Weekend Express with Natasha Curry

For many, Thanksgiving weekend is devoted to pulling out the Christmas lights and dusting off the tree ornaments. The task of hanging lights, finding the perfect tree and concocting the perfect sugary sweet treats can be daunting...but do you ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of the White House at Christmas? Their Christmas tree is perfectly manicured and decorated. The gingerbread replica of the White House is (almost) too intricate and beautiful to eat. Even the First Pet gets in on the action with ornaments and sugar cookies decorated in its honor.

Weekend Express talked to White House social expert Jennifer B. Pickens for a sneak peek at what holiday cheer looks like for the First Family. Pickens, who also wrote "Christmas at the White House," said the planning process starts much sooner than late November. In fact, the historian says it can start as early as February!

The CDC estimates that more than one million people in the U.S. are living with HIV. One of the fastest growing groups contracting the virus? Baby boomers.

Although this may seem surprising, HIV/AIDS prevention advocate Anna Fowlkes said many people over 50 years old are undereducated when it comes to STDs and how to protect yourself. Fowlkes, who is also HIV positive, shared her journey and passion for educating senior citizens with Weekend Express.

Today marks 49 years since President John F. Kennedy was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Three days prior in 1963, he was assassinated as he rode in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza in Dallas.

Now, his presidency is being revisited with the help of Kitty Kelley’s book, “Capturing Camelot: Stanley Tretick's Iconic Images of the Kennedys.” The book takes a look at the “Camelot” years, a reference often used to describe the Kennedy White House.

Linda "GG" Gibson is no stranger to starting over, but enter her Roswell, Georgia store-- and you'd have no idea that the woman selling crawfish pie and Creole goodies is a survivor. She's weathered two devastating storms that left her no choice but to write a new chapter.  Through it all-- faith, family and serving up Cajun cooking have remained priority.

The New Orleans native lost her home, dream car and thriving restaurant in Hurricane Katrina. The powerful storm left her family--and their life in the French Quarter as she knew it-- empty handed. Gibson says she remembers hearing the news the levies had broken and knowing "that life had changed. Instantly. I didn’t know how drastic it would be, but I knew it was a life-changing experience."

Holiday shopping for the younger set can be tricky and with endless aisles of options, HOW do you find the perfect gift for the kiddo in your life? Not to fear. Weekend Express called in a toy expert (yes, that's a real gig!) to help you snag the hottest toys and trinkets for kids this year.

Christopher Byrne has a job that most first-graders can only dream of: he's the content director for Time to Play magazine. In short -- he knows a lot about all the latest and greatest on the toy market.