Countdown to Christmas - Dec. 9, 2014

6B • Countdown to Christmas

Countdown to s a m t s i r h C

www.crossville-chronicle.com • Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Beat the rush this holiday season with great deals from advertisers on these pages!

PET FRIENDLY

JOSHUA’S PET T REAT BAKERY STORE OPEN HOUSE

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13TH 5797 HWY 127 S. CROSSVILLE, TN 38572

Make your international menu more interesting by trying a new spice or type of produce.

1 MILE PAST STATE PARK

Hours: Tues - Fri • 8am - 3pm • 2nd Sat • 10 am - 2 pm

REGISTER TO WIN MONTHLY PRIZE!

www.joshuaspettreatbakery.com

Happy Holidays!

Give your family the world without breaking the bank (BPT) — Everyone has special holiday traditions, from heirloom decorations to secret recipes passed down from generation to generation.

Whether your holiday

Hot Spring Spas of Music City is now open in their 3rd location!

2106 Miller Avenue • 931-484-4497 Crossville, TN 38555

celebration means an intimate family gathering or an elaborate house-filled party, why not add something new to your festive mix? Many authentic holiday traditions are just a grocery-store-trip away — and you may discover a new family favorite from a faraway land.

Adding some international flair to your holidays can be easy, enjoyable and educational — an opportunity to feed minds young and old during the school break.

The whole family can get in on the experience: young children can learn holiday phrases from the countries whose foods you are featuring — and teach other guests. Older children can head to the library to get international holiday music, adding another dimension to the new experience.

Those preparing the goodies should also be prepared to share some history about what they are serving.

Money-saving expert Cindy Livesey, founder of LivingRichWithCoupons. com, uses smart shopping strategies to add festive flair to her family’s celebrations.

Here are her tips on bringing the world to your holiday table without breaking the bank.

1. Start simple — with cookies! Why not try Christmas cookies from the country that started the tradition of the Christmas tree? Gin-

gerbread lovers will adore Pfeffernusse — these German spice cookies are so popular in Germany, they have their own holiday on Dec. 23. Rather than purchasing all the fine ingredients, pick up a pack these small, round cookies from Bahlsen, Germany’s leading cookie brand. And since they’re gone after the holidays, “Grab any Bahlsen holiday cookies you see remaining in the cookie aisle right after New Year’s Eve,” suggests Livesey.

“They may just be on sale ... and you won’t have to wait a year to enjoy them again.”

2. Start saving before the holidays. It pays to be prepared for the indulgent holiday season. Keep an eye on sales and specials leading up to your celebration and stock up on international ingredients. In anticipation of her family’s traditional Italian Christmas Eve Feast of the Seven Fishes, Livesey buys seafood when it’s on sale. “I scored frozen stuffed clams a few months ago for free — so that part of my holiday shopping is already done!” she says.

Combining seasonal coupons with sales can help stretch holiday budgets.

3. Drink up some new flavors. Make your international menu more interesting by trying a new spice or type of produce. To capture some festive Mexican flair,

add a little cayenne pepper to hot chocolate — you probably have both of those in your pantry right now.

A nice fruit punch (with or without rum) adds unexpected tropical fun, channeling a Caribbean Christmas.

“Keep frozen mango and other fruits in your freezer so you can add them to punch even when they’re not in season,” advises Livesey.

4. Assign each family member a part of the menu.

The cost burden of a big family dinner can easily be lifted by sharing the cooking responsibilities. Choose an international region and assign different dishes to different family members — and decoration-making to young ones. When it’s time to eat, the meal will be complete because the family is together — and there will be plenty to talk about as each person proudly explains his or her contribution. “Some of the best gifts really are free, and sharing something new as a family is one of those gifts,” says Livesey.

It’s easy to experience the holidays from around the world without emptying your wallet. Spice up the traditional and try something new with an international affair. You might discover a completely new tradition that will have your family celebrating together for years to come.

V I N TAGE pleasures

Come in and save THOUSANDS on a Hot Spring Spa with our GRAND OPENING Specials!

Check out our full line of wines and sparklers, perfect as hostess gifts or for someone special on your list.

We also custom design gift baskets by your specifications, and ship almost anywhere!

Stonehaus

W I N E RY www.hssuc.com

(931) 484-WINE • 2444 Genesis Rd. #103 • Crossville, TN 38571

Countdown to Christmas • 7B

Countdown to s a m t s i r Ch

www.crossville-chronicle.com • Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Only 15 Shopping Days Left!

How to gift the people who aren’t family Come the holiday season, many people find it’s not just family and friends on their shopping lists.

Coworkers and acquaintances often land on such lists as well, and it’s not always easy deciding what to get those people who aren’t close friends or family members.

Boss

Gifting the boss is a sensitive subject and should be dictated by company protocol. If you are the only employee to buy your boss a gift, it may seem like you are trying to curry favor. However, if everyone else is gifting and you fail to offer a gift, you may be caught off guard.

Some business etiquette experts say that it is customary for bosses to give gifts to employees but not the reverse. However, employees who are especially close with their bosses or who work closely with them each day may want to offer a small token of appreciation.

When selecting gifts for bosses, do not give anything too personal, such as clothing, perfume or jewelry. Food or gift cards are a safer bet. Experts say a gift in the range of $10 to $25 is adequate. Chipping in for a gift with other employees may be the best course of action so you don’t inspire resentment among coworkers.

Babysitter or nanny

Caregivers play important roles in the lives of children. Once you have found a sitter or nanny who you trust, you want to ensure you keep that person content. If you regularly use a nanny or sitter, money is always a great gift. For a full-time nanny, one week to one month’s pay is adequate. For a regular sitter, consider a gift equal to two nights’ pay.

Coach or club leader Children today are involved in many different activities, and chances are parents’ schedules are filled with sports games and practices. A small gift of $10 to $20 can show

your appreciation to a coach or club leader. This is another instance when it might be nice to pool your resources with fellow parents to purchase one large gift.

Mail carrier

If your mail is delivered by the same mail carrier week after week, you may want to spread some holiday joy. Mail carriers have an extra workload during the holidays, when they are tasked with delivering packages and greeting cards in addition to more routine mail. Civil servants may be forbidden from receiving cash. In such instances, a gift card makes a great gift.

Trash collector

Hauling garbage is neither an easy nor glamorous job. Many garbage collectors appreciate a tip for their hard work. Take notice of who collects the trash from your home. If it is the same people each week, take the time to personally deliver an envelope with a small tip of around $20.

Hairstylist

If you are a regular for frequent treatments and color in a salon, show the stylist you appreciate his or her work with a cash gift. If you want to give a wrapped present, avoid tools of the trade or anything that is too personal.

Holiday gift ideas for the new parent in your life Many parents fondly recall their first holiday season as a mom and dad.

While youngsters may not remember much about their first Thanksgiving dinner with family or where their first Christmas present was placed under the tree, parents tend to cherish such memories, making their first holidays with children in tow very memorable.

Loved ones of new parents can take steps to make this holiday season even more special. The following are some gift ideas for holiday shoppers who want to make this season even more memorable for the proud new parents in their lives.

•Photo album: Today’s new parents have more pictures and video of their bundles of joy than any previous generation of moms and dads, as smartphones, tablets and other devices have made taking pictures much easier than in years past. But family members also have more access to such photos than ever before, making it easy to put together a special photo album of the new parents and their new child.

Pull pictures from the par-

ents’ social media accounts or make an album of the numerous photos you have no doubt received since your loved ones became parents. Parents likely don’t have time to make such albums, so your efforts will almost certainly be appreciated.

•Camcorder: Many smartphones are capable of taking video, but such devices are not ideal for shooting longer home videos new parents will want to watch for years to come.

An HD camcorder with sufficient internal flash memory can allow new parents to take longer, higher quality videos with superior audio to those that are shot on smartphones. Such a camcorder may be costly for those shopping on a strict budget, but it’s a gift new parents are sure to love and utilize for years to come.

•Nursery sound system: New moms and dads are no doubt anxiously anticipating the day when the newest additions to their households sleep through the night. Help speed up the arrival of that glorious night with a nursery sound system that provides sooth-

ing sounds to create a perfect sleeping environment for newly born boys and girls. The results may not arrive overnight, but parents may soon find their lovable youngster is spending more of the wee hours of the morning sleeping and less time waking up mom and dad.

•Spa treatment: Not every gift you buy for the new parents in your life needs to focus on helping them cherish their first holiday season as parents. New parents tend to experience lots of exhaustion in their first few months on the job, but a spa treatment can be just the relaxing break they need from catering to their bundle of joys’ every need.

Moms may prefer the full spa treatment, while dads may simply want a massage and some relaxing time in the steam room. Book a treatment for both mom and dad so they can spend some time relaxing during this hectic time of year.

New parents often cherish their first holiday season as moms and dads, and the right holiday gift can make that first holiday season even better.

Real Santas Don’t Use The Front Door.

• Fireplaces - Gas / Wood • Stoves - Gas / Wood • Gas Grills • SS Flue Systems

• Major Brand Garage Doors • Factory Trained Installers • Mantles & Marble Surrounds • Full Line Of Accessories

See The Hearth & Home Industry’s Best & Latest Technology At Crossville’s WE DO SERVICE CALLS! Premier Showroom!

Distributor Of

20% off All Case Knives Expires 12-24-14

10

Now Showing

The Perfect Gift For Anyone On Your List

Gift Cards Available For Theater Tickets And Concessions. Call now for more information, or stop by our box office during business hours.

Quality Case® knives are available at:

Plateau M etal Sales

Case® knives are valuable tools that are built to last. He’ll find so many uses for his pocketknife that he won’t want to leave it at home. Case® knives are handcrafted in America. Always have been - always will be. The blades are mirror polished Tru-Sharp™ surgical steel. Each knife comes with a lifetime guarantee for materials and workmanship in natural handles like Bone and Genuine India Stag.

This gift doesn’t require any assembly and since it’s a Case® PocketWorn® knife, it just feels right - right away!

Proudly Made in the U.S.A.

THE METAL ROOFING HEADQUARTERS Store Hours: Monday - Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.

“Metal Roofing Supplier for over 18 Years.”

Special Orders & Delivery Available

www.plateaumetalsalestn.com 103 Randolph Road, Crossville • 931-277-3586

MOVIE INFO LINE 931-456-5722

www.rockytop10.com 1251 Interstate Dr., Crossville, TN

Christmas is almost here... so come in today to get those special packages to their destinations

WE CAN EVEN PACKAGE YOUR ITEMS FOR YOU! FedEx • US Postal Service D ro p o ff y o u r p re p a id p a c k a g e s h e re

Duplicate South of Lowes Next to Rowan Chiropractic

www.volhearth.com

C K Y T OP O R

Give Them A Night Out At The Movies!

2193 North Main St., Suite 101

Phone: 456-8614 Toll Free: 866-876-Fire (3473) Fax: 456-2328 1080 Miller Ave., Crossville

Stylists are on their feet much of the day, so a gift for a massage appointment or pedicure may be just what they need.

931.456.0103 Fax 931.456.0104