Hometown
A COUNTRY
CHRISTMAS 2019
Contents 2019
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4. CRANBERRY BARBECUE MINI MEATBALLS 6. WINE CORK HOLIDAY WREATH - INSTRUCTIONS TO DIY 7. CINNAMON ORNAMENTS TWO WAYS 8. LOCAL CHRISTMAS EVENTS 10. GIFT IDEAS FOR HIM 11. GIFT IDEAS FOR HER 14. GIFT IDEAS FOR KIDS 15. GINGERBREAD RUN ENTRY FORM 20. CRANBERRY APPLE STUFFED PORK 24. HOMETOWN CELEBRATIONS ACROSS THE NATION 26. STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING
SETTING THE TABLE FOR A HOMETOWN HOLIDAY
If you’re the lucky one taking a turn at hosting the big meal and family get-together this holiday season, you probably have a lot of things on your mind.
Hometown STAFF
Staff
Executive Publisher H.G. FOX, SR. Associate Publisher RACHAEL ODEN Creative Director AMANDA QUBTY
Publisher Shannon Crabtree Production Manager Brittany O'Brien Sales Team Haley Orsak Missy Perilloux
Art Director TRA PHAM Editor MICHELE ROBERT POCHE
Office Manager Nancy Unrein Support Staff Emily Lincke Quala Matocha Joshua Reese Rachel Rodriguez
Christmas Specials
50% off our Parkhouse Collection Cutting Boards 5% off the Canopy Grove, Spring Orchard or Medley
Collection Cutting Boards (Engraving is additional cost) 5% off Assorted Gift Sets 10% in stock tables in our Showroom
BLACK FRIDAY November 29th 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
DECEMBER 23rd December 11th Showroom will be 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. open till 7 p.m. Refreshments and Drinks CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE
210 E. 1st St. • El Campo • 855-879-6637 Showroom Hours: M-F • 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.
CRANBERRY
BARBECUE MINI MEATBALLS INGREDIENTS
• 2 pounds lean ground beef • 1 cup panko bread crumbs • 2 Tbsp soy sauce • 2 large eggs • ½ cup ketchup • 1 can cranberry sauce (16 ounces) • 1 cup fresh cranberries (optional) • 1 ½ cups barbecue sauce • ¼ cup brown sugar • 2 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice • ½ tsp salt • ¼ tsp pepper • ½ tsp dried parsley
Add the cranberry sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice, cranberries (if using) and barbecue sauce to a slow cooker. Stir well. In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and mix well, ensuring that everything is fully blended together. Roll the beef mixture into small, one inch meatballs.You can use a tablespoon to scoop the meat and then roll it into a ball
so that all of your meatballs are uniform in size. As you roll, place the meatballs directly into the slow cooker with the barbecue cranberry sauce. Once all the meatballs are rolled, cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours. Serve the meatballs directly out of the slow cooker or place on a plate with toothpicks for people to enjoy as a delicious holiday appetizer!
Active Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 4 hours Yield: 8 Servings
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We Press So You Can Impress Have a safe and happy holidays!
101 E. Calhoun St. - El Campo 979-543-2381 2300 7th St. Ste. 500 - Bay City 979-224-8985 1107 N. Alabama Rd. - Wharton 979-532-2300
WINE CORK HOLIDAY WREATH I N S T RU C T I O N S TO D I Y
W
ith the holiday season just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about how to adorn your home to help you celebrate. If you have used the same old decorations year after year, now is the time to make something new! And if you have enjoyed yourself a bottle of over the past few months or years you may have corks sitting around. Of course, if you don’t have any spare corks lying around, you can make a trip to your nearby restaurant and ask them if they can hold any corks for you over the coming weeks. You might even get lucky and they’ll have some sitting around for you. If this doesn’t work for you, most craft stores carry cork by the bag, which makes it easy to make a large project like this one. In just a few hours, you can have your very own wine cork wreath ready to hang over the mantle, on the front door, or anywhere in your home. And not only do these wreaths look great on display, the make great gifts too. To get started, collect the following supplies and ensure they are within arm’s reach in your crafting corner. If you don’t have a favorite crafting place, you can easily set up shop in your kitchen, laundry room, garage, or anywhere that provides you the space to work easily.
SUPPLIES NEEDED: • 14" Styrofoam wreath • 20 mini glue sticks and a mini hot glue gun • 6 to 7 yards of ribbon (color of your choice – we suggest red) • 2 ft ribbon for bow (color of your choice – we suggest red) • X-ACTO knife or similar craft-type cutting device (a straight chef’s knife will also suffice) • 4 ft brown craft paper • 1 bottle tacky glue • 100 satin crafting pins (to adhere the thin ribbon for decoration) • 100 - 140 wine corks Now, follow these steps below to design your very own wreath. Cover your foam wreath with the craft paper, using tacky glue.Think of this in the same way you wrap a wrist or ankle with an Ace bandage. Continue until the entire wreath is covered with craft paper. One layer of craft paper will suffice. Taking your X-ACTO knife, clip the ends of each cork at a small angle. Perfection isn’t necessary here. In fact, the variability will create some interesting dimension for your wreath. Note, if you are going for a red wreath or want to create a unique look, consider inconsistency on which end of the cork to snip.You may want to showcase the natural red from a red wine on some of the cork ends, and then have a more cork-look to the others. Laying your wrapped wreath flat on your work space, and using your hot glue, start gluing the corks around the middle of the spine of the wreath. (The glue goes on the angled portion of the cork). Keep adding rows until you have worked all the way around your wreath, in multiple rows. (Hint: Imagine yourself looking at the wreath on your wall. The corks on the inner-most portion of the ring should be pointed out at you, and the next rows as you get closer to the outside of the ring will start angling away, with the final ring creating a circle all around the flat wreath). Add your embellishments and other desired decorations with the craft pins.Twisted bows or bursts of ribbon bundles coming from in between the corks create a lovely look and help to break up the monotony of the corks. Add your ribbon to the top or bottom front of the wreath (this is truly up to personal preference). All your wreath to dry overnight. Once dry, add a hook or an additional segment of looped ribbon to the top back of the wreath, to create ease in hanging.This is a personal preference as well, as some prefer to hang the wreath simply by the wreath itself, without use of a hook.
hel p yo u Vo ila ! Yo ur wr eat h is rea dy to we lco me in the hol ida ys !
CINNAMON ORNAMENTS Two Ways CINNAMON APPLESAUCE ORNAMENTS
WHAT COULD BE BETTER THAN HANDMADE ORNAMENTS THAT MAKE YOUR HOME SMELL LIKE CHRISTMAS? KIDS WILL LOVE GETTING TO CUT OUT FESTIVE SHAPES FOR CINNAMON APPLESAUCE ORNAMENTS AND CHOOSING RIBBON PATTERNS AND COLORS FOR CINNAMON STICK CHRISTMAS TREES. PERFECT CHRISTMAS SCENT, PERFECT CHRISTMAS CHARM. 7
Supplies needed: ½ cup applesauce ½ cup ground cinnamon, plus some for dusting 1 tsp school glue Rolling pin Festive cookie cutters Spatula Baking sheet Twine or ribbon
Mix the applesauce, ground cinnamon, and glue.The dough will be very sticky! Sprinkle some cinnamon on the surface where you want to roll out your dough. Shake some cinnamon on the rolling pin, as well. Roll out dough until it’s about ½ inch thick. Use festive cookie cutters to cut out
ornaments. Make a hole near the top of the ornament. A pen or a straw works great for this. Make the hole a little bigger than you think it needs to be. It will shrink in the oven. Using the spatula, carefully transfer ornaments to the baking sheet (great time for grown-ups to help!). Bake at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 90 minutes, or let air dry for several days...if you can wait! Once completely set and cool, string twine or ribbon through the hole and hang on your tree!
CINNAMON STICK CHRISTMAS TREES Supplies needed: Long cinnamon sticks Assorted ribbon Scissors Glue gun and glue Twine
Cut ribbon into lengths of 9-10 inches each.You will need six pieces of ribbon for each cinnamon stick, plus a little extra for a bow at the top of each one. Tie six pieces of ribbon around a cinnamon stick. A simple knot will do. Leave a little room between each ribbon. With scissors (grown-ups can help!), start at the top of your tree and cut down at a diagonal.Your ribbon should be longest at the bottom. Repeat on the other side. Cut desired length of twine for your hanger. Make a loop with the twine and secure ends to the top of your “tree” with a drop of glue.Tie a small bow with the piece of extra ribbon and glue over the ends of your twine loop.
Let dr y an d ha ng on th e tr ee !
El Campo s g n i n e p p a H y a d i Hol • Small Business Saturday: Nov. 30 • Shop Hop: Tuesday, Dec. 3, Noon - 9 p.m. • Christmas Parade: Thursday, Dec. 5, 7 - 10 p.m. • Christmas Mall: Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 7 - 8 (9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday)
for GIFT IDEAS
C offee cl ub
Get your coffee lover a caffeine fix for the entire year. Check out your local coffee shops, stock up on bags of local coffee, and give him a new blend every month.
HIM THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX WITH THESE FUN AND FUNCTIONAL GIFTS. NO MATTER HIS INTERESTS OR LIFESTYLE, THERE’S A SPECIAL GIFT OUT THERE JUST FOR HIM!
Old -fas hio ne d sh av e kit The perfect gift for all bearded beaus: this old-fashioned kit will keep him looking sharp! As an added bonus, many of the blades in these kits are kinder to skin than disposable razors.
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Vi ny l re cord bo oken ds These vinyl record bookends will lend a cool new look to his bookshelves.To make it even more special, hit up your local thrift store and make them yourself!
Rev up game night with this fun new word game! This twisting alphabet game will test his creativity and competitiveness...and it’s perfect for traveling.
Grilli ng ca mp ing ba sket
Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can’t get ready for warmer weather. Grill-loving guys will flip over this basket that can pull double-duty on the grill and over a campfire.
If you haven’t seen the videos blasting all over social media when recipient receive these FabFitFun boxes, rest assured they she probably has.The FabFitFun box creates an element of surprise and each package (one arrives per quarter) is full of skin care items and make-up samples (and not just a tiny sample… these samples are large enough to offer multiple uses), fitness accessories, jewelry, and more.To order, visit https://www.fabfitfun.com If she likes technology, or is always leaving on the lights (or pestering you for leaving on the lights), get her an Amazon Echo Dot. This device is great for responding to even the most complex of questions, reporting on the weather, providing a quick update on current events, controlling the temperature on the thermostat, and turning off the lights. (HINT: Have her ask her new Echo Dot “why are fire engines red?”)
Does she love to cook but not have time to shop? Why not try a Hello Fresh Meal Kit? Hello Fresh is a low-risk order as no subscription is required. To order, visit www.hellofresh. com, and she will receive a one-time delivery of recipes, along with all of the necessary ingredients to create that night’s dinner masterpiece. If she likes to read, likes a great coffee table book and conversation piece, or is one heck of a lady, pick up a copy of Ann Shen’s book, “Bad Girls Throughout History: 100 Remarkable Women Who Changed the World (Women in History Book, Book of Women Who Changed the World).”This book covers amazing women throughout history, inclusive of pirates, scientists, activists, and more.
As long as you take some time to think abou t HER and HER inter ests, you’l l be sure to select a gift that will light up her face , and that will make her feel spec ial. Hap py shop ping !
for GIFT IDEAS
HER Let’s face it, women can be hard to shop for. Whether buying for mom, a spouse or significant other, a daughter, a grandmother, or even an aunt, the entire act of purchasing a gift for a special woman in your life can be fraught with anxiety. And you might be scratching your head, or channeling Mel Gibson in his 2000 romance film, “What Women Want.” But, make it easy on yourself. Women want to know that you have taken the time to think about them… so if you are already trying to figure out what to do, you’ve already taken the first step, and she’ll be thankful knowing that you didn’t just run to the nearby convenience store, grabbing the first bottle perfume you found on the shelf. Here are some quick suggestions to help you make her gift special.
Does she have a great soaking tub and like to relax after a long day at work or a visit to the gym? The LifeAround2Angels Bath Bombs Gift Set is made in the USA, and is truly the bomb (times 12)! The bombs will create a delightful fizz in the tub, and will not leave a stain or ugly residue.
Give A
P
F L E S YOU
T N E RES
This Holiday Season
SHOP LOCAL !
Top 10 Reasons To Shop Local: 10. Saves on gas and wear on your vehicle and your nerves too! 9. Items go on sale in El Campo too and you get to shop with friends! 8. Shopping makes you hungry and you eat locally! 7. You support businesses who support El Campo! 6. Buying locally supports and saves local jobs! 5. Local owners and employees actually know you! 4. See it and try it on before you buy it! 3. Traffic ... what traffic?! 2. More sales tax collected by the city means less property taxes paid by you! 1. YOU could win MONEY! (see page 15).
WE’RE SERIOUS ABOUT EL CAMPO’S FUTURE. www.elcampoeco.org 707 Fahrenthold El Campo, TX 77437
(979)320-7727
Buying for a child that is a bit more laid back that likes to hang out and read? This versatile Floor Pillow Fold Out Lounger retails for under $30 and is super soft and comfortable.
ift G FOR KIDS & TEENS
FOR KIDS & TEENS
It’s not easy to find the right gift for a young child or for a teenager. Any gift giver fears giving the gift that the youngster will set aside when opening their gifts because it didn’t interest them, causing them to move on to the next package in the hope of finding something better. Or what about that teenager and the rolling of the eyes when they receive something “uncool” are behind the times? It’s no wonder that gift giving can cause stress and anxiety for any well-intentioned gift giver. So, this quick list is intended to take some of the pressure off. And perhaps one of the latest crazes of the year has been the Nintendo Switch.This item is easy to use and popular for kids of all ages, plus it is the gift that keeps on giving as you can gift new games for future gifting holidays.
If your gift recipient is more into science and could be the future Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, this Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 Electronics Exploration Kit provides over 100 STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) projects that are sure to delight (and educate) that budding entrepreneur.
Check out this Boogie Board 8.5-Inch LCD Writing Tablet. All kids inevitably want what mom and dad or big brother and sister have, and this unique take on the Etch a Sketch of yesteryear will be sure to delight any budding artist.
With one of th e u ar e afor ementio ne d gifts , yo ient su re to de lig ht yo ur re cip ow nie an d yo u’l l ea rn so me br es po ints in th e proc s.
What about your child with tons of energy to burn and the need to get outside and ride? The EzyRoller Classic Ride On is great for children ages four to fourteen. This unique take on a sidewinder crossed with big wheel doesn’t use pedals, and instead uses a foot bar that leverages easy alternating leg movements to get you rolling.
Hometown
Gingerbread Run! NAME
ADDRESS CITY
STATE
PHONE EMAIL
1. Collect a sticker from each participating advertiser. 2. Return completed form to the El Campo Leader-News for entry.
Official
STOP HERE
Gingerbread Run
Gingerbread Run Participants Berkeley Eye Center
City Development Corp.
Coastal Plains Animal Clinic
DNJ Designs
El Campo Chamber of Commerce
Elite Automotive
Gerberman Jewelers
Jr's Texas Best
Miller's Lube & Service
Prairie Rose Emporium
Southern Belle Boutique
Sunshine Laundry
Sweet Tees Sportswear
The Mercantile
The Shed
The Supplement Store
Tin Roof Home & Kitchen
Uptown Grill
Take care of your
Holiday Shopping
with jewelry as unique as your loved ones!
Custom Design Complete Jewelry Repair 112 N. Mechanic, El Campo • 979-543-4361
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9:30am-5:30pm & Sat. 9:30am-2pm
Miller’s Lube & Service
Make sure your vehicle is winter ready!
Oil Changes • State Inspections • Minor Repairs M-F: 7:30 a.m. -5:30 p.m. Sat.: 7:30 a.m. -1 p.m.
811 N. Mechanic
979-543-6676
We Ship Daily! Southern Belle Boutique 1706 N. Mechanic • El Campo, TX • 541-6993
S E TT IN G
THE TABLE FOR A HOMETOWN HOLIDAY
I
f you’re the lucky one taking a turn at hosting the big meal and family get-together this holiday season, you probably have a lot of things on your mind. From finding room for out-oftown relatives to sleep, to menu planning, to making sure you have time to clean the house (and keep it clean), and even arranging for the gift exchange, hosts and hostesses have a lot to consider. But that doesn’t mean that hosting can’t be fun, in fact, maybe you get energized by the idea of opening up your home to the family. Or, maybe you just love to decorate, and this is just one more opportunity to show off those skills that show you should have been an interior designer? Okay, maybe you will never be an interior designer, and maybe you think you don’t have a create bone in your body, but you really want to create a statement and decorate your home, and table, for this special event.
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Determine the number of place settings you will need, and then determine your theme and color palette. If decorating for Christmas, your generic theme is easy. But, think deeper than that… is your theme Kris Kringle? Maybe you are looking for an elegant and classy look? Maybe you are a gum-drop fan and
IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF SOME IDEAS AND INSPIRATION TO CREATE THE ULTIMATE HOLIDAY TABLESCAPE,THEN LOOK NO FURTHER. HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO GET STARTED: want to create a theme around gum drops and gingerbread. Whatever it is you are looking to do, get your thoughts in mind, and lock them down.
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Select your table cloth and ensure it is designed to fit your table (round, square, or rectangular). A white table cloth is always a go-to, but this will depend on your theme. A red tablecloth is a perfect fit for the Christmas season, and will also help to hide any spills or other oopsies that will inevitably make their way
to your holiday meal.
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Determine your centerpiece. Poinsettias, red and white roses, or even a glass or crystal vase filled with red and gold Christmas ornaments, perhaps adorned with a thick ribbon tied around the base, are all easy go-tos, and often items that you already have on hand, or are easy to find during the days leading up to the big day.
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Gather (or purchase) your placemats. While you can stick to
stma s seas on, A red tabl eclot h is a perfect fit for the Chri ies that will oops r othe and will also help to hide any spill s or mea l. inevitabl y make their way to your holid ay
the same color as your tablecloth, adding a pop of color to the mats can create dimension.
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Gather (or purchase) your cloth napkins (if going for a more elegant look). Often times, it is easy to select tablecloths, placemats, and cloth napkins at the same department store, making it easy to grab and go and stick to your planned theme. Don’t forget a fun napkin ring to help tie in your theme. If you are using sprigs of evergreen in your centerpiece, consider attaching a small sprig to the napkin holders. Or, if going for the ornament centerpiece, look for small ornaments that can be affixed in some way to those napkin holders (if you can’t find something small enough, check in the earring section as many stores have holiday earrings that could be repurposed).
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Determine your dinnerware, glassware, and serving ware. Will it all
match or will it be eclectic? Have fun with this… if you don’t have enough pieces of any one setting, consider switching it up with an “every other” place setting approach. Consider if you will use chargers, or not.
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Set the table and don’t forget your table setting
training. If using a 6-piece setting, your first and second course forks will be placed to the left, and your first and second course knives will be placed to the right. Your dessert fork and coffee spoon are placed above the setting. Next, take your napkin (in napkin holder) and set at a 45-degree
Mike Davila Galon Mills Raul Maldonado Luis Gallardo Julian Fonseca Dawn Merta Over 40 combined years of local dealership experience.
We’ll beat any written, mechanical dealer estimate!
709 S. Mechanic El Campo
979-543-7161
— Formerly The Alignment Shop — Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
angle on top of the plate. Then, consider a small candy (Christmas colored Hershey Kisses are always a win) or two on either side of the napkin holder.You can also sprinkle some candies throughout the table to dress it up and fill in any whitespaces that you prefer to avoid.
Whatever approach you take to setting your tablescape, have fun with it.You don’t have to have the absolute best in fabrics or china to create a great tablescape that your guests will ooh and aah about. Use what you have unless you are prepared to make an investment (and if you do decide to go out and buy, remember that you’ll be able to reuse these pieces for years and years to come). But again, let this be a fun activity for you as you work your way towards the holiday season… creating your tablescape is a great way to exhibit some holiday cheer!
1004 West Loop, El Campo 979-275-2444
Locally-owned Artisan Store
Dealer For Superior Carports, Derksen Portable Buildings, U-Haul Rentals • Jasper & Co. Bath & Body • Purses, Scarves, Gloves • Fredericksburg Farms • Fran Marie Jewelry • Furniture & Decor • Christmas Items • Girls’ Hairbows • Leather Goods
• CC Beanies • Spirit Shirts • Candles • Hogie Lures • BRÜMATE • Woodwork • Dog Treats
Owners: Randy & Quala Matocha
Active Time: 30 minutes Yield: 4 Servings
CRANBERRY APPLE STUFFED PORK INGREDIENTS
• ½ cup dried cranberries • ¼ cup red wine • 1 tsp butter • 1 cup chopped apple, peeled • ½ cup pearl onions, halved • ¼ tsp salt • ¼ tsp ground black pepper • 1 pound pork tenderloin • 1 tsp olive oil • ½ cup chicken stock
DIRECTIONS
Combine the dried cranberries and the wine in a small bowl and set aside to let the fruit absorb the liquid. Let sit for about an hour. In a small saucepan, melt the butter and add the chopped apples. Cook for about 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the pearl onions to the pan and cook for another minute. If the pan gets too dry, add about a tablespoon of water at a time to prevent the fruit and onions from burning. Strain the cranberries, saving the wine for later, then stir the cranberries into the apple and onion mix.Add the salt and pepper and stir. Make a hole in the center of the port tenderloin by pushing the handle of a wooden spoon through the center of the pork loin. Once the handle has gone all the way through, roll it around a little to widen the hole. Stuff the pork loin with half of the fruit and onion mixture, reserving the rest of the fruit to make a sauce. Place the olive oil in a large,
oven proof skillet and heat over medium high heat. Sear the pork loin in the pan, cooking it for about 2 minutes on each side. Transfer the skillet to a pre heated 425 degree oven and bake for 14 minutes. Remove from the oven and let the pork loin sit in the skillet for 5 minutes. Move to a cutting board and begin the sauce. Pour the reserved wine in the skillet (no need to wash it, the cooked pieces left behind from the pork wil add flavor!) and bring to a boil over medium heat. Add the reserved fruit and onion mix and stir. Season with salt and pepper. Slice the pork loin and serve with the red wine fruit sauce. Enjoy!
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Keep your heart & home warm this holiday season!
www.cannellair.com (979) 543-6485 1006 E. Jackson TACLA50626C
Countdown to
CHRISTMAS Sunday
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Take Photos For Christmas Cards
Make Hand Stamped Christmas Cards
Make Your Own Christmas Pot Pourri
Make Your Own Hand Stamped Wrapping Paper
Make Divinity
Saturday
Sunday
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Mail Your Christmas Cards
Decorate Your Christmas Tree
Bring Flowers to Your Church
Take Gifts To Teachers
Saturday
Sunday
6 Make Your Salt Dough Ornaments
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Make Your Christmas Centerpiece
Write Letters To Santa
Hang Some Christmas Lights
Go Christmas Caroling
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Make Christmas Candy
Do Your Make Ahead and Freeze Prep for Christmas Dinner
Host an Ice Cream Social at a Nursing Home
Decorate a Gingerbread House
Saturday
Sunday
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Host A Christmas Get Together
Do Final Touches to Decorations
Have Friends Over to Bake Cookies
Watch a Christmas Movie
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Visit Santa and Take a Picture
Tuesday
24 Watch “A Christmas Story” and drink some hot chocolate
Spouse ________________________________________________________ Children _______________________________________________________ Mother ________________________________________________________ Father _________________________________________________________ Sisters _________________________________________________________ Brothers _______________________________________________________ In-Laws ________________________________________________________ Grandmothers ___________________________________________________ Grandfathers ____________________________________________________ Aunts _________________________________________________________ Uncles _________________________________________________________ Cousins ________________________________________________________ Nieces _________________________________________________________ Nephews _______________________________________________________ Friends _________________________________________________________ Neighbors ______________________________________________________ Bosses _________________________________________________________ Co-Workers _____________________________________________________ Teachers ________________________________________________________ School Staff (cafeteria, bus, etc.) ________________________________________ Household Helpers (housekeeper, babysitter, etc.) ___________________________ Service Workers (mailmen, garbage collectors, etc.) __________________________ Clergy _________________________________________________________ Pets ___________________________________________________________
SHOPPING LIST
1 HOMETOWN
CELEBRATIONS Across the Nation
IF YOU LOVE TO TRAVEL AND LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING INTO THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT EVERY YEAR,WHY NOT COMBINE YOUR TWO PASSIONS? EVERY YEAR, SMALL TOWNS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES GET THEIR HOLIDAY ON WITH CELEBRATIONS THAT ARE SURE TO DELIGHT EVEN THE SCROOGES AMONG US. CHECK OUT THIS LIST FOR SOME OF OUR FAVORITE HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS ACROSS THE NATION.
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DURANGO, COLORADO ASHEVILLE, NORTH – If you loved the 2004 film CAROLINA – While your The Polar Express or the Christmas adventure may book that inspired it by Chris Van begin in Asheville, it certainly won’t Allsburg, then this town will make you want to shout “all aboard!” Durango provides you with your very own Polar Express experience complete with chefs, a hobo, the conductor, the Hero Boy, Billy, elves, and Santa himself. Enjoy hot chocolate while listening to the story on your way to North Pole. And look forward to a personal visit to your train car from Santa!
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ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA – This lovely town, known to be the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European origin in our country, is hands down our favorite holiday celebration. National Geographic magazine even revered St. Augustine as one of the 10 best places in the world to see holiday lights, and with their Nights of Lights celebration, it is no wonder. This light tradition usually commences the Saturday before ThanksThanksgiving and runs its course through late January.
stop there. Several of the surrounding towns, all inspired by Norman Rockwell, get into the spirit too. Plan to stop through Forest City, Bryson City, Hendersonville, Dillsboro, Beech Mountain and Banner Elk, Sylva, Saluda,Waynesville, Rutherfordton, Brevard, Morganton, and the Biltmore Village to take in the numerous charming streets, light displays, and holiday shopping.
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BETHLEHEM, CT – This small town has a population of under 4,000, but celebrates Christmas in a big way! With craft sales, hayrides, Christmas train rides, pictures with Santa, and plenty of food, this town will keep you entertained for hours. And when done with all of those fun festive activities, you’ll find plenty of other ways to stay entertained with a trip to the local indoor flea market or vineyard. And of course, shopping at The Christmas Shop is a must.
s S a nta C lau a c h nds to e o p s e r y ll a u a ct , w it h t h e r e t t le y r e v and e s p e c ia l e lf w e f a f o lp he v o lu nt ee rs
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Santa Claus, Indiana – This tiny town proudly boasts a population of under 3,000 and each year, the town post office receives thousands of letters addressed to the city namesake. And what’s even more special? Santa Claus actually re-
From our family to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Stop by and let us treat you to lunch or dinner this holiday season!
1802 N. Mechanic, El Campo Check us out on
sponds to each and every letter, with the help of a few special elf volunteers. Additionally, the town’s celebration spans three weeks and includes a Christmas parade, 5k, festival of lights, and even chestnuts roasting on an open fire.
DNJ Designs is your one stop shop for School Spirit Wear, Causal Wear for Men, Women & Children. We carry brands such as Game Guard, Red Dirt Hat Co., KanCan Jeans, Richardson & many others. We provide Wharton County & surrounding counties with Screen printing, Embroidery, vinyl, graphic designing, boutique Items and much more. Check out our NEW LOCATION @ 808 N. Mechanic Street-El Campo.
STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING INGREDIENTS
• 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream • ¾ cup butter • ½ cup corn syrup • 6 dates, pitted, chopped • 1 cup granulated white sugar • 3/4 cup brown sugar • ¾ cup warm water • ¼ tsp baking soda • ¼ tsp salt • ¾ cup flour • 1 tsp baking powder • 1 large egg • 1 tsp vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS
1. Place ½ cup of the butter, corn syrup, white granulated sugar and 1 ¼ cup of the heavy whipping cream in a saucepan and bring to a boil over low heat. Cook for about 40 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce is golden brown. Remove from the heat and pour through a strainer to remove any pieces that formed during cooking. Set the sauce aside to cool. Active Time: 30 minutes Yield: 6 Servings
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2. Add the dates and water to a separate small saucepan and cook over low heat, simmering for about 15 minutes. During this time, the dates will absorb most of the water. 3. Place the dates in a food processor along with any remaining liquid and blend until smooth. 4. Add the remaining ¼ cup butter and brown sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer and beat on high speed until the butter is light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl several times to ensure all the ingredients are well combined. 5. Add the egg, date puree and vanilla extract to the bowl and blend until incorporated. 6. Add the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder and mix again until a smooth batter forms. 7. Grease 6 ramekins with butter or baking spray then scoop the batter into the ramekins. It is okay if the batter comes to the top of the cup! 8. Place the ramekins on a sheet tray and bake for 20 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven. Once
baked, remove from the oven and let cool slightly. 9. Use a small serrated knife to trim the top of each cake so that it is flat and level with the top of the ramekin. Unmold the cakes gently then slice each cake in half horizontally. 10. Scoop about 1 tablespoon of the sticky toffee sauce into the bottom of each ramekin then place the bottom halves of the cakes back in the ramekin. Scoop another tablespoon of the sauce on top of each cake then place the top halves of the cakes back in the ramekins as well. Pour another tablespoon of sauce over the ramekins and then return the cakes to the oven for another 10 minutes. 11. Once the toffee sauce is bubbling, remove from the oven, cool for about 5 minutes and then unmold (use a knife to go around the edges of the ramekin if needed). Serve the toffee pudding with any remaining toffee sauce, whipped cream or ice cream. Enjoy!
Santa Claus will make an appearance at the annual Christmas parade in El Campo this year. The parade will be from 7-10 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5. The route will begin downtown and travel north on North Mechanic. L-N File Photo
We are a custom apparel shop that does sublimation and vinyl. We do anything from jerseys to socks, from work to party. If you want to liven up your shirt or pants, heck, even your hat we got you covered. We work with artists that have years of knowledge and tons of resources between them to work with you to help create the perfect design. We also have player packages for sports teams. And don't let us forget we also love doing shirts for school events/functions, corporate retreats and those yearly girls/guys night out.
Just a couple doors down from Paint Perfection and the Coffee Bar lies a hidden treasure: 3,000 square feet of hand-selected antique and oneof-a-kind furniture, decorations and other must haves.
Don’t forget your four-legged friends this holiday season!
Ladies Fine Clothing•Bridal Registry
Gifts•Gourmet Kitchen Goods
979-543-5772
3056 N Mechanic • P.O. Box 966 • El Campo, TX 77437
P: 979.543.1650 • F: 979.543.4699 W W W . C PA N I M A L C L I N I C . C O M
Mon-Fri 9:30-5:30 • Sat 9:30-4 www.prairieroseelcampo.com
Wrap up a Beautiful Christmas at the 32nd Annual Christmas Mall El Campo Civic Center Saturday, Dec. 7 • 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8 • 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
100 Booths with Arts & Crafts, Woodwork, Clothes, Jewelry and More!
HOMETOWN HOLIDAY SHOP HOP The El Campo Chamber of Commerce invites you to SHOP these merchants for Holiday Specials and Christmas Cheer!
Tuesday, December 3rd - 12 p.m. - 9 p.m. Belly & Beyond Boutique Blue Creek Market Coastal Plains Animal Clinic DNJ Designs El Campo Lost Lagoon Executive Stitches Flowers Etc. & Gifts Inc. Heavenly Helpers Millhouse Furniture
Shabby Chic Boutique Southern Belle Boutique Southern Soul Plus Boutique Station 71 Salon The Computer Center & Radio Shack The Mercantile of El Campo The Shed Sho Tree House Furniture p Lo Tough Country Outfitters c
Purchases during the Shop Hop are entered to win over $450 in merchant gift certificates to 1st, 2nd & 3rd place winners! Sponsored by El Campo Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture
Small Business Saturday - Nov. 30th Belly & Beyond Boutique Blue Creek Market Carpet One Collins Music Center DNJ Designs El Campo Lost Lagoon Executive Stitches Flowers Etc. & Gifts Heavenly Helpers K-Baby’s Food For The Soul Millhouse Furniture
Prairie Rose Emporium Rioux True Value Hardware Store Shabby Chic Boutique Southern Belle Boutique Southern Soul Plus Boutique The Computer Center & Radio Shack The Mercantile of El Campo The Shed Tree House Furniture United Ag
1. Pick up a #SHOPELCAMPO Passport at any participating merchant. 2. Shop at participating merchants on Saturday, Nov. 30th. When making your purchases, have your passport stamped. 3. Once you have 5 stamps, return your passport to the Chamber to be entered into a drawing for $200 in merchant gift certificates. Passports must be turned into the Chamber office by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2nd.
For more information, call the Chamber at 979-543-2713
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