put you to sleep this year; it'll also cost you an arm and a wing.  According to a recent survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation, the price of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner will rise 13 percent this year.  That means an average meal for 10 could set you back $49.20, up $5.73 from 2010.

Tom Turkey is the main culprit behind the biggest increase in 26 years.  A 16-pound bird will run $21.57, up more than 22 percent from last year.

If you're a perennial chef, or just cooking your first turkey dinner, consider the following tips to avoid economic indigestion.

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