Weekend Express with Natasha Curry

With the fiscal cliff deadline looming, many Americans are beginning to ask-- what does this mean for me?

Personal finance expert Lynnette Khalfani-Cox weighs in on the impact it will have not only on your taxes, but the squeeze it could put on your income and the spending cuts that could happen.

The threat of the fiscal cliff has been buzzing for weeks, but what will happen if lawmakers can't agree on a plan? Jennifer Westhoven takes a look at how the fiscal cliff could affect you.

• For a family that makes $20,000 to $30,000 a year: Westhoven explains they used to get a refund, but now they will owe $1,400 dollars more a year-- that's a nearly 10 percent increase. 
• For a middle-income family making $75,000 a year: Couples in this bracket can expect to see a $2,000 spike in taxes, a four percent increase.
• For a high-income couple making $350,000 a year: Westhoven says individuals can brace for impact with a nearly $14,000 jump in money due. Their tax rate is up 20 percent.

When will you feel the squeeze on your wallet? Westhoven explains—you’ll feel most of it in April 2014 when you pay your 2013 taxes. However, the immediate impact will be felt by people in the lower and middle income brackets. "Your paychecks could immediately get knocked if there's no change in what could happen in the payroll tax," she notes. She adds a lot of businesses have already slowed down in fear of the cliff.

Cheers erupted and a symphony of the Beatles' "All You Need is Love" broke out as Steven Bridges and Michael Snell left City Hall of Portland, Maine. The pair wore matching "Love is Love" shirts as they became the first couple to exchange vows Saturday. They’ve been dating for nine years and made it official with their December 29th ceremony.  "We finally feel equal and happy to live in Maine," Bridges said.

Affiliate WCSH reports, the pair decided just decided on Christmas to get married on Saturday. Snell's two daughters, Carolyn and Katie, were the only two that knew about the ceremony-- serving as witnesses at the event. "It's very surreal still. We didn't expect all the cameras and everything tonight," Snell said with a laugh. "It's official now!"

Meet Kathleen, Angel and Brenda O'Brien. From the outside looking in, they look like three sisters who are fiercely close. Take a closer look, and you learn what bonds them together is much more than childhood memories and genetics. The O'Brien sisters have all heard the painful news: Yes, you have breast cancer. They all have undergone painful surgeries and they all know every last treatment option.

The O'Brien sisters each have the BRCA 2 gene, putting them at a much higher risk of developing breast cancer. To make their own struggles even more painful, the three also have experienced breast cancer once before-- through their mother's diagnosis and battle with the disease. Brenda was the first to be diagnosed with breast cancer. Her sister Angel was next-- after becoming very sick while singing at Brenda's benefit. Shortly after, a visit to the doctor confirmed what she feared: she too had breast cancer. Kathleen, the oldest of the three, was diagnosed after being pressured by Brenda and Angel to receive an annual exam.

Navigating the waters of seasonal dos and don'ts can be tricky. It's a tough out there! In the mall, crowds are scouring for the perfect present for a great-uncle-twice-removed. Of course there's the sacred no-snow dance many travelers perform in hopes of clear roads and skies. Not to mention trying to avoid temptation from all the sweet treats from Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve.

By the time holiday parties roll around, it's a true miracle if you're still standing and donning festive apparel. Your mind is racing with last-minute questions-- Is re-gifting okay? What's an appropriate gift for the holiday hostess with the most-est? How much and who do I tip during the holidays? How long can I leave my holiday decor and Christmas tree up before the neighbors judge?

It's a hot topic that surfaces when anyone gets hooked on a reality TV show-- is the show staged or is it actually real? Just earlier this month, a former cast member of 'Storage Wars' filed a lawsuit against the show. David Hester claims A&E and the production company staged storage auctions.

To get a firsthand account of what it's like to be a reality TV star, Natasha sat down with former Real Housewives of Atlanta star Sheree Whitfield. They talked about the pros and cons of living life with cameras on you all the time, how much of reality TV is pretend and Sheree's new jewelry line, “She by Sheree.”

'Tis the season for football fanatics to dream of college bowl games and NFL playoffs! This week, we headed to Houston, Texas to follow the tailgate style of two war veterans. Their friendship started when they both were stationed in Iraq and needed a football watching buddy! The pair have been back in the states since 2007. They've kicked their football tradition up a notch--serving up spicy sausage and pulled pork at Texas Longhorns' tailgates.

Can you beat that that recipe? Bring it on! Each Saturday and Sunday, HLN's “Weekend Express” is profiling some of the best food and fun surrounding your favorite college and NFL games. Send us original photos and videos of your favorite recipes, outfits, set-ups and more and they could be featured in the weekly “Tums Tailgate” segment.

Cirque du Soleil is known for its incredible acrobats, costumes and make up, but what goes on behind the production? Natasha Curry went behind the scenes to check out how the amazing costumes for the Totem show were created. Who better to know the ins and outs than costume ringmaster, Amanda Balius.

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