Post focusholmagic2017

Page 1

NOVEMBER 2017

Holiday Magic

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Page 2 Holiday Magic • Thursday/Friday, November 16 & 17, 2017

Share the ‘magic’ of the holidays with your friends, family and community By RACHEL M. ANDERSON, Contributing Writer

The most wonderful time of the year will be here before you know it. What are you planning this year to deliver on the promise? While the kids tend to equate the holiday season with presents, it’s important to make sure they realize the season is about a lot more than gifts. The true meaning of the holiday season is being able to spend time with the people you love; and one of the most rewarding ways to do that is by giving back‌together. Volunteering as a family shows kids first-hand how even one small act of caring can make a real difference in someone’s life. It’s not a coincidence that the busiest time of year at soup kitchens and nursing homes is during the holiday season; but volunteering in those

kinds of places isn’t all families can and should do together during the holidays. Here are some other ways to share the magic of the holidays with your friends, family and community. Find holiday events to attend together All you need to do is open the local paper to find a lengthy list of all the local holiday events happening in your community. Whether your family enjoys holiday-themed concerts, plays, parades or shows, they are plentiful this time of year at such places as community centers, concert halls and churches. Plus, most of the events are free to attend, so you can take in as many as you like.

Make a memory book While at those events, as well as parties with friends and loved ones, be sure to take lots of photos with your smartphone or digital camera, but don’t just leave them on your devices. Take the time to go through your pictures and pick out the best ones, then print them out in the form of a memory book. Services like Shutterfly.com make it easy to create a one-of-akind gift that will hold a lot more meaning than another shirt or pair of socks. Plus, you can affordably print multiple copies, so you can give books to all your friends. Target, Walmart, Costco and Walgreens are among the many big box retailers that offer similar photo services. Holiday Magic continues page 10

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Page 4 Holiday Magic • Thursday/Friday, November 16 & 17, 2017

By RACHEL M. ANDERSON, Contributing Writer

reveal the toys inside. They were inspired by last year’s Hatchimals, which required kids to “hatch� the animal from an egg.

Every year around this time there’s a lot of buzz over the hottest holiday toys, Tech gear For the older kids, tech is expected to and for the 2017, the major retailers are pretty much all in agreement about what be big again this year. You can’t go wrong with a new smartphone, headphones, a those toys will be. digital camera, a mini-rocker chair with Dolls and animals built in speakers, or anything Star Wars. Target, Amazon and eBay are all predicting that Fingerlings, a revamped Ideas for adults When it comes to gifts for the adult high-tech Teddy Ruxpin, Luvabella dolls friends and family in your life, as always and L.O.L. Surprise Dolls will be among the trend is towards giving gifts that have the hottest sellers. If you’ve never meaning. Instead of going out and buyheard of these toys before, here are ing holiday cards for everyone on your the basics. list, how about making your own this Fingerlings are little plastic aniyear? Michaels is a good place to find all m mals that hang from your finger the supplies you need—blank cards and and react to sounds such as clapenvelopes, stamps, stickers, glitter, etc. ping and kisses. Available this year For the gifts themselves, you can make are monkeys in all different colors those too. Some great ideas for gifts are and a white unicorn with a colorful to knit a hat and matching scarf, make mane. m Teddy Ruxpin, the popular sto- custom soap bars from a kit and give rytelling bear from your childhood, them out gift wrapped, or prepare a meal is back and revamped for 2017 with and bring it over to a friend or family glowing LCD eyes that blink and member’s home for them to enjoy. flash. He also has the ability to con- Experiences, too nect to a companion smartphone If you really want to go out there and app. buy something, how about giving the gift Luvabella Dolls, which make life- of an experience, such as tickets for two like facial expressions, giggles and to the theater, opera or a concert by a burps, can say more than 100 words band the recipients like. For friends with and phrases, and even move and play like kids, a great gift is to design an itinerary a real baby. Kids can cover the doll’s eyes for a family vacation and then send your to play peek-a-boo and tickle her tummy friends on that trip. to make her giggle. Each doll comes with For those who enjoy outdoor grilling, a full set of clothes, a bottle, toy, spoon a new apron, tongs and a selection of and pacifier. They are available in a vari- sauces that can be tried out at the next ety of hair and skin colors. barbeque would make a great gift. Coffee And don’t forget L.O.L. Surprise Dolls. lovers are sure to appreciate a new coffee They are collectable plastic dolls and ac- mug and a gift card to their favorite cofcessories that come inside a plastic ball fee shop. that needs to be unwrapped bit by bit to

What are the most trendy gifts going to be in 2017?

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Create a delicious dessert for holiday celebrations Lavish meals are a large part of holiday celebrations, with many people indulging in dinners and desserts throughout the holiday season. This is a time when many families display their best recipes, and these may include certain desserts that can be labor-intensive to make or something more fitting for a special occasion. Cheesecake is an example of a dessert that, due to the time it takes to create and the richness of the dessert itself, is not something many people eat on a regular basis. However, with a time-saving recipe, cheesecake can become a dessert prepared in little time for holiday festivities. Try “Cinnamon Caramel Cheesecake Squares� from “Pampered Chef Season’s Best, Fast, Fun & Fabulous� by Pampered Chef Test Kitchens.

Holiday Magic • Thursday/Friday, November 16 & 17, 2017 Page 5

Cinnamon Caramel Cheesecake Squares - Makes 24 squares 2 2 1 2 3â „4 1 1â „2

8-ounce packages seamless crescent dough 8-ounce packages cream cheese egg teaspoons vanilla extract cup sugar, divided Flour for dusting tablespoon cinnamon cup caramel topping

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Unroll one package of crescent dough into a shallow baking pan. Roll out the dough to edges. 2. Heat the cream cheese in a microwave-safe bowl, uncovered, on high for 30 to 40 seconds, or until softened. Whisk until almost smooth. 3. Add the egg, vanilla and 1â „2 cup of the sugar to the bowl. Whisk until smooth. Spread over the crescent dough. 4. Lightly sprinkle the flat side of a cutting board with flour. Unroll the second package of crescent dough and roll it into a 13- by 12-inch rectangle. 5. Fold the dough in half from the short end; gently lift and place in the pan. Unfold and gently stretch the dough over the cream cheese layer; press the edges to seal. Cut off corners of dough hanging over and discard. 6. Bake 22 to 24 minutes, until golden brown. 7. Combine the remaining 1â „4 cup sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Place the caramel topping in a 1-cup measuring cup. 8. Remove the pan from the oven. Immediately pour the caramel topping over the cheesecake and spread to the edges of the crust. Sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar mixture; let stand for 10 minutes. 9. Using a utility knife, cut into 4 x 6 rows to make 24 squares. Cinnamon Caramel Cheesecake Squares

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Page 6 Holiday Magic • Thursday/Friday, November 16 & 17, 2017

Catering takes the work out of holiday entertaining As enjoyable as the holiday season may be, quite a number of people admit to feeling pressured by the demands of shopping, wrapping and hosting events. According to a poll from the American Psychological Association, up to 70 percent of people feel stressed out by a lack of time and/or money during the holidays. Stress can take its toll during the holidays. But stress does not have to turn this festive time of year into something less enjoyable. By removing some of the work involved in holiday planning and hosting, individuals can free up time and enjoy a more relaxing holiday season. For example, holiday hosts may spend several weeks organizing their holiday meals, hours shopping for the ingredients and still more time preparing and cooking the food. By enlisting the services of a professional caterer, hosts can still throw festive parties with great food while letting someone else deal with the stress of meal planning.

When you decide to have your holiday caterer at the ready in case the first one Packages Some caterers will only provide the party catered, keep a few factors in mind is booked solid. food. Others are full-service providers as you consider your options. Catering continues page 7 Recommendations If you have never used a local caterer before, seek recommendations from neighbors and friends. There are many different types of caterers, and some restaurants even provide catering services. Recommendations can help hosts find the right caterer for the style of gathering they’re hoping to host and help them avoid caterers who may not be the best people to work with. Timing The holiday season is a busy time of year for many businesses, caterers included. The sooner the contract is negotiated, the better. Lock in the date and desired foods as soon as you decide to use a caterer. The longer you wait, the more your options dwindle, as caterers’ schedules tend to book up quickly come the holiday season. Have a second-favorite Hiring a caterer can make holiday entertaining easier and give you time to enjoy the festivities.

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Holiday Magic • Thursday/Friday, November 16 & 17, 2017 Page 7

Holiday Magic (continued from page 2) Start a new family tradition A lot of families have their own holiday traditions, such as always decorating the tree the day after Thanksgiving, or baking cookies in the week leading up to Christmas. Well, how about making this the year you add a new tradition — one that involves working together to give back to the community? You can volunteer to shovel the snow or do the grocery shopping for an elderly neighbor, or help someone on your block put up and then take down the Christmas lights.

In addition, many churches set up “giving trees� this time of year that you can pick a gift off and then go out and purchase it for a needy member of the congregation. Several Jewish temples do something similar for families celebrating Hanukkah and in need of a helping hand getting gifts for their children. You can also support the community by purchasing and donating toys to Toys for Tots, and dropping coins and cash into the Salvation Army kettles that will start popping up all over town right after Thanksgiving.

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Catering (continued from page 6) and will bring much of what’s needed to entertain. This can include cutlery, plates, chafing dishes, napkins, linens, condiments, and more. Understand fully what each potential catering package includes. It may be worth spending a little more for a package that’s all-inclusive rather than saving money on a package that requires you to do a lot of work.

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AĂ?nĂ?Â?ÂŁÂƒ I AÂŁĂ„ĂŚnĂ?Ă“ Something special Holiday hosts can personalize catered affairs by including one signature dish or drink. If drinks don’t seem like a good fit, consider creating a dipping sauce, glaze or another homemade item. This puts a personal touch on the meal with minimal effort.

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