Holidaze

A dog that was separated from her owner during a hike during the winter blast got a precious Xmas present -- life -- thanks to a determined owner and a rescue team.

Nala was hiking with her owner Christmas Eve in Ogden, Utah ... near Waterfall Canyon. Somehow the pooch and owner got separated. The owner searched high and low, but no Nala in sight. At nightfall, the frustrated and worried owner went back home.

On Christmas Day, the owner returned to the trail -- 2.4 miles from start to finish -- and spotted his dog. Thing is ... the owner's family didn't have a clue because cell service sucked, so they became worried he might be in trouble and called the cops.

A rescue team spotted the owner, who told them he spotted Nala at the top of a frozen waterfall, but couldn't reach her because of ice and steep terrain.

With the help of a drone, the rescue team spotted the dog and they then began a difficult hike to save the animal. Nala was a little freaked out at first, but eventually realized the team was there to help and she cooperated as they brought her down the mountain.

Nala had a few injuries, but nothing life-threatening. She's back with her fam.

It's that time of year, when your favorite celebs kick back, relax, or even get the hell outta town to enjoy the holidays ... and we got a sneak peek of where some of 'em are headed.

Alessandra Ambrosio was down in her hometown of Rio de Janeiro ... while Taylor Lautner got some Vitamin D and loads of views in Punta Mita, Mexico.

Ashanti made sure to flick it up beachside in UAE ... as did Max Ehrich, who spent some time near the water in Costa Rica.

Olivia Culpo popped out in Paris, and played tourist while posing in front of the Effiel Tower.

Ross Butler jet-setted to Egypt ... taking in some pretty cool sights and stopping for a photo op in front of the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Nev Schulman grew up Jewish, but his wife has him all-in on Christmas ... but Hanukkah also has a special place in his heart.

We got the "Catfish" host at LAX and he told our photog he celebrates both December holidays with his wife and kids ... the Schulman household seems pretty fun.

Nev says he loves Christmas morning and all the stories and songs surrounding the holiday ... not to mention the presents.

Hanukkah's a little bit different ... Nev explains why folks would be wise not to assume the Jewish holiday is just their version of Xmas.

For Nev, he says he likes the historical and religious significance of Hanukkah ... it's clear it means a lot to him.

Teresa Giudice didn't open presents and won't be watching the ball drop with her brother Joe Gorga and sister-in-law, Melissa ... because the famous family members are still beefing.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Joe and Melissa did NOT spend Christmas and won't do New Year's with Teresa and her brood ... because she and the Gorgas haven't spoken since this past summer's blowout fight.

As fans of the show remember ... the bad blood started flowing on the 'RHONJ' reunion show, and then there was more drama ahead of Teresa's August wedding to Luis Ruelas.

The simmering beef made things super awkward as recently as October, when Teresa and Melissa kept their distance at BravoCon ... refusing to interact with one another despite being in the same room.

Instead of thawing the ice in honor of the holidays, we're told the Gorgas are going on a vacation with friends and relatives, while Teresa and Luis will be spending time with her four daughters.

Our sources also say Teresa's children will NOT be visiting their father Joe Giudice over in Italy.

Andrew Zimmern is putting an end to a very important debate ... mayonnaise does NOT belong in eggnog -- holidays or not -- and TikTok recipes do not belong in the kitchen!!!

We got the 'Bizarre Foods' host at LAX and picked his brain about the ... well, bizarre recipes going around on social media this festive season. Spoiler alert -- AZ ain't having it.

Our photog asked about the mayo and eggnog trend ... and despite Andrew having tried some of the most exotic foods in the world, he says that blend is just plain wrong.

Andrew doubled down saying ... folks need to stop cooking à la TikTok, altogether. He says, every day there seems to be a new hack or outrageous trend. Next thing ya know there's gonna be a salmon fudge ice cream -- yes, he said that, and we hope to God that's hyperbole!!!

His advice is pretty simple ... keep it simple and focus on making it good, instead of unique. Now, we did tackle one more gastro controversy with Andrew -- charging family members for homemade holiday meals.

Cher is either engaged, or trolling ... and we're not sure which it is, 'cause the rock she's showing off certainly looks like something you receive when someone wants to marry ya.

The singer posted a photo Sunday of a massive diamond ring that she says her boyfriend, Alexander Edwards, gifted her for Christmas -- and while it could certainly go on any finger ... there's a lot of speculation this might belong on THAT finger.

Unfortunately, Cher isn't giving a lot of hints here. All she wrote was, "THERE R NO WORDS, ALEXANDER,A.E." She then noted those are his hands holding the box.

Of course, the internet is flipping out over the fact Cher may be engaged again. She hasn't been married since Gregg Allman way back in the mid-to-late '70s, and obviously Sonny Bono before that. She's dated a lot of people since then ... including some pretty famous men like Gene Simmons, Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Richie Sambora, Warren Beatty and others.

None of those relationships ever got to the point of marriage though ... and if she is, in fact, set to walk down the aisle with AE, it'd be pretty stunning -- especially since they've only been dating for a handful of months now.

Although we know they met in September, they only went public as a couple a month and change ago ... so a would-be proposal is clearly moving things along quickly, if that's what's actually going on. Then again, this could simply be a regular diamond ring ... right?

A major avalanche in Austria has left at least two people unaccounted for ... this after a reported 10 were feared buried and missing.

The natural disaster went down Sunday near the Lech/Zuers ski resort in western Austria, tearing through slopes where skiers who were visiting apparently got caught in it when the avalanche hit around 3 PM local time ... triggering several search teams to be deployed.

There were helicopters sent out to search for people who were initially thought to be missing at first -- but after a few hours, only two people are still nowhere to be found.

Two other people who were reportedly hit by the avalanche were injured to varying degrees -- one needed to be flown out to a hospital, and another was able to free themselves and seek medical attention on their own. Others who appeared to be impacted were unharmed.

As nightfall crept in, upwards of 200 volunteers continued to look for the two missing people, using search dogs to help.

Another year, another Kardashian Christmas ... and this one was just as extravagant as ever.

The whole fam came together Saturday for an Xmas Eve blowout, which took place at Kourtney's house -- where she spared no expense in decking the place out with holiday-themed decorations, treats and attractions ... tons of fun for both adults and kids.

There was an elaborate spread of good eats for everyone to nosh on, and grownup beverages aplenty for those who were thirsty ... of which there seemed to be a few.

The house itself looked like something straight out of a Christmas fairytale -- or a Winter Wonderland, more like. Tons of fir trees adorned the grounds, some of them even looked to be different colors (red) ... and they were fully decorated too with lights and such.

The hired talent was on point as well ... the KarJenners hired Sia to belt out some tunes for everyone ... and it seems North West was in the mood to croon too, which she totally did.

As for the ladies themselves ... everybody was in their best holiday attire, dressed to the nines in evening gowns that looked pretty fabulous on each and every one of them.

Kim chose a sparkly silver dress ... while Khloe and Kourtney went with red and white, respectively. Kylie had a black and white ensemble on, and Kendall rocked a Jessica Rabbit look -- pulling it off well, we might add.

Unclear how many people attended this thing, but by the looks of all their videos ... it appeared packed (and poppin'). You can see all of the sisters enjoying themselves with a drink or two in their hands -- ditto for all the little ones, who were having a ball.

The Kardashians have thrown some awesome shindigs in their day -- but this one might take the cake in what was clearly an eventful year for them. That's another one in the books ... and another 365 days over with for the krew.

Can't wait to see what 2023 brings ... probably a lot, we're sure.

Three busloads of undocumented immigrants were shipped to Vice President Kamala Harris' home in D.C. -- on Christmas Eve, no less ... courtesy, it seems, of Gov. Greg Abbott.

The startling scene unfolded late Saturday night, when a bus pulled up near the Veep's Naval Observatory residence in the dead of night ... and scores of people poured out in the freezing cold temperatures, which are said to have been in the teens.

A lot of them didn't have the proper attire for the weather, and they were quickly provided blankets and jackets by folks on the ground who scrambled to find them housing.

Before long, two more buses showed up ... and even more migrants were dropped off and left to fend for themselves. Good Samaritans are reported to have worked together to get as many as they could to local shelters and churches, at least for one evening anyway.

Many of the migrants are said to be asylum seekers from Ecuador, Nicaragua and other Central/South American countries, and they're all believed to have come from the TX border.

This marks the second time this year that Texas officials have transported folks like this across the country -- earlier this year, in a tag-team effort from Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis, even more migrants were bused to both the Veep's residence and Martha's Vineyard.

The move, which many view as a cruel political stunt from the GOP, is supposedly meant to be a message about the state of things at the border ... but to do something like this on Christmas Eve is another level of messed up.

Ghislaine Maxwell and R. Kelly are rockin' around the Xmas tree behind bars once again, while "Cheer" star Jerry Harris and Josh Duggar are celebrating the big holiday locked up for the first time ... but bein' in the clink doesn't mean they're missing out on a feast.

TMZ has obtained prison and jail menus for Christmas Day from places where big names are doin' time ... and the holiday grub ain't sounding so bad -- even if there's no turkey.

Here's what these celebs will be chowing down on Dec. 25:

Joe Exotic at FMC Fort Worth:

-- Baked Cornish hen, tofu fried rice, bread stuffing, heart-healthy carrots, chicken gravy, bread & butter, fruit and holiday pies

Duggar at FCI Seagoville:

-- Herbed Cornish hen, glazed ham, veggie stuffed peppers, veggie lasagna, broccoli cheese & rice casserole, mashed potatoes, chicken gravy, corn on the cob, cranberry sauce, rolls and holiday pies

Harris at FMC Lexington:

-- Glazed Cornish hen, beef sirloin steak, broccoli quiche, baked candied yams, cornbread stuffing, collard greens, chicken gravy, cranberry sauce, rolls, fruit and pies

Fetty Wap at MDC Brooklyn:

-- Herbed Cornish hen, eggplant parmesan, dirty rice, baked beans, green beans, dinner rolls, fruit, pies and juice

R. Kelly at MCC Chicago:

-- Baked Cornish hen, green beans, cornbread dressing, mac & cheese and sweet potato casserole

Maxwell at FCI Tallahassee:

-- Cornish hens, stuffed green peppers, garlic mac & cheese, brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, rolls, cranberry sauce, red velvet cheesecake and fruit

In addition to the grub, facilities are giving out holiday-themed bags to inmates filled with more snacks, puzzles and even some games.

The Cincinnati Bengals learned a lesson about flying on XMAS eve ... it's all about the landing.

After beating the New England Patriots Saturday, the players jumped on the team plane in Rhode Island for a flight back home. At some point during the flight, an engine on the Delta jet conked out and 71 minutes after taking off ... the plane made an emergency landing at JFK in NYC.

One of the players called the incident "a little rough" ... given the weather on the east coast and the emergency, it had to be super scary,

The plane landed safely, the players switched planes and they returned to Cincinnati around midnight.

ICYMI ... the Bengals are on a roll, winning their 7th straight game by a score of 22-18.

Kathy Hilton is shutting down all the naysayers who had something bad to say about Kim Kardashian's outfit at Kathy's holiday party.

We got Kathy out in Bev Hills to get her thoughts on Kim's holiday fit ... after fans blasted her for missing the fashion memo.

Kathy makes it clear ... there was no theme for the party, and guests could wear anything they wanted as long as they were comfortable. She says there was nothing wrong with Kim's getup ... calling the whole thing silly and ridiculous.

ICYMI, the SKIMS founder rocked a cropped concert T-shirt and black leather pants, while others at the party were in festive holiday red and green ... as with many things, it didn't sit right with some folks on social media.

One user wrote, "did kim not get the message that it was a... CHRISTMAS party???" Another flat-out called her outfit disrespectful.

The stars obviously love a good spotlight, however during Christmas time their trees bring out the flashier side of them ... allowing them to shine even brighter than usual!

A handful of your Hollywood faves like JoJo Siwa, Jisoo and Michelle Yeoh decked their trees to the nines with decadent decorations and draped their branches in gold and white.

Some celebs are feeling oh so right in their spruced-up wardrobes to compliment their holiday displays, while some opted for a more cozy look like Lance Bass!

And Reese Witherspoon was thrilled about her snowy Christmas tree and paired it with a white turtleneck!

Check out our gallery of stars getting lit by their trees and spreading the holiday cheer!

Hang your stocking and say your prayers ... cause Santa is riding in on his slay!

These celebrity hotties are ditching the Hollywood heat and are wrapping up their holiday season with these naughty (and nice) Mrs. Claus candid pics that are ready to move the needle as far as the North Pole!

Ciara gifted social media with a red-hot rendition of Santa's SO, while Ivana Camila and Lele Pons donned the iconic cap and fur trimmings to spread some season's greetings ... and Sabrina Carpenter was looking anything but elfish with her Mrs. Kringle costume.

Sugar Ray Leonard is giving back in a huge way this holiday season -- helping hook up a bunch of kids with food, gifts AND ponies at an epic Christmas party in L.A. this week!!

TMZ Sports has learned ... the boxing legend teamed up with deputies at the Lost Hills Los Angeles Sheriff's Department to provide presents and more to kids who've had rough experiences this year at a sweet event.

We're told the Xmas bash took place at the Sheriff's station in Agoura, CA ... with the law enforcement members, the former boxing champ and even Santa Claus kicking off things with a pancake breakfast.

After the morning meal ... Santa, with help from Leonard, passed out gifts, which included toys, dolls and more. Then, it was time for ponies -- which both kids AND adults loved!!

Of course, Leonard's generosity didn't stop there ... we're told the 66-year-old made sure to take pics and have conversations with as many people as he could at the event.

Nick Cannon says he has a lot in common with jolly old St. Nicholas ... because they both have to travel all over the place to see kids for Christmas.

We got Nick volunteering Friday at the L.A. Mission and our photog asked how he's going to spend the holiday ... seeing as he's welcomed 11 children with 6 different women and has a 12th on the way.

Nick was in a jolly mood, telling us he has the same vibe as Santa Claus ... because they'll be traveling all night long.

For Friday's volunteer efforts, Nick was rolling with baby mama Brittany Bell and two of their three kids, Golden and Powerful Queen.

Nick's been criticized recently for spreading himself too thin with the sheer number of children, with some of his other baby mamas seemingly taking shots themselves ... but as you can see, there are some tender family moments between Nick and Powerful, who seems enamored with her daddy's Santa hat.