Gifts for holiday hosts
METRO CREATIVE SERVICES
Millions of people open their homes to relatives and friends each holiday season.
Taking on the task of a holiday host can be a labor of love, as it involves not only a commitment of time, but also a financial investment. Lending Tree reported that 60 percent of Americans considering hosting holiday gatherings in 2023 expected to spend an average of $556 on their celebrations. Six-figure earners planned to spend even more, indicating they expected to spend $764 on holiday hosting.
Guests benefitting from holiday hosts’ hospitality can offer tokens of their appreciation upon arrival. The following are some great gifts to offer hosts this holiday season.
BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: A bottle of wine or another spirit can be a great gift for holiday gatherings. Let hosts decide if they want to serve it
with the meal or save it to enjoy at a later time.
CURATED FOOD BASKET: A guest can put together a basket of different foods, including crackers, cheeses, jams, bread sticks, and other items that can be enjoyed as snacks or appetizers.
HOLIDAY PLANT: A poinsettia or Christmas cactus may be fitting this time of year, and a holiday host can enjoy seeing it grow during the season.
KITCHEN TOOLS OR SERVING
ITEMS: A beautiful olive wood serving platter or cutting board might be appreciated, particularly if guests arrive with it covered in a charcuterie spread.
SCENTED CANDLE: Hosts can set the mood and add to the ambiance of an entertaining space with lit, scented candles, which make for a great gift. Guests can inquire as to
the hosts’ preferred aromas or stick with safe bets like vanilla or cinnamon.
HOLIDAY ORNAMENT OR
DECORATIVE PIECE: Guests can offer ornaments for the tree or another decorative item for hosts who are repeat entertainers. Dating the decoration or having it engraved can transform it into a memento hosts can relish through the years.
COMFORT AND CARE ASSORTMENT: Hosting takes effort, so a box of items to pamper holiday hosts can be a great gift. Fill the box with a loofah, bath bombs, shower gel, moisturizing cream, and massage oil. Holiday hosts invest time and money into making their homes welcoming spaces to spend the holidays. Guests can treat these hosts with gifts to show how much their efforts and hospitality are appreciated.
Christmas cookies embody the joy of holiday cooking
METRO CREATIVE SERVICES
The holiday season simply wouldn’t be the same without food. The joyful spirit of the season lends itself to sharing a bite if not a full meal with family and friends. Perhaps that explains why so many people embrace the joy of baking each holiday season. Some bake to honor and continue family traditions, while others
Christmas Linz Shortbread Cookies With Red Jam
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup almond flour
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/2 cup raspberry jam
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, almond flour, salt, and cinnamon together. In a separate bowl, beat the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add in the egg yolks, vanilla extract and lemon zest and continue to beat until well incorporated.
2. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and continue to beat until just combined to form a dough. Divide the dough in half; pat each half into a disc, wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.
3. Remove the dough from the refrigerator, and let it soften for about 5 minutes, until soft enough to roll. On a lightly floured surface, roll one disc of dough out to about 1/4” thickness. Using a 3” cookie cutter, cut out cookies. Cut out a top for each cookie using a smaller
spend hours crafting cookies to put a smile on the face of loved ones each holiday season.
Whatever it is that inspires individuals to break out the measuring cups, flour and whisk, cookie fans undoubtedly appreciate that spark of confectionary creativity. This holiday season, those with an urge to bake some cookies can try this recipe for “Christmas Linz Shortbread Cookies with Red Jam” from Lines+Angles.
out the center. Transfer the cookies to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Gather the scrap dough, roll, and repeat.
4. Place the first batch of cut cookies in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill. Preheat the oven to 350 F and repeat the process with the second batch of dough.
5. Bake the chilled cookies for about 12 minutes or until just starting to turn golden around the edges. Let the cookies cool for a few minutes until transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
6. Once cooled, spread the bottom half of each cookie with some raspberry preserves, leaving a thin border around each cookie. Dust the tops of each cookie with powdered sugar and place on its corresponding bottom half. Use a spoon or piping bag to fill the cut-out center with a little more of the preserves.
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Resting time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Baking time: 15 minutes Difficulty: Easy Makes 24 cookies
METRO CREATIVE SERVICES
Gatherings with loved ones are a big part of what makes the holiday season such a special time of year. As families grow and spread out across the map, they may not get too many chances to spend quality time with one another. But the holiday season is a time each year when families make a concerted effort to get together.
As families get together under the same roof during the holiday season, individuals tasked with hosting gatherings tend to have a lot on their plates. Memories tend to be made around the holiday dinner table, but the season also presents ample opportunities to create nights to remember outside the house as well. Hosts can keep the following ideas in mind as they look for ways to entertain guests this holiday season.
TAKE A TURN AS A TOUR GUIDE.
Locals may not make the rounds of nearby tourist destinations too frequently, but the holiday season is a great opportunity for hosts to show guests what makes their towns so unique. Serve as a tour guide for guests on a sightseeing day with visits to local monuments or museums. Wrap the day up at a holiday bazaar where local small business owners have set up shop. This affords guests a chance to tour a new community or a hometown they haven’t visited in awhile, and also makes for a great chance for all to squeeze in a little last-minute holiday shopping.
PLAN AN UGLY SWEATER BAR CRAWL. If hosts and their guests are all of age, an ugly sweater bar crawl can make for a fun night out on the town. Encourage guests to wear an ugly holiday sweater and map out a route and schedule of visits to local
bars and restaurants. Hosts must prioritize safety on these types of excursions, so arrange for a bus to take guests from one spot to the next if establishments are far away from one another. If Main Street has a local bar district, arrange for transportation downtown at the start of the crawl and home when the night ends.
TAKE IN SOME LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT.
Whether it’s a holiday lighting display show or a local theater performance of a classic holiday tale like Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol,” a night of local live entertainment is a great way for hosts and their guests to get out of the house. Hosts can even book a reservation for a pre-show meal at a local restaurant so they can be free of cooking and give guests their undivided attention.
HOST A HOLIDAY MOVIE NIGHT.
Weary travelers who want to stay in may appreciate a holiday movie double feature. Hosts can let guests pick a pair of holiday films and then host a double feature, complete with traditional movie fare like popcorn and candy. Hosts can even offer adult guests a glass of homemade eggnog during the films to up the holiday ante even further.
Holiday hosts can embrace various ways to entertain guests during a time of year when there’s no shortage of fun ways to spend a night.
Inspiring ideas for last-minute holiday shoppers
IMETRO CREATIVE SERVICES
t’s unlikely that anyone aspires to be
a last-minute holiday shopper.
Putting off holiday shopping until the last minute can make for a stressful home stretch to the season, and there’s no guarantee store shelves won’t already be picked clean or that gifts purchased online will arrive on time.
Despite how unappealing last-minute shopping can be, it’s still a fact of life for millions of holiday shoppers. As the clock winds down this holiday season, shoppers can look to these ideas for inspiration.
GIFT CARDS: Gift cards may never earn a distinction as the most sentimental item to give a loved one during the holiday season, but they are surprisingly sought-after. In fact, a survey from the National Retail Federation found that 54 percent of participants identified gift cards as the most-wanted gift of the 2022 holiday season. Chain retailers, small
businesses and restaurants are among the many establishments that sell gift cards, so shoppers are bound to find a card to please anyone on their shopping list.
FOOD/BEVERAGE: The holiday season is a popular time to indulge in some great food and wash it down with a favorite wine or another adult beverage. That makes food and beverages a great holiday gift. Shoppers can take a loved one out to a favorite restaurant, prepare a homemade treat or purchase a favorite dish from a local specialty grocery store or eatery. Pair the food with an appropriate beverage and this accessible last-minute gift idea is sure to be a hit.
TICKETS: Tickets to a movie, sporting event, live theater performance, or concert are another gift idea that likely won’t be gobbled up by early bird shoppers. People of all ages enjoy experiences, and a 2022 survey from the travel booking platform GetYourGuide found that 50 percent of survey
respondents indicated they would enjoy tickets to a concert or show.
BOOKS: Books make an ideal holiday gift for everyone from young kids to grandparents. Traditional print books are small enough that they can likely arrive on time even if they’re purchased just a few days before Christmas. E-book sellers enable gift givers to pick the perfect time to notify loved ones they have received an electronic book. Audiobooks, which can be downloaded to a smartphone or given as a CD, make an ideal gift for loved ones who spend a lot of time behind the wheel.
Last-minute holiday shopping can be stressful. However, various sought-after items can be secured at the last minute, ensuring gift givers’ loved ones have a happy holiday season.
Streamline cooking this holiday season
STATEPOINT
Anyone who has ever hosted a big holiday meal knows there can be a lot of pressure to ensure everything comes out at the right time, and more importantly, tastes great.
Whether you’re feeding your family or a crowd, here’s how to streamline your cooking during the holidays and beyond by using the right equipment to its maximum capabilities:
Versatile appliances eliminate the need for a slew of single-use pieces of equipment like pizza ovens, air fryers and secondary ovens, which can clutter the kitchen and make your job more complicated. Being able to do the majority of your cooking with just a few appliances will keep you organized during the busy holiday meal prep rush. With that in mind, consider outfitting your kitchen with a double oven range or multifunction oven, which will allow you to cook independently in a single standard size appliance. With two ovens, you can prepare multiple dishes that require different temperatures or modes simultaneously, so that you can roast the holiday turkey or ham in the larger oven, while steaming or baking your sides in the smaller oven and stovetop, without the hassle of over and undercooking, or crossing flavors between dishes.
A double oven like the Italianmade Verona Appliances 36”
Double Oven Prestige Range gives you the extra space you need to produce the quantity and quality of food you want. Available in stainless steel, matte black and white, it offers a stylized, upgraded look, along with high-powered, professional-level cooking performance.
The 10 easy-to-use cooking modes of a Lofra luxury Italian range empower you to just as easily achieve a flawless crust on a casserole as to perfect your favorite seasonal cookie recipe.
Representing the perfect union of form and function, you’ll benefit from modern cooking features and gorgeous design.
To stay truly agile as a home chef, you’ll also want to make sure that you’re making full use of every accessory that is included in your appliances. The Verona Ultima range, for example, is a premier cooking appliance that comes with upgraded features and accessories, including an air fry tray, space saver shelf, a broiler pan and a griddle, for the ultimate all-in-one range. Its blend of beautiful design and innovative features will likely inspire compliments from your holiday guests. Both Verona and Lofra are exclusively imported by EuroChef USA. For more information, visit eurochefusa.com.
Beyond equipment, your day will go more smoothly if you make a plan. Write out a timeline of the tasks you must complete, including the times when items need to go into the oven and be removed. You can also recruit a family member or two to assist with dicing, peeling and other prep tasks. Finally, don’t be afraid to take guests up on their inevitable offers to bring something. Whether it’s dessert or cocktail ingredients, they’ll be giving you one less thing to worry about and you’ll be making them feel helpful – win-win!
With multifunctional equipment and a smart game plan, you can streamline your kitchen and take your hosting to the next level this holiday season. Happy cooking!
Add seasonal bazaars to your list of holiday shopping locations
METRO CREATIVE SERVICES
There is no shortage of options
to find every item on your holiday shopping list. Shopping malls, online retailers and mom and pop stores along Main Street can be great spots to grab holiday deals, but shoppers also can find great gifts at holiday fairs and bazaars.
Bazaars are found all over the world, but are notable to Middle Eastern and Asian countries. Bazaars are marketplaces that feature several small shops or vendor stalls. In some countries, bazaars are outdoors and covered by tents, while in others they feature several stalls set up in large rooms.
Holiday bazaars often pop up during the holiday season and mimic international marketplaces. They
may be hosted by cities or towns, schools or places of worship.
Sometimes they are fundraising opportunities, with nonprofit organizations charging a stall- or table-renting fee for bazaar participants. Holiday fairs and bazaars often bring together an array of different retailers, many of whom are small businesses selling interesting wares.
Shoppers should take advantage of every opportunity to visit these holiday bazaars because they will only be around for a short time. Here’s a look at some of the benefits of bazaar shopping for the holidays.
PATRONIZE SMALL BUSINESSES
Holiday bazaars often bring together small businesses that may not normally have storefronts. This
allows shoppers to meet the individuals behind businesses they already patronize or discover new firms they were previously unacquainted with.
SHOP UNIQUE WARES. Holiday bazaars may showcase items not easily found elsewhere, from handcrafted jewelry to unique soaps to custom woodworking items.
DEVELOP NEW RELATIONSHIPS
Shopping at holiday bazaars enables you to meet and interact with new people. This can expand your social circles and may even expand your professional network.
ENJOY THE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE. Shopping away from the bustle of larger, busier retail
stores gives you a break from the harried shopping experience many experience during the holiday season. Rather, holiday fairs and bazaars typically are less crowded and engage at a slower pace. Plus, they may have a more homespun decorating design that can have you feeling like you’re shopping in a Christmas village.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FOOD VENDORS. Food vendors likely will be mixed within the offerings of the holiday bazaar. That gives you an opportunity to take the day off from cooking and enjoy some savory and sweet bites while grabbing gifts. Holiday shopping bazaars are great places to shop for the holidays.
METRO CREATIVE SERVICES
Millions of individuals enjoy holiday shopping for their loved ones each year. Come the holiday season, thoughts of what to get friends and family is foremost on the minds of those who embrace the spirit of giving that is synonymous with this special time of year. It’s easy to overspend during the holiday shopping season. That could be even easier in an era marked by high inflation, which has affected consumers since 2022. Lingering inflation could require shoppers to be especially vigilant with their shopping budgets this
holiday season. Thankfully, a few simple strategies can help shoppers stay the financial course this holiday season.
TRACK SPENDING WITH A BANKING APP ON YOUR SMARTPHONE. Consumers can now track their spending in real-time by downloading their bank and/or credit card app on their smartphones. A quick login can help shoppers monitor account balances to determine how much they have spent. If the budget is about to be busted, pull back the reins and cut the shopping trip short.
ESTABLISH GIFT VALUE LIMITS. No one has been immune to the effects of
inflation over the last yearplus. So family members likely won’t have a problem establishing spending limits this year. Work together with relatives to determine a reasonable limit to spend on each gift. For example, a $50 per gift limit can ensure everyone gets a quality gift without going into debt.
SHOP ON RETAIL HOLIDAYS. Black Friday was once the only game in town regarding retail holidays. But consumers can take advantage of additional discount-heavy shopping days like Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday to find great deals on a wide range of items. Take retail holiday savings one step further by penciling in time
to comparison shop on these popular days when retailers compete for customers.
LOOK FOR ALMOST-NEW GIFTS. Mobile providers may market the latest model smartphone as upping the ante with new bells and whistles, but chances are last year’s model is just as userfriendly at a fraction of the cost. The same can be said for other gadgets like wireless headphones and smart TVs. Last year’s models may be heavily discounted, particularly online, but just as impressive as their more expensive successors.
KEEP SHIPPING COSTS IN MIND. The sticker price of certain items, particularly
large ones, is likely not the whole story regarding how much the item will cost. Certain items, like trampolines for kids or a new armchair for Dad, will likely cost considerably more than the sticker price alone. Shipping on small items may be free at various online retailers, but that likely won’t be the case with larger items. The cost of shipping some heavy items might be as much as one-third the cost of the item itself. Shoppers should keep that in mind and build potential shipping costs into their holiday budgets. It’s easy to overspend during the holiday season. However, various strategies make it easy to stay within budget when shopping for gifts for family and friends.
holiday gift ideasfor students
STATEPOINT
Want to brighten the holiday season for the students in your life? Consider gifts that will ease the transition into the spring semester. Here are few to consider:
1. SUPPORT A MUSICAL
JOURNEY:
With 44 mini keys, the SA-81 from Casio is a great keyboard for both first-time players just embarking on their musical education and accomplished instrumentalists. A built-in metronome makes practice sessions a breeze, and features such as scale tuning, octave shift and transpose help introduce musical concepts. One-hundred high-quality built-in tones covering a range of instruments, including piano, wind, percussion and acoustic instruments, along with 50 rhythm patterns in a variety of genres like pop, ballad, dance, and more, offer budding musicians a chance to experiment and express themselves creatively right away. All housed in a compact frame, it’s a great choice for young students, students on-the-go, and dorm dwellers.
2. LIGHTEN THEIR LOAD:
If you remember lugging around heavy textbooks during your own student days, consider lightening the load of your gift recipient with a high-quality e-reader. Look for a
model with note-taking features, adjustable lighting to protect eyes and portability. A color screen is also a good idea, as it will make diagrams and charts easier to examine if your student will be reading textbooks on the device.
3. BRING THE WORLD OF STEM WITHIN REACH: With the advanced features of a next-generation graphing calculator, the fx-CG50 PRIZM can support students through middle school, high school and into college. With Natural Textbook Display and an intuitive icon menu, students will find the calculator incredibly easy to use. Its 3D graphing and improved catalog functions allow for greater engagement and real-life application in the mathematics classroom, and a host of compatible resources available at casioeducation.com can set them up for success. Because the model is approved for the SAT, PSAT, ACT and AP tests, your gift will be helping them prepare for a bright future.
4. HELP THEM KEEP TIME: Is your student an athlete? Whether they run track, do swim team or tackle contact sports head-on, a durable, water-resistant sports watch can help them track their speed and progress throughout the season.
5. EXPAND THEIR WORLD: While many people today get their news by rapidly scanning headlines on apps, a deeper dive can improve literacy, expand knowledge and foster an understanding of the world. Consider gifting your student a subscription to a high-quality newspaper or news magazine. This holiday season, give students thoughtful gifts that will ease their life and make their schoolwork and extracurriculars more enjoyable.
Gifts they’ll actually use this winter
STATEPOINT
Staying warm during the cold winter months is a top priority for many, which is why holiday gifts that help in this endeavor are always a surefire hit! Here are some head-to-toe gift ideas that will add comfort to the season and show your loved ones you care.
1. FUNCTIONAL GLOVES FOR THE FASHIONISTA. From navigating with GPS to queuing up a playlist, your loved one relies on her devices all the time outdoors. That’s why her gloves should offer touchscreen-capable fingertips so that even in frigid temperatures, she can stay cozy and connected. Enter the Women’s Mya Faux Fur Cuff Gloves from Isotoner, where style meets practicality. With SmarTouch technology for superior touchscreen capability and SmartDri water-repellent features that make rain and snow roll right off, elevating winter weather ensembles has never been easier!
2. ON-THE-GO COZINESS FOR THE FASHION FORWARD. Staying warm and stylish with this must-have beanie and scarf set is easy. Featuring a waffle knit beanie with Levi’s iconic red tab and a soft buffalo plaid scarf, this duo is perfect for on-the-go coziness and will keep your loved one comfortable during all their favorite winter activities. Designed for the fashion-forward, it’s an ideal gift for anyone looking to blend warmth with timeless style.
3. FOR THE BEST DRESSED FRIEND. Ultimate comfort and style go hand in hand with these Women’s Shortie Stretch Microsuede Gloves. Made from super soft and stretchy microsuede fabric, these slim-fitting contoured gloves feature a velour interior and plenty of stretch, providing warmth and flexibility with none of the bulk. With touchscreenenabled fingertips and a waterrepellent exterior designed with beautiful stitching detail, your loved one will stay warm, dry and stylish all winter.
4. FOR THE MULTITASKING GUY. For the type who tackles winter head on–whether it’s shoveling snow or scraping icy windshields– you’ll want the Men’s Neoprene Gloves from Isotoner. With a durable exterior, sleek tech detailing and an adjustable zip closure, they’re designed to handle the cold. Plus, a non-slip palm offers extra grip and SmartDri water-repellent technology, to keep hands warm and dry in all kinds of weather, so that he can find comfort in any moment.
5. FOR THE ON-THE-GO GUY WHO WANTS TO BE COMFORTABLE. The Isotoner Men’s Carter Microsuede Water Repellent Boat Moccasin is made with durable microsuede. Not just a slipper, this versatile indoor/ outdoor footwear doubles as a shoe. The moisture-wicking lining and cooling gel-infused memory foam with super supportive enhanced heel cushion offer ultimate comfort, rain or shine.
6. FOR THE COZY HOMEBODY. Make winter movie marathons and sleep sessions toastier and more restful with a weighted blanket. After all, it’s also important to stay warm inside. Research has found that weighted blankets may improve sleep quality, making this a great choice for those in need of some extra shut-eye.
