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Save energy with holiday decorations
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he holiday season allows people to transform their homes into wonderlands of lights, garlands and poinsettias. Each family has its own holiday traditions, and decorations are a part of many of those traditions. Decorations might be aweinspiring, but those that include lights often lead to substantially higher energy bills. Fortunately, there are ways for homeowners, whether they prefer subtle displays or more over-the-top arrangements, to save money and still celebrate the holiday season in style. Switch to more efficient lights. A great way to ensure holiday displays consume less energy is to change the bulbs being strung. Incandescent lights can use 80 to 90 percent more energy than LED lights. Gradually replace older light strands with newer, energyefficient LEDs. Not only do LEDs require less energy, but
they also can last longer than incandescent bulbs, meaning you won’t have to replace them as frequently as more traditional bulbs. Furthermore, lower wattage usage means you can attach more strands of lights together safely. Use timers. Timers can be set to turn lights on and off at specific times, ensuring lights aren’t turning on during the daytime or being left on into the night by forgetful homeowners. Timers also are a good safety precaution. A dark house that is normally lit up can advertise to thieves that no one is home. When lights turn on with a timer, it will create the illusion that it is business as usual in your residence. Use homemade decorations. You also can save energy and money by recycling materials into holiday decor. Trim branches from trees and use them in vases for an instant wintry look. Prune an
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2015 • 5C
Make holiday decorating easier this year
evergreen on your property and make your own wreath with some wire and twine. Shop yard sales for gently used decorations that still have years of utility left. Sew ornaments from scraps of fabric or clothing that no longer fits. Each of these ideas reduces reliance on manufactured decorations that consume energy during production and fuel while being transported from factories to store shelves. Rely on extension cords. You can extend the length of displays without using more lights by spacing out light strands with extension cords. Intersperse spotlights to add attention to key elements of your display as well. Turn off interior lights. If a Christmas tree is illuminating a front window, turn off the lights in your home, as the tree may provide enough light to make a living room or den extra cozy.
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t is not the holiday season until homes, stores and town centers are decorated in lights and tinsel. When entire neighborhoods are enhanced by bows and animated figurines, the celebratory tone is set and decorations can trigger happy feelings associated with holiday gatherings. Some people find holiday decorating enjoyable and eagerly anticipate taking out storage containers and sorting through all of their memory-laden trinkets, while others are less enthusiastic about readying their homes for the season. No matter which group you fall into, the following are some simple tips to make holiday decorating easier. Plan to decorate on a day when you do not have any other responsibilities. Choose to decorate on a day when you can devote your full attention to decorating, avoiding a day when you might be distracted by other things. If you prefer to decorate alone, ask a friend to watch the kids or have a spouse take them out of the house for a few hours. If decorating is a family event, find a day when everyone’s schedules are clear.
Take out the decorations the day prior. Hauling boxes and containers from the attic or basement can take a while. Take some time to move all of the decorating items to a main floor of the house the day or night before your decorating marathon. This way you won’t get discouraged or tired by the task even before the real decorating has begun. Put the tree up first. The Christmas tree is the a focal point of holiday decorations, so set up the tree and decorate it before you get started on decorating the rest of the house. If you do not get to all of your other decorating, at least the tree will be ready and your home will still have some holiday appeal. Once the lights are on, decorating the tree is a great activity for keeping the kids busy while you handle other jobs. Divide and conquer. Nothing makes holiday decorating go faster than delegating decorating tasks. Assign specific tasks to your helpers. Put one person in charge of decorating the living room while another handles the outside lights, wreaths and inflatable items.
Turn on the tunes. Working to music frequently takes your mind off of the work and will help pass the time more quickly. Have your favorite holiday playlist at the ready and turn up the volume. Sing along to the carols or contemporary songs while you are elbow-deep in decorations. Take some breaks. Working hungry or tired may lead to sloppy work or frustration. There’s little chance of untangling a knot in the lights with your patience in tact if you haven’t eaten for hours. Plan some time for lunch while you sit and rest. Survey the work you’ve done and make a list of the next steps. After the hard work of decorating, you’ll likely have a sense of accomplishment. Now it’s time to enjoy the holiday scene and prepare for the excitement of the weeks ahead.
6C • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2015
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Ring in the New Year with festive party ideas they can do or bring. Figure out in advance which aspects of the party you want your guests to take care of so you have a ready answer when the inquiries start rolling in. Keep musical tastes in mind. A fun party usually includes an array of familiar songs and music that appeals to the masses. When compiling a party playlist, choose songs guests are sure to know and love. Mix these in with a few of your favorites. You can even ask guests to provide the names of three favorite songs when they RSVP. Dim the lights. Bright lights can make guests feel intimidated and awkward. Set the mood by turning off overhead lights, opting for ambient lighting instead. For a fun
effect, string holiday lights around the room or use a portable disco ball to spread sparkling colors on the floor and ceiling. Candles are another option for intimate affairs, but should be avoided as a safety measure if you’re having a large crowd.
Set out New Year’s fill-inthe-blank cards. Encourage guest participation with an entertaining idea. Print out small cards that guests have to complete. Phrases like, “The bad habit I want to quit is ____or ____ was the silliest thing I did last year,” can be fun to
do and share. Guests can take turns guessing whose card is being read. Have the party catered. Unless you want to spend the evening in and out of the kitchen, invest in catering. Guests of a late party won’t expect a three course meal. However, platters of sandwiches, appetizers and other little munchies will fit the bill. Remember, caterers may book up fast this time of year, so be sure to reserve service well in advance of your party. Create a specialty drink. In addition to toasting champagne or sparkling wine, serve a specialty drink creation. This can be a beverage that ties into your color scheme or the theme of the party. Dessert drinks, such as chocolate martinis or vanilla cake-flavored vodka
mixers, may be the right flavor for your affair. As the host, you should remember to provide non-alcoholic alternatives as well. Consider more substantial food after midnight. Encourage guests to eat more and drink less once the clock has struck midnight. Casseroles and other baked dishes are easy to make in advance and have on hand. A breakfast buffet of pancakes, toast and omelets also will fill guests up with something more substantial than chips and dips. New Year’s Eve parties are a great way to reflect on the last year and look forward to a new one, and hosts can take steps to make their parties memorable for all the right reasons.
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including tickets for four to:
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lthough New Year’s Eve parties tend to be similar from year to year, hosts can explore the many ways to make their celebrations stand out from those of years past. This handy guide provides ideas to your get creative juices flowing. Establish a color palette. Many people equate New Year’s Eve with the gold and silver hues of champagne. However, you can use any festive color for your party. Use the same colors on everything from invitations to dinnerware to take-home favors. Encourage guest input. Guests understand the cost of hosting and the amount of planning necessary to throw a festive party, and many will likely reach out to ask what
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Celebrate and stay true to your budget this holiday season do the most damage to budgets come the holiday season, when people hit the road to see family and friends, often with numerous gifts in tow. But the holiday season does not have to be so harsh on personal budgets, especially for those men and women who employ a few tricks of the trade to lighten their financial burdens during this festive time of year.
* Set spending limits. * Share hosting duties. * Make your own decorations. * Start shopping early. The holiday season finds many people stretching their budgets. But men and women can employ several strategies to save money while still enjoying a memorable and festive holiday season.
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he holiday season is a joyous time of year dominated by family reunions and seasonal soirees. And while kindness is a theme of the holiday season, this time of year can be especially unkind to personal budgets, many of which get stretched thin in the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Travel and shopping tend to
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2015 • 7C
Stress-free holiday hosting tips
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atherings with friends and family are a big part of the holiday season. Many people travel during the holidays to spend time with distant relatives, but those same people often want to gather with those loved ones who live nearby as well. Thus an abundance of gatherings comes in December, when office parties, dinners with family and festivities with friends have a way of dominating the last five weeks of the year. All of those gatherings translate to a lot of holiday hosting, and hosts can easily feel overwhelmed as they try to juggle hosting duties with everything else that comes along during this time of year. The following are a few steps holiday hosts can take to make hosting a lot less hectic and a lot more fun. • Enlist help. Just because a holiday party is at your home does not mean others can’t pitch in or will be unwilling to help. If you plan to decorate for the party, invite a friend over to assist. When hosting a holiday dinner party, ask guests to bring certain items to save you some work. Ask one guest to bring some dessert, saving you the time it takes to visit the local bakery or bake your own desserts, and ask others to provide side dishes. This drastically reduces the time it will take you to shop for groceries and cook the meal, leaving you more time
to spend with friends and family, both during the party and in the days leading up to the festivities. • Plan well in advance. The earlier you begin planning the party, the less stress you’re likely to feel as a host. Certain items for the party, like decorations and certain snacks and beverages, have no expiration dates, so buy such items well in advance of the party. This leads to one less task to tackle in the weeks and days leading up to the party. Planning early also affords you ample time coordinate with guests and decide who will be responsible for certain party tasks. Planning a party at the last minute can be stressful, so if you know you will be handling hosting duties this holiday season, start preparing for the party as soon as possible. • Hire a cleaning service. One of the more difficult parts of holiday hosting is cleaning the house before guests arrive. A thorough house cleaning can take up a substantial amount of time, which tends to be hard to come by during the holiday season. To avoid a late night cleaning session or the need to spend a valuable weekend afternoon hard at work around the house, hire a cleaning service to come and clean your house in the days before the party. Such services can clean your home in a fraction of the time it might
take you to do so on your own, and this removes one of the more time-consuming and arduous tasks from your to-do list. • Have a theme for the party. Holiday hosts may worry about how to entertain their guests throughout the party. A theme party makes it easier to entertain guests, who can show up decked out in holiday pajamas or sweaters or bring along a favorite unique compilation of holiday songs for a singalong. Such themes set a tone for the party right away and often make it easier for guests to unwind immediately. Seek suggestions for a theme from your guests. • Pass the buck. Hosting a holiday dinner party? Consider passing the hosting duties on to a local restaurant, especially if your friends and family members are on board with the idea. If your schedule is especially hectic this holiday season, then move the party from your home to a local restaurant, where the staff can worry about accommodating your guests and you can simply relax and have a good time with your loved ones. When choosing a restaurant, look for one with a menu that features something for everyone. Entree selections should include a pasta dish, a beef dish, a seafood dish, a poultry dish, and vegetarian fare.
8C • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2015
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Narrowing down holiday dinner options
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hopping for holiday gifts may be a top priority for many come the holiday season, but for hosts and hostesses opening their homes to friends and family, several other tasks need to be done as well. One of the more significant decisions holiday hosts must make is choosing what to serve when guests arrive for holiday dinners. Holiday dinners are often more extravagant than the runof-the-mill dinners families eat
on ordinary weeknights. Crafting a special dinner requires both planning and prep work, and there are some ways to make the experience go more smoothly. What’s cooking? Culture often dictates which meals are prepared. Many popular main courses involve pork and poultry, as baked hams and roasted turkeys are especially popular during the holiday season. But regardless of history, hosts should consider which foods
appeal to the greatest number of guests, then plan the dinner around these items. Also, if you’re known for a particular dish, go ahead and make that, even if it’s a less traditional holiday meal. Another savvy move is to choose foods that can be prepared in advance. If you’re hosting a houseful of guests, steer clear of foods that require individualized attention or must be cooked and served promptly, like a risotto. Casseroles, pasta
dishes, roasts, and other similar foods can be prepared and cooked, then reheated in time for the main course. Keep it simple. Although you may want to impress your guests with your culinary prowess, experimenting with exotic dishes or trying intricate plating techniques can backfire if you do not have adequate practice. It’s better to stick to familiar foods and save the experimentation for a smaller dinner party. Meals that have become rou-
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
tine to you can almost be made on auto-pilot. This way you spend less time in the kitchen and more time with guests. Delegate some work. Guests are often eager to contribute something to holiday meals. When planning a holiday dinner, think about which items you can ask others to bring. A noted early bird may bring appetizers, like a crackers-andcheese platter. Those who tend to make late entrances may be tasked with providing decadent
desserts. Unless the entire meal is potluck, holiday hosts usually handle the main courses and many of the side dishes. Be prepared for leftovers. In an effort to ensure everyone has enough to eat, you likely will make more food than you and your guests need. Don’t let those leftovers go to waste. Stock up on takeaway storage containers so your guests can bring home some of the food. Promptly wrap up any leftovers and store them in the refrigerator so food
T H E FA M I LY A N D S T A F F O F
Cordially Invite
BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY GROUP EVENT BY OCTOBER 31ST AND FOR EVERY $500 SPENT, RECEIVE $50 TOWARDS YOUR NEXT GROUP EVENT*!
You and Your Family to Attend Our Annual
Holiday Memorial Service
THAT YOU CAN USE JANUARY 1ST-FEBRUARY 28TH!
Gwinnett Chapel Thursday, December 3, 2015
*Group event credit can be used towards group events only. Credits are valid Jan. 1st-Feb. 28th, 2016.
7:00 P.M.
Ask your group sales manager for details.
or
Stone Mountain Chapel Sunday, December 6, 2015
3:30 P.M.
R.S.V.P. and receive a FREE Personalized Crystal Snowflake in Memory of Your Loved One.
Specifications:
3” x 3.5” Crystal
This crystal snowflake ornament is beautifully crafted and serves as both a unique holiday decoration and a cherished link to your families’ loved ones.
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Please R.S.V.P. No Later Than Monday, November 30, 2015
3242 Peachtree Rd. NE • 848 Peachtree St. NE
To the Chapel at which you wish to attend services. Gwinnett Chapel 770-277-4550 Stone Mountain Chapel 770-469-9811 Please Call Between The Hours of 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. to R.S.V.P.
THIS IS GB LIFE.
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We will be doing a video tribute the night of the service so when you call to R.S.V.P. please email us a picture of your loved one to Gwinnett@wagesandsons.com
Clip this coupon for savings at GB. Valid for 30 days. Void where prohibited by law. No cash value. For promotional purposes only. Not valid towards gift card purchases. One per table. Valid at participating restaurants only. Not valid at airport locations. Alcohol purchase may be prohibited. Not valid with any other offer or discount. No stored value. Must be used in a single visit. A printed copy of this offer or a digital copy via mobile device must be presented to your server to qualify for this discount. Excludes tax and gratuity. Must be 21 years or older to consume alcohol. Promo to 5off20ATL. Offer Expires 1/31/16.
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