Spaces - Home for the Holidays 2016

DECEMBER 2016

DIY & Decor Transform your home with holiday projects and centerpieces without having to break the bank

Vintage Christmas Why vintage decorations are becoming so popular during the holidays

Quick & Easy Holiday Treats Make this holiday delicious with recipes fit for a microwave, slow cooker or toaster oven

Oh, Christmas Tree!

The anatomy of a perfectly trimmed tree

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DECEMBER 2016

SPECIAL EDITION FOR SUBSCRIBERS OF DESERET NEWS AND THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

December 2016

Bottoms Up

Party On

Tips & Tricks Spaces: Home for the Holidays

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PLUS: Toast the Holidays — 3 Recipes for this Season’s Top Drinks • Get Sweet on Chocolate Bark

CELEBRATING 10 YE ARS!

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December 2016

Table of Contents DIY & Decor

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Brimming with the Holiday Spirit How to turn your everyday glassware into show-stopping holiday accessories.

6 Look Natural 3 proven tips to craft the perfect holiday tablescape

8 Oh, Christmas Tree!

The anatomy of a perfectly trimmed tree

10 Ornamental Style Homemade is hot for 2016

12 Have Yourself a Vintage Little Christmas Why vintage is so popular during the holiday season

Bottoms Up

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From the Microwave to the Table It doesn’t take an oven to make delicious food

18 Don’t Ever Change, Pumpkin Pie! Food is steeped in the expectations of tradition

20 It’s Tradition!

Impress your guests with some quick and easy holiday dishes

December 2016

©2016 All rights reserved Published by

22 How to Bark Up the Festive, Sweet Treat Tree Giving bark some extra bite

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3 Cheers to a Happy Holiday No dinner party or celebration is complete without a seasonal beverage

Party On 27 How to Host an Epic Holiday Bash

Don’t throw the same old celebration again this year

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Decorate Yourself Top tips to make your own ugly christmas sweater

Tips & Tricks

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Get a Grip!

How to set electronic boundaries at holiday celebrations

36 Serving a Meal Without Breaking the Bank Super couponing expert Jill Cataldo shares her top tips to save big on your next holiday celebration

38 Let them hang lights!

8 reasons to hire a local professional to decorate (and un-decorate!) the exterior of your home for the holidays

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A Not-So-Disposable Party 8 tips to reduce waste during the holidays

4770 South 5600 West, West Valley City, UT 84118 editor@utahmediagroup.com www.utahmediagroup.com 801-204-6300 President & CEO Brent Low Project Team Sally Steed, Sr. VP of Advertising Jed Call, VP of Marketing Megan Donio, Editorial Manager Tyler Pratt, Design Manager Content and images from CTW Features, iStock Spaces Magazine is a publication of Utah Media Group. Copyright © December 2016. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any format without consent of Utah Media Group. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication and assume no liability for errors, inaccuracies or omissions.

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Transform your home with holiday projects and centerpieces without having to break the bank Spaces: Home for the Holidays December 2016

BY DAWN KLINGENSMITH, CTW FEATURES

Brimming with the Holiday Spirit How to turn your everyday glassware into show-stopping holiday accessories.

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he holidays come but once a year. What comes less often than that? An occasion to use certain splendid pieces of glassware that are tucked away in sideboards and cabinets. With a bit of creativity and a few craft supplies, you can transform vases, dishes and jars into festive holiday décor.

Beautiful Abundance The simplest way to gussy up glass containers is to fill them with gorgeous things. Larger vessels like hurricane vases and apothecary jars are see-through showcases for pretty assortments. For a traditional look, pile on the Christmas tree balls. For a natural or rustic look, layer pinecones. Red and green peppermints and old-fashion ribbon candies make festive fillers (though you may need to keep replenishing them).

For a lantern effect, arrange a batteryoperated string of lights (the kind sold for wreaths) into a glass vase or jar. Artfully arranged lights look magical on their own, or you can arrange them among the jar’s other contents.

“I don’t know that there’s an art to it, but it does take patience,” says Melissa K. Norris, author of The Made From Scratch Life. “You just have to mess around with it until it looks right.”

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fruit — and arrange them on a fluted or tiered cake plate. On a fluted cake plate, you can create a wreath around the edge with greenery or garland and place ornaments in the middle. Add a candle or group of candles and you have a centerpiece.

Winding greenery around each level of a three-tiered dessert stand creates a Christmas tree shape. Or, “you can stack two or three sturdy footed bowls or cake plates, then layer with real or faux greenery,” says Melissa Michaels, creator of the popular decorating blog The Inspired Room.

Add ornaments and lights to complete the effect.

Winter Wonderland Apothecary jars, clear canisters and other large glass containers with lids provide the perfect setting for idyllic winter scenes in miniature. “Start with a base of faux snow — I use Epsom salts — and from there you can add things like little trees or small plastic animals from the dollar or craft store,” says Michaels, author of Make Room for What You Love (Harvest House, 2016).

If you have a holiday village, you can use components from it for your scene. For a personal touch, take full-body photos of family members, print or mount them on stiff paper, and build a cheery scene around them (or trap them with a polar bear to get a laugh).

Michaels likes to scale down her scenes, using mason jars with lids for more of a snow globe effect.

DIY Craft: Make Retro Popcorn and Cranberry Garland Now that you’ve repurposed your glassware to make holiday décor, why not decorate the tree with handmade items, starting with a traditional popcorn and cranberry garland?

What you need Strong thread or waxed dental floss, a needle, fresh cranberries, stale air-popped popcorn.

Directions • Measure out your length of thread and tie a large knot a few inches from the end.

• Thread the unknotted end through the needle.

• Sequence your popcorn and cranberries however you wish, or simply alternate them, piercing each piece through the center with the needle. When you get near the end of your string, remove the needle and tie another knot.

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Fragrant Fruit For a “homespun” filler you can make with kids, “take oranges and stud them with cloves,” Norris suggests. “You can make patterns and designs, and they’ll not only look charmingly rustic when you pile them up but they’ll also give off a really good Christmas scent.”

You can take many of these same items — ornaments, natural elements, seasonal

Jack Frost’s Bouquet You’d be surprised what you can do with plain glass vases. Norris uses hers to capture the magic of snow and ice on a winter’s day.

“I love it when there’s glittery frost on the trees,” she says. “I wanted to bring that look and feel inside.”

Start by gathering nicely shaped bare branches with pinecones. Use a tacky crafting glue to cover the branches with “diamond dust” glitter, an iridescent white glitter (you could use silver) and crushed mirror glass — the kind you buy in a package at craft stores, not some mess you’ve made out of an old compact.

“It works best if you apply the glue directly to the branch, using larger globs where you want to glue the crushed glass mirror,” says Norris, adding that her “icicle December 2016

glitter branches” were inspired by other sparkly branch projects you can find online.

Glue the mirror pieces first, then sprinkle generously with glitter. On the pinecones, adhere glitter only to the outer tips for a realistic effect or coat them thoroughly for added drama.

Decorate one side of the branch and allow the glue to dry before flipping to the other side.

You can use a sparkly vase filler or just prop your frosty, glittery branches in vases where they’ll catch the light.

Merry and Bright Rudolph is not the only one who can make light. Assisted by little elves if you choose, you can make frosted luminarias using household items and a quick, easy method. All you need are clear mason jars, Epsom salts, collage or decoupage glue, and a brush to apply the glue. Simply coat each jar with glue and immediately roll it in Epsom salts. When the coating has set, you can embellish the jars with ribbon, holly sprigs or other adornments. Lastly, insert votive or LED candles and enjoy the warm glow.

Traditional paper-sack luminarias are usually placed in rows, sometimes to line a walkway. You can create the same impressive display with your homemade luminarias if you have enough jars lying around.

“I did like 20 jars in 30 minutes and I only used one of those $1 Mod Podge (glue) containers,” says Cristina Garay, founder of the DIY blog Remodelando la Casa.

Though it may be tempting, making a lit runway to guide Santa and his reindeer is not recommended. © CTW Features

December 2016

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BY DAWN KLINGENSMITH, CTW FEATURES

Look Natural

3 proven tips to craft the perfect holiday tablescape. memorable aspect of the party, a festive tablescape will be the perfect complement to dinner. Follow these experts’ tips to compose a beautiful display that will leave a lasting impression.

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ou’re planning the perfect holiday dinner. Guests have been invited, the menu is prepared — with allergies and dietary preferences accounted for — and decorating is last on the list. There’s a lot of care and attention that goes into holiday decorations, but it’s easy to overlook one important space when setting up for the season: the dining room table. This is the area that will set the mood not only for dinner, but also for the rest of the evening.

“The dining room table is the heart of holiday entertaining, so don’t underestimate its importance in your decorating plans,” says Stephen Brown, author of Glitterville’s Handmade Christmas (Andrews McMeel, 2014).

Since this is where guests will enjoy the most 6

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1. Use Natural Elements Bringing the great outdoors inside will make for a stunning tablescape that won’t break the bank.

Natural materials provide a neutral base that has the flexibility to be taken in different directions.

Melissa Fenlon, co-founder and editor at the DIY and lifestyle blog Alice & Lois, recommends a woodsy look. To achieve this, find pieces of reclaimed wood at flea markets, thrift stores or salvage yards to use as a base.

“Then begin to layer your natural textures on top of the wood – start with eucalyptus, then begin to add pomegranates, air plants and, if you want more color, go for kumquats, too,” Fenlon says.

Another possibility is to create an earthy feel like Shannon Smith, a Washington, D.C.-based interior decorator, likes to do.

“I always start with a garland of greenery — magnolia branches, eucalyptus, pine boughs, etc. — and I like to run the garland down the center of the table,” she says. “It adds a natural element that is so classic and fresh.”

To determine which approach you’ll take, put together an inventory of materials you have immediate access to — maybe gourds from your garden or twigs and leaves from the backyard — as well as other items from around your home that you can repurpose. Develop a color palette based on what you have, and then pick out complementary pieces at a local florist, craft store or in the produce section of the supermarket.

2. Preserve all pieces Organic materials do decompose, so it’s important to take the right steps to preserve them.

First, you’ll want to get rid of ants and other critters. Smith recommends baking twigs and pinecones and submerging delicate items, like leaves, in a vinegar bath. Once everything is cleaned well, you can employ a few different methods to help with preservation.

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If you want to display sliced-open fruit, it’s surprisingly easy to pull off.

“Brush them completely with a light coating of egg whites to seal all of the exposed edges and prevent the air from getting in,” Brown explains. “Then sprinkle with superfine sugar.” His secondary method is to dip each piece in paraffin wax, which will add a nice sheen as well.

Painting is another preservation technique that adds a deeper layer of interest to natural décor. It could be as simple as white-painted pumpkins offset by gold-dusted twigs and pinecones.

Try applying it to other elements as well.

Smith suggests creating place cards by spray painting leaves, and then using a paint pen to write guests’ names on them.

3. Add festive flair As beautiful as natural elements are, they often can be drab on their own and need contrast to create a lively display that’s fit for the holidays.

“The key to successfully decorating with natural materials is knowing when to add some sparkle and shine,” Brown says. “Add the luster of a few silvered baubles, glass glitter or anything that reflects some light, and the natural materials become magically sophisticated!”

You can create even more interest throughout your tablescape by playing with height. Smith recommends using tall candlesticks and taper candles of varying colors and sizes, as they won’t be too intrusive in cross-table conversation.

When your tablescape is completed, select a few bold elements – something colorful or a standout item – to weave into the other decorations around your home. Keep it simple, though, so that your dining room table can be the star of the party. © CTW Features

December 2016

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BY ERIK J. MARTIN, CTW FEATURES

Oh, Christmas Tree!

The anatomy of a perfectly trimmed tree.

The Christmas tree you select should represent your unique style and reflect your family’s holiday traditions, which sets the tone for all your festive entertaining.

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ure, icicle lights can brighten your front path and a handsome door wreath is a surefire smile provoker. But no holiday home decorating is complete without the right Christmas tree — one that’s lovingly adorned, entrancingly illuminated, and ready to greet guests as they enter your abode. In fact, more than 99 million homes — comprising 77 percent of all American households — displayed a Christmas tree in 2015, according to a survey conducted by Nielsen for the American Christmas Tree Association.

But with so many styles and options available today, it’s easy for homeowners in the market for a new Christmas tree or accompanying décor to get overwhelmed. Relax, say the experts: whether you choose a freshly cut fir with all the trimmings or a

Spaces: Home for the Holidays

synthetic sapling, you won’t be a sap if you plan carefully.

First, remember that the tree you select “should represent your unique style and reflect your family’s holiday traditions, which sets the tone for all your festive entertaining,” says Emily Hull-Martin, home fashion director for Bloomingdale’s in New York City. “Think about making your tree the focal point for the room.”

Second, give thought to practical matters by scouting locations and taking measurements.

“Figure out where the tree will go, and consider available space, ceiling height, and if there are electrical outlets nearby,” suggests Alena Capra, owner of Alena Capra Designs, a Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based interior design firm.

Next comes perhaps the biggest decision of all: real December 2016

or artificial? Both types have their pros and cons.

“If you love the smell of fresh pine or fir and don’t mind watering and cleaning up dead needles, nothing beats a real tree for creating a festive holiday mood,” HullMartin notes.

Kurt Heckman, a Frederick, Maryland homeowner, is a firm believer in a bona fide Douglas fir.

“As a tradition, we cut our own tree on the weekend after Thanksgiving at a cutyour-own-tree farm in the area,” Heckman says. “But we need to keep it watered and be careful when the tree is in the house, as many homes are lost every year to fires that start from a dry Christmas tree.”

Mark Chisholm, an arborist with Aspen Tree Expert Company in Jackson, New Jersey, says real trees have to be picked carefully.

“I recommend choosing one with some empty spaces or there won’t be much room for ornaments,” says Chisholm, who suggests buying an uncut tree (with its root ball intact) you can keep alive, and later replant, by planting it indoors within a container.

“Also, be sure the first foot of the trunk is straight, or you’ll have a hard time getting it to stand correctly at home.”

For these and other reasons, most Americans opt for an artificial vs. real tree (81 percent vs. 19 percent), with an estimated 11.5 million artificial units purchased last year that will be displayed for an average of 11 years, per the aforementioned poll.

Artificials come in many sizes, shapes, colors and varieties, including unlit, pre-lit with LED or mini bulbs, pre-flocked with fake snow, alternative-colored (like white, blue, pink, tinsel, or metallic), slim/narrow (for tight spaces) and even upside-down.

“Pre-lit artificial trees are easy to put up, easy to take down and the lights are already on it. The branches and shape are perfect, and the decorations go on easy,” Capra says.

When it comes to lighting a real or December 2016

The Rise of the Tiny Trees Plus-sized Christmas trees aren’t the only option: There’s also petite, in the form of a tiny tree.

“Tabletop, narrow, pencil and even three-quarter Christmas trees are a great solution for small spaces. They can be small versions of larger trees, unlit or pre-lit, and made of glass, wood, crystal, plastic or other materials,” says Thomas Harman, CEO of Balsam Hill, an artificial tree maker in Redwood City, Colorado.

“They’re also used by individuals who like to display more than one Christmas tree throughout the home.”

imitation tree, “it should have at least 750 bulbs, which equates to 100 lights per foot,” says Thomas Harman, CEO of Redwood City, Colorado-based artificial tree manufacturer Balsam Hill, who recommends LED lights for greater efficiency and a 90 percent longer lifespan than traditional bulbs.

“Multi-colored lights help create a youthful look, especially if you’re going with colorful ornaments. If you’ve chosen more monochromatic ornaments or metallic, go with clear lights,” says Hull-Martin, who advises matching the color of your light cords to your tree’s color.

If you’re aiming for an elegant tree with harmonizing colors, ornament kits are worth exploring, Harman says. “I also like to consider the décor of the room when deciding on ornaments,” Capra says.

As for the tree topper, whether it’s an angel, star, ribbon or bow, there’s no wrong answer.

“You need to think more about ceiling height and the weight of the topper, as a lot of the stars and angels they make are somewhat heavy,” Capra says. “I personally prefer bow tops for color and because they don’t weigh down the tree top.” © CTW Features

Alena Capra, owner of Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based Alena Capra Designs, says mini trees, which can range in height from as little as a few inches up to a tad below the traditional 7½-foot size, are ideal for seniors, kids and owners who are renovating or away for the holidays. “They help set the holiday spirit but without all the effort of putting up a full-sized tree,” Capra says. “And there are amazing tiny ornament options available, too.”

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BY ERIN CHAN DING, CTW FEATURES

Ornamental Style Handmade is hot for 2016, and the only thing better than making your own decorations is doing it with friends and family.

Give your Christmas tree a heartfelt touch of homemade Christmas ornaments and decorations that will give your home a joyful look for the holidays.

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hen she thinks about the Christmases of her childhood, Kate Guerrero doesn’t really remember the ornaments that glittered at department stores or the ones that matched tinsel with aesthetic seamlessness.

What she does remember is how, every year, her family would gather for a craft time around the holidays to make an ornament that symbolized the year.

“I remember the experiences we had together so much more than anything my parents ever purchased for me,” says Guerrero, who owns her own craft store, The Lemon Row, on Etsy. “Every year when we put up the family Christmas tree, each ornament had a special meaning.”

Her mom kept all the ornaments Guerrero

and her siblings made, and when each of them moved out, they took their box of ornaments with them. The first Christmas after Guerrero and her husband were married, their tree was, of course, filled with her childhood ornaments.

Now a mother of two girls, ages 3 and 1, Guerrero, who lives in suburban Chicago, says her own daughters like playing with paint, dough and sensory materials more than any other toy.

“Making your own (ornaments) just adds to the meaning,” she says, adding that supplies can be purchased at hobby and craft stores. When you look at them, “you get to relive all the memories again.”

Idalia Farrajota, the senior vice president of merchandising and trend for Michaels craft stores, says “the best part about crafting ornaments is that there is not right or wrong way to create it. Rather, everyone’s ornament will be slightly different and unique, and that is what will make it special.”

These do-it-yourself ornaments are the ones that are hung year after year, that still go up on family trees after getting a little tattered and a little bent. They have stories to them.

There’s no reason to be intimidated by the prospect of making your own ornaments, Farrajota says.

“A simple craft project like making ornaments lets both kids and parents express their creativity; after all, anyone can do it!” she says. “Plus, these ornaments could become priceless treasures and valued as a family memory for years to come.”

And like Guerrero’s, they can move from house to house, from Christmas tree to Christmas tree. Guerrero, who specializes in crafting with clay, shared step-by-step instructions to making a gingerbread Christmas ornament.

Farrajota and her team at Michaels also shared how to make a snowman and snowflake ornament. Follow the easy instructions below, and have fun making memories with your family! © CTW Features December 2016

Craft Stick Snowflake Ornaments

BY MICHAELS

Step 1: Paint four craft sticks (regular craft sticks, skill sticks or jumbo craft sticks), either white or pale blue. Paint both sides. Let dry.

Step 2: Using Creatology™ Craft Glue, glue two of the craft sticks together in the middle, creating a cross.

Step 3: Glue a craft stick diagonally across the middle, on top of the two crossed craft sticks.

Gingerbread Man Christmas Ornament

BY KATE GUERRERO

What You’ll Need: • Parchment Paper • Acrylic Roller • Sculpey III Polymer Clay in White • Sculpey III Polymer Clay in Tan or Chocolate • Gingerbread Cookie Cutter • Eye Hook • Twine or ribbon for hanging • Baby Wipes Instructions: Before handling the clay, use a baby wipe to thoroughly clean your hands so that no dust or lint gets transferred to the clay. Unwrap the tan or chocolate clay and condition it (knead it) until it is smooth and easy to work with.

Roll a sheet about 1/4” thick on the parchment paper using the acrylic roller. Cut a gingerbread man shape. Before handling the white clay for decoration, thoroughly clean your hands with baby wipes so that no color gets transferred to the white.

Condition some of the white clay and roll thin snakes and balls to decorate your gingerbread man, and press them lightly onto the base.

Insert an eye hook into the top of the ornament for hanging.

Place the parchment paper with the gingerbread man on top on a baking sheet.

Preheat oven to 275 degrees F. Bake for 15 minutes. Allow to cool thoroughly before handling; it will be slightly soft until completely cool. Use the twine or thread to create a loop for hanging.

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Step 4: Glue the fourth craft stick in the opposite diagonal direction across the middle. Let dry.

Step 5: Brush glue onto the top of the snowflake and sprinkle glitter on top. Let dry.

Step 6: Glue clear acrylic gems onto the craft sticks to decorate the snowflake.

Step 7: Make a loop with a 3”

piece of ribbon and glue to the top, back of the snowflake to make a hanger.

Tip: Make a variety of snowflakes using the different types of craft sticks: jumbo, skill, mini and regular. Paint them white or pale blue and decorate using glitter and gems.

Pom Pom Snowman Ornament

BY MICHAELS

Step 1: Cut two different color green chenille stems to 4” and twist together.

Step 2: Using the cool temp glue gun, glue a green pom pom to the ends of the twisted chenille stems. Let the glue dry.

Step 3: Shape the chenille stems in a slight curve. ADULT: Using the glue gun, attach the pom

poms to each side of the plastic ornament where ears would be.

Step 4: Glue wiggle eyes in place.

Draw a triangle for the carrot nose using the orange Sharpie® marker and five dots for the mouth using the black Sharpie® marker.

Step 5: Pull the metal ornament top off and fill the inside of the plastic ornament with white pom poms. Re-attach the ornament top by squeezing the ends and gently inserting it back into the neck of the ornament.

Step 6: Cut a chenille stem 3” long and twist it through the wire loop on the top of the plastic ornament. Bend the other end into a hook shape.

Share your project photos with #MadeWithMichaels

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BY LISA IANNUCCI, CTW FEATURES

Have Yourself a Vintage Little Christmas Bob Richter, author of “A Very Vintage Christmas” dishes about why vintage is so popular at the holiday season and how to combine vintage with new.

Bob Richter, author of A Very Vintage Christmas: Holiday Collecting, Decorating and Celebrating.

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e might not have known it then, but maybe Charles Dickens had it right when he wanted us to look back at our Christmases past.

Only today, those memories of Christmases past have become front and center in our celebrations. From decade-old ornaments and Grandma’s favorite decorations to holiday traditions that have been handed down from generation to generation, vintage Christmases are becoming more and more popular.

Bob Richter, author of A Very Vintage Christmas: Holiday Collecting, Decorating and Celebrating (Globe Pequot Press, 2016), takes us back to Christmases past and, just like he has, shows us how to incorporate the nostalgia into our holiday and get back to a good old fashioned Christmas.

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What’s the difference between describing something as old versus vintage?

Describing something as old is a somewhat derogatory term. Vintage is a nicer way of describing something that’s 20 years old or older. If it’s 100 years or older, it’s described as antique.

Why has a vintage Christmas become so popular at the holiday season?

Christmas is one time of the year where we all have a past. It’s when we can be shamelessly sentimental and nostalgic. It’s OK to get warm and fuzzy and cry while you watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” and think about grandma.

And vintage Christmas ornaments are a conduit to our past – they connect us.

If you want to have a vintage Christmas, but are new to it, how do you get started?

Be creative. When it comes to decorating, no space is off limits. Every room should have Christmas in it. If you have small children or pets, you can put a fragile class ornament in a bowl or under a dome so it’s protected and doesn’t break. Most importantly, start your vintage Christmas by being in the present, which means put away the cell phones. They didn’t have cell phones 40 years ago. Other vintage things to do are to bake cookies and wrap presents in giftwrap that looks like it was made years ago. Do not put them in a bag.

For my own Christmas cards, I buy vintage cards at garage sales and flea markets even if they are used and then affix them to new stock.

You should also use old things in new ways. I have three choirboy candles that were always on my grandmother’s buffet in the dining room.

She told me that she purchased them in Woolworth’s one year for 10 cents each and it was all she could afford that year. They were special to her that year and she gave them to me. Since my dining room is too small for a buffet, I keep the candles in my bathroom.

Now every time I bring them out I remember my grandmother.

How do you find vintage Christmas ornaments?

First, think about buying what you like, so as a kid, if you had a favorite ornament, that’s what you should be looking for. Go on to such craft sites as eBay or Etsy and search up vintage Christmas ornaments. You will get millions of entries in return so narrow it down by describing the ornament you want, such as ‘red December 2016

ball with stars.’

For the best prices, visit garage sales and flea markets. I just came from a flea market where I bought a box of vintage Christmas ornaments for only $15 for an entire box.

What’s your favorite vintage item?

I love the idea of having a Christmas tree in the kitchen. Last year, I put a two-foot tree in a mixing bowl and wrapped a pea towel on the base. I added a set of white lights and hung my grandma’s clothespins shaped like birds and in these beautiful orange and green colors. I added these World War II ornaments and the tree wound up being my favorite tree. It had character and it reminded me again of my grandmother. That’s what a vintage Christmas is all about. It stirs your memories.

I received all these great things from my grandmother and I always tell people they should take one of their favorite ornaments and give it away. You’re paying it forward and it will come to mean something to someone else at holiday time.

“A Very Vintage Christmas: Holiday Collecting, Decorating and Celebrating” also includes tips on vintage entertaining and the top flea markets in the United States where you can find vintage Christmas items. © CTW Features

Vintage ornaments are great for giving an old fashioned feel to your holiday decor.

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We’ve gathered the best tips for the holiday season to help make your celebrations simpler, easier and even more delicious Spaces: Home for the Holidays December 2016

BY BEV BENNETT, CTW FEATURES

Happy Holidays, From the Microwave to the Table It doesn’t take an oven to make delicious food. This holiday cooking season, use your microwave, toaster oven and slow cooker to create satisfying, eye-opening dishes in no time flat.

You don’t need to wear out your oven to complete your holiday feast.

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T

he countertop stalwarts of the kitchen are great for everyday food tasks, such as reheating coffee, toasting bread or simmering chili.

But these appliances have secret lives that once revealed will enhance your holiday food preparations.

The hefty slow cooker, the fine-tuned microwave and capacious toaster oven will reduce cooking times, keep the kitchen from overheating and free up conventional oven space so you don’t have to decide whether the pie or the entree has priority.

“At one time I only had one oven. I had to balance whether I was cooking turkey or sides

in the oven,” says Marlene Koch, registered dietitian nutritionist, author of Eat What You Love: Quick & Easy (Running Press, 2016).

“That’s one of the great things about appliances.

You get the fast, quick start. Glazed carrots can start in the microwave and finish in the oven,” she says.

In fact, if all you have is one of these appliances you could create a sumptuous feast, as Lynn Alley discovered. “I was living on a farm and the only utensil I had was a vintage slow cooker. It was a great challenge,” says Alley, San Diego.

She not only created what she describes as authentic, sophisticated food, she wrote The Gourmet Slow Cooker (Ten Speed Press, 2003) Spaces: Home for the Holidays

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and went on to author The Gourmet Toaster Oven (Ten Speed Press, 2005).

As versatile as the slow cooker, microwave oven and toaster oven are, they’re better suited for some tasks than others, say Koch and Alley.

Here are their ideas for taking advantage of small appliances.

Slow Cooker

A slow cooker is designed for moist heat, according to Koch, San Francisco.

Large pieces of meat, such as lamb shanks or pot roast, braised in liquid do well in a slow cooker.

Turkey breast and ham, which are typically oven fare, are done to a succulent finish in a slow cooker.

Going low and slow is the key.

A slow cooker is not meant for a stirfry. Nor should you try to speed up the process by using the high setting. “If you cook on high everything tastes like it’s boiled and will probably be tough,” Alley says.

Timing is another thing to be aware of.

Unlike oven cooking, a slow cooker is less precise, which is OK if you don’t have a rigid schedule for dining. Your turkey may be done in three hours … or longer.

Fussing with food in a slow cooker can add unwanted minutes. Tempting though it is to baste or stir food, you may be adding as much as 15 to 20 minutes to cooking time, Koch said.

Toaster Oven Think of this as a compact oven, not an oversized toaster, and turn to it for every job from browning to baking.

Don’t preheat a conventional oven just to toast coconut for a coconut cream pie topping when you can use the toaster oven instead, Koch says.

Bring a golden finish to twice-baked potatoes or cheese-topped vegetables in minutes, using the toaster oven.

A toaster oven can handle from16

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scratch baking as well. “I’ve done all sorts of things in it — cookies, artisanal bread, cheesecake, custard,” Alley says.

Appetizers, one-bite muffins and other small dishes are especially good matches. But check toaster oven capacity when planning your menu.

You may need mini muffin pans or smaller casserole dishes and baking sheets. Also, do a trial run on foods that need exact baking times.

Because toaster ovens have a smaller cavity, foods may cook faster, according to Koch.

Microwave Oven Vegetables are meant for the microwave.

“Microwaves are fantastic for partially or fully cooking vegetables…as long as you don’t overcook them,” Koch says.

“You get steaming action for full color and nutrients,” says the author, who champions great flavor using healthful ingredients.

Cutting into the hard, slippery shell of an acorn or butternut squash can be unnerving. The microwave allows you to skip it.

Simply pierce the squash in a few places and microwave it, says Koch.

“You don’t have to worry about cutting the squash in half,” she says.

Foods that call for dry heat, however, don’t benefit from the microwave, according to Koch. © CTW Features

Cooking your vegetables in the microwave is one of the best ways to cook vegetables to preserve their nutrients.

December 2016

EAT FESTIVE

Quick and Easy Holiday Treats With celebratory meals in mind, make room on the kitchen counter for small appliances and be prepared for delicious, outsized results with the following recipes. of pan. Cool on wire rack.

Pecan filling ingredients: • 1 egg • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup • 2 tablespoons brown sugar • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract • 1/8 teaspoon salt • ¼ cup finely chopped pecans

Toaster Oven Pecan Tartlets Makes 12 tartlets; 12 servings.

Instructions: • In a small bowl beat together egg, corn syrup, brown sugar, vanilla and salt. Stir in pecans.

Ingredients: • ½ cup flour, plus extra for crust • 1/8 teaspoon salt • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter • 1 egg yolk • 4 teaspoons cold water • Nonstick cooking spray • Pecan filling (follows) Instructions: • For crust, stir together ½ cup flour and salt in a bowl. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Add egg yolk and water and toss gently.

• Pat dough into disk, wrap in plastic wrap and chill 30 minutes.

• Roll out dough on lightly floured board to 10-inch circle, 1/8-inch thick. Cut into 2 ½-inch circles, reworking dough as necessary.

• Spray 12-cup mini-muffin pan or individual mini tart cups with nonstick cooking spray.

• Arrange dough in indentations, pressing it up the sides.

• Partially bake in preheated 400-degree toaster oven 10 minutes. Remove and set aside.

• Spoon filling evenly into each crust.

Reduce toaster oven temperature to 350 degrees. Insert toaster oven drip pan in case filling bubbles over.

• Bake tartlets for 25 to 30 minutes, until rich brown color. Remove from toaster oven. Cool 5 minutes.

Run a knife around inside edge of each indentation; ease tartlets out

December 2016

thermometer inserted into ham should read 140 degrees when done. Remove ham from slow cooker. Cover with foil 10 minutes for ham to rest.

• Slice and serve with sauce.

Sweet & Easy Acorn Squash Makes 4 servings.

Slow-Cooked Bourbon Ham Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Ingredients: • ½ cup sweet and smoky flavor barbecue sauce • ¼ cup honey mustard • ¼ cup maple syrup • 2 tablespoons brown sugar • 2 tablespoons bourbon • 1 fully cooked boneless ham (2 to 2 ½ pounds) • Nonstick cooking spray • Cloves (optional) Instructions: • In small bowl stir together barbecue sauce, mustard, maple syrup, brown sugar and bourbon. Set aside.

• Score top of ham ¼-inch deep in diamond pattern. Insert cloves into the top of the ham if using.

• Spray insert of 5-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Pour half the sauce in the slow cooker; top with the ham. Spoon remaining sauce over ham. Cover. Cook at low setting for 3 hours. Meat

Recipe from Eat What You Love: More Than 300 Incredible Recipes Low in Sugar, Fat and Calories by Marlene Koch (Running Press, 2010) Ingredients: • 2 small acorn squash (about 1 ¼pounds each) • ½ cup sugar-free maple syrup • 4 teaspoons brown sugar (optional) • 4 teaspoons butter Instructions: • Prick the squash in several places with a sharp knife and place in the microwave whole.

• Microwave on high for 5 minutes.

Remove and cut squash in half lengthwise. When cool enough to handle, scoop out seeds with a spoon. Pour 2 tablespoons maple syrup into each half and place into microwave-safe baking dish.

• Add a couple of tablespoons of water to the bottom of the dish and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Place back in the microwave for 3 to 4 more minutes or until flesh is very soft when poked with a fork.

Remove plastic wrap and place 1 teaspoon of brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of butter into each cavity.

Add toasted pecans.

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BY DANA CARMAN, CTW FEATURES

Don’t Ever Change, Pumpkin Pie! Food is steeped in the expectations of tradition. Here’s why Thanksgiving is the most iconic food moment of the year.

A

lthough most family holidays have an ingrained tradition, Thanksgiving takes the pie (pumpkin, of course) for being the one least likely to change. Even as families grow and the holiday hosting duties switch, what remains are the traditions, and none more so than those found on the table.

Whether it’s Mom’s apple pie, Grandma’s mashed potatoes or Aunt Jane’s fresh-baked rolls, Thanksgiving just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without these “must-haves” at the annual feast. Even in an age of expanding palates and culinary wonders, when it comes to Thanksgiving, we sit down and plate up an array of the most basic foods — turkey, potatoes, stuffing and pie.

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What differs is how we serve them.

Regionally there are distinctive dishes and every family has its own way of preparing the meal. But regardless of how or where the dinner is cooked, the traditional Thanksgiving meal defines our holiday.

All in the Family “Without mashed potatoes and gravy, it’s not Thanksgiving,” says Jill Houk, a professional chef and author of The Complete Soda Making Book (Adams Media, 2014). Houk has been making her family’s gravy since she was 12 years old.

“It never varies,” she says. Similarly, her sister makes the mashed potatoes, and has been for the past 20 years. Houk also makes the homemade cranberry sauce while her mom makes the turkey. “From

our standpoint, those are absolute staples,” she says.

At cookbook author Diane Morgan’s house, “the world will fall apart” if she doesn’t make her son’s favorite pie. “If you have these strong elements within a family, those will carry forward, especially if the generations continue to cook,” she says. “Either that, or I’ll get him home for a lot of Thanksgivings.”

Morgan, author of The New Thanksgiving Table (Chronicle Books, 2008) and Salmon: Everything You Need to Know (Chronicle Books, 2016), says that the anticipation of those familiar tastes drives the desire for them. “It’s only once a year you eat these foods,” she says.

“We don’t think about stuffing in January.” © CTW Features December 2016

EAT FESTIVE

A Refreshing Take on the Classics While tradition is key to preparing the perfect holiday meal, perhaps this is the year to spice-up a classic dish. Try these ideas to bring new, exciting flair to the standard Thanksgiving table.

Pumpkin Pie

include a honey-mustard topping, a soy/ sesame/wasabi mix, and a mayonnaise/pesto combination. “Otherwise, you just have ham on the plate,” Miller says.

Turkey

There’s something about that freshbaked pumpkin pie aroma that makes the dish Thanksgiving’s official dessert. But even this traditional crowd pleaser gets a tasty makeover in Robin Miller’s holiday preparations. She kneads crushed hazelnuts into the crust , a trick that works even with store-bought crusts. As a colorful contrast, she also adds white chocolate shavings over the top. Give store-bought pies a custom treatment by mixing up a couple varieties of flavored whipped cream. Miller, author of Robin Takes 5 for Busy Families (Andrews McMeel, 2013) and former host of her own Food Network show, suggests a dash of chocolate syrup for the kids’ and a shot of Grand Marnier or other flavored liqueur for the grown-ups.

Ham For many families, ham is a Christmas tradition, either on its own or as an added treat next to roast turkey. Miller suggests whipping up a few different sauces to pass with the pork; Schulson suggests the same for turkey. As an example, these could

flavorful and easy-to-make alternative to the canned alternative (though many have come to miss that wonderful “thwack” sound of jellied cranberries leaving their container). Miller takes the basic freshcranberry recipe to yet another level by creating a relish using shallots, apple vinegar and parsley. She has also created a cranberry salsa by combining chopped cranberries with lime juice, cumin and cilantro. Miller has even found use for jellied cranberries – mix them with red wine vinegar and olive oil. “It makes an awesome vinaigrette,” she says.

Mashed Potatoes

Thanksgiving just wouldn’t be the same without old Tom on the table, but that doesn’t mean you have to stick to the same preparation year after year. For added flavor, Miller rubs fresh oregano, thyme and rosemary over the bird before roasting and lets the sprigs add flavor to the pan juices. Similarly, Chef Michael Schulson, owner and executive chef of Izakaya in Atlantic City, New Jersey, mixes fresh herbs with soft butter and rubs the blended ingredients under the skin. For an even richer taste, Miller makes her gravy with rehydrated porcini mushrooms and uses the mushroom liquid as a base.

Miller says celery root – also known as celeriac – gives everyday mashed potatoes “a phenomenal, very rich celery flavor” and buttermilk adds a flavorful “twang.”

Schulson likes to turn up the heat on his mashed potatoes with a dash of wasabi.

“Think of it as similar to horseradish, which is a natural pair with a rich brisket or succulent filet,” he says. For a more colorful table, turn your masher to today’s rainbow-colored spuds, such as purple Peruvian varieties, perfect for what Schulson calls a kid-friendly batch of “blue goo” mashed potatoes.

Cranberries A decade or so ago, American cooks discovered that fresh cranberry sauce was a December 2016

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BY DANA CARMAN, CTW FEATURES

It’s Tradition!

Need inspiration? Look no further than these holiday favorites from ‘The Chew’ co-hosts Clinton Kelly and Daphne Oz.

F

CLINTON KELLY

DAPHNE OZ

or 10 years Clinton Kelly told people what not to wear and gave his refreshingly honest fashion advice. For the last six years, he has moderated interviews and conducted craft corners on the daily talk show “The Chew” alongside restaurateurs and Iron Chef America stars Mario Batali and Michael Symon, Top Chef alum Carla Hall and wellness expert Daphne Oz. Now, we turn to him once again for getting through the holiday season. Clinton Kelly knows that making your guests happy starts with making their taste buds happy, and the tangy blueberry pucker bars do the job. Co-host Daphne Oz adds the yummy stuffed acorn squash that’s perfect alongside a Thanksgiving turkey.

— Lisa Iannucc

Clinton Kelly’s Blueberry Pucker Bars

What goes together just as well as peanut butter and chocolate, if not better? Blueberries and lemon!

When blueberries are in season (which is the case around Labor Day so you better make them for your late summer picnic), there is no excuse not to make these! You can’t help but pucker up with all the different ways that lemon shows up in these bars ... so 20

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gobble them up and send summer off with a kiss.

Skill Level: Moderate Prep Time: 40 minutes Cook Time: 30-60 minutes Servings: 9 Ingredients • 2 cups self-rising flour • 1 cup granulated sugar, divided • Pinch of salt • 1 lemon, zest and juice • 1 large egg yolk whisked with 1 tablespoon water • 10 tablespoons cold butter, cubed,

plus more for greasing • 1 tablespoon cornstarch • 3 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen • Lemon zest to garnish FOR THE LEMON CREAM AND LIMONCELLO SYRUP: • 1/2 cup heavy cream • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar • 1/4 cup lemon curd • 1 cup limoncello Directions • 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x9 baking dish with butter.

• 2. Whisk together the flour, 2/3 cup sugar, salt and lemon zest in a large bowl. Stir in the egg yolk mixture. Working with your hands, blend in the cubed butter.

• 3. Press all but 2 cups of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.

• 4. Toss together the blueberries, lemon juice, remaining sugar and cornstarch. Pour mixture over the crust. Crumble the remaining flour mixture over the blueberries.

• 5. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until topping is golden and blueberries are cooked down.

• 6. Remove from oven and allow to cool to room temperature before serving with a dollop of lemon cream.

TO MAKE THE LEMON CREAM: • 7. With an electric mixer, whip heavy cream and sugar on high speed to medium-stiff peaks. Fold in the curd and serve.

Daphne Oz’s Stuffed Acorn Squash Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes Serves: 12 Skill Level: Moderate

Ingredients • 4 ounces dried shiitake mushrooms • 2 cups low-sodium vegetable stock • 6 acorn squash, halved lengthwise and seeded • 5 tablespoons butter, divided • ½ cup maple syrup • 1 large red onion, diced • Salt, to taste • 2 carrots, peeled and diced • 1 celery root, peeled and diced • Freshly ground black pepper • 1 tablespoon thyme leaves • 1 cup whole wheat bread croutons, same size as diced vegetables • 2 tart apples, peeled, cored, and diced • ½ cup walnuts, toasted and chopped • ¼ cup dried cranberries Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place the mushrooms and vegetable stock in a saucepot over medium high heat and bring to a simmer. Steep the mushrooms until the liquid has been reduced by half. Remove from heat. Strain out the mushrooms and chop roughly. Reserve the stock.

2. Cut off a small part of the back of each acorn squash half so it sits flat on a parchment-lined baking sheet, with the hollow interior facing up. Heat 3 tablespoons butter and maple syrup together in a small pot just until butter melts. Stir and brush over the flesh of the squash.

3. Heat a large sauté pan over medium with remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Sauté the onions for 2 minutes, seasoning with salt. Add the carrots and celery root and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, and add the thyme leaves.

4. Pour the vegetable mixture into a large bowl and toss with croutons, apples, walnuts, and cranberries.

Add the mushrooms and stock, stirring to ensure liquid is absorbed by the croutons.

5. Divide the mixture among the hollows of the acorn squash halves, mounding but not overflowing. Cover with foil. Bake for 45 minutes, remove foil, and continue to cook for 15 minutes, or until the squash is fork-tender.

Serve warm. © CTW Features

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BY BEV BENNETT, CTW FEATURES

How to Bark Up the Festive, Sweet Treat Tree Chocolate bark has been a holiday staple for years. Today, connoisseurs are pushing the delicious boundaries to give bark some extra bite.

A favorite holiday treet, these bark recipes are sure to make your Christmas extra sweet.

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B

ark, a sheet of silken chocolate studded with little bursts of contrasting flavor and texture, is a classic for holiday parties and gift giving.

Now the familiar treat has new bite, crunch, crackle and character, according to flavor trend-tracker Beth Nielsen, Chief Culinary Officer, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, Inc., Waukegan, Illinois.

But even though bark may be going exotic, it’s easy to make and flavor with your favorite add-ins.

Start with fine chocolate.

“The quality of the chocolate is the major determining factor of good tasting bark!” writes Ellane Pirotte in an email interview.

Pirotte with her daughter Mara

owns Armoire Chocolat and Spring Thyme Bakeshop in the Seattle, Wash area.

“The better chocolates are made with finer beans and better processing, “ Pirotte says.

She recommends using a “couverture” chocolate, which has a high percentage of cocoa butter. It’s available in some supermarkets and in food specialty stores.

(Pirotte uses Agostoni brand coverture chocolate available at www. chefshop.com) Other experts suggest looking at the percentage of the cacao bean in the chocolate. It’s listed on the label of better chocolate.

“The higher the number the stronger the chocolate flavor, “ says Kathryn Gordon, professional baking instructor and co-author of Les Petits Sweets: Two-Bite Desserts from the French Patisserie (Running Press, 2016).

(Intense 70 percent chocolate bars are available in most supermarkets.)

Properly melting chocolate through a process called tempering is another assurance for high-quality bark with snap and sheen, according to Gordon.

As delightful as chocolate is on its own, you can also spice it up.

Chocolate and chili combinations are popular, Nielsen says.

She’s also seeing floral accents, such as lavender and orange blossom.

Add in excitement with dried fruit, toasted nuts, pretzels, mint candies December 2016

5 Great Bites from Bark In the event you have leftovers, try these innovative ideas to utilize bark as an accent:

or crystallized ginger, says Gordon. Here’s how to do it.

1. Prepare mini ice cream sandwiches, using cookies.

Bark: Sweet or Heat Makes about 4 dozen (1-by-2-inch) pieces.

Finely chop chocolate bark. Roll the sandwich on its side over the bark so the edges of the ice cream are bark coated, says Kathryn Gordon, professional baking instructor.

Sweet topping: • ½ cup sweetened, dried chopped cranberries • ½ cup chopped salted pistachios Or Heat topping: • Scant 1/8 teaspoon chipotle chili powder • ½ cup finely chopped dried mango • 1/2 cup chopped salted pistachios • 1 pound good-quality chocolate, chopped into small pieces Directions • For sweet topping, combine cranberries and pistachios. Set aside.

• For heat topping instead, combine chili powder and mango. Toss to coat mango. Add pistachios. Set aside.

• Line a 10-by-15-inch cookie sheet with parchment paper; set aside.

• Place ½ pound chocolate in top of double boiler over but not touching simmering water.

• Make sure no water or steam gets into chocolate. Melt the chocolate, stirring occasionally. It should read 112 to 120 degrees on a candy thermometer.

• Remove top pan from double boiler.

Gradually stir in remaining chocolate. If chocolate isn’t smooth and melted after 10 minutes, return to double boiler and warm for 10 to 15 seconds.

• The chocolate should be 89 to 91

December 2016

2. Coarsely chop bark and sprinkle over a frosted cake or brownies, gently pressing bark into frosting.

degrees, according to Ellane Pirotte.

• Pour chocolate onto parchment paper, forming a 12-by-8-inch sheet.

Sprinkle on topping of choice, pressing into chocolate.

• Set aside in a cool room to set.

• Break bark into pieces.

For more delicious bark, try one of these toppings: 1. Toasted coconut curls and salted macadamia nuts 2. Minced candied orange peel and toasted almonds 3. Minced crystallized ginger and toasted cashews 4. Crumbled graham crackers and mini marshmallows 5. Crumbled pretzels © CTW Features

3. Cut bark into sticks and arrange over cocktails as stirrers, says Beth Nielsen, Chief Culinary Officer, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, Inc., Waukegan, Illinois.

4. Rim a glass, Nielsen says.

Mince bark and place on a plate. Wet rim of shot glasses with liqueur of choice. Dip in bark to coat rim. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Fill with the liqueur.

5. Put a banana on a stick; brush with melted chocolate and sprinkle on bark, Gordon says.

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BY MATTHEW M. F. MILLER, CTW FEATURES

3 Cheers to a Happy Holiday No dinner party or celebration is complete without a seasonal beverage. A unique mixed drink allows hosts to put their personal stamp on the affair without having to stock a full bar, which also helps control cost and mess. It also eliminates the need for a host to spend the night playing bartender.

Whether serving one or an entire party, these show-stopping cocktails are infused with the rich flavors of the holidays — think cinnamon, ginger, citrus — and will turn even the most casual, simple gathering into an unforgettable festivity. All recipes appear courtesy “Cocktails for the Holidays” by the editors of Imbibe Magazine, photographs by Lara Ferroni (Chronicle Books, 2014).

EBENEZER SCROOGE

Feeling the bah-humbug blues? This cocktail from Seattle barman Kenaniah Bystrom turns one of the most bitter bar mixers, Cynar, into a supple holiday sipper.

“At Essex we often use bitter liqueurs as the foundation for our drinks,” Bystrom says. “So I started with Cynar for depth and balanced it out with ginger and brown sugar for spicy sweetness, lemon for brightness and sparkling wine for a dry fizz.”

chilled flute, top with the sparkling wine and garnish with a dusting of nutmeg.

VIXEN

Necessity is indeed the mother of invention. When asked what sparked the invention of this vibrantly colored punch, Ryan Goodspeed responded instantly, “Mediocre, watery cranberry juice.” During the holiday season, poor-quality cranberry juice too often ruins an otherwise excellent cocktail, so Goodspeed set out to make his own. It’s a breeze to put together, dazzles with tartness and entices with a wintery perfume of fresh rosemary. Bitter Aperol and a touch of simple syrup and lemon tie the satin bow on this festive recipe.

Serves: 12 to 16 Tools: large pitcher, punch bowl Glass: rocks Garnish: fresh cranberries and lemon wheels The Recipe • 3 cups vodka • 12 ounces Rosemary-Infused Cranberry Juice (recipe follows) • 8 ounces Aperol (see Tip) • 4 ounces Simple Syrup (recipe follows) • 2 ounces fresh lemon juice

Serves: 1 Tools: cocktail shaker, strainer Glass: flute Garnish: freshly grated nutmeg The Recipe • 1 1⁄2 ounces Cynar • 3⁄4 ounce ginger liqueur (Bystrom uses Domaine de Canton) • 1⁄2 ounce fresh lemon juice • 1 teaspoon brown sugar • Dash of Angostura bitters • Ice cubes • 2 ounces cold sparkling wine Directions Combine the Cynar, ginger liqueur, lemon juice, brown sugar and bitters in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake well. Strain into a

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December 2016

• Ice cubes • 2 cups soda water (optional) Directions Combine the vodka, cranberry juice, Aperol, simple syrup and lemon juice in a large pitcher and refrigerate until well chilled. Pour over ice cubes into a punch bowl and stir. Add the soda water, if desired. Float fresh cranberries and lemon wheels as garnishes.

ROSEMARY-INFUSED CRANBERRY JUICE MAKES ABOUT 8 CUPS • 4 (12-ounce) bags frozen cranberries • 8 cups water • 10 sprigs fresh rosemary Combine the cranberries with 4 cups of the water in a large pot. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently so as not to burn the fruit. When the cranberries soften and become mushy, add the remaining 4 cups water and the rosemary. Bring the mixture to a boil, remove from the heat and let cool for 15 minutes. Strain the juice into a clean glass bottle, discarding the berries and rosemary. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

SIMPLE SYRUP MAKES ABOUT 1 1⁄2 CUPS • 1 cup water • 1 cup granulated sugar Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly.

Turn the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring slowly, until the sugar is dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Transfer to a clean glass bottle, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

YOU’LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT Bold and bright, this lighthearted cocktail boasts a double dose of cinnamon, thanks to a spiced syrup and the cinnamon-forward Czech liqueur Becherovka — both complementing the deep richness of a generous pour of aged rum and the soft herbal notes of Bénédictine. “It’s perfect for a cold winter night spent cozied up on the couch, watching a holiday flick,” says San Francisco bartender Mathias Simonis, “which is what I pictured when I named the drink after the famous scene in ‘A Christmas Story.’ ” Serves: 1

December 2016

Tools: mixing glass, barspoon, strainer Glass: coupe or rocks Garnish: orange twist The recipe • 2 ounces aged rum • 1⁄2 ounce Becherovka • 1⁄2 ounce Bénédictine • 1⁄4 ounce Toasted Cinnamon Syrup (recipe follows) • 3 dashes of Angostura orange bitters • Ice cubes • 1 large ice cube (if using a rocks glass) Combine the rum, Becherovka, Bénédictine, cinnamon syrup and bitters in a mixing glass. Add ice and stir until chilled. Strain into a coupe glass or over the large ice cube in a rocks glass. Garnish with the orange twist.

TOASTED CINNAMON SYRUP MAKES 1 1⁄2 CUPS • 1 1⁄2 cups Simple Syrup (recipe follows) • 5 cinnamon sticks Directions In a small saucepan, warm the simple syrup over low heat. In a small skillet, toast the cinnamon sticks over medium heat until you smell their aroma, 3 to 5 minutes.

Remove the cinnamon sticks from the heat and add to the simple syrup. Bring the syrup and cinnamon to a boil, then remove from the heat and set aside to cool. Strain into a clean glass bottle, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

SIMPLE SYRUP MAKES ABOUT 1 1⁄2 CUPS 1 cup water 1 cup granulated sugar Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly.

Turn the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring slowly, until the sugar is dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Transfer to a clean glass bottle, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. © CTW Features

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Use these inspirational, festive ideas to make your Christmas party a memorable one Spaces: Home for the Holidays December 2016

BY TARA SHUBBUCK, CTW FEATURES

How to Host an Epic Holiday Bash Don’t throw the same old celebration again this year. Instead, go bold with one of these 9 unique ideas to liven up any festive party.

Spruce up your holiday parties with these creative activities to do with friends and loved ones.

December 2016

S

ocial calendars are packed during the holidays, and this year your party is going to be the event of the season. Whether you’re hosting for the first time or want to outdo your last festive bash, you need a special something to elevate the event from one-dimensional to unforgettable. A clever theme is just the thing to help your party stand out.

When your theme is well executed, it will spark conversation among guests and unify every element from food to music to décor.

These nine party ideas will help you create

an event that wows guests from the time they receive the invitation until the last drink is poured.

1. Christmas in July in December Crank up the heat and break out your summer clothes. Seri Kertzner, founder and CEO of Little Miss Party Planner, New York City, recommends decorating with a nautical style, but using holiday colors. Go a step further with décor by setting out pool floats instead of chairs, a palm tree decorated with ornaments, and a snowman made from white beach balls. Top it off with on-theme food.

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even put your guests into groups to make air bands.”

Let those who don’t want to rock out or exercise their vocal cords be the judges that get to award prizes to the best acts.

“Serve Santa-themed cookies, but Santa should have sunglasses and a bikini on,” Kertzner adds.

2. Worst Gift Ever Re-Gifting Celebration It’s time for your guests to get creative by bringing an awful present. Have participants draw a number, and numbers can either correspond to a single gift or guests can select any gift when their number is called (play White Elephantstyle to encourage “stealing”). If any presents are left behind, Kertzner recommends donating them to charity.

Better yet, encourage guests to also bring one desirable gift to be donated on their behalf.

3. Christmas Carol-oke Without a doubt, you’ll need a karaoke machine stocked with holiday music.

Round it out by adding props, “such as glitter microphones, blow-up guitars, hats and sunglasses,” Kertzner says. “You could 28

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4. A Star Wars Holiday Spectacular Creativity is key when pairing this epic movie series with the holidays, but with another new movie coming out this holiday season, it is sure to be a hit. “We would go for a play on ‘Retro Holidays in Space’ and include Star Wars elements,” says Narine Hovnanian, planning director at Taylor & Hov, Washington, D.C. To pull it off, set out costumes and props – like lightsabers and Darth Vader and stormtrooper masks – for a photo or GIF video booth, and for posing in front of Santa’s sleigh or a Christmas tree.

Hovnanian also recommends projecting neon, linear lighting onto a black dance space and, of course, having the DJ spin electronic “intergalactic” music.

5. Santa Paws: A Pet-Inclusive Affair If you’re a pet love, a holiday party is a great opportunity to include furry friends.

In fact, make it all about them. Hovnanian offers creative ideas like holidaythemed treats, a runway show for pets donning reindeer costumes and a station where pets can get their photo taken with Santa. Top it off with a charitable component, like a fundraiser for a local animal shelter.

6. Passport Potluck Holiday This theme will make your party a smallDecember 2016

Good Partygoer Gone Bad: How to Manage Unruly Guests

scale global event. Encourage guests to bring a dish from another culture and a beverage to pair, and then use them to assemble around-the-world tasting stations for small plates, desserts, and drinks. Add an upbeat soundtrack to get in the holiday spirit. “Include traditional holiday music from all over the world,” Hovnanian says.

7. Craft and a Craft (Craft Beer and a Holiday Craft) This theme requires you to go beyond your living room. “Finding a venue that already has the capability to hold many craft beers on draft is key, as well as a good open space to set up tables with your holiday craft,” says Jes Gordon, celebrity event producer and author of Party Like a Rock Star (Globe Pequot Press, 2009).

Head to an arts and crafts supply store for activity ideas, and pick up a variety of options so no one is left bored. Add a competitive element to the event by doling out prizes for “Most Creative Use of Supplies” and “Least Likely to be Hung on a Fridge.”

December 2016

8. Next Top Holiday Model “Make this a night that your guests won’t forget, whether it’s the chance to wear that gorgeous designer gown or just attend a highfashion event,” Gordon says.

Set the tone with artistic invitations that mimic those from NYC’s Spring Fashion Week. Then select a venue to set the stage – literally. “The venue can dictate the flow and feel of your party,” Gordon says. Put up a catwalk surrounded by chairs, and even hire a photographer to capture the fun.

9. Cooking, Cookie or Gingerbread House Competition Turn up the heat by using a cooking competition TV show like “Chopped” or “Iron Chef” as inspiration. Separate some guests into cooking teams and let others be judges so everyone is involved.

Gordon recommends working with a creative catering company to execute the theme. “They will help you come up with the best ideas to achieve your plans, as they have the know-how with food,” she says.

Once you select a theme and are ready to start planning, keep Gordon’s advice in mind: “You must appeal to the five senses,” she says. “It is about creating an equal balance between all elements. Not only should the food be good, but the music, the visuals, and the environment itself.”

Put it all together and you’ll pull off an unforgettable holiday party. © CTW Features

Murphy’s Law goes into overtime during the holidays, when what can go wrong at a party generally does, accelerated by fatigue and family feuds. Below are some real-world party mishaps followed by wise advice from seasoned hosts and party-planning experts on what to do when your good guests go bad.

1. The Crasher Guests may bring children, other guests and even pets to your party, despite invites.

Host Rule: You have to roll with it. This is a great argument to always overstock and overcook. Having a teen that is willing to volunteer for babysitting duty can help those with kids. When it comes to those who cannot travel without Fido, directions to the nearest kennel may be your only option.

2. The Drunkard Uncle Ed sometimes tries to go one-for-one with the college kids who are playing billiards and drinking beer in the basement but can’t hold his liquor like he used to. Sound familiar?

Host Rule: Erica Maurer, a partner at The Event Planner Expo has run into this problem when a CEO tries to keep up with younger employees.

She’s learned to ask to talk in another room about some kind of business, and then offer whatever is needed so that he isn’t embarrassed in front of the crowd. Try this tactic rather than calling your uncle to task in front of everyone.

3. The Night Owl Everyone has had the guests who just won’t go home. Subtle hints like turning off the music, doing the dishes, putting the kids to bed and even changing into pajamas aren’t clear enough signals for some people.

Host Rule: Some savvy hosts have had success joking about having to kick people out. A coy, “We’ve kept these folks up long enough. It’s time to let them get to bed,” might also work.

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BY LISA IANNUCCI, CTW FEATURES

Decorate Yourself Top tips to make your own ugly Christmas sweater.

I

t’s the holiday get together that everyone remembers and loves to participate in – the Ugly Christmas Sweater party.

“The holiday season can be very stressful and at these parties adults can be funny and silly,” says Brandy Shay, co-author of Ugly Christmas Sweater Party: Christmas Crafts, Recipes, Activities (Lark Crafts, 2016). “Plus, people are very competitive. Everyone wants to go home with that ribbon, bursting with pride that you had the ugliest sweater.”

Shay has seen Cousin Eddie sweater costumes from the movie “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” — “complete with the skin tight sweater, dicky, tight bell bottom floods and leather shoes,” she says. “Then you have the retro group who just finds an ugly sweater from back in the day. There is no right or wrong way to do this, just as long as it is ugly!”

If you don’t want to buy an already made ugly 30

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sweater, you can make your own without the help of Santa’s elves. “Some people get very creative, like the woman who turned her sweater into a fireplace mantle,” Shay says. “Her shoulders were squared off and she had pictures glued on the mantle. It was complete with a little fake fire fabric on her stomach.”

Shay recommends finding an old sweater from your closet and going to the ornaments aisle at the local dollar store. “Find the flashiest, most glittery, over-the-top ornaments you can find and get to work with your glue gun,” she says. “Some ornaments now come with little clips on the back, making it extra easy to clip these on your sweater and not have to use any tools at all.”

She says that a strand of battery powered lights on a sweater is always a hit. “Also, hot gluing one of those annoying singing stuffed animals to the front of your sweater will take it to the next level,” she says.

Want to look like a Christmas tree? Go nuts and glue tinsel on the entire sweater. Once it’s dry, hang candy canes, multicolored tinsel and an assortment of ugly ornaments on the sweater tree.

You can also turn your old Christmas tree skirt into a matching skirt for your ugly sweater or make a Christmas tree dress out of some tulle fabric and leftover poinsettias. Shay recommends making shoes, hats, headbands and other accessories to really make the ugliness of your sweater pop. The options for ugly Christmas sweaters are endless and only limited by your imagination.

Everything old is new again and when it comes to what’s trending in ugly Christmas sweaters, vintage is in, so go ahead and raid Grandma’s closet or hit the consignment shops for donations of old sweaters. “Find that actual sweater that has not been changed or updated in any way,” Shay December 2016

says. “Or one that looks like the sweater worn by Clark Griswold at his family Christmas party.

These are hard to find. It takes a lot of looking at thrift stores to find these little gems. If you want to spend more, you can find them online, but an actual vintage ugly sweater can be a bit pricey.”

Brandy and Matt Shay host an ugly Christmas sweater party every year to raise money to help a family in need over the holiday season. In their book, there are recipes for an ugly Christmas sweater cake, punch, cookies, decorations, fun games to play and, of course, more Christmas sweater ideas. © CTW Features

Gone to the Dogs: Ugly Sweaters for Pets Don’t forget to include Fido in the ugly Christmas sweater party fun!

Why would someone want to dress their dog up in an ugly Christmas sweater? “Because it’s fun,” says Leah Ingram, founder of the online dog birthday party store Pawsome Doggie.

“Think about the Christmas card photo, especially if the humans are wearing ugly Christmas sweaters, too.”

If Fido doesn’t already have a pullover that you can doctor up to become an ugly Christmas sweater, Ingram suggests shopping the local thrift stores to see if you can find any ugly Christmas sweaters in the children’s section.

However, Ingram strongly cautions doggie owners to be careful about what you put on the sweater. “My only concern about putting a dog in an ugly Christmas sweater— besides the fact that he might be really hot— is to make sure there is nothing they can choke on hanging off the sweater,” she says.

And, of course, don’t forget to take lots of pictures.

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D N A TIPS

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S K C I TR

Make Christmas easier with these holiday tips and tricks that will lessen your stress and ease your burden Spaces: Home for the Holidays December 2016

BY COURTENAY EDELHART, CTW FEATURES

Get a Grip!

How to set electronic boundaries at holiday celebrations.

Ideally, holiday guests should turn off cell phones and devices before interacting with friends and family.

December 2016

J

ust about everyone has had that moment when they gave up trying to communicate with someone engrossed in a smartphone, tablet or other electronic device. There’s not much gratification in talking to the top of a bowed head, especially when that person hasn’t heard a word you’ve said.

Such encounters are frustrating at any time of year, but they’re particularly exasperating during the holidays, jam packed as they are with parties, family gatherings and dinners meant to foster fellowship.

“The person you’re with is more important than technology,” says Gail Madison, who teaches at the Madison

School of Etiquette and Protocol in the Philadelphia area. “This is what memories are made of. Holidays and family. And too many families are losing out on that.”

There’s an art to gently prying a technophile away from his or her phone, tablet, e-reader or Gameboy.

It isn’t OK to blatantly call someone out for being rude unless it’s your child, your employee or your spouse, and even then it’s better to take the person aside and say something privately, says Melenie Broyles, a teacher at Etiquette Saint Louis/Chicago.

“It’s not going to make awkward moments with strange Uncle Larry any better to call attention to his bad manners,” she says. “The better way is more subtle. I Spaces: Home for the Holidays

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like to say, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ll wait until you’re finished.’ They usually get the hint.”

Technology manners are so universally lacking that there’s a growing custom of avoiding the issue altogether by confiscating devices at the door or encouraging guests to leave devices at home.

“I do all the holiday hosting in my family, and I put it on the invitation, ‘Be prepared to unplug,’ ” says Jules Hirst of Etiquette Consulting Inc. in the Los Angeles area.

“They know ahead of time that when they sit down to eat, the expectation is that they will be present in the moment.”

Meeting that expectation is harder for some than others.

Fifty percent of teens admit they are addicted to their mobile devices, according to a poll conducted earlier this year by Common Sense Media, a nonprofit that provides reviews and age ratings of all types of media. Parents think the problem is even worse, with 59 percent reporting their teens are addicted. Common Sense Media surveyed 1,240 people consisting of parents and children ages 12 to 18.

But the problem isn’t the exclusive purview of young people. Adults can be just as bad, even whipping out devices during films and live performances.

“Parents need to remember that we are the examples,” Hirst says. “Kids don’t pay attention to what we say as much as what we do. If you don’t want your child on a device at the dinner table, you shouldn’t be on one either. That’s for all meals, even eating out. It doesn’t matter how many stars the restaurant has. Whether it’s fast food or fine dining, pay attention to who’s in front of you.”

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There’s a fine line between a simple lack of courtesy and full-fledged addiction, says psychologist Dr. Ryan Fuller, clinical director of New York Behavioral Health.

“It’s not really about how much time you spend on technology as much as it’s about whether it’s having an impact on your work, your family or your romantic life,” he says. “If you’re reaching the point where you can’t function or socialize because you have to check email all the time, that’s becoming compulsive.”

Fuller advises patients to disconnect at least part-time so that technology doesn’t overtake their lives.

“Obviously there are some really important jobs where you need to stay in touch, but set aside a time for it,” he says.

“Give yourself 45 minutes in the morning and 45 minutes at night so that it’s all bunched together instead of being on a device constantly throughout the day.”

Ideally holiday guests should turn off devices before interacting with friends and family, but that isn’t always possible, says Ron Moody, assistant professor and program director of information technology at South University in Montgomery, Alabama.

“It depends on your level of responsibility,” he says. “Teenagers aren’t taking care of anybody, but if you’re a parent of kids who are home with a sitter, or you’re caring for elderly parents who might be sick, obviously you need to be available and know what’s going on.”

Put your phone on vibrate and excuse yourself to take a call if necessary, but don’t ignore the person you’re with or talk in front of them, Moody says.

Another strategy is to customize ringtones for individual callers, he says.

“That way you can tell if it’s a call you absolutely have to take or can just let it go to voicemail.”

Etiquette expert Broyles finds it distressing when guests are toying with technology for reasons that aren’t urgent.

“Most of our clients are not trying to get ahold of us on a holiday,” she says. “If it’s Thanksgiving or Christmas, they’re trying to engage with their families, as well. Surfing the internet because you’re just bored tells the person you’re with that there are other things you would rather be doing than talking to them, and that is certainly not a good message to send anyone.” © CTW Features December 2016

PLAY

Best New Board Games for the Family Remember when games didn’t require chargers or batteries? When families sat around a table and schemed over board games? Those days live on, albeit competing for attention with apps and game consoles. If you want to unplug and enjoy family bonding this holiday season, here are some suggestions to help you identify family-friendly options among the multitude of board game choices.

Egyptians who sail ships to pyramids, temples, burial chambers and obelisks.

You earn points by compiling the most bricks to build things, some of which are worth more than others.

players give one-word clues to get teammates to choose the right picture card. Choosing the wrong card could help a rival.

There’s also an assassin card to be avoided at all costs because it causes a game-ending loss.

Because this version is exclusively pictures, it’s a good choice for people who don’t read or don’t read well.

“Vast: The Crystal Caverns” 1-5 players. Playing time 75 minutes.

Age 10+.

Publisher: Leder Games.

“Animals on Board” 2-4 players. Playing time 15-30 minutes. Age 8+.

Publisher: Strong Hold Games

This is a Noah’s Ark game with numbered animal playing cards worth points.

Animals are split up into groups (ideally of more than two, because only Noah is allowed pairs), and you can earn food that is used to buy animals. There is an element of strategy because food, the number of animals and how animals are grouped can earn you points or deprive rivals of points.

characters and posses vie for resources and buildings amid gambling and gun slinging.

“HoliMaths X” 1-6 players. Playing time 5-40 minutes. Age 7+.

Publisher: GeekBuddy Analysis

A strategy game that helps kids learn their multiplication tables.

“Scythe” 1-5 players. Playing time 90-115 minutes. Age 14+.

Publisher: Ghenos Games, Maldito Games, Morning Players, Stonemaier Games.

Set in the early 20th century. Rival superpowers try to gain control of resources to get their empire ahead. Each faction has its own special abilities.

The goal is to have the most money at the end of the game.

Players live in a mythical land with a sleeping dragon, and each has special abilities and different objectives. Goblins and the dragon are trying to kill the knight. The knight is trying to kill the dragon. The dragon is trying to wake up and kill the knight. Even the dragon’s cave has a goal, which is to collapse on itself.

“Crazy Karts” 3-8 players. 45-60 minutes. Age 8+ Publisher: Portal Games

“Codenames: Pictures” “Imhotep” 2-4 players. Playing time 40 minutes. Age 10+.

Publisher: KOSMOS, White Goblin.

Players are ancient

December 2016

2-8 players. Play time 10-20 min.

Age 10+.

Publisher: Czech Games Edition, REBEL.pl

A sequel to the smash hit Codenames in which

“Tiny Epic Western” 1-4 players. Playing time 30-45 minutes. Age 14+.

Publisher: Gamelyn Games

The latest game in the Tiny Epic series. Unique

A team of two – one driver and one cannon shooter – is racing to a finish line amid traps and power up spots.

Characters include elves, mummies, goblins and dwarfs.

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BY JILL CATALDO, CTW FEATURES

How to Serve a Big Meal Without Breaking the Bank Super couponing expert Jill Cataldo shares her top tips to save big on your next holiday celebration.

Keeping expenses in check is especially important around the holidays when budgets are already stretched to cover gift-giving and holiday travel.

Jill Cataldo

jill@ctwfeatures.com

T

he holiday season is nearly upon us again, and it’s one of my favorite times of the year. I love the way our home smells when pies are baking, turkey is roasting or fresh-baked cookies are cooling on the stovetop. I’m blessed that holidays mean getting together with extended family, too. Most of my family lives within an hour’s drive of our home, so 36

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Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners are filled with cousins running around the house and aunts, uncles and grandparents helping out in the kitchen.

Holidays also bring new traditions with friends and neighbors. My sister’s family has participated in a neighborhood breakfast for more than a decade: Every Christmas morning, multiple families on her street get together for brunch at one house on their block. There are multiple cooks in the kitchen, and everyone celebrates the season together enjoying a large buffet of breakfast favorites. (From the photos I’ve seen from past neighborhood breakfasts, pajamas are the de facto dress code for this wonderful annual tradition!) I’ve got friends that host a similar New Year’s Day breakfast each year.

Whether your large family get together is a community breakfast or a traditional holiday dinner, the costs of entertaining a larger group of people can quickly escalate.

Keeping expenses in check is especially important around the holidays when budgets are already stretched to cover giftgiving and holiday travel.

To save the most at the supermarket around the holidays, it’s important to understand the sales cycles at the grocery store. Certain categories of products go on sale for lower-than-normal prices around the holidays. We also tend to see more coupons for these holiday-themed products in the newspaper and online. Pair the coupons with great sale prices, and you can stock up on your holiday must-haves at the best possible prices.

As the months get cooler, we start to see December 2016

good sale. Pair a promotion like this with some of the best sales of the year on a small turkey to take it home for a baking products. Think cake mixes, pie bargain price – then freeze it for a future crusts, sugar, flour and butter. Stock up meal!) on these items for the entire season when December traditionally brings low sale you see the sales come around. prices on party platter type foods: Think Once winter’s just around the corner, crackers, cheeses, cold cuts and sausages. look for hot beverages to take a dip in Baking price. Coffee, products cycle tea and hot Pair the coupons with great around again in cocoa will be at lower prices. sale prices, and you can stock price here, too, so if you didn’t Look for good up on your holiday must-haves stock up deals on turkey enough (or and ham in at the best possible prices. already “baked November, too! through” the Many large supplies you bought in fall!) this is another supermarkets will have promotions on opportunity to purchase more. turkeys such as “Spend $20 on groceries, save $10 on a turkey.” I try to time my Be mindful of expiration dates – turkey purchases around these sales, as flour, sugar and cake mixes usually it’s likely I’ll reach the spending threshold have expiration dates that are many on the rest of my groceries during the months out. I try to estimate how same trip. (Another tip: Small turkeys much I’ll be baking through the winter often sell for around $12-$14 during a and on to spring, then shop and stock

December 2016

up accordingly.

I’ll leave you with another one of my favorite tips: When one holiday ends, shop clearance sales for next year’s holiday.

Right after Thanksgiving, everything from tablecloths to napkins to decorations with fall, harvest and turkey themes will go on clearance. I’ll buy these at a deep discount, then keep them in the pantry for next year’s dinner. After Christmas, I’ll do the same thing, expanding my postholiday stock-up strategy to things like gift wrap, cards, ornaments and small gifts. After New Year’s, you guessed it – grab party favors, noisemakers and New Year’s décor for the next party … next year. © CTW Features Jill Cataldo, a coupon workshop instructor, writer and mother of three, never passes up a good deal. Learn more about SuperCouponing at her website, www.jillcataldo. com. Email your own couponing victories and questions to jill@ctwfeatures.com.

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BY ERIK J. MARTIN, CTW FEATURES

Let them hang lights!

8 reasons to hire a local professional to decorate (and un-decorate!) the exterior of your home for the holidays.

A

lmost everyone can agree that it’s easy to get into the holiday spirit, especially when you pass by a home festively festooned with sparkling lights, colorful décor and eye-catching props peppered across the porch, lawn or roof. But the truth is that Yuletide exterior decorating done right can be downright difficult. If it could talk, that twinkling evergreen tree you admire would tell of many tweaked backs; those striking blue LEDs dangling from the neighbor’s eaves could warn you about the frayed cord waiting to deliver a shock; and that sleigh-and-reindeer set atop the garage across the street would share a

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cautionary tale about their owner nearly slipping off the roof.

Consequently, it’s no surprise that many homeowners hire professionals to do the decorating dirty work outdoors and prevent problems.

Count Mike and Lucy Peak, Laguna Hills, California, among the converted. Instead of hauling out the ladder, lights and extension cords, they enlist the expertise of For All Seasons, a nearby holiday decorating service.

“They hang icicle lights from the rooflines, wrap our two large trees in white mini lights, install garland around the front and garage gates and front door, hang lights across our December 2016

fence and place small trees covered in mini lights by the front door. Plus, we have a lighted Santa and reindeer on the front lawn and a snow scene with white trees, reindeer and elves on the other side of the front lawn,” says Lucy Peak. “We always draw a crowd in the neighborhood to see our display.”

Missy Henriksen, vice president of Public Affairs for the National Association of Landscape Professionals, says Santa and Rudolph belong on the roof — inexperienced novices don’t.

“Most everyone knows someone who has fallen from a rickety ladder while hanging lights, slipped off a roof, or exceeded their electrical experience trying to install extra power sources,” Henriksen says.

“Professionals offer the know-how that can turn homeowners’ visions into reality – creating magical, festive displays that enhance a home’s appearance for the holidays.”

Still insist on being a decorating do-ityourselfer? Here are 8 compelling reasons to reconsider: 1. Safety: Every time you have to climb up to attach lights and props, string cords together and plug them in, and deal with cold, icy weather, you’re risking injury.

“Professionals also have the right experience, tools and equipment to make sure everything is installed safely,” Henriksen says.

2. Convenience: “People don’t like untangling lights, blowing dust off garland, and messing with non-working lights. All those hassles are eliminated when you hire a pro,” says Brandon Stephens, president of Christmas Décor, a holiday decorating service provider based in Irving, Texas. Additionally, Jamee Fouts, owner of The Grounds Guys, a New Lenox, Illinois-based exterior maintenance company, says, “you don’t have to purchase, store and maintain the lighting.”

3. Time savings: Experts can typically adorn your exterior in a fraction of the time it would take you. “A professional will be able to know which electrical circuits can handle the amount of lights you want to install, how many lights are needed to light up your property, how to place items to stay up in extreme weather, and how to size things properly,” which are all tasks that, in the hands of an inexperienced homeowner, can require trial, error and December 2016

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extra time, says Isabelle Kaminsky, owner of For All Seasons in Lake Forest, California.

4. Finer design: “Professional decorators know what types of lights to use — incandescent, LED, clear, multi-colored, mini, etc. — and have a good sense of what will look good on a particular home or building,” Kaminsky says.

5. A better-equipped display: “Many professional decorators will not install lights you own, as most require the installation of products they provide so they can have confidence in the quality and safety of the materials used,” Henriksen says. The result is a better-looking display. Also, many services offer high-tech options like animated lights and programmed controllers to create amazing synchronized light-and-music shows right on your front lawn.

6. A built-in backup plan: “Using a service-based company gives you a resource to handle the issue if your lights go out once installed — you don’t have to try to repair the issue yourself,” Fouts says.

7. Round trip peace of mind: Skilled installers don’t just put up — they take down in a timely manner, too, saving you the aggravation and preventing you from procrastinating this dreaded chore.

8. Household harmony: Spouses and kids can disagree on how to best deck the halls outdoors; entrusting an outside expert with this responsibility December 2016

can relieve families of the pressure.

“I’ve heard many stories from clients that holiday decorating can often lead to family fights,” says Carole Aine Langrall, owner of A Garden of Earthly Delights, a Baltimore, Maryland-based company that handles holiday floral decorating duties.

Prices for professional exterior decorating start at a few hundred dollars, while the national average cost for a typical-sized home featuring ample holiday lighting is between $1,200 and $1,500, according to Fouts. “One client, who owns a large estate home and had us put three custom Santas in golfing poses on his rooftop, spends up to $40,000 each year for his seasonal decorating,” Fouts says.

Holiday decorating pros in your area can be found via word of mouth from friends and relatives, Yellow Pages, the local newspaper, searching the internet and using the Find a Professional locator at LoveYourLandscape.org.

Henriksen recommends getting bids from multiple companies and vetting each carefully; ask what type of lighting will be used, what happens if equipment is damaged or stops working, if they have proper insurance (including worker’s compensation and liability insurance), and if they can provide references to satisfied homeowners you can contact. © CTW Features Spaces: Home for the Holidays

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December 2016

BY CARLEY LINTZ, CTW FEATURES

A Not-So-Disposable Party Parties create a lot of memories…and trash. Here are 8 tips to reduce waste. cans, bottles and paper products by providing convenient recycling containers.

This also saves you from having to spend time and energy separating materials later.

4. Avoid disposable dishware and utensils While paper plates and plastic cups make cleanup easier, they’re not great for the environment.

Go the classy — and eco-friendly — route with reusable dishes, glasses, utensils and napkins. You can save money by shopping at a local thrift store or even renting a set.

Ask guests to scrape food scraps into a designated container so that you can compost it instead of sending it to the landfill.

H

olidays may be the perfect time for a little indulgence, but that doesn’t mean you have to create a bunch of waste.

Here’s are 8 tips for making your holiday party a little greener this season:

1. Ditch the wrapping paper Consider more earth-friendly alternatives to wrap your holiday gifts. Reuse newspapers (comics are a colorful choice), posters or old maps. Or you double the giving by creating a gift within a gift by placing presents in decorative tins, flowerpots or baskets.

Another way to reduce waste: give gifts that don’t require any wrapping at all like concert tickets, baked goods or charity donations.

2. Send electronic cards Take your holiday cards and party invites into the next level by going digital.

Not only can you create a custom card with videos, graphics and gifs, you save a little extra waste at the same time.

3. Provide recycling containers Encourage party guests to recycle

December 2016

5. Serve finger foods Or you can get rid of plates and utensils completely by serving a variety of finger foods.

Dishes like bruschetta, mini quiches and tartlets are sure to be crowd-pleasers. Just take your favorite holiday dish and miniaturize it — the limit is your imagination!

6. Compost food waste With so many yummy treats on the table, it’s inevitable that not everyone can join the clean plates club. Ask guests to scrape food scraps into a designated container so that you can compost it instead of sending it to the landfill.

7. Reduce your water usage Scraping plates can also help minimize your water usage during the holidays, saving you 10 gallons of water according to the EPA. Another great way to reduce your water bill is washing dishes in the sink filed with soapy water rather than continuously running the tap or loading the dishwasher.

8. Donate leftovers If you have a lot of leftover pantry items at the end of the party, consider taking them to a local soup kitchen, police station or firehouse to spread the holiday cheer. © CTW Features Spaces: Home for the Holidays

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