a Magazine by Real Hometown Media LLC

Christmas Blessings A RHM Publication Vol. 1, Issue 3/December 2012

A sister publication of Alice24-7.com

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Family celebrates in own home for first time

CONTENTS The a List

It’s time to break out the tinsel and colorful door wreaths. We have the 411 on where to find the best holiday decor in Alice. Story on Page 14

a Must

Help out the less fortunate this holiday season. There are many food and toy drives in Alice at this time of year, help as much as you can. We feature Las Calaveras’ toy drive in this issue!

Brothers, Athletes Jon and Jared Jaramillo come from a long line of Coyotes.

Loving her job

t’s hard to believe another year has come and gone. The older I get the faster time seems to fly past me. My “babies” are now freshmen in high school. I’m officially knocking on 40’s door, and there’s no skipping the monthly visits to Patsy’s to color that grey! But as the year comes closer to its end, I have to pause and reflect on 2012.

2 a Magazine December 2012

Jones Family Andrea Jones and her three daughters are spending their first Christmas in their own home this year thanks to Habitat for Humanity. ON THE COVER

MONTHLY FEATURES

April Anzaldua, with CACOST, is this month’s Extraordinary Lady!

4 A More Excellent Way 12 The Savvy Kitchenista 7 Women’s Health 12 Frugal Living 7 Health & Wellness

Blessings abound this holiday season It was a good year. For one, my little company has grown beyond my expectations in its first year. I have the good people of Alice to thank for that. This magazine became a reality after nearly two years of dreaming. The positive responses to “a” continue to astound and humble me in equal measure. More importantly in the last year, I’ve grown so much as a person. It may seem strange, but at 38 years old I think I am finally becoming the person

I was always supposed to be. Free from the chains of the corporate world and with constant reminders of what is most important in life, I finally feel like I can breathe - and smile. I am surrounded by my loving husband, family and true, great friends. It’s when you go through the trials of life that you learn who truly cares for you. Many of those people are listed to the right of this column. They aren’t just my coworkers, they are my friends and confidants. I love them

all and nothing I do would be possible without their help and encouragement. There is much work to be done, but I am blessedly optimistic that 2013 will be as good as, if not better than, 2012. So this holiday season, I have much for which to be grateful and much to which to look forward. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

A publication of Real Hometown Media, LLC. 607 E. 7th Street Alice, Texas, 78332 361-668-6397 Nicole D. Perez Publisher/Editor Tony Morris Publisher Emeritus Brenda Poe Writer Lois Stephens Writer Mark Molina Writer Andy Villarreal Photographer Jennifer Wallgren Marketing Marisol Marquez Advertorial/Accounting Jamie Gonzalez Distribution Contributing Writers: Dr. Jason Bradford Pastor Kathleen Kasper Megan Hogan Jennifer Wallgren Billy Scoggins, R.N. Distributed monthly to every household in Alice, Texas. ©2012 Real Hometown Media, LLC

the

TAMALE Tradition Sisters-in-law Chris Gonzalez and Sylvia Valverde work in tandem to prepare holiday staple Story & Photography by NICOLE D. PEREZ

he holiday season would be incomplete in South Texas without the one staple that graces most dinner tables tamales. The tasty Mexican dish - consisting of seasoned meat (usually pork) rolled within a corn-based dough (or masa) inside of a corn husk - can be quickly gobbled up, but their making requires a deft hand and an understanding of just the right spices to use. It takes quite a bit of coordination to smooth the masa onto each corn husk, carefully balancing it in one hand while artfully applying the masa with the back of a spoon (unless one invests in a fancy gadget sold on late-night television). Though, the “trusty spoon works best.” For Chris Gonzalez and Sylvia Valverde, sisters-in-law, the art of tamale making is one that has been passed on generation to generation. It is also one that allows the family to earn some extra funds during the holiday season. Chris is quick to point out that she couldn’t possibly fill all of her tamale (and pan de polvo) orders without Sylvia’s help. “She’s my backbone,” she said. “We do everything together.” Standing at Chris’ kitchen table in November, the two ladies worked in tandem to fill tamale orders. Sylvia soaks and then measures the husks out to just the right size - using the width of her hand as a guide, “just like my mother taught me.” Chris and Sylvia offer this tip to know when the masa is ready for spreading - if it leaves your skin shiny after you spread it onto your hand, it’s ready! They suggest using Marroquin’s masa as the base, or La Famosa. To that, Chris and Sylvia add red pepper, lard and salt to taste. The duo uses mostly pork meat for their tamales, but does add a bit of beef as well. “I add the beef and simmer it down so it doesn’t have the strong pork taste,” Chris says. And like many of the best home cooks, Chris doesn’t measure her ingredients. She instinctually knows the amount of comino, garlic, chili powder and chile de ancho (for color and taste) to add to the meat to give it just the right taste for her tamales. Between now and the end of the year, they will likely make tamales every day. At least one batch, or 10 lbs. of meat, can keep the ladies busy for one or two days. The meat is cooked in a slow cooker overnight and is prepared for the tamales the following morning. Tamales are prepared for order and are $8 a dozen. Orders can be placed on the Trash and Treasures Facebook page, or call Chris at 361-548-3619. With all the tamale making going on in the house, one would think Chris and her family would tire of them. But, that is not the case. “We have to have tamales,” she said. “My husband and daughter love them.”

December 2012 a Magazine 3

‘The Reason for the Season’

D A More Excellent Way By PASTOR KATHLEEN G. KASPER

Pastor Kathleen holds degrees from Texas Tech University, Valparaiso University, and Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago. She is currently enrolled in the School of the Holy Spirit. She is an avid reader and enjoys mentoring others in the Christian faith. She can be reached at livingwordradio@hotmail.com

ecember has arrived and Christmas will be celebrated by many throughout the world. Though there are many people who think that Christmas is just about Christmas trees, gifts to open, food, lights, family, and lots of fun, Christmas is first and foremost the celebration of the greatest gift given to the world by the greatest Gift Giver of all. The greatest gift given to the world is Jesus, the Son of God, and the greatest Gift Giver is God. God’s gift of Jesus to the world was planned long before the creation of the world and his coming became a necessity when sin entered the world. It may seem from our vantage point that sin is just part of how the world was made. But when God created the heavens and the earth there was no sin. Everything God created was good. Everything! Part of the goodness of God and the goodness He created in the world is found in how God created human beings. Human beings are unique creatures – unique because we are created in the image and likeness of God.

4 a Magazine December 2012

Because mankind is patterned after God, God created us to be free because He is free. But giving human beings freedom was extremely risky. What would the first man and woman do with their freedom? Would they use the freedom God gave them to love God and be solely devoted to Him, or would they use their freedom to rebel against their own Creator? It didn’t take long to find out. The record of our first parents’ fall into sin is found in Genesis 3. In the Garden of Eden there were all kinds of trees and plants pleasing to the eyes and good for food. But, there were two trees unlike any of the other trees in the Garden. One was the Tree of Life. The other was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was off limits to the man and his mate. God had forbidden them not to eat of its fruit. Unfortunately, when presented with a choice to obey God’s prohibition or rebel against Him by eating the fruit of the forbidden tree, the man and the woman chose rebellion. They chose to listen to and believe a deceiving serpent rather than

God, their Creator. Their one act of rebellion brought sin into the world and into human history. Their one act of rebellion severed the beautiful relationship the man and the woman had had with God. Had God not planned ahead for the contingency of mankind’s rebellion, there would have been no hope for the world. But God did have a plan, a beautiful plan of love and forgiveness, of compassion and mercy. God’s plan was to reconcile humanity to Himself and restore what sin had severed. God’s beautiful plan is summarized in these words, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’ The birth of Jesus, celebrated on December 25th each year, was a giant step toward the fulfillment of God’s plans and purposes but it was not the fulfillment of those plans. The fulfillment of God’s plan to rescue the world from sin would come on a different day, a heart wrenching day, a day no one could fully grasp until after the fact. At Christmas time, we like to gaze into the sweet face

of the Christ child. But we must remember that the baby Jesus we honor and praise at Christmas was born to die a cruel and torturous death on a Roman cross. As horrible as the day of Jesus’ death was, it was necessary for Jesus to die so that we would not have to. Jesus was born to die for me, for you, and for the sake of every person ever conceived. He was born to die because He was born to take upon himself all of our sin, guilt, and shame. He was born to die so that the beautiful relationship God had in the beginning with mankind could be restored. He was born to die but His death was not the end of Him. No, from before the creation of the world and before sin entered into the earth, God’s plan went beyond Jesus’ death. Three days after dying and being laid in a tomb, Jesus broke the chains of death and rose victorious over sin, death, and the power of the devil. This Christmas, let’s be sure to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. Let’s be sure to adore Him. Let’s be sure to thank Him for doing what none of us could ever have done ourselves.

December 2012 a Magazine 5

BROTHERS UNDER CENTER JON & JARED JARAMILLO Story & Photography by MARK MOLINA

ust like when someone aspires to excel at sports, there are idols and favorite players after whom they try to mimic and model their game. However, when you come from a sports-rich family setting, your role models are more often than not your siblings. Jon Carlos (17) and Jared (16) Jaramillo have played football since they were old enough to join a competitive league and have shared the field and snaps under center for the Coyotes Junior varsity squad this year; each of them motivated by the siblings before them. “We play both ways and share the snaps at quarterback. Jared got more snaps after I moved up to varsity, but we both played a lot,” Jon said. “I played quarterback

because my older brother, Matthew, played quarterback and me and Jared are close so I guess he followed me. We are together a lot of the time except during school and on the weekend if we are each doing our thing.” Jon and Jared come from the Jaramillo family background that has always had history when it came to Coyote athletics, as older siblings Matthew and Zac participated in Coyote sports along with their cousins Hunter, Ryan, Trey and Jackie Jaramillo. Each has played either baseball, football or both, while Jackie is a varsity cheerleader and a member of the soccer team. Trey serves as the quarterback for the seventh-grade orange team. The family sees them as potential leaders. “Our family has always played football and been involved in sports here in Alice. We are big supporters of the Coyotes. We are proud that they get the chance and are fortunate to see our boys together on the field,” the boys’ father, Michael Jaramillo, said. “The boys always play and are able to play anywhere they are needed. They are all great kids and apply themselves, so they will do what is needed for the team.” Being on the same team does have its perks, as Jared takes the tutorials and pointers from his brother as far more than rudimentary guidance. “He helps me with things like footwork and gives me tips for things,” Jared said. “We are close and tight, so the time together is some-

thing I cherish. Football is a big tradition.” Since the latter part of the varsity season and the end of the junior varsity schedule, Jon and Jared have moved up and gotten their shot playing at the varsity level on special teams mostly, but have played well in the process. Both played on special teams during the 2012 Alice run but Jon had his opportunity under center for the Coyotes in the absence of Oscar Resendez and Andre Saenz due to injury. Jon, who will be a senior next fall, was not shaken under the bright lights, earning his nickname within the locker room as the “kick off specialist” by recovering a long onside kick against Miller to give the Coyotes a then three-game winning streak. “I knew I was ready and if given the right opportunity I could shine but all I ever really want to do is show the work we put in pays off. I love it. I love being a Coyote,” Jon said. Jared in the meantime belongs to a sophomore class that is predicted to be one to watch for. “There is always a future,” Jared said. “There are goals set by me, and my class; and I plan on doing everything we can to go for state.” Regardless of what happens, they know they cannot take anything for granted. “I feel I am better with my brother,” Jon said. “You appreciate that because you may not have that later.”

Story by BRENDA POE

Support Las Calaveras toy drive

must this month too.” is the upcoming Garrett said the club toy drive held chose to run the toy drive by Las Calaveras similar to a toy drive in motorcycle Corpus Christi, without a club of Alice for the second cookoff and ride. year. “We do offer some treats The toy drive will be held for the kids because I drive Sunday, Dec. 16, at Walmart. a bread truck for a living,” The club will be accepting Garrett said. “Otherwise, donations of new toys and the regulations are pretty cash throughout the day to tight. Basically, we are just benefit the children of Alice a group of guys that like who otherwise wouldn’t to ride and have a commuhave as many gifts under the nity within our community. Christmas Tree. Whether it’s financial or The drive has been named personal, we are there for “Hogs for Toys” by the club, each other and our commusaid member Steve “Red” nity.” Garrett of Alice. Garrett said the toy drive “The toys are given to allows the members of the children that really need it,” club to show they are not Garrett said. “Last year, we as rough as the public often helped families throughout assumes. Alice.” The drive and giveaway The donations of toys are are made possible through sorted by the club before volunteer efforts. being distributed at 2 p.m. “It feels good to help,” Saturday, Dec. 22, at city Garrett said. hall. If you miss the drive at “It is a first-come, firstWalmart, toys and other serve situation. No one is donations can still be made turned away,” Garrett said. by calling Garrett at 361-522“As a club, we look for the 0534. families and kids that really could benefit from the bigger ticket items. We pull them aside and give them bicycles and MP3 players.” Your Garrett said the Hometown club gave away six girls’ and six boys’ Pharmacy new bicycles. Mon& More etary donations go right to work, buying the bigger ticket featuring items that make Christmas special. DEMDACO “Wal-Mart has designs for helped us out with that before,” Garrett the home said. “In 2011, there were seven or eight families that told us 301 E. Main St., Alice, Texas we made a difference. We received a few thank you cards,

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I’m a grown up. Why do I need the shot for Whooping Cough? Women’s Wellness By JUDY PERDUE aliceobgyn.com

hooping cough (pertussis) is a serious infection that can make babies very sick and even cause death. Whooping cough can make adults miserable, but they don’t usually have any long-term problems once the infection is gone. However, grownups can pass the infection to children and infants, making the children sick. Jim Wells County has a higher than average rate of pertussis this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for Texas. There have been 1,099 cases of pertussis in Texas this

year including five deaths. Four of these deaths were in infants less than two months old so they had not yet gotten their first dose of vaccine. If you are pregnant, ask

your health care provider when you need to get the Tdap (Tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis) vaccine. The CDC recommends that all adults who might have contact with an infant (grandparents, other relatives, care givers, teachers, health care providers) be vaccinated with Tdap. Please ask your health care provider, pharmacist, or the Texas Dept. of State Health, Region 14 at 361-668-1954. Judy Perdue spends four days each week as a women’s health nurse practicioner with Dr. Jason C. Bradford, M.D., at Alice Obstetrics and Gynecology Associates.

Fitness walking for improved health

hen fitness professionals talk about walking, they generally mean fitness walking - an exercise that almost anyone can do with proper training because it is easy. Fitness walking differs from ordinary walking: • It has a form. It emphasizes proper posture, alignment, and technique as critical elements to achieving goals. • Sets a faster pace: 13-15 minute mile. • Keeps heart rate in the “target zone.” • Every time you find a chance to “slip into high gear” by changing from ordinary walking to fitness walking, you are working toward a healthy heart. Plus, you burn more calories. Does the phrase strength training make you think of Arnold Schwarzenegger and bulging biceps? There are many different ways to build muscle mass and strength, and not all of them are so extreme. Remember that Fitness Walking defines fitness as the effective integration of mind and body through exercise. An essential part of fitness is strength building. Medical studies show that strength is critical to health and well-being. There is good news and bad news about muscle strength. The bad news is that you can lose it — partly from normal aging but especially from lack of use. When

muscle strength is lost, your ability to perform even routine daily tasks suffers. Have you ever know By BILLY someSCOGGINS, RN one who Wesley Nurse became bed-ridden after an accident or because of a long illness? After a while, these people become weak, maybe even frail without necessary exercise. The good news is muscle strength needn’t be lost through disuse or normal aging. It can be increased no matter what age you start your fitness program. Whether your goal is weight loss, improved cardiac health, better diabetic management, osteoporosis prevention or increased endurance, you will find regular or fitness walking an effective way to begin a new and healthier lifestyle. Low cost, low impact and life changing at any age! Are you interested in a local, indoor fitness walking program? Please call Billy Scoggins RN/ Wesley Nurse 236-9729 for more information.

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*Article adapted from the following: Bach, Marilyn, Ph.D and Lori Schleck, M.A. P.T. ShapeWalking - Six Easy Steps to a Healthier Life. Minnesota: Heel to Toe Publications, 1997. ISBN 0-9662975-0-4

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A Christmas to Remember Jones family to celebrate in own home for first time

or the first time, Andrea Jones and her daughters, Azalia - 14, Azaria - 10 and Alize - 7, will celebrate Christmas in their own home. The 2012 Habitat for Humanity home recipients were busy preparing for the sweet moment in late November. “We’re going to spend Christmas here. I’m really looking forward to getting a huge, real Christmas tree,” Jones said. “I don’t think I’ve had one here in Texas since I lived in Michigan. My sister lives here so she’ll be here and we’ll just have a nice little family Christmas.” Jones said it is a bittersweet joy, because she is accustomed to a very large Christmas celebration. “It’s not the same as what I grew up with. I have nine brothers and sisters and a big extended family. All the cousins and uncles and aunts would all come and we’d meet at my uncle’s house. You kind of miss that, but at the same time, our home is here and it’s just, it’s good having your own little family traditions established. And, of course, our house...” She paused, becoming emotional for a moment.

Her family has always celebrated their Christmas on Christmas Eve, because so many of them had to travel. With everything from family games to Karaoke, and of course someone being nominated to play Santa and pass out the presents, it is an event to which she and her daughters greatly look forward. Her small family makes the trek every other year so that her children may stay connected with her extended family. The girls were eager to tell about their favorite Christmas game, the Elephant Game. Everyone who wants to participate brings a gift, which is placed upon a table, then each person receives a number and whoever gets number one gets to pick one of the gifts. The person with number two can either go to the table or “steal” the gift from number one, whereupon number one picks another gift and then the turn moves through the circle, with gifts exchanging hands at a rapid pace. Each gift can be stolen three times, and “then you’re stuck with it,” Jones said, laughing. The family usually has two groups, one for the younger crowd, and one for the older family members to ensure

Azaria sets up a Christmas decoration on the family’s dining room table.

age-appropriateness of the gifts. “There’s like 40 people in the circle! Oh, my gosh!” Azalia said. She was quite excited about the $50 gift card she won during the exchange last year. All three girls want bicycles for Christmas this year, especially the younger two. Although Jones has a number of heirloom family traditions, she is planning to begin some new ones of her own. “We’re going to make up our own family traditions. The good thing is that I have very creative girls and they’re always coming up with stuff,” she said. They plan to finish decorating their home and bake and decorate cookies. Jones also said she likes to buy gingerbread house kits to assemble and decorate as a family. “One of the things we are going to include in our new family tradition is going to church on Christmas Eve, because we’ve never done that. Not because we don’t go to church, but because of the family gathering. “We’d go Christmas Day, but it’s not quite the same as that Christmas Eve service, so we’ll be doing that from here on out.” She said she has had a little difficulty “accepting” her good fortune in being selected as a Habitat recipient, because of the “prideful” upbringing she received from her grandmother. “Not pride like I thought I

was too good, but pride like I thought if I accepted help it made me ‘less.’ I knew I wasn’t, but I didn’t want that person to see me that way. I had always been so independent and capable, but sometimes you just fall on hard times and your check just isn’t as big and the dollars don’t stretch.” She said with a smile that one of her coworkers - a friend named Cindy - told her, “Look, God puts people in your path for a reason. He is a provider, so you can’t look at it (help) as a handout - it’s a blessing from God.” Jones said that her friend’s statement served as an eyeopener of sorts, because she realized “the truth is, God provides and sometimes it’s in some unexpected ways.” So now when someone offers her something, if she needs it, she accepts it, with thanks for the blessing. If not, she pays it forward. As was the case of a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway at her office, she accepted it even though she didn’t need it - so that she could find and pass it on to someone else who did. “I knew I didn’t need that turkey, but you know someone else out there does, so I want to give back. “Sometimes it’s going through your hands because God knows that there’s going to be a moment in the future when it’s meant to get passed forward,” Jones said. “That takes it that step further.”

Andrea Jones and her daughters - Azaria, Alize and Azalia recently began decorating their home for Christmas.

The Jones family recently held a housewarming party to officially welcome their friends and family to their home. The invitations stated, “I am asking, instead of bringing the traditional ‘house warming gift,’ to bring monetary donations which will be presented to the local Alice chapter of Habitat for Humanity. We’d like to give back to this wonderful organization and I think this is a great opportunity for our community to do so. Gifts are welcome but this is my family’s way to say thank you.” The friends and family came through in a big way, and Jones will be donating nearly $300 to the organization as a result. “That’s why I try to encourage people, don’t be afraid to accept things - you don’t do it out of greed, you do it out of necessity and you do it out of God’s Love,” Jones said.

Story by LOIS STEPHENS Photography by ANTHONY RUIZ December 2012 a Magazine 9

THE LEAGUE

Photography and Story by LOIS STEPHENS

Extraordinary Ladies

Newest member April Anzaldua

his month, we feature our latest inductee to a Magazine’s League of Extraordinary Ladies. April Anzaldua is, according to her nomination, “pretty awesome! She has an energetic personality and refuses to let anyone down. She is all heart in what she does and continues to help her community.” Anzaldua, the director of Community Services and Special Projects at the Community Action Corporation of South Texas (CACOST), said she was truly humbled and surprised upon receiving the call that she had been selected to join the League. “I don’t feel like I really do anything extremely extraordinary - it’s just that I have passion for what I do. I am my job, I think.” That passion was very

evident in her shining eyes and bright smile as she spoke enthusiastically of the work CACOST does within the community. CACOST services all ages - from the very young in the Headstart program to the elderly serviced through the Meals on Wheels program. The organization also provides assistance to the

disabled, veterans, families in need, and was one of only 17 in the United States to be approved for a PREP (Personal Responsibility Education Program) youth development grant. Plans are to utilize the grant to implement the Wyman’s Teen Outreach Program - helping young people to build self esteem, to develop as a whole with the ultimate goal of preventing teen pregnancies. In addition to her duties within CACOST, Anzaldua is also the mother of two little girls, ages 3 and 5. She married her high school sweetheart two weeks after they graduated from college and describes him as “an amazing husband who supports me in everything.” She said she feels balance in life is very important and makes every effort to keep balance throughout not only her own life, but that of the employees of the organization. Although her job is heavily service-oriented, service was not the career path she origi-

nally chose. Her degree in Interior Design still reflects her first love, she said; but after working as a transition specialist at CACOST, she found an unrealized vocation. “I think it was just in general coming back home and really seeing what was out there...When I was young I didn’t know anything about Community Action or Human Services, and just seeing everything in our community, I became passionate about it.” She credited her coworkers and staff, saying, “I really couldn’t do it without the people that are out there really doing that tough, tough work of being out in the public. I think everything has really progressed to kind of help me. “Personally, I feel fulfilled in every part of my life. I love coming to work. I just feel that... I come in, I’m happy. I go home happy, so to me I know I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing,” she said, with a choked voice. “I think that’s how you

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know. If you wake up and you dread going in, or you’re really waiting for that Friday or if Sunday you’re going ‘oh, no, it’s Sunday, I have to go to work tomorrow,’ you’re doing the wrong thing.” The organization also helps with housing placement for veterans, low-income clients and those with disabilities. “When I hear the stories from the staff, ‘Oh, we did this today,’ it’s so fulfilling. People that have come in they come to us when they’re really struggling, and we follow them as long as we can until they’ve gotten back on their feet. “Because that’s really the point of what we do here, to get people back on their feet.” Do you know an extraordinary lady? Nominate her by calling 361668-6397 or email nperez@alice24-7.com. League members include Mellie Smithwick, Kookie Gutierrez, Bertha Rodriguez, Brenda Gonzalez, Barbie Wymore and Lelia Keliehor

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Budget BUSTING Mistakes Even smart people can make them when eating healthy

n order to make lasting changes to improve your health and waistline, reaching for a healthy meal needs to be as easy as microwaving a frozen dinner. Unfortunately, the price of convenience can be more than twice as much as the homemade alternative. Eating healthy requires a little bit of planning but it can be as fast and easy as these budget busting alternatives. It’s easier than you think. These three tips will save you money and calories. The Budget Buster: Frozen Dinners Frozen entrees leave a lot to be desired. They’re typically overpriced and the tiny portions leave your stomach growling for more. Many people eat them for weight loss, but the food itself isn’t actually healthy. They’re often

THE SAVVY KITCHENISTA Megan Hogan is a Board Certified Health Coach in Kingsville, Texas, and founder of www.takeoutintervenion.com

highly processed and full of salt, but the child-sized portion keeps them low in fat and calories. The Money Saving Swap: Make your own frozen entrees by freezing leftovers to grab when you need something home cooked in a hurry. You can even make a batch of whole grain pasta, strain it, drizzle with a small amount of olive oil to prevent sticking and freeze it in sandwich-sized bags for a perfect portion. Make it a meal by defrosting your pasta in a bowl (remove it from the bag) with frozen vegetables, leftover chicken, and your favorite sauce in the microwave

for 3-5 minutes. This works well with rice too. The Budget Buster: Individual Snack Packs Portions can be difficult to control when faced with an entire sleeve of crackers or a jar of nuts. While good for portions, individual snack packs are awful on your wallet. When it comes to portions, typically the smaller the portion the more you pay per ounce. The Money Saving Swap: Buy the larger size and portion them out ahead of time. A reusable plastic container will help cut costs while reducing all that extra

packaging that gets dumped in the landfill. This works great for yogurt, nuts, and crackers. Buy plain yogurt and flavor it yourself with sliced fruits, honey, and nuts or count out enough crackers to satisfy you without eating the whole box. The Budget Buster: Smoothie Packets Smoothies are great for a fast breakfast you can eat on the road. Premade smoothie packets with yogurt cubes and frozen fruit don’t really save you any time because you still have to blend them and clean the blender. They’re more like glorified milk shakes than a healthy breakfast because there’s so much added sugar and calories. The Money Saving Swap: Make your own smoothie for half the cost with my five-minute breakfast smoothie recipe. Once you

learn the building blocks of a successful smoothie, you can mix the ingredients up to keep things new and fresh. Bananas make a smoothie creamy and thick, fresh or frozen fruit adds sweetness and antioxidants, and a handful of baby spinach adds lots of fiber to keep you fuller longer without changing the flavor. Give it a try... FIVE-MINUTE BREAKFAST SMOOTHIE 1 cup liquid - almond milk, orange juice, apple juice or water 1 banana 1/2 cup raw baby spinach, rinsed well 1-1/2 cup berries - fresh or frozen Optional: one scoop of vanilla protein powder. Add ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.

Tips on how to save on your holiday shopping

12 a Magazine December 2012

FRU

L G AL I V

ING

h, the holidays! A time for family, friends, and... spending money. I don’t know about you, but I like to keep as much in my pocket as possible! There are ways to help find the best deals around and if you are into shopping online, WOW, are there some deals and steals out there. Before I start telling you about online shopping though, I want to tell you a little something that is VERY important for our community of Alice. When you shop locally, it might cost a tad bit more than if you buy it at a big retailer or buying it online. Shopping locally has a trickle effect that many people do not think about. Pick any Mom and Pop shop in Alice. Most of the time, they live here and they have, or have had, children who go to school here. The money that is spent in their store will be spent at other stores here

By JENNIFER WALLGREN

at home. We keep our town alive when we keep their stores alive. Shop Alice and be proud of it! Now, of course there are things that you just can’t buy in any of our hometown stores. Now, I will tell you my way of getting them at a rock bottom price. Google, Ebates, and RetailMeNot are your friends! Just for an example, let’s say we want to buy a child’s microscope set. In Google type “child’s microscope set” and search it. As you can see, there are lots out there to choose from, but we are just going to go with

one. ToysRUs has a microscope set that costs $89. This is the one “we” want so here is what you can do to get it much cheaper! I like to use a sight called Ebates. com. You have to register for the site but it is well worth the hassle. Once you are registered, search for any store that you want to shop in, which happens to be ToysRUs in this example. Ebates.com does something that I have not found anywhere else. When you go through their site first and follow the link that they provide, you are given a percentage back in the form of a check! Your amounts accumulate over the course of three months and then they send you a check, it’s that easy! We would click the ToysRUs link on Ebates and it will redirect us to the Web site and you do your shopping. Click on your microscope set and go to checkout. At checkout, you can apply a cou-

pon code. We have searched retailmenot.com for a ToysRUs coupon code and found one for free shipping. Use that coupon code and finish all the details needed for checking out. By using this method, you have saved over $10 on just one item. You can usually always find a free shipping coupon for most Web sites. You just have to search and in this day of high-priced fuel, free shipping means a saved trip to a larger town in order to find that sought after Christmas present! The money you have saved can go towards that pedicure you need just in time for your Christmas party! From my family to yours, have a wonderful Christmas and a safe New Year’s.

Merry Christmas from Texas Rig Service

Congratulations Coyotes on a great season!

From the staff of Texas Rig Service

December 2012 a Magazine 13

Story by BRENDA POE Edwards Furniture, 119 North King Street, has a full line of Christmas decorations from western motif to traditional. Prices start as low as $3.95 for a lollipop metal decoration that would work inside or outside of the home. There are also lots of goodies to make the home smell like Christmas with specialty items from D.L. Jardines and more.

Scents and More, 214 East Main Street, has antique decorations that remind us of yesteryear, starting with Avon collector plates with images of Christmases past. There are also antique Santas on the shelves. Prices start at $9.95 for a set of Santa salt and pepper shakers.

14 a Magazine December 2012

Getting your home ready for Christmas is a pleasant chore, whether you started in November or haven’t yet, we have compiled “a list” of must sees - and must haves - when finishing off your home decor. Each of our featured locations will help you bring the finishing touches to a Merry Christmas for all. CHRISTUS Healthy Living Marketplace in Alice, 2500 East Main Street, has the knickknacks and specialty items that make Christmas memories. The best one is the Kissing Krystal, priced at $9.99, featuring a large “crystal” surrounded by sparkling mistletoe to hang in the home. They also have several versions of the manger scene.

The Cat’s Meow, 1801 East Main Street, has the perfect rustic candle to make any home smell like Christmas. The Black Crow Candle Co. candles feature scents of Christmas trees, Gingerbread and more. Small samples of scents start at only $1.50, with larger candles in the $16 to $17 range. The shop features products from small mom and pop shops, mostly handmade and from Texas. It’s also a perfect gift shop location.

Yolanda and Aida’s Flower Shop, 519 South Reynolds Street, can finish off any home decor with welcoming Christmas wreaths of all colors. Arrangements start at $65 with large baskets that make any entryway feel homey. Wreaths and displays can be coordinated to each order and range from $90 to $175 depending on size. She does need two days’ notice to ensure colors are available.hh

Merry Christmas

from all of us

Jim Wells County Officials

May the coming year bring peace, joy and enlightenment to you and those you cherish. For all the joy youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve brought us, we will always be grateful.

Judge L. Arnoldo Saenz

Commissioner Ventura Garcia

Sheriff Oscar Lopez

District Clerk R. David Guerrero

Commissioner Javier Garcia

Attorney Jesusa Sanchez-Vera

Treasurer Becky Dominguez

District Attorney Armando Barrera

Commissioner Zenaida Sanchez

Clerk JC Perez

Tax Assessor-Collector Mary Lozano

District Judge Richard Terrell

December 2012 a Magazine 15

From Sales to Service nobody does it better than

Alice Chevrolet

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2250 East Main Street, Alice www.alicechevrolet.com 16 a Magazine December 2012

(361)

664-0951

Locally owned and operated