Homespun Holiday Issue 12: December 2013
Christmas Around the World A photo story
Homemade for the Holidays Create Crafts with
your family
Hottest Holiday Toys Check out the top
toys of each year
Santa Reindeer Truffles
Try an easy cookie recipe that uses ingredients already in your cupboards and takes less than 30 minutes to make
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In this issue
December
22
Wrap like a pro Layer ribbons to create a one-of-a-kind present
Craft a cute wreath for the front door using old baulbs and ornaments
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on the cover 2
Make warm memories with family with these traditional holiday recipes
Homemade for the Holidays -Tips and tricks to make this season the merriest
10 Christmas Around the World -A look into celebrations across the globe 11 History of the Hottest Holiday Toys 18 In the Kitchen -Cookies, fudge & cider 22 Festival of Brights -Tis’ the season to add pops of gold and silver through out the house
Health
Cover Recipe: Santa Reindeer Truffles
4 Maintain your energy during the holidays 5 Stay slim this season
Yield: 24 truffles -80z. semisweet chocolate, chopped -1 cup heavy cream -2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, softened -2 cups light cocoa Candy Melts 3/4 c. pink, 1/2 c. white -3 red fruit slices, halved crosswise -1 cup mini marshmallows, halved -4 red and 17 brown M&M’s Minis -48 mini chocolate chips, tips removed -36 mini pretzel twists
13 Give your home a healthy makeover 21 Discover effective beauty products
home 8
Craft holiday decorations
16 Conquer pesky stains
Make truffles; Melt chocolate with cream in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Remove from heat; stir in butter. Let cool; cover and chill until set. Scoop mixture into small balls. (You should have 40; set aside 16 for another use.
In every issue
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Homemade for the Holidays Make it merry with festive treats, gifts and decorations
3
A Letter From the Editor
4
Greetings from Readers
4
Recipe Corner
5
Your Questions Answered
family 15 Entertaining guests at home 17 Set the table with style
Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Dip 18 truffles in light cocoa Melts; place pm sheet. Spoon remaining light cocoa Melts into a ziplock bag; seal. Dip 6 truffles in pink Melts; place on sheet. Chill until set. Spoon white Melts into a ziplock bag; seal. Snip corner from white and light cocoa melts. Pipe white Melts onto pink truffles to attach half a fruit slice as a hat. Attach marshmallows as hat trim and as beard and mustache. Cut 3 red M&M’s Minis in half; attach 1 to each pink truffle as a nose. On all truffles, pipe white Melts; attach chocolate chips for eyes.
Save time!
Pipe dots of light cocoa Melts on light antlers and to attach brown and remaining red M&M’s Minis as noses. Chill trufles until set, about 5 minutes.
Start with store bought truffles.
A Letter
Let’s Hear It
from the editor
from R eaders
A note about the photo contest: Each year, readers are asked to submit their favoite holiday photos online complete with a caption explaining the special meaning. Photos must be submitted by Octover 31 to be elegible for the contest. Photos are complied into an album on our website and readers are asked to vote for their favoite photo. Voting begins November 1 and runs through tNovember 30th. The winner will be featured in the December issue of Homespun Holiday and will also receive a $1,000 cash prize.
I love hearing from readers! Email: karolyn.kruse@hh.com visit the website www.homespunholiday.com
There’s a lot to celebrate in this issue: beautiful holiday decorations, a truly easy party menu and my favorite feature, The 12 Days of Christmas. For those of you who still have holiday shopping left to do, the 50 Gifts Under $50 will be a huge holiday helper. I can’t think of anyone who isn’t trying to maximize the joy and minimize the spending this season, and this article will help you accomplish that. I love my staff here at Holiday Hoopla- they’re all very smart and creative, so I thought they would be the perfect group to weigh in on Christmas gifts. Because there can never be too many suggestions - especially for picky teens and husbands - I asked the writers for Holiday Hoopla for their stockpile of ideas. Check out what they intend to give the kids in their lives, plus what they’d like to receive themselves. Jackie Schully- My neices and nephews have been obsessed with anything that has to do with Sesame Street, so I’m on the hunt for the perfect Elmo and Big Bird! I, myself would never turn down gift cards to all of my favorite places. Kay Osmund - my grandkids and I have decided to adopt a family that is less fortunate and give to them. It’s a great learning experience for all of us! I cherish those homemade gifts that come from the heart. Mary Teaghe - My teenagers love their technology, so personalized phone covers and speakers will be in their stockings. I love receiving things I can use throughout the year, that way I’m always reminded of the special friends and family I have. Lauren Smith - My two toddlers love anything with pieces they can throw around. I have a great set of Kinnect building blocks that they’ll just love. I’m asking Santa for new carpet, really sentimental huh? -Karolyn Kruse Editor-in-Chief
Email of the month Dear Family Circle, Growing up, each eary my grandma, grandpa, mom, dad and brother would load up in this truck and head to our pasture in search of the perfect Christmas tree. We’d spend time walking through the beautiful landscape as each person would point out their favorite tree. A vote was taken, and the most perfect tree selected. As my dad sawed down the tree, we would all stand around the tree, ensuring not a single needle was lost. As we loaded it into the truck and headed back to our house, we would plan just what was going to be on the menu for Christmas Eve dinner. Although many wild ideas were thrown around, it always ended with the decision of my mom’s traditional chili and chicken noodle soup. My brother and i would spend the afternoon decorating the tree while my dad and grandpa would snore in the living room, and my mom and grandpa would bake cookies and make hot chocolate . The special “Christmas” truck was passed down to me from my grandparents last year, and I have every intention of carrying on the same traditions with my family. Erica Jackson Mt. Vernon, Wisconsin
Every month I look forward to receiving my XX because I know I will get new information about every aspect of my life: from easy meal planning and the latest fashion trends to trends and advice for dealing with relationships. I often share thse articles with friends and family, who find them just as useful as I do. I also love the real-life stories, and I’m so glad you include coverage on men and women in the service who deserve our utmost respect. As a mom of four kids, ages 16 to 22, I’m always doing things for other people, but since I’ve been getting Holiday Hoopla, I make sure to give myself enough time to enjoy reading it from front to back, Keep up the great work! Shelly Seeser, San Antonio, TX
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FESTIVE
Gift Giving
ways to spread cheer
With your Family 1o
Have a Ball
Rather than surrounding the tree with piles of gifts for family members, look for a family in need who doesn’t have the luxury of having an extravagant Christmas morning.
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Angel trees, community assistance organizations and homeless shelters alwas welcome donations. of everyday items.
Its a wrap
Turn ornaments into keepsakes by embellishing them with stickers, ribbon, burlap or colored ribbon. Create ornaments from special ocassions by filling a clear ornament with strips of paper from wedding invittions, baby announcements or keepsakes from a vacations such as sand or shells.
Put a little extra love in your gift wrapping this year with personalized papers and embellishments. Stray away from the traditional rolls of holiday paper and wrap gifts in butcher paper and embellish with colorful ribbons, ornaments or drawings. Burlap, twine, tissue paper rosettes and recycled fronts of Christmas cards add a decorative touch and set gifts apart from the ordinary.
2 Let it snow Give the classic paper snowflakes a modern twist by using cool color combos-blue and brown, or red and orange. If you’re looking for a different look alltogether, find interesting snowflake patterns online. For best results, use thin paper and fine tupped scissors. Hang the completed snowflake garland on the Christmas tree or above the mantle or doorways.
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Giving monetary gifts to non-profit organizations in honor or in memory of loved ones are another way to help those in need. Although it’s easy to get caught up in the honliday hype, remember that spending time with family and those special to you is more important than what’s under the tree.
The stockings were hung...
The traditional hanging of stockings above the fireplace ais a great tradition to start when children are young or couples are just married. Create your own stockings to match Christmas decor by matching fabric. Not into sewing? Create your own using craft glue and embellish with bows, names, greenery or ribbon. Still not feeling very crafty? Etsty.com and online boutique stores have made to order stockings that can be customized and purchased
Hot Buttered Rum
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Candy Cane Blossoms MAKES: 35 PREP: 15 minutes BAKE: 8-10 minutes 1 bag Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses 1/2 cup butter, softened 1 cup granulated sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla 1 egg 2 cups flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 2 tablespoons milk Red and Green colored sugar 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove wrappers from candies. 2. Beat butter, sugar, vanilla and egg until well blended. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; add to butter mixture, alternating with milk, beating until well blended. 3. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Roll in red or green colored sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. 4. Bake 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and cookies are set. Remove from oven; cool 2 to 3 minutes. Press candy piece into center of each cookie. Cool on wire rack. Yields approximately 35 cookies.
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SERVINGS: 1 PREP: 10 minutes
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Let it Glow Christmas decor can be very pricy and adds up quickly. Why spend lots of money on items you only use several months of the year? Do it yourself projects and crafts save money and allow you to personalise your decorations. Get the look of designer candles at a budget-friendly price by covering glass votives, candle holders or drinking glasses with glittered scrapbooking paper. Decorate the edges of the paper with decorative scissors or paper punches. Attach to the glass with double sided tape . For a different look, try burlap, ribbon, fabric or bells.
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Green Greetings
Why buy holiday cards when you can easily make them from ones you received in the past? Simply cut out graphic, bright pieces and arrange on colored cardstock or blank cards, and adhere with glue.
Ingredients: 1 oz. dark run 1/2 cup boiling water 1 tsp. buttered run mix cinnamon nutmeg
Hot Buttered Rum Ingredients: 2 cups brown sugar 2 sticks vanilla ice cream, melted 1 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. nutmeg
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Directions: 1. Combine the rum, boiling water and the frozen hot buttered rum mixture in a mug. Stir well. 2. Sprinkle with nutmeg and cinnamon and serve immediately.
Directions: 1. Mix the sugar, butter, ice crem, cinnamon and nutmeg in food processor and miz until smooth. 2. Pout the mixture in a container and freeze.
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Makes Scents
Fill your home with a delectable, spicy fragrance. In a small saucepan combine 5 cinnamon sticks (broken), 1 tbsp whole cloves, 1 tbsp whole allspice, the rind of 2 oranges, 3 bay leaves, 3 cups water. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to the lowest setting and keep at a simmer. Replenish periodically with water.
Getting personal Create custom gift tags by downloading templates from the internet. familycircle.com and familyfun. com have many styles to choose from. Cut the tags to various sizes and shapes, and embellish with assorted trims such as buttons, greenery, pinecones, ribbon or paper scraps. Christmas stamps are another creative way to create one-of-a-kind gift tags, and are reusuable!
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12th
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On the day of Christmas
a day to spend with those who mean the most
By Karolyn Kruse
verything seems to travel in cycles, the seasons, skinny or flare jeans, hair styles and even Christmas cards. At the turn of the century, it was tradition for families to make their own handmade greeting cards. Elaborate designs covered cardboard cards and read messages of love, well wishes and thankfulness. Times changed, the industrial revolution took place, and soon “homemade” was considered to be second best. Cards, and just about everything else, had to be “store bought” to be worthy of compliments. Now that idea has traveled a full circle around. With an over abundance of machine-made products, people have started to long for hand-crafted items once again. With the recent introduction of Pinterest, more and more people are beginning to rediscover or discover for the first time, the meaningful message handmade crafts- whether it be cards, decorations or furniturecan be to others. Each year at Christmastime, a few more people choose to put extra love into their gifts and cards and make handmade creations. These items hold special meaning to the recipients, because they know someone has taken the time and thought to make it with their own hands. Where to start? Cards are easier to make than most think, with most items already cluttering your house, people can whip up a stack in a short time. Nostaligic cards are simple to create using an assortment of used Christmas cards, ribbons, calendar pictures and paper. More natural cards can be created using ferns, flowers and grasses.
To save time, fill a box with items that can be used to make cards. Gather scrapbook paper, scraps of ribbon or lace, old greeting cards, doilies, seals, stams, etc. This will save running around the house and to stores when you go to make the cards. Most stationary stores or craft stores sell Victorian reproductions. Everything from fancy gold seals and boarders to greeting cards that looks like they could have been sent through the mail decades ago. Antique and secondhand stores can also have valuable supplies, at a very reasonable price. Old postcards, labels and calendars can all be found and cut up, and used to create handmade cards. Take a walk through the craft isle at dollar stores and keep an eye out for gliter, small oraments, book marks and stamps. Most supplies are inexpensive and can be used from year to year. Decoupage supplies may come in handy when attaching heavier items to cards. Glue sticks and glue dots also work well, too. If you’re finding that the perfect supplies are hard to come by, check with family members or friends who may have treasures they’re looking to get rid of. Simple ornaments can be used to dress up the fronts of cards and are also able to be used by the recipient.
Assembling the cards using the scraps When you’re ready to begin start and cards you’ve gathered is the easy your card project assemble: clear glue, part! Although there is no right or wrong medium-weight cardboards, pencil, ruler, way, magazines, old cards and of course, plain paper and markers or caligraphy Pinterest can be used for inspiration if pens and box of cardmaking supplies. you become stuck with your design. Decide first upon the size card you Personalizing cards for an special wish you create. A 6 x 8-inch is a nice individual is another easy way to show size to work with. Cut several pieces of you care. If a friend or family member is cardboard at once, to make the process especially interested in sports or aniof assembling and decorating the cards mals for example, you can tailor cards to quicker. match their interests.
It is easy to get caught up in creating cards, but remember that sometimes less is more when it comes to piling on ribbons, buttons and glitter, but no matter the finished product, the recipient will be touched with the thoughtfulness and time you spent creating the cards. Creating cards as a family is a great way to kick off the Christmas season and spend quality time together, while making cards that will ensure the recipient’s happiness.
Merry Christmas
Tchestita Koleda
Joyeux Noel
Feliz Navidad
} } Merry Christmas
Sisters of Bethlehem, some of whom have taken a vow of silence, pray during Christmas mass in the Beir Jamal Monestary near Jerusalem, late Christmas Eve.
From Around the World
The Christmas holiday is celebrated in different ways around the world, varying from country to region. Aspects common to many areas of the world include the lighting of the Christmas tree, hanging of greenery and lights, and the creation of the nativivy scene depicting the birth of Jesus Christ. Whether traditions include caroling or cooking, sending cards or the giving or receiving of presents, each region has customs that are special to their culture and make their holday special. Germany celebrates the beginning of Advent with Weihnachtsmarkt, an open-air street market held in the streets of the town square. The markets traditionally sell food, drink and seasonal items and put on folk singing and dancing shows for visitors.
Although only one percent of the people in China are Christians, large cities decorate for the holiday. (Left) In Brazil, children leave a sock near a window before going to midnight mass, with hopes that Papai Noel will find it and exchange it for a present. (Top right) Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, boys collect money in clay boxes and broke them open when the boxes were full. (Botten right)
{ Men perform the traditional Bulgarian “Horo� dance in the icy waters of the river Tundzha in the town of Kalofer, Bulgaria, during the Epiphany Day celebrations on January 6, 2012.
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Since 1933, Rockefeller Center in New York City has welcomed a tree to the center of its plaza. Each year the tree comes from a different home, many times with the history of a heart-warming story.
Pope Benedict XVI blesses the crowd from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica as he addressed the “Urbi et Orbi” message to the City and World at the Vatican on December 25, 2012. Benedict XVI declared that the “heart of the Christian message is meant for all men and women.”
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Lain Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fuad Twal, carries a statue of baby Jesus through the church following the Christmas midnight mass at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlemen
In small communities in Mexico, Los Posadas parties are held from December 6 to 24. Children each take turns trying to break the star shaped pinata wit each of the seven points representing the seven cardinal sins. After pinatas are broken, a traditional Mexican meal is served. At the end of a posada, guests receive a small gift called an aguinaldo, usually a pacage filled wih cookies, dried fruits and candy.
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On Christmas Day in Mexico, families bring out pinatas. The vessel represents Satan and the stick stands for the Christian faith which defeats all evil and releases treasures into the world.
In December, Piazza Navona, Rome’s famous Baroque square is transformed into a giant Christmas market. Guests are able to purchase toys, candies, nativity figures, decorations and gifts for the Christmas season. The traditional large nativity scene is erected in the square in early December.
Over 1,000 bonfires are lit up on the hills surrounding the southern village of Pottenstein, Germany on January 6, 2012. The annual festivity is celebrated traditionally on Epiphany to commemorate the Eternal Adoration.
History of the
hottest holiday toys 1900 - 2012
1960 Etch-A-Sketch 1963 GI Joe, Easy Bake Oven Every year there is one item that drivers consumers crazy, the “it” item. Fights will break out over the last one on the shelf, entrepreneurial types will sell it for an exorbitant markup online, but if you’re lucky to score one, it will put you right up there with Santa Claus on Christmas morning. Every year that “it” item changes, but many of the hot holday gifts throughout the last century have become some of the most iconic toys of all time. So what will go down in hostory as the musthave holiday gift for 2013?
1903
1965
1966
Uno
1968 Big Wheels, Hot Wheels
1972
Pet Rock 1975 Star Wars, Hungry Hungry Hippos 1976 Simon 1977 Atari, Rubix Cube, Strawberry Shortcake 1978
1979
1983
My Little Pony, Cabbage Patch Kids, Care Bears
1985
Nintendo, Pound Puppies
1988 Barney
1917 Radio Flyer Wagons
1989 Super Soakers Teenage Mutant 1990 Ninja Turtles
LEGOs 1930
Nintendo Gameboy
Sorry 1934 Monoploy 1935 View Master 3-D Viewer 1938
1943 Chutes and Ladders 1945 Slinky
1997
Furby, Pokemon, Teletubbies
1949 Clue, Candyland
Davy Crocket Rifle, Coonskin Hat1955
1995
Tamagotchi
1948 Scrabble
Mr. Potato Head 1952
1994
Beanie Babies, Tickle Me Elmo
1947 Magic 8 Ball Silly Putty 1950
1991
Magic Eye Picture
1946
Frisbee
1982 BMX Bikes 1984 Trivial Pursuit, Transformers
Teddy Bears, Crayola Crayons
Yo-yo 1929
Twister, Rock E’m Sock E’M Robots
1967 Battleship
1916 Lincoln Logs Chinese Checkers1923
Operation
1998
2000 Razor Scooters, Poo-chi 2001 Bionicles 2002 Bratz Dolls 2006
Playstation 3
2007 Nintendo Wii 2009 Zhu Zhu Pets
1956
Hula Hoop1957 Barbie 1958
2010
Kinect
2013?